Molecular cloning of rat insulin-like growth factor I complementary deoxyribonucleic acids: differential messenger ribonucleic acid processing and regulation by growth hormone in extrahepatic tissues

Recombinant murine tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibits cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 and insulin-like growth factor-I gene expression in rat Leydig cells

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of murine recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on rat Leydig cell function. In primary cultures of Leydig cells, we found that in the presence of hCG (10 ng/ml), testosterone levels were markedly elevated, 69.3 +/- 3.1 ng/10(6) cells/h (mean + SE). TNF-alpha in a concentration of 1 ng/ml markedly inhibited testosterone biosynthesis (a 69% reduction; p < 0.01) and 100 ng/ml of TNF-alpha almost completely inhibited testosterone formation (p < 0.001). TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml) inhibited hCG (0.1, 1 and 10 ng/ml)-induced testosterone formation by 63%, 67% and 61%, respectively. TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml) also markedly inhibited 8-bromo cAMP-induced testosterone formation from 76 +/- 9 ng/10(6) cells/h to 4.9 ng/10(6) cells/h. This indicates that the major effect of TNF-alpha is at steps beyond LH receptor site. To further evaluate the site(s) of action of TNF-alpha, we evaluated its effect on the conversion of precursor steroids to testosterone. We found that the addition of 20-hydroxy-cholesterol could not reverse inhibitory effects of TNF-alpha on hCG-induced testosterone formation. TNF-alpha had no effect on the conversions of pregnenolone, 17-OH-pregnenolone, DHEA and androstenedione to testosterone. This indicates that the major effect of TNF-alpha is at the key steroidogenic enzyme, P450scc. We reported previously that human recombinant TNF-alpha had no effect on hCG-induced testosterone formation but did enhance the inhibitory effects of human recombinant IL-1beta. In the present study, we demonstrated that both murine TNF-alpha and human IL-1beta were potent inhibitors of hCG-induced testosterone formation. IL-1beta alone in concentrations of 0.1, 1 and 10 ng/ml inhibited testosterone formation by 45%, 62% and 91%, respectively, in the presence of TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml), IL-1beta in a concentration as low as 0.1 ng/ml completely blocked hCG-induced testosterone formation. We next evaluated the effect of TNF-alpha on P450scc gene expression. There was no constitutively expressed P450scc mRNA in Leydig cells after 24 h in culture. In response to hCG, there was a 33-fold increase in the P450scc mRNA level. Both TNF-alpha and IL-1beta inhibited hCG-induced expression of P450scc mRNA. Finally, the effect of TNF-alpha on IGF-I gene expression was investigated since IGF-I enhances Leydig cell androgen formation and IGF-I gene is expressed in high levels in Leydig cells. TNF-alpha inhibited both large (7.4 kb) and small species (0.8-1.2 kb) IGF-I mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, murine TNF-alpha is a potent inhibitor of Leydig cell function. TNF-alpha inhibited both P450scc and IGF-I mRNA gene expression.

Characterization, regulation, and function of specific cell membrane receptors for insulin-like growth factor I on bone endothelial cells

It is now widely accepted that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) has a local regulatory role in bone remodeling. IGF-I has also been demonstrated to regulate proliferation of bone-derived endothelial cells. Such studies suggest a role of IGF-I in skeletal angiogenesis. Using BBE cells, a bovine bone endothelial cell line, we characterized the kinetics and chemical properties of IGF-I receptors and examined the effect of IGF-I on bone endothelium migration. Two classes of binding sites with high affinity for IGF-I were detected by binding experiments on bone endothelial cells. Both competition analyses and cross-linking studies revealed the presence of type I IGF receptor in bone endothelial cells. Moreover, these cells produced and released authentic IGF-I into the medium, as evidenced by radioimmunoassay analyses of gel-filtered conditioned media. Both IGF-I binding capacity and release decreased either with increases in cell number or after treatment with 17 beta-estradiol (17 beta E2) and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Both hormones also inhibited chemotactic responses of bone endothelial cells to IGF-I. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that IGF-I, a growth factor that promotes the proliferation of various bone cell types, also induces growth and chemotactic responses in bone endothelium acting through the type I IGF receptor. This may be part of a generalized response of bone cells to IGF-I that facilitates cell migration.

Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization study of an insulin-like substance in fetal neuron cell cultures

We studied the ability of fetal neuron cell cultures from different rabbit fetal brain gestational ages to produce and secrete an insulin-like substance (ILS). Neurons from 22-day gestation were incubated in serum-containing medium or insulin-free/serum-free medium, and 18-day gestation fetal rabbit neurons were also incubated in serum-free/insulin containing medium and serum-containing medium. The 22-day cultures survived in the serum-containing medium and the insulin-free/serum-free medium. The 18-day cultures died when incubated in the insulin-free/serum-free or serum-free/insulin-containing medium, but survived when incubated in serum-containing medium. Using immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques, ILS and insulin-like mRNA were demonstrated within the 22-day cultures incubated in all media compositions, but not within the 18-day cultures incubated in the serum-containing medium. Ultrastructural studies of the 22-day cultures demonstrated an ILS in the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi and cytoplasm. Northern blots showed the presence of an insulin-like mRNA within the 22-day gestation neuron cell cultures. Insulin receptor was present in the 22-day cultures, but was absent in the 18-day cultures. In addition, we characterized the ILS from the 22-day cultures incubated in the insulin-free/serum-free medium employing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), radioimmunoassay and Western blots. Analysis by HPLC and Western blots demonstrated the presence of an ILS in the extract. We have shown that while 22-day fetal neuron cultures produce and secrete an insulin-like substance indistinguishable from authentic insulin, neuron cell cultures from early brain development do not express this capability.

