Cell adhesion in morphogenesis

Cell adhesion marker expression dynamics during fusion of the optic fissure

Tissue fusion is a critical process that is repeated in multiple contexts during embryonic development and shares common attributes to processes such as wound healing and metastasis. Ocular coloboma is a developmental eye disorder that presents as a physical gap in the ventral eye, and is a major cause of childhood blindness. Coloboma results from fusion failure between opposing ventral retinal epithelia, but there are major knowledge gaps in our understanding of this process at the molecular and cell behavioural levels. Here we catalogue the expression of cell adhesion proteins: N-cadherin, E-cadherin, R-cadherin, ZO-1, and the EMT transcriptional activator and cadherin regulator SNAI2, in the developing chicken embryonic eye. We find that fusion pioneer cells at the edges of the fusing optic fissure have unique and dynamic expression profiles for N-cad, E-cad and ZO-1, and that these are temporally preceded by expression of SNAI2. This highlights the unique properties of these cells and indicates that regulation of cell adhesion factors may be a critical process in optic fissure closure.

Calreticulin affects cell adhesiveness through differential phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1

Cellular adhesion to the underlying substratum is regulated through numerous signaling pathways. It has been suggested that insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) is involved in some of these pathways, via association with and activation of transmembrane integrins. Calreticulin, as an important endoplasmic reticulum-resident, calcium-binding protein with a chaperone function, plays an obvious role in proteomic expression. Our previous work showed that calreticulin mediates cell adhesion not only by affecting protein expression but also by affecting the state of regulatory protein phosphorylation, such as that of c-src. Here, we demonstrate that calreticulin affects the abundance of IRS-1 such that the absence of calreticulin is paralleled by a decrease in IRS-1 levels and the unregulated overexpression of calreticulin is accompanied by an increase in IRS-1 levels. These changes in the abundance of calreticulin and IRS-1 are accompanied by changes in cell-substratum adhesiveness and phosphorylation, such that increases in the expression of calreticulin and IRS-1 are paralleled by an increase in focal contact-based cell-substratum adhesiveness, and a decrease in the expression of these proteins brings about a decrease in cell-substratum adhesiveness. Wild type and calreticulin-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were cultured and the IRS-1 isoform profile was assessed. Differences in morphology and motility were also quantified. While no substantial differences in the speed of locomotion were found, the directionality of cell movement was greatly promoted by the presence of calreticulin. Calreticulin expression was also found to have a dramatic effect on the phosphorylation state of serine 636 of IRS-1, such that phosphorylation of IRS-1 on serine 636 increased radically in the absence of calreticulin. Most importantly, treatment of cells with the RhoA/ROCK inhibitor, Y-27632, which among its many effects also inhibited serine 636 phosphorylation of IRS-1, had profound effects on cell-substratum adhesion, in that it suppressed focal contacts, induced extensive close contacts, and increased the strength of adhesion. The latter effect, while counterintuitive, can be explained by the close contacts comprising labile bonds but in large numbers. In addition, the lability of bonds in close contacts would permit fast locomotion. An interesting and novel finding is that Y-27632 treatment of MEFs releases them from contact inhibition of locomotion, as evidenced by the invasion of a cell's underside by the thin lamellae and filopodia of a cell in close apposition.

A review of spatial computational models for multi-cellular systems, with regard to intestinal crypts and colorectal cancer development

Colon rectal cancers (CRC) are the result of sequences of mutations which lead the intestinal tissue to develop in a carcinoma following a "progression" of observable phenotypes. The actual modeling and simulation of the key biological structures involved in this process is of interest to biologists and physicians and, at the same time, it poses significant challenges from the mathematics and computer science viewpoints. In this report we give an overview of some mathematical models for cell sorting (a basic phenomenon that underlies several dynamical processes in an organism), intestinal crypt dynamics and related problems and open questions. In particular, major attention is devoted to the survey of so-called in-lattice (or grid) models and off-lattice (off-grid) models. The current work is the groundwork for future research on semi-automated hypotheses formation and testing about the behavior of the various actors taking part in the adenoma-carcinoma progression, from regulatory processes to cell-cell signaling pathways.

A review of spatial computational models for multi-cellular systems, with regard to intestinal crypts and colorectal cancer development

Colon rectal cancers (CRC) are the result of sequences of mutations which lead the intestinal tissue to develop in a carcinoma following a "progression" of observable phenotypes. The actual modeling and simulation of the key biological structures involved in this process is of interest to biologists and physicians and, at the same time, it poses significant challenges from the mathematics and computer science viewpoints. In this report we give an overview of some mathematical models for cell sorting (a basic phenomenon that underlies several dynamical processes in an organism), intestinal crypt dynamics and related problems and open questions. In particular, major attention is devoted to the survey of so-called in-lattice (or grid) models and off-lattice (off-grid) models. The current work is the groundwork for future research on semi-automated hypotheses formation and testing about the behavior of the various actors taking part in the adenoma-carcinoma progression, from regulatory processes to cell-cell signaling pathways.

Glucose deficiency reduces collagen synthesis in breast cancer MCF7 cells

We decided to study the effect of glucose deprivation on collagen metabolism in MCF7 cells. The incorporation of [3H]-proline into collagenase-sensitive and hydroxyproline-containing proteins was used as an index of collagen synthesis, whereas pulse-chase technique was employed to evaluate the degradation of newly synthesized proteins. The MCF7 cells incubated in high glucose medium synthesized detectable amounts of collagenous proteins. Most of them were found in the cell layer. The shortage of glucose resulted in about 30% reduction in collagen synthesis. The pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that proportionally less collagen was degraded in cultures incubated in low-glucose than in high-glucose media.

