Negative regulation of G1 in mammalian cells: inhibition of cyclin E-dependent kinase by TGF-beta

Early progression of thymocytes along the CD4/CD8 developmental pathway is regulated by a subset of thymic epithelial cells expressing transforming growth factor beta

Precursor cells differentiate into mature CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the inductive environment of the thymus by undergoing a series of distinct developmental steps marked by expression of the coreceptor molecules CD4 and CD8. Among the earliest cells to enter the CD4/CD8 developmental pathway are CD4-CD8lo precursors cells that differentiate into CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. Here we show that differentiation of precursor cells into CD4+CD8+ thymocytes requires at least one cell division and that their progression through a cell cycle is specifically retarded in the thymus by interaction with thymic epithelial cells that express transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) proteins. We also demonstrate that TGF-beta proteins, either in solution or bound to cell membranes, can regulate cell cycle progression and differentiation of CD4-CD8lo precursor cells into CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. The regulatory effect of TGF-beta is specific for CD4-CD8lo precursor cells as TGF-beta proteins do not regulate the earlier generation of CD4-CD8lo precursor cells from CD4-CD8- thymocytes. Finally, we demonstrate that TGF-beta proteins are expressed in vivo in the intact thymus on subcapsular and cortical thymic epithelium where they can contact developing CD4-CD8lo precursor cells. Thus, thymic epithelial cells expressing TGF-beta proteins can actively regulate the rate at which CD4+CD8+ thymocytes are generated from CD4-CD8lo precursor cells.

TGF-beta promotes proliferation of cultured SMC via both PDGF-AA-dependent and PDGF-AA-independent mechanisms

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) has been implicated in mediating smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth after vascular injury. Studies examining TGF-beta-induced growth of cultured SMC have identified only modest mitogenic effects which are largely dependent on autocrine production of platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA). Recent studies have suggested, however, that TGF-beta also may have delayed growth effects independent of PDGF-AA. The aims of the present studies were to examine the effects of TGF-beta on chronic growth responses of cultured SMC. Results demonstrated that TGF-beta elicited a delayed growth response (24 fold increase in 3H-TdR incorp. from 48-72 h) and enhanced SMC production of PDGF-AA (eightfold increase at 24 h). Neutralizing antibodies to PDGF-AA, however, inhibited only 10-40% of delayed TGF-beta-induced growth. Co-treatment with TGF-beta transiently delayed epidermal growth factor (EGF)-, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-, or PDGF-BB-induced entry into S phase but enhanced the delayed growth responses to these growth factors by 16.0-, 5.8-, or 4.2-fold, respectively. Neutralizing antibodies to PDGF-AA had no effect on these synergistic responses and exogenous PDGF-AA did not increase growth responses to EGF, bFGF, or PDGF-BB. In summary, TGF-beta induces marked delayed growth responses, alone and in combination with EGF, bFGF or PDGF-BB, that are largely independent of PDGF-AA.

Mechanism of inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse B-cell responses by transforming growth factor-beta 1

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) is a pleiotropic cytokine which inhibits growth of many cell types and positively or negatively regulates the production of Ig isotypes. By using mouse resting B cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we investigated whether the effect of TGF beta 1 on Ig production is related to its effect on cell growth. We show that low doses of TGF beta 1 stimulate IgG3 and IgG2b production whereas higher doses inhibit IgM, IgG3, IgG1 and IgG2b secretion and cell proliferation. TGF beta 1 titration curves and kinetics experiments suggested that the inhibitory effect on Ig secretion and B-cell growth are closely related. We defined the phase at which TGF beta 1 exerts its anti-proliferative effect on mouse B cells. TGF beta 1 does not modify the increase in expression of class II antigens which occurs before transition from G0 to G1. However, it partially inhibits the induction of expression of low-affinity Fc gamma RII and cell enlargement which both begin during the early G1 phase, and it totally blocks induction of the expression of transferrin receptors, a marker of the late G1 phase. Thus, TGF beta 1 blocks LPS-stimulated mouse B cells in the early G1 phase, and this results in inhibition of Ig production.

