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Endocrinology Vol. 142, No. 5 1958-1967
Copyright © 2001 by The Endocrine Society


ARTICLES

Phenotypic Manifestations of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-3 Overexpression in Transgenic Mice1

Tomislav Modric2, Josef V. Silha, Zengdun Shi, Yaoting Gui, Adisak Suwanichkul, Susan K. Durham, David R. Powell and Liam J. Murphy3

Departments of Internal Medicine (L.J.M.) and Physiology (T.M., J.V.S., Z.S., Y.G., L.J.M.), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3E 0W3; and Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine (A.S., S.K.D., D.R.P.), Houston, Texas 77030

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: L. J. Murphy, M.B., Ph.D., Departments of Internal Medicine and Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3E 0W3. E-mail: ljmurph{at}cc.umanitoba.ca


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
In cell culture systems insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) can both enhance and inhibit IGF-I action. To investigate the biological role of IGFBP-3 in vivo, transgenic (Tg) mice that constitutively overexpress the human IGFBP-3 complementary DNA (cDNA) driven by the mouse phosphoglycerate kinase I (PGK) and the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoters were examined. Serum levels of human IGFBP-3 in CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 Tg mice were 4.7 and 5.8 µg/ml, respectively and total IGFBP-3 was increased 4.9- and 7.7-fold compared with that in wild-type (Wt) mice. In PGKBP-3 Tg mice the levels of transgene expression were similar in all tissues. Although CMVBP-3 mice demonstrated similar levels of expression of the transgene as PGKBP-3 mice in most tissues, markedly elevated expression was apparent in the kidney and heart. The transgene-derived IGFBP-3 circulated as a 150-kDa ternary complex, and serum IGF-I levels were elevated 1.9- to 2.8-fold in Tg mice compared with Wt mice. A significant reduction in birth weight of approximately 10% and a modest reduction in litter size were apparent in both Tg strains. Early postnatal growth, as assessed by both body weight and length, was significantly reduced in Tg mice compared with Wt mice. This was more marked in PGKBP-3 than in CMVBP-3 mice, who demonstrated a propensity to adiposity after weaning. The relative organ weights of brain and kidney were reduced in both Tg strains, whereas liver size and epididymal fat were significantly increased in CMVBP-3, but not PGKBP-3, mice. Our data indicate that overexpression of IGFBP-3 is associated with modest intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation despite elevated circulating IGF-I levels.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
INSULIN-LIKE growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-II are present in plasma and most biological fluids as a complex with IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). Of the six IGFBPs identified to date, IGFBP-3 is the most abundant in plasma (1). However, the function of IGFBP-3 in vivo is not clear. In vitro experiments examining the effects of IGFBP-3 on various cell cultures have provided conflicting data, with both enhancement and inhibition of IGF-I actions observable depending upon cell types and culture conditions used (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). For example, in human skin fibroblasts IGFBP-3 either inhibits or potentiates IGF-I induced DNA synthesis depending upon the timing of addition of IGFBP-3 and IGF-I (2). In bovine fibroblasts IGFBP-3 increased IGF-I-stimulated amino acid uptake via enhanced sensitivity of the protein kinase B/AKT pathway (3).

In addition to these IGF-dependent effects, an increasing amount of in vitro data suggests that IGFBP-3 exerts effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis that are IGF independent. For example, IGFBP-3 has antiproliferative effects on breast cells that are unresponsive to IGF-I (10) and on mouse fibroblasts that lack IGF-I receptors (11). In addition, proteolytic fragments of IGFBP-3 that have markedly reduced affinity for IGF-I retain antiproliferative effects in vitro (12).

The ability of IGFBP-3 to bind to a variety of other serum proteins, including acid-labile subunit (ALS), plasminogen, fibrinogen, and fibrin, has been reported (13, 14, 15). Cell surface binding sites for IGFBP-3 have also been identified in some cell types (16, 17, 18).

