Presence of VIP receptors in a human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line. Modulation of the cAMP response during cell proliferation

VPAC2 Receptor Signaling Promotes Growth and Immunosuppression in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) harbors a complex tumor microenvironment, and cross-talk among cells in the tumor microenvironment can contribute to drug resistance and relapse. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is overexpressed in PDAC, and VIP receptors expressed on T cells are a targetable pathway that sensitizes PDAC to immunotherapy. In this study, we showed that pancreatic cancer cells engage in autocrine VIP signaling through VIP receptor 2 (VPAC2). High coexpression of VIP with VPAC2 correlated with reduced relapse-free survival in patients with PDAC. VPAC2 activation in PDAC cells upregulated Piwi-like RNA-mediated gene silencing 2, which stimulated cancer cell clonogenic growth. In addition, VPAC2 signaling increased expression of TGFβ1 to inhibit T-cell function. Loss of VPAC2 on PDAC cells led to reduced tumor growth and increased sensitivity to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in mouse models of PDAC. Overall, these findings expand our understanding of the role of VIP/VPAC2 signaling in PDAC and provide the rationale for developing potent VPAC2-specific antagonists for treating patients with PDAC. Significance: Autocrine VIP signaling via VPAC2 promotes cancer cell growth and inhibits T-cell function in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target to improve pancreatic cancer treatment.

VPAC and PAC receptors: From ligands to function

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptides (PACAPs) share 68% identity at the amino acid level and belong to the secretin peptide family. Following the initial discovery of VIP almost four decades ago a substantial amount of knowledge has been presented describing the mechanisms of action, distribution and pleiotropic functions of these related peptides. It is now known that the physiological actions of these widely distributed peptides are produced through activation of three common G-protein coupled receptors (VPAC(1), VPAC(2) and PAC(1)R) which preferentially stimulate adenylate cyclase and increase intracellular cAMP, although stimulation of other intracellular messengers, including calcium and phospholipase D, has been reported. Using a range of in vitro and in vivo approaches, including cell-based functional assays, transgenic animals and rodent models of disease, VPAC/PAC receptor activation has been associated with numerous physiological processes (e.g. control of circadian rhythms) and clinical conditions (e.g. pulmonary hypertension), which underlies on-going research efforts and makes these peptides and their cognate receptors attractive targets for the pharmaceutical industry. However, despite the considerable interest in VPAC/PAC receptors and the processes which they mediate, there is still a paucity of selective and available, non-peptide ligands, which has hindered further advances in this field both at the basic research and clinical level. This review summarises the current knowledge of VIP/PACAP and the VPAC/PAC receptors with regard to their distribution, pharmacology, signalling pathways, splice variants and finally, the utility of animal models in exploring their physiological roles.

Constitutive formation of oligomeric complexes between family B G protein-coupled vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and secretin receptors

Formation of oligomeric complexes of family A G protein-coupled receptors has been shown to influence their function and regulation. However, little is known about the existence of such complexes for family B receptors in this superfamily. We previously used bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) to demonstrate that the prototypic family B secretin receptor forms ligand-independent oligomeric complexes. Here, we show that subtypes of human vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptors (VPAC1 and VPAC2) that represent the closest structurally related receptors to the secretin receptor also form constitutive oligomers with themselves and with the secretin receptor. We prepared tagged constructs expressing Renilla reniformis luciferase, yellow fluorescent protein, or cyan fluorescent protein at the carboxyl terminus of VPAC1, VPAC2, and secretin receptors, and performed BRET and morphologic fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) studies with all combinations. The specificity of the BRET and FRET signals was confirmed by control studies. These constructs bound their natural ligands specifically and saturably, with these agonists able to elicit full cAMP responses. BRET studies showed that, like the secretin receptor, both VPAC receptors exhibited constitutive homo-oligomerization in COS cells. Unlike secretin receptor oligomers that were unaffected by ligand binding, the VPAC receptor homo-oligomers were modulated by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. In addition, each of these three receptors formed hetero-oligomers with each other. The VPAC1-VPAC2 hetero-oligomers were modulated by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide binding, whereas the secretin-VPAC1 and secretin-VPAC2 receptor hetero-oligomers were unaffected by ligand treatment. Morphologic FRET studies demonstrated that each of the homo-oligomers and the VPAC1-VPAC2 receptor hetero-oligomers reached the cell surface, where receptor interactions were clear. However, coexpression of secretin receptors with either type of VPAC receptor resulted in intracellular trapping of the hetero-oligomeric complexes within the biosynthetic pathway. These studies provide new insight into the ability of family B G protein-coupled receptors to associate with each other in cells.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide modulates gastric enterochromaffin-like cell proliferation in rats

