A steroidogenic cell line with differentiation potential from mouse granulosa cells, transfected with Ad4BP and SV40 large T antigen genes.

Several steroidogenic cell lines of granulosa cells (GC) have been used to elucidate differentiation mechanisms of GC during folliculogenesis. These cell lines, however, are of limited usefulness since they have lost some of their differentiation potential. The transcription factor adrenal-4 binding protein (Ad4BP), also known as steroidogenic factor-1 or NR5A1, is essential for the expression of all P-450 steroidogenic enzymes. By transfection with the Ad4BP gene together with SV40 DNA, we have generated several steroidogenic cell lines. One selective clone, named 4B2, retained its steroidogenic potential and was therefore analyzed in depth. This cell line responded to 8-Br-cAMP by displaying differentiation characteristics similar to those occurring in the differentiation process of primary cultured GC, including enhanced progesterone secretion, a cell shape change from a fibroblastic to epithelioid conformation, elongated mitochondria, increased gap junction formation and inhibition of cell proliferation. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), an intraovarian regulator of GC, stimulated cAMP production, and this eicosanoid, like 8-Br-cAMP, induced differentiation properties with the exception of cell conformation in 4B2 cells. These results suggest that expression of Ad4BP may provide the basis for a repertoire of cAMP-sensitive differentiation properties, including morphological alterations and growth inhibition. Thus, the 4B2 cell line may serve as a tool for elucidation of differentiation mechanisms that are under the control of Ad4BP.

Changes in the gene expression of a protein with the cdc10/SWI6 motif, V-1, during rat follicular development and corpus luteum formation.

We examined the gene expression of V-1, a novel soluble protein with the cdc10/SWI6 motif, in pseudopregnant rat ovaries. Northern blot analysis on days 1, 5, and 11 of pseudopregnancy revealed an approximately 2-fold increase in the V-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level on day 5 to that on day 1, and no significant change was observed between those on day 5 and day 11. An injection of human CG on days 5 further increased th V-1 mRNA level to about 1.6-fold of that of the untreated control. Western blot analysis showed higher V-1 protein expression on days 5 and 11 of pseudopregnancy than that on day 1. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry with ovaries on day 3 of pseudopregnancy showed that luteal cells of corpora lutea and also cells of the coexisting follicles including oocytes express V-1 mRNA and the protein, with apparent rank order of the expression: oocytes > luteal cells > follicular cells >> atretic follicular cells including oocytes. These data indicate the dynamic change in the V-1 gene expression in the ovarian steroidogenic cells and oocytes and suggest potential roles of the V-1 protein in ovarian functions including corpus luteum formation and folliculogenesis.

Protein kinase C-dependent down-regulation of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) receptor by phorbol ester and epidermal growth factor in porcine granulosa cells.

The regulation of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, or FGF-2) receptor on porcine granulosa cells was studied. Receptor levels before and after cell differentiation in vivo and in vitro did not show any significant changes. Dibutyryl cAMP and the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-8 had no effect on bFGF binding. These results suggest that PKA was not involved in the receptor expression. Treatment of the granulosa cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, progressively decreased the number of bFGF receptors to about 20% of their initial levels after 8 h, and this effect occurred in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Similarly, synthetic diacylglycerol also inhibited bFGF binding. The highly specific PKC inhibitor GF109203X completely prevented the reduction of bFGF binding by PMA and diacylglycerol. Kinetic analyses of the turnover of cell surface bFGF receptors in the presence of cycloheximide showed that PMA accelerated loss of receptors from the cell surface, suggesting the enhanced receptor internalization by PMA resulting in the receptor reduction. PMA did not influence steady-state FGF receptor messenger RNA levels. PMA induced an increased PKC activity in the membrane fraction, and among PMA sensitive PKC alpha, beta II, delta and epsilon, only PKC alpha was readily detected by immunoblotting and translocated to the membrane fraction. PMA-pretreated cells showed negligible effect on c-fos messenger RNA induction in response to bFGF stimulation, indicating a functional reduction of receptors. When cells were incubated with epidermal growth factor, receptor levels were reduced, but this effect was not observed in the presence of GF109203X. These results suggest that the bFGF receptor in porcine granulosa cells is regulated by the PKC, not PKA, pathway in an isoenzyme-specific fashion and that its possible mechanism may involve regulation of receptor internalization.

Differential gene expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor isoforms in rat ovary.

