Spatial expression patterns of peptide transporters in the human and rat gastrointestinal tracts, Caco-2 in vitro cell culture model, and multiple human tissues.

This study sought to identify the spatial patterns of expression of peptide transporter 1 (PepT1), peptide transporter 3 (PTR3), peptide/histidine transporter 1 (PHT1), and the human peptide transporter 1 (HPT-1) mRNA in complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries of the human and rat gastrointestinal tracts (GIT), Caco-2 in vitro cell culture model, and in a human multiple tissue panel. Human PTR3 and PHT1 are putative peptide transporters recently discovered. Using sequence-specific primers designed to amplify regions of PepT1, PTR3, PHT1, and HPT-1, we were able to identify the expression of mRNA for each of these transporters in human cDNA panels (Clontech, Palo Alto, CA), the rat GIT, and in Caco-2 cDNA libraries by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern Blot analysis. These studies suggest that in the human GIT, PepT1 appears to be localized predominantly in the duodenum, with decreasing expression in the jejunum and ileum. In contrast, PTR3 and HPT-1 were widely expressed in the human GIT, with predominant expression in the different regions of the colon. PHT1 appeared to be expressed in low levels throughout the human GI tract. Interestingly, the mRNAs for all 4 peptide transporters were expressed in Caco-2 cells throughout 30 days of culture. PepT1, PTR3, PHT1, and HPT-1 were also widely expressed in the rat GIT. Human tissue cDNA panel screening suggests that PTR3 and PHT1 are more uniformly expressed, whereas PepT1 and HPT-1 demonstrated site-specific expression. These results suggest that PepT1, PTR3, PHT1, and HPT-1 all may act to facilitate the diffusion of peptides and peptide-based pharmaceuticals in the GIT. PTR3, PHT1, and HPT-1 expressions in Caco-2 cell monolayers strongly suggest that their function needs to be further elucidated and their contribution to peptide transport not ignored. Taken together, these results demonstrate the potential for molecular biological characterization in localizing active transporter systems that can potentially be targeted for enhancing the absorption of peptide-based pharmaceuticals.

The targeted disruption of both alleles of RARbeta(2) in F9 cells results in the loss of retinoic acid-associated growth arrest.

F9 teratocarcinoma cell lines, carrying one or two disrupted alleles of the RARbeta(2) gene, were generated by homologous recombination to study the role of RARbeta(2) in mediating the effects of retinoids on cell growth and differentiation. Retinoic acid (RA) does not induce growth arrest of the RARbeta(2)-/- cells, whereas the F9 WT and RARbeta(2)+/- heterozygote lines undergo RA-induced growth arrest. The RARbeta(2)+/- lines also exhibit a faster cell cycle transit time in the absence of RA. The RARbeta(2)-/- stem cells exhibit an altered morphology when compared with the F9 WT parent line, and after RA treatment, the RARbeta(2)-/- cells do not exhibit a fully differentiated cell morphology. As compared with F9 WT cells, the RARbeta-/- cells exhibited a markedly lower induction of several early RA-responsive genes and no induction of laminin B1, a late response gene. The induction of RA metabolism in the F9 RARbeta(2)-/- cells following differentiation was not impaired. The research presented here, and prior research suggest that RARbeta is required for RA-induced growth arrest in a variety of cell types and that RARbeta also functions in mediating late responses to RA. These findings are significant in view of the reduced expression of RARbeta transcripts in a number of different types of human carcinomas.

Characterization of genes which exhibit reduced expression during the retinoic acid-induced differentiation of F9 teratocarcinoma cells: involvement of cyclin D3 in RA-mediated growth arrest.

