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Biomedical subjects

E Gulbins

Publications and source records attributed to E Gulbins.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Intracellular mechanisms of L-selectin induced capping.

Leucocyte adhesion to endothelial cells is a tightly regulated process involving selectins, integrins and immunoglobulin-like proteins. Cell adhesion and communication are controlled by membrane dynamics like receptor capping. Capping of surface receptors is an ubiquitous mechanism but still not well understood. Employing immunofluorescence techniques, we demonstrate that L-selectin triggering results in receptor capping of the L-selectin molecules in lymphocytes. Using pharmacological inhibitors and genetic deficient cell lines we show that this process involves intracellular signalling molecules. L-Selectin capping seems to be independent on activation of p56lck-kinase, but requires the neutral sphingomyelinase, small G proteins and the cytoskeleton. Therefore, capping of L-selectin upon stimulation might play an important role in the very early phase of lymphocyte trafficking.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 is involved in CD66-mediated phagocytosis of Opa52-expressing Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Opa proteins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae bind to CD66 receptors on human phagocytes, thereby inducing efficient uptake of the bacteria in the absence of opsonins. The interaction of Opa proteins and CD66 receptors leads to activation of Src family tyrosine kinases, a process that is of critical importance for the efficient, CD66-mediated internalization. Here we show that during Opa-mediated stimulation of CD66 the activity of the host cell tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 is strongly downregulated, concomitant with increases in the tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular proteins. Since the SHP-1 tyrosine phosphorylation level itself is influenced by Opa-induced events, this phosphatase comprises an important regulatory checkpoint of the pathogen-triggered signaling cascade in human phagocytes.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

L-selectin stimulates the neutral sphingomyelinase and induces release of ceramide.

Selectins have been shown to be crucial in the rolling process of leukocytes during lymphocyte homing and in the early phase of inflammatory processes. Recently, we and others have shown that binding of L-selectin to its ligands correlates with a rapid induction of several intracellular signaling molecules, in particular, Src-like tyrosine kinases, MAP-kinases, Jun NH2-terminal kinase, the small G-proteins Ras and Rac, and a release of Ca2+ in leukocytes. Here, we demonstrate the activation of a novel signaling pathway by L-selectin. Stimulation of Jurkat T-lymphocytes via L-selectin results in an increase of neutral sphingomyelinase activity. This activity correlates with a consumption of cellular sphingomyelin and a release of ceramide. The activation of the neutral sphingomyelinase by L-selectin does not depend on tyrosine kinase activity and, therefore, represents an alternative and novel pathway to stimulate lymphocytes via L-selectin.

Ceramides↗

Tyrosine kinase-dependent activation of a chloride channel in CD95-induced apoptosis in T lymphocytes.

CD95/Fas/APO-1 mediated apoptosis is an important mechanism in the regulation of the immune response. Here, we show that CD95 receptor triggering activates an outwardly rectifying chloride channel (ORCC) in Jurkat T lymphocytes. Ceramide, a lipid metabolite synthesized upon CD95 receptor triggering, also induces activation of ORCC in cell-attached patch clamp experiments. Activation is mediated by Src-like tyrosine kinases, because it is abolished by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A or by genetic deficiency of p56lck. In vitro incubation of excised patches with purified p56lck results in activation of ORCC, which is partially reversed upon addition of anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. Inhibition of ORCC by four different drugs correlates with a 30-65% inhibition of apoptosis. Intracellular acidification observed upon CD95 triggering is abolished by inhibition of either ORCC or p56lck. The results suggest that tyrosine kinase-mediated activation of ORCC may play a role in CD95-induced cell death in T lymphocytes.

Apoptosis↗

The tyrosine kinase p56lck mediates activation of swelling-induced chloride channels in lymphocytes.

Osmotic cell swelling activates Cl- channels to achieve anion efflux. In this study, we find that both the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A and genetic knockout of p56lck, a src-like tyrosine kinase, block regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in a human T cell line. Activation of a swelling-activated chloride current (ICl-swell) by osmotic swelling in whole-cell patch-clamp experiments is blocked by herbimycin A and lavendustin. Osmotic activation of ICl-swell is defective in p56lck-deficient cells. Retransfection of p56lck restores osmotic current activation. Furthermore, tyrosine kinase activity is sufficient for activation of ICl-swell. Addition of purified p56lck to excised patches activates an outwardly rectifying chloride channel with 31 pS unitary conductance. Purified p56lck washed into the cytoplasm activates ICl-swell in native and p56lck-deficient cells even when hypotonic intracellular solutions lead to cell shrinkage. When whole-cell currents are activated either by swelling or by p56lck, slow single-channel gating events can be observed revealing a unitary conductance of 25-28 pS. In accordance with our patch-clamp data, osmotic swelling increases activity of immunoprecipitated p56lck. We conclude that osmotic swelling activates ICl-swell in lymphocytes via the tyrosine kinase p56lck.

