Endothelial Differentiation Gene-2 Receptor Is Involved in Lysophosphatidic Acid-dependent Control of 3T3F442A Preadipocyte Proliferation and Spreading*

Céline Pagès, Danièle Daviaud, Songzhu AnDagger §, Stéphane Krief, Max Lafontan, Philippe Valet, and Jean Sébastien Saulnier-Blache||

From the INSERM U317, Institut Louis Bugnard, Université Paul Sabatier, CHU Rangueil, Batiment L3, 31403, Toulouse cedex 04, France, the Dagger  Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-0711, and  Smithkline Beecham Laboratoires Pharmaceutiques, 35762 Saint-Grégoire, France

Received for publication, November 7, 2000, and in revised form, December 28, 2000



    ABSTRACT
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

EDG-2, EDG-4, EDG-7, and PSP24 genes encode distinct lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors. The aim of the present study was to determine which receptor subtype is involved in the biological responses generated by LPA in preadipocytes. Growing 3T3F442A preadipocytes express EDG-2 and EDG-4 mRNAs, with no expression of EDG-7 or PSP24 mRNAs. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction revealed that EDG-2 transcripts were 10-fold more abundant than that of EDG-4. To determine the involvement of the EDG-2 receptor in the responses of growing preadipocytes to LPA, stable transfection of antisense EDG-2 cDNA was performed in growing 3T3F442A preadipocytes. This procedure, led to a significant and specific reduction in EDG-2 mRNA and protein. This was associated with a significant alteration in the effect of LPA on both cell proliferation and cell spreading. Finally, the differentiation of growing preadipocytes into quiescent adipocytes led to a strong reduction in the level of EDG-2 transcripts. Results demonstrate the significant contribution of the EDG-2 receptor in the biological responses generated by LPA in 3T3F442A preadipocytes.



    INTRODUCTION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA1: 1-acyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphate) is a bioactive phospholipid present in serum and other biological fluids (1, 2). LPA controls a wide variety of cellular responses (mitogenesis, cytoskeletal rearrangements, cell adhesion, ion transport, apoptosis) through the activation of specific G-protein-coupled receptors (3, 4). A first potential LPA gene receptor, called vzg-1 (5), was cloned in mouse and found homologous to the endothelial differentiation gene-1 (EDG-1) (6), a high affinity receptor for another bioactive phospholipid: sphingosine 1-phosphate (7). A human gene exhibiting 97% homology with vzg-1 was then identified and called EDG-2 (8). Two other human genes, called EDG-4 and EDG-7, have also been cloned and proposed to be LPA receptors (9, 10). At the beginning of the present work the cDNA sequences of EDG-4 and EDG-7 mouse orthologues were not yet available. Since then, the EDG-4 mouse orthologue was cloned and sequenced (11). A fourth gene receptor, called PSP24, was cloned in Xenopus (12) and mouse (13) and initially proposed to be a LPA-responsive receptor. However, the PSP24 receptor gene exhibits poor homology with the EDG receptor gene family and is actually related to the platelet-activating factor receptor gene.

Most evidence that EDG-2, EDG-4, EDG-7, and PSP24 are LPA receptors is deduced from their ability to increase or restore LPA activity following their overexpression in cells (5, 9, 10, 12). However, the relative contribution of endogenously expressed LPA receptors in the biological activities of LPA remains poorly defined. Because pharmacological tools to study LPA receptors are very limited (no available antagonists, difficulties in performing receptor binding studies), one way to address the question is to alter LPA receptor expression by using antisense strategies or gene invalidation methods.

We recently observed that conditioned medium prepared from adipocytes exposed to an alpha 2-adrenergic stimulation increased proliferation and spreading (reflecting a reorganization of actin cytoskeleton) on an alpha 2-adrenergic-insensitive murine preadipose cell line: 3T3F442A. Analysis based on the use of a lysophospholipid-specific phospholipase (phospholipase B) and 32P-phospholipid labeling, revealed the involvement of LPA in the trophic activities of adipocyte conditioned medium (14). Because of the intimate coexistence of adipocytes and preadipocytes within adipose tissue, LPA released by adipocytes could play an important role in paracrine/autocrine control of preadipocyte growth, a key event involved in adipose tissue development. Therefore, a better understanding of the cellular mechanisms of LPA action in preadipocytes could help to develop pharmacological and/or genetic strategies to control adipogenesis.

The trophic action of LPA in growing 3T3F442A preadipocytes can be specifically desensitized by chronic exposure to a high concentration of LPA (14). Exposure of growing 3T3F442A preadipocytes to LPA leads to rapid and pertussis toxin-sensitive activation of the mitogen-activated kinases ERK1 and ERK2 (15). Whereas those observations suggest the involvement of a G-protein-coupled receptor(s) in the action of LPA in 3T3F442A preadipocytes, the identity of the discrete LPA receptor(s) responsible for these biological effects remains to be determined.