In the presence of retinoic acid (RA), F9 murine teratocarcinoma cells differentiate into cells resembling the extra-embryonic endoderm of the early mouse embryo. Using differential hybridization, we have cloned and characterized six cDNAs corresponding to mRNAs that exhibit reduced expression in F9 cells following RA treatment. Two of these cDNAs encode novel genes (REX-2 and REX-3). The other isolated cDNAs encode genes that have been previously described in other contexts: 1-4 (cyclin D3); 2-10 (pyruvate kinase); 2-12 (glutathione S-transferase); and 2-17 (GLUT 3). The mRNA levels of these genes are reduced by RA or RA plus theophylline and cAMP (RACT) only after 48 h of treatment, and continue to decrease at 96 h. The half-lives of these mRNAs are not changed by RA treatment, indicating that these mRNAs may be regulated through a transcriptional mechanism. In isoleucine-deprived cells, which are growth arrested but do not differentiate, the steady state mRNA levels of genes Rex 2, Rex 3, pyruvate kinase and GLUT 3 are not reduced, in contrast to cyclin D3 and glutathione S-transferase. The expression of the REX-2, REX-3, pyruvate kinase, glutathione S-transferase and GLUT 3 genes is reduced by RACT to the same extent in F9 RARgamma-/- and RARalpha-/- lines as in F9-Wt. In contrast, cyclin D3 exhibits lower mRNA expression in F9 RARgamma-/- and RARalpha-/- stem cells, and this mRNA is not decreased by RACT treatment. Overexpression of cyclin D3 blocks the RA-induced growth arrest of F9 cells, indicating that the downregulation of this gene following RA treatment may constitute a necessary step in the cascade of events leading to growth inhibition by RA.

4-Oxoretinol, a metabolite of retinol in the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line NB4, induces cell growth arrest and granulocytic differentiation.

All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) is used as a differentiation therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia. Patients can become resistant to RA, and this resistance is thought to be mediated in part by an increase in the rate of RA metabolism. We have characterized the metabolism of all-trans-retinol (ROL; vitamin A) in NB4 cells, which are human promyelocytic leukemia cells. NB4 cells metabolize ROL into a variety of compounds, including all-trans-4-hydroxyretinol, all-trans-4-oxoretinol (4-oxoROL), 14-hydroxy-4,14-retro-retinol, anhydroretinol, and several ROL esters. No metabolism of ROL to RA or to RA derivatives in NB4 cells was detected. The rate of ROL metabolism increased after cell differentiation; in a 24-h period, differentiated cells metabolized 2-fold more ROL than did undifferentiated cells. The major difference in the ROL metabolism pattern between undifferentiated and differentiated cells was an approximately 10-fold increase in the production of all-trans-4-hydroxyretinol and 4-oxoROL in differentiated cells. Furthermore, exogenously added 4-oxoROL was capable of eliciting NB4 cell differentiation, as measured by growth inhibition, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, nuclear body relocalization of PML, and surface expression of CD11b. In addition, 4-oxoROL synergized with IFN-gamma in the promotion of NB4 cell growth arrest. Following treatment of NB4 cells with 4-oxoROL to induce differentiation, the production of 4-oxoROL from ROL was observed; this indicated that 4-oxoROL induces its own synthesis in NB4 cells. In addition, 48 h after the administration of 1 microM 4-oxoROL, NB4 cells maintained a high intracellular concentration (17 microM) of 4-oxoROL. These unique properties of 4-oxoROL may provide advantages over RA in the treatment of promyelocytic leukemia cells because it may be possible to maintain cytodifferentiating concentrations of 4-oxoROL in the cells for extended periods of time.

Tumorigenic and mitogenic capacities are reduced in transfected fibroblasts expressing mutant insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I receptors. The role of tyrosine residues 1250, 1251, and 1316 in the carboxy-terminus of the IGF-I receptor.

