Macrophage gene expression is related to obesity and the metabolic syndrome in human subcutaneous fat as well as in visceral fat.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Our goal was to identify a set of human adipose tissue macrophage (ATM)-specific markers and investigate whether their gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) as well as in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is related to obesity and to the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome. METHODS: ATM-specific markers were identified by DNA microarray analysis of adipose tissue cell types isolated from SAT of lean and obese individuals. We then analysed gene expression of these markers by reverse transcription quantitative PCR in paired samples of SAT and VAT from 53 women stratified into four groups (lean, overweight, obese and obese with the metabolic syndrome). Anthropometric measurements, euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp, blood analysis and computed tomography scans were performed. RESULTS: A panel of 24 genes was selected as ATM-specific markers based on overexpression in ATM compared with other adipose tissue cell types. In SAT and VAT, gene expression of ATM markers was lowest in lean and highest in the metabolic syndrome group. mRNA levels in the two fat depots were negatively correlated with glucose disposal rate and positively associated with indices of adiposity and the metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In humans, expression of ATM-specific genes increases with the degree of adiposity and correlates with markers of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome to a similar degree in SAT and in VAT.

The human VPAC1 receptor: three-dimensional model and mutagenesis of the N-terminal domain.

The human VPAC(1) receptor for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide belongs to the class II family of G-protein-coupled receptors with seven transmembrane segments. Like for all class II receptors, the extracellular N-terminal domain of the human VPAC(1) receptor plays a predominant role in peptide ligand recognition. To determine the three-dimensional structure of this N-terminal domain (residues 1-144), the Protein Data Bank (PDB) was screened for a homologous protein. A subdomain of yeast lipase B was found to have 27% sequence identity and 50% sequence homology with the N-terminal domain (8) of the VPAC(1) receptor together with a good alignment of the hydrophobic clusters. A model of the N-terminal domain of VPAC(1) receptor was thus constructed by homology. It indicated the presence of a putative signal sequence in the N-terminal extremity. Moreover, residues (Glu(36), Trp(67), Asp(68), Trp(73), and Gly(109)) which were shown to be crucial for VIP binding are gathered around a groove that is essentially negatively charged. New putatively important residues for VIP binding were suggested from the model analysis. Site-directed mutagenesis and stable transfection of mutants in CHO cells indicated that Pro(74), Pro(87), Phe(90), and Trp(110) are indeed important for VIP binding and activation of adenylyl cyclase activation. Combination of molecular modeling and directed mutagenesis provided the first partial three-dimensional structure of a VIP-binding domain, constituted of an electronegative groove with an outspanning tryptophan shell at one end, in the N-terminal extracellular region of the human VPAC(1) receptor.

Tryptophan 67 in the human VPAC(1) receptor: crucial role for VIP binding.

The human receptor subtype for VIP and PACAP, referred to as VPAC(1) receptor, has a large N-terminal extracellular domain which is critical for VIP binding. We further investigated this domain by mutating 12 amino acid residues which could participate in the formation of a tight bend (W67) or a coiled coil motif. They were changed to alanine (A) and the cDNAs were transiently transfected into Cos cells. All mutants but W67A exhibited K(d) values similar to that of the wild-type receptor. For the W67A mutant, no specific (125)I-VIP binding could be observed. Mutants at the W67 site were further characterized after stable transfection of epitope-tagged VPAC(1) receptor-GFP fusion proteins into CHO cells. W67A, W67E, W67H, and W67K mutants neither bound VIP nor mediated adenylyl cyclase activation by VIP. The W67F mutant mediated stimulation of adenylyl cyclase only at high VIP concentrations. Microscopic analysis and antibody binding experiments showed that all mutants were similarly expressed at the cell surface of CHO cells. Therefore tryptophan 67 in the human VPAC(1) receptor plays a crucial role in VIP binding due, in part, to its aromatic moiety.

alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors stimulate oligopeptide transport in a human intestinal cell line.