These and other reports suggest that IGFBP-3 and other binding proteins may have biological effects in vivo over and above simply modulation of IGF action (19) and justify studies to ascertain the role of IGFBP-3 in vivo. To this end we have generated Tg mice that overexpress IGFBP-3 at high levels. Here we report phenotypic characterization of these transgenic (Tg) mice.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Generation of the Tg mice
The transgene was constructed using a 950-bp fragment of the human IGFBP-3 cDNA (15). This fragment was inserted downstream of a 650-bp rabbit ß-globin intron and upstream of a fragment of the bovine GH gene containing the polyadenylation signal (20). Either the mouse phosphoglycerate kinase promoter (PGK-I) (21) or the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (22) was subcloned upstream of the rabbit ß-globin intron (23).

Tg mice were generated by pronucleus injection of the linearized transgene fragment, devoid of plasmid sequences, into fertilized CD-1 zygotes. The microinjected embryos were transferred into CD-1 foster mice using standard techniques (24). The founders were bred with wild-type CD-1 mice. CD-1 mice, bred in a similar fashion, provided wild-type (Wt), nontransgenic control mice of the same genetic background. All experiments were performed in accordance with protocols approved by the animal care committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba.

Southern blot analysis
The presence of the transgene was detected by Southern blot analysis of tail DNA. Filters were hybridized with a human (h) IGFBP-3 cDNA fragment of the transgene under stringent conditions. For determination of transgene copy number, serial dilution of tail DNA from homozygous Tg mice were analyzed by dot-blot hybridization and quantified densitometrically. The data were compared to a standard curve of human IGFBP-3 cDNA generated in a similar fashion.

IGFBP-3 and IGF-I assays
IGFBP-3 was measured using an immunoradiometric assay from Diagnostics Systems Laboratories, Inc. (Webster, TX). Total plasma IGF-I was measured using a rat IGF-I RIA with an assay kit from the same source. To detect the presence of IGFBP-3 in the ternary complex, serum from Tg mice was chromatographed on a Sephacryl S-300HR column.

RNA extraction and ribonuclease protection assays (RPAs)
RNA was extracted from a variety of tissues from 50- to 60-day-old mice using the single step method described by Chomczynski and Sacchi (25). The concentration of RNA was determined spectrophotometrically, and the integrity of the RNA in all samples was documented by visualization of the 18S and 28S ribosomal bands after electrophoresis through an 0.8% formaldehyde/agarosis gel. Two different RPAs were used to measure IGFBP-3 messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance. One RPA was species specific and measured only the transgene-derived human IGFBP-3; the other assay measured both mouse and human IGFBP-3 mRNA. To generate radiolabeled complementary RNA (cRNA) for the nonspecies-specific RPA, the plasmid (pBluescript SK) containing a full-length human IGFBP-3 cDNA was digested with SphI. A 326-bp fragment of coding sequences, nucleotides 647–973 was cloned into the pGEM-7Z vector. This sequence has over 90% homology with the mouse IGFBP-3 sequence, and both human and mouse IGFBP-3 mRNAs were detected using this assay. Radiolabeled cRNA (SA, ~0.5 x 109 cpm/µg) was generated by transcription with T7 polymerase using [{alpha}-32P]CTP or [{alpha}-32P]UTP. An RPA specific for the transgene-derived IGFBP-3 mRNA was also developed using a 267-bp fragment containing sequence corresponding to the 3'-end of hIGFBP-3 cDNA and the bovine GH polyadenylase signal region of the transgene. Total RNA (20 µg) was denatured at 78 C and hybridized with 106 cpm radiolabeled cRNA in solution at 55 C for 16 h as previously described (25). After hybridization, T2 RNase was added to digest unbound unprotected RNA. The protected hybrids were denatured and separated by electrophoresis through a 5% polyacrylamide/urea gel. Dried gels were exposed to Kodak XAR film (Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY) at -70 C for 12–24 h. A riboprobe for mouse cyclophilin (Ambion, Inc., Austin, TX) was used as the internal standard in some RPA assays. Century RNA markers from Ambion, Inc., were used to determine the size of the protected fragment.

Western and ligand blotting
Sera (2 µl) from Tg and Wt mice were analyzed on a 10% SDS-polyacrylamide gel and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane. For immunodetection, membranes were incubated with biotinylated goat anti-hIGFBP-3 antibody (Diagnostics Systems Laboratories, Inc.) at 4 C overnight. After washing, the membrane was incubated with streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate (Life Technologies, Inc., Burlington, Canada). Detection of immune complexes was achieved using an enhanced chemiluminescence Western blotting kit (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Baie d’Urfe, Canada).

