Insulin-like growth factor I regulates growth hormone secretion and messenger ribonucleic acid levels in human pituitary tumor cells

GH secretion and mRNA levels were measured in cultured human GH adenoma cells incubated in serum-free medium for up to 48 h. A human recombinant insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) analog, Thr-59-IGF-I (6.5 nM), inhibited basal GH secretion by up to 60% in tumor cell cultures. The 30-50% stimulation of GH secretion by GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) was prevented by simultaneous exposure of the cells to IGF-I (6.5 nM). Gel electrophoresis of total RNA derived from GH cell adenoma tissue, followed by transfer and hybridization with 32P-labeled human GH cDNA, revealed a distinct mRNA species of about 1.0 kilobases. Using cytoplasmic dot blot hybridization, IGF-I inhibited the levels of human GH mRNA sequences in these cells and also prevented the GHRH-induced stimulation of GH mRNA. A monoclonal antibody to the type I IGF-I receptor (alpha IR3) prevented the inhibitory effects of IGF-I on basal and GHRH-stimulated GH secretion. This antibody also prevented the IGF-I-induced suppression of GH mRNA sequences. PRL secretion in these cells was not altered by IGF-I. Furthermore, relative levels of beta-actin mRNA were unaltered by IGF-I. Thus, IGF-I suppresses basal and GHRH-stimulated GH secretion and GH mRNA levels in pituitary adenoma cells, indicating that IGF-I acts selectively on the somatotroph to directly regulate GH gene expression.     

Regulation of growth hormone (GH) secretion by GH-releasing factor, somatostatin, and insulin-like growth factor I in ovine fetal and neonatal pituitary cells in vitro

Serum GH concentrations in the ovine fetus are much higher than those in the neonate, and the maximal GH response induced by GRF is 5-fold greater in the fetus than in the neonate. To clarify these in vivo observations further, we studied the effects of GRF, somatostatin (SRIF), and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on primary cultures of fetal and neonatal ovine pituitary cells. GH secretion from fetal ovine pituitary cells increased from 148 +/- 34 to 950 +/- 130 ng/10(5) cells.3 h in response to 1 nM GRF, whereas GH secretion from neonatal pituitary cells rose from 113 +/- 26 to 1221 +/- 129 ng/10(5) cells.3 h, a significantly greater response (P less than 0.001). This greater GRF-induced GH response in neonatal than fetal cells differs from the response in vivo and suggests that the increased in vivo response in the fetus is not due to inherently increased sensitivity of pituitary cells to GRF. SRIF (10 nM) decreased maximal GRF-induced GH secretion by 37 +/- 3% in fetal cells compared with 59 +/- 8% in neonatal cells (P less than 0.01). This may explain in part the decreased in vivo sensitivity to SRIF in the ovine fetus compared to that in the neonatal lamb. In fetal pituitary cells, 10 nM GRF increased ovine (o) GH mRNA from 100 +/- 14% to 145 +/- 40%, SRIF decreased oGH mRNA to 84 +/- 3%, and GRF and SRIF in combination increased fetal oGH mRNA to 126 +/- 24%. Values in neonatal pituitary cell cultures were similar (control, 100 +/- 17%; GRF, 132 +/- 6%, SRIF, 85 +/- 15%; GRF plus SRIF, 105 +/- 26%). Pretreating fetal cells with 100 nM IGF-I for 3 days reduced GRF-stimulated GH secretion from 1049 +/- 38 to 232 +/- 8 ng/10(5) cells.3 h (P less than 0.001). Similarly, IGF-I pretreatment of neonatal cells reduced GRF-stimulated GH secretion from 810 +/- 18 to 419 +/- 16 ng/10(5) cells.3 h (P less than 0.001). The mean secreted IGF-I was 0.58 U/ml (36 nM) in culture medium from neonatal cells and was unchanged by incubation for 3 days with 5 micrograms/ml hGH. Secreted IGF-I in medium from fetal cells was 0.87 U/ml (54 nM) without GH and 0.81 U/ml (51 nM) after incubation with human GH. IGF-I mRNA was present in neonatal pituitary and brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Rat somatotroph insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) signaling: role of the IGF-I receptor.

