Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G T Ooi

Publications and source records attributed to G T Ooi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Identification of cis-elements mediating the stimulation of rat insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 promoter activity by dexamethasone, cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, and phorbol esters, and inhibition by insulin.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) modulates the action of IGFs on target cells. IGFBP-1 transcription is highly regulated by hormonal and metabolic factors. In rat H4-II-E hepatoma cells, IGFBP-1 messenger RNA is stimulated by dexamethasone, cAMP, and phorbol esters, and dominantly inhibited by insulin. To identify the cis-elements that determine transcriptional regulation by these agents, we have coupled rat IGFBP-1 promoter fragments to a luciferase reporter gene and transfected H4-II-E cells using the cationic liposome procedure. Promoter fragments whose 5'-end was at nucleotide (nt) -925 or -327 (with respect to the transcription initiation site, 1) conferred positive regulation of promoter activity by dexamethasone, cAMP, and phorbol esters. Insulin inhibited promoter activity in the presence of any of the three stimulatory agents. Stimulation by cAMP or phorbol esters was abolished when the region between nt -327 and -235 was deleted. Although this region contains potential activating protein-2 and activating protein-1 sites, the sites responsible for this regulation have not yet been identified. By contrast, stimulation by dexamethasone was retained in deletion constructs whose 5'-end was at nt -92, but was abolished by site mutagenesis of either the left or right half-sites of a potential glucocorticoid response element (GRE) located between nt -91 and -77. Surprisingly, substitution mutations in an up-stream region, -108 to -99 (M4), also decreased dexamethasone-stimulated promoter activity despite the presence of an intact GRE. We postulate that a positive factor that binds to the wild-type M4 region neutralizes factors that inhibit interaction of the glucocorticoid receptor with the GRE. The M4 region also is involved in inhibition by insulin. Insulin inhibition of dexamethasone-stimulated promoter activity was lost after deletion of nt -135 to -92 or mutation of the region between nt -108 and -99. This insulin response element is conserved in the human IGFBP-1 promoter and is homologous to the insulin response element of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene, which also is rapidly inhibited by insulin in H4-II-E cells. The rat IGFBP-1 promoter provides a valuable model system for studying the multihormonal regulation of transcription.

Animals↗

Cycloheximide stabilizes insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) mRNA and inhibits IGFBP-1 transcription in H4-II-E rat hepatoma cells.

The insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) are a family of six proteins that modulate the biological activity of IGF-I and IGF-II and determine their bioavailability to tissues. One of the IGFBPs, IGFBP-1, is distinctive in the dynamic response of its levels in human plasma to metabolic changes. Parallel changes occur in IGFBP-1 mRNA and IGFBP-1 transcription in rat liver. Using the well differentiated H4-II-E rat hepatoma cell line as a model system, we demonstrated previously that IGFBP-1 transcription is positively regulated by dexamethasone and negatively regulated by insulin. We now examine the effect of the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, on the hormonal regulation of IGFBP-1 gene expression. Preincubation of H4-II-E cells with 10.7 microM cycloheximide for 1.5 h did not prevent the induction of IGFBP-1 mRNA and IGFBP-1 transcription (determined in nuclear run-on assays) by dexamethasone. By contrast, cycloheximide treatment abolished the decrease in IGFBP-1 mRNA induced by insulin. Insulin rapidly decreased IGFBP-1 transcription in the absence of cycloheximide (> 50% inhibition in 20 min) and caused a similar decrease in cells pretreated with cycloheximide. Cycloheximide alone also decreased IGFBP-1 transcription. Similar results were observed with a second protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin, which also prevented the insulin-induced decrease in IGFBP-1 mRNA without abolishing the insulin-induced inhibition of IGFBP-1 transcription. These results suggest that although insulin decreases IGFBP-1 gene transcription in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors, IGFBP-1 mRNA levels are maintained because of stabilization of the mRNA. Stabilization was demonstrated directly in actinomycin D-treated cells, where the t1/2 of IGFBP-1 mRNA increased from approximately 2 to approximately 20 h in the presence of cycloheximide; insulin did not affect IGFBP-1 mRNA turnover. Thus, cycloheximide-sensitive labile proteins contribute to the maintenance of basal IGFBP-1 promoter activity and the rapid turnover of IGFBP-1 mRNA, which determine the dynamic regulation of IGFBP-1 gene expression.