For ligand blotting, the membrane was incubated with [125I]IGF-I, (500,000 cpm; NEN Life Science Products, Boston, MA) at 4 C overnight. The membrane was subsequently washed four times with Tris-buffered saline (pH 7.6), 0.1% Tween 20, and exposed to Kodak XAR film at -70 C for 24–72 h.

Statistical analysis
Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. Student’s t test was used for single comparisons between Tg and Wt mice. For determining statistical differences between multiple groups, an ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s t test was used.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Two founders were obtained using the PGK promoter transgene (PGKBP-3), and three founders were obtained with the CMV promoter transgene (CMVBP-3). All but one of CMVBP-3 founders were successfully bred to Wt CD1 mice. Two Tg strains were developed for each promoter construct. These founders were bred with Wt CD-1 mice to generate homozygous Tg strains. Preliminary growth, allometry, and transgene expression data were obtained with both of the Tg strains derived from each promoter. For each Tg strain from a given transgene construct, these preliminary data were similar. Because of the cost of maintaining multiple Tg strains, a detailed examination of a single Tg mouse strain for each of the two promoters was undertaken.

A Southern blot of genomic DNA from Tg mice is shown in Fig. 1Go. The DNA was restricted with four endonucleases. With each of the enzymes used, a different digestion pattern was apparent with the two DNA samples, indicating a difference in the transgene insertion sites in the two strains of mice. The transgene copy numbers were 9 and 21 for PGKBP-3 and CMVBP-3 mice respectively.



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Figure 1. Southern blot of genomic DNA from homozygous IGFBP-3 Tg mice. A restriction map of the transgene constructs used to generate the Tg mice is shown in the upper panel. Tail DNA (10 µg) was digested with each of the restriction endonucleases. hIGFBP-3 cDNA was used as a hybridization probe. The positions of the {lambda} HindIII DNA size markers are indicated.

 
Tg mice derived from both promoter constructs were phenotypically normal and fertile, and the female IGFBP-3 Tg mice appeared to lactate normally. Serum levels of human IGFBP-3 were measured in 8-week-old mice (Fig. 2Go). Using a human IGFBP-3 immunoradiometric assay, cross-reaction with endogenous mouse IGFBP-3 was apparent. The IGFBP-3 in levels in Wt mice were about 0.3 µg/ml. In serum from the CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 Tg mice the levels of human IGFBP-3 were similar in male and female mice and were approximately 17-fold higher than those measured in Wt mice. There was no significant difference in IGFBP-3 levels between CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 mice. Chromatographic analysis of sera from Tg mice indicated that the majority of the IGFBP-3 was present as a 150-kDa complex (Fig. 3Go).



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Figure 2. Serum IGFBP-3 levels in Wt and Tg mice. The mean ± SEM for 7–15 mice/group are shown. The line indicates a significant difference between the Tg of both strains, PGKBP-3 and CMVBP-3, and their sex-matched Wt mice at the P < 0.0001 level.

 


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Figure 3. Chromatographic analysis of serum from PKGBP-3 Tg mice. Serum was analyzed on a Sephacryl S-300HR column. The arrow indicates the position of elution of alcohol dehydrogenase. A similar elution pattern was apparent when serum from CMVBP-3 Tg mice was analyzed.

 
Total serum IGF-I was also measured in the Tg mice (Fig. 4Go). IGF-I levels were significantly increased in both PGKBP-3 and CMVBP-3 Tg mice compared with Wt mice. There were no significant differences in the IGF-I levels between the CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 strains of Tg mice. Among the individual Tg mice, there was a significant correlation between IGFBP-3 levels and IGF-I levels (r2 = 0.62; n = 21; P < 0.01).



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Figure 4. Serum IGF-I levels in Wt and Tg mice. The mean ± SEM for 7–15 mice/group are shown. The significant differences between the Tg mice and their sex-matched Wt control mice are indicated: *, P < 0.05; ***, P < 0.005.

