The influence of an enamine usnic acid derivative (a tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 inhibitor) on the therapeutic effect of topotecan against transplanted tumors in vivo

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (Tdp1) is a repair enzyme for 3'-end DNA lesions, predominantly stalled DNA-topoisomerase 1 (Top1) cleavage complexes. Tdp1 is a promising target for anticancer therapy based on DNA damage caused by Top1 poisoning. Earlier, we have reported about usnic acid enamine derivatives that are Tdp1 inhibitors sensitizing tumor cells to the action of Top1 poison (Zakharenko in J Nat Prod 79:2961-2967, 2016). In the present work, we showed a sensitizing effect of an enamine derivative of usnic acid (when administered intragastrically) on Lewis lung carcinoma in mice in combination with topotecan (TPT, Top1 poison used in the clinic). In the presence of the usnic acid derivative, both the volume of the primary tumor and the number of metastases significantly diminished. The absence of acute toxicity of this compound was demonstrated, as was the importance of the method of its administration for the manifestation of the sensitizing properties.

Role of Phosphodiesterase in the Biology and Pathology of Diabetes

Glucose metabolism is the initiator of a large number of molecular secretory processes in β cells. Cyclic nucleotides as a second messenger are the main physiological regulators of these processes and are functionally divided into compartments in pancreatic cells. Their intracellular concentration is limited by hydrolysis led by one or more phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes. Literature data confirmed multiple expressions of PDEs subtypes, but the specific roles of each in pancreatic β-cell function, particularly in humans, are still unclear. Isoforms present in the pancreas are also found in various tissues of the body. Normoglycemia and its strict control are supported by the appropriate release of insulin from the pancreas and the action of insulin in peripheral tissues, including processes related to homeostasis, the regulation of which is based on the PDE- cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling pathway. The challenge in developing a therapeutic solution based on GSIS (glucose-stimulated insulin secretion) enhancers targeted at PDEs is the selective inhibition of their activity only within β cells. Undeniably, PDEs inhibitors have therapeutic potential, but some of them are burdened with certain adverse effects. Therefore, the chance to use knowledge in this field for diabetes treatment has been postulated for a long time.

Post-Treatment M2BPGi Level and the Rate of Autotaxin Reduction are Predictive of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development after Antiviral Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) regardless of achieving a sustained viral response (SVR). Because advanced liver fibrosis is a powerful risk factor for HCC, we analyzed the association between autotaxin (ATX), a liver fibrosis marker, and post-SVR HCC development within 3 years after antiviral treatment. We included 670 patients with HCV who received direct-acting antivirals, achieved SVR and were followed up for at least 6 months (270 of them were followed up for 3 years or more). We measured serum ATX levels before treatment and 12/24 weeks after treatment. The diagnosis of HCC was based on imaging modalities, such as dynamic computed tomography and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging and/or liver biopsy. The present study revealed that high levels of serum ATX predicted post-SVR HCC development (area under the receiver operating characteristic: 0.70-0.76). However, Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive Mac-2 binding protein (M2BPGi), another liver fibrosis marker, was a more useful predictive marker especially post-treatment according to a multivariate analysis. Patients with a high rate of ATX reduction before and after antiviral treatment did not develop HCC regardless of high pretreatment ATX levels. In conclusion, post-treatment M2BPGi level and the combination of pretreatment ATX levels and rate of ATX reduction were useful predictive markers for post-SVR HCC development in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Maintenance of cyclic GMP-AMP homeostasis by ENPP1 is involved in pseudorabies virus infection

In a previous study, we demonstrated that porcine cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) catalyzes cGAMP production and is an important DNA sensor for the pseudorabies virus (PRV)-induced activation of interferon β (IFN-β). Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) has recently been identified as the hydrolase of cGAMP in rodents, but its role in porcine cells is not clear. Our recent study demonstrated that porcine ENPP1 is responsible for the homeostasis of cGAMP and is critical for PRV infection. Porcine ENPP1 mRNA is predominantly expressed in muscle. PRV infection was enhanced by ENPP1 overexpression and attenuated by silencing of ENPP1. During PRV infection, the activation of IFN-β and NF-κB was reduced in ENPP1 overexpressed cells and promoted in ENPP1 knockdown cells. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of ENPP1 during PRV infection showed that ENPP1 hydrolyzed cGAMP in PRV-infected or cGAMP-transfected cells and inhibited IRF3 phosphorylation, reducing IFN-β secretion. These results, combined with those for porcine cGAS, demonstrate that ENPP1 acts coordinately with cGAS to maintain the reservoir of cGAMP and participates in PRV infection.

Loxosceles venom Sphingomyelinase D activates human blood leukocytes: Role of the complement system

Envenomation by Loxosceles spiders can result in severe systemic and local reactions, which are mainly triggered by Sphingomyelinase D (SMase D), a toxic component of Loxosceles venom. SMase D induces a systemic inflammatory condition similar to the reaction observed during an endotoxic shock. Considering the potent pro-inflammatory potential of Loxosceles venom and the SMase D, in this study we have used the whole human blood model to study the endotoxic-like shock triggered by SMase D. Recombinant purified SMase D from L. intermedia venom, similarly to LPS, induced activation of blood leukocytes, as observed by the increase in the expression of CD11b and TLR4, production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (superoxide anion and peroxynitrite) and release of TNF-α. Complement consumption in the plasma was also detected, and complement inhibition by compstatin decreased the SMase D and LPS-induced leukocyte activation, as demonstrated by a reduction in the expression of CD11b and TLR4 and superoxide anion production. Similar results were found for the L. intermedia venom, except for the production of TNF-α. These findings indicate that SMase D present in Loxosceles venom is able to activate leukocytes in a partially complement-dependent manner, which can contribute to the systemic inflammation that follows envenomation by this spider. Thus, future therapeutic management of systemic Loxosceles envenomation could include the use of complement inhibitors as adjunct therapy.

[Physiopathology of cAMP/PKA signaling in neurons]

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and the cyclic-AMP dependent protein kinase (PKA) regulate a plethora of cellular functions in virtually all eukaryotic cells. In neurons, the cAMP/PKA signaling cascade controls a number of biological properties such as axonal growth, synaptic transmission, regulation of excitability or long term changes in the nucleus. Genetically-encoded optical biosensors for cAMP or PKA considerably improved our understanding of these processes by providing a real-time measurement in living neurons. In this review, we describe the recent progresses made in the creation of biosensors for cAMP or PKA activity. These biosensors revealed profound differences in the amplitude of the cAMP signal evoked by neuromodulators between various neuronal preparations. These responses can be resolved at the level of individual neurons, also revealing differences related to the neuronal type. At the subcellular level, biosensors reported different signal dynamics in domains like dendrites, cell body, nucleus and axon. Combining this imaging approach with pharmacology or genetical models points at phosphodiesterases and phosphatases as critical regulatory proteins. Biosensor imaging will certainly help understand the mechanism of action of current drugs as well as help in devising novel therapeutic strategies for neuropsychiatric diseases.

