Biomedical subjects

Dongmei Lu

Publications and source records attributed to Dongmei Lu.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Protein kinase Cepsilon activates protein kinase B/Akt via DNA-PK to protect against tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced cell death.

We have previously shown that protein kinase Cepsilon (PKCepsilon) protects breast cancer cells from tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-induced cell death. In the present study, we have investigated if the antiapoptotic function of PKCepsilon is mediated via Akt and the mechanism by which PKCepsilon regulates Akt activity. TNF caused a transient increase in Akt phosphorylation at Ser473 in MCF-7 cells. Overexpression of PKCepsilon in MCF-7 cells increased TNF-induced Akt phosphorylation at Ser473 resulting in its activation. Knockdown of PKCepsilon by small interfering RNA (siRNA) decreased TNF-induced Akt phosphorylation/activation and increased cell death. Introduction of constitutively active Akt protected breast cancer MCF-7 cells from TNF-mediated cell death and partially restored cell survival in PKCepsilon-depleted cells. Depletion of Akt in MCF-7 cells abolished the antiapoptotic effect of PKCepsilon on TNF-mediated cell death. Akt was constitutively associated with PKCepsilon and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), and this association was increased by TNF treatment. Overexpression of PKCepsilon enhanced the interaction between Akt and DNA-PK. Knockdown of DNA-PK by siRNA inhibited TNF-induced Akt phosphorylation and the antiapoptotic effect of Akt and PKCepsilon. These results suggest that PKCepsilon activates Akt via DNA-PK to mediate its antiapoptotic function. Furthermore, we report for the first time that DNA-PK can regulate receptor-initiated apoptosis via Akt.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2006

Inhaled azithromycin therapy.

The treatment of pulmonary infectious diseases with pharmaceutical aerosols is an attractive option considering the accessibility of the lungs for topical drug delivery. Aerosols have been targeted to the lungs for the treatment of asthma with great success. Current therapies for other diseases, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pneumocystis jirovecii (formerly Pneumocystis carinii), and mycobacterial infections, remain suboptimal due to the efficacy/safety profile. This may be improved by aerosol targeted pulmonary drug delivery. Azithromycin is a broad spectrum antibiotic that acts by inhibiting protein synthesis. It is associated with side effects that might be avoided by aerosol delivery to the lungs. In the present study three concentrations of azithromycin (10, 50, and 100 mg/mL) were delivered from three nebulizers (Acorn II, Updraft, and LC Plus) operated at 8 L/min. Particles size analyses were conducted by inertial impaction and laser diffraction. In addition, emitted doses were determined. A linear proportionality existed across the concentration range between nominal dose and both fine particle dose/fraction and emitted dose, with R2 > 0.999 in all cases. The mass median aerodynamic diameter increased from 1.4 to 1.9 microm between 10 and 100 mg/mL of azithromycin solution concentration for the Acorn II. The particle size distributions were not all log-normally distributed. The median particle size delivered from the devices was largest for the Updraft (2.8 microm) and smallest for the Acorn II (1.9 microm) for 100 mg/mL azithromycin solution concentrations. The efficiencies of small particle delivery (%<4.7 microm) were as follows, LC Plus = Acorn II (85%) > UpDraft (75%). However, the emitted dose from the LC Plus (55 mg/min) was higher than the Acorn II (31 mg/min) to maximize lung exposure to the aerosol, small median diameters and broad particle size distributions would be most effective. This study demonstrates that the dose delivered to the lungs will be maximized, under the current operating conditions by adopting the LC Plus, and high (100 mg/mL) azithromycin concentrations.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed2005

Liposomal dry powders as aerosols for pulmonary delivery of proteins.

The purpose of this research was to develop liposomal dry powder aerosols for protein delivery. The delivery of stable protein formulations is essential for protein subunit vaccine delivery, which requires local delivery to macrophages in the lungs. Beta-glucuronidase (GUS) was used as a model protein to evaluate dry powder liposomes as inhaled delivery vehicles. Dimyristoyl phosphatylcholine:cholesterol (7:3) was selected as the liposome composition. The lyophilization of liposomes, micronization of the powders, aerosolization using a dry powder inhaler (DPI), and in vitro aerodynamic fine particle fraction upon collection in a twin-stage liquid impinger were evaluated. After lyophilization and jet-milling, the total amount of GUS and its activity, representing encapsulation efficiency and stability, were evaluated. The GUS amount and activity were measured and compared with freshly-prepared liposomes in the presence of mannitol, 43% of initial GUS amount, 29% of GUS activity after lyophilization and 36% of GUS amount, 22% of activity after micronization were obtained. Emitted doses from dry powder inhaler were 53%, 58%, 66%, and 73% for liposome powder:mannitol carrier ratios of 1:0, 1:4, 1:9, and 1:19. Fifteen percent of the liposome particles were less than 6.4 mum in aerodynamic diameter. The results demonstrate that milled liposome powders containing protein molecules can be aerosolized effectively at a fixed flow rate. Influences of different cryoprotectants on lyophilization of protein liposome formulations are reported. The feasibility of using liposomal dry powder aerosols for protein delivery has been demonstrated but further optimization is required in the context of specific therapeutic proteins.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed2004

A novel phospholipase A2/esterase from hyperthermophilic archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1.

