Biomedical subjects

C Susini

Publications and source records attributed to C Susini.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

Basic fibroblast growth factor induces proliferation of a rat pancreatic cancer cell line. Inhibition by somatostatin.

AR4-2J, a rat pancreatic acinar-tumor cell line, was used to investigate long-term effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and somatostatin on pancreatic cancer cells. We observed that bFGF stimulated cell proliferation when cells were cultured in serum-free medium. The effect was dose-dependent with half-maximal and maximal effects at 25 pM and I nM bFGF, respectively. The somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 (SMS) decreased the growth-promoting effect of bFGF. The maximal effect was observed at I nM SMS and the half-maximal effect at 20 pM SMS. Characterization of bFGF receptor-binding properties with [125I]bFGF revealed that AR4-2J cells exhibited 2 classes of bFGF binding site with respective KD values of 47 pM and 3 nM and binding capacities of 14 fmol and 0.9 pmol/10(6) cells. High-affinity receptors correlated with bFGF stimulation of AR4-2J cell growth, suggesting that the effects of bFGF are receptor-mediated.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Stimulation of rat pancreatic tumoral AR4-2J cell proliferation by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide.

In the present work the effects of the novel neuropeptide Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Peptide (PACAP) on both AR4-2J cell growth and the modulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity were investigated. Both PACAP38 and the amidated form PACAP27 caused a concentration-dependent stimulation of AR4-2J cell growth; the maximal increase was seen at 1 nmol/L (30% above control, P less than 0.01) with a half-maximal effect at 0.01 nmol/L. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was also increased by PACAP in a dose-dependent manner, reaching half-maximal stimulation at 0.5 nmol/L. The addition of 1 nmol/L of somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 totally suppressed PACAP-stimulated AR4-2J cell growth. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (3 mumol/L) and 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (1 mmol/L) had no effect on cell proliferation. Treatment of cells by pertussis toxin (25 ng.mL-1.day-1) suppressed PACAP-stimulated AR4-2J cell growth but enhanced PACAP-induced stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity. It was concluded that PACAP stimulates AR4-2J cell proliferation by a mechanism that seems independent of cyclic adenosine monophosphate production. The mitogenic effect of PACAP depends on a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein and is associated with an increase of ornithine decarboxylase activity.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗

PubMed1992

Characterization of a membrane tyrosine phosphatase in AR42J cells: regulation by somatostatin.

A phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase (PTPase) activity has been characterized in the plasma membranes of confluent AR42J pancreatic tumor cells using 32P-labeled poly(Glu, Tyr) as substrate. Membrane PTPase activity exhibited an apparent Michaelis constant of 3 microM and an apparent maximal velocity of 0.9 nmol.min-1.mg-1. It was inhibited by orthovanadate, zinc, poly(Glu,Tyr) and was stimulated by EDTA and dithiothreitol. Gel filtration of solubilized plasma membranes gave a peak of enzyme activity at a relative molecular weight of 70,000. Plasma membrane PTPase activity was changed during AR42J cell growth. At the beginning of culture, the control PTPase activity was minimal. Over the 5 days of culture, PTPase activity increased to reach a maximum (3.5-fold over control activity) preceding confluency by 2 days. Then the high level of PTPase activity was sustained until confluency. Incubation of the cells with the stable somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 (SMS) resulted in a rapid and transient activation of crude membrane PTPase activity. Activation reached a maximum level within 5 min of addition and return to control levels within 20 min. The effect of SMS was dose dependent with half-maximal and maximal activation occurring at 6 pM and 0.1 nM SMS respectively.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Somatostatin 28 interacts with CCK receptor in brain and pancreas.

