Dafna Benayahu

Reduced Satellite Cell Numbers and Myogenic Capacity in Aging Can Be Alleviated by Endurance Exercise

Background Muscle regeneration depends on satellite cells, myogenic stem cells that reside on the myofiber surface. Reduced numbers and/or decreased myogenic aptitude of these cells may impede proper maintenance and contribute to the age-associated decline in muscle mass and repair capacity. Endurance exercise was shown to improve muscle performance; however, the direct impact on satellite cells in aging was not yet thoroughly determined. Here, we focused on characterizing the effect of moderate-intensity endurance exercise on satellite cell, as possible means to attenuate adverse effects of aging. Young and old rats of both genders underwent 13 weeks of treadmill-running or remained sedentary. Methodology Gastrocnemius muscles were assessed for the effect of age, gender and exercise on satellite-cell numbers and myogenic capacity. Satellite cells were identified in freshly isolated myofibers based on Pax7 immunostaining (i.e., ex-vivo). The capacity of individual myofiber-associated cells to produce myogenic progeny was determined in clonal assays (in-vitro). We show an age-associated decrease in satellite-cell numbers and in the percent of myogenic clones in old sedentary rats. Upon exercise, there was an increase in myofibers that contain higher numbers of satellite cells in both young and old rats, and an increase in the percent of myogenic clones derived from old rats. Changes at the satellite cell level in old rats were accompanied with positive effects on the lean-to-fat Gast muscle composition and on spontaneous locomotion levels. The significance of these data is that they suggest that the endurance exercise-mediated boost in both satellite numbers and myogenic properties may improve myofiber maintenance in aging.

The effect of surface treatment on the surface texture and contact angle of electrochemically deposited hydroxyapatite coating and on its interaction with bone-forming cells.

This work demonstrates the effects of both surface preparation and surface post-treatment by exposure to electron beam on the surface texture, contact angle and the interaction with bone-forming cells of electrochemically deposited hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating. Both the surface texture and the contact angle of the ground titanium substrate changed as a result of either heat treatment following soaking in NaOH solution or soaking in H(2)O(2) solution. Consequently, the shape of the current transients during potentiostatic deposition of HAp changed, and the resulting coatings exhibited different surface textures and contact angles. The developed interfacial area ratio Sdr and the core fluid retention index Sci were found more reliable than the mean roughness R(a) and the root-mean-square roughness Z(rms) in correlating the adhesion of the coating to the metal substrate and the cellular response with surface texture. The NaOH pretreatment provided the highest surface area and induced the highest cell attachment, even though the H(2)O(2) treatment provided the highest hydrophilicity to the metal substrate. Electrodeposition at pH 6 was found preferable compared to electrodeposition at pH 4.2. The ability to modify the cellular response by exposure to unique electron-beam surface treatment was demonstrated. The very high hydrophilicity of the as-deposited HAp coating enhanced its bioactivity.

Subpopulations of marrow stromal cells share a variety of osteoblastic markers

SummaryA series of stromal cell lines derived from mouse bone marrow, representing subpopulations of putative stromal cell types, were examined for the expression of osteoblastic properties. The effects of dexamethasone and specific inhibitors on alkaline phosphatase activity, cAMP response to bone-seeking hormones, and the ability to mineralize extracellular matrixin vitro as well as collagen typing were used as osteoblastic markers. We found that all stromal cell types examined posses some osteoblastic features but differ in the degree of expression. The data provide support to the hypothesis of a common stem cell for marrow stromal cells.

Static mechanical stretching accelerates lipid production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by activating the MEK signaling pathway.

