Effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of agrin and acetylcholine receptor subtypes in rats with tibialis anterior muscular atrophy induced by sciatic nerve injection injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on mRNA and protein expression of agrin, acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-ε and AChR-γ in a rat model of tibialis anterior muscle atrophy induced by sciatic nerve injection injury, and to examine the underlying mechanism of action. METHODS: Fifty-four adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: healthy control group (CON, n=6); sciatic nerve injury group (SNI, n=24), comprising rats euthanased at 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively, after penicillin injection-induced SNI (n=6 each); CON+EA group (n=12), comprising healthy rats euthanased at 4 and 6 weeks (after 2 and 4 weeks, respectively, of EA at GB30 and ST36); and SNI+EA group, comprising rats euthanased at 4 and 6 weeks (after 2 and 4 weeks, respectively, of EA). The sciatic nerve functional index (SFI), tibialis anterior muscle weight, muscle fibre cross-sectional area (CSA), and changes in agrin, AChR-ε, and AChR-γ expression levels were analysed. RESULTS: Compared with the control group (CON), SNI rats showed decreased SFI. The weight of the tibialis anterior muscle and muscle fibre CSA decreased initially and recovered slightly over time. mRNA/protein expression of agrin and AChR-ε were downregulated and AChR-γ expression was detectable (vs zero expression in the CON/CON+EA groups). There were no significant differences in CON+EA versus CON groups. However, the SNI+EA group exhibited significant improvements compared with the untreated SNI group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA may alleviate tibialis anterior muscle atrophy induced by sciatic nerve injection injury by upregulating agrin and AChR-ε and downregulating AChR-γ.

Impacts of maternal selenium supply and nutritional plane on visceral tissues and intestinal biology in 180-day-old offspring in sheep.

Objectives were to investigate the effects of maternal Se supply and nutritional plane during gestation on offspring visceral tissues and indices of intestinal growth, vascularity, and function at 180 d of age. Rambouillet ewe lambs (n = 82, approximately 240 d of age; 52 ± 0.8 kg BW at breeding) were allocated to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments included dietary Se [adequate Se (ASe, 9.5 µg/kg BW) or high Se (HSe, 81.8 µg/kg BW)] initiated at breeding and nutritional plane [60% (restricted, RES), 100% (control, CON), and 140% (high, HI) of requirements] initiated at d 50 of gestation. Ewes were fed pelleted diets and housed individually indoors. At parturition, lambs were immediately removed and fed artificial colostrum for the first 20 h followed by ad libitum access to milk replacer. At 180 ± 2 d of age, lambs were euthanized and tissues were harvested. Birth weight was affected by nutritional treatments (P < 0.001), with decreased birth weight in RES and HI compared with CON. Offspring from RES and HI ewes had decreased (P = 0.07) blood volume compared with CON, and those born to HSe ewes had increased (P < 0.04) total visceral adiposity. Within offspring from CON ewes, those from HSe ewes had greater (P < 0.02) intestinal mass compared with ASe ewes. Within offspring from HSe ewes, both RES and HI had reduced (P ≤ 0.05) intestinal mass compared with CON. Jejunal capillary area density was greater (P = 0.08) in offspring from ewes fed HSe compared with ASe. In addition, area per capillary was greater (P ≤ 0.09) in CON compared with RES. Maternal nutritional plane tended (P ≤ 0.11) to alter total small intestinal vascularity, with lambs from CON being greater than RES. Expression of most mRNA for measured angiogenic factors and receptors was not altered (P ≤ 0.13) by maternal treatments; however, expression of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) was decreased (P = 0.07) in offspring from RES compared with CON ewes. Offspring from ewes fed HI diets had increased (P = 0.08) jejunal mucosal maltase activity. In conclusion, maternal Se supply and nutritional plane during gestation resulted in measurable changes in offspring visceral tissues and intestinal biology, including perirenal fat, blood volume, intestinal mass, total jejunal crypt cell proliferation, area per capillary in jejunal villi, GLP-2 mRNA expression, and maltase activity at 180 d. Additional work is needed to determine impacts on intestinal function and nutrient uptake.

