Biomedical subjects

Martina K Pec

Publications and source records attributed to Martina K Pec.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

CC and CXC chemokine receptors mediate migration, proliferation, and matrix metalloproteinase production by fibroblast-like synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential involvement of the chemokine system in synoviocyte-mediated tissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we studied the expression profile of chemokine receptors and their function in the migration, proliferation, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production of cultured fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA patients. METHODS: The presence of CC and CXC chemokine receptors on cultured FLS was studied at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and at the cell surface expression level by flow cytometry. Variations in cytosolic calcium influx induced by chemokine stimulation were assessed by flow cytometry on Fura Red-preloaded FLS. Two-compartment transwell chambers were used for FLS chemotaxis assays. Cell growth was measured by a fluorescence-based proliferation assay. Gelatinase and collagenase activities were determined by a fibril degradation assay and zymography. RESULTS: FLS constitutively expressed the receptors CCR2, CCR5, CXCR3, and CXCR4, both at the cell surface and mRNA levels, but failed to express CCR3 and CCR6. Significant intracytosolic calcium influx was observed on FLS challenged with monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha (SDF-1alpha), and interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10). Stimulation with MCP-1, SDF-1alpha, IP-10, and monokine induced by interferon-gamma enhanced the migration and proliferation of FLS. These chemokines, in addition to RANTES, increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner the gelatinase and collagenase activities in cell-free supernatants of cultured FLS. Interestingly, the chemokine-mediated up-regulation of MMP activities was significantly abrogated by the presence of anti-interleukin-1beta, but not anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha, blocking antibodies. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that through modulation of the migration, proliferation, and MMP production by FLS, the chemokine system may play a more direct role in the destructive phase of RA than is currently suspected, and thus emphasize the relevance of chemokines and their receptors as potential therapeutic targets in this disease.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed2003

Induction of apoptosis in estrogen dependent and independent breast cancer cells by the marine terpenoid dehydrothyrsiferol.

Breast cancer (BCA) represents the highest incidence of death in 35- to 60-year-old women. Above all, hormone unresponsive BCA is still associated with poorer prognosis than hormone receptor expressing malign, mammary tumors. There is a consistent need for effective compounds to treat especially the first variant of this disease. Therefore, we investigated the cytotoxic effects of the marine polyether triterpenoid dehydrothyrsiferol (DT) in four BCA cell lines. Annexin V labeling revealed higher rates of DT-induced apoptosis in hormone insensitive than in estrogen receptor expressing cells. Flow cytometric analysis of combined DNA fragmentation and total DNA labeling allowed us to ascribe apoptotic cells to their cell cycle stage. Although, high cell mortality was detected in mitogen dependent G(1)-phase, time, concentration, and cell line dependent populations of apoptotic cells were also found to be of S-phase and G(2)/M-phase origin. These results suggest that the induction of apoptosis by DT might be transduced through more than one effector pathway. Cell cycle distributions and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation varied in a treatment dependent manner and differed from control experiments with colchicine and doxorubicin which exclude that DT functions as a mitosis inhibitor. In summary, we propose that DT might be an interesting candidate for an antitumor drug development regimen.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2002

Dehydrothyrsiferol does not modulate multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 resistance: a functional screening system for MRP1 substrates.

We had shown previously that the novel, marine, anticancer compound dehydrothyrsiferol (DHT) does not modulate P-glycoprotein (P-gp) dependent drug efflux. Many chemotherapeutics with clinical impact are substrates for the structurally distant related membrane transport protein MRP1 (multidrug resistance-associated protein 1). Thus, we were interested in analysing the behaviour of DHT and control compounds in specific drug transport of MRP1 overexpressing cells. We established a fluorescence based drug efflux system for specific, functional detection of interference of a test compound in MRP1 mediated drug extrusion. Briefly, MRP1 overexpressing HL60/Adr cells were incubated to uptake and then efflux fluorescent 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA), rhodamine 123 (Rh123), or 3,3-diethylocarbocyanine iodide (DiOC2), respectively. Changes in cell fluorescence intensity after coincubation with the compound of interest were determined by flow cytometry. MRP1 mediated efflux of CFDA was analysed in the presence of DHT, the known substrates genistein, probenecid, and the specific inhibitor MK-571. To exclude unknown P-gp related interference in drug transport, efflux of the fluorescent P-gp substrate DiOC2 and specific inhibition by cyclosporin A (CsA) were analysed. Cytotoxicity of DHT in resistant HL60/Adr cells was found to be even superior to that in the parental HL60 leukaemia cell line. Consequently, DHT did not interfere in MRP1 mediated drug transport. In contrast to DiOC2, rhodamine 123 was not specifically effluxed by P-gp but also by MRP1. Therefore, we propose the MRP1 specific CFDA efflux model as a screening and/or excluding system for MRP1 substrates. Together with previous data our results suggest DHT to be an interesting candidate for further investigation directed towards a drug development regimen.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