Richard G. DiScipio

Complement C3a and C5a Induce Different Signal Transduction Cascades in Endothelial Cells

In leukocytes, C3a and C5a cause chemotaxis in a Gi-dependent, pertussis toxin (PT)-sensitive fashion. Because we found that HUVECs and immortalized human dermal microvascular endothelial cells express small numbers of C3aRs and C5aRs, we asked what the function of these receptors was on these cells. Activation of the C3aR caused transient formation of actin stress fibers, which was not PT-sensitive, but depended on rho activation implying coupling to Gα12 or Gα13. Activation of the C5aR caused a delayed and sustained cytoskeletal response, which was blocked by PT, and resulted in cell retraction, increased paracellular permeability, and facilitated eosinophil transmigration. C5a, but not C3a, was chemotactic for human immortalized dermal microvascular endothelial cells. The response to C5a was blocked by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, src kinase, and of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) as well as by neutralizing Abs against the EGFR and heparin-binding EGF-like factor. Furthermore, immune precipitations showed that the EGFR was phosphorylated following stimulation with C5a. The C5aR in endothelial cells thus uses a signaling cascade–transactivation of the EGFR–that does not exist in leukocytes, while the C3aR couples to a different G protein, presumably Gα12/13.

C3a and C5a Are Chemotactic Factors for Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Which Cause Prolonged ERK1/2 Phosphorylation

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a great potential for tissue repair, especially if they can be delivered efficiently to sites of tissue injury. Since complement activation occurs whenever there is tissue damage, the effects of the complement activation products C3a and C5a on MSCs were examined. Both C3a and C5a were chemoattractants for human bone marrow-derived MSCs, which expressed both the C3a receptor (C3aR) and the C5a receptor (C5aR; CD88) on the cell surface. Specific C3aR and C5aR inhibitors blocked the chemotactic response, as did pertussis toxin, indicating that the response was mediated by the known anaphylatoxin receptors in a Gi activation-dependent fashion. While C5a causes strong and prolonged activation of various signaling pathways in many different cell types, the response observed with C3a is generally transient and weak. However, we show herein that in MSCs both C3a and C5a caused prolonged and robust ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation. Phospho-ERK1/2 was translocated to the nucleus in both C3a and C5a-stimulated MSCs, which was associated with subsequent phosphorylation of the transcription factor Elk, which could not be detected in other cell types stimulated with C3a. More surprisingly, the C3aR itself was translocated to the nucleus in C3a-stimulated MSCs, especially at low cell densities. Since nuclear activation/translocation of G protein-coupled receptors has been shown to induce long-term effects, this novel observation implies that C3a exerts far-reaching consequences on MSC biology. These results suggest that the anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a present in injured tissues contribute to the recruitment of MSCs and regulation of their behavior.

Regulation of CXCR4-Mediated Nuclear Translocation of Extracellular Signal-Related Kinases 1 and 2

Activation of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 by its agonist stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) has been associated with cell migration and proliferation in many cell types, but the intracellular signaling cascades are incompletely defined. Here we show that CXCR4-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation was mediated through the Ras/Raf pathway, as demonstrated with a dominant-negative Ras mutant and pharmacological inhibitors. The Src inhibitor 4-amino-5-methylphenyl-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine (PP1) and the Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor N-(4-pyridyl)-4-(1-aminoethyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide dihydrochloride (Y27632) also attenuated SDF-1-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Involvement of Src could furthermore be demonstrated by Src phosphorylation and by the shortened ERK1/2 phosphorylation in SYF cells, which are Src/Yes/Fyn-deficient compared with Src-reconstituted Src++ cells. Membrane translocation of RhoA could be detected similarly. A large portion of the SDF-1-mediated ERK phosphorylation was detected in the nucleus, as shown by Western blotting and confocal microscopy, and resulted in the phosphorylation of the transcription factor Elk. It is interesting that the nuclear accumulation of ERK1/2 and Elk phosphorylation was completely blocked by dominant-negative Rho, Y27632, PP1, and latrunculin B, indicating that the Rho/ROCK pathway, Src kinase, and the actin cytoskeleton were required in this process. In accordance, neither nuclear ERK phosphorylation nor Elk phosphorylation were observed in SYF cells stimulated with SDF-1 but were reconstituted in Src++ cells. In summary, these results demonstrate that Src, Rho/ROCK, and an intact cytoskeleton contribute to overall ERK1/2 activation in SDF-1-stimulated cells and are indispensable for nuclear translocation of ERK1/2 and activation of transcription factors.

Adhesive interactions between human neural stem cells and inflamed human vascular endothelium are mediated by integrins.

