Kurt M. Lin

Combined and Individual Mitochondrial HSP60 and HSP10 Expression in Cardiac Myocytes Protects Mitochondrial Function and Prevents Apoptotic Cell Deaths Induced by Simulated Ischemia-Reoxygenation

BackgroundThe mitochondrial heat-shock proteins HSP60 and HSP10 form a mitochondrial chaperonin complex, and previous studies have shown that their increased expression exerts a protective effect against ischemic injury when cardiac myocytes are submitted to simulated ischemia. The more detailed mechanisms by which such a protective effect occurs are currently unclear. We wanted to determine whether HSP60 and HSP10 could exert a protection against simulated ischemia and reoxygenation (SI/RO)–induced apoptotic cell death and whether such protection results from decreased mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation and from the preservation of ATP levels by preservation of the electron transport chain complexes. In addition, we explored whether increased expression of HSP60 or HSP10 by itself exerts a protective effect. Methods and ResultsWe overexpressed HSP60 and HSP10 together or separately in rat neonatal cardiac myocytes using an adenoviral vector and then subjected the myocytes to SI/RO. Cell death and apoptosis in myocytes were quantified by parameters such as enzyme release, DNA fragmentation, and caspase-3 activation. Overexpression of the combination of HSP60 and HSP10 and of HSP60 or HSP10 individually protected myocytes against apoptosis. This protection is accompanied by decreases in mitochondrial cytochrome c release and in caspase-3 activity and increases in ATP recovery and activities of complex III and IV in mitochondria after SI/RO. ConclusionsThese results suggest that mitochondrial chaperonins HSP60 and HSP10 in combination or individually play an important role in maintaining mitochondrial integrity and capacity for ATP generation, which are the crucial factors in determining survival of cardiac myocytes undergoing ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Multi-ion-crosslinked nanoparticles with pH-responsive characteristics for oral delivery of protein drugs

pH-Responsive nanoparticles composed of chitosan (CS) and poly-gamma-glutamic acid (gamma-PGA) blended with tripolyphosphate (TPP) and MgSO(4) (multi-ion-crosslinked NPs) were prepared and characterized to determine their effectiveness in the oral delivery of insulin. Their counterparts without TPP and MgSO(4) (NPs) were used as a control. FT-IR and XRD results indicated that the spontaneous interaction between CS, insulin, gamma-PGA, MgSO(4) and TPP can form an ionically crosslinked network-structure, leading to the formation of nanoparticles. Multi-ion-crosslinked NPs were more compact than NPs, while their zeta potential values were comparable. During storage, multi-ion-crosslinked NPs suspended in deionized water were stable for at least 10 weeks. Multi-ion-crosslinked NPs had a superior stability over a broader pH range than NPs. In the in vitro release study, NPs failed to provide an adequate retention of loaded insulin in dissolution media compared to multi-ion-crosslinked NPs. Transepithelial-electrical-resistance and transport experiments demonstrated that multi-ion-crosslinked NPs significantly more effectively transported insulin than NPs; confocal visualization further validated the enhanced permeation of insulin via the paracellular pathway. The aforementioned results suggest that multi-ion-crosslinked NPs are a promising carrier for improved transmucosal delivery of insulin in the small intestine.

The use of injectable spherically symmetric cell aggregates self-assembled in a thermo-responsive hydrogel for enhanced cell transplantation.

