细胞信号系统研究进展

细胞信号系统是80年代以来生物学研究领域中最活跃的课题之一．其主要研究对象是生物体对外界刺激做出反应时,细胞内发生的一系列生理生化变化,也即外界刺激信号在细胞内的传递过程．文章简述了该研究领域中近年来的新进展．     

大鼠卵巢绒毛膜促性腺激素受体在CHO中的表达和扩增

本文报道了利用二氢叶酸还原酶放大系统将大鼠ＬＨ／ｈＣＧ受体（记为Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ）及其胞外肽段（记为Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ）在中国苍鼠卵巢细胞（ＣＨＯ）中的表达。ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ分析表明,Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ为一条蛋白质带,其表观分子量为９２ｋｄ,而Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ为３５ｋｄ和３７ｋｄ两条带。表达受体对其配基ｈＣＧ表现出高的亲合力,Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ的解离常数为７×１０－９ｍｏｌ／Ｌ,Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ为６．４×１０－９ｍｏｌ／Ｌ。表达Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ的转染ＣＨＯ细胞可结合１２５Ｉ－ｈＣＧ,而表达Ｔ－ｈＣＧＢ者不结合１２５Ｉ－ｈＣＧ。这提示Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ主要存在于细胞质膜表面上。表达Ｆ－ｈＣＧＲ的转染ＣＨＯ细胞能刺激。ｃＡＭＰ的形成,而表达Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ者不能刺激ｃＡＭＰ形成。免疫荧光定位结果表明,Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ主要分布于质膜的细胞质侧以及胞内其他一些细胞器膜上。用免疫亲和层析可以得到纯化的Ｔ－ｈＣＧＲ。     

Effects of photoperiod and hCG on the regulation of testicular LH/hCG receptors in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

The regulation of testicular LH/hCG receptors was studied in Syrian (golden) hamsters with testicular atrophy induced by exposure to short photoperiod (5L:19D) and in gonadally active hamsters kept in a long photoperiod (14L:10D). By 24 h after injection of hCG, long-photoperiod hamsters showed a dose-related decrease in the number of testicular LH/hCG receptors. At 48 and 72 h, there was a recovery from this 'down-regulation'. The recovery was much faster than has been reported for the rat and mouse, and it resulted in elevation of testicular LH/hCG receptor concentrations above basal values. Hamsters with short photoperiod-induced testicular atrophy showed an increase in testicular LH/hCG receptors after injection of hCG, except for animals injected with a very high dose. The hCG-induced increase in testicular LH/hCG binding in these animals was associated with reappearance of testosterone responses to subsequent hCG stimulation. Response of testicular LH/hCG receptors to hCG in prepubertal hamsters resembled that measured in animals with short photoperiod-induced gonadal atrophy.     

LH与hCG对昆明小鼠卵母细胞体外成熟的影响

目的研究促黄体素（LH）、人绒毛膜促性腺激素（hCG）对昆明小鼠卵母细胞体外成熟的影响。方法小鼠经注射孕马血清促性腺激素（PMSG）48h后,摘取卵巢获得未成熟卵母细胞,分别在含不同浓度的LH和hCG的成熟液中,或将LH和hCG以不同的浓度组合加入到成熟液,进行体外成熟。结果经15.16h的成熟培养,5个浓度LH组中的极体率均高于对照组,其中200IU/mL组显著高于50IU/mL、400IU/mL、300IU/mL组和对照组（P〈0.05）;5个浓度hCG组的极体率与对照组极体率无显著差异（P〉0.05）;协同组中15IU/mL hCG＋200IU/mL LH组的极体率显著高于对照组和其它各处理组。结论LH对小鼠卵母细胞的体外成熟有一定的促进作用。     

Myometrial LH/hCG receptors during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in pigs

Receptors for luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin (LH/hCG) have been identified in porcine, rabbit, rat, and human myometrium. To determine the estrous cycle and pregnancy related changes in the receptor capacity and affinity, radioreceptor assays were performed with membrane homogenates of porcine uterine tissues. Cycling gilts were divided into four experimental groups: I (n=6), day 1–2; II (n=5), day 6–7; III (n=5), day 11–12; and IV (n=6), day 18–20 of the estrous cycle. Pregnant pigs were divided into three experimental groups: I (n=5), day 35–40; II (n=5), day 65–70; and III (n=4), day 95–105 of pregnancy. The concentrations [femtomoles/mg protein (fmol/mg protein)] and affinities of unoccupied LH/hCG binding sites were characterized in all samples of myometrium. Receptor concentrations were highest (P<0.01) in groups II and III (19.3±2.5 and 35.8±2.1 fmol/mg protein, respectively), and was lowest in groups I and IV (5.3±1.4 and 7.5±0.7 fmol/mg protein, respectively). Receptor affinity constants (K_a) were consistent (P>0.05) throughout the estrous cycle [I, (5.1±1.5)×10⁹; II, (3.0±0.8)×10⁹; III, (3.2±0.9)×10⁹; IV, 5.5±0.7×10⁹ lm⁻¹]. Plasma hormone concentrations of progesterone, estrogen and LH were typical of values noted at these times. During pregnancy, receptor concentrations were greatest (P<0.05) in group II (85.4±18.5 fmol/mg protein). In groups I and III receptor numbers were 10.8±2.3 and 26.7±6.6 fmol/mg protein, respectively. The K_a in group I was 10 times greater (P<0.05) than K_a in groups II and III, (I, 3.1±0.9×10¹⁰ lm⁻¹; II, 3.4±0.3×10⁹ lm⁻¹; III, 3.3±1.1×10⁹ lm⁻¹). Plasma hormone concentrations typically found during pregnancy were noted. The function of these LH/hCG binding sites remains unknown; however, changes in receptor capacity during the estrous cycle and pregnancy support a role for modulation of the receptor by hormonal factors.     

