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Expression of peptide growth factors and regulation of the cell cycle in adrenocortical cells

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Author(s):
Ivan Tadeu Rebustini
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Doctoral Thesis
Press: São Paulo.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Hugo Aguirre Armelin; Ohara Augusto; Anamaria Aranha Camargo; Bettina Malnic; Maria Aparecida Nagai
Advisor: Hugo Aguirre Armelin; Claudimara Ferini Pacicco Lotfi
Abstract

ACTH and locally produced peptide growth factors regulate the proliferation in adrenocortical cells. Our previous results of biological assays, heparin-sepharose chromatography and Western blot indicated that PDGF and FGF-like factors are synthesized in Y-1 adrenocortical cell line. But the interaction among the ACTH stimulation and locally produced peptide growth factors, and their contribution for the cell cycle control, remains to be investigated. The main objectives of these project were: 1. To characterize peptide growth factors and their respective receptors expressed in adrenocortical cells; 2. To investigate the regulation of the expression of peptide growth factors under ACTH stimulation; 3. To find the mechanism of action of the locally produced peptide growth factors and to determine their contribution in the cell cycle control. The experimental models utilized were the Y-1 mouse adrenocortical cell line and primary cultures from rat adrenocortex. The results found were: 1. Several peptide growth factors and their respective receptors, corresponding to PDGF (A and B), FGF2 isoforms, IGF (1 and 2), TGFβ (1 , 2 and 3), VEGF-A, TGFα and EGF were detected by RT-PCR and confirmed by cloning and sequencing; 2. Two mRNAs splicing variants, as well the low (LMW-FGF2) and the high (HMW-FGF2) molecular weigh isoforms for FGF2 were detected in adrenocortical cells. The very low basal level of the endogenous LMW-FGF2 in untreated cells was up regulated after the ACTH stimulation; 3. In regard to the intracellular distribution of FGF2 in adrenocortical cells, the endogenous (ACTH induced) LMW-FGF2 was found predominantly in he cytoplasm, but the exogenous (recombinant) LMW-FGF2 was internalized into the nucleus in a time and dose dependent manner; 4. FGFRs corresponding to FGFRlb, FGFR2c and FGFR3b isoforms were detected and characterized in adrenocortical cells. All of them were up regulated under ACTH and FGF2 treatments. The expression of FGFRs could be silenced by RNAi approach, allowing to investigate the contribution of the FGF signaling for the cell cycle control. (AU)