Pascale Vertongen

Mutational analysis of the human vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor subtype VPAC2: role of basic residues in the second transmembrane helix

We investigated the role of two conserved basic residues in the second transmembrane helix arginine 172 (R172) and lysine 179 (K179) of the VPAC2 receptor. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) activated VPAC2 receptors with an EC50 value of 7 nM, as compared to 150, 190 and 4000 nM at R172L, R172Q and K179Q‐VPAC2 receptors, respectively. It was inactive at K179I mutated VPAC2 receptors. These results suggested that both basic residues were probably implicated in receptor recognition and activation. The VPAC2‐selective VIP analogue, [hexanoyl‐His1]‐VIP (C6‐VIP), had a higher affinity and efficacy as compared to VIP at the mutated receptors. VIP, Asn3‐VIP and Gln3‐VIP activated adenylate cyclase through R172Q receptors with EC50 values of 190, 2 and 2 nM, respectively, and through R172L receptors with EC50 values of 150, 12 and 8 nM, respectively. Asn3‐VIP and Gln3‐VIP behaved as partial agonists at the wild type receptor, with Emax values (in per cent of VIP) of 75 and 52%, respectively. In contrast, they were more efficient than VIP (Emax values of 150 and 150% at the R172Q VPAC2 receptors, and of 400 and 360% at the R172L receptors, respectively). These results suggested that the receptors R172 and the ligands aspartate 3 are brought in close proximity in the active ligand‐receptor complex. The K179I and K179Q mutated receptors had a lower affinity than the wild‐type receptors for all the agonists tested in this work: we were unable to identify the VIP amino acid(s) that interact with K179.

Analysis of the glucagon receptor first extracellular loop by the substituted cysteine accessibility method

Glucagon is an important hormone for the prevention of hypoglycemia, and contributes to the hyperglycemia observed in diabetic patients, yet very little is known about its receptor structure and the receptor-glucagon interaction. In related receptors, the first extracellular loop, ECL1, is highly variable in length and sequence, suggesting that it might participate in ligand recognition. We applied a variant of the SCAM (Substituted Cysteine Accessibility Method) to the glucagon receptor ECL1 and sequentially mutated positions 197 to 223 to cysteine. Most of the mutations (15/27) affected the glucagon potency, due either to a modification of the glucagon binding site, or to the destabilization of the active receptor conformation. We reasoned that side chains accessible to glucagon must also be accessible to large, hydrophilic cysteine reagents. We therefore evaluated the accessibility of the introduced cysteines to maleimide-PEO(2)-biotin ((+)-biotinyl-3-maleimido-propionamidyl-3,6-dioxa-octanediamine), and tested the effect of pretreatment of intact cells with a large cationic cysteine reagent, MTSET ([2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl]methanethiosulfonate bromide), on glucagon potency. Our results suggest that the second and third transmembrane helices (TM2 and TM3) are extended to position 202 and from position 215, respectively, and separated by a short β stretch (positions 203-209). Glucagon binding induced a conformational change close to TM2: L198C was accessible to the biotin reagent only in the presence of glucagon. Most other mutations affected the receptor activation rather than glucagon recognition, but S217 and D218 (at the top of TM3) were good candidates for glucagon recognition and V221 was very close to the binding site.

Development of High Affinity Selective VIP1 Receptor Agonists

The biological effects of VIP are mediated by at least two VIP receptors: the VIP1 and the VIP2 receptors that were cloned in rat, human and mice. As the mRNA coding for each receptor are located in different tissues, it is likely that each receptor modulates different functions. It is therefore of interest to obtain selective agonists for each receptor subtype. In the present work, we achieved the synthesis of two VIP1 receptor selective agonsits derived from secretin and GRF. [R16]chicken secretin had IC50 values of binding of 1,10,000, 20, and 3000 nM for the rat VIP1-, VIP2-, secretion- and PACAP receptors, respectively. This peptide, however, had a weaker affinity for the human VIP1 receptor (IC50 of 60 nM). The chimeric, substituted peptide [K15, R16, L27]VIP(1-7)/GRF(8-27) had IC50 values of binding of 1,10,000, 10,000 and 30,000 nM for the rat VIP1-, VIP2-, secretin- and PACAP receptors, respectively. Furthermore, its also showed an IC50 of 0.8 nM for the human VIP1 receptor and a low affinity for the human VIP2 receptor. It is unlikely that this GRF analogue interacted with a high affinity to the pituitary GRF receptors as it did not stimulate rat pituitary adenylate cyclase activity. The two described analogues stimulated maximally the adenylate cyclase activity on membranes expressing each receptor subtype.

