Developmental and hormonal regulation of surfactant protein C (SP-C) gene expression in fetal lung. Role of transcription and mRNA stability

Pulmonary surfactant protein C (SP-C) gene expression is developmentally and hormonally regulated in fetal lung. In the present study, we investigated the role of transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms in the developmental, cAMP, and dexamethasone induction of SP-C mRNA. We found that developmental induction of SP-C mRNA was not coincident with induction of SP-C gene transcription. SP-C mRNA levels reached approximately 90% of levels in adult lung on day 24 of gestation, whereas SP-C gene transcription was only approximately 4% of level in adult lung and did not increase until day 28 of gestation (term in rabbit = 31 days). Treatment of fetal lung tissues in vitro with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) and dexamethasone increased SP-C mRNA accumulation by different mechanisms. Increase in SP-C mRNA accumulation by Bt2cAMP was the result of increased SP-C gene transcription, whereas increased SP-C mRNA accumulation by dexamethasone was due to stabilization of RNA. In control tissues the SP-C mRNA half-life (t1/2) was 11.2 h, and after dexamethasone treatment it increased to 30 h. These data show that both transcriptional and mRNA stabilization mechanisms regulate induction of SP-C gene expression during fetal lung development and by cAMP and dexamethasone in fetal lung in vitro.

Characterization of mRNA transcripts and organization of human SP-A1 and SP-A2 genes

In the present study, we have characterized the mRNA transcripts and intron-exon organization of the human surfactant protein (SP)A1 and SP-A2 genes. By primer extension analysis of mRNA isolated from human fetal lung explants using an oligonucleotide primer to exon II (as delineated in the SP-A1 gene), a minimum of nine primer extended transcripts was observed. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends was used to amplify the primer extended transcripts for sequence analysis. Sequence analysis of 47 full-length primer extended cDNAs and comparison with the sequences of the genes encoding SP-A1 and SP-A2 revealed four different classes of transcripts of the SP-A2 gene and five different classes of transcripts of the gene encoding SP-A1. A major difference between SP-A2 and SP-A1 mRNA transcripts is that SP-A2 transcripts are always comprised of sequences contained within six exons; the extra exon in SP-A2 (exon II of VI) encodes additional 5'-untranslated sequence and is located between exons I and II of SP-A1. By contrast, the majority of transcripts of the SP-A1 gene are comprised of sequences contained within five exons. In the cases of both SP-A1 and SP-A2 genes, a small proportion of the mRNA transcripts contain sequences present in alternate exons. In addition, the majority of the SP-A1 mRNA transcripts are initiated 5 bp downstream of the transcription initiation site of SP-A2. In our companion paper [McCormick and Mendelson. Am. J. Physiol. 266 (Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 10): L367-L374, 1994], we report that the SP-A1 and SP-A2 genes are differentially regulated during development and by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate and glucocorticoids in human fetal lung in culture.

Insulin-like growth factor I modulates hypothalamic somatostatin through a growth hormone releasing factor increased somatostatin release and messenger ribonucleic acid levels

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has been shown to participate in feedback inhibition of growth hormone (GH) secretion at the level of both the pituitary and hypothalamus. Therefore, we tested the possible involvement of IGF-I on somatostatin (SRIF) and GH-releasing factor (GRF) release in median eminence (ME) fragments and periventricular nucleus (PeN) of male rats. The levels of SRIF messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) were also determined in PeN incubated in vitro with IGF-I. The ME's were incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate glucose buffer in the presence of various concentrations of IGF-I (10(-7) to 10(-11) M) for 30 min. SRIF and GRF released into the medium were quantitated by RIA. The release of SRIF and GRF from the ME's was stimulated significantly (P < 0.025 and P < 0.05, respectively) by 10(-9) M IGF-I. To determine whether the effect of IGF-I on SRIF release is mediated by GRF release in the ME, a specific GRF antibody (ab) (1:500) was used concomitantly with IGF-I (10(-9) M). The release of SRIF induced by IGF-I was blocked by the GRF ab (P < 0.001), but not by normal rabbit serum used at the same dilution. To determine the effect of IGF-I on the regulation of SRIF mRNA levels, SRIF mRNA was determined in PeN explants incubated in the presence of IGF-I (10(-8) to 10(-10) M) for 2 to 6 h. Levels of SRIF mRNA were determined by a S1 nuclease protection assay using a 32P-labelled rat SRIF riboprobe.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Rabbit surfactant protein C: cDNA cloning and regulation of alternatively spliced surfactant protein C mRNAs

