Malgorzata Sobiesiak

Phenotypic Characterization of Distinct Human Bone Marrow–Derived MSC Subsets

Very recently, we identified two distinct mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) subsets in primary bone marrow (BM) that differ in their expression pattern (CD271brightMSCA‐1dimCD56+ and CD271brightMSCA‐1brightCD56−) and morphology as well as in their clonogenic and differentiation capacity. Here we analyzed the cell surface antigen expression in these subsets in more detail and compared the profiles with the expression pattern on cultured MSCs. Most of the tested antigens, including CD13, CD15, CD73, CD140b, CD144, CD146, and CD164, are expressed at similar levels in both primary BM populations. However, a number of markers were differentially expressed. Of these, CD166 (ALCAM), CD200, and CD106 (VCAM‐1) showed an almost selective expression on either CD271brightMSCA‐1dimCD56+ (increased CD166 and CD200 expression) or CD271brightMSCA‐1brightCD56− (increased CD106 expression) MSCs, respectively. Additional markers with elevated expression on CD56+ MSCs include F9‐3C2F1, HEK‐3D3, HEK5‐1B3, and W1C3 antigens, whereas CD10, CD26, CD106, 7C5G1, 9A3G2, 56A1C2, 66E2D11, HEK‐3D6, HEK4‐1A1, HEK4‐2D6, W1D6, W4A5, W7C6, and W8B2 (MSCA‐1) antigens showed increased expression in the CD56− population. The majority of the analyzed markers found on primary MSCs were also expressed on cultured MSCs. However, in contrast to primary MSCs, HEK7‐1C4, W1C3, W1D6, and W4A5 antigens were absent on the cultured counterparts. 7G5G1 and 9A3G2 antigens showed reduced, and HEK‐3D6, F9‐3C2, and HEK‐3D3 showed increased expression on cultured cells. The extended knowledge about the phenotype of the two subsets and the identification of novel MSC markers may result in the isolation of attractive starting populations for applications in regenerative medicine.

Stimulation of Erythrocyte Phosphatidylserine Exposure by Paclitaxel

Side effects of cytostatic treatment include development of anemia resulting from either decreased generation or accelerated clearance of circulating erythrocytes. Recent experiments revealed a novel kind of stress-induced erythrocyte death, i.e. eryptosis, which is characterized by enhanced cytosolic Ca2+ levels, increased ceramide formation and exposure of phosphatidylserine at the cell surface. The present study explored whether cytostatic treatment with paclitaxel (Taxol®) triggers eryptosis. Blood was drawn from cancer patients before and after infusion of 175 mg/m2 Taxol®. The treatment significantly decreased the hematocrit and significantly increased the percentage of annexin-Vbinding erythrocytes in vivo (by 37%). In vitro incubation of human erythrocytes with 10 μM paclitaxel again significantly increased annexin-V-binding (by 129%) and augmented the increase of annexin-Vbinding following cellular stress. The enhanced phosphatidylserine exposure was not dependent on caspase-activity but paralleled by erythrocyte shrinkage, increase of cytosolic Ca2+ activity, ceramide formation and activation of calpain. Phosphatidylserine exposure was similarly induced by docetaxel but not by carboplatin or doxorubicin. Moreover, eryptosis was triggered by the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin (10 μM). In mice, ionomycintreated eryptotic erythrocytes were rapidly cleared from circulating blood and sequestrated into the spleen. In conclusion, our data strongly suggest that paclitaxel-induced anemia is at least partially due to induction of eryptosis.

The mesenchymal stem cell antigen MSCA-1 is identical to tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase.

We have recently identified 2 distinct CD271(bright)MSCA-1(dim)CD56(+) and CD271(bright)MSCA-1(bright)CD56(-) MSC subsets in primary femur-derived bone marrow (BM), which differ in their expression pattern and morphology as well as in their clonogenic and differentiation capacity. Here, we show that MSCA-1 is identical to tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), an ectoenzyme known to be expressed at high levels in liver, bone, and kidney as well as in embryonic stem (ES) cells. SDS-PAGE of WERI-RB-1 cell lysate and supernatant from phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC)-treated WERI-RB-1 cells resulted in the appearance of a prominent 68-kDa band. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDITOF MS) sequence analysis revealed TNAP-specific peptides. Screening of the MSCA-1-specific antibody W8B2 on HEK-293 cells transfected with the full-length coding sequence of TNAP showed specific reactivity with transfected but not with parent cell line. In addition, TNAP-specific mRNA expression was selectively detected in the transfectant line. In agreement with these findings, enzymatic activity of TNAP was exclusively detected in sorted MSCA-1(+) BM cells but not in the MSCA-1(-) negative fraction. Surface marker analysis revealed coexpression of the embryonic marker SSEA-3 but not SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, and TRA-1-81. In endometrium, TNAP is expressed at intermediate levels on CD146(+) cells and at high levels in the luminal space of glandular epithelia. Our results demonstrate that TNAP is a selective marker for the prospective isolation of BM-derived MSC and MSC-like cells in endometrium.