The ability of somatostatin analogs to interact with the binding of cholecystokinin has been studied in pancreatic and brain cortical membranes. Only the 28 amino-acid forms of somatostatin (S28), [Nle8]S28 and [Des Lys14,DTrp22]S28 were found to inhibit the binding of cholecystokinin to rat pancreatic plasma membranes and to increase the amylase release from pancreatic acini. This effect was independent of somatostatin receptor and resulted from an interaction between S28 and CCK receptor. This interaction was not observed with [Leu8, DTrp22, Tyr25]S28, indicating that this analog does not possess the biological activity of the native peptide and that the iodinated peptide could not label specific S28 receptors. S28 interacted also with CCK receptors in cortical brain membranes. Our results support the concept that S28, but not S14, may function as a regulatory molecule at CCK receptors and emphasize that S28 and S14 may be distinct neuromodulators.

Amylases↗

PubMed1990

Solubilization and characterization of active somatostatin receptors from rat pancreas.

Somatostatin receptors were solubilized from rat pancreatic membranes with the zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propane-sulfonic acid (CHAPS). The binding of an iodinated somatostatin analog [125I-Tyr3]SMS to the soluble fraction was time-dependent, saturable, and reversible. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding data indicated that the soluble extract contained a single class of somatostatin binding sites with a Kd of 0.3 nM and a Bmax of 210 fmol/mg. As observed with membrane-bound receptors, soluble binding receptors were sensitive to the GTP analog GTP gamma S indicating that they are functionally linked to a G protein. A molecular weight of about 400,000 was determined for soluble receptors under native conditions by gel filtration. In denaturing gel electrophoresis, photoaffinity labeling of soluble receptors identified a major protein of Mr = 100,000 and two minor proteins of Mr = 56,000 and 21,000. Isoelectric focusing of soluble receptors revealed that the somatostatin receptor is an acidic protein with pI 4.8. The soluble somatostatin receptor is a glycoprotein which can be specifically bound to the wheat germ agglutinin lectin and eluted by triacetyl-chitotriose.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Dual effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide on the mitogenic response of rabbit spleen lymphocytes.

The effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) have been investigated on the mitogenic response of rabbit spleen cells. Specific binding of 125I-VIP to these mononuclear cells is rapid and saturable. Analysis of binding reveals two classes of binding sites, a class of high-affinity binding sites with KD = 0.93 +/- 0.11 nM and maximal binding capacity of 2000 +/- 560 sites/cell, and a class of low-affinity binding sites with KD = 225 +/- 58 nM and maximal binding capacity of 280,000 +/- 60,000 sites/cell. The VIP regulatory effect on mitogen-stimulated rabbit spleen cell proliferation appears to be time dependent and bimodal. When VIP was added simultaneously with mitogens, it induced an inhibition of the proliferative response. With concanavalin A (Con A) or pokeweed mitogen (PWM), addition of 10(-8) M VIP resulted in a maximal 30% inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation after 96 h of culture. This inhibitory effect was significant at concentrations from 10(-8)-10(-6) M and half-maximal inhibition was obtained with 1.2 x 10(-9) M VIP. By contrast, when rabbit spleen cells were preincubated for 18 h with VIP alone, the lymphocyte proliferative response to Con A was increased. However, this increase was mitogen-selective, since it was only observed when the T-cell mitogen Con A was used. The maximal response was obtained after 96 h of culture in the presence of Con A. The VIP stimulatory effect was dose-dependent with a maximal effect at 10(-7) M and a half-maximal effect at 1.7 x 10(-9) M VIP. The effect of VIP was also time-dependent, since a 6 h preincubation was sufficient to induce a significant increase in the proliferative response which was maximal after an 18 h preincubation.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Italian research on computers and the physically handicapped.

Many categories of handicapped people experience serious difficulties in communicating. Among these are the deaf, whose language development is retarded primarily on account of poor speech control, the deaf-blind, whose only means of communication is touch, and the motor disabled, who often lack speech control and/or the ability to make the movements required to write or type. These disabilities, often associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, negatively affect the learning and the socialization processes of handicapped children. The advent and ever-growing power of personal computers (PCs) has opened up new opportunities in providing tools through which the disabled can vastly improve their communication capabilities. This paper describes some of these developments in Italy.

