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Biomedical subjects

A F Purchio

Publications and source records attributed to A F Purchio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Induction of apoptosis in cultured hepatocytes and in regressing liver by transforming growth factor beta 1.

In previous studies hepatocytes undergoing cell death by apoptosis but not normal hepatocytes in rat liver showed immunostaining for transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1). Staining was much stronger with antibodies recognizing the pro-region of TGF-beta 1 than the mature peptide itself. Therefore we investigated the ability of both forms of TGF-beta 1 to induce apoptosis in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Mature TGF-beta 1 induced rounding up of the cells and fragmentation into multiple vesicles. As revealed by the DNA-specific stain H33258, the chromatin of these cells condensed and segregated into masses at the nuclear membrane; this was obviously followed by fragmentation of the nucleus. Ultrastructurally the cytoplasm was well preserved, as demonstrated by the presence of intact cell organelles. These features strongly suggest the occurrence of apoptosis. Quantification of nuclei with condensed chromatin revealed that mature TGF-beta 1 was 30-fold more effective than the TGF-beta 1 latency-associated protein complex. Finally, we administered TGF-beta 1 in vivo using an experimental model in which regression of rat liver was initiated by a short preceding treatment with the hepatomitogen cyproterone acetate. Two doses of TGF-beta 1, each 1 nM/kg, augmented the incidence of apoptotic hepatocytes 5-fold. Equimolar doses of TGF-beta 1 latency-associated protein complex were ineffective. These studies suggest that TGF-beta 1 is involved in the initiation of apoptosis in the liver and that the mature form of TGF-beta 1 is the active principle.

Animals

cDNA cloning and sequence analysis of beta ig-h3, a novel gene induced in a human adenocarcinoma cell line after treatment with transforming growth factor-beta.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is capable of affecting the proliferation of many cell types. To identify novel genes whose protein products may mediate cellular responses to this factor, a cDNA library was made from mRNA isolated from a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549) that had been treated for 3 days with TGF-beta. The library was screened by differential hybridization and a cDNA clone, beta ig-h3, was isolated. This gene was induced up to 20-fold in A549 cells after 2 days of treatment with TGF-beta 1. It was also induced in several other cell lines, including PC-3 and H2981. DNA sequence analysis of beta ig-h3 indicated that it encoded a novel protein, beta IG-H3, of 683 amino acids, which contained an amino-terminal secretory sequence and a carboxy-terminal Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence that can serve as a ligand recognition site for several integrins. beta IG-H3 also contained short amino acid regions homologous to similar regions in Drosophila fasciclin-I and four homologous internal domains, which can be folded into a potential bivalent structure and could act as a bridge between cells expressing the appropriate ligand. beta ig-h3 RNA was detected in several cell lines and tissues. COS cells transfected with plasmids encoding beta IG-H3 secreted a major 68-kD protein that was detected by immunoblotting using antipeptide antibodies. Since beta ig-h3 is induced in several cell lines whose proliferation is affected by TGF-beta 1, it may be involved in mediating some of the signals of this multifunctional growth modulator.

Adenocarcinoma

Site-directed mutagenesis of glycosylation sites in the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) and TGF beta 2 (414) precursors and of cysteine residues within mature TGF beta 1: effects on secretion and bioactivity.

The transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) and -beta 2 (414) precursors both contain three predicted sites of N-linked glycosylation within their pro regions. These are located at amino acid residues 72, 140, and 241 for the TGF beta 2 (414) precursor and at residues 82, 136, and 176 for the TGF beta 1 precursor; both proteins contain mannose-6-phosphate (M-6-P) residues. The major sites of M-6-P addition are at Asn (82) and Asn (136), the first two sites of glycosylation, for the TGF beta 1 precursor. We now show that the major site of M-6-P addition within the TGF beta 2 (414) precursor is at Asn241, the third glycosylation site. To determine the importance of N-linked glycosylation to the secretion of TGF beta 1 and -beta 2, site-directed mutagenesis was used to change the Asn residues to Ser residues; the resulting DNAs were transfected into COS cells, and their supernatants were assayed for TGF beta activity. Substitution of Asn (241) of the TGF beta 2 (414) precursor resulted in an 82% decrease in secreted TGF beta 2 bioactivity. Mutation at Asn72 resulted in a 44% decrease, while mutation at Asn140 was without effect. Elimination of all three glycosylation sites resulted in undetectable levels of TGF beta 2. These results were compared with similar mutations made in the cDNA encoding the TGF beta 1 precursor. Mutagenesis of the two M-6-P-containing sites (Asn82 and Asn136) resulted in an 83% decrease in secreted TGF beta 1; replacement of Asn82 and Asn136 with Ser individually resulted in 85% and 42% decreases in activity, respectively. Substitution of Asn176 with Ser was without effect, while substitution of all three sites of glycosylation resulted in undetectable levels of TGF beta 1 activity, similar to the results obtained with TGF beta 2. The nine Cys residues within the mature region of TGF beta 1 were mutated to serine, and their effects on TGF beta 1 secretion were evaluated. Mutation of most Cys residues resulted in undetectable levels of TGF beta 1 protein or activity in conditioned medium. Mutation of Cys (355) led to the secretion of inactive TGF beta 1 monomers, suggesting that this residue is either directly involved in dimer formation or required for correct interchain disulfide bond formation.

Amino Acid Sequence

Characterization of the binding of transforming growth factor-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3 to recombinant beta 1-latency-associated peptide.

Preprotransforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) is a 390-amino acid precursor polypeptide that undergoes a number of processing steps to yield mature TGF beta 1 (amino acid residues 279-390) and a pro portion (residues 30-278) termed beta 1-latency-associated peptide (beta 1LAP). The dimeric form of beta 1LAP has been shown to associate noncovalently with the mature growth factor, resulting in inactivation of biological activity. To further characterize this interaction, the mature TGF beta 1 was radioiodinated and used to determine dissociation constants. A cross-linking method using the bifunctional covalent cross-linker bis-(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate was found to be the best approach for measuring the amount of bound growth factor. The efficiency of cross-linking was constant within each experiment and varied between 45-55%. Saturation plots and their associated Scatchard analyses indicate apparent Kd values between 1.1-1.8 nM. Competition of TGF beta 1 binding to beta 1LAP by TGF beta 2 and TGF beta 3 (two closely related growth factors) revealed that the latter also bind beta 1LAP tightly, with apparent Kd values of 1.9 and 0.4 nM, respectively.

Animals

Regulation of amphiregulin mRNA by TGF-beta in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549.

Transforming growth factor beta is a strong growth inhibitor for many types of normal and transformed cells, although little is known on the mechanism of this anti-proliferative effect. The human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 is growth arrested by TGF-beta 1 and serves as a model for studying this effect. We describe that, concurrent with the inhibition of A549 cell growth, TGF-beta 1 treatment causes a dramatic reduction in the level of expression of the amphiregulin (AR) gene, a recently identified member of the EGF/TGF alpha family. Similar results were also observed with TGF-beta 2. Peak inhibition occurred at 24 hr of treatment and was reversible upon removal of TGF-beta 1. The level of AR protein secreted by A549 cells was also decreased by TGF-beta 1. In contrast, TGF-alpha mRNA was not detected in these cells regardless of TGF-beta 1 treatment. Another TGF-beta inhibited cell line, PC-3 (human prostatic adenocarcinoma) also exhibited a decrease in AR message levels following exposure to TGF-beta 1. The growth inhibitory effects of TGF-beta may in part be mediated by modulation of AR expression.

Adenocarcinoma

Coordinated regulation of apoptosis and cell proliferation by transforming growth factor beta 1 in cultured uterine epithelial cells.

