Dual effect of insulin-like growth factor on the apical 70-pS K channel in the thick ascending limb of rat kidney

Synergism of Carbamoylated Erythropoietin and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 in Immediate Early Gene Expression

Trophic factors are secreted proteins that can modulate neuronal integrity, structure, and function. Previous preclinical studies have shown synergistic effects on decreasing apoptosis and improving behavioral performance after stroke when combining two such trophic factors, erythropoietin (EPO) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). However, EPO can elevate the hematocrit level, which can be life-threatening for non-anemic individuals. A chemically engineered derivative of EPO, carbamoylated EPO (CEPO), does not impact hematological parameters but retains neurotrophic effects similar to EPO. To obtain insight into CEPO and IGF-1 combination signaling, we examined immediate early gene (IEG) expression after treatment with CEPO, IGF-1, or CEPO + IGF-1 in rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells and found that combining CEPO and IGF-1 produced a synergistic increase in IEG expression. An in vivo increase in the protein expression of Npas4 and Nptx2 was also observed in the rat hippocampus. We also examined which kinase signaling pathways might be mediating these effects and found that while AKT inhibition did not alter the pattern of IEG expression, both ERK and JAK2 inhibition significantly decreased IEG expression. These results begin to define the molecular effects of combining CEPO and IGF-1 and indicate the potential for these trophic factors to produce positive, synergistic effects.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 inhibits nitroglycerin-induced trigeminal activation of oxidative stress, calcitonin gene-related peptide and c-Fos expression

Migraineurs experience increased oxidative stress which drives the initiation and maintenance of migraine-related pain in animal models and, by extension, migraine in humans. Oxidative stress augments calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels, a mediator of migraine pain. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a neuroprotective growth factor, reduces susceptibility to spreading depression, a preclinical model of migraine, in cultured brain slices by blocking oxidative stress and neuroinflammation from microglia. Similarly, nasal delivery of IGF-1 inhibits spreading depression in vivo. After recurrent cortical spreading depression, nasal administration of IGF-1 also significantly reduces trigeminal ganglion oxidative stress and CGRP levels as well as trigeminocervical c-Fos activation. Here, we probed for the impact of nasal IGF-1 pretreatment on trigeminal system activation using a second well-established preclinical model of migraine, systemic nitroglycerin injection. Adult male rats were treated with one of three doses of IGF-1 (37.5, 75 or 150 μg) and the optimal dose found in males was subsequently used for treatment of female rats. One day later, animals received an intraperitoneal injection of nitroglycerin. Measurements taken two hours later after nitroglycerin alone showed increased surrogate markers of trigeminal activation - oxidative stress and CGRP in the trigeminal ganglion and c-Fos in the trigeminocervical complex compared to vehicle control. These effects were significantly reduced at all doses of IGF-1 for trigeminal ganglion metrics of oxidative stress and CGRP and only at the lowest dose in both males and females for c-Fos. The latter inverted U-shaped or hormetic response is seen in enzyme-targeting drugs. While the specific mechanisms remain to be explored, our data here supports the ability of IGF-1 to preserve mitochondrial and antioxidant pathway homeostasis as means to prevent nociceptive activation in the trigeminal system produced by an experimental migraine model.

IGF-1 alters the human parietal pleural electrochemical profile by inhibiting ion trans-cellular transportation after interaction with its receptor

OBJECTIVE

The effect of IGF-1 in the human pleural permeability and the underlying mechanisms involved were investigated.

DESIGN

Specimens from thoracic surgical patients were mounted in Ussing chambers. Solutions containing IGF-1 (1 nM-100 nM) and IGF-1 Receptor Inhibitor (1 μΜ), amiloride 10 μM (Na(+) channel blocker) and ouabain 1 mM (Na(+)-K(+) pump inhibitor) were used in order to investigate receptor and ion transporter involvement respectively. Trans-mesothelial Resistance (R(TM)) across the pleural membrane was determined as a permeability indicator. Immunohistochemistry for IGF-1 receptors was performed.

RESULTS

IGF-1 increased R(TM) when added on the interstitial surface for all concentrations (p=.008, 1 nM-100 nM) and decreased it on the mesothelial surface for higher concentrations (p=.046, 100 nM). Amiloride and ouabain inhibited this effect. The IGF-1 Receptor Inhibitor also totally inhibited this effect. Immonuhistochemistry demonstrated the presence of IGF-1 receptors in the pleura.

