neuromedin-b and Carcinoma--Small-Cell

The murine anti-bombesin monoclonal antibody, 2A11, has been demonstrated to inhibit growth of some small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells in nude mice xenografts and in a clinical trial. To determine if the expression of bombesin-like peptides (BLP) and their receptors (GRP-R and NMB-R) correlate with an in vitro response to 2A11, we measured these parameters in seven SCLC cell lines. Gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) mRNA was detected in three of seven cell lines (NCI-H69, NCI-H345, NCI-H510) and neuromedin B (NMB) mRNA was detected in all seven lines using an RNase protection assay (RPA). Immunoreactive BLP was detected in the cell pellets of all lines (range 0.11-59.90 pmol/mg protein) by a solid phase GRP radioimmunoassay (RIA) using 125I-labeled 2A11. RPA detected GRP-receptor mRNA in two cell lines (NCI-H69 and NCI-H345) and NMB-receptor in three lines (NCI-H345, NCI-H510, and NCI-H660). Reverse transcriptase-PCR confirmed the presence of receptor mRNA in these lines and detected NMB-receptor in an additional three lines (NCI-H69, NCI-H82, and NCI-H187). Calcium mobilization in response to BLP stimulation was detected in the six cell lines expressing either GRP-R or NMB-R mRNA but not in NCI-N417, which had no detectable BLP-receptor. 2A11 (5 microg/ml) inhibited colony formation by 26-61% after 2 weeks in all cell lines except NCI-N417. Thus, growth inhibition by 2A11 requires the presence of at least one BLP-receptor. These findings may be useful in selecting patients with SCLC for treatment with 2A11.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antineoplastic Agents; Bombesin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cell Division; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; Humans; Ligands; Lung Neoplasms; Mice; Neurokinin B; Peptide Biosynthesis; Peptides; Receptors, Bombesin; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Stem Cell Assay

The bombesin-like peptides comprise a large family of peptides common to both amphibians and mammals that function as growth factors, neurotransmitters, and paracrine hormones. GRP, the mammalian homolog of bombesin and its receptor, as well as NMB, the mammalian homolog of ranatensin, are expressed in human neoplasms and, in particular, in small cell lung carcinomas (SCLC). To better characterize the physiological roles of bombesin-like peptides, our laboratory has cloned the receptors for GRP in murines, rats, and humans. The 3T3 GRP receptor was isolated and characterized using the two-electrode-voltage-clamp analysis and acquorin-emission methods in xenopus oocytes expression system. The rat and human GRP and NMB receptors were cloned by hybridization at low stringency, using the mouse cDNA receptor probe. Sequence analysis of the receptors showed 384 and 390 amino acids for GRP and NMB receptors, respectively. The homology between the two receptors is 60% and between species in the same receptor, 90%. The receptors belong to the 7-membrane spanning domains superfamily. The specific GRP-R antagonist blocked the response to bombesin in oocytes injected with GRP-R, but failed to do so in oocytes injected with NMB-R. The two receptors differ in their distribution of tissue expression. RNA blot and RNase protection analysis showed the same size of mRNA without alteration in the receptors. RT + PCR analysis performed on genomic DNA revealed similarity between normal and cell DNAs, suggesting no major gene deletion or rearrangement. Southern blot analysis indicated the absence of gene amplification. Sequence analysis of the exonic segments of the receptor genes displayed identical amino acids to the respective cDNAs. None of the genes had classic TATAA box. Somatic cell hybrids localized the GRP-R on the X-chromosome and the NMB-R on chromosome 6. The same sequence of normal genes and cDNAs of GRP and NMB receptors, together with the gene characterization, demonstrated that SCLC cell lines do not require a structural change in receptor protein or genomic rearrangement.

Topics: 3T3 Cells; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Bombesin; Brain Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cloning, Molecular; Consensus Sequence; DNA; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; Glioblastoma; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Neoplasm Proteins; Neurokinin B; Oocytes; Peptides; Rats; Receptors, Bombesin; Receptors, Neurotransmitter; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Xenopus laevis

Previously, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptors were identified on small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells and GRP functioned as a SCLC autocrine growth factor. Here the effects of neuromedin B (NMB) on SCLC cells were investigated. [125I-Tyr0]NMB bound with high affinity to three of seven SCLC cell lines examined. [125I-Tyr0]NMB bound to SCLC cell line NCI-H209 and NCI-H345 in a time-dependent and reversible manner. [125I-Tyr0]NMB bound with high affinity (Kd = 1 nM) to a single class of sites (Bmax = 800/cell). Specific [125I-Tyr0]NMB binding was inhibited with high affinity by NMB (IC50 = 1 nM) and moderate affinity by bombesin, GRP and [D-Arg1, D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9, Leu11]substance P ([APTTL]SP) but not GRP1-16 (IC50 = 50, 100, 1,000 and > 10,000 nM, respectively). In Fura 2 AM loaded NCI-H345 cells, NMB elevated cytosolic calcium in a concentration-dependent manner. NMB (10 nM) elevated the cytosolic calcium from 150 to 180 nM and calcium was released from intracellular pools. The increase in cytosolic calcium caused by 10 nM NMB was reversed by 1 microM [APTTL]SP but not 1 microM [D-Phe6]bombesin6-13methylester, a GRP receptor antagonist. Also, NMB stimulated the clonal growth of NCI-H209 and NCI-H345 in a concentration-dependent manner. The increase in the clonal growth caused by NMB was reversed by 1 microM [APTTL]SP. These data suggest that NMB receptors may regulate the proliferation of some SCLC cells.

Topics: Binding Sites; Calcium; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cell Division; Cytosol; Humans; Kinetics; Lung Neoplasms; Neurokinin B; Receptors, Neurokinin-2; Receptors, Neurotransmitter; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), a mammalian bombesin-like peptide, has been shown to be an important autocrine growth factor for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, not all SCLC cell lines express the GRP gene or respond mitogenically to GRP stimulation, suggesting the existence of other autocrine pathways in this tumor. Neuromedin B (NMB), the mammalian counterpart of amphibian ranatensin, has been shown to be a mitogen for SCLC cell lines in vitro. To determine whether NMB is a potential autocrine growth factor for lung tumors, NMB gene expression, peptide synthesis, and secretion have been investigated in a panel of SCLC and non-SCLC (NSCLC) cell lines. Northern blot analysis and enzymatic amplification from mRNA by polymerase chain reaction showed that the NMB gene was expressed in all SCLC and NSCLC cell lines examined. In contrast, the GRP gene was expressed in four of six classic SCLC cell lines but not in variant SCLC or NSCLC cell lines. Immunoreactive NMB was detected by radioimmunoassay in the majority of classic SCLC, in one of three variant SCLC and in one of three NSCLC cell lines, and secreted NMB was detected in medium conditioned by a SCLC and a NSCLC cell line. The present study also demonstrated the presence of immunoreactive GRP in the absence of detectable GRP gene expression. The antiserum used in the GRP radioimmunoassay failed to cross-react with NMB but showed some cross-reactivity with amphibian phyllolitorin raising the possibility that certain SCLC cell lines may produce a phyllolitorin-like peptide.

Topics: Base Sequence; Blotting, Northern; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; Gene Expression; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Molecular Sequence Data; Neurokinin B; Peptide Biosynthesis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA; Tumor Cells, Cultured