A comparison of the uptake, metabolism, and action of cyclic adenine nucleotides in cultured hepatoma cells

Effects of cholera toxin and isobutylmethylxanthine on growth of human fibroblasts

Cholera toxin produced a dose-dependent decrease in the restimulation of G0/G1 traverse in density-arrested human fibroblasts but did not inhibit the stimulation of cells arrested in G0 after serum starvation at low density. In addition, cholera toxin did not inhibit the proliferation of sparse logarithmically growing human fibroblasts, even when low concentrations of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) were also present. However, the final density to which sparse cells grew was limited by cholera toxin, when added either alone or together with low concentrations of IBMX. In contrast, high concentrations of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor alone produced a profound inhibition in the growth of sparse human fibroblasts. IBMX produced an inhibition both in the G1 and in the G2 phases of the cell cycle by a mechanism(s) that was not related to the magnitude of the increases in adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate concentrations.

The effect of retinoic acid on protein phosphorylation in mouse melanoma cells

Vitamin A inhibits growth and increases the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in B16 mouse melanoma cells. In this report we show that retinoic acid (RA) treatment of intact cells alters their subsequent in vitro protein phosphorylation, but we could not demonstrate any changes in in vivo protein phosphorylation. A 48-h treatment with RA results in a concentration-dependent decrease of protein phosphorylation of a 95K molecular weight (MW) protein in both supernatant and particulate fractions. The phosphorylation of this protein does not appear to be regulated by cAMP. Proteins at 92K and 82K MW in the supernatant fraction are increased in phosphorylation. The former (but not the latter) is regulated by cAMP. In the particulate fraction a variety of proteins 12K-68K MW are increased in phosphorylation, as the cells are treated with increasing amounts of RA. The phosphorylation of most of these proteins is regulated by cAMP. Another inhibitor of B16 cell growth, melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) also alters protein phosphorylation. At short incubation periods (1 h), this hormone stimulates phosphorylation of a number of proteins (17-40K MW), while in longer incubation periods (48 h) phosphorylation is inhibited. All of these phosphorylations appear to be regulated by cAMP. We attempted to repeat these observations using intact-cell phosphorylation with 32PO4. In two experiments we saw small changes in the phosphorylation of proteins. In most experiments, however, we could find no change in the phosphoproteins. Further experiments have led us to question the in vivo phosphorylation, since treatment of the cells with MSH, cholera toxin, or db-cAMP also did not affect intact-cell protein phosphorylation. We have previously documented that under these latter conditions cAMP levels are greatly elevated and cAMP-dependent protein kinase is activated. The in vitro phosphorylation results suggests that in RA-treated cells, kinase activities and/or protein substrate levels are changing. However, the physiological significance of the particular MW phosphoproteins changes we have described must await resolution of the in vivo phosphorylation data.

Schwann cell galactocerebroside induced by derivatives of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate

Indirect immunofluorescence was used to show the presence of galactocerebroside (galC), a lipid found in myelin, on the surface of about half of the Schwann cells isolated from neonatal rat sciatic nerves and cultured for 1 day without neurons. By day 4 in vitro, the Schwann cells had all lost their surface galC. Three days after beginning treatment with 10(-3) molar 8-bromo-adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (8-bromo cyclic AMP) or N6,O2'-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (dibutyryl cyclic AMP), galC reappeared on the Schwann cells, and 2 days later 48 percent of the cultured Schwann cells showed surface galC. Tritium from tritiated D-galactose was incorporated into galC by the 8-bromo cyclic AMP-and dibutyryl cyclic AMP-treated cultures at a rate 15 times the control rate.

Synergistic stimulation of DNA synthesis by cyclic AMP derivatives and growth factors in mouse 3T3 cells

Addition of the cAMP derivatives butcAMP or 8BrcAMP to quiescent cultures of Swiss 3T3 causes synergistic stimulation of DNAk synthesis with insulin, phorbol esters, vasopressin, epidermal growth factor, or fetal bovine serum (2-5%). In the presence of insulin, 8BrcAMP, and butcAMP stimulate [3H]-thymidine incorporation into acid-precipitable material in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of these agents is specific since 8Br5'AMP, 5'AMP, butyrate, or 8BrcGMP fail to stimulate DNA synthesis under identical experimental conditions. Furthermore, the mitogenic effects of the cAMP derivatives were markedly potentiated by 1-methyl-3-isobutyl xanthine and 4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxy benzyl)-2-imidazolidine, both of which are potent inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity. The growth-promoting effects of the cAMP derivatives were demonstrated by [3H]-thymidine incorporation (either by scintillation counting or by autoradiography), by flow cytofluorometric analysis, and by increase in cell number. When quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells were exposed to butcAMP and insulin, DNA synthesis began after a lag of 17h. The result of sequential additions of cAMP derivatives and insulin to quiescent 3T3 cells suggest that these agents must act simultaneously in G0/G1 to stimulate entry into DNA synthesis in these cells. The findings support the proposition that an increase in cellular levels of cAMP (but not cGMP) act sas a mitogenic stimulus for confluent and quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells.

