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D M Findlay

Publications and source records attributed to D M Findlay.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Novel action of retinoic acid. Stabilization of newly synthesized alkaline phosphatase transcripts.

Several observations led us to investigate the possibility that retinoic acid achieved its marked induction of alkaline phosphatase gene expression through a post-transcriptional effect in the nuclei of clonal rat pre-osteoblastic UMR 201 cells. The steady-state level of alkaline phosphatase mRNA was significantly stimulated by retinoic acid. Although nuclear run-on analysis showed that 10(-6) M retinoic acid caused an increase in alkaline phosphatase gene transcription, this was transient compared with the rise in alkaline phosphatase mRNA which continued to accumulate for many hours after retinoic acid stimulation of gene transcription had ceased. Moreover, the modest increase in transcriptional rate (approximately 2-fold) was not sufficient to account for the magnitude of the rise in mRNA level. In order, therefore, to examine the influence of retinoic acid on nuclear processing events, a cellular subfractionation method was applied. By nuclease protection analysis, and also by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, sequences corresponding to intron 2 and intron 4, respectively, were demonstrated specifically in the nuclear matrix fraction of both control and retinoic acid-treated cells. Mature (spliced) alkaline phosphatase mRNA accumulated in the non-matrix (DNase I/salt eluate, nuclear membrane) and cytoplasmic fractions of retinoic acid-treated cells at more than 100-fold greater levels than in control cells. This implies that nuclear processing of the primary RNA transcript occurred only in cells treated with retinoic acid. The post-transcriptional action of retinoic acid was inhibited by cotreatment with 10 micrograms/ml cycloheximide. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) (1 ng/ml) did not influence whole cell alkaline phosphatase levels in UMR 201 cells. Nevertheless, TGF beta increased the transcriptional rate of the alkaline phosphatase gene. Although precursor mRNA was detected in the nuclear matrix fraction of TGF beta-treated cells, there was no evidence of further mRNA nuclear processing. The data are consistent with stabilization of nascent alkaline phosphatase mRNA chains by retinoic acid treatment and suggests that regulation of mRNA processing can be independent of gene transcription. This study demonstrates a novel post-transcriptional action of retinoic acid which plays an important, if not a dominant role, in determining the steady-state level of alkaline phosphatase mRNA.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Amylin is an agonist of the renal porcine calcitonin receptor.

The cloned renal porcine calcitonin (pCT) receptor cDNA expressed by transient transfection in COS-1 cells or stable transfection in HEK-293 cells was assayed for interaction with CT, amylin, and CT gene-related peptide. Both [125I]salmon CT ([125I]sCT) and [125I]rat amylin displayed specific binding to transfected cells, and in both cases, pCT and rat amylin were equipotent in competing for binding. sCT was most potent in binding competition assays, whereas human CT and rat or human CT gene-related peptide did not compete. Despite the greater apparent affinity of sCT for receptor binding, sCT, pCT, and rat amylin had similar efficacies in stimulating the production of cAMP in the stably transfected cell line (EC50, 0.5-1.6 x 10(-9) M). These results contrasted with those obtained with the rat C1a CT receptor, for which amylin did not compete for [125I]sCT binding and stimulated cAMP production only at high concentrations. These results show that pCT and amylin interact with similar potencies with the pCT receptor and suggest that amylin may act as a natural ligand for this receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isoforms of the rat calcitonin receptor: consequences for ligand binding and signal transduction.

Two rat calcitonin (CT) receptor isoforms; C1a and C1b, are identical except for the presence of a 37-amino acid insert in the second extracellular domain of C1b. The functional consequences of this insert were examined after stable expression of these receptors into HEK-293 cells. In binding competition studies, dissociation of [125I]salmon CT ([125I]sCT) from C1b cells was rapid and complete, in contrast to dissociation from C1a cells, which was slow and incomplete, as seen with other CT receptor preparations. In these studies, C1a receptors displayed high affinity for salmon CT (Kd, 0.5 +/- 1.3 nM) and a slightly lower affinity for pig CT. Human CT competed more weakly for binding of [125I]CT. Although the relative affinities of the ligands were maintained for C1b receptors, the affinity for sCT was lower (Kd, 23 +/- 2 nM) and pig CT was approximately 10-fold less potent than sCT. Human and rat CT failed to compete with [125I]sCT even at 1 microM with the C1b receptor. Both receptors influence multiple effector systems, indicating coupling to multiple G-proteins. The CT peptides activated adenylate cyclase with relative efficacies consistent with the binding competition potencies. In addition, both receptor isoforms mediated a rapid increase in the levels of intracellular calcium after a CT challenge. These results show that an extracellular modification in the rat CT receptor results in altered ligand recognition as well as altered binding kinetics, but does not modify their ability to generate multiple second messengers.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Truncation of the porcine calcitonin receptor cytoplasmic tail inhibits internalization and signal transduction but increases receptor affinity.

