Novel insights into how purines regulate pituitary cell function

2003 ◽  
Vol 104 (5) ◽  
pp. 467-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Aled REES ◽  
Maurice F. SCANLON ◽  
Jack HAM

Purine nucleosides and nucleotides are widely distributed substances that exhibit a diverse range of effects in a number of tissues, acting as important extracellular signalling molecules in addition to their more established roles in cellular metabolism. They mediate their effects via activation of distinct cell surface receptors, termed adenosine (or P1) and P2 purinergic receptors. Although roles for adenosine and adenine nucleotides have been described previously in the pituitary gland, the distribution of the receptor subtypes and the effects of their activation on pituitary function are not well defined. Recent evidence, however, has emerged to describe a complex signalling system for purines in the pituitary gland. Data from a variety of studies have shown that the expression pattern, number and affinity of adenosine and/or P2 receptors may be cell-type specific and that non-endocrine in addition to endocrine cells elaborate these receptors. These variations, along with the diverse range of signalling pathways activated, dictate the response of individual cell types to extracellular purines, with roles now emerging for these substances in the regulation of hormone release, pituitary cell proliferation and cytokine/growth factor expression. In this review, we discuss these advances and examine some implications for pituitary growth control and the response of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis to stress and inflammation.

1992 ◽  
Vol 263 (5) ◽  
pp. C1040-C1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Reimer ◽  
S. J. Dixon

Extracellular nucleotides, through interaction with specific cell-surface receptors, mediate a variety of biological responses, including elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in a number of cell types. The effects of nucleotides on [Ca2+]i in the rat osteoblastic cell line UMR-106 were studied by fluorescence spectrophotometry of indo-1-loaded cells. In response to ATP (100 microM), [Ca2+]i rose to peaks 228 +/- 16 nM (n = 59) above baseline (85 +/- 3 nM) before returning to near basal levels. Half-maximal elevation of [Ca2+]i was observed at an ATP concentration of 3 +/- 1 microM, consistent with a high-affinity interaction. The response arose primarily by release of Ca2+ from internal stores. UTP, ADP, and 2-methylthioadenosine 5'-triphosphate also induced Ca2+ transients, whereas adenosine, AMP, CTP, and TTP did not, demonstrating specificity. Responsiveness to adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) and inhibition by Mg2+ of the response to ATP indicated that signaling was not dependent on nucleotide hydrolysis. Ca2+ responses to ADP, ATP, and UTP, added sequentially or simultaneously, were consistent with the presence of two distinct P2-purinoceptor subtypes, both linked to Ca2+ mobilization. ADP appeared to interact selectively with one receptor, whereas ATP and UTP interacted selectively with the other. After maximal stimulation with ATP, subsequent responses to ATP were abolished. However, removal of ATP from the extracellular medium rapidly restored responsiveness, suggesting that, with continued receptor occupation, there is time-dependent inactivation of the Ca2+ signaling pathway. Our findings indicate that extracellular nucleotides elevate [Ca2+]i in osteoblastic cells through interaction with two receptor subtypes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10036-10036
Author(s):  
H. G. Hass ◽  
J. Jobst ◽  
O. Nehls ◽  
A. Frilling ◽  
J. T. Hartmann ◽  
...  

10036 Background: Cholangiocarcinomas (CCC) are the second most common primary hepatic malignancy with a still poor prognosis and arise from biliary epithelia or cholangiocytes. Until now, less is known about the molecular pathways leeding to CCC. Methods: Oligonucleotide arrays were used to analyze gene expression profiles of 8 intrahepatic CCCs. After isolation of tRNA and transcription into cDNA, biotin-labelled cRNA probes were hybridized to GeneArrays (Affymetrix U 133A) containing probes of more than 22.000 genes/ESTs. For two-dimensional cluster analysis we used special software programs (Genexplore, GeneSpring). Dysregulated genes were determined by presence in more than 70% and a 2-fold change in relation to the corresponding non-malignant liver tissue. Lightcycler analysis were performed to validate the expression datas of dysregulated genes. Results: A total of 694 dysregulated genes (330 up-/364 down-regulated, compared with corresponding non-malignant tissue) were detected. As the gene with the highest and most consistent upregulation we were able to identify osteopontin (OPN) with an average 5-fold overexpression in all CCC tissues. OPN is an acidic phosphoprotein that is secreted by osteoblasts, macrophages and many other cell types and binds to a variety of cell surface receptors (integrins/CD44). OPN is multifunctional, with activities in cell migration, regulation of bone metabolism, immune cell function and control of tumor cell phenotype. Elevated OPN levels were seen in different tumors but until now no data exist about the expression in CCCs. As one possible interaction in human carcinogenesis, OPN has recently been shown to be a novel substrate for some MMPs, which play an importand role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Conclusions: This is the first report about an overexpression of OPN in CCC and our data indicate an important role in cholangiocarcinogenesis. Further studies are needed to illucidate the moleculargenetic mechanisms of OPN interactions in CCC. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 916-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor J. Biden ◽  
Carsten Schmitz-Peiffer ◽  
James G. Burchfield ◽  
Ebru Gurisik ◽  
James Cantley ◽  
...  

