GNAS-associated disorders of cutaneous ossification: two different clinical presentations.

Progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by dermal ossification during infancy and progressive ossification into deep connective tissue during childhood. POH is at the severe end of a spectrum of GNAS-associated ossification disorders that include osteoma cutis and Albright Hereditary Osteodystrophy (AHO). Here we describe two girls who have different clinical presentations that reflect the variable expression of GNAS-associated disorders of cutaneous ossification. Each girl had a novel heterozygous inactivating mutation in the GNAS gene. One girl had POH limited to the left arm with severe contractures and growth retardation resulting from progressive heterotopic ossification in the deep connective tissues. The other girl had AHO with widespread, superficial heterotopic ossification but with little functional impairment. While there is presently no treatment or prevention for GNAS-associated ossification disorders, early diagnosis is important for genetic counselling and for prevention of iatrogenic harm.

Identification of a recurrent mutation in the protoporphyrinogen oxidase gene in Swiss patients with variegate porphyria: clinical and genetic implications.

Variegate porphyria (VP), one of the acute hepatic porphyrias, results from an autosomal dominantly inherited deficiency of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPOX), the seventh enzyme in heme biosynthesis. Affected individuals can develop both cutaneous symptoms and potentially life-threatening neurovisceral attacks. Thirty unrelated VP index patients and families are currently known in the Swiss Porphyrin Reference Laboratory in Zürich. In 16 of a total of 24 genetically tested families, we detected a recurrent mutation in the PPOX gene, designated 1082-1083insC, reflecting a prevalence of 67%. Haplotype analysis revealed that 1082-1083insC arose on a common genetic background and, thus, represents a novel founder mutation in the Swiss population. Knowledge on the carrier status within a family does not only allow for adequate genetic counseling but also for prevention of the potentially life-threatening acute porphyric attacks. Hence, future molecular screening in Swiss VP patients might be facilitated by first seeking for mutation 1082-1083insC.

Exclusion of ferrochelatase gene mutations in patients with seasonal palmoplantar keratoderma.

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is an autosomal dominant disorder that results from a deficiency of ferrochelatase (FECH), the last enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway. The characteristic clinical symptoms usually manifest in early childhood on the sun-exposed areas of the body. They are due to protoporphyrin-induced photosensitivity and include pain, burning and stinging of the skin, followed by erythema and edema. Recently, the occurrence of predominantly seasonal palmar and palmoplantar keratoderma in patients with homozygous mutations in the FECH gene has been reported. These data suggested that palmoplantar keratoderma might be a clinical sign of EPP. Palmoplantar keratodermas (PPKs) are a heterogeneous group of genetic skin diseases and include a seasonal variant, erythrokeratolysis hiemalis et estivalis (EH), also known as keratolytic winter erythema. Because the skin symptoms in the latter disorder are similar to those reported for recessive EPP we examined the FECH gene in three unrelated Dutch Caucasian patients with a previous diagnosis of EH in whom mutations in several other genes had been excluded. However, sequencing analysis of the entire coding regions and the adjacent splice sites of the FECH gene in these individuals revealed absence of mutations. Hence, our data largely exclude the possibility that FECH mutations might be responsible for the palmoplantar skin phenotype observed in EH.

Collagen-stimulated unidirectional translocation of cholesterol in human platelet membranes.

When human platelets are stimulated with collagen or thrombin, the asymmetric distribution of membrane lipids is disrupted as phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine translocate from the inner monolayer to the outer monolayer. Coincident with the stimulus-dependent rearrangement of membrane phospholipids is a rapid redistribution of cholesterol from the outer to the inner membrane monolayer. This redistribution of cholesterol was observed when the stimulus was collagen or ADP. The data presented here show that epinephrine stimulation does not promote cholesterol translocation but does potentiate collagen-promoted movement of cholesterol. To investigate the process of cholesterol translocation, experiments were performed to determine whether collagen stimulated reverse cholesterol movement; i.e. from the inner to the outer monolayer. For this study, the fluorescent sterol cholestatrienol (C-3) was incorporated into platelet membranes by exchange from cholesterol-containing phosphatidylcholine small unilamellar vesicles. C-3 was then removed selectively from the outer monolayer by treatment of the platelets with bovine serum albumin (BSA). During the subsequent incubation of BSA-treated platelets, C-3 moved spontaneously into the outer from the inner monolayer. This translocation had an apparent half-time of approximately 25 min and was unaltered by the presence of collagen. These results suggest that collagen treatment of platelets selectively facilitates the inward movement of the sterol. We have hypothesized that cholesterol translocation may be thermodynamically driven as a result of an unfavorable entropy, resulting in cholesterol translocation out of an environment becoming enriched in phosphatidylethanolamine. The unidirectional nature of collagen-promoted cholesterol movement from the phosphatidylethanolamine-rich outer monolayer is consistent with this interpretation.