Differential Purinergic Receptor Signalling in Osteoclasts and Osteoblastic Cells

There are differences between osteoclasts and osteoblastic cells in their cytosolic calcium responses to purinergic receptor activation. Application of 50 or 100 μM extracellular ATP inhibits the calcium response to a second application of ATP in osteoblastic rat osteosarcoma UMR 106 cells, but not in rabbit osteoclasts. This shows that there is adaptation to the extracellular ATP in osteoclasts, but not in the UMR 106 cells. Extracellular washing of the UMR 106 cells restores the calcium response to ATP partially but not completely, indicating that there is a purinergic receptor activation-induced desensitisation of the receptor or its linked signalling pathways. In contrast to these results, if extracellular UTP is applied first, application of ATP produces no calcium response in osteoclasts, with or without washing, while in the UMR 106 cells there is some response to the ATP, which is greatly enhanced by washing. This indicates that UTP induces a complete desensitisation of the purinergic receptor/calcium signalling system in osteoclasts, but not in the osteoblastic cells, in which there is simply competition between UTP and ATP for the same receptors. Taken together, these results demonstrate that ATP and UTP could differentially regulate osteoblasts and osteoclasts.     

Dual Signalling by the Adenosine A2a Receptor Involves Activation of Both N- and P-Type Calcium Channels by Different G Proteins and Protein Kinases in the Same Striatal Nerve Terminals

Abstract: Many G_s-linked receptors have been reported to use multiple signalling pathways in transfected cells but few in their normal cell environment. We show that the adenosine A_2a receptor uses two signalling pathways to increase the release of acetylcholine from striatal nerve terminals. One pathway involves activation of G_s, adenylyl cyclase, protein kinase A, and P-type calcium channels; the other is mediated by a cholera toxin-insensitive G protein, protein kinase C, and N-type calcium channels. The effects of these two pathways are not additive, the second pathway being inhibited by the first; but they are equally sensitive to the A_2a receptor antagonist KF17837. This demonstrates that the A_2a receptor activates two signalling systems in striatal cholinergic neurons.     

Different processing of LH/hCG receptors in cultured rat luteal cells and murine Leydig tumour cells (MLTC-1)

The metabolic fate of LH/hCG receptors after exposure to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was examined in cultured rat luteal cells and murine Leydig tumour cells (MLTC-1). Kinetic studies performed after pulse-labelling of the cells with [125I]hCG indicated that the bound hormone was lost much more rapidly from the tumour cells than from the luteal cells (t1/2 = 4.5 and greater than 12 h, respectively). The tumour cells were also found to internalise and degrade the hormone more effectively than the luteal cells, as measured by disappearance of acid-releasable (i.e. surface-bound) radioactivity from the cells and by the appearance of trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble label in the medium. In MLTC-1 cells, over 80% of the radioactivity released was TCA-soluble at all times examined, whereas in the luteal cells most (65-75%) was TCA-precipitable. Chemical cross-linking and analyses by SDS-PAGE of this material revealed that both cell types also released, in addition to intact hCG, two previously characterized receptor fragment-[125I]hCG complexes (Mr 96,000 and 74,000) (Kellokumpu & Rajaniemi, Endocrinology 116 (1985) 707) into the medium, although their amount was negligible in MLTC-1 cells. Possibly, due to rapid discharge of the ligand from its receptor, no similar complexes could be detected inside the MLTC-1 cells, suggesting that they were released directly from the cell surface. However, the Mr 74,000 complex was observed inside MLTC-1 cells if chloroquine, a lysosomotropic agent, was present during the incubations. This suggests that the internalised receptor also becomes degraded, at least when complexed to hCG. The results thus provide evidence that there exist two different mechanisms for proteolytic processing of LH/hCG receptors in these target cells. In tumour cells, the degradation seems to occur almost exclusively intracellularly, whereas in luteal cells a substantial portion of the receptors is also degraded at the cell surface.     