Induction of myocardial insulin-like growth factor-I gene expression in left ventricular hypertrophy

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular hypertrophy is a generalized adaptation to increased afterload, but the growth factors mediating this response have not been identified. To explore whether the hypertrophic response was associated with changes in local insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene regulation, we examined the induction of the cardiac IGF-I gene in three models of systolic hypertension and resultant hypertrophy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The model systems were suprarenal aortic constriction, uninephrectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and uninephrectomized, deoxycorticosterone-treated, saline-fed rats (DOCA salt). Systolic blood pressure reached hypertensive levels at 3 to 4 weeks in all three systems. A differential increase in ventricular weight to body weight (hypertrophy) occurred at 3 weeks in the SHR and aortic constriction models and at 4 weeks in the DOCA salt model. Ventricular IGF-I mRNA was detected by solution hybridization/RNase protection assay. IGF-I mRNA levels increased in all three systems coincident with the onset of hypertension and the development of ventricular hypertrophy. Maximum induction was 10-fold over control at 5 weeks in the aortic constriction model, 8-fold at 3 weeks in the SHR, and 6-fold at 6 weeks in the DOCA salt model. IGF-I mRNA levels returned to control values by the end of the experimental period despite continued hypertension and hypertrophy in all three systems. In contrast, ventricular c-myc mRNA content increased twofold to threefold at 1 week and returned to control levels by 2 weeks. Ventricular IGF-I receptor mRNA levels were unchanged over the time course studied. The increased ventricular IGF-I mRNA content was reflected in an increased ventricular IGF-I protein content, as determined both by radioimmunoassay and immunofluorescence histochemistry.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that (1) hypertension induces significant increases in cardiac IGF-I mRNA and protein that occur coordinately with its onset and early in the development of hypertrophy, (2) IGF-I mRNA levels normalize as the hypertrophic response is established, (3) in comparison to IGF-I, both c-myc and IGF-I receptor genes are differentially controlled in experimental hypertension. These findings suggest that IGF-I may participate in initiating ventricular hypertrophy in response to altered loading conditions. The consistency of these findings in models of high-, moderate-, and low-renin hypertension suggests that they occur independently of the systemic renin-angiotensin endocrine axis.

Effect of ethanol on insulin-like growth factor-II release from fetal organs

This study examines the effect of ethanol (ETOH) exposure and nutrient restriction on the release of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II from 18- and 20-day explanted fetal organs. Fetuses were exposed to ETOH (E) in utero by feeding dams a 36% (calories derived from ETOH: 6.6% v/v) ETOH liquid diet. Control fetuses were offsprings of dams either pair-fed (P) a control liquid diet or ad libitum (A) fed a standard pelleted lab chow. Brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, and placenta of fetuses from the same litter were pooled and explanted, and IGF-II concentration in explanted media was analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Maternal and fetal weights were determined during pregnancy and at sacrifice, respectively, to evaluate the influence of ETOH on growth. Both maternal and fetal weights were substantially reduced by ETOH on 18 and 20 days of gestation compared with both A and P controls. At 18 days of gestation, E fetuses (1.33 +/- 0.03 g) weighed less than either A (1.47 +/- 0.03 g) or P (1.54 +/- 0.04 g) fetuses. By 20 days, A mean fetal weight (4.19 +/- 0.23 g) was significantly greater than both P (3.74 +/- 0.06 g) and E (3.28 +/- 0.06 g) fetuses. IGF-II concentration in media from 18-day fetal explants was highest from E (brain, heart, liver, and placenta) and P tissues (kidney, lung, and muscle). IGF-II in media from A tissues (except placenta) was lower than both E and P levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evidence for a direct effect of growth hormone on osteoblasts

In order to determine whether growth hormone (GH) exerts a direct effect on osteoblasts, in vitro and in vivo immunocytological studies were carried out on newborn rat calvaria and a clonal osteoblast-like cell line (MC3T3-E1) isolated from newborn mouse calvaria. After exposure to human growth hormone (hGH) or 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase activity was observed in MC3T3-E1 cells. Simultaneous exposure of MC3T3-E1 cells to hGH and 10 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 showed a synergistic effect of the two hormones on this activity. The optimal dose of hGH was 0.1 nM. An immunocytological procedure was performed on ultrathin frozen sections from 7-day-old rat calvaria and MC3T3-E1 cells cultured with hGH. GH-like immunoreactivity was observed in both cases. In calvaria, endogenous GH-like immunoreactivity was localized at the same ultrastructural level (plasma membrane, cytoplasmic and nuclear matrices) as exogenous GH-like immunoreactivity in MC3T3-E1 cells. Following the initial step of binding to the plasma membrane, GH may be internalized in the cytoplasmic matrix and nucleus. In situ hybridization revealed the presence of mRNA coding for GH receptor in calvaria cells. The density of these receptors seemed to be lower in osteoblasts than in hepatocytes. In MC3T3-E1 cells, hGH induced a dose-dependent secretion of insulin-like growth factor 1. In conclusion, these results indicate that GH may act directly on osteoblasts.