Benzoquinones↗

CD66-mediated phagocytosis of Opa52 Neisseria gonorrhoeae requires a Src-like tyrosine kinase- and Rac1-dependent signalling pathway.

The interaction of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with human phagocytes is a hallmark of gonococcal infections. Recently, CD66 molecules have been characterized as receptors for Opa52-expressing gonococci on human neutrophils. Here we show that Opa52-expressing gonococci or Escherichia coli or F(ab) fragments directed against CD66, respectively, activate a signalling cascade from CD66 via Src-like protein tyrosine kinases, Rac1 and PAK to Jun-N-terminal kinase. The induced signal is distinct from Fcgamma-receptor-mediated signalling and is specific for Opa52, since piliated Opa- gonococci, commensal Neisseria cinerea or E.coli do not stimulate this signalling pathway. Inhibition of Src-like kinases or Rac1 prevents the uptake of Opa52 bacteria, demonstrating the crucial role of this signalling cascade for the opsonin-independent, Opa52/CD66-mediated phagocytosis of pathogenic Neisseria.

Antigens, CD↗

Fas or ceramide induce apoptosis by Ras-regulated phosphoinositide-3-kinase activation.

We demonstrate a rapid and transient activation of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI-3-K) by Fas receptor triggering or cellular treatment with synthetic C6-ceramide. The stimulation of PI-3-K is critical for Fas or C6-ceramide-induced programmed cell death because transfection with a transdominant inhibitory PI-3-K construct or pre-treatment with the PI-3-K inhibitor wortmannin almost completely prevented Fas or C6-ceramide-mediated apoptosis. Treatment with the caspase inhibitor Ac-YVAD-cmk or cellular transfection with transdominant inhibitory N17Ras prevented PI-3-K stimulation by Fas, suggesting that Fas activates PI-3-K via caspases and Ras. N17Ras expression also prevented C6-ceramide-initiated PI-3-K stimulation. The notion of a PI-3-K regulation by Ras upon Fas receptor ligation or ceramide treatment is supported by co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealing an activation-dependent association of PI-3-K and Ras.

Androstadienes↗

Cellular stimulation via CD95 involves activation of phospho-inositide-3-kinase.

Several distinct intracellular pathways have been recently shown to be activated during CD95/Fas/APO-1-mediated apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate that CD95 ligation induces a rapid and transient tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI-3-K) in Jurkat T lymphocytes or CD95-sensitive glioma cells. Experiments using p56lck-deficient or p56lck-reconstituted Jurkat clones and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A revealed that tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of PI-3-K by CD95 depends on expression of Src-like tyrosine kinases, in particular p56lck. PI-3-K stimulation seems to be critical for CD95 receptor signalling since, first, inhibition of PI-3-K prevents CD95-mediated apoptosis and, second, CD95 receptor ligation fails to induce tyrosine phosphorylation or activation of PI-3-K in CD95-resistant glioma cells. Thus, PI-3-K activation may be an early signalling event during CD95-induced apoptosis, and failure to stimulate PI-3-K may predict tumor cell resistance to CD95-triggered apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗

Cellular taurine release triggered by stimulation of the Fas(CD95) receptor in Jurkat lymphocytes.

One of the hallmarks of apoptosis is cell shrinkage which appears to be important for cell death. The mechanisms mediating cell volume decrease have, however, not been addressed. Mechanisms employed by swollen cells to decrease their cell volume include activation of ion transport pathways, such as ion channels and KCl cotransport, and release of cellular osmolytes, such as taurine, sorbitol, betaine and inositol. The present study has been performed to test for release of taurine. To this end Jurkat human T-lymphocytes were loaded with [3H]taurine and apoptotic cell death induced by triggering the Fas(CD95) receptor with monoclonal crosslinking antibody. Triggering the Fas(CD95) receptor led to a release of 60+/-5% of cellular taurine within 90 min. The release did not occur prior to 45 min. The release coincided with cell shrinkage as evidenced from forward scatter in FACS analysis and preceeded DNA fragmentation according to propidium iodide staining. The delay of taurine release was not influenced by exchange of medium and thus was not due to extracellular accumulation of a stimulator. The Fas(CD95)-induced taurine release, cell shrinkage and DNA fragmentation were blunted by lowering of ambient temperature to 23 degreesC. Following pretreatment of cells with Fas(CD95) antibody at 23 degreesC rewarming led to rapid taurine release, cell shrinkage and DNA fragmentation, indicating that the temperature-sensitive step is distal to the mechanisms accounting for the delay. Osmotic cell swelling led to an immediate release of taurine. In conclusion, Fas(CD95) triggering leads to delayed taurine release through a temperature-sensitive mechanism.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Chemosensitivity of human malignant glioma: modulation by p53 gene transfer.

