TGF-beta1-dependent differential expression of a rat homolog for latent TGF-beta binding protein in astrocytes and C6 glioma cells

A Central Bioactive Region of LTBP-2 Stimulates the Expression of TGF-β1 in Fibroblasts via Akt and p38 Signalling Pathways

Latent transforming growth factor-β-1 binding protein-2 (LTBP-2) belongs to the LTBP-fibrillin superfamily of extracellular proteins. Unlike other LTBPs, LTBP-2 does not covalently bind transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) but appears to be implicated in the regulation of TGF-β1 bioactivity, although the mechanisms are largely unknown. In experiments originally designed to study the displacement of latent TGF-β1 complexes from matrix storage, we found that the addition of exogenous LTBP-2 to cultured human MSU-1.1 fibroblasts caused an increase in TGF-β1 levels in the medium. However, the TGF-β1 increase was due to an upregulation of TGF-β1 expression and secretion rather than a displacement of matrix-stored TGF-β1. The secreted TGF-β1 was mainly in an inactive form, and its concentration peaked around 15 h after addition of LTBP-2. Using a series of recombinant LTBP-2 fragments, the bioactivity was identified to a small region of LTBP-2 consisting of an 8-Cys motif flanked by four epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats. The LTBP-2 stimulation of TGF-β expression involved the phosphorylation of both Akt and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling proteins, and specific inactivation of each protein individually blocked TGF-β1 increase. The search for the cell surface receptor mediating this LTBP-2 activity proved inconclusive. Inhibitory antibodies to integrins β1 and αVβ5 showed no reduction of LTBP-2 stimulation of TGF-β1. However, TGF-β1 upregulation was partially inhibited by anti-αVβ3 integrin antibodies, suggestive of a direct or indirect role for this integrin. Overall, the study indicates that LTBP-2 can directly upregulate cellular TGF-β1 expression and secretion by interaction with cells via a short central bioactive region. This may be significant in connective tissue disorders involving aberrant TGF-β1 signalling.

Molecular Mechanisms Responsible for Neuron-Derived Conditioned Medium (NCM)-Mediated Protection of Ischemic Brain

The protective value of neuron-derived conditioned medium (NCM) in cerebral ischemia and the underlying mechanism(s) responsible for NCM-mediated brain protection against cerebral ischemia were investigated in the study. NCM was first collected from the neuronal culture growing under the in vitro ischemic condition (glucose-, oxygen- and serum-deprivation or GOSD) for 2, 4 or 6 h. Through the focal cerebral ischemia (bilateral CCAO/unilateral MCAO) animal model, we discovered that ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced brain infarction was significantly reduced by NCM, given directly into the cistern magna at the end of 90 min of CCAO/MCAO. Immunoblocking and chemical blocking strategies were applied in the in vitro ischemic studies to show that NCM supplement could protect microglia, astrocytes and neurons from GOSD-induced cell death, in a growth factor (TGFβ1, NT-3 and GDNF) and p-ERK dependent manner. Brain injection with TGFβ1, NT3, GDNF and ERK agonist (DADS) alone or in combination, therefore also significantly decreased the infarct volume of ischemic brain. Moreover, NCM could inhibit ROS but stimulate IL-1β release from GOSD-treated microglia and limit the infiltration of IL-β-positive microglia into the core area of ischemic brain, revealing the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of NCM. In overall, NCM-mediated brain protection against cerebral ischemia has been demonstrated for the first time in S.D. rats, due to its anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and potentially anti-glutamate activities (NCM-induced IL-1β can inhibit the glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity) and restriction upon the infiltration of inflammatory microglia into the core area of ischemic brain. The therapeutic potentials of NCM, TGFβ1, GDNF, NT-3 and DADS in the control of cerebral ischemia in human therefore have been suggested and require further investigation.

