The IGFBP-3 mRNA and protein levels are IGF-I-dependent and GH-independent in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells

Growth Hormone (GH), Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGFs) and IGF-Binding Proteins which modulate the IGFs' bioavailability (e.g. IGFBP-3, -4, -5), are essential regulators of bone remodeling. In this study, MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells were used as a model system to investigate the mechanism(s) whereby IGF-I and GH control IGFBP-3 gene expression. Physiological concentrations of IGF-I (1-20 nM) induced a dose-dependent increase in the steady-state amount of IGFBP-3 mRNA (maximal stimulation: approximately 9-10-fold). This increase was detectable 3 h after the onset of IGF-I treatment, was enhanced over a 24 h period, then plateaued until at least 30 h. Consistently, a dose-dependent increase in IGFBP-3 secretion ( approximately 40-50-fold at IGF-I concentrations>/=16 nM) was observed by western ligand- and immuno-blot analysis of MG-63 cells conditioned medium, and its time course was similar to that observed for IGFBP-3 transcripts. IGFBP-3 mRNA stability (t(1/2) approximately 20 h) was identical in the presence or absence of IGF-I treatment. By contrast, human (h) GH treatment (24-72 h) of MG-63 cells did not increase IGFBP-3 secretion in the conditioned medium. Ectopic expression of recombinant rat GH-R resulted in hGH-enhanced expression of GH-responsive reporter gene constructs, but did not increase endogenous IGFBP-3 gene expression, suggesting that the GH unresponsiveness was not only due to the very low level of GH binding sites at the plasma membrane level. Altogether, these results support the conclusions that in MG-63 cells (i) transcriptional rather post-transcriptional mechanisms are involved in the IGF-I-induced increase of IGFBP-3; (ii) the abundance of GH-R is very low at the plasma membrane level; (iii) the dowstream GH-signaling cascade is fully functional in this human osteosarcoma cell line; and (iv) the endogenous IGFBP-3 gene is not responsive to hGH in human MG-63 osteosarcoma cells.

The glucocorticoid response element II is functionally homologous in rat and human insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 promoters

In vivo, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) modulates the IGFs' bioavailability and may contribute to their delivery to peripheral tissues. In rat and human hepatocytes, glucocorticoids stimulate IGFBP-1 gene transcription through homologous glucocorticoid response units (GRU). Transfection experiments have shown that one of these, GRU2 (nucleotide (nt) -121 to -85 and nt -111 to -74 in human and rat promoters, respectively), was on its own able to mediate the glucocorticoid response in rat but not in human species (Suwanichkul, A., Allander, S., Morris, S. L. & Powell, D. R. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 30835-30841, Goswami, R., Lacson, R., Yang, E., Sam, R. & Unterman, T. (1994) Endocrinology 134, 736-743, and Suh, D. S., Ooi, G. T. & Rechler, M. M. (1994) Mol. Endocrinol. 8, 794-805). A close comparison of GRU2 sequences has pointed out a C to A transition in the underlying GREII, which creates a GATC tetranucleotide in rat species. This tetranucleotide is submitted to adenosyl methylation (dam methylation) in most Escherichia coli bacterial strains, but not in eucaryotic cells. We showed (i) that on its own, the unmethylated rat GRU2 (propagated in dam E. coli strains) was inactive, as is the case for its human counterpart (nonsignificant glucocorticoid inductions, 1.48 +/- 0.23 and 1.7 +/- 0.35-fold in Chinese hamster ovary cells, respectively) and (ii) that its adenosyl methylation in standard dam+ bacterial strains yielded a functional GRU (6.5 +/- 1. 1 and 13.1 +/- 3.9-fold glucocorticoid inductions in Chinese hamster ovary and HepG2 cells, respectively). Transient transfection in HepG2 hepatoma cells clearly showed that the interaction of liver-enriched trans-acting factor(s) with the 5'-overlapping insulin response element does not enable the unmethylated rat GRU2 or the human GRU2 to become responsive to glucocorticoids (nonsignificant 2.21 +/- 0.48 and 1.20 +/- 0.06-fold induction, respectively). Furthermore, we have correlated these functional data with in vitro DNA-protein interaction studies: the dam methylated rat GREII displayed a 2.8-fold higher affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor than its unmethylated counterpart.

