Leptin resistance elicits depressive-like behaviors in rats.

There is a growing appreciation that the complications of obesity extend to the central nervous system (CNS) and include increased risk for development of neuropsychiatric co-morbidities such as depressive illness. The neurological consequences of obesity may develop as a continuum and involve a progression of pathological features which is initiated by leptin resistance. Leptin resistance is a hallmark feature of obesity, but it is unknown whether leptin resistance or blockage of leptin action is casually linked to the neurological changes which underlie depressive-like phenotypes. Accordingly, the aim of the current study was to examine whether chronic administration of a pegylated leptin receptor antagonist (Peg-LRA) elicits depressive-like behaviors in adult male rats. Peg-LRA administration resulted in endocrine and metabolic features that are characteristic of an obesity phenotype. Peg-LRA rats also exhibited increased immobility in the forced swim test, depressive-like behaviors that were accompanied by indices of peripheral inflammation. These results demonstrate that leptin resistance elicits an obesity phenotype that is characterized by peripheral immune changes and depressive-like behaviors in rats, supporting the concept that co-morbid obesity and depressive illness develop as a continuum resulting from changes in the peripheral endocrine and metabolic milieu.

Pegylated leptin antagonist with strong orexigenic activity in mice is not effective in chickens.

A chicken gene orthologous to human leptin receptor (LEPR) has been characterized and found to be active in leptin signaling in vitro in response to a variety of recombinant leptins and leptin-containing blood samples. However, the endogenous ligand of chicken LEPR (cLEPR) - the putative chicken leptin - has been reported by us and others to be undetectable at the DNA, mRNA, protein and activity levels. These reports have raised questions as to cLEPR's role. Here we analyzed the effects of a pegylated superactive mouse leptin antagonist (PEG-SMLA) in chicken. We showed that the leptin antagonist efficiently and specifically blocks leptin signaling through the cLEPR in vitro. The effect of the leptin antagonist was then studied in vivo by daily administration of 10 mg kg(-1) for 10 consecutive days to white leghorn female chickens (Gallus gallus) at the age of 2 weeks. Despites the efficient attenuation of the cLEPR in vitro, no effect was observed on body mass, feed intake, feed efficiency or fat accumulation in the treated birds. Because similar treatment in rodents leads to a highly pronounced increase in appetite and body mass that are observed from the first day of treatment, it is concluded that the cLEPR is not implicated in the control of appetite or adipose homeostasis in chickens.

Large-scale implementation of pooled RNA extraction and RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

INTRODUCTION: Testing for active SARS-CoV-2 infection is a fundamental tool in the public health measures taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the overwhelming use of SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription (RT)-PCR tests worldwide, the availability of test kits has become a major bottleneck and the need to increase testing throughput is rising. We aim to overcome these challenges by pooling samples together, and performing RNA extraction and RT-PCR in pools. METHODS: We tested the efficiency and sensitivity of pooling strategies for RNA extraction and RT-PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2. We tested 184 samples both individually and in pools to estimate the effects of pooling. We further implemented Dorfman pooling with a pool size of eight samples in large-scale clinical tests. RESULTS: We demonstrated pooling strategies that increase testing throughput while maintaining high sensitivity. A comparison of 184 samples tested individually and in pools of eight samples showed that test results were not significantly affected. Implementing the eight-sample Dorfman pooling to test 26 576 samples from asymptomatic individuals, we identified 31 (0.12%) SARS-CoV-2 positive samples, achieving a 7.3-fold increase in throughput. DISCUSSION: Pooling approaches for SARS-CoV-2 testing allow a drastic increase in throughput while maintaining clinical sensitivity. We report the successful large-scale pooled screening of asymptomatic populations.

20-kDa placental hGH-V has diminished diabetogenic and lactogenic activities compared with 22-kDa hGH-N while retaining antilipogenic activity.

