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T cell receptor (TCR)-based immunotherapies have shown great potential for the safe and efficacious treatment of patients suffering from various solid malignancies. However, novel strategies are needed to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and to enhance the efficacy of TCR-T cell (TCR-T) therapies in solid tumors. NY-ESO-1 is a cancer/testis antigen that is highly expressed in various solid tumor indications while its expression in healthy tissues is restricted to male germ cells. Our HLA-A2-restricted, NY-ESO-1-specific TCR used here was selected from a non-tolerized T cell repertoire of a healthy donor using Medigene’s proprietary Allo-HLA TCR priming technology and high-throughput TCR isolation and characterization processes. To prevent inhibition of TCR-T cell function via the PD1-PDL1 axis within the TME, the NY-ESO-1-TCR was co-expressed with a chimeric PD1-41BB co-stimulatory switch receptor, consisting of the extracellular domain of PD1 and the intracellular domain of the 41BB co-stimulatory receptor. Thereby, an inhibitory signal from the PD1-PD-L1 axis is turned into a co-stimulatory one, which results in a dual mechanistic benefit, and superior TCR-T cells with respect to tumor cell killing, cell proliferation and poly-cytokine secretion. Co-expression of PD1-41BB on NY-ESO-1 TCR-T cells led to a 3-fold increase in IFN-γ release and a higher proliferation index (~1.5 fold) (after antigen encounter. Under conditions of repeated antigen exposure in vitro using HLA-A2/NY-ESO-1/PDL1-positive tumor spheroids, TCR-T cells co-expressing PD1-41BB showed enhanced functional activities compared to TCR-T cells carrying the TCR alone. In vitro single-cell secretome analyses demonstrated up to a 5-fold increase in polyfunctional T cells and a higher polyfunctional strength index (PSI) for NY-ESO-1 TCR-T cells expressing PD1-41BB compared to “naked” NY-ESO-1 TCR-T cells lacking PD1-41BB. Typical Th1 cytokines/proteins like IFN-γ, TNF-α and Granzyme B mainly contributed to the superior PSI of NY-ESO-1-TCR-T cells co-expressing PD1-41BB. Importantly, our data indicate that transgenic PD1-41BB has the capacity to provide a co-stimulatory signal despite the presence of endogenous PD1 which is upregulated in stimulated “naked“ NY-ESO-1 TCR-T cells. In summary, we find that co-expression of a chimeric PD1-41BB co-stimulatory switch receptor significantly enhances in vitro NY-ESO-1 TCR-T cell proliferation, functionality and anti-tumor activity. Analyses of single-cell T cell cytokine polyfunctionality helped us to unravel the mode of action of NY-ESO-1 TCR-T cells co-expressing PD1-41BB and point to their complex display of effector, stimulatory and chemoattractant cytokines as a potential driver for superior recognition of tumor cells. Citation Format: Andrea Coluccio, Stefanie Tippmer, Petra Prinz, Maja Buerdek, Kathrin Mutze, Barbara Loesch, Kathrin Davari, Giulia Longinotti, Dolores J. Schendel. T cells co-expressing a highly potent NY-ESO-1-specific TCR and a chimeric PD1-41BB co-stimulatory switch receptor show a favorable polyfunctional profile for the treatment of solid tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4057.

