Colony-stimulating factor 1-induced Na+ influx into human monocytes involves activation of a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein

Hematopoietic growth factor receptors

The formation of the cellular constituents of the blood is regulated by a series of endogenous polypeptides with largely paracrine function. A number of these hematopoietic growth factors (HGF's), which include colony stimulating factors, interleukins, and erythropoietin, have been purified to homogeneity and cloned, which in turn has led to extensive investigations of their biochemical properties and biological effects and functions. The HGF's act on target cells by binding to receptors. The kinetics and, to an even larger extent, dynamics of the factor/receptor associations display several intriguing characteristics, most of which are still poorly understood. Herein, the biochemical characteristics of HGF's receptors as well as the binding properties, post-receptor binding events and receptor modulation resulting from the association of HGF's and their target cells are reviewed.

Heterotrimeric G protein signaling outside the realm of seven transmembrane domain receptors

Heterotrimeric G proteins, consisting of the guanine nucleotide-binding Galpha subunits with GTPase activity and the closely associated Gbeta and Ggamma subunits, are important signaling components for receptors with seven transmembrane domains (7TMRs). These receptors, also termed G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), act as guanine nucleotide exchange factors upon agonist stimulation. There is now accumulating evidence for noncanonical functions of heterotrimeric G proteins independent of 7TMR coupling. Galpha proteins belonging to all 4 subfamilies, including G(s), G(i), G(q), and G(12) are found to play important roles in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, regulation of oxidant production, development, and cell migration, through physical and functional interaction with proteins other than 7TMRs. Association of Galpha with non-7TMR proteins also facilitates presentation of these G proteins to specific cellular microdomains. This Minireview aims to summarize our current understanding of the noncanonical roles of Galpha proteins in cell signaling and to discuss unresolved issues including regulation of Galpha activation by proteins other than the 7TMRs.

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor rapidly enhances beta-migrating very low density lipoprotein metabolism in macrophages through activation of a Gi/o protein signaling pathway

Previous studies have examined lipoprotein metabolism by macrophages following prolonged exposure (>24 h) to macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Because M-CSF activates several signaling pathways that could rapidly affect lipoprotein metabolism, we examined whether acute exposure of macrophages to M-CSF alters the metabolism of either native or modified lipoproteins. Acute incubation of cultured J774 macrophages and resident mouse peritoneal macrophages with M-CSF markedly enhanced low density lipoproteins (LDL) and beta-migrating very low density lipoproteins (beta-VLDL) stimulated cholesteryl [(3)H]oleate deposition. In parallel, M-CSF treatment increased the association and degradation of (125)I-labeled LDL or beta-VLDL without altering the amount of lipoprotein bound to the cell surface. The increase in LDL and beta-VLDL metabolism did not reflect a generalized effect on lipoprotein endocytosis and metabolism because M-CSF did not alter cholesterol deposition during incubation with acetylated LDL. Moreover, M-CSF did not augment beta-VLDL cholesterol deposition in macrophages from LDL receptor (-/-) mice, indicating that the effect of M-CSF was mediated by the LDL receptor. Incubation of macrophages with pertussis toxin, a specific inhibitor of G(i/o) protein signaling, had no effect on cholesterol deposition during incubation with beta-VLDL alone, but completely blocked the augmented response promoted by M-CSF. In addition, incubation of macrophages with the direct G(i/o) protein activator, mastoparan, mimicked the effect of M-CSF by enhancing cholesterol deposition in cells incubated with beta-VLDL, but not acetylated LDL. In summary, M-CSF rapidly enhances LDL receptor-mediated metabolism of native lipoproteins by macrophages through activation of a G(i/o) protein signaling pathway. Together, these findings describe a novel pathway for regulating lipoprotein metabolism.

