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Renin mRNA quantification using polymerase chain reaction in cultured juxtaglomerular cells. Short-term effects of cAMP on renin mRNA and secretion.

The aim of the present study was to set up a method to quantify renin mRNA levels in mouse renal juxtaglomerular cells, the main physiological site of renin synthesis. Because of the scarcity of the cells, a quantitative polymerase chain reaction had to be developed to measure renin mRNA. Juxtaglomerular cells were isolated and cultured for 2 days under various conditions, and renin mRNA was measured directly from the cytoplasm of the cultured cells without prior RNA purification. An internal standard consisting of a mutated renin mRNA with an insertion of 60 bp was designed to quantify the reaction, ensuring an identical detection and amplification efficiency to the target RNA. Renin mRNA could be precisely quantified between 0.6 and 20 pg, thus allowing its detection in approximately 5000 juxtaglomerular cells. Forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, led to a concentration-dependent maximal threefold increase in renin mRNA in the cultures after 20 hours of incubation. The half-maximal effective dose was 3 x 10(-7) mol/L. The effect of forskolin was mimicked by 10(-5) mol/L isoproterenol, a beta-receptor agonist, and by 10(-5) mol/L isobutylmethylxanthine. A time-course study showed a rapid increase in renin mRNA within 3 hours after forskolin and isoproterenol addition. Renin secretion in the culture medium was measured in parallel and found to be stimulated by both agents. These results show that quantitative polymerase chain reaction is a suitable tool for studying renin gene expression in cultured juxtaglomerular cells. Our findings indicate that cAMP is a potent and fast activator of renin gene transcription and renin secretion in renal juxtaglomerular cells.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Interleukin (IL)-5 downregulates tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced eotaxin messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in eosinophils. Induction of eotaxin mRNA by TNF and IL-5 in eosinophils.

An eotaxin is a chemoattractant specific for eosinophils that are known to play a role in helminth infection and allergic responses. Although several cellular sources have been reported to produce eotaxin, it would be interesting to know whether eosinophils are able to produce their own eotaxin and participate in recruitment of themselves in response to inflammation. To this end, a cloned eotaxin complementary DNA was transcribed in vitro to use as a probe for detecting eotaxin messenger RNA (mRNA), and eotaxin protein levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Eotaxin mRNA was, as analyzed by in situ hybridization, rarely detectable in unstimulated eosinophils, but was strongly induced in eosinophils when stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Interleukin (IL)-5, which is known to be a major factor of eosinophil survival in vivo and in vitro, was also able to induce a modest level of eotaxin mRNA but inhibited TNF-induced eotaxin mRNA expression in a dose-response manner. Dexamethasone inhibited TNF-induced eotaxin mRNA expression. This result was consistent with that from reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction followed by Southern blot analysis. Unlike the little expression of eotaxin mRNA in the absence of stimuli, the measurement of eotaxin protein revealed that a considerable amount of eotaxin protein was constitutively produced in unstimulated eosinophils. Its expression was upregulated by TNF and IL-5 as well. However, the inhibitory effect of IL-5 on TNF-mediated eotaxin protein production was not as pronounced as that on eotaxin mRNA induction. Collectively, these data reflect the complex physiology of eosinophils in the expression of eotaxin gene upon the exposure to their survival and/or death factors.

Chemokine CCL11↗

Detection of mRNA molecules coding for neuropeptide hormones of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis by radioactive and non-radioactive in situ hybridization: a model study for mRNA detection.

