Cortactin associates with N-cadherin adhesions and mediates intercellular adhesion strengthening in fibroblasts

Cortactin Facilitates Malignant Transformation of Dysplastic Cells in Gastric Cancer Development

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Epithelial cancer onset occurs through sequential stages of cell lineage conversion and functional dysregulation. Dysplasia is a precancerous lesion defined as a direct precursor to cancer and is histologically defined as a transition stage between pre-cancer and cancer, but molecular and biological mechanisms controlling its transformation to malignancy are underdetermined. Here, we discover the crucial role of the actin stabilization and exosome secretion-regulatory protein cortactin in dysplastic cell transformation to adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

We engineered a CRISPR/Cas9-based cortactin knock-out (KO) dysplasia organoid model established from dysplastic tissue and examined malignant roles of cortactin during gastric cancer development in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

Although dysplastic cell identity remained unchanged, the cortactin KO organoids exhibited a decrease in cellular organization and multicellular protrusions, which are considered aggressive features when observed in vitro. When injected into the flank of nude mice, cortactin KO cells failed malignant transformation into adenocarcinoma and solid tumor formation with reduced recruitment of fibroblasts and macrophages. In addition, cortactin KO cells showed diminished exosome secretion levels, and adenocarcinoma development was impaired when exosome secretion was inhibited in cortactin wild-type dysplastic cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that cortactin is a functional element of membrane dynamics, malignant changes, and exosome secretion in dysplastic cells, and solid gastric tumor formation associated with alteration of the tumor microenvironment.

Autocrine IL-6 drives cell and extracellular matrix anisotropy in scar fibroblasts

Fibrosis is associated with dramatic changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture of unknown etiology. Here we exploit keloid scars as a paradigm to understand fibrotic ECM organization. We reveal that keloid patient fibroblasts uniquely produce a globally aligned ECM network in 2-D culture as observed in scar tissue. ECM anisotropy develops after rapid initiation of a fibroblast supracellular actin network, suggesting that cell alignment initiates ECM patterning. Keloid fibroblasts produce elevated levels of IL-6, and autocrine IL-6 production is both necessary and sufficient to induce cell and ECM alignment, as evidenced by ligand stimulation of normal dermal fibroblasts and treatment of keloid fibroblasts with the function blocking IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, tocilizumab. Downstream of IL-6, supracellular organization of keloid fibroblasts is controlled by activation of cell-cell adhesion. Adhesion formation inhibits contact-induced cellular overlap leading to nematic organization of cells and an alignment of focal adhesions. Keloid fibroblasts placed on isotropic ECM align the pre-existing matrix, suggesting that focal adhesion alignment leads to active anisotropic remodeling. These results show that IL-6-induced fibroblast cooperativity can control the development of a nematic ECM, highlighting both IL-6 signaling and cell-cell adhesions as potential therapeutic targets to inhibit this common feature of fibrosis.

Molecular pathogenicity of 1-nonadecene and L-lactic acid, unique metabolites in radicular cysts and periapical granulomas

Recently, 1-nonadecene and L-lactic acid were identified as unique metabolites in radicular cysts and periapical granuloma, respectively. However, the biological roles of these metabolites were unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the inflammatory and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) effects of 1-nonadecene, and the inflammatory and collagen precipitation effects of L-lactic acid on both periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PdLFs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PdLFs and PBMCs were treated with 1-nonadecene and L-lactic acid. Cytokines' expression was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and macrophage polarization markers were measured using flow cytometry. The collagen, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and released cytokines were measured using collagen assay, western blot, and Luminex assay, respectively. In PdLFs, 1-nonadecene enhances inflammation through the upregulation of some inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12A, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) α. 1-Nonadecene also induced MET through the upregulation of E-cadherin and the downregulation of N-cadherin in PdLFs. 1-Nonadecene polarized macrophages to a pro-inflammatory phenotype and suppressed their cytokines' release. L-lactic acid exerted a differential impact on the inflammation and proliferation markers. Intriguingly, L-lactic acid induced fibrosis-like effects by enhancing collagen synthesis, while inhibiting MMP-1 release in PdLFs. These results provide a deeper understanding of 1-nonadecene and L-lactic acid's roles in modulating the microenvironment of the periapical area. Consequently, further clinical investigation can be employed for target therapy.

Respiratory syncytial virus disrupts the airway epithelial barrier by decreasing cortactin and destabilizing F-actin

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in young children worldwide. Our group recently revealed that RSV infection disrupts the airway epithelial barrier in vitro and in vivo. However, the underlying molecular pathways were still elusive. Here, we report the critical roles of the filamentous actin (F-actin) network and actin-binding protein cortactin in RSV infection. We found that RSV infection causes F-actin depolymerization in 16HBE cells, and that stabilizing the F-actin network in infected cells reverses the epithelial barrier disruption. RSV infection also leads to significantly decreased cortactin in vitro and in vivo. Cortactin-knockout 16HBE cells presented barrier dysfunction, whereas overexpression of cortactin protected the epithelial barrier against RSV. The activity of Rap1 (which has Rap1A and Rap1B forms), one downstream target of cortactin, declined after RSV infection as well as in cortactin-knockout cells. Moreover, activating Rap1 attenuated RSV-induced epithelial barrier disruption. Our study proposes a key mechanism in which RSV disrupts the airway epithelial barrier via attenuating cortactin expression and destabilizing the F-actin network. The identified pathways will provide new targets for therapeutic intervention toward RSV-related disease. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Mind the gap: mechanisms regulating the endothelial barrier

The endothelial barrier consists of intercellular contacts localized in the cleft between endothelial cells, which is covered by the glycocalyx in a sievelike manner. Both types of barrier-forming junctions, i.e. the adherens junction (AJ) serving mechanical anchorage and mechanotransduction and the tight junction (TJ) sealing the intercellular space to limit paracellular permeability, are tethered to the actin cytoskeleton. Under resting conditions, the endothelium thereby builds a selective layer controlling the exchange of fluid and solutes with the surrounding tissue. However, in the situation of an inflammatory response such as in anaphylaxis or sepsis intercellular contacts disintegrate in post-capillary venules leading to intercellular gap formation. The resulting oedema can cause shock and multi-organ failure. Therefore, maintenance as well as coordinated opening and closure of interendothelial junctions is tightly regulated. The two principle underlying mechanisms comprise spatiotemporal activity control of the small GTPases Rac1 and RhoA and the balance of the phosphorylation state of AJ proteins. In the resting state, junctional Rac1 and RhoA activity is enhanced by junctional components, actin-binding proteins, cAMP signalling and extracellular cues such as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1). In addition, phosphorylation of AJ components is prevented by junction-associated phosphatases including vascular endothelial protein tyrosine phosphatase (VE-PTP). In contrast, inflammatory mediators inhibiting cAMP/Rac1 signalling cause strong activation of RhoA and induce AJ phosphorylation finally leading to endocytosis and cleavage of VE-cadherin. This results in dissolution of TJs the outcome of which is endothelial barrier breakdown.

Integrating evolutionary and regulatory information with a multispecies approach implicates genes and pathways in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a severe psychiatric disorder linked to abnormalities in glutamate signaling and the cortico-striatal circuit. We sequenced coding and regulatory elements for 608 genes potentially involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder in human, dog, and mouse. Using a new method that prioritizes likely functional variants, we compared 592 cases to 560 controls and found four strongly associated genes, validated in a larger cohort. NRXN1 and HTR2A are enriched for coding variants altering postsynaptic protein-binding domains. CTTNBP2 (synapse maintenance) and REEP3 (vesicle trafficking) are enriched for regulatory variants, of which at least six (35%) alter transcription factor-DNA binding in neuroblastoma cells. NRXN1 achieves genome-wide significance (p = 6.37 × 10⁻¹¹) when we include 33,370 population-matched controls. Our findings suggest synaptic adhesion as a key component in compulsive behaviors, and show that targeted sequencing plus functional annotation can identify potentially causative variants, even when genomic data are limited.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder with symptoms including intrusive thoughts and time-consuming repetitive behaviors. Here Noh and colleagues identify genes enriched for functional variants associated with increased risk of OCD.

Hypercalcemia induces targeted autophagic degradation of aquaporin-2 at the onset of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

Hypercalcemia can cause renal dysfunction such as nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), but the mechanisms underlying hypercalcemia-induced NDI are not well understood. To elucidate the early molecular changes responsible for this disorder, we employed mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of inner medullary collecting ducts (IMCD) isolated from parathyroid hormone-treated rats at onset of hypercalcemia-induced NDI. Forty-one proteins, including the water channel aquaporin-2, exhibited significant changes in abundance, most of which were decreased. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that many of the downregulated proteins were associated with cytoskeletal protein binding, regulation of actin filament polymerization, and cell-cell junctions. Targeted LC-MS/MS and immunoblot studies confirmed the downregulation of 16 proteins identified in the initial proteomic analysis and in additional experiments using a vitamin D treatment model of hypercalcemia-induced NDI. Evaluation of transcript levels and estimated half-life of the downregulated proteins suggested enhanced protein degradation as the possible regulatory mechanism. Electron microscopy showed defective intercellular junctions and autophagy in the IMCD cells from both vitamin D- and parathyroid hormone-treated rats. A significant increase in the number of autophagosomes was confirmed by immunofluorescence labeling of LC3. Colocalization of LC3 and Lamp1 with aquaporin-2 and other downregulated proteins was found in both models. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed aquaporin-2 in autophagosomes in IMCD cells from both hypercalcemia models. Finally, parathyroid hormone withdrawal reversed the NDI phenotype, accompanied by termination of aquaporin-2 autophagic degradation and normalization of both nonphoshorylated and S256-phosphorylated aquaporin-2 levels. Thus, enhanced autophagic degradation of proteins plays an important role in the initial mechanism of hypercalcemic-induced NDI.

Automated tracking of tumor-stroma morphology in microtissues identifies functional targets within the tumor microenvironment for therapeutic intervention

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) constitute an important part of the tumor microenvironment and promote invasion via paracrine functions and physical impact on the tumor. Although the importance of including CAFs into three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures has been acknowledged, computational support for quantitative live-cell measurements of complex cell cultures has been lacking. Here, we have developed a novel automated pipeline to model tumor-stroma interplay, track motility and quantify morphological changes of 3D co-cultures, in real-time live-cell settings. The platform consists of microtissues from prostate cancer cells, combined with CAFs in extracellular matrix that allows biochemical perturbation. Tracking of fibroblast dynamics revealed that CAFs guided the way for tumor cells to invade and increased the growth and invasiveness of tumor organoids. We utilized the platform to determine the efficacy of inhibitors in prostate cancer and the associated tumor microenvironment as a functional unit. Interestingly, certain inhibitors selectively disrupted tumor-CAF interactions, e.g. focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitors specifically blocked tumor growth and invasion concurrently with fibroblast spreading and motility. This complex phenotype was not detected in other standard in vitro models. These results highlight the advantage of our approach, which recapitulates tumor histology and can significantly improve cancer target validation in vitro.

Identification of a shootin1 isoform expressed in peripheral tissues

Shootin1 is a brain-specific cytoplasmic protein involved in neuronal polarity formation and axon outgrowth. It accumulates at the leading edge of axonal growth cones, where it mediates the mechanical coupling between F-actin retrograde flow and cell adhesions as a clutch molecule, thereby producing force for axon outgrowth. In this study, we report a novel splicing isoform of shootin1 which is expressed not only in the brain but also in peripheral tissues. We have renamed the brain-specific shootin1 as shootin1a and termed the novel isoform as shootin1b. Immunoblot and immunohistochemical analyses with a shootin1b-specific antibody revealed that shootin1b is distributed in various mouse tissues including the lung, liver, stomach, intestines, spleen, pancreas, kidney and skin. Interestingly, shootin1b immunoreactivity was widely detected in epithelial cells that constitute simple and stratified epithelia; in some cells, it colocalized with E-cadherin and cortactin at cell-cell contact sites. Shootin1b also localized in dendritic cells in the spleen. These results suggest that shootin1b may function in various peripheral tissues including epithelial cells.

Dynamic interplay between adhesion surfaces in carcinomas: Cell-cell and cell-matrix crosstalk

Cell-cell and cell-matrix signaling and communication between adhesion sites involve mechanisms which are required for cellular functions during normal development and homeostasis; however these cellular functions and mechanisms are often deregulated in cancer. Aberrant signaling at cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion sites often involves downstream mediators including Rho GTPases and tyrosine kinases. This review discusses these molecules as putative mediators of cellular crosstalk between cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion sites, in addition to their attractiveness as therapeutic targets in cancer. Interestingly, inter-junctional crosstalk mechanisms are frequently typified by the way in which bacterial and viral pathogens opportunistically infect or intoxicate mammalian cells. This review therefore also discusses the concept of learning from pathogen-host interaction studies to better understand coordinated communication between cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion sites, in addition to highlighting the potential therapeutic usefulness of exploiting pathogens or their products to tap into inter-junctional crosstalk. Taken together, we feel that increased knowledge around mechanisms of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion site crosstalk and consequently a greater understanding of their therapeutic targeting offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the emerging molecular revolution in cancer biology.