Regulation by Gi2 proteins of v-fms-induced proliferation and transformation via Src-kinase and STAT3

We previously showed that Gi2 proteins interfere with the transduction of CSF-1 receptor (CSF-1R) proliferation signals (Corre and Hermouet, 1995). To identify CSF-1R pathways controlled by Gi2, we transfected v-fms, the oncogenic equivalent of CSF-1R, in NIH3T3 cells in which Gi2 proteins were inactivated by stably expressing a dominant negative mutant form of the alpha subunit of Gi2 (alpha i2-G204A). Expression of alpha i2-G204A resulted in decreased Src-kinase activity, delayed activation of p42 ERK-MAPK, decreased cyclin D1 expression and reduced proliferation in response to serum. In alpha i2-G204A cells transfected with v-fms, Src-kinase activity remained deficient but p42 MAPK activity and cyclin D1 expression were similar to those of vector/v-fms cells, suggesting that v-fms bypasses Src to activate the ERK-MAPK cascade. However, DNA synthesis and focus formation were inhibited by up to 80% in alpha i2-G204A/v-fms cells compared to vector/v-fms cells. We found that tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3, also activated by CSF-1R/v-fms, was inhibited in alpha i2-G204A/v-fms cells; in addition, expression of an 85 kDa, C-terminal truncated form of STAT3 (STAT3 delta) was constitutively increased. Both the inhibition of v-fms-induced STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation and the increased expression of STAT3 delta were reproduced by transfecting a dominant negative mutant of Src. Last, we show that expression of STAT3 delta 55C, a mutant form of STAT3 lacking the last 55 C-terminal amino acids, is sufficient to inhibit DNA synthesis and v-fms-induced transformation in NIH3T3 cells. In summary, adequate regulation by Gi2 proteins of the activity of both Src-kinase and STAT3 is required for optimal cell proliferation in response to CSF-1R/v-fms.

Gi2 alpha protein deficiency: a model of inflammatory bowel disease

Mice deficient for the G protein subunit Gi2 alpha were obtained by gene targeting. They displayed a growth retardation that was apparent at 6 weeks of age. They subsequently developed diffuse colitis with clinical and histopathological features closely resembling those of ulcerative colitis in humans. Seven of 20 Gi2 alpha-deficient mice with colitis also developed adenocarcinomas of the colon. Gi2 alpha-deficient thymocytes displayed two- to fourfold increases in mature CD4+8- and CD4-8+ phenotypes, an approximately threefold increase in high-intensity CD3 staining and enhanced proliferative responses to T-cell receptor stimuli. Stimulation of Gi 2 alpha-deficient peripheral T cells induced a hyperresponsive profile of interleukin-2, tumour necrosis factor, and interferon-gamma production, which may reflect a heightened response of primed cells or a defective negative regulation. We suggest that Gi 2 alpha-deficient mice may represent a useful animal model for dissecting the pathomechanisms of inflammatory bowel disease and also for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Activation of a G protein complex by aggregation of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase on the surface of sperm

Fertilization is initiated by the species-specific binding of sperm to the extracellular coat of the egg. One sperm receptor for the mouse egg is beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase (GalTase), which binds O-linked oligosaccharides on the egg coat glycoprotein ZP3. ZP3 binding induces acrosomal exocytosis through the activation of a pertussis toxin-sensitive heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein). The cytoplasmic domain of sperm surface GalTase bound to and activated a heterotrimeric G protein complex that contained the Gi alpha subunit. Aggregation of GalTase by multivalent ligands elicited G protein activation. Sperm from transgenic mice that overexpressed GalTase had higher rates of G protein activation than did wild-type sperm, which rendered transgenic sperm hypersensitive to their ZP3 ligand. Thus, the cytoplasmic domain of cell surface GalTase appears to enable it to function as a signal-transducing receptor for extracellular oligosaccharide ligands.

Disruption of the G(i2) alpha locus in embryonic stem cells and mice: a modified hit and run strategy with detection by a PCR dependent on gap repair

We have used an insertion vector-based approach to target the G(i2) alpha gene in AB-1 embryonic stem cells. 105 bp located 0.8-0.9 kb upstream of a disrupting Neo marker in exon 3 were deleted and replaced with an engineered Not I site, that served to linearize the vector. The 105 bp deletion served as a primer annealing site in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) designed to detect the gap repair associated with homologous recombination. Both target conversion and vector insertion events were obtained ('hit' step). Clones that had inserted the entire targeting vector were taken into FIAU (1-[2-deoxy,2-fluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl]-5-ioduracil) counterselection to select against a thymidine kinase (TK) marker flanking the homologous genomic sequences and thus for cells that had excised the plasmid and the TK marker by intrachromosomal recombination ('run' step). Additional selection in G418 reduced the number of drug-resistant colonies at least five-fold. Thus, the Neo marker disrupting the homologous sequences allows for a more specific selection of the desired intrachromosomal recombination event in tissue culture. This modified 'hit and run' strategy represents a novel approach for vector design and the use of the polymerase chain reaction to detect targeting. It may be particularly useful for targeting genes that display a low frequency of homologous recombination. Germ line transmission of the mutated G(i2) alpha allele is also demonstrated.

