Human Foreskin Keratinocyte Cell Research Articles

Methylation-mediated repression of PRDM14 contributes to apoptosis evasion in HPV-positive cancers

Promoter methylation of the transcription factor PRDM14 (PRDI-BF1 and RIZ domain containing 14) represents a highly frequent event in human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cervical cancers and cancer precursor lesions. Here, we aimed to assess the functional consequences of PRDM14 promoter methylation in HPV-induced carcinogenesis. PRDM14 promoter methylation, expression and consequences of ectopic PRDM14 expression were studied in HPV16-positive cervical and oral cancer cell lines (SiHa, CaSki and 93VU147T), human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293T) cells and primary human foreskin keratinocytes (HFK). PRDM14 mRNA expression was restricted to HEK293T and HFK cells, and could be upregulated in SiHa cells upon DNA methylation inhibition. Ectopic expression of PRDM14 in SiHa, CaSki and 93VU147T cells resulted in significantly more apoptotic cells, as measured by annexin V labelling, compared to HEK293T and HFK cells. MRNA profiling of 41 apoptosis regulators identified NOXA and PUMA as candidate target genes involved in PRDM14-mediated apoptosis induction. Full-length PRDM14 transactivated both NOXA and PUMA promoters. Transactivation was abolished upon deletion of the PRDM14 DNA binding domain. This suggests that NOXA and PUMA expression is directly regulated by PRDM14, which in case of NOXA was linked to a consensus PRDM14 binding motif in the promoter region. Taken together, these results suggest that PRDM14 acts as a regulator of NOXA and PUMA-mediated apoptosis induction, thereby providing evidence for a tumour suppressive role in HPV-induced carcinogenesis. The contribution of methylation-mediated gene silencing of PRDM14 to apoptosis evasion in HPV-positive cancer cells offers novel therapeutic options for HPV-induced cancers.

Human papillomavirus infection is inhibited by host autophagy in primary human keratinocytes

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is severely limited in its natural host, primary human keratinocytes. Our data show HPV infectivity in primary keratinocytes is over 100- and 1,000-fold lower than in established keratinocyte cell lines NIKS and HaCaT, respectively. Here, we show that the basal level of autophagy in primary human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) is higher than in immortalized keratinocytes, and that HPV16 virions significantly induce autophagy in HFKs. Interestingly, HPV16 infectivity is dramatically enhanced by knockdown of essential autophagy genes as well as biochemical inhibition of autophagy. The increase in HPV16 infectivity by autophagy inhibition is most significant in HFKs, showing an inverse correlation with basal HPV16 infectivity in HFK, NIKS, HaCaT, and 293FT cells. Further, inhibition of autophagy delays degradation of HPV16 capsid proteins during virus trafficking, indicating that host autophagy induced by HPV16 virions inhibits infection of primary keratinocytes through rapid degradation of viral capsid proteins.

Effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 oncoproteins on the expression of involucrin in human keratinocytes

BackgroundThe human papillomavirus (HPV) life cycle is closely linked to keratinocyte differentiation. Oncogenic HPV infection has been shown to hamper the normal differentiation of keratinocytes; however, the underlying mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon are yet to be clarified. Here, we aimed to study the effects of HPV16 E6 and E7 oncogenes on the expression of involucrin (IVL), an established marker of keratinocyte differentiation, in human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) cells.ResultsThe differentiation of HFK cells by serum and high calcium significantly increased both the mRNA and the protein levels of IVL. The E6 and E7 oncoproteins of HPV16 together caused strong down-regulation of IVL mRNA and protein both in proliferating and in differentiating HFK cells. To study the effects of HPV oncogenes on the IVL promoter, we made transient transfection assays and luciferase tests and found that HPV 16 E6 but not E7 repressed IVL promoter activity in proliferating HFK cells. The inhibitory effect of HPV 16 E6 on the human IVL promoter could be localised to the proximal regulatory region (PRR) of the gene.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the down-regulation of IVL promoter activity by HPV 16 E6 significantly contribute to the inhibition of endogenous IVL expression by the HPV 16 oncoproteins. In contrast, the down-regulation of endogenous IVL expression by HPV16 E7 is probably not caused by a direct and specific effect of E7 on the IVL promoter.

