Regulatory and signaling properties of the Vav family

Vav GEFs regulate macrophage morphology and adhesion-induced Rac and Rho activation

The Vav family of proteins have the potential to act as both signalling adapters and GEFs for Rho GTPases. They have therefore been proposed as regulators of the cytoskeleton in various cell types. We have used macrophages from mice deficient in all three Vav isoforms to determine how their function affects cell morphology and migration. Macrophages lacking Vav proteins adopt an elongated morphology and have enhanced migratory persistence in culture. To investigate the pathways through which Vav proteins exert their effects we analysed the responses of macrophages to the chemoattractant CSF-1 and to adhesion. We found that morphological and signalling responses of macrophages to CSF-1 did not require Vav proteins. In contrast, adhesion-induced cell spreading, RhoA and Rac1 activation and cell signalling were all dependent on Vav proteins. We propose that Vav proteins affect macrophage morphology and motile behaviour by coupling adhesion receptors to Rac1 and RhoA activity and regulating adhesion signalling events such as paxillin and ERK1/2 phosphorylation by acting as adapters.

Cytoskeleton-membrane interactions in membrane raft structure

Cell membranes are structurally heterogeneous, composed of discrete domains with unique physical and biological properties. Membrane domains can form through a number of mechanisms involving lipid-lipid and protein-lipid interactions. One type of membrane domain is the cholesterol-dependent membrane raft. How rafts form remains a current topic in membrane biology. We review here evidence of structuring of rafts by the cortical actin cytoskeleton. This includes evidence that the actin cytoskeleton associates with rafts, and that many of the structural and functional properties of rafts require an intact actin cytoskeleton. We discuss the mechanisms of the actin-dependent raft organization, and the properties of the actin cytoskeleton in regulating raft-associated signaling events. We end with a discussion of membrane rafts and the actin cytoskeleton in T cell activation, which function synergistically to initiate the adaptive immune response.

The 'sweet' and 'bitter' involvement of glycosaminoglycans in lung diseases: pharmacotherapeutic relevance

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a significant role in the structure and function of the lung. The ECM is a three-dimensional fibre mesh, comprised of various interconnected and intercalated macromolecules, among which are the glycosaminoglycans (GAG). GAG are long, linear and highly charged, heterogeneous polysaccharides that are composed of a variable number of repeating disaccharide units (macromolecular sugars) and most of them, as their name implies, have a sweet taste. In the lung, GAG support the structure of the interstitium, the subepithelial tissue and the bronchial walls, and are secreted in the airway secretions. Besides maintaining lung tissue structure, GAG also play an important role in lung function as they regulate hydration and water homeostasis, modulate the inflammatory response and influence lung tissue repair and remodelling. However, depending on their size and/or degree of sulphation, and their immobilization or solubilization in the ECM, specific GAG in the lung either live up to their sweet taste/name, supporting normal lung physiology, or they are associated to 'bitter' effects, related to lung pathology. The present review discusses the biological role of GAG in the lung as well as the involvement of these molecules in various respiratory diseases. Given the great structural diversity of GAG, understanding the changes in GAG expression that occur in lung diseases may lead to novel targets for pharmacological intervention in order to prevent and/or to treat a range of lung diseases.

CD28 and CTLA-4 coreceptor expression and signal transduction

SUMMARY

T-cell activation is mediated by antigen-specific signals from the TCRzeta/CD3 and CD4-CD8-p56lck complexes in combination with additional co-signals provided by coreceptors such as CD28, inducible costimulator (ICOS), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed death (PD-1), and others. CD28 and ICOS provide positive signals that promote and sustain T-cell responses, while CTLA-4 and PD-1 limit responses. The balance between stimulatory and inhibitory co-signals determines the ultimate nature of T-cell responses where response to foreign pathogen is achieved without excess inflammation and autoimmunity. In this review, we outline the current knowledge of the CD28 and CTLA-4 signaling mechanisms [involving phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2), Filamin A, protein kinase C theta (PKCtheta), and phosphatases] that control T-cell immunity. We also present recent findings on T-cell receptor-interacting molecule (TRIM) regulation of CTLA-4 surface expression, and a signaling pathway involving CTLA-4 activation of PI3K and protein kinase B (PKB)/AKT by which cell survival is ensured under conditions of anergy induction.

A Pyk2-Vav1 complex is recruited to beta3-adhesion sites to initiate Rho activation

Integrin alphavbeta3-mediated adhesion of haemopoietic cells to vitronectin results in beta3 tyrosine phosphorylation and Rho activation which is necessary for adhesion. Previously, we have shown that the RhoGEF (Rho guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor) Vav1 could associate indirectly with alphavbeta3 during leucocyte adhesion to vitronectin. In the present study, we have identified the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Pyk2 (proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2) as the adaptor protein that links Vav1 with alphavbeta3. The association of Pyk2 and Vav1 with beta3 relies on the presence of Tyr747 in beta3, the primary site of beta3 phosphorylation. However, association of Pyk2 with Vav1 is independent of beta3 tyrosine phosphorylation. Formation of a Pyk2-Vav1 complex occurs upon cell adhesion and Pro717 of Pyk2 plays a key role in Pyk2 interaction with Vav1. Utilizing purified recombinant proteins, we confirmed the direct interaction between Pyk2 and Vav1 In vitro. Cells transfected with GFP (green fluorescent protein)-Pyk2-P717A demonstrated severely suppressed cytoskeletal reorganization, impaired Vav1 recruitment, decreased Rho GTPase activation and loss of cell adhesion. Using siRNA (small interfering RNA) to specifically reduce Pyk2 levels in cells resulted in disrupted association between Vav1 and beta3 and impaired cell adhesion. These results indicate that Pyk2 is a critical signalling molecule downstream of beta3 integrin tyrosine phosphorylation and mediates Vav1 recruitment to accomplish actin reorganization necessary for adhesion.

Alphavbeta3/alphavbeta5 integrins-FAK-RhoB: a novel pathway for hypoxia regulation in glioblastoma

The presence of hypoxic areas in glioblastoma is an important determinant in tumor response to therapy and, in particular, to radiotherapy. Here we have explored the involvement of integrins, up to now known as regulators of angiogenesis and invasion, in the regulation of tumor hypoxia driven from the tumor cell. We first show that hypoxia induces the recruitment of alpha(v)beta(3) and alpha(v)beta(5) integrins to the cellular membrane of U87 and SF763 glioblastoma cells, thereby activating the focal adhesion kinase (FAK). We then show that inhibiting alpha(v)beta(3) or alpha(v)beta(5) integrins in hypoxic cells with a specific inhibitor or with siRNA decreases the hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) intracellular level. This integrin-dependent regulation of HIF-1alpha is mediated through the regulation of FAK, which in turn activates the small GTPase RhoB, leading to the inhibition of GSK3-beta. Furthermore, silencing this pathway in glioma cells of established xenografts dramatically reduces glioma hypoxia, associated with a significant decrease in vessel density. Our present results unravel a new mechanism of hypoxia regulation by establishing the existence of an alpha(v)beta(3)/alpha(v)beta(5) integrin-dependent loop of hypoxia autoregulation in glioma. Targeting this hypoxia loop may be crucial to optimizing radiotherapy efficiency.

Syk and pTyr'd: Signaling through the B cell antigen receptor

The B cell receptor (BCR) transduces antigen binding into alterations in the activity of intracellular signaling pathways through its ability to recruit and activate the cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinase Syk. The recruitment of Syk to the receptor, its activation and its subsequent interactions with downstream effectors are all regulated by its phosphorylation on tyrosine. This review discusses our current understanding of how this phosphorylation regulates the activity of Syk and its participation in signaling through the BCR.

