Insulin-like Growth factor-I Stimulation Research Articles

IRS-I expression on the luteinized rat ovary: IGF-I and cyclic AMP effects on IRS-I tyrosine phosphorylation.

The expression of insulin receptor substrate-I (IRS-I) mRNA was demonstrated in rat luteal cells by Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization as well as by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Western blot with a polyclonal anti IRS-I antibody showed the presence of a 183 kDa protein which corresponds to the size of IRS-I reported in other tissues. Further studies were performed to determine whether human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can interact with the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) signaling pathway to increase tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-I. While hCG alone was ineffective in stimulating the phosphorylation of IRS-I, IGF-I mediated phosphorylation of IRS-I was increased by prior exposure to hCG. These results were further confirmed by the immunoprecipitation of IRS-I from the lysate of hCG- and IGF-I-treated luteal cell cultures followed by Western blotting with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. Similarly, pretreatment with forskolin also increased IGF-I stimulated IRS-I phosphorylation. The increased tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-I seen in response to IGF-I stimulation following treatment with either hCG or forskolin was not due to an increase in IRS-I content. Furthermore, IGF-I receptor tyrosine kinase activity was not affected by forskolin, suggesting that the increase in IRS-I tyrosine phosphorylation was not the result of an increase in its activity. Thus, we conclude that hCG/LH and IGF-I signaling pathways 'cross-talk' to increase the levels of IRS-I tyrosine phosphorylation. The observed increase in IRS-I tyrosine phosphorylation may be the result of an increase in the stability of the phosphorylated form of IRS-I.

Production of binding proteins and role of the insulin-like growth factor I binding protein 3 in human articular cartilage explants.

The aim of this study was to determine the production of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) and the role of the IGFBP-3 in human normal (n = 2) and osteoarthritic (OA) articular cartilage (n = 14) explants. Binding proteins were studied in the medium by Western ligand blotting and Western blotting. Proteoglycan synthesis under insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) stimulation was studied after a pulse of 35SO4(2-) in the presence or absence of added IGFBP-3. Osteoarthritic explants released a doublet of IGFBPs with a 39/43 kDa Mr corresponding to the binding protein 3. Constitutive production from unstimulated OA cartilage was higher than from normal cartilage. IGF-I induced a 20-fold increase and IL-1 a 2-fold increase in IGFBP-3 release. A minor band around 30 kDa was also detectable. Studies of proteoglycan (PG) synthesis showed that the majority of OA cartilage explant samples responded weakly to IGF-I (100 ng/ml) stimulation (+33%), while the others were high responders (+180%). Co-incubation of IGF-I with recombinant (r) IGFBP-3 did not affect the rate of PG synthesis. However, while pre-incubation with rIGFBP3 for 72 h did not change the rate of PG synthesis in the high-responder group, it strongly increased PG synthesis in the low-responder group. This study demonstrates that the ability of IGF-I to enhance proteoglycan synthesis varied among the OA samples and may in part be dependent on the local level of IGFBP-3. This implies pathophysiological considerations in the limits of IGF-I action during the OA process.

IGF-I stimulation of muscle protein synthesis in the awake rat: permissive role of insulin and amino acids.

Infusion of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) lowers plasma amino acid and insulin concentrations, which may limit the capacity of IGF-I to promote muscle protein synthesis in vivo. We measured heart and skeletal muscle incorporation of continuously infused L-[ring-2,6-3H]phenylalanine in awake postabsorptive rats receiving 4-h intravenous infusions of saline (n = 11), IGF-I (1 microgram.kg-1.min-1) with (n = 10) or without (n = 11) amino acid replacement, or IGF-I with insulin replacement (n = 8). There were no significant increases in muscle protein synthesis during the infusion of IGF-I alone, which was associated with decreases in both plasma insulin (52 +/- 5%, P < 0.001) and amino acids (25 +/- 5%, P < 0.05). When IGF-I was given together with amino acids, protein synthesis was significantly increased in gastrocnemius (4.7 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.5 +/- 0.3%/day, P < 0.001), oblique (4.5 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.4%/day, P < 0.05), and soleus (8.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 6.4 +/- 0.3%/day, P < 0.01) and tended to be higher than saline control values in heart (10.9 +/- 0.9 vs. 8.8 +/- 0.7%/day, P = 0.08). Amino acid replacement prevented plasma concentrations from falling and also blunted the decline in plasma insulin (22 +/- 5%, P < 0.01 vs. IGF-I alone). When IGF-I and insulin replacement were given, protein synthesis was increased in heart (13.0 +/- 0.6%/day), gastrocnemius (4.7 +/- 0.4%/day), and oblique (4.5 +/- 0.4%/day) (P < 0.001 for each, compared with saline). We conclude that the action of IGF-I to acutely stimulate muscle protein synthesis in the awake rat is limited by the fall in circulating insulin and/or amino acid concentrations that accompanies IGF-I infusion in vivo and is prevented by co-infusion of insulin or amino acids.

