Stimulation of FA and casein kinase II by insulin in 3T3-L1 cells.

Insulin stimulates protein phosphatase-1 and FA, assayed as phosphatase-1 activator, in 3T3-L1 cells. Since other kinases, such as casein kinase-II may also contribute to such FA activity, we assayed casein kinase-II and FA as peptide kinase on extracts from 3T3-L1 cells that had been exposed to insulin for various times. Under such conditions FA, assayed as phosphatase-1 activator, was stimulated 2-3-fold within 1-2 min. Casein kinase-II was stimulated about 2-fold but at a slightly later time (2-3 min) than FA, making it unlikely that casein kinase-II contributes to FA stimulation. Insulin slightly stimulated also the kinase activity of FA towards a synthetic peptide at 2 min, thus confirming the FA activation seen when FA was assayed as activator of phosphatase-1.     

Protein phosphatase-1 and -2A, kinase FA, and casein kinase II in skeletal muscle of streptozotocin diabetic rats.

Protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) and -2A (PP-2A), two regulatory subunits of PP-1, the glycogen-binding subunit G and inhibitor-2 (I-2), kinase FA, and casein kinase II (CK-II) were investigated in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats 2 days after streptozotocin injection. FA and CK-II activate PP-1 in vitro and might be involved in the activation of PP-1 by insulin. Following muscle fractionation we found that (1) diabetes decreased both basal and trypsin-stimulated PP-1 activities; the decrease was more significant in the glycogen-bound and microsomal fractions than in the cytosol (cytosolic PP-1 decreased as specific activity but not as activity/g of muscle); also PP-2A was lower in diabetic cytosols; (2) less G was immunoprecipitated from diabetic glycogen-bound fractions compared to controls, while I-2 was not significantly changed; (3) diabetes decreased also FA (assayed as PP-1 activator) and CK-II (assayed using a synthetic peptide as substrate); (4) diabetes did not have any effect on phosphorylase (a + b) activity in the glycogen-bound fraction. Altogether the data show that acute diabetes decreased PP-1, one of its regulatory subunits and two potentially physiological regulators of PP-1, in addition to PP-2A. This may indicate that insulin is responsible for the long-term regulation of the same enzymes that are also under acute insulin control.     

Relationship between nociceptin/orphanin FQ and cerebral hemodynamics after hypoxia-ischemia in piglets

This study was designed to characterize the role of the newly described endogenous opioid nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOC/oFQ) in reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) observed after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and combined hypoxia and ischemia-reperfusion (H-I/R), as a function of time after onset of reperfusion in newborn pigs equipped with a closed cranial window. Global cerebral ischemia (20 min) was induced via elevation of intracranial pressure, whereas hypoxia (10 min) decreased PO(2) to 35 +/- 3 mmHg with unchanged PCO(2). I/R elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NOC/oFQ from 67 +/- 4 to 266 +/- 29 pg/ml within 1 h, whereas values returned to control level within 4 h of reperfusion. H-I/R elevated CSF NOC/oFQ to 483 +/- 67 pg/ml within 1 h, and such values returned slowly to control level within 12 h of reperfusion. Topical NOC/oFQ (10(-8) M, 10(-6) M)-induced vasodilation was attenuated by I/R and reversed to vasoconstriction by H-I/R at 1 h of reperfusion (control, 9 +/- 1 and 16 +/- 1%; I/R, 3 +/- 1 and 6 +/- 1%; H-I/R, -6 +/- 1 and -11 +/- 1%). Such altered dilation returned to control values within 4 h in I/R animals and within 12 h in H-I/R animals. Blood flow in the cerebrum was reduced from 58 +/- 4 to 33 +/- 2 ml x min(-1) x 100 g(-1) within 1 h and returned to control value within 4 h in I/R animals. In animals pretreated with [F/G]NOC/oFQ(1-13)-NH(2) (1 mg/kg iv), an NOC/oFQ antagonist, however, CBF only fell to 43 +/- 3 ml x min(-1) x 100 g(-1) at 1 h of reperfusion. Similar observations were made in H-I/R animals. These data suggest that an elevated CSF NOC/oFQ concentration and altered vascular responsiveness to this opioid contribute to reductions in CBF observed after either I/R or H-I/R.     

