HSG cells differentiated by culture on extracellular matrix involves induction of S-adenosylmethione decarboxylase and ornithine decarboxylase

Salivary Gland Development in Culture

Salivary glands are branching organs which develop by bud and cleft formation to create an organ with a large surface area. The epithelium and mesenchyme signal back and forth to control this branching process, with additional cues provided by the parasympathetic nerves and blood vessels that surround the developing branches. This branching morphogenesis can be recapitulated successfully in organ culture , allowing access to the tissue to follow development and manipulate the tissue interactions, and signals. To culture glands, the filter-grid method has been widely used, allowing the development of salivary glands cultured as a whole organ, or the gland epithelium in isolation, or with the surrounding craniofacial tissue in a cranial slice. Here, we describe the methods for each approach and show the applicability of culturing glands from a wide variety of species: mouse , snake, and human. The resulting samples and data from these cultures can be employed for morphological and molecular analysis, with some examples described in this chapter, bringing valuable knowledge to our understanding of branching morphogenesis.

CD29 is highly expressed on epithelial, myoepithelial, and mesenchymal stromal cells of human salivary glands

OBJECTIVE

The phenotype of the cells present in the ductal region of salivary glands has been well characterized. However, it is imperative to identify novel biomarkers that can identify different cell types present in other glandular components for the development of therapeutic strategies and diagnostics of salivary gland disorders and malignancies. Our study aimed at the characterization of the expression and distribution of various cell surface markers, especially with a focus on CD29 in human fetal as well as adult glands.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Paired human midgestation fetal and adult parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands were collected. Phenotypic expression of various lineage-specific cell surface markers including CD29 was investigated in freshly collected glands. The findings were further corroborated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Enriched expression of CD29 was found on acinar and ductal epithelial, mesenchymal stromal, and myoepithelial cells; CD29⁺ cells co-expressed epithelial (CD324, CD326, NKCC1, and CD44), mesenchymal (CD73, CD90, vimentin, and CD34), and myoepithelial (α-SMA) cell-specific progenitor markers in both fetal as well as adult salivary glands.

CONCLUSION

CD29 is widely expressed in human salivary glands, and it could serve as a potential biomarker for devising novel cellular therapeutic and diagnostic strategies for salivary gland disorders and malignancies.

Cell proliferation and differentiation during the three dimensional reconstitution of eccrine sweat glands

The aim of this study is to characterize the cell proliferation and proliferating cell types during three-dimensional reconstitution of eccrine sweat glands. Eccrine sweat gland cells suspended in Matrigel were injected subcutaneously into the inguinal regions of nude mice. At 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days post-implantation, Matrigel plugs were immunostained for Ki67, to detect cycling cells, and the Ki67 labeling index at different time points was calculated. Three pairs of antibodies, Ki67/K7, Ki67/K14 and Ki67/α-SMA, were used to identify proliferating cell types in the plugs, on days 28, 35 and 42, by immunofluorescence double staining. The Ki67 labeling index on the first day of implantation was 30.53%, rapidly reached a peak value of 81.43% at 2 days post-implantation, and then decreased gradually to a low of 2.87% at 42 days. Double immunofluorescence staining showed that K14/Ki67 double-stained cells accounted for 80% of the Ki67-positive cells, whereas K7/Ki67 and α-SMA/Ki67 double-stained cells each accounted for 10% of the Ki67-positive population on days 28, 35, or 42 post-implantation. We conclude that eccrine sweat gland cells rapidly enter the cell cycle after implantation, but quickly show decreased cell proliferation and increased cell differentiation.

Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC (Rubiaceae) Sensitizes THP-1 Cells to Radiation-induced Cell Death

Background:

Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC (Rubiaceae), known as Cat's Claw or Uña de gato, is a traditionally used medicinal plant native to Peru. Some studies have shown that U. tomentosa can act as an antiapoptotic agent and enhance DNA repair in chemotherapy-treated cells although others have shown that U. tomentosa enhanced apoptosis.

