Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of pituitary hormone, Pit-1 and steroidogenic factor-1 messenger RNA expression in pituitary tumors.

Pit-1 is a transcription factor that appears early in embryonic pituitary gland formation and is necessary for the development of somatotropes, lactotropes and thyrotropes. Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) is another early appearing transcription factor that is involved in the development of gonadotropes. In this study we have compared RT-PCR analysis of hormone mRNA with traditional IHC for classification of 27 pituitary tumors and have evaluated the correlation of Pit-1 and SF-1 mRNA with hormone mRNA. RT-PCR detected concordant hormone mRNA in 100% of GH IHC positive, 100% of PRL IHC positive, 33% of TSH IHC positive, and 93% of gonadotropin IHC positive tumors. IHC, however, was concordant in only 71% of GH mRNA positive, 78% of PRL mRNA positive, 17% of TSH beta mRNA positive, and 76% of FSH beta mRNA positive tumors. Pit-1 mRNA was positive in 87% of tumors in which mRNA for GH, PRL or TSH beta was detected and in only 17% of GH, PRL and TSH beta mRNA negative tumors. SF-1 mRNA was positive in 94% of tumors in which mRNA for FSH beta was present and in no FSH beta mRNA negative tumors. We conclude that RT-PCR analysis of hormone mRNA may be more sensitive than traditional hormone IHC for classification of pituitary tumors. Furthermore, tumor Pit-1 mRNA positively correlates with GH, PRL and TSH beta mRNA while tumor SF-1 mRNA correlates well with FSH beta mRNA. Combined analysis of hormone and transcription factor mRNA in pituitary tumor tissue may therefore be a more meaningful approach to pituitary tumor characterization.

Structural specificity for prostaglandin effects on hepatocyte glycogenolysis.

Prostaglandins (PGs) are known to have effects on hepatic glucose metabolism. Some actions of PGs in intact liver systems may not involve PG effects directly at the level of the hepatocyte. To define the ability of structurally distinct prostaglandins to affect hepatocyte metabolism directly, the regulation of glycogenolysis was studied in hepatocytes isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats. PGF and PGB2 inhibited glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis in the hepatocyte system. Pinane thromboxane A2 (PTA2) and PGD2 had no effect on glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis. Consistent with their inhibition of glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis, PGF2 and PGF2 alpha inhibited glucagon-stimulated hepatocyte cyclic AMP accumulation. These actions of PGB2 and PGF2 alpha are identical with those previously reported for PGE2. Additionally, PGE2, PGF2 alpha and PGB2 inhibited glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in purified hepatic plasma membranes. In contrast, PGF2 alpha, PGD2 and PTA2 were all without affect on basal rates of hepatocyte glycogenolysis or hepatocyte cyclic AMP content. PGE2 also inhibited glycogenolysis stimulated by the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine. Exogenous arachidonic acid was not able to reproduce the affects of PGE2 or PGF2 alpha on hepatocyte glycogenolysis, consistent with an extra-hepatocyte source of the prostaglandins in the intact liver. Thus PGE2 and PGF2 alpha act specifically to inhibit glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. No prostaglandin tested was found to stimulate glycogenolysis. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha may represent intra-hepatic modulators of hepatocyte glucose metabolism.

Coupling of hepatic prostaglandin receptors to adenylate cyclase through a pertussis toxin sensitive guanine nucleotide regulatory protein.

E-series prostaglandins (PGs) inhibit glucagon-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in hepatocytes as well as glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis and fatty acid oxidation. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that this inhibition occurs via interactions with a plasma membrane PGE2 receptor coupled to adenylate cyclase. PGE2 receptors in rat liver plasma membranes were examined using competitive binding studies [( 3H]PGE2 vs. PGE1). Binding data were analyzed to determine the number of apparent binding sites and the PGE dissociation constant (Kd) at each site. Rat liver plasma membranes contained two classes of binding sites with Kd values of 9.9 X 10(-10) and 8 X 10(-9) M. Addition of the GTP-analog guanyl-5'-6'-imidodiphosphate (0.1 mM) altered the PGE2 binding such that a single class of sites with low affinity (Kd = 4 X 10(-9) M) was observed. Similarly, liver plasma membranes isolated from rats pretreated with pertussis toxin contained only a single class of PGE2 binding sites in the absence of guanyl-5'-6'-imidodiphosphate (Kd = 3.4 X 10(-9) M). PGE2 (10(-10) M) inhibited liver membrane adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by forskolin (by 57%) and glucagon (by 24%). This inhibition was not observed in membranes isolated from rats treated with pertussis toxin. Thus, the present studies demonstrate that PGE binding to its hepatic receptors is regulated by a pertussis toxin sensitive guanine nucleotide binding protein coupled to inhibition of adenylate cyclase.

