Biomedical subjects

Song-Guang Ren

Publications and source records attributed to Song-Guang Ren.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Pyridoxal phosphate inhibits pituitary cell proliferation and hormone secretion.

Pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), a bioactive form of pyridoxine, dose-dependently (10-1000 microm) inhibited cell proliferation in rat pituitary MMQ and GH3 cells and in mouse AtT-20 cells. After 4 d, MMQ cell numbers were reduced by up to 81%, GH3 cell numbers were reduced by up to 64% (P < 0.05), and AtT-20 cell numbers were reduced by up to 90%. Cell proliferation rates recovered and dose-dependently reverted to control levels after PLP withdrawal. After 4 d, PLP (400 and 1000 microm) decreased [3H]thymidine incorporation by up to 71% (P < 0.05). PLP (400-1000 microm) reduced GH3 cell GH and prolactin secretion and AtT-20 cell ACTH secretion (adjusted for cell number) by approximately 70% after 2 d. The 100 microm PLP also inhibited prolactin secretion (65%, P < 0.05) in primary rat pituitary cells treated for 2 d. PLP decreased the percentage of AtT-20 and GH3 cells in S phase and increased those in G0-G1 phase. Furthermore, PLP induced AtT-20 and GH3 cell apoptosis (28 vs. 6, P < 0.05; 26 vs. 3, P < 0.05, respectively) and dose-dependently reduced content of the antiapoptosis gene Bcl-2. These results indicate that pharmacological doses of PLP inhibit pituitary cell proliferation and hormone secretion, in part mediated through PLP-induced cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Pyridoxine may therefore be appropriate for testing as a relatively safe drug for adjuvant treatment of hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2005

Somatostatin receptor type 5 modulates somatostatin receptor type 2 regulation of adrenocorticotropin secretion.

Somatostatin inhibits adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion from pituitary tumor cells. To assess the contribution of somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SST5) to somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SST2) action in these cells, we assessed multipathway responses to novel highly monoreceptor-selective peptide agonists and multireceptor agonists, including octreotide and somatostatin-28. Octreotide and somatostatin-28 cell membrane binding affinities correlated with their respective SST2-selective peptide ligand. Although octreotide had similar inhibiting potency (picomolar) for cAMP accumulation and ACTH secretion as an SST2-selective agonist, somatostatin-28 exhibited a higher potency (femtomolar). Baseline spontaneous calcium oscillations assessed by fluorescent confocal microscopy revealed two distinct effects: SST2 activation reduced oscillations at femtomolar concentrations reflected by high inhibiting potency of averaged normalized oscillation amplitude, whereas SST5 activation induces brief oscillation pauses and increased oscillation amplitude. Octreotide exhibits an integrated effect of both receptors; however, somatostatin-28 exhibited a complex response with two separate inhibitory potencies. SST2 internalization was visualized with SST2-selective agonist at lower concentrations than for octreotide or somatostatin-28, whereas SST5 did not internalize. Using monoreceptor-selective peptide agonists, the results indicate that, in AtT-20 cells, SST5 regulates the dominant SST2 action, attenuating SST2 effects on intracellular calcium oscillation and internalization. This may explain superior somatostatin-28 potency and provides a rationale for somatostatin ligand design to treat ACTH-secreting pituitary tumors.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2005

Early multipotential pituitary focal hyperplasia in the alpha-subunit of glycoprotein hormone-driven pituitary tumor-transforming gene transgenic mice.

Pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG), a securin protein isolated from pituitary tumor cell lines, is highly expressed in invasive tumors and exhibits characteristics of a transforming gene. To determine the role of PTTG in pituitary tumorigenesis, transgenic human PTTG1 was targeted to the mouse pituitary using the alpha-subunit of glycoprotein hormone. Males showed plurihormonal focal pituitary transgene expression with LH-, TSH-, and, unexpectedly, also GH-cell focal hyperplasia and adenoma, associated with increased serum LH, GH, testosterone, and/or IGF-I levels. MRI revealed both pituitary and prostate enlargement at 9-12 months. Urinary obstruction caused by prostatic hyperplasia and seminal vesicle hyperplasia, with renal tract inflammation, resulted in death by 10 months in some animals. Pituitary PTTG expression results in plurihormonal hyperplasia and hormone-secreting microadenomas with profound peripheral growth-stimulatory effects on the prostate and urinary tract. These results provide evidence for early pituitary plasticity, whereby PTTG overexpression results in a phenotype switch in early pituitary stem cells and promotes differentiated polyhormonal cell focal expansion.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Central and peripheral actions of somatostatin on the growth hormone-IGF-I axis.

