| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
ARTICLES |
Departments of Pharmacology (D.B.Z., J.C.), and Structural and Cellular Biology (G.L.W., W.E.Z.), College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Danna B. Zimmer, MSB 3130, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688. E-mail: dzimmer{at}jaguar1.usouthal.edu
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Despite their importance in linking calcium homeostasis and cell
function, very little information is available regarding the effects of
diabetes on the function of the S100 family of calcium receptor
proteins. The name S100 was derived from the observation that the two
original members of this family, S100
and S100ß (reviewed in Ref.11), are soluble in 100% ammonium sulfate. A new nomenclature, which
reflects the genomic organization of the family members, has been
recently adopted and is used throughout this report; S100
is now
designated S100A1, and S100ß is now designated S100B. Each S100A1 and
S100B subunit contains two EF-hand calcium-binding domains. Like
calmodulin and troponin C, binding of calcium to S100A1/S100B results
in conformational change that exposes a hydrophobic patch.
Calcium-modulated proteins possess no known enzymatic activity and
function by interaction with other proteins, termed target proteins,
via this hydrophobic patch. Unlike calmodulin, S100 proteins are a
diverse family with 17 current members and at least three additional
members to be reported (Heizmann, C. W., personal communication). In
addition, expression of each member of the family is restricted to a
unique set of cell types. For example, S100A1 is expressed in neurons,
renal tubule cells, slow-twitch skeletal muscle fibers, and
cardiomyocytes. These characteristics make S100 proteins ideal
candidates for providing cell-type specificity to calcium signal
transduction. Alterations in the expression of S100 proteins have been
documented in numerous disease states including cardiomyopathy (12),
Alzheimers disease, cancer, and diabetes (reviewed in Ref.11).
Previous studies on S100 expression in diabetes were limited to one tissue (13), white fat, even though S100 proteins are expressed in many other cell types (reviewed in Ref.11). In addition, these previous studies did not determine which S100 isoform(s) were altered by type I diabetes. As a first step in determining the molecular events that link S100 calcium receptor proteins to type I diabetes and abnormal cell function, we have quantitated the effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on S100A1 and S100B expression in nine different tissues. Included in the study were tissues associated with insulin synthesis and action (pancreas, heart, skeletal muscle, liver, and fat) as well as tissues that have been reported to express S100A1 and/or S100B. Quantitative Northern dot blots demonstrated that S100B steady state messenger RNA (mRNA) levels are coordinately down-regulated in diabetic tissues while S100A1 mRNA levels are up-regulated, down-regulated, or unchanged, depending on the tissue. Furthermore, S100A1 and S100B steady state mRNA levels and protein levels are not necessarily coordinately regulated. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the effects of type I diabetes on S100A1 and S100B expression are tissue-specific and involve transcriptional/posttranscriptional as well as translational/posttranslational mechanisms. In addition, changes in the complement and level of the target proteins/enzymes regulated by S100 proteins also occur in diabetic tissues. Thus, type I diabetes alters S100A1/S100B function at three levels: activation of S100-regulated processes by increased intracellular calcium; activation or inhibition of S100-regulated processes by increasing or decreasing S100 expression; and/or activation or inhibition of S100-regulated process by increasing or decreasing the expression of S100 target proteins.
| Materials and Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Quantification of S100A1 and S100B steady state mRNA levels
Total RNA was isolated from frozen tissue (brain, fast-twitch
skeletal muscle (vastus lateralis), slow-twitch skeletal muscle
(soleus), heart, kidney, liver, spleen, white fat, and pancreas) using
RNA STAT-60 (TEL-TEST "B" Inc., Friendswood, TX) and the protocol
provided by the supplier. After resuspension in water, the RNAs were
extracted with phenol, ethanol precipitated, resuspended in water, and
quantitated by absorbance readings at 260 and 280 nm. After
denaturation in glyoxal, total RNA samples were size-fractionated on
1.2% agarose gels containing 10 mM
NaH2PO4, pH 7.0 (15). The RNAs were transferred
to Gene Screen Hybridization Membranes (New England Nuclear, Boston,
MA) and immobilized by UV cross-linking; the glyoxylation reaction was
reversed by boiling in 10 mM Tris-base. Probes for Northern
blots were prepared by PCR amplification using Taq DNA
polymerase (Promega, Madison, WI) with buffer and nucleotide conditions
recommended by the supplier. PCR consisted of 30 cycles of denaturation
at 94 C for 1 min, annealing at 55 C for 1 min, and extension at 75 C
for 3 min. The S100A1 primers [5'-GACCCTCATCAATGT-3' (Operon
Technologies, Inc., Almeda, CA) and 5'-CTGTTCTCCCAGAAGAAGTT-3'
(DNAgency, Aston, PA)] produced a 252-bp fragment whose sequence
corresponds to nucleotides 85337 of the rat S100A1 cDNA (16). The
S100B primers [5'-GATGTGTTCCATCAGTACTCT-3' (Operon Technologies) and
5'-CTCATGTTCAAAGAACTCAT-3' (DNAgency)] produced a 239-bp fragment
whose sequence corresponds to nucleotides 37276 of the rat S100B cDNA
(17). For quantitative dot blots, samples were denatured in glyoxal,
diluted in 10x SSC (1x SSC = 0.15 M NaCl, 0.015
M sodium citrate) and applied to Gene Screen Hybridization
Membranes using a BRL Hybri-Dot Apparatus (BRL, Gaithersburg, MD).