Role of DDR1 in the gelatinases secretion induced by native type IV collagen in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) are receptor tyrosine kinases that get activated by collagens in its native triple-helical form. In mammalian cells, DDR family consists of two members, namely DDR1 and DDR2, which mediates migration and proliferation of several cell types. DDR1 is activated by native type IV collagen and overexpressed in human breast cancer. Type IV collagen is the main component of basement membrane (BM), and the ability to degrade and penetrate BM is related with an increased potential for invasion and metastasis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that collectively are capable of degrading all components of the extracellular matrix, including the BM. In breast cancer cells, denatured type IV collagen induces MMP-9 secretion and invasion. However, the role of DDR1 in the regulation of gelatinases (MMP-2 and -9) secretion and invasion in breast cancer cells remains to be studied. We demonstrate here that native type IV collagen induces MMP-2 and -9 secretions and invasion through a DDR1 and Src-dependent pathway, together with an increase of MMP-2 and -9-cell surface levels. MMP-2 and -9 secretions require PKC kinase activity, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation, arachidonic acid (AA) production and AA metabolites in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. In summary, our data demonstrate, for the first time, that DDR1 mediates MMP-2 and -9 secretions and invasion induced by native type IV collagen in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Native type IV collagen induces cell migration through a CD9 and DDR1-dependent pathway in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

CD9 is a member of the tetraspanin family and is widely expressed in the plasma membrane of several cell types as well as malignant cells. CD9 associates with a number of transmembrane proteins, which facilitates biological processes, including cell signaling, adhesion, migration and proliferation. DDR1 is activated by native type IV collagen and overexpressed in human breast cancer. Type IV collagen is the main component of basement membranes, and may interact with cell surface biomolecules, promoting adhesion and motility. However, the role of DDR1 and type IV collagen in the regulation of CD9-cell surface levels and migration in breast cancer cells has not been studied in detail. We demonstrate here that native type IV collagen induces a transient increase of CD9-cell surface levels through a DDR1-dependent pathway in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, as revealed by flow cytometry and Western blotting using specific antibodies that recognize CD9. In contrast, type IV collagen does not induce any increase of CD9-cell surface levels in the mammary non-tumorigenic epithelial cells MCF10A and MCF12A. Transient increase of CD9-cell surface levels is coupled with clathrin-mediated endocytosis and it is dependent of DDR1 expression. In addition, type IV collagen induces cell migration through a DDR1 and CD9-dependent pathway. In summary, our data demonstrate, for the first time, that native type IV collagen induces a transient increase of CD9-cell surface levels and cell migration through a DDR1 and CD9-dependent pathway in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Spatiotemporal distribution patterns of oligosaccharides during early embryogenesis in the starfish Patiria pectinifera

To examine embryogenic mechanisms in the starfish Patiria (Asterina) pectinifera, we histochemically analyzed several larval stages using Alcian Blue (AB, which stains acidic mucins), Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS, which stains neutral mucins), and 21 types of lectins. Carbohydrate distribution patterns were observed in the cytoplasm, basement membrane, and blastocoel as follows: (1) The first group of lectins showed granular signals in the mesendodermal cells, and these lectins may be useful as mesendoderm markers. (2) The second class of lectins showed diffuse signals across the entire cytoplasm from the hatched blastula until the mid gastrula. These signals became localized to the basal cytoplasm of archenteron cells at the early bipinnaria. (3) Lectin reactivity in the basement membrane peaked at the early-to-mid gastrula and was nearly gone by the early bipinnaria. These results suggest the existence of various substances in the basement membrane and imply the importance of these substances during archenteron elongation and the induction of mesenchyme differentiation. (4) Signal colors with AB-PAS double staining in the blastocoel changed from magenta (by PAS staining) into blue (by AB staining) during these stages, thus, indicating that mucin located in the blastocoel changed from neutral to acidic. The most significant part of this report is the first description regarding temporal changes in the characteristics of intra- and extracellular components with the combination of many different lectins and stains.

A statistical approach to estimating the strength of cell-cell interactions under the differential adhesion hypothesis

Background

The Differential Adhesion Hypothesis (DAH) is a theory of the organization of cells within a tissue which has been validated by several biological experiments and tested against several alternative computational models.

Results

In this study, a statistical approach was developed for the estimation of the strength of adhesion, incorporating earlier discrete lattice models into a continuous marked point process framework. This framework allows to describe an ergodic Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm that can simulate the model and reproduce empirical biological patterns. The estimation procedure, based on a pseudo-likelihood approximation, is validated with simulations, and a brief application to medulloblastoma stained by beta-catenin markers is given.

Conclusion

Our model includes the strength of cell-cell adhesion as a statistical parameter. The estimation procedure for this parameter is consistent with experimental data and would be useful for high-throughput cancer studies.

Differential roles of HIC-5 isoforms in the regulation of cell death and myotube formation during myogenesis

Hic-5 is a LIM-Only member of the paxillin superfamily of focal adhesion proteins. It has been shown to regulate a range of biological processes including: senescence, tumorigenesis, steroid hormone action, integrin signaling, differentiation, and apoptosis. To better understand the roles of Hic-5 during development, we initiated a detailed analysis of Hic-5 expression and function in C(2)C(12) myoblasts, a well-established model for myogenesis. We have found that: (1) myoblasts express at least 6 distinct Hic-5 isoforms; (2) the two predominant isoforms, Hic-5alpha and Hic-5beta, are differentially expressed during myogenesis; (3) any experimentally induced change in Hic-5 expression results in a substantial increase in apoptosis during differentiation; (4) ectopic expression of Hic-5alpha is permissive to differentiation while expression of either Hic-5beta or antisense Hic-5 blocks myoblast fusion but not chemodifferentiation; (5) Hic-5 localizes to focal adhesions in C(2)C(12) myoblasts and perturbation of Hic-5 leads to defects in cell spreading; (6) alterations in Hic-5 expression interfere with the normal dynamics of laminin expression; and (7) ectopic laminin, but not fibronectin, can rescue the Hic-5-induced blockade of myoblast survival and differentiation. Our data demonstrate differential roles for individual Hic-5 isoforms during myogenesis and support the hypothesis that Hic-5 mediates these effects via integrin signaling.

