P85 Alpha Research Articles

A Novel 55-kDa Regulatory Subunit for Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Structurally Similar to p55PIK Is Generated by Alternative Splicing of the p85α Gene

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, which is composed of a 110-kDa catalytic subunit and a regulatory subunit, plays important roles in various cellular signaling mechanisms. We screened a rat brain cDNA expression library with 32P-labeled human IRS-1 protein and cloned cDNAs that were very likely to be generated by alternative splicing of p85alpha gene products. These cDNAs were demonstrated to encode a 55-kDa protein (p55alpha) containing two SH2 domains and an inter-SH2 domain of p85alpha but neither a bcr domain nor a SH3 homology domain. Interestingly, p55 alpha contains a unique 34-amino acid sequence at its NH2 terminus, which is not included in the p85alpha amino acid sequence. This 34-amino acid portion was revealed to be comparable with p55PIK (p55gamma) in length, with a high homology between the two, suggesting that these NH2-terminal domains of p55alpha and p5 gamma may have a specific role that p85 does not. The expression of p55alpha mRNA is most abundant in the brain, but expression is ubiquitous in most rat tissues. Furthermore, it should be noted that the expression of p85alpha mRNA in muscle is almost undetectably low by Northern blotting with a cDNA probe coding for the p85alpha SH3 domain, while the expression of p55alpha can be readily detected. These results suggest that p55 alpha may play an unique regulatory role for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in brain and muscle.

Demonstration of a Direct Interaction between p56lok and the Cytoplasmic Domain of CD45 in Vitro

p56lck is a potential in vivo substrate for the tyrosine-specific phosphatase, CD45. In this study, recombinant purified p56lck was found to specifically associate with recombinant CD45 cytoplasmic domain protein, but not to the cytoplasmic domain of another related tyrosine phosphatase, receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase alpha. Under equilibrium binding conditions, the binding was saturable and occurred at a 1:1 molar stoichiometry. A fusion protein containing only the amino-terminal region of p56lck (residues 34-150) also bound to recombinant CD45, and further analysis of this region indicated that glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins of the unique amino-terminal region and the SH2 domain, but not the SH3 domain of p56lck, bound to recombinant CD45. The SH2 domain protein bound with a higher affinity than the amino-terminal region, but both were able to compete for the binding of p56lck to CD45, and when added together worked synergistically to compete for p56lck binding. The SH2 domain interaction with CD45 was specific as glutathione S-transferase-SH2 fusion proteins from p85 alpha subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and SHC did not bind to CD45. In addition, this interaction occurred in the absence of any detectable tyrosine phosphorylation on CD45, suggesting a nonconventional SH2 domain interaction.

A family of phosphoinositide 3-kinases in Drosophila identifies a new mediator of signal transduction.

Mammalian phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI 3-kinases) are involved in receptor-mediated signal transduction and have been implicated in processes such as transformation and mitogenesis through their role in elevating cellular phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate. Additionally, a PI 3-kinase activity which generates phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate has been shown to be required for protein trafficking in yeast. We have identified a family of three distinct PI 3-kinases in Drosophila, using an approach based on the polymerase chain reaction to amplify a region corresponding to the conserved catalytic domain of PI 3-kinases. One of these family members, PI3K_92D, is closely related to the prototypical PI 3-kinase, p110 alpha; PI3K_59F is homologous to Vps34p, whereas the third, PI3K_68D, is a novel PI 3-kinase which is widely expressed throughout the Drosophila life cycle. The PI3K_68D cDNA encodes a protein of 210 kDa, which lacks sequences implicated in linking p110 PI 3-kinases to p85 adaptor proteins, but contains an amino-terminal proline-rich sequence, which could bind to SH3 domains, and a carboxy-terminal C2 domain. Biochemical analyses demonstrate that PI3K_68D has a novel substrate specificity in vitro, restricted to phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, and is unable to phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate, the implied in vivo substrate for p110. A family of PI 3-kinases in Drosophila, including a novel class represented by PI3K_68D, is described. PI3K_68D has the potential to bind to signalling molecules containing SH3 domains, lacks p85-adaptor-binding sequences, has a Ca(2+)-independent phospholipid-binding domain and displays a restricted in vitro substrate specificity, so it could define a novel signal transduction pathway.

