Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF121) protects rats from renal infarction in thrombotic microangiopathy.

BACKGROUND: Renal thrombotic microangiopathy, typified by the hemolytic uremic syndrome, is associated with endothelial cell injury in which the presence of cortical necrosis, extensive glomerular involvement, and arterial occlusive lesions correlates with a poor clinical outcome. We hypothesized that the endothelial survival factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may provide protection. METHOD: Severe, necrotizing, thrombotic microangiopathy was induced in rats by the renal artery perfusion of antiglomerular endothelial antibody, followed by the administration of VEGF or vehicle, and renal injury was evaluated. RESULTS: Control rats developed severe glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury with extensive renal necrosis. The administration of VEGF significantly reduced the necrosis, preserved the glomerular endothelium and arterioles, and reduced the number of apoptotic cells in glomeruli (at 4 hours) and in the tubulointerstitium (at 4 days). The prosurvival effect of VEGF for endothelium may relate in part to the ability of VEGF to protect endothelial cells from factor-induced apoptosis, as demonstrated for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which was shown to be up-regulated through the course of this model of renal microangiopathy. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression was preserved in VEGF-treated rats compared with its marked decrease in the surviving glomeruli and interstitium of the antibody-treated rats that did not receive VEGF. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF protects against renal necrosis in this model of thrombotic microangiopathy. This protection may be mediated by maintaining endothelial nitric oxide production and/or preventing endothelial cell death.

Neurotoxicity of channel mutations in heterologously expressed alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) composed of chick alpha7 subunits mutated to threonine at amino acid valine-251 in the putative channel-lining M2 domain were expressed heterologously in several neuron-like and non-neuronal mammalian cell lines. Expression of mutant alpha7-nAChR is toxic to neuron-like cells of the human neuroblastoma cell lines SH-SY5Y and IMR-32, but not to several other cell types. Growth in the presence of the alpha7-nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) protects against neurotoxicity, as does gradual downregulation of functional, mutant alpha7-nAChR in surviving transfected SH-SY5Y cells. Relative to wild-type alpha7-nAChR, functional alpha7-nAChR mutants show a higher affinity for agonists, slower rates of desensitization, and sensitivity to dihydro-beta-erythroidine (DHbetaE) as an agonist, but they retain sensitivity to MLA as a competitive antagonist. These findings demonstrate that expression of hyperfunctional, mutant forms of Ca2+-permeable alpha7-nAChR is toxic to neuron-like cells.

Similarity between rat brain nicotinic alpha-bungarotoxin receptors and stably expressed alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites.

The present results demonstrate stable expression of alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BGT) binding sites by cells of the GH4C1 rat pituitary clonal line. Wild-type GH4C1 cells do not express alpha-BGT binding sites, nor do they contain detectable mRNA for nicotinic receptor alpha2, alpha3, alpha4, alpha5, alpha7, beta2, or beta3 subunits. However, GH4C1 cells stably transfected with rat nicotinic receptor alpha7 cDNA (alpha7/GH4C1 cells) express the transgene abundantly as mRNA, and northern analysis showed that the message is of teh predicted size. The alpha7/GH4C1 cells also express saturable, high-affinity binding sites for 125I-labeled alpha-BGT, with a KD of 0.4 nM and Bmax of 3.2 fmol/10(6) intact cells. 125I-alpha-BGT binding affinities and pharmacological profiles are not significantly different for sites in membranes prepared either from rat brain or alpha7/GH4C1 cells. Furthermore, KD and Ki values for 125I-alpha-BGT binding sites on intact alpha7/GH4C1 cells are essentially similar to those for hippocampal neurons in culture. Sucrose density gradient analysis showed that the size of the alpha-BGT binding sites expressed in alpha7/GH4C1 cells was similar to that of the native brain alpha-BGT receptor. Chronic exposure of alpha7/GH4C1 cells in culture to nicotine or an elevated extracellular potassium concentration induces changes in the number of alpha-BGT binding sites comparable to those observed in cultured neurons. Collectively, the present results show that the properties of alpha-BGT binding sites in transfected alpha7/GH4C1 cells resemble those for brain nicotinic alpha-BGT receptors. If the heterologously expressed alpha-BGT binding sites in the present study are composed solely of alpha7 subunits, the results could suggest that the rat brain alpha-BGT receptor has a similar homooligomeric structure. Alternatively, if alpha-BGT binding sites exist as heterooligomers of alpha7 plus some other previously identified or novel subunit(s), the data would indicate that the alpha7 subunits play a major role in determining properties of the alpha-BGT receptor.

