Hormonal Regulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein Secretion by a Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cell Line

A mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) established as a model for lactation was utilized to identify and characterize effects of various hormones upon insulin-like growth factor binding protein secretion. Ligand and immunoblot analyses of conditioned media indicated that insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 was secreted by MAC-T cells. Insulin-like growth factor-I stimulated insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion in a dose-dependent manner, but prolactin and bovine somatotropin did not alter insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion. Insulin increased and cortisol decreased insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion. Effects of insulin-like growth factor-I on insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion support previous studies using primary cultures of bovine mammary cells and bovine fibroblasts. Effects of cortisol and insulin on insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion may be explained by changes in protein synthesis. In addition, supraphysiological doses of insulin can cross-react with the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor and stimulate insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion. MAC-T cells provide a model system to study mechanisms that regulate local insulin-like growth factor-I bioactivity.