NOC/oFQ contributes to age-dependent impairment of NMDA-induced cerebrovasodilation after brain injury

This study characterized the effects of fluid percussion brain injury (FPI) on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced vasodilation and determined the role of nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOC/oFQ) in such changes as a function of age and time postinsult. FPI elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NOC/oFQ from 70 +/- 3 to 444 +/- 56 pg/ml ( approximately 10(-10) M) within 1 h and to 1,931 +/- 112 pg/ml within 8 h, whereas values returned to control levels within 168 h in the newborn pig. In contrast, FPI elevated CSF NOC/oFQ from 77 +/- 4 to 202 +/- 16 pg/ml within 1 h and values returned to control levels within 8 h in the juvenile pig. Topical NOC/oFQ (10(-10) M) had no effect on pial artery diameter but attenuated NMDA (10(-8), 10(-6) M)-induced dilation (9 +/- 1 and 16 +/- 1 vs. 5 +/- 1 and 10 +/- 1%) in both age groups. In the newborn, NMDA-induced pial artery dilation was reversed to vasoconstriction within 1 h post-FPI and responses remained impaired for 72 h, but such vasoconstriction was attenuated by pretreatment with [F/G]NOC/oFQ(1-13)-NH(2) (10(-6) M, 1 mg/kg iv), an NOC/oFQ antagonist (9 +/- 1 and 16 +/- 1 vs. -7 +/- 1 and -12 +/- 1 vs -2 +/- 1 and -3 +/- 1% for control, FPI, and FPI pretreated with the NOC/oFQ antagonist). In contrast, in the juvenile, NMDA-induced vasodilation was only attenuated within 1 h post-FPI and returned to control within 8 h. Such dilation was also partially restored by the NOC/oFQ antagonist. These data indicate that NOC/oFQ contributes to impaired NMDA pial artery dilation after FPI. These data suggest that the greater NOC/oFQ release in the newborn versus the juvenile may contribute to age-related differences in FPI effects on excitatory amino acid-induced pial dilation.     

Protein synthesis inhibitors activate glucose transport without increasing plasma membrane glucose transporters in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that hexose transport regulation may involve proteins with relatively rapid turnover rates. 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which exhibit 10-fold increases in hexose transport rates within 30 min of the addition of 100 nM insulin, were utilized. Exposure of these cells to 300 microM anisomycin or 500 microM cycloheximide caused a maximal, 7-fold increase in 2-deoxyglucose transport rate after 4-8 h. The effects due to either insulin (0.5 h) or anisomycin (5 h) on the kinetics of zero-trans 3-O-methyl[14C]glucose transport were similar, resulting in 2.5-3-fold increases in apparent Vmax values (control Vmax = 1.6 +/- 0.3 x 10(-7) mmol/s/10(6) cells) coupled with approximately 2-fold decreases in apparent Km values (control Km = 23 +/- 3.3 mM). Insulin elicited the expected increases in plasma membrane levels of HepG2/erythrocyte (GLUT1) and muscle/adipocyte (GLUT4) transporters (1.6- and 2.8-fold, respectively) as determined by protein immunoblotting. In contrast, neither total cellular contents nor plasma membrane levels of these two transporter isoforms were increased when 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with either anisomycin or cycloheximide. 3-[125I]Iodo-4-azidophenethylamido-7-O-succinyldeacetylforskoli n labeling of glucose transporters in plasma membrane fractions of similarly treated cells was also unaffected by these agents. Thus, a striking discrepancy was observed between the marked increase in cellular hexose transport rates due to these protein synthesis inhibitors and the unaltered amounts of glucose transporter proteins in the plasma membrane fraction. These data indicate that short-term protein synthesis inhibition in 3T3-L1 adipocytes leads to large increases in the intrinsic catalytic activity of one or both of the GLUT1 and GLUT4 transporter isoforms.     

