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A comparison of the therapeutic effectiveness of gastrin neutralisation in two human gastric cancer models: relation to endocrine and autocrine/paracrine gastrin mediated growth.

BACKGROUND: Gastrin is a growth factor for established tumours. AIMS: To investigate the therapeutic effect of antibodies, raised against the Gastrimmune immunogen, which neutralise the glycine extended and carboxy amidated forms of gastrin 17 in two human gastric cancer models. METHODS: MGLVA1 cells (which have a gastrin autocrine/paracrine phenotype) and ST16 cells (which have an endocrine phenotype) were injected into the peritoneal cavity of SCID mice. Peritoneal tumours, ascites, and cachexia formation occurred, with the monitored endpoint being morbidity. RESULTS: In MGLVA1 cells, intravenous administration of antibodies raised against Gastrimmune increased the 50% median survived by 25% at three different initial cell seeding concentrations (1 x 10(6)-5 x 10(5) per mouse). In ST16 cells, the effect of Gastrimmune induced antibodies on time to morbidity was greatest at the lowest cell seeding concentration (5 x 10(5) cells/mouse) with the 50% median survival increased by 74% and overall survival achieved in 38% of the mice. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrimmune may have potential therapeutic benefit on gastrin sensitive gastric tumours and may interact with both endocrine and autocrine mediated growth pathways.

Animals↗

Activin A is an autocrine activator of rat pancreatic stellate cells: potential therapeutic role of follistatin for pancreatic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The present study was conducted to examine the effect of activin A on activation of rat pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). METHODS: PSCs were prepared from rat pancreas using collagenase digestion and centrifugation with Nycodenz gradient. Activation of PSCs was examined by determining smooth muscle actin expression with western blotting. The presence of activin A receptors in PSCs was investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting, and immunocytochemistry. Expression of activin A and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. Activin A and TGF-beta peptide concentrations were examined with ELISA. Existence of activin A peptide in PSCs was investigated by immunocytochemistry. Collagen secretion was determined by Sirius red dye binding. RESULTS: Activin A receptors I and IIa were present in PSCs. PSCs expressed activin A mRNA and secreted activin A. Activin A enhanced PSC activation and collagen secretion in a dose dependent manner. TGF-beta and activin A increased each other's secretion and mRNA expression of PSCs. Follistatin decreased TGF-beta mRNA expression and TGF-beta secretion of PSCs, and inhibited both PSC activation and collagen secretion. CONCLUSION: Activin A is an autocrine activator of PSCs. Follistatin can inhibit PSC activation and collagen secretion by blocking autocrined activin A and decreasing TGF-beta expression and secretion of PSCs.

Actins↗

Autocrine growth inhibition by transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFbeta-1) in human neuroendocrine tumour cells.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The role of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFbeta-1) in neuroendocrine tumour biology is currently unknown. We therefore examined the expression and biological significance of TGFbeta signalling components in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) of the gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) tract. METHODS: Expression of TGFbeta-1 and its receptors, Smads and Smad regulated proteins, was examined in surgically resected NET specimens and human NET cell lines by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and ELISA. Activation of TGFbeta-1 dependent promoters was tested by transactivation assays. Growth regulation was evaluated by cell numbers, soft agar assays, and cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry. The role of endogenous TGFbeta was assessed by a TGFbeta neutralising antibody and stable transfection of a dominant negative TGFbetaR II receptor construct. RESULTS: Coexpression of TGFbeta-1 and its receptors TGFbetaR I and TGFbetaR II was detected in 67% of human NETs and in all three NET cell lines examined. NET cell lines expressed the TGFbeta signal transducers Smad 2, 3, and 4. In two of the three cell lines, TGFbeta-1 treatment resulted in transactivation of a TGFbeta responsive reporter construct as well as inhibition of c-myc and induction of p21((WAF1)) expression. TGFbeta-1 inhibited anchorage dependent and independent growth in a time and dose dependent manner in TGFbeta-1 responsive cell lines. TGFbeta-1 mediated growth inhibition was due to G1 arrest without evidence of induction of apoptosis. Functional inactivation of endogenous TGFbeta revealed the existence of an autocrine antiproliferative loop in NET cells. CONCLUSIONS: Neuroendocrine tumour cells of the gastroenteropancreatic tract are subject to paracrine and autocrine growth inhibition by TGFbeta-1, which may account in part for the low proliferative index of this tumour entity.

