The HeLa cell glucagon-like peptide-2 receptor is coupled to regulation of apoptosis and ERK1/2 activation through divergent signaling pathways.

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) regulates proliferative and cytoprotective pathways in the intestine; however GLP-2 receptor (GLP-2R) signal transduction remains poorly understood, and cell lines that express the endogenous GLP-2R have not yet been isolated. We have now identified several expressed sequence tags from human cervical carcinoma cDNA libraries that correspond to GLP-2R nucleotide sequences. GLP-2R mRNA transcripts were detected by RT-PCR in two human cervical carcinoma cell lines, including HeLa cells. GLP-2 increased cAMP accumulation and activated ERK1/2 in HeLa cells transiently expressing the cloned human HeLa cell GLP-2R cDNA. However, the GLP-2R-induced activation of ERK1/2 was not mediated through Galphas, adenylyl cyclase, or transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor, but was pertussis toxin sensitive, inhibited by dominant negative Ras, and dependent on betagamma-subunits. GLP-2 also induced a significant increase in bromodeoxyuridine incorporation that was blocked by dominant negative Ras. Furthermore, GLP-2 inhibited HeLa cell apoptosis induced by LY294002 in a protein kinase A-dependent, but ERK-independent, manner. These findings demonstrate that the HeLa cell GLP-2R differentially signals through both Galphas/cAMP- and Gi/Go-dependent pathways, illustrating for the first time that the GLP-2R is capable of coupling to multiple heterotrimeric G proteins defining distinct GLP-2R-dependent biological actions.

Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-2 action in the murine central nervous system is enhanced by elimination of GLP-1 receptor signaling.

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) regulates energy homeostasis via effects on nutrient absorption and maintenance of gut mucosal epithelial integrity. The biological actions of GLP-2 in the central nervous system (CNS) remain poorly understood. We studied the sites of endogenous GLP-2 receptor (GLP-2R) expression, the localization of transgenic LacZ expression under the control of the mouse GLP-2R promoter, and the actions of GLP-2 in the murine CNS. GLP-2R expression was detected in multiple extrahypothalamic regions of the mouse and rat CNS, including cell groups in the cerebellum, medulla, amygdala, hippocampus, dentate gyrus, pons, cerebral cortex, and pituitary. A 1.5-kilobase fragment of the mouse GLP-2R promoter directed LacZ expression to the gastrointestinal tract and CNS regions in the mouse that exhibited endogenous GLP-2R expression, including the cerebellum, amygdala, hippocampus, and dentate gyrus. Intracerebroventricular injection of GLP-2 significantly inhibited food intake during dark-phase feeding in wild-type mice. Disruption of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) signaling with the antagonist exendin-(9-39) in wild-type mice or genetically in GLP-1R(-)/- mice significantly potentiated the anorectic actions of GLP-2. These findings illustrate that CNS GLP-2R expression is not restricted to hypothalamic nuclei and demonstrate that the anorectic effects of GLP-2 are transient and modulated by the presence or absence of GLP-1R signaling in vivo.

Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-2 reduces chemotherapy-associated mortality and enhances cell survival in cells expressing a transfected GLP-2 receptor.

Chemotherapeutic agents produce cytotoxicity via induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Rapidly proliferating cells in the bone marrow and intestinal crypts are highly susceptible to chemotherapy, and damage to these cellular compartments may preclude maximally effective chemotherapy administration. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-2 is an enteroendocrine-derived regulatory peptide that inhibits crypt cell apoptosis after administration of agents that damage the intestinal epithelium. We report here that a human degradation-resistant GLP-2 analogue, h[Gly2]-GLP-2 significantly improves survival, reduces bacteremia, attenuates epithelial injury, and inhibits crypt apoptosis in the murine gastrointestinal tract after administration of topoisomerase I inhibitor irinotecan hydrochloride or the antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil. h[Gly2]-GLP-2 significantly improved survival and reduced weight loss but did not impair chemotherapy effectiveness in tumor-bearing mice treated with cyclical irinotecan. Furthermore, h[Gly2]-GLP-2 reduced chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, decreased activation of caspase-8 and -3, and inhibited poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage in heterologous cells transfected with the GLP-2 receptor. These observations demonstrate that the antiapoptotic effects of GLP-2 on intestinal crypt cells may be useful for the attenuation of chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis.