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Gastric carcinoids (types I and II) involve the transformation of naive enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells to the neoplastic state and are associated primarily with hypergastrinemia. In this study, we evaluated the effects of two related neuropeptides, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), on ECL cell proliferation and characterized the receptor subtype(s) and signal transduction pathways that mediate this effect.

METHODS

Purified rat ECL cells were analyzed in culture for DNA synthesis as measured by 24-hour 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with gene-specific oligonucleotide primers was performed to characterize the PACAP/VIP receptor subtype(s).

RESULTS

PACAP/VIP neuropeptide-stimulated BrdU uptake was significantly greater (3.4-3.8-fold greater than control) than that at the maximal dose of gastrin (2.2-fold greater than control). PACAP-stimulated ECL cell proliferation (EC50, approximately 3 x 10(-)14 mol/L) was approximately 100-fold more potent than VIP (EC50, approximately 3x 10(-)12 mol/L). The stimulated BrdU uptake by both PACAP and VIP was competitively inhibited by PACAP-receptor antagonist (IC50, 10(-)9 mol/L, 3 x 10(-)9 mol/L, respectively) and VIP-receptor antagonist (IC50, 3 x 10(-)7 mol/L, 5 x 10(-)7 mol/L, respectively). RT-PCR identified the presence of the PACAP-specific but not PACAP/VIP receptor subtypes. The PACAP-stimulated BrdU uptake was inhibited (70%-80%) by inhibitors of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, and protein tyrosine kinase as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase.

CONCLUSIONS

PACAP/VIP-related peptides are more potent modulators of ECL cell proliferation than gastrin, and their effect is mediated by a PACAP-specific receptor whose activation is transduced by multiple intracellular messenger systems.

Gastrointestinal hormones as potential adjuvant treatment of exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma

CONCLUSION

Gastrointestinal hormones and their antagonists can alter the growth of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo. The potential clinical benefit of this approach deserves further study.

BACKGROUND

Epithelial cell growth is normally under hormonal control. Hormones also affect the growth of many epithelial cancers, and this fact is used to modify tumor growth. Pancreatic epithelial cell growth is under the influence of gastrointestinal hormones. This article reviews experiments designed to determine the effect of gastrointestinal hormones on the growth of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Eighty-eight articles were identified from a Medline search using the terms pancreatic adenocarcinoma and the individual names of gastrointestinal hormones. The experimental design and results of these studies are reviewed.

RESULTS

In general, somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, pancreatic polypeptide, and pancreastatin inhibit pancreatic adenocarcinoma growth. Cholecystokinin, secretin, bombesin, gastrin, EGF, TGF-alpha, insulin, and IGF-1 have a growth-promoting effect.

Expression of receptors for gut peptides in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma and tumour-free pancreas

Gut hormones that modulate the growth of normal pancreas may also modulate the growth of cancers originating from pancreas. This study visualized and compared the receptors for cholecystokinin (CCK), bombesin (BBS), secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in tumour-free tissue sections of human pancreas (n = 10) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (n = 12) with storage phosphor autoradiography using radioligands. CCK-B receptors, present in control pancreata, were not detected in any of the pancreatic cancers. BBS receptors were visualized in control pancreata, but they were absent in 10 of 12 pancreatic cancers. In 5 of 12 pancreatic cancers, receptors for secretin were visualized, while binding for secretin was present in all tumour-free pancreata. Conversely, no specific binding of VIP was detected in control pancreata but was identified in 3 of 12 pancreatic cancer specimens. It is concluded that the expression of gut peptide receptors in pancreatic cancer differs from that in tumour-free pancreas. Receptors for these peptides are present in only a minority of pancreatic cancer specimens.

