Endothelin-1 stimulates cardiac fibroblast proliferation through activation of protein kinase C.

After myocardial ischemia, circulating levels of the mitogen endothelin-1 (ET-1) increase. The effects of ET-1 on cardiac fibroblasts are poorly characterized. Therefore we examined the influence of ET-1 on cardiac fibroblast proliferation with a view to elucidating the signal transduction mechanisms underlying this effect. ET-1 (10 n m) stimulated [(3)H]thymidine incorporation and cell proliferation in cultured neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts, consistent with its activity as a mitogen. We examined the role of protein kinase C (PKC) on this function. Inhibition of PKC activation with either chelerythrine (1 microm) or staurosporine (1 n m) attenuated ET-1-induced increases in DNA synthesis and cell number. Downregulation of PKC by chronic pretreatment with 10 n m phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) also prevented ET-1-induced mitogenesis. In contrast to previous reports that cardiac fibroblast proliferation stimulated by angiotensin II acts independently of PKC, the ET-1 mediated mitogenic effect requires activation of PKC in these cells. Findings in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts were identical. In addition, we noted that concurrent treatment with the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 beta which, like ET-1, is released after myocardial ischemia, attenuated the ET-1-induced increases in DNA synthesis and cell number. This effect was not mediated through a nitric oxide synthase pathway.

Hypoxia differentially regulates stress proteins in cultured cardiomyocytes: role of the p38 stress-activated kinase signaling cascade, and relation to cytoprotection.

OBJECTIVE: Stress proteins (heat shock proteins, HSPs) are molecular chaperones that have been shown to enhance the survival of cells exposed to environmental stress. We sought to investigate the effects of hypoxia on the levels of HSP27 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1 or HSP32) in an established model of rat neonatal cardiac myocytes in culture. METHODS: Myocytes were subjected to hypoxia (<0.5% O(2) for 16 h). Studies of cell viability and nuclear morphology showed no evidence of cell death under these conditions. RESULTS: Messenger RNA analysis demonstrated constitutive expression of HSP27 and low levels of HO-1. Hypoxia strongly induced HO-1 mRNA without affecting HSP27 mRNA. In parallel to mRNA levels, hypoxia increased HO-1 protein level without affecting HSP27. To further assess the signaling pathways implicated in HO-1 induction, we used inhibition experiments. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin and the mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor PD98059 did not prevent HO-1 induction, while the protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine partially blocked this response. The p38 stress-activated kinase inhibitor SB203580 was the most potent in suppressing hypoxia-induced HO-1. In vitro kinase assays, cell labeling and immunoprecipitation showed activation of signaling pathways downstream of p38 stress-activated kinase as revealed by an increase in phosphorylation of MAPKAPK-2/3 kinases and HSP27. CONCLUSIONS: These data show a differential pattern of hypoxia-induced HSP expression and implicate the stress kinase in HO-1 induction. Thus, selective regulation of HSP levels may play a role in the cardioprotective mechanisms that participate in the adaptive response to hypoxia-induced stress.

Evidence for receptor-mediated mineralocorticoid action in rat osteoblastic cells.

Aldosterone significantly enhanced the proliferation of osteoblastic cells from rat calvaria, and this effect was inhibited by RU 26752 and ZK 91587, two antagonists specific to the mineralocorticoid receptor (MCR). In addition, aldosterone inhibited the activity of alkaline phosphatase, a marker of the osteoblastic phenotype, and this effect was also reversed by RU 26752. Cytoplasmic staining of MCR was observed in rat calvaria osteoblasts incubated with a specific polyclonal antiserum raised against rat kidney MCR. This anti-MCR immunoglobulin G immunoprecipitated and macroaggregated the MCR-[3H]RU 26752 complex in osteoblastic cytosol. A single 98-kDa band was observed when osteoblastic cytosol was analyzed by Western blotting with anti-MCR serum. The 98-kDa band was also obtained after autoradiography of irradiated osteoblastic cytosol-[3H]R 5020 complex, and this was abolished in the presence of RU 26752. A p26MR probe, specific to COOH-terminal end of MCR, hybridized with the predicted product after amplification of total cell RNA by polymerase chain reaction technique. Furthermore, hybridization of poly(A)+ mRNA from at calvaria osteoblastic cells with the p26MR probe revealed a major band of approximately 4.2 kb. Collectively, our studies demonstrate the existence of a functional MCR in rat calvaria osteoblasts.

Interactions between retinoic acid and 1,25(OH)2D in mouse immortalized osteoblastic C1 cells.

The interactions between 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D] and retinoic acid (RA) on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and vitamin D receptors (VDR) were determined in the SV40 immortalized osteoblastic cell line C1. Biochemical and cytochemical analysis showed that ALP activity increased with C1 cell density and that 1,25(OH)2D inhibited ALP activity at high density, whereas RA increased ALP activity at low density. The interactions of the two hormones were also cell density dependent, with a predominant stimulatory effect of RA at low density and a predominant inhibitory effect of 1,25(OH)2D at high density. In contrast, the two hormones inhibited C1 cell proliferation independently of cell density. Scatchard analysis and immunocytochemical staining showed that nuclear VDR levels increased with cell density and that RA, 1,25(OH)2D, and their combination upregulated VDR levels mainly at high cell density. Although RA increased VDR levels, RA did not potentiate the effect of 1,25(OH)2D on ALP activity. The results indicate that the effects and interactions of 1,25(OH)2D and RA on ALP activity in osteoblastic C1 cells depend on the state of phenotypic maturation.

