Glucose utilization, pH reduction and density dependent inhibition in cultures of chick embryo fibroblasts

Central roles of Mg2+ and MgATP2- in the regulation of protein synthesis and cell proliferation: significance for neoplastic transformation

Growth factors are polypeptides that combine with specific membrane receptors on animal cells to stimulate proliferation, but they also stimulate glucose transport, uridine phosphorylation, intermediary metabolism, protein synthesis, and other processes of the coordinate response. There are a variety of nonspecific surface action treatments which stimulate the same set of reactions as the growth factors do, of which protein synthesis is most directly related to the onset of DNA synthesis. Mg(2+) is required for a very wide range of cellular reactions, including all phosphoryl transfers, and its deprivation inhibits all components of the coordinate response that have so far been tested. Growth factors raise the level of free Mg(2+) closer to the optimum for the initiation of protein synthesis. The resulting increase in protein synthesis accelerates progression through G1 to the onset of DNA synthesis and mitosis. None of the other 3 major cellular cations are similarly involved in growth regulation, although internal pH may play an auxiliary role. Almost 10(5) externally bound divalent cations are displaced from membranes for every attached insulin molecule, implying a conformational membrane change that releases enough Mg(2+) from the internal surface of the plasma membrane to account for the increase in free cytosolic Mg(2+). It is proposed that mTOR, the central control point for protein synthesis of the PI 3-K kinase cascade stimulated by insulin, is regulated by MgATP(2-) which varies directly with cytosolic Mg(2+). Other elements of the coordinate response to growth factors such as the increased transport of glucose and phosphorylation of uridine are also dependent upon an increase of Mg(2+). Deprivation of Mg(2+) in neoplastically transformed cultures normalizes their appearance and growth behavior and raises their abnormally low Ca(2+) concentration. Tight packing of the transformed cells at very high saturation density confers the same normalizing effects, which are retained for a few days after subculture at low density. The results suggest that the activity of Mg(2+) within the cell is a central regulator of normal cell growth, and the loss of its membrane-mediated control can account for the neoplastic phenotype.

Deoxyglucose uptake by a head and neck squamous carcinoma: influence of changes in proliferative fraction

PURPOSE

Positron emission tomography, using the glucose analogue fluorodeoxy-D-glucose (FDG), is proving to be useful in the early response detection of head and neck tumors. Presently mechanisms underlying changes in FDG uptake after therapy are poorly understood. Response of tumors to therapy is often accompanied by a decrease in tumor cell proliferation. The purpose of this study was to assess whether or not changes in the uptake of deoxyglucose (DG) may reflect differences in proliferative fraction independent of other metabolic changes induced by using therapeutic agents.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

HN5 head and neck tumor cells were grown to different cell densities producing populations of cells with different proliferative indices without the need for exogenous agents to manipulate cell-cycle kinetics. (3)H-DG uptake, S-phase fraction (Spf), and lactate production were determined in each population of cells.

RESULTS

Large differences in Spf between populations of cells were associated with differences in DG incorporation. Lactate production was also found to correlate strongly with DG uptake.

CONCLUSION

Therapy-induced changes in FDG uptake by tumors may be partly due to changes in proliferation.

Functional modification of a 21-kilodalton G protein when ADP-ribosylated by exoenzyme C3 of Clostridium botulinum

Exoenzyme C3 from Clostridium botulinum types C and D specifically ADP-ribosylated a 21-kilodalton cellular protein, p21.bot. Guanyl nucleotides protected the substrate against denaturation, which implies that p21.bot is a G protein. When introduced into the interior of cells, purified exoenzyme C3 ADP-ribosylated intracellular p21.bot and changed its function. NIH 3T3, PC12, and other cells rapidly underwent temporary morphological alterations that were in certain respects similar to those seen after microinjection of cloned ras proteins. When injected into Xenopus oocytes, C3 induced migration of germinal vesicles and potentiated the cholera toxin-sensitive augmentation of germinal vesicle breakdown by progesterone, also as caused by ras proteins. Nevertheless, p21.bot was immunologically distinct from p21ras.

