Hormonal regulation of the gene for the type C ecotropic retrovirus receptor in rat liver cells

CAT1 silencing inhibits TGF-β1-induced mouse hepatic stellate cell activation in vitro and hepatic fibrosis in vivo

Hepatic fibrosis is characterized by abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary cells that produce ECM in response to hepatic injury, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) has been regarded as the central stimulus responsible for HSC-mediated ECM production. In the present study, we attempted to identify a critical factor in HSC activation and the underlying mechanism. By analyzing online microarray expression profiles, we found that the expression of high-affinity cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT1) was upregulated in hepatic fibrosis models and activated HSCs. We isolated and identified mouse HSCs (MHSCs) and found that in these cells, CAT1 was most highly upregulated by TGF-β1 stimulation in both time- and dose-dependent manners. In vitro, CAT1 overexpression further enhanced, while CAT1 silencing inhibited, the effect of TGF-β1 in promoting MHSC activation. In vivo, CAT1 silencing significantly improved the hepatic fibrosis induced by both CCl4 and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In summary, CAT1 was significantly upregulated in TGF-β1-activated MHSCs and mice with hepatic fibrosis. CAT1 silencing inhibited TGF-β1-induced MHSC activation in vitro and fibrogenic changes in vivo. CAT1 is a promising target for hepatic fibrosis treatment that requites further investigation in human cells and clinical practice.

Supplemental Citrulline Is More Efficient Than Arginine in Increasing Systemic Arginine Availability in Mice

Background: Arginine is considered to be an essential amino acid in various (patho)physiologic conditions of high demand. However, dietary arginine supplementation suffers from various drawbacks, including extensive first-pass extraction. Citrulline supplementation may be a better alternative than arginine, because its only fate in vivo is conversion into arginine.Objective: The goal of the present research was to determine the relative efficiency of arginine and citrulline supplementation to improve arginine availability.Methods: Six-week-old C57BL/6J male mice fitted with gastric catheters were adapted to 1 of 7 experimental diets for 2 wk. The basal diet contained 2.5 g l-arginine/kg, whereas the supplemented diets contained an additional 2.5, 7.5, and 12.5 g/kg diet of either l-arginine or l-citrulline. On the final day, after a 3-h food deprivation, mice were continuously infused intragastrically with an elemental diet similar to the dietary treatment, along with l-[¹³C₆]arginine, to determine the splanchnic first-pass metabolism (FPM) of arginine. In addition, tracers were continuously infused intravenously to determine the fluxes and interconversions between citrulline and arginine. Linear regression slopes were compared to determine the relative efficiency of each supplement.Results: Whereas all the supplemented citrulline (105% ± 7% SEM) appeared in plasma and resulted in a marginal increase of 86% in arginine flux, supplemental arginine underwent an ∼70% FPM, indicating that only 30% of the supplemental arginine entered the peripheral circulation. However, supplemental arginine did not increase arginine flux. Both supplements linearly increased (P < 0.01) plasma arginine concentration from 109 μmol/L for the basal diet to 159 and 214 μmol/L for the highest arginine and citrulline supplementation levels, respectively. However, supplemental citrulline increased arginine concentrations to a greater extent (35%, P < 0.01).Conclusions: Citrulline supplementation is more efficient at increasing arginine availability than is arginine supplementation itself in mice.

Regulation of CAT: Cationic amino acid transporter gene expression

The majority of mammalian cationic amino acid transport is mediated by the transport system y(+) which facilitates Na(+) independent cationic amino acid (arginine, lysine, & ornithine) transport and Na(+) dependent zwitterionic amino acid (glutamine & homoserine) transport. Other transport systems y(+)L, b(0,+) and B(0,+) also mediate cationic amino acid transport. Their broad substrate specificities and overlapping expression patterns confound biochemical analysis. The isolation of cDNA clones has permitted an analysis of their regulation and opens the opportunity to define the role of each protein in specific cell types. Two genes,Cat1 andCat2 encode transporters with properties similar to the y(+) transport system. Thecat2 gene from the mouse encodes two distinct proteins. mCAT2, and mCAT2A via alternate splicing; each protein has distinctly different transport properties. The regulation of mCAT1, mCAT2 and mCAT2A proteins are reviewed here. The implications of this gene specific regulation on cationic amino acid transport is discussed.

CATs, a family of three distinct mammalian cationic amino acid transporters

Three related mammalian carrier proteins that mediate the transport of cationic amino acids through the plasma membrane have been identified in murine and human cells (CAT for cationic amino acid transporter). Models of the CAT proteins in the membrane suggest they have 12 or 14 transmembrane domains connected by short hydrophilic loops and intracellular N- and C-termini. The transport activity of the CAT proteins is sensitive to trans-stimulation and independent of the presence of sodium ions. These features agree with the behaviour of carrier proteins mediating facilitated diffusion. The three CAT proteins, CAT-1, CAT-2A and CAT-2(B) are encoded by two different genes (CAT-1 and CAT-2). CAT-1 and CAT-2(B) exhibit transport properties consistent with system y(+), the principal mechanism for cellular uptake of cationic amino acids. In contrast, CAT-2A has tenfold lower substrate affinity, greater apparent maximal velocity and it is much less sensitive to trans-stimulation. In addition to structural and functional aspects, this review discusses the role of the CAT proteins for supplying substrate to NO synthases and the property of the rodent CAT-1 proteins to function as virus receptors.

Temporal regulation of Cat-1 (cationic amino acid transporter-1) gene transcription during endoplasmic reticulum stress

Expression of the Cat-1 gene (cationic amino acid transporter-1) is induced in proliferating cells and in response to a variety of stress conditions. The expression of the gene is mediated via a TATA-less promoter. In the present study we show that an Sp1 (specificity protein 1)-binding site within a GC-rich region of the Cat-1 gene controls its basal expression and is important for induction of the gene during the UPR (unfolded protein response). We have shown previously that induction of Cat-1 gene expression during the UPR requires phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF2alpha (eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha) by PERK (protein-kinase-receptor-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase), one of the signalling pathways activated during the UPR. This leads to increased translation of the transcription factor ATF4 (activating transcription factor 4). We also show that a second signalling pathway is required for sustained transcriptional induction of the Cat-1 gene during the UPR, namely activation of IRE1 (inositol-requiring enzyme 1) leading to alternative splicing of the mRNA for the transcription factor XBP1 (X-box-binding protein 1). The resulting XBP1s (spliced XBP1) can bind to an ERSE (endoplasmic-reticulum-stress-response-element), ERSE-II-like, that was identified within the Cat-1 promoter. Surprisingly, eIF2alpha phosphorylation is required for accumulation of XBP1s. We propose that the signalling via phosphorylated eIF2alpha is required for maximum induction of Cat-1 transcription during the UPR by inducing the accumulation of both ATF4 and XBP1s.

Cellular ADMA: regulation and action

Asymmetric (N(G),N(G)) dimethylarginine (ADMA) is present in plasma and cells. It can inhibit nitric oxide synthase (NOS) that generates nitric oxide (NO) and cationic amino acid transporters (CATs) that supply intracellular NOS with its substrate, l-arginine, from the plasma. Therefore, ADMA and its transport mechanisms are strategically placed to regulate endothelial function. This could have considerable clinical impact since endothelial dysfunction has been detected at the origin of hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in human subjects and may be a harbinger of large vessel disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Indeed, plasma levels of ADMA are increased in many studies of patients at risk for, or with overt CKD or CVD. However, the levels of ADMA measured in plasma of about 0.5micromol.l(-1) may be below those required to inhibit NOS whose substrate, l-arginine, is present in concentrations many fold above the Km for NOS. However, NOS activity may be partially inhibited by cellular ADMA. Therefore, the cellular production of ADMA by protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) and protein hydrolysis, its degradation by N(G),N(G)-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) and its transmembrane transport by CAT that determines intracellular levels of ADMA may also determine the state of activation of NOS. This is the focus of the review. It is concluded that cellular levels of ADMA can be 5- to 20-fold above those in plasma and in a range that could tonically inhibit NOS. The relative importance of PRMT, DDAH and CAT for determining the intracellular NOS substrate:inhibitor ratio (l-arginine:ADMA) may vary according to the pathophysiologic circumstance. An understanding of this important balance requires knowledge of these three processes that regulate the intracellular levels of ADMA and arginine.

