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Expression of cyclin D2 in Epstein-Barr virus-positive Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines is related to methylation status of the gene.

The cyclin D2 gene is not expressed in resting primary B lymphocytes or in group I Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cell lines that retain the characteristics of authentic BL cells. Expression of cyclin D2 is induced in primary B lymphocytes following infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or transfection of the EBV genes EBNA-LP and EBNA-2. However, attempts to induce cyclin D2 expression in BL cell lines by the enforced expression of EBV genes were unsuccessful. Since the demethylation agent 5-azacytidine has been shown to modulate viral gene expression in BL cells, we explored the possibility that methylation plays a significant role in the control of cyclin D2 expression. We show that 5-azacytidine treatment of the Mutu CI 179 BL cell line led to expression of cyclin D2 RNA and that expression correlated with differences in the methylation status of a CCGG restriction enzyme site near the transcription initiation region of the cyclin D2 gene. Thus, methylation appears to play a direct role in the regulation of the cyclin D2 locus in BL.

Antigens, Viral↗

Maize cyclin D2 expression, associated kinase activity and effect of phytohormones during germination.

A cDNA corresponding to 16 kDa of the maize cyclin D2 N-terminus was cloned and this polypeptide was overexpressed to produce homologous antibodies. This antibody recognized a 38 kDa protein in extracts from maize embryonic axes which corresponds to the predicted size for cyclin D2 protein. Expression of cyclin D2 was followed at the transcriptional and protein levels, and the effect of cytokinins and abscisic acid (ABA) was followed during maize germination. Cytokinins importantly stimulated cyclin D2 gene expression at late germination times and sucrose was necessary for stimulation, whereas the effect of ABA was not different from that in controls. However, cyclin D2 protein levels in control axes reached a peak at 6 h germination, declining thereafter, and neither cytokinins nor ABA modified this behavior. Two cyclic-dependent kinase A (Cdk-A)-type proteins and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were found co-immunoprecipitating with cyclin D2, and these immunoprecipitates were able to phosphorylate both histone H1 and the maize retinoblastoma-related protein (RBR). This protein kinase activity differed from the pattern of protein accumulation during germination, and the activity was not modified by either cytokinins or ABA. We discuss these findings in terms of the importance of the cell cycle for the germination process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cyclin D2 expression in familial and sporadic breast cancer.

In a differential display experiment comparing normal breast epithelial cells with breast tumors and breast cancer cell lines we isolated a gene, cyclin D2, showing a low expression in tumor cells compared to normal cells. This result was confirmed using Northern blotting and RT-PCR. In total, low expression was seen in 48/109 (44%) tumors. Low cyclin D2 expression was seen in 10/39 (25%) sporadic breast cancer, and in 38/70 (54%) of familial breast cancer. In order to find the explanation for the down-regulation of cyclin D2 we screened for inactivating mutations in tumors with low expression, and studied methylation of the promoter region in breast cancer cell lines. We also used growth factors in an attempt to stimulate cell lines to express cyclin D2, and transfected the cell lines with a vector expressing cyclin D2. Treatment with 5-azacytidin for four days resulted in transcription of cyclin D2. Our result suggests that methylation of the cyclin D2 promoter or another regulating gene is associated with loss of cyclin D2 expression in breast cancer.

Azacitidine↗

Proliferation profile of classical Hodgkin's lymphomas. Increased expression of the protein cyclin D2 in Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells.

There is accumulating evidence that Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells of classical Hodgkin's lymphomas (cHL) display multiple and concurrent alterations in different pathways and checkpoints of the cell cycle. However, the expression of cyclin D2 and its relation to other major cell cycle proteins has not been analyzed in cHL. The aim of the present study was to assess expression of cyclin D2, Ki67, cyclin A, cyclin B1, cyclin D1, cyclin D3, cyclin E, p53, Rb, p16 and p27 proteins in order to gain further insight into the proliferation profile of cHL. Overexpression of cyclin D2 in Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells was detected in 64/89 (72%) cases of cHL. This finding, in view of recent in vitro data showing that constitutive activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kB could upregulate cyclin D2 expression in part via signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-5a, suggests that induction of cyclin D2 expression may support the proliferation of Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells. In addition, the present study showed that (1) increased p27 expression status was significantly correlated with higher levels of cyclin A expression (P=0.048) and (2) increased p53 expression status was significantly correlated with higher levels of cyclin A (P<0.001) and cyclin B1 (P=0.040) expression. The association between increased p27 and p53 expression status and higher expression levels of G2/M cyclins suggests that the impairment of the growth inhibitory activity of the p27 and p53 tumor suppressor pathways may promote the proliferation of Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells.

