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Abstract Background Anti-Aβ immunotherapy is a promising approach to the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) currently in clinical trials. There is extensive evidence, both in mice and humans that a significant adverse event is the occurrence of microhemorrhages. Also, vasogenic edema was reported in phase 2 of a passive immunization clinical trial. In order to overcome these vascular adverse effects it is critical that we understand the mechanism(s) by which they occur. Methods We have examined the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) protein degradation system in two previously published anti-Aβ immunotherapy studies. The first was a passive immunization study in which we examined 22 month old APPSw mice that had received anti-Aβ antibodies for 1, 2 or 3 months. The second is an active vaccination study in which we examined 16 month old APPSw/NOS2-/- mice treated with Aβ vaccination for 4 months. Results There is a significant activation of the MMP2 and MMP9 proteinase degradation systems by anti-Aβ immunotherapy, regardless of whether this is delivered through active vaccination or passive immunization. We have characterized this activation by gene expression, protein expression and zymography assessment of MMP activity. Conclusions Since the MMP2 and MMP9 systems are heavily implicated in the pathophysiology of intracerbral hemorrhage, these data may provide a potential mechanism of microhemorrhage due to immunotherapy. Increased activity of the MMP system, therefore, is likely to be a major factor in increased microhemorrhage occurrence.

Abstract Background Inducible cyclooxgenase-2 (COX-2) is commonly overexpressed in breast tumors and is a target for cancer therapy. Here, we studied the association of COX-2 with breast cancer survival and how this association is influenced by tumor estrogen and HER2 receptor status and Akt pathway activation. Methods Tumor COX-2, HER2 and estrogen receptor α (ER) expression and phosphorylation of Akt, BAD, and caspase-9 were analyzed immunohistochemically in 248 cases of breast cancer. Spearman's correlation and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between COX-2 and tumor characteristics. Kaplan-Meier survival and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between COX-2 and disease-specific survival. Results COX-2 was significantly associated with breast cancer outcome in ER-negative [Hazard ratio (HR) = 2.72; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.36-5.41; comparing high versus low COX-2] and HER2 overexpressing breast cancer (HR = 2.84; 95% CI, 1.07-7.52). However, the hazard of poor survival associated with increased COX-2 was highest among patients who were both ER-negative and HER2-positive (HR = 5.95; 95% CI, 1.01-34.9). Notably, COX-2 expression in the ER-negative and HER2-positive tumors correlated significantly with increased phosphorylation of Akt and of the two Akt targets, BAD at Ser136 and caspase-9 at Ser196. Conclusions Up-regulation of COX-2 in ER-negative and HER2-positive breast tumors is associated with Akt pathway activation and is a marker of poor outcome. The findings suggest that COX-2-specific inhibitors and inhibitors of the Akt pathway may act synergistically as anticancer drugs in the ER-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer subtype.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a potential cancer therapeutic that induces apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing the non-malignant cells in preclinical models. However, its efficacy in clinical trials has been limited, suggesting unknown modulatory mechanisms responsible for the lack of TRAIL activity in patients. Here, we hypothesized that TRAIL treatment elicits transcriptional changes in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells that alter the immune milieu. To test this, we performed an RNAseq analysis of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with TRAIL, followed by validation in additional TNBC cell lines. TRAIL significantly induces expression of multiple cytokines such as CXCLs 1, 2, 3, 8,11 and IL-6, which are known to modify neutrophil function. Mechanistically, the induction of these cytokines was predominantly mediated by death receptor 5, caspase 8 (but not caspase 8 enzymatic activity), and the non-canonical NFKB2 pathway. The cytokines produced by the TRAIL-treated TNBC cells enhanced chemotaxis of healthy human donor isolated neutrophils. In vivo , TRAIL treated TNBC murine xenograft tumors showed activation of the NFKB2 pathway, elevated production of CXCLs and IL-6, and increased neutrophil recruitment into the tumors. Moreover, donor isolated neutrophils preincubated in supernatants from TRAIL-treated TNBC cells exhibited impaired cytotoxic effect against TNBC cells. Transcriptomic analysis of neutrophils incubated with either TRAIL alone or supernatant of TRAIL-treated TNBC cells revealed increased expression of inflammatory cytokines, immune modulatory genes, immune checkpoint genes, and genes implicated in delayed neutrophil apoptosis. Functional studies with these neutrophils confirmed their suppressive effect on T cell proliferation and an increase in Treg suppressive phenotype. Collectively, our study demonstrates a novel role of TRAIL-induced NFKB2-dependent cytokine production that promotes neutrophil chemotaxis and immune suppression.

