Quantitative analyses of circadian gene expression in mammalian cell cultures.

The central circadian pacemaker is located in the hypothalamus of mammals, but essentially the same oscillating system operates in peripheral tissues and even in immortalized cell lines. Using luciferase reporters that allow automated monitoring of circadian gene expression in mammalian fibroblasts, we report the collection and analysis of precise rhythmic data from these cells. We use these methods to analyze signaling pathways of peripheral tissues by studying the responses of Rat-1 fibroblasts to ten different compounds. To quantify these rhythms, which show significant variation and large non-stationarities (damping and baseline drifting), we developed a new fast Fourier transform-nonlinear least squares analysis procedure that specifically optimizes the quantification of amplitude for circadian rhythm data. This enhanced analysis method successfully distinguishes among the ten signaling compounds for their rhythm-inducing properties. We pursued detailed analyses of the responses to two of these compounds that induced the highest amplitude rhythms in fibroblasts, forskolin (an activator of adenylyl cyclase), and dexamethasone (an agonist of glucocorticoid receptors). Our quantitative analyses clearly indicate that the synchronization mechanisms by the cAMP and glucocorticoid pathways are different, implying that actions of different genes stimulated by these pathways lead to distinctive programs of circadian synchronization.

Are changes in MAPK/ERK necessary or sufficient for entrainment in chick pineal cells?

Chick pineal cells in culture display a circadian rhythm of melatonin release. Light pulses can entrain (phase shift) the rhythm. One candidate for the photoentrainment pathway uses a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), also known as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). We tested the hypothesis that activation of ERK (by phosphorylation to p-ERK) is necessary and/or sufficient for entrainment by measuring the ability of several drugs, light, and other perturbations to change levels of p-ERK and to induce phase shifts in the melatonin rhythm. If changes in the levels of p-ERK are sufficient for photoentrainment, then all perturbations that reduce its level must induce light-like phase shifts, and all those that increase its level must induce dark-like phase shifts. If such changes are necessary for photoentrainment, then light pulses must reduce p-ERK levels, and the duration of the light pulse, the magnitude and duration of the change in p-ERK, and the size of the phase shift must correlate. We found five perturbations that reduced p-ERK levels. Of these, two induced light-like phase shifts (PD 98059 and caffeine), one induced dark-like phase shifts (SB203580), and two did not induce phase shifts at all (U0126 and omitting a medium change). Serum increased p-ERK levels without inducing any phase shifts. Finally, light pulses did not elicit changes in p-ERK, nor was there a diurnal rhythm in p-ERK levels, nor could rapid changes in p-ERK levels have accounted for duration effects of light pulses on phase shifts. Taken together, these results argue strongly against the hypothesis that reduction (or increases) in MAPK/ERK activation is necessary or sufficient for entrainment in chick pineal cells.

Genome-wide expression analysis in Drosophila reveals genes controlling circadian behavior.

In Drosophila, a number of key processes such as emergence from the pupal case, locomotor activity, feeding, olfaction, and aspects of mating behavior are under circadian regulation. Although we have a basic understanding of how the molecular oscillations take place, a clear link between gene regulation and downstream biological processes is still missing. To identify clock-controlled output genes, we have used an oligonucleotide-based high-density array that interrogates gene expression changes on a whole genome level. We found genes regulating various physiological processes to be under circadian transcriptional regulation, ranging from protein stability and degradation, signal transduction, heme metabolism, detoxification, and immunity. By comparing rhythmically expressed genes in the fly head and body, we found that the clock has adapted its output functions to the needs of each particular tissue, implying that tissue-specific regulation is superimposed on clock control of gene expression. Finally, taking full advantage of the fly as a model system, we have identified and characterized a cycling potassium channel protein as a key step in linking the transcriptional feedback loop to rhythmic locomotor behavior.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons generate interacting rhythms in multiple time domains.

