Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0023418 (leukemia)
 93,477 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Myelopeptides, MP-6 (Val-Asp-Pro-Pro) and MP-4 (Phe-Arg-Pro-Arg-Ile-Met-Thr-Pro), induce metabolic changes in human leukemia cells, HL-60, characteristic of the differentiation process, which should be regarded as a promising therapeutic approach in cancer and related diseases. With the aim to optimize the differentiation effect of MPs, they were coupled to the Lys-N(epsilon)H(2) groups of a sequential oligopeptide carrier Ac-(Lys-Aib-Gly)(4), SOC(4), and the constructs obtained were studied. The rigid 3(10) secondary structure of the carrier is preserved even after linkage of the MPs, which also maintain their initial conformations without interacting either with each other or with the carrier, as demonstrated by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It is concluded that the carrier accommodates the presentation of MPs, thus improving their differentiation effect on human leukemia cells.
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PMID:Multiple anchoring of myelopeptides on sequential oligopeptide carriers (SOC(n)): synthesis, conformation and studies in human leukemia cells. 1221 27

Tumor cell migration and metastasis in cancer are facilitated by interaction of the serine protease urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) with its receptor uPAR (CD 87). Overexpression of uPA and uPAR in cancer tissues is associated with a high incidence of disease recurrence and early death. In agreement with these findings, disruption of the protein-protein interaction between uPAR present on tumor cells and its ligand uPA evolved as an attractive intervention strategy to impair tumor growth and metastasis. For this, the uPAR antagonist cyclo[19,31][D-Cys(19)]-uPA(19)(-)(31) was optimized to efficiently interrupt binding of uPA to cellular uPAR. First, the disulfide bridge of this lead compound was shifted and then the modified peptide was shortened from the amino and carboxy terminus to generate cyclo[21,29][Cys(21,29)]-uPA(21)(-)(30). Next, cyclo[21,29][D-Cys(21)Cys(29)]-uPA(21)(-)(30) was yielded by changing the chirality of Cys(21) to D-Cys(21). For analysis of uPAR binding activity, we employed competitive flow cytofluorometric receptor binding assays, using FITC-uPA as the ligand and U937 promyeloid leukemia cells as the cellular source of uPAR. As demonstrated for cyclo[21,29][D-Cys(21)Cys(29)]-uPA(21)(-)(30), the achieved peptide modifications maintained receptor binding activity (IC(50) = 0.04 microM), which is close in order to that of the parent protein ligand, uPA (IC(50) = 0.01 microM). A detailed NMR analysis with restrained and free molecular dynamics calculations in explicit H(2)O exhibits a well-defined structure with characteristic features such as an omega-loop with two betaI-turns about Lys(3), Tyr(4), Ser(6), and Asn(7). Hydrophobic clustering of the side chains of Tyr(4), Phe(5), Ile(8), and Trp(10) is observed. Side chain mobility is analyzed with time-dependent distance restraints. The NMR structure of cyclo[21,29][D-Cys(21)Cys(29)]-uPA(21)(-)(30) is very similar to the previously reported structure of the amino terminal fragment of uPA. Systematic point mutations led to cyclo[21,29][D-Cys(21)Nle(23)Cys(29)]-uPA(21)(-)(30), which still binds to uPAR but is resistant to proteolytic cleavage, e.g., by the tumor-associated serine proteases uPA and plasmin, and is stable in blood serum or plasma. In conclusion, small cyclic peptides were created, which mimic the structure and activity of the binding epitope of uPA to uPAR and which may serve as novel therapeutic agents in cancer metastasis.
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PMID:Synthesis, solution structure, and biological evaluation of urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA)-derived receptor binding domain mimetics. 1240 9

Minor histocompatibility antigens (minor H antigen) elicit strong T-cell-mediated responses during both graft rejection and graft versus leukemia (GvL) among MHC-matched individuals (where MHC is major histocompatibility complex). Employing expression-cloning methodology, we have identified a cDNA clone, MI-35, encoding the immunodominant H4b minor H antigen within the classical mouse H4 complex. The minimal antigenic epitope derived from H4b presented on Kb class I MHC is SGIVYIHL (SYL8) and the polymorphism is due to C-->T nucleotide modification in p3 resulting in the change of threonine (ACT) to isoleucine (ATT). The results presented here demonstrate that amino acid variation in the allelic epitopes results in the low abundance of H4a peptide. The differential peptide copy number resulted in an immunodominant cytotoxic T cells (CTL) response directed against H4b while the anti-B6 response directed against H4a was easily dominated. These results provide a molecular mechanism for the H4 minor H antigen and suggest a novel mechanism by which alloantigenic disparity caused by conservative amino acid changes can be augmented by posttranslational antigen processing events.
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PMID:A single nucleotide polymorphism in the Emp3 gene defines the H4 minor histocompatibility antigen. 1284 99

