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Biomedical subjects

A Richmond

Publications and source records attributed to A Richmond.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Differential regulation of CXC ligand 1 transcription in melanoma cell lines by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1.

The continuous production of the CXC ligand 1 (CXCL1) chemokine by melanoma cells is a major effector of tumor growth. We have previously shown that the constitutive expression of this chemokine is dependent upon transcription factors nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), stimulating protein-1 (SP1), high-mobility group-I/Y (HMGI/Y), CAAT displacement protein (CDP) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1). In this study, we demonstrate for the first time the mechanism of transcriptional regulation of CXCL1 through PARP-1 in melanoma cells. In its inactive state, PARP-1 binds to the CXCL1 promoter in a sequence-specific manner and prevents binding of NF-kappaB (p65/p50) to its element. However, activation of the PARP-1 enzymatic activity enhances CXCL1 expression, owing to the loss of PARP-1 binding to the CXCL1 promoter, accompanied by enhanced binding of p65 to the promoter. The delineation of the role of NF-kappaB-interacting factors in the putative CXCL1 enhanceosome will provide key information in developing strategies to block constitutive expression of this and other chemokines in cancer and to develop targeted therapy.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Induction of melanoma in murine macrophage inflammatory protein 2 transgenic mice heterozygous for inhibitor of kinase/alternate reading frame.

The molecular and genetic events that contribute to the genesis and progression of cutaneous malignant melanoma are poorly understood, attributable in large part to the different genetic alterations accompanying tumorigenesis. Inhibitor of kinase 4a (INK4a) is often inactivated in families with hereditary melanoma. Loss of INK4a/alternate reading frame (ARF) in mice is associated with increased incidence of other tumors such as lymphoma and fibrosarcoma. However, the incidence of melanoma in INK4a/ARF-deficient mice is very low. Our previous studies have revealed that the CXC chemokine, CXCL1, is overexpressed in human malignant melanoma cells and is linked to transformation of immortalized murine melanocytes. To study the direct role of CXCL1 on the genesis of primary melanoma lesions, transgenic mouse lines were established that express the murine homologue of CXCL1, murine macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), under the transcriptional control of the tyrosinase promoter/enhancer (Tyr-MIP-2) in the mice that were deficient or not deficient for INK4a/ARF. Strong MIP-2 immunoreactivity was associated with pigmented melanocytes in the hyperproliferative hair follicles in the Tyr-MIP-2 transgenic mice, and the level of MIP-2 expression was similar in both INK4a/ARF heterozygous or wild-type mice. After treatment of mice with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, cutaneous melanomas formed in 12% (17/145) of the Tyr-MIP-2 transgene-positive mice, whereas only 2% (3/146) of the Tyr-MIP-2 transgene-negative mice developed melanoma. When melanocytes cultured from MIP-2 transgenic mice null for INK4a/ARF were transplanted into nude mice, melanoma formation occurred in 83% (10/12) of the cases with a latency period of 3 months. However, no melanoma lesions arose in nude mice injected with INK4a/ARF -/- melanocytes, which did not express the MIP-2 transgene. Our results demonstrate that constitutive expression of MIP-2 in INK4a/ARF-deficient melanocytes facilitates formation of malignant melanoma.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Protein phosphatase 2A interacts with and directly dephosphorylates RelA.