Oncogene-induced up-regulation of Caco-2 cell proliferation involves IGF-II gene activation through a protein kinase C-mediated pathway

We previously reported that ras and polyoma middle T (PyMT), a constitutive activator of the src protooncogene product, up-regulated Caco-2 cell proliferation along with protein kinase C (PKC) alpha expression and PKC activity. We aimed to investigate whether oncogene-induced up-regulation of Caco-2 cell proliferation involved stimulation of the autocrine IGF-II/IGF-I receptor (IGFIR) loop described in these cells and if so, to analyse the role of overexpressed and activated PKC. Compared with control vector transfected Caco-2 cells, ras- and PyMT-transfected cells exhibited increased expression of the 6.0 and 4.8 kb IGF-II transcripts. This was due to increased activity of the P3 and P4 promoters of the IGF-II gene which correlated with increased expression and DNA-binding activity of Sp1, a transcription factor interacting with several specific sites in P3 and P4 promoters. Oncogene-transfected cells displayed enhanced autocrine IGF-II production, which was fully responsible for the oncogene-induced increase in their proliferation since this increase was blunted by anti-human IGF-II and IGF1R (alphaIR3) antibodies. PKC mediated oncogene activation of the IGF-II gene presumably through action on Sp1 since (i) PKC activation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate increased Sp1 expression, P3 and P4 activity and IGF-II mRNA in control but not in oncogene-transfected cells; and (ii) PKC inhibition by the PKC inhibitor Gö6976 reduced Sp1, P3 and P4 activity and IGF-II mRNA in all three cell lines. This is the first evidence that ras- and PyMT/src oncogenes up-regulate Caco-2 cell proliferation through a PKC-mediated pathway which stimulates IGF-II gene transcription and thereby increases autocrine IGF-II production. The mechanisms underlying IGF-II gene activation by PKC most probably involve action on Sp1.

Stimulation of transcription in vitro from a liver-specific promoter by human glucocorticoid receptor (hGRalpha)

The rat tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) gene is a liver-specific and glucocorticoid-inducible gene. Previous studies have shown that the TAT promoter (TAT0.35; nt -350 to +1) is able to sustain liver-specific gene expression both in transient transfection and in a transcription assay in vitro [Schweizer-Groyer, Groyer, Cadepond, Grange, Baulieu and Pictet (1994) Nucleic Acids Res. 22, 1583-1592]. Here we report that the basal transcriptional activity generated from TAT0.35 in the presence of crude liver nuclear extracts is enhanced by added human glucocorticoid receptor (hGRalpha), provided that TAT0.35 sequences were flanked (5') with a glucocorticoid responsive unit (GREII of the TAT gene, including its 5'-CCAAT flanking sequence). Two sources of hGRalpha were used: nuclear extracts prepared from Sf9 insect (Sf9-NEs) cells over-expressing hGRalpha, and hGRalpha from pRShGRalpha-transfected COS-7 cells, enriched by high-performance ion-exchange chromatography. The enhancement of transcription in vitro (1.5-4.5-fold) was dependent on the amount of added hGRalpha and independent of the nature (agonist or antagonist) of the ligand. Moreover, the hGRalpha-mediated stimulation of transcription was (i) dependent on GRE/progesterone response element (PRE) (it was inhibited by a 25-fold excess of GRE/PRE but not by a 100-fold excess of oestrogen response element) and (ii) receptor-dependent (Sf9-NEs prepared from uninfected Sf9 cells or from Sf9 cells infected with wild-type baculoviral DNA did not enhance transcription). Taken together, these experiments support the conclusions that in vitro the glucocorticoid receptor is able to enhance transcription from genomic, liver-specific, promoter sequences (those of the TAT gene), and that this enhancement of transcription from the liver-specific TAT0.35 promoter is dependent both on the glucocorticoid receptor and on the latter's interaction with its cognate response elements.