Positive and negative modulation of viral and cellular mRNAs by liver-specific microRNA miR-122

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that in general down-regulate the intracellular abundance and translation of target mRNAs. We noted that sequestration of liver-specific miR-122 by modified antisense oligonucleotides resulted in a dramatic loss of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in cultured human liver cells. A binding site for miR-122 was predicted to reside close to the 5' end of the viral genome, and its functionality was tested by mutational analyses of the miRNA-binding site in viral RNA, resulting in reduced intracellular viral RNA abundance. Importantly, ectopic expression of miR-122 molecules that contained compensatory mutations restored viral RNA abundance, revealing a genetic interaction between miR-122 and the viral RNA genome. Studies with replication-defective viral RNAs demonstrated that miR-122 affected mRNA abundance by positively modulating RNA replication. In contrast, interaction of miR-122 with the 3'-noncoding region (3'NCR) of the cellular mRNA encoding the cationic amino acid transporter CAT-1 resulted in the down-regulation of CAT-1 protein abundance. These findings provide evidence that a specific miRNA can regulate distinct target mRNAs in both a positive and negative fashion. The positive role of miR-122 in viral replication suggests that this miRNA could be targeted for antiviral therapy.

Relief of microRNA-mediated translational repression in human cells subjected to stress

In metazoans, most microRNAs imperfectly base-pair with the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of target mRNAs and prevent protein accumulation by either repressing translation or inducing mRNA degradation. Examples of specific mRNAs undergoing microRNA-mediated repression are numerous, but whether the repression is a reversible process remains largely unknown. Here we show that cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT-1) mRNA and reporters bearing its 3'UTR can be relieved from the microRNA miR-122-induced inhibition in human hepatocarcinoma cells subjected to different stress conditions. The derepression of CAT-1 mRNA is accompanied by its release from cytoplasmic processing bodies and its recruitment to polysomes. The derepression requires binding of HuR, an AU-rich-element binding protein, to the 3'UTR of CAT-1 mRNA. We propose that proteins interacting with the 3'UTR will generally act as modifiers altering the potential of miRNAs to repress gene expression.

l-arginine import via cationic amino acid transporter CAT1 is essential for both differentiation and proliferation of erythrocytes

In the present study, we examined the role in hematopoiesis of cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT1), which transports l-arginine, l-lysine, l-ornithine, and l-histidine. The expression level of human CAT1 (hCAT1) mRNA in mononuclear cells (MNCs) fractionated according to lineage-selective markers was examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The expression of CAT1 in glycophorin A-positive erythroid cells was 8 times higher than in nonfractionated MNC (control) cells. Characteristics of l-arginine uptake by K562 cells, an established leukemic cell line used as an erythroid model, were similar to those of CAT1 in regards to saturation kinetics, sodium independence, and substantial inhibition of l-arginine uptake by N-ethylmaleimide, which is a specific inhibitor of system y+ amino acid transporter. Removal of l-arginine from the culture medium prevented both proliferation and differentiation of K562 cells, while removal of l-lysine or l-histidine had little effect on differentiation, though proliferation was blocked. Hematopoietic stem cells obtained from human cord blood failed to develop into erythroid cells in the absence of l-arginine in the culture medium. These findings indicate that hCAT1 is involved in erythroid hematopoiesis through its role in importing l-arginine, which appears to be essential for the differentiation of red blood cells.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and chromosomal assignment of porcine cationic amino acid transporter-1

We have cloned and characterized the gene encoding the porcine cationic amino acid transporter, member 1 (CAT-1) (HGMW-approved gene symbol SLC7A1) from porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. The porcine SLC7A1 encodes 629 deduced amino acid residues showing a higher degree of sequence similarity with the human counterpart (91.1%) than with the rat (87.3%) and mouse (87.6%) counterparts. Confocal microscopic examination of porcine CAT-1-GFP-expressing HEK293 cells revealed that porcine CAT-1 localizes on the plasma membrane. Amino acid uptake studies in Xenopus oocytes injected with cRNA encoding this protein demonstrated transport properties consistent with system y(+). Radiation hybrid mapping data indicate that the porcine SLC7A1 maps to the distal end of the short arm of pig chromosome 11 (SSC11). This map location is consistent with the known conservation of genome organization between human and pig and provides further confirmation that we have characterized the porcine orthologue of the human SLC7A1.

Determinant for the inhibition of ecotropic murine leukemia virus infection by N-linked glycosylation of the rat receptor

Ecotropic murine leukemia viruses (MLVs) recognize the third extracellular loop of the receptor, cationic amino acid transporter type 1 (CAT1). The CAT1 protein contains two conserved N-linked glycosylation sites in the third extracellular loops of the mouse, rat, and hamster receptors (mCAT1, rCAT1, and hCAT1, respectively). Glycosylation of the rCAT1 and hCAT1 receptors inhibits ecotropic MLV infection of CAT1-expressing cells, but that of the mCAT1 does not afford the cells this protection. As compared to the mCAT1 protein, the rCAT1 and hCAT1 proteins possess three and six amino acid insertions, respectively, in the third extracellular loop. To determine whether these inserted amino acids are associated with ecotropic MLV infection inhibition by glycosylation, several mutants of mCAT1 and rCAT1 receptors were constructed. Of all the mutants generated in the present study, only rCAT1 mutant 1 exhibited detectable protein expression levels. The rCAT1 mutant 1-expressing human NP2 cells were more susceptible to transduction by ecotropic MLV vectors than the wild-type rCAT1-expressing cells. Tunicamycin, an N-glycosylation inhibitor, increased transduction titer in the wild-type rCAT1-expressing cells, but did not do so in the cells expressing either the mCAT1 or rCAT1 mutation 1. An amino acid substitution in the glycosylation site of the wild-type rCAT1 conferred higher infection susceptibility, but that of the rCAT1 mutant 1 did not. As with the wild-type mCAT1 and rCAT1 proteins, the rCAT1 mutants were detected on the cell surface by immunofluorescence microscopy. Tunicamycin treatment did not affect cellular distribution of the rCAT1 mutant 1, wild-type mCAT1 or rCAT1 proteins. These results indicate that the extra amino acids in the rCAT1 (as compared to the mCAT1) are associated with inhibition of ecotropic MLV infection by the rCAT1 glycosylation.

Regulation of cationic amino acid transport: the story of the CAT-1 transporter

The discovery of the function of the receptor for the ecotropic retrovirus as a membrane transporter for the essential amino acids lysine and arginine was a landmark finding in the field of molecular nutrition. This finding indicated that cationic amino acid transporters (CATs) act pathologically as viral receptors. The importance of this transporter was further supported by knockout mice that were not viable after birth. CAT-1 was the first amino acid transporter to be cloned; several other CATs were later characterized biochemically and molecularly. These transporters mediate the bidirectional transport of cationic amino acids, thus supporting important metabolic functions, such as synthesis of proteins, nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, polyamine biosynthesis, and interorgan amino acid flow. This review briefly describes the advances in the regulation of cationic amino acid transport, focusing on the molecular mechanisms that regulate the CAT-1 transporter. Of particular interest to this review is the regulation of CAT-1 by nutritional stresses, such as amino acid availability. The studies that are reviewed conclude that the CAT-1 gene is essential for cell survival during stress because it allows cells to resume growth as soon as amino acids become available.

Cell signalling-mediating insulin increase of mRNA expression for cationic amino acid transporters-1 and -2 and membrane hyperpolarization in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Insulin induces vasodilatation in human subjects and increases L-arginine transport and NO synthesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Cell signalling events associated with insulin effects on activity and mRNA expression of the human cationic amino acid transporters 1 (hCAT-1) and 2B (hCAT-2B) are unknown. L-arginine transport and eNOS activity were determined in HUVEC exposed to insulin. mRNA levels for hCAT-1, hCAT-2B and eNOS were quantitated by real time RT-PCR and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) protein was identified by Western blot analysis. Intracellular Ca2+, L-arginine and L-citrulline levels, L-[3H]citrulline formation from L-[(3)H]arginine, cGMP formation, nitrite level, ATP release and membrane potential were determined. Insulin increased L-arginine transport and the mRNA levels for hCAT-1 and hCAT-2B and eNOS expression and activity. Insulin also induced membrane hyperpolarization and increased intracellular Ca2+, L-[3H]citrulline, cGMP and nitrite formation. Insulin-mediated stimulation of the L-arginine/NO pathway is thus associated with increased hCAT-1 and hCAT-2B mRNA, and eNOS expression, via mechanisms involving membrane hyperpolarization, mitogen-activated protein kinases p42 and p44, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, NO and protein kinase C. We have characterized a cell signalling pathway by which hyperinsulinaemia could lead to vasodilatation in human subjects, and which could have implications in patients in whom plasma insulin levels are altered, such as in diabetes mellitus.

