Structural and functional characterization of full-length heparin-binding growth associated molecule

Antimicrobial Proteins and Peptides in Avian Eggshell: Structural Diversity and Potential Roles in Biomineralization

The calcitic avian eggshell provides physical protection for the embryo during its development, but also regulates water and gaseous exchange, and is a calcium source for bone mineralization. The calcified eggshell has been extensively investigated in the chicken. It is characterized by an inventory of more than 900 matrix proteins. In addition to proteins involved in shell mineralization and regulation of its microstructure, the shell also contains numerous antimicrobial proteins and peptides (AMPPs) including lectin-like proteins, Bacterial Permeability Increasing/Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein/PLUNC family proteins, defensins, antiproteases, and chelators, which contribute to the innate immune protection of the egg. In parallel, some of these proteins are thought to be crucial determinants of the eggshell texture and its resulting mechanical properties. During the progressive solubilization of the inner mineralized eggshell during embryonic development (to provide calcium to the embryo), some antimicrobials may be released simultaneously to reinforce egg defense and protect the egg from contamination by external pathogens, through a weakened eggshell. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the diversity of avian eggshell AMPPs, their three-dimensional structures and their mechanism of antimicrobial activity. The published chicken eggshell proteome databases are integrated for a comprehensive inventory of its AMPPs. Their biochemical features, potential dual function as antimicrobials and as regulators of eggshell biomineralization, and their phylogenetic evolution will be described and discussed with regard to their three-dimensional structural characteristics. Finally, the repertoire of chicken eggshell AMPPs are compared to orthologs identified in other avian and non-avian eggshells. This approach sheds light on the similarities and differences exhibited by AMPPs, depending on bird species, and leads to a better understanding of their sequential or dual role in biomineralization and innate immunity.

PTN-PTPRZ signalling is involved in deer antler stem cell regulation during tissue regeneration

A growing deer antler contains a stem cell niche that can drive endochondral bone regeneration at up to 2 cm/day. Pleiotrophin (PTN), as a multifunctional growth factor, is found highly expressed at the messenger RNA level within the active antler stem cell tissues. This study aims to map the expression patterns of PTN protein and its receptors in a growing antler and investigate the effects of PTN on antler stem cells in vitro. Immunohistochemistry was employed to localise PTN/midkine (MDK) and their functional receptors, protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z (PTPRZ), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), NOTCH2, and integrin α_V β_3, on serial slides of the antler growth centre. PTN was found to be the dominantly expressed growth factor in the PTN/MDK family. High expression of PTPRZ and ALK co-localised with PTN was found suggesting a potential interaction. The high levels of PTN and PTPRZ reflected the antler stem cell activation status during the regenerative process. When antler stem cells were cultured in vitro under the normoxic condition, no PTN protein was detected and exogenous PTN did not induce differentiation or proliferation but rather stem cell maintenance. Collectively, the antler stem cell niche appears to upregulate PTN and PTPRZ in vivo, and PTN-PTPRZ signalling may be involved in regulating antler stem cell behaviour during rapid antler regeneration.

Serum pleiotrophin could be an early indicator for diagnosis and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer

AIMS

Pleiotrophin (PTN), an angiogenic factor, is associated with various types of cancer, including lung cancer. Our aim was to investigate the possibility of using serum PTN as an early indicator regarding disease diagnosis, classification and prognosis, for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Significant differences among PTN levels in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC, n=40), NSCLC (n=136), and control subjects with benign pulmonary lesions (n=21), as well as patients with different pathological subtypes of NSCLC were observed.

RESULTS

A serum level of PTN of 300.1 ng/ml, was determined as the cutoff value differentiating lung cancer patients and controls, with a sensitivity and specificity of 78.4% and 66.7%, respectively. Negative correlations between serum PTN level and pathological differentiation level, stage, and survival time were observed in our cohort of patients with NSCLC. In addition, specific elevation of PTN levels in pulmonary tissue in and around NSCLC lesions in comparison to normal pulmonary tissue obtained from the same subjects was also observed (n=2).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the serum PTN level of patients with NSCLC could be an early indicator for diagnosis and prognosis. This conclusion should be further assessed in randomized clinical trials.

Behavioral and neuroanatomical abnormalities in pleiotrophin knockout mice

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is an extracellular matrix-associated protein with neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects that is involved in a variety of neurodevelopmental processes. Data regarding the cognitive-behavioral and neuroanatomical phenotype of pleiotrophin knockout (KO) mice is limited. The purpose of this study was to more fully characterize this phenotype, with emphasis on the domains of learning and memory, cognitive-behavioral flexibility, exploratory behavior and anxiety, social behavior, and the neuronal and vascular microstructure of the lateral entorhinal cortex (EC). PTN KOs exhibited cognitive rigidity, heightened anxiety, behavioral reticence in novel contexts and novel social interactions suggestive of neophobia, and lamina-specific decreases in neuronal area and increases in neuronal density in the lateral EC. Initial learning of spatial and other associative tasks, as well as vascular density in the lateral EC, was normal in the KOs. These data suggest that the absence of PTN in vivo is associated with disruption of specific cognitive and affective processes, raising the possibility that further study of PTN KOs might have implications for the study of human disorders with similar features.

EGFR trans-activation mediates pleiotrophin-induced activation of Akt and Erk in cultured osteoblasts

Pleiotrophin (Ptn) plays an important role in bone growth through regulating osteoblasts' functions. The underlying signaling mechanisms are not fully understood. In the current study, we found that Ptn induced heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) release to trans-activate EGF-receptor (EGFR) in both primary osteoblasts and osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. Meanwhile, Ptn activated Akt and Erk signalings in cultured osteoblasts. The EGFR inhibitor AG1478 as well as the monoclonal antibody against HB-EGF (anti-HB-EGF) significantly inhibited Ptn-induced EGFR activation and Akt and Erk phosphorylations in MC3T3-E1 cells and primary osteoblasts. Further, EGFR siRNA depletion or dominant negative mutation suppressed also Akt and Erk activation in MC3T3-E1 cells. Finally, we observed that Ptn increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and inhibited dexamethasone (Dex)-induced cell death in both MC3T3-E1 cells and primary osteoblasts, such effects were alleviated by AG1478 or anti-HB-EGF. Together, these results suggest that Ptn-induced Akt/Erk activation and some of its pleiotropic functions are mediated by EGFR trans-activation in cultured osteoblasts.

Spatio-temporal characterization of the pleiotrophinergic system in mouse cerebellum: evidence for its key role during ontogenesis

