Biomedical subjects

P T van der Saag

Publications and source records attributed to P T van der Saag.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Tissue- and time-dependent estrogen receptor activation in estrogen reporter mice.

With the aim of developing an in vivo model that directly detects activation of estrogen receptors (ERs), transgenic mice carrying a luciferase reporter gene were generated. The luciferase reporter gene was under the control of three consensus estrogen-responsive elements (EREs) coupled to a minimal TATA-box, with or without flanking chick beta-globin insulators. By using this model in combination with the IVIS imaging system, in vivo ER activation was measured. Dose- and time-dependent luciferase activity was induced in various organs of adult transgenic male mice exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) (10-1000 micro g/kg) and 17beta-estradiol dipropionate (EP) (10-1000 micro g/kg), when luciferase activity was measured ex vivo. The highest (>10 000-fold) induction of luciferase was measured in bone and kidney 24 h after exposure to 1000 micro g/kg EP. Other highly responsive organs include liver, testis, pituitary, brain, prostate and colon, which show different activity profiles. This in vivo model for detecting estrogenic activity can be used to assess tissue-specific action of ER agonists and antagonists. These could include selective ER modulators and environmental estrogens. In combination with the IVIS imaging system, this in vivo model is a powerful tool for assessing the kinetics of gene activation by estrogenic compounds.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

A novel specific bioassay for the determination of glucocorticoid bioavailability in human serum.

OBJECTIVE: Some patients develop side-effects even on relatively low doses of topically administered glucocorticoids (GCs), while others appear to be less sensitive to GCs. We have developed and validated a bioassay which can measure glucocorticoid bioavailability directly from small amounts of human serum to help elucidate underlying mechanisms. METHODS: We have stably transfected the human embryonic kidney cell line HEK293 with a plasmid expressing the glucocorticoid receptor, and a plasmid containing the luciferase gene preceded by three concatenated steroid response elements, bringing luciferase expression under control of the liganded glucocorticoid receptor. RESULTS: The assay, with an intra- and interassay coefficient of variance (CV) better than 10%, showed the expected difference in potency between different GCs (fluticasone propionate > budesonide > dexamethasone > hydrocortisone). No cross-reactivity was detected with other steroid hormones such as progesterone, testosterone and oestradiol. The bioassay easily detects the rise and subsequent fall of bioavailable GCs in human serum following ingestion of only 0.5 mg dexamethasone, and clearly reflects the diurnal cortisol rhythm. Moreover, systemic availability following inhalation of 2 x 250 micro g fluticasone propionate using a pressure dose inhaler could be demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: This assay can be used to determine levels of bioavailable GCs in serum, both endogenous and administered, and thus may help in optimizing treatment regimens. The small amount of serum needed to perform an analysis makes this assay applicable even to infants.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed2002

Detection of oestrogenic activity of steroids present during mammalian gestation using oestrogen receptor alpha- and oestrogen receptor beta-specific in vitro assays.

Numerous steroid hormones are present in the foetus but their potential to activate oestrogen receptor (ER) alpha and/or beta is largely unknown. In this study, in vitro assays were developed to rapidly and specifically detect ERalpha or ERbeta activation by these steroid hormones. Our results showed that several oestrogen precursors and androgens are able to activate both ERalpha and ERbeta. Of special interest is that some of these precursors are able to activate ERalpha and ERbeta at concentrations that are present during human gestation. Moreover, some precursors (dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and 17-hydroxylated pregnenolone sulphate) and androgens (5-androsten-3beta,16alpha,17beta-triol and testosterone) showed a more than 100-fold relative preference for ERbeta transactivation over ERalpha transactivation when compared with 17beta-oestradiol. Due to their relatively high levels, the precursor steroids DHEA and pregnenolone may be of particular importance in the regulation of ERbeta activity in vivo. To obtain information about the oestrogenic activity of the total pool of steroid hormones present during mammalian gestation, steroids were extracted from mouse embryos at different prenatal stages and assayed for oestrogenic activity in the established in vitro assays. Oestrogenic activity was detected in steroid extracts from all stages tested. This study has demonstrated that oestrogen receptor agonists are present in the murine embryo and that oestrogen precursors may contribute to the total pool of agonists during foetal life.

Androgens↗

PubMed2001

Synergistic activation of the serotonin-1A receptor by nuclear factor-kappa B and estrogen.