Ontogeny of the glucagon-like peptide-2 receptor axis in the developing rat intestine.

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) is secreted by enteroendocrine cells in the small and large intestines and exerts intestinotropic effects in the gastrointestinal mucosal epithelium of the adult rodent. The actions of GLP-2 are mediated by the GLP-2 receptor, a new member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. To ascertain whether the GLP-2/GLP-2 receptor axis is expressed and functional in the developing intestine, we have studied the synthesis of GLP-2 and the expression of the GLP-2 receptor (GLP-2R) in the fetal and neonatal rat gut. GLP-2 immunoreactivity (GLP-2-IR) was detected in the fetal rat intestine, and fetal rat intestinal cell cultures secreted correctly processed GLP-2(1-33) into the medium. High levels of GLP-2(1-33) were also detected in the circulation of 13-day-old neonatal rats (P < 0.001 vs. adult). Analysis of GLP-2 receptor expression by RT-PCR demonstrated GLP-2R messenger RNA transcripts in fetal intestine and in neonatal stomach, jejunum, ileum, and colon. The levels of GLP-2R messenger RNA transcripts were comparatively higher in the fetal and neonatal intestine (P < 0.05-001 vs. adult) and declined to adult levels by postnatal day 21. Subcutaneous administration of a degradation-resistant GLP-2 analog, h[Gly2]-GLP-2 once daily for 10 days increased stomach (0.009 +/- 0.0003 vs. 0.007 +/- 0.002 g/g body mass, h[Gly2]-GLP-2-treated vs. controls; P < 0.05) and small bowel weight (0.043 +/- 0.0037 vs. 0.031 +/- 0.0030 g/g body mass; P < 0.05). h[Gly2]-GLP-2 also increased both small (2.4 +/- 0.05 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.17 cm/g body mass; P < 0.05) and large bowel length (0.32 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.25 +/- 0.02 cm/g body mass, h[Gly2]-GLP-2-treated vs. saline-treated controls, respectively; P < 0.05) in neonatal rats. These findings demonstrate that both components of the GLP-2/GLP-2 receptor axis are expressed in the fetal and neonatal intestine. The ontogenic regulation and functional integrity of this axis raises the possibility that GLP-2 may play a role in the development and/or maturation of the developing rat intestine.

Enteroendocrine localization of GLP-2 receptor expression in humans and rodents.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-2, a product of the proglucagon gene, is expressed in enteroendocrine cells of the small and large intestine and is trophic to the gastrointestinal mucosa. GLP-2 also inhibits gastric acid secretion and emptying and up-regulates intestinal hexose transport. GLP-2 acts via binding to a single G protein-coupled GLP-2 receptor (GLP-2R), but the cellular targets for the diverse actions of GLP-2 remain unknown. METHODS: GLP-2R expression in rodent and human tissues was examined using a combination of Northern blotting, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: A single major GLP-2R messenger RNA transcript was detected by Northern blot analysis in rodent stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon, but not in rodent esophagus. GLP-2R expression was also detected by RT-PCR in RNA from the hypothalamus, brain stem, and lung. Immunocytochemical localization of human GLP-2R expression using specific antisera detected GLP-2R immunopositivity in subsets of endocrine cell populations in the epithelium of the stomach and both the small and large bowel. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that enteroendocrine-derived GLP-2 acts directly on endocrine cells to induce one or more downstream mediators of GLP-2 action in the gastrointestinal tract.

