Influence of ghrelin on rat pituitary GH3 cell line proliferation

10.20883/164 ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 281
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Chmielewska ◽  
Mirosław Andrusiewicz ◽  
Aleksandra Żbikowska ◽  
Katarzyna Kątniak ◽  
Agnieszka Sadowska ◽  
...  

Introduction. Human ghrelin is the endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHSR1a). It is suggested that ghrelin is involved in pituitary adenomas pathogenesis. There are inconsistent data regarding the effect of ghrelin on cell proliferation. In this study the outcome of ghrelin in the rat pituitary adenoma GH3 cell line on morphology and proliferation ratio was evaluated. The ghrelin receptor (Ghsr) mRNA expression in GH3 cell line was established as well, because it was found that heterogeneous expression pattern characterized physiological and pathological conditions of tissues of different origin.Material and Methods. Suitable experimental model pituitary tumor (rat GH3 cell line) was stimulated with ghrelin in the final concentrations 10–12 M, 10–9 M and 10–6 M. Reverse transcription followed by real time polymerase chain reaction was used for ghrelin receptor gene transcript detection. The morphology as well as cell cycle of those cells were analyzed using Axio Vert.A1 Microscope (Zeiss) and BD FACSCalibur™ flow cytometer (Beckton Dickinson), respectively. The percentages of cells in the G0/G1, S, G2/M cycle phases were evaluated using the ModFit™ software (Verity Software, Inc., USA). Results. Ghsr mRNA presence was confirmed in GH3 cells. Ghrelin did not affect conspicuously GH3 cells morphology, however the ghrelin‑induced proliferation index increase was caused by both decline of G0/G1 phases cells count and increase those being in S+G2/M (p < 0.05). Conclusions. In conclusion, this study indicates that ghrelin stimulates GH3 cells proliferation and may play role in pituitary tumorigenesis via an autocrine/paracrine pathway.

2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-288
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Chmielewska ◽  
Mirosław Andrusiewicz ◽  
Aleksandra Żbikowska ◽  
Katarzyna Kątniak ◽  
Agnieszka Sadowska ◽  
...  

Introduction. Human ghrelin is the endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHSR1a). It is suggested that ghrelin is involved in pituitary adenomas pathogenesis. There are inconsistent data regarding the effect of ghrelin on cell proliferation. In this study the outcome of ghrelin in the rat pituitary adenoma GH3 cell line on morphology and proliferation ratio was evaluated. The ghrelin receptor (Ghsr) mRNA expression in GH3 cell line was established as well, because it was found that heterogeneous expression pattern characterized physiological and pathological conditions of tissues of different origin.Material and Methods. Suitable experimental model pituitary tumor (rat GH3 cell line) was stimulated with ghrelin in the final concentrations 10–12 M, 10–9 M and 10–6 M. Reverse transcription followed by real time polymerase chain reaction was used for ghrelin receptor gene transcript detection. The morphology as well as cell cycle of those cells were analyzed using Axio Vert.A1 Microscope (Zeiss) and BD FACSCalibur™ flow cytometer (Beckton Dickinson), respectively. The percentages of cells in the G0/G1, S, G2/M cycle phases were evaluated using the ModFit™ software (Verity Software, Inc., USA). Results. Ghsr mRNA presence was confirmed in GH3 cells. Ghrelin did not affect conspicuously GH3 cells morphology, however the ghrelin-induced proliferation index increase was caused by both decline of G0/G1 phases cells count and increase those being in S+G2/M (p < 0.05). Conclusions. In conclusion, this study indicates that ghrelin stimulates GH3 cells proliferation and may play role in pituitary tumorigenesis via an autocrine/paracrine pathway.


Diabetes ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 259-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Baessler ◽  
M. J. Hasinoff ◽  
M. Fischer ◽  
W. Reinhard ◽  
G. E. Sonnenberg ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Douglas Falls ◽  
Brian D Dayton ◽  
Dennis G Fry ◽  
Christopher A Ogiela ◽  
Verlyn G Schaefer ◽  
...  

Ghrelin, a 28 amino acid, octanoylated peptide, is an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). In addition to various endocrine functions, including stimulation of GH release, ghrelin has been characterized as an important regulator of energy homeostasis. Ghrelin administration has been shown to increase adiposity in rodents and stimulate food intake in humans. Studies suggest that these orexigenic effects are mediated primarily through GHS-R expression in hypothalamic and pituitary neuronal pathways. In this context, GHS-R has been recognized as a potential target for the treatment of GH deficiency and body weight disorders. Cell lines provide convenient in vitro systems to identify and characterize potential pharmacophores and to analyze GHS-R functional activity. While recombinant cell lines that overexpress GHS-R have served as effective research tools for these studies, such cell lines may differ in signaling response to ghrelin compared with hypothalamic or pituitary cells expressing GHS-R. We show here that a cell line derived from a rat anterior pituitary adenoma, RC-4B/C, expresses endogenous GHS-R as judged by reverse transcriptase-PCR. In a Ca2+mobilization assay, RC-4B/C cells demonstrate a dose-dependent increase in intracellular [Ca2+] on stimulation with rat ghrelin and a related peptide agonist, hexarelin (EC50, 1.0 nM and 1.7 nM respectively), but are unresponsive to treatment with inactive des-octanoyl rat ghrelin. A subclone, RC-4B/C.40, with a more robust and stable ghrelin response, was isolated from the parental population of cells to allow further analysis of GHS-R signal transduction. Using pertussis toxin and the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122, we show that ghrelin signals through the Gq pathway in the RC-4B/C.40 cells. We also demonstrate that the ghrelin-induced rise of intracellular [Ca2+] in RC-4B/C.40 cells involves initial Ca2+release from intracellular stores followed by a sustained elevation that occurs via influx of extracellular Ca2+ through ion channels. In addition, unlike observations reported in recombinant cell systems, the RC-4B/C.40 cells do not exhibit a high level of GHS-R constitutive activity as determined in a phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis assay. Overall, the data presented here suggest that the RC-4B/C parental and RC-4B/C.40 cells provide novel in vitro systems for the characterization of GHS-R pharmacophores and ghrelin signaling.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2397
Author(s):  
Chrysostomos Charalambous ◽  
Tereza Havlickova ◽  
Marek Lapka ◽  
Nina Puskina ◽  
Romana Šlamberová ◽  
...  

Cannabis/cannabinoids are widely used for recreational and therapy purposes, but their risks are largely disregarded. However, cannabinoid-associated use disorders and dependence are alarmingly increasing and an effective treatment is lacking. Recently, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR1A) antagonism was proposed as a promising mechanism for drug addiction therapy. However, the role of GHS-R1A and its endogenous ligand ghrelin in cannabinoid abuse remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate whether the GHS-R1A antagonist JMV2959 could reduce the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and behavioral stimulation, the WIN55,212-2 intravenous self-administration (IVSA), and the tendency to relapse. Following an ongoing WIN55,212-2 self-administration, JMV2959 3 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally 20 min before three consequent daily 120-min IVSA sessions under a fixed ratio FR1, which significantly reduced the number of the active lever-pressing, the number of infusions, and the cannabinoid intake. Pretreatment with JMV2959 suggested reduction of the WIN55,212-2-seeking/relapse-like behavior tested in rats on the twelfth day of the forced abstinence period. On the contrary, pretreatment with ghrelin significantly increased the cannabinoid IVSA as well as enhanced the relapse-like behavior. Co-administration of ghrelin with JMV2959 abolished/reduced the significant efficacy of the GHS-R1A antagonist in the cannabinoid IVSA. Pretreatment with JMV2959 significantly and dose-dependently reduced the manifestation of THC-induced CPP. The THC-CPP development was reduced after the simultaneous administration of JMV2959 with THC during conditioning. JMV2959 also significantly reduced the THC-induced behavioral stimulation in the LABORAS cage. Our findings suggest that GHS-R1A importantly participates in the rewarding/reinforcing effects of cannabinoids.


Endocrinology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 152 (12) ◽  
pp. 4800-4812 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Córdoba-Chacón ◽  
Manuel D. Gahete ◽  
Ana I. Pozo-Salas ◽  
Antonio J. Martínez-Fuentes ◽  
Luis de Lecea ◽  
...  