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that IGF-1 changes the electrophysiology of the human parietal pleura by hindering the normal ion transportation and therefore the pleural fluid recycling process. This event is achieved after IGF-1 interaction with its receptor which is present in the human pleura.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) inhibits the basolateral Cl channels in the thick ascending limb of the rat kidney

The aim of the present study is to test the hypothesis that insulin-like-growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays a role in the regulation of basolateral Cl channels in the thick ascending limb (TAL). The patch-clamp experiments demonstrated that application of IGF-I or insulin inhibited the basolateral 10-pS Cl channels. However, the concentration of insulin required for the inhibition of the Cl channels by 50% (K(1/2)) was ten times higher than those of IGF-1. The inhibitory effect of IGF-I on the 10-pS Cl channels was blocked by suppressing protein tyrosine kinase or by blocking phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). In contrast, inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC) failed to abolish the inhibitory effect of IGF-1 on the Cl channels in the TAL. Western blot analysis demonstrated that IGF-1 significantly increased the phosphorylation of phospholipid-dependent kinase (PDK) at serine residue 241 (Ser(241)) and AKT at Ser(473) in the isolated medullary TAL. Moreover, inhibition of PI3K with LY294002 abolished the effect of IGF-1 on the phosphorylation of PDK and AKT. The notion that the effect of IGF-1 on the 10-pS Cl channels was induced by stimulation of PDK-AKT-mTOR pathway was further suggested by the finding that rapamycin completely abolished the effect of IGF-1 on the 10-pS Cl channels in the TAL. We conclude that IGF-1 inhibits the basolateral Cl channels by activating PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways. The inhibitory effect of IGF-1 on the Cl channels may play a role in ameliorating the ischemia-induced renal injury through IGF-1 administration.

IGF-1 activates hEAG K(+) channels through an Akt-dependent signaling pathway in breast cancer cells: role in cell proliferation

Previous work from our laboratory has shown that human ether à go-go (hEAG) K(+) channels are crucial for breast cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. In this study, we investigated the regulation of hEAG channels by an insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which is known to stimulate cell proliferation. Acute applications of IGF-1 increased K(+) current-density and hyperpolarized MCF-7 cells. The effects of IGF-1 were inhibited by hEAG inhibitors. Moreover, IGF-1 increased mRNA expression of hEAG in a time-dependent manner in parallel with an enhancement of cell proliferation. The MCF-7 cell proliferation induced by IGF-1 is inhibited pharmacologically by Astemizole or Quinidine or more specifically using siRNA against hEAG channel. Either mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) are known to mediate IGF-1 cell proliferative signals through the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk 1/2) and Akt, respectively. In MCF-7 cells, IGF-1 rapidly stimulated Akt phosphorylation, whereas IGF-1 had little stimulating effect on Erk 1/2 which seems to be constitutively activated. The application of wortmannin was found to block the effects of IGF-1 on K(+) current. Moreover, the inhibition of Akt phosphorylation by the application of wortmannin or by a specific reduction of Akt kinase activity reduced the hEAG mRNA levels. Taken together, our results show, for the first time, that IGF-1 increases both the activity and the expression of hEAG channels through an Akt-dependent pathway. Since a hEAG channel is necessary for cell proliferation, its regulation by IGF-1 may thus play an important role in IGF-1 signaling to promote a mitogenic effect in breast cancer cells.

GLTSCR2 Sensitizes Cells to Hypoxic Injury without Involvement of Mitochondrial Apoptotic Cascades

OBJECTIVE

We attempted to identify novel genes that induce hypoxic cell death to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced cell death. Through this process the GLTSCR2 gene was found. The purpose of this work was to investigate the role of GLTSCR2 in hypoxic cell death pathways.

METHODS

This work focuses on an investigation of roles and mechanisms of GLTSCR2 in hypoxic cell death by means of subtractive hybridization, RT-PCR, Western blot, immunocytochemistry, cell death assay, transient gene overexpression, and determination of mitochondrial membrane potential.

RESULTS

We found that GLTSCR2 was transcriptionally suppressed by hypoxia, and ectopic expression of GLTSCR2 sensitized cells to hypoxic injury. Interestingly, while the majority of hypoxia-inducible pro-death proteins signal through mitochondrion-dependent pathways, GLTSCR2-overexpressed cells underwent apoptosis in a mitochondrion- and caspase-independent manner.

CONCLUSION

Our data categorizes GLTSCR2 as a proapoptotic protein sensitizing cells to hypoxic injury when overexpressed.