Cell Cycle↗

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 activation is sufficient to drive transcriptional induction of cyclin D2 gene and proliferation of rat pancreatic beta-cells.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) activation plays a central role in GH- and prolactin-mediated signal transduction in the pancreatic beta-cells. In previous experiments we demonstrated that STAT5 activation is necessary for human (h)GH-stimulated proliferation of INS-1 cells and hGH-induced increase of mRNA-levels of the cell cycle regulator cyclin D2. In this study we have further characterized the role of STAT5 in the regulation of cyclin D expression and beta-cell proliferation by hGH. Cyclin D2 mRNA and protein levels (but not cyclin D1 and D3) were induced in a time-dependent manner by hGH in INS-1 cells. Inhibition of protein synthesis by coincubation with cycloheximide did not affect the hGH-induced increase of cyclin D2 mRNA levels at 4 h. Expression of a dominant negative STAT5 mutant, STAT5aDelta749, partially inhibited cyclin D2 protein levels. INS-1 cells transiently transfected with a cyclin D2 promoter-reporter construct revealed a 3- to 5-fold increase of transcriptional activity in response to hGH stimulation. Furthermore, coexpression of a constitutive active STAT5 mutant (either CA-STAT5a or CA-STAT5b) was sufficient to drive transactivation of the promoter. CA-STAT5b was stably expressed in INS-1 cells under the control of a doxycycline-inducible promoter. Gel retardation experiments using a probe representing a putative STAT5 binding site in the cyclin D2 promoter revealed binding of the doxycycline-induced CA-STAT5b. Furthermore, induction of CA-STAT5b stimulated transcriptional activation of the cyclin D2 promoter and induced hGH-independent proliferation in these cells. In primary beta-cells, adenovirus-mediated expression of CA-STAT5b profoundly stimulated DNA-synthesis (5.3-fold over control) in the absence of hGH. Our studies indicate that STAT5 activation is sufficient to drive proliferation of the beta-cells and that cyclin D2 may be a critical target gene for STAT5 in this process.

Animals↗

Inhibition of granulocyte differentiation by G1 cyclins D2 and D3 but not D1.

Growth factor-induced signals govern the expression of three D-type cyclins, which, in turn, function as regulatory subunits of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) to control cell cycle transitions during the late G1 interval. 32D myeloid cells, which self-renew as uncommitted precursors in interleukin 3 (IL-3), express cyclins D2 and D3 (but not D1) in complexes with cdk4 and cdk2. When transferred to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), 32D cells stop dividing and terminally differentiate to mature neutrophils. Cyclin D and cdk4 expression ceased as cells underwent growth arrest in G-CSF, but cdk2 levels were sustained. 32D cells engineered to ectopically express D-type cyclins exhibited contracted G1 intervals with a compensatory lengthening of S phase but remained IL-3 dependent for cell growth; those overexpressing cyclins D2 and D3 (but not D1) were unable to differentiate and died in G-CSF. Cyclin D2 mutants, which cannot efficiently bind to, or functionally interact with, the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) or its relatives (p107) did not block differentiation. Conversely, the introduction of a catalytically inactive cdk4 mutant into cells overexpressing cyclin D2 restored their G-CSF response. The persistence of cdk2 and its predilection to functionally interact with cyclins D2 and D3 rather than D1 might explain the specificity of the differentiation blockade.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Early induction of cyclin D2 expression in phorbol ester-responsive B-1 lymphocytes.

