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Biomedical subjects

J Zapf

Publications and source records attributed to J Zapf.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Growth hormone, but not insulin-like growth factor I, induces a serum protease activity for insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in hypophysectomized rats in vivo.

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) modulate IGF action. Proteolytic cleavage of IGFBPs yields lower molecular forms with reduced ability to bind IGFs, thereby increasing IGF bioavailability. In serum from normal adult rats, we found a proteolytic activity for IGFBP-3, presumably a cation-dependent serine protease. It is lacking in serum from hypophysectomized rats and restored by infusion of growth hormone (GH), but not IGF I. Thus, IGF I does not appear to mediate the GH effect on IGFBP-3 proteolysis. Rather, GH seems to modulate IGF action indirectly via alteration of IGFBP-3 structure.

Animals↗

Insulin-like growth factors (IGF) I and II and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) in human colostrum/transitory milk during the first week postpartum: comparison with neonatal and maternal serum.

Day 1 human colostrum contains 5 times more IGF I than IGF II. By day 3 postpartum, IGF I drops by 80% to constant levels whereas IGF II increases 3-fold up to day 7. Colostrum contains mainly IGFBP-2, little IGFBP-3 and no detectable IGFBP-1 or IGFBP-4. IGFBP-2 rises 20-fold up to day 6 of lactation. The major IGFBPs of newborn serum are IGFBP-2, -3 and -4. Early maternal serum contains only small amounts of IGFBP-2 and -3 and no detectable IGFBP-4. The pronounced differences between the IGFBP patterns of colostrum and early maternal serum suggest that IGFBP-2 does not pass from maternal blood into colostrum but is produced and secreted by mammary tissue itself. On the other hand, most of the IGF I, but not IGF II, in day 1 colostrum appears to stem from the maternal circulation.

Breast Feeding↗

Carboxy-truncated insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 stimulates mitogenesis in osteoblast-like cells.

Recently we demonstrated that a 23 kDa form of IGFBP-5, derived from osteoblast-like cells, stimulates osteoblast mitogenesis and enhances IGF-I action. Because osteoblast-derived IGFBP-5 is smaller than recombinant intact IGFBP-5 (23 vs 30 kDa) and has decreased binding affinity for IGF-I, we proposed that the native 23 kDa form of IGFBP-5 was truncated at a carboxy-terminal position. We now show that a recombinant form of carboxy-truncated IGFBP-5 binds IGF-I with reduced affinity and stimulates mitogenesis in mouse osteoblasts. We also show that 125I-truncated IGFBP-5 specifically binds to osteoblast monolayers with low binding affinity, similar to that seen with native 23 kDa IGFBP-5. These data indicate that carboxy-truncated IGFBP-5 stimulates osteoblast mitogenesis and suggest that reduced IGF-binding and cell-surface attachment are local mediators of this response.

Animals↗

Posttranslational regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 in normal and transformed human fibroblasts. Insulin-like growth factor dependence and biological studies.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) is a 24-26-kD protein expressed by a variety of cell types in vivo and in vitro. Treatment of normal adult human fibroblasts with 10 nM insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) for 24 h resulted in an 85% decrease in endogenous IGFBP-4, as assessed by Western ligand blot analysis of the conditioned medium. Incubation of human fibroblast-conditioned medium (HFCM) with IGF-II under cell-free conditions led to a similar loss of IGFBP-4. This posttranslationally regulated decrease in IGFBP-4 appeared to be due to a protease in HFCM: (a) It could be prevented with specific protease inhibitors or incubation at 4 degrees C; (b) proteolysis of recombinant human (rh) IGFBP-4 required HFCM; (c) immunoblotting and radiolabeling confirmed cleavage of IGFBP-4 into 18- and 14-kD IGFBP-4 fragments. The protease was specific for IGFBP-4, and was strictly dependent on IGFs for activation. IGF-II was the most effective of the natural and mutant IGFs tested, inducing complete hydrolysis of rhIGFBP-4 at a molar ratio of 0.25:1 (IGF/IGFBP-4). Simian virus 40-transformed adult human fibroblasts also expressed IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-4 protease, as well as an inhibitor of IGFBP-4 proteolysis. In biological studies, intact rhIGFBP-4 potently inhibited IGF-I-stimulated [3H]aminoisobutyric acid uptake, whereas proteolyzed rhIGFBP-4 had no inhibitory effect. In conclusion, these data provide evidence for a novel IGF-dependent IGFBP-4-specific protease that modifies IGFBP-4 structure and function, and indicate a preferential role for IGF-II in its activation. Posttranslational regulation of IGFBP-4 may provide a means for cooperative control of local cell growth by IGF-I and IGF-II.

Adult↗

Insulin-like growth factor I stimulates lipid oxidation, reduces protein oxidation, and enhances insulin sensitivity in humans.

