Inhibitory Diffusible Factor 45 Bifunctional Activity

Role of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in glucose and lipid metabolism

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 has roles in modulating the effect of IGFs by binding to IGFs and inhibiting cell proliferation in an IGF-independent manner. Although recent studies have been reported that IGFBP-3 has also roles in metabolic regulation, their exact roles in adipose tissue are poorly understood. In this review, we summarized the studies about the biological roles in glucose and lipid metabolism. IGFBP-3 overexpression in transgenic mice suggested that IGFBP-3 results in glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. IGFBP-3 knockout (KO) mice exhibited normal insulin level and glucose response after glucose challenge. More recent study in IGFBP-3 KO mice with a high-fat diet demonstrated that IGFBP-3 KO mice exhibited elevated fasting glucose and insulin, but normal response to glucose challenge, suggesting that IGFBP-3 KO mice may induce insulin resistance even though preserved insulin sensitivity. In vitro and in vivo studies using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and rat, IGFBP-3 induced insulin resistance by inhibiting glucose uptake. In contrast, the reduced levels of IGFBP-3 in obesity might induce insulin resistance by suppression of IGFBP-3's anti-inflammatory function, suggesting IGFBP-3 has a protective effect on insulin resistance. Also, proteolysis of IGFBP-3 might contribute to the insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, IGFBP-3 inhibited adipocyte differentiation, suggesting IGFBP-3 may contribute to the insulin insensitivity. Taken together, it is not yet certain that IGFBP-3 has a protective effect or enhancing effect on insulin resistance, and more studies will be needed to clarify the roles of IGFBP-3 in metabolic regulation.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 suppresses tumor growth via activation of caspase-dependent apoptosis and cross-talk with NF-κB signaling

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) is constitutively activated in a variety of human cancers including prostate cancer and involved in tumorigenesis, tumor progression and chemo-resistance. Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is a potent tumor suppressor and is significantly suppressed in a variety of cancers. Diverse biological effects of IGFBP-3 have been reported to be both dependent and independent of the IGF/IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) axis. The precise underlying mechanisms of IGF/IGF-IR-independent, antiproliferative actions of IGFBP-3 are yet to be elucidated. We found an inverse correlation between NF-κB activity and IGFBP-3 expression during prostate cancer progression using an in vitro prostate cancer progression model. Restoration of IGFBP-3 resulted in significant inhibition of constitutively elevated NF-κB activity in prostate cancer cells. IGFBP-3 further inhibited the expression of NF-κB-regulated angiogenic factors such as VEGF and IL-8, and cell adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. This inhibitory action of IGFBP-3 was IGF/IGF-IR-independent since IGFBP-3 mutant devoid of IGF binding affinity had a similar inhibitory effect. We identified that IGFBP-3 degrades the key NF-κB regulatory molecules-IκBα and p65-NF-κB proteins through activation of caspase-8 and -3/-7, thereby inhibiting elevated NF-κB activity in prostate cancer. Finally intratumoral administration of IGFBP-3 resulted in significant tumor suppression as well as sensitization of antitumor effect of doxorubicin. Our findings indicate that IGFBP-3 exerts antitumor effects via IGF-independent mechanisms which involve activation of caspase-dependent apoptosis and cross-talk with NF-κB signaling. The use of IGFBP-3 as a cancer therapeutic with this distinctive suppression mechanism may offer alternate means to treat chemotherapy resistant tumors.

Unraveling insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 actions in human disease

The IGF system plays critical roles in somatic growth in an endocrine fashion (somatomedin hypothesis) as well as proliferation and differentiation of normal and malignant cells in a paracrine/autocrine fashion. IGFBP-3 is known to modulate the actions of IGFs in circulation as well as the immediate extracellular environment. Interestingly, apart from the ability to inhibit or enhance IGF actions, IGFBP-3 also exhibits very clear, distinct biological effects independent of the IGF/IGF-I receptor axis. Over the past decade it has become widely appreciated that IGF/IGF-IR-independent actions of IGFBP-3 (antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects) contribute to improving the pathophysiology of a variety of human diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and malnutrition. Recent studies have implicated interaction of IGFBP-3 with a variety of proteins or signaling cascades critical to cell cycle control and apoptosis; however, the actual mechanism of IGFBP-3 action is still unclear. This review reinforces the concept in support of the IGF/IGF-IR axis-independent actions of IGFBP-3 and delineates potential underlying mechanisms involved and subsequent biological significance, focusing in particular on functional binding partners and the clinical significance of IGFBP-3 in the assessment of cancer risk.

Potential of proteomics towards the investigation of the IGF-independent actions of IGFBP-3

Early investigations into the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-independent actions of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 have implicated a large array of signaling proteins with links to cell cycle control and apoptosis. However, the actual mechanism of IGFBP-3 action is still unclear. In an effort to clearly understand the mechanism of IGF-independent IGFBP-3 actions, a proteomic approach to identify the actual proteins involved in interaction with IGFBP-3 from different cell compartments, the phosphorylation status of IGFBP-3 under different physiologic conditions and the proteins upregulated by IGFBP-3 are briefly reviewed. The IGF system is a well-recognized key player in diseases such as cancer, diabetes and malnutrition. It is only after the signaling pathways of the IGF-independent actions of IGFBP-3 are clearly understood that the system can be manipulated to affect these disorders.

Transcriptional events in a clinical model of oral mucosal tissue injury and repair

Tissue injury in the oral mucosa activates a cascade of transcriptional events important during the healing process that are not yet clearly defined. To characterize these events and identify potential gene targets for future studies, we used cDNA expression arrays in a clinical model of tissue injury. Mucosal biopsies were taken before third molar extraction, 2-4 hours postoperatively, or at 48 hours. Hybridization patterns were analyzed and validated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Prior to extraction, the biopsied mucosal tissues were characterized by a panoply of genes that were constitutively expressed. After injury, analysis revealed differential expression of genes involved in transcription, inflammation, and remodeling. At 2-4 hours after injury, genes such as Fos, Jun, and early growth response protein were up-regulated, while genes responsible for intercellular adhesion were down-regulated. At 48 hours after injury, the gene profile had shifted toward tissue remodeling. Here we identify genes constitutively expressed in normal oral mucosa and transcriptional events following mucosal tissue injury, which may be useful in identifying new therapeutic targets.

Cellular actions of the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins

In addition to their roles in IGF transport, the six IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) regulate cell activity in various ways. By sequestering IGFs away from the type I IGF receptor, they may inhibit mitogenesis, differentiation, survival, and other IGF-stimulated events. IGFBP proteolysis can reverse this inhibition or generate IGFBP fragments with novel bioactivity. Alternatively, IGFBP interaction with cell or matrix components may concentrate IGFs near their receptor, enhancing IGF activity. IGF receptor-independent IGFBP actions are also increasingly recognized. IGFBP-1 interacts with alpha(5)beta(1) integrin, influencing cell adhesion and migration. IGFBP-2, -3, -5, and -6 have heparin-binding domains and can bind glycosaminoglycans. IGFBP-3 and -5 have carboxyl-terminal basic motifs incorporating heparin-binding and additional basic residues that interact with the cell surface and matrix, the nuclear transporter importin-beta, and other proteins. Serine/threonine kinase receptors are proposed for IGFBP-3 and -5, but their signaling functions are poorly understood. Other cell surface IGFBP-interacting proteins are uncharacterized as functional receptors. However, IGFBP-3 binds and modulates the retinoid X receptor-alpha, interacts with TGFbeta signaling through Smad proteins, and influences other signaling pathways. These interactions can modulate cell cycle and apoptosis. Because IGFBPs regulate cell functions by diverse mechanisms, manipulation of IGFBP-regulated pathways is speculated to offer therapeutic opportunities in cancer and other diseases.

Characteristics of skeletal muscle in mdx mutant mice

We review the extensive research conducted on the mdx mouse since 1987, when demonstration of the absence of dystrophin in mdx muscle led to X-chromosome-linked muscular dystrophy (mdx) being considered as a homolog of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Certain results are contradictory. We consider most aspects of mdx skeletal muscle: (i) the distribution and roles of dystrophin, utrophin, and associated proteins; (ii) morphological characteristics of the skeletal muscle and hypotheses put forward to explain the regeneration characteristic of the mdx mouse; (iii) special features of the diaphragm; (iv) changes in basic fibroblast growth factor, ion flux, innervation, cytoskeleton, adhesive proteins, mastocytes, and metabolism; and (v) different lines of therapeutic research.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 is associated with involution of the ventral prostate in castrated and finasteride-treated rats

BACKGROUND

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-5 has been proposed as a signal for apoptosis in the ovary. To determine the relationship between IGFBP-5 and apoptosis during regression of the androgen-deprived prostate, rats were castrated or treated with the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride for 4, 9, 14, 21, and 28 days.

METHODS

Ventral prostate tissue was immunostained for IGFBP-5, and apoptotic cells were identified by in situ end-labeling of fragmented DNA (TUNEL). To compare the distribution of IGFBP-5 with the distribution of apoptotic cells, mirror-image serial sections of prostate tissues from normal and day 4 finasteride-treated rats were examined.

RESULTS

In normal rats, 4+/-1% of prostate epithelial cells stained positively for IGFBP-5, and 0.1+/-0.03% demonstrated DNA fragmentation. IGFBP-5 staining peaked at day 9 with 93 +/-2% and 64+/-13% of epithelial cells staining positively in castrated and finasteride-treated rats, respectively. In contrast, DNA fragmentation peaked at day 4 in tissues from both castrated and finasteride-treated rats with 7+/-1% and 0.7+/-0.3% of epithelial cells, respectively, staining. In the serial sections, TUNEL and IGFBP-5 staining were not usually expressed in the same cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Prostatic involution involves both programmed cell death and inhibition of cell growth. Because of the distribution of staining and the delayed expression of IGFBP-5 relative to initiation of apoptosis, we postulate that IGFBP-5 functions as an inhibitor of cell proliferation rather than as a signal for apoptosis.

