The relationship between parental genetic or phenotypic divergence and progeny variation in the maize nested association mapping population.

Appropriate selection of parents for the development of mapping populations is pivotal to maximizing the power of quantitative trait loci detection. Trait genotypic variation within a family is indicative of the family's informativeness for genetic studies. Accurate prediction of the most useful parental combinations within a species would help guide quantitative genetics studies. We tested the reliability of genotypic and phenotypic distance estimators between pairs of maize inbred lines to predict genotypic variation for quantitative traits within families derived from biparental crosses. We developed 25 families composed of ~200 random recombinant inbred lines each from crosses between a common reference parent inbred, B73, and 25 diverse maize inbreds. Parents and families were evaluated for 19 quantitative traits across up to 11 environments. Genetic distances (GDs) among parents were estimated with 44 simple sequence repeat and 2303 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers. GDs among parents had no predictive value for progeny variation, which is most likely due to the choice of neutral markers. In contrast, we observed for about half of the traits measured a positive correlation between phenotypic parental distances and within-family genetic variance estimates. Consequently, the choice of promising segregating populations can be based on selecting phenotypically diverse parents. These results are congruent with models of genetic architecture that posit numerous genes affecting quantitative traits, each segregating for allelic series, with dispersal of allelic effects across diverse genetic material. This architecture, common to many quantitative traits in maize, limits the predictive value of parental genotypic or phenotypic values on progeny variance.

Effect of testosterone on the growth properties and on epidermal growth factor receptor expression in the teratoma-derived tumorigenic cell line 1246-3A.

1246-3A is an insulin-independent tumorigenic cell line isolated from the C3H mouse teratoma-derived adipogenic cell line 1246. In the present paper, we have demonstrated that testosterone inhibits the in vivo tumorigenic properties of the 1246-3A cells. Castrated male mice receiving injections of 1246-3A cells developed larger tumors at a higher frequency than sham-operated animals. Administration of testosterone to castrated male mice resulted in a dramatic decrease in tumor development. In vitro studies indicated that testosterone inhibited by 50% the proliferation of the 1246-3A cells in culture. However, growth inhibition was observed only if the cells had been cultivated in the presence of testosterone for at least 4 days. In contrast, testosterone had little effect on the proliferation of the parent cell line 1246. Binding of several polypeptide growth factors was examined in cells cultivated in the absence and in the presence of testosterone. Testosterone increased 125I-EGF specific binding to 1246-3A cells. Scatchard analysis of EGF binding indicated that testosterone treatment induced a 2.4-fold increase in the number of cell surface EGF binding sites. This was accompanied by an increase in the intensity of cross-linked EGF receptors on the cells treated with testosterone. In addition, 1246-3A cells cultivated for 9 days in the presence of testosterone displayed a 10-fold increase in the level of EGF receptor mRNA when compared to 1246-3A cells maintained in its absence. Similar to its action on cell proliferation, the increase in EGF receptor number and mRNA expression was observed mainly if 1246-3A cells had been exposed to testosterone for 9 days. The data presented in this paper demonstrate that both in vivo and in vitro, testosterone induces in the teratoma-derived 1246-3A cell line phenotypic changes such as growth inhibition and modulation of EGF receptor expression.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha stimulates transforming growth factor-alpha expression in adipocyte precursors.

Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) are potent inhibitors of adipocyte differentiation. We demonstrate here that TGF alpha messenger RNA (mRNA) is expressed in freshly isolated fat pads and in primary culture of adipocyte precursors cultivated in defined medium before and after differentiation. We show that PGF2 alpha stimulated TGF alpha mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. PGF2 alpha also stimulated TGF alpha production in the culture medium of adipocyte precursors in primary culture. PGF2 alpha stimulated TGF alpha mRNA expression in both undifferentiated and differentiated cells. 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 alpha, which also inhibited adipose differentiation, stimulated TGF alpha mRNA expression similarly to PGF2 alpha, whereas other PGs had no effect on TGF alpha mRNA expression. The time-course experiment indicates that the stimulation of TGF alpha mRNA expression by PGF2 alpha is observed within 6 h of exposure to PGF2 alpha and is inhibited by treatment of the cells with actinomycin D. The effect of PGF2 alpha on TGF alpha expression did not require activation of protein kinase C and was fully reversible. As both TGF alpha and PGF2 alpha are inhibitors of adipose differentiation, it is suggested that stimulation of TGF alpha expression by PGF2 alpha could represent an amplification mechanism to modulate adipocyte precursor differentiation and adipocyte function within the adipose tissue.