Objective:

To determine if treatment with U. tomentosa can significantly enhance cell death in THP-1 cells exposed to ionizing radiation.

Materials and Methods:

THP-1 monocyte-like cells were treated with ethanolic extracts of U. tomentosa in the presence or absence of bacterial lipopolysaccharide and then exposed to ionizing radiation. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT and clonogenic assays and the effects on cell cycle measured by flow cytometry and immunoblotting. Changes in cell signaling were determined by immunoblotting and cytokine ELISA and activation of apoptosis measured by caspase activation and DNA fragmentation analysis.

Results:

Treatment of THP-1 cells with U. tomentosa had a small effect on cell proliferation. However, when the U. tomentosa-pretreated cells were also subjected to 5–9 Gy ionizing radiation, they showed a significant decrease in cell proliferation and increased cellular apoptosis as measured by DNA fragmentation and caspase activation. Treatment with U. tomentosa also decreased the expression of Cyclin E and Cyclin B, key regulators of normal cell cycle progression, and decreased the phosphorylation of various stress-activated, cell survival proteins including p38, ERK, and SAP/JNK kinase.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that U. tomentosa could be useful in enhancing cell death following anticancer therapies including ionizing radiation.

SUMMARY

Treatment of THP-1 cells with Uncaria tomentosa increases their susceptibility to X-rays. The combination of Uncaria tomentosa and X-ray exposure strongly inhibits cell signaling and promotes apoptosis.

Abbreviations Used: LPS: Lipopolysaccharide, TNF: Tumor necrosis factor: IL-1, Interleukin-1: SDS: Sodium dodecylsulphate, TBS: Tris-buffered saline.

Inhibition of cancer cell growth by exposure to a specific time-varying electromagnetic field involves T-type calcium channels

Electromagnetic field (EMF) exposures affect many biological systems. The reproducibility of these effects is related to the intensity, duration, frequency, and pattern of the EMF. We have shown that exposure to a specific time-varying EMF can inhibit the growth of malignant cells. Thomas-EMF is a low-intensity, frequency-modulated (25-6 Hz) EMF pattern. Daily, 1 h, exposures to Thomas-EMF inhibited the growth of malignant cell lines including B16-BL6, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and HeLa cells but did not affect the growth of non-malignant cells. Thomas-EMF also inhibited B16-BL6 cell proliferation in vivo. B16-BL6 cells implanted in syngeneic C57b mice and exposed daily to Thomas-EMF produced smaller tumours than in sham-treated controls. In vitro studies showed that exposure of malignant cells to Thomas-EMF for > 15 min promoted Ca(2+) influx which could be blocked by inhibitors of voltage-gated T-type Ca(2+) channels. Blocking Ca(2+) uptake also blocked Thomas-EMF-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. Exposure to Thomas-EMF delayed cell cycle progression and altered cyclin expression consistent with the decrease in cell proliferation. Non-malignant cells did not show any EMF-dependent changes in Ca(2+) influx or cell growth. These data confirm that exposure to a specific EMF pattern can affect cellular processes and that exposure to Thomas-EMF may provide a potential anti-cancer therapy.

Establishment of functional acinar-like cultures from human salivary glands

Disorders of human salivary glands resulting from therapeutic radiation treatment for head and neck cancers or from the autoimmune disease Sjögren syndrome (SS) frequently result in the reduction or complete loss of saliva secretion. Such irreversible dysfunction of the salivary glands is due to the impairment of acinar cells, the major glandular cells of protein, salt secretion, and fluid movement. Availability of primary epithelial cells from human salivary gland tissue is critical for studying the underlying mechanisms of these irreversible disorders. We applied 2 culture system techniques on human minor salivary gland epithelial cells (phmSG) and optimized the growth conditions to achieve the maintenance of phmSG in an acinar-like phenotype. These phmSG cells exhibited progenitor cell markers (keratin 5 and nanog) as well as acinar-specific markers-namely, α-amylase, cystatin C, TMEM16A, and NKCC1. Importantly, with an increase of the calcium concentration in the growth medium, these phmSG cells were further promoted to acinar-like cells in vitro, as indicated by an increase in AQP5 expression. In addition, these phmSG cells also demonstrated functional calcium mobilization, formation of epithelial monolayer with high transepithelial electrical resistance (TER), and polarized secretion of α-amylase secretion after β-adrenergic receptor stimulation. Taken together, suitable growth conditions have been established to isolate and support culture of acinar-like cells from the human salivary gland. These primary epithelial cells can be useful for study of molecular mechanisms involved in regulating the function of acinar cells and in the loss of salivary gland function in patients.

