Syntheses and discovery of a novel class of cinnamic hydroxamates as histone deacetylase inhibitors by multimodality molecular imaging in living subjects.

Histone deacetylases (HDAC) that regulate gene expression are being explored as cancer therapeutic targets. In this study, we focused on HDAC6 based on its ability to inhibit cancerous Hsp90 chaperone activities by disrupting Hsp90/p23 interactions. To identify novel HDAC6 inhibitors, we used a dual-luciferase reporter system in cell culture and living mice by bioluminescence imaging (BLI). On the basis of existing knowledge, a library of hydrazone compounds was generated for screening by coupling cinnamic hydroxamates with aldehydes and ketones. Potency and selectivity were determined by in vitro HDAC profiling assays, with further evaluation to inhibit Hsp90(α/ß)/p23 interactions by BLI. In this manner, we identified compound 1A12 as a dose-dependent inhibitor of Hsp90(α/ß)/p23 interactions, UKE-1 myeloid cell proliferation, p21(waf1) upregulation, and acetylated histone H3 levels. 1A12 was efficacious in tumor xenografts expressing Hsp90(α)/p23 reporters relative to carrier control-treated mice as determined by BLI. Small animal (18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging on the same cohort showed that 1A12 also inhibited glucose metabolism relative to control subjects. Ex vivo analyses of tumor lysates showed that 1A12 administration upregulated acetylated-H3 by approximately 3.5-fold. Taken together, our results describe the discovery and initial preclinical validation of a novel selective HDAC inhibitor.

Proteomic identification of pterostilbene-mediated anticancer activities in HepG2 cells.

In the present study, we attempt to shed light on the underlying molecular mechanism of the anticancer activity of pterostilbene (PTS) in HepG2 cells through the proteomic approach. PTS was found to induce apoptosis by altering the expression of apoptotic genes and the G2/M phase of cell cycle arrest. Further, the 2-DE map showed the expression of 72 differentially regulated proteins in PTS-treated HepG2 cells, of which 8 spots with >2 fold up- or down-regulated level were identified by MALDI-TOF analysis, which has a regulatory role in apoptosis. These findings for the first time offer valuable insights into the mechanism of apoptotis by PTS in HepG2 cells.

Quercetin ameliorates tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: Endothelial dysfunction highlights that it is a potential contributor in the pathogenesis of vascular complications arising from endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and has been emerging as a main causative factor in vascular failure. Here, we hypothesize that the natural flavonoid, quercetin plays an effective role in reducing ER stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of quercetin (0-100 µm) before inducing ER stress using tunicamycin (TUN) (0.75 µg/ml); cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay. Expression levels of ER stress responsive genes, antioxidant enzymes and apoptotic markers were assessed by qRT-PCR, while roles of caspase-3 and PARP cleavage were measured by western blot analysis. RESULTS: Quercetin pre-treatment at 25 and 50 µm had a cytoprotective effect on cells against TUN-induced toxicity. Quercetin administration modulated expression level of ER stress genes coding for glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, along with free radical generation assessed by malondialdehyde assay. Induction of apoptosis was prevented with reduction in expression level of Bax, and concomitant increase in Bcl-2 levels, thus proving its potential against ER stress. CONCLUSION: The current study indicates that quercetin modulated stress responsive genes GRP78 and CHOP, helping endothelial cells prevent TUN-induced ER stress.

The impact of oxidative stress on islet transplantation and monitoring the graft survival by non-invasive imaging.

Islet transplantation is an attractive strategy to treat severe diabetic conditions in patients suffering from autoimmune derived diabetes, and it has currently been considered a forefront research arena in diabetes. Major aim of islet transplantation is to achieve successful insulin independent disease free survival. The key challenges in transplanted islets are the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and associated oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokine - (TNFα) mediated apoptotic induction, attack by immune cells, and achieving revascularization with minimal hypoxic microenvironment. Free radicals and their derivatives are constantly produced in living systems, but at relatively low level, and in a balanced state. Oxidative stress, which occurs as a result of an imbalance between the intracellular free radicals production and the cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms in the transplanted islets, can lead to cell death. The balance between oxidants and antioxidants in a cell can be easily disturbed by increase in ROS production or reduction in the level of cellular antioxidant defensive substances, which can cause many metabolic complications, including pancreatic ß-cell damage. Antioxidants function as blockers of radical processes by eliminating harmful ROS produced during normal cellular metabolism. A complex antioxidant defense mechanism has been developed by nature in cells to protect the cellular homeostasis. This system mainly includes antioxidant enzymes, vitamins and minerals. As transplanted islet survival is crucial for achieving successful therapy, most of these antioxidants can be used as a supplement to scavenge the local ROS thereby improving the survival of transplanted islets. Currently, very few techniques have been routinely used to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the survival and function of islet grafts, especially to confirm the success of treatment, which includes metabolic parameters such as blood glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels. These biochemical measurements provide markers at only the late stages of islet rejection. Use of molecular imaging techniques has the potential for real-time non-invasive monitoring of the functional status and viability of transplanted islet grafts in living animals. This review mainly focuses on the current status of islet transplantations, potential preventive strategies used to reduce oxidative stress-mediated toxicity in islet grafts, and use of molecular imaging as a tool to quantitatively evaluate the functional status of the transplanted islets in living animals.