A series of mutant porcine calcitonin receptors with progressively truncated carboxy termini have been expressed in COS and HEK 293 cells. All forms of the receptor, including those totally lacking the cytoplasmic tail, were able to bind 125I-labeled salmon calcitonin. However, removal of C-terminal domains resulted in multiple functional changes in the receptor. First, compared with the wild type receptor, affinity of binding of salmon calcitonin was increased for truncated receptors, whether determined in intact transfected cells or in cell membranes. Second, internalization of the ligand-receptor complex was greatly attenuated for mutants truncated by 44 or 83 amino acids but not for an intermediate form truncated by 63 amino acids. Third, truncation affected signal transduction, which for the porcine calcitonin receptor occurs by generation of intracellular cAMP and Ca2+. The magnitude of adenylate cyclase responses was much reduced for the same mutants defective in internalization. Under conditions where expression of each receptor form was approximately equal, the magnitude of intracellular Ca2+ responses was decreased by C-terminal truncation. These results draw attention to the functional significance of the cytoplasmic tail of the porcine calcitonin receptor and suggest intramolecular interactions between the carboxy terminus and other receptor domains and/or cellular regulatory elements.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential effects of transforming growth factor-beta 1 and bone morphogenetic protein 4 on gene expression and differentiated function of preosteoblasts.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP 4) are both able, under certain circumstances, to induce endochondral bone formation in vivo. This study compared the effects of TGF-beta 1 and BMP 4 on the gene expression of a retinoic acid (RA) responsive rat clonal preosteoblast cell line, UMR 201, as well as the way in which these proteins interact with RA in these cells. Both similarities as well as differences between the effects and mechanism of action of TGF-beta 1 and BMP 4 were demonstrated. TGF-beta 1 (0.1 ng/ml) strongly induced matrix gla protein (MGP) mRNA and increased the steady state osteonectin (ON) mRNA level. Cotreatment with TGF-beta 1 and RA did not result in a further increase in MGP mRNA expression. In contrast, BMP 4 alone had no influence on MGP or ON mRNA expression but it significantly enhanced the RA induction of MGP mRNA. Pro-alpha 1(l) collagen mRNA was increased by TGF-beta 1 (1 ng/ml) and BMP 4 (50 ng/ml). The addition of either TGF-beta 1 or BMP 4 together with RA resulted in a further increase in pro-alpha 1 (l) collagen mRNA levels. Both RA and TGF-beta 1, but not BMP 4, increased the transcriptional rate of the pro-alpha 1 (l) collagen gene. TGF-beta 1 reduced the constitutive as well as RA-induced expression of osteopontin (OP) mRNA while BMP 4 reduced only the constitutive expression of OP mRNA. RA increased the transcriptional rate of the OP gene. Since the responses of UMR 201 cells to these structurally related factors were not identical, the results lend support to the concept that the coordinated expression of members of the TGF-beta 1 superfamily may be necessary to control the progression of specific cell types through their differentiation pathways.

Animals↗

Type I collagen substrate increases calcitonin and parathyroid hormone receptor-mediated signal transduction in UMR 106-06 osteoblast-like cells.