Platelet-derived growth factor stimulates rapid polyphosphoinositide breakdown in fetal human fibroblasts

The addition of human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) to confluent, quiescent cultures of human diploid fibroblasts induced the rapid breakdown of cellular polyphosphoinositides. The levels of 32P-labeled phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP), and phosphatidylinositol (PI) decreased by 30 to 40% within 1 min after exposure of the cells to PDGF. The levels of PIP and PIP2 returned to their initial values within 3 and 10 min, respectively, after PDGF addition. The level of PI continued to increase after it had returned to control values and was up threefold within 30 min after PDGF addition. In cells prelabeled with myo-[3H]inositol PDGF caused an eightfold increase in the levels of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) within 2 min. Lesser increases, twofold and 1.3-fold, respectively, were seen in levels of inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and inositol monophosphate (IP). Within 10 min after PDGF addition the levels of all three inositol phosphates had decreased to control values. The levels of IP3 measured 2 min after PDGF addition depended on the PDGF concentration and were maximal at 5-10 ng/ml of PDGF. Similar concentrations of PDGF stimulate maximal cell growth and DNA synthesis in these cells.     

Glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) infused intravenously is insulinotropic in the fasting state in type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus

The effects of an intravenous infusion of porcine GIP on beta-cell secretion in patients with untreated type 2 diabetes mellitus have been studied. The subjects were studied on two separate days. After a 10 h overnight fast and a further 120 min basal period they were given an intravenous infusion of porcine GIP (2 pmol.kg-1.min-1) or control solution in random order from 120-140 min. Frequent plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide and GIP measurements were made throughout and the study was continued until 200 min. Plasma glucose levels were similar throughout both tests. During the GIP infusion there was an early significant rise in insulin concentration from 0.058 +/- 0.006 nmol/l to 0.106 +/- 0.007 nmol/l (P less than 0.01) within 6 min of commencing the GIP infusion and insulin levels reached a peak of 0.131 +/- 0.011 nmol/l at 10 min (P less than 0.01). Insulin levels remained significantly elevated during the rest of the GIP infusion (P less than 0.01-0.001) and returned to basal values 20 min post infusion. No change in basal insulin values was seen during the control infusion. C-peptide levels were similarly raised during the GIP infusion and the increase was significant just 4 min after commencing the GIP infusion (P less than 0.05). GIP levels increased from 16 +/- 3 pmol/l prior to the infusion to a peak of 286 +/- 24 pmol/l 20 min later. At 4 min when a significant beta-cell response was observed GIP levels were well within the physiological range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 stimulate prostaglandin E2 secretion from the rat median eminence.

The in vitro effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelin-3 (ET-3) on the release of prostaglandin (PG)E2 from the rat median eminence were investigated. The addition of ET-1 from 10(-9) M to 10(-6) M stimulated PGE2 release in a dose-dependent manner (from 10.5 +/- 2.1 to 54.4 +/- 5.6 pg/ME fragment/30 min; mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.001). ET-3 also stimulated the release of PGE2 from 10(-7) M to 10(-5) M dose dependently (from 18.1 +/- 0.7 to 60.9 +/- 17.4 pg/ME fragment/30 min p less than 0.05). The time course effect of ET-3 (10(-6) M) showed that PGE2 release was stimulated within five minutes (control, 1.5 +/- 0.5; ET-3, 15.8 +/- 3.0 pg/ME fragment/5 min, p less than 0.01). These results suggest that ET-1 and ET-3 have some physiological effects on the rat median eminence.     

CD36 regulates fatty acid composition and sensitivity to insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

In the current study, we tested a hypothesis that CD36 fatty acid (FA) transporter might affect insulin sensitivity by indirect effects on FA composition of adipose tissue. We examined the effects of CD36 downregulation by RNA interference in 3T3-L1 adipocytes on FA transport and composition and on sensitivity to insulin action. Transfected 3T3-L1 adipocytes, without detectable CD36 protein, showed reduced neutral lipid levels and significant differences in FA composition when levels of essential FA and their metabolites were lower or could not be detected including gamma linolenic (C18:3 n6), eicosadienic (C20:2 n6), dihomo-gamma linolenic (C20:3 n6), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) (C20:5 n3), docosapentaenoic (DPA) (C22:5 n3), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) (C22:6 n3) FA. Transfected 3T3-L1 adipocytes exhibited a significantly higher n6/n3 FA ratio, reduced 5-desaturase and higher 9-desaturase activities. These lipid profiles were associated with a significantly reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (4.02+/-0.1 vs. 8.42+/-0.26 pmol.10(-3) cells, P=0.001). These findings provide evidence that CD36 regulates FA composition thereby affecting sensitivity to insulin action in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.     

Sex steroid hormones induce acylation stimulating protein resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Acylation stimulating protein (ASP) stimulates triglyceride synthesis and glucose transport via its receptor C5L2. In human studies, ASP is increased in insulin resistant states such as obesity, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome and late pregnancy (the latter two associated with altered sex hormones). The aims were (i) to evaluate ASP response and C5L2 expression following treatment with sex steroid hormones and (ii) to identify mechanisms of ASP resistance using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and preadipocytes. Overnight incubation with physiological progesterone (PROG) concentrations induced dose-dependent inhibition of ASP-stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes (188 +/- 11% +ASP, 100 +/- 4% control, 129 +/- 18% to 85 +/- 7% [ASP + PROG 10(-8) to 10(-6) M] and preadipocytes (263 +/- 18% +ASP, 100 +/- 3% control, 170 +/- 11% to 167 +/- 4% [ASP + PROG 10(-8) to 10(-6) M]), while estradiol and testosterone (TEST) were effective only at the highest concentration (10(-6) M). In adipocytes, dose-dependent maximal C5L2 mRNA decreases were 39-75% (P = 0.003), with decreased cell-surface C5L2 of -22% and -27% (10(-6) M PROG and TEST, respectively) with no change in preadipocytes. Adipocytes treated with PROG displayed decreases in G proteins: Gbeta (-55%), Galphaq/11 (-56%) as well as complete inhibition of ASP stimulation. PROG significantly decreased basal levels of phosphorylated PKCalpha (p-PKCalpha) while there was no change in p- PKCzeta. ASP increased p-PKCalpha and PKCzeta to 161% (P < 0.0.001) and 160% (P < 0.01), a stimulation effectively blocked by PROG (10(-8) and 10(-6) M) and TEST (10(-6) M). Sex steroid hormone-induced ASP resistance via C5L2 may contribute to altered adipose tissue function and insulin resistance phenotype in humans.     

Synthetic peptide analogs of DARPP-32 (Mr 32,000 dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein), an inhibitor of protein phosphatase-1. Phosphorylation, dephosphorylation, and inhibitory activity

