Regulation of transglutaminase type II by transforming growth factor-beta 1 in normal and transformed human epidermal keratinocytes

This study examines the effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on the expression of Type I and II transglutaminase in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK cells). Treatment of undifferentiated NHEK cells with 100 pM TGF-beta 1 caused a 10- to 15-fold increase in the activity of a soluble transglutaminase. Based on its cellular distribution and immunoreactivity this transglutaminase was identified as Type II (tissue) transglutaminase. TGF-beta 1 did not enhance the levels of the membrane-bound Type I (epidermal) transglutaminase activity which is induced during squamous cell differentiation and did not increase Type II transglutaminase activity in differentiated NHEK cells. Several SV40 large T antigen-immortalized NHEK cell lines also exhibited a dramatic increase in transglutaminase Type II activity after TGF-beta 1 treatment; however, TGF-beta 1 did not induce any significant change in transglutaminase activity in the carcinoma-derived cell lines SCC-13, SCC-15, and SQCC/Y1. Half-maximal stimulation of transglutaminase Type II activity in NHEK cells occurred at a dose of 15 pM TGF-beta 1. TGF-beta 2 was about equally effective. This enhancement in transglutaminase activity was related to an increase in the amount of transglutaminase Type II protein as indicated by immunoblot analysis. Northern blot analyses using a specific cDNA probe for Type II transglutaminase showed that exposure of NHEK cells to TGF-beta 1 caused a marked increase in the mRNA levels of this enzyme which could be observed as early as 4 h after the addition of TGF-beta 1. Maximal induction of transglutaminase Type II mRNA occurred between 18 and 24 h. The increase in Type II transglutaminase mRNA levels was blocked by the presence of cycloheximide, suggesting that this increase in mRNA by TGF-beta 1 is dependent on protein synthesis.     

Transforming growth factor-beta suppresses the invasiveness of human fibrosarcoma cells in vitro by increasing expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease

We have investigated the effects of TGF-beta on the ability of the human fibrosarcoma cell line, HT1080, to invade a reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) in vitro. Exposure of HT1080 cells to TGF-beta (1-10ng/ml) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of HT1080 cell invasion. Unexpectedly, TGF-beta (10ng/ml) significantly enhanced (10-fold) the mRNA expression of the 68-72kDa latent type IV collagenase. Zymogram analysis revealed a 7-fold increase in the 68-72kDa latent type IV collagenase concomitant with an increase in the activated form (62kDa). TGF-beta induced the 92kDa type IV collagenase to a lesser degree. HT1080 cells exposed to TGF-beta also produced more tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease (TIMP) at both the mRNA (10-fold) and protein levels (5-fold). Although TGF-beta induced both type IV collagenases and TIMP, the net collagenolytic activity in the conditioned media after invasion assay was reduced in the presence of TGF-beta. The data suggest that the inhibition of invasiveness is due, at least in part, to the increased TIMP expression. These data suggest that TGF-beta may play a role in tumor cell invasion by increasing the expression of TIMP.     

Transforming growth factor-beta regulates stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase expression through a Smad signaling pathway.

The regulation of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), a rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, is physiologically important because the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids is thought to control cellular functions by modulating the structural integrity and fluidity of cell membranes. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a multifunctional cytokine, increased SCD mRNA expression in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells. This response was elicited by all three TGF-beta isoforms, beta1, beta2, and beta3. However, SCD mRNA expression was not increased either by other members of the TGF-beta family or by other growth factors or cytokines. TGF-beta also increased SCD mRNA expression in several other cell lines tested. The increase in SCD mRNA expression was preceded by a marked increase in Smad2 phosphorylation in TGF-beta-treated human retinal pigment epithelial cells. TGF-beta did not induce SCD mRNA expression in a Smad4-deficient cell line. However, Smad4 overexpression restored the TGF-beta effect in this cell line. Moreover, TGF-beta-induced SCD mRNA expression was effectively blocked by the overexpression of Smad7, an inhibitory Smad. Thus, a TGF-beta signal transduction pathway involving Smad proteins appears to regulate the cellular expression of the SCD gene, and this regulation may play an important role in lipid metabolism.     

Regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell integrin expression by transforming growth factor beta1 and by platelet-derived growth factor-BB.