Di- and tripeptides, as well as peptidomimetic drugs such as cephalexin (CFX), are absorbed by enterocytes via the oligopeptide transporter PepT1. We recently showed that the alpha(2)-adrenergic agonist clonidine increases CFX absorption in anaesthetized rats. Herein, we investigated whether alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors can directly affect PepT1 activity in a clone of the differentiated human intestinal cell line Caco-2 (Caco-2 3B) engineered to stably express alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptors at a density similar to that found in normal mucosa. Measurement of CFX fluxes across cell monolayers cultured on transwell filters demonstrated that the alpha(2)-agonists clonidine and UK14304 caused a 2-fold increase of CFX transport in Caco-2 3B cells, but not in Caco-2 (expressing PepT1 but not alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors) or in the HT29 19A clone (expressing alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors but not PepT1). The stimulatory effect of clonidine was abolished by glycyl-sarcosine (a competitor for the transporter) and blocked by yohimbine or RX821002 (alpha(2)-antagonists). Analysis of the kinetics of CFX transport in control and clonidine-treated Caco-2 3B cells showed that clonidine increased V(max) of CFX transport without changing K(m). Clonidine action was abolished by colchicine but not altered by amiloride, demonstrating that microtubule integrity but not Na(+)/H(+) exchanger activity is necessary for the effect of alpha(2)-agonists to occur. In conclusion, clonidine can directly activate alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors located on epithelial cells. The precise molecular mechanisms whereby these receptors modulate PepT1 activity remain to be elucidated but an increased translocation to the apical membrane of preformed cytoplasmic transporter molecules is likely to be involved.

The human vasoactive intestinal peptide/pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide receptor 1 (VPAC1) promoter: characterization and role in receptor expression during enterocytic differentiation of the colon cancer cell line Caco-2Cl.20.

The basic organization of the human vasoactive intestinal peptide/pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide receptor (VPAC) 1 promoter was investigated after cloning the 5'-flanking region (1.4 kb) of the VPAC1 gene from a human genomic library. Subsequent functional analysis of various deletions of the 5'-flanking sequence, subcloned upstream of a luciferase reporter gene, was carried out in HT-29 cells. The minimal promoter region identified encompasses the -205/+76 sequence and contains a crucial CCAAT box (-182/-178) and a GC-rich sequence. Moreover a region (-1348/-933) containing a silencer element was identified. We previously showed that the expression of the VPAC1 receptor binding site is strictly dependent upon the enterocytic differentiation of human colon cancer Caco-2 cells [Laburthe, Rousset, Rouyer-Fessard, Couvineau, Chantret, Chevalier and Zweibaum (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 10180-10184]. In the present study we show that VPAC1 mRNA increases dramatically when Caco-2Cl.20 cells differentiate, as measured by RNase protection assays and reverse transcriptase-PCR. A single transcript species of 3 kb is detected in differentiated cells by Northern-blot analysis. Accumulation of VPAC1 receptor mRNA is due to a 5-fold increase of transcription rate (run-on assay) without a change in mRNA half-life (9 h). Stable transfections of various constructs in Caco-2Cl.20 cells and subsequent analysis of reporter gene expression, during the enterocytic differentiation process over 25 days of culture, further indicated that the -254/+76 5'-flanking sequence is endowed with the regulatory element(s) necessary for transcriptional regulation of VPAC1 during differentiation. Altogether, these observations provide the first characterization of the basic organization of the human VPAC1 gene promoter and unravel the crucial role of a short promoter sequence in the strict transcriptional control of VPAC1 expression during differentiation of human colon cancer Caco-2 cells.

Functional and molecular properties of the human recombinant Y4 receptor: resistance to agonist-promoted desensitization.