Regulation of ligand-mediated signal transduction through transmembrane tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors involves phosphorylation of tyrosine residues in the intracellular domain of the receptor. The insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor contains three tyrosine residues in the carboxy-terminal domain at positions 1250, 1251, and 1316. Of these, only the tyrosine at position 1316 is conserved in the homologous position of the insulin receptor. Mutational analysis was used to study the role of these tyrosines in specific outcomes of IGF-I-mediated signal transduction. Mutations in the human IGF-I receptor were either replacement of tyrosines 1250 and 1251 with phenylalanine and histidine (yyFH), respectively, or replacement of the conserved distal tyrosine (position 1316) with phenylalanine (yCF). The yyFH mutation results in an IGF-I receptor with the amino acids found in the homologous position of the human insulin receptor. Cells overexpressing mutated IGF-I receptors were compared with cells expressing only endogenous IGF-I receptors or overexpressing wild-type IGF-I receptors. The ability of yyFH mutant IGF-I receptors to autophosphorylate the beta-subunit or phosphorylate insulin receptor substrate-1 was not significantly different from wild-type type IGF-I receptors. However, one or both of the proximal tyrosine residues (positions 1250 and 1251) in the carboxy-terminus of the IGF-I receptor are essential for IGF-I-stimulation of mitogenic and tumorigenic pathways. IGF-I-induced mitogenesis, measured as thymidine incorporation and cellular proliferation, was abrogated in cells overexpressing mutant IGF-I receptors with replacement of the proximal double tyrosines (positions 1250 and 1251). Fibroblasts expressing this mutant IGF-I receptor formed fewer tumors than the negative control cells, whereas cells expressing wild-type IGF-I receptors formed large tumors in all recipient mice injected. Conversely, cells expressing mutant IGF-I receptors with only the conserved distal tyrosine (position 1316) replaced had slightly reduced IGF-I-stimulated beta-subunit autophosphorylation, thymidine incorporation, and cellular proliferation when compared with cells expressing wild-type receptors. Phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 by the yCF mutant receptors was not impaired. Despite the ability of these mutant receptors to stimulate mitogenic growth, fibroblasts expressing this mutant receptor were also incapable of forming tumors in recipient nude mice. The distal tyrosine (position 1316) of the IGF-I receptor is crucial for tumor formation but is not essential for IGF-I stimulated mitogenesis. Thus, the tyrosine moieties in the carboxy-terminus of the IGF-I receptor participate in the signal transduction pathways that affect the mitogenic and tumorigenic potentials of cells expressing mutant IGF-I receptors.

Role of the carboxyl-terminal domains of the insulin and insulin-like growth factor I receptors in receptor function.

The insulin and insulin-like growth factor I receptors (IR and IGF-IR, respectively) are heterotetrameric tyrosine kinases consisting of two extracellular ligand-binding alpha subunits and two transmembrane catalytic beta subunits. A number of lines of evidence have suggested that the IR and IGF-IR differ with respect to their ability to elicit mitogenic versus metabolic events upon activation by cognate ligands. To ascertain the contribution of the poorly conserved carboxyl-terminal domains to the differential functioning of the IR and IGF-IR, we have constructed receptor chimeras in which the carboxyl-terminal domain of one receptor was fused to the remainder of the heterologous receptor. The responses of a number of parameters after ligand stimulation were examined in stably transfected NIH-3T3 cells expressing the chimeric receptors or the analogous wild-type receptor sequence. Replacement of the IR carboxyl terminus with that of the IGF-IR severely affected insulin-stimulated responses, whereas substitution of the carboxyl terminus of the IGF-IR with that of the IR had a minimal effect. These data suggest that the carboxyl-terminal domains of the IR and IGF-IR are not interchangeable and that the mitogenic activity of the IR can be influenced by sequences present in the carboxyl-terminal domain. The analogous functions of the IGF-IR, on the other hand, do not appear to be greatly affected by the presence of the IR carboxyl-terminal domain.

Essential role of tyrosine residues 1131, 1135, and 1136 of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor in IGF-I action.

The insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors are related heterotetramers consisting of two extracellular ligand-binding alpha-subunits and two transmembrane beta-subunits whose cytoplasmic domains exhibit tyrosine kinase activity. Previous studies have shown that ATP binding by the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase domains of these receptors is necessary to initiate the signal transduction pathway triggered by ligands or by ligand-mimetic antibodies, suggesting that receptor autophosphorylation is a necessary proximal step in this pathway. In the case of the insulin receptor, it has additionally been demonstrated that a cluster of three tyrosines in the kinase domain itself are the first to be phosphorylated, and that autophosphorylation of these particular residues is necessary for receptor activity. Using stably transfected NIH-3T3 cell lines, we now show that mutation of the analogous residues in the IGF-I receptor abolishes all short, intermediate, and long-term responses to IGF-I. These data suggest that the initial mechanisms of activation of the insulin and IGF-I receptors are very similar. Additionally, we have identified two parameters, induction of c-fos gene expression and ornithine decarboxylase enzyme activity, which are extremely sensitive to IGF-I stimulation and which will be particularly useful in evaluating the biological activity of other mutated versions of the IGF-I receptor.

