Acidic fibroblast growth factor receptor purified from bovine liver is a novel protein tyrosine kinase

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) affects development of acoustico-vestibular neurons in the chick embryo brain in vitro

The effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) on presumptive auditory and vestibular neurons from the medulla were studied in primary cell cultures. The part of the rhombic lip that forms nucleus magnocellularis (homologue of the mammalian anteroventral cochlear nucleus) was explanted from white leghorn chicken embryos at Hamburger-Hamilton stage 28 (E5.5), the time when precursors of the magnocellularis bushy cells migrate and begin to differentiate in situ. In vitro the neuroblasts migrated onto 2-D substrates of purified collagen, differentiated, and expressed neuronal markers. One-half of the cultures were supplemented with human recombinant FGF-2 (10 ng/ml daily) for 5-7 days; the others, with fetal bovine serum. FGF-2 more than doubled the length of neurite outgrowth during the first 3 day treatment compared to serum, but the number of migrating neuroblasts was unaffected. Although neurites attained greater lengths in FGF-2, they usually degenerated after 4-5 days; in serum their growth continued for several weeks. Differentiation of neuronal structure, including axons and dendrites, began within 1-2 days in bFGF but required at least 5-7 days in serum. Histochemical observations in vitro and in situ with antibodies to FGF receptor demonstrated immunopositive patches on acoustico-vestibular neuroblasts at stage 28, when they are migrating and first forming their axons. The findings suggest that FGF-2 stimulates neurite outgrowth in the cochlear and vestibular nuclei. FGF-2 may accelerate cell death by overstimulating neuroblasts, but other factors are needed to sustain their further development.

Basic fibroblast growth factor-stimulated arachidonic acid release in rat pancreatic acini: sequential action of tyrosine kinase, phospholipase C, protein kinase C and diacylglycerol lipase

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor on arachidonic acid release from rat pancreatic acini and to determine the cellular mechanism involved. From enzymatic assays, basic fibroblast growth factor did not significantly stimulate phospholipase A2 activity, whereas it significantly increased diacylglycerol lipase activity. Validity of phospholipase A2 or diacylglycerol lipase inhibitors was confirmed by their ability to inhibit phospholipase A2 or diacylglycerol lipase activities. Basic fibroblast growth factor increased intracellular accumulation and extracellular release of arachidonic acid from metabolically labelled acinar cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. This effect was maximal with 50 pM basic fibroblast growth factor and became significant after a 5-min incubation period. The protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, 0.5 mM genistein, inhibited arachidonic acid release in basic fibroblast growth factor-stimulated acini, whereas 100 microM vanadate, a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, enhanced arachidonic acid release. Two phospholipase A2 inhibitors, mepacrine and aristolochic acid, failed to attenuate basic fibroblast growth factor-stimulated arachidonic acid release. A diacylglycerol lipase inhibitor RHC 80267 at 150 microM and 50 microM completely inhibited 50 pM basic fibroblast growth factor-induced intracellular accumulation and extracellular release of arachidonic acid, respectively. Furthermore, basic fibroblast growth factor stimulated arachidonic acid release was also inhibited by 10 microM U73122 and by 100 nM staurosporine, phospholipase C and protein kinase C respective inhibitors. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of basic fibroblast growth factor-stimulated phospholipase D, did not affect arachidonic acid release. 100 nM 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate also increased arachidonic acid release, an effect also inhibited by staurosporine. Taken together, these data demonstrate activation of diacylglycerol lipase and arachidonic acid release in pancreatic acini upon stimulation by basic fibroblast growth factor, and strongly indicate that arachidonic acid release in response to basic fibroblast growth factor depends upon the sequential action of tyrosine kinase, phospholipase C, protein kinase C and diacylglycerol lipase but not from phospholipase A2 not phospholipase D activation.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) affects development of acoustico-vestibular neurons in the chick embryo brain in vitro

The effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) on presumptive auditory and vestibular neurons from the medulla were studied in primary cell cultures. The part of the rhombic lip that forms nucleus magnocellularis (homologue of the mammalian anteroventral cochlear nucleus) was explanted from white leghorn chicken embryos at Hamburger-Hamilton stage 28 (E5.5), the time when precursors of the magnocellularis bushy cells migrate and begin to differentiate in situ. In vitro the neuroblasts migrated onto 2-D substrates of purified collagen, differentiated, and expressed neuronal markers. One-half of the cultures were supplemented with human recombinant FGF-2 (10 ng/ml daily) for 5-7 days; the others, with fetal bovine serum. FGF-2 more than doubled the length of neurite outgrowth during the first 3 day treatment compared to serum, but the number of migrating neuroblasts was unaffected. Although neurites attained greater lengths in FGF-2, they usually degenerated after 4-5 days; in serum their growth continued for several weeks. Differentiation of neuronal structure, including axons and dendrites, began within 1-2 days in bFGF but required at least 5-7 days in serum. Histochemical observations in vitro and in situ with antibodies to FGF receptor demonstrated immunopositive patches on acoustico-vestibular neuroblasts at stage 28, when they are migrating and first forming their axons. The findings suggest that FGF-2 stimulates neurite outgrowth in the cochlear and vestibular nuclei. FGF-2 may accelerate cell death by overstimulating neuroblasts, but other factors are needed to sustain their further development.

Expression of the nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase PC-1 is induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and modulated by activation of the protein kinase A and C pathways in osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells

The closely related cytokines bFGF and aFGF regulate the function of bone cells and mineralization. Osteoblasts express PPi-generating nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (NTPPPH)/nucleotide phosphodiesterase I activity. bFGF and aFGF (10 ng/ml) up-regulated NTPPPH in human SaOS-2 and U2OS osteosarcoma cells, which express osteoblast-like features in culture. The induction was selective as alkaline phosphatase activity was down-regulated and specific as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) were not active. Furthermore, IL-1 beta but not IGF-1 inhibited bFGF-induced up-regulation of NTPPPH. The induced NTPPPH remained predominantly associated with cells. bFGF can induce signaling through pathways including protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated transduction. An activator of the PKA pathway (8-bromo cyclic adenosine monophosphate [cAMP]) induced NTPPPH. Furthermore, pretreatment with the PKC activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) (80 nM) markedly increased subsequent NTPPPH induction by both bFGF and cAMP. The PMA effect was associated with morphologic changes characterized by long, thin intercellular extensions. PKC desensitization also potentially contributed to this effect because the PKC inhibitors staurosporine and H-7 enhanced bFGF-induced and cAMP-induced NTPPPH expression in the absence of morphologic changes. We observed that bFGF induced expression of PC-1, a member of the NTPPPH gene family. The majority of NTPPPH activity was depleted by immunoadsorption using a monoclonal antibody to native human PC-1. bFGF- and aFGF-induced production of PC-1/NTPPPH in osteoblastoid cells may contribute to the effects of FGFs on bone metabolism.

Autophosphorylation of PC-1 (alkaline phosphodiesterase I/nucleotide pyrophosphatase) and analysis of the active site

PC-1 is an ecto-enzyme possessing alkaline phosphodiesterase I (EC 3.1.4.1) and nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.9) activities. It has also been proposed to be an ecto-protein kinase capable of phosphorylating itself as well as exogenous proteins. We have investigated the phosphorylation capability of PC-1 and have developed a novel method for its detection and characterization based on autophosphorylation, which allows detection without the use of antibodies. When cells expressing membrane PC-1 were held on ice with [gamma-32P]ATP, SDS/PAGE of whole cell lysates showed a single band which was PC-1; this band was absent in cells not expressing PC-1. Immunoprecipitates of soluble PC-1 isolated from culture supernatants of cells expressing PC-1 were also capable of autophosphorylation, and the size of the labeled protein was the same as previously reported for soluble PC-1. PC-1 was also labeled with [alpha-32P]ATP and [35S]dATP[alpha S]. We found no evidence that PC-1 was capable of phosphorylating proteins other than itself, and conclude that it is not a true kinase, and that the observed labeling with [gamma-32P]ATP, [alpha-32P]ATP and [35S]dATP[alpha S] reflect transient covalent adducts that are part of the catalytic cycle of phosphodiesterase/pyrophosphatase activity rather than intrinsic kinase activity. Mutation of the active-site threonine to tyrosine, serine or alanine reduced the 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity of PC-1 and its ability to autophosphorylate to undetectable levels. Together, these data suggest that both activities depend on the same site.