Expression, localization and developmental regulation of insulin-like growth factor I mRNA in rat submandibular gland

The mRNA for insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in the submandibular gland of mature and developing rats was examined by Northern blotting and in situ hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe. In the mature adult rat, IGF-I mRNA was expressed at a higher level in the submandibular gland than in the liver, and was localized primarily in the granular convoluted tubule (GCT) cells. A 4.7-kb mRNA on Northern blots, which was expressed only slightly in the liver, proved to be the predominant size species of IGF-I transcripts in the GCT cells, and its level increased progressively with the postnatal development of GCTs in the gland. In addition, a 1.8-kb mRNA for IGF-I was also expressed at a much lower level throughout the acinar and duct systems, irrespective of age. These results have shed a light on the status of IGF-I as one of the many biologically active polypeptides that are produced in the rodent submandibular gland.

Phylogeny of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and receptors: a molecular approach

The IGFs (IGF-I and IGF-II) are essential for normal mammalian growth and development. Their actions are mediated primarily by their interactions with the type I IGF receptor (IGF-I receptor), a transmembrane tyrosine kinase. The ligands and the IGF-I receptor are structurally related to insulin and to the insulin receptor, respectively. Analysis of evolutionary conservation has often provided insights into essential regions of molecules such as hormones and their receptors. The genes for insulin and IGFs have been partially characterized in a number of vertebrate species extending evolutionarily from humans as far back as fish. The sequences of the exons encoding the mature insulin and IGF peptides are highly conserved among vertebrate species, and IGF-I-like molecules are found in species whose origins extend back as much as 550 million years. The insulin receptor is also highly conserved in vertebrate species, and an insulin-receptor-like molecule has been characterized in Drosophila. In contrast, IGF-I receptors have only been characterized in mammalian species and partially studied in Xenopus, in which the tyrosine kinase domain is highly conserved. Studies are presently being undertaken to analyze in more detail the regulation of the genes encoding this important family of growth factors and the structure/function relationships in the gene products themselves.

Multiple transcription start sites in the rat insulin-like growth factor-I gene give rise to IGF-I mRNAs that encode different IGF-I precursors and are processed differently in vitro

Two distinct class 1 and class 2 rat liver IGF-I mRNAs contain different 5' leader exons, 1 and 2. RNase protection, primer extension, RACE PCR and ribonuclease H mapping established the complete structure of the 5' end of class 1 and class 2 IGF-I mRNAs. Two major transcription start sites in exon 1 yield class 1 IGF-I mRNAs, including 345 or 245 bases of exon 1. Multiple, clustered transcription start sites in exon 2 yield class 2 IGF-I mRNAs with 84-50 bases of exon 2. Cell-free translation of in vitro transcribed IGF-I mRNAs suggests that class 1 and class 2 mRNAs preferentially initiate translation at distinct AUG codons to result in IGF-I precursors with either 48 residue class 1 pre-peptides or 32 residue class 2 pre-peptides. Some translation initiation also occurs at a downstream AUG common to class 1 and 2 mRNAs to yield IGF-I precursors with a 22 residue pre-peptide. Inclusion of microsomal membranes in translations suggests that the three different pre-peptides each function as co-translationally cleaved signal peptides. However, treatment of processed precursors with endoglycosidase H indicates that co-translational processing of precursors with 22 and 32 residue pre-peptides leads to glycosylation of downstream IGF-I precursor sequences whereas co-translational processing of precursors with 48 residue pre-peptide is not associated with glycosylation.

Osteoblast-specific expression of growth hormone stimulates bone growth in transgenic mice

Growth hormone (GH) is an important regulator of postnatal growth, acting on a wide variety of target tissues. Here, we show that local production of GH in osteoblasts is able to stimulate bone growth directly without significant systemic effects. Mice were made transgenic by microinjection of an osteocalcin-human GH (osteocalcin-hGH) gene construct in which approximately 1,800 bp of the rat osteocalcin promoter was fused to the hGH gene. Five lines of transgenic mice, each with measurable amounts of serum hGH (ranging from 1 to 1,000 ng/ml), were analyzed. Northern (RNA) blot hybridization showed that the hGH transcript was detectable only in the bone. Further characterization of hGH mRNA distribution by in situ hybridization revealed that in neonates the most intense signal was found in periosteal osteoblasts, while in adults, trabecular and endosteal osteoblasts were favored. In one transgenic line (992-1), hGH was expressed at a much lower level and had minimal systemic effects; however, the local concentrations of hGH in bone were sufficient to stimulate bone growth in these animals.

Osteoblast-specific expression of growth hormone stimulates bone growth in transgenic mice

Growth hormone (GH) is an important regulator of postnatal growth, acting on a wide variety of target tissues. Here, we show that local production of GH in osteoblasts is able to stimulate bone growth directly without significant systemic effects. Mice were made transgenic by microinjection of an osteocalcin-human GH (osteocalcin-hGH) gene construct in which approximately 1,800 bp of the rat osteocalcin promoter was fused to the hGH gene. Five lines of transgenic mice, each with measurable amounts of serum hGH (ranging from 1 to 1,000 ng/ml), were analyzed. Northern (RNA) blot hybridization showed that the hGH transcript was detectable only in the bone. Further characterization of hGH mRNA distribution by in situ hybridization revealed that in neonates the most intense signal was found in periosteal osteoblasts, while in adults, trabecular and endosteal osteoblasts were favored. In one transgenic line (992-1), hGH was expressed at a much lower level and had minimal systemic effects; however, the local concentrations of hGH in bone were sufficient to stimulate bone growth in these animals.