Migration of human and mouse primordial germ cells and colonization of the developing ovary: An ultrastructural and cytochemical study

This review is an account of the origin and migratory events of primordial germ cells until their settlement in the gonad before sexual differentiation in the human as well as mice. In this context, the morphodynamic characteristics of the migration of the primordial germ cells, the macromolecular characteristics of the extracellular matrix of the migratory pathway, and the factors involved in the germ cell guidance have been analyzed and discussed in the light of recent advances in this field, by means of immunocytochemical procedures. The events prior to gonadal morphogenesis and the origin of the somatic cell content of the human gonadal primordium have been also analyzed. In particular, evidences are presented showing that cells derived from the coelomic epithelium and mesenchyme are at the origin of the somatic components of the gonadal primordium, and that a mesonephric cell contribution to the generation of somatic cell components of the genital ridge in humans should be discarded due to the morphological stability of the different nephric structures during the period preceding the sexual differentiation of the gonad.

Type IV collagen induces STAT5 activation in MCF7 human breast cancer cells

A rapid increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducer and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins has been extensively documented in cells stimulated with cytokines and growth factors, but virtually nothing is known about the regulation of STAT5 activation in breast cancer cells stimulated with basement membrane (BM) components. Stimulation of MCF7 cells with type IV collagen (Col-IV) promoted a striking increase in the phosphorylation of STAT5 at Tyr-694, as revealed by site-specific antibodies that recognized the phosphorylated state of this residue. In addition, Col-IV also stimulated STAT5 nuclear translocation and an increased in STAT5 DNA binding activity. Treatment with the selective Src family inhibitor pyrazolopyrimidine PP-2 prevented STAT5 phosphorylation at Tyr-694, nuclear translocation of STAT5 and the STAT5-DNA complex formation. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that stimulation with Col-IV induces STAT5 phosphorylation of endogenous STAT5 at Tyr-694, nuclear translocation of STAT5 and increases in STAT5 DNA binding activity via a Src-dependent pathway in MCF7 cells.

PM-2: an ECM epitope necessary for morphogenesis in embryos of the starfish, Pisaster ochraceus

Anti-PM-2 is a monoclonal antibody that has been developed against the ECM of embryo/larvae of the starfish Pisaster ochraceus. Immunofluorescent staining shows that the PM-2 epitope is present in the cortical granules of unfertilized eggs and is released into the perivitelline space on fertilization. At the blastula stage, staining is very faint and limited to the blastocoel and a few granules within the cells. Strong staining appears in the embryonic/larval body cavity shortly after gastrulation and continues to increase in both the embryonic/larval body cavity and lumen of the gut at least until the bipinnaria stage. The presence of PM-2 in the Golgi apparatus, its susceptibility to enzymes that attack carbohydrates, and inhibition of PM-2 synthesis by tunicamycin, a drug that inhibits the linkage of carbohydrate moieties to protein backbone chains, suggest that the PM-2 epitope is or contains carbohydrate. Western blots of the whole embryo homogenates show bands at molecular weights of 130, 122, 100, 70, and 50 kDa. As embryos grow, two other high molecular weight (greater than 200 kDa) bands also appear. This suggests that the epitope is present on a series of molecules and that some of the lower MW molecules are precursors of the higher MW ones. A single 24-h exposure to the antibody just posthatching appears to inhibit normal mesenchymal migration at the gastrula stage, and if development of these treated embryos/larvae is allowed to continue to the bipinnaria stage, the embryos are stunted and have a smaller oral hood and esophagus. Long-term exposure results in stunted animals with distorted shapes. Such animals develop a very small embryonic/larval body cavity or none at all and differentiation of the larval GI tract fails to occur. The results suggest that molecules exhibiting the PM-2 epitope are necessary for the proper formation of the blastocoel, for mesenchyme cell movement and for proper development of the larvae GI tract.

Mechanical stimulation induces pp125(FAK) and pp60(src) activity in an in vivo model of trabecular bone formation

Utilizing an in vivo model of trabecular bone formation, we demonstrated the temporal and spatial activation of pp125(FAK) in response to specific mechanical load stimuli. Bone chambers equipped with hydraulic actuators were aseptically inserted into each proximal tibial metaphysis of adult, male dogs under general anesthesia. The load stimulus consisted of a trapezoidal waveform, with a maximum compressive load of 17.8 N, loading rate of 89 N/s, at 1 Hz frequency. One chamber was loaded for 2 (120 cycles), 15 (900 cycles), or 30 min (1,800 cycles), whereas the contralateral chamber served as unloaded control. Bone chambers were biopsied at postload time points of 0, 15, and 45 min. Load-induced activation of FAK was rapid, and the duration of activation was dependent on the number of applied load cycles. Mechanical stimulation increased the association of FAK with Src and the time course of complex formation paralleled the temporal activation of FAK. Evaluation of cryosections revealed prominent FAK immunoreactivity among marrow fibroblasts and stromal cells.

Integrin alpha2beta1 recognizes laminin-2 and induces C-erb B2 tyrosine phosphorylation in metastatic human melanoma cells

Previous studies have shown that tumor cells with metastatic propensity secrete more of the laminin alpha2 chain than non-metastatic tumor cells do, and that laminin-2, which contains the alpha2 chain, promotes cell adhesion better than laminin-1 (Jenq et al. (1994). Differentiation, 58, 29-36). The current studies were designed to determine whether a correlation exists between the expression of the laminin-2 isoform and the metastatic phenotype in melanoma cells. We found that expression of the laminin-2 isoform was upregulated in the metastatic melanoma cell lines tested. Cell attachment studies showed that metastatic melanoma cells attached more efficiently to laminin-2 substrates. Studies on integrin expression revealed that the presence of alpha2beta1 integrin correlated with expression of the laminin-2 isoform in metastatic melanoma cells; anti-integrin alpha2 antibody prevented cell attachment to laminin-2 substrates. The data suggest that the alpha2beta1 integrin is the receptor mediating cell attachment to the laminin-2 isoform. This interaction, mediated by the alpha2beta1 integrin, stimulates secretion of the 72 kD type IV collagenase and induces a specific 185 kD protein tyrosine phosphorylation. The 185 kD tyrosine-phosphorylated protein was identified as the p185/C-erb B2 oncoprotein by immunoprecipitation. These studies suggest that upregulation of expression of the laminin-2 chain correlates with the metastatic phenotype of melanoma cells and provides evidence that the specific p185/C-erb B2 tyrosine phosphorylation may be involved in integrin-mediated signaling during tumor cell invasion and metastasis.