Typical cell transplantation techniques involve the administration of dissociated cells directly injected into muscular tissues; however, retention of the transplanted cells at the sites of the cell graft is frequently limited. An approach, using spherically symmetric aggregates of cells with a relatively uniform size self-assembled in a thermo-responsive methylcellulose hydrogel system, is reported in the study. The obtained cell aggregates preserved their endogenous extracellular matrices (ECM) and intercellular junctions because no proteolytic enzyme was used when harvesting the cell aggregates. Most of the cells within aggregates (with a radius of approximately 100 microm) were viable as indicated by the live/dead staining assay. After injection through a needle, the cell aggregates remained intact and the cells retained their activity upon transferring to another growth surface. The cell aggregates obtained under sterile conditions were transplanted into the skeletal muscle of rats via local injection. The dissociated cells were used as a control. It was found that the cell aggregates can provide an adequate physical size to entrap into the muscular interstices and offer a favorable ECM environment to enhance retention of the transplanted cells at the sites of the cell graft. These results indicated that the spherically symmetric cell aggregates developed in the study may serve as a cell delivery vehicle for therapeutic applications.

Notch signaling prevents mucous metaplasia in mouse conducting airways during postnatal development

Goblet cell metaplasia and mucus overproduction contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Notch signaling regulates cell fate decisions and is crucial in controlling goblet cell differentiation in the gut epithelium. Little is known, however, about how endogenous Notch signaling influences the goblet cell differentiation program that takes place in the postnatal lung. Using a combination of genetic and in vitro approaches here we provide evidence of a novel role for Notch in restricting goblet cell differentiation in the airway epithelium during the postnatal period. Conditional inactivation of the essential Notch pathway component Pofut1 (protein O-fucosyltransferase1) in Tgfb3-Cre-expressing mice resulted in an aberrant postnatal airway phenotype characterized by marked goblet cell metaplasia, decreased Clara cell number and increase in ciliated cells. The presence of the same phenotype in mice in which the Notch transcriptional effector Rbpjk was deleted indicated the involvement of the canonical Notch pathway. Lineage study in vivo suggested that goblet cells originated from a subpopulation of Clara cells largely present in proximal airways in which Notch was disrupted. The phenotype was confirmed by a panel of goblet cell markers, showed no changes in cell proliferation or altered expression of proinflammatory cytokines and was associated with significant downregulation of the bHLH transcriptional repressor Hes5. Luciferase reporter analysis suggested that Notch directly repressed MUC5AC transcription in lung epithelial cells. The data suggested that during postnatal life Notch is required to prevent Clara cells from differentiating into goblet cells.

Mechanical strain modulates age-related changes in the proliferation and differentiation of mouse adipose-derived stromal cells

BackgroundPrevious studies on the effects of aging in human and mouse mesenchymal stem cells suggest that a decline in the number and differentiation potential of stem cells may contribute to aging and aging-related diseases. In this report, we used stromal cells isolated from adipose tissue (ADSCs) of young (8-10 weeks), adult (5 months), and old (21 months) mice to test the hypothesis that mechanical loading modifies aging-related changes in the self-renewal and osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential of these cells.ResultsWe show that aging significantly reduced the proliferation and increased the adipogenesis of ADSCs, while the osteogenic potential is not significantly reduced by aging. Mechanical loading (10% cyclic stretching, 0.5 Hz, 48 h) increased the subsequent proliferation of ADSCs from mice of all ages. Although the number of osteogenic colonies with calcium deposition was increased in ADSCs subjected to pre-strain, it resulted from an increase in colony number rather than from an increase in osteogenic potential after strain. Pre-strain significantly reduced the number of oil droplets and the expression of adipogenic marker genes in adult and old ADSCs. Simultaneously subjecting ADSCs to mechanical loading and adipogenic induction resulted in a stronger inhibition of adipogenesis than that caused by pre-strain. The reduction of adipogenesis by mechanical strain was loading-magnitude dependent: loading with 2% strain only resulted in a partial inhibition, and loading with 0.5% strain could not inhibit adipogenesis in ADSCs.ConclusionsWe demonstrate that mechanical stretching counteracts the loss of self-renewal in aging ADSCs by enhancing their proliferation and, at the same time, reduces the heightened adipogenesis of old cells. These findings are important for the further study of stem cell control and treatment for a variety of aging related diseases.

Overexpression of PHGPx and HSP60/10 protects against ischemia/reoxygenation injury.

