Pancreastatin: a novel peptide inhibitor of parietal cell signal transduction

Pancreastatin is an endogenous peptide that regulates glucose homeostasis

Pancreastatin (PST) is a regulatory peptide containing 49 amino acids, first isolated from porcine pancreas. Intracellular and extracellular processing of the prohormone Chromogranin A (Chga) results various bioactive peptides of which PST has dysglycemic activity. PST regulates glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism in liver and adipose tissues. It also regulates the secretion of leptin and expression of leptin and uncoupling protein 2 in adipose tissue. In Chga knockout mice, PST induces gluconeogenesis in the liver. PST reduces glucose uptake in mice hepatocytes and adipocytes. In rat hepatocytes, PST induces glycogenolysis and glycolysis and inhibits glycogen synthesis. In rat adipocytes, PST inhibits lactate production and lipogenesis. These metabolic effects are confirmed in humans. In the dual signaling mechanism of PST receptor, mostly PST activates Gαq/11 protein leads to the activation of phospholipase C β3-isoform, therefore increasing cytoplasmic free calcium and stimulating protein kinase C. PST inhibits the cell growth in rat HTC hepatoma cells, mediated by nitric oxide and cyclic GMP production. Elevated levels of PST correlating with catecholamines have been found in gestational diabetes and essential hypertension. Rise in the blood PST level in Type 2 diabetes suggests that PST is a negative regulator of insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis.

Neuroendocrine tumor markers and enterochromaffin-like cell hyper/dysplasia in type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Parietal cell antibodies (PCAs) are found in 20% of type 1 diabetic patients, denoting autoimmune gastritis and pernicious anemia, which may predispose to enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell hyper/dysplasia and gastric carcinoid tumors. We evaluated whether chromogranin A (CgA), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) contribute to screening for ECL cell hyper/dysplasia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Sera from 93 type 1 diabetic patients (53 men and 40 women, 31 PCA(+) and 62 PCA(-), aged 45 +/- 13 years) were analyzed for PCAs by indirect immunofluorescence and for CgA, NSE, and gastrin by radioimmunoassay. Urinary 5-HIAA was tested by high-performance liquid chromatography. Corpus atrophy and ECL cell proliferation were assessed in gastric biopsies.

RESULTS

PCA(+) patients had higher gastrin (P < 0.0001) and CgA levels (P = 0.003) and were more prone to autoimmune gastritis (odds ratio [OR] 17, P < 0.0001) and ECL cell hyper/dysplasia (OR = 23, P = 0.005) than PCA(-) subjects. ECL cell hyper/dysplasia was present in seven PCA(+) patients who showed higher CgA levels (P < 0.0001) than subjects without ECL cell hyper/dysplasia, but NSE and 5-HIAA levels were similar. CgA levels correlated with gastrinemia (r = 0.50, P < 0.0001), PCA titer (r = 0.42, P = 0.001), and 5-HIAA levels (r = 0.38, P = 0.012). Logistic regression identified the CgA level (beta = 0.01, P = 0.027) as an independent risk factor for ECL cell hyper/dysplasia when PCA, CgA, 5-HIAA, NSE, gastrin, sex, and age were tested. Multivariate linear regression demonstrated that CgA level was determined by ECL cell density (r = 0.59, P < 0.0001) and gastrin level (r = 0.67, P = 0.02). One PCA(+) patient with elevated gastrin, CgA, and 5-HIAA levels had a gastric carcinoid tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

PCA(+) patients, particularly those with high gastrin and CgA levels, risk developing ECL cell hyper/dysplasia. The determination of CgA, but not NSE and 5-HIAA, may complement histology in evaluating ECL cell mass.

