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Biomedical subjects

H Rui

Publications and source records attributed to H Rui.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Two discrete regions of interleukin-2 (IL2) receptor beta independently mediate IL2 activation of a PD98059/rapamycin/wortmannin-insensitive Stat5a/b serine kinase.

Many cytokines, hormones, and growth factors activate Janus kinases to tyrosine phosphorylate select members of the Stat transcription factors. For full transcriptional activation, Stat1 and Stat3 also require phosphorylation of a conserved serine residue within a mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation consensus site. On the other hand, two recently identified and highly homologous Stat5a and Stat5b proteins lack this putative mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation site. The present study set out to establish whether Stat5a and Stat5b are under the control of an interleukin-2 (IL2)-activated Stat5 serine kinase. We now report that IL2 stimulated marked phosphorylation of serine and tyrosine residues of both Stat5a and Stat5b in human T lymphocytes and in several IL2-responsive lymphocytic cell lines. No Stat5a/b phosphothreonine was detected. Phosphoamino acid analysis also revealed that Stat5a/b phosphotyrosine levels were maximized within 1-5 min of IL2 stimulation, whereas serine phosphorylation kinetics were slower. Interestingly, IL2-induced serine phosphorylation of Stat5a differed quantitatively and temporally from that of Stat5b with Stat5a serine phosphorylation leveling off after 10 min and the more pronounced Stat5b response continuing to rise for at least 60 min of IL2 stimulation. Furthermore, we identified two discrete domains of IL2 receptor beta (IL2Rbeta) that could independently restore the ability of a truncated IL2Rbeta mutant to mediate Stat5a/b phosphorylation and DNA binding to the gamma-activated site of the beta-casein gene promoter. These observations demonstrated that there is no strict requirement for one particular IL2Rbeta region for Stat5 phosphorylation. Finally, we established that the IL2-activated Stat5a/b serine kinase is insensitive to several selective inhibitors of known IL2-stimulated kinases including MEK1/MEK2 (PD98059), mTOR (rapamycin), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (wortmannin) as determined by phosphoamino acid and DNA binding analysis, thus suggesting that a yet-to-be-identified serine kinase mediates Stat5a/b activation.

Androstadienes

Prolactin stimulates serine/tyrosine phosphorylation and formation of heterocomplexes of multiple Stat5 isoforms in Nb2 lymphocytes.

Transcription factors of the Stat gene family are selectively activated by many hormones and cytokines. Stat5 originally was cloned as a prolactin-stimulated DNA-binding protein, but is also activated by non-lactogenic cytokines in many cell types. The recent identification of two distinct Stat5 genes, which encode a 94-kDa Stat5a and a 92-kDa Stat5b as well as several lower molecular weight isoforms, suggests additional complexity and combinatorial possibilities for transcriptional regulation. We now report a biochemical analysis of prolactin activation of Stat proteins in Nb2 lymphocytes, which was associated with: 1) rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat5a, Stat5b, a COOH-terminally truncated 80-kDa Stat5 form, Stat1alpha, and Stat3; 2) rapid and selective formation of Stat5a/b heterodimers, without involvement of Stat1alpha or Stat3; 3) marked serine, but not threonine phosphorylation of Stat5a and Stat5b; and 4) the appearance of two qualitatively distinct Stat5 protein complexes, which discriminated between oligonucleotides corresponding to the prolactin response elements of the beta-casein and interferon regulatory factor-1 gene promoters. Collectively, our analyses showed that Stat5a and Stat5b respond similarly to prolactin receptor activation, but also suggested that the two genes have evolved unique properties that may contribute to the specificity of receptors that utilize Stat5 signaling proteins.

Cell Line

Interleukin-13 is a potent activator of JAK3 and STAT6 in cells expressing interleukin-2 receptor-gamma and interleukin-4 receptor-alpha.