Members of the serine/threonine PKC (protein kinase C) family perform diverse functions in multiple cell types. All members of the family are activated in signalling cascades triggered by occupation of cell surface receptors, but the cPKC (conventional PKC) and nPKC (novel PKC) isoforms are also responsive to fatty acid metabolites. PKC isoforms are involved in various aspects of pancreatic β-cell function, including cell proliferation, differentiation and death, as well as regulation of secretion in response to glucose and muscarinic receptor agonists. Recently, the nPKC isoform, PKCϵ, has also been implicated in the loss of insulin secretory responsiveness that underpins the development of Type 2 diabetes.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwen V. Childs ◽  
Angela K. Odle ◽  
Melanie C. MacNicol ◽  
Melody L. Allensworth-James ◽  
Tiffany K. Miles ◽  
...  

Pituitary cell function is impacted by metabolic states and therefore must receive signals that inform them about nutritional status or adiposity. A primary signal from adipocytes is leptin, which recent studies have shown regulates most pituitary cell types. Subsets of all pituitary cell types express leptin receptors and leptin has been shown to exert transcriptional control through classical JAK/STAT pathways. Recent studies show that leptin also signals through post-transcriptional pathways that involve the translational regulatory protein Musashi. Mechanistically, post-transcriptional control would permit rapid cellular regulation of critical pre-existing pituitary transcripts as energy states change. The chapter will review evidence for transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional regulation of leptin targets (including Gnrhr, activin, Fshb, Gh, Ghrhr, and Pou11f1) and the consequences of the loss of leptin signaling to gonadotrope and somatotrope functions.


Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigitte Bauvois ◽  
Santos Susin

Human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a glycoprotein present in a wide variety of tissues and cell types. NGAL exists as a 25 kDa monomer, a 46 kDa homodimer (the most abundant form in healthy subjects) and a 130 kDa disulfide-linked heterodimer bound to latent matrix metalloproteinase-9. Dysregulated expression of NGAL in human malignancies suggests its value as a clinical marker. A growing body of evidence is highlighting NGAL’s paradoxical (i.e., both beneficial and detrimental) effects on cellular processes associated with tumor development (proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and multidrug resistance). At least two distinct cell surface receptors are identified for NGAL. This review (i) summarizes our current knowledge of NGAL’s expression profiles in solid tumors and leukemias, and (ii) critically evaluates the beneficial and detrimental activities of NGAL having been documented in a diverse range of cancer-derived cell lines. A better understanding of the causal relationships between NGAL dysregulation and tumor development will require a fine analysis of the molecular aspects and biological role(s) of NGAL both in primary tumors and at different stages of disease. Having an accurate picture of NGAL’s contribution to tumor progression is a prerequisite for attempting to modulate this protein as a putative therapeutic target.


Author(s):  
Liza B. Martinez ◽  
Susan M. Wick

Rapid freezing and freeze-substitution have been employed as alternatives to chemical fixation because of the improved structural preservation obtained in various cell types. This has been attributed to biomolecular immobilization derived from the extremely rapid arrest of cell function. These methods allow the elimination of conventionally used fixatives, which may have denaturing or “masking” effects on proteins. Thus, this makes them ideal techniques for immunocytochemistry, in which preservation of both ultrastructure and antigenicity are important. These procedures are also compatible with cold embedding acrylic resins which are known to increase sensitivity in immunolabelling.This study reveals how rapid freezing and freeze-substitution may prove to be useful in the study of the mobile allergenic proteins of rye grass and ragweed. Most studies have relied on the use of osmium tetroxide to achieve the necessary ultrastructural detail in pollen whereas those that omitted it have had to contend with poor overall preservation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 645-675
Author(s):  
Parasuraman Padmanabhan ◽  
Mathangi Palanivel ◽  
Ajay Kumar ◽  
Domokos Máthé ◽  
George K. Radda ◽  
...  

