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Biomedical subjects

A M Kaye

Publications and source records attributed to A M Kaye.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Systemic treatments with the low-calcemic 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) analogs JKF or QW increase both the morphological and biochemical responses to estradiol-17beta in rat tibiae.

We demonstrated previously that daily injection for 3 days of the less calcemic vitamin D analogs: JK 1624 F(2)-2 (JKF) and QW 1624F(2)-2 (QW) followed by estradiol-17beta (E(2)) in female rats upregulated creatine kinase-specific activity (CK) in skeletal tissues. In this study, we evaluated both histomorphological and biochemical changes due to a regime of 4 days treatment with JKF or QW, followed by injection of E(2) on day 5, repeated for 2.5 months. Ovariectomized female rats (Ovx) were injected 2 weeks after surgery, with JKF or QW at 0.2 ng/g BW followed by injections of E(2) (1 microg/rat) on day 5 of each week for 2.5 months. Rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last injection and bones were analyzed. JKF alone decreased growth plate width, increased % total bone volume (%TBV), with no change in cortical thickness. In contrast, QW restored growth plate width and %TBV with no change in cortical thickness. Combined with E(2), JKF restored %TBV and growth plate width but with no change in cortical thickness, while QW restored significantly all parameters including cortical thickness. Moreover, there was also an increase in the responsiveness of CK to E(2) in epiphyseal cartilage and diaphyseal bone but not in uterus. Thus, vitamin D less calcemic analogs increased responsiveness to E(2) morphologically as well as biochemically. We, therefore, conclude that combined treatment of less calcemic analogs vitamin D and E(2) might be superior for treatment of bone damage caused by ovariectomy in female rats and might be applied for post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Animals↗

Membranal effects of phytoestrogens and carboxy derivatives of phytoestrogens on human vascular and bone cells: new insights based on studies with carboxy-biochanin A.

Estradiol-17beta (E2) and some phytoestrogens induce a biphasic effect on DNA synthesis in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), i.e., stimulation at low concentrations and inhibition at high concentrations. These compounds also increase the specific activity of creatine kinase (CK) as well as intracellular Ca2+ concentration in both VSMC and human female-derived cultured bone cells (OBs), and stimulate ERK1/2 phosphorylation in VSMC. At least some of these effects are exerted via membranal binding sites (mER), as would appear from observations that protein-bound, membrane impermeant estrogenic complexes can mimic the effect of E2 on DNA synthesis, intracellular Ca2+ concentration and MAPK, but not on CK activity. We now extend these studies by examining the effects of a novel carboxy-derivative of biochanin A, 6-carboxy-biochanin A (cBA) in VSMC and human osteoblasts in culture. cBA increased DNA synthesis in VSMC in a dose-dependent manner and was able to maintain this effect when linked to a cell membrane impermeable protein. In VSMC both cBA and estradiol, in their free or protein-bound forms induced a steep and immediate rise in intracellular calcium. Both the free and protein-bound conjugates of cBA and estradiol increased net MAPK-kinase activity. Neither the stimulatory effect of cBA nor the inhibitory effect of estradiol on DNA synthesis in VSMC could be shown in the presence of the MAPK-kinase inhibitor UO126. The presence of membrane binding sites for both estradiol and cBA was supported by direct visualization, using fluorescence labeling of their respective protein conjugates, E2-BSA and cBA-ovalbumin. Furthermore, these presumed membrane ER for estradiol and cBA were co-localized. In cultured human osteoblasts, cBA stimulated CK activity in a dose related fashion, which paralleled the increase in CK induced by estradiol per se, confirming the estrogenic properties of cBA in human bone cells. Both the free and protein-bound forms of cBA elicited immediate and substantial increments in intracellular Ca2+, similar to, but usually larger than the responses elicited by estradiol per se. cBA also increased ERalpha and suppressed ERbeta mRNA expression in human osteoblasts. Cultured human osteoblasts also harbor membrane binding sites for protein-bound form of cG, which are co-localized with the binding sites for protein-bound estradiol. The extent to which these properties of the novel synthetic phytoestrogen derivatives may be utilized to avert human vascular and/or bone disease requires further study.