Loss of wild-type p53 activity is one of the most common molecular abnormalities in human cancers including malignant gliomas. The p53 status is also thought to modulate sensitivity to irradiation and chemotherapy. Here, we studied the effect of a p53 gene transfer on the chemosensitivity of three human glioma cell lines with different endogenous p53 status (LN-229, wild-type; LN-18, mutant; LN-308, deleted), using the murine temperature-sensitive p53 val135 mutant. Expression of mutant p53 enhanced proliferation of LN-308 cells but reduced proliferation in the other cell lines. Expression of wild-type p53 caused reversible growth arrest of all cell lines but failed to induce apoptosis. Growth arrest induced by wild-type p53 was associated with strong induction of p21 expression. Strong induction of BAX expression and loss of BCL-2 expression, which are associated with p53-dependent apoptosis rather than growth arrest, were not observed. Wild-type p53 failed to sensitize glioma cells to cytotoxic drugs including BCNU, cytarabine, doxorubicin, teniposide and vincristine. The combined effects of wild-type p53 gene transfer and drug treatment were less than additive rather than synergistic, suggesting that the intracellular cascades activated by p53 and chemotherapy are redundant. Unexpectedly, forced expression of mutant p53 modulated drug sensitivity in that it enhanced the toxicity of some drugs but attenuated the effects of others. These effects may represent a dominant negative effect of mutant p53 in LN-229 cells which have wild-type p53 activity but must be considered a gain of function-type effect in the other two cell lines which have no wild-type p53 activity. Importantly, no clear-cut pattern emerged among the three cell lines studied. We conclude that somatic gene therapy based on the reintroduction of p53 will limit the proliferation of human malignant glioma cells but is unlikely to induce clinically relevant sensitization to chemotherapy in these tumors.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Fas/CD95/Apo-I activates the acidic sphingomyelinase via caspases.

Fas/CD95/Apo-I has been shown to stimulate a variety of molecules including several members of the caspase family and the acidic sphingomyelinase (Martin and Green 1995; Gulbins et al, 1995). Here, we demonstrate that Fas receptor-triggered activation of the acidic sphingomyelinase, consumption of sphingomyelin, release of ceramide, and subsequent activation of JNK and p38-K are regulated by caspases. Inhibition of caspases by Ac-YVAD-chloromethylketone or transient CrmA transfection prevented stimulation of acidic sphingomyelinase, release of ceramide and activation of JNK and p38-K upon Fas-receptor crosslinking. Likewise, Fas triggered apoptosis was almost completely blocked by Ac-YVAD-chloromethylketone or CrmA mediated inhibition of caspases. The results suggest a new signalling cascade from the Fas receptor via caspases to acidic sphingomyelinase, ceramide and JNK/p38-K.

Acids↗

Crm-A, bcl-2 and NDGA inhibit CD95L-induced apoptosis of malignant glioma cells at the level of caspase 8 processing.

Susceptibility to CD95 (Fas/APO-1)-mediated apoptosis in human glioma cells depends on CD95 expression and unknown factors that regulate signal transduction. Thus, LN-18 cells are highly sensitive to CD95 ligand (CD95L) whereas LN-229 cells require coexposure to inhibitors of RNA or protein synthesis for induction of apoptosis. Here, we report that caspase 8 and 3 activation, poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase cleavage and apoptosis are inhibited by the lipoxygenase inhibitor, nordihydroguaretic acid (NDGA), or ectopic expression of crm-A or bcl-2. CD95L-induced glioma cell apoptosis does not involve ceramide generation. Apoptosis induced by exogenous ceramide resembles CD95-mediated apoptosis in that bcl-2 is protective but differs in that NDGA and crm-A have no effect and in that cycloheximide (CHX) inhibits rather than potentiates ceramide-induced cell death. We conclude that caspase 8 and caspase 3 activation, but not ceramide generation, are required for CD95 ligand-induced apoptosis of glioma cells and that bcl-2, crm-A and NDGA all act upstream of caspases to inhibit apoptosis.

Animals↗

Decorin gene transfer-mediated suppression of TGF-beta synthesis abrogates experimental malignant glioma growth in vivo.