Animals↗

Post-transcriptional regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 mRNA in diabetic rat liver.

IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 mRNAs are increased in the livers of streptozotocin-diabetic rats. A corresponding increase is observed in transcription of the IGFBP-1 but not the IGFBP-2 gene, indicating that the increase in steady-state levels of IGFBP-2 mRNA is a post-transcriptional effect. IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 mRNAs also differ in the rapidity of their response to insulin treatment: hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA is normalized within 1 h, IGFBP-2 mRNA decreases more slowly. These differences suggest that IGFBP-2 may provide more chronic adaptation to metabolic change than IGFBP-1.

Animals↗

Insulin rapidly decreases insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 gene transcription in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) can inhibit or potentiate IGF action. The biological activity of IGFBP-1 is determined by many factors, including its abundance in tissues and plasma, posttranslational modifications, and localization. IGFBP-1 levels in human plasma are highly regulated. They are increased after acute fasting and in diabetes, and are rapidly reversed by refeeding and insulin treatment, respectively. Similarly, IGFBP-1 mRNA is increased in the liver of severely diabetic and ketotic rats and decreased after 4 days of insulin treatment. Insulin rapidly decreases IGFBP-1 mRNA and IGFBP-1 transcription in rat hepatoma cells. The present study asks whether the increase in IGFBP-1 mRNA in diabetic rat liver reflects increased gene transcription, whether insulin decreases IGFBP-1 mRNA through a transcriptional or posttranscriptional mechanism, and whether this decrease is sufficiently rapid to account for the dynamic fluctuations in plasma IGFBP-1. Rats were injected ip with 100 mg/kg streptozotocin and used 7 days later when they were hyperglycemic and failed to gain weight, but were not ketotic. Hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA levels were 13.6 +/- 5.3-fold greater in diabetic than control liver and decreased to the low levels in nondiabetic controls within 1 h after insulin treatment. In run-on transcription assays, IGFBP-1 transcription was 12.6 +/- 1.5-fold greater in nuclei from diabetic than control liver and decreased to low control levels by 1 h after insulin injection. Normalization of hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA in insulin-treated diabetic animals did not require restoration of euglycemia. IGFBP-1 mRNA and IGFBP-1 gene transcription also were increased in the kidney of diabetic ketotic rats. We propose that the dynamic regulation of IGFBP-1 gene transcription in diabetes and after insulin treatment, by determining the availability of IGFBP-1 in tissues and plasma, may be a critical factor in the modulation of IGF action.

Animals↗

Transcription of the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 gene is increased in neonatal and fasted adult rat liver.

The insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) are a family of proteins that specifically bind IGF-I and IGF-II, determine their bioavailability to tissues, and modulate their actions in target tissues. Levels of IGFBPs in plasma and IGFBP mRNAs in liver are highly regulated with developmental age and metabolic status. We now demonstrate that the increase in IGFBP-2 mRNA in fasted adult rat liver and in the liver of normal neonatal rats reflects an increased rate of transcription. When adult rats were fasted for 2-3 days, IGFBP-2 mRNA was increased in liver, but not in brain or kidney. The increase in hepatic IGFBP-2 mRNA was observed after only 1 day of fasting. Levels decreased by half after 6 h of refeeding and returned to their low starting values after 2 days of refeeding. Transcription-elongation experiments indicated that transcription of the IGFBP-2 gene was increased in fasted liver. The rate of transcription increased 9.2- +/- 3.5-fold for transcripts labeled in exon 1 and 6.6- +/- 2.4-fold for transcripts labeled in exons 2, 3, and 4, suggesting that fasting causes a uniform increase in the number of RNA polymerase II molecules along the length of the IGFBP-2 gene. We infer from these results that the regulation of IGFBP-2 gene transcription in fasting occurs at the level of initiation rather than elongation. IGFBP-2 gene transcription also was increased 3.8- +/- 1.2-fold (exon 1) and 2.9- +/- 0.9-fold (exons 2, 3, and 4) in nuclei from 2-day postnatal rat liver compared with adult rat liver, consistent with the greater abundance of IGFBP-2 mRNA in neonatal rat liver.

