The effects of IGF-1 and IGFBP-2 treatments on the atherosclerosis in the aorta and the coronary arteries of the high cholesterol diet-fed rabbits.

Several studies have demonstrated suppression of aortic atherosclerosis by insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Though a recent study has reported that IGF-1 exerts anti-atherogenic effects in coronary arteries, the mechanisms of IGF-1 in coronary arteries need to be further verified. Studies about insulin like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) in atherosclerosis are rarely. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of IGF-1 and IGFBP-2 on the atherosclerosis development in the aorta and coronary arteries of the high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed rabbits. New Zealand white rabbits were fed either normal chow (n = 5) or a diet containing 1.0 % cholesterol (n = 18) for 12 weeks. Cholesterol-fed rabbits were given IGF-1 or IGFBP-2 or saline intravenously (each n = 6) for 10 weeks. The results revealed that IGF-1 decreased total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (p < 0.05), whereas IGFBP-2 did not. IGF-1 significantly attenuated atherosclerotic lesions and reduced accumulated macrophages within the coronary artery plaques, whereas IGFBP-2 deteriorated these changes. Moreover, IGF-1 reduced serum platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase levels, C reactive protein (CRP), and inhibited the protein expression levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). IGFBP-2 elevated serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels, CRP, and promoted the protein expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6. In conclusion, IGF-1 can substantially suppress plaque formation in coronary arteries with a marked inhibition of macrophage accumulation likely via its anti-inflammatory properties, whereas IGFBP-2 plays an opposite effect on atherosclerosis. The present study highlighted a theoretical basis for pharmacological treatment of atherosclerosis.

High baseline tumor burden-associated macrophages promote an immunosuppressive microenvironment and reduce the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors through the IGFBP2-STAT3-PD-L1 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Several clinical studies have uncovered a negative correlation between baseline tumor burden and the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. This study aimed to uncover the specific mechanisms underlying the difference in sensitivity to ICI treatment between tumors with high (HTB) and low (LTB) tumor burden. METHODS: For in vivo studies, several mouse models of subcutaneous tumors were established, and transcriptome sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry assays were used to detect the immune status in these subcutaneous tumors. For in vitro experiments, co-culture models, cytokine antibody arrays, western blotting, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms RESULTS: We found that MC38 or B16 subcutaneous tumors from the HTB group did not show any response to anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) therapy. Through flow cytometry assays, we found that the infiltration with CD8+ T cells was significantly decreased whereas M2-like macrophages were enriched in subcutaneous tumors of HTB groups compared with those of LTB group. These changes were not affected by the initial number of injected tumor cells or tumor age, nor could they be reversed by surgical tumor reduction. Intraperitoneal colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R) inhibitor PLX3397 injection at different time points of tumor growth only had an effect when administered in the early tumor stage to maintain the "heat" of the tumor microenvironment during the process of tumor growth, thereby achieving a response to ICI treatment when the tumor grew to a large size. Mechanistically, we found that insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) expression levels were significantly elevated in HTB tumor tissues. IGFBP2 promoted the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in M2-like macrophages by activating signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and PD-L1+ M2-like macrophages exerted an immunosuppressive effect by inhibiting the proliferation and activation of CD8+ T cells in a PD-L1-dependent fashion. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the low efficacy of ICI treatment in HTB tumors is mainly attributed to the intratumoral accumulation of PD-L1+ M2-like macrophages via the IGFBP2-STAT3-PD-L1 signaling pathway and their substantial inhibitory effects on T cell proliferation and activation.