To elucidate the effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on fuel oxidation and insulin sensitivity, eight healthy subjects were treated with saline and recombinant human (IGF-I (10 micrograms/kg.h) during 5 d in a crossover, randomized fashion, while receiving an isocaloric diet (30 kcal/kg.d) throughout the study period. On the third and fourth treatment days, respectively, an L-arginine stimulation test and an intravenous glucose tolerance test were performed. A euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp combined with indirect calorimetry and a glucose tracer infusion were performed on the fifth treatment day. IGF-I treatment led to reduced fasting and stimulated (glucose and/or L-arginine) insulin and growth hormone secretion. Basal and stimulated glucagon secretion remained unchanged. Intravenous glucose tolerance was unaltered despite reduced insulin secretion. Resting energy expenditure and lipid oxidation were both elevated, while protein oxidation was reduced, and glucose turnover rates were unaltered on the fifth treatment day with IGF-I as compared to the control period. Enhanced lipolysis was reflected by elevated circulating free fatty acids. Moreover, insulin-stimulated oxidative and nonoxidative glucose disposal (i.e., insulin sensitivity) were enhanced during IGF-I treatment. Thus, IGF-I treatment leads to marked changes in lipid and protein oxidation, whereas, at the dose used, carbohydrate metabolism remains unaltered in the face of reduced insulin levels and enhanced insulin sensitivity.

Adult↗

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding proteins by growth hormone in rat white adipose tissue.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) mRNA levels in rat white adipose tissue (WAT) are in the same range as those in liver, the major source of serum IGF-I, and are far above the levels in other tissues. IGF-I mRNA and IGF-I peptide levels in WAT decrease drastically after hypophysectomy and are restored to near normal by GH treatment in vivo. IGF-I gene expression in WAT from hypophysectomized rats is also stimulated by GH in vitro; half-maximal stimulation of IGF-I mRNA occurs between 0.25-0.5 nM GH, and maximal stimulation (3.5- to 5.5-fold) at 15 nM after 2 h. However, maximally stimulated IGF-I mRNA levels in vitro lie far below those measured in vivo in normal or GH-treated hypophysectomized rats. T3 does not enhance the GH effect in vitro. Rat WAT expresses the messages for IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-2, -3, -4, -5, and -6. IGFBP-2, -3, -5, and -6 mRNAs are all regulated by GH. IGF-I mRNA and IGFBP-5 mRNA are localized in both adipocytes and stromal-vascular cells, whereas IGFBP-2 and -3 expression is restricted to stromal-vascular tissue. As physiological concentrations of IGF-I are able to induce adipocyte differentiation in vitro, we suggest that locally produced IGF-I and IGFBPs play a crucial role in the in vivo differentiation of adipose cells from stromal-vascular cells.

Adipocytes↗

Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor binding proteins 4, 5, and 6: biological and physiochemical characterization.

We have recently cloned cDNAs encoding human insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP)-4, -5 and -6 and have now expressed these BPs in yeast as ubiquitin (Ub)-IGFBP fusion proteins. Western ligand blotting with 125I-IGF II under nonreducing conditions of recombinant human (rh) IGFBP-containing yeast lysates revealed specific binding bands for IGFBP-4, -5, and -6 at apparent molecular masses of 24-26, 30-32, and 24-26 kDa, respectively, indicating expression and processing of the fusion proteins. HPLC purified rhIGFBPs had virtually the same amino acid composition, amino acid number, and NH2-terminal sequences as the native BPs. Rabbit antiserum directed against each rhIGFBP-4, -5 and -6 reacted specifically with the respective rhIGFBP as well as with the native human counterpart and displayed very low cross-reactivity with other IGFBPs. Except for the affinity of rhIGFBP-6 for IGF I (Ka = 8.5 x 10(8) M-1), the affinity constants of the three IGFBPs for IGF I and II lie between 1.7 and 3.3 x 10(10) M-1. When present in excess, rhIGFBP-4, -5, and -6 inhibited IGF I- and II-stimulated DNA and glycogen synthesis in human osteoblastic cells, although rh-IGFBP-6 had only a weak inhibitory effect on IGF I in agreement with its relatively lower IGF I affinity constant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tumor necrosis factor alpha is involved in mouse growth and lymphoid tissue development.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a major mediator of inflammation, also possesses a wide pleiotropism of actions, suggesting its involvement in physiological conditions. TNF-alpha mRNA is present in mouse embryonic tissues and also in fetal thymus and spleen. Repeated injections of a monospecific polyclonal rabbit anti-mouse TNF-alpha antibody in mice, starting either during pregnancy or at birth, led to a severe but transient growth retardation, already present at birth, reaching a 35% decrease in body weight at 3 wk, with complete recovery at 8 wk. The insulin growth factor I (IGF-I) blood levels were decreased to about 50%; growth hormone release and other endocrine functions were unaltered. A marked atrophy of the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes was also observed, with lymphopenia and impaired development of T and B cell peripheral lymphoid structures. The pathways involving TNF-alpha in IGF-I release and early body growth are probably distinct from those by which TNF-alpha participates in early development of lymphoid tissues, where its low physiological release may contribute to enhance lymphoid cell expansion.