Animals↗

Expression of the genes for insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF-II, and IGF-binding proteins-1 and -2 in fetal rat under conditions of intrauterine growth retardation caused by maternal fasting.

Evidence suggests that insulin-like growth factors-I and -II (IGF-I and II) play a role in regulating fetal growth and development. In the fetus, IGF-I and -II are complexed with two specific binding proteins (IGFBP-1 and -2), which are thought to modulate the actions of the IGFs in target tissues. We examined regulation of the genes for IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-2 in fetal rat liver in an experimental model for intrauterine growth retardation caused by maternal fasting on days 17-21 of gestation. The mean weight of fetuses from the fasted dams was 27-32% lower than the mean weight of fetuses from the fed dams. The concentration of immunoreactive IGF-I was decreased by 71% in serum of fetuses from the fasting dams. The concentration of immunoreactive IGF-II was slightly decreased (by 12%) in serum of fetuses from the fasting dams, whereas the concentration of immunoreactive pro-IGF-II E-domain peptide was decreased by 31%. The abundance of hepatic IGF-I mRNA was decreased by 55% in fetuses from the fasting dams. In contrast, the abundance of IGF-II mRNA in fetal liver was not significantly decreased by maternal fasting. Maternal fasting caused a 2-fold increase in the abundance of IGFBP-1 mRNA in fetal liver, whereas it did not change the abundance of IGFBP-2 mRNA. The induction of IGFBP-1 mRNA in liver of the growth-retarded fetuses is similar to the induction that occurs in liver of fasting adults, while the lack of regulation of IGFBP-2 mRNA differs from the strong induction of IGFBP-2 mRNA that occurs in liver of fasting adults. In summary, these results indicate that maternal fasting causes a decrease in fetal IGF-I gene expression, a decrease in fetal serum IGF-I, and a slight decrease in fetal serum IGF-II and pro-IGF-II E-domain peptide concentrations. Maternal fasting also causes an increase in fetal IGFBP-1 gene expression. Changes in fetal insulin and glucose may be related to changes in expression of the IGF-I and IGFBP-1 genes in the growth-retarded fetuses. The decreased expression of IGF-I and -II and increased expression of the IGFBP-1 gene may contribute to the fetal growth retardation observed in this model system.

Animals↗

Insulin rapidly inhibits insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 gene expression in H4-II-E rat hepatoma cells.

The insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) are thought to determine the distribution of IGF-I and IGF-II between the blood and tissue compartments and to modulate their biological activities. A dynamic metabolic role for one of the IGFBPs, IGFBP-1, is suggested by the fact that plasma IGFBP-1 was increased after fasting and diabetes and rapidly decreased by refeeding or insulin treatment, respectively. IGFBP-1 mRNA also is increased in the livers of diabetic rats and decreased by insulin treatment. To understand the molecular basis for this regulation, we have examined the effects of insulin on IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-1 mRNA in the H4-II-E cell line derived from the well differentiated H35 rat hepatoma. IGFBP-1, identified by ligand blotting and immunoblotting, is the major IGFBP in H4-II-E cells. Incubation of H4-II-E cells with insulin for 24 h decreased IGFBP-1 in the culture medium by approximately 50%. Inhibition was observed at physiological concentrations of insulin (ED50, less than 0.5 nM), but not at higher concentrations of IGF-II. These results, together with the fact that H4-II-E cells do not possess IGF-I receptors with which insulin might cross-react, suggest that insulin acts via the insulin receptor. Insulin inhibited IGFBP-1 in the medium by 80% in the absence of glucose, suggesting that the inhibition is a direct effect of insulin; glucose exerted a smaller independent effect in the absence of insulin. Insulin decreased IGFBP-1 mRNA in H4-II-E cells by 50% within 1 h and by 90% after 2-12 h of incubation. Nuclear run-on transcription assays indicated a corresponding decrease in the rate of IGFBP-1 gene transcription. Pretreatment of H4-II-E cells with dexamethasone stimulated IGFBP-1 transcription and increased steady state IGFBP-1 mRNA; stimulation was abolished by insulin treatment, indicating that inhibition by insulin was dominant over induction by dexamethasone. Thus, insulin, acting through the insulin receptor, rapidly decreases the abundance of IGFBP-1 mRNA in H4-II-E cells. Regulation occurs at least in part at the level of gene transcription. We propose that regulation of IGFBP-1 synthesis is an important component of the regulation of IGFBP-1 by insulin in vivo.

