Role Of Endogenous Regucalcin Research Articles

Regucalcin Transgenic Rat: A Novel Animal Model for Metabolic Disorder Associated with Osteoporosis

Regucalcin transgenic (TG) rat has been generated to determine a role of endogenous regucalcin in metabolic disorders. Regucalcin TG rats induced a prominent increase in regucalcin protein in the various tissues. Bone loss and hyperlipidemia were found to induce in regucalcin TG rats with growing and aging. Bone loss induced in regucalcin TG rats was resulted from enhanced osteoclastogenesis and suppressed osteoblastic mineralization in rat marrow cells. Moreover, hyperlipidemia induced in regucalcin TG rats was seen with increasing age; serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, free fatty acid, albumin and calcium concentrations were markedly increased in regucalcin TG. Decrease in lipid and glycogen contents in the liver tissues was also induced in regucalcin TG rats. The gene expression of leptin and adiponectin was suppressed in the adipose and liver tissues of TG rats. Regucalcin possessed insulin resistance in liver cells. Regucalcin revealed stimulatory effects on adipogenesis that is differentiated from messenchymal stem cells to adipocytes in bone marrow cells. Regucalcin may be implicated to obesity and diabetes associated with osteoporosis. Regucalcin TG rat model may be a useful tool in the development of therapeutic tools for metabolic disorder associated with osteoporosis in vivo.

Role of endogenous regucalcin in brain function: Suppression of cytosolic nitric oxide synthase and nuclear protein tyrosine phosphatase activities in brain tissue of transgenic rats

The role of regucalcin, a regulatory protein of Ca2+ signaling, in the regulation of brain function was investigated by using regucalcin transgenic (TG) rats. Western blot analysis showed a remarkable expression of regucalcin protein in the cytosol and nucleus of the brain tissue of TG female rats (5-week-old) as compared with that of wild-type (wt) female rats. In TG male rats, the enhancement of regucalcin expression in the brain cytosol and nucleus was only slight. Nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity was significantly decreased in the brain cytosol of TG female rats. Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was not significantly altered in the brain nucleus of TG female rats. The presence of calcium chloride (10 microM) or anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant increase in cytosolic NO synthase and nuclear protein tyrosine phosphatase activities in the brain tissue of wt rats. The increase was significantly prevented in the brain cytosol and nucleus of TG rats. The present study supports the view that endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role in the regulation of brain function in rats.

Regulatory effect of regucalcin on nitric oxide synthase activity in rat kidney cortex cytosol: Role of endogenous regucalcin in transgenic rats

The effect of regucalcin, a regulatory protein in Ca2+ signaling, on nitric oxid (NO) synthase activity in the cytosol of kidney cortex of rats was investigated. The presence of calcium chloride (10 micro M) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant increase in NO synthase activity. This increase was significantly prevented by the addition of trifluoperazine (TFP; 20 or 50 micro M), an antagonist of calmodulin, supporting the existence of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent NO synthase in rat kidney cortex cytosol. NO synthase activity was significantly decreased by the addition of regucalcin (10(-10)-10(-8) M) in the reaction mixture in the absence or presence of calcium chloride (10 micro M). The regucalcin (10(-8) M) effect was not seen in the presence of Nw-nitro-L-argine metylester (NAME; 10(-6) or 10(-5) M), an inhibitor of NO synthase. Regucalcin significantly reduced NO synthase activity in the presence of TFP (50 micro micro M) or EGTA (1 mM) which has a significant inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 or 50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture caused a significant increase in NO synthase activity. This increase was completely abolished by the addition of regucalcin (10(-7) M). NO synthase activity was not significantly changed in the kidney cortex cytosol of regucalcin transgenic rats overexpressing endogenous regucalcin as compared with that of wild-type rats. However, the effect of calcium chloride (10 micro M) in increasing NO synthase activity in the kidney cortex cytosol of wild-type rats was significantly weakened in regucalcin transgenic rats. The present study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin has a suppressive effect on NO synthase activity in the kidney cortex cytosol of rats.

