Recombinant expression of human transforming growth factor-β isoforms in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Transforming growth factor-βs (TGF-βs) are multi functional growth modulators implicated in several physiological processes which include embryogenesis, inflammation, immune-suppression, wound healing, carcinogenesis and cellular differentiation. For clinical use, recombinant expression of TGF-βs is the only practical source because of very low yields from natural sources. Here, we report the recombinant expression of human TGF-βl and TGF-β2 in a mammalian expression system using a high expression eukaryotic vector driven by a cytomegalovirus promoter. Expression levels are as high as 0.97 μg/ml of TGF-βl and 0.24 μg/ml of TGF-β2 in conditioned media, sufficient for purification without the need for amplification of the gene using methotrexate.     

Regulation of colony-stimulating factor 1-dependent macrophage precursor proliferation by type beta transforming growth factor

Transforming growth factor (TGF) type beta, a potent growth modulator, has recently been shown to inhibit the proliferation and function of several types of immune cells. This report investigates the effect of human platelet purified TGF-beta on CSF-1-induced proliferation in liquid cultures. We used two cell types to study TGF-beta effects, bone marrow precursors and a c-myc partially transformed CSF-1-dependent macrophage cell line designated BMM-8. We found that CSF-1-dependent proliferation of both cell types was strongly inhibited by TGF-beta in a dose-dependent manner. Approximately 1.6 and 8 pM TGF-beta inhibited 50% of CSF-1 proliferation of the bone marrow precursors and BMM-8, respectively. Inhibition appeared to be reversible, as bone marrow and BMM-8 cells proliferated in response to CSF-1 after preincubation of the cells in TGF-beta. Interestingly, inhibition of hematopoietic cells was observed only after a lag period of 24 to 48 h after onset of cultures. TGF-beta inhibition was partially diminished when increasing amounts of CSF-1 were added to the cultures. TGF-beta inhibition did not involve secondary inhibitory factors such as IFN or PG, both of which have been previously shown to suppress CSF responsiveness. Finally, flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle indicated that within 48 h, TGF-beta-treated BMM-8 cells were prevented from entering S phase. These results suggest that TGF-beta may play an important role in the negative regulation of macrophage production.     

Threonyl-tRNA synthetase from Chinese hamster ovary cells is phosphorylated on serine

A Chinese hamster ovary cell line, 2000A, in which threonyl-tRNA synthetase accounts for 1.5% of the total soluble protein, was used to demonstrate that this enzyme is a phosphoprotein. Threonyl-tRNA synthetase was isolated by immunoprecipitation from cells labeled with 32Pi for 18 h. Phosphoamino acid analysis of radiolabeled threonyl-tRNA synthetase showed that phosphorylation occurs on serine.     

Recombinant human epidermal growth factor precursor is a glycosylated membrane protein with biological activity.

NIH 3T3 cells were transfected with cDNA corresponding to human kidney prepro-epidermal growth factor (preproEGF) under control of the inducible mouse metallothionein promoter. The synthesis of recombinant human EGF precursor by these cells has provided us with a model system for analysis of the structure and activity of this precursor. In transfected cells, the precursor was present as an intrinsic 170-kilodalton membrane protein as well as a soluble protein in the extracellular medium; both forms were N glycosylated. Glycosylation of the EGF precursor was determined by (i) the direct incorporation of [3H]mannose and [3H]glucosamine, (ii) metabolic labeling in the presence or absence of glycosylation inhibitors, (iii) enzymatic cleavage of the precursor by N-glycanase or endoglycosidase II, and (iv) lectin chromatography. Recombinant human preproEGF was purified by affinity chromatography, using wheat germ lectin and antibodies to human EGF. The intact precursor was biologically active. Purified preparations of preproEGF (i) competed with 125I-labeled EGF for binding to the EGF receptor in intact fibroblast cells, (ii) activated the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the EGF receptor in membrane preparations, and (iii) sustained the growth of a mouse keratinocyte cell line that is dependent on EGF for growth. These results suggest that proteolytic processing of the precursor may not be essential for its biological function.     

Recombinant transforming growth factor type beta 3: biological activities and receptor-binding properties in isolated bone cells.

We have recently cloned the cDNA for transforming growth factor type beta 3 (TGF-beta 3), a new member of the TGF-beta gene family. We examined the biological effects of recombinant TGF-beta 3 protein in osteoblast-enriched bone cell cultures. In this report we demonstrate that TGF-beta 3 is a potent regulator of functions associated with bone formation, i.e., mitogenesis, collagen synthesis, and alkaline phosphatase activity. In a direct comparison between TGF-beta 3 and TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 3 appeared to be three- to fivefold more potent than TGF-beta 1. Our cross-linking experiments with iodinated TGF-beta showed that in osteoblast-enriched bone cell cultures, both TGF-beta 3 and TGF-beta 1 associated with the same three cell surface binding sites. Scatchard analysis of receptor competition studies indicated the presence of high-affinity binding sites for TGF-beta 3 in the picomolar range. TGF-beta 3 showed an approximately fourfold-higher apparent affinity than TGF-beta 1 in overall binding.     

