Molecular and functional characterization of tumor-induced factor (TIF): Hamster homolog of CXCL3 (GROγ) displays tumor suppressive activity.

Previously our lab has created a mouse ovarian xenograft model of copy number variation (CNV)-mediated G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) MAS-driven tumorigenesis, and RNA profiling identified a putative chemokine tumor-induced factor (Tif). Sequence analysis and chemotactic study suggested that Tif was likely to be a hamster homolog of human GROγ (CXCL3) [IJC 125 (2009): 1316-1327]. In the present study, we report the molecular and functional characterization of the Tif gene. Genomic study of CHO-K1 cells indicated that Tif gene consisted of 4 exons, characterized with an antisense B1 element which is embedded in the fourth exon. Two Tif transcripts were identified which shared identical sequences except that a string of 71-nt derived from the antisense B1 element was deficient in the shorter transcript. Of interests, B1-like RNA ladder was detected in xenografts. Functional studies showed that TIF induced chemotaxis and neovessel formation. Pharmacological studies suggested that TIF activated Gi-coupled CXCR2 and induced both calcium mobilization and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and suppressed forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. In addition, secreted matured TIF functioned as an autocrine factor and promoted anchorage-independent growth. Unexpectedly, TIF delayed the onset of tumor formation, possibly via suppressing proliferation of stromal fibroblasts. However, TIF did not exert any inhibitory effect on tumor growth. Potentially, TIF could be used for preventing cancer relapse.

Impact of cell type and epitope tagging on heterologous expression of G protein-coupled receptor: a systematic study on angiotensin type II receptor.

Despite heterologous expression of epitope-tagged GPCR is widely adopted for functional characterization, there is lacking of systematic analysis of the impact of expression host and epitope tag on GPCR expression. Angiotensin type II (AT2) receptor displays agonist-dependent and -independent activities, coupling to a spectrum of signaling molecules. However, consensus has not been reached on the subcellular distributions, signaling cascades and receptor-mediated actions. To examine the contributions of host cell and epitope tag on receptor expression and activity, epitope-tagged AT2 receptor variants were transiently or stably expressed in HEK293, CHO-K1 and PC12 cells. The epitope-tagged AT2 receptor variants were detected both on the cell membrane and in the perinuclear region. In transiently transfected HEK293 cells, Myc-AT2 existed predominantly as monomer. Additionally, a ladder of ubiquitinated AT2 receptor proteins was detected. By contrast, stably expressed epitope-tagged AT2 receptor variants existed as both monomer and high molecular weight complexes, and the latter was enriched in cell surface. Glycosylation promoted cell surface expression of Myc-AT2 but had no effect on AT2-GFP in HEK293 cells. In cells that stably expressed Myc-AT2, serum starvation induced apoptosis in CHO-K1 cells but not in HEK293 or PC12 cells. Instead, HEK293 and PC12 cells stably expressing Myc-AT2 exhibited partial cell cycle arrest with cells accumulating at G1 and S phases, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that expression levels, subcellular distributions and ligand-independent constitutive activities of AT2 receptor were cell type-dependent while posttranslational processing of nascent AT2 receptor protein was modulated by epitope tag and mode of expression.

Construction and characterization of single-chain variable fragment antibody library derived from germline rearranged immunoglobulin variable genes.

Antibody repertoires for library construction are conventionally harvested from mRNAs of immune cells. To examine whether germline rearranged immunoglobulin (Ig) variable region genes could be used as source of antibody repertoire, an immunized phage-displayed scFv library was prepared using splenocytic genomic DNA as template. In addition, a novel frame-shifting PCR (fsPCR) step was introduced to rescue stop codon and to enhance diversity of the complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3). The germline scFv library was initially characterized against the hapten antigen phenyloxazolone (phOx). Sequence analysis of the phOx-selective scFvs indicated that the CDRs consisted of novel as well as conserved motifs. In order to illustrate that the diversity of CDR3 was increased by the fsPCR step, a second scFv library was constructed using a single scFv clone L3G7C as a template. Despite showing similar binding characteristics towards phOx, the scFv clones that were obtained from the L3G7C-derived antibody library gave a lower non-specific binding than that of the parental L3G7C clone. To determine whether germline library represented the endogenous immune status, specific scFv clones for nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-associated coronavirus (SCoV) were obtained both from naïve and immunized germline scFv libraries. Both libraries yielded specific anti-N scFvs that exhibited similar binding characteristics towards recombinant N protein, except the immunized library gave a larger number of specific anti-N scFv, and clones with identical nucleotide sequences were found. In conclusion, highly diversified antibody library can be efficiently constructed using germline rearranged immunoglobulin variable genes as source of antibody repertoires and fsPCR to diversify the CDR3.

