J. Mario Wolosin

Ocular surface epithelia contain ABCG2-dependent side population cells exhibiting features associated with stem cells

When cell populations are incubated with the DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342 and subjected to flow cytometry analysis for Hoechst 33342 emissions, active efflux of the dye by the ABCG2/BCRP1 transporter causes certain cells to appear as a segregated cohort, known as a side population (SP). Stem cells from several tissues have been shown to possess the SP phenotype. As the lack of specific surface markers has hindered the isolation and subsequent biochemical characterization of epithelial stem cells this study sought to determine the existence of SP cells and expression of ABCG2 in the epithelia of the ocular surface and evaluate whether such SP cells had features associated with epithelial stem cells. Human and rabbit limbal-corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells were incubated with Hoechst 33342, and analyzed and sorted by flow cytometry. Sorted cells were subjected to several tests to determine whether the isolated SP cells displayed features consistent with the stem cell phenotype. Side populations amounting to <1% of total cells, which were sensitive to the ABCG2-inhibitor fumitremorgin C, were found in the conjunctival and limbal epithelia, but were absent from the stem cell-free corneal epithelium. Immunohistochemistry was used to establish the spatial expression pattern of ABCG2. The antigen was detected in clusters of conjunctival and limbal epithelia basal cells but was not present in the corneal epithelium. SP cells were characterized by extremely low light side scattering and contained a high percentage of cells that: showed slow cycling prior to tissue collection; exhibited an initial delay in proliferation after culturing; and displayed clonogenic capacity and resistance to phorbol-induced differentiation; all features that are consistent with a stem cell phenotype.

Effluxing ABC transporters in human corneal epithelium

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are able to efflux their substrate drugs from the cells. We compared expression of efflux proteins in normal human corneal epithelial tissue, primary human corneal epithelial cells (HCEpiC), and corneal epithelial cell culture model (HCE model) based on human immortal cell line. Expression of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1-6 (MRP1-6) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) was studied using quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Only MRP1, MRP5, and BCRP were expressed in the freshly excised human corneal epithelial tissue. Expression of MRP1 and MRP5 was localized predominantly in the basal cells of the central cornea and limbus. Functional efflux activity was shown in the cell models, but they showed over-expression of most efflux transporters compared to that of normal corneal epithelium. In conclusion, MRP1, MRP5, and BCRP are expressed in the corneal epithelium, but MDR1, MRP2, MRP3, MRP4, and MRP6 are not significantly expressed. HCE cell model and commercially available primary cells deviate from this expression profile.

Changes in connexin43 in early ocular surface development

Purpose. In the limbo-corneal epithelium the stem and early precursor epithelial cell pool is confined to the limbal rim. Among the features associated with this spatial segregation is the general paucity of connexin43 (Cx43) within the limbal basal cell population and its complete absence in resident stem cells. The limbo-corneal epithelial lineage derives from a Cx43-positive (Cx43 +) embryonic outer ectoderm. Accordingly, as a means of identifying the process through which limbal cell phenotypes emerge, we investigated the expression of Cx43 in the ocular surface of embryonic rats. Methods. Ocular surface expression of Cx43 or K12 was determined in cryostat sections of rat embryos and eyes using immunohistological methods. Results. Changes in Cx43 expression revealed the early phenotypic divergence of three main epithelial cell phenotypes of the ocular surface. An analysis of the level and distribution pattern of Cx43 puncta lead to the identification of two distinct domains by embryonic day 10 (E10), a stage that occurs soon after formation of the lens vesicle. Additionally, at E12, ectodermal cells directly adjacent to the edges of the developing retina no longer express connexin. A comparison of anatomical and expression changes throughout embryonic development demonstrated that the two early zones represent the rudiments for the epithelia of the central cornea and conjunctiva, respectively, and that the isolated Cx43-negative (Cx43 -) cells represent the precursors of the basal and, putatively, stem cells of the limbal epithelium. Conclusions. Changes in Cx43 expression revealed that the phenotypic divergence of ocular surface epithelial cells and the generation of limbo-corneal stem cell precursors takes place at a very early stage in ocular development, ahead of the establishment of any identifiable anatomical or differentiation features for these domains.

TRPV1 Potentiates TGFβ-Induction of Corneal Myofibroblast Development through an Oxidative Stress-Mediated p38-SMAD2 Signaling Loop