Functional modification of a 21-kilodalton G protein when ADP-ribosylated by exoenzyme C3 of Clostridium botulinum

Exoenzyme C3 from Clostridium botulinum types C and D specifically ADP-ribosylated a 21-kilodalton cellular protein, p21.bot. Guanyl nucleotides protected the substrate against denaturation, which implies that p21.bot is a G protein. When introduced into the interior of cells, purified exoenzyme C3 ADP-ribosylated intracellular p21.bot and changed its function. NIH 3T3, PC12, and other cells rapidly underwent temporary morphological alterations that were in certain respects similar to those seen after microinjection of cloned ras proteins. When injected into Xenopus oocytes, C3 induced migration of germinal vesicles and potentiated the cholera toxin-sensitive augmentation of germinal vesicle breakdown by progesterone, also as caused by ras proteins. Nevertheless, p21.bot was immunologically distinct from p21ras.

Induction of mitochondrial metabolism and pH-modulated ammoniagenesis by rocking LLC-PK1 cells

In an effort to find a model system in which the regulation of renal ammoniagenesis could be delineated, the LLC-PK1 line of cultured pig kidney epithelial cells was examined. Ammonia production by normally cultured LLC-PK1 cells (monolayers on 75-cm2 flasks, under 6 ml still serum-containing medium) was found to be neither modulated by direct (3 h) nor adapted by chronic (3 day) manipulation of medium pH (production at pH 7.05, 7.40, or 7.60 not significantly different). Considering that the mitochondrial glutamine to alpha-ketoglutarate pathway is the major regulatory site of ammoniagenesis, and that mitochondrial metabolism might be restricted under the normal lactate-generating or hypoxic culture conditions, we examined ammonia production by rocked flasks of LLC-PK1 cells. Flask were rocked continually at a rate of 2.5 oscillations/min, thereby exposing the cells to the atmosphere 40-50% of the time and also maximizing medium O2 tension and nutrient-waste exchange. Mitochondrial enzyme activities in rocked LLC-PK1 cells were shown to be consistently 1.5-fold greater than those in normally cultured cells. Ammonia production by rocked cells was not only directly modulated by short incubations with low and high pH media (production at pH 7.05 greater than 7.40 greater than 7.60) but was adapted by chronic (3 day) manipulations of medium pH (16 h after return to pH 7.40 medium production by pH 7.05- greater than 7.40- greater than 7.60-adapted cells). Thus rocker culture of the LLC-PK1 cell line both induces mitochondrial metabolism and converts cellular ammoniagenesis to a pH-sensitive phenomenon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The relationship between purines, pyrimidines, nucleosides, and glutamine for fibroblast cell proliferation

Previous studies indicate that glutamine is a critical requirement for cell proliferation in vitro. We recently showed that depletion of glutamine from the culture medium supporting growing cells significantly reduced the proportion of cells undergoing DNA synthesis. Similarly glutamine depletion significantly reduced the stimulatory response of quiescent cells to 10% serum. This study shows that the inhibitory effects of depletion of glutamine--in either of these two situations--can be overcome by the addition of adenine or adenosine. Adenine was the only nitrogen base and adenosine was the only nucleoside for which this effect was observed. Such effects could, however, also be achieved by addition of the purine metabolites hypoxantine and inosine. Furthermore, it was found that glutamine (or adenine/adenosine) is only required during a limited interval coinciding with the late part of the G1-phase and the beginning of S-phase. These data suggest the possibility that glutamine exerts its main regulatory effects on cell proliferation by acting as a precursor for adenine and adenosine.

The effect of alkaline pH on the cell growth of six different mammalian cells in tissue culture

The effect of high alkaline pH on the reinitiation of cell growth was studied in six different mammalian cells. We failed to confirm the observation of Zetterberg & Engström, Proc natl acad sci US 78 (1981) 4334 [17] and Exp cell res 144 (1983) 199 [18]. Treatment of quiescent cells at pH 9.5 did not stimulate cell growth when measured by total protein/flask or increase in cell number.

Transepithelial transport in cell culture: bioenergetics of Na-, D-glucose-coupled transport

The renal cell line LLC-PK1 cotransports Na and D-glucose from the apical to the basolateral side of the cell monolayer, and the short-circuit current (Isc) measures the net amount of Na transported. Under conditions of maximal cotransport, the addition of phlorizin or removal of Na reversibly decreased oxygen consumption by one-half. In the absence of glycolytic substrates, alpha-methyl-D-glucoside stimulated Isc and oxygen consumption, although the Isc came to a steady state 50% less than when glycolytic substrates were present. The addition of other aerobic substrates did not increase Isc; however, when non-cotransported glycolytic substrates were introduced the Isc returned to a maximum with an associated fall in oxygen consumption and increased lactate production. Thus, in the absence of glycolytic substrates aerobic ATP formation may be rate-limiting for Na, D-glucose cotransport. For this epithelium glycolysis makes an important contribution to the provision of energy for transport. Oxygen consumption does not correlate well with Isc and is not a good measure of the energy used in transport.