Identification, purification, and characterization of cell-surface retention sequence-binding proteins from human SK-Hep cells and bovine liver plasma membranes

Cell-surface retention is a newly identified mechanism associated with the secretion of certain polypeptide growth factors and cytokines. This novel form of secretion appears to be mediated by cell-surface retention sequences (CRS) in the polypeptide molecules. To test the hypothesis that high-affinity CRS-binding proteins (CRS-BPs) are responsible for the cell-surface retention, we identified and characterized the high-affinity binding sites on various cell types for 125I-labeled CRS peptide (sis) and CRS peptide (VEGF), each of which contained the putative CRS motifs of platelet-derived growth factor B (c-sis) and vascular endothelial cell growth factor, respectively. Scatchard plot analysis revealed a single class of high-affinity binding sites with Kd = 0.5-0.7 nM and approximately 22,000-55,000 sites/cell. High-affinity binding activity could be demonstrated between pH 4.5 and 8.0, but was much greater below 6.0 (maximum pH 5.0-5.5). The ligand binding activity was inhibited by heparin, polylysine, and protamine, but not by cytochrome c. CRS-BPs responsible for the high-affinity binding were identified as 60-72-kDa proteins by ligand affinity labeling. CRS-BPs were purified from human SK-Hep cells and bovine liver plasma membranes by Triton X-100 extraction followed by affinity column chromatography on wheat germ lectin-Sepharose 4B and CRS peptide (sis)-Affi-Gel 10. Purified CRS-BPs exhibited ligand binding properties (pH profile and inhibitor sensitivity) similar to those of the high-affinity binding sites for CRS peptides on cultured cells. The major CRS-BPs (p60, p66, and p72) purified from bovine liver plasma membranes were found to have identical N-terminal amino acid sequence and were assumed to represent different forms of the same gene product, which we have designated CRS-BP1.

Purification of an active receptor for acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor from bovine retina

Acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) influence cell division and differentiation in retina cells. Their effects are thought to be mainly mediated through stimulation of a specific membrane receptor and subsequent generation of an intracellular signal pathway. In this study, we purified a FGF receptor of 130 kDa from bovine neural retina using wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatography followed by FGF-affinity chromatography. The isolated receptor showed ligand binding activity with dissociation constants of 0.8 nM and 2 nM for aFGF and bFGF, respectively. Furthermore, binding of aFGF and bFGF to purified receptor resulted in self-phosphorylation, demonstrating that the isolated receptor had an unaltered intrinsic kinase activity.

High and low affinity membrane binding sites for fibroblast growth factors in the developing chick brain

Acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (aFGF and bFGF), two mitogenic, neurotrophic and angiogenic molecules, are present in the embryonic chick brain but their function remains unclear. In order to approach the biological activity of FGFs during brain development, we have looked for their receptors and studied their regulation through chick brain development. Competitive binding studies realized on brain membranes indicated the presence of two classes of FGF binding sites: high affinity binding sites (dissociation constant, Kd = 100 pM) and low affinity binding sites (Kd = 20 nM). Cross-competition experiments show that these two classes of binding sites both interact with aFGF and bFGF. The number of sites in these two classes of binding sites changes during embryogenesis. On the one hand, the membrane capacity of high affinity sites decreases from E7 (1 +/- 0.2 pmol/mg of protein) to E15 (0.5 +/- 0.2 pmol/mg of protein); on the other hand, the membrane capacity of low affinity sites increases from E15 (25 +/- 4 pmol/mg of protein) to P1 (75 +/- 20 pmol/mg of protein). Cross-linking experiments revealed the presence of two putative receptor forms of molecular masses of about 130 and 95 kDa. These results suggest that the biological activity of aFGF and bFGF during brain embryogenesis could be regulated by the expression of high and low affinity binding sites for these growth factors.

Mitogenic effects of fibroblast growth factors in cultured fibroblasts. Interaction with the G-protein-mediated signaling pathways