Synthetic peptides based on the threonine phosphorylation site and proposed inhibitory site of DARPP-32 (dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, Mr = 32,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) were prepared and analyzed as substrates for cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein phosphatases-1c, -2Ac (the catalytic subunits of protein phosphatase-1 and 2A, respectively) and -2B, and as inhibitors of protein phosphatase-1c. Studies of the kinetics of phosphorylation of the peptides by cAMP-dependent protein kinase indicated an important role in facilitating phosphorylation for the region COOH-terminal to the phosphorylatable threonyl residue. Studies of the dephosphorylation of the phosphopeptides demonstrated that they were effectively dephosphorylated by protein phosphatase-2A and -2B and poorly dephosphorylated by protein phosphatase-1. The active inhibitory region of phospho-DARPP-32 was analyzed by determining the effects of synthetic phosphopeptides on the activity of protein phosphatase-1c. Phospho-D32-(8-48) and phospho-D32-(8-38) inhibited protein phosphatase-1c with IC50 values of 2 x 10(-8) and 4 x 10(-8) M, respectively, compared with an IC50 of 8 x 10(-9) M for intact phospho-DARPP-32. Phospho-D32-(9-38) was equipotent with phospho-D32-(8-38); however, further NH2-terminal deletions resulted in marked reductions in IC50 values. An analog of an active DARPP-32 phosphopeptide containing a phosphoseryl residue in place of the phosphothreonyl residue also exhibited a much reduced IC50. These data identify the essential inhibitory region of phospho-DARPP-32 as residues 9-38, which contains the phosphorylation site (Thr34). This region exhibits extensive amino acid sequence identity with phosphatase inhibitor-1, a distinct inhibitor of protein phosphatase-1. Kinetic studies of the inhibition of protein phosphatase-1c by phospho-D32-(9-38), a potent inhibitor, as well as by phospho-D32-(10-38), a weak inhibitor, indicated a mixed competitive/noncompetitive mechanism of inhibition, as has been previously found for both intact phospho-DARPP-32 and intact phospho-inhibitor-1. These findings support the hypothesis that a 30-amino acid domain in the NH2-terminal region of phospho-DARPP-32 is sufficient for the inhibition of protein phosphatase-1.     

Augmentation of insulin-stimulated ANP release through tyrosine kinase and PI 3-kinase in diabetic rats

The aim of present study was to define the effects of insulin on atrial dynamics and ANP release and its modification in diabetic rats. An isolated perfused beating atrial model was used from control and diabetic rats. Insulin was perfused with and without an inhibitor for tyrosine kinase or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). Insulin increased the release of ANP and decreased atrial contractility in a dose-dependent manner. During the perfusion of 10(-10)M insulin, the release of ANP abruptly increased within 8min by approximately 40% and then decreased with time despite of continuous perfusion. In terms of increasing the dose of insulin, the time to reach the peak effect became faster and the slope to decrease became slower. In contrast, atrial contractility was gradually decreased with time. These effects were independent upon extracellular glucose. Genistein (10(-5)M) or lavendustin C (10(-5)M), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, attenuated the release of ANP stimulated by insulin (10(-8)M). Wortmannin (10(-7)M) or LY294002 (10(-5)M), a PI 3-kinase inhibitor, also attenuated insulin-stimulated ANP release. However, both inhibitors for PI 3-kinase and tyrosine kinase did not cause any significant effects on negative inotropism by insulin. Insulin-stimulated ANP release was augmented in streptozotocin-treated rat atria. The density of insulin receptor markedly increased in diabetic hearts. These results suggest that insulin stimulates the release of ANP through PI 3-kinase and tyrosine kinase, and augmentation of insulin-stimulated ANP release in diabetic rat atria may be partly due to an upregulation of insulin receptor.     

Possible Existence of Two Subsets of Platelet-Activating Factor Receptor to Mediate Polyphosphoinositide Breakdown and Calcium Influx in Neuroblastoma × Glioma Hybrid NG 108–15 Cells

