Epidermal growth factor interferes with the effect of adrenaline on glucose production and on hepatic lipase secretion in rat hepatocytes

Acute regulation of hepatic lipase secretion by rat hepatocytes

Hepatic lipase is involved in cholesterol uptake by the liver. Although it is known that catecholamines are responsible for the daily variation of enzyme activity, the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Rat hepatocytes incubated with adrenaline or other Ca(2+)-mobilizing hormones were used as an experimental model. Adrenaline reduced in a similar proportion the secretion of both hepatic lipase and albumin. The effect of adrenaline disappeared completely in cells exposed to cycloheximide. Adrenaline decreased incorporation of [35S]Met into cellular and secreted proteins, but it affected neither degradation of [35S]Met-prelabeled proteins nor the abundance of total and specific (albumin, hepatic lipase, beta-actin) mRNA. Other Ca(2+)-mobilizing agents had the opposite effect on hepatic lipase secretion: it was decreased by vasopressin but was increased by epidermal growth factor. Vasopressin and epidermal growth factor had the opposite effect on [35S]Met incorporation into cellular and secreted proteins, but neither affected hepatic lipase mRNA. The acute effect of adrenaline, vasopressin, and epidermal growth factor on hepatic lipase secretion is the consequence of the effect of these hormones on protein synthesis and is therefore nonspecific.

Maturation and secretion of rat hepatic lipase is inhibited by alpha1B-adrenergic stimulation through changes in Ca2+ homoeostasis: thapsigargin and EGTA both mimic the effect of adrenaline

In rats, the daily changes in hepatic lipase (HL) activity in the liver follow the diurnal rhythm of the catecholamines. To study the underlying mechanism, the effect of adrenaline on maturation and secretion of HL was determined in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Adrenaline (10 microM) acutely inhibited the secretion of HL. This effect was abolished by 0.1 microM prazosin, but not by 1 microM propranolol, indicating the involvement of the alpha1-adrenergic pathway. Prazosin was at least 1000-fold more potent than WB4101, a selective alpha1A-antagonist. Adrenaline had no effect on HL secretion in hepatocytes pretreated with chloroethylclonidine, an irreversible alpha1B-selective antagonist. Inhibition of HL was not induced by 10 microM methoxamine, a alpha1A-selective agonist. Thus, adrenaline inhibited HL secretion through activation of the alpha1-adrenoceptors subtype B, which have been shown to signal through Ca2+ as well as cAMP. A similar reduction in HL secretion was induced by the Ca2+-mobilizing hormones angiotensin II (100 nM) and vasopressin (12 nM), the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (2 microM), and by thapsigargin (1 microM), which inhibits the ER Ca2+-ATPase pump. HL secretion was unaffected by elevating cAMP with 10 microM forskolin or 1 microM 8-Br-cAMP. These results suggest that the alpha1B-adrenergic effects on HL expression are mainly mediated through elevation of intracellular Ca2+. Chelation of extracellular Ca2+ and subsequent lowering of intracellular Ca2+ with EGTA also inhibited HL secretion. In pulse-chase experiments, adrenaline was shown to inhibit the maturation of HL from the 53 kDa, Endo H-sensitive precursor to the Endo H-resistant, catalytically active protein of 58 kDa. In addition, adrenaline induced intracellular degradation of newly synthesized HL. Similar post-translational effects, both qualitatively and quantitatively, were observed with A23187, thapsigargin and EGTA. We conclude that the inhibition of HL maturation and increase in intracellular degradation induced by catecholamines, A23187, thapsigargin and EGTA is evoked by changes in Ca2+ homoeostasis, possibly through lowering ER Ca2+.

Acute effects of adrenaline on hepatic lipase secretion by rat hepatocytes

Catecholamines are responsible for the daily changes in hepatic lipase (HL) expression associated with feeding and fasting. We have studied the mechanism by which adrenaline decreases HL secretion in suspensions of freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Adrenaline acutely inhibited HL activity through activation of the alpha1-adrenergic pathway. The cells had significantly less HL activity in the presence of adrenaline versus cycloheximide, where protein de novo synthesis is completely blocked. The specific enzyme activity of secreted HL was not affected. Intracellular HL activity was decreased by adrenaline treatment. Pulse-labeling with [35S]methionine showed that de novo synthesis of the 53-kd endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (Endo H)-sensitive HL protein was unaffected by adrenaline. During subsequent chase of the control cells, the 53-kd form was converted to a 58-kd Endo H-resistant HL protein, which was rapidly secreted into the medium. In the presence of adrenaline, formation of the 58-kd protein was markedly reduced, whereas the 53-kd protein disappeared at a rate similar to the rate in controls. This suggests that part of the HL protein was degraded. In contrast to adrenaline, inhibition of HL secretion by colchicine was accompanied by an intracellular accumulation of HL activity and of the 58-kd protein. We conclude that adrenaline inhibits HL secretion posttranslationally by retarding the maturation of the 53-kd HL precursor to an active 58-kd protein, possibly by stimulating degradation of newly synthesized HL protein.

