Kerri S. Leeding

Improved contractile function of the mdx dystrophic mouse diaphragm muscle after insulin-like growth factor-I administration

Limited knowledge exists regarding the efficacy of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) administration as a therapeutic intervention for muscular dystrophies, although findings from other muscle pathology models suggest clinical potential. The diaphragm muscles of mdx mice (a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy) were examined after 8 weeks of IGF-I administration (1 mg/kg s.c.) to test the hypothesis that IGF-I would improve the functional properties of dystrophic skeletal muscles. Force per cross-sectional area was approximately 49% greater in the muscles of treated mdx mice (149.6 +/- 9.6 kN/m(2)) compared with untreated mice (100.1 +/- 4.6 kN/m(2), P < 0.05), and maintenance of force over repeated maximal contraction was enhanced approximately 30% in muscles of treated mice (P < 0.05). Diaphragm muscles from treated mice comprised fibers with approximately 36% elevated activity of the oxidative enzyme succinate dehydrogenase, and approximately 23% reduction in the proportion of fast IId/x muscle fibers with concomitant increase in the proportion of type IIa fibers compared with untreated mice (P < 0.05). The data demonstrate that IGF-I administration can enhance the fatigue resistance of respiratory muscles in an animal model of dystrophin deficiency, in conjunction with enhancing energenic enzyme activity. As respiratory function is a mortality predictor in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, further evaluation of IGF-I intervention is recommended.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-6 inhibits IGF-II-induced but not basal proliferation and adhesion of LIM 1215 colon cancer cells.

IGF-II is an autocrine growth factor for many colon cancer cells. This study aimed to determine the role of IGF-II in proliferation and adhesion of LIM 1215 colon cancer cells. RT-PCR demonstrated expression of IGF-I and IGF-II mRNA. Addition of IGF-I or -II increased monolayer proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Although addition of IGFBP-6 had no effect on basal proliferation, coincubation of IGFBP-6 decreased IGF-II but not IGF-I-induced proliferation. Colony formation in agar was increased by IGF-II, an effect inhibited by coincubation with IGFBP-6. IGFBP-6 alone significantly decreased colony formation. Preincubation of cells with IGF-II increased adhesion to type IV collagen, fibronectin and laminin. IGFBP-6 had no effect on basal cell adhesion but completely inhibited the effects of IGF-II. LIM 1215 colon cancer cells are therefore IGF-responsive but IGF-II is not a major autocrine factor for these cells in monolayer, suggesting heterogeneity between colon carcinoma cell lines with respect to the role of the IGF system.

Induction of insulin-like growth factor binding protein expression by ICI 182,780 in a tamoxifen-resistant human breast cancer cell line

Earlier studies in our laboratory demonstrated that the steroidal antiestrogen ICI 182,780 is very effective in abolishing the tamoxifen‐resistant proliferation of MCF 7/5‐23 cells [1]. In addition, preliminary binding studies showed that ICI 182,780 increased the binding of insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I to the MCF 7/5‐23 cells, although this finding was not the result of an increase in the expression of the insulin‐like growth factor‐I receptor (IGF‐IR). Hence, we reasoned that the inhibition of tamoxifen‐resistant cell growth by ICI 182,780 might have been due to increased expression of insulin‐like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs).We observed the up‐regulation of non‐insulin‐suppressible IGF‐I binding in both the tamoxifen‐sensitive MCF 7/5‐21 cell line (1.5‐fold) and the tamoxifen‐resistant MCF 7/5‐23 cell line (2.5‐fold) after 5 days of treatment with ICI 182,780 (10−7 M) in serum‐free medium, suggesting a role for cell‐associated IGFBPs. Affinity cross‐linking experiments confirmed the presence of an IGF‐I:IGFBP complex of approximately 38‐kDa in tamoxifen or ICI 182,780‐treated cells. Western ligand blots showed higher levels of a soluble 30‐kDa IGFBP in media conditioned by either of the subclones that had been treated with ICI 182,780, an effect consistently opposed by estrogen (E2:10−9 M). RT‐PCR showed higher levels of IGFBP‐5 mRNA than any of the other known IGFBPs, suggesting that this was the major IGFBP subtype. The protein was subsequently identified by Western immunoblotting as IGFBP‐5. In conclusion, we postulate that this may be a mechanism contributing to the greater potency of ICI 182,780 in the growth inhibition of the MCF 7/5‐23, tamoxifen‐resistant cell line.

HaCaT human keratinocytes express IGF-II, IGFBP-6, and an acid-activated protease with activity against IGFBP-6.

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system plays an important role in skin. HaCaT human keratinocytes proliferate in response to IGFs and synthesize IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). Recently, IGFBP-6 was also identified by NH2-terminal sequencing, but it has not been identified by Western ligand blotting. In the present study, IGFBP-6 was detected in HaCaT-conditioned medium by use of immunoblotting and Western ligand blotting with 125I-labeled IGF-II. Proteolytic activity against IGFBPs, an important mechanism for regulation of their activity, was then studied. An acid-activated, cathepsin D-like protease that cleaved both IGFBP-6 and IGFBP-3 was detected. Although proteolysis did not substantially reduce the size of immunoreactive IGFBP-6, it greatly reduced the ability of IGFBP-6 to bind 125I-IGF-II as determined by Western ligand blotting and solution assay. HaCaT keratinocytes do not express IGF-I mRNA, but IGF-II mRNA and protein expression was detected. These observations suggest the possibility of an autocrine IGF-II loop that is regulated by the relative expression of IGF-II, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-6, and IGFBP proteases in these keratinocytes, although demonstration of this loop requires further study.The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system plays an important role in skin. HaCaT human keratinocytes proliferate in response to IGFs and synthesize IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). Recently, IGFBP-6 was also identified by NH2-terminal sequencing, but it has not been identified by Western ligand blotting. In the present study, IGFBP-6 was detected in HaCaT-conditioned medium by use of immunoblotting and Western ligand blotting with125I-labeled IGF-II. Proteolytic activity against IGFBPs, an important mechanism for regulation of their activity, was then studied. An acid-activated, cathepsin D-like protease that cleaved both IGFBP-6 and IGFBP-3 was detected. Although proteolysis did not substantially reduce the size of immunoreactive IGFBP-6, it greatly reduced the ability of IGFBP-6 to bind125I-IGF-II as determined by Western ligand blotting and solution assay. HaCaT keratinocytes do not express IGF-I mRNA, but IGF-II mRNA and protein expression was detected. These observations suggest the possibility of an autocrine IGF-II loop that is regulated by the relative expression of IGF-II, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-6, and IGFBP proteases in these keratinocytes, although demonstration of this loop requires further study.

Insulin‐like growth factors induce apoptosis as well as proliferation in LIM 1215 colon cancer cells

The insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) system plays an important role in cell proliferation and survival. However, more recently, a small number of studies have shown that IGFs induce apoptosis in some cells. Our initial studies showed this occurred in LIM 1215 colon cancer cells but not RD rhabdomyosarcoma cells. IGFs induced both proliferation and apoptosis in LIM 1215 cells, and the induction of apoptosis was dose‐dependent. [R54, R55]IGF‐II, which binds to the IGF‐I receptor with normal affinity but does not bind to the IGF‐II receptor, induced apoptosis to the same extent as IGF‐II, whereas [L27]IGF‐II, which binds to the IGF‐I receptor with 1000‐fold reduced affinity, had no effect on apoptosis. These results suggest that the IGF‐I receptor is involved in induction of apoptosis. Western blot analyses demonstrated that Akt and Erk1/2 were constitutively activated in RD cells. In contrast, phosphorylation of Akt and Erk1/2 were transient and basal expression of Akt protein was lower in LIM 1215 cells. Analysis of apoptosis‐related proteins showed that IGFs decreased pro‐caspase‐3 levels and increased expression of pro‐apoptotic Bad in LIM 1215 cells. IGFs co‐activate proliferative and apoptotic pathways in LIM 1215 cells, which may contribute to increased cell turnover. Since high turnover correlates with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer, this study provides further evidence for the role of the IGF system in its progression. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 58–68, 2007.

Cyclic AMP agonists increase levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-6 in PC12 rat phaeochromocytoma cells.

The predominant insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) synthesized by PC12 rat phaeochromocytoma cells is IGFBP-6. Since cAMP agonists regulate IGFBP-6 in other cells, and they may increase neurite outgrowth and catecholaminergic enzyme expression in PC12 cells, we studied regulation of IGFBP-6 by these agents. After 72 h incubation, forskolin and 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (CPT-cAMP) both increased IGFBP-6 protein levels in conditioned media to maximum levels of 231 +/- 40 and 275 +/- 30%, respectively. Incubation with forskolin resulted in a small, transient rise in IGFBP-6 mRNA levels which was insufficient to account for the increased protein levels. The increased protein levels also could not be attributed to increased cell number, protection of IGFBP-6 from proteolysis or release of IGFBP-6 from a cell-associated reservoir. These findings suggest that increased protein levels may have been due to increased translation of mRNA. Co-incubation of forskolin with dexamethasone (which decreases IGFBP-6 protein and mRNA) demonstrated that the effects of the latter were dominant. The effects of cAMP agonists and IGF-II, which increases IGFBP-6 protein but not mRNA levels, were not inhibited by rapamycin, suggesting that p70 S6 kinase is not involved. The effects of cAMP agonists on IGFBP-6 levels were not directly correlated with neurite outgrowth. These findings extend our knowledge of the molecular basis of the regulation of IGFBP-6 by cAMP agonists, and indicate a novel action of these agents in PC12 cells.