Regulation of amino acid and glucose transporters in endothelial and smooth muscle cells

While transport processes for amino acids and glucose have long been known to be expressed in the luminal and abluminal membranes of the endothelium comprising the blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers, it is only within the last decades that endothelial and smooth muscle cells derived from peripheral vascular beds have been recognized to rapidly transport and metabolize these nutrients. This review focuses principally on the mechanisms regulating amino acid and glucose transporters in vascular endothelial cells, although we also summarize recent advances in the understanding of the mechanisms controlling membrane transport activity and expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. We compare the specificity, ionic dependence, and kinetic properties of amino acid and glucose transport systems identified in endothelial cells derived from cerebral, retinal, and peripheral vascular beds and review the regulation of transport by vasoactive agonists, nitric oxide (NO), substrate deprivation, hypoxia, hyperglycemia, diabetes, insulin, steroid hormones, and development. In view of the importance of NO as a modulator of vascular tone under basal conditions and in disease and chronic inflammation, we critically review the evidence that transport of L-arginine and glucose in endothelial and smooth muscle cells is modulated by bacterial endotoxin, proinflammatory cytokines, and atherogenic lipids. The recent colocalization of the cationic amino acid transporter CAT-1 (system y(+)), nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and caveolin-1 in endothelial plasmalemmal caveolae provides a novel mechanism for the regulation of NO production by L-arginine delivery and circulating hormones such insulin and 17beta-estradiol.

A glycosylation-defective variant of the ecotropic murine retrovirus receptor is expressed in rat XC cells

The XC rat sarcoma cell line undergoes extensive cell-to-cell fusion (syncytium formation) after infection with ecotropic murine leukemia viruses (MLVs) and is frequently used to titrate these viruses. This cell line is unique in its response to the ecotropic MLV envelope (Env) protein in that it undergoes syncytium formation with cells expressing Env protein containing R peptide (R+ Env), which is known to suppress the fusogenic potential of the Env protein in other susceptible cells. To assess whether this property of the XC cell line arises from differences in its ecotropic MLV receptor, CAT1, we isolated CAT1 cDNA clones from XC cells. A variant CAT1 (xcCAT1) was found together with the wild-type rat CAT1 (rCAT1). xcCAT1 cDNA encodes a protein with a single amino acid change that destroys a conserved N-linked glycosylation site proximal to the Env-binding motif. We found that xcCAT1 expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells undergoes less glycosylation than rCAT1 and that the expression of xcCAT1 rendered the CHO cells more susceptible to infection with Moloney MLV. Thus, N-glycosylation negatively regulates the receptor activity of rCAT1. This is supported by the observation that treatment of rat F10 cells with the N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin enhanced their susceptibility to Mo-MLV. However, xcCAT1-expressing CHO cells did not fuse with 293T cells expressing R+ Env, indicating that xcCAT1 expression is not sufficient to induce the XC cell-specific characteristic of forming syncytia in response to R+ Env.

Regulation of internal ribosome entry site-mediated translation by eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha phosphorylation and translation of a small upstream open reading frame

Adaptation to amino acid deficiency is critical for cell survival. In yeast, this adaptation involves phosphorylation of the translation eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 2alpha by the kinase GCN2. This leads to the increased translation of the transcription factor GCN4, which in turn increases transcription of amino acid biosynthetic genes, at a time when expression of most genes decreases. Here it is shown that translation of the arginine/lysine transporter cat-1 mRNA increases during amino acid starvation of mammalian cells. This increase requires both GCN2 phosphorylation of eIF2alpha and the translation of a 48-amino acid upstream open reading frame (uORF) present within the 5'-leader of the transporter mRNA. When this 5'-leader was placed in a bicistronic mRNA expression vector, it functioned as an internal ribosomal entry sequence and its regulated activity was dependent on uORF translation. Amino acid starvation also induced translation of monocistronic mRNAs containing the cat-1 5'-leader, in a manner dependent on eIF2alpha phosphorylation and translation of the 48-amino acid uORF. This is the first example of mammalian regulation of internal ribosomal entry sequence-mediated translation by eIF2alpha phosphorylation during amino acid starvation, suggesting that the mechanism of induced Cat-1 protein synthesis is part of the adaptive response of cells to amino acid limitation.

Gender-related differences in susceptibility, early virus dissemination and immunosuppression in mice infected with Friend murine leukaemia virus variant FIS-2

An emerging amount of data indicates a correlation between gender-related factors and regulation of virus infection and supports what is known in clinical circles, that these topics are of great importance in many infectious diseases. In the present study we found that young adult NMRI male mice are more susceptible to infection by a variant of Friend murine leukaemia virus, FIS-2, than are female mice. We observed that the level of virus in serum, bone marrow and spleen was initially higher in male mice. Male mice were also more susceptible to FIS-2-induced immunosuppression. These results indicate a more efficient virus replication and dissemination in male mice. Studies with recombinant viruses between FIS-2 and the prototype Friend murine leukaemia virus revealed that FIS-2 LTR is one major factor contributing to the observed gender differences. A possible sex hormone influence on FIS-2 transcription due to the presence of a glucocorticoid response element in FIS-2 LTR is discussed.

Distribution of ecotropic retrovirus receptor protein in rat brains detected by immunohistochemistry

Friend murine leukaemia virus (FrMLV) FrC6 clone A8 causes spongiform degeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) of newborn but not 3-week-old rats. To assess whether expression of the ecotropic MLV receptor (CAT-1) in the CNS correlates with the pathogenicity of the A8 virus, we generated an anti-CAT-1 antibody raised against a synthetic peptide that corresponds to the carboxyl-terminal amino acid sequence of CAT-1. In the CNS of newborn and 3 to 4-week-old rats, a strong immunoreactivity against the antibody was detected in most of the endothelial cells. However, almost no expression of CAT-1 was detected in the CNS of 21-week-old rats. In newborn rats, many parenchymal cells in the brain as well as the vascular wall expressed CAT-1 antigen. These findings suggest that retrovirus receptor-bearing glial cells contribute to the neuropathogenesis of MLV, including clone A8, which induces spongiosis in rats only when inoculated into newborns.

Modulation of adenosine transport by insulin in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells from normal or gestational diabetic pregnancies

1. Adenosine transport was measured in human cultured umbilical artery smooth muscle cells, isolated from non-diabetic or gestational diabetic pregnancies, under basal conditions and after pretreatment in vitro with insulin. 2. Adenosine transport in non-diabetic smooth muscle cells was significantly increased by insulin (half-maximal stimulation at 0.33 +/- 0.02 nM, 8 h) and characterized by a higher maximal rate (V(max)) for nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR)-sensitive (es) saturable nucleoside transport (17 +/- 5 vs. 52 +/- 12 pmol (microg protein)(-1) min(-1), control vs. insulin, respectively) and maximal binding sites (B(max)) for [(3)H]NBMPR (0.66 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.1 fmol (microg protein)(-1), control vs. insulin, respectively), with no significant changes in Michaelis-Menten (K(m)) and dissociation (K(d)) constants. 3. In contrast, in smooth muscle cells from diabetic pregnancies, where the values of V(max) for adenosine transport (59 +/- 4 pmol (microg protein)(-1) min(-1)) and B(max) for [(3)H]NBMPR binding (1.62 +/- 0.16 fmol (microg protein)(-1)) were significantly elevated by comparison with non-diabetic cells, insulin treatment (1 nM, 8 h) reduced the V(max) for adenosine transport and B(max) for [(3)H]NBMPR binding to levels detected in non-diabetic cells. 4. In non-diabetic cells, the stimulatory effect of insulin on adenosine transport was mimicked by dibutyryl cGMP (100 nM) and reduced by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (10 nM wortmannin), nitric oxide synthase (100 microM N (G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, L-NAME) or protein synthesis (1 microM cycloheximide), whereas inhibition of adenylyl cyclase (100 microM SQ-22536) had no effect. 5. Wortmannin or SQ-22536, but not L-NAME or cycloheximide, attenuated the inhibitory action of insulin on the diabetes-induced stimulation of adenosine transport. 6. Protein levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) were similar in non-diabetic and diabetic cells, but were increased by insulin (1 nM, 8 h) only in non-diabetic smooth muscle cells. 7. Our results suggest that adenosine transport via the es nucleoside transporter is modulated differentially by insulin in either cell type. Insulin increased adenosine transport in non-diabetic cells via NO and cGMP, but inhibited the diabetes-elevated adenosine transport via activation of adenylyl cyclase, suggesting that the biological actions of adenosine may be altered under conditions of sustained hyperglycaemia in uncontrolled diabetes.

