Vickery Trinkaus-Randall

Chondrocyte Survival and Differentiation In Situ Are Integrin Mediated

Chondrocytes in specific areas of the chick sternum have different developmental fates. Cephalic chondrocytes become hypertrophic and secrete type X collagen into the extracellular matrix prior to bone deposition. Middle and caudal chondrocytes remain cartilaginous throughout development and continue to secrete collagen types II, IX, and XI. The interaction of integrin receptors with extracellular matrix molecules has been shown to affect cytoskeleton organization, proliferation, differentiation, and gene expression in other cell types. We hypothesized that chondrocyte survival and differentiation including the deposition into interstitial matrix of type X collagen may be integrin receptor mediated. To test this hypothesis, a serum‐free organ culture sternal model that recapitulates normal development and maintains the three‐dimensional relationships of the tissue was developed. We examined chondrocyte differentiation by five parameters: type X collagen deposition into interstitial matrix, sternal growth, actin distribution, cell shape, and cell diameter changes. Additional sterna were analyzed for apoptosis using a fragmented DNA assay. Sterna were organ cultured with blocking antibodies specific for integrin subunits (α2, α3, or β1). In the presence of anti‐β1 integrin (25 μg/ml, clone W1B10), type X collagen deposition into interstitial matrix and sternal growth were significantly inhibited. In addition, all chondrocytes were significantly smaller, the actin was disrupted, and there was a significant increase in apoptosis throughout the specimens. Addition of anti‐α2 (10 μg/ml, clone P1E6) or anti‐ α3 (10 μg/ml, clone P1B5) integrin partially inhibited type X collagen deposition into interstitial matrix; however, sternal growth and cell size were significantly decreased. These data are the first obtained from intact tissue and demonstrate that the interaction of chondrocytes with extracellular matrix is required for chondrocyte survival and differentiation. Dev. Dyn. 1997;210:249–263.

P2Y receptors play a critical role in epithelial Cell communication and migration

Cellular injury induces a complex series of events that involves Ca2+ signaling, cell communication, and migration. One of the first responses following mechanical injury is the propagation of a Ca2+ wave (Klepeis et al. [ 2001 ] J Cell Sci 114(Pt 23):4185–4195). The wave is generated by the extracellular release of ATP, which also induces phosphorylation of ERK (Yang et al. [ 2004 ] J Cell Biochem 91(5):938–950). ATP and other nucleotides, which bind to and activate specific purinergic receptors were used to mimic injury. Our goal was to determine which of the P2Y purinergic receptors are expressed and stimulated in corneal epithelial cells and which signaling pathways are activated leading to changes in cell migration, an event critical for wound closure. In this study, we demonstrated that the P2Y1, P2Y2, P2Y4, P2Y6, and P2Y11 receptors were present in corneal epithelial cells. A potency profile was determined by Ca2+ imaging for nucleotide agonists as follows: ATP ≥ UTP > ADP ≥ UDP. In contrast, negligible responses were seen for β,γ‐meATP, a general P2X receptor agonist and adenosine, a P1 receptor agonist. Homologous desensitization of the Ca2+ response was observed for the four nucleotides. However, P2Y receptor internalization and degradation was not detected following stimulation with ATP, which is in contrast to EGFR internalization observed in response to EGF. ATP induced cell migration was comparable to that of EGF and was maximal at 1 μM. Cells exposed to ATP, UTP, ADP, and UDP demonstrated a rapid twofold increase in phosphorylation of paxillin at Y31 and Y118, however, there was no activation elicited by β,γ‐meATP or adenosine. Additional studies demonstrated that wound closure was inhibited by reactive blue 2. These results indicate that P2Y receptors play a critical role in the injury repair process.

Modulation of endothelial cell migration by extracellular nucleotides. Involvement of focal adhesion kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase - mediated pathways

Extracellular nucleotides bind to type-2 purinergic/pyrimidinergic (P2) receptors that mediate various responses, such as cell activation, proliferation and apoptosis, implicated in inflammatory processes. The role of P2 receptors and their associated signal transduction pathways in endothelial cell responses has not been fully investigated. Here, it is shown that stimulation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with extracellular ATP or UTP increased intracellular free calcium ion concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)), induced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), p130(cas) and paxillin, and caused cytoskeletal rearrangements with consequent cell migration. Furthermore, UTP increased migration of HUVEC in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)-dependent manner. BAPTA or thapsigargin inhibited the extracellular nucleotide-induced increase in [Ca(2+)](i), a response crucial for both FAK phosphorylation and cell migration. Furthermore, long-term exposure of HUVEC to ATP and UTP, agonists of the G protein-coupled P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptor subtypes, caused upregulation of alpha(v) integrin expression, a cell adhesion molecule known to directly interact with P2Y2 receptors. Our results suggest that extracellular nucleotides modulate signaling pathways in HUVEC influencing cell functions, such as cytoskeletal changes, cellular adhesion and motility, typically associated with integrin-activation and the action of growth factors. We propose that P2Y2 and possibly P2Y4 receptors mediate those responses that are important in vascular inflammation, atherosclerosis and angiogenesis.