In the present work, we studied the expression of EDG-2, EDG-4, EDG-7, and PSP24 receptor genes and attempted to determine their relative contribution in the biological responses of 3T3F442A preadipocytes to LPA (proliferation and spreading). Based upon quantification of gene expression, and antisense cDNA transfection, the EDG-2 receptor was found to be predominantly involved in LPA-dependent control of 3T3F442A preadipocyte proliferation and spreading.


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Cells

3T3F442A preadipocytes were grown in 10% donor calf serum-supplemented DMEM as reported previously (16). The medium was changed every 2 days. Conversion of 3T3F442A preadipocytes into adipocytes was obtained by cultivating confluent cells in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum plus 50 nM insulin as described previously (14).

Nonquantitative RT-PCR Analysis

Total RNAs were extracted using RNeasy mini kit (Qiagen). One microgram of total RNA was treated with 1 unit of RNase-free DNase I (Life Technologies, Inc.) for 15 min at room temperature followed by further inactivation with 1 µl of EDTA (25 mM) for 10 min at 65 °C. Then, RNA was reverse-transcribed for 60 min at 37 °C using SuperScript II (Life Technologies, Inc.) RNase H- RT and subjected to amplification. A minus RT reaction was performed in parallel to ensure the absence of genomic DNA contamination. PCR was carried out in a final volume of 50 µl containing 3 µl of cDNA, 1 µl of dNTP (10 mM), 5 µl of 10× PCR buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 9, 50 mM KCl and 0.1% Triton X-100), 3 µl of MgCl2 (25 mM), 1.5 µl of sense- and antisense-specific oligonucleotide primers (10 µM), and 1.25 units of Taq DNA polymerase (Promega). Conditions for the PCR reaction were: initial denaturation step at 94 °C for 2 min, followed by 35 cycles consisting in 1 min at 94 °C, 1 min at 54 °C (EDG-2), 57 °C (EDG-4), 49 °C (EDG-7), 57 °C (PSP24), or 58 °C (EDG-1), 72 °C for 90 s. After a final extension at 72 °C for 6 min, PCR products were separated on 1.5% agarose gel, and amplification products were visualized with ethidium bromide. In some experiments we analyzed the influence of the number of PCR cycles on the intensity of the amplification products.

Oligonucleotide Primers for Nonquantitative RT-PCR

Detection of Sense mRNAs-- EDG-2 primers were designed from mouse EDG-2 cDNA (vzg-1) (5): sense, 5'-ATCTTTGGCTATGTTCGCCA-3' and antisense, 5'-TTGCTGTGAACTCCAGCCA-3'. Those primers are 100% identical between mouse and human (8).

EDG-4 primers were designed from the 570-bp fragment of mouse EDG-4 cDNA cloned in the present study (see below): sense, 5'-TGGCCTACCTCTTCCTCATGTTCCA-3' and antisense, 5'-GGGTCCAGCACACCACAAATGCC-3'. Those primers are specific to mouse.

EDG-7 primers were designed from a GenBankTM mouse expressed sequence tag (Clone ID 2192692, GenBankTM accession number AW107032), which exhibits 82% identity on nucleotide level and that we assumed to correspond to mouse EDG-7. This was confirmed later on after the identification of the mouse EDG-7 (GenBankTM accession number NM_012152): sense, 5'-AGTGTCACTATGACAAGC-3' and antisense, 5'-GAGATGTTGCAGAGGC-3'. These primers are 100% identical between mouse and human.

PSP24 primers were designed such as these are homologous to Xenopus (12), mouse (13), and human (GenBankTM accession number HSU92642): sense, 5'-GGCCATCCTGCTCATCATTAGCG-3' and antisense, 5'-GGTGGTGAAGGCCTTGGTTTTGAA-3'.

EDG-1 primers were designed from the mouse EDG-1 gene (17): sense, 5'-GTCCGGCATTACAACTACAC-3' and antisense, 5'-TATAGTGCTTGTGGTAGAGC-3'. Those primers are 100% identical between mouse and human (6).

Detection of Antisense mRNAs-- Detection of EDG-2 antisense mRNAs was performed with an antisense primer designed from the sequence of stabilization of mRNA in pcDNA3.1 vector (5'-CAACAGATGGCTGGCAACTA-3') and a specific sense primer designed from human EDG-2 (5'-CTGTGAAATTACAGGGATGGA-3').