Insulin-like growth factor-I effect on chicken hepatoma cells (LMH) is inhibited by endogenous IGF-binding proteins

LMH chicken hepatoma cells show type 1 IGF receptors and a 28 kDa IGF-binding protein (IGFBP) on their membranes. They also secrete large amounts of the 28 kDa IGFBP. Following overnight incubation in serum-free medium, human IGF-I was markedly less effective than insulin in stimulating amino acid (AIB) uptake. Chicken and human IGF-I were equipotent, consistent with their equipotency in inhibiting [125I]IGF-I binding to wheat germ agglutinin-purified IGF receptors or membrane solubilized IGFBP. When cells were supplied with fresh medium, cell-associated IGFBP were unaffected, but the level of soluble IGFBP was largely reduced. This potentiated the effect of IGF-I on AIB uptake. The effect of chicken Long-[Arg3]-IGF-I, which exhibited low affinity for the IGFBP, was unchanged. In fresh or conditioned medium, this analog was more potent than IGF-I, suggesting that both soluble and membrane-bound 28 kDa IGFBP inhibited the effect of IGF-I.

Effect of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins on the response of proximal tubular cells to insulin-like growth factor-I

The insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) are major modulators of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) action, but relatively little is known about their production by kidney tubular cells or about their modulating effects on the action of IGF-I on these cells. In this study we demonstrated that rabbit proximal tubular cells express the genes for IGFBP-2, -4 and -5 and secrete 24 and 32 kDa size binding proteins. The rate of IGFBP production by these cells was regulated by several growth factors including hydrocortisone, which was potently stimulatory, and EGF, which was inhibitory. The overall effect of these kidney cell-secreted IGFBPs was to inhibit the mitogenic activity of IGF-I. Similarly, recombinant IGFBP-3, the major circulating IGFBP that in kidney is produced close to the proximal tubules, also inhibited IGF-I stimulated DNA synthesis in cultured rabbit proximal tubular cells and in cultured opossum kidney (OK) cells. IGFBP-3 also inhibited basal DNA synthesis in OK cells in the absence of added IGF-I, suggesting that this IGFBP may have an IGF-I independent action. These findings highlight the important effect that IGFBPs have on the action of IGF-I on kidney cells and support the notion that the changes in IGFBPs observed in various renal diseases may contribute to the pathophysiology of these diseases.

Proteolytic fragments of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3: N-terminal sequences and relationships between structure and biological activity

Insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) in biological fluids bind to high-affinity binding proteins (IGFBP-1 to -6), which transport them and regulate their activities. Limited proteolysis of certain IGFBPs plays a major role in this regulation. IGFBP-3 is proteolysed in vivo and in several cell lines by serine proteases, including plasmin. In earlier studies we reproduced this proteolysis in vitro using recombinant human non-glycosylated IGFBP-3. Two major fragments were obtained, the larger retaining weak affinity for IGF-I and weakly inhibiting IGF I mitogenic effects. The smaller fragment, though lacking affinity for IGFs, is a potent growth inhibitor. These proteolytic fragments were isolated by HPLC and their N-terminal amino acids sequenced. Both major fragments contain the N-terminal region of the intact protein, the larger form corresponding to residues 1-160, and the smaller form, to residues 1-95. Kinetics experiments using the MG-63 osteoblast-like cell line showed that the larger peptide is generated before the smaller peptide, the latter probably being a product of secondary proteolysis of the former. Our data suggest that proteolysis of IGFBP-3 is intimately linked to its biological function. We propose a model for its action at cellular level.

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins and their role in controlling IGF actions

The insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are a family of six proteins that bind to insulin-like growth factor-I and -II with very high affinity. Because their affinity constants are between two- and 50-fold greater than the IGF-I receptor, they control the distribution of the IGFs among soluble IGFBPs in interstitial fluids, IGFBPs bound to cell surfaces or extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell surface receptors. Although there are six forms of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins, most interstitial fluids contain only three or four forms, and usually only one or two predominate. The proteins differ significantly in their biochemical characteristics, and this accounts for many of the differences that have been observed in their biological actions. Several different types of protease cleave these binding proteins. Proteolytic cleavage generally inactivates the binding proteins or reduces their ability to bind to IGF-I or -II substantially. Several cell types have been shown to secrete these proteases; therefore, the factors that regulate protease activity can control binding protein actions indirectly. Other post-translational modifications, such as glycosylation and phosphorylation, have been shown to alter IGF binding protein activity. While binding protein actions have been studied extensively in vitro, many of the in vivo activities of these proteins remain to be defined.

Normal expression of type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor by human osteoarthritic chondrocytes with increased expression and synthesis of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins

OBJECTIVE

Our previous research demonstrated that, in contrast to normal chondrocytes, human osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes were hyporesponsive to stimulation by insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). The aim of the present investigation was to examine whether this finding was due to an alteration in the level of IGF receptors (IGFRs) and/or IGF binding proteins (IGFBP).

METHODS

A quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique (RT-PCR) was used to measure the type 1 IGFR messenger RNA (mRNA) level, and Northern blotting was used to measure type 2 IGFR and IGFBP mRNA levels. Western immunoblotting was used to identify and measure IGFBP levels.

RESULTS

There were similar levels of type 1 IGFR mRNA in normal and OA chondrocytes. The level of type 2 IGFR mRNA, in which an increased amount of which can interfere with the biologic effects of IGF-1, was lower in OA chondrocytes compared with normal chondrocytes. Articular chondrocytes produced IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-4, and OA chondrocytes secreted and expressed higher amounts than did normal chondrocytes. There was also an increased level of IGFBP-3 in the OA chondrocyte lysates. IGFBPs 1, 5, and 6 were not detectable.

CONCLUSION

OA chondrocytes synthesize and express a larger amount of 3 IGFBPs. This observation, along with a lack of detectable change in type 1 IGFR mRNA level, suggests that the hyporesponsiveness of OA chondrocytes to IGF-1 might implicate the involvement of IGFBPs in this pathologic process.

Interrelationships between follicle stimulating hormone and the growth hormone--insulin-like growth factor--IGF-binding proteins axes in human granulosa cells in culture

As it has been hypothesized that IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) may have a role as autocrine/paracrine factors in regulating the local actions of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in the ovary, we studied the production of the IGFBPs by human granulosa cells (GC) in culture and the role of IGFBP-3 in the modulation of ovarian cell responsiveness to IGF-I and FSH. To this purpose, human luteinizing GC were cultured in serum-free conditions for 24 h and subsequently submitted to increasing concentrations (2-8 nmol/l) of recombinant non-glycosylated or partially glycosylated IGF-BP-3 for 48 h, in the presence or absence of IGF-I, des(1-3)IGF-I- a truncated analog of human IGF-I with markedly reduced binding ability to IGFBPs - and FSH (5-20 mIU/ml). The results demonstrate that human GC release IGFBP-1-2 and -3 into the medium, and that FSH is able to inhibit this release, while GH is clearly inhibitory on IGFBP-1 and stimulatory on IGFBP-3. Both IGF-I and des(1-3)IGF-I significantly (p < 0.001) stimulate E2 production by human GC in culture in a manner comparable to that of FSH in the dose range used. Preincubation for 2 h at 22 C with IGFBP-3, to allow the formation of the IGF-IGFBP complex, drastically reduced the stimulatory effect of IGF-I but not that of des(1-3)IGF-I. IGFBP-3 was also able to inhibit the stimulatory effect of FSH. These data show that: i) the IGF peptide is less active when bound to IGFBP-3; ii) as IGFBP-3 does not affect the potency of des(1-3)IGF-I, its inhibitory action is exerted upstream of the membrane receptor binding; iii) as the action of IGFBP-3 is exerted by binding the IGF peptide, its inhibitory effect on FSH points out the role of the locally produced IGF-II in potentiating the FSH action on human GC.

Inhibition of proliferation in 8-week-old mdx mouse muscle fibroblasts in vitro

Our purpose is to understand why mdx muscle does not show the progressive degeneration observed in human Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) muscle. In the mouse, the regenerative process compensates for the necrosis of the muscle fibers, particularly during the acute phase of the disease (5-9 weeks). In DMD muscle, there is a gradual failure of the regenerative process and the muscle fibers are replaced by connective and fatty tissue. We propose that distinct properties of mdx and DMD muscle fibroblasts could be one of the reasons for the differences between the mdx and DMD phenotypes. We found that fibroblasts taken from human DMD and control muscle had similar in vitro proliferative capacities. The proliferation rate of mouse muscle fibroblasts decreased during the acute phase of the disease, and inhibition was complete in fibroblasts from 8-week-old mdx mice. Moreover, the medium conditioned by these cells inhibited fibroblast proliferation. The effect was specific for fibroblasts, since this conditioned medium stimulated myoblast proliferation, as did control fibroblast-conditioned medium. These results suggest that 8-week-old mdx mouse muscle fibroblasts produce an inhibitor of their own proliferation and a growth factor specific for myoblasts in vitro. If these factors are secreted in vivo, the growth inhibitory factory may stop fibroblast proliferation whereas the mitogenic activity could stimulate satellite cell proliferation, thus favouring muscle regeneration.

Studies on the mechanisms by which insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) and IGFBP-5 modulate IGF actions in bone cells

The growth potentiating effects of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II are modulated by a family of six insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs). Despite the similarity in amino acid sequences of the IGFBPs, their effects on the growth of bone cells differ. Studies on the molecular mechanisms for IGFBP-4 actions revealed that coincubation of bone cells with IGFBP-4 and 125I-IGF-I or 125I-IGF-II decreased the binding of both of these ligands in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, IGFBP-4 decreased the binding of IGF-I tracer to purified type I IGF receptor. These data in conjunction with data showing that IGFBP-4 had no effect on cell proliferation induced by analogs of IGF-I or IGF-II, which exhibited > 100-fold reduced affinity for binding to IGFBP-4 suggest that IGFBP-4 may inhibit IGF action by preventing the binding of ligand to its membrane receptor. In contrast to IGFBP-4, IGFBP-5 treatment increased the binding of IGF tracer to bone cells but did not increase the binding of 125I-IGF-I to type I IGF receptor. Studies on the mechanism by which IGFBP-5 increased the binding of 125I-IGF tracer to bone cells suggest that IGFBP-5 could facilitate IGF binding by a mechanism in which IGFBP-5 has cell surface binding sites independent of IGF receptors. These data in conjunction with the findings that IGFBP-5 potentiated cell proliferation even in the presence of those same IGF analogs that exhibited > 200-fold reduced affinity for binding to IGFBP-5, suggest that IGFBP-5 may in part stimulate bone cell proliferation by an IGF-independent mechanism involving IGFBP-5-specific cell surface binding sites.

Effect of heparin on bovine epithelial lens cell proliferation induced by heparin affin regulatory peptide

HARP (heparin affin regulatory peptide) is an 18 kDa heparin binding protein, also known as HB-GAM or pleiotrophin (PTN) which has been primarily isolated from brain and uterus, and displays neurite outgrowth, angiogenic and mitogenic activities. Previously, we have expressed the human cDNA encoding human HARP in NIH 3T3 cells. Purified recombinant HARP displayed mitogenic activity for endothelial cells. Its NH2-terminal sequence indicates that the HARP molecule possesses a three amino acid extension from the signal peptide more than the NH2-terminal described. For HB-GAM or PTN, these three amino acids may be essential for the stability and the mitogenic activity of this growth factor. In an attempt to further study the mode of action of this growth factor, we have investigated the mitogenic effect of HARP on various cell types. In contrast to FGF-2, HARP failed to induce stimulation of DNA synthesis on a CCL39 cell line. However, we found that in quiescent bovine epithelial lens (BEL) cells, the stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by HARP is dose-dependent (EC50: 2.5 ng/ml) and maximal stimulation is as potent as that induced by FGF-2 (EC50: 25 pg/ml). Interestingly, when BEL cells were allowed to quiesce in the presence of serum, the stimulation induced by HARP is considerably less potent. In this highly responsive cell system, heparin could potentiate the mitogenic activity of HARP at very low doses (0.1-1 microgram/ml) and inhibit this activity at concentrations of 10 micrograms/ml. In contrast to its protective effect on FGF-1 and -2, heparin was unable to preserve HARP from tryptic and chymotryptic degradations.

A proteolytic fragment of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-3 that fails to bind IGF is a cell growth inhibitor

Limited proteolysis of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is now recognized as a normal process in the regulation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) activity, its major effect being to increase IGF bioavialability. In order to characterize the proteolytic fragments of IGFBP-3, we reproduced this proteolysis in vitro using plasmin which provokes cleavages that are similar to those induced in vivo by (unidentified) specific IGFBP-3 proteases. Two major peaks were purified by RP-HPLC. One contained a 16 kDa fragment and the other comprised two fragments of 22 and 25 kDa. Competitive binding experiments showed that the 16 kDa material had no affinity for IGFs. The 22-25 kDa fragments had considerably reduced affinity, particularly for IGF-I. In a chick embryo fibroblast assay where DNA synthesis was stimulated by IGF-I or insulin, the 22-25 kDa fragments weakly inhibited IGF-I-induced cell proliferation and had no effect on stimulation by insulin. The 16 kDa fragment unexpectedly proved to be a potent inhibitor of both IGF- and insulin-induced cell growth. This proteolytic fragment of IGFBP-3 therefore exhibits intrinsic inhibitory activity.

Identification of the major sites of phosphorylation in IGF binding protein-3

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is the major carrier of insulin-like growth factor I and II in the circulation. IGFBP-3 is secreted by various tissues and cell lines as a glycosylated phosphoprotein. We have identified two major serine phosphorylation sites located at amino acids 111 and 113 of the human protein. These serine residues and neighboring amino acids potentially involved in defining a protein kinase recognition sequence were mutated to alanine using PCR. Single and double point mutants were stably transfected into CHO-cells and analyzed for their level of phosphorylation. Mutation of both serines reduced phosphorylation by > 80% in the full-length protein and completely abolished phosphorylation in a 17 kDa IGFBP-3 fragment, derived from digestion with EndoProteinase Lys-C. The 17 kDa fragment contained serines 111 and 113. S111A/S113A, a double serine-to-alanine mutant at positions 111 and 113, showed a strongly reduced glycosylation pattern that appears to be the result of amino acid substitutions rather than lack of phosphorylation. Mutant S111A/S113A, despite being non-phosphorylated and non-glycosylated, is functionally similar to the wild-type IGFBP-3 in terms of IGF-I binding. These results enhance our understanding on the functional role of glycosylation and phosphorylation of IGFBP-3.

Difference in biological effects between insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 and 3

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins 1 and 3 are essentially known as regulators of IGF bioactivity. However, we previously showed that IGFBP-3 was able, in chick embryo fibroblast (CEF), to 100% inhibit DNA synthesis stimulated by calf serum, while the maximal inhibition found with IGFBP-1 was 60%, suggesting a difference between the two IGFBPs in their biological functions. Results of the present work agree with this assumption: (a) Recombinant human IGFBP-3, like rat IGFBP-3, was able to 100% inhibit DNA synthesis stimulation induced by human serum, while this stimulation was 75% decreased by IGFBP-1. However, the most striking difference was observed when the effects of the two IGFBPs were compared for stimulation induced by a serum growth factor (SGF) fraction depleted in IGFs. Stimulation induced by the SFG fraction was more significantly decreased (p < 0.001) by IGFBP-3 than by IGFBP-1. The mean percent inhibition +/- SEM was 67.1 +/- 2.5 in the presence of IGFBP-3 (200 ng/ml) and 29.3 +/- 2.7 and 34.2 +/- 4 in the presence of 200 and 400 ng/ml IGFBP-1 respectively. Inhibition by 200 ng/ml IGFBP-1 and inhibition by 6 ng/ml IGFBP-3 were additive. However, inhibition by IGFBP-3 and that by IGFBP-1 were no longer additive at high concentrations of IGFBP-3, which might thus replace IGFBP-1. (b) FGF stimulation of CEF was similarly inhibition (65% and 70%) by IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3. (c) TGF beta stimulation of CEF was more strongly decreased by IGFBP-3 (90%) than by IGFB-1 (60%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP-3), an inhibitor of serum growth factors other than IGF-I and -II

Our results show that an insulin-like growth factor binding protein, IGFBP-3, purified from rat serum, is an inhibitor of chick embryo fibroblast (CEF) growth. It abolished DNA synthesis in CEF stimulated by IGF-I as well as by human serum. Rat IGFBP-3 and IDF45 (an inhibitory diffusible factor secreted by mouse cells) had the same activities, confirming that they have an intrinsic capacity to inhibit serum stimulation and may be considered as growth inhibitors. Our data show that inhibition by IGFBP-3 of serum stimulation was not simply the result of its inhibition of IGF present in the serum: 1) While anti-IGF-I IgG was able to completely inhibit stimulation induced by added IGF-I, it did not decrease stimulation induced by 1% human serum. Anti-IGF-II IgG inhibited the stimulation induced by added IGF-II, but only 25% decreased the stimulation induced by 0.7% serum. The percent inhibition was not significantly increased when the concentration of serum was decreased to 0.2%, which induced 140% stimulation of DNA synthesis; 2) stimulation by 0.2% serum was much more inhibited by IGFBP-3 than by IgG anti IGF-II; 3) after separation of IGF-I and IGF-II from serum by chromatography of acidified serum proteins on BioGel P150, the remaining serum proteins (with a molecular mass greater than 45 kDa) which were depleted in IGF-I and -II (verified by RIA determination) still stimulated DNA synthesis, and this stimulation was 80% inhibited by IGFBP-3.

Mutants of human insulin-like growth factor II (IGF II). Expression and characterization of truncated IGF II and of two naturally occurring variants

Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF II) and four structural analogs, constructed by site-directed mutagenesis, were expressed as protein A fusion proteins in Escherichia coli BL21pLysS cells, cleaved with cyanogen bromide and purified by affinity chromatography and HPLC. Two mutants (Ser29 substituted by Arg-Leu-Pro-Gly, and Ser33 substituted by Cys-Gly-Asp) represent two naturally occurring variants of IGF II. The other two mutants, (7-67)IGF II and (9-67)IGF II, are truncated at the amino-terminus in analogy to the naturally occurring des(1-3)IGF I ('truncated IGF I'). These mutants were tested for their binding affinities to type-1 and type-2 IGF receptors, to IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and for their stimulation of thymidine incorporation into DNA. The affinities of the Ser29 and Ser33 mutants to the type-1 IGF receptor were 85% and 39%, respectively, compared to wild-type IGF II, those of (7-67)IGF II and (9-67)IGF II 96% and 15%, respectively. The potencies of the Ser33 and the (9-67) mutant to stimulate thymidine incorporation into DNA correlated closely with the affinities to the type-1 IGF receptor, whereas the bioavailability of the Ser29 mutant was lower and that of the (7-67) mutant higher than the type-1 receptor binding, possibly due to interferences with endogenously secreted IGFBPs. The affinities of the Ser29 and Ser33 mutants to the type-2 IGF receptor were 110% and 71%, respectively, those of the two truncated mutants 25% and 23%, respectively. The affinity of the Ser29 mutant to IGFBP-3 was increased to 171%, whereas those of the Ser33 mutant and the two truncated mutants were reduced (34%, 10% and 19%, respectively).

Stimulation by TGFβ of chick embryo fibroblasts—Inhibition by an IGFBP-3

The multiple effects of TGF beta on cell proliferation are not well understood. Our results show that TGF beta was a good but transient mitogen for chick embryo fibroblasts. DNA synthesis was three- to fourfold increased, even at high concentrations of TGF beta. We did not show a bimodal effect. An inhibitor of cell growth, that inhibits 100% of stimulation induced by serum in CEF, was purified to homogeneity from medium conditioned by mouse 3T3 cells. This inhibitor has been shown to be an IGF-binding protein (mIGFBP-3). In the present work, this mIGFBP-3 inhibited the TGF beta stimulation by about 50%, while the stimulation induced by PDGF or insulin was not inhibited by mIGFBP-3. Furthermore, TGF beta stimulation, in the presence of a high concentration of insulin in conditions which would saturate IGF receptors, was not significantly inhibited by mIGFBP-3. All together these results suggest that a part of the mitogenic effect of TGF beta may be through increasing IGF secretion and eventually other growth factors such as PDGF (as suggested previously).