The human papillomavirus type 11 E1^E4 protein is not essential for viral genome amplification

An abundant human papillomavirus (HPV) protein E1^E4 is expressed late in the virus life cycle in the terminally differentiated layers of epithelia. The expression of E1^E4 usually coincides with the onset of viral DNA amplification. However, the function of E1^E4 in viral life cycle is not completely understood. To examine the role of E1^E4 in the virus life cycle, we introduced a single nucleotide change in the HPV-11 genome to result in a truncation of E1^E4 protein without affecting the E2 amino acid sequence. This mutated HPV-11 genome was introduced into a human foreskin keratinocyte cell line immortalized by the catalytic subunit of human telomerase, deficient in p16 INK4a expression, and previously shown to support the HPV-11 life cycle when grown in organotypic raft culture. We have demonstrated that E1^E4 is dispensable for HPV-11 viral DNA amplification in the late stages of the viral life cycle.

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β represses human papillomavirus 11 upstream regulatory region expression through a promoter-proximal YY1-binding site

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) can function as a repressor or as an activator of human papillomavirus (HPV) gene expression, depending on which cell type the experiments are conducted. In this report, it was shown that within primary human foreskin keratinocyte cells (HFK) the activity of C/EBPbeta can be switched from that of a repressor of HPV11 expression to an activator by mutating a single promoter-proximal consensus YY1-binding site within the HPV11 upstream regulatory region (URR). It was shown that in HFK cells, exogenous expression of C/EBPbeta significantly activates the expression of mutant HPV11 URR reporter plasmids that contain deletions which overlap a 127 bp region (-269 to -142). Inclusive in this region are binding sites for multiple transcription factors, including AP1, YY1 and C/EBPalpha. Only mutation of the YY1 site resulted in the switch in phenotype, indicating that C/EBPbeta represses HPV11 expression in these cells via YY1 binding. The level of YY1 activity was also measured in HFK cells transfected with a C/EBPbeta expression plasmid and a significant increase in YY1 activity as compared with mock-transfected cells was found. C33A cells, which exhibit activation of wild-type HPV11 gene expression with exogenous C/EBPbeta co-expression, failed to demonstrate C/EBPbeta-induced YY1 activation. It was concluded that in HFK cells, exogenous C/EBPbeta induces the activity of YY1, which, in turn, can repress HPV11 URR expression through the promoter-proximal YY1-binding site.

Roles of the ITAM and PY Motifs of Epstein-Barr Virus Latent Membrane Protein 2A in the Inhibition of Epithelial Cell Differentiation and Activation of β-Catenin Signaling

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) is important for maintenance of latency in infected B lymphocytes. Through its immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) and PY motifs, LMP2A is able to block B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, bind BCR-associated kinases, and manipulate the turnover of itself and these kinases via a PY-mediated interaction with the Nedd4 family of ubiquitin ligases. In epithelial cells, LMP2A has been shown to activate the phosphatidylinositol 3'-OH kinase/Akt and beta-catenin signaling pathways. In the present study, the biological consequences of LMP2A expression in the normal human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) cell line were investigated and the importance of the ITAM and PY motifs for LMP2A signaling effects in HFK cells was ascertained. The ITAM was essential for the activation of Akt by LMP2A in HFK cells, while both the ITAM and PY motifs contributed to LMP2A-mediated accumulation and nuclear translocation of the oncoprotein beta-catenin. LMP2A inhibited induction of differentiation in an assay conducted with semisolid methylcellulose medium, and the PY motifs were critical for this inhibition. LMP2A is expressed in the EBV-associated epithelial malignancies nasopharyngeal carcinoma and gastric carcinoma, and these data indicate that LMP2A affects cellular processes that likely contribute to carcinogenesis.

