Search Results

You are looking at 1 - 5 of 5 items for

  • Author: A. Giraud x
  • Refine by access: All content x
Clear All Modify Search
JC Whitley
Search for other papers by JC Whitley in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
C Moore
Search for other papers by C Moore in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
AS Giraud
Search for other papers by AS Giraud in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
A Shulkes
Search for other papers by A Shulkes in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

High concentrations of a peptide related to gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) are produced in the utero-placental unit of the human and sheep and secreted into the general circulation. This suggests an endocrine role in addition to its role as a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator. The GRP is larger than the previously described form GRP(1-27) but it is not known whether the larger form is the product of a related GRP-like gene or differences in post-translational processing. We have therefore cloned the gene for the sheep homologue of the GRP gene and determined its distribution. Only a single GRP gene was found in the sheep. This had a similar organisation to the human GRP gene with three exons and two introns. The larger form of GRP in the pregnant endometrium therefore appears to be the result of an alteration in processing of the GRP prohormone. The expression of GRP mRNA in the pregnant uterus was extraordinarily high comprising one-third of all mRNA synthesised by the pregnant endometrium. As the endometrial GRP mRNA arises solely from the glandular epithelium, the localised synthesis of GRP mRNA would be far higher. GRP mRNA was expressed in a wide variety of fetal tissues (fundus, colon, jejunum, ileum, duodenum, kidney, adrenal, lung, heart and pancreas) with a corresponding presence of GRP immunoreactivity. The expression of GRP in the fetal lung was biphasic with peaks at mid-term and near parturition but none in the adult supporting the concept of a specific developmental role of GRP in the lung.

Free access
A. Giraud
Search for other papers by A. Giraud in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
J.-L. Franc
Search for other papers by J.-L. Franc in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Y. Long
Search for other papers by Y. Long in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
J. Ruf
Search for other papers by J. Ruf in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

ABSTRACT

Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is a glycoprotein enzyme which catalyses the iodination of thyroglobulin and the coupling of iodinated tyrosines. Human TPO (hTPO) is the microsomal antigen recognized by the autoantibodies in the serum of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.

An active detergent-solubilized immunoaffinitypurified hTPO was deglycosylated, either by peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGase F) or by endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (endo H), and the enzymatic activity and immunoreactivity of the native and degylcosylated forms were compared. Electrophoretic controls and affinoblotting with concanavalin A showed that deglycosylation was not total and that it was more pronounced with endo H than with PNGase F. The enzymatic activity of hTPO was inhibited by endo H deglycosylation, but not by PNGase F deglycosylation; this inhibition was not due to aggregation and/or insolubilization of the molecule subsequent to deglycosylation. Immunoreactivity was monitored by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) with 13 mouse monoclonal antibodies, rabbit polyclonal antibodies and antibodies from serum of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In contrast with enzymatic activity, immunoreactivity was not modified or was slightly enhanced (with four monoclonal antibodies) by deglycosylation.

The results indicate that strong, if not total, deglycosylation induces a modification of the tertiary structure of hTPO, which affects the enzymatic site but does not modify markedly the epitopes implicated in the recognition of the molecule by the antibodies tested.

Journal of Endocrinology (1992) 132, 317-323

Restricted access
JC Whitley
Search for other papers by JC Whitley in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
AS Giraud
Search for other papers by AS Giraud in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
AO Mahoney
Search for other papers by AO Mahoney in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
IJ Clarke
Search for other papers by IJ Clarke in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
A Shulkes
Search for other papers by A Shulkes in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

In the ovine endometrium, dramatic increases in gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) mRNA and immunoreactivity are observed during the luteal regression phase of the oestrous cycle (24-fold) and during pregnancy (at least 150-fold). This study sought to determine whether oestrogen and/or progesterone were responsible for the temporal regulation of GRP observed in the uterus. Ovariectomized sheep were divided into four groups (n=4), as follows: 1, untreated; 2, given subcutaneous and intravaginal progesterone implants; 3, given subcutaneous oestrogen implants; and 4, treated with both oestrogen and progesterone. After 10 days, the animals were sacrificed and plasma, pituitary and endometrium were obtained. A fifth group of sheep with intact ovaries was included. Analysis of endometrial GRP-immunoreactivity (GRP-ir) revealed a twofold drop for groups treated with oestrogen, progesterone or both hormones. A dramatic reduction in endometrial GRP mRNA was o! bserved in the group treated with both hormones. GRP-ir was measured in whole pituitaries and found to vary greatly (1.7-53.7 pmol/g tissue) within all groups of ovariectomized animals. There were no significant differences between any of the five groups. A significant reduction in circulating GRP-ir was observed after 10 days of treatment with either oestrogen or progesterone. These studies demonstrate that, in sheep, the synthesis, storage and secretion of GRP are differentially affected by oestrogen and progesterone. Regulation appears to be tissue specific since GRP content in the pituitary is unchanged by oestrogen or progesterone whereas GRP expression in the endometrium is inhibited. Changes in GRP mRNA expression did not correlate with changes in endometrial expression of mRNA for oestrogen receptor alpha, oestrogen receptor beta and the progesterone receptor. This study is the first reported demonstration that expression of the GRP gene can be influenced by the presence of ovarian steroids, with the conclusion that oestrogen and/or progesterone act as negative regulators of endometrial GRP expression.

