ABSTRACT
The Cbfa1/Runx2 (referred to herein as Cbfa1) transcription factor has been shown to be essential for osteoblast differentiation and bone formation during embryogenesis. PTH given intermittently is a proven bone anabolic agent. Here, we investigated whether PTH regulates the expression and/or activity of Cbfa1 in osteoblastic cells and in a rat metatarsal organ culture assay. PTH was found to regulate Cbfa1 mRNA in the rat osteosarcoma cell line UMR106 in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of PTH was mimicked by forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase leading to the protein kinase A pathway. PTH administered intermittently for 5 d in vivo was found to stimulate Cbfa1 protein in the rat proximal tibiae metaphysis. To demonstrate PTH regulation of Cbfa1 activity, a construct containing six tandem Cbfa1 binding elements fused to luciferase was shown to be rapidly stimulated in response to PTH. This stimulation preceded the effects on mRNA regulation and resulted from a protein kinase A-mediated increase in Cbfa1 activity. Finally, using a neonate rat metatarsal organ culture system, we demonstrated dose-dependent anabolic responsiveness to PTH and to Cbfa1 overexpression from an adenoviral construct. We further showed that Cbfa1 antisense oligonucleotides that blocked adenoviral Cbfa1-induced anabolic effects in this organ culture model also abolished the PTH-mediated anabolic increase. These findings suggest a requirement for Cbfa1 in mediating the anabolic effects of PTH. Thus, regulation of Cbfa1 expression or activity is an important mechanism by which PTH controls osteoblast function.
Subject(s)
Bone and Bones/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation/physiology , Neoplasm Proteins , Osteogenesis/physiology , Parathyroid Hormone/pharmacology , Signal Transduction/physiology , Transcription Factors/biosynthesis , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Blotting, Northern , Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Gene Expression Regulation/genetics , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , In Vitro Techniques , Metatarsal Bones/metabolism , Osteogenesis/genetics , Parathyroid Hormone/physiology , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Response Elements/genetics , Response Elements/physiology , Signal Transduction/genetics , Tibia/metabolism , Transcription Factors/genetics , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Transcriptional Activation/genetics , Transcriptional Activation/physiology , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The clinical effectiveness of parenterally-administered glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mimetics to improve glucose control in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes strongly supports discovery pursuits aimed at identifying and developing orally active, small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonists. The purpose of these studies was to identify and characterize novel nonpeptide agonists of the GLP-1 receptor. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Screening using cells expressing the GLP-1 receptor and insulin secretion assays with rodent and human islets were used to identify novel molecules. The intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and hyperglycemic clamp characterized the insulinotropic effects of compounds in vivo. RESULTS: Novel low molecular weight pyrimidine-based compounds that activate the GLP-1 receptor and stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion are described. These molecules induce GLP-1 receptor-mediated cAMP signaling in HEK293 cells expressing the GLP-1 receptor and increase insulin secretion from rodent islets in a dose-dependent manner. The compounds activate GLP-1 receptor signaling, both alone or in an additive fashion when combined with the endogenous GLP-1 peptide; however, these agonists do not compete with radiolabeled GLP-1 in receptor-binding assays. In vivo studies using the IVGTT and the hyperglycemic clamp in Sprague Dawley rats demonstrate increased insulin secretion in compound-treated animals. Further, perifusion assays with human islets isolated from a donor with type 2 diabetes show near-normalization of insulin secretion upon compound treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These studies characterize the insulinotropic effects of an early-stage, small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist and provide compelling evidence to support pharmaceutical optimization.