Vitamin D increases expression of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in adrenal medullary cells.

We examined expression of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2 D3] receptors in chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla and the effects of 1,25(OH)2 D3 on expression of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene. Accumulation of 1,25(OH)2 D3 in the nuclei of adrenal medullary cells, but not in the adrenal cortex, was observed in mice intravenously injected with radioactively labeled hormone. 1,25(OH)2 D3 produced concentration-dependent increases in the TH mRNA levels in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells (BAMC). The maximal increases (2-3-fold) occurred at 10(-8) M 1,25(OH)2 D3. Combined treatment with 1,25(OH)2 D3 and 20 microM nicotine had no additive effect on TH mRNA levels suggesting that transsynaptic (nicotinic) and vitamin D (hormonal) stimulation of TH gene expression are mediated through converging mechanisms. Induction of TH mRNA by 1,25(OH)2 D3 was not affected by calcium antagonist TMB-8. By increasing expression of the rate limiting enzyme in the catecholamine biosynthetic pathway, 1,25-(OH)2 D3 may participate in the regulation of catecholamine production in adrenal chromaffin cells. This regulation provides mechanisms through which 1,25(OH)2 D3 may control response and adaptation to stress.

Functional expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing rat alpha 7 subunits in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are made from different combinations of subunits encoded by a diverse family of genes. However, the recently cloned alpha 7 gene codes for subunits that can form homooligomeric nAChR complexes when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Electrophysiological studies reveal that these alpha 7-nAChR function as alpha-bungarotoxin (Bgt)-sensitive, quickly activating/inactivating ion channels with a unique pharmacological profile and an unusually high permeability to calcium ions. Although similar observations have been made in studies of Bgt-sensitive, functional nAChR subtypes that are naturally expressed in neuronal cells, all attempts until now to reconstitute functional alpha 7-nAChR in cell lines have failed. Here we report the successful use of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, which naturally express low levels of endogenous alpha 7 transcripts, to stably overexpress heterologous rat nAChR alpha 7 transgenes. These transgenes are expressed as the appropriately-sized alpha 7 messages and protein, and stably transfected SH-SY5Y cells have over 30-times higher levels of specific Bgt binding sites than do wild-type cells. Whole cell current recordings confirm that transfected cells express functional nAChR that are sensitive to blockade by Bgt and display the typical physiological and pharmacological profiles of alpha 7-nAChR. We conclude that stable, functional expression of alpha 7 transgenes in a mammalian cell line has been achieved for the first time.

Regulation of bFGF gene expression and subcellular distribution of bFGF protein in adrenal medullary cells.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a potent mitogenic/neurotrophic factor, controls the development and plasticity of many types of neural cells. In adrenal chromaffin cells, the appearance of bFGF protein coincided with the establishment of functional innervation, suggesting induction by trans-synaptic signals. In cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells Western blot analysis revealed 18-, 23-, and 24-kD bFGF isoforms in the cytosolic and nuclear fractions. Stimulation of acetylcholine nicotinic receptors or hormonal angiotensin II receptors or the direct stimulation of adenylate cyclase with forskolin or protein kinase C (PKC) with PMA increased the content of all bFGF isoforms. Increases in the levels of intracellular bFGF did not result in detectable presence of bFGF proteins in culture medium. Instead, bFGF proteins accumulated in the cytoplasm or the nucleus depending on whether PKC or cAMP pathways were activated. The long-term nuclear forskolin-induced accumulation of bFGF was prevented by cycloheximide or by antisense bFGF oligonucleotide and was also accompanied by an increase in bFGF mRNA. We used luciferase reporter plasmids containing the human bFGF promoter to show that the induction of bFGF resulted from transcriptional activation of the bFGF gene and was mediated by regulatory sequences located upstream from its transcription start site. Stimulation of bFGF gene expression by forskolin and PMA was synergistic and was mediated through different promoter regions. The results suggest that stimulation by cAMP and PKC is mediated through novel cis elements. The regulation of bFGF protein content also involves posttranscriptional mechanisms since changes in the levels of individual bFGF isoforms were different depending on whether cells were treated with carbachol or angiotensin II, forskolin, or PMA. The present study indicates that bFGF is an intracrine cytoplasmic-nuclear factor, whose expression is regulated by trans-synaptic and hormonal stimuli and which may act as a direct mediator of genomic responses to afferent stimulation.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) regulates tyrosine hydroxylase and proenkephalin mRNA levels in adrenal chromaffin cells.