The glucagon-like peptide-2 receptor mediates direct inhibition of cellular apoptosis via a cAMP-dependent protein kinase-independent pathway.

Glucagon and the glucagon-like peptides regulate metabolic functions via signaling through a glucagon receptor subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. Activation of glucagon-like peptide-2 receptor (GLP-2R) signaling maintains the integrity of the intestinal epithelial mucosa via regulation of crypt cell proliferation. Because GLP-2 decreases mortality and reduces intestinal apoptosis in rodents after experimental injury, we examined whether GLP-2R signaling directly modifies the cellular response to external injury. We show here that activation of GLP-2R signaling inhibits cycloheximide-induced apoptosis in baby hamster kidney fibroblasts expressing a transfected GLP-2 receptor. GLP-2 reduced DNA fragmentation and improved cell survival, in association with reduced activation of caspase-3 and decreased poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and reduced caspase-8 and caspase-9-like activities. Both GLP-2 and forskolin reduced mitochondrial cytochrome c release and decreased the cycloheximide-induced cleavage of caspase-3 in the presence or absence of the PKA inhibitor H-89. Similarly, GLP-2 increased cell survival following cycloheximide in the presence of the kinase inhibitors PD98054 and LY294002. These findings provide evidence that signaling through G protein-coupled receptors of the glucagon superfamily is directly linked to regulation of apoptosis and suggest the existence of a cAMP-dependent protein kinase-, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-, and mitogen-activated protein kinase-independent pathway coupling GLP-2R signaling to caspase inhibition and cell survival.

Structural determinants for activity of glucagon-like peptide-2.

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) is a 33 amino acid gastrointestinal hormone that regulates epithelial growth in the intestine. Dipeptidylpeptidase IV cleaves GLP-2 at the position 2 alanine, resulting in the inactivation of peptide activity. To understand the structural basis for GLP-2 action, we studied receptor binding and activation for 56 GLP-2 analogues with either position 2 substitutions or alanine replacements along the length of the peptide. The majority of position 2 substitutions exhibited normal to enhanced GLP-2 receptor (GLP-2R) binding; in contrast, position 2 substitutions were less well tolerated in studies of receptor activation as only Gly, Ile, Pro, alpha-aminobutyric acid, D-Ala, or nor-Val substitutions exhibited enhanced GLP-2R activation. In contrast, alanine replacement at positions 5,6,17, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 30, and 31 led to diminished GLP-2R binding. Position 2 substitutions containing Asp, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Trp, and Tyr, and Ala substitutions at positions 12 and 21 exhibited normal to enhanced GLP-2R binding but greater than 75% reduction in receptor activation. D-Ala(2), Pro(2) and Gly(2), Ala(16) exhibited significantly lower EC(50)s for receptor activation than the parent peptide (p < 0.01-0.001). Circular dichroism analysis indicated that the enhanced activity of these GLP-2 analogues was independent of the alpha-helical content of the peptide. These results indicate that single amino acid substitutions within GLP-2 can confer structural changes to the ligand-receptor interface, allowing the identification of residues important for GLP-2R binding and receptor activation.

New developments in the biology of the glucagon-like peptides GLP-1 and GLP-2.

Glucagon-like peptides 1 and 2 (GLP-1 and GLP-2) are coencoded within a single mammalian proglucagon precursor, and are liberated in the intestine and brain. GLP-1 exerts well known actions on islet hormone secretion, gastric emptying, and food intake. Recent studies suggest GLP-1 plays a central role in the development and organization of islet cells. GLP-1 receptor signaling appears essential for beta cell signal transduction as exemplified by studies of GLP-1R-/- mice. GLP-2 promotes energy assimilation via trophic effects on the intestinal mucosa of the small and large bowel epithelium via a recently cloned GLP-2 receptor. The actions of GLP-2 are preserved in the setting of small and large bowel injury and inflammation. The biological actions of the glucagon-like peptides suggest they may have therapeutic efficacy in diabetes (GLP-1) or intestinal disorders (GLP-2).