IGFBP2 Produces Rapid-Acting and Long-Lasting Effects in Rat Models of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder via a Novel Mechanism Associated with Structural Plasticity.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by deficits in the extinction of aversive memories. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is the only growth factor that has shown anxiolytic and antidepressant properties in human clinical trials. In animal studies, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) shows both IGF1-dependent and IGF1-independent pharmacological effects, and IGFBP2 expression is upregulated by rough-and-tumble play that induces resilience to stress. Methods: IGFBP2 was evaluated in Porsolt, contextual fear conditioning, and chronic unpredictable stress models of posttraumatic stress disorder. The dependence of IGFBP2 effects on IGF1- and AMPA-receptor activation was tested using selective receptor antagonists. Dendritic spine morphology was measured in the dentate gyrus and the medial prefrontal cortex 24 hours after in vivo dosing. Results: IGFBP2 was 100 times more potent than IGF1 in the Porsolt test. Unlike IGF1, effects of IGFBP2 were not blocked by the IGF1-receptor antagonist JB1, or by the AMPA-receptor antagonist 2,3-Dioxo-6-nitro-1,2,3,4 tetrahydrobenzo[f]quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide (NBQX) in the Porsolt test. IGFBP2 (1 µg/kg) and IGF1 (100 µg/kg i.v.) each facilitated contextual fear extinction and consolidation. Using a chronic unpredictable stress paradigm, IGFBP2 reversed stress-induced effects in the Porsolt, novelty-induced hypophagia, sucrose preference, and ultrasonic vocalization assays. IGFBP2 also increased mature dendritic spine densities in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus 24 hours postdosing. Conclusions: These data suggest that IGFBP2 has therapeutic-like effects in multiple rat models of posttraumatic stress disorder via a novel IGF1 receptor-independent mechanism. These data also suggest that the long-lasting effects of IGFBP2 may be due to facilitation of structural plasticity at the dendritic spine level. IGFBP2 and mimetics may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) Binding Protein-2, Independently of IGF-1, Induces GLUT-4 Translocation and Glucose Uptake in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) is the predominant IGF binding protein produced during adipogenesis and is known to increase the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (GU) in myotubes. We investigated the IGFBP-2-induced changes in basal and insulin-stimulated GU in adipocytes and the underlying mechanisms. We further determined the role of insulin and IGF-1 receptors in mediating the IGFBP-2 and the impact of IGFBP-2 on the IGF-1-induced GU. Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with IGFBP-2 in the presence and absence of insulin and IGF-1. Insulin, IGF-1, and IGFBP-2 induced a dose-dependent increase in GU. IGFBP-2 increased the insulin-induced GU after long-term incubation. The IGFBP-2-induced impact on GU was neither affected by insulin or IGF-1 receptor blockage nor by insulin receptor knockdown. IGFBP-2 significantly increased the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, AMPK, TBC1D1, and PKCζ/λ and induced GLUT-4 translocation. Moreover, inhibition of PI3K and AMPK significantly reduced IGFBP-2-stimulated GU. In conclusion, IGFBP-2 stimulates GU in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through activation of PI3K/Akt, AMPK/TBC1D1, and PI3K/PKCζ/λ/GLUT-4 signaling. The stimulatory effect of IGFBP-2 on GU is independent of its binding to IGF-1 and is possibly not mediated through the insulin or IGF-1 receptor. This study highlights the potential role of IGFBP-2 in glucose metabolism.

Comparison of Different Cytokine Conditions Reveals Resveratrol as a New Molecule for Ex Vivo Cultivation of Cord Blood-Derived Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

UNLABELLED: Human cord blood (CB)-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are an interesting source for HSC transplantation. However, the number of collected CB-HSCs is often too low for one transplantation; therefore, ex vivo expansion of CB-HSCs is desirable. Current expansion protocols are based on the use of cytokine combinations, including insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) and angiopoietin-like proteins, or combinations with "small molecules" such as stemregenin-1. The aim of our project was to compare the potential of different CB-HSC expansion strategies side-by-side by phenotypical analysis in vitro and serial engraftment properties in NOD/SCID/IL2rg-/- (NSG) immunodeficient mice. We further identified resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol, as a new, alternative small molecule combined with cytokines to facilitate serum-free ex vivo expansion of human CB-HSCs. The cultivation in resveratrol preserved the CB-HSC phenotype in vitro most efficiently and was ∼2 times more potent than commonly used cytokine conditions (including stem cell factor, thrombopoietin, Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, interleukin-6) and the recently established serum-free culture, including IGFBP2 and angiopoietin-like 5. Serial transplantation studies further confirmed resveratrol to support robust multilineage engraftment in primary and secondary NSG recipients. Therefore, our work proposes resveratrol as a new small molecule for improved ex vivo culture and modification of human HSCs based on an efficient ex vivo propagation of the HSC fate. SIGNIFICANCE: Human cord blood (CB)-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are an important source for HSC transplantations but restricted in their usage because of their low numbers. In gene therapy, modifications of HSCs relies on their ex vivo modification without losing their stemness properties. Therefore, ex vivo cultivation and expansion of CB-HSCs is important for their effective application in HSC transplantation and gene therapy. Several promising protocols for serum-free cultivation of HSCs using different combinations of cytokines or so-called small molecules are described. A direct comparison was performed of three described serum-free cytokine conditions, demonstrating that the natural occurring polyphenol resveratrol is able to support ex vivo cultivation of CB-HSCs. The results show that resveratrol is an additional candidate for improving ex vivo cultures of HSCs for transplantation and gene therapeutic applications in the future.

