Effects of beta adrenergic agents and prostaglandin E1 on erythroid colony (CFU-E) growth and cyclic AMP formation in Friend erythroleukemic cells

Inhibition of catecholamine degradation ameliorates while chemical sympathectomy aggravates the severity of acute Friend retrovirus infection in mice

Several lines of evidence indicate that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) might be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of retroviral infections. However, experimental data are scarce and findings inconsistent. Here, we investigated the role of the SNS during acute infection with Friend virus (FV), a pathogenic murine retrovirus that causes polyclonal proliferation of erythroid precursor cells and splenomegaly in adult mice. Experimental animals were infected with FV complex, and viral load, spleen weight, and splenic noradrenaline (NA) concentration was analyzed until 25 days post infection. Results show that FV infection caused a massive but transient depletion in splenic NA during the acute phase of the disease. At the peak of the virus-induced splenomegaly, splenic NA concentration was reduced by about 90% compared to naïve uninfected mice. Concurrently, expression of the catecholamine degrading enzymes monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) was significantly upregulated in immune cells of the spleen. Pharmacological inhibition of MAO-A and COMT by the selective inhibitors clorgyline and 3,5-dinitrocatechol, respectively, efficiently blocked NA degradation and significantly reduced viral load and virus-induced splenomegaly. In contrast, chemical sympathectomy prior to FV inoculation aggravated the acute infection and extended the duration of the disease. Together these findings demonstrate that catecholamine availability at the site of viral replication is an important factor affecting the course of retroviral infections.

Sympathoadrenergic modulation of hematopoiesis: a review of available evidence and of therapeutic perspectives

Innervation of the bone marrow (BM) has been described more than one century ago, however the first in vivo evidence that sympathoadrenergic fibers have a role in hematopoiesis dates back to less than 25 years ago. Evidence has since increased showing that adrenergic nerves in the BM release noradrenaline and possibly also dopamine, which act on adrenoceptors and dopaminergic receptors (DR) expressed on hematopoietic cells and affect cell survival, proliferation, migration and engraftment ability. Remarkably, dysregulation of adrenergic fibers to the BM is associated with hematopoietic disturbances and myeloproliferative disease. Several adrenergic and dopaminergic agents are already in clinical use for non-hematological indications and with a usually favorable risk-benefit profile, and are therefore potential candidates for non-conventional modulation of hematopoiesis.

Sympathetic modulation of immunity: relevance to disease

Optimal host defense against pathogens requires cross-talk between the nervous and immune systems. This paper reviews sympathetic-immune interaction, one major communication pathway, and its importance for health and disease. Sympathetic innervation of primary and secondary immune organs is described, as well as evidence for neurotransmission with cells of the immune system as targets. Most research thus far has focused on neural-immune modulation in secondary lymphoid organs, has revealed complex sympathetic modulation resulting in both potentiation and inhibition of immune functions. SNS-immune interaction may enhance immune readiness during disease- or injury-induced 'fight' responses. Research also indicate that dysregulation of the SNS can significantly affect the progression of immune-mediated diseases. However, a better understanding of neural-immune interactions is needed to develop strategies for treatment of immune-mediated diseases that are designed to return homeostasis and restore normal functioning neural-immune networks.

Negative regulation of gamma-globin gene expression by cyclic AMP-dependent pathway in erythroid cells

OBJECTIVE

Fetal hemoglobin inducers such as hemin, butyrate, and hydroxyurea stimulate gamma-globin gene expression by activating the cyclic GMP (cGMP)-dependent pathway. Although cGMP activates the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent pathway by suppressing cGMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3), the effects of the cAMP-dependent pathway on gamma-globin gene expression are unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cAMP-dependent pathway was activated in K562 cells using the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin. Expression of gamma-globin mRNA was examined by primer extension, and transcriptional activity of the gamma-globin gene promoter was determined by reporter gene assays.

RESULTS

PDE3 was expressed in K562 cells at a high level. The cAMP-dependent pathway was found to be activated in K562 cells in which the cGMP-dependent pathway was activated by hemin. Activation of the cAMP-dependent pathway by forskolin inhibited hemin-induced expression of gamma-globin mRNA and decreased transcriptional activity of the gamma-globin gene promoter. The levels of phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were not affected by the cAMP-dependent pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested that the cAMP-dependent pathway, which is independent of MAPK pathways, plays a negative role in gamma-globin gene expression in K562 cells. cAMP and cGMP may have differential roles in the regulation of gamma-globin gene expression in erythroid cells.

