Ketoconazole inhibits the conductance K+ induced by thyreoliberin (TRH) in GH3 cells

Ketoconazole an imidazole derivative used in clinical practice as an antifungal medicine interferes with the phospholipid dependent "second messenger" pathway. In this work we show that in the GH3 clonal cell line, ketoconazole (10 microM) inhibits part of the complex pattern of electrical activity induced by Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH, 10 nM). The phase blocked by ketoconazole represents the Ca2+ -activated K+ conductance.     

Activation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide causes changes in the cytosolic free calcium concentration in single peritoneal macrophages

Variations in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) upon LPS exposure were studied in single rat peritoneal macrophages loaded with fura-2 under carefully controlled conditions. Of a total of 60 cells examined, 47% responded to LPS (1 microgram/ml) with an increase in [Ca2+]i. Macrophages were heterogeneous with regard to the LPS response, with individual cells exhibiting single rapid and transient increases in [Ca2+]i, multiple transients, or slower and more sustained variations. In 62% of the responding cells, a second exposure to LPS elicited a [Ca2+]i rise, although usually to a slightly lower peak value. Thus, rapid desensitization to LPS does not occur in the majority of these macrophages. EGTA did not abolish the response of those cells that exhibited a single rapid transient in [Ca2+]i, indicating that the source of the initial [Ca2+]i rise was the intracellular stores. There was no obvious correlation between the type of response to LPS and the initial morphologic features (rounded vs polarized) of the cells. Our present work shows unequivocally that LPS induces increases in macrophage [Ca2+]i and, thereby, lends substantial support to the hypothesis that [Ca2+]i is a second messenger in LPS-mediated activation of the macrophage.     

Structural studies of the apoprotein of the Folch-Pi bovine brain myelin proteolipid : characterization of the CNBr-fragments and of a long C-terminal sequence.

The action of cyanogen bromide on the quite insoluble bovine proteolipid apoprotein allowed the determination of four peptide fragments: two of them constituted a 19 amino acid long C-terminal sequence of the apoprotein. Our results were in favour of the existence of only one subunit presenting a molecular weight closely related to 25,000 for which a schematic representation is given.     

Voltage-dependent ionic conductances in the human malignant astrocytoma cell line U87-MG

Although the human malignant astrocytoma cell line U87-MG has been used in numerous studies, few findings are available on the properties of its membrane ion conductances. Characterization of the ion channels expressed in these cells will make it possible to study membrane ion conductance changes when a receptor is activated by its ligand. This will help to elucidate the functional properties of these receptors and their signal-transduction pathways in pathophysiological events. This work studied the voltage-dependent ionic conductances of U87-MG cells using the Whole-Cell Recording patch-clamp technique. Six types of voltage-dependent ionic currents were identified: (i) a TEA-, 4-AP- and CTX-sensitive Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ current, (ii) a transient K⁺ current inhibited by 4-AP, (iii) an inwardly rectifying K⁺ current blocked by Ba²⁺ and 4-AP, (iv) a DIDS- and SITS-sensitive Cl^? current, (v) a TTX-sensitive Na⁺ conductance and (vi) a L-type Ca²⁺ conductance activated by BayK-8644 and inhibited by Ni and the L-type Ca²⁺ channel inhibitor, nifedipine. In addition, electrical depolarizations elicited inward currents due to voltage-independent, Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ influx against the electrochemical gradient, probably via an ouabain-sensitive Na⁺-K⁺ pump.     

Platelet-derived growth factor stimulates phospholipase C-gamma 1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and arachidonic acid release in rat myometrial cells: contribution to cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate production and effect on cell proliferation

In the present study, we examined downstream signaling events that followed exposure of cultured rat myometrial cells to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and their effect on cell proliferation. PDGF-BB induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PDGF-beta receptors and increased inositol trisphosphate production via the tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase (PL)C-gamma 1. PDGF-BB also increased cAMP synthesis. This increase was potentiated by forskolin and reduced by indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, reflecting a Gs protein-mediated process via prostaglandin biosynthesis. The prostaglandin produced by PDGF was characterized as prostacyclin (PGI(2)). PDGF-BB increased arachidonic acid (AA) release, which, similarly to cAMP accumulation, was abolished in the presence of AACOCF3, a cytosolic PLA(2) inhibitor, and in the absence of Ca(2+). U-73122, a potent inhibitor of PLC activity, blocked both the production of inositol phosphates and the AA release triggered by PDGF-BB. Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2 are expressed in myometrial cells, and PDGF-BB selectively activated ERK2. PD98059, an inhibitor of the ERK-activating kinase, blocked PDGF-BB-mediated ERK2 activation, AA release, and cAMP production. The results demonstrate that PDGF-BB stimulated cAMP formation through both PLC activation and ERK-dependent AA release and PGI(2) biosynthesis. PDGF-BB also increased cell proliferation and [(3)H]thymidine incorporation. This was abolished by PD98059, demonstrating that the ERK cascade is required for the mitogenic effect of PDGF-BB. Forskolin, which potentiated the cAMP response to PDGF-BB, attenuated both DNA synthesis and ERK activation triggered by PDGF-BB, suggesting the presence of a negative feedback regulation.     

Floxed allele for conditional inactivation of the GABAB(1) gene

GABA(B) receptors are the G-protein-coupled receptors for the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA(B) receptors are broadly expressed in the nervous system. Their complete absence in mice causes premature lethality or--when mice are viable--epilepsy, impaired memory, hyperalgesia, hypothermia, and hyperactivity. A spatially and temporally restricted loss of GABA(B) function would allow addressing how the absence of GABA(B) receptors leads to these diverse phenotypes. To permit a conditional gene inactivation, we flanked critical exons of the GABA(B(1)) gene with lox511 sites. GABA(B(1)) (lox511/lox511) mice exhibit normal levels of GABA(B(1)) protein, are fertile, and do not display any behavioral phenotype. We crossed GABA(B(1)) (lox511/lox511) with Cre-deleter mice to produce mice with an unrestricted GABA(B) receptor elimination. These GABA(B(1)) (-/-) mice no longer synthesize GABA(B(1)) protein and exhibit the expected behavioral abnormalities. The conditional GABA(B(1)) allele described here is therefore suitable for generating mice with a site- and time-specific loss of GABA(B) function.     

Inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase B as a regulator of bone mass in mice and humans

Osteoporosis is a multifactorial genetic disease characterized by reduction of bone mass due to dysregulation of osteoclast differentiation or maturation. Herein, we identified a regulator of osteoclastogenesis, the murine homolog of inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase type IIα (Inpp4bα). Expression of Inpp4bα is detected from early osteoclast differentiation to activation stage. Targeted expression of native Inpp4bα ex?vivo repressed whereas phosphatase-inactive Inpp4bα stimulated osteoclast differentiation. Inpp4bα acts on intracellular calcium level that modulates NFATc1 nuclear translocation and activation. In?vivo mice deficient in Inpp4b displayed increased osteoclast differentiation rate and potential resulting in decreased bone mass and osteoporosis. Importantly, INPP4B in human was identified as a susceptibility locus for osteoporosis. This study defined Inpp4b as a major modulator of the osteoclast differentiation and as a gene linked to variability of bone mineral density in mice and humans.