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Ectopic programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) is related to immune evasion by cancer, and it is a molecular target of immune checkpoint therapies. Although some altered signals in NSCLCs are responsible for ectopic PD-L1 expression, the precise mechanisms remain obscure. Because we found a higher frequency of EGFR/KRAS mutations in NSCLC cell lines with high PD-L1 expression (p < 0.001), we evaluated the relationships between downstream signals and PD-L1 expression, particularly in three KRAS-mutant adenocarcinoma cell lines. The MEK inhibitor U0126 (20 µM) significantly decreased the surface PD-L1 levels by 50-60% compared with dimethyl sulfoxide (p < 0.0001). Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulation (100 nM, 15 min) increased (p < 0.05) and two ERK2 siRNAs as well as KRAS siRNAs decreased (p < 0.05) PD-L1 expression. The transcriptional activity of the potential AP-1 site (+4785 to +5056 from the transcription start site) in the PD-L1 gene was demonstrated by luciferase assays, which was inhibited by U0126. The chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated the binding of cJUN to the AP-1 site. Two STAT3 siRNAs decreased PD-L1 expression by 10-32% in two of the three KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma cell lines (p < 0.05), while the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (40 µM) did not change the expression level. Supervised cluster analysis and gene set enrichment analysis between the PD-L1-high and -low NSCLCs revealed a correlation between PD-L1 expression and genes/pathways related to cell motility/adhesion. These results indicate that MAPK signaling is the dominant downstream signal responsible for ectopic PD-L1 expression, in which STAT3 is also involved to some extent. Furthermore, MAPK signaling may control the expression of PD-L1 and several genes related to enhanced cell motility. Our findings suggest that MAPK, along with STAT3, is important for determining PD-L1 expression, which could be useful for targeted therapies against lung cancers.

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Increased intake of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), such as palmitate (Pal), is linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Although recent studies have investigated the direct effects of SFAs on inflammatory responses in vascular endothelial cells, it remains unknown whether SFAs also induce these responses mediated by circulating cells. In this study, especially focused on adhesion molecules and monocytes, we investigated the indirect effects of Pal on expression and release of ICAM-1 and E-selectin in vascular endothelial cells. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-treated THP-1 (pTHP-1) cells and human monocytes were stimulated with various free fatty acids (FFAs). SFAs, but not unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), increased interleukin (IL)-1ß secretion and decreased IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) secretion, resulting in an increase in the IL-1ß/IL-1Ra secretion ratio. UFAs dose-dependently inhibited the increase in IL-1ß secretion and decrease in IL-1Ra secretion induced by Pal. Moreover, in human aortic and vein endothelial cells, expression and release of ICAM-1 and E-selectin were induced by treatment with conditioned medium collected from Pal-stimulated pTHP-1 cells and human monocytes, but not by Pal itself. The up-regulated expression and release of adhesion molecules by the conditioned medium were mostly abolished by recombinant human IL-1Ra supplementation. These results suggest that the Pal-induced increase in the ratio of IL-1ß/IL-1Ra secretion in monocytes up-regulates endothelial adhesion molecules, which could enhance leukocyte adhesion to endothelium. This study provides further evidence that IL-1ß neutralization through receptor antagonism may be useful for preventing the onset and development of cardiovascular disease.

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Microglia are intrinsic immune cells in the brain. In response to neurodegenerative events, excessively activated microglia change their shapes and release various cytokines leading to the pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) disease. Because the intracellular mechanisms of this process are still unclear, we have evaluated the functional roles of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel expressed in the microglia. Robust microglial activation after an injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the mouse cerebral ventricle was suppressed by concurrent administration of a selective TRPV4 agonist, 4α-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4α-PDD). When the mechanism was further investigated using cultured rat microglia intrinsically expressing functional TRPV4, release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and expression of galectin-3 were both increased by LPS. These increases were significantly suppressed by cotreatment with 4α-PDD, and the inhibitory effects of 4α-PDD were abolished by knockdown of TRPV4 or TRPV4 antagonists. The amplitude of voltage-dependent K(+) current, which is augmented during microglial activation, was also suppressed by 4α-PDD treatment. Opening of TRPV4 channels with 4α-PDD induced membrane depolarization mainly by increasing Na(+) influx. In addition, mimicking depolarization with a high-K(+) solution suppressed LPS-induced TNF-α release and galectin-3 upregulation. Both depolarizing treatments with 4α-PDD and high-K(+) solution decreased store-operated Ca(2+) influx caused by thapsigargin. These results suggest that depolarization in response to opening of the TRPV4 channel attenuates the driving force for extracellular Ca(2+) and suppresses microglial activation.

