Hormonal interactions in Tetrahymena: effect of hormones on levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF)

Tetrahymena pyriformiswas treated with insulin, histamine or serotonin for 30 min and epidermal growth factor (EGF) level was studied inside the cells using specific antibodies and flow cytometry as well as confocal microscopy. The EGF concentration was highly significantly elevated after hormone treatment, regardless of the hormone used. EGF was localized mainly in the cortical region (mucocysts) and in vesicles and this localization did not differ in untreated and treated cells. The results call attention to the possibility of interactions between hormones at unicellular level and points to the presence of a hormonal system in Tetrahymena that includes receptors, hormones and signal transduction pathways as well as hormonal interactions. This could be the basis of further evolution to the hormonal system of multicellulars.     

The chemical synthesis and binding affinity to the EGF receptor of the EGF-like domain of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF).

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), which belongs to the EGF-family of growth factors, was isolated from the conditioned medium of macrophage-like cells. To investigate the effect of N- and C-terminal residues of the EGF-like domain of HB-EGF in the binding affinity to the EGF receptor on A431 cell. We synthesized HB-EGF(44-86) corresponding to the EGF-like domain of HB-EGF and its N- or C-terminal truncated peptides. Thermolytic digestion demonstrated three disulfide bond pairings of the EGF-like domain in HB-EGF is consistent with that of human-EGF and human-TGF-alpha. HB-EGF(44-86) showed high binding affinity to EGF-receptor, like human-EGF. The truncation of the C-terminal Leu86 residue from HB-EGF(44-86), HB-EGF(45-86) or HB-EGF(46-86) caused a drastic reduction in the binding affinity to the EGF receptor. These results suggest that the EGF-like domain of HB-EGF plays an important role in the binding to the EGF receptor, and its C-terminal Leu86 residue is necessary for binding with the EGF-receptor. In addition, the deletion of the two N-terminal residues (Asp44-Pro45) from HB-EGF(44-86) caused a 10-fold decrease in relative binding affinity to the EGF receptor. This indicates that the two N-terminal residues of the EGF-like domain of HB-EGF are necessary for its optimal binding affinity to the EGF receptor.     

Effect of epidermal growth factor on preimplantation development and its receptor expression in porcine embryos.

The present study aimed to determine the influence of exogenous epidermal growth factor (EGF) on in vitro preimplantation porcine embryo development and its mRNA expression for EGF receptor (EGFR). Oocytes were aspirated from abattoir ovaries, selected and cultured in defined, protein-free media for 44 hr before in vitro fertilization (IVF). Thirty-six hours after IVF, two-cell stage embryos were selected and treated or cultured until embryo treatment. In experiment 1, compact morulae were selected on day 4 after IVF and randomly allocated into 5 groups: NCSU 23 with PVA as group 1; NCSU 23 with PVA and 0.1 ng/ml, 1.0 ng/ml, 10.0 ng/ml EGF as group 2, 3, 4, respectively; NSCU 23 with 0.4% BSA as group 5. In experiment 2, treatment groups were the same as in experiment 1 except that 0.1% crystallized BSA was added to both washing media and all treatment groups instead of PVA. In experiments 3 and 4, two-cell stage embryos were treated and cultured in the same experimental design as experiments 1 and 2, respectively. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of EGF receptor in compact morulae and blastocysts. The PCR products were subjected to direct DNA sequencing. There was no significant improvement in the development rate of embryos from compact morulae to blastocysts in the presence of various EGF concentrations (0.1, 1.0, 10.0 ng/ml) versus without EGF addition. They were all significantly lower than those embryos cultured in the continuous presence of 0.4% BSA. However, when a reduced concentration (0.1%) of crystallized BSA was added to all the treatment groups, a significantly lower rate of embryo development was observed in control media (NCSU23 with 0.1% crystallized BSA) compared with those developed in culture media with 0.4% BSA. With the addition of EGF at 10 ng/ml (with 0.1% BSA), embryo development rates were significantly improved over the control group (P < 0.05) and were as good as those rates in 0.4% BSA culture group. When embryos were selected and treated from the 2-cell stage, they did not develop to blastocyst stages after five more days' culture without any protein (BSA) or growth factor addition. When 0.1% BSA was included in the media, blastocyst formation rates were significantly improved by EGF addition at the concentration of both 1.0 or 10 ng/ml (P < 0.05) as compared to 0.0 or 0.1 ng/ml. EGFR mRNA was detected in both compact morulae and blastocyst stages of porcine embryos and confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. Our results indicate that IVM-IVF porcine embryo developmental rates could be improved by the addition of EGF in the culture media with the presence of a reduced amount of defined BSA (>97% albumin). However, EGF alone was not able to elicit any stimulatory effects on embryo development in the absence of protein supplementation. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential synergistic factors in embryo culture media to eventually define the porcine embryo culture media.     

