Differential Regulation of Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor Signaling by Protein Kinase C in Human Mast Cells

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cys-LTs) are a group of lipid mediators that are potent bronchoconstrictors, powerful inducers of vascular leakage and potentiators of airway hyperresponsiveness. Cys-LTs play an essential role in asthma and are synthesized as well as activated in mast cells (MCs). Cys-LTs relay their effects mainly through two known GPCRs, CysLT1R and CysLT2R. Although protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms are implicated in the regulation of CysLT1R function, neither the role of PKCs in cys-LT-dependent MC inflammatory signaling nor the involvement of specific isoforms in MC function are known. Here, we show that PKC inhibition augmented LTD4 and LTE4-induced calcium influx through CysLT1R in MCs. In contrast, inhibition of PKCs suppressed c-fos expression as well MIP1β generation by cys-LTs. Interestingly, cys-LTs activated both PKCα and PKCε isoforms in MC. However, knockdown of PKCα augmented cys-LT mediated calcium flux, while knockdown of PKCε attenuated cys-LT induced c-fos expression and MIP1β generation. Taken together, these results demonstrate for the first time that cys-LT signaling downstream of CysLT1R in MCs is differentially regulated by two distinct PKCs which modulate inflammatory signals that have significant pathobiologic implications in allergic reactions and asthma pathology

TRPV4 channel activation selectively inhibits tumor endothelial cell proliferation

Endothelial cell proliferation is a critical event during angiogenesis, regulated by both soluble factors and mechanical forces. Although the proliferation of tumor cells is studied extensively, little is known about the proliferation of tumor endothelial cells (TEC) and its contribution to tumor angiogenesis. We have recently shown that reduced expression of the mechanosensitive ion channel TRPV4 in TEC causes aberrant mechanosensitivity that result in abnormal angiogenesis. Here, we show that TEC display increased proliferation compared to normal endothelial cells (NEC). Further, we found that TEC exhibit high basal ERK1/2 phosphorylation and increased expression of proliferative genes important in the G1/S phase of the cell cycle. Importantly, pharmacological activation of TRPV4, with a small molecular activator GSK1016790A (GSK), significantly inhibited TEC proliferation, but had no effect on the proliferation of NEC or the tumor cells (epithelial) themselves. This reduction in TEC proliferation by TRPV4 activation was correlated with a decrease in high basal ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Finally, using a syngeneic tumor model revealed that TRPV4 activation, with GSK, significantly reduced endothelial cell proliferation in vivo. Our findings suggest that TRPV4 channels regulate tumor angiogenesis by selectively inhibiting tumor endothelial cell proliferation

Leukotriene E4–induced pulmonary inflammation is mediated by the P2Y12 receptor

Of the potent lipid inflammatory mediators comprising the cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTs; LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4), only LTE4 is stable and abundant in vivo. Although LTE4 shows negligible activity at the type 1 and 2 receptors for cys-LTs (CysLT1R and CysLT2R), it is a powerful inducer of mucosal eosinophilia and airway hyperresponsiveness in humans with asthma. We show that the adenosine diphosphate (ADP)–reactive purinergic (P2Y12) receptor is required for LTE4-mediated pulmonary inflammation. P2Y12 receptor expression permits LTE4 -induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in Chinese hamster ovary cells and permits chemokine and prostaglandin D2 production by LAD2 cells, a human mast cell line. P2Y12 receptor expression by LAD2 cells is required for competition between radiolabeled ADP and unlabeled LTE4 but not for direct binding of LTE4, suggesting that P2Y12 complexes with another receptor to recognize LTE4. Administration of LTE4 to the airways of sensitized mice potentiates eosinophilia, goblet cell metaplasia, and expression of interleukin-13 in response to low-dose aerosolized allergen. These responses persist in mice lacking both CysLT1R and CysLT2R but not in mice lacking P2Y12 receptors. The effects of LTE4 on P2Y12 in the airway were abrogated by platelet depletion. Thus, the P2Y12 receptor is required for proinflammatory actions of the stable abundant mediator LTE4 and is a novel potential therapeutic target for asthma

Regulation of survival and proliferation of human intestinal epithelial cells by leukotriene D4.

