Haruhiko Kouhara

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α Agonists Increase Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Vascular Endothelial Cells

Objective—There has been accumulating evidence demonstrating that activators for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor &agr; (PPAR&agr;) have antiinflammatory, antiatherogenic, and vasodilatory effects. We hypothesized that PPAR&agr; activators can modulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and its activity in cultured vascular endothelial cells. Methods and Results—Bovine aortic endothelial cells were treated with the PPAR&agr; activator fenofibrate. The amount of eNOS activity and the expression of eNOS protein and its mRNA were determined. Our data show that treatment with fenofibrate for 48 hours resulted in an increase in eNOS activity. Fenofibrate failed to increase eNOS activity within 1 hour. Fenofibrate also increased eNOS protein as well as its mRNA levels. RU486, which has been shown to antagonize PPAR&agr; action, inhibited the fenofibrate-induced upregulation of eNOS protein expression. WY14643 and bezafibrate also increased eNOS protein levels, whereas rosiglitazone did not. Transient transfection experiments using human eNOS promoter construct showed that fenofibrate failed to enhance eNOS promoter activity. Actinomycin D studies demonstrated that the half-life of eNOS mRNA increased with fenofibrate treatment. Conclusions—PPAR&agr; activators upregulate eNOS expression, mainly through mechanisms of stabilizing eNOS mRNA. This is a new observation to explain one of the mechanisms of PPAR&agr;-mediated cardiovascular protection.

Impaired beta-cell function in the presence of reduced insulin sensitivity determines glucose tolerance status in acromegalic patients.

Abnormal glucose tolerance is often demonstrated in acromegalic patients. Although insulin resistance is a common feature of acromegaly, it remains unclear whether the extent of insulin resistance per se determines the abnormal glucose tolerance. In order to elucidate this issue, we investigated insulin sensitivity and β‐cell function in acromegalic patients.

Characterization of premature atherosclerosis of carotid arteries in acromegalic patients

OBJECTIVE Acromegalic patients have increased mortality from vascular diseases. Although atherosclerotic risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipoproteinaemia are highly associated with acromegaly, the prevalence of premature atherosclerosis in acromegalic patients and its relationship to these risk factors have not been reported.

Cilostazol represses vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 gene transcription via inhibiting NF-κB binding to its recognition sequence

Cilostazol is a specific inhibitor of cAMP phosphodiesterase, which is used for treatment of ischemic symptoms of peripheral vascular disease. Although cilostazol has antiplatelet and vasodilator properties, its effect on the expression of adhesion molecules in vascular endothelium is not known. In the present investigation, we examined the effect of cilostazol on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in cultured vascular endothelial cells. Cilostazol strongly inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced expression of VCAM-1 protein and its mRNA. In addition, cilostazol reduced TNF-alpha-induced U937 cell adhesion to the vascular endothelial cells. In transient transfection studies, cilostazol inhibited TNF-alpha-induced transcriptional activation of VCAM-1 promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that cilostazol repressed TNF-alpha-induced increase in binding of the transcription nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) to its recognition site of VCAM-1 promoter. Cilostazol, however, failed to prevent nuclear translocation of the NF-kappaB p65 protein. These data indicate that cilostazol repressed VCAM-1 gene transcription in cultured vascular endothelial cells, via inhibiting NF-kappaB binding to its recognition sequence. Since the expression of the adhesion molecule is one of the earliest events occurred in atherogenic process, cilostazol might have the potential to prevent atherosclerosis at least via inhibition of the expression of the adhesion molecule.

PPARα and GR Differentially Down-Regulate the Expression of Nuclear Factor-κB-Responsive Genes in Vascular Endothelial Cells

The antiinflammatory action of glucocorticoids is mediated partly by the inhibition of the expression of several cytokines and adhesion molecules. Some activators for nuclear receptors other than the GR have also been shown to inhibit the expression of these inflammatory molecules, although their molecular mechanisms remain unidentified. We therefore examined the effects of the PPARα activator fenofibrate and the GR activator dexamethasone on TNFα-stimulated expression of IL-6 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in vascular endothelial cells. Both fenofibrate and dexamethasone reduced TNFα-induced IL-6 production in human vascular endothelial cells, but only fenofibrate reduced TNFα-stimulated vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression in these cells. Transient transfection of bovine aortic endothelial cells with an IL-6 promoter construct or a vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 promoter construct revealed that fenofibrate inhibited TNFα-induced IL-6 promoter as well as vascular cell adhesion molecule-...

Progesterone, but Not Medroxyprogesterone, Inhibits Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 Expression in Human Vascular Endothelial Cells

Abstract —It has been shown that ovarian steroid hormones can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. As hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women, progestins are added to estrogens to eliminate the increased risk of endometrial cancer. However, the effects of progestins on the atherogenic process have not been well understood. In the present study, we examined the effects of progestins on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Immunocytochemical analysis revealed the presence of progesterone receptors in HUVECs. Progesterone clearly inhibited tumor necrosis factor-&agr;–activated expression of VCAM-1 protein and its mRNA in HUVECs. Synthetic progesterone receptor agonist R5020 also inhibited the tumor necrosis factor-&agr;–activated VCAM-1 expression, whereas medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) failed to do so. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that progesterone, but not MPA, inhibited DNA binding of the transcription nuclear factor-&kgr;B, which is critical for the inducible expression of VCAM-1. Because the expression of VCAM-1 is one of the earliest events that occurs in the atherogenic process, this adhesion molecule might be a target molecule for progesterone on vascular walls. The contrasting effects of progesterone and MPA seem clinically important, inasmuch as MPA is a widely used progestin in the regimen of hormone replacement therapy.