The coordinate cellular response to insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) is regulated through vimentin binding to receptor tyrosine phosphatase ß (RPTPß).

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) functions coordinately with IGF-I to stimulate cellular proliferation and differentiation. IGFBP-2 binds to receptor tyrosine phosphatase ß (RPTPß), and this binding in conjunction with IGF-I receptor stimulation induces RPTPß polymerization leading to phosphatase and tensin homolog inactivation, AKT stimulation, and enhanced cell proliferation. To determine the mechanism by which RPTPß polymerization is regulated, we analyzed the protein(s) that associated with RPTPß in response to IGF-I and IGFBP-2 in vascular smooth muscle cells. Proteomic experiments revealed that IGF-I stimulated the intermediate filament protein vimentin to bind to RPTPß, and knockdown of vimentin resulted in failure of IGFBP-2 and IGF-I to stimulate RPTPß polymerization. Knockdown of IGFBP-2 or inhibition of IGF-IR tyrosine kinase disrupted vimentin/RPTPß association. Vimentin binding to RPTPß was mediated through vimentin serine phosphorylation. The serine threonine kinase PKCζ was recruited to vimentin in response to IGF-I and inhibition of PKCζ activation blocked these signaling events. A cell-permeable peptide that contained the vimentin phosphorylation site disrupted vimentin/RPTPß association, and IGF-I stimulated RPTPß polymerization and AKT activation. Integrin-linked kinase recruited PKCζ to SHPS-1-associated vimentin in response to IGF-I and inhibition of integrin-linked kinase/PKCζ association reduced vimentin serine phosphorylation. PKCζ stimulation of vimentin phosphorylation required high glucose and vimentin/RPTPß-association occurred only during hyperglycemia. Disruption of vimetin/RPTPß in diabetic mice inhibited RPTPß polymerization, vimentin serine phosphorylation, and AKT activation in response to IGF-I, whereas nondiabetic mice showed no difference. The induction of vimentin phosphorylation is important for IGFBP-2-mediated enhancement of IGF-I-stimulated proliferation during hyperglycemia, and it coordinates signaling between these two receptor-linked signaling systems.

Expansion and homing of umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells for clinical transplantation.

The successful expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from umbilical cord blood (UCB) for transplantation could revolutionize clinical practice by improving transplantation-related outcomes and making available UCB units that have suboptimal cell doses for transplantation. New cytokine combinations appear able to promote HSPC growth with minimal differentiation into mature precursors and new agents, such as insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2, are being used in clinical trials. Molecules that simulate the HSPC niche, such as Notch ligand, have also shown promise. Further improvements have been made with the use of mesenchymal stromal cells, which have made possible UCB expansion without a potentially deleterious prior CD34/CD133 cell selection step. Chemical molecules, such as copper chelators, nicotinamide, and aryl hydrocarbon antagonists, have shown excellent outcomes in clinical studies. The use of bioreactors could further add to HSPC studies in future. Drugs that could improve HSPC homing also appear to have potential in improving engraftment times in UCB transplantation. Technologies to expand HSPC from UCB and to enhance the homing of these cells appear to have attained the goal of accelerating hematopoietic recovery. Further discoveries and clinical studies are likely to make the goal of true HSPC expansion a reality for many applications in future.