To develop and optimize non-radioactive in situ hybridization techniques for mRNA detection, we used the neuropeptidergic system of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis as a biological model system. First, we investigated the in situ hybridization procedure using radioactive-labeled cDNA and synthetic oligonucleotide probes specific for egg-laying hormone (ELH) mRNA and molluscan insulin-like peptide (MIP) mRNA. The results show an intense grain deposit above the caudodorsal cells and light-green cells expressing, respectively, ELH mRNA and MIP mRNA. Good results with relation to signal strength and tissue morphology were obtained with freeze-dry paraformaldehyde vapor fixation. The necessity to perform tissue pre-treatment appeared to be dependent on the cell type of interest. The optimized in situ hybridization protocol proved to be applicable using probes that are either sulfonated/transaminated or labeled with acetylaminofluorene (AAF). In situ hybridization of such haptenized probes led to intense and specific staining of the cytoplasm of the caudodorsal cells. Egg-laying hormone mRNA appeared not to be homogeneously distributed in the cytoplasm but showed a "patch-like" pattern. Nuclear and axoplasmic staining for mRNA was also observed.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Dexamethasone inhibits growth hormone induction of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in hypophysectomized rats and reduces IGF-I mRNA abundance in the intact rat.

Exogenous glucocorticoids are potent inhibitors of skeletal growth in experimental animals and children. The mechanism whereby glucocorticoids exert this effect is unclear, and circulating somatomedin levels have been reported to be low, normal, or high in this situation. Since recent studies have emphasized the importance of autocrine or paracrine insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), we have examined the effects of dexamethasone (DXM) on IGF-I gene expression in the hypophysectomized (hypox) and pituitary intact rat. An increase in IGF-I messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance of approximately 5-, 3-, 2-, and 1.5-fold in the liver, proximal tibia, lung, and kidney, respectively, was seen in hypox rats killed 6 h after injection of human GH (100 micrograms/100 g body wt). As little as 1 micrograms/100 g body wt of DXM administered 3 h before GH injection significantly reduced GH induction of IGF-I mRNA in the liver and the proximal tibia (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.005, respectively). Higher doses of DXM were required to reduce IGF-I mRNA abundance in the kidney and lung. Of the tissues examined the order of sensitivity to DXM was liver greater than tibia greater than kidney greater than lung. In contrast to the effects of DXM on tissue IGF-I mRNA abundance, an approximately 10-fold higher dose of DXM was required to inhibit the GH-induced rise in serum IGF-I concentration. The effect of DXM on steady state IGF-I mRNA abundance in pituitary-intact rats which were killed 9 h after DXM was also examined. The reduction in IGF-I mRNA abundance required higher doses of DXM (6-360 micrograms/100 g body wt) and was less marked in pituitary-intact rats than in GH-treated hypox rats. In the pituitary-intact rats the order of sensitivity to DXM was tibia greater than liver greater than lung greater than kidney. In acute studies serum IGF-I levels were not decreased by any dose of DXM; rather a significant increase in serum IGF-I was apparent in pituitary intact rats, treated with the lowest and highest doses of DXM. When DXM was administered daily for 6 days to pituitary intact rats, body wt gain and hepatic and tibial IGF-I mRNA abundance were significantly reduced. No significant changes were seen in serum IGF-I concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Androgen receptor messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in the rat liver: changes in mRNA levels during maturation, aging, and calorie restriction.

By means of RNAase protection assay with an antisense cRNA probe, we have shown that the liver of the young adult male rat contains androgen receptor (AR) mRNA to a level of 4% compared to the prostate. Steady state levels of AR mRNA in the liver show both sex and age specificity. Compared to that of the male, the female liver contains a markedly reduced amount of AR mRNA. AR mRNA is almost undetectable in livers of prepubertal male (less than 35 days old) and senescent male (greater than 750 days old) rats. Both prepubertal and senescent animals are relatively insensitive to the androgenic induction of alpha 2u-globulin, a hepatic secretory protein. The age-dependent decline in hepatic androgen sensitivity and AR mRNA level can be delayed considerably by a 40% reduction in the dietary calorie intake. Analysis of poly(A)-containing RNA from two liver cell populations, hepatocytes and nonhepatocytes, revealed that only the hepatocytes that express alpha 2u-globulin gene contain AR mRNA. From these results and our earlier observation of in vitro induction of alpha 2u-globulin in isolated rat liver, we conclude 1) that androgen can act directly on hepatocytes to promote alpha 2u-globulin synthesis; 2) that changes in the hepatic androgen sensitivity during maturation and aging are reflections of the age-dependent expression of the receptor gene; and 3) that retardation of the age-dependent loss of androgen sensitivity by calorie restriction is due to a concomitant delay in the decline of the hepatic AR mRNA level.