Insulin activates nuclear factor kappa B in mammalian cells through a Raf-1-mediated pathway

We examined the effect of insulin on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) activity in Chinese ovary (CHO) cells overexpressing wild-type (CHO-R cells) or -defective insulin receptors mutated at Tyr1162 and Tyr1163 autophosphorylation sites (CHO-Y2 cells). In CHO-R cells, insulin caused a specific, time-, and concentration-dependent activation of NF-kappa B. The insulin-induced DNA-binding complex was identified as the p50/p65 heterodimer. Insulin activation of NF-kappa B: 1) was related to insulin receptor number and tyrosine kinase activity since it was markedly reduced in parental CHO cells which proved to respond to insulin growth factor-1 and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) activation, and was dramatically decreased in CHO-Y2 cells; 2) persisted in the presence of cycloheximide and was blocked by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, aspirin and sodium salicylate, three compounds interfering with I kappa B degradation and/or NF-kappa B.I kappa B complex dissociation; 3) was independent of both PMA-sensitive and atypical (zeta) protein kinases C; and 4) was dependent on Raf-1 kinase activity since insulin-stimulated NF-kappa B DNA binding activity was inhibited by 8-bromo-cAMP, a Raf-1 kinase inhibitor. Moreover, insulin activation of NF-kappa B-driven luciferase reporter gene expression was blocked in CHO-R cells expressing a Raf-1 dominant negative mutant. This is the first evidence that insulin activates NF-kappa B in mammalian cells through a post-translational mechanism requiring both insulin receptor tyrosine kinase and Raf-1 kinase activities.

Multiple liver-enriched trans-acting factors interact with the glucocorticoid- (GRU) and cAMP-(CRU) responsive units within the h-IGFBP-1 promoter

In response to hormonal control, serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) may vary as much as 10-fold, owing to strict control of its gene's expression in hepatocytes. IGFBP-1 gene transcription is increased by glucocorticoids and cAMP and inhibited by insulin. The effect of insulin is dominant since it suppresses constitutive and both glucocorticoid- and cAMP-stimulated transcription. Close examination of the human (h)IGFBP-1 promoter sequences showed that the glucocorticoid (GRE, nt -88 to -102) and cAMP (CRE, nt -259 to -264) response elements are 5'-flanked by an A/T-rich imperfect palindrome (nt -102 to -117 and -265 to -285, respectively). These A/T-rich motifs are putative cis-elements for liver-enriched trans-acting factors. Competition experiments in electrophoretic mobility shift assay were carried out using rat liver nuclear extracts and a set of synthetic oligonucleotides designed from hIGFBP-1 Glucorticoid and cAMP Response Units (GRU and CRU), the rat transthyretin HNF3 cis-element and the "D-site' of the mouse albumin promoter. The nucleotide motifs located between nt -108 and -121 of the GRU, interacted with the HNF3 family of trans-acting factors (alpha, beta, gamma), whereas those encompassing nt -81 to -104 bound DBP and/or nuclear proteins sharing similar sequence specificity (i.e. from the C/EBP family of bZIP proteins). We have also shown that the hIGFBP-1-GRE binds glucocorticoid receptor homodimers. In the case of the CRU, the cis-elements located between nt -249 and -285 bound DBP and/or nuclear proteins sharing similar sequence specificities. In addition, the nucleotide stretch lying between nt -256 and -275 was able to interact with the HNF3 family of trans-acting factors. Our results support the view that the dominant inhibitory effect of insulin over glucocorticoid- and cAMP- enhanced transcription may be mediated by different target sequences located 5'- of the GRE and CRE. In both cases, the mechanism would involve the interplay of common trans-acting factor(s), some of which are liver-enriched [HNF3, DBP or C/EBP related bZIP proteins] with their cognate target sequence.