After stable transfection of Chinese hamster ovary cells with the human Y4 receptor, clone 29 was isolated and studied for receptor properties. The following data were obtained: 1) one class of binding site was identified by analysis of (125)I-human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP) binding to cell membranes with a K(d) value of 0. 26 nM and a B(max) value of 1.44 pmol/mg protein; 2) the K(i) values for inhibition of (125)I-hPP binding by hPP, human peptide YY (hPYY), human neuropeptide Y (hNPY), and analogs were hPP (0.7 nM) < rat PP (47 nM) < hPYY (94 nM) < h[Leu(31)-Pro(34)]NPY (124 nM) << hNPY = porcine NPY(13-36) = rat D-[Trp(32)]NPY (>1 microM); 3) cross-linking experiments using (125)I-hPP identified a single M(r) 60,000 glycosylated Y4 receptor; and 4) the natural peptides hPP, hPYY, and hNPY inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP production in clone 29 cells with EC(50) values of 0.56 nM, 218 nM, and >1 microM, respectively. The inhibitory effect of hPP was abolished when cells were incubated with pertussis toxin, indicating a pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i) protein-mediated event. 5) Exposure of cells to 10 nM hPP for 24 h resulted in the absence of modification of binding capacity (1.38 versus 1.44 pmol/mg protein in control cells) or affinity (0.31 versus 0.26 nM in control cells); there also was no modification in the potency and efficacy of hPP in inhibiting forskolin-stimulated cAMP. Immunofluorescence indicated that the Y4 receptor was not internalized within the cells after 24-h treatment with 10 nM hPP. These data support that Y4 receptors are resistant to agonist-promoted desensitization and internalization. Clone 29 cells provide a valuable tool to further characterize the pharmacological aspects of human Y4 receptor.

Neurotensin and a non-peptide neurotensin receptor antagonist control human colon cancer cell growth in cell culture and in cells xenografted into nude mice.

The intestine is a large endocrine organ, but the dependence of colon cancer on hormones remains unknown. We show here that neurotensin, a paracrine/endocrine peptide in the gut, and the neurotensin receptor antagonist SR 48692 control colon cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo by interacting with receptors that are ectopically expressed in colon cancers. In cell culture, neurotensin stimulates the growth of human colon cancer cell lines (SW480, SW620, HT29, HCT116 and Cl.19A) expressing the neurotensin receptor NTR1 but does not change the growth of Caco2 cells, which do not express NTR1. In SW480 cells, neurotensin is active in the 10(-10) to 10(-6) M concentration range (ED50 = 0.47 nM) while the neurotensin fragment (I-II) is inactive. Neurotensin also enhances the cellular cloning efficiency of SW480 cells in soft agar by inducing a 50% increase of colony formation. This effect is blocked by SR 48692, which alone does not alter colony formation. Subcutaneous delivery of neurotensin (0.54 micromol/kg every 24 hr) by osmotic pumps to nude mice that have been xenografted with SW480 cells results in a significant increase of tumor volume, i.e., up to 255% of control at day 20 of treatment. SR 48692 administered alone (1.7 micromol/kg every 24 hr) by daily i.p. injections reduces the development of tumors formed by xenografting SW480 cells in nude mice. A significant mean reduction of tumor volume of 38% is observed during the 22-day period of treatment. SR 48692 alone is also active at reducing tumor volume after xenografting HCT116 cells in nude mice. Our results support the notion that colon cancer growth may be dependent on blood-borne neurotensin and suggest that non-peptide neurotensin antagonists, such as SR 48692, may be useful for the development of novel therapeutic strategies of colon cancer.

The human vasoactive intestinal Peptide/Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide receptor 1 (VPAC1): constitutive activation by mutations at threonine 343.