Keratin-6 driven ODC expression to hair follicle keratinocytes enhances stemness and tumorigenesis by negatively regulating Notch

Over-expression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is known to be involved in the epidermal carcinogenesis. However, the mechanism by which it enhances skin carcinogenesis remains undefined. Recently, role of stem cells localized in various epidermal compartments has been shown in the pathogenesis of skin cancer. To direct ODC expression in distinct epidermal compartments, we have developed keratin 6 (K6)-ODC/SKH-1 and keratin 14 (K14)-ODC/SKH-1 mice and employed them to investigate the role of ODC directed to these epidermal compartments on UVB-induced carcinogenesis. K6-driven ODC over-expression directed to outer root sheath (ORS) of hair follicle was more effective in augmenting tumorigenesis as compared to mice where K14-driven ODC expression was directed to inter-follicular epidermal keratinocytes. Chronically UVB-irradiated K6-ODC/SKH-1 developed 15±2.5 tumors/mouse whereas K14-ODC/SKH-1 developed only 6.8±1.5 tumors/mouse. K6-ODC/SKH-1 showed augmented UVB-induced proliferation and much higher pro-inflammatory responses than K14-ODC/SKH-1 mice. Tumors induced in K6-ODC/SKH-1 were rapidly growing, invasive and ulcerative squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) showing decreased expression of epidermal polarity marker E-cadherin and enhanced mesenchymal marker, fibronectin. Interestingly, the number of CD34/CK15/p63 positive stem-like cells was significantly higher in chronically UVB-irradiated K6-ODC/SKH-1 as compared to K14-ODC/SKH-1 mice. Reduced Notch1 expression was correlated with the expansion of stem cell compartment in these animals. However, other signaling pathways such as DNA damage response or mTOR signaling pathways were not significantly different in tumors induced in these two murine models suggesting the specificity of Notch pathway in this regard. These data provide a novel role of ODC in augmenting tumorigenesis via negatively regulated Notch-mediated expansion of stem cell compartment.

Quantitative analysis of protein and gene expression in salivary glands of Sjogren's-like disease NOD mice treated by bone marrow soup

Background

Bone marrow cell extract (termed as BM Soup) has been demonstrated to repair irradiated salivary glands (SGs) and restore saliva secretion in our previous study. In the present study, we aim to investigate if the function of damaged SGs in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice can be restored by BM Soup treatment and the molecular alterations associated with the treatment.

Methods

Whole BM cells were lysed and soluble intracellular contents (“BM Soup”) were injected I.V. into NOD mice. Tandem mass tagging with 2-D liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to quantify proteins in the submandibular glands (SMGs) between untreated and BM Soup-treated mice. Quantitative PCR was used to identify genes with altered expression in the treated mice.

Results BM Soup

restored salivary flow rates to normal levels and significantly reduced the focus scores of SMGs in NOD mice. More than 1800 proteins in SMG cells were quantified by the proteomic approach. Many SMG proteins involved in inflammation and apoptosis were found to be down-regulated whereas those involved in salivary gland biology and development/regeneration were up-regulated in the BM Soup-treated mice. qPCR analysis also revealed expression changes of growth factors and cytokines in the SMGs of the treated NOD mice.