B-1 lymphocytes represent a distinct B cell subset with characteristic features that include self-renewing capacity and unusual mitogenic responses. B-1 cells differ from conventional B cells in terms of the consequences of phorbol ester treatment: B-1 cells rapidly enter S phase in response to phorbol ester alone, whereas B-2 cells require a calcium ionophore in addition to phorbol ester to trigger cell cycle progression. To address the mechanism underlying the varied proliferative responses of B-1 and B-2 cells, we evaluated the expression and activity of the G1 cell cycle regulator, cyclin D2, and its associated cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks). Cyclin D2 expression was upregulated rapidly, within 2-4 h, in phorbol ester-stimulated B-1 cells, in a manner dependent on intact transcription/translation, but was not increased in phorbol ester- stimulated B-2 cells. Phorbol ester-stimulated cyclin D2 expression was accompanied by the formation of cyclin D2-Cdk4, and, to a lesser extent, cyclin D2-Cdk6, complexes; cyclin D2- containing complexes were found to be catalytically functional, in terms of their ability to phosphorylate exogenous Rb in vitro and to specifically phosphorylate endogenous Rb on serine780 in vivo. These results strongly suggest that the rapid induction of cyclin D2 by a normally nonmitogenic phorbol ester stimulus is responsible for B-1 cell progression through G1 phase. The ease and rapidity with which cyclin D2 responds in B-1 cells may contribute to the proliferative features of this subset.

Animals↗

Cyclin D2 is essential for BCR-mediated proliferation and CD5 B cell development.

Progression into G(1) in B lymphocytes is regulated by cyclins D2 and D3, components of the cell cycle machinery currently believed to have overlapping and potentially redundant roles in cell cycle control. To study the specific role of cyclin D2 in B lymphocyte proliferation, we examined B cells from cyclin D2(-/-) mice and demonstrate a specific requirement for cyclin D2 in BCR- but not CD40- or lipopolysaccharide-induced proliferation. Furthermore, conventional B cell development proceeds normally in the mutant mice; however, the CD5 B cell compartment is dramatically reduced, suggesting that cyclin D2 is important in CD5 B cell development as well as antigen-dependent B cell clonal expansion.

Animals↗

MN20, a D2 cyclin, is transiently expressed in selected neural populations during embryogenesis.

Although the regulation of proliferation and differentiation during brain development has long been considered to be interrelated, the mechanisms that coordinate the control of cell division and histogenesis are poorly understood. The cell cycle is a dynamic process that is governed by the concerted action of numerous cell cycle regulatory proteins in response to signals both intrinsic and extrinsic to the cell. Thus, proteins that regulate the cell cycle are well suited to provide a link between processes that control neuroblast proliferation and differentiation. We reported previously the isolation from brain of a message form of D2 cyclin, one of several cyclin proteins known to promote the progression from G1 to S phase. This MN20/D2 cyclin mRNA is expressed in highly restricted neural populations at embryonic (E) day 15 and postnatal (P) day 6 in the mouse. To gain insight into the role(s) this cyclin may serve in brain formation, the spatial and temporal pattern of MN20/D2 cyclin expression was examined by in situ hybridization at 48 hr intervals from E10.5 to P8. MN20 mRNA was detected in developing cerebellum, dorsal mesencephalon, cerebral cortex, and epithalamus, but not hippocampus, striatum, or thalamus. Comparison with 5-bromodeoxyuridine labeling of cells in S phase indicated that MN20 expression in embryonic cerebellum and cerebral cortex was most pronounced in young neurons that recently had become postmitotic. Although expressed in other embryonic cerebellar neurons, MN20 was detected in granule precursors only postnatally, after their migration from the rhombic lip to the external germinal layer. This indicates that MN20/D2 cyclin is induced in cerebellar granule precursors as they become competent to differentiate. The spatial distribution of MN20 expression in the developing brain suggests that regional differences in cell cycle regulation depend in part on the selective use of cyclin proteins. Moreover, detection of MN20 mRNA in postmitotic neural cells indicates that cyclin D2 expression has effects beyond promoting cell cycle progression and may also have a role in the response of the neural precursor to terminal differentiation signals as the cells exits from proliferation.

Animals↗

Aberrant expression of cyclin D2 is an early event in human male germ cell tumorigenesis.

Human male germ cell tumors (GCTs) arise in the spermatocytic lineage, and subsets display embryonal-like differentiation. Virtually all GCTs exhibit multiple copies of the short arm of chromosome 12, even in carcinoma in situ/intratubular germ cell neoplasia, the earliest recognizable neoplastic lesion of germ cells. Among the candidate amplified genes mapped to 12p, expression of the cyclin D2 gene (CCND2) was deregulated in a panel of GCT cell lines, with the relative level of steady-state mRNA and protein inversely correlated with the pattern of differentiation characteristic of the cell line. GCT cell lines with a more differentiated phenotype, as indicated by an immunophenotypic analysis, displayed lower cyclin D2 expression with a concurrent increase in expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21. In the GCT cell lines in which cyclin D2 was highly expressed, cyclin D2 was in complex with its expected catalytic partners (Cdk4 and Cdk6). Whereas no detectable cyclin D2 expression was evident in normal human germ cells, cyclin D2 was expressed in the abnormal germ cells of all carcinoma in situ/intratubular germ cell neoplasia lesions studied. In GCT specimens that displayed no evidence of differentiation (seminoma) or primitive differentiation (embryonal carcinoma), cyclin D2 expression was detected. However, in tumor specimens with certain patterns of differentiation (teratoma and yolk sac tumor), expression was down- or up-regulated depending on the pattern. Our data suggest that aberrant cyclin D2 expression is an early event in germ cell tumorigenesis.

