Differential growth factor control of bone formation through osteoprogenitor differentiation.

The osteogenic factors bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-7), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, and fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) regulate the recruitment of osteoprogenitor cells and their proliferation and differentiation into mature osteoblasts. However, their mechanisms of action on osteoprogenitor cell growth, differentiation, and bone mineralization remain unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these osteogenic agents were capable of regulating osteoblast differentiation and bone formation in vitro. Normal human bone marrow stromal (HBMS) cells were treated with BMP-7 (40 ng ml(-1)), PDGF-BB (20 ng ml(-1)), FGF-2 (20 ng ml(-1)), or FGF-2 plus BMP-7 for 28 days in a serum-containing medium with 10 mM beta-glycerophosphate and 50 microg ml(-1) ascorbic acid. BMP-7 stimulated a morphological change to cuboidal-shaped cells, increased alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) activity, bone sialoprotein (BSP) gene expression, and alizarin red S positive nodule formation. Hydroxyapatite (HA) crystal deposition in the nodules was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy only in BMP-7- and dexamethasone (DEX)-treated cells. DEX-treated cells appeared elongated and fibroblast-like compared to BMP-7-treated cells. FGF-2 did not stimulate ALKP, and cell morphology was dystrophic. PDGF-BB had little or no effect on ALKP activity and biomineralization. Alizarin Red S staining of cells and calcium assay indicated that BMP-7, DEX, and FGF-2 enhanced calcium mineral deposition, but FTIR spectroscopic analysis demonstrated no formation of HA similar to human bone in control, PDGF-BB-, and FGF-2-treated samples. Thus, FGF-2 stimulated amorphous octacalcium phosphate mineral deposition that failed to mature into HA. Interestingly, FGF-2 abrogated BMP-7-induced ALKP activity and HA formation. Results demonstrate that BMP-7 was competent as a sole factor in the differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells to bone-forming osteoblasts confirmed by FTIR examination of mineralized matrix. Other growth factors, PDGF, and FGF-2 were incompetent as sole factors, and FGF-2 inhibited BMP-7-stimulated osteoblast differentiation.

The cell survival signal Akt is differentially activated by PDGF-BB, EGF, and FGF-2 in osteoblastic cells.

Stimulation of osteoblast survival signals may be an important mechanism of regulating bone anabolism. Protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), a serine-threonine protein kinase, is a critical regulator of normal cell growth, cell cycle progression, and cell survival. In this study we have investigated the signaling pathways activated by growth factors PDGF-BB, EGF, and FGF-2 and determined whether PDGF-BB, EGF, and FGF-2 activated Akt in human or mouse osteoblastic cells. The results demonstrated that both ERK1 and ERK2 were activated by FGF-2 and PDGF-BB. Activation of ERK1 and ERK2 by PDGF-BB and FGF-2 was inhibited by PD 098059 (100 microM), a specific inhibitor of MEK. Wortmannin (500 nM), a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase ( PI 3-K), inhibited the activation of ERK1 and ERK2 by PDGF-BB but not by FGF-2 suggesting that PI 3-K mediated the activation of ERK MAPK pathway by PDGF-BB but not by FGF-2. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of p70 S6 protein kinase and a downstream target of ERK1/2 and PI 3-K, did not affect the activation of ERK1 and ERK2 by the growth factors. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that Akt, a downstream target of PI 3-K, was activated by PDGF-BB but not by FGF-2. Akt activation by PDGF-BB was inhibited by PI 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002. Rapamycin had no effect on Akt activation. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) also activated Akt in osteoblastic cells which was inhibited by LY294002 but not by rapamycin. Taken together, our data for the first time revealed that the activation of ERK1/2 by PDGF-BB is mediated by PI 3-K, and secondly, Akt is activated by PDGF-BB and EGF but not by FGF-2 in human and mouse osteoblastic cells. These results are of critical importance in understanding the role of these growth factors in apoptosis and cell survival. PDGF-BB and EGF but not FGF-2 may stimulate osteoblast cell survival.

Extracellular-signal regulated kinase signaling pathway mediates downregulation of type I procollagen gene expression by FGF-2, PDGF-BB, and okadaic acid in osteoblastic cells.