Mucosal delivery of IL-27 has been shown to have a therapeutic benefit in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The IL-27 effect was associated with phosphorylated STAT1 (pSTAT1), a product of IL27 receptor signaling, in bowel tissue. To determine whether IL-27 acted directly on colonic epithelium, murine colonoids and primary intact colonic crypts were shown to be unresponsive to IL-27 in vitro and to lack detectable IL-27 receptors. On the other hand, macrophages, which are present in inflamed colon tissue, were responsive to IL-27 in vitro . IL-27 induced pSTAT1 in macrophages, the transcriptome indicated an IFN-like signature, and supernatants induced pSTAT1 in colonoids. IL-27 induced anti-viral activity in macrophages and MHC Class II induction. We conclude that the effects of mucosal delivery of IL-27 in murine IBD are in part based on the known effects of IL27 inducing immunosuppression of T cells mediated by IL-10. We also conclude that IL-27 has potent effects on macrophages in inflamed colon tissue, generating mediators that in turn act on colonic epithelium., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Andrews, McLean, Hixon, Pontejo, Starr, Malo, Cam, Ridnour, Hickman, Steele-Mortimer, Wink, Young, McVicar, Li and Durum.)

Endothelin (ET)-1 is an important peptide in cancer progression stimulating cellular proliferation, tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. ET-1 binds with high affinity to the ET A receptor (R) and ET B R on cancer cells. High levels of tumor ET-1 and ET A R are associated with poor survival of lung cancer patients. Here the effects of ET-1 on epidermal growth factor (EGF)R and HER2 transactivation were investigated using non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. ET A R mRNA was present in all 10 NSCLC cell lines examined. Addition of ET-1 to NCI-H838 or H1975 cells increased EGFR, HER2 and ERK tyrosine phosphorylation within 2min. The increase in EGFR and HER2 transactivation caused by ET-1 addition to NSCLC cells was inhibited by lapatinib (EGFR and HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)), gefitinib (EGFR TKI), ZD4054 or BQ-123 (ET A R antagonist), GM6001 (matrix metalloprotease inhibitor), PP2 (Src inhibitor) or Tiron (superoxide scavenger). ET-1 addition to NSCLC cells increased cytosolic Ca 2+ and reactive oxygen species. ET-1 increased NSCLC clonal growth, whereas BQ123, ZD4054, lapatinib or gefitinib inhibited proliferation. The results indicate that ET-1 may regulate NSCLC cellular proliferation in an EGFR- and HER2-dependent manner., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is an autocrine growth factor for some lung cancer cells. The activated PACAP receptor (PAC1) causes phosphatidylinositol turnover, elevates cAMP, and increases the proliferation of lung cancer cells. PAC1 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are present in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, and the growth of NSCLC cells is inhibited by the PAC1 antagonist PACAP(6-38) and the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib. Here, the ability of PACAP to transactivate the EGFR was investigated. Western blot analysis indicated that the addition of PACAP but not the structurally related vasoactive intestinal peptide increased EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation in NCI-H838 or H345 cells. PACAP-27, in a concentration-dependent manner, increased EGFR transactivation 4-fold 2 min after addition to NCI-H838 cells. The ability of 100 nM PACAP-27 to increase EGFR or extracellular signal-regulated kinase tyrosine phosphorylation in NCI-H838 cells was inhibited by PACAP(6-38), gefitinib, 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(dimethylethyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (PP2; Src inhibitor), (R)-N4-hydroxy-N1-[(S)-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-methylcarbamoyl-ethyl]-2-isobutyl-succinamide (GM6001; matrix metalloprotease inhibitor), or antibody to transforming growth factor α (TGFα). By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, PACAP addition to NCI-H838 cells increased TGFα secretion into conditioned media. EGFR transactivation caused by the addition of PACAP to NCI-H838 cells was inhibited by N-acetyl-cysteine (antioxidant), tiron (superoxide scavenger), diphenylene iodonium (NADPH oxidase inhibitor), or 1-[6-[[(17β)-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl]amino]hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (U73122; phospholipase C inhibitor), but not N-[2-[[3-(4-bromophenyl)-2-propenyl]amino]ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H89; protein kinase A inhibitor). PACAP addition to NCI-H838 cells significantly increased reactive oxygen species, and the increase was inhibited by tiron. The results indicate that PACAP causes transactivation of the EGFR in NSCLC cells in an oxygen-dependent manner that involves phospholipase C but not protein kinase A.