PLC-gamma1 and Rac1 coregulate EGF-induced cytoskeleton remodeling and cell migration

It is well established that epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces the cytoskeleton reorganization and cell migration through two major signaling cascades: phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) and Rho GTPases. However, little is known about the cross talk between PLC-gamma1 and Rho GTPases. Here we showed that PLC-gamma1 forms a complex with Rac1 in response to EGF. This interaction is direct and mediated by PLC-gamma1 Src homology 3 (SH3) domain and Rac1 (106)PNTP(109) motif. This interaction is critical for EGF-induced Rac1 activation in vivo, and PLC-gamma1 SH3 domain is actually a potent and specific Rac1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor in vitro. We have also demonstrated that the interaction between PLC-gamma1 SH3 domain and Rac1 play a significant role in EGF-induced F-actin formation and cell migration. We conclude that PLC-gamma1 and Rac1 coregulate EGF-induced cell cytoskeleton remodeling and cell migration by a direct functional interaction.

The dioxin receptor regulates the constitutive expression of the vav3 proto-oncogene and modulates cell shape and adhesion

The dioxin receptor (AhR) modulates cell plasticity and migration, although the signaling involved remains unknown. Here, we report a mechanism that integrates AhR into these cytoskeleton-related functions. Immortalized and mouse embryonic fibroblasts lacking AhR (AhR-/-) had increased cell area due to spread cytoplasms that reverted to wild-type morphology upon AhR re-expression. The AhR-null phenotype included increased F-actin stress fibers, depolarized focal adhesions, and enhanced spreading and adhesion. The cytoskeleton alterations of AhR-/- cells were due to down-regulation of constitutive Vav3 expression, a guanosine diphosphate/guanosine triphosphate exchange factor for Rho/Rac GTPases and a novel transcriptional target of AhR. AhR was recruited to the vav3 promoter and maintained constitutive mRNA expression in a ligand-independent manner. Consistently, AhR-/- fibroblasts had reduced Rac1 activity and increased activation of the RhoA/Rho kinase (Rock) pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 shifted AhR+/+ fibroblasts to the null phenotype, whereas Rock inhibition changed AhR-null cells to the AhR+/+ morphology. Knockdown of vav3 transcripts by small interfering RNA induced cytoskeleton defects and changes in adhesion and spreading mimicking those of AhR-null cells. Moreover, vav3-/- MEFs, as AhR-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts, had increased cell area and enhanced stress fibers. By modulating Vav3-dependent signaling, AhR could regulate cell shape, adhesion, and migration under physiological conditions and, perhaps, in certain pathological states.

Wound healing defect of Vav3-/- mice due to impaired {beta}2-integrin-dependent macrophage phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils

Vav proteins are guanine-nucleotide exchange factors implicated in leukocyte functions by relaying signals from immune response receptors and integrins to Rho-GTPases. We here provide first evidence for a role of Vav3 for beta(2)-integrins-mediated macrophage functions during wound healing. Vav3(-/-) and Vav1(-/-)/Vav3(-/-) mice revealed significantly delayed healing of full-thickness excisional wounds. Furthermore, Vav3(-/-) bone marrow chimeras showed an identical healing defect, suggesting that Vav3 deficiency in leukocytes, but not in other cells, is causal for the impaired wound healing. Vav3 was required for the phagocytotic cup formation preceding macrophage phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils. Immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy revealed Vav3 activation and colocalization with beta(2)-integrins at the macrophage membrane upon adhesion to ICAM-1. Moreover, local injection of Vav3(-/-) or beta(2)-integrin(CD18)(-/-) macrophages into wound margins failed to restore the healing defect of Vav3(-/-) mice, suggesting Vav3 to control the beta(2)-integrin-dependent formation of a functional phagocytic synapse. Impaired phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by Vav3(-/-) macrophages was causal for their reduced release of active transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1), for decreased myofibroblasts differentiation and myofibroblast-driven wound contraction. TGF-beta(1) deficiency in Vav3(-/-) macrophages was causally responsible for the healing defect, as local injection of either Vav3-competent macrophages or recombinant TGF-beta(1) into wounds of Vav3(-/-) mice fully rescued the delayed wound healing.

TREM-2 mediated signaling induces antigen uptake and retention in mature myeloid dendritic cells

Myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) activated with a B7-DC-specific cross-linking IgM Ab (B7-DC XAb) take up and retain Ag and interact with T cell compartments to affect a number of biologic changes that together cause strong antitumor responses and blockade of inflammatory airway disease in animal models. The molecular events mediating the initial responses in mDC remain unclear. In this study we show that B7-DC XAb caused rapid phosphorylation of the adaptor protein DAP12 and intracellular kinases Syk and phospholipase C-gamma1. Pretreatment of mDC with the Syk inhibitor piceatannol blocked B7-DC XAb-induced Ag uptake with a concomitant loss of tumor protection in mice. Vaccination with tumor lysate-pulsed wild-type B7-DC XAb-activated mDC, but not TREM-2 knockout XAb-activated mDC, protected mice from lethal melanoma challenge. Multimolecular caps appeared within minutes of B7-DC XAb binding to either human or mouse mDC, and FRET analysis showed that class II, CD80, CD86, and TREM-2 are recruited in tight association on the cell surface. When TREM-2 expression was reduced in wild-type mDC using short hairpin RNA or by using mDC from TREM-2 knockout mice, in vitro DC failed to take up Ag after B7-DC XAb stimulation. These results directly link TREM-2 signaling with one change in the mDC phenotype that occurs in response to this unique Ab. The parallel signaling events observed in both human and mouse mDC support the hypothesis that B7-DC cross-linking may be useful as a therapeutic immune modulator in human patients.

The guanine nucleotide exchange factors trio, Ect2, and Vav3 mediate the invasive behavior of glioblastoma

Malignant gliomas are characterized by their ability to invade normal brain tissue. We have previously shown that the small GTPase Rac1 plays a role in both migration and invasion in gliomas. Here, we aim to identify Rac-activating guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that mediate glioblastoma invasiveness. Using a brain tumor expression database, we identified three GEFs, Trio, Ect2, and Vav3, that are expressed at higher levels in glioblastoma versus low-grade glioma. The expression of these GEFs is also associated with poor patient survival. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analyses on an independent set of tumors confirmed that these GEFs are overexpressed in glioblastoma as compared with either nonneoplastic brain or low-grade gliomas. In addition, depletion of Trio, Ect2, and Vav3 by siRNA oligonucleotides suppresses glioblastoma cell migration and invasion. Depletion of either Ect2 or Trio also reduces the rate of cell proliferation. These results suggest that targeting GEFs may present novel strategies for anti-invasive therapy for malignant gliomas.

Activated G(alpha)13 impairs cell invasiveness through p190RhoGAP-mediated inhibition of RhoA activity

The GTPase RhoA is a downstream target of heterotrimeric G(13) proteins and plays key roles in cell migration and invasion. Here, we show that expression in human melanoma cells of a constitutively active, GTPase-deficient Galpha(13) form (G(alpha)(13)QL) or lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-promoted signaling through G(alpha)(13)-coupled receptors led to a blockade of chemokine-stimulated RhoA activation and cell invasion that was rescued by active RhoA. Melanoma cells expressing G(alpha)(13)QL or cells stimulated with LPC displayed an increase in p190RhoGAP activation, and defects in RhoA activation and invasion were recovered by knocking down p190RhoGAP expression, thus identifying this GTPase-activating protein (GAP) protein as a downstream G(alpha)(13) target that is responsible for these inhibitory responses. In addition, defective stress fiber assembly and reduced migration speed underlay inefficient invasion of G(alpha)(13)QL melanoma cells. Importantly, G(alpha)(13)QL expression in melanoma cells led to impairment in lung metastasis associated with prolonged survival in SCID mice. The data indicate that G(alpha)(13)-dependent downstream effects on RhoA activation and invasion tightly depend on cell type-specific GAP activities and that G(alpha)(13)-p190RhoGAP signaling might represent a potential target for intervention in melanoma metastasis.