Conclusion

BM Soup treatment is effective to restore the function of damaged SGs in NOD mice. Through gene/protein expression analysis, we have found that BM Soup treatment might effectuate via inhibiting apoptosis, focal adhesion and inflammation whereas promoting development, regeneration and differentiation of the SG cells in NOD mice. These findings provide important insights on the potential mechanisms underlying the BM Soup treatment for functional restoration of damaged SGs in NOD mice. Additional studies are needed to further confirm the identified target genes and their related signaling pathways that are responsible for the BM Soup treatment.

Caffeine increases the expression of cystatin SN in human submandibular acinar-like HSG cells

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed at evaluating in vitro the effect of caffeine on expression of cystatin SN, a potential marker of sensitivity to bitterness in humans.

METHODS

Differentiation of human submandibular gland (HSG) cells was induced by culturing cells on Matrigel. Caffeine cytotoxicity was assessed over 3 days by the Resazurin test. Finally, effects of 5, 50 and 100μM caffeine exposure on cystatin SN expression were explored over 3 days by ELISA.

RESULTS

At concentrations relevant to human adult plasma levels (5, 50 and 100μM), caffeine did not affect cell viability whether cells were differentiated or not. Cystatin SN levels were overall higher in differentiated cells and increased with time in both conditions. There was a significant (p<0.001) effect of caffeine on cystatin SN expression specifically in differentiated cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The HSG cell line proved to be a relevant tool to study in vitro the effect of caffeine at concentrations consistent with dietary intake in human subjects. The results suggest that salivary cystatin SN abundance may depend on caffeine intake, with possible consequences on taste sensitivity.

Growth factors polymerized within fibrin hydrogel promote amylase production in parotid cells

Salivary gland cell differentiation has been a recurring challenge for researchers as primary salivary cells show a loss of phenotype in culture. Particularly, parotid cells show a marked decrease in amylase expression, the loss of tight junction organization and proper cell function. Previously, Matrigel has been used successfully as an extracellular matrix; however, it is not practical for in vivo applications as it is tumorigenic. An alternative method could rely on the use of fibrin hydrogel (FH), which has been used extensively in biomedical engineering applications ranging from cardiovascular tissue engineering to wound-healing experiments. Although several groups have examined the effects of a three-dimensional (3D) environment on salivary cell cultures, little is known about the effects of FH on salivary cell cultures. The current study developed a 3D cell culture model to support parotid gland cell differentiation using a combination of FH and growth factor-reduced Matrigel (GFR-MG). Furthermore, FH polymerized with a combination of EGF and IGF-1 induced formation of 3D spheroids capable of amylase expression and an agonist-induced increase in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) in salivary cells. These studies represent an initial step toward the construction of an artificial salivary gland to restore salivary gland dysfunction. This is necessary to reduce xerostomia in patients with compromised salivary function.

Mammalian polyamine metabolism and function

Polyamines are ubiquitous small basic molecules that play multiple essential roles in mammalian physiology. Their cellular content is highly regulated and there is convincing evidence that altered metabolism is involvement in many disease states. Drugs altering polyamine levels may therefore have a variety of important targets. This review will summarize the current state of understanding of polyamine metabolism and function, the regulation of polyamine content, and heritable pathological conditions that may be derived from altered polyamine metabolism.

Differentiation of primary human submandibular gland cells cultured on basement membrane extract

There is no effective treatment for the loss of functional salivary tissue after irradiation for head and neck cancer or the autoimmune disease Sjögren's syndrome. One possible approach is the regeneration of salivary glands from stem cells. The present study aimed to investigate whether small pieces of human submandiblar gland tissue contain elements necessary for the reconstruction of salivary rudiments in vitro via acinar and ductal cell differentiation. Primary submandibular gland (primary total human salivary gland; PTHSG) cells were isolated from human tissue and cultured in vitro using a new method in which single cells form an expanding epithelial monolayer on plastic substrates. Differentiation, morphology, number, and organization of these cells were then followed on basement membrane extract (BME) using RNA quantitation (amylase, claudin-1 (CLN1), CLN3, kallikrein, vimentin), immunohistochemistry (amylase and occludin), viability assay, and videomicroscopy. On the surface of BME, PTHSG cells formed acinotubular structures within 24 h, did not proliferate, and stained for amylase. In cultures derived from half of the donors, the acinar markers amylase and CLN3 were upregulated. The PTHSG culture model suggests that human salivary gland may be capable of regeneration via reorganization and differentiation and that basement membrane components play a crucial role in the morphological and functional differentiation of salivary cells.