The chromogranins: their roles in secretion from neuroendocrine cells and as markers for neuroendocrine neoplasia

Chromogranins are the major components of the secretory granules of most neuroendocrine cells. Within the secretory pathway, chromogranins are involved in granulogenesis, and in sorting and processing of secretory protein cargo prior to secretion. Once secreted, they have hormonal, autocrine, and paracrine activities. The chromogranin family includes chromogranins A (CgA) and B (CgB) and secretogranin II (SgII, once called chromogranin C). The related "granins" NESP55, 7B2, secretogranin III/1B 1075 (SgIII), and secretogranin IV/HISL-19 antigen (SgIV), are also sometimes included when considering the chromogranins. While it is useful to consider the granin proteins as a family with many common features, it is also necessary to examine the distinct features and properties of individual members of the granin family to understand fully their functions, employ them efficiently as tissue, serum, and urinary markers for neuroendocrine neoplasia, and develop an evolutionary-biologic perspective on their contribution to mammalian physiology. Recent advances in chromogranin research include establishing the role of CgA in granulogenesis and the role of CgB in nuclear transcription; new biologic activities for CgA-, CgB-, and SgII-derived peptides; and new marker functions for granins and their proteolytically processed products in endocrine neoplasias.

Comparison of the antisecretory and antiulcer activity of epidermal growth factor, urogastrone and transforming growth factor alpha and its derivative in rodents in vivo

This study investigates the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF), urogastrone (UG) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) and its derivative on dimaprit- and pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretion and on acidified ethanol (AE)-evoked ulcer formation in anaesthetized rats. EGF, TGFalpha and UG administered subcutaneously (s.c.) 30 min before dimaprit inhibited gastric acid secretion. Against pentagastrin-stimulated secretion, TGFalpha inhibited, while EGF and UG potentiated, acid secretion dose-dependently. Intraduodenal (i.d.) administration of TGFalpha and UG had no effect, while EGF potentiated, both secretagogue-induced acid secretion in the same dosage schedule. Administration of either EGF, UG or TGFalpha i.v. bolus, in response to continuous infusion of dimaprit resulted in a significant (p < 0.05-p < 0.001) inhibition of acid secretion which was transient and returned to normal within 30-45 min for UG while it slowly returned to normal for EGF and TGFalpha. The truncated form of TGFa (amino acids 34-43) did not show any antisecretory effect when administered parenterally. Acidified ethanol produced gastric haemorrhagic lesions in the rat 1 h after oral administration. The gastric mucosal protective effects of TGFalpha, EGF and UG administered either orally or s.c. 30 min before the administration of AE were dose-dependent against this model of ulcer induction. Indomethacin (Indo), administered 15 min before AE to inhibit prostanoids biosynthesis, significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the cytoprotective effects of TGFalpha, EGF and UG and aggravated the ulcer index when administered s.c. The results show that PGs may be involved in mediating the protective effects of the three growth factors. Administration of NG-nitro-L argininemethylester (L-NAME) 15 min prior to TGFa, EGF and UG s.c. or orally, significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the degree of ulcer indices and was able to reduce the protective effects of TGFalpha, EGF and UG, thus including the role of NO in mediating the protective effects of these growth factors. In conclusion, these results have demonstrated that EGF, UG and TGFalpha have a short and reversible inhibitory effect on dimaprit-stimulated gastric acid secretion and each is effective parenterally but not orally. UG and EGF potentiated, while, TGFa inhibited pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion. In addition, TGFalpha seems to lose its activity when it is truncated from the C terminus. The present study also suggests that EGF, UG and TGFalpha are equally effective against AE-induced gastric ulcer and bring about their cytoprotective action through their reduction of acid secretion and through PG and NO pathways.

Phosphorylation and O-glycosylation sites of human chromogranin A (CGA79-439) from urine of patients with carcinoid tumors

Because of their water-soluble properties, chromogranins (CGs) and chromogranin-derived fragments are released together with catecholamines from adrenal chromaffin cells during stress situations and can be detected in the blood by radiochemical and enzyme assays. It is well known that chromogranins can serve as immunocytochemical markers for neuroendocrine tissues and as a diagnostic tool for neuroendocrine tumors. In 1993, large CGA-derived fragments have been shown to be excreted into the urine in patients with carcinoid tumors and the present study deals with the characterization of the post-translational modifications (phosphorylation and O-glycosylation) located along the largest natural CGA-derived fragment CGA79-439. Using mild proteolysis of peptidic material, high performance liquid chromatography, sequencing, and mass spectrometry analysis, six post-translational modifications were detected along the C-terminal CGA-derived fragment CGA79-439. Three O-linked glycosylation sites were located in the core of the protein on Thr163, Thr165, and Thr233, consisting in di-, tri-, and tetrasaccharides. Three phosphorylation sites were located in the middle and C-terminal domain, on serine residues Ser200, Ser252, and Ser315. These modified sites were compared with sequences of others species and discussed in relation with the post-translational modifications that we have reported previously for bovine CGA.