Transcriptional control of cardiac fibroblast plasticity

Cardiac fibroblasts help maintain the normal architecture of the healthy heart and are responsible for scar formation and the healing response to pathological insults. Various genetic, biomechanical, or humoral factors stimulate fibroblasts to become contractile smooth muscle-like cells called myofibroblasts that secrete large amounts of extracellular matrix. Unfortunately, unchecked myofibroblast activation in heart disease leads to pathological fibrosis, which is a major risk factor for the development of cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control fibroblast plasticity and myofibroblast activation is essential to develop novel strategies to specifically target pathological cardiac fibrosis without disrupting the adaptive healing response. This review highlights the major transcriptional mediators of fibroblast origin and function in development and disease. The contribution of the fetal epicardial gene program will be discussed in the context of fibroblast origin in development and following injury, primarily focusing on Tcf21 and C/EBP. We will also highlight the major transcriptional regulatory axes that control fibroblast plasticity in the adult heart, including transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)/Smad signaling, the Rho/myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF)/serum response factor (SRF) axis, and Calcineurin/transient receptor potential channel (TRP)/nuclear factor of activated T-Cell (NFAT) signaling. Finally, we will discuss recent strategies to divert the fibroblast transcriptional program in an effort to promote cardiomyocyte regeneration. This article is a part of a Special Issue entitled "Fibrosis and Myocardial Remodeling".

Regulation of Endothelial Adherens Junctions by Tyrosine Phosphorylation

Endothelial cells form a semipermeable, regulated barrier that limits the passage of fluid, small molecules, and leukocytes between the bloodstream and the surrounding tissues. The adherens junction, a major mechanism of intercellular adhesion, is comprised of transmembrane cadherins forming homotypic interactions between adjacent cells and associated cytoplasmic catenins linking the cadherins to the cytoskeleton. Inflammatory conditions promote the disassembly of the adherens junction and a loss of intercellular adhesion, creating openings or gaps in the endothelium through which small molecules diffuse and leukocytes transmigrate. Tyrosine kinase signaling has emerged as a central regulator of the inflammatory response, partly through direct phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the adherens junction components. This review discusses the findings that support and those that argue against a direct effect of cadherin and catenin phosphorylation in the disassembly of the adherens junction. Recent findings indicate a complex interaction between kinases, phosphatases, and the adherens junction components that allow a fine regulation of the endothelial permeability to small molecules, leukocyte migration, and barrier resealing.

N-cadherin regulates spatially polarized signals through distinct p120ctn and β-catenin-dependent signalling pathways

The spatial distribution of molecular signals within cells is crucial for cellular functions. Here, as a model to study the polarized spatial distribution of molecular activities, we used cells on micro-patterned strips of fibronectin with one end free and the other end contacting a neighboring cell. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and the small GTPase Rac display greater activity at the free end, whereas myosin II light chain (MLC) and actin filaments are enriched near the intercellular junction. PI3K and Rac polarization depend specifically on the N-cadherin-p120ctn complex, whereas MLC and actin filament polarization depend on the N-cadherin-β-catenin complex. Integrins promote high PI3K/Rac activities at the free end, and the N-cadherin–p120ctn complex excludes integrin α5 at the junctions to suppress local PI3K and Rac activity. We hence conclude that N-cadherin couples with distinct effectors to polarize PI3K/Rac and MLC/actin filaments in migrating cells.

Loss of p47phox subunit enhances susceptibility to biomechanical stress and heart failure because of dysregulation of cortactin and actin filaments

RATIONALE

The classic phagocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (gp91(phox) or Nox2) is expressed in the heart. Nox2 activation requires membrane translocation of the p47(phox) subunit and is linked to heart failure. We hypothesized that loss of p47(phox) subunit will result in decreased reactive oxygen species production and resistance to heart failure.

