Cell density-dependent decrease in cytoskeletal actin and myosin in cultured osteoblastic cells: correlation with cyclic AMP changes.

During bone development, osteoblasts form a contiguous layer along recently deposited osteoid and their morphology changes from fibroblast-like to cuboidal. In culture, similar changes occur with increased cell density. We examined the possible role of cyclic AMP in this process since cyclic AMP was reported to increase in fibroblasts with increased cell density and similar shape changes were seen in response to parathyroid hormone, which also increases cellular cyclic AMP in osteoblastic cells. Osteoblast-enriched rat calvaria cells were seeded at increasing density. The distribution between Triton X-100 extractable and nonextractable actin and myosin was estimated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Intracellular cyclic AMP was estimated by prelabeling the cellular ATP pool with 3H-adenine, followed by extraction and separation of 3H-cAMP by high-performance liquid chromatography. We found that osteoblastic cells contain about 40 pg actin and 5.3 pg myosin per cell. Around 60% of the actin and 70% of the myosin were in the nonextractable (crosslinked) form at cell densities of 10,000 to 50,000 cells per cm2. Above 50,000 cells/cm2, there was a cell density-dependent reduction in crosslinked actin and myosin and a concomitant increase in cellular cyclic AMP. A comparable rise in cyclic AMP, produced by incubation with phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and treatment with other agents that increase cyclic AMP produced a similar decrease in the level of cytoskeletal actin and myosin. Cytochalasin B treatment, through its effect on actin polymerization, produced similar changes in cell shape and cytoskeletal actin. The findings suggest that an elevation in intracellular cyclic AMP may play a role in the density-dependent changes in cell shape and microfilament organization observed in osteoblasts.     

Process Formation in Astrocytes: Modulation of Cytoskeletal Proteins

Studies on primary astrocytes cultured in vitro have shown that process formation involves changes in cytoskeletal proteins and release of tension on the substratum. Actin filament reorganization has previously been found to be the major cytoskeletal change occurring during process formation. These changes are relatively rapid with breakdown of the actin web and release of contacts occur within 15 min. of cyclic AMP treatment. The former is regulated by myosin light chain (MLC) and actin depolymerizing factor (ADF), with MLC involved in the initial release of contractile tension and ADF in both initial and longer term actin breakdown. Our results show that the dephosphorylation of MLC is due to the phosphorylation and inactivation of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in response to cyclic AMP. To further study the mechanisms underlying the process formation in astrocytes we used endothelin-1 (ET-1), a vasopeptide which has been shown to inhibit process formation in astrocytes and sodium fluoride which is a general phosphatase inhibitor. We observe an increase in phosphorylation of MLC on inhibition of process formation. To study the role of adhesion in process formation we used suspension cultures of astrocytes. Our results with the astrocytes in suspension suggest that the process formation in astrocytes is adhesion dependent and the changes in ADF and MLC occur only when there is process formation.     

Effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and dexamethasone on glutamine synthetase gene expression in rat astrocytes in culture

Astrocytes are the primary site of glutamate conversion to glutamine in the brain. We examined the effects of treatment with either dibutyryl cyclic AMP and/or the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone on glutamine synthetase enzyme activity and steady-state mRNA levels in cultured neonatal rat astrocytes. Treatment of cultures with dibutyryl cyclic AMP alone (0.25 mM–1.0 mM) increased glutamine synthetase activity and steady state mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, treatment with dexamethasone alone (10^–7–10^–5 M) increased glutamine synthetase mRNA levels and enzyme activity. When astrocytes were treated with both effectors, additive increases in glutamine synthetase activity and mRNA were obtained. However, the additive effects were observed only when the effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP alone was not maximal. These findings suggest that the actions of these effectors are mediated at the level of mRNA accumulation. The induction of glutamine synthetase mRNA by dibutyryl cyclic AMP was dependent on protein synthesis while the dexamethasone effect was not. Glucocorticoids and cyclic AMP are known to exert their effects on gene expression by different molecular mechanisms. Possible crosstalk between these effector pathways may occur in regulation of astrocyte glutamine synthetase expression.Abbreviations used GS glutamine synthetase - dbcAMP dibutyryl cyclic AMP - MEM minimal essential medium - cyx cycloheximide - GRE glucocorticoid response element - CRE cyclic AMP response element     