Hypoxia induces activation and subcellular translocation of focal adhesion kinase (p125(FAK)) in cultured rat cardiac myocytes

We previously reported that hypoxia caused rapid activation of RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, two other stress-activated MAPK family members, stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) and p38MAPK, and Src family tyrosine kinases, p60(c-src) and p59(c-fyn) in cultured rat cardiac myocytes. In this study, to elucidate how hypoxia affects adhesive interaction between cardiac myocytes and extracellular matrix (ECM), we investigated the molecular mechanism of the activation of focal adhesion-associated tyrosine kinases p125(FAK) and paxillin. Here, we show that hypoxia induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) and paxillin and that hypoxia-induced activation of p125(FAK) was accompanied by its increased association with adapter proteins Shc and GRB2, and non-receptor type tyrosine kinase p60(c-src). Furthermore, hypoxia caused subcellular translocation of p125(FAK) from perinuclear sites to the focal adhesions. These results strongly suggest that p125(FAK) is one of the most important components in hypoxia-induced intracellular signaling in cardiac myocytes and may play a pivotal role in adhesive interaction between cardiac myocytes and ECM.

A putative role for carbohydrates in sea urchin gastrulation

Many studies have examined the effects of lectins on embryonic development. Recently, it has been shown that lectins actually enter the blastocoel of sea urchin embryos without microinjection and bind to specific cell types. The present study was performed to examine the effects of lectins on sea urchin gastrulation. Strongylocentrotus purpuratus sea urchin embryos were incubated with several lectins at concentrations from 0.01 microgram/ml to 100 micrograms/ml at 15-28 h in the presence or absence of the preferential binding sugars. The most interesting findings were that the mannose specific lectins Lens culinaris agglutinin (LcH) which binds to secondary mesenchyme cells involved in archenteron anchoring and Pisum sativum (PSA) caused exogastrulation. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) which binds to primary mesenchyme cells involved in skeletogenesis caused defective skeletogenesis. Our findings suggest that D-mannose-like residues (LcH and PSA specific sugar) may function in archenteron development and anchoring, while N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-like groups (WGA specific sugar) may contribute to control of primary mesenchyme positioning and function. Specific carbohydrate-containing receptors may, therefore, be of importance in specific gastrulation events.

Distribution and space-time relationship of proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix of the migratory pathway of primordial germ cells in mouse embryos

In this paper we present an in situ ultrastructural cytochemical study on the distribution and spatial-temporal expression of proteoglycans (PGs) in the extracellular matrix of the migratory pathway of mouse primordial germ cells (PGCs) during the different phases of migration, by the use of the cationic dye ruthenium hexammine trichloride (RHT). Embryos of 9, 10, 11 and 12 days of development were used. The treatment with RHT revealed PGs as electron dense layers, granules, and filaments. Whereas granules prevailed in the extracellular spaces of the migratory route during the whole migratory process, the amount of filamentous structures increased during the migration phase of PGCs. At the end of the migratory process the surface of the PGCs lost its reaction by RHT. There were differences in the size of the granules of PGs at the initial migratory period (9-day-old embryos) as compared with the other days of gestation. There was a strong reaction for PGs in the extracellular spaces, expressed as a meshwork of granules interconnected by filaments, as well as reaction on the basement membranes during the peak of the PGCs migration in 10-day-old embryos. These results support the hypothesis that these molecules may have an important role in the migration of PGCs, although the precise mechanism involved in this process is not yet clear.

Dissociated cells of the calcareous sponge clathrina: a model for investigating cell adhesion and cell motility in vitro

The study of cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion in vitro is useful for understanding cell behavior in a three-dimensional pattern. We have used dissociated cells (choanocytes represent the main fraction) from the calcareous sponge Clathrina, namely C. cerebrum and C. clathrus, to illustrate our present understanding on three main aspects of cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion in vitro: (1) cytoskeletal protrusions; (2) cell behaviours on organic substrata; and (3) paths of locomotory sponge cell. Cell locomotion occurs by the extensions of scleropodial and lamellipodial protrusions, by way of actin polymerization. The extent to which cells produce these cytoplasmic processes varies according to the substratum (e.g., collagen, fibronectin, laminin, polylysine). It was found that more cell extensions were produced on collagen substrata, and this led to greater cell movement. Advancing choanocytes are not polarized. Their paths are particularly complicated, showing linear segments, which produce a more efficent cellular translocation, and winding tracts with frequent turns or loops. Small amoeboid cells describe more linear paths with a wide range of speed variation than larger cells. The presence of cell-derived substratum reduces the progressive dispersion of cells and allows cells to encounter one another in such a way that the initial random walking later turns into non-random displacement. Even though cAMP-treated cells exhibit different aggregative tactics, cAMP 10(-8) M remarkably enhances cell encounters and supports the existing information that this cyclic nucleotide represents a signal that affects cell morphology and locomotion. The bulk of data on sponge cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion has been evaluated by mentioning the significant advances and references concerning studies of other cell systems.

