Distinct pathways mediate transcriptional regulation of platelet-derived growth factor B/c-sis expression

Osteoclasts Provide Coupling Signals to Osteoblast Lineage Cells Through Multiple Mechanisms

Bone remodeling is essential for the repair and replacement of damaged and old bone. The major principle underlying this process is that osteoclast-mediated resorption of a quantum of bone is followed by osteoblast precursor recruitment; these cells differentiate to matrix-producing osteoblasts, which form new bone to replace what was resorbed. Evidence from osteopetrotic syndromes indicate that osteoclasts not only resorb bone, but also provide signals to promote bone formation. Osteoclasts act upon osteoblast lineage cells throughout their differentiation by facilitating growth factor release from resorbed matrix, producing secreted proteins and microvesicles, and expressing membrane-bound factors. These multiple mechanisms mediate the coupling of bone formation to resorption in remodeling. Additional interactions of osteoclasts with osteoblast lineage cells, including interactions with canopy and reversal cells, are required to achieve coordination between bone formation and resorption during bone remodeling.

Targeting of protein kinase C-epsilon during Fcgamma receptor-dependent phagocytosis requires the epsilonC1B domain and phospholipase C-gamma1

Protein kinase C-epsilon (PKC-epsilon) translocates to phagosomes and promotes uptake of IgG-opsonized targets. To identify the regions responsible for this concentration, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-protein kinase C-epsilon mutants were tracked during phagocytosis and in response to exogenous lipids. Deletion of the diacylglycerol (DAG)-binding epsilonC1 and epsilonC1B domains, or the epsilonC1B point mutant epsilonC259G, decreased accumulation at phagosomes and membrane translocation in response to exogenous DAG. Quantitation of GFP revealed that epsilonC259G, epsilonC1, and epsilonC1B accumulation at phagosomes was significantly less than that of intact PKC-epsilon. Also, the DAG antagonist 1-hexadecyl-2-acetyl glycerol (EI-150) blocked PKC-epsilon translocation. Thus, DAG binding to epsilonC1B is necessary for PKC-epsilon translocation. The role of phospholipase D (PLD), phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC)-gamma1, and PI-PLC-gamma2 in PKC-epsilon accumulation was assessed. Although GFP-PLD2 localized to phagosomes and enhanced phagocytosis, PLD inhibition did not alter target ingestion or PKC-epsilon localization. In contrast, the PI-PLC inhibitor U73122 decreased both phagocytosis and PKC-epsilon accumulation. Although expression of PI-PLC-gamma2 is higher than that of PI-PLC-gamma1, PI-PLC-gamma1 but not PI-PLC-gamma2 consistently concentrated at phagosomes. Macrophages from PI-PLC-gamma2-/- mice were similar to wild-type macrophages in their rate and extent of phagocytosis, their accumulation of PKC-epsilon at the phagosome, and their sensitivity to U73122. This implicates PI-PLC-gamma1 as the enzyme that supports PKC-epsilon localization and phagocytosis. That PI-PLC-gamma1 was transiently tyrosine phosphorylated in nascent phagosomes is consistent with this conclusion. Together, these results support a model in which PI-PLC-gamma1 provides DAG that binds to epsilonC1B, facilitating PKC-epsilon localization to phagosomes for efficient IgG-mediated phagocytosis.

Angiopoietin 1, PDGF-B, and TGF-beta gene regulation in endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell interaction

The vascular wall is mainly composed of endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The crosstalking between these two cell types is critical in the vascular maturation process. Genetic studies suggest that the Tie2/angiopoietin 1 (Ang1) pathway regulates vascular remodeling. However, the molecular mechanism is unclear. PDGF is a potent chemoattractant for SMCs, and TGF-beta regulates SMC differentiation. Here, we examined gene regulation. PDGF-B stimulation upregulated Ang1 expression in SMCs through the PI3K and PKC pathways. PDGF-B stimulation also produced an acute induction of TGF-beta expression in SMCs through the MAPK/ERK pathway. Interestingly, TGF-beta negatively regulated Ang1 expression induced by the PDGF-B stimulation in SMCs. Reciprocally, we observed that stimulation of ECs with either Ang1 or TGF-beta slightly downregulated PDGF expression. A combination of both TGF-beta with Ang1 produced much stronger downregulation of PDGF. Our data showed complex gene regulations that include both positive and negative regulations between ECs and SMCs to maintain vascular homeostasis.

