Termination of immediate-early gene expression after stimulation by parathyroid hormone or isoproterenol

The Implications for Cells of the Lipid Switches Driven by Protein-Membrane Interactions and the Development of Membrane Lipid Therapy

The cell membrane contains a variety of receptors that interact with signaling molecules. However, agonist-receptor interactions not always activate a signaling cascade. Amphitropic membrane proteins are required for signal propagation upon ligand-induced receptor activation. These proteins localize to the plasma membrane or internal compartments; however, they are only activated by ligand-receptor complexes when both come into physical contact in membranes. These interactions enable signal propagation. Thus, signals may not propagate into the cell if peripheral proteins do not co-localize with receptors even in the presence of messengers. As the translocation of an amphitropic protein greatly depends on the membrane's lipid composition, regulation of the lipid bilayer emerges as a novel therapeutic strategy. Some of the signals controlled by proteins non-permanently bound to membranes produce dramatic changes in the cell's physiology. Indeed, changes in membrane lipids induce translocation of dozens of peripheral signaling proteins from or to the plasma membrane, which controls how cells behave. We called these changes "lipid switches", as they alter the cell's status (e.g., proliferation, differentiation, death, etc.) in response to the modulation of membrane lipids. Indeed, this discovery enables therapeutic interventions that modify the bilayer's lipids, an approach known as membrane-lipid therapy (MLT) or melitherapy.

Role of an adenylyl cyclase isoform in ethanol's effect on cAMP regulated gene expression in NIH 3T3 cells

Previous research has indicated that the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signal transduction system plays an important role in the predisposition to and development of ethanol abuse in humans. Our laboratory has demonstrated that ethanol is capable of enhancing adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity. This effect is AC isoform-specific; type 7 AC (AC7) is most enhanced by ethanol. Therefore, we hypothesized that the expression of a specific AC isoform will play a role on the effect of ethanol on cAMP regulated gene expression. We employed NIH 3T3 cells transfected with AC7 or AC3 as a model system. To evaluate ethanol's effects on cAMP regulated gene expression, a luciferase reporter gene driven by a cAMP inducing artificial promoter was utilized. Stimulation of AC activity leads to an increase in the reporter gene activity. This increase was enhanced in the presence of ethanol in cells expressing AC7, while cells expressing AC3 did not respond to ethanol. cAMP reporter gene expression was increased in the presence of 8-bromo-cAMP; this expression was not enhanced by ethanol. These observations are consistent with our hypothesis. The basal level of CREB phosphorylation was high and did not change by cAMP stimulation or in the presence of ethanol. However, there were significant changes in the TORC3 amount in nuclei depending on stimulation conditions. The results suggest that nuclear translocation of TORC3 plays a more important role than CREB phosphorylation in the observed changes in the cAMP driven reporter gene activity.

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Effect of ethanol on cAMP regulated gene expression is AC isoform dependent.

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cAMP regulated gene expression is most enhanced by ethanol in cells expressing AC7.

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Gene expression increases with pharmacologically relevant ethanol concentrations.

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TORC3 nuclear translocation is important for cAMP reporter gene activity.

Protein kinase inhibitor γ reciprocally regulates osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation by downregulating leukemia inhibitory factor

The protein kinase inhibitor (Pki) gene family inactivates nuclear protein kinase A (PKA) and terminates PKA-induced gene expression. We previously showed that Pkig is the primary family member expressed in osteoblasts and that Pkig knockdown increases the effects of parathyroid hormone and isoproterenol on PKA activation, gene expression, and inhibition of apoptosis. Here, we determined whether endogenous levels of Pkig regulate osteoblast differentiation. Pkig is the primary family member in murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), murine marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and human mesenchymal stem cells. Pkig deletion increased forskolin-dependent nuclear PKA activation and gene expression and Pkig deletion or knockdown increased osteoblast differentiation. PKA signaling is known to stimulate adipogenesis; however, adipogenesis and osteogenesis are often reciprocally regulated. We found that the reciprocal regulation predominates over the direct effects of PKA since adipogenesis was decreased by Pkig deletion or knockdown. Pkig deletion or knockdown also simultaneously increased osteogenesis and decreased adipogenesis in mixed osteogenic/adipogenic medium. Pkig deletion increased PKA-induced expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (Lif) mRNA and LIF protein. LIF neutralizing antibodies inhibited the effects on osteogenesis and adipogenesis of either Pkig deletion in MEFs or PKIγ knockdown in both murine and human mesenchymal stem cells. Collectively, our results show that endogenous levels of Pkig reciprocally regulate osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation and that this reciprocal regulation is mediated in part by LIF. Stem Cells 2013;31:2789-2799.