Human transforming growth factor beta.alpha 2-macroglobulin complex is a latent form of transforming growth factor beta

125I-Labeled human platelet-derived transforming growth factor beta (125I-TGF-beta) and human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) formed a complex as demonstrated by 5% native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The 125I-TGF-beta.alpha 2M complex migrated at a position identical to that of the fast migrating form of alpha 2M. Most of the 125I-TGF-beta.alpha 2M complex could be dissociated by acid or urea treatment. When 125I-TGF-beta was incubated with serum, the high molecular weight form of 125I-TGF-beta could be immunoprecipitated by anti-human alpha 2M anti-sera as demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. alpha 2M purified from platelet-rich plasma also showed the latent transforming growth factor activity and immunoreactivity of TGF-beta. These results suggest that TGF-beta.alpha 2M complex is a latent form of TGF-beta.     

Reconstitution of epidermal growth factor receptor transmodulation by platelet-derived growth factor in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) causes an acute decrease in the high affinity binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to cell surface receptors and an increase in the phosphorylation state of the EGF receptor at threonine654. The hypothesis that PDGF action to regulate the EGF receptor is mediated by the activation of protein kinase C and the subsequent phosphorylation of EGF receptor threonine654 was tested. The human receptors for PDGF and EGF were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells that lack expression of endogenous receptors for these growth factors. The heterologous regulation of the EGF receptor by PDGF was reconstituted in cells expressing [Thr654]EGF receptors or [Ala654]EGF receptors. PDGF action was also observed in phorbol ester down-regulated cells that lack detectable protein kinase C activity. Together these data indicate that neither protein kinase C nor the phosphorylation of EGF receptor threonine654 is required for the regulation of the apparent affinity of the EGF receptor by PDGF.     

Increased secretion of type beta transforming growth factor accompanies viral transformation of cells.

Cells transformed by Harvey or Moloney sarcoma virus secrete at least 40 times as much type beta transforming growth factor as their respective untransformed control cells. The transformed cells bind only 20 to 50% as much type beta transforming growth factor as the control cells, suggesting that transformation causes down-regulation of the type beta transforming growth factor receptor.     

Expression and purification of recombinant human Angiopoietin-1 produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) is an essential molecule for blood vessel formation. In an effort to produce large quantities of Ang1, recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells expressing a high level of recombinant human Ang1 protein (rhAng1) with an amino terminal FLAG-tag were constructed by transfecting the expression vector into dihydrofolate reductase-deficient CHO cells and subsequent gene amplification in a medium containing step-wise increments of methotrexate, such as 0.02, 0.08, and 0.32 μM. The rhAng1 secreted from rCHO cells was purified at a purification yield of 18.4% from the cultured medium using an anti-FLAG M2 agarose affinity gel. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analyses showed that rCHO cells secret rhAng1 as heterogeneous multimers. Moreover, rhAng1 expressed in rCHO cells is biologically active in vitro as demonstrated by its ability to bind to the Tie2 receptor and to phosphorylate Tie2. Therefore, the rhAng1 produced from CHO cells could be useful for clarifying the biological effects of exogenous rhAng1 in the future.     

Nicotine regulates basic fibroblastic growth factor and transforming growth factor beta1 production in endothelial cells

Nicotine, a constituent of cigarette smoking, may induce atherosclerosis through the production of growth factors. The pattern of bFGF and TGF beta1 production and release by bovine aortic endothelial cells (EC) stimulated with nicotine (from 6 x 10(-4) to 6 x 10(-8) M) was studied. EC viability and count were assessed. The presence of bFGF and TGF beta1 in serum-free conditioned media was determined by the inhibition antibody-binding assay and Western blot analysis. Mitogenic activity of nicotine on EC was also determined. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to study the expression of bFGF and TGF beta1. The bFGF release after nicotine stimulation was greater than controls, whereas TGF beta1 release was lower. At a nicotine concentration of 6 x 10(-6) M we noted the greatest mitogenic activity. The addition of monoclonal antibody anti-bFGF decreased the tritiated thymidine uptake of EC exposed to nicotine but the addition of monoclonal antibody anti-TGF beta1 had no significant effect. bFGF mRNA expression was significantly higher in EC exposed to nicotine than in controls, whereas TGF beta1 mRNA expression was not modified. From these data we concluded that nicotine regulates bFGF production and release and TGF beta1 release and may have a key role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.     