Blindness↗

PubMed1990

Regulation of proliferation by fibroblast growth factor in a pancreatic cancer cell line.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent mitogen for various cell types. We report here the first study of the effects of bFGF on a digestive tract-derived cell line. The effect of bFGF on the proliferation of AR4-2J cells, tumor cells of acinar pancreatic origin, was investigated together with modulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, an intracellular event involved in cell proliferation. bFGF caused a concentration-dependent stimulation of AR4-2J cell growth, with a half maximal effect (EC50) at 22 +/- 2 pM. ODC activity, assayed by the CO2-trapping method, was also increased by bFGF in a dose-dependent manner, reaching half-maximal stimulation at 20 pM. We conclude that bFGF is a very potent growth promoting factor for cells of pancreatic origin, already effective at picomolar concentrations. The parallelism between the growth assay and the ODC activity assay implicates the involvement of ODC activity in the pathway of the mitogenic effect of bFGF. The stimulation of ODC activity therefore seems to be a reliable early marker for cell proliferation in this model.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

[Loco-regional transcatheter thrombolysis].

Eight cases of recent arterial thrombosis (average time of symptoms: 11 days) are considered: 2 popliteal and 6 prosthetic thromboses (2 aorto-bifemoral and 4 femoropopliteal by-passes). After percutaneous catheterization, with catheter tip either in contact with or inside the thrombus, urokinase was locally injected (200,000 UI bolus, and 75,000 UI with slow infusion for 24 +/- 72 hours); general heparin treatment was also administered. PTA was employed in 2 cases (1 surgical anastomosis and 1 popliteal thrombosis). Arterial recanalization was always obtained within 72 hours in 2 aorto-bifemoral and in 1/4 femoropopliteal by-passes. Patency was also obtained in the 2 popliteal thrombosis.

Catheterization, Peripheral↗

PubMed1989

Direct inhibitory effects of a somatostatin analog, SMS 201-995, on AR4-2J cell proliferation via pertussis toxin-sensitive guanosine triphosphate-binding protein-independent mechanism.

Somatostatin has been demonstrated to negatively regulate pancreatic growth in vivo. In this study we used the AR4-2J rat pancreatic acinar tumor cell line to investigate the effect of a stable somatostatin analog, SMS 201-995 (SMS) on cell proliferation. SMS induced an antiproliferative effect on both serum or epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced cell proliferation; exposure of the cells for 48 h to SMS caused a slight inhibition of serum-induced proliferation (maximal inhibition, 26%) and abolished the growth-promoting effect of EGF. Maximal effect was observed with 10 nM SMS, and half-maximal (IC50) effect with 0.06-0.1 nM SMS. Binding studies with an iodinated derivative of SMS, [125I-Tyr3]SMS, revealed the presence of a single class of high affinity binding sites on AR4-2J plasma membranes with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 0.2 +/- 0.03 nM and a binding site number of 1.1 +/- 0.07 pmol/mg protein. Addition of the nonhydrolyzable GTP analog, guanosine 5-[gamma-thio] triphosphate (GTP gamma S), increased the rate of dissociation of the specifically bound peptide in agreement with the coupling of somatostatin receptors with a GTP-binding regulatory protein. The good agreement between the IC50 for SMS inhibition of cell proliferation and the apparent Kd for binding indicates that the characterized binding sites are the somatostatin receptors that mediate the antiproliferative effect of SMS. When cells were grown in serum-free medium EGF stimulated AR4-2J cell proliferation with half-maximal (ED50) and maximal effects at 0.6 and 10 nM EGF, respectively. This stimulatory effect of EGF was mediated by specific receptors, since binding studies with [125I]EGF indicated that AR4-2J cells contained a single class of EGF receptors (13,000 sites/cell), with an affinity constant for [125I]EGF (Kd = 0.9 +/- 0.09 nM) close to the ED50 for EGF stimulation of cell growth. To examine if SMS-induced growth inhibition involved a cAMP-dependent mechanism we first studied the effect of SMS on cAMP production. SMS had no effect on basal cAMP, but completely inhibited VIP-stimulated cAMP production with an IC50 of 0.2 nM. Pertussis toxin, which is known to abolish the inhibitory effect of somatostatin on adenylate cyclase activity in AR4-2J cells, did not reverse the ability of SMS to inhibit cell proliferation as well as EGF-induced cell proliferation. These data indicate that the antiproliferative effect of SMS does not involve the GTP-binding protein-mediated negative coupling of somatostatin receptors to adenylate cyclase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗

PubMed1989

Interrelation of secretory and trophic responses in the exocrine pancreas.

This paper was addressed to know whether early events in mitogenesis (activation of the Na+/H+, activation of ornithine decarboxylase and formation of cyclic AMP) are involved in pancreatic cell proliferation and mediate secretory process. The AR4-2J cell line was used. Analogues of amiloride inhibited cell proliferation but had no effect on amylase release. Activation of ornithine decarboxylase was triggered via a CCK B receptor type not involved in pancreatic secretion. Inhibition of cyclic AMP was not involved in inhibition of cell proliferation caused by somatostatin. Specific effectors might be related either to the secretory or to the trophic pathway. Another possibility is that multiple receptor sub-classes are linked to specific pathways.

Amiloride↗

PubMed1988

Molecular characterization of the solubilized receptor of somatostatin from rat pancreatic acinar membranes.

The somatostatin receptors on rat pancreatic acinar membranes were demonstrated by use of a radioiodinated (125I-) analogue of somatostatin (SMS 204-090 or [Tyr3]SMS). The tracer was found to bind to the receptor with a Kd of 58 pM. The number of sites detected by this tracer (4.7 pmol/mg of protein) was 5-10 times higher than the number of sites previously found with other tracers. Since the level of non-specific binding was also very low as compared with findings with other tracers, 125I-204-090 might be of interest in future attempts to characterize the somatostatin receptors in the pancreas. The prelabelled membranes were solubilized with 1% CHAPS, and the solubilized complexes were found to adsorb to wheat-germ-agglutinin-coupled agarose, from which they could be eluted with 4 mM-triacetylchitotriose. The complexes within this eluate were shown by gel filtration on Trisacryl GF-2000 to have an Mr of about 400,000. The dissociation of the complexes was augmented both within the membranes as well as in the solubilized state by incubation with the GTP analogue guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, indicating that the complexes are probably functionally linked to a guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein. After SDS/slab-gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of cross-linked complexes after treatment with the heterobifunctional reagent N-5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxysuccinimide, a broad band occurred at approximately Mr 90,000 both in the membranes and in the eluates of complexes after lectin-adsorption chromatography. We conclude that the augmentation of the number of detectable sites for binding of somatostatin, as well as the very low level of non-specific binding obtained by the use of 125I-[Tyr3]SMS as tracer, has made it possible for us to demonstrate the solubilization of the somatostatin receptor in conjunction with its ligand and a GTP-binding regulatory protein, and we have succeeded in cross-linking 125I-[Tyr3]SMS to a binding subunit of Mr 90,000 in the membranes and in demonstrating the presence of the same labelled binding subunit within complexes solubilized and chromatographed on a lectin column before cross-linking.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Functional somatostatin receptors on a rat pancreatic acinar cell line.