Modulation of prostaglandin E2 catabolism and action by fuel substrates in rat hepatocytes.

The hepatic level of prostaglandins will reflect the balance between synthesis of prostaglandins and their rapid catabolism via beta-oxidation by hepatocytes. In the present study we examined the effect of physiological fuel substrates on the breakdown and action of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in isolated rat hepatocytes. Palmitic acid (0.32 mM), a long-chain fatty acid, inhibited the rate of PGE2 breakdown (10(-7) M) by approx. 80%. As the palmitic acid concentration was increased from 0 to 0.8 mM, the percentage of PGE2 remaining in the incubation 5 min following prostaglandin addition was raised from approx. 10% to over 98%. Octanoic acid (0.8 mM) also inhibited PGE2 catabolism, while butyric acid (0.8 mM) and pyruvic acid (2.5 mM) were without effect. The inhibition of glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis by PGE2 was increased in the presence of 0.6 mM palmitic acid, consistent with decreased PGE2 catabolism. These studies demonstrate that changes within the range of free fatty acid concentrations seen physiologically in vivo may dramatically alter PGE2 catabolism and, therefore, the effect of PGE2 to modulate hormonal action in the liver.

Inhibition of prostaglandin E2 catabolism and potentiation of hepatic prostaglandin E2 action in rat hepatocytes by inhibitors of oxidative metabolism.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) can modulate the actions of a number of hormones in liver. PGE2 is rapidly metabolized in liver tissue, and thus alterations in the rate of PGE2 catabolism might exert a short-term influence on the concentration of PGE2 in liver. The present study examined the effects of inhibitors of oxidative metabolism on PGE2 catabolism and action in isolated rat hepatocytes. [3H]-PGE2 was metabolized to three major products by the hepatocyte system as assessed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Metyrapone (5 mM), aminopyrine (5 mM), SKF-525A (20 microM) and alpha-naphthoflavone (20 microM) each inhibited the breakdown of [3H]-PGE2. The inhibition of oxidative metabolism by these compounds was not limited to action at cytochrome P-450, and metyrapone, aminopyrine and SKF-525A each was shown to inhibit [1-14C]-palmitate beta-oxidation in the hepatocyte system. To determine the contribution of beta-oxidation to the rapid catabolism of [3H]-PGE2, studies were performed using [1-14C]-PGE2 as substrate. Two major product peaks seen with [3H]-PGE2 as substrate lacked radioactivity when [1-14C]-PGE2 was the substrate, and thus these two products did not contain the 1-position carbon, consistent with their identity as beta-oxidation products. Furthermore, [1-14C]-PGE2 also yielded 14CO2 and a [14C]-PGE2 metabolite not seen with [3H]-PGE2. It was calculated that 60% of the rapid PGE2 inactivation in the hepatocyte system occurred via beta-oxidation. An additional, non-beta-oxidation, metyrapone-sensitive, pathway accounted for 26% of PGE2 disappearance. The effect of PGE2 to inhibit glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis was potentiated when metyrapone was included in the incubation, consistent with increased survival of intact PGE2. In summary, PGE2 was rapidly inactivated by intact hepatocytes via oxidative metabolism, primarily beta-oxidation. Inhibition of prostaglandin catabolism can have short-term effects on PGE2 concentrations and result in potentiation of PGE2 effects on hepatic glucose metabolism.

Inhibition of glucagon-stimulated cAMP accumulation and fatty acid oxidation by E-series prostaglandins in isolated rat hepatocytes.