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor-I and its receptor in rat aorta after balloon denudation. Evidence for local bioactivity

Local production of growth factors may play a major role in vascular repair after injury. We examined the regulation of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its specific membrane receptor in balloon-denuded rat aorta. Aortic IGF-I mRNA and radioimmunoassayable IGF-I content increased severalfold after balloon denudation with a peak at 7 d after injury. This coincided with a reciprocal 25% decrease in IGF-I receptor mRNA content and a 40% decrease in total 125I-IGF-I binding. Scatchard analysis indicated a single class of binding sites, with a decrease in receptor number at 7 d compared to control and no change in affinity. By in situ hybridization the predominant site of IGF-I expression in the normal and the denuded vessel wall was the medial smooth muscle cell. After denudation there was a relative decrease in IGF-I receptor mRNA in the medial cells as compared to the neointima, suggesting that the site of IGF-I action was predominantly in the medial layer. These data suggest that local expression and action of IGF-I are significant in the promotion of smooth muscle cell proliferation after arterial injury.

A mitogenic peptide amide encoded within the E peptide domain of the insulin-like growth factor IB prohormone

We have identified an amino acid sequence within the E peptide of the insulin-like growth factor IB (IGF-IB) precursor that is biologically active and designated this peptide insulin-like growth factor IB-(103-124) E1 amide (IBE1). Its existence was predicted by a flanking Gly-Lys-Lys-Lys, a signal sequence for sequential proteolytic cleavage and peptidyl C-terminal amidation. A synthetic analog of the predicted IBE1 peptide, designated Y-23-R-NH2, was generated with tyrosine added at position 0. This peptide at 2-20 nM had growth-promoting effects on both normal and malignant human bronchial epithelial cells. Y-23-R-NH2 bound to specific high-affinity receptors (Kd = 2.8 +/- 1.4 x 10(-11) M) present at 1-2 x 10(4) binding sites per cell. Ligand binding was not inhibited by recombinant insulin or recombinant IGF-I. Furthermore, a monoclonal antibody antagonist to the IGF-I receptor (alpha IR3) did not suppress the proliferative response induced by Y-23-R-NH2. In addition, C-terminal amidation was shown to be important in receptor recognition since the free-acid analog of IBE1 (Y-23-R-OH) did not effectively compete for binding and was not a potent agonist of proliferation. Immunoblot analysis of human lung tumor cell line extracts using an antibody raised against Y-23-R-NH2 detected a low molecular mass band of approximately 5 kDa, implying that a protein product is produced that has immunological similarity to IBE1. Extracts of human, mammalian, and avian livers analyzed on an immunoblot with the anti-Y-23-R-NH2 antibody contained proteins of approximately 21 kDa that were specifically recognized by the antiserum and presumably represent an IGF-I precursor molecule. This implies that in species where an IGF-I mRNA with homology to the human IGF-IB E domain has not yet been described, an alternate mRNA must be produced that contains a sequence similar to that of the midportion of the human IGF-IB E domain. Our findings demonstrate that IBE1 is a growth factor that mediates its effect through a specific high-affinity receptor and is most likely conserved in many species.

Structural characterization of exon 6 of the rat IGF-I gene

In rat liver, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mRNAs exist as two major size classes of 7.5-7.0 kb and 1.2-0.9 kb. The 7.5- to 7.0-kb IGF-I mRNAs predominate in some nonhepatic tissues of the rat. Because the previously reported sequences of rat IGF-I cDNAs and genomic clones account for only 2.1 kb of sequence, the majority of the sequence of 7.5- to 7.0-kb rat IGF-I mRNAs was unknown. Using a combination of nucleotide sequencing of genomic DNA and cDNA clones and Northern hybridization and RNase protection, we have characterized a 6,354-base-long 3' exon (exon 6) of the rat IGF-I gene. The sequence of exon 6 establishes the previously unknown sequence of the 3' end of the 7.5- to 7.0-kb rat IGF-I mRNAs, comprised predominantly of an unusually long 3' untranslated sequence (3'UT). The long 3'UT contains multiple ATTTA, A(T)nA, and (T)nA sequences, as well as inverted repeats. These sequences may contribute to the shorter half-life of the 7.5- to 7.0-kb rat IGF-I mRNAs relative to the 1.2- to 0.9-kb forms that have been demonstrated previously in vitro and in vivo. We also demonstrate that the 7.5- to 7.0-kb rat IGF-I mRNAs are localized to the cytoplasm of rat liver, providing indirect evidence that they are mature and functional mRNAs.

Functional analysis of the rat insulin-like growth factor I gene and identification of an IGF-I gene promoter

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mediates many of the systemic growth-promoting effects of growth hormone and also functions as a locally acting growth stimulator. In mammals, IGF-I gene expression is complicated, as the gene is transcribed and processed into multiple mRNAs (ranging in length from less than 1 to nearly 7.5 kb) that encode at least two protein precursors. As a step toward understanding the regulation of IGF-I, we report the complete organization of the rat IGF-I gene, including identification of the structural determinants for all IGF-I mRNA species, and an initial functional analysis of its promoters. The gene is composed of 6 exons distributed over nearly 80 kb of chromosomal DNA and is structurally heterogeneous. Several transcription start sites were identified within IGF-I exons 1 and 2, adjacent to presumptive promoters 1 and 2, respectively, and at least three polyadenylation sites were mapped to exon 6. To test promoter function, fusion genes were constructed linking fragments of IGF-I DNA to a reporter plasmid. Chimeric genes containing at least 395 bp of DNA from the 5'-flanking region of exon 1 enhanced luciferase activity after transfection into the IGF-I-producing SK-N-MC cell line, while fusion plasmids containing up to 1,300 bp of DNA from the 5'-flanking region of exon 2 were inactive. Relative levels of IGF-I mRNAs containing exons 1 or 2 varied among different rat tissues, although in response to acute or chronic growth hormone treatment both classes of transcripts were induced coordinately in rat liver. These observations represent the first thorough characterization of a mammalian IGF-I gene, and provide a starting point for defining the mechanisms by which growth hormone and other trophic factors regulate IGF-I gene expression.

