Molecular basis of localized responses during chemotaxis in amoebae and leukocytes

Free-living amoebae as well as mammalian leukocytes sense chemoattractants with seven helix receptors linked to G-proteins. The cells respond by extending pseudopods and moving in the direction of the highest concentration. Recent studies using GFP-tagged proteins in Dictyostelium have shown that the directional response becomes sharply localized downstream of the receptors and G-proteins but upstream of the actin cytoskeleton. These studies together with the isolation novel genes by insertional mutagenesis in Dictyostelium are leading to a new understanding of chemotaxis in eucaryotic cells.     

Prediction of individual response to anticancer therapy: historical and future perspectives

Since the introduction of chemotherapy for cancer treatment in the early 20th century considerable efforts have been made to maximize drug efficiency and at the same time minimize side effects. As there is a great interpatient variability in response to chemotherapy, the development of predictive biomarkers is an ambitious aim for the rapidly growing research area of personalized molecular medicine. The individual prediction of response will improve treatment and thus increase survival and life quality of patients. In the past, cell cultures were used as in vitro models to predict in vivo response to chemotherapy. Several in vitro chemosensitivity assays served as tools to measure miscellaneous endpoints such as DNA damage, apoptosis and cytotoxicity or growth inhibition. Twenty years ago, the development of high-throughput technologies, e.g. cDNA microarrays enabled a more detailed analysis of drug responses. Thousands of genes were screened and expression levels were correlated to drug responses. In addition, mutation analysis became more and more important for the prediction of therapeutic success. Today, as research enters the area of -omics technologies, identification of signaling pathways is a tool to understand molecular mechanism underlying drug resistance. Combining new tissue models, e.g. 3D organoid cultures with modern technologies for biomarker discovery will offer new opportunities to identify new drug targets and in parallel predict individual responses to anticancer therapy. In this review, we present different currently used chemosensitivity assays including 2D and 3D cell culture models and several –omics approaches for the discovery of predictive biomarkers. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of these assays and biomarkers to predict the clinical outcome of individual patients and future perspectives.     

Transgenic and knock-out mice for deciphering the roles of EGFR ligands

Generation of genetically engineered mice with either gain-of-function or loss-of-function mutations is the most popular technique for determining gene functions and the interrelationship between molecules in vivo. These models have provided a wealth of information about the developmental and physiological roles of oncogenes and growth factors. To date, transgenic techniques have been used extensively to study the functions of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family. This review highlights some of the major recent findings pertinent to the EGF receptor (EGFR) and its ligands with special reference to elucidating how EGF and its related growth factors work together to regulate reproduction, growth and development. Finally, future investigations on ligand-ligand communications, EGFR and its ligands in neural stem cell research, and the mechanisms of EGFR signaling and trafficking in cells are also suggested. Received 24 May 2002; received after revision 15 July 2002; accepted 16 July 2002     

Mast cells stimulated by membrane-bound,but not soluble,steel factor are dependent on phospholipase C activation

The steel factor (SLF) and c-Kit growth factor/receptor pair are key molecules governing mast cell development and survival. SLF is expressed on stromal cells as a membrane-bound molecule (mSLF) which can be cleaved by proteases to release a soluble form (sSLF). We investigated the importance of phospholipase C (PLC) activation in mast cells stimulated by sSLF and mSLF. PLC antagonists U73122, neomycin sulfate and oleic acid inhibited mast cell thymidine incorporation stimulated by mSLF, but not by sSLF. These antagonists suppressed sSLF-induced Ca2+ transients but did not significantly interfere with c-Kit phosphorylation or PLC-gamma2 recruitment. p85, the regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), was found to be efficiently recruited to c-Kit following stimulation by sSLF or mSLF. However PKB/Akt, a kinase activated by PI3-kinase products, was phosphorylated following sSLF stimulation, but not with mSLF. Taken together, these studies demonstrate the importance of PLC activation by mSLF in supporting mast cells.     

Inhibitors of protein translocation across membranes of the secretory pathway: novel antimicrobial and anticancer agents

Proteins routed to the secretory pathway start their journey by being transported across biological membranes, such as the endoplasmic reticulum. The essential nature of this protein translocation process has led to the evolution of several factors that specifically target the translocon and block translocation. In this review, various translocation pathways are discussed together with known inhibitors of translocation. Properties of signal peptide-specific systems are highlighted for the development of new therapeutic and antimicrobial applications, as compounds can target signal peptides from either host cells or pathogens and thereby selectively prevent translocation of those specific proteins. Broad inhibition of translocation is also an interesting target for the development of new anticancer drugs because cancer cells heavily depend on efficient protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum to support their fast growth.     

