Cellular protection from H2O2 toxicity by Fv-Hsp70: protection via catalase and gamma-glutamyl-cysteine synthase

Heat shock proteins (HSPs), especially Hsp70 (HSPA1), have been associated with cellular protection from various cellular stresses including heat, hypoxia-ischemia, neurodegeneration, toxins, and trauma. Endogenous HSPs are often synthesized in direct response to these stresses but in many situations are inadequate in protecting cells. The present study addresses the transduction of Hsp70 into cells providing protection from acute oxidative stress by H2O2. The recombinant Fv-Hsp70 protein and two mutant Fv-Hsp70 proteins minus the ATPase domain and minus the ATPase and terminal lid domains were tested at 0.5 and 1.0 μM concentrations after two different concentrations of H2O2 treatment. All three recombinant proteins protected SH-SY5Y cells from acute H2O2 toxicity. This data indicated that the protein binding domain was responsible for cellular protection. In addition, experiments pretreating cells with inhibitors of antioxidant proteins catalase and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthase (GGCS) before H2O2 resulted in cell death despite treatment with Fv-Hsp70, implying that both enzymes were protected from acute oxidative stress after treatment with Fv-Hsp70. This study demonstrates that Fv-Hsp70 is protective in our experiments primarily by the protein-binding domain. The Hsp70 terminal lid domain was also not necessary for protection.

m6A-modification of cyclin D1 and c-myc IRESs in glioblastoma controls ITAF activity and resistance to mTOR inhibition

A major mechanism conferring resistance to mTOR inhibitors is activation of a salvage pathway stimulating internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated mRNA translation, driving the synthesis of proteins promoting resistance of glioblastoma (GBM). Previously, we found this pathway is stimulated by the requisite IRES-trans-acting factor (ITAF) hnRNP A1, which itself is subject to phosphorylation and methylation events regulating cyclin D1 and c-myc IRES activity. Here we describe the requirement for m6A-modification of IRES RNAs for efficient translation and resistance to mTOR inhibition. DRACH-motifs within these IRES RNAs upon m6A modification resulted in enhanced IRES activity via increased hnRNP A1-binding following mTOR inhibitor exposure. Inhibitor exposure stimulated the expression of m6A-methylosome components resulting in increased activity in GBM. Silencing of METTL3-14 complexes reduced IRES activity upon inhibitor exposure and sensitized resistant GBM lines. YTHDF3 associates with m6A-modified cyclin D1 or c-myc IRESs, regulating IRES activity, and mTOR inhibitor sensitivity in vitro and in xenograft experiments. YTHDF3 interacted directly with hnRNP A1 and together stimulated hnRNP A1-dependent nucleic acid strand annealing activity. These data demonstrate that m6A-methylation of IRES RNAs regulate GBM responses to this class of inhibitors.

Translation of circHGF RNA encodes an HGF protein variant promoting glioblastoma growth through stimulation of c-MET

INTRODUCTION

HGF/c-MET signaling is a significant driver of glioblastoma (GBM) growth and disease progression. Unfortunately, c-MET targeted therapies have been found to be largely ineffective suggesting additional redundant mechanisms of c-MET activation.

METHODS

Utilizing RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and ribosome profiling analyses of circular RNAs, circ-HGF (hsa_circ_0080914) was identified as markedly upregulated in primary GBM and found to potentially encode an HGF protein variant (C-HGF) 119 amino acids in length. This candidate HGF variant was characterized and evaluated for its ability to mediate c-MET activation and regulate PDX GBM cell growth, motility and invasive potential in vitro and tumor burden in intracranial xenografts in mice.

RESULTS

An internal ribosome entry site (IRES) was identified within the circ-HGF RNA which mediated translation of the cross-junctional ORF encoding C-HGF and was observed to be highly expressed in GBM relative to normal brain tissue. C-HGF was also found to be secreted from GBM cells and concentrated cell culture supernatants or recombinant C-HGF activated known signaling cascades downstream of c-MET. C-HGF was shown to interact directly with the c-MET receptor resulting in its autophosphorylation and activation in PDX GBM lines. Knockdown of C-HGF resulted in suppression of c-MET signaling and marked inhibition of cell growth, motility and invasiveness, whereas overexpression of C-HGF displayed the opposite effects. Additionally, modulation of C-HGF expression regulated tumor growth in intracranial xenografted PDX GBM models.

CONCLUSIONS

These results reveal an alternative mechanism of c-MET activation via a circular RNA encoded HGF protein variant which is relevant in GBM biology. Targeting C-HGF may offer a promising approach for GBM clinical management.

mTORC2-mediated direct phosphorylation regulates YAP activity promoting glioblastoma growth and invasive characteristics

The Hippo and mTOR signaling cascades are major regulators of cell growth and division. Aberrant regulation of these pathways has been demonstrated to contribute to gliomagenesis and result in enhanced glioblastoma proliferation and invasive characteristics. Several crosstalk mechanisms have been described between these two pathways, although a complete picture of these signaling interactions is lacking and is required for effective therapeutic targeting. Here we report the ability of mTORC2 to directly phosphorylate YAP at serine 436 (Ser436) positively regulating YAP activity. We show that mTORC2 activity enhances YAP transcriptional activity and the induction of YAP-dependent target gene expression while its ablation via genetic or pharmacological means has the opposite affects on YAP function. mTORC2 interacts with YAP via Sin1 and mutational analysis of serine 436 demonstrates that this phosphorylation event affects several properties of YAP leading to enhanced transactivation potential. Moreover, YAP serine 436 mutants display altered glioblastoma growth, migratory capacity and invasiveness both in vitro and in xenograft experiments. We further demonstrate that mTORC2 is able to regulate a Hippo pathway resistant allele of YAP suggesting that mTORC2 can regulate YAP independent of Hippo signaling. Correlative associations between the expression of these components in GBM patient samples also supported the presence of this signaling relationship. These results advance a direct mTORC2/YAP signaling axis driving GBM growth, motility and invasiveness.

Repurposing Potential of Riluzole as an ITAF Inhibitor in mTOR Therapy Resistant Glioblastoma

Internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated protein synthesis has been demonstrated to play an important role in resistance to mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) targeted therapies. Previously, we have demonstrated that the IRES trans-acting factor (ITAF), hnRNP A1 is required to promote IRES activity and small molecule inhibitors which bind specifically to this ITAF and curtail IRES activity, leading to mTOR inhibitor sensitivity. Here we report the identification of riluzole (Rilutek^®), an FDA-approved drug for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), via an in silico docking analysis of FDA-approved compounds, as an inhibitor of hnRNP A1. In a riluzole-bead coupled binding assay and in surface plasmon resonance imaging analyses, riluzole was found to directly bind to hnRNP A1 and inhibited IRES activity via effects on ITAF/RNA-binding. Riluzole also demonstrated synergistic anti-glioblastoma (GBM) affects with mTOR inhibitors in vitro and in GBM xenografts in mice. These data suggest that repurposing riluzole, used in conjunction with mTOR inhibitors, may serve as an effective therapeutic option in glioblastoma.

