| 1. |
- Aifa, Sami, et al.
(författare)
-
Interactions between the juxtamembrane domain of the EGFR and calmodulin measured by surface plasmon resonance
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Cellular Signalling. - 0898-6568 .- 1873-3913. ; 14:12, s. 1005-1013
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- One early response to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation is an increase in intracellular calcium. We have used surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to study real-time interactions between the intracellular juxtamembrane (JM) region of EGFR and calmodulin. The EGFR-JM (Met644-Phe688) was expressed as a GST fusion protein and immobilised on a sensor chip surface. Calmodulin specifically interacts with EGFR-JM in a calcium-dependent manner with a high on and high off rate. Chemical modification of EGFR-JM by using arginine-selective phenylglyoxal or deletion of the basic segment Arg645-Arg657 inhibits the interaction. Phosphorylation of EGFR-JM by protein kinase C (PKC) or glutamate substitution of Thr654 inhibits the interaction, suggesting that PKC phosphorylation electrostatically interferes with calmodulin binding to basic arginine residues. Calmodulin binding was also inhibited by suramin. Our results suggest that EGFR-JM is essential for epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated calcium-calmodulin signalling and for signal integration between other signalling pathways.
|
|
| 2. |
- Dasnois, L., et al.
(författare)
-
CPI-0004Na, a new doxorubicin prodrug, reduces growth of 3LL-H61 carcinoma lung metastases in C57BI/6 mice
- 2004
-
Ingår i: J Exp Ther Oncol. - 1359-4117. ; 4:2, s. 167-9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ETAP concept (Extracellularly Tumor-Activated Prodrug) is a new approach developed to overcome the lack of selectivity and the side effects responsible for the limited efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. CPI-0004Na, a doxorubicin (Dox) prototype prodrug of this type, is less toxic than free Dox and showed increased efficacy against subcutaneous human tumor xenografts. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the prodrug vs Dox (given ip) at their maximal tolerated dose (MTD) for this administration schedule (129.3 micromol/kg and 12.93 micromol/kg, respectively) against experimentally induced 3LL-H61 carcinoma lung metastases in mice. Our results indicate that, Dox has no effect on the number of lung metastases while CPI-0004Na induces a 38.3% reduction on average. When considering the effect on the proportion of the lungs' surface covered by metastases, Dox induces a 39% reduction while the prodrug CPI-0004Na is about two fold more active with a 71% decrease.
|
|
| 3. |
- Nilsson, Ulrika K., et al.
(författare)
-
Inhibition of Ca2 +/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase or epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase abolishes lysophosphatidic acid-mediated DNA-synthesis in human myometrial smooth muscle cells
- 2003
-
Ingår i: Cell Biology International. - 1065-6995. ; 27:4, s. 341-347
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Human myometrial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were used to evaluate the proliferative activity of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). This study specifically focuses on the role of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein (CaM) kinase and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor tyrosine kinase. Myometrial SMCs were cultured from biopsies taken at Cesarean sections. The expression of LPA receptors was determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and DNA-synthesis was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. LPA1, LPA2, and LPA3receptor subtypes were detected in the SMCs using RT-PCR. KN-62, an inhibitor of CaM kinase, and Tyrphostin AG 1478, an inhibitor of EGF receptor tyrosine kinase, dose-dependently decreased LPA-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation. Furthermore, BB-3103, an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), also reduced DNA-synthesis induced by LPA in these cells. The results show, for the first time, that human myometrial SMCs express all three known LPA receptor subtypes. Growth stimulatory effects of LPA on myometrial SMCs seems to be mediated by several pathways, where transactivation of EGF receptors through MMPs appears to be of importance. Furthermore, CaM kinase activity may be critical for LPA signaling since inhibition of CaM kinase totally abolish the proliferative effect of LPA.
|
|
| 4. |
- Nilsson, Ulrika K., et al.
(författare)
-
Lack of stereospecificity in lysophosphatidic acid enantiomerinduced calcium mobilization in human erythroleukemia cells
- 2003
-
Ingår i: Lipids. - 0024-4201. ; 38:10, s. 1057-1064
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a lipid mediator that, among several other cellular responses, can stimulate cells to mobilize calcium (Ca2+). LPA is known to activate at least three different subtypes of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors can then stimulate different kinds of G proteins. In the present study, LPA and LPA analogs were synthesized from (R)- and (S)-glycidol and used to characterize the ability to stimulate Ca2+ mobilization. The cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured in fura-2-acetoxymethylester-loaded human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells. Furthermore, a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to characterize LPA receptor subtypes expressed in HEL cells. The results show that HEL cells mainly express LPA1 and LPA2, although LPA3 might possibly be expressed as well. Moreover, LPA and its analogs concentration-dependently increased [Ca2+]i in HEL cells. The response involved both influx of extracellular Ca2+ and release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. This is the first time the unnatural (S)-enantiomer of LPA, (S)-3-O-oleoyl-1-O-phosphoryl-glycerol, has been synthesized and studied according to its ability to activate cells. The results indicate that this group of receptors does not discriminate between (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of LPA and its analogs. When comparing ether analogs having different hydrocarbon chain lengths, the tetradecyl analog (14 carbons) was found to be the most effective in increasing [Ca2+]i. Pertussis toxin treatment of the HEL cells resulted in an even more efficient Ca2+ mobilization stimulated by LPA and its analogs. Furthermore, at repeated incubation with the same ligand no further increase in [Ca2+]i was obtained. When combining LPA with the ether analogs no suppression of the new Ca2+ signal occurred. All these findings may be of significance in the process of searching for specific agonists and antagonists of the LPA receptor subtypes.
