Academic literature on the topic 'NF-kB-mediated gene expression'

Abstract The type III histone deacetylase Sirt6 is known as a regulator of aging in diverse species by regulating NF-kB-dependent gene expression. Here, using an LC-MS/MS approach combined with immunoprecipitation, we have identified a complex of Sirt6-interacting molecules (interactome) that contains about 40 proteins from mouse primary T cells. One of the interactome members is a novel deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB); we thus define this gene as a DUB of Sirt6 (DUBS6). Co-immunoprecipitation and western blotting analysis further validated that DUBS6 interacts with Sirt6 in transiently transfected HEK293 cells as well as in mouse primary T cells. Expression of DUBS6 inhibits Sirt6 ubiquitination and thus stabilizes Sirt6. Unexpectedly, DUBS6 expression, despite increased Sirt6 stability, reversed Sirt6-mediated suppressive function of NF-kB transcription activity. These results suggest that ubiquitination of Sirt6 appears to be required for its functions and that DUBS6 is a novel regulator in Sirt6-mediated NF-kB suppression in T cells.

Abstract Results to date argue compellingly that disruption of FA/BRCA gene expression plays a pivotal role in human somatic carcinogenesis. Melphalan, a DNA cross-linker, is one of the most widely used and effective drugs in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Although most patients respond to standard and high dose melphalan, eventually patients acquire resistance and develop progressive disease. In 1991, our laboratory reported that acquired resistance in a human myeloma cell line was associated with reduced DNA crosslinks, elevated glutathione levels, and increased radiation survival (Cancer Res. 5:993; 1991). Most recently, we reported that the melphalan-resistant myeloma cell lines, 8226/LR5 and U266/LR6, showed a significant increase in several FA/BRCA genes compared to drug-sensitive cells, and that enhanced interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair via this signaling pathway contributes to acquired drug resistance in melphalan resistant cell lines (Blood 10:698; 2005). Here, we report that IKKa is constitutively phosphorylated in unstimulated 8226/LR5 cells, but not in melphalan-sensitive control cells. The specific phosphorylation of IKKa leads to an increase in basal NF-kB DNA binding activity, and 8226/LR5 cells are found to be markedly sensitive to BMS-345541 (a highly selective inhibitor of IkB) relative to control cells. Importantly, a cytotoxic dose of BMS-345541 induces a dramatic decrease in FA/BRCA gene expression, and a concomitant inhibition of NF-kB DNA binding activity in both 8226/S and 8226/LR5 cells. Furthermore, we show that 8226/LR5 cells experience the highest degree of direct binding between FANCD2 promoter and NF-kB/Rel family members, which, in turn, leads to an increase in basal FANCD2-specific NF-kB activity. Small-interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated depletion of RelB and p50, but not other NF-kB subunits, in 8226 cells results in impaired NF-kB binding activity, and visible decrease in FANCD2 protein expression. Studies designed to dissect the role of NF-kB in acquired melphalan resistance are in progress, and the results will be presented. Our findings suggest that NF-kB functions as a regulator of FA/BRCA expression, and that this pathway represents a new target for preventing acquired drug resistance in myeloma patients.

Abstract Previous studies have shown that chalcone has beneficial effects with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, molecular basis for these effects not yet fully understood. In this study, a chalcone derivative, 2’, 4’-dihydroxy-6’-isopentyloxy chalcone (JSH 4-4) was discovered as an inhibitor of NF-kB activation. To demonstrate molecular target affected by JSH 4-4, we examined a homotypic interaction of TLR4, using Ba/F3 cells stably expressing TLR4-Flag, TLR4-GFP CD14 and MD-2, seperately. As a result, JSH 4-4 inhibited the LPS-induced TLR4 oligomerization. Moreover, we demonstrated that JSH 4-4 inhibit LPS-induced NF-kB activation via targeting LPS-binding site of MD-2. This mechanism of action could contribute to suppressive effect of JSH 4-4 on NF-kB-regulated production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide, COX-2 and cytokines. TLR4-mediated NF-kB signalling occurs following sequential activation of IRAK family and TAK1. JSH 4-4 inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of IRAK-1 and TAK1. In addition, JSH 4-4 significantly inhibited IKK activity and phosphorylation of IkBa, resulting in sequential prevention of downstream events, including degradation of IkBs, nuclear translocation of NF-kB p65. In conclusion, JSH 4-4 inhibit NF-kB-regulated inflammatory mediators via targeting the receptor complex MD2-TLR4 in macrophages, thus JSH 4-4 might be considered as a potential agent for the treatment of NF-kB-associated inflammatory diseases.