Development of an acute, short-term exposure model for phosgene

Phosgene is classified as a chemical warfare agent, yet data on its short-duration high concentration toxicity in a nose-only exposure rat model is sparse and inconsistent. Hence, an exposure system for short-term/high concentration exposure was developed and characterized. Herein, we report the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) for a 10-min nasal exposure of phosgene in a 24-h rat survival model. Male Wistar rats (Envigo) weighing 180-210 g on the day of exposure, were exposed to phosgene gas via nose-only inhalation using a system specifically designed to allow the simultaneous exposure and quantification of phosgene. After 24 h, the surviving rats were euthanized, the lung/body mass ratio determined, and lung tissues analyzed for histopathology. Increased terminal airway edema in the lungs located primarily at the alveoli (resulting in an increased lung/body mass ratio) coincided with the observed mortality. An LC₅₀ value of 129.2 mg/m³ for a 10-min exposure was determined. Furthermore, in agreement with other highly toxic compounds, this study reveals a LC₅₀ concentration value supportive of a nonlinear toxic load model, where the toxic load exponent is >1 (n_e = 1.17). Thus, in line with other chemical warfare agents, phosgene toxicity is predicted to be more severe with short-duration, high-concentration exposures than long-duration, low-concentration exposures. This model is anticipated to be refined and developed to screen novel therapeutics against relevant short-term high concentration phosgene exposures expected from a terrorist attack, battlefield deployment, or industrial accident.

Combining intracellular antibodies to restore function of mutated p53 in cancer

TP53 is a tumor suppressor gene that is mutated in 50% of cancers, and its function is tightly regulated by the E3 ligase, Mdm2. Both p53 and Mdm2 are localized in the cell nucleus, a site that is impervious to therapeutic regulation by most antibodies. We identified a cell-penetrating lupus monoclonal anti-DNA antibody, mAb 3E10, that targets the nucleus, and we engineered mAb 3E10 to function as an intranuclear transport system to deliver therapeutic antibodies into the nucleus as bispecific single chain Fv (scFv) fragments. Bispecific scFvs composed of 3E10 include PAb421 (3E10-PAb421) that binds p53 and restores the function of mutated p53, and 3G5 (3E10-3G5) that binds Mdm2 and prevents destruction of p53 by Mdm2. We documented the therapeutic efficacy of these bispecific scFvs separately in previous studies. In this study, we show that combination therapy with 3E10-PAb421 and 3E10-3G5 augments growth inhibition of cells with p53 mutations compared to the effect of either antibody alone. By contrast, no enhanced response was observed in cells with wild-type p53 or in cells homozygous null for p53.

Targeting cancer with a lupus autoantibody

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is distinct among autoimmune diseases because of its association with circulating autoantibodies reactive against host DNA. The precise role that anti-DNA antibodies play in SLE pathophysiology remains to be elucidated, and potential applications of lupus autoantibodies in cancer therapy have not previously been explored. We report the unexpected finding that a cell-penetrating lupus autoantibody, 3E10, has potential as a targeted therapy for DNA repair-deficient malignancies. We find that 3E10 preferentially binds DNA single-strand tails, inhibits key steps in DNA single-strand and double-strand break repair, and sensitizes cultured tumor cells and human tumor xenografts to DNA-damaging therapy, including doxorubicin and radiation. Moreover, we demonstrate that 3E10 alone is synthetically lethal to BRCA2-deficient human cancer cells and selectively sensitizes such cells to low-dose doxorubicin. Our results establish an approach to cancer therapy that we expect will be particularly applicable to BRCA2-related malignancies such as breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers. In addition, our findings raise the possibility that lupus autoantibodies may be partly responsible for the intrinsic deficiencies in DNA repair and the unexpectedly low rates of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers observed in SLE patients. In summary, this study provides the basis for the potential use of a lupus anti-DNA antibody in cancer therapy and identifies lupus autoantibodies as a potentially rich source of therapeutic agents.

Abstract 4319: Lupus antibody-based cancer therapy

A subset of autoantibodies produced by patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) penetrates into cell nuclei and binds DNA, and we believe that such antibodies may have applications in cancer therapy. We have discovered that the cell-penetrating, nuclear-localizing anti-DNA lupus antibody 3E10 inhibits key steps in DNA single- and double-strand break repair and has potential for development as a targeted therapy for tumors harboring deficiencies in DNA repair. 3E10 preferentially binds DNA substrates with free single-strand tails and interferes with both base excision repair and homology-directed repair (HDR) in vitro, and HDR efficiency is reduced in cells treated with 3E10 as measured in the chromosome-based DR-GFP fluorescent reporter assay. The binding of 3E10 to DNA can be directly visualized under electron microscopy (EM), and EM studies confirmed that 3E10 interferes with RAD51 filament formation, which is a critical step in HDR. The 3E10 single chain variable fragment penetrates into human tumor xenografts in nude mice, and 3E10 sensitizes cancer cells and tumors to DNA-damaging therapy. In addition, 3E10, by itself, is toxic to BRCA2-deficient cancer cells but not to repair-proficient cells, and when combined with a DNA-damaging agent, 3E10 has a very large cytotoxic effect on BRCA2-deficient cancer cells. The synthetically lethal effect of 3E10 on BRCA2-deficient cancer cells is consistent with our finding that 3E10 inhibits DNA repair, and it suggests that 3E10 has potential as a targeted therapy for tumors harboring deficiencies in DNA repair, such as certain breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers. Of note, patients with SLE have lower than expected incidence rates of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers, and it is tempting to speculate that the circulating cell-penetrating anti-DNA autoantibodies provide patients with SLE some protection against the development of DNA repair-deficient tumors. In summary, our work with the 3E10 antibody has provided proof of principle for the development of a lupus antibody as a cancer therapy and opened up new avenues for exploration into the biology of lupus antibodies.