 
Sera from 2-month-old homozygous Tg and Wt mice were analyzed by both Western blotting and ligand blotting. Using the ligand blotting technique, IGFBP-3 abundance was dramatically increased in both CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 Tg mice compared with Wt mice (Fig. 5Go, upper panel). When the autoradiographs were analyzed by densitometry, the abundance of intact IGFBP-3 in sera from Tg mice was increased 4.9 ± 0.2- and 7.7 ± 0.6-fold in CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 mice, respectively, compared with Wt mice. The additional bands detected by ligand blotting probably represent IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-4. There was no significant difference in the abundance of these lower mol wt binding proteins between Tg and Wt mice. Western blotting with anti-hIGFBP-3 antisera confirmed the presence of transgene-derive IGFBP-3 in the sera from Tg mice.



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Figure 5. Western and ligand blot analysis of sera from Wt and Tg mice. Sera from two male and female Wt mice and two male and female Tg mice were analyzed. The upper panel shows the ligand blot obtained using [125I]IGF-I as a probe, and the lower panel shows the immunoblot obtained using an antihuman IGFBP-3 antibody.

 
An RPA was used to assess the expression of the transgene products in various tissues collected from 2-month-old male mice (Fig. 6Go). Because of the sequence similarity between human and mouse IGFBP-3 cDNAs, this assay detected endogenous mouse IGFBP-3 mRNA in addition to the hIGFBP-3 mRNA derived from the transgene. In the Wt mice endogenous IGFBP-3 expression was highest in the kidney, lung, spleen, and heart, with lower levels of expression in the liver and brain. In each tissue, IGFBP-3 mRNA abundance was increased in both PGKBP-3 and CMVBP-3 Tg mice.



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Figure 6. Tissue distribution of IGFBP-3 mRNA expression in Wt and Tg mice. An RPA that does not distinguish between mouse and human IGFBP-3 mRNA was used to quantify mRNA abundance in Wt and Tg mice. Total RNA (20 µg) from each tissue was analyzed. A representative result of data from a single male Tg and Wt mouse is shown in each panel. The arrow indicates the 300-bp protected fragment.

 
Transgene-derived IGFBP-3 mRNA in epididymal fat and testes was assessed separately using a RPA that was specific for human IGFBP-3 mRNA (Fig. 7Go). When the results were quantified by densitometry, similar levels of IGFBP-3 mRNA were detected in adipose tissue from CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 mice (154.0 ± 9.4 vs. 179.9 ± 12.3 OD area arbitrary units; P < 0.01). In contrast, hIGFBP-3 mRNA was significantly more abundant in testicular tissue from CMVBP-3 Tg mice than in that from PGKBP-3 Tg mice (196.4 ± 4.0 vs. 157.5 ± 9.8 OD area arbitrary units; P < 0.01).



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Figure 7. Transgene expression in epididymal fat and testicular tissue from Tg mice. A human IGFBP-3 mRNA-specific RPA was used to quantify mRNA abundance. Total RNA (20 µg) from five male Tg mice of each strain was analyzed. In addition, tissues from a Wt mouse were assayed. A cyclophilin cRNA was included in the assay as an internal control.

 
When all litters were considered, the litter size in homozygous offspring of both PGKBP-3 and CMVBP-3 Tg mice was similar to that in Wt mice (Fig. 8AGo). As there was a tendency for litter size to increase in female mice with each subsequent litter, a careful comparison was made between size of the first litter in Tg and Wt mice. When 2-month-old virgin PGKBP-3 and CMVBP-3 Tg mice were mated with Wt male mice, a small, but significant, reduction in litter size was apparent compared with litters from virgin female Wt mice (Fig. 8BGo). Litter size was smaller in PGKBP-3 Tg mice compared with CMVBP-3 Tg mice. In contrast when male CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 Tg mice were mated with virgin Wt mice there was no significant reduction in litter size.



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Figure 8. Litter size in IGFBP-3 Tg mice. A, The litter size for homozygous mice is shown. Included in these data are all litters, including the first litter and subsequent litters from the same mouse. B, Data from first litters only were considered. Two-month-old female mice (identified with an asterisk) were mated with male Wt mice or CMVBP-3 Tg mice as indicated. The data represent the mean ± SEM for 5–14 litters. The significant differences between the Tg mice and control Wt group are indicated.