IGFBP-2 inhibits adipogenesis and lipogenesis in human visceral, but not subcutaneous, adipocytes.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-2 is the principal IGFBP produced by white adipocytes during adipogenesis, and circulating levels are reduced in obesity. Overexpression of IGFBP-2 in transgenic mice prevents obesity, but depot-specific effects of IGFBP-2 on adipo/lipogenesis are unknown. The present study aimed to investigate whether IGFBP-2 affects adipo/lipogenesis in a depot-specific manner and explore potential mechanisms. METHODS: Following adipocyte characterisation, IGFBP-2 levels were measured from human subcutaneous and visceral preadipocytes, and IGFBP-2 dose-responses were then undertaken with exogenous IGFBP-2 in an in vitro IGF-I-free system to examine adipo/lipogenesis. Following this, both types of adipocytes were transfected with human siRNA IGFBP-2 to assess auto-/para-/intra-crine effects, with and without additional add-back IGFBP-2. To elucidate the potential mechanisms, visceral preadipocytes were treated with either wild-type or Heparin Binding Domain (HBD)-mutant IGFBP-2 (which is unable to bind to cell-surface components), and experiments were also undertaken using Echistatin (an integrin receptor blocker). Outcomes included gene expression profiles, protein levels and phosphorylation and lipid staining. RESULTS: Human visceral adipocytes produced significantly more IGFBP-2 than subcutaneous adipocytes. Subsequent dose-responses to IGFBP-2 demonstrated significant reductions in adipo/lipogenesis in visceral, but not subcutaneous, adipocytes in response to increasing IGFBP-2. Silencing IGFBP-2 resulted in exaggerated adipo/lipogenesis in visceral, but not subcutaneous, adipocytes, an effect completely inhibited by add-back IGFBP-2. These effects occurred in the absence of changes in IGF-I levels. HBD-mutant IGFBP-2 had reduced effects compared with wild-type IGFBP-2. Wild-type IGFBP-2 increased phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and decreased phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) levels, suggestive of integrin-mediated signalling. Blockade of this signalling, using Echistatin, completely negated the effects of IGFBP-2 on visceral adipo/lipogenesis. CONCLUSION: IGFBP-2 inhibits both adipogenesis and lipogenesis in visceral, but not subcutaneous, adipocytes. This depot-specific impairment appears to be independent of IGF-I and involves cell-surface association of IGFBP-2 and activation of integrin signalling pathways.

Effects of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 and their fragments on migration and IGF-induced proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE: A family of six insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding-proteins (IGFBP) bind to IGF-I and IGF-II with high affinity and modulate their activity. We have recently shown that a neutrophil-derived protease activity cleaved IGFBP-1, -2 and -4. IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 have a C-terminal Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence, and IGFBP-1 has been shown by others to stimulate migration through binding of its RGD sequence to α5ß1 integrin. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of this IGFBP protease on IGF-induced proliferation and the effect of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 and their proteolytic fragments on migration in normal and high glucose of human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). DESIGN: We investigated the effect of intact or cleaved IGFBP-1 and -2 on proliferation in cultured HDFs and on HDF migration in normal and high glucose. RESULTS: Both IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 and their proteolytic fragments stimulated HDF migration and the stimulatory effect was abolished by pre-treating cells with a α5ß1 integrin antibody. High glucose impaired migration of HDFs; however, the addition of IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2 or fragments increased migration to levels observed in normoglycemia. IGFBP-2 inhibited IGF-II induced proliferation; however, the inhibitory effect was reduced after being cleaved. Intact native IGFBP-1 showed either potentiating or inhibitory effects on IGF-I induced proliferation depending on the confluence of cells, and proteolysis of IGFBP-1 did not change these effects. IGFBP-1 was found to increase phosphorylation of FAK and ERK1/2 and this effect was inhibited by the monoclonal integrin a5ß1 ab. CONCLUSIONS: IGFBP-1 and -2 and their proteolytic fragments may improve tissue repair under inflammatory conditions, through effects on proliferation and migration of HDFs in normal and high glucose.