Quantitative RT-PCR Analysis

cDNA was synthesized from 2 µg of total RNA in 20 µl using random hexamers and murine Moloney leukemia virus reverse transcriptase (Life Technologies, Inc.). A minus RT reaction was performed in parallel to ensure the absence of genomic DNA contamination. Design of primers was done using the Primer Express software (Applied Biosystems). Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analyses were performed starting with 50 ng of reverse-transcribed total RNA with 200 nM concentration of both sense and antisense primers in a final volume of 25 µl using the sybr green PCR core reagents in a ABI PRISM 7700 Sequence Detection System instrument (Applied Biosystems). Standard curves were determined after amplification of 5 × 102 to 5 × 106 copies of purified amplicons generated from 3T3-F442A cDNA by non quantitative RT-PCR. Quantification of EDG-2 and EDG-4 mRNA steady state copy numbers were performed using internal primers located within the amplicons' sequence. Internal sense and antisense primers and size of products, respectively, were for EDG-2 and EDG-4: 5'-CTGTGGTCATTGTGCTTGGTG-3', 5'-CATTAGGGTTCTCGTTGCGC-3', and 231 bp and 5'-GGCTGCACTGGGTCTGGG-3', 5'-GCTGACGTGCTCCGCCAT-3', and 214 bp.

Northern Blot Analysis

32P-Labeled probes were obtained by nick-translation of cDNA fragments purified from the coding region of mouse EDG-2 (1.1 kbp), mouse EDG-4 (0.57 kbp), mouse EDG-1 (1.3 kbp), and mouse aP2 (0.6 kbp) genes. Twenty µg of total RNAs were separated by electrophoresis in 1% agarose gel containing 2.2 M formaldehyde, transferred onto a nylon membrane (Schleicher and Schuell, Dassell, Germany), and UV cross-linked. The blot was incubated overnight at 68 °C in hybridization buffer containing 0.5 M Na2HPO4-12H2O, 1 mM EDTA, 7% SDS, 1% bovine serum albumin, 32P-labeled cDNA probes, pH 7. The blot was finally washed at a final stringency of 0.5× SSC, 0,1% SDS and autoradiographed.

Cloning of a Mouse EDG-4 cDNA Fragment

Mouse cDNAs were synthesized from total RNAs isolated from NIH3T3 cells with random primers and reverse transcriptase. PCR was done with degenerate primers 5'-CTiGCCiATCGCCGTiGAGCGiCA-3' and 5'-ACiACCTGiCCiGGiGTCCAGCA-3' corresponding to the third and the sixth transmembrane domains of the human EDG-4 receptor, respectively (9). The PCR conditions were 35 cycles of 94 °C for 1 min, 60 °C for 1 min, and 72 °C for 2 min. A product of ~570 bp was obtained and cloned into pCR2.1-TOPO vector (Invitrogen). The sequence of this mouse cDNA fragment was 85 and 93% identical to human EDG-4 at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. Therefore, this cDNA fragment was assumed to correspond to the mouse EDG-4 gene. During the time of the present study, a full-length cDNA encoding mouse EDG-4 cDNA was cloned (11) (GenBankTM accession number AF218844). Our sequence was 100% homologous with this cDNA.

Stable Transfection with Antisense Vector

The coding region of human EDG-2 cDNAs (8) was subcloned in the antisense direction in pcDNA3.1 vector (Invitrogen). Construct was verified by restriction mapping and sequencing. Antisense EDG-2 cDNA vector or empty pcDNA3.1 vectors were transfected in exponentially growing 3T3F442A preadipocytes by calcium phosphate precipitation followed by G418 (neomycin) selection as described previously (16). Gene expression and functional analysis were performed on individual G418-resistant cell clones.

Western Blot Analysis

Preadipocyte proteins were solubilized in radioimmune precipitation buffer, and 50 µg of protein were separated on 11% SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred on nitrocellulose as described previously (18). The blot was preincubated for 2 h at room temperature in TBST buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8, 150 mM NaCl, 0.2% Tween 20) containing 5% dry milk (TBST-DM) and then overnight at 4 °C in TBST-DM containing 1/5000 anti-Vzg-1 receptor antibody (5). After extensive washing with TBST-DM, the blot was incubated with peroxidase conjugate secondary anti-rabbit antibody 1/5000e (Sigma) for 1 h and washed again. Immunostained proteins were visualized using the enhanced chemiluminescence detection system (ECL, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech).

Cell Proliferation and Spreading

Cell proliferation was determined as described previously (14). After 48-h culture in 10% donor calf serum-supplemented DMEM, cells were serum-deprived and exposed for an additional 48 h to various growth factors such as fetal calf serum, 1-oleoyl-LPA. Cell number was determined using Coulter counter. In some experiments LPA present in fetal calf serum was suppressed by overnight treatment at 37 °C with 0.1 unit/ml phospholipase B (EC 3.1.1.5; Sigma).

