Thesis (doctoral)--Lund University, 1997. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted.

The studies presented in this thesis represent an attempt to characterise some aspects of the abnormalities of somatomedin physiology in protein-energy malnutrition. A suitable bioassay to study somatomedin was found in that of Van den Brande and Du Caju (1974) which makes use of uniform discs of cartilage punched from slices of immature porcine costal cartilage. The handling of the cartilage discs was made easy by the specially designed incubation rack. Preincubation increased sensitivity of the cartilage, and post incubation with radioactive tracer reduced the potential interference of varying sulphate content of assay samples. Serum samples were subjected to formal multipoint parallel line bioassay and data analysed by a computer programme designed to examine such assays. The bioassay was found to be sensitive to a concentration of serum of 5% and to have an index precision of less than 0.30 (and usually less than 0.20).

A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Science University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Johannesburg 1976 / This thesis describes the results of experimental investigation of aspects of the endocrine regulation of growth in the rabbit, rat and man. In particular the role of serum somatomedin and cartilage responsiveness to somatomedin have been examined. Throughout a relationship between the physiological control mechanisms, namely the stimulus and the degree of end- organ responsiveness, and the velocity of growth has been sought. / IT2017

Thesis (doctoral)--Karolinska Universitet, Stockholm, 1987. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--Karolinska Universitet, Stockholm, 1987. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--Rijksuniversiteit te Groningen.

Yu, Man Ying Susana. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-117). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract (in English) --- p.i / Abstract (in Chinese) --- p.iv / Acknowledgement --- p.vi / Table of contents --- p.viii / Symbols and abbreviations --- p.xii / Scientific names --- p.xiv / List of figures --- p.xv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Structure of ovarian follicles --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Regulation of ovarian follicle development --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Endocrine regulation --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1.1 --- Gonadotropins- FSH and LH --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1.2 --- Co-gonadotropin- growth hormone --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.2. --- Paracrine regulation --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Activin --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- The GH-IGF-I axis --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- The somatomedin hypothesis --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- "Structure and signaling of GH, GHR" --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Structure and signaling of IGF system --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Role of GH-IGF system in reproduction --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- GH action in ovarian functions --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.6 --- IGF-I action in ovarian functions --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.7 --- The mini GH-IGF axis within the ovary --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4 --- Objectives of present study --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- "Expression Profiles of the GH-IGF System in the Ovary of Zebrafish, Danio rerio" --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2 --- Material and Methods --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Animals --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Isolation of tissues and different stages of follicles from the zebrafish --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Separation of somatic follicle layers and oocytes --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Primary follicle cell culture --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Reverse transcription --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- "Validation of semi-quantitative RT-PCR assays for GH (gh), GHR (ghr), IGF-I (igf1), IGF-II (igf2), and IGF-I receptor (igf1r)" --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Data analysis --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Validation of semi-quantitative RT-PCR assays --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Spatial expression of GH-IGF in different tissues of zebrafish --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- "Localization of gh, ghr, igf1, igf2 and igf1r within the zebrafish follicle" --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Temporal expression profiles of GH-IGF system during folliculogenesis --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Regulation of the GH-IGF-I System and Its Cross-talk with the Activin System in the Zebrafish Ovary --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2 --- Material and methods --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Animals --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Chemicals and hormones --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Primary follicle cell culture --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Preparation of ovarian fragments --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- RT-PCR --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Construction of real-time PCR standards --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Real-time PCR and semi-quantitative RT-PCR --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Data analysis --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- "Expression of growth hormone (gh), growth hormone receptors (ghr1 and ghr2\ IGF-I (igf1), IGF-II (igf2), IGF-I receptor (igf1ra and igf1rb), activin subunits (inhba and inhbb) and follistatin (fst) in cultured zebrafish ovarian fragments" --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- "Establishment of real-time RT-PCR for zebrafish inhba, inhbb and bactin" --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- GH regulation of activin expression in cultured zebrafish follicle cells --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- GH regulation of IGF-I in cultured zebrafish follicle cells --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- IGF-I regulation of activin expression in cultured zebrafish follicle cells --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Activin regulation of IGF system --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.52 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Production of recombinant zebrafish growth hormone --- p.69 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2 --- Material and Methods --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Animals --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Construction of expression plasmids pPIC9K/zfGH --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Production of recombinant zebrafish GH using Pichia pastoris --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- SDS-PAGE and silver staining --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Purification --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Primary follicle cell culture --- p.75 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Zebrafish hepatic cell culture --- p.76 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- RNA extraction and RT-PCR --- p.76 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Real-time PCR --- p.77 / Chapter 4.2.10 --- Cell culture and transient transfection --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2.11 --- Luciferase reporter gene assay --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2.12 --- Data analysis --- p.79 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.79 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Production of recombinant zebrafish GH --- p.79 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Effect of recombiant zfGH on the expression of activin β Aand βB in cultured zebrafish follicle cells --- p.80 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Effect of zfGH on the expression of igf1 in cultured zebrafish hepatic cells --- p.80 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Luciferase reporter gene assay --- p.81 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.81 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- General Discussion --- p.94 / Chapter 5.1 --- Overview --- p.94 / Chapter 5.2 --- Major achievements of the present study --- p.95 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Demonstration of a local mini-GH-IGF-I axis within the zebrafish ovary --- p.96 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Differential expression profiles of the GH-IGF system during folliculogenesis --- p.96 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- The inter-relationship of GH-IGF and activin-follistatin systems --- p.96 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Production of recombinant zebrafish GH --- p.97 / Chapter 5.3 --- Future prospects --- p.97 / References --- p.102 / Symbols and Abbreviations / Symbols / α Alpha / β Beta / Abbreviations / 20β-HSD 20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase / bp Base pair / cAMP Cyclic adenosine monophosphate / cDNA Complementary cDNA / CHO Chinese hamster ovary / "DHP 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-prenane-3 -one" / DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid / EGF Epidermal growth factor