Cell and tissue growth is regulated through a complex interplay of stimulatory and inhibitory signals. We describe two biological actions of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in primary cultures of rabbit uterine epithelial cells: (i) inhibition of cell proliferation and (ii) a concomitant increase in cells undergoing apoptosis (programmed cell death). It is proposed that proliferation and apoptosis together comprise normal cell growth regulation.

Animals

Characterization of latent recombinant TGF-beta 2 produced by Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Latent recombinant transforming growth factor-beta 2 (LrTGF-beta 2) complex has been purified from serum-free media conditioned by Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with a plasmid encoding the TGF-beta 2 (414) precursor. Under neutral conditions, LrTGF-beta 2 had an apparent molecular weight of 130 kDa. The complex contained both mature and pro-region sequences. Acidification of LrTGF-beta 2 resulted in the release of mature 24 kDa TGF-beta 2 from the high molecular weight pro-region-containing complex, suggesting that TGF-beta 2 was non-covalently associated with this complex. These results were confirmed by crosslinking experiments performed on partially purified LrTGF-beta 2. Protein sequence analysis of the purified TGF-beta 2 pro-region indicated that signal peptide cleavage occurred between ser(20) and leu(21). The pro-region, which previously was found to contain mannose-6-phosphate, bound to the mannose-6-phosphate receptor. Proteolytic cleavage of mature TGF-beta 2 from pro-TGF-beta 2 was inhibited by monensin and chloroquine suggesting that binding to this receptor and subsequent transport to acidic vesicles may be involved in the processing of rTGF-beta 2 precursor.

Amino Acid Sequence

Enhanced sulfated-proteoglycan core protein synthesis by incubation of rabbit chondrocytes with recombinant transforming growth factor-beta 1.

Rabbit articular chondrocytes were incubated with recombinant transforming-growth-factor-beta 1 (rhTGF-beta 1) and its effect on newly synthesized proteoglycan measured. rhTGF-beta 1 stimulated proteoglycan synthesis at a concentration as low as 5 ng/ml without further increases in radiosulfate incorporation up to 50 ng/ml. The quantitative increase in radiosulfate incorporation in rh-TGF-beta 1-treated chondrocytes was greater in the cell-associated culture compartment than in the medium compartment. rhTGF-beta 1 promoted an increased proteoglycan retention in the cell-associated compartment as evidenced by an increase in the t1/2 of retention from 8 h to 11 h. Specific enhanced synthesis of [35S]-methionine-labeled core proteins was seen in rh-TGF-beta 1-treated chondrocytes. rh-TGF-beta 1 increased the synthesis of the 2 core proteins derived from hydrodynamically large proteoglycans. They possessed apparent molecular weights of greater than 480 kD and 390 kD after 3-5% acrylamide gel electrophoresis. A compartmental analysis revealed that the cell-associated culture compartment contained only the larger of the 2 core proteins derived from large proteoglycans. Two other core proteins with apparent molecular weights 52 kD and 46 kD were also stimulated by rhTGF-beta 1. These results indicated that TGF-beta probably plays a significant role in stimulating proteoglycan core protein synthesis in articular chondrocytes and therefore may be an important growth factor in the restoration of cartilage extracellular matrix after injury.

Aggrecans

Identification of a gene family regulated by transforming growth factor-beta.

