Molecular mechanisms of glutamine action

Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in the body and is known to play a regulatory role in several cell specific processes including metabolism (e.g., oxidative fuel, gluconeogenic precursor, and lipogenic precursor), cell integrity (apoptosis, cell proliferation), protein synthesis, and degradation, contractile protein mass, redox potential, respiratory burst, insulin resistance, insulin secretion, and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. Glutamine has been shown to regulate the expression of many genes related to metabolism, signal transduction, cell defense and repair, and to activate intracellular signaling pathways. Thus, the function of glutamine goes beyond that of a simple metabolic fuel or protein precursor as previously assumed. In this review, we have attempted to identify some of the common mechanisms underlying the regulation of glutamine dependent cellular functions.

Glutamine-dependent changes in gene expression and protein activity

The functions of glutamine are many and include, substrate for protein synthesis, anabolic precursor for muscle growth, acid-base balance in the kidney, substrate for ureogenesis in the liver, substrate for hepatic and renal gluconeogenesis, an oxidative fuel for intestine and cells of the immune system, inter-organ nitrogen transport, precursor for neurotransmitter synthesis, precursor for nucleotide and nucleic acid synthesis and precursor for glutathione production. In the present review information on the mechanism of glutamine action is presented. This amino acid has been shown to regulate the expression of several genes (such as p47phox, p22phox, gp91phox, alpha-actin and fibronectin) and activate several proteins (such as ASK1, c-myc, c-jun and p70s6k).

cAMP inhibits natriuretic peptide receptor-B activity and increases C-type natriuretic peptide in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and its cognate guanylyl cyclase receptor, the natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPR-B) together constitute a regulatory system that controls cell function via the generation of intracellular cyclic GMP. In this report we have examined the role of cAMP signaling in the regulation of CNP and NPR-B activity in the FRTL-5 rat thyroid follicular cell line. As had been observed earlier with TSH, the cAMP mimetic, dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP; 1 mM) induced a significant reduction in CNP-stimulated cGMP generation that was first apparent after 6 h of treatment. The inhibitory effect of dbcAMP on NPR-B was dose dependent, with an EC50 of 0.2 mM. Pretreatment of FRTL-5 cells with either of two protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors, KT-5720 and H-89, failed to curtail the dbcAMP reduction in NPR-B activity, suggesting that the cAMP pathway leading to inhibition of NPR-B is PKA independent. Whereas either a 30-min or a 24-h treatment with the protein kinase C-activator phorbol myristate acetate failed to alter maximal levels of CNP-stimulated cGMP, a 24-h exposure to the calcium ionophore A23187 reduced CNP-stimulated cGMP to about one-third of control. Pretreatment of FRTL-5 cells with the cell-permeable calcium chelator 1,2 bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N1,N1-tetraacetic acid, tetraacetoxymethyl ester completely abrogated the cAMP-induced reduction of CNP-stimulated cGMP. Real-time PCR showed no effect of dbcAMP on NPR-B transcript at 3 and 6 h, but indicated a 40% reduction in transcript by dbcAMP at 24 h. In contrast, real-time PCR indicated a 5-fold increase in CNP transcript at 3 h, reaching 15.4-fold above control at 6 h in cells treated with dbcAMP. In addition, immunofluorescence staining of FRTL-5 cells with a specific antibody for CNP-22 showed the presence of cytoplasmic CNP that was up-regulated by incubation with either TSH or dbcAMP. These results suggested that cAMP signaling regulates the natriuretic peptide system in rat thyroid cells by increasing CNP expression, and reducing NPR-B activity. This latter action of cAMP appears to be both PKA independent and calcium dependent, and provides support for a dominant role for calcium in the regulation of NPR-B in the rat thyroid.

Glutamine and glutamate as vital metabolites

Glucose is widely accepted as the primary nutrient for the maintenance and promotion of cell function. This metabolite leads to production of ATP, NADPH and precursors for the synthesis of macromolecules such as nucleic acids and phospholipids. We propose that, in addition to glucose, the 5-carbon amino acids glutamine and glutamate should be considered to be equally important for maintenance and promotion of cell function. The functions of glutamine/glutamate are many, i.e., they are substrates for protein synthesis, anabolic precursors for muscle growth, they regulate acid-base balance in the kidney, they are substrates for ureagenesis in the liver and for hepatic and renal gluconeogenesis, they act as an oxidative fuel for the intestine and cells of the immune system, provide inter-organ nitrogen transport, and act as precursors of neurotransmitter synthesis, of nucleotide and nucleic acid synthesis and of glutathione production. Many of these functions are interrelated with glucose metabolism. The specialized aspects of glutamine/glutamate metabolism of different glutamine-utilizing cells are discussed in the context of glucose requirements and cell function.