The role of VEGF receptors in angiogenesis; complex partnerships

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) regulate blood and lymphatic vessel development and homeostasis but also have profound effects on neural cells. VEGFs are predominantly produced by endothelial, hematopoietic and stromal cells in response to hypoxia and upon stimulation with growth factors such as transforming growth factors, interleukins or platelet-derived growth factor. VEGFs bind to three variants of type III receptor tyrosine kinases, VEGF receptor 1, 2 and 3. Each VEGF isoform binds to a particular subset of these receptors giving rise to the formation of receptor homo- and heterodimers that activate discrete signaling pathways. Signal specificity of VEGF receptors is further modulated upon recruitment of coreceptors, such as neuropilins, heparan sulfate, integrins or cadherins. Here we summarize the knowledge accumulated since the discovery of these proteins more than 20 years ago with the emphasis on the signaling pathways activated by VEGF receptors in endothelial cells during cell migration, growth and differentiation. Received 15 September 2005; received after revision 11 November; accepted 24 November 2005     

Factor(s) from nonmacrophage bone marrow stromal cells inhibit Lewis lung carcinoma and B16 melanoma growth in mice

Bone marrow stroma produces positive and negative growth regulators which constitute the hematopoietic microenvironment. As many tumors metastasize to the bones, these regulators may also influence tumor growth. Hematopoietic cytokines may indeed exert both positive and negative effect on tumor growth. We report that, when mixed with tumor cells. adherent bone marrow cells inhibit primary tumor growth and metastases formation in mice transplanted with Lewis lung carcinoma or B16 melanoma. Peritoneal macrophages or lymph node cells did not exert any influence. The tumor inhibition was apparently due to soluble factor(s) released by marrow stromal cells. In cocultures with B16 melanoma cells, adherent bone marrow cells exerted a significant antiproliferative effect which was increased by previous culture of the bone marrow cells with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor but not with macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Neither neutralizing antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta or interferon alpha/beta nor addition of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide to generate inflammatory cytokines could affect the antiproliferative effect of bone marrow stromal cells. The bone marrow stroma factor(s) which inhibit tumor growth might, therefore, be a novel growth regulator.     

Crosstalk of protein kinase C ε with Smad2/3 promotes tumor cell proliferation in prostate cancer cells by enhancing aerobic glycolysis

Protein kinase C ε (PKCε) has emerged as an oncogenic protein kinase and plays important roles in cancer cell survival, proliferation, and invasion. It is, however, still unknown whether PKCε affects cell proliferation via glucose metabolism in cancer cells. Here we report a novel function of PKCε that provides growth advantages for cancer cells by enhancing tumor cells glycolysis. We found that either PKCε or Smad2/3 promoted aerobic glycolysis, expression of the glycolytic genes encoding HIF-1α, HKII, PFKP and MCT4, and tumor cell proliferation, while overexpression of PKCε or Smad3 enhanced aerobic glycolysis and cell proliferation in a protein kinase D- or TGF-β-independent manner in PC-3M and DU145 prostate cancer cells. The effects of PKCε silencing were reversed by ectopic expression of Smad3. PKCε or Smad3 ectopic expression-induced increase in cell growth was antagonized by inhibition of lactate transportation. Furthermore, interaction of endogenous PKCε with Smad2/3 was primarily responsible for phosphorylation of Ser213 in the Samd3 linker region, and resulted in Smad3 binding to the promoter of the glycolytic genes, thereby promoting cell proliferation. Forced expression of mutant Smad3 (S213A) attenuated PKCε-stimulated protein overexpression of the glycolytic genes. Thus, our results demonstrate a novel PKCε function that promotes cell growth in prostate cancer cells by increasing aerobic glycolysis through crosstalk between PKCε and Smad2/3.     

Pleiotropic effects of sonic hedgehog on muscle satellite cells

Muscle satellite cells are believed to form a stable, self-renewing pool of stem cells in adult muscle where they function in tissue growth and repair. A regulatory disruption of growth and differentiation of these cells is assumed to result in tumor formation. Here we provide for the first time evidence that sonic hedgehog (Shh) regulates the cell fate of adult muscle satellite cells in mammals. Shh promotes cell division of satellite cells (and of the related model C2C12 cells) and prevents their differentiation into multinucleated myotubes. In addition, Shh inhibits caspase-3 activation and apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. These effects of Shh are reversed by simultaneous administration of cyclopamine, a specific inhibitor of the Shh pathway. Taken together, Shh acts as a proliferation and survival factor of satellite cells in the adult muscle. Our results support the hypothesis of the rhabdomyosarcoma origin from satellite cells and suggest a role for Shh in this process.Received 23 February 2005; received after revision 2 May 2005; accepted 9 June 2005     

Über eisenhaltige Wachstumsfaktoren,die Sideramine,und ihre Antagonisten,die eisenhaltigen Antibiotika Sideromycine

Summary A new group of iron-containing metabolites, with growth stimulating properties for a number of microorganisms, has been isolated from streptomycetes and namedferrioxamines. It is proposed to include them, together with some known substances, like ferrichrome, coprogen and the terregens factor, which either contain or bind iron, in a new class of growth factors, thesideramines.The biological property of the sideramines is counteracted by iron-containing antibiotics from streptomycetes, thesideromycins. They comprise, besides known products like grisein and albomycin, two new groups of antibiotics, among them the highly potentferrimycins.

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22. Mitteilung, Stoffwechselprodukte von Actinomyceten; 21. Mitteilung: Helv. chim. acta43, im Druck (1960).