Paradoxical biological effects of overexpressed insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

One major approach to the study of growth factor receptor action has been to overexpress wild-type or mutant receptors in cultured cells and to evaluate biological responses to exogenous ligand. Studies of this type with insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors often use Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We have compared the effect of receptor overexpression in CHO cells and in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts in order to assess the suitability of CHO cells for studies of this nature and the contribution of cell type-specific factors to those responses generally assayed. Overexpression of IGF-I receptors in NIH-3T3 cells resulted in increased sensitivity and maximal responsiveness of thymidine incorporation, 2-deoxyglucose uptake, and phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI3) kinase activation to IGF-I stimulation. In CHO cells, on the other hand, overexpression of either IGF-I or insulin receptors increased the sensitivity of thymidine incorporation to ligand, but maximal responsiveness was unchanged or decreased. Overexpression of the insulin receptor increased sensitivity of glucose uptake and the maximal response of PI3 kinase activation to insulin. Overexpression of the IGF-I receptor did not affect sensitivity or maximal responsiveness of glucose uptake or PI3 kinase activation to IGF-I. These data suggest that IGF-I and insulin signal pathways may differ in CHO cells, and that there may even be divergent IGF-I signaling pathways for short vs. long-term effects. Whether this is a result of differences in the number of endogenous receptors, hybrid receptor formation, or defects in post-receptor signaling, the use of CHO cells to assess receptor function must be approached with caution.

Role of tyrosine kinase activity in signal transduction by the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor. Characterization of kinase-deficient IGF-I receptors and the action of an IGF-I-mimetic antibody (alpha IR-3).

The insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor is a member of a large family of transmembrane signal transducing molecules. The defining characteristic of this class of receptors is the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the cytoplasmic domain. While it has been demonstrated that this tyrosine kinase activity is necessary for the action of a number of transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors, no evidence of this type has been adduced to date with respect to the signaling requirement of the IGF-I receptor. We have now shown that stably transfected NIH-3T3 cell lines overexpressing human IGF-I receptors display increased responses to IGF-I and an IGF-I-mimetic antibody, alpha IR-3, in terms of short, intermediate, and long term actions initiated by activation of the IGF-I receptor. These include receptor autophosphorylation, activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and 2-deoxyglucose uptake, induction of ornithine decarboxylase gene expression, and stimulation of thymidine incorporation. In short term responses, the kinetics seen with alpha IR-3 were slower than those seen with IGF-I. These effects were severely decreased in clones expressing human IGF-I receptors in which the lysine residue in the ATP-binding site of the tyrosine kinase domain had been mutated to alanine or arginine. This was true for both IGF-I and alpha IR-3. These results indicate that, for all parameters tested, the tyrosine kinase activity of the IGF-I receptor is necessary for activation of the IGF-I-stimulated signal transduction cascade. Additionally, the effects of alpha IR-3 also require tyrosine kinase activity.

Insulin-like growth factors.

The insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) play important roles in the regulation of growth and metabolism. While the liver is the main source of circulating IGFs, their production by numerous extrahepatic tissues suggests the existence of autocrine and paracrine modes of action in addition to typical endocrine mechanisms. The actions of the IGFs are mediated through their activation of specific cell surface receptors, primarily the IGF-I receptor, although some effects may be mediated through the IGF-II receptor and the insulin receptor. The stability of the IGFs and their interaction with their receptors are mediated by specific IGF binding proteins (IGF-BPs) which are found in the circulation and in extracellular fluids. Thus, the overall biological actions of the IGFs can be regulated by control of ligand biosynthesis, modulation of receptor levels and postreceptor signalling pathways, and changes in the levels and activity of IGF-BPs.