Mechanistic analysis of the amplification and diversification events induced by Vav proteins in B-lymphocytes

Vav proteins participate in the assembly of a multibranched signal transduction pathway in lymphocytes, including the stimulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B and the phospholipase C-gamma/Ras GDP-releasing protein/Ras/Erk routes. In the present work, we used a genetic approach in chicken DT40 B-cell lines to investigate additional elements of the Vav route, the synergisms existing among the different Vav signaling branches, and the activities exerted by wild-type and oncogenic Vav proteins in B-lymphocytes. We show here that the Vav pathway is ramified in B-lymphocytes in additional diacylglycerol-dependent signaling branches such as those involving protein kinase C, protein kinase D, and phospholipase D. By using side-by-side comparisons of the activation levels of those signal transduction pathways in inhibitor-treated and knockout DT40 cells, we show that B-cells have different requirements regarding Vav proteins for the activation of antigen receptor downstream elements. Furthermore, we have detected interpathway cross-talk at the level of the most proximal elements but not among the most distal effector molecules of the Vav route. Finally, we show that the oncogenic versions of Vav1 and RhoA can activate alternative routes that could contribute to signal amplification and diversification events in transformed lymphocytes.

The expression and prognostic value of the guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) Trio, Vav1 and TIAM-1 in human breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Development of metastasis in breast cancer is a multi-step process comprising changes in cytoskeletal structure and gene expression of tumour cells leading to changes in cell adhesion and motility. The Rho GTPase proteins, which function as guanine nucleotide regulated binary switches, govern a variety of cellular processes including cell motility and migration, changes in cell adhesion as well as actin cytoskeletal reorganisation and gene expression/transcription. One group of activators which regulate the Rho-GTPases is the guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), and this study looked at three such GEFs, Trio, Vav1 and TIAM-1. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of these GEFs, in human breast cancer and assess the affect on clinical outcome.

METHODS

Specimens of fresh, frozen breast tumour tissue (n = 113) and normal background tissue (n = 30) were processed for quantitative PCR analysis. The expression and levels of expression of Trio, Vav1 and TIAM-1 were analysed using RT-PCR and real-time Q-PCR respectively. Sections were also immunostained with Trio and Tiam-1 antibodies.

RESULTS

Tumour tissue exhibited high levels of all three Rho activators Trio, Vav1 and TIAM-1 compared with normal background breast tissue, reaching a level of significance for the GEF Trio (p = 0.013). Trio levels also increased significantly in patients with a poor prognostic index (p = 0.04).Levels of TIAM-1 were significantly higher in tumour tissue from patients who died from breast cancer compared with those who survived (p = 0.04). No significant correlation was found between tumour grade and histology types.

CONCLUSION

High expression levels of Trio, Vav1 and TIAM-1 were seen in breast tumours, especially in those with poor prognosis. This suggests that aberrant regulation of Rho family activities by GEFs may have an important prognostic value in breast cancer.

Anti-inflammatory effects of an inflammatory chemokine: CCL2 inhibits lymphocyte homing by modulation of CCL21-triggered integrin-mediated adhesions

Our studies focus on the pathways that restrict homing of specific subsets of immune cells, and thereby fine-tune the immune response at specific lymphoid and peripheral tissues. Here, we report that CCL2 (at picomolar [pM] levels) renders both murine and human T cells defective in their ability to develop CCR7-triggered activation of LFA-1- and LFA-1-mediated adhesion strengthening to endothelial ICAM-1 both in vitro and in vivo. CCL2 also attenuated lymphocyte chemotaxis toward lymph node chemokines. Consequently, low-dose CCL2 inhibited lymphocyte homing to peripheral lymph nodes but did not affect lymphocyte trafficking through the spleen. Impaired homing of lymphocytes to peripheral lymph nodes resulted in attenuated progression of both asthma and adjuvant arthritis. Thus, pM levels of circulating CCL2 can exert global suppressive effects on T-cell trafficking and differentiation within peripheral lymph nodes, and may be clinically beneficial as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Targeted overexpression of vav3 oncogene in prostatic epithelium induces nonbacterial prostatitis and prostate cancer

Our previous study revealed that Vav3 oncogene is overexpressed in human prostate cancer, activates androgen receptor (AR), and stimulates growth in prostate cancer cells. The purpose of this study is to further determine the potential role of Vav3 in prostate cancer development in genetically engineered mouse model. We generated Vav3 transgenic mice by targeted overexpression of a constitutive active Vav3 in the prostatic epithelium. We found that overexpression of Vav3 led to development of mouse prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostate cancer at the age of as early as 3 months. The AR signaling axis and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt signaling were elevated in the prostate glands of Vav3 transgenic mice. In addition to prostate cancer, Vav3 transgenic mice developed significant nonbacterial chronic prostatitis in the prostate gland with notable infiltration of lymphomononuclear cells (monocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma cells), which was associated with elevated incidence of prostate cancer. DNA microarray and signaling pathway analysis revealed that the top diseases and disorders were inflammatory diseases and cancer of the prostate gland in Vav3 transgenic mice. In vitro analysis showed that overexpression of Vav3 in prostate cancer cells enhanced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity, implicating an underlying mechanism of innate inflammatory response induced by elevated Vav3 activity. These data showed that Vav3 overexpression in the prostate epithelium enhanced both the AR signaling axis and NF-kappaB-mediated pathway, which potentially contributed to the development of nonbacterial prostatitis and prostate cancer.

Vav3 oncogene activates estrogen receptor and its overexpression may be involved in human breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Our previous study revealed that Vav3 oncogene is overexpressed in human prostate cancer, activates androgen receptor, and stimulates growth in prostate cancer cells. The current study is to determine a potential role of Vav3 oncogene in human breast cancer and impact on estrogen receptor a (ERalpha)-mediated signaling axis.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed in 43 breast cancer specimens and western blot analysis was used for human breast cancer cell lines to determine the expression level of Vav3 protein. The impact of Vav3 on breast cancer cell growth was determined by siRNA knockdown of Vav3 expression. The role of Vav3 in ERalpha activation was examined in luciferase reporter assays. Deletion mutation analysis of Vav3 protein was performed to localize the functional domain involved in ERalpha activation. Finally, the interaction of Vav3 and ERalpha was assessed by GST pull-down analysis.

RESULTS

We found that Vav3 was overexpressed in 81% of human breast cancer specimens, particularly in poorly differentiated lesions. Vav3 activated ERalpha partially via PI3K-Akt signaling and stimulated growth of breast cancer cells. Vav3 also potentiated EGF activity for cell growth and ERalpha activation in breast cancer cells. More interestingly, we found that Vav3 complexed with ERalpha. Consistent with its function for AR, the DH domain of Vav3 was essential for ERalpha activation.

CONCLUSION

Vav3 oncogene is overexpressed in human breast cancer. Vav3 complexes with ERalpha and enhances ERalpha activity. These findings suggest that Vav3 overexpression may aberrantly enhance ERalpha-mediated signaling axis and play a role in breast cancer development and/or progression.