Cyclin E controls S phase progression and its down-regulation during Drosophila embryogenesis is required for the arrest of cell proliferation

Most cells of the dorsal epidermis exit from the mitotic cycle after division 16 in Drosophila embryogenesis. This exit is dependent on the down-regulation of Drosophila cyclin E (DmcycE) during the final mitotic cycle. Ectopic expression of DmcycE after the final mitosis induces entry into S phase and reaccumulation of G2 cyclins and results in progression through a complete additional cell cycle. Conversely, analyses in DmcycE mutant embryos indicate that cyclin E is required for progression through S phase of the mitotic cycle. Moreover, endoreplication, which occurs in late wild-type embryos in the same pattern as DmcycE expression, is not observed in the mutant embryos. Therefore, Drosophila cyclin E, which forms a complex with the Dmcdc2c kinase, controls progression through S phase and its down-regulation limits embryonic proliferation.

Intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury is inhibited by antisense cdk 2 kinase oligonucleotides

The cell cycle regulatory enzyme, cdk (cyclin-dependent kinase) 2 kinase, is activated in the rat carotid artery after balloon angioplasty injury, and may mediate smooth muscle proliferation. To test the hypothesis that inhibition of the expression of this key enzyme can inhibit intimal hyperplasia, we studied the effect of antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) against cdk 2 kinase administered by intraluminal delivery using hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposome-mediated transfer. The specificity of antisense cdk 2 ODN was confirmed by the observation that mRNA level of cdk 2 kinase in injured vessels was markedly diminished by the antisense ODN treatment. At 2 wk after transfection, antisense cdk 2 ODN treatment (15 microM) resulted in a significant inhibition (60%) in neointima formation, compared with sense ODN-treated and untreated vessels. Since we have previously observed that cell division cycle 2 kinase mRNA was also activated after vascular injury, we administered the combination of antisense cdc 2 and cdk 2 ODN in this study. Antisense cdc 2 ODN alone (15 microM) only reduced intimal formation by 40%. Combined antisense treatment resulted in near complete inhibition of neointima formation. To understand the mechanism of the sustained effect of a single antisense ODN administration, we examined kinetics of ODN in the vessel wall. Using phosphorothioate FITC-labeled ODN, we transfected carotid artery using the HVJ-liposome method. Fluorescence localized immediately to the medial layer, and persisted up to 2 wk after transfection. These results demonstrate that a single intraluminal administration of antisense ODN directed to cell cycle regulatory genes (e.g., cdk 2 kinase) using the HVJ method can result in a sustained inhibition of neointima formation after balloon angioplasty in rat carotid injury model.

Cell cycle: regulatory events in G1-->S transition of mammalian cells

A cell divides into two daughter cells by progressing serially through the precisely controlled G1, S, G2, and M phases of the cell cycle. The crossing of the G1/S border, which is marked by the initiation of DNA synthesis, represents commitment to division into two complete cells. Beyond this critical point no further external signals are required. We now have more comprehensive knowledge of the temporal sequence of systems at this key transition from G1 to S--growth factor responses, a cascade of kinase reactions, activation of cyclins and their associated kinases, and oncogene and tumor suppressor gene products. Furthermore, we know that the absolute requirement for calcium and the timing of events associated with calmodulin and the 68 kDa calmodulin-binding protein are consistent with overall Ca++/calmodulin control of all steps from the response to growth factors in G1 to DNA replication in S phase. We now have to sort out the inter-relationships of myriad control proteins and their relation to the Ca++/calmodulin-dependent controls--Which are causes? Which are effects? And which are parallel processes? The answers will be important, as they represent both a much deeper understanding of this key process of life and an important opportunity for improving therapeutic medicine.

