Somatostatin analog induces insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) expression in human hepatoma cells.

As the somatostatin analog octreotide suppresses pituitary GH secretion and circulating IGF-1 levels, we examined its effects on human hepatoma (hep G2) cells which selectively express IGFBP-1. Octreotide (60 nM) stimulated IGFBP-1 up to 4.1-fold (p < 0.001 after 24 hrs). Induction of IGFBP-1 was first detectable after 12 hrs of 6 nM octreotide (1.5-fold, p < 0.03), and was confirmed by ligand blotting. Cholera toxin and forskolin induced IGFBP-1 independently and were also additive with octreotide. IGFBP-1 mRNA expression was induced 2.7-fold by octreotide. Thus, octreotide induces basal and stimulated IGFBP-1 in hepatocytes independently of insulin and GH. As IGFBP-1 may regulate peripheral IGF-1 action, induction of IGFBP-1 represents a novel pituitary-independent mechanism for octreotide action.     

Integrin-mediated action of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 in tumor cells

The neoplastic production of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-2 often correlates with tumor malignancy and aggressiveness. Since IGFBP-2 contains an RGD motif in its C-terminus, it was hypothesized that this protein may act independently of IGF on tumor cells through integrins. To investigate this, integrin binding, intracellular signaling and the impact of IGFBP-2 on cell adhesion and proliferation were examined in two tumor cell lines. In tracer displacement studies, up to 30% of the added (125)I-hIGFBP-2 specifically bound to the cells. Bound (125)I-hIGFBP-2 was reversibly displaced by IGFBP-2, IGFBP-1 and RGD-(Gly-Arg-Asp)-containing peptides, but not by IGFBP-3, -4, -5, -6 and RGE-(Gly-Arg-Glu)-containing peptides. Blocking with antibodies directed against different integrins and with fibronectin demonstrated that IGFBP-2 cell surface binding is specific for alpha5beta1-integrin. Incubation of IGFBP-2 with equimolar quantities of IGF-I and IGF-II annihilated RGD-specific binding. IGFBP-2 binding at the cell surface led to dephosphorylation of the focal adhesion-kinase (FAK) of up to 37% (P<0.01), and of the p42/44 MAP-kinases of up to 40% (P<0.01). In addition, IGFBP-2 promoted de-adhesion of the cells dose-dependently by up to 30% (P<0.05), and reduced proliferation by 24% (P<0.01). Since one of the cell lines used does not express a functional IGF-I receptor, these data demonstrate that IGFBP-2 can act in an IGF-independent manner, at least in part by an interaction with alpha5beta1-integrin.     

Immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in the culture of human luteinized granulosa cells.

Granulosa cells from human preovulatory follicles were cultured under serum-free conditions to investigate the presence of immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). IGFBP-3 levels were measured by a radioimmunoassay developed against the acid-stable subunit of the protein. The antiserum had no cross-reactivity to the low molecular weight GH-independent IGFBP-1. Granulosa luteal cells exhibited a continuous release of IGFBP-3 into the culture medium during the whole time (6 days) of the incubation. A dose-dependent increase in IGFBP-3 was observed when the cells were treated by dibutyryl cAMP. Cycloheximide suppressed almost completely both the basal and the stimulated production of IGFBP-3. The smallest effective dose of dibutyryl cAMP enhancing the progesterone release was lower than that for IGFBP-3. The different time course of IGFBP-3 and progesterone secretion to dibutyryl cAMP treatment, as well as the failure of progesterone to elicit IGFBP-3 increase alone, do not support the participation of progesterone in the IGFBP-3 production of granulosa cells. It is concluded that 1. immunoreactive IGFBP-3 is produced by cultured granulosa luteal cells; 2. its synthesis is regulated by physiological intracellular mechanisms.     

