title: Regulation of alpha-subunit mRNA transcripts by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in pituitary cell cultures and alpha T3-1 cells.
abstract: Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) increases glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit mRNA levels suggesting a role for PACAP in maintaining the high levels of alpha-subunit protein characteristic of the pituitary. The present study used primary pituitary cell cultures and the alpha T3-1 pituitary cell line to investigate how PACAP affects alpha-subunit mRNA transcripts. Stimulation of cultured pituitary cells with 10 nM PACAP38, 10 nM GnRH, or the combination, for 24 h increased alpha-subunit mRNA levels 1.5-fold, whereas GnRH more effectively (P<0.01) stimulated alpha-subunit protein release than did PACAP38 (3.2- vs. 2.0-fold). alpha-Subunit mRNA levels in alphaT3-1 cells were also increased by PACAP38 and by GnRH to maximum values at 12 h (P<0.05), and alpha-subunit protein secretion rose proportionately and in parallel with alpha-subunit mRNA levels. PACAP38 was a 100-fold more potent stimulator of alpha-subunit mRNA than was VIP, and a VIP-antagonist failed to block the stimulatory effect of PACAP38, suggesting an effect via type PACAP 1 receptors. Type I receptor mRNA transcripts were identified by Northern analysis in alphaT3-1 cells. Depletion of PCK activity by PMA failed to block the stimulatory effect of PACAP38, but prevented GnRH from increasing alpha-subunit mRNA levels and alpha-subunit secretion. PACAP38, like 8Br-cAMP and forskolin, stimulated (P<0.05) luciferase (LUC) activity in alphaT3-1 cells transfected with a plasmid containing the first 846 of 180 base pairs of the 5'-flanking region of the human alpha-subunit gene linked upstream to a LUC reporter gene. Finally, experiments using the transcription inhibitor DRB reveal that PACAP does not appreciably change alpha-subunit mRNA half-life. These findings are consistent with the proposal that PACAP contributes to the high levels of alpha-subunit protein characteristic of the pituitary by activating Type I receptors and stimulating alpha-subunit gene transcription in part by the cAMP/PKA pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA 15213-2582, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsujii
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Attardi
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Winters
mesh_terms: D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C495401:ADCYAP1 protein, human; C495403:Adcyap1 protein, rat; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005576:Colforsin; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D008156:Luciferases; D011493:Protein Kinase C