Rainbow trout somatostatin receptor subtypes SSTR1A, SSTR1B, and SSTR2 differentially activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathways in transfected cells.

Previously, we reported that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (Akt), a downstream target of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), mediated somatostatin (SS) inhibition of GH receptor, IGF1, and IGF1 receptor expression. In this study, we used Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells that stably transfected individually with trout SS receptors (SSTR1A, SSTR1B, and SSTR2) to elucidate receptor-effector pathway linkages. SS induced ERK and Akt activation in a time- and concentration-related manner in all SSTR-expressing cells; however, the PI3K/Akt pathway was activated to a greater extent through SSTR1A than through either SSTR1B or SSTR2, whereas the ERK pathway was activated to a greater extent though SSTR2 than through either SSTR1A or SSTR1B. Although the ERK pathway inhibitor U0126 had no effect on Akt activation, the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 reduced ERK activation to near control levels in all SSTR-expressing cell lines, suggesting some cross talk between the pathways, possibly at the level of c-Raf, the phosphorylation of which also was induced by SS via each SSTR. Pertussis toxin (PTX) completely abolished SS-induced activation of ERK and Akt in SSTR1A-, SSTR1B-, and SSTR2-expressing cells, suggesting that these receptors link to the ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways via PTX-sensitive G-proteins. SS-induced activation of Elk1, Stat3, and C/EBPß also was mediated by each of the trout SSTRs. These findings establish important receptor-effector pathway linkages for fish SSTRs and provide insight into the molecular mechanisms by which SSs may elicit diverse physiological effects in target cells.

The ERK and PI3K signaling pathways mediate inhibition of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor mRNA expression by somatostatin.

Somatostatins (SSs) are a structurally diverse family of peptide hormones that regulate various aspects of growth, development, and metabolism in vertebrates. Previously, we showed that SSs inhibit mRNA and functional expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors (IGFR1) in gill filaments of rainbow trout. In this study, we used trout gill filaments, which express in high abundance two distinct IGFR1s, IGFR1A and IGFR1B, to examine the mechanism(s) through which SSs exert their inhibitory effects on IGFR1 expression. SS-14, a predominat SS isoform, directly stimulated the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (Akt), a downstream target of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), in filaments incubated in vitro. Activation of ERK and Akt by SS-14 was rapid, occuring within 5-10 min, and was concentration-dependent. The ERK pathway inhibitor, U0126, retarded SS-14-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, whereas the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, blocked SS-14-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt. SS-14-inhibited expression of IGFR1 mRNAs was blocked by both U0126 and LY294002. These data indicate that SS-14 inhibition of IGFR1 mRNA expression is mediated through the ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.

Somatostatin and somatostatin receptors in fish growth.

Multiple forms of somatostatin (SS) and SS receptors (SSTR) are produced widely in the tissues of fish and interact to coordinate numerous physiological processes. Insight into their role in growth regulation emerged from studies of abnormal growth and of whole animals. The influence of SS on organismal growth operates at several levels of the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) system. SS inhibits production and release of pituitary GH, but not all forms of SS are equipotent in this action. SS also influences the GH-IGF-1 system in an extrapituitary manner by reducing sensitivity to GH as well as by inhibiting IGF-1 production and secretion, and diminishing IGF-1 sensitivity. Peripheral actions of SS are important for the local control of growth and may help to coordinate growth with other processes such as metabolism, development, and reproduction by reprogramming cell responsiveness.

Somatostatin inhibits hepatic growth hormone receptor and insulin-like growth factor I mRNA expression by activating the ERK and PI3K signaling pathways.

Previously, we reported that somatostatins (SS) inhibit organismal growth by reducing hepatic growth hormone (GH) sensitivity and by inhibiting insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) production. In this study, we used hepatocytes isolated from rainbow trout to elucidate the mechanism(s) associated with the extrapituitary growth-inhibiting actions of SS. SS-14, a predominant SS isoform, stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of several endogenous proteins, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a member the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, and protein kinase B (Akt), a downstream target of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). SS-14 specifically stimulated the phosphorylation of both ERK 1/2 and Akt in a concentration-dependent fashion. This activation occurred within 5-15 min, then subsided after 1 h. The ERK inhibitor U0126 retarded SS-14-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, whereas the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 blocked SS-14-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt. SS-14-inhibited expression of GH receptor (GHR) mRNA was blocked by U0126 but not by LY294002. By contrast, U1026 had no effect on SS-14 inhibition of GH-stimulated IGF-I mRNA expression, whereas LY294002 partially blocked the inhibition of GH-stimulated IGF-I mRNA expression by SS-14. These results indicate that SS-14-inhibited GHR expression is mediated by the ERK signaling pathway and that the PI3K/Akt pathway mediates, at least in part, SS-14 inhibition of GH-stimulated IGF-I expression.