Role of endogenous regucalcin in transgenic rats: Suppression of protein tyrosine phosphatase and ribonucleic acid synthesis activities in liver nucleus

The role of endogenous regucalcin, a regulatory protein of Ca2+ signaling, in the regulation of liver nuclear function was investigated by using regucalcin transgenic (TG) rats. Regucalcin levels were significantly increased in the liver nuclei of regucalcin TG male and female rats. Nuclear protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was significantly elevated in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture containing liver nuclear protein obtained from normal (wt) rats. This increase was significantly prevented in the liver nuclei of regucalcin TG rats. Moreover, nuclear ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis was significantly suppressed in the liver nuclei of regucalcin TG rats as compared with that of normal rats. The effect of calcium chloride (10 micro M) or anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50 ng/ml) in increasing RNA synthesis was completely blocked in the liver nuclei of the TG rats. These results suggest that endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role in the regulation of liver nuclear function in rats.

Suppressive effect of endogenous regucalcin on nitric oxide synthase activity in cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells overexpressing regucalcin.

The role of endogenous regucalcin, which is a regulatory protein in calcium signaling, in the regulation of nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity in the cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells was investigated. Hepatoma cells were cultured for 24-72 h in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS; 10%). NO synthase activity in the 5,500 g supernatant of cell homogenate was significantly increased by the addition of calcium chloride (10 microM) and calmodulin (2.5 microg/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture. The presence of trifluoperazine (TFP; 50 microM), an antagonist of calmodulin, inhibited the effect of calcium (10 microM) addition in increasing NO synthase activity, indicating the existence of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent NO synthase in hepatoma cells. NO synthase activity was significantly decreased by the addition of regucalcin (10(-8) or 10(-7) M) in the reaction mixture without or with Ca(2+)/calmodulin addition. The effect of regucalcin (10(-7) M) in decreasing NO synthase activity was also seen in the presence of TFP (50 microM) or EGTA (1 mM). The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (10-50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture caused a significant elevation of NO synthase activity. NO synthase activity was significantly suppressed in the hepatoma cells (transfectants) overexpressing regucalcin. This decrease was completely abolished in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture. Moreover, the effect of Ca(2+)/calmodulin addition in increasing NO synthase activity in the hepatoma cells (wild-type) was completely prevented in transfectants. The present study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin has a suppressive effect on NO synthase activity in the cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells.

Suppressive role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of nitric oxide synthase activity in heart muscle cytosol of normal and regucalcin transgenic rats

The role of regucalcin, a regulatory protein of Ca2+ signaling, in the regulation of nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity in the cytosol of rat heart muscle was investigated. The addition of calcium chloride (5-20 microM) into the enzyme reaction mixture containing the heart cytosolic protein caused a significant increase in NO synthase activity. The Ca2+ effect was significantly inhibited by trifluoperazine (TFP; 20 or 50 microM), an antagonist of calmodulin, indicating the existence of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent NO synthase activity in rat heart muscle cytosol. NO synthase activity was significantly decreased by the addition of regucalcin (10(-9) or 10(-8) M). This effect was also seen in the presence of calcium chloride (10 microM), TFP (50 microM) or EGTA (1 mM), a chelator of Ca2+. Meanwhile, the effect of regucalcin (10(-8) M) in decreasing NO synthase activity was not seen in the presence of Nw-nitro-L-arginine methylester (NAME; 10(-6) or 10(-5) M), an inhibitor of the enzyme. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 or 50 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant increase in NO synthase activity. This effect was completely abolished by the addition of regucalcin (10(-7) M). NO synthase activity was not significantly changed in the heart muscle cytosol of transgenic rats overexpressing endogenous regucalcin as compared with that of wild-type rats. However, the effect of calcium (10 micro M) addition in increasing NO synthase activity was significantly weakened in the heart muscle cytosol of regucalcin transgenic rats. The present study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin has a suppressive effect on NO synthase activity in the heart muscle cytosol of rats.

