技术资料

AG-490 is a member of the tyrphostin family of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. While AG-490 has been considered to be a Janus kinase (JAK)2-specific inhibitor,these conclusions were primarily drawn from acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells that lack readily detectable levels of JAK3. In the present study,evidence is provided that clearly demonstrates AG-490 potently suppresses IL-2-induced T cell proliferation,a non-JAK2-dependent signal,in a dose-dependent manner in T cell lines D10 and CTLL-2. AG-490 blocked JAK3 activation and phosphorylation of its downstream counterpart substrates,STATs. Inhibition of JAK3 by AG-490 also compromised the Shc/Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways as measured by phosphorylation of Shc and extracellular signal-related kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). AG-490 effectively inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation and DNA binding activities of several transcription factors including STAT1,-3,-5a,and -5b and activating protein-1 (AP-1) as judged by Western blot analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. These data suggest that AG-490 is a potent inhibitor of the JAK3/STAT,JAK3/AP-1,and JAK3/MAPK pathways and their cellular consequences. Taken together,these findings support the notion that AG-490 possesses previously unrecognized clinical potential as an immunotherapeutic drug due to its inhibitory effects on T cell-derived signaling pathways. View Publication

Analysis of the National Cancer Institute Human Tumor Cell Line Anti-Cancer Drug Screen data using the COMPARE algorithm to detect similarities in the pattern of compound action to flavopiridol,a known inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs),has suggested several possible novel CDK inhibitors. 9-Bromo-7,12-dihydro-indolo[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6(5H)-one,NSC-664704 (kenpaullone),is reported here to be a potent inhibitor of CDK1/cyclin B (IC50,0.4 microM). This compound also inhibited CDK2/cyclin A (IC50,0.68 microM),CDK2/cyclin E (IC50,7.5 microM),and CDK5/p25 (IC50,0.85 microM) but had much less effect on other kinases; only c-src (IC50,15 microM),casein kinase 2 (IC50,20 microM),erk 1 (IC50,20 microM),and erk 2 (IC50,9 microM) were inhibited with IC50s less than 35 microM. Kenpaullone acts by competitive inhibition of ATP binding. Molecular modeling indicates that kenpaullone can bind in the ATP binding site of CDK2 with residue contacts similar to those observed in the crystal structures of other CDK2-bound inhibitors. Analogues of kenpaullone,in particular 10-bromopaullone (NSC-672234),also inhibited various protein kinases including CDKs. Cells exposed to kenpaullone and 10-bromopaullone display delayed cell cycle progression. Kenpaullone represents a novel chemotype for compounds that preferentially inhibit CDKs. View Publication

OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1),MMP-8,and MMP-13 by doxycycline,and to determine whether the variable hemopexin-like domain of each MMP was responsible for the differences in susceptibility to doxycycline inhibition among these collagenases. METHODS Recombinant human MMP-1 (collagenase 1),MMP-8 (collagenase 2),and MMP-13 (collagenase 3),truncated forms of MMP-8 and MMP-13 lacking the hemopexin-like domain,and a mutant form of truncated MMP-13 were used in these studies. The activity of the full-length MMP in the presence of doxycycline was tested against type II collagen,a natural substrate for the enzymes. A small peptolide substrate was used to determine which structural features of the MMPs were related to sensitivity to doxycycline inhibition. RESULTS The activity of MMP-13 and MMP-8 against type II collagen was inhibited by 50-60% by 30 microM doxycycline,while that of MMP-1 was inhibited only 18% by 50 microM doxycycline. In contrast,in experiments with the peptolide substrate,neither full-length nor truncated MMP-13 was inhibited until the concentration of the drug exceeded 90 microM. MMP-8 and truncated MMP-8 were sensitive to inhibition by 30 microM doxycycline,while MMP-1 was slightly inhibited (14%) by 90 microM doxycycline. For MMP-8,inhibition was reversible upon dilution and was independent of the order in which the reagents were added. Kinetic analysis of the inhibition constant (K(i)) of MMP-8 (K(i) = 36 microM) and truncated MMP-8 (K(i) = 77 microM) indicated that inhibition was noncompetitive. CONCLUSION Significant inhibition of MMP-13 and MMP-8 activity against collagen occurred in vitro at concentrations that were near the concentrations achieved in serum after oral dosing. Studies with truncated enzymes and 2 substrates suggest that doxycycline disrupts the conformation of the hemopexin-like domain of MMP-13 and the catalytic domain of MMP-8. View Publication

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer often have severe side effects that limit their efficacy. Because these effects are in part determined by p53-mediated apoptosis,temporary suppression of p53 has been suggested as a therapeutic strategy to prevent damage of normal tissues during treatment of p53-deficient tumors. To test this possibility,a small molecule was isolated for its ability to reversibly block p53-dependent transcriptional activation and apoptosis. This compound,pifithrin-alpha,protected mice from the lethal genotoxic stress associated with anticancer treatment without promoting the formation of tumors. Thus,inhibitors of p53 may be useful drugs for reducing the side effects of cancer therapy and other types of stress associated with p53 induction. View Publication

