Novel aspects of GnRH-induced intracellular signaling and secretion in pituitary gonadotrophs.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K J Catt.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) on growth responses of primary cultures of bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells were studied to explore the mechanism(s) by which ANG II leads to hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the glomerulosa layer in sodium deficiency. ANG II did not increase [3H]thymidine incorporation during the first 5 days of culture, but mitogenic responses to ANG II became evident after longer periods of culture and were most prominent between 8 and 11 days after seeding. At this time, cell cycle analysis showed that ANG II increased the proportion of cells in the S phase and did not cause accumulation of cells in the G2 phase. Consistent with this finding, ANG II also stimulated proliferation of glomerulosa cells during treatment for 3 days in the presence of 1% serum. The mitogenic effect of ANG II was not inhibited by pretreatment with pertussis toxin and was mediated by AT1 receptors as indicated by its sensitivity to the subtype-selective antagonist DuP-753. Also, there was no emergence of AT2 receptors in glomerulosa cells during prolonged culture. These results indicate that intracellular mechanisms that mediate growth responses become more active during prolonged culture of glomerulosa cells. Thus, in addition to regulating the steroidogenic and secretory functions of the zona glomerulosa, ANG II exerts mitogenic actions that depend on the functional state of the glomerulosa cells.
To examine the role of calcium signaling in the joint modulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]i) responses to the two transmitters were analyzed in monolayer networks of the GT1-7 line of immortalized GnRH neurons. [Ca2+]i was increased by GABA and the GABAA receptor agonist, muscimol, and these responses were inhibited by the GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline. In contrast, the GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, and the GABAB receptor antagonist, phaclofen, had no effect on basal and GABA- and glutamate-induced Ca2+ levels in GT1-7 neurons. The GABA- and muscimol-induced responses consisted of a spike increase in [Ca2+]i followed by a decrease to a plateau; both the increase and the subsequent decrease in [Ca2+]i depended on agonist concentration. Glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), and kainate also increased [Ca2+]i, but were less effective than GABA. GABA-, glutamate-, NMDA-, and kainate-induced [Ca2+]i responses were almost abolished in Ca(2+)-free medium and were markedly attenuated by nifedipine. The [Ca2+]i response to GABA was unaffected by prior application of glutamate, and vice versa. This additive effect of glutamate on the GABA-induced [Ca2+]i response was mimicked by prior or simultaneous application of low (10 mM) KCl. The [Ca2+]i response to simultaneous application of GABA and glutamate was also equal to the sum of the individual responses, whereas the GnRH secretory response was larger. However, the secretory responses to GABA and glutamate applied individually or together, were markedly attenuated by nifedipine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The effects of inhibition of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by U73122 [1-(6-[17 beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5- (10) triene-17-yl] amino/hexyl) 1H-pyrroledione] and neomycin on agonist-stimulated intracellular signaling and secretory responses were analyzed in cultured pituitary cells and alpha T3-1 gonadotrophs. GnRH (100 nM)- and endothelin-1 (ET-1; 100 nM)-induced inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol formation in normal cells and immortalized gonadotrophs were reduced by U73122 in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of about 2 microM and complete inhibition at 10 microM U73122. Neomycin also reduced GnRH- and ET-induced inositol phosphate production in both cell types. Agonist-induced intracellular Ca2+ responses were also inhibited in both cell types by U73122 and neomycin at the same concentrations that inhibited their inositol phosphate responses. In cultured pituitary cells, agonist-induced LH release was inhibited by U73122 and neomycin in a dose-dependent manner. In perifused pituitary cells, U73122 completely inhibited GnRH- and ET-1-induced LH release, but after 10 min caused a progressive and substantial increase in basal LH release. In static cultures, U73122 inhibited agonist-induced LH response at low concentrations (up to 3 microM), but stimulated LH release at higher concentrations due to direct activation of exocytosis by the compound. When added alone, U73122 caused a concentration-dependent increase in LH release with an EC50 of about 7 microM and a maximum response similar that that elicited by GnRH. The stimulatory action of U73122 on LH release was not reduced in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. In contrast to cultured pituitary cells, alpha T3-1 gonadotrophs showed only constitutive exocytosis that was not affected by either neomycin or U73122. These results demonstrate that GnRH and ET(A) receptors are coupled to the phosphoinositide/Ca2+ transduction system in pituitary gonadotrophs, and provide evidence for the dependence of agonist-regulated exocytosis on this signaling pathway. The ability of U73122 to stimulate LH release could reflect an additional action of the compound at late steps in the exocytic pathway.