The development of the central nervous system requires an appropriate micro-environment that is conditioned by a combination of various extracellular components. Most of the known signaling factors, such as neurotransmitters or neuropeptides, are soluble and diffuse into the extracellular matrix. However, other secreted molecules like proteoglycans or glycosaminoglycans anchor in the extracellular matrix to influence cerebral ontogenesis. As such, pleiotrophin (PTN), which binds the proteoglycans syndecan-3 (SDC3) and protein tyrosine phosphatase zeta (PTPζ), has been described as a pro-migratory and a pro-differentiating secreted cytokine on cortical neurons. In rat cerebellum, PTN is highly expressed during the first postnatal week, suggesting that this cytokine could participate to the development of the cerebellar cortex. According to this hypothesis, our spatio-temporal cartography of PTN, PTPζ and SDC3 indicated that, in mouse, the PTNergic system was present in the cerebellum at least from the first postnatal day (P0). Until P12, PTN was mainly expressed by granule cell precursors and located in the extracellular matrix, while SDC3 was expressed by Purkinje cells, Golgi cells and granule cell precursors, and PTPζ was present on Purkinje cells and Bergmann fibers. In vitro studies confirmed the presence of SDC3 on immature granule cells and demonstrated that PTN could stimulate directly their velocity in culture. In contrast, subarachnoidal injection of PTN in the cerebellum significantly reduced the rate of migration of granule cells, exacerbated their apoptosis and induced an atrophy of the Purkinje cell dendritic tree. Since differentiated granule cells did not express SDC3 or PTPζ, the PTN effect observed on migration and apoptosis may be indirectly mediated by Purkinje and/or Bergmann cells. From P21 to adulthood, the distribution of PTN, SDC3 and PTPζ changed and their expression dramatically decreased even if they were still detectable. PTN and SDC3 immunolabeling was restricted around Purkinje cell bodies and Golgi cells, whereas PTPζ was located around interneurons. These data suggested that, in the cerebellum of adult mice, PTN participates to the perineuronal nets that control neuronal plasticity. To conclude, the present work represents the first spatio-temporal characterization of the PTNergic system in the mouse cerebellum and indicates that PTN may contribute to cerebellum ontogenesis during the postnatal development as well as to neuronal plasticity at adulthood.

Pleiotrophin expression and role in physiological angiogenesis in vivo: potential involvement of nucleolin

Background

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a heparin-binding growth factor with significant role(s) in tumour growth and angiogenesis. Although implication of endogenous PTN has been studied in several in vivo models of tumour angiogenesis, its role in physiological angiogenesis has not been addressed. In the present work, we studied expression and functional significance of endogenous PTN during angiogenesis in the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM).

Methods

Using molecular, cellular and biochemical assays, we studied the expression pattern of PTN in CAM and human endothelial cells and its possible interaction with nucleolin (NCL). CAM cells were transfected with a pCDNA3.1 vector, empty (PC) or containing full length cDNA for PTN in antisense orientation (AS-PTN). Angiogenesis was estimated by measuring total vessel length. In vitro, human endothelial cells migration was studied by using a transwell assay, and down-regulation of NCL was performed by using a proper siRNA.

Results

Endogenous PTN mRNA and protein levels, as well as protein levels of its receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase beta/zeta (RPTPβ/ζ) were maximal at early stages, when CAM angiogenesis is active. Application of AS-PTN onto CAM at days of active angiogenesis was not toxic to the tissue and led to dose-dependent decreased expression of endogenous PTN, ERK1/2 activity and angiogenesis. Interestingly, endogenous PTN was also immunolocalized at the endothelial cell nucleus, possibly through interaction with NCL, a protein that has a significant role in the nuclear translocation of many proteins. Down-regulation of NCL by siRNA in human endothelial cells significantly decreased nuclear PTN, verifying this hypothesis. Moreover, it led to abolishment of PTN-induced endothelial cell migration, suggesting, for the first time, that PTN-NCL interaction has a functional significance.

Conclusions

Expression of endogenous PTN correlates with and seems to be involved in angiogenesis of the chicken embryo CAM. Our data suggest that NCL may have a role, increasing the number of growth factors whose angiogenic/tumorigenic activities are mediated by NCL.

Pleiotrophin is expressed in avian somites and tendon anlagen

Pleiotrophin (Ptn) is a secreted, developmentally regulated growth factor associated with the extracellular matrix. During mammalian embryogenesis, Ptn has been suggested to play a role in the development of various embryonic structures including nervous system and skeleton. In the avian embryo, Ptn has been proposed to be involved in limb cartilage development, but embryonic Ptn expression has not been comprehensively studied. We isolated a cDNA fragment containing the full-length coding sequence of chick Ptn and studied the expression of Ptn in detail until embryonic day 10. We, furthermore, isolated a 6,385-bp phage clone containing the Ptn cDNA of 2,551 bp and additional 3,787 bp downstream of the published Ptn cDNA sequence classifying a yet Ptn-unrelated chEST clone as the 3' untranslated region of Ptn. Our studies revealed novel expression domains in developing somites and during limb formation. We found prominent expression in the somitocoel cells of epithelial somites, and in a sclerotomal subcompartment, the syndetome, which gives rise to the axial tendons in the vertebral motion segment. In the limbs, Ptn was markedly expressed in tendon anlagen and in phalangeal joints. Our results introduce Ptn as a novel marker gene in avian somite and tendon development.

Neuritogenic activity of chondroitin/dermatan sulfate hybrid chains of embryonic pig brain and their mimicry from shark liver. Involvement of the pleiotrophin and hepatocyte growth factor signaling pathways

Accumulating evidence suggests the involvement of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) hybrid chains in the brain's development and critical roles for oversulfated disaccharides and IdoUA residues in the growth factor-binding and neuritogenic activities of these chains. In the pursuit of sources of CS/DS with unique structures, neuritogenic activity, and therapeutic potential, two novel CS/DS preparations were isolated from shark liver by anion exchange chromatography. The major (80%) low sulfated and minor (20%) highly sulfated fractions had an average molecular mass of 3.8-38.9 and 75.7 kDa, respectively. Digestion with various chondroitinases (CSases) revealed a large panel of disaccharides with either GlcUA or IdoUA scattered along the polysaccharide chains in both of the fractions. The higher M(r) fraction, richer in IdoUA(2-O-sulfate)alpha1-3GalNAc(4-O-sulfate) and GlcUAbeta/IdoUAalpha1-3GalNAc(4,6-O-disulfate) units, exerted greater neurite outgrowth-promoting (NOP) activity and better promoted the binding of various heparin-binding growth factors, including pleiotrophin (PTN), midkine, recombinant human heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor, VEGF(165), fibroblast growth factor-2, fibroblast growth factor-7, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). These activities were largely abolished by digestion with CSase ABC or B but only moderately affected by a mixture of CSases AC-I and AC-II. In addition, the NOP activity of the larger fraction was markedly reduced by desulfation with alkali, suggesting a role for the 2-O-sulfate of IdoUA(2-O-sulfate)alpha1-3GalNAc(4-O-sulfate). The NOP activity of the higher molecular weight fraction and that of the embryonic pig brain-derived CS/DS fraction were also sup pressed to a large extent by antibodies against HGF, PTN, and their individual receptors cMet and anaplastic lymphoma kinase, revealing the involvement of the HGF and PTN signaling pathways in the activity.

Pleiotrophin mediates the neurotrophic effect of cyclic AMP on dopaminergic neurons: analysis of suppression-subtracted cDNA libraries and confirmation in vitro

To better understand the particular vulnerability of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons to toxins or gene mutations causing parkinsonism, we have taken advantage of a primary cell culture system in which these neurons die selectively. Antimitotic agents, such as cytosine arabinoside or cAMP, prevent the death of the neurons by arresting astrocyte proliferation. To identify factors implicated in either the death of the dopaminergic neurons or in the neuroprotective effect of cAMP, we constructed cDNA libraries enriched by subtractive hybridization and suppressive PCR in transcripts that are preferentially expressed in either control or cAMP-treated cultures. Differentially expressed transcripts were identified by hybridization of the enriched cDNAs with a commercially available cDNA expression array. The proteoglycan receptors syndecan-3 and the receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase zeta/beta were found among the transcripts preferentially expressed under control conditions, and their ligand, the cytokine pleiotrophin, was highly represented in the cDNA libraries for both conditions. Since pleiotrophin is expressed during embryonic and perinatal neural development and following lesions in the adult brain, we investigated its role in our cell culture model. Pleiotrophin was not responsible for the death of dopaminergic neurons under control conditions, or for their survival in cAMP-treated cultures. It was, however, implicated in the initial and cAMP-dependent enhancement of the differentiation of the dopaminergic neurons in our cultures. In addition, our experiments have provided evidence for a cAMP-dependent regulatory pathway leading to protease activation, and the identification of pleiotrophin as a target of this pathway.