D-type cyclin-dependent kinase activity in mammalian cells

D-type cyclin-dependent kinase activities have not so far been detected in mammalian cells. Lysis of rodent fibroblasts, mouse macrophages, or myeloid cells with Tween 20 followed by precipitation with antibodies to cyclins D1, D2, and D3 or to their major catalytic partner, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4), yielded kinase activities in immune complexes which readily phosphorylated the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) but not histone H1 or casein. Virtually all cyclin D1-dependent kinase activity in proliferating macrophages and fibroblasts could be attributed to cdk4. When quiescent cells were stimulated by growth factors to enter the cell cycle, cyclin D1-dependent kinase activity was first detected in mid G1, reached a maximum near the G1/S transition, and remained elevated in proliferating cells. The rate of appearance of kinase activity during G1 phase lagged significantly behind cyclin induction and correlated with the more delayed accumulation of cdk4 and formation of cyclin D1-cdk4 complexes. Thus, cyclin D1-associated kinase activity was not detected during the G0-to-G1 transition, which occurs within the first few hours following growth factor stimulation. Rodent fibroblasts engineered to constitutively overexpress either cyclin D1 alone or cyclin D3 together with cdk4 exhibited greatly elevated cyclin D-dependent kinase activity, which remained absent in quiescent cells but rose to supraphysiologic levels as cells progressed through G1. Therefore, despite continued enforced overproduction of cyclins and cdk4, the assembly of cyclin D-cdk4 complexes and the appearance of their kinase activities remained dependent upon serum stimulation, indicating that upstream regulators must govern formation of the active enzymes.

D-type cyclin-dependent kinase activity in mammalian cells

D-type cyclin-dependent kinase activities have not so far been detected in mammalian cells. Lysis of rodent fibroblasts, mouse macrophages, or myeloid cells with Tween 20 followed by precipitation with antibodies to cyclins D1, D2, and D3 or to their major catalytic partner, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4), yielded kinase activities in immune complexes which readily phosphorylated the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) but not histone H1 or casein. Virtually all cyclin D1-dependent kinase activity in proliferating macrophages and fibroblasts could be attributed to cdk4. When quiescent cells were stimulated by growth factors to enter the cell cycle, cyclin D1-dependent kinase activity was first detected in mid G1, reached a maximum near the G1/S transition, and remained elevated in proliferating cells. The rate of appearance of kinase activity during G1 phase lagged significantly behind cyclin induction and correlated with the more delayed accumulation of cdk4 and formation of cyclin D1-cdk4 complexes. Thus, cyclin D1-associated kinase activity was not detected during the G0-to-G1 transition, which occurs within the first few hours following growth factor stimulation. Rodent fibroblasts engineered to constitutively overexpress either cyclin D1 alone or cyclin D3 together with cdk4 exhibited greatly elevated cyclin D-dependent kinase activity, which remained absent in quiescent cells but rose to supraphysiologic levels as cells progressed through G1. Therefore, despite continued enforced overproduction of cyclins and cdk4, the assembly of cyclin D-cdk4 complexes and the appearance of their kinase activities remained dependent upon serum stimulation, indicating that upstream regulators must govern formation of the active enzymes.

Escape from the antiproliferative effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) usually inhibits proliferation of epithelial cells. We find that LLC-PK1 renal tubular epithelial cells develop rapid in vitro resistance to the inhibitory effects of TGF-beta 1 and subsequently proliferate in response to TGF-beta 1. This unique response to TGF-beta 1 is not observed in another renal tubular epithelial cell line (MDCK cells). The proliferative response to TGF-beta 1 is additive to that produced by other growth factors. The proliferative response to TGF-beta 1 occurs despite an effect of TGF-beta 1 to suppress epidermal growth factor stimulated c-myc mRNA as determined by Northern analyses. These results suggest that LLC-PK1 cells develop rapid resistance to TGF-beta 1 inhibition of proliferation in vitro and that this resistance occurs despite continued suppression of c-myc mRNA.