Cholesterol enhances the adhesion of human platelets to fibrinogen: studies using a novel fluorescence based assay.

This communication reports investigations on the effect of platelet cholesterol content on adhesion of platelets to a fibrinogen coated surface. The adhesion of platelets stimulated with thrombin or ADP was dramatically increased when the platelet cholesterol content was enriched by incubation with cholesterol containing phosphatidylcholine vesicles. In contrast, ADP failed to promote the adhesion of platelets to fibrinogen after they had been depleted of cholesterol, either by incubation with phosphatidylcholine vesicles or by brief exposure to cholesterol oxidase. By comparison, the adhesion of resting platelets to fibrinogen coated surface was unaltered following either enrichment or depletion of cholesterol. These data were obtained using a novel method of measuring the adhesion of platelets to a protein coated surface based upon the fluorescent detection of platelets containing the fluorescent probe octadecyl rhodamine (R(18)). R(18) was incorporated into platelet membranes using standard ethanol injection techniques at room temperature for 30 min. The platelets were introduced into fibrinogen coated wells of a 96-well microtiter plate in the presence of various cations and stimulatory or inhibitory ligands. The plate was then incubated at room temperature without agitation for various periods of time. Adhesion measured in this manner had characteristics similar to those reported using other methods. Thus the extent of adhesion ranged from 1-4% under basal conditions, and was increased in a dose-dependent manner by Mg(2+) and Ca(2+), increased further by ADP, collagen or thrombin and not affected by prostacyclin.

Cholesterol redistribution within human platelet plasma membrane: evidence for a stimulus-dependent event.

The fluorescent analog NBD-phosphatidylethanolamine and the analogs of cholesterol NBD-cholesterol and cholestatrienol were used to study the distribution of these lipids within the plasma membrane bilayer of human platelets. The probes were incorporated into platelets using phosphatidylcholine donor vesicles. The distribution of NBD lipid and of cholestatrienol in the platelet plasma membrane bilayer was followed by quenching with dithionite and TNBS, respectively. The t1/2 of cholestatrienol incorporation into platelet membranes was 39 min, and approximately 65% of the probe was quenched by addition of TNBS. When platelets were exposed to collagen or to ADP, a portion of the probe became inaccessible to quenching. Within 2 min of stimulation by collagen (10 micrograms/mL), the percentage of cholestatrienol fluorescence quenched by TNBS decreased to 45%. The fluorescent probe was not found to be associated either with the intracellular membranes or in the extracellular media after collagen stimulation. Similar data were obtained with NBD-cholesterol, but the decrease in accessibility of this probe to quenching was considerably slower. The redistribution of endogenous membrane cholesterol was also measured using cholesterol oxidase. Exposure of platelets to collagen decreased the accessibility of endogenous membrane cholesterol to enzymatic oxidation with cholesterol oxidase. Taken together, the foregoing observations are consistent with the stimulus-dependent translocation of cholesterol out of the outer monolayer. Coincident with the redistribution of cholesterol is the reciprocal movement of NBD-phosphatidylethanolamine into the outer monolayer. In the presence of the chaotropic agents urea and guanidine HCl, the movement of cholestatrienol upon collagen stimulation was prevented, but the redistribution of NBD-phosphatidylethanolamine was still detected. We propose that cholesterol translocates to the inner platelet monolayer following collagen stimulation, but the possibility that the sterol moves laterally within the outer membrane monolayer cannot be rigorously excluded.

Dissociation of increases in intracellular calcium and aldosterone production induced by angiotensin II (AII): evidence for regulation by distinct AII receptor subtypes or isomorphs.