The lymphocyte growth factors interleukin-2 (IL2), IL4, IL7, IL9 and IL15 use the common IL2 receptor-gamma (IL2R gamma) and activate the IL2R gamma-associated tyrosine kinase JAK3 (Janus kinase 3). IL13 is structurally related to IL4, competes with IL4 for binding to cell surface receptors and exhibits many similar biological effects. The molecular basis for this functional overlap between IL4 and IL13 has been attributed mainly to a shared use of the 140 kDa IL4R alpha, since these cytokines appear to be uniquely different in that, according to several recent reports, IL13 does not recruit the IL2R gamma or JAK3. This notion has been supported by the identification of a novel 70 kDa IL13 receptor in certain IL13-responsive cell lines that lack IL2R gamma. The present study sheds new light on the issue of functional overlap between IL13 and IL4, by demonstrating for the first time that, in cells that express both IL2R gamma and IL4R alpha, IL13 can mimic IL4-induced heterodimerization of IL2R gamma and IL4R alpha, with consequent marked activation of JAK3 and the transcription factor STAT6 (IL4-STAT). Reconstitution experiments in BA/F3 cells showed that both cytokines require the simultaneous presence of IL4R alpha and IL2R gamma to mediate JAK3 and proliferative responses, and analysis of 12 IL4R alpha variants showed that IL4 and IL13 signals were equally affected by mutations of the cytoplasmic domain. We conclude that IL13 activates the IL2R gamma-associated JAK3 tyrosine kinase in appropriate cell types, and propose that IL13 is capable of interacting with multiple receptor subunits in a cell-dependent and combinatorial manner. Consequently, we predict that partial disruption of IL13 signal transduction also contributes to the severe combined immuno-deficiency syndromes associated with inactivation of the IL2R gamma or JAK3 genes.

Animals

Prolactin recruits STAT1, STAT3 and STAT5 independent of conserved receptor tyrosines TYR402, TYR479, TYR515 and TYR580.

The present study of prolactin (PRL) receptor-mediated recruitment of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) demonstrates that PRL activates STAT3, in addition to STAT1 and STAT5 as previously reported, and that STAT1, STAT3 and STAT5 are mediators of PRL effects in cells whether of lymphoid, myeloid or mammary epithelial origin. Furthermore, receptor mutants M240 and T280 that do not mediate PRL-induced JAK2 activation and cell proliferation, are also unable to mediate STAT activation, supporting the proposed model of JAK2 as the initial effector protein used by PRL receptors. On the other hand, tyrosine phosphorylation analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that receptor mutant G328, which lacks four of the five conserved cytoplasmic tyrosine residues of PRL receptors, retained the ability to activate JAK2 and STAT1, STAT3 and STAT5. These results support the notion that phosphotyrosyl residues other than those of the receptor, i.e., JAK2, are involved in recruiting STAT proteins to the activated PRL receptor complex.

Animals

Cloning of the gene encoding rat JAK2, a protein tyrosine kinase.

A complete cDNA clone encoding the rat JAK2 protein tyrosine kinase was isolated from an Nb2-SP (rat pre-T lymphoma cell line) cDNA library. The nucleotide (nt) and deduced amino acid (aa) sequences for this clone were determined and an open reading frame of 3399 bp, encoding a protein of a deduced mass of 130 kDa, was found. The coding regions of the rat and murine Jak2 clones share 93.4% nt identity and 97.1% aa identity. Northern analysis demonstrated that the 5-kb mRNA is highly abundant in brain and spleen, less abundant in skeletal muscle and testis, and detectable in kidney, heart, lung and liver. Translation of the rat Jak2 mRNA in rabbit reticulocytes results in a protein which is specifically immunoprecipitated by antibodies (Ab) recognizing JAK2, but not by Ab recognizing JAK1.

Amino Acid Sequence

Activation of JAK3, but not JAK1, is critical to interleukin-4 (IL4) stimulated proliferation and requires a membrane-proximal region of IL4 receptor alpha.