Agonist-induced increases in cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) play a pivotal role in regulated exocytosis by promoting the fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane. In permeabilized and ATP-primed pituitary cells, increases in ambient [Ca2+]i stimulated the release of LH from gonadotrophs with an EC50 of 2-3 microM. In contrast, the responses of intact gonadotrophs to agonist stimulation by GnRH were characterized by transient [Ca2+]i elevations of up to 1.5 microM, followed by a plateau of 300-400 nM. The sensitivity of the exocytotic response of permeabilized cells to [Ca2+]i was significantly increased by GnRH, which reduced the EC50 for [Ca2+]i to the submicromolar concentration range. The stimulatory action of GnRH on LH release in permeabilized cells was not a consequence of intracellular Ca2+ release, but was associated with increased cytidine diphosphate diacylglycerol production. Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters caused a similar increase in the Ca2+ sensitivity of LH release from permeabilized cells, and this effect was not additive to that of GnRH. Furthermore, the GnRH-induced increase in the sensitivity of the exocytotic response to Ca2+ was attenuated by inhibitors of protein kinase C. These findings indicate that although elevated [Ca2+]i per se can promote LH release from permeabilized gonadotrophs, concomitant activation of protein kinase C is necessary to support exocytosis at the physiological [Ca2+]i levels that prevail in GnRH-stimulated intact cells. Such sensitization of the Ca(2+)-dependent secretory mechanism by protein kinase C may be an important step in the agonist-induced release of LH from pituitary gonadotrophs.
The steroidogenic activity of the Leydig cell is regulated by glycoprotein and peptide hormones with the potential to activate both adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C. Although the control of androgen production by LH is clearly mediated by cAMP, the extent to which Ca(2+)-mobilizing stimuli control Leydig cell function is less well defined. The basal level of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in adult rat Leydig cells was 70-160 nM and was unaffected by high K+ or the dihydropyridine calcium channel agonist, Bay K 8644. These findings are consistent with the absence of voltage-sensitive calcium channels in the Leydig cell. In addition, no increase in [Ca2+]i was observed in cells treated with LH, CRF, and serotonin. However, both GnRH and endothelin-1 (ET-1) induced rapid and transient elevations of [Ca2+]i that were not associated with a sustained plateau phase and were unaffected by removal of Ca2+ from the incubation medium. The amplitude of the [Ca2+]i response was not altered by increasing concentrations of GnRH and ET-1, but the number of responsive cells increased progressively to a maximum of about 30% of the Leydig cell population. The calcium-mobilizing actions of GnRH and ET-1 were abolished by the GnRH and ETA receptor antagonists, [Dp-Glu1,D-Phe2,D- Trp3,6]GnRH and BQ-123, respectively. The majority of the cells expressed solely GnRH or ETA receptors, and about 10% expressed both receptors. GnRH-induced Ca2+ responses were observed almost exclusively in medium-sized Leydig cells, whereas ET-induced responses were most frequent in large Leydig cells. These data demonstrate that single Leydig cells expressing GnRH and ETA receptors exhibit monophasic [Ca2+]i responses that are activated in an all-or-none fashion. Such transient Ca2+ signaling may trigger short term cellular responses or could modulate the actions of gonadotropins acting through the cAMP signaling pathway.
The production of endothelin 1 (ET-1) and its receptor-mediated actions on calcium signaling and growth responses were analyzed in human ovarian carcinoma cells. Immuno-reactive ET-1 was released from three of four ovarian tumor cell lines as a function of time in amounts ranging from 56 to 74 fmol/10(6) cells. Reverse-phase HPLC and radioimmuno-assay of conditioned media from tumor cells revealed a single peak coeluting with authentic ET-1. Radioligand binding studies showed that the ET-1-producing cell lines also expressed high-affinity ETA receptors (Kd < 0.1 nM) that ranged in abundance from 2,600 to 43,600 sites/cell. In fura-2-loaded ovarian carcinoma cells, ET-1 induced dose-dependent increases in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration. ET-1 also stimulated thymidine incorporation in the three cell lines that expressed ET receptors. In OVCA 433 cells, BQ 123 inhibited the stimulatory actions of ET-1 on thymidine incorporation and cell proliferation, and substantially reduced the basal growth rate of unstimulated ovarian tumor cells. These results demonstrate that ET-1 is produced in ovarian cancer cells and acts as an autocrine growth factor on ETA receptors to stimulate calcium signaling and proliferative responses. Such findings suggest that ET-1 participates in the progression of neoplastic growth in certain ovarian tumors.