Atrial natriuretic factor and C-type natriuretic peptide induce retraction of human thyrocytes in monolayer culture via guanylyl cyclase receptors

The natriuretic peptides signal through three receptor subtypes, of which two (NPR-A and NPR-B) are membrane-bound guanylyl cyclases for which the principal ligands are respectively atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP). In the human thyroid cell, a third receptor, NPR-C, has been implicated in the regulation of thyroglobulin, but functional roles for NPR-A and NPR-B have not yet been defined. In the present study we used RT-PCR to identify transcripts of all three receptor subtypes, both in human thyroid and in HTU-5 cells, a long-term culture of thyroid-derived cells. Both ANF and CNP induced a twofold increase in intracellular cGMP content in HTU-5 cells. Morphologic changes (a significant increase in cells of the retracted phenotype) were observed in ANF- and CNP-treated cells within 3 and 5 h of treatment respectively. Significant increases in retracted cell number were induced by ANF and CNP, but not the NPR-C-specific ring-deleted ANF analog, C-ANF(4-23), during a 15-day treatment. All three natriuretic peptides, however, induced a small (15-20%) but significant (P<0 small middle dot001) increase in DNA content per well. The stable analog of cGMP, 8-bromo-cGMP (8-BrcGMP; 1 mM), also increased the number of retracted HTU-5 cells, and was equipotent with the cAMP analog, 8-BrcAMP, in this effect. The cGMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, KT5823, however, had no significant effect on the ANF-induced increase in numbers of retracted cells. These results suggest that the actions of NPR-A and NPR-B, functional receptors in the human thyroid cell, may in part be mediated by cGMP-induced alterations in the cytoskeleton.

Thyroglobulin increases cell proliferation and suppresses Pax-8 in mesangial cells

Thyroglobulin (Tg), has recently been identified as a transcriptional regulator of thyroid-restricted genes. The extrathyroidal expression of several of these genes (including the transcription factor Pax-8) together with the occurrence of specific Tg binding sites suggests a secondary role for Tg as a circulating hormone. In this study, we demonstrate using Northern analysis that Pax-8 is expressed in the mouse mesangial cell, and that its transcript levels are suppressed by Tg. These cells also express an asialoglycoprotein receptor, a receptor involved in Tg endocytosis in the thyroid, and a Tg transcript smaller than the 8.3-kb thyroidal form. Reverse transcriptase PCR showed that suppression of Pax-8 by Tg is correlated with reduced expression of bcl-2 apoptosis suppressor. Tg, but not triiodothyronine (T(3)) significantly increased MC proliferation above control as determined by DNA content of MC cultures. The effect of Tg on proliferation was not duplicated by either bovine serum albumin, gamma-globulins, lactoferrin, or the ASGPR-specific ligand,orosomucoid. These results suggest a possible endocrine role for Tg in regulating both Pax-8 related gene transcription and cell division in the mesangial cell.

Low-protein diet suppresses serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and decelerates the progression of growth hormone-induced glomerulosclerosis

A low-protein (LP) diet has been associated with amelioration of renal function in glomerulosclerosis (GS). However, the mechanisms involved are still unclear. We have used a mouse transgenic for bovine growth hormone (GH), which develops progressive GS and exhibits consistently elevated levels of circulating GH and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, to study the effect of dietary protein restriction. LP (6% protein) and normal-protein (NP, 20% protein) diets were maintained for 30 weeks in mice with established GS of mild/moderate degree. The degree of GS was markedly attenuated in LP compared to NP mice. Quantitative analysis revealed a significantly lower GS index (1.4 +/- 0.9 in LP vs. 2.8 +/- 0.8 in NP) and glomerular volume (0.8 x 10(6) +/- 0.1 x 10(6) microm(3) in LP vs. 1.2 x 10(6) +/- 0.1 x 10(6) microm(3) in NP) in mice with restricted protein intake. These morphologic changes were accompanied by a significant reduction in renal expression of alpha(1) type-IV collagen (2.4-fold) and tenascin (1.4-fold) in LP mice. Serum IGF-1 decreased by 40% and showed a significant correlation with alpha(1) type-IV collagen expression with the LP diet. The present finding supports the use of the LP diet to decelerate the progression of GS and furthermore suggests that one of the mechanisms involved in this process is the GH/IGF-1 regulation by protein intake.