Abnormalities in hepatic lipase in chronic renal failure: role of excess parathyroid hormone

Post-heparin hepatic lipase activity is reduced in chronic renal failure (CRF). This could be due to reduced synthesis, decreased activity, and/or impaired secretion of the enzyme. Further, the factor(s) responsible for such derangements are not elucidated. We examined hepatic lipase metabolism in normal, 6-wk-old CRF rats, CRF-PTX (parathyroidectomized) rats, and CRF and normal rats treated with verapamil (CRF-V, normal-V) using liver homogenate, hepatic cell culture for 8 h, and in vitro liver perfusion. The Vmax of hepatic lipase in liver homogenate was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced and the Km was significantly (P < 0.01) increased in CRF rats, but the values were normal in CRF-PTX, CRF-V, and normal-V rats. Culture of hepatic cells for 8 h was associated with an increase in hepatic lipase activity but the increment in CRF rats was significantly (P < 0.01) lower than that of normal, CRF-PTX, CRF-V, and normal-V rats. Both parathyroid hormone (PTH)-(1-84) and 1-34 inhibited the production of hepatic lipase in cultured cells from normal, CRF-PTX, CRF-V, and normal-V rats. The expression of the mRNA of the hepatic lipase was significantly reduced in CRF animals with the ratio between it and that of house keeping gene G3DPH being 15 +/-3% compared to 40 +/- 1.3% in normal, 44+/-2.9% CRF-PTX, 44 +/- 5.4% in CRF-V, and 39 +/- 3.9% in normal-V rats. Infusion of heparin to the in vitro hepatic perfusion system increased the activity of hepatic lipase in the effluent in all groups of rat except in CRF animals. Infusion of PTH-(1-34) in dose of 10(-6) M into the liver perfusion system inhibited the increase in post-heparin hepatic lipase activity. The data show that in CRF (a) the mRNA of hepatic lipase is downregulated, and hepatic lipase production, activity and release are impaired, (b) that this is due to the state of secondary hyperparathyroidism of CRF since both acute and chronic excess of PTH were associated with these abnormalities, (c) and that prevention of excess PTH by PTX of CRF rats or blocking the effect of PTH by treatment with verapamil corrected the derangement in hepatic lipase metabolism.

The early stimulation of glycolysis by epidermal growth factor in isolated rat hepatocytes is secondary to the glycogenolytic effect

We have studied the relationship between the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on glycogen metabolism and its effect on glycolysis, in rat hepatocyte suspensions. Although 10 nM glucagon or 10 microM adrenaline increased glycogen degradation by more than 120%, 10 nM EGF increased glycogenolysis by less than 20% in hepatocytes incubated in glucose-free medium. Both glucagon and adrenaline increased phosphorylase a activity by more than 130%; EGF increased this activity by about 30%. Under basal conditions, 65% of the glucosyl residues were released as free glucose and about 30% ended up as C3 molecules (lactate and pyruvate). Both glucagon and adrenaline decreased the proportion of glucosyl units that rendered glycolysis end-products (to 2% for glucagon and 6% for adrenaline) and increased the proportion that ended up as free glucose (to 94% and 88% of the glucosyl residues for glucagon and adrenaline respectively). EGF increased the production of both free glucose and lactate+pyruvate, but the proportion of glucosyl residues that ended up as free glucose or glycolysis end-products was unchanged. In glycogen-depleted hepatocytes incubated in the presence of 25 mM glucose, EGF affected neither glycogen deposition nor glycolysis. EGF increased cytosolic free Ca2+, and neomycin decreased both the Ca2+ signal and the glycogenolytic effect. In conclusion, our results indicate that the effect of EGF on glycolysis is secondary to the Ca(2+)-mediated stimulation of glycogenolysis in rat hepatocyte suspensions.

Role of heterotrimeric G-proteins in epidermal growth factor signalling

Since in 1986 it was reported that a pertussis toxin-sensitive substrate was involved in the Ca2+ signal induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) in rat hepatocytes, much evidence accumulated to implicate heterotrimeric G-proteins in EGF action. EGF can also induce a cyclic AMP signal, but while the generation of a Ca2+ signal appears to be quite general in EGF action, the increase in cyclic AMP occurs only in few cell types. In non-transformed cell types these effects appear to involve G-proteins. EGF not only induces cell proliferation but also interacts with hormones in the short-term control of cell function in quiescent cells. Most of the known interactions are on cyclic AMP mediated hormone effects, and in many cases, the interaction between EGF and hormones involves G-proteins. Here we review the evidence accumulated in recent years that implicate G-proteins in EGF action. An understanding of the mechanisms involved may reveal new mechanisms of G-protein regulation and will contribute to our knowledge of EGF function and signal transduction.