Citation Format: James E. Hansen, Grace Chan, Yanfeng Liu, Denise C. Hegan, Shibani Dalal, Eloise Dray, Youngho Kwon, Yuanyuan Xu, Xiaohua Xu, Elizabeth Peterson-Roth, Erik Geiger, Yilun Liu, Joseph Gera, Joann B. Sweasy, Patrick Sung, Sara Rockwell, Robert N. Nishimura, Richard H. Weisbart, Peter M. Glazer. Lupus antibody-based cancer therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4319. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4319

Conditional astroglial Rictor overexpression induces malignant glioma in mice

Background

Hyperactivation of the mTORC2 signaling pathway has been shown to contribute to the oncogenic properties of gliomas. Moreover, overexpression of the mTORC2 regulatory subunit Rictor has been associated with increased proliferation and invasive character of these tumor cells.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To determine whether Rictor overexpression was sufficient to induce glioma formation in mice, we inserted a Cre-lox-regulated human Rictor transgene into the murine ROSA26 locus. This floxed Rictor strain was crossed with mice expressing the Cre recombinase driven from the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter whose expression is limited to the glial cell compartment. Double transgenic GFAP-Cre/Rictor^loxP/loxP mice developed multifocal infiltrating glioma containing elevated mTORC2 activity and typically involved the subventricular zone (SVZ) and lateral ventricle. Analysis of Rictor-dependent signaling in these tumors demonstrated that in addition to elevated mTORC2 activity, an mTORC2-independent marker of cortical actin network function, was also elevated. Upon histological examination of the neoplasms, many displayed oligodendroglioma-like phenotypes and expressed markers associated with oligodendroglial lineage tumors. To determine whether upstream oncogenic EGFRvIII signaling would alter tumor phenotypes observed in the GFAP-Cre/Rictor^loxP/loxP mice, transgenic GFAP-EGFRvIII; GFAP-Cre/Rictor^loxP/loxP mice were generated. These mice developed mixed astrocytic-oligodendroglial tumors, however glioma formation was accelerated and correlated with increased mTORC2 activity. Additionally, the subventricular zone within the GFAP-Cre/Rictor^loxP/loxP mouse brain was markedly expanded, and a further proliferation within this compartment of the brain was observed in transgenic GFAP-EGFRvIII; GFAP-Cre/Rictor^loxP/loxP mice.

Conclusion/Significance

These data collectively establish Rictor as a novel oncoprotein and support the role of dysregulated Rictor expression in gliomagenesis via mTOR-dependent and mTOR-independent mechanisms. Furthermore, oncogenic EGFRvIII signaling appears to potentiate the in vivo proliferative capacity of GFAP-Cre/Rictor^loxP/loxP gliomas.

Tumor suppressor and T-regulatory functions of Foxp3 are mediated through separate signaling pathways

Foxp3 is a nuclear transcription factor that is both a tumor suppressor factor and regulator of T-regulatory cell (Treg) function, and is a potential therapeutic target in both autoimmunity and cancer. In order to distinguish molecular pathways responsible for these separate Foxp3 functions, deletion mutants of Foxp3 proteins were transduced and analyzed for cytotoxic activity in human cancer cell lines Skov3, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and Jurkat. Human Foxp3 cDNA mutants were amplified and ligated to produce plasmids for direct cell transfection. Constructs were produced and confirmed by DNA sequencing. Lipofectamine 2000 was used for plasmid transfection. Foxp3 cells were then examined. The results of our experiments reveal retention of tumor suppressor function in the absence of NFAT binding and transcriptional activation required for Treg function. Our results have significant implications for the design of autoimmune and cancer therapies that target Foxp3 and Treg cells.

BRAF drives synovial fibroblast transformation in rheumatoid arthritis

Synovial fibroblasts destroy articular cartilage and bone in rheumatoid arthritis, but the mechanism of fibroblast transformation remains elusive. Because gain-of-function mutations of BRAF can transform fibroblasts, we examined BRAF in rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts. The strong gain-of-function mutation, V600R, of BRAF found in melanomas and other cancers was identified in first passage synovial fibroblasts from two of nine rheumatoid arthritis patients and confirmed by restriction site mapping. BRAF-specific siRNA inhibited proliferation of synovial fibroblasts with V600R mutations. A BRAF aberrant splice variant with an intact kinase domain and partial loss of the N-terminal autoinhibitory domain was identified in fibroblasts from an additional patient, and fibroblast proliferation was inhibited by BRAF-specific siRNA. Our finding is the first to establish mechanisms for fibroblast transformation responsible for destruction of articular cartilage and bone in rheumatoid arthritis and establishes a new target for therapeutic intervention.

Recombinant Fv-Hsp70 protein mediates neuroprotection after focal cerebral ischemia in rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study investigated the effects of intravenous recombinant Fv-Hsp70 protein on infarction volume and behavior after experimental ischemic stroke.

METHODS

Focal cerebral ischemia was produced by occluding the middle cerebral artery using the intraluminal suture technique. Rats subjected to 2 hours of focal ischemia were allowed to survive 24 hours. At 2(1/4) hours and 3 hours after onset of ischemia, Fv-Hsp70 recombinant protein (0.5 mg/kg) or saline was injected through the tail vein. Sensorimotor function and infarction volume were assessed at 24 hours after ischemia.

RESULTS

Administration of Fv-Hsp70 after focal cerebral ischemia significantly decreased infarct volume by 68% and significantly improved sensorimotor function compared with the saline-treated control group. Western blots showed Fv-Hsp70 in ischemic but not in control brain; and Fv-Hsp70 suppressed endogenous Hsp70.

CONCLUSIONS

Fv-Hsp70 protected the ischemic brain in this experimental stroke model.

An intracellular delivery vehicle for protein transduction of micro-dystrophin

The Fv fragment of an antibody that selectively targets and penetrates skeletal muscle in vivo was produced as a fusion protein with a micro-dystrophin for use as a delivery vehicle to transport micro-dystrophin into muscle cells. Fv-micro-dystrophin was produced as a secreted protein by transient transfection of Fv-micro-dystrophin cDNA in COS-7 cells and as a non-secreted protein by permanent transfection in Pichia pastoris. Isolated Fv-micro-dystrophin was shown to be full-length by Western blot analysis. Fv-micro-dystrophin penetrated multiple cell lines in vitro, and it localized to the plasma membrane of a cell line with membrane beta-dystroglycan. In the absence of membrane beta-dystroglycan, it localized to the cytoplasm. Antibody-mediated transduction of micro-dystrophin into muscle cells is a potential therapy for dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophies.

Hsp70 associates with Rictor and is required for mTORC2 formation and activity

mTORC2 is a multiprotein kinase composed of mTOR, mLST8, PRR5, mSIN1 and Rictor. The complex is insensitive to rapamycin and has demonstrated functions controlling cell growth, motility, invasion and cytoskeletal assembly. mTORC2 is the major hydrophobic domain kinase which renders Akt fully active via phosphorylation on serine 473. We isolated Hsp70 as a putative Rictor interacting protein in a yeast two-hybrid assay and confirmed this interaction via co-immunoprecipitation and colocalization experiments. In cells expressing an antisense RNA targeting Hsp70, mTORC2 formation and activity were impaired. Moreover, in cells lacking Hsp70 expression, mTORC2 activity was inhibited following heat shock while controls demonstrated increased mTORC2 activity. These differential effects on mTORC2 activity were specific, in that mTORC1 did not demonstrate Hsp70-dependent alterations under these conditions. These data suggest that Hsp70 is a component of mTORC2 and is required for proper assembly and activity of the kinase both constitutively and following heat shock.