Chromogranin A: its clinical value as marker of neuroendocrine tumours

Chromogranin A (CgA) belongs to a family of secretory proteins that are present in densecore vesicles of neuroendocrine cells. Owing to its widespread distribution in neuroendocrine tissues, it can be used as an excellent immunohistochemical marker of neoplasms of neuroendocrine origin. It can also serve as serum marker of neuroendocrine activity because it is co-released with the peptide hormone content of the secretory granules. The serum concentration of CgA is elevated in patients with various neuroendocrine tumours. Elevated levels are strongly correlated with tumour volume. Although its sensitivity and specificity cannot compete with that of the specific hormonal secretion products of most of these tumours, it can nevertheless have useful clinical applications. Neuroendocrine tumours for which no peptide marker is available usually retain the capacity to secrete CgA. CgA can thus be used as serum marker for these so-called 'non-functioning' endocrine tumours. Moreover, in patients with carcinoids and phaeochromocytomas, CgA is a more stable and thus more easily manageable marker than plasma levels of respectively serotonin and catecholamines and their urinary metabolites. Its role as an important general neuroendocrine marker may be extended in the future by the development of immunoscintigraphy of membrane-bound CgA, allowing in vivo visualization of neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Pancreastatin receptor is coupled to a guanosine triphosphate-binding protein of the G(q/11)alpha family in rat liver membranes

Pancreastatin (PST), a recently discovered regulatory peptide derived from chromogranin A, has been shown to have a glycogenolytic effect in the hepatocyte that is mediated by increasing intracellular calcium. Our previous studies on pancreastatin signaling suggested that PST receptor is coupled to some G proteins in the plasma membrane of the hepatocyte. The nature of this interaction was investigated using antisera against G(q/11)alpha by different approaches. Indirect evidence of a pertussis toxin (PT)-insensitive G protein of the family of G(q/11)alpha was obtained by measuring high-affinity guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) activity in soluble rat liver membranes. PST increased GTPase activity in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was only slightly inhibited by PT pretreatment of the membranes, whereas anti-G(q/11)alpha antisera blocked most of the PST-stimulated GTPase activity. The selective association of the PST receptor with this G protein was further studied by the coelution in wheat germ agglutinin semipurification of the receptor and by immunoprecipitation of the G protein-PST receptor complexes using G-protein-specific antisera. A G protein of the family of G(q/11)alpha was found to be associated with the semipurified PST receptor. Moreover, anti-G(q/11)alpha antisera immunoprecipitated most PST-binding activity (95%), bringing down most of the specific G protein, whereas anti-G(il,2)alpha and -G(o,i3)alpha failed to immunoprecipitate the PST-binding activity. Finally, the coupling of the PST receptor with the effector phospholipase C was disrupted by blocking with G(q/11)alpha antisera, suggesting that a G protein of the family of G(q/11)alpha is a signal mediator from PST receptors to phospholipase C activation in rat liver membranes.

Phosphorylation and O-glycosylation sites of bovine chromogranin A from adrenal medullary chromaffin granules and their relationship with biological activities

Bovine adrenal medullary chromogranin A, the major soluble component of chromaffin granules, is a phosphorylated glycoprotein. In the present work, phosphorylation and glycosylation sites were determined using mild proteolysis, peptide separation, microsequencing, and mass analysis by electrospray and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight techniques. Seven post-translational modification sites were detected. Two O-linked glycosylation sites, each consisting of the trisaccharide NeuAcalpha2-3Galbeta1-3GalNAcalpha1, were located in the middle part of the protein, on Ser186 and on Thr231. The former residue is present in the antibacterial peptide named chromacin. Four phosphorylation sites were located on serine residues at positions Ser81 in the N-terminal region of the protein and Ser307, Ser372, and Ser376 in the C-terminal end. One additional phosphorylation site was found on the tyrosine residue at position Tyr173, the N-terminal amino acid of chromacin. With the exception of the phosphorylation on Tyr173, all of the other post-translational modifications are located on highly conserved chromogranin A regions, implying some biological importance.