Placental human growth hormone-variant (hGH-V) and pituitary human growth hormone-N (hGH-N) are of identical size (22 kDa) but differ in 13 residues scattered throughout the protein. Several isoforms of GH are produced by the hGH-N and hGH-V genes including a 20-kDa hGH-V resulting from a 45-bp deletion caused by the use of an alternative acceptor site within exon 3. To date, the biological properties of the 20-kDa GH-V have not been characterized in vivo. Using young male Wistar rats fed either chow or a high-fat (HF) diet for 4 wk postweaning, we investigated the effect of 7 days treatment with either 22-kDa hGH-N, 20-kDa hGH-V (5 ug x g(-1) x day(-1) sc), or vehicle on body composition and endocrine and metabolic profiles. Total body growth (absolute weight gain and linear growth trajectory) in the 20-kDa hGH-V-treated animals was intermediary between that of control and hGH-N-treated animals. Both 22-kDa hGH-N and 20-kDa hGH-V significantly reduced total body fat mass compared with control animals, and there were no differences between the GH isoforms in anti-lipogenic activity in animals fed the HF diet. Fasting plasma insulin and C peptide were significantly increased in animals on the HF diet and further increased by hGH-N but were unchanged in 20-kDa hGH-V-treated animals compared with saline-treated controls. Plasma volume as assessed by hematocrit was increased in hGH-N-treated animals but was unchanged in 20-kDa hGH-V-treated animals compared with controls. Furthermore, 20-kDa hGH-V had reduced lactogenic (prolactin receptor mediated) activity characteristic of hGH-N as tested in vitro compared with the 20-kDa hGH-N and 22-kDa hGH-N variants. In summary, placental 20-kDa hGH-V retains some of the growth-promoting and all antilipogenic activities of pituitary 22-kDa hGH-N but has diminished diabetogenic and lactogenic properties compared with the native 22-kDa hGH-N.

Millikan "oil drop" stabilized by growth.

A diffusion cloud chamber has been used to qualitatively study some dynamic properties of liquid drops by suspending them in an electric field at the plane of saturation (p/ps = 1, where p is the actual partial pressure of the vapor at a given elevation and ps is the equilibrium pressure at that temperature characteristic of that elevation). By varying the strength of the electric field, it is possible to change the size of the suspended droplets and even, if desired, to isolate a single drop.

Sources of volatile organic compounds in Cairo's ambient air.

The greater Cairo area suffers from extreme levels of gas and particulate phase air pollutants. In order to reduce the levels of ambient pollution, the USAID and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) have supported the Cairo Air Improvement Project (CAIP). As part of this project, two intensive ambient monitoring studies were carried out during the period of February 22 to March 4 and October 27 to November 27, 1999. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured on a 24-h basis at six sampling stations during each of the intensive periods. During the February/March study, samples were collected daily, while in the October/November study samples were collected every other day. The six intensive measurement sites represented background levels, mobile source impacts, industrial impacts, and residential exposure. High levels of NMHC were observed at all locations. NMHC concentrations ranged from 365 ppb C at Helwan to 1,848 ppb C at El Qualaly during winter, 1999 and from 461 ppb C at Kaha to 2,037 ppb C at El Qualaly during fall, 1999. El Qualaly, the site chosen to represent mobile emissions, displayed the highest average NMHC concentrations of any site, by a factor of 2 or more. The highest mobile source contributions were estimated at this site. The major contributors to NMHC at all sites were mobile emissions, lead smelting, and compressed natural gas.

A putative physiological role of hypothalamic CNTF in the control of energy homeostasis.

Administration of CNTF durably reduces food intake and body weight in obese humans and rodent models. However, the involvement of endogenous CNTF in the central regulation of energy homeostasis needs to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that CNTF and its receptor are expressed in the arcuate nucleus, a key hypothalamic region controlling food intake, and that CNTF levels are inversely correlated to body weight in rats fed a high-sucrose diet. Thus endogenous CNTF may act, in some individuals, as a protective factor against weight gain during hypercaloric diet and could account for individual differences in the susceptibility to obesity.

