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Biomedical subjects

C T Roberts

Publications and source records attributed to C T Roberts.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

The regulation of IGF-I receptor gene expression by positive and negative zinc-finger transcription factors.

The IGF-I-R gene promoter is a TATA-less, CAAT-less, GC-rich promoter which contains potential binding sites for the Sp1 and WT1 zinc-finger transcription factors. We have shown that Sp1 positively activates the IGF-I-R promoter. Since both the Sp1 and IGF-I-R genes are widely expressed, it is possible that Sp1 is one of the main regulators of IGF-I-R gene expression. This is supported by the correlation between the distribution and developmental regulation of Sp1 and IGF-I-R gene expression, in that both genes appear to be co-regulated during normal development. In a model of human neoplasm, WT, we have demonstrated increased expression of the IGF-I-R gene, which may result from loss of repression of the IGF-I-R promoter by another Zn(2+)-finger protein, the WT1 tumor suppressor gene product. Future studies will define whether other disease states in which the IGF-I-R gene is highly expressed are also associated with loss of negative regulation of the IGF-I-R promoter by WT1 or other tumor suppressor gene products.

Animals↗

Consultant opinion on orthodontic treatment plans used by dental practitioners: a pilot study.

Prior to 1987, dental practitioners in England and Wales intending to carry out all but the simplest orthodontic treatment within the National Health Service, were required to submit pretreatment study models, details of the orthodontic assessment and the proposed treatment plan to the Dental Estimates Board prior to starting treatment. Models taken at the end of treatment were required by the Board to enable payment to be made. In this pilot study, the acceptability of orthodontic treatment plans used by practitioners working in the General Dental Services was assessed by eight hospital consultants, using information about 40 cases submitted to the Dental Estimates Board in 1987/88. All consultants considered a high proportion of plans to be unacceptable, but agreement between the consultants was variable and some agreed with one another on very few plans. A single scorer used the weighted PAR (Peer Assessment Rating) index to assess the degree of departure from normal occlusion of both pre- and post-treatment models. Using accepted standards, only nine cases were greatly improved (PAR reduction > 70%) and the mean percentage reduction in PAR score was low. Consultant opinion on the appropriateness of treatment planning was not related to the outcome of orthodontic treatment.

Clinical Competence↗

Hepatic tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins identified and localized following in vivo inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases: effects of H2O2 and vanadate administration into rat livers.

Injection of a combination of H2O2 and vanadate (H/V) into the portal vein of rat livers resulted in inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity and led to a dramatic enhanced in vivo protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Some of the phosphorylated proteins were identified as the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor, the insulin receptor substrate 1 (pp185), PLC-gamma (pp145), and a 100 kDa PLC-gamma-associated protein. Immunofluorescense and immune electron microscopy of frozen liver sections with anti-P-Tyr antibodies revealed that most of the tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins are localized in close proximity to the plasma membrane in intercellular adherence junctions and tight junction regions. This close in vivo association between membranal protein tyrosine kinases, their target proteins, and cytoskeletal elements could enable formation of 'signaling complexes' which may play a role in transmembrane signal transduction. By affinity chromatography over immobilized anti-P-Tyr antibodies, a large number of these tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins were partially purified.

Animals↗

The role of insulin-like growth factors in diabetic kidney disease.

Early renal manifestations of type I diabetes include kidney enlargement, increased glomerular filtration rate, and renal plasma flow. These hemodynamic changes may be caused by a number of factors, including growth hormone and/or insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Streptozotocin-induced insulinopenic diabetes in rats represents a model of human type I diabetes and is associated with the early hemodynamic changes in the kidney seen in poorly controlled type I diabetic patients. These changes are preceded by an accumulation of IGF-I peptide in the kidney. Insulin-like growth factor-I is not locally produced, but rather accumulates from circulating IGF-I, trapped by increased levels of IGF-binding proteins, particularly IGF-binding protein-1. The hemodynamic effects, reproduced by infusions of recombinant human IGF-I in normal rats, may be blocked by co-infusion of a kinin-receptor antagonist, suggesting that at least one of the mechanisms involved is the kallikrein-kinin system. These studies strongly support the notion that the IGF system may play a role in early hemodynamic manifestations of the diabetic kidney. Whether these effects lead to long-term diabetic renal disease remains to be studied.

