Affinity purification of human plasma fibronectin on immobilized gelatin

pVHL function is essential for endothelial extracellular matrix deposition

The tumor suppressor von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL) is critical for cellular molecular oxygen sensing, acting to target degradation of the hypoxia-inducible factor alpha transcription factor subunits under normoxic conditions. We have found that independent of its function in regulating hypoxic response, the VHL gene plays a critical role in embryonic endothelium development through regulation of vascular extracellular matrix assembly. We created mice lacking the VHL gene in endothelial cells; these conditional null mice died at the same stage as homozygous VHL-null mice, with similar vascular developmental defects. These included defective vasculogenesis in the placental labyrinth, a collapsed endocardium, and impaired vessel network patterning. The defects in embryonic vascularization were correlated with a diminished vascular fibronectin deposition in vivo and defective endothelial extracellular fibronectin assembly in vitro. We found that the impaired migration and adhesion of VHL-null endothelial cells can be partially rescued by the addition of back exogenous fibronectin, which indicates that pVHL regulation of fibronectin deposition plays an important functional role in vascular patterning and maintenance of vascular integrity.

Bi-phasic activation of eNOS in response to uni-axial cyclic stretch is mediated by differential mechanisms in BAECs

We investigated the signaling mechanism of stretch-induced NO (Nitric oxide) production in bovine arterial endothelial cells (BAECs). BAECs cultured on an elastic silicone chamber coated with fibronectin were subjected to uni-axial cyclic stretch (1 Hz, 20% in length) and the amount of produced NO was measured by a cGMP assay. NO production increased in a bi-phasic manner and peaked at 5 min and 20 min after stretch onset. Correspondingly, the activities of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and Akt/PKB (measured by phosphorylation at serine 1,177 and serine 473, respectively), showed two peaks over time. Application of Gd(3+), a potent SA channel blocker, and depletion of external Ca(2+) exclusively inhibited the first peaks of eNOS and Akt activity, but exerted little effect on the second peak. On the other hand, the PI3K inhibitors, Wortmannin, LY294002, almost completely inhibited the second peak but not the first. These results suggest that up-regulation of eNOS in response to cyclic stretch was mediated by two distinct pathways, [Ca(2+)](i) increases via the SA channel in an early phase (partially Akt/PKB), and PI3K-Akt/PKB pathways in a late phase.

Involvement of reactive oxygen species in cyclic stretch-induced NF-kappaB activation in human fibroblast cells

1 Uniaxial cyclic stretch leads to an upregulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 through increases in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration via the stretch-activated (SA) channel and following nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation in human fibroblasts. However, the signaling mechanism as to how the elevated Ca(2+) activates NF-kappaB is unknown. In this study, we examined the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as an intermediate signal, which links the elevated Ca(2+) with NF-kappaB activation. 2 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) was produced and modified IkappaB peaking at 2 min. The phosphorylation of IkappaB peaked at 8 min. HNE modification and IkappaB phosphorylation, NF-kappaB translocation to the nucleus, and following COX-2 production were inhibited by extracellular Ca(2+) removal or Gd(3+) application, as well as by the antioxidants. The stretch-induced Ca(2+) increase was inhibited by extracellular Ca(2+) removal, or Gd(3+) application. 3 IkappaB kinase (IKK) activity peaked at 4 min, which was inhibited by extracellular Ca(2+) removal, Gd(3+) or the antioxidants. IKK was also HNE-modified and, similarly to IkappaB, peaked at 2 min. IKK under static conditions was activated by exogenously applied HNE at a relatively low dose (1 microM), while it was inhibited at higher concentrations, suggesting that HNE could be one of the candidate signals in the stretch-induced NF-kappaB activation. 4 The present study suggests that the NF-kappaB activation by cyclic stretch is mediated by the following signal cascade: SA channel activation --> intracellular Ca(2+) increase --> production of ROS --> activation of IKK --> phosphorylation of IkappaB --> NF-kappaB translocation to the nucleus.