In mammalian zona glomerulosa cells, angiotensin II (AII)-induced increases in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and AII-induced aldosterone production seem to be inextricably linked. However, in avian adrenal steroidogenic (adrenocortical) cells studied thus far, inducible aldosterone production seems to be insensitive to alterations in the mobilization of cellular Ca2+. This raises the hypothesis that alternative signal transduction pathways are implemented to induce aldosterone production in avian adrenocortical cells. In the present study, this hypothesis was investigated by using isolated turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) adrenocortical cells that are known to be three times more sensitive to AII than to ACTH for aldosterone production. In isolated turkey adrenocortical cells, the mammalian AII receptor antagonist, [Sar1,Ile8]AII, was as efficacious as [Ile5]AII in stimulating aldosterone production, albeit it had about 1/150 the potency of [Ile5]AII. The actions of both analogs required extracellular K+, suggesting a voltage-sensitive event. However, a maximal aldosteronogenic concentration of [Sar1,Ile8]AII not only failed to increase [Ca2+]i but also completely blocked maximal (10(-8) M)[Ile5]AII-induced increases in [Ca2+]i when added before [Ile5]AII and partially dampened (approximately 50%) maximal [Ile5]AII-induced increases in [Ca2+]i when added after (3 min) [Ile5]AII. This blockade in [Ca2+]i elevation was surmounted by high concentrations of [Ile5]AII (> 10(-6) M). By contrast, [Sar1,Ile8]AII did not alter maximal aldosterone production induced by [Ile5]AII and vice versa, thus suggesting that the action of both analogs converged on the same aldosteronogenic pathway, and that AII-induced aldosterone production was not coupled to elevations in [Ca2+]i. Detailed homologous-heterologous ligand-binding analyses supported the presence of two AII-binding sites that were discriminated by [Sar1,Ile8]AII (dissociation constants, 4.2 +/- 1.4 and 21.9 +/- 2.2 nM; concentration distribution, approximately 40% and approximately 60%, respectively; mean +/- SE, n = 4) but not by [Ile5]AII (dissociation constant, 2.1 +/- 0.1 nM for both sites). In addition, [Sar1,Ile8]AII- and [Ile5]AII-binding sites exhibited different physicochemical and pharmacological properties. The sensitivity of [Sar1,Ile8]AII-binding sites was about twice that of [Ile5]AII-binding sites to dithiothreitol. In addition, whereas both the high- and low-affinity sites detected by [Sar1,Ile8] AII exhibited equivalent competitive sensitivities to the type-1 receptor, the nonpeptidic antagonist, losartan (DuP 753), the sensitivity of the low-affinity site was 2.7 times that of the high-affinity site to the type-2 receptor, nonpeptidic antagonist, PD123319. Taken collectively, the data suggest that in turkey adrenocortical cells, elevations in [Ca2+]i and aldosterone production are dissociable events regulated by distinct AII receptor subtypes or isomorphs.

Properties of angiotensin II receptors of domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) adrenal steroidogenic cells.

In the present study, the properties of angiotensin II (AII) receptors of intact domestic turkey adrenal steroidogenic cells were characterized. AII (but not ACTH) induced an immediate and sustained increase in intracellular Ca2+. In addition, dithiothreitol inhibition of maximal AII-induced aldosterone production was closely correlated with its inhibition of binding suggesting that these receptors are type 1-like and operate through a non-"spare" receptor mode. Equilibrium-binding analysis revealed a single class of binding sites at a concentration of 63,500 sites/cell and having an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.21 nM. However, the Kd derived from kinetic analyses, 0.27 nM, was lower. Both empirically determined and model-based calculated distributions of bound hormone indicated that at equilibrium, about 30% of hormone-receptor complexes were internalized whereas 70% remained on the surface. This distribution contrasts sharply with that reported for mammalian (rat) adrenocortical cells. In keeping with recent cloning studies, these avian AII receptors of intact adrenal steroidogenic cells discriminated angiotensins and mammalian peptidic and nonpeptidic antagonists differently from mammalian adrenocortical and duck adrenal receptor preparations. Importantly, turkey adrenal steroidogenic cell AII receptors poorly discriminated the nonpeptide antagonists, losartan (DuP 753) (type-1 specific) and PD123177 (type-2 specific). Thus, AII receptors of freshly isolated, intact turkey adrenal steroidogenic cells are pharmacologically distinct from mammalian adrenocortical type-1 receptors.

Interleukin-1 stimulation of arachidonic acid release from human synovial fibroblasts; blockade by inhibitors of protein kinases and protein synthesis.