Animals↗

Structure of the chum salmon insulin-like growth factor I gene.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) plays a major role in development and metabolism. Currently, the cDNA-derived primary structure of IGF-I is known for some mammals and for chicken, frog, and salmon. Additionally, the organization of the human, rat, and chicken IGF-I genes has been established. The investigation of IGF-I gene structure in fish would extend the evolutionary picture for this hormone and facilitate our understanding of the features of the IGF-I gene that are common to all vertebrate species. The cloned chum salmon IGF-I gene appears to be much more compact than the mammalian and avian genes, being less than 20 kb in length. As in other species, however, the mature IGF-I peptide appears to consist of 70 amino acids and is encoded by exons 2 and 3. Intriguingly, exon 1-encoded 5'-untranslated region sequences are highly conserved, while the coding sequences at the 3' end of the same exon are less conserved. The amino terminus of the signal peptide is four amino acids shorter than in the mammalian and avian peptides. The end of the B domain, the C, A, and D domains, and the first part of the E peptide are encoded by exon 3, but the exon 3-encoded E peptide sequence is 27 amino acids longer than in other species. These extra 27 amino acids, encoded by both coho and chum salmon cDNAs, may be deleted by alternative splicing, as suggested from the sequence of a coho salmon IGF-I cDNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The use of occlusal indices in assessing the provision of orthodontic treatment by the hospital orthodontic service of England and Wales.

This retrospective study was carried out to assess the need for orthodontic treatment and the standard of treatment provided by a sample of 17 hospital-based orthodontic departments. A total of 1630 sets of patients records were collected and analysed for orthodontic treatment need and standard of treatment with the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and the PAR index, respectively. The data were analysed with a variant of analysis of covariance using linear modelling techniques. In general terms it appeared that the hospital service provided treatment of a high standard, in terms of dento-occlusal change, to a caseload of patients that were in need of treatment. The effectiveness of treatment provision was influenced by the grade of operator, the choice of treatment methods and by the departmental attitudes and aspirations.

Appointments and Schedules↗

The provision of orthodontic care in the general dental services of England and Wales: extraction patterns, treatment duration, appliance types and standards.

A systematic sample of 1010 cases was collected by the Dental Practice Board. The commonest type of treatment involved extraction of the first premolars followed by removable appliances. Treatment duration was on average 1.9 years, one-arch fixed appliances were started in an older age group and two-arch fixed appliance treatment took longer to complete than other appliance types. The best standard of treatment was achieved using upper and lower fixed appliances.

Adolescent↗

Distinct promoters in the rat insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene are active in CHO cells.

In mammals, IGF-I mRNAs contain one of two different leader exon sequences that encode different 5'-untranslated regions (UTRs) and signal peptides. The pattern and regulation of expression of these exon 1 and exon 2-derived mRNAs suggests that the expression of each is controlled by a distinct regulatory region. In order to assess this possibility, DNA fragments consisting of sequences flanking and including the exon 1 and exon 2 transcription initiation sites were cloned into a luciferase expression vector and plasmid DNAs were transiently transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. A fragment containing approximately 1.1 kb of sequence flanking the most upstream exon 1 transcription initiation site and 362 bp of exon 1 sequence did not stimulate luciferase activity. However, fragments containing 133 bp of 5'-flanking sequence and either 362 or 192 bp of exon 1 sequence stimulated luciferase activity significantly above that seen with a promoterless control plasmid. When the -133/+362 fragment was cloned in the opposite orientation with respect to the luciferase cDNA, the same level of promoter activity was observed. Removal of approximately 860 bp from the inactive fragment (i.e., approximately 782 bp of flanking sequence and approximately 74 bp of exon 1 sequence) resulted in promoter activity which was significantly greater than that seen with the promoterless luciferase expression vector, but which was less than that observed with fragments containing the proximal 133 bp of 5'-flanking sequence. Plasmids containing approximately 1.5 kb or 0.5 kb of flanking sequence and 44 bp of exon 2 sequence also significantly stimulated luciferase activity. These results constitute the first demonstration that both exon 1 and exon 2 transcription start sites are associated with distinct and potentially independently regulatable promoters and provide a molecular basis for the differential expression of these leader exons by developmental, tissue-specific and hormonal factors.

Animals↗

Insulin-like growth factor I gene expression by primary cultures of ovarian cells: insulin and dexamethasone dependence.

