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Biomedical subjects

D J Hicks

Publications and source records attributed to D J Hicks.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, induces cell death in colorectal carcinoma cells: a possible role for cyclooxygenase 2.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is upregulated in most colorectal cancers and is responsible for metabolism of the endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, into prostaglandin-ethanolamides (PG-EAs). The aims of this study were to determine whether anandamide and PG-EAs induce cell death in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells, and whether high levels of COX-2 in CRC cells could be utilised for their specific targeting for cell death by anandamide. METHODS: We determined the effect of anandamide on human CRC cell growth by measuring cell growth and cell death, whether this was dependent on COX-2 protein expression or enzyme activity, and the potential involvement of PG-EAs in induction of cell death. RESULTS: Anandamide inhibited the growth of CRC cell lines HT29 and HCA7/C29 (moderate and high COX-2 expressors, respectively) but had little effect on the very low COX-2 expressing CRC cell line, SW480. Induction of cell death in HT29 and HCA7/C29 cell lines was partially rescued by the COX-2 selective inhibitor NS398. Cell death induced by anandamide was neither apoptosis nor necrosis. Furthermore, inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase potentiated the non-apoptotic cell death, indicating that anandamide induced cell death was mediated via metabolism of anandamide by COX-2, rather than its degradation into arachidonic acid and ethanolamine. Interestingly, both PGE2-EA and PGD2-EA induced classical apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest anandamide may be a useful chemopreventive/therapeutic agent for colorectal cancer as it targets cells that are high expressors of COX-2, and may also be used in the eradication of tumour cells that have become resistant to apoptosis.

Amidohydrolases↗

Increased sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis occurs during the adenoma to carcinoma transition of colorectal carcinogenesis.

The death ligand TRAIL (Apo2L) has potential for cancer therapy, since tumour cells are thought to be more sensitive than normal cells. We investigated whether sensitivity to TRAIL increases during the adenoma to carcinoma transition of colorectal carcinogenesis. Under the same culture conditions, we compared the extent of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in four premalignant adenoma and three carcinoma cell lines. Although TRAIL induced some apoptosis in adenoma cultures, the carcinoma cell lines were significantly more sensitive (P<0.001). This finding was recapitulated in an in vitro model of tumour progression in which conversion of the adenoma cell line AA/C1 to a tumorigenic phenotype was associated with increased TRAIL sensitivity (P<0.001). Increased TRAIL sensitivity during colorectal carcinogenesis has been previously attributed to changes in the balance between TRAIL receptors TRAIL-R1 and -R2 and "decoy" receptors TRAIL-R3 and -R4 during malignant progression. To address this, cell surface receptor expression was measured by flow cytometry. In summary, during colorectal carcinogenesis, there is a marked increase in sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis associated with progression from benign to malignant tumour that could be exploited for colon cancer therapy, but alterations in cell surface TRAIL receptor expression may not be the primary reason for this change.

Adenoma↗

Prospects in NSAID-derived chemoprevention of colorectal cancer.

There is strong evidence for an important role for increased COX (cyclo-oxygenase)-2 expression and PG (prostaglandin) E2 production in colorectal tumorigenesis. PGE(2) acts through four E-prostanoid receptors (EP1-4). COX-2 has therefore become a target for the potential chemoprevention and therapy of colorectal cancer. However, any therapeutic/preventive strategy has the potential to have an impact on physiological processes and hence result in side effects. General COX (COX-1 and -2) inhibition by traditional NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as aspirin, although chemopreventive, has some side effects, as do some conventional COX-2-selective NSAIDs. As PGE2 is thought to be the major PG species responsible for promoting colorectal tumorigenesis, research is being directed to a number of protein targets downstream of COX-2 that might allow the selective inhibition of the tumour-promoting activities of PGE2, while minimizing the associated adverse events. The PGE synthases and E-prostanoid receptors (EP1-4) have therefore recently attracted considerable interest as potential novel targets for the prevention/therapy of colorectal cancer. Selective (and possibly combinatorial) inhibition of the synthesis and signalling of those PGs most highly associated with colorectal tumorigenesis may have some advantages over COX-2-selective inhibitors.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Cannabinoids and cancer: potential for colorectal cancer therapy.