We have identified two related genes whose mRNAs are increased after treatment with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta 1). Mouse AKR-2B cells were treated with TGF-beta 1 in the presence of cyclohexamide and a cDNA library was subjected to differential screening. Several TGF-beta-induced genes (beta IG) were isolated and two of these, beta IG-M1 and beta IG-M2, were characterized. beta IG-M1 and beta IG-M2 RNAs were significantly increased after TGF-beta 1 treatment and both were superinduced in the presence of cyclohexamide. cDNA sequence analysis of beta IG-M1 showed that it encoded a 379-amino-acid protein which was 81% homologous to CEF-10, a v-src and TPA-inducible gene, and identical to cyr61, a gene induced by serum in growth-arrested BALB-3T3 cells. cDNA sequence analysis of beta IG-M2 showed that it encoded a 348-amino-acid protein that was 50% homologous to beta IG-M1. Thirty-eight cysteine residues are conserved between beta IG-M1 and beta IG-M2, which are clustered at the amino and carboxy ends: The middle regions of the two proteins are cysteine free and display the highest degree of nonhomology. Both proteins contain an amino-terminal cysteine-rich motif common to insulin-like growth factor binding proteins and a carboxy-terminal domain with strong homology to a motif found near the carboxy-terminal of the malarial circumsporozoite protein which may be involved in cell adhesion. The regulation of mRNA encoding these proteins by TGF-beta 1 suggests that they may be involved in mediating some of the pleiotropic effects of this multipotent modulator of cell growth and differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence

Characterization of latent transforming growth factor-beta 2 from monkey kidney cells.

Serum-free medium conditioned by BSC-40 cells was analyzed for the presence of transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF beta 2)-related proteins. Western blot analysis was performed using site-specific antipeptide antibodies directed against the pro- and mature regions of the TGF beta 2 precursor. When conditioned medium was analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions, proteins with mol wt of 53 kDa (containing both mature and proregion sequences), 34-38 kDa (containing proregion sequences only), and 12 kDa (containing mature sequences) were detected. Under nonreducing conditions, complexes of 60- to 80-kDa, 160- to 200-kDa, as well as 24-kDa mature dimers were seen. Cleavage of mature TGF beta 2 from its precursor was inhibited by monensin and chloroquin, but not by ammonium chloride or methylamine. Two peaks of bioactivity were detected after fractionation on a TSK column corresponding to mol wt of 130 and 400 kDa. These peaks contained TGF beta 2 and pro-TGF beta 2 proteins. Partial purification of the 130-kDa complex followed by N-glyconase digestion indicated that the pro-TGF beta 2 proteins were glycosylated. These data demonstrate that BSC-40 cells secrete mature TGF beta 2 complexed with proregion-containing proteins and suggest that this association may contribute to the latency phenomena observed with respect to this growth regulator.

Amidohydrolases

Expression of recombinant TGF-beta 2(442) precursor and detection in BSC-40 cells.

Analysis of cDNA clones encoding transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 2 predicts two different precursor proteins derived by alternative mRNA splicing; a 414 amino acid precursor [TGF-beta 2(414)] and a 442 amino acid precursor [TGF-beta 2(442)]. The two proteins differ by a 28 amino acid insertion within the pro-region of TGF-beta 2(442). In order to characterize the TGF-beta 2-related proteins encoded by the TGF-beta 2(442) cDNA and determine whether it could, in fact, direct the synthesis of active growth factor, we have expressed this gene in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and, after amplification with methotrexate, obtained stable clones secreting TGF-beta 2(442). The TGF-beta 2 secreted by these cells was latent as acidification was necessary to detect optimal biological activity. In addition to mature TGF-beta 2, high molecular weight pro-region containing proteins were also secreted as analyzed by immunoblotting using site-specific anti-peptide antibodies. These proteins migrated differently than those secreted by CHO cells transfected with cDNA encoding TGF-beta 2(414), indicating that structural differences exist between the two complexes. An anti-peptide antiserum was produced in rabbits against the 28 amino acid insert region of TGF-beta 2(442). This sera was then used to detect the presence of TGF-beta 2(442) in serum-free media conditioned by BSC-40 cells. Since the TGF-beta 2(442) precursor is produced and secreted by a non-recombinant cell line, this suggests that it may play a physiological role in regulating the activity of TGF-beta 2.

Animals

Mannose 6-phosphate-containing peptides activate phospholipase C in proximal tubular basolateral membranes from canine kidney.

