preproenkephalin and Glioma

The antitumorigenic effects of endogenous opioid peptides and their presence in extracerebral tumors are well documented. In this study, methionine-enkephaline (met-enkephalin) was measured by radioimmunoassay in 108 glial and nonglial brain tumors and in 44 associated cyst fluids. By immunohistochemistry, the distribution of the peptide and its precursor, preproenkephalin A, was also analyzed. Met-enkephalin and preproenkephalin were detected in the cytoplasm and cell processes of all tumors. Moreover, for neuroectodermal tumors (i.e., gliomas, gangliogliomas, and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors), a strong inverse correlation (P < 0.0001) was observed between the met-enkephalin levels and the degree of malignancy (242.9, 148.3, 55.3, and 30.3 pg/mg protein for grade 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively). When compared to normal tissue, this differential expression mainly results from a decrease in the opioid peptide content in high-grade neuroectodermal tumors. Meningiomas and cerebral metastases displayed low met-enkephalin levels, similar to those of grade 4 neuroectodermal tumors. Large amounts of met-enkephalin were found in all cyst fluids. These data suggest that the endogenous opioid system is an integral component of brain tumors and that met-enkephalin may represent a useful malignancy marker in neuroectodermal tumors.

Topics: Brain Neoplasms; Cysts; Enkephalin, Methionine; Enkephalins; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Glioma; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Protein Precursors; Radioimmunoassay

Previous studies have demonstrated variability in the phenotype of rat C6 glioma cells. In the present study, we compared morphology, growth rate, and beta-adrenergic regulation of gene expression in early (P39-47) and late (P55-90) passage C6 cells. Morphological changes were observed in five independently derived, late passage populations. In four of the five, the untreated cells were more polygonal than the fibroblast-like parental cells, and only a small fraction exhibited process outgrowth after dbcAMP treatment. Untreated cells from the fifth late passage population had longer cytoplasmic processes than parental cells and responded to dbcAMP with further process outgrowth. All late passage populations had shorter generation times than the parental cells. In early passage cells, treatment with the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol (IPR), resulted in an increase in c-fos mRNA and a decrease in c-jun mRNA (Gu-bits RM, Yu H: J Neurosci Res, 30:625-630, 1991). Both of these immediate early gene responses were irreversibly lost between P50 and P55. Additional differences in basal or IPR-induced mRNA levels were observed for beta-APP, GFAP, NGF, and PPE, but not for a number of other mRNAs. These results are discussed in relationship to previously described differences in the ability of early and late passage C6 cells to accumulate cAMP (Mallorga P, et al.: Biochim Biophys Acta 678:221-229, 1981).

Topics: Actins; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; Animals; Blotting, Northern; Bucladesine; Cell Division; Enkephalins; Gene Expression; Genes, fos; Genes, jun; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Glioma; Isoproterenol; Kinetics; Nerve Growth Factors; Protein Precursors; Rats; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; RNA, Messenger; RNA, Neoplasm; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Tumor Cells, Cultured

C6 rat glioma cells were utilized as a model system to probe the 'serotonin/norepinephrine link' at the level of preproenkephalin (PPE) gene expression. The beta adrenoceptor mediated increase in PPE mRNA was attenuated by the selective beta 1 adrenoceptor antagonist metoprolol which blocked the isoproterenol induced cyclic AMP generation by 97%. The subtype nonspecific antagonist propranolol blocked both the isoproterenol induced increase in cyclic AMP and the increase in the PPE mRNA steady-state levels. Serotonin (5-HT) had no effect on the density of beta adrenoceptors or their down-regulation by isoproterenol and did not alter the PPE gene expression in the absence of the beta signal. However, 5-HT significantly deamplified the beta signal mediated enhancement of the PPE mRNA thus indicating that the aminergic link occurs beyond the beta adrenoceptor.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Animals; Cyclic AMP; Enkephalins; Gene Expression Regulation; Glioma; Glucocorticoids; Models, Biological; Norepinephrine; Protein Precursors; Rats; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; RNA, Messenger; Serotonin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Cultured C6 rat glioma cells contain mRNA coding for preproenkephalin (A), the precursor of methionine- and leucine-enkephalin. The abundance in untreated cells was determined by blot hybridization methods to be 3-6 pg per micrograms total RNA. Treatment of confluent cells for 12 h with 10 microM (-)-norepinephrine, which activates C6 adenylate cyclase, transiently elevated preproenkephalin mRNA to 3.3 and 7.7 times the control in the absence and presence of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone, respectively. Hydrocortisone and corticosterone also potentiated the effect of norepinephrine. However, glucocorticoids alone did not alter the preproenkephalin mRNA abundance. The effect of norepinephrine + dexamethasone was blocked by the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol but not by the alpha-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine. Forskolin, which directly activates adenylate cyclase, similarly elevated the preproenkephalin mRNA abundance; its effect was also potentiated by dexamethasone. C6 cells contain Met-enkephalin-containing protein resembling proenkephalin (apparent Mr 30,000) but little Met-enkephalin, suggesting a low level of proper precursor processing. Treatment with norepinephrine + dexamethasone raised the content of proenkephalin-like protein 11-fold. Thus, preproenkephalin mRNA levels in C6 cells are regulated synergistically by adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate and glucocorticoids. These results suggest modes of regulation of proenkephalin biosynthesis in normal rat enkephalinergic cells.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Animals; Cell Line; Dexamethasone; Drug Synergism; Enkephalin, Methionine; Enkephalins; Gene Expression Regulation; Glioma; Glucocorticoids; Norepinephrine; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Protein Precursors; Rats; RNA, Messenger; Transcription, Genetic

Regulation of preproenkephalin gene expression was studied in NG108-15 neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells. Untreated cells contain 20-120 fg preproenkephalin mRNA per microgram cellular RNA. Treatment of cells with a glucocorticoid (e.g. dexamethasone) for 24 hr or 8 days elevated the abundance of this mRNA to 3 or 9 times the control, respectively. Treatment with 8-bromo-cyclic AMP or an adenylate cyclase activator such as prostaglandin E1 or forskolin elevated preproenkephalin mRNA to twice the control or less. Treatment with both glucocorticoid and forskolin for 24 hr or 8 days markedly increased preproenkephalin mRNA to 5-8 and 30 times the control, respectively. Intracellular Met-enkephalin immunoreactivity was increased in parallel with the mRNA abundance. The results demonstrate that preproenkephalin gene expression is synergistically regulated by glucocorticoids and cAMP.

Topics: Base Sequence; Cells, Cultured; Colforsin; Cyclic AMP; Drug Synergism; Enkephalin, Methionine; Enkephalins; Gene Expression Regulation; Glioma; Glucocorticoids; Hybrid Cells; Neuroblastoma; Protein Precursors; RNA, Messenger