Cation currents in human airway epithelial cells induced by infection with influenza A virus

Influenza A viruses cause lung disease via an incompletely understood mechanism that involves the accumulation of liquid within the lungs. The accumulation of lung liquid is normally prevented by epithelial Na⁺ absorption, a transport process regulated via several pathways including phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K). Since the influenza A virus encodes a non-structural protein (NS1) that can activate this kinase, we now explore the effects of NS1 upon the biophysical properties of human airway epithelial cells. Transient expression of NS1 depolarized electrically isolated cells maintained in glucocorticoid-free medium by activating a cation conductance identical to the glucocorticoid-induced conductance seen in single cells. This response involved PI3K-independent and PI3K-dependent mechanisms. Infecting glucocorticoid-deprived cells with influenza A virus disrupted the normal electrical coupling between neighbouring cells, but also activated a conductance identical to that induced by NS1. This response to virus infection was only partially dependent upon NS1-mediated activation of PI3K. The presence of NS1 allows influenza A to modify the biophysical properties of infected cells by activating a Na⁺-permeable conductance. Whilst the activation of Na⁺-permeable channels may be expected to increase the rate of Na⁺ absorption and thus reduce the volume of liquid in the lung, liquid does normally accumulate in influenza A-infected lungs. The overall effect of influenza A on lung liquid volume may therefore reflect a balance between the activation and inhibition of Na⁺-permeable channels.     

A-549 is a suitable cell line for primary isolation of coxsackie B viruses

A common receptor for coxsackie B virus and adenovirus has been described recently in cells of human and murine origin. Since the established cell line A-549 is suitable for adenoviruses, the potential use of A-549 cells for the isolation of coxsackie B viruses from clinical samples was investigated. All throat swabs sent to the laboratory between April 1998 and June 1999 were inoculated onto monolayers of MRC-5 and A-549 cells in tubes, and the enterovirus isolates obtained were typed. From April to June 1999, A-549 cells were compared prospectively to Buffalo green monkey (BGM) cells, considered as the most susceptible cell line for isolating coxsackie B viruses. Fifty-six out of 171 enterovirus isolates (33%) displayed a cytopathic effect (CPE) in the A-549 monolayer only, 48 isolates (28%) in the MRC-5 monolayer only, and 67 isolates (39%) in both cell lines. Most isolates that showed CPE in A-549 cells only (48 out of 56, 86%) were coxsackie B viruses, belonging to four different serotypes (B1, B2, B4, and B6). When BGM and A-549 cells were inoculated in parallel, both recovered the same number of coxsackie B isolates (n = 20), and the CPE was noted on approximately the same day. In conclusion, growth in A-549 but not MRC-5 cells identified coxsackie B viruses in most cases. A-549 was comparable to BGM for primary isolation of coxsackie B viruses.     

Ectopic expression of H-1 parvovirus NS1 protein induces alterations in actin filaments and cell death in human normal MRC-5 and transformed MRC-5 SV2 cells

When grown in human cell lines, oncolytic H-1 parvovirus (H-1PV) replication preferentially occurs in transformed cells, which ultimately die upon infection. H-1PV-induced cytotoxicity is mainly due to P4 promoter-driven NS1 protein expression. Infection of untransformed cells generally does not induce deleterious effects because the P4 promoter is not activated. Here, we show that ectopic CMV-driven NS1 protein expression in normal human MRC-5 cells results in alterations of actin filaments and cell death, and both effects are prevented by a serine 473 mutation. The same substitution preserves actin filaments of transfected MRC-5 SV2 cells, that are MRC-5 transformed counterparts, but does not impair NS1-induced cytotoxicity.     