 
When considered as a group, both homozygous CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 Tg pups were about 10% lighter than Wt pups at birth. This reduction achieved statistical significance (Fig. 9AGo). PGKBP-3 Tg mice tended to be lighter than CMVBP-3 mice, but the difference between the two Tg strains was not statistically significant. A more detailed study was undertaken in litters derived from crossing Tg mice with Wt mice. In this experimental design, Tg and Wt mice from the same litter could be directly compared. Both male and female Tg newborn mice of each strain were significantly lighter than Wt controls (Fig. 9BGo). Furthermore, a similar reduction in birth weight was apparent when Tg pups were born to Wt female mice, indicating that the effect on fetal growth was a result of fetal, rather than maternal, transgene expression. For example, both male and female hemizygous Tg pups derived from the cross of CMVBP-3 male mice with Wt mice were significantly lighter than male and female Wt pups, respectively.



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Figure 9. Birth weight in homozygous and hemizygous IGFBP-3 Tg mice. A, The birth weight of Wt and IGFBP-3 Tg pups from the two different transgene constructs. The data represent the mean ± SEM for 11–21 mice. Both male and female pups have been included in the analysis. B, Heterozygous pups derived from mating Wt and IGFBP-3 Tg mice are shown. In each mating the genotype of the female mice is identified with an asterisk. The significant differences between the Tg mice and control Wt group are indicated.

 
The growth curves for Tg mice are shown in Fig. 10Go. Both male and female mice from each of the Tg mouse strains were significantly lighter than their Wt controls during the first 30 days of life. Weight gain in PGKBP-3 mice of both sexes continued at a rate parallel to that seen in the Wt mice over the next 2 months, and these Tg mice remained significantly lighter than their Wt sex-matched controls throughout the study. In contrast, CMVBP-3 mice of both sexes gained more weight in the period from 40–60 days than their Wt controls. As a result, male CMVBP-3 mice did not differ significantly in body weight from the Wt mice at 3 months of age. This phenomenon of delayed weight gain was more marked in female CMVBP-3 mice, which were significantly heavier than their Wt controls at 3 months (31.9 ± 1.2 vs. 30.5 ± 0.6 g; P < 0.005).



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Figure 10. Body weight gain in Wt and IGFBP-3 Tg mice. The change in body weight with age in Wt and Tg mice is shown for male and female mice. The data represent the mean of 9–22 mice/group. For each time point the SEM was less than 4% of the mean. Representative SEMs are shown for each group of mice.

 
Linear growth was assessed by measuring the nose to the tip of tail length as well as tail length in anesthetized animals at 6 and 12 weeks of age (Table 1Go). At 6 and 12 weeks of age in both male and female PGKBP-3 Tg mice all three parameters were significantly reduced compared with those in Wt mice. A similar, but less marked, reduction in linear growth was apparent in CMVBP-3 mice. However, the differences in these parameters between Wt mice and CMVBP-3 mice did not achieve statistical significance, with the exception of tail length in 12-week-old male CMVBP-3 mice.


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Table 1. Body proportions in wild-type (Wt) and transgenic (Tg) mice

 
Organ allometry was performed at 6 and 12 weeks in overnight fasted animals. Different patterns of organ growth were apparent with the two different transgene constructs (Fig. 11Go). The relative liver weight was consistently larger in CMVBP-3 Tg mice than Wt mice, whereas it was similar in female PGKBP-3 and Wt mice, or slightly reduced in the case of 6-week-old male PGKBP-3 mice. Relative kidney weight was significantly reduced in CMVBP-3 mice, but was only marginally reduced in PGKBP-3 mice. In both PGKBP-3 and CMVBP-3 Tg mice there was a significant reduction in absolute brain size. The reduction in relative brain weight was more marked in CMVBP-3 mice than in PGKBP-3 mice. There was a modest reduction in the relative weight of the heart in 6-week-old male and female CMVBP-3 mice compared with Wt mice. The absolute and relative weights of the spleen tended to be greater in both CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 mice than in Wt mice (Fig. 11Go). The most striking differences between the CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 mice were in terms of epididymal fat pad and testicular weight. Relative weight of the testes was markedly reduced in CMVBP-3 mice compared with Wt mice, whereas it was not reduced in PGKBP-3 mice. CMVBP-3 mice had significantly more epididymal fat than Wt mice, whereas PGKBP-3 mice and Wt mice did not differ in this regard.