The type 1 angiotensin II (AT1) receptor undergoes rapid endocytosis and down-regulation after agonist binding. In studies on the structural determinants of agonist-induced endocytosis, serial deletions in the cytoplasmic tail of the rat AT1a receptor showed that the carboxyl-terminal 22 amino acids are not necessary for its internalization. However, internalization was markedly impaired by the removal of one additional amino acid (Leu337) and was reduced by 95% after removal of Ser335 and Thr336. Single alanine replacements of amino acids in this region showed that individual substitutions of Thr332, Ser335, Thr336, Leu337, and Ser338 caused moderate but significant impairment of the internalization rate. Replacement of both Ser335 and Thr336 with alanine residues further impaired the internalization rate, and triple alanine replacement of the Ser-Thr-Leu motif reduced internalization to almost the same extent as the corresponding tail deletion mutant. The Ser-Thr-Leu motif is highly conserved in mammalian AT1 receptors but is not present in the noninternalizing type 2 angiotensin II receptor. These data demonstrate that a serine/threonine-rich region including Leu337 in the cytoplasmic tail of the AT1 receptor is a major requirement for endocytosis of the hormone-receptor complex and support the concept that similar motifs in other G protein-coupled receptors are determinants of their agonist-induced internalization.
Angiotensin II (AII) receptors are known to interact with two distinct guanine nucleotide binding proteins, Gq/11 and Gi, in rat adrenal glomerulosa cells to activate phospholipase C and to inhibit adenylate cyclase, respectively. However, in cultured bovine glomerulosa cells AII potentiates rather than inhibits the stimulatory effect of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) on cAMP levels. This effect of AII was partially mimicked by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and was partially inhibited by staurosporine or depletion of protein kinase C but was unaffected by pertussis toxin treatment. No potentiation was detectable in disrupted cells or in membrane preparations. In intact glomerulosa cells, treatment with cyclosporin A or FK506 completely inhibited AII- or PMA-induced potentiation of cAMP production without affecting the response to ACTH. In COS-7 cells transfected with the rat AT1 receptor, AII caused 2-3-fold enhancement of the ACTH-induced cAMP response, an effect that was partially reproduced by PMA. These potentiating actions of AII and PMA were prevented by preincubation with cyclosporin A or FK506, and the latter effect was abolished by rapamycin. These results implicate the Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, calcineurin, in AII-induced enhancement of adenylate cyclase activity in both adrenal glomerulosa and transfected COS-7 cells. The finding that AII enhances ACTH-stimulated production of cAMP by a second messenger-mediated mechanism that involves the participation of calcineurin reveals an additional mode of cross-talk between pathways activated by Ca(2+)-mobilizing and cAMP-generating receptors.
The relationship between angiotensin II-induced activation of G proteins and receptor internalization was analyzed by transiently expressing mutant and wild type cDNAs for the rat AT1a receptor in COS-7 cells. Pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins did not appear to play a role in endocytosis since the receptor showed normal internalization kinetics in pertussis toxin-treated cells. Three deletion mutants of the third cytoplasmic loop revealed that the N-terminal part of this region is important for both receptor endocytosis and intracellular signaling. Three point mutations of Asp74, which has been implicated in signal transduction by the AT1a receptor, caused impaired G protein coupling and inositol phosphate responses. However, each of these mutants (D74N, D74H, and D74Y) showed markedly different internalization kinetics. The D74Y mutant showed the greatest impairment of internalization but retained the highest degree of inositol phosphate stimulation. In contrast, the D74N mutant, which showed the most impaired G protein coupling and inositol phosphate responses, had similar internalization kinetics to the wild type receptor. The combined mutant receptor containing the D74N substitution and deletion of residues 221-226 from the third cytoplasmic loop showed no G protein coupling or inositol phosphate response but was internalized about 60% as rapidly as the wild type receptor. These data demonstrate that endocytosis of the AT1 receptor is independent of agonist-activated signal transduction and indicate that receptor internalization and activation of phospholipase C have different structural requirements.