The tyrosine kinases JAK1 and JAK3 have been shown to undergo tyrosine phosphorylation in response to interleukin-2 (IL), IL4, IL7, and IL9, cytokines which share the common IL2 receptor gamma-chain (IL2R gamma), and evidence has been found for a preferential coupling of JAK3 to IL2R gamma and JAK1 to IL2R beta. Here we show, using human premyeloid TF-1 cells, that IL4 stimulates JAK3 to a larger extent than JAK1, based upon three different evaluation criteria. These include a more vigorous tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK3 as measured by anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblotting, a more marked activation of JAK3 as determined by in vitro tyrosine kinase assays and a more manifest presence of JAK3 in activated IL4-receptor complexes. These observations suggest that IL4 receptor signal transduction does not depend on equimolar heterodimerization of JAK1 and JAK3 following IL4-induced heterodimerization of IL4R alpha and IL2R gamma. Indeed, when human IL4R alpha was stably expressed in mouse BA/F3 cells, robust IL4-induced proliferation and JAK3 activation occurred without detectable involvement of JAK1, JAK2, or TYK2. The present study suggests that JAK1 plays a subordinate role in IL4 receptor signaling, and that in certain cells exclusive JAK3 activation may mediate IL4-induced cell growth. Moreover, mutational analysis of human IL4R alpha showed that a membrane-proximal cytoplasmic region was critical for JAK3 activation, while the I4R motif was not, which is compatible with a role of JAK3 upstream of the recruitment of the insulin receptor substrate-1/4PS signaling proteins by IL4 receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence

Activation of JAK3, but not JAK1, is critical for IL-2-induced proliferation and STAT5 recruitment by a COOH-terminal region of the IL-2 receptor beta-chain.

A number of cytokines and growth factors use the JAK-STAT pathway to signal from the cell membrane to the nucleus. While homodimerizing cytokine receptors may transmit signal via a single form of JAK (i.e. growth hormone receptors), several multicomponent cytokine receptors have been shown to require simultaneous activation of pairs of different JAK kinases (i.e. interferon receptors). Recent evidence for a preferential coupling of JAK3 to interleukin-2 receptor-gamma (IL-2R gamma) and JAK1 to IL-2R beta supports the concept of heterotrans-activation of JAK1 and JAK3 caused by IL-2-induced heterodimerization of their receptor partners. The present study verified the ability of IL-2 to cause tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of JAK1 and JAK3, but demonstrated that IL-2 stimulated JAK3 to a significantly larger extent than JAK1 in human T lymphocytes and the YT cell line. This conclusion was based upon several independent criteria, including more vigorous tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK3, more marked enzymatic activation of JAK3 as well as higher abundance of JAK3 in activated IL-2 receptor complexes. Furthermore, when human IL-2R beta was stably expressed in murine BA/F3 cells, robust IL-2-induced proliferation and JAK3 activation occurred without detectable involvement of either JAK1, JAK2 or TYK2. We therefore propose that IL-2 receptor signal transduction does not depend on equimolar heterodimerization of JAK1 and JAK3 following IL-2-induced heterodimerization of IL-2R beta and IL-2R gamma. Nonetheless, a membrane-proximal region of human IL-2R beta (Asn240-Leu335) was critical for JAK3 activation, and the amount of JAK3 present in activated IL-2 receptor complexes increased with time, suggesting that stabilization of JAK3 binding to the receptor complex relies on both IL-2R beta and IL-2R gamma. Moreover, STAT5 was found to be the predominant STAT transcription factor used by IL-2 in human T cells, and specifically required a COOH-terminal region of IL-2R beta (Ser386-Val525), while STAT5 recruitment was not correlated to activation of IL-2R gamma or JAK3.

Amino Acid Sequence

Effects of growth hormone and prolactin immune development and function.

Growth hormone and prolactin are neuroendocrine hormones that exert numerous effects on immune system function and development. Several fundamental questions are addressed in this review. Do neuroendocrine hormones affect specific immune cell types? What is the physiological significance of these effects? Can these effects be exploited clinically? While it is clear that there are indeed significant interactions between the neuroendocrine and immune systems, there are relatively few examples with demonstrated physiological significance. Present studies indicate that growth hormone and prolactin may exert markedly different effects on immune cell types depending on their stage in differentiation. Recent emphasis has also been focussed on the use of these hormones or their antagonists clinically in the treatment of AIDS, cancer, and autoimmune disease states due to their pleiotropic effects and low toxicity after systemic administration. However, we do not yet have a clear picture of how the influence of neuroendocrine hormones may be used to favorably alter pathophysiologic processes affecting immune function and development.