Solubilization and molecular characterization of active pancreastatin receptors from rat liver membranes

Pancreastatin receptors were solubilized from rat liver membranes with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100. Binding of a iodinated analog of rat pancreastatin ([125I-Tyr0]pancreastatin) to the soluble fraction was time dependent, saturable, and reversible. Scatchard analysis of binding under equilibrium conditions indicated that the soluble extracts contained a single class of pancreastatin-binding sites, with a binding capacity of 14 fmol/mg protein and a Kd of 0.3 nM. As observed with membrane-bound receptors, binding of [125I]pancreastatin to soluble extracts was inhibited by guanine nucleotides with the following rank order of potency: guanyl-5'-yl-imidodiphosphate > GTP > GDP > GMP, indicating that the soluble receptors are functionally linked to G proteins. Molecular analysis of the soluble pancreastatin receptor by covalent cross-linking to [125I]pancreastatin using disuccinimidyl suberate and further identification on SDS-PAGE indicated a single band of 85,000 Mr. Gel filtration of soluble extracts on Sephacryl S-300 revealed two molecular components with binding abilities (Mr 80,000 and 170,000). The higher molecular mass component was more sensitive to guanine nucleotides, and covalent cross-linking of both components to [125I]pancreastatin and further SDS-PAGE analysis revealed again a single band of 85,000 Mr, suggesting an association of the receptor with a G protein. Moreover, direct evidence that a Gq was present in the same chromatographic fraction was obtained by specific immunodetection. The soluble receptor is a glycoprotein that can be specifically bound to the wheat-germ agglutinin lectin. We conclude that we solubilized active pancreastatin receptors from rat liver membranes, and these results support the conclusion that the liver pancreastatin receptor consists of a 80,000 Mr glycoprotein associated with G proteins.

Antibacterial activity of glycosylated and phosphorylated chromogranin A-derived peptide 173-194 from bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin granules

Recently, we have isolated from bovine chromaffin granules and identified two natural peptides possessing antibacterial activity: secretolytin (chromogranin B 614-626) and enkelytin (proenkephalin-A 209-237). Here, we characterize a large natural fragment, corresponding to chromogranin A 79-431, that inhibits growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The aim of the present work was to determine the shortest active peptide located in the 79-431 chromogranin A region. Three peptides, which shared the same 173-194 chromogranin A sequence (YPGPQAKEDSEGPSQGPASREK) but differed in post-translational modifications, including O-glycosylation and tyrosine phosphorylation, were isolated. A detailed study using microsequencing and mass spectrometry allowed us to correlate their antibacterial activity with these post-translational modifications. The chromogranin A precursor fragment (79-431) and the active glycosylated and phosphorylated peptides were, respectively, named prochromacin and chromacin (P, G, and PG for phosphorylated, glycosylated, and phosphorylated-glycosylated form).

Effects of pancreastatin and somatostatin on secretagogues-induced rise in intracellular free calcium in single rat pancreatic islet cells

Pancreastatin (PST) is known to inhibit glucose-stimulated insulin release both in vivo and in vitro, but it has not been determined whether PST acts directly on pancreatic B-cells and no study has been reported on the effect of PST on the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in pancreatic islet cells. In the present study, by using the dissociated rat pancreatic B-cells, we examined the effects of PST on the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by several insulin secretagogues, and compared them with those of somatostatin (SRIF). PST (1-100 nM) dose-dependently inhibited the glucose-induced rise in [Ca2+]i in single pancreatic islet cells. SRIF (10 nM) also suppressed the glucose-induced rise in [Ca2+]i. These demonstrated direct inhibitory actions of PST and SRIF on the pancreatic B-cells. Acetylcholine (ACh, 10 microM) with 5.5 mM glucose induced a biphasic increase in [Ca2+]i in single islet cells. SRIF (10 nM) suppressed the second phase in [Ca2+]i increase without affecting the first phase. In contrast, PST (100 nM) had no effect on the ACh-induced response. Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (100 nM) with 5.5 mM glucose induced a rise in [Ca2+]i in single islet cells. SRIF inhibited this increase, but PST did not. Both PST and SRIF failed to affect the sustained rise in [Ca2+]i evoked by excess K+. These results suggest that PST and SRIF suppress the glucose-induced insulin secretion at least partly by inhibiting the rise in [Ca2+]i in pancreatic B-cells. Furthermore, PST may suppress the glucose-induced rise in [Ca2+]i via a mechanism different from that of SRIF.