Expression from the tyrosine aminotransferase promoter (nt -350 to +1) is liver-specific and dependent on the binding of both liver-enriched and ubiquitous trans-acting factors

The rat tyrosine aminotransferase(TAT) gene promoter (nucleotides -350 to +1; TAT0.35) was able to sustain liver-specific expression both ex vivo in transient transfection (TAT-expressing H411EC3 hepatoma cells vs. TAT non-expressing CCL1.2 fibroblasts) and in in vitro transcription (rat liver vs. spleen crude nuclear extracts). In either case, the index of tissue specificity (6.2 and 6.7 in ex vivo and in vitro experiments, respectively) was close to that obtained with 10 Kb of TAT gene 5'-flanking sequences in transient transfection. Using computer-assisted search of homologies, DNase I footprinting, gel retardation and methylation interference assays, we showed that TAT0.35 sequences spanning nt -156 to -175 and nt -268 to -281 interacted with the liver enriched NF-1Liver (a member of the NF1 gene family) and HNF1 respectively, whereas those encompassing nt -57 to -85 and nt -283 to -288 interacted with the ubiquitous NF-Y and with ubiquitous 'CCAAT'-box binding factor(s), respectively. Competition studies in in vitro transcription carried out with wild type and mutated oligonucleotides, demonstrated that NF-Y cis-elements were crucial for basal TAT promoter activity, both in liver and spleen whereas NF1Liver and HNF1 were only efficient in the liver (supported approximately 60% and 30% of basal TAT0.35 activity respectively). Altogether, these results support the conclusion that TAT0.35 was able to sustain at least part of the liver specificity of TAT gene expression.

In situ localization of muscle insulin-like growth factor-II mRNA in developing bovine fetuses

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) modulates myogenesis in muscle cell cultures, in utero. IGF-II gene expression is developmentally regulated in several tissues including muscle. Determining whether IGF-II is expressed by developing muscle cells or by neighbouring cells in developing muscle tissue is crucial for determining whether IGF-II exerts a paracrine or an autocrine affect on myogenesis. Semitendinosus muscle samples from 12 bovine fetuses ranging from 60 to 274 days post conception (pc) were analysed for the amount and localization of muscle IGF-II mRNA using Northern, dot blot and in situ hybridization analyses. Northern blot analysis revealed multiple IGF-II transcripts of 5.1, 3.7, 2.6, 2.0, 1.7 and 1.1 kb in developing bovine muscle tissue. The relative amount of muscle IGF-II mRNA increased (P < 0.05) until 162 days pc, then decreased (P < 0.01) to near undetectable levels by the end of gestation (approximately 284 days pc). Between 60 and 162 days pc, in situ hybridization revealed that the majority of the IGF-II transcripts were localized to developing muscle cells rather than connective tissue. After 162 days pc the IGF-II hybridization signal shifted away from muscle cells and greater accumulation was observed in the connective tissue at 274 days pc. These data confirm that the expression of IGF-II in developing bovine muscle tissue is primarily localized in muscle cells and support the claim that IGF-II acts as an autocrine-acting growth factor during myogenesis in vivo.

Interplay of the liver-enriched trans-acting factors, DBP and HNF1, in the transactivation of human IGFBP-1 promoter

In the liver, expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) is regulated essentially at the transcriptional level, at least in part by HNF1. In this study, the functional role of DBP and C/EBP (which have several potential binding sites on the IGFBP-1 proximal promoter) have been investigated. Transient co-transfection of the reporter plasmid, pBP-1341 and eukaryotic expression vectors which code for DBP and C/EBP in human cell lines Hep3B, HepG2 and C33 showed that IGFBP-1 promoter activity was unchanged by C/EBP, but increased between 2 and 7 times by DBP (depending on the cell line). In addition, DBP and HNF1 were capable of functional co-operation in activating the IGFBP-1 promoter. Our results support the notion of DBP being involved in limited tissue specificity of IGFBP-1 expression.

