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Purpose: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are prognostic in patients with breast cancer. Several technical platforms exist for their enumeration and characterization. Comparative studies between these platforms are scarce. The RareCyte CTC detection is theoretically more sensitive than the established CellSearch platform, which identifies only CTCs that express EpCAM and cytokeratin. This study prospectively compares CTC enumeration in patients with breast cancer in a paired analysis using these two platforms. It investigates survival outcomes in groups defined by a CTC count threshold., Design: CTC enumeration was performed on 100 samples obtained from 86 patients with progressive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in two independent laboratories each blinded to the clinical data and the results from the other platform., Results: One hundred paired samples were collected and CTC counts were determined using the CellSearch and RareCyte CTC platforms. In total, 65% and 75% of samples had at least one detectable CTC in 7.5 mL blood with the CellSearch and the RareCyte systems, respectively. CTC counts with the CellSearch system ranged from 0 to 2289 with a median of 3 CTCs, the RareCyte CTC counts ranged from 0 to 1676 with a median of 3 CTCs. The number of samples with 5 or more CTCs in 7.5 mL of blood (the poor prognosis cut-off validated with the CellSearch system) blood was 45% with the CellSearch test and 48% with the RareCyte test. CTC counts quantified with the CellSearch and the RareCyte systems were strongly correlated (Spearman's r = 0.8235 (0.7450-0.8795) p < 0.001). 86 patients were included for Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. An increased mortality risk in patients with CellSearch of 5 CTCs or more per 7.5 mL blood, with a log-rank hazard ratio of 5.164 (2.579-10.34) (p < 0.001) was confirmed. The survival analysis with RareCyte CTC counts with the identical cut-off showed a significantly impaired survival with a hazard ratio of 4.213 (2.153-8.244) (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Our data demonstrate the analytical and prognostic equivalence of CellSearch and RareCyte CTC enumeration platforms in patients with MBC using the CellSearch cut-off. This is the first demonstration of prognostic significance using the RareCyte platform., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) is an ubiquitously expressed endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, with a central role in maintaining protein homeostasis. Recently, an alternative role for GRP78 under stress conditions has been proposed, with stress-induced extracellular secretion and translocation of GRP78 to the cell surface where it acts as a multifunctional signaling receptor. Here we demonstrate translocation of GRP78 to the surface of human EndoC-βH1 cells and primary human islets upon cytokine exposure, in analogy to observations in rodent INS-1E and MIN6 beta cell lines. We show that GRP78 is shuttled via the anterograde secretory pathway, through the Golgi complex and secretory granules, and identify the DNAJ homolog subfamily C member 3 (DNAJC3) as a GRP78-interacting protein that facilitates its membrane translocation. Evaluation of downstream signaling pathways, using N- and C-terminal anti-GRP78 blocking antibodies, demonstrates that both GRP78 signaling domains initiate pro-apoptotic signaling cascades in beta cells. Extracellular GRP78 itself is identified as a ligand for cell surface GRP78 (sGRP78), increasing caspase 3/7 activity and cell death upon binding, which is accompanied by enhanced Chop and Bax mRNA expression. These results suggest that inflammatory cytokines induce a self-destructive pro-apoptotic feedback loop through the secretion and membrane translocation of GRP78. This proapoptotic function distinguishes the role of sGRP78 in beta cells from its reported anti-apoptotic and proliferative role in cancer cells, opening the road for the use of compounds that block sGRP78 as potential beta cell-preserving therapies in type 1 diabetes.