The neuroprotective functions of transforming growth factor beta proteins

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) proteins are multifunctional cytokines whose neural functions are increasingly recognized. The machinery of TGF-β signaling, including the serine kinase type transmembrane receptors, is present in the central nervous system. However, the 3 mammalian TGF-β subtypes have distinct distributions in the brain suggesting different neural functions. Evidence of their involvement in the development and plasticity of the nervous system as well as their functions in peripheral organs suggested that they also exhibit neuroprotective functions. Indeed, TGF-β expression is induced following a variety of types of brain tissue injury. The neuroprotective function of TGF-βs is most established following brain ischemia. Damage in experimental animal models of global and focal ischemia was shown to be attenuated by TGF-βs. In addition, support for their neuroprotective actions following trauma, sclerosis multiplex, neurodegenerative diseases, infections, and brain tumors is also accumulating. The review will also describe the potential mechanisms of neuroprotection exerted by TGF-βs including anti-inflammatory, -apoptotic, -excitotoxic actions as well as the promotion of scar formation, angiogenesis, and neuroregeneration. The participation of these mechanisms in the neuroprotective effects of TGF-βs during different brain lesions will also be discussed.

Distribution of mRNAs encoding transforming growth factors-beta1, -2, and -3 in the intact rat brain and after experimentally induced focal ischemia

Transforming growth factors-beta1 (TGF-beta1), -2, and -3 form a small group of related proteins involved in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, and survival of various cell types. Recently, TGF-betas were also demonstrated to be neuroprotective. In the present study, we investigated their distribution in the rat brain as well as their expression following middle cerebral artery occlusion. Probes were produced for all types of TGF-betas, and in situ hybridization was performed. We demonstrated high TGF-beta1 expression in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, central amygdaloid nucleus, medial preoptic area, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, substantia nigra, brainstem reticular formation and motoneurons, and area postrema. In contrast, TGF-beta2 was abundantly expressed in deep cortical layers, dentate gyrus, midline thalamic nuclei, posterior hypothalamic area and mamillary body, superior olive, areas of monoaminergic neurons, spinal trigeminal nucleus, dorsal vagal complex, cerebellum, and choroid plexus, and a high level of TGF-beta3 mRNA was found in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, basal amygdaloid nuclei, lateral septal nucleus, several thalamic nuclei, arcuate and supramamillary nuclei, superior colliculus, superior olive, brainstem reticular formation and motoneurons, area postrema, and inferior olive. Focal brain ischemia induced TGF-betas with markedly different expression patterns. TGF-beta1 was induced in the penumbral region of cortex and striatum, whereas TGF-beta2 and -beta3 were induced in different layers of the ipsilateral cortex. The expression of the subtypes of TGF-betas in different brain regions suggests that they are involved in the regulation of different neurons and bind to different latent TGF-beta binding proteins. Furthermore, they might have subtype-specific functions following ischemic attack.

Altered transforming growth factor-beta pathway expression pattern in rat endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most abundant female gynecologic malignancy, ranking fourth in incidence among invasive tumors in women. Females of the BDII inbred rat strain are extremely prone to endometrial adenocarcinoma (EAC), and approximately 90% of virgin females spontaneously develop EAC during their lifetime. Thus, these rats serve as a useful model for the genetic analysis of this malignancy. In the present work, gene expression profiling, by means of cDNA microarrays, was performed on cDNA from endometrial tumor cell lines and from cell lines derived from nonmalignant lesions/normal tissues of the endometrium. We identified several genes associated with the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) pathway to be differentially expressed between endometrial tumor cell lines and nonmalignant lesions by using clustering and statistical inference analyses. The expression levels of the genes involved in the TGF-beta pathway were independently verified using semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Repressed TGF-beta signaling has been reported previously in EAC carcinogenesis, but this is the first report demonstrating aberrations in the expression of TGF-beta downstream target genes. We propose that the irregularities present in TGF-beta pathway among the majority of the EAC tumor cell lines may affect EAC carcinogenesis.