PI3K和MAPK信号通路对A549细胞FOXO1蛋白表达及其亚细胞定位的调节

目的探讨非小细胞肺癌中磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶(PI3K)/AKT和丝裂原活化蛋白激酶MAPK/ERK信号通路对Forkhead转录因子(Fox蛋白家族)FOXO1活性的影响及分子机制。方法体外培养人非小细胞肺癌系A549,分别选用PI3K/AKT信号通路特异性抑制剂LY294002和MAPK/ERK信号通路特异性抑制剂UO126及两种抑制剂联合处理细胞之后,MTT比色法检测其对细胞增殖的影响;Western blot检测蛋白FOXO1、p-FOXO1及信号下游蛋白Bim表达的变化;免疫荧光法检测FOXO1蛋白在A549细胞中亚细胞的定位的变化。结果与对照组相比,LY294002和UO126都能明显地抑制A549细胞的增殖,且具有时间依赖性。Western blot结果显示,FOXO1的蛋白水平未见显著性变化,而FOXO1的磷酸化水平明显下降,Bim的表达相应增加。免疫荧光结果显示,FOXO1在A549细胞中的核转位增多。LY294002和UO126联合处理A549细胞时,较药物单独作用效果明显增加。结论 PI3K/AKT和MAPK/ERK信号通路能调节FOXO1磷酸化水平,且具有协同作用,抑制其转录活性。FOXO1通过激活Bim蛋白,促进细胞凋亡,抑制细胞的增殖。     

Hepatitis C virus core, NS3, NS5A, NS5B proteins induce apoptosis in mature dendritic cells

Although reasons for hepatitis C virus (HCV) persistence are still unknown, specific cellular immune responses appear to influence the pathogenesis and outcome of the infection. Apoptosis of cells infected by viruses may appear suicidal to the viruses that induce programmed cell death of its host. However, apoptosis has been suggested to be a response to virus infection as a mean of facilitating virus dissemination. Annexin V-propidium iodide staining and DNA fragmentation, were used to show that expression of the core, NS3, NS5A, or NS5B protein induces apoptosis in mature dendritic cells. In addition, immunoblotting was used to demonstrate that expression level of p21waf1/cip1 protein decreased in cells expressing one of these HCV proteins. No expression of p53 could be detected and expression of Akt was independent of HCV proteins expression. These results suggest that the effect of these HCV proteins on HCV associated pathogenesis may be linked (at least partially) to its ability to modulate apoptosis pathways in mature dendritic cells.     

DHA通过抑制PI3K通路和GLUT2表达而诱导NSCLC细胞毒性

目的:研究二氢青蒿素(dihydroartemisinin,DHA)诱导NSCLC细胞毒性的分子机制。方法:将不同浓度的DHA作用NSCLC细胞系A549和NCI-H1650细胞不同时间,运用MTT法、克隆形成实验、Annexin V染色和流式细胞术测定DHA对细胞活力、克隆形成能力和细胞凋亡的影响;同时测定DHA对细胞中葡萄糖水平、ATP和乳酸含量的影响;Western blot检测PI3K通路活性和GLUT2表达变化;通过细胞转染实现葡萄糖转运体2(GLUT2)和Rheb在A549和NCI-H1650细胞中高表达,测定和分析DHA作用下细胞活力、细胞凋亡、葡萄糖水平、ATP含量和PI3K通路活性的变化;分析葡萄糖缺乏对DHA诱导NSCLC细胞毒性的影响。结果:与对照组比较,DHA显著抑制A549和NCI-H1650细胞活力和克隆形成能力以及诱导细胞凋亡,同时降低ATP和乳酸含量以及抑制细胞对葡萄糖的摄取,具有时间和剂量依赖效应。Western blot结果显示,DHA能抑制PI3K通路活性和GLUT2的表达。上调GLUT2的表达和激活PI3K通路能减弱DHA对NSCLC细胞的毒性作用;葡萄糖缺乏能增强DHA对NSCLC细胞的毒性;相反,高浓度葡萄糖则抑制DHA对NSCLC细胞的毒性。结论:DHA能抑制NSCLC细胞活力和克隆形成,诱导细胞凋亡,该作用是通过降低PI3K活性和GLUT2的表达进而抑制细胞糖酵解代谢实现的。     

Vaccinia virus serpin-1 deletion mutant exhibits a host range defect characterized by low levels of intermediate and late mRNAs.