After 30 min, the samples were drawn through the membrane with vacuum
and each well was washed two times with 10x SSC. The membranes were
then UV cross-linked and boiled, and duplicate blots were probed for
S100A1 or S100B mRNA as described above. After multiple exposures of
each filter were obtained, the probe was removed by boiling, and the
filters were rehybridized with a mouse 18S ribosomal cDNA probe
(American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, MD). The ribosomal
oligonucleotide primers (5'-TCTAGAGCTAATACATGCCGACG-3' and
5'-GGACTCATTCCAATTACAGGGCC-3i (Operon Technologies)
produced a 420-bp fragment containing 5'-sequences of the 18S mRNA
(18). All blots were scanned using a GS-250 Molecular Imager (Bio-Rad
Laboratories, Hercules, CA), and the peak area of each dot was
determined with Phosphor-Analyst software (Bio-Rad Laboratories). The
relative S100A1/S100B mRNA level was calculated as the ratio of
S100A1/B probe bound/ribosomal probe bound. This ensured that the
quantity of total RNA bound to the membrane did not affect the
quantification. Data were expressed as the mean ± SE
of a minimum of three different RNA preparations from tissues obtained
from different animals. For populations that exhibited equal
SD values, a t test was used to determine the
statistical significance of differences between S100A1/B mRNA levels in
control and diabetic tissues (Graph Pad Instat, Graph-Pad Software, San
Diego, CA). For populations that had unequal SD values
(S100B in brain; S100A1 in fast-twitch, kidney, and heart) the
nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used (Graph Pad Instat) to
determine statistical significance.
Quantification of S100A1 and S100B protein levels
Competition RIAs were used to quantitate S100A1 and S100B
protein levels (19). Soluble extracts of control and diabetic brain,
skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, liver, testes, and lung were prepared
by homogenization in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 1
mM EGTA, 1 mM ß-mercaptoethanol and
centrifugation at 10,000 x g for 1 h. Our
previous studies on S100 protein levels in tissues and cell lines have
demonstrated that the greatest variability in the RIA arises from
animal to animal variation (20, 21). Therefore, all extracts were
prepared from tissues obtained from a minimum of three different
animals. For each extract, duplicate competition curves generated using
serial dilutions that ranged from neat to 1:300 were assayed. For each
sample that exhibited a competition curve, the amount of S100A1 or
S100B in nanograms was extrapolated from the midpoint of the linear
range of the S100A1 or S100B competition curve, respectively. The
variability in duplicate competition curves for these samples was less
than 15% and is similar to that reported previously (19, 20, 21). Only
differences that were 200% or larger were considered significant.
Detection of S100A1 and S100B target proteins
Normal and diabetic brain, fast-twitch skeletal muscle,
slow-twitch skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, liver, spleen, white fat,
and pancreas were homogenized in 50 mM Tris-base, pH 7.5, 1
mM EDTA, 1 mM ß-mercaptoethanol. Particulate
(pellet) and soluble (supernatant) fractions were obtained by
centrifugation at 10,000 x g. After fractionation on
duplicate 12.5% polyacrylamide-SDS gels, S100A1 and S100B binding
proteins were visualized using a gel overlay procedure (21).
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
Next we wanted to know whether S100B protein levels were increased in other tissues, in addition to the brain, in response to type I diabetes. Therefore, S100B protein levels were measured by RIA in seven different tissues (brain, skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, liver, testes, and lung). First, like the mRNA studies, S100B protein distribution was consistent with previous tissue distribution studies (reviewed in Ref.16). Furthermore, only those tissues with detectable S100B protein in control animals contained S100B in diabetic animals. Once again, these data confirm that diabetes does not result in S100B expression in tissues that do not normally express S100B. Second, for control tissues that expressed detectable S100B protein (brain and testes), S100B protein levels were 100% higher in diabetic tissues, which is significantly greater than the 15% variability in the assay. These results suggest that S100B protein levels are up-regulated in all S100B-expressing tissues in response to diabetes. The universality of this conclusion cannot be determined without data from additional S100B-expressing tissues. Nonetheless, the down-regulation of S100B steady state mRNA levels and concomitant up-regulation of S100B protein levels in response to type I diabetes occurs in multiple tissues.