Differential effects of glucocorticoids on insulin-like growth factor I action in cultured human fibroblasts.

Glucocorticoids act synergistically with insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) to stimulate DNA synthesis and replication of cultured human fibroblasts. In the present study, we further define glucocorticoid and IGF-I interactive effects on human fibroblast metabolism and growth. IGF-I stimulated dose-dependent increases in early metabolic events. Half-maximal effectiveness was seen at 5-8 ng/ml IGF-I, with mean maximal responses of 1.5-, 2-, and 6-fold for [3H]2-deoxyglucose uptake, [14C]glucose incorporation, and [14C]aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) uptake, respectively. A 48-hour preincubation with 10(-7) M dexamethasone markedly enhanced both the sensitivity and maximal effectiveness of IGF-I stimulation of AIB uptake. In contrast, dexamethasone had no effect on IGF-I-stimulated glucose uptake and utilization. Maximum specific binding of [125I]IGF-I to fibroblast monolayers was identical in ethanol control and glucocorticoid-treated cells, with 50% displacement at approximately 5 ng/ml IGF-I. In addition to its synergism with IGF-I, preincubation with dexamethasone augmented insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation; dexamethasone had no effect on platelet-derived growth factor or fibroblast growth factor action. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis identified two specific glucocorticoid-induced proteins in human fibroblast cell extracts with molecular weights of 45K and 53K and pIs of 6.8 and 6.3, respectively. These data indicate that IGF-I receptor-mediated actions in human fibroblasts are differentially modulated by glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids are synergistic with IGF-I in stimulating mitogenesis and amino acid uptake, without having any apparent effect on IGF-I-stimulating glucose metabolism. Glucocorticoid enhancement of growth factor bioactivity may involve modulation of a regulatory event in the mitogenic signaling pathway subsequent to cell surface receptor activation.

Thyroid Hormone Enhancement of Estradiol Stimulation of Breast Carcinoma Proliferation

Thyroid hormone (T 3) and estradiol (Est) modulate biological processes by binding to nuclear receptor proteins that, through interactions with specific response elements in the regulatory regions of genes, modulate gene transcription. Est stimulation of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast carcinoma cell growth occurs through its ability to bind to the ER and activate gene transcription. We now report that physiological concentrations of T 3 significantly enhance Est stimulation of growth of a number of human breast carcinoma cell lines. The effect of T 3 is specific for Est stimulation of growth and has no effect on insulin-like growth factor-I stimulation of growth. The effect of T 3 on enhancing Est-mediated growth was specifically blocked by the addition of ligands inducing retinoid X receptor (RXR) homodimer receptor formation, suggesting that RXR-thyroid nuclear receptor (TR) heterodimer formation is required for the T 3-mediated effect on estradiol-stimulated growth. Four thyroid nuclear receptors have been described in tissues, TRα1, α2, β1, and β2. Breast carcinoma cells were found to express TRβ1 and TRα2 mRNA and very low levels of TRαl mRNA. T 3 did not increase ER mRNA or protein levels and did not enhance Est-mediated increases in gene transcription of a number of genes, i.e., transforming growth factor-α and pS2 which contain estrogen-response elements (EREs) in their regulatory regions. However, T 3 enhanced Est-stimulated ERE-TK-CAT activity. Thus significant cross-talk appears to occur between the TRs and ER and T 3 appears to enhance Est-mediated gene transcription.