Dual-therapeutic reporter genes fusion for enhanced cancer gene therapy and imaging.

Two of the successful gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapies include herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK) enzyme-ganciclovir prodrug and the Escherichia coli nitroreductase (NTR) enzyme-CB1954 prodrug strategies; these enzyme-prodrug combinations produce activated cytotoxic metabolites of the prodrugs capable of tumor cell death by inhibiting DNA synthesis and killing quiescent cells, respectively. Both these strategies also affect significant bystander cell killing of neighboring tumor cells that do not express these enzymes. We have developed a dual-combination gene strategy, where we identified HSV1-TK and NTR fused in a particular orientation can effectively kill tumor cells when the tumor cells are treated with a fusion HSV1-TK-NTR gene- along with a prodrug combination of GCV and CB1954. In order to determine whether the dual-system demonstrate superior therapeutic efficacy than either HSV1-TK or NTR systems alone, we conducted both in vitro and in vivo tumor xenograft studies using triple negative SUM159 breast cancer cells, by evaluating the efficacy of cell death by apoptosis and necrosis upon treatment with the dual HSV1-TK genes-GCV-CB1954 prodrugs system, and compared the efficiency to HSV1-TK-GCV and NTR-CB1954. Our cell-based studies, tumor regression studies in xenograft mice, histological analyses of treated tumors and bystander studies indicate that the dual HSV1-TK-NTR-prodrug system is two times more efficient even with half the doses of both prodrugs than the respective single gene-prodrug system, as evidenced by enhanced apoptosis and necrosis of tumor cells in vitro in culture and xenograft of tumor tissues in animals.

Noninvasive optical imaging of nitroreductase gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy system in living animals.

Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) is a promising and emerging strategy that attempts to limit the systemic toxicity inherent to cancer chemotherapy by means of tumor-targeted delivery and expression of an exogenous gene whose product converts nontoxic prodrug(s) into activated cytotoxic agent(s). The bacterial nitroreductase (NTR) enzyme, coupled with its substrate prodrug 5-(azaridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide (CB1954), is a promising GDEPT strategy that has reached clinical trials. However, no strategy exists to visually monitor and quantitatively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of NTR/CB1954 prodrug therapy in cells and imaging in living animals. As the success of any GDEPT is dependent upon the efficiency of transgene expression in vivo, we developed a safe, sensitive and reproducible noninvasive imaging method to monitor NTR transgene expression that would allow quantitative assessment of both therapeutic efficacy and diagnostic outcome of NTR/CB1954 prodrug therapy in the future. Here, we investigate the use of a novel fluorescent imaging dye CytoCy5S (a Cy5-labeled quenched substrate of NTR enzyme) on various cancer cell lines in vitro and in NTR-transfected tumor-bearing animals in vivo. CytoCy5S-labeled cells become fluorescent at 'red-shifted' wavelengths (638 nm) when reduced by cellular NTR enzyme and remains trapped within the cells for extended periods of time. The conversion and entrapment was dynamically recorded using a time-lapsed microscopy. Systemic and intratumoral delivery of CytoCy5S to NTR-expressing tumors in animals indicated steady and reproducible signals even 16 h after delivery (P<0.001). This is the first study to address visual monitoring and quantitative evaluation of NTR activity in small animals using CytoCy5S, and establishes the capability of NTR to function as an imageable reporter gene.

Potent, tumor-specific gene expression in an orthotopic hepatoma rat model using a Survivin-targeted, amplifiable adenoviral vector.