rhBMP-2, rhVEGF(165), rhPTN and thrombin-related peptide, TP508 induce chemotaxis of human osteoblasts and microvascular endothelial cells

Osteogenesis and angiogenesis are inter-linked and tightly regulated processes involved in growth, repair, and bone remodeling. Bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pleiotrophin (PTN) and thrombin-related peptide, TP508 have all been found to have the ability to promote bone fracture healing by enhancing both the osteogenesis and angiogenesis processes. One of the underlying mechanisms proposed is that mediators for osteogenesis may also be involved in mediating angiogenesis and vice versa. The aim of this study was to examine the chemotactic effects of rhBMP-2, rhVEGF(165), rhPTN and TP508 on human osteoblasts and endothelial cells. Using a direct-viewing chemotaxis assay system, we report for the first time, the direct quantitative observation of chemotaxis of both human osteoblastc cells and microvascular endothelial cells towards sources of rhBMP-2, rhVEGF(165), rhPTN and TP508. This study confirmed that rhBMP-2, rhVEGF(165), rhPTN and TP508 have chemotactic effects on both human osteoblastic and endothelial cells, indicating that these factors are directly involved in promoting angiogenesis and osteogenesis by recruiting osteoblasts and endothelial cells via chemotaxis.

Effects of pleiotrophin (PTN) over-expression on mouse long bone development, fracture healing and bone repair

Pleiotrophin (PTN) was found to have potent effects on regulation of osteoblast recruitment, proliferation and differentiation. The present study examined the long-term effects of targeted PTN over-expression on bone development and repair in a transgenic mouse model. Femurs and tibiae from the PTN transgenic mice and the wild type mice at age 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 months were collected, and examined by radiography, peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), histology and mechanical testing. Age-matched PTN and the control mice received a standardized femoral fracture, followed by regular x-rays and sacrificed at day 16 post-fracture for histology examination. A cortical hole was drilled on the tibiae of age-matched PTN and wild type mice, collagen sponge with either saline, 100 ng of rhBMP-2 or rhPTN was implanted in the holes, and animals were sacrificed 10 days later, subject to pQCT and histology examinations. During early stages of bone development, the PTN mice had advanced bone growth in length and maturation, but the difference diminished in later life. The fracture healing was impaired in the PTN mice, and there was delayed callus formation and remodelling. The cortical holes treated with BMP-2 in the PTN mice had significantly less trabecular bone formation. The current study confirmed that the targeted PTN over-expression in mouse bone has moderate enhancing effects on early bone development; but the bones become brittle in later life. Fracture healing was impaired in the adult PTN mice and this may be due to inhibitory effects of PTN over-expression on BMP-2 mediated bone induction.

Heparin-independent mitogenicity in an endothelial and smooth muscle cell chimeric growth factor (S130K-HBGAM)

BACKGROUND

Through site-directed mutagenesis we have created a favorable fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) mutant (S130K) and linked it to a heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HBGAM) to form the chimera S130K-HBGAM creating a heparin-independent, endothelial cell (EC)-specific mitogen.

METHODS

The proliferative responses of primary canine carotid artery smooth muscle cells (SMC) and jugular vein EC to FGF-1, S130K, or S130K-HBGAM, with and without heparin (5 U/mL), was quantitated by measuring tritiated thymidine uptake over 24 hours and expressing the results as percent of positive control (20% fetal bovine serum [FBS]) for group comparison.

RESULTS

Unlike FGF-1, both S130K and S130K-HBGAM are heparin-independent mitogens for EC and SMC. S130K-HBGAM was equivalent to FGF-1 with heparin at 6 nmol/L. S130K-HBGAM did not demonstrate relative EC specificity in this assay.

CONCLUSIONS

At higher concentrations, S130K-HBGAM is a potent, heparin-independent EC and SMC mitogen. Co-culture assays and in vivo delivery models may demonstrate EC specificity not identified in this single cell type proliferation assay.

Pleiotrophin is a major regulator of the catecholamine biosynthesis pathway in mouse aorta

To better understand the phenotype of pleiotrophin (PTN the protein, Ptn the gene) genetically deficient mice (Ptn -/-), we compared the transcriptional profiles of aortae obtained from Ptn -/- and wild type (WT, Ptn +/+) mice using a 14,400 gene microarray chip (Affymetrix) and confirmed the analysis of relevant genes by real time RT-PCR. We identified a dramatic upregulation of expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), DOPA decarboxylase, and dopamine beta-hydroxylase in aortae of Ptn -/- mice in comparison with WT (Ptn +/+) mice. In contrast, transcripts of phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase, the enzyme catalyzing the conversion of norepinephrine into epinephrine, were not detected in aortae in either mouse strain. These findings suggest that Ptn gene expression has a critical role in determining the levels of expression of the enzymes of catecholamine biosynthesis in aorta and through this mechanism, PTN may regulate levels of endogenous catecholamine synthesis and potentially the vascular tone of aorta.

Pleiotrophin is an important regulator of the renin–angiotensin system in mouse aorta

To better understand the phenotype of pleiotrophin (PTN the protein, Ptn the gene) genetically deficient mice (Ptn -/-), we compared the transcriptional profiles of aortae obtained from Ptn -/- and wild type (WT, Ptn +/+) mice using a 14,400 gene microarray chip (Affymetrix) and confirmed the analysis of relevant genes by real time RT-PCR. We found striking alterations in expression levels of different genes of the renin-angiotensin system of Ptn -/- mice relative to WT (Ptn +/+) mice. The mRNA levels of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) were significantly decreased in Ptn -/- mice whereas the mRNA levels of the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) and angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptors were significantly increased in Ptn -/- mice when they were compared with mRNA levels in WT (Ptn +/+) mice aortae. These data demonstrate for the first time that the levels of expression of the Ptn gene markedly influence expression levels of the genes encoding the key proteins of the renin-angiotensin system in mouse aorta and suggest the tentative conclusion that levels of Ptn gene expression have the potential to critically regulate the downstream activities of angiotensin II, through the regulation of its synthesis by ACE and its receptor mediated functions through regulation of both the AT1 and AT2 receptors.

Identification of heparin affin regulatory peptide domains with potential role on angiogenesis

Heparin affin regulatory peptide (HARP) is a growth factor displaying high affinity for heparin. It is present in the extracellular matrix of many tissues, interacting with heparan sulfate and dermatan/chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans. We have previously shown that HARP is implicated in the control of angiogenesis and its effects are mimicked, at least in part, by synthetic peptides that correspond to its N and C termini. In the present work, we show that HARP is cleaved by plasmin, leading to the production of five peptides that correspond to distinct domains of the molecule. Heparin, heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate, at various HARP to glycosaminoglycan ratios, partially protect HARP from plasmin degradation. The molecules with higher affinity to HARP are the more protective, heparin being the most efficient. The peptides that are produced from cleavage of HARP by plasmin, affect in vivo and in vitro angiogenesis and modulate the angiogenic activity of vascular endothelial growth factor on human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Similar results were obtained in vitro with recombinant HARP peptides, identical to the peptides generated after treatment of HARP with plasmin. These results suggest that different regions of HARP may induce or inhibit angiogenesis.