Pulsatile release of GnRH is prerequisite for fertility. The possibility that multiple rhythms interact to generate GnRH pulses was raised by observations of changes in action potential firing and intracellular calcium levels occurring much more frequently than hormone pulses. To examine this further, we analyzed firing patterns from targeted extracellular recordings of green fluorescent protein-expressing GnRH neurons in acute brain slices prepared from adult ovariectomized and ovariectomized +estradiol mice. Fourier spectral analysis identified rhythms in multiple time domains, which we grouped into bursts (a period of <100 sec), clusters (100-1000 sec), or episodes (>1000 sec). Bursts were the fundamental unit of activity and consisted of trains of action currents (the currents during action potentials). Episodes and clusters were lower frequency changes in firing rate resulting from alterations in the time between bursts. Specifically, mean interburst interval during episode peaks was less than during nadirs. In contrast, neither burst duration nor action currents/burst differed between peaks and nadirs. Estradiol increased episode period by changing the patterning of bursts, not burst duration or action currents/burst. We propose a low frequency rhythm that is subject to external influences alters the patterning of a fundamental unit of activity to change ultimately GnRH pulse frequency.

Steroid regulation of GnRH neurons.

GnRH neurons form the final common pathway for regulating fertility. Estradiol feedback controls GnRH release, but the cellular mechanisms are unknown. Targeted extracellular recordings were used to examine the firing rate of GFP-identified GnRH neurons in a model for estradiol negative feedback (OVX vs. OVX+E). Episodes of increased firing rate occurred in both groups with intervals consistent with hormone secretion; estradiol more than doubled this interval. Spectral analysis identified additional rhythmic activity that was grouped by period: bursts (<100 s), clusters (100-1000 s), or episodes (>1000 s). Bursts were trains of action currents. Estradiol did not alter burst characteristics, but rather changed the patterning of inter-burst intervals to increase the period of the low-frequency episode rhythm. To change interburst-interval, estradiol might alter conductances in GnRH neurons, such as potassium currents. Whole-cell voltage-clamp revealed that estradiol affected the amplitude, decay time, and the voltage dependence of A-type potassium currents in GnRH neurons. Blockade of protein kinases reversed some but not all effects of estradiol. Consistent with changes in the A-current, estradiol increased excitability in GnRH neurons. Estradiol thus targets multiple mechanisms to alter GnRH neuron firing patterns, and the balance of stimulatory and inhibitory actions determines whether the integrated response is to increase or to decrease release.

Chronomodulated chemotherapy and irradiation: an idea whose time has come?

The chronomodulated delivery of systemic chemotherapy given with irradiation (chemoradiation) is driven by an understanding of: the chronobiology of normal tissue response to cytotoxic insult, chronopharmacology, and by technologic advances in vascular access and in the availability of portable programmable pumps. Since circadian variation exists in the proliferative activity of acute-reacting normal tissues like the gut and bone marrow, a potential therapeutic gain can be realized by the chronomodulated administration of S-phase chemotherapeutic agents at biological times when these normal tissues are in a different cell phase and thus relatively spared (chronotolerance). The reasons for this are complex and possibly include newly described time-keeping genes that may influence the cell cycle. Another important aspect of chronotolerance is based on chronopharmacologic behavior of S-phase chemotherapeutic radiation sensitizing agents, especially 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In this review laboratory and clinical evidence is presented for using chronomodulated 5-FU or the topoisomerase-I inhibitor, camptothecin, when best tolerated biologically. Although the main body of this work has been accomplished with pure chemotherapy schedules, there is emerging clinical evidence this approach to treatment also applies to the application of chemoradiation. This knowledge has been exploited only recently in the clinic. These data should be viewed as a call for additional studies to investigate the precise timing of systemic chemotherapeutic radio sensitizers to ameliorate toxicity and maximize treatment effect, especially with newer and potentially more toxic chemoradiation programs.

Daily timed meals dissociate circadian rhythms in hepatoma and healthy host liver.