Mechanotransduction by integrin is essential for IL-6 secretion from endothelial cells in response to uniaxial continuous stretch

We previously reported that uniaxial continuous stretch in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion via IkappaB kinase (IKK)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation. The aim of the present study was to clarify the upstream signaling mechanism responsible for this phenomenon. Stretch-induced IKK activation and IL-6 secretion were inhibited by application of alpha(5)beta(1) integrin-inhibitory peptide (GRGDNP), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor (LY-294002), phospholipase C-gamma inhibitor (U-73122), or protein kinase C inhibitor (H7). Although depletion of intra- or extracellular Ca(2+) pool using thapsigargin (TG) or EGTA, respectively, showed little effect, a TG-EGTA mixture significantly inhibited stretch-induced IKK activation and IL-6 secretion. An increase in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) upon continuous stretch was observed even in the presence of TG, EGTA, or GRGDNP, but not in a solution containing the TG-EGTA mixture, indicating that both integrin activation and [Ca(2+)](i) rise are crucial factors for stretch-induced IKK activation and after IL-6 secretion in HUVECs. Furthermore, while PKC activity was inhibited by the TG-EGTA mixture, GRGDNP, LY-294002, or U-73122, PLC-gamma activity was retarded by GRGDNP or LY-294002. These results indicate that continuous stretch-induced IL-6 secretion in HUVECs depends on outside-in signaling via integrins followed by a PI3-K-PLC-gamma-PKC-IKK-NF-kappaB signaling cascade. Another crucial factor, [Ca(2+)](i) increase, may at least be required to activate PKC needed for NF-kappaB activation.

Fibronectin purification from human plasma in a packed-bed column system with gelatin immobilized PHEMA microspheres

Bioaffinity chromatography has a unique and powerful role that is used as a purification tool in the production of therapeutic plasma protein derivatives. In this study, a bioaffinity-ligand, i.e. gelatin, was covalently immobilized with PHEMA microspheres (150-200 microm in diameter). The affinity sorbent carrying 7.5 mg gelatin g(-1) polymer was then used to separate fibronectin from human plasma in a packed-bed column system. Fibronectin separation from human plasma on unmodified PHEMA microspheres was 0.45 mg g(-1), while much higher adsorption values, up to 21.8 mg g(-1), were obtained with gelatin-immobilized microspheres. The fibronectin adsorption capacity of the microspheres decreased with an increase in the recirculation rate of plasma. Fibronectin adsorption increased with decreasing temperature, and the maximum adsorption achieved at 4 degrees C (26.3 mg fibronectin g(-1)). Up to 94.7% of the adsorbed fibronectin was desorbed by using 2 M urea in the presence of 1 M sodium chloride as elution agent. The adsorption-desorption cycle was repeated ten times using the same affinity column. There was no remarkable reduction in the adsorption capacity of the gelatin-immobilized PHEMA microspheres.

Uni-axial cyclic stretch induces the activation of transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB in human fibroblast cells

The effect of uni-axial cyclic mechanical stretch on the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) was investigated in a human fibroblast cell line (TIG-1). In response to uni-axial cyclic stretch, NF-kappaB was found to be translocated into the nucleus. The NF-kappaB was first detectable 2 min after the onset of stretch and then peaked at 4 min and returned to the basal level within 10 min. To investigate whether NF-kappaB is activated following the translocation into the nucleus, we measured the luciferase activity in the cells transfected with pNF-kappaB-luciferase. The activity of luciferase increased 4 min after the initiation of cyclic stretch, peaked at 15 min (6.4-fold increase), and decreased gradually. We examined the involvement of the stretch-activated (SA) channel in the stretch-induced NF-kappaB activation. The application of Gd3+, a blocker of the SA channel, or the removal of extracellular Ca2+ inhibited both the translocation into the nucleus and the activation of NF-kB, which suggests that NF-kappaB is activated by uni-axial cyclic stretch via SA channel activation in human lung fibroblasts.

Uniaxial cyclic stretch induces focal adhesion kinase (FAK) tyrosine phosphorylation followed by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation

We investigated the role of tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK in the stretch-induced MAPKs (extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38MAPK) activation in mutant FAK-transfected fibroblasts. In response to uniaxial cyclic stretch (1 Hz, 120% in length), the levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of the Tyr-397 and Tyr-925 of FAK in control cells increased and peaked at 5 min (2.75 +/- 0.51, n = 3), and 20 min (2.98 +/- 0.58, n = 3), respectively, and the activities of MAPKs increased and peaked at approximately 10 min. On the other hand, in the mutant FAK-transfected cells, the stretch-induced MAPKs activation was significantly inhibited. The stretch-induced activation of MAPKs was also significantly abolished by either treatment with Gd(3+) or extracellular Ca(2+) removal which may inhibit intracellular Ca(2+) increase caused by the activation of cation selective (Ca(2+)-permeable) stretch activated (SACatC) channels. These results suggest that the stretch-induced tyrosine-phosphorylation of FAK via SACatC activation is critical for the stretch-induced MAPKs activation.