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B)/Rel transcription factors are key regulators of a variety of genes involved in inflammatory responses, growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and development. There are increasing lines of evidence that NF-kappa B/Rel activity is controlled to a great extent by its phosphorylation state. In this study, we demonstrated that RelA physically associated with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) subunit A (PR65). Both the N- and C-terminal regions of RelA were responsible for the PP2A binding. RelA co-immunoprecipitated with PP2A in melanocytes in the absence of stimulation, indicating that RelA forms a signaling complex with PP2A in the cells. RelA was dephosphorylated by a purified PP2A core enzyme, a heterodimer formed by the catalytic subunit of PP2A (PP2Ac) and PR65, in a concentration-dependent manner. Okadaic acid, an inhibitor of PP2A at lower concentration, increased the basal phosphorylation of RelA in melanocytes and blocked the dephosphorylation of RelA after interleukin-1 stimulation. Interestingly, PP2A immunoprecipitated from melanocytes was able to dephosphorylate RelA, whereas PP2A immunoprecipitated from melanoma cell lines exhibited decreased capacity to dephosphorylate RelA in vitro. Moreover, in melanoma cells in which I kappa B kinase activity was inhibited by sulindac to a similar level as in melanocytes, the phosphorylation state of RelA and the relative NF-kappa B activity were still higher than those in normal melanocytes. These data suggest that the constitutive activation of RelA in melanoma cells (Yang, J., and Richmond, A. (2001) Cancer Res. 61, 4901-4909) could be due, at least in part, to the deficiency of PP2A, which exhibits decreased dephosphorylation of NF-kappa B/RelA.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Constitutive IkappaB kinase activity correlates with nuclear factor-kappaB activation in human melanoma cells.

Constitutive IKK activity associated with increased IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and degradation contribute to the high level of endogenous nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation in Hs294T melanoma cells as compared with RPE cells (R. L. Shattuck-Brandt and A. Richmond, Cancer Res., 57: 3032-3039, 1997; M. N. Devalaraja et al., Cancer Res., 59: 1372-1377, 1999). To determine whether this endogenous NF-kappaB activation was characteristic of melanoma, we examined the level of constitutive activation of NF-kappaB in a number of melanoma cell lines. We demonstrate here that eight melanoma cell lines exhibit increased IkappaB kinase (IKK) activity, enhanced phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha and p65, and enhanced nuclear localization of p65/p50 in comparison to normal human epidermal melanocytes. The chemokines, CXC ligand 1 (CXCL1) and CXCL8, but not CXCL5, are highly expressed in most of the melanoma cell lines, suggesting that the constitutive production of chemokines is highly correlated to endogenous NF-kappaB activity. Our failure to observe a direct relationship between the fold activation of IKK, CXCL1, or CXCL8 mRNA levels and secretion of these chemokines into the culture medium suggest that regulation of chemokine expression also occurs at the posttranscription level of mRNA stability and/or translational control. Moreover, recombinant CXCL1 can directly induce IKK activity in normal human epidermal melanocytes in a concentration-dependent manner after up-modulation of CXCL1 protein expression, whereas inhibition of IKKbeta activity results in down-modulation of CXCL1 protein expression. Finally, CXCL1 antibody blocks IKK activity and inhibits the proliferation of melanoma cells to further support the concept that the constitutive activation of NF-kappaB and autocrine effects of CXCL1 play an important role in the pathogenesis of melanoma.

Cell Division↗
PubMed2001

Developmental expression of two CXC chemokines, MIP-2 and KC, and their receptors.

CXC chemokines, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and KC, (a cloning designation based on ordinate and abscissa position) as well as the CXC chemokine receptor, CXCR2, are expressed in a variety of cells and tissues in adult mice. Targeted deletion of the gene encoding murine CXCR2 does not result in obvious changes in the development of the organ system of the mouse, though the CXCR2-/- mouse is compromised with regard to its ability to resist infection, heal wounds, and maintain homeostasis when challenged with microbes and/or chemicals. In an attempt to develop insight into additional possible subtle roles of CXCR2 and its ligands in the development of the mouse, we examined the expression of MIP-2, KC, CXCR2, as well as the Duffy antigen binding protein for chemokines during embryonic (p.c.) days 11.5 through 14.5 in the mouse. We observed strong correlation between the expression of MIP-2 and CXCR2 in the developing brain, cardiovascular system and condensing mesenchyme between 11.5 and 13.5 days. Moreover, the expression of KC was parallel to the expression of the Duffy antigen binding protein for chemokines with regard to temporal pattern and tissue localization. MIP-2 and CXCR2 are highly expressed in the brain, first in the cerebellum and in the head mesenchyme, the meninges and the floor plate, and by 14.5 days are also present in the telencephalon, thalamus and hypothalamus. In the developing brain KC and Duffy were prominently expressed in the neuronal tracts, the forebrain, sympathetic ganglia, and along the periphery of the neural tube. However, KC and Duffy were less prevalent in the developing cardiovascular system, lung and other organs, muscle and bone, than are CXCR2 and MIP-2. These data suggest that the roles for these chemokines and their receptors during development may be more significant than was initially thought based upon the phenotype of the mice with targeted deletion of CXCR2 and Duffy.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The role of CDP in the negative regulation of CXCL1 gene expression.