Cell spreading was used as an index of actin cytoskeleton reorganization and was quantified as described previously (19). Briefly, preconfluent cells were washed with phosphate-buffered saline and placed in serum-free DMEM for 30-60 min to induce cell retraction characterized by a reduced cell area. Cell spreading was measured by the increase in the cell area generated after 20-min exposure to 1-oleoyl-LPA or sphingosine 1-phosphate. Cell area was measured under a microscope connected to a video camera and image analysis program (Visiolab).


    RESULTS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Expression of EDG Receptor mRNA in Growing 3T3F442A Preadipocytes-- The presence of EDG-2, EDG-4, EDG-7, and PSP24 mRNAs in total RNA prepared from 3T3F442A preadipocytes was first tested by nonquantitative RT-PCR. Total RNA prepared from different tissues was used in parallel as positive control: brain (for EDG-2 and EDG-1 (5, 8, 17)), spleen (for EDG-4 (9)), heart (for EDG-7 (10)). As shown in Fig. 1, EDG-2 and EDG-4 mRNAs, but not EDG-7 nor PSP24 mRNAs, were detected in 3T3F442A preadipocytes. In parallel, transcripts for the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor EDG-1 were also detected in 3T3F442A preadipocytes.



View larger version (40K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 1.   RT-PCR detection of EDG-2, EDG-4, and EDG-1 mRNA in 3T3F442A preadipocytes. RT-PCR was performed from 1 µg of DNase I-treated total RNA (see "Material and Methods") extracted from growing 3T3F442A preadipocytes (3T3), mouse brain (brain), mouse spleen (spleen), human heart (heart). Thirty-five PCR cycles were performed from the same RT with specific primers for EDG-2, EDG-4, EDG-7, PSP24, and EDG-1 (see "Material and Methods"). Representative result of at least three separate experiments.

The relative proportion of EDG-2 versus EDG-4 mRNAs was quantified using real time RT-PCR. As shown in Table I, EDG-2 mRNAs were found to be 10-fold more abundant than EDG-4 mRNAs (Table I). By using Northern blot analysis on total RNA, EDG-2 (as well as EDG-1) mRNAs were easily detectable after 24-h autoradiography (Fig. 2), whereas EDG-4 mRNAs remained undetectable after 7 days exposure (not shown). Results showed that although EDG-2 and EDG-4 transcripts could be detected in growing 3T3F442A preadipocytes, EDG-2 transcripts were predominantly expressed.


                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table I
Expression of EDG-2 and EDG-4 transcripts in growing 3T3F442A preadipocytes
EDG-2 and EDG-4 mRNAs were quantified from growing 3T3F442A preadipocytes using real time RT-PCR (see "Materials and Methods"). In each experiment EDG-2 and EDG-4 transcripts were quantified from the same cDNAs preparation. Results were obtained from four experiments and expressed in copies of mRNA per 50 ng of total RNA.



View larger version (47K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 2.   Northern blot detection of EDG-2 and EDG-1 mRNA in 3T3F442A preadipocytes. Twenty µg of total RNA extracted from growing 3T3F442A preadipocytes or mouse brain were analyzed by Northern blot using specific 32P-labeled probes directed against EDG-2 (A) and EDG-1 mRNAs (B). An 18 S ribosomal RNA probe was used to ensure equal well loading. Data presented are representative of at least three separate experiments.

Stable Transfection of Antisense EDG-2 cDNA in Growing 3T3F442A Preadipocytes-- To determine the contribution of EDG-2 receptor in the bioactivity of LPA, an EDG-2 antisense cDNA was stably transfected into 3T3F442A preadipocytes. Thirteen G418-resistant cell clones were isolated, and the presence of antisense mRNAs was determined by RT-PCR. For that, specific primers designed for antisense EDG-2 mRNA detection (see "Material and Methods") were used. Six cell clones were found to express antisense EDG-2 mRNA (Fig. 3A). Based upon Northern blot analysis, the six clones exhibited a lower expression of endogenous EDG-2 mRNAs as compared with 3T3F442A preadipocytes transfected with the empty vector (Fig. 3B). Clone 7 and clone 24 were those expressing the lowest amount of endogenous EDG-2 mRNA (Fig. 3B). It was then tested whether down-regulation of endogenous EDG-2 mRNAs observed in clone 7 and clone 24 was accompanied by a reduction in EDG-2 protein level. Thus, Western blot analysis was performed with a polyclonal antibody raised against mouse-EDG-2 receptor (Vzg-1) (5). As described previously (5), the receptor was detected as a protein with a molecular mass between 31 and 45 kDa (Fig. 3C). In clone 7 and clone 24, the amount of this protein was lower when compared with 3T3F442A preadipocytes transfected with the empty vector (Fig. 3C). No detectable reduction in the amount of EDG-2 receptor protein was observed in clones 9, 12, and 22 (not shown). Results showed that stable transfection with EDG-2 antisense cDNA allowed us to isolate 3T3F442A preadipocyte clones with decreased expression of endogenous EDG-2 receptor.