The adaptor 3BP2 activates CD244-mediated cytotoxicity in PKC- and SAP-dependent mechanisms

Natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity requires triggering of activation receptors over inhibitory receptors. CD244, a member of CD150 receptor family, positively regulates NK-mediated lyses by activating an intracellular multiproteic signaling network that involves the adaptors X-linked lymphoproliferative gene product SAP and 3BP2. However, the exact mechanisms used by 3BP2 to enhance CD244-mediated cytotoxicity are still not fully understood. Here using the human NK cell line YT-overexpressing 3BP2, we found that the adaptor increases CD244, PI3K, and Vav phosphorylation upon CD244 engagement. The use of enzymatic inhibitors revealed that 3BP2-dependent cytolysis enhancement was PKC-dependent and PI3K-ERK independent. Furthermore, 3BP2 overexpression enhanced PKC delta phosphorylation. SAP knockdown expression inhibited PKC delta activation, indicating that the activating role played by 3BP2 depends upon the presence of SAP. In conclusion, our data show that 3BP2 acts downstream of SAP, increases CD244 phosphorylation and links the receptor with PI3K, Vav, PLC gamma, and PKC downstream events in order to achieve maximum NK killing function.

CD28 and Grb-2, relative to Gads or Grap, preferentially co-operate with Vav1 in the activation of NFAT/AP-1 transcription

The co-receptor CD28 binds to several intracellular proteins including PI3 kinase, Grb-2, Gads and ITK. Grb-2 and PI3 kinase binding has been mapped to the pYMNM motif within the cytoplasmic tail of CD28 and has been shown to play a role in co-stimulation. In this study, we demonstrate that amongst the Grb-2 family adapter proteins, CD28 precipitated Grb-2 and specifically co-operated in the up-regulation of NFAT/AP-1 transcription. By contrast, Gads and Grap either failed or only weakly collaborated with CD28 ligation. Further, the loss of Grb-2 binding interferes with the ability of Vav1 to co-operate with CD28. Anti-CD28 ligation alone was capable for co-operating with Grb-2 or Grb-2-Vav1. Our findings define a pathway involving CD28 binding to Grb-2 and its co-operativity with Vav1 in the regulation of T-cell co-stimulation.

Altered expression of prolactin receptor-associated signaling proteins in human breast carcinoma

Prolactin receptor signaling can modulate proliferation, survival, motility, angiogenesis, and differentiation in breast cancer. Increased serum prolactin is associated with a significantly increased risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of prolactin receptor-associated signaling proteins in breast cancer vs benign breast tissue. Breast tissue microarrays representing 40 cases of benign and malignant pathologies were obtained from the Cooperative Human Tissue Network. Standard immunohistochemistry for prolactin and prolactin receptor-associated proteins was performed. Both positive regulators (c-Myb, Nek3, Vav2) and negative regulators (PIAS3, SIRP) of prolactin receptor signaling were examined. Virtual slides were created from the stained breast tissue microarrays. Labels were scored by region of interest and labeling indices incorporating percent target labeled and label intensity were created. Quantitative determinations of labels were made using the Clarient image system. The unpaired t-test was used to compare labels from benign and malignant tissues. Visual scoring data showed upregulation of Nek3 (P=0.000377), PIAS3 (P=0.000257), and prolactin (P=0.002576) in breast cancer vs normal/hyperplastic epithelium. c-Myb showed a trend toward upregulation, but this did not achieve statistical significance (P=0.107374). SIRP (P=0.002060) was downregulated. Vav2 showed a trend toward downregulation (P=0.107456), but this did not achieve statistical significance. Clarient analysis corroborated upregulation in cancer of Nek3 (P=0.000013), PIAS3 (P=0.000067), and prolactin (P=0.017569). In conclusion, regulators of prolactin receptor signaling show heterogeneity in their expression in benign vs malignant breast tissue. Since these species are known to regulate prolactin-mediated actions, these results suggest multiple targets for modulating prolactin receptor-mediated growth and differentiation in breast cancer.

Epac/Rap and PKA are novel mechanisms of ANP-induced Rac-mediated pulmonary endothelial barrier protection

Acute lung injury, sepsis, lung inflammation, and ventilator-induced lung injury are life-threatening conditions associated with lung vascular barrier dysfunction, which may lead to pulmonary edema. Increased levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in lung circulation reported in these pathologies suggest its potential role in the modulation of lung injury. Besides well recognized physiological effects on vascular tone, plasma volume, and renal function, ANP may exhibit protective effects in models of lung vascular endothelial cell (EC) barrier dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanisms of ANP protective effects are not well understood. The recently described cAMP-dependent guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Epac activates small GTPase Rap1, which results in activation of small GTPase Rac-specific GEFs Tiam1 and Vav2 and Rac-mediated EC barrier protective responses. Our results show that ANP stimulated protein kinase A and the Epac/Rap1/Tiam/Vav/Rac cascade dramatically attenuated thrombin-induced pulmonary EC permeability and the disruption of EC monolayer integrity. Using pharmacological and molecular activation and inhibition of cAMP-and cGMP-dependent protein kinases (PKA and PKG), Epac, Rap1, Tiam1, Vav2, and Rac we linked ANP-mediated protective effects to the activation of Epac/Rap and PKA signaling cascades, which dramatically inhibited the Rho pathway of thrombin-induced EC hyper-permeability. These results suggest a novel mechanism of ANP protective effects against agonist-induced pulmonary EC barrier dysfunction via inhibition of Rho signaling by Epac/Rap1-Rac and PKA signaling cascades.

Hyaluronan-mediated CD44 activation of RhoGTPase signaling and cytoskeleton function promotes tumor progression

Hyaluronan (HA), a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), is enriched in many types of tumors. In cancer patients HA concentrations are usually higher in malignant tumors than in corresponding benign or normal tissues, and in some tumor types the level of HA is predictive of malignancy. HA is often bound to CD44 isoforms which are ubiquitous, abundant, and functionally important cell surface receptors. This article reviews the current evidence for HA/CD44-mediated activation of the ankyrin-based cytoskeleton and RhoGTPase signaling during tumor progression. A special focus is placed on the role of HA-mediated CD44 interaction with unique downstream effectors (e.g., the cytoskeletal protein, ankyrin and/or various GTPases (e.g., RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42)) in coordinating intracellular signaling pathways (e.g., Ca(2+) mobilization, Rho signaling, PI3 kinase-AKT activation, NHE1-mediated cellular acidification, transcriptional upregulation and cytoskeletal function) and generating the concomitant onset of tumor cell activities (e.g., tumor cell adhesion, growth, survival, migration and invasion) and tumor progression. I believe this information will provide valuable new insights into poorly understood aspects of solid tumor malignancy. Furthermore, the new knowledge concerning HA/CD44-mediated oncogenic signaling events will have potentially important clinical utility, and could establish CD44 and its associated signaling molecules as important tumor markers for the early detection and evaluation of oncogenic potential. It could also serve as ground work for the future development of new drug targets to inhibit HA/CD44-mediated tumor metastasis and cancer progression.

The Gammaherpesvirus m2 protein manipulates the Fyn/Vav pathway through a multidocking mechanism of assembly

To establish latent infections in B-cells, gammaherpesviruses express proteins in the infected B-cells of the host that spuriously activate signalling pathways located downstream of the B-cell receptor. One such protein is M2, a murine gammaherpesvirus 68-encoded molecule that activates the Vav1/Rac1 pathway via the formation of trimolecular complexes with Scr family members. Previous reports have shown that the formation of this heteromolecular complex involves interactions between a proline rich region of M2 and the Vav1 and Fyn SH3 domains. Here, we show that the optimal association of these proteins requires a second structural motif encompassing two tyrosine residues (Tyr120 and 129). These residues are inducibly phosphorylated by Fyn in non-hematopoietic cells and constitutively phosphorylated in B-cells. We also demonstrate that the phosphorylation of Tyr120 creates specific docking sites for the SH2 domains of both Vav1 and Fyn, a condition sine qua non for the optimal association of these two signalling proteins in vivo. Interestingly, signaling experiments indicate that the expression of M2 in B-cells promotes the tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav1 and additional signaling proteins, a biological process that requires the integrity of both the M2 phosphotyrosine and proline rich region motifs. By infecting mice with viruses mutated in the m2 locus, we show that the integrity of each of these two M2 docking motifs is essential for the early steps of murine gammaherpesvirus-68 latency. Taken together, these results indicate that the M2 phosphotyrosine motif and the previously described M2 proline rich region work in a concerted manner to manipulate the signaling machinery of the host B-cell.