Purpose: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT-1) plays a crucial role in cytokine-induced beta-cell destruction. However, its precise downstream pathways have not been completely clarified. We performed a proteome analysis of cytokine-exposed C57Bl/6 and STAT-1(-/-) mouse islets and prioritized proteins for their potential in relation to type 1 diabetes (T1D)., Experimental Design: Differential proteins were identified using a combination of 2D-DIGE and MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis and were subjected to ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). Protein-protein interaction networks were created and a phenome-interactome ranking of the differential proteins based on their assignment to T1D was performed., Results: Numerous STAT-1-regulated proteins were identified and divided in different groups according to their biological function. The largest group of proteins was the one involved in protein synthesis and processing. Network analysis revealed a complex interaction between proteins from different functional groups and IPA analysis confirmed the protective effect of STAT-1 deletion on cytokine-induced beta-cell death. Finally, a central role in this STAT-1-regulated mechanism was assigned to small ubiquitin-related modifier 4 (SUMO4)., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: These findings confirm a central role for STAT-1 in pancreatic islet inflammation induced destruction and most importantly elucidate the underlying proteomic pathways involved., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Pancreatic beta-cells have a crucial role in the regulation of blood glucose homeostasis by the production and secretion of insulin. In type 1 diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune reaction against the beta-cells together with the presence of inflammatory cytokines and ROS in the islets leads to beta-cell dysfunction and death. This review gives an overview of proteomic studies that lead to better understanding of beta-cell functioning in T1D. Protein profiling of isolated islets and beta-cell lines in health and T1D contributed to the unraveling of pathways involved in cytokine-induced cell death. In addition, by studying the serological proteome of T1D patients, new biomarkers and beta-cell autoantigens were discovered, which may improve screening tests and follow-up of T1D development. Interestingly, an important role for PTMs was demonstrated in the generation of beta-cell autoantigens. To conclude, proteomic techniques are of indispensable value to improve the knowledge on beta-cell function in T1D and the search toward therapeutic targets., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Posttranslational modifications of self-proteins play a substantial role in the initiation or propagation of the autoimmune attack in several autoimmune diseases, but their contribution to type 1 diabetes is only recently emerging. In the current study, we demonstrate that inflammatory stress, induced by the cytokines interleukin-1β and interferon-γ, leads to citrullination of GRP78 in β-cells. This is coupled with translocation of this endoplasmic reticulum chaperone to the β-cell plasma membrane and subsequent secretion. Importantly, expression and activity of peptidylarginine deiminase 2, one of the five enzymes responsible for citrullination and a candidate gene for type 1 diabetes in mice, is increased in islets from diabetes-prone nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Finally, (pre)diabetic NOD mice have autoantibodies and effector T cells that react against citrullinated GRP78, indicating that inflammation-induced citrullination of GRP78 in β-cells generates a novel autoantigen in type 1 diabetes, opening new avenues for biomarker development and therapeutic intervention., (© 2015 by the American Diabetes Association. Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered.)

Aims/hypothesis: To study the effects of cereulide, a food toxin often found at low concentrations in take-away meals, on beta-cell survival and function., Methods: Cell death was quantified by Hoechst/Propidium Iodide in mouse (MIN6) and rat (INS-1E) beta-cell lines, whole mouse islets and control cell lines (HepG2 and COS-1). Beta-cell function was studied by glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Mechanisms of toxicity were evaluated in MIN6 cells by mRNA profiling, electron microscopy and mitochondrial function tests., Results: 24 h exposure to 5 ng/ml cereulide rendered almost all MIN6, INS-1E and pancreatic islets apoptotic, whereas cell death did not increase in the control cell lines. In MIN6 cells and murine islets, GSIS capacity was lost following 24 h exposure to 0.5 ng/ml cereulide (P<0.05). Cereulide exposure induced markers of mitochondrial stress including Puma (p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis, P<0.05) and general pro-apoptotic signals as Chop (CCAAT/-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein). Mitochondria appeared swollen upon transmission electron microscopy, basal respiration rate was reduced by 52% (P<0.05) and reactive oxygen species increased by more than twofold (P<0.05) following 24 h exposure to 0.25 and 0.50 ng/ml cereulide, respectively., Conclusions/interpretation: Cereulide causes apoptotic beta-cell death at low concentrations and impairs beta-cell function at even lower concentrations, with mitochondrial dysfunction underlying these defects. Thus, exposure to cereulide even at concentrations too low to cause systemic effects appears deleterious to the beta-cell.