Somatostatin (SRIF) analogs provide safe and effective therapy for acromegaly. In a proportion of patients, however, SRIF analogs may lead to discordant growth hormone (GH) and IGF-I suppression, which suggests a more complex mechanism than attributable to inhibition of GH release alone. To elucidate whether SRIF acts peripherally on the GH-IGF-I axis, we showed that rat hepatocytes express somatostatin receptor subtypes-2 and -3 and that IGF-I mRNA and protein levels were suppressed in a dose-dependent manner by administration of octreotide. The inhibitory effect of SRIF was not apparent without added GH and in the presence of GH was specific for IGF-I induction and did not inhibit GH-induced c-myc or extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. Pertussis toxin treatment of hepatocytes incubated with GH and SRIF, or with GH and octreotide, abrogated the inhibitory effect on GH-induced IGF-I, which confirms the requirement for the inhibitory G-protein. Treatment with SRIF and GH increased protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity and inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription-5b (STAT5b) phosphorylation and nuclear localization. Octreotide also inhibited GH-stimulated IGF-I protein content of ex vivo-perfused rat livers. The results demonstrate that SRIF acts both centrally and peripherally to control the GH-IGF-I axis, providing a mechanistic explanation for SRIF analog action in treating patients with GH-secreting pituitary adenomas.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

The novel somatostatin ligand (SOM230) regulates human and rat anterior pituitary hormone secretion.

Currently available somatostatin analogs predominantly bind to the somatostatin receptor subtype (SSTR)2 subtype, and control GH and IGF-I secretion in approximately 65% of patients with acromegaly, their efficacy relating to receptor density and subtype expression. SOM230 is a somatostatin ligand with high affinity to four SSTR subtypes. In primary cultures of rat pituicytes, SOM230 dose-dependently inhibited GH release (P = 0.002) with an IC50 of 1.2 nM. Ten nanomoles SOM230 inhibited GH and TSH release by 40 +/- 7% (P < 0.001) and 47 +/- 21% (P = 0.09), respectively. No effect of SOM230 was observed on prolactin (PRL) or LH release. In cultures of human fetal pituitary cells, SOM230 inhibited GH secretion by 42 +/- 9% (P = 0.002) but had no effect on TSH release. SOM230 inhibited GH release from GH-secreting adenoma cultures by 34 +/- 8% (P = 0.002), PRL by 35 +/- 4% from PRL-secreting adenomas (P = 0.01), and alpha-subunit secretion from nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas by 46 +/- 18% (P = 0.34). In contrast, octreotide inhibited GH, PRL, and alpha-subunit from the respective adenoma by 18 +/- 12 (P = 0.39), 22 +/- 4 (P = 0.04), and 20 +/- 10% (P = 0.34). In all culture systems, no significant difference in the inhibitory action of SOM230, octreotide, and somatostatin 14 on hormone release was observed. SOM230, similar to somatostatin, has high-affinity binding to SSTR1, 2, 3, and 5 and, in keeping with this, has an equivalent inhibitory effect on pituitary hormone secretion. As a consequence of its broader binding profile, SOM230 is likely to find clinical utility in treating tumors resistant to SSTR-2-preferential analogs.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2003

Hypothalamic-pituitary cytokine network.