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Figure 11. Relative organ weight in IGFBP-3 Tg mice. The absolute organ weight was expressed in terms of the body weight (milligrams per g BW) and then as a percentage of the mean for the sex- and age-match wild-type mice. The data represent the mean ± SEM for 7–26 mice/group. The significant differences between Tg and Wt mice are indicated: *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.005; ***, P < 0.001. EFP, Epididymal fat pad.

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
In plasma and in many biological fluids, IGFBP-3 is the most abundant of the IGFBPs (1). A role for IGFBP-3 in the transport and modulation of the biological actions of the IGFs has been proposed. As both inhibition and potentiation of IGF-I actions are demonstrable in vitro, the exact physiological function of this and other binding proteins remains unclear. In addition, IGFBP-3 appears to inhibit cell proliferation and stimulate apoptosis in an apparent IGF-I-independent fashion in some cell lines (10, 12, 16). Here we report that overexpression of IGFBP-3 in Tg mice using two different promoter constructs results in a modest growth retardation, which manifests at birth and continues in the postnatal period.

The circulating levels of IGFBP-3 in the Tg were comparable to those seen in human serum and 17-fold higher than those measured in the Wt mouse circulation. Although there is a high degree of sequence homology between mouse and human IGFBP-3 proteins, a mouse IGFBP-3 standard was not used in the human IGFBP-3 immunoradiometric assay. The absolute level of endogenous IGFBP-3 in mouse circulation is unknown. However, when sera from Tg and Wt mice were analyzed by ligand blots there was an approximately 5- to 7-fold increased abundance of intact IGFBP-3. IGFBP-3 degradation products were also markedly increased in Tg mice. Thus, in these Tg mice very high levels of expression of the transgene were achieved with each of the promoters used.

The increase in circulating IGFBP-3 in Tg mice was accompanied by an increase in plasma IGF-I levels; however on a molar basis the increase in IGF-I levels was less than the increase in IGFBP-3. This would suggest that there would be excess unsaturated IGFBP-3 present in the circulation of the Tg mice and probably reduced free IGF-I levels. The majority of the human IGFBP-3 detected in the plasma from Tg mice was present as a 150-kDa complex. This would be consistent with the recent observation that IGFBP-3/ALS binary complexes can form under appropriate physiological conditions (27). It also indicates that human IGFBP-3, which is structurally similar to mouse IGFBP-3, is able to bind to mouse ALS.

Despite the very marked increase in circulating IGFBP-3 levels in Tg mice, the effect on growth was modest. The reduction in birth weight in the IGFBP-3 Tg mice, about 7–10% depending upon the gender and the strain, was less than the 8–16% seen in the IGFBP-1 Tg mice previously generated in this laboratory (28). As the PGK promoter was used to generate IGFBP-1 Tg mice, a similar tissue pattern and timing of transgene expression would be expected for PGKBP-3 mice. However, the circulating levels of IGFBP-1 in PGKBP-1 Tg mice were much lower (10–60 ng/ml) (28) than the levels of IGFBP-3 observed in PGKBP-3 mice. Postnatal growth retardation was less marked in the PGKBP-3 mice compared with the PGKBP-1 Tg mice. For example, at 40 days the reductions in body weight in male and female IGFBP-1 Tg mice compared with that in Wt mice were 5.2 and 8.4 g (28) compared with 4.7 and 2.4 g, respectively, for PGKBP-3 mice.

Interestingly, postnatal growth retardation was less marked in CMVBP-3 Tg mice than in PGKBP-3 mice despite similar circulating IGFBP-3 levels and tissue IGFBP-3 mRNA abundance. CMVBP-3 mice demonstrated a propensity to adiposity that was clearly demonstrable in the second month of life. Body weight growth curves for male CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 Tg mice were not statistically different until after 40 days of age. In female Tg mice the difference between the two strains was apparent slightly earlier.