Characterization of the promoter region of the murine fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 gene

To obtain some clue for the regulatory mechanism by which fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 1 (FGFR 1) gene is expressed, we have cloned the promoter region of this gene from genomic library of mouse FGF-responsive cell lines. The genomic clone isolated here includes the FGFR 1 gene from position -868 to +697 relative to transcription initiation site. Sequence analysis reveals the presence of various consensus sequences for the binding sites of transcriptional factors such as SP 1, GCF, Oct-I, AP 1 and AP 2, but the absence of TATA and CAAT sequence motif. The transfection of this promoter-CAT constructs into NIH 3T3 cells demonstrates its promoter activity which is at least located between base -106 and +104.

Androgen-induced growth factor and its receptor: Demonstration of the androgen-induced autocrine loop in mouse mammary carcinoma cells

SC-3 cells derived from mouse mammary carcinoma (Shionogi carcinoma 115) exhibit remarkable growth enhancement and cell morphology change in response to androgen stimuli. These events are mediated through an androgen-induced growth factor (AIGF). Amino acid sequence deduced from cDNA reveals that AIGF has 215 amino acids with a signal peptide and scattered regions homologous to fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family proteins. The biological ability of AIGF to stimulate SC-3 cell growth is inhibited by heparin or suramin. More importantly, antisense oligodeoxynucleotide of AIGF can block androgen-induced growth of SC-3 cells. Upon synthesis under the control of androgen, AIGF is immediately secreted into the extracellular space without intracellular accumulation. At the early phase (18-24 h) of androgen stimulation, however, AIGF is mainly associated with the glycosaminoglycan on the cell surface or extracellular matrix. In addition, treatment of SC-3 cells with sulfation blocker (chlorate) or heparitinase results in the abolishment of their ability to respond to androgen or AIGF, indicating that heparan sulfate has important roles for condensing AIGF on or near the cell surface as well as potentiating the biological activity of AIGF. Then, AIGF can bind to the FGF receptor. Northern blot analysis and cDNA cloning indicate that SC-3 cells predominantly express the FGF receptor 1 with some altered amino acid sequences. Transfection of expression vectors of AIGF and this variant form of FGF receptor 1 into FGF receptor-negative myoblast cells (L 6 cells) confirms that a variant form of FGF receptor 1 is a receptor of AIGF. These results clearly demonstrate that an autocrine mechanism is operating in androgen-induced growth of SC-3 cells.

Reduced IRS-2 and GLUT4 expression in PPARγ2-induced adipocytes derived from C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts

In adipose tissue, the ability of cells to respond to insulin and to express genes such as those encoding fatty-acid-binding protein (422/aP2), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), adipsin and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is acquired during their differentiation into mature adipocytes. It has been recognized that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) play critical roles in adipocyte differentiation. However, it remained uncertain whether PPARγ or which C/EBP is involved in the acquisition of these characteristics. We introduced PPARγ2 into C/EBPβ/δ-double deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), followed by stimulation with its ligands, in order to define the roles of C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ in phenotypic acquisition during adipocyte differentiation. This procedure resulted in differentiation of these MEFs into mature adipocytes morphologically similar to wild-type MEFs. However, the adipocytes derived from the C/EBPβ/δ-deficient MEFs showed lower expression of GLUT4 and adipsin mRNA than those derived from wild-type MEFs, although aP2 and LPL mRNA levels were similar in both types. The C/EBPβ/δ-deficient adipocytes also expressed lower amounts of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2) than the adipocytes derived from wild-type MEFs, whereas the amounts of insulin receptor and IRS-1 were similar. Finally, insulin-responsive 2-deoxyglucose uptake was lower in the C/EBPβ/δ-deficient cells. It could thus be demonstrated that C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ are involved in the acquisition of IRS-2 and GLUT4 expression as well as in insulin-sensitive glucose uptake during adipocyte differentiation.

Up-regulation of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor mRNA levels by basic FGF or testosterone in androgen-sensitive mouse mammary tumor cells

Since we had previously shown that both basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and testosterone stimulate the growth of mouse mammary carcinoma cells (SC-3) in serum-free culture, we tested the effect of bFGF or testosterone on FGF receptor mRNA levels. Northern blot analyses revealed that stimulation with bFGF resulted in a 5-fold increase in FGF receptor mRNA levels at 6-8 h followed by a decline to the unstimulated levels at 24 h. Simultaneous addition of cycloheximide blocked bFGF-induced accumulation of FGF receptor mRNA, although exposure of SC-3 cells to cycloheximide alone caused marginal increase in its basal level. Neither phorbol ester nor forskolin stimulated FGF receptor mRNA expression, but testosterone could raise FGF receptor mRNA levels. To obtain the maximum stimulation, however, testosterone required the longer stimulation period (12 h) than bFGF, suggesting that testosterone-induced FGF receptor mRNA accumulation is mediated through an induction of FGF-like growth factor.