A growing body of information now supports the existence of a complete intraovarian insulin-like growth Factor I (IGF-I) system replete with ligands, receptors, and binding protein(s). However, studies concerned with the regulation of ovarian IGF-I gene expression remain scarce. It was thus the objective of this communication to evaluate the expression of the IGF-I gene in the immature rat ovary under in vitro conditions. Whole ovarian dispersates or isolated granulosa cells were cultured for up to 96 h under serum-free conditions in the absence or presence of the indicated experimental agents. Extracted total RNA was subjected to a sensitive solution hybridization/RNase protection assay using 32P-labeled rat IGF-I and/or type I IGF receptor antisense RNA probes. Cultured in the absence or presence of FSH (100 ng/ml), whole ovarian dispersates (or isolated granulosa cells) displayed time-dependent (FSH-independent) decrements in the relative abundance of IGF-I transcripts apparent as early as 3 h after the onset of culture. No evidence of recovery was apparent by 96 h of culture. The apparent lack of an FSH effect did not reflect diminished biopotency as attested to by the ability of the hormone to promote time-dependent increments in the accumulation of progesterone. Importantly, the apparent decrease in ovarian IGF-I gene expression proved to be IGF-I specific in that type I IGF receptor transcripts displayed a substantial and sustained (for up to 96 h) FSH-independent increase beginning at the 24-h time point. At no point were IGF-II transcripts detected. The apparent decrease in the expression of IGF-I did not reflect the lack of extracellular matrix support in that neither laminin, collagen, nor whole serum supported sustained ovarian IGF-I gene expression. Treatment of whole ovarian dispersates with pharmacological concentrations of either insulin (1 micrograms/ml) or dexamethasone (10(-7) M) did not reverse the decline in IGF-I gene expression. Importantly, however, the combined application of both insulin and dexamethasone resulted in virtually complete preservation of IGF-I gene expression, the relative abundance of the corresponding transcripts proving uniform throughout. Taken together, these in vitro observations reveal irreversible (FSH-independent) decrements in ovarian IGF-I (but not type I IGF receptor) gene expression, the preservation of which required the concurrent provision of both insulin and dexamethasone.

Animals↗

Growth hormone (GH) stimulates insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-I-binding protein-3, but not GH receptor gene expression in livers of juvenile rats.

In the adult rat, expression of the liver GH receptor, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and IGF-I-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) genes has been shown to be under GH control. Additionally, hypophysectomy and GH treatment have a differential effect on the relative abundance of liver IGF-I mRNA variants in adult rats. To further elucidate the time of appearance and the extent of GH control of liver GH receptor, IGF-I, and IGFBP-3 gene expression, we studied the effect of hypophysectomy and GH and IGF-I treatment in juvenile rats. Male Wistar rats were hypophysectomized (Hx) on postnatal day 26 and received twice daily sc injections of saline, recombinant human GH (2.5 U/kg.day), or recombinant human IGF-I (500 micrograms/kg.day) for 7 days. Sham-operated rats received the same treatment. Hx animals also received T4 (20 micrograms/kg.day). In Hx animals, there was a significant reduction in body weight (69.8 +/- 6.6 vs. 100.4 +/- 5.4 g; P < 0.001). GH, but not IGF-I, treatment increased body weight (79.6 +/- 9.6 g after GH vs. 69.8 +/- 6.6 g before GH; P < 0.05). GH treatment partially maintained liver, kidney, and lung weights in Hx animals and increased them in intact animals, whereas IGF-I treatment did so only in the lungs of intact and Hx animals. Serum GH and IGF-I levels were markedly reduced in Hx animals compared with those in intact controls, and GH treatment maintained, albeit partially, circulating IGF-I levels compared with those in saline-treated Hx animals. IGF-I mRNA levels were markedly reduced in Hx liver (25.0 +/- 5.4%; P < 0.001 compared with intact controls). GH treatment for 7 days increased IGF-I mRNA levels by 4.8-fold over the levels in 9-day Hx animals and increased IGF-I mRNA levels by 2.2-fold in control rats. Hypophysectomy decreased exon 2-containing transcripts by 7.0-fold and exon 1-containing transcripts by 4.1-fold. GH treatment, however, affected both exon 1- and exon 2-containing transcripts similarly. Hepatic IGFBP-3 mRNA levels were reduced in Hx (53.2 +/- 1.8%; P < 0.01 compared with intact controls) and IGF-treated Hx animals, but were not decreased in Hx GH-treated animals (100.6 +/- 9.5). No changes in GH receptor or GH-binding protein mRNA levels were caused by Hx, GH, or IGF-I treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antagonists interfere with autocrine and paracrine growth stimulation of MCF-7 mammary cancer cells by insulin-like growth factors.

