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H C Freake

Publications and source records attributed to H C Freake.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Promoter usage determines tissue specific responsiveness of the rat acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene.

The acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene contains two promoters, PI and PII which generate multiple mRNA forms. We have used the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to investigate tissue specific promoter usage in rats either fed a standard chow diet, starved for 48 h, or starved and then refed a high carbohydrate, low fat diet. Expression of PII-generated mRNAs was seen in all tissues examined and was not dramatically changed by food removal or refeeding. PI-generated mRNAs were expressed at variable levels in a narrower range of tissues and were regulated by these dietary manipulations. Thus only the PI promoter is responsive to diet and the ability of a tissue to use this promoter determines whether it can alter fatty acid synthesis in response to nutritional challenges.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗
PubMed1996

High carbohydrate diet and starvation regulate lipogenic mRNA in rats in a tissue-specific manner.

We have previously shown that the effects of a high carbohydrate, fat-free diet and 24-h starvation on fatty acid synthesis in rats are tissue specific. In the present study we examine the tissue-specific pretranslational effects of high carbohydrate feeding, starvation and refeeding a high carbohydrate diet after starvation on the lipogenic pathway by measuring the levels of mRNA encoding acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) using Northern analysis. Additionally, we measured mRNA S14, a sequence tightly associated with lipogenesis. In rats fed the high carbohydrate diet, hepatic levels of the three mRNA were 3-5 fold higher than in controls. The level of S14 mRNA was doubled in epididymal fat, but other effects of this diet in adipose tissues were not significant. Expression in kidney, heart, lung and brain was not altered. Starvation significantly reduced the level of these mRNA in all tissues examined except brain. In liver, refeeding the high carbohydrate diet induced the expression of ACC, FAS and S14 mRNA 20-30 fold compared with the values found in 48-h starved animals. Hyperinduction of ACC and FAS, but not S14 mRNA expression was also observed in adipose tissues. The tissue-specific nature of these effects is consistent with previous measurements of fatty acid synthesis and confirm that this regulation occurs at the pretranslational level.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗
PubMed1995

Tissue-specific regulation of lipogenic mRNAs by thyroid hormone.

We have previously shown that triiodothyronine (T3) regulates rat fatty acid synthesis in a tissue specific manner. Here, we determined the effects of thyroid state on mRNAs encoding the lipogenic enzymes, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). S14 mRNA, a sequence tightly associated with lipogenesis, was also measured. Levels of the three mRNA were 9-13-fold higher in hyper- than hypothyroid liver. Limited expression in kidney and heart was also increased by thyroid hormone. In brown adipose tissue, highest levels were recorded in hypothyroid animals. Thyroid state did not affect expression in lung and brain. All these changes are consistent with those previously measured in fatty acid synthesis. In white adipose tissue, mRNA expression was increased by hyperthyroidism. This increase may not be reflected in fatty acid synthesis, since we recently showed lipogenesis to be reduced under these circumstances. All three mRNAs responded rapidly to T3 in liver, but more slowly in kidney and fat. Thus, T3 regulates lipogenesis by altering levels of ACC and FAS mRNAs. S14 mRNA changes in parallel.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗
PubMed1995

Thermogenesis and thyroid function.

The past 10 years have seen tremendous progress in the definition of the nuclear mechanism of action of thyroid hormones. Although the way in which these nuclear mechanisms underlie the 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3)-dependent stimulation of metabolic rate remains to be clarified, evidence favoring non-nuclear pathways is limited. Clearly, T3 stimulates both the production and consumption of energy within cells. It also exerts a number of parallel effects that result in increased oxygen consumption, e.g. on mitochondrial structure and composition; on the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins, and on cardiac function. Additionally, T3 may increase the proton permeability of the inner mitochondrial membrane, which implies that it may decrease the efficiency of energy production. These metabolic effects of T3 appear to be restricted to homeothermic-animals, representing a coordinated response to the challenge of maintaining body temperature.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Molecular biological approaches to studying trace minerals: why should clinicians care?