A protein of the basal lamina of the sea urchin embryo

The purification, biochemical characterization and functional features of a novel extracellular matrix protein are described. This protein is a component of the basal lamina found in embryos from the sea urchin species Paracentrotus lividus and Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. The protein has been named Pl-200K or Hp-200K, respectively, because of the species from which it was isolated and its apparent molecular weight in SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. It has been purified from unfertilized eggs where it is found packed within cytoplasmic granules, and has different binding affinities to type I collagen and heparin, as assessed by affinity chromatography columns. By indirect immunofluorescence experiments it was shown that, upon fertilization, the protein becomes extracellular, polarized at the basal surface of ectoderm cells, and on the surface of primary mesenchyme cells at the blastula and gastrula stages. The protein serves as an adhesive substrate, as shown by an in vitro binding assay where cells dissociated from blastula embryos were settled on 200K protein-coated substrates. To examine the involvement of the protein in morphogenesis of sea urchin embryo, early blastula embryos were microinjected with anti-200K Fab fragments and further development was followed. When control embryos reached the pluteus stage, microinjected embryos showed severe abnormalities in arms and skeleton elongation and patterning. On the basis of current results, it was proposed that 200K protein is involved in the regulation of sea urchin embryo skeletogenesis.

Hatching gland cells of trout embryos as the target of positional information

HGCs were found in the head epidermis, yolk sac and pharynx epithelium of trout embryos. These cells usually appear in clusters, closely related positionally to neighbouring cells. The differentiation and specialization of HGCs seem to be mainly dependent on cell-cell interactions, which provides, in part, the positional information necessary for the cells to differentiate and localize in the appropriate place. The final secretory process is the result of a sequence of events by which the maturation of enzymatic granules occurs. The electron-density of the granules varies according to the proximity of the secretory stage. Exocytosis of the secretory granules were observed. After secretion, each HGC undergoes cellular death by apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Molecular cloning of novel leucine-rich repeat proteins and their expression in the developing mouse nervous system

It is well established that leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins such as connectin, slit, chaoptin, and Toll have pivotal roles in neuronal development in Drosophila as cell adhesion molecules. However, to date, little information concerning mammalian LRR proteins has been reported. In the present study, we sought LRR proteins of the mouse brain, based on the assumption that fundamental mechanisms are conserved between different species. We screened a neonatal mouse brain cDNA library with a human partial cDNA encoding LRR protein as a probe. We obtained two independent cDNAs encoding LRR proteins, designated NLRR-1 and NLRR-2 (Neuronal Leucine-Rich Repeat proteins). We analyzed the whole sequence of NLRR-1 and partial sequence of NLRR-2. Sequence analysis showed that these two clones are about 60% homologous to each other, and that NLRR-1 protein is a transmembrane protein. Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization histochemistry showed that both NLRR-1 and NLRR-2 mRNAs were expressed primarily in the central nervous system (CNS); NLRR-1 mRNA was also detected in the non-neuronal tissues such as cartilage, while NLRR-2 mRNA expression was confined to the CNS at all developmental stages. These results suggest that there is at least one LRR protein family in the mouse and that these molecules may play significant but distinct roles in neural development and in the adult nervous system.

Mechanotransduction and the functional response of bone to mechanical strain

Mechanotransduction plays a crucial role in the physiology of many tissues including bone. Mechanical loading can inhibit bone resorption and increase bone formation in vivo. In bone, the process of mechanotransduction can be divided into four distinct steps: (1) mechanocoupling, (2) biochemical coupling, (3) transmission of signal, and (4) effector cell response. In mechanocoupling, mechanical loads in vivo cause deformations in bone that stretch bone cells within and lining the bone matrix and create fluid movement within the canaliculae of bone. Dynamic loading, which is associated with extracellular fluid flow and the creation of streaming potentials within bone, is most effective for stimulating new bone formation in vivo. Bone cells in vitro are stimulated to produce second messengers when exposed to fluid flow or mechanical stretch. In biochemical coupling, the possible mechanisms for the coupling of cell-level mechanical signals into intracellular biochemical signals include force transduction through the integrin-cytoskeleton-nuclear matrix structure, stretch-activated cation channels within the cell membrane, G protein-dependent pathways, and linkage between the cytoskeleton and the phospholipase C or phospholipase A pathways. The tight interaction of each of these pathways would suggest that the entire cell is a mechanosensor and there are many different pathways available for the transduction of a mechanical signal. In the transmission of signal, osteoblasts, osteocytes, and bone lining cells may act as sensors of mechanical signals and may communicate the signal through cell processes connected by gap junctions. These cells also produce paracrine factors that may signal osteoprogenitors to differentiate into osteoblasts and attach to the bone surface. Insulin-like growth factors and prostaglandins are possible candidates for intermediaries in signal transduction. In the effector cell response, the effects of mechanical loading are dependent upon the magnitude, duration, and rate of the applied load. Longer duration, lower amplitude loading has the same effect on bone formation as loads with short duration and high amplitude. Loading must be cyclic to stimulate new bone formation. Aging greatly reduces the osteogenic effects of mechanical loading in vivo. Also, some hormones may interact with local mechanical signals to change the sensitivity of the sensor or effector cells to mechanical load.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 dimerization and its consequences for adhesion mediated by lymphocyte function associated-1

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) is a ligand for the integrins lymphocyte function associated-1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18) and complement receptor-3 (Mac-1, CD11b/CD18) making it an important participant in many immune and inflammatory processes. Modified recombinant soluble ICAM-1 formed dimers. This result indicated that the ectodomain of ICAM-1 contains homophilic interaction sites. Soluble ICAM-1 dimers bind to solid-phase purified LFA-1 with high avidity (dissociation constant [Kd] = 8 nM) in contrast to soluble ICAM-1 monomers whose binding was not measurable. Cell surface ICAM-1 was found to be dimeric based on two distinct criteria. First, a monoclonal antibody specific for monomeric soluble ICAM-1, CA7, binds normal ICAM-1 poorly at the cell surface; this antibody, however, binds strongly to two mutant forms of ICAM-1 when expressed at the cell surface, thus identifying elements required for dimer formation. Second, chemical cross-linking of cell surface ICAM-1 on transfected cells and tumor necrosis factor-activated endothelial cells results in conversion of a portion of ICAM-1 to a covalent dimer. Cell surface ICAM-1 dimers are more potent ligands for LFA-1-dependent adhesion than ICAM-1 monomers. While many extracellular matrix-associated ligands of integrins are multimeric, this is the first evidence of specific, functionally important homodimerization of a cell surface integrin ligand.