Orthopoxviruses encode three serpin homologs-SPI-1, SPI-2 and SPI-3-of which SPI-2 has been well characterized as an inhibitor of ICE-like proteases. A rabbitpox virus SPI-1 deletion mutant exhibited a host range restriction in human lung A549 and pig kidney 15 cell lines that was attributed to apoptosis. Here we report that replication of a vaccinia virus SPI-1 deletion mutant (DeltaSPI-1) was restricted in primary human keratinocytes as well as A549 cells. Although chromatin condensation was detected in some A549 cells, other morphological or biochemical signs of apoptosis including DNA fragmentation, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase or nuclear mitotic apparatus protein, or caspase 3 activation were not found. Moreover, DeltaSPI-1 protected A549 cells from apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor, whereas the corresponding DeltaSPI-2 mutant did not. Further studies indicated undiminished amounts of vaccinia virus early mRNA and replicated DNA in the absence of the SPI-1 product. However, there were reduced amounts of viral intermediate and late mRNAs, viral late proteins, cleaved core proteins, and virus particles. These data suggested that apoptosis is not the determining factor in the host range restriction of DeltaSPI-1 and that the SPI-1 gene product is needed to allow efficient expression of intermediate and late genes in A549 cells.     

Overexpression of adenovirus E3-11.6K protein induces cell killing by both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent mechanisms

Recent studies have shown enhanced antitumor efficacy with adenoviruses that either lack E1B-19K or overexpress E3-11.6K (also known as adenoviral death protein). E1B-19K is a well-characterized anti-apoptotic protein, and viruses with E1B-19K deletions show increased cytopathicity. However, the mechanism of cell killing by E3-11.6K, which plays an important role in killing infected cells and virion release, is not well characterized. To understand the mechanism of cell killing following E3-11.6K overexpression, we constructed a recombinant adenovirus, Ad-ME, by introducing viral major late promoter upstream of the E3-11.6K sequence. Similar to the E1B-19K-deleted virus, E1B/19K-, Ad-ME induced cell death to a greater extent than the wild-type virus. Cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, activation of caspases 3 and 9, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), DNA degradation, and ratio of ADP to ATP in Ad-ME-infected cells indicated that apoptosis contributes to cell death following E3-11.6K overexpression. However, the levels of activation of caspases 3 and 9 were lower in cells infected with Ad-ME compared to those infected with E1B/19K-. Furthermore, cell killing by Ad-ME was not effectively inhibited by Z-VAD-FMK, a general caspase inhibitor. Taken together, our results suggest both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent mechanisms of cell killing due to overexpression of E3-11.6K.     

端粒酶催化亚单位基因启动子调控Hsv-tk/GCV系统对肺癌细胞A549选择性杀伤作用的研究

目的研究人端粒酶催化亚单位(human telomerase catalytic subunit,hTERT)基因启动子调控单纯疱疹胸苷激酶/更昔洛韦(herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase/ganciclovir,Hsv-tk/GCV)治疗系统对人肺癌细胞株A549的选择体外杀伤作用。方法(1)用脂质体法将hTERT启动子和sv40启动子调控的tk基因表达质粒(pGL3-hTp-tk和pGL3-sv40-tk)转染端粒酶阳性的人肺腺癌细胞株A549及端粒酶阴性的人胚肺成纤维细胞株MRC-5,用逆转录-PCR方法检测转染细胞中tk基因的表达情况;(2)用MTT法检测GCV对上述转染细胞体外增殖的抑制作用;(3)用流式细胞仪检测GCV对上述转染细胞凋亡和细胞周期的影响。结果(1)转染pGL3-sv40-tk的细胞A549、MRC-5和转染pGL3-hTp-tk的A549均有tkmRNA表达,转染pGL3-hTp-tk的MRC-5无tkmRNA表达;(2)GCV对转染pGL3-sv40-tk的细胞A549、MRC-5和转染pGL3-hTp-tk的A549体外增殖均有明显抑制作用,对转染pGL3-hTp-tk的MRC-5无明显抑制作用;(3)转染pGL3-sv40-tk的A549、MRC-5和转染pGL3-hTp-tk的A549细胞,GCV处理后细胞凋亡指数(21.58%、9.35%和23.19%)均显著高于转染pGL3-hTp的A549和MRC-5细胞(0.78%和0.55%)及空白对照A549和MRC-5细胞(2.17%和0.60%),转染pGL3-hTp-tk的MRC-5细胞凋亡指数(0.88%)无明显升高。结论hTERT启动子调控Hsv-tk基因可以在肺癌细胞中选择性表达,hTERT调控的Hsv-tk/GCV治疗系统对肺癌细胞体外增殖具有靶向性抑制作用。     