Dividing cells, including human cancers, organize processes necessary for their duplication according to circadian time. Recent evidence has shown that disruption of central regulation of circadian rhythms can increase the rate at which a variety of cancers develop in rodents. To study circadian rhythms in liver tumors, we have chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma in transgenic rats bearing a luciferase reporter gene attached to the promoter of a core circadian clock gene (Period 1). We explanted normal liver cells and hepatomas, placed them into short-term culture, and precisely measured their molecular clock function by recording light output. Results show that isolated hepatocellular carcinoma is capable of generating circadian rhythms in vitro. Temporally restricting food availability to either day or night altered the phase of the rhythms in both healthy and malignant tissue. However, the hepatomas were much less sensitive to this signal resulting in markedly different phase relationships between host and tumor tissue as a function of mealtime. These data support the conclusion that hepatoma is differentially sensitive to circadian timing signals, although it maintains the circadian organization of the nonmalignant cells from which it arose. Because circadian clocks are known to modulate the sensitivity of many therapeutic cytotoxic targets, controlling meal-timing might be used to increase the efficacy of treatment. Specifically, meal and treatment schedules could be designed that take advantage of coincident times of greatest tumor sensitivity and lowest sensitivity of host tissue to damage.

GABA and Gi/o differentially control circadian rhythms and synchrony in clock neurons.

Neurons in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) generate daily rhythms in physiology and behavior, but it is unclear how they maintain and synchronize these rhythms in vivo. We hypothesized that parallel signaling pathways in the SCN are required to synchronize rhythms in these neurons for coherent output. We recorded firing and clock-gene expression patterns while blocking candidate signaling pathways for at least 8 days. GABA(A) and GABA(B) antagonism increased circadian peak firing rates and rhythm precision of cultured SCN neurons, but G(i/o) did not impair synchrony or rhythmicity. In contrast, inhibiting G(i/o) with pertussis toxin abolished rhythms in most neurons and desynchronized the population, phenocopying the loss of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Daily VIP receptor agonist treatment restored synchrony and rhythmicity to VIP(-/-) SCN cultures during continuous GABA receptor antagonism but not during G(i/o) blockade. Pertussis toxin did not affect circadian cycling of the liver, suggesting that G(i/o) plays a specialized role in maintaining SCN rhythmicity. We conclude that endogenous GABA controls the amplitude of SCN neuronal rhythms by reducing daytime firing, whereas G(i/o) signaling suppresses nighttime firing, and it is necessary for synchrony among SCN neurons. We propose that G(i/o), not GABA activity, converges with VIP signaling to maintain and coordinate rhythms among SCN neurons.

Interictal and postictal circadian and ultradian luteinizing hormone secretion in men with temporal lobe epilepsy.

PURPOSE: Hypothalamic regulation of the reproductive axis in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), represented by the ultradian pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH), has been shown to be altered interictally and postictally. Our objective is to determine if epilepsy or seizures disrupt normal circadian fluctuations of LH as well as circadian organization of ultradian bursts of LH. METHODS: We characterized LH secretion in 10 men with TLE during two 24-h blocks: an interictal epoch and a postictal epoch initiated by a seizure. Serum LH was measured every 10 min and characterized by circadian and ultradian patterns with cosinor and deconvolution analysis. RESULTS: Mean peak serum concentrations of LH occurred at approximately 0400 in controls, were significantly delayed approximately 5 h interictally, and were randomly distributed postictally. Burst amplitudes differed significantly by phase among controls, with the largest amplitudes between 0101 and 0700 and the smallest between 1301 and 1900. No phase differences were present in interictal or postictal epochs. Burst frequency weakly but significantly was slowest between 0101 and 0700 in controls, but did not differ significantly by phase in either interictal or postictal epochs. Postictal LH burst frequencies, but not amplitudes, were significantly decreased immediately postictally. CONCLUSION: The pulsatile secretion of LH in TLE is abnormal both in the circadian as well as the ultradian domain. Interictal effects consist mainly in loss of circadian fluctuations in LH burst amplitude, whereas postictal effects consist of altered burst timing. Altered daily patterns of neuroendocrine signals may underlie other disorders of homeostasis in TLE.

FLOWERING LOCUS C mediates natural variation in the high-temperature response of the Arabidopsis circadian clock.