CD147 inhibits the nuclear factor of activated T-cells by impairing Vav1 and Rac1 downstream signaling

CD147 is a transmembrane protein that plays crucial roles in the development and function of the reproductive, visual, and nervous systems. CD147 also exerts positive and negative actions in T-cells by still obscure mechanisms. In this study, we have analyzed the expression, localization, and function of CD147 during T-cell receptor signaling responses. We show here that CD147 is an integral component of the T-cell immune synapse and that its overexpression leads to the inhibition of NF-AT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells) activity induced by Vav1, a Rac1 exchange factor. This inhibitory activity is mediated by the CD147 intracellular tail and is totally independent of its extracellular or transmembrane regions. The molecular dissection of the influence of CD147 on the Vav1 pathway indicates that its inhibitory action takes place downstream of Vav1 and Rac1 but upstream of the serine/threonine kinases JNK and Pak1. The interference of CD147 with these pathways is highly specific because the overexpression of CD147 does not affect the activity of other GDP/GTP exchange factors or the stimulation of the ERK cascade. Finally, we show that the CD147 knockdown in Jurkat cells promotes higher levels of NF-AT stimulation and Pak1 phosphorylation upon T-cell receptor cross-linking. Instead, the lack of CD147 does not affect other signaling cascades that participate in the same cellular response. Taken together, these results indicate that CD147, via the selective inhibition of specific downstream elements of the Vav1/Rac1 route, contributes to the negative regulation of T-cell responses.

Mechanism of homocysteine-induced Rac1/NADPH oxidase activation in mesangial cells: role of guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vav2

We have demonstrated that homocysteine (Hcys) stimulates de novo ceramide synthesis and thereby induces NADPH oxidase activation by increase of Rac GTPase activity in rat mesangial cells (RMCs). However, which isofrom of Rac GTPases is involved in Hcys-induced NADPH oxidase activity and what mechanism mediates Hcys-induced Rac GTPase activation remain unknown. The present study first addressed the role of Rac1 and then determined the contribution of a subfamily of Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors (GEFs), Vav, to the action of Hcys on Rac and NADPH oxidase activities in RMCs. By small interfering RNA (siRNA), it was found that Rac1-siRNA attenuated Hcys-induced superoxide (O(2)(-)) production. To explore the mechanism activating Rac by Hcys, GEF-Vav was examined. Vav2 was found to be a predominant isoform among Vav family in RMCs. In Vav2-siRNA transfected RMCs, Hcys-induced Rac activity was blocked, which was accompanied by significant reduction of Hcys-induced O(2)(-). production. This Vav2-siRNA also blocked Rac activation induced by C16-Ceramide (C16-Cer), an intermediate lipid product stimulated by Hcys. Furthermore, we found that Hcys induced Vav2 phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner, which could be induced by C16-Cer and blocked by inhibition of de novo ceramide synthesis. These results suggest that Vav2 importantly contributes to Hcys-induced increase in Rac1 activity and consequent activation of NADPH oxidase in RMCs via ceramide-associated tyrosine phosphorylation.

Differential motility of p190bcr-abl- and p210bcr-abl-expressing cells: respective roles of Vav and Bcr-Abl GEFs

The chimeric oncogene Bcr-Abl is known to induce autonomous motility of leukemic cells. We show here that p210(bcr-abl) responsible for chronic myelogenous leukemia induces an amoeboid type of motility while p190(bcr-abl), associated with acute lymphoid leukemia, induces a rolling type of motility. We previously reported that p210(bcr-abl) activates RhoA and Rac1, while p190(bcr-abl) although devoid of a Dbl-homology (DH) domain activates Rac1, but not RhoA. We investigated the regulation of GDP/GTP exchange factor (GEF) activities in the Bcr-Abl complex. For that purpose, different GEF activity mutants of Vav and of Bcr-Abl were constructed and stably transfected in Ba/F3 cells. Using these mutants, we demonstrate that RhoA is exclusively activated by the DH domain of p210(bcr-abl), while Rac1 activation is mostly due to Vav. Inhibition of Rac1 by Vav GEF mutant leads to immobilization of cells. Vav depletion using shRNA also induces immobilization of cells and suppression of GTP-bound Rac1. RhoA inactivation induces the specific loss of amoeboid movements. These results suggest that Rac1 activation by Vav triggers the motility of Bcr-Abl-expressing Ba/F3 cells, while the specific amoeboid mode of motility induced by p210(bcr-abl) is a consequence of RhoA activation.

The association of Sam68 with Vav1 contributes to tumorigenesis

Vav1 functions in the hematopoietic system as a specific GDP/GTP nucleotide exchange factor regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation. An intact C-terminal SH3 domain of Vav1 (Vav1SH3C) was shown to be necessary for Vav1-induced transformation, yet the associating protein(s) necessary for this activity have not yet been identified. Using a proteomics approach, we identified Sam68 as a Vav1SH3C-associating protein. Sam68 (Src-associated in mitosis of 68 kD) belongs to the heteronuclear ribonucleoprotein particle K (hnRNP-K) homology (KH) domain family of RNA-binding proteins. The Vav1/Sam68 interaction was observed in vitro and in vivo. Mutants of Vav1SH3C previously shown to lose their transforming potential did not associate with Sam68. Co-expression of Vav1 and Sam68 in Jurkat T cells led to increased localization of Vav1 in the nucleus and changes in cell morphology. We then tested the contribution of Sam68 to known functions of Vav1, such as focus-forming in NIH3T3 fibroblasts and NFAT stimulation in T cells. Co-expression of oncogenic Vav1 with Sam68 in NIH3T3 fibroblasts resulted in a dose-dependent increase in foci, yet no further enhancement of NFAT activity was observed in Jurkat T cells, as compared to cells overexpressing only Vav1 or Sam68. Our results strongly suggest that Sam68 contributes to transformation by oncogenic Vav1.

Epac signaling pathway involves STEF, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac, to regulate APP processing

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a key protein involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease. We previously identified a signal transduction secretory pathway in which the small G protein Rac sets downstream of the cAMP/Epac/Rap1 signalling cascade regulating the alpha cleavage of APP [Maillet, M. et al. (2003) Crosstalk between Rap and Rac regulates secretion of sAPP alpha. Nat. Cell Biol. 5, 633-639]. We now report that Rap1 can physically and specifically associate with the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) STEF through its TSS region. A deleted TSS domain of STEF cells fails to activate Rac1 and dramatically decreases secretion of the non-amyloidogenic soluble form of APP (sAPP alpha) induced by the cAMP-binding protein Epac. Altogether, our data show that upon Epac activation, Rap1 recruits STEF through its TSS region and activates Rac1, which mediates APP processing.