Inhibition of hepatoma cell growth by analogs of adenosine and cyclic AMP and the influence of enzymes in mammalian sera

The following evidence suggests that inhibition of hepatoma cell (HTC) growth by cyclic nucleotides is an adenosine-like effect that is greatly modified by the type and treatment of serum used in the culture medium and is probably not mediated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase: 1) Heating serum reduces its phosphodiesterase content, thereby slowing metabolism of cyclic AMP and reducing the inhibition of HTC cell growth by cyclic AMP; 2) Using medium that contains phosphodiesterase but lacks adenosine deaminase causes adenosine to accumulate from cyclic AMP and increases the toxicity of cyclic AMP; 3) Uridine or cytidine reverses the growth inhibition caused by adenosine, 5'-AMP or cyclic AMP; 4) adenosine, 5'-AMP and N6-(delta 2-isopentenyl) adenosine are more toxic for HTC cells than is cyclic AMP, and N6,O2-dibutyryl cyclic AMP is not toxic; and 5) N6,O2'-dibutyryl cyclic AMP inhibits growth of Reuber H35 cells, but uridine prevents this inhibition of growth. We conclude that most, if not all, of the inhibitory effects of cyclic AMP and N6,O2'-dibutyryl cyclic AMP on HTc and Reuber H35 hepatoma cell growth are due to the generation of toxic metabolites.

Potentiation of the growth inhibitory effects of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate analogues by homocysteine

The growth inhibitory effects of N6-monobutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (mbcAMP) and N6,O2'-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5' monophosphate (dbcAMP) towards Walker carcinoma in vitro are significantly potentiated by the addition of L-homocysteine to the culture medium. This effect is not seen with L-cysteine or when exogenous cAMP or prostaglandin E2(PGE2) replace the butyrylated cyclic nucleotide. Combinations of mbcAMP or dbcAMP and L-homocysteine significantly inhibit nucleic acid methylations. Both the butyrylated cyclic nucleotides cause an elevation of the intracellular level of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH), a potent inhibitor of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) dependent methyltransferases, and this is significantly enhanced in combination with L-homocysteine. The increase in SAH level produced by such combinations is proportional to the inhibition of methyl group incorporation into 5-methyl cytosine and 7-methyl guanine. These results suggest that L-homocysteine potentiates accumulation of SAH in the presence of mbcAMP and dbcAMP and that the resultant inhibition of methylation accounts for the enhanced growth inhibition.

Induction of tyrosine aminotransferase in H-35 hepatoma cells by cAMP captured in phospholipid vesicles

The uptake, metabolism, and action of cAMP, captured within phospholipid vesicles, in H-35 hepatoma cells were studied. Sonication of lipids in buffer containing cAMP resulted in the formation of 300-A unilamellar lipid vesicles, capturing cAMP in the internal aqueous cavity. Incubation of H-35 hepatoma cells with vesicles containing cAMP (vesicle-cAMP) resulted in rapid incorporation of the vesicle content; apparent saturation of uptake was reached after approximately 30 min of incubation at 37 degrees C. Uptake of vesicle-cAMP was linear over a 10-fold vesicle concentration range. Pretreatment of cells with combined inhibitors of glycolysis and respiration inhibited vesicle uptake by 27%, suggesting vesicle fusion with the cell membrane as a predominant pathway of vesicle uptake. Studies on the metabolism of incorporated cAMP indicated that greater than 50% of the cell-associated radioactivity, derived from vesicle-[3H]cAMP, was preserved as cAMP at the end of a 20-min incubation at 37 degrees C. The incorporation of vesicle-cAMP by H-35 hepatoma cells resulted in increased tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activity. The concentration of vesicle-cAMP needed to produce a half-maximal increase in TAT activity was 10 microM, approximately two orders of magnitude lower than that of exogenously added dbcAMP. cAMP was ineffective when added extracellularly. The kinetic relationship of the cAMP-induced increase in TAT activity and the binding of cAMP to its receptor protein, in intact H-35 cells, was examined using vesicle-trapped 8-N3-cAMP, a photoaffinity labeling analogue of cAMP. Incubation of H-35 hepatoma cells with vesicle-8-N3-cAMP resulted in increased TAT activity, preceded by the binding of 8-N3-cAMP to the regulatory subunit of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The use of lipid vesicles provides a means of modulating intracellular cAMP concentration without adding cyclic nucleotide in the millimolar concentration range to the extracellular medium. The increased efficiency of intracellular delivery of cyclic nucleotide with retention of biological activity, provides a useful technique in examining the relationship of occupancy of specific cAMP-receptor protein(s) and the occurrence of a cAMP-mediated biological response in intact cells.

