Integrins are a family of conserved cell surface receptors found throughout the animal kingdom. They comprise 24 dimers in mammals, and regulate a number of processes including cell survival, differentiation, and migration. These complex cellular responses involve processes such as cell attachment, spreading, and various signaling pathways, which in turn depend on the composition of the extracellular environment, on its mechanical properties, and involved integrin types. This thesis focuses on identifying molecules that signal downstream of integrins and how integrin-induced signals may differ dependent on the type of mechanical stimulus that is given. In Paper I, we show that cell spreading and the activation of AKT is regulated by the catalytic PI3K isoform p110α. An intact β1 integrin cytoplasmic tail and actin polymerization was needed for spreading, whereas the presence of FAK or SRC, or the interaction between p110α and RAS was dispensable. Paper II reports that the RICTOR-mTOR complex (TORC2) acts as the kinase downstream of β1 integrins in order to phosphorylate AKT on Ser473, which was functionally linked to cell survival. β1 integrins activated both AKT1 and AKT2, but seemed to prefer AKT2. The investigation of several receptor types with regard to their requirement of TORC2, PAK, and ILK for AKT Ser473 phosphorylation revealed that different kinds of receptors engage specific enzyme combinations depending on cell type and context. In the third paper, we demonstrate that adhesion- and mechanical stretch-induced integrin signaling lead to divergent protein phosphorylation patterns, and that most signals from cell adhesion were not dependent on intracellular contractility. This indicates that integrin ligand binding and mechanical stretch induce signaling via distinct mechanisms. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from different cellular sources modulated these responses. Stretching primarily induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, and this signal was markedly increased by a derivative of the antioxidant ascorbate and extracellularly administered catalase. The robust AKT phosphorylation in response to adhesion was almost completely abolished with an inhibitor targeting mitochondrial ROS, whereas phosphorylation levels were only marginally affected in stretch assays. Similar results were obtained with siRNA knock-down of a critical subunit of ROS-producing NADPH oxidases.

Glutamine (Gln), a major nitrogen source in plants, is considered a central intermediate that coordinates carbon-nitrogen assembly for plant growth and development. To maintain a sufficient Gln supply, plant cells employ glutamine synthetases (GS), including cytosolic GS1 and plastidic GS2 for Gln production. Previous work has shown that the <i>GS1</i> is responsive to various environmental stresses. This study demonstrated the involvement of <i>GS1</i>s in Gln homeostasis and the role of GS1 in abiotic stress tolerance in <i>Arabidopsis</i>. The <i>GS1</i> family is comprised of five isoforms in <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>. Gene expression profiling showed that <i>GLN1;1, GLN1;3</i> and <i>GLN1;4</i> had similar expression patterns and were upregulated by abiotic (salinity and cold) stresses, whereas <i>GLN1;2</i> exhibited constitutive expression and no <i>GLN1;5</i> transcript was detected under any of the conditions tested. Null T-DNA insertion mutants for the five <i>GS1</i> genes were obtained. Only the <i>gln1;1</i> mutant displayed enhanced sensitivity to a GS inhibitor, phosphinothricin, and to cold and salinity treatments, suggesting a nonredundant role for GLN1;1. Increased stress sensitivity in <i>gln1;1</i> was associated with accelerated accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly in chloroplasts. To better understand the role of cytosolic GS isoforms, we generated two different triple mutant combinations. Triple mutant <i>gln1;1/gln1;2/gln1;3</i> showed reduced growth at an early stage. The <i>gln1;1/gln1;3/gln1;4</i> mutant is pollen lethal, indicating an essential role of Gln in plant gametophyte development. Collectively, our results establish a link between cytosolic Gln production, ROS accumulation, plant stress tolerance and development.

The pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by an inflammatory mononuclear infiltration in the white matter. There has been converging evidence of the oxidative stress playing a role in the onset and progression of MS. We postulated that the decreasing oxidative stress might help in the management of MS. We know that the induction of phase 2 enzymes decreases the oxidative stress. The experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced in the Lewis rats were used to test this hypothesis. The 24 animals were placed into two groups: 1) those on normal rat chow, 2) those on rat chow containing 7.5 g/kg of tetra-butylhydroxyanisole (BHA), a food preservative. All the animals were administered 100 µg of guinea pig myelin basic protein in their tails to induce EAE and examined daily in a double blinded fashion. On 29th day of the induction, the animals were sacrificed, blood collected for glutathione (GSH) measurements and tissues collected for histology. All the animals, regardless of their diet status, developed symptoms of EAE on different days ranging from tail weakness to hind limb paralysis and all of them reached remission of acute EAE before the 28th day of induction. The non-BHA fed animals developed hind limb weakness in 8 animals and hind limb paralysis in 4 cases, while that of BHA fed group developed tail paralysis in 2, hind limb weakness in 2 and hind limb paralysis in 8 cases. The histology of the non-BHA group correlated well with the clinical symptoms of perivascular mononuclear infiltration. However, the BHA group revealed complete pathological recovery. Animals with BHA in the diet had significantly raised GSH, indicating the induction of phase 2 enzymes. We conclude that dietary phase 2 enzyme inducers show potential therapeutic benefits in EAE and should be examined for this role in MS.

Early events in BRCA1-associated tumorigenesis remain poorly understood. To understand the immediate consequences of BRCA1 loss of function, we modeled BRCA1 loss of function in vitro using normal primary human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC). We have found that in HMEC, loss of BRCA1 results in a novel type of senescence. Loss of BRCA1-induced senescence is not associated with DNA damage or p53 upregulation. We find that p53 protein levels are down regulated due to proteasome-mediated degradation. Although p53 levels are down regulated, we find that BRCA1 loss induced expression of a number of p53-dependent anti-oxidant genes. In particular we uncovered that SESN2, a p53 downstream target gene, inhibits loss of BRCA1 induced ROS and activates autophagy. In contrast to human fibroblasts, we found that loss of BRCA1 induced senescence is p53 independent, and can occur in the absence of ROS upregulation and autophagy induction.

Early events in BRCA1-associated tumorigenesis remain poorly understood. To understand the immediate consequences of BRCA1 loss of function, we modeled BRCA1 loss of function in vitro using normal primary human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC). We have found that in HMEC, loss of BRCA1 results in a novel type of senescence. Loss of BRCA1-induced senescence is not associated with DNA damage or p53 upregulation. We find that p53 protein levels are down regulated due to proteasome-mediated degradation. Although p53 levels are down regulated, we find that BRCA1 loss induced expression of a number of p53-dependent anti-oxidant genes. In particular we uncovered that SESN2, a p53 downstream target gene, inhibits loss of BRCA1 induced ROS and activates autophagy. In contrast to human fibroblasts, we found that loss of BRCA1 induced senescence is p53 independent, and can occur in the absence of ROS upregulation and autophagy induction.

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are phytochemicals highly expressed in cruciferous vegetables and these compounds are associated with the decreased incidence of cancers in populations consuming high levels of cruciferous vegetables. Several individual ITCs including phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) inhibit tumor growth and angiogenesis and their anticancer activity has been linked to inhibition of cancer cell growth, survival and inflammation (NFB). It has also been demonstrated that PEITC induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and that ROS is largely responsible for PEITC-induced cell death. To confirm PEITC-induced cancer cell death we have investigated the mechanism of action of PEITC in pancreatic cancer cell lines and PEITC induces ROS and inhibits growth and induces apoptosis (PARP cleavage). In addition, PEITC downregulates expression of several gene products including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclin D1 (CD1), Bcl2 and survivin and these have previously been reported in other studies. However, since these gene products are all regulated by specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4, which are overexpressed in cancer cells and tumors, we investigated the effects of PEITC on Sp proteins and observed that PEITC decreased expression of Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 in pancreatic cancer cells. These results demonstrate for the first time that an important underlying mechanism of action of ITCs likely involves targeting Sp transcription factors through an ROS-mediated mechanism and the pathways required for ITC-induced Sp downregulation were investigated and the results are presented in this paper.