Rostral–caudal distribution of Emx1‐lineage stem/transit amplifying cells and lineage progression in embryonic cortex depend on hedgehog signaling

Lineage progression of neural precursors to an EGF‐responsive state can be promoted by several extrinsic signals, including fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and Hedgehog (Hh). It has been suggested that EGF‐responsive precursors in the embryonic cerebral cortex originate in the ventral telencephalon in an FGF‐dependent manner and migrate dorsally. To determine whether cortical EGF‐responsive cells originate locally from dorsal precursors, we marked these precursors using Emx1‐cre and the cre reporter Z/EG and observed a local origin for EGF‐responsive cells. We also found a rostral–caudal difference in the abundance of self‐renewing, neurogenic Emx1‐lineage precursors, with more present rostrally. Deleting the Hh receptor smoothened in Emx‐1 lineage cells impaired their progression to an EGF‐responsive state. Moreover, loss of smoothened increased the proportion of neurogenic, self‐renewing Emx1‐lineage cells in caudal regions of cortex, eliminating their asymmetric distribution. Our results support the idea that Hh signaling promotes lineage progression of stem/transit amplifying cells, particularly in caudal regions of the embryonic cortex, leading to rostral–caudal differences in the abundance of neurogenic, self‐renewing precursors.© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 74: 1096–1109, 2014     

Effect of stress and stress hormones on the hormone (insulin) binding of Tetrahymena

The unicellular Tetrahymena pyriformis GL produce, store and secrete vertebrate‐like hormones. In earlier experiments the effect of different stressors on the hormone levels of Tetrahymena was studied and an elevation of these was found. In the present experiments the hormone binding was investigated, using flow cytometric method. FITC‐insulin binding was elevated after concentrated (5, 10, or 20 mg ml^?1) NaCl or 0.01%, 0.1%, or 0.05% formaldehyde treatment, or after thermal stress (37°C). Serotonin given together with NaCl increased and together with formaldehyde decreased the binding. Histamine always decreased the binding and insulin was indifferent. Four hours after osmotic stress, hormone binding significantly decreased and this was not influenced by hormones. However, 4 h after formaldehyde stress the binding elevated and this was further increased by repeated hormone treatments. The results show that the stress in Tetrahymena provokes an activation of its hormonal system (hormone production and binding), which is differently influenced by exogeneously given hormones. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of femtomolar concentrations of hormones on insulin binding by Tetrahymena, as a function of time

The unicellular ciliate Tetrahymena, contains and binds hormones, characteristic of vertebrates. Earlier experiments demonstrated the effect of extremely low concentrations of hormones. In the present experiments, the effect of various hormones (endorphin, serotonin, histamine, insulin and epidermal growth factor [EGF]) in 10(-15) M, or oxytocin, gonadotropin at 0.001 IU concentrations) on the binding of FITC-insulin was studied by using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, after 1, 5, 15, 30 and 60 min. Six of the seven hormones promptly decreased the cells' hormone binding capacity, the exception being EGF, and in four cases (endorphin, serotonin, insulin and oxytocin) the reduction was enormous. The decreased binding was durable. However, in the case of endorphin and oxytocin after 30 min, and in the case of serotonin after 60 min the binding returned to the control level. In the case of oxytocin after 60 min, binding significantly surpassed the control level. Histamine returned to the control level after 15 min, but after that the binding became even lower. EGF provoked special behaviour: it increased hormone binding after 30 and 60 min. The results call attention to the extreme sensitivity of Tetrahymena receptors to hormonal inductions and to its quick response ability.     