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Ghrelin is a potent, centrally acting orexigenic hormone. Recently, we showed that centrally administered ghrelin is a potent antidipsogenic hormone in 24-h water deprived rats. In this study, we examined the effect of intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of ghrelin on angiotensin II (AII)-induced water intake in rats. We also examined the effects of icv injection of ghrelin on drinking induced by intraperitoneal injection of an isotonic polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution that causes isotonic hypovolemia. Water intake induced by the icv injection of AII or ip injection of PEG was significantly reduced after icv injection of ghrelin, although food intake was stimulated by the hormone. The drinking induced by AII was also inhibited by the icv administration of 4alpha-phorbol 12, 13-didecanoate, an agonist of the osmosensitive TRPV4 channel. This study showed that ghrelin is a potent antidipsogenic peptide by antagonizing general dipsogenic mechanisms including those activated by AII and hypovolemia in rats.

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In the presence of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or the non-TPA-type tumor promoter, palytoxin, recombinant human insulin growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin synergistically stimulate prostaglandin production in rat liver cells (the C-9 cell line). Combinations of palytoxin or TPA with recombinant human IGF-I or insulin also synergistically stimulate deesterification of cellular lipids in C-9 cells prelabelled with [3H]arachidonic acid. With both types of stimulations, prostaglandin production or deesterification, the synergistic response of the IGF-I and insulin is greater with palytoxin than with TPA. Production of prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha by squirrel monkey smooth muscle cells incubated in the presence of TPA and insulin also is greater than the sum of the two effects taken independently.

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More than one application of the potent tumor-promoting agent, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), to mouse skin at intervals of more than 48 h led to a larger induction of ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17; ODC) than did a single application. In contrast, at intervals of less than 24 h, the first application of TPA appeared to induce a refractory state; the second application of TPA did not induce ODC. The extent of the inhibitory effect caused by the first application of TPA was dependent on the dose. The abilities of a series of phorbol esters to induce the refractory state correlated with their promoting abilities. However, both mezerein and ethylphenylpropiolate, potent hyperplastic agents with little or no promoting properties, induced the refractory state. On the other hand, pretreatment with TPA caused a refractory effect on ODC induction by mezerein but potentiated ODC induction by ethylphenylpropiolate. The epidermal cells escaped from the refractory state by repeated application of TPA at intervals of 24 h as well as at intervals of twice a week; that is, there was a full induction of ODC activity following a second application within 24 h of a prior application. TPA did not elicit production of detectable ODC-antizyme activity in mouse epidermis. Mixing of a soluble extract from mouse epidermis in the refractory state with that from TPA-stimulated epidermis gave essentially additive ODC activity. Elimination of ODC induction by topical application of retinoic acid or injection of cycloheximide concurrent with the first application of TPA did not restore the ability of a second application of TPA to induce ODC. These results suggest that the refractory effect on ODC induction by TPA does not result from feedback regulation of ODC.

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Mouse B cells cultured with either phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), or with Ca2+ ionophores enter a transitional activated state, between quiescence (G0) and G1, but do not synthesize DNA. It is shown here that the combination of PMA plus the ionophore ionomycin induces resting B cells to synthesize DNA, but not to secrete antibody. B cells from CBA/N mice carrying the xid defect, and those from the lipopolysaccharide-unresponsive C3H/HeJ strain also respond to this combination. Suboptimal doses of the two stimuli synergize with B cell-stimulating factor 1 in promoting proliferation of resting B cells, but the co-mitogen does not substitute for type II B cell growth factor in the BCL1 lymphoma. Furthermore, (as predicted) the combination of these two agents does not induce the breakdown of inositol phospholipids in B cells. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that elevation of intracellular Ca2+ (by the ionophore), plus activation of protein kinase C (by PMA) leads to DNA synthesis in B cells. The combination of Ca2+ ionophore and PMA thus appears to essentially mimic the biochemical effects of ligation of surface immunoglobulin receptors on B cells, by providing the two second messengers normally emanating from the receptor-mediated breakdown of polyphosphoinositides.

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Double applications of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to mouse skin at intervals of greater than 48 h led to a larger induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and a smaller increase of DNA and RNA synthesis than did a single application. The largest induction of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase occurred at a 120 h interval between coupled TPA applications. The change in ODC activity was followed by a parallel change in putrescine level. At intervals less than 24 h, the first application of TPA appeared to induce a refractory state; the second application of TPA did not induce the polyamine biosynthetic enzymes nor cause an accumulation of polyamines. The effect of the second application of TPA on the synthesis of DNA and RNA was considerably less at all times than that of a single application.

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Long-term treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) of dorsal skin of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-initiated Syrian golden hamsters does not lead to the formation of epithelial tumors and leaves the epidermis essentially unchanged. However, previous histological studies by others have shown that hamster epidermis can be hyperplastically transformed by a single application of TPA but that the tissue is capable of gradually adapting to the drug after extended TPA exposure. We have investigated the response of hamster back epidermis to single and multiple treatments with increasing doses of TPA with regard to histological, proliferative, and biochemical alterations, and we show that in our animal strain the dorsal epidermis is resistant to even a single exposure to TPA, although the clearance rate of TPA is comparable to that in mouse epidermis and the metabolism of the substance is negligible. In contrast, the epidermis could be moderately stimulated by a single application of the nonpromoting calcium ionophore A 23187 and exhibited a strong proliferate and hyperplastic response following the simultaneous exposure to the calcium ionophore and TPA. Both types of hyperproliferation did not reveal an initial depression of the proliferative activity and were accompanied by typical alterations of the keratin polypeptide pattern, which was not detectable after treatment with TPA alone.

