Negatively charged amino acids in the stalk region of membrane proteins reduce ectodomain shedding.

Ectodomain shedding is a post-translational modification mechanism by which the entire extracellular domain of membrane proteins is liberated through juxtamembrane processing. Because shedding rapidly and irreversibly alters the characteristics of cells, this process is properly regulated. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the propensity of membrane proteins to shedding are largely unknown. Here, we present evidence that negatively charged amino acids within the stalk region, an unstructured juxtamembrane region at which shedding occurs, contribute to shedding susceptibility. We show that two activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) protein variants produced by alternative splicing have different susceptibilities to ADAM metallopeptidase domain 17 (ADAM17)-mediated shedding. Of note, the inclusion of a stalk region encoded by a 39-bp-long alternative exon conferred shedding resistance. We found that this alternative exon encodes a large proportion of negatively charged amino acids, which we demonstrate are indispensable for conferring the shedding resistance. We also show that the introduction of negatively charged amino acids into the stalk region of shedding-susceptible ALCAM variant protein attenuates its shedding. Furthermore, we observed that negatively charged amino acids residing in the stalk region of Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (ERBB4) are indispensable for its shedding resistance. Collectively, our results indicate that negatively charged amino acids within the stalk region interfere with the shedding of multiple membrane proteins. We conclude that the composition of the stalk region determines the shedding susceptibility of membrane proteins.

The Tumor Microenvironment Modulates Choline and Lipid Metabolism.

An increase of cellular phosphocholine (PC) and total choline (tCho)-containing compounds as well as alterations in lipids have been consistently observed in cancer cells and tissue. These metabolic changes are closely related to malignant transformation, invasion, and metastasis. The study of cancer cells in culture plays an important role in understanding mechanisms leading to altered choline (Cho) and lipid metabolism in cancer, as it provides a carefully controlled environment. However, a solid tumor is a complex system with a unique tumor microenvironment frequently containing hypoxic and acidic regions and areas of nutrient deprivation and necrosis. Cancer cell-stromal cell interactions and the extracellular matrix may also alter Cho and lipid metabolism. Human tumor xenograft models in mice are useful to mimic the growth of human cancers and provide insights into the influence of in vivo conditions on metabolism. Here, we have compared metabolites, obtained with high resolution 1H MRS of extracts from human breast and prostate cancer cells in a 2-dimensional (2D) monolayer culture and from solid tumor xenografts derived from these cells, as well as the protein expression of enzymes that regulate Cho and lipid metabolism. Our data demonstrate significant differences in Cho and lipid metabolism and protein expression patterns between human breast and prostate cancer cells in culture and in tumors derived from these cells. These data highlight the influence of the tumor microenvironment on Cho and lipid metabolism.

Nanoplex delivery of siRNA and prodrug enzyme for multimodality image-guided molecular pathway targeted cancer therapy.

The ability to destroy cancer cells while sparing normal tissue is highly sought after in cancer therapy. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing of cancer-cell-specific targets and the use of a prodrug enzyme delivered to the tumor to convert a nontoxic prodrug to an active drug are two promising approaches in achieving this goal. Combining both approaches into a single treatment strategy can amplify selective targeting of cancer cells while sparing normal tissue. Noninvasive imaging can assist in optimizing such a strategy by determining effective tumor delivery of the siRNA and prodrug enzyme to time prodrug administration and detecting target down-regulation by siRNA and prodrug conversion by the enzyme. In proof-of-principle studies, we synthesized a nanoplex carrying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reporters for in vivo detection and optical reporters for microscopy to image the delivery of siRNA and a functional prodrug enzyme in breast tumors and achieve image-guided molecular targeted cancer therapy. siRNA targeting of choline kinase-α (Chk-α), an enzyme significantly up-regulated in aggressive breast cancer cells, was combined with the prodrug enzyme bacterial cytosine deaminase (bCD) that converts the nontoxic prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to cytotoxic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In vivo MRI and optical imaging showed efficient intratumoral nanoplex delivery. siRNA-mediated down-regulation of Chk-α and the conversion of 5-FC to 5-FU by bCD were detected noninvasively with (1)H MR spectroscopic imaging and (19)F MR spectroscopy. Combined siRNA and prodrug enzyme activated treatment achieved higher growth delay than either treatment alone. The strategy can be expanded to target multiple pathways with siRNA.

Potential involvement of Twist2 and Erk in the regulation of osteoblastogenesis by HB-EGF-EGFR signaling.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) family members play important roles in the skeletal system. In this study, we examined the role of EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling in osteoblastogenesis in vitro. The expression of HB-EGF and epiregulin (EPR) was transiently induced within 24 h after osteogenic stimulation, but when preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were incubated with HB-EGF or EPR, osteoblast differentiation was inhibited. These effects were Ras-dependent, and ERK modulated Runx2 activity through the localization of Smad1 and the induction of Twist2. PI3-kinase was also required for the induction of Twist2. However, the inhibition of individual signaling pathways was not sufficient to overcome HB-EGF-mediated inhibition of osteoblast differentiation. Additionally, HB-EGF treatment promoted the proliferation of preosteoblasts, and this was associated with the downregulation of p27 at the protein level. These results suggest that HB-EGF-EGFR signaling inhibits the differentiation of osteoblasts by suppression of Runx2 transcriptional activity and enhances proliferation of preosteoblasts by downregulation of expression of p27.

Noninvasive detection of lentiviral-mediated choline kinase targeting in a human breast cancer xenograft.