Zebrafish heparin-binding neurotrophic factor enhances neurite outgrowth during its development

Heparin-binding neurotrophic factor (HBNF) is a secreted heparin-binding protein containing highly basic and cysteine-rich amino acid residues. In this study, we cloned the full-length HBNF cDNA from zebrafish and determined its genomic structure by bioinformatics analysis. Zebrafish HBNF gene is composed of five exons and four introns spanning approximately 82kb. RT-PCR analysis revealed that zebrafish HBNF transcript was highly expressed in adult brain and intestine tissues while less in other tissues. During embryogenesis, zebrafish HBNF transcript was observed to be moderately expressed at earlier stages with a gradual decline. Higher expression level was observed after hatching and maintaining this level into adulthood. The overall amino acid sequence of zebrafish HBNF shows 60% identity to human HBNF, but with approximately 40% identity to other midkine proteins. Like mammalian homolog, zebrafish HBNF could induce significant neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells without NGF stimulation. In addition, zebrafish HBNF was able to enhance extensive neurite outgrowth in zebrafish embryos during embryogenesis. In summary, a feasible in vivo assay for neurite outgrowth was established in zebrafish.

Heparin affin regulatory peptide in milk: its involvement in mammary gland homeostasis

HARP (heparin affin regulatory peptide) is a heparin binding growth factor implicated in cellular growth and differentiation. Previously, HARP had been localized in the human mammary, in both alveolar epithelial and myoepithelial cells although HARP mRNAs were only expressed by myoepithelial cells [J. Histochem. Cytochem. 45 (1997) 1]. In the present study, we demonstrate that HARP is secreted in human mature milk with concentrations ranging from 17.68+/-6.4ng/ml in mature milk to 59.9+/-11.22ng/ml in colostrum. In vitro, HARP was found to be mitogenic on human mammary epithelial and myoepithelial cell lines and correlated with the expression of its high affinity receptor tyrosine kinase ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase). In vivo, ALK is expressed in both mammary epithelial and myoepithelial cells, suggesting that HARP could act in vivo as a paracrine and autocrine growth factor in the regulation of the mammary gland development and its homeostatic maintenance during pregnancy and lactation.

Unusual structural characteristics and complete amino acid sequence of a protease inhibitor from Phaseolus acutifolius seeds

Two isoforms of a protease inhibitor were isolated by ion-exchange chromatography of tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius G.) seed proteins. The main isoform was used to determine the amino acid sequence of the protein. It is an 80 amino acid residue protein with a molecular mass of 8765 Da, showing sequence homology with the Bowman-Birk family of protease inhibitors. Several regions with amino acid microheterogeneity were found, corroborating the possible presence of isoforms. Mass spectrometry analysis was carried out to confirm isoforms. The presence of dimer and trimer forms of the inhibitor was shown through electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Another unusual characteristic for this inhibitor was its ability to bind metals. The presence of four sequential histidines at the N-terminal end of the protein could account for this binding. Mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy support the presence of calcium in the native inhibitor.

Mutant rat trypsin selectively cleaves tyrosyl peptide bonds

A double mutant of rat trypsinogen (Asp189Ser, DeltaAsp223) was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. The recombinant protein was produced in Escherichia coli under the control of a periplasmic expression vector. The purified and enterokinase-activated enzyme was characterized by synthetic fluorogenic tetrapeptide and natural polypeptide substrates and by a recently developed method. In case of this latter method the specificity profile of the enzyme was examined by simultaneous digestion of a mixture of oligopeptide substrates each differing only at the P(1) site residue, and the results were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. All these assays unanimously demonstrated that the recombinant proteinase lacks trypsin-like activity but acquired a rather unique selectivity: it preferentially hydrolyses peptide bonds C-terminal to tyrosyl residues. This narrow specificity should be useful in peptide-analytical applications such as sequence-specific fragmentation of large proteins prior to sequencing.

Induction of human osteoprogenitor chemotaxis, proliferation, differentiation, and bone formation by osteoblast stimulating factor-1/pleiotrophin: osteoconductive biomimetic scaffolds for tissue engineering

The process of bone growth, regeneration, and remodeling is mediated, in part, by the immediate cell-matrix environment. Osteoblast stimulating factor-1 (OSF-1), more commonly known as pleiotrophin (PTN), is an extracellular matrix-associated protein, present in matrices, which act as targets for the deposition of new bone. However, the actions of PTN on human bone progenitor cells remain unknown. We examined the effects of PTN on primary human bone marrow stromal cells chemotaxis, differentiation, and colony formation (colony forming unit-fibroblastic) in vitro, and in particular, growth and differentiation on three-dimensional biodegradable porous scaffolds adsorbed with PTN in vivo. Primary human bone marrow cells were cultured on tissue culture plastic or poly(DL-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA; 75:25) porous scaffolds with or without addition of recombinant human PTN (1 pg-50 ng/ml) in basal and osteogenic conditions. Negligible cellular growth was observed on PLGA scaffold alone, generated using a super-critical fluid mixing method. PTN (50 microg/ml) was chemotactic to human osteoprogenitors and stimulated total colony formation, alkaline phosphatase-positive colony formation, and alkaline phosphatase-specific activity at concentrations as low as 10 pg/ml compared with control cultures. The effects were time-dependent. On three-dimensional scaffolds adsorbed with PTN, alkaline phosphatase activity, type I collagen formation, and synthesis of cbfa-1, osteocalcin, and PTN were observed by immunocytochemistry and PTN expression by in situ hybridization. PTN-adsorbed constructs showed morphologic evidence of new bone matrix and cartilage formation after subcutaneous implantation as well as within diffusion chambers implanted into athymic mice. In summary, PTN has the ability to promote adhesion, migration, expansion, and differentiation of human osteoprogenitor cells, and these results indicate the potential to develop protocols for de novo bone formation for skeletal repair that exploit cell-matrix interactions.

Pleiotrophin/Osteoblast-stimulating factor 1: dissecting its diverse functions in bone formation

OSF-1, more commonly known as pleiotrophin (PTN) or heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM), belongs to a new family of secreted HB proteins, which are structurally unrelated to any other growth factor family. The aims of this study were to dissect the diverse functions of PTN in bone formation. The study showed that PTN was synthesized by osteoblasts at an early stage of osteogenic differentiation and was present at sites of new bone formation, where PTN was stored in the new bone matrix. Low concentrations (10 pg/ml) of PTN stimulated osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow cells and had a modest effect on their proliferation, whereas higher concentrations (ng/ml) had no effect. However, PTN did not have the osteoinductive potential of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) because it failed to convert C2C12 cells, a premyoblastic cell line, to the osteogenic phenotype, whereas recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) was able to do so. When PTN was present together with rhBMP-2 during the osteoinductive phase, PTN inhibited the BMP-mediated osteoinduction in C2C12 cells at concentrations between 0.05 pg/ml and 100 ng/ml. However, when added after osteoinduction had been achieved, PTN enhanced further osteogenic differentiation. An unusual effect of PTN (50 ng/ml) was the induction of type I collagen synthesis by chondrocytes in organ cultures of chick nasal cartilage and rat growth plates. Thus, PTN had multiple effects on bone formation and the effects were dependent on the concentration of PTN and the timing of its presence. To explain these multiple effects, we propose that PTN is an accessory signaling molecule, which is involved in a variety of processes in bone formation. PTN enhances or inhibits primary responses depending on the prevailing concentrations, the primary stimulus, and the availability of appropriate receptors.