Compensatory alterations for insulin signal transduction and glucose transport in insulin-resistant diabetes.

Insulin binding activates the receptor tyrosine kinase toward the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). Phosphorylated IRS-1 then interacts with the p85 alpha subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Nck, growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2), and Syp, thus branching insulin's signal for both mitogenic and metabolic responses. To determine whether the expression of these proteins is altered in insulin resistance, the levels of these proteins were compared in adipose and liver tissues of nondiabetic mice and obese insulin-resistant diabetic KKAy mice. IR and PI3K p85 alpha protein levels were significantly lower in KKAy mice than in control nondiabetic mice, whereas IRS-1 protein levels were not altered. In contrast, the protein levels of GRB2, Nck, Syp, and GLUT-1 were dramatically elevated in KKAy fat, with less striking changes in liver. Treatment of diabetic animals with pioglitazone, an insulin-sensitizing antihyperglycemic agent, partially corrected the expression of some of these proteins. Taken together, these findings suggest that the insulin-resistant diabetic condition is characterized by changes in expression of insulin signal transduction components that may be associated with altered glucose metabolism.

Modulation of the substrate specificity of the mammalian phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase by cholesterol sulfate and sulfatide.

The substrate specificity of the purified, mammalian phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is subject to modulation by detergents, which are able to switch substrate specificity in vitro in favor of PtdInsP2. This effect of the detergents is due to an activation of the phosphatidylinositol biphosphate 3-kinase activity, while the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity is inhibited. The selective inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity (p110 alpha/p85 alpha) is shown here also to be observed by employing cholesterol sulfate or sulfatide at low micromolar concentrations, whereas cholesterol and androsterone sulfate fail to inhibit. These naturally occurring sulfated lipids have at these concentrations no effect on the phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate 3-kinase activity but inhibit the manganese-dependent intrinsic protein kinase activity, thus switching substrate specificity toward the more highly phosphorylated inositol lipids. Cholesterol sulfate and sulfatide inhibit the free catalytic subunit p110 alpha but fail to inhibit the homologous phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Vps34p), suggesting that these sulfated lipids act specifically on the mammalian phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Consistent with this specificity, the regulatory subunit (p85), which is not conserved in the yeast enzyme, is found to play an important role for the affinity of these inhibitors. The implications for the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in vivo are discussed.

Rearranged NFKB-2 genes in lymphoid neoplasms code for constitutively active nuclear transactivators.

The NFKB-2 gene codes for an NF-kappa B-related transcription factor containing rel-polyG-ankyrin domains. Chromosomal rearrangements of the NFKB-2 locus have been found in various types of lymphoid neoplasms, suggesting that they may contribute to lymphomagenesis. Rearrangements cluster within the 3'-terminal ankyrin-encoding domain of the NFKB-2 gene and lead to the production of C-terminally truncated proteins which, in some cases, are fused to heterologous protein domains. In order to determine the functional consequences of these alterations, we have analyzed the subcellular localization, DNA binding, and transcriptional activity of two representative tumor-associated mutants in which the ankyrin domain is either terminally truncated (NFKB-2p85) or truncated and joined to an out-of-frame immunoglobulin C alpha domain (lyt-10C alpha). Immunofluorescence studies performed on cells transfected with p85 or lyt-10C alpha expression vectors showed that both the abnormal proteins were constitutively localized in the nucleus. Immunoprecipitation analysis of UV-cross-linked DNA-protein adducts showed that p85 can bind kappa B sites in its unprocessed form. Cotransfection of p85 or lyt-10C alpha expression vectors with kappa B-driven reporter plasmids showed that both p85 and lyt-10C alpha have retained the ability to mediate transcriptional activation via heterodimerization with Rel-Ap65 but have lost the transrepression activity associated with homodimeric DNA binding. Furthermore, both p85 and lyt-10C alpha were capable of independent transactivation of kappa B-reporter genes and this activity could not be further stimulated by Bcl-3. These abnormal proteins may contribute to lumphomagenesis by determining a constitutive activation of the NF-kappa B system and, in particular, of NFKB-2 target genes.