S100A1 expression in other diabetic tissues
Unlike S100B, whose expression is limited to only a few cell
types, S100A1 is expressed in a large number of tissues (16). To
determine whether S100A1 and S100B expression is coordinately regulated
by type I diabetes, quantitative Northern dot blots were used to
measure steady state S100A1 mRNA levels in control and diabetic
tissues. The same tissues that were used for quantitating S100B mRNA
levels were used to quantitate S100A1 mRNA levels: insulin-synthesizing
tissues (pancreas), insulin target tissues (skeletal muscle, heart,
kidney, and liver), and tissues that express S100A1 (white fat,
skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen)(16). All nine
tissues examined contained detectable levels of S100A1 mRNA. All of
these tissues have been previously reported to express S100A1 mRNA
(16). Interestingly, some diabetic tissues exhibited statistically
significant (P < 0.05) increases in S100A1 mRNA levels
(fast-twitch skeletal muscle); others exhibited statistically
significant (P < 0.05) decreases in S100A1 mRNA levels
(brain); and still others exhibited no significant change in S100A1
mRNA levels (spleen, liver, white fat, and pancreas). Although the
S100A1 mRNA levels in heart and slow-twitch skeletal muscle fibers
decreased, these differences were not quite significant. Thus, unlike
S100B mRNA levels, which are coordinately down-regulated in all
diabetic tissues examined, the effects of type I diabetes/insulin
insufficiency on S100A1 steady state mRNA levels are
tissue-specific.
The next question to be examined was whether S100A1 protein levels were coordinately regulated in different tissues in response to type I diabetes. S100A1 protein levels were measured by RIA in the same tissues used to quantitate S100B protein expression (brain, skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, liver, testes, and lung). First, S100A1 protein was detected in brain, skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, testes, and lung. All of these tissues have been reported previously to express S100A1 (reviewed in Ref.16). In contrast to previous studies on S100A1 protein distribution that have reported S100A1 protein in liver (reviewed in Ref.16), we detected no S100A1 protein in this organ. Since these studies have used the same antibodies and RIA techniques, it is unlikely that these differences are technological. It is more likely that animal variability and/or nutritional status are responsible. It will be important in future studies to clarify the expression of S100A1 protein in the liver. Interestingly, S100A1 protein levels in the diabetic kidney were 400% higher than control kidney and in the diabetic lung they were 800% higher than control lung. In diabetic skeletal muscle S100A1 protein levels were 20% of control. These changes were significantly greater than the 10% variability in the RIA. In the remaining tissues (brain, heart, and testes) differences in S100A1 protein levels in normal and diabetic tissues were not significant and could be accounted for by variability in the RIA. Altogether, these data suggest that changes in S100A1 protein expression in response to type I diabetes/insulin insufficiency are tissue-specific.
When S100A1 RNA and protein levels were compared, each tissue exhibited a different response. In the kidney, S100A1 protein and mRNA levels coordinately increased. In the brain and heart, S100A1 protein levels were unchanged, despite a statistically significant reduction in S100A1 steady state mRNA levels in both tissues. In contrast, S100A1 protein levels in skeletal muscles either increased (fast-twitch fibers) or remained unchanged (slow-twitch fibers) despite a significant reduction in S100A1 protein in skeletal muscle. Thus, the mechanisms that regulate these changes are complex and involve transcriptional/posttranscriptional as well as translational/posttranslational mechanisms. Regardless of mechanism, these results clearly demonstrate that changes in S100A1 expression do occur in response to type I diabetes.
S100-binding proteins in diabetes
Changes in the expression of calcium receptor proteins is only one
way in which the function of these proteins can be altered. Alterations
in their subcellular distribution and the complement of target proteins
that they regulate can also have a significant impact on their function
(11, 23). Therefore, a gel overlay procedure was used to examine the
complement of S100- binding proteins in normal and diabetic tissues.
