High levels of HER-2 expression alter the ability of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family tyrosine kinase inhibitors to inhibit EGFR phosphorylation in vivo.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER-2 tyrosine kinases have been implicated in the development, progression, and severity of several human cancers and are attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. SU11925 was developed as a small molecule inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase activity of both EGFR and HER-2. In cellular assays, SU11925 exhibited similar potency against EGFR and HER-2, inhibiting EGF-stimulated EGFR autophosphorylation in A431 (human epidermoid carcinoma) cells with an IC(50) of 30 nM and HER-2 phosphorylation in SK-OV-3TP5 (human ovarian carcinoma) cells with an IC(50) of 38 nM. In contrast to its similar activity against the two targets in cellular assays, approximately 10-fold higher plasma concentrations of SU11925 were required to inhibit HER-2 phosphorylation in HER-2-overexpressing tumors compared with EGFR phosphorylation in EGFR-overexpressing tumors in vivo. Consistent with the proposed mechanism of action of this inhibitor, SU11925 inhibited the s.c. growth of EGFR- and HER-2-dependent tumors in athymic mice at doses that produced substantial inhibition of target receptor phosphorylation in vivo. An unexpected finding from these studies was that higher plasma concentrations of SU11925 were required to inhibit EGFR phosphorylation in vivo in tumors that also express high levels of HER-2 than in tumors that express EGFR alone. This observation, which suggests that it is more difficult to inhibit EGFR phosphorylation in vivo in cells that express high levels of HER-2, was confirmed with ZD1839 (Iressa), a selective EGFR inhibitor that also targets the tyrosine kinase catalytic site. The potential clinical implications of this observation are discussed.

The angiogenesis inhibitor SU5416 has long-lasting effects on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor phosphorylation and function.

SU5416, a selective inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase activity of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor Flk-1/KDR, is currently in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of advanced malignancies. In cellular assays, SU5416 inhibits the VEGF-dependent mitogenic/proliferative response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In tumor xenograft models, SU5416 inhibits the growth of tumors from a variety of origins by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. In three different human tumor xenograft models, infrequent (once or twice a week) administration of SU5416 is efficacious despite the fact that it has a short plasma half-life (30 min), which suggests that SU5416 has long-lasting inhibitory activity in vivo. The goal of the present study was to determine the basis for the prolonged activity of SU5416. The results indicate that a short (3 h) exposure to 5 microM SU5416 (to mimic plasma levels of the compound as measured in patients who were receiving SU5416 therapy) produced long-lasting (at least 72 h) inhibition of the VEGF-dependent proliferation of HUVECs in culture, which indicate that SU5416 has long-lasting inhibitory activity in vitro as well as in vivo. SU5416 treatment of HUVECs did not affect surface expression of Flk-1/KDR or the affinity of the receptor for VEGF. Instead, the durability of the in vitro activity of SU5416 was shown to be attributable to its long-lasting ability to specifically inhibit VEGF-dependent phosphorylation of Flk-1/KDR and subsequent downstream signaling, although SU5416 is not an irreversible inhibitor of Flk-1/KDR tyrosine kinase activity. The long-lasting inhibition of cellular responses to VEGF was attributable to the accumulation of SU5416 in cells, as shown using radiolabeled compound, such that inhibitory cellular concentrations of SU5416 are maintained long after the removal of the compound from the medium. The long-lasting inhibitory activity of SU5416 in vitro is consistent with the finding that SU5416 has demonstrated evidence of biological activity in clinical studies when administered twice a week despite a short plasma half-life.

Authentic 17 kDa tumour necrosis factor alpha is synthesized and released by canine mast cells and up-regulated by stem cell factor.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested varying molecular weights for mast cell derived tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha ) and little data exist upon the factors which may regulate the control of this cytokine in these cells. OBJECTIVE: To determine the molecular weight of canine mastocytoma-derived TNF alpha, to determine whether it is pre-formed within the granule and whether is expression could be up-regulated by stem cell factor (SCF). METHODS: Molecular sizing was assessed by immunoblot. The cellular localization of the TNF alpha was determined by immunocytochemistry before and after stimulation by A23187 and passive sensitization. Subcellular localization was performed by immunogold immunocytochemistry. Changes in the level of mastocytoma mRNA for TNF alpha in response to stimulation with SCF or fibroblast conditioned media for up to 12 weeks were studied using Northern analysis and changes in the level of TNF alpha protein expression on immunoblot and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Mast cells contained authentic 17 kDa TNF alpha as identified by immunoblotting. Immunocytochemical studies demonstrated preformed TNF alpha which was released by stimulation with antigen after passive sensitization, or by the calcium ionophore A23187. Further confirmation of the preformed nature of this TNF alpha was provided by immunogold electron microscopy which localized this cytokine to the granule of the inactive mast cell. Northern blotting revealed a constitutive message for TNF alpha, which increased in response to fibroblast conditioned media (FCM) and to recombinant human SCF. Immunocytochemical studies of mast cells cultured long-term with FCM or with recombinant SCF showed increased expression of TNF alpha over the course of 12 weeks incubation with these stimuli. CONCLUSION: Mastocytoma derived-TNF alpha is a preformed, granule-associated 17 kDa cytokine which is released on stimulation with A23187 or passive sensitization. It is up-regulated by stem cell factor and by FCM over the course of 12 weeks.

Heparin inhibits histamine release from canine mast cells.