Estrogen exerts profound effects on mood and mental state. The ability of estrogen to modulate serotonergic function raises the possibility that it may play a role in the mechanism associated with depression and its treatment. A cellular mechanism for estrogen to influence mood might be through the regulation of genes involved at various levels of the serotonin system. Here we report that estrogen can up-regulate the expression of the serotonin-1A receptor via a new mechanism involving synergistic activation by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) with estrogen receptor alpha. Interestingly, we observed that only estrogen receptor-alpha, and not -beta, was able to mediate this effect of estrogens. The partial antiestrogen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, had the same effect as estrogen. In addition, mutation analysis showed that both the transactivation function of p65 and activation function 1 of estrogen receptor-alpha were essential for this synergistic regulation. Therefore, we propose that NF-kappa B complexes cooperate with estrogen receptor-alpha to recruit cofactors into the complex and thereby synergistically activate the serotonin-1A receptor promoter through nonclassical estrogen response elements by a mechanism that does not involve direct receptor binding to DNA.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Transforming growth factor-beta-stimulated clone-22 is a member of a family of leucine zipper proteins that can homo- and heterodimerize and has transcriptional repressor activity.

TGF-beta-stimulated clone-22 (TSC-22) encodes a leucine zipper-containing protein that is highly conserved during evolution. Two homologues are known that share a similar leucine zipper domain and another conserved domain (designated the TSC box). Only limited data are available on the function of TSC-22 and its homologues. TSC-22 is transcriptionally up-regulated by many different stimuli, including anti-cancer drugs and growth inhibitors, and recent data suggest that TSC-22 may play a suppressive role in tumorigenesis. In this paper we show that TSC-22 forms homodimers via its conserved leucine zipper domain. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified a TSC-22 homologue (THG-1) as heterodimeric partner. Furthermore, we report the presence of two more mammalian family members with highly conserved leucine zippers and TSC boxes. Interestingly, both TSC-22 and THG-1 have transcriptional repressor activity when fused to a heterologous DNA-binding domain. The repressor activity of TSC-22 appears sensitive for promoter architecture, but not for the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. Mutational analysis showed that this repressor activity resides in the non-conserved regions of the protein and is enhanced by the conserved dimerization domain. Our results suggest that TSC-22 belongs to a family of leucine zipper-containing transcription factors that can homodimerize and heterodimerize with other family members and that at least two TSC-22 family members may be repressors of transcription.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Retinoic acid hydroxylase (CYP26) is a key enzyme in neuronal differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells.

Besides nuclear retinoid receptors and cellular retinoid binding proteins also retinoic acid (RA)-synthesizing enzymes (using all-trans-retinal as substrate) and RA-catabolizing enzymes (producing hydroxylated products) may explain the specific effects of retinoids. In the past we have established an active role for 4-hydroxy-RA and 4-oxo-RA, which originally were considered to be inactive retinoids, but in fact are highly active modulators of positional specification in Xenopus development. Here we present evidence for a specific role of hydroxylated RA metabolites in the onset of neuronal differentiation. 4-Hydroxy- and 18-hydroxy-RA are products of the hydroxylation of RA by a novel cytochrome P450 (CYP)-type of enzyme, CYP26, expression of which is rapidly induced by RA. P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell lines stably expressing hCYP26 undergo extensive and rapid neuronal differentiation in monolayer at already low concentrations of RA, while normally P19 cells under these conditions differentiate only in endoderm-like cells. Our results indicate that the effects on growth inhibition and RARbeta transactivation of P19 EC cells are mediated directly by RA, while the onset of neuronal differentiation and the subsequent expression of neuronal markers is mediated by hCYP26 via the conversion of RA to its hydroxylated products.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Cytokine signal transduction in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells: regulation of Stat3-mediated transactivation occurs independently of p21ras-Erk signaling.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) are members of a subfamily of related cytokines that share gp130 as common signal-transducing receptor component. CNTF has recently been demonstrated to induce increased survival and neuronal differentiation of P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are still elusive. Here we report that CNTF and LIF, but not interleukin-6, activated signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)-reporter constructs in P19 EC cells. Supershift analysis revealed that the STAT-element binding complex contained the transcription factor Stat3. Binding of Stat3 was inhibited by protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, but not by the broad serine/threonine protein kinase inhibitor, H7. However, H7 inhibited CNTF-induced Stat3 transactivation. Using a dominant-negative p21ras construct and a specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK; PD098059) we demonstrated that CNTF-induced Stat3 transactivation was independent of the p21ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, while CNTF-induced MAPK activation was p21ras- and MEK-dependent. Taken together, our results demonstrate the activation of the p21ras-MAPK and STAT signal transduction pathways in response to CNTF and LIF in P19 EC cells and reveal that there is no modulating crosstalk between these pathways. Furthermore, our data suggest that CNTF- and LIF-induced Stat3 activation in P19 EC cells involves an H7-sensitive p21ras/MAPK- and Ca(2+)-independent kinase.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

PubMed1999

Embryonal carcinoma cell lines stably transfected with mRARbeta2-lacZ: sensitive system for measuring levels of active retinoids.