Pancreastatin action in the liver: dual coupling to different G proteins

Pancreastatin is a 49 amino acid peptide first isolated, purified and characterized from porcine pancreas. Its biological activity in different tissues can be assigned to the C-terminal part of the molecule. Pancreastatin has a prohormonal precursor, chromogranin A, which is a glycoprotein present in neuroendocrine cells, including the endocrine pancreas. We have been interested in pancreastatin action in the liver. We found that pancreastatin has a glycogenolytic effect in the hepatocyte both in vivo and in vitro. We then studied and characterized the specific pancreastatin receptor in the rat liver plasma membrane, as well as the specific signal transduction. This receptor appears to be coupled to two different G proteins. A pertussis toxin-insensitive G proteins leads to the activation of phospholipase C, and therefore mediates the glycogenolytic effect in the liver by increasing cytoplasmic free calcium and stimulating protein kinase C. The role of cyclic GMP in the action of pancreastatin is not known yet, although it seems to regulate negatively the activation of phospholipase C. The precise mechanism by which pancreastatin stimulates guanylate cyclase activity remains to be studied.

Recombinant human chromogranin A: expression, purification and characterization of the N-terminal derived peptides

Chromogranin A (CGA) is an ubiquitous 48 kDa secretory protein stored and released from most endocrine cells and is present in nanomolar concentration in the human vascular system. Recent data suggest that CGA may be the precursor of several peptides with a defined biological activity. The present report describes the expression of human CGA in Escherichia coli using the pET3a vector system, the purification and characterization of the recombinant protein and the production of antibody against the expressed protein. The expressed CGA was purified by a multi-step protocol including heat treatment, gel filtration and high performance-anion exchange chromatography and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Two major forms of recombinant human CGA (rhCGA) were purified from the bacterial cytosol: a 70 kDa form which corresponded to the native full-length CGA and a major proteolytic 63 kDa product recognized by antibodies raised against the 70 kDa rhCGA or to synthetic peptides localized in the N-terminal part of the bovine CGA sequence. This E. coli expression system provides a method for producing a suitable protein which will permit the identification of CGA-derived peptides with defined biological function in human. Fragments containing the N-terminal domain were generated by acidic cleavage of the two forms of rhCGA. A two-step purification using high-performance reverse-phase chromatography yielded 6 peptide bands ranging in apparent molecular mass from 7 to 18 kDa. Four components (molecular mass range 12-18 kDa) were immunostained with antibodies directed against synthetic sequences of bovine vasostatin II (bCGA1-113) while the two others (molecular mass range 7-8 kDa) were immunostained only with antibodies directed against vasostatin I (bCGA1-76). From protein staining the ratio vasostatins II/I was 10:1. The vasoinhibitory activity of this preparation was examined on isolated human saphenous vein segments. An inhibitory effect was obtained in paired vessel segments from 7 patients undergoing surgery for coronary artery bypass, however with low potency for supression of the endothelin-1 evoked sustained tension in these vessels.

Different secretory actions of pancreastatin in bovine and human parathyroid cells

Chromogranin A is an acidic protein that is costored and cosecreted with parathyroid hormone (PTH) from parathyroid cells. Pancreastatin (PST), is derived from chromogranin A, and inhibits secretion from several endocrine/neuroendocrine tissues. Effects of different pancreastatin peptides were investigated on dispersed cells from bovine and human parathyroid glands. Bovine PST(1-47) and bovine PST(32-47) inhibited PTH release from bovine cells in a dose-dependent manner. The former peptide was more potent and suppressed the secretion at 1-100 nM. This inhibition was evident in 0.5 and 1.25 mM, but not in 3.0 mM external Ca2+. Both peptides failed to alter the concentration of cytoplasmic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) of bovine cells. Human PST(1-52) and PST(34-52) did not affect PTH release or [Ca2+]i of parathyroid cells from patients with hyperparathyroidism, nor [Ca2+]i of normal human parathyroid cells. Furthermore, bovine PST(1-47) and bovine PST(32-47) failed to alter the secretion of abnormal human parathyroid cells. The study indicates that PST exerts secretory inhibition on bovine but not human parathyroid cells, and that this action does not involve alterations of [Ca2+]i.