814-4 Effect of Administration of Dehydroepiandrosterone on Cyclic-Guanidine-Monophosphate Plasma Levels in Men of Advancing Age

Epidemiologic data suggest beneficial effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DS) in atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Aging is accompanied by a progressive decline in the secretion of DHEA and DS, paralleling that of growth hormone (GH) insulin like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis. Previous studies reported a significant increase of IGF-I serum levels after replacement therapy with DHEA in advancing age men and IGF-I has been shown to have a potent vasodilator effect in the forearm arterial blood flow in humans and the rat renal afferent microvasculature; an effect that can be blocked by inhibition of endothelial derived relaxing factor (EDRF), nitric oxide (NO). We investigated the effect of administration of DHEA on plasma levels of cyclic guanidine monophosphate (cGMP), the second messenger of NO activity and an indirect assay of NO release. We included 34 nonobese men, body mass index (BMI) 22–26 kg/m. age 47–74 years, normotensive and non insulin resistant in a double blind, placebo controlled, randomized study: 18 were treated with DHEA 150 mg daily for 12 days and 16 with placebo. DHEA increased from 3.7 ± 0.2 to 15.0 ± 1.4 μ m/L (p &lt; 0.001) in the DHEA group. No changes were observed in the placebo group. cGMP plasma levels increased from 3.22 ± 0.2 to 6.05 ± 0.21 Pmol/ml(p &lt; 0.005) after administration of DHEA. In the placebo group no significant changes were observed. BMI, fasting insulin, serum lipids and blood pressure did not change during the study. The increase of cGMP in the DHEA treated patients presumably occurs through increased NO production. We suspect that DHEA increases NO via IGF-I stimulation and this might be one of the mechanisms of the protective action of DHEA against coronary ischemic disease.

Effects of phorbol ester and staurosporine on the actions of insulin-like growth factor-I on rat ovarian granulosa cells

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is able to stimulate ovarian granulosa cell steroidogenesis induced by gonadotopins. This gonadotropin-induced potentiation of IGF-I action appears to be due, at least in part, to a gonadotropin-induced increase in membrane-bound IGF-I receptor number and/or decrease in extracellular IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). Protein kinase C (PKC) has recently been reported to inhibit gonadotropin-induced steroidogenesis in rat ovarian granulosa cells. The role of PKC in the effects of IGF-I on gonadotropin action, however, is unknown. In this study, the effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, a PKC activator) and staurosporine (ST, a PKC inhibitor) on IGF-I action were studied using immature rat ovarian granulosa cells. Activation of PKC by PMA did not affect steroidogenesis or cAMP secretion in cells treated with or without IGF-I. On the other hand, inhibition of PKC by ST alone (10(-9)-10(-7)m) led to an increase in progesterone production in a dose- and time-dependent manner without affecting cAMP secretion. In the presence, but not absence, of ST, IGF-I was able to stimulate progesterone production in the absence of any gonadotropin. PMA decreased ST-induced steroidogenesis and essentially abolished ST-potentiated IGF-I stimulation of steroidogenesis, suggesting the effects of ST on IGF-I action involved a PKC-dependent mechanism. Unlike gonadotropin, ST did not change IGF-I receptor binding. However, ST significantly decreased a major IGF binding protein (IGFBP, ∼30kDa) which is likely to be IGFBP-5, whereas it increased a minor IGFBP (∼24kDa) which is likely to be IGFBP-4. Both effects of ST were dose- and time-dependent. Furthermore, ST inhibited the expression of mRNA for IGFBP-5 suggesting that ST decreased IGFBP-5 levels by inhibiting its transcription and/or decreasing the stability of its mRNA. Interestingly, ST also decreased mRNA levels of IGFBP-4 despite a significant increase in secreted IGFBP-4 levels. The mechanisms involved are not known. Activation of PKC by PMA had no acute effect on these IGFBPs. The regulation by ST of IGFBPs was not antagonized by PMA, and was not affected by PKC-down regulation. Thus, it is likely that ST induces granulosa cell steroidogenesis, potentiates the IGF-I stimulation of steroidogenesis and regulates IGFBP via both PKC-dependent and -independent pathways.

