Epidermal Growth Factor-induced DNA Synthesis Research Articles

Inhibitory Effects of Dexamethasone on Epidermal Growth Factor-Induced DNA Synthesis and Proliferation in Primary Cultures of Adult Rat Hepatocytes

We investigated the effects of dexamethasone on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced DNA synthesis and proliferation in serum-free primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. Isolated hepatocytes were cultured at a density of 3.3 × 10⁴ cells/cm² in Williams' medium E containing 5% bovine calf serum and various concentrations of dexamethasone for 1, 2 and 3 h. After the 3-h attachment period, the medium was changed, and cells were cultured in serum-free and dexamethasone-free Williams' medium E with or without glucocorticoid receptor antagonists. The growth-stimulating effects of EGF (20 ng/ml) on the primary cultured hepatocytes were time- and concentration-dependently inhibited by dexamethasone added to the culture medium. The mineral corticoid aldosterone (10⁻⁷ M) did not produce the same growth-inhibitory effects as dexamethasone (10⁻⁸ M). The inhibitory effects of dexamethasone were reversed by treatment with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone (RU486, 10⁻⁶ M) or a monoclonal antibody against glucocorticoid receptor (100 ng/ml). In addition, the growth-inhibitory effects of dexamethasone did not affect EGF-induced p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation. These results indicate that dexamethasone concentration-dependently delays and inhibits the EGF-induced DNA synthesis and proliferation through its own intracellular receptor in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes.

The C-Rel Subunit of Nuclear Factor-κB Regulates Murine Liver Inflammation, Wound-Healing, and Hepatocyte Proliferation

In this study, we determined the role of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) subunit c-Rel in liver injury and regeneration. In response to toxic injury of the liver, c-Rel null (c-rel(-/-)) mice displayed a defect in the neutrophilic inflammatory response, associated with impaired induction of RANTES (Regulated upon Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed, and Secreted; also known as CCL5). The subsequent fibrogenic/wound-healing response to both chronic carbon tetrachloride and bile duct ligation induced injury was also impaired and this was associated with deficiencies in the expression of fibrogenic genes, collagen I and alpha-smooth muscle actin, by hepatic stellate cells. We additionally report that c-Rel is required for the normal proliferative regeneration of hepatocytes in response to toxic injury and partial hepatectomy. Absence of c-Rel was associated with blunted and delayed induction of forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) and its downstream targets cyclin B1 and Cdc25C. Furthermore, isolated c-rel(-/-) hepatocytes expressed reduced levels of FoxM1 and a reduced rate of basal and epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that c-Rel binding to the FoxM1 promoter is induced in the regenerating liver. c-Rel has multiple functions in the control of liver homeostasis and regeneration and is a transcriptional regulator of FoxM1 and compensatory hepatocyte proliferation.

Prostaglandins Enhance Epidermal Growth Factor-Induced DNA Synthesis in Hepatocytes by Stimulation of E Prostanoid 3 and F Prostanoid Receptors

Prostaglandins stimulate hepatocyte proliferation in vivo and in vitro. We have examined the role of E prostanoid (EP) and F prostanoid receptors (FP) in enhancing the growth-stimulatory effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in cultured hepatocytes. The EP2 receptor agonist butaprost had no significant effect on EGF-induced DNA synthesis. EP1 receptor-selective antagonists did not affect the enhancement by prostaglandin E(2) of EGF-stimulated DNA synthesis. Sulprostone, misoprostol, and fluprostenol strongly enhanced DNA synthesis and inhibited glucagon-stimulated cAMP accumulation, indicating that they all activated EP3 receptors. Sulprostone and fluprostenol, and to a lesser extent misoprostol, stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates. The effects of fluprostenol and sulprostone on phospholipase C (PLC) were inhibited by the FP receptor antagonist AL-8810 [9 alpha, 15R-dihydroxy-11 beta-fluoro-15-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-16,17,18,19,20-pentanor-prosta-5Z, 13E-dien-1-oic acid], indicating that this effect was mediated by FP receptors. Inhibition of protein kinase C with GF109203X [2-[1-(3-dimetylaminopropyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-maleimide] resulted in a partial reduction of the growth stimulation induced by fluprostenol, indicating a minor role of FP receptors. Combining fluprostenol with misoprostol, but not with sulprostone, resulted in partially additive effects on DNA synthesis, suggesting that both EP3 and FP receptors are involved. Combining sulprostone with misoprostol did not result in additive effects on DNA synthesis, suggesting that EP4 receptors were not involved. We conclude that, although a minor effect is exerted by FP receptors, the growth-stimulatory effects of prostaglandins in rat hepatocytes are mediated mainly by EP3 receptors. We have found no evidence of EP1 receptor involvement.