The cell cycle and the retinoblastoma protein family

Tumor formation results from alterations in the control of normal cell proliferation. To further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the deregulation of cell proliferation much attention, over the past decade, has been focused on the function of proto-oncogenes. Cellular oncogenes are thought to be growth promoting. More recently, a class of genes known as tumor suppressors have come under intense study. Tumor suppressors are largely thought to restrain cell proliferation. The retinoblastoma protein (Rb) is one of a growing list of tumor suppressors. Concurrent with the study of tumor suppressor genes has been a rapid increase in our understanding of the cell cycle at the molecular level. Rb and a related protein p107 are involved in the processes of cell proliferation and differentiation. Each functionally interacts with and affects the activity of the transcription factor E2F as well as other transcription factors involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. Additionally, Rb and p107 are modified by, and/or form specific complexes with, several elements of the basic cell cycle machinery. Specifically, Rb and p107 interact with and are modified by various cyclins and cyclin dependent kinases (cdk), some of which have been shown to be essential for cell cycle progression and in some cases their deregulation has been implicated in the development of cancer. This review will attempt to convey our current functional and mechanistic understanding of the biological roles Rb and p107 play in proliferation, development and differentiation. A knowledge of the interplay between these positive and negative regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation, noted above, is central to our understanding of human cancer.

Tumor suppressor genes

The mutation of tumor suppressor genes is thought to contribute to tumor growth by inactivating proteins that normally act to limit cell proliferation. Several tumor suppressor proteins have been identified in recent years, but only two of them, p53 and pRb, are understood in detail. In the past year, a role has become apparent for both of these proteins in transcription and phosphorylation events required for passage of a cell from G1 to S phase. The pRb protein appears to prevent the function of transcription factors and other proteins needed for S phase until its inactivation by cyclin-dependent kinases in late G1. Induction of p53 by DNA damage may act to cause cell cycle arrest or cell death by altering the transcription program of damaged cells. A detailed molecular understanding of these growth regulators is now emerging, and is the subject of this review.

Regulation of cell proliferation and growth by angiotensin II

The peptide hormone angiotensin II (AngII) has clearly defined physiologic roles as a regulator of vasomotor tone and fluid homeostasis. In addition AngII has trophic or mitogenic effects on a variety of target tissues, including vascular smooth muscle and adrenal cells. More recent data indicate that AngII exhibits many characteristics of the 'classical' peptide growth factors such as EGF/TGF alpha, PDGF and IGF-1. These include the capacity for local generation ('autocrine or paracrine' action) and the ability to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation, to activate MAP kinases and to increase expression of nuclear proto-oncogenes. The type 1 AngII receptor, which is responsible for all known physiologic actions of AngII, has been cloned. Activation of this receptor leads to elevated phosphoinositide hydrolysis, mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ and diacylglycerol, and activation of Ca2+/calmodulin and Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent Ser/Thr kinases, as well as Ca2+ regulated tyrosine kinases. The existence of other AngII receptor subtypes has been postulated, but the function(s) of these sites remains unclear. In vascular smooth muscle, AngII can promote cellular hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia, depending in part on the patterns of induction of secondary factors that are known to stimulate (PDGF, IGF-1, basic FGF) or inhibit (TGF-beta) mitosis. Together, these findings have suggested that AngII plays important roles in both the normal development and pathophysiology of vascular, cardiac, renal and central nervous system tissues.

p27Kip1, a cyclin-Cdk inhibitor, links transforming growth factor-beta and contact inhibition to cell cycle arrest

Cell-cell contact and TGF-beta can arrest the cell cycle in G1. Mv1Lu mink epithelial cells arrested by either mechanism are incapable of assembling active complexes containing the G1 cyclin, cyclin E, and its catalytic subunit, Cdk2. These growth inhibitory signals block Cdk2 activation by raising the threshold level of cyclin E necessary to activate Cdk2. In arrested cells the threshold is set higher than physiological cyclin E levels and is determined by an inhibitor that binds to cyclin E-Cdk2 complexes. A 27-kD protein that binds to and prevents the activation of cyclin E-Cdk2 complexes can be purified from arrested cells but not from proliferating cells, using cyclin E-Cdk2 affinity chromatography. p27 is present in proliferating cells, but it is sequestered and unavailable to interact with cyclin E-Cdk2 complexes. Cyclin D2-Cdk4 complexes bind competitively to and down-regulate the activity of p27 and may thereby act in a pathway that reverses Cdk2 inhibition and enables G1 progression.

