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Biomedical subjects

R W Furlanetto

Publications and source records attributed to R W Furlanetto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Suppressors of cytokine signaling-1 and -6 associate with and inhibit the insulin receptor. A potential mechanism for cytokine-mediated insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance contributes to a number of metabolic disorders, including type II diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6, and hormones, such as growth hormone, are known to cause insulin resistance, but the mechanisms by which they inhibit the cellular response to insulin have not been elucidated. One mechanism by which these agents could cause insulin resistance is by inducing the expression of cellular proteins that inhibit insulin receptor (IR) signaling. Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are negative regulators of cytokine signaling pathways, the expression of which is regulated by certain cytokines. SOCS proteins are therefore attractive candidates as mediators of cytokine-induced insulin resistance. We have found that SOCS-1 and SOCS-6 interact with the IR when expressed in human hepatoma cells (HepG2) or in rat hepatoma cells overexpressing the human IR. In SOCS-1-expressing cells, insulin treatment increases the extent of interaction with the IR, whereas in SOCS-6-expressing cells the association with the IR appears to require insulin treatment. SOCS-1 and SOCS-6 do not inhibit insulin-dependent IR autophosphorylation, but both proteins inhibit insulin-dependent activation of ERK1/2 and protein kinase B in vivo and IR-directed phosphorylation of IRS-1 in vitro. These results suggest that SOCS proteins may be inhibitors of IR signaling and could mediate cytokine-induced insulin resistance and contribute to the pathogenesis of type II diabetes.

Cell Line↗

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3 protein interacts with the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor.

SOCS proteins are a class of proteins that are negative regulators of cytokine receptor signaling via the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway. In a yeast two-hybrid screen of a human fetal brain library, we have previously identified SOCS-2 as a binding partner of the activated IGF-I receptor (IGFIR). To test whether or not SOCS-3 also binds to the IGFIR, we cloned human SOCS-3 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from human skeletal muscle mRNA. SOCS-3 mRNA was expressed in many human fetal and adult tissues and in some human cancer cell lines (Hela, A549 pulmonary adenocarcinoma and G361 human melanoma). We found that human SOCS-3 protein interacts directly with the cytoplasmic domains of the activated IGFIR and the insulin receptor (IR) in the yeast two-hybrid assay. In GST-SOCS-3 pull-down experiments using IGFIR from mammalian cells and in immunoprecipitation experiments in which IGFIR and FLAG-SOCS-3 were transiently expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, we found that SOCS-3 interacts constitutively with IGFIR in vitro and in intact cells. Unlike SOCS-2, hSOCS-3 was phosphorylated on tyrosines in response to IGF-I addition to 293 cells. We conclude that SOCS-3 binds to the IGFIR and may be a direct substrate for the receptor tyrosine kinase.

Animals↗

Interaction of human suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-2 with the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor.

SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signaling) proteins have been shown to be negative regulators of cytokine receptor signaling via the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway. We have cloned a member of this family (hSOCS-2) by utilizing the insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) cytoplasmic domain as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen of a human fetal brain library. The hSOCS-2 protein interacted strongly with the activated IGF-IR and not with a kinase negative mutant receptor in the two-hybrid assay. Mutation of receptor tyrosines 950, 1250, 1251, and 1316 to phenylalanine or deletion of the COOH-terminal 93 amino acids did not result in decreased interaction of the receptor with hSOCS-2 protein. hSOCS-1 protein also interacted strongly with IGF-IR in the two-hybrid assay. Glutathione S-transferase-hSOCS-2 associated with activated IGF-IR in lysates of mouse fibroblasts overexpressing IGF-IR. Human embryonic kidney cells (293) were transiently transfected with vectors containing IGF-IR and FLAG epitope-tagged hSOCS-2. After IGF-I stimulation, activated IGF-IR was found in anti-FLAG immunoprecipitates and, conversely, FLAG-hSOCS-2 was found in anti IGF-IR immunoprecipitates. Thus, hSOCS-2 interacted with IGF-IR both in vitro and in vivo. HSOCS-2 mRNA was expressed in many human fetal and adult tissues with particularly high abundance in fetal kidney and adult heart, skeletal muscle, pancreas, and liver. These results raise the possibility that SOCS proteins may also play a regulatory role in IGF-I receptor signaling.

Adult↗

Cloning of human p55 gamma, a regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, by a yeast two-hybrid library screen with the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor.