Abstract Introduction: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is subdivided into the germinal center B-like (GCB) and activated B cell-like (ABC) subtypes by gene expression profiling, and these subtypes exhibit different clinical outcomes and signaling pathway deregulations. Compared to the GCB, the ABC-DLBCL subtype displays a more aggressive clinical course and shorter patient survival. Constitutive nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) activity is often associated with the ABC-DLBCL subtype, however recent studies suggest that NF-kB signaling activation is also observed to a lower extent in the GCB-DLBCL subtype (Lina Odqvist et al. 2014). miRNAs have diagnostic and prognostic value in disease classification, and growing evidence implicates miRNAs in tumorigenesis, tumor maintenance, and dissemination through their ability to modulate the expression of critical genes and signaling networks. We previously demonstrated that miRNA-181a expression correlates with longer survival in patients treated with R-CHOP, independent of established clinical and molecular predictors. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the association between miRNA-181a expression and improved prognosis in DLBCL patients are currently unknown. Herein we analyzed the role of miRNA-181a in DLBCL pathogenesis. Results:Quantitative RT-PCR analyses demonstrate higher endogenous miRNA-181a levels in centroblasts than in plasmablasts. Concordantly, endogenous miRNA-181a levels were significantly higher in GCB DLBCL cell lines and primary tumors compared with ABC DLBCL. These expression differences could not be attributed to distinct DNA methylation signatures in the miRNA-181a promoters (Chromosomes 1, 9) or regulatory elements as analyzed by Mass Array Sequenom Epityping. In search for putative miRNA-181a targets we identified 5 genes (CARD11, NFKB1A (IKBα), NFKB1 (p105/p50), RELA (p65), and REL (CREL)) within the NF-kB signaling pathway. Analyses of these targets show a decrease in the levels of these proteins and mRNAs in ABC and GCB DLBCL cell lines ectopically expressing miRNA-181a compared with scramble control plasmid. Luciferase reporter analyses encoding the respective wild type or mutated 3′UTR sequences demonstrate direct and specific targeting of these transcripts with the exception of RELA. Analysis of the net effect of miRNA-181a on NF-kB signaling using NF-kB luciferase reporter demonstrate significant decrease in NF-kB signaling. Concordantly, anti-miRNA-181a transfection led to increased NF-kB luciferase reporter activity. Moreover, western blot analyses of cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions showed a decrease in the levels of the transcription factors CREL and p50 in both cellular compartments, a decrease in the binding to DNA at NF-kB binding motifs, and a consequent decrease in NF-kB target gene transcription in the miRNA-181a expressing cells compared with scramble control. Together these studies point to miRNA-181a-mediated repression of NF-kB signaling in DLBCLs. Ectopic miRNA-181a expression led to a decrease in cell proliferation and an increase in cell death in both DLBCL subtypes, but this effect was more pronounced in the ABC DLBCL cell lines. The miRNA-181a-mediated increase in cell apoptosis could not be rescued by BCL2 co-transfection, an anti-apoptotic protein that was previously established as a direct miRNA-181a target. Analyses of miRNA-181a effects in NOD/SCID mice demonstrated that in vivo miRNA-181a induction in GCB and ABC human DLBCL xenografts led to decreased tumor growth and significantly longer animal survival. Notably, survival was prolonged in both GCB and ABC DLBCL bearing animals. Figure 1 Figure 1. Conclusions: miRNA-181a directly suppress the NF-kB signaling pathway and lead to increased tumor cell death in both DLBCL subtypes suggesting that NF-kB deregulation is present in both tumor subtypes. However, the lower miRNA-181a expression level in the ABC DLBCL subtype may contribute to the higher NF-kB signaling activity that is observed in this subtype. Furthermore, our study provides a plausible explanation for the association between high miRNA-181a expression and longer survival of DLBCL patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract Although the cytotoxic effect of vitamin K3 (VK3) on human cancer cells has been repeatedly reported, no clear conclusions from either in vitro or in vivo tests have so far been made for VK3 as an anticancer agent due to marked inter-tumor variability of efficacy in response to VK3 treatment. Here, we report that sensitivity of