Animals↗

Recognition of insulin-like-growth-factor-binding proteins in serum and amniotic fluid by an antiserum against a low-molecular-mass insulin-like-growth-factor-inhibitor/binding protein.

An antiserum (R8) raised against a purified specific low-Mr (16,000-18,000) insulin-like-growth-factor (IGF)-inhibitor/binding protein, which is immunologically related to the native growth hormone (GH)-dependent Mr-150,000 IGF-binding protein in serum, has been used to probe a possible additional relationship to the predominant non-GH-dependent IGF-binding protein (Mr approximately 30,000) of human amniotic fluid. Amniotic-fluid fractions and an IGF-inhibitory fraction of serum were analysed by covalent cross-linking, ligand-blotting and immunoblotting techniques. Western blotting of the serum fraction using the R8 antiserum gave five immunoreactive (ir) bands, of which at least three (Mr 38,000, 34,000 and 23,000) possessed IGF-binding activity, as indicated by ligand (125I-IGF-I) blotting. Western blotting of two differently prepared amniotic-fluid fractions, which both showed potent IGF-inhibitory bioactivity, gave several (Mr range 14,500-73,000) ir bands, of which two (Mr 28,000 and 17,000) were most prominent. Ligand-blotting analysis gave a single intensely labelled band at Mr 28,000, consistent with the major presence of the Mr-28,000-30,000 amniotic-fluid IGF-binding protein. Covalent cross-linking of the amniotic-fluid fractions to 125I-IGF-I gave three specifically cross-linked complexes (Mr 36,000, 32,000 and 23,000), which, assuming a 1:1 binding stoichiometry with IGF (Mr 7500), represent binding proteins of Mr 28,500, 24,500 and 15,500 respectively. The Mr-15,500 binding protein, very similar to the Mr-17,000 ir band, in all likelihood represents the IGF-inhibitor protein. Our results indicate that inhibitor-sized binding proteins and IGF-inhibitor bioactivity are present in human amniotic fluid, and that the IGF-inhibitor protein (Mr 16,000) and amniotic-fluid IGF-binding protein (Mr 28,000) are immunologically related. Since the IGF-inhibitor protein is also immunologically and structurally related to the native, GH-dependent, Mr-150,000 binding protein in serum, our data suggest a heretofore-unrecognized immunological similarity between the Mr-150,000 binding protein and the amniotic-fluid binding protein and its serum analogue, the Mr approximately 30,000, non-GH-dependent, binding protein.

Ammonium Sulfate↗

Tissue, developmental, and metabolic regulation of messenger ribonucleic acid encoding a rat insulin-like growth factor-binding protein.