The gel overlay procedure is a qualitative technique that allows rapid
screening and detection of binding proteins in crude extracts (19, 20, 21, 24, 25). As in previous studies (21), the S100A1 and S100B-binding
protein profiles were indistinguishable, and each tissue possessed a
unique complement of S100-binding proteins. When the S100- binding
protein profiles of normal and diabetic liver, white fat, spleen,
fast-twitch skeletal muscle, slow-twitch skeletal muscle, heart, brain,
and kidney were compared, the overall complement of binding proteins,
as well as intensity of individual binding proteins in liver, white
fat, and spleen, was indistinguishable (data not shown). In heart,
kidney, and brain, the complement of binding proteins did not change;
however, the levels of some binding proteins did change (Fig. 4
). For example, binding proteins with
apparent mol wts of 27,000 and 16,000 decreased in intensity in
diabetic brain. Interestingly, a binding protein with an apparent mol
wt of 30,000 decreased in intensity in diabetic heart, kidney, and
slow-twitch skeletal muscle fibers and increased in diabetic
fast-twitch skeletal muscle fibers. It will be interesting to determine
whether this binding protein is the same in all of these tissues.
|
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
The alterations in S100A1 and S100B mRNA levels in response to type I diabetes suggest that these genes are regulated at the transcriptional/posttranscriptional levels by insulin. The presence of several cis-acting DNA sequences that have been implicated in transcriptional regulation of other genes by insulin in the S100A1 and S100B genes support the hypothesis that at least some of the changes in S100 mRNA levels documented in this study occur at the transcriptional level. Of the seven different insulin response elements reported (27, 28, 29, 30, 31), two, cgga (27) and tgttttg (29), are present in the S100A1 gene (32) and represent potential insulin-responsive S100A1 sequences. Three putative insulin response elements, tggttcttg (30), cgga (27), and tgttttg (29), are present in the S100B genes (33, 34, 35). AP-1 sequences (36), E-boxes (37), CarG or serum response elements (38), and cAMP response elements (CREs) (39) have also been implicated in insulin regulation of gene transcription. Thus, the four AP-1 elements, two E-boxes, and single CRE in the S100A1 gene (32) could be responsible for transcriptional regulation of the S100A1 in response to insulin/insulin insufficiency. Furthermore the two AP1 sites, two serum response elements, two E-boxes, and single CRE present in the S100B genes (33, 34, 35) could alter its expression at the transcriptional level in response to insulin.
Recent reports of posttranscriptional regulation of the S14 gene by insulin suggest that transcriptional effects may not be entirely responsible for altered S100A1 and/or S100B expression in diabetic tissues (40). Since the mechanism(s) by which insulin alters S14 gene processing has not been identified, it is not possible to speculate on the probability that a similar mechanism is involved in regulating S100A1 or S100B expression. However, an examination of other elements implicated in message stability demonstrates the presence of a MKEL amino acid sequence in the S100A1 molecule that is 50% identical and 100% similar in charge and hydrophobicity to the MREI sequence that participates in regulation of ß-tubulin mRNA stability (41). In summary, the presence of elements that act at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional level to regulate gene expression in the S100A1 and S100B genes is consistent with our observations that the expression of these genes is regulated at the transcriptional/posttranscriptional levels in type I diabetes and that these effects are direct effects of insulin.
The noncoordinate regulation of S100B mRNA and protein levels in all diabetic tissues and S100A1 mRNA and protein levels in the diabetic heart demonstrate that translational/posttranslational mechanisms also participate in altered S100 expression in these tissues. These are the first gene products in which translational/posttranslational mechanisms have been implicated in regulation of gene expression by insulin/insulin insufficiency. It is also possible that translational/posttranslational mechanisms contribute to altered S100 expression in tissues that exhibit coordinate changes in S100 protein and mRNA levels. Because the S100 proteins are extremely stable, it is unlikely that changes in the protein half-life will significantly contribute to altered protein expression. The more likely hypothesis is that altered translational rates are responsible. Since the S100A1 and S100B contain no sequence previously implicated in translational control (41, 42), one cannot propose a mechanism for this regulation.
S100 proteins are calcium-modulated proteins and possess no known enzymatic activity. They function by interacting with and modulating the activity of other proteins termed target proteins. Thus, changes in the complement of S100 target proteins and/or the level of individual target proteins could also result in an alteration in S100-regulated processes in diseased tissues. Using a gel overlay technique, we observed both increases and decreases in S100-binding proteins in all tissues examined. Interestingly, the expression of a 30,000-kDa S100-binding protein significantly decreased in three S100A1- expressing tissues (kidney, heart, and skeletal muscle). Once this binding protein has been identified, it will be possible to determine whether it is the same protein in all three of these tissues. While numerous S100-binding proteins have been identified, primarily in brain and skeletal muscle, none have a mol wt of 30,000, making it impossible to speculate on the identity of this very interesting binding protein. It is essential that the other S100-binding proteins whose expression is altered by diabetes are also identified and the effects of S100 interaction with each binding protein documented to fully understand how insulin and calcium homeostasis are related. However, the lack of such information does not alter the conclusion that changes in S100-binding proteins occur in type I diabetes.