Mice lacking the Cβ subunit of PKA are resistant to angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction

BACKGROUND

PKA is a ubiquitous, multi-subunit cellular kinase that regulates a number of different physiological responses in response to cAMP, including metabolism, cell division, and cardiac function. Numerous studies have implicated altered PKA signaling in cardiac dysfunction. Recently, it has been shown that mice lacking the catalytic β subunit of PKA (PKA Cβ) are protected from age-related problems such as weight gain and enlarged livers, and we hypothesized that these mice might also be resistant to cardiomyopathy.

FINDINGS

Angiotensin II (ang II) induced hypertension in both PKA Cβ null mice and their WT littermates. However, PKA Cβ null mice were resistant to a number of ang II-induced, cardiopathological effects observed in the WT mice, including hypertrophy, decreased diastolic performance, and enlarged left atria.

CONCLUSION

The Cβ subunit of PKA plays an important role in angiotensin-induced cardiac dysfunction. The Cβ null mouse highlights the potential of the PKA Cβ subunit as a pharmaceutical target for hypertrophic cardiac disease.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors enhance memory and synaptic plasticity via CREB:CBP-dependent transcriptional activation

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors increase histone acetylation and enhance both memory and synaptic plasticity. The current model for the action of HDAC inhibitors assumes that they alter gene expression globally and thus affect memory processes in a nonspecific manner. Here, we show that the enhancement of hippocampus-dependent memory and hippocampal synaptic plasticity by HDAC inhibitors is mediated by the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and the recruitment of the transcriptional coactivator and histone acetyltransferase CREB-binding protein (CBP) via the CREB-binding domain of CBP. Furthermore, we show that the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A does not globally alter gene expression but instead increases the expression of specific genes during memory consolidation. Our results suggest that HDAC inhibitors enhance memory processes by the activation of key genes regulated by the CREB:CBP transcriptional complex.

Endogenous PKI gamma limits the duration of the anti-apoptotic effects of PTH and beta-adrenergic agonists in osteoblasts

PKI gamma knockdown substantially extended the anti-apoptotic effects of PTH and beta-adrenergic agonists, whereas PKI gamma overexpression decreased these effects. Therefore, inhibition of PKI gamma activity may provide a useful co-therapy in combination with intermittent PTH or beta-adrenergic agonists for bone loss in conditions such as osteoporosis.

INTRODUCTION

PTH has both catabolic and anabolic effects on bone, which are primarily caused by cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling and regulation of gene expression. We previously showed that protein kinase inhibitor-gamma (PKI gamma) is required for efficient termination of cAMP/PKA signaling and gene expression after stimulation with PTH or beta-adrenergic agonists. Inhibition of osteoblast apoptosis is thought to be an important, but transient, mechanism partly responsible for the anabolic effects of intermittent PTH. Therefore, we hypothesized that endogenous PKI gamma also terminates the anti-apoptotic effect of PTH.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PKI gamma knockdown by antisense transfection or siRNA was used to examine the ability of endogenous PKI gamma to modulate the anti-apoptotic effects of PTH and beta-adrenergic agonists in ROS 17/2.8 cells.

RESULTS

Knockdown of PKI gamma substantially extended the anti-apoptotic effects of PTH, whether apoptosis was induced by etoposide or dexamethasone. In contrast, overexpression of PKI gamma decreased the anti-apoptotic effect of PTH pretreatment. This study is also the first demonstration that beta-adrenergic agonists mimic the anti-apoptotic effects of PTH in osteoblasts. Moreover, PKI gamma knockdown also substantially extended this anti-apoptotic effect of beta-adrenergic agonists. Taken together, these results show that endogenous PKI gamma limits the duration of the anti-apoptotic effects of cAMP/PKA signaling in osteoblasts.

CONCLUSIONS

Because significant individual variability exists in the anabolic responses to PTH therapy in current clinical treatment of osteoporosis, inhibition of PKI gamma activity may provide a useful co-therapy in combination with intermittent PTH or beta-adrenergic agonists for bone loss in conditions such as osteoporosis. However, the potential use of such a co-therapy would depend on it not adversely affecting bone formation or other organ systems.