Human β-Defensin-2 Induction in Human Foreskin Keratinocyte by Synergetic Stimulation with Foods and Escherichia Coli

We established a real-time quantitative RT-PCR assay that permits rapid and sensitive screening of foods that increase the human beta-defensin-2 (hBD-2) mRNA level in human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) cells. The range of hBD-2 mRNA concentrations suitable for the assay was between 8 x 10(-11) M (39-cycle amplification) and 8 x 10(-18) M (13-cycle amplification) as calibrated with standard hBD-2 cDNA. With this assay system, it was found that the stimulation of HFK cells by the addition of yeast powder at 5 g l(-1) to the culture medium resulted in about 40 times increase in hBD-2 mRNA level, though stimulation with Escherichia coli attained the same level of induction. The active component of yeast was insoluble in water. Simultaneous co-stimulation of HFK cells with E. coli and grains, such as amaranth, millet, soybean and sesame, boosted hBD-2 mRNA induction significantly (6.1, 2.5, 3.3, and 3.3 times, respectively) above the level attained with E. coli alone. The results of successive fractionations of amaranth grain powder by ether extraction and amylase digestion showed that the boosting activity of amaranth grain resided in its insoluble fraction. Significant boosting of hBD-2 mRNA induction in epithelial cells with foods opens a new possibility of developing functional foods that can protect the human body against microbial infection at the oral cavity, skin, and respiratory tract among others.

Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2A activates beta-catenin signaling in epithelial cells.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) functions to maintain latency in EBV-infected B lymphocytes. Although LMP2A is nonessential for the immortalization of B lymphocytes by EBV, its expression in B lymphocytes prevents viral reactivation by blocking B-cell receptor activation and signaling. LMP2A also provides an antiapoptotic signal in transgenic mice that express LMP2A in B lymphocytes. LMP2A activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and the serine/threonine kinase Akt in lymphocytes and epithelial cells. Here we show that EBV LMP2A activates the PI3K and beta-catenin signaling pathways in telomerase-immortalized human foreskin keratinocytes (HFK). LMP2A activated Akt in a PI3K-dependent manner, and the downstream Akt targets glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) and the Forkhead transcription factor FKHR were phosphorylated and inactivated in LMP2A-expressing HFK cells. GSK3beta is a negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway, and inactivation of GSK3beta by LMP2A signaling led to stabilization of beta-catenin, the central oncoprotein of Wnt signaling. In LMP2A-expressing cells, beta-catenin accumulated in the cytoplasm and translocated into the nucleus via a two-step mechanism. The cytoplasmic accumulation of beta-catenin downstream of LMP2A was independent of PI3K signaling, whereas its nuclear translocation was dependent on PI3K signaling. In the nucleus, beta-catenin activated a reporter responsive to T-cell factor, and this activation was augmented by LMP2A coexpression. The Wnt pathway is inappropriately activated in 90% of colon cancers and is dysregulated in several other cancers, and these data suggest that activation of this pathway by LMP2A may contribute to the generation of EBV-associated cancers.