Interestingly, the Coomassie Blue-stained gel profiles for normal and diabetic tissues were indistinguishable for supernatant and pellet fractions with the exception of supernatant fractions from slow- and fast-twitch skeletal muscle fiber types. These data suggest that major changes in the complement of proteins expressed in various tissues do not occur in type I diabetes. Since the one-dimensional gels used in this study would not detect changes in minor protein constituents or changes in isozymes/isoforms, these results are not inconsistent with the numerous reports of insulin-responsive gene products. Furthermore, these studies confirm that identification of proteins/gene products whose expression is regulated by insulin require sensitive molecular techniques and/or prior identification of the protein in question. The exception would be supernatant fractions of slow- and fast-twitch skeletal muscles, which did exhibit major changes in protein complement on one-dimensional gels. In fact, our results suggest that there is an interconversion of fast- and slow-twitch skeletal muscle in type I diabetes. While changes in muscle strength (43) and multiple RNA species (44) have been reported to occur in specific skeletal muscle fiber types in response to type I diabetes, a differential effect of type I diabetes on slow- and fast-twitch fibers has been reported only for ouabain binding, contraction velocity, and relaxation (26). Further studies will be needed to determine whether the interconversion of skeletal muscle fiber types observed in this study are unique to the soleus and vastus lateralis and/or the rat.
In summary, this study demonstrates that changes in the expression of S100A1 and S100B and their binding proteins occur in type I diabetes. While previous studies have identified numerous proteins whose activity is regulated by S100 proteins in vitro (see Ref.11), which of these proteins are regulated in vivo by S100 proteins and the calcium dependency of these in vivo interactions are not known. Further studies on the in vivo function of S100A1 in normal cells will be required before it can be determined whether S100 protein are involved in the expression of the diabetic phenotype or part of the compensatory mechanisms that counter the diabetic state. What we do know is that the mechanisms involved will vary from tissue to tissue. Furthermore, these changes in S100 proteins, along with changes in the expression of other calcium-modulated proteins, such as troponin C and calmodulin, as well as the changes in intracellular calcium levels, will have to be included in any model explaining how type I diabetes/insulin insufficiency affects the function of particular cell types. Identification of the cis-acting DNA sequences, trans-acting factors, and amino acid sequences involved in regulating S100 expression in type I diabetes will significantly expand our knowledge regarding the molecular events involved in insulin action and suggest strategies for the normalization of these events in type I diabetes.
| Footnotes |
|---|
Received March 28, 1997.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
cDNA and distribution of its mRNA in rat tissues. Brain Res
Bull 27:157162[CrossRef][Medline]
and S100ß and S100-binding proteins. Am J Physiol
252 (Cell Physiol 21):C285C289
and ß
subunit mRNAs. Mol Brain Res 2:7982
and ß subunit genes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 175:185191[CrossRef][Medline]
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
Y. Ding, A. Kantarci, J. A. Badwey, H. Hasturk, A. Malabanan, and T. E. Van Dyke Phosphorylation of Pleckstrin Increases Proinflammatory Cytokine Secretion by Mononuclear Phagocytes in Diabetes Mellitus J. Immunol., July 1, 2007; 179(1): 647 - 654. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y. Ding, A. Kantarci, H. Hasturk, P. C. Trackman, A. Malabanan, and T. E. Van Dyke Activation of RAGE induces elevated O2- generation by mononuclear phagocytes in diabetes J. Leukoc. Biol., February 1, 2007; 81(2): 520 - 527. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. M. Lehti, M. Silvennoinen, R. Kivela, H. Kainulainen, and J. Komulainen Effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes and physical training on gene expression of titin-based stretch-sensing complexes in mouse striated muscle Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 2007; 292(2): E533 - E542. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. Kislinger, N. Tanji, T. Wendt, W. Qu, Y. Lu, L. J. Ferran Jr, A. Taguchi, K. Olson, L. Bucciarelli, M. Goova, et al. Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products Mediates Inflammation and Enhanced Expression of Tissue Factor in Vasculature of Diabetic Apolipoprotein E-Null Mice Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., June 1, 2001; 21(6): 905 - 910. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Endocrinology | Endocrine Reviews | J. Clin. End. & Metab. |
| Molecular Endocrinology | Recent Prog. Horm. Res. | All Endocrine Journals |