The importance of nitric oxide in mammalian physiology has been known for nearly 30 years. Similar attention for other nitrogen oxides such as nitroxyl (HNO) has been more recent. While there has been speculation as to the biosynthesis of HNO, its pharmacological benefits have been demonstrated in several pathophysiological settings such as cardiovascular disorders, cancer, and alcoholism. The chemical biology of HNO has been identified as related to, but unique from, that of its redox congener nitric oxide. A summary of these findings as well as a discussion of possible endogenous sources of HNO is presented in this review.

Neuromedin B (NMB), a member of the bombesin family of peptides, is an autocrine growth factor for many lung cancer cells. The present study investigated the ability of NMB to cause transactivation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in lung cancer cells. By Western blot, addition of NMB or related peptides to NCI-H1299 human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, caused phosphorylation of Tyr(1068) of the EGF receptor. The signal was amplified using NCI-H1299 cells stably transected with NMB receptors. The transactivation of the EGF receptor or the tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK caused by NMB-like peptides was inhibited by AG1478 or gefitinib (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) and NMB receptor antagonist PD168368 but not the GRP receptor antagonist, BW2258U89. The transactivation of the EGF receptor caused by NMB-like peptides was inhibited by GM6001 (matrix metalloprotease inhibitor), PP2 (Src inhibitor), or transforming growth factor (TGF)alpha antibody. The transactivation of the EGF receptor and the increase in reactive oxygen species caused by NMB-like peptides was inhibited by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or Tiron. Gefitinib inhibited the proliferation of NCI-H1299 cells and its sensitivity was increased by the addition of PD168368. The results indicate that the NMB receptor regulates EGF receptor transactivation by a mechanism dependent on Src as well as metalloprotease activation and generation of reactive oxygen species., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Endogenous formation of nitric oxide (NO) and related nitrogen oxides in the vascular system is critical to regulation of multiple physiological functions. An imbalance in the production or availability of these species can result in progression of disease. Nitrogen oxide research in the cardiovascular system has primarily focused on the effects of NO and higher oxidation products. However, nitroxyl (HNO), the one-electron-reduction product of NO, has recently been shown to have unique and potentially beneficial pharmacological properties. HNO and NO often induce discrete biological responses, providing an interesting redox system. This article discusses the emerging aspects of HNO chemistry and attempts to provide a framework for the distinct effects of NO and HNO in vivo.

Oxidants generated by eosinophils during chronic inflammation may lead to mutagenesis in adjacent epithelial cells. Eosinophil peroxidase, a heme enzyme released by eosinophils, generates hypobromous acid that damages tissue in inflammatory conditions. We show that human eosinophils use eosinophil peroxidase to produce 5-bromodeoxycytidine. Flow cytometric, immunohistochemical, and mass spectrometric analyses all demonstrated that 5-bromodeoxycytidine generated by eosinophil peroxidase was taken up by cultured cells and incorporated into genomic DNA as 5-bromodeoxyuridine. Although previous studies have focused on oxidation of chromosomal DNA, our observations suggest another mechanism for oxidative damage of DNA. In this scenario, peroxidase-catalyzed halogenation of nucleotide precursors yields products that subsequently can be incorporated into DNA. Because the thymine analog 5-BrUra mispairs with guanine in DNA, generation of brominated pyrimidines by eosinophils might constitute a mechanism for cytotoxicity and mutagenesis at sites of inflammation.