Glutamine and the regulation of DNA replication and cell multiplication in fibroblasts

Several studies indicate that glutamine is a critical requirement for cell growth in vitro. Growing and quiescent (serum-starved) 3T3-fibroblasts were exposed to media (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's minimal essential medium) in which the concentration of the 13 essential amino acids had been lowered to 1/100 or 1/1,000 of that in DMEM - either all together or one by one. The effects on DNa synthesis were measured by autoradiographic determinations of the percentage of labeled cells after 24 hours exposure to 3H-thymidine. a reduction of all 13 essential amino acids to 1/100 or 1/1,000 of the normal concentration in the medium resulted only in a minor growth inhibitory effect during the first cell cycle. A similar growth inhibitory effect was caused by the depletion of one of the 13 essential amino acids (except glutamine) from the medium. However, a depletion of glutamine from the medium resulted in a marked inhibition of growth. Conversely, a relative excess of glutamine, when the other 12 amino acids were lowered to 1/1,000 of the normal concentration, counteracted the growth inhibitory effect of serum starvation. It was even possible to stimulate quiescent cells to undergo DNa synthesis by exposing them to a serum-depleted (0.5% serum) medium with a relative excess of glutamine.

Lactate: a major product of glutamine metabolism by human diploid fibroblasts

Human diploid fibroblasts metabolize up to 13% of the glutamine in tissue culture medium to lactate. Four microCi of glutamine-U-14C were added to media containing 5 mM or 65 microM glucose or medium containing no added glucose, but supplemented with purine and pyrimidine nucleosides (HGTU). Aliquots of the media were taken at daily intervals and were assayed for glucose, lactate, pyruvate, malate, citrate, aspartate, glutamine, and glutamate. The label incorporation into these compounds was determined, except for glutamine and glucose. The distribution of label from glutamine-U14C in 5 mM glucose medium by day 4 was lactate (10.2%), glutamate (15.2%), citrate (1.9%), pyruvate (2.0%), malate (1.1%), and aspartate (< 0.1%). The accumulation of label in lactate and glutamate occurred continuously during the growth cycle. Malate, citrate, and aspartate accumulation occurred primarily in confluent cultures. The label in aspartate was seen only in stationary phase cells or when the glucose concentration was decreased to 65 microM or less; net aspartate accumulation was increased twofold in low glucose media. These data demonstrate an actively functioning pathway for the conversion of 4-carbon TCA-cycle intermediates to 3-carbon glycolytic intermediates in human diploid fibroblasts.

Identification of a distinct phase during melanogenesis that is sensitive to extracellular pH and ionic strength

The cell line B16/C3 will undergo melanogenesis at a specific time after plating. We have found that this time can be modulated by varying the pH of the culture medium. At high pH levels (8.2--8.6) the onset of melanogenesis occurs in 3 or 4 days, while at lower pH (6.7--7.2) it occurs in 7 or 8 days. Furthermore, the time of onset is also sensitive to the extracellular ionic strength. The addition of sodium lactate, sodium chloride, or any other salt tested delays or blocks completely the onset of melanogenesis. These effects are not simply consequence of growth inhibition, nor can they be correlated with patterns of lactate acccumulation. These cells are sensitive to pH or ionic strength after entering the stationary phase just prior to the time of onset of melanogenesis. The existence of a specific pH-and ionic-strength-sensitive phase may provide an important clue to the events responsible for differentiation in this system.