E-series prostaglandins have been shown to inhibit hepatic glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis without inhibiting glycogenolysis stimulated by cAMP analogs. In the present studies, prostaglandin E2 and 16,16-dimethylprostaglandin E2 inhibited glucagon-stimulated cAMP accumulation in isolated rat hepatocytes by 25% and 46%, respectively, without affecting basal cAMP levels. Half-maximal inhibition of glucagon-stimulated cAMP accumulation occurred at approx. 10(-7) M 16,16-dimethylprostaglandin E2. 16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2 inhibited glucagon-stimulated palmitate oxidation in intact hepatocytes without affecting basal rates of palmitate oxidation. 16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2 had no effect on palmitate oxidation in a liver homogenate system. These studies demonstrate that prostaglandin E antagonizes the effects of glucagon on hepatic metabolism by inhibiting glucagon-stimulated cAMP accumulation.

Fasting-induced changes in prostaglandin binding in isolated hepatocytes and liver plasma membranes.

The effects of fasting on hepatic prostaglandin E (PGE) receptor characteristics were studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. Plasma membranes were isolated from liver homogenates of animals after 0, 12, 18, 24, and 48 h of fasting. The changes observed in body weight, liver weight, plasma glucose, and plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate during the fast were consistent with those previously reported for a similar fasted rat model. During the transition from the fed to the fasted state there was a decrease in hepatic PGE receptor density (from 0.175 +/- 0.011 pmol bound/mg membrane membrane protein in fed rats to 0.060 +/- 0.009 in rats fasted for 24 h), with no change in binding affinity. This change was observed whether the data were expressed per mg membrane protein isolated or were corrected for total membrane recovery and normalized to initial body weight. Isolated hepatocytes prepared from fed and 24-h fasted animals also demonstrated a significant decrease in PGE-binding site density (from 0.98 +/- 0.05 pmol bound/10(6) cells in fed rats to 0.46 +/- 0.14 in fasted rats), with no change in binding site affinity. The change in binding site density in the hepatocytes was of a magnitude similar to that observed in the liver plasma membranes after the membranes were corrected for recovery and normalized to initial body weight (51% vs. 53%, liver plasma membranes vs. isolated hepatocytes). We conclude that fasting is associated with a decrease in the hepatic PGE receptor density and suggest that this decrease may reflect an increase in hepatic E-series PGs during starvation.

Metabolism of leukotriene B4 in isolated rat hepatocytes. Identification of a novel 18-carboxy-19,20-dinor leukotriene B4 metabolite.

Isolated rat heptocytes were found to metabolize leukotriene B4 (LTB4) to a number of products which could be separated by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After incubation of LTB4 with hepatocytes for 15 min, the known omega-oxidized metabolites, 20-hydroxy- and 20-carboxy-LTB4, were identified by HPLC retention time and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. An early fraction corresponding to 15% of the initial LTB4 was structurally characterized as a novel metabolite, 18-carboxy-19,20-dinor-LTB4, by ultraviolet spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the derivatized and derivatized, reduced metabolite. The short HPLC retention time of this metabolite was consistent with its reduced lipophilicity. An additional minor metabolite was tentatively identified as 3-hydroxy-LTB4. These two novel metabolites provide evidence for beta-oxidation as an important route of hepatic biotransformation of LTB4 and 20-hydroxy-LTB4.

Effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on glycogenolysis in isolated hepatocytes.

E-series prostaglandins have previously been demonstrated to inhibit hormone-stimulated glycogenolysis when added to isolated hepatocytes of the rat. In the present study, the effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which inhibit cyclo-oxygenase activity, on glycogenolysis was examined in the hepatocyte model. Ibuprofen (80 microM), indomethacin (50 microM) and meclofenamate (60 microM) all increased rates of glycogenolysis when added under basal conditions. In contrast, piroxicam (50 microM) had no effect on glycogenolysis in the hepatocyte system. Concentrations of ibuprofen below 80 microM did not significantly increase rates of glycogenolysis. Ibuprofen (80 microM) had no effect on glycogenolysis in the presence of 10(-5)M adrenaline or 5 X 10(-7)M glucagon, but did increase glycogenolytic rates in the presence of 5 X 10(-8)M glucagon. Ibuprofen-stimulated glycogenolysis was inhibited by addition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Under conditions where glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis was inhibited by exogenous PGE2, addition of ibuprofen (80 microM) increased the rate of glycogenolysis. Ibuprofen had no effect on basal or glucagon-stimulated hepatocyte adenylate cyclase activity. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which are carboxylic acids can increase the rate of glycogenolysis in isolated hepatocytes. The high concentrations of drug required to stimulate glycogenolysis, the lack of effect of piroxicam, and the demonstration of stimulation by ibuprofen in the presence of exogenous PGE2 all suggest that the stimulation of glycogenolysis by ibuprofen, indomethacin and meclofenamate is independent of cyclooxygenase inhibition. These observations are consistent with reports that carboxylic acid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can interfere with hepatic intracellular calcium handling.