Binding Sites↗

The role of non-calcemic analogs of vitamin D in differentiation of cultured rat bone marrow into osteoblast-like cells: age and sex differences.

We have previously demonstrated that rat bone in vivo and rat bone cells in vitro, responded sex-specifically to gonadal steroids in stimulation of the specific activity of the BB isozyme of creatine kinase (CK), a marker for hormonal responsiveness. Pre-treatment with vitamin D analogs up-regulated the sex-specific responsiveness and sensitivity to gonadal steroids. We also found that mice cultured femoral bone marrow (BM) in the presence of dexamethasone (DEX) and 1,25(OH)2D3 (1,25D) or both differentiated into osteoblast-like cells (Obs), which acquired sex-specific responsiveness to gonadal steroids. This response was significantly augmented in the presence of both agents. In the present study, we examined the effect of age, sex and vitamin D non-hypercalcemic analogs on the differentiation of rat derived femoral BM into Obs. In female or male derived BM from intact but not gonadectomized rats DEX and DEX+1,25D increased the constitutive levels of CK. BM derived from old females showed lower stimulation of CK than BM originated from young females by estradiol (E2) or raloxifene (Ral) in the presence of both DEX and 1,25D. The non-hypercalcemic analogs of vitamin D: CB 1093 (CB), EB 1089 (EB) and MC 1288 (MC) were more effective than 1,25D in both age groups in stimulating CK in the absence of DEX. In the presence of DEX, there was a further increase in CK with the same differential effectiveness. BM from gonadectomized male or female rats lost the sex-specific response, responding to both E2 and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). BM derived from both intact and gonadectomized males and females, growing with DEX or DEX+1,25D showed increased specific activity of constitutive levels of alkaline phodphatase (AP). No significant stimulation of AP was seen in any BM by gonadal steroids. These findings suggest that manipulation of the hormonal milieu in early stages of differentiation sequence of Obs determines the subsequent selective responsiveness of the developing bone tissue to sex steroids. Also non-calcemic vitamin D analogs were more effective in this process than 1,25D and showed activity even in the absence of DEX and may be applied to the differentiation process for bone tissue engineering.

Aging↗

Selective anabolic effects of muteins of mid-region PTH fragments on skeletal tissues of prepubertal rats.

We have demonstrated the net anabolic potential of a mid-region fragment of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH), and a protease resistant mutein derived from it, to stimulate growth of skeletal-derived tissues. The fragment hPTH (28-48), lacking the N-terminal amino acids necessary for stimulation of adenylate cyclase, and therefore unable to stimulate bone resorption by osteoclasts, was compared with the protease-resistant double-mutein hPTH (28-48) F34M L37T, full-length hPTH (1-84), the protease resistant form hPTH (1-84) L37T, 17beta estradiol (E(2)), and the combination of mid-region fragments of PTH and E(2). The hormones, at concentrations spanning a 100-fold range, were given by 14 injections (6/week, excluding Saturday), to 17-day-old female Wistar-derived rats. At the low concentration of 200 ng/day of PTH (1-84), or the molar equivalent of the fragment, and 50 ng E(2), all the hormones increased significantly the specific activity of creatine kinase (CK; a marker of skeletal cell proliferation) in tibial diaphysis and epiphysis, the width of the cortical bone in the humeral diaphysis, and the number of cells in the proliferating zone of the humeral epiphyseal growth plate. At a 10-fold lower concentration of both PTH and E(2), CK specific activity was synergistically stimulated in both diaphyseal bone and epiphyseal cartilage. However, PTH mid-region fragments at a dose of 1 microg/day did not increase trabecular bone volume.

Animals↗

Age and gender specific stimulation of creatine kinase specific activity by gonadal steroids in human bone-derived cells in culture.

