RhoD localization and function is dependent on its GTP/GDP-bound state and unique N-terminal motif

The atypical Rho GTPase RhoD has previously been shown to have a major impact on the organization and function of the actin filament system. However, when first discovered, RhoD was found to regulate endosome trafficking and dynamics and we therefore sought to investigate this regulation in more detail. We found that exogenously expressed RhoD in human fibroblasts localized to vesicles and the plasma membrane and that the active GTP-bound conformation was required for the plasma membrane localization but not for vesicle localization. In contrast to the GTPase deficient atypical Rho GTPases, which have a stalled GTPase activity, RhoD has an elevated intrinsic GDP/GTP exchange activity, rendering the protein constitutively active. Importantly, RhoD can still hydrolyze GTP and we found that an intact GTPase activity was required for efficient fusion of RhoD-positive vesicles. RhoD has a unique N-terminal extension of 14 amino acid residues, which is not present in the classical Rho GTPases RhoA, Cdc42 and Rac1. Deletion of this N-terminal motif often lead to clustering of RhoD positive vesicles, which were found accumulated at the peripheral membrane border. In addition, the number of vesicles per cell was increased manifold, suggesting that the N-terminal motif has an important regulatory role in vesicle dynamics.

Nitric oxide induces epidermal stem cell de-adhesion by targeting integrin β1 and Talin via the cGMP signalling pathway

OBJECTIVE

Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a critical molecule in wound healing, but the mechanism underlying its activity is not well defined. Here, we explored the effect of NO on the de-adhesion of epidermal stem cells (ESCs) and the mechanism involved in this process.

METHODS

The effects of NO on isolated human and mouse ESCs cultured in the presence of different concentrations of the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP) were evaluated in cell de-adhesion assays mediated by integrin β and collagen IV. Subsequently, changes in the expression of integrin β1 and the phosphorylation of Talin in response to different doses of SNAP were detected by Western blot analysis and real-time PCR in vitro. Furthermore, the roles of various soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)- and protein kinase G (PKG)-specific inhibitors and agonists in the effects of NO on ESC de-adhesion, integrin β1 expression and Talin phosphorylation were analysed. Moreover, the effects of NO on integrin β1 expression and sGC/cGMP/PKG signalling-mediated wound healing were detected in vivo using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) label-retaining cells (LRCs) in a scald model and an excision wound healing model, respectively.

RESULTS

SNAP promoted primary human and mouse ESC de-adhesion in a concentration-dependent manner in the integrin β1-and collagen IV-mediated adhesion assay, and this effect was suppressed by the sGC and PKG inhibitors. Additionally, integrin β1 expression and Talin phosphorylation at serine 425 (S425) were negatively correlated with SNAP levels, and this effect was blocked by the sGC and PKG inhibitors. Moreover, the roles of NO in integrin β1 expression and cGMP signalling pathway-mediated wound healing were confirmed in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that the stimulatory effects of NO on ESC de-adhesion related to integrin β1 expression and Talin phosphorylation were mediated by the cGMP signalling pathway, which is likely involved in wound healing.

The Connexin Mimetic Peptide Gap27 and Cx43-Knockdown Reveal Differential Roles for Connexin43 in Wound Closure Events in Skin Model Systems

In the epidermis, remodelling of Connexin43 is a key event in wound closure. However, controversy between the role of connexin channel and non-channel functions exist. We compared the impact of SiRNA targeted to Connexin43 and the connexin mimetic peptide Gap27 on scrape wound closure rates and hemichannel signalling in adult keratinocytes (AK) and fibroblasts sourced from juvenile foreskin (JFF), human neonatal fibroblasts (HNDF) and adult dermal tissue (ADF). The impact of these agents, following 24 h exposure, on GJA1 (encoding Connexin43), Ki67 and TGF-β1 gene expression, and Connexin43 and pSmad3 protein expression levels, were examined by qPCR and Western Blot respectively. In all cell types Gap27 (100 nM–100 μM) attenuated hemichannel activity. In AK and JFF cells, Gap27 (100 nM–100 μM) enhanced scrape wound closure rates by ~50% but did not influence movement in HNDF or ADF cells. In both JF and AK cells, exposure to Gap27 for 24 h reduced the level of Cx43 protein expression but did not affect the level in ADF and HNDF cells. Connexin43-SiRNA enhanced scrape wound closure in all the cell types under investigation. In HDNF and ADF, Connexin43-SiRNA enhanced cell proliferation rates, with enhanced proliferation also observed following exposure of HDNF to Gap27. By contrast, in JFF and AK cells no changes in proliferation occurred. In JFF cells, Connexin43-SiRNA enhanced TGF-β1 levels and in JFF and ADF cells both Connexin43-SiRNA and Gap27 enhanced pSmad3 protein expression levels. We conclude that Connexin43 signalling plays an important role in cell migration in keratinocytes and foreskin derived fibroblasts, however, different pathways are evoked and in dermal derived adult and neonatal fibroblasts, inhibition of Connexin43 signalling plays a more significant role in regulating cell proliferation than cell migration.