Understanding mechanotransduction in adipocytes is important for research of obesity and related diseases. We cultured 3T3-L1 preadipocytes on elastic substrata and applied static tensile strains of 12% to the substrata while inducing differentiation. Using an image processing method, we monitored lipid production for a period of 3-4 wk. The ratio of %-lipid area per field of view (FOV) in the stretched over nonstretched cultures was significantly greater than unity (P < 0.05), reaching ∼1.8 on average starting from experimental day ∼10. The superior coverage of the FOV by lipids in the stretched cultures was due to significantly greater sizes of lipid droplets (LDs) with respect to nonstretched cultures, starting from experimental day ∼10 (P < 0.05), and due to significantly more LDs per cell between days ∼10 and ∼17 (P < 0.05). The statically stretched cells also differentiated significantly faster than the nonstretched cells within the first ∼10 days (P < 0.05). Adding peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) antagonist did not change these trends, as the %-lipid area per FOV in the stretched cultures that received this treatment was still significantly greater than in the nonstretched cultures without the PPARγ antagonist (14.44 ± 1.96% vs. 10.21 ± 3%; P < 0.05). Hence, the accelerated adipogenesis in the stretched cultures was not mediated through PPARγ. Nonetheless, inhibiting the MEK/MAPK signaling pathway reduced the extent of adipogenesis in the stretched cultures (13.53 ± 5.63%), bringing it to the baseline level of the nonstretched cultures without the MEK inhibitor (10.21 ± 3.07%). Our results hence demonstrate that differentiation of adipocytes can be enhanced by sustained stretching, which activates the MEK signaling pathway.

Hormonal changes affect the bone and bone marrow cells in a rat model

In this study, we used a rat model to investigate the effects of gonad hormones and replacement therapy on bone structure and the immune system. In the first phase of the study, 3‐ and 11‐month‐old F344 rats underwent ovariectomy (OVX) or were sham operated. Three months later, severe osteopenia was histologically observed in OVX rats of both age groups. The changes in the bone marrow structure of OVX rats included deterioration of cancellous bone that was associated with a remarkable increase of adipocyte cells. Furthermore, differential analyses for the expression of cell surface antigens by lymph‐myeloid cells was studied using flow cytometry (FACS). The number of myeloid cells expressing ED‐9+ or CD‐44+ was similar in both age groups, and unaffected by OVX. However, an augmentation of T‐lymphoid cells expressing CD4+, CD5+, or both, were observed with age, as well as after OVX. In the second phase of the study, 11‐month‐old rats were divided into five experimental groups: sham‐operated, OVX, and OVX treated with sustained‐release pellets of 17β‐estradiol (OVX‐E), progesterone (OVX‐P), or both (OVX‐E/P). Hormone replacement therapy maintained low physiological levels, and rats were tested 12 weeks after treatment initiation. Administration of 17β‐E, with or without the addition of progesterone, prevented the rise of T lymphoid cells observed in OVX rats, whereas progesterone alone had no effect. In agreement with findings from the first phase, neither OVX nor replacement therapy affected the myeloid cells expression of ED‐9 or CD‐44. In summary, the cellular changes in the bone marrow of OVX rats were associated with an increase in adipocytes that was correlated with bone atrophy. An augmentation of T‐lymphopoiesis was noted with increase in age or after OVX. This increase was reversed to baseline levels by 17β‐E treatment. J. Cell. Biochem. 79:407–415, 2000.

Cell Lineage Analysis of the Mammalian Female Germline

Fundamental aspects of embryonic and post-natal development, including maintenance of the mammalian female germline, are largely unknown. Here we employ a retrospective, phylogenetic-based method for reconstructing cell lineage trees utilizing somatic mutations accumulated in microsatellites, to study female germline dynamics in mice. Reconstructed cell lineage trees can be used to estimate lineage relationships between different cell types, as well as cell depth (number of cell divisions since the zygote). We show that, in the reconstructed mouse cell lineage trees, oocytes form clusters that are separate from hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells, both in young and old mice, indicating that these populations belong to distinct lineages. Furthermore, while cumulus cells sampled from different ovarian follicles are distinctly clustered on the reconstructed trees, oocytes from the left and right ovaries are not, suggesting a mixing of their progenitor pools. We also observed an increase in oocyte depth with mouse age, which can be explained either by depth-guided selection of oocytes for ovulation or by post-natal renewal. Overall, our study sheds light on substantial novel aspects of female germline preservation and development.

Hemopoietic functions of marrow-derived osteogenic cells

SummaryOsteoblasts, members of the marrow stromal cellular network, may play an active role in the hemopoietic microenvironment as well as in bone remodeling. In this study, we examined the extent to which marrow-derived osteogenic cells (MBA-15) possess various stromal functions. This marrow stromal-derived cell line was shown by us to exhibit osteoblastic characteristics in culture and to form bone in vivo. These cells are shown here to constitutively produce and secrete cytokines identified as M-CSF, GM-CSF, and IL-6. MBA-15 cells modulate growth of normal and malignant myeloid and lymphoid cells as well as leukemia cell lines in vitro. Cell-cell interactions were studied in co-cultures with adherent MBA-15 cells and the target hemopoietic cells. Growth inhibition effects, observed under various experimental conditions, can be attributed to the presence of different soluble and membrane-bound inhibitory activities produced by MBA-15 cells. Thus, MBA-15 cells spontaneously produce both stimulators and inhibitors that can affect myeloid and lymphoid cell growth. Marrow osteogenic cells may therefore participate in the stromal regulation of hemopoiesis.

Cellular and molecular properties associated with osteosarcoma cells

Osteosarcoma cells are recognized by abnormal function that causes a primary bone tumor. Osteosarcoma cells U2OS and SAOS‐2 were analyzed for the expression of cell surface markers. High expression was quantified for hyaloronidase receptor (CD‐44) > moderate for integrins (CD‐51 and ‐61), > and lower for selectins (CD‐62). High mitotic capacity were demonstrated by gene expression (measured by RT‐PCR) and the protein level (measured by FACS) for cFOS, cMYC, and cJUN. The basic definition of osteosarcoma is excessive production of pathological osteoid. Expression of mRNA for matrix genes osteocalcin, osteonectin, and biglycan was studied. Osteocalcin and osteonectin were detected in RNA from primary cultured marrow stromal, trabecular bone cells, and osteosarcoma cell lines (U2OS, SAOS‐2). mRNA for biglycan was detected only in primary cells and MG‐63 cell line and was undetectable in RNA from U2OS, SAOS‐2 osteosarcoma cell lines and by RNA extracted from bone biopsies of osteosarcoma patients. The absence of biglycan message observed in osteosarcoma samples provides evidence for the alterations in the extra cellular matrix which result with non‐mineralized osteoid produced by the osteosarcoma cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 84: 108–114, 2002.

Reconstruction of Cell Lineage Trees in Mice

The cell lineage tree of a multicellular organism represents its history of cell divisions from the very first cell, the zygote. A new method for high-resolution reconstruction of parts of such cell lineage trees was recently developed based on phylogenetic analysis of somatic mutations accumulated during normal development of an organism. In this study we apply this method in mice to reconstruct the lineage trees of distinct cell types. We address for the first time basic questions in developmental biology of higher organisms, namely what is the correlation between the lineage relation among cells and their (1) function, (2) physical proximity and (3) anatomical proximity. We analyzed B-cells, kidney-, mesenchymal- and hematopoietic-stem cells, as well as satellite cells, which are adult skeletal muscle stem cells isolated from their niche on the muscle fibers (myofibers) from various skeletal muscles. Our results demonstrate that all analyzed cell types are intermingled in the lineage tree, indicating that none of these cell types are single exclusive clones. We also show a significant correlation between the physical proximity of satellite cells within muscles and their lineage. Furthermore, we show that satellite cells obtained from a single myofiber are significantly clustered in the lineage tree, reflecting their common developmental origin. Lineage analysis based on somatic mutations enables performing high resolution reconstruction of lineage trees in mice and humans, which can provide fundamental insights to many aspects of their development and tissue maintenance.

Identification of cultured progenitor cells from human marrow stroma

The marrow stromal cells (MSC) are essential for regulation of bone remodeling and hematopoiesis. It is of prime importance to isolate MSC and to expand the proliferating cells ex vivo. In this study, we analyzed cultured MSC for various cellular parameters, including cell morphology, cell cycle, and expression of cell surface antigens by flow cytometry. MSC were divided based on cell size to small (S‐cells) and large (L‐cells) and were visualized by light and electron microscope. The S‐cells were proliferating cells correlated with G0/G1 phase of cell cycle, and expressed cFOS. The expression of surface markers CD‐34, ‐44, ‐51, ‐61, ‐62E, ‐62P, ‐62L was quantified using flow cytometry. CD‐44 was ubiquitously expressed by S and L cells, CD‐51 and ‐61 were expressed by 30%–38% of S‐cells. CD‐34 and ‐62 expressed 20% positive of the analyzed cells that were of the proliferating progenitors (S‐cells). This study enables the identification of subpopulations from MSC with special attention paid to the proliferating cells from ex vivo cultures of marrow stroma. J. Cell. Biochem. 87: 51–57, 2002.