Exogenous Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 Research Articles

Exogenous fibroblast growth factor 1 ameliorates diabetes-induced cognitive decline via coordinately regulating PI3K/AKT signaling and PERK signaling

BackgroundDiabetes induces central nervous system damage, leading to cognitive decline. Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) has dual function of neuroprotection and normalizing hyperglycemia. To date, the precise mechanisms and potential treating strategies of FGF1 for diabetes-induced cognitive decline (DICD) hasn’t been fully elucidated.MethodsIn this study, db/db mice were used as DICD animal model. We found that diabetes remarkably suppressed FGF1 expression in hippocampus. Thus, exogenous FGF1 had been treated for db/db mice and SH-SY5Y cells.ResultsFGF1 significantly ameliorates DICD with better spatial learning and memory function. Moreover, FGF1 blocked diabetes-induced morphological structure change, neuronal apoptosis and Aβ1–42 deposition and synaptic dysfunction in hippocampus. But normalizing glucose may not the only contributed factor for FGF1 treating DICD with evidencing that metformin-treated db/db mice has a inferior cognitive function than that in FGF1 group. Current mechanistic study had found that diabetes inhibits cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) activity and subsequently suppresses brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level via coordinately regulating PERK signaling and PI3K/AKT signaling in hippocampus, which were reversed by FGF1.ConclusionWe conclude that FGF1 exerts its neuroprotective role and normalizing hyperglycemia effect, consequently ameliorates DICD, implying FGF1 holds a great promise to develop a new treatment for DICD.61Q3XReLNTPu_dAr92-AxWVideo abstract

Catabolic effects of FGF-1 on chondrocytes and its possible role in osteoarthritis.

Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1) is a classical member of the FGF family and is produced by chondrocytes cultured from osteoarthritic patients. Also, this growth factor was shown to bind to CCN family protein 2 (CCN2), which regenerates damaged articular cartilage and counteracts osteoarthritis (OA) in an animal model. However, the pathophysiological role of FGF-1 in cartilage has not been well investigated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of FGF-1 in vitro and its production in vivo by use of an OA model. Treatment of human chondrocytic cells with FGF-1 resulted in marked repression of genes for cartilaginous extracellular matrix components, whereas it strongly induced matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), representing its catabolic effects on cartilage. Interestingly, expression of the CCN2 gene was dramatically repressed by FGF-1, which repression eventually caused the reduced production of CCN2 protein from the chondrocytic cells. The results of a reporter gene assay revealed that this repression could be ascribed, at least in part, to transcriptional regulation. In contrast, the gene expression of FGF-1 was enhanced by exogenous FGF-1, indicating a positive feedback system in these cells. Of note, induction of FGF-1 was observed in the articular cartilage of a rat OA model. These results collectively indicate a pathological role of FGF-1 in OA development, which includes an insufficient cartilage regeneration response caused by CCN2 down regulation.

Activation of heat shock response augments fibroblast growth factor-1 expression in wounded lung epithelium.

We previously showed that coincident exposure to heat shock (HS; 42°C for 2 h) and TNF-α synergistically induces apoptosis in mouse lung epithelium. We extended this work by analyzing HS effects on human lung epithelial responses to clinically relevant injury. Cotreatment with TNF-α and HS induced little caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage in human small airway epithelial cells, A549 cells, and BEAS2B cells. Scratch wound closure rates almost doubled when A549 and BEAS2B cells and air-liquid interface cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells were heat shocked immediately after wounding. Microarray, qRT-PCR, and immunoblotting showed fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) to be synergistically induced by HS and wounding. Enhanced FGF1 expression in HS/wounded A549 was blocked by inhibitors of p38 MAPK (SB203580) or HS factor (HSF)-1 (KNK-437) and in HSF1 knockout BEAS2B cells. PCR demonstrated FGF1 to be expressed from the two most distal promoters in wounded/HS cells. Wound closure in HS A549 and BEAS2B cells was reduced by FGF receptor-1/3 inhibition (SU-5402) or FGF1 depletion. Exogenous FGF1 accelerated A549 wound closure in the absence but not presence of HS. In the presence of exogenous FGF1, HS slowed wound closure, suggesting that it increases FGF1 expression but impairs FGF1-stimulated wound closure. Frozen sections from normal and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) lung were analyzed for FGF1 and HSP70 by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy and qRT-PCR. FGF1 and HSP70 mRNA levels were 7.5- and 5.9-fold higher in IPF than normal lung, and the proteins colocalized to fibroblastic foci in IPF lung. We conclude that HS signaling may have an important impact on gene expression contributing to lung injury, healing, and fibrosis.