Variables controlling the secretion of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 in normal human subjects.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) is one of a family of IGFBPs that are present in extracellular fluids, and binds both IGF-II and IGF-I with high affinity. These studies were conducted to determine the nutritional and hormonal variables that regulate plasma IGFBP-2 concentrations in humans. The mean plasma IGFBP-2 concentration for 38 normal adult subjects was 150 +/- 61 micrograms/L and was 4.7-fold greater than their mean fasting IGFBP-1 value. Mean IGFBP-2 values in cord sera of 26 normal term infants was 3.8-fold greater than the normal adult mean value. Likewise, the mean value for 44 hypopituitary adults was increased 2-fold compared to normal. There was no suppression of IGFBP-2 values in acromegaly. Normal adult subjects showed minimal fluctuations (less than 2-fold changes) in plasma IGFBP-2 concentrations during a 48-h sampling period. These changes were significantly less than the changes that occurred in plasma IGFBP-1 during the same interval. Plasma IGFBP-2 did not change significantly post prandially or after a glucose infusion. Extreme insulin deficiency, after 9 days of fasting, was associated with a 1.7-fold increase in plasma IGFBP-2. Administration of GH, which is known to cause a major decrease in plasma IGFBP-1 and in IGFBP-2 in hypophysectomized animals, did not result in a change in calorically restricted normal adult subjects, suggesting that a normal caloric intake is required for GH to suppress IGFBP-2. In summary, these results show that plasma IGFBP-2 is regulated differently than IGFBP-1. Acute stimulation of insulin secretion does not suppress IGFBP-2, and there is much less daily fluctuation compared to IGFBP-1. These findings suggest that plasma IGFBP-2 levels are more stable than IGFBP-1, and therefore IGFBP-2 may serve as a larger reservior that is available for IGF transport.     

Alterations in insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 proteolysis and complex formation in the arthritic joint

Increased concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system components have previously been observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA); however, disruption of the IGF axis and the implications for the disease process remain largely unaddressed. This study was undertaken to characterise the IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 proteolysis and complex formation systems in synovial fluid and to investigate changes in these systems in arthritic disease, and their impact on the availability of IGF. Western blotting or autoradiography of SDS gels was used to visualise IGFBP-3 or its proteolysis. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassays and acid-labile subunit (ALS) was measured by ELISA. A shift in distribution of IGFBP-3 and IGF-I in RA and OA synovial fluids (RASynF, OASynF) and an associated increase in ALS suggested the presence of 150 kDa ternary complexes. IGFBP-3 proteolysis was decreased in RASynF and OASynF, but was apparent in size-fractionated fluid and resembled serum activity. The presence of serum-like inhibitors of IGFBP-3 proteolysis in RASynF was also demonstrated by the ability of this fluid, and 150 kDa fractions from its size fractionation, to inhibit IGFBP-3 proteolysis in the other synovial fluid. A marked disruption in the IGF system was observed, as considerably more IGF-I was retained in ternary complexes. We also classified the IGFBP-3 proteolysis system in synovial fluid and found it to be disturbed in RASynF and OASynF. These changes may be caused by an increased flux of circulatory proteins into synovial fluid, resulting from an inflammation-induced increase in vascular permeability. The net result in RA and OA would be a decrease in IGF availability in arthritic joints, and therefore loss of a potential anabolic stimulus. This disruption to the IGF axis would influence disease progression in RA and OA.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor induces angiogenesis in vitro.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are potent mitogens for vascular and capillary endothelial cells in vitro and can stimulate the formation of blood capillaries (angiogenesis) in vivo. A crucial event in this process is the invasion of the perivascular extracellular matrix by sprouting endothelial cells. Using a recently developed in vitro model of angiogenesis, we show here that highly purified basic pituitary FGF can induce capillary endothelial cells to invade a three-dimensional collagen matrix and to organize themselves to form characteristic tubules that resemble blood capillaries. We also show that basic FGF concomitantly stimulates endothelial cells to produce a urokinase-type plasminogen activator, a protease that has been implicated in the neovascular response. The results demonstrate that basic FGF can stimulate processes that are characteristic of angiogenesis in vivo, including endothelial cell migration, invasion, and production of plasminogen activator.     