Transcription of the platelet-derived growth factor A-chain gene

The molecular mechanisms which control the transcription of growth factor genes underlie such diverse biological processes as embryonic development, cellular differentiation and wound healing. Moreover, disruption of these controls is implicated in the development and progression of a wide variety of human diseases, including cancer, atherosclerosis and fibrotic disease. This review highlights progress made in the study of the gene encoding platelet-derived growth factor A-chain (PDGF-A) from the perspective of its normal patterns of expression, as well as possible mechanisms leading to dysregulation and disease. A particular focus has been placed on the identification and characterization of specific DNA elements, DNA-binding proteins and other aspects of transcriptional regulation involved in activation and repression of the human PDGF-A promoter.

Signals controlling the expression of PDGF

PDGF is an important polypeptide growth factor that plays an essential role during early vertebrate development and is associated with tissue repair and wound healing in the adult vertebrate. Moreover, PDGF is thought to play a role in a variety of pathological phenomena, such as cancer, fibrosis and atherosclerosis. PDGF is expressed as a dimer of A and/or B chains, the precursors of which are encoded by two single copy genes. Although the PDGF genes are expressed coordinately in a number of cell types, they are independently expressed in a majority of cell types. The expression of either PDGF gene can be affected by very diverse extracellular stimuli and the type of response is dependent on the cell type that is exposed to the stimulus. Expression of the PDGF chains can be modulated at every imaginable level: by regulating accessibility of the transcription start site, by varying the transcription initiation rate, by using alternative transcription start sites, by alternative splicing, by using alternative polyadenylation signals, by varying mRNA decay rates, by regulating efficiency of translation, by protein modification, and by regulating secretion. Even upon secretion, the activity of PDGF can be modulated by non-specific or specific PDGF-binding proteins. This review provides an overview of the cell types in which the PDGF genes are expressed, of the factors that are known to affect the expression of PDGF, and of the various levels at which the expression of PDGF genes can be regulated.

Regulation of platelet-derived growth factor A and B chain gene expression in bone marrow stromal cells

MBA-2, bone marrow-derived endothelial stromal cells, express platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A and B chain mRNAs and secrete PDGF activity that is induced by TGF-beta. Either chain of the PDGF molecule could modulate hematopoiesis and stromal cell growth. Intracellular pathways that regulate PDGF expression in the marrow microenvironment are unknown. In the present study, we examined the mechanisms that mediate PDGF A and B chain mRNA induction by TGF-beta and the role of protein kinase C (PKC) and cyclic AMP in PDGF regulation. TGF-beta was tested in parallel with PMA, an activator of phorbol ester-dependent PKC isoforms. Both PMA (10(-7)M) and TGF-beta (2.5 ng/ml) increased PDGF A and B chain mRNA levels. The serine/threonine protein kinase inhibitor, H7, blocked PDGF A and B chain mRNA induction in response to TGF-beta. However, down-regulation of PKC by prolonged incubation with PMA failed to abolish TGF-beta induction of PDGF A and B chain mRNAs. These findings indicate that induction of PDGF A and B chain mRNAs can be mediated via phorbol ester-dependent PKC pathway. In contrast, H7-sensitive protein kinase(s) other than phorbol ester-sensitive protein kinase C mediate the effect of TGF-beta. Agents that increase cAMP were also tested for their effect on PDGF gene expression. TGF-beta-mediated induction of PDGF A and B chain mRNAs was markedly inhibited by cAMP. cAMP also blocked stimulation of PDGF A chain mRNA by PMA. The positive and negative signaling mechanisms involved in modulating PDGF in the microenvironment may be important for determining hematopoietic and stromal cell responses in vivo.

Mechanism of regulation of PDGF-A chain gene expression by serum and TPA

The state of induction of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A chain markedly differs among drugs and cells. The increase in A chain mRNA by serum was due to activation of transcription. Transcription was also activated by cycloheximide (CHX) even during serum starvation, indicating that the expression of the PDGF-A chain is inhibited by transcription suppressor factor with a short life during serum starvation. On the other hand, post-transcriptional regulation played a very important role in the increase in A chain mRNA by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and superinduction by TPA and CHX. We also analyzed the regions of PDGF-A chain gene that respond to serum and TPA by the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay and the gel retardation assay. The region from TATA to -135 bp has the activity of the basal expression of PDGF-A chain gene and is considered to be involved in down regulation after the treatment with serum and TPA. Elements that respond to serum and increase the expression of PDGF-A chain gene are present in the region from -135 bp to -223 bp. Elements that inhibit the expression of PDGF-A chain gene during serum starvation are present in the region from -223 bp to -416 bp.