Modulation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5b Activity in Breast Cancer Cells by Mutation of Tyrosines within the Transactivation Domain

The signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins are latent transcription factors activated by a variety of cytokines and growth factors. Activation leads to phosphorylation on a conserved tyrosine residue. Although phosphorylation of STAT5b on Y699 is required for activation, it was previously shown that in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-overexpressing cell lines, three tyrosines (Y725, Y740, and Y743) in the STAT5b transactivation domain are also phosphorylated upon epidermal growth factor stimulation. The significance of these additional tyrosine phosphorylation sites was analyzed in the context of the human breast cancer cell line SKBr3, which overexpresses the EGFR and c-Src. When compared with wild-type STAT5b, mutation of Y725 decreased basal and epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis. In contrast, mutation of Y740 and/or Y743 enhanced basal STAT5b Y699 phosphorylation, basal transcriptional activity, and basal DNA synthesis compared with wtSTAT5b. This indicates that Y699 and Y725 are positive regulators and Y740 and Y743 are negative regulators for STAT5b activity. Anti-phospho-Y740/743-specific antibodies demonstrated that the c-Src tyrosine kinase inhibits the phosphorylation of these two sites. Furthermore, Y740 and Y743 were not detectably phosphorylated in breast cancer cells overexpressing c-Src, but the Y740/743F mutant increased basal activity suggesting that the conformation of the transactivation domain is important in regulating STAT5b activity. Mechanistic insight into the inhibitory action of Y740 and Y743 may lead to the development of therapeutics that specifically modulate the activity of STAT5b in breast cancer and potentially other EGFR/c-Src-overexpressing cancers.

Trans-inactivation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases by Novel Angiotensin II AT2 Receptor-interacting Protein, ATIP

Negative regulation of mitogenic pathways is a fundamental process that remains poorly characterized. The angiotensin II AT2 receptor is a rare example of a 7-transmembrane domain receptor that negatively cross-talks with receptor tyrosine kinases to inhibit cell growth. In the present study, we report the molecular cloning of a novel protein, ATIP1 (AT2-interacting protein), which interacts with the C-terminal tail of the AT2 receptor, but not with those of other receptors such as angiotensin AT1, bradykinin BK2, and adrenergic beta(2) receptor. ATIP1 defines a family of at least four members that possess the same domain of interaction with the AT2 receptor, contain a large coiled-coil region, and are able to dimerize. Ectopic expression of ATIP1 in eukaryotic cells leads to inhibition of insulin, basic fibroblast growth factor, and epidermal growth factor-induced ERK2 activation and DNA synthesis, and attenuates insulin receptor autophosphorylation, in the same way as the AT2 receptor. The inhibitory effect of ATIP1 requires expression, but not ligand activation, of the AT2 receptor and is further increased in the presence of Ang II, indicating that ATIP1 cooperates with AT2 to transinactivate receptor tyrosine kinases. Our findings therefore identify ATIP1 as a novel early component of growth inhibitory signaling cascade.

Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase augments lipopolysaccharide-induced cell proliferation in CD14-expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells.

CD14-expressing Chinese hamster ovary (CD14-CHO) cells, established by transfection of human CD14 DNA, acquired high responsiveness to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through membrane-bound CD14 expression. LPS induced DNA synthesis and activated a series of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase, in CD14-CHO cells but not in mock-transfected CHO cells. Anti-CD14 antibody completely abrogated both LPS-induced DNA synthesis and LPS-induced phosphorylation of those MAP kinases, suggesting a critical role of membrane-bound CD14 in LPS signaling. A p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, SB203580, markedly augmented LPS-induced DNA synthesis in CD14-CHO cells, whereas an Erk1/2 inhibitor, PD98059, had no affect. On the other hand, SB203580 exhibited no effect on epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in CD14-CHO cells, although PD98059 inhibited it significantly. The activation and inactivation of p38 MAP kinase with dominant negative and dominant positive mutants also suggested the participation of p38 MAP kinase in LPS-induced DNA synthesis. It was therefore suggested that the activation of p38 MAP kinase can negatively regulate LPS-induced cell proliferation in CD14-CHO cells.