The post-translational processing of chromogranin A in the pancreatic islet: involvement of the eukaryote subtilisin PC2

The post-translational processing of chromogranin A (CGA) and the nature of the enzyme(s) involved were investigated in rat pancreatic islet and insulinoma tissue. Pulse-chase radiolabelling experiments using sequence-specific antisera showed that the 98 kDa (determined by SDS/PAGE) precursor was processed to an N-terminal 21 kDa peptide, a C-terminal 14 kDa peptide and a 45 kDa centrally located peptide with a rapid time course (t1/2 approx. 30 min) after an initial delay of 30-60 min. The 45 kDa peptide was, in turn, converted partially into a 5 kDa peptide with pancreastatin immunoreactivity and a 3 kDa peptide with WE-14 immunoreactivity over a longer time period. Incubation of bovine CGA with rat insulinoma secretory-granule lysate produced peptides of 18, 16 and 40 kDa via intermediates of 65 and 55 kDa. N-terminal sequence analysis indicated that cleavage occurred at the conserved paired basic sites Lys114-Arg115 and Lys330-Arg331, suggesting that cleavage of the equivalent sites (Lys129-Arg130 and Lys357-Arg358) in the rat molecule produced the initial post-translational products observed in intact pancreatic beta-cells. The enzyme activity responsible for the cleavage of bovine CGA co-chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose with the type-2 proinsulin endopeptidase and with PC2 immunoreactivity. The type-1 enzyme (PC1/3) appeared inactive towards CGA. The requirement for Ca2+ ions and an acidic pH for conversion was consistent with the involvement of a member of the eukaryote subtilisin family, and the composition of the released peptides in pulse-chase and secretion studies suggested that conversion occurred in the secretory-granule compartment. The overall catalytic rate as well as the relative susceptibilities of the Lys114-Arg115 and Lys330-Arg331 sites to cleavage were affected by pH, suggesting that the ionic environment of the processing compartment may play a role in the differential processing of CGA which is evident in various neuroendocrine cells.

Chromogranin A(210-301) is the major form of pancreastatin-like material in human gut extracts and endocrine tumors

A radioimmunoassay of human pancreastatin was developed using a rabbit antiserum that selectively recognized the C-terminal amidated end of the peptide, and it was used for the identification of the molecular forms of pancreastatin in human gut (stomach, duodenum, small intestine, colon) and endocrine tumor extracts (liver metastasis of a gastrinoma and a medullary carcinoma of thyroid, one nonsecreting pancreatic tumor, one recurrence of a gut carcinoid, one vipoma and one insulinoma). In all gut extracts, a gel filtration chromatography revealed the presence of three peaks of pancreastatin-like immunoreactivity. The predominant form eluted with an apparent molecular weight higher than that of pancreastatin. This form was also predominant in the endocrine tumors analyzed, except in the insulinoma, where a lower molecular weight form predominated. The high molecular form was further purified from a liver metastasis of a gastrinoma. The pancreastatin-like immunoreactivity eluted in all the chromatographical systems (reverse-phase, ion exchange) as a single peak that was finally purified to homogeneity and sequenced. The sequence of the first 29 N-terminal amino acids was obtained unambiguously and corresponded to the sequence 210-238 of chromogranin A. Considering the selectivity of the assay used for peptide identification, this major form was identified as the fragment 210-301 of chromogranin A. It is likely that the predominant form of pancreastatin in human gut extracts and noninsular tumors is a 92 amino acid peptide.