Trophoblast cell differentiation: establishment, characterization, and modulation of a rat trophoblast cell line expressing members of the placental prolactin family.

The purpose of this investigation was to establish and characterize a cell line derived from a rat choriocarcinoma and to evaluate the usefulness of the cell line as an in vitro model for studying trophoblast cell differentiation. A cell line was generated from choriocarcinoma explants and named Rcho-1. The cell line consisted of a mixture of cell types, including small cells growing in clusters and giant cells possessing very large nuclei. This characteristic morphology was maintained through at least 23 passages and in a series of clonal cell lines isolated from the parent Rcho-1 cell line. The Rcho-1 cell line was capable of expressing placental lactogen-I (PL-I), PL-II, PRL-like protein-A (PLP-A), and PLP-C mRNAs when cultivated in vitro; however, the Rcho-1 cells expressed only PL-I when grown beneath the kidney capsule of host rats. The Rcho-1 cell line did not express PLP-B under any experimental condition. This pattern of placental PRL expression was maintained for 23 passages. Rcho-1 cells synthesized and secreted PL-I, PL-II, and PLP-A proteins with biochemical characteristics similar to those of their placental counterparts. PL-I and PL-II mRNAs were specifically localized to giant cells. Morphological appearance and placental PRL expression were used as indices for monitoring the differentiation state of Rcho-1 cells grown under various conditions. Both morphological and functional trophoblast cell differentiation were induced by maintaining the Rcho-1 cells in postconfluent culture conditions. Postconfluent Rcho-1 cultures were characterized by an increased percentage of giant cells and an induction of placental PRL expression. Some clonal cell lines derived from the parent Rcho-1 cell line exhibited distinct patterns of differentiation and placental PRL expression. In summary, we have established a rat trophoblast cell line capable of expressing a differentiated phenotype. The differentiated phenotype includes both morphological and functional parameters and can be modulated in vitro. This cell line is a unique model for studying the control of placental PRL gene expression and the regulation of trophoblast cell differentiation.

Molecular cloning and characterization of prolactin-like protein C complementary deoxyribonucleic acid.

In this report, we describe the isolation and characterization of a full length cDNA clone for rat prolactin-like protein C (PLP-C) and describe the expression of PLP-C mRNA in the developing rat placenta. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the PLP-C cDNA clone predicted a mature protein of 238 amino acids, including a 30-amino acid signal sequence. The predicted PLP-C amino acid sequence contains seven cysteine residues, three tryptophan residues, and two putative N-linked glycosylation sites. Six of the cysteine residues in PLP-C are located in positions homologous to the cysteines of pituitary prolactin (PRL). Additional sequence similarities with pituitary PRL and other members of the rat placental PRL family are evident. The PLP-C gene was localized to rat chromosome 17. Northern blot analysis showed that the PLP-C cDNA clone specifically hybridized to a 1.0-kilobase mRNA. PLP-C mRNA was first detectable between days 13 and 14 of gestation, peaked by day 18 of gestation, and remained elevated until term. In situ hybridization analysis indicated that PLP-C mRNA was specifically expressed by spongiotrophoblast cells and some trophoblast giant cells in the junctional zone region of rat chorioallantoic placenta.

Identification and immunochemical characterization of a major placental secretory protein related to the prolactin-growth hormone family, prolactin-like protein-C.