Glucagon-like peptide 2 decreases mortality and reduces the severity of indomethacin-induced murine enteritis.

Glucagon-like peptides (GLPs) are secreted from enteroendocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract. GLP-1 actions regulate blood glucose, whereas GLP-2 exerts trophic effects on intestinal mucosal epithelium. Although GLP-1 actions are preserved in diseases such as diabetes, GLP-2 action has not been extensively studied in the setting of intestinal disease. We have now evaluated the biological effects of a human GLP-2 analog in the setting of experimental murine nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-induced enteritis. Human (h)[Gly(2)]GLP-2 significantly improved survival whether administered before, concomitant with, or after indomethacin. h[Gly(2)]GLP-2-treated mice exhibited reduced histological evidence of disease activity, fewer intestinal ulcerations, and decreased myeloperoxidase activity in the small bowel (P < 0.05, h[Gly(2)]GLP-2- vs. saline-treated controls). h[Gly(2)]GLP-2 significantly reduced cytokine induction, bacteremia, and the percentage of positive splenic and hepatic bacterial cultures (P < 0.05). h[Gly(2)]GLP-2 enhanced epithelial proliferation (P < 0.05 for increased crypt cell proliferation in h[Gly(2)]GLP-2- vs. saline-treated mice after indomethacin) and reduced apoptosis in the crypt compartment (P < 0.02). These observations demonstrate that a human GLP-2 analog exerts multiple complementary actions that serve to preserve the integrity of the mucosal epithelium in experimental gastrointestinal injury in vivo.

Identification of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2)-activated signaling pathways in baby hamster kidney fibroblasts expressing the rat GLP-2 receptor.

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) promotes the expansion of the intestinal epithelium through stimulation of the GLP-2 receptor, a recently identified member of the glucagon-secretin G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Although activation of G protein-coupled receptors may lead to stimulation of cell growth, the mechanisms transducing the GLP-2 signal to mitogenic proliferation remain unknown. We now report studies of GLP-2R signaling in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells expressing a transfected rat GLP-2 receptor (BHK-GLP-2R cells). GLP-2, but not glucagon or GLP-1, increased the levels of cAMP and activated both cAMP-response element- and AP-1-dependent transcriptional activity in a dose-dependent manner. The activation of AP-1-luciferase activity was protein kinase A (PKA) -dependent and markedly diminished in the presence of a dominant negative inhibitor of PKA. Although GLP-2 stimulated the expression of c-fos, c-jun, junB, and zif268, and transiently increased p70 S6 kinase in quiescent BHK-GLP-2R cells, GLP-2 also inhibited extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and reduced serum-stimulated Elk-1 activity. Furthermore, no rise in intracellular calcium was observed following GLP-2 exposure in BHK-GLP-2R cells. Although GLP-2 stimulated both cAMP accumulation and cell proliferation, 8-bromo-cyclic AMP alone did not promote cell proliferation. These findings suggest that the GLP-2R may be coupled to activation of mitogenic signaling in heterologous cell types independent of PKA via as yet unidentified downstream mediators of GLP-2 action in vivo.

Biologic properties and therapeutic potential of glucagon-like peptide-2.

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), a 33 amino acid, proglucagon-derived peptide with intestinotrophic activity, is secreted from enteroendocrine cells in the small and large intestine. METHODS: This review describes recent advances in our understanding of GLP-2 physiology from rodent experiments in vivo. RESULTS: GLP-2 administration induces mucosal epithelial proliferation in small and large bowel and stomach. GLP-2 is rapidly degraded by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) to produce the biologically inactive form GLP-2(3-33), however, GLP-2 analogs that confer resistance to DPP-IV exhibit enhanced biologic activity in vivo. GLP-2-treated bowel retains normal to enhanced functional absorptive capacity. Furthermore, GLP-2 infusion prevents total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-associated intestinal hypoplasia, and enhances bowel adaptation and nutrient absorption in rats following small bowel resection. GLP-2 also reverses weight loss and improves histologic and biochemical parameters of disease activity in mice with experimental colitis. CONCLUSIONS: GLP-2 is an intestine-derived peptide with intestinotrophic properties that may be therapeutically useful in diseases characterized by intestinal damage or insufficiency.