Addition of IL-1 (interleukin-1) to human synovial fibroblasts radiolabelled with [3H]arachidonic acid caused a linear dose-dependent increase in arachidonic acid release and a transient rise in labelled diacylglycerol. Protein kinase C activators PMA 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and DiC8 (1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol) also increased arachidonic acid release, but the time course observed with PMA was different from that of IL-1. When cultures were treated with PMA for 16-24 h to down regulate protein kinase C, the ability of IL-1 to increase arachidonic acid release persisted to the same extent as in nontreated cultures. In contrast, PMA pretreatment prevented the eight-fold stimulation of arachidonic acid release in response to PMA observed in cultures not previously exposed to PMA. To examine the role of other kinases in IL-1 stimulated arachidonic acid release, cultures were treated with H-7 (1-(5-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dichloride), H-8 (N-[2-(methylamino) ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide dichloride), HA1004 (N-(2-guanidoinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide hydrochloride), and staurosporine. IL-1 stimulation of arachidonic acid release was blocked by H-7, H-8 and staurosporine. H-7 was a more potent inhibitor than H-8, suggesting that cAMP dependent kinase did not mediate IL-1 action. Addition of H-7 at various times following IL-1 decreased IL-1 stimulated arachidonic acid release, suggesting that continued protein kinase activity was necessary for IL-1 action. Cycloheximide and actinomycin D inhibited the stimulation of arachidonic acid release by IL-1, PMA or DiC8. The addition of cycloheximide or actinomycin D 15-45 min after IL-1 also inhibited IL-1 stimulated arachidonic acid release, indicating that continued protein synthesis was required for IL-1 action. These results suggest that IL-1 stimulation of acylhydrolyase activity in human synovial cells occurs by a mechanism requiring continued protein synthesis and protein kinase activity and that neither protein kinase C nor cAMP dependent protein kinase is involved.

Role of cell calcium in alpha-1 adrenergic receptor control of arachidonic acid release from brown adipocytes.

Exposure of brown fat cells to phenylephrine, an agonist of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors, activates a phospholipase A2 which releases arachidonic acid. Since receptor activation of phospholipase A2 requires calcium, experiments were undertaken to define more precisely the role played by calcium in the regulation of enzyme activity. In this study, adipocytes were loaded with the fluorescent calcium chelator quin2 in order to buffer intracellular calcium and block receptor stimulated changes in its concentration. When quin2 loaded adipocytes were incubated in buffer containing 0.10 mM calcium, the ability of phenylephrine to stimulate release of arachidonic acid was severely reduced. At an intracellular quin2 concentration of 6.6 mM stimulated arachidonic acid release was inhibited by more than 50% and at 13 mM it was completely blocked. In contrast, phenylephrine stimulation of inositol phosphate accumulation was unaffected by quin2. Quin2 also did not affect the liberation of arachidonic acid in response to exogenous phospholipase C, A23187 or forskolin. The intracellular calcium antagonist TMB-8 also inhibited phenylephrine-stimulation of arachidonic acid release and this effect was reversed by ionomycin. Basal phospholipase A2 activity was increased by introduction of high calcium concentrations into cells rendered permeable with digitonin, but phenylephrine still caused a further increase in enzyme activity. These findings show a selective inhibition of phenylephrine activation of phospholipase A2 by either the chelation of intracellular calcium with quin2 or by the calcium antagonist TMB-8 and suggest an essential role for intracellular calcium in alpha adrenergic stimulation of enzyme activity. However, because phenylephrine still stimulates enzyme activity in cells rendered permeable with digitonin, we suggest that the action of phenylephrine cannot be attributed solely to changes in intracellular calcium.

The alpha 1-adrenergic transduction system in hamster brown adipocytes. Release of arachidonic acid accompanies activation of phospholipase C.