The gene expression of four fibroblast growth factor receptors (flg, bek, FGFR-3, and FGFR-4) in rat ovary cells was studied. Northern blot hybridization revealed that flg and bek mRNAs were detectable during all stages except a diestrus stage, whereas FGFR-3 and FGFR-4 mRNAs were almost undetectable throughout the cycles. In situ hybridization also demonstrated that only flg and bek gene expression was detectable. A modest flg mRNA signal was detected in developing antral follicles and it was more prominent in the theca-interstitial cells than in the granulosa cells. A modest to weak flg mRNA signal was seen in the hypertrophied theca-interstitial cells of atretic follicles and a very weak flg mRNA signal was observed in the corpora lutea. On the other hand, a weak bek mRNA signal was seen in granulosa and theca-interstitial cells in developing follicles and also hypertrophied theca-interstitial cells of atretic follicles, but not in the corpora lutea. Intense signals for both flg and bek mRNAs were unexpectedly found in the epithelium of paroophoron at the hilus. These results demonstrate that the bFGF receptor isoforms are expressed differentially in the rat ovary cells.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) receptors decrease with luteal age in rat ovarian luteal cells: colocalization of bFGF receptors and bFGF in luteal cells.

Ovarian growth factors have been implicated in the development and differentiation of corpus luteum. We have characterized both high and low affinity receptors for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in luteal cells and tissue throughout the life span of corpus luteum using gonadotropin-treated rat luteinized ovaries. Additionally, we determined bFGF location in luteal tissue. High affinity (Kd, approximately 0.2 nM) and low capacity (approximately 500-6000 sites/cell, depending on luteal ages) [125I] bFGF-binding sites (mol wt, 140 kilodaltons, determined by affinity labeling) were found on luteal cells. [125I]bFGF binding to luteal cells and corpus luteum membranes progressively decreased in binding capacity without affecting binding affinity as the age of corpus luteum advanced. bFGF receptor (flg) mRNA in luteinized ovaries decreased with the luteal age similar to the [125I]bFGF binding. In contrast, low affinity binding sites, identified as heparan sulfate proteoglycans, which were immunohistochemically visualized around luteal cells, did not appear to change with luteal age. The signals for heparan sulfate proteoglycans that were found only in granulosa, but not theca-interstitial, cells of follicles became intense during folliculogenesis. The functionality of the bFGF receptors was shown by tyrosine phosphorylation of 16.5- and 18-kilodalton proteins in luteal cells with the antiphosphotyrosine antibody. Immunohistochemistry localized bFGF to steroidogenic luteal cells, and immunoblotting displayed larger molecular forms of bFGF in luteal cells. These results suggest that the bFGF receptors may be associated with the development and differentiation of corpus luteum in an autocrine manner.

A novel steroidogenic role of suramin-blocked luteal cell growth factors.

Growth factors synthesized in the ovarian corpus luteum (CL) have been implicated in the development of the CL. One of these growth factors is basic fibroblast growth factor which acts on luteal cells in an autocrine manner (Tamura et al. 1991; Asakai et al. 1992). To elucidate effects of these growth factors in the development of the CL, we cultured immature luteal cells with defined medium for a week in the presence or absence of a growth factor inhibitor, and measured progesterone in the medium as an indicator of cell differentiation. Culture of luteal cells showed an increased amount of progesterone for three days and continued to synthesize progesterone for at least another four days without serum and pituitary hormones. The addition of suramin, previously reported to inhibit autocrine growth stimulation, accelerate the daily progesterone production of luteal cells apparently by switching on the early onset of differentiation. Suramin also induced apoptosis of the cells after the 3rd day of culture. These data suggest that an autostimulation mechanism by growth factors plays a physiological role on normal cell differentiation, and it is not limited to neoplastic transformation.

Factor XI deficiency in Ashkenazi Jews in Israel.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Severe factor XI deficiency, which is relatively common among Ashkenazi Jews, is associated with injury-related bleeding of considerable severity. Three point mutations--a splice-junction abnormality (Type I), Glu117----Stop (Type II), and Phe283----Leu (Type III)--have been described in six patients with factor XI deficiency. Clinical correlations with these mutations have not been carried out. We determined the relative frequency of the mutations and their association with plasma levels of factor XI clotting activity and bleeding, analyzing the mutations with the polymerase chain reaction and restriction-enzyme digestion. RESULTS: The Type II and Type III mutations had similar frequencies among 43 Ashkenazi Jewish probands with severe factor XI deficiency; these two mutations accounted for 49 percent and 47 percent, respectively, of a total of 86 analyzed alleles. Among 40 of the probands and 12 of their relatives with severe factor XI deficiency, patients homozygous for Type III mutation had a significantly higher level of factor XI clotting activity (mean [+/- SD] percentage of normal values, 9.7 +/- 3.8 percent; n = 13) than those homozygous for Type II mutation (1.2 +/- 0.5 percent, n = 16) or compound heterozygotes with Type II/III mutation (3.3 +/- 1.6 percent, n = 23), as well as significantly fewer episodes of injury-related bleeding. Each of these three groups had a similarly increased proportion of episodes of bleeding complications after surgery at sites with enhanced local fibrinolysis, such as the urinary tract, or during tooth extraction. CONCLUSIONS: Type II and Type III mutations are the predominant causes of factor XI deficiency among Ashkenazi Jews. Genotypic analysis, assay for factor XI, and consideration of the type and location of surgery can be helpful in planning operations in patients with this disorder.