TNFalpha and PTH utilize distinct mechanisms to induce IL-6 and RANKL expression with markedly different kinetics

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNFalpha) are bone resorptive agents that upregulate interleukin-6 (IL-6) and RANKL production by osteoblasts. IL-6 mRNA expression induced by PTH is rapid and transient in osteoblasts both in vitro and in vivo. This study found that IL-6 secretion induced by PTH is also rapid and transient. The induction of RANKL mRNA by PTH is also rapid and transient although with an extended time course compared to that of IL-6 mRNA. In contrast, the effects of TNFalpha are biphasic. During the first 2 h of stimulation with TNFalpha, the responses are similar to those induced by PTH. This is followed by a period of relatively low IL-6 and RANKL mRNA levels and little IL-6 secretion. A late phase of increased IL-6 and RANKL mRNA expression occurs 12-24 h after stimulation with TNFalpha leading to a significant increase in IL-6 secretion. A similar biphasic pattern of activation of p38 MAP kinase is induced by TNFalpha. p38alpha/beta activation is required for the increased RANKL mRNA during the early phase of stimulation by TNFalpha but not in the late phase. In contrast, p38alpha/beta activation is not required for increased IL-6 mRNA or IL-6 protein secretion in either the early or late phases of stimulation by TNFalpha. Blocking the increases in IL-6 transcription completely eliminates IL-6 secretion induced during the early phases of stimulation by either PTH or TNFalpha. Consistent with the dependence on transcription, IL-6 mRNA is rapidly degraded with half-lives of 10-14 min following stimulation with either PTH or TNFalpha. In contrast to IL-6, RANKL mRNA is substantially more stable with half-lives of 40-60 min. Taken together, our results show that TNFalpha and PTH utilize distinct mechanisms to induce IL-6 and RANKL expression with markedly different kinetics. The more extensive effect of TNFalpha likely reflects that TNFalpha stimulates IL-6 production and bone resorption in pathological situations. In contrast, the less extensive effect of PTH likely reflects that it acts in physiological situations where it is important to minimize the potential adverse effects of high levels of IL-6 on bone and/or surrounding tissues.

Beta2-adrenergic receptors mediate the differential effects of catecholamines on cytokine production of PBMC

We determined characteristics of beta2-adrenergic receptors (beta2R) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and cytokine production after mitogenic stimulation and coincubation with catecholamines. PBMCs were stimulated with interleukin-2 (IL-2), tetanus toxoid (TT), anti-CD3 antibody, or phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-4, and IL-6 were determined by ELISA following coincubation with high-dose (10(-5) M) and low-dose (10(-9) M) epinephrine (EPI) and norepinephrine (NE). Intracellular IFN-gamma and IL-4 were studied by FACS analysis. The beta2R density was investigated using a radioligand binding assay. The stimuli induced various cytokine profiles in PBMCs. Synthesis of IFN-gamma was induced by all mitogens and could be suppressed by catecholamines (26%-85% reduction). In PHA-stimulated PBMCs, IL-4 synthesis was decreased by high-dose catecholamines (24%-28% reduction). Adding a beta-blocking agent attenuated most catecholamine effects. A highly significant negative correlation between the density of beta2R with IFN-gamma and IL-6 levels of PHA-activated PBMCs (r = -0.88 to -0.96, p < 0.01-< 0.001) was observed. The results indicate that the density of beta2R on PBMC plays a role in mediating the differential catecholamine effects on cytokine production of PBMC. Furthermore, changes in cytokine expression induced by catecholamines favor Th2 responses.

Endogenous protein kinase inhibitor gamma terminates immediate-early gene expression induced by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) signaling: termination depends on PKA inactivation rather than PKA export from the nucleus

Expression of many genes induced by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) signaling is rapidly terminated. Although many mechanisms contribute to regulation of PKA signaling, members of the endogenous protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) family may be particularly important for terminating nuclear PKA activity and gene expression. Here we used both siRNA and antisense knockdown strategies to examine PKA signaling activated by parathyroid hormone or the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol. We found that endogenous PKIgamma is required for efficient termination of nuclear PKA activity, transcription factor phosphorylation, and immediate-early genes. Moreover, PKIgamma is required for export of PKA catalytic subunits from the nucleus back to the cytoplasm following activation of PKA signaling because this is also inhibited by PKIgamma knockdown. Leptomycin B blocks PKA nuclear export but has little or no effect on nuclear PKA activity or immediate-early gene expression. Thus, inactivation of PKA activity in the nucleus is sufficient to terminate signaling, and nuclear export is not required. These results were the first in any cell type showing that endogenous levels of PKI regulate PKA signaling.