Despite extensive research into the biology of CRC (colorectal cancer), and recent advances in surgical techniques and chemotherapy, CRC continues to be a major cause of death throughout the world. Therefore it is important to develop novel chemopreventive/chemotherapeutic agents for CRC. Cannabinoids are a class of compounds that are currently used in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and in the stimulation of appetite. However, there is accumulating evidence that they could also be useful for the inhibition of tumour cell growth by modulating key survival signalling pathways. The chemotherapeutic potential for plant-derived and endogenous cannabinoids in CRC therapy is reviewed.

Antiemetics↗

Increased NF-kappaB DNA binding but not transcriptional activity during apoptosis induced by the COX-2-selective inhibitor NS-398 in colorectal carcinoma cells.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit colorectal neoplasia, an effect that is associated with their ability to induce apoptosis. Although NSAIDs have been reported to inhibit NF-kappaB, more recent studies show activation of NF-kappaB by NSAIDs. NF-kappaB commonly shows antiapoptotic activity and is implicated in the therapeutic resistance of cancer cells. The effects of highly COX-2-selective NSAIDs such as NS-398 on NF-kappaB in colorectal tumour cells have not been reported. Therefore, we addressed whether NF-kappaB has a role in NS-398-induced apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells. Treatment of HT-29 colorectal carcinoma cells with doses of NS-398 (50-75 microM) known to induce apoptosis had no effect on NF-kappaB for up to 48 h. However after 72 and 96 h NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity was increased by NS-398, in parallel with apoptosis induction. NS-398-treated HT-29 cells showed increased p50 homodimer binding and an induction of p50/p65 heterodimers, as demonstrated by supershift assay. However, although NS-398 increased NF-kappaB DNA binding it did not increase NF-kappaB-dependent reporter activity and inhibition of NF-kappaB DNA binding did not enhance NS-398-induced apoptosis. This indicates that NF-kappaB activated by NS-398 is transcriptionally inactive and is an encouraging result for the use of COX-2-selective NSAIDs not only in chemoprevention but also as novel therapies for colon cancer.

Apoptosis↗

Abrogation of the radiation-induced G2 checkpoint by the staurosporine derivative UCN-01 is associated with radiosensitisation in a subset of colorectal tumour cell lines.

Ionising radiation is commonly used in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Tumour cells with mutant p53 undergo cell cycle arrest at G2/M after ionising radiation and evidence suggests that abrogation of this G2 arrest can lead to a premature, aberrant mitosis, thus enhancing ionising radiation-induced cell killing. The G2 checkpoint inhibitor UCN-01 was thus investigated to determine whether it would abrogate the G2 checkpoint induced by 5 Gy ionising radiation in a range of colorectal tumour cell lines. Data presented show that, at doses that are alone non-toxic to the cells, UCN-01 inhibits the ionising radiation-induced G2 checkpoint in five colorectal tumour cell lines with mutant p53. The ability of UCN-01 to sensitise cells to ionising radiation-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis was also investigated and UCN-01 was found to radiosensitise two out of five cell lines. These results were confirmed by long-term colony forming efficiency studies. These results demonstrate that abrogation of the ionising radiation-induced G2 checkpoint is not necessarily associated with sensitisation to ionising radiation, however, some colorectal tumour cell lines can be radiosensitised by UCN-01. Although the mechanism of radiosensitisation is not clear, this may still be an important treatment strategy.

Alkaloids↗

A human melanoma metastasis-suppressor locus maps to 6q16.3-q23.