Nucleolin Regulates Phosphorylation and Nuclear Export of Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF1)

Extracellular fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) acts through cell surface tyrosine kinase receptors, but FGF1 can also act directly in the cell nucleus, as a result of nuclear import of endogenously produced, non-secreted FGF1 or by transport of extracellular FGF1 via endosomes and cytosol into the nucleus. In the nucleus, FGF1 can be phosphorylated by protein kinase C δ (PKCδ), and this event induces nuclear export of FGF1. To identify intracellular targets of FGF1 we performed affinity pull-down assays and identified nucleolin, a nuclear multifunctional protein, as an interaction partner of FGF1. We confirmed a direct nucleolin-FGF1 interaction by surface plasmon resonance and identified residues of FGF1 involved in the binding to be located within the heparin binding site. To assess the biological role of the nucleolin-FGF1 interaction, we studied the intracellular trafficking of FGF1. In nucleolin depleted cells, exogenous FGF1 was endocytosed and translocated to the cytosol and nucleus, but FGF1 was not phosphorylated by PKCδ or exported from the nucleus. Using FGF1 mutants with reduced binding to nucleolin and a FGF1-phosphomimetic mutant, we showed that the nucleolin-FGF1 interaction is critical for the intranuclear phosphorylation of FGF1 by PKCδ and thereby the regulation of nuclear export of FGF1.

Importance of CD44 in the proliferation and mineralization of periodontal ligament cells

CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that exhibits various biological functions. Histological studies have shown that CD44 is expressed in periodontal ligament (PDL). We investigated the role of CD44 in the in vitro biological functions of PDL cells. Immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry were used to examine CD44 protein expression in mouse molars and human PDL cells, respectively. PDL cells isolated from human third molars were assayed for their proliferation and mineralization after stably silencing their expression of CD44 using the small hairpin RNA technique. An osteogenesis-associated quantitative polymerase chain reaction array was used to identify downstream molecules of CD44 signaling in osteogenic medium. The PDL cells, transduced with control small hairpin RNA, were used as controls in all assays. PDLs expressed CD44 in vitro and in vivo. When CD44 expression was stably suppressed in PDL cells, their proliferation and mineralization activities in both media were substantially decreased. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction array and Western blotting verified that bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were downregulated after CD44 was knocked down in PDL cells. Exogenous FGF-1 attenuated the proliferative suppression of CD44 knockdown cells. Exogenous BMP-2 rescued the suppressed mineralization of CD44 knockdown cells more than ICAM-1 did. The in vitro assays demonstrated that CD44 is crucial for the proliferation and mineralization of PDL cells and is possibly mediated by BMP-2, FGF-1 and ICAM-1. Further studies are required to verify the mediators and identify the physiological ligands of CD44 for possible application in periodontal regeneration.

Nuclear Import of Exogenous FGF1 Requires the ER‐Protein LRRC59 and the Importins Kpnα1 and Kpnβ1

Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) taken up by cells into endocytic vesicles can be translocated across vesicular membranes into the cytosol and the nucleus where it has a growth regulatory activity. Previously, leucine-rich repeat containing 59 (LRRC59) was identified as an intracellular binding partner of FGF1, but its biological role remained unknown. Here, we show that LRRC59 is strictly required for nuclear import of exogenous FGF1. siRNA-mediated depletion of LRRC59 did not inhibit the translocation of FGF1 into cytosol, but blocked the nuclear import of FGF1. We also found that an nuclear localization sequence (NLS) in FGF1, Ran GTPase, karyopherin-α1 (Kpnα1), and Kpnβ1 were required for nuclear import of FGF1. Nuclear import of exogenous FGF2, which depends on CEP57/Translokin, was independent of LRRC59, but was dependent on Kpnα1 and Kpnβ1, while the nuclear import of FGF1 was independent of CEP57. LRRC59 is a membrane-anchored protein that localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the nuclear envelope (NE). We found that LRRC59 possesses NLS-like sequences in its cytosolic part that can mediate nuclear import of soluble LRRC59 variants, and that the localization of LRRC59 to the NE depends on Kpnβ1. We propose that LRRC59 facilitates transport of cytosolic FGF1 through nuclear pores by interaction with Kpns and movement of LRRC59 along the ER and NE membranes.