View larger version (31K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 3.   Expression of EDG-2 antisense and sense mRNAs in G418-resistant cell clones transfected with EDG-2 antisense cDNA. A, the presence of antisense EDG-2 mRNAs was examined by RT-PCR analysis (see "Material and Methods") in G418-resistant cell clones (clones 7 to 31) transfected with antisense EDG-2 cDNA and in empty pcDNA3.1 transfected cells. B, EDG-2 mRNA level in G418-resistant cell clones analyzed by Northern blot as described in the legend to Fig. 2. C, EDG-2 receptor protein level analyzed by Western blot (see "Material and Methods") in clone 7, clone 24, and in empty pcDNA3.1 transfected cells: representative of two separate experiments.

In parallel, we tested whether stable expression of EDG-2 antisense cDNA would affect EDG-4 receptor expression. EDG-4 transcripts were thus quantified in the six clones depicted in Fig. 3B. Because EDG-4 mRNAs could not be detected by Northern blot, real time RT-PCR was used for their quantification. When compared with 3T3F442A preadipocytes transfected with the empty vector, the EDG-4 mRNA level was found to be increased in clone 7, clone 19, and clone 22 and significantly decreased in clone 12 (Table II). Therefore, down-regulation of EDG-2 transcripts was not systematically accompanied by a compensatory up-regulation of EDG-4 transcripts.


                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table II
Expression of EDG-4 transcripts in 3T3F442A preadipocytes transfected with EDG-2 cDNA antisense
EDG-4 mRNAs were quantified in antisense EDG-2 cDNA transfected 3T3F442A preadipocytes using real time RT-PCR (see "Materials and Methods"). Results corresponded to one experiment performed in triplicate.

Influence of EDG-2 Antisense cDNA Transfection on LPA-dependent Proliferation-- We previously demonstrated that 1-oleoyl-LPA, the most active LPA species, increases proliferation in growing 3T3F442A preadipocytes (14). In 3T3F442A preadipocytes transfected with empty vector, 1 µM 1-oleoyl-LPA by itself induced a significant increase (150% of the control) in cell number (Fig. 4). Among the six G418-resistant cell clones used in Fig. 3B, only clone 7 and clone 24 exhibited a significant reduction in the proliferative response induced by 1 µM 1-oleoyl-LPA (Fig. 4). Clone 7 and clone 24 were those harboring detectable alteration of EDG-2 receptor protein expression (see Fig. 3C). It was also noticeable that clone 7 exhibited an alteration of preadipocyte responsiveness to LPA despite the existence of the high level of expression of EDG-4 transcripts (Table II). Clone 12, which exhibited no alteration of EDG-2 transcripts but a significant reduction of EDG-4 transcripts (Table II), revealed no significant alteration in the proliferative response to LPA. Results showed that reduction of EDG-2 receptor expression was accompanied by an alteration in the proliferative response of 3T3F442A preadipocytes to LPA. In parallel, a poor contribution of EDG-4 receptor in this response was suggested.



View larger version (20K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 4.   Influence of LPA on the proliferation of G418-resistant cell clones transfected with EDG-2 antisense cDNA. Each cell clone was seeded and grown in 10% donor calf serum-supplemented DMEM. After 48 h, serum was removed, and each cell clone was grown for an additional 48 h in the presence or absence of 1 µM 1-oleoyl-LPA. Cell number obtained in each clone was determined as described under "Material and Methods" and compared with that obtained with empty pcDNA3.1 transfected cells. Each column represents the mean ± S.E. of three to five independent experiments, depending on cell clone. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t test: *, p < 0.05 when comparing LPA activity in each clone to that measured in empty pcDNA3.1 transfected cells.

