Wild-type p53 reduces radiation hypermutability in p53-mutated human lymphoblast cells

Many studies have shown that an alteration of p53 affects various cellular responses to DNA damage after treatment with ionizing radiation. The human lymphoblast cell WTK1, which contains a mutant p53 (ile237), is 10-fold hypermutable at the thymidine kinase (tk) locus compared with TK6 cells, which are from the same donor but contain wild-type p53. These results implied that the specific p53 mutation found in WTK1 may actively contribute to mutagenesis in a gain of function manner. To further investigate this, the present experiments involved transfecting WTK1 cells with a wild-type p53 vector; this restored p53 activity in WTK1 cells, as evidenced by radiation-induced expression of p21. We compared radiosensitivity, as measured both by clonogenic survival and the induction of apoptosis, as well as mutant fractions (MFs) at the tk locus. WTK1 cells expressing wild-type p53 were more sensitive to gamma-ray-induced toxicity as measured by either clonogenic survival or apoptosis. The mutation assays revealed that both the spontaneous and gamma-ray-induced MFs were significantly decreased in WTK1 cells expressing wild-type p53; the MFs were similar to those observed in p53-null NH32 cells, also derived from the same donor. These results indicate that wild-type p53 can reduce the apparent gain-of-function hypermutable effects of a particular p53 gene mutation and thereby help maintain genomic stability.     

MiR-199a-5p promotes migration and tube formation of human cytomegalovirus-infected endothelial cells through downregulation of SIRT1 and eNOS

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection has been shown to contribute to vascular disease through the induction of angiogenesis. However, the role of microRNA in angiogenesis induced by HCMV infection remains unclear. The present study was thus designed to explore the potential effect of miR-199a-5p on angiogenesis and to investigate the underlying mechanism in endothelial cells. We found that HCMV infection of endothelial cells (ECs) enhanced expression of miR-199a-5p and reduced the SIRT1 protein level at 24 h postinfection (hpi). Transfection with miR-199a-5p mimics significantly suppressed SIRT1 protein expression and promoted cellular migration and tube formation induced by HCMV infection, which could be reversed by transfection with an miR-199a-5p inhibitor. Furthermore, pretreatment with resveratrol depressed motility and tube formation of HCMV-infected ECs, which could be reversed by SIRT1 siRNA. Finally, overexpression of miR-199a-5p decreased the level of eNOS modulated by SIRT1, an effect repressed by transfection with an miR-199a-5p inhibitor. In summary, HCMV infection of endothelial cells upregulates miR-199a-5p expression and enhances cell migration and tube formation through downregulation of SIRT1/eNOS by miR-199a-5p.     

pUL25 immunolocalization in human cytomegalovirus-infected and gene-transfected cells

Summary.  By means of confocal and electron microscope immunocytochemistry we have studied the localization of a recently described structural protein (pUL25) of human cytomegalovirus, in both infected cells and in cells transiently transfected with UL25. pUL25 localization in infected cells was observed in typical cytoplasmic structures characterized by a very electrondense texture previously reported to accumulate other tegument proteins. At the virion level pUL25 seems to localize at the interface between the tegument and the capsid of both intracytoplasmic and extracellular virions. In UL-25-transfected cells, pUL25 has been found in characteristic para-crystalline cytoplasmic aggregates, suggesting its intrinsic ability to aggregate in a regular subunit pattern. Received August 6, 1999/Accepted November 3, 1999     

Mortalin-based cytoplasmic sequestration of p53 in a nonmammalian cancer model

In nature the soft shell clam Mya arenaria develops a fatal neoplasm that shares molecular similarity with an unrelated group of human cancers. In leukemic clam hemocytes, wild-type p53 and mortalin proteins co-localize in the cytoplasm. A similar phenotype, characterized by cytoplasmic sequestration of wild-type p53 protein, has been observed in several human cancers (undifferentiated neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, colorectal and hepatocellular carcinomas, and glioblastoma). In some of these cancers p53 is tethered in the cytoplasm by mortalin when the latter protein is overexpressed. Using co-immunoprecipitation we have demonstrated that mortalin and p53 proteins are complexed in the cytoplasm of leukemic clam hemocytes (and not in normal hemocytes). In addition, treatment of leukemic clam hemocytes with MKT-077, a cationic inhibitor of mortalin, disrupts the interaction of mortalin and p53 proteins, resulting in translocation of some p53 to the nucleus. Based on these data, we introduce leukemic clam hemocytes as novel and easily accessible, in vivo and in vitro models for human cancers displaying a similar mortalin-based phenotype. Treatment of these models with novel chemotherapeutics may help reveal the molecular mechanism(s) involved in inactivating p53 by this form of cytoplasmic sequestration.     