The approaches and tools of molecular biology have been enormously valuable to all branches of biological science over the last decade. Nutrition is no exception, where studies on the influence of nutrients on gene expression and of gene products on nutrient metabolism have resulted in a much more sophisticated and detailed understanding of nutritional biochemistry. An example of this as applied to trace minerals research can be seen in the area of thyroidology. Until recently, the sole link between thyroid hormones and trace minerals was iodide. Then the thyroid hormone receptor was cloned and analysis of the protein coding sequence showed it to be a member of a large family of gene activating receptor proteins. These all possess a region containing two clusters of cysteine residues, thought to chelate zinc, which is required for binding of the receptors to their target genes. Zinc appears to be necessary for the biological functioning of not only the thyroid hormone receptor but also many other nuclear proteins which regulate gene expression. The principal product of the thyroid gland is thyroxine from which the more active form of the hormone, triiodothyronine, is derived by peripheral monodeiodination. One of the two enzymes responsible, type I 5'-iodothyronine deiodinase, was recently cloned and shown to contain selenocysteine. Thus production of the active thyroid hormone is dependent on selenium status. These advances made with molecular biology have important implications for clinicians. The possibilities for understanding the clinical picture are immediately enhanced, improving both diagnosis and treatment. Molecular biology also provides the opportunity for developing more specific and sensitive tools for assessing nutritional status. Diseases with a genetic basis can be unequivocally diagnosed and perhaps even treated. A strength of nutrition is that it encompasses molecular biology and clinical practice and practitioners of each can benefit from an understanding of the complementary area.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Regulation of brown adipose tissue lipogenesis by thyroid hormone and the sympathetic nervous system.

Thyroid hormone regulates lipogenesis differently in rat liver and brown adipose tissue (BAT). In the hypothyroid state, lipogenesis is suppressed in liver but enhanced in BAT. Here we investigated the mechanisms underlying increased lipogenesis in hypothyroid BAT. Housing the animals at 28 degrees C decreased lipogenesis in hypothyroid BAT to euthyroid levels. Denervation resulted in a 90% reduction in lipogenesis in hypothyroid BAT such that levels were lower than in euthyroid tissue. Thyroid hormone treatment of hypothyroid rats stimulated fatty acid synthesis in denervated BAT, as in liver, but decreased it in intact BAT. Steady-state levels of mRNA encoding acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty-acid synthase, and spor 14 were measured in similar animals by Northern analysis. The expression of these mRNAs mirrored the lipogenic data, showing that both thyroid hormone and the sympathetic nervous system work at a pretranslational level in this tissue. These data suggest that the increased BAT lipogenesis found with hypothyroidism is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system to counter the reduction in metabolic rate in these animals.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗
PubMed1992

Tissue-specific regulation of fatty acid synthesis by thyroid hormone.

It is generally agreed that thyroid hormone stimulates the hepatic synthesis of long chain fatty acids in the rat. However, there are conflicting data about its effects in white adipose tissue, while in brown adipose tissue, lipogenic rates are highest in hypothyroid animals. We have systematically examined the effect of thyroid state on lipogenesis in different rat tissues. Fatty acid synthesis was assessed in vivo, using the incorporation of tritiated water. Hepatic lipogenesis was induced 16-fold between hypothyroid (4.1 +/- 0.6 microns H incorporated/g.h) and hyperthyroid rats (66.5 +/- 13.2 microns H/g.h). Kidney and heart were much less lipogenically active, but also responded positively to thyroid hormone. Both hyper- and hypothyroidism diminished fatty acid synthesis in retroperitoneal fat and had similar, although not significant, effects in epididymal fat. However, epididymal adipocytes, taken from hyperthyroid rats and cultured in vitro, were 3 times more lipogenically active than cells from either hypo- or euthyroid animals. Lipogenesis in sc fat from hyperthyroid rats was enhanced when calculated per g tissue, but was not different when expressed per whole tissue. In brown adipose tissue, lipogenesis was inversely related to thyroid hormone status. Fatty acid synthesis in brain, lung, skin, and bone and muscle did not respond to changes in thyroid state. TLC confirmed that greater than 90% of the incorporated tritium was in fatty acids. Thus, in hypothyroid animals, lipogenesis primarily occurs in skin, bone, muscle, and other nonresponsive organs, whereas in hyperthyroid rats, the liver alone constitutes almost half of all fatty acid synthesis. The fatty acid synthetic pathway provides an excellent model for examining the tissue-specific regulation of gene expression by thyroid hormone.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1989

The regulation of lipogenesis by thyroid hormone and its contribution to thermogenesis.

