Regulation of the nuclear orphan receptor Nur77 in bone by parathyroid hormone

Osteoblasts function under the control of several hormones and growth factors. Among them, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and steroid hormones have significant effects on bone metabolism. We show that PTH induced the expression of Nur77, a member of the NGFI-B subfamily of nuclear orphan receptors in bone. PTH rapidly and transiently induced Nur77 mRNA in primary mouse osteoblasts that peaked at 1 h and at 10 nM of hormone. Cycloheximide did not affect the induction of Nur77 mRNA, suggesting that protein synthesis is not required for the PTH effect. PTH also induced Nur77 mRNA in calvariae cultures. Finally Nur77 protein expression was induced in nuclear protein extracts of cells treated with PTH. NGFI-B nuclear receptors have been implicated in retinoic acid, vitamin D, and thyroid hormone signaling. We propose that induction of NGFI-B nuclear orphan receptors represents a potential cross-talk mechanism between PTH and steroid hormone signaling to regulate bone metabolism.     

Site-directed mutagenesis of the human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit: bioactivity of a heterologous hormone, bovine alpha-human des-(122-145)beta

Human CG contains an alpha-subunit, common to the pituitary glycoprotein hormones, and a hormone-specific beta-subunit, but unlike the pituitary beta-subunits, hCG beta is characterized by an O-glycosylated carboxy-terminal extension. A mutant beta-subunit, des-(122-145)hCG beta, was prepared using site-directed mutagenesis, and the pRSV expression plasmids were transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells that produce the bovine alpha-subunit (b alpha). The mutant beta-subunit binds to b alpha, and the heterologous gonadotropin, b alpha-des-(122-145)hCG beta, was capable of stimulating steroidogenesis in cultured Leydig tumor cells (MA-10) to the same extent as standard hCG. When compared with the heterologous gonadotropin, b alpha-hCG beta wild type, the hybrid hormone with the truncated hCG beta exhibited equal potency, within the accuracy of the RIAs used to determine hormone concentrations, and gave a similar time course of steroidogenesis. Interestingly, these transformed Leydig cells do not distinguish between the steroidogenic potencies (as measured by progesterone production) of hCG and human LH (hLH) as do some preparations of normal rodent Leydig cells (as measured by testosterone production). However, the MA-10 cells were able to distinguish hCG from hLH based on their cAMP response; the latter produced a greater response at both maximal and submaximal gonadotropin concentrations. The two expressed heterologous gonadotropins were equipotent in their abilities to stimulate cAMP and gave similar time courses of cAMP accumulation in MA-10 cells. Thus, the carboxy-terminal extension of hCG beta is not required for association with the alpha-subunit nor for functional receptor binding, as judged by cAMP accumulation and progesterone production in MA-10 cells.     

Transiently elevated levels of c-fos and c-myc oncogene messenger ribonucleic acids in cultured murine Leydig tumor cells after addition of human chorionic gonadotropin

The gonadotropic hormones LH and human CG (hCG) normally function to stimulate steroidogenesis in testicular and ovarian cells through receptor-mediated activation of adenylate cyclase. These hormones are also important in regulating the development and growth of responsive cells. Such regulation requires tightly controlled gene expression. Herein we demonstrate that hCG induces increases in mRNAs encoding the competence oncogenes c-fos and c-myc in a murine Leydig cell tumor line (MA-10). When stimulated by hCG (40 ng/ml), the mRNA levels of both genes increase rapidly, peaking at 30 min for c-fos and 1 h for c-myc. Both mRNAs fall to near control levels by 3-6 h. This response to hCG is dose-dependent with half-maximal stimulation of these genes occurring at a concentration of 3 ng/ml, approximating the level required for 50% occupancy of the LH/hCG receptors and the ED50 for steroidogenesis. (Bu)2 cAMP (2 mM) elicits responses similar to those produced by hCG. The observation of oncogene control by the gonadotropin hCG provides further insight regarding the pathways by which such hormones may regulate steroidogenesis, growth, and differentiation of endocrine and neoplastic cells.     

The atypical orphan nuclear receptor DAX-1 interacts with orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 and represses its transactivation

DAX-1 (dosage-sensitive sex reversal adrenal hypoplasia congenital critical region on the X chromosome, gene 1) (NROB1) is an atypical member of the nuclear receptor family, which lacks the classical zinc finger DNA binding domain and acts as a coregulator of a number of nuclear receptors. In this study, we have found that DAX-1 is a novel coregulator of the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 (NR4A1). We demonstrate that DAX-1 represses the Nur77 transactivation by transient transfection assays. Specific interaction between Nur77 and DAX-1 was detected by coimmunoprecipitation, yeast two-hybrid, and glutathione-S-transferase pull-down assays. The ligand binding domain of DAX-1 and the activation function-2 domain of Nur77 were determined as the direct interaction domains between DAX-1 and Nur77. In vitro competition binding assay showed that DAX-1 repressed Nur77 transactivation through the competition with steroid receptor coactivator-1 for the binding of Nur77. Moreover, DAX-1 repressed Nur77- and LH-dependent increase of cytochrome P450 protein 17 promoter activity in transient transfection assays. Furthermore, Nur77-mediated transactivation was significantly increased by down-regulation of DAX-1 expression with DAX-1 small interfering RNA in testicular Leydig cell line, K28. LH treatment induced a transient increase in Nur77 mRNA, whereas LH repressed DAX-1 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner in K28 cells. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis showed the expression of Nur77 in mouse testicular Leydig cells. These results suggest that DAX-1 acts as a novel coregulator of the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77, and that the DAX-1 may play a key role in the regulation of Nur77-mediated steroidogenesis in testicular Leydig cells.     

Parathyroid hormone induces the nuclear orphan receptor NOR-1 in osteoblasts

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) significantly affects osteoblast function by altering gene expression. We have identified neuron-derived orphan receptor-1 (NOR-1) as a PTH-induced primary gene in osteoblastic cells. NOR-1, Nurr1, and Nur77 comprise the NGFI-B nuclear orphan receptor family and Nurr1 and Nur77 are PTH-induced primary osteoblastic genes. Ten nM PTH maximally induced NOR-1 mRNA at 2h in primary mouse osteoblasts and at 1h in mouse calvariae. Cycloheximide pretreatment did not inhibit PTH-induced NOR-1 mRNA. PTH activates cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), and calcium signaling. Forskolin (PKA activator) and PMA (PKC activator) mimicked PTH-induced NOR-1 mRNA. Ionomycin (calcium ionophore) and PTH(3-34), which do not activate PKA, failed to induce NOR-1 mRNA. PKA inhibition with H89 blocked PTH- and FSK-induced NOR-1 mRNA. PMA pretreatment to deplete PKC inhibited PMA-induced, but not PTH-induced, NOR-1 mRNA. We conclude that NOR-1 is a PTH-regulated primary osteoblastic gene that is induced mainly through cAMP-PKA signaling.