We have previously identified multipotent neuroepithelial (NEP) stem cells and lineage-restricted,self-renewing precursor cells termed NRPs (neuron-restricted precursors) and GRPs (glial-restricted precursors) present in the developing rat spinal cord (A. Kalyani,K. Hobson,and M. S. Rao,1997,Dev. Biol. 186,202-223; M. S. Rao and M. Mayer-Proschel,1997,Dev. Biol. 188,48-63; M. Mayer-Proschel,A. J. Kalyani,T. Mujtaba,and M. S. Rao,1997,Neuron 19,773-785). We now show that cells identical to rat NEPs,NRPs,and GRPs are present in mouse neural tubes and that immunoselection against cell surface markers E-NCAM and A2B5 can be used to isolate NRPs and GRPs,respectively. Restricted precursors similar to NRPs and GRPs can also be isolated from mouse embryonic stem cells (ES cells). ES cell-derived NRPs are E-NCAM immunoreactive,undergo self-renewal in defined medium,and differentiate into multiple neuronal phenotypes in mass culture. ES cells also generate A2B5-immunoreactive cells that are similar to E9 NEP-cell-derived GRPs and can differentiate into oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Thus,lineage restricted precursors can be generated in vitro from cultured ES cells and these restricted precursors resemble those derived from mouse neural tubes. These results demonstrate the utility of using ES cells as a source of late embryonic precursor cells. View Publication

We have used a murine retrovirus vector containing an enhanced green fluorescent protein complimentary DNA (EGFP cDNA) to dynamically follow vector-expressing cells in the peripheral blood (PB) of transplanted rhesus macaques. Cytokine mobilized CD34(+) cells were transduced with an amphotropic vector that expressed EGFP and a dihydrofolate reductase cDNA under control of the murine stem cell virus promoter. The transduction protocol used the CH-296 recombinant human fibronectin fragment and relatively high concentrations of the flt-3 ligand and stem cell factor. Following transplantation of the transduced cells,up to 55% EGFP-expressing granulocytes were obtained in the peripheral circulation during the early posttransplant period. This level of myeloid marking,however,decreased to 0.1% or lower within 2 weeks. In contrast,EGFP expression in PB lymphocytes rose from 2%-5% shortly following transplantation to 10% or greater by week 5. After 10 weeks,the level of expression in PB lymphocytes continued to remain at 3%-5% as measured by both flow cytometry and Southern blot analysis,and EGFP expression was observed in CD4(+),CD8(+),CD20(+),and CD16/56(+) lymphocyte subsets. EGFP expression was only transiently detected in red blood cells and platelets soon after transplantation. Such sustained levels of lymphocyte marking may be therapeutic in a number of human gene therapy applications that require targeting of the lymphoid compartment. The transient appearance of EGFP(+) myeloid cells suggests that transduction of a lineage-restricted myeloid progenitor capable of short-term engraftment was obtained with this protocol. (Blood. 2000;95:445-452) View Publication

Stable cell lines that individually express the eight known human prostanoid receptors (EP(1),EP(2),EP(3),EP(4),DP,FP,IP and TP) have been established using human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293(EBNA) cells. These recombinant cell lines have been employed in radioligand binding assays to determine the equilibrium inhibitor constants of known prostanoid receptor ligands at these eight receptors. This has allowed,for the first time,an assessment of the affinity and selectivity of several novel compounds at the individual human prostanoid receptors. This information should facilitate interpretation of pharmacological studies that employ these ligands as tools to study human tissues and cell lines and should,therefore,result in a greater understanding of prostanoid receptor biology. View Publication

The Dishevelled (Dvl) gene family encodes cytoplasmic proteins that are necessary for Wnt signal transduction. Utilizing the yeast two-hybrid system,we identified protein phosphatase 2Calpha (PP2C) as a Dvl-PDZ domain-interacting protein. PP2C exists in a complex with Dvl,beta-catenin,and Axin,a negative regulator of Wnt signaling. In a Wnt-responsive LEF-1 reporter gene assay,expression of PP2C activates transcription and also elicits a synergistic response with beta-catenin and Wnt-1. In addition,PP2C expression relieves Axin-mediated repression of LEF-1-dependent transcription. PP2C utilizes Axin as a substrate both in vitro and in vivo and decreases its half-life. These results indicate that PP2C is a positive regulator of Wnt signal transduction and mediates its effects through the dephosphorylation of Axin. View Publication

