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CDNA library construction from a small amount of RNA: adaptor-ligation approach for two-round cRNA amplification using T7 and SP6 RNA polymerases.

In this study, we developed a method that allows cDNA library construction from a small amount of RNA without causing serious size bias in the resulting cDNA population. For this purpose, we adopted two-round cRNA amplification by T7 and SP6 RNA polymerases. The first-round cDNAs, flanked by the promoter sequences of T7 and SP6 RNA polymerases, were synthesized from 1 microg total RNA and then subjected to two rounds of cRNA amplification. Comparison of the sizes of the first-round and the second-round cRNAs indicated that the size-bias effect of the second-round cRNA synthesis was not serious. The resultant double-stranded cDNAs were cloned into a plasmid by in vitro lambda phage recombination with an efficiency of 1.2 x 10(11) colony-forming unit/microgram of starting total RNA. Characterization of the resultant cDNA library in terms of the insert size, clone redundancy, and integrity of 3' ends of cDNAs indicated that the amplified library was comparable to a library constructed by a conventional method, although large cDNAs tend to be slightly truncated in the amplified library. This method enables the construction of a library from a small amount of RNA, and calculations suggest that the strategy would be efficient enough to use even a single cell as starting material.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Quantification of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA: development and validation of an internally standardised competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

To investigate the role of local IGF-1 mRNA expression in various tissues, we developed and validated a method which allows for a specific, sensitive and reliable quantification of IGF-1 mRNA: an internally standardised Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). A synthetic competitive template IGF-I standard cRNA (IGF-1 cRNA) was designed, which contains the same flanking primer sequences used to amplify the wild type IGF-1 mRNA, but differs by 56 bp in length. To obtain the IGF-1 mRNA concentration present in tissue RNA samples, series of 250 ng total-RNA were spiked with three known quantities of the standard IGF-1 cRNA, incubated for competitive RT-PCR reactions and the two amplificates obtained (184 bp from IGF-1 cRNA and 240 bp from the wild type IGF-I mRNA) were subsequently separated and quantified by HPLC-UV. For every individual tissue RNA sample, the ratio R (R = competitor PCR product / wild type PCR product) was plotted against the number of starting molecules of the competitor IGF-1 cRNA. The initial amount of IGF-1 mRNA present in the sample can then be read off where R = 1. The validated assay had a detection limit of 1600 IGF-1 cRNA molecules/reaction, the intra-assay variation was 7.4% (n = 5) and linearity (r = 0.997) was given between 140 ng to 840 ng total-RNA input. The present method was first applied to study the effect of long term castration on the IGF-1 expression rates in bovine tissues. The hepatic IGF-1 mRNA concentrations were well correlated (r = 0.81) with the plasma concentrations as quantified by RIA and were higher in intact than in castrated animals. In two skeletal muscles (m. splenius and m. gastrocnemius) IGF-1 mRNA concentrations were 20- and 35- times lower than in liver, respectively, without any differences between steers and bulls. In bulls, the IGF-1 mRNA expression was higher in m. splenius (p < 0.01) than m. gastrocnemius, indicating that locally produced IGF-1 might be important for sexually dimorphic muscle growth patterns.

Animals↗

Quantitative analysis by polymerase chain reaction of growth hormone receptor gene expression in human liver and muscle.

A single form of GH receptor (GHR) messenger RNA (mRNA) of 4.5 kilobases, encoding the full-length GHR, has been found in man. To measure the absolute number of mRNA molecules encoding the GHR in human tissues, we developed a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. An internal control RNA was constructed by inserting a 50-basepair fragment of the rat PRL receptor complementary DNA into a portion of the human GHR complementary DNA. The internal control RNA and the target mRNA were amplified together with the same set of primers. Twenty-four cycles of amplification were used to satisfy an exponential phase of amplification. It was possible to detect as few as 500 molecules of target mRNA/micrograms total RNA. In 3 liver samples obtained from normal donors at the time of transplant, the amount of GHR mRNA ranged from 0.5 +/- 0.1 to 1.4 +/- 0.4 x 10(6) molecules/micrograms total RNA. These results were confirmed by slot blot analysis of the same samples. The number of receptor transcripts did not appear to be correlated with the receptor-binding capacity found in the 3 liver samples. In 7 muscle biopsies, GH receptor mRNA varied between 4.0 +/- 0.4 and 34.6 +/- 1.4 x 10(4) molecules/micrograms total RNA. This technique allows direct measurement of GHR gene expression in human tissues and represents a valuable tool, particularly for tissues such as muscle, in which the receptor protein cannot be measured using conventional binding assays.