A Keratinocyte Cell Line Synthesizes a Predominant Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein (IGFBP-3) that Modulates Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Action

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is an important regulator of epidermal proliferation and has been shown in vitro to be a powerful stimulator of keratinocyte growth. It is synthesized by fibroblasts in the dermis, along with several IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), which are known to modulate IGF-I responsiveness of virtually all tissues studied. Because it was not known how or in what form IGF-I produced in the dermis acts on epidermal keratinocytes in vivo, we investigated the possible role of IGFBPs in modulating the response of epidermal keratinocytes to IGF-1. We show here that tIGF-I, a non-IGFBP-binding analogue of IGF-1, is a more potent mitogenic stimulator of the keratinocyte cell line HaCaT than IGF-I, suggesting that keratinocytes produce IGFBPs that modulate their response to IGF-I. To confirm this and to identify which IGFBPs were produced, we analyzed HaCaT cell-conditioned medium and mRNA, with the following findings: HaCaT cells produce a major IGFBP, identified as IGFBP-3, and a minor 24-kD IGFBP, likely to be IGFBP-4. Northern analysis revealed a 2.6-kb IGFBP-3 mRNA; however, IGFBP-4 mRNA was not detectable. We conclude that production of predominantly IGFBP-3 by the HaCaT cell line modulates its sensitivity to IGF-I stimulation. Epidermal IGFBPs thus have a potential role in vivo in the interaction of dermis derived IGF-I with epidermal keratinocytes.

Insulin-like growth factor-I increases expression of the porcine P-450 cholesterol side chain cleavage gene through a GC-rich domain.

The promoter/regulatory region of the porcine P-450 cholesterol side chain cleavage (P450scc) gene was cloned from a porcine genomic library. This gene contains a GC-rich region (-130-100) that mediates insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and cAMP stimulation of gene expression in porcine granulosa cells. Stimulation of gene expression by cAMP occurs in 6 h, while IGF-I stimulation occurs in 24-48 h. This region is also responsive to insulin but not fibroblast growth factor. The effects of IGF-I and cAMP on gene expression in porcine granulosa cells are additive. In Y1 adrenal cells, the same region is responsive to cAMP but not to IGF-I. Gel shift assays using an oligonucleotide of this region and nuclear extract protein from porcine granulosa and Y1 adrenal cells identified three DNA-protein complexes (C1-C3). The binding activity of the complexes did not change with IGF-I or forskolin treatment of granulosa cells. Mutational analysis results were consistent with IGF-I regulating gene expression through the C2 DNA protein complex. Moreover, this complex binds differently in gel shift assay to mutant oligonucleotides with porcine and Y1 and nuclear extract protein. We conclude that IGF-I stimulates porcine P450scc gene expression through a distinct, cell-specific protein complex binding to a GC-rich domain.

Uncoupling between proliferation and differentiation of ovine granulosa cells in vitro.

Granulosa cells of ovarian follicles both proliferate and undergo differentiation. In vivo, an inverse relationship between proliferation and steroidogenesis is observed. However, both processes can be enhanced by insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in vitro. Studies were undertaken in the ewe to understand the mechanisms controlling the balance between proliferation and differentiation in cultured granulosa cells from antral follicles better. For this purpose, granulosa cells from ovine small follicles (1-3 mm in diameter) and large follicles (5-7 mm in diameter) were compared for progesterone secretion, cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc) expression and their proportions of non-proliferating (G0) cells, in response to IGF-I and FSH stimulation in vitro. IGF-I mainly enhanced the proliferation of granulosa cells from small follicles but it strongly increased progesterone secretion and P450scc expression in granulosa cells from large follicles, in synergy with FSH. Blocking granulosa cell proliferation by the administration of colcemid or aphidicolin had no effect or a weak stimulating effect on progesterone secretion. At the beginning of the culture period, the proportion of non-proliferating cells, estimated by continuous [3H]thymidine labelling experiments, was clearly higher in large than in small follicles (91% vs 30%, P < 0.001). For both cell types, treatment with IGF-I in vitro reduced the proportion of non-proliferating cells at 72 h of culture (40% vs 70% respectively in IGF-I-stimulated and unstimulated cells from large follicles, P < 0.001, and 17% vs 30% respectively in IGF-I-stimulated and unstimulated cells from small follicles, P < 0.001). Treatment with FSH had no effect on the proportion of non-proliferating cells. As revealed by immunohistochemistry experiments, IGF-I, in synergy with FSH, clearly increased the percentage of cells expressing P450scc enzyme and the intensity of staining in granulosa cells from large follicles. Unexpectedly, heavily stained cells in mitosis were observed in IGF-I-stimulated cells from large follicles after 96 h of culture, suggesting that dividing cells might also produce progesterone. Overall, these results support the hypothesis that the growth-promoting and the cytodifferentiative effects of IGF-I are clearly distinct. Moreover, they suggest that uncoupling between proliferation and steroidogenesis may occur in cultured ovine granulosa cells. The loss of proliferative activity accompanying terminal follicular growth in vivo could be reversed in vitro. During terminal follicular growth in vivo, the existence of an active mechanism inhibiting granulosa cell proliferation, and unrelated to terminal differentiation, is therefore strongly suspected.