Human [Gly2]GLP-2 reduces the severity of colonic injury in a murine model of experimental colitis.

The pathology of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is characterized by chronic inflammation and destruction of the gastrointestinal epithelium. Although suppression of inflammatory mediators remains the principle component of current disease therapeutics, strategies for enhancing repair and regeneration of the compromised intestinal epithelium have not been widely explored. The demonstration that a peptide hormone secreted by the intestinal epithelium, glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), is a potent endogenous stimulator of intestinal epithelial proliferation in the small bowel prompted studies of the therapeutic efficacy of GLP-2 in CD1 and BALB/c mice with dextran sulfate (DS)-induced colitis. We report here that a human GLP-2 analog (h[Gly2]GLP-2) significantly reverses weight loss, reduces interleukin-1 expression, and increases colon length, crypt depth, and both mucosal area and integrity in the colon of mice with acute DS colitis. The effects of h[Gly2]GLP-2 in the colon are mediated in part via enhanced stimulation of mucosal epithelial cell proliferation. These observations suggest that exploitation of the normal mechanisms used to regulate intestinal proliferation may be a useful adjunct for healing mucosal epithelium in the presence of active intestinal inflammation.

The thyrotropin beta-subunit gene is repressed by thyroid hormone in a novel thyrotrope cell line, mouse T alphaT1 cells.

TSH is expressed in two populations of thyrotropes in the pituitary: one in the pars distalis and a second in the pars tuberalis. Pars distalis thyrotropes exhibit classical endocrine inhibition of TSH by thyroid hormone, whereas pars tuberalis thyrotropes do not. The majority of our understanding of TSH subunit gene regulation has come from studies conducted in dispersed pituitary, dispersed thyrotropic tumors, or the GH3 somatolactotrope cell line. However, the dispersed pituitary model is limited because of its inherent heterogeneity, thyrotropic tumors are difficult to grow and maintain, and the GH3 cells lack endogenous TSH expression. The recent derivation of a clonal thyrotrope cell line, T alphaT1, that expresses thyrotrope-specific markers, overcomes these limitations. However, because it was not possible to distinguish whether the tumor from which the T alphaT1 cells are derived originated in the pars distalis or the pars tuberalis, it was necessary to define their cellular origin and thereby establish their status as representative thyrotrope cells for future molecular studies. In this study, we demonstrate that the T alphaT1 cells express thyroid hormone receptors (beta1 and beta2) and their heterodimeric partner, retinoid X receptor-gamma. Treatment with T3 causes a dose- and time-dependent decrease in the expression of the TSH beta-subunit messenger RNA. In contrast to previous reports in rat pituitary cultures, T3 does not alter TSH beta-subunit messenger RNA stability in the T alphaT1 cells. Based on these data and the presence of thyrotrope-specific isoforms of the transcription factor Pit-1, we conclude that the T alphaT1 cells represent differentiated thyrotropes of the pars distalis and will be a useful model system for future analysis of the cis- and trans-acting factors necessary for thyrotrope-specific and thyroid hormone-regulated TSH gene expression.

Insulin-induced proteolysis of the insulin receptor alpha-subunit from rat liver does not occur in vivo but is prevented in vitro by blood serum proteinase inhibitors.