The growth retardation in the IGFBP-3 Tg mice was apparent in the face of increased plasma IGF-I levels in both strains of Tg mice. Total circulating IGF-I levels were increased 2- to 3-fold in the Tg mice. No attempt was made to assess free IGF-I levels, because it is unclear how precise or accurate such assays would be in the face of very markedly increased IGFBP-3 levels. However, our data, indicating growth retardation in the presence of elevated circulating IGF-I levels, complement the recent reports of normal growth in the presence of markedly reduced total plasma IGF-I levels in mice in which conditional knockout of hepatic IGF-I expression has been achieved (29, 30).

As different promoters were used, the phenotype of the two strains of transgenic mice differed. However, many features were common to both strains. These included reduced birth weight, reduced early postnatal growth, and decreased litter size. The transgene was expressed at high levels in the kidney, heart, and brain of CMVBP-3 mice. These organs were relatively smaller in CMVBP-3 than Wt mice and were also smaller in CMVBP-3 mice than in PGKBP-3 mice, in which transgene expression was similar in all tissues. However, the major differences between the two strains of IGFBP-3 Tg mice was the adiposity that developed in the CMVBP-3 mice after weaning. This was manifested as a marked increase in the size of the epididymal fat pad in CMVBP-3 mice. Although other fat masses were not quantified, gross macroscopic examination of the dissected CMVBP-3 mice suggested that there was a generalized increase in adiposity. This would also be consistent with the increased weight gain observed in CMVBP-3 mice in the second and third months of life.

The mechanism underlying this phenotypic difference in adiposity between the two strains of IGFBP-3 Tg mice is not immediately apparent. The transgene was expressed in mature adipose tissue from both CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 mice at similar levels. However, it is possible that different levels of expression could occur in adipoblasts and preadipocytes. IGF-I is known to be important in the differentiation of preadipocytes to mature fat cells (30, 31, 32, 33). We previously reported that PGKBP-1 Tg mice have impaired adipogenesis in response to caloric excess (34). In the PGKBP-1 there is both a reduced number of stem cells (adipoblasts) and impaired differentiation of preadipocytes (34). Although further detailed investigation is required, PGKBP-3 Tg mice, unlike PGKBP-1 mice, do not appear to have smaller fat deposits than Wt mice.

In Tg mice expressing IGFBP-3 driven by the mMT-1 promoter previously generated in this laboratory, no growth retardation was observed (35). However, unlike the PGKBP-3 and CMVBP-3 mice reported here, the level of transgene expression in the mMT-1/IGFBP-3 Tg mice was very low. It is of interest, however, that these mice, like the IGFBP-3 Tg mice reported here had splenomegaly. They also had hepatomegaly (35), which was a consistent feature of the CMVBP-3 Tg mice.

Although some differences in the phenotypes of CMVBP-3 and PGKBP-3 mice were observed, the data reported here clearly demonstrate that overexpression of IGFBP-3 is associated with impaired intrauterine growth and early postnatal growth. Organs such as brain and kidney, where IGF-I appears to have an important role in growth (36, 37) were disproportionately growth retarded by IGFBP-3 overexpression. These modest effects on growth are most likely explicable on the basis of inhibition of IGF action, although it is impossible to exclude IGF-independent growth inhibitory effects of IGFBP-3.

The generation of IGFBP-3 Tg mice reported here should provide a useful model for investigating the in vivo effects of IGFBP-3 in certain disease processes, such as breast and prostate cancer, as well as osteoporosis, where epidemiological studies have suggested that IGFBP-3 may have a role in these conditions in humans.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council of Canada (to L.J.M.) and Grant R01-DK-38773 (to D.R.P.). Back

2 Recipient of Canadian Diabetes Association Postdoctoral Fellowship. Present address: Animal Health Discovery Research, Pharmacia, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Back

3 Recipient of a Medical Research Council Senior Scientist award and an endowed Research Professorship in Metabolic Diseases. Back

Received October 25, 2000.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

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