Blotting, Northern↗

Cyclin D2 induces proliferation of cardiac myocytes and represses hypertrophy.

The myocytes of the adult mammalian heart are considered unable to divide. Instead, mitogens induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. We have investigated the effect of adenoviral overexpression of cyclin D2 on myocyte proliferation and morphology. Cardiomyocytes in culture were identified by established markers. Cyclin D2 induced DNA synthesis and proliferation of cardiomyocytes and impaired hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II and serum. At the molecular level, cyclin D2 activated CDK4/6 and lead to pRB phosphorylation and downregulation of the cell cycle inhibitors p21Waf1/Cip1 and p27Kip1. Expression of the CDK4/6 inhibitor p16 inhibited proliferation and cyclin D2 overexpressing myocytes became hypertrophic under such conditions. Inhibition of hypertrophy by cyclin D2 correlated with downregulation of p27Kip1. These data show that hypertrophy and proliferation are highly related processes and suggest that cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is due to low amounts of cell cycle activators unable to overcome the block imposed by cell cycle inhibitors. Cell cycle entry upon hypertrophy may be converted to cell division by increased expression of activators such as cyclin D2.

Animals↗

A possible signal transduction pathway for cyclin D2 expression by a pectic polysaccharide from the roots of bupleurum falcatum L. in murine B cell.

Bupleuran 2IIc, a pectic polysaccharide isolated from the roots of bupleurum falcatum L., was previously characterized as a T-cell-independent B cell mitogen. This study focuses on elucidating the mechanism by which bupleuran 2IIc induces cyclin D2 production for inducing mitogenesis in murine B cells. Bupleuran 2IIc was digested with endo-alpha-(1-->4)-D-polygalacturonase and the resulting bupleuran 2IIc/PG-1 ("ramified" region) strongly stimulated cyclin D2 expression. When murine B cells were stimulated with bupleuran 2IIc/PG-1, phosphorylation of tyrosine residues of a number of proteins was observed. Cyclin D2 expression by bupleuran 2IIc/PG-1 was inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein and herbimycin A, and the Src family tyrosine kinase inhibitor, PP2, suggesting a possible role for tyrosine kinases. The stimulation by bupleuran 2IIc/PG-1 of cyclin D2 expression was significantly decreased by inhibitors, PI 3-kinase (LY294002 and Wortmannin), PLCgamma (U73122), PKC (H-7), receptor-operated calcium entry inhibitor (SK&F 96365), and calcineurin (FK506). Both PD98059 and U0126, highly selective inhibitors of MEK1 and MEK1/2, respectively, did not strongly suppress the expression of cyclin D2 after stimulation by bupleuran 2IIc/PG-1. The results suggest that (1) bupleuran 2IIc/PG-1 is the active site for induction of cyclin D2 by bupleuran 2IIc, (2) the expression of the cyclin D2 gene by bupleuran 2IIc/PG-1 may be mediated via the activation of PI 3-kinase and PLCgamma followed by activation of PKC and calcium mobilization, and (3) the ERK1/2 cascade is not a central signaling pathway for bupleuran 2IIc/PG-1-induced cyclin D2 expression.

Animals↗

BCR signals target p27(Kip1) and cyclin D2 via the PI3-K signalling pathway to mediate cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of WEHI 231 B cells.