To ascertain whether mannose 6-phosphate-containing peptides that bind to the insulin-like growth factor II (IGF II)/mannose 6-phosphate receptor activate phospholipase C, we determined the effect of proliferin, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) precursor, and beta-galactosidase on production of inositol trisphosphate (Ins-P3) in basolateral membranes isolated from the renal proximal tubule of dogs. Both proliferin and TGF-beta 1 precursor stimulated Ins-P3 production in a concentration-dependent manner. Maximal production was stimulated by approximately 10(-13) M of each peptide. beta-Galactosidase had no effect on Ins-P3 generation. Neither proliferin nor TGF-beta 1 precursor potentiated IGF II-stimulated Ins-P3 production. Mannose 6-phosphate itself had no effect on Ins-P3 generation. However, mannose 6-phosphate potentiated production stimulated by 10(-11) M proliferin or 10(-11) M TGF-beta 1 precursor while inhibiting production stimulated by 10(-14) M of either peptide. Addition of anti-mannose 6-phosphate receptor antibodies to basolateral membranes abolished proliferin and TGF-beta 1 precursor-stimulated Ins-P3 generation. We conclude that, in addition to IGF II, mannose 6-phosphate-containing ligands for the IGF II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor activate basolateral membrane phospholipase C. Such activation could reflect a common mechanism for signal transduction by these peptides mediated via the IGF II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor.

Animals

Differential effects of transforming growth factor beta 1 on the growth of poorly and highly metastatic murine melanoma cells.

We have examined the effects of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on the growth of paired murine melanoma cell clones that differ with respect to their experimental metastatic potential. Neither poorly (clone 16) nor highly (clone M2) metastatic cells were capable of anchorage-independent growth in 0.3% agar/Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium in the absence of serum. However, both clones were capable of anchorage-independent growth in 0.3% agar/Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 10% calf serum. Colony formation in the presence of 10% calf serum was enhanced in a dose-dependent manner by TGF-beta 1 (half-maximal dose, 0.1 ng/ml) and was 5- to 10-fold greater than colony formation in the presence of 10% calf serum alone. Under anchorage-dependent (monolayer) conditions, neither clone grew in the absence of serum or in medium containing less than 1% calf serum. The monolayer growth of poorly metastatic cells (clone 16) was enhanced in a dose-dependent manner by TGF-beta 1 in medium supplemented with calf serum. Growth was 3.5-fold and 2.3-fold greater than untreated controls after 5 days in submitogenic (0.5%) and mitogenic (10%) concentrations of calf serum, respectively. In contrast, TGF-beta 1 had no effect on the monolayer growth of highly metastatic cells (clone M2) either in submitogenic (0.5%) or mitogenic (10%) concentrations of serum. TGF-beta 1 did not directly stimulate DNA synthesis by either poorly or highly metastatic cells when measured 24 h after TGF-beta 1 treatment. The ability of TGF-beta 1 to stimulate the anchorage-independent growth of metastatic melanoma cells suggests that this potent growth factor may play a role in the growth of these cells in vivo. In addition, the differential sensitivity of poorly and highly metastatic cells to TGF-beta 1 may be relevant to their metastatic potential in vivo. While the mechanism(s) by which TGF-beta 1 stimulates the growth of these cells remains unknown, these differentially metastatic clones of the K-1735 murine melanoma should provide a useful model in which to study the effects of transforming growth factor beta on the metastatic phenotype.

Animals

Mechanism of activation of latent recombinant transforming growth factor beta 1 by plasmin.