bFGF is a neurotrophic protein expressed in various regions of the adult peripheral and central nervous system. The present study was undertaken to examine the role of bFGF in multihormonal, catecholaminergic and enkephalinergic cells of the adrenal medulla (AM). Western blot analysis revealed the presence of at least three bFGF isoforms (18, 22/23, and 24 kDa) in cultured bovine AM cells. Incubation of AM cells with the exogenous 18 kDa bFGF produced time-dependent increases in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and proenkephalin (PEK) mRNA, with maximal changes occurring at 12 h (TH) or 24 h (PEK) of bFGF exposure. Effects of bFGF on TH and PEK mRNA were non-additive with increases induced by exposure of AM cells to nicotine, the depolarizing agent veratridine, or the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin. These data indicate that bFGF effects may occur through intracellular pathways accessed during transsynaptic induction of TH and PEK genes. The increases in PEK mRNA induced by nicotine or bFGF were inhibited by the calcium antagonist TMB-8. TMB-8 also inhibited bFGF-induced increases in TH mRNA as well. However, treatment with TMB-8 increased basal levels of TH mRNA. The addition of bFGF increased endogenous levels of c-fos mRNA, c-Fos and c-Fos-related proteins, suggesting that bFGF may activate TH and PEK gene expression through a calcium-AP1 transcriptional regulatory pathway. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the presence of bFGF-immunoreactivity (bFGF-IR) in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus of AM cells. Incubation of cells with exogenous bFGF produced time-dependent increases of nuclear bFGF-IR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A 5'-flanking region of the bovine tyrosine hydroxylase gene is involved in cell-specific expression, activation of gene transcription by phorbol ester, and transactivation by c-Fos and c-Jun.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is expressed specifically in catecholaminergic cells and is transcriptionally activated via a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent pathway. To identify regulatory regions of the TH gene, transfected neural crest-derived catecholaminergic cells [human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y and bovine adrenal medullary (BAM) cells] or glia-derived SF-763 cells were used to analyze expression of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene under the control of 5'-flanking sequences of the bovine TH gene. Plasmid pTH(-245/+21)CAT was constructed by fusing the -245 to +21 region of the TH gene to CAT sequences in the promoterless pCAT basic plasmid. Cells transfected with pTH(-245/+21)CAT expressed CAT activity at levels 8- to 100-fold higher than those of cells transfected with pCAT basic. In SH-SY5Y or BAM cells, pTH(-245/+21)CAT supported the expression of CAT at levels similar to or higher than that supported by the tissue nonspecific viral SV40 promoter/enhancer. In glia-like cells, CAT expression from pTH(-245/+2 1)CAT was about 13-fold lower than that under the control of the SV40 promoter. Incubation of neuroblastoma cells with the active phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), increased expression of CAT from pTH(-245/+2 1)CAT over 6-fold and was accompanied by induction of c-fos and c-jun mRNAs and proteins. The regulation of TH promoter function by c-Fos/c-Jun was corroborated by transactivation of the TH promoter in SH-SY5Y cells engineered to overexpress exogenous c-Fos and c-Jun. TH gene sequences essential for c-Fos/c-Jun transactivation were located in the -245 to -52 region, upstream from a CRE-like element. Gel mobility assays demonstrated binding of c-Fos-antigen(s) to the region of the TH promoter that supports activation by PMA and c-Fos/c-Jun. Temporal patterns of nicotinic agonist-stimulated induction of c-fos and TH mRNA are also consistent with a role for c-Fos in TH gene transcription. Our results demonstrate that the 5'-flanking region of the bovine TH gene operates as an authentic promoter capable (i) of directing cell-specific expression of a bacterial CAT gene and (ii) of conferring responsivity to PKC-stimulation. The results also suggest that the nuclear proteins c-Fos and c-Jun contribute to PKC pathway-mediated activation of the TH gene via direct interaction with the TH gene promoter. The activation of TH gene expression by PKC/c-Fos/c-Jun may serve as an additional or alternative mechanism to activation by the cAMP-CRE pathway.