Comparative studies of the angiogenic activity of vasoactive intestinal peptide, endothelins-1 and -3 and angiotensin II in a rat sponge model

1 The angiogenic activity of four vasoactive peptides with a range of vasodilator and vasoconstrictor properties, i.e. vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), endothelin-1, endothelin-3 and angiotensin II, were investigated in a rat sponge model. Neovascularization was assessed by the 133Xe clearance technique and confirmed by histological studies. 2 Daily doses of the vasodilator peptide, VIP (1000 pmol), caused intense neovascularization, but a lower dose (10 pmol) produced no apparent effect. However, the lower dose of VIP, when given with a subthreshold dose of interleukin-1 alpha (0.3 pmol), produced an angiogenic response similar to that seen with the higher dose of VIP. The neovascular response induced by co-administration of VIP and interleukin-1 alpha was inhibited by simultaneous administration of 100 pmol VIP (10-28), a specific VIP receptor antagonist. 3 In contrast, daily doses of 10, 100 or 1000 pmol endothelin-3 (a mixed vasoconstrictor and vasodilator with more marked vasodilator activity) or of 100 or 1000 pmol endothelin-1 (also with mixed activity but with much more pronounced vasoconstrictor response) produced no apparent effect on sponge-induced angiogenesis. 4 The vasoconstrictor peptide, angiotensin II, in daily doses of 1000 pmol, caused an intense neovascularization like VIP but lower doses of angiotensin II (10 or 100 pmol) produced no apparent effect. The lowest dose of angiotensin II (10 pmol) when administered with the subthreshold dose of interleukin-1 alpha (0.3 pmol) had no effect on the basal neovascular response in the sponges. The angiotensin II-induced neovascular response was inhibited by co-administration of 100 nmol of the specific AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, but not by the AT2 receptor antagonist, PD 123319. 5 These data show that VIP and angiotensin II possess angiogenic activity. However, endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 had no activity at the doses used. Thus the angiogenic response is not related to local vasoconstriction or vasodilatation in the sponges. The blockade of VIP- and angiotensin II-induced angiogenesis at the receptor level suggests that receptor modulation could provide a strategy for the management of angiogenic diseases.

Adenylate cyclase activity in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines

CONCLUSION

BxPC-3, Hs 766T, Capan-2, Panc-1, and Capan-1 cells possess receptors for VIP and beta-adrenergic agonists that are functionally coupled to adenylate cyclase. In this respect, they resemble pancreatic duct cells. However, we speculate that the process of neoplastic transformation has either downregulated the expression of secretin receptors or led to a defect in the receptor itself, placing a question mark over the usefulness of these adenocarcinoma cell lines as models of the pancreatic ductal epithelium

BACKGROUND

Because of the importance of ducts in pancreatic disease, we wished to establish which duct cells receptors are functional on adenocarcinoma cell lines.

METHODS

We investigated the expression of agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in six human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines. Known stimulants of pancreatic ductal secretion, VIP, PHI, secretin, beta-adrenergic, and dopamine, were tested.

RESULTS

For responsive cell lines, VIP was the most effective stimulant followed by adrenaline, isoprenaline, PHI, and secretin. Dopamine was without effect. Since high concentrations of PHI and secretin were required to stimulate cyclase activity, their effect is probably mediated by VIP receptors. Based on the degree of stimulation observed with the individual agonist, Hs 766T and BxPC-3 were the most responsive cell lines, followed by Capan-2 and Capan-1, and finally Panc-1. MIAPaCa-2 cells did not respond to any of the agonists tested.