Rare inactivating PDE11A variants associated with testicular germ cell tumors

Germline inactivating mutations of isoform 4 of phosphodiesterase (PDE) 11A (coded by the PDE11A gene) have been associated with familial adrenocortical tumors and familial testicular cancer. Testicular tissue is unique in expressing all four isoforms of PDE11A. In a prior candidate gene study of 94 familial testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) subjects, we identified a significant association between the presence of functionally abnormal variants in PDE11A and familial TGCT risk. To validate this novel observation, we sequenced the PDE11A coding region in 259 additional TGCT patients (both familial and sporadic) and 363 controls. We identified 55 PDE11A variants: 20 missense, four splice-site, two nonsense, seven synonymous, and 22 intronic. Ten missense variants were novel; nine occurred in transcript variant 4 and one in transcript variant 3. Five rare mutations (p.F258Y, p.G291R, p.V820M, p.R545X, and p.K568R) were present only in cases and were significantly more common in cases vs controls (P=0.0037). The latter two novel variants were functionally characterized and shown to be functionally inactivating, resulting in reduced PDE activity and increased cAMP levels. In further analysis of this cohort, we focused on white participants only to minimize confounding due to population stratification. This study builds upon our prior reports implicating PDE11A variants in familial TGCT, provides the first independent validation of those findings, extends that work to sporadic testicular cancer, demonstrates that these variants are uncommonly but reproducibly associated with TGCT, and refines our understanding regarding which specific inactivating PDE11A variants are most likely to be associated with TGCT risk.

New insights into the autotaxin/LPA axis in cancer development and metastasis

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a simple lipid with a single fatty acyl chain linked to a glycerophosphate backbone. Despite the simplicity of its structure but owing to its interactions with a series of at least six G protein-coupled receptors (LPA1-6), LPA exerts pleiotropic bioactivities including stimulation of proliferation, migration and survival of many cell types. Autotaxin (ATX) is a unique enzyme with a lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) activity that is responsible for the levels of LPA in the blood circulation. Both LPA receptor family members and ATX/LysoPLD are aberrantly expressed in many human cancers. This review will present the more striking as well as novel experimental evidences using cell lines, cancer mouse models and transgenic animals identifying the roles for ATX and LPA receptors in cancer progression, tumor cell invasion and metastasis.

Silencing of the glycerophosphocholine phosphodiesterase GDPD5 alters the phospholipid metabolite profile in a breast cancer model in vivo as monitored by (31) P MRS

Abnormal choline phospholipid metabolism is an emerging hallmark of cancer, which is implicated in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. The malignant metabolic phenotype is characterized by high levels of phosphocholine (PC) and relatively low levels of glycerophosphocholine (GPC) in aggressive breast cancer cells. Phosphorus ((31) P) MRS is able to non-invasively detect these water-soluble metabolites of choline as well as ethanolamine phospholipid metabolism. Here we have investigated the effects of stably silencing glycerophosphoester diesterase domain containing 5 (GDPD5), which is an enzyme with glycerophosphocholine phosphodiesterase activity, in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and orthotopic tumor xenografts. Tumors in which GDPD5 was stably silenced with GDPD5-specific shRNA contained increased levels of GPC and phosphoethanolamine (PE) compared with control tumors.

Mammalian Glycerophosphodiester Phosphodiesterases

Bacterial glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterases (GP-PDEs), GlpQ and UgpQ, are well-characterized periplasmic and cytosolic proteins that play critical roles in the hydrolysis of deacylated glycerophospholipids to glycerol phosphate and alcohol, which are utilized as major sources of carbon and phosphate. In contrast, two novel mammalian GP-PDEs, GDE1/MIR16 and GDE3, were recently identified, and were shown to be involved in several physiological functions. GDE1/MIR16 was identified as a membrane protein interacting with RGS16, a regulator of G protein signaling, and found to hydrolyze glycerophosphoinositol preferentially. We have found that expression of GDE3 is significantly up-regulated during osteoblast differentiation and is involved in morphological changes of cells. Furthermore, five mammalian GP-PDEs were virtually identified, and very recent studies indicate that retinoic acid-induced expression of GDE2 plays essential roles in neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth. Thus mammalian GP-PDEs are likely to be important in controlling numerous cellular events, indicating that the GP-PDE superfamily in mammals might be a pharmacological target in the future.

A review of phosphodiesterase-inhibition and the potential role for phosphodiesterase 4-inhibitors in clinical dermatology

BACKGROUND

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors are commonly used drugs. Specific phosphodiesterase inhibitors with anti-inflammatory properties are being assessed as dermatological treatments.

PURPOSE

To describe important aspects of phosphodiesterase inhibition and the safety and efficacy of 2 phosphodiesterase- 4 inhibitors being studied for the treatment of dermatologic diseases

METHODS

We did a non-systematic analysis of literature on phosphodiesterase inhibition followed by a review of published information on apremilast and topical AN2728 and their use for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

FINDINGS

Apremilast and topical AN2728 have modest efficacy in treatment of psoriasis. Apremilast achieved PASI-75 scores ranging from 24-33%. In phase 2 studies, AN2728 had modest efficacy for psoriasis (40% of patients achieved a ≥ 2 grade improvement as assessed by the Overall target Plaque Severity Score). In phase 2 studies of AN2728 use in atopic dermatitis, subjects achieved a 71% improvement from baseline Atopic Dermatitis Severity Index. In all studies, most adverse effects were minimal. The limitations of this paper are the limited number of published studies, the lack of long-term data, and the lack of head -to - head trials directly comparing phosphodiesterase inhibitors with other treatments.

CONCLUSION

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors constitute a widely used class of drugs that may see growing use for inflammatory dermatologic diseases.

Mono-allelic and bi-allelic ENPP1 deficiency promote post-injury neointimal hyperplasia associated with increased C/EBP homologous protein expression

OBJECTIVE

Bi-allelic function-inactivating ENPP1 mutations cause artery media calcification (AMC) with associated severe myointimal hyperplasia in generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI), whereas mono-allelic ENPP1 deficiency is phenotypically normal. Here, we tested if ENPP1 deficiency promotes abnormal vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-driven responses to injury, with or without calcification. The ER stress mediator C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) affects neointimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis, and has paradoxical effects on bone formation. Hence, we assessed relationships between ENPP1 and CHOP in VSMCs.

METHODS

We studied ENPP1-deficient mice and control littermates subjected to left carotid artery ligation, and isolated and studied VSMCs from these and Chop-/- mice, or with CHOP siRNA treatment.

RESULTS

Normal Enpp1-/+ mice, in addition to Enpp1-/- mice prior to AMC development, had accelerated neointimal hyperplasia in response to carotid artery ligation at 7-8 weeks age. Neointimal hyperplasia was linked with robust artery media CHOP expression in situ, but with marked AMC only in injured Enpp1-/- arteries. Cultured, ENPP1-deficient and CHOP-deficient VSMCs had increased migration and proliferation to PDGF. Cultured Chop-/- VSMCs demonstrated increased Pi donor-induced calcification. CHOP was significantly increased in Pi donor treated Enpp1-/- and Enpp1-/+ cultured VSMCs. CHOP siRNA treatment of Enpp1-/- VSMCs increased calcification, associated with elevated expression of tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase and the master osteoblastic transcription factor RUNX2.

CONCLUSIONS

Both mono-allelic and bi-allelic ENPP1 deficiency promote dysregulated VSMC function, with robust lesion CHOP expression and enhanced neointimal hyperplasia after injury in vivo, but marked post-injury calcification limited to Enpp1-/- mice. Intimal hyperplasia in GACI appears regulated by biologic effects of ENPP1 deficiency other than calcification, including ER stress. VSMC CHOP excess in ENPP1 deficiency may primarily function to limit VSMC calcification.