Role of endogenous regucalcin in bone metabolism: Bone loss is induced in regucalcin transgenic rats

The role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of bone metabolism was investigated by using regucalcin transgenic (TG) rats. The expression of regucalcin mRNA in the femoral-diaphyseal and -metaphyseal tissues of normal (wild-type) rats was shown by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with a specific primer of regucalcin cDNA. Regucalcin protein was detected in the femoral-diaphyseal and -metaphyseal tissues of normal (wild-type) rats using Western analysis. Regucalcin levels were significantly increased in the femoral-metaphyseal tissues of regucalcin TG male rats and in the diaphyseal and metaphyseal tissues of the TG female rats. The morphologic change in the femoral-diaphyseal and -metaphyseal tissues of regucalcin TG rats was demonstrated by using a peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT); morphologic change was great in the femoral tissues of female rats as compared with that of male rats. Mineral content, mineral density and polar strength strain index in the femoral-diaphyseal and -metaphyseal tissues were markedly reduced in regucalcin TG female rats. A significant decrease in cortical thickness was seen in the femoral diaphysis of regucalcin TG female rats. Calcium content in the femoral-diaphyseal and -metaphyseal tissues was significantly decreased in regucalcin TG male and female rats; a remarkable decrease was seen in female rats. Femoral-metaphyseal alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly lowered in regucalcin TG female rats. The enzyme activity was not significantly changed in the femoral-diaphyseal tissues of the TG female rats. In the diaphyseal tissue of male rats, the enzyme activity was significantly decreased in the TG rats. A significant decrease in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content was seen in the metaphyseal tissue of regucalcin TG male rats and in the diaphyseal and metaphyseal tissues of the TG female rats. This study demonstrates that bone loss is induced in the femoral tissue of regucalcin transgenic rats, and that a remarkable decrease in bone morphologic index and biochemical component was seen in the female rats. Regucalcin may be involved in the regulation of bone metabolism.

Role of endogenous regucalcin in nuclear regulation of regenerating rat liver: suppression of the enhanced ribonucleic acid synthesis activity.

The role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis activity in the nucleus of normal and regenerating rat livers was investigated. Nuclear RNA synthesis was measured by the incorporation of [(3)H]-uridine 5'-triphosphate into the nuclear RNA in vitro. The presence of regucalcin (0.25 or 0.5 microM) in the reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in nuclear RNA synthesis of normal rat liver. alpha-Amanitin (10(-8)-10(-6) M), an inhibitor of RNA polymerase II and III, decreased significantly nuclear RNA synthesis activity. The effect of regucalcin (0.25 microM) in decreasing nuclear RNA synthesis activity was not seen in the presence of alpha-amanitin (10(-6) M). The calcium chloride (10 microM)-increased nuclear RNA synthesis activity was significantly suppressed by the addition of regucalcin (0.25 microM). RNA synthesis activity was significantly enhanced in the nuclei of regenating rat liver obtained at 24, 48, or 72 h after partial hepatectomy. This enhancement was significantly inhibited in the presence of PD98059 (10(-5) M), staurosporine (10(-6) M), or vanadate (10(-3) M). Western analysis of the nuclei of regenerating liver obtained at 24, 48, or 72 h after partial hepatectomy showed a significant increase in regucalcin protein as compared with that of sham-operated rats. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 or 50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture caused a significant increase in nuclear RNA synthesis activity of normal rat liver. This increase was completely blocked by the addition of regucalcin (1.0 microM). The effect of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50 ng/ml) in increasing nuclear RNA synthesis activity was significantly enhanced in the nuclei of regenerating liver obtained at 24, 48, or 72 h after partial hepatectomy. This enhancement was significantly suppressed by the addition of alpha-amanitin (10(-6) M), PD98059 (10(-5) M), staurosporine (10(-6) M), or vanadate (10(-3) M) in the reaction mixture. The present study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin has a suppressive effect on the enhancement of RNA synthesis activity in the nucleus of regenerating rat liver with proliferative cells.

Suppression of cell proliferation and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in the cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells overexpressing regucalcin.

The role of endogenous regucalcin (RC) in the regulation of cell proliferation was investigated in the cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells overexpressing RC stably. H4-II-E cells were transfected with RC/pCXN2 vector and the multiple neomycin-resistant clones which overexpress stably RC were selected. The RC content of RC/pCXN2-transfected cells used in this study was 19.7-fold as compared with that of the parental wild type H4-II-E cells. Wild type H4-II-E cells, pCXN2 vector-transfected cells (mock type), and RC/pCXN2-transfected cells (transfectants) were cultured for 24, 48, and 72 h in the presence of fetal bovine serum (10% FBS). Cell numbers of wild and mock type were significantly increased with the time course of culture. Cell numbers of transfectants was significantly suppressed as compared with that of wild and mock type. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis activity in the nuclear fraction of H4-II-E cells was significantly suppressed in transfectants with culture for 12-48 h. The presence of anti-RC monoclonal antibody (10-50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture caused a significant increase in DNA synthesis activity in the nuclei of wild type and transfectants; this increase was remarkable in transfectants. The effect of anti-RC monoclonal antibody (50 ng/ml) in increasing DNA synthesis activity in transfectants was completely prevented by the addition of regucalcin (1 microM). This study demonstrates that cell proliferation is suppressed in the cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E overexpressing RC stably.