Although basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) had been shown to inhibit type I collagen gene expression in osteoblast, its inhibitory mechanism is unknown. In the present study, we investigated the underlying mechanisms by which growth factors downregulate type I collagen gene expression. Treatment of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells with okadaic acid (40 ng/ml), an inhibitor of phosphoserine/threonine-specific protein phosphatase and activator of ERK1/2, for 24 h and 48 h completely inhibited steady-state mRNA levels of type I collagen. FGF-2 (30 ng/ml), platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), 30 ng/ml, and serum, which activate ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway also inhibited collagen type I gene expression, suggesting that the activation of ERK pathway mediates inhibition of type I collagen mRNA. This observation was further confirmed by experiments using inhibitors of the ERK pathway (i.e., PD and U0126), which increased type I collagen mRNA in MC3T3-E1 cells, indicating that the inhibition of ERK pathway upregulates type I collagen gene expression. Low serum (0.3%) markedly increased type I collagen mRNA. MEK inhibitor PD inhibited c-fos induction by FGF-2 and PDGF-BB, suggesting that c-fos is the downstream target of ERK pathway. Our data have clearly demonstrated for the first time that the ERK MAPK pathway play an important role in the regulation of type I collagen gene expression in osteoblastic cells. Results also showed that one of the mechanisms by which FGF-2 and PDGF-BB downregulate type I collagen gene expression in the osteoblast is through the activation of ERK signaling pathway.

Identification and activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in normal human osteoblastic and bone marrow stromal cells: attenuation of MAP kinase activation by cAMP, parathyroid hormone and forskolin.

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (p44mapk and p42mapk), also known as extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1 and ERK2), are activated in response to a variety of extracellular signals, including growth factors, hormones and, neurotransmitters. We have investigated MAP kinase signal transduction pathways in normal human osteoblastic cells. Normal human bone marrow stromal (HBMS), osteoblastic (HOB), and human (TE85, MG-63, SaOS-2), rat (ROS 17/2.8, UMR-106) and mouse (MC3T3-E1) osteoblastic cell lines contained immunodetectable p44mapk/ERK1 and p42mapk/ERK2. MAP kinase activity was measured by 'in-gel' assay using myelin basic protein as the substrate. Mainly ERK2 was rapidly activated (within 10 min) by bFGF, IGF-I and PDGF-BB in normal HOB, HBMS and human osteosarcoma cells, whereas both ERK1 and ERK2 were activated by growth factors in rat osteoblast-like cell lines, ROS 17/2.8 and UMR-106. The ERK1 activation was greater than the ERK2 in ROS 17/2.8 cells. Furthermore, ERK2 was also activated by bFGF and PDGF-BB in the mouse osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1. This is the first demonstration of inter-species differences in the activation of MAP kinases in osteoblastic cells. Cyclic AMP derivatives or cAMP generating agents such as PTH and forskolin inhibited ERK2 activation by bFGF and PDGF-BB suggesting a 'cross-talk' between the two different signalling pathways activated by receptor tyrosine kinases and cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The accumulated results also suggest that the MAP kinases may be involved in mediating mitogenic and other biological actions of bFGF, IGF-I and PDGF-BB in normal human osteoblastic and bone marrow stromal cells.

Activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases by interleukin-1 beta in normal human osteoblastic and rat UMR-106 cells.

We recently demonstrated the activation of extracellular signal- regulated protein kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1 and ERK2) by IGF-1, FGF-2, and PDGF-BB in normal human osteoblastic (HOB) cells as well as in rat and mouse osteoblastic cells. In this report, we have examined whether c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase (JNK) pathway is activated by growth factors and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in normal HOB and rat UMR-106 cells using immune-complex kinase assay and anti-active JNK antibody, which recognizes activated forms of both JNK1 and JNK2. Results have demonstrated the presence of JNK1 and JNK2 proteins in normal HOB and UMR-106 cells. Both JNK1 and JNK2 were activated by IL-1 beta. IL-1 beta preferentially activated JNK pathway in a dose- and time-dependent manner and had little effect on ERK pathway. On the other hand, FGF-2 did not activate JNK but most strongly activated ERK pathway. The activation of JNK was maximal at 20 min whereas maximal activation of ERK1 and ERK2 was observed within 10 min. Results have clearly demonstrated that IL-1 beta preferentially activates JNK pathway whereas FGF-2 activates ERK pathway in normal human and rat UMR-106 osteoblastic cells.