Molecular mechanisms of curcumin action: gene expression.

Curcumin derived from the tropical plant Curcuma longa has a long history of use as a dietary agent, food preservative, and in traditional Asian medicine. It has been used for centuries to treat biliary disorders, anorexia, cough, diabetic wounds, hepatic disorders, rheumatism, and sinusitis. The preventive and therapeutic properties of curcumin are associated with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Extensive research over several decades has attempted to identify the molecular mechanisms of curcumin action. Curcumin modulates numerous molecular targets by altering their gene expression, signaling pathways, or through direct interaction. Curcumin regulates the expression of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF, IL-1), growth factors (e.g., VEGF, EGF, FGF), growth factor receptors (e.g., EGFR, HER-2, AR), enzymes (e.g., COX-2, LOX, MMP9, MAPK, mTOR, Akt), adhesion molecules (e.g., ELAM-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1), apoptosis related proteins (e.g., Bcl-2, caspases, DR, Fas), and cell cycle proteins (e.g., cyclin D1). Curcumin modulates the activity of several transcription factors (e.g., NF-κB, AP-1, STAT) and their signaling pathways. Based on its ability to affect multiple targets, curcumin has the potential for the prevention and treatment of various diseases including cancers, arthritis, allergies, atherosclerosis, aging, neurodegenerative disease, hepatic disorders, obesity, diabetes, psoriasis, and autoimmune diseases. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of modulation of gene expression by curcumin.

BZL101, a phytochemical extract from the Scutellaria barbata plant, disrupts proliferation of human breast and prostate cancer cells through distinct mechanisms dependent on the cancer cell phenotype.

BZL101 is an aqueous extract from the Scutellaria barbata plant shown to have anticancer properties in a variety of human cancers. In order to determine its efficacy on human reproductive cancers, we assessed the responses of two human breast cancer cell lines, estrogen sensitive MCF7 and estrogen insensitive MDA-MB-231, and of two human prostate cancer cell lines, androgen sensitive LNCaP and androgen insensitive PC3 which are human cell lines that represent early and late stage reproductive cancers. BZL101 inhibited reproductive cancer growth in all cell lines by regulating expression levels of key cell cycle components that differ with respect to the cancer cell phenotypes. In early stage estrogen sensitive MCF7 cells, BZL101 induced a G1 cell cycle arrest and ablated expression of key G1 cell cycle regulators Cyclin D1, CDK2 and CDK4, as well as growth factor stimulatory pathways and estrogen receptor-α expression. Transfection of luciferase reporter plasmids revealed that the loss of CDK2, CDK4 and estrogen receptor-α transcript expression resulted from the BZL-dependent ablation of promoter activities. BZL101 growth arrests early stage androgen sensitive LNCaP cells in the G2/M phase with corresponding decreases in Cyclin B1, CDK1 and androgen receptor expression. In late stage hormone insensitive breast (MDA-MB-231) and prostate (PC3) cancer cells, BZL101 induced an S phase arrest with corresponding ablations in Cyclin A2 and CDK2 expression. Our results demonstrate that BZL101 exerts phenotype specific anti-proliferative gene expression responses in human breast and prostate cancer cells, which will be valuable in the potential development of BZL-based therapeutic strategies for human reproductive cancers.

The effect of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside and flaxseed oil, alone and in combination, on MCF-7 tumor growth and signaling pathways.

Flaxseed (FS), an oilseed containing high amounts of the phytoestrogen lignan, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), and n-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid-rich oil (FO), has been shown to inhibit the growth of established human breast tumors (MCF-7) in ovariectomized (OVX) athymic mice. However, the major FS component responsible for this effect and the mechanism(s) of its action are unclear. Hence, this study determined, in a 2 x 2 factorial design, the effect of SDG and FO, alone or in combination, on the growth of established human estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast tumors and the potential mechanism(s) of its action. OVX mice with established ER+ human breast tumors (MCF-7) were treated for 8 wk with basal diet (BD, control) or BD supplemented with SDG (1 g/kg), FO (38.5 g/kg), or SDG + FO. All treatments reduced the tumor growth, but SDG had the greatest effect primarily through reducing tumor cell proliferation rather than increasing apoptosis. SDG had a main effect in the reduction of PS2, BCL2, and IGF-1R mRNA expression, whereas FO had a main effect only in PAKT reduction. SDG alone also lowered the ERalpha, ERbeta, EGFR, BCL2 mRNA, and PMAPK protein, indicating that its effect involves the modulation of the ER- and growth factor receptor-mediated signaling pathways.