gamma-Glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) plays a central role in folate metabolism and antifolate action. Increased GGH activity has been found in rat hepatoma cells resistant to the cancer drug methotrexate (MTX). The aim of this study was to identify polymorphisms in the GGH gene that modulate GGH activity and that may affect methotrexate resistance. Exons of the human gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (hGGH) gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from breast cancer tissue and leukemia cell lines. Single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was performed, and PCR products containing different patterns were cloned and sequenced. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, at bases -401C>T, -354G>T, -124T>G, +16T>C, +452C>T, and +1102A>G, relative to the A of the translation start codon being considered as +1. The SNP at +16, which changes codon -19 (relative to the start of the mature hGGH protein) in the endoplasmic reticulum targeting sequence of hGGH protein from cysteine to arginine, has previously been identified in this laboratory. The SNP at +452 changes the conserved hGGH protein codon 127 from threonine to isoleucine. The functions of SNPs in the promoter of the hGGH gene were studied by site-directed mutagenesis of a 516-bp region of the hGGH gene promoter in a luciferase reporter vector and transfection into HepG2 and MCF-7 cells. All of the promoter polymorphisms enhanced the production of luciferase compared to the wild-type hGGH gene promoter in HepG2 cells, and -401C>T and -124T>G enhanced luciferase expression in MCF-7 cells, suggesting that polymorphisms in the hGGH gene promoter may increase expression of hGGH protein.
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PMID:Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human gamma-glutamyl hydrolase gene and characterization of promoter polymorphisms. 1459 82

Of a number of factors involved in apoptosis, protease activity may play a crucial role. We show that N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Ile-Glu( O-t-butyl)-Ala-leucinal (PSI), a selective inhibitor of the chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome, induces massive apoptosis in murine leukaemia L1210 cells. At 50 nM concentration, PSI induces a block of cytokinesis, while higher concentrations (500 nM) cause S phase block and massive apoptosis. Z-Leu-leucinal, a specific calpain inhibitor, did not induce apoptosis. In contrast to previous reports, TNF-alpha did not enhance apoptosis when combined with PSI. Our results suggest that proteasome inhibitors may be considered as potential anti-neoplastic agents.
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PMID:Apoptosis induced in L1210 leukaemia cells by an inhibitor of the chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome. 1464 28

We found a significant inverse relationship between gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) activity and the accumulation of long-chain methotrexate polyglutamates (MTXPG4-7) in non-hyperdiploid B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cells after uniform treatment with high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) (1 g/m i.v.). To identify genetic polymorphisms that alter the function of human GGH, we sequenced the GGH exons of genomic DNA from children with ALL, who had a 7.8-fold range of GGH activity in their ALL cells at diagnosis. A single nucleotide polymorphism (452C>T, T127I) was found among patients with low GGH activity, but not found in patients with high GGH activity. Computational modelling indicated that the T127I substitution alters the molecular surface conformation at the catalytic cleft-tail on GGH, which is predicted to alter binding affinity with long chain but not short-chain methotrexate polyglutamates. Enzyme kinetic analysis of heterologously expressed GGH revealed a significantly higher Km (2.7-fold) and lower catalytic efficiency (Vmax/Km reduced 67%) of the T127I variant compared to wild-type GGH using long-chain MTXPG5 as substrate, but not a significant change with short-chain MTXPG2. The 452C>T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was also associated with lower GGH activity in hyperdiploid B-lineage and T lineage ALL cells. Caucasians [10.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.7-13.3%; n = 155] were found to have a significantly higher frequency of the Ile allele than African-Americans (4.4%; 95% CI 1.2-7.5%; n = 80) (P = 0.033). These studies demonstrate a substrate specific functional SNP (452C>T) in the human GGH gene that is associated with lower catalytic activity and higher accumulation of long-chain MTX-PG in leukaemia cells of patients treated with HDMTX.
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PMID:A substrate specific functional polymorphism of human gamma-glutamyl hydrolase alters catalytic activity and methotrexate polyglutamate accumulation in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cells. 1528 38

Recognition of biased immunoglobulin variable (IgV) gene usage in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) may yield insight into leukemogenesis and may help to refine prognostic categories. We explored Ig variable heavy (VH) and light (VL) chain gene usage in highly stable and indolent B-CLL (n=25) who never required treatment over 10 or more years. We observed an unexpectedly high usage of mutated VH3-72 (6/25; 24.0%), a gene that was otherwise rare in B-CLL (7/805; 0.87%; P<0.01), including mutated cases (6/432; 1.39%; P<0.01) and was exceptional among indolent (1/230, 0.435%; P<0.01), and aggressive B-cell lymphomas (0/105; P<0.01). Three of six VH3-72 B-CLL cases utilized the same VL Vkappa4-1 gene. Two V(H)3-72 B-CLL cases had highly homologous VH complementarity determining regions 3 (CDR3s), encoding Cys-XXXX-Cys domains, and utilized Vkappa4-1 genes with homologous IgVL CDR3s. An identical threonine to isoleucine change at codon 84 of V(H)3-72 framework region 3 (FR3) recurred in four cases of highly stable VH3-72 B-CLL. This mutation is expected to cause a conformational change of FR3 proximal to CDR3 that might critically affect high-affinity antigen binding. B-cell receptors encoded by VH3-72 may identify a specific B-CLL group and be implicated in leukemogenesis through an antigen-driven expansion of B cells.
Leukemia 2004 Dec
PMID:Evidence of biased immunoglobulin variable gene usage in highly stable B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. 1548 75

