Biomedical subjects

S An

Publications and source records attributed to S An.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

A subfamily of G protein-coupled cellular receptors for lysophospholipids and lysosphingolipids.

The results of molecular cloning and homology searches have identified a minimum of five different proteins of the endothelial differentiation gene (edg) encoded subfamily of GPCRs. Edg protein GPCRs show amino acid sequence identity of 31% to 34% as a subfamily, but contain two homology clusters with greater similarity of structures and functions. One cluster of high amino acid sequence homology includes Edg-2 and Edg-4 proteins, that encode GPCRs for LPA, but not lysosphingolipids. A second homology cluster encompasses Edg-1, Edg-3 and Edg-5. Edg-3 and Edg-5 encode GPCRs specific for S1P, but not LPA. Preliminary data suggest that Edg-1 encodes a GPCR for S1P and one or more other lysosphingolipids, but the signals evoked by S1P alone are far weaker than those transduced by Edg-3 and Edg-5. Similarities of the structures of genes for the respective homology clusters supports this tentative classification of the Edg protein GPCRs. Future research will be directed to completion of the elucidation of genomic organization and signaling pathways, and a greater understanding of the breadth of functional roles of Edg proteins in development and activities of the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine and immune systems.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Induction of apoptosis in murine coronavirus-infected cultured cells and demonstration of E protein as an apoptosis inducer.

We demonstrated that infection of 17Cl-1 cells with the murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. MHV-infected DBT cells did not show apoptotic changes, indicating that apoptosis was not a universal mechanism of cell death in MHV-infected cells. Expression of MHV structural proteins by recombinant vaccinia viruses showed that expression of MHV E protein induced apoptosis in DBT cells, whereas expression of other MHV structural proteins, including S protein, M protein, N protein, and hemagglutinin-esterase protein, failed to induce apoptosis. MHV E protein-mediated apoptosis was suppressed by a high level of Bcl-2 oncogene expression. Our data showed that MHV E protein is a multifunctional protein; in addition to its known function in coronavirus envelope formation, it also induces apoptosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Transduction of intracellular calcium signals through G protein-mediated activation of phospholipase C by recombinant sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) increases intracellular Ca2+ concentration in many cell types, but the signaling mechanism remains uncertain. The recent identification of three closely related seven-transmembrane domain receptors for S1P, termed Edg1, H218, and Edg3, support the extracellular ligand role of S1P and allowed examination of Ca2+ responses mediated specifically by each receptor subtype. To substantiate each subtype in S1P-induced Ca2+ responses and to study the transductional mechanisms, we applied the aequorin luminescence method and the fura-2 fluorescence method in two transfected mammalian cell systems. We showed that H218 and Edg3 were capable of mediating S1P-induced mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ when transiently transfected in human TAg-Jurkat T cells. Ca2+ responses mediated by Edg1 in TAg-Jurkat cells required coexpression of the Gqi5 chimeric G protein that links Gi-coupled receptors to Gq. When H218 and Edg3 were stably expressed in rat HTC4 hepatoma cells, S1P induced Ca2+ responses with nanomolar EC50 values. Edg3, but not H218, elicited a sustained influx of extracellular Ca2+. The coincident formation of inositol phosphates and the complete inhibition of Ca2+ responses by the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 indicated that H218 and Edg3 mobilized Ca2+ through activation of phospholipase C. Partial inhibition of Ca2+ responses and inositol phosphates formation by pertussis toxin implied that H218 and Edg3 transduce phospholipase C activation and Ca2+ responses only partially through Gi proteins. Although these results did not dismiss that S1P may function as an intracellular second messenger in other settings, they definitively proved that S1P can mobilize Ca2+ as an extracellular ligand for G protein-coupled receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Characterization of a novel subtype of human G protein-coupled receptor for lysophosphatidic acid.