To determine the role of heparin in mast cell exocytosis, we studied the effect of heparin on histamine release induced by compound 48/80 or calcium ionophore A23187 in canine mastocytoma cells (BR). Heparin caused concentration-dependent inhibition of compound 48/80-induced histamine release from mast cells (n = 4; P < 0.05) with a mean inhibitory concentration of 0.14 +/- 0.01 U/ml (mean +/- SE). Mean maximal inhibition was 69.3 +/- 2.0%. In contrast, heparin had no effect on calcium ionophore A23187-induced histamine release. Although benzyl alcohol, a preservative of pharmaceutical heparin, had no effect, purified heparin produced a similar inhibitory effect on compound 48/80-induced histamine release (n = 4; P < 0.05). The inhibitory effect of heparin on histamine release was rapid and was eliminated by washing cells. Dextran sulfate, a polysaccharide with negative charge density, produced a similar inhibitory effect on compound 48/80-induced histamine release (n = 4; P < 0.05). We conclude that heparin inhibits compound 48/80-induced exocytosis in mast cells probably by its negative charge density.

Prostaglandin D2 production and identification of prostaglandin H synthase within canine mast cell granule.

We have identified the presence of functional prostaglandin H synthase (PGH synthase, E.C. 1.14.99.1, or cyclooxygenase) within canine mast cell granules by demonstrating the generation of prostaglandin (PG) D2 from isolated and purified granules incubated with substrate as arachidonic acid or stimulated with calcium ionophore, A23187. This confirms the presence of both enzyme and substrate within the granule. Localization of PGH synthase to the granule was confirmed by immunoblotting of the pure granule preparation and by immunocytochemistry using the whole cell. In functional studies, colchicine, a microtubule polymerization inhibitor, caused a fall of up to 70%, both in the amount of histamine released and in the amount of PGD2 generated. This suggests either that functional PGH synthase is closely associated and coactivated with granules or that there is an independent association of this enzyme with the microtubule system. Release of the preformed and newly formed mediators of the mast cell appear to be closely linked, and prevention of degranulation may therefore attenuate the effects of both classes of mediators.

Tobacco smoke releases performed mediators from canine mast cells and modulates prostaglandin production.

The role of an extract of tobacco smoke in activating mast cells was studied. With the use of isolated, canine mast cells as a model, we found that cigarette smoke solution (CSS) induced the release of the performed mediators histamine and tryptase from these cells in an energy- and temperature-dependent, non-cytotoxic manner. There was no requirement for extracellular calcium. Nicotine tartrate did not reproduce the effect of CSS. Interestingly, mast cells produced little prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) in response to the CSS, and there was a concentration-related inhibition of calcium ionophore A23187-induced PGD2 synthesis. This suggests at least two mechanisms acting on the mast cell: tobacco smoke can directly activate mast cells to release performed mediators and can simultaneously inhibit prostaglandin production. These observations suggest a mechanism by which mast cells may participate in the bronchospastic and proinflammatory changes seen in the lungs and airways of smokers.

Heterogeneity of intact granules purified from canine mastocytoma cell lines.

We investigated the observation that some mast cells exhibit asynchronous release of granule-associated neutral proteases. Intact mast cell granules were isolated, purified, and studied with respect to their histamine, neutral protease, and proteoglycan content. Studies of two canine mastocytoma cell lines demonstrated differences in storage and packaging of granules within one of the cell lines (G) with respect to the neutral proteases and density, resulting in two distinct subpopulations of granules. By use of identical techniques no such differences were found in the other cell line (BR). These observations suggest that granule subpopulations in some mast cells may have a role in the differential release of mediators.

Effect of the barring gene on eye pigmentation in the fowl.

Pigment cells of the iris, pecten, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid of the wild-type jungle fowl (JF) and the barred Plymouth rock (BPR) breeds of adult chickens were studied at both light and electron microscopic levels. BPR choroidal tissues had 2.8 times fewer melanophores than the JF choroid, and BPR melanophores also contained 2.4 times fewer melanosomes, which tended to clump together in variously sized clusters. The melanosomes were often irregular in shape, smaller in diameter, and less mature (stage III) than those granules in the JF. The retinal pigment epithelium of both JF and BPR breeds contained a single epithelial layer of columnar cells. Rod-shaped melanosomes were present in the more apical regions of this cell type in both breeds. Both JF and BPR irides contained a multilayered posterior pigmented epithelium of columnar shaped cells that were densely filled with large spherical granules. Intercellular spaces with interdigitating cytoplasmic projections were present between pigment cells of both breeds. The pecten melanophores of both breeds were dendritic with melanosomes that were larger and fewer in numbers than those pigment cells of the iris and choroid. Intercellular spaces were present between cells in both breeds, with numerous villous-like pigment cell extensions. Choroid melanophores contained very little, if any, acid phosphatase activity. Approximately one-half of the retinal pigment epithelial cells observed contained small amounts of diffuse acid phosphatase activity in both breeds. The iris and pecten melanophores of both breeds contained profuse acid phosphatase activity scattered throughout their cytoplasms. Sparse tyrosinase activity was seen in iris and pecten pigment cells, whereas no tyrosine activity was observed in choroid melanophores or in retinal pigment epithelial cells in the two breeds, indicating that little new melanogenesis occurs in adult pigmented eye tissues. The results show that the barring gene reduces the number and melanin content of the choroidal melanophores in homozygous male BPR chickens as compared to the wild-type JF chickens. Whether this gene prevents the initial migration of embryonic neural crest cells (future melanophores) to the choroid or whether some of the choroidal melanophores prematurely degenerate in the embryo of young birds is yet to be determined. If the latter is the case, this choroid system may serve as a model for a genetic hypomelanotic disease such as vitiligo.