Induction of differentiation in v-Ha-ras-transformed MDCK cells by prostaglandin E2 and 8-bromo-cyclic AMP is associated with a decrease in steady-state level of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate.

We used Ha-ras-transformed Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells as a model to study possible signal transduction mechanisms underlying the induction of glucagon responsiveness by the differentiation inducers prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 8-bromo-cyclic (8-Br-cAMP) AMP and the inhibition of induction by phorbol ester or a serum factor. The steady-state level of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) was higher in Ha-ras-transformed MDCK cells than in parental MDCK cells. In contrast, the steady-state level of intracellular cAMP of transformed cells was similar to that of normal cells. PGE2 and 8-Br-cAMP increased cAMP content but decreased IP3 levels in a concentration-dependent fashion after 5 days of treatment. We examined the time course for effects of PGE2 and 8-Br-cAMP and found that there was a lag period of 8 to 16 h between elevation of cAMP after the addition of 8-Br-cAMP or PGE2 and the decrease of IP3 levels. Another lag period of 2 days existed before the induction of differentiation. Both the reduction of IP3 levels and the induction of glucagon responsiveness were blocked by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate or serum, suggesting that a decrease in the IP3 level might be causally involved in induction of differentiation in transformed MDCK cells. However, induction of differentiation was not due to changes in the expression or guanine nucleotide-binding properties of p21 protein. It is likely that cAMP has a direct regulatory effect on the phospholipid signaling pathway. We conclude that perturbation of the inositol phosphate signaling pathway may be responsible for the induction of differentiation by PGE2 and 8-Br-cAMP in transformed MDCK cells.     

Expression of glucagon sensitivity by transformed MDCK cells normally unresponsive to glucagon: early commitment to differentiation

A cloned line of canine kidney cells (MDCK) transformed with Harvey murine sarcoma virus, in contrast to the parental, untransformed line, expressed glucagon sensitivity only under controlled culture conditions. The glucagon sensitivity of transformed MDCK cells appeared after 10 days of culture if plated at less than 100,000 cells/dish or after 3 days if cells were plated at greater than 300,000 cells/dish. As there was no effect of conditioned medium from glucagon-sensitive cells on insensitive cells, media components seemed not to be involved in this phenomenon. Glucagon sensitivity appeared more readily in defined as opposed to serum-containing medium. In fact, as little as 2% fetal bovine serum inhibited the expression of glucagon sensitivity when included in defined medium over the course of the experiment. Furthermore, when transformed MDCK cells were exposed to serum for only the first 24 hr of culture, glucagon sensitivity on day 11 was identical to that of cells exposed to serum throughout the entire experiment. In contrast, exposure to serum later in culture (days 4-8) had no inhibitory effect on the expression of glucagon sensitivity on day 11. The data suggest that differentiation, or glucagon sensitivity, occurs when transformed, glucagon-insensitive cells achieve a critical high density and that differentiation is sensitive to inhibition by serum only during the first 24 hr of culture.     

Transcriptional control of the human aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 promoter by hepatocyte nuclear factor 4: inhibition by cyclic AMP and COUP transcription factors.

An important regulatory element (designated FP330-3') of the ALDH2 promoter mediates activation by hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4). This activation of promoter constructs containing this element by HNF4 was reduced by nearly half by 8-Br-cAMP in H4IIEC3 cells, an effect that was blocked by inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA). Cotransfection assays showed that COUP-TF I, ARP-1, or PPARdelta suppressed the ability of HNF4 to activate the reporter. The repression was potentiated by 8-Br-cAMP. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that treatment of hepatoma cells or cultured rat hepatocytes with 1 mM 8-Br-cAMP or glucagon reduced binding of FP330-3' by HNF4 by half. In vitro phosphorylation of HNF4 by PKA decreased binding to FP330-3'. Fasting reduced the ALDH2 protein level in liver and kidney, two tissues expressing HNF4, but not heart. These data suggest that ALDH2 expression can be suppressed by cAMP, most likely through phosphorylation of HNF4 by PKA, and this may account for the reduction in enzyme protein during fasting.     