Plasma surface modification of artificial corneas for optimal epithelialization.

We have demonstrated that the optimal surface treatment of a polyvinylalcoholcopolymer hydrogel for epithelial cell migration and proliferation is an argon radio frequency (rf) plasma treatment. The surface chemistry of the material was determined prior to each cellular evaluation, allowing us to compare the biological response with a known surface chemistry. The cellular response was carried out in a consistent manner a minimum of three separate runs. We found that the optimal conditions required culturing the cells under constant rotation. Cells became confluent on argon-plasma-treated surfaces coated under several different reactions pressures, and after 2 weeks they became multilayered. Our experiments demonstrated that cells proliferated and extracellular matrix and adhesion proteins were present only when the surface was treated with an argon rf plasma; acetone- and ammonia-treated surfaces did not yield the desired results. Organ culture experiments further demonstrated the efficacy of the argon-treated surfaces. In these experiments, intact keratoprosthetic devices with modified hydrogel surfaces were implanted into rabbit corneas. The excised corneas containing the devices were cultured, and 3 weeks later, using confocal laser scanning microscopy, confluent epithelium was detected on the modified hydrogel surface. This is the first demonstration that rabbit limbal epithelial cells can migrate onto a synthetic cornea containing a modified hydrogel-treated surface and form a confluent surface of epithelium.

Doxycycline reduces fibril formation in a transgenic mouse model of AL amyloidosis

Systemic AL amyloidosis results from the aggregation of an amyloidogenic immunoglobulin (Ig) light chain (LC) usually produced by a plasma cell clone in the bone marrow. AL is the most rapidly fatal of the systemic amyloidoses, as amyloid fibrils can rapidly accumulate in tissues including the heart, kidneys, autonomic or peripheral nervous systems, gastrointestinal tract, and liver. Chemotherapy is used to eradicate the cellular source of the amyloidogenic precursor. Currently, there are no therapies that target the process of LC aggregation, fibril formation, or organ damage. We developed transgenic mice expressing an amyloidogenic λ6 LC using the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter to circumvent the disruption of B cell development by premature expression of recombined LC. The CMV-λ6 transgenic mice develop neurologic dysfunction and Congophilic amyloid deposits in the stomach. Amyloid deposition was inhibited in vivo by the antibiotic doxycycline. In vitro studies demonstrated that doxycycline directly disrupted the formation of recombinant LC fibrils. Furthermore, treatment of ex vivo LC amyloid fibrils with doxycycline reduced the number of intact fibrils and led to the formation of large disordered aggregates. The CMV-λ6 transgenic model replicates the process of AL amyloidosis and is useful for testing the antifibril potential of orally available agents.

Cellular injury induces activation of MAPK via P2Y receptors

Wound healing is a complex process that involves cell communication, migration, proliferation, and changes in gene expression. One of the first events after injury is the rapid release of Ca2+ that propagates as a wave to neighboring cells (Klepeis et al. [2001]: J. Cell. Sci. 114:4185–4195). Our goal was to examine the signaling events induced by cellular injury and identify extracellular molecules that induce the activation of extracellular signal responsive kinase (ERK) (p42/44). In this study we demonstrated that injury induced ERK1/2 activation occurred within 2 min and was negligible by 15 min. Treatment of unwounded cells with wound media caused activation of ERK that could be inhibited by apyrase III. Stimulation with epidermal growth factor (EGF) did not mimic the injury response and it was not detected in the wound media. To identify the active component, size fractionation was performed and factor(s) less than 3 kDa that induced the release of Ca2+ and activation of ERK1/2 were identified. Activity was not altered by heat denaturation, incubation with proteinase K but it was lost by treatment with apyrase. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), uridine triphosphate (UTP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and uridine diphosphate (UDP) promoted activation by 2 min with similar profiles as that generated by injury. Preincubation with phospholipase C inhibitor, U73122, inhibited activation that was induced by injury and/or nucleotides. Lack of activation by alpha‐beta‐methylATP (α, β‐MeATP) and beta‐gamma‐methylATP (β, γ‐MeATP) to purinergic (P)2X receptors further indicated that activation occurs via P2Y and not P2X purinergic receptors. These results indicate that injury‐induced activation of ERK1/2 is mediated by a P2Y signaling pathway.

Regulation of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Binding and Activity by Cell Density and Heparan Sulfate

The role of cell density in modulating basic fibroblast growth factor binding and activity was investigated. A primary corneal stromal fibroblast cell culture system was used, since these cells do not constitutively express heparan sulfate proteoglycansin vivo except after injury. A 3–5-fold reduction in bFGF binding per cell was observed as cell density increased from 1000 to 35,000 cells/cm2. The cell density-dependent change in bFGF binding was not the result of altered FGFR expression as determined by equilibrium binding experiments and by immunoblot analysis. However, bFGF-cell surface receptor binding affinities were measured to be 10–20-fold higher at low cell densities than at intermediate and high cell density. bFGF-induced cell proliferation was also cell density-dependent, with maximal stimulation of proliferation 190–280% greater at intermediate densities (15,000 cells/cm2) than at other cell densities. This effect was specific to bFGF as serum, epidermal growth factor, and transforming growth factor-β did not exhibit the same density-dependent profile. Further, heparan sulfate proteoglycans and, specifically, syndecan-4 were implicated as the modulator of bFGF binding and activity. Pretreatment of cell cultures with heparinase resulted in reduced bFGF binding to the cells and abrogated bFGF induced proliferation. These data suggest a mechanism by which cell density regulates heparan sulfate proteoglycan expression and modulates the cellular response to bFGF. Modulation of heparan sulfate proteoglycan expression might be an important aspect of the regulation of stromal cell migration and proliferation during wound healing.