Free access
JC Whitley
Search for other papers by JC Whitley in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
A Shulkes
Search for other papers by A Shulkes in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
LA Salamonsen
Search for other papers by LA Salamonsen in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
D Vogiagis
Search for other papers by D Vogiagis in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
M Familari
Search for other papers by M Familari in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
AS Giraud
Search for other papers by AS Giraud in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Synthesis of both mRNA and peptide for gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) has been demonstrated in the pregnant endometrium of sheep and women. However, it is not known whether GRP is synthesized in the sheep uterus during the oestrous cycle. Furthermore the cellular site of GRP mRNA synthesis in the uterus has not been determined. Therefore we examined the synthesis of GRP and determined the cellular location of GRP peptide and mRNA in sheep uterus taken at different times during the oestrous cycle (duration 17 days) and pregnancy (duration 145 days). Northern blot analysis of RNA isolated from ovine endometrium revealed low or no GRP mRNA at days 4, 10, 12 and 14 of the oestrous cycle and a 24-fold rise in GRP mRNA (normalized to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA) between days 14 and 16. A similar pattern was observed during early pregnancy, with a 12-fold rise in GRP mRNA:GAPDH mRNA between days 17 and 20 of pregnancy. Levels of GRP peptide were determined by RIA and found to be low in endometrium isolated at days 4, 10, 12 and 14 of the oestrous cycle (1.0-1.6 pmol/g) and 4 to 5-fold higher at day 16. In situ hybridization localized GRP synthesis to the epithelial cells of the uterine glands at day 16 of the oestrous cycle and at days 17, 20, 40 and 50 of pregnancy. At day 140 of pregnancy diffuse hybridization to cells of the myometrium was also observed. Immunohistochemistry localized GRP peptide to the apical cytoplasm of uterine glandular epithelial cells at day 16 of the oestrous cycle. For samples obtained at day 20 of pregnancy, the area surrounding the glands also showed moderately strong staining. Further staining in the glandular lumen and the stromal tissue surrounding the glands was apparent at day 140 of pregnancy. No GRP immunoreactivity could be detected in the peripheral plasma during the oestrous cycle or the first 20 days of pregnancy. Sizing chromatography of GRP immunoreactivity extracted from endometrial tissue taken at day 10 of the oestrous cycle revealed two peaks that co-eluted with GRP(1-27) and GRP(18-27). However, during luteolysis and oestrus the major peak of GRP immunoreactivity extracted from endometrial tissue was larger than GRP(1-27) and similar to that seen previously in the gravid ovine endometrium. These studies demonstrate that a peptide similar to, but larger than, GRP is a major product of the glandular epithelium of the ovine uterus during the luteal regression phase of the oestrous cycle and post-blastocyst implantation in pregnancy and provide further evidence that GRP-related peptides have important regulatory roles in uterine function.

Free access
S Siffroi-Fernandez
Search for other papers by S Siffroi-Fernandez in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
F Delom
Search for other papers by F Delom in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
MC Nlend
Search for other papers by MC Nlend in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
J Lanet
Search for other papers by J Lanet in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
JL Franc
Search for other papers by JL Franc in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
A Giraud
Search for other papers by A Giraud in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Thyroglobulin (Tg) binds to cell surfaces through various binding sites of high, moderate and low affinity. We have previously shown that binding with low to moderate affinity is pH dependent, selective, but not tissue specific. To identify the regions of Tg involved in this cell surface binding, we studied the binding of (125)I-labeled cyanogen bromide peptides from human Tg to cell surfaces of thyroid cells (inside-out follicles) and of CHO cells. Electrophoretic analysis of cell homogenates after binding of native or of reduced and alkylated (125)I-labeled peptides showed that three peptides, P1, P2 and P3, were always associated with the cells. Sequence analysis allowed the identification of P1 (Ser-2445 to Met-2596 or Met-2610) and P2 (Phe-2156 to Met-2306). P3 proved to be a mixture of several peptides among which two were identified: P3-1 (Cys-1306 to Met-1640) and P3-2 (Cys-2035 to Met-2413) which includes P2. P1, P2 and P3-2 are entirely (P1) or partly (P2 and P3-2) located in the C-terminal domain of Tg homologous with acetylcholinesterase. The smallest peptides, P1 and P2, were purified by preparative electrophoresis. They both displayed strong binding properties towards cell surfaces. Inhibition experiments of (125)I-labeled Tg binding by P1 or P2 indicated that they were involved in Tg binding to cell surfaces. All the other peptides tested for their binding abilities were either not or only poorly involved in Tg binding to cell surfaces, which suggested that P1 and P2 are major Tg sites of binding to cell surfaces. These two peptides are not involved in the binding of Tg to the known Tg 'receptors' described in the literature, to which recycling, transcytosis and regulation functions have been ascribed. Thus they are potential tools to identify cell surface components involved in the process of Tg endocytosis leading to lysosomal degradation.

Free access