Embryonal carcinoma cell lines (F9 EC and P19 EC) were stably transfected with 1.8 kb promoter sequence of RARbeta2 coupled to the lacZ gene as a system for measuring active retinoids. These stable transfectants, designated F9-1.8 and P19-1.8, were used as reporter cell lines to investigate different retinoids for their ability to activate the reporter gene. F9-1.8 cells showed similar EC(50) values for the acidic retinoids all-trans retinoic acid (RA), 4-oxo RA, 9-cis RA, and 13-cis RA, in the range of 1-7 nM, while P19-1.8 cells were less sensitive. Retinal showed decreased activity compared to the RA isomers in both lines. However, P19-1.8 cells hardly showed beta-gal activity after treatment with retinol, while the lacZ reporter in F9-1.8 cells was still inducible by this retinoid. In addition, the reporter system was used to investigate RA metabolism and its inhibition by P450 inhibitors. A combination of RA and liarozole showed a 10 times greater induction of the RARbeta2-lacZ reporter in P19-1.8 cells, but not in F9-1.8 cells. The EC(50) value for 4-oxo RA, however, was not altered, indicating that metabolic conversion of RA to 4-oxo RA is the target for inhibition by liarozole in P19-1.8 cells. HPLC analysis revealed nearly complete inhibition of RA metabolism after liarozole treatment in P19-1.8 cells, resulting in higher levels of RA. Finally, the F9-1.8 cells were used to detect active retinoids during different stages of chick limb bud development, demonstrating that it is the limb bud mesenchyme which generates RA and not the epidermis, with a twofold higher level of RA in the posterior half than in the anterior half.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Millisecond to microsecond time scale dynamics of the retinoid X and retinoic acid receptor DNA-binding domains and dimeric complex formation.

The all-trans retinoic acid and 9-cis retinoic acid receptors (RAR and RXR, respectively) belong to a family of ligand inducible transcription factors, which exert their effect via binding to hormone response elements. Both are members of the class II sub-family of nuclear receptors, which bind DNA as dimers, on tandem repeats of a hexamer motif separated by a variable spacer. The variability in spacer length and the head-to-tail organization of the hormone response elements result in different protein-protein interactions in each of the complexes. We show that the zinc-coordinating loop regions of RXR and RAR DNA-binding domains exhibit dynamics on the millisecond to microsecond time scale. The highly dynamic second zinc finger of RXR constitutes the primary protein-protein interface in many nuclear receptor assemblies on DNA. Dynamics is also observed in the first and second zinc fingers of RAR, which are implicated in dimeric interactions with RXR on response elements with spacers of 5 base pairs and 1 base pair, respectively. The striking correspondence between the regions that exhibit conformational exchange and the dimer interfaces of the proteins complexed with DNA suggests a functional role for the dynamics. The observed flexibility may allow the proteins to adapt to various partners and with different orientations upon assembly on DNA. Furthermore, the more extensive dynamics observed for RXR may reflect the greater ability of this protein to modulate its interaction surface since it participates in a wide variety of receptor complexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Phospholipase A2 inhibitors and leukotriene synthesis inhibitors block TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a key regulator of inflammation and immunity. The cellular effects exerted by TNF depend, apart from NF-kappaB-directed gene transcription, largely on its ability to activate phospholipase A2(PLA2), yielding the release of arachidonic acid (AA) and its metabolites. AA metabolites, especially the leukotrienes, act as second messengers in TNF receptor signalling, as different inhibitors of AA metabolism impair a variety of TNF-induced biochemical events. The role, however, of AA and its metabolites in TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation is still obscure. Here we report that 4-bromophenacyl bromide (4-BPB; an inhibitor of PLA2), nordihydroguaretic acid (NDGA; a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor), as well as MK-886 [an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP)] interfere with TNF-induced NF-kappaB-mediated transactivation. However, only 4-BPB inhibited the DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB, whereas NDGA and MK-886 did not. Thus, different inhibitors interfere at different points in TNF-induced signalling leading to NF-kappaB-dependent transcription. Artificial induction of AA metabolism induced neither DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB nor NF-kappaB-dependent transactivation. It was concluded that although TNF-induced signalling to NF-kappaB-dependent transcription is sensitive to inhibitors of AA metabolism at multiple points during this signalling, AA release is essential but not sufficient for NF-kappaB-activation.