Synthesis, photophysical properties and in vitro photodynamic activity of axially substituted subphthalocyanines.

A new series of subphthalocyanines substituted axially with an oligoethylene glycol chain [SPcB(OCH(2)CH(2))(n)OH, n = 3 (2) or 4 (3)] or a p-phenoxy oligoethylene glycol methyl ether chain [SPcBOC(6)H(4)(OCH(2)CH(2))(n)OCH(3), n = 2 (4) or 3 (5)] have been synthesised by substitution reactions of boron subphthalocyanine chloride SPcBCl (1) with the corresponding oligoethylene glycols, and characterised with various spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. The molecular structure of one of these compounds (subphthalocyanine 4) has also been determined. As revealed by absorption spectroscopy, these compounds are essentially non-aggregated in DMF. The low aggregation tendency of these compounds results in a strong fluorescence emission and high efficiency to generate singlet oxygen. All these subphthalocyanines, being formulated with Cremophor EL, function as efficient photosensitisers and exhibit a high photocytotoxicity against HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma and HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. The phenoxy analogues 4 and 5 show a relatively high photostability and are particularly potent towards these cell lines, with IC(50) values down to 0.02 microM.

Photodynamic effects of a novel series of silicon(IV) phthalocyanines against human colon adenocarcinoma cells.

The photodynamic activities of a novel series of silicon(IV) phthalocyanines with different axial substituents including the 1,3-bis(dimethylamino)-2-propoxy group, isopropylidene-protected galactose, and polyethylene glycol have been investigated against HT29 and T84 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. While these compounds are not cytotoxic in the absence of light, they exhibit high photocytotoxicities with IC50 values as low as 17nM. The photodynamic activities of these compounds against HT29 are correlated with the cellular uptake as reflected by the relative intracellular fluorescence intensity and the Q-band absorbance of the dyes in the organic extracts. The most potent compound 1, having a 1,3-bis(dimethylamino)-2-propoxy group and a methoxy group as the axial substituents, has a high and selective affinity to the mitochondria of HT29 cells, as revealed by fluorescence microscopy.

Synthesis and in vitro photodynamic activity of new hexadeca-carboxy phthalocyanines.

Two new hexadeca-carboxy phthalocyanines have been synthesised and evaluated for their photodynamic activities; the zinc(II) analogue exhibits a high class-A scavenger-receptor mediated photocytotoxicity towards the J774 murine macrophage cell line.

New amphiphilic silicon(IV) phthalocyanines as efficient photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy: synthesis, photophysical properties, and in vitro photodynamic activities.

A novel series of silicon(IV) phthalocyanines substituted axially with one or two 1,3-bis(dimethylamino)-2-propoxy group(s) have been prepared by ligand substitution and alkoxy exchange reactions. Two dicationic and tetracationic phthalocyanines have also been prepared by methylation of two of these compounds. The nonionic phthalocyanines are essentially nonaggregated in common organic solvents and show a weak fluorescence emission, while the methylated derivatives are also nonaggregated, even in aqueous media, and exhibit a strong fluorescence emission. These new phthalocyanines, in particular the unsymmetrical and amphiphilic analogues, are highly potent against HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells and J774 mouse macrophage cells with IC50 values down to 0.02 microM. The photodynamic activities are related to the cellular uptake and the efficiency to generate singlet oxygen. A higher positive charge at the phthalocyanine hinders the uptake, reflected by the lower intracellular fluorescence intensity. Fluorescence microscopic studies have also revealed that the unsymmetrical phthalocyanine SiPc[C3H5(NMe2)2O](OMe) (4) has a high and selective affinity to the mitochondria of HepG2 cells.