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) is the predominant insulin-like growth factor in fetal and neonatal rat serum and tissues. In serum, it occurs complexed to a 30-kDa nonglycosylated IGF-binding protein (IGFBP) that is immunologically related to the IGFBP in BRL-3A rat liver cells (rIGFBP-2). Levels of rIGFBP-2 and IGF-II decrease in rat serum after birth. Using a recently isolated cDNA clone for rIGFBP-2 as hybridization probe, we now compare the expression of rIGFBP-2 and IGF-II in fetal tissues and the effects of hypophysectomy and fasting on the abundance of these mRNAs in adult rat liver. rIGFBP-2 mRNA is expressed at high levels in term gestation liver and at lower levels in other tissues. The ratio of rIGFBP-2 to IGF-II mRNAs in stomach, kidney, and lung is similar to that seen in liver, whereas IGF-II mRNA is more abundant than rIGFBP-2 mRNA in muscle, intestine, heart, and skin. Both mRNAs are more abundant in fetal tissues than in the corresponding tissues from adult rats. Dexamethasone treatment of 4-day-old rats for 4 days caused a greater (90%) decrease in hepatic IGF-II mRNA than in rIGFBP-2 mRNA (50%), suggesting subtle differences in the developmental regulation of the two mRNAs. Even more striking differences were observed in the regulation of the two mRNAs in adult rats after hypophysectomy or fasting. Hepatic rIGFBP-2 mRNA was increased 10- to 20-fold compared to age-matched control rats, whereas IGF-II mRNA was not increased. A parallel increase in serum rIGFBP-2 was observed, suggesting that this regulation may result at least in part from the increased abundance of rIGFBP-2 mRNA. Thus, in addition to modulating the stimulation of growth and differentiation by IGF-II in fetal tissues, rIGFBP-2 may play a homeostatic role during catabolic states in the adult rat.

Animals↗

Dexamethasone stimulates transcription of the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 gene in H4-II-E rat hepatoma cells.

Binding proteins for the insulin-like growth factors (IGFBP) are important modulators of the biological actions of IGF-I and IGF-II. Concentrations of one of these proteins, IGFBP-1, in human plasma and IGFBP-1 mRNA in rat liver are markedly altered in diabetes and fasting. We now examine the regulation of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-I mRNA in H4-II-E cells, a rat cell line derived from the minimal deviation H35 Reuber hepatoma previously reported to synthesize IGFBP-1 as its predominant IGF-binding protein. Confluent H4-II-E cells in serum-free medium were incubated with different hormones for 48 h, and the conditioned medium was analyzed by ligand blotting. Dexamethasone (10(-6) M) increased levels of 30-kDa IGFBP-1 approximately 10-fold; stimulation was half-maximal at 6 x 10(-9) M dexamethasone. No stimulation was seen with progesterone, testosterone, IGF-I, or rat GH, whereas insulin gave a small inhibition. Immunoblot analysis using a monoclonal antibody to human IGFBP-1 confirmed that the 30-kDa IGFBP induced by dexamethasone was IGFBP-1. IGFBP-1 mRNA was increased to a similar extent (7-fold), as determined by Northern blot hybridization using human or rat IGFBP-1 cDNA probes. The stimulation of IGFBP-1 mRNA was observed within 3 h after the addition of dexamethasone; IGFBP-1 in the medium increased more slowly. After withdrawal of dexamethasone from stimulated cells, IGFBP-1 mRNA decreased by 80% after 48 h; IGFBP-1 decreased more slowly. The increased abundance of IGFBP-1 mRNA in dexamethasone-treated cells primarily reflected increased transcription rather than increased mRNA stability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Different tissue distribution and hormonal regulation of messenger RNAs encoding rat insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins-1 and -2.

The insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 are low mol wt IGFBPs that are similar in structure. They are not glycosylated and have a homologous amino acid sequence, including the number and position of 18 cysteine residues and a carboxyl-terminal Arg-Gly-Asp sequence that can be recognized by cell adhesion receptors. The present study demonstrates that expression of mRNAs encoding the two BPs differs in some fetal rat tissues and in the livers of adult rats after hypophysectomy, fasting, or streptozotocin-induced diabetes. As determined by Northern blot hybridization using cDNA probes for rat IGFBP-2 or human IGFBP-1, both mRNAs are expressed at high levels in liver of 21-day gestation and 1-day-old rats and at lower levels in 21- and 65-day-old rat liver. Levels of both mRNAs are higher in liver than in other fetal rat tissues. The relative abundance of the two mRNAs in most fetal tissues is similar to that in liver, except that kidney and brain have 8-fold and more than 25-fold higher relative levels of IGFBP-2 mRNA, respectively. IGFBP-2 mRNA is about 10- to 20-fold increased after hypophysectomy or fasting, whereas IGFBP-1 mRNA is relatively unchanged. IGFBP-2 mRNA levels are decreased completely by refeeding fasted rats for 3 days, but only partially decreased by treatment of hypophysectomized rats with GH, cortisone acetate, T4, and testosterone for 4 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗

Recognition of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) serum binding proteins by an antibody raised against a specific IGF-inhibitor.