Natriuretic peptides increase cAMP production in human thyrocytes via the natriuretic peptide clearance receptor (NPR-C)

The relationship between natriuretic peptides and adenylyl cyclase/cAMP signal transduction has generally been shown to be an inhibitory one, mediated via the NPR-C receptor coupled to adenylyl cyclase by inhibitory G proteins (Gi). In the present studies, we have investigated the modulation of cAMP by natriuretic peptides in a long-term culture of human thyroid cells. Competition of [125I] rat ANF binding to human thyrocytes (HTU-5) by rat ANF (99-126) and by the NPR-C-specific analog C-ANF (4-23) indicated that greater than 97% of the ANF binding sites on HTU-5 cells are of the NPR-C type. However, rather than inhibiting intracellular cAMP in these cells, ANF increased maximal cAMP to 200-300% of control value. The ANF-induced increase in cAMP was duplicated by C-ANF (4-23). Basal cAMP content was reduced, and the response to ANF was abolished when the cells were grown in low (0.5%) serum without the addition of pituitary and hypothalamic extracts. CNP-22 also increased cAMP above control in HTU-5 cells identically to ANF. Neither ANF nor C-ANF (4-23) had any effect on cAMP in a culture of rat aortic smooth muscle cells. These results provide the first evidence for a positive effect of natriuretic peptides on cAMP mediated through the NPR-C, suggesting the possibility of an alternative mode of signaling by this receptor subtype.

Renal expression of two 'thyroid-specific' genes: thyrotropin receptor and thyroglobulin

Numerous renal abnormalities accompany thyroid disease, most of which have been ascribed to the effects of thyroid hormone on renal metabolism. In the present report, we investigate the renal expression of the nominally thyroid-specific proteins, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR) and thyroglobulin (Tg), as potential links between renal and thyroid function. The expression of TSHR has been identified in several extrathyroidal tissues, but its presence in the kidney remains controversial. We have used reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing to demonstrate the presence of TSHR transcript in human and mouse kidney, in a primary culture of human kidney, and in a green monkey kidney epithelioid cell line. Furthermore, human kidney cells responded to TSH with a 2.5- fold increase in intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate, suggesting the presence of functional TSHR protein. Comparison of renal expression of TSHR in a bovine growth hormone transgenic mouse model of progressive glomerulosclerosis with control mice suggested increased TSHR transcript in the renal cortex of transgenic animals. TSHR transcript was also detected in mouse mesangial cells in vitro which responded to TSH with significant increases in the formation of three-dimensional hillhocks. Polymerase chain reaction also confirmed the presence of Tg transcript in human and mouse kidneys and in mouse mesangial cells, but no effect of either TSH or cyclic adenosine monophosphate on Tg transcript levels could be discerned. Immunofluorescent staining with a monoclonal anti-Tg antibody identified positive staining in the cytoplasm of mesangial cells. These data suggest that the kidney is capable of expressing the thyroid-specific genes, TSHR and Tg, which could conceivably mediate effects of thyroid disease in the kidney.

Thyrotropin regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate production in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells

Thyroid disease has been associated with the occurrence of pathophysiologic changes in the vasculature that may result in part from altered serum thyroid hormone and serum lipid levels. Thyrotropin (TSH) levels are also altered in thyroid disease, but a direct effect of TSH on vascular smooth muscle has not previously been considered. In the present study, human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMC) were induced into two morphologically distinct forms by culturing in either (1) growth factor supplemented, 0.5% serum medium (SmGM-3) or (2) basal medium (SmBM) plus 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation was determined by radioimmunoassay after exposure to increasing doses of bovine TSH. Cells grown in SmBM/10% FBS for 3 days exhibited a dose-dependent increase in intracellular cAMP that reached a level 10 times higher than baseline at the highest dose examined (100 mIU/mL). In contrast, cells grown in SmGM-3 medium exhibited no change in intracellular cAMP on exposure to increasing TSII. Low serum (0.5% FBS) reduced the ability of TSH to stimulate cAMP above the control value in CASMC. Pretreatment of CASMC with either transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) lowered basal levels of cAMP production, but did not inhibit the ability of TSH to stimulate cAMP production. Human, but not rat aortic smooth muscle cells in culture also responded to TSH with a significant increase in cAMP. The results of this study suggest that TSH may exert direct effects on vascular smooth muscle mediated by adenylate cyclase activation that could conceivably affect the progression of vascular disease associated with thyroid dysfunction.