Ionizing Radiation Stimulates a Grb2-mediated Association of the Stress-activated Protein Kinase with Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase

The stress-activated protein (SAP) kinases are induced by tumor necrosis factor, oncoproteins, and UV light. The present studies demonstrate that ionizing radiation (IR) activates p54 SAP kinase. IR-induced activation of SAP kinase is associated with binding to the SH2/SH3-containing adaptor protein Grb2. This interaction is mediated by the SH3 domains of Grb2 and the proline-rich sequence PPPKIP in the carboxy-terminal region of SAP kinase. We also demonstrated that SAP kinase and the p85 alpha-subunit of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase form a complex in irradiated cells. The results indicate that this complex involves binding of the p85 alpha subunit of PI 3-kinase to the SH2 domain of Grb2. The functional role of linking SAP kinase to PI 3-kinase is further supported by the finding that wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI 3-kinase, stimulates SAP kinase activity. These results suggest that the cellular response to IR may include regulation of SAP kinase by a PI 3-kinase-dependent signaling pathway.

T Cell Activation-dependent Association between the p85 Subunit of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase and Grb2/Phospholipase C-γ1-binding Phosphotyrosyl Protein pp36/38

Tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins is an early and an essential step in T cell receptor-mediated lymphocyte activation. Tyrosine phosphorylation of transmembrane receptor chains (such as zeta and CD3 chains) and membrane-associated proteins provides docking sites for SH2 domains of adaptor proteins and signaling enzymes, resulting in their recruitment in the vicinity of activated receptors. pp36/38 is a prominent substrate of early tyrosine phosphorylation upon stimulation through the T cell receptor. The tyrosine-phosphorylated form of pp36/38 is membrane-associated and directly interacts with phospholipase C-gamma 1 and Grb2, providing one mechanism to recruit downstream effectors to the cell membrane. Here, we demonstrate that in Jurkat T cells, pp36/38 associates with the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3-K p85) in an activation-dependent manner. Association of pp36/38 with PI-3-K p85 was confirmed by transfection of a hemagglutinin-tagged p85 alpha cDNA into Jurkat cells followed by anti-hemagglutinin immunoprecipitation. In vitro binding experiments with glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins of PI-3-K p85 demonstrated that the SH2 domains, but not the SH3 domain, mediated binding to pp36/38. This binding was selectively abrogated by phosphopeptides that bind to p85 SH2 domains with high affinity. Filter binding assays demonstrated that association between pp36/38 and PI-3-K p85 SH2 domains was due to direct binding. These results strongly suggest the role of pp36/38 in recruiting PI-3-K to the cell membrane and further support the idea that pp36/38 is a multifunctional docking protein for SH2 domain-containing signaling proteins in T cells.

Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase Activity Is Regulated by BCR/ABL and Is Required for the Growth of Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Cells

The BCR/ABL oncogenic tyrosine kinase is responsible for initiating and maintaining the leukemic phenotype of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive cells. Phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase is known to interact with and be activated by receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. We investigated whether PI-3 kinase associates with and/or is regulated by BCR/ABL, whether this interaction is functionally significant for Ph1 cell proliferation, and, if so, whether inhibition of PI-3 kinase activity can be exploited to eliminate Ph1-positive cells from bone marrow. We show that the p85 alpha subunit of PI-3 kinase associates with BCR/ABL and that transient expression of BCR/ABL in fibroblasts and down-regulation of BCR/ABL expression using antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) in Ph1 cells activates and inhibits, respectively, PI-3 kinase enzymatic activity. The use of specific ODNs or antisense constructs to downregulate p85 alpha expression showed a requirement for p85 alpha subunit in the proliferation of BCR/ABL-dependent cell lines and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) primary cells. Similarly, wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of the enzymatic activity of the p110 subunit of PI-3 kinase, inhibited growth of these cells. The growth of normal bone marrow and erythromyeloid, but not megakaryocyte, progenitors was inhibited by p85 alpha antisense [S]ODNs, but wortmannin, at the concentrations tested, did not affect normal hematopoiesis. The proliferation of two BCR/ABL- and growth factor-independent cell lines was not affected by downregulation of the expression of the p85 alpha subunit or inhibition of p110 enzymatic activity, confirming the specificity of the observed effects on Ph1 cells. Thus, PI-3 kinase is one of the downstream effectors of BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase in CML cells. Moreover, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction performed on single colonies to detect BCR-ABL transcripts showed that wortmannin was able to eliminate selectively CML-blast crisis cells from a mixture of normal bone marrow and Ph1 cells.