We studied the suitability of collagen-based semisolid medium for assay of endogenous erythroid colony formation performed in myeloproliferative disorders. Bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells (MNC) from 103 patients suspected of having polycythemia vera (PV,76 patients) or essential thrombocythemia (ET,27 patients) were grown in collagen-based,serum-free,cytokine-free semisolid medium. Colony analysis at day 8 or 10 showed that this collagen assay is specific,as endogenous growth of erythroid colonies was never observed in cultures of 16 healthy donors and 6 chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients. Endogenous erythroid colony formation was observed in 53.3% of patients suspected of PV,with only 15.4% of positive cultures for patients with 1 minor PV criterion and 72% (p = 0.009) of positive cultures for patients with textgreater or =2 minor or 1 major PV criterion. Similarly,endogenous growth of erythroid colonies was found in 44.4% of patients suspected of ET,with 31.6% of positive cultures for patients with 1 ET criterion versus 75% for patients with textgreater or =2 ET criteria. In addition,we found that in collagen gels,tests of erythropoietin (EPO) hypersensitivity in the presence of 0.01 or 0.05 U/ml of EPO and tests of endogenous colony-forming units-megakaryocyte (CFU-MK) formation cannot be used to detect PV or ET,as these tests were positive for,respectively,21.4% and 50% of healthy donors and 83% and 50% of CML patients. A retrospective analysis suggests that collagen assays are more sensitive than methylcellulose assays to assess endogenous growth of erythroid colonies. In summary,serum-free collagen-based colony assays are simple and reliable assays of endogenous growth of erythroid colonies in myeloproliferative diseases. They also appear to be more sensitive than methylcellulose-based assays. View Publication

The small heat-shock protein HSP25 is expressed in the heart early during development,and although multiple roles for HSP25 have been proposed,its specific role during development and differentiation is not known. P19 is an embryonal carcinoma cell line which can be induced to differentiate in vitro into either cardiomyocytes or neurons. We have used P19 to examine the role of HSP25 in differentiation. We found that HSP25 expression is strongly increased in P19 cardiomyocytes. Antisense HSP25 expression reduced the extent of cardiomyocyte differentiation and resulted in reduced expression of cardiac actin and the intermediate filament desmin and reduced level of cardiac mRNAs. Thus,HSP25 is necessary for differentiation of P19 into cardiomyocytes. In contrast,P19 neurons did not express HSP25 and antisense HSP25 expression had no effect on neuronal differentiation. The phosphorylation of HSP25 by the p38/SAPK2 pathway is known to be important for certain of its functions. Inhibition of this pathway by the specific inhibitor SB203580 prevented cardiomyocyte differentiation of P19 cells. In contrast,PD90589,which inhibits the ERK1/2 pathway,had no effect. Surprisingly,cardiogenesis was only sensitive to SB203580 during the first 2 days of differentiation,before HSP25 expression increases. In contrast to the effect of antisense HSP25,SB203580 reduced the level of expression of the mesodermal marker Brachyury-T during differentiation. Therefore,we propose that the p38 pathway acts on an essential target during early cardiogenesis. Once this initial step is complete,HSP25 is necessary for the functional differentiation of P19 cardiomyocytes,but its phosphorylation by p38/SAPK2 is not required. View Publication

Hematologic malignancies such as acute and chronic myeloid leukemia are characterized by the malignant transformation of immature CD34(+) progenitor cells. Transformation is associated with elevated expression of the Wilm's tumor gene encoded transcription factor (WT1). Here we demonstrate that WT1 can serve as a target for cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) with exquisite specificity for leukemic progenitor cells. HLA-A0201- restricted CTL specific for WT1 kill leukemia cell lines and inhibit colony formation by transformed CD34(+) progenitor cells isolated from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML),whereas colony formation by normal CD34(+) progenitor cells is unaffected. Thus,the tissue-specific transcription factor WT1 is an ideal target for CTL-mediated purging of leukemic progenitor cells in vitro and for antigen-specific therapy of leukemia and other WT1-expressing malignancies in vivo. View Publication

Green tea has shown remarkable anti-inflammatory and cancer chemopreventive effects in many animal tumor bioassays,cell culture systems,and epidemiological studies. Many of these biological effects of green tea are mediated by epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG),the major polyphenol present therein. We have earlier shown that EGCG treatment results in apoptosis of several cancer cells,but not of normal cells (J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 89,1881-1886 (1997)). The mechanism of this differential response of EGCG is not known. In this study,we investigated the involvement of NF-kappaB during these differential responses of EGCG. EGCG treatment resulted in a dose-dependent (i) inhibition of cell growth,(ii) G0/G1-phase arrest of the cell cycle,and (iii) induction of apoptosis in human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cells,but not in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK). Electromobility shift assay revealed that EGCG (10-80 microM) treatment results in lowering of NF-kappaB levels in both the cytoplasm and nucleus in a dose-dependent manner in both A431 cells and NHEK,albeit at different concentrations. EGCG treatment was found to result in a dose-based differential inhibition of TNF-alpha- and LPS-mediated activation of NF-kappaB in these cells. The inhibition of NF-kappaB constitutive expression and activation in NHEK was observed only at high concentrations. The immunoblot analysis also demonstrated a similar pattern of inhibition of the constitutive expression as well as activation of NF-kappaB/p65 nuclear protein. This inhibition of TNF-alpha-caused NF-kappaB activation was mediated via the phosphorylative degradation of its inhibitory protein IkappaBalpha. Taken together,EGCG was found to impart differential dose-based NF-kappaB inhibitory response in cancer cells vs normal cells; i.e.,EGCG-mediated inhibition of NF-kappaB constitutive expression and activation was found to occur at much higher dose of EGCG in NHEK as compared to A431 cells. This study suggests that EGCG-caused cell cycle deregulation and apoptosis of cancer cells may be mediated through NF-kappaB inhibition. View Publication