Autocrine Communication↗

Mechanisms of bone remodeling during weight-bearing exercise.

Exercise-induced mechanical loading can have potent effects on skeletal form and health. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to bone structure and function. Mechanical simuli (e.g., strain magnitude, frequency, rate, and gradients, as well as fluid flow and shear stress) have potent influences on bone-cell cytoskeleton and associated signalling pathways. Although the immature skeleton may be more able to benefit from exercise, a skeletally mature population can also benefit from exercise programs aimed at increasing the functional loads to which the skeleton is exposed. The definitive explanation of mechanical-loading and (or) bone-cell mechanotransductive phenomena, however, remains elusive. Here, we briefly review the structural and anatomical foundation for bone adaptation, focusing on mechanical loading effects on bone, linked to the roles of integrins, cytoskeleton, membrane channels, and auto- and paracrine factors in bone modeling and remodeling.

Autocrine Communication↗

The cardiac Na-H exchanger: a key downstream mediator for the cellular hypertrophic effects of paracrine, autocrine and hormonal factors.

The major mechanism by which the heart cell regulates intracellular pH is the Na(+)-H(+) exchanger (NHE) with the NHE-1 isoform as the primary cardiac subtype. Although NHE-1 has been implicated in mediating ischemic injury, more recent evidence implicates the antiporter as a key mediator of hypertrophy, which is produced by various autocrine, paracrine and hormonal factors such as endothelin-1, angiotensin II, and alpha(1) adrenoceptor agonists. These agonists activate the antiporter via phosphorylation-dependent processes. NHE-1 inhibition is likely conducive to attenuating the remodelling process after myocardial infarction. These effects probably occur independently of infarct size reduction and involve attenuation of subsequent postinfarction heart failure. As such, inhibitors of NHE offer substantial promise for clinical development that will attenuate acute responses to myocardial postinfarction and chronic pos t infarction, which evolve toward heart failure. The regulation of NHE-1 is discussed as is its potential role in mediating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Growth hormone in the nervous system: autocrine or paracrine roles in retinal function?

Growth hormone (GH) is primarily produced in the pituitary gland, although GH gene expression also occurs in the central and autonomic nervous systems. GH-immunoreactive proteins are abundant in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. The appearance of GH in these tissues occurs prior to the ontogenic differentiation of the pituitary gland and prior to the presence of GH in systemic circulation. Neural GH is also present in neonates, juveniles, and adults and is independent of changes in pituitary GH secretion. Neural GH is therefore likely to have local roles in neural development or neural function, especially as GH receptors (GHRs) are widespread in the nervous system. In recent studies, GH mRNA and GH immunoreactive proteins have been identified in the neural retina of embryonic chicks. GH immunoreactivity is present in the optic cup of chick embryos at embryonic day (ED) 3 of the 21-d incubation period. It is widespread in the neural retina by ED 7 but also present in the nonpigmented retina, choroid, sclera, and cornea. This immunoreactivity is associated with proteins in the neural retina comparable in size with those in the adult pituitary gland, although it is primarily associated with 15-16 kDa moieties rather than with the full-length molecule of approximately 22 kDa. These small GH moieties may reflect proteolytic fragments of "monomer" GH and (or) the presence of different GH gene transcripts, since full-length and truncated GH cDNAs are present in retinal tissue extracts. The GH immunoreactivity in the retina persists throughout embryonic development but is not present in juvenile birds (after 6 weeks of age). This immunoreactivity is also associated with the presence of GH receptor (GHR) immunoreactivity and GHR mRNA in ocular tissues of chick embryos. The retina is thus an extrapituitary site of GH gene expression during early development and is probably an autocrine or paracrine site of GH action. The marked ontogenic pattern of GH immunoreactivity in the retina suggests hitherto unsuspected roles for GH in neurogenesis or ocular development.

Animals↗

PGE2 reduces arachidonic acid release in murine podocytes: evidence for an autocrine feedback loop.