Heart and liver defects and reduced transforming growth factor beta2 sensitivity in transforming growth factor beta type III receptor-deficient embryos

The type III transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) receptor (TbetaRIII) binds both TGFbeta and inhibin with high affinity and modulates the association of these ligands with their signaling receptors. However, the significance of TbetaRIII signaling in vivo is not known. In this study, we have sought to determine the role of TbetaRIII during development. We identified the predominant expression sites of TbetaRIII mRNA as liver and heart during midgestation and have disrupted the murine TbetaRIII gene by homologous recombination. Beginning at embryonic day 13.5, mice with mutations in TbetaRIII developed lethal proliferative defects in heart and apoptosis in liver, indicating that TbetaRIII is required during murine somatic development. To assess the effects of the absence of TbetaRIII on the function of its ligands, primary fibroblasts were generated from TbetaRIII-null and wild-type embryos. Our results indicate that TbetaRIII deficiency differentially affects the activities of TGFbeta ligands. Notably, TbetaRIII-null cells exhibited significantly reduced sensitivity to TGFbeta2 in terms of growth inhibition, reporter gene activation, and Smad2 nuclear localization, effects not observed with other ligands. These data indicate that TbetaRIII is an important modulator of TGFbeta2 function in embryonic fibroblasts and that reduced sensitivity to TGFbeta2 may underlie aspects of the TbetaRIII mutant phenotype.     

The identification of an eukaryotic initiation factor 4D precursor in spermidine-depleted Chinese hamster ovary cells

When Chinese hamster ovary cells are incubated with [terminal methylenes-3H]spermidine, radioactivity is incorporated into a single cellular protein, eukaryotic initiation factor 4D (eIF-4D), through posttranslational synthesis of the amino acid hypusine (N epsilon-(4-amino-2-hydroxybuyly)lysine). The effect of spermidine depletion on this protein modification reaction was studied by high resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Factor eIF-4D containing both [3H]lysine and [3H]hypusine was detected as one of the major labeled cellular proteins on the fluorographic map of the proteins from Chinese hamster ovary cells that had been incubated with [3H]lysine. When these cells were depleted of spermidine by the use of DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine before addition of [3H]lysine, no radiolabeling of this mature eIF-4D (hypusine form, Mr approximately 18,000; pI approximately 5.3) occurred. Instead, a new radiolabeled protein (Mr 18,000; pI 5.1) that contained [3H]lysine but no [3H]hypusine or [3H]deoxyhypusine was seen. This protein was identified as an eIF-4D precursor by comparison of the two-dimensional map of its tryptic peptides with that of the tryptic peptides from [3H]lysine-labeled eIF-4D. Further comparisons also suggest that additional post-translational modification processes are involved in the biogenesis of eIF-4D.     

Modulation of transforming growth factor beta signalling pathway genes by transforming growth factor beta in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes: involvement of Sp1 in both early and late response cells to transforming growth factor beta

Introduction  

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) plays a central role in morphogenesis, growth, and cell differentiation. This cytokine is particularly important in cartilage where it regulates cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis. While the action of TGFβ on chondrocyte metabolism has been extensively catalogued, the modulation of specific genes that function as mediators of TGFβ signalling is poorly defined. In the current study, elements of the Smad component of the TGFβ intracellular signalling system and TGFβ receptors were characterised in human chondrocytes upon TGFβ1 treatment.     

Immunoaffinity purification of human prorenin produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells

A simple immunoaffinity column chromatographic procedure is described whereby recombinant human prorenin secreted from Chinese hamster ovary cells may be isolated in a high state of purity from serum-free culture medium. Prorenin thus purified has been characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by partial sequence analysis which has revealed the expected N-terminal sequence. Trypsin treatment gives rise to renin, and reversible acid activation has also been demonstrated for the recombinant zymogen.     

Study of the sugar chains of recombinant human amyloid precursor protein produced by Chinese hamster ovary cells

The N- and O-glycans of recombinant amyloid precursor protein (APP), purified from Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the human 695-amino acid form of APP, were separately released by hydrazinolysis under different conditions. The reducing ends of the released N- and O-glycans were reduced with NaB3H4 and derivatized with 2-aminobenzamide (2AB), respectively. After acidic N-glycans were obtained by anion-exchange column chromatography, these were converted to neutral oligosaccharides by sialidase digestion, demonstrating that their acidic nature was entirely due to sialylation. The sialidase-treated N-glycans were then fractionated by lectin column chromatography and their structures were determined by linkage-specific sequential exoglycosidase digestion. These results demonstrated that recombinant APP has bi- and triantennary complex type N-glycans with fucosylated and nonfucosylated trimannosyl cores. In a similar fashion, the 2AB-labeled O-glycans derived from APP were determined to be mono- and disialylated core type 1 structures. Taken together, these results indicate that recombinant APP has sialylated bi- and triantennary N-glycans with fucosylated and nonfucosylated cores and sialylated O-glycans with core type 1 structures.