Serum glucocorticoids have persistent and controlling effects on insulinlike growth factor I action under serum-free assay conditions in cultured human fibroblasts

Glucocorticoid-driven mitochondrial damage stimulates Tau pathology

Prolonged exposure to glucocorticoids, the main stress hormones, damages the brain and is a risk factor for depression and Alzheimer's disease. Two major drivers of glucocorticoid-related neurotoxicity are mitochondrial dysfunction and Tau pathology; however, the molecular/cellular mechanisms precipitating these events, and their causal relationship, remain unclear. Using cultured murine hippocampal neurons and 4-5-month-old mice treated with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone, we investigate the mechanisms underlying glucocorticoid-induced mitochondrial damage and Tau pathology. We find that glucocorticoids stimulate opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore via transcriptional upregulation of its activating component, cyclophilin D. Inhibition of cyclophilin D is protective against glucocorticoid-induced mitochondrial damage as well as Tau phosphorylation and oligomerization in cultured neurons. We further identify the mitochondrially-targeted compound mito-apocynin as an inhibitor of glucocorticoid-induced permeability transition pore opening, and show that this compound protects against mitochondrial dysfunction, Tau pathology, synaptic loss, and behavioural deficits induced by glucocorticoids in vivo. Finally, we demonstrate that mito-apocynin and the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone rescue Tau pathology in cytoplasmic hybrid cells, an ex vivo Alzheimer's disease model wherein endogenous mitochondria are replaced with mitochondria from Alzheimer's subjects. These findings show that mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening is a precipitating factor in glucocorticoid-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, and that this event stimulates Tau pathogenesis. Our data also link glucocorticoids to mitochondrial dysfunction and Tau pathology in the context of Alzheimer's disease and suggest that mitochondria are promising therapeutic targets for mitigating stress- and Tau-related brain damage.

Functional role of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase in feeding regulation

c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a signaling molecule that is activated by proinflammatory signals, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and other environmental stressors. Although JNK has diverse effects on immunological responses and insulin resistance in peripheral tissues, a functional role for JNK in feeding regulation has not been established. In this study, we show that central inhibition of JNK activity potentiates the stimulatory effects of glucocorticoids on food intake and that this effect is abolished in mice whose agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons are degenerated. JNK1-deficient mice feed more upon central administration of glucocorticoids, and glucocorticoid receptor nuclear immunoreactivity is enhanced in the AgRP neurons. JNK inhibition in hypothalamic explants stimulates Agrp expression, and JNK1-deficient mice exhibit increased Agrp expression, heightened hyperphagia, and weight gain during refeeding. Our study shows that JNK1 is a novel regulator of feeding by antagonizing glucocorticoid function in AgRP neurons. Paradoxically, JNK1 mutant mice feed less and lose more weight upon central administration of insulin, suggesting that JNK1 antagonizes insulin function in the brain. Thus, JNK may integrate diverse metabolic signals and differentially regulate feeding under distinct physiological conditions.

Dexamethasone activates expression of the PDGF-alpha receptor and induces lung fibroblast proliferation

Corticosteroids (CSs) are commonly used for anti-inflammatory therapy in asthma and in interstitial lung diseases. In attempting to understand the mechanisms through which CSs control cell proliferation, we have carried out experiments to test the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on the growth of lung fibroblasts. Using mouse 3T3 fibroblasts as well as early-passage rat lung fibroblasts (RLFs), we show that the quiescent cells in 1% serum or in serum-free media proliferate significantly in response to the addition of 10(-7) to 10(-9) M Dex. Increases as high as fourfold in cell numbers were recorded for the RLFs after 48 h in culture. A polyclonal antibody to the AB isoform of human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) blocked the proliferative response. As expected, the fibroblasts produced primarily PDGF-A chain, and the RLFs exhibited few PDGF-alpha receptors (PDGF-R alpha), the receptor type necessary for binding the AA isoform. Accordingly, we determined that Dex upregulated PDGF-R alpha mRNA and protein. Therefore, we can postulate that Dex-induced fibroblast proliferation is mediated, at least in part, by PDGF-AA, which binds to the PDGF-R alpha.

Insulin-like growth factor-I modulation of cerebellar cell populations is developmentally stage-dependent and mediated by specific intracellular pathways

Although development of transgenic animals overexpressing insulin-like growth factor-I has allowed the establishment of a role of this trophic factor in brain growth, detailed knowledge of the action of insulin-like growth factor-I on different brain areas is still lacking. We now provide evidence for a pleiotrophic role of this growth factor on cerebellar development. Insulin-like growth factor-I produced by cerebellar cultures is a survival factor for Purkinje cells and a mitogen/differentiation factor for cerebellar glioblasts. Trophic effects of insulin-like growth factor-I were observed only during specific developmental stages. In addition, insulin-like growth factor-I increased intracellular Ca2+ levels in Purkinje cells and c-Fos in dividing glioblasts. Survival-promoting effects of insulin-like growth factor-I on Purkinje cells required activation of protein kinase C, while glioblast division induced by insulin-like growth factor-I depended on phosphatidylinosytol 3-kinase activation. We conclude that insulin-like growth factor-I is a paracrine/autocrine pleiotrophic factor for both glia and neurons in the cerebellum. Its effects are mediated by distinct intracellular signals and appear to be specific to the developmental stage of the target cell. Since development of the different cell populations that compose a specific brain territory is not synchronized, the pleiotrophic action of growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor-I may be essential to ontogenetic processes underlying normal brain growth.