Chromosomal localization of the human osteocalcin gene.

The human osteocalcin gene was assigned to chromosome 1 by Southern blot analysis of DNAs from a panel of mouse-human somatic cell hybrids with limited numbers of human chromosomes and the complete complement of murine chromosomes. By Southern blot analysis of DNAs from mouse-human hybrids that retain specific segments of human chromosome 1, we have determined that the locus of the human osteocalcin gene is on the long arm of chromosome 1, distal (telomeric) to the -spectrin gene. Osteocalcin is a bone specific protein and it is note worthy that another osteoblast product, the bone/liver/placental alkaline phosphatase gene has also been mapped to chromosome 1.

Structure of the rat osteocalcin gene and regulation of vitamin D-dependent expression.

The osteocalcin gene encodes a 6-kDa polypeptide, which represents one of the most abundant noncollagenous bone proteins, and the present studies establish that osteocalcin mRNA is detected only in bone tissue. An osteocalcin gene was isolated from a rat genomic DNA library, and sequence analysis indicated that the mRNA is represented in a 953-nucleotide segment of DNA consisting of four exons and three introns. A modular organization of the 5' flanking sequences of the gene is reflected by the presence of at least three classes of regulatory elements, which include the following: (i) RNA polymerase II canonical sequences; (ii) a series of consensus sequences for hormone receptor binding sites and cyclic nucleotide responsive elements consistent with physiologic expression of the osteocalcin gene; and (iii) a 24-nucleotide sequence in the proximal promoter region with a CAAT motif as a central element. We have designated this highly conserved sequence as an "osteocalcin box" since only 2 nucleotide substitutions are found in the rat and human osteocalcin genes. We have demonstrated two factors regulating osteocalcin gene expression. First, a 200-fold increase occurs in normal fetal calvaria osteoblasts producing a mineralizing matrix, compared to confluent osteoblasts in a nonmineralizing matrix. Second, contained within the 600 nucleotides immediately upstream from the transcription start site are sequences that support a 10-fold stimulated transcription of the gene by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.

Osteocalcin: characterization and regulated expression of the rat gene.

An osteocalcin gene was isolated from a rat genomic DNA library, and sequence analysis indicated that the mRNA is represented in 953 nucleotide segment of DNA consisting of 4 exons and 3 introns. Although the introns in the rat gene are larger, its overall organization is similar to the human gene. Analysis of the 5' flanking sequences of the rat gene shows a modular organization of the promotor as reflected by the the presence of at least 3 classes of regulatory elements. These include (1) typical sequences associated with most genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II (e.g. TATA, CAAT, AP1, AP2), (2) a series of consensus sequences for cyclic nucleotide responsive elements and several hormone receptor binding-sites (estrogen, thyroid and clusters of AG-rich putative Vitamin D responsive elements); and (3) a 24 nucleotide highly conserved sequence between the rat and human gene having a CAAT motif as a central element, designated as an "osteocalcin box." Two regulatory factors of osteocalcin gene expression have been identified. First, contained within the 600 nucleotides immediately upstream from the transcription initiation site are sequences which support Vitamin D dependent transcription of the rat osteocalcin gene. 1,25(OH)2D3 increases osteocalcin mRNA by 6-20 fold increases. In contrast, up to a 200 fold increase in osteocalcin gene expression occurs with mineralization of the extracellular matrix produced by osteoblasts. We propose osteocalcin is a bone-specific marker protein of the mature osteoblast in a mineralizing matrix.