Regulation of natriuretic peptide receptors by thyrotropin in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells: evidence for nonguanylate cyclase atrial natriuretic factor-binding sites in cells lacking the natriuretic peptide receptor C

Natriuretic peptide receptors (NPR) are expressed in thyroid-derived cells, including the rat FRTL-5 thyroid cell line. We have previously demonstrated that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) binding consistent with the NPR-A receptor is significantly increased in FRTL-5 cells cultured in the presence of TSH. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether TSH treatment, therefore, results in higher levels of ANF-induced intracellular cGMP, and whether TSH elicits similar effects on cGMP signaling through the NPR-B receptor. We now show that contrary to expectation, long term exposure to 1 mIU/ml bovine TSH (6H medium) does not significantly alter maximal ANF-induced cGMP formation. Moreover, TSH treatment decreased C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP)-induced cGMP generation in FRTL-5 cells, suggesting a down-regulation of NPR-B. A similar effect of TSH on ANF- and CNP-induced cGMP was observed in FRTL cells, the precursor of the FRTL-5 cell line. Scatchard analysis of [125I]ANF binding in TSH-treated (6H) FRTL-5 cultures indicated a 5.6-fold increase in high affinity ANF-binding sites compared with TSH-deficient (5H) cultures [binding capacity (Bmax) of 6H cells, 227.2 +/- 33.7 fmol/mg protein; Bmax of 5H cells, 40.2 +/- 4.7 fmol/mg protein]. The effect of TSH on [125I]ANF binding was mimicked by forskolin and (Bu)2cAMP, indicating receptor up-regulation via a cAMP pathway. High affinity [125I]CNP-binding sites were present in much lower abundance (Bmax of 5H, 0.80 +/- 0.06 fmol/mg protein), and no effect of TSH treatment on them could be demonstrated. However, low affinity [125I]CNP binding was increased by TSH. RT-PCR confirmed the presence of both NPR-A and NPR-B transcripts in FRTL-5 cells and showed that TSH treatment significantly decreased NPR-B, but not NPR-A. NPR-C transcript was not detectable by RT-PCR in FRTL-5 cells cultured in high TSH medium, suggesting that the ANF-binding sites increased by TSH are not NPR-C. Both CNP and ANF transcript were also expressed in FRTL-5 cells, and CNP was increased by TSH. Together the data support the down-regulation of functional NPR-B and no change in functional NPR-A by TSH. The vast majority of ANF-binding sites in FRTL-5 cells, therefore, are not coupled to cGMP production and may represent a novel or altered form of NPR that is regulated by TSH independently of NPR-A and NPR-B.

Consequences of overexpression of growth hormone in transgenic mice on liver cytochrome P450 enzymes

The effect of growth hormone (GH) on cytochrome P450 (CYP) and P450-dependent monooxygenases was studied in 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-month-old female bovine growth hormone (bGH) transgenic mice that overexpress GH. Nontransgenic female mice (C57/SJL) littermates were used for baseline determinations. The body weights of the bGH mice were approximately 35% greater than those of the controls. The liver weights were 2-fold higher than those of the controls, resulting in a 25-60% increase in liver/body weight ratio during the life span of the bGH mice when compared with the controls. Similar increases in heart and kidney weights were observed. Since the GH transgene was transcriptionally regulated by a metallothionein-I gene promoter, metallothionein concentrations in livers of transgenic and nontransgenic mice were measured. No significant differences were observed. In marked contrast to increases in liver weights, hepatic cytochrome P450 content, benzphetamine N-demethylase, and benzo [a] pyrene hydroxylase activities were decreased by 36, 42 and 75%, respectively. No age-related changes in the decrease of the monooxygenases were observed. Microsomal heme oxygenase (HO) in the liver was induced 44% above the control values. Immunoblot analysis also showed a marked increase in HO-1 in the bGH mice. These results indicate that GH suppresses the carcinogen-metabolizing enzyme benzo [a] pyrene hydroxylase and the drug-metabolizing enzyme benzphetamine N-demethylase. This suppression was accompanied by an induction of HO activity in bGH transgenic mice. The consequences of prolonged exposure to supraphysiological levels of this hormone cannot always be predicted from the known physiological actions of GH.