Previous studies of brown adipocytes identified an increased breakdown of phosphoinositides after selective alpha 1-adrenergic-receptor activation. The present paper reports that this response, elicited with phenylephrine in the presence of propranolol and measured as the accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates, is accompanied by increased release of [3H]arachidonic acid from cells prelabelled with [3H]arachidonic acid. Differences between stimulated arachidonic acid release and formation of inositol phosphates included a requirement for extracellular Ca2+ for stimulated release of arachidonic acid but not for the formation of inositol phosphates and the preferential inhibition of inositol phosphate formation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The release of arachidonic acid in response to phenylephrine was associated with an accumulation of [3H]arachidonic acid-labelled diacylglycerol, and this response was not dependent on extracellular Ca2+ but was partially prevented by treatment with the phorbol ester. The release of arachidonic acid was also stimulated by melittin, which increases the activity of phospholipase A2, by ionophore A23187, by lipolytic stimulation with forskolin and by exogenous phospholipase C. The arachidonic acid response to phospholipase C was completely blocked by RHC 80267, an inhibitor of diacylglycerol lipase, but this inhibitor had no effect on release stimulated with melittin or A23187 and inhibited phenylephrine-stimulated release by only 40%. The arachidonate response to forskolin was additive with the responses to either phenylephrine or exogenous phospholipase C. These data indicate that brown adipocytes are capable of releasing arachidonic acid from neutral lipids via triacylglycerol lipolysis, and from phospholipids via phospholipase A2 or by the sequential activities of phospholipase C and diacylglycerol lipase. Our findings also suggest that the action of phenylephrine to promote the liberation of arachidonic acid utilizes both of these reactions.

Adenosine inhibits phenylephrine activation of phospholipase A in hamster brown adipocytes.

Exposure of brown adipocytes to phenylephrine activates a phospholipase A2 producing arachidonic acid and lysophospholipids. When adipocytes were incubated with adenosine deaminase, a greater release of arachidonic acid and accumulation of lysophosphatidyl-choline in response to phenylephrine was noted. The potentiating effect of adenosine deaminase was also observed in the presence of A23187 and for both stimuli, the effect of adenosine deaminase was reversed by phenylisopropyladenosine. These results suggest the presence of an heretofore unrecognized action of adenosine, namely inhibition of phospholipase A2 activity in brown fat cells.

Interactions between adenosine and alpha 1-adrenergic agonists in regulation of respiration in hamster brown adipocytes.

Respiration in brown adipocytes can be increased by beta-adrenergic receptor agonists or by alpha 1-adrenergic receptor agonists (phenylephrine and norepinephrine). Previous studies have shown that beta receptor-stimulated respiration is inhibited by adenosine and that enzymatic removal of adenosine produced by fat cells under normal incubation conditions enhances the respiratory response to beta receptor activation. The present experiments were performed to determine the effect of adenosine on the respiratory response elicited by agonists of alpha 1 receptors. The alpha-adrenergic agonists phenylephrine and norepinephrine (in the presence of the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol) stimulated respiration and the respiratory response to each agent was enhanced when endogenous adenosine was removed with adenosine deaminase. Addition of hydrolysis-resistant analogues of adenosine inhibited phenylephrine-stimulated respiration, and, since N6-phenylisopropyladenosine was more effective than was 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, we conclude that an A1 receptor is involved. In contrast, the P site agonist 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine did not inhibit phenylephrine-stimulated respiration but did cause some inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated respiration. These results suggest that adenosine, acting via A1 receptors, modulates alpha 1-adrenergic effects on thermogenesis in brown fat cells, an action that is analogous to its inhibition of beta-adrenergic receptor-stimulated thermogenesis.

Stimulation of phosphoinositide metabolism in hamster brown adipocytes exposed to alpha 1-adrenergic agents and its inhibition with phorbol esters.

The present experiments were undertaken to investigate the role of the phosphoinositides phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns-4-P) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate (PtdIns-4,5-P2) in the alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation of respiration in isolated hamster brown adipocytes. Exposure of isolated brown adipocytes to the alpha-adrenergic-receptor agonist phenylephrine provoked a breakdown of 30-50% of the PtdIns-4-P and PtdIns-4,5-P2 after prelabelling of the cells with [32P]Pi. Coincident with the breakdown of phosphoinositides was an accumulation of labelled phosphatidic acid, which continued for the duration of the cell incubation. The time course of phosphoinositide breakdown was defined more precisely by pulse-chase experiments. Under these conditions, phenylephrine caused radioactivity in phosphatidylinositol, PtdIns-4-P and PtdIns-4,5-P2 to fall by more than 50% within 30 s and to remain at the depressed value for the duration of the incubation (10 min). This phospholipid response to alpha-adrenergic stimulation was blocked by exposure of the cells to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA); likewise phenylephrine stimulation of respiration was prevented by PMA. beta-Adrenergic stimulation of respiration and inhibition of respiration by 2-chloroadenosine and insulin were, however, unaffected by treatment with PMA. On the assumption that PMA is acting in these cells as an activator of protein kinase C, these results suggest the selective interruption of alpha-adrenergic actions in brown adipocytes by activated protein kinase C. These findings suggest that breakdown of phosphoinositides is an early event in alpha-adrenergic stimulation of brown adipocytes which may be important for the subsequent stimulation of respiration. The results from the pulse-chase studies also suggest, however, that phenylephrine-stimulated breakdown of inositol phospholipids is a short-lived event which does not appear to persist for the entire period of exposure to the alpha 1-adrenergic ligand.