Blocking the PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling pathways can overcome gefitinib-resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines

PurposeTo investigate the effects of gefitinib (EGFR-TKI), LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) and U0126 (MEK inhibitor) on proliferation and apoptosis in five non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines (PC9, PC9/AB2, H1975, H1299 and A549).MethodsThe inhibitory rates of cells were tested by MTT and apoptosis was detected through flow cytometry when treated with gefitinib, LY294002 and U0126.ResultsThe sensitivity to gefitinib was different in different cell lines, which was associated with EGFR mutation type. The cells with EGFR mutation were more sensitive than those with EGFR wild-type, except PC9/AB2 cells. LY294002 and U0126 can inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis in all five cell lines. The sensitivity to gefitinib was restored partially in the resistant cell lines by combining gefitinib with LY294002 or U0126. The effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis were stronger in cells with EGFR mutation when PI3K/AKT pathway was blocked, however, for cells with EGFR wild-type, the effects were stronger when the MEK pathway was blocked. When the PI3K and MEK pathways were blocked together, proliferation inhibition and apoptosis level in NSCLC cells was similar to that in cells treated with EGFR TKI. There were some differences according to EGFR mutation type, suggesting that EGFR mutations may result in alterations of downstream signaling pathways.ConclusionThe sensitivity of gefitinib resistant cell lines can be restored partially when the two downstream signaling pathways are blocked. However, these cells were still drug resistant, suggesting that the activation of PI3K and MEK pathways is not the only mechanism of EGFR-resistance.     

Striatal cells from mutant huntingtin knock-in mice are selectively vulnerable to mitochondrial complex II inhibitor-induced cell death through a non-apoptotic pathway

Extensive striatal neuronal loss occurs in Huntington's disease (HD), which is caused by an expanded polyglutamine tract in huntingtin (htt). Evidence suggests that mutant htt directly or indirectly compromises mitochondrial function, contributing to the neuronal loss. To determine the role of compromised mitochondrial function in the neuronal cell death in HD, immortalized striatal cells established from Hdh(Q7) (wild-type) and Hdh(Q111) (mutant) mouse knock-in embryos were treated with 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), a mitochondrial complex II toxin. 3-NP treatment caused significantly greater cell death in mutant striatal cells compared with wild-type cells. In contrast, the extent of cell death induced by rotenone, a complex I inhibitor, was similar in both cell lines. Although evidence of apoptosis was present in 3-NP-treated wild-type striatal cells, it was absent in 3-NP-treated mutant cells. 3-NP treatment caused a greater loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsim) in mutant striatal cells compared with wild-type cells. Cyclosporine A, an inhibitor of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP), and ruthenium red, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter, both rescued mutant striatal cells from 3-NP-induced cell death and prevented the loss of deltapsim. These data show that mutant htt specifically increases cell vulnerability to mitochondrial complex II inhibition and further switched the type of cell death induced by complex II inhibition from apoptosis to a non-apoptotic form, caused by mitochondrial membrane depolarization, probably initiated by mitochondrial calcium overload and subsequent PTP opening. These findings suggest that impaired mitochondrial complex II function in HD may contribute to non-apoptotic neuronal cell death.     

Alternative cell line for virus isolation.