Streptococcus pyogenes c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase, GdpP, influences SpeB processing and virulence

Small cyclic nucleotide derivatives are employed as second messengers by both prokaryotes and eukaryotes to regulate diverse cellular processes responding to various signals. In bacteria, c-di-AMP has been discovered most recently, and some Gram-positive pathogens including S. pyogenes use this cyclic nucleotide derivative as a second messenger instead of c-di-GMP, a well-studied important bacterial second messenger. GdpP, c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase, is responsible for degrading c-di-AMP inside cells, and the cellular role of GdpP in S. pyogenes has not been examined yet. To test the cellular role of GdpP, we created a strain with a nonpolar inframe deletion of the gdpP gene, and examined the properties of the strain including virulence. From this study, we demonstrated that GdpP influences the biogenesis of SpeB, the major secreted cysteine protease, at a post-translational level, susceptibility to the beta lactam antibiotic ampicillin, and is necessary for full virulence in a murine subcutaneous infection model.

Cardiac PDEs and crosstalk between cAMP and cGMP signalling pathways in the regulation of contractility

Elucidation of cAMP and cGMP signalling in the heart remains a hot topic, and new regulatory mechanisms continue to appear. Studying the influence of phosphodiesterases on 5-HT4 receptor signalling in porcine atrium, a paper from this issue of the journal expands findings of a crosstalk between cardiac cGMP and cAMP signalling recently discovered in failing rat ventricle to a different species and cardiac region. The overall data suggest that cGMP, produced following stimulation of the NPR-B receptor for C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), inhibits cAMP degradation by phosphodiesterase 3 and thereby enhances cAMP-mediated signalling from β-adrenoceptors and 5-HT4 receptors to inotropic effects. In porcine atrium, this effect can be seen both as an increase in inotropic effect and as a reduced fade of the inotropic effect with time. Thus, accumulating evidence brings together several active fields of research, including cardiac phosphodiesterases, compartmentation of cyclic nucleotide signalling and the field of natriuretic peptides. If present in human hearts, this effect of CNP may have clinical implications.

Contribution of adenosine-producing ectoenzymes to the mechanisms underlying the mitigation of maternal-fetal conflicts

The interactions taking place between mother and embryo have been the focus of detailed studies in recent years, where pregnancy is considered as an in vivo transplant. The immune systems of the mother and the embryo together establish a condition of tolerance, which lasts throughout the pregnancy. Alongside immunogenetic components, a contribution is provided by the ectoenzyme network, a chain of surface molecules mainly operating in closed environments and potentially providing inhibitory or activator signals. One of the soluble products of the ectoenzyme network with immunosuppressory potential is adenosine, a purine nucleoside that plays multiple roles in almost all tissues and organs. The hypothesis behind the work was studied in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), an event which remains unexplained in over 50 percent of cases. To this aim, we analyzed the expression of CD39 (ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1, ENTPD1) and CD73 (ecto-5’-nucleotidase, NT5E), the main pathway for adenosine generation, in samples obtained from women with RPL. The study included the evaluation of the expression of TNF-alpha (a pro-inflammatory cytokine) and of an alternative pathway of adenosine generation run by CD38 (ADP-ribosyl cyclase/cyclic ADP-ribose hydrolase) and PC-1 (ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1, ENPP1). The results of this study highlight the existence of a network of surface enzymes expressed at the maternal/fetal interface and addressed to the production of adenosine. Perturbation of this network may induce a rescue pathway driven by CD38 and ENPP1. Ectoenzyme and inflammation may be considered now key elements in orchestrating the events leading to the interruption of pregnancy in the RPL sample analyzed and at the same potentially becoming therapeutic targets.

The prenyl-binding protein PrBP/δ: a chaperone participating in intracellular trafficking

Expressed ubiquitously, PrBP/δ functions as chaperone/co-factor in the transport of a subset of prenylated proteins. PrBP/δ features an immunoglobulin-like β-sandwich fold for lipid binding, and interacts with diverse partners. PrBP/δ binds both C-terminal C15 and C20 prenyl side chains of phototransduction polypeptides and small GTP-binding (G) proteins of the Ras superfamily. PrBP/δ also interacts with the small GTPases, ARL2 and ARL3, which act as release factors (GDFs) for prenylated cargo. Targeted deletion of the mouse Pde6d gene encoding PrBP/δ resulted in impeded trafficking to the outer segments of GRK1 and cone PDE6 which are predicted to be farnesylated and geranylgeranylated, respectively. Rod and cone transducin trafficking was largely unaffected. These trafficking defects produce progressive cone-rod dystrophy in the Pde6d(-/-) mouse.

Adipose tissue dysfunction in humans: a potential role for the transmembrane protein ENPP1

CONTEXT

Adipose tissue (AT) helps to regulate body fat partitioning and systemic lipid/glucose metabolism. We have recently reported lipid/glucose metabolism abnormalities and increased liver triglyceride content in an AT-selective transgenic model overexpressing ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-1 (ENPP1), the AdiposeENPP1-Tg mouse.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to test the translational hypothesis that AT-ENPP1 overexpression associates with AT dysfunction (changes in AT gene expression, plasma fatty acid, and adipokine levels), increased liver triglyceride deposition, and systemic insulin resistance in humans.

DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

A total of 134 young normoglycemic men and women were subjected to body composition studies, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, and AT needle biopsy. Twenty men also had liver/muscle nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Predetermined measures included AT expression of ENPP1 and other lipid metabolism/inflammation genes, plasma adipokines, and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels, liver/muscle triglyceride content, and the systemic glucose disposal rate.

RESULTS

After statistical adjustment for body fat content, increasing AT-ENPP1 was associated with up-regulation of genes involved in NEFA metabolism and inflammation, increased postabsorptive NEFA levels, decreased plasma adiponectin, increased liver triglyceride content, and systemic insulin resistance in men. In women, there were no changes in plasma adiponectin, NEFAs, or glucose disposal rate associated with increasing AT-ENPP1, despite increased expression of lipid metabolism and inflammation genes in AT.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased AT-ENPP1 is associated with AT dysfunction, increased liver triglyceride deposition, and systemic insulin resistance in young normoglycemic men. These findings are concordant with the AdiposeENPP1-Tg phenotype and identify a potential target of therapy for health complications of AT dysfunction, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Altered bone development and an increase in FGF-23 expression in Enpp1(-/-) mice

Nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 1 (NPP1) is required for the conversion of extracellular ATP into inorganic pyrophosphate (PP(i)), a recognised inhibitor of hydroxyapatite (HA) crystal formation. A detailed phenotypic assessment of a mouse model lacking NPP1 (Enpp1(-/-)) was completed to determine the role of NPP1 in skeletal and soft tissue mineralization in juvenile and adult mice. Histopathological assessment of Enpp1(-/-) mice at 22 weeks of age revealed calcification in the aorta and kidney and ectopic cartilage formation in the joints and spine. Radiographic assessment of the hind-limb showed hyper-mineralization in the talocrural joint and hypo-mineralization in the femur and tibia. MicroCT analysis of the tibia and femur disclosed altered trabecular architecture and bone geometry at 6 and 22 weeks of age in Enpp1(-/-) mice. Trabecular number, trabecular bone volume, structure model index, trabecular and cortical thickness were all significantly reduced in tibiae and femurs from Enpp1(-/-) mice (P<0.05). Bone stiffness as determined by 3-point bending was significantly reduced in Enpp1(-/-) tibiae and femurs from 22-week-old mice (P<0.05). Circulating phosphate and calcium levels were reduced (P<0.05) in the Enpp1(-/-) null mice. Plasma levels of osteocalcin were significantly decreased at 6 weeks of age (P<0.05) in Enpp1(-/-) mice, with no differences noted at 22 weeks of age. Plasma levels of CTx (Ratlaps™) and the phosphaturic hormone FGF-23 were significantly increased in the Enpp1(-/-) mice at 22 weeks of age (P<0.05). Fgf-23 messenger RNA expression in cavarial osteoblasts was increased 12-fold in Enpp1(-/-) mice compared to controls. These results indicate that Enpp1(-/-) mice are characterized by severe disruption to the architecture and mineralization of long-bones, dysregulation of calcium/phosphate homeostasis and changes in Fgf-23 expression. We conclude that NPP1 is essential for normal bone development and control of physiological bone mineralization.

