Bruno Gogly

Anetoderma: An altered balance between metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases

The amount of elastic fibers from lesional and healthy skin areas of five patients with anetoderma was determined by automated image analysis. Dermal elastic fibers were almost completely absent in anetodermic skin and preelastic fibers were undetectable or extremely rare. Organ cultures were performed using explants from affected and unaffected skin areas of the same patient. We identified and quantified proteases in the culture media of explants: MMP-1 (collagenase 1), MMP-2 and MMP-9 (gelatinases A and B), MMP-3 (stromelysin 1), MMP-7 (matrilysin 1), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. The data were compared with those of two healthy donors. For the five samples of anetodermic skin, MMP-1 levels were significantly higher compared with the uninvolved cultures and the two healthy samples. A significant increase of TIMP-1 expression was also observed in the affected cultures. We demonstrated a significant increase in the production of gelatinase A in lesional skin when compared with nonlesional skin and healthy donor samples. We found no significant production of TIMP-2 in the five samples of anetodermic skin compared with the samples from the two healthy donors. There was a significant decrease in TIMP-2 expression in the five nonlesional samples compared with the control samples. These data are in favor of an altered balance in anetodermic patients between MMP-2 and TIMP-2. Levels of MMP-9, MMP-3, and MMP-7 were significantly higher in the culture-conditioned media of the anetodermic skin samples than the nonlesional skin cultures. Because MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-9 are known to degrade elastin, and MMP-3 can activate the latent forms of MMP-7 and MMP-9, we propose that these metalloproteinases also participate in the degradation of elastic fibers in anetodermic skin.

Severe and Unrecognized Dental Abnormalities After Drug-Induced Epidermal Necrolysis

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Preservation of Rabbit Aorta Elastin From Degradation by Gingival Fibroblasts in an Ex Vivo Model

Objective—Embryo-like gingival healing properties are attributed to the gingival fibroblast (GF) and could be used as a model for other types of healing dysfunctions. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation is associated with elastin degradation and increase in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity. We aimed to validate the concept of using GF healing properties in arteries. Methods and Results—We evaluated MMP-9 and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-1) in rabbit aortic rings cultured in collagen gels with or without GFs and observed throughout 21 days. We also performed cocultures of human smooth muscle cells (hSMCs) with either gingival, dermal, or adventitial fibroblasts, and alone (control). In control arteries, elastic fibers became spontaneously sparse. In presence of GFs, elastic fibers were preserved. There was a dramatically reduced protein level of MMP-9 in coculture of aorta and GFs, in contrast with control aorta. MMP-9 expression was unaffected by GFs. MMP-9 inhibition was related to increased TIMP-1 secretion, TIMP-1 forming a complex with MMP-9. Cell cocultures of hSMC with GFs showed similar results. Dermal and adventitial fibroblasts did not affect MMP-9. Conclusions—Elastic fiber degradation was specifically preserved by GFs via reduction of MMP-9 protein level by increasing TIMP-1 synthesis. Vascular transfer of gingival fibroblasts could be a promising approach to treat AAA.

Endoluminal Gingival Fibroblast Transfer Reduces the Size of Rabbit Carotid Aneurisms via Elastin Repair

Objective—Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is considered to play a pivotal role in aneurismal formation. We showed that gingival fibroblasts (GF) in vitro reduced matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity via increased secretion of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1. We aimed to evaluate in vivo the efficacy of GF transplantation to reduce aneurism development in a rabbit model. Methods and Results—Seventy rabbit carotid aneurisms were induced by elastase infusion. Four weeks later, GF, dermal fibroblast, or culture medium (DMEM) were infused into established aneurisms. Viable GF were abundantly detected in the transplanted arteries 3 months after seeding. GF engraftment resulted in a significant reduction of carotid aneurisms (decrease of 23.3% [P<0.001] and 17.6% [P=0.01] of vessel diameter in GF-treated arteries, 1 and 3 months after cell therapy, respectively), whereas vessel diameter of control DMEM and dermal fibroblast–treated arteries increased. GF inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 overexpression and matrix metalloproteinase-9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 complex formation, induced elastin repair, and increased elastin density in the media compared with DMEM-treated arteries (38.2 versus 18.0%; P=0.02). Elastin network GF-induced repair was inhibited by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 blocking peptide. Conclusion—Our results demonstrate that GF transplantation results in significant aneurism reduction and elastin repair. This strategy may be attractive because GF are accessible and remain viable within the grafted tissue.