A human lung carcinoma cell line (A549) was compared with various other cell lines to determine susceptibility to viral growth. In the first phase of the study, A549 cells were compared with human embryonic kidney (HEK) and cynomolgus monkey kidney (CMK) cells for isolation of upper-respiratory disease viruses by using 1,248 throat swab specimens from basic-combat trainees. Of the 552 virus isolates, 507 were adenoviruses, 41 were polioviruses, and 4 were herpes simplex viruses (HSV). Of the isolates, 518 (93.8%) were isolated in A549 cells, 480 (87.0%) were isolated in HEK cells, and 262 (47.5%) were isolated in CMK cells (P less than 0.001). In the second phase of the study, A549 cells were compared with a human diploid fibroblast cell strain (MRC-5) and Vero monkey kidney (VMK) cells for the isolation of HSV from 1,157 specimens submitted for culture. Of the 227 HSV isolates, 210 (92.5%) were isolated in A549 cells, 202 (89.0%) were isolated in VMK cells (P greater than 0.1 for A549 versus VMK cells), and 167 (73.6%) were isolated in MRC-5 cells (P less than 0.001 for A549 versus MRC-5 cells). These results suggest that A549 cells are more susceptible to adenovirus infection and at least as susceptible to HSV infection compared with the other cell cultures evaluated. Detracting factors for the use of A549 cells were a slight loss of sensitivity to adenovirus at passage 120 and a concurrent change in the morphology of the cells. The A549 cell line proved to be an efficient, practical, and economical alternative cell system for the isolation of adenovirus and HSV in particular. Initial indications are that other clinically significant viruses may be grown in A549 cells; however, additional studies need to be performed.     

乙脑病毒持续感染模型中变异株性状及NS3区序列分析

目的　研究乙脑病毒变异性状与NS3区基因序列的关系。方法　应用乙脑病毒野生株及一种人肝癌细胞KN73建立持续感染模型 ,采用标准胰蛋白酶消化技术进行细胞传代 ,经反复冻融法收集细胞内变异病毒。采用BHK细胞空斑实验方法进行病毒滴定 ,利用NS3区特异引物进行逆转录 多聚酶链反应以获NS3区基因片段 ,应用ABI PRSMTM310测序系统进行序列分析。结果　在早期 (感染后 2 4～ 36h)细胞培养液中病毒量为 10 6PFU/ml,在后期 (感染后 3年 )细胞培养液中病毒量为10 3～ 4 PFU/ml,细胞内病毒含量一直维持在 10 2～ 3PFU/ml水平。NS3区测序结果可见 :位于核苷酸碱基序列上第 6 6位C→U ,第 72位A→C ,第 2 94位U→C ,第 30 6位A→G及第 342位A→G ,但相应编码的氨基酸未发生变异。结论　变异株存在性状变异 ,即增殖性低于野生株 ;NS3区编码蛋白对野生株及变异株均至关重要 ,亦提示病毒性状变异的原因可能由其它区域蛋白变异或病毒与宿主间蛋白相互作用所致     

Sensitivity of prostate tumors to wild type and M protein mutant vesicular stomatitis viruses

Because of its potent ability to induce apoptosis, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an attractive candidate as an oncolytic virus for tumor therapy. Previous studies have suggested that VSV selectively infects tumor cells due to defects in their antiviral responses making them more susceptible to VSV infection than normal cells. We tested this hypothesis in the prostate tumor system by comparing LNCaP and PC-3 prostate tumor cells to benign human prostatic epithelial cells from patient prostatectomy specimens. We compared the cell killing ability of a recombinant virus containing a wild-type (wt) M protein (rwt) and an isogenic M protein mutant virus (rM51R-M) that induces interferon (IFN) in infected cells and should display a greater selectivity for tumor cells. Our results showed that in single-cycle infection experiments, LNCaP cells were sensitive to killing by both wt and mutant viruses, while PC-3 cells were highly resistant to VSV-induced cell killing. LNCaP and benign prostate cells were similarly susceptible to both viruses, indicating that normal prostate cells are not inherently resistant to killing by VSV. In each of the cell lines, the rM51R-M virus induced similar levels of apoptosis to rwt virus, showing that the M protein does not play a significant role in apoptosis induction by VSV in these cells. In multiple-cycle infection experiments, LNCaP cells were more sensitive than benign prostatic epithelial cells to virus-induced cell killing by rM51R-M virus, but not rwt virus. Both viruses were equally effective at reducing LNCaP tumor volume in vivo following intratumoral and intravenous inoculation in nude mice, while PC-3 tumors were resistant to VSV treatment. None of the mice treated with rM51R-M virus died as a result of virus infection, while 50-71% of mice treated with rwt virus succumbed to virus infection. Similarly, when inoculated by the more sensitive intranasal route, the rM51R-M virus was less pathogenic than the rwt virus from which it was derived. These results indicate that M protein mutant viruses are superior candidates as oncolytic viruses for therapies of prostate tumors, but future strategies for use of VSV will require testing individual tumors for their susceptibility to virus infection.     