Role of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in human umbilical vein endothelial cell senescence

Whereas insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is frequently upregulated in senescent replicatively exhausted human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), a systematic analysis of four different HUVEC donors revealed that IGFBP-3 is not consistently upregulated in all isolates at senescence. Lentiviral overexpression of IGFBP-3 inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and senescence in young HUVEC. Knockdown of IGFBP-3 in senescent HUVEC by lentivirally expressed shRNA did not revert but rather enforced senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining and apoptosis. Together the data suggest that, although IGFBP-3 acts as an anti-proliferative and premature senescence-inducing protein, the role of IGFBP-3 on senescence depends on the genetic background of the donor, and additional factors might be important to maintain the senescent phenotype.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor modulates insulin-like growth factor-I, its receptor, and its binding proteins in hypothalamic cell cultures.

Interactions between different growth factors may be important in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation in the nervous system. For instance, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) regulates neuroblast division through a mechanism probably involving insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). In this regard, we previously found that simultaneous addition of both factors produces an additive effect on survival and differentiation of hypothalamic neuronal and glial cells in culture. To further analyze these interactions, we explored the influence of bFGF on IGF-I, its membrane receptor, and its binding proteins in hypothalamic cells. We also tested the effects of IGF-I on its own receptor and binding proteins (IGFBPs) to determine the specificity of bFGF's actions. Treatment of neuronal and glial cultures with bFGF produced an increase in IGF-I receptors, without changing their affinity, together with an increase in the apparent M(r) of the receptor. On the other hand, IGF-I elicited a down-regulation of its own receptor in both neurons and glia, without modifying its affinity. Treatment with bFGF also produced a marked differential effect on the IGFBPs secreted by the cells. While IGFBP levels in neuronal cultures were greatly increased by bFGF, their production by glial cells was inhibited. On the other hand, IGF-I increased the amount of IGFBPs in both types of cells. Finally, addition of bFGF to the cultures elicited a dose-dependent increase in the release of IGF-I to the medium, but only a moderate increase in cellular IGF-I content, in both neurons and glia. We conclude that bFGF strongly modulates IGF-I, its receptors, and its binding proteins in the two major cell types of the hypothalamus. These findings reinforce the possibility that IGF-I and/or its receptors and binding proteins are involved in the trophic effects of bFGF on developing brain cells.     

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor II permit nerve growth factor binding and the neurite formation response in cultured human neuroblastoma cells.

In serum-free medium, SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells specifically and reversibly lost the capacity to bind 125I-labeled nerve growth factor (NGF) to the high-affinity sites (slow sites) and to respond by neurite outgrowth, unless physiological concentrations of insulin or insulin-like growth factor II were present. In serum-containing medium, anti-insulin antiserum decreased the neurite formation response to NGF, and insulin supplementation increased the number of available NGF slow sites. The low-affinity NGF fast sites are absent from SH-SY5Y cells and did not emerge on treatment with insulin. Insulin potentiated the induction of neurites by NGF in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells also. These results implicate a wider role for insulin and its homologs in the nervous system.     

Insulin-like growth factor-I and follicle-stimulating hormone suppress insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 secretion by human granulosa-luteal cells.

Local regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) production in the human ovarian follicle was investigated using cultured human granulosa-luteal cells. Both insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) exerted a dual effect on granulosa cells: while estradiol (E2) production was increased by both stimulants, the addition of either of the two hormones led to a reduction in IGFBP-1 secretion by more than 50%. Inhibition of IGFBP-1 production in response to IGF-I was dose-dependent,with the highest effect observed at 5 nM IGF-I. A significant correlation was found between the increase in E2 and inhibition of IGFBP-1 secretion in response to IGF-I. These observations may suggest a novel mechanism, at the follicular level, by which FSH and IGF-I amplify the IGF-I effect in the ovarian follicular cells.     