Differential expression of thyrotropin receptor mRNA in the porcine heart

Thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) mRNA expression has previously been detected in human heart, suggesting a possible role for the receptor in cardiac function and pathophysiology. In the present study we examined the regional distribution of TSHR mRNA in pig heart to map potential cardiac sites of TSH action. Polyadenylated mRNA extracted from thyroid, atria, ventricles, aorta, coronary arteries, epicardial fat, and purified preparations of atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes was subjected to reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers designed to amplify a 311 base pair (bp) DNA segment of the human TSHR. After reverse transcription of 100 ng mRNA, cDNA was amplified by PCR using TSHR primers and compared by electrophoresis on 2% agarose gels. Relative levels of TSHR cDNA (normalized to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase [GAPDH]) were as follows: Coronary arteries, epicardial fat > right atrium > left atrium > right ventricle, aorta > left ventricle, ventricular cardiocytes. In contrast to ventricular cardiocytes, purified atrial cardiocytes expressed levels of TSHR mRNA readily detectable with RT-PCR. These findings demonstrate that TSHR mRNA expression in porcine heart varies regionally, and furthermore suggest that areas of highest expression (coronary arteries, adipose tissue, right atrium) are potential sites for a functional or pathologic role of the TSHR.

Cardiomyopathy associated with Graves' disease

Cardiovascular changes associated with Graves' disease are generally considered to be secondary to the increased levels of thyroid hormone. We describe a case of Graves' disease in a 25-year-old man, who developed cardiomyopathy with severe heart failure. Pathological examination of the myocardial biopsies showed fibroblast infiltration and degenerative changes. After the cardiomyopathy subsided the patient developed a goitre and signs of hyperthyroidism, followed by Graves' ophthalmopathy, which was treated successfully with a combination of high-dose corticosteroids and orbital radiotherapy. These findings suggested a common pathogenesis for the cardiomyopathy and ophthalmopathy, and prompted us to investigate the expression of TSH receptor (TSH-R) in human heart. TSH-R mRNA was identified in human heart using the reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and DNA sequencing. Taken together, these data suggest that autoimmunity against the TSH-R might contribute to both the cardiomyopathy and ophthalmopathy in similar cases of Graves' disease.

Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I, recombinant human growth hormone, and sex steroids: effects on markers of bone turnover in humans

Sex steroids, GH, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) have all been shown to be highly anabolic in bone. Using available markers of bone formation, we measured the changes in serum concentrations of carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PICP) and osteocalcin in five groups of subjects given different bone anabolic hormones: group I (five males and three females; mean +/- SE age, 25 +/- 2 yr) received recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) as a constant 28-h infusion i.v. (5-10 micrograms/kg.h); group II (three males and two females; 25 +/- 2 yr) received rhIGF-I (100 micrograms/kg, sc, twice daily) for 5-7 days; group III (five males; 28 +/- 2 yr) received rhGH (0.025 mg/kg.day, sc, for 7 days, alone (group IIIa) or followed by a 28-h sc infusion of rhIGF-I (10 micrograms/kg.h) in addition to rhGH (group IIIb); group IV (six prepubertal boys; 13 +/- 0.6 yr) received testosterone enanthate (100 mg, im) twice over 4 weeks; and group V (five hypogonadal girls with Turner's syndrome) received different forms of estrogen for 4 weeks. Most groups (except for III) had deoxypyridinoline concentrations (a marker of bone resorption) measured in urine as well. Each subject served as his/her own control. rhIGF-I treated subjects in group I showed a marked decrease in circulating PICP concentrations after 4 h of infusion (from 116.8 +/- 19.2 micrograms/L to 89.6 +/- 16.3; P < 0.01), followed by a marked increase at 28 h (137.6 +/- 19.7; P < 0.01) and a sustained increase 5-7 days after sc therapy (group II). This decrease followed by an increase in PICP concentrations after rhIGF-I may be secondary to the marked suppression of circulating insulin observed at 4 h followed by the establishment of an insulin-like effect of the peptide. Subjects receiving rhGH alone (group IIIa) also had comparable increases in circulating PICP (from 107.6 +/- 8.7 to 125.0 +/- 10.9; P < 0.01) and a further additive increase when rhIGF-I was coadministered (140.9 +/- 10.3; P < 0.01). These changes were accompanied by comparable increases in IGF-I concentrations in all groups (I, II, and III). Hypogonadal children had higher levels of circulating PICP than adults and showed the most significant increases after therapy [group IV, 212.2 +/- 13.8 to 429.9 +/- 52.4 micrograms/L (P < 0.001); group V, 312.8 +/- 49.0 to 355.5 +/- 44.3 (P < 0.04)]. The latter was observed despite either a modest (group IV) or no increase (group V) in circulating IGF-I concentrations. None of the groups studied showed any change in serum osteocalcin concentrations after treatment. Urinary deoxypridinoline concentrations also increased after rhIGF-I and testosterone administration. We conclude that rhIGF-I, rhGH, and sex steroid hormones all markedly increase measures of bone turnover, and that rhIGF-I and rhGH can synergize on this effect on bone. These data collectively suggest that IGF-I and sex steroid hormones (testosterone and estrogen) can impact bone formation independently, and that the actions of IGF-I, GH, sex steroid hormones (and perhaps insulin) may synergize to maximally stimulate attainment of peak bone mass in humans. PICP measurement appears to be a sensitive marker of short term anabolic hormone actions in bone.