Acquired resistance of non-small cell lung cancer cells to MET kinase inhibition is mediated by a switch to epidermal growth factor receptor dependency.

Cancer cells harboring MET amplification display striking sensitivity to selective small molecule inhibitors of MET kinase, prompting their clinical evaluation. Similar to the experience with traditional therapeutics, most patients responding to treatment with such molecular targeted therapeutics ultimately relapse with drug-resistant disease. In this study we modeled acquired resistance to experimental MET kinase inhibitor PF2341066 in MET-amplified non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines to identify drug resistance mechanisms that may arise in clinic. We found that activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway emerges as a resistance mechanism in MET-amplified cells after prolonged exposure to PF2341066. Whereas combined inhibition of MET and EGFR kinases in MET-dependent NSCLC cells did not enhance their initial sensitivity to PF2341066, this combination dramatically suppressed the eventual emergence of drug-resistant clones after prolonged drug exposure. Conversely, activation of the EGFR pathway increased the yield of PF2341066-resistant clones, confirming the significance of this pathway in conferring resistance. Our findings support an intimate relationship between the EGFR and MET signaling pathways in NSCLC, and they suggest that combination treatment with MET and EGFR kinase inhibitors may be beneficial in MET-amplified NSCLC by reducing selection for drug resistant clones.

Dietary flaxseed lignan or oil combined with tamoxifen treatment affects MCF-7 tumor growth through estrogen receptor- and growth factor-signaling pathways.

This study aimed to elucidate which component of flaxseed, i.e. secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) lignan or flaxseed oil (FO), makes tamoxifen (TAM) more effective in reducing growth of established estrogen receptor positive breast tumors (MCF-7) at low circulating estrogen levels, and potential mechanisms of action. In a 2 x 2 factorial design, ovariectomized athymic mice with established tumors were treated for 8 wk with TAM together with basal diet (control), or basal diet supplemented with SDG (1 g/kg diet), FO (38.5 g/kg diet), or combined SDG and FO. SDG and FO were at levels in 10% flaxseed diet. Palpable tumors were monitored and after animal sacrifice, analyzed for cell proliferation, apoptosis, ER-mediated (ER-alpha, ER-beta, trefoil factor 1, cyclin D1, progesterone receptor, AIBI), growth factor-mediated (epidermal growth factor receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, insulin-like growth factor receptor-1, phosphorylated mitogen activated protein kinase, PAKT, BCL2) signaling pathways and angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor). All treatments reduced the growth of TAM-treated tumors by reducing cell proliferation, expression of genes, and proteins involved in the ER- and growth factor-mediated signaling pathways with FO having the greatest effect in increasing apoptosis compared with TAM treatment alone. SDG and FO reduced the growth of TAM-treated tumors but FO was more effective. The mechanisms involve both the ER- and growth factor-signaling pathways.

RNA-directed agent, cordycepin, induces cell death in multiple myeloma cells.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell malignancy that is slow-growing, and thus traditional DNA-replication directed chemotherapeutics are ineffective. We hypothesized that those agents that target RNA-directed processes would be successful in MM. To test this postulate, cordycepin, a polyadenylation inhibitor was used as a proof-of-principle towards MM cell lines. Cordycepin accumulated in MM.1S cells as its triphosphate metabolite, 3'dATP and subsequently inhibits RNA synthesis and cell growth. Cell death was via apoptosis induction and over 50% of treated cells were annexin-V positive after 48 h. As a consequence of RNA synthesis inhibition, we hypothesized that specific genes with short half-lives may be downregulated, leading to a reduction in protein. Indeed, a reduction in the transcript levels for MET, a survival gene for MM, was detected as early as 4 h and transcripts were reduced to c. 10% of control after 48 h. Interestingly, no significant change in protein levels was observed for Bcl-2, XIAP, Mcl-1 or survivin. Stabilization of p53 was not observed, and caspases-8, -9 and -3 showed activation following cordycepin treatment but were not required for cell death. Our results suggest that RNA-directed agents may be a new group of agents for the treatment of MM.