Early postnatal leptin blockage leads to a long-term leptin resistance and susceptibility to diet-induced obesity in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Using a recombinant rat leptin antagonist, we investigated the effects of early postnatal leptin disruption on long-term leptin sensitivity and metabolic phenotype. DESIGN: Three groups of 10 newborn female Wistar rats were injected subcutaneously with either saline (control) or leptin antagonist (at 2.5 or 7.5 microg g(-1) day(-1)) from postnatal day 2 to day 13. RESULTS: At weaning (day 28), antagonist-treated rats presented similar body weight (BW) compared to control animals. At 3 months of age, there was no significant change in BW, food intake and leptin or insulin levels between groups. Only a disturbed relationship between circulating insulin and glucose levels was observed in antagonist-treated animals. At 4 months of age, treated animals developed a leptin resistance appreciated by the lack of response to a 7-days leptin treatment (1 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) in term of decrease in food intake and BW. At 8 months of age, following 3 months of high-energy diet, rlepm7.5 animals presented higher BW gain associated with increased body fatness and striking hyperleptinaemia as compared to control animals. CONCLUSION: The blockage of leptin action during the critical period of early life in rodents has long-term consequences by altering the capacity to respond to leptin during adulthood, thus predisposing the animals to obesity. These findings clearly demonstrate the physiological importance of the postnatal leptin surge for the optimal onset of the metabolic regulation, at least in rodents, and its implication in the prevention of unfavourable developmental programming.

Large-scale preparation and in vitro characterization of biologically active human placental (20 and 22K) and pituitary (20K) growth hormones: placental growth hormones have no lactogenic activity in humans.

Expression plasmids containing DNA sequences optimized for expression in Escherichia coli were prepared encoding human pituitary (hGH-N 20K) and placental (hGH-V 20 and 22K) growth hormones. The proteins were expressed in bacteria, refolded and purified to homogeneity by anion-exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose according to a unique protocol developed for each protein. The yields from 5l of fermentation culture varied between 400 and 700mg of electrophoretically pure, over 95% monomeric protein. Circular dichroism (CD) analysis revealed similarity of the purified hGHs' secondary structure to that of the pituitary hGH-N 22K, except for hGH-V 20K, in which the alpha-helix content was lower. The purified proteins were stable as a 0.1% sterile solution held at pH 10-11 at 4 degrees C for at least one month. All three purified hGH molecules formed a 1:2 complex with hGH receptor extracellular domain (hGHR-ECD), similar to hGH-N 22K. Binding experiments using hGHR-ECD revealed that the differences between the two 22K variants or between the two 20K variants were not significant, except that hGH-V 20K exhibited slightly lower affinity. Somatogenic activity was tested in vitro using FDC-P1 cell lines. Whereas the bioactivity of 22K hGHs and hGH-N 20K in FDC-P1-9D11 cells stably transfected with hGHR was almost equal and two to threefold higher than that of hGH-V 20K, in FDC-P1 3B9 cells stably transfected with rabbit (rb) GHR, the bioactivity of both 20K analogues was significantly (five to ninefold) lower than that of the 22K hormones. The lactogenic activity measured in heterologous assays (Nb2-11C cells and Baf/3 cells stably transfected with the long form of rabbit prolactin receptor) revealed that the activity of hGH-N 20K was close to that of hGH-N 22K in the Baf/3 cells, but 4.5-fold lower in the Nb2 cells. The activity of hGH-V 22K was ninefold less in Nb2 cells and 55-fold less in Baf/3 cells, whereas hGH-V 20K had no lactogenic activity in either bioassay. In contrast, in a homologous lactogenic assay using Baf/3 LP cells stably transfected with hPRLR, the activity of both placental hGHs was nil and the activity of hGH-N 20K was 4.3-fold lower than that of hGH-N 22K. The latter finding raises the question of whether the lack of intrinsic lactogenic activity in the placental hGHs that dominate during pregnancy has any physiological relevance.

Mapping leptin-interacting sites in recombinant leptin-binding domain (LBD) subcloned from chicken leptin receptor.