Altered regulation of G1 cyclins in senescent human diploid fibroblasts: accumulation of inactive cyclin E-Cdk2 and cyclin D1-Cdk2 complexes

Senescent human diploid fibroblasts are unable to enter S phase in response to mitogenic stimulation. One of the key deficiencies in mitogen-stimulated senescent cells is their failure to phosphorylate the retinoblastoma protein, which acts as an inhibitor of entry into S phase in its unphosphorylated form. Recent data suggest that cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) regulated by G1 cyclins (D type and E) are responsible for the primary phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein prior to the G1/S boundary. Surprisingly, we found 10- to 15-fold higher constitutive amounts of both cyclin E and cyclin D1 in senescent cells compared to quiescent early-passage cells. Nevertheless, cyclin E-associated kinase activity in senescent cells was very low and did not increase significantly upon mitogenic stimulation even though cyclin E-Cdk2 complexes were abundant. In contrast to early-passage cells in late G1 phase, senescent cells contained mainly underphosphorylated cyclin E and proportionally more unphosphorylated and inactive Cdk2, perhaps accounting for the low kinase activity. We also show that a majority of the Cdk2 in senescent cells, but not in early-passage cells, was complexed with cyclin D1. Cyclin D1-Cdk2 complexes, severalfold enriched in senescent cells, contained exclusively unphosphorylated Cdk2. Amounts of cyclin A, which ordinarily accumulates in S and G2 phases, were extremely low in stimulated senescent cells. We suggest that the failure to activate cyclin E-Cdk2 kinase activity in senescent cells may account for the inability of these cells to phosphorylate the retinoblastoma protein in late G1 phase, which in turn may block the expression of late G1 genes such as cyclin A that are required for entry into S phase.

RNA fingerprinting using arbitrarily primed PCR identifies differentially regulated RNAs in mink lung (Mv1Lu) cells growth arrested by transforming growth factor beta 1

RNA fingerprinting using arbitrarily primed PCR (RAP) samples an RNA population and allows the detection of differentially expressed genes between two or more populations. This method was applied to mink lung epithelial cells, which respond to treatment with transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) by undergoing cell cycle arrest at or near the G1/S-phase boundary. The steady-state abundances of approximately 200 RNAs were surveyed, a few of which displayed differential regulation in response to TGF-beta 1. Three products were isolated, cloned, and sequenced. One differentially regulated RNA corresponded to cyclin A, a gene known to be required for the progression of mammalian fibroblasts through S phase. Northern blot analysis confirmed that the cyclin A mRNA steady-state abundance decreased dramatically in response to a 24-hr TGF-beta 1 treatment and also in response to cell cycle arrest caused by contact inhibition. A second RAP product corresponded to a previously unknown 7.5-kb mRNA, the level of which decreased dramatically in response to TGF-beta 1 treatment. Unlike the cyclin A mRNA, the abundance of this transcript did not decrease in response to growth arrest induced by contact inhibition. A third RAP product corresponded to the mRNA for osteonectin, an extracellular matrix protein. The abundance of this mRNA increased at least 2-fold during TGF-beta 1 treatment. This observation is consistent with other reports of increases in extracellular matrix proteins during TGF-beta treatment. RAP should be able to identify many of the genes that change in steady-state expression during the cell cycle.

Transforming growth factor-beta in cardiac ontogeny and adaptation

The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily comprises a set of regulatory peptides with multiple effects on cell growth and differentiation. The elaborate regulation of TGF-beta s during embryonic development of the heart, the upregulation of TGF-beta after hemodynamic stress, and the impact of TGF-beta on cardiac gene expression together imply a prominent functional role for this family of growth factors in cardiac organogenesis and hypertrophy. Basal and TGF-beta-induced expression of skeletal alpha-actin, one of several genes specifically associated with developing or hypertrophied myocardium, each are contingent on transcriptional activation by serum response factor. A truncated form of the type II TGF-beta receptor, created by deletion of the cytoplasmic kinase domain, acts as a dominant suppressor of TGF-beta signal transduction in cultured cardiac muscle cells and may provide a suitable means to establish the functions of TGF-beta in vivo.