Effect of epidermal growth factor on insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein synthesis by adult rat hepatocytes

Growth hormone has been established as a primary regulator of IGF-I gene expression in adults, not only in liver but also in many extrahepatic tissues. We considered the possibility that IGF-I production by adult rat liver could also be stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF), a peptide known to be involved in liver regeneration. Chromatographic analysis performed after acid treatment of conditioned media revealed the presence of both immunoreactive (IR) IGF-I and IGF binding protein (IGFBP). Both IR IGF-I and IGFBP were present in the conditioned medium of adult rat hepatocytes in basal conditions. The stimulation of IGF-I and IGFBP secretion by EGF appears to be dose-dependent with a significant increment already evident at 5 nM. That EGF stimulates secretion is supported by the finding that IGF-I and IGFBP-1 mRNA levels are increased after EGF supplementation. We conclude that adult rat hepatocytes spontaneously produce IGF-I and IGFBP, and that EGF is able to increase their synthesis and secretion. This non-growth hormone-dependent regulation of IGF-I and IGFBP-1 production by adult rat hepatocytes in culture indicates an important autocrine/paracrine role for IGF-I, particularly during liver regeneration after extensive organ mass loss.

Effects of hypophysectomy on vascular insulin-like growth factor-I gene expression after balloon denudation in rats

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a widely distributed mediator of the growth promoting effects of growth hormone (GH). We sought to determine whether the relationship between GH and IGF-I extends to the vascular system, where IGF-I is proposed to participate in the process of neointimal proliferation after balloon denudation. We show that in hypophysectomized rats basal aortic IGF-I mRNA is one-tenth that of normal rats and is increased after balloon denudation. The induction peaks at 7 days after balloon denudation at about 10-fold control levels, similar to normal rats. Treatment with GH restores basal IGF-I mRNA content to approximately half that of normal rats, without further increase in the relative magnitude of induction after balloon denudation. This local induction of IGF-I gene expression in the vessel wall following injury might explain why neointimal proliferation is not inhibited more profoundly after hypophysectomy.

Renal insulin-like growth factor I and growth hormone receptor binding in experimental diabetes and after unilateral nephrectomy in the rat

We have measured specific binding of insulin-like growth factor I and growth hormone to renal plasma membranes from control, streptozotocin-diabetic, insulin-treated diabetic, uninephrectomised and combined diabetic-uninephrectomised male Wistar rats. Control, insulin-treated and uninephrectomised rats had similar body weights after 7 days (243 +/- 2 g), whereas diabetic and diabetic-uninephrectomised animals were significantly lighter (219 +/- 4 and 203 +/- 4 g, p less than 0.05). Blood glucose concentrations were similar in the diabetic and diabetic-uninephrectomised animals (around 26 mmol/l) but significantly lower in the insulin-treated group. Right kidney weight increased by 14% in the control, insulin-treated and sham-nephrectomised animals, by 33% in the diabetic group, 38% in thenephrectomised animals and 60% in the diabetic-nephrectomised group. The renal content of insulin-like growth factor I was similar and stable in the control, insulin-treated and sham-nephrectomised animals (208 +/- 14 ng/g wet weight) but rose to a peak of 669 +/- 35 ng/g in the diabetic group (p less than 0.001), 871 +/- 34 ng/g in the nephrectomised animals (p less than 0.001) and 1012 +/- 43 ng/g in the diabetic-uninephrectomised group (p less than 0.001). Maximum binding of insulin-like growth factor I fell on day 1 in the diabetic group (8.3 +/- 1.4 vs 5.2 +/- 0.71 x 10(-11) mol/l; p less than 0.01) but thereafter was identical to control animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Insulin-like growth factors I and II are produced in the metanephros and are required for growth and development in vitro

The role(s) of one family of polypeptide growth factors in a developing organ system was examined. Renal anlagen (metanephroi) were surgically removed from 13-d-old rat embryos and grown in organ culture for up to 6 d. Over this period of time when placed in serum-free defined media, the metanephroi increased in size and morphologic complexity. Messenger RNAs for both insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), IGF I and IGF II, were present in the metanephroi. Immunoreactive IGF I and IGF II were produced by the renal anlagen and released into culture media. Levels were relatively constant during the 6 d in culture and averaged 3.5 X 10(-9) M IGF I and 8.3 X 10(-9) M IGF II in media removed from metanephroi after contact for 24 h. IGF binding protein activity was not detected in culture media. Growth and development of metanephroi in vitro was prevented by the addition of anti-IGF I or anti-IGF II antibodies to organ cultures. IGF II produced by metanephroi was active in an IGF II biological assay system and addition of anti-IGF II receptor antibodies to organ cultures prevented growth and development, consistent with the action of IGF II in metanephroi being mediated via the IGF II receptor. The data demonstrate production of both IGF I and IGF II by developing rat metanephroi in organ culture. Each of these peptides is necessary for growth and development of the renal anlage to take place in vitro. Our findings suggest that both IGF I and IGF II are produced within the developing metanephros in vivo and promote renal organogenesis.