Trophoblast cells of the rat chorioallantoic placenta synthesize and secrete a number of proteins structurally related to pituitary PRL. During the purification of one member of the placental PRL family, PRL-like protein-A (PLP-A), we identified a major contaminating protein with a similar mol wt but possessing a more acidic pI (5.9-6.1) and different immunoreactivities. After isolation by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the more acidic contaminating protein was electroeluted, and its N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined by gas phase sequencing. The N-terminal sequence showed considerable homology with members of the PRL family, including characteristic positioning of cysteine residues at amino acids 4 and 11. The newly identified protein species have been termed PLP-C based on their structural similarity with pituitary PRL. The protein was further characterized by the generation of specific immunological probes. Antibodies were generated to electrophoretically purified protein and to a chemically synthesized peptide representing amino acids 11-32 of its N-terminal sequence. Each antiserum specifically recognized two major species migrating at approximately 25 and 29 kDa, respectively. The 29-kDa species specifically bound to Concanavalin-A, while the 25-kDa species failed to bind to the lectin. Furthermore, the 29-kDa species could be converted to the 25-kDa species by enzymatic deglycosylation. The antisera have also been used to examine the cell- and temporal-specific patterns of expression. The immunoreactive protein species (25 and 29 kDa) were localized primarily to spongiotrophoblast cells present in the junctional zone of the chorioallantoic placenta. Expression was initiated after midgestation and increased during the remaining part of gestation. In summary, PLP-C is a major secretory protein produced by spongiotrophoblast cells during the second half of gestation.

Localization of placental lactogen-I in trophoblast giant cells of the mouse placenta.

The purpose of this investigation was to identify the cellular origin of placental lactogen-I (PL-I) expression in the mouse placenta and to cytologically define the transition from PL-I to PL-II expression during gestation. PL-I mRNA expression was assessed by in situ hybridization, and expression of PL-I and PL-II protein was determined by immunocytochemical analysis. PL-I mRNA and protein were localized to trophoblast giant cells. Trophoblast giant cells ceased producing PL-I at midgestation and began expressing PL-II. PL-I immunoreactivity was present in trophoblast giant cells on Days 9 and 10 of gestation but was not detectable in trophoblast giant cells on Day 11 of gestation. Immunoreactive PL-II-producing giant cells were detected first on Day 10 of gestation, continuing on Day 11 of gestation. Expression of PL-I and PL-II signals a significant functional transition in trophoblast giant cells of the developing mouse placenta.

Identification and characterization of a new member of the prolactin family, placental lactogen-I variant.

This report describes the identification and characterization of a new member of the placental prolactin (PRL) family, termed placental lactogen-I variant (PL-Iv). PL-Iv was isolated from medium conditioned by late gestation placental explants. Rat PL-Iv was found to be closely related to rat PL-I. Amino-terminal sequence analysis indicated that PL-Iv shared approximately 88% sequence identity with the amino terminus of PL-I. PL-Iv proteins cross-reacted with antiserum to recombinant mouse PL-I and PL-Iv mRNA hybridized with a PL-I cDNA. Multiple PL-I and PL-Iv species were present in placental cytosol. Despite the structural similarities between PL-I and PL-Iv, distinct differences were also evident. Antibodies generated to the amino-terminal 19 amino acids of PL-Iv specifically recognized PL-Iv, while failing to recognize PL-I. Secreted PL-Iv had an affinity for concanavalin A, whereas secreted PL-I lacked affinity for the lectin. PL-I was predominantly secreted as a 36-40-kDa species and PL-Iv was predominantly secreted as a 33-kDa species. Furthermore, PL-I and PL-Iv were synthesized at different times during gestation and by different cell types. PL-I was synthesized by trophoblast giant cells during the first half of gestation, while PL-Iv was predominantly synthesized by spongiotrophoblast cells during the later stages of gestation. PL-Iv was shown to stimulate the proliferation of rat Nb2 lymphoma cells, an in vitro measure of lactogenic activity. In summary, PL-Iv shares structural similarities with PL-I; however, it shows other structural differences in addition to unique cell- and temporal-specific patterns of expression in the rat chorioallantoic placenta.