Insulin binding to rat liver plasma membranes promotes the action of a plasma membrane proteinase that degrades the 135-kDa alpha-subunit of the insulin receptor to a 120kDa product. It has been proposed that this proteolysis may be the initial step leading to down-regulation of the hepatic insulin receptor [Lipson, K. E., Kolhatkar, A. A. & Donner, D. B. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 10495-10501]. Our results confirm that liver plasma membrane fractions from intact or perfused rat liver and from isolated rat hepatocytes do have a proteinase that degrades the alpha-subunit of the insulin receptor, whose activity increases significantly in the presence of insulin. In contrast to these in vitro results, plasma membranes and Golgi fractions isolated from liver at different times after a single intravenous injection of insulin to rats only contained intact alpha-subunits of the insulin receptor. Insulin administration was associated with a rapid and reversible translocation of insulin receptors from the plasma membranes to Golgi fractions but did not affect their total numbers or the receptor half-life. Incubation of rat liver plasma membranes with human, bovine or rat blood sera totally blocked alpha-subunit proteolysis both in the absence or presence of insulin. The three major serum proteinase inhibitors, alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 2-macroglobulin and antithrombin III, blocked alpha-subunit proteolysis of the insulin receptor to a varying extent. alpha 1-antitrypsin exhibited the highest potency, decreasing the amount of 120-kDa product by 70%. When both alpha 1-antitrypsin and antithrombin III were present, inhibition increased to 85%. Thus, the absence of proteolysis of the hepatic insulin receptor in vivo could be mostly accounted for by the antiproteolytic activity of blood serum. These findings suggest that insulin receptor alpha-subunit proteolysis does not represent a mechanism involved in the down-regulation of the insulin receptor in liver.

Structural characterization by affinity cross-linking of glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)amide receptor in rat brain.

Specific binding of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1(7-36)amide was detected in several rat brain areas, with the highest values being found in hypothalamic nuclei and the nucleus of the solitary tract. In hypothalamus and brainstem homogenate binding of 125I-GLP-1(7-36)amide was time, temperature, and protein content dependent and was inhibited by unlabeled proglucagon-derived peptides. The rank order of potency was GLP-1(7-36)amide >> GLP-1(1-36)amide > GLP-1(1-37) approximately equal to GLP-2 > glucagon. Scatchard analysis of the steady-state binding data was consistent with the presence of both high- and low-affinity binding sites in hypothalamus and brainstem. Brain 125I-GLP-1(7-36)amide-binding protein complexes were covalently cross-linked using disuccinimidyl suberate and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A single radiolabeled band of M(r) 56,000 identified in both hypothalamus and brainstem homogenates was unaffected by reducing agents. An excess of unlabeled GLP-1(7-36)amide abolished the band labeling, whereas glucagon had no effect. Other unlabeled GLPs inhibited M(r) 56,000 complex labeling with the following order of potency: GLP-1(1-36)amide > GLP-1(1-37) > GLP-2. The binding of 125I-GLP-1(7-36)amide and the intensity of the cross-linked band were similarly inhibited in a dose-response manner by increasing concentrations of unlabeled GLP-1(7-36)amide. Covalent M(r) 56,000 125I-GLP-1(7-36)amide-binding protein complexes solubilized by Triton X-100 were adsorbed onto wheat germ agglutinin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor gene in rat brain and liver during development and in regenerating adult rat liver.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is involved in the growth and development of liver and brain during fetal life by acting through specific plasma membrane receptors. In an attempt to determine how the changes in IGF-I receptor number are regulated during development, we have compared [125I]IGF-I binding to membrane fractions with the concentration of IGF-I receptor mRNA in rat liver and brain. IGF-I binding to liver membranes was 4.5 times higher in 20-day-old fetuses than in adult rats. After partial hepatectomy (70%) in adult rats a transient 2-fold increase of IGF-I binding to liver membranes was observed. In fetal and regenerating liver increases similar to those observed for IGF-I binding were observed in IGF-I receptor mRNA concentrations. In brain microsomes IGF-I binding was 3.5 times higher in 20-day-old fetuses than in adults. This difference reflects a similar change in the number of IGF-I receptors without modifications in the affinity of the receptor for the ligand. In contrast to the liver, no significant changes in the concentration of IGF-I receptor mRNA were observed in the developing brain when determined by hybridization solution, Northern blot or RNase protection analysis. These findings suggest that in the liver, the IGF-I receptor gene is regulated at pretranslational level during development and regeneration, while in brain it is preferentially regulated at translational or posttranslational level.