Purines in the eye: recent evidence for the physiological and pathological role of purines in the RPE, retinal neurons, astrocytes, Müller cells, lens, trabecular meshwork, cornea and lacrimal gland.

This review highlights recent findings that describ how purines modulate the physiological and pathophysiological responses of ocular tissues. For example, in lacrimal glands the cross-talk between P2X7 receptors and both M3 muscarinic receptors and α1D-adrenergic receptors can influence tear secretion. In the cornea, purines lead to post-translational modification of EGFR and structural proteins that participate in wound repair in the epithelium and influence the expression of matrix proteins in the stroma. Purines act at receptors on both the trabecular meshwork and ciliary epithelium to modulate intraocular pressure (IOP); ATP-release pathways of inflow and outflow cells differ, possibly permitting differential modulation of adenosine delivery. Modulators of trabecular meshwork cell ATP release include cell volume, stretch, extracellular Ca(2+) concentration, oxidation state, actin remodeling and possibly endogenous cardiotonic steroids. In the lens, osmotic stress leads to ATP release following TRPV4 activation upstream of hemichannel opening. In the anterior eye, diadenosine polyphosphates such as Ap4A act at P2 receptors to modulate the rate and composition of tear secretion, impact corneal wound healing and lower IOP. The Gq11-coupled P2Y1-receptor contributes to volume control in Müller cells and thus the retina. P2X receptors are expressed in neurons in the inner and outer retina and contribute to visual processing as well as the demise of retinal ganglion cells. In RPE cells, the balance between extracellular ATP and adenosine may modulate lysosomal pH and the rate of lipofuscin formation. In optic nerve head astrocytes, mechanosensitive ATP release via pannexin hemichannels, coupled with stretch-dependent upregulation of pannexins, provides a mechanism for ATP signaling in chronic glaucoma. With so many receptors linked to divergent functions throughout the eye, ensuring the transmitters remain local and stimulation is restricted to the intended target may be a key issue in understanding how physiological signaling becomes pathological in ocular disease.

Human primary corneal fibroblasts synthesize and deposit proteoglycans in long-term 3-D cultures

Our goal was to develop a 3‐D multi‐cellular construct using primary human corneal fibroblasts cultured on a disorganized collagen substrate in a scaffold‐free environment and to use it to determine the regulation of proteoglycans over an extended period of time (11 weeks). Electron micrographs revealed multi‐layered constructs with cells present in between alternating parallel and perpendicular arrays of fibrils. Type I collagen increased 2–4‐fold. Stromal proteoglycans including lumican, syndecan4, decorin, biglycan, mimecan, and perlecan were expressed. The presence of glycosaminoglycan chains was demonstrated for a subset of the core proteins (lumican, biglycan, and decorin) using lyase digestion. Cuprolinic blue–stained cultures showed that sulfated proteoglycans were present throughout the construct and most prominent in its mid‐region. The size of the Cuprolinic‐positive filaments resembled those previously reported in a human corneal stroma. Under the current culture conditions, the cells mimic a development or nonfibrotic repair phenotype. Developmental Dynamics 237:2705–2715, 2008.

RelB NF-κB Represses Estrogen Receptor α Expression via Induction of the Zinc Finger Protein Blimp1

ABSTRACT Aberrant constitutive expression of NF-κB subunits, reported in more than 90% of breast cancers and multiple other malignancies, plays pivotal roles in tumorigenesis. Higher RelB subunit expression was demonstrated in estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-negative breast cancers versus ERα-positive ones, due in part to repression of RelB synthesis by ERα signaling. Notably, RelB promoted a more invasive phenotype in ERα-negative cancers via induction of the BCL2 gene. We report here that RelB reciprocally inhibits ERα synthesis in breast cancer cells, which contributes to a more migratory phenotype. Specifically, RelB is shown for the first time to induce expression of the zinc finger repressor protein Blimp1 (B-lymphocyte-induced maturation protein), the critical mediator of B- and T-cell development, which is transcribed from the PRDM1 gene. Blimp1 protein repressed ERα (ESR1) gene transcription. Commensurately higher Blimp1/PRDM1 expression was detected in ERα-negative breast cancer cells and primary breast tumors. Induction of PRDM1 gene expression was mediated by interaction of Bcl-2, localized in the mitochondria, with Ras. Thus, the induction of Blimp1 represents a novel mechanism whereby the RelB NF-κB subunit mediates repression, specifically of ERα, thereby promoting a more migratory phenotype.