Kinetics of in vitro mineralization by an osteogenic clonal cell line (C1) derived from mouse teratocarcinoma.

We have previously reported the isolation of an osteogenic clonal cell line (C1) derived from mouse teratocarcinoma and immortalized by the SV 40 oncogenes. In this report we describe the kinetics of osteogenic differentiation of aggregated C1 cells by following the matrix deposition and mineralization and the expression of alkaline phosphatase. We show that after addition of beta-glycerophosphate and ascorbic acid, more than 95% of C1 aggregates synthesize a bone matrix which is deposited as early as 2 days and increases progressively with time in culture. Matrix calcification is evidenced by von Kossa staining and tetracycline incorporation into the mineral whereas no calcification appears in control cultures. Calcium is detectable in mineralizing aggregates at 2 days and calcium content increases linearly with time in culture, being 125-fold higher in mineralizing nodules than in control aggregates at 30 days. Aggregated C1 cells are characterized by a high activity of the bone type isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase, a marker of osteoblast phenotype. Upon addition of inducers, alkaline phosphatase activity decreases by five-fold after the onset of mineralization and remains stable thereafter. The down-regulation of alkaline phosphatase activity is confirmed at the cellular level by histochemical staining. The mRNA levels for alkaline phosphatase decline during osteogenesis, following a pattern similar to the decrease in protein activity. Analysis of DNA synthesis by (3H)-thymidine incorporation and quantification of labelled nuclei on autoradiographs shows that C1 cells proliferation is not down-regulated during the time course of differentiation and that proliferating C1 cells still express alkaline phosphatase activity during osteogenic differentiation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amiloride and analogues inhibit Na(+)-H+ exchange and cell proliferation in AR42J pancreatic cell line.

To study the relation between activation of the Na(+)-H+ antiporter and gastrointestinal cell proliferation, we characterized this antiporter in a pancreatic cell line (AR42J) and studied the effects of mitogenic and nonmitogenic agents as well as those of Na(+)-H+ exchange blocking agents on DNA synthesis. Characteristics of amiloride-sensitive Na+ uptake were those of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger: 1) Na+ uptake was increased by intracellular acidification and depended on external [Na+] and pH; 2) concentrations for half-maximal inhibition (IC50) of Na+ uptake (3 mM [Na+] in medium) were 40 nM 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride (HA) less than 0.1 microM 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA) less than 1 microM 5-(N,N-dimethyl)-amiloride (DMA) less than 40 microM amiloride; 3) IC50 for amiloride and analogues to inhibit Na+ uptake depended on [Na+] in medium (in 25 mM Na+ medium, the IC50 values were higher than in 3 mM and were 1 microM EIPA less than 10 microM DMA less than 0.3 mM amiloride). Growth factors for AR42J cells (dialyzed fetal calf serum and epidermal growth factor) activated Na+ uptake in a dose-dependent manner. Bombesin, which is nonmitogenic for AR42J cells, also increased Na+ uptake, indicating that activation of the antiporter is not sufficient to initiate cell proliferation in the AR42J cell line. The effects of Na(+)-H+ exchange blocking agents were tested on serum-stimulated cell proliferation. Decreasing external Na+ dramatically decreased AR42J cell proliferation. Amiloride and analogues inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation in the same range of concentrations as that with which they inhibited Na(+)-H+ exchange.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Na+/H+ exchange in AR4-2J cells: stimulation by growth factors and pancreatic secretagogues.

To study the relationships between activation of the Na+/H+ antiporter and gastrointestinal cell proliferation, we characterized this antiporter in a pancreatic cell line (AR4-2J). In the present study, the effects of mitogenic and non-mitogenic agents and of Na+/H+ exchange blocking agents on DNA synthesis are reported. Dialyzed fetal calf serum (FCS) (0-10%) increased amiloride-sensitive 22Na+ uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. There was a linear relationship between the increase in 22Na uptake and cell number when FCS was added in the 2-10% concentration range. Amiloride and analogs inhibited 3H-thymidine incorporation in the same concentration range as that with which they inhibited the Na+/H+ exchange. IC50 values were 1 microM for 5-(N-ethy-N-isopropyl)-amiloride (EIPA), 10 microM for 5-(N,N-dimethyl)-amiloride (DMA) and 0.1 mM for amiloride, respectively, indicating that activation of the Na+/H+ antiporter is necessary to initiate cell proliferation in AR4-2J cells. Maximal CCK9-induced 22Na uptake was 3.65 times the basal rate and was obtained at 0.1 nM. Maximal 22Na uptake triggered by unsulfated gastrin 17 was 2.51 times the basal rate and was obtained at 0.1 nM. The EC50s of CCK9 and gastrin in stimulating the 22Na uptake were similar at 1 pM. Maximal carbamylcholine-induced stimulation was observed at 0.1 mM and was 2.37 times greater than the basal rate. EC50 was 1 microM. In AR4-2J cells, the activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger seems to be directly involved in the control of cell proliferation. However, stimulation of this exchanger by stimulating factors that are not growth factors suggests that intracytoplasmic alkalinization could regulate other important metabolic processes which, as yet, are unknown.