Expression of bone morphogenetic protein2 (BMP2), BMP4 and BMP receptors in the bovine ovary but absence of effects of BMP2 and BMP4 during IVM on bovine oocyte nuclear maturation and subsequent embryo development.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been implicated in the regulation of ovarian follicular development and are promising candidates to apply in IVM and IVF protocols. We investigated the expression of BMP2, BMP4 and BMP receptors in bovine ovaries and the effects of BMP2 and BMP4 during oocyte maturation on bovine IVM. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction studies with antral follicles showed the expression of BMPR-IA, BMPR-IB, ActR-IA, ActR-IIB, BMPR-II and BMP4 mRNA in all follicular compartments, while BMP2 mRNA was generally restricted to theca and cumulus tissue. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of BMPR-II in oocytes and granulosa cells of preantral follicles but only in oocytes of antral follicles. The immunostaining of BMP2 and BMP4 was limited to theca interna and approximately 25% of oocytes of antral follicles. Exogenously added BMP2 or BMP4 to IVM medium did not affect oocyte nuclear maturation, cumulus cell expansion, nor blastocyst formation following IVF. It is concluded that a BMP-signaling system, consisting of BMP2, BMP4, type II and I receptors, is present in bovine antral follicles and that this system plays a role in development and functioning of these follicles rather than in final oocyte maturation and cumulus expansion.

Signaling molecules in overcirculation-induced pulmonary hypertension in piglets: effects of sildenafil therapy.

BACKGROUND: The phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor sildenafil has been reported to improve pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but the mechanisms that account for this effect are incompletely understood. Severe pulmonary hypertension has been characterized by defects in a signaling pathway involving angiopoietin-1 and the bone morphogenetic receptor-2 (BMPR-2). We investigated the effects of sildenafil on hemodynamics and signaling molecules in a piglet overcirculation-induced model of early PAH. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty 3-week-old piglets were randomized to placebo or sildenafil therapy 0.75 mg/kg TID after anastomosis of the left subclavian artery to the pulmonary arterial trunk or after a sham operation. Three months later, the animals underwent a hemodynamic evaluation followed by pulmonary tissue sampling for morphometry, immunohistochemistry or radioimmunoassay, and real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction. Chronic systemic-to-pulmonary shunting increased pulmonary mRNA for angiopoietin-1, endothelin-1 (ET-1), angiotensin II, inducible nitric oxide synthase, vascular endothelial growth factor, and PDE-5. Pulmonary messenger RNA for BMPR-1A and BMPR-2 decreased. Pulmonary angiotensin II, ET-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor proteins increased. Pulmonary artery pressure increased from 20+/-2 to 33+/-1 mm Hg, and arteriolar medial thickness increased by 91%. The expressions of angiopoietin-1, ET-1, and angiotensin II were tightly correlated to pulmonary hypertension. Sildenafil prevented the increase in pulmonary artery pressure, limited the increase in medial thickness to 41%, and corrected associated biological perturbations except for the angiopoietin-1/BMPR-2 pathway, PDE-5, and angiotensin II. CONCLUSIONS: Sildenafil partially prevents overcirculation-induced PAH and associated changes in signaling molecules. Angiotensin II, PDE-5, and angiopoietin-1/BMPR-2 signaling may play a dominant role in the early stages of the disease.

General aspects of anti-angiogenesis and cancer therapy.

Angiogenesis is the outgrowth of new vessels from pre-existing ones. Tumour growth and metastasis is dependent on angiogenesis and many stimulatory and inhibitory factors have been described which play an active role in this process. Inhibition of tumour neovasculature may be one strategy to inhibit tumour growth. Naturally occurring inhibitors of angiogenesis have been discovered and synthetic agents have been designed. Many of these inhibitors are currently being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. This review discusses the mechanism of action of these anti-angiogenics as well as a description of the clinical trials in which they are being evaluated.