Modulation of the effects of glucocorticoids on collagen synthesis in fetal rat calvariae by insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2

To test the hypothesis that insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) play a role in the response of bone to glucocorticoids, we determined the effects of cortisol on the incorporation of [3H]proline into collagenase-digestible protein (CDP) and noncollagen protein (NCP), the percent collagen synthesis, and the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA of 21-day fetal rat calvariae cultured in the presence and absence of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2). At 24 h, cortisol (100 nM) increased CDP labeling and the percent collagen synthesis, and these effects were blocked by IGFBP-2 (1000 nM). At 24 h, cortisol decreased the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into bone, which was not affected by the addition of IGFBP-2. At 48 h, cortisol (1000 nM) decreased CDP labeling, which was maintained in the presence of IGFBP-2. At 48 h, IGFBP-2 alone decreased basal levels of CDP and NCP labeling and the percent collagen synthesis. Our data suggest that endogenous IGFs maintain basal levels of collagen synthesis and mediate the early stimulatory effect of glucocorticoids on collagen synthesis in fetal rat calvariae. However, blocking endogenous IGFs does not abrogate the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids on DNA synthesis and the later inhibition of collagen synthesis in calvariae.

Proliferation and differentiation of progeny of ovine unilocular fat cells (adipofibroblasts)

The responsiveness of progency of sheep-derived unilocular fat cells (adipofibroblasts) to dexamethasone, insulin, insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I), growth hormone (GH), and basic fibroblst growth factor (FGF) was determined in a clonal culture system. Primary cultures of mature adipocytes were obtained from intermuscular adipose tissue (semimembranosus/semitendinosus seam depot) of sheep by ceiling culture techniques. Following degeneration of unilocular fat droplets and re-establishment of fibroblasticlike adipofibroblasts, all adipofibroblasts adhering to upper flask surfaces were collected and isolated away from fibroblasts (which had no multilocular vesicles) by Percoll gradient centrifugation. Progeny derived from a single adipofibroblast were isolated and tested for the ability to proliferate, differentiate, and accumulate lipids. Stock cultures of adipofibroblasts reached confluence in 5 d and were induced to differentiate from 7 to 9 d with dexamethasone-methyl isobutylxanthine-insulin (DMI). Incubation with insulin, IGF-I, GH, or FGF prior to confluence followed by induction with DMI produced no direct (priming) effect on subsequent differentiation. When substituted individually in place of DMI during the 2 d differentiation/induction period, all factors induced differentiation of cultured adipofibroblasts as determined by lipogenesis (P < .05) and lipoprotein lipase activity (P < .05). Thus, isolated adipofibroblasts from sheep muscle may be induced by hormones and growth factors to display mature adipocyte morphology in cell culture. Further definition of the adipofibroblast culture system may aid in the identification of mechanisms regulating adipocyte development in sheep skeletal muscle, as well as in the study of intercommunication between fat and muscle cells.

Dexamethasone enhances insulin-like growth factor-I effects on skeletal muscle cell proliferation. Role of specific intracellular signaling pathways

IGF-I stimulation of cell proliferation and c-Fos expression in skeletal muscle cells is markedly enhanced by dexamethasone. The effect of dexamethasone is not mediated by changes in IGF-binding proteins, as evidenced by similar effects of dexamethasone on the actions of insulin, PDGF-BB, and the IGF-I analogue long R3IGF-I. Dexamethasone also does not alter autocrine IGF-II secretion by muscle cells. To investigate the mechanism of the augmentation of IGF-I action, the effects of dexamethasone on intracellular IGF-I signaling pathways were determined. In dexamethasone-treated cells, the levels of IGF-I receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and receptor-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity were increased. Dexamethasone-treated cells also showed increased and prolonged tyrosine phosphorylation of the Shc proteins. In contrast, dexamethasone decreased both tyrosine phosphorylation and expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and IRS-1-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. Thus, distinct signaling pathways activated by the IGF-I receptor in skeletal muscle cells are differentially regulated by dexamethasone. Potentiation of IGF-I action correlates with increased IGF-I receptor-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc, but appears to be independent of activation of the IRS-1/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway.