The specificities of the proteases of 11 retroviruses representing each of the seven genera of the family Retroviridae were studied using a series of oligopeptides with amino acid substitutions in the P2 position of a naturally occurring type 1 cleavage site (Val-Ser-Gln-Asn-Tyr Pro-Ile-Val-Gln; the arrow indicates the site of cleavage) in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). This position was previously found to be one of the most critical in determining the substrate specificity differences of retroviral proteases. Specificities at this position were compared for HIV-1, HIV-2, equine infectious anemia virus, avian myeloblastosis virus, Mason-Pfizer monkey virus, mouse mammary tumor virus, Moloney murine leukemia virus, human T-cell leukemia virus type 1, bovine leukemia virus, human foamy virus, and walleye dermal sarcoma virus proteases. Three types of P2 preferences were observed: a subgroup of proteases preferred small hydrophobic side chains (Ala and Cys), and another subgroup preferred large hydrophobic residues (Ile and Leu), while the protease of HIV-1 preferred an Asn residue. The specificity distinctions among the proteases correlated well with the phylogenetic tree of retroviruses prepared solely based on the protease sequences. Molecular models for all of the proteases studied were built, and they were used to interpret the results. While size complementarities appear to be the main specificity-determining features of the S2 subsite of retroviral proteases, electrostatic contributions may play a role only in the case of HIV proteases. In most cases the P2 residues of naturally occurring type 1 cleavage site sequences of the studied proteases agreed well with the observed P2 preferences.
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PMID:Amino acid preferences for a critical substrate binding subsite of retroviral proteases in type 1 cleavage sites. 1576 22

Retroviral transmembrane proteins (TMs) contain an N-terminal fusion peptide that initiates virus-cell membrane fusion. The fusion peptide is linked to the coiled-coil core through a conserved sequence that is often rich in glycines. We investigated the functional role of the glycine-rich segment, Met-326 to Ser-337, of the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) TM, gp21, by alanine and proline scanning mutagenesis. Alanine substitution for the hydrophobic residue Ile-334 caused an approximately 90% reduction in cell-cell fusion activity without detectable effects on the lipid-mixing and pore formation phases of fusion. Alanine substitutions at other positions had smaller effects (Gly-329, Val-330, and Gly-332) or no effect on fusion function. Proline substitution for glycine residues inhibited cell-cell fusion function with position-dependent effects on the three phases of fusion. Retroviral glycoprotein fusion function thus appears to require flexibility within the glycine-rich segment and hydrophobic contacts mediated by this segment.
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PMID:The conserved glycine-rich segment linking the N-terminal fusion peptide to the coiled coil of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein gp21 is a determinant of membrane fusion function. 1576 55

NF45/ILF2 associates with NF90/ILF3 in the nucleus and regulates IL-2 gene transcription at the antigen receptor response element (ARRE)/NF-AT DNA target sequence (P.N. Kao, L. Chen, G. Brock, J. Ng, A.J. Smith, B. Corthesy, J. Biol. Chem. 269 (1994) 20691-20699). NF45 is widely expressed in normal tissues, especially testis, brain, and kidney, with a predominantly nuclear distribution. NF45 mRNA expression is increased in lymphoma and leukemia cell lines. The human and murine NF45 proteins differ only by substitution of valine by isoleucine at amino acid 142. Fluorescence in situ hybridization localized the human NF45 gene to chromosome 1q21.3, and mouse NF45 gene to chromosome 3F1. Promoter analysis of 2.5 kB of the murine NF45 gene reveals that significant activation is conferred by factors, possible including NF-Y, that bind to the CCAAT-box sequence. The function of human NF45 in regulating IL-2 gene expression was characterized in Jurkat T-cells stably transfected with plasmids directing expression of NF45 cDNA in sense or antisense orientations. NF45 sense expression increased IL-2 luciferase reporter gene activity 120-fold, and IL-2 protein expression 2-fold compared to control cells. NF45 is a highly conserved, regulated transcriptional activator, and one target gene is IL-2.
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PMID:NF45/ILF2 tissue expression, promoter analysis, and interleukin-2 transactivating function. 1581 56


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