Adenylate cyclase activity during exocrine pancreatic proliferation in the rat

Adenylate cyclase activity in pancreatic acinar cell membranes was determined in rats that had undergone a treatment with pentagastrin (250 micrograms/kg, intraperitoneal three times daily) for 1 week or that had undergone small bowel resection (90%) and were sacrified at 2 weeks, 1 month and 6 months after intervention. Both treatments are potent stimulators of pancreatic acinar cell proliferation. Adenylate cyclase activity was similar under basal conditions and after the diterpene forskolin stimulation in pancreatic acinar membranes from all groups studied. The ability of low concentrations of the stable GTP analogue, 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp[NH]p) to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was decreased in pancreatic acinar membranes from enterectomized rats at 2 weeks and 1 month after the operation and returned to control values at 6 months after enterectomy. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase by high concentration of Gpp[NH]p or by secretin (10(-8) M) was higher in both pancreatic hyperplasia conditions as compared with control animals. These findings suggest that the coupling efficiency of the Gs protein to adenylate cyclase from pancreatic acinar membranes is enhanced without any alterations in the catalytic activity of the enzyme during pancreatic proliferation. In addition, it is possible that the highly regulated pancreatic acinar adenylate cyclase activity may be necessary to regulate pancreatic acinar cell proliferation.

Receptors for gut regulatory peptides

Receptors for regulatory peptides (hormones or neurotransmitters) play a pivotal role in the ability of cells to taste the rich neuroendocrine environment of the gut. Recognition of low concentration of peptides with a high specificity and translation of the peptide-receptor interaction into a biological response through different signalling pathways (adenylyl cyclase-cAMP or phospholipase C-phosphatidylinositol) are crucial properties of receptors. While many new receptors have been identified and thereafter characterized functionally during the 1980s, molecular biology now emerges as the privileged way for the structural characterization and discovery of receptors. Different strategies of receptor cloning have been developed which may or may not require prior receptor purification. Among cloning strategies that do not require receptor purification, homology screening of cDNA libraries, expression of receptor cDNA or mRNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes or in COS cells, and the polymerase chain reaction method achieved great success, e.g. cloning of receptors for cholecystokinin, gastrin, glucagon-like peptide 1, gastrin-releasing peptide/bombesin, neuromedin K, neuropeptide Y, neurotensin, opioids, secretin, somatostatin, substance K, substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide. All these receptors belong to the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors which consist of a single polypeptide chain (350-450 amino acids) with seven transmembrane segments, an N-terminal extracellular domain and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. In this chapter, we have detailed the properties of three receptors which play an important role in digestive tract physiology and illustrate various signal transduction pathways: pancreatic beta-cell galanin receptors which mediate inhibition of insulin release and intestinal epithelial receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide and peptide YY, which mediate the stimulation and inhibition of water and electrolyte secretion, respectively.

Phosphorylation-regulated low-conductance Cl- channels in a human pancreatic duct cell line

A low-conductance Cl- channel has been identified in the apical membrane of the human pancreatic duct cell Capan-1 using patch-clamp techniques. Cell-attached channels were activated by the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP, 0.1 mumol/l), dibutyryl-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (db-cAMP, 1 mmol/l), 8-bromo adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP, 1 mmol/l), 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX, 100 mumol/l) and forskolin (10 mumol/l). No channel activity was observed in non-stimulated control cells. In both cell-attached and excised inside-out patches, the channel had a linear current/voltage relationship and a unitary conductance of 9 pS at 23 degrees C and 12 pS at 37 degrees C. Its opening probability was not voltage dependent although pronounced flickering was induced at negative potentials. Anionic substitution led to the selectivity sequence Cl- > I- >> > HCO3- > gluconate. In inside-out excised patches, the channel activity declined spontaneously within a few minutes. Reactivation of silent excised channels was achieved by adding protein kinase A (PKA, in the presence of ATP, cAMP and Mg2+). Conversely, active channels were silenced in the presence of alkaline phosphatase. The PKA-activated Cl- channel was 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS, 100 mumol/l) and 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (SITS, 100 mumol/l) insensitive, but was blocked by diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid (DPC, 100 mumol/l). These results demonstrate that the apical low-conductance Cl- channel in Capan-1 is regulated on-cell by VIP receptors via cAMP and off-cell by PKA and phosphatases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hormonal therapy of pancreatic carcinoma. Rationale and perspectives