Surfactant protein C (SP-C), a hydrophobic protein of pulmonary surfactant is essential for surfactant function. Toward elucidating molecular mechanisms that mediate regulation of SP-C gene expression in rabbit lung, we isolated and characterized cDNAs encoding rabbit SP-C and studied the regulation of SP-C gene expression during fetal lung development and by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and dexamethasone in fetal lung tissues in vitro. We found that rabbit SP-C is highly homologous to SP-C of other species and is encoded by two mRNAs that differ by an insertion of 31 nucleotides in the 3' untranslated regions. SP-C mRNAs were classified into two types based on the nucleotide sequence; type I represents RNA without the 31 nucleotide insert and comprises approximately 80-90% of total SP-C mRNA content, whereas type II represents RNA containing the insert and comprises approximately 10-20% of total SP-C mRNA content. SP-C mRNAs were induced in a coordinate manner during fetal lung development and by cAMP and dexamethasone in fetal lung tissues in vitro. Southern hybridization analysis of genomic DNA suggested that SP-C mRNAs are encoded by a single gene. Polymerase [corrected] chain reaction-amplification of genomic DNA with oligonucleotide primers flanking the insertional sequence and sequence analysis of amplified DNA showed that SP-C mRNAs are produced by alternative use of 3' splice sites of intron 5 of SP-C gene.

Rabbit lung surfactant protein A gene: identification of a lung-specific DNase I hypersensitive site

Expression of the gene encoding pulmonary surfactant protein A, SP-A, is lung specific and developmentally and hormonally regulated. Previously, we observed that SP-A gene transcription is initiated in fetal rabbit lung after day 21 of gestation and reaches maximal levels by day 28. In the present study, a cDNA specific for rabbit SP-A was used to isolate the SP-A gene from a rabbit genomic library. A 7.6-kb fragment containing the entire structural gene and approximately 380 bp of 5'-flanking DNA was isolated and characterized. The transcription initiation site, mapped by primer extension analysis, was localized 23 bp downstream of a putative TATA element. The structural gene is composed of five exons and four introns. The first exon encodes the 5'-untranslated region of the mRNA; the translation initiation site is in exon II, and exon V contains the two polyadenylation sites that give rise to the 2.0- and 3.0-kb species of SP-A mRNA. A potential adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-regulatory element (CRE) was identified at -261 bp, and sequences with homology to glucocorticoid-regulatory element (GRE) half-sites were found at -150 and -190 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site and within the first intron. A DNase I hypersensitive site was identified in genomic DNA isolated from 21- and 28-day fetal and adult rabbit lung tissues. This site was mapped within the 5'-flanking region of the SP-A gene, at approximately -80 to -180 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site. The absence of this hypersensitive site in genomic DNA of liver, kidney, and heart tissues suggests that altered chromatin structure may serve a role in lung-specific SP-A gene expression. The presence of this tissue-specific DNase I hypersensitive site in lung nuclei from 21-day gestational age fetal rabbits suggests that the SP-A gene may exist in an accessible conformation prior to the time of transcription initiation.

Expression and transport of rabbit surfactant protein A in COS-1 cells

SV40-transformed green monkey kidney (COS-1) cells were transfected with expression plasmids that contained either the structural gene or cDNA for surfactant protein A (SP-A), a major protein of rabbit lung surfactant. The transfected COS-1 cells synthesized several isoforms of SP-A that were found to be less acidic than those produced in rabbit lung tissue. SP-A species with apparent molecular weight (M(r)) approximately equal to 29,000-33,000 were detected in the transfected cells, whereas glycosylated forms with apparent M(r) approximately equal to 33,000-38,000 were detectable only in the culture medium. Analysis of transfected cells by indirect immunofluorescence revealed that SP-A was localized in punctate bodies throughout the cytoplasm. Expressed SP-A was not detectable on the cell surface nor was there evidence that secreted SP-A was endocytosed by COS-1 cells. After subcellular fractionation of the transfected COS-1 cells, SP-A was found to be localized predominantly in the 5,000- and 18,000-g pellet fractions; little or no immunoreactive SP-A was detectable in cytosolic fractions. Treatment of transfected cells with the glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin prevented secretion of SP-A into the medium, suggesting a role of glycosylation in secretion of SP-A. On the other hand, treatment of transfected cells with inhibitors of proline hydroxylation, which may cause destabilization of the collagen-like domain of SP-A, reduced but did not prevent secretion of SP-A into the culture medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hormonal control of the surfactant system in fetal lung