Increased glomerular prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production is associated with the progression of diseases such as membranous nephropathy, nephrotic syndrome, and anti-Thy1 nephritis. We investigated the signaling pathways that regulate the synthesis and actions of PGE(2) in glomerular podocytes. To study its actions, we assessed the ability of PGE(2) to regulate the production of its own precursor, arachidonic acid (AA), in a mouse podocyte cell line. PGE(2) dose-dependently reduced phorbol ester (PMA)-mediated AA release. Inhibition of PMA-stimulated AA release by PGE(2) was found to be cAMP/PKA-dependent, because PGE(2) significantly increased levels of this second messenger, whereas the inhibitory actions of PGE(2) were reversed by PKA inhibition and reproduced by the cAMP-elevating agents forskolin and IBMX. PGE(2) synthesis in this podocyte cell line increased fourfold at 60 min in response to PMA, coinciding with upregulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 but not COX-1 levels. However, PGE(2) synthesis was significantly reduced by COX-1-selective inhibition, yet to a lesser extent by COX-2-selective inhibition. Our findings suggest that PMA-stimulated PGE(2) synthesis in mouse podocytes requires both basal COX-1 activity and induced COX-2 expression, and that PGE(2) reduces PMA-stimulated AA release in a cAMP/PKA-dependent manner. Such an autocrine regulatory loop might have important consequences for podocyte and glomerular function in the context of renal diseases involving PGE(2) synthesis.

Animals↗

ApoE-mediated cholesterol efflux from macrophages: separation of autocrine and paracrine effects.

Macrophages in the vessel wall secrete high levels of apolipoprotein E (apoE). Cholesterol efflux from macrophages to apoE has been shown to decrease foam cell formation and prevent atherosclerosis. An apoE molecule can mediate cholesterol efflux from the macrophage that originally secreted it (autocrine effect) or from surrounding macrophages (paracrine effect). Traditional methodologies have not been able to separate these serial effects. The novel methodology presented here was developed to separate autocrine and paracrine effects by using a simple mathematical model to interpret the effects of dilution on apoE-mediated cholesterol efflux. Our results show that, at very dilute concentrations, the paracrine effect of apoE is not evident and the autocrine effect becomes the dominant mediator of efflux. However, at saturating concentrations, paracrine apoE causes 80-90% of the apoE-mediated cholesterol efflux, whereas autocrine apoE is responsible for the remaining 10-20%. These results suggest that the relative importance of autocrine and paracrine apoE depends on the size of the local distribution volume, a factor not considered in previous in vitro studies of apoE function. Furthermore, autocrine effects of apoE could be critical in the prevention of foam cell formation in vivo. This novel methodology may be applicable to other types of mixed autocrine/paracrine systems, such as signal transduction systems.

Animals↗

Autocrine loops with positive feedback enable context-dependent cell signaling.

We describe a mechanism for context-dependent cell signaling mediated by autocrine loops with positive feedback. We demonstrate that the composition of the extracellular medium can critically influence the intracellular signaling dynamics induced by extracellular stimuli. Specifically, in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) system, amplitude and duration of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation are modulated by the positive-feedback loop formed by the EGFR, the Ras-MAPK signaling pathway, and a ligand-releasing protease. The signaling response to a transient input is short-lived when most of the released ligand is lost to the cellular microenvironment by diffusion and/or interaction with an extracellular ligand-binding component. In contrast, the response is prolonged or persistent in a cell that is efficient in recapturing the endogenous ligand. To study functional capabilities of autocrine loops, we have developed a mathematical model that accounts for ligand release, transport, binding, and intracellular signaling. We find that context-dependent signaling arises as a result of dynamic interaction between the parts of an autocrine loop. Using the model, we can directly interpret experimental observations on context-dependent responses of autocrine cells to ionizing radiation. In human carcinoma cells, MAPK signaling patterns induced by a short pulse of ionizing radiation can be transient or sustained, depending on cell type and composition of the extracellular medium. On the basis of our model, we propose that autocrine loops in this, and potentially other, growth factor and cytokine systems may serve as modules for context-dependent cell signaling.

Autocrine Communication↗

HMGB1 is secreted by immunostimulated enterocytes and contributes to cytomix-induced hyperpermeability of Caco-2 monolayers.

