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P Andersson
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T Gustafsson
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HJ Arnqvist
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We have investigated the expression and secretion of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs-1 to -6) in human vascular smooth muscle cells (hVSMCs) cultured from human renal arteries. Solution hybridization was used to determine IGFBP mRNA levels and Western immunoblot to detect the corresponding peptides. The hVSMCs expressed mRNAs for IGFBPs-2 to -6; IGFBP-1 mRNA was not detected. IGFBPs-3, -4 and -6 mRNAs were the most abundant, IGFBP-5 was also highly expressed, whereas the IGFBP-2 mRNA was just above the limit of detection. Serum starvation for 48 h significantly decreased the mRNA levels of IGFBPs-2 to -5 and tended to decrease IGFBP-6 mRNA also. IGFBPs-2, -4, -5 and -6 peptides could be detected in conditioned medium, but IGFBP-3 peptide was not detected. IGFBP-4 was the only peptide detected without any concentration step. Low-molecular-mass immunoreactive degradation products were found for IGFBPs-2 and -4. Exogenous IGFBPs-1, -3 and -4 in concentrations of 50 ng/ml inhibited DNA synthesis induced by 1 nM IGF-I, whereas IGFBPs-2, -5 and -6 had no significant inhibitory effects at this concentration. We conclude from these results that all IGFBPs except IGFBP-1 are expressed in hVSMC. Our results indicate that locally produced, in addition to circulating, IGFBPs may have an important role in the regulation of hVSMC.

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T Gustafsson
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P Andersson
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HJ Arnqvist
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IGF-I is involved in the regulation of metabolism, growth and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We have studied how IGFBP-1, -2 and -4 modulate IGF-I-induced DNA and protein synthesis in cultured rat VSMCs. DNA and protein synthesis were measured as incorporation of [3H]thymidine and [3H]leucine into DNA and protein respectively. Western immunoblot was used to detect IGFBPs in conditioned medium and solution hybridization was used to measure IGFBP gene expression. IGF-I stimulated DNA synthesis with an EC50 of 44 pM, reaching a maximal effect at 1 nM. An IGF-I concentration of 1 nM was subsequently used in the experiments with IGFBPs. IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-4 acted in an inhibitory manner on IGF-I-induced DNA synthesis with calculated IC50 values of 1.6 nM and 6.2 nM respectively. IGFBP-2 (16 nM) also inhibited the growth response to IGF-I, but this effect could only be obtained if the two peptides were pre-incubated together for 2 h prior to addition to the cells. IGFBP-1, -2 and -4 inhibited IGF-I-induced protein synthesis in a similar way. Immunoblot of the incubation medium showed little degradation of IGFBP-2 and -4 for up to 24 h. mRNA for IGFBP-2 and -4, but not for IGFBP-1 was detected in the VSMCs. Endogenous IGFBP-2 and -4 could be detected by immunoblot in the conditioned medium but only if it was concentrated. In conclusion, IGFBP-1, -2 and -4, of which IGFBP-2 and -4 may be locally derived, act as inhibitors with different potencies on IGF-I effects in VSMCs.

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BO Nilsson
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E Ekblad
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T Heine
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JA Gustafsson
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Micromolar concentrations of the biologically active oestrogen 17beta-oestradiol reduce agonist-induced force in vascular preparations through an unidentified mechanism. The aim of the present study was to investigate the importance of oestrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) for oestrogen-induced vascular relaxation. 17beta-oestradiol was added to aortic rings from ERbeta knock-out (-/-) and wild-type (+/+) mice precontracted with noradrenaline. 17beta-oestradiol caused a concentration-dependent (1-100 microM) relaxation of aortic rings from both -/- and +/+ animals of both sexes. Rings from male and female -/- mice were more sensitive to 17beta-oestradiol than those from +/+ mice. Medial thickness, determined by computerized image analysis, was similar in rings from -/- and +/+ animals. Endothelium, as determined by immuno-cytochemistry, was present in -/- and +/+ aorta. Maximal noradrenaline evoked force and sensitivity to noradrenaline were similar in both groups. In summary ERbeta modulates vascular relaxation to microM concentrations of oestrogen; lack of ERbeta renders the vascular wall supersensitive to 17beta-oestradiol. Lack of ERbeta caused no change in vascular wall morphology suggesting that this ER subtype is not involved in vascular structure development.

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H Valimaa
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S Savolainen
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T Soukka
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P Silvoniemi
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S Makela
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H Kujari
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JA Gustafsson
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M Laine
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Many studies have shown that the oral mucosa and salivary glands are sensitive to estrogen action. However, the expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) within these tissues is an area of controversy. ERs exist as two subtypes (ERalpha and ERbeta), and we hypothesized that the incongruity between ER expression and estrogen sensitivity may result from differential expression of ER subtypes in oral tissues. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed oral mucosal and salivary gland samples for ERalpha and ERbeta protein expression by immunohistochemistry from a cross-section of patients attending hospital for surgical problems of the head and neck. ERalpha was not detected in oral buccal and gingival epithelium or in salivary glands. In contrast, ERbeta was widely expressed at high levels in all oral tissues studied. Within these tissues, ERbeta was observed primarily in keratinocytes and salivary gland acinar and ductal cells. Our results demonstrating the expression of only the ERbeta subtype within oral tissues may explain the contradictory results from previous studies investigating ER expression in these tissues. Importantly, these results suggest that estrogens may act via ERbeta in oral tissues and explain the effect of hormonal changes on the oral mucosa as well as on saliva secretion and composition.

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Cecilia Engdahl
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Caroline Jochems
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Jan-Åke Gustafsson Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at NOVUM, Hubrecht Institute, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10A, 413 46 Gothenburg, Sweden

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Paul T van der Saag Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at NOVUM, Hubrecht Institute, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10A, 413 46 Gothenburg, Sweden

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Hans Carlsten
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Marie K Lagerquist
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Raloxifene is a selective oestrogen receptor modulator with tissue-specific effects. The mechanisms behind the effects of raloxifene are partly unclear, and the aim of the present study was to investigate whether raloxifene can activate the classical oestrogen-signalling pathway in vivo in three known oestrogen-responsive organs, uterus (reproductive organ), bone (non-reproductive organ) and thymus (immune organ). For this purpose, we have used reporter mice with a luciferase gene under control of oestrogen-responsive elements (EREs), enabling detection of in vivo activation of gene transcription via the classical oestrogen pathway. Three-month-old ovariectomized ERE-luciferase mice were treated with the raloxifene analogue (LY117018), oestradiol (OE2) or vehicle for 3 weeks. Luciferase activation was measured in bone, uterus and thymus, and compared to bone parameters, and uterus and thymus weights. The raloxifene analogue affected bone mineral density (BMD) to the same extent as OE2, and both treatments resulted in increased luciferase activity in bone. As expected, OE2 treatment resulted in increased uterus weight and increased uterine luciferase activity, while the effect of LY117018 on uterus weight and luciferase activity was modest and significantly lower than the effect of OE2. LY117018 and OE2 treatment resulted in similar luciferase activation in thymus. However, only OE2 treatment resulted in thymic atrophy, while no effect on thymus weight was seen after LY117018 treatment. In summary, the raloxifene analogue LY117018 can activate the classical oestrogen pathway in bone, uterus and thymus in vivo, and this activation is associated with BMD and uterus weight, but not thymus weight.

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