Low-dose insulin-like growth factor binding proteins 1 and 2 and angiopoietin-like protein 3 coordinately stimulate ex vivo expansion of human umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells as assayed in NOD/SCID gamma null mice.

INTRODUCTION: Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) and angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs) can enhance the ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) when used with a standard cytokine cocktail of stem cell factor (SCF), thrombopoietin (TPO) and FLT3 ligand (FL). In order to determine the optimal dose and combination of IGFs, IGFBPs and ANGPTLs, serial dilution and full permutation of IGFBP1, IGFBP2, IGF2 and ANGPTL3 were applied on a cryopreserved umbilical cord blood mononuclear cell (UCB-MNC) ex vivo expansion system. METHODS: In this system, 4 × 105 cells/ml of UCB-MNCs were inoculated in serum-free Stemspan® medium (Stemcell technologies, vancouver, BC, Canada) supplied with standard basal cytokine combination of 100 ng/ml SCF, 50 ng/ml FL and 100 ng/ml TPO and supported by a bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell layer. RESULTS: Paradoxically, experiment results showed that the highest expansion of CD34+CD38-CD90+ primitive progenitor was stimulated by cytokine combination of SCF + TPO + FL + IGFBP1 + IGFBP2 + ANGPTL3 at a low dose of 15 ng/ml IGFBP1 and 20 ng/ml IGFBP2 and ANGPTL3. This ex vivo expansion was further validated in 8-week-old to 10-week-old nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency interleukin 2 gamma chain null (NOD/SCID-IL2Rγ-/-) mice. Limiting dilution assay showed excellent correlation between the HSC ex vivo surface marker of CD34+CD38-CD90+ and the in vivo competitive repopulating unit (CRU) functional assay. CONCLUSION: IGFBP1, IGFBP2, IGF2 and ANGPTL3 can stimulate the expansion of CD34+CD38-CD90+ primitive progenitor at low dose. The optimal combination comprises IGFBP1, IGFBP2 and ANGPTL3 together with the standard cytokine cocktail of SCF, FL and TPO. The CD34+CD38-CD90+ phenotype can serve as a surrogate ex vivo surface marker for HSCs due to consistency with the in vivo CRU functional assay.

Ex vivo expansion of cord blood-CD34(+) cells using IGFBP2 and Angptl-5 impairs short-term lymphoid repopulation in vivo.

Cord blood-derived haematopoietic stem cells (CB-HSCs) are an attractive source for transplantation in haematopoietic disorders. However, the yield of CB-HSCs per graft is limited and often insufficient, particularly for the treatment of adult patients. Here we compare the capacity of three cytokine cocktails to expand CB-CD34(+) cells. Cells were cultured for 5 or 14 days in media supplemented with: (a) SCF, FL, IL-3 and IL-6 (SFLIL3/6); (b) SCF, TPO, FGF-1 and IL-6 (STFIL6); and (c) SCF, TPO, FGF-1, IGFBP2 and Angptl-5 (STFAI). We observed that STFAI-culture expansion sustained the most vigorous cell proliferation, maintenance of CD34(+) phenotype and colony-forming unit counts. In addition, STFAI-cultured cells had a potent ex vivo migration activity. STFAI-expanded cells were able to engraft NSG mice. However, no significant difference in overall engraftment was observed among the expansion cocktails. Assessment of short-term reconstitution using multilineage markers demonstrated that the STFAI cocktail for HSCs expansion greatly improved total cell expansion but may impair short-term lymphoid repopulation.

Cotransplantation of ex vivo expanded and unexpanded cord blood units in immunodeficient mice using insulin growth factor binding protein-2-augmented mesenchymal cell cocultures.