Basic fibroblast growth factor in rat corpus luteum stimulates prostaglandin F2-alpha production.

Rat luteal cells (LC) were incubated with or without basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in a serum-free medium. Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) production was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner at 0.03-1 ng/ml of bFGF. One ng/ml of bFGF caused approximately 5-fold the increment of PGF2 alpha at every stage of LC after 48 hrs of incubation. bFGF also raised progesterone secretion from LC, and this stimulatory effect on progesterone was more distinguishable in an early-, than a middle- and a late-stage. Additionally, bFGF concentration throughout the luteal phase was assessed using western blot analysis. The protein with typical molecular weight 18 kDa form was in high concentration throughout the luteal phase. These results suggest that bFGF may play a role in the regulation of PGF2 alpha and progesterone production as autocrine, but not in mitosis in corpus luteum.

The molecular genetics of factor XI deficiency.

Hereditary factor XI deficiency is characterised by a functional deficiency of factor XI and the absence of factor XI-related antigen in circulation. It occurs with a high frequency in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Cloning of abnormal factor XI genes and studies on the molecular genetics of factor XI deficiency show that the cause for factor XI deficiency is heterogeneous. So far, two independent single base substitutions, one at the conserved intron donor consensus dinucleotide of intron N (type I) and a nonsense mutation at the codon for Glu117 (type II), have been identified. These two types of mutation together account for approximately half of the genetic changes in abnormal factor XI genes. At least one or more types of genetic change has yet to be defined. In the course of these studies, rapid methods that utilize the polymerase chain reaction and subsequent restriction endonuclease analysis have been developed.

Factor XI (plasma thromboplastin antecedent) deficiency in Ashkenazi Jews is a bleeding disorder that can result from three types of point mutations.

Factor XI (plasma thromboplastin antecedent) deficiency is a blood coagulation abnormality occurring in high frequency in Ashkenazi Jews. Three independent point mutations that result in a blood coagulation abnormality have been identified in the factor XI gene of six unrelated Ashkenazi patients. These mutations either disrupt normal mRNA splicing (type I), cause premature polypeptide termination (type II), or result in a specific amino acid substitution (type III). The three different genotypes were present in the six patients as type I/II, type II/III, and type III/III. Thus far no correlation was found between the three genotypes and the bleeding tendency in these patients.

Factor XI gene (F11) is located on the distal end of the long arm of human chromosome 4.

Chromosomal localization of the gene for human coagulation factor XI (F11) was determined by in situ hybridization using a genomic DNA probe which contained exons VIII, IX, and X of the gene. The results indicate that the gene is located at 4q35.

Organization of the gene for human factor XI.

Factor XI (plasma thromboplastin antecedent) is a plasma glycoprotein that participates in the early phase of blood coagulation. The gene for the human protein has been isolated from two different lambda phage genomic libraries. Four independent recombinant lambda phage carrying overlapping DNA inserts that coded for the entire gene for factor XI were isolated and characterized by restriction mapping, Southern blotting, and selective DNA sequencing to establish the number and location of the intron-exon boundaries. The gene for human factor XI was 23 kilobases in length and consisted of 15 exons (I-XV) and 14 introns (A-N). Exon I coded for the 5' untranslated region, and exon II coded for the signal peptide. The next eight exons (III-X) coded for the four tandem repeats of 90 or 91 amino acids that were present in the amino-terminal region of the mature protein. Each of these tandem repeats was coded by two exons that were interrupted by a single intron, and these introns were located in essentially the same position within each of the four tandem repeats. The carboxyl-terminal region of the protein, which contained the catalytic chain, was coded by five exons (XI-XV) that were interrupted by four introns. The last four introns were located in the same positions as those in the genes for human tissue plasminogen activator and human urokinase.

Priming procedure and cell isolation for study on luteal cell response to peptide hormone in the rat.