The resistance of macrophage-like tumour cell lines to growth inhibition by lipopolysaccharide and pertussis toxin

The process of tumorigenesis is frequently associated with resistance to growth inhibition by physiological regulators of normal cells. Murine macrophage-like cell lines BAC1.2F5, RAW264, J774.1A and PU5/1.8 were resistant to growth inhibition by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pertussis toxin, agents that blocked growth of primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1). The resistance of the CSF-1-dependent cell line BAC1.2F5 to growth inhibition by pertussis toxin argues against the possibility that pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins are essential for the pathway of growth stimulation by CSF-1. Conversely, these data add further weight to the argument that LPS mediates some of its biological activities by mimicking the action of pertussis toxin and inhibiting G protein function. The resistance of cell lines to LPS and pertussis toxin was not correlated with any alteration in the expression of mRNA encoding any of three pertussis-toxin sensitive G protein alpha subunits. The pattern of G protein expression was consistent between primary cells and tumour cells, suggesting that this is a differentiation marker. In particular, Gi alpha 2 mRNA was expressed at remarkably high levels in all of the cells. The specificity of LPS resistance was investigated by studying down-regulation of CSF-1 binding and induction of protooncogene c-fos and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) mRNA. BAC1.2F5 cells were LPS-resistant in each of these assays. In CSF-1 binding, RAW264 and J774.1A responded in the same way as bone marrow-derived macrophages but required higher doses of LPS, whereas c-fos and TNF mRNA were induced in these cells at concentrations that did not inhibit growth. In PU5/1.8 cells, CSF-1 binding was already very low and was not further down-regulated, but c-fos and TNF mRNA was inducible by LPS. By contrast to primary macrophages, the cell lines did not respond to LPS with down-regulation of c-fms mRNA, which encodes the CSF-1 receptor. Hence, the resistance of macrophage-like tumour cells to LPS and pertussis toxin was specific to the pathways controlling growth, and was correlated with altered regulation of the CSF-1 receptor.

Localization of the GTP-binding protein Gi alpha in myelomonocytic progenitor cells is regulated by proliferation (GM-CSF, IL-3) and differentiation (TNF) signals

We have examined the role of Gi alpha in haemopoietic cells using the myelomonocytic progenitor cell lines FDC-P1 and WEHI-3B (JCS). During growth factor-dependent proliferation of FDC-P1 cells Gi alpha was found predominantly in the nucleus and associated with the plasma membrane. Following removal of growth factor, Gi alpha accumulated in the cytoplasm and at the plasma membrane. Treatment of FDC-P1 cells with pertussis toxin (PT) completely inhibited translocation of Gi alpha to the nucleus and reduced the sensitivity of FDC-P1 cells to the proliferative effects of growth factors, indicating that translocation of Gi alpha plays a regulatory role in, but may not be essential for, cell division. Gi alpha initially associated with DNA during S/G2 of the FDC-P1 cell cycle but separated from condensing chromosomes during mitosis. In contrast to FDC-P1 cells, WEHI-3B (JCS) cells proliferate in the absence of added growth factors but can be induced to differentiate by TNF-alpha. In proliferating JCS cells Gi alpha was again associated with the nucleus but when proliferation was inhibited by TNF-alpha, Gi alpha accumulated in the cytoplasm with none detected in the nucleus. Thus the cytokine regulated accumulation of Gi alpha at different intracellular sites correlated with the ability of the cell to progress through the proliferative cycle. When the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein was added to FDC-P1 cells prior to stimulation with IL-3 or GM-CSF, proliferation was almost completely inhibited but translocation of Gi alpha was not affected, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation was not involved in G protein translocation but was essential for cytokine induced cell division. Cholera toxin (CT) also inhibited proliferation of FDC-P1 cells but had no effect on translocation of Gi alpha to the nucleus. The near complete inhibition of cell division by genistein and CT without a corresponding effect on Gi alpha movement indicates that Gi alpha can be regulated independently of tyrosine kinase and adenylyl cyclase activities, respectively.