An open reading frame of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1 APE2325, which composed of 474 bases, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) Codon Plus-RIL. The recombinant protein was purified by Ni-chelation affinity chromatography. It showed a single band with a molecular mass of 18kDa in SDS-PAGE. The purified enzyme exhibited both phospholipase A(2) and esterase activities with the optimal catalytic temperature at 90 degrees C. The enzyme activity was Ca(2+)-independent. Kinetic analysis revealed its Km, k cat, and Vm for the p-nitrophenyl propionate substrate were 103microM, 39s(-1), and 249micromol/min/mg, respectively. The recombinant protein was thermostable and its half-life at 100 degrees C was about 1h.

Aeropyrum↗

PubMed2004

Deregulation of PKB influences antiapoptotic signaling by PKC in breast cancer cells.

We have previously shown that novel protein kinase C (nPKC) isozymes, such as nPKCepsilon, negatively regulate TNF-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells although the level on nPKCs did not correlate with cellular sensitivity to TNF. In the present study, we examined if the level/activation status of Akt/PKB influences antiapoptotic signaling by nPKCepsilon. While MCF-7 cells overexpressed PKB, BT-20 and SKBR-3 cells expressed constitutively phosphorylated PKB, and MDA-MB-231 cells expressed unphosphorylated PKB. Ly294002, an inhibitor of PI-3 kinase, induced cell death in SKBR-3 cells, which contained little nPKCs. Although Ly294002 by itself had only a modest effect on cell death in BT-20 and MCF-7 cells, it potentiated sensitivity of these cells to TNF. In contrast, Ly294002 either alone or in combination with TNF had little effect on cell death in MDA-MB-231 cells. These results suggest that the status of PKB in breast cancer cells influences antiapoptotic signaling by PKC.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2002

Proteolytic activation of protein kinase C-epsilon by caspase-mediated processing and transduction of antiapoptotic signals.

Several novel protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes have been identified as substrates for caspase-3. We have previously shown that novel PKCepsilon is cleaved during apoptosis in MCF-7 cells that lack any functional caspase-3. In the present study, we show that in vitro-translated PKCepsilon is processed by human recombinant caspase-3, -7, and -9. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) triggered processing of PKCepsilon to a 43-kDa carboxyl-terminal fragment, and cell-permeable caspase inhibitors prevented TNF-induced processing of PKCepsilon in MCF-7 cells. PKCepsilon was cleaved primarily at the SSPD downward arrow G site to generate two fragments with an approximate molecular mass of 43 kDa. It was also cleaved at the DDVD downward arrow C site to generate two fragments with molecular masses of 52 and 35 kDa. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with TNF resulted in the activation of PKCepsilon, and mutation at the SSPD downward arrow G (D383A) site inhibited proteolytic activation of PKCepsilon. Overexpression of wild-type but not dominant-negative PKCepsilon in MCF-7 cells delayed TNF-induced apoptosis, and mutation at the D383A site prevented antiapoptotic activity of PKCepsilon. These results suggest that cleavage of PKCepsilon by caspase-7 at the SSPD downward arrow G site results in the activation of PKCepsilon. Furthermore, activation of PKCepsilon was associated with its antiapoptotic function.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2002

Binding of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides to zwitterionic liposomes.

Although double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) has been shown to bind to zwitterionic lipids, it has been reported that this association is stronger for disordered (L(alpha)) phase lipids than for well-ordered (L(beta)) lipids. In this work, the interaction of single-strand phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (ONs) with unilamellar liposomes of saturated and unsaturated zwitterionic phosphocholines (PCs) and phosphoroethylamine (PE) was investigated. It is shown that the association of phosphorothioate ONs to diacyl glycerophosphocholines is strong, but only for L(beta) phase or otherwise ordered bilayers. There is no measurable affinity for PE lipids. The apparent affinity of three different phosphorothioate ONs for L(beta) phase 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) has been measured and the dissociation constants were on the order of 10(-7) M. Purine-rich ON sequences had stronger binding to DPPC liposomes than did pyrimidine-rich sequences, but there were other sequence-dependent factors. This exceptionally high affinity could be an important consideration in ON uptake, delivery, and biodistribution.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗

PubMed2002

Regulation of p53 stabilization by DNA damage and protein kinase C.

We have demonstrated previously that the protein kinase C (PKC) signal transduction pathway acts upstream of caspases to regulate caspase activation and apoptosis induced by the DNA-damaging agent cisplatin (CP). In the present study, we have examined whether PKC influences p53 and, hence, cellular sensitivity/resistance to CP. The basal p53 level was low in HeLa cells but was elevated in CP-resistant HeLa (HeLa/CP) cells. CP had no effect on the p53 content in HeLa cells, but it caused p53 accumulation in HeLa/CP cells. Rottlerin, a PKCdelta inhibitor that prevents CP-induced proteolytic activation of PKCdelta, caused an accumulation of p53 in HeLa cells when treated in conjunction with CP, but it had no additional effect in HeLa/CP cells. The ability of rottlerin to prevent proteolytic activation of PKCdelta or to induce accumulation of p53 by CP was compromised in HeLa/CP cells. PKC activator phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate attenuated constitutive p53 levels in both HeLa and HeLa/CP cells. Whereas the combination of rottlerin and CP increased the half-life of p53 in HeLa cells, CP alone was sufficient to stabilize p53 in HeLa/CP cells. These results suggest that both DNA damage and inhibition of proteolytic activation of PKCdelta by CP were necessary for the stabilization of p53 in HeLa cells. Furthermore, an increase in p53 was not associated with enhanced sensitivity of HeLa cells to CP.

Acetophenones↗