Diindolylmethane Alters Gene Expression in Human Keratinocytes In Vitro

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and its dimer 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), obtained from dietary consumption of cruciferous vegetables, have multiple biochemical activities. Both compounds have been effective clinically in treating precancerous lesions of the cervix and laryngeal papillomas, pathologies with a human papillomavirus (HPV) component. Using cDNA microarrays, we examined early changes in gene expression after treatment with 100 micro mol/L DIM in C33A and CaSki cervical cancer cells and in an immortalized human epithelial cell line (HaCat), as well as in normal human foreskin keratinocytes (HFK). Multiple analyses were done after treating C33A cells for 6 h; other analyses included 4- and 12-h treatments of C33A and 6-h treatments of CaSki, HaCat and HFK cells. DIM consistently altered the expression of >100 genes at least twofold. Many of the stimulated genes encode transcription factors and proteins involved in signaling, stress response and growth. Results were comparable between transformed cells with and without integrated HPV sequences, and many of the same genes were induced in these cancer-derived cells and in noncancer cells. Eight genes encoding bZip proteins were among the most consistently and robustly induced, including the stress-associated immediate early gene GADD153 (>50 fold in C33A) and nuclear factor-interleukin 6 (NF-IL6), also known as c/EBPbeta, (>5 fold in C33A), which has been shown to reduce expression of HPV oncogenes. Induction of GADD153, NF-IL6 and ATF3 was confirmed by Western analysis. In functional analyses, DIM not only suppressed transcription of a luciferase gene driven by the HPV11 upstream regulatory region (URR) in C33A, CaSki, HaCat and HFK cells from >2-fold to 37-fold depending on the type of cells, but also reduced endogenous transcription of HPV16 oncogenes to undetectable levels in CaSki cells as determined by an RNase protection assay. Ectopic expression of GADD153 or NF-IL6 suppressed transcription in a dose-dependent manner driven by the HPV11 URR in C33A, CaSki, HaCat and HFK cells. These results identify unexpected ways in which dietary I3C and DIM invoke cellular responses and are consistent with a potential antiviral effect of DIM on keratinocytes, but they do not explain the differential sensitivity of transformed keratinocytes to apoptosis by DIM.

The human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncogene is required for the productive stage of the viral life cycle.

The production of the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) is intimately tied to the differentiation of the host epithelium that it infects. Infection occurs in the basal layer of the epithelium at a site of wounding, where the virus utilizes the host DNA replication machinery to establish itself as a low-copy-number episome. The productive stage of the HPV-16 life cycle occurs in the postmitotic suprabasal layers of the epithelium, where the virus amplifies its DNA to high copy number, synthesizes the capsid proteins (L1 and L2), encapsidates the HPV-16 genome, and releases virion particles as the upper layer of the epithelium is shed. Papillomaviruses are hypothesized to possess a mechanism to overcome the block in DNA synthesis that occurs in the differentiated epithelial cells, and the HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein has been suggested to play a role in this process. To determine whether E7 plays a role in the HPV-16 life cycle, an E7-deficient HPV-16 genome was created by inserting a translational termination linker (TTL) in the E7 gene of the full HPV-16 genome. This DNA was transfected into an immortalized human foreskin keratinocyte cell line shown previously to support the HPV-16 life cycle, and stable cell lines were obtained that harbored the E7-deficient HPV-16 genome episomally, the state of the genome found in normal infections. By culturing these cells under conditions which promote the differentiation of epithelial cells, we found E7 to be necessary for the productive stage of the HPV-16 life cycle. HPV-16 lacking E7 failed to amplify its DNA and expressed reduced amounts of the capsid protein L1, which is required for virus production. E7 appears to create a favorable environment for HPV-16 DNA synthesis by perturbing the keratinocyte differentiation program and inducing the host DNA replication machinery. These data demonstrate that E7 plays an essential role in the papillomavirus life cycle.

Effects of a Calcium Receptor Activator on the Cellular Response to Calcium in Human Keratinocytes