The binding domain of the chicken leptin receptor [chLBD (chicken leptin-binding domain)], subcloned from the full-size chicken leptin receptor and prepared in an Escherichia coli system, was subjected to site-directed mutagenesis to identify the amino acids involved in leptin binding. A total of 22 electrophoretically pure, >90% monomer-containing mutants were expressed, refolded and purified. The effects of the mutations were tested by the ability to form complexes with ovine leptin, and the kinetic parameters of interaction were determined by surface plasmon resonance. Six mutants were used to determine whether mutations of several amino acids that differ between chLBD and mammalian LBDs will affect affinity: none showed any such effect, except the mutant A105D (Ala(105)-->Asp), which exhibited some decrease in affinity. Surface plasmon resonance analysis identified six mutants in which binding activity was totally abolished (F73A, Y14A/F73A, V76A/F77A, L78A/L79A, V76A/F77A/L78A/L79A and A105D/D106V) and six mutants (Y14A, R41A, R41A/S42A/K43A, V103A, V135A/F136A and F136A) in which affinity for the hormone was reduced, mainly by increased dissociation rates. Gel-filtration experiments indicated the formation of a 1:1 ovine or human leptin-chLBD complex with a molecular mass of approx. 41 kDa. Gel-filtration experiments yielded 1:1 complexes with those mutants in which affinity had decreased, but not with the six mutants, which had totally lost their binding capacity. Modelling the leptin-chLBD complex indicated that the binding domain of the latter is located mainly in the L3 loop, which contributes nine amino acid residues interacting with leptin. Contact-surface analysis identified the residues having the highest contribution to the recognition site to be Phe73, Phe77 and Leu79.

Enhancement of alpha-chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of specific p-nitroanilide substrates by 4-phenylbutylamine derivative of hen egg-white lysozyme.

Modification of hen egg-white lysozyme by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide in presence of 4-phenylbutylamine yielded derivatives, which contained 0.6--0.7 modified residues and retained about 60% of the original activity. Kinetic studies revealed that the modified-lysozyme increases approx. 20-fold the kcat of hydrolysis of SucGly2Phe-4-nitroanilide by alphachymotrypsin, without changing the Km. The apparent dissociation constant of phenylbutylamine-modified lysozyme . chymotrypsin complex was found to be 0.03 mM and independent of substrate concentration. The accelerating effect of the modified lysozyme was also observed with other p-nitroanilide substrates of alpha-chymotrypsin. However, the hydrolysis of other substrates, acylation by active site titrant or inhibition by irreversible or competitive inhibitors were uneffected. The enhancing effect of the modified lysozyme seems to be very specific since other chymotrypsin-like enzymes, or serine proteinases except delta-chymotrypsin, were not influenced and phenylbutylamine derivatives of alpha-lactalbumin or ribonuclease were lacking any enhancing effect. Smaller, but significant enhancing effect was found also in lysozyme substituted by benzylamine, beta-phenylethylamine and tryptamine and in inactive derivatives of lysozyme substituted by phenylbutylamine. Competitive inhibitors of lysozyme such as N-acetyl-D-glucose amine oligomers, (GlcNAc)2 and (GlcNAc)3 abolished partially the accelerating effect of phenylbutylamine-modified lysozyme, indicating that the substituted group is located in the vicinity of the binding site.

Neonatal leptin treatment reverses developmental programming.

An adverse prenatal environment may induce long-term metabolic consequences, in particular obesity and insulin resistance. Although the mechanisms are unclear, this programming has generally been considered an irreversible change in developmental trajectory. Adult offspring of rats subjected to undernutrition during pregnancy develop obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia, especially in the presence of a high-fat diet. Reduced locomotor activity and hyperphagia contribute to the increased fat mass. Using this model of maternal undernutrition, we investigated the effects of neonatal leptin treatment on the metabolic phenotype of adult female offspring. Leptin treatment (rec-rat leptin, 2.5 microg/g.d, sc) from postnatal d 3-13 resulted in a transient slowing of neonatal weight gain, particularly in programmed offspring, and normalized caloric intake, locomotor activity, body weight, fat mass, and fasting plasma glucose, insulin, and leptin concentrations in programmed offspring in adult life in contrast to saline-treated offspring of undernourished mothers who developed all these features on a high-fat diet. Neonatal leptin had no demonstrable effects on the adult offspring of normally fed mothers. This study suggests that developmental metabolic programming is potentially reversible by an intervention late in the phase of developmental plasticity. The complete normalization of the programmed phenotype by neonatal leptin treatment implies that leptin has effects that reverse the prenatal adaptations resulting from relative fetal undernutrition.

Chimeric bovine-human growth hormone prepared by recombinant DNA technology: binding properties and biological activity.