Components of the extracellular matrices (ECM) exert pleiotropic effects in many cell systems, but little is known of the effect of ECM on hormone signal transduction. We have investigated the effect of ECM substrates on cell growth and signal transduction by calcitonin (CT) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) using the rat osteosarcoma cell line, UMR 106-06. Type I collagen (collagen[I]) and Matrigel changed the morphology of the cells and significantly inhibited cell growth by 37% or 23%, respectively, compared with control. None of laminin, fibronectin, or type IV collagen affected cell shape or proliferation. Cells cultured on collagen (I)-coated plates showed increased specific binding of labeled CT compared with cells on plastic plates. The effect was apparent by 24 h and persisted for at least 72 h. None of the other ECM affected CT binding. Scatchard analysis revealed that collagen(I) increased CT receptor numbers but not receptor affinity. Consistent with increased binding capacity, cells plated on collagen(I) had increased responses to each of CT and PTH in terms of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production compared to control cells. In addition, cAMP production by prostaglandin E2, cholera toxin, and forskolin was increased by 30-70% compared to control. These data suggest that collagen(I) had effects not only on membrane receptors but on guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding proteins (G proteins). The effect of collagen(I) on CT binding was no longer present when the cells were freed from the plates by enzymatic dispersion and binding measured in cell suspensions. In UMR 106-01 cells transiently transfected with the porcine CT receptor cDNA, binding was similarly induced by collagen(I). These data are the first demonstration that collagen(I) may play an important role in signal transduction, affecting both receptors and G proteins in UMR 106-06 cells. These results draw attention to the potential role of the ECM of bone in hormone-induced responses.

Animals↗

Cell substratum modulates responses of preosteoblasts to retinoic acid.

The aim of this study was to determine the role of ECM components of bone in regulating the differentiation and function of cells of the osteoblast lineage. Rat UMR 201 cells, phenotypically preosteoblast, were plated onto plastic tissue culture dishes or dishes coated with gelled type I collagen or reconstituted basement membrane (matrigel). Acute cell attachment assays showed that cells adhered to substrates in the following order: collagen > matrigel >> plastic. Proliferation rate up to 96 hr were similar on each substrate. However, if cells were treated with 10(-6) M retinoic acid (RA), proliferation rates were reduced compared with control for cells grown on collagen and matrigel but not on plastic. Morphological changes were matrix-specific; in subconfluent cultures, long thin processes were seen with cells grown on collagen and a pattern of interconnecting cell processes formed when cells were plated on matrigel. Striking differences were observed in the constitutive or RA-induced gene expression of cells grown on the different substrates. When cells plated on collagen were treated with RA, induction of mRNA for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as ALP enzyme activity were much less than with cells grown on plastic. In contrast, RA treatment induced osteopontin (OP) mRNA expression more strongly in cells plated on collagen compared with plastic within 24 hr and this was maintained for 72 hr. RA treatment produced a two fold increase of pro-alpha 1(I) collagen mRNA in cells grown on plastic and matrigel but not in cells grown on collagen. Growth on collagen produced changes in the way UMR 201 cells responded to RA from which they did not fully recover in subsequent 48-hr growth periods on plastic. These results indicate that ECM components regulate the function of and are capable of modulating RA-induced differentiation of preosteoblasts.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Identification of brain isoforms of the rat calcitonin receptor.