Effect of E-series prostaglandins on cyclic AMP-dependent and -independent hormone-stimulated glycogenolysis in hepatocytes.

The effect of E-series prostaglandins (PGE) on hormone-stimulated glycogenolysis was studied in isolated rat hepatocytes. As previously reported, the physiologically active analogue 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 inhibited glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis. This effect could be reproduced by repetitive addition of PGE2 to compensate for PGE2 catabolism. In contrast, glycogenolysis stimulated by N6,O2'-dibutyryladenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (dibutyryl-cAMP) was unaffected by either PGE2 or 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 (rate of glycogenolysis with 0.34 microM dibutyryl-cAMP plus 1.7 microM 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 = 99 +/- 6% of rate with 0.34 microM dibutyryl-cAMP alone; mean +/- SEM, N = 5). Similarly, glycogenolysis stimulated by 8-bromoadenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate was not inhibited by PGE2 or 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2. Epinephrine-stimulated glycogenolysis was inhibited by 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 in a dose-dependent manner. PGE inhibited the cAMP-independent stimulation of glycogenolysis resulting from phenylephrine or angiotensin II exposure (rate of glycogenolysis with 8 microM phenylephrine + 1.7 microM 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 = 65 +/- 10% of rate with 8 microM phenylephrine alone, N = 4, P less than 0.05; 4.9 microM angiotensin II + 1.7 microM 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 = 75 +/- 7% of rate with 4.9 microM angiotensin II alone, N = 4, P less than 0.05). Glycogenolysis stimulated by the calcium ionophore A23187 was also inhibited by PGE (rate of glycogenolysis with 0.55 micrograms/ml A23187 + 1.7 microM 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 = 83 +/- 5% of rate with 0.55 micrograms/ml A23187 alone, N = 7, P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Kinetics of prostaglandin E metabolism in isolated hepatocytes.

The kinetics of prostaglandin E metabolism were investigated in isolated hepatocytes from male Sprague-Dawley rats. [3H]Prostaglandin E1 or [3H]prostaglandin E2 was incubated with cells in suspension, aliquots were collected over time and samples extracted and chromatographed using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Both prostaglandins E1 and E2 were rapidly metabolized by the hepatocytes and at low prostaglandin E concentrations (10(-12) M) both have similar apparent half-lives (prostaglandin E1, 1.24; prostaglandin E2, 1.68 min). Disappearance of counts from prostaglandin E1 and E2 fractions was accompanied by the appearance of counts in earlier fractions of the chromatograms, consistent with metabolism to compounds which are more polar than the native prostaglandins. The half-life for prostaglandin E1 was unchanged over a prostaglandin E1 concentration range of 10(-12) to 10(-6) M. In contrast, increasing prostaglandin E2 concentration resulted in a prolonged half-life over the same concentration range. Decreasing cell concentrations from 5 X 10(6) to 5 X 10(5) cells/ml resulted in decreases in the rates of metabolism of both prostaglandins E1 and E2.

Inhibition of glucagon-stimulated hepatic glycogenolysis by E-series prostaglandins.

The effect of E-series prostaglandins (PGE) on hepatic glucose metabolism is controversial. This study uses isolated rat hepatocytes and exogenously added PGE analogs or frequent native PGE additions (to compensate for hepatic PGE degradation) to define PGE's effect on hepatic glycogenolysis. 16,16-Dimethyl PGE2, 15(S),15-methyl PGE2, PGE1 and PGE2 all inhibit glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis. It is concluded that E-series prostaglandins can act directly on the liver to inhibit glycogenolysis.

High levels of the circulating form of parathyroid hormone do not inhibit in vitro erythropoiesis.