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a cytokine-like proinflammatory protein, is secreted by activated macrophages and released by necrotic cells. We hypothesized that immunostimulated enterocytes might be another source for this mediator. Accordingly, Caco-2 cells or primary mouse intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) were incubated with "cytomix" (a mixture of TNF, IL-1beta, and IFN-gamma) for various periods. HMGB1 in cell culture supernatants was detected by Western blot analysis and visualized in Caco-2 cells with the use of fluorescence confocal and immunotransmission electron microscopy. Caco-2 cells growing on filters in diffusion chambers were stimulated with cytomix for 48 h in the absence or presence of anti-HMGB1 antibody, and permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (average molecular mass, 4 kDa; FD4) was assessed. Cytomix-stimulated Caco-2 cells secreted HMGB1 into the apical but not the basolateral compartments of diffusion chambers. Although undetectable at 6 and 12 h after the start of incubation with cytomix, HMGB1 was present in supernatants after 24 h of incubation. HMGB1 secretion by Caco-2 monolayers also was induced when the cells were exposed to FSL-1, a Toll-like receptor (Tlr)-2 agonist, or flagellin, a Tlr5 agonist, but not lipopolysaccharide, a Tlr4 agonist. Cytomix also induced HMGB1 secretion by primary IECs. Cytoplasmic HMGB1 is localized within vesicles in Caco-2 cells and is secreted, at least in part, associated with exosomes. Incubating Caco-2 cells with cytomix increased FD4 permeation, but this effect was significantly decreased in the presence of anti-HMGB1 antibody. Collectively, these data support the view that HMGB1 is secreted by immunostimulated enterocytes. This process may exacerbate inflammation-induced epithelial hyperpermeability via an autocrine feedback loop.

Animals↗

Autocrine production of prostaglandin F2alpha enhances phenotypic transformation of normal rat kidney fibroblasts.

We have used normal rat kidney (NRK) fibroblasts as an in vitro model system to study cell transformation. These cells obtain a transformed phenotype upon stimulation with growth-modulating factors such as retinoic acid (RA) or transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Patch-clamp experiments showed that transformation is paralleled by a profound membrane depolarization from around -70 to -20 mV. This depolarization is caused by a compound in the medium conditioned by transformed NRK cells, which enhances intracellular Ca2+ levels and thereby activates Ca2+-dependent Cl- channels. This compound was identified as prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The active concentration in the medium conditioned by transformed NRK cells as determined using an enzyme immunoassay was 19.7 +/- 2.5 nM (n = 6), compared with 1.5 +/- 0.1 nM (n = 3) conditioned by nontransformed NRK cells. Externally added PGF2alpha was able to trigger NRK cells that had grown to density arrest to restart their proliferation. This proliferation was inhibited when the FP receptor (i.e., natural receptor for PGF2alpha) was blocked by AL-8810. RA-induced phenotypic transformation of NRK cells was partially (approximately 25%) suppressed by AL-8810. Our results demonstrate that PGF2alpha acts as an autocrine enhancer and paracrine inducer of cell transformation and suggest that it may play a crucial role in carcinogenesis in general.

Animals↗

Autocrine loop between TGF-beta1 and IL-1beta through Smad3- and ERK-dependent pathways in rat pancreatic stellate cells.

Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are activated during pancreatitis and promote pancreatic fibrosis by producing and secreting ECMs such as collagen and fibronectin. IL-1beta has been assumed to participate in pancreatic fibrosis by activating PSCs. Activated PSCs secrete various cytokines that regulate PSC function. In this study, we have examined IL-1beta secretion from culture-activated PSCs as well as its regulatory mechanism. RT-PCR and ELISA have demonstrated that PSCs express IL-1beta mRNA and secrete IL-1beta peptide. Inhibition of TGF-beta(1) activity secreted from PSCs by TGF-beta(1)-neutralizing antibody attenuated IL-1beta secretion from PSCs. Exogenous TGF-beta(1) increased IL-1beta expression and secretion by PSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Adenovirus-mediated expression of dominant-negative (dn)Smad2/3 expression reduced both basal and TGF-beta(1)-stimulated IL-1beta expression and secretion by PSCs. Coexpression of Smad3 with dnSmad2/3 restored IL-1beta expression and secretion by PSCs, which were attenuated by dnSmad2/3 expression. In contrast, coexpression of Smad2 with dnSmad2/3 did not alter them. Furthermore, inhibition of IL-1beta activity secreted from PSCs by IL-1beta-neutralizing antibody attenuated TGF-beta(1) secretion from PSCs. Exogenous IL-1beta enhanced TGF-beta(1) expression and secretion by PSCs. IL-1beta activated ERK, and PD-98059, a MEK1 inhibitor, blocked IL-1beta enhancement of TGF-beta(1) expression and secretion by PSCs. We propose that an autocrine loop exists between TGF-beta(1) and IL-1beta in activated PSCs through Smad3- and ERK-dependent pathways.

