Rat pancreatic AR42J cells. Amphicrine cells as an in vitro model to study peptide hormone receptor regulation

[Mixed endocrine tumors]

Mixed endocrine tumors are tumors composed of at least two distinct tumor populations, one of which is endocrine. Because of their rarity and unusual presentation, endocrine mixed tumors raise many problems of diagnosis, management and therapy. Three main types of endocrine mixed tumors are recognized: The existence of these various types has been confirmed by recent molecular studies, even if the same studies have also shown that the histogenesis of a mixed endocrine tumor cannot be predicted from its histological features. Composite tumors are the less rare mixed tumors. The recent WHO classification recommends to restrict the term of composite endocrine tumor to the epithelial tumors containing at least 30% of obviously tumoral endocrine cells; some authors recommend to use higher thresholds, of at least 50%, in order to avoid overdiagnosis. The endocrine component is usually well differentiated, easily identified by its suggestive histological features; the endocrine nature of tumor cells is confirmed by the immunodetection of specific endocrine and neuro-endocrine markers (such as chromogranin A and synaptophysin). In some cases, the endocrine component is poorly differentiated: the demonstration of neuro-endocrine markers is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Mixed tumors can occur in every anatomical site; they are more frequent in organs containing endocrine cells in the normal state (especially the digestive tract and the pancreas), but they can also be observed in organs devoid of endocrine cells (such as the mammary gland). The management of mixed endocrine tumors must take into account the more aggressive component. Mixed tumors containing a well differentiated endocrine component and an adenocarcinomatous component are to be treated like adenocarcinomas. Mixed tumors containing a poorly differentiated endocrine component must be considered as poorly differentiated endocrine carcinomas.

Genomic organization, expression, and function of bitter taste receptors (T2R) in mouse and rat

Mammalian type 2 taste receptors (T2R) are a family of G protein-coupled receptors that mediate bitter signals in taste cells. In the present study, we compared the genomic organization of rodent T2R genes based on the recently completed mouse and rat genomes and examined tissue- and cell-specific expression of T2Rs. Both mouse and rat T2R families consist of 36 intact genes and at least 7 pseudogenes that are mapped to mouse chromosomes 15, 2, and 6 and to rat chromosomes 2, 3, and 4, respectively. All but two T2R genes are clustered on mouse chromosome 6 and rat chromosome 4 with virtually identical genomic organization. The orthologs of the first human T2R gene identified, mT2R119 and rT2R1, are located on mouse chromosome 15 and rat chromosome 2, whereas the novel rodent-specific T2R genes, mT2R134 and rT2R34, are located on mouse chromosome 2 and rat chromosome 3, respectively. Our results, using RT-PCR, demonstrate the presence of transcripts corresponding to the putative denatonium benzoate (DB) and phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) receptors in the antrum, fundus, and duodenum as well as in STC-1 and AR42J cells. The novel rodent-specific T2R gene (mT2R134 and rT2R34) was also expressed in these tissues and cell lines. The addition of DB, PTC, or cycloheximide to AR42J cells induced a rapid increase in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. The specificity of these effects is shown by the fact that these bitter stimuli did not induce any detectable Ca(2+) signaling in many other rodent or human cells that do not express receptors or G proteins implicated in bitter taste signaling. These results demonstrate that mouse and rat T2R genes are highly conserved in terms of genomic organization and tissue expression, suggesting that rodent T2Rs are evolved under similar dietary pressure and share bitter sensing functions in the lingual and gastrointestinal systems.

Stimulation of amylase release by Orexin is mediated by Orexin 2 receptor in AR42J cells

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Orexins have been demonstrated to have mainly central physiological functions, including regulation of food and water intake, sleep, and arousal. However, little is known about their direct peripheral effects, if any. As a first step toward understanding the role of Orexin in non-neuronal tissues or cells, we initiated studies to examine expression of Orexin receptors (OXR) in an established pancreatic tumor cell line AR42J. Secondly, we wanted to determine whether Orexins, in various molecular forms, are active to stimulate any known pancreatic cell functions in AR42J cells.

METHODOLOGY

Reverse transcription-PCR analysis was performed to identify the presence of specific Orexin receptor subtypes. Intracellular calcium mobilization and cAMP levels were measured following stimulation by Orexin A and B peptides, their respective C-terminal decapeptide fragments, and hypocretin-2-gly (glycine-extended Orexin B). Release of alpha-amylase was measured in conditioned media after acute stimulation with the set of Orexin peptides for 30 minutes. Cell proliferation was determined by H-thymidine incorporation after 24 hours following treatment with Orexins under serum-free condition.

RESULTS

RT-PCR and sequencing results showed that Orexin receptor subtype 2 (OX2R) was the main form expressed in AR42J cells. Orexins stimulated dose-dependent increases in intracellular calcium mobilization with EC50 0.05 nM for Orexin A and 0.1 nM for Orexin B but were unable to stimulate any significant cAMP accumulation or DNA synthesis even at micromolar concentrations. Both Orexin-A and -B, but not hypocretin-2-gly, also stimulated dose-dependent increases in amylase release in the AR42J cells. Orexin-A and -B carboxyl-terminal decapeptides elicited significant but much lower calcium and amylase responses.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that OX2R mediates Ca -dependent amylase release in AR42J cells, suggesting that Orexins may have secretory functions in pancreatic tumor cells.