The human vasoactive intestinal peptide/pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide receptor1 (VPAC1) belongs to the class II subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. Specific changes by mutagenesis of a strictly conserved threonine (H) into lysine (K), proline (P) or alanine (A) at position 343 of the human VPAC1 receptor resulted in its constitutive activation with respect to cAMP production. Transfection of these mutants into Cos cells evoked a 3.5 fold-increase in the cAMP level as compared to cells transfected with the wild-type receptor. In contrast other mutants such as T343C, T343E or T343F were not constitutively activated. They were otherwise expressed at the cell surface of transfected nonpermeabilized cells. Double mutants were then constructed in which the T343K mutation was associated with a point mutation in the the N-terminal extracellular domain that totally abolished VIP binding or VIP-stimulated cAMP production i.e. E36A or D68A. The corresponding double mutants T343K-E36A and T343K-D68A were no longer constitutively activated. A control double mutant (T343K-D132A) with an unaltered dissociation constant for VIP and cAMP response to VIP, was still constitutively activated. Our findings demonstrate that constitutive activation of the VPAC1 receptor can be evoked by specific mutations of T343 at the junction of the second intracellular loop and fourth transmembrane segment. This constitutive activation appears to require the functional integrity of the N-terminal extracellular VIP binding domain.

Pro-neurotensin/neuromedin N expression and processing in human colon cancer cell lines.

The regulatory peptide neurotensin NT has been proposed to exert an autocrine trophic effect on human colon cancers. In the present study, pro-neurotensin/neuromedin N (proNT/NN) expression and processing were investigated in 13 human colon cancer cell lines using a combination of radioimmunoassay and HPLC techniques. All 13 cell lines displayed low to moderate levels of proNT/NN ranging from 10 to 250 fmol/mg protein. However, only 6 (HCT8, LoVo, HT29, C119A, LS174T, and coloDM320) processed the precursor. Three of the latter (HCT8, LS174T, and coloDM320) were analysed in detail with regard to proNT/NN processing pattern and were found to produce NT and large precursor fragments ending with the NT or NN sequence. They had no detectable level of NN. Such a processing pattern resembles that generated by the prohormone convertase PC5. Northern and Western blot analysis of prohormone convertase expression in the 3 cell lines revealed that they were devoid of PC1 and PC2, whereas they all expressed PC5. These data indicate that proNT/NN is a good marker of human colon cancer cell lines while NT is found in only about half of the cell lines. They also suggest that, in addition to NT, several proNT/NN-derived products, possibly generated by PC5, might exert an autocrine positive effect on human colon cancer growth.

Constitutive activation of the human vasoactive intestinal peptide 1 receptor, a member of the new class II family of G protein-coupled receptors.

The human vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) 1 receptor belongs to the new class II subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. Specific change by mutagenesis of a strictly conserved histidine into arginine at position 178 of the human VIP1 receptor resulted in its constitutive activation with respect to cAMP production. Transfection of the H178R mutant into COS cells resulted in a 3.5-fold increase in the cAMP level as compared with cells transfected with the wild type receptor or the vector alone. This increase was proportional to the amount of transfected cDNA. The H178R mutant exhibited an otherwise normal cAMP response to VIP as well as a dissociation constant similar to that of the wild type receptor. Other mutants at position 178 such as H178K, H178A, and H178D were not constitutively activated. They were otherwise expressed at the cell surface of transfected nonpermeabilized cells. Double mutants were then constructed in which the H178R mutation was associated with a point mutation in the the N-terminal extracellular domain that totally abolished VIP binding or VIP-stimulated cAMP production, i.e. E36A or D68A. The corresponding double mutants H178R/E36A and H178R/D68A were no longer constitutively activated. A control double mutant (H178R/D132A) with an unaltered dissociation constant for VIP and cAMP response to VIP was still constitutively activated. Our findings demonstrate that constitutive activation of the VIP1 receptor by mutation of His178 into R requires the functional integrity of the N-terminal extracellular VIP binding domain. They might provide interesting generalities about the activation process of G protein-coupled receptors.

Cloning and functional characterization of the human VIP1/PACAP receptor promoter.