The transport activity of the human cationic amino acid transporter hCAT-1 is downregulated by activation of protein kinase C

1. The human cationic amino acid transporter hCAT-1 contains several consensus sequences for phosphorylation by protein kinase C (PKC). This study investigates the effect of PKC activation on hCAT-1-mediated transport. 2. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, hCAT-1-mediated L-arginine transport was reduced to 44+/-3% after a 30 min treatment of the oocytes with 100 nM phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). 4 alpha-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (4 alpha-PDD, 100 nM) had no effect. 3. In EA.hy926 endothelial cells, maximal inhibition of hCAT-1-mediated L-arginine transport (to 3 -- 11% of control) was observed after treatment of the cells with 100 nM PMA for 4 h. A 20 -- 30 h exposure of the cells to 100 nM PMA led to the recovery of the L-arginine uptake rate that was now resistant to a second application of PMA. Phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate had similar effects as PMA, whereas 4 alpha-PDD had no effect. One microM bisindolylmaleimide I reduced the PMA effect significantly. 4. Interestingly, a 4 h treatment with 100 nM PMA increased the expression of hCAT-1 mRNA 3 -- 5 fold. hCAT-1 protein levels were unchanged for up to 4 h after PMA treatment and then increased slightly between 8 -- 28 h. 5. It is concluded that PMA downregulates the intrinsic activity of hCAT-1 by a pathway involving protein kinase C.

Tumor-influenced amino acid transport activities in zonal-enriched hepatocyte populations

Cancer influences hepatic amino acid metabolism in the host. To further investigate this relationship, the effects of an implanted fibrosarcoma on specific amino acid transport activities were measured in periportal (PP)- and perivenous (PV)-enriched rat hepatocyte populations. Na(+)-dependent glutamate transport rates were eightfold higher in PV than in PP preparations but were relatively unaffected during tumor growth. System N-mediated glutamine uptake was 75% higher in PV than in PP preparations and was stimulated up to twofold in both regions by tumor burdens of 9 +/- 4% of carcass weight compared with hepatocytes from pair-fed control animals. Excessive tumor burdens (26 +/- 7%) resulted in hypophagia, loss of PV-enriched system N activities, and reduced transporter stimulation. Conversely, saturable arginine uptake was enhanced fourfold in PP preparations and was induced twofold only after excessive tumor burden. These data suggest that hepatic amino acid transporters are differentially influenced by cancer in a spatial and temporal manner, and they represent the first report of reciprocal zonal enrichment of system N and saturable arginine uptake in the mammalian liver.

Enhancement of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer to rat liver in vivo by infusion of hepatocyte growth factor and triiodothyronine

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Gene transfer using recombinant Moloney murine leukemia viruses (rMoMuLV) requires mitosis of the target cell. Previously, we and others have used partial hepatectomy for induction of hepatocellular proliferation for gene transfer to the liver in vivo by exsanguineous perfusion with rMo-MuLV. We hypothesized that induction of hepatocellular proliferation by combined administration of two hepatocellular mitogens, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and triiodothyronine (T3), should permit rMo-MuLV-mediated gene transfer into liver without invasive approaches.

METHODS

HGF (1 mg/kg) was perfused continuously into the portal vein of Wistar male rats and T3 (2 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously. Twenty-four hours after injecting HGF and T3, the state of proliferation of hepatocytes was estimated from the incorporation of 5'-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine (BrdU). The amphotropic retroviral receptor (Ram-1) expression of liver was evaluated at different time points after injecting HGF and T3 by means of Northern blotting using Ram-1 cDNA probe. In order to evaluate the role of hormone treatment on gene transfer, the liver was perfused exsanguineously with rMoMuLV 24 h after injection with hormones.

RESULTS

Rats treated with a combination of HGF and T3 expressed BrdU and beta-galactosidase in 8.3% and 0.7% of hepatocytes, respectively. On the other hand, there was near absence of gene transfer in untreated rats perfused with rMoMuLV Twenty-four hours after the initial manipulation, abundant expression of Ram-1 mRNA was observed in rat hepatocytes treated with HGF plus T3.

CONCLUSIONS

Stimulation of hepatocellular mitosis and upregulation of Ram-1 expression by HGF and T3 augment retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into hepatocytes.

Post-transcriptional regulation of the arginine transporter Cat-1 by amino acid availability

The regulation of the high affinity cationic amino acid transporter (Cat-1) by amino acid availability has been studied. In C6 glioma and NRK kidney cells, cat-1 mRNA levels increased 3.8-18-fold following 2 h of amino acid starvation. The transcription rate of the cat-1 gene remained unchanged during amino acid starvation, suggesting a post-transcriptional mechanism of regulation. This mechanism was investigated by expressing a cat-1 mRNA from a tetracycline-regulated promoter. The cat-1 mRNA contained 1.9 kilobase pairs (kb) of coding sequence, 4.5 kb of 3'-untranslated region, and 80 base pairs of 5'-untranslated region. The full-length (7.9 kb) mRNA increased 5-fold in amino acid-depleted cells. However, a 3.4-kb species that results from the usage of an alternative polyadenylation site was not induced, suggesting that the cat-1 mRNA was stabilized by cis-acting RNA sequences within the 3'-UTR. Transcription and protein synthesis were required for the increase in full-length cat-1 mRNA level. Because omission of amino acids from the cell culture medium leads to a substantial decrease in protein synthesis, the translation of the increased cat-1 mRNA was assessed in amino acid-depleted cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated that cat-1 mRNA and protein levels changed in parallel. The increase in protein level was significantly lower than the increase in mRNA level, supporting the conclusion that cat-1 mRNA is inefficiently translated when the supply of amino acids is limited, relative to amino acid-fed cells. Finally, y(+)-mediated transport of arginine in amino acid-fed and -starved cells paralleled Cat-1 protein levels. We conclude that the cat-1 gene is subject to adaptive regulation by amino acid availability. Amino acid depletion initiates molecular events that lead to increased cat-1 mRNA stability. This causes an increase in Cat-1 protein, and y(+) transport once amino acids become available.

Contribution of virus-receptor interaction to distinct viral proliferation of neuropathogenic and nonneuropathogenic murine leukemia viruses in rat glial cells

The efficiency of receptor-mediated entry of pseudotyped virus carrying the surface protein (SU) of clone A8, a neuropathogenic variant of Friend murine leukemia virus (FrMLV), to rat glial cell line F10 was 1 order of magnitude greater than that of pseudotyped virus carrying SU of nonneuropathogenic FrMLV clone 57. Introduction of the gene coding for ecotropic MLV receptor on F10 cells (F10-ecoR) into SIRC cells, which are naturally resistant to FrMLV infection, also revealed the difference in receptor recognition between the A8 and the 57 viruses. Our results show that the difference in receptor utilization between A8-SU and 57-SU only partially explains the 3-order-of-magnitude difference in proliferation between A8 and 57 viruses in F10 cells.

Control of expression of the gene for the arginine transporter Cat-1 in rat liver cells by glucocorticoids and insulin

Hepatic arginine and lysine uptake is partly regulated by changes in the transport activity of a group of cell surface proteins exhibiting properties of the transport system y+. The Cat-1 gene encodes a sodium-independent high-affinity cationic amino acid transporter of the y+ system which is nearly undetectable in the quiescent liver. In this paper we investigate the regulation of expression of Cat-1 in the quiescent rat liver by glucocorticoids and insulin, two hormones which play a critical role in amino acid dependent pathways of hepatic metabolism. Injection of insulin and glucocorticoids resulted in a rapid (15-30 min, 4-5 fold) increase in transcription which returned to basal levels within 4 hours. In contrast to the rapid single peak of transcriptional induction of the Cat-1 gene, the accumulation of the Cat-1 mRNAs occurred transiently with two peaks, the first at 30 minutes and the second at 2-4 hours following hormone treatment. These data indicate that expression of the Cat-1 gene in the quiescent liver can be transiently induced by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. In FTO2B rat hepatoma cells, expression of the gene is constitutive and accumulation of Cat-1 mRNAs in response to dexamethasone and insulin was dependent on transcription and protein synthesis. Furthermore, the accumulation of the basal level of the Cat-1 mRNAs was reduced by 70%, upon treatment of cells with inhibitors of protein synthesis for 6 h, when the transcription rate of the gene did not decrease significantly. We conclude the following: (i) under normal physiologic conditions, expression of the Cat-1 gene in the quiescent liver is negligible, probably to prevent unnecessary transport and metabolism of arginine by the hepatic arginase in the hepatocytes. (ii) in the cases when hepatic cationic amino acid transport is needed, such as following feeding, cellular growth and illness, glucocorticoids and insulin induce expression of the Cat-1 gene in liver cells through induction of transcription and stabilization of the mRNA. (iii) constitutive Cat-1 mRNA accumulation in rat hepatoma cells depends on protein synthesis through a labile regulated factor. Overall, constitutive expression of Cat-1 is associated with hepatic cellular growth and transformation.