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1 and ERK2) by FGF-2 and PDGF-BB in normal human osteoblastic and bone marrow stromal cells: differences in mobility and in-gel renaturation of ERK1 in human, rat, and mouse osteoblastic cells.

We recently demonstrated that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) mainly activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) in normal human osteoblastic (HOB) and bone marrow stromal (HBMS) cells by an "in-gel" MAP kinase assay, although both ERK1 and ERK2 proteins were present. In the present study, we examined whether ERK1 is also activated by growth factors by using three different MAPK assay procedures, an "in-gel MAP kinase assay," an immune-complex kinase assay, and western blotting with anti-active MAPK antibody which recognizes specifically activated forms of both ERK1 and ERK2. Results have demonstrated that in addition to ERK2, ERK1 is activated by FGF-2 and PDGF-BB in normal HOB and HBMS cells. The human ERK1 moved faster on SDS-polyacrylamide gel compared to rat and mouse, revealing differences in the apparent molecular weight of FRK1 in normal human osteoblastic and bone marrow osteoprogenitor cells, human (TE-85) and rat (ROS 17/2.8 and UMR-106) osteosarcoma, and mouse (MC3T3E1) osteoblastic cells. ERK1 is less stable in the in-gel renaturation process compared to ERK2; thus, in-gel MAP kinase assay does not provide an accurate estimation of ERK1 activity. Results also showed that anti-active MAPK antibody can be used reliably and accurately to measure the activation of ERK1 and ERK2 in osteoblastic cells.

Regulation of interleukin-8 gene expression by interleukin-1beta, osteotropic hormones, and protein kinase inhibitors in normal human bone marrow stromal cells.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a potent neutrophil chemotactic peptide that elicits pleiotropic biological effects is secreted in large amounts by normal human osteoblastic and bone marrow osteoprogenitor stromal (HBMS) cells in response to IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In the present study we investigated the regulation of IL-8 gene expression by IL-1beta, osteotropic hormones, and protein kinase inhibitors in primary cultures of HBMS cells. The treatment of HBMS cells with IL-1beta increased the steady-state levels of IL-8 mRNA in a dose- and time-dependent fashion and was detectable within 1 h, reached maximal by 4 h, and remained elevated at 24 h, whereas parathyroid hormone (10(-7) and 10(-8) M) had no effect on IL-8 mRNA. Both synthetic and natural glucocorticoids dexamethasone (10(-7)-10(-10) M) and hydrocortisone (10(-6)-10(-8) M) inhibited IL-1beta-stimulated IL-8 mRNA expression. The suppressive effect of dexamethasone on IL-1beta-induced IL-8 mRNA was not observed in the presence of cycloheximide (5 microg/ml), indicating that the dexamethasone-mediated repression of IL-8 gene expression also depends on new protein synthesis. Experiments with actinomycin D demonstrated that IL-8 mRNA is long-lived and that glucocorticoids down-regulate IL-8 gene expression mainly by decreasing the mRNA stability in normal HBMS cells. Furthermore, as determined by nuclear run-on analysis, IL-1beta increased the rate of transcription of IL-8 gene and dexamethasone did not affect the IL-1beta-induced transcription of IL-8. 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, HCl (50 microM) and staurosporine (1 microM), potent inhibitors of protein kinase C, and genistein (100 microM), a specific protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor blocked IL-1beta-induced IL-8 gene expression. Because curcumin (20 microM), an inhibitor of c-jun/AP-1 and protein kinases, also blocked IL-1beta-stimulated IL-8 gene expression implicating c-JUN/AP-1 and protein phosphorylation in the induction of IL-8 gene expression by IL-1beta, we conclude that the regulation of IL-8 mRNA by IL-1beta is mediated via protein kinase-dependent signal transduction pathways. Our accumulated results have demonstrated that glucocorticoid suppression of IL-1beta-induced IL-8 mRNA occurs at the levels of post-transcription (mRNA stability) and protein synthesis.