Cell spreading in Colo 201 by staurosporin is alpha 3 beta 1 integrin-mediated with tyrosine phosphorylation of Src and tensin

Staurosporin, a broad-spectrum kinase inhibitor, induced cell spreading in a human colon cancer cell line, Colo 201. On collagen and laminin, cell spreading was induced in more than 90% of the cells and was dependent on very late activation antigen-3, as shown by an antibody inhibition assay. Cell spreading required divalent cations and showed the order of preference Mn2+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+. On fibronectin, only about 30% of the cells were observed to spread, and spreading occurred via a non-integrin, RGD-independent pathway. Staurosporin-induced spreading was inhibited by treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin A and methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamate. Despite the presence of staurosporin, seven proteins (220, 175, 150, 98, 62, 58, and 45 kDa) showed increased levels of tyrosine phosphorylation in association with cell adhesion. Two of these (58 and 220 kDa) were identified by immunoprecipitation as Src product and tensin, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the Colo 201 cells expressed the alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6, and beta 1 chains of integrin, but expression of these chains was not influenced by staurosporin. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the alpha 3 chain, diffusely expressed on the cell surface in the absence of staurosporin, was concentrated at focal adhesion plaques after staurosporin treatment. Neither alpha 2 nor alpha 6 was focalized by the treatment.

In vitro structural and functional relationships between preosteoclastic and bone endothelial cells: a juxtacrine model for migration and adhesion of osteoclast precursors

The role of vascularization in the process of bone resorption has not been clarified. The interactions between vascular endothelium and osteoclast progenitors were analyzed using clonal cell lines of bone-derived endothelial and preosteoclastic cells. Insulin-like growth factor I is a major chemotactic stimulator of preosteoclastic cell migration mediated by bone endothelial cells. Osteoclast precursors rapidly adhered to bone endothelial monolayers. This phenomenon appeared to be cell-specific and mediated through the binding of vitronectin and fibronectin receptors to fibronectin. In addition, direct contact with bone endothelial cells induced osteoclast progenitors to differentiate into more mature elements, with the tendency to cluster together to form large multinucleated cells. These findings demonstrated specific in vitro interactions between bone endothelial cells and osteoclast progenitors, offering a new model for understanding the molecular mechanisms which direct the processes of osteoclast recruitment and ontogeny.

Expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and monocyte adherence in arteries exposed to altered shear stress

Local shear stresses generated by blood flow exert direct mechanical effects on adhesion of circulating leukocytes to vascular endothelium, but their effects on expression of endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecules have not been determined. Shear stress in rabbit carotid arteries was increased by 170% or decreased by 73% in 5 days by surgical manipulations. En face immunofluorescence staining with the monoclonal antibody Rb1/9 revealed that vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression was greatly increased under low shear stress, but the distribution of staining was patchy. Thus, 71.4 +/- 7.8% of fields were VCAM-1 positive versus 2.4 +/- 0.47% of fields in control arteries. Frequently, large regions showed consistent but heterogeneous staining. Occasionally, small islands of cells were labeled intensely. Monocytes, detected by use of the monocyte-specific antibody HAM 56, adhered to endothelium under low shear stress; 64.5 +/- 8.2% of the monocytes colocalized with detectable VCAM-1, although many (83.2 +/- 2.8%) VCAM-1-positive regions were devoid of monocytes. VCAM-1 expression also increased significantly but to a lesser extent when shear stress was approximately doubled. Thus, 8.7 +/- 1.5% of fields were VCAM-1 positive under high shear versus 2.5 +/- 0.87% under normal shear stress. No monocytes were detected at high shear stress. At normal shear stresses, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), detected by use of the monoclonal antibody Rb2/3, was extensively distributed; thus, 53.5 +/- 5.5% of fields contained ICAM-1-positive cells. The junctional regions of the cells were heavily stained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A rapid colorimetric assay for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-mediated cell adhesion and analysis of CEA domains involved in the adhesion

A colorimetric microadhesion assay that allows the quantitative determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-mediated homophilic cell adhesion to CEA immobilized on 96-well polyvinyl chloride plates is described. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with a full-length CEA cDNA were used as indicator cells. After dislodging nonadherent cells, specifically bound cells were quantified by a colorimetric analysis based on the ability of live cells to reduce the dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) to a blue formazan product. The domains of CEA responsible for the homophilic cell adhesion were analyzed by inhibition assays using anti-CEA monoclonal antibodies whose reactive domains were already known. The involvement of domain N and possibly subdomain A3 of CEA in the homophilic cell adhesion has been suggested.

Spatiotemporal pattern of expression of tenascin-like molecules in a developing insect olfactory system

During the development of the olfactory (antennal) lobe of the moth Manduca sexta, olfactory sensory axons induce glomerular branching patterns in their target neurons. Glial cells, by surrounding the developing glomerular template, are thought to mediate the developmental influence of olfactory axons on these branching patterns. Previous studies have demonstrated that, in the absence of glia, neurons in the antennal lobe branch in an aglomerular fashion, even in the presence of competent antennal axons (Oland and Tolbert, 1988, J. Comp. Neurol. 278:377-387; Oland et al., 1988, J. Neurosci. 8:353-367). We have begun to explore the molecular basis by which glial cells could influence patterns of neurite branching. For this work, we have utilized immunocytochemical techniques and a partial biochemical analysis to demonstrate that molecules antigenically similar and comparable in size to mammalian tenascin are localized on the neuropil-associated glial cells that form borders around glomeruli in the developing antennal lobe. These tenascin-like molecules associated with neuropilar glia are present at critical stages of glomerulus development; tenascin-like immunoreactivity declines after glomeruli form and become stabilized. Neither the arrival nor the absence of antennal axons in the lobe induces changes in either the molecular forms or the amounts of tenascin-like molecules. The spatiotemporal pattern of expression of tenascin-like molecules suggests that they are in a position to participate in the formation of a glomerular neuropil and could form a molecular barrier that constrains neurite outgrowth strictly to glomeruli.