Animals↗

High glucose and endothelial cell growth: novel effects independent of autocrine TGF-beta 1 and hyperosmolarity.

Human endothelial cells were exposed to 5 mM glucose (control), 25 mM (high) glucose, or osmotic control for 72 h. TGF-beta1 production, cell growth, death, and cell cycle progression, and the effects of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta neutralization on these parameters were studied. High glucose and hyperosmolarity increased endothelial TGF-beta1 secretion (P < 0.0001) and bioactivity (P < 0.0001). However, high glucose had a greater effect on reducing endothelial cell number (P < 0.001) and increasing cellular protein content (P < 0.001) than the osmotic control. TGF-beta antibody only reversed the antiproliferative and hypertrophic effects of high glucose. High glucose altered cell cycle progression and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor expression independently of hyperosmolarity. High glucose increased endothelial cell apoptosis (P < 0.01), whereas hyperosmolarity induced endothelial cell necrosis (P < 0.001). TGF-beta antibody did not reverse the apoptotic effects observed with high glucose. Exogenous TGF-beta1 mimicked the increased S phase delay but not endoreduplication observed with high glucose. High glucose altered endothelial cell growth, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression. These growth effects occurred principally via a TGF-beta1 autocrine pathway. In contrast, apoptosis and endoreduplication occurred independently of this cytokine and hyperosmolarity.

Antibodies↗

Regulation of PDGF production and ERK activation by estrogen is associated with TSC2 gene expression.

Mechanisms that regulate the growth response to estrogen (17beta-estradiol, E2) are poorly understood. Recently, loss of function of the tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) gene has been associated with E2-related conditions that are characterized by benign cellular proliferation. We examined the growth response to E2 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) that possess wild-type TSC2 and compared them with ELT-3 smooth muscle cells that do not express TSC2. In TSC2-expressing VSMCs, growth inhibition in response to E2 was associated with downregulation of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), PDGF receptor (PDGFR), and limited activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). In contrast, the growth-promoting effect of E2 in TSC2-null ELT-3 cells was associated with induction of PDGF, robust phosphorylation of PDGFR, and sustained activation of ERK. Furthermore, in ELT-3 cells, cellular growth and ERK activation by E2 were inhibited by the PDGFR inhibitor tyrphostin AG 17 and by PDGF-neutralizing antibody. These results demonstrate that autocrine production of PDGF and augmentation of the ERK pathway leads to estrogen-induced cellular proliferation in TSC2-null cells, a pathway that was downregulated in cells that express TSC2. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate the diverse responses to the steroid hormone estrogen could lead to novel approaches to the treatment of estrogen-related diseases that are characterized by aberrant cell proliferation.

Animals↗

TNF-alpha regulates myogenesis and muscle regeneration by activating p38 MAPK.

Although p38 MAPK activation is essential for myogenesis, the upstream signaling mechanism that activates p38 during myogenesis remains undefined. We recently reported that p38 activation, myogenesis, and regeneration in cardiotoxin-injured soleus muscle are impaired in TNF-alpha receptor double-knockout (p55(-/-)p75(-/-)) mice. To fully evaluate the role of TNF-alpha in myogenic activation of p38, we tried to determine whether p38 activation in differentiating myoblasts requires autocrine TNF-alpha, and whether forced activation of p38 rescues impaired myogenesis and regeneration in the p55(-/-)p75(-/-) soleus. We observed an increase of TNF-alpha release from C2C12 or mouse primary myoblasts placed in low-serum differentiation medium. A TNF-alpha-neutralizing antibody added to differentiation medium blocked p38 activation and suppressed differentiation markers myocyte enhancer factor (MEF)-2C, myogenin, p21, and myosin heavy chain in C2C12 myoblasts. Conversely, recombinant TNF-alpha added to differentiation medium stimulated myogenesis at 0.05 ng/ml while inhibited it at 0.5 and 5 ng/ml. In addition, differentiation medium-induced p38 activation and myogenesis were compromised in primary myoblasts prepared from p55(-/-)p75(-/-) mice. Increased TNF-alpha release was also seen in cardiotoxin-injured soleus over the course of regeneration. Forced activation of p38 via the constitutive activator of p38, MKK6bE, rescued impaired myogenesis and regeneration in the cardiotoxin-injured p55(-/-)p75(-/-) soleus. These results indicate that TNF-alpha regulates myogenesis and muscle regeneration as a key activator of p38.