Enhanced poliovirus replication in cytomegalovirus-infected human fibroblasts.

Replication of poliovirus in human cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infected cells is enhanced 5-to 10-fold over replication in uninfected cells. Enhanced poliovirus replication in dually infected cells was not due to a difference in adsorption on infected cells and was supported by evidence of increased synthesis of polio-specific RNA. A functional CMV genome appeared to be required for the enhancement of polio replication since enhanced replication was not seen in cells infected with uv-irradiated CMV or in cultures treated with the inhibitors of CMV replication. Enhanced polio replication in CMV-infected cells may be due to the enhanced cellular metabolism in these cells.     

Immunocytochemical detection of p53 in human gliomas.

Since previous published studies of astrocytomas have shown alterations in the short arm of chromosome 17, and this chromosomal location is that which encodes the p53 protein, we used a monoclonal antibody and immunocytochemistry to detect this protein in a series of brain biopsies. The normal p53 protein has a short half-life and is not detectable using this method. Expression of an altered p53 protein was detected in 29 of 71 brain biopsies, but only in those that showed astrocytic features. p53 expression was detected in 20/32 glioblastomas, 5/12 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 3/5 mixed anaplastic oligo-astrocytomas, but only in astrocytic cells. It could not be detected in any other histologic types of primary brain neoplasms, either benign or malignant. The protein was detected in only 1/11 biopsies interpreted as showing gliosis, but this was in a patient who had previously had a resection for glioblastoma, and may have represented unrecognized infiltrating astrocytoma cells. The p53 protein was also expressed in the nuclei of the two human astrocytoma cell lines examined, U251MG and D54MG. These results are in general agreement with previous detailed chromosomal analyses that have found loss of heterozygosity in up to 60% of malignant astrocytic gliomas.     

Enhanced survival of ultraviolet-irradiated herpes simplex virus in human cytomegalovirus-infected cells

Infection of primary rabbit kidney cells and Vero cells with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) enhanced survival of uv-irradiated herpes simplex virus. In PRK cells, maximal enhancement was observed when cells were preinfected with HCMV at multiplicities of 1 to 10 PFU/cell and when HCMV-infected cells were used to assay for uv-irradiated HSV within 2 days postinfection. HCMV-Enhanced reactivation was sensitive to uv-irradiation, although virus reactivation was much more resistant to irradiation than infectivity. Furthermore, the enhancement process was sensitive to caffeine and pretreatment of cells with cycloheximide augmented the enhancement induced by HCMV infection.     

Altered expression of host-encoded complement regulators on human cytomegalovirus-infected cells

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected cells persist in the presence of anti-HCMV antibody, suggesting that HCMV has evolved mechanisms to evade host immune defenses. Insofar as no virus-encoded complement inhibitors have been identified for HCMV, we hypothesized that HCMV infection may alter the expression of host-encoded cell surface complement inhibitors. Herein, we report that cell surface expression of two complement regulator proteins, CD55 and CD46, which are members of the regulators of complement activation (RCA) gene cluster, increased up to eightfold following infection of fibroblasts or glioblastoma cells with HCMV, but not after infection with HSV-1 or adenovirus. However, the cell surface expression of a third complement regulator, CD59, which is not a member of the RCA gene cluster, was not altered during HCMV infection. Functional studies using purified complement components demonstrated that up-regulation of CD55 suppressed the activity of cell-associated C3 convertases on HCMV-infected cells. Furthermore, increased CD55 expression protected infected cells from complement-mediated lysis, an effect which directly correlated with the length of HCMV infection. Increased expression of host-encoded complement regulator proteins may provide protection of HCMV-infected cells from the host immune response in vivo, through increasing the resistance of infected cells to complement-mediated lysis and decreasing the deposition of C3-derived products on the cell surface.     