The CXC chemokine, melanoma growth stimulatory activity/growth-regulated protein, CXCL1 is an important modulator of inflammation, wound healing, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis. Transcription of CXCL1 is regulated through several cis-acting elements including Sp1, NF-kappa B, and an element that lies immediately upstream of the NF-kappa B element, the immediate upstream region (IUR). A transcription element data base search indicated that the IUR element contains a binding site for the transcriptional repressor, human CUT homeodomain protein/CCAAT displacement protein (CDP). It is shown here that in electrophoretic mobility shift assays, complexes obtained with the IUR oligonucleotide probe are supershifted by anti-CDP antibodies and that a CDP polypeptide containing a high affinity DNA binding domain binds to the sequence GGGATCGATC in the IUR element. In Southwestern blot analyses, oligonucleotides containing the wild-type IUR sequence, but not a mutant oligonucleotide with substitutions in the GGGATCGATC sequence, bind a 170--180-kDa protein. Furthermore, overexpression of the CDP protein blocks CXCL1 promoter activity in reporter gene assays, whereas overexpression of an antisense CDP construct leads to a significant increase in CXCL1 promoter activity. Mutations in the IUR element, which map in the putative CDP-binding site, inhibit the binding of CDP to the IUR element and favor increased transcription from the CXCL1 promoter. Based on these results, we propose that transcriptional regulation of the CXCL1 gene is mediated in part by CDP, which could play an important role in inflammatory processes and tumorigenesis.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Phosphorylation-independent association of CXCR2 with the protein phosphatase 2A core enzyme.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is postulated to be involved in the dephosphorylation of G protein-coupled receptors. In the present study, we demonstrate that the carboxyl terminus of CXCR2 physically interacts with the PP2A core enzyme, a dimer formed by PP2Ac and PR65, but not with the PP2Ac monomer, suggesting direct interaction of the receptor with PR65. The integrity of a sequence motif in the C terminus of CXCR2, KFRHGL, which is conserved in all CC and CXC chemokine receptors, is required for the receptor binding to the PP2A core enzyme. CXCR2 co-immunoprecipitates with the PP2A core enzyme in HEK293 cells and in human neutrophils. Overexpression of dominant negative dynamin 1 (dynamin 1 K44A) in CXCR2-expressing cells blocks the receptor association with the PP2A core enzyme, and an internalization-deficient mutant form of CXCR2 (I323A,L324A) also exhibits impaired association with the PP2A core enzyme, suggesting that the receptor internalization is required for the receptor binding to PP2A. A phosphorylation-deficient mutant of CXCR2 (331T), which has previously been shown to undergo internalization in HEK293 cells, binds to an almost equal amount of the PP2A core enzyme in comparison with the wild-type CXCR2, suggesting that the interaction of the receptor with PP2A is phosphorylation-independent. The dephosphorylation of CXCR2 is reversed by treatment of the cells with okadaic acid. Moreover, pretreatment of the cells with okadaic acid increases basal phosphorylation of CXCR2 and attenuates CXCR2-mediated calcium mobilization and chemotaxis. Taken together, these data indicate that PP2A is involved in the dephosphorylation of CXCR2. We postulate that this interaction results from direct binding of the regulatory subunit A (PR65) of PP2A to the carboxyl terminus of CXCR2 after receptor sequestration and internalization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Optimization of a flat plate glass reactor for mass production of Nannochloropsis sp. outdoors.