EGF-induced EGF-receptor and MAP kinase phosphorylation in goat cumulus cells during in vitro maturation

EGF has been shown to influence meiotic maturation and development competence of oocyte in various mammalian species. We previously reported, in goat, that the EGF receptor (EGF-R) was present both on cumulus cells and oocytes. Here, EGF-induced signaling was investigated during the in vitro maturation process in goat cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). Cumulus cells and oocytes were subjected to Western immunoblotting analysis using anti-MAP kinase, anti-phosphotyrosine, anti-phospho MAP kinase, and anti-phospho EGF-R antibodies. We demonstrated that treatment with EGF during the in vitro maturation process induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF-R in a time and concentration dependent manner in cumulus cells. A similar pattern of activation by phosphorylation was observed for MAP kinase upon EGF stimulation. AG 1478, an inhibitor of the EGF kinase, suppressed EGF-stimulated phosphorylation of EGF-R and also affected the MAP kinase activation. Treatment with the MEK inhibitor PD 98059 abolished EGF-induced MAP kinase activation. We did not observe oocyte EGF-R phosphorylation in our experiments during the in vitro maturation process. Our data indicate, in goat cumulus cells, that activation of EGF-R by EGF triggers signaling through the MAP kinase pathway during in vitro maturation. This supports the hypothesis that the major site of action for EGF, that regulates oocyte maturation, is the cumulus cell.     

Vaccinia virus and the EGF receptor: A portal for infectivity?

We previously demonstrated that occupancy of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor reduced the ability of vaccinia virus to infect L cells [Eppstein et al: Nature 318:663, 1985]. This result suggested that vaccinia virus was utilizing the EGF receptor as one pathway to infect cells. We have studied this system further, and now find that antibodies to the EGF receptor also reduce the ability of vaccinia virus to infect cells productively. Inclusion of both EGF and antibodies to the EGF receptor did not cause inhibition over that obtained by EGF alone, providing another line of evidence that the antiviral effects on vaccinia virus were at the level of the EGF receptor. The antiviral effects of EGF or synthetic peptides corresponding to the third disulfide loop of TGF-alpha or the vaccinia virus growth factor were specific to vaccinia virus and did not inhibit replication of herpes simplex virus type 2 or vesicular stomatitis virus. The inhibitory effects on replication of vaccinia virus were obtained when EGF (but not insulin or growth hormone) was present prior to, but not after, productive viral adsorption. These results provided further evidence that the antivaccinia viral effects of EGF were at the level of initial receptor occupancy. As interferon (IFN) treatment has been shown to interfere with the action of some growth factors, including EGF, we examined the effects of IFN treatment of cells on the antivaccinia viral activity of EGF. Our results show that the antivaccinia effect of IFN-beta either interfered with or partially coalesced with the inhibitory effects of EGF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor on Follicular Development and Steroidogenesis in Perfused Rat Ovary

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Characterisation of ligand binding to the parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone-related peptide receptor in MCF7 breast cancer cells and SaOS-2 osteosarcoma cells

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTHrP-receptor, PTH/PTHrP-R, are frequently expressed in mammary carcinomas as well as in bone cells. In this study we compared the ligand binding characteristics of the PTH/PTHrP-R in SaOS-2 human osteosarcoma cells with those in MCF7 breast cancer cells. We used both Scatchard analysis of saturation kinetics for iodinated ligand and the level of expressed receptor protein by visualising the single radio-labelled receptor-ligand complex from isolated membrane preparations from the two cell lines. In MCF7 cells, ligand binding, (receptor number) was increased by prior exposure of the cultured cells to epidermal growth factor (EGF), estradiol (E2), or dexamethasone (DEX), and decreased following calcitriol (1,25 DHCC). In contrast in the SaOS-2 cells, PTH/PTHrP-R number was increased by exposure to E2 and 1,25DHCC and decreased by DEX while EGF had no effect. These data were confirmed when the PTH/PTHrP-R was cross linked with (125)I-PTHrP-1-34(Tyr), and extended by visualising the intensity of the isolated radiolabelled receptor complex by autoradiography following SDS-PAGE at several time points during the treatment.     

Localization of beta-endorphin in tetrahymena by confocal microscopy. Induction of the prolonged production of the hormone by hormonal imprinting

The unicellular Tetrahymena has hormone receptors and hormones which are characteristic of higher vertebrates, as well as similar signal transduction pathways. In the present experiments, immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy were used to study the presence and localization of beta-endorphin in Tetrahymena pyriformis GL. Endorphin (or endorphin-like material) was localized in the cortical structures, oral field, cilia and nuclear envelope. One-hour treatment with beta-endorphin ('hormonal imprinting') increased the presence of immunocytochemically demonstrable endorphin immediately and after 24 h, and was especially strong after 96 h of treatment. Simultaneous treatment with naloxone, an opioid antagonist, did not inhibit endorphin effect, but had an additive effect on endorphin production. Naloxone alone induced a very intensive accumulation of endorphin 96 h after treatment. The results support the possibility of a hormone production being induced by the imprinting procedure, but the imprinter-like effect of naloxone also points to the importance in this case of non-discriminatory receptors also being involved in the process.     