LPA is abundant (0.5-2.5 µM) in serum (20) and contributes to its biological activity (21-24). In 3T3F442A preadipocytes transfected with the empty vector, 10% serum led to a large increase in cell number, which was significantly reduced (about 30%) by pretreatment of the serum with phospholipase B (Fig. 5). Phospholipase B is a lysophospholipase previously shown to hydrolyze LPA and suppress its bioactivity (14, 21, 25). Therefore, LPA significantly contributed to the proliferative response of 3T3F442A preadipocytes to serum. In clone 7, the response to serum was significantly lower as compared with 3T3F442A preadipocytes transfected with the empty vector. In addition, it was not significantly modified by phospholipase B treatment (Fig. 5). Similar results were obtained with clone 24 (not shown). Results showed that clone 7 exhibited a strong reduction in its proliferative response to the LPA present in serum. Finally, it was noticeable that the phospholipase B-insensitive proliferative response to serum was not significantly different between clone 7 and empty vector transfected cells (Fig. 5). This showed that clone 7 exhibited no alteration in the proliferative response to phospholipase B-insensitive growth factors.



View larger version (30K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 5.   Influence of antisense EDG-2 cDNA transfection on the proliferative response to serum. Clone 7 and empty pcDNA3.1 transfected 3T3F442A preadipocytes were seeded and grown in 10% donor calf serum-supplemented DMEM. After 48 h, the medium was changed with fresh 10% fetal calf serum-supplemented DMEM pretreated (+) or not (-) with 0.1 unit/ml phospholipase B overnight. Cell number was determined after 48 h as described under "Material and Methods." Each column represents the mean ± S.E. of five independent experiments. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t test: p < 0.05 when comparing the effect of serum with that of phospholipase B-treated serum (*) and p < 0.05 when comparing pcDNA3.1 with clone 7 in the absence of phospholipase B (#). NS, nonstatistically different.

Influence of EDG-2 Antisense cDNA Transfection on LPA-dependent Spreading-- In several cell types, including 3T3F442A preadipocytes (14, 25), 1-oleoyl-LPA (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) (another bioactive phospholipid acting via a distinct receptor than LPA) induce a rapid and powerful reorganization of actin cytoskeleton, leading to a rapid spreading of the cells previously retracted by serum deprivation (Cont in Fig. 6C). In 3T3F442A preadipocytes transfected with empty vector (pcDNA3.1 in Fig. 6C), LPA (left panel in Fig. 6C) and S1P (right panel in Fig. 6C) induced a dose-dependent increase in cell spreading. This effect was quantified by measurement of cell surface (Fig. 6, A and B). The detectable spreading effect was observed with a 10 nM concentration of both LPA and S1P (Fig. 6, A-C). In clone 7, the dose-response curve generated by LPA was significantly shifted to the right, with a detectable spreading effect observed only at 100 nM (Fig. 6, A and C, left panel). On the contrary, the dose-response curve generated by S1P was not significantly different between 3T3F442A preadipocytes transfected with empty vector and clone 7 (Fig. 6, B and C, right panel). A weak but not significant reduction in maximal response of sphingosine 1-phosphate was observed in clone 7. Results showed that clone 7 exhibited a significant and specific reduction in its spreading response to LPA.



View larger version (65K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 6.   Influence of EDG-2 antisense cDNA expression on the cell spreading response to LPA. Growing clone 7 (black boxes) or empty pcDNA3.1 transfected cells (white boxes) were retracted by serum deprivation as described under "Material and Methods" and exposed to increased concentrations of 1-oleoyl-LPA (A) or sphingosine 1-phosphate (B). After 15 min the cell surface was measured as the intensity of cell spreading. Each value represents the mean ± S.E. of three independent experiments. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t test: *, p < 0.05 when comparing clone 7 (black boxes) and empty pcDNA3.1 transfected cells (white boxes). C, photo of one representative experiment of cell spreading.

Expression of EDG-2 mRNAs during the Conversion of Growing 3T3F442A Preadipocytes into Growth-arrested Adipocytes-- When cultured in fetal calf serum and insulin (see "Material and Methods"), confluent 3T3F442A preadipocytes can be converted into growth-arrested adipocytes (26). Conversion into adipocytes is also characterized by a increased expression of mRNAs encoding adipocyte-specific proteins. Among them is the adipocyte-lipid-binding protein encoded by the aP2 gene (27). The influence of adipose conversion of 3T3F442A preadipocytes was tested on the expression of EDG-2 mRNAs. By using Northern blot analysis, it was observed that adipocyte conversion (characterized by a rapid increase in the aP2 mRNA level) was accompanied by a coordinate and strong reduction in the EDG-2 mRNA level (Fig. 7). Results suggested that the EDG-2 receptor likely played a more important role in growing preadipocytes than in growth-arrested adipocytes.