We have used the tritiated water method to quantitate the effects of thyroid hormone on lipogenesis in the rat and then determined the contribution of this process to thyroid hormone-induced thermogenesis. After thyroid hormone administration to hypothyroid animals, fatty acid synthesis rose after a lag time of 12-16 h and reached a plateau after 4-5 days. This is consistent with the kinetics of an increase in oxygen consumption measured by others in similar animals. A diurnal variation was maintained in all thyroid states, with the peak value in the middle of the dark period being 3-fold higher than the nadir. Fatty acid synthesis in the livers of hyperthyroid animals was 3- to 4-fold higher than that in euthyroid rats, which, in turn, was 3- to 5-fold higher than the rate observed in hypothyroid rats. Slightly smaller but similar fold increases were measured in epididymal fat. A stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by thyroid hormone was also measured in the rest of the carcass, with hyperthyroid rates being twice those in hypothyroid animals. The contribution of the liver was much greater in hyperthyroid rats (34% of total fatty acid synthesis) than in hypothyroid animals (5%). The energy costs of this synthesis were calculated and compared to published values for total oxygen consumption in different thyroid states. Thus, 6-10% of the total increment in oxygen consumption between hyperthyroid and hypothyroid animals could be attributed to lipogenesis, depending on which published figures were used. About 3% of this increment was due to the liver alone.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1988

Differences in antibody recognition of the triiodothyronine nuclear receptor and c-erbA products.

The in vitro translated products of several c-erbA cDNAs have recently been shown to bind thyroid hormones with high affinity and have been termed thyroid hormone receptors. We have used a panel of five erbA-related antibodies to probe the relationship between c-erbA translated products and thyroid hormone receptors, as conventionally measured by 125I-T3 labeling of nuclear extracts. All five antibodies immunoprecipitated the chick c-erbA translated products, but only one of them recognized chick liver and brain T3 receptor, as judged by acceleration of sedimentation through sucrose gradients. None of the antibodies reacted with rat liver and brain or human liver T3 receptors, although one antibody did immunoprecipitate a human c-erbA translated product. We conclude that the T3 receptor, as conventionally measured from these sources, is related but not identical to recently cloned c-erbA sequences.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Triiodothyronine nuclear binding capacity in rat tissues correlates with a 6.0 kilobase (kb) and not a 2.6 kb messenger ribonucleic acid hybridization signal generated by a human c-erbA probe.

Recent studies have raised the possibility of multiple structurally distinctive tissue-specific nuclear T3 receptors, all exhibiting homology with the v-erbA oncogene and represented by mRNAs of various sizes. We have assayed the level of mRNAs recognized by a 32P-labeled cRNA derived from human plancetal c-erbA-A beta cDNA by solution hybridization and by Northern transfer in different rat tissues, as well as human liver and placenta. Two related mRNAs were demonstrated in the rat tissues analyzed, one measuring 6.0 and the other 2.6 kilobases (kb). In human liver and placenta a 6.0 kb mRNA was seen, but not a 2.6 kb mRNA. Only the 6.0 kb sequence correlated with the receptor concentration determined by 125I-T3 displacement analysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Stimulation of S14 mRNA and lipogenesis in brown fat by hypothyroidism, cold exposure, and cafeteria feeding: evidence supporting a general role for S14 in lipogenesis and lipogenesis in the maintenance of thermogenesis.

In liver, thyroid hormone rapidly induces S14 mRNA, which encodes a small acidic protein. This sequence is abundantly expressed only in lipogenic tissues and is thought to have some function in fat metabolism. In the euthyroid rat, we measured 20-fold higher levels of S14 mRNA in interscapular brown adipose tissue than liver. Furthermore, whereas in liver or epididymal fat, hypothyroidism resulted in an 80% fall in S14 mRNA, in brown fat the level of this sequence increased a further 3-fold. In all three tissues, the expression of S14 mRNA correlated well with lipogenesis, as assessed by 3H2O incorporation. Physiological activation of brown fat by chronic cold exposure or cafeteria feeding increased the concentration of S14 mRNA in this tissue and again this was accompanied by a greater rate of fatty acid synthesis. Overall, in liver and white and brown adipose tissue, S14 mRNA and lipogenesis were well correlated and strongly suggest a function of the S14 protein related to fat synthesis. These studies suggest that the S14 protein and lipogenesis may be important for thyroid hormone-induced and brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and that stimulation of these functions in hypothyroid brown fat is a consequence of decreased thyroid hormone-induced thermogenesis elsewhere.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1987

Effect of thyroid hormones and high carbohydrate feeding on gene expression in rat epididymal adipose tissue.