G-protein-coupled receptors in normal human erythroid progenitor cells

Human erythroid progenitor cells were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors and amplified in a suspension culture system using recombinant growth factors (stem cell factor, interleukin-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and erythropoietin) as well as conditioned medium from a human bone marrow stroma cell line to support cell proliferation. After 6-8 days of culture, the cell population consisted mainly of erythroid colony-forming cells (burst-forming units, BFU-Es and colony-forming units, CFU-Es). In these cells, we studied ligand-induced changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and cAMP formation as the primary effector systems of guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptors. The results confirmed the functional expression of receptors for adenosine (type A2B), prostaglandin E1 and isoprenaline (beta-adrenoceptor), all of which stimulated adenylyl cyclase, as well as for ADP (purinoceptor types P2T and P2U), platelet-activating factor and thrombin all of which caused a transient increase in [Ca2+]i. The efficacy of adenosine and prostaglandin E1 in stimulating cAMP formation was more than 5 times higher than that of isoprenaline, suggesting a low beta-adrenoceptor density. The response to adenosine and isoprenaline decreased by 80 and 55% respectively during maturation into the proerythroblast stage. Similarly, thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores and ligand-induced Ca2+ release declined by about 60% during the CFU-E-to-erythroblast transition. The overall functional expression pattern of G protein-coupled receptors differed from that in human erythroleukaemia cell lines or from that in platelets. Primary culture systems for nontransformed cells, such as the one presented here, thus will be indispensable for the study of the functional role of G protein-dependent signalling during haematopoiesis.

Evidence for the involvement of 5-lipoxygenase products in the regulation of the expression of the proenkephalin gene in cultured astroglial cells

Cultured astroglial cells secrete eicosanoids which are produced by the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenases. These cells also transcribe the proenkephalin gene. In the present study, it was investigated whether agents which inhibit the metabolism of arachidonic acid affect the basal and stimulated expression of the gene. Tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA; 1-1000 nmol/l) increases the concentration of proenkephalin mRNA in these cells by activating protein kinase C. The enhancement in proenkephalin mRNA caused by TPA (10 nmol/l) was not affected by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (5 mumol/l). However, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, which blocks cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenases, potentiated the effect of TPA on proenkephalin mRNA, when used at concentrations of 0.5-50 mumol/l. Two selective inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase, i.e. MK886 (5 mumol/l) and BAY X1005 (1 mumol/l), also enhanced the effect of TPA (10 nmol/l) without affecting the basal expression of the gene. When added to the incubation medium, leukotriene E4 (10-1000 nmol/l) diminished in a dose-dependent manner the basal and TPA-induced expression of the proenkephalin gene. It is concluded that in astroglial cells derived from cortex of new-born rats products of 5-lipoxygenase can diminish the action of protein kinase C on the proenkephalin gene.

Regulation of beta-adrenergic responses during in vitro differentiation of mouse erythroleukemia cells

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced erythroid differentiation of Friend mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells is associated with a marked transient modulation of catecholamine sensitivity. Within 24 h after induction and well before the onset of hemoglobin synthesis, we observed a 3-fold increase in beta-receptor density and a more than 10-fold increase in receptor-coupled cAMP formation. During the following 4 days, in parallel with the development of normoblast-like cells, receptor numbers returned to preinduction levels while catecholamine-dependent cAMP formation remained significantly elevated. Simultaneously, the apparent potency of the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline increased 10-fold. Improved receptor-cyclase coupling is probably due to a major shift in the expression of Gi and Gs regulatory proteins. Bacterial toxin-mediated ADP-ribosylation of membrane proteins suggests that the dominating species in native cells is Gi (Gsa:Gia = 1.7). By contrast, Gs predominates in differentiated cells (Gsa:Gia = 1.8:1). Receptor-independent forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation showed a pronounced, albeit transient, decrease during differentiation. We suggest that these changes in cellular cAMP responses may be important for transient positive or negative cooperative interactions between hormones and growth factors in the course of erythroid cell development.

15-Lipoxygenase products of arachidonate play a role in proliferation of transformed erythroid cells

The role of specific products of the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism has been investigated in the Friend erythroleukemia cell line, a model system for erythroid cell differentiation. When triggered with agents such as hexamethylene-bis-acetamide, these cells mature as normal erythroid cells. 15-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) was identified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and by radioimmunoassay as the principal lipoxygenase metabolite produced by Friend cells. Its production was significantly lower (903 +/- 73 pg/ml) in stationary-phase cells compared with logarithmic-phase cells (1,496 +/- 24 pg/ml). In addition, inhibitors of both the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways (phenidone, BW 755C, caffeic acid, nordihydroguaiaretic acid and BW 4AC) significantly blocked DNA synthesis (P less than 0.05), whereas neither specific inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase pathway (aspirin or sodium meclofenate) blocked DNA synthesis. The addition of 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid as well as 15-HETE to Friend cells produced an increase in DNA synthesis as assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation in differentiating cells but not in proliferating cells. These data support a role for 15-lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism in maintaining DNA synthesis.