Changes in the concentration of extracellular calcium affect the balance between proliferation and differentiation in epidermal keratinocytes. Undifferentiated keratinocytes respond to the acute increase in the concentration of extracellular calcium with an increase of intracellular calcium concentration and inositol trisphosphate production, and, subsequently, the expression of differentiation related genes. Our previous studies demonstrated the presence of a calcium-sensing receptor in human keratinocytes, which is identical to the parathyroid calcium-sensing receptor. In this study we showed that the calcimimetic compound NPS R-467, a selective calcium-sensing receptor activator, augmented the calcium-elicited inositol trisphosphate response of cloned human keratinocyte calcium-sensing receptor expressed in human embryonic kidney cells 293. In order to define the role of the calcium-sensing receptor in calcium induced epidermal differentiation, we investigated the ability of NPS R-467 to raise intracellular Ca2+ and stimulate differentiation in normal human foreskin keratinocytes. In the presence of 0.03 mM Ca2+, NPS R-467 increased the intracellular calcium concentration response in a concentration-dependent fashion. Undifferentiated normal human foreskin keratinocyte cells responded to increased extracellular calcium concentration with increased intracellular calcium concentration. NPS R-467 potentiated this response by increasing the maximal response. Its stereoisomer, NPS S-467, was not active in raising intracellular calcium concentration. Increasing extracellular calcium concentration from 0.03 to 1.2 mM stimulated the promoter activity of the differentiation marker gene, involucrin. NPS R-467 potentiated the calcium-stimulated increase in involucrin promoter activity unlike NPS S-467 or vehicle. Northern analysis of the normal human foreskin keratinocyte cells treated with NPS R-467 demonstrated potentiation of the calcium-stimulated increases in involucrin and transglutaminase mRNA levels. These results support the hypothesis that the calcium-sensing receptor expressed in keratinocytes mediates at least part of the intracellular calcium response to extracellular calcium and calcium-induced differentiation.

Establishment of the Human Papillomavirus Type 16 (HPV-16) Life Cycle in an Immortalized Human Foreskin Keratinocyte Cell Line

The study of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in cell culture has been hindered because of the difficulty in recreating the three-dimensional structure of the epithelium on which the virus depends to complete its life cycle. Additionally, the study of genetic mutations in the HPV genome and its effects on the viral life cycle are difficult using the current method of transfecting molecularly cloned HPV genomes into early-passage human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) because of the limited life span of these cells. Unless the HPV genome transfected into the early-passage HFK extends the life span of the cell, analysis of stable transfectants becomes difficult. In this study, we have used BC-1-Ep/SL cells, an immortalized human foreskin keratinocyte cell line, to recreate the HPV-16 life cycle. This cell line exhibits many characteristics of the early-passage HFKs including the ability to stratify and terminally differentiate in an organotypic raft culture system. Because of their similarity to early-passage HFKs, these cells were tested for their ability to support the HPV-16 life cycle. The BC-1-Ep/SL cells could stably maintain two HPV genotypes, HPV-16 and HPV-31b, episomally. Additionally, when the BC-1-Ep/SL cell line was stably transfected with HPV-16 and cultured using the organotypic raft culture system (rafts), it sustained the HPV-16 life cycle. Evidence for the productive stage of the HPV-16 life cycle was provided by: DNA in situ hybridization demonstrating HPV-16 DNA amplification in the suprabasal layers of the rafts, immunohistochemical staining for L1 showing the presence of capsid protein in the suprabasal layers of the rafts, and electron microscopy indicating the presence of virus like particles (VLPs) in nuclei from cells in the differentiated layers of the rafts.

Anchorage mediated by integrin alpha6beta4 to laminin 5 (epiligrin) regulates tyrosine phosphorylation of a membrane-associated 80-kD protein.