View larger version (39K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 7.   Expression of EDG-2 and aP2 mRNAs during conversion of 3T3F442A preadipocytes into adipocytes. 3T3F442A preadipocytes were grown in donor calf serum (SVD)-supplemented DMEM until confluence. At confluence, the medium was replaced by fetal calf serum-supplemented DMEM plus insulin (SVF+insulin) to induce adipose conversion (see "Material and Methods"). Total RNAs were extracted at different time during the course of preadipocytes conversion into adipocytes, and mRNAs were detected by Northern blot. Data are representative of at least three separate experiments.



    DISCUSSION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

The results of the present study show evidence of a predominant contribution of the EDG-2 receptor in the responses of 3T3F442A preadipocytes to LPA. Among the four potential LPA receptor genes (EDG-2, EDG-4, EDG-7, and PSP24), only EDG-2 and EDG-4 transcripts were found in 3T3F442A preadipocytes. Quantitative analysis of transcript abundance revealed predominance of EDG-2 gene receptor over EDG-4 gene receptor. This predominance was also found in another preadipose cell line: 3T3L1.2 Therefore the EDG-2 receptor is likely primarily involved in the action of LPA in preadipocytes. This assessment is supported by experiments showing that antisense-directed reduction in EDG-2 receptor expression significantly altered the responses of 3T3F442A preadipocytes to LPA. It was indeed possible to isolate 3T3F442A-derived cell clones exhibiting significant reduction of endogenous EDG-2 mRNA and protein level associated with significant reduction of the cellular responses to LPA: proliferation and cytoskeleton reorganization (Figs. 4-6). This reduction was specific to LPA, since, in parallel, responses to sphingosine 1-phosphate (Fig. 6) or to other phospholipase B-insensitive growth factors (Fig. 5) were not significantly altered.

Nevertheless, this antisense strategy did not completely block the action of LPA. This very likely resulted from a partial blockade of EDG-2 receptor expression following antisense cDNA transfection, since a substantial decrease, but not total disappearance, of EDG-2 expression is elicited by EDG-2 antisense stable expression. In addition, one cannot completely exclude the possible contribution of another receptor in the residual responses generated by LPA. Besides EDG-2 receptors, 3T3F442A preadipocytes also express EDG-4 receptor. However, the data of Table II reveal that variations of EDG-4 transcript expression in EDG-2 antisense-expressing clones cannot be correlated with modifications of the proliferative response to LPA. Although we are aware that these data should be confirmed at the protein level, they strongly suggest the poor contribution of the EDG-4 receptor in the responses of 3T3F442A preadipocytes to LPA.

Finally, EDG-2 transcripts were predominantly expressed in growing preadipocytes and were strongly reduced in growth-arrested adipocytes. The precise mechanisms involved in down-regulation remain unclear and are currently under investigation. Whatsoever, this observation strongly supports the role of EDG-2 receptors in the proliferative response to LPA in growing preadipocytes.

Although several studies have shown that overexpression of EDG-2 cDNA restores or increases LPA sensitivity in mammalian cells (5, 8), the specific contribution of the endogenously expressed EDG-2 receptor remained poorly documented. Goetzl et al. (28) have shown that the antiapoptotic response of a human T-lymphocyte cell line to LPA could significantly be reduced by transfection with EDG-2 plus EDG-4 antisense cDNA. The specific contribution of the EDG-2 receptor remained to be determined. The present study brings evidence for a specific contribution of the EDG-2 receptor endogenously expressed in preadipocytes.

Previous work from our laboratory (14) revealed that LPA can be produced by adipocytes and plays an important role in paracrine/autocrine control of proximal preadipocytes. Because of the involvement of the EDG-2 receptor in the control of the proliferation of preadipocytes, this receptor appears to be an interesting target to control preadipocyte proliferation, one of the key events of adipose tissue development.


    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Dr. Jerold Chun for providing Vzg-1 antibody, Dr. Gabor Tigyi for providing Xenopus PSP24 vector and mouse PSP24 sequence, and Isabelle Lefrère for expert technical assistance.


    FOOTNOTES

* This work was supported by grants from the "Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale" (APEX 4 × 405D), the "Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer" (5381), the "Laboratoires Clarins" and the "Institut de Recherche Servier."The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

§ Present address: Tularik Inc., Two Corporate Dr., South San Francisco, CA. 94080. E-mail: san@tularik.com.

|| To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel.: 33-0562172956; Fax: 33-0561331721; E-mail: saulnier@rangueil.inserm.fr.

Published, JBC Papers in Press, January 4, 2001, DOI 10.1074/jbc.M010111200

2 S. Krief, personal data.


    ABBREVIATIONS

The abbreviations used are: LPA, lysophosphatidic acid; DMEM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction; bp, base pair(s); kbp, kilobase pair(s); S1P, sphingosine 1-phosphate.