Platelet-derived growth factor B-chain gene expression in mesangial cells: effect of phorbol ester on gene transcription and mRNA stability

We have investigated the effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) B-chain gene transcription as well as on mRNA stability in cultured human mesangial cells. Addition of actinomycin to cells stimulated with PMA decreases steady state levels of PDGF-B chain mRNA analysed by solution hybridization assay. PDGF-B chain gene transcription was also assayed directly by measuring elongation of transcripts in isolated nuclei followed by hybridization of labeled RNA transcripts to a cDNA encoding for PDGF-B chain. Our data show that PMA induces PDGF-B chain gene transcription by approximately 2-fold. alpha-Amanitin, an RNA polymerase II inhibitor, blocked transcription by more than 70%. In addition, we determined the effect of PMA on the halflife of PDGF-B chain mRNA directly by pulse chase method. In human mesangial cells, the PDGF-B chain mRNA exhibited halflife of approximately 105 min. In the presence of PMA, the halflife of PDGF-B chain mRNA was reduced to approximately 72 min. These studies indicate that regulation of PDGF-B chain gene by PMA in human mesangial cells involves a coordinate effort at the level of transcription and mRNA stability.

Role of protein kinase pathways in IL-1-induced chemoattractant expression by human mesangial cells

Human mesangial cells produce the monocyte-specific chemotactic factor monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in response to a variety of stimuli, including the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1). The intracellular signals responsible for mediating the effects of IL-1 on MCP-1 expression in human mesangial cells have not been defined. Evidence from other types of cells suggests that protein kinases are involved in MCP-1 gene regulation. We investigated the role of protein kinase pathways in mediating IL-1-induced MCP-1 expression. Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol esters or diacyglycerol up-regulated mesangial MCP-1 message and bioactivity in a fashion similar to IL-1. However, while inhibition of PKC activity completely blocked phorbol-induced MCP-1 up-regulation, induction by IL-1 was not prevented. Inhibitors of cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) also failed to block IL-1-induced MCP-1 expression. Furthermore, increasing intracellular cAMP and activating PKA attenuated basal MCP-1 mRNA levels by 82% and blocked IL-1 induced MCP-1 expression by 88%. Finally, the role of protein tyrosine kinases was studied. The structurally distinct protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors genistein, herbimycin A, and tyrphostin each caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the effects of IL-1 on mesangial MCP-1 activity. IL-1 treatment of mesangial cells resulted in the up-regulation of three tyrosine phosphoproteins with apparent molecular masses between 40 and 62 kD. These results suggest that the effects of IL-1 on MCP-1 expression are not mediated through PKC or cAMP-PKA, but may be transduced through PTKs.

Effects of transforming growth factor beta 1 on the adenylyl cyclase-cAMP pathway in prostate cancer

We reported previously that MATLyLu rat prostate cancer cells engineered to overproduce transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) produce larger, more metastatic tumors in vivo. We recognized that this ability of TGF beta 1 to act as a positive modulator of prostate tumor behavior might be due to effects of TGF beta 1 on the host and/or on the tumor cells. In this study we demonstrated that the cells themselves respond to endogenously produced TGF beta 1, and that the adenylyl cyclase (AC)-cAMP pathway is affected. TGF beta 1-overproducing cells had lower membrane AC activity, lower intracellular cAMP content, and a lower Gs alpha protein level than did control cells. Prostate cancer cells were growth inhibited by 8-bromo-cAMP or forskolin, agents that elevate intracellular cAMP. Thus, TGF beta 1 overproduction affects the phenotype of the tumor cells, deliberate activation of endogenously produced latent TGF beta 1 is not required (indicating that the cells themselves are capable of activating latent TGF beta 1), and TGF beta 1 overproduction lowers the cellular concentration of the growth inhibitor cAMP. Therefore, TGF beta 1 overproduction could affect tumor behavior in vivo in part via a direct effect on the tumor cells.