Potentiation of epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes by phenobarbitone: possible involvement of oxidative stress and kinase activation.

A transient induction of S phase DNA synthesis is a common feature of non-genotoxic rodent hepatocarcinogens when administered in vivo. In the present study the ability of phenobarbitone (PB) to induce S phase DNA synthesis in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes was investigated. In the absence of serum or growth factors PB was not a mitogen per se. However, stimulation of S phase DNA synthesis by epidermal growth factor (EGF) was enhanced by co-culture with PB. This effect was both time and concentration dependent. The lowest concentration of PB that significantly enhanced the effect of EGF was 10 microM and the effect was maximal at 1.0 mM. At a concentration of 2.0 mM PB no longer enhanced EGF-induced S phase DNA synthesis. Hepatocyte cultures pretreated with PB (0.1 mM) for 2 days were more responsive to the induction of S phase DNA synthesis by EGF for the subsequent 2 days. Despite the inhibition of PB enhancement of S phase DNA synthesis by the antioxidant dimethylthiourea, reduced glutathione was not depleted by PB treatment nor were oxidized glutathione or lipid peroxides elevated. Western blotting analysis showed that PB had no effect on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) autophosphorylation per se after 1 and 48 h culture, enhanced sensitization of EGFR therefore does not appear to contribute to the enhancement of S phase DNA synthesis by PB. In contrast, treatment of hepatocytes with PB for 12 h resulted in a small but statistically significant activation of p42/44 MAP kinase activity and activation of protein kinase C, as measured by redistribution of enzyme activity from a soluble to a particulate compartment of hepatocytes. Therefore, PB-mediated changes in protein kinase activity may contribute to the potentiation this compound affords.

Epidermal Growth Factor-induced Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Activation and DNA Synthesis: IDENTIFICATION OF Grb2-ASSOCIATED BINDER 2 AS THE MAJOR MEDIATOR IN RAT HEPATOCYTES

In previous work we showed that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), not the mitogen-activated protein kinase, pathway is necessary and sufficient to account for insulin- and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes. Here, using a dominant-negative p85, we confirmed the key role of EGF-induced PI3-kinase activation and sought to identify the mechanism by which this is effected. Our results show that EGF activates PI3-kinase with a time course similar to that of the association of p85 with three principal phosphotyrosine proteins (i. e. PY180, PY105, and PY52). We demonstrated that each formed a distinct p85-associated complex. PY180 and PY52 each constituted about 10% of EGF-activated PI3-kinase, whereas PY105 was responsible for 80%. PY105 associated with Grb2 and SHP-2, and although it behaved like Gab1, none of the latter was detected in rat liver. We therefore cloned a cDNA from rat liver, which was found to be 95% homologous to the mouse Grb2-associated binder 2 (Gab2) cDNA sequence. Using a specific Gab2 antibody, we demonstrated its expression in and association with p85, SHP-2, and Grb2 upon EGF treatment of rat hepatocytes. Gab2 accounted for most if not all of the PY105 species, since immunoprecipitation of Gab2 with specific antibodies demonstrated parallel immunodepletion of Gab2 and PY105 from the residual supernatants. We also found that the PI3-kinase activity associated with Gab2 was totally abolished by dominant negative p85. Thus, Gab2 appears to be the principal EGF-induced PY protein recruiting and activating PI3-kinase and mitogenesis.