The pro-inflammatory mediator, Leukotriene D4 (LTD4) is a product of arachidonic acid cascade and has been implicated in asthma and inflammatory bowel diseases. Prolonged inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis increases the risk for the development of cancer and the factors that induce the chronic immune response remain uncertain. In this context, in the present study, we examined if exposure of non-transformed intestinal cells to LTD4, a well known inflammatory mediator would make the cells more sensitive to transformation. We investigated the effects of LTD4 in bringing about changes in survival, proliferation and migration of these cells, all of which are hallmarks of cancer. We observed that stimulation of intestinal epithelial cell line, Int 407 with LTD4 led to enhanced cell survival, proliferation and migration through activation of series of signaling cascades like Ras, Erk-1/2, p90RSK, and CREB. These effects are believed to be mediated through CysLT1 receptor as CysLT1 receptor antagonist could effectively block these changes. We also show that Int 407 cells produce CysLT and blocking this autocrine signaling using three different CysLT1 receptor antagonists for longer time points led to attenuation in cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in the cells. This suggest that LTD4 signaling through CysLT1 receptor is some how crucial for normal maintenance of intestinal epithelial cells. LTD4 stimulation also led to significant enhancement of cell migration in a PI3K and Rac-dependent manner. All these results indicate that this inflammatory mediator could be implicated in the inflammation-induced neoplastic transformation through CysLT1R and the downstream signaling cascades

Endogenous production of leukotriene D(4) mediates autocrine survival and proliferation via CysLT(1) receptor signalling in intestinal epithelial cells.

The cysteinyl leukotriene(1) (CysLT(1)) receptor (CysLT(1)R) enhances survival and proliferation of intestinal cells via distinct pathways. Here, we have demonstrated that there is significant endogenous production of CysLTs from both non-tumour-and tumour-derived intestinal epithelial cells. Treatment of two non-tumour cell lines, Int 407 and IEC-6, with CysLT1R antagonists led to shrinkage and detachment of cells, confirmed as apoptotic cell death, and a dose-dependent reduction in proliferation. However, in the tumour intestinal cell lines Caco-2, SW480, HCT-116 and HT-29, treatment with CysLT1R antagonists significantly reduced proliferation, but had no effect on apoptosis. A unique characteristic of intestinal cancer cells is the presence of nuclear CysLT(1)Rs, which are inaccessible to receptor antagonists. In these cells, inhibition of the endogenous production of CysLTs indirectly, by 5-lipoxygenase inhibition, impaired CysLT1R signalling throughout the cell, and resulted in apoptosis of the tumour cells. These data reveal the existence of constitutive CysLT1R signalling that mediates both survival and proliferation in intestinal cells. Importantly, we propose that tumour-derived intestinal cells are resistant to CysLT(1)R antagonist-induced apoptosis, a phenomena that could be explained by nuclear CysLT1R signalling

Leukotriene D-4 activates MAPK through a Ras-independent but PKC epsilon-dependent pathway in intestinal epithelial cells

We have recently shown that leukotriene D-4 (LTD4) increases cell survival in intestinal epithelial cells. Here we report and explore the complementary finding that LTD4 also enhances proliferation in these cells. This proliferative response was approximately half of that induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its required activation of protein kinase C (PKC), Ras and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Erk-1/2. EGF also activated Erk-1/2 in these cells; however the EGF-receptor inhibitor PD153035 did not affect the LTD4-induced activation of Erk-1/2. In addition, LTD4 did not induce phosphorylation of the EGF receptor, nor did pertussis toxin (PTX) block EGF-induced activation of Erk-1/2, thus refuting a possible crosstalk between the receptors. Furthermore, LTD4-induced, but not EGF-Induced, activation of Erk-1/2 was sensitive to PTX, PKC inhibitors and downregulation of PKCepsilon. A definite role for PKCepsilon in LTD4-induced stimulation of Erk-1/2 was documented by the inability of LTD4 to activate Erk-1/2 in cells transfected with either the regulatory domain of PKCepsilon (an isoform specific dominant-negative inhibitor) or a kinase-dead PKCepsilon Although Ras and Raf-1 were both transiently activated by LTD4, only Raf-1 activation was abolished by abrogation of the PKC signal. Furthermore, the LTD4-induced activation of Erk-1/2 was unaffected by transfection with dominant-negative N17 Ras but blocked by transfection with kinase-dead Raf-1. Consequently, LTD4 regulates the proliferative response by a distinct Ras-independent, PKCepsilon-dependent activation of Erk-1/2 and a parallel Ras-dependent signaling pathway

The epsilon isoform of protein kinase C is involved in regulation of the LTD(4)-induced calcium signal in human intestinal epithelial cells

We investigated the potential roles of specific isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) in the regulation of leukotriene D(4)-induced Ca(2+) signaling in the intestinal epithelial cell line Int 407. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis revealed that these cells express the PKC isoforms alpha, betaII, delta, epsilon, zeta, and mu, but not betaI, gamma, eta, or theta;. The inflammatory mediator leukotriene D(4) (LTD(4)) caused the TPA-sensitive PKC isoforms alpha, delta, and epsilon, but not betaII, to rapidly translocate to a membrane-enriched fraction. The PKC inhibitor GF109203X at 30 microM but not 2 microM significantly impaired the LTD(4)-induced Ca(2+) signal, indicating that the response involves a novel PKC isoform, such as delta or epsilon, but not alpha. LTD(4)-induced Ca(2+) signaling was significantly suppressed in cells pretreated with TPA for 15 min and was abolished when the pretreatment was prolonged to 2 h. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the reduction in the LTD(4)-induced calcium signal coincided with a reduction in the cellular content of PKCepsilon and, to a limited extent, PKCdelta. LTD(4)-induced Ca(2+) signaling was also markedly suppressed by microinjection of antibodies against PKCepsilon but not PKCdelta. These data suggest that PKCepsilon plays a unique role in regulation of the LTD(4)-dependent Ca(2+) signal in intestinal epithelial cells

TRPV4 Mechanotransduction in Fibrosis

Fibrosis is an irreversible, debilitating condition marked by the excessive production of extracellular matrix and tissue scarring that eventually results in organ failure and disease. Differentiation of fibroblasts to hypersecretory myofibroblasts is the key event in fibrosis. Although both soluble and mechanical factors are implicated in fibroblast differentiation, much of the focus is on TGF-β signaling, but to date, there are no specific drugs available for the treatment of fibrosis. In this review, we describe the role for TRPV4 mechanotransduction in cardiac and lung fibrosis, and we propose TRPV4 as an alternative therapeutic target for fibrosis

The leukotriene receptor CysLT1 and 5-lipoxygenase are upregulated in colon cancer.

The metabolites of arachidonic acid are well connected to pathological situations such as inflammation, cancer and asthmA. Sheng et al. [7] found that COX-2 is upregulated in colon cancer tissue and tumor cell lines indicating that COX-2 is involved in colon cancer. This is supported by studies showing that patients treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, inhibitors of COX-2, exhibit a lower frequency of colon cancer [8]. When the non-transformed intestinal epithelial cell line, Int 407 was stimulated with LTD4 or LTB4 we observed an accumulation of COX-2 in membrane fractions as well as an increased production of prostaglandin E2 [5]. Treatment of these cells with the COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 caused apoptosis and this effect could be prevented by LTD4 [5] or LTB4 [4]. Similar results were obtained when cell viability with LTD4 or LTB4 in the presence or absence of NS-398 was assayed [4,5]. The results demonstrate that these leukotrienes can suppress the NS-398 induced apoptosis in intestinal cells