Animals

Structural and functional implications of age-related abnormal modifications in collagen II from intervertebral disc.

Collagen II was isolated from annulus fibrosus of human donors, and the degree of enzymatic glycosylation and the extent of nonenzymatic modification was determined as a function of age. While enzymatic glycosylation did not alter with age, the fluorescence as a measure of nonenzymatic modification increased, in particular in those fractions containing highly cross-linked collagen molecules. The age-dependent increase of fluorescence was associated with a lower thermal stability of collagen II, being lowest (Tm = 36.9 degrees C instead of 42.1 degrees C) in a fraction of collagen II molecules isolated from tissue of a 69-year-old donor. In addition, collagen II from elderly donors showed an impaired propensity to form fibrils, using an in vitro assay, as evidenced by the facts that (1) more collagen molecules remained in solution and were not assembled into fibrils, and (2) the relative turbidity caused by the aggregates progressively decreased as the age of the donors increased. As seen on electron micrographs, these fibrillar aggregates were less densely packed and intermingled with precipitates such as unbanded filaments or discontinuous fibrils with split and frayed regions. It can be hypothesized that functional impairment of the intervertebral disc with aging may be caused in part by molecular alterations as are described here for collagen II obtained from aged donors.

Adolescent

Prolactin activates Ras via signaling proteins SHC, growth factor receptor bound 2, and son of sevenless.

Identification of the signal transduction pathways used by PRL is essential for understanding the role of PRL receptors in growth and differentiation processes. Early cellular mediators of PRL receptor activation include tyrosine kinases of the Janus kinase (JAK) and SRC families, with rapid nuclear signaling via tyrosine phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription. In the present study we provide the first demonstration of PRL-induced activation of Ras, an oncogenic protein that supports an alternative signaling route from the membrane to the nucleus. PRL stimulated Ras in rat Nb2-SP lymphoma cells, as detected by a 2.0-fold increase in the GTP-bound state of the molecule (P < 0.01). This activation was associated with marked tyrosine phosphorylation and increased membrane association of the 52-kilodalton form of SHC. Moreover, PRL induced binding of SHC to growth factor receptor bound 2 and the guanine-nucleotide exchange factor son of sevenless, a common method used by growth factor receptors to activate Ras. In contrast, no apparent regulation by PRL of Ras via VAV or p120 Ras-guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein was detected, based upon an absence of PRL-inducible tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins. Collectively, these results provide a molecular bridge between activation of PRL receptor-associated tyrosine kinases and subsequent stimulation of the serine/threonine kinase Raf-1, an established Ras target that was recently shown to be activated by PRL in Nb2 cells. We conclude that PRL is able to activate Ras via recruitment of the signaling proteins SHC, growth factor receptor bound 2, and son of sevenless in Nb2 cells. Moreover, PRL induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SHC in two of three PRL-responsive human breast cancer cell lines, suggesting that SHC-mediated Ras activation is a commonly used signaling strategy by PRL.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing

[Male infertility. Significance of life and occupation].

A retrospective study was carried out which focused on the impact of lifestyle and exposure to different external factors on sperm quality. A questionnaire was sent to 312 men who had previously attended our laboratory for semen analysis. Their answers were correlated to sperm quality. Men exposed to a relatively high degree of X-rays were found to have significantly reduced sperm count. A previous symptomatic genital infection did not significantly influence the sperm quality, but an earlier sexually transmitted disease in the female partner was associated with a reduced rate of pregnancy. Frequency of ejaculation was significantly positively correlated to sperm motility and inversely related to both semen volume and proportion of sperm with abnormal morphology. Information on exposure to the remaining factors was not related to reduced sperm quality or fertility.

Adult

Identification of interleukin-2 receptor-associated tyrosine kinase p116 as novel leukocyte-specific Janus kinase.

Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK) has recently been linked to signal transduction by cytokine receptors of the hematopoietin family. We have recently described a 116-kDa tyrosine kinase (p116) present in interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor complexes in human YT cells that showed functional characteristics of a JAK kinase. These included receptor association, rapid and transient tyrosine phosphorylation kinetics in response to ligand, and in vitro autophosphorylating tyrosine kinase activity (Kirken, R. A., Rui, H., Evans, G. A., and Farrar, W. L. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 22765-22770). Here we extend these observations by demonstrating structural homologies between IL-2-modulated p116 and prolactin-modulated JAK2 in the rat T cell line Nb2. These include similar net charge as determined by nonequilibrium pH gradient electrofocusing and related primary structure based upon phosphopeptide mapping of V8 protease-digested hyperphosphorylated proteins. This putative JAK kinase underwent marked tyrosine phosphorylation in response to IL-2, IL-4, and IL-7, lymphoid growth factors that use the common IL-2 receptor gamma-chain, but not in response to prolactin. Furthermore, polyclonal antisera to JAK1, JAK2, or tyrosine kinase 2 did not recognize either rat or human p116. However, we identified the IL-2-modulated p116 as the recently cloned novel leukocyte Janus kinase, L-JAK, using an antiserum to a peptide corresponding to the COOH terminus of human L-JAK.

Animals

Growth signaling and JAK2 association mediated by membrane-proximal cytoplasmic regions of prolactin receptors.

Prolactin (PRL) has recently been demonstrated to induce tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase JAK2 in PRL-dependent Nb2 lymphoma cells. The present study represents an initial effort to identify cytoplasmic regions of the PRL receptor (PRLR) that are critical to growth signal generation and JAK2 activation. Variably truncated rat PRLRs were stably expressed in the murine 32D cell line. PRL-induced proliferation was mediated by the full-length receptor and the mutant G328, which contains the membrane-proximal Homology Boxes 1 and 2 characteristic of hematopoietin receptors. In contrast, mutant receptors lacking either Box 2 or both Boxes 1 and 2 were not capable of transmitting a growth signal. The mitogenic capacity of the PRLR variants correlated with JAK2 association and activation, as well as with induction of mRNA levels for the growth-related gene ornithine decarboxylase. We conclude that mitogenic competence of rat PRLRs resides within the first 94 amino acids of the cytoplasmic domain. The data suggest that Homology Box 1/Box 2 region is critical to JAK2 phosphorylation and association with the PRLR. These findings will serve as a basis for more detailed molecular characterization of PRLR domains essential for JAK2 interaction and growth signal generation.

Amino Acid Sequence

Activation of receptor-associated tyrosine kinase JAK2 by prolactin.

JAK family tyrosine kinases have recently been implicated in intracellular signal transduction by transmembrane cytokine receptors of the interferon (IFN) and hematopoietin receptor families. Using the prolactin (PRL)-dependent rat pre-T cell line Nb2, a PRL receptor-associated, candidate tyrosine kinase of 120-130 kDa was recently characterized (1). In the present work this protein is identified as JAK2, based upon reciprocal anti-JAK2 and anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. JAK2 underwent rapid and transient tyrosine phosphorylation in response to receptor activation, reaching peak levels within 5 min of exposure to 100 nM PRL at 37 degrees C. In vitro tyrosine kinase assays using either [gamma-32P]ATP and autoradiography or unlabeled ATP combined with anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblotting, demonstrated that the activity of JAK2 was stimulated by PRL. Phosphoamino acid analysis of JAK2 after in vitro tyrosine kinase assay revealed that the majority of phosphate was incorporated into tyrosine residues. Furthermore, JAK2 was associated with PRL receptors to a comparable extent before and after PRL binding, as demonstrated by anti-receptor immunoprecipitation and subsequent anti-JAK2 immunoblotting. We propose that binding of ligand to the PRL receptor activates preassociated JAK2, and that this enzyme generates the initial signal in the intracellular communication cascade.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Involvement of JAK-family tyrosine kinases in hematopoietin receptor signal transduction.