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) binds to thyrotropin-regulated receptors in FRTL-5 cells and increases thyroglobulin mRNA

Thyrotropin (TSH) regulation of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) receptors was studied in the rat thyroid follicular cell line, FRTL-5. Exposure of FRTL-5 cells to 1 mU/ml TSH for 7 days resulted in a tenfold increase in ANF receptors (Bmax = 188 fmol/mg protein) compared with control (Bmax = 18 fmol/mg protein), without affecting binding affinity. An identical treatment of porcine thyrocytes with TSH resulted in a 50% decrease in ANF binding sites. Displacement binding studies indicated that > 80% of the ANF receptors in FRTL-5 cells belong to the ANF-R1 (guanylate cyclase-coupled) receptor subtype. By contrast, > 98% of the ANF receptors in porcine thyrocytes were of the ANF-R2, or clearance, receptor subtype. Intracellular cGMP content was increased thirty-sixfold in FRTL-5 cells by 1 microM ANF, but only 2.5-fold in porcine thyrocytes. cAMP levels were unaffected by ANF in either cell type. Northern blot analysis of poly A mRNA extracted from FRTL-5 cells incubated 2 days in the presence of 100 nM ANF indicated a twofold increase in thyroglobulin mRNA content compared with control. These findings suggest that the ANF-R1 receptor, preferentially expressed in FRTL-5 cells and regulated by TSH, might play a role in regulating thyroid hormone production.

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) increases [125I]ANF binding to FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells by increasing ANF receptor affinity

To examine a possible role for C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in the thyroid, we studied the ability of this peptide to compete with atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) binding to FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells. Rather than competing for ANF binding, CNP significantly elevated [125I]ANF binding above control at both 23 degrees and 2 degrees C. The increase in ANF binding was due largely to a threefold increase in receptor affinity in the presence of CNP (control, Kd = 8.7 nM; 1 microM CNP, Kd = 3.1 nM). Despite the failure to compete for ANF binding, CNP was almost as effective as ANF at inducing cGMP production in FRTL-5 cells. Competition binding studies using [125I]CNP indicated the presence of a relatively low-affinity site for CNP (Kd = 77 nM) that bound ANF with equal affinity. These results show for the first time that ANF receptor binding can be positively regulated by the related natriuretic peptide, CNP.