Nerve growth factor enhances voltage-gated Na+ channel activity and Transwell migration in Mat-LyLu rat prostate cancer cell line

The highly dynamic nature of voltage-gated Na+ channel (VGSC) expression and its controlling mechanism(s) are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the possible involvement of nerve growth factor (NGF) in regulating VGSC activity in the strongly metastatic Mat-LyLu cell model of rat prostate cancer (PCa). NGF increased peak VGSC current density in a time- and dose-dependent manner. NGF also shifted voltage to peak and the half-activation voltage to more positive potentials, and produced currents with faster kinetics of activation; sensitivity to the VGSC blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX) was not affected. The NGF-induced increase in peak VGSC current density was suppressed by both the pan-trk antagonist K252a, and the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor KT5720. NGF did not affect the Nav1.7 mRNA level, but the total VGSC alpha-subunit protein level was upregulated. NGF potentiated the cells' migration in Transwell assays, and this was not affected by TTX. We concluded that NGF upregulated functional VGSC expression in Mat-LyLu cells, with PKA as a signaling intermediate, but enhancement of migration by NGF was independent of VGSC activity.

Extracellular zinc and ATP-gated P2X receptor calcium entry channels: New zinc receptors as physiological sensors and therapeutic targets

In this review, we focus on two attributes of P2X receptor channel function, one essential and one novel. First, we propose that P2X receptors are extracellular sensors as well as receptors and ion channels. In particular, the large extracellular domain (that comprises 70% of the molecular mass of the receptor channel protein) lends itself to be a cellular sensor. Moreover, its exquisite sensitivity to extracellular pH, ionic strength, and multiple ligands evokes the function of a sensor. Second, we propose that P2X receptors are extracellular zinc receptors as well as receptors for nucleotides. We provide novel data in multiple publications and illustrative data in this invited review to suggest that zinc triggers ATP-independent activation of P2X receptor channel function. In this light, P2X receptors are the cellular site of integration between autocrine and paracrine zinc signaling and autocrine and paracrine purinergic signaling. P2X receptors may sense changes in these ligands as well as in extracellular pH and ionic strength and transduce these sensations via calcium and/or sodium entry and changes in membrane potential.

Roles of insulin receptor substrates in insulin-induced stimulation of renal proximal bicarbonate absorption

Insulin resistance is frequently associated with hypertension, but the mechanism underlying this association remains speculative. Although insulin is known to modify renal tubular functions, little is known about roles of insulin receptor substrates (IRS) in the renal insulin actions. For clarifying these issues, the effects of insulin on the rate of bicarbonate absorption (JHCO3-) were compared in isolated renal proximal tubules from wild-type, IRS1-deficient (IRS1-/-), and IRS2-deficient (IRS2-/-) mice. In wild-type mice, physiologic concentrations of insulin significantly increased JHCO3-. This stimulation was completely inhibited by wortmannin and LY-294002, indicating that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway mediates the insulin action. The stimulatory effect of insulin on JHCO3- was completely preserved in IRS1-/- mice but was significantly attenuated in IRS2-/- mice. Similarly, insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation was preserved in IRS1-/- mice but was markedly attenuated in IRS2-/- mice. Furthermore, insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS2 was more prominent than that of IRS1. These results indicate that IRS2 plays a major role in the stimulation of renal proximal absorption by insulin. Because defects at the level of IRS1 may underlie at least some forms of insulin resistance, sodium retention, facilitated by hyperinsulinemia through the IRS1-independent pathway, could be an important factor in pathogenesis of hypertension in insulin resistance.

Minocycline up-regulates Bcl-2 and protects against cell death in mitochondria

Robust neuroprotective effects have been shown for minocycline. Whether it also protects nonneuronal cells or tissues is unknown. More importantly, the mechanisms of minocycline protection appear multifaceted and remain to be clarified. Here we show that minocycline can protect kidney epithelial cells in vitro and protect the kidneys from ischemic injury in vivo. We further show that Bcl-2 is a key molecular determinant of minocycline protection. Minocycline protected kidney epithelial cells against apoptosis induced by hypoxia, azide, cisplatin, and staurosporine. The protection occurred at mitochondria, involving the suppression of Bax accumulation, outer membrane damage, and cytochrome c release. Minocycline induced Bcl-2, which accumulated in mitochondria and interacted with death-promoting molecules including Bax, Bak, and Bid. Down-regulation of Bcl-2 by specific antisense oligonucleotides abolished the cytoprotective effects of minocycline. Thus, minocycline can protect neuronal as well as nonneuronal cells and tissues. One mechanism for minocycline protection involves the induction of Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic protein.