Cholera toxin induces expression of the immediate-early response gene JE via a cyclic AMP-independent signaling pathway.

Cholera toxin (CT) activates expression of two immediate-early response genes (JE and TIS10) in quiescent BALB/c 3T3 cells. Increases in cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in response to CT are likely responsible for the induction of TIS10 gene expression, since treatment with 8-Br-cAMP and increasing the intracellular levels of cAMP by treatment with forskolin induce TIS10 gene expression. In contrast, neither forskolin nor 8-Br-cAMP induces JE gene expression. 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, which stabilizes intracellular cAMP, potentiates CT-induced TIS10 gene expression but has no effect on CT-induced JE gene expression. Thus, induction of JE by CT is independent of the cAMP produced in response to CT. Induction of JE by CT does not require protein kinase C (PKC), since depleting cells of PKC activity has no effect on the induction of JE by CT. CT-induced expression of JE can be distinguished from CT-induced TIS10 gene expression by using protein kinase inhibitors and inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism, further suggesting distinct signaling pathways for CT-induced JE and TIS10 gene expression. Thus, induction of JE gene expression by CT results from the activation of an intracellular signaling pathway that is independent of cAMP production. This pathway is independent of PKC activity and uniquely sensitive to inhibitors of protein kinases and arachidonic acid metabolism.     

Regulation of proliferation in a murine colony-stimulating factor-dependent myeloid cell line: superinduction of c-fos by the growth inhibitor 8-Br-cyclic adenosine 3':5' monophosphate

We have investigated the effect of 8-Br-cyclic adenosine 3':5' monophosphate (cAMP), a pharmacological activator of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, on the proliferation and the nuclear proto-oncogene induction in a murine granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-dependent myeloid cell line. Cells were growth arrested by granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and serum deprivation and were allowed to proceed in the cell cycle by addition of the lymphokine in the presence or absence of 8-Br-cAMP. 3H-thymidine incorporation assays showed that addition of 8-Br-cAMP inhibited the entry of cells into S phase and the subsequent proliferation. Northern analysis showed that 8-Br-cAMP had opposite effects on c-fos and c-myc mRNA induction. 8-Br-cAMP induced c-fos in the absence of any GM-CSF. In the presence of GM-CSF, c-fos mRNA was superinduced (30-fold induction compared to four- to fivefold by each signal alone). On the contrary, 8-Br-cAMP was not able to induce c-myc in the absence of growth factor and hardly interfered with the induction of c-myc by GM-CSF. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a pharmacological activator of the lipid and CA++-dependent protein kinase C, was shown to induce nuclear proto-oncogene mRNA in the GM-CSF-dependent cell line. We investigated the effect of 8-Br-cAMP on PMA-induced c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels. When both cAMP dependent and lipid-dependent kinase systems were co-stimulated in the absence of GM-CSF, c-fos message was again superinduced (60-fold induction). On the contrary, c-myc message induction by PMA was inhibited by 80% by coactivation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase with 8-Br-cAMP. Our data indicate that an antiproliferative signal induces or even superinduces c-fos message and hardly interferes with c-myc induction, suggesting that the intracellular pathways resulting in c-fos and c-myc induction may be distinct and that two different pathways can lead to c-fos induction, with synergistic effects when both are activated.     