Base Sequence↗

Effect of DNA gyrase inactivation on RNA synthesis in Escherichia coli.

The average chain growth rates of rRNA and of total RNA were not affected by a thermal inactivation of DNA gyrase in a temperature-sensitive gyrB mutant of Escherichia coli. The fact that total RNA synthesis decreased under these conditions suggests that transcription is primarily affected at the step of chain initiation. The fraction of rRNA in total pulse-labeled RNA was not altered by inactivation of the enzyme, indicating that the latter is not required to actively maintain a high rate of synthesis of this RNA species.

Escherichia coli↗

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins inhibit endothelial cell proliferation by suppressing basic fibroblast growth factor expression.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia inhibits proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs) in culture and angiogenesis in vivo and in arterial explants. Elucidation of the mechanisms may suggest novel therapies against atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression and mitogenic effects were assessed in bovine aortic ECs incubated with oxidized LDL (ox-LDL). Compared with native LDL and lipoprotein-free controls, ox-LDL reduced bFGF mRNA levels in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, 100 microg/mL producing a maximum reduction of 40% to 50% within 24 to 48 hours. There were commensurate reductions in intracellular and extracellular bFGF concentrations, DNA and total RNA syntheses, and cell replication. FGF receptor 1 and beta-actin mRNA levels were unchanged. Ox-LDL accelerated bFGF mRNA degradation in actinomycin D-treated cells. However, inhibition of bFGF expression by ox-LDL was attenuated by cyclohexamide, indicating a requirement for continuous new protein synthesis for posttranscriptional destabilization. Reduced syntheses of DNA and total RNA were completely restored by bFGF but not by vascular endothelial growth factor. Inhibition of total RNA synthesis achieved by exposing cells to a bFGF-neutralizing antibody was similar in magnitude to that induced by ox-LDL. CONCLUSIONS: Cytotoxic effects of ox-LDL on ECs are attributable in part to suppression of bFGF expression.

Animals↗

[Purification and identification of mRNA of immune (gamma) interferon from human splenocytes].

The isolation of total RNA from primary culture of human splenocytes and its physico-chemical and biological properties are described. Human splenocytes are characterized by a high content of mRNA of human immune interferon, low content of total RNA and an extremely high activity of RNAases. Therefore it was necessary to elaborate conditions for the isolation of mRNA without DNA contaminants in the presence of extensive inhibitors of the RNAase activity. These include cell homogenization, separation of cytoplasm at -10 degrees C and treatment by RNAase inhibitors--ribonucleoside-vanadyl complexes or a combination of aurin-tricarboxylic acid with dithiothreitol. The resulting preparations of total RNA were purified by chromatography on oligo (dT)-cellulose and translated in a cell-free system from rabbit reticulocytes. These preparations were free of nonspecific translation inhibitors which are normally present in the lymphoid cells mRNA. In a cell-free system mRNA of human splenocytes induced with staphylococcal enterotoxin A code the synthesis of biologically active interferon which was identified as immune (gamma) human interferon, using a serological analysis. The preparations of immune interferon mRNA obtained under the conditions described above can further be used for cloning of the corresponding gene in bacterial cells.

Chromatography, Affinity↗

Preferential incorporation of an exogenous cytokinin, N6-benzyladenine, into 18S and 25S ribosomal RNA of tobacco cells in suspension culture.

Cytokinin-requiring tobacco cells were incubated for 10 h in the presence of a labeled cytokinin. N6-benzyl-[2-3H]Ade, and of [8-14C]Ado. After alkaline hydrolysis of total RNA and fractionation of the resulting nucleotides, 80 per cent of the 3H radioactivity of RNA were recovered as the N6-benzyl-Ado nucleotide, covalently inserted into polynucleotidic chains. The N6-benzyl-Ado nucleotide was not significantly labled by 14C: at most one part of this nucleotide per 10 000 may result from a transfer of the benzyl moiety to adenyl residues in preformed RNA. Thus, the covalent insertion of N6-benzyl-Ade into RNA involves the intact N6-substituted base. Total RNA was fractionated either by sucrose density gradient centrifugation or by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All identified RNA species were shown to contain N6-benzyl-Ade. The insertion frequency, measured as the molecular proportion of N6-benzyl-Ade to the total base content, was 3 to 4 times larger in 25S and 18S rRNA than in 5S and 4S RNA. The amount of N6-benzyl-Ade inserted into cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA accounted for about 90 per cent of the amount incorporated into total RNA. Electrophoresis of denatured RNA in the presence of formamide provided additional evidence that N6-benzyl-Ade was indeed incorporated into RNA molecules.