A variety of cytokines, hormones and hematopoietic growth factors signal through the hematopoietin family of membrane receptors, which share several structural features, including a Trp-Ser-X-Trp-Ser motif and four paired cysteine residues. The signal transduction mechanisms utilized by these receptors have remained elusive, although tyrosine kinase activation has been one common element. Recently, a role for the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases of the Janus kinase (JAK) family has been implicated in signalling by these receptors. There are currently three known JAK family kinases, including JAK1, JAK2 and TYK2. This review will focus on the role of such tyrosine kinases in hematopoietin receptor signal transduction, and address the possibility of the involvement also of unidentified Janus kinases.

Amino Acid Sequence

Cycloartane triterpene glycosides from the hairy root cultures of Astragalus membranaceus.

Agroastragaloside II, a new astragaloside was isolated from the hairy root culture of Astragalus membranaceus. Its structure was established as 3-O-beta-(2'-O-acetyl)-D-xylopyranosyl-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(24S)- 3 beta,6 alpha,16 beta,24,25-pentahydroxy-9,19-cyclolanostane on the basis of spectroscopic data. Three known astragalosides, astragaloside II, isoastragaloside I and 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-cycloastragenol were also isolated.

Astragalus propinquus

JAK2 activation and cell proliferation induced by antibody-mediated prolactin receptor dimerization.

Cytokines that interact with receptors of the hematopoietin super-family have recently been reported to stimulate receptor-associated JAK tyrosine kinases, including PRL activation of JAK2. Unlike other tyrosine kinases, none of the JAK kinases has thus far been implicated in oncogenesis, and their involvement in growth signaling has not been established. Using the PRL-dependent pre-T-cell line Nb2, the present study provided a link between bivalent dimerization of a hematopoietin receptor and activation of its associated JAK kinase, and demonstrated a strong positive correlation between the mitogenic potency of a series of bivalent anti-PRL receptor antibodies and the degree of induced tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2. Antibody bivalency was required for JAK2 phosphorylation. Monovalent anti-PRL receptor Fab fragments alone were inactive, but their activity could be partially restored by cross-linking with bivalent anti-Fab antibodies. Additional evidence for antibody-induced receptor dimerization was provided by a bell-shaped dose-response curve for the most potent receptor agonist, monoclonal antibody T6. This phenomenon is typically seen at pharmacological concentrations of bivalent ligands, when bound ligand molecules fail to adjoin a second receptor due to occupancy. The present study provided functional support for a model of PRL receptor triggering by ligand-induced receptor homodimerization and subsequent activation of the associated tyrosine kinase JAK2.

Animals

Characterization of an interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced tyrosine phosphorylated 116-kDa protein associated with the IL-2 receptor beta-subunit.

In this paper we have extended previous results on interleukin-2 receptor (IL2-R) signal transduction and focused on the interleukin-2 (IL-2)-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of a 116-kDa protein (p116) observed in IL-2 responsive cells. This protein exhibited rapid and transient phosphorylation kinetics in both human T-lymphocytes and the YT cell line, attaining maximum tyrosine phosphorylation within 5 min of stimulation with IL-2. Tyrosine phosphorylated p116 co-purified with activated IL-2 receptor beta-chain (IL2-R beta) when IL2-R complexes were covalently stabilized with the membrane-permeable cleavable cross-linking agent dithiobis(succimidyl propionate) prior to detergent cell lysis and immunoprecipitation with monoclonal anti-IL2-R beta antibodies. Under these conditions comparable amounts of tyrosine-phosphorylated p116 were immunoprecipitated with either anti-IL2-R beta antibodies or anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies, suggesting that a major portion of tyrosine phosphorylated p116 is associated with the IL2-R beta subunit. Furthermore, unphosphorylated p116 was also associated with unactivated IL2-R beta, based on the observation that p116 from unstimulated YT cells underwent tyrosine phosphorylation in IL2-R beta immune-complex tyrosine kinase assay as demonstrated by anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblotting. The presence of tyrosine kinase activity in affinity-purified IL2-R beta complexes supports the notion of a preformed receptor-kinase complex. The co-association of both p116 and tyrosine kinase activity with the IL2-R beta supports the critical role of the beta-chain in IL2-R signal transduction and suggests that p116 may have a role in the dynamics of IL2-R activation.

Cell Line