A variant of S49 mouse lymphoma cells with enhanced secretion of cyclic AMP

A novel variant of S49 mouse lymphoma cells is described which is resistant to growth arrest and cytolysis by dibutyryl cyclic AMP but, in contrast to previously described variants, has normal cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The variant is also resistant to N6-monobutyryl cAMP but is sensitive to killing by 8-bromo cAMP and cholera toxin. Extracts of the variant appear to contain wild type levels of both O2'-butyrylesterase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities. Accumulation of exogenous [3H]dibutyryl cyclic AMP is reduced in the variant suggesting a defect in either uptake or secretion of the analog or its metabolic products. Accumulation of cyclic AMP in variant cells after stimulation of adenylate cyclase with either isoproterenol or cholera toxin is also reduced compared with wild type cells, although cyclase activity of membranes prepared from the variant cells is normal. Extracellular accumulation of cyclic AMP after stimulation of variant cells with isoproterenol is greater than that found with wild type cells. It is concluded that the variant has an alteration in its cyclic AMP secretion mechanism resulting in more efficient extrusion of cyclic AMP than in wild type cells.

Unlinked control of multiple glucocorticoid-induced processes in HTC cells

HTC cell variants chosen for their lack of tyrosine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.5) (TAT) induction by glucocorticoids were tested for interrelated effects on other glucocorticoid responses: TAT induction by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dBcAMP) +/- dexamethasone, glutamine synthetase (GS) induction, cyclic nucleotide phosphodieterase (PDE) suppression, inhibition of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) uptake, inhibition of plasminogen activator (PA), and induction of mouse mammary tumor virus (MTV). Loss of TAT induction by steroid was accompanied by loss of TAT induction by dBcAMP and of PDE suppression by steroid. In addition, subclones of MTV-infected cells were examined for the effect of the virus on glutamine synthetase (GS) and TAT induction. The virus had no effect on their induction in wild-type cells and no effect on GS induction in the variants. One MTV-infected subclone from a TAT variant, however, showed significant return of TAT induction.

The role of glucocorticoid hormones as biological amplifiers

Recent research in hormone action has been aimed at studying single effects in well-defined systems. As exemplified in several chapters of this book, it has been possible to deduce a general mechanism of action of the glucocorticoids using this approach. Most hormones, and the glucocorticoids in particular, do not act as independent agents in the intact animal. Although the best known example of how glucocorticoids interact with other hormones is the amplification of the effect of those whose action is mediated by cAMP, these steroids also augment the effects of a variety of other hormones and effectors. Such interactions are of interest in clinical medicine as well, since glucocorticoid hormones are used in combination with other drugs in a number of conditions, including the treatment of asthma, allergies, and certain kinds of shock and cancer. Neither the biochemical nor the pharmacologic basis for the effects of the glucocorticoids is known. In some cases the actions of other hormones are not observed unless the tissue has first been exposed to glucocorticoids. In these instances the glucocorticoids are said to exert a "permissive effect," since they allow a process to proceed at a maximal rate even though the steroid itself has no effect on this process. There is no doubt that such examples exist, as documented above: thus the concept of a "permissive effect" does have utility. The term fails to describe the more general role the glucocorticoids play, since in many instances the steroid also has a direct effect on the process itself, or optimizes a process in which the primary effector is not as yet known. Because of these cases, and because the historically more general usage first proposed by INGLE [1] seems to have been forgotten, use of the term "permissive effect" has been avoided in this chapter. An ultimate goal in glucocorticoid hormone research is to identify the mechanisms involved in the amplification effect these hormones exert. Now that the actions of these hormones and of the hormones they interact with are being defined, such work is within the realm of feasibility.

The isozyme pattern of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and the distribution of a cervicovaginal antigen in experimental carcinoma of the cervix uteri of mice

Tissue-sections from 12 methylcholanthrene-induced carcinomas of the cervix uteri of mice were tested for the presence of an antigen normally confined to the cervicovaginal epithelium. The antigen was detected in 10 of the 12 tumours investigated with indirect immunofluorescence, and in all 7 tumours studied with the more sensitive method of mixed hemagglutination. The concentration of the antigen was generally higher in the well-differentiated areas of the tumours, but it was also found associated with solitary tumour cells, apparently invading the stroma. The presence of CVA in the tumours suggests an origin of the tumour cells from the cervicovaginal epithelium. The cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase (EC 2. 7. 1. 37) in the tumour cytosols was studied by chromatography on agarose and DEAE-cellulose. The enzyme showed the same properties as that from normal vaginal epithelium. The tumour cells thus contain an apparently normal complement of this enzyme, which is believed to be responsible for most of the intracellular actions of cyclic AMP.