A method for the spectrophotometric determination of nitric oxide, nitrite, and nitrate in tissue culture media is presented. The method is based on the nitric oxide-mediated nitrosative modification of sulfanilic acid that reacts with N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride forming an orange-colored product absorbing at 496 nm. Nitric oxide levels were determined in culture media from this absorbance measurement using chemiluminescence standardization. Extinction coefficients of 5400 and 6600 M(-1) cm(-1) were determined for the nitric oxide product in assay solutions containing 0.1 or 100 mM KPO4 buffer (pH 7.4), respectively, with a limit of detection of 1 microM. Acidification of these reactions (pH 2.4) generated a pink-colored product absorbing at 540 nm allowing for quantitation of total nitric oxide/nitrite levels using extinction coefficients of 38,000 and 36,900 M(-1) cm(-1), for the assay solutions described. The limit of detection of this assay was approximately 300 nM. Using the 100 mM KPO4 buffer system, nitrate levels were determined following reduction to nitrite using a copper-coated cadmium reagent with an extinction coefficient of 29,500 M(-1) cm(-1) and a detection limit of 0.5 microM. The utility of these assays was demonstrated in the standardization of nitric oxide-saturated cell culture media, and the release of nitric oxide by the NONOate compound DEA/NO.

Recently, glucose deprivation-induced oxidative stress has been shown to cause cytotoxicity, activation of signal transduction (i.e., ERK1, ERK2, JNK, and Lyn kinase), and increased expression of genes associated with malignancy (i.e., bFGF and c-Myc) in MCF-7/ADR human breast cancer cells. These results have led to the proposal that intracellular oxidation/reduction reactions involving hydroperoxides and thiols may provide a mechanistic link between metabolism, signal transduction, and gene expression in these human tumor cells. The current study shows that several other transformed human cell types appear to be more susceptible to glucose deprivation-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress than untransformed human cell types. In a matched pair of normal and SV40-transformed human fibroblasts the cytotoxic process is shown to be dependent upon ambient O2 concentration. A theoretical model to explain the results is presented and implications to unifying modern theories of cancer are discussed.

Liver injury caused by iron overload is presumed to involve lipid peroxidation and the formation of products such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE), which has been implicated in hepatic fibrogenesis. Cellular antioxidants that modulate the formation and detoxification of compounds such as 4HNE may represent important protective mechanisms involved in the response to iron overload. This study examines the relationship between 4HNE, collagen content, and antioxidant defenses in the livers of rats fed carbonyl iron for 10 weeks. Iron-loading resulted in significant increases in iron (8.8-fold), 4HNE (1.7-fold), and hydroxyproline (1.5-fold). Total glutathione content was unchanged by iron, but gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity (GGT) increased sixfold and CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) activity decreased >9%. GGT colocalized with iron deposition and was associated with increased GGT mRNA. Decreased CuZnSOD activity was paralleled by a reduction in CuZnSOD protein on Western blot and immunohistochemistry, but no decrease in CuZnSOD mRNA. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activities were also significantly increased by iron loading. These results demonstrate that iron overload significantly alters the expression of antioxidant enzymes associated with glutathione (GGT and GST) and superoxide metabolism (CuZnSOD and MnSOD). Furthermore, the localized induction of GGT may enhance detoxification of lipid peroxidation-derived aldehydes via glutathione-dependent pathways in iron-loaded hepatocytes. These alterations in antioxidant defenses may represent an adaptive response, limiting accumulation 4HNE, and thus, stimulation of collagen synthesis, accounting for the mild fibrogenic response seen in this model of iron overload.