Generation of hiPSTZ16 (ISMMSi003-A) cell line from normal human foreskin fibroblasts

Human foreskin fibroblasts from a commercial source were reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells to establish a clonal stem cell line, hiPSTZ16 (ISMMSi003-A). These cells show a normal karyotype and full differentiation potential in teratoma assays. The described cells provide a useful resource in combination with other iPS cell lines generated from normal human foreskin fibroblasts to study source- and reprogramming method-independent effects in downstream applications.

Human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and NFX1-123 mislocalize immune signaling proteins and downregulate immune gene expression in keratinocytes

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection, affecting an estimated 11% of the world's population. The high-risk HPV types (HR HPV) account for approximately 5% of the global burden of cancer and thus cause high morbidity and mortality. Although it is known that persistent infection with HR HPV is the greatest risk factor for developing HPV-associated cancer, and that the HPV early proteins E6 and E7 dysregulate immune detection by its host cells, the mechanisms of immune evasion by HR HPV are not well understood. Previous work in the laboratory identified the endogenous cytoplasmic host protein NFX1-123 as a binding partner of the HR HPV type 16 oncoprotein E6 (16E6). Together NFX1-123 and 16E6 affect cellular growth, differentiation, and immortalization genes and pathways. In a whole genome microarray, human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) stably expressing 16E6 and overexpressing NFX1-123 showed a diverse set of innate immune genes downregulated two-fold or more when compared to 16E6 cells with endogenous NFX1-123. We demonstrated that 16E6 and NFX1-123 decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in 16E6 HFKs at the mRNA and protein level. Knock down of NFX1-123 in 16E6 HFKs resulted in a derepression of innate immune genes, pointing to the requirement of NFX1-123 for immune regulation in the context of 16E6. Studies using immunofluorescent microscopy revealed that 16E6 and NFX1-123 disturbed the normal localization of signaling proteins involved in initiating the immune response. This study identifies NFX1-123 as a critical host protein partner through which 16E6 is able to subvert the immune response and in turn permit a long-lived HR HPV infection.

Tissue engineering potential of human dermis-isolated adult stem cells from multiple anatomical locations

Abundance and accessibility render skin-derived stem cells an attractive cell source for tissue engineering applications. Toward assessing their utility, the variability of constructs engineered from human dermis-isolated adult stem (hDIAS) cells was examined with respect to different anatomical locations (foreskin, breast, and abdominal skin), both in vitro and in a subcutaneous, athymic mouse model. All anatomical locations yielded hDIAS cells with multi-lineage differentiation potentials, though adipogenesis was not seen for foreskin-derived hDIAS cells. Using engineered cartilage as a model, tissue engineered constructs from hDIAS cells were compared. Construct morphology differed by location. The mechanical properties of human foreskin- and abdominal skin-derived constructs were similar at implantation, remaining comparable after 4 additional weeks of culture in vivo. Breast skin-derived constructs were not mechanically testable. For all groups, no signs of abnormality were observed in the host. Addition of aggregate redifferentiation culture prior to construct formation improved chondrogenic differentiation of foreskin-derived hDIAS cells, as evident by increases in glycosaminoglycan and collagen contents. More robust Alcian blue staining and homogeneous cell populations were also observed compared to controls. Human DIAS cells elicited no adverse host responses, reacted positively to chondrogenic regimens, and possessed multi-lineage differentiation potential with the caveat that efficacy may differ by anatomical origin of the skin. Taken together, these results suggest that hDIAS cells hold promise as a potential cell source for a number of tissue engineering applications.