Developmental regulation of bovine insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) gene expression: homology between bovine transcripts and human IGF-II exons

Initial observations have indicated similarities between bovine and human IGF-II production during development. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cattle could provide an experimental model that would mimic the complex pattern of human IGF-II gene expression. Expression of bovine IGF-II gene during development was studied by RNA hybridization using various human IGF-II probes. In fetal tissues and in adult muscle, the bovine IGF-II gene was expressed as a family of eight transcripts ranging in size from 5.2 to 1.1 kb. In adult bovine liver, a major IGF-II transcript of 4.4 kb was expressed that could not be detected in any fetal or adult extra-hepatic tissue. During fetal life, quantitative IGF-II mRNA expression differed in liver and muscle, and the relative amounts of the different transcripts varied with the tissue of origin. These observations suggest that the regulation of bovine IGF-II gene expression is specific to the stage of development and the tissue concerned. Moreover its pattern is very similar to that in its human counterpart. In order to identify a putative homology between human and bovine gene structures, bovine mRNAs were examined for cross-hybridization with various non-coding exons of the human gene. Cross-hybridization was detected with human untranslated exons 5 and 6, suggesting the presence of two distinct promoters similar to the human promoters P3 and P4. The 4.4 kb mRNA species expressed in adult bovine liver failed to hybridize to a probe for human exons 1 and 2, suggesting that the leader sequences of this transcript were different from those present in the human gene. Finally, results obtained with a probe containing the 3' untranslated end of exon 9 suggested the presence of at least two polyadenylation sites in the bovine gene. Although differences in IGF-II gene structures were found between cattle and man, the similarities in the pattern of gene expression between the two species suggest that cattle may be a useful model to investigate some developmental aspects of the expression of the human IGF-II gene.

Expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 and -2 genes through the perinatal period in the rat

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are essential mediators of the bioavailability and biological effects of the IGFs. Liver expression of the rat (r) IGFBP-1 and rIGFBP-2 genes has been characterized between day 16 in utero (16 diu) and 16 days postnatally (+16 dpn). Run-on experiments showed transcriptional activity of the rIGFBP-1 and rIGFBP-2 genes at birth (B) to be 25 and 5 times that at 16 diu, respectively. After B, transcriptional activity of the rIGFBP-1 gene remained high (140% B at +6 dpn), but that of the rIGFBP-2 gene dropped to 70% B by +6 dpn. Northern blot analysis done simultaneously showed rIGFBP-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels to increase approximately 50-fold between 16 diu and B, whereas rIGFBP-2 mRNA increased only 5- to 10-fold. rIGFBP-1 mRNA levels decreased after birth, reaching about 20% B by +6 dpn; rIGFBP-2 mRNA, however, remained stable (about 80% B) at least up to +6 dpn. Parallel Western ligand blot and immunoblot analyses of serum rIGFBPs revealed rIGFBP-1 and rIGFBP-2 concentrations to be increased 3- and 2-fold, respectively between 20 diu and B. Maximal expression of rIGFBP-1 was at +1 dpn (220% B), and of rIGFBP-2, at B. Both rIGFBPs then decreased, reaching about 5% B at adulthood. All these data indicate that increased transcriptional activity of the rIGFBP-1 and rIGFBP-2 genes at birth would determine the increased synthesis in the liver and circulating levels of these proteins. In addition, it would seem that post-transcriptional events (reduced half-life of the rIGFBP-1 messenger after birth, translation efficiency of the rIGFBP-2 messenger) modulate transcriptional regulation.

Characterization of cis-acting elements and transacting factors involved in the tissue-specific and developmental regulation of IGFBP-1 gene expression

The liver-specificity of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) gene promoter activity has been studied by transient transfection in rat hepatoma cell lines, rat fibroblasts and human cervical carcinoma cells, and shown to be dependent on HNF1. Regulation of IGFBP-1 gene expression has also been studied in rat liver by Northern blot and run-on assays during development, specifically during the perinatal period. The results suggest (1) that the increases in mRNA at birth and +1 day post-natally result from increased transcription and (2) that no decrease in transcription activity accompanies the rapid IGFBP-1 mRNA decay during the neonatal period, arguing for post-transcriptional regulation. Support for transcriptional regulation during the neonatal period was obtained from in vitro footprinting experiments and gel shift data. Three trans-acting factors interact with the h-IGFBP-1 promoter between nt -265 and -305. Two of these, Pc and PHS, were expressed throughout development, as well as during adulthood, and interacted with cis-elements spanning nt -295 to -305 and -265 to -285, respectively. The third, Pa, was expressed only when IGFBP-1 gene expression was high, and interacted with cis-elements spanning nt -285 to -295.