Loss, deletion or rearrangement along large portions of the long arm (q-arm) of chromosome 6 occurs in >80% of late-stage human melanomas, suggesting that genes controlling malignant characteristics are encoded there. Metastasis, but not tumorigenicity, was completely suppressed in the human melanoma cell line C8161 into which an additional intact chromosome 6 had been introduced by microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. Our objective was to refine the location of a putative metastasis suppressor gene. To do this, we transferred an intact (neo6) and a deletion variant [neo6qdel; neo6(del)(q16.3-q23)] of neomycin-tagged human chromosome 6 into metastatic C8161 subclone 9 (C8161.9) by MMCT. Single cell hybrid clones were selected in G-418 and isolated. Following verification that the hybrids retained the expected regions of chromosome 6 using a panel of polymorphic sequence-tagged sites, the hybrids were tested for tumorigenicity and metastasis in athymic mice. As reported previously, intact, normal chromosome 6 suppressed metastasis whether tumor cells were injected i.v. or into an orthotopic (i.e., intradermal) site. In contrast, metastasis was not suppressed in the neo6qdel hybrids. Tumorigenicity was unaffected in hybrids prepared with either chromosome 6 donor. These data strongly suggest that a human melanoma metastasis suppressor locus maps between 6q16.3-q23 ( approximately 40 cM).

Animals↗

Transfection of constitutively active mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase confers tumorigenic and metastatic potentials to NIH3T3 cells.

Cellular growth and differentiation are controlled by multiple extracellular signals, many of which activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Components of the MAP kinase pathways also cause oncogenic transformation in their constitutively active forms. Moreover, expression of activated ras can confer metastatic potential upon some cells. Activation of MAP kinases requires phosphorylation of both Thr and Tyr in the catalytic domain by a family of dual-specificity kinases, called MEKs (MAP kinase/ERK kinase). MEK1 is activated by phosphorylation at Ser218 and Ser222 by Raf. Mutation of these two sites to acidic residues, specifically [Asp218], [Asp218, Asp222], and [Glu218, Glu222], results in constitutively active MEK1. Using these mutant variants of MEK1, we showed previously that transfection of NIH/3T3 or Swiss 3T3 cells causes morphological transformation and increases growth on soft agar, independent of ERK activity. The transformed cell lines show increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and cathepsin L, proteinases that have been implicated in the metastatic process. We tested NIH3T3 cells transfected with the [Asp218] or [Asp218, Asp222] for metastatic potential after i.v. injection into athymic mice. Parental 3T3 cells formed no tumors grossly or histologically. However, all MEK1 mutant transformants formed macroscopic metastases. Thus, like activated Ras, MEK1 can confer both tumorigenic and metastatic potential upon NIH3T3 cells. These results refine the mechanism through which ras could confer tumorigenic and metastatic potential (ie., the critical determinants of tumorigenic and metastatic potential are downstream of MEK1).

3T3 Cells↗

Nuclear factor-kappaB/Rel is apoptogenic in cytokine withdrawal-induced programmed cell death.

In the complex microenvironment where they evolve, developing cells undergo rapid programmed cell death (PCD) when cytokines that support them become limiting. The transcriptional mechanisms of cytokine-withdrawal apoptosis are poorly understood. In this report, we used early B-lymphocyte tissue culture and transgenic cells to demonstrate that nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) promotes apoptosis during cytokine withdrawal-induced PCD. In the progenitor B lymphocyte model FL5.12, whereas NF-kappaB has an antiapoptotic function in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha, cytokine withdrawal causes nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB/cRel, where it is apoptogenic. Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation delays cytokine withdrawal-induced PCD in both FL5.12 and transgenic early B cells. Additionally, reconstituting a bone marrow microenvironment ex vivo abrogates the differential apoptotic pattern between control and transgenic early B cells.

Apoptosis↗

Dynamic expression and activity of NF-kappaB during post-natal mammary gland morphogenesis.