Cross-linking of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) on immature WEHI 231 B cells results in G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms that are necessary and sufficient for these changes to occur. We show that BCR stimulation of WEHI 231 cells results in down-regulation of cyclin D2 and up-regulation of p27(Kip1), which are associated with pocket protein hypophosphorylation and E2F inactivation. Ectopic expression of p27(Kip1) by TAT-fusion protein or retroviral transduction is sufficient to cause G1 cell cycle arrest, followed by apoptosis. In contrast, over-expression of cyclin D2 overcomes the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by anti-IgM, indicating that down-regulation of cyclin D2 is necessary for the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis activated by BCR stimulation. Thus, cyclin D2 and p27(Kip1) have opposing roles in these pathways and our data also suggest that cyclin D2 functions upstream of p27(Kip1) and the pRB pathway and therefore plays an essential part in integrating the signals from BCR with the cell cycle machinery. We next investigated which signal transduction pathways triggered by the BCR regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis via cyclin D2 and p27(Kip1). Inhibition of PI3-K signalling by LY294002 down-regulated cyclin D2 and up-regulated p27(Kip1) expression at both protein and RNA levels, mimicking the effects of BCR-stimulation. Furthermore, ectopic expression of a constitutively active form of AKT blocked the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis triggered by anti-IgM and also abrogated down-regulation of cyclin D2 and up-regulation of p27(Kip1) expression induced by BCR-engagement. These results indicate that BCR activation targets p27(Kip1) and cyclin D2 to mediate cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and that down-regulation of PI3-K/AKT activity post BCR stimulation is necessary for these to occur.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗

Aberrant methylation of the cyclin D2 promoter in primary small cell, nonsmall cell lung and breast cancers.

DNA methylation alteration of several genes contributes to human tumorigenesis. Cyclin D2, a member of the D-type cyclins, is implicated in cell cycle regulation and malignant transformation. In our study, we examined the methylation status of the cyclin D2 promoter in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast tumors and tumor cell lines. We observed that aberrant methylation of cyclin D2 was present in 32 of 56 (57%) SCLC cell lines, 7 of 32 (22%) SCLC tumor tissues; 25 of 61 (47%) NSCLC cell lines, 19 of 48 (40%) NSCLC tumor tissues; 18 of 30 (60%) breast tumor cell lines and 19 of 63 (30%) breast tumor tissues. Methylation was more frequent in the tumor cell lines compared to the primary breast and SCLC tumors (p = 0.007 and p = 0.001, respectively). Methylation was rare in the control tissue samples; 0 of 12 peripheral blood lymphocytes; 0 of 12 buccal epithelial cells; 0 of 18 nonmalignant lung tissues and 3 of 28 (11%) nonmalignant breast tissues. Promoter methylation correlated with loss of transcript by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) in 9 of 11 (6 lung, 5 breast) tumor cell lines tested. Two cell lines that were not methylated also lacked expression, suggesting that other mechanisms of inactivation may be involved. Expression was restored by treatment with the demethylating agent, 5 aza 2' deoxycytidine, in all 9 methylated cell lines. Our results confirm earlier reports in breast cancer and indicate that aberrant methylation of cyclin D2 may contribute to the pathogenesis of the 2 major types of lung cancers.

Adult↗

GSK3 beta mediates suppression of cyclin D2 expression by tumor suppressor PTEN.

PTEN, encoding a lipid phosphatase, is a tumor suppressor gene and is mutated in various types of cancers. It is reported to regulate G1 to S phase transition of the cell cycle by influencing the expression, protein stability and subcellular location of cyclin D1. Here, we provide evidence that PTEN modulates the transcription and protein stability of cyclin D2. Targeted deletion of Pten in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) endowed cells with greater potential to overcome G1 arrest than wild-type MEFs and led to the elevated expression of cyclin D2, which was suppressed by the introduction of PTEN. We further defined a pathway involving GSK3beta and beta-catenin/TCF in PTEN-mediated suppression of cyclin D2 transcription. LiCl, an inhibitor of GSK3beta, abolished inhibitory effect of PTEN on cyclin D2 expression, and TCF members could directly bind to the promoter of cyclin D2 and regulate its transcription in a CREB-dependent manner. Our results indicate that the downregulation of cyclin D2 expression by PTEN is mediated by the GSK3beta/beta-catenin/TCF pathway in cooperation with CREB, and suggest a convergence from the PI-3 kinase/PTEN pathway and the Wnt pathway in modulation of cyclin D2 expression.

Animals↗

Chromosomal and extrachromosomal instability of the cyclin D2 gene is induced by Myc overexpression.