Formation of signal transfer complexes between stem cell and platelet-derived growth factor receptors and SH2 domain proteins in vitro.

Cellular growth and differentiation signals are generated and defined by the interaction of specific phosphotyrosine residues of activated receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and src homology-2 (SH2) domain-containing intracellular signal transducers. This appears to involve for both the p145c-kit and beta platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R) cytoplasmic domains the formation of multiprotein signal transfer complexes, which include combinations of noncatalytic and enzymatically active subunits of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3'-K), phospholipase C-gamma (PLC gamma), and guanosine trisphosphatase activating protein (GAP). In vitro association experiments indicate that PLC gamma and PI3'-K bind the beta PDGF-R simultaneously, while these two SH2 proteins compete for association to p145c-kit binding sites, with p85/PI3'-K exhibiting higher affinity. Interestingly, GAP and p85/PI3'-K binding to distinct p145c-kit phosphotyrosines is cooperative, enhancing formation of a heterotetrameric signaling complex, which may include different combinations of p85 alpha and p85 beta with p110, p112, and p116 by interaction with the same tyrosine 721 docking site. The diversity of molecular interactions observed for PDGF-R and p145c-kit suggests a new mode of signal definition and modulation.

Integrin-dependent translocation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase to the cytoskeleton of thrombin-activated platelets involves specific interactions of p85 alpha with actin filaments and focal adhesion kinase.

Thrombin-induced accumulation of phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4)P2) but not of PtdIns(3,4,5,)P3 is strongly correlated with the relocation to the cytoskeleton of 29% of the p85 alpha regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PtdIns 3-kinase) and is accompanied by a significant increase in PtdIns 3-kinase activity in this subcellular fraction. Actually, PtdIns(3,4)P2 accumulation and PtdIns 3-kinase, pp60c-src, and p125FAK translocations as well as aggregation were concomitant events occurring with a distinct lag after actin polymerization. The accumulation of PtdIns(3,4)P2 and the relocalization of PtdIns 3-kinase to the cytoskeleton were both dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation, integrin signaling, and aggregation. Furthermore, although p85 alpha was detected in anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates obtained from the cytoskeleton of thrombin-activated platelets, we failed to demonstrate tyrosine phosphorylation of cytoskeletal p85 alpha. Tyrphostin treatment clearly reduced its presence in this subcellular fraction, suggesting a physical interaction of p85 alpha with a phosphotyrosyl protein. These data led us to investigate the proteins that are able to interact with PtdIns 3-kinase in the cytoskeleton. We found an association of this enzyme with actin filaments: this interaction was spontaneously restored after one cycle of actin depolymerization-repolymerization in vitro. This association with F-actin appeared to be at least partly indirect, since we demonstrated a thrombin-dependent interaction of p85 alpha with a proline-rich sequence of the tyrosine-phosphorylated cytoskeletal focal adhesion kinase, p125FAK. In addition, we show that PtdIns 3-kinase is significantly activated by the p125FAK proline-rich sequence binding to the src homology 3 domain of p85 alpha subunit. This interaction may represent a new mechanism for PtdIns 3-kinase activation at very specific areas of the cell and indicates that the focal contact-like areas linked to the actin filaments play a critical role in signaling events that occur upon ligand engagement of alpha IIb/beta 3 integrin and platelet aggregation evoked by thrombin.