Reversible regulation by magnesium of chick embryo fibroblast proliferation

The rate of 3H-thymidine incorporation and of cell proliferation in chick embryo fibroblast cultures are reduced coordinately when the [Mg2+] of the external medium is reduced below the physiological concentration of about 0.8 mM. These effects of moderately reduced [Mg2+] and the accompanying change in appearance of the cells, resemble the effects produced by lowering the [serum] of the medium. Cells subjected to severe Mg2+ deprivation, especially at low [Ca2+], die and detach from the culture dish. Cells kept at a reduced rate of proliferation for three days by moderate Mg2+ deprivation are quickly restored to rapid proliferation upon restoration of the normal [Mg2+] of the medium. The rate of proliferation of the chick embryo cells is reduced markedly by lowering [Ca2+] about 100-fold, but unlike the case of Mg2+-deprivation this can occur without significant effect on the rate of 3H-thymidine incorporation. More severe Ca2+ deprivation, which does lower the rate of 3H-thymidine incorporation, produces retraction of cells from one another and from the dish, and results in a distinctly abnormal, rounded appearance. The results lend weight to the thesis that free [Mg2+] plays a central role within the cell in the coordinate control of metabolism and growth. They also suggest that the effects produced by varying [Ca2+] in the medium are caused by changes at the external surface of the cell.

Growth of human diploid fibroblasts in the absence of glucose utilization

Normal human diploid fibroblasts were able to undergo one to two cell divisions without glucose utilization in Eagle's minimum essential medium plus 10% dialyzed fetal calf serum if the medium was supplemented with hypoxanthine, thymidine, and uridine (supplemented medium termed HTU-MEM). Under these conditions, the added purine and pyrimidines were required for nucleic acid synthesis, as shown by the inability of Lesch-Nyhan fibroblasts to grow in HTU-MEM. Normal human diploid fibroblasts continued to produce lactate in HTU-MEM, but at a greatly reduced rate. Since cells grew in HTU-MEM without glucose utilization, the probable energy and carbon source was glutamine, which is present in relatively high concentration. Furthermore, the rate of glutamine utilization per cell division was 2-fold greater in HTU-MEM than in medium with 5.5 mM glucose. These results suggest that glutamine can be a major energy source for cells grown in vitro.

Reversible independent alterations in glucose transport and metabolism in cultured human cells deprived of glucose

We have measured uptake of 3H-hexoses into diploid human cells by exposing them to brief pulses of isotopic sugar during the log-growth, subconfluent-growth, and confluent-growth (contact inhibited) phases of the strain HSWP derived from human skin. 3H-deoxyglucose appears to be taken up three times faster than 3H-glucose. After exposure to 3H-glucose for longer than one minute, the cells excrete approximately 70% of the isotope into the medium as lactate. If lactate production (and hence excretion) is abolished by treating the cellls with iodoacetic acid or dinitrofluorobenzene, neither of which inhibits transport, the uptake of 3H-glucose is found to be in fact somewhat larger than that of 3H-deoxyglucose. If cells are deprived of glucose for 24 hours, apparent uptake of 3H-glucose is enhanced 10-fold or more. This latter increase is accounted for by 2- to 3-fold enhancement of true transport plus retention of greater than 90% of the radioactivity, since little lactate is formed or excreted in glucose-deprived cells. Deoxyglucose, galactose, or pyruvate when present during glucose deprivation each have quantitatively different effects on the cells' capacity to produce lactate from a short pulse of glucose, but none of them prevents the enhancement of hexose transport. After restoration of 5 mM glucose to starved cells, their metabolsim returns to normal (in the sense that approximately 70% of the glucose taken up in a pulse is again excreted as lactate), with a half-time of 0.5 hour; but the transport of hexoses returns to control levels much more slowly, with a half-time of approximately 6 hours. The two processes appear to be independently regulated.

Transepithelial transport in cell culture

In cell culture a kidney epithelial cell line MDCK, forms a continuous sheet of identically oriented asymmetrical cells joined by circumferential occluding junctions. The reconstructed epithelial membrane has transport and permeability qualities of in vivo transporting epithelia. The cell layer can be readily manipulated when cultured on a freely permeable membrane filter and, when placed in an Ussing chamber, electrophysiological measurements can be taken. In the absence of a chemical gradient, the cell layer generates an electrical potential of 1.42 mV, the apical surface negative. It is an effective permeability barrier and lacks significant shunting at the clamped edge, as indicated by a resistance of 84 ohms-cm2, which increased when bulk flow from basolateral to apical was induced by an osmotic gradient or electroosmosis. The MDCK cell layer is cation selective with a relative permeability ratio, PNa/PCl, of 1.7. Net water flux, apical to basolateral, was 7.3 mul cm-2 hr-1 in the absence of a chemical gradient. The morphological and functional qualities of a transporting epithelium are stable in cell culture, and the potential use of a homogeneous cell population in cell culture would enhance studies of epithelial transport at the cellular and subcellular levels.