The synthesis of surfactant glycerophospholipids and proteins is under multifactorial control and is regulated by a number of hormones and factors, including glucocorticoids, prolactin, insulin, growth factors, estrogens, androgens, thyroid hormones and catecholamines acting through beta-adrenergic receptors, and cAMP. In studies with human fetal lung in organ culture, glucocorticoids, in combination with prolactin and/or insulin, were found to increase the rate of lamellar body PC synthesis and increase the molar ratio of surfactant PG to PI to a value similar to that of surfactant secreted by the human fetal lung at term. Recognition of the potential importance of the surfactant proteins SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C in the reduction of alveolar surface tension and in endocytosis and reutilization of secreted surfactant by type II cells has stimulated rapid advancement of knowledge concerning the structures of these proteins and their genes, as well as their developmental and hormonal regulation in fetal lung tissue. The genes encoding the surfactant proteins are expressed in a lung-specific manner and appear to be regulated independently during fetal development. SP-A gene expression is initiated in fetal lung tissue after 75-85% of gestation is completed in all mammalian species studied to date. In the human fetus, however, expression of the SP-B and SP-C genes is detectable prior to mid-gestation. In situ hybridization studies of human lung tissue indicate that the SP-A gene is expressed only in type II cells, whereas SP-B gene expression is detectable in bronchioalveolar epithelial cells as well. Cyclic AMP and glucocorticoids have pronounced effects on the regulation of SP-A gene expression in human and rabbit fetal lung in culture. In human fetal lung in vitro, the effects of cAMP are primarily at the level of gene transcription. By contrast, glucocorticoids have stimulatory effects on SP-A gene transcription and inhibitory effects on SP-A mRNA stability. Furthermore, the combined effects of cAMP and glucocorticoids on SP-A gene transcription in human fetal lung in vitro are synergistic. Glucocorticoids appear to be of primary importance in the regulation of the genes encoding SP-B and SP-C. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of expression of the surfactant protein genes in developing fetal lung will be of fundamental importance to our understanding of the developmental and tissue-specific regulation of eukaryotic gene expression.

Posttranscriptional regulation of surfactant protein-A messenger RNA in human fetal lung in vitro by glucocorticoids

Surfactant protein-A (SP-A), the major pulmonary surfactant-associated protein, is a developmentally and hormonally regulated sialoglycoprotein of about 35,000 mol wt. In previous studies we observed that dexamethasone has dose-dependent biphasic effects on the levels of SP-A and its mRNA in human fetal lung in vitro. At concentrations of 10(-10)-10(-9) M, dexamethasone increased the levels of SP-A and its mRNA over those of control tissues, whereas at concentrations greater than or equal to 10(-8) M, the steroid was markedly inhibitory. Our findings suggest that the inhibitory action of dexamethasone (greater than 10(-8) M) on SP-A mRNA levels was mediated by an effect to reduce SP-A mRNA stability, since the steroid caused a dose-dependent increase in the rate of transcription; however, an effect to increase transcription with premature termination leading to instability of mRNA transcripts could not be ruled out. In the present investigation we have studied in detail the mechanisms underlying the biphasic effects of glucocorticoids on SP-A mRNA levels in human fetal lung tissues in vitro. Our findings indicate that dexamethasone (10(-7) M) has no adverse effect on the elongation of nascent mRNA transcripts throughout the SP-A gene; elongation of SP-A mRNA transcripts in dexamethasone-treated tissue explants was similar to that observed in tissues incubated in control medium or medium containing (Bu)2cAMP. Therefore, premature termination of SP-A mRNA transcription leading to the instability of SP-A mRNA can be ruled out. On the other hand, we found that dexamethasone (10(-7) M) had a pronounced effect to reduce the apparent half-life of SP-A mRNA; in control explants maintained in the presence of actinomycin-D to block gene transcription, the SP-A mRNA half-life was estimated to be 11.4 h, whereas in tissues also treated with dexamethasone, the SP-A mRNA half-life was reduced by more than 60% to 5.0 h. Dexamethasone also was found to have dose-dependent effects on the degradation of SP-A mRNA. After 12 h of incubation in the presence of actinomycin-D and dexamethasone at 10(-9) and 10(-7) M, the levels of SP-A mRNA were reduced by 50% and 80%, respectively, compared to those in tissue incubated with actinomycin-D alone. The inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on SP-A mRNA levels were completely reversible and were blocked by the glucocorticoid antagonist RU486.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Developmental and hormonal regulation of surfactant protein A (SP-A) gene expression in fetal lung

