Biomedical subjects

C Laugier

Publications and source records attributed to C Laugier.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Phospholipase A2 inhibitors regulate the proliferation of normal uterine cells.

The effects of inhibitors of phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase and cytochrome P450 activity on the proliferation of normal rat uterine stromal cells (UIII) were studied. At non-cytotoxic doses, inhibitors of cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase and cytochrome P450 activity had no effect; UIII cells did not lose their ability to synthesize and secrete arachidonic acid metabolites, mainly prostaglandin I2 and prostaglandin E2, after successive passages. Inhibition of prostaglandin production did not affect their proliferation. In contrast, phospholipase A2 inhibitors significantly reduced UIII cell proliferation in a reversible and dose-dependent manner. Aristolochic acid was the most potent inhibitor with an IC50 of 0.3 mumol/l on day 7 of culture. Moreover, low doses of arachidonic acid stimulated UIII cell proliferation. Thus the proliferation of normal uterine stromal cells appears to be independent of arachidonic acid oxygenated metabolites, contrary to what is observed in tumor cells, but requires an intact phospholipase A2 pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Prostaglandin E2 production by uterine stromal cell line UIII: regulation by estradiol and evidence of an ethanol action.

We have recently established a uterine stromal cell line (UIII). The purpose of the present study was to determine whether these cells have retained the ability to produce and release prostaglandins after several passages and whether this production was regulated. UIII cells, grown in basal conditions, released a very low amount (40.6 +/- 2.9 pg/24h/10(6) cells) of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) though cellular content was more elevated (192 +/- 23 pg/10(6) cells). Ethanol increased the cellular content but decreased the release of PGE2, whereas estradiol 17 beta (E2) increased it in a dose-dependent manner, but had no effect on the cellular content. The PGE2 release by cells grown in medium containing 10 microM arachidonate (AA) reached 1.39 +/- 0.05 ng/24h/10(6) cells, and was further increased to 2.1 +/- 0.1 ng/24 h/10(6) cells by the addition of ethanol. Under the latter condition, E2 was ineffective. This study also showed that UIII cells expressed an immunoreactive pancreatic type 14 kD PLA2. A substantial increased 14 kD PLA2 expression was observed in ethanol-treated cells, suggesting that ethanol-effect on prostaglandin production might be partly mediated by PLA2 increase. Medium supplementation with arachidonate also resulted in a significant increase of intracellular 14 kD PLA2 expression. The present results showed that uterine stromal UIII cells have retained the enzymatic machinery to produce PGE2. Moreover these data demonstrate that ethanol and E2 affect differently uterine PGE2 production.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Regulation of quail oviduct phospholipase A2 activity by estradiol.

The phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity was measured in the oviduct of immature and estradiol benzoate (EB)-treated quails. The pH profiles demonstrate the presence of two PLA2 isoforms in the avian oviduct: a neutral isoform, optimally active at pH 7-7.5 and calcium independent, responsible for most of the hydrolytic activity in the immature oviduct and poorly stimulated by estradiol; and an alkaline isoform, optimally active at pH 8-9.5 and calcium dependent, with little activity in the immature tissue but markedly stimulated by EB. After EB injection, PLA2 activation occurs at first during the prereplicative period of oviduct cells (+172% at 6 h), it is dose dependent from 0.01 to 1 mg/kg EB and can be prevented by cycloheximide together with ornithine decarboxylase activation. Moreover, estradiol was inactive on cell-free extracts of immature oviducts. These results suggest that EB increases PLA2 activity through gene activation and de novo protein synthesis. The correlation between the early stimulation of PLA2 activity and the proliferation of oviduct cells is discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Fluorimetric studies of calmodulin interactions with antiestrogens.