Effects of insulin, adenosine, and prostaglandin on alpha-adrenergic-stimulated respiration in brown adipocytes.

The present study compared the effects of insulin, 2-chloroadenosine, and prostaglandin E2 as inhibitors of respiration in hamster brown adipocytes stimulated with either isoproterenol or phenylephrine. Addition of 2-chloroadenosine or prostaglandin E2 strongly antagonized isoproterenol-stimulated respiration; phenylephrine-stimulated respiration was also partially inhibited by 2-chloroadenosine and prostaglandin E2, but the extent of inhibition caused by these agents was not as great as when isoproterenol was used. Isoproterenol-stimulated respiration was inhibited by insulin, but phenylephrine-stimulated respiration was insensitive to the inhibitory effect of insulin. When brown adipocytes were pretreated with pertussis toxin, isoproterenol-stimulated respiration was enhanced, but phenylephrine-stimulated respiration was not significantly affected. The inhibitory effects of 2-chloroadenosine and prostaglandin E2 on isoproterenol-stimulated respiration were completely blocked by pertussis toxin, indicating that the mode of action of these inhibitory hormones was secondary to inhibition of adenylate cyclase and resultant inhibition of lipolysis. Prostaglandin E2 inhibition of phenylephrine-stimulated respiration was also abolished by pertussis toxin. In contrast, 2-chloroadenosine inhibition of phenylephrine-stimulated respiration persisted in adipocytes treated with pertussis toxin. These data suggest that phenylephrine stimulates respiration through a mechanism that is not altered by pertussis toxin and further that 2-chloroadenosine inhibition of isoproterenol- or phenylephrine-stimulated respiration can be dissociated.

Pertussis toxin does not prevent alpha adrenergic stimulated breakdown of phosphoinositides or respiration in brown adipocytes.

The role of Ni in mediation of alpha adrenergic stimulated respiration and breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-P2 in brown adipocytes was examined using pertussis toxin. Phenylephrine stimulation of respiration and breakdown of PtdIns-4,5-P2 was still present in adipocytes harvested from hamsters treated with pertussis toxin although toxin modification of Ni appeared complete as judged from the absence of incorporation of [32P] from [32P]-NAD into a 41 KD protein in membranes. These data suggest that alpha-1 receptors on brown adipocytes are not coupled to inositide hydrolysis through Ni.

Effects of pertussis toxin treatment on metabolism in hamster brown adipocytes.

This communication reports the effects of the exotoxin of Bordetella pertussis (pertussis toxin) on hamster brown fat cells. Pertussis toxin significantly increased the lipolytic and respiratory responses to isoproterenol but did not increase the basal rates of either of these processes. In contrast, the stimulation of respiration by the alpha-adrenergic agent phenylephrine was not altered by pertussis toxin. The inhibitory effects of adenosine on stimulated lipolysis, respiration, and adenylate cyclase activity were completely abolished by pertussis toxin, as was the ability of methylxanthines or adenosine deaminase to potentiate isoproterenol stimulation of respiration or lipolysis. These effects of pertussis toxin were associated with an ADP ribosylation of a single membrane protein having a molecular weight of approximately 41. These data demonstrate that pertussis toxin can prevent the inhibitory action of adenosine on brown fat cells and suggest that the effects of the nucleoside on these cells results from inhibition of adenylate cyclase. We further suggest that the enhanced responses to isoproterenol in pertussis-treated adipocytes results from a blockade of the action of endogenous adenosine. In addition to blocking adenosine action, pertussis toxin also abolished the antilipolytic effect of insulin. However, because the antilipolytic effect of insulin was prevented by adenosine deaminase and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and restored by 2-chloroadenosine, we conclude that insulin action on these cells is dependent on adenosine. Thus pertussis toxin blockade of insulin action appears to be secondary to blockade of adenosine action.

cAMP metabolism and lipolysis in brown adipocytes of hamsters consuming a cafeteria diet.