Immunoassay for measuring the heparin-binding growth factors HARP and MK in biological fluids

Heparin-affin regulatory peptide (HARP) and Midkine (MK) belong to a family of growth/differentiation factors that have a high affinity for heparin. The involvement of these molecules in various proliferative diseases prompted us to develop an assay for measuring the concentrations of these factors in biological fluids and culture media. This report describes an immunoassay that uses only commercially available materials, based on the high affinity of certain molecules for heparin. It consists of adsorbing heparin-BSA covalent complexes to microtiter plate wells and to quantify the heparin bound HARP or MK by using appropriate antibody. The method is specific and measures concentrations ranging from 40-1200 pg/mL HARP and from 25-1200 pg/mL MK and various parameters are investigated. The within-assay coefficient of variation was less than 5% for both assays. The method was checked by measuring the concentrations of these growth factors in the sera of healthy humans and in patients with cancer. As previously reported, we confirmed that the serum concentrations of MK are higher in patients with tumours (n = 139) than in controls (n = 19). The synthesis of HARP and MK by various cells in culture was also analysed.

Serum levels of the angiogenic factor pleiotrophin in relation to disease stage in lung cancer patients

Pleiotrophin is a heparin-binding growth factor involved in the differentiation and proliferation of neuronal tissue during embryogenesis, and also secreted by melanoma and breast carcinoma cells. Pleiotrophin exhibits mitogenic and angiogenic properties and has been shown to influence the vascular supply, expansion and metastasis of tumour cells. Our aim was to study the serum and plasma concentrations of pleiotrophin and the classical angiogenic growth factor vascular endothelial growth factor. Using a specific ELISA-test we studied patients with small cell lung cancer (n=63), and patients with non-small cell lung cancer (n=22) in comparison to healthy control subjects (n=41). In most of the lung cancer patients (81%), we found serum levels of pleiotrophin above those of control subjects (P<0.001). Of the 63 small cell lung cancer patients in the study pleiotrophin serum levels were elevated in 55 cases (87%) and in 14 cases (63%) of the 22 non-small cell lung cancer patients. Pleiotrophin mean serum concentrations were 10.8-fold higher in the tumour patient group as compared to the control group (P<0.001). Furthermore, pleiotrophin serum levels correlated positively with the stage of disease and inversely with the response to therapy. Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations were elevated in only in 28.6% of small cell lung cancer and 45.5% of non-small cell lung cancer patients by an average of 2.3-fold. Quite strikingly, there was no apparent correlation between the plasma vascular endothelial growth factor concentration and the stage of disease. Our study suggests that pleiotrophin may be an early indicator of lung cancer and might be of use in monitoring the efficacy of therapy, which needs to be confirmed by larger studies.

Pleiotrophin: a cytokine with diverse functions and a novel signaling pathway

Pleiotrophin (PTN the protein, Ptn the gene) is a 136 amino acid secreted heparin-binding cytokine that signals diverse functions, including lineage-specific differentiation of glial progenitor cells, neurite outgrowth, and angiogenesis. Pleiotrophin gene expression is found in cells in early differentiation during different development periods and upregulated in cells with an early differentiation phenotype in wound repair. The Ptn gene is a protooncogene. It is strongly expressed in different human tumor cells and expression of the Ptn gene in tumor cells in vivo accelerates growth and stimulates tumor angiogenesis. Separate independent domains have been identified in PTN to signal transformation and tumor angiogenesis. Pleiotrophin is the first ligand of any of the known transmembrane tyrosine phosphatases. Pleiotrophin inactivates the receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (RPTP) beta/zeta. The interaction of PTN and RPTP beta/zeta increases steady-state tyrosine phosphorylation of beta-catenin. Pleiotrophin thus regulates both normal cell functions and different pathological conditions at many levels. It signals these functions through a transmembrane tyrosine phosphatase.

Proteins of circularly permuted sequence present within the same organism: the major serine proteinase inhibitor from Capsicum annuum seeds

The major serine proteinase inhibitor from bell pepper (Capsicum annuum, paprika) seeds was isolated, characterized, and sequenced, and its disulfide bond topology was determined. PSI-1.2 is a 52-amino-acid-long, cysteine-rich polypeptide that inhibits both trypsin (K(i) = 4.6 x 10(-9) M) and chymotrypsin (K(i) = 1.1 x 10(-8) M) and is a circularly permuted member of the potato type II inhibitor family. Mature proteins of this family are produced from precursor proteins containing two to eight repeat units that are proteolytically cleaved within, rather than between, the repeats. In contrast, PSI-1.2 corresponds to a complete repeat that was predicted as the putative ancestral protein of the potato type II family. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which two proteins related to each other by circular permutation are shown to exist in the same organism and are expressed within the same organ. PSI-1.2 is not derived from any of the known precursors, and it contains a unique amphiphilic segment in one of its loops. A systematic comparison of the related precursor repeat-sequences reveals common evolutionary patterns that are in agreement with the ancestral gene-duplication hypothesis.

Angiogenic mechanisms of endothelialization of cardiovascular implants: a review of recent investigative strategies

Both cardiovascular implants and therapeutic interventions on native arteries fail due to biologic responses occurring at the blood/prosthesis/arterial wall and tissue/prosthesis/arterial wall interfaces, resulting in the failure modes of thrombosis and myointimal hyperplasia. Systemic pharmacologic approaches including use of anti-coagulant and anti-platelet agents have significant untoward side effects and have not resulted in a dramatic impact on failure modes in many applications, including small diameter vascular grafts. Local delivery of therapeutic agents via surface attachment with defined release kinetics may alter thrombogenicity and/or myointimal hyperplasia. Therapeutic agents may include a spectrum of biologic agents from peptides to endothelial cells. Efficient attachment and release of these agents in biologically active form is dependent upon improved methods of surface modification. The intended action of the biologic agent may similarly be impacted by the surface and bulk characteristics of the underlying biomaterial. It is often assumed, without concrete data. that surface re-endothelialization may have a beneficial impact on both thrombogenicity and myointimal hyperplasia. New clinical data on endothelial cell seeding has been supportive. Spontaneous re-endothelialization may be stimulated via an induced directed angiogenesis resulting in trans-interstitial capillarization and surface endothelialization. Recent advances in therapeutic angiogenesis have suggested the power of angiogenic factors to induce neovascularization of ischemic tissue beds. These concepts have been used to surface modify prosthetic devices with either VEGF or FGF and both in vitro and animal data suggest a potent stimulation of surface re-endothelialization. Neither of these growth factors is likely to be ideal. VEGF is relatively endothelial cell specific but is a relatively weak endothelial cell mitogen. FGF-1 and FGF-2 are more potent mitogens but are less cell specific. Recent work has led to the generation of mutant growth factors via site-induced mutagenesis and results of several such FGF mutants on endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell proliferative response have been studied. The use of 'designer growth factors' on cardiovascular implants and on manipulated native vessels may have a significant positive impact on re-endothelialization and thereby on the failure modes of thrombosis and myointimal hyperplasia.

Identification of pleiotrophin as a mesenchymal factor involved in ureteric bud branching morphogenesis

Branching morphogenesis is central to epithelial organogenesis. In the developing kidney, the epithelial ureteric bud invades the metanephric mesenchyme, which directs the ureteric bud to undergo repeated branching. A soluble factor(s) in the conditioned medium of a metanephric mesenchyme cell line is essential for multiple branching morphogenesis of the isolated ureteric bud. The identity of this factor had proved elusive, but it appeared distinct from factors such as HGF and EGF receptor ligands that have been previously implicated in branching morphogenesis of mature epithelial cell lines. Using sequential column chromatography, we have now purified to apparent homogeneity an 18 kDa protein, pleiotrophin, from the conditioned medium of a metanephric mesenchyme cell line that induces isolated ureteric bud branching morphogenesis in the presence of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor. Pleiotrophin alone was also found to induce the formation of branching tubules in an immortalized ureteric bud cell line cultured three-dimensionally in an extracellular matrix gel. Consistent with an important role in ureteric bud morphogenesis during kidney development, pleiotrophin was found to localize to the basement membrane of the developing ureteric bud in the embryonic kidney. We suggest that pleiotrophin could act as a key mesenchymally derived factor regulating branching morphogenesis of the ureteric bud and perhaps other embryonic epithelial structures.