neoplastic cells to VK3-induced killing depends on IKKα expression/NF-kB activation in the cells. We tested the sensitivity to VK3 of 14 leukemic cell lines established from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The 14 lines were classified into three groups: IKKα +/NF-kB+, IKKα +/NF-kB−, IKKα−/NF-kB−. IKKα +/NFkB+ cell lines that are generally resistant to doxorubicin are more sensitive to VK3 induced cell death than are the IKKα +/NFkB− lines that are usually sensitive to doxorubicin. The median of IC 50 values of VK3 and doxorubicin as tested by WST analysis for IKKα +/NFkB+ cells were 3.92 mM and 1.58 mM, respectively, compared to IKKα +/NFkB− cells (7.3 mM of VK3 and 0.71 mM of doxorubicin, p<0.01, t-test). Assays by testing activation of caspase and cleavage of death substrate PARP as well as flow cytometry showed that apoptosis was induced in a line with high levels of IKKα/NF-kB activation at 2 h after VK3 treatment. In contrast, apoptosis was not induced by VK3 even at 48 h post-treatment in two lines that lack IKKa expression and NF-kB activation. To test if IKKα/NF-kB is a molecular target of VK3 inducing apoptosis in ALL, we examined the expression and activation of IKKα/NF-kB in VK3-treated cells. VK3 specifically reduced IKKα expression and inhibited NF-kB activation, resulting in downregulation of NF-kB-mediated gene expression and apoptosis. These results suggest that inhibition of IKKα/NF-kB signaling pathway is essential for VK3 to induce cell death, and that VK3, a dietary factor with no cytotoxic effect on normal cells, would be a useful adjuvant in the treatment of ALL and other cancer patients whose neoplastic cells express constitutive NF-kB and are resistant to chemotherapy.

Abstract Abstract 1962 Poster Board I-985 Introduction: AML1/Runx1 is one of the most frequent targets of chromosomal abnormalities in human leukemia. Functional impairment of AML1 caused by point mutation is also reported in patients with leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). However, molecular basis for leukemogenesis caused by functional impairment of AML1 is still elusive. In this study, we clarified the deregulated signaling pathway induced by loss of AML1. Results: To find the direct target of AML1, we compared gene expression profile between AML1-conditionally deleted and normal KSL cells using Cre-ER system. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) using molecular signature database (MSigDB) clarified enhanced expression of NF-kB target genes in AML1 deficient cells. In addition, NF-kB inhibitor attenuated the enhanced colony forming activity of bone marrow cells from AML1 conditional knockout (cKO) mice. These data indicate the aberrant activation of NF-kB signaling pathway in stem/progenitor cells of AML1 deficient mice. NF-kB is a transcription factor which is involved in many physiological phenomena including proliferation, survival, and inflammation. Because deregulated activation of NF-kB signaling has been reported to be responsible for many types of tumors including hematological malignancies, we assumed that lack of AML1-mediated suppression of NF-kB signaling lead to malignant transformation of hematopoietic cells. p65, one of the major components of NF-kB stays in cytoplasm with IkB in a steady state. Once receiving stimulating signals from cell surface receptors such as TNF-a receptor, IkB is phosphorylated by IKK complex and subsequently degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, resulting in nuclear translocation of p65 and transactivation of NF-kB target genes. First, we found that AML1 inhibits nuclear translocation of p65 and that nuclear localization of p65 is enhanced in AML1 deficient cells, which is cancelled by NF-kB inhibitors. In addition, AML1 inhibited p65 phosphorylation at serine 536, which is important for its activation. We found that AML1 physically interacts with IKK complex and thus suppresses its kinase activity, which accounts for a mechanistic basis for inhibition of NF-kB signaling by AML1. Suppression of IKK kinase activity by AML1 results in inhibition of both nuclear translocation of p65 and activation of NF-kB target genes. Next, we examined how leukemia-related AML1 mutants affect NF-kB signaling. Remarkably, AML1 D171N mutant found in MDS neither inhibited nuclear translocation of p65 nor attenuated the kinase activity of IKK complex. Similar results were obtained with AML1/ETO generated in leukemia with t(8;21). Mouse bone marrow cells immortalized by AML1/ETO showed enhanced nuclear localization of p65 compared with those immortalized by MLL/ENL, another