Cytokines such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) are thought to mediate escape from immune surveillance in human malignant glioma. Here, we report that ectopic expression of the small TGF-beta-binding proteoglycan, decorin, inhibits not only TGF-beta bioactivity but also TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 mRNA transcription and TGF-beta protein synthesis by human LN-18, LN-229, T98G and rat C6 glioma cells in vitro. Ectopic expression of decorin in C6 rat glioma cells results in strong inhibition of tumor formation in vivo. Decorin-expressing C6 gliomas grow initially but regress to very small residual tumors at 12 weeks after implantation whereas all control animals die or have to be killed within 4 weeks. Decorin-expressing tumors show a four-fold increase of infiltration by activated T cells and a 1.6-fold increase in total B and T cells. Chronic steroid-mediated immunosuppression abrogates the inhibitory effects of decorin gene transfer. We conclude that decorin-induced inhibition of TGF-beta release by glioma cells significantly enhances antiglioma immune responses in vivo. Clinical evaluation of decorin gene therapy for human malignant gliomas may be warranted.

Animals↗

Functional significance of cell volume regulatory mechanisms.

To survive, cells have to avoid excessive alterations of cell volume that jeopardize structural integrity and constancy of intracellular milieu. The function of cellular proteins seems specifically sensitive to dilution and concentration, determining the extent of macromolecular crowding. Even at constant extracellular osmolarity, volume constancy of any mammalian cell is permanently challenged by transport of osmotically active substances across the cell membrane and formation or disappearance of cellular osmolarity by metabolism. Thus cell volume constancy requires the continued operation of cell volume regulatory mechanisms, including ion transport across the cell membrane as well as accumulation or disposal of organic osmolytes and metabolites. The various cell volume regulatory mechanisms are triggered by a multitude of intracellular signaling events including alterations of cell membrane potential and of intracellular ion composition, various second messenger cascades, phosphorylation of diverse target proteins, and altered gene expression. Hormones and mediators have been shown to exploit the volume regulatory machinery to exert their effects. Thus cell volume may be considered a second message in the transmission of hormonal signals. Accordingly, alterations of cell volume and volume regulatory mechanisms participate in a wide variety of cellular functions including epithelial transport, metabolism, excitation, hormone release, migration, cell proliferation, and cell death.

Animals↗

Passive deformability of mature, immature, and active neutrophils in healthy and septicemic neonates.

Obstruction of narrow vessels by rigid neutrophils may contribute to ischemic organ injury. In septicemia, a substantial portion of the neutrophils may become activated and the number of circulating immature neutrophils may rise sharply. Volume and deformability of mature (PMN) and immature neutrophils in healthy preterm and full-term infants and in septicemic neonates were studied by means of a micropipette system. Membrane cytoplasm tongues were aspirated into 2.5-microm (diameter) pipettes over a period of 60 s. Volume and tongue growth of mature resting PMN were similar in healthy preterm and full-term neonates and adults. Compared with mature PMN (about 360 fl), the volumes of band cells (415 fl), metamyelocytes (470 fl), and less mature cells (myeloblasts, promyelocytes, and myelocytes; 490 fl) were significantly increased (p < 0.005). Final tongue lengths of band cells, metamyelocytes, and less mature cells were decreased by about 50, 60, and 70%, respectively, when compared with passive mature cells. In septic neonates, the percentage of immature neutrophils was increased, but the deformability and volume of the cell subpopulations were not affected by septicemia. Active PMN were characterized by pseudopod formation. More active PMN were found in group B streptococcal (14% of total PMN), gram-negative (12%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis septicemia (8%) than in healthy neonates and adults (4%). The main bodies of active PMN were less deformable than passive PMN, and the pseudopods showed very little membrane deformation. The increased number of rigid active and immature neutrophils may contribute to impaired microcirculation and the high risk for organ injury in septic patients.

Adult↗

Radiation-induced apoptosis in human lymphocytes and lymphoma cells critically relies on the up-regulation of CD95/Fas/APO-1 ligand.

Ionizing radiation is known to induce death by apoptosis in malignant and nonmalignant human lymphocytes. The mechanism which initiates the induction of apoptosis has not been identified. Here we demonstrate that a radiation-induced up-regulation of CD95/Fas/APO-1 ligand (CD95-L) is involved in the induction of apoptosis in lymphocytes and lymphoma cells. Using antibodies against CD95-L, we detected a rapid and persistent up-regulation of CD95-L in Jurkat cells and blood lymphocytes after irradiation. Blocking of interactions between CD95/Fas/APO-1 and CD95-L with inhibitory antibodies reduces apoptosis after irradiation. The hypothesis that an interaction between CD95 and CD95-L is involved in radiation-induced apoptosis is supported by the finding that only peripheral blood lymphocytes that are stimulated with interleukin 2 for 5 days and thus are rendered sensitive to CD95-L show pronounced levels of apoptosis in response to low radiation doses, whereas resting peripheral blood lymphocytes show very low levels of apoptosis after treatment with CD95-L and radiation. The finding that the caspase FLICE is degraded proteolytically after irradiation and the observation of a radiation-induced CD95 receptor capping confirm the functional activation of the CD95 receptor.

Apoptosis↗