The anterior pituitary contains insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) and expresses abundant IGF-II-binding sites, but the IGF-II signaling pathway in the pituitary has not been defined. We, therefore, tested the effects of recombinant human IGF-II on pituitary function by assessing the GH responsiveness of the primary rat somatotroph to IGF-II. IGF-II (3.3 nM) suppressed GH secretion by 50%, similar to the effect elicited by equimolar doses of IGF-I. In contrast, a low concentration of IGF-II (0.2 nM) did not attenuate GH secretion, while a similar IGF-I dose was sufficient to produce 50% inhibition of basal GH secretion. Fifty percent competition for [125I]IGF-I binding by IGF-I and IGF-II in GC rat pituitary cells demonstrated a 14-fold lesser affinity of the IGF-II ligand for the IGF-I receptor compared to IGF-I; therefore, the binding affinity of IGF-II for the IGF-I receptor correlates with the concentration of IGF-II required for 50% GH inhibition. Transfected GH-secreting cell lines derived from GC cells overexpressing intact human IGF-I receptors exhibited enhanced responsiveness to IGF-II. In contrast, cells transfected with a truncated IGF-I receptor cDNA lacking the cytoplasmic receptor beta-subunit (952STOP) failed to transduce the IGF-II signal, indicating that functional IGF-I receptors are required for IGF-II signaling. In addition, a mutant IGF ligand, [Leu27]IGF-II, which selectively exhibits high affinity for the type II receptor, but only minimal binding to the IGF-I receptor, did not attenuate GH secretion. However, the analog [Arg54,Arg55]IGF-II, which exhibits high affinity to the IGF-I receptor, but no binding to the type II receptor, appropriately suppressed GH secretion. This unique model of somatotroph signaling provides evidence for IGF-II regulation of polypeptide hormone secretion mediated by the IGF-I receptor.     

Regulation of growth hormone and prolactin gene expression and secretion by chimeric somatostatin-dopamine molecules

Dopamine (DA) regulates both prolactin (PRL) secretion and gene expression, whereas somatostatin (SRIF) inhibits GH secretion with unclear effects on GH gene expression. We therefore tested the effects of SRIF analogs and chimeric SRIF/DA compounds BIM 23A760 and BIM 23A761 on GH and PRL secretion and gene expression in primary rat pituitary cultures and pituitary tumor GH(3) and MMQ cells. Chimeric SRIF/DA molecules suppressed GH release with a similar efficacy to SRIF receptor subtype 2 agonists in rat pituitary and GH(3) cells. After 24 h, BIM 23A760 and BIM 23A761 did not exert additive effects on GH secretion, and after 48 h were less effective than the combination of respective mono-receptor agonists in GH(3) cells. Real-time PCR did not reveal changes in GH mRNA levels after treatment with SRIF analogs and SRIF/DA molecules. SRIF/DA compounds suppressed PRL and PRL mRNA in rat pituitary and MMQ cells with a similar efficacy to D(2)-DA receptor agonist. In GH(3) cells, they suppressed PRL and PRL mRNA levels with a similar efficacy to SRIF receptor subtype 2 agonists. SRIF/DA molecules did not exhibit additive effects on PRL secretion and mRNA levels as compared with cotreatment with mono-receptor ligands. The results show that SRIF analogs and SRIF/DA molecules inhibit GH and PRL secretion and suppress PRL but not GH gene expression.     

The interrelationship between the effects of somatostatin and human pancreatic growth hormone-releasing factor on growth hormone release by cultured pituitary tumor cells from patients with acromegaly