Thrombin adhesive properties: induction by plasmin and heparan sulfate

We have previously demonstrated that chemically modified thrombin preparations induce endothelial cell (EC) adhesion, spreading and cytoskeletal reorganization via an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence and the alpha v beta 3 integrin. Native thrombin, however, did not exhibit adhesive properties, consistent with crystal structure analysis, showing that Gly-Asp residues of the RGD epitope are buried within the molecule. We have now identified a possible physiological mean of converting thrombin to an adhesive protein. Plasmin, the major end product of the fibrinolytic system, converted thrombin to an adhesive protein for EC in a time and dose-dependent manner. EC adhesion and spreading was also induced by a low molecular weight (approximately 3,000 D) cleavage fragment generated upon incubation of thrombin with plasmin. Cell adhesion mediated by this fragment was completely inhibited by the synthetic peptide GRGDSP. Conversion of thrombin to an adhesive molecule was significantly enhanced in the presence of heparin or heparan sulfate, while other glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) (e.g., dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate) had no effect. The role of cell surface heparan sulfate in thrombin conversion to EC adhesive protein was investigated using CHO cell mutants defective in various aspects of GAG synthesis. Incubation of both thrombin and a suboptimal amount of plasmin on the surface of formaldehyde fixed wild-type CHO-KI cells resulted in an efficient conversion of thrombin to an adhesive molecule, as indicated by subsequent induction of EC attachment. In contrast, there was no effect to incubation of thrombin and plasmin with fixed CHO mutant cells lacking both heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, or with cells expressing no heparan sulfate and a three-fold increase in chondroitin sulfate. A similar gain of adhesive properties was obtained upon incubation of thrombin and plasmin in contact with native, but not heparinase-treated extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by cultured ECs. It appears that cell surface and ECM-associated heparan sulfate modulate thrombin adhesive properties through its heparin binding site in a manner that enables suboptimal amounts of plasmin to expose the RGD domain. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, a significant modulation of thrombin molecule by heparin, resulting in its conversion to a potent adhesive protein for ECs. This conversion is most effective in contact with cell surfaces, basement membranes and ECM.

The Wnt-1 proto-oncogene induces changes in morphology, gene expression, and growth factor responsiveness in PC12 cells

The product of the Wnt-1 proto-oncogene is a secreted glycoprotein that is normally produced in regions of the embryonic neural tube. We show here that expression of mouse Wnt-1 cDNA in the rat PC12 pheochromocytoma cell line causes a dramatic conversion from a round to a flat cell morphology. In addition, PC12 cells expressing Wnt-1 (PC12/Wnt-1) fail to extend neurites after treatment with NGF, despite the presence and activation of high affinity NGF receptors encoded by the trk gene and the induction of early response genes. Furthermore, PC12/Wnt-1 cells fail to express several neuron- and chromaffin-specific genes, indicating that PC12/Wnt-1 cells have assumed a new phenotype. Although NGF and FGF utilize similar signal transduction pathways in PC12 cells, only FGF is capable of inducing a morphological response and synthesis of transin mRNA in PC12/Wnt-1 cells.

Integrin-mediated neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cells depends on the activation of potassium channels

Electrical signals elicited by integrin interaction with ECM components and their role in neurite outgrowth were studied in two clones (N1 and N7) isolated from 41A3 murine neuroblastoma cell line. Although the two clones similarly adhered to fibronectin (FN) and vitronectin (VN), this adhesion induced neurite outgrowth in N1 but not in N7 cells. Patch clamp recordings in whole cell configuration showed that, upon adhesion to FN or VN but not to platelet factor 4 (PF4), N1 cells undergo a marked (approximately equal to 20 mV) hyperpolarization of the resting potential (Vrest) that occurred within the first 20 min after cell contact with ECM, and persisted for approximately 1 h before reverting to the time zero values. This hyperpolarization was totally absent in N7 cells. A detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms involved in N1 and N7 cell adhesion to ECM substrata was performed by using antibodies raised against the FN receptor and synthetic peptides variously competing with the FN or VN binding to integrin receptor (GRGDSP and GRGESP). Antibodies, as well as GRGDSP, abolished adhesion of N1 and N7 clones to FN and VN, revealing a similar implication of integrins in the adhesion of these clones to the ECM proteins. However, these anti-adhesive treatments, while ineffective on Vrest of N7 cells, abolished in N1 cells the FN- or VN-induced hyperpolarization and neurite outgrowth, that appeared therefore strictly associated and integrin-mediated phenomena. The nature of this association was deepened through a comparative analysis of the integrin profiles and the ion channels of N1 and N7 cells. The integrin immunoprecipitation profile resulted very similarly in the two clones, with only minor differences concerning the alpha V containing complexes. Both clones possessed Ca2+ and K+ delayed rectifier (KDR) channels, while only N1 cells were endowed with inward rectifier K+ (KIR) channels. The latter governed the Vrest, and, unlike KDR channels, were blocked by Ba2+ and Cs+. By moving patched cells in contact with FN-coated beads, it was shown that KIR channel activation was responsible for the FN-mediated hyperpolarization of Vrest. Treatment with Pertuxis toxin (PTX) abolished this hyperpolarization and neurite outgrowth, indicating that a G protein is interposed between integrins and KIR channels and that the activation of these channels is required for neuritogenesis. In fact, the block of KIR channels by Cs+ abolished both hyperpolarization and neurite outgrowth, provided that the cation was supplied during the first two hours after N1 cell contact with FN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Two distinct adhesion systems are responsible for EDTA-sensitive adhesion in Dictyostelium discoideum