Blunted IgE-Mediated Activation of Mast Cells in Mice Lacking the Ca2+-Activated K+ Channel KCa3.1

Mast cell stimulation by Ag is followed by the opening of Ca2+-activated K+ channels, which participate in the orchestration of mast cell degranulation. The present study has been performed to explore the involvement of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa3.1 in mast cell function. To this end mast cells have been isolated and cultured from the bone marrow (bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs)) of KCa3.1 knockout mice (KCa3.1−/−) and their wild-type littermates (KCa3.1+/+). Mast cell number as well as in vitro BMMC growth and CD117, CD34, and FcεRI expression were similar in both genotypes, but regulatory cell volume decrease was impaired in KCa3.1−/− BMMCs. Treatment of the cells with Ag, endothelin-1, or the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin was followed by stimulation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels and cell membrane hyperpolarization in KCa3.1+/+, but not in KCa3.1−/− BMMCs. Upon Ag stimulation, Ca2+ entry but not Ca2+ release from intracellular stores was markedly impaired in KCa3.1−/− BMMCs. Similarly, Ca2+ entry upon endothelin-1 stimulation was significantly reduced in KCa3.1−/− cells. Ag-induced release of β-hexosaminidase, an indicator of mast cell degranulation, was significantly smaller in KCa3.1−/− BMMCs compared with KCa3.1+/+ BMMCs. Moreover, histamine release upon stimulation of BMMCs with endothelin-1 was reduced in KCa3.1−/− cells. The in vivo Ag-induced decline in body temperature revealed that IgE-dependent anaphylaxis was again significantly (by ∼50%) blunted in KCa3.1−/− mice. In conclusion, KCa3.1 is required for Ca2+-activated K+ channel activity and Ca2+-dependent processes such as endothelin-1- or Ag-induced degranulation of mast cells, and may thus play a critical role in anaphylactic reactions.

Phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of human bone marrow- and amnion-derived MSC subsets

Bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are nonhematopoietic cells that are able to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. In addition, they are known to participate in niche formation for hematopoietic stem cells and to display immunomodulatory properties. Conventionally, these cells are functionally isolated from tissue based on their capacity to adhere to the surface of culture flasks. This isolation procedure is hampered by the unpredictable influence of secreted molecules, the interactions between cocultured hematopoietic and other unrelated cells, and by the arbitrarily selected removal time of nonadherent cells before the expansion of MSCs. Finally, functionally isolated cells do not provide biological information about the starting population. To circumvent these limitations, several strategies have been developed to facilitate the prospective isolation of MSCs based on the selective expression, or absence, of surface markers. In this report, we summarize the most frequently used markers and introduce new targets for antibody‐based isolation procedures of primary bone marrow‐ and amnion‐derived MSCs.

Induction of eryptosis by cyclosporine

Side effects of cyclosporine treatment include anemia. Most recent studies have found that anemia may be caused by triggering of suicidal erythrocyte death (eryptosis), i.e. activation of an erythrocyte scramblase and phosphatidylserine exposure at the erythrocyte surface. Phosphatidylserine exposing cells are rapidly cleared from circulating blood by phagocytosis. Stimulators of erythrocyte membrane scrambling include cytosolic Ca2+ and ceramide, which are increased by entry through Ca2+-permeable cation channels and by activation of a sphingomyelinase, respectively. The present study has been performed to test for an effect of cyclosporine on eryptosis. Erythrocytes from healthy volunteers were exposed to cyclosporine, and phosphatidylserine exposure (annexin V binding), cell volume (forward scatter), cytosolic Ca2+ activity (Fluo3-dependent fluorescence), ceramide formation (anti-ceramide-FITC antibody), and 45Ca2+ uptake were determined by flow cytometry and tracer flux measurements, respectively. Exposure of erythrocytes to cyclosporine triggered annexin V binding and significantly enhanced the increased annexin V binding both following glucose depletion and after hyperosmotic or isotonic cell shrinkage. However, cyclosporine significantly decreased cytosolic Ca2+ activity and did not stimulate 45Ca2+ uptake. Instead, cyclosporine transiently stimulated ceramide formation, decreased the cytosolic ATP concentration and potentiated the decline of cytosolic ATP concentration following glucose depletion. Elevated ceramide levels and ATP depletion, in turn, sensitize the erythrocytes for the eryptotic effects of Ca2+. The present observations may provide a mechanistic explanation for the anemia following treatment with this important immunosuppressive drug.