雌激素拮抗剂对胎盘EGF受体及其基因表达的影响

中期孕鼠在他莫昔芬作用下,其颌下腺,血清中ＥＧＦ含量下降,胎盘中ＥＧＦ受体结合位点数下降以及它的ｍＲＮＡ表达受到抑制,再次证实了他莫昔芬抑制雌激素诱导ＥＧＦ受体ｍＲＮＡ的表达。从而使ＥＧＦ受体结合位点数减少,因此,他莫昔芬对孕鼠胚胎生长发育有不可忽视的影响。     

Effect of concanavalin A (Con-A) on the hormone production of the unicellular Tetrahymena and the immune cells of the rat. A comparative study

Tetrahymena populations were treated with 10(-15) g ml(-1) or 10(-6) g ml(-1) concanavalin-A (Con-A) in tryptone-yeast medium for 1 h. Rat peritoneal immune cells (mast cells, lymphocytes, monocyte-granulocyte group) were also treated with 10(-6) g ml(-1) Con-A, for 1 h. The cells' hormone (ACTH, histamine, serotonin, endorphin, triiodothyronine (T(3))) content was measured by using immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. The extremely low dose of Con-A universally and significantly elevated the hormone contents, while the result of higher dose was uncertain. In the immune cells, Con-A significantly decreased the ACTH level in each cell type and histamine level in mast cells. The results demonstrate the very high sensitivity of Tetrahymena receptors for a non-hormone (lectin) molecule, which can bind to the insulin receptors and mimics the effect of insulin. The results also show that Tetrahymena receptors are more sensitive to lower concentrations of molecules than to higher ones. The universal hormone-production stimulating effect of Con-A-which is observed in Tetrahymena-is specified in rat.     

Stimulation of growth factor synthesis in skin wounds using tissue extract (G-90) from the earthworm Eissenia foetida

Growth factors are biologically-active mediators that bind to specific receptors on target cells and regulate genes involved in cell growth, wound healing and regeneration. In the case of wound healing, a proper wound dressing is needed to cover the wound area, protect the damaged tissue, and if possible to activate cell proliferation and stimulate the healing process. In this study we examined the efficacy of a glycolipoprotein tissue homogenate extract from Eisenia foetida (G-90) to activate signal transduction pathways, leading to wound healing. We measured the activation of EGF and FGF in healthy skin, in wounds with physiological healing and in wounds treated with G-90. The activation of EGF and FGF was measured during the first 24 h of wound healing under both physiological conditions and treatment with G-90. In both cases an increased concentration of EGF and FGF was observed 6 h after wounding. In comparison with healthy skin, the concentration of EGF increased 10-fold and FGF five-fold in wounds treated with G-90 (10 ng ml(-1)). Healing in physiological conditions resulted in a two-fold increase of EGF and 1.5-fold of FGF.     

Effect of oxidative iodination of epidermal growth factor on its binding and secretion by hepatocytes

Experiments were undertaken to determine whether the method of iodination of epidermal growth factor (EGF) affects its binding to rat liver plasma membranes and its uptake, processing, and secretion into bile by intact rat hepatocytes. EGF was iodinated using one of three oxidative reagents: chloramine T (CT), lactoperoxidase (LP), or monochloride (MC). Quantitative receptor binding studies on plasma membranes isolated from male rat livers with either CT-, LP-or MC-125I-EGF indicated no significant difference in the apparent binding constants of the three preparations. To determine whether these three preparations were capable of forming a covalent-like complex with the EGF receptor, they were individually incubated with isolated plasma membranes and subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions, followed by autoradiography. Each preparation formed a major radioactive protein band of approximately 180 kD, identified as the EGF receptor by immunoprecipitation with monoclonal anti-EGF receptor antibodies. Furthermore, even unlabeled EGF incubated with plasma membranes formed this same 180 kD band, as revealed on Western blots using anti-EGF antibody. The biliary secretion of CT-, LP-, and MC-125I-EGF was compared by injecting each one into rat portal veins and measuring the total and immunoprecipitable radioactivity in bile. The amount of immunologically intact CT-125I-EGF in bile was significantly greater than the others, whereas MC-125I-EGF transport was significantly reduced. We conclude that the method of iodination does not affect the covalent-like binding properties of EGF. Furthermore, since unlabeled EGF displayed these same binding properties, oxidative iodination procedures per se do not account for the covalent-like association between EGF and its receptor. However, the method of iodination used did affect the intracellular transport and processing of EGF by hepatocytes. The structural modification responsible for this alteration in transport properties has yet to be determined.     