Mucosal stromal fibroblasts markedly enhance HIV infection of CD4+ T cells

Understanding early events of HIV transmission within mucosal tissues is vital for developing effective prevention strategies. Here, we report that primary stromal fibroblasts isolated from endometrium, cervix, foreskin, male urethra, and intestines significantly increase HIV infection of CD4+ T cells-by up to 37-fold for R5-tropic HIV and 100-fold for X4-tropic HIV-without themselves becoming infected. Fibroblasts were more efficient than dendritic cells at trans-infection and mediate this response in the absence of the DC-SIGN and Siglec-1 receptors. In comparison, mucosal epithelial cells secrete antivirals and inhibit HIV infection. These data suggest that breaches in the epithelium allow external or luminal HIV to escape an antiviral environment to access the infection-favorable environment of the stromal fibroblasts, and suggest that resident fibroblasts have a central, but previously unrecognized, role in HIV acquisition at mucosal sites. Inhibiting fibroblast-mediated enhancement of HIV infection should be considered as a novel prevention strategy.

In vitro studies to evaluate the wound healing properties of Calendula officinalis extracts

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Calendula officinalis (pot marigold) flower extracts have a long-lasting tradition in ethnopharmacology. Currently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved its lipophilic and aqueous alcoholic extracts as traditional medicinal products for the treatment of minor inflammation of the skin and as an aid in the healing of minor wounds.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to analyse the molecular mechanism of the wound healing effects of Calendula extracts, which may reflect the phytomedicines currently used in the market.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of three different extracts from Calendula flowers (n-hexanic, ethanolic, aqueous) on the inflammatory phase of wound healing was studied in human immortalized keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay on NF-κB-DNA binding, qRT-PCR and ELISA experiments were performed. The effect of Calendula extracts on the new tissue formation phase of wound healing was evaluated by studying the migratory properties of these extracts, triterpene mixtures and single compounds in human immortalized keratinocytes using the scratch assay. Finally, the effect of the extracts on the formation of granulation tissue in wound healing was studied using bacterial collagenase isolated from Clostridium histolyticum and the determination of soluble collagen in the supernatant of human dermal fibroblasts.

RESULTS

The n-hexanic and the ethanolic extracts from Calendula flowers influence the inflammatory phase by activating the transcription factor NF-κB and by increasing the amount of the chemokine IL-8, both at the transcriptional and protein level, in human immortalized keratinocytes. The migration of the keratinocytes during the new tissue formation phase was only marginally influenced in the scratch assay. However, it can be assumed that the granulation tissue was affected, as the ethanolic extract inhibited the activity of collagenase in vitro and enhanced the amount of collagen in the supernatant of human dermal fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results contribute to a better understanding of the wound healing properties of the traditional medicinal plant Calendula officinalis. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate which of its known constituents are responsible for these effects. Triterpenes seem to play only a marginal role, but carotene and xanthophyll derivatives should garner more attention in future studies.

Reduced autophagy leads to an impaired ferritin turnover in senescent fibroblasts

Changes in the two main intracellular degradation systems, the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and the Autophagy-Lysosome pathway (ALP) are widely discussed as a hallmark of the aging process. To follow the age-related behavior of both degradation systems we examined their impact on ferritin, known to be degradable by both. Ferritin H was analyzed in young and senescent human fibroblasts, revealing a higher steady-state level in the senescent cells. By blocking both proteolytic systems, we confirmed that particularly the ALP plays a crucial role in ferritin H turnover. However, an unexpected increase in lysosomal activity in the senescent cells, suggests a dysregulation in the autophagy pathway. To further investigate the impaired ferritin H turnover, confocal microscopic colocalization studies of ferritin H with lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2a (Lamp2a) and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) were performed and clearly revealed the degradation of ferritin by macroautophagy. By induction of autophagy via inhibition of mTOR using rapamycin an increase of ferritin H turnover was obtained in senescent cells, demonstrating a mTOR dependent reduction of autophagy in senescent human fibroblasts.

Comparative Transcriptome Profiling of Human Foreskin Fibroblasts Infected with the Sylvio and Y Strains of Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas Disease, is phylogeneticaly distributed into nearly identical genetic strains which show divergent clinical presentations including differences in rates of cardiomyopathy in humans, different vector species and transmission cycles, differential congenital transmission in a mouse model, and differing immune and heart inflammation response in dogs. The population structure of these strains divides into two groups, which are geographically and clinically distinct. The aim of this study was to compare the transcriptome of two strains of T. cruzi, Sylvio vs. Y, to identify differences in expression that could account for clinical and biochemical differences. We collected and sequenced RNA from T. cruzi-infected and control Human Foreskin Fibroblasts at three timepoints. Differential expression analysis identified gene expression different timepoints in Sylvio infections, and between Sylvio and Y infections in both parasite and host. The Sylvio strain parasite and the host response to Sylvio infection largely mirrored the host-pathogen interaction seen in our previous Y strain work. IL-8 was more highly expressed in Sylvio-infected HFFs than in Y-infected HFFs.