Aging↗

Down-regulation of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for the estrogen receptor (ER) by phorbol ester requires ongoing RNA synthesis but not protein synthesis. Is hormonal control of ER mRNA degradation mediated by an RNA molecule?

Treatment of MCF-7 cells, a human mammary adenocarcinoma cell line, with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) (10-7 M) was associated with a time-dependent reduction in the level of estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA (half-life approximately 3 h). In the presence of the RNA synthesis inhibitor actinomycin D [5.0 micrograms/ml (4.0 microM)], half-life of ER mRNA was much longer (approximately 12 h). Furthermore, the TPA-dependent down-regulation of ER mRNA was abolished by actinomycin D. Similar effects were observed with 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (150 microM), an inhibitor of RNA polymerase. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide (50 microM) or puromycin [50 micrograms/ml (92 microM)] did not alter the steady state level of ER mRNA during a period of 10-12 h. Furthermore, these inhibitors of protein synthesis did not prevent the down-regulation of ER mRNA in the presence of TPA. Our studies show that degradation of ER mRNA by TPA in MCF-7 cells is dependent on ongoing RNA synthesis but not on protein synthesis. This indicates that an RNA molecule with rapid turnover, which does not require translation, might be involved in the TPA-dependent ER mRNA decay.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Age-related alterations in the expression of prohormone convertase messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels in hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin mRNA neurons in the female C57BL/6J mouse.

POMC processing is mediated by the prohormone convertases (PC1 and PC2). The cleavage of beta-endorphin-(1-31) is mediated by PC2. PC2 can also further cleave beta-endorphin-(1-31) to beta-endorphin-(1-27). We previously reported a significant increase in the proportion of beta-endorphin-(1-27) and -(1-27) forms in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus in middle-aged females with irregular estrous cycles (5-7 days) compared to young female C57BL/6J mice with regular cycles (4-5 days). Changes in processing enzymes may be a mechanism underlying this change. We compared ARC messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of PC1, PC2, and furin by Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses in young, middle-aged, and old mice. Antisense complementary RNA probes to mouse PC1, PC2, and furin were radiolabeled and used in single label studies, alone or in combination with a mouse POMC digoxigenin-labeled complementary RNA probe for double label studies. For Northern blot analysis, young (4- to 5-month-old) normally cycling (4-5 days) mice at diestrus were compared to middle-aged (12- to 13-month-old) irregularly cycling (5-7 days) mice at diestrus. By Northern blot analysis, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in ARC PC2 mRNA levels was detected in middle-aged compared to young mice, but ARC PC1 and furin mRNA levels were unaltered. Single label in situ hybridization analysis confirmed these findings in the general neuron population. We also observed a significant reduction in ARC furin mRNA levels in old mice compared to either young or middle-aged mice. Double labeling in situ hybridization histochemistry demonstrated that PC2 mRNA levels were significantly increased (at least 2-fold) in POMC mRNA-containing neurons of middle-aged compared to young mice. Selective changes in PC2 mRNA levels in ARC POMC neurons are correlated with changes in beta-endorphin-(1-31) processing to beta-endorphin-(1-27)/(1-26) in middle-aged animals. Our data suggest that the natural age-related shift in beta-endorphin peptide processing is mediated by PC2.

Aging↗

Novel expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA in hypothalamic regions during development: region-specific effects of maternal deprivation on NPY and Agouti-related protein mRNA.