Ideal cancer gene therapies should have high tumor specificity and efficacy, and allow systemic administration to target metastases. We recently developed a bi-directional, two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) system driven by the tumor-specific Survivin promoter (pSurv) to amplify the correlated expression of both the reporter gene firefly luciferase (FL) and therapeutic gene tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Here, we compare the specificity and potency of an adenovirus carrying this system (Ad-pSurv-TSTA-TRAIL-FL) to a nonspecific vector (Ad-pCMV-FL) in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rat model after systemic administration. At 24 h after injection of Ad-pCMV-FL, bioluminescence imaging revealed a trend (P=0.30) towards greater FL expression in liver versus tumor. In striking contrast, Ad-pSurv-TSTA-TRAIL-FL showed increased FL activity within the tumor compared with the liver (P<0.01), a strong trend towards reduced liver expression compared with Ad-pCMV-FL (P=0.07), and importantly, similar FL levels within tumor compared with Ad-pCMV-FL (P=0.32). Hence, this vector shows potent, tumor-specific transgene expression even after extensive liver transduction and may be of significant value in avoiding hepatotoxicity in HCC patients. Future studies will explore the benefits of tumor-specific TRAIL expression in this model, the potential to target metastases and the extension of this vector for the treatment of other Survivin-positive tumors is warranted.

Indirect imaging of cardiac-specific transgene expression using a bidirectional two-step transcriptional amplification strategy.

Transcriptional targeting for cardiac gene therapy is limited by the relatively weak activity of most cardiac-specific promoters. We have developed a bidirectional plasmid vector, which uses a two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) strategy to enhance the expression of two optical reporter genes, firefly luciferase (fluc) and Renilla luciferase (hrluc), driven by the cardiac troponin T (cTnT) promoter. The vector was characterized in vitro and in living mice using luminometry and bioluminescence imaging to assess its ability to mediate strong, correlated reporter gene expression in a cardiac cell line and the myocardium, while minimizing expression in non-cardiac cell lines and the liver. In vitro, the TSTA system significantly enhanced cTnT-mediated reporter gene expression with moderate preservation of cardiac specificity. After intramyocardial and hydrodynamic tail vein delivery of an hrluc-enhanced variant of the vector, long-term fluc expression was observed in the heart, but not in the liver. In both the cardiac cell line and the myocardium, fluc expression correlated well with hrluc expression. These results show the vector's ability to effectively amplify and couple transgene expression in a cardiac-specific manner. Further replacement of either reporter gene with a therapeutic gene should allow non-invasive imaging of targeted gene therapy in living subjects.

Molecular imaging of phosphorylation events for drug development.

PURPOSE: Protein phosphorylation mediated by protein kinases controls numerous cellular processes. A genetically encoded, generalizable split firefly luciferase (FL)-assisted complementation system was developed for noninvasive monitoring phosphorylation events and efficacies of kinase inhibitors in cell culture and in small living subjects by optical bioluminescence imaging. PROCEDURES: An Akt sensor (AST) was constructed to monitor Akt phosphorylation and the effect of different PI-3K and Akt inhibitors. Specificity of AST was determined using a non-phosphorylable mutant sensor containing an alanine substitution (ASA). RESULTS: The PI-3K inhibitor LY294002 and Akt kinase inhibitor perifosine led to temporal- and dose-dependent increases in complemented FL activities in 293T human kidney cancer cells stably expressing AST (293T/AST) but not in 293T/ASA cells. Inhibition of endogenous Akt phosphorylation and kinase activities by perifosine also correlated with increase in complemented FL activities in 293T/AST cells but not in 293T/ASA cells. Treatment of nude mice bearing 293T/AST xenografts with perifosine led to a 2-fold increase in complemented FL activities compared to that of 293T/ASA xenografts. Our system was used to screen a small chemical library for novel modulators of Akt kinase activity. CONCLUSION: This generalizable approach for noninvasive monitoring of phosphorylation events will accelerate the discovery and validation of novel kinase inhibitors and modulators of phosphorylation events.

RIP1 links inflammatory and growth factor signaling pathways by regulating expression of the EGFR.

There is considerable interest in understanding how inflammatory responses influence cell proliferation and cancer. In this study, we show that the receptor-interacting protein (RIP1), a critical mediator of inflammation and stress-induced NF-kappaB activation, regulates the expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from RIP1 knockout mice express very high levels of the EGFR. Reconstitution of RIP1(-/-) MEFs with RIP1 results in a lowering of EGFR levels. RIP1 influences EGFR at the mRNA level by regulating the EGFR promoter. Expression of RIP1 inhibits the EGFR promoter. RIP1 downregulates EGFR expression by interfering with the function of Sp1, which is a key activator of EGFR transcription. RIP1 suppresses Sp1 activity and overexpression of Sp1 reverses RIP1-mediated repression of the EGFR promoter. RIP1 is present both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. RIP1 coimmunoprecipitates with Sp1 in vivo and binds directly to Sp1 in vitro. A RIP1 mutant lacking the death domain fails to suppress Sp1 activity and the EGFR promoter, suggesting a critical role for the RIP1 death domain in EGFR regulation. Thus, our study identifies a new link between inflammatory and growth factor signaling pathways mediated by RIP1 and provides insight into the mechanism used by RIP1 to regulate EGFR levels.