Monocyte Colony-stimulating Factor Stimulates Binding of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase to Grb2·Sos Complexes in Human Monocytes

Monocyte colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is required for the proliferation of mononuclear phagocytes. The activated M-CSF receptor associates with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). In the present studies, we demonstrate that M-CSF also induces direct interaction of PI 3-kinase (p85 alpha subunit) with the SH2/SH3 adaptor protein Grb2. Tyrosine-phosphorylated PI 3-kinase interacts with the SH2 domain of Grb2. A pYRNE (pY408) site in PI 3-kinase is potentially involved in this interaction. The results also demonstrate that the PI 3-kinase.Grb2 complex associates with the guanine nucleotide exchange protein Sos. Since Sos binds to the SH3 domains of Grb2 and thereby associates with Ras at the cell membrane, formation of the PI 3-kinase.Grb2.Sos complex provides a potential mechanism for growth factor-induced interactions of PI 3-kinase and Ras.

Differential Effects of Platelet-derived Growth Factor BB on p125 Focal Adhesion Kinase and Paxillin Tyrosine Phosphorylation and on Cell Migration in Rabbit Aortic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Swiss 3T3 Fibroblasts

In rabbit aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma, p120 GTPase-activating protein, and the p85 alpha subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase only at high concentrations (5-25 ng/ml). In contrast, PDGF-BB induced a rapid and concentration-dependent increase in p125 focal adhesion kinase (p125FAK) tyrosine phosphorylation, which was half-maximal and maximum at 1 and 2.5 ng/ml, respectively. Saliently, stimulation of p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation was sustained at up to 100 ng/ml PDGF-BB and for prolonged times of treatment. With similar concentration dependence, PDGF-BB stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of the 68-kDa focal adhesion-associated protein, paxillin. PDGF-BB also induced p125FAK and paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation in human aortic VSMC. PDGF-BB caused no detectable disruption of the actin cytoskeleton in VSMC. PDGF-BB stimulated rabbit VSMC migration with a very similar concentration dependence to that for p125FAK and paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation. PDGF-BB was equally effective in stimulating p125FAK and paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation under conditions similar to those used for cell migration. In Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, PDGF-BB and -AA stimulated p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation and cell migration only at low concentrations, and stimulation was abolished at 10-25 ng/ml. PDGF-AA failed to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation, mitogenesis, and chemotaxis in rabbit VSMC, and immunoblot analysis showed that rabbit VSMC expressed PDGF beta-receptors but no alpha-receptors. These results implicate p125FAK in the chemotactic response to PDGF-BB and suggest that the ability of PDGF-BB to trigger the p125FAK pathway may be dependent both upon cell type and receptor isotype expression.

Functional Interaction between c-Src and Its Mitotic Target, Sam 68

The c-Src tyrosine kinase phosphorylates and binds to a 68-kDa RNA-binding protein in mitotic cells. We have examined the mechanism and functional consequence of the interaction of c-Src with this protein, Sam 68 (Src associated in mitosis, 68 kDa). In whole cell homogenates, Sam 68 was the predominant substrate and binding partner of overexpressed c-Src. Mitotic, tyrosine-phosphorylated Sam 68 bound selectively to recombinant SH2 domains with significantly different affinities (c-Src approximately Ras GTPase activating protein > p85 alpha (amino-terminal) > Grb2 >> p85 alpha (COOH-terminal)). In vitro translated Sam 68 also bound selectively to recombinant SH3 domains, with the highest affinity for the Src and p85 alpha SH3 domains. SH3 binding was inhibited by specific Sam 68 peptides. In vitro translated Sam 68 bound directly to immobilized poly(U), and this was inhibited by binding of Src and p85 SH3 domains to Sam 68. The results suggest that the selection of Sam 68 as a mitotic target by c-Src is the result of highly specific interaction with SH2 and SH3 domains and that this interaction may modulate the RNA binding activity of Sam 68.

Production of monoclonal antibodies specific to the carboxyl terminal region of the 85 kDa subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase: use of the antibodies in recognition of mutant p85.