Endothelial cell DNA transfer and expression using petri dish electroporation and the nonreplicating vaccinia virus/T7 RNA polymerase hybrid system

The nonreplicating vaccinia virus MVA/T7 RNA polymerase hybrid system was tested with Petri dish electroporation for ectopic gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). A range of voltages (150-450 V), pulse times (10-40 ms), DNA concentrations (0-20 microg/ml) and infection levels (0-15 multiplicities of infection) were tested for effects on T7 promoter-directed chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity after MVA/T7RP infection. MVA/T7RP-directed expression was transient and at least 10 000-fold in excess of nonviral, cytomegalovirus enhancer-directed expression. Use of a Petri dish electrode with the MVA/T7RP system showed increased viability compared with a cuvette electrode. Overexpression of interleukin-2 alpha subunit (IL2Ralpha) pro- tein followed by anti-IL2Ralpha-directed magnetic immunoaffinity cell sorting allowed isolation of the transfected population. The high fidelity of cellular sorting was shown by segregation of CAT activity in the IL2Ralpha-sorted population after transfection of T7 promoter-directed bicistronic IL2Ralpha/CAT DNA. Expression of a panel of proteins including the fluorophore green fluorescent protein as detected by fluorescence microscopy and p21cip1, p27kip1, pp60c-src, FGF-1, pRb, p107 and pRb2/p130 proteins was also achieved. Thus, use of the nonreplicating vaccinia virus/T7 RNA polymerase expression system with Petri dish electroporation is feasible for certain applications for the manipulation of HUVECs by gene transfer.

Activation of pp60(src) is critical for stretch-induced orienting response in fibroblasts

When subjected to uni-axial cyclic stretch (120% in length, 1 Hz), fibroblasts (3Y1) aligned perpendicular to the stretch axis in a couple of hours. Concomitantly with this orienting response, protein tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins (molecular masses of approximately 70 kDa and 120–130 kDa) increased and peaked at 30 minutes. Immuno-precipitation experiments revealed that paxillin, pp125(FAK), and pp130(CAS) were included in the 70 kDa, and 120–130 kDa bands, respectively. Treatment of the cells with herbimycin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, suppressed the stretch induced tyrosine phosphorylation and the orienting response suggesting that certain tyrosine kinases are activated by stretch. We focused on pp60(src), the most abundant tyrosine kinase in fibroblasts. The kinase activity of pp60(src) increased and peaked at 20 minutes after the onset of cyclic stretch. Treatment of the cells with an anti-sense S-oligodeoxynucleotide (S-ODN) against pp60(src), but not the sense S-ODN, inhibited the stretch induced tyrosine phosphorylation and the orienting response. To further confirm the involvement of pp60(src), we performed the same sets of experiments using c-src-transformed 3Y1 (c-src-3Y1) fibroblasts. Cyclic stretch induced a similar orienting response in c-src-3Y1 to that in wild-type 3Y1, but with a significantly faster rate. The time course of the stretch-induced tyrosine phosphorylation was also much faster in c-src-3Y1 than in 3Y1 fibroblasts. These results strongly suggest that cyclic stretch induces the activation of pp60(src) and that pp60(src) is indispensable for the tyrosine phosphorylation of pp130(CAS), pp125(FAK) and paxillin followed by the orienting response in 3Y1 fibroblasts.

Uni-axial cyclic stretch induces c-src activation and translocation in human endothelial cells via SA channel activation

The kinase activity of c-src increased and peaked at 15 min after an application of uni-axial cyclic stretch in HUVECs followed by a translocation of c-src to Triton-insoluble fraction. Suppression of c-src by an antisense S-oligodeoxynucleotide inhibited the stretch-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and morphological changes. The stretch-induced increase in c-src activity was inhibited by FK506, a specific inhibitor for calcineurin, by Gd3+, a blocker for stretch activated channels, and by the extracellular Ca2+ depletion suggesting the involvement of SA channels. These results strongly suggest c-src plays an important role in the downstream of SA channel activation followed by the morphological changes.