Acute Glucagon Induces Postprandial Peripheral Insulin Resistance

Glucagon levels are often moderately elevated in diabetes. It is known that glucagon leads to a decrease in hepatic glutathione (GSH) synthesis that in turn is associated with decreased postprandial insulin sensitivity. Given that cAMP pathway controls GSH levels we tested whether insulin sensitivity decreases after intraportal (ipv) administration of a cAMP analog (DBcAMP), and investigated whether glucagon promotes insulin resistance through decreasing hepatic GSH levels.Insulin sensitivity was determined in fed male Sprague-Dawley rats using a modified euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp in the postprandial state upon ipv administration of DBcAMP as well as glucagon infusion. Glucagon effects on insulin sensitivity was assessed in the presence or absence of postprandial insulin sensitivity inhibition by administration of L-NMMA. Hepatic GSH and NO content and plasma levels of NO were measured after acute ipv glucagon infusion. Insulin sensitivity was assessed in the fed state and after ipv glucagon infusion in the presence of GSH-E. We founf that DBcAMP and glucagon produce a decrease of insulin sensitivity, in a dose-dependent manner. Glucagon-induced decrease of postprandial insulin sensitivity correlated with decreased hepatic GSH content and was restored by administration of GSH-E. Furthermore, inhibition of postprandial decrease of insulin sensitivity L-NMMA was not overcome by glucagon, but glucagon did not affect hepatic and plasma levels of NO. These results show that glucagon decreases postprandial insulin sensitivity through reducing hepatic GSH levels, an effect that is mimicked by increasing cAMP hepatic levels and requires physiological NO levels. These observations support the hypothesis that glucagon acts via adenylate cyclase to decrease hepatic GSH levels and induce insulin resistance. We suggest that the glucagon-cAMP-GSH axis is a potential therapeutic target to address insulin resistance in pathological conditions.     

Effect of epidermal growth factor on synthesis of prostaglandins and cyclic AMP by embryonic palate mesenchymal cells

The influence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the ability of murine embryonic palate mesenchymal (MEPM) cells to be stimulated to synthesize cAMP and prostaglandins was investigated. Preincubation of MEPM cells with EGF enhanced, in a dose-dependent fashion, (1) the responsiveness of MEPM cells to prostaglandin E1-induced elevation of intracellular levels of cAMP, and (2) the responsiveness of cells to calcium ionophore (A23187) and melittin-induced synthesis of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha. Hormonal responsiveness of MEPM cells to EGF, prostaglandins and cAMP has been implicated as being involved in controlling various aspects of normal oro-facial development. We show here that EGF can potentiate hormonal responsiveness of these cells and thus allows consideration of EGF as a factor which may modulate hormonally regulated craniofacial growth and differentiation.     

Glucagon stimulates exocytosis in mouse and rat pancreatic alpha-cells by binding to glucagon receptors

Glucagon, secreted by the pancreatic alpha-cells, stimulates insulin secretion from neighboring beta-cells by cAMP- and protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent mechanisms, but it is not known whether glucagon also modulates its own secretion. We have addressed this issue by combining recordings of membrane capacitance (to monitor exocytosis) in individual alpha-cells with biochemical assays of glucagon secretion and cAMP content in intact pancreatic islets, as well as analyses of glucagon receptor expression in pure alpha-cell fractions by RT-PCR. Glucagon stimulated cAMP generation and exocytosis dose dependently with an EC50 of 1.6-1.7 nm. The stimulation of both parameters plateaued at concentrations beyond 10 nm of glucagon where a more than 3-fold enhancement was observed. The actions of glucagon were unaffected by the GLP-1 receptor antagonist exendin-(9-39) but abolished by des-His1-[Glu9]-glucagon-amide, a specific blocker of the glucagon receptor. The effects of glucagon on alpha-cell exocytosis were mimicked by forskolin and the stimulatory actions of glucagon and forskolin on exocytosis were both reproduced by intracellular application of 0.1 mm cAMP. cAMP-potentiated exocytosis involved both PKA-dependent and -independent (resistant to Rp-cAMPS, an Rp-isomer of cAMP) mechanisms. The presence of the cAMP-binding protein cAMP-guanidine nucleotide exchange factor II in alpha-cells was documented by a combination of immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR and 8-(4-chloro-phenylthio)-2'-O-methyl-cAMP, a cAMP-guanidine nucleotide exchange factor II-selective agonist, mimicked the effect of cAMP and augmented rapid exocytosis in a PKA-independent manner. We conclude that glucagon released from the alpha-cells, in addition to its well-documented systemic effects and paracrine actions within the islet, also represents an autocrine regulator of alpha-cell function.     