DNase-I-hypersensitive sites located far upstream of the human c-sis/PDGF-B gene comap with transcriptional enhancers and a silencer and are preceded by (part of) a new transcription unit

The human c-sis gene encodes the B chain of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a potent mitogen for cultured cells of mesenchymal origin. PDGF is stored in the alpha-granules of blood platelets, which are derived from bone marrow megakaryocytes and lack transcriptional machinery. Human myeloid leukemia cell line K562 can be used as a model for megakaryocytes. Phorbol-ester-mediated megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells is accompanied by more than 200-fold increase in the c-sis mRNA level. We have now localized transcriptional enhancers at -8.6 kb and -9.9 kb relative to the human c-sis gene transcription start site. The enhancer at -8.6 kb increases activity of the c-sis promoter by 40-60-fold specifically in K562 cells and comaps with a DNase-I-hypersensitivity (DH) site. The enhancer at -9.9 kb increases c-sis promoter activity by 5-10-fold in K562 cells and DH at that site accompanies phorbol-ester-induced megakaryocytic differentiation. In phorbol-ester-treated K562 cells the two enhancers may be negatively influenced by a silencer that comaps with DH at -10.7/-11.0 kb. Reporter gene analysis predicted that combined activity of the upstream enhancers and the c-sis promoter may result in 100-1000-fold higher promoter activity in phorbol-ester-treated K562 cells compared with untreated cells, which can fully explain the more than 200-fold increase in c-sis mRNA level. DH at -8.6 kb and -9.9 kb was also detected in human fibroblasts and in the carcinoma cell lines HeLa and PC3, which express, respectively, undetectable, low and high levels of c-sis mRNA. Although the individual DH sites displayed 4-10-fold enhancer activity in all these cells, they lost most of their biological activity when combined in a larger fragment. In addition we localized (part of) a new transcription unit at approximately 13 kb upstream of the c-sis transcription start site. The corresponding 0.45-kb sis upstream region (sur) transcript is constitutively expressed in all cell lines examined. The expression of the sur transcript is independent of the expression of c-sis mRNA and of the pattern of DH sites far upstream of the c-sis gene. Thus, at present, there is no indication that the upstream DH sites are involved in regulation of expression of the sur gene.

Platelet derived growth factor-A chain gene expression in cultured mesangial cells: regulation by phorbol ester at the level of mRNA abundance, transcription and mRNA stability

In human renal mesangial cells, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-A chain is subject to regulation by protein kinase C (PKC) activator, phorbol ester (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, PMA). Treatment of mesangial cells with PMA increases PDGF-A chain mRNA abundance as analyzed by Northern blot hybridization. In contrast to the effect of PMA, the inactive analog phorbol had no effect on PDGF-A chain mRNA levels, while the PKC inhibitor H7 markedly reduced the PMA-induced increment in PDGF-A chain mRNA. To determine the mechanism by which PMA increases the abundance of this gene, transcription rate was measured by nuclear transcript elongation assay. Treatment of mesangial cells with PMA resulted in a 2-fold increase in PDGF-A chain gene transcription. In addition, we analyzed the effects of PMA on PDGF-A chain mRNA half-life as measured directly by pulse-chase method. PDGF-A chain mRNA has a half-life of about 106 min. The PDGF-A chain mRNA half-life was reduced by 30% (t1/2 = 74 min) when mesangial cells were incubated with PMA. Our results demonstrate that in human renal mesangial cells, the regulation of PDGF-A chain gene expression by PMA is primarily at the level of transcription.

Localization and functional analysis of DNase-I-hypersensitive sites in the human c-sis/PDGF-B gene transcription unit and its flanking regions

We studied the regulation of the expression of the human c-sis/PDGF-B gene in the following panel of cell lines: K562 cells, in which expression is inducible by phorbol esters; cytotrophoblast-derived cell lines JEG-3 and JAR; carcinoma-derived cell lines PC3, T24 and HeLa, which show extensive differences in c-sis mRNA content; dermal fibroblasts, which do not express the gene. We demonstrate that the wide variety of levels of c-sis mRNA in these cells is mainly determined at the transcription level. Extensive gene rearrangements or amplifications, or significant differences in the stability of the c-sis transcript could not be found. In fibroblasts and placenta cell lines, inaccessibility of the c-sis promoter, rather than the absence of transcription factors that activate it, inhibits expression of the endogenous gene. Examination of the chromatin structure of the transcription unit and immediate flanking regions revealed several cell-type-specific DNase-I-hypersensitivity (DH) sites. Functional analysis of genomic fragments harbouring one or more DH sites showed the presence of negative regulatory elements within intron 1, and of an activating element downstream of the gene. A DH site, located immediately downstream of the promoter in dermal fibroblasts, may regulate accessibility of the promoter by means of specific nucleosome phasing.