We previously reported a non-enzymatic method for isolation of human bone cells in culture that display osteoblastic features and respond to 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25) and to parathyroid hormone (PTH). The present study was undertaken to analyze the response of cultured human bone cells to 17beta-estradiol (E2) and to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) as a function of gender and age. Cultured human bone cells, obtained from biopsies during orthopedic surgery, were divided into four groups defined by gender and age: pre- and post-menopausal healthy non-osteoporotic women that were not under hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and mature (<55-year-old) and older (>60-year-old) men. We found gender specific responses to gonadal steroids using the specific activity of the brain type (BB) isozyme of creatine kinase (CK) as a response marker. Constitutive levels of CK activity did not change with age or gender and the enzyme extracted from cells from the different sexes and ages did not respond to either progesterone (P) or to 1,25. CK from the different cells responded to gonadal steroids in a gender specific manner, i.e. CK from female derived cells responded to E2 only and the enzyme from male derived cells responded to DHT only. In female derived cells the response to E2 declined significantly with age, while the response to DHT in CK from male derived cells did not vary with age. This may be due to either decreased proportion of mature osteoblasts and/or their differentiation state and/or changes in the levels of estrogen receptor(s), coactivators or corepressors in these cells. These results extend our knowledge of human osteoblast biology (beyond murine cells) and are therefore more relevant for developing models for treatment of human metabolic bone diseases such as post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Aging↗

A non-calcemic analog of 1 alpha,25 dihydroxy vitamin D(3) (JKF) upregulates the induction of creatine kinase B by 17 beta estradiol in osteoblast-like ROS 17/2.8 cells and in rat diaphysis.

We have reported that multiple treatments with so-called 'non-hypercalcemic' analogs of 1 alpha,25(OH)(2) vitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) stimulate the specific activity of creatine kinase BB (CK) in ROS 17/2.8 osteoblast-like cells, and that pretreatment with these analogs upregulates responsiveness and sensitivity to 17 beta estradiol (E(2)) for the induction of CK. However, since the analogs showed toxicity in vivo, we have now studied the action of a demonstrably non-calcemic hybrid analog of vitamin D in ROS 17/2.8 cells, and prepubertal rats. The analog JKF was designed to separate its calcemic activity from other biological activities by combining a calcemic-lowering 1-hydroxymethyl group with a potentiating C, D-ring side chain modification including 24 difluoronation. Treatment with 1 pM JKF alone significantly stimulated CK specific activity at 4 h by 30+/-10%. However after three daily pretreatments, JKF upregulated the extent of induction by 30 nM E(2) by 33% at 1 pM and by 97% at 1 nM; the E(2) dose needed for a significant stimulation of CK activity was lowered to 30 pM. The action of the SERMS tamoxifen, tamoxifen methiodide and raloxifene, at 3 microM, was also upregulated by three daily pretreatments with 1 nM JKF; unexpectedly, this pretreatment prevented the inhibition of E(2) stimulation by the SERMS. Upregulation of E(2) action by 1 nM JKF was inhibited by 1 nM ZK159222, an inhibitor of the nuclear action of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). In vivo, three daily injections of 0.05 ng/g body weight of JKF augmented the response of prepubertal female rat diaphysis and epiphysis to E(2). Therefore, demonstrably non-calcemic analogs of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) may have potential for use in combination with estrogens or SERMS in the prevention and/or treatment of metabolic bone diseases such as postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Animals↗

The hormonal milieu in early stages of bone cell differentiation modifies the subsequent sex-specific responsiveness of the developing bone to gonadal steroids.