Transplantable rat choriocarcinoma cells express placental lactogen: identification of placental lactogen-I immunoreactive protein and messenger ribonucleic acid.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the abilities of a transplantable rat choriocarcinoma (Rcho) to produce placental PRLs. The Rcho tumor was analyzed biochemically and histologically for the expression of placental PRLs. Expression of placental PRL mRNAs was determined by Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses. Expression of placental PRL proteins was determined by Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses. Histologically, Rcho tumors were characterized by the appearance of giant cell surrounding hemorrhagic regions. Female rats bearing the Rcho tumor beneath their kidney capsule showed extensive mammary gland development. The Rcho tumors expressed placental lactogen-I (PL-I) mRNA and protein, but there was no evidence of placental lactogen-II (PL-II), PRL-like protein-A (PLP-A), or PRL-like protein-B (PLP-B). Rcho PL-I mRNA and proteins migrated as a 1-kilobase species and a 36- to 40-kDa species similar to those expressed by normal rat trophoblast tissues. The cell type responsible for Rcho PL-I production was the giant cell, similar to that observed in normal rat trophoblast tissues. In summary, we have demonstrated the production of PL-I by a transplantable rat choriocarcinoma (Rcho). The Rcho tumor resembles rat trophoblast tissue at early postimplantation stages (days 6-10 of gestation) and may be a useful tool for studying placental PRL expression during trophoblast differentiation.

Ontogeny of placental lactogen-I and placental lactogen-II expression in the developing rat placenta.

The purpose of this investigation was to identify the cellular origin, and the temporal and regional characteristics of placental lactogen-I (PL-I) and placental lactogen-II (PL-II) expression during placental development in the rat. PL-I and PL-II mRNA expression were assessed by Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization. PL-I and PL-II protein expression were determined by Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses. PL-I mRNA was first detected by in situ hybridization at Day 6 of gestation in mural trophoblast giant cells and a day later, PL-I protein was first detected by immunocytochemistry. PL-I immunostaining extended to the polar trophoblast giant cells as gestation advanced. Polar trophoblast giant cell staining for PL-I was not as intense as the mural trophoblast giant cell staining. Northern and Western blot analyses confirmed the asymmetric distribution of PL-I expression. PL-I mRNA migrated as a 1-kb species and PL-I protein migrated as 30- and 36-40-kDa forms. PL-I expression abruptly declined at Day 12, and by Day 13, PL-I was not detectable. PL-II protein was first detectable at Day 11 of gestation and was localized to trophoblast giant cells. PL-II mRNA could be detected at Day 10 of gestation. Northern and Western blot analyses indicated that PL-II expression significantly increased as gestation advanced and that PL-II expression was asymmetrically distributed similar to PL-I. PL-II mRNA migrated as a 1-kb species and PL-II protein migrated as a 25-kDa species. Blastocysts recovered on Day 4 of gestation initially showed no detectable expression of PL-I or PL-II; however, after 2 days of culture PL-I protein expression was detectable. Biochemical characteristics of PL-I synthesized and secreted by blastocyst outgrowths were similar to PL-I synthesized and secreted by Day 10 placental explants. In summary, (1) PL-I and PL-II are produced by trophoblast giant cells of the developing placenta, (2) PL-I and PL-II exhibit distinct temporal and regional patterns of expression during placental morphogenesis, and (3) PL-I expression by blastocyst outgrowths can be induced in vitro, whereas a more complex array of signals appears necessary for induction of PL-II expression.

Isolation of phenotypically distinct trophoblast cell lines from normal rat chorioallantoic placentas.

Growth characteristics and the expression of trophoblast-associated markers by six cell lines generated from midgestation chorioallantoic placentas of outbred (Holtzman) and inbred (Lewis, PVG.RT Ir8) rats were evaluated. The cells comprising all cell lines were epithelioid (contained cytokeratin-type intermediate filaments), had normal (2n, 4n) DNA content, and synthesized the extracellular matrix glycoprotein laminin. Variability was observed among the lines in all other characteristics: median cell size, rate of growth, serum dependency, responses to transferrin and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate, synthesis of some major proteins, alkaline phosphatase activity, and the expression of immunoreactive placental lactogen-II. In general, cell lines with smaller mean cell sizes grew rapidly and required little serum for maintenance in vitro; cell lines with larger mean sizes grew more slowly and preferred higher concentrations of serum. Some associations between mean cell size/rate of growth and other characteristics were observed. No major differences were apparent between cell lines generated from outbred and inbred rat placentas. Trophoblast cell lines expressing distinct phenotypes provide a valuable new approach for studying a wide range of trophoblast cell activities.