The recent identification of the Vzg-1/Edg2 protein as a functional G protein-coupled receptor for lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has allowed a sequence-based search for new genes that may encode novel subtypes of LPA receptors. A human cDNA encoding a G protein-coupled receptor, designated Edg4, was identified by searching the GenBankTM for homologs of the human Edg2 LPA receptor. The Edg4 protein is 46% identical and 72% similar in amino acid sequence to human Edg2. When overexpressed in Jurkat T cells, the Edg4 protein mediated LPA-induced activation of a serum response element reporter gene with LPA concentration dependence (EC50 of 10 nM) and specificity. This LPA-induced reporter gene activation could be partially inhibited by pretreatment with pertussis toxin or C3 exoenzyme, suggesting requirements for both a Gi protein and Rho GTPase. Overexpression of Edg4 in Jurkat cells also led to increases in specific binding sites for [3H]LPA. Northern blots revealed that two edg4 mRNA transcripts of 1.8 and 8 kilobases are distributed very differently from edg2 mRNAs in adult human tissues and several cancer cell lines. The existence and distinctive tissue expression of structurally different subtypes of LPA receptors may provide one basis for tissue-specific functions and permit independent regulation of each subtype of LPA receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Characterizations of coronavirus cis-acting RNA elements and the transcription step affecting its transcription efficiency.

Seven to eight species of viral subgenomic mRNAs are produced in coronavirus-infected cells. These mRNAs are produced in different quantities, and their molar ratios remain constant during viral replication. We studied RNA elements that affect coronavirus transcription efficiency by characterizing a series of cloned coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) defective interfering (DI) RNAs containing an inserted intergenic sequence, from which subgenomic DI RNA is transcribed in MHV-infected cells. Certain combinations of upstream and downstream flanking sequences of the intergenic sequence suppressed subgenomic DI RNA transcription, yet changing one of the flanking sequences to a different sequence eliminated transcription suppression. The suppressive effect of certain combinations of flanking sequences, but not all combinations, could be counteracted by altering the intergenic sequence. Thus, the combination of intergenic sequence and flanking sequence affected transcription efficiency. We also characterized another set of DI RNAs designed to clarify which transcription step determines the relative molar ratios of coronavirus mRNAs. Our study indicated that if subgenomic mRNAs were exclusively synthesized from negative-strand genomic RNA, then the relative molar ratios of coronavirus mRNAs were most likely determined after synthesis of the genomic-sized template RNA. If negative-strand subgenomic RNAs were templates for subgenomic mRNAs, then the relative molar ratios of coronavirus mRNAs probably were determined after synthesis of the genomic-sized template RNA used for subgenomic-sized RNA transcription but prior to the completion of the synthesis of subgenomic-sized RNAs containing the leader sequence. The relative molar ratios of coronavirus mRNAs, therefore, seem to have been established prior to a putative replicon-type amplification of subgenomic mRNAs.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Importance of coronavirus negative-strand genomic RNA synthesis prior to subgenomic RNA transcription.

The (-)-strand viral RNAs that result from after infection of cells with coronaviruses, which possess RNA genomes of message polarity, are genomic-sized and subgenomic-sized. Each of the (-)-strand subgenomic RNAs corresponds in size to each of the subgenomic mRNA species that are made in infected cells. We tested whether (-)-strand subgenomic RNAs might initially be synthesized from the input single-stranded (+)-strand genomic RNA prior to the production of subgenomic mRNAs. We used a mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) defective interfering (DI) RNA. from which subgenomic RNA was produced in DI RNA-replicating cells, because this DI RNA had a functional MHV intergenic region inserted in its interior. MHV samples containing the DI particles were irradiated with UV-light and then superinfected into cells that had been infected with MHV 4 h prior to superinfection. Northern blot analysis of intracellular RNAs that were extracted 3 h after superinfection showed that genomic DI RNA and subgenomic DI RNA had similar UV-target sizes, indicating that (-)-strand genomic DI RNA synthesis from input genomic DI RNA probably occurred prior to the subgenomic-size DI RNA synthesis. We discuss why, in the course of coronavirus transcription, (-)-strand genomic-length coronavirus RNA synthesis might occur before subgenomic-sized RNAs of either polarity are made.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Recombinant human G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid receptors mediate intracellular calcium mobilization.

Mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ is a critical cellular response to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in many cell types. Recent identification of endothelial differentiation gene (Edg) 2 and Edg4 as subtypes of G protein-coupled receptors for LPA allowed examination of the Ca2+ mobilization mediated specifically by each subtype. To reduce endogenous background levels while enhancing recombinant receptor-specific signals, the aequorin luminescence method was used to quantify cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels. In TAg-Jurkat T cells transiently co-transfected with apoaequorin and human Edg2 or Edg4 cDNA, LPA dose-dependently increased light emission triggered by increased Ca2+ bound to aequorin. N-Palmitoyl-L-serine-phosphoric acid and N-palmitoyl-L-tyrosine-phosphoric acid, which had been previously shown to be antagonists for Xenopus laevis LPA receptors, did not antagonize the Ca2+-mobilizing effects of Edg2 and Edg4. Surprisingly, they acted as agonists or partial agonists for Edg2 and Edg4. The Ca2+ mobilization by Edg2 and Edg4 was further characterized in stable transfectants of rat HTC4 hepatoma cells. By using the fura-2 fluorescence method, a difference in the kinetics of Ca2+ flux with Edg2 and Edg4 was observed. With Edg2, but not Edg4, the initial increase in the Ca2+ concentration was followed by a sustained influx of extracellular Ca2+. The coincident production of inositol phosphates and the inhibition of Ca2+ mobilization by the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 strongly suggested that Edg2 and Edg4 mobilize Ca2+ through inositol trisphosphate generated by phospholipase C activation. Pertussis toxin almost completely blocked LPA-induced Ca2+ mobilization by Edg2 but only partially blocked that by Edg4, which suggests that Edg2 transduces Ca2+ mobilization largely through pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi proteins, whereas Edg4 requires both Gi and Gq.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Coronavirus transcription early in infection.

We studied the accumulation kinetics of murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) RNAs early in infection by using cloned MHV defective interfering (DI) RNA that contained an intergenic sequence from which subgenomic DI RNA is synthesized in MHV-infected cells. Genomic DI RNA and subgenomic DI RNA accumulated at a constant ratio from 3 to 11 h postinfection (p.i.) in the cells infected with MHV-containing DI particles. Earlier, at 1 h p.i., this ratio was not constant; only genomic DI RNA accumulated, indicating that MHV RNA replication, but not MHV RNA transcription, was active during the first hour of MHV infection. Negative-strand genomic DI RNA and negative-strand subgenomic DI RNA were first detectable at 1 and 3 h p.i., respectively, and the amounts of both RNAs increased gradually until 6 h p.i. These data showed that at 2 h p.i., subgenomic DI RNA was undergoing synthesis in the cells in which negative-strand subgenomic DI RNA was undetectable. These data, therefore, signify that negative-strand genomic DI RNA, but not negative-strand subgenomic DI RNA, was an active template for subgenomic DI RNA synthesis early in infection.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[Polymerase chain reaction technique in monitoring treatment of bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between sputum Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as its DNA negative conversion and relapse in bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis during chemotherapy and 2 years after completion of treatment, and to evaluate the value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in monitoring the efficacy of treatment. METHOD: Eighty-seven patients with bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis were monthly examined by PCR technique, smear and culture methods, and were followed up for 2 years after treatment. RESULT: The duration of sputum negative conversion by PCR technique was 1-3 months later than that by smear and culture methods. The more the sputum bacteria, the longer the duration of PCR positive results. Positive PCR results maintained in 10 out of 87 patients for more than 1 year, among them 3 (30%) relapsed respectively at 8, 12 and 16 months after treatment. One PCR negative conversion case relapsed at 18 months after treatment. These 4 cases who regained sputum positive results and showed deterioration in chest X-ray films were admitted to hospital again. CONCLUSION: PCR technique is more practical than smear and culture methods in monitoring efficacy of the treatment of bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis, and is useful for evaluating cases with possible relapse.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

EP4/EP2 receptor-specific prostaglandin E2 regulation of interleukin-6 generation by human HSB.2 early T cells.

Human leukemic early T cells of the HSB.2 line coexpress the EP2, EP3 and EP4 subtypes of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) receptors (Rs). EP3 Rs have previously been demonstrated to transduce PGE2 stimulation of secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 by HSB.2 T cells through Ca++-dependent enhancement of MMP-9 mRNA transcription. We now show that PGE2 and the EP4/EP2/EP3 R-selective agonist misoprostol, but not the EP3 R-directed agonists sulprostone and M&B28767, induced increases in HSB.2 T cell interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA and secretion. Pharmacological agents that increase intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP ([cAMP]i) mimicked and synergistically enhanced induction of IL-6 secretion by PGE2, whereas inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA) but not protein kinase C suppressed PGE2-evoked increases in IL-6 secretion, suggesting that cAMP and PKA are the intracellular messengers of the PGE2 effect. Exposure of HSB.2 T cells to the mitogenic lectin concanavalin A (Con A) increased basal IL-6 secretion, without a change in IL-6 mRNA level. Con A-stimulated HSB.2 T cells responded to PGE2 with greater increases in IL-6 mRNA and secretion of IL-6. Con A also down-regulated mRNA encoding both EP3 Rs and EP2 Rs, and concurrently up-regulated mRNA encoding EP4 Rs of HSB.2 T cells. Therefore, EP4 and EP2 Rs mediate PGE2-induced increases in IL-6 secretion by HSB.2 T cells through a transcriptional and cAMP dependent-mechanism. The increased ratio of EP4 Rs/EP3 Rs may contribute to Con A enhancement of PGE2-elicited increases in IL-6 secretion by HSB.2 T cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Diversity of cellular receptors and functions for the lysophospholipid growth factors lysophosphatidic acid and sphingosine 1-phosphate.

The lysophospholipid (LPL) mediators lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) are generated by enzymatic cleavage of stores of glycerophospholipids and sphingomyelin, respectively, in membranes of stimulated cells. LPLs are albumin bound, distributed widely in mammalian tissues, and increased in concentration by physiological activation of platelets and some other cells, tissue injury, inflammation, and neoplasia. The principal effects of LPA and S1P are growth related, including induction of cellular proliferation, alterations in differentiation and survival, and suppression of apoptosis. LPA and S1P also evoke cellular effector functions, which are dependent on cytoskeletal responses such as contraction, secretion, adhesion, and chemotaxis. The extracellular mediator activities of LPLs are transduced by subfamilies of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), of which the most completely characterized are those encoded by the endothelial differentiation genes (edgs). One homology cluster composed of Edg-1, -3, and -5 recognizes and responds to S1P, and the other cluster of Edg-2 and -4 is dedicated to LPA. Edg proteins are developmentally regulated and differ in tissue distribution, but couple similarly to multiple types of G-proteins to signal through ras and mitogen-activated protein kinase, rho, phospholipase C, and several protein tyrosine kinases. Numerous interactions between glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids are observed in their biosynthetic and signaling pathways. Many of the cellular effects of LPA and S1P are attributable to modifications in the content and/or activity of a major functional protein. Examples are increases in nuclear levels of transcription factors that regulate the serum response element, suppression of death caspase activities in apoptosis, and elevation of membrane content of heparin binding-epidermal growth factor-like growth factor, which serves as an autocrine and juxtacrine stimulus of proliferation. These ubiquitous LPL mediators of cellular growth, differentiation, and activities thus act directly through complex subfamilies of GPCRs and by regulating expression of biologically critical proteins.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Signaling mechanisms and molecular characteristics of G protein-coupled receptors for lysophosphatidic acid and sphingosine 1-phosphate.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) are potent phospholipid mediators with diverse biological activities. Their appearance and functional properties suggest possible roles in development, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. The growth-stimulating and other complex biological activities of LPA and S1P are attributable in part to the activation of multiple G protein-mediated intracellular signaling pathways. Several heterotrimeric G proteins, as well as Ras- and Rho-dependent pathways play central roles in the cellular responses to LPA and S1P. Recently, several G protein-coupled receptors encoded by a family of endothelial differentiation genes (edg) have been shown to bind LPA or S1P and transduce responses of cAMP, Ca2+, MAP kinases, Rho, and gene transcription. This review summarizes our current understanding of signaling pathways critical for cellular responses to LPA and S1P and of recent progress in the molecular biological analyses of the Edg receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Identification of cDNAs encoding two G protein-coupled receptors for lysosphingolipids.

The structural similarity of lysosphingolipids to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) prompted a sequence-based search for lysosphingolipid receptors using cDNA sequence of the Edg2 human LPA receptor. Two closely related G protein-coupled receptors, rat H218 and human Edg3, are highly similar to Edg2. When overexpressed in Jurkat cells, H218 and Edg3 activated serum response element-driven transcriptional reporter gene in response to sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), dihydro-S1P and sphingosylphosphorylcholine, but not to LPA. H218 and Edg3 expressed in Xenopus oocytes conferred responsiveness to S1P and dihydro-S1P in agonist-triggered 45Ca2+ efflux. Therefore, H218 and Edg3 are functional receptors for S1P and perhaps other closely related lysosphingolipids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Ligation of CD40 potentiates Fas-mediated activation of the cysteine protease CPP32, cleavage of its death substrate PARP, and apoptosis in Ramos-Burkitt lymphoma B cells.

The proliferation and survival of a B cell population is necessarily tightly controlled to prevent the arisal of malignancy or autoimmunity. The expansion or elimination of a B cell clone is determined through a complex interaction of the tumour necrosis factor receptor/nerve growth factor receptor family members CD40 and Fas, which are expressed on the B cell surface, with their respective physiological ligands (CD40L and FasL) expressed on the surface of CD4+ T cells. The regulation of B cell growth by signals transduced through CD40 and Fas contributes to the maintenance of peripheral tolerance and likely takes place and in the germinal centres (GC) of secondary lymphoid tissues. In this study, we investigate the relationship between the expression of Fas and B cell survival following engagement of CD40 and Fas in the Epstein-Barr virus-genome-negative Ramos-Burkitt lymphoma (Ramos-BL) B cell line model of GC B lymphocyte selection during maturation of the humoral immune response. We now present evidence that Ramos-BL B cells constitutively express both Fas and FasL on their surface and that expression of Fas, but not FasL, is enhanced following ligation of CD40. Coligation of CD40 and Fas, triggers for growth inhibition, activation of the interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme, now caspase, family member CPP32 (caspase-3) but not Ich-1L (caspase-2), cleavage of its death substrate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and apoptosis from the G1 phase of cell cycle; engagement of Fas alone fails to trigger for growth inhibition and apoptosis but enhances AgR-mediated cellular death. This CD40-potentiated Fas-triggered growth inhibition and apoptosis occurs in the presence of CD40-induced expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-xL and Bcl-2. Taken together, these data indicate that ligation of CD40 facilitates efficient coupling of Fas to the caspase-mediated pathway of apoptosis.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1997

The secretory granule protein syncollin binds to syntaxin in a Ca2(+)-sensitive manner.

The membrane proteins synaptobrevin, syntaxin, and SNAP-25 form the core of a ubiquitous fusion machine that interacts with the soluble proteins NSF and alpha-SNAP. During regulated exocytosis, membrane fusion is usually strictly controlled by Ca2+ ions. However, the mechanism by which Ca2+ regulates exocytosis is still unclear. Here we show that the membranes of exocrine secretory granules contain an 18-kDa protein, syncollin, that binds to syntaxin at low Ca2+ concentrations and dissociates at concentrations known to stimulate exocytosis. Syncollin has a single hydrophobic domain at its N-terminus and shows no significant homology with any known protein. Recombinant syncollin inhibits fusion in vitro between zymogen granules and pancreatic plasma membranes, and its potency falls as Ca2+ concentration rises. We suggest that syncollin acts as a Ca2(+)-sensitive regulator of exocytosis in exocrine tissues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

CD40-triggered protein tyrosine phosphorylation on Vav and on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase correlates with survival of the Ramos-Burkitt lymphoma B cell line.

Signals transduced through CD40 rescue cells of the Ramos-Burkitt lymphoma (Ramos-BL) B cell line from surface immunoglobulin M (sIgM)-triggered growth arrest and apoptosis. This study investigates whether protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity and tyrosine phosphorylation on p95(vav) and on the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 kinase) play a role in the regulation of Ramos-BL B cell survival. The PTK inhibitor herbimycin A (HA) triggers significant growth arrest prior to apoptosis from the G1-phase of the cell cycle, indicating that tyrosine phosphorylation of key proteins is critical for Ramos-BL cell cycle progression and survival. Indeed, signals transduced through CD40 fail to rescue Ramos-BL B cells from HA-triggered growth arrest and apoptosis. Since Vav and PI3 kinase are intimately involved in the regulation of cellular growth, their tyrosine phosphorylation status was determined in unstimulated and anti-IgM- and anti-CD40-treated Ramos-BL B cells: Vav and p85 are devoid of tyrosine-phosphorylated epitopes in control cells whereas p85, but not Vav, is significantly phosphorylated following ligation of sIgM and anti-CD40 triggers tyrosine phosphorylation on both proteins. Thus, tyrosine-phosphorylated Vav may be a critical effector of CD40-mediated survival. As tyrosine-phosphorylated PI3 kinase is common to both sIgM-triggered death and CD40-triggered survival pathways, its lipid kinase activity was correlated with tyrosine phosphorylation on p85: Ramos-BL B cells exhibit high basal levels of PI3 kinase activity, determined by immunoprecipitation with anti-p85 and 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol, which is not significantly affected by stimulation with anti-IgM but which is elevated by 36 +/- 2.9% following ligation of CD40. Thus, tyrosine phosphorylation on p85 correlates with the CD40-triggered increase in PI3 kinase activity but not with basal levels nor with sIgM-triggered levels of enzymatic activity: these data suggest the presence of different PI3 kinase isoforms or the existence of multiple regulatory pathways for the same PI3 kinase isotype in Ramos-BL B cells.