We have shown that FGF (basic or acidic) is mitogenic for quiescent hamster lung fibroblasts (CCL39 line). It is active alone but is much more efficient in synergistic combinations with G-protein-activating agents. When used alone, FGF appears to exert its mitogenic effects without involving any of the major G-protein-mediated signaling pathways. It causes no significant hydrolysis of phosphoinositides, it does not alter the activity of adenylate cyclase, and its mitogenicity is insensitive to pertussis toxin. It therefore seems likely that all pleiotropic actions of FGF are primarily mediated by the intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase of its receptors. However, FGF, acting through its receptor tyrosine kinase, and thrombin, acting through G-protein-coupled receptors, induce a common set of early responses detected within seconds or minutes at the level of membranes, cytoplasm, and nuclei. Typical examples of early responses are activation of Na/H antiporter and Na/K/Cl cotransporter, phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6, and increased transcription of early-immediate genes (c-fos, c-jun, and c-myc). Not only various classes of growth factors acting via distinct transducing mechanisms activate common targets, but also their synergistic effects on reinitiation of DNA synthesis is reflected on the early responses. How does the coordination of these signaling events take place? A partial answer to this question is illustrated in Figure 6 in which "switch kinases" play the role of integrators of multiple extracellular signals. Raf and, perhaps more convincingly, MAP kinases that are activated by dual phosphorylation on tyrosine and threonine residues are potential good candidates for this integration. This hypothetical scheme could therefore explain, in part, the coordination and the synergy commonly observed in the mitogenic response. The synergy could be generated at the level of MAP kinases simply by dual activating phosphorylations. With the recent cloning of MAP kinases, these questions will be more easily addressed. Another important gap that will have to be filled in future studies is the identification of all the members of the kinase cascade. When used in synergistic combinations with G-protein-activating agents, FGF does exert in contrast some effects on the G-protein-mediated pathways. It potentiates the G-protein-mediated activations of both PIP2-PLC and adenylate cyclase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Basic fibroblast growth factor is a calcium-mobilizing secretagogue in rat pancreatic acini

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) induced a marked increase in the levels of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] and a rapid rise in cytosolic free calcium [Ca2+]i levels in rat pancreatic acini. The bFGF-mediated calcium transient was not dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium, and was abolished by pretreatment of acini with carbachol. bFGF stimulated amylase release in pancreatic acini in a monophasic, dose-dependent manner, and this effect was blocked by neutralizing anti-bFGF antibodies. At much higher concentrations, epidermal growth factor (EGF), but not insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), partially mimicked some of the actions of bFGF. These findings suggest that bFGF is a previously unrecognized calcium-mobilizing pancreatic secretagogue that may participate in the regulation of pancreatic exocrine function.

Induction of synaptic development in cultured muscle cells by basic fibroblast growth factor

The role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in signaling the development of the neuromuscular junction was examined. Beads coated with bFGF induced the formation of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters in cultured Xenopus myotomal muscle cells. Tyrphostin, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, abolished AChR clustering induced by bFGF beads, suggesting a role of tyrosine kinase activation in AChR clustering. Using specific antibodies, we demonstrated the presence of both bFGF and its receptor in the myotomal muscle in vivo during the period of neuromuscular connection. However, similar tissue from older animals with mature neuromuscular junctions showed an apparently truncated form of the bFGF receptor. These data suggest that bFGF may play a role in signaling synaptogenesis in skeletal muscle.

High affinity receptors to acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) are detected mainly in adult brain membrane preparations but not in liver, kidney, intestine, lung or stomach

We have previously shown that only adult brain contained a detectable amount of high affinity receptors for basic Fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) whereas adult liver, kidney, lung, intestine or stomach showed only low affinity binding sites. We now have studied and compared the distribution of the receptors for acidic Fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) with that of bFGF receptors in the same tissues. Membrane binding of 125I-aFGF was time dependent, reversible and displaced by an excess of unlabeled aFGF. Scatchard analyses of binding data obtained with all tissue membrane preparations revealed the presence of at least one class of low affinity/high capacity interaction sites characterized by apparent Kd values ranging from 3.9 to 6.9 x 10(-8) M. Interestingly and as for bFGF, high affinity receptors for aFGF could be detected only in adult brain membranes. Cross-linking and Scatchard analyses indicate that this family of interaction was characterized by four molecular species of 175, 125, 95 and 70 kDa and by an apparent Kd value of 1.8 x 10(-10) M. Moreover, cross-competition binding assay revealed that these brain high affinity receptors were common for both acidic and basic FGF. These results suggest that these growth factors may share identical functions mediated by the same receptors highly expressed in the brain. Using a cDNA probe for the Bek form of FGF receptors, we were able to show that all the tissues studied expressed this mRNA (4.5 kb transcript) but probably not in sufficient amounts to account for the number of high affinity receptors that we detected only in the brain.