Feeding animals cafeteria diets causes increased sympathetic activity to brown adipose tissue and this is believed to be responsible for the concomitant activation of thermogenesis. Because chronic catecholamine stimulation in other systems leads to a desensitization of beta-adrenergic receptors, we examined lipolysis and cAMP production in brown adipocytes of hamsters eating cafeteria diets for evidence of diminished beta-adrenergic responses. Basal cAMP levels were similar in chow- and cafeteria-fed hamsters. However, adipocytes from overfed animals formed less cAMP in response to isoproterenol than those of control animals. Isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was similarly decreased in membrane preparations from cafeteria-fed hamsters. However, when the diterpene forskolin was used, equal amounts of cAMP were formed in cells and membrane preparations from control and overfed animals. In contrast to the reduced responses of the cAMP system to isoproterenol stimulation observed in overfed hamsters, isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis was greater in cells from overfed animals than in cells from control animals. These results are consistent with a desensitization of the adenylate cyclase system in brown adipocytes occurring during chronic hyperphagia. Because eating cafeteria diets has been reported to increase sympathetic activity to brown fat depots, the apparent desensitization of brown adipocytes observed in this study may result from a persistent stimulation of the brown fat with norepinephrine in vivo. Our data also suggest the existence of mechanisms that preserve lipolysis in the face of low cAMP levels.

Brown adipose tissue in cafeteria-fed hamsters.

Hamsters consuming a "cafeteria diet" had more brown adipose tissue than did chow-fed hamsters. The growth of the brown fat depots in cafeteria-fed hamsters was accompanied by increases in tissue protein and cytochrome oxidase. To assess the thermogenic capacity of brown fat mitochondria, the binding of GDP to isolated mitochondria was measured. Mitochondrial GDP binding was not affected by feeding the cafeteria diet for 4 wk, but more prolonged cafeteria feeding for 8 wk did, however, increase the binding of GDP to isolated mitochondria. The morphology of brown adipose tissue was altered during cafeteria feeding. The brown adipose tissue of cafeteria-fed hamsters had more large unilocular cells than did the brown adipose tissue of chow-fed hamsters. In addition, the average adipocyte diameter was greater in brown adipose tissue of cafeteria-fed hamsters. These data support the presence of a dietary regulation of brown adipose tissue growth in hamsters. The growth of brown adipose tissue in hamsters eating the cafeteria diet appears to result largely from proliferation of adipocytes, as evidenced by the increases in tissue protein and cytochrome oxidase during cafeteria feeding, but some hypertrophy of the adipocytes also occurs. A dietary regulation of brown fat thermogenic capacity is also apparent but this regulation is evident only after more prolonged periods of cafeteria feeding. Hamsters eating a cafeteria diet increase their caloric intake but have the same or greater body weight gain efficiency as do chow-fed animals. The absence of dietary stimulation of thermogenesis may underlie the similar efficiencies of weight gain in chow- and cafeteria-fed hamsters.

Role of adenosine as an endogenous regulator of respiration in hamster brown adipocytes.

The action of endogeneous adenosine on isolated hamster brown adipocytes was examined. Adenosine production from brown adipocytes was measured after labeling of the intracellular nucleotide pool with [3H]adenine. Accumulation of [3H]adenosine in the incubation medium was maximum after 5 min of incubation and was still present after 20 min. When adenosine accumulation was prevented by addition of adenosine deaminase, the stimulatory effects of isoproterenol on oxygen uptake, lipolysis, and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) generation were enhanced. However, basal rates of lipolysis and oxygen consumption and levels of cAMP were not affected on addition of adenosine deaminase. A similar potentiation of isoproterenol responses was produced by the adenosine receptor antagonist, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, present at a concentration (10 microM) which did not change basal levels of respiration or lipolysis. Addition of the adenosine analogue 2-chloroadenosine antagonized isoproterenol-stimulated respiration and lipolysis and prevented potentiation of isoproterenol responses with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. To localize the site of adenosine action, activity of adenylate cyclase in membrane preparations from brown adipocytes was measured. Isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was partially inhibited by 2-chloroadenosine in a GTP-dependent manner. Addition of Na+ enhanced the inhibitory effect of 2-chloroadenosine, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine blocked it. The calculated 50% effective dose for 2-chloroadenosine inhibition was between 10 and 15 nM. These data suggest that adenosine produced by brown adipocytes is an endogenous regulator of respiration in these cells acting at the level of the adenylate cyclase enzyme.