The Rel/NF-kappaB family of transcription factors has been implicated in such diverse cellular processes as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. As each of these processes occurs during post-natal mammary gland morphogenesis, the expression and activity of NF-kappaB factors in the murine mammary gland were examined. Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses revealed expression of the p105/p50 and RelA subunits of NF-kappaB, as well as the major inhibitor, IkappaBalpha, in the mammary epithelium during pregnancy, lactation, and involution. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) demonstrated that DNA-binding complexes containing p50 and RelA were abundant during pregnancy and involution, but not during lactation. Activity of an NF-kappaB-dependent luciferase reporter in transgenic mice was highest during pregnancy, decreased to near undetectable levels during lactation, and was elevated during involution. This highly regulated pattern of activity was consistent with the modulated expression of p105/p50, RelA, and IkappaBalpha.

Animals↗

Multiorgan nuclear factor kappa B activation in a transgenic mouse model of systemic inflammation.

We utilized a line of transgenic mice expressing Photinus luciferase complementary DNA (cDNA) under the control of a nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB)-dependent promoter (from the 5' human immunodeficiency virus-1 [HIV-1] long terminal repeat) to examine the role of NF-kappaB activation in the pathogenesis of systemic inflammation induced by bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]). After intraperitoneal injection of E. coli LPS, these mice displayed a time- and dose-dependent, organ-specific pattern of luciferase expression, showing that NF-kappaB-dependent gene transcription is transiently activated in multiple organs by systemic LPS administration. Luciferase expression in liver could be specifically blocked by intravenous administration of replication-deficient adenoviral vectors expressing a dominant inhibitor of NF-kappaB (IkappaB-alphaDN), confirming that luciferase gene expression is a surrogate marker for NF-kappaB activation in this line of mice. After treatment with intraperitoneal LPS, the mice were found to have increased lung tissue messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of a variety of cytokines that are thought to be NF-kappaB-dependent, as well as elevated serum concentrations of presumed NF-kappaB-dependent cytokines. In lung tissue homogenates, a close correlation was identified between luciferase activity and KC levels. These studies show that systemic treatment with LPS orchestrates a multiorgan NF-kappaB-dependent response that likely regulates the pathobiology of systemic inflammation.

Animals↗

Decreased levels of p26-Bcl-2, but not p30 phosphorylated Bcl-2, precede TGFbeta1-induced apoptosis in colorectal adenoma cells.

Bcl-2 expression is confined to the base of the colonic crypt, whereas transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) is expressed in the upper crypt, as are the apoptotic death promoters, Bak and Bax. In colonic adenoma cells, TGFbeta induces a growth arrest. In some adenoma cell lines, this is accompanied by apoptosis and in others it is not. In this study, we used two human colonic adenoma cell lines: RG/C2, in which TGFbeta induces a G1 arrest without apoptosis, and BH/C1, in which TGFbeta induces both a G1 arrest and apoptosis. TGFbeta does not induce apoptosis in RG/C2 cells even if hydrocortisone and insulin are removed from the culture medium. In BH/C1 cells, TGFbeta induces apoptosis in the presence of insulin and hydrocortisone. Apoptosis induced by TGFbeta is preceded by a reduction in p26-Bcl-2 protein levels. There was no change in the levels of the p30 phosphorylated form of Bcl-2 or in levels of the proapoptotic proteins Bax or Bak. RG/C2 cells did not show decreased Bcl-2 levels in response to TGFbeta-induced growth inhibition. Therefore, TGFbeta regulates Bcl-2 expression in colonic adenoma cells which undergo apoptosis in response to TGFbeta, but not in those which are growth inhibited, but resistant to TGFbeta-induced apoptosis. TGFbeta may play an important role in the colonic epithelium, not only in the inhibition of cell proliferation, but also in the regulation of apoptosis.

Adenoma↗

Correlation between reduction of metastasis in the MDA-MB-435 model system and increased expression of the Kai-1 protein.