Secretogranin II: regulation of synthesis and post-translational proteolysis in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Secretogranin II (SgII), also called chromogranin C, is an acidic tyrosine-sulfated secretory protein found in secretory granules in a wide variety of endocrine cells and neurones. Although less abundant than chromogranin A (CGA) and chromogranin B (CGB), SgII is found in adrenal medullary chromaffin granules. In the present study we investigated the regulation of SgII biosynthesis in bovine chromaffin cells maintained in primary culture. Cellular proteins were labelled with [35S]methionine and the heat stable chromogranin enriched fraction was isolated. Following electrophoretic separation, the 86 kDa SgII band was identified by sequence analysis using the Edman degradation procedure. The radioactivity incorporated in the 86 kDa SgII band was used as an index of the SgII synthesis rate. We found that stimulation of chromaffin cells with nicotine and histamine and to a smaller extent with angiotensin II and bradykinin significantly enhanced the rate of SgII synthesis. In contrast direct depolarization with K+ may not be sufficient to induce modifications in SgII synthesis suggesting that the raise of cytosolic calcium evoked by high K+ may not be sufficient to induce modifications in SgII synthesis . The possible second messenger pathways involved in the control of SgII biosynthesis were investigated by using protein kinase C and adenylate cyclase activators. We observed that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and forskolin increased the basal rate of SgII synthesis. Incubation with both TPA and forskolin was required to obtain an effect comparable to that produced by nicotine or histamine suggesting that these secretagogues recruit both protein kinase C- and cyclic AMP-dependent mechanisms to stimulate SgII synthesis.

Intracellular and extracellular processing of chromogranin A. Determination of cleavage sites

Chromogranins are a family of acidic soluble proteins which exhibit widespread distribution in endocrine cells and neurons. Chromogranin A (CGA), the major soluble component of the secretory granules in chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla, is a single polypeptide chain of 431 residues with an apparent molecular mass of 70-75 kDa and a pI of 4.5-5. In mature bovine chromaffin granules about 50% of the CGA has been processed. In the present paper, the structural features of the proteolytic degradation mechanism have been characterized with regard to the possible function of CGA as a prohormone, as suggested by recent studies. CGA-derived components present in chromaffin granules were subjected to either two-dimensional gel electrophoresis or HPLC and the N-terminal of each fragment was sequenced. Immunoblotting with antisera to specific sequences within the CGA molecule were used to characterize these fragments further at their C-terminal. In addition, a similar approach was performed to characterize CGA-derived fragments released into the extracellular space from directly depolarized bovine cultured chromaffin cells. Our results identified several proteolytic cleavage sites involved in CGA degradation. Intragranular processing occurs at 12 cleavage sites along the peptide chain located in both N- and C-terminal moieties of the protein; a preferential proteolytic attack in the C-terminal part was noted. We found that CGA processing also occurs in the extracellular space after release, generating new shorter fragments. The proteolytic cleavage sites identified in this study were compared with the cleavage points which are thought to be involved in generating CGA fragments with specific biological activity: pancreastatin, chromostatin and N-terminal vasostatin fragments. In addition, a new 12-amino-acid CGA-derived peptide corresponding to the sequence 65-76 was identified in the soluble core of purified chromaffin granules. This short peptide was released, together with catecholamines, after stimulation of cultured chromaffin cells suggesting its presence within the storage complex of chromaffin granules. The specific biological activity of this CGA-derived fragment remains to be determined.

Chromostatin inhibits catecholamine secretion in adrenal chromaffin cells by activating a protein phosphatase

Chromostatin is a 20-residue peptide derived from chromogranin A (CGA), the major soluble component of secretory granules in adrenal medullary chromaffin cells. One known biological function of chromostatin is to inhibit the secretagogue-evoked catecholamine secretion from chromaffin cells. Putative receptors are present on the chromaffin-cell plasma membrane, and the activation of such receptors leads to the inhibition of L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels. We report here that exposure of chromaffin cells to chromostatin modifies neither cAMP and cGMP levels nor protein kinase C activity but does provoke the activation of soluble protein phosphatase (PPase) type 2A in a dose-dependent manner compatible with the peptide concentration inhibiting catecholamine secretion. The activation of the PPase as well as the inhibition of both secretagogue-induced Ca2+ entry and catecholamine secretion by chromostatin were all blocked by okadaic acid, a specific PPase inhibitor. We suggest that chromostatin directly or indirectly stimulates PPase-2A, dephosphorylating a target protein and lowering its activity in the secretory process.