Identification of multiple transcription start sites in the human insulin-like growth factor-I gene

We have localized four transcription initiation sites in the human insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene. Two transcription start sites were identified which result in a longer and shorter version of the leader derived from the known exon 1 of the IGF-I gene. Transcription starting at the upstream transcription initiation site results in a leader exon 1 of about 1155 nucleotides (nt), whereas transcription starting at the downstream initiation site results in a leader of about 240 nt. The majority of the transcripts initiate at the latter site. We further identified a region in the human IGF-I gene between exons 1 and 2, which shows a high degree of homology with the rat IGF-I leader exon 1B. By means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) we detected human IGF-I mRNAs containing this novel leader. The corresponding exon was designated exon 1B according to the rat IGF-I gene terminology. PCR and RNase protection analyses identified two transcription start sites within this alternative leader exon 1B. Transcription initiated at the most upstream start site results in a leader of about 750 nt, whereas transcription starting at the downstream site is heterogeneous, resulting in leaders of 65-75 nt long. No consensus TATA-box or AT-rich regions are present immediately upstream of all four transcription start sites identified, nor are these regions particularly GC-rich. The IGF-I gene is known to be expressed differentially in a tissue- and development-specific fashion. Differential activation of multiple promoters could very well play a crucial role in IGF-I gene regulation.

Transcription initiation in the two leader exons of the rat IGF-I gene occurs from disperse versus localized sites

Rat IGF-I mRNAs contain two different 5'-UTR sequences as a result of alternate splicing of leader exons. Using a combination of solution hybridization/RNase protection and primer extension assays, we have mapped the transcriptional start sites in these leader exons. There appear to be three putative transcription start sites in exon 1 spread over a 140-bp region, the most upstream of which defines a 381 bp-long exon 1. There appear to be three distinct start sites in exon 2, the most upstream of which defines a greater than 770 bp-long exon 2. The two downstream start sites in exon 1 together account for approximately 70% of IGF-I gene expression in adult rat liver. Essentially all of the remaining IGF-I gene expression comes from the second start site in exon 2. Rat IGF-I gene transcription may therefore be regulated by two distinct promoter regions, a disperse promoter for exon 1, with several transcription initiation sites, and a more typical promoter region for exon 2, which controls transcription initiation from a discrete region.

Synthesis of the acid-labile subunit of the growth-hormone-dependent insulin-like-growth-factor-binding protein complex by rat hepatocytes in culture

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) circulate predominantly in a growth-hormone-dependent ternary complex of 125-150 kDa. This study investigates the production of the alpha-subunit of this complex, an acid-labile glycoprotein without intrinsic IGF-binding activity, which binds to the IGF-binding protein IGFBP-3 in the presence of IGFs. Medium conditioned by primary cultures of rat hepatocytes produced alpha-subunit with similar complex-forming activity to purified rat serum alpha-subunit. Bovine growth hormone stimulated hepatocyte production of both IGF-I and alpha-subunit. IGF-I tracer bound to pure rat IGFBP-3 was converted from approx. 60 kDa to 150 kDa by serum alpha-subunit, whole rat serum or rat hepatocyte culture medium; this converting activity was destroyed by transient acidification. In contrast, IGF-I bound to hepatocyte-medium IGF-binding proteins could not be converted into a high-molecular-mass from by purified rat serum alpha-subunit. Rat serum and hepatocyte-medium alpha-subunit appeared identical by electrophoretic analysis, since reaction of either with cross-linked IGF-I.IGFBP-3 tracer resulted in bands of molecular mass 130 kDa and 160 kDa, probably representing intact and partially deglycosylated complexes. However, IGF-binding proteins in rat serum and hepatocyte medium were different, in that affinity labelling of medium binding proteins, depleted of endogenous IGFs, showed no evidence of the 50-60 kDa cluster of bands characteristic of rat serum IGFBP-3. We conclude that rat hepatocytes in primary culture produce alpha-subunit similar to that in rat serum; however, alpha-subunit is unable to form ternary complexes with hepatocyte IGF-binding proteins, since cultured hepatocytes do not secrete IGFBP-3.

Effects of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I on glomerular dynamics in the rat

This study was undertaken to investigate the mechanisms by which an infusion of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I (rhIGF-I) increases GFR and renal plasma flow (RPF) in rats. Glomerular micropuncture studies were carried out in 14 nonstarved Munich Wistar rats and in 12 rats deprived of food for 60-72 h. Animals were given an intravenous injection and infusion of either rhIGF-I or vehicle. In both nonstarved and starved animals, the IGF-I injection and infusion increased the serum IGF-I levels, left kidney GFR, single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR), single nephron blood flow rate (SNBF), and single nephron plasma flow rate (SNPF). The increase in SNPF and SNGFR was in part due to a fall in efferent arteriolar resistance (RE); there was a tendency, not significant, for afferent arteriolar resistance (RA) to fall in comparison to controls. The increase in SNGFR was partly caused by a rise in SNPF but was primarily due to an increase in glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient (LpA) to twice the control values. The increase in LpA resulted in an increase in SNGFR because the rats operated at ultrafiltration pressure disequilibrium. Control starved as compared with nonstarved rats had lower SNGFR, SNBF, and SNPF. This reduction was due to a tendency, not significant, for both RA and RE to be higher. Decreased SNGFR in food-deprived rats resulted from a reduced SNPF, a lower glomerular transcapillary hydrostatic pressure difference (delta P), and possibly a somewhat reduced LpA. These data indicate that IGF-I increases SNGFR, SNPF, and SNBF primarily by increasing LpA and also by decreasing RE without affecting delta P. Short-term starvation lowers SNGFR, SNPF, and SNBF primarily by decreasing delta P and possibly by lowering LpA and increasing RA and RE. IGF-I reverses some of the glomerular hemodynamic effects of short-term food deprivation.