The effects of somatostatin (SRIF) and human pancreatic tumor GRF on GH release by cultured pituitary tumor cells obtained during transsphenoidal operation from 15 acromegalic patients were investigated. In a study of the sensitivity of pathological GH release to SRIF, 1-10 nM SRIF induced maximal inhibition of hormone release in 3 consecutive tumors. In 12 of 15 tumor cell cultures, 10 nM SRIF produced statistically significant inhibition of basal GH release by 39 +/- 3% (mean +/- SEM). In 2 of the 3 other tumors, SRIF inhibited GRF-stimulated GH release, while this was not investigated in the third tumor. A dose-response study of the effect of GRF on GH release by cultured pituitary tumor cells showed that doses of 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 nM induced similar maximal (35%) stimulation of hormone secretion. In four of five consecutive tumor cell suspensions, 1 and 10 nM GRF induced statistically significant GH stimulation by 18-300%. Preincubation of the tumor cells with 5 nM dexamethasone greatly increased the sensitivity and the maximal stimulation in response to GRF and made one tumor cell suspension, which did not react to GRF initially, sensitive to GRF. In the tumors of four patients, the interrelationship between the effects of SRIF and GRF on GH release were also studied. SRIF (10 nM) inhibited the stimulatory effects of GRF on GH release virtually completely. In conclusion, GH release by in vitro cell cultures of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas was inhibited by SRIF and stimulated by GRF. The interaction of GRF and SRIF on GH release by these pituitary tumor cells was similar to that in normal rat GH cells, as SRIF virtually completely overcame the GRF-induced GH release.     

Somatostatin inhibits basal and vasoactive intestinal peptide-stimulated hormone release by different mechanisms in GH pituitary cells

Somatostatin (SRIF) inhibits both basal and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-stimulated hormone secretion by the GH4C1 clonal strain of rat pituitary tumor cells. We have previously shown that SRIF inhibits cAMP accumulation stimulated by VIP but does not alter basal cAMP levels in this cell line. To determine the importance of changes in cAMP accumulation in the mechanism of SRIF action, we have compared the effect of SRIF on hormone release stimulated by VIP and two other secretagogues which increase effective intracellular cAMP concentrations: forskolin and 8-Bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP). VIP stimulated GH and PRL secretion to the same maximal extent (220% of control) with similar ED50 values (0.37 +/- 0.03 and 0.43 +/- 0.08 nM, mean +/- SE, respectively). SRIF (100 nM) reduced maximal VIP-stimulation of both GH and PRL release from 220 to 140% of control; however, it did not significantly change the ED50 values for VIP. The effect of SRIF on VIP-stimulated hormone release parallels its action on VIP-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Furthermore, the concentrations of SRIF required to produce half-maximal inhibition of VIP-stimulated GH and PRL release (0.8 +/- 0.2 nM and 0.7 +/- 0.1 nM, respectively) were similar to its potency to inhibit VIP-stimulated cAMP accumulation (1.2 +/- 0.1 nM). These data indicate that changes in cAMP levels mediate inhibition of VIP-stimulated hormone secretion by SRIF. Forskolin increased cAMP accumulation with an ED50 value of 2.4 +/- 0.5 microM. A maximal concentration of forskolin (100 microM) stimulated cAMP accumulation to a greater extent than 100 nM VIP (34 +/- 4-fold vs. 9 +/- 1-fold). Together, forskolin (100 microM) and VIP (100 nM) stimulated cAMP accumulation by more than 50-fold. However, PRL secretion in response to maximal concentrations of VIP or forskolin individually or together were the same (approximately 200% of control). These results support the conclusion that both compounds stimulate PRL secretion by a cAMP-mediated mechanism which can be fully activated by either one alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Functional association of somatostatin receptor subtypes 2 and 5 in inhibiting human growth hormone secretion