A site on the influenza A virus NS1 protein mediates both inhibition of PKR activation and temporal regulation of viral RNA synthesis

It is not known how influenza A viruses, important human pathogens, counter PKR activation, a crucial host antiviral response. Here we elucidate this mechanism. We show that the direct binding of PKR to the NS1 protein in vitro that results in inhibition of PKR activation requires the NS1 123-127 amino acid sequence. To establish whether such direct binding of PKR to the NS1 protein is responsible for inhibiting PKR activation in infected cells, we generated recombinant influenza A/Udorn/72 viruses expressing NS1 proteins in which amino acids 123/124 or 126/127 are changed to alanines. In cells infected with these mutant viruses, PKR is activated, eIF-2alpha is phosphorylated and viral protein synthesis is inhibited, indicating that direct binding of PKR to the 123-127 sequence of the NS1 protein is necessary and sufficient to block PKR activation in influenza A virus-infected cells. Unexpectedly, the 123/124 mutant virus is not attenuated because reduced viral protein synthesis is offset by enhanced viral RNA synthesis at very early times of infection. These early viral RNAs include those synthesized predominantly at later times during wild-type virus infection, demonstrating that wild-type temporal regulation of viral RNA synthesis is absent in 123/124 virus-infected cells. Enhanced early viral RNA synthesis after 123/124 virus infection also occurs in mouse PKR-/- cells, demonstrating that PKR activation and deregulation of the time course of viral RNA synthesis are not coupled. These results indicate that the 123/124 site of the NS1A protein most likely functionally interacts with the viral polymerase to mediate temporal regulation of viral RNA synthesis. This interaction would occur in the nucleus, whereas PKR would bind to NS1A proteins in the cytoplasm prior to their import into the nucleus.     

Tyrosine mutation in CD3epsilon-ITAM blocked T lymphocyte apoptosis mediated by CD3epsilon

Anti-CD3epsilon monoclonal antibody induces programmed cell death of thymocytes and accelerates activation-induced cell death (AICD) by apoptosis of matured or transformed T lymphocytes. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of this phenomenon is unclear. Therefore, we produced a chimera protein (termed CD8epsilon by fusing the extracellular and transmembrane domains of human CD8alpha to the intracellular domain of mouse CD3epsilon and expressed in CD8- Jurkat T cells. Stable cell lines of mutants expressing the motifs of Y170F, Y181F, and Y170F/Y181F in the CD3epsilon-ITAM were established. Experiments showed that apoptosis could be induced only in the T Jurkat cells with intact CD3epsilon intracellular domain, but not in the cells with the mutant CD8epsilon when stimulated with anti-CD8alpha monoclonal antibody. This finding indicated that a single tyrosine mutation in CD3epsilon-ITAM blocked the signal transduction, causing the cell death by apoptosis when stimulated by CD8epsilon molecule. During the apoptotic process, we showed that expressions of CD95, CD95L and Nur77 were enhanced in stimulated TJK cells but not in control cells. In addition, the high expression of Nur77 kept pace with the onset of apoptosis of T-cells mediated by CD8epsilon. We further showed that 3'-phosphatidylinositol kinase (PI3K) were not only enhanced during T cell activation, but also in the AICD process. The results suggest that PI3K/Akt is not only a cell proliferation signal, but also a potential apoptosis regulator in T lymphocytes.     