Two rat calcitonin receptor isoforms have been identified by cDNA cloning from a hypothalamic library. The clones, C1a and C1b, specified proteins of 478 and 515 amino acids, respectively. The clones were identical, except that the C1b sequence encoded a 37-amino acid insert in the second extracellular domain, which conferred altered ligand recognition. Compared to the C1a receptor, expressed C1b receptors exhibited decreased affinity for porcine CT, relative to salmon CT, and negligible affinity for human CT. Clone C1b mRNA was predominately expressed in the brain, whereas mRNA for the C1a clone was present in both brain and peripheral tissues. Both receptors were able to couple functionally to adenylate cyclase. Thus, clone C1b represents a novel brain isoform of the CT receptor with different affinity for CT analogs resulting from an altered second extracellular domain.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Transforming growth factor-beta modulates receptor binding of calciotropic hormones and G protein-mediated adenylate cyclase responses in osteoblast-like cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) produced by osteoblasts is present in high levels in bone and influences bone formation, replication of bone cells, and expression of osteoblast protein products. Interactions between bone active hormones and locally released and activated TGF beta were studied by examining the influence of TGF beta preincubation on PTH, calcitonin (CT), and vitamin D receptors in an osteoblastic cell line (UMR 106-06). Preincubation of UMR 106-06 cells with 1 ng/ml TGF beta for 3 days increased specific binding of [125I]PTH-related protein (PTHrP)(1-84) to 140% of that in control cells, but [125I]salmon CT binding decreased to 50% of controls. Binding isotherms indicated that the changes in binding were due to altered receptor numbers since affinities for 125I-labeled PTH and CT remained unchanged. The effect on receptor levels was time dependent, requiring 24 h preincubation with TGF beta for measurable changes, and dose dependent, with maximal effects seen with 1 ng/ml TGF beta. Binding of [3H]1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 was increased to 130% of control in cytosolic extracts of UMR 106-06 cells pretreated for 3 days with 1 ng/ml TGF beta. Scatchard plots suggested an increase in receptor number without change in affinity. The adenylate cyclase response to PTH increased to 150% of control cells after 3 days of treatment with 1 ng/ml TGF beta; however, the adenylate cyclase response to CT was little changed. Forskolin- and cholera toxin-stimulated adenylate cyclase responses were increased by TGF beta treatment to 130-160% of control, indicating an increase in the stimulatory subunit of the G protein. Increased abundance of both Gs and Gi proteins were indicated by increased cholera toxin- or pertussis toxin-dependent [32P] NAD ribosylation of 47-kilodalton (kDa) and 42-kDa or 40-kDa proteins, respectively, in TGF beta-treated cells. Our data support a complex regulatory effect of TGF beta on UMR 106-06 cells with increases in PTH receptors, vitamin D receptors, and G proteins, whereas there is an apparent down-regulation of CT receptors. TGF beta might induce a more differentiated osteoblast phenotype of these cells, which already express differentiated features such as high alkaline phosphatase activity, PTH and vitamin D receptors, and collagenase production. Since low doses of PTH stimulate bone formation in vivo, TGF beta released or activated at sites of new bone formation might locally modulate PTH activity be allowing increased PTH receptor and postreceptor effectiveness.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Specific down-regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) receptors and responses to PTH by tumour necrosis factor alpha and retinoic acid in UMR 106-06 osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related protein (PTHrP) act via PTH receptors in bone to stimulate bone resorption. Bone resorption is also stimulated by certain cytokines, which are produced in bone and bone marrow. The effects of such cytokines on the PTH-receptor system were studied in the osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cell line UMR 106-06. 125I-labelled PTHrP-(1-84)-peptide bound specifically to the cells, and PTHrP-(1-34) and -(1-84) competed with equimolar affinity for binding to UMR 106-06 cells. The specific binding of 125I-PTHrP-(1-84) could be completely blocked by PTH. Therefore 125I-PTHrP-(1-84) bound to a classical receptor in UMR 106-06 cells. Preincubation for 3 days with either tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) or retinoic acid (RA) both decreased the specific binding of 125I-PTHrP-(1-84) to about 40% of control levels. These effects were specific for PTH binding, since there was little effect on 125I-salmon-calcitonin binding. Both TNF alpha and RA required 24 h exposure to cells to produce a measurable effect. The decrease in 125I-PTHrP-(1-84) binding was due to a reduced number of binding sites, with little apparent change in affinity. Half-maximal effects were seen with 1 ng of TNF alpha/ml, whereas 1 microM-RA was needed to observe the loss of PTH receptors. Combinations of RA and TNF alpha produced a greater effect than that of either agonist alone. The loss of PTH receptors was accompanied by a specific loss of PTH-stimulated cyclic AMP production. Preincubation with TNF alpha increased the basal plasminogen activator (PA) activity in the cells and decreased the amplitude of the response of PA activity to PTH compared with control cells. Furthermore TNF alpha decreased sensitivity to PTH (50% stimulation of PA activity with 0.1 nM-PTH in control cells versus 50% stimulation with 0.3 nM-PTH in TNF alpha-treated cells). In contrast, TNF alpha pretreatment increased the amplitude of the response of PA activity to calcitonin, whereas sensitivity to calcitonin was not altered. These data are consistent with a specific down-regulation of PTH receptors in osteoblast-like UMR 106-06 cells after exposure to TNF alpha or RA. The loss of PTH receptors is accompanied by a decreased responsiveness to PTH, as measured with the PA system in these cells. A loss of PTH receptors could modulate PTH responses in osteoblasts, either in the local control of bone formation and resorption, or in pathological conditions such as humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy.