We previously demonstrated that somatostatin (SRIF)-induced inhibition of GH secretion from human pituitary cells is mediated through both the SRIF receptor (SSTR) 2 and 5 subtypes. The interplay between these two SSTR subtypes in regulating GH was therefore tested in primary human fetal pituitary cultures (18-30 wk gestation). GHRH (10 nM)-stimulated GH secretion (51% increase, P < 0.05) was suppressed equally by either SSTR2 or SSTR5-selective agonists (10 nM). GH suppression correlated with agonist affinity for their respective receptor subtypes. Combined addition of SSTR2- and SSTR5-specific agonists was synergistic for GH suppression, achieving 73% (P < 0.05) inhibition as compared with inhibition attained with SSTR2 (32%) and SSTR5 (34%) agonists used alone (P < 0.05). The SSTR2 selective antagonist BIM-23454 dose-dependently blocked SSTR2 but not SSTR5-induced suppression of GH secretion. BIM-23454 also completely reversed GH suppression in response to the combined activation of SSTR2 and SSTR5. The IC(50) for BIM-23454 reversal of agonist-induced GH suppression was 55 nM and 33 nM for two SSTR2 agonists, 45 nM and 40 nM for the combination of SSTR2 and SSTR5 agonists, respectively, and 45 nM for the SSTR2/SSTR5 agonist BIM-23244, all of which were similar to the affinity of BIM-23454 for SSTR2 (32 nM). These results suggest the following: 1) activation of both SSTR2 and SSTR5 induces a functional association of receptor subtypes, resulting in synergistic GH suppression; 2) BIM-23454 is a potent SSTR2-selective antagonist capable of reversing SRIF-induced GH suppression; and 3) the ability of a selective SSTR2 antagonist to inhibit the GH suppressing action of SSTR2 agonist alone, SSTR2/SSTR5 biselective agonists, or SSTR2 and SSTR5 agonists in combination support the concept of a functional interaction between somatotroph SSTR2 and SSTR5 subtypes in primary human fetal pituitary cells.     

The interrelationship between the effects of insulin-like growth factor I and somatostatin on growth hormone secretion by normal rat pituitary cells: the role of glucocorticoids

Both insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and somatostatin (SRIH) have been shown to directly inhibit GH release and the total GH content of cultured pituitary cells. In the present study we evaluated the interrelationship between the effects of a recombinant human IGF-I analog ([Thr59]IGF-I) and SRIH on GH release by cultured normal rat pituitary cells together with the effects of glucocorticoids. In all experiments anterior pituitary cells were preincubated for 24 h without or with IGF-I, SRIH, and/or dexamethasone. Thereafter, 24-h incubations without or with IGF-I, dexamethasone, SRIH, and GHRH were performed. Both IGF-I and SRIH inhibited basal and GHRH-stimulated GH release in a dose-dependent manner; the maximal inhibitory concentrations were 5 nM IGF-I and 10 nM SRIH. These concentrations inhibited basal and GHRH-stimulated GH release by 23% and 40% (IGF-I) and 80% and 85% (SRIH), respectively. The combination of IGF-I and low concentrations of SRIH exerted an additive inhibitory effect on GHRH-stimulated GH release; IGF-I (1 nM) and SRIH (10 pM) together inhibited GH release by 50%, while the maximal inhibitory concentrations of 5 nM IGF-I and 10 nM SRIH virtually completely inhibited GH release (by 93%). Preincubation with 5 and 100 nM dexamethasone attenuated the sensitivity of somatotrophs to SRIH and completely abolished the inhibitory effects of IGF-I. This effect of dexamethasone could be reversed by coincubation with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU 38486. High concentrations of 5-10 nM of the recombinant human IGF-I analog stimulated PRL cell content (5 and 10 nM) and release (10 nM), while a purified IGF-I preparation extracted from human blood exerted a parallel inhibitory effect on GH and PRL release. We conclude that 1) IGF-I and SRIH exert an additive direct inhibitory effect on basal and GHRH-stimulated GH secretion by normal cultured pituitary cells; 2) glucocorticoids directly attenuate the sensitivity of somatotrophs to SRIH, but completely prevent the inhibitory effects of IGF-I on GH secretion; and 3) in contrast to a purified IGF-I preparation extracted from human blood (which inhibits GH and PRL release) high concentrations of the recombinant IGF-I preparation (which inhibit GH release) stimulate PRL production.     