A short-term assessment of tumor-promotion activity in the livers of rats treated with two genotoxic methylating agents: dimethylnitrosamine and methylnitrosourea

Induction of replicative DNA synthesis (RDS) and mitoinhibitory effects were studied in the hepatocytes of F344 rats exposed in vivo to the methylating agents dimethylnitrosamine (DMN, hepatocarcinogen) and methylnitrosourea (MNU, non-hepatocarcinogen). Cytotoxicity and chromosome aberrations (CA) in rat liver were also investigated to clarify the cause of changes in RDS and mitoinihibitory effects, respectively. The animals were killed at different intervals (up to 14 days) after a single oral dose, or 1 day after 7 or 14 days of repeated oral doses. The hepatocytes were isolated and cultured with Williams’ medium E to assess their RDS, mitoinhibitoy effects and CA. Mitoinhibitory effects were investigated by monitoring their effect on epidermal growth factor-induced replicative DNA synthesis (EGF-induced RDS) in rat hepatocytes. Hepatotoxic effects were assessed by measuring aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase in the plasma and by histopathological examination. In the single-dose study, DMN (20 mg/kg body weight (bw)) induced both RDS and hepatotoxicity. MNU (50 mg/kg bw) induced RDS without causing hepatotoxicity, and thus was classified as a mitogen. In the repeated-dose study, DMN (4 mg/kg bw) induced both RDS and hepatotoxicity, but MNU (10 mg/kg bw) induced neither. Both inhibition of EGF-induced RDS and induction of CA were observed in the hepatocytes of rats treated with DMN, but were not observed with MNU in both single and repeated dose studies. The mitoinhibitory effect of DMN persisted for 14 days after the single dose and time dependently increased for 14 days after repeated administration. This mitoinhibitory effect correlated positively with CA. The mitoinhibitory effect was thought to be attributable to the DNA-damaging effect that induces CA. We concluded that the differences which we found in this study between DMN and MNU contribute to the differences in their hepatocarcinogenicity. Our findings suggested that both cell proliferative and mitoinhibitory properties play an important role in tumor promotion, and measuring them may provide an ancillary index that is useful in predicting hepatocarcinogenicity.

The inhibitory effect of interleukin 1beta on rat hepatocyte DNA synthesis is mediated by nitric oxide.

Interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and nitric oxide (NO) have potent growth-regulatory effects on different cell types. We found that epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes was inhibited by NO when it was provided by addition to the cultures of S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP), an NO donor, as well as by addition of IL-1beta in a dose-dependent manner. IL-1beta also induced NO production and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) gene expression. The inhibition of DNA synthesis by IL-1beta was completely abrogated when NO production was inhibited by N-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMA), a competitive inhibitor of iNOS. IL-1beta-receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), which interferes with the interaction of IL-1beta with target cells, also abolished the inhibitory effects of IL-1beta on hepatocyte DNA synthesis as well as IL-1beta-induced iNOS gene expression. We also found that hepatocyte DNA synthesis inhibition by IL-1beta was completely antagonized by providing deoxynucleosides to bypass the block in ribonucleotide reductase, a rate-limiting step in DNA synthesis, thus implicating this enzyme in the mechanism of growth inhibition by IL-1beta. These experiments extended prior observations on the growth-inhibitory actions of IL-1beta on hepatocyte DNA synthesis, involving the IL-1beta receptor, NO production, and ribonucleotide reductase.

Oxygen dependency of epidermal growth factor receptor binding and DNA synthesis of rat hepatocytes

Background/Aims: Changes in oxygen availability modulate replicative responses in several cell types, but the effects on hepatocyte replication remain unclear. We have studied the effects of transient nonlethal hypoxia on epidermal growth factor receptor binding and epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis of rat hepatocytes. Methods: Lactase dehydrogenase activity in culture supernatant, intracellular adenosine triphosphate content, 25I-epidermal growth factor specific binding, epidermal growth factor receptor protein expression, and 3H-thymidine incorporation were compared between hepatocytes cultured in hypoxia and normoxia. Results: Hypoxia up to 3 caused no significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity in the culture supernatant, while intracellular adenosine triphosphate content decreased time-dependently and was restored to normoxic levels by reoxygenation (nonlethal hypoxia). Concomitantly, 125I-epidermal growth factor specific binding to hepatocytes decreased time-dependent (to 54.1% of normoxia) and was restored to control levels by reoxygenation, although 125I-insulin specific binding was not affected. The decrease in 125I-epidermal growth factor specific binding was explained by the decrease in the number of available epidermal growth factor receptors (21.37±3.08 to 12.16±1.42 fmol/10 5 cells), while the dissociation constant of the receptor was not affected. The change in the number of available receptors was not considered to be due to receptor degradation-resynthesis, since immunodetection of the epidermal growth factor receptor revealed that the receptor protein expression did not change during hypoxia and reoxygenation, and since neither actinomycin D nor cycloheximide affected the recovery of 125I-epidermal growth factor binding by reoxygenation. Inhibition of epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis after hypoxia (to 75.4% of normoxia by 3 h hypoxia) paralleled the decrease in 125I-epidermal growth factor binding. Conclusions: Transient hypoxia, which caused no increase in lactase dehydrogenase leakage but affected intracellular adenosine triphosphate levels, did, however, modulate the number of available epidermal growth factor receptors without affecting the receptor protein expression, and inhibit the epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis of hepatocytes. This suggests that even transient nonlethal hypoxia affects the epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis of rat hepatocytes through reversible changes in the epidermal growth factor receptor molecule, which depends on oxygen availability.