Increased vascular endothelial growth factor 165 binding to kinase insert domain-containing receptor after infection of human endothelial cells by recombinant adenovirus encoding the Vegf(165) gene.

BACKGROUND: The angiogenic effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF(165)) is mediated mainly through the high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptor VEGF-R2 (KDR/flk-1). This study examined the effects of VEGF overexpression by primary human endothelial cells (ECs), which do not express VEGF under physiological conditions, on cell proliferation, VEGF binding to the kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR), and KDR expression. METHODS AND RESULTS: Human primary ECs and SMCs were infected by recombinant adenoviral vector encoding VEGF(165) (rAdVEGF). Proliferation rate, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, (125)I-labeled VEGF(165) binding to the KDR receptor, and KDR expression were tested in the infected cells and in cells supplemented with VEGF protein. Enhanced proliferation and a significant increase in (125)I-VEGF(165) binding to the KDR receptor were induced by rAdVEGF infection of ECs (autocrine effect) as well as by addition of recombinant VEGF(165) to noninfected cells. Infection of ECs by rAdVEGF led to posttranscriptional upregulation of the KDR receptor, whereas KDR mRNA expression levels remained unchanged. Similar effects were observed with supplemented recombinant VEGF(165) to noninfected ECs; nevertheless, this phenomenon occurred only with high VEGF(165) concentrations (10 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of VEGF(165) on proliferation and upregulation of KDR receptor expression demonstrated an autocrine phenomenon of EC sensitization. The fact that high concentrations of VEGF may be achieved in vivo by local continuous overexpression of VEGF(165) by gene transfer emphasizes the potential advantage of gene transfer over protein supplementation for therapeutic angiogenesis.

Expression of genes encoding vascular endothelial growth factor and its Flk-1 receptor in the chick embryonic heart.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to play an essential role in embryonic vascular development. The heart is one of the main organs that produce VEGF, but it is still unknown how expression of VEGF gene is regulated in embryonic cardiac myocytes. Thus, we cloned cDNAs encoding VEGF and its receptor (a KDR/flk-1 or Quek1 homologue) from cultured 10-day-old chick embryonic ventricular myocytes (CEVM). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that the chick VEGF mRNAs consisted of at least four different species corresponding to the isoforms of 190, 166, 146 and 122 amino acids. In the embryonic heart and CEVM, the isoforms of 166 and 122 amino acids were dominant. Northern blot analysis detected an abundance of VEGF mRNA in both the embryonic heart and CEVM, even at the basal state. The levels of VEGF mRNA in CEVM were significantly augmented by forskolin (100 microM), or phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate (200 nM) in a time-dependent manner in CEVM. In contrast, the basal levels of VEGF mRNA were attenuated by genistein (100 microM), but not by H89 (100 microM) or bisindolylmaleimide (75 microM). Northern blot analysis also detected the chick flk-1 mRNA in abundance in the embryonic heart, and to a much lesser extent in CEVM. The expression levels of VEGF and flk-1 mRNA species were continuously high in the 6, 8 and 10-day-old chick embryonic hearts. In the 10-day-old embryonic hearts, in situ hybridization confirmed that mRNA encoding VEGF was mainly expressed in ventricular myocytes. In contrast, the flk-1 mRNA was detected in the microvascular endothelial cells, and to a lesser extent in the ventricular myocytes. These data suggest that VEGF is produced in embryonic ventricular myocytes, even at the basal state, and that the levels of VEGF mRNA may be differently regulated by various protein kinases. VEGF produced by the chick embryonic heart may play important roles in embryonic cardiovascular development by acting on surrounding endothelial cells and, possibly, on ventricular myocytes themselves.

Activin A-induced HepG2 liver cell apoptosis: involvement of activin receptors and smad proteins.

A balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis is important for regulating normal liver function. Proteins of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily are known to be important mediators of apoptosis in the liver. In this study we demonstrate that activin A potently induces apoptotic cell death in a hepatoma cell line, HepG2 cells. To determine the roles of activin receptors and downstream signaling proteins in activin A-induced apoptosis in these cells, the activin signaling pathway was analyzed using the transcription of an activin-responsive reporter gene, p3TP-Lux, as an assay. Although individual activin receptors had little effect on transcriptional activity, coexpression of an activin type I receptor and a type II receptor significantly increased both basal and activin-induced transcriptional activation, with the combination ofreceptors IB and IIB being the most potent. Similarly, expression of individual Smad proteins had only a modest effect on reporter gene activity, but the combination of Smad2 and Smad4 strongly stimulated transcription. Activin signaling induced a rapid relocation of Smad2 to the nucleus, as determined using a green fluorescence protein-Smad2 fusion protein. In contrast, green fluorescence protein-Smad4 remained localized to the cytoplasm unless it was coexpressed with Smad2. In agreement with the transcriptional response assays, overexpression or suppression of activin signaling components in HepG2 cells altered apoptosis. Overexpression of receptors IB and IIB or Smad proteins 2 and 4 stimulated apoptosis, whereas dominant negative mutant forms of the activin type IIB receptor or Smad2 blocked activin-stimulated apoptosis. These studies suggest that signaling from the cell surface to the nucleus through Smad proteins is a required component of the activin A-induced cell death process in liver cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor KDR tyrosine kinase activity is increased by autophosphorylation of two activation loop tyrosine residues.

Vascular endothelial growth factor is an important physiological regulator of angiogenesis. The function of this endothelial cell selective growth factor is mediated by two homologous tyrosine kinase receptors, fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (Flt-1) and kinase domain receptor (KDR). Although the functional consequence of vascular endothelial growth factor binding to the Flt-1 receptor is not fully understood, it is well established that mitogenic signaling is mediated by KDR. Upon sequencing several independent cDNA clones spanning the cytoplasmic region of human KDR, we identified and confirmed the identity of a functionally required valine at position 848 in the ATP binding site, rather than the previously reported glutamic acid residue, which corresponds to an inactive tyrosine kinase. The cytoplasmic domain of recombinant native KDR, expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein, can undergo autophosphorylation in the presence of ATP. In addition, the kinase activity can be substantially increased by autophosphorylation at physiologic ATP concentrations. Mutation analysis indicates that both tyrosine residues 1054 and 1059 are required for activation, which is a consequence of an increased affinity for both ATP and the peptide substrate and has no effect on kcat, the intrinsic catalytic activity of the enzyme. KDR kinase catalyzes phosphotransfer by formation of a ternary complex with ATP and the peptide substrate. We demonstrate that tyrosine kinase antagonists can preferentially inhibit either the unactivated or activated form of the enzyme.

Coordinated induction of VEGF receptors in mesenchymal cell types during rat hepatic wound healing.

Homology PCR has been used to identify receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) expressed during activation of rat hepatic stellate cells, the key fibrogenic mesenchymal element in the liver. Partial cDNAs encoding several RTKs were cloned from stellate cells activated in vivo, including those of Flt-1, Flk-1, c-met, PDGFR, and Tyro10/DDR2. RNAse protection from cells activated in vivo demonstrated biphasic induction of flt-1 and flk-1 mRNAs, receptors for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Culture-activation of stellate cells was associated with increased [125I]VEGF binding and Flt-1 and Flk-1 receptor protein. Induction of VEGF binding sites correlated with an 2.5-fold increase in DNA synthesis in response to VEGF, but only if cells were activated by growth on collagen 1, whereas cells maintained in a quiescent state on a basement membrane-like substratum (EHS matrix) were nonproliferative. In both stellate and endothelial cells VEGF-induced mitogenesis was augmented by co-incubation with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a cytokine with known synergy with VEGF. These findings suggest that the cellular targets of VEGF in liver may not be confined to sinusoidal endothelial cells, and that VEGF responses reflect combined effects on both hepatic stellate cells and sinusoidal endothelium.

Identification of a novel type II activin receptor, type IIA-N, induced during the neural differentiation of murine P19 embryonal carcinoma cells.