We have established previously that rat bone tissue, as well as rat and human-derived bone cells in culture, show a sex-specific response to gonadal steroids in stimulation of the specific activity of the BB isozyme of creatine kinase (CK) and DNA synthesis. This response could be modified by manipulation of the endocrine environment during early stages in rat development. To further examine the influence of changing hormonal steroid milieu and vitamin D status on the action of gonadal steroids in developing bone tissue, we used two models of ectopic bone formation: demineralized tooth matrix (DTM) implanted under the skin, and femoral bone marrow (BM) transplanted under the kidney capsule of a syngeneic recipient mouse. The response to gonadal steroids in ossicles developed from implanted DTM depended on the recipient's gender; injection of estradiol 17beta (E2; 5 microg) into young female mice 21 days after DTM implantation increased, 24 h later, CK activity in the newly formed ossicles by approximately 60%, whereas injection of dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 50 microg) had no effect on CK activity. In contrast, in male mice, DHT but not E2 increased CK activity in the ossicles by approximately 50%. This sex-specific response was abolished in gonadectomized mice resulting in a similar response of the ossicles to both E2 and DHT. When DTM was implanted into vitamin D- deficient female mice, there was a lower basal CK activity and a significantly diminished response to E2 in the newly formed bone tissues. When BM, which contains mesenchymal and stromal cells and committed osteoprogenitor cells, was transplanted into 6-week-old intact or gonadectomized female or male mice, the response of the newly formed bone ossicles, 21 days after transplantation, to E2 or to DHT was according to the gender of the donor. Bone formed from BM obtained from female mice responded to E2 only and those formed from male BM responded to DHT only. Ossicles developed from BM obtained from gonadectomized mice showed lack of response to either gonadal steroid. Furthermore, only approximately 25% of the BM transplants obtained from castrated (CAST) male donors developed into ossicles. Ossicles formed from BM obtained from vitamin D-deficient female donors showed lack of response to gonadal steroids. These findings suggest that the manipulation of the hormonal milieu in early stages of the differentiation sequence of bone cells modifies the subsequent selective responsiveness of the developing bone tissue to gonadal steroids.

24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3↗

The relationship of inflammation in the papanicolaou smear to Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a high-risk population.

Chlamydia trachomatis is a significant etiologic agent responsible for pelvic inflammatory disease leading to tubal infertility. A screening test aimed at identifying women at risk for Chlamydia trachomatis would be of great utility. The Papanicolaou smear is the most widely used screening test in the world. The association of inflammatory cells in the Papanicolaou smear to Chlamydia infection is controversial. We retrospectively examined the Papanicolaou smears of 80 Chlamydia-negative patients with 80 age-matched Chlamydia-positive patients in a high-risk population to see if a significant difference in inflammation was noted between the two groups. We found a statistically significant difference in inflammation scores between the Chlamydia-positive and Chlamydia-negative groups, evidenced by a sensitivity of 83% and a positive predictive value of 65% when using inflammation on Papanicolaou smears as a marker for Chlamydia infection. Grading of inflammation in the Papanicolaou smear can be of potential use in defining patients at highest risk for Chlamydia in a group considered to be at high risk based on sexual history.

Adult↗

Herbal medicines: current trends in anesthesiology practice--a hospital survey.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To develop a simple survey to determine the patient population actively utilizing dietary supplements and/or herbs, during the preoperative period. DESIGN: Prospective study, with survey instrument. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: 1,017 patients presenting for preanesthetic evaluation prior to outpatient surgery. INTERVENTIONS: After undergoing preanesthetic evaluation, patients were asked to complete a survey listing which of the nine most popular nutraceuticals currently available on the market they were using. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 1017 surveys were submitted over a period of five months, with 32% being poorly completed and thus discarded. Of the remaining 755 valid surveys, 482 patients used at least one nutraceutical agent. 90% of these patients were using vitamins, 43% garlic extracts, 32% Gingko Biloba, 30% St. John's Wort, 18% Ma Huang, 12% Ecchinaceae, 10% Aloe, 8% Cascare, 3% licorice. CONCLUSION: A significant population of patients scheduled for an elective surgical procedure are self-administering nutraceutical agents. Some of these agents have the potential to cause serious drug interactions and hemodynamic instability during surgery. Hence, it may be important to identify patients self-administering these medications, during the preoperative period.