Exocrine pancreas carcinoma is still diagnosed at a relatively late stage, so that only a few cases can be cured by surgery. Therefore, it is desirable that an effective medical therapy be found first to stall the development of the disease and second to improve the life conditions of patients. On the basis of recent discoveries, a new therapeutic approach seems to derive from hormone manipulation. The growth of pancreatic carcinoma appears to be stimulated by various factors, such as Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I), and by various hormones, such as androgens and cholecystokinin. Several studies performed on cell lines and on animal models of pancreatic carcinoma demonstrated an antitumoral effect of certain antihormones and of somatostatin. Taking such studies as a premise, the first clinical studies were finally started in patients suffering from nonoperable pancreatic cancer. Results are still partial and contradictory, but such research is certainly worthy of further study along the lines already taken.

Stimulation of the adenylyl cyclase activity in human endometrial membranes by VIP and related peptides

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has been shown to stimulate adenylyl cyclase activity in human endometrial membranes. The effect was dependent on the time and temperature of incubation as well as on the concentration of endometrial membrane proteins in the medium. In the presence of 1 microM GTP, half-maximal stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity was observed at 25.0 +/- 7.0 nM VIP, whereas the maximal activity (at 1 microM VIP) corresponded to an increase of about 140% with respect to basal values (7.5 +/- 0.6 pmol cyclic AMP/min/mg of protein). However, the maximal stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity was obtained with helodermin (1 microM) that increased the activity by 170% over the basal. The relative potency of VIP-related peptides upon the adenylyl cyclase activity was: helodermin (ED50 = 1.8 +/- 1.4 nM) > VIP (ED50 = 25.0 +/- 7.0 nM) > PHI (ED50 = 725.0 +/- 127.2 nM). Secretin had a faint effect upon the adenylyl cyclase activity and glucagon was completely inefficient at this level. The presence of alpha s and alpha i subunits of G proteins in human endometrium was detected by immunoblot. Preliminary results showed the presence of two classes of 125I-VIP receptors in human endometrial membranes with the following stoichoimetric parameters: high affinity receptor (Kd = 2.0 nM, binding capacity 0.1 pmol VIP/mg protein) and low affinity receptor (Kd = 0.43 microM, binding capacity 13.1 pmol VIP/mg protein). The present results together with the known presence of VIP in human uterus and the actions of this neuropeptide in the adjacent myometrial tissue support the idea that VIP and related peptides may have a role in human endometrium.

Adenylyl cyclase stimulation by VIP in rat seminal vesicle membranes

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in membranes from rat seminal vesicle. GTP potentiated the stimulatory effect of VIP so that it was routinely included at 10 microM. The stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by VIP was time and temperature dependent. The response was linear with time up to 15 min at 30 degrees C. Half-maximal adenylyl cyclase activation (in the presence of 10 microM GTP) was achieved at 3.0 nM VIP. The enzyme activity increased about 150% with respect to basal values at the maximal VIP concentration tested (1 microM). The relative potency of peptides upon stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity was: VIP greater than helodermin greater than peptide histidine isoleucinamide greater than rat growth hormone-releasing factor. Other agents like GTP (0.1 mM), GppNHp (0.1 mM), forskolin (0.1 mM) and sodium fluoride (10 mM) increased the adenylyl cyclase activity 1.8-, 4.4-, 6.7- and 2.4-fold, respectively. Taken together, the presence of VIP in nerve terminals innervating the seminal vesicle of rats and the existence of VIP receptors coupled to adenylyl cyclase strongly suggest a physiological role for this neuropeptide in the modulation of seminal vesicle cell function.

