title: Tri-iodothyronine increases insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 expression in rat hepatocytes.
abstract: Previous in vivo studies demonstrated significant variations in insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-4 hepatic mRNAs and/or serum levels depending on the rat thyroid status. In this study we employed cultured hepatocytes from adult rats to demonstrate a possible direct regulation of these genes by tri-iodothyronine (T3). Northern blot analysis revealed that IGFBP-1 and -4 messages were clearly expressed, whereas IGFBP-2 signal was barely detectable. No significant effects on IGFBP-1 mRNA level or on peptide secretion were detected in T3-cultured hepatocytes. In contrast, significant increases in IGFBP-4 mRNA steady-state levels as well as in IGFBP-4 secretion were observed in hepatocytes cultured for 12-24 h in the presence of T3. The T3 effect on IGFBP-4 transcript levels appears to consist of enhanced gene transcription and is independent of ongoing protein synthesis. The T3-increased IGFBP-4 expression in cultured hepatocytes is consistent with our in vivo experiments demonstrating an increase in hepatic IGFBP-4 mRNA and serum IGFBP-4 levels in T3-treated rats. Furthermore, significant decreases in hepatic IGFBP-4 message and serum IGFBP-4 levels were observed in hypothyroid rats compared with euthyroid controls. Our data establish an important direct role for thyroid hormone in regulating IGFBP-4 expression and consequently IGF activity.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Fisiologia Generale, Università di Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Demori
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bottazzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Scharf
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fugassa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015151:Immunoblotting; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018974:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2; D018974:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D003609:Dactinomycin