Recent cumulative data have shown that tamoxifen and its metabolites inhibit the activation of cAMP phosphodiesterase by calmodulin (CaM). In this study, the interaction of antiestrogens with CaM was investigated using a hydrophobic fluorescent probe, 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS). Tamoxifen (TAM) enhanced the fluorescence of TNS bound to CaM and shifted the emission maximum to lower wavelengths. These effects were concentration-dependent. No change in the apparent affinity of TNS for CaM was noted in the presence of TAM. These results suggest that TAM bound to CaM at sites distinct from those of TNS and induced a change in TNS environment. Interaction of TAM metabolites with CaM depended on the degree of alteration of the dimethylaminoethoxy side-chain. Thus, N-desmethylation or N-di-desmethylation notably reduced the interaction of the drug with the macromolecule by 24 and 77% respectively. Side-chain deamination to the primary alcohol (metabolite Y) totally suppressed the interaction. The ability of these different metabolites to interact with CaM correlates with their efficiency to inhibit CaM-dependent cAMP phosphodiesterase and their growth inhibitory potency reported previously.

Calmodulin↗

PubMed1993

Normal rat uterine stromal cells in continuous culture: characterization and progestin regulation of growth.

Stromal cells were isolated from rat uterus by sequential enzymatic digestion and density fractionation on Percoll gradient and subcultured by trypsinization. Two stable subcultures, named UII and UIII, were obtained. UII cells exhibited a spindle-shaped, elongated, fibroblast-like morphology, while UIII cells were rounded and polygonal. Both cell types expressed the intermediate filament vimentin but not cytokeratin, nor desmin, suggesting that both were of stromal origin. In UIII cells, the presence of progesterone and prolactin (PRL) receptors was demonstrated by immunocytochemical and binding studies. Cross-linking and Western blotting showed that PRL receptor in UIII cells corresponded to 3 molecular forms of 54, 42 and 32 kDa. The growth properties of these cells were studied under different conditions of culture. In fetal calf serum (FCS) supplemented medium, proliferation of UIII cells was dependent on serum concentration and was not affected by estradiol and progesterone. In 10% FCS supplemented medium, the doubling time was 41.5 +/- 0.8 h. When cultured in 10% dextran-charcoal-treated FCS, cells were maintained in a viable but quiescent state. Under these conditions, progesterone was able to induce growth of these cells in a dose-dependent manner. A 3-fold increase in DNA content was measurable in 10(-7) M progesterone-treated versus control cultures after 5 days. Reduction of serum concentration from 10% to 2% abolished the effect of progesterone suggesting that this effect requires the presence of serum factor(s). In conclusion, this study showed that uterine stromal cells, in continuous culture, retained progesterone and prolactin receptors and progesterone regulation of growth.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

In vivo inhibition of basal and estrogen-induced phospholipase A2 activities by the triphenylethylene antiestrogen, tamoxifen, in immature quail oviduct.

The effects of tamoxifen on oviductal phospholipase A2 activity were studied in immature quails. Injected alone, from 0.1 to 10 mg/kg tamoxifen significantly reduced basal phospholipase A2 activity 6 h after the injection, independently of the dose used. At 24 h, maximal inhibition (-50%) was observed with 0.1 mg/kg tamoxifen, while higher doses were less effective. Combined with estradiol benzoate, tamoxifen reduced even below the control value (1 mg/kg for 24 h) the increase in phospholipase A2 activity induced by estrogen.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Opposite regulation of cAMP concentration in the quail oviduct and the mouse uterus by tamoxifen. Correlation with estrogen-antagonist and estrogen-agonist activity.

The ability of estradiol and tamoxifen to regulate cAMP levels and cAMP phosphodiesterase activities has been determined in the quail oviduct and in the mouse uterus. In the quail, tamoxifen (1 mg/kg daily for 3 days) had no effect on oviducal growth but significantly increased cAMP concentration (+49%). Injected concurrently with estradiol, tamoxifen completely inhibited oviduct growth as well as the increase of cAMP phosphodiesterase activity induced by the hormone alone and increased cAMP concentration (+229% over estradiol treated group). In the mouse, estradiol and tamoxifen displayed uterotrophic activity and increased cAMP phosphodiesterase activity. In both groups, cAMP concentration was greatly reduced (-76% in estradiol treated group; -86% in tamoxifen treated group). The opposite regulation of cAMP levels in the quail oviduct and the mouse uterus by tamoxifen reflected large differences in the contribution of calmodulin-dependent and -independent forms of phosphodiesterase to the hydrolysis of cAMP in the two models and the fact that tamoxifen stimulated the activity of the calmodulin-independent isoenzyme, while it competitively inhibited the activation of the calmodulin-dependent isoenzyme by calmodulin. Several lines of evidence strongly suggest that the regulation of cAMP levels is involved in growth-inhibiting or growth-promoting activity of tamoxifen.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

PubMed1992

Dietary alpha-linolenic acid deficiency and early uterine development in female rats.

Feeding rats a purified diet containing peanut oil with a low alpha-linolenic acid [18:3(n-3)] content resulted in lower amounts of (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly docosahexaenoic acid [22:6(n-3)], greater amounts of docosapentaenoic acid [22:5(n-6)] in uterus phospholipids, and altered postnatal uterus development when compared with rats fed a diet containing peanut and rapeseed oils. Maximal differences in uterine growth, as measured by uterine weight, protein and DNA content, occurred between d 24 and 30 postpartum and disappeared near the end of sexual development (d 40). The induction of the progesterone receptor was not affected, and serum estradiol concentrations were not significantly reduced in deficient animals. Moreover, growth response of the uterus to low doses of 17 beta-estradiol (less than 5 micrograms/kg) was significantly reduced in ovariectomized animals fed the diet containing only peanut oil. However, the maximal response of the uterus, observed with higher 17 beta-estradiol doses (5-50 micrograms/kg), was not affected. Because the two diets used differed in the content of alpha-linolenic acid, it is likely that alpha-linolenic acid deficiency in animals fed the diet containing only peanut oil was the cause of the affected uterine development.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Differential regulation of calmodulin-dependent and -independent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases from oviduct by fatty acids.

Regulation of calmodulin-independent and -dependent cAMP phosphodiesterases from quail oviduct by various fatty acids was studied. The calmodulin-independent form was slightly activated by low concentrations (20 microM) of oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acid, higher concentrations were inhibitory. The basal activity of the calmodulin-dependent form was activated by linoleic acid and to a lesser extent by arachidonic acid at low concentrations and inhibited by higher concentrations of the two fatty acids. In contrast, arachidonic acid was a potent reversible inhibitor of calmodulin in the activation of this enzyme (IC50: 20 microM) whereas linoleic acid was inactive from 10 to 150 microM. The present results strongly suggest that the differential regulation of cAMP phosphodiesterases by these fatty acids could profoundly influence the level of cAMP in the oviduct and thus its subsequent effects.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

PubMed1991

Dissociated effects of tamoxifen on growth and on progesterone receptor induction in quail oviduct.