Intranuclear protein transduction through a nucleoside salvage pathway

Regulation of gene expression by intranuclear transduction of macromolecules such as transcription factors is an alternative to gene therapy for the treatment of numerous diseases. The identification of an effective intranuclear delivery vehicle and pathway for the transport of therapeutic macromolecules across plasma and nuclear membranes, however, has posed a significant challenge. The anti-DNA antibody fragment 3E10 Fv has received attention as a novel molecular delivery vehicle due to its penetration into living cells with specific nuclear localization, absence of toxicity, and successful delivery of therapeutic cargo proteins in vitro and in vivo. Elucidation of the pathway that allows 3E10 Fv to cross cell membranes is critical to the development of new molecular therapies. Here we show that 3E10 Fv penetrates cells through a nucleoside salvage transporter. 3E10 Fv is unable to penetrate into cells deficient in the equilibrative nucleoside transporter ENT2, and reconstitution of ENT2 into ENT2-deficient cells restores 3E10 Fv transport into cell nuclei. Our results represent the first demonstration of protein transport through a nucleoside salvage pathway. We expect that our finding will facilitate a variety of methods of gene regulation in the treatment of human diseases, open up new avenues of research in nucleoside salvage pathways, and enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases.

Antibody-Mediated p53 Protein Therapy Prevents Liver Metastasis In vivo

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3E10 Fv antibody-mediated p53 protein therapy, an Fv-p53 fusion protein produced in Pichia pastoris was tested on CT26.CL25 colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo in a mouse model of colon cancer metastasis to the liver. In vitro experiments showed killing of CT26.CL25 cells by Fv-p53 but not Fv or p53 alone, and immunohistochemical staining confirmed that Fv was required for transport of p53 into cells. Prevention of liver metastasis in vivo was tested by splenic injection of 100 nmol/L Fv-p53 10 min and 1 week after injection of CT26.CL25 cancer cells into the portal vein of BALB/c mice. Mice were sacrificed 1 week after the second injection of Fv-p53 and assigned a quantitative metastasis score. Control mice had an average metastasis score of 3.3 +/- 1.3, whereas mice treated with Fv-p53 had an average metastasis score of 0.8 +/- 0.4 (P = 0.004). These results indicate that Fv-p53 treatment had a profound effect on liver metastasis and represent the first demonstration of effective full-length p53 protein therapy in vivo. mAb 3E10 Fv has significant clinical potential as a mediator of intracellular and intranuclear delivery of p53 for prevention and treatment of cancer metastasis.

Antibody-mediated Hsp70 protein therapy

Intracellular Hsp70 provides cytoprotection against a variety of stressful stimuli, and an effective means of increasing intracellular Hsp70 levels could prove beneficial in the prevention and treatment of a variety of human diseases. A novel protein transduction domain consisting of the single chain Fv fragment of an anti-DNA antibody known to penetrate into living cells and tissues, mAb 3E10, has recently been used to deliver functional proteins to cells. The ability of the single chain Fv fragment to deliver Hsp70 into living cells was tested by generating an Fv-Hsp70 fusion protein. Fv-Hsp70 was produced as a secreted protein in both COS-7 cells and the methylotropic yeast strain Pichia pastoris and was shown capable of penetrating into COS-7 cells and primary rat cortical neurons. Pre-treatment with Fv-Hsp70 protected both COS-7 cells and primary rat cortical neurons against subsequent exposure to hydrogen peroxide. These results provide the first evidence that the Fv fragment of mAb 3E10 is capable of delivering proteins to neurons and indicate its potential in the development of Hsp70 protein therapy.

Antibody mediated transduction of therapeutic proteins into living cells

Protein therapy refers to the direct delivery of therapeutic proteins to cells and tissues with the goal of ameliorating or modifying a disease process. Current techniques for delivering proteins across cell membranes include taking advantage of receptor-mediated endocytosis or using protein transduction domains that penetrate directly into cells. The most commonly used protein transduction domains are small cell-penetrating peptides derived from such proteins as the HIV-1 Tat protein. A novel protein transduction domain developed as the single chain fragment (Fv) of a murine anti-DNA autoantibody, mAb 3E10, has recently been developed and used to deliver biologically active proteins to living cells in vitro. This review will provide a brief overview of the development of the Fv fragment and provide a summary of recent studies using Fv to deliver therapeutic peptides and proteins (such as a C-terminal p53 peptide, C-terminal p53 antibody fragment, full-length p53, and micro-dystrophin) to cells.

Selective IgA immune unresponsiveness to Proteus mirabilis fumarate reductase A-chain in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To determine if selective immune unresponsiveness to microbial antigens is associated with predisposition to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

Proteins from Proteus mirabilis lysate were isolated by SDS-PAGE and examined by Western blotting for antibody responses in sera from patients with RA compared to healthy subjects and patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

RESULTS

Although RA patients had marked IgA immune responses to many P. mirabilis proteins compared to healthy subjects, selective unresponsiveness was found in RA to a 66 kDa protein identified as fumarate reductase A-chain (FRD-A) by mass spectroscopy. This was confirmed in Western blots with recombinant FRD-A from P. mirabilis. IgA unresponsiveness to FRD-A was found in 21/59 (35.6%) RA patients compared to 7/63 (11.1%) healthy individuals (p < 0.01) and 6/52 (11.5%) patients with PsA (p < 0.01). IgA unresponsiveness to FRD-A was present in 20/46 (43.5%) RA patients with IgA rheumatoid factors (RF) compared to 1/13 (7.7%) without RF (p < 0.025).

CONCLUSION

Our results identify a selective hole in the IgA immune repertoire for P. mirabilis FRD-A in a subset of IgA RF-positive patients with RA.

Heat shock proteins and neuromuscular disease

The heat shock proteins are families of proteins with known activities that include chaperoning nascent peptides within the cell and cytoprotection. Most work on the nervous system has related to the role of heat shock proteins in neuroprotection from either hypoxic-ischemic or traumatic injury. The role of these proteins during normal physiological activity and injury is still under investigation. Heat shock proteins in neuromuscular disease have been investigated to some extent but were largely neglected until recently. The goal of this review is to summarize the evidence linking heat shock proteins with neuromuscular disease and to provide some insight into the roles or functions of these proteins in disease states.

Antibody-mediated transduction of p53 selectively kills cancer cells

Some human cancers are caused by functional defects in p53 that are restored by gene therapy with wild-type p53. To circumvent the use of viral vectors, we reconstituted cancer cell lines with p53 by protein transduction. A fusion protein was produced from cDNA constructed from the Fv fragment of an antibody that penetrates living cells and wild-type p53 (Fv-p53). Fv-p53 penetrated and killed cancer cells that do not express p53. Additionally, Fv-p53 killed cancer cells that were malignant as a result of mutations within p53, nuclear exclusion of p53 and over-expression of MDM2. Non-specific toxicity was excluded by showing that Fv-p53 penetrated but did not kill primary cells and cancer cells unresponsive to p53. Fv fragments alone were not cytotoxic, indicating that killing was due to transduction of p53. Fv-p53 was shown to penetrate cancer cells engrafted in vivo. These results support continued efforts to evaluate the potential efficacy of Fv-p53 for the treatment of certain cancers in vivo.