Using microcell-mediated transfer of a normal chromosome 11 into the highly metastatic MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cell line, we previously showed that human chromosome 11 contains a metastasis-suppressor gene for breast cancer. A known metastasis-suppressor gene, kai-1, and a related family member, tapa-1, have been mapped to chromosome 11p11.2 and 11p15.5, respectively. To determine if these genes are responsible for the metastasis suppression seen in our microcell hybrids, we examined their expression by western blot analysis. Although tapa-1 expression did not significantly correlate with metastasis suppression, kai-1 production was dramatically increased in the metastasis-suppressed chromosome 11 microcell hybrids and unchanged in the metastatic chromosome 6 controls. Transfection of full-length kai-1 cDNA into MDA-MB-435 cells resulted in clones that did not have a significantly decreased in vivo incidence of lung metastases. However, western blot analysis showed that the primary tumors and the metastatic lesions of the transfectants had decreased levels of kai-1 protein compared with the inoculated cells. Furthermore, several of the transfectant clones expressed heavily modified kai-1 protein compared with that of the microcell hybrids. Our data indicate that protein modification may affect the normal function of kai-1 in vivo and that a threshold level of kai-1 protein expression may be necessary for suppression of the metastatic phenotype.

Animals↗

bcl-2 and bak may play a pivotal role in sodium butyrate-induced apoptosis in colonic epithelial cells; however overexpression of bcl-2 does not protect against bak-mediated apoptosis.

Butyrate, a short chain fatty acid produced in the colon as a result of fermentation of dietary fibre by symbiotic bacteria, induces apoptosis in colonic tumour cell lines. Three human colonic adenoma cell lines (AA/C1, RG/C2 and BH/C1) and one carcinoma cell line (S/KS/FI) were used to determine the effects of butyrate on the expression of bcl-2, bax and bak to examine the possible role of these proteins in the induction of apoptosis. RG/C2 and BH/C1 cells express p-26-bcl-2 and butyrate treatment decreased p26-bcl-2 levels in association with apoptosis, whereas bax and bak levels remained constant. AA/C1 and S/KS/FI cells have no detectable p26-bcl-2. In S/KS/FI cells, bax or bak levels did not change in response to butyrate. However, in AA/C1 cells, butyrate-induced apoptosis was associated with increased bak levels. Therefore, in AA/C1 cells butyrate-induced apoptosis appears to be mediated through bak. Furthermore, butyrate also induced apoptosis and increased bak levels in AA/C1 cells transfected with a bcl-2 expression vector which expressed high levels of p26-bcl-2. For S/KS/FI cells, two bcl-2 transfectants gave different results. bcl-2 protected against apoptosis in one transfectant in which bak levels were not elevated in response to butyrate, whereas it did not protect in the other transfectant in which bak levels were increased after butyrate treatment. The results suggest that expression of constitutively high levels of p26-bcl-2 only conferred protection against apoptosis when bak levels were not elevated in response to butyrate and that expression of constitutively high levels of p26-bcl-2 does not counter the effects of bak. Different mechanisms appear to be involved in cell death signalling in different tumours since butyrate may induce apoptosis via elevated levels of bak or reduced levels of p26-bcl-2.

Adenoma↗

Suppression of human melanoma metastasis following introduction of chromosome 6 is independent of NME1 (Nm23).

Metastasis is suppressed more than 95% following microcell-mediated transfer of a single copy of neomycin-tagged human chromosome 6 (neo6) into the human melanoma cell lines C8161 and MelJuSo. Concomitant with metastasis suppression is upregulation of NME1 (Nm23-H1) mRNA and protein expression. The purposes of this study were to determine whether NME1 expression was responsible for metastasis suppression in neo6/melanoma hybrids, and whether genes on chromosome 6 regulate NME1. Using neo6/C8161 cells, transfection of CAT reporter constructs linked to the NME1 promoter failed to consistently induce CAT. Therefore, it does not appear that genes on chromosome 6 directly control transcription of NME1. Transfection and overexpression of NME1 in MelJuSo, under the control of the CMV promoter, resulted in 40-80% inhibition of lung metastasis following i.v. inoculation of 2 x 10(5) cells. Only one transfectant of C8161 subclone 9 (C8161cl.9) cells was suppressed for metastasis. Control transfections with pCMVneo or pSV2neo did not suppress metastasis in either cell line. Taken together, these data suggest that NME1 can reduce metastatic potential of some human melanoma cells; but, this inhibitory activity appears to be independent of the metastasis suppression following introduction of chromosome 6 into C8161 and MelJuSo human melanoma cell lines.