Heterotrimeric G protein betagamma subunits stimulate FLJ00018, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac1 and Cdc42

We previously reported that Gbetagamma signaling regulates cell spreading or cell shape change through activation of a Rho family small GTPase, suggesting the existence of a Gbetagamma-regulated Rho guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (RhoGEF). In this study we examined various RhoGEF clones, found FLJ00018 to beaGbetagamma-activated RhoGEF, and investigated the molecular mechanism of Gbetagamma-induced activation of Rho family GTPases. Co-expression of the genes for FLJ00018 and Gbetagamma enhanced serum response element-mediated gene transcription in HEK-293 cells. Combined expression of Gbetagamma and FLJ00018 significantly induced activation of Rac and Cdc42 but not RhoA. FLJ00018 also enhanced gene transcription induced by carbachol-stimulated m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, and this enhancement was blocked by pertussis toxin. Furthermore, we demonstrated Gbetagamma to interact directly with the N-terminal region of FLJ00018 and the N-terminal fragment of this molecule to inhibit serum response element-dependent transcription induced by Gbetagamma/FLJ00018 and carbachol. In NIH3T3 cells, FLJ00018 enhanced lysophosphatidic acid-induced cell spreading, which was also blocked by the N-terminal fragment of FLJ00018. These results provide evidence for a signaling pathway by which G(i)-coupled receptor specifically induces Rac and Cdc42 activation through direct interaction of Gbetagamma with FLJ00018.

Activation of Rac1 and the exchange factor Vav3 are involved in NPM-ALK signaling in anaplastic large cell lymphomas

The majority of anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCLs) express the nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM-ALK) fusion protein, which is oncogenic due to its constitutive tyrosine kinase activity. Transformation by NPM-ALK not only increases proliferation, but also modifies cell shape and motility in both lymphoid and fibroblastic cells. We report that the Rac1 GTPase, a known cytoskeletal regulator, is activated by NPM-ALK in ALCL cell lines (Karpas 299 and Cost) and transfected cells (lymphoid Ba/F3 cells, NIH-3T3 fibroblasts). We have identified Vav3 as one of the exchange factors involved in Rac1 activation. Stimulation of Vav3 and Rac1 by NPM-ALK is under the control of Src kinases. It involves formation of a signaling complex between NPM-ALK, pp60(c-src), Lyn and Vav3, in which Vav3 associates with tyrosine 343 of NPM-ALK via its SH2 domain. Moreover, Vav3 is phosphorylated in NPM-ALK positive biopsies from patients suffering from ALCL, demonstrating the pathological relevance of this observation. The use of Vav3-specific shRNA and a dominant negative Rac1 mutant demonstrates the central role of GTPases in NPM-ALK elicited motility and invasion.

Extracellular acidic environments induce phosphorylation of ZAP-70 in Jurkat T cells

In solid tumor and inflammation loci, low pH conditions have been observed as a consequence of either a lack of sufficient vascularization or excess activity of tumor cells, and T cells have been reported to infiltrate tumors and inflammation sites. However, it remains unclear how extracellular acidic environments affect immune cell function. A previous report proposed that a different signal transduction cascade might occur under low pH conditions in Jurkat T cells (Fukamachi T, Saito H, Kakegawa T, Kobayashi H. Different proteins are phosphorylated under acidic environments in Jurkat cells. Immunol Lett 2002;82:155-8). In this study, we investigated the protein phosphotyrosine level in Jurkat and Jurkat mutant cells under different pH conditions. The ZAP-70 phosphorylation level increased under acidic environments. P38 MAPK was more activated at acidic pH. The level of active p38 was low in mutant P116 deficient in ZAP-70, and interestingly the level remained consistently low at all pH values tested. The activation of ERK was not stimulated at low pH. These results suggest that extracellular low pH stimulates or enhances TCR signaling via ZAP-70 and p38.

Flesh and blood: The story of Vav1, a gene that signals in hematopoietic cells but can be transforming in human malignancies

Cancer results from the interaction of multiple aberrations including activation of dominant oncogenes and upregulation of signal transduction pathways. Identification of the genes involved in malignant transformation is a pre-requisite for understanding cancer and improving its diagnosis and treatment. Quite a few of the genes that have been implicated in cancer are mutant or aberrantly expressed versions of genes that are important mediators of the normal growth that occurs during development. An important example of this is Vav1, a cytoplasmic signal transducer protein initially identified as an oncogene. Physiological expression of Vav1 is restricted to the hematopoietic system, where its best-known function is as a GDP/GTP nucleotide exchange factor for Rho/Rac GTPases, an activity strictly controlled by tyrosine phosphorylation. Vav1 was shown to regulate cytoskeletal rearrangement during activation of hematopoietic cells. Vav1 can also mediate other cellular functions including activation of the JNK, ERK, Ras, NF-kB, and NFAT pathways, in addition to association with numerous adapter proteins such as Shc, NCK, SLP-76, GRB2, and Crk. Although the oncogenic form of Vav1 has not been detected in clinical human tumors, its wild-type form has recently been implicated in mammalian malignancies such as neuroblastoma, melanoma, pancreatic tumors and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This review addresses the physiological function of wild-type Vav1, its mode of activation as an oncogene, and its emerging role as a transforming protein in human cancer.

CTL-associated antigen-4 ligation induces rapid T cell polarization that depends on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Vav-1, Cdc42, and myosin light chain kinase

CTLA-4 can negatively regulate cytokine production and proliferation, increase motility, and override the TCR-induced stop-signal needed for stable T cell-APC conjugation. Despite this, little is known regarding whether CTLA-4 can alter T cell morphology and the nature of the signaling events that could account for this event. In this study, we demonstrate that anti-CTLA-4 and CD3/CTLA-4 induce rapid T cell polarization (i.e., within 15-30 min) with increases in lamellipodia, filopodia, and uropod formation. This was observed with anti-CTLA-4 and CD80-Ig ligation of CTLA-4, but not with anti-CD3 alone, or anti-CD3/CD28 coligation. Polarization required PI3K, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vav1, the GTP-binding protein Cdc42, as well as myosin L chain kinase. By contrast, a key downstream target of PI3K, protein kinase B, as well as Rho kinase and RhoA, were not needed. Our results demonstrate that CTLA-4 is a potent activator T cell polarization needed for motility, and this process involves specific set of signaling proteins that might contribute to coreceptor regulation of T cell function.

Convergence of immunoreceptor and integrin signaling

A common signaling pathway is known to operate downstream of immunoreceptors, such as the T-cell, B-cell, or Fc receptors, following engagement by their respective ligands. This pathway involves Src family kinase-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) that recruit and activate spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) or Zap70 (zeta-associated protein of 70 kDa) kinases, which in turn activate a variety of downstream signals. Evidence has been building from a variety of sources, particularly mouse models, that molecules involved in the immunoreceptor signaling pathway are also required for signals initiated by integrins. Integrins are the major cell surface receptors that mediate adhesion of leukocytes to a variety of extracellular matrix proteins and counter-receptors expressed on endothelial cells. Integrin ligation is a critical step in the activation of leukocyte effector functions (such as neutrophil degranulation or lymphocyte proliferation). Integrin signaling through pathways common to those utilized by immunoreceptors provides a mechanism by which leukocyte adhesion can regulate activation of cellular responses. In animal models, integrin-mediated signal transduction plays a critical role in inflammatory disease. In this review, we discuss the convergence of immunoreceptor and integrin signaling, focusing on how these pathways modulate leukocyte activation.