Expression of antisense hsp70 is a major determining factor in heat-induced cell death of P-19 carcinoma cells

Overexpressed heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is known to be associated with thermoprotection in a number of cell lines and transgenic animals. We hypothesized that because overexpression of Hsp70 protects cells from lethal heat stress, inhibition of expression should make cells susceptible to heat stress. The model used for this study was a stably transfected P-19 carcinoma cell line expressing antisense hsp70 under the control of the hsp70b promoter. The results showed marked inhibition of Hsp70 expression after heat shock correlated with heat-induced cell death. Hsp90 and Hsc70 protein expression were not affected by the antisense construct. Unexpectedly, heme oxygenase (HO-1), another highly inducible heat shock protein, was not induced after heat shock in the antisense hsp70 cell line. Heat shock transcription factor-1 (HSF-1) was in a highly phosphorylated state in the antisense cell line before and after heat shock. This was in contrast to the untransfected control P-19 cells where HSF-1 was primarily highly phosphorylated after heat shock. A control cell line expressing only the vector, pMAMneo, without the antisense construct also showed partial loss of Hsp70 induction but not increased cell death after heat shock. The findings support the role of Hsp70 in thermoresistance.

Induction of cell death by L-alpha-aminoadipic acid exposure in cultured rat astrocytes: relationship to protein synthesis

The excitotoxin, L-alpha-aminoadipic acid (L-AAA), kills primary astrocytes in the brain. The mechanism underlying the induction of cell death is not well understood although many possible mechanisms are theorized. Previous studies have reported that astrocytes die after prolonged exposure to L-AAA suggesting a delayed programmed cell death and apoptosis. In this study rat cortical astrocytes exposed to continuous 1 mM L-AAA exposure for 24-, 48-, or 72 hours demonstrated increased DNA laddering, a characteristic of apoptosis. Unexpectedly, this was not ameliorated by the presence of cycloheximide at 0.1 microg/ml medium. Because of our interest in cytoprotective heat shock proteins induced by excitoxic stress, we studied the effect of prolonged exposure of L-AAA on the synthesis of stress proteins and protein synthesis in rat cortical astrocytes. Protein synthesis as measured by [35S]-methionine labeling showed a marked and significant decrease in incorporation of radiolabel after 24 hours of exposure to L-AAA and prior to induction of significant cell death noted at 48- and 72 hours of L-AAA exposure. The inhibition of protein synthesis was partially reversible at 24 hours if cells were labeled in medium without L-AAA during the radiolabeling period. Heat shock or stress proteins, HSP70 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), were analyzed after a 24 hour exposure to L-AAA and showed no significant induction of HSP70 or HO-1. The findings suggest that the prolonged inhibition of protein synthesis and associated lack of induction of HSP70 and HO-1 synthesis contributed to apoptotic cell death induced by the excitoxin L-AAA.

Tin-mesoporphyrin, a potent heme oxygenase inhibitor, for treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage: in vivo and in vitro studies

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the stroke subtype with highest mortality and morbidity. ICH can also occur following traumatic brain injury and thrombolysis for ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction. Development of ICH-induced hemispheric edema can elevate intracranial pressure and cause death. In survivors, edema-related white matter injury can lead to life-long neurological deficits. At present, there are no scientifically proven treatments for ICH. Heme oxygenase products, particularly iron and bilirubin, can be toxic to cells. In cerebral ischemia models, metalloporphyrins that are potent heme oxygenase inhibitors, reduce edema and infarct size. Tin-mesoporphyrin (SnMP) is a neuroprotectant that has also been used clinically to treat hyperbilirubinemia. Presently, we tested the hypothesis that SnMP treatment would reduce edema development following experimental ICH. We produced hematomas in pentobarbital-anesthetized pigs (9-11 kg) by infusing autologous blood into the frontal white matter. To maximize tissue concentrations, SnMP (87.5 microM in DMSO) or DMSO (vehicle controls) was included in the infused blood. Pig brains were frozen in situ at 24 hrs. following ICH and hematoma and edema volumes were determined on coronal sections by computer-assisted image analysis. We also examined the effects of SnMP in vitro on ferritin iron release, the formation of iron-induced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and initial clot formation and hemolysis. SnMP treatment significantly reduced intracerebral mass following ICH. This was due to significant decreases in hematoma (0.68+/-0.08 vs. 1.39+/-0.30 cc, vehicle controls p<0.025) and edema volumes (edema = 1. 16+/-0.33 vs. 1.77+/-0.31 cc, p<0.05). In vitro, SnMP did not stabilize ferritin iron against reductive release nor did it decrease iron-induced TBARS formation in brain homogenates. SnMP or DMSO added to pig blood did not alter clot weights. In conclusion, SnMP reduced intracerebral mass in an ICH model by decreasing both hematoma and edema volumes SnMP's mechanism of action is presently unknown but may involve its potent inhibition of heme oxygenase activity. SnMP's effect appears unrelated to ferritin iron release, antioxidant activity or initial clot formation. Since SnMP treatment could be brain protective following ICH, further investigations into neurological and neuropathological outcomes and as well as into its mechanism of action are warranted.

The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor is expressed in rat microglia and modulates an outward K+ channel

The calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is a G protein-coupled receptor that "senses" extracellular calcium ions (Ca2+o) as an extracellular first messenger. In this report, we have shown that the CaR is expressed in primary cultures of microglial cells derived from rat brain as assessed by RT-PCR using four CaR-specific primer pairs followed by sequencing of the amplified products, by northern blot analysis using a CaR-specific probe, as well as by immunocytochemistry and western analysis utilizing a specific polyclonal anti-CaR antiserum. In addition, raising Ca2+o from 0.75 to 3.0 mM or addition of the polycationic CaR agonist neomycin or a "calcimimetic" CaR activator (R-467; NPS Pharmaceuticals) increased the open state probability (Po) of a Ca(+)-activated K+ channel having a unitary conductance of 84+/-4 pS, indicating that the channel is modulated by the CaR. Therefore, our data strongly suggest that a functional CaR is expressed in cultured rat microglia, similar to that in parathyroid gland and kidney, which could potentially play an important role(s) in regulating microglial function.

Protective properties of tin- and manganese-centered porphyrins against hydrogen peroxide-mediated injury in rat astroglial cells

Tin-mesoporphyrin (tin-mp), a potent inhibitor of heme oxygenase, and manganese (III) tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin (MnTMPyP), a potent superoxide dismutase mimetic, reduced H2O2 toxicity in cultures of transformed rat astroglial cells if added 30 min before, or at the same time as, H2O2. Reduced toxicity was not observed if treatment was delayed for 60 min, the time by which H2O2 was essentially eliminated from cultures. Coadministration of tin-mp and MnTMPyP did not increase protection over either compound administered individually. Tin-mp, but not MnTMPyP, was stable in culture. MnCl2 was not protective, suggesting that protection by MnTMPyP was not dependent on manganous ion, a by-product of MnTMPyP breakdown. Protection by tin-mp and MnTMPyP was not associated with metalloporphyrin-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 or with changes in heme oxygenase-2 on western blots. Whereas protective concentrations of tin-mp did not have superoxide dismutase-mimetic properties in vitro, protective concentrations of MnTMPyP partially inhibited heme oxygenase. The data support the hypothesis that heme oxygenase inhibition is protective against acute oxidative injury.