During development there is novel expression of NPY mRNA in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) and perifornical region (PFR), in addition to the arcuate nucleus (ARH). Furthermore, NPY mRNA levels peak in all regions on postnatal d 16 (P16) and decrease to adult levels by P30. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether NPY and agouti-related protein (AGRP) mRNA expression in the different hypothalamic regions on P11 and P16 are similarly affected by fasting. An examination of the full rostral to caudal extent of the hypothalamus revealed two additional regions displaying novel NPY mRNA expression, the parvocellular division of the paraventricular nucleus (PVH) and lateral hypothalamus (LH). Maternal deprivation for 36 h, used to bring about a fast, similarly increased (23-29%) NPY and AGRP mRNA expression in the ARH on P11 and P16. In contrast, NPY expression in the DMH and PFR were significantly decreased (19-30% and 48-53%, respectively), whereas NPY mRNA levels in the PVH and LH were not altered by this treatment. The increase in NPY and AGRP mRNA expression in the ARH in response to maternal deprivation suggests that these neuronal populations respond to signals of energy balance. In contrast, NPY expression in the DMH, PFR, PVH, and LH is differentially regulated by maternal deprivation or other factors associated with maternal separation.

Aging↗

Determination of estrogen receptor messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and cytochrome P450 aromatase mRNA levels in adipocytes and adipose stromal cells by competitive polymerase chain reaction amplification.

Clinical evidence suggests that sex hormones affect adipose tissue metabolism and deposition. To investigate the biosynthesis and possible action of estrogen in adipose tissue, we report the use of competitive, specific polymerase chain reaction amplifications to determine levels of estrogen receptor (ER) messenger RNA (mRNA) and cytochrome P450 aromatase mRNA in adipocytes and adipose stromal cells. This extremely sensitive technique uses coamplification of a homologous animal species complementary RNA to control for differences in amplification efficiencies. The DNA amplification products are identified by Southern hybridization with species-specific radiolabeled oligonucleotide probes. Abdominal adipose tissue obtained from female patients during elective abdominoplasty was separated by collagenase digestion and centrifugation into floating adipocytes and pelleted adipose stromal cells. Our results demonstrate higher ER mRNA levels in adipocytes compared to adipose stromal cells, whereas cytochrome P450 aromatase mRNA levels are higher in adipose stromal cells compared to adipocytes. The finding of ER mRNA in adipose tissue suggests the presence of the ER in adipose tissue. In addition the inverse correlation of ER mRNA and cytochrome P450 aromatase mRNA levels in adipocytes and adipose stromal cells suggests a paracrine relationship whereby estrogen produced by adipose stromal cells affects adjacent adipocytes.

Adipocytes↗

Expression and relationship between endothelin-1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and inducible/endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA isoforms from normal and preeclamptic placentas.

Preeclampsia is a mainly vascular disease of pregnancy, probably caused by an imbalance between vasodilator and vasoconstrictor agents that results in generalized vasospasm and poor perfusion in many organs. Among these factors, endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, is highly increased in preeclamptic women, while nitric oxide (NO), a vasodilator of human utero-placental arteries, is reduced in the same patients. The present study was designed to investigate the interactions between ET-1 and the NO system in the feto-placental unit; to this purpose we also examined the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of ET-1, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and endothelial NOS (eNOS) in human cultured placental trophoblastic cells obtained from preeclamptic (PE) and normotensive (NT) pregnancies. We also studied whether exogenous ET-1 may affect the expression of iNOS and eNOS in human placental trophoblastic cells. Interestingly, by Northern blot analysis we observed an increased ET-1 mRNA expression level in PE trophoblastic cells compared to NT trophoblastic cells. Furthermore, exogenous ET-1 (10(-7) mol/L) was able to up-regulate its own mRNA expression in both NT and PE trophoblastic cells. iNOS and eNOS mRNA expression was then detected, by semiquantitative PCR, in both NT and PE trophoblastic cells. PE trophoblastic cells expressed lower iNOS mRNA levels compared with NT pregnancies. On the contrary, eNOS mRNA expression was higher in PE trophoblastic cells than in NT cells. Moreover, in the presence of ET-1 we observed a decrease in iNOS and an increase in eNOS mRNA expression levels in both NT and PE trophoblastic cells compared with the respective untreated cells. In conclusion, we demonstrate that ET-1 expression is increased in PE cells, whereas iNOS, which represents the main source of NO synthesis, is decreased; conversely, eNOS expression is increased. Finally, ET-1 is able to influence its own as well as NOS isoform expression in normal and PE trophoblastic cultured cells. These findings suggest the existence of a functional relationships between ET(s) and NOS isoforms that could constitute the biological mechanism leading to the reduced placental blood flow and increased resistance to flow in the feto-maternal circulation, which are characteristic of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.

Adult↗

Homologous up-regulation of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor in alpha T3-1 cells is associated with unchanged receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) levels and altered mRNA activity.

In primary cultures of rat pituitary, GnRH receptor has been reported to up-regulate when exposed to GnRH. The molecular basis of this regulation could, in theory, involve modulation of gene transcription, RNA processing or stability, translation, and/or receptor degradation. The role of altered biosynthesis was investigated in the mouse gonadotrope cell line, alpha T3-1 cells, by studying the homologous up-regulation of GnRH receptor binding, mRNA levels, and mRNA activity. After GnRH exposure, ligand binding was performed on alpha T3-1 cell membranes. To correlate changes in receptor number and measurements of biosynthetic activity, GnRH receptor mRNA levels were quantitated by solution hybridization/RNase protection assay and Northern blot analysis, and the capacity of RNA from treated cells to direct the synthesis of new receptors (mRNA activity) was evaluated using a Xenopus oocyte-based bioassay. GnRH agonist radioligand binding assay results showed that exposure of alpha T3-1 cells to 10(-10) or 10(-8) M GnRH for 20 min induced an approximately 50% increase in the number of GnRH receptors, similar to previously reported results in rat pituitary primary culture. Despite the increase in receptor number, however, cytosolic and total GnRH receptor mRNA levels assayed by solution hybridization/RNase protection assay with GnRH receptor cRNA probes and by Northern blot analysis were not altered. In contrast to the unchanging mRNA levels, the measurements of mRNA activity paralleled the changes observed at the binding level. alpha T3-1 RNA from treated and control cells were injected into Xenopus oocytes, and the GnRH-induced Cl- current was quantified 48 h later by voltage clamp recording of the response to GnRH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Major role of soybean oil in preventing decrease in CYP4A1 mRNA content relative to PPARalpha mRNA down-regulation in infant rats.

Changes in the levels of CYP4A1, PPARalpha, and RXRalpha mRNA expression in the liver following overdose of fat-free or fat-containing total parenteral nutrition (TPN) were studied in 3-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were divided into three groups: group 1, oral diet; group 2, fat-free TPN; and group 3, TPN with 20% of calories from soybean oil emulsion. Levels of CYP4A1, PPARalpha, and RXRalpha mRNA in the fat-free TPN group were significantly lower than those in the other groups. Levels of CYP4A1 and PPARalpha mRNA were strongly correlated (r=0.849), and levels of CYP4A1 and RXRalpha mRNA were weakly correlated (r=0.618). This is the first report of a strong correlation between the levels of CYP4A1 and PPARalpha mRNA following overdose of fat-free or fat-containing TPN in infant rats. Our results also indicate that it is important to include fat in TPN regimens in order to prevent CYP4A1 mRNA down-regulation, which may be related to changes in PPARalpha mRNA levels in the liver.

Animals↗

Parathyroid hormone regulates the expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 mRNA and fibroblast growth factor receptor mRNA in osteoblastic cells.