ARIP cells as a model for pancreatic beta cell growth and development

Pancreatic ductal epithelium contains the pluripotent cells that develop into pancreatic beta cells. However, little is known about intrinsic or extrinsic factors that enable this differentiation to occur. PDX-1 plays a critical role in pancreatic development and insulin secretion. Therefore we transfected the PDX-1 gene into ARIP cells, a rat pancreatic ductal cell line. The ARIP and ARIP/PDX-1 cells were treated with known growth and differentiation factors including hepatocyte growth factor, activin A, betacellulin, reg, INGAP, nicotinamide, and retinoic acid. Despite the ductal origin of these cells, no changes in expression of 24 pancreatic genes, as determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), occurred in either cell line. Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of the active phosphorylated form of the PDX-1 protein. To enhance PDX-1 phosphorylation, we cultured ARIP and ARIP/PDX-1 cells in a high-glucose medium; however, as with the other conditions, no differences in mRNA expression were noted on the RT-PCR assay. We conclude that other factors may be necessary for beta cell differentiation and/or that ARIP cells are a poor model of pancreatic development.

Gut peptide receptor expression in human pancreatic cancers

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) peptide receptor expression in pancreatic cancers, and to further assess signaling mechanisms regulating neurotensin (NT)-mediated pancreatic cancer growth.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the leading causes of GI cancer death; novel strategies for the early detection and treatment of these cancers is required. Previously, the authors have shown that NT, an important GI hormone, stimulates the proliferation of an NT receptor (NTR)-positive pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

A total of 26 human pancreatic adenocarcinomas, obtained after resection, and 5 pancreatic cancer xenografts were analyzed for expression of NTR, vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor (VIPR), substance P receptor (SPR), and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR). In addition, NTR expression, [Ca2+]i mobilization, and growth in response to NT was determined in L3.6, a metastatic pancreatic cancer cell line.

RESULTS

Neurotensin receptor was expressed in 88% of the surgical specimens examined and all five of the pancreatic cancer xenografts. In contrast, VIPR, SPR, and GRPR expression was detected in 31%, 27%, and 8% of pancreatic cancers examined, respectively. Expression of NTR, functionally coupled to the Ca2+ signaling pathway, was identified in L3.6 cells; treatment with NT (10 micromol/L) stimulated proliferation of these cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors demonstrated NTR expression in most of the pancreatic adenocarcinomas examined. In contrast, VIPR, SPR, and GRPR expression was detected in fewer of the pancreatic cancers. The expression of NTR and other peptide receptors suggests the potential role of endocrine manipulation in the treatment of these cancers. Further, the presence of GI receptors may provide for targeted chemotherapy or radiation therapy or in vivo scintigraphy for early detection.

Molecular organization of the mouse gastrin-releasing peptide receptor gene and its promoter

The murine gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (mGRP-R) is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family and mediates important physiological actions of its specific ligand, the gastrointestinal hormone/neurotransmitter GRP, including mitogenic properties in the mouse Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Glucocorticoids and increases in intracellular cAMP are reported to alter GRP-R gene transcription, but the molecular basis for these effects is unknown. To begin to identify possible gene regulatory mechanisms that are responsible for modifying mGRP-R expression, we determined its structure and investigated its basal promoter activity. We isolated and characterized genomic bacteriophage P1 clones encoding the mouse gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (mGRP-R). By DNA sequencing and Southern blot analyses, we determined the protein coding region to be contained in three exons interrupted by two introns 20 and 2kb in length. The open reading frame of the putative GRP-R gene encodes for a 384-amino-acid protein which demonstrates 48% identity with the mouse BRS-3 protein and 53% identity with the mouse NMB-R protein. The mGRP-R gene locus extends over 29kb and was mapped to the X-chromosome (DXMit20) utilizing a minisatellite polymorphism in the 5' UTR and by fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH). In Swiss 3T3 cells, which natively express mGRP-R, two gene-specific mRNA species of 3 and 7kb can be detected by Northern blot analysis. With RNase protection assays, and independently with inverse PCR of 5' RACE clones, common mRNA initiation sites were identified clustered between 21 and 61bp downstream of a TTTAAA motif, which is located 450bp upstream of the ATG translation start site. However, different polyadenylation sites are utilized. A 2kb genomic DNA fragment extending from 2147 to 141 bases 5' to the ATG translation start was cloned into a luciferase reporter plasmid and shown to contain promoter activity in Swiss 3T3 and COS-7 cells. Progressive promoter truncations and mutations of a cyclic AMP response element (CRE) located 83bp upstream of the TTTAAA motif demonstrate that transcriptional mGRP-R activation in Swiss 3T3 cells only occurs when both the TTTAAA motif and the intact CRE site are retained. With the availability of the full structure of the mGRP-R gene and the minimal promoter sequences reported in this study, it will be possible in future studies to investigate the molecular basis for transcriptional regulation of the mGRP-R gene by glucocorticoids, cAMP and other factors.