Kinetic and autoradiographic studies on binding of hCG to the testicular LH receptors of neonatal rats

The properties of hCG binding to LH receptors of the neonatal (5-day-old) rat testis were analysed and compared with those of the adult testis. The equilibrium association constants (Ka) of hCG-binding were similar at both ages, 2-4 X 10(10) M-1. In contrast, kinetic binding studies revealed that the association and dissociation rate constants of hCG binding were more rapid in the neonatal testis. Likewise, it was observed that the progression from loose (easily dissociable) to tight (non-dissociable) binding was less complete in the young than in the adult testis. Autoradiography of 125I-labelled hCG binding to interstitial cell suspensions at the two ages showed that the gonadotrophin binding per Leydig cell was about 50% lower in the neonatal testis. Conversely, since the surface area of adult Leydig cells was about 4-fold larger, the receptor density appeared to be higher in the neonatal Leydig cells. The rapid recovery of LH receptors after hCG stimulation, typical of the neonatal cells, was due to rapid replenishment of binding in the cells initially occupied by the injected hormone, rather than to an hCG-induced increase of Leydig cell number. Finally, in-vivo experiments with cycloheximide revealed that the rapid recovery of LH receptors was dependent on protein synthesis. These differences in the kinetics of neonatal testicular LH receptor turnover may be involved in the unique functional features of the fetal-neonatal growth phase of rat testicular Leydig cells.     

Actions of LH/hCG on accumulation and catabolism of progestins in cultured rat granulosa cells

Immature hypophysectomized rats were treated with estradiol-17 beta and follicle-stimulating hormone. Granulosa cells were isolated and incubated for 24 h with or without varying doses of ovine luteinizing hormone (NIMADD-oLH-24) or human chorionic gonadotropin (NIADDK CR 125) and accumulations of progesterone and 20 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one were determined. The cells were reincubated for 3 h with [4-14C]progesterone (0.5 nmol/mL) and the radiolabelled metabolites were separated and quantified. Both LH (0.04-1.0 ug/mL) and hCG (0.04-1.0 ug/mL) enhanced the accumulation of endogenous progesterone (by up to 300 and 150%, respectively) and 20 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (by up to 90 and 85%, respectively) producing dose-dependent increases of the ratio of progesterone to 20 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (by up to 125 and 70%, respectively). Studies of the metabolism of [1-14C] progesterone have demonstrated that both LH and hCG led to a dose-dependent decrease of the utilization of radiolabelled progesterone (down to 64 and 70%, respectively, of the control value). This effect was associated with an LH- and hCG-dependent inhibition of 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (down to 60 and 70%, respectively, of the control value) but had no significant effect on 5 alpha-reductase. The present results indicate that LH and hCG stimulate accumulation of progesterone at least in part by decreasing the 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity.     

Immunocytochemical localization of binding 'sites' for LH and hCG in preimplantation mouse embryos.

By using an immunoperoxidase antibody method, mouse blastocysts were found to bind specifically hCG and ovine LH but not FSH or the beta unit of hCG. Brown peroxidase reaction products were present in the morula and increased with the formation of the blastocoele. The LH/hCG binding 'sites' may be related to the initiation of steroidogenesis in the embryo.     

The Effects of Neuraminidase and Gangliosides on Ovarian LH/hCG Receptors During Rat Development

Ovaries of neonatal rats are not endowed with specific LH/hCG receptors up to 6–8 days of age. Treatment of ovarian membranes of the neonatal rat with neuraminidase results in a specific binding of radioactively labeled hCG, while an increase of hormone binding is observed after neuraminidase treatment of ovarian membranes of the 21-day-old rat. These changes in hormone receptor sites in the ovary are dependent on the neuraminidase concentration used and are due to a receptor with a dissociation constant (K_D) of about 10⁻⁹ M. The K_D of the receptor in the LH/hCG sensitive ovary without neuraminidase treatment is about 10⁻¹⁰ M. These results indicate the presence of two different LH/hCG receptors in the ovarian membrane. The unmasking effect of neuraminidase onto LH/hCG receptors indicate that ganglioside-like structures are responsible for the masking of receptors in the neonatal, insensitive rat ovary and also in the 21-day-old sensitive ovary. Ganglioside preparations are able to inhibit the binding, and the fractionation of ovary gangliosides results in a fraction with a rather high inhibition potency of LH/hCG binding to the receptor. It is hypothesized that the masked receptors in the sensitive period represent a store of receptors for the reconstitution of the ovarian cells with active receptors after internalization of the hormone-receptor complex. Thus the masking of the receptors in the early postnatal rat ovary could be a prerequisite for the female differentiation of hypothalamic centers. The observed neuraminidase effect in vitro could reflect a physiologic situation. Neuraminidase was found in the ovary, and during early postnatal development the neuraminidase activity pattern coincides with that of the ovarian LH/hCG receptor changes.     