Binding, Competitive↗

Proteoglycans synthesized by an osteoblast-like cell line (UMR 106-01).

The proteoglycans synthesized by an osteoblast-like cell line of rat origin (UMR 106-01) were defined after biosynthetic labelling with [35S]sulphate and [3H]glucosamine. Newly synthesized labelled proteoglycans were characterized by differential enzymic digestion in combination with analytical gel filtration and SDS/PAGE. UMR 106-01 cells were found to synthesize three major species of proteoglycan: a large chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan of Mr approximately 1 x 10(6), with a core protein of Mr approximately 350,000-400,000; a small chondroitin sulphate-containing species of Mr approximately 120,000 with a core protein of Mr 43,000; and a heparan sulphate proteoglycan of Mr approximately 150,000, with a core protein of Mr approximately 80,000. Over 70% of the newly synthesized intact proteoglycan species are associated with the cell layer of near-confluent cells; however, accessibility to trypsin digestion suggests an extracellular location. Chemical characteristics of the proteoglycans and preliminary mRNA hybridization indicate that the small chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan is probably PG II (decorin). The large chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan is most likely related to a hyaluronate-aggregating species from fibroblasts (versican), and the heparan sulphate proteoglycan bears striking similarities to cell-membrane-intercalated species described for a number of cell types.

Animals↗

Reversible calcitonin binding to solubilized sheep brain binding sites.

In this study we have solubilized and characterized binding sites for calcitonin (CT) from sheep brainstem. Autoradiography of 125I-labelled salmon CT (125I-sCT) binding to sheep diencephalon revealed a similar pattern of binding to that seen in other species, although the extent of distribution was greater in the sheep. CT binding activity could be extracted from membranes with either CHAPS or digitonin, but not with beta-octyl glucoside, 125I-sCT binding was saturable, with a dissociation constant for CHAPS-solubilized membranes of 2.8 +/- 0.5 nM and a maximum binding site concentration of 6.2 +/- 1.6 pmol/mg of protein. In competition binding studies, various CTs and their analogues demonstrated a similar rank order of potency to that seen in other CT receptor systems, Optimal binding occurred in the pH range 6.5-7.5, and was decreased in the presence of NaCl concentrations greater than 200 mM. In contrast with most other CT receptor binding systems, in which binding is poorly reversible, the binding of 125I-sCT to sheep brain binding sites underwent substantial dissociation upon addition of excess unlabelled sCT, with 40% and 46% dissociation after 2 h at 4 degree C in particulate and solubilized membranes respectively. Photoaffinity labelling of the binding site with the biologically active analogue 125I-[Arg11,18,4-azidobenzoyl-Lys14]sCT and analysis on SDS/PAGE under reducing conditions revealed a specific protein band of Mr approximately solubilized and particulate brain membranes. This is in accordance with the molecular size of CT receptors in other tissues where two species of receptor have been identified. one of Mr approximately 71,000 and another of Mr approximately 88,000. These results demonstrate the presence of high concentrations of CT binding sites in sheep brain which display different kinetic properties to those of CT receptors found in other tissues.

Affinity Labels↗

Retinoic acid modulation of mRNA levels in malignant, nontransformed, and immortalized osteoblasts.