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2003. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

In mammals a single receptor protein binds both insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) and mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P) containing ligands, most notably lysosomal enzymes. However, in chick embryo fibroblasts IGF-II binds predominantly to a type 1 IGF receptor, and no IGF-II/Man 6-P receptor has been identified in this species. In order to determine if chickens possess an IGF-II/Man 6-P receptor, an affinity resin (pentamannosyl 6-phosphate (PMP) Sepharose) was used to purify receptors from chicken membrane extracts by their ability to bind mannose 6-phosphate. Then 125I-IGF-II was used to evaluate their ability to bind IGF-II. These experiments demonstrate that nonmammalian Man 6-P receptors lack the ability to bind IGF-II, suggesting that the ability to bind IGF-II has been gained recently in evolution by the mammalian Man 6-P receptor. The second area of study involves the serum form of the IGF-II/Man 6-P receptor. This receptor had been detected in the serum of a number of mammalian species, yet its structure, function, regulation, and origin were unknown. Initial studies, done with Dr. R. G. MacDonald, showed that the serum receptor is truncated such that the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain of the cellular receptor is removed. These studies also demonstrate a regulation of serum receptor levels with age, similar to that seen for the cellular receptor, and that the serum form of the receptor existed in several forms which appeared intact under nonreducing conditions, but as multiple proteolytic products upon reduction. Finally, these studies demonstrated that both the cellular and serum IGF-II/Man 6-P receptors are capable of binding IGF-II and Man 6-P simultaneously. In studies on the serum form of the IGF-II/Man 6-P receptor that I have conducted independently, the regulation of the serum IGF-II/Man 6-P and transferrin receptors by insulin has been demonstrated. In these studies, insulin injected into rats subcutaneously resulted in a time and dose dependent increase in serum receptor levels. Finally, to investigate the relationship of the serum IGF- II/Man 6-P receptor to the cellular form of the receptor, pulse chase experiments were performed. These experiments demonstrate that the soluble (serum form released into the medium) receptor is a major degradation product of the cellular receptor. Furthermore, the lack of detectable amounts of the lower Mr soluble receptor intracellularly and the parallel relationship of cell surface and soluble receptor suggest that the proteolysis is occurring from the cell surface. Finally, a number of experiments suggest that the degradation rate depends upon the conformation state of the receptor: binding of IGF-II or Man 6-P makes the receptor more susceptible to proteolysis while the presence of lysosomal enzymes prevents receptor proteolysis. In summary, the serum form of the IGF-II receptor is a proteolytic product of the cellular form of the receptor. The rate of release depends upon the number of receptors at the cell surface and the binding state of the receptor. In circulation, the receptor retains the ability to bind both types of ligands, it thus may serve as an IGF binding protein and/or a lysosomal enzyme binding protein. These results suggest a model whereby the cellular receptor is proteolytically cleaved by a plasma membrane protease to produce a short membrane anchored fragment and the serum receptor. In vivo this pathway serves as the major degradative pathway of the IGF-II/Man 6-P receptor, with the serum form being cleared from circulation by further degradation and reuptake.