Influence of cell polarity on retrovirus-mediated gene transfer to differentiated human airway epithelia

Gene transfer with recombinant murine leukemia viruses (MuLV) provides the potential to permanently correct inherited lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis (CF). Several problems prevent the application of MuLV-based recombinant retroviruses to lung gene therapy: (i) the lack of cell proliferation in mature pulmonary epithelia, (ii) inefficient gene transfer with a vector applied to the apical surface, and (iii) low titers of many retroviral preparations. We found that keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) stimulated proliferation of differentiated human tracheal and bronchial epithelia. Approximately 50% of epithelia divided in response to KGF as assessed by bromodeoxyuridine histochemistry. In airway epithelia stimulated to divide with KGF, high-titer ampho- and xenotropic enveloped vectors preferentially infected cells from the basal side. However, treatment with hypotonic shock or EGTA transiently increased transepithelial permeability, enhancing gene transfer with the vector applied to the mucosal surfaces of KGF-stimulated epithelia. Up to 35% of cells expressed the transgene after gene transfer. By using this approach, cells throughout the epithelial sheet, including basal cells, were targeted. Moreover, the Cl- transport defect in differentiated CF airway epithelia was corrected. These findings suggest that barriers to apical infection with MuLV can be overcome.

In vitro modulation of L-arginine transport in trophoblast cells by glucose

BACKGROUND

The uptake of the semi-essential amino acid, L-arginine, into trophoblast cells was measured with the aim of determining the effect of different glucose concentrations on L-arginine influx kinetics.

METHODS

This study used a novel superfused microcarrier culture system of BeWo cells (an established choriocarcinoma cell line with many characteristics of normal human trophoblast) and a rapid, paired-tracer dilution technique to measure unidirectional influx into the cells.

RESULTS

At 10 mmol L-1 D-glucose, L-arginine unidirectional influx across the microvillous border of the cells was saturable with a Km of 1.14 +/- 0.14 mmol L-1 and a Vmax of 121. 36 +/- 5.89 nmol mg-1 protein min-1. When cells were preincubated for 24 h in the presence of 30 mmol L-1 D-glucose, there was a significant increase in the Vmax for L-arginine of nearly 30%. Similarly, preincubation in the presence of 1 mmol L-1 D-glucose and 12.5 mIU mL-1 human insulin reduced the Km for L-arginine influx by over 55%.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that the modulation of placental transport of L-arginine by glucose and insulin could contribute to the fetal macrosomia observed in diabetic mothers.

Stress differentially induces cationic amino acid transporter gene expression

The amino acid l-arginine plays a central role in several adaptive metabolic pathways and we postulate that regulated L-arginine transport contributes to important physiological responses. The majority of L-arginine flux is mediated by transport system y+ that is encoded by at least three genes, Cat1, Cat2 and Cat3. Cat2 encodes two distinct protein isoforms (CAT2/CAT2a) that differ by 10-fold in their apparent substrate affinity. Cat2 transcription is controlled by four widely spaced promoters. The expression of CAT2/2a transcripts was tested in skeletal muscle and macrophages following specific stresses or activators. Unexpectedly, CAT2a transcripts accumulated in skeletal muscle in response to surgical trauma (hepatectomy and splenectomy) as well as food deprivation, although neither high affinity CAT2 nor CAT1 were detectably altered. Activated macrophages decreased CAT1 levels, but accumulated CAT2 and iNOS mRNA and protein with parallel kinetics suggesting that CAT2 mediated L-arginine transport might regulate the L-arginine:nitric oxide pathway. In macrophages, liver and skeletal muscle, the most distal CAT2 promoter was predominant. No change in promoter usage was apparent under any stress conditions tested nor was alternate splicing of the CAT2 transcript dictated by promoter usage. The differential regulation of the Cat genes indicates their encoded transporter proteins meet different requirements for cationic amino acids in the intact animal.

Thrombin stimulates vascular smooth muscle cell polyamine synthesis by inducing cationic amino acid transporter and ornithine decarboxylase gene expression

Thrombin, a serine protease, is a potent mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), but its mechanism of action is not known. Since L-ornithine is metabolized to growth-stimulatory polyamines, we examined whether thrombin regulates the transcellular transport and metabolism of L-ornithine by vascular SMCs. Treatment of SMCs with thrombin initially (0 to 2 hours) decreased L-ornithine uptake, whereas longer exposures (6 to 24 hours) progressively increased transport. Kinetic studies indicated that thrombin-induced inhibition was associated with a decrease in affinity for L-ornithine, whereas stimulation was mediated by an increase in transport capacity. Thrombin induced the expression of both cationic amino acid transporter (CAT)-1 and CAT-2 mRNA. Furthermore, thrombin stimulated L-ornithine metabolism by inducing ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) mRNA expression and activity. The stimulatory effect of thrombin on both L-ornithine transport and ODC activity was reversed by hirudin, a thrombin inhibitor, and was mimicked by a 14-amino acid thrombin receptor-activating peptide. Thrombin also markedly increased the capacity of SMCs to generate putrescine, a polyamine, from extracellular L-ornithine. The thrombin-mediated increase in putrescine production was reversed by N(G)-methyl-L-arginine, a competitive inhibitor of cationic amino acid transport, or by alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an ODC inhibitor. DFMO also inhibited thrombin-induced SMC proliferation. These results demonstrate that thrombin stimulates polyamine synthesis by inducing CAT and ODC gene expression and that thrombin-stimulated SMC proliferation is dependent on polyamine formation. The ability of thrombin to upregulate L-ornithine transport and direct its metabolism to growth-stimulatory polyamines may contribute to postangioplasty restenosis and atherosclerotic lesion formation.

Simultaneous up-regulation of viral receptor expression and DNA synthesis is required for increasing efficiency of retroviral hepatic gene transfer

To understand the relative contribution of viral receptor expression and cell proliferation in retroviral gene transfer, we created human hepatocyte-derived HuH-7.MCAT-1 cell lines. These cells constitutively express the murine ecotropic retroviral receptor MCAT-1 without changes in morphology or proliferation states. The MCAT-1 receptor is also a cationic amino acid transporter, and the HuH-7.MCAT-1.7 cells showed increased Vmax of uptake and steady-state accumulation of the cationic amino acids L-arginine and L-lysine. In HuH-7.MCAT-1 cells, L-arginine uptake was significantly up-regulated by norepinephrine and dexamethasone, and hepatocyte growth factor also increased L-arginine uptake along with cellular DNA synthesis. Gene transfer was also markedly increased in HuH-7. MCAT-1.7 cells incubated with an ecotropic LacZ retrovirus, and this further increased with hormones and hepatocyte growth factor. To define whether viral receptor up-regulation by itself increased gene transfer, cell cycling was inhibited by a recombinant adenovirus expressing the Mad transcription factor (AdMad), which is a dominant-negative c-Myc regulator. This restricted cells in G0/G1, without attenuating MCAT-1 activity, as shown by flow cytometry and L-arginine uptake analysis, respectively. When asynchronously cycling HuH-7.MCAT-1.7 cells were first infected with the AdMad virus and then exposed to the ecotropic LacZ virus, gene transfer was virtually abolished. The data indicate that while up-regulation of viral receptors can greatly enhance retrovirally mediated gene transfer, DNA synthesis remains an absolute requirement for hepatic gene therapy with this approach.

Infection of WHV/c-myc transgenic mice with Moloney murine leukaemia virus and proviral insertion near the syndecan-4 gene in an early liver tumour

The capacity of Moloney murine leukaemia virus (MoMLV) to infect neonatal hepatocytes and to accelerate liver carcinogenesis was examined in a transgenic mouse model. WHV/c-myc mice which are highly susceptible to the development of liver tumours were infected with MoMLV shortly after birth, when expression of the murine ecotropic retroviral receptor gene was still detectable in the neonatal liver. All MoMLV-infected transgenic mice and non-transgenic littermates succumbed to T-cell lymphomas within 2-9 months; during this period of time, three infected transgenic animals developed primary hepatocellular carcinomas. Remarkably, one of these liver tumours arose significantly faster than tumours from uninfected WHV/c-myc controls, and it harboured a unique MoMLV provirus. The provirus integration site was located 5.5 kb upstream of the first exon of the syndecan-4 gene, which encodes a heparan sulphate proteoglycan implicated in growth factor activation and protein kinase C distribution in focal adhesions. Our data provide evidence for clonal MoMLV provirus integration in a hepatocellular carcinoma, and indicate that parenchymal liver cells may be susceptible to MoMLV infection following neonatal inoculation.

