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Oncogenic KRas activity is central to several cancer types including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) but has been determined to be "undruggable". Recent studies have indicated that oncogenic KRas is not constitutively active but relies on a feed-forward stimulatory mechanism involving NFκB mediated inflammation. In the current study, we investigated the role of the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) in maintaining oncogenic signaling in PDAC. We observed that there was a shift in the levels of specific RAGE isoforms and altered cellular localization in PDAC. Furthermore, inhibition of RAGE using a pharmacological antagonist, FPS-ZM1, or a blocking antibody, decreased phosphorylation of IKBα and inhibited Erk activity down-stream of Kras in PDAC cell lines. In vivo, inhibition of RAGE using FPS-ZM1 reduced the growth of PDAC syngeneic orthotopic xenografts and prolonged survival. These data indicate that RAGE plays a central role in maintaining inflammatory signaling in PDAC that benefits tumor growth. These observations support the development of approaches to inhibit the carcinogenic actions of Kras indirectly by blocking the mechanisms which maintain its activity., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Early detection of pancreatic cancer could save many thousands of lives. Non-invasive diagnostic imaging, including PET with [(18)F]FDG, has inadequate resolution for detection of small (2-3 mm) pancreatic tumours. We demonstrated the efficacy of PET imaging with an (18)F-labelled lactose derivative, [(18)F]FEDL, that targets HIP/PAP, a biomarker that is overexpressed in the peritumoural pancreas. We developed another analogue, 1-[(18)F]fluoroethyl lactose ([(18)F]FEL), which is simpler to synthesise, for the same application. We conducted a preliminary evaluation of the new probe and its efficacy in detecting orthotopic pancreatic carcinoma xenografts in mice., Methods: Xenografts were developed in nude mice by injecting L3.6 pl/GL(+) pancreatic carcinoma cells into the pancreas of each mouse. Tumour growth was monitored by bioluminescence imaging (BLI); accuracy of BLI tumour size estimates was verified by MRI in two representative mice. When the tumour size reached approximately 2-3mm, the animals were injected with [(18)F]FEL (3.7 MBq) and underwent static PET/CT scans. Blood samples were collected at 2, 5, 10, 20 and 60 min after [(18)F]FEL injection to track blood clearance. Following imaging, animals were sacrificed and their organs and tumours/pancreatic tissue were collected and counted on a gamma counter. Pancreas, including tumour, was frozen, sliced and used for autoradiography and immunohistochemical analysis of HIP/PAP expression., Results: Tumour growth was rapid, as observed by BLI and MRI. Blood clearance of [(18)F]FEL was bi-exponential, with half-lives of approximately 3.5 min and 40 min. Mean accumulation of [(18)F]FEL in the peritumoural pancreatic tissue was 1.29±0.295 %ID/g, and that in the normal pancreas of control animals was 0.090±0.101 %ID/g. [(18)F]FEL was cleared predominantly by the kidneys. Comparative analysis of autoradiographic images and immunostaining results demonstrated a correlation between [(18)F]FEL binding and HIP/PAP expression., Conclusion: [(18)F]FEL may be useful for non-invasive imaging of early-stage pancreatic tumours by PET. The results warrant further studies., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The cell model studied has a fundamental influence on the function and regulation of G protein linked receptors. These cell-dependent effects are illustrated in the current communication focusing on M3 muscarinic, CCK and GRP receptors. Receptors interact with multiple cellular mechanisms. The most obvious are those involved in coupling to signaling mechanisms such as G proteins. Receptors are themselves phosphorylated and dephosphorylated by cellular kinases and phosphatases. Receptors may sequester, internalize, down-regulate and recycle via interactions with a number of separate cellular mechanisms. When the number and complexity of interactions between the cell and the receptor are taken into account it is not surprising that the cell model has a primary influence on receptor function and regulation. The implications of the importance of the cell model in receptor function for studies aimed at answering physiologic questions are discussed.

We compared the cellular events induced by hyperstimulation of rats with caerulein which induces acute pancreatitis, to bombesin, which does not induce pancreatitis. Both secretogogues induced the intracellular activation of trypsinogen and the colocalization of lysosomal hydrolases and zymogen granules within 10-15 minutes. These data indicate that these parameters, previously thought to be crucial initiating events of pancreatitis, are not definitive cellular markers of the disease. We then compared the abilities of the two secretagogues to activate stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK). Significant effects of caerulein hyperstimulation on SAPK activity were observed within 5 minutes, the maximum (57-fold) activation was evident after 15 minutes, and levels remained above control for at least 3 hours. In comparison, hyperstimulation with bombesin induced a maximal 5-fold increase of SAPK activity which returned to basal within one hour. These data indicate that SAPK activity is the earliest and best correlated cellular marker associated with secretagogue-induced pancreatitis.