The objective of this study was to develop a method of isolating luteal cells from the ovaries of immature rats pretreated with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG). After the ovaries were digested by collagenase and trypsin, the corpora lutea were obtained from the tissues, gently pressed in a test tube, and then placed on a sucrose density gradient. The two bands that appeared in the tube after centrifugation were designated S1 (top band) and S2 (bottom band). Progesterone and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone (20 alpha-DHP) secreted by the isolated cells during short-term incubation were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). A larger amount of progesterone, i.e., 60 to 260 ng/10(5) cells, was secreted by S1 cells than by S2 cells during the 18-h incubation. These results suggest that this simple procedure for isolation of luteal cells may provide a suitable model for in vitro studies of the luteal function.

[Effects of estrogen, progesterone and androgen on autoradiograms of the immature rat uterus].

Endometrial cancer is more frequent in patients at a postmenopausal age, when the ovarian secretion of androgens instead of estrogens seems to be relatively increased. In clinical or experimental medicine, progesterones are widely used for the treatment of endometrial cancer, probably because they have an antiestrogenic action and cause differentiation of cancer cells from the proliferative phase. The effects of testosterone(T), progesterone(P), and/or 17 beta-estradiol(E) on the incorporation of 3H-thymidine in autoradiograms were investigated in immature rats. The autoradiogram revealed many grains due to 3H-thymidine in the endometrial epithelium, stroma, and the myometrium in the immature rat 30 hours after E-injection. T alone markedly induced the DNA synthesis in the stroma and the myometrium, but not in the epithelium. T displayed a synergistic interaction with E in both the stroma and the myometrium with a slight increase in thymidine incorporation into the epithelium. P alone induced DNA synthesis in the stroma and the myometrium. Simultaneous injection of E and P also produced the same result as that when P alone was injected. P markedly inhibited DNA synthesis due to E in the epithelium. Autoradiograms of the immature rat uterus provide basic support for the rationality of P therapy for cancer or adenomatous hyperplasia of the endometrium.

[The extraction of biologically active substances from hop].

Substances which suppressed the effect of gonadotropin in the rat were obtained from hop. These biologically active substances were fractionated from the hop cone, from which lipophilic components (total resins) were removed with acetone. They were water soluble, 70,000-80,000 in molecular weight and were composed mainly of neutral sugars and uronic acid. Administration of the substances to immature rats primed with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMS) resulted in the following: a significant decrease of ovarian weight gain, whereas there was no change in uterine weight gain, and significant reductions of serum LH and progesterone from cultured luteal rat cells.

[Effect of adrenocorticotropin on progesterone, 20alpha-OH- progesterone and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in isolated luteal cells from rat ovaries].

The present investigation was designed to study the effect of synthetic ACTH on the synthesis of progesterone, 20 alpha-OH-progesterone and adenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in isolated luteal cells. Experiments were conducted on rats from three groups. Group I: PMS primed immature rats. Group II: PMS plus hCG primed immature rats. Group III: pregnant rats. Luteal cells were isolated by the Kumai Method (7) using a sucrose density gradient after digestion with trypsin and collagenase. Luteal cells were divided into three fractions; S-1, S-2 and S-3. Following an 18 hr-incubation of S-1 cells of day 7 after PMS injection, a significant increase in progesterone release by ACTH lasted from 6 to 18 hr, whereas 20 alpha-OH-progesterone decreased significantly by ACTH from 8 to 18 hr. There were no differences in progesterone and 20 alpha-OH-progesterone releases from S-2 cells of day 7 between media with and without ACTH. Progesterone release without ACTH reached the peak on day 7 in Group I and on day 6 in Group II. ACTH stimulated progesterone and inhibited 20 alpha-OH-progesterone releases in Groups I and II. The maximum effect of ACTH in both Groups was noted on days 6 and 7. There were no differences in the Effective Dose (ED50) and the Inhibitory Dose (ID50) of ACTH between Group I and Group II. In Group III, releases of progesterone and 20 alpha-OH-progesterone from S-1 cells to media with or without ACTH decreased remarkably after 11 days of gestation. On days, 3, 5 and 8 of gestation, a significant increase in progesterone release from S-1 cells was noted by the ACTH addition. 20 alpha-OH-progesterone release from S-1 cells to media with or without ACTH decreased as the pregnancy advanced. Total cAMP of intra- and extra-cellular S-1 cells (Group II) on day 5 after PMS injection was assayed. ACTH induced an increase in intracellular cAMP. The present results indicate the following: (1) In Group I and Group II, progesterone release increased with the age of the luteal cells and ACTH dose. In Group III, ACTH stimulated progesterone release in a dose-dependent manner in early gestation. (2) 20 alpha-OH-progesterone release decreased by ACTH dose in Group I and Group II, and decreased in Group III as the gestation advanced. (3) Intracellular cAMP increased by ACTH in Group II.