The long-acting vasoactive intestinal polypeptide agonist RO 25-1553 is highly selective of the VIP2 receptor subclass

RO 25-1553 is a synthetic VIP analogue that induced a long-lasting relaxation of tracheal and bronchial smooth muscles as well as a reduction of edema and eosinophilic mobilization during pulmonary anaphylaxis. In the present study, we tested in vitro the capacity of RO 25-1553 to occupy the different VIP/PACAP receptor subclasses and to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity. The cellular models tested expressed one single receptor subtype: Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the rat recombinant PACAP I, rat VIP1, and human VIP2 receptors; SUP T1 cells expressing the human VIP2 and HCT 15 and LoVo cells expressing the human VIP1 receptor. RO 25-1553 was threefold more potent than VIP on the human VIP2 receptor, 100- and 600-fold less potent than VIP on the rat and human VIP1 receptors, respectively, and 10-fold less potent than VIP and 3000-fold less potent than PACAP on the PACAP I receptor. RO 25-1553 was a full agonist on the VIP2, the PACAP I, and the rat recombinant VIP1 receptor but a partial agonist only on the human VIP1 receptor. Thus, RO 25-1553 is a highly selective agonist ligand for the VIP2 receptor subclass.

Localization of transforming growth factor β1 and its latent binding protein in human chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is thought to be the mediator of fibrosis in liver, glomerular, and pulmonary fibrosis. This study investigated the expression of TGF-beta 1 precursor (beta 1 latency-associated peptide), latent TGF-beta 1-binding protein (LTBP), and TGF-beta 1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in chronic pancreatitis. METHODS Beta 1 latency-associated peptide and LTBP expression were studied by immunohistochemistry, and TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression was studied by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis in normal pancreatic parenchyma and in tissues from patients with chronic pancreatitis of different etiologies. RESULTS In normal specimens, TGF-beta 1 precursor was present in islet cells and in a few ductal and acinar cells but not in periductal connective tissue. No immunoreactivity for LTBP was detected. In chronic pancreatitis, TGF-beta 1 precursor was detected mainly in mononuclear cells located in the fibrotic areas and also in ducts damaged by fibrosis, more frequently in calcifying chronic pancreatitis. LTBP was present predominantly in mononuclear cells and in the extracellular matrix around them. TGF-beta 1 mRNA was either not expressed or was faintly expressed in normal tissue, whereas intense signals were detected in chronic pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest the involvement of TGF-beta 1 in the development of fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis and the important role of inflammatory cells.

Autoradiographic Visualization of the Receptor Subclasses for Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP) in Rat Brain

Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP) exerts its biological effects through interaction with two high affinity receptors named the VIP1- and the VIP2 receptors. Their messenger RNAs have been mapped in rat brain by in situ hybridization. A cyclic peptide (RO 25-1553) and a secretion analogue ([R16]chicken secretin) were identified as selective agonist peptides for the VIP2- and VIP1 receptors, respectively. The iodinated peptides retained the high affinity and selectivity of the unlabelled peptides and were used for the mapping of each receptor subclass in rat brain. VIP1 receptors were present in the cerebral cortex, the piriform cortex, the claustrum, the caudate-putamen, the dentate gyrus, the lateral amygdaloïd nucleus, the anteroventral thalamic nucleus, the rhomboïd nucleus, the supraoptic nucleus and the choroïd plexus. VIP2 receptors were present in the cerebral cortex, the claustrum, the caudate-putamen, the nucleus accumbens, the lateral septal nuclei, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the basolateral amygdaloïd nucleus, the Ammons horn, the thalamic nuclei except some centromedial nuclei, the medial habenula, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the periventricular nucleus, the mammilary nucleus, the superior colliculus and the choroïd plexus.

Detection of c-Ki-ras gene codon 12 mutations from pancreatic duct brushings in the diagnosis of pancreatic tumours.

Differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis is sometimes difficult and cytological examination of brushings or aspirated material collected during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) remains disappointing. As point mutations in codon 12 of the c-Ki-ras 2 gene are found in most pancreatic adenocarcinoma and not in chronic pancreatitis, this study analysed prospectively the presence of these mutations in brushing samples collected during ERCP in 45 patients (26 males, 19 females) showing a dominant stricture of the main pancreatic duct at pancreatography: 24 with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 16 with chronic pancreatitis, and five intraductal mucin hypersecreting neoplasms. Twenty of 45 patients presented equivocal ERCP findings that did not permit a definite diagnosis. Ki-ras mutations at codon 12 were detected using a rapid and sensitive method based on polymerase chain reaction mediated restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and confirmed by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products. Results were compared with those provided by routine brush cytology. A definitive diagnosis was established for each patient. Mutations were detected in 20 of 24 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (83%), but in none of the chronic pancreatitis patients and intraductal mucin hypersecreting neoplasms, irrespective of their location. By contrast, only 13 of 24 pancreatic adenocarcinoma (54%) were detected by conventional cytological examination, which yielded four false negative and seven non-contributive results. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of molecular biological and cytological methods were 83%-76%, 100-83%, and 90%-58%, respectively. Notably the mutations could be detected in six patients with small tumour size (< or = 2 cm). In conclusion, Ki-ras analysis performed on pancreatic brushing samples is an efficient procedure, more accurate than cytology in the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and highly specific in the differentiation between neoplastic and chronic inflammatory ductal changes, especially in patients showing inconclusive ERCP findings.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptors in human neuroblastomas

BACKGROUND Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a specific endothelial cell mitogen that stimulates angiogenesis and plays a crucial role in tumor growth. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of VEGF and of its two high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptors (KDR and Flt-1) in neuroblastoma surgical samples and cell lines. PROCEDURE The VEGF, KDR, and Flt-1 mRNA expression in neuroblastoma surgical samples and cell lines was studied by RT-PCR. The receptors were identified in [(125)I]VEGF binding and in functional studies (effect on cell growth). VEGF production by neuroblastomas was investigated by the ELISA method. RESULTS It was possible to observe the mRNAs encoding for VEGF and its two receptors in some of the surgical specimens examined, including most of the high-grade tumors. It was also possible to demonstrate that the SK-N-BE cell line expressed VEGF, KDR, and Flt-1 mRNAs as well as biologically active receptors: The cells bound [(125)I]-VEGF, and their growth was stimulated by exogenous VEGF. Moreover, VEGF protein could be detected in their culture conditioned medium. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that, in addition to its effect on angiogenesis, VEGF may affect neuroblastoma cell growth directly and could be an autocrine growth factor.

VIP and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) have an antiproliferative effect on the T98G human glioblastoma cell line through interaction with VIP2 receptor.

Functional VIP/PACAP receptors were identified in the human glioblastoma cell line T98G, based on the relative potency of VIP, PACAP and PACAP-38 to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity. Analysis of the T98G cells mRNA by reverse transcription followed by a polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated the expression of the mRNA coding for the VIP2 receptor subclass only. VIP, PACAP-27 and PACAP-38 were potent and efficIent inhibitors of cell proliferation, assessed by the colorimetric MTT assay. VIP, PACAP-27 and PACAP-38 also reduced the incorporation of 3H-thymidine in T98G cells, but did not significantly alter the percentage of cells present at each stage of the cell cycle. Thus, VIP and PACAP, probably acting through a VIP2 receptor subtype, decreased cell proliferation.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide and its receptors are expressed in human neuroblastomas

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has been considered as an autocrine growth factor in neuroblastomas. Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptides (PA‐CAPs) are newly recognized members of the VIP family of neurohormones. As compared to VIP, PACAP has been reported to be biologically more potent and more efficient in tissues expressing selective PACAP receptors rather than common VIP/PACAP receptors. PACAPs and VIP interact with the same affinity and stimulate adenylate cyclase activity with the same efficacy and potency on the VIP receptors, but PACAPs act also on a more selective PACAP receptor that also recognizes VIP but with a 100‐ to 1,000‐fold lower affinity. Thus, depending on the type of receptors expressed at a cell surface, PACAP may be more potent and efficient than VIP. The capacity of 22 surgical specimens of neuroblastomas and of 5 established cell lines to synthesize PACAP and VIP and to synthesize and express PACAP receptors and VIP receptors was studied. Using the reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain (RT‐PCR) method with specific primers, we detected the mRNAs coding for PACAP and VIP in 19 and 3 out of 22 samples, respectively. PACAP mRNA was expressed in 3 of the 5 cell lines studied and VIP mRNA in 4. Using the same techniques, PACAP and VIP receptors mRNA were detected in 21, and 13 of the 22 tumor samples and in 5 and 1 of the cell lines studied, respectively. The expression of the PACAP receptor was demonstrated by direct binding studies and/or by the relative potency of PACAPs and VIP to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in 16 of the 22 tumors and in all the cell lines. In addition, there was no correlation between tumor stage and the expression of mRNA coding for the peptides and the receptors. The present results demonstrated that PACAP could also be a candidate as an autocrine regulator of neuroblastoma which a higher activity than VIP.