We examined the expression of cyclins D1, D2, D3, and E in mouse B-lymphocytic tumors. Cyclin D2 mRNA was consistently elevated in plasmacytomas, which characteristically contain Myc-activating chromosome translocations and constitutive c-Myc mRNA and protein expression. We examined the nature of cyclin D2 overexpression in plasmacytomas and other tumors. Human and mouse tumor cell lines that exhibited c-Myc dysregulation displayed instability of the cyclin D2 gene, detected by Southern blot, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and in extrachromosomal preparations (Hirt extracts). Cyclin D2 instability was not seen in cells with low levels of c-Myc protein. To unequivocally demonstrate a role of c-Myc in the instability of the cyclin D2 gene, a Myc-estrogen receptor chimera was activated in two mouse cell lines. After 3 to 4 days of Myc-ER activation, instability at the cyclin D2 locus was seen in the form of extrachromosomal elements, determined by FISH of metaphase and interphase nuclei and of purified extrachromosomal elements. At the same time points, Northern and Western blot analyses detected increased cyclin D2 mRNA and protein levels. These data suggest that Myc-induced genomic instability may contribute to neoplasia by increasing the levels of a cell cycle-regulating protein, cyclin D2, via intrachromosomal amplification of its gene or generation of extrachromosomal copies.

Animals↗

Aberrant DNA methylation of cyclin D2 and p27 genes in rodent pituitary tumor cell lines correlates with specific gene expression.

We previously reported that increased DNA methylation was an important mechanism of silencing the p27 gene in some pituitary tumor cell lines [1]. DNA methylation correlated inversely with p27 gene expression. The p27 and cyclin D2 genes are located in the same region of mouse chromosome 6, rat chromosome 4, and human chromosome 12p13. Because both genes are located in the same gene cluster, we investigated whether methylation was a principal mechanism regulating cyclin D2 as well as p27 expression in rodent pituitary cell lines. Bisulfite genomic sequencing showed that the normally unmethylated cytosines of the p27 gene in normal pituitary (NP) were extensively methylated in GH3 and GHRH-CL1 cells, but not in AtT 20, alphaT3-1 and LbetaT2 cells; but cyclin D2 was extensively inactivated in various pituitary tumor cell lines by increased DNA methylation. These abnormalities of methylation in p27 and cyclin D2 genes occurred with different frequencies in five pituitary tumor cell lines with 100% (5/5) methylation of the cyclin D2 gene and 40% (2/5) methylation of the p27 gene. Treatment with the methyl transferase inhibitor 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (AZAdC) increased expression of cyclin D2 and p27 in GH3 and GHRH-CL1 pituitary tumor cells. There was a correlation between hypermethylation and gene expression. GH3 tumors implanted into Wistar-Furth rats in vivo did not change the methylation status of the p27 and cyclin D2 genes. These data indicate a coordinately reduced expression of these two linked genes in most rodent pituitary tumor cell lines and suggest that methylation of cyclin D2 and p27 might occur in a "hot spot" in this gene-rich cluster.

Journal Article↗

Evidence for a direct correlation between c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase 1 activation, cyclin D2 expression, and G(1)/S phase transition in the murine hybridoma 7TD1 cells.

In this study we show that the addition of fresh culture medium to high-density growth-arrested 7TD1 cells induces a strong and transient stimulation of the c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase activity (Jun kinase/JNK), a marked increase in cyclin D2 expression, the phosphorylation of pRb, and the transition from G(1) to S phase. The stimulation of cyclin D2 expression and the induction of JNK activity appear to be the consequences of the alkalinization of the extracellular medium. Indeed both parameters (i) can be induced, regardless of cell dilution, by the addition of a weak base such as triethylamine, and (ii) are together inhibited by (N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride, a specific inhibitor of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger. We provide a strong argument indicating the existence of a direct correlation between JNK1 activation and cyclin D2 stimulation. Indeed, we demonstrate that cyclin D2 expression is blocked by SB 202190, an agent known to inhibit both JNK and p38(MAPK), but not by SB 203580, a specific inhibitor of p38(MAPK). Furthermore, we also observed that DMSO and forskolin, two agents that inhibit the proliferation of 7TD1 cells, inhibit in parallel cyclin D2 and JNK1. Altogether our results suggest that (i) JNK1 participates in the signaling pathway which controls the expression of cyclin D2 and (ii) that the inhibition of JNK1 by DMSO and forskolin could explain, at least in part, the antiproliferative action of these drugs in 7TD1 cells.

Amiloride↗