Persistent p53 mutations in single cells from normal human skin

Epidermal clones of p53-mutated keratinocytes are abundant in chronically sun-exposed skin and may play an important role in early development of skin cancer. Advanced laser capture microdissection enables genetic analysis of targeted cells from tissue sections without contamination from neighboring cells. In this study p53 gene mutations were characterized in single cells from normal, chronically sun-exposed skin. Biopsies were obtained from skin subjected to daily summer sun and skin totally protected from the sun by blue denim fabric. Using laser capture microdissection, 172 single-cell samples were retrieved from four biopsies and analyzed using single-cell polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing. A total of 14 different mutations were identified in 26 of 99 keratinocytes from which the p53 gene could be amplified. Mutations displayed a typical UV signature and were detected in both scattered keratinocytes and in a small cluster of p53-immunoreactive keratinocytes. This minute epidermal p53 clone had a diameter of 10 to 15 basal cells. Two missense mutations were found in all layers of epidermis within the p53 clone. The presented data show that p53 mutations are common in normal skin and that a clone of keratinocytes with a mutated p53 gene prevailed despite 2 months of total protection from ultraviolet light.     

Proteasome inhibitors induce p53-independent apoptosis in human cancer cells

Proteasome inhibitors are used against human cancer, but their mechanisms of action are not entirely understood. For example, the role of the tumor suppressor p53 is controversial. We reevaluated the role of p53 in proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis by using isogenic human cancer cell lines with different p53 status. We found that well-known proteasome inhibitors such as MG132 and bortezomib, as well as the recently discovered proteasome inhibitor thiostrepton, induced p53-independent apoptosis in human cancer cell lines that correlated with p53-independent induction of proapoptotic Noxa but not Puma protein. In addition, these drugs inhibited growth of several cancer cell lines independently of p53 status. Notably, thiostrepton induced more potent apoptosis in HepG2 cells with p53 knockdown than in parental cells with wild-type p53. Our data confirm that proteasome inhibitors generally induce p53-independent apoptosis in human cancer cells.     

Evidence for early nuclear antigens in cytomegalovirus-infected cells.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) induces nuclear antigens resembling the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) as early as 3 h after infection. These early antigens can be detected only with the anti-complement immunofluorescence staining (ACIF) technique. Synthesis of these new antigens is not influenced by cytosine arabinoside (ara-C).     

Immunohistochemical study of p53 in human lung carcinomas.

Immunohistochemical analysis of p53 protein was carried out on 95 lung carcinomas from all histological types, including 60 primary tumors, 35 lymph node metastases, and 36 corresponding nude mice xenografts, using four antibodies: PAb240 specific for some mutant conformations; PAb421, PAb1801, and CM1 reactive with most of the forms of p53. Nuclear staining with at least two of those four antibodies revealed the presence of an accumulated protein, considered as indicative of a missense mutation in the p53 gene, in 50% of primary tumors of all histological types, except carcinoids. Some defect of messenger RNA expression was detected by Northern blot analysis in an additional 26% of tumors. p53 immunophenotype of the original tumor was fairly maintained on nude mice. p53 accumulation was not correlated with survival, but with disease extension (P = 0.01). Finally, immunohistochemical analysis allowed the recognition of p53 mutant immunophenotype in 41% of tumors where p53 DNA and messenger RNA were apparently normal, using standard molecular biology. Thus, this method provides a rapid and efficient approach for studying p53 mutations leading to an accumulated protein in lung tumors cells.     

The enumeration of viral genomes in murine cytomegalovirus-infected cells.

Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) DNA synthesis in infected cells was measured by the technique of DNA-DNA reassociation kinetics, using ¹²⁵I-labeled MCMV DNA as the probe. This method circumvented the problems inherent in thymidine incorporation studies due to the low level of thymidine kinase activity in infected cells. MCMV-DNA synthesis was detected as early as 8 hr p.i. in mouse embryo cells.     