|
|
| 5. |
- Nilsson, Ulrika K., 1969-
(författare)
-
Lysophosphatidic acid : Physiological effects and structure-activity relationships
- 2002
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Lipids havepreviously been considered primarily as building blocks of the cell membrane, but are now also recognized as important cell signaling molecules. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a glycerophospholipid consisting of a phosphate head group, a linker region, and a lipophilic tail. LPA has earlier been shown to exert a diversity of cellular effects such as aggregation, apoptosis, contraction, migration, and proliferation. The effects of LPA are elicited by activation of its cognate G protein-coupled receptors LPA1, LPA2, and LPA3. In the present study we have used cultures of human smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and erythroleukemia cells (HEL), and isolated human platelets to characterize physiological effects of LPA compared with adrenaline and noradrenaline as well as structure-activity relationships of LPA. SMCs were isolated from biopsies of human myometrium obtained at cesarean sections. We show that cultured myometrial SMCs express multiple LPA and α2-adrenergic receptor subtypes. Treatment of SMCs with LPA and noradrenaline resulted in increases in proliferation. However, LPA elicits a much more pronounced stimulatory effect than noradrenaline. The ability to increase calcium might be one explanation why LPA is more effective. Further studies indicated that several pathways mediate the growth stimulatory effect of LPA where transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptors through matrix metalloproteinases as well as calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases appears to be important. LPA enantiomers and LPA analogues were synthesized and characterized due to their capacity to increase calcium in HEL cells. Our study is the first to show that both natural (R) and unnatural (S) LPA enantiomers are capable of stimulating cells, suggesting LPA receptors are not stereoselective. Moreover, we have synthesized a LPA analogue with higher maximal effect than LPA by reducing the hydrocarbon chain length. In platelets we demonstrated that LPA is a weak calciumelevating compound which failed to stimulate aggregation. However, in combination with adrenaline, another weak platelet agonist, a complete aggregatory response was obtained in blood from some healthy individuals. These results are important since platelet activation is a key step in distinguishing normal from pathological hemostasis. Since LPA is present at high concentrations in atherosclerotic lesions, the synergistic effect of LPA and adrenaline might be a new risk factor for arterial thrombosis.
|
|
| 6. |
- Nilsson, Ulrika K., et al.
(författare)
-
Synergistic activation of human platelets by adrenaline and lysophosphatidic acid
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Haematologica. - 0390-6078 .- 1592-8721. ; 87:7, s. 730-739
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Platelet reactivity is regulated by various important bioactive and physiologic substances. The objective of this study was to characterize lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-triggered responses in human platelets. In addition, the effect of LPA was compared with that of other activators and possible synergistic interactions were evaluated. DESIGN AND METHODS: LPA-triggered cytosolic Ca(2+) responses were measured using fura-2-loaded platelets in a spectrofluorometer. Furthermore, platelet aggregation and secretion were analyzed in a lumi-aggregometer and protein tyrosine phosphorylation was detected with the Western blot technique. RESULTS: LPA dose-dependently increased cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in platelets. This response involved both influx of extracellular Ca(2+) and release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores. However, in comparison with other platelet agonists, i.e. thrombin and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP), LPA was a very weak Ca(2+)-elevating agent. Furthermore, we observed that the LPA-induced rise in [Ca(2+)](i) was markedly suppressed by cyclic nucleotide-elevating agents. In functional studies, LPA failed to stimulate platelet aggregation and secretion. However, in combination with adrenaline, another weak platelet agonist, LPA could induce an irreversible and complete aggregatory response. There was an individual variation in aggregatory response and tyrosine phosphorylation when LPA and adrenaline were combined. These agents induced a powerful response on platelets from some individuals, but had a weak or no effect on others. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows, for the first time, that isolated platelets from some healthy blood donors respond synergistically to a combination of LPA and adrenaline. Platelet activation is a key step in distinguishing normal hemostasis from pathologic hemostasis. Increased knowledge about this mechanism might help to predict individual responses and provide new insights into molecular mechanisms responsible for pathologic thrombosis.
|
|
| 7. |
- Orellana, Pilar, et al.
(författare)
-
Relationship between acute pyelonephritis, renal scarring, and vesicoureteral reflux. Results of a coordinated research project.
- 2004
-
Ingår i: Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany). - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0931-041X .- 1432-198X. ; 19:10, s. 1122-6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Acute pyelonephritis (APN) may produce permanent renal damage (PRD), which can subsequently lead to diverse complications. We prospectively evaluated 147 females and 122 males (mean age 3.5 years) with APN in order to analyze the relationship between the presence of PRD, at the time of cortical renal scintigraphy, and age, gender, episodes of urinary tract infection (UTI), and presence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). There were 152 children studied after the first proven UTI. VUR was present in 150 children. PRD was observed in 170 children. There were no significant differences between boys and girls. PRD was found in 36.4% of children younger than 1 year and in 70.1% of those older than 1 year ( P<0.0001). Of children with VUR, 72% had PRD compared with 52% of children without VUR ( P<0.0001). Of children with a first episode of UTI, 55.9% developed PRD as did 72.6% of those with recurrent UTI ( P=0.004). Our results showed that PRD in children with APN is important, especially in the presence of VUR, recurrent UTI, and older age.
|
|