Apoptosis in a neonatal rat model of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The mechanisms of excitotoxic cell death in cerebral ischemia are poorly understood. In addition to necrosis, apoptotic cell death may occur. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an established model of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia in the neonatal rat demonstrates any features of apoptosis.

METHODS

Seven-day-old neonatal rats underwent bilateral, permanent carotid ligation followed by 1 hour of hypoxia, and their brains were examined 1, 3, and 4 days after hypoxia-ischemia. The severity of ischemic damage was assessed in the dentate gyrus and frontotemporal cortex by light microscopy. Immunocytochemistry was performed to detect the cleavage of actin by caspases, a family of enzymes activated in apoptosis. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) reactivity was examined in the cortical infarction bed and dentate gyrus. Neonatal rat brain DNA was run on agarose gel electrophoresis to detect DNA fragmentation. Ethidium bromide-staining and electron microscopy were used to determine whether apoptotic bodies, 1 of the hallmarks of apoptosis, were present.

RESULTS

The frontotemporal cortex displayed evidence of infarction, and in most rats the dentate gyrus showed selective, delayed neuronal death. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated caspase-related cleavage of actin. TUNEL and DNA electrophoresis provided evidence of DNA fragmentation. Ethidium bromide-staining and electron microscopy confirmed the presence of chromatin condensation and apoptotic bodies.

CONCLUSIONS

Features of apoptosis are present in the described model of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia. Apoptosis may represent a mode of ischemic cell death that could be the target of novel treatments that could potentially expand the therapeutic window for stroke.

Heme oxygenase in the experimental ALS mouse

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress protein inducible in some cells by oxidative stress. The status of heme oxygenase was investigated in a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) since oxidative mechanisms are postulated in neuronal injury. Three ALS mice [(SOD1-G93A)1Gur] and three controls [(SOD-1)2Gur] were obtained from The Jackson Laboratory. Behavioral differences suggestive of neurodegeneration in ALS mice developed at 4-5 months of age. All mice were killed at 7-8 months of age. Tissue vacuolation, cell loss, and the presence of GFAP+ cells were noted in the spinal cords of ALS mice. Spinal cord motor neurons in both control and ALS mice stained positive for heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2). While not precluding the presence of low levels of HO-1 neither immunohistochemical staining nor Western blot analysis provided evidence for significant HO-1 induction in degenerating spinal cord.

Transient induction of heme oxygenase after cortical stab wound injury

Heme oxygenase (HO) exists as two isoenzymes designated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2). HO-1 has been identified as a heat shock or stress protein and is inducible whereas HO-2 is largely refractory to induction. HO-2 is the predominant isoenzyme in normal brain and appears to have a predominantly neuronal distribution in cerebral cortex. Cortical stab wound injury resulted in HO-1 induction as determined by Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis suggested that induced HO-1 was largely restricted to reactive astrocytes and macrophage-like cells. Enhanced HO-1 immunoreactivity was observed in hypertrophied, GFAP+ reactive astrocytes near the wound margin as early as 12 h after injury. Very rarely were HO-1+ neurons observed and then only up to 6 h after stabbing. Maximal numbers of HO-1+ astrocytes were found 3 days after stabbing. Their numbers declined thereafter. By 5 days after stab injury few HO-1+ reactive astrocytes were observed although GFAP+ reactive astrocytes were still prominent near the wound margin. HO-1+ macrophage-like cells were initially observed between 1 and 3 days after injury and they persisted in the margin of the wound for at least 14 days. The proximity of HO-1+ cells to the wound margin suggests that factors associated with injury contribute to the regulation of HO-1 in injured cortex.

Evidence for different mechanisms of induction of HSP70i: a comparison of cultured rat cortical neurons with astrocytes

This study is a follow-up of previous work which demonstrated that cultured cortical neurons did not synthesize HSP70i immediately after heat stress when compared with cultured cortical astrocytes. We have extended the period of observation for HSP70i induction of cultured cortical neurons and astrocytes up to 24 h after heat stress. Cultured rat cortical neurons derived from 16-day-old fetal rats respond differently to heat stress than cultured rat astrocytes derived from newborn rats. They showed a delayed HSP70i induction in the majority of cultured neurons and the response was heterogeneous and was absent in most smaller neurons. The delayed neuronal induction was accompanied by a prolonged activation of heat-shock transcription factor 1 (HSF-1) and prolonged transcription of HSP70i mRNA. In comparison astrocytes showed a marked early induction of HSP70i mRNA and protein. In addition the induction of HSP70i in astrocytes was followed by translocation of the protein into the nucleus, a finding which we failed to demonstrate in neurons. Immunostaining for HSP70i was more uniform in astrocytes than neurons. Many neurons did not stain for up to 24 h after heat shock in this study. Immunocytochemical staining of HSF-1 and 2 showed major differences between neurons and astrocytes. Astrocytes showed localization of HSF-1 to the nucleus before and after heat stress, while neurons showed HSF-1 localization to the cytoplasm and nucleus before and after heat stress. Finally HSF-2 was undetectable in neurons when compared with astrocytes by Western immunoblot analysis. However, astrocytes and neurons revealed weak immunostaining of HSF-2 in the cytoplasm and nucleus. The staining in the neurons was likely secondary to cross-reactivity to an unidentified protein. We conclude that HSP70i expression after heat shock is delayed in rat cortical neurons when compared with rat cortical astrocytes. In addition most small neurons did not synthesize HSP70i after heat shock. This difference in induction of HSP70i may be secondary to localization and activation of HSF-1 but not HSF-2. Neuronal susceptibility to injury may be related to the delayed induction of HSP70i and also the possible failure of newly synthesized HSP70i to translocate into the nucleus.

Localization of heme oxygenase in rat retina: effect of light adaptation

Heme oxygenase-2 isozyme is the predominant form of heme oxygenase in rat brain by western blot analysis. Heme oxygenase-1 isozyme is not induced by light adaptation in rat retina by western blot analysis. Immunocytochemistry localizes heme oxygenase-2 in three areas of the retina: the retinal pigment epithelium, inner segment and external nuclear layers of the rat retina. Ganglion cells and cell bodies of the internal nuclear layer of the retina and Müller cells were largely unstained for heme oxygenase-2. The localization of heme oxygenase-2 in the retina implies that its function is not associated with phototransduction. Also, light adaptation does not appear to induce heme oxygenase-1, a measure of oxidative injury.