We have established two hybridomas producing mAb to the carboxyl terminal region of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase 85 kDa subunit type alpha (p85 alpha). Analysis using deletion mutants of p85 revealed that epitopes for the two mAb were located on the border of the src homology 2 (SH2) sequence located at the carboxyl end of p85. They immunoprecipitated free p85 efficiently, but reactivity to p85 bound to p110 was very weak. Together with the mAb which we have reported previously, a panel of mAb that covered the various parts of p85 alpha was obtained. Using this panel, we characterized two mutants of p85 (70 and 50 kDa) expressed in the human colon carcinoma cell line, HCC2998. No wild-type p85 was detected in these cells. A mAb specific to the carboxyl terminal region detected p70 but not p50, suggesting that this region is missing in p50. The panel of mAb is a useful tool to use to analyse mutant forms of p85.

Soluble cytokine receptors and the low 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine syndrome in patients with nonthyroidal disease.

Cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the low T3 syndrome during illness. This is supported by our recent observation of a strong negative relationship between serum T3 and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) in nonthyroidal illness (NTI). In the last few years, soluble cytokine receptors and cytokine receptor antagonists have been discovered in human serum. These proteins have the potential to further regulate cytokine activity. Therefore, we now studied the association between serum T3 and serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha (sTNF alpha R p55 and sTNF alpha R p75), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), and the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) in 100 consecutive hospital admissions with a wide variety of nonthyroidal diseases. Patients were divided into group A (T3, > or = 1.30 nmol/L; T4, > or = 75 nmol/L; n = 41), group B (T3, < 1.30 nmol/L; T4, > or = 75 nmol/L; n = 46), and group C (T3, < 1.30 nmol/L; T4, < 75 nmol/L; n = 13). Serum sTNF alpha R p55, sTNF alpha R p75, sIL-2R, and IL-1RA were lower in group A than in groups B and C [median values; sTNF alpha R p55, 1.25, 2.25, and 3.55 ng/mL (P < 0.001); sTNF alpha R p75, 2.02, 4.56, and 7.00 ng/mL (P < 0.001); sIL-2R, 184, 259, and 272 U/mL (P = 0.0004), respectively]. Serum IL-1RA levels were not different in the three groups (median values, 122, 193, and 258 pg/mL, respectively). Taking all patients together, a significant negative relation was found among serum T3 and sTNF alpha p55 (r = -0.59; P < 0.0001), sTNF alpha R p75 (r = -0.55; P < 0.0001), sIL-2R (r = -0.54; P < 0.0001), IL-1RA (r = -0.38; P = 0.001), and IL-6 (r = -0.56; P < 0.0001). A remarkable high correlation (r = -0.70; P < 0.0001) was found between serum T3 and a newly designed total score based on the summation of serum levels of IL-6 and the four soluble cytokine receptor proteins. IL-6 and the four cytokine receptor proteins were all significantly related to each other. Stepwise multiple regression indicated IL-6 and sTNF alpha R p75 as independent determinants of T3 [serum T3 = 2.09-0.32ln (sTNF alpha R p75) -0.15ln (IL-6); r = 0.70]. The variability in serum T3 was accounted for 35% by changes in ln (sTNF alpha R p75) and 14% by changes in ln (IL-6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Calcitriol effect on natural killer cells from hemodialyzed and normal subjects

Patients with chronic renal failure have a decreased secretion of calcitriol (CTR). They also show an impaired cellular immune response including a defective natural killer (NK) cell-mediated activity. The aim of this study was to analyze, in vivo and in vitro, the effect of CTR on NK cell cytotoxicity in healthy control subjects and in hemodialyzed (HD) patients. Our results show that HD patients had baseline-depressed NK cell activity when compared with controls (P < 0.001), which increased significantly after 1 month of oral CTR treatment (0.5 microgram/day) (P < 0.001). Calcitriol treatment also induced a significant increase in CTR serum levels (P < 0.001) and a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in total parathyroid hormone (PTH). In vitro CTR treatment (10(-7) M) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) increased NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity after 24 hours of incubation with a maximum at 48 hours (P < 0.001). In vitro CTR treatment at doses of 10(-11) and 10(-9) M did not significantly increase NK cytotoxic activity. The enhanced NK activity after CTR treatment was not the consequence of increased numbers of CD56 positive cells, nor to lymphocyte activation, as tested by the expression of the interleukin 2 receptor p55 alpha chain (CD25) on their surface. In vitro treatment of PBMC from HD patients with CTR (10(-7) M, during 48 hours) also induced a strong increase in NK cell cytotoxicity (P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Molecular Cloning, cDNA Sequence, and Chromosomal Localization of the Human Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase p110α (PIK3CA) Gene