Animals↗

Calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibits interleukin-1beta-induced endogenous monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 secretion in type II alveolar epithelial cells.

As important multifunctional cells in the lung, alveolar epithelial type II (AEII) cells secrete numerous chemokines on various stimuli. Our previous data showed that AEII cells also express the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and the proinflammatory factor interleukin (IL)-1beta induces CGRP secretion in the A549 human AEII cell line. In the present study, the CGRP-1 receptor antagonist human (h)CGRP(8-37) (0.1-1 nM) greatly amplified the production of IL-1beta-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. The inhibition of CGRP expression by small interfering RNA significantly increased MCP-1 secretion on IL-1beta stimulation. However, exogenous hCGRP (10-100 nM) suppressed IL-1beta-evoked MCP-1 secretion in MCP-1 promoter activity, and CGRP gene stably transfected cell clones significantly inhibited both the mRNA and protein levels of MCP-1 induced by IL-1beta. These data imply that AEII-derived CGRP suppressed IL-1beta-induced MCP-1 secretion in an autocrine/paracrine mode. Subsequent investigation revealed that CGRP inhibited IL-1beta-evoked NF-kappaB activity by suppressing IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and degradation. Moreover, CGRP attenuated IL-1beta-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, the early event in proinflammatory factor signaling. We previously showed that the CGRP inhibitory effect was mediated by elevated intracellular cAMP and show here that analogs of cAMP, 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphothioate and the Sp isomer of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphothioate, mimicked the CGRP suppressive effect on IL-1beta-induced ROS formation, NF-kappaB activation, and MCP-1 secretion. Thus increased endogenous CGRP secretion in lung inflammatory disease might eliminate the excessive response by elevating the cAMP level through inhibiting the ROS-NF-kappaB-MCP-1 pathway.

Autocrine Communication↗

Autocrine effects of IGF-I-induced VEGF and IGFBP-3 secretion in retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19.

Hypoxia-induced physiological stress plays a central role in various neovascular diseases of the eye. Increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and subsequent formation of HIF-1 dimers active at the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promoter lead to expression of this potent angiogenic factor in the retina, including retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. We previously demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) stimulates VEGF and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 secretion in RPE cells. In this study we examined IGF-I-induced HIF-1alpha expression, VEGF and IGFBP-3 secretion, and the autocrine actions of VEGF and IGFBP-3 on these processes in the spontaneously transformed RPE cell line ARPE-19. Cells were treated with CoCl(2), IGF-I, recombinant human (rh)IGFBP-3, and rhVEGF. Immunoblot analysis revealed IGF-I-induced upregulation of total HIF-1alpha protein, whereas luciferase reporter assays of HIF-1 transcriptional activity demonstrated accumulation of HIF-1alpha correlated with the formation of functional HIF-1 heterodimers. Western and ligand blot analyses of RPE cell conditioned medium confirmed that IGF-I stimulated VEGF and IGFBP-3 secretion. rhVEGF stimulated IGFBP-3 secretion in an IGF-I- and HIF-1alpha-independent manner, whereas rhIGFBP-3 attenuated IGF-I-induced VEGF secretion. These findings demonstrate the multifaceted autocrine regulation of IGF-I-induced VEGF secretion by IGFBP-3 secreted in response to both IGF-I and, to a lesser extent, VEGF. These results provide evidence for HIF-1-dependent and -independent mechanisms by which IGF-I regulates VEGF and IGFBP-3 secretion.

Autocrine Communication↗