Paracrine regulation of adipose differentiation by arachidonate metabolites: prostaglandin F2 alpha inhibits early and late markers of differentiation in the adipogenic cell line 1246.

The effect of arachidonate metabolites on the differentiation of the adipogenic cell line 1246 was investigated. Among the metabolites examined, only prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) inhibited differentiation in a dose-dependent fashion with an ED50 of 3 x 10(-9) M. PGF2 alpha inhibited the mRNA expression of lipoprotein lipase, clone 154, and fatty acid-binding protein, which are early markers of differentiation, as well as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase specific activity and triglyceride accumulation, which are late markers of differentiation. Chronic exposure of 1246 cells to PGF2 alpha before and during differentiation indicated that the cells that have just initiated their differentiation program were the most susceptible to the inhibitory effect of PGF2 alpha. Since 1246 cells produce PGs, we determined whether the PG produced by the cells influenced adipose differentiation. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors added to the culture medium stimulated differentiation of 1246 cells up to 18-fold depending on the type and concentration of inhibitor used. In contrast, lipoxygenase inhibitors had no effect. Treatment of 1246 cells with arachidonic acid resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell differentiation. Oleate or linoleate had no effect. These data indicate that PGF2 alpha inhibits early and late events of adipose differentiation and that the endogenous production of PGs (particularly PGF2 alpha) plays an important role as a negative paracrine or autocrine regulatory pathway of adipose differentiation.

Insulin but not IGF-I is required for the maintenance of the adipose phenotype in the adipogenic cell line 1246.

The mouse adipogenic cell line 1246 which possesses both insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors was used to investigate the role of IGF-I and insulin on the proliferation of adipocyte precursors and their differentiation into mature adipocytes. Results indicate that both insulin and IGF-I stimulate the proliferation of the 1246 adipocyte precursors with IGF-I being slightly more potent than insulin. Dose-response studies indicated that both polypeptides acted at physiological concentrations corresponding to binding to their own receptors. In contrast, comparison of insulin and IGF-I capacity to stimulate terminal adipose differentiation indicated that only insulin was active when added at physiological concentrations. IGF-I could not stimulate adipocyte differentiation except at supraphysiological concentrations (100 ng/ml and above) permitting its binding to the insulin receptors on 1246 cells. Time course study of expression of early and late markers of adipose differentiation indicated that the induction of markers such as adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid binding protein (FAB) took place even in the absence of insulin. However, the level of early and late differentiation markers decreased to a level below the one found in undifferentiated cells when cells had been maintained in the absence of insulin after differentiation had been initiated. These data indicate that although insulin is not necessary for the early onset of the adipose differentiation program, it is stringently required for the maintenance of the adipocyte phenotype and cannot be substituted by IGF-I.

Endocrine and paracrine negative regulators of adipose differentiation.

Obesity which is characterized by an abnormal adipose tissue development is a first degree public health hazard in industrialized countries. One important aspect in the study of adipose tissue development is to investigate the hormonal control of proliferation and differentiation. Any qualitative or quantitative change in these hormones or their receptors can result in abnormalities in the process of proliferation and/or differentiation possibly leading to obesity. Therefore, it is important to identify these factors and investigate their mechanism of action. We have concentrated our efforts in the study of factors triggering differentiation (positive regulators) and also of factors inhibiting differentiation (negative regulators). The present paper provides evidence of the importance of EGF/TGF-alpha and of PGF2 alpha as differentiation inhibitors for adipocyte precursors in primary culture. Data presented here also demonstrate that TGF-alpha is expressed in adipose tissue and that its expression is specifically stimulated by PGF2 alpha, thus suggesting the existence of an amplification mechanism between two differentiation inhibitors within the adipose tissue. The importance of these two types of differentiation inhibitors in the regulation of adipose tissue development is discussed.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha inhibits epidermal growth factor binding to cellular receptors on adipocyte precursors in primary culture.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are potent differentiation inhibitors of adipocyte precursors in primary culture. We show here that PGF2 alpha specifically inhibited EGF binding to adipocyte precursors in a dose dependent fashion. Scatchard analysis indicates that PGF2 alpha causes a 50% decrease in the number of available EGF cell surface receptors without change in receptor affinity. Comparison of EGF binding at different temperatures and on fixed cells indicates that PGF2 alpha increases internalization of EGF-receptor complexes in adipocyte precursors. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) also inhibited EGF binding in adipocyte precursors. PGF2 alpha effect was abolished in cells exposed to prolonged treatment with PMA indicating that PGF2 alpha effect on EGF binding is mediated by protein kinase C. These results would suggest that in adipocyte precursors PGF2 alpha may be the physiological mediator of phorbol ester effect on EGF receptor properties.