Biology of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of death from malignant disease in Western society. Apart from the fortunate few patients who present with a resectable small pancreatic adenocarcinoma, conventional treatment offers no hope of cure and has little palliative value. Over the past two decades major steps have been made in our understanding of the biology of pancreatic growth and neoplasia. This review sets out to explore these advances, firstly in the regulation of normal pancreatic growth, and secondly the mechanism which may be involved in malignant change of the exocrine pancreas. From an understanding of this new biology, new treatment strategies may be possible for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide binds with high affinity to non-small cell lung cancer cells and elevates cyclic AMP levels

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) receptors were characterized on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. 125I-VIP bound specifically to membranes derived from 6 NSCLC cell lines. Specific 125I-VIP was time dependent and a linear function of EPLC-65H membrane concentration. 125I-VIP bound with high (Kd = 0.2 nM) and moderate (Kd = 39 nM) affinity to two classes of sites. Pharmacology studies indicated that the order of peptide potency was VIP greater than rGHRH greater than PHI = helodermin greater than secretin greater than glucagon. Also VIP elevated the cAMP levels 10-fold using cell line ADLC-5M2. These data indicate that functional VIP receptors are present on NSCLC cells.

Cholecystokinin stimulates growth of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma SW-1990

The effect of a synthetic analogue of CCK (Thr4,Nle7CCK-9) on growth of SW-1990 human pancreatic cancer was examined in two experimental models. Nude mice bearing SW-1990 pancreatic cancer xenografts were injected with CCK (5, 15, or 25 micrograms/kg) or vehicle twice daily for 20 days. Animals were then sacrificed and tumor volume, weight, protein, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content were evaluated. SW-1990 cells were grown in vitro and the effects of CCK, secretin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and proglumide (a CCK-receptor antagonist) on cell number and DNA synthesis were determined. The highest dose of CCK, 25 micrograms/kg, significantly increased tumor weight, protein content, and DNA content (P less than 0.005). In vitro, CCK caused significant increases in cell counts of up to 47% at six days and 66% at 12 days compared to control. Graded concentrations of CCK had a biphasic effect on DNA synthesis with significant increases of up to 65% (P less than 0.005). CCK-induced cell proliferation was inhibited by proglumide. Secretin slightly increased cancer cell growth, although not as potently as CCK, VIP or secretin in combination with CCK did not show potentiation. These results indicate that growth of some human pancreatic cancers may be influenced by gastrointestinal peptides, of which CCK is the most potent.

Two subclasses of EGF receptors in the human pancreatic cancer cell lines CAPAN-1 and MIA PaCa-2

The existence of different classes of EGF receptors in human pancreatic cancer cells has yet not been determined. EGF binding to two cancer cell lines (CAPAN-1 and MIA PaCa-2) was studied. Two classes of EGF binding sites were characterized. The first class of EGF binding sites demonstrated a high affinity and low capacity for EGF, with a Kd of 0.25 +/- 0.11 nM, close to the concentration of EGF suggested to be present in human pancreatic juice. The second class of EGF binding sites had a lower affinity and a higher capacity for EGF, with Kd of 1.78 +/- 0.61 nM. The total number of EGF binding sites was about 40,000/cell. Treatment of the cells with a phorbol ester, TPA, caused a complete loss of the high affinity binding sites and also caused a decrease in the concentration of the lower affinity binding sites present on the cells. Interestingly, with the increasing age of the cells, the concentration of both the high and low affinity EGF binding sites was significantly decreased. In the presence or absence of fetal calf serum, EGF, at concentrations higher than 1.10(-10)M, exerted a dose-dependent mitogenic effect on the growth of the pancreatic cancer cells in culture. These data demonstrate the existence of two classes of binding sites for EGF on some human pancreatic cancer cells and a possible role of EGF in the growth of pancreatic tumors.

