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C T Roberts

Publications and source records attributed to C T Roberts.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Expression of the genes encoding the insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and II), the IGF and insulin receptors, and IGF-binding proteins-1-6 and the localization of their gene products in normal and polycystic ovary syndrome ovaries.

To discern the potential role of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), we examined the expression of the genes encoding the IGFs, IGF receptors (IGFr), insulin receptor (Ir), and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs-1-6) as well as the localization of the gene products in specific cellular compartments of normal and PCOS human ovaries. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was localized by in situ hybridization with specific 35S-labeled human antisense RNA probes, and protein was detected by immunohistochemistry using specific antisera. Thecal cells, but not granulosa cells (GC), of small antral follicles (3-6 mm) from PCOS ovaries expressed both IGF-I and IGF-II transcripts. Abundant IGF-Ir mRNA was found only in GC, IGF-IIr mRNA was found in both granulosa and thecal cells, and Ir mRNA was detected in all cell types, including granulosa, thecal, and stromal cells. Localization of the gene products revealed no IGF-I immunoreactivity; however, immunostaining for each of the other gene products was colocalized with its corresponding mRNA. The cellular distribution of mRNA and protein in PCOS follicles was indistinguishable from that observed in small antral follicles from normal ovaries. In dominant follicles, however, IGF-I mRNA was no longer detectable, but abundant IGF-II mRNA was expressed exclusively in GC. Although IGF-Ir mRNA was expressed in GC, IGF-IIr mRNA was found in both granulosa and thecal cells. In follicles taken from PCOS ovaries, no IGFBP-1 mRNA was detected, IGFBP-2 mRNA was abundant in both granulosa and thecal cells, moderate IGFBP-3 mRNA was found only in thecal cells, IGFBP-4 and -5 mRNAs were present in all cellular compartments, and IGFBP-6 mRNA was not detected. Localization of the gene products by immunostaining revealed that each protein colocalized with its corresponding mRNA. The cellular distribution of IGFBP mRNA and protein in PCOS follicles was also indistinguishable from that in small antral follicles of normal ovaries, but remarkable differences were found in dominant follicles, where abundant IGFBP-1 mRNA was seen exclusively in GC, IGFBP-2 mRNA in thecal cells, and IGFBP-3 mRNA in both granulosa and thecal cells. Moderate expression of the IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 genes was seen in all cell types, including stromal cells, but no IGFBP-6 mRNA was detected. Again, each of the gene products colocalized with its corresponding mRNA. We conclude the following.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Essential role of tyrosine residues 1131, 1135, and 1136 of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor in IGF-I action.

The insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors are related heterotetramers consisting of two extracellular ligand-binding alpha-subunits and two transmembrane beta-subunits whose cytoplasmic domains exhibit tyrosine kinase activity. Previous studies have shown that ATP binding by the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase domains of these receptors is necessary to initiate the signal transduction pathway triggered by ligands or by ligand-mimetic antibodies, suggesting that receptor autophosphorylation is a necessary proximal step in this pathway. In the case of the insulin receptor, it has additionally been demonstrated that a cluster of three tyrosines in the kinase domain itself are the first to be phosphorylated, and that autophosphorylation of these particular residues is necessary for receptor activity. Using stably transfected NIH-3T3 cell lines, we now show that mutation of the analogous residues in the IGF-I receptor abolishes all short, intermediate, and long-term responses to IGF-I. These data suggest that the initial mechanisms of activation of the insulin and IGF-I receptors are very similar. Additionally, we have identified two parameters, induction of c-fos gene expression and ornithine decarboxylase enzyme activity, which are extremely sensitive to IGF-I stimulation and which will be particularly useful in evaluating the biological activity of other mutated versions of the IGF-I receptor.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1994

Placentation in the dasyurid marsupial, Sminthopsis crassicaudata, the fat-tailed dunnart, and notes on placentation of the didelphid, Monodelphis domestica.

A light microscope study of the choriovitelline (yolk sac) placenta of the dasyurid marsupial, Sminthopsis crassicaudata, and some comparative observations on that of the didelphid, Monodelphis domestica, were performed. In the former species, the placenta was composed of an invasive bilaminar, avascular, yolk sac and a non-invasive trilaminar, vascular yolk sac. The bilaminar yolk sac placenta had trophoblast giant cells that eroded the maternal epithelium, but there was no evidence of invasion of maternal capillaries; thus, an endotheliochorial placenta was present. In the trilaminar yolk sac placenta, the convoluted chorion followed the contours of the highly folded endometrial epithelium but did not erode it and, therefore, an epitheliochorial placenta was formed. In late pregnancy, the choriovitelline placenta of Monodelphis domestica also had two regions, but the fetal trophoblast did not invade the uterine epithelium in either region. Rather, there were discontinuous areas of adhesion between trophoblast giant cells and uterine epithelium in the trilaminar yolk sac placenta and some extensive areas of adhesion in the attenuated bilaminar yolk sac placenta. The yolk sac placenta in M. domestica, unlike that of S. crassicaudata, therefore appears to be epitheliochorial in the vascular and non-vascular regions.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Differential accumulation of insulin-like growth factor-I in kidneys of pre- and postpubertal streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Nephropathy, one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus, is characterized by an early increase in kidney size. In experimental models of diabetes, this event is preceded by a rapid and transient rise in kidney IGF-I levels, at least in adult animals. Since diabetes-associated renal changes are uncommon in young patients, we investigated the early changes in the components of the IGF system following induction of diabetes in prepubertal and postpubertal rats. The rationale for this study was the evaluation of potential differences which could lead to kidney complications only at adult stages. Unlike the situation in the postpubertal kidney, in which there was a transient accumulation of extractable IGF-I 24-48 h after streptozotocin (STZ) administration, there was a decrease of approximately 12-fold in the level of IGF-I in the prepubertal kidney over the same period of time. Paradoxically, kidney IGF-I mRNA levels were reduced by approximately 50% in the postpubertal rat 24 h after STZ treatment, whereas in the prepubertal kidney IGF-I mRNA levels were unaltered. Furthermore, the levels of IGF-I receptor mRNA and 125I-labelled IGF-I binding to kidney membranes of postpubertal diabetic rats were similar to the levels in control kidneys. On the other hand, both the levels of IGF-I receptor mRNA and 125I-labelled IGF-I binding were increased (approximately 2.5-fold (after 24 h) and approximately 3-fold (after 48 h) respectively) in prepubertal animals. In addition, increased expression of IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-1 mRNA was seen early in diabetes in both pre- and postpubertal rats. The results of this study suggest that the transient accumulation of IGF-I in the kidney of the postpubertal diabetic rat may not be due to an increase in the local synthesis of IGF-I, but rather to an increase in IGF-I uptake from the circulation due to non-membrane-associated IGFBP-1. The lack of accumulation of IGF-I in the prepubertal kidney probably reflects the approximately 10-fold lower levels of circulating IGF-I in young as compared with adult diabetic rats.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1994

Tissue-specific regulation of the growth hormone receptor gene in streptozocin-induced diabetes in the rat.

Abnormalities of GH secretion and clearance are well-documented in poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), but the contribution of the receptor (GHR) and the GH-binding protein (GHBP) to these abnormalities has not been defined. We studied the expression of the GHR/GHBP gene in the livers, hearts and kidneys in streptozocin-induced diabetes (STZ-D) in the rat. GHR and GHBP mRNA levels were measured by Northern blot and ribonuclease protection assays. Whereas levels of GHR and GHBP mRNA were significantly decreased in liver and heart of STZ-D rats when compared with the control group (P < 0.01), GHR mRNA was significantly increased in the kidneys of STZ-D rats (P = 0.03). Six days of insulin treatment did not significantly alter the levels of GHR/GHBP mRNA in the liver or heart of STZ-D rats, but significantly decreased GHBP mRNA (P = 0.04) in the kidney. Circulating IGF-I was reduced, as was IGF-I mRNA in the liver and heart of STZ-D rats; only circulating IGF-I was restored by insulin treatment. Neither STZ-D nor insulin treatment affected IGF-I or IGF-I receptor mRNA concentrations in the kidney. We conclude that (1) STZ-D modulates the expression of the GHR/GHBP gene and (2) that these changes in GHR/GHBP mRNA concentrations are tissue-specific; STZ-D decreases GHR/GHBP mRNA in liver and heart tissue but increases GHR mRNA concentrations in the kidney. Our results indicate a role for decreased numbers of hepatic GHRs in the pathogenesis of resistance to GH's actions in terms of IGF-I generation and promotion of linear growth in IDDM. We postulate that increased GHR expression in the kidney may be involved in the renal complications of IDDM.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Regulation of endometrial cancer cell growth by insulin-like growth factors and the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antagonist SB-75.

The involvement of IGFs in growth regulation of the Ishikawa endometrial tumor cell line and the possible interference of LH-RH analogues with a potential autocrine or paracrine loop involving IGFs was evaluated. The mitogenic effects of IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin were compared. IGF-I was found to be 3-fold more potent than IGF-II and 30-fold more potent than insulin, suggesting that the effects of these growth factors are mediated by the IGF-I receptor. Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells secrete IGF-II, but not IGF-I, and insulin (1 microM) stimulates IGF-II release. The LH-RH antagonist [Ac-D-Nal(2)1, D-Phe(4Cl)2, D-Pal(3)3, D-Cit6, D-Ala10]-GnRH (SB-75, CETRORELIX) inhibited basal and IGF-induced growth. Moreover, this antagonist almost completely inhibited IGF-II release from Ishikawa cells, while having no significant effect on the number or affinity of IGF-I binding sites. Inhibition of IGF-II release occurred at a lower SB-75 concentration than that needed for a reduction in cell number. The ED50 of SB-75 for IGF-II release was 0.3 microM as compared to 1.5 microns concentration which is required for reduction in cell number, suggesting that inhibition of growth factor release precedes cell growth inhibition. We conclude that the LH-RH antagonist SB-75 can inhibit the growth of endometrial cancer cells by interfering with the autocrine action of IGF-II and also by directly inhibiting the growth-stimulatory effects of IGFs, probably through effects on a post-receptor mechanism.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1993

Insulin-like growth factors.

The purpose of this review has been to emphasize, in general terms, the major aspects of the structure, expression, and regulation of the IGF-I and IGF-II genes. The complex organization of these genes provides ample opportunities for control of gene expression at multiple levels. It is important to realize that regulation at one level can influence regulation at a different level. While such regulatory interactions are characteristic of both the IGF-I and IGF-II genes, they are particularly evident in the case of IGF-I gene expression. For example, the choice of transcription start site influences the length and the sequence of the 5'-UTR, which can influence mRNA translatability and prepeptide sequence, which may influence the amounts of protein produced and, potentially, the intracellular processing and secretion of the final gene product, the mature hormone. Another example is provided by the alternative splicing of E-peptide-encoding exons, which determines the primary structure of the prohormone, which could influence its processing, stability, or function. Thus, this complex gene organization may reflect the need to carefully control, through a multilevel process, the synthesis, processing, and secretion of these important regulatory peptides.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Failure of senescent human fibroblasts to express the insulin-like growth factor-1 gene.

Senescent human diploid fibroblasts express several growth-regulated genes but fail to express others. In this paper we show, by a very sensitive technique (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction), that senescent cells fail to express insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA, which is expressed in moderate amounts by young cells. Human fibroblasts immortalized by transfection with a temperature-sensitive SV40 T antigen gene regain the ability to express IGF-1 mRNA, but only at the permissive temperature of 34 degrees C. Under these conditions, the immortalized human fibroblasts grow even in 1% serum. At the restrictive temperature of 39 degrees C, the temperature-sensitive T antigen is nonfunctional, IGF-1 RNA is not detectable, and the cells fail to grow even in 10% serum. The failure to express IGF-1 mRNA in postsenescent cells can be ascribed, at least in part, to a transcriptional mechanism. Despite the correlation among immortalization by SV40 T antigen, expression of IGF-1, and growth, it seems unlikely that the failure to express IGF-1 is the sole cause of cellular senescence; other requirements must be postulated.

Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming↗
PubMed1993

Retinoic acid and estrogen modulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 gene expression and the estrogen receptor status of human breast carcinoma cells.

Retinoic acid (RA) and estrogen modulation of insulin like-growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) gene expression was investigated in a number of human breast carcinoma (HBC) cell lines. Our results indicate that RA and/or estrogen modulation of IGFBP-4 mRNA levels appear to correlate with the ER-status of HBC cell lines. RA and estrogen enhanced IGFBP-4 mRNA levels in ER-positive MCF-7, RRO-I and ZR-75 cell lines and the effect of both of these agents in combination was additive. Although both individually also enhanced IGFBP-4 mRNA levels in ER-positive T47D cells, their effect in combination was antagonistic in this cell line. Transfection of human ER into ER-negative MDA-MB-231 cells conferred RA and estrogen the ability to enhance IGFBP-4 mRNA but both agents failed to concomitantly modulate IGFBP-4 levels in the CM suggesting a dual regulation by these agents at transcription/post-transcription and translation/secretion levels.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1993

Increased expression of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor gene, IGF1R, in Wilms tumor is correlated with modulation of IGF1R promoter activity by the WT1 Wilms tumor gene product.

Wilms tumor is a pediatric neoplasm that arises from the metanephric blastema. The expression of the gene encoding insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is often elevated in these tumors. Since many of the actions of IGF-II are mediated through activation of the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), we have measured the levels of IGF-IR mRNA in normal kidney and in Wilms tumor samples using solution hybridization/RNase protection assays. IGF-IR mRNA levels in the tumors were 5.8-fold higher than in adjacent normal kidney tissue. Among the tumors themselves, the levels of IGF-IR mRNA in those containing heterologous stromal elements were 2-fold higher (P < 0.01) than in tumors without these elements. IGF-IR gene (designated IGF1R) expression in the tumors was inversely correlated with the expression of the Wilms tumor suppressor gene WT1, whose inactivation appears to be a key step in the etiology of Wilms tumor. Cotransfection of Chinese hamster ovary cells with rat and human IGF-IR gene promoter constructs driving luciferase reporter genes and with WT1 expression vectors showed that the active WT1 gene product represses IGF-IR promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that underexpression, deletion, or mutation of WT1 may result in increased expression of the IGF-IR, whose activation by IGF-II may be an important aspect of the biology of Wilms tumor.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Orthodontics in the general dental service of England and Wales: a critical assessment of standards.

Out of a sample of 1210 orthodontic patients treated within the General Dental Services in England and Wales, a high proportion showed no improvement. Upper and lower fixed appliances had the greatest influence on the outcome of treatment in terms of aesthetics, dental health need and standards. When treatment was analysed according to the appliance used, there were no statistically significant differences in the standard of treatment undertaken by specialist orthodontists and general dental practitioners. Methods for improving British orthodontic standards are considered.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1993

Two insulin genes are present in the salmon genome.

According to the accepted hypothesis, polyploid evolution is necessary to achieve meaningful gene duplication. Some fish, namely those belonging to the suborder Salmonidae, appear to be autotetraploid species that probably originated from a diploid ancestor relatively recently and that appear to be progressing toward diploidization to various degrees. The Pacific chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) has almost completed this process of diploidization. Thus, with regard to practically any gene product, theory predicts a freshly diploidized, autotetraploid species to possess twice the number of gene loci as diploid animals. Here we show that the chum salmon genome contains two nonallelic insulin genes that are both expressed in chum salmon Brockman bodies. Nucleotide sequence analysis reveals structural diversification of this pair of duplicated genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Role of tyrosine kinase activity in signal transduction by the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor. Characterization of kinase-deficient IGF-I receptors and the action of an IGF-I-mimetic antibody (alpha IR-3).

The insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor is a member of a large family of transmembrane signal transducing molecules. The defining characteristic of this class of receptors is the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the cytoplasmic domain. While it has been demonstrated that this tyrosine kinase activity is necessary for the action of a number of transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors, no evidence of this type has been adduced to date with respect to the signaling requirement of the IGF-I receptor. We have now shown that stably transfected NIH-3T3 cell lines overexpressing human IGF-I receptors display increased responses to IGF-I and an IGF-I-mimetic antibody, alpha IR-3, in terms of short, intermediate, and long term actions initiated by activation of the IGF-I receptor. These include receptor autophosphorylation, activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and 2-deoxyglucose uptake, induction of ornithine decarboxylase gene expression, and stimulation of thymidine incorporation. In short term responses, the kinetics seen with alpha IR-3 were slower than those seen with IGF-I. These effects were severely decreased in clones expressing human IGF-I receptors in which the lysine residue in the ATP-binding site of the tyrosine kinase domain had been mutated to alanine or arginine. This was true for both IGF-I and alpha IR-3. These results indicate that, for all parameters tested, the tyrosine kinase activity of the IGF-I receptor is necessary for activation of the IGF-I-stimulated signal transduction cascade. Additionally, the effects of alpha IR-3 also require tyrosine kinase activity.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1993

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding-protein-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6: synthesis, secretion, and gene expression in estrogen receptor-negative human breast carcinoma cells.