Transforming growth factor beta effects on expression of G1 cyclins and cyclin-dependent protein kinases

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a potent growth-inhibitory polypeptide. The mechanism of TGF-beta 1 inhibition has been related to its ability to prevent the hyperphosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Several lines of evidence have suggested that cell cycle-regulated protein kinases are responsible for the hyperphosphorylation of pRb. We demonstrate here that TGF-beta 1 has profound effects on the expression of genes encoding certain G1 cyclins and their associated kinases, which provides one explanation of TGF-beta 1 effects on pRb hyperphosphorylation. These results also suggest that the growth-inhibitory effects of TGF-beta 1 in many cells are attributable to its effects on the cell cycle apparatus involved in programming G1 transit.

TGF beta inhibition of Cdk4 synthesis is linked to cell cycle arrest

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) causes G1 growth arrest and the accumulation of unphosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (Rb) in responsive cells. Cdk4 (cyclin-dependent kinase), a major catalytic subunit of the mammalian D-type G1 cyclins, can phosphorylate Rb in vitro, and at least one D-type cyclin, D2, directs the phosphorylation of Rb in vivo. Here we show that TGF beta 1 induces suppression of cdk4 synthesis in G1 in mink lung epithelial cells. Constitutive cdk4 synthesis in these cells led to TGF beta 1 resistance. It also resulted in growth in low serum medium when these cells were released from contact inhibition. Cdk2 activity was also suppressed by TGF beta 1 action, but its constitutive expression failed to override a TGF beta 1-induced G1 block. Hence, the TGF beta 1 block is primarily mediated by cdk4 modulation. Further evidence suggests that TGF beta 1-induced down-modulation of cdk4 leads to inhibition of cdk2 activation and that both events might contribute to TGF beta 1 growth suppression.

Correlation between the growth-inhibitory effect of TGF-beta 1 and phenotypic characteristics in a panel of B-cell lines

Human B-cell lines established from Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and normal B cells immortalized in vitro by EBV (LCLs) differ in phenotype. While the BL correspond to resting B cells, the LCLs resemble activated B cells. When BLs which have the EBV genome are carried in vitro, they acquire some of the features of LCLs, such as expression of B-cell activation markers and the tendency to form aggregates. Comparison of several B-cell lines for sensitivity to TGF-beta showed that the growth of BLs (with few exceptions), but not of the LCLs, was inhibited. The results suggested that the sensitivity to TGF-beta correlates with the cellular phenotype. In the present work, this assumption is even more critically substantiated by studying 2 sublines of an EBV-genome carrying BL line, Mutu, which were selected for single cells and aggregates. The former (with resting phenotype) was inhibited, while the subline of aggregated cells, which also expressed B-cell activation markers, was not inhibited. Somatic-cell hybrids between BLs, LCLs and non-B cells provided lines with phenotypic differences. Results with a panel of such hybrid lines also showed that those which express the activated B-cell phenotype are not inhibited by TGF-beta. Differences in the levels of expression of activation markers did not influence the response to TGF-beta.

Mutations at the murine motheaten locus are within the hematopoietic cell protein-tyrosine phosphatase (Hcph) gene

Mice homozygous for the recessive allelic mutation motheaten (me) or viable motheaten (mev) on chromosome 6 develop severe defects in hematopoiesis. In this paper we present the findings that the me and mev mutations are within the hematopoietic cell protein-tyrosine phosphatase (Hcph) gene. High resolution mapping localized me to an area tightly linked to Hcph on chromosome 6. Abnormalities of the Hcph protein product were demonstrated by Western blot analysis and by activity assays in both me/me and mev/mev mice. Molecular analysis of the Hcph cDNA identified abnormal transcripts in both mutants. DNA sequence analyses of cDNA and genomic clones revealed that both the me and mev mutations are point mutations that result in aberrant splicing of the Hcph transcript. These findings provide the first available animal models for a specific protein-tyrosine phosphatase deficiency, thus facilitating determination of the precise role of this signaling molecule in hematopoiesis.