[Function and biological activities of the autotaxin-LPA axis]

Autotaxin (ATX), a member of nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (NPP) family, is also named as phosphodiesterase Iα (PD-Iα) or NPP2. ATX is the unique member among the NPPs that can function as a lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD), converting lysophosphatidylcholine into lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). LPA acts on specific G-protein-coupled receptors to elicit a wide range of cellular response, including cell proliferation, cell migration and cell contraction, etc. As the major LPA-producing phospholipase, many ATX's features and functions are dependent on the production of LPA. ATX and LPA together form the ATX-LPA functional axis. The present review summarizes the current progress in function and biological activities of ATX-LPA axis.

Metabolic consequences of ENPP1 overexpression in adipose tissue

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphate phosphodiesterase (ENPP1) has been shown to negatively modulate insulin receptor and to induce cellular insulin resistance when overexpressed in various cell types. Systemic insulin resistance has also been observed when ENPP1 is overexpressed in multiple tissues of transgenic models and attributed largely to tissue insulin resistance induced in skeletal muscle and liver. Another key tissue in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism is adipose tissue (AT). Interestingly, obese patients with insulin resistance have been reported to have increased AT ENPP1 expression. However, the specific effects of ENPP1 in AT have not been studied. To better understand the specific role of AT ENPP1 on systemic metabolism, we have created a transgenic mouse model (C57/Bl6 background) with targeted overexpression of human ENPP1 in adipocytes, using aP2 promoter in the transgene construct (AdiposeENPP1-TG). Using either regular chow or pair-feeding protocol with 60% fat diet, we compared body fat content and distribution and insulin signaling in adipose, muscle, and liver tissues of AdiposeENPP1-TG and wild-type (WT) siblings. We also compared response to intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Our results show no changes in Adipose ENPP1-TG mice fed a regular chow diet. After high-fat diet with pair-feeding protocol, AdiposeENPP1-TG and WT mice had similar weights. However, AdiposeENPP1-TG mice developed fatty liver in association with changes in AT characterized by smaller adipocyte size and decreased phosphorylation of insulin receptor Tyr(1361) and Akt Ser(473). These changes in AT function and fat distribution were associated with systemic abnormalities of lipid and glucose metabolism, including increased plasma concentrations of fatty acid, triglyceride, plasma glucose, and insulin during IPGTT and decreased glucose suppression during ITT. Thus, our results show that, in the presence of a high-fat diet, ENPP1 overexpression in adipocytes induces fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, and dysglycemia, thus recapitulating key manifestations of the metabolic syndrome.

A trigger enzyme in Mycoplasma pneumoniae: impact of the glycerophosphodiesterase GlpQ on virulence and gene expression

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a causative agent of atypical pneumonia. The formation of hydrogen peroxide, a product of glycerol metabolism, is essential for host cell cytotoxicity. Phosphatidylcholine is the major carbon source available on lung epithelia, and its utilization requires the cleavage of deacylated phospholipids to glycerol-3-phosphate and choline. M. pneumoniae possesses two potential glycerophosphodiesterases, MPN420 (GlpQ) and MPN566. In this work, the function of these proteins was analyzed by biochemical, genetic, and physiological studies. The results indicate that only GlpQ is an active glycerophosphodiesterase. MPN566 has no enzymatic activity as glycerophosphodiesterase and the inactivation of the gene did not result in any detectable phenotype. Inactivation of the glpQ gene resulted in reduced growth in medium with glucose as the carbon source, in loss of hydrogen peroxide production when phosphatidylcholine was present, and in a complete loss of cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells. All these phenotypes were reverted upon complementation of the mutant. Moreover, the glpQ mutant strain exhibited a reduced gliding velocity. A comparison of the proteomes of the wild type strain and the glpQ mutant revealed that this enzyme is also implicated in the control of gene expression. Several proteins were present in higher or lower amounts in the mutant. This apparent regulation by GlpQ is exerted at the level of transcription as determined by mRNA slot blot analyses. All genes subject to GlpQ-dependent control have a conserved potential cis-acting element upstream of the coding region. This element overlaps the promoter in the case of the genes that are repressed in a GlpQ-dependent manner and it is located upstream of the promoter for GlpQ-activated genes. We may suggest that GlpQ acts as a trigger enzyme that measures the availability of its product glycerol-3-phosphate and uses this information to differentially control gene expression.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae serves as a model organism for bacteria with very small genomes that are nonetheless independently viable. These bacteria infect the human lung and cause an atypical pneumonia. The major virulence determinant of M. pneumoniae is hydrogen peroxide that is generated during the utilization of glycerol-3-phosphate, which might be derived from free glycerol or from the degradation of phospholipids. Indeed, lecithin is the by far most abundant carbon source on lung epithelia. In this study, we made use of the recent availability of methods to isolate mutants of M. pneumoniae and characterized the enzyme that generates glycerol-3-phosphate from deacylated lecithin (glycerophosphocholine). This enzyme, called GlpQ, is essential for the formation of hydrogen peroxide when the bacteria are incubated with glycerophosphocholine. Moreover, M. pneumoniae is unable to cause any detectable damage to the host cells in the absence of GlpQ. This underlines the important role of phospholipid metabolism for the virulence of M. pneumoniae. We observed that GlpQ in addition to its enzymatic activity is also involved in the control of expression of several genes, among them the glycerol transporter. Thus, GlpQ is central to the normal physiology and to pathogenicity of the minimal pathogen M. pneumoniae.

Phosphodiesterases as targets for modulating T-cell responses

The cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway is strongly involved in the regulation and modulation of immune responses, and cAMP is the most potent and acute inhibitor of T-cell activation. Thus, cAMP levels in the cell must be tightly regulated. Cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterases (PDEs) provide the only mechanism for degrading cAMP in cells, thereby functioning as key regulators of signaling. To obtain a complete immune response with optimal cytokine production and T-cell proliferation, ligation of both the T-cell receptor (TCR) and the CD28 receptor is required. However, engagement of the TCR in primary T cells is followed by rapid cAMP production in lipid rafts and activation of the cAMP- PKA-Csk pathway inhibiting proximal T-cell signaling. In contrast, TCR/CD28 costimulation leads to the recruitment of a PDE4/β-arrestin complex to rafts in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent manner, resulting in the downregulation of cAMP levels. Thus, the activities of both PKA and PDE4 seem to be important for regulation of TCR-induced signaling and T-cell function. The use of selective inhibitors has revealed that PDEs are important drug targets in several diseases with an inflammatory component where immune function is important such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. PDEs are also interesting drug targets in immunosuppression following transplantation and for modulation of immune responses.

c-di-AMP is a new second messenger in Staphylococcus aureus with a role in controlling cell size and envelope stress