Messages and handshakes: cellular interactions in pulmonary fibrosis

A better understanding of early cellular events following pulmonary injury may permit the identification of those patterns of response which are destined to progress to fibrosis. Interactions between inflammatory, fibroblastic and epithelial cells appear to play crucial roles in fibrogenesis. Intercellular communication may be via "messages" delivered by soluble mediators or "handshakes" at sites of cell-to-cell contact. In this review, we question the validity of some prevailing concepts about the importance of growth factor secretion by alveolar macrophages; examine the possible role of activated T-lymphocytes in regulating macrophage production of mediators; and hypothesise that whereas fibroblast proliferation may primarily be stimulated by macrophage-derived cytokines, accumulation of collagen may be regulated by growth factors expressed by injured alveolar epithelial cells.

Synergistic effects of dexamethasone on platelet-derived growth factor mitogenesis in vitro

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) interact to stimulate proliferation of fibroblasts in culture. Glucocorticoids variably effect the response of cultured fibroblasts to polypeptide growth factors. This study determined the effects of dexamethasone on growth-factor stimulation of gingival, periodontal ligament and pulp fibroblast proliferation in vitro. Cultures of quiescent, low-passage, human fibroblasts were treated for varying periods of time with transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta 2), PDGF and IGF-I: (1) alone, (2) in combination with each other, (3) singly plus dexamethasone, (4) in combination plus dexamethasone. Combinations of human, recombinant PDGF and IGF-I (10-1000 ng/ml) induced significantly higher rates of cell proliferation than either factor alone. Dexamethasone at doses ranging from 10(-5) to 10(-8) M substantially enhanced cell proliferation induced by these combinations and by PDGF without IGF-I but not IGF-I alone. By 6 days after a single application, 2-3 times as many cells were present in the PDGF and dexamethasone cultures as compared to PDGF without IGF-I. TGF-beta 2 specifically blocked the effects of dexamethasone added to PDGF-stimulated cells. Collagen and non-collagenous protein synthesis was not affected by the addition of PDGF and IGF-I with or without dexamethasone. These data suggest that dexamethasone may substitute for IGF-I in PDGF stimulation of cell proliferation.

Serum-free cell culture

Cell culture is one important tool when studying cellular functions and molecular biology. It is also a basic method in most virological investigations. Serum has been an obligatory component in most cell culture media. During the last decades serum-free, chemically defined media have been developed, that are supplemented with a number of substances with specific cellular activities. The main developments of defined media are presented. Examples are given of investigations with different cell types.

Primary culture of adult mouse lung fibroblasts in serum-free medium: responses to growth factors

We report a completely serum-free system for primary culture of fibroblasts from explants of adult mouse lung tissue which permits bioassays for cytokine activity to be performed using unselected populations of cells at low passage number, without interference by serum binding proteins or interacting growth factors. Cultures were established on collagen-coated surfaces in medium MCDB 201 containing albumin, transferrin, epidermal growth factor, lipids, prostaglandin E1, vitamin E, and reducing agents. The cells were morphologically and ultrastructurally typical of fibroblasts in culture and demonstrated expression of vimentin and induction of expression of desmin in culture. Proliferation of the cells was reproducible between different primary cultures and was growth factor dependent. Both cycling and growth-arrested cells exhibited increased DNA synthesis when stimulated with epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, or basic fibroblast growth factor, which functioned as complete mitogens, but did not respond to insulin, tumor necrosis factor or interleukin-1 beta. Maximal induction of DNA synthesis by epidermal growth factor required the continued presence of the mitogen in the culture medium. These results cannot be satisfactorily explained by the competence-progression model of responses to mitogenic stimuli but support and extend the findings of other studies using diploid fibroblasts.

Fetal mouse kidney maturation in vitro: coordinated influences of epidermal growth factor, transferrin and hydrocortisone

We have investigated the individual and combined actions of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transferrin and hydrocortisone on the maturation of whole fetal mouse metanephroi maintained in serum-free conditions for up to 5 days. The presence of EGF (100 ng/ml) resulted in elevated levels of [3H]-thymidine incorporation when compared to controls; autoradiograms showed that the proliferation of mesenchymal cells in the nephrogenic zone is particularly enhanced as verified by cell counting. Brush border hydrolase activities (alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase), on the other hand, were significantly diminished. Transferrin (5 micrograms/ml) slightly stimulated DNA synthesis and potentiated EGF mitogenic action. The activation of DNA replication by the growth factor seems to be mediated through the protein kinase C pathway. When added alone, hydrocortisone (10(-6) M) strongly inhibited DNA synthesis, stimulated hydrolase activities and exerted a positive effect on brush border differentiation. When combined with EGF or to EGF + transferrin, hydrocortisone counteracted the effects of these latter peptides on DNA synthesis and enzyme activities. Considering the earlier observation of a reciprocal relation between proliferation and differentiation during the neotubulogenic phase of kidney development, the results described in the current study suggest that synergistic and synarchic actions of these heterologous factors are involved in the regulation of tubulogenesis.