Clonal cell lines presumably "arrested" at a particular stage of differentiation are useful models to study the processes of differentiation in osteoblasts. UMR-201 is a presumptive preosteoblastic nontransformed rat clonal cell line with a limited life span in culture. Two immortalized cell lines, UMR-201-10A (10A) and UMR-201-10B (10B), were derived from UMR-201 by stable transfection with simian virus (SV) 40 large T antigen. This study compares the growth and profile of gene expression of the immortalized cell lines with those of UMR-201 and UMR-106-06, a rat clonal cell line with well-defined osteoblast-like phenotypic characteristics. All four cell lines constitutively expressed the mRNA for the gamma, alpha, and beta receptors for retinoic acid (RA), the growth hormone receptor, pro-alpha 1(I) collagen, osteonectin, bone proteoglycan I, and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) 1 and 2A. Alkaline phosphatase mRNA was absent in the preosteoblast cell lines but was induced by treatment with 10(-6) M RA, which also increased the steady-state levels of mRNA for osteopontin and BMP1. mRNA for matrix gla protein was constitutively present and further induced by RA in UMR-201 and 10B only. Messenger RNA for bone sialoprotein and bone morphogenetic protein 3 were constitutively expressed in UMR-106-06 and UMR-201 but absent in the immortalized cell lines. None of the cell lines expressed measurable mRNA for bone gla protein or bone proteoglycan II. 10B grew more rapidly than UMR-201, but unlike UMR-201, it was also able to proliferate in serum-free medium and exhibit anchorage-independent growth. In summary, this study identifies novel retinoic acid effects on gene expression in these cells. Differences noted in the expression of mRNAs between UMR-106-06 and the other cell lines may provide some insight into the sequence of expression of these phenotypic characteristics as osteoblasts differentiate.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Induction of calcitonin receptor expression by glucocorticoids in T47D human breast cancer cells.

When T47D cells were maintained long term in medium containing 0.1 mumol cortisol/l, calcitonin receptor (CTR) expression was stimulated compared with the very low levels of binding in untreated cells grown from frozen stocks. The time-course of the appearance of CTR following treatment with cortisol was slow, requiring up to 3 weeks of continuous exposure of the cells to the steroid. Binding capacity of control cells also increased slowly with time in culture, but after 3 months was only 20-30% of that in cells continuously treated with cortisol. Removal of cortisol resulted in rapid loss of CTR so that binding was reduced to approximately 50% of treated cell levels within 1 week of removal. Scatchard analysis of the binding data showed that the increased binding capacity induced by cortisol was due solely to a change in average receptor number per cell, with no change in receptor affinity. That this induction of CTR was due to a glucocorticoid effect was shown by the more rapid (less than 96 h) and more potent (less than 1 nmol/l) action of dexamethasone than of cortisol. In addition, induction was inhibited by the glucocorticoid inhibitor RU486. The induced receptors were shown to be functional, since salmon calcitonin-stimulated adenylate cyclase was induced in parallel with CTR. These results indicate that glucocorticoids are potential regulators of the CTR.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Insulinlike growth factor 1 regulates mRNA levels of osteonectin and pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen in clonal preosteoblastic calvarial cells.

A nontransformed rat clonal cell line (UMR-201) with phenotypic characteristics of osteoblastic precursor cells was found to respond to insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) by increased osteonectin and pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen mRNA expression. Cells were treated for 24 h with insulin, growth hormone, or IGF-1 to study the regulation of messenger RNA for osteonectin and pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen using Northern blot hybridization. UMR-201 cells possess specific high-affinity receptors for growth hormone, although there were no significant effects of growth hormone (10(-9)-10(-7) M) or insulin (10(-9)-10(-6) M) on mRNA species for osteonectin or pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen. However, IGF-1 increased both mRNA species from a concentration of 10(-9) M. The effect on osteonectin mRNA expression was likely due to increased transcription; when 5' flanking osteonectin (ON) genomic fragments were linked to the bacterial reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) and introduced by transfection into UMR-201 cells, the transcriptional activity of the ON-CAT construct was increased 235 and 270% by 10(-8) and 10(-7) M IGF-1, respectively. In contrast, growth hormone did not change the transcriptional activity of the ON-CAT construct. In confirmation of other work, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta, 0.1-2.5 ng/ml) increased mRNA for osteonectin and pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen in a dose-dependent manner. Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) at 0.1-10 ng/ml had no consistent effects in repeated experiments on osteonectin and pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen mRNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Osteonectin promoter. DNA sequence analysis and S1 endonuclease site potentially associated with transcriptional control in bone cells.