The cancer-testis antigen PRAME (PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma) is expressed at high levels in several oncological indications, including leukemias and solid tumors, as confirmed by mRNA or protein expression studies. Its low to absent expression on normal tissues allows suitable discrimination of tumors for targeted immunotherapy. As an intracellular protein, PRAME-derived peptides can be presented by several HLA class I allotypes, including HLA-A*02:01, and specific T cell recognition has been reported for different PRAME peptide-HLA (pHLA) ligands. Thus, developing a small set of TCRs covering different HLAs could increase the number of PRAME-positive patients eligible for treatment with T cell receptor (TCR)-based immunotherapy approaches. We determined PRAME expression in a group of Caucasian patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). In addition, we analyzed the HLA-A genotype distribution in a set of healthy blood donors to determine how many and which different TCRs would be needed to optimally cover a Caucasian population in Germany. For the analysis of PRAME expression, bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) samples from 165 patients (AML=133, MDS=32), obtained from multiple clinical sites across Germany, were studied. Ninety-six samples were from newly diagnosed patients (58%) while 68 samples were from relapsed/refractory patients (41%), irrespective of percentage of leukemic blasts. Disease status was not known for one patient. PRAME mRNA expression was measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). A threshold for PRAME-negativity was derived by measuring average PRAME mRNA expression in 22 healthy individuals. Detection of 99 or more copies of PRAME, as measured in 12.5 ng RNA, was considered positive. Of the 165 AML/MDS patients, 79 (48%; AML= 69, MDS=10) were positive for PRAME mRNA. Among relapsed/refractory patients, 52% (35/68) were classified as PRAME-positive, versus 45% (43/96) of first-diagnosis AML/MDS patients. NGS high-resolution HLA-A genotyping showed that 55% of all patients had an HLA-A*02:01 allotype, which is higher than the approximately 45% expected for a random Caucasian population and accounted for by the fact that some patients were included with known HLA-A2 status due to prior assessment for transplant eligibility. In combination, 43 (26%) AML/MDS patients were positive for PRAME above the threshold level as well as for HLA-A*02:01, thereby being potential candidates for treatment with PRAME-specific, HLA-A*02:01-restricted TCR immunotherapy. In a group of 141 healthy local blood donors, NGS high-resolution HLA-A genotyping showed an expected distribution of HLA-A*02:01, HLA-A*01:01, HLA-A*03:01, HLA-A*24:02 and HLA-A*11:01 of 43%, 26%, 25%, 19% and 8% respectively, with some donors heterozygous for two of these particular allotypes. To determine the smallest number of TCRs needed to address the largest number of patients, we assessed how the non-overlapping distribution for each potential HLA-A allotype would contribute to patient coverage. Starting with the 43% of patients who would be covered by an HLA-A*02:01-restricted TCR immunotherapy product, additional coverage of 21%, 14%, 9%, and 1% of patients could be achieved with TCR products using HLA-A*01:01-, HLA-A*03:01-, HLA-A*24:02- and HLA-A*11:01-restricted TCRs, respectively. In conclusion, approximately half of AML/MDS patients are PRAME-positive and could be addressed with PRAME-specific TCR immunotherapy approaches. An HLA-A*02:01-restricted TCR addresses the most patients in a population in Germany at 43%, while coverage could be increased to 87% with addition of three TCRs restricted by the next most common HLA-A allotypes, contingent upon suitable TCR discovery. Disclosures Addo: Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH: Current Employment. Davari:Medigene Immunotherapies: Current Employment. Raffegerst:Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Tippmer:Medigene Immunotherapies: Current Employment. Schendel:Medigene AG: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Pinkernell:Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company.

In this paper, we describe a new method for preparation of human dendritic cells (DCs) that secrete bioactive IL-12(p70) using synthetic immunostimulatory compounds as TLR7/8 agonists. Monocyte-derived DCs were generated using a procedure that provided mature cells within 3 d. Several maturation mixtures that contained various cytokines, IFN-γ, different TLR agonists, and PGE2 were compared for impact on cell recovery, phenotype, cytokine secretion, migration, and lymphocyte activation. Mixtures that included the TLR7/8 agonists R848 or CL075, combined with the TLR3 agonist polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, yielded 3-d mature DCs that secreted high levels of IL-12(p70), showed strong chemotaxis to CCR7 ligands, and had a positive costimulatory potential. They also had excellent capacity to activate NK cells, effectively polarized CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to secrete IFN-γ and to induce T cell-mediated cytotoxic function. Thereby, mature DCs prepared within 3 d using such maturation mixtures displayed optimal functions required for vaccine development.