Induction of early growth response-1 gene by interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in normal human bone marrow stromal an osteoblastic cells: regulation by a protein kinase C inhibitor.

The early growth response-1 (Egr-1) gene has been identified as a nuclear transcriptional factor and implicated in the regulation of growth and differentiation of osteoblastic cells. In the present study, we investigated whether Egr-1 mRNA is expressed and induced by interleukin-1 beta, (IL-beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in normal human bone marrow stromal (HBMS) and osteoblastic (HOB) cells. Results demonstrate a very low basal expression of Egr-I mRNA which is induced by IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Egr-1 mRNA induction was detectable within 15 min, reached maximal by 60 min and thereafter declined to basal levels by 120 min. Induction of Egr-1 mRNA by IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha was completely inhibited by H-7 suggesting the mediation of protein kinase C. The induction by IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha of Egr-1 mRNA was independent of de novo protein synthesis since this induction was also observed in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. Fetal bovine serum and cycloheximide also independently induced the Egr-1 mRNA. Actinomycin D experiments demonstrated that Egr-1 mRNA is degraded very rapidly with a half-life of 30 min. Our results demonstrate the expression of Egr-1 gene and its induction by IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha in normal human bone marrow stromal (osteoprogenitor) and osteoblastic cells in primary cultures. Data also reveal that the expression of Egr-1 gene is inhibited by protein kinase C inhibitor H-7 suggesting that the activation of protein kinase C or other protein kinases resulting in the phosphorylation of specific transcription factor(s) is the first immediate early step in the induction of immediate-early Egr-1 gene by IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha. Results also suggest that Egr-1 is an important mediator of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha action in normal human osteoblastic cells.

Dexamethasone regulates IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha-induced interleukin-8 production in human bone marrow stromal and osteoblast-like cells.

We have investigated both constitutive- and cytokine-induced secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and its regulation by dexamethasone and 17 beta-estradiol in normal human bone marrow stromal (HBMS), osteoblast-like cells (hOB), and osteosarcoma MG-63 cells. Although HBMS cells secrete low levels of IL-8 constitutively, treatment with IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induced IL-8 secretion. Their effects were synergistic but IL-8 production was not affected by 17 beta-estradiol. Human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells also secreted low levels of IL-8 constitutively; the production was induced by IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha and was also not affected by 17 beta-estradiol. The magnitude of the response to cytokine stimulation of IL-8 in MG-63 cells was much lower than that of HBMS and hOB cells, indicating differences in response in normal and osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells. Dexamethasone (10(-7) M) significantly inhibited IL-1 beta plus TNF-alpha stimulated IL-8 production in HBMS, MG-63, and hOB cells. The accumulated results demonstrate that IL-8 is secreted by HBMS, MG-63, and hOB cells, suggesting that IL-8 may play a role in the regulation of bone cell function. These data also emphasize the importance of glucocorticoids in controlling cytokine secretion in HBMS, hOB, and MG-63 cells.

Production of various cytokines by normal human osteoblast-like cells in response to interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha: lack of regulation by 17 beta-estradiol.

We investigated, in five cell strains per experiment, whether several cytokines known or believed to have effects on bone resorption were produced by nearly homogeneous strains of cultured normal human osteoblast-like (hOB) cells that display virtually the complete phenotype of the mature osteoblast. In unstimulated hOB cells, we detected constitutive production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (mean +/- SE, 122 +/- 32 pg/ml) and IL-8 (135 +/- 39 pg/ml), but not of IL-4, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha). IL-1 beta in doses from 1-100 U/ml stimulated dose-dependent increases in IL-6 (r = 0.87; P less than 0.001) and IL-8 (r = 0.95; P less than 0.001). Similar increases occurred after stimulation with TNF alpha in doses from 3-300 U/ml. IL-1 beta and TNF alpha also stimulated GM-CSF production, but only at higher doses. 17 beta-Estradiol (10(-8) M) had no significant effect on the secretion of any of these cytokines, either constitutively or after stimulation with IL-1 beta or TNF alpha. Stimulated production of IL-4 was not detected after treatment with IL-1 beta or TNF alpha, and that of TNF alpha was not detected after treatment with IL-1 beta. We conclude that IL-6, IL-8, and GM-CSF, but not IL-4 and TNF alpha, are produced by highly differentiated normal human cells of the osteoblast lineage, but their secretion is not regulated by estrogen. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that estrogen regulation of these cytokines may occur during early stages of osteoblast differentiation.