Somatostatin receptors from a rat pancreatic acinar cell line, AR4-2J, were characterized biochemically, structurally, and functionally. Binding of 125I-[Tyr11]somatostatin to AR4-2J cells was saturable, exhibiting a single class of high-affinity binding sites (Kd = 0.55 +/- 0.06 nM) with a maximal binding capacity of 258 +/- 20 fmol/10(6) cells. Somatostatin receptor structure was analyzed by covalently cross-linking 125I-[Tyr11]somatostatin to its plasma membrane receptors. Gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of cross-linked proteins revealed a peptide (Mr 80,000) containing the somatostatin receptor. Somatostatin inhibited vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-stimulated adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) formation in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration of somatostatin that caused half-maximal inhibition of cAMP formation (IC50 = 0.4 nM) was close to the receptor affinity for somatostatin. Pertussis toxin pretreatment of AR4-2J cells prevented somatostatin inhibition of VIP-stimulated cAMP formation as well as somatostatin binding. We conclude that AR4-2J cells exhibit functional somatostatin receptors that retain both specificity and affinity of the pancreatic acinar cell somatostatin receptors and act via the pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding protein Ni to inhibit adenylate cyclase.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed1987

Dexamethasone effects on somatostatin receptors in pancreatic acinar AR4-2J cells.

The effects of glucocorticoids on somatostatin binding and cAMP response in the rat pancreatic acinar carcinoma AR4-2J cell line were examined. Dexamethasone treatment reduced the number of somatostatin receptors 2.5 fold without any change in receptor affinity. In addition, dexamethasone increased the sensitivity of the cells to somatostatin-inhibited cAMP formation and restored the biphasic pattern of cAMP response to somatostatin previously observed in normal pancreatic acinar cells. Such effect may be associated with the glucocorticoid-promoted cellular pancreatic differentiation of AR4-2J cells.

Cyclic AMP↗

PubMed1987

Solubilization and characterization of guinea-pig pancreatic somatostatin receptors.

The solubilization of somatostatin receptors from guinea-pig pancreas by different non-denaturing detergents was investigated after stabilization of the receptors by prior binding of 125I-[Tyr11]somatostatin or its analogue 125I-[Leu8,DTrp22,Tyr25]somatostatin 28, to pancreatic plasma membranes. The somatostatin-receptor complexes were solubilized in a high yield by Zwittergent 3-14 (3-[tetradecyldimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate), a zwitterionic detergent. Other detergents, digitonin, Triton X-100, Chaps (3-[cholamidopropyldimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate) and octyl beta-D-glycopyranoside, achieved only partial solubilization. The recovery of receptor complexes was increased by glycerol. In order to characterize solubilized somatostatin-receptor complexes, membranes receptors were covalently labelled using N-5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxysuccinimide as cross-linking reagent before solubilization. Gel filtration chromatography analysis resulted in the identification of a major protein component of apparent Mr = 93,000 which interacted with the two radioligands. In addition, a similar component of Mr = 88,000 was characterized after analysis by SDS-PAGE of membrane receptors covalently cross-linked with 125I-[Leu8,DTrp22,Tyr25]somatostatin 28 by different heterobifunctional reagents: N-5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxysuccinimide, N-hydroxysuccinimidyl 4-azidobenzoate, N-succinimidyl 6-(4'-azido-2'-nitrophenylamino)hexanoate. Optimal cross-linking results were obtained with N-5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxysuccinimide. The solubilized somatostatin-receptor complex was adsorbed to wheat-germ agglutinin-agarose column and eluted by specific sugars. We concluded that the guinea-pig pancreatic somatostatin receptor in the membrane and in the non-denaturing detergent solution behaves as a protein monomer of apparent Mr approximately 85,000-90,000. The somatostatin receptor is a glycoprotein which contains complex-type carbohydrate chains.

Affinity Labels↗

PubMed1987

Characterisation of gastrin receptors on a rat pancreatic acinar cell line (AR42J). A possible model for studying gastrin mediated cell growth and proliferation.