Suppressive role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in rat renal cortex cytosol.

The role of endogenous regucalcin, which is a regulatory protein of calcium signaling, in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in the cytosol of rat renal cortex was investigated. Protein phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine, and phosphothreonine was found in the cytosol of kidney cortex. The addition of regucalcin (50-250 nM) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoamino acids. The effect of calcium (25 microM) and calmodulin (2.5 microg/ml) in increasing protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoamino acids was significantly decreased by the addition of regucalcin (100 nM). Protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoamino acids was significantly increased in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (10-50 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture. The effect of antibody (25 ng/ml) in increasing the enzyme activity was significantly inhibited by cyclosporin A (10(-5) M) or vanadate (10(-5) M). Regucalcin in the kidney cortex cytosol was clearly decreased by the administration of saline (0.9% NaCl) for seven days in rats. Protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoamino acids was significantly decreased by saline administration. The effect of anti-regucalcin antibody (25 ng/ml) in increasing protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoamino acids was not seen in the renal cortex cytocol of saline-administered rats. The present study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in the cytoplasm of rat kidney cortex.

Enhancement of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the proliferation of cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells: suppressive role of endogenous regucalcin.

The role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the proliferation of the cloned rat H4-II-E hepatoma cells was investigated. Cells were cultured for 6 to 96 h in a medium containing 1.0 or 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Cell numbers were significantly raised by culture with 10% FBS in comparison with that of 1.0% FBS. Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the cells was significantly elevated by culture with 10% FBS for 24 to 96 h as compared with that of 1% FBS. Such an increase was not seen in protein phosphatase activity toward phosphoserine or phosphothreonine. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50 or 100 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a remarkable elevation of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the cells obtained by culture with 1.0 or 10% FBS. This elevation was completely prevented by the addition of regucalcin (10-6 M). The effect of antibody in elevating protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the cells was significantly inhibited by the addition of okadaic acid (10-6 M) or vanadate (10(-6) M), an inhibitor of protein phosphatase, in the reaction mixture. The present study suggests that protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the cloned rat hepatoma cells is increased in serum-stimulated cell proliferation, and that endogenous regucalcin has a suppressive role in the enhancement of the enzyme activity in proliferative cells.

Role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in rat liver nuclei.

The role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of Ca(2+)-ATPase, a Ca(2+) sequestrating enzyme, in rat liver nuclei was investigated. Nuclear Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was significantly reduced by the addition of regucalcin (0.1-0.5 microM) into the enzyme reaction mixture. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 or 50 ng/ml) caused a significant elevation of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity; this effect was completely abolished by the addition of regucalcin (0.1 microM). The effect of anti-regucalcin antibody (50 ng/ml) in increasing Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was completely prevented by the presence of thapsigargin (10(-6) M), an inhibitor of Ca(2+) sequestrating enzyme, N-ethylmaleimide (1 mM), a modifying reagent of thiol groups, or vanadate (10(-5) M), an inhibitor of phosphorylation of the enzyme by ATP, which revealed an inhibitory effect on nuclear Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. Meanwhile, the effect of anti-regucalcin antibody (50 ng/ml) was significantly enhanced by the addition of calmodulin (5 microg/ml), which could increase nuclear Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. In addition, the effect of antibody (50 ng/ml) was significantly reduced by the presence of trifluoperazine (20 microM), an antagonist of calmodulin. These results suggest that the endogenous regucalcin in liver nuclei has a suppressive effect on nuclear Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, and that regucalcin can inhibit an activating effect of calmodulin on the enzyme.

Role of endogenous regucalcin in protein tyrosine phosphatase regulation in the cloned rat hepatoma cells (H4-II-E).