Latent TGF-beta binding proteins: extracellular matrix association and roles in TGF-beta activation

Transforming growth factor betas (TGF-betas) are multifunctional and pleiotropic growth factors. Their major effects include inhibition of cell proliferation and enhancement of extracellular matrix production. TGF-betas are secreted from cells as latent complexes, consisting of mature dimeric growth factor, the latency-associated propeptide (LAP), and a distinct gene product, latent TGF-beta binding protein LTBP. The secreted complex is targeted to specific locations in the extracellular matrix by the appropriate LTBP. The latent complex needs subsequently to be activated. Most studies describing biological effects of TGF-beta have been carried out in cell cultures using high concentrations of active, soluble TGF-beta, where appropriate targeting of the growth factor is missing. However, TGF-beta is produced and secreted in vivo as a latent complex in a specific and targeted manner. Various experimental approaches have convincingly shown the importance of the activation of latent TGF-beta, as well as the importance of LTBPs as targeting molecules of the effects of TGF-beta. Essential steps in the activation appear to be cellular recognition of extracellular matrix-associated LTBPs and subsequent recognition of the associated latent TGF-beta. Cell recognition by specific molecules like integrins and proteolytic events involving plasminogen activation evidently play multifaceted roles in the regulation of TGF-beta activation.

Beta(2)-adrenoceptor stimulation enhances latent transforming growth factor-beta-binding protein-1 and transforming growth factor-beta1 expression in rat hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia

A protective capacity of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) against various insults inducing neurone cell death in vitro and in vivo has been well established. We have recently shown the rapid up-regulation and persistent expression of TGF-beta1 in surviving CA1 pyramidal cells after cerebral ischemia suggesting an endogenous mechanism of neuroprotection by this multifunctional cytokine. In the present study, we demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of clenbuterol, a lipophilic beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, caused an increase in TGF-beta1 expression in non-ischemic rats and further enhanced TGF-beta1 protein levels in rat CA1 pyramidal neurones after transient forebrain ischemia. In the hippocampus neuroprotection by clenbuterol (0.5 mg/kg) was accompanied by increased TGF-beta1 immunoreactivity as early as 3 h, and remained elevated up to 2 days after ischemia. The corresponding increased TGF-beta1 mRNA levels after ischemia were not further enhanced by clenbuterol, suggesting post-transcriptional regulation of TGF-beta1 protein after beta(2)-adrenoceptor stimulation. In saline-treated rats latent TGF-beta-binding protein-1 (LTBP-1) immunoreactivity was moderately elevated 3 and 6 h after ischemia, and returned to control levels after 1 day of reperfusion. In parallel with the up-regulation of TGF-beta1 immunoreactivity, LTBP-1 levels in the hippocampus were considerably increased by clenbuterol from 3 h to 2 days after ischemia. Our data demonstrate a concomitant increase in LTBP-1 and TGF-beta1 expression in the ischemic hippocampus after stimulation of beta(2)-adrenoceptors.

Cytokines and acute neurodegeneration

Cytokines have been implicated as mediators and inhibitors of diverse forms of neurodegeneration. They are induced in response to brain injury and have diverse actions that can cause, exacerbate, mediate and/or inhibit cellular injury and repair. Here we review evidence for the contribution of cytokines to acute neurodegeneration, focusing primarily on interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta). TGFbeta seems to exert primarily neuroprotective actions, whereas TNFalpha might contribute to neuronal injury and exert protective effects. IL-1 mediates ischaemic, excitotoxic and traumatic brain injury, probably through multiple actions on glia, neurons and the vasculature. Understanding cytokine action in acute neurodegeneration could lead to novel and effective therapeutic strategies, some of which are already in clinical trials.

Identification of genes differentially expressed in C6 glioma cells transfected with connexin43

Astrocytes are characterized by extensive gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) mediated primarily by channels composed of connexin43. In contrast, C6 glioma cells are deficient in connexin expression and gap junctional communication. Transfection of these glioma cells with connexin cDNAs results in changes in cellular phenotype following increased GJIC. Specifically, connexin expression correlates with reduced cellular proliferation and tumorigenicity. To characterize the role of gap junctions in this growth control, we have screened for changes in gene expression by differential display. We have observed that these changes in GJIC are associated with changes in expression of several genes, including those coding for a number of secreted factors which may play a role in modulating the tumor phenotype of these cells. These include the immediate early gene cyr61, ostoepontin and the KC gene (murine homologue of the human gro gene).