A chimeric bovine GH (amino acids Met-Asp-Gln-greater than 1-23) and human GH (hGH) (amino acids 24-191) plasmid was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified protein (chimeric GH) exhibited a 2-3 order of magnitude lower affinity toward lactogenic receptors in Nb2 lymphoma cells, microsomal fractions from bovine mammary gland and male rat liver. The affinity towards somatogenic receptors in IM-9 human lymphocytes and male rat liver was decreased to a much lesser degree. This diminished affinity towards lactogenic receptors was accompanied by a parallel decrease in the ability of the chimeric GH to stimulate proliferation of Nb2-11C lymphoma cells and the lipogenesis in bovine mammary gland. This implies that occupation of the respective receptors by either chimeric GH or hGH leads to identical postreceptoral effects. The chimeric GH was also capable of down-regulating the lactogenic receptors in Nb2 lymphoma cells and was recognized by three anti-hGH monoclonal antibodies. These and previously published results indicate that the N-terminal part of hGH is essential for the high affinity binding to lactogenic receptors and subsequent biological effect. Removal or replacement by a corresponding part of bovine GH converts the hormone, respectively to weak antagonist or agonists. Analysis of our data, based on hydropathy index leads us to suggest that the high affinity binding site of the hGH towards lactogenic receptors is mainly confined to amino acids nos. 8-18.

Site-directed mutations of human growth hormone that selectively modify its lactogenic activity and binding properties.

Two novel analogs of human (h) GH, 1) Des-7-hGH (Arg8Met, Asp11Ala) in which the Arg8 was substituted by Met and Asp11 by Ala, and 2) bovine (b) GH/hGH hybrid II (MetAla 1-13/14-191, Ala11Asp) composed of 13 N-terminal amino acid of bGH and elongated by two amino acids (Met-Ala-1-13) and 14-191 amino acids of hGH, were constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. CD spectra indicated that the alpha-helix content of the purified proteins was similar to that of the native hormone. Both analogs retained their full ability to stimulate the proliferation of Nb2 lymphoma cells, and their binding to the lactogen receptors in homogenate of Nb2 cells and in microsomal fraction from bovine lactating mammary gland was only slightly reduced. However, their ability to bind to the somatogen receptors in intact IM-9 lymphocytes and bovine liver was reduced by 7- to 11-fold (bGH/hGH hybrid II) and 20- to 30-fold (Des-7-hGH). Both analogs were able to down-regulate the respective lactogen and somatogen receptors in intact Nb2 and IM-9 cells. The galactopoietic activity of both analogs in the lactating bovine mammary explants bioassay was almost completely abolished, and the bGH/hGH hybrid II exhibited a remarkable antagonistic activity. These results further indicate that the lactogen receptors in different species or organs are not identical. We have shown that the new recombinant analogs of hGH that recognize both somatogen and lactogen receptors but have modified postreceptor effects are helpful in elucidating these differences.

Insensitivity of well-conditioned mature sheep to central administration of a leptin receptor antagonist.

Ruminants remain productive during the energy insufficiency of late pregnancy or early lactation by evoking metabolic adaptations sparing available energy and nutrients (e.g. higher metabolic efficiency and induction of insulin resistance). A deficit in central leptin signaling triggers these adaptations in rodents but whether it does in ruminants remains unclear. To address this issue, five mature ewes were implanted with intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula in the third ventricle. They were used in two experiments with an ovine leptin antagonist (OLA) when well-conditioned (average body condition score of 3.7 on a 5 point scale). The first experiment tested the ability of OLA to antagonize leptin under in vivo conditions. Ewes received continuous ICV infusion of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF), ovine leptin (4 µg/h) or the combination of ovine leptin (4 µg/h) and its mutant version OLA (40 µg/h) for 48 h. Dry matter intake (DMI) was measured every day and blood samples were collected on the last day of infusion. ICV infusion of leptin reduced DMI by 24% (P < 0.05), and this effect was completely abolished by OLA co-infusion. A second experiment tested whether a reduction in endogenous leptin signaling in the brain triggers metabolic adaptations. This involved continuous ICV infusions of aCSF or OLA alone (40 µg/h) for 4 consecutive days. The infusion of OLA did not alter voluntary DMI over the treatment period or on any individual day. OLA did not affect plasma variables indicative of insulin action (glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, insulin and the disposition of plasma glucose during an insulin tolerance test) or plasma cortisol, but tended to reduce plasma triiodothyronine and thyroxine (P < 0.07). Overall, these data show that a reduction of central leptin signaling has little impact on insulin action in well-conditioned mature sheep. They also raise the possibility that reduced central leptin signaling plays a role in controlling thyroid hormone production.