Ex vivo expansion of cord blood (CB) hematopoietic stem cells and cotransplantation of 2 CB units (CBUs) could enhance the applicability of CB transplantation in adult patients. We report an immunodeficient mouse model for cotransplantation of ex vivo expanded and unexpanded human CB, showing enhanced CB engraftment and provide proof of concept for this transplantation strategy as a means of overcoming the limiting cell numbers in each CBU. CBUs were expanded in serum-free medium supplemented with stem cell factor, Flt-3 ligand, thrombopoietin, and insulin growth factor binding protein-2 together with mesenchymal stromal cell coculture. Unexpanded and expanded CB cells were cotransplanted by tail vein injection into 45 sublethally irradiated nonobese diabetic SCID-IL2γ(-/-) (NSG) mice. Submandibular bleeding was performed monthly, and mice were sacrificed 4 months after transplantation to analyze for human hematopoietic engraftment. Expansion of non-CD34(+) selected CB cells yielded 40-fold expansion of CD34(+) cells and 3.1-fold expansion of hematopoietic stem cells based on limiting dilution analysis of NSG engraftment. Mice receiving expanded grafts exhibited 4.30% human cell repopulation, compared with 0.92% in mice receiving only unexpanded grafts at equivalent starting cell doses, even though the unexpanded graft predominated in long-term hematopoiesis (P = .07). Ex vivo expanded grafts with lower initiating cell doses also showed equivalent engraftment to unexpanded grafts with higher cell dose (8.0% versus 7.9%; P = .93). In conclusion, ex vivo expansion resulted in enhanced CB engraftment despite eventual rejection by the unexpanded CBU.

IGF binding protein 2 supports the survival and cycling of hematopoietic stem cells.

The role of IGF binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) in cell growth is intriguing and largely undefined. Previously we identified IGFBP2 as an extrinsic factor that supports ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Here we showed that IGFBP2-null mice have fewer HSCs than wild-type mice. While IGFBP2 has little cell-autonomous effect on HSC function, we found decreased in vivo repopulation of HSCs in primary and secondary transplanted IGFBP2-null recipients. Importantly, bone marrow stromal cells that are deficient for IGFBP2 have significantly decreased ability to support the expansion of repopulating HSCs. To investigate the mechanism by which IGFBP2 supports HSC activity, we demonstrated that HSCs in IGFBP2-null mice had decreased survival and cycling, down-regulated expression of antiapoptotic factor Bcl-2, and up-regulated expression of cell cycle inhibitors p21, p16, p19, p57, and PTEN. Moreover, we found that the C-terminus, but not the RGD domain, of extrinsic IGFBP2 was essential for support of HSC activity. Defective signaling of the IGF type I receptor did not rescue the decreased repopulation of HSCs in IGFBP2-null recipients, suggesting that the environmental effect of IGFBP2 on HSCs is independent of IGF-IR mediated signaling. Therefore, as an environmental factor, IGFBP2 supports the survival and cycling of HSCs.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 promotes prostate cancer cell growth via IGF-dependent or -independent mechanisms and reduces the efficacy of docetaxel.

BACKGROUND: The development of androgen independence, chemo-, and radioresistance are critical markers of prostate cancer progression and the predominant reasons for its high mortality. Understanding the resistance to therapy could aid the development of more effective treatments. AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) on prostate cancer cell proliferation and its effects on the response to docetaxel. METHODS: DU145 and PC3 cells were treated with IGFBP-2, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) alone or in combination with blockade of the IGF-I receptor or integrin receptors. Cells were also treated with IGFBP-2 short interfering ribonucleic acid with or without a PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) inhibitor or docetaxel. Tritiated thymidine incorporation was used to measure cell proliferation and Trypan blue cell counting for cell death. Levels of IGFBP-2 mRNA were measured using RT-PCR. Abundance and phosphorylation of proteins were assessed using western immunoblotting. RESULTS: The IGFBP-2 promoted cell growth in both cell lines but with PC3 cells this was in an IGF-dependent manner, whereas with DU145 cells the effect was independent of IGF receptor activation. This IGF-independent effect of IGFBP-2 was mediated by interaction with ß-1-containing integrins and a consequent increase in PTEN phosphorylation. We also determined that silencing IGFBP-2 in both cell lines increased the sensitivity of the cells to docetaxel. CONCLUSION: The IGFBP-2 has a key role in the growth of prostate cancer cells, and silencing IGFBP-2 expression reduced the resistance of these cells to docetaxel. Targeting IGFBP-2 may increase the efficacy of docetaxel.