Either primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism may be associated with anemia. The pathogenesis of this anemia remains obscure, but parathyroid hormone may directly suppress erythropoiesis or anemia may result from myelofibrosis. Previously reported in vitro studies of a direct inhibitory effect of PTH on erythroid progenitor growth were carried out with crude hormone preparations and appeared nonspecific. We have studied simultaneously the in vitro effects of pure (greater than 6000 U/mg) and crude (130 U/mg) preparations of PTH on murine and human hematopoietic progenitor growth. Increasing concentrations (2.5 to 20 U/ml) of crude PTH produced a dose-dependent inhibition of early erythroid (BFU-E) and granulocyte/macrophage progenitor (CFU-GM) growth in human and mouse marrow cell cultures. However, the biologically active N-terminal fragment containing amino acids 1-34 and the pure intact molecule of 84 amino acids failed to significantly inhibit hematopoietic colony growth. These observations demonstrate that in vitro inhibitory effects described with parathyroid gland extracts are not specific for erythropoiesis and may not be related to the circulating form of PTH.

Prostaglandin E-induced heterologous desensitization of hepatic adenylate cyclase. Consequences on the guanyl nucleotide regulatory complex.

Prostaglandin E (PGE) receptor density in hepatic plasma membranes can be down-regulated by in vivo exposure to the 16,16-dimethyl analog of PGE2, and this is associated with desensitization of PGE-sensitive adenylate cyclase. These studies examined adenylate cyclase response to other agonists in membranes whose PGE receptor density was 51% decreased and whose maximal PGE-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was 31% decreased. Down-regulated membranes had a 37% decrease in their maximal response to glucagon, indicating that treatment with the PGE analog had induced both homologous and heterologous desensitization. To determine whether adenylate cyclase had been affected, stimulation with NaF, guanyl 5'-yl imidodiphosphate (GppNHp), and forskolin was examined in both intact and solubilized membranes. Intact membranes had decreased adenylate cyclase responses to all three stimulators (NaF, -41%; GppNHp, -25%; forskolin, -41%) as did solubilized membranes (NaF, -51%; GppNHp, -50%; forskolin, -50%), suggesting alterations in adenylate cyclase rather than indirect membrane effects. Cholera toxin activation and labeling were examined to more directly assess whether the guanine nucleotide (G/F) regulatory component of adenylate cyclase had been affected. Cholera toxin activation was 42% less in down-regulated membranes, and these membranes incorporated less label when the incubation was performed in the presence of [32]NAD. Solubilized G/F subunit activity from down-regulated membranes was less effective in reconstitution of adenylate cyclase activity from cyc- cell membranes than G/F activity from control membranes. These data indicate that in vivo exposure to the PGE analog causes both homologous and heterologous desensitization of adenylate cyclase as well as an apparent quantitative decrease in G/F.

Interrelationships between PGE1 and PGI2 binding and stimulation of adenylate cyclase.

The effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and prostacyclin (PGI2) on hepatic adenylate cyclase were studied in plasma membranes isolated from Sprague-Dawley rat livers. Both PGE1 and PGI2 stimulated this enzyme complex to the same maximal levels and with approximately the same EC50 (10(-7) M). Maximally stimulating concentrations of PGE1 and PGI2 were examined alone and together; their effects were not additive, indicating that the same enzyme complex was shared. Although a receptor for PGE1 could be demonstrated with a dissociation constant of 1 X 10(-8) M, PGI2 was only 1/100 as effective in competing for PGE1 binding sites (KD, 1 X 10(-6) M), indicating that these two prostaglandins may act via separate membrane receptors. PGI2 is known to be unstable at neutral pH; however, we have determined its half-life during these assays by a sensitive bioassay and concluded that the degradation of PGI2 is not sufficient to account for its inability to dissociate [3H]PGE1 binding. Further evidence that PGI2 might act through a distinct receptor was found in animals whose PGE1 receptors were 40% downregulated with a corresponding 28% decrease in PGE1-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. These membranes had no such decrease in PGI2-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. We conclude that 1) hepatic adenylate cyclase is equally sensitive to PGE1 and PGI2; 2) the same adenylate cyclase complex responds to both prostaglandins; and 3) PGE1 and PGI2 interact with separate membrane receptors in rat liver.