The effects of neuraminidase and gangliosides on ovarian LH/hCG receptors during rat development

Ovaries of neonatal rats are not endowed with specific LH/hCG receptors up to 6-8 days of age. Treatment of ovarian membranes of the neonatal rat with neuraminidase results in a specific binding of radioactively labeled hCG, while an increase of hormone binding is observed after neuraminidase treatment of ovarian membranes of the 21-day-old rat. These changes in hormone receptor sites in the ovary are dependent on the neuraminidase concentration used and are due to a receptor with a dissociation constant (KD) of about 10(-9) M. The KD of the receptor in the LH/hCG sensitive ovary without neuraminidase treatment is about 10(-10) M. These results indicate the presence of two different LH/hCG receptors in the ovarian membrane. The unmasking effect of neuraminidase onto LH/hCG receptors indicate that ganglioside-like structures are responsible for the masking of receptors in the neonatal, insensitive rat ovary and also in the 21-day-old sensitive ovary. Ganglioside preparations are able to inhibit the binding, and the fractionation of ovary gangliosides results in a fraction with a rather high inhibition potency of LH/hCG binding to the receptor. It is hypothesized that the masked receptor in the sensitive period represent a store of receptors for the reconstitution of the ovarian cells with active receptors after internalization of the hormone-receptor complex. Thus the masking of the receptors in the early postnatal rat ovary could be a prerequisite for the female differentiation of hypothalamic centers. The observed neuraminidase effect in vitro could reflect a physiologic situation. Neuraminidase was found in the ovary, and during early postnatal development the neuraminidase activity pattern coincides with that of the ovarian LH/hCG receptor changes.     

Effects of cholesteryl esters on the accessibility of LH/hCG receptors and membrane lipid fluidity in rat testes

Incubation of rat testicular membranes with cholesteryl hemisuccinate resulted in an increase in both membrane lipid microviscosity and 125I-labelled hCG specific binding. The purpose of this investigation was to establish which functional groups of cholesteryl hemisuccinate are important for the stimulatory effects. The data obtained showed that only esters of cholesterol with dicarboxylic acids, not those of monocarboxylic acids, increase the accessibility of LH/hCG receptors and membrane rigidity. Experiments with cholesteryl sulfates showed that there are polar groups on C3 carbon of cholesterol having no stimulatory effect on receptors, although an increase in membrane rigidity occurred. The side-chain of cholesterol is important for the stimulatory action. Androstenolone hemisuccinate was ineffective in this respect. On the other hand, partially modified side-chains (hemisuccinates of beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol) did not result in a marked reduction of the stimulatory action. The carboxyl group of cholesteryl hemisuccinate must be 'free': its esterification abolishes the stimulatory effect of cholesteryl hemisuccinate on both the LH/hCG receptor and membrane microviscosity. These results suggest that an intact carboxyl group of ester and the side-chain of cholesterol are indispensable for the stimulatory effect of cholesteryl hemisuccinate on the accessibility of LH/hCG receptors.     

Effects of restraint stress on plasma LH and testosterone concentrations, Leydig cell LH/hCG receptors, and in vitro testicular steroidogenesis in adult rats

We examined the effect of restraint stress (3 hr) on plasma LH and testosterone levels, on the Leydig cell LH/hCG receptor, and on the activity of enzymes in the testicular steroidogenic pathway of the adult rat. Restraint stress caused a 47% reduction in plasma testosterone concentrations, but had no effect on plasma LH levels. The binding capacity and affinity of Leydig cell LH/hCG receptors were not affected by restraint. Stress did not affect the testicular activity of 20,22 desmolase or 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, but testicular interstitial cells of stressed rats incubated in vitro with progesterone as a substrate produced more 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone but less testosterone than control cells, and when incubated with 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, produced 39% less androstenedione and 40% less testosterone than control cells. These results suggest that restraint stress inhibited 17,20 desmolase but not 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity. When the delta 4 pathway was blocked with cyanoketone (3 beta-HSD inhibitor), stress did not alter the production of pregnenolone or 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, but the production of dehydroepiandrosterone by cells from stressed rats was subnormal, suggesting again a reduction of 17,20 desmolase activity. The data suggest that a major site of the inhibitory action of restraint stress on testicular steroidogenesis is the 17,20 desmolase step. The disruption of androgen production by restraint appears to be LH independent since stress did not affect plasma LH levels, the binding capacity or affinity of LH/hCG receptors, or the activity of 20,22 desmolase.