The effect of amino acid composition of serum-free medium on DNA synthesis in primary hepatocyte cultures in the presence of epidermal growth factor.

The presence of optimal nutritional elements in cell culture medium is very important in studies of cultured cells. For this reason, several researchers have experimented with adding or increasing the concentration of one or more amino acids to the medium they were using to determine "essential" amino acids and optimal concentrations. We studied how leaving out one amino acid at a time from Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium would affect epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in primary hepatocytes of the rat. Our "modified" DMEM contained only eight amino acids: arginine, cysteine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and valine. Proline was found to be an essential amino acid in normal DMEM but not in the modified DMEM, and some other amino acids reduced DNA synthesis in this medium. This study showed that perhaps no single amino acid such as proline can be called "essential," but rather an optimal balance of amino acids is required for each major function of each cell type cultured.

Effects of extracellular Ca 2+ and HCO 3− on epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes

Background/Aims: The elevation of cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca 2+] i) and intracellular pH mediate the growth factor-initiated proliferation of many cells, but it is not known if they trigger mitosis in resting hepatocytes. The maintenance of [Ca 2+] i and intracellular pH depends partly on extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca 2+] e) and extracellular bicarbonate concentration ([HCO 3 −] e). Therefore, the effects of [Ca 2+] e and [HCO 3 −] e on hepatocyte proliferation were examined. Methods: Epidermal growth factor induced proliferation in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. [ 3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and nuclear labeling indices were measured. Results: Between 0.2 and 0.9 mmol/L of [Ca 2+] e, the proliferative response to epidermal growth factor increased, and total hepatocellular Ca 2+ content was increased. Increasing [HCO 3 −] e also stimulated DNA synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner, maximal at 35 mmol/L. Using optimal [Ca 2+] e (0.9 mmol/L) and [HCO 3 −] e (35 mmol/L), a synergistic stimulation of hepatocellular DNA synthesis was shown. Voltage-dependent Ca 2+ channel blockers failed to inhibit hepatocyte proliferation when administered in concentrations that inhibit proliferation in other cell types. Conclusions: [Ca 2+] e and [HCO 3 −] e are both essential for hepatocyte proliferation, and their effects are synergistic. The entry of extracellular Ca 2+ is critical for epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in hepatocytes, but this is not mediated by voltage-dependent Ca 2+ channels.

Enhancement by tocoretinate of epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in human intestinal epithelial cells

Tocoretinate (TR) is a hybrid compound composed of alpha-tocopherol esterified with retinoic acid. The present study was conducted to clarify whether or not TR affects DNA synthesis in a human intestinal cell line, FHs 74 Int. In these cells, addition of 10% serum resulted in an approximately 10-fold increase in DNA synthesis as assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) augmented DNA synthesis three- to fourfold. When EGF was added together with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), which had only a small effect by itself, a combination of these growth factors reproduced the effect of serum. In quiescent FHs 74 Int cells, TR had no effect on DNA synthesis by itself. However, when quiescent cells were pretreated with TR for 24 hr, DNA synthesis induced by EGF was markedly enhanced. Thus, in TR-pretreated cells, EGF stimulated DNA synthesis to the same extent as 10% serum. The effect of TR was dose-dependent and the maximal effect was obtained by 10(-7) M TR. Pretreatment with TR enhanced the effect of EGF on DNA synthesis but did not change the dose-response relationship for EGF-mediated DNA synthesis. All-trans-retinoic acid had similar stimulatory effect on EGF-induced DNA synthesis. When the medium was changed during the treatment with TR, the effect of TR on DNA synthesis was reduced. In addition, pretreatment with TR resulted in release of immunoreactive IGF-I into medium. Finally, the effect of TR was attenuated by an addition of antibody against IGF-I.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Stable expression of truncated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor subunits in 3T3 fibroblasts. Coordinate signaling changes and differential suppression of cell growth and transformation.

