Characterization and hormonal regulation of a rat ovarian insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 endopeptidase: an FSH-inducible granulosa cell-derived metalloprotease

Previous studies established the existence of an FSH-inducible rat granulosa cell-derived insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-5 endopeptidase. It was the objective of this communication to characterize this activity in some detail. Exposure of 125I]rhIGFBP-5 substrate to media conditioned by FSH-treated granulosa cells (a cell-free assay) produced two rhIGFBP-5 cleavage products (estimated size 19.5 and 17.5 kDa). The acquisition of IGFBP-5 endopeptidase activity in culture proved FSH (or PMSG) to be dose and time dependent. The addition of oFSH or rhFSH to the cell-free assay in turn, proved without effect on IGFBP-5 endopeptidase activity, thereby arguing against the possibility of an FSH receptor-independent phenomenon or of contaminating pituitary-derived contribution. The ability of FSH to induce IGFBP-5 endopeptidase activity proved relatively specific in that other granulosa cell agonists such as activin-A, IGF-I, GnRH, interleukin-1beta, TNF alpha, TGF beta1, EGF, or endothelin-1 failed to do so. However, the concurrent provision of GnRH, TNF alpha, EGF, or endothelin-1 proved inhibitory to the IGFBP-5 endopeptidase-inducing property of FSH. Activin-A and TGF beta1 in turn further stimulated the FSH effect. Sensitivity to EDTA, 1,10 phenanthroline, and high concentrations (> or = 0.1 mM) of Zn2+ suggested a Zn2+ metalloprotease. Insensitivity to TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 argued against a matrix metalloprotease (MMP). Relative insensitivity to PMSF, AMPSF, aprotinin, TPCK, and benzamidine argued against the possibility of a serine protease. Insensitivity to pepstatin A and E64 argued against aspartic and cysteine proteases, respectively. Insensitivity to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and the presumed lack of free plasminogen in serum-free culture media argued against plasmin. Proteolysis was completely inhibited over the acid pH range but proceeded unencumbered at neutral and basic pH. Competition studies using unlabeled IGFBPs (1-6) as well as cell-free proteolysis assays of 125I]-labeled IGFBP-1, 2, 3, and 6 suggested a significant level of specificity for the FSH-induced/IGFBP-5-directed endopeptidase. Centricon-mediated fractionation of FSH-conditioned media revealed the IGFBP-5 endopeptidase activity in the fraction representing proteins of molecular weight >100K. Taken together, these observations document a secreted, granulosa cell-derived, high molecular weight, FSH-inducible, IGFBP-5-selective, neutral/basic pH-favoring, non-MMP Zn2+ metalloprotease.