Evidence suggests that a specific inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factors (IGF) which acts by binding to IGF may be structurally related to the native, MW 150K binding protein (BP) in serum. This has now been examined using a polyclonal antiserum (R8) raised against highly purified inhibitor. Western blotting analysis of inhibitor using R8 gave 4 immunoreactive (ir-) bands (MW 34.5K, 23K, 16K and 12K), the most intense being the MW 16K band, identical to the MW of the inhibitor. Ligand blotting using 125I-IGF-I indicated specific IGF-binding activity at MW 29K, 26.5K, 16K and 12K, indicating that at least 2 of the ir-bands (16K and 12K) were IGF-BPs. Western blotting of a salt-precipitated fraction of serum gave 8 ir-bands of which 3 (MW 42K, 38K and 34K) were identical with BP bands detected previously by Hossenlopp et al (Anal. Biochem. (1986) 154, 138-143). These immunological crossreactivities indicate that the inhibitor is structurally related to the higher MW IGF-BPs in serum.

Ammonium Sulfate↗

The biological and structural characterization of specific serum binding proteins for the insulin-like growth factors.

The IGFs constitute an important family of skeletal growth regulatory peptides, which may play a vital autocrine and/or paracrine role in cellular growth. The role of the binding proteins in IGF physiology is quite unclear, and despite considerable progress in the past 2 years on the isolation and purification of binding proteins, many questions are still unresolved. For example, is the observed molecular heterogeneity experimentally induced, is it the result of post-translational modification of a single gene product, or are the different binding proteins products of different genes? What is the relationship between the different forms of binding proteins, and do they have different affinities for IGF-I and IGF-II? Do they have different physiological roles? It is obvious that answers to these questions are necessary in order to appreciate fully the physiological role of the binding proteins in regulating the actions of IGFs. Successful purification of different forms of IGF-binding proteins has been achieved in the last few years. This should enable the establishment of specific radioimmunoassays for each binding protein, which should allow the accurate assessment of the relative concentrations of binding proteins in various clinical or experimental states. Such studies have begun to be pursued very effectively by Baxter's group. The elucidation of the amino acid sequences of the various binding proteins will, hopefully, not only resolve the structural nature and inter-relationship of the various binding proteins, but also permit the use of recombinant DNA techniques to investigate fully, at the genetic level, the synthesis, regulation and production of the IGF-binding proteins.

Carrier Proteins↗

Covalent cross-linking of insulin-like growth factor-1 to a specific inhibitor from human serum.

Previous studies have shown that a specific inhibitor of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) action in vitro can be isolated from normal human serum and subsequently partially purified on an IGF-affinity column. The ability of the inhibitor to bind the IGFs has now been confirmed directly using covalent cross-linking techniques. When 125I-IGF-1 was cross-linked to inhibitor using disuccinimidyl suberate, five specifically labelled bands were seen on SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. Two bands (MW 21.5 K and 25.5 K) were intensely labelled, whilst the remaining three (MW 37 K, 34K and 18 K) appeared as minor bands only. Inhibitor bioactivity, following further analysis by hydrophobic interaction chromatography or Con A-Sepharose affinity chromatography, was always associated with the presence of the 21.5 K and/or 25.5 K bands. These data describe, for the first time, the structural nature of the IGF inhibitor protein and raise important questions regarding the relationship of the inhibitor to the primary IGF-binding subunit of the native high MW IGF carrier protein of serum.

Carrier Proteins↗