Medium conditioned by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the simian pre-pro-TGF beta 1 cDNA contains high levels of latent TGF beta 1. The amino-terminal region of the TGF beta 1 precursor is secreted and can be detected in the conditioned medium by immunoblotting using peptide antibodies specific for amino-terminal peptides. Chemical cross-linking of CHO-conditioned medium using bis-(sulfosuccinimidyl)-suberate (BS3) followed by immunoblot analyses indicates that latent recombinant TGF beta 1 contains both the cleaved amino-terminal glycopeptide and mature TGF beta 1 polypeptide in a noncovalent association and that this association confers latency. The data presented here do not support the involvement of a unique TGF beta binding protein(s) in latent recombinant TGF beta 1. Plasmin treatment of CHO-conditioned medium resulted in the appearance of TGF beta competing activity. In addition, immunoblot analysis of plasmin-treated CHO-conditioned medium indicates that the amino-terminal glycopeptide is partially degraded and that mature TGF beta 1 is released. Thus, activation of latent TGF beta 1 may occur by proteolytic nicking within the amino-terminal glycopeptide thereby causing a disruption of tertiary structure and noncovalent bonds, which results in the release of active, mature TGF beta 1. Acid activation of latent TGF beta, in comparison, appears to be due to dissociation of the amino-terminal glycopeptide from the mature polypeptide.

Animals

Molecular cloning of a novel bone-forming compound: osteoinductive factor.

cDNA clones encoding osteoinductive factor (OIF) have been isolated from a bovine osteoblast library. Sequence analysis of these clones indicated that the 105-amino-acid OIF is synthesized as a larger 299-amino-acid precursor, the carboxyl terminus of which is cleaved to yield the mature protein. Northern blot analysis of bovine osteoblast mRNA revealed two OIF-specific transcripts of 1.9 and 2.4 kb. The polymerase chain reaction was used to obtain clones coding for human OIF from the osteosarcoma cell line, MG-63. The human OIF cDNA encodes a precursor of 298 amino acids that exhibits 94% identity to the bovine protein. Northern blot analysis of various cell lines and tissues indicated that expression of OIF transcripts is limited and may be restricted to cells of bone lineage.

Amino Acid Sequence

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 inhibits ovarian androgen production: gene expression, cellular localization, mechanisms(s), and site(s) of action.

It is the aim of this study to establish ovarian transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) gene expression, to reevaluate its cellular localization, and to explore potential interactions of this regulatory peptide on ovarian androgen biosynthesis. Northern analysis of whole ovarian polyadenylated RNA revealed a single 2.5-kilobase transcript corresponding to the TGF beta 1 precursor. Immunohistochemical staining localized the protein to the thecal-interstitial (interfollicular) compartment. To explore potential autocrine effects of TGF beta 1, use was made of whole ovarian dispersates from immature rats the differentiation of which was monitored by the acquisition of androgen biosynthetic capacity. The accumulation of androsterone, the major androgenic steroid detectable in this culture system, increased 5.4-fold over baseline in response to treatment with hCG (1 ng/ml). This effect was further optimized (2- to 4-fold) by supplementation with insulin (1 microgram/ml) and insulin-like growth factor-I (50 ng/ml). In the absence of these optimizing supplements, TGF beta 1 (10 ng/ml) was without effect on basal androsterone accumulation, producing distinct, albeit relatively limited (25%), inhibition of hCG hormonal action. In contrast, supplement-mediated optimization of ovarian androgen biosynthesis revealed TGF beta 1 to be a highly potent inhibitor (greater than 80%) of hCG hormonal action. This reversible TGF beta 1 action proved time and dose dependent, with a minimal time requirement of 72 h and a median inhibitory dose of 2.6 ng/ml. TGF beta 1 action was not due to diminution in the viable cell mass or altered cAMP generation and, therefore, most likely involved a site(s) of action distal to or independent of cAMP generation. Cellular radiolabeling studies of TGF beta 1-treated ovarian cells disclosed the accumulation of steroid intermediates proximal to the 17 alpha-hydroxylation step, suggesting TGF beta 1-mediated blockade at the level of the steroidogenic enzyme 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17-20-lyase. Taken together, these observations are in keeping with the view that TGF beta 1, possibly of thecal-interstitial origin, may not only play a positive paracrine role at the level of the adjacent granulosa cell (as previously reported), but may also constitute one of several autocrine signals concerned with the regulation of ovarian androgen economy. As such, these findings reaffirm the polyfunctional nature of TGF beta 1 action, as manifested by its diametrically opposed effects in different ovarian compartments.

Androgens