Distinctive effects of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on neural stem/progenitor cells

Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) and FGF2 have been shown to maintain the proliferation, self-renewal and multipotent capacities of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in vitro. FGF1 is unique for binding to all known FGF receptors. In this study, we investigated if exogenous EGF and FGF1 could be used in the isolation of NSPCs from embryonic mouse brains. We demonstrated that EGF/FGF1-responsive cells exhibited lower proliferation rate and neurosphere formation efficiency than EGF/FGF2-responsive NSPCs. However, EGF/FGF1-responsive mouse brain cells exhibited better neural differentiation capacities than EGF/FGF2-responsive NSPCs at E11.5. Using F1BGFP reporter, we further demonstrated that F1BGFP(+) cells showed similar multipotent capacities to CD133(+) NSPCs, and could be induced more efficiently toward neuronal differentiation. Our results suggested that EGF/FGF1-responsive cells from E11.5 mouse brains could self-renew and have better multipotency than EGF/FGF2-responsive NSPCs. Further, CD133(+) and F1BGFP(+) NSPCs may also represent different subsets of NSPCs during neural development and adult neurogenesis.

Translocation of exogenous FGF1 into cytosol and nucleus is a periodic event independent of receptor kinase activity

Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) has the property to become translocated from the extracellular space into the cell cytosol and nucleus. Membrane translocation of FGF1 occurs subsequent to endocytic uptake and is strictly FGF-receptor (FGFR) dependent. Here we have investigated the timing of FGF1 translocation in relation to FGFR1 signalling. We found that the translocation of FGF1 is a periodic event that occurs with 24h intervals. Serum-starved cells translocated the growth factor with peak occurrences ~6h, ~30h, and ~54h after the addition of FGF1. The periodic FGF1 translocation was totally independent of the FGFR1 tyrosine kinase activity as it proceeded unchanged when the kinase activity was chemically inhibited or the kinase domain was deleted. Furthermore, FGF1 translocation was not restricted to a particular phase of the cell cycle or dependent on cell cycle progression. The results demonstrate that the FGF1/FGFR1 complex constitutes a signalling module that independently of the receptor tyrosine kinase can convey a signal that initiates a strictly timed and periodic release of endocytosed FGF1 into the cytosol/nucleus.

Isolation of neural stem/progenitor cells by using EGF/FGF1 and FGF1B promoter-driven green fluorescence from embryonic and adult mouse brains

Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) and FGF2 have been shown to maintain the proliferation, self-renewal and multipotent capacities of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in vitro. FGF1 is unique for binding to all known FGF receptors. In this study, we investigated if exogenous EGF and FGF1 could be used in the isolation of NSPCs from embryonic mouse brains. We demonstrated that EGF/FGF1-responsive cells exhibited lower proliferation rate and neurosphere formation efficiency than EGF/FGF2-responsive NSPCs. However, EGF/FGF1-responsive mouse brain cells exhibited better neural differentiation capacities than EGF/FGF2-responsive NSPCs at E11.5. Using F1BGFP reporter, we further demonstrated that F1BGFP(+) cells showed similar multipotent capacities to CD133(+) NSPCs, and could be induced more efficiently toward neuronal differentiation. Our results suggested that EGF/FGF1-responsive cells from E11.5 mouse brains could self-renew and have better multipotency than EGF/FGF2-responsive NSPCs. Further, CD133(+) and F1BGFP(+) NSPCs may also represent different subsets of NSPCs during neural development and adult neurogenesis.