To understand the basis of osteonectin (SPARC) transcriptional regulation, we have isolated a bovine genomic clone (lambda Og15) encoding exon 1 and 15 kilobase pairs (kb) of flanking DNA. Direct RNA sequencing of the 5' end of the osteonectin message showed it contained a sequence identical to that of a 2.4-kb EcoRI-BamHI fragment located midway in the clone lambda Og15. The results indicate exon 1 is located 10 kb away from exon 2 in the bovine genome. The DNA sequence unit CCTG is repeated five times in exon 1 which is composed exclusively of untranslated sequence. Sequence analysis of the 5'-flanking DNA revealed the presence of many regulatory motifs including a "GC" box with four overlapping SP1 consensus sequences. Immediately downstream from the GC box is a 72-base pair purine-rich stretch composed primarily of direct repeats of the sequence motifs GGGGA and GGA (GAGA box). Digestion of the flanking DNA in vitro with S1 endonuclease showed a site for the enzyme at position -55 which is just 3' to the GAGA box. Chimeric chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs were prepared containing the S1-sensitive site and showed substantial transcriptional activity in UMR-106 and fetal and adult human bone cells which are known to be high producers of the protein. The results indicate a potential regulatory activity of the S1 site in osteonectin gene activation.

Animals↗

Protein kinase-C-induced down-regulation of calcitonin receptors and calcitonin-activated adenylate cyclase in T47D and BEN cells.

T47D human breast cancer cells and BEN human lung cancer cells were preincubated with the tumor-promoting phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). In both cell lines there was a decrease in the binding of 125I-labeled salmon calcitonin ([125I]sCT) which was dependent on the dose and time of exposure to PMA. The effect on binding comprised at least two components: the apparent affinity for binding of [125I]sCT was decreased by PMA, and the rate of internalization of bound [125I]sCT was increased more than 2-fold in the presence of PMA. By using dinitrophenol to inhibit cellular metabolic energy and, therefore, receptor internalization, the PMA effects on receptor affinity were dissociated from those on endocytosis. The effects on binding were reflected in a decreased stimulation by sCT of adenylate cyclase activity. This was specific for the calcitonin receptor system, since PMA had no effect on prostaglandin-E2-stimulated adenylate cyclase in the T47D cell. Protein kinase-C (PKC) was implicated in the inhibitory effects of PMA on both binding and adenylate cyclase activation, since inhibition was reduced by simultaneous incubation with the PKC inhibitors H7 and H8. These results suggest that PKC is capable of mediating down-regulation of the CT receptor, and this is most likely by phosphorylation of the receptor itself or an associated protein.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Opposing influences of glucocorticoid and retinoic acid on transcriptional control in preosteoblasts.

UMR 201 is a nontransformed rat clonal cell line derived from neonatal calvaria with phenotypic characteristics of preosteoblasts. Retinoic acid strongly induces expression of alkaline phosphatase and its mRNA in these cells. Dexamethasone substantially reduced the retinoic acid-induced expression of alkaline phosphatase. This apparent interaction between dexamethasone and retinoic acid effects raised the possibility that interactions may extend to other osteoblast-related phenotypic characteristics in UMR 201 cells. Treatment with dexamethasone resulted in a decrease in the expression of mRNA for pro-alpha 1(I) collagen, but upon coincubation with 1 microM retinoic acid for 24 h, the decrease in mRNA for pro-alpha 1(I) collagen was abrogated. Dexamethasone (Dex) treatment caused a dose-dependent increase in osteonectin mRNA, half maximally effective between 1 nM and 10 nM Dex. One micromolar of retinoic acid alone led to a small increase in expression of osteonectin mRNA but prevented any further increase when Dex was added to retinoic acid-treated cells. To study transcriptional control, osteonectin genomic fragments were linked to the bacterial reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, and introduced by transfection into UMR 201 cells. Dexamethasone increased the transcriptional activity of an osteonectin-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase construct; 100 nM Dex resulted in a 3-fold increase over control cells which was attenuated when 1 microM retinoic acid was added to the incubation, while retinoic acid alone resulted in a 2-fold increase in transcriptional activity. Finally, it was noted that coincubation with retinoic acid and Dex stimulated the proliferation of UMR 201 cells when compared with either treatment alone. This study shows the potential importance of hormonal interactions in the expression of osteoblast function.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