VEGF-induced Rac1 activation in endothelial cells is regulated by the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vav2

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is critical for both normal and disease-associated vascular development. Dysregulated VEGF signaling has been implicated in ischemic stroke, tumor angiogenesis, and many other vascular diseases. VEGF signals through several effectors, including the Rho family of small GTPases. As a member of this family, Rac1 promotes VEGF-induced endothelial cell migration by stimulating the formation of lamellipodia and membrane ruffles. To form these membrane protrusions, Rac1 is activated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that catalyze the exchange of GDP for GTP. The goal of this study was to identify the GEF responsible for activating Rac1 in response to VEGF stimulation. We have found that VEGF stimulates biphasic activation of Rac1 and for these studies we focused on the peak of activation that occurs at 30 min. Inhibition of VEGFR-2 signaling blocks VEGF-induced Rac1 activation. Using a Rac1 nucleotide-free mutant (G15ARac1), which has a high affinity for binding activated GEFs, we show that the Rac GEF Vav2 associates with G15ARac1 after VEGF stimulation. Additionally, we show that depleting endothelial cells of endogenous Vav2 with siRNA prevents VEGF-induced Rac1 activation. Moreover, Vav2 is tyrosine phosphorylated upon VEGF treatment, which temporally correlates with Rac1 activation and requires VEGFR-2 signaling and Src kinase activity. Finally, we show that depressing Vav2 expression by siRNA impairs VEGF-induced endothelial cell migration. Taken together, our results provide evidence that Vav2 acts downstream of VEGF to activate Rac1.

Neural precursor cells from a fatal human motoneuron disease differentiate despite aberrant gene expression

Precursor cells of the human central nervous system can be cultured in vitro to reveal pathogenesis of diseases or developmental disorders. Here, we have studied the biology of neural precursor cells (NPCs) from patients of lethal congenital contracture syndrome (LCCS), a severe motoneuron disease leading to prenatal death before the 32nd gestational week. LCCS fetuses are immobile because of a motoneuron defect, seen as degeneration of the anterior horn and descending tracts of the developing spinal cord. The genetic defect for the syndrome is unknown. We show that NPCs isolated postmortem from LCCS fetuses grow and are maintained in culture, but display increased cell cycle activity. Global transcript analysis of undifferentiated LCCS precursor cells present with changes in EGF-related signaling when compared with healthy age-matched human controls. Further, we show that LCCS-derived NPCs differentiate into cells of neuronal and glial lineage and that the initial differentiation is not accompanied by overt apoptosis. Cells expressing markers Islet-1 and Hb9 are also generated from the LCCS NPCs, suggesting that the pathogenic mechanism of LCCS does not directly affect the differentiation capacity or survival of the cells, but the absence of motoneurons in LCCS may be caused by a noncell autonomous mechanism.

Characteristics of lentiviral vectors harboring the proximal promoter of the vav proto-oncogene: a weak and efficient promoter for gene therapy

Recent published data have shown the efficacy of gene therapy treatments of certain monogenic diseases. Risks of insertional oncogenesis, however, indicate the necessity of developing new vectors with weaker or cell-restricted promoters to minimize the trans-activation activity of integrated proviruses. We have inserted the proximal promoter of the vav proto-oncogene into self-inactivating lentiviral vectors (vav-LVs) and investigated the expression pattern and therapeutic efficacy of these vectors. Compared with other LVs frequently used in gene therapy, vav-LVs mediated a weak, though homogeneous and stable, expression in in vitro-cultured cells. Transplantation experiments using transduced mouse bone marrow and human CD34(+) cells confirmed the stable activity of the promoter in vivo. To investigate whether the weak activity of this promoter was compatible with a therapeutic effect, a LV expressing the Fanconi anemia A (FANCA) gene was constructed (vav-FANCA LV). Although this vector induced a low expression of FANCA, compared to the expression induced by a LV harboring the spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) promoter, the two vectors corrected the phenotype of cells from a patient with FA-A with the same efficacy. We propose that self-inactivating vectors harboring weak promoters, such as the vav promoter, will improve the safety of gene therapy and will be of particular interest for the treatment of diseases where a high expression of the transgene is not required.

The granulocyte receptor carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 3 (CEACAM3) directly associates with Vav to promote phagocytosis of human pathogens

The human granulocyte-specific receptor carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM)3 is critically involved in the opsonin-independent recognition of several bacterial pathogens. CEACAM3-mediated phagocytosis depends on the integrity of an ITAM-like sequence within the cytoplasmic domain of CEACAM3 and is characterized by rapid stimulation of the GTPase Rac. By performing a functional screen with CEACAM3-expressing cells, we found that overexpression of a dominant-negative form of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vav, but not the dominant-negative versions SWAP70, Dock2, or ELMO1 interfered with CEACAM3-initiated phagocytosis. Moreover, small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of Vav reduced uptake and abrogated the stimulation of Rac in response to bacterial CEACAM3 engagement. In Vav1/Vav2-deficient cells, CEACAM3-mediated internalization was only observed after re-expression of Vav. Vav colocalized with CEACAM3 upon bacterial infection, coimmunoprecipitated in a complex with CEACAM3, and the Vav Src homology 2 domain directly associated with phosphorylated Tyr(230) of CEACAM3. In primary human granulocytes, TAT-mediated transduction of dominant-negative Vav, but not SWAP70, severely impaired the uptake of CEACAM3-binding bacteria. These data support the view that, different from canonical ITAM signaling, the CEACAM3 ITAM-like sequence short-wires bacterial recognition and Rac stimulation via a direct association with Vav to promote rapid phagocytosis and elimination of CEACAM-binding human pathogens.

Pharmacogenomics and the Yin/Yang actions of ginseng: anti-tumor, angiomodulating and steroid-like activities of ginsenosides

In Chinese medicine, ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) has long been used as a general tonic or an adaptogen to promote longevity and enhance bodily functions. It has also been claimed to be effective in combating stress, fatigue, oxidants, cancer and diabetes mellitus. Most of the pharmacological actions of ginseng are attributed to one type of its constituents, namely the ginsenosides. In this review, we focus on the recent advances in the study of ginsenosides on angiogenesis which is related to many pathological conditions including tumor progression and cardiovascular dysfunctions. Angiogenesis in the human body is regulated by two sets of counteracting factors, angiogenic stimulators and inhibitors. The 'Yin and Yang' action of ginseng on angiomodulation was paralleled by the experimental data showing angiogenesis was indeed related to the compositional ratio between ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1. Rg1 was later found to stimulate angiogenesis through augmenting the production of nitric oxide (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Mechanistic studies revealed that such responses were mediated through the PI3K-->Akt pathway. By means of DNA microarray, a group of genes related to cell adhesion, migration and cytoskeleton were found to be up-regulated in endothelial cells. These gene products may interact in a hierarchical cascade pattern to modulate cell architectural dynamics which is concomitant to the observed phenomena in angiogenesis. By contrast, the anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects of ginsenosides (e.g. Rg3 and Rh2) have been demonstrated in various models of tumor and endothelial cells, indicating that ginsenosides with opposing activities are present in ginseng. Ginsenosides and Panax ginseng extracts have been shown to exert protective effects on vascular dysfunctions, such as hypertension, atherosclerotic disorders and ischemic injury. Recent work has demonstrates the target molecules of ginsenosides to be a group of nuclear steroid hormone receptors. These lines of evidence support that the interaction between ginsenosides and various nuclear steroid hormone receptors may explain the diverse pharmacological activities of ginseng. These findings may also lead to development of more efficacious ginseng-derived therapeutics for angiogenesis-related diseases.

Enhanced cardiac allograft survival by Vav1-Rac signaling blockade in a mouse model

BACKGROUND

Vav1-Rac signaling plays a pivotal role in TCR/antigen and CD28 signals for T cell activation. However, pharmacological interference of this signaling has not been tested in the prevention of alloimmune-mediated allograft rejection. It has been demonstrated that 6-thio-GTP, a metabolite of azathioprine, specifically inhibits Vav1-Rac activity in T lymphocytes. Here we show the immunosuppressive efficacy of 6-thio-GTP in the prevention of cardiac allograft rejection.