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) initiated polyphosphoinositide (polyPI) breakdown and a rise of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG 108-15 cells. The accumulation of [3H]inositol trisphosphate and [3H]inositol bisphosphate was evident within 15 s after PAF stimulation, peaked at 1 min, and then gradually decayed. The increase in [3H]inositol monophosphate level was observed at 30 s, plateaued in 5 min, and was sustained up to 10 min in the presence of 10 mM LiCl. On the other hand, the rise of [Ca2+]i evoked by PAF reached a peak within 8-12 s and returned to basal levels within 1 min as measured in fura 2-loaded cells. When cells were suspended in Ca(2+)-depleted medium, the PAF-induced [Ca2+]i rise was reduced by 80%, indicating that the increase of [Ca2+]i was predominantly due to the Ca2+ influx from an extracellular source. Both PAF-induced accumulation of 3H-labeled inositol phosphates and [Ca2+]i elevation were concentration dependent with EC50 values of approximately 1 x 10(-10) and 5 x 10(-8) M, respectively. The PAF analogs 1-O-hexadecyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerol-3-phosphocholine were much poorer agonists at eliciting the same responses in these cells. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin caused a substantial inhibition of PAF-induced accumulation of 3H-inositol phosphates. In contrast, the rise in [Ca2+]i was not significantly affected by toxin treatment at the same concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Hemodynamic and proinflammatory actions of endothelin-1 in guinea pig small intestine submucosal microcirculation

The hemodynamic and proinflammatory effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in proximal (1st/2nd order) and terminal (3rd/4th order) arterioles and venules were examined in small intestine submucosa of anesthetized guinea pigs. Vessel diameter (D), red blood cell velocity, and blood flow (Q) were determined in eight proximal and eight terminal microvessels before and at 20 min of ET-1 suffusion (10(-10), 10(-9), and 10(-8) M) and then with endothelin-A (ET(A))-receptor blockade with BQ-123 (10(-5) M). This protocol was repeated with platelet-activating factor (PAF) inhibition (WEB-2086, 1.0 mg/kg iv; n = 16). The ET-1-mediated microvascular responses were also examined with endothelin-B (ET(B))-receptor blockade using BQ-788 (10(-5) M; n = 11) alone or with ET(A+B)-receptor blockade with BQ-123 + BQ-788 (n = 10). Microvascular permeability was assessed by FITC-albumin (25 mg/kg iv) extravasation in seven series: 1) buffered modified Krebs solution suffusion (n = 6), 2) histamine suffusion (HIS; 10(-3) M, n = 5), 3) ET-1 suffusion (10(-8) M, n = 5), 4) BQ-123 (10(-5) M) plus ET-1 suffusion (n = 5), 5) PAF inhibition before ET-1 suffusion (n = 5), 6) histamine-1 (H1)-receptor blockade (diphenhydramine, 20 mg/kg iv) before ET-1 suffusion (n = 5), and 7) ET(B)-receptor blockade before (BQ-788 10(-5) M; n = 3) or with ET-1 suffusion (n = 3). D and Q decreased at 10(-8) M ET-1 and returned to control values with BQ-123 and BQ-123+BQ788 but not with BQ-788 in proximal microvessels. D did not change in terminal microvessels with ET-1 (10(-8) M) but decreased with BQ-788 and increased with BQ-123. PAF inhibition did not affect the D and Q responses of proximal microvessels to ET-1 but prevented the fall in Q in terminal microvessels with ET-1. ET-1 increased vascular permeability to approximately 1/3 of that with HIS; this response was prevented with BQ-123 and WEB-2086 but not with H1-receptor blockade. This is the first evidence that submucosal terminal microvessel flow is reduced with ET-1 independent of vessel diameter changes and that this response is associated with increased microvascular permeability mediated via ET(A)-receptor stimulation and PAF activation.     

Insulin regulation of pyruvate kinase activity in cultured rat hepatocytes, in the presence of vasopressin, ionophore A23187 or 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate.

The short-term interactions of insulin and vasopressin on pyruvate kinase (PK) activity were studied in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. (1) Vasopressin inhibited PK activity by approx. 30% within 15 s, but activity returned to control values by 5 min. The transient inhibition by vasopressin was mimicked by either 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (PMA) or ionophore A23187. (2) Insulin alone transiently inhibited PK activity at 1 min, but stimulated PK activity at 5 and 15 min. (3) Insulin completely antagonized the early inhibition by vasopressin, PMA or A23187 of PK activity at 15 s. (4) Insulin inhibited PK activity in the presence of vasopressin, PMA or A23187 at 5 min. (5) 8-Bromo cyclic AMP inhibited PK activity within 15 s, and this inhibition was maintained for at least 5 min. Insulin did not antagonized the inhibition by the cyclic AMP analogue. These results show that insulin under appropriate conditions can act as an inhibitor or activator of PK.     

Pervanadate [peroxide(s) of vanadate] mimics insulin action in rat adipocytes via activation of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase

Both vanadate and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are known to have insulin-mimetic effects. We previously reported that the mixture of vanadate plus H2O2 results in the generation of a peroxide(s) of vanadate, which strongly enhances IGF-II binding to rat adipocytes (Kadota et al., 1987b). We now report that pervanadate mimics insulin in isolated rat adipocytes to (1) stimulate lipogenesis, (2) inhibit epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis, and (3) stimulate protein synthesis. The efficacy of pervanadate is comparable to that of insulin. However, it is 10(2)-10(3) times more potent than vanadate alone. Exposure of intact rat adipocytes to pervanadate was found to activate the WGA-purified insulin receptor tyrosine kinase assayed with the exogenous substrate poly(Glu80/Tyr20) in a dose-dependent manner to a maximum of 1464% of control at 10(-3) M compared with a maximum insulin effect of 1046% at 10(-6) M. In contrast, in vitro assayed autophosphorylation of the WGA-purified extract was increased 3-fold after exposure of intact cells to insulin but not significantly increased after pervanadate. Furthermore, high concentrations of pervanadate (10(-5) M) inhibited subsequent in vitro added insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation. In vitro addition of pervanadate to WGA-purified receptors could not stimulate autophosphorylation or exogenous tyrosine kinase activity and did not inhibit insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation. Labeling of intact adipocytes with [32P]orthophosphate followed by exposure to 10(-4) M pervanadate increased insulin receptor beta-subunit phosphorylation (7.9 +/- 3.0)-fold, while 10(-7) M insulin and 10(-4) vanadate increased labeling (5.3 +/- 1.8)- and (1.1 +/- 0.2)-fold, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Phosphorylation of bovine neurofilament proteins by protein kinase FA (glycogen synthase kinase 3).

A highly purified preparation of protein kinase FA (where FA is the activating factor for phosphatase 1)/glycogen synthase kinase 3 from rabbit muscle readily phosphorylated bovine neurofilaments. All three neurofilament proteins, the high, middle, and low molecular proteins (NF-H, NF-M, and NF-L), were phosphorylated when intact filaments were incubated with the kinase. Experiments with individual proteins showed that NF-M was the best substrate. At protein concentrations of 0.13 mg/ml, the initial rate of NF-M phosphorylation was 30% of that observed for glycogen synthase. Km values were 0.24 mg/ml (7 x 10(-7) M tetramer) for glycogen synthase and 0.10 mg/ml (5 x 10(-7) M dimer) for NF-M. Vmax values were 0.36 mumol/min/mg for glycogen synthase and 0.035 mumol/min/mg for NF-M. Dephosphorylated NF-M was phosphorylated only half as much as native NF-M; this is consistent with the known substrate specificity of the kinase. The possible involvement of FA/GSK-3 in the phosphorylation of neurofilaments in vivo is discussed.     