Inhibition of Src and p38 MAP kinases suppresses the change of claudin expression induced on dedifferentiation of primary cultured parotid acinar cells

Sjögren's syndrome and therapeutic radiation for head and neck cancers result in irreversible changes in the parenchyma of salivary glands, loss of acinar cells, prominence of duct cells, and fibrosis. To clarify mechanisms of salivary gland dysfunction, we identified a signaling pathway involved in the dedifferentiation of primary cultures of parotid acinar cells. We reported previously that the expression pattern of claudins changes during culture, is related to the three-dimensional organization of the cells, and reflects their ability to function as acinar cells. In this study, we found that this change of claudin expression is a process of dedifferentiation, because expression of other differentiation markers also changes during culture. The expression levels of claudins-4 and -6, cytokeratin 14, and vimentin are increased, and those of claudin-10, aquaporin 5, and amylase are decreased. Inhibitors of Src and p38 MAP kinases suppress these changes and increase the expression of acinar marker proteins. Differences in extracellular matrix components have no effect. Activation of p38 MAP kinase occurs during cell isolation from the parotid glands and is retained up to 6 h after the isolation. In contrast, activation of Src kinases does not increase during the cell isolation. The Src inhibitor PP1 suppresses the activation of p38 MAP kinase. Therefore, cellular stresses induced during cell isolation cause dedifferentiation and transition to duct-like cells through activation of p38 MAP kinase and constitutively active Src kinases.

Expression profiles of the genes associated with metabolism and transport of amino acids and their derivatives in rat liver regeneration

Amino acids (AA) are components of protein and precursors of many important biological molecules. To address effects of the genes associated with metabolism and transport of AA and their derivatives during rat liver regeneration (LR), we firstly obtained the above genes by collecting databases data and retrieving related thesis, and then analyzed their expression profiles during LR using Rat Genome 230 2.0 array. The LR-associated genes were identified by comparing the gene expression difference between partial hepatectomy (PH) and sham-operation (SO) rat livers. It was approved that 134 genes associated with metabolism of AA and their derivatives and 26 genes involved in transport of them were LR-associated. The initially and totally expressing number of these genes occurring in initial phase of LR (0.5-4 h after PH), G0/G1 (4-6 h after PH), cell proliferation (6-66 h after PH), cell differentiation and structure-function reconstruction of liver tissue (72-168 h after PH) were respectively 76, 17, 79, 5 and 162, 89, 564, 195, illustrating that these LR-associated genes were initially expressed mainly in initial stage, and functioned in different phases. Frequencies of up-regulation and down-regulation of them being separately 564 and 357 demonstrated that genes up-regulated outnumbered those down-regulated. Categorization of their expression patterns into 22 types implied the diversity of cell physiological and biochemical activities. According to expression changes and patterns of the above-mentioned genes in LR, it was presumed that histidine biosynthesis in the metaphase and anaphase, valine metabolism in the anaphase, and metabolism of glutamate, glutamine, asparate, asparagine, methionine, alanine, leucine and aromatic amino acid almost were enhanced in the whole LR; as for amino acid derivatives, transport of neutral amino acids, urea, gamma-aminobutyric acid, betaine and taurine, metabolism of dopamine, heme, S-adenosylmethionine, thyroxine, and biosynthesis of hydroxyproline, nitric oxide, orinithine, polyamine, carnitine, selenocysteine were augmented during the entire liver restoration. Above results showed that metabolism and transport of AA and their derivates were necessary in liver regeneration.