Effects of increasing cyclic AMP or calcium on feline erythroid progenitors in vitro: normal cells are stimulated while cells from retrovirus-infected cats are suppressed

Pharmacologic modulators of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and calcium were added to cultures of bone marrow cells from normal cats and cats with retrovirus-induced erythroid aplasia (EA). Treatment with the following reagents increased the number of erythroid progenitors (CFU-e and BFU-e) in cells from normal cats: isoproterenol, dibutyryl cAMP, forskolin, RO-20-1724 and A23187. However, treatment of cells collected from viremic cats not only failed to enhance CFU-e and BFU-e but inhibited their growth. These studies suggest that EA is related to a non-reversible block of primitive erythroid progenitors or to direct inhibition of BFU-e and CFU-e growth.

Modulation of cyclic AMP levels and differentiation by adenosine analogs in mouse erythroleukemia cells

Friend virus-transformed mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells can be induced to undergo erythroid differentiation by a variety of compounds, including dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and the adenosine analog xylosyladenine. The present studies have monitored the effects of the stable adenosine receptor ligand N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) on induction of MEL cell differentiation. PIA has been previously shown to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in rat hepatic and mouse Leydig 1-10 cells as well as inhibit adenylate cyclase in adipocytes. In the present study, PIA was ineffective as an inducer of the differentiated MEL cell phenotype. However, the results demonstrate that PIA inhibits the induction of MEL cell differentiation by DMSO and xylosyladenine. The extent of this inhibition as determined by benzidine staining, induction of globin RNA, and loss of self-renewal capacity was dependent on PIA concentration. The results also demonstrate that PIA induces a rapid and sustained increase in cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels. Furthermore, there was a highly significant correlation between cAMP levels and inhibition of xylosyladenine-induced differentiation (r = 0.962, P less than 0.0005). This relationship is further supported by the demonstration that prostaglandins E1 and E2 increase MEL cell cAMP levels and inhibit induction of the differentiated MEL cell phenotype. Moreover, PIA inhibited induction of MEL cell differentiation by butyric acid, diazepam, hypoxanthine, and the aminonucleoside analog of puromycin. These results suggest that cAMP may act as a negative regulatory signal in the induction of MEL cell differentiation.

Morphological alterations induced by prostaglandins E1, F2 alpha and A1 in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines

Monolayer cultures of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast tumor cell lines were treated with prostaglandins PGE1, PGF2 alpha and PGA1 in a concentration range of 10(-12)-10(-4) M and studied at ultrastructural level. Electron microscopic examinations of both cell lines revealed that PGE1, PGF2 alpha and PGA1 induced morphological changes at concentrations above 10(-8) M. In both the small and large MDA-MB-231 cells, deformation of mitochondrial cristae, increased density of mitochondrial matrix and accumulation of lysosomal-like vesicles were observed. In the nuclei morphological, modifications included, the presence of nuclear bodies, occasional nuclear inclusions, nucleolar budding and the disappearance of the nucleolar granular components. In MCF-7 cells, disorganization of mitochondrial cristae and an increase in their matrix density were also observed. At nuclear level, little or no morphological alterations were observed. The results also indicated that the plasma membranes of both cell lines were the most sensitive organelles to PGs action as in many cells their microvilli were either shortened and spherical in shape or absent.

Adrenergic modulation of erythropoiesis: in vitro studies of colony-forming cells in normal and polycythaemic man

The effect of hormonal interactions on human erythroid colony growth has been studied using the beta adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol. The growth of colonies derived from both erythroid burst-forming cells (BFU-E) and erythroid colony-forming cells (CFU-E) was enhanced in the presence of isoproterenol. While isoproterenol was effective at all concentrations of erythropoietin (Ep) in cultures of marrow cells, an increase in BFU-E-derived colonies in peripheral blood cultures could be detected only at suboptimal levels of Ep concentrations. The isoproterenol effect was blocked by an agent with beta 2 receptor specificity (butoxamine), and L-isomeric configuration (L-propranolol). The stimulatory effect appeared to be mediated by a receptor different from that for Ep or for phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated leucocyte conditioned medium. Circulating BFU-E from eight patients with polycythaemia vera were also studied. Those colonies which grew in the absence of added Ep increased with isoproterenol; in cultures from normal subjects and in patients with secondary erythrocytosis, agonist stimulation was seen only in the presence of Ep. These studies provide evidence that the growth of both normal and neoplastic erythroid progenitors may be modulated by hormonal interactions.