表皮生长因子，生长抑素对人早孕胎盘hCG分泌及基因表达的影响

观察了表皮生长因子（ＥＧＦ）,生长抑素（ＳＳ）对体外培养的人早孕绒毛膜促性腺激素（ｈＣＧ）分泌及ｈＣＧβ－ｍＲＮＡ含量的影响。发现ＥＧＦ可明显刺激绒毛分泌ｈＣＧ,显著增加ｈＣＧβ－ｍＲＮＡ含量,生长抑素虽然对绒毛ｈＣＧ分泌及ｈＣＧ　β－ｍＲＮＡ含量无明显影响,但可抑制ＥＧＦ,ＧｎＲＨ刺激的ｈＣＧ分泌及ｈＣＧβ－ｍＲＮＡ水平。提示ＥＧＦ,ＳＳ在妊娠早期参与了ｈＣＧ分泌的调节。     

Two different stages of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor endocytosis are sensitive to free ubiquitin depletion produced by proteasome inhibitor MG132

Numerous studies implicate proteasomes in the regulation of EGF receptor (EGFR) endocytosis on the basis of the ability of inhibitors to decrease EGFR degradation, but the exact mechanisms remain obscure. We demonstrated that EGFR itself is not a direct target for proteasome, since it is delivered to lysosomes intact. Evidence is presented that the inhibitory effect of MG132 on EGF degradation is due mostly to free ubiquitin depletion resultant from the suppression of proteasomal functioning by MG132. By subcellular fractionation, we show two MG132-sensitive steps in the EGFR degradation pathway: sorting from early (EE) to late (LE) endosomes, and late stage of LE maturation. MG132 treatment resulted in stabilization of EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and its association with c-Cbl. Nevertheless, ubiquitination of EGFR at late stages of endocytosis was significantly lower than that in control cells. Highly ubiquitinated forms of EGFR demonstrated more sensitivity to MG132 treatment.     

Effect of EGF on transmission of the proliferative signal in infusoria Tetrahymena pyriformis

It has been established that in infusoria Tetrahymena pyriformis, transmission of a proliferative signal induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) is not associated with autophosphorylation of receptor tyrosine kinases. In these microorganisms, EGF triggers the mitogenic pathway that involves membrane proteins of the tyrosine kinase type (without phosphorylation at tyrosine), adenylyl cyclase, and tyrosine-and Ca²⁺-dependent ERK-like kinases.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of EGF in epiphyseal growth plate from normal,hypophysectomized, and growth hormone-treated hypophysectomized rats

Epiphyseal growth plate cartilages from the proximal tibia of normal, hypophysectomized, and growth hormone (GH)-treated hypophysectomized rats were subjected to immunohistochemistry for detection of epidermal growth factor (EGF). In the normal growth plate, EGF was distributed mainly in the proliferative zone. Hypophysectomy resulted in considerable atrophy of the chondrocytes and the cartilage matrix (a decreased number of mature-type chondrocytes and a decreased ratio of proliferating to hypertrophic chondrocytes) and a significant diminution of EGF immunoreactivity. Treatment with GH reversed these effects of hypophysectomy, causing an increased thickness of the growth plate and EGF-reactive sites in all chondrocyte layers. The most intense immunostaining for EGF, however, was frequently seen in the nuclei of chondrocytes with flattened appearance. It appears that EGF could be incorporated or synthesized in chondrocytes having marked mitogenic activity. The present results, taken with previous data on EGF involvement in growth of cartilaginous tissue in vivo and in vitro, strongly suggest that EGF-immunoreactive chondrocytes are involved in cartilage proliferation and growth under the specific influence of GH.