To relate specific effects on growth and transformation to activation of specific affinity states of the CCKA receptor stably expressed in CHO cells we compared responses to the CCK analogues JMV-180 and CCK8. CCK8 led to an inhibition of both cell proliferation and transformation. Effects on proliferation were indicated by a reduction of DNA synthesis and cell numbers. Effects on transformation were indicated by a reduction of colony formation in soft-agar. JMV-180 did not inhibit cell proliferation although a small inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis was observed. JMV-180 inhibited the maximal effects of CCK8 on cell proliferation and DNA synthesis. In contrast, JMV-180 substantially inhibited cell colony formation in soft-agar and did not inhibit the effects of CCK8 on this parameter. Collectively these data with receptor affinity state specific analogues indicated that inhibition of cell proliferation and growth in soft-agar can be attributed to activation of distinct affinity states. Thus, different second messengers are likely responsible for the inhibitory effects on anchorage-dependent and -independent growth.

We examined the effects of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) on rat pancreatic acinar cells in primary culture. Both basic and acidic FGF stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent fashion. Maximum effects of 6-7 fold over control were seen with 1 nM bFGF or 100 nM aFGF. These data indicate that FGFs are potent stimulants of rat pancreatic acinar cell DNA synthesis. Therefore, FGFs may play an important role in long term regulation of the exocrine pancreas in vivo. We also examined the interaction of bFGF with the pancreatic secretogogues CCK and carbachol. Effects of CCK, which is itself an acinar cell trophic factor, were additive with those of bFGF. In contrast, carbachol, which has no growth stimulatory effect, did not affect bFGF mediated stimulation of DNA synthesis. These data suggest that the mechanisms involved in acinar cell growth regulation are independent from those involved in secretion.

In the current study two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were used to investigate the expression of adult acinar and duct cell-specific antigens and their relationship with cell growth in primary acinar cell cultures. We have previously found that adult mouse pancreatic acinar cells divide in primary culture. Furthermore, during growth the cells lose their differentiated morphology and exhibit decreased expression of secretory proteins, followed by some degree of morphological redifferentiation after reaching confluency. A mAb specific in the adult pancreas for acinar cells (mAb Acinar-1) and another specific in the adult pancreas for duct cells (mAb Duct-1) were generated using such cultures as the immunogen. The starting material for the cultures consisted of predominantly Acinar-1 positive cells which incorporated [3H]thymidine, as determined by autoradiography and immunofluorescence labeling. However, expression of the acinar antigen persisted for only the first 3 to 7 days in culture. By contrast, expression of the duct antigen was rare until after 5 days in culture and was highest at day 9, the peak of cell growth. Dual label immunofluorescence showed that during the growth phase fewer cells expressed the acinar antigen, most expressed the duct antigen, and occasional cells expressed both antigens. After reaching confluency, the growth rate declined from days 15 to 21, and the cells progressively regained the acinar antigen with a concomitant loss of the duct antigen. mAb labeling was morphometrically quantitated and showed that more than 97% of the labeled area was Acinar-1 positive at 3 days, which decreased to approximately 16% at day 9, and then returned to over 97% by day 21 of culture. Ultrastructural immunolabeling showed that Acinar-1 positive cells at 21 days had well organized rough endoplasmic reticulum and small apical vesicles, while Duct-1 positive cells were undifferentiated in appearance (day 9) or had numerous mitochondria (day 21). Thus, changes in cell-specific antigens were paralleled by cell type associated morphological characteristics and indicate that adult acinar cells can retrodifferentiate to a more duct-like cell while retaining the potential to express an acinar-specific antigen.

The effects of glucocorticoids on somatostatin binding and cAMP response in the rat pancreatic acinar carcinoma AR4-2J cell line were examined. Dexamethasone treatment reduced the number of somatostatin receptors 2.5 fold without any change in receptor affinity. In addition, dexamethasone increased the sensitivity of the cells to somatostatin-inhibited cAMP formation and restored the biphasic pattern of cAMP response to somatostatin previously observed in normal pancreatic acinar cells. Such effect may be associated with the glucocorticoid-promoted cellular pancreatic differentiation of AR4-2J cells.

The effects of bombesin on amylase release and the receptor binding of 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin in the rat pancreatic acinar carcinoma cell line AR42J were examined. Bombesin-like peptides stimulated amylase release from AR42J cells in a dose-dependent manner; a maximal 2-fold stimulation occurred at a bombesin concentration of 300 pM. Binding of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin to AR42J cells was specific, saturable and temperature dependent. The relative potencies with which various structurally related peptides stimulated amylase release correlated well with their relative abilities to compete for the bombesin receptor.