Parathyroid hormone promotes the disassembly of cytoskeletal actin and myosin in cultured osteoblastic cells: mediation by cyclic AMP.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) alters the shape of osteoblastic cells both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we examined the effect of PTH on cytoskeletal actin and myosin, estimated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of Triton X-100 (1%) nonextractable proteins. After 2-5 minutes, PTH caused a rapid and transient decrease of 50-60% in polymerized actin and myosin associated with the Triton X-100 nonextractable cytoskeleton. Polymerized actin returned to control levels by 30 min. The PTH effect was dose-dependent with an IC50 of about 1 nM, and was partially inhibited by the (3-34) PTH antagonist. PTH caused a rapid transient rise in cyclic AMP (cAMP) in these cells that peaked at 4 min, while the nadir in cytoskeletal actin and myosin was recorded around 5 min. The intracellular calcium chelator Quin-2/AM (10 microM) also decreased cytoskeletal actin and myosin, to the same extent as did PTH (100 nM). To distinguish between cAMP elevation and Ca++ reduction as mediators of PTH action, we measured the phosphorylation of the 20 kD (PI 4.9) myosin light chain in cells preincubated with [32P]-orthophosphate. The phosphorylation of this protein decreased within 2-3 min after PTH addition and returned to control levels after 5 min. The calcium ionophore A-23187 did not antagonize this PTH effect. Visualization of microfilaments with rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin showed that PTH altered the cytoskeleton by decreasing the number of stress fibers. These changes in the cytoskeleton paralleled changes in the shape of the cells from a spread configuration to a stellate form with retracting processes. The above findings indicate that the alteration in osteoblast shape produced by PTH involve relatively rapid and transient changes in cytoskeletal organization that appear to be mediated by cAMP.     

The effect of cyclic AMP on glycoprotein secretion in isolated rat hepatocytes

The effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on glycoprotein biosynthesis, intracellular mobilization, and secretion in isolated rat hepatocytes are described. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (2.5 mm) initially suppresses [³H]glucosamine or [³H]fucose incorporation into cellular macromolecular material; however, after $\text{3}\text{1}\text{2}$ h, the incorporation of these radiolabeled carbohydrates into macromolecular material was stimulated relative to control cells. The stimulation in accumulation of cellular glycoprotein occurred in membrane-associated fractions, with most of this accumulation occurring in the Golgi elements. The glycoprotein produced in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP was quantitatively precipitated by antibodies directed against rat serum, suggesting that the accumulated cellular material is normally destined for secretion from the cell. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP also produced a drastic inhibition of glycoprotein secretion which persisted during the cellular accumulation of glycosylated material. Exposure of the hepatocytes to colchicine (10 μm) produced a similar increase in accumulation of [³H]glucosamine-containing immunoprecipitable material in the cellular fraction and a similar inhibition in secretion. The initial dibutyryl cyclic AMP-mediated suppression of synthesis of intracellular glycosylated material occurred entirely in non-membrane-associated intracellular fractions. Also, the initial accumulation of [³H]glucosamine-containing immunoprecipitable material was not suppressed during the first $\text{3}\text{1}\text{2}$ h after exposure to dibutyryl cyclic AMP, suggesting the initial suppression represents a metabolic process unrelated to secretion. The incorporation of [³H]leucine into macromolecular material was inhibited in both cellular and secreted fractions after exposure to dibutyryl cyclic AMP; however, the accumulation into the extracellular environment was inhibited to a greater extent. The patterns of [³H]glucosamine-containing lipid biosynthesis were unaffected by dibutyryl cyclic AMP.     