Pertussis toxin provides evidence for two independent signalling pathways leading to the activation of the nerve growth factor gene

Increased expression of the nerve growth factor (NGF) gene may be obtained by treating L929 fibroblasts with serum, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3). The possible involvement of GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) in these regulatory events was monitored by exposing the cells to pertussis toxin (PT), a compound known to inactivate several types of G proteins by ADP ribosylation. Measurements of the pool of NGF mRNA by Northern blot analysis, and quantification of the factor secreted by the cells with a double-site ELISA assay, indicate that pretreatment with PT decreases by about 60% the effect of serum on the levels of NGF transcript and secreted factor. This effect is accompanied by a corresponding decrease of the expression of c-fos gene, which takes place soon after the addition of serum to the cells. In contrast, PT had no effect on the basal level of NGF mRNA found in cells maintained in serum-free medium or in cells stimulated with PMA or 1,25-(OH)2D3. These results indicate that some serum factor(s) acts via plasma membrane receptors able to interact with PT-sensitive G proteins to modulate NGF gene expression. In contrast, 1,25-(OH)2D3 appears to mediate its action through a different signalling pathway, which is likely to require its cytosolic receptor, and is independent of PT-sensitive G protein and c-fos induction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sequence alignment of the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily

The multitude of G-protein coupled receptor (GPR) superfamily cDNAs recently isolated has exceeded the number of receptor subtypes anticipated by pharmacological studies. Analysis of the sequence similarities and unique features of the members of this family is valuable for designing strategies to isolate related cDNAs, for developing hypotheses concerning substrate-ligand and receptor-effector interactions, and for understanding the evolution of these genes. We have compiled and aligned the 74 unique amino acid sequences published to date and review the present understanding of the structural motifs contributing to ligand binding and G-protein coupling.

Effect of platelet-activating factor on tumor necrosis factor-induced superoxide generation from human neutrophils. Possible involvement of G proteins

The effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and of two specific PAF antagonists on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induced superoxide production by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) was examined. PAF alone (0.1 pM to 0.1 nM) failed to evoke superoxide production; however, when PAF was added for 10 min to cells upon prior incubation with 10 ng/mL TNF for 50 min, superoxide production was significantly enhanced as compared to that induced by TNF alone. Maximum amplification (+30%) was obtained with 10 pM PAF; however, the effect was completely abolished by two structurally unrelated PAF antagonists, BN 52021 and BN 52111. The antagonists also decreased by 25% the superoxide production elicited solely by TNF, implicating the involvement of endogenous PAF in this process. Pretreatment of the PMN with either pertussis or cholera toxin attenuated the PAF amplified superoxide production in TNF stimulated cells, suggesting that G proteins sensitive to these toxins may be involved in the mechanisms controlling amplification.

Signalling through CSF receptors

The finely regulated process of blood cell formation is under the control of a family of glycoprotein hormones, known as colony-stimulating factors (CSFs), and their receptors. The complexity of the intracellular mechanisms involved in the action of such factors has been appreciated only recently. In this review, Gino Vairo and John Hamilton discuss the biochemistry of CSF action and its relevance to growth control, and examine the possibility that different CSFs may use common control pathways within the one cell type.