In vitro and in vivo analysis of human fibroblast reprogramming and multipotency

Multipotent stem cells have potential therapeutic roles in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, the limited access to stem cell sources restricts their clinical application. To address this issue, we established a simple in vitro epigenetic reprogramming technique in which skin fibroblasts are induced to dedifferentiate into multipotent cells. In this study, human fibroblasts were isolated from circumcised adult foreskin and were reprogrammed by co-culture for 72 h with fish oocyte extract (FOE) in serum-free medium. The cells were then observed and analyzed by immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry and in vitro differentiation assays. Then FOE-treated human fibroblasts were transplanted by tail vein injection into irradiated mdx mice, an animal model of DMD. Two months after injection, the therapeutic effects of FOE-treated fibroblasts on mdx skeletal muscle were evaluated by serum creatine kinase (CK) activity measurements and by immunostaining and RT-PCR of human dystrophin expression. The results indicated that the reprogrammed fibroblasts expressed higher levels of the pluripotent antigen markers SSEA-4, Nanog and Oct-4, and were able to differentiate in vitro into adipogenic cells, osteoblastic cells, and myotube-like cells. Tail vein injection of FOE-treated fibroblasts into irradiated mdx mice slightly reduced serum CK activity and the percentage of centrally nucleated myofibers two months after cell transplantation. Furthermore, we confirmed human dystrophin protein and mRNA expression in mdx mouse skeletal muscle. These data demonstrated that FOE-treated fibroblasts were multipotent and could integrate into mdx mouse myofibers through the vasculature.

Combined Chemical Groups and Topographical Nanopattern on the Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Surface for Regulating Human Foreskin Fibroblasts Behavior

Surface chemistry and substrate topography could contribute significantly to providing a biochemical and topographical cues for governing the fate of cells on the cell-material interface. However, the synergies between these two properties have not been exploited extensively for biomaterial design. Herein, we achieved spatial-controlled patterning of chemical groups on the poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) surface by elegant UV-nanoimprint lithography (UN-NIL). The introduction of chemical groups on the PCL surface was developed by our newly 6-benzyloxycarbonylmethyl-ε-caprolactone (BCL) monomer, which not only solved the lack of functional groups along the PCL chain but also retained the original favorable properties of PCL materials. The synergetic effect of the chemical groups and nanopatterns on the human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) behaviors was evaluated in detail. The results revealed that the patterned functional PCL surfaces could induce enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation, further trigger changes in HFFs morphology, orientation and collagen secretion. Taken together, this study provided a method for straightforward fabrication of reactive PCL surfaces with topographic patterns by one-step process, and they would facilitate PCL as potential candidate for cell cultivation and tissue engineering.

Chitosan Treatment Delays the Induction of Senescence in Human Foreskin Fibroblast Strains

Fibroblasts have been extensively used as a model to study cellular senescence. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the human foreskin fibroblast aging process could be regulated by using the biomaterial chitosan. Fibroblasts cultured on commercial tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) entered senescence after 55–60 population doublings (PDs), and were accompanied by larger cell shape, higher senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA β-gal) activity, lower proliferation capacity, and upregulation of senescence-associated molecular markers p21, p53, retinoblastoma (pRB), and p16. Before senescence was reached, PD48 cells were collected from TCPS and seeded on chitosan for three days (PD48-Cd3) to form multicellular spheroids. The protein expression of senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs) and senescence-associated molecular markers of these cells in PD48-Cd3 spheroids were downregulated significantly. Following chitosan treatment, fibroblasts reseeded on TCPS showed lower SA β-gal activity, increased cellular motility, and a higher proliferation ability of 70–75 PDs. These phenotypic changes were not accompanied by colonies forming in soft agar and a continuous decrease in the senescence-associated proteins p53 and pRB which act as a barrier to tumorigenesis. These results demonstrate that chitosan treatment could delay the induction of senescence which may be useful and safe for future tissue engineering applications.