GLUT4 translocation and activation of glucose uptake in skeletal muscle can be induced by both physiological (i.e., insulin, nerve stimulation, or exercise) and pharmacological (i.e., phorbol ester) means. Recently, we demonstrated that high glucose levels may mimic the effects of phorbol esters on protein kinase C (PKC) and insulin receptor function (J Biol Chem 269:3381–3386, 1994). In this study, we tested whether the previously described effects of phorbol esters on translocation of GLUT4 in myotubes in culture and also in rat skeletal muscle might be mimicked by glucose. We found that stimulation of C2C12 myotubes with both insulin (10–7) mol/l, 5 min) and glucose (25 mmol/l, 10 min) induces a comparable increase of the GLUT4 content in the plasma membrane. To test whether this effect occurs in intact rat skeletal muscle as well, two different model systems were used. As an in vitro model, isolated rat hindlimbs were perfused for 80 min with medium containing 6 mmol/l glucose ± insulin (1.6 × 10–9 mmol/l, 40 min) or 25 mmol/l glucose. As an in vivo model, acute hyperglycemia (> 11 mmol/l glucose, 20 min) was induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of glucose under simultaneous suppression of the endogenous insulin release by injection of somatostatin. In both models, subcellular fractions were prepared from hindlimb skeletal muscle, and plasma membranes were characterized by the enrichment of the marker enzyme α1 Na+ -K+ -ATPase. Acute hyperglaycemia in vivo (n = 5) and in vitro (n = 6) induced an increases of GLUT4 content in the α1 Na+ -K+ -ATPase–enriched fraction (in vivo, 2.45 ± 0.47-fold increase to basal [mean ±SE]; in vitro, 1.71 ± 0.14-fold increase to basal), which was Quantitatively similar to that obtained after insulin treatment (in vivi, 2.35 ± 0.62-fold increase to basal; in vitro, 1.91 ± 0.21-fold increase to basal). Glucose-in-duced GLUT4 translocation in myotubes was prevented by prior addition of the PKC inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinyl-by prior addition of the PKC inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinyl-sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine; in rat skeletal muscle,GLUT4 translocation was paralleled by a translocation of PKC β, while no effect on PKC α, δ, ∊, and ζ was observed. These results suggest that glucose-induced GLUT4 translocation might represenet an insulin-independent autoregulatory mechanism of the skeletal muscle to rapidly increase glucose uptake in acute hyperglycemia. Activation of PKC β might be involved in this mechanisum in skeletal muscle. GLUT4 translocation was paralleled by a translocation of PKC β, while no effect on PKC α, δ, μ, and ¶ was observed. These results suggest that glucose-induced GLUT4 translocation might represent an insulin-independent autoregulatory mechanism of the skeletal muscle to rapidly increase glucose uptake in acute hyperglycemia. Activation of PKC P might be involved in this mechanism in skeletal muscle.

Bradykinin exerts a broad spectrum of cellular effects on different tissues. It is believed that these effects are predominantly mediated by the recently cloned B2 receptor. The mechanism of post-receptor signal transduction is not known in detail. Involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) was suggested and activation of the classical PKC isoforms alpha and beta was recently demonstrated. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the B2 receptor also activates new (delta, epsilon) and atypical (zeta) PKC isoforms. To investigate this, chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, stably transfected with human B2 receptor, were used. In these cells the PKC isoforms alpha, delta, epsilon and zeta were detected by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. To monitor hormone-induced PKC translocation plasma membranes were prepared. Stimulation of the cells with bradykinin resulted in a rapid (30-60 s) translocation of the PKC isoforms alpha, epsilon, and zeta. Translocation of PKC delta was not detected. The effect of bradykinin was reduced by simultaneous addition of the receptor antagonist HOE 140, a bradykinin-related decapeptide. The data show that the B2 receptor in this cell model is able to activate, in addition to the classical PKC isoform alpha, the new PKC isoform epsilon and the atypical PKC isoform zeta. To test whether these effects are as well observed in a non-transfected cell, the experiments were repeated in human foreskin fibroblasts which naturally express high levels of B2 receptors. In this cell system similar results on PKC alpha, epsilon, and zeta were observed, suggesting that all three PKC isoforms are involved in signal transduction of the B2 receptor.