In vitro regulation of growth hormone (GH) release from ovine pituitary cells during fetal and neonatal development: effects of GH-releasing factor, somatostatin, and insulin-like growth factor I

Using a monolayer approach, we have examined the acute (3 h) effects of GRF, somatostatin (SRIF), and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on GH release from pituitary cells of male and female 70-, 100-, and 130-day-old fetuses and newborn lambs and of prepubertal male lambs. GRF stimulated basal GH release in a dose-dependent (10(-12)-10(-8) M) manner at each stage in development. There was no linear relationship between maximal response and increasing age of the donor animals. The ED50 values for GRF were similar in all groups, except in the pituitaries from male and female 130-day-old fetuses, where the ED50 values were significantly higher. SRIF elicited a dose-related (10(-10)-10(-6) M) inhibition of basal GH secretion at each stage of fetal life and in the prepubertal period; although the response was lower in the youngest fetal pituitaries, there was no significant change in maximal response during the fetal or prepubertal period. No effect of SRIF on basal GH secretion was observed in newborn lambs. However, SRIF (10(-7) M) was able to block GRF (10(-8) M)-stimulated GH release in 100- and 130-day-old fetal and prepubertal as well as newborn lamb pituitary cells. Plasma IGF-I concentrations increased from 15.0 +/- 0.7 (mean +/- SE) and 13.8 +/- 0.9 ng/ml for male and female animals, respectively, at 70 days gestation to 55.8 +/- 3.2 and 51.8 +/- 11.1 ng/ml at the time of birth. The increase was much more pronounced in prepubertal lambs, especially in male animals, where IGF-I levels reached 300.8 +/- 37.7 ng/ml. IGF-I (100 ng/ml) had no effect on basal GH release in 70- and 100-day-old fetal, newborn, and prepubertal lamb pituitary cultures, but significantly inhibited basal GH secretion from 130-day-old fetal cells. This dose of IGF-I had no effect on GRF (10(-9) M)-stimulated GH release at 70 days gestation. It significantly inhibited this effect at 100 days and in prepubertal lamb cells. In 130-day-old fetal and newborn lamb pituitary cultures, IGF-I completely blocked the GH response to GRF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Effects of insulin-like growth factor-I on growth hormone and prolactin secretion and cell proliferation of human somatotrophinomas and prolactinomas in vitro

OBJECTIVE IGF-I inhibits GH secretion from normal and some tumorous pituitary tissue, and has been shown to be mitogenic for gonadotrophinoma cells in vitro. It is not known whether IGF-l affects somatotrophinoma cellular proliferation or the secretion of other hormones, such as PRL and α-subunit, which are often co-secreted by these tumours. We have therefore examined the effects of IGF-l on proliferation and hormonal secretion of human somatotrophinomas and prolactinomas in vitro. DESIGN Pituitary adenoma tissue was dispersed to single cells in monolayer culture. The effects of 100 nw IGF-I on GH, PRL and α-subunit secretion were determined over 4-hour and over 4-day periods, and a 4-day dose-response study using 1–100 nM IGF-I was performed on two tumours. Adenoma cell S-phase proliferation was determined after bromodeoxyuridine Incorporation for 1 hour after 4 days, using a double immunostaining method. RESULTS Over 4 hours, 100 nw IGF-I had no effect on GH, PRL or α-subunit secretion in 7 tumours. Over 4 days, 100 nw IGF-I reduced GH secretion In 518 somatotrophinomas (range 17–84%, P < 0·05) compared to controls, with tumours responding to IGF-I having lower basal serum and in-vitro GH levels than tumours unaffected by IGF-I (P < 0·05). There was no effect on α-subunit secretion in any of the three tumours studied. PRL co-secretion was increased In 315 somatotrophinomas compared to control (20, 30 and 37%, P < 0·05), with tumours responding to IGF-I being associated with lower basal serum and in-vitro PRL levels than those tumours unaffected by IGF-I. IGF-I also increased PRL secretion in 2/2 prolactinomas (27 and 32%, P < 0·05) compared with control. GH was inhibited and PRL secretion was stimulated by 1 and 10 nw IGF-I in the two dose-response studies. The proliferative labelling index did not exceed 1·9% in any tumour and no proliferative effect was found with 100 nw IGF-I in any somatotrophinoma. CONCLUSION IGF-I inhibited tumorous GH in 62% and stimulated PRL secretion in 71 % of tumours over 4 days, without affecting α-subunit secretion or being mitogenic for somatotrophinoma cells in vitro. No hormonal effects were observed over short (4-hour) incubations. IGF-I may be a newly recognized factor directly stimulating tumorous PRL secretion.     