Exploring CTCF and cohesin related chromatin architecture at HOXA gene cluster in primary human fibroblasts

Spatial expression patterns of homeobox (HOX) genes delineate positional identity of primary fibroblasts from different topographic sites. The molecular mechanism underlying the establishing or maintaining of HOX gene expression pattern remains an attractive developmental issue to be addressed. Our previous work suggested a critical role of CTCF/cohesin-mediated higher- order chromatin structure in RA-induced HOXA activation in human teratocarcinoma NT2/D1 cells. This study investigated the recruitment of CTCF and cohesin, and the higher-order chromatin structure of the HOXA locus in fetal lung and adult foreskin fibroblasts, which display complementary HOXA gene expression patterns. Chromatin contacts between the CTCF-binding sites were observed with lower frequency in human foreskin fibroblasts. This observation is consistent with the lower level of cohesin recruitment and 5' HOXA gene expression in the same cells. We also showed that CTCF-binding site A56 (CBSA56) related chromatin structures exhibit the most notable changes in between the two types of cell, and hence may stand for one of the key CTCF-binding sites for cell-type specific chromatin structure organization. Together, these results imply that CTCF/cohesin coordinates HOXA cluster higher-order chromatin structure and expression during development, and provide insight into the relationship between cell-type specific chromatin organization and the spatial collinearity.

Dose-dependent effects of allopurinol on human foreskin fibroblast cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells under hypoxia

Allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, has been used in clinical trials of patients with cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. These are two pathologies with extensive links to hypoxia and activation of the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) family. Here we analysed the effects of allopurinol treatment in two different cellular models, and their response to hypoxia. We explored the dose-dependent effect of allopurinol on Human Foreskin Fibroblasts (HFF) and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) under hypoxia and normoxia. Under normoxia and hypoxia, high dose allopurinol reduced the accumulation of HIF-1α protein in HFF and HUVEC cells. Allopurinol had only marginal effects on HIF-1α mRNA level in both cellular systems. Interestingly, allopurinol effects over the HIF system were independent of prolyl-hydroxylase activity. Finally, allopurinol treatment reduced angiogenesis traits in HUVEC cells in an in vitro model. Taken together these results indicate that high doses of allopurinol inhibits the HIF system and pro-angiogenic traits in cells.

Three-dimensional cell manipulation and patterning using dielectrophoresis via a multi-layer scaffold structure

Cell manipulation is imperative to the areas of cellular biology and tissue engineering, providing them a useful tool for patterning cells into cellular patterns for different analyses and applications. This paper presents a novel approach to perform three-dimensional (3D) cell manipulation and patterning with a multi-layer engineered scaffold. This scaffold structure employed dielectrophoresis as the non-contact mechanism to manipulate cells in the 3D domain. Through establishing electric fields via this multi-layer structure, the cells in the medium became polarized and were attracted towards the interior part of the structure, forming 3D cellular patterns. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the manipulation and the patterning processes with the proposed structure. Results show that with the presence of a voltage input, this multi-layer structure was capable of manipulating different types of biological cells examined through dielectrophoresis, enabling automatic cell patterning in the time-scale of minutes. The effects of the voltage input on the resultant cellular pattern were examined and discussed. Viability test was performed after the patterning operation and the results confirmed that majority of the cells remained viable. After 7 days of culture, 3D cellular patterns were observed through SEM. The results suggest that this scaffold and its automated dielectrophoresis-based patterning mechanism can be used to construct artificial tissues for various tissue engineering applications.

Pumpless microfluidic platform for drug testing on human skin equivalents

Advances in bio-mimetic in vitro human skin models increase the efficiency of drug screening studies. In this study, we designed and developed a microfluidic platform that allows for long-term maintenance of full thickness human skin equivalents (HSE) which are comprised of both the epidermal and dermal compartments. The design is based on the physiologically relevant blood residence times in human skin tissue and allows for the establishment of an air-epidermal interface which is crucial for maturation and terminal differentiation of HSEs. The small scale of the design reduces the amount of culture medium and the number of cells required by 36 fold compared to conventional transwell cultures. Our HSE-on-a-chip platform has the capability to recirculate the medium at desired flow rates without the need for pump or external tube connections. We demonstrate that the platform can be used to maintain HSEs for three weeks with proliferating keratinocytes similar to conventional HSE cultures. Immunohistochemistry analyses show that the differentiation and localization of keratinocytes was successfully achieved, establishing all sub-layers of the epidermis after one week. Basal keratinocytes located at the epidermal-dermal interface remain in a proliferative state for three weeks. We use a transdermal transport model to show that the skin barrier function is maintained for three weeks. We also validate the capability of the HSE-on-a-chip platform to be used for drug testing purposes by examining the toxic effects of doxorubucin on skin cells and structure. Overall, the HSE-on-a-chip is a user-friendly and cost-effective in vitro platform for drug testing of candidate molecules for skin disorders.