Effect of cyclic 3':5'-AMP derivatives prostaglandins and related agents on human chorionic gonadotropin secretion in human malignant trophoblast in culture

The secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is stimulated by addition of N6, O2'-dibutyryl cyclic 3':5'-AMP (dbcAMP) or theophylline to normal term placenta and human malignant trophoblast cells in vitro. To understand better the specificity of this process, malignant trophoblast cultures were incubated with 3':5'-cyclic AMP (cAMP) derivatives, prostaglandins and other agents for 1 to 3 days, and the secretion of radioimmunoassayable hCG was measured. Whereas dbcAMP was the most potent agent in stimulating secretion of hCG, the N6--and O2'-monobutyryl derivatives of cAMP and phosphodiesterase inhibitors (theophylline, papaverine, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) also increased the secretion of the hormone. A slight increase in hCG secretion was observed following addition of adenine. By contrast, butyrate, cAMP, cyclic 3':5'-GMP (cGMP), dbcGMP, 5'-AMP, adenosine, L-epinephrine and prostaglandins E1, E2, F1a and F2a were ineffective. Particulate fractions from sonicates of malignant trophoblast cultures contained adenylate cyclase activity which was stimulated more than 10-fold by NaF, but not by either catecholamines or prostaglandins. The relatively specific stimulation of hCG secretion suggested that a regulatory process involving cAMP may have physiological significance in the trophoblast.

Activity of protein kinase dependent on adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and of its thermostable protein inhibitor in rat hepatoma (HTC) cells. Unlikely role in the permissive action of glucocorticoids

Normal expression of a variety of hormonal effects which depend on cyclic AMP (adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate) requires the presence of glucocorticoids. Our hypothesis was that glucocorticoids control directly or indirectly the activity of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase. This has been investigated in cultured hepatoma (HTC) cells in which N6,O2'-dibutyryladenosine 3':5'-monophosphate increases the activity of tyrosine transaminase only after glucocorticoid treatment. In these cells, we have determined the concentration and half-life of protein kinase, the sensitivity of this enzyme in vitro to cyclic AMP and to its thermostable protein inhibitor, the state of dissociation of protein kinase holoenzyme in vivo and its sensitivity, in the intact cell, to dibutyryladenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and to the inhibitor diamide, and we have also determined the concentration of endogenous thermostable protein inhibitor of protein kinase. None of these parameters were influenced by glucocorticoids under conditions where these hormones stimulate the activity of tyrosine transaminase and restore sensitivity to dibutyryladenosine 3':5'-monophosphate. It is concluded that the permissive action of glucocorticoids probably results from a control of cyclic-AMP-dependent processes exerted at a level beyond the protein kinase system.

The influence of culture conditions on the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by cyclic nucleotides in rat hepatoma cells

The increase in tyrosine aminotransferase activity which occurs in rat hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells in response to cyclic AMP analogs has been shown to be an enzyme induction, similar to the larger response observed in certain other hepatoma cells and in liver. A specific antibody to tyrosine aminotransferase has been used to show that the number of enzyme molecules and the rate of enzyme synthesis are increased by N6,O2'-dibutyryl cyclic AMP in HTC cells. The effect on tyrosine aminotransferase is also produced by various 8-substituted derivatives of cyclic AMP and occurs whether or not the enzyme has been preinduced with a glucocorticoid. The response of the enzyme is greater when HTC cells are maintained in monolayer than in suspension cultures. Neither cell growth nor serum is required for the response.

Extracellular metabolism of cyclic AMP

Intravenously administered cyclic [8-3H]AMP to rats was quickly eliminated from the circulation. After 2 min 93% of the administered radioactivity disappeared from the plasues was recovered mainly in the form of nucleotides, ATP, ADP, AMP and IMP. In vitro contact of cyclic AMP with perfused liver, isolated liver cells and adipose tissue resulted in a rapid breakdown of the nucleotide, presumably on the outer surface of the cells. The degradation products have been identified mainly as adenosine and inosine. Incubation of adipose tissue and isolated liver cells with [3H] AMP also resulted in the breakdown of the nucleotide in themedium. The rate of AMP degradation by these tissues was faster than that for cyclic AMP degradation. The data suggest that cyclic AMP is readily metabolized on the outer surface of cells to products which may be converted within the cells to nucleotides. These findings seem of importance for the quantitative assessments of cellular cyclic AMP outflow during hormonal stimulation.