Adenine↗

Tellurium-induced neuropathy: a model for reversible reductions in myelin protein gene expression.

Inclusion of 1.1% tellurium in the diet of developing rats causes a highly synchronous primary demyelination of peripheral nerves, which is followed closely by a period of rapid remyelination. The demyelination is related to the inhibition of squalene epoxidase activity, which results in a block in cholesterol synthesis and accumulation of squalene. We now report that the demyelination resulting from this limiting of the supply of an intrinsic component of myelin (cholesterol) leads to repression of the expression of mRNA for myelin-specific proteins. Tellurium exposure resulted in an increase in total RNA (largely rRNA) in sciatic nerve, which could not be accounted for by cellular proliferation; these increased levels of rRNA may be a reactive response of Schwann cells to toxic insult and may relate to the higher levels of protein synthesis required during remyelination. In contrast, steady-state levels of mRNA, determined by Northern blot analysis, for P0 and myelin basic protein were markedly decreased (levels after 5 days of tellurium exposure were only 10-15% of control levels as a fraction of total RNA and 25-35% of control levels when the increased levels of total RNA were taken into account). Message levels increased during the subsequent period of remyelination and reached near-normal levels 30 days after beginning tellurium exposure. Although message levels for the myelin-associated glycoprotein showed a similar temporal pattern, levels did not decrease as greatly and subsequently increased sooner than did levels for P0 and myelin basic protein. The coordinate alterations in message levels for myelin proteins indicate that Schwann cells can down-regulate and then up-regulate the synthesis of myelin in response to alterations in the supply of membrane components.

Animals↗

Effects of anticancer drugs on transcription in vitro.

The effects of DNA interacting drugs on: (1) total RNA synthesis catalyzed by E. coli and T7 RNA polymerase; (2) synthesis of the initiating dinucleotide (pppApU) by E. coli RNA polymerase ("abortive initiation"); (3) elongation of RNA chains synthesized by T7 RNA polymerase on pT7-7 plasmid DNA bearing T7 RNA polymerase promoter phi 10 with human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase coding sequence, (4) interaction of transcription factor Sp1 and its binding site were studied. Intercalating ligands which form quickly dissociating complexes with DNA (anthracyclines, proflavine, ethidium bromide) are compared with the slowly dissociating drug of d(G x C) specificity (actinomycin D), the non-intercalating, d(A x T) specific pyrrole antibiotics (netropsin and distamycin A) and covalently binding to DNA 1-nitroacridine derivative (nitracrine). The obtained results indicate that rapidly dissociating ligands, proflavine and ethidium bromide, inhibit total RNA synthesis in vitro and the abortive initiation to a similar extent while they do not induce discrete elongation stops of RNA polymerase. Actinomycin D and nitracrine exhibit a high inhibitory effect on total RNA synthesis and induce stops of RNA polymerase while not affecting abortive initiation. Pyrrole antibiotics primarily inhibit the initiation, while no elongation stops are induced. Actinomycin D inhibits complex formation between nuclear proteins and the Sp1 binding site. Netropsin, ethidium bromide, proflavine and other intercalating acridines do not affect Sp1 binding. The results indicate that the effects primarily depend on sequence specificity and secondarily on the dissociation rate of ligands from their complexes with DNA.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Decreased RhoA expression in myocardium of diabetic rats.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is 1 of the major causes of death in diabetic patients, but the pathogenesis is unclear. There is evidence that RhoA, a small GTPase, might be involved in cardiac function. This study, therefore, analyzed RhoA expression and activation in hearts of diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control and diabetic groups of 18 each. Diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). Rats were studied 3 weeks after induction of diabetes. Heart rate, which was measured 24 h/day, decreased by 93 +/- 7 beats/min in diabetic rats. There was a 62% decrease (p < 0.01) in RhoA mRNA expression in heart tissues (left ventricle) of diabetic rats (38.5 +/- 6.7 x 106 molecules/microg total RNA) compared with controls (101 +/- 10.3 x 106 molecules/microg total RNA). Western blot showed a 33% decrease in total RhoA protein expression in heart tissues of diabetic rats compared with controls (p < 0.05). A reduced RhoA translocation in heart tissues of diabetic rats was determined by a 64% decrease in membrane-bound RhoA (p < 0.01 vs. control group), indicating that the activation of RhoA is markedly reduced in diabetic myocardium. Our data suggest that down-regulated RhoA may be involved in cardiomyopathy in diabetic rats.