Pulmonary surfactant is a developmentally-regulated lipoprotein synthesized and secreted by the type II cells of the pulmonary alveolus where surfactant glycerophospholipids and proteins act to reduce surface tension at the alveolar air-liquid interface. Surfactant protein A (SP-A), the major surfactant-associated protein, appears to serve an important role in surfactant function and reutilization by type II cells. SP-A synthesis and gene expression are initiated in fetal lung tissue in concert with the developmental induction of surfactant glycerophospholipid synthesis. In studies using midtrimester human fetal lung explants maintained in organ culture, we have observed that cyclic AMP and glucocorticoids have pronounced effects on morphologic development and on the levels of SP-A gene expression. Cyclic AMP analogues act primarily to induce SP-A gene transcription; whereas, glucocorticoids have complex effects at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. We also have found that human fetal lung in vitro secretes into the culture medium relatively large amounts of prostaglandins (PG) PGE2 and PGF2 alpha and the PGI2 and thromboxane A2 metabolites, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxB2, respectively. The prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin, markedly inhibits SP-A gene expression and cyclic AMP formation by human fetal lung in culture; the inhibitory effect of indomethacin on SP-A gene expression can be prevented by simultaneous incubation with either Bt2cAMP or PGE2. These findings are suggestive that prostaglandins acting through cyclic AMP also may serve an important role in the regulation of SP-A gene expression in human fetal lung tissue.

Hormonal and developmental regulation of pulmonary surfactant synthesis in fetal lung

Pulmonary surfactant, a unique developmentally regulated, phospholipid-rich lipoprotein, is synthesized by the type II cells of the pulmonary alveolus, where it is stored in organelles termed lamellar bodies. The principal surface-active component of surfactant, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, a disaturated form of phosphatidylcholine, acts in concert with the surfactant-associated proteins to reduce alveolar surface tension. Relatively large amounts of phosphatidylglycerol also are present in lung surfactants of a number of species, including man. The role of phosphatidylglycerol in surfactant function has not been elucidated; however, its presence in increased amounts in pulmonary surfactant is correlated with enhanced fetal lung maturity. Surfactant glycerophospholipid synthesis in fetal lung tissue is regulated by a number of hormones and factors, including glucocorticoids, prolactin, insulin, oestrogens, androgens, thyroid hormones, and catecholamines acting through cyclic AMP. In studies with human fetal lung in organ culture, we have observed that glucocorticoids, in combination with prolactin and/or insulin, increase the rate of lamellar body phosphatidylcholine synthesis and alter lamellar body glycerophospholipid composition to one reflective of surfactant secreted by the human fetal lung at term. Four surfactant-associated proteins, SP-A, SP-B, SP-C and SP-D, have recently been characterized. Recognition of their potential importance in the reduction of alveolar surface tension and in endocytosis and reutilization of secreted surfactant by type II cells has stimulated rapid advancement of knowledge concerning the structures of the surfactant proteins and their genes, as well as their developmental and hormonal regulation in fetal lung tissue. The genes encoding SP-A, SP-B and SP-C are expressed in a cell-specific manner and are independently regulated in fetal lung tissue during development. SP-A gene expression occurs exclusively in the type II cell and is initiated after 75% of gestation is complete. In the human fetus, expression of the SP-B and SP-C genes is detectable much earlier in development than SP-A, before the time of appearance of differentiated type II cells. It is apparent from studies using human and rabbit fetal lung in culture that cyclic AMP and glucocorticoids serve important roles in the regulation of SP-A gene expression. While the effects of cyclic AMP are exerted primarily at the level of gene transcription in human fetal lung tissue, glucocorticoids have stimulatory effects on SP-A gene transcription and inhibitory effects on SP-A mRNA stability. In addition, cyclic AMP and glucocorticoids act synergistically to increase SP-A gene transcription in human fetal lung in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Regulation of pulmonary surfactant protein synthesis in fetal lung: a major role of glucocorticoids and cyclic AMP