Liver-specific expression of human insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1: functional role of transcription factor HNF1 in vivo

Tissue-specific expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) in the liver has been studied using differentiated (H4II and C2Rev7) and dedifferentiated (H5 and C2) rat hepatoma cell lines. Northern blot analysis showed that endogenous IGFBP-1 mRNA was expressed only in the differentiated cell lines. The first 341 base pairs 5' to the transcription initiation site of the human IGFBP-1 gene were inserted upstream of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene (pBP-1(341)). Expression of this gene from the human IGFBP-1 promoter was 10-16 times more efficient in the H4II line than in the other hepatoma cell lines and 40 and approximately 12 times more so than in rat fibroblasts (FR3T3) and a human cervical carcinoma cell line (C33), respectively. Cotransfection of pBP-1(341) and pRSV-HNF1 and/or pRSV-v-HNF1 (eukaryotic expression vectors that drive the synthesis of the liver-enriched trans-acting factor HNF1 or of v-HNF1, a related form) in C33 recipient cells yielded a 6-fold increase in IGFBP-1 promoter activity by HNF1 and a 2-fold increase by v-HNF1. These increases were dependent on the integrity of an HNF1 binding site located 58-74 nucleotides upstream of the cap site. Stimulation of promoter activity by cotransfection of both HNF1 and v-HNF1 fell between these values. Our results indicate that HNF1 is instrumental in human IGFBP-1 promoter activity in vivo and that v-HNF1 modulates this functional role.

Two liver-enriched trans-acting factors support the tissue-specific basal transcription from the rat tyrosine aminotransferase promoter

The rat tyrosine aminotransferase gene (TAT) is a glucocorticoid-inducible gene, specifically expressed in liver. Using gel retardation assays, we have shown that its promoter (nt + 1 to -350; TAT.35) binds a combination of both ubiquitous and liver-specific trans-acting factors. Cis-acting sequences spanning: (i) nt -65 to -85 bound NF-Y, an ubiquitous "AACCAAT" box binding factor; (ii) nt -157 to -171 bound a liver-enriched member of the NF1 gene family [NF1Liver (NF1L hereafter)]; (iii) nt -266 to -281 bound the liver specific factor HNF1; and (iv) nt -283 to -288 bound ubiquitous "CCAAT" box binding factor(s). Moreover, the TAT gene promoter was able to drive liver-specific basal transcription, even in an in vitro assay using TAT-expressing (liver) vs non-expressing (spleen) crude nuclear extracts (NEs). Competition studies in transcription with both unmutated and mutated ds-oligonucleotides (ds-oligos) demonstrated that NF1L and HNF1 supported approx. 60 and 25% of the basal transcriptional activity sustained by TAT.35 in the liver, respectively. Neither of these oligos affected the very low level of transcription sustained by spleen NEs. This suggests a minor role for HNF1 in liver-specific basal TAT gene expression, consistent with previous observations with dedifferentiated C2 hepatoma cells (which does not express HNF1) [Deschatrette and Weiss. Biochimie 56 (1974) 1603-1611 and Cereghini et al. EMBO Jl9 (1990) 2257-2263]. Competition studies in liver-specific in vitro transcription with ds-oligo -265/-290 yielded a 90% inhibition, suggesting either that sequences spanning nt -283 to -288 sequester "CCAAT-box" binding factor(s) that may be relevant elsewhere for TAT promoter function (e.g. NF-Y which interacts with nt -65 to -85), or that such a factor interacts functionally with HNF1.