The relationships between areal (g m(-2) per day) and volumetric (g l(-1) per day) productivity of Nannochloropsis sp. as affected by the light-path (ranging from 1.3 to 17.0 cm) of a vertical flat plate glass photobioreactor were elucidated. In general, the shorter the length of the light-path (LP), the smaller the areal volume and the higher the volumetric productivity. The areal productivity in relation to the light-path, in contrast, yielded an optimum curve, the highest areal productivity was obtained in a 10 cm LP reactor, which is regarded, therefore, optimal for mass production of Nannochloropsis. An attempt was made to identify criteria by which to assess the efficiency of a photobioreactor in utilizing strong incident energy. Two basic factors which relate to reactor efficiency and its cost-effectiveness have been defined as (a) the total illuminated surface required to produce a set quantity of product and (b) culture volume required to produce that quantity. As a general guide line, the lower these values are, the more efficient and cost-effective the reactor would be. An interesting feature of this analysis rests with the fact that an open raceways is as effective in productivity per illuminated area as a flat-plate reactor with an optimal light path, both cultivation systems requiring ca. 85 m(2) of illuminated surface to produce 1 kg dry cell mass of Nannochloropsis sp. per day. The difference in light utilization efficiency between the two very different production systems involves three aspects - first, the open raceway requires ca. 6 times greater volume than the 10 cm flat plate reactor to produce the same quantity of cell-mass. Second, the total ground area (i.e. including the ground area between reactors) for the vertical flat plate reactor is less than one half of that occupied by an open raceway, indicating the former is more efficient, photosynthetically, compared with the latter. Finally, the harvested cell density is close to one order of magnitude higher in the flat plate reactor, which carries economic significance. The advantage of vertical lamination of photoautotrophic cells provided by vertical plate reactors, is thereby clearly seen. The optimal population density (i.e. which results in the highest areal productivity) in the 10 cm plate reactor was obtained by a daily harvest of 10% of culture volume, yielding an annual average of ca. 12.1 g dry wt. m(-2) per day (on the basis of the overall illuminated reactor surfaces, i.e. front and back) or 240 mg l(-1) per day.

Bioreactors↗
PubMed2001

Identification of a motif in the carboxyl terminus of CXCR2 that is involved in adaptin 2 binding and receptor internalization.

Agonist treatment of cells expressing the chemokine receptor, CXCR2, induces receptor phosphorylation and internalization through a dynamin-dependent mechanism. In the present study, we demonstrate that a carboxyl terminus-truncated mutant of CXCR2 (331T), which no longer undergoes agonist-induced phosphorylation, continues to undergo ligand-induced internalization in HEK293 cells. This mutant receptor exhibits reduced association with beta-arrestin 1 but continues to exhibit association with adaptin 2 alpha and beta subunits. Replacing Leu320-321 and/or Ile323-Leu324 with Ala (LL320,321AA, IL323,324AA, and LLIL320,321,323,324AAAA) in wild-type CXCR2 or 331T causes little change in ligand binding and signaling through Ca(2+) mobilization but greatly impairs the agonist-induced receptor sequestration and ligand-mediated chemotaxis. The LL320,321AA, IL323,324AA, and LLIL320,321,323,324AAAA mutants of CXCR2 exhibit normal binding to beta-arrestin 1 but exhibit decreased binding to adaptin 2alpha and beta. These data demonstrate a role for the LLKIL motif in the carboxyl terminus of CXCR2 in receptor internalization and cell chemotaxis and imply a role for adaptin 2 in the endocytosis of CXCR2.

Adaptor Protein Complex alpha Subunits↗
PubMed2000

A role for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in the transcriptional regulation of the melanoma growth stimulatory activity (CXCL1) gene expression.