A interação entre as vias de sinalização do ER, do IGF-I e da integrina 1 é essencial para a manutenção da homeostase da glândula mamária normal, e alterações nessas vias de sinalização estão associadas ao processo de tumorigênese da mama. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a influência e inter-relação entre as vias de sinalização do IGF-I, do ER e da integrina 1 na regulação da transcrição dos genes PHLDA1 e PAWR. Para isso, células MCF-7 foram tratadas, por diferentes tempos, com 10nM de 17- estradiol (E2), 12,5nM de IGF-I, 30M de LY294002 (inibidor da PI-3K), 30M de SB202190 (inibidor da p38MAPK) e 1M de ICI182780 (antagonista do ER), ou transfectadas com 40nM de siRNA para integrina 1. A expressão gênica foi avaliada por PCR em tempo real e a expressão protéica por Western Blot. A expressão do gene PHLDA1 aumentou após tratamento com E2 por 6h (p=0,05), e esse efeito foi inibido pelo tratamento com ICI (p<0,05). O tratamento com E2 por 24h inibiu a expressão do gene PAWR (p<0,05), e esse efeito foi dependente de ER, pois foi inibido pelo tratamento com ICI (p<0,05). O tratamento com IGF-I por 1,5h causou aumento na expressão do gene PHLDA1 (p<0,05); e o tratamento com IGF-I por 24h causou diminuição na expressão do gene PAWR (p<0,05). Foi observado aumento na expressão protéica de PHLDA1 após tratamento das MCF-7 com E2 ou IGF-I por 1:30h. A regulação da expressão do PAWR pelo IGF-I ocorreu através das vias da PI-3K e p38MAPK. O efeito do IGF-I sobre a expressão dos dois genes foi independente da ativação do ER, mas foi observado sinergismo entre E2 e IGFI na inibição da expressão dos transcritos do PAWR, com diminuição na expressão para nível menor do que o observado após tratamento com E2 ou IGF-I sozinhos (p<0,05). A repressão da expressão da integrina 1 resultou na diminuição dos níveis de expressão dos genes PHLDA1 e PAWR. Não foi observada interação entre o IGF-I e a integrina 1 na regulação dos genes PHLDA1 e PAWR. Portanto, o gene PHLDA1 é regulado positivamente pelo E2 e pelo IGF-I, mas não existe interação entre as vias. O gene PAWR é regulado negativamente pelo E2 e pelo IGF-I; o efeito do IGF-I é dependente da ativação da PI3-K e da p38MAPK, mas não do ER; e existe sinergismo entre E2 e IGF-I na regulação do PAWR / The interactions among ER, IGF-I and 1 integrin signaling pathways are essential for the maintenance of normal mammary gland homeostasis, and alterations in these pathways have been associated with mammary tumorigenesis. Therefore, the goal of this work was to investigate the influence and interaction among IGF-I, ER and 1 integrin signaling pathways on the regulation of PHLDA1 and PAWR transcription regulation. To accomplish that, MCF-7 cells were treated with 10nM 17-estradiol (E2), 12.5nM IGF-I, 30M LY294002 (a PI3-K inhibitor), 30M SB202190 (a p38MAPK inhibitor) and 1M ICI182,780 (ICI an ER antagonist), or transfected with 40nM siRNA aiming 1 integrin. Real time PCR and western blot were used to evaluate gene and protein expression, respectively. PHLDA1 mRNA expression increased after 6h of treatment with E2 (p=0.05), and this effect was inhibited by ICI (p<0.05). Treatment with E2 for 24h repressed PAWR gene expression (p<0.05) and this effect was dependent on ER, since treatment with ICI inhibited it (p<0.05). Treatment with IGF-I for 1.5h resulted in increased PHLDA1 gene expression (p<0,05) and also PHLDA1 protein expression; and treatment with IGF-I for 24h inhibited PAWR mRNA expression (p<0.05). IGF-I regulation of PAWR expression was dependent on PI3-K and p38MAPK activation. The regulation of both genes by IGF-I was independent of ER activation; however, IGF-I acted in synergism with E2 on PAWR expression resulting in lower PAWR expression than the observed after the treatments alone (p<0.05). Repression of 1 integrin expression resulted in downregulation of PHLDA1 and PAWR expression levels. No interaction was observed between IGF-I and 1 integrin on PHLDA1 and PAWR gene expression. In conclusion, PHLDA1 is positively regulated by E2 and IGF-I, but there is no interaction between them on PHLDA1 regulation. On the other hand, PAWR is negatively regulated by E2 and IGF-I; IGF-I effect is dependent on PI3-K and p38MAPK, but not on ER activation; E2 and IGF-I act synergistically on PAWR gene expression regulation