B-Lymphocytes↗

PubMed1997

Molecular cloning of the human Edg2 protein and its identification as a functional cellular receptor for lysophosphatidic acid.

A cDNA homologous to that encoding sheep Edg2 protein was cloned from a human lung cDNA library. The full-length sequence encodes a 364-amino acid protein which belongs to the superfamily of guanine nucleotide-binding (G) protein-coupled receptors. Human Edg2 mRNA is widely distributed in human tissues with the highest abundance in brain. HEK293 cells expressing the human Edg2 protein showed an elevated response to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in a serum response element reporter gene assay, which was LPA concentration-dependent and specific to LPA compared to other lysophospholipids. Over-expression of human Edg2 in CHO cells correlated with increases in specific binding of [3H]-LPA. Recently, the mouse counterpart of Edg2 protein also was identified as a receptor for LPA (Hecht et al., 1996, J. Cell Biol. 135, 1071). Therefore, it is concluded that the human Edg2 protein functions as a cellular receptor for LPA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Regulation of expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in early human T cells of the HSB.2 cultured line by the EP3 subtype of prostaglandin E2 receptor.

The expression by T lymphocytes (T cells) of more than one of the functionally distinct subtypes of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) receptors (Rs), designated EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4 Rs, is a principal determinant of specificity and diversity of the immune effects of PGE2. The cultured line of human leukemic T cells, termed HSB.2, co-expresses a total of 7282 +/- 1805 EP3, EP4, and EP2 Rs per cell with a Kd of 3.7 +/- 1.4 nM (mean +/- S.E., n = 9). The EP3/EP1 R-selective agonist sulprostone, EP3/EP2/EP4 R-selective agonists M&B 28767 and misoprostol, and EP2 R-selective agonist butaprost but not the EP1 R-selective antagonist SC-19220 competitively inhibited the binding of [3H]PGE2 to HSB.2 cells. Stimulation of increases in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP ([cAMP]i) by PGE2, misoprostol, and butaprost and of increases in the intracellular concentration of calcium ([Ca2+]i) by PGE2 and sulprostone demonstrated the respective involvement of EP2/EP4 Rs and EP3 Rs in transduction of biochemical signals. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 was identified by zymography and Western blots as the principal MMP secreted by HSB.2 cells. The cytosolic level and secretion of MMP-9 were increased maximally after 24 h of incubation of HSB.2 cells with 10(-8)-10(-6) M PGE2, sulprostone, M&B 28767, and misoprostol but not with 10(-6) M PGF2alpha, PGD2, PGI2, or butaprost, suggesting a principal dependence on EP3 Rs. That stimulation of MMP-9 secretion by PGE2 was not diminished in Ca2+-free medium but was suppressed significantly and dose-dependently by thapsigargin, an inhibitor of endomembrane Ca2+-ATPase, suggested that MMP-9 expression by HSB.2 cells is mediated by increases in [Ca2+]i attributable to release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. The lack of effect of dibutyryl cAMP, forskolin, and SQ 22536, an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor, on MMP-9 secretion by HSB.2 cells argued against any role for cAMP-dependent mechanisms linked to EP2/EP4 Rs. Cycloheximide and actinomycin D, which respectively inhibited protein and RNA synthesis, suppressed basal and PGE2 induction of MMP-9 production by HSB.2 cells. Northern analysis indicated that PGE2 and sulprostone time-dependently increased expression of MMP-9 mRNA. Thus, stimulation of MMP-9 in HSB.2 T cells by PGE2 is attributable to [Ca2+]i-dependent EP3 R-mediation of increases in message transcription.

Adenine↗