We have used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify proteins that interact with the intracellular domain of the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGFIR). In a search of a human fetal brain library we identified a cDNA encoding a protein that is the human homologue of mouse p55PIK, a regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (hp55 gamma). The hp55 gamma protein interacts strongly with the activated IGFIR but not with the kinase-negative mutant receptor. hp55 gamma also interacts with the insulin receptor (IR) in the yeast two-hybrid system. The putative hp55 gamma protein is composed of a unique amino terminal region followed by a proline-rich motif and two Src homology 2 (SH2) domains, which are highly homologous to those in mouse p55PIK, rat p55 gamma, human p85 alpha and bovine p85 beta; it contains no SH3 domain. hp55 gamma mRNAs are expressed in most human fetal and adult tissues with particularly high abundance in adult testis. Splice variant(s) of hp55 gamma, one of which has a deletion of 36 amino acids at the amino terminus and another which has an insertion of 59 amino acids at position 256 between the SH2 domains, were also identified. A GST-hp55 gamma fusion protein interacts in vitro with both the activated IGFIR and IR derived from mammalian cells. Our findings suggest that hp55 gamma interacts with the IGFIR and IR and may be involved in PI 3-kinase activation by these receptors.

3T3 Cells↗

14-3-3 proteins interact with the insulin-like growth factor receptor but not the insulin receptor.

We have used a yeast two-hybrid system to identify proteins which bind to the cytosolic portion of the type 1 insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor (IGFIR) but not the insulin receptor (IR). This analysis identified 14-3-3beta and zeta proteins. 14-3-3beta also binds to the IGFIR but not the IR in vitro and 14-3-3-IGFIR complexes are present in insect cells overexpressing the IGFIR cytoplasmic domain. 14-3-3 proteins are substrates of the IGFIR in the yeast system and in vitro. The interaction of 14-3-3 with the IGFIR requires receptor-kinase activity and maps to the C-terminus of the receptor, but does not depend on tyrosine residues in this or the juxtamembrane regions. Instead, the binding maps to serine residue 1283 and requires phosphorylation of this residue. 14-3-3 proteins are phosphoserine-binding proteins which have been shown to interact directly with components of the mitogenic and apoptotic signalling pathways, suggesting that they participate in growth regulation. Our findings suggest that 14-3-3 proteins may play a role in IGFIR signal transduction and may contribute to the differences in IGF and IR signalling capabilities.

14-3-3 Proteins↗

The mammalian cell cycle in normal and abnormal growth.

Cell division, a complex array of intracellular events, occurs in a highly ordered and carefully coordinated manner. This regulation is achieved by the sequential activation and deactivation of the members of a family of serine-threonine-specific protein kinases that consist of regulatory and enzymatic subunits, the cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases. These enzymes, in turn, regulate the activity of other proteins involved in the mitogenic pathway. Mutations in the components of the regulatory pathways can lead to aberrant growth, including malignancies.

Animals↗

Homozygous nonsense mutation in the insulin receptor gene of a patient with severe congenital insulin resistance: leprechaunism and the role of the insulin-like growth factor receptor.

Severe congenital insulin resistance in the syndrome of leprechaunism is caused by mutations in the insulin receptor gene. We report a patient with leprechaunism who was homozygous for a mutation resulting in the absence of cell surface insulin receptors. To determine whether the receptor for Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is involved in the phenotype of leprechaunism, we studied the effect of insulin and of IGF-I on cells from this patient. The patient had a homozygous C-->T substitution at base pair 8212 in exon 12 of the insulin receptor gene, creating a premature stop codon. This nonsense mutation is in the extracellular portion of the receptor and truncates the insulin receptor proximal to its transmembrane anchor, resulting in the absence of cell surface insulin receptors. This finding indicates that complete absence of the insulin receptor is compatible with life. Secondly, DNA synthesis was studied in skin derived fibroblasts in response to increasing concentrations of either insulin or Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and was assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation. In this patient's cells, both of these hormones increased 3H-thymidine incorporation, and the effect was blocked by alpha-IR3, a monoclonal antibody that blocks activation of the IGF-I receptor. These findings confirmed the absence of the insulin receptor and indicated that insulin acts here through activation of the IGF-I receptor. These data support the contention that the phenotypic and metabolic abnormalities of leprechaunism result from the combination of lack of insulin receptor action and over-activation by insulin of the type 1 IGF receptor.

Base Sequence↗

Evidence for the direct interaction of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor with IRS-1, Shc, and Grb10.

We have used the yeast two-hybrid system to study the interaction between the IGF-I receptor and two putative substrates, IRS-1 and Shc. In addition, we have identified Grb10 as a protein that binds to the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptor. This two-hybrid system (the interaction trap) utilizes a hybrid protein containing the LexA DNA-binding domain fused to the intracellular portion of the IGF-I receptor (LexA-IGFIR beta) and hybrids containing an activation domain fused to either IRS-1 (Ad-IRS-1), Shc (Ad-Shc), or a cDNA library. A positive interaction of LexA-IGFIR beta with the activation domain hybrid results in activation of reporter genes, LacZ and LEU2, in the yeast. Western blotting of extracts from transformed yeast demonstrated that the LexA-IGFIR beta fusion protein was expressed and phosphorylated on tyrosine residues. Coexpression of LexA-IGFIR beta with Ad-IRS-1 resulted in strong activation of both reporter genes; activation did not occur with a kinase-negative receptor mutant. IRS-1 residues 160-516 were sufficient for this strong interaction. Coexpression of LexA-IGFIR beta with Ad-Shc also resulted in strong activation of both LacZ and LEU2 reporter genes. This interaction was also dependent upon a tyrosine kinase-active receptor and required tyrosine 950 in the juxtamembrane region of the receptor. An N-terminal fragment of Shc (amino acids 1-232) interacted almost as strongly as full-length Shc whereas the Shc SH2 domain only activated the more sensitive LEU2 reporter. Full-length Shc was phosphorylated on tyrosine when coexpressed with IGFIR beta but not when coexpressed with the kinase-negative receptor mutant. To identify additional proteins that interact with the IGFIRs, a human fetal brain cDNA library was screened using the interaction trap system. This analysis identified partial cDNAs for Grb10. Coexpression of LexA-IGFIR beta with Ad-Grb10 resulted in strong activation of both LacZ and LEU2 reporter genes; this interaction was dependent upon a tyrosine kinase-active receptor but did not require tyrosine 950.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Insulin receptor signaling is augmented by antisense inhibition of the protein tyrosine phosphatase LAR.

Considerable evidence has shown that most physiologic responses to insulin require activation of the intrinsic tyrosine kinase of the insulin receptor. Biochemical studies have also supported the hypothesis that receptor kinase activity can be modulated by cellular protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases), which have not yet been identified. To test the hypothesis that the transmembrane PTPase LAR can modulate insulin receptor signaling in vivo, antisense RNA expression was used to specifically suppress LAR protein levels by 63% in the rat hepatoma cell line, McA-RH7777. Hormone-dependent autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor was increased by approximately 150% in the antisense-expressing cells at all insulin concentrations tested. This increase in autophosphorylation was paralleled by a 35% increase in insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity. Reduced LAR levels did not alter non-hormone-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation nor basal insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and kinase activity. Most significantly, reduced LAR levels resulted in a 350% increase in insulin-dependent phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. These studies provide unique in vivo evidence that LAR is involved in the modulation of insulin receptor signaling in intact cells.

Animals↗

Deletion of lysine 121 creates a temperature-sensitive alteration in insulin binding by the insulin receptor.

Recently we reported the deletion of Lys-121 in one allele of the insulin receptor gene from a child with severe insulin resistance. In the present work, this mutant receptor (M121) was shown to have an abnormal sensitivity to temperature and an alteration in "negative cooperativity." In contrast to the wild-type receptor (HIRC), insulin binding by the M121 receptor was rapidly and irreversibly lost at temperatures above 30 degrees C with the phosphorylated form of the receptor being more temperature-sensitive than the nonphosphorylated form. Although insulin binding activity was lost, Western analysis and other studies showed that the mutant receptor remained intact. Measurements of 125I-insulin dissociation at 21 degrees C in the presence of native insulin (an estimate of negative cooperativity) demonstrated a difference between the mutant and wild-type receptor. Insulin dissociation from the mutant receptor was not as pronounced as that found with the wild-type receptor. Thus, an abnormality in insulin binding by the mutation was evident at lower "permissive" temperatures. The results of these and other studies argue that Lys-121 occupies an important position for the regulation of insulin receptor conformation. This regulation apparently influences negative cooperative interactions with insulin and modulates signal transduction.

Alkylating Agents↗

Deletion of 3 basepairs resulting in the loss of lysine-121 in the insulin receptor alpha-subunit in a patient with leprechaunism: binding, phosphorylation, and biological activity.

We have identified a novel mutation of the human insulin receptor gene in a previously unreported patient with leprechaunism, leprechaun Rochester. This mutation consists of deletion of three nucleotides (GAA) in exon 2 and results in loss of the lysine-121 in the putative ligand-binding domain of the alpha-subunit. To analyze this mutation, we prepared a corresponding mutant insulin receptor by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed the receptor in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Although the mutant receptor displayed normal insulin binding, abnormalities were found in autophosphorylation and in phosphorylation of endogenous and exogenous protein substrates. These abnormalities consisted of increased basal kinase activity, but blunted insulin-stimulated responsiveness. Importantly, cells that expressed the mutant receptor showed markedly decreased insulin- and serum-stimulated DNA synthesis compared to untransfected control cells and cells transfected with the wild-type insulin receptor. These findings suggest that deletion of lysine-121 in conjunction with a presumed, but thus far unidentified, second mutant allele contributed significantly to the lethal insulin-resistant state in this patient with leprechaunism.

Alleles↗

Insulin-like growth factor-I induces cyclin-D1 expression in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells in vitro.

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) stimulate cell division by modulating events occurring during the prereplicative (G1) phase of the cell cycle, but identification of the critical events has proved difficult. Recent observations suggest that progression through the cell cycle is dependent on the activation of a group of serine-threonine-specific protein kinases whose activities are regulated by accessory proteins, termed cyclins. The identification of cyclin species expressed during G1 has led to the hypothesis that modulation of cyclin expression may be the critical event regulated by growth factors. The present studies were undertaken to determine whether the IGFs regulate the expression of specific G1 cyclins in MG63, a human cell line that is unusually responsive to IGF, and to characterize this effect. We found that in these cells IGF-I stimulates the cyclin-dependent kinases, and that stimulation is associated with an increase in cyclin-D1 mRNA and protein expression. The increase in cyclin-D1 occurs early in G1 and corresponds to the portion of the cell cycle in which IGF acts on these cells. The increase in cyclin-D1 mRNA is due at least in part to an increase in the rate of transcription initiation of the gene. The mRNA levels of cyclin-B1 (a G2 cyclin) and two cyclin-dependent kinases, cdc2 and cdk2, also increased in response to IGF, but at later times. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that IGF modulation of D-type cyclin expression plays a role in the regulation of cell replication.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Effects of insulin-like growth factor receptor inhibition on human melanomas in culture and in athymic mice.

The role of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor in regulating the growth of melanoma cells was evaluated by examining the effect of antibody-mediated IGF receptor inhibition on the growth of four human melanoma cell lines in culture and as xenotransplants in athymic mice. All four cell lines expressed typical type I IGF receptors and an antibody to this receptor (alpha IR-3) inhibited [125I]IGF-I binding. However, the cell lines varied widely in their in vitro responsiveness to IGF-I and alpha IR-3: in the WM 373 and WM 852 cell lines, IGF-I stimulated cell replication and alpha IR-3 inhibited this response, whereas in the WM 239-A and WM 266-4 cell lines neither the growth factor nor the antibody affected growth. A wide variation was also observed in the effect of the antibody on the growth of the different cell lines as xenotransplants but this qualitatively correlated with the responses observed in vitro: alpha IR-3 treatment significantly inhibited the growth of the WM 373 and WM 852 xenotransplants but did not inhibit the growth of the WM 239-A or WM 266-4 xenotransplants and may even have had a slight stimulatory effect. These results indicate that the IGF receptor pathway is a functional regulator of the in vivo growth of some melanomas and that this is reflected in the activity of this pathway as determined in vitro. These findings suggest that therapies aimed at inhibiting the IGF pathway may be beneficial in treating some melanomas.

Animals↗

Incidence and distribution of experimental metastases in mutant mice with defective organ microenvironments (genotypes Sl/Sld and W/Wv).