The cell wall is a vital and multi-functional part of bacterial cells. For Staphylococcus aureus, an important human bacterial pathogen, surface proteins and cell wall polymers are essential for adhesion, colonization and during the infection process. One such cell wall polymer, lipoteichoic acid (LTA), is crucial for normal bacterial growth and cell division. Upon depletion of this polymer bacteria increase in size and a misplacement of division septa and eventual cell lysis is observed. In this work, we describe the isolation and characterization of LTA-deficient S. aureus suppressor strains that regained the ability to grow almost normally in the absence of this cell wall polymer. Using a whole genome sequencing approach, compensatory mutations were identified and revealed that mutations within one gene, gdpP (GGDEF domain protein containing phosphodiesterase), allow both laboratory and clinical isolates of S. aureus to grow without LTA. It was determined that GdpP has phosphodiesterase activity in vitro and uses the cyclic dinucleotide c-di-AMP as a substrate. Furthermore, we show for the first time that c-di-AMP is produced in S. aureus presumably by the S. aureus DacA protein, which has diadenylate cyclase activity. We also demonstrate that GdpP functions in vivo as a c-di-AMP-specific phosphodiesterase, as intracellular c-di-AMP levels increase drastically in gdpP deletion strains and in an LTA-deficient suppressor strain. An increased amount of cross-linked peptidoglycan was observed in the gdpP mutant strain, a cell wall alteration that could help bacteria compensate for the lack of LTA. Lastly, microscopic analysis of wild-type and gdpP mutant strains revealed a 13–22% reduction in the cell size of bacteria with increased c-di-AMP levels. Taken together, these data suggest a function for this novel secondary messenger in controlling cell size of S. aureus and in helping bacteria to cope with extreme membrane and cell wall stress.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen that colonizes the nares and skin of both sick and healthy individuals and causes a variety of infections ranging from superficial skin to invasive infections. The ability of this bacterium to cause disease depends on many factors and is, in part, due to multi-functional cell surface structures. One such structure is lipoteichoic acid (LTA), which is crucial for bacterial growth. In this study we show that LTA is also important for growth of a clinically relevant community-acquired methicillin resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) strain and not only for laboratory strains as previously described. We set out to investigate if S. aureus can find a way to survive without LTA and identified strains that can grow and divide almost normally in its absence. Using a whole genome sequencing approach, we found that alterations in one gene, gdpP, allow these strains to grow in the absence of LTA. We show that this mutation causes an increase in the recently identified signaling molecule, c-di-AMP, within the cell. Therefore, with this study we provide information on one of the first functions of this novel secondary messenger, which is in helping bacteria to cope with extreme cell wall stress.

Phosphodiesterases in endocrine physiology and disease

The cAMP-protein kinase A pathway plays a central role in the development and physiology of endocrine tissues. cAMP mediates the intracellular effects of numerous peptide hormones. Various cellular and molecular alterations of the cAMP-signaling pathway have been observed in endocrine diseases. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are key regulatory enzymes of intracellular cAMP levels. Indeed, PDEs are the only known mechanism for inactivation of cAMP by catalysis to 5'-AMP. It has been suggested that disruption of PDEs could also have a role in the pathogenesis of many endocrine diseases. This review summarizes the most recent advances concerning the role of the PDEs in the physiopathology of endocrine diseases. The potential significance of this knowledge can be easily envisaged by the development of drugs targeting specific PDEs.

Role of phosphodiesterase and adenylate cyclase isozymes in murine colonic glucagon-like peptide 1 secreting cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is secreted from enteroendocrine L-cells after food intake. Increasing GLP-1 signalling either through inhibition of the GLP-1 degrading enzyme dipeptidyl-peptidase IV or injection of GLP-1-mimetics has recently been successfully introduced for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Boosting secretion from the L-cell has so far not been exploited, due to our incomplete understanding of L-cell physiology. Elevation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) has been shown to be a strong stimulus for GLP-1 secretion and here we investigate the activities of adenylate cyclase (AC) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) isozymes likely to shape cAMP responses in L-cells.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Expression of AC and PDE isoforms was quantified by RT-PCR. Single cell responses to stimulation or inhibition of AC and PDE isoforms were monitored with real-time cAMP probes. GLP-1 secretion was assessed by elisa.

KEY RESULTS

Quantitative PCR identified expression of protein kinase C- and Ca²+-activated ACs, corresponding with phorbolester and cytosolic Ca²+-stimulated cAMP elevation. Inhibition of PDE2, 3 and 4 were found to stimulate GLP-1 secretion from murine L-cells in primary culture. This corresponded with cAMP elevations monitored with a plasma membrane targeted cAMP probe. Inhibition of PDE3 but not PDE2 was further shown to prevent GLP-1 secretion in response to guanylin, a peptide secreted into the gut lumen, which had not previously been implicated in L-cell secretion.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Our results reveal several mechanisms shaping cAMP responses in GLP-1 secreting cells, with some of the molecular components specifically expressed in L-cells when compared with their epithelial neighbours, thus opening new strategies for targeting these cells therapeutically.

Two phosphodiesterase genes, PDEL and PDEH, regulate development and pathogenicity by modulating intracellular cyclic AMP levels in Magnaporthe oryzae

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling plays an important role in regulating multiple cellular responses, such as growth, morphogenesis, and/or pathogenicity of eukaryotic organisms such as fungi. As a second messenger, cAMP is important in the activation of downstream effector molecules. The balance of intracellular cAMP levels depends on biosynthesis by adenylyl cyclases (ACs) and hydrolysis by cAMP phosphodiesterases (PDEases). The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae contains a high-affinity (PdeH/Pde2) and a low-affinity (PdeL/Pde1) PDEases, and a previous study showed that PdeH has a major role in asexual differentiation and pathogenicity. Here, we show that PdeL is required for asexual development and conidial morphology, and it also plays a minor role in regulating cAMP signaling. This is in contrast to PdeH whose mutation resulted in major defects in conidial morphology, cell wall integrity, and surface hydrophobicity, as well as a significant reduction in pathogenicity. Consistent with both PdeH and PdeL functioning in cAMP signaling, disruption of PDEH only partially rescued the mutant phenotype of ΔmagB and Δpka1. Further studies suggest that PdeH might function through a feedback mechanism to regulate the expression of pathogenicity factor Mpg1 during surface hydrophobicity and pathogenic development. Moreover, microarray data revealed new insights into the underlying cAMP regulatory mechanisms that may help to identify potential pathogenicity factors for the development of new disease management strategies.

Phosphodiesterases: emerging therapeutic targets for neonatal pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension in the neonate is associated with multiple underlying problems such as respiratory distress syndrome, meconium aspiration syndrome, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, or congenital heart disease. Because of the heterogeneous group of disorders, the therapeutic approach and response often depends on the underlying disease. In many of these conditions, there is evidence that cyclic nucleotide signaling and specifically phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are disrupted. PDE inhibitors represent an emerging class of pulmonary vasodilators in adults. Studies are now under way to evaluate the utility, efficacy, and safety of such therapies in infants with pulmonary hypertension.

Role of phosphodiesterases in adult-onset pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by increased mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) due to vasoconstriction and structural changes in the small pulmonary arteries (PAs); proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) contributes to the remodeling. The abnormal pathophysiology in the pulmonary vasculature relates to decreased cyclic nucleotide levels in PASMCs. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) catalyze the hydrolysis of cAMP and cGMP, thereby PDE inhibitors are effective in vasodilating the PA and decreasing PASMC proliferation. Experimental studies support the use of PDE3, PDE5, and PDE1 inhibitors in PAH. PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil are clinically approved to treat different forms of PAH and lower mPAP, increase functional capacity, and decrease right ventricular hypertrophy, without decreasing systemic arterial pressure. New evidence suggests that the combination of PDE inhibitors with other therapies for PAH may be beneficial in treating the disease. Furthermore, inhibiting PDEs in the heart and the inflammatory cells that infiltrate the PA may offer new targets to reduce right ventricular hypertrophy and inhibit inflammation that is associated with and contributes to the development of PAH. This chapter summarizes the advances in the area and the future of PDEs in PAH.