Effects of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 on apoptosis in human teratocarcinoma cells in vitro.

Human teratocarcinoma cells (Tera-2) deprived of serum undergo programmed cell death which can be counteracted by simultaneous addition of IGF-II. This protective effect of IGF-II was specific in the sense that addition of IGF-binding protein 7 (IGFBP-7) resulted in an increased apoptotic rate almost comparable to that of the classical IGFBPs. Autoradiographic analysis of incorporated tritiated thymidine indicated that the proportion of S-phase cells was comparable, irrespective of total cell numbers. This further suggests that IGF-II rescues cells from apoptosis and that IGFBP-7 is a specific antagonist.

Neuroendocrine cancer-specific up-regulating mechanism of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 in small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) exhibits insulin-like growth factor-dependent growth. SCLC is the most aggressive among known in vivo lung cancers, whereas in vitro growth of SCLC is paradoxically slow as compared with that of non-SCLC (NSCLC). In this study, we demonstrate that SCLC cells overexpress insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-2 via NeuroD, a neuroendocrine cell-specific transcription factor. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, electrophoretic mobility shift, and IGFBP-2 promoter assays all revealed that NeuroD binds to the E-box in the 5'-untranslated region of IGFBP-2. A NeuroD transgene in both airway epithelial and NSCLC cells up-regulated the transcription of IGFBP-2 and retarded cell growth. Recombinant IGFBP-2 repressed the growth of both airway epithelial and NSCLC cells in a dose-dependent manner. A NeuroD-specific small interfering RNA repressed IGFBP-2 expression in SCLC, and neutralization of IGFBP-2 and an IGFBP-2-specific small interfering RNA increased SCLC cell growth. Pathological samples of SCLC also expressed IGFBP-2 abundantly, as compared with NSCLC, and showed only rare (8%) IGFBP-2 promoter methylation, whereas the IGFBP-2 promoter was methylated in 71% of adenocarcinomas and 29% of squamous cell carcinomas. These findings suggest that 1) SCLC has an IGFBP-2 overexpression mechanism distinct from NSCLC, 2) secreted IGFBP-2 contributes to the slow growth of SCLC in vitro, and 3) the epigenetic alterations in the IGFBP-2 promoter contribute to the striking differences in IGFBP-2 expression between SCLC and NSCLC in vivo.

Inhibition of adipocyte differentiation by insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) interacts with the type II nuclear receptors retinoid X receptor (RXR)alpha and retinoic acid receptor-alpha and modulates their transcriptional activity. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma, a related nuclear receptor that dimerizes with RXRalpha, plays an important role in adipocyte differentiation. IGFBP-3 is regulated during adipocyte differentiation, but its role in this process is unknown. We demonstrate that IGFBP-3 interferes with the PPARgamma-dependent processes of adipocyte differentiation and maintenance of the gene expression characteristic of mature adipocytes. Treatment of adipocytes with exogenous IGFBP-3, but not an IGFBP-3 mutant that does not bind RXRalpha or PPARgamma, decreased markers of adipocyte differentiation, PPARgamma, and resistin but increased the preadipocyte marker plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Furthermore, expression of human IGFBP-3, but not the IGFBP-3 mutant, by preadipocytes inhibited preadipocyte differentiation as determined by gene markers and lipid accumulation. IGFBP-3 interacted with PPARgamma in vitro and in 3T3-L1 adipocyte lysates and inhibited PPARgamma heterodimerization with RXRalpha in vitro. Wild-type IGFBP-3, but not mutant IGFBP-3, blocked ligand-induced transactivation of PPAR response element in 3T3-L1 cells. The observation that IGFBP-3 inhibits adipocyte differentiation and impacts on the PPARgamma system suggests a role for IGFBP-3 in the pathogenesis of obesity and insulin resistance.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein contributes to the proliferation of less proliferative cells in forming skin equivalents.