We have examined the ability of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) to regulate the expression of various integrins in cultured rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). We found that expression of the alpha v beta 3 integrin complex was induced by both growth factors, although TGF-beta 1 appeared to be the more potent inducer. mRNA level of the beta 3 integrin subunit was undetectable in quiescent cells and enhanced by both growth factors, while the alpha v integrin subunit mRNA level did not change with growth factor addition. Therefore, appearance of the alpha v beta 3 integrin protein complex after growth factor stimulation was due to increased expression of the beta 3 integrin subunit mRNA. The TGF-beta 1 induced increase in beta 3 integrin mRNA was delayed, but did not require prior protein synthesis, since cycloheximide was unable to block the increase in beta 3 mRNA level. By contrast, PDGF-BB induced a more rapid increase in beta 3 integrin mRNA level that peaked by 6 h after growth factor addition and no detectable beta 3 integrin mRNA remained after 24 h. Interestingly, the PDGF-BB induced elevation of beta 3 integrin, although more rapid, was completely inhibited by cycloheximide. Expression of the alpha 5 integrin subunit in response to growth factors was very similar to beta 3. However, in contrast to beta 3 and alpha 5, neither TGF-beta 1 nor PDGF-BB were able to alter the expression of the beta 1 integrin subunit in vascular SMC. However, in TGF-beta 1 treated cells, there was a large increase in expression of a 190 kDa polypeptide that was associated with the beta 1 integrin subunit. This 190 kDa polypeptide was not detected in PDGF treated SMC or in TGF-beta 1 treated fibroblasts. The alpha 1 integrin subunit has a MW of approximately 190 kDa and is capable of complexing with beta 1. Analysis of the alpha 1 integrin subunit mRNA level indicated that it was indeed induced by TGF-beta 1, but not by PDGF-BB, suggesting that the 190 kDa polypeptide may be the alpha 1 integrin subunit. These results indicate that TGF-beta 1 and PDGF-BB are potent but distinct activators of integrin expression in vascular SMC.     

A phorbol ester-regulated ribonuclease system controlling transforming growth factor beta 1 gene expression in hematopoietic cells.

12-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced differentiation of U937 promonocytes leads to a 30-fold increase in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) gene expression, and this effect results from a stabilized mRNA. Similar up-regulation was detected in TPA-treated K562 erythroblasts but was absent from cell lines that do not differentiate in response to TPA. Related studies in vitro showed that postnuclear extracts of U937 promonocytes contain a ribonuclease system that degrades TGF-beta 1 mRNA selectively and that this system is completely blocked by prior treatment of the cells with TPA. These data identify a new mechanism for regulating TGF-beta 1 mRNA levels and allow us to establish the overall basis for control of TGF-beta 1 gene expression by activation of protein kinase C. Our results also provide a new basis for understanding the long-term up-regulation of TGF-beta 1 gene expression that can accompany hematopoietic cell differentiation.     

Bone morphogenetic protein-3b (BMP-3b) gene expression is correlated with differentiation in rat calvarial osteoblasts

BMP-3b (also called GDF-10) is a novel BMP-3-related protein recently discovered in rat femur tissue. Gene expression of BMP-3b in osteoblastic cells and its regulation by prolonged culture, BMP-2 and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) were examined. The BMP-3b gene was highly expressed in rat osteoblasts obtained from calvarial bones but not in the osteoblastic cell lines (MC3T3-E1 and U2-OS). BMP-3b mRNA increased during osteoblastic differentiation in prolonged culture and was associated with increased alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity. When BMP-2, an enhancer of ALPase activity, was added to the primary osteoblast culture, BMP-3b mRNA increased 6.9-fold after 24 h. In contrast, TGF-beta1 treatment, which suppresses ALPase activity, rapidly and completely inhibited gene expression of BMP-3b. The regulation of BMP-3 mRNA differed from that of BMP-3b, even though both proteins share 81% identity. These findings indicate that BMP-3b gene expression is regulated by osteoblastic differentiation and BMP-3b functions in highly differentiated osteoblasts.     

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 gene expression is differentially regulated at a post-transcriptional level in retinoic acid-sensitive and resistant MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) gene expression and IGFBP secretion were investigated in a retinoic acid (RA)-resistant subline (RROI) of MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. Our results demonstrate that RRO-I cells constitutively secrete higher levels of IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5. In addition, we found that a 5-fold increase in IGFBP-5 mRNA levels observed in RRO-I cells, which eventually leads to a similar increase in the secreted levels of IGFBP-5, was partly due to an increase in the stability of IGFBP-5 mRNA. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide differentially stabilized IGFBP-5 mRNA in MCF-7 cells but not in RRO-I cells, indicating a difference in the control of IGFBP-5 gene regulation at the level of mRNA stability in these cell lines.     

