Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 77 (10), 2151–2153, 2013 Note -Related Peptide Upregulates Serum A Synthesis through Activation of -6

y Sho MATSUI, Takumi YAMANE, Kazuo KOBAYASHI-HATTORI, and Yuichi OISHI

Department of Nutritional Science, Faculty of Applied Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan

Received June 5, 2013; Accepted July 14, 2013; Online Publication, October 7, 2013 [doi:10.1271/bbb.130450]

We found that calcitonin gene-related peptide subconfluent. After serum starvation for 24 h, the cells (CGRP) enhanced the expression of levels of serum were treated with and without CGRP (100 nM) (R&D amyloid A (SAA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in HepG2. In Systems, Minneapolis, MN) for 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and addition, CGRP-induced SAA1/2 mRNA expression 24 h. Moreover, subconfluent cells were treated with was blocked by an anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibody in CGRP (100 nM) and an anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibody HepG2. These results suggest that CGRP promotes (0.1 or 1 mg/mL) (R&D Systems) for 4 h. Following SAA synthesis through activation of IL-6 in human these treatments, total RNA was extracted by the SV hepatocytes. Total RNA Isolation System (Promega, Madison, WI). The total RNA samples were stored at 80 C until use. Key words: calcitonin gene-related peptide; interleukin- To synthesize cDNA, 2 mg of total RNA was reverse 6; serum amyloid A; hepatocytes transcribed with a High Capacity cDNA Reverse Tran- scription Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) Serum amyloid A (SAA) is the circulating precursor following the manufacturer’s instructions. Primers and of amyloid A , the fibrillar component of amyloid probes for human Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehy- deposits.1,2) In humans, four SAA have been drogenase (GAPDH), IL-1, IL-6, TNF and SAA1/2 identified. Two genes (SAA1 and SAA2) encode acute- were purchased from Applied Biosystems as Assays-on- phase SAA (A-SAA), and are coordinately induced in Demand primer/probe gene expression products. Real- response to inflammation. SAA1 and SAA2 are 95% time PCR was performed on an ABI PRISM 7300 homologous in both coding and noncoding regions. Sequence Detection System with THUNDERBIRD SAA3 is a pseudo gene. SAA4 encodes constitutive Probe qPCR Mix (Toyobo, Osaka, Japan), primers, and SAA and is minimally inducible. A-SAA dramatically probes. PCR amplification was done in duplicate wells increases during acute inflammation as compared with in the same 96-well plate under the following con- normal status.3,4) A-SAA is synthesized mainly in the ditions: 2 min at 50 C and 10 min at 95 C, followed by ,5) and regulation of A-SAA genes is set in motion 50 cycles of 15 s at 95 C and 1 min at 60 C. The by the secretion of pro-inflammatory , such as mRNA levels of the targets were expressed as values interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and - relative to those of human GAPDH. (TNF).6) These cytokines are regulated by several The culture supernatant fraction was collected after factors. One of these is calcitonin gene-related peptide 24 h of incubation with and without CGRP (10 or (CGRP),7–10) but the relationship between CGRP and 100 nM). The level of SAA was measured with a SAA A-SAA remains unknown. Human ELISA kit (Life Technologies, Carlsbad City, CGRP is a 37-amino acid neuropeptide first found in CA) following to the manufacturer’s instructions. humans, and mammals in 1982.11) CGRP, a potent Data were expressed as mean standard deviation vasodilatory peptide present in central and peripheral (SD). The mean of multiple groups was compared by neurons, is released at systematic and local inflamma- Tukey’s multiple comparison test following one-way tory sites.12) Several studies have found that the release analysis of variance by SPSS 21.0J. All results at p < and synthesis of CGRP mediates pro-inflammatory 0:05 were taken to be statistically significant. responses in several types of cells,7–10) but its effects This study indicates that the level of SAA1/2 mRNA in hepatocytes remain unclear. Hence we examined the in the CGRP group was significantly higher than that of effects of CGRP on A-SAA synthesis and attempted to the vehicle at 4 h (Fig. 1A). Furthermore, stimulation by determine whether pro-inflammatory cytokines is related CGRP (100 nM) significantly increased SAA protein to its regulation in HepG2 cells. level (Fig. 1B). Gene expression of SAA is regulated by HepG2 cells were maintained in Dulbecco’s modified IL-1, IL-6, and TNF in hepatocytes.13) Some studies Eagle’s medium Nutrient Mixture F-12 (DMEM-F12 have found that CGRP regulated the expression of IL-1 HAM) (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) supplemented and IL-6 in macrophages7,8) and TNF in bone marrow9) with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS) (JRH and osteoblasts.10) Hence, we investigated to determine Biosciences, Lenexa, KS). The cells were seeded at whether stimulation by CGRP would raise the levels of 5 105 cells/well in 48-well plates and cultured in a IL-1, IL-6, and TNF mRNAs in hepatocytes. CGRP humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 at 37 C until treatment did not change the mRNA levels of IL-1 and

y To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel/Fax: +81-3-5477-2458; E-mail: [email protected] 2152 S. MATSUI et al.