Effects of elevated serum insulinlike growth factor-II on growth hormone and insulinlike growth factor-I mRNA and secretion

The insulinlike growth factors (IGF) appear to exert feedback control over their own production. In an effort to determine the physiologic mechanisms for this feedback modulation, we utilized a previously developed in vivo model in which rIGF-II secreting tumor cells are transplanted into immunodeficient rats to form IGF-II secreting tumors. The tumor-bearing rat have serum IGF-II concentrations sevenfold greater than those in controls (119 +/- 16 ng/mL [mean +/- SE] v 17 +/- 2 ng/mL, P less than .0001). Serum IGF-I concentrations were reduced among the tumor-bearing rats (438 +/- 42 ng/mL v 606 +/- 32 ng/mL, P = .002) and were negatively correlated with IGF-II concentrations (r = -.47, P = .025), suggesting that IGF-II suppressed the secretion of IGF-I. Increased serum IGF-II concentrations, however, did not affect basal growth hormone concentrations (tumor-bearing, 44 +/- 12 ng/mL; control 33 +/- 6 ng/mL, P = 0.96). The GH response to GH releasing factor was likewise similar in both groups. Moreover, pituitary GH mRNA level were not different in the two groups, suggesting that IGF-II does not have a significant effect on GH secretion in this in vivo model. There was no association between serum glucose and serum IGF-I or IGF-II concentrations. To examine the effect of IGF-II on IGF-I production from the liver, we measured IGF-I mRNA levels in a subset of animals. Despite these differences in serum IGF-I concentrations, the tumor-bearing rats did not have significantly lower liver IGF-I mRNA levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition of growth hormone secretion in anaesthetized fowl: hypothalamic participation

Sodium pentobarbitone anaesthesia lowered the circulating growth hormone (GH) concentration in immature chickens and reduced basal and stimulated pituitary GH release in vitro. The immunoneutralization of endogenous somatostatin (SRIF), by passive SRIF immunization, overcame the inhibitory effect of anaesthesia on basal GH secretion in vivo, but had no direct effects on GH release in vitro. However, while SRIF immunization restored the resting GH concentration in the anaesthetized birds, it increased greatly the GH level in conscious birds. These results therefore suggest that the inhibition of GH secretion in anaesthetized birds may be partly SRIF-mediated, although a suppression of hypothalamic stimulation may also be involved.     

Reciprocal interactions of somatostatin with thyrotropin-releasing hormone and vasoactive intestinal peptide on prolactin and growth hormone secretion in vitro

Reciprocal interactions of somatostatin (SRIF) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) or TRH on in vitro PRL and GH release from male rats hemipituitaries were investigated. SRIF did not modify basal PRL release, but TRH- or VIP-induced release was inhibited by SRIF in a dose-dependent manner [effective concentration-fifty (EC50) = 1.7 +/- 0.9 nM for SRIF inhibition of TRH stimulation and EC50 = 0.8 +/- 0.5 nM for SRIF inhibition of VIP stimulation]. VIP and TRH did not affect GH release by themselves, but reduced the inhibition of GH secretion elicited by SRIF (EC50 = 7.6 +/- 3.4 nM for TRH blockade of SRIF inhibition and EC50 = 4.6 +/- 3.1 nM for VIP blockade of SRIF inhibition). Secretin, a partial structural analog of VIP, also blocked SRIF-induced inhibition of GH and stimulated PRL release. Secretin stimulation of PRL release was also prevented by SRIF. [D-Trp8,D-Cys14]SRIF, a potent analog of SRIF, antagonized VIP stimulation of PRL secretion with the same apparent affinity as the native peptide. The maximal stimulation, but not the apparent affinity of VIP action on prolactin release was reduced by SRIF, suggesting that the interaction is of a noncompetitive nature. This conclusion as further substantiated by the observation that neither TRH nor VIP were able to displace specific 125I-labeled [Tyr1] SRIF high affinity binding to pituitary membranes. The three peptides tested thus appear to exhibit reciprocal interactions mediated by independent receptor sites on GH as well as on PRL-producing cells.