Pancreastatin and bovine parathyroid cell secretion

Chromogranin A (CgA) is an acidic glycoprotein found in secretory granules of multiple peptidergic tissues and cosecreted with the resident peptide hormones. Pancreastatin is an amidated, biologically active peptide whose sequence is contained within CgA. We investigated the effect of the C-terminal fragment of bovine pancreastatin (bP32-47) on bovine parathyroid cell secretion. bP32-47 amide inhibited low-calcium-stimulated PTH secretion by 44% and chromogranin A (CgA) secretion by 33%. We were able to identify a pancreastatin-like peptide as a very minor component of the endogenous breakdown peptides from CgA. However, using several approaches, we were unable to detect pancreastatin in secretory granule extracts or in incubation media. We conclude that although exogenous bovine pancreastatin has inhibitory effects on secretion, detectable pancreastatin is not secreted under normal incubation conditions. Based on our current data, we would question the physiologic importance of pancreastatin in bovine parathyroid glands.

Characterization of immunoreactive pancreastatin in porcine tissues

Pancreastatin is a 49 amino acid peptide with a C-terminal glycine amide originally isolated from porcine pancreas. There are strong indications that pancreastatin is derived from chromogranin A, since the amino acid sequence 240-288 in porcine chromogranin A contains pancreastatin flanked by typical signals for proteolytic processing. In the present study the distribution and molecular nature of immunoreactive pancreastatin were examined in selected porcine tissues. For this purpose a radioimmunoassay specific for the C-terminal sequence of porcine pancreastatin, that did not cross-react with porcine chromogranin A was used in combination with gel permeation chromatography and reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). We demonstrated the presence of pancreastatin, a C-terminal pancreastatin fragment and N-terminally extended molecular forms in the examined tissues. Pancreastatin predominated in the pancreas and stomach antrum, while N-terminally extended molecular forms were mainly present in the stomach body, jejunum and adrenal gland. The specific distribution pattern of the molecular forms probably reflects a tissue-specific processing of chromogranin A.

Chromostatin, a 20-amino acid peptide derived from chromogranin A, inhibits chromaffin cell secretion

Chromogranin A (CGA) is a ubiquitous 48-kDa secretory protein present in adrenal medulla, anterior pituitary, central and peripheral nervous system, endocrine gut, thyroid, parathyroid, and endocrine pancreas. Recently, we have demonstrated that the protein could be a precursor of bioactive peptides capable of modulating catecholamine secretion from cultured adrenal medullary chromaffin cells. Here we cleaved CGA purified from bovine chromaffin granules with endoproteinase Lys-C, and we isolated and partially sequenced the peptide inhibiting catecholamine secretion from cultured chromaffin cells. A corresponding synthetic peptide composed of the first 20 N-terminal amino acids produced a dose-dependent inhibition in the 10(-9) to 10(-6) M range (with an ID50 of 5 nM) of the catecholamine secretion evoked by carbamoylcholine or by potassium at a depolarizing concentration. This peptide affected secretagogue-induced calcium fluxes but did not alter sodium fluxes. It was found to increase desensitization of cell responses and to modify the kinetics of catecholamine release. Our results indicate that the peptide is extracellularly generated from CGA by a calcium-dependent proteolytic mechanism. We suggest that this peptide, named chromostatin, may be an endocrine modulator of catecholamine-associated responses.

Pancreastatin--a novel regulatory peptide?

Pancreastatin is a 49 amino acid peptide originally isolated from porcine pancreas on the basis of its C-terminal glycinamide as isolation criterion. It is derived by proteolytic processing from chromogranin A, an acidic protein component of secretory granules in endocrine and neuronal cells. The primary structures of human, porcine, bovine and rat pancreastatin have been determined on the protein or cDNA level and show 70% sequence homology. By immunocytochemistry, pancreastatin has been detected in the pituitary, adrenal gland, pancreas, CNS and throughout the gastrointestinal tract. In pancreatic islets, pancreastatin is co-localized with insulin, glucagon and somatostatin. The principle biological activities of this peptide are: inhibition of insulin release and of exocrine pancreatic secretion. These effects which can be assigned to the amidated C-terminal part of the molecule have been demonstrated in several species. Whether or not pancreastatin can be classified as a novel peptide hormone that under physiological conditions plays a role in the regulation of the endocrine and exocrine pancreas, is still a matter of controversy.