Transporters for cationic amino acids in animal cells: discovery, structure, and function

The structure and function of the four cationic amino acid transporters identified in animal cells are discussed. The systems differ in specificity, cation dependence, and physiological role. One of them, system y+, is selective for cationic amino acids, whereas the others (B[0,+], b[0,+], and y+ L) also accept neutral amino acids. In recent years, cDNA clones related to these activities have been isolated. Thus two families of proteins have been identified: 1) CAT or cationic amino acid transporters and 2) BAT or broad-scope transport proteins. In the CAT family, three genes encode for four different isoforms [CAT-1, CAT-2A, CAT-2(B) and CAT-3]; these are approximately 70-kDa proteins with multiple transmembrane segments (12-14), and despite their structural similarity, they differ in tissue distribution, kinetics, and regulatory properties. System y+ is the expression of the activity of CAT transporters. The BAT family includes two isoforms (rBAT and 4F2hc); these are 59- to 78-kDa proteins with one to four membrane-spanning segments, and it has been proposed that these proteins act as transport regulators. The expression of rBAT and 4F2hc induces system b[0,+] and system y+ L activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes, respectively. The roles of these transporters in nutrition, endocrinology, nitric oxide biology, and immunology, as well as in the genetic diseases cystinuria and lysinuric protein intolerance, are reviewed. Experimental strategies, which can be used in the kinetic characterization of coexpressed transporters, are also discussed.

Elevated D-glucose induces insulin insensitivity in human umbilical endothelial cells isolated from gestational diabetic pregnancies

1. The effects of human insulin and elevated D-glucose on L-arginine transport and synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2) have been investigated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells isolated from gestational diabetic pregnancies. 2. The increase in the Vmax for L-arginine transport (9.0 +/- 1.1) pmol (micrograms protein)-1 min-1) in diabetic endothelial cells cultured in 5 mM D-glucose was unaffected following 24 h exposure to 25 mM D-glucose. 3. Gestational diabetes-induced increases in basal intracellular cGMP and L-citrulline levels (inhibitable by L-NAME) and [Ca2+], were unaffected by elevated D-glucose. In contrast, PGI2 release was inhibited in diabetic cells exposed to either 5 or 25 mM D-glucose. 4. Elevated D-glucose attenuated histamine (10 microM, 5 min)-stimulated accumulation of cGMP and L-citrulline in endothelial cells isolated from gestational diabetic pregnancies. 5. The membrane hyperpolarization (-79 +/- 0.9 mV) sustained in diabetic endothelial cells in culture was insensitive to elevated D-glucose. 6. Elevated D-glucose abolished the stimulatory effect of human insulin (1 nM, 8 h) on L-[3H]leucine incorporation in diabetic endothelial cells cultured in 5 mM D-glucose. 7. Human insulin reduced the elevated rates of L-arginine transport and cGMP accumulation in diabetic cells cultured in 5 mM D-glucose but failed to reduce increased rates of transport or NO production in cells exposed to 25 mM D-glucose or cycloheximide. 8. Our findings demonstrate that hyperglycaemia impairs the actions of human insulin on umbilical vein endothelial cells isolated from gestational diabetic pregnancies. Changes in insulin sensitivity and/or its signalling cascade may be affected by hyperglycaemia associated with gestational diabetes, resulting in insulin resistance in endothelial cells derived from the fetal vasculature.

A caveolar complex between the cationic amino acid transporter 1 and endothelial nitric-oxide synthase may explain the "arginine paradox"

Immunohistochemistry of porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) with antibodies specific for caveolin, endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS), and the arginine transporter (CAT1) demonstrates that all of these proteins co-localize in plasma membrane caveolae. When incubated with solubilized PAEC plasma membrane proteins, eNOS-specific antibody immunoprecipitates CAT1-mediated arginine transport. These results document the existence of a caveolar complex between CAT1 and eNOS in PAEC that provides a mechanism for the directed delivery of substrate arginine to eNOS. Direct transfer of extracellular arginine to membrane-bound eNOS accounts for the "arginine paradox" and explains why caveolar localization of eNOS is required for optimal nitric oxide production by endothelial cells.

A new member of the cationic amino acid transporter family is preferentially expressed in adult mouse brain

We have isolated and characterized a novel member (CAT3) of the cationic amino acid transporter (CAT) family. In oocyte injection assays, CAT3 cRNA exhibited a saturable, sodium ion-independent transport activity with high affinity for L-arginine and L-lysine (Km = 40-60 and 115-165 microM, respectively). Transport of L-arginine was effectively competed only by cationic amino acids in L-form: arginine, lysine, ornithine, and 2,4-diamino-n-butyric acid but not by 2,3-diaminopropionic acid. The presence of L-arginine in the incubation medium stimulated the efflux rate of L-arginine, indicating that CAT3 is subject to trans-stimulation. All these results are consistent with the idea that CAT3, along with CAT1 and CAT2, constitutes the transport activity originally assigned to system y+. Like CAT2, but unlike CAT1, the expression of CAT3 is regulated in a highly tissue-specific manner; when various adult tissues were examined, significant levels of CAT3 transcript were detectable only in brain. In situ hybridization on brain sections revealed that CAT3 transcripts were localized predominantly along the midbrain-thalamus-hypothalamus axis, whereas neither CAT1 nor CAT2 transcripts demonstrated a similar localization. In contrast to its highly localized expression during the primitive streak stage and in the adult stage, CAT3 expression was detected more widely in 13.5 day post-coitum mouse embryos.

Requirements for different components of the host cell cytoskeleton distinguish ecotropic murine leukemia virus entry via endocytosis from entry via surface fusion

Murine ecotropic leukemia viruses use a common receptor for entry into host cells; however, the site of virus fusion appears to differ with the host cell. Entry in mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts is by endocytosis, whereas entry in rat XC sarcoma cells is by surface fusion. We report here the identification of a step common to both entry pathways, as well as of a step unique to the endocytic pathway. Recent demonstration of the clustering of the virus receptor on rat cells suggested a possible interaction of the receptor with the cellular cytoskeleton (M. H. Woodard, W. A. Dunn, R. O. Laine, M. Malandro, R. McMahon, O. Simell, E. R. Block, and M. S. Kilberg, Am. J. Physiol. 266:E817-E824, 1994). We tested the hypothesis that such an interaction might influence receptor function. We found that entry into NIH 3T3 and XC cells was greatly diminished by the disruption of the actin network before but not shortly after virus internalization, suggesting the actin network plays a critical role in an early step common to both entry pathways. Disruption of microtubules before and shortly after virus internalization markedly reduced entry in NIH 3T3 cells, while entry into XC cells remained efficient. These data suggest that intact microtubules are required in a postpenetration step unique to efficient virus entry via endocytosis. The physiological function of the receptor was not affected by disruption of either the actin network or the microtubules, as the uptake of cationic amino acids in NIH 3T3 and XC cells was comparable to that in control cells even when the cytoskeleton remained disrupted for as long as 3 h.

Adaptive regulation of the cationic amino acid transporter-1 (Cat-1) in Fao cells

The regulation of the high affinity cationic amino acid transporter Cat-1 in Fao rat hepatoma cells by amino acid availability has been studied. Cat-1 mRNA level increased (3-fold) in 4 h in response to amino acid starvation and remained high for at least 24 h. This induction was independent of the presence of serum in the media and transcription and protein synthesis were required for induction to occur. When Fao cells were shifted from amino acid-depleted media to amino acid-fed media, the levels of the induced cat-1 mRNA returned to the basal level. In amino acid-fed cells, accumulation of cat-1 mRNA was dependent on protein synthesis, indicating that a labile protein is required to sustain cat-1 mRNA level. No change in the transcription rate of the cat-1 gene during amino acid starvation was observed, indicating that cat-1 is regulated at a post-transcriptional step. System y+ mediated transport of arginine was reduced by 50% in 1 h and by 70% in 24 h after amino acid starvation. However, when 24-h amino acid-starved Fao cells were preloaded with 2 mM lysine or arginine for 1 h prior to the transport assays, arginine uptake was trans-stimulated by 5-fold. This stimulation was specific for cationic amino acids, since alanine, proline, or leucine had no effect. These data lead to the hypothesis that amino acid starvation results in an increased cat-1 mRNA level to support synthesis of additional Cat-1 protein. The following lines of evidence support the hypothesis: (i) the use of inhibitors of protein synthesis in starved cells inhibits the trans-zero transport of arginine; (ii) cells starved for 1-24 h exhibited an increase of trans-stimulated arginine transport activity for the first 6 h and had no loss of activity at 24 h, suggesting that constant replenishment of the transporter protein occurs; (iii) immunofluorescent staining of 24-h fed and starved cells for cat-1 showed similar cell surface distribution; (iv) new protein synthesis is not required for trans-stimulation of arginine transport upon refeeding of 24-h starved cells. We conclude that the increased level of cat-1 mRNA in response to amino acid starvation support the synthesis of Cat-1 protein during starvation and increased amino acid transport upon substrate presentation. Therefore, the cat-1 mRNA content is regulated by a derepression/repression mechanism in response to amino acid availability. We propose that the amino acid-signal transduction pathway consists of a series of steps which include the post-transcriptional regulation of amino acid transporter genes.

Adeno-associated virus type 2-mediated transfer of ecotropic retrovirus receptor cDNA allows ecotropic retroviral transduction of established and primary human cells

The cellular receptors that mediate binding and internalization of retroviruses have recently been identified. The concentration and accessibility of these receptors are critical determinants in accomplishing successful gene transfer with retrovirus-based vectors. Murine retroviruses containing ecotropic glycoproteins do not infect human cells since human cells do not express the receptor that binds the ecotropic glycoproteins. To enable human cells to become permissive for ecotropic retrovirus-mediated gene transfer, we have developed a recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV) vector containing ecotropic retroviral receptor (ecoR) cDNA under the control of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter (vRSVp-ecoR). Established human cell lines, such as HeLa and KB, known to be nonpermissive for murine ecotropic retroviruses, became permissive for infection by a retroviral vector containing a bacterial gene for resistance to neomycin (RV-Neo(r)), with a transduction efficiency of up to 47%, following transduction with vRSVp-ecoR, as determined by the development of colonies that were resistant to the drug G418, a neomycin analog. No G418-resistant colonies were present in cultures infected with either vRSVp-ecoR or RV-Neo(r) alone. Southern and Northern blot analyses revealed stable integration and long-term expression, respectively, of the transduced murine ecoR gene in clonal isolates of HeLa and KB cells. Similarly, ecotropic retrovirus-mediated Neo(r) transduction of primary human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells from normal bone marrow was also documented, but only following infection with vRSVp-ecoR. The retroviral transduction efficiency was approximately 7% without prestimulation and approximately 14% with prestimulation of CD34+ cells with cytokines, as determined by hematopoietic clonogenic assays. No G418-resistant progenitor cell colonies were present in cultures infected with either vRSVp-ecoR or RV-Neo(r) alone. These results suggest that sequential transduction of primary human cells with two different viral vectors may overcome limitations encountered with a single vector. Thus, the combined use of AAV- and retrovirus-based vectors may have important clinical implications for ex vivo and in vivo human gene therapy.

Anemia and perinatal death result from loss of the murine ecotropic retrovirus receptor mCAT-1

The mCAT-1 gene encodes a basic amino acid transporter that also acts as the receptor for murine ecotropic leukemia viruses. Targeted mutagenesis in embryonic stem cells has been used to introduce a germ-line null mutation into this gene. This mutation removes a domain critical for virus binding and inactivates amino acid transport activity. Homozygous mutant pups generated from these cells were approximately 25% smaller than normal littermates, very anemic, and died on the day of birth. Peripheral blood from homozygotes contained 50% fewer red blood cells, reduced hemoglobin levels, and showed a pronounced normoblastosis. Histological analyses of bone marrow, spleen, and liver showed a decrease in both erythroid progenitors and mature red blood cells. Mutant fetal liver cells behaved normally in in vitro hematopoietic colony-forming assays but generated an anemia when transplanted into irradiated C.B.-17 SCID mice. Furthermore, reconstitution of the white cell compartment of SCID mice by mutant fetal liver cells was less complete than that observed with a mixed population of wild-type and heterozygous fetal liver cells. Primary embryo fibroblasts from mutant mice were completely resistant to ecotropic retrovirus infection. Thus, mCAT-1 not only appears to be the sole receptor for a group of murine ecotropic retroviruses associated with hematological disease but also plays a critical role in both hematopoiesis and growth control during mouse development.

Cloning and characterization of a brain-specific cationic amino acid transporter

rCAT3 (rat cationic amino acid transporter 3), a cDNA that encodes a novel member of the murine CAT family was isolated. The protein encoded by rCAT3 contained 619 amino acids, 53-58% of which were identical with those of the murine CAT family proteins previously described (mouse CAT1, CAT2a, CAT2b, and rat CAT1). Transient expression of rCAT3 and L-[14C]arginine incorporation experiments in COS7 cells verified a high affinity system y+ transporter activity of rCAT3. First, rCAT3-mediated L-[14C]arginine incorporation was time-dependent and saturable with half-saturation constant (Km) values of 103 +/- 12 microM (mean +/- S.E., n = 3). Second, the incorporation was specific for cationic amino acids as evidenced from the inhibition by L-arginine, L-lysine, and L-ornithine. Third, neither sodium nor chloride ions in the extracellular medium were required for the activity. Fourth, the incorporation was inhibited by high potassium-induced membrane depolarization. On Northern blot using RNAs from various rat tissues, the expression of rCAT3 mRNA was restricted to the brain. These results indicated a role of rCAT3 in the system y+ transporter activity in the nervous tissue.

Diabetes and insulin-induced stimulation of L-arginine transport and nitric oxide synthesis in rabbit isolated gastric glands

1. The properties of L-arginine transport have been characterized and correlated with cGMP production (index of nitric oxide (NO)) in whole gastric glands isolated from non-diabetic and alloxan-diabetic rabbits. 2. In non-diabetic and diabetic glands, transport of L-arginine was stereoselective, Na+ and pH independent and inhibited by other cationic amino acids. L-Arginine transport was slightly inhibited by L-leucine and L-phenylalanine, but unaffected by other neutral amino acids. 3. Diabetes enhanced the Vmax for saturable L-arginine transport from 10.7 +/- 1.0 to 17.7 +/- 0.5 pmol (mg protein)-1 s-1, with negligible changes in K(m). 4. Accumulation of the membrane potential-sensitive probe tetra[3H]phenylphosphonium (TPP+) was increased 2-fold in diabetic compared with non-diabetic gastric glands, suggesting a membrane hyperpolarization. 5. Basal intracellular cGMP levels were elevated 2-fold in diabetic gastric glands, and in non-diabetic glands histamine, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and bradykinin increased cGMP levels. The NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 microM) abolished basal cGMP accumulation. 6. Addition of extracellular L-arginine induced a concentration-dependent increase in cGMP levels in gastric glands isolated from non-diabetic rabbits, but had no effect on elevated cGMP levels in diabetic glands. 7. Insulin induced a rapid (5 min) concentration-dependent increase in cGMP levels in non-diabetic gastric glands, but reduced elevated cGMP levels in diabetic gastric glands. 8. The present study has identified a specific transport system for L-arginine in gastric glands which resembles the classical system y+. Our findings also provide the first direct evidence that diabetes increases the basal activity of system y+ and NO synthase in gastric glands. The differential modulation of L-arginine transport by insulin and L-arginine identified in non-diabetic and diabetic glands, may be of importance in protecting the gastric mucosa from injuries associated with diabetes.

Analysis of the unique hamster cell tropism of ecotropic murine leukemia virus PVC-211

PVC-211 murine leukemia virus (MuLV) is a neuropathogenic variant of Friend MuLV (F-MuLV). Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that unlike the parental F-MuLV, PVC-211 MuLV can infect rat brain capillary endothelial cells efficiently and that it has acquired genetic changes responsible for its expanded cellular tropism. To determine if PVC-211 MuLV also has expanded its host range, we tested its infectivity on Chinese hamster ovary-derived CHO-K1 cells, which are generally resistant to ecotropic MuLV. The results indicated that PVC-211 MuLV, but not F-MuLV, was highly infectious for CHO-K1 cells. Studies using glycosylation inhibitors and glycosylation mutants of CHO-K1 cells, as well as interference studies, suggested that PVC-211 MuLV has acquired the ability to interact with the ecotropic MuLV receptor on CHO-K1 cells that has undergone glycosylation-dependent modification. Using chimeric viruses between PVC-211 MuLV and F-MuLV, we were able to localize the viral genetic element crucial for CHO-K1 cell tropism within the env gene of PVC-211 MuLV and show that glycine at position 116 and lysine at position 129 of the envelope glycoprotein SU were important. These viral determinants also appear to confer tropism for other hamster cells resistant to ordinary ecotropic MuLVs. Further studies on the interaction between PVC-211 MuLV and the receptor on hamster cells may provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms for receptor recognition and binding by viral envelope glycoproteins.