The biphenylimidazole derivative losartan exemplifies a novel class of nonpeptide antagonists that selectively inhibit angiotensin II binding to the mammalian AT1 receptor and have potentially wide application as anti-hypertensive agents. In contrast to mammalian AT1 receptors, which have high affinity for both peptide antagonists and losartan, amphibian and avian angiotensin II receptors are pharmacologically distinct and recognize peptide but not nonpeptide antagonists. Mutant rat AT1 receptors in which non-conserved amino acids were replaced by the corresponding amphibian residues were constructed to identify specific sites in the AT1 receptor that determine losartan binding. Only minor changes in binding affinity for peptide antagonists were observed in COS-7 cells transiently expressing mutant receptors, indicating that the structural integrity of the receptor was maintained. However, analysis of receptors with single point and combined mutations revealed that specific residues in transmembrane domains III, IV, V, VI, and VII are involved in binding of the nonpeptide antagonist to the mammalian AT1 receptor. The most marked attenuation of losartan binding (IC50 > 50 microM) was observed in a mutant receptor containing amino acid substitutions at Val108, Ala163, Thr198, Ser252, Leu300, and Phe301. These results have demonstrated that the binding site of a potent nonpeptide antagonist of the AT1 receptor is defined by epitopes located within the membrane-spanning regions of the receptor and is distinct from the site at which peptide antagonists bind to the AT1 receptor.
Angiotensin II (AII) evokes a biphasic increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) levels in adrenal glomerulosa cells, with an extracellular Ca(2+)-independent early peak followed by a secondary sustained elevation that is highly dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca2+. The Ca(2+)-dependent sustained phase of agonist-induced Ins(1,4,5)P3 production was closely correlated with Ca2+ influx and was inhibited by inorganic Ca2+ channel blockers with the potency ratio: La3+ >> Cd2+ > Mn2+ > Co2+ > Ni2+. Of the two Ca2+ surrogates, Sr2+ and Ba2+, Sr2+ was partially active compared with Ca2+, and Ba2+ was inactive in restoring Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation in cells stimulated with AII in Ca(2+)-free medium. However, unlike Ca2+, Sr2+ only weakly supported and Ba2+ failed to affect the calmodulin-activation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase. Also, there was an accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and diminished formation of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and Ins(1,3,4)P3 when intact glomerulosa cells were stimulated by AII in the presence of Sr2+. This difference between the Sr2+ sensitivity of phospholipase C and Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase provides a means for the potentiation of agonist-induced elevations of Ins(1,4,5)P3 in the intact cell and for direct analysis of the role of the inositol tris-/tetrakisphosphate pathway in cellular signaling.
The myosin light chain kinase inhibitor, wortmannin (WT), caused dose-dependent inhibition of the sustained increases but not the initial spikes of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins-1,4,5-P3) and cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in angiotensin II (AII)-stimulated adrenal glomerulosa cells. In contrast, WT did not affect the [Ca2+]i increases evoked by K(+)-induced depolarization or by depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores with ionomycin or thapsigargin, suggesting that its inhibitory effects on Ins-1,4,5-P3 and [Ca2+]i responses are closely related. The inhibitory effect of WT on the Ins-1,4,5-P3 response was not secondary to its reduction of Ca2+ entry, since ionomycin-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i did not restore Ins-1,4,5-P3 formation. Also, WT inhibited agonist- and GTP gamma S-stimulated Ins-1,4,5-P3 formation in permeabilized cells maintained at fixed Ca2+ concentrations. Thus, inhibition of Ca2+ influx by WT is a consequence of reduced Ins-1,4,5-P3 formation and could reflect the resultant refilling of the agonist-sensitive Ca2+ pool. Indeed, AII-depleted Ca2+ pools were found to refill by a thapsigargin-sensitive mechanism in WT-treated cells. Other structurally unrelated inhibitors of myosin light chain kinase (MS-347a, KT5926, and ML-9) also inhibited AII-induced inositol phosphate formation, albeit with lower potencies than WT. MS-347a, like WT, inhibited only the second phase of the inositol phosphate and [Ca2+]i responses to AII. These findings demonstrate that WT is a potent inhibitor of the Ins-1,4,5-P3-Ca2+ signaling pathway and acts primarily on a mechanism that promotes Ins-1,4,5-P3 formation and is sensitive to inhibitors of myosin light chain kinase activity.