In this study, the effects and the mediating factors of dermal cells on the epidermal regenerative ability were investigated. Human epidermal cells were separated into rapidly adhering (RA) cells and slowly adhering (SA) cells and used for culturing skin equivalents (SEs). For dermal part, normal human fibroblasts, dermal sheath cells (DSCs), and dermal papilla cells were used. SEs produced using SA cells and DSCs showed a thicker epidermis and higher expressions of alpha(6)- and beta1-integrin than SEs using SA cells and normal fibroblasts showed. We hypothesized that DSCs may secrete specific cytokines that can influence the regenerative potential of epidermal cells, and compared cytokine secretion by DSCs and normal human fibroblasts. Using RayBio human cytokine antibody array C (series 1000), 120 cytokines were tested. Results showed that DSCs produced a much greater amount of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP-2), angiogenin, and BMP-6 than normal human fibroblasts produced. On the basis of the cytokine antibody array, we next investigated whether IGFBP-2, angiogenin, or BMP-6 has effects on SEs reconstruction. The addition of IGFBP-2 induced a thicker and more mature epidermis and higher expressions of alpha(6)- and beta1-integrin, whereas BMP-6 exhibited little effect. Thus, the SEs with IGFBP-2 showed almost the same morphology of the SEs using DSCs. Further, p63, a putative keratinocyte stem cell marker, was more frequently observed in the basal layer of SE with IGFBP-2. In conclusion, IGFBP-2 is a major factor from DSCs that affects epidermal regenerative capacity of skin and may play an important role for stemness maintenance in human epidermal keratinocytes.

IGFBP2 is overexpressed by pediatric malignant astrocytomas and induces the repair enzyme DNA-PK.

To identify targets critical to malignant childhood astrocytoma, we compared the expression of receptor tyrosine kinase- associated genes between low-grade and high-grade pediatric astrocytomas. The highest differentially overexpressed gene in high-grade astrocytoma is insulin-like growth factor- binding protein-2 (P = .0006). Immunohistochemistry confirmed overexpression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 protein (P = .027). Insulin-like growth factor- binding protein-2 stimulation had no effect on astrocytoma cell growth and migration, and minimally inhibited insulin-like growth factor-1-mediated migration, but not insulin-like growth factor-2-mediated migration. However, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 stimulation significantly upregulated the major DNA repair enzyme gene, DNA-PKcs, and induced DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit protein expression in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner, whereas insulin-like growth factor-1 had no effect. DNA-PKcs is also highly overexpressed by high-grade astrocytomas. These findings suggest insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 plays a role in astrocytoma progression by promoting DNA-damage repair and therapeutic resistance.

Intermittent high glucose concentrations reduce neuronal precursor survival by altering the IGF system: the involvement of the neuroprotective factor DHCR24 (Seladin-1).

The exposure of neurons to high glucose concentrations is considered a determinant of diabetic neuropathy, whereas members of the IGF system are neurotropic factors. Here, we investigated the effects of constant and intermittent high glucose concentrations on IGF1 and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in human neuroblast long-term cell cultures fetal neuroepithelial cells (FNC). These cells express the IGF1 receptor, and express and release in the culture medium IGFBP2, IGFBP4, and IGF1. The release of IGF1 was significantly increased by 17beta-estradiol (10 nM). IGF1 (100 nM) treatment determined a significant increase of IGFBP2 and a decrease of IGFBP4 release. In addition, IGF1 (1-100 nM) stimulated FNC cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. We hypothesized that this effect may be, at least partially, due to IGF1-induced up-regulation of the expression of the Alzheimer's disease related gene SELADIN-1 (now known as DHCR24 ), which acts as a pro-survival factor for neuronal cells. Conversely, the exposure to intermittent (20/10 mM), but not stable (20 mM), high glucose concentrations decreased the release of IGF1 and IGFBP2 in the culture medium and inhibited FNC growth by inducing apoptosis. The latter was prevented by the addition of IGF1 to the culture medium. Furthermore, high glucose concentrations reduced the expression of DHCR24. In conclusion, our results indicate for the first time that intermittent high glucose concentrations, similar to those observed in poorly controlled diabetic patients, may contribute to the development of diabetic neuropathy by interfering with the tropic effects exerted by the IGF system, and suggest the involvement of the neuroprotective factor DHCR24.