Thyrotropin-stimulated recruitment of free monoribosomes on to membrane-bound thyroglobulin-synthesizing polyribosomes.

Treatment of ox and dog thyroid slices in vitro with either thyrotropin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP elicited a variety of changes in polyribosome distribution. The most marked and consistent responses were decreases in both free and membrane-bound monoribosomes with a concomitant increase in the specific peak of thyroglobulin-synthesizing polyribosomes. On some occasions there was a shift towards heavier aggregates in the free polyribosomes. The increase in the amount of thyroglobulin-synthesizing polyribosomes was not accompanied by a shift in its location on the gradients. These changes were apparent within 30 min of thyrotropin addition and within 60 min of the addition of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. It is suggested that the major initial effect on translation of both thyrotropin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP is to stimulate the recruitment of pre-existing free monoribosomes on to pre-existing unloaded or under-loaded thyroglobulin mRNA molecules.     

Effect of parathyroid hormone and cyclic AMP on protein phosphorylation in rabbit kidney cortex

Suspensions of renal cortical tubules were incubated with ³³P_i and exposed to parathyroid hormone (40 μg/ml) or 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP. In other experiments homogenates of renal cortex were assayed for protein kinase and phosphoprotein phosphatase activity using [γ-³²P]ATP with or without 5 mM cyclic AMP. Proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and phosphorylation of proteins measured by liquid scintillation counting of gel slices. The pattern of protein phosphorylation was similar in control tissue from both tubule suspensions and homogenates. In intact tubules, parathyroid hormone stimulated the phosphorylation of four proteins with molecular weights of approx. 1500 000, 125 000, 100 000 and 50 000 by 28%, 24%, 13%, and 20%, respectively. Results with dibutyryl cyclic AMP were comparable but more variable. Stimulation of phosphorylation by cyclic AMP in homogenates was more generalized with the major effect on a 50 000 dalton protein (50% stimulation). No effect of cyclic AMP on dephosphorylation of proteins was observed. The results are interpreted as indicating that increased phosphorylation of cell proteins is part of the cyclic AMP-mediated response of the renal cortex to parathyroid hormone.     

Reciprocal Modulation of Astrocyte Stellation by Thrombin and Protease Nexin-1

When cultured astroglia are treated with agents that elevate intracellular cyclic AMP, they become process-bearing stellate cells and resemble differentiated astrocytes in vivo. Thrombin rapidly reversed the stellation induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, forskolin, or isoproterenol in cultured rat astrocytes; half-maximal and maximal effects occurred at 0.5 and 8 pM, respectively. The proteolytic activity of thrombin was required for stellation reversal, as thrombin derivatized at its catalytic site serine with a diisopropylphospho group was inactive. Two thrombin inhibitors, protease nexin-1 and hirudin, blocked and reversed the effect of thrombin. The stellation reversal effect of thrombin was specific, as 300-1,000-fold higher concentrations of other serine proteinases, including plasmin, urokinase, trypsin, and T cell serine proteinase-1, were ineffective. Thrombin is a mitogen for astrocytes at concentrations in excess of 30 pM. Thrombin increased both cell number and ornithine decarboxylase activity, an early marker for mitogenic stimulation, in astrocyte cultures. The lowest thrombin concentrations that completely reversed astrocyte stellation, however, did not increase ornithine decarboxylase activity. Moreover, several other mitogens for astrocytes did not reverse dibutyryl cyclic AMP-induced stellation. Thus, the stellation reversal effect of thrombin is distinct from the mitogenic response.     

Uptake and catabolism of N6, 2'-O-dibutyryl cyclic AMP by the perfused heart

Dibutyryl cyclic AMP when administered to perfused rat hearts produced increased contractile tension and increased intracellular levels of cyclic AMP. When [³H]dibutyryl cyclic AMP was administered, it was taken up by the heart in extremely small amounts. The material was present in the tissue throughout the duration of the inotropic response. The compound was slowly degraded to monobutyryl cyclic AMP and traces of cyclic AMP. It is suggested that N⁶-monobutyryl-cyclic AMP, or possibly cyclic AMP, may mediate the effects of the dibutyryl analog.     