Augmented synthesis of the lipoprotein, pulmonary surfactant, is initiated in fetal lung toward the end of-gestation. Inadequate surfactant synthesis by the lungs of premature infants can result in respiratory distress syndrome, the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in developed countries. The surfactant-associated proteins act with surfactant glycerophospholipids to reduce alveolar surface tension, and mediate the reutilization of secreted surfactant components by type II cells. Genes encoding the surfactant proteins SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C have been isolated and characterized. Recent findings suggest that surfactant protein gene expression in fetal lung is under multifactortal control and is regulated by glucocorticoids, cAMP, growth factors, and insulin.

Regulation of expression of the gene encoding the major surfactant protein (SP-A) in human fetal lung in vitro. Disparate effects of glucocorticoids on transcription and on mRNA stability

We previously observed that dexamethasone had a biphasic effect on the levels of mRNA encoding the major surfactant protein (SP-A) in human fetal lung in vitro; at concentrations of 10(-10) and 10(-9) M, dexamethasone caused an increase in the levels of SP-A mRNA, whereas at concentrations of greater than 10(-8) M, the steroid had a pronounced inhibitory effect on SP-A mRNA levels. It was also found that dexamethasone antagonized the stimulatory effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) on SP-A mRNA levels in human fetal lung in vitro. It was our objective, in the present study, to characterize further the effects of dexamethasone and Bt2cAMP on SP-A mRNA levels in human fetal lung tissue and to determine whether such effects are associated with comparable changes in the transcriptional activity of the SP-A gene. We found that the action of dexamethasone (10(-7) M) to reduce the levels of SP-A mRNA in control and Bt2cAMP-treated fetal lung explants was evident within 2 h of its addition to the culture medium; SP-A mRNA was reduced to barely detectable levels in control and in Bt2cAMP-treated tissues after 24 h of dexamethasone treatment. The action of dexamethasone to reduce SP-A mRNA levels was not prevented by co-incubation with either actinomycin D or cycloheximide. In contrast to its dose-related biphasic effects on the levels of SP-A mRNA, we found that dexamethasone caused a dose-dependent stimulation of SP-A gene transcription. Bt2cAMP also increased the transcriptional activity of the SP-A gene in the human fetal lung in vitro. In fetal lung explants incubated in the presence of dexamethasone plus Bt2cAMP, a synergistic induction of SP-A gene transcription was observed at concentrations of dexamethasone of 10(-9)-10(-7) M. Our findings are indicative that the stimulatory effects of dexamethasone (10(-10)-10(-9) M) on SP-A mRNA levels are reflective of a stimulatory effect of the steroid on SP-A gene transcription, whereas the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone (10(-7) M) on SP-A mRNA levels are the result of a dominant effect of the steroid in elevated concentrations to reduce SP-A mRNA stability.

Effect of ACTH on the stability of mRNAs encoding bovine adrenocortical P-450scc, P-45011 beta, P-45017 alpha, P-450C21 and adrenodoxin

ACTH treatment of bovine adrenocortical cells in primary culture causes increased accumulation of mRNAs encoding cytochromes P-450SCC, P-450(11)beta, P-450(17) alpha, P-450C21 and adrenodoxin as well as increased transcriptional activity of their respective genes. In this study we have shown that ACTH does not greatly affect the half-life of mRNAs encoding P-450(11)beta, P-450(17)alpha, P-450C21 and adrenodoxin. However, in the case of P-450SCC mRNA, ACTH causes a five-fold increase in the half-life leading to a significant stabilization of P-450SCC mRNA. Thus it appears that the levels of mRNAs encoding P-450(11)beta, P-450(17)alpha, P-450C21 and adrenodoxin are regulated by ACTH primarily at the transcriptional level, while that for P-450SCC is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.