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase is a heterodimeric enzyme comprising a 110-kDa catalytic subunit and an 85-kDa regulatory subunit that binds to tyrosine phosphopeptide sites linked directly or indirectly to receptors serving diverse signal functions. Knowledge of the structure and function of PI 3-kinase was greatly advanced by the purification, cDNA cloning, and subsequent expression of the bovine enzyme. Here the cloning of the cDNA for the human p110 alpha subunit of PI 3-kinase (PIK3CA), encoding a protein 99% identical to the bovine p110, and of its gene in YAC is described. The chromosomal localization of the gene for PIK3CA is shown to be at 3q21-qter as determined using somatic cell hybrids. In situ hybridization performed using Alu-PCR from the YAC DNA located the gene in 3q26.3.

Regulation by insulin of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase bound to alpha- and beta-isoforms of p85 regulatory subunit.

The roles of the alpha- and beta-isoforms of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3'-kinase p85 regulatory subunit were studied with isoform-specific antisera in three model systems in which the insulin receptor mediates rapid phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). Insulin receptor signaling stimulated the association of IRS-1 with p85 alpha protein, and p85 alpha-associated PI 3-kinase activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-T) and COS-1 cells expressing high levels of human insulin receptors. While not detectable in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, the p85 beta isoform was also found to associate with IRS-1 in response to insulin receptor activation in COS-1 and CHO-T cells. However, selective immunoprecipitation of p85 beta from unstimulated COS-1 or CHO-T cell lysates was accompanied by higher levels of PI 3-kinase activity than that associated with p85 alpha. Remarkably, the large stimulation of PI 3-kinase activity associated with p85 alpha (7.8 +/- 2.0-fold, n = 6) in insulin-treated CHO-T cells was not observed in p85 beta immunoprecipitates (1.8 +/- 0.6-fold, n = 6), and in COS-1 cells p85 beta-associated PI 3-kinase activity was completely insensitive to stimulation by the insulin receptor. These data suggest the novel hypothesis that binding of p85 beta to IRS-1 complexes in COS-1 and CHO-T cells does not mediate marked activation of PI 3-kinase activity as does p85 alpha.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) downregulates c-kit proto- oncogene product expression in normal and acute myeloid leukemia CD34+ cells via p55 TNF alpha receptors

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), as a modulator of hematopoiesis, interacts with many growth factor receptors, such as interleukin-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF), and granulocyte-CSF receptors. Here, we studied the interactions between TNF alpha and the stem cell factor (SCF) receptor, c-kit, in normal CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors and their leukemic counterpart, ie, acute myeloid leukemic (AML) CD34+ cells coexpressing c-kit antigen. The results showed that (1) incubation of normal bone marrow mononuclear cells with 200 U/mL rhTNF alpha for 20 hours induced a diminution of 31.2% +/- 5.2% of CD34+ cells coexpressing c-kit; (2) the same decrease was observed using purified CD34+ cells and, furthermore, their proliferative response to SCF was inhibited by 31.5% +/- 7.3% after exposure to TNF alpha; (3) similar experiments performed on CD34+ c-kit+ AML cells from 11 patients gave comparable results. Further analysis at the mRNA level indicated that TNF alpha decreased c-kit mRNA transcripts. Moreover, using monoclonal antibodies against the two types of TNF alpha receptors, p75 and p55, we showed that the downregulation of c-kit proto-oncogene product by TNF alpha, on normal and leukemic CD34+ cells, was exclusively mediated by the TNF alpha p55 receptor. Therefore, we conclude that TNF alpha acts as a downregulator of the SCF receptor expression.