Stable clones of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts transfected with the cDNA of either the wild-type or deletion forms of the rat type I (or cerebellar) inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor (IP3R) were investigated. The delta form, missing the NH2-terminal sequence that includes the IP3-binding site, is expected to be still assembled with wild-type subunits to yield a tetrameric Ca2+ channel across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane; the s form, missing the membrane-spanning sequences, is expected to remain as a soluble monomer in the cytosol. With respect to control clones transfected with the vector only, the synthesis fo IP3Rs was markedly stimulated in the receptor-transfected clones. The mass accumulation, however, was increased only moderately (deletion forms = 15-30% of the endogenous IP3R), apparently because of a compensatory increase in receptor turnover. Coordinate changes in IP3 generation and Ca2+ release were revealed in the delta clones by experiments in both intact and permeabilized cells. In these clones, the IP3R was more sensitive to IP3, and IP3 generation at the ATP P2u surface receptor was decreased. This latter effect was due neither to a defect in G protein coupling nor to changes in phospholipase C expression, but to down-regulation of the P2u receptor. In the cells expressing the s- and delta-IP3R subunits, no differences with respect to the controls were observed in epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis, whereas long-term growth stimulated by serum was reduced. Even more marked, especially in the delta clones (-90%), was the inhibition of cell transformation induced by autocrine stimulation with transforming growth factor alpha of the overexpressed epidermal growth factor receptors or by other growth factor receptors and oncogenes (platelet-derived growth factor/platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta, HER2/neu, and v-erbB). These effects appear not to be connected to the signaling processes mediated by tyrosine phosphorylation since the latter was unchanged in the delta clones. These results demonstrate for the first time (a) that the changes in cellular homeostasis directly induced by deleted IP3R subunits (increased receptor synthesis and increased IP3R sensitivity) are largely compensated by indirect coordinate changes apparently aimed to keep near normal the signaling properties of the cells; (b) that modulation of intracellular Ca2+ channels induces profound consequences that differentially affect growth and oncogenesis; and (c) that IP3Rs and the Ca2+ stores are important cross-roads of intracellular signaling pathways.

Estrogen enhances epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in mammary epithelial cells.

Estradiol (E2) priming (1 nM for 48 h) of normal murine mammary gland epithelial cells significantly increased the response of those cells to epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced DNA synthesis. The synergism between E2 and EGF was evident in two aspects: After serum-free synchronization for 24 h, more cells entered the S-phase of the cell cycle after E2 priming and when treated with 0.17 nM EGF (13%) than did control cells (1.3%) or cells treated with EGF (4%) or E2 (3.5%) alone; further, the dose of EGF required to elicit maximal response was reduced an order of magnitude in estrogen-primed cells (0.17 nM) compared to controls (1.7 mM). Estrogen alone, however, did not increase DNA synthesis in these cells. Ligand binding studies indicate that these effects of estrogen on proliferating mammary epithelial cells may be explained, at least in part, by a 3.7-fold increase in the number of high affinity EGF-receptors observed in estrogen primed cells (7,300 receptors per cell) compared to estrogen deprived cells (1,960 receptors/cell).