Reactive oxygen species arising from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) cause damage to cardiac tissue. We examined the effects of mitochondrial phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (mPHGPx) and cytosolic PHGPx (cPHGPx) overexpression on protection against simulated I/R in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes (NCM). Additionally, a protective combinatorial effect with heat shock proteins 60 and 10 (HSP60/10) was investigated. NCM were infected with adenoviral vectors expressing mPHGPx, cPHGPx, HSP60/10, or an empty control (Adv-) and submitted to 8 h of ischemia followed by 16 h of reoxygenation. mPHGPx infection led to a 40% decrease in malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal following I/R (p<.05). Creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase release were decreased in both mPHGPx-infected and HSP60/10-infected cells (p<.05). The combination of mPHGPx and HSP60/10 overexpression led to further protection (p<.01). DNA laddering and histone-associated DNA fragments were decreased in PHGPx- and HSP60/10-infected cells (p<.01). Cytochrome c release from mitochondria was decreased in mPHGPx-infected cells. Furthermore, mPHGPx overexpression preserved electron transport chain complex IV function following simulated I/R (p<.05). These results indicate that overexpression of PHGPx provides protection against damage resulting from simulated I/R injury, particularly in the mitochondria, and that the combination of mPHGPx and HSP60/10 imparts an added protective effect.

Notch Signaling Regulates Late-Stage Epidermal Differentiation and Maintains Postnatal Hair Cycle Homeostasis

Background Notch signaling involves ligand-receptor interactions through direct cell-cell contact. Multiple Notch receptors and ligands are expressed in the epidermis and hair follicles during embryonic development and the adult stage. Although Notch signaling plays an important role in regulating differentiation of the epidermis and hair follicles, it remains unclear how Notch signaling participates in late-stage epidermal differentiation and postnatal hair cycle homeostasis. Methodology and Principal Findings We applied Cre/loxP system to generate conditional gene targeted mice that allow inactivation of critical components of Notch signaling pathway in the skin. Rbpj, the core component of all four Notch receptors, and Pofut1, an essential factor for ligand-receptor interactions, were inactivated in hair follicle lineages and suprabasal layer of the epidermis using the Tgfb3-Cre mouse line. Rbpj conditional inactivation resulted in granular parakeratosis and reactive epidermal hyperplasia. Pofut1 conditional inactivation led to ultrastructural abnormalities in the granular layer and altered filaggrin processing in the epidermis, suggesting a perturbation of the granular layer differentiation. Disruption of Pofut1 in hair follicle lineages resulted in aberrant telogen morphology, a decrease of bulge stem cell markers, and a concomitant increase of K14-positive keratinocytes in the isthmus of mutant hair follicles. Pofut1-deficent hair follicles displayed a delay in anagen re-entry and dysregulation of proliferation and apoptosis during the hair cycle transition. Moreover, increased DNA double stand breaks were detected in Pofut1-deficent hair follicles, and real time PCR analyses on bulge keratinocytes isolated by FACS revealed an induction of DNA damage response and a paucity of DNA repair machinery in mutant bulge keratinocytes. Significance our data reveal a role for Notch signaling in regulating late-stage epidermal differentiation. Notch signaling is required for postnatal hair cycle homeostasis by maintaining proper proliferation and differentiation of hair follicle stem cells.

Myocyte protection by 10 kD heat shock protein (Hsp10) involves the mobile loop and attenuation of the Ras GTP-ase pathway