Prostaglandin F2alpha receptor (FP receptor) agonists are potent adipose differentiation inhibitors for primary culture of adipocyte precursors in defined medium.

Prostaglandin F2alpha inhibits adipose differentiation of primary culture of adipocyte precursors and of the adipogenic cell line 1246 in defined medium. In the present paper, we investigated the effect of FP receptor agonists cloprostenol and fluprostenol on the differentiation of newborn rat adipocyte precursors in primary culture. The results show that cloprostenol and fluprostenol are very potent inhibitors of adipose differentiation. Dose response studies indicate that both agonists are more potent than PGF2alpha in inhibiting adipocyte precursors differentiation. 50% inhibition of adipose differentiation was observed at a concentration of 3 x 10(-12) M for cloprostenol and 3 to 10 x 10(-11) M for fluprostenol respectively whereas the PGF2alpha concentration required to elicit the same effect was 10(-8) M. In contrast compounds structurally related to PGE2 such as 17-phenyl trinor PGE2 had no effect on adipose differentiation except when added at a 10,000-fold higher concentration.

Inhibition of adipose differentiation by 9 alpha, 11 beta-prostaglandin F2 alpha.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) is a potent adipose differentiation inhibitor for the adipogenic cell line 1246 and for adipocyte precursors in primary culture with an ED50 of 3 x 10(-8) M. In this paper, we examined the effect of several prostaglandins which have structural similarities with PGF2 alpha on the differentiation of 1246 cells and of adipocyte precursors in primary culture. The results show that only 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 alpha is as potent as PGF2 alpha to inhibit differentiation of adipocyte precursors in primary culture and of the adipogenic cell line 1246. In the presence of 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 alpha, the cells remained fibroblast-like, typical of undifferentiated adipocyte precursors. Triglyceride accumulation and increase of specific activity for glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were inhibited. In addition, mRNA expression of early markers of differentiation such as lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid binding protein (FAB) was decreased. The isomer 9 beta,11 alpha-PGF2 alpha and other PGF2 alpha derivatives were inactive. These results provide new information on the biological activity of 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 alpha as an inhibitor of adipose differentiation and about the structural characteristics of prostaglandins required for maintenance of a high adipose differentiation inhibitory effect.

Decreased transforming growth factor-beta response and binding in insulin-independent teratoma-derived cell lines with increased tumorigenic properties.

The mouse C3H teratoma-derived cell line 1246 is an adipogenic cell line which stringently requires insulin to proliferate and differentiate in defined medium. From this cell line an insulin-independent cell line called 1246-3A was isolated. It was found that, in contrast to 1246 cells, 1246-3A cells had lost the ability to differentiate and became tumorigenic when injected at a density of 10(6) cells/mouse into syngeneic host C3H mice. In addition, they produce in their culture medium transforming growth factor alpha- and beta-like polypeptides which stimulate their proliferation. Highly tumorigenic insulin-independent cell lines able to give rise to tumor when injected at a density of 10(4) cells/mouse were isolated by using an in vitro-in vivo shuttle technique. The highly tumorigenic cell lines have lost the response to TGF-beta 1. The binding of TGF-beta 1 to the nontumorigenic parent cell line or to cells displaying increased tumorigenic properties was investigated. The data presented here indicate that the increased tumorigenicity is accompanied by a progressive decrease of specific binding of TGF-beta 1 to the cells. However, the decreased number of cell surface TGF-beta 1 binding sites in the highly tumorigenic cells did not correlate with an increase in the secretion of TGF-beta protein by the tumorigenic cells, as all of TGF-beta produced by the cells was in a latent form. Affinity cross-linking experiments indicated that the 1246 cell line displayed several TGF-beta cross-linked molecular species (MW 140, 92, and 70 kDa). Increase of tumorigenicity was accompanied by a marked decrease in the intensity of the cross-linked bands, particularly of the 92 and 70 kDa species.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha inhibits the differentiation of adipocyte precursors in primary culture.