HARP induces angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro: implication of N or C terminal peptides

HARP (heparin affin regulatory peptide) is a growth factor displaying high affinity for heparin. In the present work, we studied the ability of human recombinant HARP as well as its two terminal peptides (HARP residues 1-21 and residues 121-139) to promote angiogenesis. HARP stimulates endothelial cell tube formation on matrigel, collagen and fibrin gels, stimulates endothelial cell migration and induces angiogenesis in the in vivo chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay. The two HARP peptides seem to be involved in most of the angiogenic effects of HARP. They both stimulate in vivo angiogenesis and in vitro endothelial cell migration and tube formation on matrigel. We conclude that HARP has an angiogenic activity when applied exogenously in several in vitro and in vivo models of angiogenesis and its NH(2) and COOH termini seem to play an important role.

Construction and biological characterization of an HB-GAM/FGF-1 chimera for vascular tissue engineering

OBJECTIVE

Cardiovascular tissue engineering approaches to vessel wall restoration have focused on the potent but relatively nonspecific and heparin-dependent mesenchymal cell mitogen fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1). We hypothesized that linking FGF-1 to a sequence likely to bind to cell surface receptors relatively more abundant on endothelial cells (ECs) might induce a relative greater EC bioavailability of the FGF-1. We constructed a heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM)/FGF-1 chimera by linking full-length human HB-GAM to the amino-terminus of human FGF-1beta (21-154) and tested its activities on smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and ECs.

METHODS

Primary canine carotid SMCs and jugular vein ECs were plated in 96-well plates in media containing 10% fetal bovine serum and grown to approximately 80% confluence. After being growth arrested in serum-free media for 24 hours, the cells were exposed to concentration ranges of cytokines and heparin, and proliferation was measured with tritiated-thymidine incorporation. Twenty percent fetal bovine serum was used as positive control, and phosphate-buffered saline was used as negative control.

RESULTS

In the presence of heparin the HB-GAM/FGF-1 chimera stimulated less SMC proliferation than did the wild-type FGF-1 with a median effective dose of approximately 0.3 nmol versus approximately 0.1 nmol (P <.001). By contrast, the chimera retained full stimulating activity on EC proliferation with a median effective dose of 0.06 nmol for both cytokines. Unlike the wild-type protein, the chimera possessed heparin-independent activity. In the absence of heparin, the chimera induced dose-dependent EC and SMC proliferation at 0.06 nmol or more compared with the wild-type FGF-1, which stimulated minimal DNA synthesis at 6.0-nmol concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

The HB-GAM/FGF-1 chimera displays significantly greater and uniquely heparin-independent mitogenic activity for both cell types, and in the presence of heparin it displays a significantly greater EC specificity.

Heparin-binding proteins HB-GAM (pleiotrophin) and amphoterin in the regulation of cell motility

Fractionation of proteins from perinatal rat brain was monitored using a neurite outgrowth assay. Two neurite-promoting proteins, HB-GAM (heparin-binding growth-associated molecule; also known as pleiotrophin) and amphoterin, were isolated, cloned and produced by baculovirus expression for structural and functional studies. HB-GAM is highly expressed in embryonic and early post-natal fiber pathways of the nervous system, and it enhances axonal growth/guidance by binding to N-syndecan (syndecan-3) at the neuron surface. N-syndecan in turn communicates with the cytoskeleton through the cortactin/src-kinase pathway to enhance neurite extension. In addition to N-syndecan, the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan RPTP beta/zeta (receptor-type tyrosine phosphatase beta/zeta) is implicated in the receptor mechanism of HB-GAM. HB-GAM is also prominently expressed in developing and regenerating bone as a matrix-bound cue for migration of osteoblasts/osteoblast precursors to the site of bone deposition. HB-GAM is suggested to regulate motility in osteoblasts through a similar mechanism as in neurons. Structural studies using heteronuclear NMR reveal two similar protein domains in HB-GAM, both consisting of three anti-parallel beta-strands. Search of sequence databases shows that the beta structures of HB-GAM and of the similar domains of MK (midkine) correspond to the thrombospondin type I (TSR) sequence motif. We suggest that the TSR sequence motif, found in several neurite outgrowth-promoting and other cell surface and matrix-binding proteins, defines a beta structure similar to those found in HB-GAM and MK. In general, amphoterin is highly expressed in immature and transformed cells. We suggest a model, according to which amphoterin is an autocrine/paracrine regulator of invasive migration. Amphoterin binds to RAGE (receptor of advanced glycation end products), an immunoglubulin superfamily member related to N-CAM (neural cell adhesion molecule), that communicates with the GTPases Cdc42 and Rac to regulate cell motility. In addition, ligation of RAGE by amphoterin activates NF-kappaB to regulate transcription.

Endothelial cell proliferation induced by HARP: implication of N or C terminal peptides

HARP (Heparin Affin Regulatory Peptide) is a 18-kDa secreted protein displaying high affinity for heparin. It has neurite outgrowth-promoting activity, while there are conflicting results regarding its mitogenic activity. In the present work, we studied the effect of human recombinant HARP expressed in bacterial cells as well as two peptides (HARP residues 1-21 and residues 121-139) on the proliferation of three endothelial cell types derived from human umbilical vein (HUVEC), rat adrenal medulla (RAME), and bovine brain capillaries (BBC) either added as a soluble form in the cell culture medium or coated onto the culture plate. HARP added in a soluble form in the culture medium had no effect on the proliferation of BBC, HUVEC, and RAME cells. However, when immobilized onto the cell culture plate, HARP had a concentration-dependent mitogenic effect on both BBC cells and HUVEC. The peptides presented as soluble factor induced a significant concentration-dependent mitogenic effect on BBC cells but only a small effect on HUVEC and RAME cells. When they were immobilized onto the cell culture plate, the mitogenic effect was much greater. The most responsive cells were BBC that expressed and secreted in the culture medium the higher amounts of HARP.

Heparin-binding growth-associated molecule contains two heparin-binding beta -sheet domains that are homologous to the thrombospondin type I repeat

Heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) is an extracellular matrix-associated protein implicated in the development and plasticity of neuronal connections of brain. Binding to cell surface heparan sulfate is indispensable for the biological activity of HB-GAM. In the present paper we have studied the structure of recombinant HB-GAM using heteronuclear NMR. These studies show that HB-GAM contains two beta-sheet domains connected by a flexible linker. Both of these domains contain three antiparallel beta-strands. In addition to this domain structure, HB-GAM contains the N- and C-terminal lysine-rich sequences that lack a detectable structure and appear to form random coils. Studies using CD and NMR spectroscopy suggest that HB-GAM undergoes a conformational change upon binding to heparin, and that the binding occurs primarily to the beta-sheet domains of the protein. Search of sequence data bases shows that the beta-sheet domains of HB-GAM are homologous to the thrombospondin type I repeat (TSR). Sequence comparisions show that the beta-sheet structures found previously in midkine, a protein homologous with HB-GAM, also correspond to the TSR motif. We suggest that the TSR sequence motif found in various extracellular proteins defines a beta-sheet structure similar to that found in HB-GAM and midkine. In addition to the apparent structural similarity, a similarity in biological functions is suggested by the occurrence of the TSR sequence motif in a wide variety of proteins that mediate cell-to-extracellular matrix and cell-to-cell interactions, in which the TSR domain mediates specific cell surface binding.