Cortistatin (CST) and somatostatin (SST) evolve from a common ancestral gene and share remarkable structural, pharmacological, and functional homologies. Although CST has been considered as a natural SST-analogue acting through their shared receptors (SST receptors 1–5), emerging evidence indicates that these peptides might in fact exert unique roles via selective receptors [e.g. CST, not SST, binds ghrelin receptor growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a)]. To determine whether the role of endogenous CST is different from SST, we characterized the endocrine-metabolic phenotype of male/female CST null mice (cort−/−) at hypothalamic-pituitary-systemic (pancreas-stomach-adrenal-liver) levels. Also, CST effects on hormone expression/secretion were evaluated in primary pituitary cell cultures from male/female mice and female primates (baboons). Specifically, CST exerted an unexpected stimulatory role on prolactin (PRL) secretion, because both male/female cort−/− mice had reduced PRL levels, and CST treatment (in vivo and in vitro) increased PRL secretion, which could be blocked by a GHS-R1a antagonist in vitro and likely relates to the decreased success of female cort−/− in first-litter pup care at weaning. In contrast, CST inhibited GH and adrenocorticotropin-hormone axes in a gender-dependent fashion. In addition, a rise in acylated ghrelin levels was observed in female cort−/− mice, which were associated with an increase in stomach ghrelin/ghrelin O-acyl transferase expression. Finally, CST deficit uncovered a gender-dependent role of this peptide in the regulation of glucose-insulin homeostasis, because male, but not female, cort−/− mice developed insulin resistance. The fact that these actions are not mimicked by SST and are strongly gender dependent offers new grounds to investigate the hitherto underestimated physiological relevance of CST in the regulation of physiological/metabolic processes.


2004 ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Nanzer ◽  
S Khalaf ◽  
AM Mozid ◽  
RC Fowkes ◽  
MV Patel ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES: Ghrelin is a brain-gut peptide with GH-releasing and appetite-inducing activities and a widespread tissue distribution. Ghrelin is the endogenous ligand of the GH secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a), and both ghrelin and the GHS-R1a are expressed in the pituitary. There are conflicting data regarding the effects of ghrelin on cell proliferation. A positive effect on proliferation and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway has been found in hepatoma, adipose, cardiomyocyte and prostate cell lines. However, ghrelin has also been shown to have anti-proliferative effects on breast, lung and thyroid cell lines. We therefore examined the effect of ghrelin on the rat pituitary cell line GH3. METHODS: RT-PCR was used for the detection of GHS-R1a and pre-proghrelin mRNA expression in GH3 cells. The effect of ghrelin on cell proliferation was studied using [(3)H]thymidine incorporation; cell counting and the activation of the MAPK pathway were studied using immunoblotting and inhibitors of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK 1/2), protein kinase C (PKC) and tyrosine phosphatase pathways. RESULTS: GHS-R1a and ghrelin mRNA expression were detected in GH3 cells. Ghrelin, at 10(-10) to 10(-6) M concentrations, significantly increased [(3)H]thymidine incorporation (at 10(-9) M, 183+/-13% (means+/-s.e.m.) compared with untreated controls), while 12-phorbol 13-myristate acetate (PMA) at 10(-7) M (used as a positive control) caused a 212+/-14% increase. A reproducible stimulatory effect of desoctanoyl ghrelin was also observed on [(3)H]thymidine incorporation (135+/-5%; P<0.01 at 10(-9) M compared with control), as well as on the cell count (control 6.8 x 10(4)+/-8.7 x 10(3) cells/ml vs desoctanoyl ghrelin (10(-9) M) 1.04 x 10(5)+/-7.5 x 10(3) cells/ml; P<0.01). Ghrelin caused a significant increase in phosphorylated ERK 1/2 in immunoblotting, while desoctanoyl ghrelin showed a smaller but also significant stimulatory effect. The positive effect of ghrelin and desoctanoyl ghrelin on [(3)H]thymidine incorporation was abolished by the MAPK kinase inhibitor U0126, the PKC inhibitor GF109203X and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin 23, suggesting that the ghrelin-induced cell proliferation of GH3 cells is mediated both via a PKC-MAPK-dependent pathway and via a tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway. This could also be clearly demonstrated by Western blot analysis, where a transient increase in ERK 1/2 phosphorylation by ghrelin was attenuated by all three inhibitors. CONCLUSION: We have shown a novel role for ghrelin in stimulating the proliferation of a somatotroph pituitary tumour cell line, suggesting that ERK activation is involved in mediating the effects of ghrelin on cell proliferation. Desoctanoyl ghrelin showed a similar effect. As ghrelin has been shown to be expressed in both normal and adenomatous pituitary tissue, locally produced ghrelin may play a role in pituitary tumorigenesis via an autocrine/paracrine pathway.