Thrombin stimulates PDGF production and monocyte adhesion through distinct intracellular pathways in human endothelial cells

Thrombin stimulates multiple functions in cultured endothelial cells (EC), including an increase in cell surface adhesion sites for monocytes and the production of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). We have initiated studies to define the intracellular signaling pathways involved in these two thrombin-induced EC functions by focusing on the possible roles of the Na(+)-H+ antiporter and guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins). Amiloride suppressed thrombin-stimulated PDGF production by human aortic EC without affecting either basal PDGF production or overall protein synthesis. The steady-state mRNA levels of PDGF-A and PDGF-B chain were not reduced by amiloride. In replicate EC cultures, amiloride had no effect on thrombin-stimulated monocyte adhesion. In addition, thrombin induction of PDGF production, but not monocyte adhesion, was abrogated in the absence of extracellular sodium. Thrombin stimulation of both monocyte adhesion and PDGF production appeared to involve a pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein. Thrombin induced an increase in [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) binding to human EC membranes. GTP gamma S, in the presence of a suboptimal concentration of thrombin, caused maximal stimulation of both monocyte adhesion and PDGF production. The effect of GTP gamma S on PDGF production was at the level of transcription. These results indicate that the EC is capable of responding to a pluripotent agonist such as thrombin through multiple signaling pathways, which converge and diverge to achieve differential cellular responses.

The half-lives of platelet-derived growth factor A- and B-chain mRNAs are similar in endothelial cells and unaffected by heparin-binding growth factor-1 or cycloheximide

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is mitogenic and chemotactic for vascular smooth muscle cells cultured in vitro, and, thus, may play a role in the smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration that occurs during atherosclerotic lesion development. Two related PDGF polypeptides, designated as the A and B chains, form functionally active PDGF-AA, AB, or BB dimers. The PDGF A- and B-chain genes are both transcribed in human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells and their expression is regulated by cytokines, growth factors, endotoxin, and phorbol ester. We reported previously that the angiogenic polypeptide heparin-binding growth factor (HBGF)-1 induces PDGF A-chain gene expression, but does not affect PDGF B-chain gene expression. In this study, we determined whether mRNA stabilization contributed to this induction by measuring the half-life of PDGF A-chain mRNA in quiescent, HBGF-1-stimulated, and proliferating HUVE cells. PDGF A-chain mRNA levels increase when quiescent HUVE cells are treated with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide; therefore, the effect of cycloheximide on PDGF A-chain mRNA decay was also investigated. The half-life of PDGF A-chain transcripts in quiescent cells was approximately 2.4 h and neither HBGF-1 nor cycloheximide significantly altered this decay rate. We also estimated the half-life of PDGF B-chain mRNA under the three different growth conditions and in the absence or presence of cycloheximide. The half-life in quiescent cells was approximately 1.8 h and was unaffected by HBGF-1 or protein synthesis inhibition. Therefore, the PDGF mRNAs have similar decay rates in HUVE cells, even though the 3' untranslated region of B-chain transcripts, but not A-chain transcripts, contains AU-rich sequence motifs postulated to confer rapid turnover in vivo.

Distinct pathways regulate transforming growth factor beta 1-stimulated proto-oncogene and extracellular matrix gene expression

The effect of pertussis toxin (PT) on transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1)-induced proto-oncogene expression was investigated in AKR-2B fibroblasts. PT substantially abolished c-sis and c-myc mRNA expression following TGF beta 1 stimulation. This inhibitory effect was specific for TGF beta 1-stimulated proto-oncogene expression and associated with the ADP-ribosylation of a 41-kDa substrate. Actinomycin D decay and nuclear run-on experiments demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of PT are a result of decreased transcriptional activation and not to an increased decay of proto-oncogene message. PT did not, however, affect TGF beta 1-stimulated fibronectin and collagen mRNA accumulation nor did it have any inhibitory effect on TGF beta 1-induced morphological transformation. These data indicate that TGF beta 1-stimulated gene expression is coupled to multiple pathways distinguished by their sensitivity to PT.