Oral phenotype and scoring of vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome: a case–control study

Objective Vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is a rare genetic condition related to mutations in the COL3A1 gene, responsible of vascular, digestive and uterine accidents. Difficulty of clinical diagnosis has led to the design of diagnostic criteria, summarised in the Villefranche classification. The goal was to assess oral features of vEDS. Gingival recession is the only oral sign recognised as a minor diagnostic criterion. The authors aimed to check this assumption since bibliographical search related to gingival recession in vEDS proved scarce. Design Prospective case–control study. Setting Dental surgery department in a French tertiary hospital. Participants 17 consecutive patients with genetically proven vEDS, aged 19–55 years, were compared with 46 age- and sex-matched controls. Observations Complete oral examination (clinical and radiological) with standardised assessment of periodontal structure, temporomandibular joint function and dental characteristics were performed. COL3A1 mutations were identified by direct sequencing of genomic or complementary DNA. Results Prevalence of gingival recession was low among patients with vEDS, as for periodontitis. Conversely, patients showed marked gingival fragility, temporomandibular disorders, dentin formation defects, molar root fusion and increased root length. After logistic regression, three variables remained significantly associated to vEDS. These variables were integrated in a diagnostic oral score with 87.5% and 97% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Conclusions Gingival recession is an inappropriate diagnostic criterion for vEDS. Several new specific oral signs of the disease were identified, whose combination may be of greater value in diagnosing vEDS.

Gingival Fibroblasts Inhibit MMP-1 and MMP-3 Activities in an Ex-Vivo Artery Model

The main arterial pathologies can be associated with a deregulation of remodeling involving matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), whereas gingival healing is characterized by an absence of fibrosis or irreversible elastin/collagen degradation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of gingival fibroblasts on MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretion in an organotypic artery culture. MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretions and activities (dot blots, zymography, ELISA) were evaluated in coculture of rabbit artery in the presence or not of gingival fibroblasts. MMP-1/TIMP-1 and MMP-3/TIMP-1 complexes forms were measured by ELISA. Complementary studies were performed using human aortic smooth muscle cells cocultured with adventitial, dermal, or gingival fibroblasts. Our results indicated that MMP-1 and MMP-3 free-forms activities were significantly reduced in coculture. This inhibition was linked to a significant increase of TIMP-1 leading to formation of TIMP-1/MMPs complexes. Due to the presence of gingival fibroblasts, the decrease in MMP-1 and MMP-3 efficiency thus contributes to diminish the degradation of artery. This cellular therapy strategy could be promising in artery pathologies treatment.

Formation of cartilage and synovial tissue by human gingival stem cells.

Human gingival stem cells (HGSCs) can be easily isolated and manipulated in culture to investigate their multipotency. Osteogenic differentiation of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells has been well documented. HGSCs derive from neural crests, however, and their differentiation capacity has not been fully established. The aim of the present report was to investigate whether HGSCs can be induced to differentiate to osteoblasts and chondrocytes. HGSCs were cultured either in a classical monolayer culture or in three-dimensional floating micromass pellet cultures in specific differentiation media. HGSC differentiation to osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages was determined by protein and gene expression analyses, and also by specific staining of cells and tissue pellets. HGSCs cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium showed induction of Runx2, alkaline phosphatase (ALPL), and osterix expression, and subsequently formed mineralized nodules consistent with osteogenic differentiation. Interestingly, HGSC micromass cultures maintained in chondrogenic differentiation medium showed SOX9-dependent differentiation to both chondrocyte and synoviocyte lineages. Chondrocytes at different stages of differentiation were identified by gene expression profiles and by histochemical and immunohistochemical staining. In 3-week-old cultures, peripheral cells in the micromass cultures organized in layers of cuboidal cells with villous structures facing the medium. These cells were strongly positive for cadherin-11, a marker of synoviocytes. In summary, the findings indicate that HGSCs have the capacity to differentiate to osteogenic, chondrogenic, and synoviocyte lineages. Therefore, HGSCs could serve as an alternative source for stem cell therapies in regenerative medicine for patients with cartilage and joint destructions, such as observed in rheumatoid arthritis.

