Identification of an Endogenous 5-Hydroxytryptamine2A Receptor in NIH-3T3 Cells: Agonist-Induced Down-Regulation Involves Decreases in Receptor RNA and Number

Abstract STUDY QUESTION Does activin A contribute to testicular fibrosis under inflammatory conditions? SUMMARY ANSWER Our results show that activin A and key fibrotic proteins are increased in human testicular biopsies with leukocytic infiltrates and impaired spermatogenesis and in murine experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) and that activin A stimulates fibrotic responses in peritubular cells (PTCs) and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Fibrosis is a feature of EAO. Activin A, a regulator of fibrosis, was increased in testes of mice with EAO and its expression correlated with severity of the disease. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This is a cross-sectional and longitudinal study of adult mice immunized with testicular homogenate (TH) in adjuvant to induce EAO, collected at 30 (n = 6), 50 (n = 6) and 80 (n = 5) days after first immunization. Age-matched mice injected with adjuvant alone (n = 14) and untreated mice (n = 15) were included as controls. TH-immunized mice with elevated endogenous follistatin, injected with a non-replicative recombinant adeno-associated viral vector carrying a gene cassette of follistatin (rAAV-FST315; n = 3) or vector with an empty cassette (empty vector controls; n = 2) 30 days prior to the first immunization, as well as appropriate adjuvant (n = 2) and untreated (n = 2) controls, were also examined. Human testicular biopsies showing focal inflammatory lesions associated with impaired spermatogenesis (n = 7) were included. Biopsies showing intact spermatogenesis without inflammation, from obstructive azoospermia patients, served as controls (n = 7). Mouse primary PTC and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts were stimulated with activin A and follistatin 288 (FST288) to investigate the effect of activin A on the expression of fibrotic markers. Production of activin A by mouse primary Sertoli cells (SCs) was also investigated. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Testicular RNA and protein extracts collected from mice at days 30, 50 and 80 after first immunization were used for analysis of fibrotic marker genes and proteins, respectively. Total collagen was assessed by hydroxyproline assay and fibronectin; collagen I, III and IV, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression and phosphorylation of suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic (SMAD) family member 2 were measured by western blot. Immunofluorescence was used to detect fibronectin. Fibronectin (Fn), αSMA (Acta2), collagen I (Col1a2), III (Col3a1) and IV (Col4a1) mRNA in PTC and NIH 3T3 cells treated with activin A and/or FST288 were measured by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Activin A in SC following tumour necrosis factor (TNF) or FST288 stimulation was measured by ELISA. Human testicular biopsies were analysed by qRT-PCR for PTPRC (CD45) and activin A (INHBA), hydroxyproline assay and immunofluorescence. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Production of activin A by SC was stimulated by 25 and 50 ng/ml TNF (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, respectively) as compared to untreated cells. INHBA mRNA was increased in human testicular biopsies with leukocytic infiltrates and impaired spermatogenesis, compared with control biopsies (P < 0.05), accompanied by increased total collagen (P < 0.01) and fibronectin deposition. Total testicular collagen (P < 0.0001) and fibronectin protein expression (P < 0.05) were also increased in EAO, and fibronectin expression was correlated with the severity of the disease (r = 0.9028). In animals pre-treated with rAAV-FST315 prior to immunization with TH, protein expression of fibronectin was comparable to control. Stimulation of PTC and NIH 3T3 cells with activin A increased fibronectin mRNA (P < 0.05) and the production of collagen I (P < 0.001; P < 0.01) and fibronectin (P < 0.05). Moreover, activin A also increased collagen IV mRNA (P < 0.05) in PTC, while αSMA mRNA (P < 0.01) and protein (P < 0.0001) were significantly increased by activin A in NIH 3T3 cells. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION A limited number of human testicular specimens was available for the study. Part of the study was performed in vitro, including NIH 3T3 cells as a surrogate for testicular fibroblasts. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Resident fibroblasts and PTC may contribute to the progression of testicular fibrosis following inflammation, and activin A is implicated as a key mediator of this process. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program and the International Research Training Group between Justus Liebig University (Giessen) and Monash University (Melbourne) (GRK 1871/1–2) on `Molecular pathogenesis on male reproductive disorders’ funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and Monash University. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Download Full-text