Pleiotrophin inhibits chondrocyte proliferation and stimulates proteoglycan synthesis in mature bovine cartilage

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a secreted heparin-binding, developmentally regulated protein that is found in abundance in fetal, but not mature, cartilage. SDS-page and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) analysis of sulfate-radiolabeled proteoglycans isolated from the medium of mature cultured chondrocytes treated with PTN showed a threefold increase in the levels of proteoglycan synthesis. In contrast, in cultures of fetal chondrocytes, no changes in proteoglycan synthesis were observed. Thymidine incorporation experiments showed a dose-dependent decrease in proliferation of treated cells compared with control cultures, suggesting that pleiotrophin had an inhibitory effect on growth of chondrocytes. Neither FGF or heparin reversed the inhibitory effect of PTN. Capillary electrophoresis of chondroitinase ABC-digested proteoglycans isolated from mature chondrocytes showed 2-4-fold increases in the amounts of the 4S- and 6S-substituted GAG chains for the PTN-treated chondrocytes. Northern analysis showed a twofold upregulation in the mRNA levels of biglycan and collagen type II, but no difference in the message levels for decorin and aggrecan. These results establish that PTN inhibits cell proliferation, while stimulating the synthesis of proteoglycans in mature chondrocytes in vitro, suggesting that PTN may act directly or indirectly to regulate growth and proteoglycan synthesis in the developing matrix of fetal cartilage.

Interaction of soluble and surface-bound heparin binding growth-associated molecule with heparin

The interaction of heparin with heparin binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) was studied using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). ITC studies showed that, in solution, heparin bound HB-GAM with a deltaH of -30 kcal/mole corresponding to a dissociation constant (Kd) of 460 nM. The stoichiometry of interaction was 3 moles of HB-GAM per mole of heparin, corresponding to a minimum heparin binding site for HB-GAM of 12-16 saccharide residues. Kinetic measurements of heparin interaction with HB-GAM made by SPR afforded a Kd of 4 nM, suggesting considerably tighter binding when HB-GAM was immobilized on a surface. Affinity chromatography of a sized mixture of heparin oligosaccharides, having a degree of polymerization (dp) of > 14 saccharide units, on HB-GAM-Sepharose demonstrated that oligosaccharides having more than 18 saccharide residues showed the tightest interaction.

Substratum of pleiotrophin (HB-GAM) stimulates rat CG-4 line oligodendrocytes to adopt a bipolar morphology and disperse: primary O-2A progenitor glial cells disperse similarly on pleiotrophin

Pleiotrophin (HB-GAM), an extracellular matrix-associated protein with a high content of basic amino acid residues, is expressed in the central nervous system during late pre- and early post-natal development and promotes neurite outgrowth in vitro. Here, we show that, on a substratum of pleiotrophin formed from a 5 or 10 microg/ml solution, undifferentiated rat CG-4 line oligodendrocytes adopt a bipolar morphology and disperse over the substratum, as we have previously shown with poly-L-lysine (Rumsby et al. Neurosci. Res. Commun. 23:101-109, 1998). On pleiotrophin substrata formed from coating solutions of 1 microg/ml and below, CG-4 line cells form aggregates and do not disperse, as is also the case with poly-L-lysine. The same dispersing effect is observed with rat primary 0-2A progenitor glial cells on pleiotrophin substrata from solutions of 5 and 10 microg/ml: 0-2A cells aggregate together on pleiotrophin substrata formed from lower concentrations and do not disperse. A pleiotrophin substratum enhances proliferation of CG-4 line oligodendrocytes and primary 0-2A progenitor glial cells. The results show that pleiotrophin provides a substratum that can influence progenitor oligodendrocyte morphology, aid cell dispersion, and perhaps also enhance progenitor oligodendrocyte cell growth.

Pleiotrophin and midkine, a family of mitogenic and angiogenic heparin-binding growth and differentiation factors

The heparin-binding polypeptide homologs pleiotrophin and midkine are the only known members of a family of secreted growth/differentiation cytokines. Pleiotrophin and midkine are both developmentally regulated and highly conserved among species. They signal a number of physiological functions involved with angiogenesis, neuorogenesis, cell migration, and mesoderm-epithelial interactions. Constitutive expression of pleiotrophin and midkine in responsive cells support their role as "tumor growth factors" and positive regulators of tumor angiogenesis. Widespread deregulation of pleiotrophin and midkine is found in many known human cancers or their derived cell lines, and the molecular targeting of pleiotrophin to block its signaling in tumor cells has limited tumor growth and metastasis in animal models. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of pleiotrophin and midkine action in tumorgenesis and tumor angiogenesis may lead to the identification of novel targets for tumor therapy.

HB-GAM/pleiotrophin but not RIHB/midkine enhances chondrogenesis in micromass culture

The heparin-binding growth-associated molecule HB-GAM (also named pleiotrophin) and the retinoic acid-induced heparin-binding protein RIHB (chicken midkine) are developmentally regulated proteins forming a new family of heparin-binding molecules with putative functions during cell growth and differentiation. A direct involvement of these molecules during chondrogenesis in vivo was suggested by their patterns of expression. The putative chondrogenic activity of these molecules was investigated in vitro using micromass cultures from chicken limb bud mesenchymal cells. Exogenous HB-GAM, not RIHB, was found to enhance chondrogenesis in this system. These results provide a strong incentive for considering and further investigating the role of this protein in the control of limb cartilage differentiation.

Differential expression and biological activity of the heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) in lung cancer cell lines

The growth of human lung cancer cells is regulated positively and negatively by a variety of growth factors through autocrine as well as paracrine mechanisms. In the present report, we studied the differential role and expression of a neuropolypeptide growth factor in 26 lung cancer cell lines. Expression of the heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) in 12 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines was compared to that in 14 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. HB-GAM mRNA was expressed in 9 of 12 SCLC and 3 of 14 NSCLC cell lines as determined by RT-PCR analyses. Normal human bronchial epithelial cells were used as negative controls. All cell lines which expressed HB-GAM mRNA produced HB-GAM protein as well. Western blot analysis showed that the tumor cells secreted HB-GAM into the media. HB-GAM, purified from lung cancer cell lines, exerted biological activity on fibroblasts, endothelial cells and SW13 cells as determined by thymidine incorporation and soft agar cloning assays. In addition, the biological activity of HB-GAM was blocked by a specific antibody in a dose-dependent way. Our findings suggest that HB-GAM may serve as a marker for SCLC cell lines and that it may function as a paracrine growth factor in human lung cancer. HB-GAM may be a further member of the network of growth factors involved in proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis of lung tumors.

Transformation by ras suppresses expression of the neurotrophic growth factor pleiotrophin

An 18-kDa protein (p18) was detected in lysates and conditioned medium from contact-arrested NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, but was not detected when the cells were transformed by the oncogene ras. Analysis of transformation-defective cell clones generated after mutagenesis of the ras-retroviral vector used to transduce the ras gene showed an inverse correlation between p18 expression and the degree of transformation. p18 expression was high in non-transformed clones, intermediate in a partially transformed clone, undetectable in fully transformed clones, and detectable only at the non-permissive temperature in a clone which was cold-sensitive for ras transformation. In non-transformed cells, p18 expression varied with the degree of confluence. It was almost undetectable in medium from sparse, proliferating cells, but increased as the cells approached confluence and peaked 2-4 days after confluence. Microsequencing of partially purified p18 identified it as the developmentally regulated neurotrophic factor pleiotrophin. In further experiments, pleiotrophin was undetectable or almost undetectable in medium from fully transformed cells expressing the oncogenes v-src, truncated c-raf, activated c-fms, or polyomavirus middle tumor antigen; it was low but easily detectable in medium from SV40 large tumor antigen-expressing cells, which form soft agar colonies but not foci. Thus, pleiotrophin expression in NIH 3T3 cells is associated with quiescence, and suppression of pleiotrophin is related to oncogenic transformation.