Adolescent↗

Sex and depot-specific stimulation of creatine kinase B in rat adipose tissues by gonadal steroids.

We report a sex- and depot-specific response of rat adipose tissues to gonadal steroids. The epididymal fat pad in male rats responded to androgens (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone; DHT), but not to 17beta-estradiol (E2), by increased specific activity of the brain type isozyme of creatine kinase (CK). In female rats, the parametrial fat as well as the fat surrounding the spleen responded to E2 but not to dihydrotestosterone. In both sexes, subcutaneous fat from the inguinal, abdominal or thigh region did not respond to any sex steroid. The parametrial fat showed increasing responsiveness to E2 during postnatal development, in parallel to the response of the uterus. In cycling female rats, parametrial fat showed the highest basal activity of CK at estrus; stimulation by E2 was achieved on all the other days of the cycle. Both phytoestrogens and diethylstilbestrol stimulated CK activity in both parametrial and spleen fat, in parallel to their estrogenic potencies; parametrial fat also responded to progesterone. The stimulation of CK activity in parametrial fat by E2 was completely blocked by actinomycin D or cycloheximide. Treatment with the antiestrogen, tamoxifen, caused moderate stimulation of CK activity in parametrial fat as well as partial inhibition of E2 stimulation of CK activity; the "pure" antiestrogen ICI 164,384 had no agonistic effect and completely blocked the E2 effect. Ovariectomy caused an increased response to E2 without changes in the basal CK activity, but did not lead to any response to DHT. As well as being a reliable response marker, the differential modulation of CK activity can thus serve to distinguish adipose cells from different sources.

Adipose Tissue↗

Estrogen stimulation of creatine kinase B specific activity in 3T3L1 adipocytes after their differentiation in culture: dependence on estrogen receptor.

We have demonstrated previously that rat adipose tissue showed sex and depot-specific responses to gonadal steroids. The epididymal fat pad in males responded exclusively to androgens by increased specific activity of the brain type isozyme of creatine kinase (CK). In females, the parametrial adipose tissue responded exclusively to estrogens. The present study was undertaken to follow the responsiveness to steroid hormones, and the presence of estrogen receptors (ER), in 3T3L1 cells during their differentiation from pre-adipocytes to adipocytes. In pre-adipocytes in which the basal CK specific activity is low, there was no CK response to 17beta estradiol (E2) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Differentiation of the cells into adipocytes was accompanied by increased basal CK activity which was stimulated by E2, but not by DHT. Responsiveness to E2 began 5 days after switching pre-adipocytes to differentiation medium. Upon differentiation, ER became demonstrable in the cell nuclei by staining with FITC labeled anti-idiotypic antibody (clone 1D5) directed against the steroid binding domain of ER. The response to E2 was time-dependent and blocked completely by cycloheximide or actinomycin D. 1D5 itself, which has an estrogen mimetic effect, stimulated CK activity in the cells similarly to E2. The antiestrogen tamoxifen which also stimulated CK activity in the adipocytes, completely blocked E2 action. The 'pure' antagonist of E2, ICI 164,384 and the tissue-selective antiestrogens, raloxifene or tamoxifen methiodide were also complete antagonists with no agonistic effects. The response of the 3T3L1 adipocytes to E2 was upregulated by 1,25(OH)2D3. Moreover, IGF1 was also a potent stimulator of CK in these cells, and therefore may mediate partially the stimulation by E2. Transient transfection of the pre-adipocytes with ER permitted E2 induction of CK. Thus, the appearance of ER and concomitant responsiveness to E2 is another hormone-related change occurring in 3T3L1 cells during differentiation, in addition to changes such as development of insulin responsiveness. The interactions in this system provide a useful in vitro model for investigating the development of responsiveness to E2.

3T3 Cells↗

A permanently charged tamoxifen derivative displays anticancer activity and improved tissue selectivity in rodents.

