title: Bone morphogenetic protein 2 and activin A synergistically stimulate follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit transcription.
abstract: Transforming growth factor beta superfamily ligands regulate pituitary FSH production and secretion. The best-described examples are the activins and inhibins, which respectively stimulate and hinder Fshb subunit transcription in gonadotrope cells. More recently, members of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) sub-family were shown to regulate FSH production in a manner analogous to the activins. Here, we used the murine gonadotrope cell line, LbetaT2, to investigate mechanisms through which BMP2 regulates the Fshb gene. Although expressed at low levels in LbetaT2 cells, Bmp2 mRNA was readily detected in adult murine pituitary gland. Recombinant BMP2 stimulated Fshb promoter-reporter activity, although its effects were weaker than those of equimolar activin A or B. BMP4 stimulated transcription comparably with BMP2, but BMPs 6 and 7 were about tenfold less potent. Remarkably, BMP2 and activin A synergistically upregulated Fshb transcription and endogenous Fshb mRNA levels in LbetaT2 cells. Although functionally cooperative, the two ligands appeared to use distinct intracellular mechanisms to mediate their responses because neither ligand altered the timing or magnitude of the other's effects. Receptor overexpression analyses suggested that BMP2 may preferentially signal through complexes of the type II receptor, BMPR2, and the type I receptor, activin receptor like kinase (ALK2; Acvr1), to stimulate Fshb transcription. BMP2 rapidly activated the Smad1/5/8 intracellular signaling cascade and Smad8 overexpression potentiated BMP2's effects. In summary, BMPs regulate Fshb transcription in LbetaT2 cells and can amplify the already robust effects of the activins through a distinct signaling mechanism. Because BMP2 is expressed in the adult mouse pituitary, it may act as critical paracrine co-regulator of FSH synthesis by gonadotropes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3G 1Y6.
authors.forename: Katharine B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Khivansara
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lamba
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Stuart C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sealfon
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bernard
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C525718:BMP2 protein, human; C525719:Bmp2 protein, mouse; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins