title: Mitogenic functions of endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor and Bombina variegata 8 on steroidogenic adrenocortical cells.
abstract: Endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF) and its homolog Bombina variegata (Bv8), also termed prokineticin-1 and -2 (PK1 and PK2) respectively, are newly identified peptides with specific mitogenic activity on endocrine gland-derived endothelial cells. In the present study, we analyzed the sites of expression of EG-VEGF/PK1, Bv8/PK2, and their receptors (PKR1 and PKR2) in the adrenal cortex and checked for new biological functions of these factors on the endocrine cell compartment. RT-PCR and immunostaining analyses revealed that glomerulosa and fasciculata cells express both factors and both receptors. EG-VEGF/PK1 had no effect on the steroidogenic activity of both bovine glomerulosa and fasciculata cells but appeared to be mitogenic for both cell types. Binding of EG-VEGF/PK1 to fasciculata cells stimulated the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin suppressed this effect, indicating that it was Gi mediated. EG-VEGF/PK1 also increased the phosphorylation of Akt in endocrine cells of the adrenal cortex. EG-VEGF/PK1 and Bv8/PK2 thus represent new regulatory peptides acting as autocrine mitogens for endocrine cells.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 878, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keramidas
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Faudot
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cibiel
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Feige
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism; D042662:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Endocrine-Gland-Derived / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D006133:Growth Substances; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013256:Steroids; D042662:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Endocrine-Gland-Derived; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3