Hormone-induced changes in pyruvate kinase activity in isolated hepatocytes II. Relation to the hormonal regulation of gluconeogenesis gluconeogenesis

1. 1. Incubation of isolated hepatocytes with glucagon (10⁻⁶ M) or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0.1 mM) causes a decrease in pyruvate kinase activity of 50%, measured at suboptimal substrate (phosphoenolpyruvate) concentrations and 1 mM Mg_free²⁺. The magnitude of the decrease in activity is not influenced by the applied extracellular concentrations of lactate (1 and 5 mM), glucose (5 and 30 mM) or fructose (10 and 25 mM). With all three substrates comparable inhibition percentages are induced by glucagon or dibutyryl cyclic AMP.

2. 2. The extent of inhibition of pyruvate kinase induced by incubation of hepatocytes with glucagon or dibutytyl cyclic AMP is not influenced by the extracellular Ca²⁺ concentration nor by the presence of 2 mM EGTA. The reactivation of pyruvate kinase seems to be inhibited by a high concentration of extracellular Ca²⁺ (2.6 mM) as compared to a low concentration of extracellular Ca²⁺ (0.26 mM).

3. 3. Incubation of hepatocytes in a Na⁺-free, high K⁺-concentration medium does not influence the magnitude of the pyruvate kinase inhibition induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. However, the reactivation reaction is stimulated under these incubation conditions.

4. 4. Incubation of hepatocytes with dibutyryl cyclic GMP (0.1 mM) leads to a 25% decrease in pyruvate kinase activity. The magnitude of the inhibition by dibutyryl cyclic (GMP) is not influenced by the presence of pyruvate (1 mM) or glucose (5 mM and 30 mM).

5. 5. The relative insensitivity of the pyruvate kinase inhibition induced by glucagon, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic GMP to the extracellular environment leads to the conclusion that the hormonal regulation of pyruvate kinase is not the only site of hormonal regulation of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. It is concluded that hormonal regulation of pyruvate kinase activity is exerted by changes in the degree of (de)phosphorylation of the enzyme reflecting acute hormonal control as well as by changes in the concentration of the allosteric activator fructose 1,6-diphosphate. The latter depends at least in part on the hormonal control of the phosphofructokinase-fructose-1,6-phosphatase cycle.

Protein Phosphorylation in Astrocytes Mediated by Protein Kinase C: Comparison with Phosphorylation by Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase

The protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), has been found recently to transform cultured astrocytes from flat, polygonal cells into stellate-shaped, process-bearing cells. Studies were conducted to determine the effect of PMA on protein phosphorylation in astrocytes and to compare this pattern of phosphorylation with that elicited by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), an activator of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase which also affects astrocyte morphology. Exposure to PMA increased the amount of 32P incorporation into several phosphoproteins, including two cytosolic proteins with molecular weights of 30,000 (pI 5.5 and 5.7), an acidic 80,000 molecular weight protein (pI 4.5) present in both the cytosolic and membrane fractions, and two cytoskeletal proteins with molecular weights of 60,000 (pI 5.3) and 55,000 (pI 5.6), identified as vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein, respectively. Effects of PMA on protein phosphorylation were not observed in cells depleted of protein kinase C. In contrast to the effect observed with PMA, treatment with dbcAMP decreased the amount of 32P incorporation into the 80,000 protein. Like PMA, treatment with dbcAMP increased the 32P incorporation into the proteins with molecular weights of 60,000, 55,000 and 30,000, although the magnitude of this effect was different. The effect of dbcAMP on protein phosphorylation was still observed in cells depleted of protein kinase C. The results suggest that PMA, via the activation of protein kinase C, can alter the phosphorylation of a number of proteins in astrocytes, and some of these same phosphoproteins are also phosphorylated by the cyclic AMP-dependent mechanisms.     