5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins↗

PubMed1999

Expression of estrogen receptor alpha and beta during mouse embryogenesis.

In adult mammals numerous target tissues and organs for estrogens exist. Little is known about possible target organs during embryogenesis other than the reproductive tract and the gonads. This is the first report on the expression of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) in comparison with ERalpha mRNA during mouse embryogenesis. We found expression of estrogen receptor mRNA in the reproductive tract, but also in the atrial wall, brain, kidney, urethra, bladder neck, mammary gland primordium, midgut, cartilage primordia and perichondria.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Expression of retinoic acid 4-hydroxylase (CYP26) during mouse and Xenopus laevis embryogenesis.

Retinoids are important signal molecules during vertebrate embryonic development and their synthesis as well as catabolism should therefore be strictly regulated. The retinoic acid (RA) 4-hydroxylase, belonging to the cytochrome P450 family CYP26, is an enzyme catalyzing the 4-hydroxylation of RA, thereby regulating RA homeostasis. Here we describe the temporal and spatial expression patterns of mouse (mCYP26) and Xenopus laevis (xCYP26) homologues. In mouse, expression is detected in uterine crypt, around differentiating cartilage, several regions of the head, regions of the pharynx, the neural retina, and several regions of the trunk. In Xenopus, Northern blot analysis shows presence of xCYP26 transcripts before the MBT and an increased expression level during gastrulation. Whole-mount in situ hybridization shows a specific expression pattern arising at onset of gastrulation, with a ring around the blastopore. By mid gastrulation there is an anterior and a posterior expression domain, each of which gets more complex later in development. There are some important similarities and differences in expression pattern between Xenopus and mouse.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Lack of Bcl10 mutations in testicular germ cell tumours and derived cell lines.

Aberrations within Bcl10, a gene involved in execution of apoptosis, has most recently been found in a variety of cancers, including cell lines of testicular germ cell tumours of adolescents and adults (TGCTs). To study this in more detail, we screened exons 2 and 3 of this gene for mutations in a larger series of cell lines as well as primary TGCTs by single-strand conformation polymorphism and endonuclease restriction analysis. Because no aberrations were detected, we conclude that inactivation of Bcl10 by mutation is at least far less important in the development of TGCTs than proposed.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed1999

Development of a stably transfected estrogen receptor-mediated luciferase reporter gene assay in the human T47D breast cancer cell line.

Development of an estrogen receptor-mediated, chemical-activated luciferase reporter gene-expression (ER-CALUX) assay was attempted by stable transfection of luciferase reporter genes in a number of cell lines. Stable transfection of the chimeric Gal4 estrogen receptor and luciferase gene constructs in MCF-7 breast cancer and Hepa.1c1c7 mouse hepatoma cell lines, as well as transfection of a newly constructed luciferase reporter gene pEREtata-Luc in the ECC-1 human endometrial cell line, resulted in constitutive, non-estradiol-inducible clones. Stable transfection of pEREtata-Luc in the T47D breast cancer cell line, however, resulted in an extremely sensitive, highly responsive cell line. Following a 24-h exposure to estradiol (E2), stably transfected T47D.Luc cells demonstrated a detection limit of 0.5 pM, an EC50 of 6 pM, and a maximum induction of 100-fold relative to solvent controls. No clear reduction in responsiveness has been found over extended culture periods (50 passages). Anti-estrogens ICI 182,780, TCDD, and tamoxifen inhibited the estradiol-mediated luciferase induction. Genistein, nonylphenol, and o,p'DDT were the most potent (pseudo-)estrogens tested in this system (EC50 100, 260, and 660 nM, respectively). Determination of interactive effects of the (pseudo-)estrogens nonylphenol, o,p'DDT, chlordane, endosulfan, dieldrin, and methoxychlor revealed that, in combination with 3 pM E2, (pseudo-)estrogens were additive. Slightly more than additive effects (less than 2-fold) were found for combinations of dieldrin and endosulfan tested in the range of 3 to 6 microM. At these concentrations, the combination of endosulfan and chlordane demonstrated additive interaction. The ER-CALUX assay with T47D cells can provide a sensitive, responsive, and rapid in vitro system to detect and measure substances with potential (anti-)estrogenic activity.