Cytokines expressed in the brain and involved in regulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis contribute to the neuroendocrine interface. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and LIF receptors are expressed in human pituitary cells and murine hypothalamus and pituitary. LIF potently induces pituitary proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene transcription and ACTH secretion and potentiates CRH induction of POMC. In vivo, LIF, along with CRH, enhances POMC expression and ACTH secretion in response to emotional and inflammatory stress. To further elucidate specific roles for both CRH and LIF in activating the inflammatory HPA response, double-knockout mice (CRH/LIFKO) were generated by breeding the null mutants for each respective single gene. Inflammation produced by ip injection of lipopolysaccharide (1 microg/mouse) to double CRH and LIF-deficient mice elicited pituitary POMC induction similar to wild type and markedly higher than in single null animals (P<0.0.01). Double-knockout mice also demonstrated robust corticosterone response to inflammation. High pituitary POMC mRNA levels may reflect abundant TNFalpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 activation observed in the hypothalamus and pituitary of these animals. Our results suggest that increased central proinflammatory cytokine expression can compensate for the impaired HPA axis function and activates inflammatory ACTH and corticosterone responses in mice-deficient in both CRH and LIF.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMed2003

Human pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG1) motif suppresses prolactin expression.

Pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG) originally isolated from GH-secreting pituitary adenoma cells causes in vitro cell transformation, in vivo tumorigenesis, and induces basic fibroblast growth factor. These functions require an intact C-terminal proline-proline-serine-proline motif. PTTG1 is abundantly expressed in human pituitary tumors and plays a role in the early stages of experimental prolactinoma formation. We now determined direct effects of PTTG1 on hormonal phenotypes of functional pituitary tumor cells. Overexpression of PTTG1 C terminus (amino acids 147-202) containing intact proline-proline-serine-proline motifs in rat prolactin (PRL)- and GH-secreting GH3 cells markedly abrogates PRL mRNA expression by more than 90% (P < 0.001) and hormone levels (P < 0.001) and PRL promoter activity (P < 0.01) compared with control vector cells or to a PTTG1 C terminus mutant (P163A, S165Q, P166L, P170L, P172A, and P173L). Wild-type PTTG1 C-terminal transfectants formed smaller (P < 0.05) sc tumors in rats compared with control or mutated PTTG1 C-terminal transfectants. Estrogen (10 nm) treatment for 48 h partially restored PRL expression in stable wild-type PTTG1 C-terminal transfectants. These results indicate that targeting PTTG1-mediated signaling alters the hormonal phenotype in pituitary cells and disrupted PTTG1 action may be a potential subcellular therapeutic tool for repressing PRL hypersecretion.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed2003

Leukemia inhibitory factor regulates prolactin secretion in prolactinoma and lactotroph cells.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and transgenic mice overexpressing pituitary LIF develop Cushing-like syndrome accompanied by reduced prolactin (PRL) expression. Effects of LIF were, therefore, tested on PRL expression in human prolactinomas and normal and tumorous rat lactotrophs. Normal human pituitary tissue expressed LIF, as well as the LIF receptor (LIFR) signaling subunits, gp130 and LIFR. Although all of 19 prolactinomas tested expressed gp130 and LIFR subunit mRNA and immunoreactive protein, only 3 of 19 prolactinomas expressed LIF mRNA. All of four prolactinomas had no detectable LIF immunoreactivity, in contrast to all other pituitary tumor types that expressed LIF. LIF (5 nM) treatment reduced PRL secretion in primary human prolactinoma cultures by up to 42% (P < 0.0005), an effect that was surprisingly blocked by sulpiride, a D2-like dopamine receptor antagonist. LIF (5 nM) also suppressed PRL levels in primary rat pituitary cultures by 70% (P < 0.005), and in rat MMQ pituitary tumor cells, and this effect was also reversed by sulpiride (200 micro M). D2R agonist suppression of PRL was not additive with LIF. GH levels in these cells were unchanged by LIF, consistent with a selective effect on PRL. Transfection of human long-form D2R into an LIF-resistant MMQ cell clone restored LIF responsiveness. These results show that even though human prolactinomas express gp130 and LIFR, and respond to exogenous LIF, albeit less than normal lactotrophs, they are largely devoid of LIF. These observations indicate a role for LIF in loss of autocrine PRL suppression contributing to unrestrained prolactinomas PRL secretion. Moreover, PRL suppression by LIF may be mediated by gp130 and D2R interaction.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2003

Suppression of rat and human growth hormone and prolactin secretion by a novel somatostatin/dopaminergic chimeric ligand.