Injuring mouse corneas with alkali causes myofibroblast expression leading to tissue opacification. However, in transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channel (TRPV1-/-) knockout mice healing results in transparency restoration. Since TGFβ is the primary inducer of the myofibroblast phenotype, we examined the mechanism by which TRPV1 affects TGFβ-induced myofibroblast development. Experiments were performed in pig corneas and human corneal fibroblasts (HCFs). Immunohistochemical staining of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) stress fibers was used to visualize myofibroblasts. Protein and phosphoprotein were determined by Western blotting. siRNA transfection silenced TRPV1 gene expression. Flow cytometry with a reactive oxygen species (ROS) reporting dye analyzed intracellular ROS. [Ca2+]I was measured by loading HCF with fura2. In organ cultured corneas, the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine drastically reduced by 75% wound-induced myofibroblast development. In HCF cell culture, TGF-β1 elicited rapid increases in Ca2+ influx, phosphorylation of SMAD2 and MAPKs (ERK1/2, JNK1/2 and p38), ROS generation and, after 72 hrs myofibroblast development. SMAD2 and p38 activation continued for more than 16 h, whereas p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK1/2 waned within 90 min. The long-lived SMAD2 activation was dependent on activated p38 and vice versa, and it was essential to generate a > 13-fold increase in α-SMA protein and a fully developed myofibroblast phenotype. These later changes were markedly reduced by inhibition of TRPV1 or reduction of the ROS generation rate. Taken together our results indicate that in corneal derived fibroblasts, TGFβ- induced myofibroblast development is highly dependent on a positive feedback loop where p-SMAD2-induced ROS activates TRPV1, TRPV1 causes activation of p38, the latter in turn further enhances the activation of SMAD2 to establish a recurrent loop that greatly extends the residency of the activated state of SMAD2 that drives myofibroblast development.

Differential Gene Expression in the Pig Limbal Side Population: Implications for Stem Cell Cycling, Replication, and Survival

PURPOSE To define the molecular signature of limbal SP cells and identify signaling pathways associated with the phenotype of these putative stem cells. METHODS Primary cultures of pig limbal epithelial cells stained with Hoechst 33342 were sorted by flow cytometry into SP and non-SP cells, and purified RNA was processed for microarray analysis with an oligonucleotide spotted array. Expressed transcripts for which SP and non-SP expressions differed by more that 1.5-fold in each paired set and by twofold overall were considered to be differentially expressed. Differential expression was validated by quantitative PCR and immunostaining. Data-mining methods were used to identify cellular processes that are either salient or depressed in the SP cells. RESULTS The microarray identified approximately 9000 distinct, expressed, and identifiable genes. Of those, 382 and 296 were either over- or underexpressed in the SP cells, respectively. Overrepresentation analysis indicated that SP cells are in a low metabolic and biosynthetic state. In addition, a pattern of elevated MXD1, MAXI2, DUSP5, p27/KIP1, and p57/KIP2 and decreased Cyclin D and CDK genes can be expected to slow intrinsic and mitogen-induced G(1)-to-S cell cycle transition. SP cells were also rich in genes associated with stem cell phenotype and genes providing protection against oxidative and/or xenobiotic damage. CONCLUSIONS Microarray analysis of pig limbal SP cells yielded a molecular signature underscoring a phenotype characterized by slow cycling and low metabolic activity. The results provide valuable insights for the preservation and/or replication of epithelial stem cells.

Functional TRPV1 expression in human corneal fibroblasts.

Corneal wound healing in mice subsequent to an alkali burn results in dysregulated inflammation and opacification. Transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) channel activation in all tissue layers by endogenous ligands contributes to this sight compromising outcome since in TRPV1 knockout mice wound healing results instead in tissue transparency restoration. However, it is not known if primary human stromal fibroblasts exhibit such expression even though functional TRPV1 expression is evident in an immortalized human corneal epithelial cell line. In primary human corneal fibroblasts (HCF), TRPV1 gene expression and localization were identified based on the results of quantitative RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, respectively. Western blot analysis identified a 100 kD protein corresponding to TRPV1 protein expression in a positive control. Single-cell fluorescence imaging detected in fura2-AM loaded cells Ca(2+) transients that rose 1.8-fold above the baseline induced by a selective TRPV1 agonist, capsaicin (CAP), which were blocked by a TRPV1 antagonist, capsazepine (CPZ) or exposure to a Ca(2+) free medium. The whole-cell mode of the planar patch-clamp technique identified TRPV1-induced currents that rose 1.76-fold between -60 and +130 mV. CAP-induced time dependent changes in the phosphorylation status of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling mediators that led to a 2.5-fold increase in IL-6 release after 24 h. This rise did not occur either in TRPV1 siRNA gene silenced cells or during exposure to SB203580 (10 μM), a selective p38 MAPK inhibitor. Taken together, identification of functional TRPV1 expression in HCF suggests that in vivo its activation by injury contributes to corneal opacification and inflammation during wound healing. These undesirable effects may result in part from increases in IL-6 expression mediated by p-p38 MAPK signaling.

ABCG2-dependent dye exclusion activity and clonal potential in epithelial cells continuously growing for 1 month from limbal explants.