Detachment of basal keratinocytes from basement membrane signals a differentiation cascade. Two integrin receptors alpha6beta4 and alpha3beta1 mediate adhesion to laminin 5 (epiligrin), a major extracellular matrix protein in the basement membrane of epidermis. By establishing a low temperature adhesion system at 4 degrees C, we were able to examine the exclusive role of alpha6beta4 in adhesion of human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) and the colon carcinoma cell LS123. We identified a novel 80-kD membrane-associated protein (p80) that is tyrosine phosphorylated in response to dissociation of alpha6beta4 from laminin 5. The specificity of p80 phosphorylation for laminin 5 and alpha6beta4 was illustrated by the lack of regulation of p80 phosphorylation on collagen, fibronectin, or poly-L-lysine surfaces. We showed that blocking of alpha3beta1 function using inhibitory mAbs, low temperature, or cytochalasin D diminished tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase but not p80 phosphorylation. Therefore, under our assay conditions, p80 phosphorylation is regulated by alpha6beta4, while motility via alpha3beta1 causes phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. Consistent with a linkage between p80 dephosphorylation and alpha6beta4 anchorage to laminin 5, we found that phosphatase inhibitor sodium vanadate, which blocked the p80 dephosphorylation, prevented the alpha6beta4-dependent cell anchorage to laminin 5 at 4degreesC. In contrast, adhesion at 37 degrees C via alpha3beta1 was unaffected. Furthermore, by in vitro kinase assay, we identified a kinase activity for p80 phosphorylation in suspended HFKs but not in attached cells. The kinase activity, alpha6beta4, and its associated adhesion structure stable anchoring contacts were all cofractionated in the Triton-insoluble cell fraction that lacks alpha3beta1. Thus, regulation of p80 phosphorylation, through the activities of p80 kinase and phosphatase, correlates with alpha6beta4-SAC anchorage to laminin 5 at 4 degrees C in epithelial cells of the skin and intestine. Transmembrane signaling through p80 is an early tyrosine phosphorylation event responsive to and possibly required for anchorage to laminin 5 by HFK and LS123 epithelial cells.

Resistance of human squamous carcinoma cells to transforming growth factor beta 1 is a recessive trait.

Because most human squamous carcinoma cell lines of the aerodigestive and genital tracts are refractory to the antiproliferative action of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) in vitro, we have begun to identify the causes for resistance of squamous carcinoma cell lines to TGF beta 1 by using somatic cell genetics. Two stable hybrid cell lines (FaDu-HKc.1 and FaDu-HKc.2) were obtained by fusing a TGF beta 1-resistant human squamous carcinoma cell line, FaDu-HygR, with a human papilloma virus 16-immortalized, TGF beta 1-sensitive, human foreskin keratinocyte cell line, HKc-neoR. Whereas TGF beta 1 did not inhibit DNA synthesis in parental FaDu-HygR cells, it reduced DNA synthetic activity of HKc-neoR, FaDu-HKc.1, and FaDu-HKc.2 cells by 75-85% (IC50, 2-5 pM). Although squamous carcinoma cells express lower than normal levels of TGF beta 1 type II receptors on their cell surface, TGF beta 1 type II receptor mRNA was detected in all four cell lines. Recessive genes involved in TGF beta 1 signaling may be localized to the distal portion of chromosome 18q, as this was the sole chromosomal region of homozygous deletion in parental FaDu-HygR cells. Furthermore, our previous observation that mutant p53 decreases sensitivity of keratinocytes to TGF beta 1 was supported by the finding that the level of the mutant p53 protein expressed by the hybrid cell lines was greatly reduced. In summary, TGF beta 1 resistance of FaDu cells appears to be recessive and is presumably due to the loss of one or more post-receptor elements of the signaling pathway.

In vivo cytokeratin-expression pattern of stratified squamous epithelium from human papillomavirus-type-16-immortalized ectocervical and foreskin keratinocytes.

The association between human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 and cervical squamous-cell carcinoma has been well documented, and HPV 16 DNA has been shown to immortalize human genital keratinocytes in vitro. Using a panel of cytokeratin(CK)-specific antibodies, we examined the CK expression pattern, an important characteristic of epithelia, of the stratified squamous epithelium reconstructed in vivo from monolayer cultures of 2 human ectocervical and 3 human foreskin keratinocyte cell lines immortalized by HPV 16 DNA. Whereas the abnormal epithelium formed from these grafts presented certain aspects of mature terminal differentiation, such as morphology and expression of CK10/11, the expression patterns for CK19, and especially CK13, were more obviously abnormal. CK18 expression was not detectable in any of the epithelia formed from the 5 cell lines. In contrast, for an HPV-16-immortalized endocervical cell line and the CaSki cervical-carcinoma cell line there was expression of CK18. Our results indicate that HPV-16-induced immortalization of keratinocytes is associated with disruption of the normal CK expression pattern in stratified squamous epithelium and that expression of particular CKs can be differentially disrupted.