SAA1/2 IL-1β 4 8 A # Vehicle A Vehicle CGRP CGRP 6 3 (100nM) (100nM)

4 2 2 1 Relative mRNA level mRNA Relative Relative mRNA level mRNA Relative 0 012481224 0 012481224 (h) TNFα B 2 SAA 1.5 500 b B a a 1 400 Vehicle

300 0.5 CGRP M Relative mRNA level mRNA Relative (100n )

ng/mL 200 0 0 1 2 4 8 12 24 100

0 IL-6 5 0 10 100 C # Vehicle M (n ) 4 CGRP (100nM) Fig. 1. Effects of CGRP on the Level of SAA1/2 mRNA and Its 3 Protein in HepG2 Cells. 2 (A) HepG2 cells were treated with CGRP (0 and 100 nM). The mRNA level of SAA in HepG2 was measured by quantitative 1

RT-PCR, and is expressed as a value relative to that of GAPDH. level mRNA Relative Bars are expressed as mean SD (n ¼ 3). # p < 0:05 values that are 0 significantly different from the vehicle. (B) HepG2 cells were 012481224 treated with CGRP (0, 10, and 100 nM). The level of SAA protein in (h) the cell culture supernatant after 24 h was measured using a SAA assay kit. Bars are expressed as mean SD (n ¼ 6). Bars with Fig. 2. Effect of CGRP on the Levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0:05). mRNA in HepG2 Cells. HepG2 cells were treated with CGRP (0 and 100 nM). The mRNA levels of IL-1 (A), IL-6 (B), and TNF (C) were measured by TNF as compared to vehicle (Fig. 2A and B). On the quantitative RT-PCR, and are expressed as values relative to those # other hand, stimulation by CGRP had significantly of GAPDH. Bars are expressed as mean SD (n ¼ 3). p < 0:05 values significantly different from the vehicle. increased the level of IL-6 mRNA at 2 h (Fig. 2C). These results showed that CGRP promoted SAA syn- thesis through IL-6 activation in hepatocytes, but the SAA1/2 reason CGRP did not affect IL-1 or the TNF mRNA 2 levels in this study is unclear. To clarify this, further studies are necessary. b Next, in order to ascertain whether increased SAA is 1.5 mediated by IL6, cells were treated with CGRP in the a a presence of the anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibody. The IL-6 a a mRNA level induced by CGRP addition was inhibited 1 by adding the neutralizing antibody (Fig. 3). These data indicate that CGRP upregulated the level of SAA via Relative mRNA level mRNA Relative activation of IL-6 in human hepatocytes. Aiyar et al.14) 0.5 found that CGRP receptors in most tissues and cell lines are coupled to the G- family of heterotrimeric 0 G-protein, and that stimulation of CGRP increased CGRP − 15) + + + − intracellular cAMP levels. Yu et al. also found that Neutralizing cAMP can potentiate IL-6 production in hepatocytes. antibody 0 0 0.1 11 µ Thus the increased SAA level may have resulted from ( g/mL) an increase in IL-6 level through activation of cAMP. Fig. 3. Effect of Anti-IL-6 Neutralizing Antibody on Levels of In conclusion, we found that CGRP promotes SAA SAA1/2 mRNA in HepG2 Cells Treated with CGRP. synthesis through IL-6-dependent pathway in human HepG2 cells were treated with anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibody (0, hepatocytes. This is the first study to find that CGRP acts 0.1, and 1 mg/mL) and CGRP (0 and 100 nM). mRNA levels were indirectly on SAA1/2 gene expression via activation measured by quantitative RT-PCR, and are expressed at values relative to that of GAPDH. Bas are expressed as mean SD (n ¼ 3). of IL-6 to promote SAA protein synthesis in human Bars with different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0:05). hepatocytes. Recober et al.16) showed that obesity Upregulation of Serum Amyloid A Synthesis 2153 enhanced the production of CGRP. In addition, the gene 6) Gruys E, Toussaint MJ, Niewold TA, and Koopmans SJ, expression of adiponectin, which is inversely correlated J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B., 6, 1045–1056 (2005). with increases in adipose tissues, was downregulated in 7) Yaraee R, Ebtekar M, Ahmadiani A, and Sabahi F, Int. 17) Immunopharmacol., 3, 13–14 (2003). adipocytes treated with recombinant A-SAA. De- 8) Tang Y, Feng Y, and Wang X, J. Neuroimmunol., 84, 207–212 creases in adiponectin levels induced by obesity cause (1998). 18) insulin resistance and arteriosclerosis. In sum, SAA 9) Fernandez S, Knopf MA, Shankar G, and McGillis JP, Cell. induced by CGRP in hepatocytes can cause such Immunol., 226, 67–77 (2003). negative impacts through decreases in adiponectin. We 10) Millet I and Vignery A, , 9, 999–1007 (1997). hope that our study will lead to elucidation of the 11) Amara SG, Jonas VR, Rosenfeld MG, Ong ES, and Evans RM, physiological action of CGRP. Nature, 298, 240–244 (1982). 12) Holzer P, Digestion, 59, 269–283 (1998). 13) Uhlar CM and Whitehead AS, Eur. J. Biochem., 265, 501–523 References (1999). 14) Aiyar N, Disa J, Stadel JM, and Lysko PG, Mol. Cell. Biochem., 1) Cunnane G and Whitehead AS, Ballie´res Clin. Rheumatol., 13, 197, 179–185 (1999). 55–68 (1999). 15) Yu J, Sheung N, Soliman EM, Spirli C, and Dranoff JA, Am. J. 2) Steel DM and Whitehead AS, Immunol. Today, 15, 81–88 Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol., 296, 563-571 (2009). (1994). 16) Recober A and Goadsby PJ, Drug News Perspect., 23, 112–117 3) Malle E and DeBeer FC, Eur. J. Clin. Invest., 26, 427–435 (2010). (1996). 17) Faty A, Ferre´ P, and Commans S, PLoS ONE, 7, e34031 (2012). 4) Gabay C and Kushner I, N. Engl. J. Med., 40, 448–454 (1999). 18) Antoniades C, Antonopoulos AS, Tousoulis D, and Stefanadis 5) Betts JC, Edbrooke MR, Thakker RV, and Woo PS, C, Obes. Rev., 10, 269–279 (2009). J. Immunol., 34, 471–482 (1991).