Local Gene Transfer and Expression Following Intramuscular Administration of FGF-1 Plasmid DNA in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia

NV1FGF is an expression plasmid encoding sp.FGF-1(21-154) currently under investigation for therapeutic angiogenesis in clinical trials. NV1FGF plasmid distribution and transgene expression following intramuscular (IM) injection in patients is unknown. The study involved six patients with chronic critical limb ischemia (CLI) planned to undergo amputation. A total dose of 0.5, 2, or 4 mg NV1FGF was administered as eight IM injections (0.006, 0.25, or 0.5 mg per injection) 3-5 days before amputation. Injected sites (30 cm(3)) were divided into equally sized smaller pieces to assess spatial distribution of NV1FGF sequences (PCR), NV1FGF mRNA (reverse transcriptase-PCR), and fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1)-expressing cells (immunohistochemistry). Data indicated gene expression at all doses. The distribution area was within 5-12 cm for NV1FGF sequences containing the expression cassette, up to 5 cm for NV1FGF mRNA, and up to 3 cm for FGF-1-expressing myofibers. All FGF receptors were detected indicating robust potential for bioactivity after NV1FGF gene transfer. Circulating levels of NV1FGF sequences were shown to decrease within days after injection. Data support demonstration of plasmid-mediated gene transfer and expression in muscles from patients with CLI. FGF-1 expression was shown to be limited to injection sites, which supports the concept of multiple-site injection for therapeutic use.

Phosphorylation of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) Receptor 1 at Ser777 by p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Regulates Translocation of Exogenous FGF1 to the Cytosol and Nucleus

Exogenous fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) signals through activation of transmembrane FGF receptors (FGFRs) but may also regulate cellular processes after translocation to the cytosol and nucleus of target cells. Translocation of FGF1 occurs across the limiting membrane of intracellular vesicles and is a regulated process that depends on the C-terminal tail of the FGFR. Here, we report that translocation of FGF1 requires activity of the alpha isoform of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). FGF1 translocation was inhibited after chemical inhibition of p38 MAPK or after small interfering RNA knockdown of p38alpha. Translocation was increased after stimulation of p38 MAPK with anisomycin, mannitol, or H2O2. The activity level of p38 MAPK was not found to affect endocytosis or intracellular sorting of FGF1/FGFR1. Instead, we found that p38 MAPK regulates FGF1 translocation by phosphorylation of FGFR1 at Ser777. The FGFR1 mutation S777A abolished FGF1 translocation, while phospho-mimetic mutations of Ser777 to Asp or Glu allowed translocation to take place and bypassed the requirement for active p38 MAPK. Ser777 in FGFR1 was directly phosphorylated by p38alpha in a cell-free system. These data demonstrate a crucial role for p38alpha MAPK in the regulated translocation of exogenous FGF1 into the cytosol/nucleus, and they reveal a specific role for p38alpha MAPK-mediated serine phosphorylation of FGFR1.

A Nuclear Export Sequence Located on a β-Strand in Fibroblast Growth Factor-1

Receptor-bound and endocytosed fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) is able to cross the vesicle membrane and translocate to cytosol and nucleus. This suggests an intracellular role of FGF-1, which also signals by activating transmembrane FGF receptors. Phosphorylation of internalized FGF-1 by nuclear protein kinase C delta induces rapid export from the nuclei by a leptomycin B-sensitive pathway. In the present work, we have searched for and identified a Leu-rich nuclear export sequence (NES) at the C terminus of FGF-1 required for its nuclear export and able to confer nuclear export activity to a reporter protein in an in vivo system. Mutants where hydrophobic amino acids within the NES were exchanged for alanine exhibited reduced or abolished nuclear export. As demonstrated in co-immunoprecipitation experiments, a complex containing FGF-1, exportin-1, and its co-factor Ran-GTP, was formed in vitro. Formation of this complex in vivo was demonstrated by a peroxisomal targeting assay. Formation of the FGF-1-exportin-1-Ran-GTP complex in vitro as well as nuclear export of FGF-1 in vivo was dependent on phosphorylation of FGF-1, and it was abolished by leptomycin B. The FGF-1 NES was found to be situated along a beta-strand, which has not been reported before, since NESs usually are alpha-helical.