CDGF (Chicken Embryo Fibroblast-Derived Growth Factor) Is Mitogenically Related to TGF-β and Modulates PDGF, bFGF, and IGF-I Action on Sparse NIH/3T3 Cells

Experimental Cell Research ◽

10.1006/excr.1993.1040 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 204 (2) ◽

pp. 329-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andreas Geistlich ◽

Heinz Gehring

Keyword(s):

Growth Factor ◽

Chicken Embryo ◽

Chicken Embryo Fibroblast ◽

3T3 Cells ◽

Igf I ◽

Nih 3T3 ◽

Nih 3T3 Cells

Download Full-text

Transactivation of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor α by the GTPase-Deficient Activated Mutant of Gα12

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.26.1.50-62.2006 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 50-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Rashmi N. Kumar ◽

Ji Hee Ha ◽

Rangasudhagar Radhakrishnan ◽

Danny N. Dhanasekaran

Keyword(s):

Growth Factor ◽

Cell Growth ◽

Signaling Pathway ◽

Growth Factor Receptor ◽

Platelet Derived Growth Factor ◽

Dominant Negative Mutant ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

3T3 Cells ◽

Nih 3T3 ◽

Nih 3T3 Cells

ABSTRACT The GTPase-deficient, activated mutant of Gα12 (Gα12Q229L, or Gα12QL) induces neoplastic growth and oncogenic transformation of NIH 3T3 cells. Using microarray analysis, we have previously identified a role for platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) in Gα12-mediated cell growth (R. N. Kumar et al., Cell Biochem. Biophys. 41:63-73, 2004). In the present study, we report that Gα12QL stimulates the functional expression of PDGFRα and demonstrate that the expression of PDGFRα by Gα12QL is dependent on the small GTPase Rho. Our results indicate that it is cell type independent as the transient expression of Gα12QL or the activation of Gα12-coupled receptors stimulates the expression of PDGFRα in NIH 3T3 as well as in human astrocytoma 1321N1 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate the presence of an autocrine loop involving PDGF-A and PDGFRα in Gα12QL-transformed cells. Analysis of the functional consequences of the Gα12-PDGFRα signaling axis indicates that Gα12 stimulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT signaling pathway through PDGFR. In addition, we show that Gα12QL stimulates the phosphorylation of forkhead transcription factor FKHRL1 via AKT in a PDGFRα- and PI3K-dependent manner. Since AKT promotes cell growth by blocking the transcription of antiproliferative genes through the inhibitory phosphorylation of forkhead transcription factors, our results describe for the first time a PDGFRα-dependent signaling pathway involving PI3K-AKT-FKHRL1, regulated by Gα12QL in promoting cell growth. Consistent with this view, we demonstrate that the expression of a dominant negative mutant of PDGFRα attenuated Gα12-mediated neoplastic transformation of NIH 3T3 cells.

Download Full-text

Cytotoxicity, Antiproliferative Effects, and Apoptosis Induction of Methanolic Extract ofCynometra caulifloraLinn. Whole Fruit on Human Promyelocytic Leukemia HL-60 Cells

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2012/127373 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

T-Johari S. A. Tajudin ◽

Nashriyah Mat ◽

Abu Bakar Siti-Aishah ◽

A. Aziz M. Yusran ◽

Afnani Alwi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Methanolic Extract ◽