Adenovirus-mediated wild-type p53 overexpression reverts tumourigenicity of human mesothelioma cells

Pleural malignant mesothelioma (MM) shows poor survival, regardless of tumour stage at diagnosis. MM is unresponsive to present treatment regimens and new protocols are desperately needed. The localised nature, the potential accessibility, and the relative lack of distant metastases make MM a particularly attractive candidate for somatic gene therapy. A common target for cancer gene therapy is the tumour suppressor protein p53. p53 does not seem to be mutated or deleted in MM, but it can be inactivated by binding to other proteins, like mdm2 and SV40 large T antigen. We tested the effects of a replication-deficient adenoviral vector carrying wild-type p53 cDNA in human MM cells. Our results show that >95% of MM cells were efficiently infected with 25 multiplicity of infection (MOI) of vector. Wild-type p53 was effectively expressed resulting in >80% inhibition of proliferation in MM cells. AdCMV.p53 infection induced apoptosis while controls did not show any evident morphological alterations. Ex vivo p53 gene transfer experiments inhibited tumourigenesis in nude mice. In vivo, direct intratumour injection of AdCMV.p53 arrested tumour growth and prolonged survival of treated mice. These results indicate that p53-gene therapy should be strongly exploited for clinical trials in MM patients.     

A cycloheximide-enhanced protein in cytomegalovirus-infected cells

Following the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV, strain Colburn)-infected cells with the drug cycloheximide early after infection, dramatically enhanced amounts of an otherwise minor protein are synthesized. Size and charge estimates, based on one- and two-dimensional separations in denaturing polyacrylamide gels, indicate that this protein has a molecular weight of 94K and an acidic net charge. Results of experiments to investigate its synthesis indicate that (i) the 94K protein is expressed by 2–4 hr after infection, (ii) its appearance requires de novo RNA synthesis, (iii) both the protein and its mRNA appear to be metabolically stable, and (iv) the increased amount of this protein following cycloheximide inhibition appears to be the result of selective mRNA amplification. On the basis of its partitioning during detergent fractionation procedures, it is suggested that the 94K protein may function in the cytoplasm.     

Mild hyperthermia-induced apoptosis is dependent on p53 in human lymphoid cells

Mild hyperthermia is known to enhance apoptosis. The p53 tumor-suppressor gene product has been shown to function in apoptosis in response to genotoxic stress. However, there is little information regarding the mechanism of p53-dependent apoptosis induced by heat stress. In present study, a p53 contribution in mild hyperthermia-induced apoptosis was investigated in human lymphoid system. After 30-minute exposure at 44 degrees C, the accumulation of p53 protein was clearly observed in TK6 and ML-1 cells. Using comet assay, the more significant sensitivity to hyperthermic apoptosis was found in TK6 (wild-type p53) than in WI-L2-NS (mutated in p53). Furthermore, the significantly rapid shifting from early apoptotic phase to late apoptotic was observed in heat-induced p53 TK6 cells. These findings suggest that p53-dependent apoptosis is efficaciously induced by mild hyperthermia as non-genotoxic stress in human lymphoid system.     

Comparison of in vitro micronucleus and gene mutation assay results for p53-competent versus p53-deficient human lymphoblastoid cells

The high frequency of false or irrelevant positive results in in vitro mammalian cell genotoxicity tests is a critical concern for regulators. Here, we tested whether such results may be due to the mammalian cells used in the tests being deficient in p53, which is involved in the maintenance of genomic stability. We compared the in vitro responses of two human lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from the same progenitor cell-p53-competent (TK6) and p53-deficient (WTK-1) cells-in a micronucleus (MN) test and a thymidine kinase gene (TK) mutation assay. We tested 14 chemicals including three mutagens and 11 clastogens and spindle poisons. The three mutagens evoked clear positive responses in both assays in both cell lines. The responses to the clastogens and spindle poisons, on the other hand, depended on the assay endpoint and/or the cell line. Most of clastogens and spindle poisons were positive in the MN test in both cell lines. In the TK mutation assay, on the other hand, WTK-1 cells but not TK6 cells detected spindle poisons, which may have been due to the disturbance of the spindle checkpoint and lack of apoptosis in the p53-deficient cells. Some chemicals that induced chromosome aberrations in rodent cells were negative in both TK6 and WTK-1 cells, indicating that a species-specific factor rather than p53 status was associated with the response. In conclusion, the p53 status did not seriously influence the MN test results but it did influence the TK mutation assay results.