Animals↗

In vitro translation of mRNA from Toxocara canis larvae.

300 micrograms of total RNA was extracted from 1 ml of packed Toxocara canis larvae by centrifugation through a 5.7 M cesium chloride cushion. 60 micrograms of polyadenylated messenger RNA was separated from 300 micrograms of total RNA in an oligothymidylic acid-cellulose gel column. The in vitro translation of the mRNA, isolated from T. canis larvae, was carried out using the rabbit reticulocyte cell-free translation system. Incorporation of [35S]methionine into trichloroacetic acid precipitable material in the lysate containing mRNA was 4-5 times greater than that of control. Translation products were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by autoradiography. Many polypeptides ranging in molecular weight from 10000 to 100000 were synthesised in the lysate. A T. canis positive human serum was mixed with translation products to form antigen-antibody complexes, which were then absorbed by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1 strain and analysed by the autoradiography of SDS-PAGE. Three antigenic polypeptides with molecular weights of 49000, 27000 and 22000 which reacted specifically with IgG antibody in T. canis positive human serum, were demonstrated. The 27000 MW polypeptide reacted particularly strongly with the IgG antibody.

Animals↗

Evaluation of methods for hepatitis C virus detection in archival liver biopsies. Comparison of histology, immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in-situ RT-PCR.

To evaluate reliable methods for detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in routinely processed liver biopsies we analyzed formaldehyde-fixed and paraffin-embedded liver specimens of 10 patients with serological confirmed HCV infection. We compared (1) conventional histology; (2) indirect immunofluorescence using the mAb TORDJI-22 (Clonatec, Paris, France); (3) RT-PCR using total RNA and Southern blotting with chemiluminescent detection; (4) non-radioactive in-situ hybridization (ISH) with digoxigenin-labeled oligo- and cRNA probes; (5) direct in-situ RT-PCR with incorporation of labeled nucleotides into PCR-products, and (6) indirect in-situ RT-PCR using subsequent ISH for the visualization of intracellular PCR-products. Our results indicate that: (1) using the histological criteria described by Lefkowitch et al. [Gastroenerology 1993;104:595] together with clinical data, most chronic HCV infections can be diagnosed by conventional histology, if liver biopsies specimens are adequate; (2) the commercially available mAb TORDJI-22 appears to crossreact with non-HCV epitopes, resulting in false positives; (3) molecular methods performed on routinely fixed and processed liver biopsies frequently yield false negative results due to sampling problems, low viral copy number and RNA degradation in infected cells; (4) analysis of HCV-RNA by RT-PCR of extracted total RNA is more sensitive than indirect in-situ RT-PCR or ISH; and (5) direct in-situ RT-PCR is not reliable despite the use of modifications such as DNase pretreatment and hot-start procedures. It is concluded, that several molecular methods for HCV detection must await further improvements of protocols to be suitable for routine diagnostics on paraffin-embedded liver biopsies.

Base Sequence↗

Osmotic regulation of alpha-amylase synthesis and polyribosome formation in aleurone cells of barley.