The melanoma growth stimulatory activity/growth-regulated protein, CXCL1, is constitutively expressed at high levels during inflammation and progression of melanocytes into malignant melanoma. It has been shown previously that CXCL1 overexpression in melanoma cells is due to increased transcription as well as stability of the CXCL1 message. The transcription of CXCL1 is regulated through several cis-acting elements including Sp1, NF-kappaB, HMGI(Y), and the immediate upstream region (IUR) element (nucleotides -94 to -78), which lies immediately upstream to the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) element. Previously, it has been shown that the IUR is necessary for basal and cytokine-induced transcription of the CXCL1 gene. UV cross-linking and Southwestern blot analyses indicate that the IUR oligonucleotide probe selectively binds a 115-kDa protein. In this study, the IUR element has been further characterized. We show here that proximity of the IUR element to the adjacent NF-kappaB element is critical to its function as a positive regulatory element. Using binding site oligonucleotide affinity chromatography, we have selectively purified the 115-kDa IUR-F. Mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry/matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time of flight spectroscopy and amino acid analysis as well as microcapillary reverse phase chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry identified this protein as the 114-kDa poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP1). Furthermore, 3-aminobenzamide, an inhibitor of PARP-specific ADP-ribosylation, inhibits CXCL1 promoter activity and reduces levels of CXCL1 mRNA. The data point to the possibility that PARP may be a coactivator of CXCL1 transcription.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed2000

Nuclear factor-kappa B activation by the CXC chemokine melanoma growth-stimulatory activity/growth-regulated protein involves the MEKK1/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

Melanoma growth stimulatory activity/growth-regulated protein (MGSA/GRO), a CXC chemokine, plays an important role in inflammation, wound healing, growth regulation, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis. Constitutive expression of MGSA/GROalpha in melanoma tumors is associated with constitutive nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activity. We show here that either exogenous addition or continuous expression of MGSA/GROalpha in immortalized melanocytes enhances NF-kappaB activation, as well as mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase kinase (MEKK) 1, MAP kinase kinase (MEK) 3/6, and p38 MAP kinase activation. Expression of dominant negative M-Ras (S27N), dominant negative MEKK1 (K432M), or specific chemical inhibitors for p38 MAP kinase (SB202190 and SB203580) block MGSA/GROalpha-induced NF-kappaB transactivation, demonstrating that Ras, MEKK1, and p38 are involved in the signal pathways of MGSA/GROalpha activation of NF-kappaB. Expression of dominant active Ras or dominant active MEKK1 alone can also stimulate NF-kappaB activation. The expression of dominant negative MEKK1 inhibits the Ras-induced NF-kappaB activation, suggesting that MEKK1 is a downstream target of Ras. Moreover, MGSA/GROalpha induction of NF-kappaB is independent of the MEK1/ERK cascade, because MGSA/GROalpha failed to increase ERK and ELK activation, and specific chemical inhibitors for MEK1 (PD98059) had no effect on MGSA/GROalpha-enhanced NF-kappaB activation. These data demonstrate that NF-kappaB activation is required for MGSA/GROalpha-induced melanocyte transformation through a Ras/MEKK1/p38 cascade in melanocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The CXC chemokine receptor 2, CXCR2, is the putative receptor for ELR+ CXC chemokine-induced angiogenic activity.