Whole Genome Oligonucleotide-Based Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization Analysis Identified Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 As a Prognostic Marker for Advanced-Stage Serous Ovarian Adenocarcinomas

To identify markers that can predict overall survival in patients with high-grade advanced stage serous adenocarcinomas. Oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was performed on 42 microdissected high-grade serous ovarian tumor samples. aCGH segments were obtained and a prediction Cox model was built and validated by the standard leave one out analysis. Both DNA and mRNA copy numbers of selected genes located on the candidate aCGH segments were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses. The gene that showed the highest correlation was further validated on an independent set of specimens and was selected for further functional studies. Two chromosomal regions, 4p16.3 and 5q31-5q35.3, exhibited the strongest correlation with overall survival (P < .01). From the 5q31 region, fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1) was selected for further validation study. FGF-1 mRNA copy number was significantly correlated with DNA copy number and protein expression levels (P = .021 and < .001), and both FGF-1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly associated with overall survival (P = .018 and .042). This association was validated for protein expression on an independent set of 81 samples, significant to P = .006. Further studies showed significant correlation between FGF-1 protein expression and CD31+ staining in the tumor stroma (P = .024). Finally, both cancer cells and endothelial cells treated with exogenous FGF-1 showed a significant increase in cell motility and survival. Amplification of FGF-1 at 5q31 in ovarian cancer tissues leads to increased angiogenesis, and autocrine stimulation of cancer cells, which may result in poorer overall survival in patents with high-grade advanced stage serous ovarian cancer.

The Non-transmembrane Form of Delta1, but Not of Jagged1, Induces Normal Migratory Behavior Accompanied by Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1-dependent Transformation

The interactions between Notch (N) receptors and their transmembrane ligands, Jagged1 (JI) and Delta1 (Dl1), mediate signaling events between neighboring cells that are crucial during embryonal development and in adults. Since the non-transmembrane extracellular form of J1 acts as an antagonist of N activation in NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells and induces fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1)-dependent transformation (Small, D., Kovalenko, D., Soldi, R., Mandinova, A., Kolev, V., Trifonova, R., Bagala, C., Kacer, D., Battelli, C., Liaw, L., Prudovsky, I., and Maciag, T. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 16405-16413), we examined the potential redundant functions of the two subfamilies of Notch ligands and report that while the soluble (s) forms of both Dl1 and J1 act as N signaling antagonists in NIH 3T3 cells, they do display disparate functions. While sJ1 induced an attenuation of cell motility which is accompanied by a decrease in actin stress fibers and an increase in adherence junctions, sDl1 does not. However, sJ1, like sDl1, induces a NIH 3T3 cell tranformed phenotype mediated by FGF signaling. Because the inhibition of N signaling by sJ1 and sDl1 is rescued by dominant-negative Src expression, we suggest that there may be cooperation between the Notch and Src signaling pathways.

Branching of spiral ganglion neurites is induced by focal application of fibroblast growth factor-1.

During the terminal innervation of the developing organ of Corti, fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) messenger RNA has been shown to be transiently expressed in the sensory epithelium of the rat, suggesting that this growth factor may contribute to developmental processes such as innervation and synaptogenesis of the inner and outer hair cells. In a previous study it has been demonstrated that exogenous FGF-1 supports rat spiral ganglion neurite extension in vitro, whereas a secreted form of FGF-1 produced by transfected fibrocytes induces neurite branching and targeting. Response of spiral ganglion neurites to FGF-1-coupled beads was compared with the response to noncoupled control beads. Effects of multiple focal sources of FGF-1 to outgrowing spiral ganglion neurites were investigated on explants from postnatal day 4 rat spiral ganglion samples that were cultured in the presence of FGF-1 covalently coupled to polybead microspheres. After fixation and immunocytochemical labeling of the explants the growth patterns of the extending neuronal processes were evaluated. When spiral ganglion neurites were observed near clusters of FGF-1 beads, they formed a plexus-like network characterized by significantly higher branching in the vicinity of the beads. However, fibers did not appear to terminate on the beads. Plexus-like formations were not seen at a distance from FGF-1 coupled beads or in the vicinity of control beads lacking FGF-1 on their surface. The results of the study indicate that spiral ganglion neurites branch in response to focal sources of FGF-1, suggesting an important role of this growth factor for hair cell innervation during the terminal development of the sensory epithelium.