Animals↗

Characterization of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor binding proteins 4, 5, and 6 produced in yeast.

The insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) family comprises six structurally distinct, but highly homologous proteins. They have been identified in serum and other biological fluids, tissue extracts, and cell culture media. We have recently cloned cDNAs encoding human IGFBP-4, -5, and -6 and have now expressed these BPs in yeast as ubiquitin (Ub)-IGFBP fusion proteins. Western ligand blotting with 125I-IGF II under nonreducing conditions of recombinant human (rh) IGFBP-containing yeast lysates revealed specific binding bands for IGFBP-4, -5, and -6 at apparent molecular masses of 24-26, 30-32, and 24-26 kDa, respectively, indicating processing of the fusion proteins. High-performance liquid chromatography-purified rhIGFBPs had virually the same amino acid composition, amino acid number, and NH2-terminal sequences as the native BPs. Except for the affinity of rhIGFBP-6 for IGF I (Ka = 8.5 x 10(8) M-1), the affinity constants of the three IGFBPs for IGF I and II lie between 1.7 and 3.3 x 10(10) M-1, i.e. 25-100 times higher than the IGF I and II affinities of the type I IGF receptor. When present in excess, rhIGFBP-4, -5, and -6 inhibited IGF I- and II-stimulated DNA and glycogen synthesis in human osteoblastic cells, but rhIGFBP-6 had only a weak inhibitory effect on IGF I in agreement with its relatively lower IGF I affinity constant. The results of this study show that the primary effect of the three rhIGFBPs is the attenuation of IGF activity and suggest that IGFBPs contribute to the control of IGF-mediated cell growth and metabolism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-2 mRNA in liver and bone cells by insulin and retinoic acid in vitro.

Isolated cells produce insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs). Two distinct cell types were studied with regard to IGFBP-2 expression: (i) rat hepatocytes, which produce IGF I at a high rate and thus regulate its plasma concentration; and (ii) rat osteoblasts, which are targets of IGF I action. IGFBP-2 expression is low in hepatocytes prepared from normal adult rats and high in calvaria cells from newborn rats. Retinoic acid stimulates IGFBP-2 production by liver cells. Insulin suppresses both basal and retinoic acid-induced IGFBP-2 mRNA expression in hepatocytes and has no such effect on osteoblasts. Retinoic acid and insulin regulate IGFBP-2 expression in a tissue-specific manner.

Animals↗

Prostaglandin E2 stimulates synthesis of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in rat bone cells in vitro.

Prostaglandin E2 is produced by bone cells and increases cyclic AMP in these cells. Like PTH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP, PGE2 is a potent stimulator of IGF-I synthesis in cultured rat osteoblasts and inhibits DNA synthesis and type I procollagen gene expression. In addition, PGE2 inhibits the response of the cells toward IGF-I after 1 day but not after 4 days of incubation. Rat calvaria osteoblasts constitutively release IGFBPs into the culture medium, in particular IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3. Like growth hormone, PGE2 stimulates the accumulation of IGFBP-3. PGE2 rapidly increases IGF-I and IGFBP-3 mRNA expression in calvaria cells, with a time course clearly different from that observed in response to growth hormone. Thus, PGE2 modifies not only the synthesis of IGF-I but also that of IGFBP-3 in skeletal tissue.

Animals↗

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP-3), an inhibitor of serum growth factors other than IGF-I and -II.

Our results show that an insulin-like growth factor binding protein, IGFBP-3, purified from rat serum, is an inhibitor of chick embryo fibroblast (CEF) growth. It abolished DNA synthesis in CEF stimulated by IGF-I as well as by human serum. Rat IGFBP-3 and IDF45 (an inhibitory diffusible factor secreted by mouse cells) had the same activities, confirming that they have an intrinsic capacity to inhibit serum stimulation and may be considered as growth inhibitors. Our data show that inhibition by IGFBP-3 of serum stimulation was not simply the result of its inhibition of IGF present in the serum: 1) While anti-IGF-I IgG was able to completely inhibit stimulation induced by added IGF-I, it did not decrease stimulation induced by 1% human serum. Anti-IGF-II IgG inhibited the stimulation induced by added IGF-II, but only 25% decreased the stimulation induced by 0.7% serum. The percent inhibition was not significantly increased when the concentration of serum was decreased to 0.2%, which induced 140% stimulation of DNA synthesis; 2) stimulation by 0.2% serum was much more inhibited by IGFBP-3 than by IgG anti IGF-II; 3) after separation of IGF-I and IGF-II from serum by chromatography of acidified serum proteins on BioGel P150, the remaining serum proteins (with a molecular mass greater than 45 kDa) which were depleted in IGF-I and -II (verified by RIA determination) still stimulated DNA synthesis, and this stimulation was 80% inhibited by IGFBP-3.