Early in their developmental program, Dictyostelium discoideum exhibit EDTA-sensitive and EDTA-resistant adhesion. The molecules which mediate the adhesions have been called contact sites, with contact sites A mediating EDTA-resistant adhesion and contact sites B mediating EDTA-sensitive adhesion. The studies described here have revealed that prior to aggregation, a second EDTA-sensitive adhesion system emerges. In keeping with previously established nomenclature, the molecules mediating the newly discovered adhesion system have been called contact sites C. Unlike contact sites B, contact sites C are unaffected by a contact sites B-blocking peptide. Contact sites C-mediated adhesion is also distinct from contact sites B-mediated adhesion in that contact sites C-mediated adhesion is EGTA-resistant and in the presence of EDTA it can be rescued by the addition of Mg2+. Thus Mg2+ may be the cation present under physiological conditions that is essential for contact sites C activity. Unlike contact sites B-mediated adhesion, contact sites C-mediated adhesion is not observed in growing amoebae. Contact sites C-mediated adhesion first becomes apparent within hours after the initiation of development and its strength appears to increase throughout the first 10 h of the developmental program. A mutant lacking the EDTA-resistant contact sites A exhibits normal contact sites B- and C-mediated adhesion, demonstrating that both EDTA-sensitive adhesion systems are independent of contact sites A. Thus aggregating D. discoideum amoebae possess three distinct adhesion systems, one of them is EDTA-resistant and the other two are EDTA-sensitive.

Expression of type IV collagen-degrading activity during early embryonal development in the sea urchin and the arresting effects of collagen synthesis inhibitors on embryogenesis

Type IV collagen-degrading activity was expressed in homogenates of Lytechinus pictus embryos during embryogenesis. Activity was concentrated 1,600-fold by ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion exchange, and gel chromatography and could not be activated further upon trypsin or organomercurial treatment. This enzyme activity could also degrade gelatin but had no affinity for type I, III, and V collagens. Activity was inhibited by addition of excess type IV collagen or gelatin, but was unaffected by addition of excess amounts of non-collagenous proteins of the extracellular matrix. Chelators such as 1,10-phenanthroline or Na2EDTA reduced activity to control levels. Inhibitors of plasmin and of serine and thiol proteases were without effect. Type IV collagen-degrading activity first became apparent at the stage of early mesenchyme blastula. It then increased by a small increment and remained stable up to the stage of late mesenchyme blastula, coinciding with first detection of collagen synthesis and the appearance of the archenteron. Thereafter, a sharp increase in activity was observed, concurrently with remodelling of the archenteron. Maximum activity was attained at prism stage and was retained throughout to pluteus-larva stage. The specific inhibitors of collagen biosynthesis 8,9-dihydroxy-7-methyl-benzo[b]quinolizinium bromide and tricyclodecane-9-yl xanthate arrested sea urchin embryo development at early blastula, prevented the invagination of the archenteron, and reverted the expression of type IV collagen-degrading activity to non-detectable levels. Removal of the inhibitors allowed embryos to gastrulate and express type IV collagen-degrading activity.

Differential regulation of thyroid cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion by thyrotropin

Preservation of cell aggregation is necessary for thyroid follicular differentiation in vitro and requires stimulation by thyrotropin (TSH). We have tested the hypothesis that TSH preferentially increases thyroid cell-cell adhesion relative to cell-substrate adhesion. Cell-cell adhesion was measured in short-term suspension cultures by the decrease in the fraction of single cells remaining in culture (free cell ratio, FCR). When incubated in medium alone freshly isolated cells showed a progressive fall in FCR but this was accelerated by TSH and the cyclic AMP analog, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)cyclic AMP. Aggregation was dependent upon extracellular Ca2+ and also promoted by a cell-free membrane extract. In contrast, attachment of cells to plastic dishes treated for tissue culture was not affected by TSH. We conclude that thyroid cells possess a TSH-sensitive cell adhesion system. The preferential increase in cell-cell adhesion may be one mechanism by which TSH stimulates the formation and preservation of follicles in vitro.

Competition between cell-substratum interactions and cell-cell interactions

Clusterin, a glycoprotein which elicits the aggregation of a wide variety of cells (Fritz, I. B., and Burdy, K.:J. Cell Physiol., 140:18-28, 1989), has been utilized to investigate some of the factors modulating the competition between cell-substratum interactions and cell-cell interactions. We compared the responses to clusterin by anchorage-independent cells (erythrocytes) with those by anchorage-dependent TM4 cells (a cell line derived from neonatal mouse testis cells). Cells were maintained in culture in the presence of various substrata chosen to enhance cell-substratum interactions (laminin-coated wells), or to diminish cell-substratum interactions (agarose-coated wells). Results obtained showed that the aggregation of erythrocytes elicited by clusterin was independent of the nature of the substratum. In contrast, clusterin addition resulted in aggregation of anchorage-dependent TM4 cells only when TM4 cell-substratum interactions were weak. Thus, clusterin did not aggregate TM4 cells plated upon a laminin substratum, but readily aggregated TM4 cells plated upon an agarose-coated substratum, independent of the sequence of addition of cells and clusterin to the culture dish. We utilized YIGSR, a peptide which competes with laminin for laminin receptors, to determine the possible role of laminin receptors on TM4 cells in the competition between cell-substratum interactions and cell-cell interactions. The presence of YIGSR did not alter responses of erythrocytes to clusterin under all conditions examined. In contrast, the responses of TM4 cells to clusterin were greatly changed. YIGSR addition resulted in the inhibition of aggregation of TM4 cells otherwise elicited by clusterin. YIGSR also prevented attachment of TM4 cells to a laminin-coated surface, but this was reversed by the presence of clusterin. We discuss the possible roles of clusterin and laminin in altering the balance in the competition between cell to cell interactions and cell to substratum interactions.