Oncogene-transformed granulosa cells as a model system for the study of steroidogenic processes

Highly steroidogenic granulosa cell lines were established by transfection of primary granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles with SV40 DNA and Ha-ras oncogene. Progesterone production in these cells was enhanced to levels comparable to normal steroidogenic cells, by prolonged (> 12 h) stimulation with 8-Br-cAMP, forskolin and cholera toxin, which elevate intracellular cAMP. The steroidogenic capacity of individual lines correlated with the expression of the ras oncogene product (p21) and the morphology of the cells. Formation of the steroid hormones was associated with de novo synthesis of the mitochondrial cytochrome P450scc system proteins. Since cholesterol import into mitochondria is essential for steroidogenesis, the expression of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) and the sterol carrier protein 2 was characterized in these cells. The induction of the expression of the genes coding for both proteins appeared to be mediated, at least in part, by cAMP. Stimulation of the PBR by specific agonists enhanced progesterone production in these cells. The phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) dramatically suppressed the cAMP-induced steroidogenesis, in spite of enhanced intracellular cAMP levels, suggesting that TPA can modify the effects of cAMP. cAMP stimulation suppressed growth of transformed cells concomitantly with induction of steroidogenesis. The transformed cells lacked receptors for the native stimulants, the gonadotropic hormones. After transfection of the cells with a lutropin (LH) receptor expression plasmid, the LH and hCG response was reconstituted. In these newly established cell lines gonadotropins were able to stimulate the formation of cAMP and progesterone in a dose-dependent manner with an ED₅₀ characteristic of the native receptor. High doses caused desensitization to gonadotropins as observed in normal cells. These newly established oncogene-transformed granulosa cell lines can serve as a useful model to study inducible steroidogenesis and the effect of oncogene expression on this process.     

Mechanism of cyclic AMP effect on nutrient transport in Chinese hamster ovary cells. A genetic approach

The effect of 8-bromo cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP) on sugar and amino acid transport was investigated in wild-type Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and in mutants selected for resistance to cAMP inhibition of cell growth. In wild type cells, both 3-O-methyl-D-glucose and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport were decreased in cells treated for 24 h with 8-Br-cAMP; kinetic analysis indicated that a decrease in Vmax, without a significant change in Km, accounted for the lower transport capacity of 8-Br-cAMP treated cells. Among the different transport systems contributing to amino acid entry, "alanine" preferring transport system (system A) appeared to be specifically affected. The sensitivity of transport processes to 8-Br-cAMP was tested in three cAMP-resistant cell lines. When tested for their capacity to phosphorylate histones in crude extracts, one strain had apparently normal amounts of protein kinase activity, one strain had a decreased enzyme sensitivity to cAMP, and one strain had little or no enzyme activity. In all three mutants, no effect of 8-Br-cAMP on 3-O-methyl glucose and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport could be observed, regardless of the level of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. These data do not indicate whether the effect of cAMP on nutrient transport in CHO cells is the cause or consequence of growth inhibition. However, they support the conclusion that, in CHO cells, the presence of a normally functioning cAMP-dependent protein kinase appears to be necessary but may not be sufficient to observe the effects of cAMP on nutrient transport as well as cell shape and cell growth.     

Enhancement by theophylline of the butyrate-mediated induction of choriogonadotropin alpha-subunit in HeLa cells. I. Lack of correlation with cAMP.