A quaternized form of tamoxifen (TAM), tamoxifen methiodide (TMI), was shown to demonstrate very low brain uptake compared to TAM and, unexpectedly, was considerably less estrogenic than TAM in the uterus. The agonist activity of TMI in the bone was similar to that of TAM. TMI manifested significant dose-dependent tumoricidal activity with a rapid onset of action against MCF-7 human breast cancer implants in nude mice and a mean reduction in tumor size of 60% over six weeks.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Tissue selective action of tamoxifen methiodide, raloxifene and tamoxifen on creatine kinase B activity in vitro and in vivo.

We have compared the cell and tissue selective estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities of tamoxifen, raloxifene, ICI 164,384 and a permanently ionized derivative of tamoxifen--tamoxifen methiodide (TMI). This non-steroidal antiestrogen has limited ability to cross the blood brain barrier and is therefore less likely to cause the central nervous system disturbances caused by tamoxifen. We have used the stimulation of the specific activity of the "estrogen induced protein", creatine kinase BB, as a response marker in bone, cartilage, uterine and adipose cells and in rat skeletal tissues, uterus and mesometrial adipose tissue. In vitro, TMI, tamoxifen and raloxifene mimicked the agonistic action of 17beta-estradiol in ROS 17/2.8 rat osteogenic osteosarcoma, female calvaria, and SaOS2 human osteoblast cells. In Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells, tamoxifen showed reduced agonistic effects and raloxifene showed no stimulation. However, as antagonists, tamoxifen and raloxifene were equally effective in Ishikawa or SaOS2 cells. In immature rats, all four of the antiestrogens inhibited estrogen action in diaphysis, epiphysis, uterus and mesometrial adipose tissue; when administered alone, tamoxifen stimulated creatine kinase (CK) specific activity in all these tissues. Raloxifene and TMI, however, stimulated only the skeletal tissues and had no stimulatory effect in the uterus or mesometrial fat, and the pure antiestrogen ICI 164,384 showed no stimulatory effect in any of the tissues. The simultaneous injection of estrogen, plus an antiestrogen which acted as an agonist, resulted in lower CK activity than after injection of either agent alone. These differential effects, in vivo and in vitro, may point the way to a wider therapeutic choice of an appropriate antiestrogen which, although antagonizing E2 action in mammary cancer, can still protect against osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease and not stimulate the uterus with its attendant undesirable changes, or interfere with the beneficial action of E2 in the brain.

Adipocytes↗

Stimulation of creatine kinase specific activity in human osteoblast and endometrial cells by estrogens and anti-estrogens and its modulation by calciotropic hormones.

We have previously demonstrated sex-specific stimulation of creatine kinase specific activity (CK) in bone cells both in vivo and in vitro, in primary culture cells derived from rat and human bone and in established human bone-derived cell lines. We found that the female-derived cell line, SaOS-2, responded to 17 beta-estradiol (E2) by increased CK specific activity. The effects of E2 on the CK activity in SaOS-2 cells was inhibited by 100-fold excess of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (Tam) as well as by the other antiestrogen, ICI 164,384. Tam by itself had some stimulatory effect whereas ICI 164,384 showed no estrogenic activity. We also demonstrated the estrogenic-like effect of another anti-estrogen, raloxifene (Ral), which is agonist only in the SaOS-2 osteoblast-like cells but not in the human endometrial, Ishikawa cell line. Ishikawa cells respond to E2 and to Tam by increased CK activity. In both osteoblasts and endometrial cell lines, Ral and Tam were inhibitory in the presence of E2. The effects of E2 on SaOS-2 cells are at least partially mediated by the estrogen receptor (ER) at the level of transcription as demonstrated by transient transfection experiments using the human creatine kinase promoter chloramphenicol acetyltransferase in these cells. Pretreatment of SaOS-2 with calcitropic hormones, either 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) or human parathyroid hormone (1-34) (hPTH(1-34)) increased the stimulation of CK by E2 by 40-60% relative to E2 alone and significantly increased the sensitivity of the cells to E2 by lowering the effective hormonal dose needed for stimulation of CK by E2 by 100-fold. This stimulatory effect of pretreatment of the cells with 1,25(OH)2D3 was due to a 2.5-fold increase in the level of ER expression as measured directly by enzyme immunoassay in the SaOS-2/1 subline. The increase in the responsiveness to E2 by hPTH(1-34) was not due to an increase in ER level in the cells. We can conclude that in cell cultures as in vivo, Ral shows different effects depending on the cell type, namely estrogenic-like activity in skeletal cells but not in uterine cells. We can also conclude that as with rat-derived cells, in bone cells derived from human bone 1,25(OH)2D3 increased the sensitivity to E2 due to an increase in the number of ER in the cells, whereas PTH(1-34) augmented the response to E2 without increasing ER, by another, as yet unknown, mechanism. These studies suggest that the treatment of pathological bone disorders may be improved by combined hormone therapy.