We have identified a novel type II activin receptor, called type IIA-N, the expression of which was induced during the neural differentiation of murine P19 embryonal carcinoma cells (P19 cells). P19 cells differentiate into several cell types dependent on the culture conditions. The induction of type IIA-N mRNA occurred predominantly in conjunction with neural differentiation. Sequence analysis of a cDNA clone for type IIA-N indicated that type IIA-N had a 24 bp insertion in the juxtamembrane region of the type IIA activin receptor suggesting that it is an alternative splicing product of the type IIA gene. Type IIA-N was also identified in human and Xenopus, and the amino acid sequences of three species were completely conserved. The expression of type IIA-N mRNA was specifically detected in neuroblastoma cells among several activin responsive cell lines. In vivo expression of type IIA-N mRNA was detected only in the neural tissues such as brain and spinal cord in adult mouse, by RT-PCR. Furthermore, its expression in developing Xenopus embryos was restricted to the neurula and later stages. These results suggest that the expression of type IIA-N is specific to neural cells and mediates neural differentiation-specific activin signaling.

Differential expression of MAM-subfamily protein tyrosine phosphatases during mouse development.

The MAM-subfamily of type II transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) currently comprises the enzymes PTPkappa, PTPmu and PCP2. In an effort to elucidate the individual physiological roles of these closely related proteins we performed a detailed analysis of their mRNA transcript distributions at different stages of mouse embryogenesis and postnatal brain development. Our in situ hybridization studies revealed distinct and complementary expression patterns of PTPkappa, PTPmu and PCP2 transcripts. Based on our results and previous reports we discuss MAM-PTPases as a new class of morphoregulatory molecules.

Two functional forms of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2/Flk-1 mRNA are expressed in normal rat retina.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important mediator of ocular neovascularization by exerting its endothelial specific mitogenic effects through high affinity tyrosine kinase receptors. By screening a rat retina cDNA library, we have isolated a clone encoding the full-length prototypic form of the rat VEGF receptor-2/Flk-1, as well as a short form of the mRNA that encodes the complete seven N-terminal immunoglobulin-like extracellular ligand-binding domains, transmembrane region, NH2-terminal half of the intracellular kinase domain, and kinase insert domain but does not encode the COOH-terminal half of the intracellular kinase domain and carboxyl-terminal region. Both forms of mRNA are detected in rat retina, although the short form is expressed at a lower level. VEGF induced a biphasic increase of cytoplasmic calcium with both forms in HK 293 transfected cells, indicating that both forms of the VEGF receptor-2/Flk-1 are functional and that the COOH-terminal half of the intracellular kinase domain and carboxyl region of VEGF receptor-2/Flk-1 are not strictly necessary for either ligand binding or this biological activity.

Habrec1, a novel serine/threonine kinase TGF-beta type I-like receptor, has a specific cellular expression suggesting function in the developing organism and adult brain.

Members of the TGF-beta superfamily signal through a dual receptor system consisting of a type II receptor protein kinase that binds the ligand, after which this complex associates with a type I receptor to mediate intracellular signaling. In mammals, six type I and five type II receptors mediating responses to different TGF-beta family members have been identified to date. Using primers from conserved regions of the protein kinase domain of the serine/threonine kinase receptors in a low-stringency polymerase chain reaction-based screening procedure, and deselecting known receptors with colony hybridization, we now report cloning a novel receptor member. The novel receptor was found in a cDNA library prepared from the habenular nucleus area and was designated Habrec1. Although only a partial sequence is available, it fits the criteria for a TGF-beta type I serine/threonine kinase receptor. In situ hybridization of Habrec1 reveals mRNA expression in several distinct areas of the developing central nervous system, including cortex cerebri, cerebellum, hippocampus, striatum, and thalamic nuclei. Expression is also seen in the anterior pituitary. In the periphery, strong expression prenatally includes brown fat, the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, thymus, and nasal cavity epithelium. In the adult brain Habrec1 mRNA is prominently found in cerebellum, cortex cerebri, and striatum, but at lower levels in several additional areas. We conclude that Habrec1 is a member of the TGF-beta type I receptor family with expression patterns in the developing animal, suggesting specific functions in and outside the nervous system, and in the adult CNS, suggesting roles in both cortical and subcortical brain circuitry.