Differential effects of kindled and electrically induced seizures on a glutamate receptor (GluR1) gene expression

To address the question of whether the mode of seizure induction contributes to the effects of seizures on glutamate receptor gene expression, we examined rat dorsal hippocampal slides by in situ hybridization after kindling by electrical stimulation of the amygdala, or after electrically induced tonic-clonic seizures. Levels of a glutamate receptor subtype (GluR1) mRNA were analyzed at three periods post kindled seizures and found to be decreased only in brains that were obtained 24 h after the last kindled seizure. This downregulation of GluR1 mRNA was transient and was observed only in animals that had behavioral manifestations after being electrically stimulated. It is probable that maintenance of the kindled state cannot be explained by a long-lasting change in GluR1 gene expression. Repeated electroshock-induced seizures increased GluR1 mRNA levels in the hippocampus. Our results show that mode of induction is an important determinant of the effects of seizures on the levels of expression of a glutamate receptor gene.

Induction of constitutive heat shock protein 73 mRNA in the dentate gyrus by seizures

We examined the effects of generalized seizures on heat shock protein (hsp) mRNA induction in the rat brain using in situ hybridization. Seizures induced by electroconvulsive shock, electrical or cocaine kindling caused a selective induction of the constitutive hsp 73 gene in the dentate gyrus. In these seizure paradigms, not thought to induce widespread tissue damage, neither the heat-inducible hsp 72 gene nor a member of the hsp 90 family (hsp 84) were induced. Hsp 73 may play a role in the adaptation and/or in the maintenance of dentate granule cell integrity following seizures.

Hyposialylated thyroglobulin in a patient with congenital goiter and hypothyroidism

A large family (14 children) with congenital goiter whose parents are first cousins was studied. Thyroid tissue was obtained, after 125I in vivo labeling, from one of the siblings (JBM). Gel filtration of thyroid proteins indicated that thyroglobulin (Tg) eluted as a single symmetrical peak in the same position as authentic 19S Tg. Gel electrophoresis in a 7.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel revealed a major band with the same mobility and immunoreactivity as normal 19S Tg. Hydrolysis of the patient's Tg indicated that most of the radioactivity was mono- and diiodotyrosines. The yield of T4 from JBM Tg (26 pmol/mg protein) was 5-fold less than normal thyroid tissue (140 pmol/mg protein) and approximately half of that in thyroid tissue from endemic goiter (51 pmol/mg). Total T3 released from JBM Tg was similar to the other two tissues. When the carbohydrate content of normal and patient Tg was analyzed, there was no differences in glucosamine, galactose or mannose content. However, unlike normal and endemic-goiter Tg, that had a mean sialic acid content of 7.3 and 5.6 micrograms/mg protein, respectively, the sialic acid concentration of the patients Tg was only 0.3 microgram/mg. Sialyltransferase activity was readily demonstrated in homogenate from normal thyroid or endemic goiter, but no sialyltransferase activity was detectable in a homogenate of JBM-thyroid tissue. We conclude that the finding of severely hyposialylated Tg is linked to a defect in iodotyrosine coupling seen in this patient with a possibly abnormal migration of Tg into the follicular lumen.

Intestinal cholesterol absorption in the chyluria model

Isotopic methods for the measurement of dietary cholesterol absorption were compared with the lymph cholesterol balance procedure in filarial chyluria patients. After a single intravenous injection of radioactive cholesterol, absorption was found to be 746 +/- 136 mg/day by method I, which is based upon the fecal endogenous neutral steroid mass measurement, and 471 +/- 135 mg/day by the simultaneously measured lymph/plasma ratio of cholesterol specific activity (dpm/mg). The corresponding value, determined as the difference between lymph cholesterol transport on a cholesterol-containing diet (1500 mg) and on a cholesterol-free diet, was 622 mg/day. When radioactive cholesterol (1487 mg/day) was fed daily to a second patient, absorption determined by isotopic fecal recovery (353 mg/day) matched that obtained by the lymph balance procedure (326 mg/day). Transudation of plasma cholesterol into the intestinal lymph, estimated by the single intravenous injection of radioactive beta-sitosterol, was independent of both the luminal content of plant sterols and the absorption of dietary cholesterol. The absorption of endogenous cholesterol was calculated by: 1) subtracting the cholesterol originating from plasma (transudation) together with the absorbed dietary cholesterol found in lymph from the total mass of cholesterol transported in lymph, and 2) the lymph balance method, i.e., after interrupting the endogenous cholesterol mucosal uptake by beta-sitosterol feeding (9 g/day) while on a cholesterol-free diet. Endogenous cholesterol was preferentially absorbed compared to dietary cholesterol, but there was no competition for absorption. The major portion of dietary cholesterol found in lymph was esterified, but esterification was not a prerequisite for absorption.