Effect of different steroidogenic stimuli on protein phosphorylation and steroidogenesis in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells.

Numerous studies have indicated that treatment of Leydig cells with gonadotropin results in increased levels of intracellular cAMP, binding of cAMP to and activation of protein kinase A, phosphorylation of proteins, synthesis of new proteins and eventually, stimulation of steroidogenesis. In addition, recent studies have indicated that protein phosphorylation is an indispensable event in the production of steroids in response to hormone stimulation in adrenal cells. Because of the important role of phosphorylation in steroidogenic regulation, we investigated the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), forskolin and the phorbol ester, phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on protein phosphorylation in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. Cells were stimulated with different steroidogenic compounds in the presence of [32P]orthophosphoric acid for 2 h and phosphoproteins analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis (PAGE). Results demonstrated an increase in the phosphorylation of four proteins (22 kDa, pI 5.9; 24 kDa, pI 6.7 and 30 kDa, pI 6.3 and 6.5) in response to 34 ng/ml hCG, 1 mM dbcAMP and 100 microM forskolin. Conversely, treatment of cells with PMA increased the phosphorylation of only one of these proteins (30 kDa, pI 6.3). At least two of these proteins (30 kDa, pI 6.5 and 6.3) appear to be identical to proteins which we and others have shown to be synthesized in response to trophic hormone stimulation in adrenal, luteal and Leydig cells. In addition, they also appear to be identical to adrenal cell mitochondrial proteins demonstrated to be phosphorylated in response to ACTH. These data indicate that proteins similar to those phosphorylated in adrenal cells in response to ACTH are phosphorylated in hormone stimulated testicular Leydig cells and that these proteins may be involved in steroidogenic regulation.

An in vitro cell model system to study the action of retinoids on Leydig cell steroidogenesis.

In this study we examined the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on steroid production in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. Results showed that both retinol and retinoic acid greatly increased progesterone production in this cloned cell line. The stimulatory effect of retinoids is not inhibited by cycloheximide suggesting that de novo protein synthesis is not required. The presence of the retinoid binding proteins CRBP and CRABP could not be detected in MA-10 Leydig cell cytosol indicating that the stimulatory action of retinoids on progesterone production is not mediated through these cellular binding proteins. Both previous and present findings suggest that retinoids play an important role in the regulation of Leydig cell steroidogenesis and that MA-10 Leydig tumor cells may represent an ideal in vitro cell system to study the mechanism of action of retinoids in Leydig cell steroidogenesis.

Evidence for the functional coupling of cyclic AMP in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumour cells.

A number of studies have indicated that increased production of steroids can be obtained with doses of tropic hormone which do not result in detectable increases in intracellular cAMP. It has been suggested that this may be a result of compartmentalization or functional coupling of cAMP generated by hormone-receptor interactions to specific steroid producing pathways in the cell. In the present study we have stimulated the MA-10 mouse Leydig tumour cell with hCG, dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) and forskolin to determine if functional coupling of cAMP occurs. Treatment with hCG, dbcAMP and forskolin all resulted in significant increases in the production of progesterone, the major steroid produced in these cells. Stimulation with hCG followed by 2D-PAGE analysis of the proteins resulted in the appearance of two proteins in the 30,000 molecular weight range (pI 6.8 and 6.6) and two in the 25,000-27,000 region (pI 5.9-6.0). Stimulation with dbcAMP or forskolin resulted in the appearance of the same proteins seen with hCG, but also in the appearance of two additional proteins, also having molecular weights of approximately 30,000 (pI 6.3 and 6.1). These data indicate that cAMP generated via hCG stimulation, whilst able to generate similar amounts of progesterone, does not stimulate the synthesis of the same proteins as does cAMP added exogenously or generated through indiscriminate activation of adenylate cyclase activity. Thus, it would appear that the gonadotropin activated pathway generates cAMP which remains functionally compartmentalized within the cell.