Transcriptional regulation of the gene encoding the major surfactant protein (SP-A) in rabbit fetal lung

The expression of the major protein of rabbit pulmonary surfactant (SP-A), a glycoprotein of Mr congruent to 29,000-36,000, is regulated during development and by hormones. In the present study, utilizing a cDNA insert complementary to mRNA coding for SP-A and nuclear transcription elongation assays, we have investigated the developmental and hormonal regulation of transcription of the SP-A gene in rabbit fetal lung tissue. The relative rates of transcription of SP-A mRNA increased as a function of the gestational age of the fetus. The rate of transcription reached a maximum level in lung tissues of 28-day gestational age fetuses and declined slightly in those of neonatal rabbits. The relative rate of transcription of SP-A mRNA increased in rabbit fetal lung explants maintained in organ culture in control medium as a function of incubation time. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) treatment of fetal lung explants increased the rate of transcription of SP-A mRNA over that of control tissues by several-fold; after 12 h of incubation in the presence of Bt2cAMP, there was greater than 4-fold increase in the rate of transcription of SP-A mRNA as compared to control lung explants. In contrast, glucocorticoids had a rapid effect to decrease the rate of SP-A mRNA transcription. The rapid effect of glucocorticoids to inhibit the transcription of SP-A mRNA was transient; in fetal lung explants incubated in the presence of dexamethasone for greater than 24 h, there was an increase in the rate of transcription of SP-A mRNA over that of control explants. Cycloheximide caused an inhibition of both basal as well as Bt2cAMP-stimulated rates of transcription of SP-A mRNA in the rabbit fetal lung tissue in vitro. This finding is suggestive of a role of labile protein factor(s) in mediating transcription of the SP-A gene as well as its induction by Bt2cAMP. The magnitude of changes in the relative rates of transcription of SP-A mRNA during development of rabbit fetal lung in vitro as well as those effected by hormones in vitro were similar to changes in the steady-state levels of SP-A mRNA, suggestive that the regulation of the levels of SP-A mRNA in fetal rabbit lung tissue both in vivo and in vitro occurs primarily at the transcriptional level.

Glucocorticoid regulation of the major surfactant associated protein (SP-A) and its messenger ribonucleic acid and of morphological development of human fetal lung in vitro

In the present study we investigated the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on the accumulation of the major pulmonary surfactant-associated protein (SP-A), a glycoprotein of about 35,000 mol wt, and on the levels of mRNA encoding this protein in human fetal lung in organ culture. In addition, the effects of DEX on the structural development of the fetal lung tissue was investigated using morphometric techniques. We observed that DEX had a biphasic effect on the accumulation of SP-A and its mRNA; at concentrations of 10(-10) and 10(-9) M, a stimulatory effect was observed, while at concentrations of 10(-8) M or greater, the glucocorticoid was markedly inhibitory. The inhibitory effect of DEX (10(-7) M) was evident at all time points of incubation and was apparent within 24 h of its addition to the medium at any time during the culture period. In addition, DEX (10(-7) M) antagonized the stimulatory effects of (Bu)2cAMP on the accumulation of SP-A and its mRNA. DEX also had pronounced effects on the morphological development of human fetal lung tissue. At a concentration of 10(-7) M or greater, DEX caused a marked reduction of alveolar lumen size compared to that of fetal lung explants maintained in control medium. A biphasic effect of DEX on the volume density of type II cells in fetal lung explants was observed; at a concentration of 10(-10) M, DEX significantly increased the volume density of type II cells, whereas at a concentration of 10(-7) M or more, the glucocorticoid significantly reduced the volume density of type II cells compared to that of control explants. These findings suggest that synthetic glucocorticoids at concentrations of 10(-10) and 10(-9) M are stimulatory whereas elevated levels are inhibitory of SP-A synthesis and morphological development of the human fetal lung.