OBJECTIVE

To define the role of p47(phox) in pressure overload-induced biomechanical stress.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Eight-week-old male p47(phox) null (p47(phox) knockout [KO]), Nox2 null (Nox2KO), and wild-type mice were subjected to transverse aortic constriction-induced pressure overload. Contrary to our hypothesis, p47(phox)KO mice showed markedly worsened systolic dysfunction in response to pressure overload at 5 and 9 weeks after transverse aortic constriction compared with wild-type-transverse aortic constriction mice. We found that biomechanical stress upregulated N-cadherin and β-catenin in p47(phox)KO hearts but disrupted the actin filament cytoskeleton and reduced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. p47(phox) interacts with cytosolic cortactin by coimmunoprecipitation and double immunofluorescence staining in murine and human hearts and translocated to the membrane on biomechanical stress where cortactin interacted with N-cadherin, resulting in adaptive cytoskeletal remodeling. However, p47(phox)KO hearts showed impaired interaction of cortactin with N-cadherin, resulting in loss of biomechanical stress-induced actin polymerization and cytoskeletal remodeling. In contrast, Nox2 does not interact with cortactin, and Nox2-deficient hearts were protected from pressure overload-induced adverse myocardial and intracellular cytoskeletal remodeling.

CONCLUSIONS

We showed a novel role of p47(phox) subunit beyond and independent of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity as a regulator of cortactin and adaptive cytoskeletal remodeling, leading to a paradoxically enhanced susceptibility to biomechanical stress and heart failure.

Divergence of tight and adherens junction factors in alveolar epithelium in pulmonary fibrosis

It has been proposed that an epithelial injury may be one of the multiple primary events in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The aim of this study was to characterize the tight junction and adherens junction proteins in normal human lung, IPF, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, and asbestosis. We determined the immunohistochemical cell-specific expression of tight junction proteins claudin-1, claudin-2, claudin-3, claudin-4, claudin-5, and claudin-7, as well as 3 adherens junction proteins, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and β-catenin. We further analyzed the expression of claudin-1, claudin-3, and claudin-4 and E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and β-catenin at the transcriptional level by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The expression levels of both tight junction and adherens junction proteins were elevated in regenerative alveolar epithelium in pulmonary fibrosis as compared with the expression of these proteins in normal alveolar epithelium. In particular, the expression levels of claudins-1 and claudin-3 were clearly elevated in all diseases. Furthermore, the amounts of adherens junction proteins messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were also all increased in pulmonary fibroses in comparison with healthy controls, with N-cadherin showing the greatest increase in mRNA levels in all diseases. However, the amounts of claudin-1, claudin-3, and claudin-4 mRNAs in fibrotic lung were similar to or even lower than those measured in the healthy controls. It is possible that the diminished capacity to produce claudin mRNAs may be one explanation for poor repair capacity of alveolar epithelial cells in IPF.

High expression of FER tyrosine kinase predicts poor prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

FER tyrosine kinase (FER) has been demonstrated to play a critical role in tumorigenesis and metastasis; however, its potential value as a novel prognostic marker for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear. In 48 paired samples of ccRCCs and normal adjacent tissues (ADTs), real-time PCR was used to evaluate the expression of FER mRNA. The expression of FER protein was assessed in 87 ADTs and 206 samples of ccRCC using immunohistochemical methods. Statistical analysis was used to examine the correlations between the expression levels of FER and the clinical characteristics of ccRCC patients. A significant difference was identified between ccRCC tissues and ADTs in the mRNA levels of FER. Immunohistochemistry analyses revealed higher expression of FER protein in 87 ccRCC samples compared to the paired ADTs. In addition, FER protein expression in 206 ccRCC samples was significantly correlated with tumor size, T stage, N classification, metastasis, recurrence and Fuhrman grade, while associations with age and gender were not identifed. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with high FER levels had a poorer survival outcome compared with those with lower levels. The log-rank test demonstrated that the cumulative survival rates were significantly different between the two groups. The Cox regression analysis indicated that FER expression, N stage and distant metastasis were independent prognostic factors for overall survival of ccRCC patients. Our results indicate that overexpression of FER in tumor tissues predicts a poor prognosis of patients with ccRCC, and FER may serve as a novel prognostic marker for ccRCC.