Human manganese containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) cDNA was transfected into a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) in order to examine the effect of increased functional MnSOD on the cellular phenotype. A MnSOD-overexpressing clone was compared to control vector-transfected cells and to wild type MCF-7 cells. Southern blotting indicated incorporation of MnSOD cDNA into genomic DNA in the MnSOD overexpressing cell line. The MnSOD overexpressing cell line showed a 5.7-fold increase in MnSOD activity compared to wild type MCF-7 cells. Similar increases in MnSOD immunoreactive protein and mRNA levels were observed by Western and Northern blotting as well as using RT-PCR. The plating efficiency of cells grown in different concentrations of serum (1 to 20%) was decreased in the MnSOD overexpressing cell line. The clonogenic fraction in soft agar culture was also decreased after MnSOD cDNA transfection. When inoculated in nude mice, tumor growth was markedly inhibited in MnSOD overexpressing cells compared to wild type MCF-7 cells or plasmid control cells. These results support the hypothesis that increased MnSOD expression suppresses the malignant phenotype of human breast cancer cells and suggests that the MnSOD gene is a tumor suppressor gene in human breast cancer.

In subcellular systems, doxorubicin hydrochloride (ADR) leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species such as superoxide anion. Because reactive oxygen species have been shown to be important mediators of glomerular injury in several animal models, we sought to determine whether reactive oxygen species play a significant role in the pathogenesis of ADR-induced nephrotic syndrome in the rat. Rats pretreated with a variety of free radical scavengers (superoxide dismutase conjugated to polyethylene glycol [PEGSOD], catalase, catalase plus PEGSOD, dimethylsulfoxide, desferoxamine, or n-acetyl cysteine) had no significant reduction in proteinuria at 3 weeks after ADR administration when compared with rats receiving ADR in the absence of scavengers. No evidence was seen of increased lipid peroxidation or depletion of reduced glutathione in renal cortex tissue obtained up to 24 hours after administration of ADR. No changes were seen in the renal cortical levels of either enzyme activity or immunoreactive protein for the endogenous antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (either the Mn or CuZn forms) or catalase after ADR. Total and MnSOD activities in glomeruli isolated from rats after ADR administration fell significantly, though CuZnSOD activity was increased. The effect of ADR on cultured rat mesangial or epithelial cells was also evaluated. ADR inhibited growth of both cell types at concentrations of approximately 5 to 10 mumol/L, an order of magnitude below the reported Michaelis-Menten constant for ADR-induced superoxide production. The growth inhibitory effect could not be prevented in either cell type by treatment with PEGSOD, catalase, or PEGSOD plus catalase. This combination of results from in vivo and in vitro studies provides no evidence for an important role of reactive oxygen species in ADR nephrosis and suggests that other known mechanisms of ADR cytotoxicity, such as interference with DNA metabolism, mediate the glomerular injury.

We have studied superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the X-REF-23 rat embryo fibroblast cell line. X-REF-23 is an immortal cell line that maintains a nontransformed phenotype throughout its known lifespan. Low-passage X-REF-23 cells undergo spontaneous differentiation into muscle and adipose cells, while high-passage X-REF-23 cells undergo little or no differentiation. SOD activities were measured in subclones of X-REF-23, which differentiate into muscle (AMC subclone) or adipose (AMB-J) cells, as well as the parental nondifferentiating X-REF-23 cells. Total SOD activity increased in all three cell lines with time in culture. Cu-ZnSOD was induced in the AMB-J and the X-REF-23 cells with time in culture, whereas the AMC cells showed no induction. MnSOD activity was induced during the time period in which differentiation occurred in the two differentiating clones. In contrast, MnSOD was not induced in this time period in the nondifferentiating X-REF-23 cell line. However, MnSOD activity was induced in the latter cell line at a much later time. Levels of immunoreactive MnSOD correlated quite well with MnSOD activity in all three cell lines. The nondifferentiating X-REF-23 cells, but not the two differentiating cells lines, showed a large increase in cell organelles with time in culture. In particular, an increase in very small mitochondria was observed; these mitochondria often showed evidence of disorganization.