Trophic changes of the exocrine pancreas after in vivo gastrin (G)/CCK treatment are well documented but up to now the study of the mechanisms involved is restricted by the lack of a suitable in vitro model. Nevertheless the in vivo trophic effect induced by gastrin/CCK peptides has been associated with an increase of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. In the present work, using the AR42J cell line in which CCK receptors and stimulation of amylase release by CCK peptides has already been demonstrated, we investigated the presence of gastrin binding sites and the possible modulation of proliferation by an inhibitor of ODC activity. 125I-BH-G17ns binding is saturable, reversible and specific. Potencies of the different analogues tested are G17ns greater than CCK8 greater than CCK8ns greater than or equal to G6s greater than G/CCK4. Furthermore dBt cGMP, a non-peptide antagonist for CCK receptors, does not compete for gastrin binding. This indicates the existence of a subclass of gastrin binding sites. Difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO) (1 mM), an irreversible inhibitor of ODC, inhibits cell growth from day 3 up to day 7. This growth inhibition is dose dependent and closely related to an intracellular polyamine modulation. Putrescine and spermidine levels fell under detectable values while spermine levels increased. All these data suggest that this cell line could be a useful in vitro model to study the mechanisms of gastrin induced growth control.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Processing of receptor-bound somatostatin: internalization and degradation by pancreatic acini.

We have previously demonstrated the presence of specific binding sites for somatostatin on plasma membranes from pancreatic acinar cells. In the present study we attempted to characterize the fate of receptor-bound 125I-[Tyr11]somatostatin. Internalization of somatostatin was rapid (reaching a plateau at 20% of the cell-associated specific radioactivity) and temperature dependent. To follow the processing of bound somatostatin, acini were incubated with 125I-[Tyr11]somatostatin at 5 degrees C during 16 h then, after washing, incubated at 37 degrees C for 90 min in fresh medium. Surface-bound somatostatin decreased rapidly, whereas radioactivity increased in the cell interior and the incubation medium. Intracellular and membrane-bound radioactivity was mainly intact 125I-[Tyr11]somatostatin. Degradation occurred at the plasma membrane level and led to iodotyrosine production. After 15 min of incubation, 15% of the initially surface-bound 125I-[Tyr11]somatostatin was compartmentalized within the cell, mainly in the microsomal fraction. After 30 min, a significant increase in radioactivity appeared in the nuclear fraction. These results indicate that the major part of somatostatin cellular degradation takes place at the plasma membrane level. Within the cell, somatostatin is routed to the nucleus via particular fractions sedimenting with microsomal vesicles.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Characterization of covalently cross-linked pancreatic somatostatin receptors.

The receptor for somatostatin present in rat pancreatic plasma membranes was characterized by affinity labeling with [125I-Tyr11]somatostatin utilizing three different heterobifunctional cross-linking agents: N-5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxy-succinimide, N-succinimidyl 6-(4-azido 2'-nitrophenylamine)hexanoate, and N-hydroxysuccinimidyl 4-azido-benzoate. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography revealed a broad band of Mr = 92,000 when any of the three cross-linkers was used; N-succinimidyl 6-(4-azido 2'-nitrophenylamine), however, was most efficient. Labeling of the Mr = 92,000 protein band was not affected by reducing agents but was sensitive to somatostatin and guanine nucleotides, particularly GTP gamma S, at concentrations which reduced binding to the receptor. The affinity-labeled protein could be solubilized completely with Zwittergent 3-12, partially with Triton X-100 and 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonic acid, and poorly with Zwittergent 3-08 and digitonin. When exposed to agarose-coupled lectins, the detergent solubilized, labeled Mr = 92,000 protein was completely adsorbed to wheat germ agglutinin, partially to ricin communis II, and not at all to concanavalin A or lotus or lentil lectin. The Mr = 92,000 protein bound to wheat germ agglutinin-agarose was not eluted by N-acetylglucosamine but was by triacetylchitotriose, providing a considerable purification of the somatostatin receptor. These data allow us to conclude that the somatostatin receptor is a monomeric glycoprotein with an Mr = 90,000 binding subunit which probably contains a polymeric arrangement of N-acetylglucosamine residues.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