Dexamethasone potentiates IGF-I actions in porcine granulosa cells

To understand better interactions between glucocorticoids and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in the ovary, we studied the effects of dexamethasone on IGF-I stimulation of P-450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P-450scc) mRNA concentrations in porcine granulosa cells. Dexamethasone potentiated IGF-I-stimulated P-450scc mRNA concentrations and progesterone production in granulosa cell cultures. Time-course and dose-response studies showed that maximal enhancement occurred at a 1-microM dexamethasone concentration after 48 h of treatment. This potentiation was prevented by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU-38486, 17 beta-hydroxy-11 beta-[-4-dimethyl-aminophenyl]estra-4,9,-dien-3-one (RU-486). We investigated mechanisms for this potentiation by performing IGF-I binding studies in porcine granulosa cells. Dexamethasone increased IGF-I binding, and Scatchard analysis showed this enhanced binding was caused by an increase in receptor concentration. Northern blot hybridization using a rat type I IGF-I receptor gene riboprobe showed that although dexamethasone alone did not increase IGF-I receptor mRNA concentrations, it did prevent a decrease in receptor mRNA concentrations caused by IGF-I. In addition, we used synthetic primers from conserved regions of the rat type I IGF-I receptor gene with total RNA from porcine granulosa cells and polymerase chain reaction to isolate a 615-base pair porcine type I IGF-I receptor cDNA clone. Ribonuclease protection assay results were similar to those found with the rat IGF-I receptor riboprobe. We conclude that dexamethasone potentiates IGF-I actions on steroidogenesis in the porcine ovary.

Structural disruption of the trans-Golgi network does not interfere with the acute stimulation of glucose and amino acid uptake by insulin-like growth factor I in muscle cells

The effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on glucose and amino acid uptake were investigated in fully differentiated L6 muscle cells, in order to determine whether the two processes are functionally related. Transport of both glucose and amino acid (methylaminoisobutyric acid, MeAIB) was activated rapidly in response to IGF-I. Stimulation reached a peak within 30 min and was sustained for up to 90 min. Maximal activation of either glucose or MeAIB transport was achieved at 3 nM IGF-I; the half-maximal activation (ED50) of glucose transport was at 107 pM and that of MeAIB transport was at 36 pM. Stimulation of amino acid uptake occurred in the absence or presence of glucose, suggesting that this response is not secondary to increased glucose intake. Incubation of cells for 1 h with Brefeldin A (5 micrograms/ml), which disassembles the Golgi apparatus and inhibits the secretory pathway in eukaryotic cells, had no effect on the acute IGF-I activation of glucose and MeAIB transport. Moreover, Brefeldin A caused wide redistribution of the trans-Golgi antigen TGN38, as assessed by subcellular fractionation, without affecting the distribution of glucose transporters. The finding that the degree of activation, time response and sensitivity to IGF-I and Brefeldin A were similar for both glucose and MeAIB transport suggests commonalities in the IGF-I mechanism of recruitment of glucose transporters and stimulation of amino acid transport through System A. An integral trans-Golgi network does not appear to be required for the acute IGF-I stimulation of glucose or amino acid transport, even though stimulation of glucose transport occurs through recruitment of glucose transporters from intracellular stores in these cells. We propose that the donor site of glucose transporters (and perhaps of amino acid transporters) involved in the acute response to IGF-I lies beyond the trans-Golgi network, perhaps in an endosomal compartment in close proximity to the plasma membrane.

Essential role of tyrosine residues 1131, 1135, and 1136 of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor in IGF-I action.

The insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors are related heterotetramers consisting of two extracellular ligand-binding alpha-subunits and two transmembrane beta-subunits whose cytoplasmic domains exhibit tyrosine kinase activity. Previous studies have shown that ATP binding by the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase domains of these receptors is necessary to initiate the signal transduction pathway triggered by ligands or by ligand-mimetic antibodies, suggesting that receptor autophosphorylation is a necessary proximal step in this pathway. In the case of the insulin receptor, it has additionally been demonstrated that a cluster of three tyrosines in the kinase domain itself are the first to be phosphorylated, and that autophosphorylation of these particular residues is necessary for receptor activity. Using stably transfected NIH-3T3 cell lines, we now show that mutation of the analogous residues in the IGF-I receptor abolishes all short, intermediate, and long-term responses to IGF-I. These data suggest that the initial mechanisms of activation of the insulin and IGF-I receptors are very similar. Additionally, we have identified two parameters, induction of c-fos gene expression and ornithine decarboxylase enzyme activity, which are extremely sensitive to IGF-I stimulation and which will be particularly useful in evaluating the biological activity of other mutated versions of the IGF-I receptor.

Epidemiologic evidence for the increased cell proliferation model of carcinogenesis.

Epidemiologic evidence for the increased cell proliferation model of carcinogenesis.

Structure-function relationship of the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor tyrosine kinase.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin receptors are structurally similar with ligand-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity in their cytoplasmic domains. The function of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase in signal transduction has been studied extensively in contrast to the IGF-I receptor tyrosine kinase. In the present study we have analyzed the regulatory function of the IGF-I receptor tyrosine kinase and carboxyl-terminal domains in mitogenic signaling by overexpression of mutant IGF-I receptors in mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. A mutant IGF-I receptor, in which 3 tyrosines (Tyr1131, Tyr1135, and Tyr1136) analogous to the three major autophosphorylation sites in the insulin receptor kinase were replaced by phenylalanines, was devoid of kinase activity in vivo and in vitro and inactive with respect to IGF-I internalization and stimulation of thymidine incorporation. Another mutant IGF-I receptor, which lacks the 49 carboxyl-terminal amino acids (residues 1289-1337) of the beta-subunit, was fully active. Our data suggest that the structure-function relationship of the IGF-I receptor tyrosine kinase activation and signal transduction is similar to that of the insulin receptor.

Paradoxical biological effects of overexpressed insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptors in chinese hamster ovary cells

One major approach to the study of growth factor receptor action has been to overexpress wild-type or mutant receptors in cultured cells and to evaluate biological responses to exogenous ligand. Studies of this type with insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors often use Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We have compared the effect of receptor overexpression in CHO cells and in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts in order to assess the suitability of CHO cells for studies of this nature and the contribution of cell type-specific factors to those responses generally assayed. Overexpression of IGF-I receptors in NIH-3T3 cells resulted in increased sensitivity and maximal responsiveness of thymidine incorporation, 2-deoxyglucose uptake, and phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI3) kinase activation to IGF-I stimulation. In CHO cells, on the other hand, overexpression of either IGF-I or insulin receptors increased the sensitivity of thymidine incorporation to ligand, but maximal responsiveness was unchanged or decreased. Overexpression of the insulin receptor increased sensitivity of glucose uptake and the maximal response of PI3 kinase activation to insulin. Overexpression of the IGF-I receptor did not affect sensitivity or maximal responsiveness of glucose uptake or PI3 kinase activation to IGF-I. These data suggest that IGF-I and insulin signal pathways may differ in CHO cells, and that there may even be divergent IGF-I signaling pathways for short vs. long-term effects. Whether this is a result of differences in the number of endogenous receptors, hybrid receptor formation, or defects in post-receptor signaling, the use of CHO cells to assess receptor function must be approached with caution.

Common elements in interleukin 4 and insulin signaling pathways in factor-dependent hematopoietic cells.

Interleukin 4 (IL-4), insulin, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) efficiently induced DNA synthesis in the IL-3-dependent murine myeloid cell lines FDC-P1 and FDC-P2. Although these factors could not individually sustain long-term growth of these lines, a combination of IL-4 with either insulin or IGF-I did support continuous growth. The principal tyrosine-phosphorylated substrate observed in FDC cells stimulated with IL-4, previously designated 4PS, was of the same size (170 kDa) as the major substrate phosphorylated in response to insulin or IGF-I. These substrates had phosphopeptides of the same size when analyzed by digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and each tightly associated with the 85-kDa component of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase after factor stimulation. IRS-1, the principal substrate phosphorylated in response to insulin or IGF-I stimulation in nonhematopoietic cells, is similar in size to 4PS. However, anti-IRS-1 antibodies failed to efficiently precipitate 4PS, and some phosphopeptides generated by V8 protease digestion of IRS-1 were distinct in size from the phosphopeptides of 4PS. Nevertheless, IL-4, insulin, and IGF-I were capable of stimulating tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in FDC cells that expressed this substrate as a result of transfection. These findings indicate that (i) IL-4, insulin, and IGF-I use signal transduction pathways in FDC lines that have at least one major feature in common, the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of 4PS, and (ii) insulin and IGF-I stimulation of hematopoietic cell lines leads to the phosphorylation of a substrate that may be related to but is not identical to IRS-1.

