The long-term objectives of this research are to determine the physiologic, cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the processing of proTRH, a 255 amino acid polyprotein which contains 5 copies of a thyrotrophin-relating hormone (TRH) progenitor sequence flanked by paired basic residues, and the secretion of TRH in the various regions where TRH and its prohormone occur.
The specific aims of the project are to elucidate: i) the nature of the intermediates and final products of proTRH processing using pulse-chase studies in tumor cell lines transfected with an expression vector containing preproTRH cDNA and in rat perinatal pancreas in monolayer culture; ii) the mechanisms underlying the normal pattern of proTRH processing in specific regions of the CNS and its regulation; iii) the role of the thyroid axis and monoaminergic input in regulating proTRH processing and the subsequent secretion of TRH form the hypothalamus in vivo by hypophysial portal vessel cannulation. Stereotactic implantation of push-pull cannulae in both the pituitary, at the junction of the stalk, and in the olfactory bulb, will enable such regulation and its cellular specificity to be characterized in nonstressed awake animals by direct comparison of the hypothalamus with another CNS location. iv) The role of autocrine and paracrine factors in regulating the secretion of TRH and other proTRH- derived peptides from the Islets of Langerhans will be determined using fetal/neonatal pancreas in monolayer culture. v) Determination of whether histidyl proline diketopiperazine (HisProDKP) is derived directly from proTRH without prior formation of TRH, this biologically active cyclized dipeptize will be characterized in transfected cell lines and in rat pancreatic islets following streptozotocin treatment by RIA, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. This research will provide information on the synthesis and metabolism of biologically active peptides in the neuroendocrine system of mammals and has relevance to the pathophysiology of nervous system, hypothalamic-pituitary disorders and diabetes mellitus in man.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK034540-07
Application #
2139336
Study Section
Endocrinology Study Section (END)
Project Start
1984-03-01
Project End
1994-11-30
Budget Start
1990-12-01
Budget End
1994-11-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Rhode Island Hospital (Providence, RI)
Department
Type
DUNS #
161202122
City
Providence
State
RI
Country
United States
Zip Code
02903
Bruhn, T O; Rondeel, J M; Bolduc, T G et al. (1995) Thyrotropin-releasing hormone gene expression in cultured anterior pituitary cells: role of gender. Neuroendocrinology 61:77-84
Bruhn, T O; Rondeel, J M; Bolduc, T G et al. (1994) Thyrotropin-releasing hormone gene expression in the anterior pituitary. III. Stimulation by thyroid hormone: potentiation by glucocorticoids. Endocrinology 134:826-30
Bruhn, T O; Bolduc, T G; Rondeel, J M et al. (1994) Thyrotropin-releasing hormone gene expression in the anterior pituitary. II. Stimulation by glucocorticoids. Endocrinology 134:821-5
Bruhn, T O; Rondeel, J M; Bolduc, T G et al. (1994) Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) gene expression in the anterior pituitary. I. Presence of pro-TRH messenger ribonucleic acid and pro-TRH-derived peptide in a subpopulation of somatotrophs. Endocrinology 134:815-20
McFarlane, M B; Bruhn, T O; Jackson, I M (1993) Postsomatostatin hypersecretion of growth hormone from perifused rat anterior pituitary cells is dependent on calcium influx. Neuroendocrinology 57:496-502
Nillni, E A; Sevarino, K A; Jackson, I M (1993) Identification of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone-prohormone and its posttranslational processing in a transfected AtT20 tumoral cell line. Endocrinology 132:1260-70
Nillni, E A; Sevarino, K A; Jackson, I M (1993) Processing of proTRH to its intermediate products occurs before the packing into secretory granules of transfected AtT20 cells. Endocrinology 132:1271-7
Bruhn, T O; McFarlane, M B; Deckey, J E et al. (1992) Analysis of pulsatile secretion of thyrotropin and growth hormone in the hypothyroid rat. Endocrinology 131:2615-21
Bruhn, T O; Jackson, I M (1992) Abnormalities of the thyroid hormone negative feedback regulation of TSH secretion in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Regul Pept 38:221-30
Bruhn, T O; Tresco, P A; Jackson, I M (1991) Transplantation of fetal growth hormone-releasing factor-immunoreactive neurons into the ventricular system of adult MSG-treated rats. Peptides 12:957-61

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