Aims/hypothesis: Cytotoxic T cells and macrophages contribute to beta cell destruction in type 1 diabetes at least in part through the production of cytokines such as IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α. We have recently shown the IL-17 pathway to be activated in circulating T cells and pancreatic islets of type 1 diabetes patients. Here, we studied whether IL-17A upregulates the production of chemokines by human pancreatic islets, thus contributing to the build-up of insulitis., Methods: Human islets (from 18 donors), INS-1E cells and islets from wild-type and Stat1 knockout mice were studied. Dispersed islet cells were left untreated, or were treated with IL-17A alone or together with IL-1β+IFN-γ or TNF-α+IFN-γ. RNA interference was used to knock down signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1). Chemokine expression was assessed by quantitative RT-PCR, ELISA and histology. Cell viability was evaluated with nuclear dyes., Results: IL-17A augmented IL-1β+IFN-γ- and TNF-α+IFN-γ-induced chemokine mRNA and protein expression, and apoptosis in human islets. Beta cells were at least in part the source of chemokine production. Knockdown of STAT1 in human islets prevented cytokine- or IL-17A+cytokine-induced apoptosis and the expression of particular chemokines, e.g. chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligands 9 and 10. Similar observations were made in islets isolated from Stat1 knockout mice., Conclusions/interpretation: Our findings indicate that IL-17A exacerbates proinflammatory chemokine expression and secretion by human islets exposed to cytokines. This suggests that IL-17A contributes to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes by two mechanisms, namely the exacerbation of beta cell apoptosis and increased local production of chemokines, thus potentially aggravating insulitis.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has been shown to protect pancreatic β-cells against cytokine-induced dysfunction and destruction. The mechanisms through which GLP-1 exerts its effects are complex and still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the protein expression profiles of human islets of Langerhans treated with cytokines (IL-1β and IFN-γ) in the presence or absence of GLP-1 by 2D difference gel electrophoresis and subsequent protein interaction network analysis to understand the molecular pathways involved in GLP-1-mediated β-cell protection. Co-incubation of cytokine-treated human islets with GLP-1 resulted in a marked protection of β-cells against cytokine-induced apoptosis and significantly attenuated cytokine-mediated inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The cytoprotective effects of GLP-1 coincided with substantial alterations in the protein expression profile of cytokine-treated human islets, illustrating a counteracting effect on proteins from different functional classes such as actin cytoskeleton, chaperones, metabolic proteins, and islet regenerating proteins. In summary, GLP-1 alters in an integrated manner protein networks in cytokine-exposed human islets while protecting them against cytokine-mediated cell death and dysfunction. These data illustrate the beneficial effects of GLP-1 on human islets under immune attack, leading to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved, a prerequisite for improving therapies for diabetic patients.

Actin cytoskeleton remodeling is well known to be positively involved in glucose-stimulated pancreatic β cell insulin secretion. We have observed glucose-stimulated focal adhesion remodeling at the β cell surface and have shown this to be crucial for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. However, the mechanistic link between such remodeling and the insulin secretory machinery remained unknown and was the major aim of this study. MIN6B1 cells, a previously validated model of primary β cell function, were used for all experiments. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy revealed the glucose-responsive co-localization of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin with integrin β1 at the basal cell surface after short term stimulation. In addition, blockade of the interaction between β1 integrins and the extracellular matrix with an anti-β1 integrin antibody (Ha2/5) inhibited short term glucose-induced phosphorylation of FAK (Tyr-397), paxillin (Tyr-118), and ERK1/2 (Thr-202/Tyr-204). Pharmacological inhibition of FAK activity blocked glucose-induced actin cytoskeleton remodeling and glucose-induced disruption of the F-actin/SNAP-25 association at the plasma membrane as well as the distribution of insulin granules to regions in close proximity to the plasma membrane. Furthermore, FAK inhibition also completely blocked short term glucose-induced activation of the Akt/AS160 signaling pathway. In conclusion, these results indicate 1) that glucose-induced activation of FAK, paxillin, and ERK1/2 is mediated by β1 integrin intracellular signaling, 2) a mechanism whereby FAK mediates glucose-induced actin cytoskeleton remodeling, hence allowing docking and fusion of insulin granules to the plasma membrane, and 3) a possible functional role for the Akt/AS160 signaling pathway in the FAK-mediated regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.