Cochlear delivery of fibroblast growth factor 1 and its effects on apoptosis and cell cycling in noise-exposed guinea pig ears.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1) is a mitogen and antiapoptotic factor synthesized by cochlear neurons and transported to the organ of Corti. The objectives of this investigation were threefold: (1) to develop an animal model to study the cochlear effects of intratympanic delivery of FGF-1; (2) to determine the distribution, in the mature mammalian cochlea, of FGF-1 and the receptor, FGFR3, to which it binds with high affinity; and (3) to examine the effect of exogenous FGF-1 on cochlear apoptotic and cell-cycling markers in noise and non-noise-exposed guinea pigs ears. Fifteen adult Hartley guinea pigs were divided into three groups. Group 1 animals (n = 5) underwent direct placement of FGF-1 in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (20 pg/mL) soaked Gelfoam pledgets to the right round window membrane. Phosphate buffered saline-soaked Gelfoam pledgets were placed on the left round window membrane as a control. In group 2 animals (n = 5), surgical placement of either FGF-1 or PBS was followed by exposure to 120 dB of white noise for 2 hours. Group 3 animals (n = 5) were subjected to identical noise conditions prior to undergoing round window application of either FGF-1 or PBS. All groups were allowed to recover in a noise-controlled environment for 12 hours following surgery. Anti-FGF-1-stained Western blots and optical densitometry analyses were used to quantitate passage of FGF-1 into cochlear perilymph. Standard in situ immunohistochemical techniques were used to stain each cochlea for FGF-1 and FGFR3, apoptotic markers p53 and p21, Bcl-2, and the cell-cycling marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Tissue sections were subjected to the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labelling technique (TUNEL) for apoptosis. Western blot and optical densitometry analyses of cochlear perilymph showed increased concentrations of FGF-1 in 10 of 14 experimental cochleas. Cochlear perilymph FGF-1 was consistently bound to heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG). Immunoreactivity of both FGF-1 and FGFR3 was observed in spiral ganglion neurons, inner and outer hair cells, pillar cells, and Dieter and Hensen's cells. Specific FGF-1 immunostaining to the distal portion of the pars pectinata of the basilar membrane was noted in noise-exposed animals only. Bcl-2 and PCNA immunostaining was not detected in any group. There was no significant nuclear immunoreactivity to proapoptotic markers, p53 and p21, in any group. Semiquantitative analysis of TUNEL staining in block sections of all cochleas demonstrated a 340% increase in nuclear immunoreactivity of noise-exposed outer hair cells and organ of Corti cells. There was no difference between FGF-1 treated and control ears subjected to TUNEL staining. Exogenous FGF-1 crosses the round window membrane and is bound to HSPG in cochlear perilymph. The specific immunoreactivity of the pars pectinata to FGF-1 may represent a unique reservoir for cochlear FGF-1 in noise-exposed ears of the guinea pig. Noise induces apoptosis of organ of Corti cells as demonstrated with the TUNEL technique. PCNA, Bcl-2, p53, and p21 in noise-exposed and non-noise-exposed guinea pig cochleas are not affected by exogenous FGF-1. Noise-induced hair cell apoptosis appears to be independent of the p53 pathway. Lack of immunoreactivity to Bcl-2 supports the concept that the apoptotic mechanism is likely to involve C-Jun-N-terminal kinase- or caspase-dependent pathways. Exogenous FGF-1 does not alter apoptosis or cell cycling in the mature guinea pig cochlea within 12 hours of acute acoustic trauma.

BCL-2 Is Upregulated in Human SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells Differentiated by Overexpression of Fibroblast Growth Factor 1

Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) is a multipotent factor in the development and differentiation of the central nervous system. Recent studies in PC12 cells attribute these effects to high endogenous FGF1 expression. To examine the differentiation mechanisms induced by FGF1, we performed studies in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. We monitored the impact of FGF1 overexpression in SH-SY5Y either after addition of exogenous FGF1 and heparin or after stable transfection with the FGF1 eukaryotic expression vector. Under both conditions, the FGF1 endogenous rise caused SH-SY5Y cell differentiation with morphological changes (appearance of neuritic extensions), increased GAP-43 gene expression, decreased of N-myc gene expression, and prolonged long-term survival in serum-free media. These modifications were correlated with Bcl-2 upregulation. These results suggest that there is a link between the endogenous FGF1 signaling pathway and Bcl-2 in neuronal survival modulation.