Neuroprotection against CA1 injury with metalloporphyrins

The hippocampal slice was used to examine neuroprotection with metalloporphyrins, a class of drug which inhibits heme oxygenase and which has been found to be effective in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Tin-protoporphyrin given during hypoxia significantly improved recovery of CA1 antidromic PS to a mean of 82 +/- 2% of initial amplitude, while unmedicated slices regained only 6 +/- 3% of initial amplitude. Tin-protoporphyrin also protected against fluid percussion injury with an EC50 of 10 microM when given after trauma. This protection extended to induction of long-term potentiation. Tin-mesoporphyrin and zinc-protoporphyrin protected against trauma with EC50's of 4 and 32 microM. Treatment with Sn-PP also protected against exposure to hydrogen peroxide, but not NMDA, AMPA, glycine or nitric oxide. These findings indicate that metalloporphyrins protect against CA1 neuronal injury through direct neural effects.

Pharmacological induction of heat shock protein 68 synthesis in cultured rat astrocytes

The induction of the highly inducible 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP 70) is associated with thermotolerance and survival from many other types of stress. This investigation studied the pharmacological induction of HSP 68 (HSP 68 is the rat homolog of human HSP 70) by 1,10-phenanthroline in cultured rat astrocytes under conditions that activated heat shock transcription factor-1 without inducing HSP 68 synthesis. Two conditions that activate heat shock transcription factor-1 and promote its binding to the heat shock element without subsequent transcription of HSP 68 mRNA, intracellular acidosis and exposure to salicylate, showed synthesis of HSP 68 when 1,10-phenanthroline was added to culture medium after the activation of heat shock transcription factor-1. 1,10-phenanthroline mimicked heat shock by inducing HSP 68 mRNA and protein under both conditions. 1,10-phenanthroline added alone to culture medium did not induce the synthesis of HSP 68 or activate heat shock transcription factor-1. These findings strongly suggest a multistep activation for HSP 68 synthesis and also demonstrate that the synthesis of HSP 68 can be pharmacologically regulated.

Differential localization of heme oxygenase and NADPH-diaphorase in spinal cord neurons

Western blot analysis using several antibodies showed that rat spinal cord contained abundant immunostainable heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) and barely detectable levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Anti-HO-2 antibody stained large anterior horn motoneurones and numerous smaller neurons throughout spinal cord gray matter including the dorsal root entry zone. HO-2+ astrocytes were not evident in gray matter although their presence cannot be ruled out. The distribution of HO-2+ neurons was compared with the distribution of cells containing NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity, a marker for nitric oxide synthase. NADPH-d activity was restricted to far fewer neurons, many of which were close to the central canal and dorsal root entry zone.

Differential expression of heme oxygenase-1 in cultured cortical neurons and astrocytes determined by the aid of a new heme oxygenase antibody. Response to oxidative stress

Heme oxygenase exists as two isoenzymes designated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2). HO-2 is made constitutively in many cell types whereas HO-1 is a stress protein inducible by heat, heavy metals, ultraviolet irradiation, and oxidative stress. Recombinant rat HO-1 was expressed in bacteria and antiserum designated HO-1713 was raised against the purified protein. HO-1713 detected recombinant rat HO-1 and recombinant rat HO-2. In rat tissues it detected HO-1 and a second, unidentified band designated HO-L (heme oxygenase-like immunoreactivity) which was not HO-2. Cultured rat cortical neurons and forebrain astrocytes were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (0.14-0.7 micromolar for 30 or 60 min). Neurons which contained little detectable HO-1 and which were sensitive to hydrogen peroxide at the high end of the dose curve failed to induce HO-1 by Western blot analysis. In contrast, cultured rat forebrain astrocytes which contained HO-1 under normal culture conditions and which were resistant to injury by hydrogen peroxide, increased their content of immunoreactive HO-1 by 7-fold within 3 h after exposure. Our results support a protective role for HO-1 in oxidative injury and suggest that the relative inability of neurons to increase HO-1 after oxidative stress may contribute to their selective vulnerability vis-a-vis astrocytes. They also suggest that differential expression of heme oxygenase in studies utilizing CNS cultures may alter normal cell physiology and cell survival.

Heat Shock Proteins in Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury: A Perspective

There is much to suggest that the induction of heat shock protein synthesis is an important response to injury and stress in the brain. The role of heat shock proteins in neurological disease has been approached from two points-of-view. First, the induction and synthesis of specific proteins after brain cell injury provide a window through which insight on the regulation of gene expression in pathological tissue can be obtained. These studies have broad implications for understanding pathophysiological mechanisms of disease. Second, putative cell protective effects of heat shock proteins in brain tissue provide insight into biochemical mechanisms of selective neuronal vulnerability. These studies have extremely important clinical implications since cell sensitivity to injury can seemingly be modified. The role of heat shock proteins in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is discussed forthwith.

Heme oxygenase is a heat shock protein and PEST protein in rat astroglial cells

Cultured rat forebrain astrocytes contained significant amounts of immunostainable heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) isozyme, whereas HO-1 was undetectable in spontaneously transformed rat astroglial cells (ATs). HO-1 was inducible in both cell types by heat shock and by submicromolar amounts of H2O2. Inhibition of RNA synthesis with actinomycin D or protein synthesis with cycloheximide resulted in the rapid loss of immunostainable heme oxygenase in astrocytes. Analysis of the primary structure of heme oxygenase suggests that it is a PEST protein, i.e., targeted for rapid turnover.

Characterization of the major 68 kDa heat shock protein in a rat transformed astroglial cell line

The heat shock response in a transformed astrocyte line was compared with nontransformed astrocytes. The synthesis of HSP 68, the major inducible heat shock protein (HSP 68) was induced by a non-lethal 45 degrees C, 10 min heat shock. Although the incorporation of [35S]methionine into HSP 68 suggested that similar amounts of protein were being synthesized after heat shock, Western immunoblotting demonstrated striking differences in the HSP immunostaining between the two cell types. By one- and 'two-dimensional gel electrophoresis the major 68 kDa heat shock protein (HSP 68) was similar in both cell types. However, HSP 68 from heat shocked, transformed astrocytes did not immunostain with the monoclonal antibody, C-92, which is specific for the major inducible heat shock protein of HeLa cells. In contrast HSP 68 from heat shocked, nontransformed astrocytes immunostained quite well. A polyclonal antibody raised against the inducible 72 kDa heat shock protein of HeLa cells immunostained the HSP 68 from both astrocytes and transformed astrocytes. Analysis of the mRNA from the two cell types after heat shock revealed two bands of approximately 2.5 and 2.8 kb in astrocytes but only a single 2.5 kb band in the heat shocked transformed astroglia. These results suggest that structural differences in the HSP 68 may be present in the transformed astrocytes compared to the normal astrocytes.