Glutamine (Gln), a major nitrogen source in plants, is considered a central intermediate that coordinates carbon-nitrogen assembly for plant growth and development. To maintain a sufficient Gln supply, plant cells employ glutamine synthetases (GS), including cytosolic GS1 and plastidic GS2 for Gln production. Previous work has shown that the <i>GS1</i> is responsive to various environmental stresses. This study demonstrated the involvement of <i>GS1</i>s in Gln homeostasis and the role of GS1 in abiotic stress tolerance in <i>Arabidopsis</i>. The <i>GS1</i> family is comprised of five isoforms in <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>. Gene expression profiling showed that <i>GLN1;1, GLN1;3</i> and <i>GLN1;4</i> had similar expression patterns and were upregulated by abiotic (salinity and cold) stresses, whereas <i>GLN1;2</i> exhibited constitutive expression and no <i>GLN1;5</i> transcript was detected under any of the conditions tested. Null T-DNA insertion mutants for the five <i>GS1</i> genes were obtained. Only the <i>gln1;1</i> mutant displayed enhanced sensitivity to a GS inhibitor, phosphinothricin, and to cold and salinity treatments, suggesting a nonredundant role for GLN1;1. Increased stress sensitivity in <i>gln1;1</i> was associated with accelerated accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly in chloroplasts. To better understand the role of cytosolic GS isoforms, we generated two different triple mutant combinations. Triple mutant <i>gln1;1/gln1;2/gln1;3</i> showed reduced growth at an early stage. The <i>gln1;1/gln1;3/gln1;4</i> mutant is pollen lethal, indicating an essential role of Gln in plant gametophyte development. Collectively, our results establish a link between cytosolic Gln production, ROS accumulation, plant stress tolerance and development.

The pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by an inflammatory mononuclear infiltration in the white matter. There has been converging evidence of the oxidative stress playing a role in the onset and progression of MS. We postulated that the decreasing oxidative stress might help in the management of MS. We know that the induction of phase 2 enzymes decreases the oxidative stress. The experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced in the Lewis rats were used to test this hypothesis. The 24 animals were placed into two groups: 1) those on normal rat chow, 2) those on rat chow containing 7.5 g/kg of tetra-butylhydroxyanisole (BHA), a food preservative. All the animals were administered 100 µg of guinea pig myelin basic protein in their tails to induce EAE and examined daily in a double blinded fashion. On 29th day of the induction, the animals were sacrificed, blood collected for glutathione (GSH) measurements and tissues collected for histology. All the animals, regardless of their diet status, developed symptoms of EAE on different days ranging from tail weakness to hind limb paralysis and all of them reached remission of acute EAE before the 28th day of induction. The non-BHA fed animals developed hind limb weakness in 8 animals and hind limb paralysis in 4 cases, while that of BHA fed group developed tail paralysis in 2, hind limb weakness in 2 and hind limb paralysis in 8 cases. The histology of the non-BHA group correlated well with the clinical symptoms of perivascular mononuclear infiltration. However, the BHA group revealed complete pathological recovery. Animals with BHA in the diet had significantly raised GSH, indicating the induction of phase 2 enzymes. We conclude that dietary phase 2 enzyme inducers show potential therapeutic benefits in EAE and should be examined for this role in MS.