Elevated phosphocholine (PC) and total choline (tCho) metabolites are widely established characteristics of most cancer cells, including breast cancer. Effective silencing of choline kinase (chk), the enzyme that converts choline to PC, is associated with reduced tumor growth. The functional importance and down-regulation of chk using RNA interference has been previously established. Here, we report on the preclinical evaluation of lentiviral vector-mediated down-regulation of chk using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in established tumors derived from human breast cancer cells. Concentrated lentivirus expressing shRNA against chk was injected i.v. in the tail vein of MDA-MB-231 tumor-bearing female severe combined immunodeficient mice. Transduction efficiency in cells and tumors in vivo was assessed optically by enhanced green fluorescent protein expression and additionally from chk mRNA and protein levels. An 80% reduction in chk mRNA and protein was achieved following approximately 90% transduction efficiency in cells. After transduction with chk-shRNA, (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of cell and tumor extracts showed decreases in PC and tCho levels (P < 0.01 and 0.05, respectively) in comparison with controls. PC levels were monitored noninvasively by (31)P MRS in tumors and by (1)H MRS in cell and tumor tissue extracts. Noninvasive (31)P MR spectra of chk-shRNA-transduced tumors in vivo showed lower PC and phosphomonoester levels that were associated with reduced tumor growth and proliferation. This study shows the use of lentiviral vectors to target chk in a human breast cancer xenograft and noninvasive MRS detection of this targeting.

Hypoxia regulates choline kinase expression through hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha signaling in a human prostate cancer model.

The intensity of the total choline (tCho) signal in spectroscopic images of tumors is spatially heterogeneous. The likewise heterogeneous physiologic tumor microenvironment may contribute to this heterogeneity. We therefore investigated the relationship between hypoxia, choline metabolites, and choline kinase (Chk) in a human prostate cancer model. Human PC-3 prostate cancer cells were engineered to express enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under hypoxic conditions. These PC-3-5HRE-EGFP cells were characterized in culture and as tumors transplanted in mice using (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and MRS imaging (MRSI) combined with EGFP fluorescence microscopy and imaging. Hypoxic EGFP-fluorescing tumor regions colocalized with regions of high tCho in combined MRSI and optical imaging studies. Cellular phosphocholine (PC) and tCho concentrations as well as Chk expression levels significantly increased following exposure of PC-3 cells to hypoxia. A putative promoter region located 5' of the translation start site of the human chk-alpha gene was cloned and luciferase (Luc)-based reporter vector constructs were generated. Luc reporter assays provided evidence that some of the putative hypoxia response elements (HRE) within this putative chk-alpha promoter region functioned in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays using an antibody against hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 alpha showed that HIF-1 can directly bind this region of the endogenous chk-alpha promoter in hypoxic PC-3-5HRE-EGFP cells. These data suggest that HIF-1 activation of HREs within the putative chk-alpha promoter region can increase Chk-alpha expression within hypoxic environments, consequently increasing cellular PC and tCho levels within these environments.

Choline kinase down-regulation increases the effect of 5-fluorouracil in breast cancer cells.

Identifying strategies to increase cancer cell kill while sparing normal tissue is critically important in cancer chemotherapy. Choline kinase (Chk), the enzyme that converts choline to phosphocholine (PC), is elevated in cancer cells and presents a novel target for increasing cell kill. Here, we have examined the effects of transiently down-regulating Chk by small interfering RNA against Chk (siRNA-chk) on PC and total choline-containing compound (tCho) levels and on the viability/proliferation of estrogen receptor-negative and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cell lines and a nonmalignant mammary epithelial cell line. We investigated the effects of combination treatment with transient siRNA-chk transfection and the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in those cell lines. Microarray analysis of the invasive estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-231 cell line was done to characterize molecular changes associated with Chk down-regulation. Chk down-regulation decreased PC and tCho levels in the malignant cell lines, whereas the cell viability/proliferation assays detected a decrease in proliferation in these cells. In contrast, Chk down-regulation had an almost negligible effect on PC and tCho levels as well as cell viability/proliferation in the nonmalignant cell line. A combination of siRNA-chk with 5-FU treatment resulted in a larger reduction of cell viability/proliferation in the breast cancer cell lines; this reduction was evident to a much lesser degree in the nonmalignant cells. Microarray analysis showed that Chk down-regulation affected 33 proliferation-related genes and 9 DNA repair-related genes. Chk down-regulation with siRNA-chk may provide a novel alternative to enhance the effect of anticancer drugs in malignant cells.

Multimodal image-guided enzyme/prodrug cancer therapy.

The conjugate of bacterial cytosine deaminase (bCD) and poly-l-lysine (PLL) that was functionalized with biotin, rhodamine, and Gd3+-DOTA was synthesized and characterized. It demonstrated high relaxivity, improved enzymatic specificity to prodrug 5-fluorocytosine, low cytotoxicity, efficient cell uptake, and high enzymatic stability in fresh mouse serum and human breast cancer cell culture.

Synthesis of 6'-O-lissamine-rhodamine B-glucosamine as a novel probe for fluorescence imaging of lysosomes in breast tumors.

Lysosomes contain multiple proteases, which play a crucial role in breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Noninvasive labeling of lysosomes in breast cancer cells and solid breast tumor models is therefore useful to study lysosomal trafficking and its role in invasion. We have synthesized a novel compound, 6'-O-lissamine-rhodamine B-glucosamine, to fluorescently label lysosomes, and evaluated the compound in human breast cancer cells in cell culture or in orthotopic human breast cancer models. We demonstrated that this novel compound biosynthetically labeled lysosomal proteins following addition to cell culture medium or following intravenous injection into mouse models of breast cancer. Fluorescence from 6'-O-lissamine-rhodamine B-glucosamine colocalized with several well-established lysosomal markers, such as lysosome-associated proteins 1 and 2 (LAMP-1 and -2) and CD63. We also demonstrated the feasibility of performing in vivo fluorescence imaging of 6'-O-lissamine-rhodamine B-glucosamine to image lysosomes in human breast cancer models.