We have determined the messenger RNA activity profiles of epididymal fat in euthyroid, hypothyroid, and hyperthyroid rats as well as in animals fed a high carbohydrate fat-free (lipogenic) diet. Radioautographs of two-dimensional gels of the in vitro translational products of RNA were quantitated by computer-assisted videodensitometry and analyzed by multivariate statistics. Of the 250 spots observed, each presumably representing the translational product of a separate messenger RNA, 21 were responsive to changes in hormonal state. Eighteen increased and two decreased at some stage in the transition from the hypothyroid to the hyperthyroid state. One spot changed in a biphasic manner. Eight products responded to the lipogenic diet, six increasing and two decreasing. Six of these eight spots responded in a similar fashion to thyroid hormone administration. As previously shown for liver, there appears to be a substantial overlap between the genomic response to carbohydrate and thyroid hormone administration. Whereas the carbohydrate-generated changes are largely included in the thyroid-hormone induced alterations, the majority of thyroid hormone responsive changes are not duplicated by the diet. Multivariate analysis showed a clear separation of each state from the others and revealed that it was necessary to monitor only nine spots to achieve an effective separation of the states analyzed.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1986

Stereospecific transport of triiodothyronine to cytoplasm and nucleus in GH1 cells.

We have recently demonstrated substantial stereospecific nuclear/cytosolic free triiodothyronine (T3) gradients within T3 responsive rat tissues in situ. These studies have now been extended to examine T3 transport in a rat pituitary tumor cell line, GH1. L-T3 had a 7.6-fold higher affinity for the nuclear receptor when assayed in whole cell incubations in comparison to isolated nuclei, though D-T3 affinity was not altered under these conditions. An apparently higher number of receptors for D-T3 was explained by racemic contamination of the isotopes used. Measurement of free hormone concentration ratios for both enantiomers revealed a small step up from medium to cytosol for L-T3 (1.65) but a reverse ratio for D-T3 (0.46). The nuclei were able to concentrate both enantiomers, though stereospecificity was maintained (nucleus/cytosol, L-T3, 4.5, D-T3 1.7). Transport of L-T3 at both boundaries could be inhibited by monodansylcadaverine. Thus, stereospecific transport functions are found within GH1 cells, though the magnitude of the free nucleus/cytosol gradient is reduced from those seen in rat tissues in situ.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Changes in surface antigens of HL-60 cells during differentiation in vitro.

We have examined the pattern of binding of monoclonal antibodies OKM 1, FMC 10, FMC 12, FMC 13, FMC 17 and FMC 33 to human promyelocytic leukaemia (HL-60) cells. We found that the expression of antigens detectable with FMC 17 and FMC 33 (specific for monocytes and macrophages) was increased by exposure of HL-60 cells to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 but not by exposure of HL-60 cells to 12-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The antigen detected with the OKM 1 antibody was highly induced by TPA. The expression of granulocyte-specific antigens detected by FMC 10 and FMC 13 was increased during induction of granulocytic maturation; these antigens were retained during monocyte-macrophage differentiation of HL-60 cells. We conclude that in some cases the expression of particular antigens during maturation of malignant cells proceeds normally while in other cases antigenic differences between leukaemic and normal cells at equivalent levels of maturation can be detected.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1984

Specific binding of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 in lymphocytes.