Molecular sites of regulation of expression of the rat cationic amino acid transporter gene

Cat-1 is a protein with a dual function, a high affinity, low capacity cationic amino acid transporter of the y+ system and the receptor for the ecotropic retrovirus. We have suggested that Cat-1 is required in the regenerating liver for the transport of cationic amino acids and polyamines in the late G1 phase, a process that is essential for liver cells to enter mitosis. In our earlier studies we had shown that the cat-1 gene is silent in the quiescent liver but is induced in response to hormones, insulin, and glucocorticoids, and partial hepatectomy. Here we demonstrate that cat-1 is a classic delayed early growth response gene in the regenerating liver, since induction of its expression is sensitive to cycloheximide, indicating that protein synthesis is required. The peak of accumulation of the cat-1 mRNA (9-fold) by 3 h was not associated with increased transcriptional activity of the cat-1 gene in the regenerating liver, indicating post-transcriptional regulation of expression of this gene. Induction of the cat-1 gene results in the accumulation of two mRNA species (7.9 and 3.4 kilobase pairs (kb)). Both mRNAs hybridize with the previously described rat cat-1/2.9-kb cDNA clone. However, the 3' end of a longer rat cat-1 cDNA (rat cat-1/6.5-kb) hybridizes only to the 7.9-kb mRNA transcript. Sequence analysis of this clone indicated that the two mRNA species result from the use of alternative polyadenylation signals. The 6. 5-kb clone contains a number of AT-rich mRNA destabilizing sequences which is reflected in the half-life of the cat-1 mRNAs (90 min for 7. 9-kb mRNA and 250 min for 3.4-kb mRNA). Treatment of rats with cycloheximide superinduces the level of the 7.9-kb cat-1 mRNA in the kidney, spleen, and brain, but not in the liver, suggesting that cell type-specific labile factors are involved in its regulation. We conclude that the need for protein synthesis for induction of the cat-1 mRNA, the short lived nature of the mRNAs, and the multiple sites for regulation of gene expression indicate a tight control of expression of the cat-1 gene within the regenerating liver and suggest that y+ cationic amino acid transport in liver cells is regulated at the molecular level.

Glucocorticoids regulate inducible nitric oxide synthase by inhibiting tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis and L-arginine transport

The cytokine-inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS or NOS2) plays an important role in the immune response to some pathogens. Within the heart, increased activity of NOS2 in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMEC) also can diminish the contractile function of adjacent cardiac myocytes. Glucocorticoids, which are known to suppress cytokine induction of NOS2 in many cell types, caused only a moderate (approximately 20%) decline in NOS2 protein content and maximal activity measured in homogenates of cytokine-treated CMEC, but almost completely inhibited synthesis of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by intact cells. To determine whether glucocorticoids were inhibiting cellular NOx production by limiting the availability of NOS co-factors or substrate, the effect of dexamethasone on tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and L-arginine availability in cytokine-treated CMEC was examined. Dexamethasone prevented the coordinate induction of GTP cyclohydrolase I with NOS2 after exposure to interleukin-1beta and interferon-gamma and also the increase in intracellular BH4 content in cytokine-treated CMEC. Addition of BH4 overcame dexamethasone-mediated suppression of nitrite production. Dexamethasone also prevented a cytokine-mediated increase in L-arginine uptake into CMEC by suppressing the induction of the high affinity cationic amino acid transporters CAT-1 and CAT-2B and the low affinity CAT-2A transporter. In addition, dexamethasone also inhibited cytokine induction in CMEC of argininosuccinate synthase, the rate-limiting enzyme for the de novo synthesis of arginine from citrulline. Thus, glucocorticoids regulate NOx production following cytokine exposure in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells primarily by limiting BH4 and L-arginine availability.

Receptor-binding properties of a purified fragment of the 4070A amphotropic murine leukemia virus envelope glycoprotein

A 208-amino-acid amino-terminal fragment of the 4070A amphotropic murine leukemia virus envelope glycoprotein contains all of the determinants required to recognize cell surface amphotropic receptors. This fragment was fused with a streptavidin-binding tag, expressed in Sf9 insect cells by using a baculovirus vector, and purified to homogeneity. The (125)I-labeled purified fragment (AS208) specifically bound various cell lines susceptible to amphotropic murine leukemia virus infection. The number of AS208-binding sites was in the range of 7 X 10(4) to 17 X 10(4) per cell. Quantitative analysis of binding revealed that AS208-binding sites are heterogeneous with regard to ligand binding affinity or that cooperativity exists between receptors. Competition experiments showed that the concentration of AS208 required to inhibit virus entry was lower than that required to inhibit the binding of virus particles at the cell surface. Taken together, these data suggested that amphotropic envelope-binding sites present at the cell surface do not act independently and do not participate equally in virus infection.

Cytokines and insulin induce cationic amino acid transporter (CAT) expression in cardiac myocytes. Regulation of L-arginine transport and no production by CAT-1, CAT-2A, and CAT-2B

Cytokine-dependent production of nitric oxide (NO) by rat cardiac myocytes is a consequence of increased expression of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS or NOS2) and, in the presence of insulin, depresses the contractile function of these cells in vivo and in vitro. Experiments reported here show that L-lysine, a competitive antagonist of L-arginine uptake, suppressed NO production (detected as nitrite accumulation) by interleukin (IL)-1beta and interferon (IFN) gamma-pretreated cardiac myocytes by 70%, demonstrating that NO production is dependent on L-arginine uptake. Cardiac myocytes constitutively exhibit a high-affinity L-arginine transport system (Km = 125 microM; Vmax = 44 pmol/2 X 10(5) cells/min). Following a 24-h exposure to IL-1beta and IFNgamma, arginine uptake increases Vmax = 167 pmol/2 X 10(5) cells/min) and a second low-affinity L-arginine transporter activity appears (Km = 1.2 mM). To examine the molecular basis for these cytokine-induced changes in arginine transport, we examined expression of three related arginine transporters previously identified in other cell types. mRNA for the high-affinity cationic amino acid transporter-1 (CAT-1) is expressed in resting myocytes and steady-state levels increase by 10-fold following exposure to IL-1beta and IFNgamma. Only cytokine-pretreated myocytes expressed a second high-affinity L-arginine transporter, CAT-2B, as well as a low-affinity L-arginine transporter, CAT-2A. In addition, insulin, which potentiated cytokine-dependent NO production independent of any change in NOS activity, increased myocyte L-arginine uptake by 2-fold and steady-state levels of CAT-1, but not CAT-2A or CAT-2B mRNA. Thus, NO production by cardiac myocytes exposed to IL-1beta plus IFNgamma appears to be dependent on the coinduction of CAT-1, CAT-2A, and CAT-2B, while insulin independently augments L-arginine transport through CAT- 1.

Interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulate the cat-2 gene of the L-arginine transporter in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

The production of nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in cytokine-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of several vascular disease states including septic shock. This study examines the relationship between cytokine-stimulated NO production and L-arginine transport in cultured VSMC. Cultured VSMC from rat aorta were stimulated with interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and/or angiotensin II (Ang II); and the accumulation of nitrite, a stable product of NO metabolism, in the culture media and the rates of net L-arginine uptake were measured. Interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, alone or in combination, stimulated both the uptake of L-arginine and the accumulation of nitrite in the culture media in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of NOS activity by substituted analogues of L-arginine had no effect on cytokine-stimulated L-arginine transport. Ang II in the presence of cytokines up-regulated L-arginine transport while inhibiting nitrite accumulation. Two forms of the L-arginine transporter, cat-1b and cat-2, are expressed in VSMC. Northern analysis revealed that the cytokine-stimulated increase in L-arginine transport coincided with increased levels of cat-2 mRNA. In contrast, cat-1b does not appear to be regulated by cytokines at the mRNA level, although significant increases in response to Ang II were observed. These results show that, while cytokines can stimulate both NOS activity and L-arginine uptake, NO production is not required to signal the increase in L-arginine transport. Furthermore, Ang II and cytokine stimulation of L-arginine uptake involves the differential regulation of the cationic amino acid transporter (cat) genes.