Absence of proteolysis of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in serum from patients with growth hormone deficiency

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is predominantly bound to IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and free form of IGF-I (fIGF-I) may be bioactive in the circulation. Proteolysis of IGFBP-3, as reported in pregnant serum, results in the lowering of the affinity for IGF-I, thereby increasing the ratio of fIGF-I to total IGF-I (f/t IGF-I ratio). Conflicting results have been reported regarding the relationship between the proteolysis and growth hormone (GH)-IGF-I axis. Proteolysis of IGFBP-3 was previously reported to be present late at night in serum from pediatric subjects with GH receptor dysfunction (GHRD or "Laron-type dwarfism"). Recently, it was reported that proteolysis of IGFBP-3 could not be detected in adult patients with GH deficiency (GHD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between proteolysis of IGFBP-3 and GH in patients with GHD including pediatric cases. Here, proteolysis of IGFBP-3 measured by Western immunoblotting (ages 4-25 years; n=11) and f/t IGF-I ratio measured by immunoradiometric assay (ages 4-25 years; n=10) were studied in patients with GHD, which is similar to GHRD in terms of lowered GH function. There was no significant proteolysis of IGFBP-3 in the sera from the 11 patients with GHD. No proteolysis of IGFBP-3 was observed during a 24 hour period in sera obtained every two hours from two patients with GHD. f/t IGF-I ratio was not increased in plasma from the 10 patients with GHD. Our data suggest that proteolysis of IGFBP-3 is independent of the GH-IGF-I axis.     

Characterization of insulin-like growth factor II binding to human fibroblast monolayer cultures

Two major somatomedin peptides have been isolated from human plasma, somatomedin-C/insulin-like growth factor I (SMC/IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II). Also, two types of SM/IGF receptors have been defined. Type I receptors have a higher affinity for SMC/IGF-I than IGF-II, and insulin binds to this receptor at high concentrations. Type II receptors have a higher affinity for IGF-II than SMC/IGF-I, and insulin does not bind to this receptor site. In this study, we characterized the binding of IGF-II to human monolayer fibroblast cultures, and the affinity and specificity of this binding. We also compared the binding of IGF-II to the binding of insulin and SMC/IGF-I to these cells. The receptors for IGF-II on normal human fibroblast monolayers fit the criteria for type II SM/IGF receptors, and there were more type II receptors on these cells than either insulin receptors or type I SM/IGF receptors. The type II receptors on human fibroblasts did not demonstrate autoregulation by homologous hormone, unlike the type I SM/IGF and insulin receptors. In addition, they were not changed by acute or chronic exposure to insulin. It is so far unclear what biological function IGF-II plays in vivo. This human fibroblast system will be a valuable experimental model for the study of IGF-II receptors and their relationship to the biological actions of IGF-II.     

Depolarization induces insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 expression in vivo via NMDA receptor stimulation

The effect of depolarization and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blockade on insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) and IGFBP-4 expression was analysed in vivo. Depolarization was induced in adult rat brains by applying 3 M KCl to the exposed cortex for 10 min. A subgroup of animals also received daily injections of MK-801. Four days after KCl exposure, the brains were analysed by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and TUNEL. A significant upregulation of IGFBP-2 mRNA and protein was detected in astrocytes after KCl exposure This upregulation was reduced by MK-801 treatment. No alterations in IGF-I or IGFBP-4 mRNA levels were noted. We did not detect TUNEL positive cells, morphological signs of necrosis or apoptosis, or neuronal loss in the depolarized zone. Taken together, these findings indicate that upregulation of IGFBP-2 by depolarization is mediated by NMDA receptors, and, as no neuronal damage was detected, astrocytic NMDA receptors may be responsible for this upregulation.     

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 is secreted as a phosphoprotein by human breast cancer cells

The growth regulatory activity of the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) may be modulated by post-translational modifications such as glycosylation, limited proteolysis and phosphorylation. In this study, we have examined phosphorylation of IGFBP-3 in two breast cancer cell lines: the estrogen receptor negative (ER-ve) Hs578T cell line in which IGFBP-3 is normally expressed, and ER+ve T47D breast cancer cells transfected with IGFBP-3 cDNA (T47D(BP-3)) and therefore expressing IGFBP-3 constitutively. Metabolic labelling with [32P] orthophosphate revealed that both cell lines secreted phosphorylated IGFBP-3 similar in size to plasma IGFBP-3 phosphorylated in vitro with casein kinase II, and that IGFBP-3 phosphorylation was differentially modulated in the two cell lines. In Hs578T cells, retinoic acid (10-100 nM) increased IGFBP-3 phosphorylation to a maximum of 150% of control. IGF-I, but not [LR3]IGF-I, reduced the proportion of phosphorylated IGFBP-3 in Hs578T conditioned medium, consistent with increased release of non-phosphorylated, cell-associated IGFBP-3. By contrast, IGFBP-3 phosphorylation in T47D(BP-3) cells was not affected by retinoic acid or IGF-I, but appeared slightly increased by estradiol. Together these data indicate that phosphorylation of IGFBP-3 in breast cancer cells may be regulated by agents known to affect breast cancer cell proliferation.     

Expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 in gastric carcinoma and its relationship with cell proliferation

INTRODUCTION The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system plays a crucial role in normal cell proliferation and malignant transformation[1,2]. It comprises IGF-Ⅰand IGF-Ⅱ, the typeⅠand Ⅱ receptors[3], and a family of IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) that …     

Epidermal growth factor stimulates production of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 in human granulosa-luteal cells.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) enhances and epidermal growth factor (EGF) inhibits gonadotrophin-induced aromatization in granulosa cells. Our previous studies have shown that human ovarian granulosa cells synthesize insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) which inhibits IGF-stimulated DNA synthesis. The present study addresses the effect of EGF and gonadotrophins in the regulation of IGFBP-1 release by human granulosa cells cultured in serum-free medium. At concentrations of 1-100 micrograms/l EGF was found to stimulate IGFBP-1 secretion. This was not due to cell proliferation, as the viable cell count remained unaffected. Growth hormone and gonadotrophins had no effect on IGFBP-1 secretion when added alone to culture medium. These results suggest that EGF regulates IGFBP-1 secretion in human granulosa-luteal cells.     

Characterization of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins secreted by cultured bovine theca and granulosa cells.

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) secreted by bovine granulosa and theca interna cells cultured in the presence of different luteinizing factors--insulin (2 micrograms/ml), forskolin (10 microM), or a combination of the two were examined and characterized. Direct binding of [125I]IGF to the conditioned media was compared to progesterone production under these different treatments. In theca cells, maximal secretion of IGFBPs was achieved using forskolin alone, whereas maximal progesterone production was induced by the insulin+forskolin treatment. In contrast, maximal secretion of both IGFBPs and progesterone in granulosa cells was achieved using forskolin alone. IGFBP species secreted by the two cell types under the different treatments were detected by ligand blotting. Conditioned media from theca cells in serum-free medium collected on the seventh day of culture exhibited three bands of 34, 40 and 44 kDa when treated with insulin or forskolin. The intensity of the 40-44 kDa complex was enhanced and a 21 kDa band appeared when cells were treated with a combination of insulin plus forskolin. Conditioned media of granulosa cells stimulated with insulin or forskolin exhibited 21, 27, 29, 34 and 40-44 kDa bands. Treatment with insulin+forskolin greatly increased the intensity of a 40-44 kDa complex. A similar shift towards high molecular weight binding proteins was observed when these media were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography gel filtration. These findings substantiate the secretion of IGFBPs by bovine theca and granulosa cells and show it to be dependent on culture treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Impaired adipogenesis in insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 transgenic mice.

Differentiation of precursor cells into mature fat cells is accompanied by enhanced expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and is stimulated by multiple hormones including growth hormone, glucocorticoids, IGF-I and insulin. We used transgenic mice that overexpress insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 to investigate the role of IGF-I in the accumulation of fat tissue. In response to a sucrose-enriched diet, transgenic mice gained significantly less body weight and the epididymal fat mass was significantly reduced compared with wild-type mice. The increase in adipocyte size was also significantly reduced in transgenic mice compared with wild-type mice. Fewer colonies were generated from adipose tissue from transgenic mice and the mitogenic response of these cells to IGF-I was significantly reduced compared with those from wild-type mice. Induction of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, a measure of adipocyte differentiation, by IGF-I but not insulin, was reduced in preadipocytes from transgenic mice. These data indicate that IGF-I has a critical role in the proliferation of adipocyte precursors, the differentiation of preadipocytes and the development of obesity in response to calorie excess.