K-ras gene mutation enhances motility of immortalized airway cells and lung adenocarcinoma cells via Akt activation: possible contribution to non-invasive expansion of lung adenocarcinoma

Point mutations of the K-ras gene, which are found in 10 to 30% of lung adenocarcinomas, are regarded as being an early event during the carcinogenesis. Autonomous vigorous motility of neoplastic cells, as well as growth and survival advantages, are considered to be necessary for cancer development and progression. The present study describes the contributions of the K-ras gene mutation and its downstream pathway via phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase (PI3K)-Akt to the cell motility in an immortalized human peripheral airway epithelial cell (HPL1D) and lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549, H820, TKB6, and TKB14). We have also evaluated the relationship between pathological events and the K-ras-Akt pathway using surgically resected lung tumors. The HPL1D cells transfected with the mutated K-ras gene (HPL-V12) showed a significant increase in cell motility compared to those transfected with empty vector (HPL-E) or wild-type K-ras gene (HPL-K). The enhanced motility in the HPL-V12 cells was markedly reduced by either treatment with inhibitors of ras, PI3K, and/or MEK, or by transfection with the dominant-negative mutant Akt (dnAkt). The lung adenocarcinoma cells bearing the K-ras gene mutation (A549 and H820) showed consistently higher levels of cell motilities than those without the mutation (TKB6 and TKB14), and the motility of A549 and H820 cells were significantly inhibited by dnAkt transfection. These results suggest that the K-ras gene mutation could enhance the motility of neoplastic cells through a pathway involving PI3K-Akt. Actually, among the surgically resected lung tumors, the adenocarcinomas with the K-ras gene mutation tended to show a higher frequency and intensity of immunoreactivity for phosphorylated Akt (p-ser473Akt) than those without the mutation, supporting the in vitro observation that the mutated K-ras can activate the PI3K-Akt pathway. Immunoreactivity for p-ser473Akt was also seen in the pre-malignant and early lesions at a frequency similar to that in the advanced lung adenocarcinomas,. No correlation was seen between p-ser473Akt immunoreactivity and lymphatic/organ metastasis or prognosis. These results taken together suggest that the K-ras-Akt pathway might facilitate the motility of neoplastic cells during the early period of carcinogenesis in lung adenocarcinomas, and may contribute to their non-invasive expansion along the alveolar septa, rather than invasion or metastasis.     

Characterization of virus-like particles assembled in a recombinant baculovirus system expressing the capsid protein of a fish nodavirus

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) causes severe immunodeficiency in young chickens by destroying the precursors of antibody-producing B cells in the bursa of Fabricius. It has been shown that IBDV infection induces apoptosis in chicken embryo and tissue culture cells. We previously reported that an IBDV mutant lacking the expression of 17-kDa nonstructural (NS) protein exhibited decreased apoptotic effects in cell culture as compared to the parental IBDV, suggesting that the NS protein may be involved in induction of apoptosis. Here, we report that the NS protein of IBDV alone is capable of inducing apoptosis in cell culture. Transfection of chicken B-lymphocyte cell line (RP9) and chicken embryo fibroblast cells with a plasmid DNA, containing the NS protein gene under the control of the immediate-early promoter-enhancer region of human cytomegalovirus, induced programmed cell death in both cell lines. Apoptosis changes, such as chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and the appearance of apoptotic nuclear bodies, were observed in cell cultures 48-h posttransfection. As reported earlier, the mutant IBDV grew to lower titers with slower replication kinetics and lower cytopathogenicity when compared to that of the parental virus. Here, we demonstrate that the mutant virus is closely associated with cells and its yield from the supernatant was approximately 30-fold lower than the wild-type due to increased cell association, indicating a deficiency in lysis of virus-infected cells. Taken together, our results indicate that the NS protein of IBDV is highly cytotoxic, which brings about the release of the viral progeny from cells, and thus play an important role in viral pathogenesis.