Genetic methods for studying the role of viral oncogenes in the HPV life cycle

Human papillomaviruses are the causative agents of several cancers, but only a minority of HPV infections progress to malignancy. In order to better understand HPV biology during the normal, differentiation-dependent life cycle, a cell culture model that maintains the complete episomal genome and permits host cell differentiation is critical. Furthermore, the use of cloned DNA as a starting material is important to facilitate genetic analyses. In this chapter, procedures for isolating human keratinocytes, establishing cell lines maintaining HPV16 genomes, and inducing cellular differentiation, which permits analysis of both early and late stages in the viral life cycle, are described.

PDGF-D expression is down-regulated by TGFβ in fibroblasts

Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) is a key mediator of fibrogenesis. TGFβ is overexpressed and activated in fibrotic diseases, regulates fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts and induces extracellular matrix deposition. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is also a regulator of fibrogenesis. Some studies showed a link between TGFβ and PDGF in certain fibrotic diseases. TGFβ induces PDGF receptor alpha expression in scleroderma fibroblasts. PDGF-C and -D are the most recently discovered ligands and also play a role in fibrosis. In this study, we report the first link between TGFβ and PDGF-D and -C ligands. In normal fibroblasts, TGFβ down-regulated PDGF-D expression and up-regulated PDGF-C expression at the mRNA and protein levels. This phenomenon is not limited to TGFβ since other growth factors implicated in fibrosis, such as FGF, EGF and PDGF-B, also regulated PDGF-D and PDGF-C expression. Among different kinase inhibitors, only TGFβ receptor inhibitors and the IκB kinase (IKK) inhibitor BMS-345541 blocked the effect of TGFβ. However, activation of the classical NF-κB pathway was not involved. Interestingly, in a model of lung fibrosis induced by either bleomycin or silica, PDGF-D was down-regulated, which correlates with the production of TGFβ and other fibrotic growth factors. In conclusion, the down-regulation of PDGF-D by TGFβ and other growth factors may serve as a negative feedback in the network of cytokines that control fibrosis.

Differential compartmentalization of HIV-targeting immune cells in inner and outer foreskin tissue

Ex vivo foreskin models have demonstrated that inner foreskin is more susceptible to HIV-1 infection than outer foreskin. In the present study we characterized the compartition of HIV-1 target cells and quantified these cells in the epidermis and dermis of inner and outer foreskins using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Our data showed that the epidermis of the inner foreskin was more enriched with CD4⁺ T cells and Langerhans cells (LCs), with the co-expression of CCR5 and α4β7 receptors, than the outer foreskin. Interestingly, the vast majority of CD4⁺ T cells and LCs expressed CCR5, but not CXCR4, indicating that the inner foreskin might capture and transmit R5-tropic HIV strains more efficiently. In addition, lymphoid aggregates, composed of T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) in the dermis, were closer to the epithelial surface in the inner foreskin than in the outer foreskin. As dendritic cells are able to capture and pass HIV particles to susceptible target cells, HIV may be able to more efficiently infect the inner foreskin by hijacking the augmented immune communication pathways in this tissue. After the inoculation of HIV-1 particles in a foreskin explant culture model, the level of p24 antigen in the supernatant from the inner foreskin was slightly higher than that from the outer foreskin, although this difference was not significant. The present study is the first to employ both CCR5 and α4β7 to identify HIV target cells in the foreskin. Our data demonstrated that the inner foreskin was more enriched with HIV target immune cells than the outer foreskin, and this tissue was structured for efficient communication among immune cells that may promote HIV transmission and replication. In addition, our data suggests the R5-tropism of HIV sexual transmission is likely shaped through the inherent receptor composition on HIV target cells in the mucosa.

miR-24 and miR-205 expression is dependent on HPV onco-protein expression in keratinocytes