The glycoprotein hormone common alpha-subunit can be induced in HeLa and other nontrophoblastic tumor cell lines by sodium butyrate. This report demonstrates that production of alpha-subunit can be further modulated by theophylline, especially in conjunction with butyrate. This synergism was not observed with other phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as xanthine, caffeine, theobromine, or methylisobutylxanthine. Induction by a combination of the short chain fatty acid plus the methylxanthine results from a decrease in the lag time after effector addition as well as a change in the rate of subunit accumulation. The increase in alpha-subunit is correlated with an increase in the levels of alpha-subunit mRNA, suggesting that induction is manifest at a pretranslational stage. The production of alpha-subunit was only marginally affected in cultures treated with 8-Br-cAMP or forskolin. Intracellular levels of cAMP were increased approximately threefold by methylisobutylxanthine, twofold by theophylline, fourfold by forskolin, and about 50% by butyrate, yet significant induction was achieved only by butyrate and theophylline. Taken together, these data suggest that the synergism between butyrate and theophylline is not mediated by cAMP.     

Modulation of hepatocyte growth factor induction in human skin fibroblasts by retinoic acid

Topical treatment of skin with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), the major biologically active form of vitamin A, results in hyperproliferation of basal keratinocytes, leading to an accelerated turnover of epidermis cells and thickening of the epidermis, probably via induction of production of paracrine growth factors for keratinocytes in epidermal suprabasal keratinocytes and/or dermal fibroblasts. Since hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a factor mitogenic to epidermal keratinocytes secreted from dermal fibroblasts, the effect of ATRA on basal and induced HGF production in human dermal fibroblasts in culture was examined. ATRA alone did not induce HGF production, but it significantly enhanced HGF production induced by the cAMP-elevating agent cholera toxin or the membrane-permeable cAMP analog 8-bromo-cAMP. Cholera toxin-induced activation of cAMP responsive element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB) was enhanced by pretreating cells with ATRA for 24 h. In contrast, HGF production induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was potently inhibited by ATRA. These modulatory effects of ATRA were different from the effects of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta) and dexamethasone, both of which inhibited HGF production induced by all of the four inducers. Up-regulation of HGF gene expression by cholera toxin and EGF was also enhanced and inhibited, respectively, by ATRA. Both 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA) and 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA), which are stereo-isomers of ATRA, showed a modulatory effect on HGF induction similar to that of ATRA. These results suggest that ATRA augments the induction of HGF production caused by increased intracellular cAMP.     

Alterations of cAMP metabolism and hormone responsiveness of cloned differentiated rat liver cells (RL-PR-C) upon spontaneous transformation

In normal Rat Liver Primary Culture (RL-PR-C) liver cells, cAMP was low prior to confluency, then rose continuously as cells became contact inhibited. In contrast, spontaneously transformed RL-PR-C cells did not become contact inhibited, and cAMP decreased steadily with increasing cell density. Normal cells released large amounts of cAMP into the extracellular fluid at all densities, while transformed cells did not do so at any density. Neither exogenous db-cAMP nor phosphodiesterase inhibitors reversed the uncontrolled growth of transformed cells, nor did conditioned media from contact-inhibited normal cells.While both normal and transformed RL-PR-C hepatocytes produced large amounts of cAMP in response to epinephrine and cholera toxin, transformed cells were much more sensitive to these agents; however, only normal cells responded to glucagon. Although the plasma membrane adenylate cyclase of transformed hepatocytes responded better than did that of normal cells to epinephrine, cholera toxin and fluoride, the basal cyclase activity of transformed cells was only about half that of normal cells. The adenylate cyclase of transformed cells did not respond to glucagon, although the number of glucagon receptors of such cells far exceeded that of normal cells. The V_max of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of normal hepatocytes was five times that of transformed cells, although the K_m was unchanged.The data indicate that spontaneous transformation of diploid differentiated RL-PR-C hepatocytes leads to cultural hormone receptor and cAMP changes similar to those seen in undifferentiated fibroblasts and other cells transformed by viruses and chemical carcinogens. Although there are significant changes in various parameters of cAMP metabolism upon transformation, decreased cAMP per se does not seem to be responsible for transformation. Furthermore, it is possible that following transformation, these hepatocytes lose some factor necessary for coupling of the glucagon receptor to adenylate cyclase.     

Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent inhibition of IL-5 from human T lymphocytes is not mediated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A

IL-5 is implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma and is predominantly released from T lymphocytes of the Th2 phenotype. In anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28-stimulated PBMC, albuterol, isoproterenol, rolipram, PGE2, forskolin, cholera toxin, and the cAMP analog, 8-bromoadenosine cAMP (8-Br-cAMP) all inhibited the release of IL-5 and lymphocyte proliferation. Although all of the above compounds share the ability to increase intracellular cAMP levels and activate protein kinase (PK) A, the PKA inhibitor H-89 failed to ablate the inhibition of IL-5 production mediated by 8-Br-cAMP, rolipram, forskolin, or PGE2. Similarly, H-89 had no effect on the cAMP-mediated inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation. Significantly, these observations occurred at a concentration of H-89 (3 microM) that inhibited both PKA activity and CREB phosphorylation in intact cells. Additional studies showed that the PKA inhibitors H-8, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio) adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate Rp isomer, and a myristolated PKA inhibitor peptide also failed to block the 8-Br-cAMP-mediated inhibition of IL-5 release from PBMC. Likewise, a role for PKG was considered unlikely because both activators and inhibitors of this enzyme had no effect on IL-5 release. Western blotting identified Rap1, a downstream target of the cAMP-binding proteins, exchange protein directly activated by cAMP/cAMP-guanine nucleotide exchange factors 1 and 2, in PBMC. However, Rap1 activation assays revealed that this pathway is also unlikely to be involved in the cAMP-mediated inhibition of IL-5. Taken together, these results indicate that cAMP-elevating agents inhibit IL-5 release from PBMC by a novel cAMP-dependent mechanism that does not involve the activation of PKA.     

The effect of cAMP on differentiation inducing factor (DIF)-mediated formation of stalk cells in low-cell-density monolayers of Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract. The requirement for cyclic AMP (cAMP) for stalk-cell formation in low-density monolayers of Dictyoste-lium discoideum , is mediated through the cell-surface cAMP receptor. Stalk-cell formation is markedly inhibited by the cAMP relay inhibitor, caffeine. This inhibition is reversed by high concentrations of 8-Br-cAMP, a highly cell-perme-abie analog of cAMP. These results suggest that elevated intracellular concentrations of cAMP are necessary for stalk-cell formation. The induction of stalk-cell formation in monolayers can be divided into a cAMP-dependent period and a differentiation inducing factor (DIF)-dependent period [21]. Despite this clearcut separation of the cAMP and DIF induction periods, cAMP enhanced the effects of DIF at low DIF concentrations. Evidence is presented that this was not a direct cooperative effect. The effect of caffeine was inhibitory during both periods and was not reversed by a combination of DIF and cAMP. Ammonia inhibited stalk-cell formation at all stages of the differentiation process, but the inhibition engendered during the initial cAMP-induction period was reversed by a combination of DIF and cAMP.     

Hepatic cyclic AMP generation and ornithine decarboxylase induction by glucagon and beta adrenergic agonists

The relationship of hepatic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity to cyclic AMP levels and nutritional status was studied in the pre-weanling rat. Previous studies demonstrated that 2 hr without food causes a loss of hepatic ODC induction after glucagon or catecholamine injection. Isoproterenol or glucagon administration produced increased hepatic cyclic AMP and tyrosine aminotransferase activity which were not prevented by nutritional deprivation. Blockade of hepatic beta 2 receptors by the selective antagonist ICI 118,551 prevented increased cAMP levels and ODC activity after isoproterenol administration. Blockade of beta 1 receptors by atenolol did not prevent increased cAMP levels or ODC induction by isoproterenol although it did block activation of cardiac ODC. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor RO20-1724 increased hepatic cAMP levels as well as ODC and TAT activities, although the increase in ODC activity was attenuated by nutritional deprivation. RO20-1724 also potentiated the induction of hepatic ODC after glucagon or isoproterenol administration. Administration of 8-bromo cAMP elevated hepatic ODC activity regardless of nutritional status but also elevated serum levels of growth hormone and corticosterone. Hepatic ODC induction by glucagon or beta 2 agonists can be dissociated from changes in cAMP levels during nutritional deprivation.     