Phenotypic study of human gingival fibroblasts in a medium enriched with platelet lysate.

BACKGROUND The modulation abilities of gingival fibroblasts open new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of vascular diseases (e.g., aneurism) and irradiation burns. Culture media are classically supplemented with animal sera to provide nutriments. Unfortunately, because of their potential for interspecies transmission of microorganisms, these media are not used for cells destined for human transplantation. This preliminary phenotypic study aims to test a serum-free (SF) culture medium for human gingival fibroblasts (hGF) supplemented with human platelet lysates (PLs) for rapid cell expansion. METHODS An SF medium was first elaborated to compete with hGF proliferation in a reference medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (BSmedium). Adhesion, proliferation, and doubling kinetics were run in the presence of PLs (SF+PL). Cytoskeletal proteins were analyzed and chromosomal abnormalities were evaluated by karyotype analyses. The SF+PL influence on secretion of molecules implied in tissue remodeling (i.e., matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs], their tissue inhibitors [TIMPs], and several growth factors) was studied. RESULTS SF+PL increased the proliferation rate 1.5-fold in a week compared to BSmedium. Cytoskeleton protein expression was similar in BSmedium and in SF+PL. Chromosomal abnormalities were rare in SF+PL. MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and the growth factors interleukin-1β and -4 and transforming growth factor-β1 secretions were stable during the experiment. TIMP-2 and interleukin-6 were slightly decreased in SF+PL compared to BSmedium. CONCLUSION While waiting confirmation from a proteomic approach, this SF culture medium could allow a secured faster hGF proliferation adapted for human cell transplant therapy.

Fusiform Aneurysm Model in Rabbit Carotid Artery

Aims: To develop a reproducible and accessible model of elastase-induced fusiform aneurysm in carotid rabbit arteries. Methods: Elastase, at a concentration of 1–30 U, was incubated into the lumen of carotid rabbit arteries. Four weeks later, angiography, histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry and zymography were performed. Results: The optimal concentration of elastase in this model was 3 U according to the balance between mortality and thrombosis rates. Indeed, at 3 U, external carotid diameter increased from 1.9 ± 0.1 to 3.1 ± 0.4 mm (p < 0.0001) associated with degradation of elastic fibers, matrix metalloproteinase-9 secretion, apoptosis and macrophage infiltration. Conclusions: Our study underlines that abdominal aortic aneurysm can be reliably duplicated in an elastase-induced aneurysm in carotid artery, a much more accessible vessel.

Gingival fibroblast inhibits MMP-7: Evaluation in an ex vivo aorta model

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play a deleterious role in numerous vascular diseases. In contrast, gingival matrix remodelling is adequately regulated by the gingival fibroblast (GF). Here, we aimed to evaluate the GF activity on MMP-7 expression and secretion in coculture with aorta rings. We evaluated MMP-7 transcription and secretion in rabbit aorta rings cultured or not with gingival fibroblasts in collagen gels. GF induced an increase of TIMP-1 transcription and secretion, followed, similarly to other MMPs, by the formation of TIMP-1/MMP-7 complexes. There was also a decrease of MMP-7 mRNA by RT-PCR in aorta rings cocultured with gingival fibroblasts. Interestingly, in contrast with other MMPs (which were not influenced at a transcription level), GF stimulated the release of TGF-beta1, which in turn inhibited the transcription and synthesis of MMP-7, as shown by neutralizing MMP-7 inhibition due to gingival fibroblast by overexpressing decorin (a TGF beta 1 inhibitor) or by silencing TGF beta 1 using siRNA. We showed that healing properties of the GF could be transposed to another organ, i.e., ex vivo aneurism model, implicating a down-regulation of MMP-7.