Stimulation of specific transcription and DNA binding studies suggest that in vitro transformed RU 486-glucocorticosteroid receptor complexes display agonist activity

The relative rate of ovalbumin transcription was significantly increased (P less than 0.001) when purified chick liver glucocorticosteroid receptor (GR) was incubated with purified nuclei prepared from the oviducts of diethylstilboestrol (DES)-primed chickens 24 h after oestrogen withdrawal. This increase was observed whether GR was bound by the agonist triamcinolone acetonide (TA, +80.3%) or the antiglucocorticosteroid RU 486 (+89.4%). No significant increase (P greater than 0.05) in the relative rate of ovalbumin transcription occurred when oviduct nuclei were incubated with TA or RU 486 alone or when purified GR was incubated with chicken liver nuclei prepared from the same animals. However, glycerol gradient studies demonstrated that the sedimentation coefficient of purified TA- and RU 486-GR complexes was shifted from 8.5S to 4.4S upon incubation at 25 degrees C for 30 min with purified nuclei. Furthermore, the binding of in vitro transformed (4S) TA- and RU 486-GR complexes to either DNA-cellulose or mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) long terminal repeat (LTR) DNA were indistinguishable when performed under steady-state conditions. These data showing an agonist behaviour of the transformed 4S-form of RU 486-GR complexes, together with those previously reported, suggest that in vivo the antagonistic activity of RU 486 stands at the level of receptor transformation.

Antiglucocorticosteroid effects suggest why steroid hormone is required for receptors to bind DNA in vivo but not in vitro

Sequence-specific interaction between steroid hormone receptors (R) and DNA hormone-responsive elements (HRE) takes place in vitro irrespective of the presence of hormone and even when R is liganded with an antagonist. In vivo, in contrast, the presence of hormone is mandatory for glucocorticosteroid (G) receptor-HRE interaction to occur and no HRE occupancy is detected in the presence of an antagonist. One possible explanation is that in vivo R is originally complexed with a protein that prevents its binding to target HREs. The hormone would then induce the dissociation of the oligomer, thus unmasking the functional DNA binding domain of the receptor. The unliganded, non DNA-binding 8S-form of the chick GR is a hetero-oligomer including the relative molecular mass (Mr) 94,000 steroid-binding unit (4S-GR), and the non-steroid-binding, non-DNA-binding 90,000 protein common to all classes of 8S-R and identified as heat-shock protein (hsp 90). We report here that triamcinolone acetonide (TA) promotes the transformation of 8S-GR to 4S-GR complexes both in explants and in cell-free conditions and that the high-affinity antiglucocorticosteroid RU 486 stabilizes the 8S-GR, as assessed by gradient sedimentation and HPLC. However, in vitro TA- and RU 486- 4S-GR showed comparable DNA-binding activity. These results suggest that the lack of affinity for DNA of the 8S form of GR may be attributable in vivo to the interaction of the 4S-GR protein with hsp 90, and that hormone binding might trigger a conformational change which results in the release of active 4S-GR.

Chick oviduct glucocorticosteroid receptor. Specific binding of the synthetic steroid RU 486 and immunological studies with antibodies to chick oviduct progesterone receptor

The glucocorticosteroid receptor (GR) has been studied in oviduct cytosol prepared from estrogen-primed, 4-week-withdrawn chicken. The equilibrium dissociation constant was 6 nM for dexamethasone, and 18 300 receptor sites/cell were measured assuming that all cells contain identical concentrations of GR. Dexamethasone, used in most studies investigating glucocorticosteroid action, was found not to be the best GR ligand. The affinities of several natural and synthetic glucocorticosteroids for GR increased in the following order: cortisol less than deoxycorticosterone less than dexamethasone less than corticosterone less than triamcinolone acetonide. The synthetic steroid RU 486 was the most specific ligand of GR (its affinity was approximately equal to 10-fold higher than that of triamcinolone acetonide), while it did not bind either to plasma transcortin (which binds dexamethasone nor, surprisingly, to progesterone receptor (PR), contrary to what occurs in mammalian species. The molybdate-stabilized, 8-S form of GR was prepared from withdrawn chick oviduct, whole chick embryo or cultured chick embryo fibroblasts (which do not contain PR), and was labeled with either [3H]dexamethasone or [3H]RU 486. The sedimentation coefficient of radioactive ligand--8-S GR complexes was shifted towards heavier forms after incubation with polyclonal (IgG-G3) or monoclonal (BF4) antibodies generated against the molybdate-stabilized, 8-S form of the chick oviduct PR. Since neither IgG-G3 nor BF4 interacted with the steroid binding 4-S form of GR, it is suggested that these antibodies recognized a non-steroid binding protein common to molybdate-stabilized, 8-S forms of GR and PR.