Objective: Actin cytoskeleton remodeling is known to be involved in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). We have observed glucose-stimulated changes at the β-cell basal membrane similar to focal adhesion remodeling in cell migration. This led us to study the role of two key focal adhesion proteins, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin, in GSIS., Research Design and Methods: All studies were performed using rat primary β-cells or isolated islets. Protein phosphorylation and subcellular localization were determined by Western blotting and confocal immunofluorescence, respectively. Insulin was measured by radioimmunoassay. Both siRNA and pharmacological approaches were used to assess the role of FAK and paxillin in glucose-stimulated focal adhesion remodeling and insulin secretion., Results: Glucose stimulation of β-cells in monolayer significantly increased phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin as well as cell surface area. This coincided with the appearance at the basal membrane of numerous shorter actin filopodial extensions, containing not only phosphorylated paxillin, FAK, and extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 but also two SNARE proteins, synaptosomal-associated protein 25 and syntaxin 1, indicating involvement in exocytosis. SR7037 completely inhibited this sequence of events, indicating the requirement of increased cytosolic Ca²(+). Furthermore, knockdown of paxillin significantly decreased GSIS, as did inhibition of glucose-induced FAK phosphorylation by compound Y15. Key findings were confirmed in β-cells within the natural setting of islets., Conclusions: Glucose-stimulated remodeling of focal adhesions and phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin are involved in full development of GSIS, indicating a previously unknown role for focal adhesion remodeling in pancreatic β-cell function.

Glyoxalase I (GLO1), together with glyoxalase II and the co-factor GSH, comprise the glyoxalase system, which is responsible for the detoxification of the cytotoxic glycolytic-derived metabolite methylglyoxal (MG). We, and others, have previously reported that GLO1 is subjected to several post-translational modifications, including a NO-mediated modification and phosphorylation. In this study, we demonstrate that GLO1 is a substrate for calcium, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). Site-directed mutagenesis of several serine and threonine residues revealed that CaMKII induced phosphorylation of GLO1 at a single site Thr-106. Mutagenesis of Thr-106 to Ala in GLO1 completely abolished the CaMKII-mediated phosphorylation. A phosphopeptide bracketing phosphothreonine-106 in GLO1 was used as an antigen to generate polyclonal antibodies against phosphothreonine-106. By using this phospho-specific antibody, we demonstrated that TNF induces phosphorylation of GLO1 on Thr-106. Furthermore, we investigated the role of NO-mediated modification and phosphorylation of GLO1 in the TNF-induced transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB. Overexpression of WT GLO1 suppressed TNF-induced NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression. Suppression of the basal and TNF-induced NF-kappaB activity was significantly stronger upon expression of a GLO1 mutant that was either deficient for the NO-mediated modification or phosphorylation on Thr-106. However, upon overexpression of a GLO1 mutant that was deficient for both types of modification, the suppressive effect of GLO1 on TNF-induced NF-kappaB activity was completely abolished. These results suggest that NO-modification and phosphorylation of GLO1 contribute to the suppression of TNF-induced NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression. In line with this, knock-down of GLO1 by siRNA significantly increased TNF-induced NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression. These findings suggest that phosphorylation and NO-modification of glyoxalase I provides another control mechanism for modulating the basal and TNF-induced expression of NF-kappaB-responsive genes.

We have previously shown that TNF (tumour necrosis factor) induces phosphorylation of GLO1 (glyoxalase I), which is required for cell death in L929 cells. In the present paper, we show that the TNF-induced phosphorylation of GLO1 occurs primarily on the NO (nitric oxide)-responsive form of GLO1. In addition, analysis of several cysteine mutants of GLO1 indicated that Cys-138, in combination with either Cys-18 or Cys-19, is a crucial target residue for the NO-mediated modification of GLO1. Furthermore, the NO-donor GSNO (S-nitrosogluthathione) induces NO-mediated modification of GLO1 and enhances the TNF-induced phosphorylation of this NO-responsive form. GSNO also strongly promotes TNF-induced cell death. By the use of pharmacological inhibition of iNOS (inducible NO synthase) and overexpression of mutants of GLO1 that are deficient for the NO-mediated modification, we have shown that the NO-mediated modification of GLO1 is not a requirement for TNF-induced phosphorylation or TNF-induced cell death respectively. In summary, these data suggest that the TNF-induced phosphorylation of GLO1 is the dominant factor for cell death.