Neuropeptide Y and peptide YY stimulate the growth of exocrine pancreatic carcinoma cells

Neuropeptides exert inhibitory effects on pancreatic secretion, but their role in the regulation of growth is unknown. This study was executed to evaluate the effects of PYY and NPY on cell growth and 3H-thymidine incorporation in human (MiaPaCa-2, Capan-2) and hamster (H2T) exocrine pancreatic carcinoma cells in vitro. A significant increase in the number of cells after 96 h of treatment with NPY was observed at 0.01 microM in H2T, 0.1 microM in MiaPCa-2 and at 1 microM in Capan-2 cells. PYY was less potent and did not increase significantly cell growth in MiaPaCa-2, but did at 0.1 microM in Capan-2 and at 1 microM concentration in H2T. Stimulation for 48h with NPY increased 3H-thymidine incorporation significantly at 0.01 microM in all cell lines. With PYY, stimulation of 3H-thymidine incorporation occurred in H2T cells at 0.01 microM. 3H-thymidine incorporation after PYY treatment was significantly increased at 0.1 microM in MiaPaCa-2 and at 1 microM in Capan-2 cells. Receptor studies showed low but definite specific binding of both NPY and PYY in all cell lines. The results suggest that NPY and PYY may have a role in the regulation of growth of exocrine pancreatic carcinoma cells.

Endocrine differentiation of gastric adenocarcinoma. The prevalence as evaluated by immunoreactive chromogranin A and its biologic significance

The prevalence of endocrine differentiation of conventional gastric adenocarcinoma was evaluated on the 212 cases (including 62 mucosal carcinomas) of consecutively resected stomach for adenocarcinoma in our hospital using anti-chromogranin A (CGA) antibodies. CGA-positive cells were found in 28 of 150 cases (18.7%) as an integral tumor component. In immunocytochemistry and electron microscopic examinations, we could classify these 28 cases into three groups according to the distribution patterns of CGA-positive cells. The first group consisted of 12 cases in which scattered CGA-positive cells were located in neoplastic glands. The second group consisted of six cases of scirrhous carcinoma in which CGA-positive cells were separated by fibrovascular tissue. The third group consisted of ten cases in which the positive cells were present in clusters. No definite correlation was recognized between the appearance of CGA cells and histologic types of predominance. In the analysis of the hormonal substances coexpressed by CGA-positive cells, immunoreactive serotonin (SER) was found most frequently, and somatostatin (SS), gastrin (GAS), glucagon/glicentin (GLU/GLI), and peptide-tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY) like immunoreactivities were found in a few tumor cells. CGA-positive cells occupied limited parts of the tumors in most cases, and they were noticeably more frequent in advanced stage cases. This might explain why endocrine differentiation reflects the dysexpression of the neoplastic stem cells. Furthermore, absence of mitotic figures in this type of cell and negativity of a single colony composed exclusively of CGA cells in metastatic foci suggested that these cells are in a dormant phase and are probably postmitotic.

High affinity binding of VIP to human lung cancer cell lines

The binding of 125I-VIP to human lung cancer cell lines was investigated. Radiolabeled VIP bound to adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines. As SCLC cell line NCI-N592 bound radiolabeled VIP well, its binding was further characterized. 125I-VIP bound to membranes in a specific and time dependent manner. 125I-VIP bound with high (Kd = 0.8 nM) and moderate affinity (Kd = 66 nM) to two classes of sites. Pharmacology studies indicated that the order of peptide potency was VIP much greater than PHI greater than secretin greater than VIP10-28. Because VIP receptors are present on human lung cancer cells, VIP may function as a regulatory peptide in lung cancer.