Insulin-like growth factor receptors in testicular vascular tissue from normal and diabetic rats

Testicular blood vessels contain IGF-I and IGF-II/M6P receptors. Binding to these receptors was altered following treatment with streptozotocin to induce diabetes. Intensity of labelling and size of receptors were examined using SDS-gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The IGF-I and IGF-II/M6P receptor of the diabetic rat testicular microvessels appear to have a lower molecular weight as compared to controls. Macro- and microvascular tissues from diabetic rats apparently contain more IGF-I receptors than normal Sprague-Dawley rats. Using immunohistochemical techniques, the IGF-II/M6P receptor appears to dissociate easier from diabetic rat testicular arteries than from control animal blood vessels. M6P appears to increase both IGF-I and IGF-II binding to the rat IGF-II/M6P receptor, at least as visualized using affinity crosslinking analysis. Whether these differences in the IGF receptors are involved in the development of diabetic vascular disease is not yet known.

Structure, evolution, expression and regulation of insulin-like growth factors I and II

Insulin-like growth factors (IGF) I and II are chemically-related single-chain peptides with diverse actions on cellular growth and metabolism. This review will focus on recent information pertinent to the biochemical and molecular biological aspects of these peptides. Three areas will be examined: The structure of the two IGF molecules and their precursors will be analyzed; the complicated anatomy of the IGF genes and their mRNAs will be described; and the multiple ways in which the expression of IGF-I and IGF-II can be regulated will be discussed. Gaps in our understanding of these peptides will be highlighted in the context of opportunities for further investigation in this field.

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor-I messenger ribonucleic acid expression in Leydig cells

In the present study, we evaluated insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) messenger RNA expression in the rat testis. Crude interstitial cells were separated into three distinct bands on 15-60% Percoll density gradients. IGF-I mRNA was mainly localized in the Leydig cell-enriched fraction (band 3), while band 1 and band 2 cells did not contain significant amounts of IGF-I mRNA. Leydig cell IGF-I mRNA consisted of multiple species varying from 0.8 to 7.5 kb and was present in rat Leydig cells all ages examined, from 25 to 55 days old. To further document that IGF-I mRNAs are present in Leydig cells, the method of Klinefelter et al. (Biol. Reprod. (1987) 36, 769-783) was used to isolate highly purified (greater than 98% pure) Leydig cells. Most of the IGF-I mRNA was localized in these Leydig cells, while there was no detectable IGF-I mRNA in the whole testis or other interstitial cells. Furthermore, IGF-I mRNA in Leydig cells was increased more than 2-fold by growth hormone (GH) administration in vivo. This suggests that IGF-I mRNA in Leydig cells is also GH dependent. Interstitial IGF-I produced in Leydig cells may have both autocrine and paracrine effects in the testis.

[Principles and clinical significance of insulin-like growth factors/somatomedins]

The Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGFs) or Somatomedins are polypeptide growth factors which are similar to insulin in respect to their aminoacid sequence, structure and biologic activities. The IGFs bind to high affinity receptors which are present on many cells and in many tissues. In the circulation the IGFs are bound to transport (binding) proteins (IGF-BPs). In this review the physiologic role, the basic chemistry and the gene expression of this family of growth factors is summarized systematically. The pathophysiology of growth disorders, diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, liver and kidney disease in relation to the IGFs as well as the therapeutic and diagnostic potentials of these peptides are discussed in detail.

Insulinlike growth factor 1 regulates mRNA levels of osteonectin and pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen in clonal preosteoblastic calvarial cells

A nontransformed rat clonal cell line (UMR-201) with phenotypic characteristics of osteoblastic precursor cells was found to respond to insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) by increased osteonectin and pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen mRNA expression. Cells were treated for 24 h with insulin, growth hormone, or IGF-1 to study the regulation of messenger RNA for osteonectin and pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen using Northern blot hybridization. UMR-201 cells possess specific high-affinity receptors for growth hormone, although there were no significant effects of growth hormone (10(-9)-10(-7) M) or insulin (10(-9)-10(-6) M) on mRNA species for osteonectin or pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen. However, IGF-1 increased both mRNA species from a concentration of 10(-9) M. The effect on osteonectin mRNA expression was likely due to increased transcription; when 5' flanking osteonectin (ON) genomic fragments were linked to the bacterial reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) and introduced by transfection into UMR-201 cells, the transcriptional activity of the ON-CAT construct was increased 235 and 270% by 10(-8) and 10(-7) M IGF-1, respectively. In contrast, growth hormone did not change the transcriptional activity of the ON-CAT construct. In confirmation of other work, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta, 0.1-2.5 ng/ml) increased mRNA for osteonectin and pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen in a dose-dependent manner. Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) at 0.1-10 ng/ml had no consistent effects in repeated experiments on osteonectin and pro-alpha 1(I)-collagen mRNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Induction of insulin-like growth factor I messenger RNA in rat aorta after balloon denudation

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a widely distributed mitogen that mediates the growth-promoting effects of platelet-derived growth factor in mesenchymal cells. We show that rat aortic IGF-I messenger RNA (mRNA) is induced 24 hours after deendothelialization, at a time when smooth muscle cell proliferation within the intima is still not apparent. After 7 days, IGF-I mRNA induction peaks at about ninefold control levels and then falls to about threefold 14 days after denudation when smooth muscle cell proliferation is at its peak. We also show that, of the 5' untranslated IGF-I mRNA transcripts, only the class C transcript is expressed and regulated in aortic tissue. In contrast, treatment of rats with supraphysiological doses of growth hormone, the major endocrine regulator of IGF-I gene expression, elicited only twofold induction of aortic IGF-I mRNA. Our findings suggest that IGF-I may be an important autocrine or paracrine regulator of smooth muscle cell proliferation and that it may be significant in determining the cellular response to arterial wall injury.

