Effects of cyclic AMP on components of the cell cycle machinery regulating DNA synthesis in cultured astrocytes

Cyclic AMP is a second messenger for various hormones that inhibits cell multiplication and DNA synthesis in cultured astrocytes. We examined the effects of increasing intracellular cyclic AMP on the catalytic (cdks) and regulatory (cyclins and ckis) components of cyclin-dependent protein kinases, which regulate progression of the cell cycle before completion of DNA synthesis, in primary cultured astrocytes and in an astrocytic cell line C.LT.T.1.1. The amount of cdk4 changed little during the cell cycle and was not affected by cyclic AMP. There was little cdk1 and cdk2 in quiescent cells, and their expression increased during the G1-S phases. Cyclic AMP strongly inhibited cdk1 and cdk2 expression. Transforming growth factor beta also inhibited cdk1 expression in primary astrocytes. Cyclic AMP did not affect the two ckis p27KIP1 and p21CIP1. There was little cyclin D1 in quiescent cells, but it increased during the G1 phase and was reduced by cyclic AMP. Cyclin E increased during the G1-S phases and was not affected by cyclic AMP in primary astrocytes. The amount of cyclin A was low in quiescent cells and increased during the G1-S phases. Expression of its mRNA and protein was inhibited by cyclic AMP. The protein kinase activities associated with complexes of cyclins and cdks were increased by growth factors and prevented by cyclic AMP. We conclude that cyclic AMP inhibits progression of the cell cycle in astrocytes at least by preventing the expression of the regulatory subunits, cyclins D1 and A, and catalytic subunits, cdk1 and cdk2, of cyclin-regulated protein kinases. Key Words: Cyclin-dependent protein kinases-Glial cells-Cyclic AMP.

Rapid TGF beta 1 effects on actin cytoskeleton of astrocytes: comparison with other factors and implications for cell motility

We have previously shown that long-term treatment of primary cultured astrocytes with TGF beta 1 induces morphological changes accompanied by increases in actin and GFAP synthesis, and a profound rearrangement of the cytoskeleton. The present report describes the short-term reorganization of actin filaments induced by TGF beta 1 in rat cerebellum cultured astrocytes and in an astrocytic cell line. TGF beta 1 caused the appearance of new actin and vinculin organizations, without protein synthesis. This cytoskeletal rearrangement was followed by altered cell-cell interactions. All these changes induced by TGF beta 1 were different and slower than those induced by serum, PDGF, and endothelin. TGF beta 1 induced the appearance of lamellipodia, organelles found at the cell front of motile cells in low-density cultures of immortalized astrocytes. These results indicate that the changes in the astrocyte cytoskeleton induced by TGF beta 1 are probably associated with cell movement. The events promoted by TGF beta 1 might help to clarify its action in the brain during embryogenesis and in tissue repair.

Inhibition of G1 cyclin expression and G1 cyclin-dependent protein kinases by cAMP in an astrocytic cell line

The effects of cAMP on cell cycle progression were examined using an astrocytic cell line. We show that forskolin and 8-bromo-cAMP block the basic Fibroblast Growth Factor-induced DNA synthesis, do not inhibit mitogen activated protein kinase activation whereas they reduce G1 cyclin (E and D1) expression without modification of cyclin A level. Furthermore, they inhibit the activation of cyclin A- and cyclin E-dependent histone H1 kinases. These results suggest that cAMP may exert its antiproliferative effects through the regulation of cyclin synthesis and cyclin-dependent kinase activation.

Induction of type III-deiodinase activity in astroglial cells by retinoids

Thyroid hormones and retinoic acid (RA) are important modulators of growth, development, and differentiation. Type III deiodinase (D-III), which catalyzes thyroid hormones degradation in the brain and in cultured astroglial cells, is induced in astroglial cells by multiple pathways, including cAMP, 12.0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), fibroblast growth factors, and thyroid hormones themselves. In the present study, the effects of retinoids on D-III activity were examined in astroglial cells cultures in a chemically defined medium devoid of hormones and growth factors. Incubation of astroglial cells with 5 microM all-trans-RA caused up to 200-fold increase in D-III activity, which reached a plateau after 48 h. The retinoid-induced increase in D-III activity was concentration dependent (0.5 microM all-trans-RA and 9-cis-RA producing half-maximal effect). Retinol was effective at physiological concentrations (1 and 10 microM). The 48 h effects of 5 microM all-trans-RA and 10 nM thyroid hormones on D-III activity were at least additive. Addition of 2 nM acidic fibroblast growth factor or 1 mM 8-bromo-cAMP for the last 8 h of a 48 h incubation with 5 microM all-trans-RA did not alter the induction by all-trans-RA, whereas 0.1 microM TPA in the same conditions produced an additive effect with all-trans-RA. All-trans-RA (5 microM) had little or no effect on type II deiodinase, the enzyme which catalyzes the activation of thyroxine to 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)