Distinct mechanisms of epithelial adhesion for Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Identification of the participating ligands and development of inhibitory peptides

The yeast Candida albicans is the leading cause of disseminated fungal infection in neonates, immunocompromised hosts, diabetics, and postoperative patients; Candida tropicalis is the second most frequent isolate. Because the integrin analogue in C. albicans shares antigenic, structural, and functional homologies with the beta 2-integrin subunits alpha M and alpha X, we investigated the role of integrin analogues in epithelial adhesion of C. albicans and C. tropicalis. On flow cytometry with the monoclonal antibody (mAb) OKM1, surface fluorescence was highest for C. albicans and significantly reduced for C. tropicalis (P < 0.001). However, adhesion to the human epithelial cell line HeLa S3 did not differ for these two candidal species: specific adhesion was highest for C. albicans at 44.0 +/- 1.8%, and only slightly lower for C. tropicalis at 38.8 +/- 3.6% (P = NS). The disparity between expression of the integrin analogue and epithelial adhesion suggested distinct mechanisms for this process in C. albicans versus C. tropicalis. Preincubation of C. albicans with anti-alpha M mAbs, with purified iC3b (the RGD ligand for the integrin analogue), or with 9-15-mer RGD peptides from iC3b all inhibited epithelial adhesion significantly (P < 0.001-0.04). Purified fibronectin or fibronectin-RGD peptides failed to block C. albicans adhesion. In contrast, epithelial adhesion of C. tropicalis was significantly inhibited by purified fibronectin and its RGD peptides (P < or = 0.021), but not by iC3b nor the iC3b-RGD peptides. Both iC3b and fibronectin were identified on the surface of epithelial cells after growth in serum-free medium. A polyclonal antibody to C3 inhibited C. albicans adhesion while a control antibody to fibronectin was ineffective; the converse was true for C. tropicalis. These results indicate that the pathogenic yeasts C. albicans and C. tropicalis recognize distinct RGD ligands present at the surface of the epithelial cell and that these interactions can be differentially inhibited by defined RGD peptides containing appropriate flanking sequences.

Affinity-based separations and purifications. Patents and literature

The separation and purification of biologically functional molecules (e.g., proteins, antibodies, peptides, hormones, low molecular weight biologicals) is of fundamental importance to biotechnology. Affinity separations have become a particularly attractive method for bioseparations due to their high degree of selectivity. Numerous affinity ligands have been prepared in recent years including lectins, nucleic acids, inhibitors, and immunoresponse agents. Furthermore, a variety of novel supports have been synthesized to aid in the development of commercially useful affinity separation systems. Recent US patents and scientific literature on affinity separations and purifications are surveyed. Patent abstracts are summarized individually and a list of literature references are given.

[Human plasma fibronectin. Comparison of methods for preparation of a concentrate for therapeutic use from different sources]

Three methods, successive precipitations, affinity chromatography on immobilized gelatin and immunoaffinity chromatography with monoclonal anti-fibronectin antibodies were optimized and compared in order to be used for large scale preparation of human plasma fibronectin (Fn). The functional properties of the various Fn preparations were investigated by means of two assays: quantitation of the gelatin-binding activity by ELISA and quantitation of the Fn-mediated attachment of fibroblasts on plastic. Functional alterations of the purified Fn were observed when it was isolated by successive precipitations. Both chromatographic methods provide a rapid and convenient way for isolation of pure and functional Fn. Mass production of monoclonal antibodies is too expensive and legislative requirements for the therapeutic use of monoclonal antibodies are limiting factors for the choice of immunopurification as large scale isolation procedure. Plasma Fn can be isolated from different sources: fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate supernatant or by-products from factor VIII preparation. When gelatin-Sepharose chromatography is performed under optimized conditions, fibronectins isolated from these sources show similar properties. Large scale purifications of Fn from a by-product of factor VIII preparation were performed either by gelatin affinity chromatography or by successive precipitations. These two purification methods can be easily scaled-up since the data obtained closely correlate with analytical results. The chromatographic method supplies a higher purified (98 vs 75%) and functional (95 vs 50%) material when compared with successive precipitations. Yield is also higher (50 vs 26%). The starting material undergoes viral inactivation and the affinity purified Fn, sterile, atoxic, apyrogen, which can be freeze-dried without additives fulfils all requirements for an injectable product.