The estrogen agonist and antagonist activities of tamoxifen on growth and progesterone receptor induction were studied in the immature quail oviduct. Tamoxifen alone, when administered for 3 days at doses ranging from 0.01-10 mg/kg, had no effect on oviducal weight, DNA, and protein content, but significantly increased progesterone receptor concentration. When combined with estradiol benzoate (0.1 mg/kg daily for 3 days), tamoxifen completely inhibited the trophic action of estradiol while it only reduced the progesterone receptor concentration in the oviduct by 50%. This latter effect reflected more a reduction in the progesterone-responsive cell population of the tissue rather than a true estrogen antagonist effect on this specific protein induction. These results and previous data from this laboratory support the conclusions that in this model system: (1) the mechanisms involved in the induction of estrogen-sensitive cell proliferation and progesterone receptor synthesis are independent, and (2) the estrogen-antagonist activity of tamoxifen on cell proliferation is mediated through an estrogen receptor-independent pathway. Thus, the immature quail oviduct model system is particularly relevant to more detailed studies on the molecular modes of action of synthetic antiestrogens.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Growth inhibition and the regulation of cyclic AMP by the triphenylethylene anti-estrogen tamoxifen in the quail oviduct.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the regulation of cAMP by tamoxifen in quail oviduct. A single injection of tamoxifen to immature female quails induced a transient activation of adenylate cyclase. Enzyme activity began to increase 3 h after the injection, peaked at 6 h and then dropped to control level at 12 h. The same time-response curves were observed following the injection of estradiol benzoate or estradiol benzoate + tamoxifen. Moreover, adenylcyclase exhibited the same sensitivity to exogenous activators (guanylylimidodiphosphate and forskolin) in the different treated groups. Phosphodiesterase activity was left unchanged during the prereplicative period and cAMP concentration was significantly increased at 6 h (+ 44.3%). Then, cAMP concentration continued to increase (+ 73.8% at 24 h) while cAMP phosphodiesterase and adenylcyclase activities remained at control levels. Injected concurrently with estradiol benzoate, tamoxifen completely inhibited the growth promoting effect of estradiol. Tamoxifen also inhibited the activation of adenylcyclase and cAMP phosphodiesterase induced by the hormone alone during the proliferative phase of the tissue. Moreover, the combined treatment led to a sustained elevation of cAMP in the oviduct, whereas estradiol benzoate alone decreased the level of cAMP. These results and those of our previous studies showing a significant correlation between the growth inhibitory potency of triphenylethylene derivatives in vivo and their efficiency to inhibit calmodulin-dependent cAMP phosphodiesterase in vitro, strongly suggest that the differential regulation of cAMP levels by estradiol and tamoxifen is essential for the growth promoting or growth inhibiting activities of these molecules.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

PubMed1990

Modulation of quail oviduct adenylate cyclase activity by estradiol and progesterone.

Oviduct adenylate cyclase activity of the quail was measured by radiochemical analysis following different hormonal treatments. A single injection of estradiol benzoate (EB) to immature female quails resulted in a prereplicative surge of adenylate cyclase activity. A second surge of enzyme activity was observed during the proliferative phase induced by EB. Estradiol-17 alpha, estrone, estriol and testosterone were ineffective. Tamoxifen completely inhibits the growth-promoting effect of EB and the second surge of adenylate cyclase activity but does not inhibit the prereplicative increase of enzyme activity. This prereplicative increase of adenylate cyclase activity was also observed, even in the absence of increased plasma estradiol, when estradiol-17 beta (E2) was perfused through the hepatic portal vein. Moreover, E2 had no effect on enzyme activity when added directly to the oviduct homogenate preparation, at concentrations ranging from 10(-9) to 10(-7) M. In response to progesterone injection, oviduct adenylate cyclase activity followed a different pattern, beginning its increase after 3 h and remaining elevated up to 24 h. The activation by estradiol was independent of the presence of guanylylimidodiphosphate. Moreover, the enzyme was more sensitive to forskolin at submaximal concentration in estradiol treated birds than in control. These results demonstrate that transient activation of adenylate cyclase at the early stages of the action of estradiol does not occur through the classic nuclear receptor-gene activation pathway or a membrane receptor mediated process, but involves an indirect pathway, yet to be defined.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed1989

Biochemical characterization and subunit structure of quail oviduct progesterone receptor.

The cytosolic quail oviduct progesterone receptor (PR) was studied under conditions that lead either to its stabilization or activation. Sedimentation coefficients and Stokes radii were respectively 7.8 +/- 0.2 S and 7.6 +/- 0.8 nm for the non transformed receptor (8S PR) and 3.9 +/- 0.4S and 4.8 +/- 0.6 nm for the transformed receptor (4S PR). The calculated molecular weight was 261 +/- 29 KDa for the 8S PR and 83 +/- 10 KDa for the 4S PR. Density gradient centrifugation analyses showed that the monoclonal antibody BF4, directed against the 90 KDa hsp of the chick oviduct, cross-reacted with the quail 8S PR but not with the 4S PR. In contrast, polyclonal IgG-G6 antibodies, raised against the purified non transformed chick PR, cross-reacted with the non transformed as well as the transformed quail PR. The quail 8S PR was partially purified using NADAc-Sepharose affinity chromatography and DEAE-Sephacel chromatography from cytosol prepared with protease inhibitors. The subunit structure of the purified quail and chick 8S PR were compared using SDS-PAGE, photoaffinity labeling and western immunoblotting. The quail PR was composed of two different proteins: a non-hormone binding protein (Mr approximately 90 KDa) which exhibited the same properties as the 90 KDa hsp protein of the chick oviduct and a single hormone binding subunit (Mr approximately 101 KDa). Based on its binding and immunological properties, this protein corresponded to the "B" form of the chick PR but was significantly smaller. In the quail cytosol or in purified PR preparations the "A" form of the PR was virtually absent; this observation is discussed.

Affinity Labels↗

PubMed1989

Effects of tamoxifen, tamoxifen metabolites, and nafoxidine on adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase: correlations with growth inhibitory activities but not estrogen receptor affinities.

Triphenylethylenes [Tamoxifen (TAM), TAM metabolites, and nafoxidine] were found to inhibit Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity of the quail oviduct, whereas 17 beta-estradiol was inactive. The Ca2+-CaM-independent PDE activity was not affected by triphenylethylenes, suggesting that they do not interact directly with the active site of the enzyme. Kinetic analysis indicated that these drugs competitively inhibited the activation of PDE by CaM with the following potencies: N-desmethyltamoxifen, Ki = 3 microM; metabolite Z, trans-4-hydroxytamoxifen, and TAM Ki = 5 microM; nafoxidine, Ki = 8.5 microM; and metabolite Y and cis-4-hydroxytamoxifen, Ki = 50 microM. Injected alone into immature quails, none of these drugs significantly affected oviduct weight. When administrated together with estradiol benzoate, these drugs reduced the trophic effect of estradiol in a dose-dependent relationship, with ID50 values ranging from 0.07 mg/kg for N-desmethyltamoxifen to 2.02 mg/kg for cis-4-hydroxytamoxifen. The order of growth inhibitory potency was not correlated with estrogen receptor affinities, but was the same as that reported for PDE inhibition. This correlation suggests that interaction of antiestrogen with Ca2+-CaM dependent PDE may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the estrogen antagonist activity of these drugs.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

PubMed1989

Modification of cell evagination and cell differentiation in quail oviduct hyperstimulated by progesterone.

Quail oviduct development is controlled by sex steroid hormones. Estrogen (E) induce cell proliferation, formation of tubular glands by epithelial cell evagination and cell differentiation. Progesterone (P) strongly increases the secretory process in E-treated quails, but inhibits cell proliferation, cell evagination and differentiation of ciliated cells. The balance between E and P is critical for harmonious development of the oviduct. After 6 daily injections of two doses of estradiol benzoate (10 or 20 micrograms/d) and high doses of P (4 mg/d), tubular gland formation by epithelial cell evagination was inhibited, while epithelial cell proliferation occurred, as shown by the height of the villi and the increase in DNA. Secretory processes were strongly stimulated. Ovalbumin, a tubular gland cell marker and avidin, a mucous cell marker, were localized by immunofluorescence and immunogold labeling. Ovalbumin was localized only in the rudimentary tubular glands, whereas avidin was dispersed throughout the secretory cells. High doses of progesterone inhibited tubular gland cell proliferation, disturbed the distribution of avidin and inhibited differentiation of ciliated cells. Ovalbumin synthesis occurred only in epithelial cells which were evaginated despite the hyperstimulation. Ovalbumin gene expression appeared highly dependent upon the cell position.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Heterogeneity of progesterone receptor expression in epithelial cells of immature and differentiating quail oviduct.

The localization of progesterone receptor (PR) in the quail oviduct was investigated before and after the onset of sexual maturation using an immunohistochemical technique. PR was revealed exclusively in nuclei of target cells whatever the hormonal state of the tissue (immature or not, pretreated or not with progesterone). In the immature or ovariectomized quail oviduct, PR was principally localized in the undifferentiated epithelial cells; some mesothelial cells and a very few stromal cells expressed the PR. Only 40-45% of the epithelial cells were immunoreactive. These positive cells were mainly localized in the furrows of the villi where further evagination of the epithelium will occur to form the tubular glands. The onset of sexual maturation was accompanied by an increase of the proportion of positive epithelial cells and stromal cells. In estradiol-treated animals, more than 90% of the tubular gland cells were strongly stained while only 40% of the luminal epithelial cells were immunoreactive. Our results show that there are two subpopulations of epithelial cells: those expressing the PR before the onset of sexual maturation even in ovariectomized quails (constitutive expression) and those expressing the PR during sexual maturation or after estrogen injection (inductive expression). These results, associated with previously published studies dealing with the cytodifferentiation of epithelial cells during natural development or after various hormonal treatments in ovariectomized animals, suggest that the first are the progenitors of tubular gland cells, and the second the progenitors of ciliated and goblet cells. In stromal cells, PR expression is also inducuible.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Effect of estrogen on adenosine 3'5',cyclic monophosphate in quail oviduct: possible involvement in estradiol-activated growth.

Previous studies have shown that estradiol indirectly stimulated the proliferation of oviduct epithelial cells in the quail. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of estradiol and other steroid hormones on the cAMP concentration. The ability of forskolin, a specific activator of the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase, to induce oviduct cell proliferation and specific protein synthesis (progesterone receptor) in the absence of estrogen was also tested. Administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) to immature female quails produced a transient surge in oviduct cAMP concentration. After EB injection, cAMP concentration increased by 36.7% after 6 h and returned to control values after 12 h. This rise in oviduct cAMP concentration preceded the beginning of DNA synthesis. The same effect was observed even in the absence of increased plasma estradiol, when the hormone was perfused through the hepatic portal vein. Estriol, estrone, and testosterone failed to elevate cAMP concentrations. After repeated EB injections, the oviduct cAMP concentration declined below the control value (-66% after 72 h). A similar drop in the cAMP concentration was observed in developing quails during the proliferative phase of the luminal epithelial and glandular cells. Administration of forskolin to immature female quail pretreated with EB rapidly increased the oviduct cAMP concentration, induced a burst of DNA synthesis, and shortened the prereplicative period. In addition, forskolin administration did not increase the progesterone receptor concentration. These results demonstrate that cAMP is involved in the mechanism by which estradiol indirectly stimulates oviduct epithelial cell proliferation in the quail. The events that may take place during the prereplicative period and the antiproliferative effect of progesterone through a sustained increase in the cAMP concentration in the oviduct are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in the quail oviduct: hormonal regulation and involvement in estrogen-induced growth.

A previous study has shown that cAMP was involved in estrogen-activated growth in the quail oviduct. The present study was undertaken to investigate the hormonal regulation of 3',5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in the oviduct. Tamoxifen, an antiestrogen compound, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, were also used to determine the relationship between estradiol-induced cell proliferation and cAMP phosphodiesterase activity. Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase was almost completely restricted to the cytosolic fraction (108,000 X g supernatant) of the quail oviduct homogenate. By affinity chromatography on immobilized calmodulin, we separated and partially characterized three different forms of the enzyme. They differed in their cyclic nucleotide specificities, kinetics, and sensitivity to calmodulin. In vivo, estradiol benzoate (EB) modulated crude cytosolic phosphodiesterase activity. cAMP and cyclic-GMP hydrolyzing activities increased between 12 and 48 h after a single injection of EB and then declined to return to control value by 96 h. Estrone, 17 alpha-estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone were ineffective, while estriol slightly increased cyclic-GMP hydrolyzing activity. When administered with EB, tamoxifen drastically increased oviduct cAMP concentration while it completely inhibited oviduct growth and the activation of cAMP phosphodiesterase induced by EB alone. Moreover, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine produced a dose-dependent inhibition of oviduct cell proliferation when given with EB. These results demonstrate that the activation of cAMP phosphodiesterase after an injection of EB and the subsequent decrease in oviduct cAMP concentration are necessary for the epithelial cells to achieve their proliferative cycle.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