Water stress inhibits the gibberellic acid (GA(3))-induced synthesis of alpha-amylase in aleurone layers of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Electron microscope evidence indicates that the effect of water stress induced by 0.6 M solutions of polyethylene glycol (PEG) is to reduce the binding of ribosomes to the endoplasmic reticulum. This was confirmed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation of polyribosome preparations from stressed cells. The reduction in polyribosome formation does not result from reduced ribosome activity as measured by [(3)H]peptidylpuromycin formation. Thus, calculation of percent active ribosomes shows that osmoticum has little effect on the ability of ribosomes to incorporate puromycin into nascent protein. Water stress does not cause a marked decrease in the total RNA level of aleurone cells. Estimates of total RNA in postmitochondrial supernatant fractions from stressed cells show only a reduction of 8-9% relative to the control. Membrane synthesis measured by [(14)C]choline incorporation is depressed by 15% in cells stressed with 0.6 M PEG for 2.5 hours.

Amylases↗

Treatment of experimental viral myocarditis with interleukin-10.

BACKGROUND: The T helper cell type 2-associated cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 has a variety of immunomodulatory properties. However, the effects of the cytokine on viral myocarditis remain unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied the effects of recombinant human IL-10 (rhIL-10) fully active on mouse cells in a murine experimental model of acute viral myocarditis caused by the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). Four-week-old DBA/2 mice were inoculated with EMCV (day 0). rhIL-10 (10 microg/mouse) was administered once daily, starting on day 0, and control mice received vehicle only. Survival rates were determined on day 14. Myocardial histopathology, cytokine levels in the heart by ELISA assay, and myocardial virus concentration were examined on day 6, and the expression levels of myocardial inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA were measured by competitive polymerase chain reaction. The 14-day survival in mice treated with rhIL-10 was significantly higher (80%) than in the control group (30%, n=10 in each, P<0.05). rhIL-10 treatment significantly attenuated myocardial lesions and suppressed tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-2 in the heart. rhIL-10 treatment had little effect on myocardial virus concentration. The expression levels of myocardial iNOS mRNA were significantly decreased in the group treated with rhIL-10 (8.6+/-4.7 amol/mg total RNA in treated versus 26.5+/-7.1 amol/mg total RNA in control mice, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide new insights into the in vivo effects of IL-10 on viral infection and suggest a therapeutic effect of IL-10 on viral myocarditis.

Animals↗

Diminished heme oxygenase-1 mRNA expression in RPE cells from diabetic donors as quantitated by competitive RT/PCR.

PURPOSE: The RPE is essential in the maintenance of retinal vasculature homeostasis, since increased cellular expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been implicated as a defense mechanism against oxidative stress. This study was done in an effort to determine the levels of the stress protein (32 kD), HO-1, in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells obtained from diabetic and normal eyes. METHODS: We measured the levels of HO-1 in the RPE from eight normal and six diabetic donor eyes. For comparison, HO-1 levels were assayed in RPE cells from four donor eyes with long-standing hypertension. Heme oxygenase-1 mRNA copy number was determined by competitive RT/PCR on various ex vivo samples and on RPE cultured from the same donors. Total RNA (1-200 ng) was reverse-transcribed and then amplified by PCR in the same tube as an internal standard obtained by deleting a 50 bp restriction site from the native HO-1 gene. RESULTS: Relative to the RPE obtained from control donor eyes, RPE from diabetic donors exhibited significantly decreased levels of HO-1 mRNA. In contrast, no significant difference in the levels of HO-1 mRNA was observed in RPE samples derived from hypertensive donor eyes. The diabetic group showed a range of 340-450 HO-1 mRNA copies/ng of total RNA, as compared to 425-8,000 HO-1 mRNA copies/ng of total RNA in RPE from normal donors and 460-7605 copies/ ng in hypertensive donor eyes. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents initial studies exploring the quantitative expression of heme oxygenase in the RPE human eyes. The decreased expression of HO-1, a stress/heat shock protein, may in the RPE contribute to the vulnerability of the neuroretina to significant metabolic alterations encountered in the diabetic state. This was a limited study; additional screening from different donor eyes will be done in order to establish the relationship between RPE, HO-1 expression and eye diseases in which oxidative stress is believed to be a determinant in the pathophysiology.

Diabetes Mellitus↗

Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction of a molluscan metallothionein mRNA.