Inhibition of hCG- and cAMP-stimulated progesterone production in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells by ketoconazole.

In this study we attempted to examine the effects of ketoconazole on steroid biosynthesis and to determine which steps in the steroidogenic pathway were blocked using MA-10 Mouse Leydig tumor cells. This cloned cell line produces progesterone as the major steroid following stimulation by hCG or dbcAMP. At a concentration of 1 microM ketoconazole completely inhibited the hCG- and dbcAMP-stimulated progesterone synthesis in MA-10 Leydig cells. The conversion of 25-hydroxycholesterol and 22R-hydroxycholesterol into progesterone was also suppressed by this drug. The presence of ketoconazole inhibited mitochondrial steroid synthesis but required high concentrations of the drug as compared to inhibition in intact cells. No accumulation of pregnenolone was observed in the presence of ketoconazole indicating that the activity of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was not affected. We conclude that ketoconazole directly inhibits the activity of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CSCC), a rate-determining enzymatic step in steroidogenesis, by interacting with cytochrome P-450scc.

Effect of retinol and retinoic acid on testosterone production by rat Leydig cells in primary culture.

Adult rat Leydig cells, purified by Percoll density gradient centrifugation, were used to determine the effect of retinol and retinoic acid on steroidogenesis. It was found that both retinoic acid and retinol stimulated testosterone production. Although retinol was less potent than retinoic acid, retinol had the greater efficacy. When these retinoids were tested in the presence of a maximal dose of LH, it was found that retinol inhibited LH-stimulated testosterone synthesis whereas retinoic acid had no similar effect. These results demonstrate for the first time that retinol and retinoic acid have a direct effect on Leydig cell steroidogenesis in culture suggesting that retinoids play a role in the maintenance and regulation of Leydig cell function.

Stimulation of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme activity by cAMP and hCG in MA-10 Leydig tumor cells.

Using a cloned Leydig tumor cell line (designated MA-10), we have studied the activity of cholesterol side-chain (CSCC) enzyme, the rate-determining step in steroidogenesis, in mitochondria isolated from cells pretreated either with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP). Results showed a slight but significant increase in CSCC activity with treatment by cAMP (25% increase) and hCG (60% increase), as compared to mitochondria isolated from nontreated control cells. However, this stimulation of CSCC activity appears to be of limited significance when compared to the approximately 1000-fold or greater increase observed in progesterone production in the presence of hCG or dbcAMP. On the other hand, unstimulated MA-10 cells or isolated mitochondria efficiently converted 25-hydroxycholesterol and 22R-hydroxycholesterol into progesterone, and this conversion was not affected by cycloheximide. The addition of cholesterol to intact cells or to isolated mitochondria did not affect progesterone production. Our observations clearly indicate that given the proper hydroxy substrates (22R-hydroxycholesterol or 25-hydroxycholesterol), MA-10 Leydig cells are able to convert them into progesterone without any stimulation by steroidogenic stimuli, i.e. cAMP or hCG. Since MA-10 Leydig cells can efficiently convert 22R-hydroxycholesterol--an intermediate in CSCC reaction--into progesterone, these results suggest that the key regulatory step in the mechanism of trophic hormone-stimulated steroid production is the first hydroxylation step of the 3 sequential monooxygenation reactions involved in the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone.

Stimulation of progesterone production by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate in MA-10 Leydig tumor cells.

