Trypsin-induced increase in cyclic AMP concentration in rat thymocytes. An effect independent of calcium and calmodulin

Effects of tRNA-derived fragments and microRNAs regulatory network on pancreatic acinar intracellular trypsinogen activation

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common gastrointestinal disease with substantial morbidity and mortality. Pancreatic acinar intracellular trypsinogen activation (PAITA) is an important event in the early stage of AP. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) and the microRNA regulatory network on pancreatic acinar intracellular trypsinogen activation (PAITA) and identify novel key targets in AP. Taurolithocholic acid 3-sulfate (TLC-S)-treated AR42J cells were used to establish a PAITA model. Twenty differentially expressed tRFs and 35 DE microRNAs were identified in PAITA through gene sequencing. Based on these genes, we established the tRF-mRNA and microRNA-mRNA regulatory networks by using bioinformatics methods. The networks revealed 29 hub microRNAs (e.g., Let-7 family, miR-21-3p.) and 19 hub tRFs (e.g., tRF3-Thr-AGT, i-tRF-Met-CAT) in PAITA. GO analysis showed that the functions of the two networks were similar and mainly enriched in RNA splicing, mRNA processing, and so on. tRF3-Thr-AGT, targeting Btg2, Cd44, Zbp1, etc., was significantly decreased in PAITA. Moreover, the trypsinogen activation level was increased significantly in the tRF3-Thr-AGT deficiency groups, but rescued by tRF3-Thr-AGT mimics. The results revealed that downregulated tRF3-Thr-AGT was involved in PAITA. This study provides potential novel targets for researching the underlying mechanisms of AP.

The inhibition of human duodenal adenylate cyclase activity by Ca2+ and the effects of EGTA

This study demonstrates that the inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity by Ca2+ is enhanced in the presence of increasing [EGTA] (0, 0.3, 1, 2.5 mM) by 2 orders of magnitude. It has been established that this effect is not because of poor Ca2+ buffering by low [EGTA] or high Ca2+ binding by the membrane preparation. It is present irrespective of stimulus. We suggest the enhanced sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to Ca2+ induced by EGTA is caused by the Ca-EGTA complex being a more inhibitory species than Ca2+. Thus consideration of the effects of the Ca-EGTA complex should be made when interpreting the results from experiments involving Ca2+ and EGTA.

Cleavage of Langerhans cell surface CD1a molecule by trypsin

The T-cell surface differentiation antigens expressed on cortical thymocytes are composed of 3 molecules, CD1a (Mr 49,000), CD1b (Mr 45,000), and CD1c (Mr 43,000), which are non-covalently attached to beta 2-microglobulin. In the present study, differences in quantitative binding (immunogold labelling) were observed with four CD1a monoclonal antibodies (mAb), Na1/34, L544, Vit6 and OKT6, on epidermal Langerhans cells obtained through trypsinization and Ficoll-Hypaque sedimentation. These cells were surface-labelled with 125I and then lysed. Immunoprecipitation was carried out with five CD1a mAb, BL6, 10D12.2, L404, L544 and OKT6, and immunoprecipitates were electrophoretically run. All CD1a mAb except OKT6 immunoprecipitated an additional molecule with an apparent relative mass of 27,000, under reducing conditions. CD1a antigen (Mr 49,000) was borne by the same chain of Mr 49,000 on cortical thymocytes and Langerhans cells, whereas the Mr 27,000 molecule was never found on thymic cells. On two-dimensional gel analysis, the Mr 27,000 molecule showed a pattern with 3 major spots with pI of 5.6, 5.9 and 6.2. This Mr 27,000 protein was found to contain one N-linked oligosaccharide residue by endoglycosidase-F treatment. By sequential immunoprecipitation, this Mr 27,000 molecule was shown to be different from the major histocompatibility complex class II beta-chains (DR, DP). As the Mr 27,000 molecule was not precipitated with OKT6, sequential immunoprecipitation confirmed specific recognition of this low molecular weight protein by other CD1a mAb. The protein of apparent molecular mass 27,000 was considered to be a breakdown product of Mr 49,000 (CD1a) antigen. These results suggested that the CD1a molecule was sensitive to trypsin.

The effect of trypsin on sugar uptake in rat thymocytes. Modulation of cellular cyclic AMP concentration and the sugar-transport system

I have shown that cyclic AMP stimulates sugar uptake in rat thymocytes. However, trypsin treatment, which increases rat thymocyte cyclic AMP concentration, fails to increase sugar uptake. The purpose of the present study is to examine this seeming inconsistency, and to evaluate further the function of trypsin. Mild trypsin treatment of rat thymocytes produced a dose-related increase in cellular cyclic AMP concentration. Trypsin produced the same proportionate increase in cyclic AMP concentration in the presence or absence of optimal concentrations of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine, which suggests that trypsin acts to increase thymocyte cyclic AMP concentration by stimulating adenylate cyclase activity. Trypsin at concentrations of 0.3 mg/ml and less had no effect on the uptake of the glucose analogue 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), whereas at concentrations of 1 mg/ml and higher trypsin produced a small, dose-related, decrease in basal 2-DG uptake, becoming significantly lower than control values only at 5 mg/ml (-22.7%, P less than 0.05). Thymocyte sugar transporters, characterized by means of cytochalasin B binding, consist of a single class of sites with an apparent KD of 0.15 microM and maximum binding capacity of 2.73 pmol/20 x 10(6) cells (8.4 x 10(4) sites/thymocyte). Trypsin produced a dose-related decrease in the sugar-displaceable binding of cytochalasin B, so that at 5 mg of trypsin/ml the number of sugar transporters was decreased by approx. 50%. Thus trypsin treatment of rat thymocytes on the one hand increases cellular cyclic AMP concentration, which itself potentiates 2-DG uptake, and on the other hand decreases the number of sugar transporters, which itself decreases cellular sugar uptake, indicating that the apparent effect of trypsin on thymocyte 2-DG uptake is the result of the balance of its effects on these two systems.