Regulation of endothelial barrier function by cyclic nucleotides: the role of phosphodiesterases

The endothelium plays an important role in maintaining normal vascular function. Endothelial barrier dysfunction leading to increased permeability and vascular leakage is associated with several pathological conditions such as edema and sepsis. Thus, the development of drugs that improve endothelial barrier function is an active area of research. In this chapter, the current knowledge concerning the signaling pathways regulating endothelial barrier function is discussed with a focus on cyclic nucleotide second messengers (cAMP and cGMP) and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Both cAMP and cGMP have been shown to have differential effects on endothelial permeability in part due to the various effector molecules, crosstalk, and compartmentalization of cyclic nucleotide signaling. PDEs, by controlling the amplitude, duration, and localization of cyclic nucleotides, have been shown to play a critical role in regulating endothelial barrier function. Thus, PDEs are attractive drug targets for the treatment of disease states involving endothelial barrier dysfunction.

[Clinical introduction of lysophosphatidic acid and autotaxin assays]

The lysophospholipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has been shown to elicit a variety of (patho) physiological responses through specific cell-surface G protein-coupled receptors, which are now considered as promising targets for therapeutic purposes. On the other hand, determination of their concentrations in human samples, especially plasma, is clinically relevant and important for diagnostic purposes since these lysophospholipids mainly act extracellularly. LPA is predominantly and continuously produced in blood from lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) through the plasma lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) activity of autotaxin (ATX). Since the enzyme lysoPLD/ATX and its substrate LPC co-exist in the plasma, the level of plasma LPA changes easily in vitro after venepuncture. Laboratory testing of LPA for clinical purposes can be conducted reliably only when the samples are prepared under stringent conditions. Although it is postulated that LPA undergoes extensive dephosphorylation in vivo due to the action of lipid phosphate phosphatase, multiple regression analysis showed a strong positive correlation between the plasma LPA concentration and serum lysoPLD/ATX level. Since the serum ATX antigen level is stable, i.e., the preparation of clinical samples for this ATX measurement is easy and since its level is closely correlated to the plasma LPA concentration, the ATX assay seems to be promising for laboratory testing. In fact, the ATX level is significantly increased in several disorders, including chronic liver diseases and malignant lymphoma. The clinical significance of the LPA and lysoPLD/ATX assays will be discussed.

Association of ALPL and ENPP1 gene polymorphisms with bone strength related skeletal traits in a Chuvashian population

Mineralization of the extracellular matrix of bone is an essential element of bone development, maintenance and repair. ALPL and ENPP1 genes and their products are known to be central in local regulation of bone mineralization. The present study investigates potential associations of ENPP1 and ALPL polymorphisms with several phenotypes reflecting bone size and hand BMD. The study sample included 310 Caucasian nuclear families. Forty SNPs in ALPL and 14 SNPs in ENPP1 genetic loci as well as pairwise haplotypes were tested for association with bone strength related traits. Our findings suggest that the region corresponding to exons 7 through 9 of the ALPL gene harbors functional polymorphism affecting both bone size at various skeletal sites (p-value ranged from 0.01 to 0.0001) and hand bone mineral density (p-value=0.0007). The other important finding of consistent association between bone size phenotypes and the 3' untranslated region of ENPP1 gene (p-value ranged from 0.01 to 0.001) imply functional significance of this region to bone growth. The considered anthropometric and radiographic bone phenotypes are closely related to bone fragility thus suggesting a role for both genes in osteoporosis. Further research is required to validate the relevancy of the potentially functional regions identified by our and other studies to normal and pathologic bone development as well as to determine the relevancy of the polymorphisms in ALPL and ENPP1 gene loci to clinical practice.

[Phosphodiesterase regulation of cardiovascular functions]

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are the enzymes to degrade the intracellular second messengers cAMP and cGMP. They are the targets for drug research and development of great therapeutic interests. Recent studies show that PDEs in cardiomyocytes form a complex with beta-adrenergic receptor and related proteins to ensure precise and localized cAMP signaling. The mechanism may provide new insight for the treatment of chronic heart failure with PDE inhibitors. The functions of blood vessels are regulated by the reactivity and phenotypes of vascular smooth muscle. PDE5 inhibitors, by enhancing the vasodilator effect of cGMP, have been successfully applied to the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The expression of PDE4 and PDE1C is upregulated during proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Selectively inhibiting these PDE subtypes may provide a new way in treating disorders associated with vascular proliferation such as pulmonary hypertension and post-angioplasty restenosis. This review will focus on recent advance in PDE regulation of cardiovascular functions and new applications of PDE inhibitors in cardiovascular diseases.

Evaluating the antipsychotic profile of the preferential PDE10A inhibitor, papaverine

RATIONALE

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is an operational measure of sensorimotor gating that is deficient in schizophrenia patients. In rats, PPI deficits induced by dopamine (DA) agonists are reversed by antipsychotics. Inhibition of the striatum-rich phosphodiesterase (PDE)10A may represent a novel antipsychotic mechanism. Previous studies were controversial, showing antipsychotic-like profiles in measures of PPI for the preferential PDE10A inhibitor papaverine (PAP) but not the novel PDE10A inhibitor TP-10.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antipsychotic profile of PAP in rats using PPI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PPI deficits were induced in rats by apomorphine (APO; 0.1, 0.5 mg/kg) or D: -amphetamine (AMPH; 4 mg/kg). PAP (3, 10, 30 mg/kg) or haloperidol (HAL; 0.1 mg/kg) was tested against these agonists in Sprague-Dawley (SD) or Wistar (WI) rats. Prepulse intervals ranged from 10 to 120 ms. Further tests evaluated the effects of PAP on spontaneous locomotion, AMPH (1 mg/kg)-induced hyperlocomotion, and core body temperature (T degrees ).

RESULTS

HAL reversed APO-induced PPI deficits but PAP failed to reverse APO- and AMPH-induced PPI deficits at all doses, strains, pretreatment times, and prepulse intervals. PAP (30 mg/kg) significantly reduced AMPH hyperlocomotion in SD rats, and a similar pattern was detected in WI rats. This PAP dose also strongly reduced spontaneous locomotion and T degrees in SD rats.

CONCLUSION

Our study does not support an antipsychotic-like profile of PAP in dopaminergic PPI models.

PDEs as drug targets for CNS immune disorders

PDEs are important second messenger systems governing a host of cellular functions involved in neural signal transduction in the CNS and inflammatory cell signaling in the immune system. The contributions of PDE family members as novel treatments that target neuroinflammation as a pathophysiological process in the neuropathogenesis of diverse neurological and psychiatric brain disorders with prominent immune system correlates are discussed.

Lysophosphatidic acids, cyclic phosphatidic acids and autotaxin as promising targets in therapies of cancer and other diseases

Lysophospholipids have long been recognized as membrane phospholipid metabolites, but only recently lysophosphatidic acids (LPA) have been demonstrated to act on specific G protein-coupled receptors. The widespread expression of LPA receptors and coupling to several classes of G proteins allow LPA-dependent regulation of numerous processes, such as vascular development, neurogenesis, wound healing, immunity, and cancerogenesis. Lysophosphatidic acids have been found to induce many of the hallmarks of cancer including cellular processes such as proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and neovascularization. Furthermore, autotaxin (ATX), the main enzyme converting lysophosphatidylcholine into LPA was identified as a tumor cell autocrine motility factor. On the other hand, cyclic phosphatidic acids (naturally occurring analogs of LPA generated by ATX) have anti-proliferative activity and inhibit tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Research achievements of the past decade suggest implementation of preclinical and clinical evaluation of LPA and its analogs, LPA receptors, as well as autotaxin as potential therapeutic targets.