We have previously shown that members of the ELR(+) CXC chemokine family, including IL-8; growth-related oncogenes alpha, beta, and gamma; granulocyte chemotactic protein 2; and epithelial neutrophil-activating protein-78, can mediate angiogenesis in the absence of preceding inflammation. To date, the receptor on endothelial cells responsible for chemotaxis and neovascularization mediated by these ELR(+) CXC chemokines has not been determined. Because all ELR(+) CXC chemokines bind to CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), we hypothesized that CXCR2 is the putative receptor for ELR(+) CXC chemokine-mediated angiogenesis. To test this postulate, we first determined whether cultured human microvascular endothelial cells expressed CXCR2. CXCR2 was detected in human microvascular endothelial cells at the protein level by both Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry using polyclonal Abs specific for human CXCR2. To determine whether CXCR2 played a functional role in angiogenesis, we determined whether this receptor was involved in endothelial cell chemotaxis. We found that microvascular endothelial cell chemotaxis in response to ELR(+) CXC chemokines was inhibited by anti-CXCR2 Abs. In addition, endothelial cell chemotaxis in response to ELR(+) CXC chemokines was sensitive to pertussis toxin, suggesting a role for G protein-linked receptor mechanisms in this biological response. The importance of CXCR2 in mediating ELR(+) CXC chemokine-induced angiogenesis in vivo was also demonstrated by the lack of angiogenic activity induced by ELR(+) CXC chemokines in the presence of neutralizing Abs to CXCR2 in the rat corneal micropocket assay, or in the corneas of CXCR2(-/-) mice. We thus conclude that CXCR2 is the receptor responsible for ELR(+) CXC chemokine-mediated angiogenesis.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2000

MGSA/GRO-mediated melanocyte transformation involves induction of Ras expression.

The MGSA/GRO protein is endogenously expressed in almost 70% of the melanoma cell lines and tumors, but not in normal melanocytes. We have previously demonstrated that over-expression of human MGSA/GROalpha, beta or gamma in immortalized murine melanocytes (melan-a cells) enables these cells to form tumors in SCID and nude mice. To examine the possibility that the MGSA/GRO effect on melanocyte transformation requires expression of other genes, differential display was performed. One of the mRNA's identified in the screen as overexpressed in MGSA/GRO transformed melan-a clones was the newly described M-Ras or R-Ras3 gene, a member of the Ras gene superfamily. Over-expression of MGSA/GRO upregulates M-Ras expression at both the mRNA and protein levels, and this induction requires an intact glutamine-leucine-arginine (ELR)-motif in the MGSA/GRO protein. Western blot examination of Ras expression revealed that K- and N-Ras proteins are also elevated in MGSA/GRO-expressing melan-a clones, leading to an overall increase in the amount of activated Ras. MGSA/GRO-expressing melan-a clones exhibited enhanced AP-1 activity. The effects of MGSA/GRO on AP-1 activation could be mimicked by over-expression of wild-type M-Ras or a constitutively activated M-Ras mutant in control melan-a cells as monitored by an AP-1-luciferase reporter, while expression of a dominant negative M-Ras blocked AP-1-luciferase activity in MGSA/GRO-transformed melan-a clones. In the in vitro transformation assay, over-expression of M-Ras mimicked the effects of MGSA/GRO by inducing cellular transformation in control melan-a cells, while over-expression of dominant negative M-Ras in MGSA/GROalpha-expressing melan-a-6 cells blocked transformation. These data suggest that MGSA/GRO-mediated transformation requires Ras activation in melanocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Optical properties of Nannochloropsis sp and their application to remote estimation of cell mass.

The absorption and scattering coefficients and reflectance spectra of ultra-high density Nannochloropsis occulata cultures were investigated in detail to identify the optical properties of the cultures and devise algorithms for remote estimation of dry cell mass in ultra-high cell density cultures. High-spectral resolution measurements of apparent absorption and attenuation as well as reflectance from 400 to 900 nm were carried out in relation to the dry weight, cell count, and pigment concentration in outdoor cultures. Indices calculated as (R(NIR) - R(red))/(R(NIR) + R(red)) and R(NIR)/R(red), in which R(NIR) is reflectance in the range from 750 to 800 nm and R(red) is reflectance in the range 670-680 nm, were used for remote assessment of dry cell mass. Remote estimation in the range 1 to 8 g/L was accomplished with an error of less than 0.66 g/L. A different index, i.e., (R(NIR) - R(red)) was employed for estimation of cell-chlorophyll concentration. This is the first report of in vivo specific absorption coefficient of chlorophyll-a and specific scattering coefficient per dry algal weight of Nannochloropsis sp., providing a basis for remote monitoring of dense phytoplankton masses.