METHODS

T cell proliferations were measured by (3)H-thymidine uptake. The immunosuppressive activities of 6-thio-GTP were tested in the cardiac allograft model of C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) to Balb/c (H-2(d)) mice.

RESULTS

6-Thio-GTP inhibited TCR/alloantigen stimulated T cell proliferation and CD28-dependent T cell survival. Administration of 6-thio-GTP (0.5 mg/kg) prolonged graft survival to 13.8+/-2.39 days compared to 8.3+/-0.48 days in PBS controls (p<0.0001). Combination of 6-thio-GTP (0.5 mg/kg) with CsA (15 mg/kg) enhanced graft survival from 15.0+/-1.61 days in CsA treated recipients to 36.8+/-2.17 days in those received 20 days of combination therapy of CsA and 6-thio-GTP (p<0.0001), or to 42.7+/-16.63 days in the group treated with 20 days of CsA and 60 days of 6-thio-GTP (p<0.0001). Lymphocytes from 6-thio-GTP treated recipients with long-term surviving grafts (>60 days) displayed reduced proliferative response to alloantigen and higher frequencies of regulatory T cells (Treg).

CONCLUSION

Vav1-Rac inhibitor 6-thio-GTP prolongs allograft survival alone or in combination with CsA by suppression of alloreactive T cell activation. Our findings suggest the therapeutic potential of pharmacological interference of Vav1-Rac signaling for transplantation.

Prostaglandins PGE(2) and PGI(2) promote endothelial barrier enhancement via PKA- and Epac1/Rap1-dependent Rac activation

Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and prostacyclin are lipid mediators produced by cyclooxygenase and implicated in the regulation of vascular function, wound repair, inflammatory processes, and acute lung injury. Although protective effects of these prostaglandins (PGs) are associated with stimulation of intracellular cAMP production, the crosstalk between cAMP-activated signal pathways in the regulation of endothelial cell (EC) permeability is not well understood. We studied involvement of cAMP-dependent kinase (PKA), cAMP-Epac-Rap1 pathway, and small GTPase Rac in the PGs-induced EC barrier protective effects and cytoskeletal remodeling. PGE(2) and PGI(2) synthetic analog beraprost increased transendothelial electrical resistance and decreased dextran permeability, enhanced peripheral F-actin rim and increased intercellular adherens junction areas reflecting EC barrier-protective response. Furthermore, beraprost dramatically attenuated thrombin-induced Rho activation, MLC phosphorylation and EC barrier dysfunction. In vivo, beraprost attenuated lung barrier dysfunction induced by high tidal volume mechanical ventilation. Both PGs caused cAMP-mediated activation of PKA-, Epac/Rap1- and Tiam1/Vav2-dependent pathways of Rac1 activation and EC barrier regulation. Knockdown of Epac, Rap1, Rac-specific exchange factors Tiam1 and Vav2 using siRNA approach, or inhibition of PKA activity decreased Rac1 activation and PG-induced EC barrier enhancement. Thus, our results show that barrier-protective effects of PGE(2) and prostacyclin on pulmonary EC are mediated by PKA and Epac/Rap pathways, which converge on Rac activation and lead to enhancement of peripheral actin cytoskeleton and adherens junctions. These mechanisms may mediate protective effects of PGs against agonist-induced lung vascular barrier dysfunction in vitro and against mechanical stress-induced lung injury in vivo.

T-cell signaling pathways inhibited by the tick saliva immunosuppressor, Salp15

The Ixodes scapularis salivary protein Salp15 inhibits the activation of T cells through its interaction with the coreceptor CD4. Salp15 prevents the activation of Lck upon TCR engagement and the formation of lipid rafts. We have now analyzed the signaling pathways that are inhibited by the tick salivary protein in CD4(+) T cells. Salp15 affects tyrosine phosphorylation of several early signal components downstream of Lck, including LAT and Vav1, which results in improper actin polymerization. The effect of Salp15 is due to its interaction with CD4, as no effect was observed in CD4-negative T cells. Finally, we demonstrate that the peptide that mediates the interaction of Salp15 with CD4, P11, is able to recapitulate the immunosuppressive activity of the whole protein. These results clarify the molecular mechanisms of action of Salp15 on T cells and suggest that binding to CD4 is sufficient to elicit its immunosuppressive effect.

Oncogenic re-wiring of cellular signaling pathways

Signaling pathways in mammalian cells are assembled and regulated by a finely controlled network of protein-protein and protein-phospholipid interactions, mediated by dedicated signaling domains and their cognate binding motifs. The domain-based modular architecture of signaling proteins may have facilitated the evolution of complex biological systems, and can be exploited experimentally to generate synthetic signaling pathways and artificial mechanisms of autoregulation. Pathogenic proteins, such as those encoded by bacteria and viruses, frequently form ectopic signaling complexes to respecify cellular behavior. In a similar fashion, proteins expressed as a consequence of oncogenic fusions, mutations or amplifications can elicit ectopic protein-protein interactions that re-wire signaling pathways, in a fashion that promotes malignancy. Compounds that directly or indirectly reverse these aberrant interactions offer new possibilities for therapy in cancer.

Vav family proteins are required for optimal regulation of PLCgamma2 by integrin alphaIIbbeta3

Vav proteins belong to the family of guanine-nucleotide-exchange factors for the Rho/Rac family of small G-proteins. In addition, they serve as important adapter proteins for the activation of PLCgamma (phospholipase Cgamma) isoforms by ITAM (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif) receptors, including the platelet collagen receptor GPVI (glycoprotein VI). Vav proteins are also regulated downstream of integrins, including the major platelet integrin alphaIIbbeta3, which has recently been shown to regulate PLCgamma2. In the present study, we have investigated the role of Vav family proteins in filopodia and lamellipodia formation on fibrinogen using platelets deficient in Vav1 and Vav3. Wild-type mouse platelets undergo a limited degree of spreading on fibrinogen, characterized by the formation of numerous filopodia and limited lamellipodia structures. Platelets deficient in Vav1 and Vav3 exhibit reduced filopodia and lamellipodia formation during spreading on fibrinogen. This is accompanied by reduced alphaIIbbeta3-mediated PLCgamma2 tyrosine phosphorylation and reduced Ca(2+) mobilization. In contrast, the G-protein agonist thrombin stimulates full spreading of control and Vav1/3-deficient platelets. Consistent with this, stimulation of F-actin (filamentous actin) formation and Rac activation by thrombin is not altered in Vav-deficient cells. These results demonstrate that Vav1 and Vav3 are required for optimal spreading and regulation of PLCgamma2 by integrin alphaIIbbeta3, but that their requirement is by-passed upon G-protein receptor activation.

Loss of Vav2 proto-oncogene causes tachycardia and cardiovascular disease in mice

The Vav family is a group of signal transduction molecules that activate Rho/Rac GTPases during cell signaling. Experiments using knockout mice have indicated that the three Vav proteins present in mammals (Vav1, Vav2, and Vav3) are essential for proper signaling responses in hematopoietic cells. However, Vav2 and Vav3 are also highly expressed in nonhematopoietic tissues, suggesting that they may have additional functions outside blood cells. Here, we report that this is the case for Vav2, because the disruption of its locus in mice causes tachycardia, hypertension, and defects in the heart, arterial walls, and kidneys. We also provide physiological and pharmacological evidence demonstrating that the hypertensive condition of Vav2-deficient mice is due to a chronic stimulation of the renin/angiotensin II and sympathetic nervous systems. Together, these results indicate that Vav2 plays crucial roles in the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis in mice.