The receptors of the VIP family peptides (VIP, secretin, GRF, PHI, PHM, GIP, glucagon and oxyntomodulin). Specificities and identity

A model is proposed for the receptors of the VIP family peptides including a ligand and a cellular domain. Specificities of the receptors are due to different ligand binding sites. Three subgroups of the family can be distinguished accordingly: glucagon and oxyntomodulin; GIP; VIP, secretin r and hGRF, PHI and PHM. In the same species, the expression of these different sites is cell-specific resulting in a stoichiometry of the ligand-receptor interaction which is compatible with physiological regulation of cell function. Specificities of the interaction as studied by native and synthetic analogs is supported both by restricted sequences of amino acids (such as that including the N-terminal histidine residue), and membrane-induced configuration of the ligand. Identity of the receptors is related to their interactions with subunits of the adenylate cyclase system. Arguments are put forward indicating that the alpha subunit of the guanyl regulatory protein is a reasonable candidate for directly transducing to the adenylyl cyclase the information contained in the activated ligand-binding site subunits. Evidence of functional and molecular heterogeneity of the recognizing site and of the alpha subunits leads to the supposition that some types of specific complementarity is retained at this level of interaction, further enhancing the possibility of species and cell differences. On the other hand, the identities found in other sequences of the alpha and ras oncogene products extend to the receptor of the VIP family peptides a pattern of organization which is similar to that recently described for the insulin family of receptors. The role of ligand specific receptor mediated regulation in homologous or heterologous desensitization is reviewed in brief for the peptides of the VIP family as well as the appearance of the specific receptor during the ontogenesis or the cell differentiation. The co-distribution of plasma membrane receptors from other families further adds to the cell specificity resulting for each differentiated cell in unique patterns of recognizing site. Some examples of receptor-receptor interaction are given, indicating that the integration of the different signals by cells might occur at an early step through the transmembranair domain of the receptor.

VIP regulation of a human pancreatic cancer cell line: Capan-1

VIP and secretin control the secretory function of the normal pancreas. We analysed their regulatory functions in a human pancreatic cancer cell line: Capan-1. Saturation binding experiments with 125I-VIP showed the existence of one class of binding sites of very high affinity: KD 6.4 +/- 3.0 X 10(-11) M and a low Bmax: 12 fmoles/10(6) cells, in both intact cells and membrane preparations. This site has not yet been described in normal or tumorous digestive cells. Competition binding experiments let us characterize two more binding sites, KD: 2.1 +/- 0.7 X 10(-9) M and 5.0 +/- 0.6 X 10(-8) M and the corresponding Bmax: 120 and 500 fmoles/10(6) cells. These sites are similar to those found on cells of the digestive tract. Competition binding experiments gave the following IC50: 3.0 +/- 0.9 X 10(-9) M for VIP; 2 +/- 0.6 X 10(-6) M for PHI; and 1 +/- 0.7 X 10(-5) M for secretin. VIP elicited a cAMP rise, the half maximal response being obtained at 1.2 X 10(-10) M. Secretin induced a cAMP response but only for concentrations higher than 10(-8) M. VIP receptors were found to be modulated by two factors: cell ageing and cell density. Cells chronically treated with VIP showed a slight decrease of their proliferation; insulin exerted an opposite effect. It is concluded that at the difference of normal pancreatic cells, the present cell line lacks secretin-preferring receptors and acquires some of the properties of intestinal cells.

Modulators of cyclic AMP in monolayer cultures of Y-79 retinoblastoma cells: partial characterization of the response with VIP and glucagon

VIP markedly stimulates intracellular cAMP accumulation in the human retinoblastoma Y-79 cell line. cAMP increased about 5-fold above the basal level with 10(-8)M VIP and reached a maximum level (about 70-fold increase) with 2 X 10(-6)M VIP. Glucagon at 6 X 10(-8)M significantly increased cAMP accumulation with a maximal response at 4 X 10(-7)M. Secretin was only effective at micromolar concentrations. Glucagon at 2 X 10(-6)M had a synergistic effect with VIP at 2 X 10(-8)M. Of other substances tested, L-isoproterenol (25-fold increase) and PGE1 (4-fold increase) were most effective. These results demonstrate that VIP and glucagon modulate cAMP accumulation in Y-79 cells and provide a model for studying the effect of these substances on function of neuronal and on malignant cells in vitro.