Ontogenic study of Expression of IGF-I and Gh-Receptor (GHR) mRNA in pig Liver and Skeletal Muscle.

Many of the effects of growth hormone are now thought to be mediated via the stimulation of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) production by many tissues, especially the liver, with this stimulation being dependent upon the presence of the GH-receptor (GHR). IGF-I gene expression occurs via alternative promoters giving rise to class 1 and 2 transcripts, of which class 2 is thought to be preferentially responsive to GH (Saunders, Dickson, Pell &amp; Gilmour, 1991).The effects of IGF-I include the stimulation of DNA synthesis (mitogenesis) and protein synthesis in most cell types, together with the differentiation of many cell types into mature tissue, including the differentiation of muscle cells into muscle fibres. Thus the GH/IGF-I axis has been found to play a major part in the control of animal growth. For this reason, we studied the age related changes in IGF-I and GHR mRNA expression in pig liver and skeletal muscle.

Effect of epidermal growth factor on insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein synthesis by adult rat hepatocytes

Growth hormone has been established as a primary regulator of IGF-I gene expression in adults, not only in liver but also in many extrahepatic tissues. We considered the possibility that IGF-I production by adult rat liver could also be stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF), a peptide known to be involved in liver regeneration. Chromatographic analysis performed after acid treatment of conditioned media revealed the presence of both immunoreactive (IR) IGF-I and IGF binding protein (IGFBP). Both IR IGF-I and IGFBP were present in the conditioned medium of adult rat hepatocytes in basal conditions. The stimulation of IGF-I and IGFBP secretion by EGF appears to be dose-dependent with a significant increment already evident at 5 nM. That EGF stimulates secretion is supported by the finding that IGF-I and IGFBP-1 mRNA levels are increased after EGF supplementation. We conclude that adult rat hepatocytes spontaneously produce IGF-I and IGFBP, and that EGF is able to increase their synthesis and secretion. This non-growth hormone-dependent regulation of IGF-I and IGFBP-1 production by adult rat hepatocytes in culture indicates an important autocrine/paracrine role for IGF-I, particularly during liver regeneration after extensive organ mass loss.

Insulin like growth factor-I induces limited association of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase to its receptor.

Stimulation by insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) of LISN C4 cells, a mouse fibroblast cell line that overexpresses human IGF-I receptors, led to an increase in the amount of a phosphatidylinositol kinase that could be immunoprecipitated by anti-IGF-I receptor or anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. The identity of the lipid produced in phosphatidylinositol kinase assays of anti-IGF-I receptor or anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates indicated that IGF-I selectively increased the amount of immunoprecipitated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. The amount of immunoprecipitated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity that was increased by IGF-I followed a time course that paralleled the stimulation of IGF-I receptor beta-subunit autophosphorylation. The amount of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity detected in anti-IGF-I receptor immunoprecipitates represented only 2% of that which was immunoprecipitated by anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. Furthermore, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity which was recovered with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody was present in both cytosol and particulate cell fractions at approximately similar levels. Taken together, these results suggest that the stimulation of the IGF-I receptor tyrosine kinase leads to an increase in the amount of phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase activity immunoprecipitated by antiphosphotyrosine and anti-IGF-I receptor antibodies and to a limited association with the IGF-I receptor itself, even though these cells express very high levels of IGF-I receptors. That the majority of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity does not tightly associate with the IGF-I receptor after IGF-I stimulation suggests that it may be associated with other tyrosine phosphorylated proteins. Alternatively, the kinase itself may become phosphorylated on tyrosine and dissociate from the IGF-I receptor. In this manner, an increase of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity by IGF-I deviates from the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase by platelet-derived growth factor receptor in that a tight association with the receptor is not produced after stimulation.