As cotreatment of somatostatin (SRIF) and dopamine (DA) agonists reduces GH in acromegaly more effectively than either agonist alone, SRIF and DA receptors (SSTR and DAR) may interact with enhanced functional activity. The selective SSTR2 agonist, BIM-23023 (50% effective dose, 0.42), and the DAR2 agonist, BIM-53097 (50% effective dose, 22.1), dose- dependently inhibited GH secretion in cultured primary rat and human fetal as well as in human pituitary tumor cells derived from GH-secreting adenomas. The combination of individual SSTR2 and DAR2 agonists was additive for suppressing GH secretion in both rat and human pituitary cells. BIM-23A387 is a chimeric compound that contains structural elements of both SRIF and DA in a single molecule and retains potent, selective binding to DAR2 and SSTR2. BIM-23A387 (50% effective dose, 0.16 for SSTR2 and 24.5 for DAR2), displayed similar efficacy in suppressing GH secretion from rat pituitary cells as the combination of the two individual agonists. In contrast, the chimeric molecule was more potent than individual selective analogs in suppressing GH secretion by human fetal pituitary and GH-secreting adenoma cells (P < 0.05). Although the DAR2 antagonist, sulpiride, reversed BIM-23A387-induced GH suppression, blockade of SSTR2 by the selective SSTR antagonist, BIM-23454, did not block BIM-23A387-suppressed GH secretion. These results indicate that mechanisms by which the chimeric molecule suppresses pituitary GH secretion may not be mediated by individual SSTR2 or DAR2 signaling, respectively. Functional interaction of the two receptors may explain the clinical observation that more effective GH suppression is achieved when DAR2 and SSTR2 agonists are administered in combination. The SRIF/DA chimeric molecule, BIM-23A387, represents a novel tool for effective drug treatment of acromegaly and for prolactinomas otherwise resistant to dopaminergic therapy.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Functional association of somatostatin receptor subtypes 2 and 5 in inhibiting human growth hormone secretion.

We previously demonstrated that somatostatin (SRIF)-induced inhibition of GH secretion from human pituitary cells is mediated through both the SRIF receptor (SSTR) 2 and 5 subtypes. The interplay between these two SSTR subtypes in regulating GH was therefore tested in primary human fetal pituitary cultures (18-30 wk gestation). GHRH (10 nM)-stimulated GH secretion (51% increase, P < 0.05) was suppressed equally by either SSTR2 or SSTR5-selective agonists (10 nM). GH suppression correlated with agonist affinity for their respective receptor subtypes. Combined addition of SSTR2- and SSTR5-specific agonists was synergistic for GH suppression, achieving 73% (P < 0.05) inhibition as compared with inhibition attained with SSTR2 (32%) and SSTR5 (34%) agonists used alone (P < 0.05). The SSTR2 selective antagonist BIM-23454 dose-dependently blocked SSTR2 but not SSTR5-induced suppression of GH secretion. BIM-23454 also completely reversed GH suppression in response to the combined activation of SSTR2 and SSTR5. The IC(50) for BIM-23454 reversal of agonist-induced GH suppression was 55 nM and 33 nM for two SSTR2 agonists, 45 nM and 40 nM for the combination of SSTR2 and SSTR5 agonists, respectively, and 45 nM for the SSTR2/SSTR5 agonist BIM-23244, all of which were similar to the affinity of BIM-23454 for SSTR2 (32 nM). These results suggest the following: 1) activation of both SSTR2 and SSTR5 induces a functional association of receptor subtypes, resulting in synergistic GH suppression; 2) BIM-23454 is a potent SSTR2-selective antagonist capable of reversing SRIF-induced GH suppression; and 3) the ability of a selective SSTR2 antagonist to inhibit the GH suppressing action of SSTR2 agonist alone, SSTR2/SSTR5 biselective agonists, or SSTR2 and SSTR5 agonists in combination support the concept of a functional interaction between somatotroph SSTR2 and SSTR5 subtypes in primary human fetal pituitary cells.

Calcium↗