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), affect the ageing population worldwide and while severely impairing the quality of life of millions, they also cause a massive economic burden to countries with progressively ageing populations. Parallel with the search for biomarkers for early detection and prediction, the pursuit for therapeutic approaches has become growingly intensive in recent years. Various prospective therapeutic approaches have been explored with an emphasis on early prevention and protection, including, but not limited to, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy. Many pharmacological interventions have proved to be promising novel avenues, but successful applications are often hampered by the poor delivery of the therapeutics across the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). To overcome this challenge, nanoparticle (NP)-mediated drug delivery has been considered as a promising option, as NP-based drug delivery systems can be functionalized to target specific cell surface receptors and to achieve controlled and long-term release of therapeutics to the target tissue. The usefulness of NPs for loading and delivering of drugs has been extensively studied in the context of NDDs, and their biological efficacy has been demonstrated in numerous preclinical animal models. Efforts have also been made towards the development of NPs which can be used for targeting the BBB and various cell types in the brain. The main focus of this review is to briefly discuss the advantages of functionalized NPs as promising theranostic agents for the diagnosis and therapy of NDDs. We also summarize the results of diverse studies that specifically investigated the usage of different NPs for the treatment of NDDs, with a specific emphasis on AD and PD, and the associated pathophysiological changes. Finally, we offer perspectives on the existing challenges of using NPs as theranostic agents and possible futuristic approaches to improve them.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 666
Author(s):  
Toshio Takahashi

Stem cells have extensive proliferative potential and the ability to differentiate into one or more mature cell types. The mechanisms by which stem cells accomplish self-renewal provide fundamental insight into the origin and design of multicellular organisms. These pathways allow the repair of damage and extend organismal life beyond that of component cells, and they probably preceded the evolution of complex metazoans. Understanding the true nature of stem cells can only come from discovering how they are regulated. The concept that stem cells are controlled by particular microenvironments, also known as niches, has been widely accepted. Technical advances now allow characterization of the zones that maintain and control stem cell activity in several organs, including the brain, skin, and gut. Cholinergic neurons release acetylcholine (ACh) that mediates chemical transmission via ACh receptors such as nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. Although the cholinergic system is composed of organized nerve cells, the system is also involved in mammalian non-neuronal cells, including stem cells, embryonic stem cells, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells. Thus, cholinergic signaling plays a pivotal role in controlling their behaviors. Studies regarding this signal are beginning to unify our understanding of stem cell regulation at the cellular and molecular levels, and they are expected to advance efforts to control stem cells therapeutically. The present article reviews recent findings about cholinergic signaling that is essential to control stem cell function in a cholinergic niche.


1988 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Leclercq-Meyer ◽  
J. Marchand ◽  
A. Sener ◽  
F. Blachier ◽  
W. J. Malaisse

ABSTRACT l-Leucine and 2-ketoisocaproate stimulated insulin release from perifused rat tumoral islet cells (RINm5F line). The secretory response coincided with an increase in the intracellular ATP/ADP ratio, a stimulation of 45Ca outflow from cells perifused in the presence of extracellular Ca2+, and an increase in 32P efflux from cells prelabelled with radioactive orthophosphate. In contrast to d-glucose, however, l-leucine or 2-ketoisocaproate failed to decrease 86Rb outflow, to inhibit 45Ca outflow from cells perifused in the absence of Ca2+ and to enhance the labelling of inositol-containing phospholipids in cells exposed to myo-[2-3H]inositol. These findings suggest that d-glucose, l-leucine and 2-ketoisocaproate exert dissimilar effects on the subcellular distribution of adenine nucleotides and/or 86Rb. The nonmetabolized analogue of l-leucine, 2-aminobicyclo-[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH), also caused an initial stimulation of insulin release and 32P efflux, but this was soon followed by a severe and irreversible inhibition of insulin output, associated with a permanent enhancement of 86Rb outflow. The dual ionic and secretory response to BCH is interpreted in the light of its dual effect on the catabolism of endogenous amino and fatty acids, and raises the view that BCH could be used to interfere with the function of insulinoma cells.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 118
Author(s):  
Emma van der Meulen ◽  
Meg Anderton ◽  
Melissa J. Blumenthal ◽  
Georgia Schäfer

The process of Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpes Virus’ (KSHV) entry into target cells is complex and engages several viral glycoproteins which bind to a large range of host cell surface molecules. Receptors for KSHV include heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs), several integrins and Eph receptors, cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT) and Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN). This diverse range of potential binding and entry sites allows KSHV to have a broad cell tropism, and entry into specific cells is dependent on the available receptor repertoire. Several molecules involved in KSHV entry have been well characterized, particularly those postulated to be associated with KSHV-associated pathologies such as Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS). In this review, KSHV infection of specific cell types pertinent to its pathogenesis will be comprehensively summarized with a focus on the specific cell surface binding and entry receptors KSHV exploits to gain access to a variety of cell types. Gaps in the current literature regarding understanding interactions between KSHV glycoproteins and cellular receptors in virus infection are identified which will lead to the development of virus infection intervention strategies.


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