Influence of arachidonate metabolite pathway on adipose differentiation was investigated using primary culture of adipocyte precursors in defined medium. Treatment of the cells with cyclooxygenase inhibitors stimulates adipose differentiation by at least 2-fold. Among the various arachidonate metabolites tested, only prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) was found to inhibit the differentiation of adipocyte precursors in a dose dependent fashion. Other eicosanoids tested did not have any effect. A 50% inhibition of adipose differentiation was observed with a dose of PGF2 alpha of 3 x 10(-9)M to 7 x 10(-9)M according to the strain of rats used. Maximal inhibition occurred at PGF2 alpha concentrations equal or higher than 10(-8)M. PGF2 alpha inhibited not only the expression of late markers of adipose differentiation such as G3PDH and triglycerides accumulation but also the mRNA expression of early markers of adipose differentiation such as clone 154, lipoprotein lipase and ap2 gene. These results indicate that PGF2 alpha represents a physiological negative modulator of adipose differentiation.

Two distinct stages in the transition from naive CD4 T cells to effectors, early antigen-dependent and late cytokine-driven expansion and differentiation.

Efficient peptide presentation by professional APC to naive and effector CD4 T cells in vitro is limited to the first 1-2 days of culture, but is nonetheless optimum for effector expansion and cytokine production. In fact, prolonging Ag presentation leads to high levels of T cell death, decreased effector expansion, and decreased cytokine production by recovered effectors. Despite the absence of Ag presentation beyond day 2, T cell division continues at a constant rate throughout the 4-day culture. The Ag-independent later stage depends on the presence of IL-2, and we conclude optimum effector generation depends on an initial 2 days of TCR stimulation followed by an additional 2 days of Ag-independent, cytokine driven T cell expansion and differentiation.

CD4(+) T cell effectors can become memory cells with high efficiency and without further division.

Whether memory T lymphocytes are derived directly from effector T cells or via a separately controlled pathway has long been debated. Here we present evidence that, after adoptive transfer, a large fraction of in vitro--derived effector CD4(+) T cells have the potential to become memory T cells and that this transition can occur without further division. This data supports a linear pathway from effector to memory cells and suggests that most properties of memory cells are predetermined during effector generation. We suggest, therefore, that evaluation of vaccine efficacy in the induction of memory CD4(+) T cells should focus on the effector stage.

Impaired epidermal growth factor production in genetically obese ob/ob mice.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent inhibitor of adipose differentiation in vitro and delays adipose tissue development in vivo. Here we show that in the homozygous male obese mice the level of EGF in the submaxillary gland and plasma is significantly lower than in the glands and plasma of age-matched control littermates. This EGF deficiency in ob/ob mice was observed as early as 5 wk of age when obesity had just become apparent and was also found in adult mice. The level of prepro-EGF mRNA expression in the submaxillary gland was also lower in obese mice than in control littermates. However, the level of kidney prepro-EGF mRNA was the same in mice with both phenotypes, suggesting that the regulation of prepro-EGF mRNA expression is different in both tissues. These results indicate that genetic obesity in mice is accompanied by a decrease in the production of EGF.

Reciprocal regulation of polarized cytokine production by effector B and T cells.

Although B cells produce cytokines it is not known whether B cells can differentiate into effector subsets that secrete polarized arrays of cytokines. We have identified two populations of "effector" B cells (Be1 and Be2) that produce distinct patterns of cytokines depending on the cytokine environment in which the cells were stimulated during their primary encounter with antigen and T cells. These effector B cell subsets subsequently regulate the differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells to TH1 and TH2 cells through production of polarizing cytokines such as interleukin 4 and interferon gamma. In addition, Be1 and Be2 cells could be identified in animals that were infected with pathogens that preferentially induce a Type 1 and Type 2 immune response. Together these results suggest that, in addition to their well defined role in antibody production, B cells may regulate immune responses to infectious pathogens through their production of cytokines.