Role of the Nuclear Localization Sequence in Fibroblast Growth Factor-1-stimulated Mitogenic Pathways

Fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) is a potent mitogen for mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cell types in vitro. However, a mutant FGF-1 with deletion in its nuclear localization sequence (NLS, residues 21-27) is not mitogenic in vitro. We demonstrated that synthetic peptides containing this NLS were able to stimulate DNA synthesis in a FGF receptor-independent manner after they were delivered into living NIH 3T3 cells by a cell-permeable peptide import technique. The stimulation of maximal DNA synthesis by these peptides required the presence of peptides during the entire G1 phase of the cell cycle. The mitogenic effect was specific for the NLS of FGF-1 because a peptide with double point mutations at lysine residues was inactive in stimulating DNA synthesis. Our results suggest that the NLS plays an important role in the mitogenic pathway initiated by exogenous FGF-1 by its direct involvement in the nuclear transport and signaling of internalized FGF-1.

Intact and functional fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor-1 trafficks near the nucleus in response to FGF-1.

Exogenous fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) associates with the nucleus in a receptor-dependent manner during the entire G1 period of the BALB/c 3T3 cell cycle (Zhan, X., Hu, X., Friesel, R., and Maciag, T. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 9611-9620). To further study the role of the FGF receptor (FGFR) during this translocation, the intracellular fate of FGFR-1 protein and enzymatic activity was examined. Immunoprecipitation using multiple FGFR-1 antibodies followed by an in vitro tyrosine kinase activity assay enabled us to identify FGFR-1 as a 130-kDa phosphotyrosine-containing protein associated with the nuclear fraction of NIH 3T3 cells exposed to FGF-1. While FGFR-1 tyrosine kinase activity could be detected as a nuclear-associated protein after a 2-h exposure of the NIH 3T3 cells to FGF-1, this activity appeared to be maximal in the nuclear fraction between 4 and 12 h after FGF-1 treatment. In addition, analysis by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy of quiescent and FGF-1-stimulated NIH 3T3 cells reveal a prominent perinuclear FGFR-1 staining pattern in the cells exposed to FGF-1 but not in the quiescent population. We also observed FGFR-1 associated with the nuclear fraction in FGFR-1-transfected L6 rat myoblasts, which are known to be refractive to exogenous FGF-1 and express relatively low levels of endogenous FGFR-1. In addition, these cells also exhibited the presence of a 145-kDa phosphoprotein in the nuclear fraction that was recognized by FGFR-1 antibodies. These results suggest that the FGFR-1 may be translocated near the nucleus upon interaction with its ligand during the entire G1 period of the NIH 3T3 cell cycle as a structurally intact and functional tyrosine kinase that may be accessible to perinuclear polypeptides as a regulatory enzyme.

Release of fibroblast growth factor-1 by human squamous cell carcinoma correlates with autocrine cell growth.

A squamous cell carcinoma cell line Nakata proliferated in serum-free culture and was not responsive to exogenous fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1). Immunostaining revealed that Nakata cells expressed FGF-1 in their cytoplasms and nuclei. Two molecular mass species of FGF-1 (16 and 18 kDa) were identified in cell extracts by Western blot. These cells also expressed high-affinity FGF-1 binding sites (Kd = 360 pM, 28,000 sites/cell). The results of cross-linking with [125I]FGF-1 demonstrated the presence of two bands with molecular masses of 160 and 140 kDa. The addition of FGF-1 specific antisense oligonucleotides at 25 microM to Nakata cells resulted in an 82% inhibition in cell growth and suppressed FGF-1 expression. This effect was dose-dependent and specific, because sense oligonucleotides were ineffective in inhibiting cell growth. In addition, Nakata cell growth was suppressed by an anti-FGF-1 neutralizing antibody, which resulted in a 52% inhibition at 8 micrograms/ml. These results demonstrate that Nakata cells produce FGF-1, and indicate that this growth factor acts in an autocrine manner by interacting with FGF-1 binding sites on Nakata cells.