Absorption↗
PubMed2000

The tumorigenic and angiogenic effects of MGSA/GRO proteins in melanoma.

Continuous expression of the MGSA/GROalpha, beta, or gamma chemokine bestows tumor-forming capacity to the immortalized murine melanocyte cell line, melan-a. The mechanism for this transformation is unclear, although both autocrine and paracrine processes are possible because melan-a cells as well as endothelial cells express a low level of the receptor for this ligand. To further define the role of MGSA/GRO proteins in melanocyte transformation, two types of experiments were designed to neutralize the biological effects of MGSA/GRO in the transfected melan-a clones: (1) the effect of neutralizing antiserum to MGSA/GRO proteins on melan-a tumor growth was assessed; (2) the tumor-forming capacity of melan-a clones expressing ELR motif-mutated forms of MGSA/GRO with compromised receptor affinity was compared to the tumor-forming capacity of clones expressing wild-type MGSA/GRO. These experiments revealed that SCID mice inoculated with MGSA/GROalpha- or gamma-expressing melan-a cells and subsequently treated with antiserum to the respective chemokine exhibited decreased tumor growth. This reduction in tumor growth was accompanied by declining angiogenic activity in MGSA/GROgamma-expressing tumors. Moreover, athymic nude mice injected with melan-a cells expressing ELR-mutant forms of MGSA/GROalpha exhibited markedly impaired tumor-forming capacity compared with those mice injected with melan-a clones expressing wild-type MGSA/GRO. These data suggest that continuous expression of MGSA/GRO proteins may facilitate tumor growth by stimulating the growth of microvessels into the tumor (paracrine) and by affecting melanocyte growth (autocrine).

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Cytokines revisited at Hilton head.

The Seventh International Cytokine Society Meeting, held in December 1999 at Hilton Head, provided once more an ideal setting for an intense discussion and remodeling of concepts regarding the biology and molecular biology of cytokines and chemokines. Approximately 400 scientists gathered at the beach-side resort, forgoing the beauty of the ocean to listen to their colleagues in the field, in a program ably organized by Jan Vilcek, Scott Durum, Bruce Beutler and Ann Richmond. Here, we attempt to cover some of the highlights on gene regulation, T helper cell differentiation, signal transduction, receptor trafficking, chemokines, apoptosis, disease models, and new cytokines.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Delayed wound healing in CXCR2 knockout mice.

Previous studies demonstrated that the CXC chemokine, MGSA/GRO-alpha and its receptor, CXCR2, are expressed during wound healing by keratinocytes and endothelial cells at areas where epithelialization and neovascularization occur. The process of wound healing is dependent on leukocyte recruitment, keratinocyte proliferation and migration, and angiogenesis. These processes may be mediated in part by CXC chemokines, such as interleukin-8 and MGSA/GRO-alpha. To examine further the significance of CXC chemokines in wound healing, full excisional wounds were created on CXCR2 wild-type (+/+), heterozygous (+/-), or knockout (-/-) mice. Wounds were histologically analyzed for neutrophil and monocyte infiltration, neovascularization and epithelialization at days 3, 5, 7, and 10 postwounding. The CXCR2 -/- mice exhibited defective neutrophil recruitment, an altered temporal pattern of monocyte recruitment, and altered secretion of interleukin-1beta. Significant delays in wound healing parameters, including epithelialization and decreased neovascularization, were also observed in CXCR2 -/- mice. In vitro wounding experiments with cultures of keratinocytes established from -/- and +/+ mice revealed a retardation in wound closure in CXCR2 -/- keratinocytes, suggesting a role for this receptor on keratinocytes in epithelial resurfacing that is independent of neutrophil recruitment. These in vitro and in vivo studies further establish a pathophysiologic role for CXCR2 during cutaneous wound repair.

Animals↗