leukemia-related fusion protein. Indeed, AML1/ETO immortalized cells are more sensitive to NF-kB inhibitor-mediated growth suppression, indicating a critical role of NF-kB signaling in transformation by AML1/ETO. To verify the activation of NF-kB signaling by AML1/ETO in human hematopoietic cells, we analyzed the gene expression data reported by Valk et al. in silico. We found that NF-kB signaling is distinctly activated in AML1-related leukemia patients. These results suggest that aberrant activation of NF-kB signaling induced by functional impairment of AML1 may contribute to the development of leukemia via proliferation signals. Conclusions: We found that AML1 is a cytoplasmic attenuator of NF-kB signaling pathway. Functional impairment of AML1 caused by genetic disruption results in distinct activation of NF-kB signaling by altering IKK kinetic activity. This aberrant activation may play a central role in pathogenesis of AML1-related leukemia and MDS. Therefore, NF-kB signaling is one of the attractive candidates for molecular targeted therapy against AML1-related hematological disorders. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Torilin, a sesquiterpene isolated from the fruits ofTorilis japonica,has shown antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, data on the mechanism of torilin action against inflammation is limited. This study aimed at determining the anti-inflammatory property of torilin in LPS-induced inflammation using in vitro model of inflammation. We examined torilin’s effect on expression levels of inflammatory mediators and cytokines in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The involvement of NF-kB and AP-1, MAP kinases, and adaptor proteins were assessed. Torilin strongly inhibited LPS-induced NO release, iNOS, PGE2, COX-2, NF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and GM-CSF gene and protein expressions. In addition, MAPKs were also suppressed by torilin pretreatment. Involvement of ERK1/2,P38MAPK, and JNK1/2 was further confirmed by PD98059, SB203580, and SP600125 mediated suppression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins. Furthermore, torilin attenuated NF-kB and AP-1 translocation, DNA binding, and reporter gene transcription. Interestingly, torilin inhibited TAK1 kinase activation with the subsequent suppression of MAPK-mediated JNK, p38, ERK1/2, and AP-1 (ATF-2 and c-jun) activation and IKK-mediated I-κBαdegradation, p65/p50 activation, and translocation. Together, the results revealed the suppression of NF-κB and AP-1 regulated inflammatory mediator and cytokine expressions, suggesting the test compound’s potential as a candidate anti-inflammatory agent.

Inflammation has a fundamental impact on the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA), a common form of degenerative arthritis. It has previously been established that curcumin, a component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), has anti-inflammatory properties. This research evaluates the potentials of curcumin on the pathophysiology of OA in vitro. To explore the anti-inflammatory efficacy of curcumin in an inflamed joint, an osteoarthritic environment (OA-EN) model consisting of fibroblasts, T-lymphocytes, 3D-chondrocytes is constructed and co-incubated with TNF-α, antisense oligonucleotides targeting NF-kB (ASO-NF-kB), or an IkB-kinase (IKK) inhibitor (BMS-345541). Our results show that OA-EN, similar to TNF-α, suppresses chondrocyte viability, which is accompanied by a significant decrease in cartilage-specific proteins (collagen II, CSPG, Sox9) and an increase in NF-kB-driven gene proteins participating in inflammation, apoptosis, and breakdown (NF-kB, MMP-9, Cox-2, Caspase-3). Conversely, similar to knockdown of NF-kB at the mRNA level or at the IKK level, curcumin suppresses NF-kB activation, NF-kB-promotes gene proteins derived from the OA-EN, and stimulates collagen II, CSPG, and Sox9 expression. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation assay shows that curcumin reduces OA-EN-mediated inflammation and chondrocyte apoptosis, with concomitant chondroprotective effects, due to modulation of Sox-9/NF-kB signaling axis. Finally, curcumin selectively hinders the interaction of p-NF-kB-p65 directly with DNA—this association is disrupted through DTT. These results suggest that curcumin suppresses inflammation in OA-EN via modulating NF-kB-Sox9 coupling and is essential for maintaining homeostasis in OA by balancing chondrocyte survival and inflammatory responses. This may contribute to the alternative treatment of OA with respect to the efficacy of curcumin.

The pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases is associated with the uncontrolled activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in macrophages. Previous studies have shown that in various cell types, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) plays a crucial role in controlling NF-κB activity. So far, little is known about the role of Hsp70 in canine inflammatory processes. In this study we investigated the potential anti-inflammatory effects of Hsp70 in canine macrophages as well as the mechanisms underlying these effects. To this end, a canine macrophage cell line was stressed with arsenite, a chemical stressor, which upregulated Hsp70 expression as detected by flow cytometry and qPCR. A gene-edited version of this macrophage cell line lacking inducible Hsp70 was generated using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. To determine the effects of Hsp70 on macrophage inflammatory properties, arsenite-stressed wild-type and Hsp70 knockout macrophages were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and levels of phosphorylated NF-κB were determined by qPCR and Western Blotting, respectively. Our results show that non-toxic concentrations of arsenite induced Hsp70 expression in canine macrophages; Hsp70 upregulation significantly inhibited the LPS-induced expression of the pro-inflammatory mediators TNF-α and IL-6, as well as NF-κB activation in canine macrophages. Furthermore, the gene editing of inducible Hsp70 by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing neutralized this inhibitory effect of cell stress on NF-κB activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Collectively, our study reveals that Hsp70 may regulate inflammatory responses through NF-κB activation and cytokine expression in canine macrophages.

Abstract Abstract We demonstrate an estrogen independent involvement of ERα in TLR2 mediated expression of MCP1 in mesangial cells. In vitro treatment with the TLR2 ligands Pam3CysSK4, LTA and PGN-SA induced production of MCP1 in mesangial cells isolated from kidneys of female C57BL/6 mice in a dose dependent manner. Treatment with LTA to C57BL/6 mesangial cells was found to activate NF kB and induced its nuclear localization. Interestingly enough, we found LTA treatment induced phosphorylation of ERα in primary mesangial cells and also in SV40 virus transformed B6 mesangial cell line. Nuclear translocation of pERα (Ser118) was found in the LTA treated B6 mesangial cells. ERα selective antagonist MPP and NF kB antagonist TPCA1 attenuated MCP1 production in TLR2 ligand treated mesangial cells suggesting influence of pERα in NF kB dependent MCP1 gene expression. The LTA was found to induce DNA binding activity of NF kB in B6 mesangial cell line in a time dependent manner. Transient transfection with ERα siRNA was also found to reduce expression of MCP1 in Pam3CysSK4 treated mesangial cells. Taken together, our study indicates an unique role of ERα in modulation of TLR2-mediated signals in mesangial cells. Acknowledgement: We are thankful to the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology and Ralph V Johnson VA research service, MUSC. The research support was provided by VA research service. We do not have any conflict of interests.

