title: Intracellular angiotensin II increases the long isoform of PDGF mRNA in rat hepatoma cells.
abstract: Our recent published studies suggest that angiotensin II (AII), generated and retained intracellularly, enhances growth of H4-II-E-C3 rat hepatoma cells, an average of 33%. Proliferation conferred by introduction of a plasmid [ Ang(-S)Exp/pSVL ] encoding a signal sequence-depleted angiotensinogen [Ang(-S)Exp] into these cells (which we have shown possess ACE and renin mRNAs) is mediated, at least in part, by enhanced PDGF-A chain mRNA production and protein secretion. The mitogenic effect is inhibited by losartan suggesting that it involves AII interaction with an AT(1)-like receptor. Introduction of anti-AII antibodies into the medium of these transfected cells has no effect upon growth of the cells, suggesting that AII is retained by the cells and that intracellular AII is growth stimulatory. In the present study, we sought to further characterize the intracellular localization and mode of action of Ang(-S)Exp. Consistent with our expectations, we now show that a fusion product of Ang(-S)Exp with green fluorescent protein [Ang(-S)Exp/EGFP], generated from an expression plasmid, is abundant and primarily cytoplasmic. Wild-type angiotensinogen/EGFP, in contrast, is only detectable following a cold-block (which acts to enhance folding-kinetics and slow secretion) and is largely restricted to the secretory pathway. We further show, using semi-quantitative RT/PCR that the long isoform of PDGF mRNA is elevated in Ang(-S)Exp transfected cells and in AII-treated naive cells but not in losartan-treated Ang(-S)Exp transfected cells. We identify C-terminal amidation recognition sites within the long-form protein (that are not present in the short-form) and show that these cells possess PAM (amidating enzyme precursor) and carboxypeptidase E mRNAs (the corresponding proteins of which are sufficient for amidation). Inhibitors of amidation inhibit growth of naive and Ang(-S)Cntr/ pSVL -transfected cells (2.6-fold for phenylbutenoic acid and 3.5-fold for disulfiram treatment) but more profoundly inhibit growth of Ang(-S)Exp/pSVL -transfected cells (6.7-fold for phenylbutenoic acid and 13-fold for disulfiram). In conclusion, these data confirm that signal sequence-depleted Ang(-S)Exp is retained within cells and is largely cytoplasmic. Because C-terminal amidation is absolutely required for full biological potency of a number of peptide hormones (including oxytocin, gastrin and calcitonin), we postulate that growth effects of both intracellular AII and exogenous AII can be conferred by PDGF long-form, possibly through an amidation-dependent mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Division of Research, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, 1516 Jefferson Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA. jcook@ochsner.org
authors.forename: Julia L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Jason F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Giardina
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Richard N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Re
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D043423:Carboxypeptidase H; D002268:Carboxypeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000494:pharmacology; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017510:Protein Folding; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D000804:Angiotensin II; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C064180:4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; C035189:peptidylglycine monooxygenase; D002268:Carboxypeptidases; D043423:Carboxypeptidase H; D019808:Losartan; D004221:Disulfiram