Several studies have supported the idea that LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) antagonists have a direct effect on mammary tumor cells. In this study, we have evaluated the potential role of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) on the growth of MCF-7 mammary tumor cells and the effect of LHRH analogs on IGF action. The mitogenic effects of IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin were compared. IGF-I was found to be 3 times more potent than IGF-II and 30 times more potent than insulin, suggesting that the effects of these growth factors are mediated by the IGF-I receptor. IGFs released by MCF-7 cells were measured by specific RIA after acid extraction and chromatography, so as to avoid the interference of IGF-binding proteins. MCF-7 cells secreted IGF-II, but not IGF-I. Estradiol (10(-9) mol/L) stimulated IGF-II release; this release preceded the effect of estradiol on cell growth. The LHRH antagonist [Ac-D-Nal(2)1,D-Phe(4Cl)2,D-Pal(3)3,D-Cit6,D-Ala10] LHR H (SB-75, CETRORELIX) inhibited basal, estrogen-induced, and IGF-induced growth. Moreover, this antagonist almost completely inhibited IGF-II release from MCF-7 cells. This effect preceded the inhibition of tumor cell growth. We conclude that a LHRH antagonist can inhibit the growth of breast tumors by interfering with the autocrine action of IGF-II and by directly inhibiting the growth stimulatory effect of IGFs.

Analysis of Variance↗

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-5 in the T47D human breast carcinoma cell line by IGF-I and retinoic acid.

The T47D human breast carcinoma cell line has been shown to synthesize insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) binding proteins (IGFBPs) and IGF-I receptors, and to exhibit a mitogenic response to exogenous IGF-I. We have used T47D cells to investigate the regulation of IGFBPs by IGF-I and retinoic acid (RA), agents that affect cell proliferation and have been shown to regulate IGFBP levels in other cell types. Exposure of T47D cells to IGF-I resulted in the appearance of IGFBP-2, -4, and -5 in conditioned medium but had no effect on the levels of IGFBPs in Triton X-100-extracted cells. This effect was most pronounced for IGFBP-5 and was also elicited by an IGF-I analog that retains affinity for IGFBPs but not by insulin or IGF analogs that have decreased affinity for IGFBPs. Additionally, this effect was not associated with a change in IGFBP-5 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels; however, the appearance of IGFBP-5 in the conditioned medium was inhibited by an anti-IGF-I receptor antibody (alpha IR-3). RA decreased IGFBP-5 mRNA levels and cell-associated IGFBP-5 in both the presence and absence of IGF-I and inhibited the IGF-I-stimulated secretion of IGFBP-5 into T47D cell conditioned medium. These results suggest that IGF-I increases IGFBP-5 levels in the T47D cell line both through direct interaction with IGFBP-5 as well as through a receptor-mediated process that does not require direct interaction with IGFBPs. The latter results are consistent with an effect of IGF-I on a factor that may modulate an IGFBP protease activity. The inhibitory effect of RA, on the other hand, appears to be due primarily to regulation of IGFBP-5 mRNA levels. Thus, IGFBP-5 accumulation appears to be positively regulated by IGF-I, potentially at the level of susceptibility to proteolysis, and negatively regulated at the level of gene expression by RA.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-II and the IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin receptor genes and localization of the gene products in the human ovary.