Heat shock in cultured neurons and astrocytes: correlation of ultrastructure and heat shock protein synthesis

Cultured cerebral cortical neurons and astrocytes were compared after a brief shock. Morphological findings were correlated with the synthesis of the 68 kD heat shock protein (HSP68). Heat shocked neurons demonstrated many severe morphological changes after exposure to temperatures of 43 degrees C for 15 min and 45 degrees C for 10 min. Nuclear membrane 'blebbing' with lysis of the membrane, chromatin clumping, and disappearance of the nucleolus were prominent after both conditions. Lysis of the cell membrane was noted in severely injured neurons; this was more prominent at the higher temperature. In addition, alterations to polyribosomes, Golgi apparatus, rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were noted in the cytoplasm of neurons after heat shock. In contrast, no significant changes were noted in either the nucleus or cytoplasm of heat shocked astrocytes. The severity of morphological changes in neurons directly correlated with the low level of induction of HSP68 in neurons. Neurons synthesized much less 68 kD heat shock protein than similarly heat shocked astrocytes. We conclude that cultured cerebral cortical neurons are more susceptible to injury after heat shock than heat resistant astrocytes and that one possible mechanism of injury is failure to synthesize adequate amounts of HSP68 after injury.

Regulation of heat shock protein synthesis in rat astrocytes

Rat forebrain astrocytes synthesize heat shock proteins with molecular weights 97, 89, 70, 68, and 30-34 kilodaltons. The stress inducible 68-kDa heat shock protein (HSP-68) was vigorously expressed by astrocytes in culture after a 45 degrees C, 20 min heat shock. HSP-68 synthesis was poorly inducible by a second heat shock given 16 hr after the initial heat shock. Decreased [35S]methionine incorporation into HSP-68 correlated with low levels of HSP-68 mRNA present after the second heat shock. The data suggest that control of HSP-68 mRNA levels by transcriptional/posttranscriptional mechanisms is a major site for regulation of HSP-68 synthesis.

Comparison of the heat shock response in cultured cortical neurons and astrocytes

Cultured cortical neurons and astrocytes were compared for synthesis of the major inducible 68 kDa heat shock protein. By one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis the inducible 68 kDa protein appeared similar, but astrocytes produced greater amounts of the protein by 3 h than did neurons. Antibodies raised against HeLa cell inducible 72 and constitutive 73 kDa heat shock proteins were used to characterizes the inducible heat shock proteins in neurons and astrocytes. Unlike the gels, major differences were noted of the major inducible heat shock protein in astrocytes compared with neurons when analyzed by Western immunoblots. Heat shock protein 68 kDa mRNA induction in neurons was less than astrocytes suggesting an attenuated inducible 68 kDa heat shock protein response in neurons. The neuronal protein may be a different isoform of the 70 kDa family of heat shock proteins.

Synthesis of the major inducible heat shock protein in rat hippocampus after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia

Rats aged 7 days were exposed to 3.5 h of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia produced by unilateral common carotid artery ligation combined with hypoxia (8% oxygen). The major inducible heat-shock protein, HSP-68, was synthesized in ipsilateral but not contralateral (control) hippocampus during early recovery (1 and 3 h). HSP-68 synthesis was not detected during longer recovery periods. The presence of HSP-68 was confirmed by Western blotting and immunostaining with a polyclonal antibody to HSP-68.

Induction of the major inducible 68-kDa heat-shock protein after rapid changes of extracellular pH in cultured rat astrocytes

Cultured rat astrocytes were exposed for 1 or 3 h to acidic medium (pH adjusted to 5.0, 5.5, or 6.0). Radioactive labeling for 3 h after exposure to acidic medium revealed increased synthesis of many proteins, including an inducible 68-kDa protein. Optimal extracellular (medium) pH for the induction of this 68-kDa protein was 5.5. Immunoblotting demonstrated that this 68-kDa protein induced by acidosis was the 68-kDa heat-shock protein previously described in cultured astrocytes.

The induction of the major heat-stress protein in purified rat glial cells

Cultured purified oligodendroglia and astroglia exposed to heat stress (45 degrees C, 10 or 20 min) synthesized a 68-kDa heat-stress protein, which migrates on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and reacts with a specific monoclonal antibody suggesting it is similar to a major 72-kDa heat-shock protein previously reported in other cell types. This protein was not detected in control glial cultures. Actinomycin D prevented synthesis of this protein demonstrating an absolute requirement for newly synthesized mRNA. The response was prolonged by increasing the period of heat stress from 10 to 20 min. In addition to the 68-kDa HSP protein, the incorporation of radioactivity into 70-, 89-, and 97-kDa proteins was also increased after heating, but in contrast to the 68 kDa protein these proteins appeared to be made in control glial cultures.

Cerebral hypoxia-ischemia in immature rats: methodological considerations

We used a model of perinatal hypoxic/ischemic brain damage which combines unilateral common carotid artery ligation and hypoxia (8% O2). Protein synthesis inhibition and cell loss were found in the ipsilateral forebrain of 11-day-old rats when hypoxia was initiated 4 h but not 24 h after carotid ligation. [14C]Iodoantipyrine uptake studies suggest that compensating vascular changes which protect the ipsilateral forebrain occur within 24 h of carotid ligation.

Focal protein synthesis inhibition in a model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury

Cerebral hypoxia-ischemia was produced in 1-week-old rats by exposing them to 8% O2-92% N2 commencing 4 to 6 h after unilateral carotid artery ligation. Protein synthesis rates were measured in cerebral cortex, caudate-putamen, thalamus, and lateral septal nuclei during 2 h of hypoxia and at three times (15 min, 10 h, and 18 h) after a 3.5-h hypoxic exposure. Protein synthesis was inhibited in the ipsilateral but not contralateral forebrain during the brief hypoxic exposure, and in both hemispheres during early recovery after a 3.5 h exposure, which was sufficient to produce brain injury in the ipsilateral hemisphere. At 10 h after hypoxia, protein synthesis rates in the contralateral forebrain had recovered to control values, but in vulnerable structures of the ipsilateral forebrain, recovery of protein synthesis was transient and incomplete (cerebral cortex) or remained at the low values found immediately after hypoxia (caudate-putamen). The early development of abnormal patterns of protein synthesis in vulnerable brain regions during hypoxia and its persistence in some rats during recovery when irreversible cell injury becomes manifest suggests a possible role for abnormal protein metabolism in the evolution of irreversible brain cell damage.

L-fucose labeling of brain tumors in rats

These studies used L-[14C]fucose to identify 9L brain tumors in rats. Ten days after intracranial implantation of 9L tumor cells, labeled L-fucose was injected intravenously. Autoradiography demonstrated high levels of radioactive L-fucose in the resultant 9L tumors but very little L-fucose in normal brain tissue. In vitro studies comparing uptake of labeled fucose into 9L cells, normal rat fibroblasts and transformed rat fibroblasts, rat astrocytes, and human brain tissue suggest that fucose is not preferentially transported into the 9L cells. These data imply that a permissive blood-brain barrier rather than differences in fucose metabolism underlie 9L tumor labeling.