Regucalcin, a regulatory protein of Ca2+ signaling, is mainly present in liver cells. The role of regucalcin in hepatoma cells, however, has not been clarified. The role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the cloned rat hepatoma cells (H4-II-E) was investigated. Hepatoma cells were cultured for 3 days in a medium containing serum (10% fetal bovine serum). After subconfluency, the cells were used for the assay of protein phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine. The expression of regucalcin in hepatoma cells was detected by Western blotting using anti-regucalcin antibody. Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was exhibited in the cytosol of hepatoma cells. The enzyme activity in the cytosol of hepatoma cells was significantly elevated by the addition of calcium chloride (10(-6)-10(-4) M) in the reaction mixture. This elevation was completely blocked by the addition of trifluoperazine (TFP: 2.5 x 10(-6) M), an antagonist of calmodulin. The addition of regucalcin (10(-7) M) caused a complete inhibition of the calcium (10(-4) M)-increased enzyme activity. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25, 50, and 100 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture produced a significant increase in protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the cytosols of hepatoma cells and normal liver cells. This increase was completely prevented by regucalcin addition. The effect of antibody (50 ng/ml) in elevating the enzyme activity was partly inhibited by vanadate (10(-4) M). Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was significantly elevated by the culture with Bay K 8644, a Ca2+-channel agonist. This increase was blocked by TFP addition in the enzyme reaction mixture, and it was enhanced in the presence of anti-regucalcin antibody. The present study demonstrates that regucalcin is expressed in hepatoma cells (H4-II-E), and that the protein may have an inhibitory effect on Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the cells.

Enhancement of neutral phosphatase activity in the cytosol and nuclei of regenerating rat liver: Role of endogenous regucalcin

The role of endogenous regucalcin (RC) in the regulation of neutral phosphatase activity in regenerating rat liver was investigated. The liver weight reduced by a partial hepatectomy (about 70%) was completely restored at 72 h after surgery. Phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine, and phosphothreonine were used as the substrate for the assay of phosphatase activity. Phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine in the hepatic cytosol and nuclei was significantly increased at 24-72 h after hepatectomy. Such an increase was not seen in the case of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. However, the presence of anti-RC monoclonal antibody (200 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a remarkable elevation of phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids in the hepatic cytosol at 24 and 48 h after hepatectomy. In the liver nuclei after sham operation or hepatectomy, phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids was significantly raised by the addition of anti-RC antibody (150 ng/ml). The nuclear phosphatase activity toward phosphothreonine in regenerating liver was significantly enhanced in the presence of anti-RC antibody (100 and 150 ng/ml). The effect of anti-RC antibody to increase phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids in the cytosol and nuclei of regenerating liver was completely blocked by the addition of exogenous RC (1.0 microM). The present study demonstrates that protein phosphatase activity in the cytoplasm and nuclei is enhanced in regenerating rat liver. This enhancement may be suppressed by endogenous RC.

Enhancement of neutral phosphatase activity in the cytosol and nuclei of regenerating rat liver: Role of endogenous regucalcin

Enhancement of neutral phosphatase activity in the cytosol and nuclei of regenerating rat liver: Role of endogenous regucalcin

Enhancement of protein kinase activity in the cytosol of regenerating rat liver: regulatory role of endogenous regucalcin.

The effect of regucalcin, a Ca2+-binding protein, on protein kinase activity in the cytosol of regenerating rat liver was investigated. Protein phosphorylation was significantly increased in the liver cytosol obtained at 6, 24, and 48 h after a partial hepatectomy (about 65%) in comparison with that of sham-operated rats. This increase was significantly inhibited by the addition of trifluoperazine (2x10(-5) M), staurosporine (10(-7) M) or genistein (10(-5) M), which is an inhibitor of protein kinases, in the reaction mixture. The presence of regucalcin (0.1-0.5 microM) caused a significant decrease in protein phosphorylation in the cytosol from normal and regenerating rat livers. The effect of regucalcin (0.5 microM) was completely abolished by the addition of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50 ng/ml). The elevation of protein phosphorylation in regenerating rat liver was significantly enhanced by the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50 ng/ml). The effect of regucalcin in decreasing protein phosphorylation in the cytosol of regenerating rat liver was not seen in the presence of the antibody. The present study demonstrates that protein kinase activity, is enhanced in the cytosol of regenerating rat liver, and that endogenous regucalcin has an inhibitory role in the enhancement of protein phosphorylation by various protein kinases.