Hematopoietic growth factor receptors

The molecular cloning for most of the hematopoietic growth factor receptors has been achieved over the past few years and revealed that they can by assigned to two discrete receptor families, namely the hematopoietic growth factor superfamily (HRS) and the receptor tyrosine kinase family (RTK). The members of the HRS, including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (GM-CSF-R), interleukin 3 receptor (IL-3-R), granulocyte CSF receptor (G-CSF-R) and erythropoietin receptor (Epo-R), share a common binding domain and the absence of a tyrosine kinase domain in their cytoplasmic portion. In some cases (e.g., GM-CSF-R), the high-affinity receptor structure is obtained through the association of the low-affinity binding chain (alpha chain) with an accessory protein (beta chain). It is conceivable that this protein might also represent the common subunit shared by GM-CSF-R and by IL-3-R when they are co-expressed to form the putative GM-CSF-R/IL-3-R complex. Although tyrosine phosphorylation following ligand receptor activation seems to be a common event in the HRS, its role in the signal transduction mechanisms is unknown. Due to the structural analogies among the members of this family any new insight into one particular receptor member, such as its subunit structure and its signal transduction pathways, will be generalizable to the other family members. The subclass III of the RTK family, including the CSF-1-R and c-kit, is characterized by an additional insert into the kinase domain that recognizes and binds protein substrates. Ligand induced activation of the kinase domain and its signaling potential are mediated by receptor oligomerization which stabilizes interactions between adjacent cytoplasmic domains and leads to activation of kinase function by molecular interaction. Interestingly, the receptors included in this subclass are the products of well known cellular proto-oncogenes. A large variety of structural alteration found in receptor-derived oncogene products may lead to constitutive activation of receptor signals that, consequently, result in the subversion of the mechanisms controlling the cell growth.

Modulation of Na+/K+ exchange potentiates lipopolysaccharide-induced gene expression in murine peritoneal macrophages

The role of Na+/K+ exchange in regulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated induction of cytokine gene expression has been examined in murine peritoneal macrophages. Depletion of K+ from the culture medium resulted in a three- to five-fold potentiation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), KC (gro), and IP-10 mRNA expression in LPS-treated macrophages. The potentiating effect was apparently the result of inhibition of Na+/K+ exchange through the Na+/K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) because ouabain-mediated inhibition of Na+/K(+)-ATPase was also able to potentiate cytokine mRNA expression as much or more than did K+ depletion. The effects of K+ depletion or ouabain treatment were not caused by depolarization of the macrophage membrane because depolarization mediated by elevating extracellular K+ levels was inhibitory to cytokine mRNA expression. Depletion of Na+ by substitution with choline in the culture medium also markedly potentiated LPS-induced gene expression. The Na+/H+ antiporter was not, however, involved in potentiating cytokine expression because treatment of macrophages with amiloride either had no effect on or was inhibitory to the LPS-induced changes in mRNA levels. The potentiation of gene expression was selective and was at least partially the result of increased transcriptional activity of each gene. Whereas Na+ depletion and ouabain both inhibited 86Rb+ uptake by macrophages, treatment with LPS had no effect either on Rb+ uptake or on efflux. Thus altered Na+/K+ exchange is not a component of the primary signalling pathway(s) mediating response to LPS. Nevertheless, modulation of macrophage Na+/K+ exchange by agents encountered during an inflammatory response may be an important determinant of the magnitude and quality of specific gene expression.

Bombesin stimulates a high affinity GTPase activity in membranes of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

Peptides of the bombesin family are mitogenic for Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts and in these cells stimulate the turnover of polyphosphoinositides. Recent studies have suggested that G protein(s) may be involved in the signal transduction pathway triggered by bombesin. In this study we have found and characterized a high affinity GTPase activity stimulated by bombesin in membranes of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Our results support the involvement of a G protein in the response of Swiss 3T3 cells to bombesin.

GTP binding proteins and growth factor signal transduction

There is a large body of evidence supporting a role for GTP-binding proteins in signal transduction by growth factors. In certain cells, ligands which activate or inhibit the production of cAMP via heterotrimeric G proteins promote replication of the target cell. These mechanisms play an important role in a limited number of tumours. Ligands which activate PI hydrolysis through heterotrimeric G proteins may also promote growth in certain systems, but the precise role for PI hydrolysis remains to be determined. Receptors with intrinsic tyrosine kinases may also interact with the heterotrimeric G proteins, but it is not known if these interactions represent side reactions, or whether they are central in the responses of certain cell types. Lastly, p21ras and other small molecular weight G proteins appear to be profoundly important in growth control. The tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors may interact indirectly with these GTP binding proteins via GAP proteins. The molecular detail of this process is emerging rapidly and is likely to be worked out in the near future.