Calcitriol↗

Stimulation of creatine kinase activity in rat skeletal tissue in vivo and in vitro by protease-resistant variants of parathyroid hormone fragments.

We have reported that mid-region fragments of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH), exemplified by hPTH-(28-48), stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and increased the specific activity of the brain-type isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK) in both skeletal-derived cell cultures (ROS 17/2.8 cells) and immature rat epiphyseal cartilage and diaphyseal bone, without stimulating cyclic AMP synthesis which is a prerequisite for bone resorption. In the present study, substitution of amino acids in hPTH-(28-48), which resulted in increased resistance to proteolysis, produced variants that stimulated skeletal systems at two orders of magnitude lower concentration than the wild-type fragment. We modified hPTH-(28-48) at Leu-37 by replacement with Met, Thr or Val. Under conditions in which 20% of the native hPTH-(28-48) resisted proteolysis by cathepsin D for 6 h, approx. 40% of the L37V mutant and 70% of the L37T mutant remained intact. Substitution of Met for Phe-34 in addition to Thr for Leu-37, or the substitution of Met for Phe-34 alone, produced 100%-resistant fragments. These variants at residue 34 caused maximal stimulation of CK in ROS 17/2.8 cells at 0.24 nM compared with 24 nM for hPTH-(28-48). The double mutant stimulated CK activity significantly in immature rats, at a minimum dose of 12.5 ng/rat, and caused maximal stimulation at 125 ng/rat, a 10-fold lower dose than for hPTH-(28-48). The effect of the double mutant lasted up to 24 h which differs from the stimulation by hPTH-(28-48) in which CK specific activity returns to the control level at 24 h. This same dose also significantly stimulated CK activity in gonadectomized rats. These results show the advantage of using protease-resistant mid-region variants of hPTH-(28-48) to stimulate bone cells, in terms of lower doses and longer duration of effectiveness, both in vitro and in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Pretreatment with 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D or 24,25(OH)2 vitamin D increases synergistically responsiveness to sex steroids in skeletal-derived cells.

We demonstrated previously that vitamin D metabolites modulate the response of bone and cartilage cells to 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) both in cell cultures and in vivo. In the present study, we investigated to what extent pretreatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 or 24,25(OH)2D3 would reduce the minimal effective dose of E2, DHT or progesterone (P) required for stimulation of DNA synthesis and creatine kinase specific activity in cultured osteoblast-like ROS 17/2.8 cells and in rat embryo epiphyseal cartilage cells, and to what extent such pretreatment would increase the maximal response. We measured responses to sex steroids after pretreatment of the cells for 5 days with 0.02% ethanol vehicle or with the vitamin D metabolites 1,25(OH)2D3 (0.12 nM), or 24,25(OH)2D3 (1.2 nM) singly or in combination. Pretreatment of ROS 17/2.8 cells with 1,25(OH)2D3, but not 24,25(OH)2D3, increased synergistically their response to E2 but not to P, and did not affect their lack of response to DHT. Pretreatment of epiphyseal cartilage cells with either 1,25(OH)2D3 or 24,25(OH)2D3 increased synergistically their DNA synthetic response to all three steroids, but their CK response only to E2 or DHT. The minimal dose for causing a significant response to E2 in ROS 17/2.8 cells or to either E2 or DHT in epiphyseal cartilage cells was reduced 10-fold after pretreatment with vitamin D metabolites. After pretreatment, the maximal response was more than doubled in ROS 17/2.8 cells; epiphyseal cartilage cells showed a similar 10-fold decrease in the dose required for maximal response to E2 or DHT; the improvement in the response to P was significant only for DNA synthesis. We conclude that pretreatment with the appropriate vitamin D metabolite(s) both reduces by an order of magnitude, or more, the amount of sex steroids needed to stimulate skeletal derived cells and increases synergistically the maximal response of the cells.