Evidence that Xenopus laevis contains two different nonallelic insulin-like growth factor-I genes

Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we have amplified and characterized partial nucleotide sequences of two distinct insulin-like growth factor-I genes (designated IGF-I' and IGF-I") from the amphibian, Xenopus laevis. The amplified fragments encoded much of the coding region of the mature peptide (exon III in mammalian IGF-I genes), and exhibited 93% similarity to each other, and 68-82% similarity to mammalian IGF-I amino acid sequences. Southern blot analysis using genomic DNA from a homozygous frog revealed that these two genes are nonallelic in a single organism, like the two nonallelic genes encoding Xenopus insulins that we have characterized previously. Furthermore, both IGF-I mRNAs are expressed in similar quantities in adult liver.

Characterization of transgenic livestock production

The objective of transgenic livestock improvement projects is to develop and bring to market superior breeding stock, as well as germplasm for the artificial insemination and embryo transfer industries. Livestock animal biotechnology programs hold the promise of achieving, in a single generation, improvements in commercially important livestock species previously possible only through long-term traditional selective breeding practices or by chance mutation. Transgenic farm animals harboring growth hormone or metabolically related structural genes have been created. Studies of these animals demonstrate the effects of inadequate regulation of transgene expression. Research continues to explore the intricacies of developmental regulation of such genes and phenotypic consequences of mammalian gene transfer. Ultimately, genetically engineered livestock will provide producers with the benefit of increased production efficiencies while the consumer will have healthier animal food products. Conceivably, products will be produced with lower levels of fat, cholesterol, feed additives and pharmaceutical residues from animals with altered carcass composition that will result in greater nutritional benefit for the consumer.

Heterogeneity of rat ovarian lactogen receptor species

Three distinct ovarian lactogen receptor species with unique and highly reproducible HPLC retention times gave corresponding peaks of binding activity and migrated as single bands of 80, 40, and 34 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Reduction of the 80 kDa protein failed to reveal any conversion to the lower molecular weight proteins by either SDS-PAGE analysis or reverse phase HPLC, suggesting that the three binding proteins are not related by disulfide bond formation. Immunological studies indicate an amino acid homology at a C terminal region among the 3 receptor forms and with the rat liver receptor. However, the 80 kDa ovarian receptor also contains a unique sequence derived from microsequencing that is not immunologically apparent in the ovarian lower molecular weight forms of the rat liver receptor. These findings substantiate the existence of at least two populations of ovarian lactogen receptors perhaps originating within the same gene, a high Mr form potentially capable of signal transduction, and truncated forms that could be involved in transport and/or clearance.

Cloning of ovine insulin-like growth factor-I cDNAs: heterogeneity in the mRNA population

We have isolated and characterized lamb liver cDNAs encoding ovine insulin-like growth factor-I (oIGF-I) precursor polypeptide to study IGF-I gene expression in ruminants. Four cDNA clones were sequenced revealing two different exon 1 sequences (designated 1A and 1B) and four different putative poly(A) adenylation sites. cDNAs containing exon 1A or exon 1B encode precursor polypeptides of 138 or 154 amino acids, respectively. A 130-amino-acid peptide is encoded by all cDNAs examined. These precursors include a hydrophobic leader peptide of varying lengths, the 70-amino-acid oIGF-I, and a 35-amino-acid carboxyl terminal extension peptide. The predicted amino acid sequence of the oIGF-I peptide differs from the human, bovine, and porcine IGF-Is at a single amino acid (at position 66, alanine is substituted for proline) and differs from rat and mouse IGF-Is at 4 and 5 positions, respectively. Both the amino- and carboxy-terminal extension peptides showed regions of extensive sequence homology. Ovine IGF-I amino-terminal peptides are 1 amino acid longer than other mammalian IGFs due to the presence of an extra amino acid (glutamine) present at the proposed boundary of exon 1 and exon 2. Northern blot analysis revealed multiple oIGF-I transcripts in a broad band at 800-1,100 nucleotides and other transcripts of higher molecular weight in liver. There was no detectable expression in either spleen or brain.

Growth factors and the regulation of pre- and postnatal growth

Peptide growth factors represent a largely paracrine level of intercellular communication that is basic to the process of life. Growth factors are present in the ovum and are amongst the first products expressed by the embryonic genome. They function as both signals and progression factors for embryonic tissue growth, induction, differentiation, maturation and function. While a widespread tissue expression is demonstrable during fetal development, and in certain postnatal tissues such as the epiphyseal growth plate, growth factor presence in the adult is restricted to tissues sharing rapid cellular turnover such as ovary. However, a transient re-expression of peptide growth factors occurs during adult tissue repair. In addition to mitogenic peptides such as IGFs or EGF, the family of growth factors also includes physiological growth inhibitors such as TGF beta and certain neuropeptides. Insulin is mitogenic in the early embryo and evidence is presented to support a continuation of this role, under defined nutritional conditions, in late gestation. The importance of insulin to pre- and postnatal growth has prompted an expanding literature dealing with the interactions of nutrients, hormones and growth factors during the growth and functional maturation of the islets of Langerhans. While the expression of growth factors in the early embryo is apparently autonomous, some, such as IGFs, become increasingly dependent on nutrient, insulin and GH availability during fetal development and in childhood growth. This has resulted in circulating IGF I and II determinations becoming useful diagnostic markers of endocrine-based growth disorder and nitrogen balance.