1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (3) ◽  
pp. C709-C719 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Simasko

The role of Na+ in the expression of membrane potential activity in the clonal rat pituitary cell line GH3 was investigated using the perforated patch variation of patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques. It was found that replacing bath Na+ with choline, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris), or N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMG) caused the cells to hyperpolarize 20-30 mV. Tetrodotoxin had no effect. The effects of the Na+ substitutes could not be explained by effects on potassium or calcium currents. Although all three Na+ substitutes suppressed voltage-dependent calcium current by 10-20%, block of voltage-dependent calcium current by nifedipine or Co2+ did not result in hyperpolarization of the cells. There was no effect of the Na+ substitutes on voltage-dependent potassium currents. In contrast, all three Na+ substitutes influenced calcium-activated potassium currents [IK(Ca)], but only at depolarized potentials. Choline consistently suppressed IK(Ca), whereas Tris and NMG either had no effect or slightly increased IK(Ca). These effects on IK(Ca) also cannot explain the hyperpolarization induced by removing bath Na+. Choline always hyperpolarized cells yet suppressed IK(Ca). Furthermore, removing bath Na+ caused an increase in cell input resistance, an observation consistent with the loss of a membrane conductance as the basis of the hyperpolarization. Direct measurement of background currents revealed a 12-pA inward current at -84 mV that was lost upon removing bath Na+. These results suggest that this background sodium conductance provides the depolarizing drive for GH3 cells to reach the threshold for firing calcium-dependent action potentials.


2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1772-1785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Jiang ◽  
Lorena Betancourt ◽  
Roy G. Smith

Abstract Our objective is to determine the neuromodulatory role of ghrelin in the brain. To identify neurons that express the ghrelin receptor [GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R)], we generated GHS-R-IRES-tauGFP mice by gene targeting. Neurons expressing the GHS-R exhibit green fluorescence and are clearly evident in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, cortex, and midbrain. Using immunohistochemistry in combination with green fluorescent protein fluorescence, we identified neurons that coexpress the dopamine receptor subtype 1 (D1R) and GHS-R. The potential physiological relevance of coexpression of these two receptors and the direct effect of ghrelin on dopamine signaling was investigated in vitro. Activation of GHS-R by ghrelin amplifies dopamine/D1R-induced cAMP accumulation. Intriguingly, amplification involves a switch in G protein coupling of the GHS-R from Gα11/q to Gαi/o by a mechanism consistent with agonist-dependent formation of GHS-R/D1R heterodimers. Most importantly, these results indicate that ghrelin has the potential to amplify dopamine signaling selectively in neurons that coexpress D1R and GHS-R.


Endocrinology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lies Langouche ◽  
Morad Roudbaraki ◽  
Katrien Pals ◽  
Carl Denef

Abstract The melanocortin (MC) γ3MSH is a peptide that can be generated from the N-terminal domain of POMC and is believed to signal through the MC3 receptor. We recently showed that it induces a sustained rise in intracellular free calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) in a subpopulation of pituitary cells, particularly in the lactosomatotroph lineage. In the present study we report that γ3MSH and some analogs increase [Ca2+]i in the GH- and PRL-secreting GH3 cell line and evaluate on the basis of pharmacological experiments and gene expression studies which MC receptor may be involved. A dose as low as 1 pm γ3MSH induced an oscillating[ Ca2+]i increase in a significant percentage of GH3 cells. Increasing the dose recruited an increasing number of responding cells; a maximum was reached at 0.1 nm. γ2MSH,α MSH, and NDP-αMSH displayed a similar effect. SHU9119, an MC3 and MC4 receptor antagonist, and an MC5 receptor agonist, did not affect the number of cells showing a [Ca2+]i rise in response to γ3MSH. SHU9119 had also no effect when added alone. MTII, a potent synthetic agonist of the MC3, MC4, and MC5 receptor as well as an N-terminally extended recombinant analog of γ3MSH showed low potency in increasing [Ca2+]i in GH3 cells, but high potency in stimulating cAMP accumulation in HEK 293 cells stably transfected with the MC3 receptor. In contrast, a peptide corresponding to the γ2MSH sequence of POMC-A of Acipenser transmontanus increased [Ca2+]i in GH3 cells, but was about 50 times less potent than γ2- or γ3MSH in stimulating cAMP accumulation in the MC3 receptor expressing HEK 293 cells. By means of RT-PCR performed on a RNA extract from GH3 cells, the messenger RNA of the MC2, MC3, and MC4 receptor was undetectable, but messenger RNA of the MC5 receptor was clearly present. These data suggest that the GH3 cell line does not mediate the effect of γ3MSH through the MC3 receptor. The involvement of the MC5 receptor is unlikely, but cannot definitely be excluded. The findings animate the hypothesis that there exists a second, hitherto unidentified, MC receptor that displays high affinity for γ3MSH.


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