The effect of the natural essential oil carvacrol or the anesthetic propofol on cell viability, cell cycle distribution, reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) and caspase-3-associated apoptosis in human normal cells or non-normal cells is unclear. Human gingival fibroblasts (HGF), human oral cancer cell line (OC2) and human glioblastoma cell line (DRTBG-05MG, HGB) were used in this study. Cell viability was measured by detecting reagent water soluble tetrazolium salt-1 (WST-1). Apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining, cell cycle distribution was detected by PI staining, and ROS was detected by membrane-permeable probe dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) or hydroethidine (HE) staining. Apoptosis, cell cycle distribution and ROS were analyzed by flow cytometry. The Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2 was applied to measure [Ca2+]i. Caspase-3 expression was detected by western blotting. Carvacrol at 200-800 £gM decreased the cell viability of OC2 or HGB cells in a concentration-dependent manner and 1,000 £gM carvacrol almost killed all OC2 or HGB cells, but in HGF cells, 200-800 £gM carvacrol did not significantly kill cells and 1,000 £gM carvacrol decreased only about 63% of cell viability. Similarly, propofol at concentrations between 300 and 600 £gM decreased the cell viability of OC2 or HGB cells in a concentration-dependent manner and 700 £gM propofol almost killed all OC2 or HGB cells, but in HGF cells, 300-600 £gM propofol did not significantly kill cells and 700 £gM propofol decreased about 62% of cell viability. In OC2 or HGB cells, carvacrol (200 £gM, 400 £gM or 600 £gM) or propofol (300 £gM, 400 £gM or 500 £gM) induced apoptosis, increased ROS production, evoked cell cycle arrest and activated caspase-3. The caspase-3 inhibitor (DEVD-CHO) partially decreased the apoptotic effect induced by carvacrol or propofol. On the other hand, in OC2 or HGB cells, carvacrol at concentrations between 400 £gM and 1,000 £gM induced a [Ca2+]i rise in a concentration-dependent manner and the signal was reduced by removal of extracellular Ca2+. In HGF cells, carvacrol at 1000 £gM did not induce immediate [Ca2+]i rises in Ca2+-containing or Ca2+-free medium. Similarly, propofol at concentrations between 400 £gM and 1,000 £gM induced a [Ca2+]i rise in a concentration-dependent manner in OC2 or HGB cells, but not in HGF cells. This cytotoxic effect was not reversed in carvacrol-treated groups, but was partially reversed in propofol-treated groups when cytosolic Ca2+ was chelated with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid/acetoxy methyl (BAPTA-AM) in OC2 or HGB cells. The apoptotic effect of propofol was also partially decreased by BAPTA-AM treatment in OC2 and HGB cells. In OC2 and HGB cells, carvacrol- or propofol-induced Ca2+ signal was not altered by L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine, store-operated Ca2+ channel blocker econazole or SK&F96365) and protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), but was inhibited by PKC inhibitor GF109203X. When extracellular Ca2+ was removed, incubation with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor thapsigargin (TG) or 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone (BHQ) abolished carvacrol- or propofol-induced [Ca2+]i rises. Incubation with carvacrol or propofol also abolished TG or BHQ-induced [Ca2+]i rises. Inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC) with U73122 abolished carvacrol- or propofol-induced [Ca2+]i rises. Together, first, in HGF cells, carvacrol (200-800 £gM) or propofol (300-600 £gM) did not induce [Ca2+]i rises and cell death. Second, in OC2 or HGB cells, carvacrol induced [Ca2+]i rises and cell death that might involve ROS- and caspase-3-associated apoptosis. Third, in OC2 or HGB cells, propofol induced [Ca2+]i rises and cell death that might involve ROS-, Ca2+- and caspase-3-associated apoptosis. Lastly, in OC2 or HGB cells, carvacrol or propofol induced [Ca2+]i rises by inducing PLC-dependent Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca2+ entry via PKC-sensitive, non store-operated Ca2+ channels.

Abstract Neutrophils are the major cellular component of acute inflammatory response. The mechanism by which fMLP or PAF activates neutrophils is not fully elucidated. Stimulation of MAPKs and activation of NF-kappa B in neutrophils regulate various cell functions, including superoxide production. Neutrophils isolated from blood taken from healthy donors, were incubated with specific inhibitors, GF109203X (PKC inhibitor), calphostin C (PKC-gamma isoform inhibitor), wortmannin (PI3K inhibitor), U73122 (PLC inhibitor), aristolochic acid (PLA2 inhibitor), SKF96365 (SOC channel inhibitor), EGTA (extracellular calcium chelator), SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor), and PD98059 (MEK inhibitor), followed by fMLP or PAF treatment. MAPK activation by fMLP or PAF is based on immunoblot analysis. NF-kappa B activation is detected by EMSA, and superoxide production is measured by flow cytometry. The data indicate that neutrophil MAPK signaling pathways mediated by fMLP and PAF are different. PAF-induced ERK MAPK phosphorylation was involved PI3K, PKC, PLA2, PLC, and extracellular calcium, wheres fMLP-induced phosphorylation doesn¡¦t involve PKC