Animals↗

Insulin-like growth factors decrease oxygen-regulated erythropoietin production by human hepatoma cells (Hep G2).

We examined the effects of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and insulin on erythropoietin (EPO) production by human hepatoma cells (Hep G2). Compared with normoxia (20% O2), EPO production by Hep G2 cells during a 72-h incubation was stimulated fivefold by exposure to low oxygen tension (1% O2) and nearly threefold by exposure to cobalt chloride (100 microM). IGF-I caused a concentration-dependent attenuation of EPO formation under normoxic conditions and inhibited (maximally 50%) EPO production stimulated by either low oxygen tension or cobalt [half-maximal effect (ED50) approximately 5 nM]. The increase of EPO mRNA levels in response to hypoxia was significantly reduced by IGF-I. Similarly to IGF-I, IGF-II (ED50 approximately 8 nM) and insulin (ED50 approximately 80 nM) also inhibited EPO formation in Hep G2 cells. IGF-I (100 pM-100 nM) stimulated the incorporation of radiolabeled alanine as a measure for total protein synthesis, 3H-labeled thymidine incorporation into DNA, and glycogen synthesis at 20 and 1% O2 in a concentration-dependent fashion. IGF-I exhibited a high affinity for the IGF-I receptor (apparent Kd approximately 3 nM). Unlabeled insulin was greater than 100-fold less potent than IGF-I in competing for 125I-IGF-I binding (apparent Kd approximately 360 nM). Conversely, insulin bound to the insulin receptor with high affinity (apparent Kd approximately 0.3 nM), whereas IGF-I was less than 1% as potent in competing for 125I-insulin binding. In summary, IGFs and insulin exert a negative control function on oxygen-regulated EPO production in Hep G2 cells. The inhibitory effect of IGFs and insulin on EPO formation appears to be mediated via the IGF-I receptor.

Animals↗

Can "big" insulin-like growth factor II in serum of tumor patients account for the development of extrapancreatic tumor hypoglycemia?

The pathogenesis of extrapancreatic tumor hypoglycemia has been related to the secretion of big insulin-like growth factor (IGF) II by the tumor. In 25 of 28 patients with this type of hypoglycemia we found 1.5-8-fold elevated serum levels of immunoreactive big (15-25 kD), but decreased levels of normal IGF II. After removal of the tumor, big IGF II disappeared and normal IGF II increased. Tumors contained elevated levels of IGF II, 65-80% in the big form. The insulin-like bioactivity of big IGF II and its affinity towards IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP)-2 and -3 are similar to those of normal IGF II, but two- to threefold higher on a molar basis. Big IGF II is mainly bound to the 50-kD IGFBP complex. The latter contains approximately 10 times more of this peptide than in normal serum and displays three- to fourfold increased insulin-like bioactivity. The formation of the 150-kD IGFBP complex with 125I-recombinant human IGFBP-3 is impaired in tumor serum. This results in sequestration of IGFBP-3 and predominant association of big IGF II with IGFBP-2 and -3 in the 50-kD complex. Increased bioavailability of big IGF II in this complex due to unrestricted capillary passage and enhanced insulin bioactivity of this big IGF II pool provide a continuous increased insulin-like potential available to insulin and type 1 IGF receptors of insulin-sensitive tissues and thus may lead to sustained hypoglycemia.

Biological Availability↗

Triiodothyronine (T3) stimulates insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-2 production by rat osteoblasts in vitro.

Osteoblast-like cells prepared from neonatal rat calvariae and grown under serum-free conditions produce IGF-1 and IGFBPs. In contrast to growth hormone, T3 and PTH increased both IGF-1 mRNA expression and net IGF-1 release in calvaria cells. In addition, they stimulated net production of IGFBP-3 and of an IGFBP with an apparent molecular weight of 32 kDa which was recognized by an antiserum against rat IGFBP-2. Bone cells expressed remarkably high levels of mRNA for IGFBP-2, the predominant IGFBP in serum of newborn rats. T3 at low physiological concentrations but not growth hormone stimulated IGFBP-2 mRNA expression and IGFBP-2 production in bone cells in vitro. Thus, IGFBPs are differentially regulated by these hormones and may play an autocrine/paracrine regulatory role in bone.

Animals↗