24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3↗

13C NMR kinetic studies of the rapid stimulation of glucose metabolism by estrogen in immature rat uterus.

Glucose metabolism in control and estrogen stimulated rat uteri was investigated using 13C NMR spectroscopy. By employing an NMR adapted perifusion system, and developing protocols and methods based on the application of [1-13C]glucose labeling, it was possible to measure, with a temporal resolution of 10 min, the kinetics of glucose consumption, lactate production and 13C incorporation into glutamate, alanine and glycogen. In control immature rat uteri, under aerobic conditions, the rates (+/- SEM) of [1-13C]glucose consumption and [3-13C]lactate production were 24 +/- 2 and 7.5 +/- 0.5 mmol/g wet weight/h. The rates of synthesis of [4-13C]glutamate, [3-13C]alanine and 13C labeling of glycogen at C1 of its glucose moieties were significantly lower and were in the range 0.3-0.6 mmol/g wet weight/h. Thus, ca 35% of the labeled glucose was accounted for by the glycolytic and other observed pathways. In vitro stimulation of the uteri by estrogen was found to increase significantly, within 1 h, glucose consumption by 80%, lactate production by 150% and glutamate and glycogen synthesis by 150%, in parallel to a rapid hormonal induction of mRNA for the brain type isozyme of creatine kinase.

Animals↗

Age dependence and modulation by gonadectomy of the sex-specific response of rat diaphyseal bone to gonadal steroids.

We have previously reported that diaphyseal bone of prepubertal rats responds in a sex-specific manner to gonadal steroids, 24 h after steroid injection, by increases in creatine kinase (CK) specific activity and the rate of DNA synthesis. We have also shown that hormonal intervention abolished the sex-specific response of diaphyseal bone to sex steroids. In the present study, we examined the responsiveness of diaphyseal bone and cartilage to gonadal steroids in male and female Wistar-derived rats at ages between 5 days and 1 yr. In both diaphyseal bone and cartilage of untreated control rats, a peripubertal peak of CK specific activity was seen, which was more pronounced in females. Diaphyseal bone, unlike epiphyseal cartilage, responded specifically to a single injection of 17 beta-estradiol (E2; 5 micrograms/rat) in females and to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 50 micrograms/rat) in males. The highest response occurred peripubertally, but was skewed toward prepubertal ages in males and postpubertal ages in females. To study the effect of gonadectomy on this sex-specific response of diaphyseal bone, rats were gonadectomized at the age of 24 or 180 days and from 4 days to 4 weeks thereafter were challenged with either E2 or DHT. Diaphyseal bones of gonadectomized rats of either sex responded to both E2 and DHT, beginning 7 days after surgery. Thus, in gonadectomized rats, there was a loss of the sex specificity of response to steroid hormones, which could be restored by replenishment, by five daily injections, of the characteristic hormone of each sex. In the epiphyseal cartilage, the same replenishment schedule resulted in acquisition of a sex-specific response in both sexes, not seen previously. These data in conjunction with the previously reported hormonal modulation of sex-specific responses, are consistent with a developmental acquisition of diaphyseal sex steroid specificity that requires for its maintenance the presence of appropriate amounts of the characteristic gonadal steroid in each sex.

Aging↗