Milk from dams fed an obesogenic diet combined with a high-fat/high-sugar diet induces long-term abnormal mammary gland development in the rabbit.

Alterations to the metabolic endocrine environment during early life are crucial to mammary gland development. Among these environmental parameters, the initial nutritional event after birth is the consumption of milk, which represents the first maternal support provided to mammalian newborns. Milk is a complex fluid that exerts effects far beyond its immediate nutritional value. The present study, therefore, aimed to determine the effect of the nutritional changes during the neonatal and prepubertal periods on the adult mammary phenotype. Newborn rabbits were suckled by dams fed a high-fat/high-sugar obesogenic (OD) or a control (CON) diet and then subsequently fed either the OD or CON diets from the onset of puberty and throughout early pregnancy. Mammary glands were collected during early pregnancy (Day 8 of pregnancy). Rabbits fed with OD milk and then subjected to an OD diet displayed an abnormal development of the mammary gland: the mammary ducts were markedly enlarged (P < 0.05) and filled with abundant secretory products. Moreover, the alveolar secretory structures were disorganized, with an abnormal aspect characterized by large lumina. Mammary epithelial cells contained numerous large lipid droplets and exhibited fingering of the apical membrane and abnormally enlarged intercellular spaces filled with casein micelles. Leptin has been shown to be involved in modulating several developmental processes. We therefore analyzed its expression in the mammary gland. Mammary leptin mRNA was strongly expressed in rabbits fed with OD milk and subjected to an OD diet by comparison with the CON rabbits. Leptin transcripts and protein were localized in the epithelial cells, indicating that the increase in leptin synthesis occurs in this compartment. Taken together, these findings suggest that early-life nutritional history, in particular through the milking period, can determine subsequent mammary gland development. Moreover, they highlight the potentially important regulatory role that leptin may play during critical early-life nutritional windows with respect to long-term growth and mammary function.

Effect of insulin-like growth factor I on deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and galactopoiesis in bovine undifferentiated and lactating mammary tissue in vitro.

We have demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), at physiological concentrations, is a potent mitogen of bovine undifferentiated mammary epithelial cells cultured in collagen in serum-free medium. Its activity is independent of insulin, although at pharmacological concentrations insulin may substitute for IGF-I. The maximal [3H]thymidine incorporation stimulated by either IGF-I or insulin was only 25-40% of that in medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) only. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) exhibited low mitogenic activity which was not synergistic with IGF-I in serum-free medium. IGF-I and EGF had low synergistic activity when added separately to 10% FCS-supplemented medium. Strong synergism (100% or more) was observed, however, when both factors were added simultaneously, indicating that their maximum mitogenic effect is dependent on a simultaneous presence of other factors existing in FCS. The galactopoietic effect of IGF-I was tested in organ culture of bovine lactating mammary gland. Neither fatty acid synthesis nor alpha-lactalbumin secretion was stimulated by IGF-I, even at 2000 ng/ml. These results indicate that, at least in our in vitro system, galactopoiesis is not affected by IGF-I.

Enhancement of human growth hormone-stimulated mitogenesis of Nb2 node lymphoma cells by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate.