The 5'-flanking region (1.5 kb) of the gene coding for the human VIP1/PACAP receptor was isolated, sequenced, and characterized. Transient expression of constructs containing sequentially deleted 5'-flanking sequences of the VIP1/PACAP receptor fused to a luciferase reporter gene showed that this sequence was active as a promoter in the intestinal cancer cell line, HT-29, expressing endogenous VIP1/PACAP receptor. The shortest DNA fragment with significant promoter activity encompassed the region from -205 to +76 bp. Deletion of a CCAAT-box sequence in the construction corresponding to -173 to +76 bp dramatically reduced the promoter activity. The promoter -205 to +76 bp has a housekeeping gene structure without TATA-box. It contains GC-rich regions characterized by potential Sp1 and AP2 sites and some potential regulatory elements, such as CRE and ATF, and a CCAAT-box sequence (-182 to -178) crucial for gene transcription.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)1 receptor. Three nonadjacent amino acids are responsible for species selectivity with respect to recognition of peptide histidine isoleucineamide.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)1 receptors in rats and humans recognize peptide histidine isoleucineamide (PHI) with high and low affinity, respectively. We took advantage of this phenotypic difference to identify the domain responsible for the selective recognition of PHI by rat and human receptors which display >80% sequence identity. After transfection of human and rat receptors in COS cells, the ratio of IC50 for PHI/IC50 for VIP (referred to as P/V) in inhibiting 125I-VIP binding was shown to be >1,000 and <40, respectively. Construction of eight rat/human receptor chimerae by overlap polymerase chain reaction and determination of their P/V ratios demonstrated that the critical domain for PHI recognition is present within a sequence comprising part of the first extracellular loop and third transmembrane domain. This domain contains three different amino acids numbered according to human and rat sequences, respectively, e.g. Gln207 (human) versus His208 (rat), Gly211 versus Ala212 and Met219 versus Val220. Site-directed mutagenesis introducing individual, double, or triple mutations in a chimeric construct revealed that all three amino acids were involved in the recognition of PHI. Triple mutations were then introduced in the wild-type receptors i.e. Q207H, G211A, M219V human VIP1 receptor and H208Q, A212G, V220M rat VIP1 receptor, resulting in a complete change in their phenotype from human to rat and from rat to human, respectively. The results demonstrate that three nonadjacent amino acids are responsible for the selective recognition of PHI by human and rat VIP1 receptors.

Stable expression of the recombinant human VIP1 receptor in clonal Chinese hamster ovary cells: pharmacological, functional and molecular properties.

We stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells with the recombinant human vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)1 receptor. A clone referred to as Clone 15 was isolated and studied for receptor properties. The following data were obtained: (1) one class of binding site was identified by Scatchard analysis of [125I]VIP binding to cell membranes with a Kd of 0.41 nM and a Bmax of 1.62 pmol/mg protein; (2) the constant Ki for the inhibition of [125I]VIP binding by VIP and related peptides was: VIP (0.9 nM) = pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP)-27 (1.3 nM) < PACAP-38 (6.8 nM) < helodermin (46.0 nM) < human growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) (0.6 microM) < peptide histidine methionineamide (2.0 microM) < secretin (> 10 microM); (3) cross-linking experiments using [125I]VIP identified a single M(r) 67000 recombinant receptor; (4) VIP stimulated cAMP production in Clone 15 cells with an EC50 of 0.20 nM; (5) some previously described VIP receptor antagonists including [4-Cl-D-Phe6, Leu17]VIP, [Ac-Tyr1,D-Phe2]GRF-(1-29) amide and VIP-(10-28) inhibited [125I]VIP binding with a Ki of 0.7, 1.6 and 2.5 microM, respectively. They failed to stimulate cAMP production in Clone 15 cells and inhibited, at least partially, the VIP (0.3 nM)-evoked cAMP production; (6) exposure of Clone 15 cells to 10 nM VIP for 24 h resulted in a sharp decrease in Bmax in Clone 15 cells (0.43 vs. 1.62 pmol/mg protein in control cells) and in the potency and efficacy of VIP in stimulating cAMP. Moreover, immunofluorescence studies using confocal microscopy indicated that the receptor was internalized and sequestered in vesicular structures within the cells. It is concluded that Clone 15 cells provide a valuable tool to further characterize various functional and pharmacological aspects of the human VIP1 receptor.