The influence of membrane potential (Vm) on cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]i) oscillations during the sustained extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent phase of the Ca2+ signaling response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was analyzed in cultured pituitary gonadotrophs. In agonist- and inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3)-stimulated cells, sustained [Ca2+]i oscillations were extinguished by hyperpolarization after 3-15 min despite the availability of Ca2+ in the extracellular medium. Single depolarizing pulses transiently restored the amplitude of the sustained spiking in a dihydropyridine- and extracellular Ca(2+)-sensitive manner. The responses to depolarization showed a marked dependence on Vm that was correlated with the steady-state inward Ca2+ current. In addition, repetitive application of brief depolarizing pulses modulated the frequency of agonist- and Ins(1,4,5)P3-controlled spiking; depolarization pulses at frequencies lower than the intrinsic rate of episodic Ca2+ release triggered large transients between the autonomous spikes, whereas higher frequencies of depolarizing pulses overcame the original Ca2+ spiking frequency. These extrinsically driven and extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent oscillations were sensitive to the Ca(2+)-ATPase blocker, thapsigargin, but not to ryanodine. On the other hand, spontaneous firing and application of depolarizing pulses to nonstimulated cells failed to induce thapsigargin-sensitive oscillations. These findings demonstrate that the pattern of Ca2+ signaling in gonadotrophs does not depend exclusively on the Ins(1,4,5)P3 concentration, but also on the excitable status of the cell. Such modulation of the Ins(1,4,5)P3-controlled Ca2+ signaling system by changes in Vm could provide a mechanism for the integration of multiple inputs that utilize diverse signal transduction pathways.
Pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion from perifused hypothalamic cells and GT1-1 neuronal cells was significantly increased after culture in medium containing 100 microM acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC). This action of ALC was largely due to an increase in the spike amplitude of GnRH release. In addition, the receptor-mediated release of GnRH by N-methyl-D-aspartic acid and endothelin was significantly increased in perifused cells cultured in ALC-enriched medium. Stimulatory effects of ALC on basal, high K(+)- and agonist-induced GnRH release were also observed during long-term culture of primary hypothalamic neurons. Similar effects of ALC were evident in cultured GT1-1 cells and were accompanied by a significant increase in cell number. These observations in normal and transformed GnRH neurons demonstrate that ALC promotes the growth and secretory activity of neuropeptide-producing cells of the hypothalamus.
In estradiol-treated pituitary cells, progesterone enhances gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced LH secretion from cultured rat pituitary cells during short-term treatment but attenuates this response during prolonged treatment. In the present study, the effects of gonadal steroids on GnRH-induced cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]i) responses in gonadotrophs were analyzed in rat pituitary cells and immortalized (alpha T3-1) murine gonadotrophs. Ca2+ responses were measured in cell suspensions and single gonadotrophs, loaded with Fura-2 or Indo-1, respectively, and pretreated for 48 h with 1 nM estradiol with or without 100 nM progesterone, or for 48 h with 1 nM estradiol and then for 3 h with 100 nM progesterone. In cells of the alpha T3-1 gonadotroph lineage, GnRH elicited biphasic Ca2+ signals composed of an initial peak response followed by a prolonged plateau phase. The amplitudes of both the extracellular Ca(2+)-independent spike phase and the extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent plateau phase were enhanced or inhibited by short- or long-term progesterone treatment, respectively. In single pituitary gonadotrophs, GnRH (0.5 nM) elicited oscillatory responses due to intermittent release and uptake of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Treatment with progesterone shifted the oscillatory signal toward biphasic (3 h) or subthreshold (48 h) response profiles, revealing a steroid-induced change in the pattern of Ca2+ mobilization. In addition to these agonist-induced responses, the transient [Ca2+]i responses of pituitary cells and individual gonadotrophs to high K+ were enhanced or inhibited after short- or long-term progesterone treatment, respectively. These actions were correlated with the effects of progesterone on K(+)-induced LH secretion. The [Ca2+]i and LH secretory responses to phorbol ester treatment were also enhanced by short-term exposure of the cells to progesterone. The results demonstrate that the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of progesterone on agonist-induced Ca2+ signaling result from changes in Ca2+ mobilization and entry, and contribute to the modulatory actions of the steroid on GnRH-induced LH secretion.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.