HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Activation of cathepsin B, secreted by a colorectal cancer cell line requires low pH and is mediated by cathepsin D.

Abstract
The aim of our study was to identify changes in secreted procathepsin B levels in a model of the human colorectal adenoma to carcinoma sequence and to determine the factors required for its extracellular activation. Conversion of the non-tumorigenic adenoma-derived cell line PC/AA to a highly tumorigenic phenotype (designated AA/CI/SB10/M) was associated with an 8-fold increase in the presence of the proform of cathepsin B in 24 hr conditioned serum-free medium (SFM). In addition, mature enzyme was only detected in the cell lines of this model with increased malignant potential. This is in agreement with the findings of a previous study, in which mature cathepsin B was only present in the 24 hr conditioned SFM of cancer-derived cell lines and not in SFM from adenoma-derived cell lines. Having demonstrated a reduction in the pH of conditioned medium from cell lines with increased malignant potential, we used a range of specific proteinase inhibitors to show that an aspartyl proteinase was involved in the initial activation of procathepsin B. Consistent with this finding, we subsequently demonstrated an increased secretion of the aspartyl proteinase cathepsin D in the medium of the AA/CI/SB10/M adenocarcinoma cells compared with the non-tumorigenic AA/Cl cell line. Therefore, the presence of mature cathpsin B in the conditioned medium of the more malignant cell lines coincided with a reduction in pH and an increase in the amount of cathepsin D secreted. Data from the human colorectal derived adenoma to carcinoma sequence indicate that an in vivo mechanism may exist that, dependent on the simultaneous presence of both a tumour-generated acidic extracellular environment and an elevated secretion of procathepsin D, could result in the activation of latent procathepsin outside the cell.
AuthorsJ W van der Stappen, A C Williams, R A Maciewicz, C Paraskeva
JournalInternational journal of cancer (Int J Cancer) Vol. 67 Issue 4 Pg. 547-54 (Aug 07 1996) ISSN: 0020-7136 [Print] United States
PMID8759615 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Culture Media, Serum-Free
  • Enzyme Precursors
  • procathepsin B
  • Cathepsin B
  • Cathepsin D
Topics
  • Adenocarcinoma (enzymology, pathology)
  • Adenoma (enzymology, pathology)
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinoma (enzymology, pathology)
  • Cathepsin B (biosynthesis, metabolism)
  • Cathepsin D (biosynthesis, metabolism)
  • Cell Line
  • Colorectal Neoplasms (enzymology, pathology)
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Culture Media, Serum-Free
  • Enzyme Precursors (metabolism)
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: