Inhibition of epidermal growth factor-induced mitogenesis in bovine granulosa cells by trifluoperazine

Consideration of use of phenothiazines in particular trifluorperazine for epidermal growth factor receptor associated cancers

Papers from a generation ago suggested that phenothiazines--in particular trifluorperazine (Stelazine) a medicinal approved by the FDA and still commonly used for schizophrenia--downregulate the epidermal growth factor receptor. As numerous cancers--e.g., colon cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma--are dependent on signaling via this receptor, we here suggest that phenothiazines such as trifluorperazine be considered for use in epidermal growth factor receptor associated cancers.

The role of calcium in the cell cycle: facts and hypotheses

The regulation of cell cycle progression is a complex process which involves kinase cascades, protease action, production of second messengers and other operations. Increasing evidence now compellingly suggests that changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration may also have a crucial role. Ca2+ transients occur at the awakening from quiescence, at the G/S transition, during S-phase, and at the exit from mitosis. They may lead to the activation of Ca2+ binding proteins like S-100, but the key decoder of the Ca2+ signals in the cycle is calmodulin. Activation of calmodulin leads to the stimulation of protein kinases, i.e., CaM-kinase II, and of the CaM-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin. Ample evidence now indicates the G/S transition, the progression from G2 to M, and the metaphase/anaphase transition as specific points of intervention of CaM-kinase II. Another attractive possibility for the role of Ca2+ in the cycle is through the activation of the Ca(2+)-dependent protease calpain: other proteases (e.g., the proteasome) have been suggested to be responsible for the degradation of some of cyclins, which is essential to the progression of the cycle. One of the cyclins, however, (D1) is instead degraded by calpain, which has been shown to promote both mitosis and meiosis when injected into somatic cells or oocytes.

Increased calmodulin affects cell morphology and mRNA levels of cytoskeletal protein genes

We have previously described stable mouse C127 cell lines in which a CaM mini-gene has been expressed in a bovine papilloma virus-based expression vector (Rasmussen and Means: EMBO J. 6:3961-3968, 1987). Elevation of CaM to levels five-fold higher than in control cells caused an acceleration in cell cycle progression by reducing the length of the G1 period. When these cell lines were originally isolated it was observed that cells in which CaM levels were increased had a flattened morphology. In this study we have examined the localization of actin, vimentin, and tubulin in these cells as compared to the BPV-transformed control cell line in order to determine if changes in shape were accompanied by differences in the cytoskeletal organization. Cell-cycle-dependent changes in the levels of mRNAs for histone H4, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, beta-actin, vimentin, and beta-tubulin have also been examined. Our results indicate that increased CaM causes differences in the organization of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules and that these changes are accompanied by selective differences in the cell-cycle-dependent expression of some mRNAs. Elevated CaM was also correlated with a reduced stability of beta-tubulin mRNA. These studies indicate that CaM has pleiotropic effects on cell function and suggest that stable cell lines with altered CaM levels may provide a useful model system for understanding the molecular basis of CaM-dependent regulation of cellular processes.

Tamoxifen and trifluoroperazine (Stelazine) potentiate cytostatic/cytotoxic effects of P-30 protein, a novel protein possessing anti-tumor activity

P-30 protein, a novel protein isolated in our laboratory from fertilized Rana pipiens eggs, has been shown to possess significant anti-proliferative and cytotoxic activity against a variety of human tumour cell lines. This protein also shows a potent anti-tumour activity in vivo in animal tumour models and is currently undergoing Phase I human clinical trials in cancer patient volunteers. The present study describes the in vitro effects of the concerted action of this protein and two other agents which affect the cell proliferative cycle. A significant potentiation of the P-30 protein-induced cell growth inhibition by tamoxifen as well as trifluoroperazine (Stelazine) in both the human A-549 lung carcinoma and the ASPC-1 pancreatic adenocarcinoma systems at wide ranges of drug concentrations was observed. The effect was apparently due to the synergistic action of P-30 protein and the agents tested. This data may provide clues that can be useful in explaining the mechanism of its anti-tumour activity. The results are also helpful for the designing in vivo animal and, perhaps eventually, human studies, whereby the combination therapies utilizing P-30 protein with agents of relatively low toxicity such as tamoxifen and/or Stelazine could offer a promising treatment(s) for these notoriously refractory types of human cancer.