Morphological and functional differentiation of HSG cells: role of extracellular matrix and trpc 1

A human salivary intercalated duct cell line (HSG) is capable of morphological change to acinar-type cells, and of salivary amylase (AMY1) expression, by culturing on basement membrane extracts (BME). The aim of this study was to determine the critical conditions for functional and morphological differentiation of HSG cells and to establish if the processes are related. Cells were grown on BMEs that had different protein concentrations and growth factor content, and then examined with respect to morphology and AMY1 expression. To investigate the role of intracellular calcium in amylase expression, a pcDNA3.1-TRPC1alpha construct was used to overexpress htrp1alpha, which mediates the store-operated calcium entry in HSG cells. Expression of the AMY1, TRPC1alpha and beta genes was quantified by means of real time RT-PCR. Growth factor-reduced BME (12.8 mg/ml) induced multicellular acinar structures with lumen formation but without stimulation of either AMY1 or TRPC1. HSG cells cultured on higher concentration BME (17.5 or 16.4 mg/ml) formed reticular networks. AMY1 expression increased both on growth factor-reduced BME (17.5 mg/ml: 3.0-fold, P < 0.001) and on regular BME (16.4 mg/ml: 3.7-fold, P < 0.001) accompanied by a slight increase in expression of TRPC1alpha and TRPC1beta. Overexpression of htrp1alpha did not cause any significant changes in AMY expression, though it attenuated the BME (17.5 mg/ml)-induced AMY1 upregulation. Overall, the higher protein concentration BME favors amylase expression in HSG cells, whereas the lower concentration causes marked morphological changes.

Differences in claudin synthesis in primary cultures of acinar cells from rat salivary gland are correlated with the specific three-dimensional organization of the cells

Tight junctions are essential for the maintenance of epithelial cell polarity. We have previously established a system for the primary culture of salivary parotid acinar cells that retain their ability to generate new secretory granules and to secrete proteins in a signal-dependent manner. Because cell polarity and cell-cell adhesion are prerequisites for the formation of epithelial tissues, we have investigated the structure of the tight junctions in these cultures. We have found two types of cellular organization in the culture: monolayers and semi-spherical clusters. Electron microscopy has revealed tight junctions near the apical region of the lateral membranes between cells in the monolayers and cells at the surface of the clusters. The cells in the interior of the clusters also have tight junctions and are organized around a central lumen. These interior cells retain more secretory granules than the surface or monolayer cells, suggesting that they maintain their original character as acinar cells. The synthesis of claudin-4 increases during culture, although it is not detectable in the cells immediately after isolation from the glands. Immunofluorescence microscopy has shown that claudin-4 is synthesized in the monolayers and at the surface of the clusters, but not inside the clusters. Only claudin-3, which is present in the original acinar cells following isolation and in the intact gland, has been detected inside the clusters. These results suggest that differences in claudin expression are related to the three-dimensional structures of the cell cultures and reflect their ability to function as acinar cells.

Matrigel-induced acinar differentiation is followed by apoptosis in HSG cells

It has been shown that a human salivary gland cell line (HSG) is capable of differentiation into gland-like structures, though little is known of how morphological features are formed or controlled. Here we investigated the changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis upon terminal differentiation of HSG cells in Matrigel, an extracellular matrix derivative. Changes in the expression of survivin, a prominent anti-apoptotic factor, and caspase-3, a key apoptotic factor were also measured. In order to better understand the involvement of key signal transduction pathways in this system we pharmacologically blocked the activity of tyrosine kinase, nuclear factor kappa B(NF kappa B), protein kinase C (PKC), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and matrix metalloproteases (MMP). Results of these studies demonstrate that cytodifferentiation of HSG cells to an acinar phenotype is accompanied first by a decrease of cell proliferation and then by a massive programmed cell death, affected by multiple signal transduction pathways. Thus, Matrigel alone is insufficient for the full maturation and long term survival of the newly formed acini: the presence of other factors is necessary to complete the acinar differentiation of HSG cells.