Biological Assay↗

PubMed1999

Ontogeny of estrogen receptor-beta expression in rat testis.

The recently discovered estrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta) is expressed in rodent and human testes. To obtain insight in the physiological role of ERbeta we have investigated the cell type-specific expression pattern of ERbeta messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in the testis of rats of various ages by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. In fetal testes of rats 16 days postcoitum and testes of 4-day-old animals, fetal germ cells (gonocytes) reveal the ERbeta mRNA in their cytoplasm and the ERbeta protein in their nucleus. In testes of 11- and 15-day-old rats, ERbeta mRNA and protein were detected in Sertoli cells and type A spermatogonia. No signal was found in other types of germ cells. In the adult testes, expression of ERbeta mRNA as well as ERbeta protein was found in pachytene spermatocytes from epithelial stages VII-XIV and in round spermatids from stages I-VIII. Low ERbeta expression was observed in all type A spermatogonia, including undifferentiated A spermatogonia, whereas no expression was found in In and type B spermatogonia and early spermatocytes. At all ages, Sertoli cells showed a weak hybridization signal as well as weak immunoreactivity for ERbeta. In adult testes, no ERbeta mRNA or protein was detected in the interstitial tissue, indicating that Leydig cells and peritubular myoid cells do not express ERbeta. The expression of ERbeta in fetal and late male germ cells as well as in Sertoli cells suggests that estrogens directly affect germ cells during testicular development and spermatogenesis.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Growth factor signalling.

Signalling between cells in the developing vertebrate embryo is essential for normal embryonic development. In the mid 1970's, signal transduction research started at the Hubrecht Laboratory with special emphasis on analysis of the signalling mechanisms that direct cell proliferation and differentiation. The introduction of in vitro model systems contributed tremendously to the success of the signal transduction research at the Hubrecht Laboratory. Initially neuroblastoma cell lines, and later embryonal carcinoma and embryonal stem cells played an important role in identification of the molecular key players in developmental signalling. For instance, embryonal carcinoma cells were used to identify and characterise polypeptide growth factors. Growth factor signalling research was extended to analysis of growth factor receptor activation. Moreover, the second messenger systems that are linked to growth factor receptors were studied, as well as the nuclear responses to growth factor receptor activation. Finally, the role of growth factor signalling in differentiation was established using embryonal carcinoma cells. Here, we will review work that was characteristic for the growth factor receptor signalling research that was done at the Hubrecht Laboratory between 1980 and the early 1990's.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Morphogenetic action of retinoids and estrogens.

Retinoids and estrogens are small lipophilic compounds fulfilling important biological roles in vertebrate development, reproduction and homeostasis. Both types of ligands are regulators of gene transcription by binding to (nuclear) proteins acting as ligand-activatable transcription factors, members of the nuclear receptor gene superfamily. Retinoids and their multiple receptors (RARs/RXRs) are particularly well-known for their role in early development and spermatogenesis, while much less is known about the two estrogen receptors (ERalpha/beta) during development. In this article we describe some of our previous and present work in both areas of research.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Metabolism to a response pathway selective retinoid ligand during axial pattern formation.

We report identification of 9-cis-4-oxo-retinoic acid (9-cis-4-oxo-RA) as an in vivo retinoid metabolite in Xenopus embryos. 9-Cis-4-oxo-RA bound receptors (RARs) alpha, beta, and gamma as well as retinoid X receptors (RXRs) alpha, beta, and gamma in vitro. However, this retinoid displayed differential RXR activation depending on the response pathway used. Although it failed to activate RXRs in RXR homodimers, it activated RXRs and RARs synergistically in RAR-RXR heterodimers. 9-Cis-4-oxo-RA thus acted as a dimer-specific agonist. Considering that RAR-RXR heterodimers are major functional units involved in transducing retinoid signals during embryogenesis and that 9-cis-4-oxo-RA displayed high potency for modulating axial pattern formation in Xenopus, metabolism to 9-cis-4-oxo-RA may provide a mechanism to target retinoid action to this and other RAR-RXR heterodimer-mediated processes.

Animals↗