Calmodulin, cell growth and gene expression

Calmodulin is thought to regulate a number of intracellular processes, including cell proliferation. Previous studies using drugs that antagonize calmodulin function have indicated that calmodulin is required for progression at specific points in the eukaryotic cell cycle. However, interpretation of these results has previously been difficult due to the lack of specificity of these inhibitors in living cells. Recent studies have used a combination of molecular biological and genetic analysis techniques to approach the study of calmodulin-dependent cell cycle control with greater precision and specificity. These studies have confirmed that calmodulin is an important regulator of the cell cycle, and provide new ways in which to examine the cellular mechanisms involved in calmodulin-dependent cell cycle control.

[Epidermal growth factor: structure, location, phosphorylation and regulation of its receptor]

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a Mr 6045 polypeptide first characterized for its ability to stimulate mitogenesis in epidermal and epithelial cells. The first step in the action of the growth factor is its binding to specific, high affinity membrane receptors. These receptors have been studied in a number of tissues and cell culture lines. The level of EGF receptors is modulated by many agents. EGF down-regulates its receptor. In addition, the number of EGF receptors is decreased by other growth factors (platelet-derived growth factor; transforming growth factor), by many tumor promoters and by viral transformation. Several hormones also can regulate EGF binding in its target tissues.

Inhibition of glia maturation factor-induced mitogenesis in glioblasts by calmodulin antagonists

The growth inhibitory activity of calmodulin antagonist, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7) and trifluoperazine (TFP), was analyzed by the use of rat fetal glioblasts stimulated by glia maturation factor (GMF) or rat astrocytoma cells (C6). The inhibitory effect of W-7 on GMF-induced DNA synthesis of glioblasts was apparent when the drug was added within 10 h after the stimulation by GMF (late G1 phase), but was not shown when W-7 was added at 12 h or later (S phase). The intracellular calmodulin content was built up concurrently with the increase in the DNA synthesis in S phase. The half-maximal inhibition (ID50) of GMF-induced DNA synthesis in glioblasts was observed at 16.5 microM of W-7 or 9.0 microM of TFP. ID50 of DNA synthesis in exponentially growing C6 cells was approximately 3 times higher than that in glioblasts: 24 microM of TFP and as high as 40 microM of W-7. ID50 of growth rate of C6 cells was 15 microM of TFP which was comparable to the ID50 dose for the inhibition of DNA synthesis. Both calmodulin antagonists and W-5, a dechlorinated analog of W-7, however, elicited a curious activation of DNA synthesis of glioblasts at low concentrations (lower than 10 microM of W-7 and W-5, or lower than 5 microM of TFP), indicating non-specific effects of calmodulin antagonists on DNA synthesis. These results suggest that calmodulin antagonists have two conflicting effects on DNA synthesis: the stimulation of DNA synthesis at lower concentrations, and inhibition at higher concentrations.

Direct modulation of epidermal growth factor binding by cholecystokinin

The effects of cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK8), the biologically active C-terminal moiety of cholecystokinin (CCK), on the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) were studied in isolated rat pancreatic acini. CCK8 inhibited 125I-EGF binding in a dose-dependent manner. One-half maximal inhibition occurred at 5 X 10(-10)M, and maximal inhibition at 10(-8)M CCK8. This inhibitory effect was detectable within 5 minutes of addition of CCK8, and was not associated with enhanced degradation of 125I-EGF in incubation media. Unlabeled EGF exerted only a slightly greater inhibitory effect than CCK8 on 125I-EGF binding at equivalent molar concentrations. In contrast to CCK8, the gastrointestinal hormone vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) did not significantly alter EGF binding. CCK8 also inhibited EGF binding in mouse pancreatic acini, but did not alter binding in A-431 human carcinoma cells. These findings suggest that physiological levels of CCK may regulate EGF binding in the pancreas and other tissues with receptors for both hormones. They thus point to a previously unrecognized mechanism for hormonal interaction.

Measurements of the free calcium concentration of single quiescent human fibroblasts before and after serum addition

We have developed the technique for injecting aequorin into cells so that it is now possible to measure the free calcium concentration of single mammalian somatic cells. Using this method, the free calcium concentration of serum-starved quiescent human fibroblasts was determined to be 3.3 x 10(-7) M. After feeding the cells with serum a significant increase in free calcium was observed in some cells. The exact cause of such an increase is unclear but it may indicate that a large increase in free calcium is an important event in the stimulation of cell growth.