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While many endothelial cell lines exist, few are of human origin with characteristics close to the parent endothelial cell. We derived a subline (HUVEC-CS) of immortalized human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC-C) that proliferate in standard growth media and exhibit positive acetylated low-density lipoprotein (AcLDL) uptake, express eNOS, CD31 and ve-cadherin, and spontaneously form capillary-like structures when grown on Matrigel. HUVEC-CS also maintain endothelial cell characteristics at the level of mitogenesis, kinase activation and vasodilator production. Like primary HUVEC cells, HUVEC-CS express many of the key proteins necessary for vasodilator production, including epithelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), HSP 90, cav-1 and -2, cPLA2, and COX-1 and -2. Prostaglandin I synthase (PGIS) was not detectable by Western blot analysis, consistent with primary HUVEC in which PGI2 production is minimal. Receptors were detected for angiotensin II (AII), bradykinin, ATP and growth factors. ATP induced a dose- and time-dependent rise in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Initially, ATP stimulates P2Y receptors rather than P2X receptors, as demonstrated by the inability of ATP to initiate a Ca2+ response subsequent to emptying of the internal Ca2+ stores by thapsigargin. AII, bradykinin, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) also caused a rise in [Ca2+]i in a subset of the cells. ATP, basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF), EGF and VEGF induced mitogenesis and caused a rise in ERK 2 activation within 10 min. L-Arginine to L-citrulline conversion assays showed that ATP, EGF and VEGF induced a significant rise in eNOS activity, and this correlates with an ability to induce Ca2+ mobilization and ERK 2 activation. In conclusion, HUVEC-CS are indeed endothelial cells and appear to be functionally very similar to primary HUVEC. These cells will prove a valuable tool for future studies in both basic and therapeutic sciences.

Previous studies of the effects of angiotensin II (All), alone or in combination with activators of the protein kinase. A signalling pathway, have yielded inconsistent findings on the expression of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD and 17 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450c17) as well as the corresponding responses on steroid secretory products in human adrenocortical cells. We have used the human adrenocortical carcinoma H295R cell further to evaluate this question, as well as to determine the role of protein kinase C in each of these responses to All. Treatment with All alone resulted in a marked increase in aldosterone secretion and a significant increase in cortisol secretion (1-8-fold). The increased formation of 17-hydroxysteroids was accompanied by an increased level of P450c17 mRNA and activity. Increases in 3 beta-HSD expression were also seen at the level of mRNA and to a lesser extent, at the level of activity. Because of the comparatively low basal 17 alpha-hydroxylase and high basal 3 beta-HSD activities of H295R cells, however, the overall effect of All treatment was actually a rise in the 17 alpha-hydroxylase/3 beta-HSD activity ratio, so resulting in increased formation of 17 alpha-hydroxysteroids such as cortisol. While treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) reproduced the effect of All on 3 beta-HSD expression, TPA failed to reproduce the effects of All on P450c17 because it caused a marked decrease in P450c17 expression. Thus the stimulatory effect of All on P450c17 expression, unlike that on 3 beta-HSD expression, was not mediated by protein kinase C but, like the action of K, was probably mediated via the Ca2+ signalling pathway. Treatment with forskolin resulted in a dramatic increase in both cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) secretion together with increases in expression of 3 beta-HSD and P450c17 as measured at the level of mRNA and activity. Consistent with the increase in 17 alpha-hydroxysteroid formation, the effect on P450c17 expression was greater than that on 3 beta-HSD at the level of activity, so a larger 17 alpha-hydroxylase/3 beta-HSD activity ratio was achieved. Cotreatment with forskolin and All, however, resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in cortisol and DHEA secretion concomitant with a marked attenuation of 3 beta-HSD and P450c17 expression. While forskolin-induced expression of 3 beta-HSD was not further increased at the level of mRNA by cotreatment with All, additivity was observed as the level of activity changed. Thus All cotreatment resulted in a marked reduction in the forskolin-induced increase in the 17 alpha-hydroxylase/3 beta-HSD activity ratio, and so 17 alpha-hydroxysteroid synthesis was attenuated. The effect of All cotreatment on changes in forskolin-induced 3 beta-HSD activity was blocked by the All type 1 (AT1) antagonist DuP753 (Losartan), confirming the involvement of the AT1 receptor-linked phospholipase C in activating protein kinase C.

Activin and inhibin are structurally related dimeric glycoproteins belonging to the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily of proteins which are synthesized and secreted by the granulosa cells of the ovary. Although initially characterized by their ability to influence FSH secretion from pituitary cells, paracrine regulatory roles of these factors on neighboring ovarian theca interna have been suggested. While inhibin has been shown to increase and activin to decrease the production of androgens, the mechanisms of action are not well defined, partly due to difficulties in obtaining adequate numbers of thecal cells from individual patients or animal models. Using a unique human ovarian thecal-like tumor (HOTT) cell culture model system we investigated the biochemical and molecular mechanisms controlling C19 steroidogenesis and the effects of activin and inhibin on the activity and expression of key ovarian thecal steroidogenic enzymes, cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc), 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta HSD) and 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase cytochrome P450 (P450c17). Steroid production, level of steroidogenic enzyme mRNA expression, and enzyme activity following treatment with forskolin, inhibin-A and activin-A were examined. Basal steroid production, enzyme activities, and steroidogenic enzyme mRNA levels were not markedly different following treatment with activin (25 ng/ml) or inhibin (25 ng/ml) alone. Forskolin (10 microM) markedly increased production of both androstenedione (fivefold) and progesterone (threefold) as well as the activity of 3 beta HSD (sevenfold), and P450c17 (sevenfold) over basal. Forskolin stimulated the expression of mRNA for P450scc (fourfold), 3 beta HSD (threefold), and P450c17 (eightfold) over basal. Androstenedione accumulation was decreased by 60% in the forskolin plus activin group compared with forskolin alone, while progesterone production was maintained. This was attributed to a reduction of P450c17 mRNA (45% of forskolin alone) and activity (45% of forskolin alone). In contrast, co-treatment with forskolin and inhibin increased androstenedione production by 40% while decreasing progesterone by 40% compared with forskolin alone. Concomitantly, this was associated with a higher P450c17 mRNA expression (1.5-fold) and activity (twofold) but with minimal effects on the mRNA for 3 beta HSD and P450scc. HOTT cell responses to activin (0.05-50 ng/ml) and inhibin (0.05-50 ng/ml) in the presence of forskolin demonstrated dose-dependent effects on the steroid accumulation, enzymatic activity and mRNA expression of P450c17. Additionally, the differences seen on mRNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes in response to these factors were time-dependent. In summary, forskolin stimulated C19 steroid production from HOTT cells by increasing the expression of all steroidogenic enzymes examined. Inhibin and activin exerted differential effects on the expression of these enzymes which resulted in alterations in the steroid profile toward production of C19 steroids in the case of inhibin and away from C19 steroids in the case of activin. The influence of these important intraovarian factors on the expression of P450c17, a pivotal enzyme in thecal cell production of C19 steroids, could impact greatly on the follicular milieu of a normal developing follicle as well as in pathophysiological disorders such as polycystic ovarian syndrome.