Changes in enzyme patterns produced by high potassium concentration and dibutyryl cyclic AMP in organ cultures of sympathetic ganglia

—Preliminary experiments had shown that acetylcholine, the putative mediator of trans-synaptic induction of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) in vivo, did not lead to an increase in these enzyme activities in mouse superior cervical ganglia kept in organ culture. It was the aim of the present study to evaluate whether increases in tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine β-hydroxylase evoked by other stimuli such as potassium or dibutyryl cyclic AMP in such an in vitro system are representative for in vivo trans-synaptic induction where changes in the levels of enzymes involved in norepinephrine synthesis or degradation are strictly confined to TH and DBH. In the presence of elevated concentrations of potassium or 5 mm dibutyryl cyclic AMP under organ culture conditions TH and DBH as well as DOPA decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase were significantly (P < 0.025) increased. The increase in total activities of TH and DBH were completely, those of DOPA decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase partially, inhibited by cycloheximide. In the presence of high concentrations of potassium, the total protein content of the ganglia was 28 per cent higher than in culture controls while dibutyryl cyclic AMP had no significant effect. Cycloheximide alone caused the protein content to fall to 70 per cent of that in control cultures. The loss of protein in the presence of cycloheximide was not accompanied by a simultaneous loss of TH, DOPA decarboxylase or monoamine oxidase, but DBH was decreased. Potassium was shown to increase the incorporation of [³H]leucine into TCA-insoluble protein during an early culture period but dibutyryl cyclic AMP showed no such effect. An increase in the rate of incorporation of [³H]leucine into protein was seen in both the control and elevated potassium cultures after 48 h. This increase did not occur in the presence of dbcAMP. The difference in enzyme patterns under conditions of elevated potassium and dibutyryl cyclic AMP and the fact that no changes in the levels of endogenous cyclic AMP were observed during exposure to 54 mm -potassium for a time period sufficient to initiate changes ultimately leading to elevated TH levels argues against the mediation of the potassium-induced enzyme increases by cAMP. Since changes in enzyme patterns caused by potassium and dbcAMP were not similar to patterns seen in vivo under conditions of trans-synaptic induction we conclude that use of this system as an in vitro model for in vivo trans-synaptic induction necessitates great caution.     

Hormonal regulation of collagen degradation in the uterus: Inhibition of collagenase expression by progesterone and cyclic AMP

Dibutyryl cyclic AMP markedly increases the ability of progesterone to prevent the expression of collagenase activity in cultures of post-partum rat uterus. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP itself and, to a lesser extent, native cyclic AMP, are capable of producing a partial decrease in enzyme activity, but complete abolition is not observed at high cyclic nucleotide concentrations (5 mM) in the culture medium. Theophylline, when added to cultures, mimics the effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Other cyclic nucleotides were without effect on levels of collagenase activity in the uterine cultures.When non-inhibitory concentrations of either dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1 · 10^?4 M) or theophylline (1 · 10^?4 M) are added to cultures together with a non-inhibitory concentration of either progesterone (5 · 10^?6 M) or the potent progesterone analogue Provera (1 · 10^?8 M) the ability of the tissue to produce collagenase is decreased by 40–70%. Collagenase activity is consistently diminished more than additively by combinations of steroid and cyclic nucleotide. Theophylline mimics the effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on steroid activity in culture. In the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP, diminution of collagenase activity can be observed at concentrations of steroid more than two orders of magnitude lower than the normal minimally inhibitory dose. Reduction of collagenase activity is reflected in all experiments by a concomitant decrease in the normal proteolytic degradation of collagen in the tissue ex-plants. The possibility that progesterone acts in the uterus to raise cyclic AMP levels is suggested by the fact that uterine tissue, when cultured in the presence of progesterone, contains reduced levels of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase.These data suggest that, in some way a cyclic AMP-mediated system is critically involved in the control of collagenase activity by progesterone in the rat uterus.     