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The effect of 20-methylcholanthrene and phorbol esters on sterol metabolism of mouse skin was studied. When 4 beta-phorbol esters were administered to mice that were previously painted once with 20-methylcholanthrene, a depression of some sterols in skin occurred, of which that of lathosterol was most marked. This effect was not observed when the order of application was reversed. Using a metabolic inhibitor, diazacholesterol, it was shown that sterols which reduce in mouse skin by administration of carcinogen and promoters were similar to those which reduce by administration of carcinogen only and are the members of one of the two cholesterol-biosynthetic pathways, i.e., a pathway which proceeds through intermediates with a saturated side chain. The intensity of the lathosterol-depressing effect of phorbol esters depends on the order of application of 20-methylcholanthrene and promoters, the amount of promoters, molecular species of alcoholic moiety of esters, and configuration at C-4 of phorbol moiety. Of the phorbol esters tested, 4 beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate revealed the highest activity, which was followed by 4 beta-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate, 4 beta-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate, 4 beta-phorbol-12,13-dibenzoate, 4 beta-phorbol-12,13-diacetate, 4 alpha-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate, and 4 alpha-phorbol. 4 alpha-Phorbol was practically inactive. When beta-naphthoflavone was substituted for 20-methylcholanthrene, little effect was observed except in TPA, which revealed a rather marked lathosterol-depressing activity. Phorbol esters themselves did show some activity of lathosterol depression without prior application of 20-methylcholanthrene, but the effects were much weaker. When anthralin was applied to mouse skin after the painting of 20-methylcholanthrene, a low but definite lathosterol-depressing effect was observed.

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Organ-cultured embryonic rat pancreata were exposed to either single or multiple doses of methylnitrosourea (MNU), a single dose of MNU followed by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), or TPA alone and cultured for up to 6 weeks. Both single and multiple doses of MNU caused similar alterations during the first 10 days; ie, for 4 days the explants grew and differentiated as untreated explants, forming acini and ductules; thereafter the presence of MNU induced ductular proliferation and hyperplasia. Explants exposed to a single dose of MNU failed to proliferate beyond the 10th day of culture, showed progressive cell necrosis, and became almost completely necrotic in 6 weeks. Cells prepared from these explants on Day 10 and injected subcutaneously into nude mice also failed to grow and degenerated after 2 weeks. Multiple doses of MNU in vitro, however, produced further proliferation with an atypical cribriform pattern by the 15th day. In the absence of MNU, treatment with TPA alone had no histologic effect; but TPA treatment after a single dose of MNU promoted abnormal growth similar to that produced by multiple doses of MNU. Cells prepared from 10-day explants treated with a single dose of MNU followed by TPA grew subcutaneously in nude mice and formed nodules of atypical growth within 2 weeks. This system constitutes a simple model of short-latency chemical carcinogenesis.

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In a modified two-stage carcinogenesis experiment, the effectiveness of the initiator 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) and the tumor-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in the epithelium of the forestomach of the mouse has been investigated. Fifty mice were treated intragastrically with a single dose of DMBA (50 mg/kg body weight), followed by repeated intragastric administration of TPA (10 mg/kg body weight) over a period of 35 weeks. In comparison with the corresponding control groups (no treatment, DMBA initiation only, and TPA treatment only), the initiated and promoted group clearly showed the highest tumor incidence in the target organ (45 tumor-bearing animals of 50 animals). No tumors of the forestomach were found in the untreated control group and the TPA-treated group, whereas in the DMBA-initiated group, ten animals had developed tumors of the forestomach. In addition to the mouse skin model for two-stage carcinogenesis, the mouse forestomach appears to respond to DMBA initiation-TPA promotion. This organ provides an additional tissue with which to investigate tumor promotion and further to ascertain specific parameters of the promotion step.

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Application of the phorbol ester TPA to the back skin of NMRI mice 14 times within a period of 7 weeks causes a stationary hyperplasia, with a corresponding increase in the labelling index of the basal cells from 1% to 14%. By initiation of skin, which has been pretreated with TPA in this way, with the carcinogen DMBA, followed by continued treatment with TPA (initiation-promotion corresponding to the classical Berenblum-Mottram experiment) the tumour yield (papillomas, carcinomas) is very much higher than that obtained using the scheme of the normal Berenblum-Mottram experiment. The preliminary induction of a stationary hyperplasia with high rates of nucleic acid synthesis must be considered an important co-factor in epidermal carcinogenesis.

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