The major apoprotein of rabbit pulmonary surfactant. Elucidation of primary sequence and cyclic AMP and developmental regulation

The major apoprotein of rabbit pulmonary surfactant is a developmentally and hormonally regulated sialoglycoprotein, Mr congruent to 29,000-36,000 (SP 29-36). In the present study, specific antibodies were used to isolate cloned cDNA inserts for SP 29-36 from a fetal rabbit lung cDNA library in bacteriophage lambda gt11. Two species of cDNA of 1.9 and 3.0 kilobases (kb) in size were isolated that are complementary to two species of mRNA of 2.0 and 3.0 kb which differ primarily in the lengths of their 3'-untranslated regions. The 2.0-kb species of mRNA is approximately 5 times more abundant than the 3.0-kb mRNA. The results of Southern hybridization analysis of rabbit genomic DNA cut with a number of restriction enzymes are indicative that the two mRNA species are encoded by a single gene. The two mRNA species appear to be expressed only in rabbit lung tissue and are coordinately regulated during development in vivo and in vitro; hybridizable SP 29-36 mRNA is first detectable in rabbit lung tissue on day 26 of gestation, increases to a maximum on day 31, and declines somewhat after birth. The 3.0-kb cDNA is comprised of 57 nucleotides of 5'-untranslated region, an open reading frame of 741 nucleotides, and a 3'-untranslated region of 2,165 nucleotides that contains three poly(A)-addition signals. The most 5' of the poly(A) addition signals is utilized in synthesis of the 2.0-kb SP 29-36 mRNA, while the most 3' is utilized in synthesis of the 3.0-kb mRNA. The open reading frame of the 3.0-kb cDNA encodes a protein of 247 amino acids which is highly homologous to the major apoproteins of dog and human pulmonary surfactant. The SP 29-36 cDNAs were utilized to evaluate the effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) on the levels of this mRNA in fetal rabbit lung tissue in organ culture. Bt2cAMP caused an induction of SP 29-36 mRNA that was detectable as early as 2 h after its addition to the medium. This inductive effect of Bt2cAMP was blocked when cycloheximide was also present in the medium for greater than or equal to 4 h. Cycloheximide treatment also reduced the levels of SP 29-36 mRNA in control explants; this inhibitory effect on control and Bt2cAMP-treated explants was reversed within 12 h of the removal of cycloheximide from the medium. These findings suggest that a labile protein factor mediates the transcription of the SP 29-36 gene and its induction by Bt2cAMP.

Regulation of the synthesis of the major surfactant apoprotein in fetal rabbit lung tissue

Antibodies directed against the major apoprotein of rabbit lung surfactant, a 29-36-kDa glycoprotein, were used to study changes in the levels of translatable surfactant apoprotein mRNA in rabbit lung tissue during development, as well as the effects of cortisol and cyclic AMP analogues on the levels of surfactant apoprotein and its mRNA in fetal rabbit lung tissue in organ culture. The major surfactant apoprotein and its mRNA were undetectable in lung tissues of 21-day gestational age fetal rabbits. Translatable mRNA specific for the major surfactant apoprotein was first detectable in lung tissues of 26-day fetuses, increased 25-fold on day 28, reached peak levels at day 31, and declined after birth. Incubation of 21-day fetal rabbit lung explants with cortisol in serum-free medium resulted in an increase in the specific content of the 29-36-kDa apoprotein. Cyclic AMP analogues and forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, also caused a marked increase in the accumulation of surfactant apoprotein. When fetal lung explants were incubated with cortisol and dibutyryl cyclic AMP in combination, the specific content of the surfactant apoprotein was increased to levels greater than that of explants treated with either cortisol or dibutyryl cyclic AMP alone. These effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and cortisol on surfactant apoprotein accumulation were associated with comparable changes in the levels of translatable surfactant apoprotein mRNA. Thus, we have shown for the first time that the induction of pulmonary surfactant apoprotein synthesis during differentiation in vitro and in vivo is associated with an increase in the level of translatable mRNA and that cortisol and cyclic AMP increase both the accumulation of the major surfactant apoprotein and the corresponding mRNA in fetal rabbit lung tissue in vitro.

Transcriptional regulation of steroid hydroxylase genes by corticotropin

Maintenance of optimal steroidogenic capacity in the adrenal cortex is the result of a cAMP-dependent response to the peptide hormone corticotropin (ACTH). The molecular mechanism of this action of ACTH has been examined by using five recombinant DNA clones specific for enzymes of the steroidogenic pathway (P-450scc, P-45011 beta, P-450C21, P-45017 alpha, and adrenodoxin). The presence of nuclear precursors in steady-state RNA samples derived from cultured bovine adrenocortical cells and moderate increases in the number of RNA chain initiations, as determined by in vitro nuclear run-off assays, indicate that ACTH controls the expression of the gene(s) for each of these proteins at the transcriptional level. The ACTH-mediated increase in accumulation of transcripts specific for steroid hydroxylases in nuclear RNA can be specifically blocked by inhibiting protein synthesis in bovine adrenocortical cell cultures. The steady-state concentrations of nuclear RNA for control genes show no decrease upon cycloheximide treatment. These studies suggest that a primary action of ACTH in the adrenal cortex is to activate (via cAMP) the synthesis of rapidly turning over protein factors that in turn mediate increased initiation of transcription of steroid hydroxylase genes. We propose that these protein factors impart specificity of induction to genes encoding components of this pathway in steroidogenic tissues.

Turnover of newly synthesized cytochromes P-450scc and P-45011 beta and adrenodoxin in bovine adrenocortical cells in monolayer culture: effect of adrenocorticotropin

The turnover of newly synthesized cytochromes P-450scc and P-45011 beta, and adrenodoxin was investigated in bovine adrenocortical cells in primary monolayer cultures. Cells were pulse-radiolabeled with [35S]methionine, and specific newly synthesized enzymes were immunoisolated at various times following labeling and quantitated. Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) treatment did not alter the average turnover rate of total cellular proteins or that of total mitochondrial proteins. The half-life of total cellular proteins of control and ACTH-treated cells was determined to be 20.5 and 23 h, respectively. The half-life of mitochondrial proteins of control and ACTH-treated cells was determined to be 42.5 and 44 h, respectively. The turnover rate of newly synthesized cytochrome P-450scc was approximately the same as total mitochondrial protein (t1/2 = 38 h), and was unchanged by ACTH treatment (t1/2 = 42 h). ACTH treatment did not greatly alter the turnover rate of adrenodoxin. The half-life of adrenodoxin from control and ACTH-treated cells was determined to be 20 and 17 h, respectively. However, ACTH treatment appeared to increase the half-life of cytochrome P-45011 beta from 16 h in control cells to 24 h in treated cells. The differential rate of turnover of mitochondrial proteins studied here supports the contention that mitochondria are subject to heterogeneous degradation. It appears that chronic treatment of bovine adrenocortical cells in culture with ACTH leads to increased steroidogenic capacity, primarily as a result of increased synthesis of steroidogenic enzymes, although, as shown for cytochrome P-45011 beta, ACTH action might also increase steroidogenic capacity by increasing the half-life of this steroid hydroxylase.

Induction of synthesis of bovine adrenocortical cytochromes P-450scc, P-45011 beta, P-450C21, and adrenodoxin by prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha and cholera toxin

To further elucidate the mechanisms by which ACTH (adrenocorticotropin) exerts its long-term action to maintain normal levels of adrenocortical cytochromes P-450 and related enzymes, the abilities of cholera toxin and prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha to induce the synthesis of cytochromes P-450scc, P-45011 beta, and P-450C21 and adrenodoxin have been examined. These effectors stimulate the production of cyclic AMP and thus steroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex. Using bovine adrenocortical cells in primary monolayer culture, we have shown that treatment with cholera toxin results in increased synthesis of cytochromes P-450scc and P-45011 beta and adrenodoxin, similar to the effect observed upon ACTH treatment. Prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha are less effective at inducing the synthesis of the mitochondrial cytochromes P-450, and do not seem to induce the synthesis of adrenodoxin. Furthermore, cholera toxin was found to be less effective at inducing the synthesis of microsomal cytochrome P-450C21 than ACTH, and no more effective than the prostaglandins. Thus, while it appears that elevation of cyclic AMP levels is a necessary step leading to increased synthesis of adrenocortical forms of cytochrome P-450, the detailed mechanism of this induction will be found to be different for each of the different enzymes.