Apoptotic Cell ◽

Mouse Fibroblast ◽

Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Apoptotic Cell Death ◽

Apoptotic Cells ◽

3T3 Cells ◽

Nih 3T3 ◽

Nih 3T3 Cells

Methanolic extract ofCynometra cauliflorawhole fruit was assayed for cytotoxicity against the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 and the normal mouse fibroblast NIH/3T3 cell lines by using the MTT assay. The CD50of the extract for 72 hours was 0.9 μg/mL whereas the value for the cytotoxic drug vincristine was 0.2 μg/mL. The viability of the NIH/3T3 cells was at 80.0% when treated at 15.0 μg/mL. The extract inhibited HL-60 cell proliferation with dose dependence. AO/PI staining of HL-60 cells treated with the extract revealed that majority of cells were in the apoptotic cell death mode. Flow cytometry analysis of HL-60 cells treated at CD50of the extract showed that the early apoptotic cells were 31.0, 26.3 and 19.9% at 24, 48, and 72 hours treatment, respectively. The percentage of late apoptotic cells was increased from 62.0 at 24 hours to 64.1 and 70.2 at 48 and 72 hours, respectively. Meanwhile, percent of necrotic cells were 4.9, 6.6, and 8.5 at 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. This study has shown that the methanolic extract ofC. cauliflorawhole fruit was cytotoxic towards HL-60 cells and induced the cells into apoptotic cell death mode, but less cytotoxic towards NIH/3T3 cells.

Download Full-text

Induction of β3-Integrin Gene Expression by Sustained Activation of the Ras-Regulated Raf–MEK–Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling Pathway

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.21.9.3192-3205.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 21 (9) ◽

pp. 3192-3205 ◽

Cited By ~ 94

Author(s):

Douglas Woods ◽

Holly Cherwinski ◽

Eleni Venetsanakos ◽

Arun Bhat ◽

Stephan Gysin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Surface ◽

Signaling Pathway ◽

Erk Signaling ◽

Integrin Expression ◽

3T3 Cells ◽

Extracellular Signal ◽

Integrin Gene ◽

Β3 Integrin ◽

Nih 3T3 ◽

Nih 3T3 Cells

ABSTRACT Alterations in the expression of integrin receptors for extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are strongly associated with the acquisition of invasive and/or metastatic properties by human cancer cells. Despite this, comparatively little is known of the biochemical mechanisms that regulate the expression of integrin genes in cells. Here we demonstrate that the Ras-activated Raf–MEK–extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway can specifically control the expression of individual integrin subunits in a variety of human and mouse cell lines. Pharmacological inhibition of MEK1 in a number of human melanoma and pancreatic carcinoma cell lines led to reduced cell surface expression of α6- and β3-integrin. Consistent with this, conditional activation of the Raf-MEK-ERK pathway in NIH 3T3 cells led to a 5 to 20-fold induction of cell surface α6- and β3-integrin expression. Induced β3-integrin was expressed on the cell surface as a heterodimer with αv-integrin; however, the overall level of αv-integrin expression was not altered by Ras or Raf. Raf-induced β3-integrin was observed in primary and established mouse fibroblast lines and in mouse and human endothelial cells. Consistent with previous reports of the ability of the Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathway to induce β3-integrin gene transcription in human K-562 erythroleukemia cells, Raf activation in NIH 3T3 cells led to elevated β3-integrin mRNA. However, unlike immediate-early Raf targets such as heparin binding epidermal growth factor and Mdm2, β3-integrin mRNA was induced by Raf in a manner that was cycloheximide sensitive. Surprisingly, activation of the Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathway by growth factors and mitogens had little or no effect on β3-integrin expression, suggesting that the expression of this gene requires sustained activation of this signaling pathway. In addition, despite the robust induction of cell surface αvβ3-integrin expression by Raf in NIH 3T3 cells, such cells display decreased spreading and adhesion, with a loss of focal adhesions and actin stress fibers. These data suggest that oncogene-induced alterations in integrin gene expression may participate in the changes in cell adhesion and migration that accompany the process of oncogenic transformation.

Download Full-text