Temperature compensation contributes to the accuracy of biological timing by preventing circadian rhythms from running more quickly at high than at low temperatures. We previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) with temperature-specific effects on the circadian rhythm of leaf movement, including a QTL linked to the transcription factor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). We have now analyzed FLC alleles in near-isogenic lines and induced mutants to eliminate other candidate genes. We showed that FLC lengthened the circadian period specifically at 27 degrees C, contributing to temperature compensation of the circadian clock. Known upstream regulators of FLC expression in flowering time pathways similarly controlled its circadian effect. We sought to identify downstream targets of FLC regulation in the molecular mechanism of the circadian clock using genome-wide analysis to identify FLC-responsive genes and 3503 transcripts controlled by the circadian clock. A Bayesian clustering method based on Fourier coefficients allowed us to discriminate putative regulatory genes. Among rhythmic FLC-responsive genes, transcripts of the transcription factor LUX ARRHYTHMO (LUX) correlated in peak abundance with the circadian period in flc mutants. Mathematical modeling indicated that the modest change in peak LUX RNA abundance was sufficient to cause the period change due to FLC, providing a molecular target for the crosstalk between flowering time pathways and circadian regulation.

Unequal autonegative feedback by GH models the sexual dimorphism in GH secretory dynamics.

Growth hormone (GH) secretion, controlled principally by a GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and GH release-inhibiting hormone [somatostatin (SRIF)] displays vivid sexual dimorphism in many species. We hypothesized that relatively small differences within a dynamic core GH network driven by regulatory interactions among GH, GHRH, and SRIF explain the gender contrast. To investigate this notion, we implemented a minimal biomathematical model based on two coupled oscillators: time-delayed reciprocal interactions between GH and GHRH, which endow high-frequency (40-60 min) GH oscillations, and time-lagged bidirectional GH-SRIF interactions, which mediate low-frequency (occurring every 3.3 h) GH volleys. We show that this basic formulation, sufficient to explain GH dynamics in the male rat [Farhy LS, Straume M, Johnson ML, Kovatchev BP, and Veldhuis JD. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 281: R38-R51, 2001], emulates the female pattern of GH release, if autofeedback of GH on SRIF is relaxed. Relief of GH-stimulated SRIF release damps the slower volleylike oscillator, allowing emergence of the underlying high-frequency oscillations that are sustained by the GH-GHRH interactions. Concurrently, increasing variability of basal somatostatin outflow introduces quantifiable, sex-specific disorderliness of the release process typical of female GH dynamics. Accordingly, modulation of GH autofeedback on SRIF within the interactive GH-GHRH-SRIF ensemble and heightened basal SRIF variability are sufficient to transform the well-ordered, 3.3-h-interval, multiphasic, volleylike male GH pattern into a femalelike profile with irregular pulses of higher frequency.

Development of rhythmic melatonin secretion from the pineal gland of embryonic mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus).

The pineal gland of vertebrates produces and secretes the hormone melatonin in response to changes in the light-dark cycle, with high production at night and low production during the day. Melatonin is thought to play an important role in synchronizing daily and/or seasonal physiological, behavioral, and developmental rhythms in vertebrates. In this study, the functional development of the pineal melatonin-generating system was examined in the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus, an euryhaline teleost. In this species, the pineal gland contains an endogenous oscillator, ultimately responsible for timing the melatonin rhythm. Oocytes from gravid females were collected and fertilized in vitro from sperm collected from mature males. Skull caps containing attached pineal glands were obtained from F. heteroclitus embryos at different embryonic stages and placed in static or perfusion culture under various photoperiodic regimes. Rhythmic melatonin secretion from pineal glands of embryonic F. heteroclitus embryos exposed to a 12L:12D cycle in static culture was observed at five days post-fertilization. The ontogeny of circadian-controlled melatonin production from F. heteroclitus pineal glands exposed to constant darkness for five days was also seen at day five post-fertilization. These data show that early development of the pineal melatonin-generating system in this teleost occurs prior to hatching. Pre-hatching development of the melatonin-generating system may confer some selective advantage in this species in its interactions with the environment.