Effects of progesterone and tamoxifen on glucocorticosteroid-induced egg-white protein synthesis in the chick oviduct

A single injection of either natural (cortisol, corticosterone) or synthetic [dexamethasone (DEX), triamcinolone acetonide] glucocorticosteroids to estradiol-primed, withdrawn chicks, resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the relative rates of ovalbumin and conalbumin synthesis. The simultaneous injection of equal doses of DEX and progesterone resulted in an additive effect on the relative rate of ovalbumin synthesis at all doses tested (range: 0.05-15 mg/chick), even when the induction of ovalbumin synthesis was maximal at 6 h, for either hormone injected alone. Moreover, the simultaneous injection of DEX and progesterone yielded an additive effect on the relative rates of ovalbumin and conalbumin gene transcription. The nonsteroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen does not increase ovalbumin synthesis and only slightly increases conalbumin synthesis. The simultaneous injection of tamoxifen and DEX potentiated the effect of DEX on the relative rates of ovalbumin and conalbumin synthesis, and amplified the DEX-induced increase in the relative rates of ovalbumin and conalbumin gene transcription. These results were supported by morphological studies carried out after 4 days of stimulation, which showed an increased accumulation of secretory granules in the magnum cells of the oviducts of chickens treated by tamoxifen plus DEX, as compared to that observed in chickens injected with DEX alone. In conclusion, these results suggest that glucocorticosteroids likely act through a mechanism distinct from that of sex steroids, and may modulate the effects of the latter on egg-white protein synthesis.

Nuclear chromatin decondensation of human sperm assessed by DNA measurement

A sperm nuclear decondensation ability test using 1% SDS + 6 mM EDTA was used to determine an objective method of quantification of the decondensation process by comparing two different methods of quantification: the usual histological method, after staining by the method of Shoor and classification of the sperm heads into normal heads, doubtful heads, swollen heads, and very swollen heads, and the measurement of the removal of DNA from the extremely swollen spermatozoa. After 5 min of exposure to SDS/EDTA, the percentage of removed DNA was correlated (negatively) to the percentage of normal heads, which assessed the two methods and confirmed that all decondensation results obtained after long periods of treatment with SDS/EDTA can be discarded since spermatozoa can be extremely swollen and disappear.

Glucocorticoid receptor in human embryo fibroblasts. I. Kinetic and physicochemical properties

The kinetics of dexamethasone binding to L 809 E cell line cytosol have been investigated by means of the protamine sulfate precipitation assay. The KDeq for dexamethasone was 1.1--3.3 nM. Binding was specific for glucocorticoids. The mean association rate constant (k+1) was 8.5 x 10(5) M-1 x min-1 and the dissociation rate constant was 4.6 x 10(-5) min-1 at 0 degrees C. The concentration of binding sites was 0.3 pmol/mg of cytosol protein. Binding kinetics were compatible with a model of positive cooperativity. The receptor sedimented at 7.5--9 S in glycerol gradients. By a combination of calibrated ultracentrifugation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a Stokes radius of 8.5 nm, a molecular weight of 268 000 daltons and a frictional ratio of 1.8 were determined in low ionic strength conditions. When the cells were incubated with 10 nM [3H]dexamethasone for 1 h, a more than 90% depletion of cytosol receptor and an equivalent accumulation of nuclear dexamethasone--receptor complexes was observed.