A quantitative assay based on competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was developed for metallothionein (MT) mRNA of the mollusc Crassostrea virginica and applied to analysis of MT mRNA of hemocytes. The assay was based on titration of a competitive external standard cRNA derived from the coding region of the oyster MT mRNA. Serial dilutions of the cRNA standard were coamplified with a constant amount of total RNA using biotinylated primers common to both target and standard sequences. Amplified products were bound to streptavidin-coated plates and hybridized to sequence-specific fluorescein-labeled probes. Detection was based on single photon counting of chemiluminescence generated by an alkaline phosphatase-conjugated antifluorescein antibody. For quantification, the target chemiluminescence was normalized to that of the standard, and the amount of target MT mRNA in the sample was derived from the titration. Cadmium-induced MT mRNA equivalent to that in 180 hemocytes was easily detected, and, for routine quantitative analysis, was sufficiently sensitive to quantify basal and induced MT mRNA. Basal hemocyte MT mRNA of 133+/-8 (1 S.E.) amol per microgram total RNA was induced 5-fold to 573+/-14 amol per microgram total RNA by in vitro exposure to 15 microM CdCl(2) for 20 h.

Animals↗

Immunobead RT-PCR versus regular RT-PCR amplification of CEA mRNA in peripheral blood.

PURPOSE: The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of tumor-specific mRNA has been used for the detection of cancer cells in peripheral blood. More recently, an immunomagnetic isolation and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (immunobead RT-PCR) was developed which has reportedly significant advantages over the previous RT-PCR analysis. In our study, we compared these two methods using a model set of peripheral blood containing tumor cells under standardized conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In order to compare the false positive rate, normal peripheral blood samples from five volunteers were analyzed by both methods. A model set of peripheral blood containing tumor cells was established by adding SNUC4 human colon cancer cells to peripheral blood collected from normal volunteers not showing any nonspecific bands upon electrophoresis of the PCR products. RT-PCR amplification of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA was done with total RNA and mRNA prepared from this model sample. In immunobead RT-PCR analysis, mRNA was prepared from the cells isolated with anti-CEA antibody-coated magnetic beads or anti-Ber-EP4 antibody-coated magnetic beads before the RT-PCR analysis. RESULT: The immunobead RT-PCR yielded no non-specific band, while the regular RT-PCR using total RNA did show non-specific band formation in all five samples. When mRNA rather than total RNA was used, nonspecific bands were formed in three of the five samples. Immunobead RT-PCR allowed the detection of 10(1) tumor cells in 1 ml of peripheral blood. The regular RT-PCR analysis had a detection limit of 10(2) tumor cells in 1 ml of peripheral blood. CONCLUSION: The immunobead RT-PCR proved to be more sensitive and specific than the regular RT-PCR at least in our model system.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Isoprenaline-induced increase in mRNA levels of inhibitory G-protein alpha-subunits in rat heart.

Long-term beta-adrenergic stimulation has been shown to desensitize the beta-adrenoceptor/adenylyl cyclase signalling pathway at both the receptor and the G-protein level. To further elucidate the cellular mechanism of G-protein regulation we investigated the influence of prolonged infusion of isoprenaline (2.4 mg/kg.d) on myocardial mRNA levels of different G-protein alpha-subunits in rats. For comparison rats were treated with triiodothyronine (T3; 0.5 mg/kg.d) which induces cardiac hypertrophy like isoprenaline but has different effects on the adenylyl cyclase system. Isoprenaline- and T3-treated animals developed an increase in heart/body weight ratio of 41 +/- 3% and 27 +/- 4%, respectively (P less than 0.05). Isoprenaline increased myocardial total RNA concentration by 39 +/- 6% (P less than 0.05). Hybridization with 32P-labeled rat cDNAs demonstrated an expression rank order of Gs alpha-mRNA greater than Gi alpha-2-mRNA greater than Gi alpha-3-mRNA and no detectable expression of Gi alpha-1-mRNA in rat myocardium. mRNA levels of Gs alpha, Gi alpha-2 and Gi alpha-3 were 36.9 +/- 1.28, 10.7 +/- 1.07 and 3.7 +/- 0.19 pg/micrograms total RNA, respectively. Isoprenaline increased Gi alpha-2- and Gi alpha-3-mRNA concentrations per microgram total RNA by 49 +/- 18% and 27 +/- 7%, respectively (P less than 0.05). This effect was abolished by simultaneously administered propranolol (9.9 mg/kg.d), indicating a beta-adrenoceptor-mediated mechanism. In contrast, T3-induced cardiac hypertrophy was not accompanied by changes in Gi alpha-mRNA expression. Gs alpha-mRNA levels were unaffected by either treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