Examination of survival, proliferation and cell surface antigen expression of human monocytes exposed to macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF)

The effects of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF or CSF-1) on the survival, proliferation, maturation and activation of human blood monocytes were examined. M-CSF (100-1,000 U/ml) doubled the number of monocytes surviving after eight days in culture and accelerated the usual increase in cell volume. Antiserum to M-CSF abolished both of these effects. There was no sizable increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation in monocytes over this time period. Of various factors tested, including gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), interleukin (IL) 1 alpha, granulocyte CSF (G-CSF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), only granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) could also enhance survival and augment cell volume. While antiserum to human M-CSF eliminated the increase in survival induced by GM-CSF, it could not ablate the GM-CSF-stimulated increase in monocyte cell volume. Monocyte cell surface markers that increase with maturation (i.e., Fc gamma RIII) or with activation (i.e., Fc gamma RI) were unaffected by incubation with M-CSF.

Receptor-effector coupling by G proteins

The primary structure of G proteins as deduced from purified proteins and cloned subunits is presented. When known, their functions are discussed, as are recent data on direct regulation of ionic channels by G proteins. Experiments on expression of alpha subunits, either in bacteria or by in vitro translation of mRNA synthesized from cDNA are presented as tools for definitive assignment of function to a given G protein. The dynamics of G protein-mediated signal transduction are discussed. Key points include the existence of two superimposed regulatory cycles in which upon activation by GTP, G proteins dissociate into alpha and beta gamma and their dissociated alpha subunits hydrolyze GTP. The action of receptors to catalyze rather than regulate by allostery the activation of G proteins by GTP is emphasized, as is the role of subunit dissociation, without which receptors could not act as catalysts. To facilitate the reading of this review, we have presented the various subtopics of this rapidly expanding field in sections 1-1X, each of which is organized as a self-contained sub-chapter that can be read independently of the others.

Macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) modulates a differentiation-specific inward-rectifying potassium current in human leukemic (HL-60) cells

A voltage-activated inward-rectifying K+ conductance (lKi) appears in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells during phorbol ester-induced differentiation into macrophages. This conductance was detected in the cells 24 hours after exposure to phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), as the cells began to express the macrophage phenotype, and continued to increase for 4 days after PMA exposure. The magnitude of inward current was a function of external K+; current was blocked by extracellular or intracellular Cs+ and by extracellular Ba++. Hyperpolarization produced activation at membrane potentials more negative than -80 mV, and a slower, partial inactivation also occurred at potentials more negative than -100 mV. This conductance was not detected in proliferating cells nor in granulocytes derived from HL-60 cells which were induced to differentiate with retinoic acid (RA). Exposure of differentiated macrophages to recombinant human CSF-1 produced inhibition of the lKi beginning within 1 minute after exposure. CSF-1 inhibition of lKi channels in cell-attached patches indicated that channel modulation was via intracellular mediators. The rapid inhibition of the inward rectifier by the macrophage-specific CSF-1 appears to be one of the earliest cellular responses to this factor.

G proteins and the mechanism of action of hormones, neurotransmitters, and autocrine and paracrine regulatory factors

Signal transduction by G proteins is a fundamental and widespread mechanism used by a wide variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, and autocrine and paracrine factors to regulate cellular functions. G proteins modulate not only cAMP formation, but also intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, arachidonic acid release, and, very importantly, membrane potential. The mechanism by which G proteins are activated provides for amplification, reversal of action, and continued monitoring of incoming signals. Not all G proteins are known and some are known but their functions are still unknown. More G proteins and more effector functions affected by them will surely be found. We discuss these features of signal transduction by G proteins.

Functional expression of the human receptor for colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) in hamster fibroblasts: CSF-1 stimulates Na+/H+ exchange and DNA-synthesis in the absence of phosphoinositide breakdown