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a toxic alkaloid produced by several freshwater cyanobacterial species, the most prevalent in Australian waters being Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. The occurrence of CYN-producing cyanobacteria in drinking water sources worldwide poses a potential human health risk, with one well-documented case of human poisoning attributed to the toxin. While extensive characterisation of CYN-induced toxicity has been conducted in rodents both in vivo and in primary cell cultures, little is known about mechanisms of toxicity in human cell types. This thesis describes studies undertaken to further define the molecular mechanisms of CYN toxicity in human cells. Concentration-response relationships were determined in various cultured human cell types using standard toxicity assays. As expected, CYN caused dose-dependent decreases in the growth of three cell lines, HepG2, Caco-2 and HeLa, and one primary cell type, human dermal fibroblasts, according to tetrazolium reduction assays. CYN treatment did not disrupt cellular membranes according to the lactate dehydrogenase release assay in HepG2 or Caco-2 cells after 24, 48 or 72 h exposure, but did cause membrane disruption in fibroblasts after 72 h exposure to relatively high concentrations of the toxin. Apoptosis occurred more readily in HeLa cells than HepG2 cells or fibroblasts, with 72 h exposure to 1 &mug/mL required before statistically significant rates of apoptosis occurred in the latter cell types. CYN did not appear to directly affect the structure of actin filaments or microtubules under the conditions used in the present study. The major portion of the work presented in this thesis comprises a large-scale interrogation of changes in gene expression induced by the toxin in cultured cells. To assess the effects of CYN on global gene expression, relative messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in human dermal fibroblasts and HepG2 cells after 6 h and 24 h exposure to 1 &mug/mL CYN were determined using oligonucleotide microarrays representing approximately 19 000 genes. Overall, the number of transcripts significantly altered in abundance was greater in fibroblasts than in HepG2 cells. In both cell types, mRNA levels for genes related to amino acid biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein folding and transport were reduced after CYN treatment, while transcripts representing genes for apoptosis, RNA biosynthesis and RNA processing increased in abundance. More detailed data analyses revealed the modulation of a number of stress response pathways—genes regulated by NF-&kappaB were induced, DNA damage response pathways were up-regulated, and a large number of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress were strongly down-regulated. Genes for the synthesis and processing of mRNA, tRNA and rRNA were strongly up-regulated, indicating that CYN treatment may increase the turnover of all forms of cellular RNA. A small group of genes were differentially expressed in HepG2 cells and fibroblasts, revealing cell-specific responses to the toxin. Selected changes in transcript level were validated using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). The modulation of stress response pathways by CYN, indicated by microarray analysis, was further investigated using other methods. The role of tumour suppressor protein p53 in CYN-mediated gene expression was confirmed by measuring the expression of known p53-regulated genes following CYN treatment of HepG2 cells and human dermal fibroblasts using qRT-PCR. Western blotting of protein extracts from CYNtreated cells showed that p53 protein accumulation occurred in HepG2 cells, providing additional evidence of the activation of the p53 pathway by CYN in this cell line. The immediate-early genes JUN and FOS were found to be induced by CYN in a concentration-dependent manner, and MYC was induced to a lesser extent. The mitogen-activated protein kinase c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, implicated in the ribotoxic stress response initiated by damage to ribosomal RNA, appeared to become phosphorylated in HeLa cells after CYN exposure, suggesting that ribotoxic stress may occur in response to CYN in at least some cell types. The expression of a reporter gene under the control of a response element specific for NF-&kappaB was induced at the mRNA level but inhibited at the protein level. This shows that while transcription factors such as p53 and NF-&kappaB are apparently activated in response to the toxin, transactivation of target genes may not necessarily manifest a corresponding increase at the protein level. The current work contributes significantly to the current understanding of cylindrospermopsin toxicity in human-derived cell types, and provides further insight into putative modes of action.

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a toxic alkaloid produced by several freshwater cyanobacterial species, the most prevalent in Australian waters being Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. The occurrence of CYN-producing cyanobacteria in drinking water sources worldwide poses a potential human health risk, with one well-documented case of human poisoning attributed to the toxin. While extensive characterisation of CYN-induced toxicity has been conducted in rodents both in vivo and in primary cell cultures, little is known about mechanisms of toxicity in human cell types. This thesis describes studies undertaken to further define the molecular mechanisms of CYN toxicity in human cells. Concentration-response relationships were determined in various cultured human cell types using standard toxicity assays. As expected, CYN caused dose-dependent decreases in the growth of three cell lines, HepG2, Caco-2 and HeLa, and one primary