PURPOSE To determine changes in ABCG2-transport-dependent dye exclusion in outgrowths from limbal explants. METHODS Human or rabbit limbal strips were deposited onto inserts. Over a month, the segments were twice transferred to new inserts. Fresh tissue (FT) cells, obtained by sequential dispase-trypsin digestion and the cells growing from the explant cultures, were characterized for ABCG2-dependent efflux by flow cytometry using a newly identified substratum, JC1. Rabbit cells were sorted into JC1-excluding (JC1(low)) and main (JC1(main)) cohorts and seeded with feeder 3T3 cells to determine colony formation efficiency (CFE). RESULTS The JC1(low) cells were all Hoechst 33342-excluding cells and vice versa, establishing the physical equivalence between JC1(low) and the side population (SP). JC1(low) cell content was reduced by three ABCG2-specific inhibitors: FTC, Ko143, and glafenine. JC1(low) percentiles for the fresh human and rabbit cells were 1.4% and 4.1% and CFEs for rabbit JC1(low) and JC1(main) were 1.2% and 5.3%. In contrast, the respective JC1(low) percentiles in the first and second outgrowths were 19.5% and 27.4% and 25.8% and 32.5%, and the rabbit JC1(low) and JC1(main) CFEs were 12.3% and 0.9%. Thus, although in FT the contribution of the JC1(low) cohort to the CFE is minimal, in the explant culture the phenotype incorporates >80% of the CFE. CONCLUSIONS ABCG2-dependent dye exclusion undergoes a large expansion in explant culture and becomes associated with a high CFE. The transport increase is more pronounced at late outgrowth times, suggesting permanence of stem cells within the explant.

Dependence of Resolvin-Induced Increases in Corneal Epithelial Cell Migration on EGF Receptor Transactivation

PURPOSE To determine whether resolvin E1 (RvE1), an endogenous oxygenation product of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), induces increases in migration in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) and to identify signal pathways mediating this response. METHODS Migration was measured with the scratch wound assay. Western blot analysis identified changes in the phosphorylation status of prospective intracellular signal transduction mediators. Immunocytochemistry probed for intracellular paxillin localization and actin reorganization. RESULTS RvE1 enhanced HCEC migratory rates to levels comparable to those induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF). These increases were accompanied by increases in the phosphorylation status of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Akt, p38 MAPK, GSK-3α/β, and paxillin, which essentially persisted for up to 60 minutes. The EGFR inhibitor AG1478 blocked the subsequent effects of RvE1 to induce increases in phosphorylation status and cell migration. The PI3-K inhibitor LY294002 or wortmannin or the p38 inhibitor BIRB796 blocked resolvin-induced increases in cell migration. Either the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor GM6001 or the specific heparin-bound EGF-like growth factor inhibitor CRM197 suppressed RvE1-induced stimulation of EGFR/PI3-K/Akt phosphorylation and cell migration. CONCLUSIONS RvE1 enhances HCEC migration through MMP and sheddase-mediated EGFR transactivation. This response is dependent on PI3-K and p38-linked signaling eliciting paxillin (Tyr118) phosphorylation.

Cell Markers and the Side Population Phenotype in Ocular Surface Epithelial Stem Cell Characterization and Isolation

The ocular surface is covered by tworapidly renewing and embryologically-related linings, the corneal and conjunctival epithelia. The long-term survival of thesetissues is ultimately dependent on their respective resident stem cells. In the corneal epithelium, the stem cells and their early precursors are exclusively circumscribed to the narrow vasscularize limbal rim that provides epithelial precursor cells to the critically transparent central cornea. Limbal damage causes an interruption of this essential cell supply and allows the invasion of the corneal surface by the conjunctival epithelium, an event that ultimately leads to corneal scarring. The limited supply of immunocompatible tissue is a major hindrance to efforts to develop effective procedures for ocular surface reconstruction. This review describes some of the current work and strategies being developed to achieve the isolation of the limbal stem cell and define its genetic, biochemical, and functional make-up. The study of isolated ocular surface stem cells will foster basic understanding of the environmentalrequisites for their survival and proliferation in a self-replicative mode, leading eventually to advances in therapeutic approaches.

Contribution from a pH- and tonicity-sensitive K+ conductance to toad translens short-circuit current

Studies of toad (Bufo marinus) lenses mounted in Ussing-type chambers revealed that: (1) the translens short-circuit current (Isc) across the posterior surface is primarily carried by the movement of Na+ from the posterior bathing solution to the lens; (2) across the anterior face the majority of the Isc is mediated by Ba(2+)-sensitive channels and the remaining current is rapidly reduced by ouabain; (3) most of the anterior K+ conductance is of the tonicity-sensitive, quinidine-inhibitable type (i.e. hypotonic shifts increase Isc and hypertonic shifts decrease Isc; quinidine pretreatment eliminates such responses); (4) 86Rb+ uptake is stimulated by alkaline pH and occurs primarily across the anterior surface with quinidine the most potent inhibitor of this process; and (5) the Na(+)-K+ pump can maintain lens [Na+] and [K+] for at least 20 hr in a Ringers solution near neutral pH but not at pH 8.7 (a pH used in some studies with this lens). It is concluded that the Isc can be viewed as a representation of the current across the epithelial basolateral membrane, a surface dominated by pH- and tonicity-sensitive K+ channels. The direction of the Isc response to tonicity changes suggests a role for these channels in epithelial volume regulation.