Prospective Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Bone Marrow Using Novel Antibodies Directed Against Sushi Domain Containing 2

Several strategies have been developed to facilitate the prospective isolation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BM-MSCs) based on the selective expression or absence of surface markers. Recently, we described the monoclonal antibodies W3D5 and W5C5, which selectively react with BM-MSCs, but not with hematopoietic cells. Both antibodies showed an identical reactivity pattern, indicating that they may recognize the same molecule. To identify the cognate antigen, cultured MSCs were sorted for cells expressing either very high levels of W5C5/W3D5 antigen or for cells which were negative for this antigen. Further processing of these cells for microarray analysis revealed a 20-fold enrichment of the type 1 integral membrane protein Sushi domain containing 2 (SUSD2) in the in W5C5(+) subset. To confirm the identity of the W5C5/W3D5 antigen to SUSD2, HEK293 cells were transfected with the full-length coding sequence of human SUSD2 followed by reactivity analysis of W5C5 and W3D5 antibodies with the transfected line. Flow cytometric analysis showed that both antibodies selectively recognized HEK293/huSUSD2 cells, but not the parental cell line. In line with this, SUSD2 siRNA treatment of SUSD2(+) WERI-RB-1 retinoblastoma cells reduced the expression levels of W3D5 and W5C5 antigens to ~39% and 37%, respectively. Finally, FACSorting and colony assays revealed that only SUSD2(+), but not SUSD2(-) BM cells give rise to colony-forming units-fibroblasts and are able to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. In conclusion, we identified SUSD2 as a novel and specific marker for the prospective isolation of BM-MSCs.

Impaired Mast Cell Activation in Gene-Targeted Mice Lacking the Serum- and Glucocorticoid-Inducible Kinase SGK1

The PI3K pathway plays a pivotal role in the stimulation of mast cells. PI3K-dependent kinases include the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1). The present study explored the role of SGK1 in mast cell function. Mast cells were isolated from bone marrow (BMMC) of SGK1 knockout mice (sgk1−/−) and their wild-type littermates (sgk1+/+). The BMMC number as well as CD117, CD34, and FcεRI expression in BMCCs were similar in both genotypes. Upon Ag stimulation of the FcεRI receptor, Ca2+ entry but not Ca2+ release from intracellular stores was markedly impaired in sgk1−/− BMMCs. The currents through Ca2+-activated K+ channels induced by Ag were significantly higher in sgk1+/+ BMMCs than in sgk1−/− BMMCs. Treatment with the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin (1 μM) led to activation of the K+ channels in both genotypes, indicating that the Ca2+-activated K+ channels are similarly expressed and sensitive to activation by Ca2+ in sgk1+/+ and sgk1−/− BMMCs, and that blunted stimulation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels was secondary to decreased Ca2+ entry. Ag-IgE-induced degranulation and early IL-6 secretion were also significantly blunted in sgk1−/− BMMCs. The decrease in body temperature following Ag treatment, which reflects an anaphylactic reaction, was substantially reduced in sgk1−/− mice, pointing to impaired mast cell function in vivo. Serum histamine levels measured 30 min after induction of an anaphylactic reaction were significantly lower in sgk1−/− than in sgk1+/+mice. The observations reveal a critical role for SGK1 in ion channel regulation and the function of mast cells, and thus disclose a completely novel player in the regulation of allergic reaction.

Effective T-cell recall responses require the taurine transporter Taut.

T‐cell activation and the subsequent transformation of activated T cells into T‐cell blasts require profound changes in cell volume. However, the impact of cell volume regulation for T‐cell immunology has not been characterized. Here we studied the role of the cell‐volume regulating osmolyte transporter Taut for T‐cell activation in Taut‐deficient mice. T‐cell mediated recall responses were severely impaired in taut−/− mice as shown with B16 melanoma rejection and hapten‐induced contact hypersensitivity. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were unequivocally located within peripheral lymph nodes of unprimed taut−/− mice but significantly decreased in taut−/− compared with taut+/+ mice following in vivo activation. Further analysis revealed that Taut is critical for rescuing T cells from activation‐induced cell death in vitro and in vivo as shown with TCR, superantigen, and antigen‐specific activation. Consequently, reduction of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in taut−/− mice upon antigen challenge resulted in impaired in vivo generation of T‐cell memory. These findings disclose for the first time that volume regulation in T cells is an element in the regulation of adaptive immune responses and that the osmolyte transporter Taut is crucial for T‐cell survival and T‐cell mediated immune reactions.

Surface CD24 distinguishes between low differentiated and transit-amplifying cells in the basal layer of human prostate

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) are common abnormalities in elderly men. It is considered that epithelial stem cells are involved in the etiology and development of both diseases. To distinguish aberrant from normal cells, the knowledge about primary epithelial stem/progenitor cells (ES/P) is essential. The aim of this study was to examine the role of surface markers to distinguish between different subsets of prostate basal epithelium.