We examined ten cellular or tissue sources of lymphocytes for specific binding of 1,25(OH)2D3, the hormonally active form of vitamin D3. A specific-binding protein was found in three of these sources. Scatchard analysis of cytosol from a follicular lymphoma cell line revealed binding sites with a Kd of 7.0 X 10(-11) and a receptor concentration of 6.6 fmol/mg protein. Sucrose density centrifugation of 3H-1,25(OH)2D3 labeled cytosol showed a 3.75 peak which was absent in cytosols incubated with excess nonradioactive 1,25(OH)2D3. The relative amounts of vitamin D3 metabolites required to displace 50% of the specifically bound 3H-1,25(OH)2D3 were 1,25(OH)2D3: 1,24,25(OH)3D3: 25(OH)D3: 24,25(OH)2D3 = 1: 180: 1000: 2700. Excess vitamin D3, cortisol, and estradiol failed to displace 3H-1,25(OH)2D3. Scatchard analysis of spleen cytosol from a patient with prolymphocytic transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia demonstrated a binding protein with a Kd of 1.2 X 10(-10) and a receptor concentration of 0.2 fmol/mg protein. DNA cellulose binding confirmed the presence of the specific-binding protein in this cytosol. Specific binding of 3H-1,25(OH)2D3 was also quantitated in a cell line from a patient with Burkitt's lymphoma with a Kd of 0.3 X 10(-10) and a receptor concentration of 29.6 fmol/mg protein. No specific binding of 3H-1,25(OH)2D3 was observed in lymphocytes from seven other malignant and nonmalignant sources. These results are the first to demonstrate a specific-binding protein for 1,25(OH)2D3 in lymphocytes from tissue and from these specific cell lines. The presence of this protein in some lymphocytes but not others may reflect the state of activation of the lymphocytes.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1984

Measurement of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptors in breast cancer and their relationship to biochemical and clinical indices.

Both normal and malignant breast tissue contain the specific receptor for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3). A recent study has shown its presence in 80% of surgically removed breast tumors, although only at low levels. We have measured the 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor in breast tumors from 68 patients and have found it at similar frequency (75%) but at much higher concentrations (range, less than 1 to 30 fmol/mg protein). This receptor has the same characteristics as that measured in classic 1,25-(OH)2D3 target tissues and was distinguished by sucrose gradient centrifugation from plasma contaminants. Complete case histories and follow-up were available on 56 of these patients, and 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor status (less than 8 or greater than or equal to 8 fmol/mg protein) was not related to the level of estrogen receptors, menopausal status, T-stage or histology of tumors, or presence of 99mTc phosphate hot spots on bone scans. The lack of relationship between the level of 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptors and other prognostic indicators suggests its potential as a new independent variable for assessing breast cancer patients. However, at this stage, 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor status did not result in any significant difference in probability of survival or metastasis-free survival. Assessment of the importance of this variable for treatment or outcome must await an increased number of patients and a longer time since surgery.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1984

Specific uptake of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol by human chronic myeloid leukemia cells.

We have examined mononuclear cell preparations from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia [CML] for binding of and response to 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25-(OH)2D3]. Whole cells specifically took up [3H]-1,25-(OH)2D3 with high affinity (Kd 3.6 X 10(-11) M) and low capacity. Subcellular fractionation of labeled cells showed that binding was restricted to cytosols and nuclei. Sucrose gradient centrifugation of cells preincubated with [3H]-1,25-(OH)2D3 revealed a single 3.6S peak which was totally displaced with 100-fold excess nonradioactive hormone. However, we were unable to demonstrate specific binding of 1,25-(OH)2D3 by postlabeling standard cytosol preparations. In addition, cytosols prepared from a mixture of CML cells and 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor-positive T47D (human breast cancer) cells had less than 10% of the binding measured in T47D cytosol alone. However, the levels of binding in T47D cytosols were not reduced if the receptors were occupied with [3H]-1,25-(OH)2D3 prior to the addition of the CML cytosols. Thus, CML cells appear to contain both the receptor for 1,25-(OH)2D3 and an unknown substance which prevents its detection following the preparation of cytosol. Cells from patients with CML in the chronic phase specifically bound more 1,25-(OH)2D3 [18.0 +/- 3.2 (S.E.) fmol/10(7) cells] than did those in acute myeloid transformation [7.2 +/- 1.5] or than did cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia [2.6 +/- 0.8]. Only cells from the first group of patients responded to the addition of 1,25-(OH)2D3 by differentiating along the monocyte-macrophage pathway. We conclude that the differentiation-induction effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 is likely to depend on adequate levels of receptor and that intact cells rather than cytosol preparations should be studied before cells of a particular tissue are designated as receptor negative.

Calcitriol↗