MicroPET imaging of Cre-loxP-mediated conditional activation of a herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase reporter gene.

Site-specific recombination tools such as the Cre-loxP system are used to create animal models where conditional gene deletion/activation studies are required. In the current proof of principle study, we have demonstrated that a PET reporter gene (PRG), the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk), can be made to remain silent and can be activated by Cre-loxP-mediated recombination in cell culture and in living mice. An adenovirus carrying a silent HSV1-tk was tail-vein injected (1 x 10(9) PFU) in six transgenic mice that express Cre recombinase in their liver (Cre+) and in four control mice (Cre-). The liver-specific expression of the PRG in Cre+ mice was detected in the microPET following injection of the reporter probe, 9-[4-fluoro-3-(hydroxymethyl)butyl]guanine ([(18)F]-FHBG). The [(18)F]-FHBG accumulation in the liver in terms of percent-injected dose per gram of tissue was 7.72+/-1.13 for the Cre+ mice and 0.10+/-0.02 for the Cre- mice (P<0.05) 48 h after adenoviral injection. These results were further validated by quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting and by in vitro assays for herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase enzyme activity. Thus by using the Cre-loxP system it is possible to modulate a PRG and noninvasively monitor the extent of Cre-loxP-mediated gene activation by imaging in a microPET scanner.

Monitoring protein-protein interactions using split synthetic renilla luciferase protein-fragment-assisted complementation.

In this study we developed an inducible synthetic renilla luciferase protein-fragment-assisted complementation-based bioluminescence assay to quantitatively measure real time protein-protein interactions in mammalian cells. We identified suitable sites to generate fragments of N and C portions of the protein that yield significant recovered activity through complementation. We validate complementation-based activation of split synthetic renilla luciferase protein driven by the interaction of two strongly interacting proteins, MyoD and Id, in five different cell lines utilizing transient transfection studies. The expression level of the system was also modulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha through NFkappaB-promoter/enhancer elements used to drive expression of the N portion of synthetic renilla luciferase reporter gene. This new system should help in studying protein-protein interactions and when used with other split reporters (e.g., split firefly luciferase) should help to monitor different components of an intracellular network.

Noninvasive imaging of protein-protein interactions in living subjects by using reporter protein complementation and reconstitution strategies.

In this study we have developed bioluminescence-imaging strategies to noninvasively and quantitatively image protein-protein interactions in living mice by using a cooled charge-coupled device camera and split reporter technology. We validate both complementation and intein-mediated reconstitution of split firefly luciferase proteins driven by the interaction of two strongly interacting proteins, MyoD and Id. We use transient transfection of cells and image MyoD-Id interaction after induction of gene expression in cell culture and in cells implanted into living mice. Techniques to study protein-protein interactions in living subjects will allow the study of cellular networks, including signal transduction pathways, as well as development and optimization of pharmaceuticals for modulating protein-protein interactions.

Noninvasive quantitative imaging of protein-protein interactions in living subjects.

We are developing methods to image molecular and cellular events in living subjects. In this study, we validate imaging of protein-protein interactions in living mice by using bioluminescent optical imaging. We use the well studied yeast two-hybrid system adapted for mammalian cells and modify it to be inducible. We employ the NF-kappaB promoter to drive expression of two fusion proteins (VP16-MyoD and GAL4-ID). We modulate the NF-kappaB promoter through tumor necrosis factor alpha. Firefly luciferase reporter gene expression is driven by the interaction of MyoD and ID through a transcriptional activation strategy. We demonstrate the ability to detect this induced protein-protein interaction in cell culture and image this induced interaction in living mice by using transiently transfected cells. The current approach will be a valuable and potentially generalizable tool to noninvasively and quantitatively image protein-protein interactions in living subjects. The approaches validated should have important implications for the study of protein-protein interactions in cells maintained in their natural in vivo environment as well as for the in vivo evaluation of new pharmaceuticals targeted to modulate protein-protein interactions.

Simple radioactive assay for the estimation of DNA breaks.