Mice carrying mutations at the Sl (steel) and W (dominant white spotting) loci develop abnormalities on 3 migratory embryonic stem cell populations: hematopoietic stem cells, neural crest-derived melanocytes, and primordial germ cells. Transplantation experiments have indicated that the Sl locus affects the microenvironment where stem cells migrate, proliferate, and differentiate, while the W locus affects the migratory cells themselves. The Sl locus encodes for a multipotent growth factor known as stem cell factor. The W locus encodes the c-kit protein tyrosine kinase receptor whose ligand is the stem cell factor. We have investigated the incidence and organ distribution of experimental metastases after systemic intra-arterial injection of B16-G3.26 melanoma cells into mutant Sl/Sld and W/Wv mice. Both mutant mouse strains had a markedly lower incidence of ovarian metastases when compared with their congenic +/+ mice. In contrast to the rare colonization of the ovaries, Sl/Sld and W/Wv mice developed metastases in the myocardium, kidney, and stomach--anatomic sites that were infrequently or never affected in their congenic nonmutant mice. The only organs in which the average number of metastatic colonies differed between Sl/Sld and W/Wv mice were the bone marrow and kidneys. The average number of colonized bones per mouse in the Sl/Sld group was 5.0 +/- 3.1 (SD), compared with 12.7 +/- 5.3 in the W/Wv group. The average number of metastatic nodules in the kidneys of Sl/Sld mice was 24.6 +/- 9, while W/Wv mice had 15.5 +/- 2.5. Mutant mice with multiple metastatic nodules in the kidneys, heart, and stomach were also found to have forestomach papillomas, an enlarged duodenum, kidney abnormalities, and small body size. The results of this study provide useful information on potential mechanisms of interaction of metastatic cells with their target organs, and suggest that there are additional organ defects associated with the mutations in the Sl and W loci. They also document the importance of mutant mice in metastasis research.

Animals↗

Characterization of insulin-like growth factor receptors in the insulin-responsive R3230AC mammary adenocarcinoma.

To ascertain whether insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1 and IGF-2) affect the estrogen- and insulin-responsive R3230AC mammary carcinoma, studies of IGF-1 and IGF-2 receptors were conducted on primary-culture tumor cells and on membranes purified from whole tumors. By saturation binding analysis, cells in culture displayed one class of IGF-1 binding sites with an affinity constant, Kd, of 5.5 +/- 0.7 x 10(-9) M, whereas in membrane preparations, high and low affinity IGF-1 binding sites, with Kd's of 5 +/- 1.7 x 10(-9) M and 1 +/- 0.4 x 10(-7) M, respectively, were detected. Specificity of binding was demonstrated by 85% displacement of 125I-IGF-1 with 1,000-fold excess unlabeled IGF-1 and 50% displacement with 6.5 x 10(-9) M IGF-1 or 3 microM insulin. Binding sites for IGF-2 were also demonstrable in cultured cells, having a Kd of 7 +/- 0.8 x 10(-10) M, and 50% displacement was obtained with 1.5 x 10(-9) M IGF-2 or 1.5 x 10(-8) M IGF-1. Cross-linking experiments on cultured cells confirmed the presence of IGF-1 and IGF-2 receptors. In purified tumor membranes, IGF binding proteins (M(r) 28,000-32,000) were also detected; their labeling was not displaced by 10(-5) M insulin. In vitro, the tumor cells secrete one or more IGF binding proteins into the medium. Despite the fact that these cells expressed specific IGF receptors, their growth was apparently independent of these growth factors, since neither IGF-1 nor IGF-2 was mitogenic for R3230AC cells in vitro. Nevertheless, IGF-1 caused concentration-related significant increases in the plating efficiency of these cells. Further studies are necessary to determine the functional role of these growth factors, their receptors, and their binding proteins in the biology of this rodent mammary tumor.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Insulin-like growth factor-I binds selectively to human peripheral blood monocytes and B-lymphocytes.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a potential modulator of responses to a variety of immunological challenges. Previous studies have suggested that specific IGF-I receptors are present on peripheral blood leukocytes, including polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. We sought to determine what type of IGF receptor was present on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and which types of cells possessed these receptors. Binding of [125I]IGF-I to mononuclear cells was inhibited by both unlabeled IGF-I and insulin, insulin being 200-fold less potent than IGF-I. Covalent affinity labeling with [125I]IGF-I, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography, revealed a specific binding species with an apparent mol wt of 130 kDa. Two color flow cytometric analysis of mononuclear cells stained with mouse monoclonal antibodies specific for the human IGF-I receptor, the human insulin receptor, and monoclonal antibodies directed against specific monocyte and lymphocyte subset cell surface antigens revealed that both IGF-I receptors and insulin receptors were present on nearly all monocytes and B-lymphocytes, but were present on only 2% of T-lymphocytes. We conclude from these data that among human peripheral blood nonactivated mononuclear cells, IGF-I binds to specific type I IGF receptors found predominantly on monocytes and B-lymphocytes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