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Abstract

The cellular mechanisms involved in the accelerated bone loss occurring in association with estrogen deprivation as seen following the menopause are not fully understood. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is the local regulator of osteoblasts and one of its binding proteins, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4), binds to IGF-I and suppresses biological activity. Previous studies have shown that the binding activity of IGFBP-4 in the conditioned medium of parathyroid hormone (PTH)-treated SaOS-2 osteoblastic-like cells is enhanced twofold and that this PTH-enhanced IGFBP-4 binding activity is abolished by 17β-estradiol. Levels of IGFBP-4 in the conditioned medium have been reported to be regulated not only at the level of production but also at the level of degradation which is catalyzed by a protease that specifically cleaves IGFBP-4. We have, therefore, studied the effects of 17β-estradiol and PTH on IGFBP-4 protease activity using SaOS-2 cells. SaOS-2 cells produce a protease that specifically cleaves IGFBP-4 into two fragments of approximately 18 and 14 kilodaltons. IGFBP-4 protease activity in the conditioned medium from PTH-treated cells was suppressed, while this PTH-induced suppression of protease activity was reversed by the addition of 17β-estradiol to the cultures. IGFBP-4 proteolytic activity was stimulated by IGF-I or IGF-II added exogenously and was inhibited by EDTA or protease inhibitors. IGFBP-4 proteolyzed in the conditioned medium from cells treated with PTH and 17β-estradiol was less effective at inhibiting IGF-I-stimulated [³H]thymidine incorporation into DNA compared with that proteolyzed in the conditioned medium from PTH-treated cells. The simplest explanation is that 17β-estradiol suppressed the inhibitory effect of PTH on osteoblastic activity by inhibiting the PTH-induced suppression of IGFBP-4 protease activity.

Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 150, 223–229

ABSTRACT

Rat, human, and mouse tissues were stained immunohistochemically using mono- and polyclonal androgen receptor antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies were raised in rats and used to stain human and mouse tissues; polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbits and used to stain rat tissues. Frozen tissue sections were incubated with the appropriate androgen receptor antibody and staining was completed by the indirect avidin-biotin peroxidase method. A comprehensive survey of rat and mouse tissues was performed. Antibody staining was found exclusively in the nucleus of certain specific cell types, suggesting that the androgen receptor is a nuclear protein.

All male sexual organs in the rat showed strong positive nuclear staining for androgen receptor. Weaker positive reactions were seen in kidney, liver, adrenal cortex and pituitary gland. Furthermore, positive staining for androgen receptor was exhibited in skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle cells, and central nervous tissue. Female reproductive organs also contained androgen receptor-positive cells. The spleen was found to be the only organ examined which did not stain for androgen receptor. The monoclonal antibody could also demonstrate androgen receptor-positive cells in a human prostatic cancer and in a prostate with benign hyperplasia. These data demonstrate the use of antibodies in revealing cellular/subcellular distribution of androgen receptor in target tissues.

Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 126, 17–25

ABSTRACT

We have examined the biological effects of insulinlike growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) on insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-activated glucose consumption in a BALB/c 3T3 subline. The method employed was a colorimetric measurement of glucose consumption, allowing the detection of changes from the initial glucose concentration in conditioned medium, following the addition of IGFs and IGFBPs. Human IGFBP-1, purified from amniotic fluid, inhibited IGF-activated glucose consumption, although it had no effect on insulin-activated glucose consumption. The median effective dose (ED₅₀) of IGFBP-1 to cause inhibitory effects on IGF-activated glucose consumption was 100–200 μg/l and was similar for both IGF-I and IGF-II at a concentration of 1·0 μg IGF/1. Therefore, at IGF concentrations of comparable activity, the inhibitory effects of IGFBP-1 were greater for IGF-I than for IGF-II, because of the higher activity of IGF-I in this assay. Recombinant human IGFBP-3 also inhibited IGF-activated glucose consumption, without affecting insulin-stimulated glucose consumption. The inhibitory effects of IGFBP-3 were greater for IGF-II than for IGF-I when IGFBP-3 was coincubated with either of the IGFs, at both IGF concentrations of comparable activity and equivalent molar concentrations. Thus, it became clear that the inhibitory effects of these IGFBPs on IGF biological action depended primarily upon their affinity for the specific IGF ligand and molar ratio of IGFBP/IGF peptide. Interestingly, when cells were pretreated with IGFBP-3, prior to the simultaneous addition of IGFs and IGFBP-3, the inhibitory effect was higher for IGF-I than for IGF-II. Either no effect or a minor inhibitory effect on IGFactivated glucose consumption was detected with IGFBP pretreatment alone. When the ED₅₀ for inhibition of IGF action by IGFBPs in this in-vitro assay was compared with the physiological concentrations of IGFs and IGFBPs in normal human serum and in amniotic fluid, it was estimated that the IGFBP-1 concentration present in serum was not sufficient to modulate IGF action effectively while the concentration in amniotic fluid was enough for effective suppression. IGFBP-3 exhibited an ED₅₀ low enough to suppress IGF-II and possibly IGF-I action when cells were pretreated with IGFBP-3. Thus, our data suggested that IGFBP-1 in amniotic fluid and IGFBP-3 in serum could be a potent inhibitor for IGF action. IGFBP-1 in serum, however, may not be able to function as a direct inhibitor under physiological conditions but, rather, may modulate IGF action together with other IGFBPs.

Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 136, 457–470

Abstract

In order to study whether peripheral action of thyroid hormones is altered in insulin deficiency and to elucidate the biological consequences of alteration of the cytosolic 3,5,3′-tri-iodo-l-thyronine (T₃) binding protein (CTBP), we measured malic enzyme, T₃-responsive nuclear n protein, CTBP and nuclear thyroid hormone receptor in the liver and kidney of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats that were treated with or without insulin and/or a receptor-saturating dose of T₃. The following results were obtained. 1. Induction of malic enzyme by T₃ was apparently diminished in diabetic rats. However, supplementary injection of insulin enabled previously given T₃ to take effect in diabetic rats. 2. T₃-responsiveness of other hepatic proteins (n protein and CTBP) was not altered by insulin in diabetic rats. 3. The level of n protein was increased by insulin in diabetic rats in vivo and in perfused rat liver, indicating that the hepatic n protein is a novel insulin-responsive protein. T₃ and insulin increased the level of n protein non-synergistically in diabetic rat liver. 4. Hepatic nuclear receptor levels were not altered in diabetic rats. 5. Hepatic CTBP levels were decreased in diabetic rats. This was not due to the toxic effect of STZ. Low CTBP level was only partially increased by insulin after 30 days of diabetic period. Renal CTBP levels were not altered in diabetic rats with or without insulin treatment. These results indicate that reduction of CTBP did not influence the hepatic response to a receptor-saturating dose of T₃, although CTBP may regulate the nuclear T₃ transport, and that fundamental action of a receptor-saturating dose of T₃ was not attenuated in diabetic rat liver.

Journal of Endocrinology (1994) 143, 55–63

ABSTRACT

Changes in the amount of cytosolic 3,5,3′-tri-iodo-l-thyronine (T₃)-binding protein (CTBP) and its activator during administration of l-thyroxine (T₄) to thyroidectomized rats were investigated. Thyroidectomy decreased the amount of CTBP in the kidney, whereas the activator was not significantly modified by thyroidectomy. The activator was increased by administration of T₄ to thyroidectomized rats. The amount of CTBP was also increased by administration of T₄. The activator increased the maximal binding capacity (MBC) without changes in the affinity constant for T₃ binding in CTBP. A T₄-induced increase in MBC in cytosol inhibited nuclear T₃ binding in vitro by competition of T₃ binding between CTBP and the nuclear receptor.

These results suggest that thyroid hormone increases the capacity for cytosolic T₃ binding through increasing the amount of CTBP and its activator, and that these increases play a role in regulating the amount of T₃ that binds to its nuclear receptor.

Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 123, 99–104