The tumor-promoting phorbol ester, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) markedly stimulated progesterone production in MA-10 Leydig tumor cells. A slight but significant increase (35%) in the activity of the cholesterol side-chain cleavage (CSCC) enzyme was observed in mitochondria isolated from the PMA-treated MA-10 Leydig cells when compared to mitochondria isolated from non-treated cells. However, this stimulation of CSCC activity appears to be of limited importance when compared to the 240-fold increase observed in progesterone production following PMA stimulation. In contrast, the inactive phorbol ester 4 alpha-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (alpha-PD) had no effect on either progesterone production or CSCC activity. PMA had no effect on the conversion of 25-hydroxycholesterol and 22R-hydroxycholesterol into progesterone suggesting that one of the mechanism(s) of PMA action may involve the delivery of cholesterol to the mitochondria and/or the affinity of cholesterol with cytochrome P-450scc. Stimulation of steroidogenesis by PMA was also shown to be inhibited by cycloheximide. When PMA was added together with a submaximal dose of hCG, hCG-stimulated steroidogenesis was inhibited. However, at a maximal dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), PMA inhibited steroid synthesis at 1 and 2 h but had no significant effect at 3 h. Conversely, PMA had an additive effect on cAMP induced steroidogenesis. It was further demonstrated that PMA resulted in a decrease in the hCG-induced accumulation of cAMP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Some properties and subcellular distribution of acyl-coenzyme A: retinol acyltransferase activity in rat testes.

The present study was conducted to examine esterification of retinol by testicular microsomes. The microsomes were isolated from rat testes and were incubated under varying assay conditions with [3H]retinol. [3H]Retinylpalmitate was identified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography as an esterified product. The rate of esterification was increased by the addition of a fatty acyl-CoA. Coenzyme A esters of oleic, palmitic and stearic acids were equally effective substrates for retinol esterification. A 17-fold increase was observed in the presence of palmitoyl-CoA when microsomes had been pretreated with hydroxylamine, a reagent that reacts with coenzyme A thioesters to form hydroxamic acids. The esterifying activity was stimulated by the addition of dithiothreitol (4 mM) and fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin (1 mg/ml). The optimal concentrations for retinol and palmitoyl-CoA were 40 microM and 30-40 microM, respectively. The enzyme activity was inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, sodium taurocholate and 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid), but not by EDTA. The enzyme activity was highest in microsomes (36%). However, some activity was present in mitochondria (29%). These results clearly show the presence of a fatty acyl-CoA: retinol acyltransferase that catalyzes the esterification of retinol in rat testes.

Metabolism of all-trans-[11-3H]retinyl acetate in the testes of young rats.

All-trans-[11-3H]retinyl acetate was injected directly into the testes of young rats and testicular and liver metabolites were analyzed by HPLC at 6, 24 and 72 h post injection. All-trans-retinyl acetate was hydrolyzed to retinol and further metabolized to polar compounds and a trace of retinoic acid, or reesterified to various retinyl esters including retinyl palmitate and retinyl stearate. Thus, retinyl ester hydrolyzing and esterifying enzymes are present in the testes of young rats. Eleven, twelve and ten radioactive peaks were observed at 6, 24 and 72 h, respectively. The amount of radioactivity in retinyl palmitate and retinyl stearate increased with time and reached 24 and 4%, respectively, by 72 h. Although retinol predominated, retinyl palmitate was the major esterified form in testis. The amount of radioactivity in retinol and retinyl acetate decreased with time and increased in unidentified metabolites and retinyl esters. An insignificant amount of radioactivity was found in liver. We conclude from these results that some vitamin A is stored/accumulated in the testes as retinyl esters in order to support the process of spermatogenesis and other physiological functions and that the retinol esterifying enzyme is quite active in the testes of young rats.

Metabolism of all-trans-retinoic acid in rat testis.

The metabolism of all-trans-[15-14C]retinoic acid in vitamin A-adequate or vitamin A-deficient rats fed retinoic acid was studied following intratesticular injection. Analysis of testicular metabolites by HPLC at 1, 6, and 24 h demonstrated that the retinoic acid was isomerized to 13-cis-retinoic acid and metabolized to polar metabolites in both groups of rats at all time periods. However, polar metabolites predominated in the testes of the vitamin A-deficient rats. At 24 h the total radioactivity remaining in the testis was much lower in the testes of vitamin A-deficient rats than in normal animals suggesting a faster rate of metabolism of all-trans-retinoic acid in these rats.