A screen of microRNA (miRNA) expression following differentiation in human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) identified changes in several miRNAs, including miR-24 and miR-205. We investigated how expression of Human Papilloma Virus Type-16 (HPV16) onco-proteins E6 and E7 affected expression of miR-24 and miR-205 during proliferation and differentiation of HFKs. We show that the induction of both miR-24 and miR-205 observed during differentiation of HFKs is lost in HFKs expressing E6 and E7. We demonstrate that the effect on miR-205 is due to E7 activity, as miR-205 expression is dependent on pRb expression. Finally, we provide evidence that miR-24 effects in the cell may be due to targeting of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p27. In summary, these results indicate that expression of both miR-24 and miR-205 are impacted by E6 and/or E7 expression, which may be one mechanism by which HPV onco-proteins can disrupt the balance between proliferation and differentiation in keratinocytes.

Human keratinocyte cultures in the investigation of early steps of human papillomavirus infection

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are non-enveloped DNA viruses that are highly tropic for mucosal and cutaneous epithelia. The HPV life cycle is tightly linked to epithelial cell differentiation, where HPVs only infect the basal proliferating keratinocytes, and progeny virus assembly and release only occurs in differentiated upper-layer keratinocytes. Therefore, human keratinocyte monolayer cultures provide a useful model to study the early stages of HPV infection. However, previous reports have shown some conflicting results of virus-host interactions during HPV entry, which may be partly attributable to the different cell culture models used to examine these steps of HPV infection. Thus, there is a need to have a standardized in vitro model system to study virus-host interactions during HPV entry. Here, we describe the three most widely accepted keratinocyte models for studying HPV infection: primary human foreskin keratinocytes, normal immortalized keratinocytes, and transformed HaCaT keratinocytes. We also describe methods to genetically manipulate these cells, enabling the study of candidate host genes that may be important during HPV infection. Lastly, we outline simple and robust methods to assay HPV infectivity, which can be used to determine whether knockdown or overexpression of a particular gene affects HPV entry.

Curcumin inhibits UVB-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1/3 expression by suppressing the MAPK-p38/JNK pathways in human dermal fibroblasts

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a polyphenol derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), which is commonly used as a spice. Recent studies have shown that curcumin has a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic activities. However, the antiphotoageing effects of curcumin have yet to be characterized. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-3 expression in human dermal fibroblast cells. Western blot analysis revealed that curcumin inhibited ultraviolet (UV) B-induced MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression. Furthermore, curcumin significantly blocked UVB-induced reactive oxygen species generation in fibroblasts. Curcumin treatment significantly blocked the UVB-induced activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and activator protein (AP)-1. Additionally, curcumin strongly repressed the UVB-induced phosphorylation of p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Curcumin prevented UVB-induced MMP expression through mitogen-activated protein kinase/NF-κB inhibition and AP-1 activation. In conclusion, curcumin may be useful for preventing and treating skin photoageing.

[Establishment of feeder-free culture system of human parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a safe, effective, and economic feeder'-free culture system which is suitable for the culture of human parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (hPESCs) in vitro.

METHODS

hPESCs were cultured with mTeSR 1 medium (control group) and human foreskin fibroblasts-conditional medium (hFFs-CM) (experimental group). The growth status of hPESCs in both feeder-free culture systems were observed with inverted microscope. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) analysis and karyotype analysis were used to study the biological characteristics of hPESCs. The expression of hPESCs pluripotent marker Oct-4 was analyzed by RT-PCR. Differentiation experiment in vivo and in vitro was applied to observe the differentiation potential of hPESCs into three germ layers.

RESULTS

hPESCs had regular morphology with difficulty in differentiation in both culture systems. No obvious difference was observed in morphology and expansion speed of hPESCs between 2 groups. After subcultured for 15 passages in vitro, hPESCs in 2 groups could maintain normal female diploid karyotype 46, XX and pluripotency. The expression of Oct-4 mRNA was positive in 2 groups. hPESCs in 2 groups could form embryonic body in differentiation experiment in vitro and could develop into teratomas containing three germ layers in nude mice.

CONCLUSION

Feeder-free culture system of hFFs-CM can sustain the growth of hPESCs and keep hPESCs undifferentiated state for long. A feeder-free culture system of hPESCs is successfully established, which can support the growth of hPESCs, reduce the contamination from animals, decrease the cost of culture, and satisfy the clinical large-scale application.