Regulation of osteoclastogenesis and RANK expression by TGF-beta1

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been shown to both inhibit and to stimulate bone resorption and osteoclastogenesis. This may be due, in part, to differential effects on bone marrow stromal cells that support osteoclastogenesis vs. direct effects on osteoclastic precursor cells. In the present study, we used the murine monocytic cell line, RAW 264.7, to define direct effects of TGF-beta on pre-osteoclastic cells. In the presence of macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) (20 ng/ml) and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANK-L) (50 ng/ml), TGF-beta1 (0.01-5 ng/ml) dose-dependently stimulated (by up to 120-fold) osteoclast formation (assessed by the presence of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) positive multinucleated cells and expression of calcitonin and vitronectin receptors). In addition, TGF-beta1 also increased steady state RANK mRNA levels in a time- (by up to 3.5-fold at 48 h) and dose-dependent manner (by up to 2.2-fold at 10 ng/ml). TGF-beta1 induction of RANK mRNA levels was present both in undifferentiated RAW cells as well as in cells that had been induced to differentiate into osteoclasts by a 7-day treatment with M-CSF and RANK-L. Using a fluorescence-labeled RANK-L probe, we also demonstrated by flow cytometry that TGF-beta1 resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of RANK+ RAW cells (P < 0.05), as well as an increase in the fluorescence intensity per cell (P < 0.05), the latter consistent with an increase in RANK protein expression per cell. These data thus indicate that TGF-beta directly stimulates osteoclastic differentiation, and this is accompanied by increased RANK mRNA and protein expression.     

Differential regulation of extracellular matrix proteoglycan (PG) gene expression. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 up-regulates biglycan (PGI), and versican (large fibroblast PG) but down-regulates decorin (PGII) mRNA levels in human fibroblasts in culture

Proteoglycans (PGs) comprise a group of extracellular matrix macromolecules which play an important role in matrix biology. In this study, normal human skin and gingival fibroblast cultures were incubated with transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), and the expression of three PGs, viz. biglycan (PGI), decorin (PGII), and versican (a large fibroblast proteoglycan) was examined. The results indicate that TGF-beta 1 (5 ng/ml) markedly increased the expression of biglycan (up to 24-fold) and versican (up to 6-fold) mRNAs and the enhancement of biglycan expression was coordinate with elevated type I procollagen gene expression in the same cultures. In contrast, the expression of decorin mRNA was markedly (up to approximately 70%) inhibited by TGF-beta 1. The response to TGF-beta 1 was similar in both skin and gingival fibroblasts, although the gingival cells were clearly more responsive to stimulation by TGF-beta 1 with respect to biglycan gene expression. Analysis of 35S-labeled proteoglycans in the culture media of skin and gingival fibroblasts also revealed stimulation of biglycan and versican production, and reduction in decorin production. Quantitation of both [35S]sulfate and [3H]leucine-labeled decorin in cell culture media by immunoprecipitation revealed a 50% reduction in decorin production in cell cultures treated with TGF-beta 1. This TGF-beta 1-elicited reduction was accompanied by an apparent increase in the size of the decorin molecules, although the size of the core protein was not altered, as judged by Western immunoblotting following chondroitinase ABC digestion. Analysis of the proteoglycans in the matrix and membrane fractions also revealed increased amounts of versican in cultures treated with TGF-beta 1. These results indicate differential regulation of PG gene expression in fibroblasts by TGF-beta 1, and these observations emphasize the role of PGs in the extracellular matrix biology and pathology.     

Two roles for transforming growth factor beta 1 in colon enterocytic cell differentiation.

The role of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in enterocytic differentiation was examined by treating two undifferentiated HT29 colon carcinoma sublines, U4 and U9, with hexamethylene bisacetamide to up-regulate their level of TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression. Although both lines after treatment secreted approximately equal levels of biologically active TGF-beta 1, only U4H cells were found to undergo enterocytic differentiation when cultured postconfluence on collagen I-coated transwells, forming polarized monolayer cells with an apical brush border, whereas U9H cells remained multilayered and undifferentiated. Enterocytic U4H cells exhibited four times as much cell surface expression of the collagen I-binding protein alpha 2-integrin, twice as much of the accessory collagen-binding protein carcinoembryonic antigen, and almost twice as much binding to collagen I films as undifferentiated U9H cells. TGF-beta 1 treatment doubled U4 cell collagen I binding, increased expression of alpha 2-integrin 4-fold, but increased carcinoembryonic antigen expression only marginally. U4H cells displayed cell cycle regulation by arresting reversibly at a restriction point in G1 when placed in the postconfluent culture conditions which initiated enterocytic differentiation. In contrast, undifferentiated U9H cells exhibited no restriction point but arrested throughout G1. TGF-beta 1 blocked synchronized U4H cells in G1, whereas it stimulated the growth of U9H cells. Thus, TGF-beta 1 has two roles in enterocytic differentiation: to increase levels of collagen I adhesion proteins and to block enterocytic cells in G1 so that they can differentiate.