Animals↗

Cell-cell contact and specific cytokines inhibit apoptosis of colonic epithelial cells: growth factors protect against c-myc-independent apoptosis.

In this study we sought factors that determine the survival of human colonic epithelial cells. Normal colonic epithelial cells are dependent on cell-cell contacts and survival factors for the inhibition of apoptosis whereas, during colorectal tumorigenesis, cells develop mechanisms to evade these controls. The ability to survive loss of cell-cell contacts and/or growth factor deprivation is a marker of tumour progression. Many adenoma (premaligant) cultures survive only if cell-cell contacts are maintained in vitro and die by apoptosis if trypsinized to single cells. This also occurs in adenomas derived from familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients, therefore APC mutations do not confer resistance to cell death in response to loss of cell-cell contacts. We show here that if cell-cell contacts are maintained such cells are capable of survival in suspension. Adenoma cells also undergo apoptosis in response to removal of serum and growth factors from the medium. After removal of serum and growth factors c-myc is down-regulated within 2 h. Therefore, the induction of apoptosis is not an inappropriate response of the cells due to a deregulated c-myc gene. The apoptotic response is also p53 independent. Such cultures have been used to determine specific survival factors for colonic epithelial cells. Insulin, the insulin-like growth factors I and II, hydrocortisone and epidermal growth factor (EGF) protect cells from the induction of apoptosis in the absence of serum over a short-term period of 24 h. This approach may give insight into the factors governing growth and survival of colonic epithelial cells in vivo. This is the first report of specific growth factors protecting against apoptosis in human colonic epithelial cells.

Adenoma↗

KiSS-1, a novel human malignant melanoma metastasis-suppressor gene.

BACKGROUND: Microcell-mediated transfer of chromosome 6 into human C8161 and MelJuSo melanoma cell suppresses their ability to metastasize by at least 95% without affecting their tumorigenicity. This observation demonstrates that the ability to metastasize is a phenotype distinct from tumor formation and suggests that tumorigenic cells acquire metastatic capability only after accumulating additional genetic defects. These results also imply that mutations of genes on chromosome 6 are among those late genetic changes responsible for metastatic potential. They further suggest that a melanoma metastasis-suppressor gene(s) is encoded on chromosome 6 or is regulated by genes on chromosome 6. PURPOSE: Our objective was to identify the gene(s) responsible for the suppression of metastasis in chromosome 6/melanoma cell hybrids. METHODS: A modified subtractive hybridization technique was used to compare the expression of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), via an analysis of complementary DNAs (cDNAs), in metastatic cells (C8161 or MelJuSo) and nonmetastatic hybrid clones (neo6/C8161 or neo6/MelJuSo). RESULTS: A novel cDNA, designated KiSS-1, was isolated from malignant melanoma cells that had been suppressed for metastatic potential by the introduction of human chromosome 6. Northern blot analyses comparing mRNAs from a panel of human melanoma cells revealed that KiSS-1 mRNA expression occurred only in nonmetastatic melanoma cells. Expression of this mRNA in normal heart, brain, liver, lung, and skeletal muscle was undetectable by northern blot analysis. Weak expression was found in the kidney and pancreas, but the highest expression was observed in the placenta. The KiSS-1 cDNA encodes a predominantly hydrophilic, 164 amino acid protein with a polyproline-rich domain indicative of an SH3 ligand (binds to the homology 3 domain of the oncoprotein Src) and a putative protein kinase C-alpha phosphorylation site. Transfection of a full-length KiSS-1 cDNA into C8161 melanoma cells suppressed metastasis in an expression-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: These data strongly suggest that KiSS-1 expression may suppress the metastatic potential of malignant melanoma cells. IMPLICATIONS: KiSS-1 may be a useful marker for distinguishing metastatic melanomas from nonmetastatic melanomas.

Amino Acid Sequence↗