Heat shock proteins (hsp), hsp60 and hsp10, are involved in the folding of imported mitochondrial proteins and the refolding of denatured proteins after stress. We examined whether hsp10 can reduce myocyte death by its mitochondrial function or by interacting with cytoplasmic signaling pathways. Overexpression of hsp10 by adenoviral infection decreased myocyte death induced by hydrogen peroxide, sodium cyanide, and simulated ischemia and reoxygenation (SI/RO). We generated an adenoviral vector coding for a temperature‐sensitive mutant hsp10 protein (P34H), incapable of cooperatively refolding denatured malate dehydrogenase with hsp60. Overexpression of the hsp10 mutant potentiated SI/RO‐induced myocyte death. Analysis of electron transport chain function revealed increased Complex I capacity with hsp10 overexpression, whereas hsp10(P34H) overexpression decreased Complex II capacity. Hsp10 overexpression preserved both Complex I and II function after SI/RO. Examination of the Ras GTP‐ase signaling pathway indicated that inhibition of Ras was required for protection by hsp10. Constitutive activation of Ras abolished the effects afforded by hsp10 and hsp10(P34H). Hsp10 overexpression inactivated Raf, ERK, and p90Ribosomal kinase (p90RSK) before and after SI/RO. Our results suggest that complex mechanisms are involved in the protection by hsp10 against SI/RO‐induced myocyte death. This mechanism may involve the hsp10 mobile loop and attenuation of the Ras GTP‐ase signaling pathway.

Mechanical stretching induces osteoprotegerin in differentiating C2C12 precursor cells through noncanonical Wnt pathways.

Mechanical loading is known to be important for maintaining the formation and resorption rates of bone. To study the mechanisms by which mechanical loading regulates osteogenesis, we investigated the role of the Wnt pathway in C2C12 cells committed to osteogenic differentiation in response to cyclic mechanical stretching. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) acts as a decoy receptor for RANKL to inhibit osteoclastogenesis and resorption of bone. Our results demonstrate that stretching leads to a sustained increase in OPG expression in C2C12 cells. The expression of osteogenic marker genes, such as osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase, was transiently decreased by stretching at 24 hours and returned to control levels at 48 hours. The addition of inhibitors of the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin pathways, such as the secreted FZD‐related peptide sRFP2, as well as siRNA‐mediated knockdown, did not inhibit the effect of stretching on OPG expression. In contrast, treatment with inhibitors of noncanonical Wnt signaling, including KN93, and siRNA for Nemo‐like kinase (NLK) blocked most of the mechanical inductive effect on OPG. Furthermore, stretching‐induced OPG production in the culture medium was able to inhibit the osteoclast formation of bone marrow macrophages. These results suggest that mechanical stretching may play an important role in bone remodeling through the upregulation of OPG and that the mechanical signaling leading to OPG induction involves the noncanonical Wnt pathway.

Angiogenic evaluation of ginsenoside Rg1 from Panax ginseng in fluorescent transgenic mice

BACKGROUND Evaluation of angiogenesis-inducing compounds is essential in tissue engineering to develop biological substitutes for the repair or regeneration of tissue function. In this report, we evaluated the angiogenic ability of ginsenoside Rg 1 from Panax ginseng, in Matrigel implanted on fluorescent transgenic mice. METHODS The in vitro proliferation ability of each test agent was estimated by MTS assay. The Matrigel loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or Rg 1 and Matrigel alone were implanted on fluorescent transgenic mice and were retrieved at 1, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after implantation to measure various conventional markers for angiogenesis including neo-vascular density and hemoglobin content. Additionally, the functional neo-vasculature in the implanted Matrigel was visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). RESULTS The in vitro results indicated that the stimulating effect of Rg 1 on HUVECs proliferation remained unchanged after dissolved for 30 days in culture medium at 37 degrees C when compared with the effect of bFGF. One week after implantation in transgenic mice, bFGF or Rg 1 mixed in Matrigel plug significantly enhanced angiogenesis; however, at 6 weeks a significant decrease in angiogenic effect was observed in Matrigel with bFGF, but not in Matrigel with Rg 1. The neo-vessels structure was visualized in three dimensions (3D) by CLSM and the results were in agreement with other conventional measurements for angiogenesis. CONCLUSION These findings confirm that Rg 1 could be used in tissue tissue-engineering applications and that the fluorescent transgenic mice can be a useful experimental model for studying angiogenesis.