cell type, human dermal fibroblasts, according to tetrazolium reduction assays. CYN treatment did not disrupt cellular membranes according to the lactate dehydrogenase release assay in HepG2 or Caco-2 cells after 24, 48 or 72 h exposure, but did cause membrane disruption in fibroblasts after 72 h exposure to relatively high concentrations of the toxin. Apoptosis occurred more readily in HeLa cells than HepG2 cells or fibroblasts, with 72 h exposure to 1 µg/mL required before statistically significant rates of apoptosis occurred in the latter cell types. CYN did not appear to directly affect the structure of actin filaments or microtubules under the conditions used in the present study. The major portion of the work presented in this thesis comprises a large-scale interrogation of changes in gene expression induced by the toxin in cultured cells. To assess the effects of CYN on global gene expression, relative messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in human dermal fibroblasts and HepG2 cells after 6 h and 24 h exposure to 1 µg/mL CYN were determined using oligonucleotide microarrays representing approximately 19 000 genes. Overall, the number of transcripts significantly altered in abundance was greater in fibroblasts than in HepG2 cells. In both cell types, mRNA levels for genes related to amino acid biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein folding and transport were reduced after CYN treatment, while transcripts representing genes for apoptosis, RNA biosynthesis and RNA processing increased in abundance. More detailed data analyses revealed the modulation of a number of stress response pathways—genes regulated by NF-?B were induced, DNA damage response pathways were up-regulated, and a large number of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress were strongly down-regulated. Genes for the synthesis and processing of mRNA, tRNA and rRNA were strongly up-regulated, indicating that CYN treatment may increase the turnover of all forms of cellular RNA. A small group of genes were differentially expressed in HepG2 cells and fibroblasts, revealing cell-specific responses to the toxin. Selected changes in transcript level were validated using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). The modulation of stress response pathways by CYN, indicated by microarray analysis, was further investigated using other methods. The role of tumour suppressor protein p53 in CYN-mediated gene expression was confirmed by measuring the expression of known p53-regulated genes following CYN treatment of HepG2 cells and human dermal fibroblasts using qRT-PCR. Western blotting of protein extracts from CYNtreated cells showed that p53 protein accumulation occurred in HepG2 cells, providing additional evidence of the activation of the p53 pathway by CYN in this cell line. The immediate-early genes JUN and FOS were found to be induced by CYN in a concentration-dependent manner, and MYC was induced to a lesser extent. The mitogen-activated protein kinase c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, implicated in the ribotoxic stress response initiated by damage to ribosomal RNA, appeared to become phosphorylated in HeLa cells after CYN exposure, suggesting that ribotoxic stress may occur in response to CYN in at least some cell types. The expression of a reporter gene under the control of a response element specific for NF-?B was induced at the mRNA level but inhibited at the protein level. This shows that while transcription factors such as p53 and NF-?B are apparently activated in response to the toxin, transactivation of target genes may not necessarily manifest a corresponding increase at the protein level. The current work contributes significantly to the current understanding of cylindrospermopsin toxicity in human-derived cell types, and provides further insight into putative modes of action.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Biomolecular and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology
Full Text

NF-$ kappa$B proteins regulate the transcription of numerous genes involved in the immune response, transcription control and viral pathogenesis. To examine the effect of ectopic expression of NF-$ kappa$B proteins on DNA binding activity and transcription control, individual NF-$ kappa$B subunit genes were introduced into NIH 3T3 cells via retrovirus mediated gene transfer. Expression of NF-$ kappa$B subunits p65, p105, p100 or c-Rel increased the basal level of nuclear NF-$ kappa$B DNA binding in NIH 3T3 cells, whereas expression of p65$ Delta$ and p52 subunits did not affect basal level activity. TNF-$ alpha$ treatment of the NF-$ kappa$B expressing cells stimulated the induced level of DNA binding activity, reflecting interaction between endogenous murine and transfected human NF-$ kappa$B proteins. Furthermore, expression of p65, c-Rel, p105, p100 and p52 subunits increased I$ kappa$B$ alpha$ protein levels from 3 to 30 fold, indicating that one mechanism to compensate for the increased expression of NF-$ kappa$B proto-oncogenes was to upregulate the synthesis and/or stability of the regulatory I$ kappa$B$ alpha$ protein. In addition, overexpression of p65, c-Rel, p100 and p52 altered the kinetics of interferon-$ beta$ mRNA induction after Sendai Virus infection, whereas overexpression of p105 decreased the IFN-$ beta$ mRNA induction. The results of this study demonstrate that overexpression of individual NF-$ kappa$B subunits differentially altered expression of at least two NF-$ kappa$B regulated genes--the cytokine IFN-$ beta$ and the regulatory I$ kappa$B$ alpha$ protein. Given the range of immunoregulatory and growth regulatory genes controlled by NF-$ kappa$B, it is likely that expression of other NF-$ kappa$B regulated genes will be modulated as a consequence of specific subunit expression.