The intactness of DNA is an important part of the normal cellular structure. Any change to the DNA in the form of breaks leads to a change in the integrity, which in turn leads to abnormality in the cellular activity. Many discrepancies have been reported among the various methods of detecting DNA damage. Here, a simple, sensitive and reproducible method has been developed for the detection of DNA breaks by radioactive labelling of 5' broken ends. The method was evaluated by studying chemically induced DNA damage by using both organochloride (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and lindane) and organophosphorus (sevin and phosphamidon) compounds at different concentrations. Phosphamidon, one of the organophosphorus compounds studied, showed complete degradation of the DNA after treatment. Radioactive analysis of phosphamidon showed higher counts at the lowest concentration (20 microg) of the chemical when compared with the control (2752 scintillation counts per minute, scm). Studies on the chemically induced DNA breaks by radiolabelling revealed that the cumulative effect of the organophosphorus and organochloride compounds showed maximum counts in all the samples (the highest being 2904 scm) when compared with the organophosphorus and organochloride compounds studied separately (the highest being 1881 and 2260 scm, respectively). Radiolabelling studies on the blood samples of 23 pesticide workers by the newly developed assay showed a significant positive correlation (0.893) between the number of years of exposure and the scintillation counts. A maximum of 11,702 scm (for 18 years of exposure) and a minimum of 1682 scm (for 4 years of exposure) were recorded compared with 1253 scm for the negative control. This method can be used effectively for estimation of the DNA breaks, irrespective of its nature.

Duplex RT-PCR for simultaneous detection of hepatitis A and hepatitis E virus isolated from drinking water samples.

A duplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) protocol for simultaneous detection of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in water samples has been developed and demonstrated. Both HAV and HEV were concentrated from drinking water samples through a one-step concentration protocol. Different cDNA could be produced in the RT step carried out with a random primer in a single reaction tube. Two different sets of primers specific for HAV-cDNA and HEV-cDNA were used for PCR amplification. Amplified DNA products representing HAV and HEV were identified by gel electrophoresis at 247 and 327 bp (base pair) sequences, respectively. Specific sets of primers amplified a single type of virus and no cross-reactivity of the primers was noticed in duplex RT-PCR. The protocol was used for direct isolation and detection of HAV and HEV from 23 water samples in urban areas of Chennai city. Out of these, nine water samples were positive for HAV, and three for HEV. All three samples positive for HEV were also positive for HAV. The test provides a rapid and economical means of water quality surveillance to specifically detect HAV and HEV.

A simple device for the concentration and detection of enterovirus, hepatitis E virus and rotavirus from water samples by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

A simultaneous concentration of enteroviruses, hepatitis E virus, and rotavirus from drinking water samples through a filtration column filled with granular activated carbon (GAC) was achieved. Urea-arginine phosphate buffer (UAPB) as an eluent at pH 9.0 was used for effective desorption and elution of viruses from GAC. Further concentration of viruses with magnesium chloride enabled nucleic acid extraction, cDNA synthesis, amplification with a specific set of primers for enterovirus, hepatitis E virus and rotavirus. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were then confirmed by Southern transfer and hybridization with the relevant probes. The efficacy of the protocol was established with 100 1 of water samples seeded with poliovirus-1, providing 74% recovery in granular activated carbon based UAPB-RT-PCR. The GAC-based method for concentration of viruses from water samples was preferred, despite its somewhat lower efficacy compared to 80% in membrane filter based UAPB-RT-PCR protocol, due to the specific requirements of short-time and savings in cost of analyses. The protocol was used for the detection of waterborne viruses from 24 drinking water sources in urban areas of New Delhi. Direct isolation of viruses from water samples revealed that the 4 samples were positive for enteroviruses, two for hepatitis E virus, and 10 samples for rotavirus. One sample was positive for both hepatitis E virus and rotavirus, and another for all the 3 types of viruses.

Detection of hepatitis E virus in raw and treated wastewater with the polymerase chain reaction.

The main objective of this study was to determine the applicability of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in sewage treatment plants and establishment of the prevalence of hepatitis viral diseases in a population. Epidemics of HEV infection because of inadequate public sanitation have been reported in several developing countries. A procedure for concentration of HEV in sewage samples through adsorption to membrane filters, elution with urea-arginine phosphate buffer, and subsequent reconcentration with magnesium chloride enabled us to concentrate HEV to volumes in the microliter range. HEV-specific cDNA was prepared by reverse transcription of the total RNA extracted from samples. Specific DNA amplification by PCR in combination with slot blot hybridization was used to demonstrate the presence of HEV in sewage samples from the inlets and outlets of three sewage treatment plants. The assay was specific for HEV, and a 240-bp amplified product was visualized by ethidium bromide fluorescence. Sewage samples adjusted to pH 5.0 for adsorption of viruses to membrane filters were PCR positive, while samples adjusted to pH 3.5 were PCR negative.