Inhibition of tumor-stromal interaction through HGF/Met signaling by valproic acid

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which is produced by surrounding stromal cells, including fibroblasts and endothelial cells, has been shown to be a significant factor responsible for cancer cell invasion mediated by tumor-stromal interactions. We found in this study that the anti-tumor agent valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, strongly inhibited tumor-stromal interaction. VPA inhibited HGF production in fibroblasts induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and prostaglandin E₂ without any appreciable cytotoxic effect. Other HDAC inhibitors, including butyric acid and trichostatin A (TSA), showed similar inhibitory effects on HGF production stimulated by various inducers. Up-regulations of HGF gene expression induced by PMA and EGF were also suppressed by VPA and TSA. Furthermore, VPA significantly inhibited HGF-induced invasion of HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. VPA, however, did not affect the increases in phosphorylation of MAPK and Akt in HGF-treated HepG2 cells. These results demonstrated that VPA inhibited two critical processes of tumor-stromal interaction, induction of fibroblastic HGF production and HGF-induced invasion of HepG2 cells, and suggest that those activities serve for other anti-tumor mechanisms of VPA besides causing proliferation arrest, differentiation, and/or apoptosis of tumor cells.     

Effects of glucagon and an analogue of cAMP on tyrosine aminotransferase in isolated chick embryo hepatocytes.

Hepatocytes were isolated from 17-day-old chick embryos by the use of collagenase. Glucagon and dibutyryl cAMP (bt2cAMP), individually or in combination, stimulated tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activity and synthesis in the isolated hepatocytes; maximal stimulation occurred 4 h after exposure of hepatocytes to the inducers. The stimulatory effects produced by glucagon and bt2cAMP were abolished by treatment of hepatocytes with cordycepin or cycloheximide. The effects of the hormone and the cyclic nucleotide were not additive. The induction of the enzyme by glucagon suggests a physiological role for the hormone in the expression of TAT activity during chick embryonic development.     

Inhibition by glucagon of the cGMP-inhibited low-Km cAMP phosphodiesterase in heart is mediated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.

We have recently reported that glucagon activated the L-type Ca2+ channel current in frog ventricular myocytes and showed that this was linked to the inhibition of a membrane-bound low-Km cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) (Méry, P. F., Brechler, V., Pavoine, C., Pecker, F., and Fischmeister, R. (1990) Nature 345, 158-161). We show here that the inhibition of membrane-bound PDE activity by glucagon depends on guanine nucleotides, a reproducible inhibition of 40% being obtained with 0.1 microM glucagon in the presence of 10 microM GTP, with GTP greater than GTP gamma S, while GDP and ATP gamma S were without effect. Glucagon had no effect on the cytosolic low-Km cAMP PDE, assayed with or without 10 microM GTP. Glucagon inhibition of membrane-bound PDE activity was not affected by pretreatment of the ventricle particulate fraction with cholera toxin. However, it was abolished after pertussis toxin pretreatment. Mastoparan, a wasp venom peptide known to activate G(i)/G(o) proteins directly, mimicked the effect of glucagon. PDE inhibition by glucagon was additive with the inhibition induced by Ro 20-1724, but was prevented by milrinone. This was correlated with an increase by glucagon of cAMP levels in frog ventricular cells which was not additive with the increase in cAMP due to milrinone. We conclude that glucagon specifically inhibits the cGMP-inhibited, milrinone-sensitive PDE (CGI-PDE). Insensitivity of adenylylcyclase to glucagon and inhibition by the peptide of a low-Km cAMP PDE were not restricted to frog heart, but also occurred in mouse and guinea pig heart. These results confirm that two mechanisms mediate the action of glucagon in heart: one is the activation of adenylylcyclase through Gs, and the other relies on the inhibition of the membrane-bound low-Km CGI-PDE, via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.