The human CSF-1 receptor (c-fms protooncogene product) was introduced into CSF-1-unresponsive Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (CCL39 cell line) in order to study its coupling to biochemical signal-transducing systems and to compare the growth-regulating properties of CSF-1 to those of other growth factors. Independent clones expressing different levels of CSF-1 receptors were isolated and characterized. CSF-1 increased [3H]thymidine incorporation in serum-starved cells and potentiated the mitogenic effects of FGF and thrombin. As already observed for other growth factors activating receptor tyrosine kinases (EGF, FGF, IGF-I), CSF-1 alone did not trigger inositol phosphate formation, but slightly enhanced the activity of phospholipase C agonists (thrombin, A1F4- complex). Activation of the CSF-1 receptor by its ligand was evidenced by the rapid activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger resulting in amiloride-sensitive cytoplasmic alkalinization (0.1-0.2 pH units) within minutes after stimulation. Whereas pertussis toxin does not affect the action of EGF, FGF, or IGF-I in CCL39 cells, it partially inhibited both DNA synthesis reinitiation and activation of Na+/H+ exchange by CSF-1, indicating that the CSF-1 receptor can communicate with a signal-transducing GTP binding protein. A point-mutated form of the c-fms gene product, in which Tyr 969, a residue negatively modulating signal transduction, had been replaced with Phe [fms (F969)], did not generate responses significantly different from those obtained with the wild-type c-fms gene product. In the absence of CSF-1, cells expressing either wild-type or fms (F969) showed a considerably higher basal level of thymidine incorporation and decreased anchorage dependence compared with parental CCL39 cells. Monoclonal antibodies that interfere with signal transduction by the human CSF-1 receptor inhibited both basal [3H]thymidine incorporation and soft agar colony formation, indicating that relaxation of growth control was dependent on CSF-1 receptor expression.

Roles of G proteins in coupling of receptors to ionic channels and other effector systems

Guanine nucleotide binding (G) proteins are heterotrimers that couple a wide range of receptors to ionic channels. The coupling may be indirect, via cytoplasmic agents, or direct, as has been shown for two K+ channels and two Ca2+ channels. One example of direct G protein gating is the atrial muscarinic K+ channel K+[ACh], an inwardly rectifying K+ channel with a slope conductance of 40 pS in symmetrical isotonic K+ solutions and a mean open lifetime of 1.4 ms at potentials between -40 and -100 mV. Another is the clonal GH3 muscarinic or somatostatin K+ channel, also inwardly rectifying but with a slope conductance of 55 pS. A G protein, Gk, purified from human red blood cells (hRBC) activates K+ [ACh] channels at subpicomolar concentrations; its alpha subunit is equipotent. Except for being irreversible, their effects on gating precisely mimic physiological gating produced by muscarinic agonists. The alpha k effects are general and are similar in atria from adult guinea pig, neonatal rat, and chick embryo. The hydrophilic beta gamma from transducin has no effect while hydrophobic beta gamma from brain, hRBCs, or retina has effects at nanomolar concentrations which in our hands cannot be dissociated from detergent effects. An anti-alpha k monoclonal antibody blocks muscarinic activation, supporting the concept that the physiological mediator is the alpha subunit not the beta gamma dimer. The techniques of molecular biology are now being used to specify G protein gating. A "bacterial" alpha i-3 expressed in Escherichia coli using a pT7 expression system mimics the gating produced by hRBC alpha k.

Activation of macrophages to express cytocidal activity correlates with inhibition of their responsiveness to macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1): involvement of a pertussis toxin-sensitive reaction

Bone marrow-derived murine macrophages were used to study the relationship between the proliferative response of macrophages to macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) and their activation for cytocidal activity against tumour cells. Macrophage activation required two sequential signals. Lymphokines (gamma interferon, interleukin-4) provided the first (priming) signal; bacterial products (lipopolysaccharide, lipophilic muramyl tripeptide, lipopeptide 31362, pertussis toxin) provided the second (triggering) signal. Both priming and triggering agents inhibited [3H]-thymidine uptake by macrophages stimulated with CSF-1. The antiproliferative activity of priming and triggering stimuli was synergistic. Pretreatment with triggering stimuli at 37 degrees C caused a rapid reduction of the subsequent binding of [125I]-CSF-1 to the cell surface at 4 degrees C, whereas priming agents had relatively little effect. Growth inhibition by both priming and triggering agents was largely reversible by washing the cells, and occurred even when they were added as long as 24 h after the growth factor. The ability of pertussis toxin to both inhibit CSF-1-induced proliferation and trigger cytotoxicity in macrophages suggests the involvement of a regulatory GTP-binding protein (G protein) in both processes.