Mutagenesis of N-glycosylation sites in the human vasoactive intestinal peptide 1 receptor. Evidence that asparagine 58 or 69 is crucial for correct delivery of the receptor to plasma membrane.

The functional role of N-linked carbohydrates in the human vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) 1 receptor was investigated by site-directed mutagenesis (Asn-->Thr) of the four consensus N-glycosylation sites on Asn58, Asn69, Asn100 (N-terminal extracellular domain) and Asn293 (second extracellular loop). Mutated receptors were investigated after transient expression in Cos-7 cells, by ligand binding assay, affinity cross-linking, western blotting, and confocal laser microscopy of epitope-tagged receptor proteins. Mutations of each consensus site revealed that Asn58, Asn69, and Asn100 were occupied by a 9-kDa N-linked carbohydrate whereas Asn293 was not used for glycosylation. Each mutated receptor was expressed (western blot) and delivered at the plasma membrane (confocal microscopy) of Cos-7 cells. They displayed a dissociation constant similar to that of the wild-type receptor, i.e., 0.5-1 nM. In contrast, no VIP binding to Cos-7 cells could be observed with the mutant devoid of consensus N-glycosylation sites due to a strict sequestration of this mutant in the perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum. However, when solubilized with a zwitterionic detergent, this mutant bound [125I]VIP specifically, indicating that it retained intrinsic binding activity. The construction of other mutants in which three out of four N-glycosylation sites were altered, demonstrated that N-glycosylation at either Asn58 or Asn69 is necessary and sufficient to ensure correct delivery of the receptor to the plasma membrane. Further pharmacological studies involving incubation of Cos-7 cells with castanospermine or deoxymannojirimycin immediately after transfection of mutated cDNAs encoding receptors with a single glycosylation site at Asn58 or Asn69 suggested that carbohydrate at Asn58 was involved in a calnexin-dependent folding process of the receptor whereas carbohydrate at Asn69 was not. These studies highlight the functional importance of the N-glycosylation of the human VIP 1 receptor which belongs to a new subfamily of seven membrane-spanning receptors.

G alpha i RNA antisense expression demonstrates the exclusive coupling of peptide YY receptors to G(i)2 proteins in renal proximal tubule cells.

A clone PKSV-PCT Cl.10 referred to as Cl.10 was selected from the PKSV-PCT renal proximal tubule cell line which expressed peptide YY (PYY) receptors (Voisin, T., Bens, M., Cluzeaud, F., Vandewalle, A., and Laburthe, M. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 20547-20554). In order to identify G(i) protein(s) coupled to PYY receptors, antisense G alpha i protein RNAs were expressed in Cl.10 cells by transfecting the pcDNA3 vector into which were inserted 39 bases of the 5'-noncoding region of G alpha i2 or G alpha i3 used as specific antisense templates. A Cl.10/alpha i2-clone was selected which displayed a drastic decrease (> 90%) of the expression of G alpha i2 without changes of G alpha i3, G alpha s, and G beta subunits (G alpha i1 is not present in Cl.10 cells) as evidenced by Western blots. When compared to untransfected cells, this clone exhibited: (i) an increase in the dissociation constant of PYY receptors (5.3 versus 0.6 nM) identical to that observed in pertussis toxin-treated untransfected cells; (ii) an absence of inhibition of 125I-PYY binding by guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S); and (iii) the failure of PYY to inhibit cAMP levels and to stimulate [methyl-3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. A clone was also selected which exhibited a specific decrease (> 80%) of G alpha i3 as compared to untransfected cells. The sensitivity to GTP gamma S and the dissociation constant of PYY receptors as well as PYY-mediated inhibition of cAMP were identical to those observed in untransfected cells. These findings support an exclusive coupling of PYY receptors to G alpha i2.