We examined the effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and FGF receptor (FGFR) expression in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and in neonatal mouse calvariae. Treatment of MC3T3-E1 cells with PTH(1-34) (10-8M) or forskolin (FSK; 10-5M) transiently increased a 7 kb FGF-2 transcript with a peak at 2 h. The PTH increase in FGF-2 mRNA was maintained in the presence of cycloheximide. PTH also increased FGFR-1 mRNA at 2 h and transiently increased FGFR-2 mRNA at 1 h. FGFR-3 and FGFR-4 mRNA transcripts were not detected in MC3T3-E1 cells. In cells transiently transfected with an 1800-bp FGF-2 promoter-luciferase reporter, PTH and FSK increased luciferase activity at 2 h and 4 h. Immunohistochemistry showed that PTH and FSK increased FGF-2 protein labeling in the nuclei of MC3T3-E1 cells. PTH also increased FGF-2 mRNA, and FGFR-1 and FGFR-2 mRNA levels within 30 minutes in neonatal mouse calvarial organ cultures. We conclude that PTH and cAMP stimulate FGF-2 mRNA abundance in part through a transcriptional mechanism. PTH also regulated FGFR gene expression. We hypothesize that some effects of PTH on bone remodeling may be mediated by regulation of FGF-2 and FGFR expression in osteoblastic cells.

Animals↗

Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR assay for detection of mRNA encoding full-length human tissue kallikrein 7: prognostic relevance of KLK7 mRNA expression in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The human tissue kallikrein gene family (KLK1 to KLK15) encodes a group of 15 serine proteases (hK1 to hK15), several of which have been implicated in cancer-related processes. METHODS: We established a specific quantitative reverse transcription-PCR assay for full-length KLK7 mRNA that excluded amplification of the exon 2 deletion splice variant (the latter does not encode a functional protease), and evaluated full-length KLK7 mRNA expression [normalized to human glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (h-G6PDH)] in tumor tissue specimens from 155 breast cancer patients. RESULTS: High KLK7 mRNA expression (continuous) was significantly associated with a better patient outcome according to both univariate (P = 0.005) and multivariate (P = 0.046) Cox survival analysis. Separation of patients by optimized dichotomization revealed a significantly better prognosis for patients with high KLK7 mRNA status (n = 89) compared with patients with low KLK7 mRNA status (n = 66) [univariate hazard ratio (HR) = 0.45 (P = 0.001); multivariate HR = 0.50 (P = 0.005)]. In the subgroup of patients not receiving adjuvant treatment (n = 69), KLK7 mRNA status was a significant prognosticator [univariate HR = 0.29 (P = 0.002); multivariate HR = 0.40 (P = 0.034)]. This subgroup was least influenced by postoperative treatment and thus best showed the impact of KLK7 expression on the natural course of breast cancer disease. CONCLUSION: Expression of full-length KLK7 mRNA may represent a new prognostic marker in breast cancer disease.

Analysis of Variance↗

Analyses of mRNA expression patterns of cohesin subunits Rad21 and Rec8 in mice: germ cell-specific expression of rec8 mRNA in both male and female mice.

A multisubunit protein complex called cohesin is required for the cohesion between sister chromatids in both mitosis and meiosis in yeast. We investigate here the mRNA expression patterns of mouse homologues of the yeast mitotic cohesin rad21 and the meiotic cohesin rec8 in various organs, with special attention to their expression in gonads. Northern blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses revealed that, in contrast to the ubiquitous expression of rad21 mRNA in all of the organs examined, rec8 was expressed only in the gonads. We conducted in situ hybridization analysis to identify the cells that express rad21 and rec8 mRNAs in the gonads. In the testis, rad21 mRNA was expressed in somatic cells and spermatogonia but not in spermatocytes, and conversely, rec8 mRNA was expressed in spermatocytes but not in spermatogonia or somatic cells. Spermatids expressed rad21 and rec8 mRNAs simultaneously. In the ovary, rad21 mRNA was detected in all of the ovarian cells including germ cells and somatic cells, whereas rec8 mRNA was detected only in oocytes. Unlike the widespread expression of rad21 gene, therefore, the gene expression of rec8 is strictly confined to spermatocytes and spermatids in male mouse and oocytes in female mouse. The restricted expression pattern of rec8 mRNA implies its essential role in meiosis in both sexes of mammals, as has been reported in yeast. We also discuss the cooperative functions of Rad21 and Rec8 on the basis of the finding that their mRNAs are coexpressed in oocytes and spermatids.