Cyclic AMP and growth of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Lack of cyclic AMP elevation in nutritionally deprived cells and mechanism of retardation of growth by dibutryl cyclic AMP.

Cyclic AMP levels in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells changed little after deprivation of cells of essential nutrients, serum, glucose and amino acids, deprival of each of which leads to marked inhibition of growth and protein synthesis. Cyclic AMP levels also changed little after the addition of these nutrients to deprived cells. Thus cyclic AMP is not likely to be the intracellular mediator for growth regulation by these three nutrients. Elevation of cyclic AMP levels for short periods by exposure of cells to choleratoxin or theophylline produced only slight changes in parameters of protein synthesis (polyribosome pattern and rate of [3H]leucine incorporation). An exposure for 1 day to dibutyryl cyclic AMP did not inhibit cell growth. However, prolonged exposure to dibutyryl cyclic AMP inhibited the multiplication of Ehrlich ascites cells both in suspension and in stationary cultures. No morphological effects were evident in the former; in the latter, cells attached firmly to the substratum and formed elongated cytoplasmic processes. Inhibition of cell multiplication by dibutyryl cyclic AMP was related to cell density and to serum concentration. Cells in dibutyryl cyclic AMP-containing media plated at low cell densities multiplied as rapidly as control cells. The final densities cells reached were determined by the serum concentration; in dibutyryl cyclic AMP-containing media these densities were about one-half those of respective control cells. Limitation of cell multiplication by dibutyryl cyclic AMP was reversed by the addition of serum, by resuspending cells at lower densities, or by resuspending cells in media without dibutyryl cyclic AMP. These findings suggested that dibutyryl cyclic AMP may affect the utilization of serum factors by cells. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP did not inactivate serum factors and did not change the rate at which cells depleted the growth medium of serum factors. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP may limit cell multiplication by increasing the cellular requirement for serum factors.     

Effect of in vitro cultivation and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection on intracellular cyclic AMP levels in hamster tracheal organ cultures.

Exogenous cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic AMP decreased the relative ciliary activity values of tracheal organ cultures. In contrast, theophylline and cholera toxin were not ciliostatic. The use of a radioimmunoassay for cyclic AMP indicated that all of the tested substances increased intracellular cyclic AMP levels to some extent (from 3-fold for cholera toxin to almost 40-fold for dibutyryl cyclic AMP). Physical inactivation of explants by either freeze-thaw or heat destroyed all ciliary activity and greatly decreased intracellular cyclic AMP levels. Cyclic AMP levels of explants remained relatively constant during in vitro cultivation. Three strains of Mycoplasma pneumoniae were found to contain extremely low amounts of cyclic AMP. Infection of tracheal explants produced a significant decrease in relative ciliary activity, but only a slight decline in organ-culture cyclic AMP levels.     

Similar and opposite effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and insulin on glucose metabolism in adipose tissue

The effects of N⁶-2′-O-dibutyryl cyclic AMP on glucose metabolism and lipolysis in fragments of rat epididymal adipose tissue were studied. Measurements were made of glucose uptake, conversion of glucose carbon to CO₂ and tissue fatty acids and glyceride-glycerol, lactate production, and glycerol release. Low concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0.1–0.5 mM) increased all parameters of glucose metabolism and inhibited glycerol release in tissue from both normally fed and fasted rats. Higher concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (3–5 mM) diminished glucose utilization and greatly accelerated lipolysis. Insulin, 50 μunits/ml, accelerated glucose metabolism in the presence of either low or high concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP though the effect of insulin was greatly reduced by 3 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Tissue exposed to concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP which inhibited glucose metabolism (5 mM), then rinsed and reincubated without dibutyryl cyclic AMP, displayed increased glucose utilization. The results of these experiments emphasize the need for caution in interpretation of the effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on adipose tissue metabolism and the need for further research to elucidate the role of cyclic AMP in the regulation of glucose metabolism.