Troglitazone (CS045), a compound belonging to the thiazolidine diones, is being tested as a new oral antidiabetic agent. Evidence exists from animal studies and clinical trials with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients that Troglitazone might reduce insulin resistance. The molecular mechanism of this effect is not understood. In this study, we investigated whether Troglitazone might interfere with the mechanism of glucose-induced insulin resistance. Several studies indicate that hyperglycemia reduces the kinase activity of the insulin receptor in different cell types. This effect is paralleled by translocation of several protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, and it can be prevented by PKC inhibitors, which suggests that glucose-induced receptor desensitization is mediated by activation of PKC. We studied the effect of hyperglycemia on the insulin receptor kinase activity and its modulation by Troglitazone in rat-1 fibroblasts that stably overexpress the human insulin receptor. Before stimulation with insulin (10−7 M), cells were acutely exposed to hyperglycemic conditions in the absence or presence of Troglitazone (0.01–2 μ/ml). The insulin receptor was solubilized from a plasma membrane fraction or whole cell lysates, and proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotted against antiphosphotyrosine and anti-insulin receptor β-subunit (CT 104) antibodies. Acute hyperglycemia (25 mM glucose) induced a significant inhibition of the insulin receptor kinase (IRK) activity within 30 min (inhibition to 30 ± 12.5% of maximal insulin-stimulated β-subunit phosphorylation, n = 9, P < 0.01).The glucose-induced inhibition of the insulin receptor kinase could be antagonized by a preincubation of the cells with Troglitazone before addition of 25 mM glucose (72 ± 13.5% of maximal insulin-stimulated 3-subunit phosphorylation after 20–30 min of preincubation at a concentration of 2 μg/ml Troglitazone, n = 9, P < 0.01). In addition, Troglitazone is also able to reverse the inhibition of the insulin receptor kinase caused by a prior glucose incubation. In parallel with the decrease of the IRK activity, the phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) was inhibited (inhibition to 45 ± 11.8% of maximal insulin-stimulated IRS-1 phosphorylation, n = 4, P ± 0.01), and this inhibition also could be reduced by Troglitazone (84 ± 15.7% of maximal insulin-stimulated IRS-1 phosphorylation in the presence of 2 μg/ml Troglitazone, n = 4, P ± 0.01). Taken together, the data suggest that Troglitazone is able to prevent and reverse hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance of the insulin receptor in rat-1 fibroblasts. This mechanism might be relevant for the in vivo activity of this compound.

Rat-1 fibroblasts stably overexpressing high levels of human insulin receptor were used as a model system to study the effects of hyperglycemia on insulin receptor tyrosine kinase (IRK) activity and protein kinase C (PKC) translocation in parallel in the intact cell. Glucose (10-25 mM) induced a significant reduction of IRK activity (tyrosine phosphorylation of IR-beta-subunit and IR-substrate-1) within 10 min. This effect was paralleled by a rapid translocation of several PKC isoforms (cPKC alpha, nPKC delta, nPKC epsilon, nPKC zeta) to the plasma membrane within 1 min. Kinetics of IRK inhibition and PKC translocation are consistent with the idea that the glucose effect on IRK is mediated by PKC activation. This hypothesis is supported by further observations. Addition of the protein kinase C inhibitor H-7 can prevent the effect of glucose on IRK. Inhibition of IRK is also observed after stimulation of the cells with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, which can substitute for a physiological activator of PKC. Glucose (25 mM) increases the 32P incorporation in serine residues of the beta-subunit of IRK. We conclude that high levels of glucose induce inhibition of IRK in vivo. There is indirect evidence that this effect is mediated by a glucose-induced PKC translocation/activation and serine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor.

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a life-threatening complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. PTLD is efficiently prevented by adoptive transfer of EBV-specific T cells from the donor. To make EBV-specific T cells available in urgent clinical situations, we developed a rapid protocol for their isolation by overnight stimulation of donor blood cells with peptides derived from 11 EBV antigens, interferon-γ surface capture, and immunomagnetic separation. Six patients with PTLD received 1 transfusion of EBV-specific T cells. No response was seen in 3 patients who had late-stage disease with multiorgan dysfunction at the time of T-cell transfer. In 3 patients who received T cells at an earlier stage of disease, we observed complete and stable remission of PTLD. Two patients have remained free from EBV-associated disease for more than 2 years. CD8+ T cells specific for EBV early antigens rapidly expanded after T-cell transfer, temporarily constituted greater than 20% of all peripheral blood lymphocytes, and were maintained throughout the observation period. Thus, a rapid and sustained reconstitution of a protective EBV-specific T-cell memory occurred after the infusion of small numbers of directly isolated EBV-specific T cells.

The mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P)/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) II receptor has separate binding sites for Man-6-P and IGF II. It targets newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes from the Golgi to acidic pre-lysosomal organelles and mediates endocytosis of Man-6-P-containing ligands and IGF II. The two classes of ligands, Man-6-P and IGF II, as well as IGF I and the epidermal growth factor, induce in fibroblasts a transient redistribution of the receptor from internal membranes to the cell surface (Braulke, T., Tippmer, S., Neher, E., and von Figura, K. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 681-686). Here we show that the redistribution induced by IGF I and IGF II is accomplished without affecting the internalization rate of cell surface receptors. The redistribution results in an increased binding of ligands to the Man-6-P- and IGF II-binding sites of the receptor. Furthermore, the uptake of the lysosomal enzyme arylsulfatase A and of a Man-6-P neoglycoprotein is stimulated 2-3-fold by IGF I and IGF II, and this effect persists for at least 6 h. The IGF I- and IGF II-induced receptor redistribution does not affect the targeting of newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes. These results show that important functions of the Man-6-P/IGF II receptor such as binding and internalization of ligands can be up-regulated by the ligands of this receptor and other growth factors such as IGF I through redistribution of the receptor.

The intracellular effects of bradykinin are mediated through the recently cloned B2 kinin receptor which belongs to the superfamily of receptors with seven transmembrane domains. The molecular events which transduce the bradykinin signal on the post-receptor level are not understood in detail. We studied whether in human foreskin fibroblasts bradykinin treatment induces tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins. Using phosphotyrosine antibodies we detected a bradykinin-dependent phosphorylation of a group of proteins of about 130 kDa and an additional signal around 70kDa after starvation of cells. The effect evoked by 10 nM bradykinin was rapid (2 min) and it was partially reduced by the B2-kinin-receptor antagonist Hoe 140 which was shown to be a weak inducer of tyrosine phosphorylation. The bradykinin-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation events were reproduced in human embryonal kidney 293 fibroblasts which were transiently transfected with the rat B2 kinin receptor, but they were not observed in untransfected 293 control cells. These data suggest that the B2 kinin-receptor subtype is involved. Upon fractionation of cells the 130kDa protein group was recovered both in the membrane and the cytosolic protein fraction. To assess the specificity of this bradykinin effect we stimulated human foreskin fibroblasts with epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and insulin. While IGF-I, insulin and EGF were almost ineffective, PDGF stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of 130-kDa bands with a similar pattern to that produced by bradykinin. Immunoprecipitation experiments with specific antibodies against potential candidate proteins in the molecular-mass range around 130kDa revealed positive results for the focal adhesion kinase FAK and the p130 Src substrate while negative results were obtained for the GTPase-activating protein GAP, the phospholipase C-gamma1, the Janus kinase JAK-1 and vinculin. The data suggest that the tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK and the pl30 Src substrate might be involved in the B2-kinin-receptor signalling cascade.

Insulin resistance of the skeletal muscle plays a key role in the development of the metabolic endocrine syndrome and its further progression to type II diabetes. Impaired signaling from the insulin receptor to the glucose transport system and to glycogen synthase is thought to be the cause of skeletal muscle insulin resistance. An incomplete activation of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, which is found in type II diabetes, appears to contribute to the pathogenesis of the signaling defect. Available data suggest that the impaired tyrosine kinase function of the insulin receptor is not due to an inherited defect but rather is caused by a modulation of insulin receptor function. We used rat-1 fibroblasto and NIH-3T3 cells stably overexpressing human insulin receptor and 293 cells transiently overexpressing human insulin receptor to characterize conditions modulating the signaling function of the insulin receptor kinase. Using these cell models, we could demonstrate that activation of different protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms by high glucose levels or phorbol esters causes a rapid inhibition of the receptor tyrosine kinase activity. This effect is most likely mediated through serine phosphorylation of the receptor β-subunit. It can be prevented by PKC inhibitors and the new oral antidiabetic agent thiazolidindione. The data suggest that PKC might be an important negative regulator of insulin receptor function. Because we have recently shown that bradykinin activates different isoforms of PKC in these cell types, an inhibitory cross talk between the bradykinin receptor and the insulin receptor through PKC activation seemed possible. However, we were unable to observe an insulin receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition through bradykinin, suggesting that different isoforms of PKC are activated by hyperglycemia and bradykinin. On the other hand, a modulation of bradykinin signals by insulin could be demonstrated in these cells. Bradykinin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins of ∼130 and 70 kDa was inhibited by insulin treatment of rat-1 flbroblasts. These data suggest that signals from the insulin receptor modify signaling from the bradykinin receptor to tyrosine phosphorylation of different cellular proteins.

Fetuins are among the major plasma proteins, yet their biological role has remained elusive. Here we report the molecular cloning of rat fetuin and the sequence analysis of a full-length clone, RF619 of 1456 bp with an open reading frame of 1056 bp encoding 352 amino acid residues. The coding part of RF619 was identical with the cDNA sequence of the natural inhibitor of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase from rat (pp63) except for four substitutions and a single base insertion causing divergence of the predicted protein sequences. Partial amino acid sequences of rat plasma fetuin were in agreement with the predictions based on the RF619 cDNA. Purified rat fetuin inhibited the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase in vitro. Therefore, we conclude that RF619 and pp63 cDNA encode the same protein, i.e. authentic rat fetuin which is a functional tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

The tumor-promotor phorbol dibutyrate (PDBt) increases the binding of a neoglycoprotein containing mannose 6-phosphate (Man6P) and of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) to the Man6P/IGF-II receptor at the cell surface. This effect is dependent on time and concentration and is also seen with synthetic 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol, but not with 4 alpha-phorbol, an inactive tumor-promoter. The increase is due to a 3-4-fold increase in the number of cell-surface, receptors, accompanied by a 1.6-fold increase in ligand-binding affinity. The internalization rate of the Man6P/IGF-II receptor is not affected by PDBt, suggesting that the redistribution of these receptors to the cell surface is due to an accelerated externalization rate. The redistribution of Man6P/IGF-II receptors did not impair the sorting of newly synthesized Man6P-containing ligands while uptake of these ligands is 2-4-fold increased. Inactivation or down regulation of protein kinase C decreased the binding of the Man6P-containing neoglycoprotein to 65% of controls. Incubation of cells with Man6P, IGF-I, IGF-II or epidermal growth factor induces a rapid redistribution of Man6P/IGF-II receptors to the plasma membrane [Braulke, T., Tippmer, S., Neher, E. & von Figura, K. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 681-686]. Incubation with PDBt prevented the effect of growth factors but not that of Man6P on receptor redistribution. Inactivation of protein kinase C did not affect the Man6P/IGF-II receptor redistribution induced by Man6P and growth factors. These data suggest that Man6P, growth factors and activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters and diacylglycerols modulate Man6P/IGF-II receptor cell-surface binding by at least two independent mechanisms, receptor redistribution as well as an increase of binding affinity, which might be involved in regulation of endocytosis of ligands.

Mannose 6-phosphate, insulin like growth factors I and II (IGF I, IGF II), insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) induce a 1.5- to 2-fold increase of mannose 6-phosphate binding sites at the cell surface of human skin fibroblasts. The increase is completed within 10-15 min, is dose and temperature dependent, reversible and transient even in the presence of the effectors. It is due to a redistribution of mannose 6-phosphate/IGF II receptors from internal membranes to the cell surface, while the affinity of the receptors is not affected. Combinations of mannose 6-phosphate with IGF I, IGF II or EGF stimulate the redistribution of the receptor to the cell surface in an additive manner, while combinations of the growth factors result in a non-additive stimulation of redistribution. The redistribution is not dependent on extracellular calcium and appears also to be independent of changes of free intracellular calcium. Pre-treatment of fibroblasts with cholera toxin or pertussis toxin increases the number of cell surface receptors 2- and 1.5-fold, respectively. Neither of the toxins affects the redistribution of mannose 6-phosphate/IGF II receptors induced by the growth factors, while both toxins abolish the receptor redistribution induced by mannose 6-phosphate. These results suggest a multiple regulation of the cell surface expression of mannose 6-phosphate/IGF II receptors by Gs- and Gi-like proteins sensitive to cholera toxin and pertussis toxin and by stimulation of mannose 6-phosphate/IGF II, IGF I and EGF receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)