Elevation of the number of cell-surface insulin receptors and the rate of 2-deoxyglucose uptake by exposure of 3T3-L1 adipocytes to tolbutamide

Sulfonylurea compounds are hypoglycemic agents which by unknown mechanisms alter the amount of insulin receptor and the rate of glucose utilization in tissues exposed to the drugs. In this study the effects on insulin binding and uptake of 2-deoxyglucose by 3T3-L1 adipocytes were assessed after maintaining cell monolayers for 1-3 days in medium containing different concentrations of the sulfonylurea, tolbutamide. The amount of 125I-insulin bound by treated monolayers gradually increased to values 150-250% of those of control monolayers after 2-3 days of exposure to 1.5 mM tolbutamide. Such increases in insulin binding capacity arose primarily from an increase in receptor number and not from an alteration in the affinity of the receptor for insulin. Concomitant with the changes observed for the insulin receptor, tolbutamide-treated monolayers expressed 1.5-2-fold higher rates of uptake of 2-deoxyglucose relative to control monolayers at concentrations of insulin between 0 and 10(-10) M. This study thus demonstrates the responsiveness of adipocytes to tolbutamide and also establishes the usefulness of 3T3-L1 cells as a model system in which to study the mechanism of tolbutamide action, both as it relates to the use of sulfonylurea compounds in clinical applications and as possible probes for perturbing and studying relatively uncharacterized regulatory pathways controlling receptor level and biological responses to insulin.     

Binding and second messengers of prostaglandins F2 alpha and E1 in primary cultures of rabbit endometrial cells

Several factors and hormones are thought to play a role in the growth control of endometrial cells. We have shown that prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) is a growth factor for primary cultures of rabbit endometrial cells grown in serum-free, chemically defined medium and that prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) antagonizes the PGF2 alpha induction of growth (Orlicky et al., 1986). [3H]PGF2 alpha binds to whole cells in a time (optimal approximately 30 min)- and temperature-dependent (optimal 37 degrees C), disassociable (90% disassociable within 30 min), saturable (Kd1 = 4.9 X 10(-8) M, n1 = 1.2 X 10(5) molecules/cell; Kd2 = 2.6 X 10(-7) M, n2 = 3.0 X 10(5) molecules/cell), and specific manner. [3H]PGE1 binds in a time-dependent (optimal 25 min), disassociable (90% disassociable within 10 min), saturable (Kd = 6.4 X 10(-8) M, n = 1.2 X 10(5) molecules/cell), and specific manner. This specific binding of [3H]PGF2 alpha and [3H]PGE1 is down-regulatable by prior treatment of the cultures with unlabeled ligand, and up-regulatable by prior treatment of the cultures with indomethacin to inhibit endogenous PG synthesis. Proteolytic enzyme treatment for 2 min reduces the specific binding of PGF2 alpha by 75%. PGE1 stimulates intracellular cAMP synthesis and accumulation in a time (optimal 10 min)- and concentration (half-maximal stimulation at 10(-6) M)-dependent manner but has no effect on intracellular cGMP. PGF2 alpha has no effect on either intracellular cAMP or cGMP in this system. We describe here for the first time the analysis at a biochemical level of the interaction between two prostaglandins, antagonistic to each other in terms of growth regulation.     

Effect of insulin to decrease glucose transport in dissociated cells from the R3230AC mammary adenocarcinoma of diabetic rats.

Dissociated cells of the R3230AC mammary tumor were found to take up glucose by diffusion and by a passive carrier system. Using labeled 3-O-methylglucose as the probe, the following properties of the passive carrier were identified: (1) specificity for glucose, (2) competition by galactose and mannose but not by mannitol and fructose, (3) inhibition by phloretin but not by phloridzin, (4) temperature sensitivity, and (5) a Km for transport of 3-4 mM. The effects of insulin in vitro on carrier-mediated glucose transport were investigated in tumor cells from diabetic rats. At 10-9 M insulin, a time-related decrease in v for transport was observed resulting in an increased calculated Km (2- to 3-fold increase after 60-90 min incubation with insulin); only slight effects on V were obtained. This unusual response in v to insulin was observed when glucose was present in the medium at 2 mM and 5 mM, but not at 20 mM glucose. The effect of insulin to decrease the v was dose-related, with the major effects seen between 10-10M and 10-8M. The apparent decrease in glucose entry in vitro may in part explain the ability of insulin to inhibit growth of this tumor in vivo.