Understanding the mechanisms by which stem cells home precisely to regions of injury or degeneration is of importance to both basic and applied regenerative medicine. Optimizing regenerative processes may depend on identifying the range of molecules that subserve stem cell trafficking. The “rolling” of extravasating cells on endothelium under conditions of physiological flow is the first essential step in the homing cascade and determines cell adhesion and transmigration. Using a laminar flow chamber to simulate physiological shear stress, we explored an aspect of this process by using human neural stem cells (hNSCs). We observed that the interactions between hNSCs and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α)‐stimulated human endothelium (simulating an inflamed milieu) are mediated by a subclass of integrins—α2, α6, and β1, but not α4, αv, or the chemokine‐mediated pathway CXCR4‐stromal cell‐derived factor‐1α—suggesting not only that the mechanisms mediating hNSC homing via the vasculature differ from the mechanisms mediating homing through parenchyma, but also that each step invokes a distinct pathway mediating a specialized function in the hNSC homing cascade. (TNF‐α stimulation also upregulates vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 expression on the hNSCs themselves and increases NSC‐endothelial interactions.) The selective use of integrin subgroups to mediate homing of cells of neuroectodermal origin may also be used to ensure that cells within the systemic circulation are delivered to the pathological region of a given organ to the exclusion of other, perhaps undesired, organs.

Crystal Structure of C5b-6 Suggests Structural Basis for Priming Assembly of the Membrane Attack Complex

Background: The C5b-6 complex triggers assembly of the Membrane Attack Complex. Results: The structure of C5b-6 at 4.2 Å resolution allowed an atomic model to be built. Conclusion: C5b is stabilized by an interdomain linker of C6 and N-terminal elements that simultaneously engage N- and C-terminal elements. Significance: In stabilizing C5b, C6 must change its conformation so that it becomes “primed” for initiating MAC assembly. The complement membrane attack complex (MAC) forms transmembrane pores in pathogen membranes. The first step in MAC assembly is cleavage of C5 to generate metastable C5b, which forms a stable complex with C6, termed C5b-6. C5b-6 initiates pore formation via the sequential recruitment of homologous proteins: C7, C8, and 12–18 copies of C9, each of which comprises a central MAC-perforin domain flanked by auxiliary domains. We recently proposed a model of pore assembly, in which the auxiliary domains play key roles, both in stabilizing the closed conformation of the protomers and in driving the sequential opening of the MAC-perforin β-sheet of each new recruit to the growing pore. Here, we describe an atomic model of C5b-6 at 4.2 Å resolution. We show that C5b provides four interfaces for the auxiliary domains of C6. The largest interface is created by the insertion of an interdomain linker from C6 into a hydrophobic groove created by a major reorganization of the α-helical domain of C5b. In combination with the rigid body docking of N-terminal elements of both proteins, C5b becomes locked into a stable conformation. Both C6 auxiliary domains flanking the linker pack tightly against C5b. The net effect is to induce the clockwise rigid body rotation of four auxiliary domains, as well as the opening/twisting of the central β-sheet of C6, in the directions predicted by our model to activate or prime C6 for the subsequent steps in MAC assembly. The complex also suggests novel small molecule strategies for modulating pathological MAC assembly.

Hyaluronan inhibits postchemotherapy tumor regrowth in a colon carcinoma xenograft model.

Bone marrow hypoplasia and pancytopenia are among the most undesirable sequelae of chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. We recently showed that hyaluronan (HA) facilitates hematopoietic recovery in tumor-free animals receiving chemotherapeutic agents. However, following a chemotherapeutic regimen in tumor-bearing animals, it is possible that residual tumor cells might respond to systemic injections of HA. Thus, in this study, we investigated the effect of HA on the regrowth of residual tumor cells following chemotherapy. As a model, we used the HCT-8 human colon carcinoma cell line, which expresses the HA receptor CD44, binds exogenous HA, and is susceptible to a chemotherapy protocol containing irinotecan and 5-fluorouracil in a human/mouse xenograft model. HCT-8 cells were implanted in severe combined immunodeficient mice, followed by irinotecan/5-fluorouracil treatment. After three rounds of chemotherapy, residual tumors were allowed to regrow in the presence or absence of HA. The dynamics of tumor regrowth in the group treated with HA was slower compared with the control group. By week 5 after tumor implantation, the difference in the size of regrown tumors was statistically significant and correlated with lower proliferation and higher apoptosis in HA-treated tumors as compared with controls. This finding provides evidence that HA treatment does not stimulate but delays the growth of residual cancer cells, which is an important parameter in establishing whether the use of HA can enhance current chemotherapeutic strategies. Mol Cancer Ther; 9(11); 3024–32. ©2010 AACR.

Deposition of complement C3 and factor H in tissue traumatized by burn injury

Activation of complement is known to accompany burn injury. To study deposition of complement proteins within tissue traumatized by burn we employed the technique of intravital microscopy using a murine dorsal skinfold chamber model. C3, factor H, factor B, HSA, and transferrin were labeled fluorescently and injected into the tail vein of mice which had been subjected to a small third degree burn within the skin fold. Only C3 and factor H deposited within blood vessels of the traumatized tissue. Binding was specific because it occurred only in and proximal to burn sites, and neither C3 nor factor H was observed to accumulate in blood vessels of healthy tissue. Furthermore, fluorescently labelled HSA, factor B, and transferrin all failed to deposit at or around burn loci. The deposition of C3 and factor H occurred within 10 min of injury and was intravascular occurring in major blood vessels, capillaries, and post-capillary venules, with little evidence of accumulation in the interstitium. Since both C3 fragments and factor H are recognized as adhesion molecules by granulocyte receptors, these deposited proteins could promote leukocyte accumulation, thereby contributing to an initiation of an inflammatory cascade at a site of burn injury.