Animals↗

Hyaluronic acid or TNF-alpha plus fibronectin triggers granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor mRNA stabilization in eosinophils yet engages differential intracellular pathways and mRNA binding proteins.

Eosinophils (Eos) accumulate in airways and lung parenchyma of active asthmatics. GM-CSF is a potent inhibitor of Eos apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo and is produced by activated fibroblasts, mast cells, T lymphocytes as well as Eos. Cytokine release by Eos is preceded by GM-CSF mRNA stabilization induced by TNF-alpha plus fibronectin. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a major extracellular matrix proteoglycan, which also accumulates in the lung during asthma exacerbations. In this study we have analyzed the effects of HA on Eos survival and GM-CSF expression. We demonstrate that like TNF-alpha plus fibronectin, HA stabilizes GM-CSF mRNA, increases GM-CSF secretion, and prolongs in vitro Eos survival. GM-CSF mRNA stabilization accounts for most of the observed GM-CSF mRNA accumulation and protein production. Unlike TNF-alpha plus fibronectin, GM-CSF mRNA stabilization induction by HA requires continuous extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. Finally, to identify potential protein regulators responsible for GM-CSF mRNA stabilization, immunoprecipitation-RT-PCR studies revealed increased GM-CSF mRNA associated with YB-1, HuR, and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) C after TNF-alpha plus fibronectin but only hnRNP C after HA. Thus, our data suggest that both TNF-alpha plus fibronectin and HA, which are relevant physiological effectors in asthma, contributes to long-term Eos survival in vivo by enhancing GM-CSF production through two different posttranscriptional regulatory pathways involving extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation and RNA binding proteins YB-1, HuR, and hnRNP C.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

The destabilization of IL-2 mRNA by a premature stop codon and its differential stabilization by trans-acting inhibitors of protein synthesis do not support a role for active translation in mRNA stability.

To investigate the role that translation plays in the stabilization of the IL-2 mRNA, we inhibited protein synthesis in both cis and trans. To block translation in trans, we utilized the inhibitors puromycin (PUR) and cycloheximide (CHX), which differentially effect polysome structure. We found that CHX enhances the stability of IL-2 mRNA in cells stimulated with anti-TCR Ab alone, but it inhibits CD28-induced message stabilization in costimulated cells. In contrast, PUR had a minimal effect on IL-2 mRNA stability in either the presence or absence of costimulation. The differential effects of these two inhibitors suggest that: 1) CHX is unlikely to stabilize the IL-2 mRNA by inhibiting the expression of a labile RNase; 2) CD28-mediated IL-2 mRNA stabilization does not require translation; and 3) IL-2 mRNA decay is not coupled to translation. To block translation in cis, we generated sequence-tagged IL-2 genomic reporters that contain a premature termination codon (PTC). In both the presence and absence of costimulation, these PTC-containing mRNAs exhibit drastically diminished stability. Interestingly, the addition of CHX but not PUR completely restored CD28-mediated stabilization, suggesting that CHX can block the enhanced decay induced by a PTC. Finally, CHX was able to superinduce IL-2 mRNA levels in anti-TCR Ab-stimulated cells but not in CD28-costimulated cells, suggesting that CHX may also act by other mechanisms.

Animals↗

[Metabolism of mRNA in regenerating mouse liver: acceleration of the processing and decay of mRNA].

The kinetics of accumulation of poly(A+)mRNA in polyribosomes and the ratio: poly(A+)mRNA/(poly A-)mRNA were studied in regenerating mouse liver. It has been found, that the ratio: (poly A+)mRNA/(poly A-)mRNA was associated with the function of the cells: (poly A+)mRNA fraction has been decreased to 7% at 7 hours after partial hepatectomy and then reached the original value (25%) at 30-40 hours. The kinetics of accumulation of (poly A+)mRNA in polyribosomes during the transition from resting to growing state has revealed that both the lifetime and the presumable time of processing of the mRNAs of free and membranebound polyribosomes were decreased as compared to resting liver cells.

Animals↗