Bradykinin Receptors and Signal Transduction Pathways in Human Fibroblasts: Integral Role for Extracellular Calcium

Bradykinin receptors have been identified in human gingival fibroblasts; the primary signal transduction pathways and their dependence on calcium have been characterized. Binding data revealed a calcium-independent binding of bradykinin to the cell membrane with a receptor density of 25,000 receptors per cell and a Kd of 1.6 nM. The bradykinin receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase C (PLC) resulted in an extensive and rapid stimulation of phosphoinositide metabolism. Using radioreceptor assay techniques, in the absence of LiCl, the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins 1,4,5 P3) generation was found to be transient, with maximal levels attained within 15 s. An EC50 of 12 nM was observed for the accumulation of total inositol polyphosphates. The activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), and the subsequent release of arachidonic acid and the primary metabolite prostaglandin E2, also was found to be time- and concentration-dependent. Stimulation of tyrosine kinase activity by bradykinin was concentration-dependent and resulted in the phosphorylation of three substrates of unknown identity. Bradykinin stimulation did not activate adenylate cyclase as there occurred no increase in the generation of cyclic AMP. The mobilization of intracellular calcium stores followed closely the Ins 1,4,5 P3 kinetics and had an EC50 of 11 nM. Chelation of extracellular calcium reduced significantly the duration of the calcium response, while only minimally lowering the rapid, maximal increase in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). A sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i was found to be essential in PLC and PLA2 signaling, as well as in tyrosine kinase activation, suggesting a major role for membrane calcium channels in bradykinin stimulation of cellular responses in these cells. Bradykinin was found to inhibit dramatically epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in confluent cells, although to a much lesser degree in subconfluent cells. This pattern was similar to the observed maximal specific increase in bradykinin binding with confluency. Together these results demonstrate the presence of bradykinin receptors in human gingival fibroblasts; these receptors are coupled to signal transduction mechanisms involving the PLC, PLA2, and tyrosine kinase effector systems, all of which require extracellular calcium to achieve maximal activation.

Ontogeny of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor during Development of the Fetal Bovine Mesonephros and Associated Organs of the Urogenital Tract1

A primary cell culture system was developed to study the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in the fetal bovine mesonephros and its urogenital derivatives. Radioreceptor assays demonstrated EGF binding as early as Day 37 in mesonephric cells and in cells derived from the fetal reproductive ducts, gonads, and metanephros--all mesonephric derivatives. Immunocytochemical studies revealed that EGF receptors were localized in the ductal and tubular epithelium of these urogenital organs. EGF induced DNA synthesis and tyrosine phosphorylation in the bovine mesonephric cells, suggesting that EGF receptors detected in these cells were functional. In addition, transforming growth factor alpha, the putative fetal ligand for the EGF receptor, was found to specifically compete for EGF binding to the receptor, as well as to induce DNA synthesis in a manner similar to that of EGF. Estrogen did not regulate EGF receptors or specifically bind to bovine mesonephric cells. The development of estrogen receptors in the bovine species occurs markedly later than that of the EGF receptor, in contrast to the mouse, where both receptors are observed at very early stages of reproductive tract development.

Synergistic action of angiotensin II, insulin-like growth factor-I, and transforming growth factor-beta on platelet-derived growth factor-BB, basic fibroblastic growth factor, and epidermal growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The effect of angiotensin II (AII), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-, basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF)-, and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced DNA synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was investigated. TGF-beta, AII, IGF-I increased concentration-dependent cell protein. No increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation could be detected. TGF-beta, AII, and IGF-I enhanced PDGF-BB-, bFGF-, and EGF-induced DNA synthesis. Our results suggest that growth factors that possess a weak mitogenic effect on vascular smooth muscle cells such as TGF-beta, AII, and IGF-I may enhance the mitogenicity of PDGF-BB, bFGF, and EGF.

Oxaloacetate Induces DNA Synthesis and Mitosis in Primary Cultured Rat Hepatocytes in the Absence of EGF

Oxaloacetate (OA), one of the substrates in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, was found to induce proliferation of primary cultured rat hepatocytes. During the 5 days of culture in a serum-free medium with 30 mM CA, hepatocyte DNA synthesis had been induced to the same degree as by culturing with 10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF). A 3% mitotic index was observed in OA-treated cells 60-70 hr after plating. The CA-induced DNA synthesis was inhibited by transforming growth factor-β in a dose-dependent manner and was abolished by 10mM hydroxyurea. OA and EGF induced DNA synthesis synergistically with >91% of the nuclei of the cells entering S phase at 48-72 hr in culture. Among other substrates in the TCA cycle, pyruvate, lactate, α-ketoglularate, succinate, fumarate, and malate at equimolar concentrations to that of OA also induced DNA synthesis. However, their activities were about half or less than that with OA. These results show that OA is a hepatocyte mitogen in vitro.