We examined the expression of the genes encoding the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their receptors (r) and the localization of their gene products in specific cellular compartments of the human ovary. mRNA was localized by in situ hybridization with specific human 35S-labeled antisense RNA probes, and protein was detected by immunocytochemistry with specific antisera. We studied 34 follicles (10 ovaries), which included both dominant and small antral follicles. In dominant follicles, no IGF-I mRNA was seen in either thecal or granulosa cells (GC), but IGF-Ir mRNA was expressed in GC. In contrast, abundant IGF-II mRNA was found exclusively in GC, whereas the IGF-IIr gene was expressed in both thecal cells and GC. Insulin receptor mRNA was widely distributed and expressed in all cell types, including stromal cells. Small antral follicles contained both IGF-I and IGF-II mRNA, which was restricted to thecal cells. Although IGF-Ir message was detected only in GC, IGF-IIr mRNA was expressed in both granulosa and thecal cells. As in dominant follicles, insulin receptor mRNA was found in thecal, granulosa, and stromal cells. No IGF-I immunoreactivity was seen in either dominant or small antral follicles; however, immunostaining for the other gene products demonstrated that each of these proteins colocalized with its corresponding mRNA. Thus, the relative distribution of ligand and receptor transcripts and protein in cellular compartments of the human ovary observed in this study supports the presence of an intraovarian IGF system and suggests that both autocrine and paracrine mechanisms of IGF action occur between GC and thecal cells. We conclude that 1) IGF-II, rather than IGF-I, is the principal IGF in human ovarian follicles, being synthesized in thecal cells in small antral follicles and in GC in dominant follicles; 2) in small antral follicles, IGF-II acts in an autocrine fashion in thecal cells and in a paracrine fashion in GC; 3) in dominant follicles, granulosa-derived IGF-II acts in an autocrine manner in GC; and 4) the presence of transcripts and proteins corresponding to the IGF and insulin receptors in cellular compartments of human ovaries may also provide target sites for the action of circulating ligands with a potential extraovarian role in the regulation of folliculogenesis.

Adult↗

Up-regulation of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor gene expression in patients with reduced serum IGF-I levels.

We have analysed the expression of the IGF-I receptor gene in lymphocytes of patients with low levels of circulating IGF-I (four patients with isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) and one Laron-type dwarf (LTD)) in comparison with a control group exhibiting normal serum IGF-I levels and endocrine profiles. 125I-Labelled IGF-I binding assays were performed on erythrocytes to determine the number of IGF-I binding sites per cell and their dissociation constants. Erythrocytes from patients with IGHD or LTD contained significantly (P = 0.002) more receptors per cell (10.9 +/- 3.1 binding sites/cell), with a reduced affinity (Kd = 0.49 +/- 0.05 nM), than erythrocytes from controls (2.0 +/- 0.4 sites/cell; Kd = 0.14 nM). The levels of IGF-I receptor mRNA in circulating lymphocytes were determined by an RNA template-specific reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction method. There was a statistically significant increase in IGF-I receptor mRNA levels in lymphocytes from patients with LTD or IGHD when compared with controls (3108.1 +/- 775.9 vs 576.0 +/- 465.7 arbitrary units, P = 0.006). The increased level of IGF-I binding due to increased IGF-I receptor gene expression may represent a compensatory up-regulation process activated in response to the low levels of IGF-I in the circulation of patients with LTD or IGHD.

Base Sequence↗

Nutritional regulation of insulin-sensitive glucose transporter gene expression in rat cardiac muscle.

The effects of fasting and refeeding on the levels of mRNA encoding the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter (GLUT4) in rat cardiac and skeletal muscle were investigated using solution hybridization/RNase protection assays with a rat GLUT4 antisense RNA probe. In addition, the effects of these nutritional states on GLUT1 mRNA levels in several non-insulin-sensitive tissues were examined using a GLUT1 antisense RNA probe. Fasting for 48 hr significantly decreased GLUT4 mRNA levels in heart, with levels significantly increased over control levels by 24 hr after refeeding. In contrast, GLUT4 mRNA levels in skeletal muscle increased with fasting and returned to control levels with refeeding. No significant changes in GLUT1 mRNA were seen after fasting and refeeding in several non-insulin-sensitive tissues studied. These results suggest that altered GLUT4 gene expression is observed in different nutritional (insulin) states in insulin-sensitive tissues, and suggests a potential role for insulin in mediating these changes in gene expression.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 gene expression is differentially regulated at a post-transcriptional level in retinoic acid-sensitive and resistant MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) gene expression and IGFBP secretion were investigated in a retinoic acid (RA)-resistant subline (RROI) of MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. Our results demonstrate that RRO-I cells constitutively secrete higher levels of IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5. In addition, we found that a 5-fold increase in IGFBP-5 mRNA levels observed in RRO-I cells, which eventually leads to a similar increase in the secreted levels of IGFBP-5, was partly due to an increase in the stability of IGFBP-5 mRNA. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide differentially stabilized IGFBP-5 mRNA in MCF-7 cells but not in RRO-I cells, indicating a difference in the control of IGFBP-5 gene regulation at the level of mRNA stability in these cell lines.

Breast Neoplasms↗