Regulation of thyroid hormone receptor and c-erbA mRNA levels by butyrate in neuroblastoma (N2A) and glioma (C6) cells.

Butyrate produced a biphasic modulation of the thyroid hormone receptor in neuroblastoma N2A cells increasing receptor number by 20-35% at concentrations 0.25-0.75 mM and decreasing receptor levels by 30-55% at 2-4 mM. The half-life of the receptor, as assessed by its disappearance after incubation with 18 microM cycloheximide was 8.4 hr in control cells and 10.3 hr and 5.0 hr in cells incubated with 0.25 and 4 mM butyrate, respectively. This compound increased the abundance of multyacetylated forms of histone H4 from 30% in control cells to almost 70% with butyrate 4 mM. In glioma C6 cells, the fatty acid produced a dose-dependent increase of receptor levels (up to 3-4-fold with 2-5 mM butyrate) and had little effect in increasing multiacetylation (from 30% in controls to 42-46% with 2-5 mM butyrate). Recent studies have shown that the c-erbA proto-oncogen codes for the thyroid hormone receptor. In N2A and C6 cells, 2 c-erbA-related mRNAs, one measuring 2.6 kb and the other 6 kb, were detected. Both forms were differently regulated by butyrate. This compound decreased the abundance of the 2.6 kb forms in both cell types, even at the concentrations at which there was an elevation of receptor levels. Only the largest mRNA correlated with receptor concentration increasing by 2-3-fold after treatment of C6 cells with butyrate, and undergoing a smaller but biphasic change in N2A cells. Our data suggest that modification of chromatin structure probably secondary to acetylation induces changes in thyroid hormone receptor levels in neuroblastoma and glioma cells by affecting both receptor stability and receptor mRNA levels.

Organization of the thyroid hormone receptor in the chromatin of C6 glial cells: evidence that changes in receptor levels are not associated with changes in receptor distribution.

The association of [125I]T3-receptor complexes with C6 cell chromatin was analyzed after a limited digestion with micrococcal nuclease (MN) or DNase I. Both nucleases solubilized up to 60-70% of receptor and 0.4 M KCl extracted 70% of the non-digested receptor, thus showing that only a residual fraction of receptor is associated with the nuclear matrix. With DNase I the receptor was released 2-3-fold faster than the bulk of chromatin, whereas a preferential release of receptor over total chromatin was not observed with MN. The digestion of receptor with DNase I and MN occurred 14- and 6-fold faster, respectively, than the appearance of PCA-soluble chromatin. Preincubation for 48 h with 4 nM T3 of 2 mM butyrate significantly altered receptor levels but did not change sensitivity to the nucleases. These results suggest that the thyroid hormone receptor is associated with chromatin highly sensitive to nuclease digestion, and that changes in receptor number are not associated with changes in its distribution in chromatin.

Sodium butyrate induces major morphological changes in C6 glioma cells that are correlated with increased synthesis of a spectrin-like protein.

Butyrate induced flattening and development of cell processes in rat glioma (C6) cells and this change was correlated with an increase in the synthesis of a polypeptide doublet with an apparent molecular weight of about 200 kDa. Blot analysis revealed that at least one of these polypeptides was a spectrin-like protein. Indirect immunofluorescence studies with the spectrin antiserum indicated that the antigen was present in the cell bodies, and also in the cell processes. Thus fodrin may be one the major targets for the action of butyrate on C6 cells.