    REFERENCES
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES


1. Gaits, F., Fourcade, O., Le Balle, F., Gueguen, G., Gaigé, B., Gassama-Diagne, A., Fauvel, J., Salles, J.-P., Mauco, G., Simon, M.-F., and Chap, H. (1997) FEBS Lett. 410, 54-58[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
2. Jalink, K., Hordijk, P. L., and Moolenaar, W. H. (1994) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1198, 185-196[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
3. Goetzl, E., and An, S. (1998) FASEB J. 12, 1589-1598[Abstract/Free Full Text]
4. Chun, J., Contos, J. J., and Munroe, D. (1999) Cell Biochem. Biophys. 30, 213-242[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
5. Hecht, J., Weiner, J., Post, S., and Chun, J. (1996) J. Cell Biol. 135, 1071-1083[Abstract]
6. Hla, T., and Maciag, T. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 9308-9313[Abstract/Free Full Text]
7. Lee, M., Brocklyn, J. V., Thangada, S., Liu, C., Hand, A., Menzeleev, R., Spiegel, S., and Hla, T. (1998) Science 279, 1552-1555[Abstract/Free Full Text]
8. An, S., Dickens, A., Bleu, T., Hallmark, O., and Goetzl, E. (1997) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 231, 619-622[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
9. An, S., Bleu, T., Hallmark, O., and Goetzl, E. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 7906-7910[Abstract/Free Full Text]
10. Bandoh, K., Aoki, J., Hosono, H., Kobayashi, S., Kobayashi, T., Murakami-Murofushi, K., Tsujimoto, M., Arai, H., and Inoue, K. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 27776-27785[Abstract/Free Full Text]
11. Contos, J., and Chun, J. (2000) Genomics 64, 155-169[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
12. Guo, Z., Liliom, K., Fischer, D. J., Bathurst, I. C., Tomei, L. D., Kiefer, M. C., and Tigyi, G. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 93, 14367-14372[Abstract/Free Full Text]
13. Kawasawa, Y., Kume, K., Nakade, S., Haga, H., Izumi, T., and Shimizu, T. (1998) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 276, 952-956[CrossRef]
14. Valet, P., Pagès, C., Jeanneton, O., Daviaud, D., Barbe, P., Record, M., Saulnier-Blache, J., and Lafontan, M. (1998) J. Clin. Invest. 101, 1431-1438[Abstract/Free Full Text]
15. Pagès, C., Girard, A., Jeanneton, O., Barbe, P., Wolf, C., Lafontan, M., Valet, P., and Saulnier-Blache, J. (2000) Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 905, 159-164[Abstract/Free Full Text]
16. Bouloumié, A., Planat, V., Devedjian, J.-C., Valet, P., Saulnier-Blache, J.-S., Record, M., and Lafontan, M. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 30254-30259[Abstract/Free Full Text]
17. Liu, C. H., and Hla, T. (1997) Genomics 43, 15-24[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
18. Bétuing, S., Daviaud, D., Valet, P., Bouloumié, A., Lafontan, M., and Saulnier-Blache, J. (1996) Endocrinology 137, 5220-5229[Abstract]
19. Pagès, C., Rey, A., Lafontan, M., Valet, P., and Saulnier-Blache, J. (1999) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 265, 572-576[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
20. Saulnier-Blache, J. S., Girard, A., Simon, M. F., Lafontan, M., and Valet, M. (2000) J. Lipid Res. 41, 1947-1951[Abstract/Free Full Text]
21. Tigyi, G., and Miledi, R. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 21360-21367[Abstract/Free Full Text]
22. Eichholtz, T., Jalink, K., Fahrenfort, I., and Moolenaar, W. H. (1993) Biochem. J. 291, 677-680[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
23. Tokumura, A., Iimori, M., Nishioka, Y., Kitahara, M., Sakashita, M., and Tanaka, S. (1994) Am. J. Physiol. 267, C204-C210[Abstract/Free Full Text]
24. Sasagawa, T., Suzuki, K., Shiota, T., Kondo, T., and Okita, M. (1998) J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. 44, 809-818[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
25. Ridley, A. J., and Hall, A. (1992) Cell 70, 389-399[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
26. Bétuing, S., Valet, P., Lapalu, S., Peyroulan, D., Hickson, G., Daviaud, D., Lafontan, M., and Saulnier-Blache, J. S. (1997) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 235, 765-773[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
27. Bernlohr, D. A., Angus, C. W., Lane, M. D., Bolanowski, M. A., and Kelly, T. J. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 81, 5468-5472[Abstract]
28. Goetzl, E. J., Shames, R. S., Yang, J., Birke, F. W., Liu, Y. F., Albert, P. R., and An, S. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 809-812[Abstract/Free Full Text]


Copyright © 2001 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.