The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) enhanced human (h) GH- and ovine PRL-stimulated mitogenesis of the Nb2-11C clone of rat lymphoma cells. Maximal enhancement of 25% in the proliferation rate was achieved with 20 nM TPA. The enhancing effect was found at all levels of hGH (0.031-2.0 ng/ml), but was more pronounced at lower hormone concentrations. TPA alone had no effect on cell proliferation, and its activity was absolutely dependent on the simultaneous presence of the lactogenic hormones. We have analyzed the changes that occurred in the distribution of cells in different phases of the cell cycle during the first 22 h after exposure to hGH and measured the proliferation rate through 3 days. We have found that the mitogenic effect of hGH resulted from 1) an increase in the rate of G0/G1----S transition, 2) a decrease in the lag period required for entry into the S phase, and 3) an increase in the number of cells entering this transition. TPA enhanced all three effects. Binding of [125I]hGH was not affected by prior exposure to TPA, suggesting that the effect of TPA is at a postreceptor level. Proliferation of an autonomous clone of Nb2 cells that does not require lactogenic hormones for growth was not stimulated by TPA, although these cells bound [3H]TPA to the same extent as the PRL-dependent Nb2-11C clone.

N-terminal-truncated recombinant analogs of bovine placental lactogen: interaction with human and rat growth hormone receptors and insulin-like growth factor-I secretion mediated by somatogenic receptors in rat hepatocytes.

Bovine placental lactogen (bPL) was found to be as potent as human GH (hGH) in its ability to bind to soluble full-size recombinant hGH-binding protein (hGHBP) and to membrane-embedded hGH receptor in intact IM-9 human lymphocytes. bPL was also capable of forming a 1:2 complex with hGHBP, although the structure of this complex was probably more compact than that with hGH. Removal of 13 amino acids from the N-terminus of bPL did not affect its ability to bind to hGHBP or hGH receptors in intact IM-9 cells. Its ability to form a 1:2 complex with hGHBP was, however, impaired, unlike that of a corresponding analog in which an L28F mutation has been simultaneously introduced. Truncation of 17 amino acids decreased its affinity toward both hGHBP and GH receptors on intact IM-9 lymphocytes and in liver rat microsomal fraction and inhibited the formation of 1:2 complexes with hGHBP. Simultaneous L28F mutation did not affect affinity toward hGHBP, but increased affinity toward rat liver GH receptors and restored affinity toward membrane-embedded hGH receptors in IM-9 lymphocytes and the ability to form a 1:2 complex with hGHBP. Truncation of 20 amino acids further decreased affinity toward both hGHBP and receptors in intact IM-9 lymphocytes and completely abolished formation of a 1:2 complex with hGHBP. Both des-13-bPLs and bPL-des-17 (L28F) retained their full ability to stimulate insulin-like growth factor-I secretion by rat hepatocytes compared to that of bPL. The insulin-like growth factor-I stimulatory activities of bPL-des-17 and bPL-des-20, however, were decreased to 1-5%. These results indicate that the stoichiometry of 1:2 complex formation with hGHBP may be preserved despite decreased receptor binding affinity, but the lower affinity of the putative site 1 or site 2 of the analog may account for the decrease in biological activity. Furthermore, the ability or inability of bPL or its truncated analogs to form 1:2 complexes with soluble hGHBP cannot predict their somatogen receptor-mediated biological activity in rat hepatocytes.

Comparative study of in vitro and in vivo modulation of lactogenic and somatotropic receptors by native human growth hormone and its modified analog prepared by recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid technology.

A modified analog of human GH (hGH), prepared by recombinant DNA technology, that lacks 13 amino acids at the amino terminus (Met14hGH), was able to compete with [125I]hGH for binding to lactogenic receptors in Nb2-11C rat lymphoma cells, to somatotropic receptors in IM-9 human lymphocytes, and to both lactogenic and somatotropic receptors in the microsomal fraction of virgin female rat liver. Exposure of intact Nb2 or IM-9 cells to Met14hGH did not reduce the number of surface or intracellular receptors, as compared to the control without hormone. A parallel exposure to 500-fold lower concentrations of hGH resulted in 77-93% reduction in both surface and intracellular receptors. In contrast to [125I]hGH, [125I]Met14hGH was not taken up by the intact Nb2 lymphoma cells. Infusion of anesthetized female virgin rats for 3 h with hGH down-regulated both lactogenic and somatotropic receptors in the liver. A similar infusion with up to 200-fold higher amounts of Met14hGH did not lower the number of total receptors, indicating lack of down-regulation. Some decrease in the binding to free receptors was observed, suggesting that Met14hGH is capable of binding to liver receptors in vivo.