Cellular distribution of the angiogenic factor heparin affin regulatory peptide (HARP) mRNA and protein in the human mammary gland

The heparin affin regulatory peptide (HARP) growth factor, also known as pleiotrophin, is a developmentally regulated protein that displays biological functions during cell growth and differentiation. To study the physiological role of this protein, we investigated the cellular distribution of HARP mRNA and protein in the resting human mammary gland. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed that HARP mRNA was localized in alveolar myoepithelial cells, whereas alveolar epithelial cells were negative. In the stroma, HARP mRNA was localized in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. Interestingly, HARP protein and mRNA were not always co-localized. HARP protein immunocytochemistry staining was observed in an area including both alveolar myoepithelial and epithelial cells, although epithelial cells do not express HARP transcript. In contrast, the distribution of HARP protein is parallel to that of HARP mRNA in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. In the light of these results, the putative role of HARP in controlling the proliferation and/or differentiation of the different mammary cell types is proposed and discussed.

Signal transduction pathways involved in the mitogenic activity of pleiotrophin. Implication of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathways

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a developmentally regulated protein which exhibits neurite-outgrowth, mitogenic, and angiogenic properties. It has also been shown to be involved in tumor growth and metastasis. Here we used primary BEL (bovine epithelial lens) cells to investigate the signal transduction pathways involved in the mitogenic activity of recombinant PTN. PTN was purified from conditioned media of SW-13 cells transfected with the human PTN cDNA. We show that inhibitors of tyrosine kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, or phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase inhibit DNA synthesis stimulated by PTN. Analysis of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins following PTN stimulation showed phosphorylation of two novel 190- and 215-kDa proteins in addition to SHC, ERK1, and ERK2. A mobility shift of phosphorylated ERK1 and ERK2 was detected with a panERK antibody confirming the phosphorylation of the two ERKs. Furthermore, in vitro immunocomplex kinase assay with Akt1, a natural substrate of PI 3-kinase, showed an activation of the kinase following PTN stimulation and a reversal by the PI 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin. We conclude that the mitogenic activity of PTN is dependent on tyrosine kinase activation and utilizes the mitogen-activated protein kinase and the PI 3-kinase pathways to transduce a mitogenic signal.

Human breast cancer growth inhibited in vivo by a dominant negative pleiotrophin mutant

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a recently described 18- kDa heparin binding growth/differentiation factor. It also is a proto-oncogene; cells transformed by the Ptn gene form highly angiogenic tumors when implanted into the nude mouse. PTN may be an important regulator of transformation in other tumors, because constitutively high levels of expression of the pleiotrophin (Ptn) gene are found in human breast cancer and other malignant cell lines, and its levels of expression are high in many human tumor specimens. To determine whether PTN is an important regulator of the malignant phenotype of human breast cancer cells, we constructed a mutant cDNA to encode a truncated PTN designed to heterodimerize with the product of the endogenous Ptn gene during processing. The mutant gene product blocked transformation of NIH 3T3 cells by the wild type (wt) Ptn gene product. The mutant Ptn cDNA was then introduced into human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, and clonal lines that stably express the mutant Ptn cDNA were selected. The truncated PTN was shown to form heterodimers with the endogenous Ptn gene product in these cells. Furthermore, the MDA-MB-231 cells that express the mutant Ptn gene were no longer transformed; they failed to form plaques or colonies in soft agar and were unable to form tumors in the athymic nude mouse. The results establish an important role of PTN in the dysregulated growth of human breast cancer cells and suggest that constitutive expression of PTN may be essential to the malignant phenotype of human breast cancers in vivo.

Synthesis and cystine/cysteine-catalyzed oxidative folding of the amaranth alpha-amylase inhibitor

We report here the total synthesis of the alpha-amylase inhibitor (AAI), a 32-residue-long peptide with three disulfide bridges, isolated from amaranth seeds (Chagolla-Lopez, A., Blanco-Labra, A., Patthy, A., Sanchez, R. & Pongor S. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 23675-23680). The synthesis was carried out using a stepwise solid-phase approach based on the Fmoc/t-Bu chemistry, combined with the S-acetamidomethyl protection for cysteines. The linear, reduced peptide was obtained after two reduction steps, using 1,4-dithio-DL-threitol and tri(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride in basic and acidic conditions, respectively. Disulfide bridges were formed by oxidative folding in a cystine/cysteine redox buffer, these conditions were found superior to air oxidation and to glutathione-catalyzed oxidative folding. The physiochemical and enzyme inhibitory properties of synthetic AAI were found identical with those of natural product. Several orthogonal protection schemes proved unsuccessful in obtaining a biologically active product.

Primary structure and specificity of a serine proteinase inhibitor from paprika (Capsicum annuum) seeds

Several fractions demonstrating trypsin inhibitory activity were isolated from the seeds of the paprika plant (Capsicum annuum). One of the inhibitors, PSI-1.1, was purified to homogeneity and characterised. The mature form of PSI-1.1 has a molecular mass of 6053 Da and consists of 55 amino acids in a sequence showing over 80% identity with members of the inhibitors of potato-2 family. PSI-1.1 is a potent inhibitor of trypsin (Ki = 4.8 x 10(-10) M) and a somewhat weaker inhibitor of chymotrypsin (Ki = 4.7 x 10(-8) M) and pronase E (Ki = 5.9 x 10(-8) M). PSI-1.1 is resistant to heat up to 85 degrees C, to acidic conditions (down to pH 2.0) and to pepsin digestion, presumably due to its four disulfide bridges.

Developmentally regulated neurite outgrowth response from dorsal root ganglion neurons to heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) and the expression of HB-GAM in the targets of the developing dorsal root ganglion neurites

Heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) is a highly conserved cell surface- and extracellular matrix-associated protein that enhances neurite outgrowth in brain neurons in vitro. To study the possible response of peripheral neurons, we cultured chicken dorsal root ganglion neurons from different developmental stages from embryonic day 4.5 (E4.5; St 25) to E9 (St 35) on recombinant HB-GAM. We discovered that the neurite outgrowth response to HB-GAM is maximal at E5.5-6.5 (St 28-30). In order to correlate this in vitro phenomenon with in vivo phenomena, immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization were performed on cryosections. The protein expression of HB-GAM peaked at E6 (St 29) and was most extensive on the dorsal spinal cord and dorsal roots. Using Dil labelling, we confirmed that at the time when sensory afferents travel longitudinally in the bundle of His of the spinal cord, HB-GAM protein expression there is at its peak. Though HB-GAM is a secreted protein, at the RNA level the timing of HB-GAM appearance and existence in the spinal cord and sensory ganglia is in accordance with its protein expression. Our results demonstrate that peripheral neurons are responsive to substrate-bound HB-GAM in a developmentally regulated manner, and that the expression of both HB-GAM mRNA and protein in vivo is spatially and temporally matched to this in vitro phenomenon. HB-GAM is therefore a putative cue for the growth of sensory afferents to and within the dorsal spinal cord.