Insulin-like growth-factors I and II (IGF-I, II) are potent mitogens for breast carcinoma proliferation. In extracellular fluids, most of the IGF-I and II is associated with specific IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). The role of these IGFBPs in IGF action is still not clear, but it has been demonstrated that these proteins may either enhance or inhibit IGF-mediated cellular effects. Synthesis and secretion of IGFBPs have been demonstrated in breast carcinoma cells. In this study, we examined retinoic acid (RA) and IGF-I modulation of IGFBP mRNA and IGFBP levels in two ER-negative human breast carcinoma cell lines. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells with RA increased the levels in conditioned media of a M(r) 42-46-kDa IGFBP, which was immunoprecipitated by an IGFBP-3 antibody. IGF-I also increased the accumulated levels of IGFBP-3 in the conditioned media of both cell lines. Both cell lines expressed high basal levels of IGFBP-3 mRNA; the addition of RA increased IGFBP-3 mRNA levels by 1.5-fold, whereas the addition of IGF-I had no effect on IGFBP-3 mRNA levels in either cell line. The difference in the magnitude of the RA enhancement of IGFBP-3 mRNA levels (1.5-fold) and RA stimulation of IGFBP-3 levels in conditioned media (3.5-4-fold) suggests that some of the effect of RA is at a posttranscriptional level. IGF-I increased the levels of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5 in conditioned media by greater than tenfold but had no effect on IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5 mRNA levels, again suggesting the involvement of posttranscriptional controls. Pretreatment of MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cells with IGF-I receptor antibody (alpha IR3) blocked the IGF-I effect on IGFBP-3 levels in the media in both cell lines and IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5 secreted levels in MDA-MB-468 cell conditioned media. The addition of RA also blocked IGF-I stimulation of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5 levels. Cycloheximide treatment completely blocked the RA and/or IGF-I-mediated modulation of these binding proteins, suggesting that these agents enhance IGFBP-3, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-5 synthesis and consequent secretion. MDA-MB-468 cells expressed IGFBP-5 mRNA, whereas both MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 expressed IGFBP-6 mRNA. RA enhanced IGFBP-6 gene expression by threefold in MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas IGF-1 had no effect on IGFBP-6 gene expression in either cell line.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1993

Paradoxical biological effects of overexpressed insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

One major approach to the study of growth factor receptor action has been to overexpress wild-type or mutant receptors in cultured cells and to evaluate biological responses to exogenous ligand. Studies of this type with insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors often use Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We have compared the effect of receptor overexpression in CHO cells and in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts in order to assess the suitability of CHO cells for studies of this nature and the contribution of cell type-specific factors to those responses generally assayed. Overexpression of IGF-I receptors in NIH-3T3 cells resulted in increased sensitivity and maximal responsiveness of thymidine incorporation, 2-deoxyglucose uptake, and phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI3) kinase activation to IGF-I stimulation. In CHO cells, on the other hand, overexpression of either IGF-I or insulin receptors increased the sensitivity of thymidine incorporation to ligand, but maximal responsiveness was unchanged or decreased. Overexpression of the insulin receptor increased sensitivity of glucose uptake and the maximal response of PI3 kinase activation to insulin. Overexpression of the IGF-I receptor did not affect sensitivity or maximal responsiveness of glucose uptake or PI3 kinase activation to IGF-I. These data suggest that IGF-I and insulin signal pathways may differ in CHO cells, and that there may even be divergent IGF-I signaling pathways for short vs. long-term effects. Whether this is a result of differences in the number of endogenous receptors, hybrid receptor formation, or defects in post-receptor signaling, the use of CHO cells to assess receptor function must be approached with caution.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1993

Phylogeny of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and receptors: a molecular approach.

The IGFs (IGF-I and IGF-II) are essential for normal mammalian growth and development. Their actions are mediated primarily by their interactions with the type I IGF receptor (IGF-I receptor), a transmembrane tyrosine kinase. The ligands and the IGF-I receptor are structurally related to insulin and to the insulin receptor, respectively. Analysis of evolutionary conservation has often provided insights into essential regions of molecules such as hormones and their receptors. The genes for insulin and IGFs have been partially characterized in a number of vertebrate species extending evolutionarily from humans as far back as fish. The sequences of the exons encoding the mature insulin and IGF peptides are highly conserved among vertebrate species, and IGF-I-like molecules are found in species whose origins extend back as much as 550 million years. The insulin receptor is also highly conserved in vertebrate species, and an insulin-receptor-like molecule has been characterized in Drosophila. In contrast, IGF-I receptors have only been characterized in mammalian species and partially studied in Xenopus, in which the tyrosine kinase domain is highly conserved. Studies are presently being undertaken to analyze in more detail the regulation of the genes encoding this important family of growth factors and the structure/function relationships in the gene products themselves.

Amino Acid Sequence↗