Purification from transformed mouse fibroblast of a cell growth inhibitor which is an IGF-binding protein

From medium conditioned by 3T3 cells, we had previously purified an inhibitory factor of Mr 45 kDa which we termed IDF45 (inhibitory diffusible factor). The protein was able to 100% inhibit stimulation induced in CEF by 1% calf serum and to reversibly prevent cell growth. We then demonstrated that IDF45 was an IGF-binding protein. Our results suggested that IDF45 was a bifunctional molecule able to bind IGF and to inhibit DNA synthesis stimulated by this hormone, but also to inhibit stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by another growth factor in serum. Indeed, its N terminal amino acid sequence has great homology with that of IGFBP-3 and IDF45 is now proposed to be named IGFBP-3 (mouse IGF binding protein). Present results show that Ha-ras transfected 3T3 cells (EJ cells), like 3T3 cells, secrete a mIGFBP-3 molecule. In addition, transfected cells secrete a doublet of an IGF-binding protein (IGFBP-28) of Mr 28 kDa which is not secreted by untransformed 3T3 cells. IGFBP-28 has been purified and characterized in this work. Various results suggest that IGFBP-28 is not a degradation product of mIGFBP-3. Its N terminal amino acid sequence was different from that of mIGFBP-3. IGFBP-28 inhibited DNA synthesis stimulated by IGF-I, but much more IGFBP-28 protein than mIGFBP-3 was required to prevent this stimulation. In agreement with this result, IGFBP-28 has low affinity for IGF-I. In contrast, IGFBP-28 has high affinity for IGF-II. Like mIGFBP-3, IGFBP-28 was able to inhibit the stimulation induced by serum in CEF and to reversibly prevent growth, though with a specific activity lower than that of mIGFBP-3. It has also the capacity to inhibit stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by high molecular weight serum proteins depleted in IGF-I and II. In conclusion we have shown that transformation of 3T3 cells with Ha-ras induced the synthesis of a new IGF binding protein in medium conditioned by normal 3T3 cells. Our results suggest that IGFBP-28 like mIGFBP-3 is a bifunctional protein able to inhibit stimulation induced by IGF and by serum proteins different from IGFs.

An IGF binding protein is an inhibitor of FGF stimulation

We purified to homogeneity a growth inhibiting diffusible factor (IDF45) secreted by dense cultures of mouse 3T3 cells and which was able to inhibit 100% of DNA synthesis stimulated by serum in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) (Blat et al., 1989a). We then demonstrated that this factor was an IGF-binding protein (Blat et al., 1989b). Indeed, its N-terminal amino acid sequence was homologous to that of rat IGFBP-3. Our present results show that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) induced, respectively, a fivefold and threefold increase in DNA synthesis in mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) and CEF. IDF-45 inhibited the stimulation induced by bFGF by about 65%, while stimulation induced by insulin, PDGF, or EGF was only weakly or not at all inhibited by IDF45. When bFGF stimulation was determined in the presence of a high concentration of insulin in conditions which minimize the effect of endogenous IGF-I or -II, this stimulation was decreased by about 50% in the presence of IDF45. This result suggests that addition of bFGF stimulates IGF secretion, thereby resulting in partial loss of inhibition, by IDF45, of bFGF stimulation.

Presence of IDF45 (mlGFBP-3) binding sites on chick embryo fibroblasts

IDF45 (inhibitory diffusible factor) a mouse insulin-like growth factor binding protein (mlGFBP-3) has been shown to 100 percent inhibit DNA synthesis stimulated by serum in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF). Our previous results suggested that this large inhibition by IDF45 of serum stimulation was not just the result of its inhibitory activity toward IGF present in serum. The addition of Mn2+ (10(-3)M) in the incubation medium enables us to show the presence of numerous binding sites per cells (about 60,000) of mlGFBP-3. However the dissociation constant (10(-8)M) indicated that this mouse IGFBP-3 bound to the membrane with low affinity. These findings lend new support to the assumption of the bifunctional property of IGFBP-3, which would have an effect outside the cell (binding of IGF in the medium) and another effect within cells or on the surface.

Secretion and biological actions of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in two human tumor-derived cell lines in vitro

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) I and II are present in extracellular fluids associated with specific binding proteins (IGFBPs) that can modify their biologic actions. These studies were undertaken to determine which forms of IGFBP are secreted by endometrial carcinoma (HEC-1B) and breast carcinoma (MDA-231) cells, to characterize variables that control IGFBP secretion, and to study the effect of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 on IGF-I stimulated cell proliferation. Secreted IGFBPs were identified by ligand blotting and IGFBP-1 was quantified using a specific radioimmunoassay (RIA). MDA-231 cell conditioned media (CM) contained four (43,000, 39,000, 30,000 and 24,000 Mr) forms of IGFBP, and HEC-1B cell CM contained three forms (39,000, 34,000 and 30,000 Mr). Immunoblotting showed that the 30,000 Mr form secreted by both cell types was IGFBP-1. Likewise the 34,000 Mr band in HEC-1B media reacted with IGFBP-2 antiserum and the 39,000 and 43,000 Mr bands reacted with IGFBP-3 antiserum. IGF-I stimulated the secretion of IGFBP-3 from both cell types and IGFBP-2 from HEC-1B cells but either decreased or caused no change in secretion of IGFBP-1 and a 24,000 Mr form. In contrast, insulin inhibited the secretion of IGFBP-1 but increased the secretion of the 24,000 Mr form. Compounds that elevate intracellular cAMP levels increased the secretion of IGFBP-3, IGFBP-1, and the 24,000 Mr form from both MDA-231 and HEC-1B cells. When sparse cultures of MDA-231 cells were used, addition of IGF-I caused a 24% increase in cell number after 48 hr. This mitogenic response was enhanced by the presence of recombinant human IGFBP-1 (45% increase in cell number, P less than 0.001). Bovine IGFBP-2 did not potentiate IGF-I stimulated cell proliferation. These findings show that two tumor cell lines secrete distinct forms of IGFBPs and that there is differential regulation of IGFBP secretion. At least one form secreted by both tumors may act as a positive autocrine modulator of IGF-I's growth stimulating actions.

IGFBP-1, an insulin like growth factor binding protein, is a cell growth inhibitor

A novel cell growth inhibitor, IDF45 (inhibitory diffusible factor), was recently purified to apparent homogeneity. It is a bifunctional molecule: able to bind Insulin like growth factor (IGF) and to 100% inhibit DNA synthesis stimulated by serum in fibroblasts. It was of interest to verify whether other members of the IGF-binding protein (IGFBP) family show the same bifunctional growth inhibitory properties. In this paper we show that purified IGFBP-1 derived from amniotic fluid is a cell growth inhibitor. In chick embryo fibroblasts, it inhibited DNA synthesis stimulated by serum. However the stimulation was maximally 60% inhibited and half of the inhibition was observed with 100ng/ml IGFBP-1. So the specific activity of IGFBP-1 is lower than that of IDF45. IGFBP-1 also reversibly prevented the CEF growth. In the same cells IGFBP-1 inhibited DNA synthesis stimulated by IGF-I. We demonstrated that the same protein IGFBP-1 is able to inhibit DNA synthesis stimulated by serum and by IGF-I. The possibility that IGFBP-1 is a bifunctional molecule is discussed.

IGF-I and IGF-binding proteins: stimulatory and inhibitory factors secreted by human prostatic adenocarcinoma cells

Deregulation of growth observed in malignant cell cultures has been assumed to be the result of increased secretion by these cells of autocrine growth factors, as well as the decreased sensitivity of these cells to inhibitory molecules which are diffused from normal or transformed cells. Our results show that PC-3 cells secreted into the medium, factors having stimulatory and inhibitory activities. We found an IGF-like molecule in medium conditioned by PC-3 cells. Its concentration was less than 1 ng/ml of conditioned medium. We demonstrated that PC-3 cells have receptors for IGF-I and are stimulated by this growth factor. However, the dose response curve shows that 1 ng/ml of IGF-I is not sufficient to indicate autocrine growth regulation by IGF of prostatic carcinoma cells. IGF-binding proteins of 90,000, 45,000, 34,000 and 28,000 molecular weight were also secreted by PC-3 cells. It is noteworthy that the secreted proteins which had the greatest inhibitory effect on chick embryo fibroblast growth also has the strongest IGF-binding activity. The probability that the IGF-binding protein secreted by PC-3 cells inhibited serum stimulation of DNA synthesis by preventing stimulation induced by IGF present in the serum is discussed. It is of interest that these IGF-binding proteins inhibited chick embryo fibroblast proliferation but did not inhibit PC-3 cells. This is in agreement with the assumption that IGF present in the medium is not an autocrine growth factor for these cells.

Differences in inhibition by IDF45 (an inhibitory diffusible factor) of early RNA synthesis stimulation induced by pp60 v-src and various mitogens

Factors inhibiting cell growth have been isolated from different cell types. However, little information is available concerning their mode of action. A novel growth inhibitory factor of 45 kDa (IDF45) was recently purified to homogeneity from medium conditioned by 3T3 cells. This molecule was able to inhibit DNA synthesis and the growth of chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) in a reversible manner. By contrast, DNA synthesis stimulated by v-src expression in CEF was poorly inhibited by IDF45. In order to gain further insight into the IDF45 mode of action in normal and transformed CEF, we compared the effects of IDF45 on early stimulation of RNA synthesis induced in CEF by different mitogenic factors and by v-src gene expression. Stimulation, by serum, of RNA synthesis was inhibited by IDF45; however, inhibition increased when cells were preincubated with IDF45 before addition of serum and cell labeling for 2 h. IDF45 was also able to inhibit partially the stimulation of RNA synthesis induced by PMA and PDGF but was unable to inhibit stimulation of RNA synthesis induced by insulin and v-src expression. By contrast, stimulation of RNA synthesis induced by IGF-I was rapidly 100% inhibited by IDF45. The effect of IDF45 on DNA synthesis stimulated by the different mitogens was also determined and was correlated with the effect of IDF45 on RNA synthesis. These results suggest that the modes of action of IDF45 on stimulation of RNA synthesis by v-src and by insulin are similar. Our present results agree with others showing the bifunctional activity of IDF45 as an IGF-binding protein and as an inhibitory molecule in DNA stimulation induced by serum.