Mechanisms of arterial calcification: spotlight on the inhibitors

Similarities in the mechanisms of vascular calcification and the processes of bone and cartilage mineralization have come to light in recent years. Although formerly thought to be an inactive process of hydroxyapatite crystal precipitation, presently, vascular calcification is considered a regulated type of tissue mineralization. Moreover, different pathways of tissue mineralization are discussed. Pathological types of calcification are correlated with aging, metabolic disorders, chronic low-grade inflammation, and with genetic and acquired dysregulation of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) metabolism. This chapter focuses on recent developments in understanding the mechanisms of vascular calcification with special emphasis on the particular calcification pathway and the impact of deficient inhibition of calcification.

DNA strand break repair and human genetic disease

Each day tens of thousands of DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) arise in every cell from the attack of deoxyribose and DNA bases by reactive oxygen species and other electrophilic molecules. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) also arise, albeit at a much lower frequency, from similar attacks and from the encounter of unrepaired SSBs and possibly other DNA structures by DNA replication forks. DSBs are also created during normal development of the immune system. Defects in the cellular response to DNA strand breaks underpin many human diseases, including disorders associated with cancer predisposition, immune dysfunction, radiosensitivity, and neurodegeneration. Here we provide an overview of the genetic diseases associated with defects in the repair/response to DNA strand breaks.

Remote microvascular preconditioning alters specific vasoactive responses

OBJECTIVE

The mechanism by which remote microvascular preconditioning (RMP) response is initiated was recently reported (Am J Physiol 290:H264, 2006). The goal of this study was to further characterize RMP and to investigate the extent to which RMP altered local vasoactive responses.

METHODS

Arteriolar networks were examined in the cheek pouch of anesthetized (pentobarbital, 70 mg/kg) hamsters (n = 143). RMP was initiated with nitroprusside (SNP) or adenosine (ADO) via micropipette to a downstream arteriole or via tissue bath. Upstream ( approximately 800 microm), at the entrance to the network, local vasoactive responses were obtained with local micropipette application.

RESULTS

The RMP response requires 10 to 15 min to manifest, and cycles down with > 5 upstream challenges (local exposures). Without challenge, the response does not cycle down over 8 h. RMP results in enhanced dilation to SNP and attenuated dilation to ADO. SNP can initiate RMP with micropipette exposure to the local downstream arteriolar segment. ADO only initiates RMP with tissue bath exposure, but at low concentrations (10(-8) M). RMP causes a shift in phosphodiesterase (PDE) maintenance of tone, as seen by using PDE inhibitors. This involves a shift from PDE4 to PDE3, and does not appear to affect PDE1 or PDE5.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are consistent with RMP inducing a fundamental shift from cAMP and towards cGMP maintenance of dilatory tone.

[Pyrophosphate and mineralization (TNSALP, PC-1, ANK)]

Pyrophosphate inhibits mineralization, and tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) increases phosphate concentration by cleaving pyrophosphate, which is important for the regulation of mineralization in bone. Moreover, PC-1 (plasma cell membrane glycoprotein-1) on matrix vesicle and osteoblast plasma membrane, as well as ANK (ankylosis) on osteoblast plasma membrane induce extracellular pyrophosphate. The pyrophosphate production by PC-1 and ANK and TNSALP, as well as some mineralization-inhibiting factors, (for example osteopontin) induced by these molecules, is considered to maintain the normal process of mineralization. The abnormality of these molecules causes various mineralization disorders.

TDP1 facilitates repair of ionizing radiation-induced DNA single-strand breaks

Tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase-1 (TDP1) is the gene product mutated in spinocerebellar ataxia with axonal neuropathy1 (SCAN1). SCAN1 is a hereditary ataxia that lacks extra-neurological phenotype, pointing to a critical role for TDP1 in the nervous system. Recently, we showed that TDP1 is associated with the DNA single-strand break (SSBR) repair machinery through an interaction with DNA ligase 3alpha (Lig3alpha) and that SCAN1 cells are defective in the repair of chromosomal DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) arising from abortive Topoisomerase 1 (Top1)-DNA intermediates. Here we demonstrate that TDP1 is also required for the repair of SSBs induced by ionizing radiation (IR), though not measurably for IR-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). In addition, we provide evidence that abortive Top1 cleavage complexes are processed by the proteasome prior to the action of TDP1 in vivo, and we exploit this observation to show that the SSBR defect in SCAN1 following IR reflects, in part at least, the presence of IR-induced protein-DNA cross-links. Finally we show that TDP1 activity at abortive Top1-SSBs is stimulated by XRCC1/Lig3alpha in vitro. These data expand the type of SSBs processed by TDP1 to include those induced by ionizing radiation, and raise the possibility that TDP1 inhibitors may improve radiotherapy.

Role of ENPP1 on adipocyte maturation

Background

It is recognized that the ability of adipose tissue to expand in response to energy excess, i.e. adipocyte maturation, is important in determining systemic abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism. Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1, also known as PC-1) has been recently reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and related diseases. However, its role on adipose tissue physiology as a mechanism of systemic insulin resistance is not understood. This study was performed to evaluate whether ENPP1 is regulated during adipogenesis and whether over-expression in adipocytes can affect adipocyte maturation, a potential novel mechanism of ENPP1-related insulin resistance.

Methodology/Principal Findings

ENPP1 expression was found down-regulated during 3T3-L1 maturation, and over-expression of human ENPP1 in 3T3-L1 (pQCXIP-ENPP1 vector) resulted in adipocyte insulin resistance and in defective adipocyte maturation. Adipocyte maturation was more efficient in mesenchymal embryonal cells from ENPP1 knockout mice than from wild-type.

Conclusions

We identify ENPP1 as a novel mechanism of defective adipocyte maturation. This mechanism could contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in absence of obesity.

Differential regulation of endothelial cell permeability by cGMP via phosphodiesterases 2 and 3

Endothelial barrier dysfunction leading to increased permeability and vascular leakage is an underlying cause of several pathological conditions, including edema and sepsis. Whereas cAMP has been shown to decrease endothelial permeability, the role of cGMP is controversial. Endothelial cells express cGMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase (PDE)3A and cGMP-stimulated PDE2A. Thus we hypothesized that the effect of cGMP on endothelial permeability is dependent on the concentration of cGMP present and on the relative expression levels of PDE2A and PDE3A. When cAMP synthesis was slightly elevated with a submaximal concentration of 7-deacetyl-7-(O-[N-methylpiperazino]-gamma-butyryl)-dihydrochloride-forskolin (MPB-forskolin), we found that low doses of either atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) or NO donors potentiated the inhibitory effects of MPB-forskolin on thrombin-induced permeability. However, this inhibitory effect of forskolin was reversed at higher doses of ANP or NO. These data suggest that cGMP at lower concentrations inhibits PDE3A and thereby increases a local pool of cAMP, whereas higher concentrations cGMP activates PDE2A, reversing the effect. Inhibitors of PDE3A mimicked the effect of low-dose ANP on thrombin-induced permeability, and inhibition of PDE2A reversed the stimulation of permeability seen with higher doses of ANP. Finally, increasing PDE2A expression with tumor necrosis factor-alpha reversed the inhibition of permeability caused by low doses of ANP. As predicted, the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on permeability was reversed by a PDE2A inhibitor. These findings suggest that the effect of increasing concentrations of cGMP on endothelial permeability is biphasic, which, in large part, is attributable to the relative amounts of PDE2A and PDE3A in endothelial cells.

Calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE1) splice variants from bovine cardiac muscle

Calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phopshodiesterase (PDE1) has been extensively characterized and is a key enzyme involved in the complex interaction between cyclic nucleotide and Ca(2+) second-messenger systems. It is well established that PDE1 exists in different isozymes. For example, bovine brain tissue has two PDE1 isozymes (PDE1A2 and PDE1B1) whereas only one form (PDE1A1) is reported in bovine cardiac tissue. In this study, we report the cloning of two cDNA splice variants of PDE1: PDE1-small and PDE1-large, from bovine cardiac tissue. Their amino acid sequence similarity to PDE1 sequences from other mammalian species showed that all are very conserved, suggesting their importance in cellular functions. Interestingly, compared to other mammalian species, bovine PDE1A, PDE-small and PDE-large show a deletion at the C-terminal end of the catalytic domain of the gene. Although the significance of this deletion at this crucial location of the gene is not known, we have successfully over-expressed both PDE1-small and PDE1-large splice variants in E. coli and these splice variants are characterized in terms of Western blot, biotinylated calmodulin overlay and peptide mass fingerprinting. Results from these studies suggested that these two splice variants belong to the PDE1 superfamily. To our knowledge, this is the first report on cloning and characterization of these cDNA variants from bovine cardiac tissue. Since there are at least two isoforms of PDE1 in bovine heart tissue, this merits further in-depth study.

ENPP1 gene, insulin resistance and related clinical outcomes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Insulin resistance plays a significant role in both morbidity and mortality of the general population. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance would help the identification of at-risk individuals in the presymptomatic stage, and the discovery of novel and more effective treatments. The transmembrane glycoprotein ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) inhibits insulin receptor signalling and has recently emerged as a key player in the development of insulin resistance. This review will summarize data available on the relationship between ENPP1 and insulin resistance.

RECENT FINDINGS

Overexpression of ENPP1 in insulin target tissues is an early, intrinsic defect observed in human insulin resistance. A missense ENPP1 single nucleotide polymorphism, K121Q, has been recently described with the Q121 variant being a stronger inhibitor than K121 of insulin receptor function. In addition, the Q121 variant has been repeatedly associated with insulin resistance and related abnormalities including body weight changes, type 2 diabetes and macrovascular complications, thus suggesting a pleiotropic role of the ENPP1 gene on several metabolic abnormalities.

SUMMARY

A deep understanding of ENPP1 mode of action and the mechanisms regulating its expression and function are likely to provide new tools for early identification and treatments of patients at risk for the devastating clinical outcomes related to insulin resistance.

The alpha2beta1 isoform of guanylyl cyclase mediates plasma membrane localized nitric oxide signalling

Nitric oxide (NO) is a mediator of copious biological processes, in many cases through the production of cGMP from the enzyme nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclase. Natriuretic peptides also elevate cGMP, often with distinct biological effects, raising the issue of how specificity is achieved. Here we show that a recently described alpha(2)beta(1) isoform of guanylyl cyclase is expressed in a number of epithelia, where it is localized to the apical plasma membrane. We measured the functional properties of the alpha(2)beta(1) isoform by utilizing the NO-dependent activation of the ion channel cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which occurs by phosphorylation via the membrane-bound type II isoform of cGMP-dependent protein kinase. We found that cGMP generated by NO activation of the alpha(2)beta(1) isoform of guanylyl cyclase is an exceptionally efficient mediator of nitric oxide action on membrane targets, activating CFTR far more effectively than the cytoplasmically located alpha(1)beta(1) guanylyl cyclase isoform. Targeting the alpha(1)beta(1) isoform of guanylyl cyclase to the membrane also dramatically enhanced the effects of nitric oxide on CFTR within the membrane. This was not due to increased enzymatic activity of guanylyl cyclase in a membrane location, but to production of a localised membrane pool of cGMP by membrane-localized NO-dependent guanylyl cyclase that was resistant to degradation by phosphodiesterases. Selective effects of cGMP produced from this enzyme in response to NO are directed at membrane targets and suggest that drugs selectively activating or inhibiting this alpha(2)beta(1) isoform of guanylyl cyclase may have unique pharmacological properties.

cAMP and cGMP signaling cross-talk: role of phosphodiesterases and implications for cardiac pathophysiology

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases regulate cAMP-mediated signaling by controlling intracellular cAMP content. The cAMP-hydrolyzing activity of several families of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases found in human heart is regulated by cGMP. In the case of PDE2, this regulation primarily involves the allosteric stimulation of cAMP hydrolysis by cGMP. For PDE3, cGMP acts as a competitive inhibitor of cAMP hydrolysis. Several cGMP-mediated responses in cardiac cells, including a potentiation of Ca(2+) currents and a diminution of the responsiveness to beta-adrenergic receptor agonists, have been shown to result from the effects of cGMP on cAMP hydrolysis. These effects appear to be dependent on the specific spatial distribution of the cGMP-generating and cAMP-hydrolyzing proteins, as well as on the intracellular concentrations of the two cyclic nucleotides. Gaining a more precise understanding of how these cross-talk mechanisms are individually regulated and coordinated is an important direction for future research.

Submucosal connective tissue-type mast cells contribute to the production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in the gastrointestinal tract through the secretion of autotaxin (ATX)/lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD)

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is involved in a broad spectrum of biological activities, including wound healing and cancer metastasis. Autotaxin (ATX), originally isolated from a melanoma supernatant as a tumor cell motility-stimulating factor, has been shown to be molecularly identical to lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD), which is the main enzyme in the production of LPA. Although ATX/lysoPLD is known to be widely expressed in normal human tissues, the exact distribution of ATX-producing cells has not been fully investigated. In this study, we evaluated ATX/lysoPLD expression by immunohistochemical staining using a rat anti-ATX mAb in the human gastrointestinal tract and found that submucosal mast cells (MC) highly expressed this enzyme. This was confirmed by immunofluorescent double staining using mAbs to tryptase and chymase. Then, we isolated MC from human gastric tissue by an immunomagnetic method using CD117-microbeads and showed that a subpopulation of CD203c-positive MC showed positive staining for intracellular ATX/lysoPLD on flowcytometry. This was confirmed by Western blotting of the isolated cells. Moreover, a significant level of ATX/lysoPLD release could be detected in the culture supernatants of human MC by Western blot analysis. Our data suggest that submucosal MC play significant roles in various aspects of pathophysiology in the gastrointestinal tract by locally providing bioactive LPA through the production of ATX/lysoPLD.

Overview of PDEs and their regulation

Contraction and relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and cardiac myocytes are key physiological events in the cardiovascular system. These events are regulated by second messengers, cAMP and cGMP, in response to extracellular stimulants. The strength of signal transduction is controlled by intracellular cyclic nucleotide concentrations, which are determined by a balance in production and degradation of cAMP and cGMP. Degradation of cyclic nucleotides is catalyzed by 3',5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs), and therefore regulation of PDEs hydrolytic activity is important for modulation of cellular functions. Mammalian PDEs are composed of 21 genes and are categorized into 11 families based on sequence homology, enzymatic properties, and sensitivity to inhibitors. PDE families contain many splice variants that mostly are unique in tissue-expression patterns, gene regulation, enzymatic regulation by phosphorylation and regulatory proteins, subcellular localization, and interaction with association proteins. Each unique variant is closely related to the regulation of a specific cellular signaling. Thus, multiple PDEs function as a particular modulator of each cardiovascular function and regulate physiological homeostasis.