The cytoskeleton and classical cadherin adhesions

This chapter discusses the biochemical and functional links between classical cadherin adhesion systems and the cytoskeleton. Cadherins are best understood to cooperate with the actin cytoskeleton, but there is increasing evidence for the role of junctional microtubules in regulating cadherin biology. Cadherin adhesions and the junctional cytoskeleton are both highly dynamic systems that undergo continual assembly, turnover and remodeling, and yet maintain steady state structures necessary for intercellular adhesion. This requires the functional coordination of cadherins and cadherin-binding proteins, actin regulatory proteins, organizers of microtubule assembly and structure, and signaling pathways. These components act in concert to regulate junctional organization in response to extracellular forces and changing cellular contexts, which is essential for intercellular cohesion and tissue integrity.

Corneal endothelial autocrine trophic factor VIP in a mechanism-based strategy to enhance human donor cornea preservation for transplantation

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) are identified as autocrines of human corneal endothelial (CE) cells working in concert to maintain the differentiated state and promote the survival of the corneal endothelium. From VIP gene knockdown study, endogenous VIP is shown to maintain the level of the differentiation marker, the adhesion molecule N-cadherin, CE cell size, shape, and retention, in situ in the human donor corneoscleral explants. Exogenous VIP protects the corneal endothelium against the killing effect of oxidative stress, in part by upholding ATP levels in CE cells dying of oxidative stress-induced injury, allowing them to die of an apoptotic death instead of an acute necrotic one. The switch from the acute necrosis to the programmed cell death (apoptosis) may have allowed the injured CE cell to be rescued by the VIP-upregulated pathways, including those of Bcl-2 and N-cadherin, and resulted in long-term CE cell survival. The endogenous VIP in CE cells is upregulated by CNTF, which is released by CE cells surviving the oxidative stress. The CNTF receptor (CNTFRα) is expressed in CE cells in human donor corneoscleral explant and gradually becomes lost during corneal storage. VIP treatment (10(-8) M, 37 °C, 30 min) prior to storage of freshly dissected human donor corneoscleral explants increases their CE cell CNTFRα level and responsiveness to CNTF in upregulating the gap junctional protein connexin-43 expression. VIP treatment of both fresh and preserved corneoscleral explants reduces CE damage in the corneoscleral explants and in the corneal buttons trephined from them. CE cell loss is a critical risk factor in corneal graft failure at any time in the life of the graft, which can be as late as 5-10 years after an initially successful transplant. A new procedure, Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK), which is superior to the traditional full thickness transplantation in many aspects, nevertheless subjects the corneal endothelium to extensive mechanical forces, resulting in even more pronounced CE cell loss than the traditional technique. Whereas it is known that cells transduce mechanical stress through N-cadherin, stimulation of the N-cadherin pathway increases the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression. Since N-cadherin and Bcl-2 in the corneal endothelium are both upregulated by VIP, we aim to strengthen the CE sheet by VIP treatments of the corneoscleral explants for full thickness traditional corneal transplantation and pre-cut corneas for DSAEK.

Tissue organization by cadherin adhesion molecules: dynamic molecular and cellular mechanisms of morphogenetic regulation

This review addresses the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cadherin-based tissue morphogenesis. Tissue physiology is profoundly influenced by the distinctive organizations of cells in organs and tissues. In metazoa, adhesion receptors of the classical cadherin family play important roles in establishing and maintaining such tissue organization. Indeed, it is apparent that cadherins participate in a range of morphogenetic events that range from support of tissue integrity to dynamic cellular rearrangements. A comprehensive understanding of cadherin-based morphogenesis must then define the molecular and cellular mechanisms that support these distinct cadherin biologies. Here we focus on four key mechanistic elements: the molecular basis for adhesion through cadherin ectodomains, the regulation of cadherin expression at the cell surface, cooperation between cadherins and the actin cytoskeleton, and regulation by cell signaling. We discuss current progress and outline issues for further research in these fields.

Cortactin is required for N-cadherin regulation of Kv1.5 channel function

The intercalated disc serves as an organizing center for various cell surface components at the termini of the cardiomyocyte, thus ensuring proper mechanoelectrical coupling throughout the myocardium. The cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin, is an essential component of the intercalated disc. Cardiac-specific deletion of N-cadherin leads to abnormal electrical conduction and sudden arrhythmic death in mice. The mechanisms linking the loss of N-cadherin in the heart and spontaneous malignant ventricular arrhythmias are poorly understood. To investigate whether ion channel remodeling contributes to arrhythmogenesis in N-cadherin conditional knock-out (N-cad CKO) mice, cardiac myocyte excitability and voltage-gated potassium channel (Kv), as well as inwardly rectifying K(+) channel remodeling, were investigated in N-cad CKO cardiomyocytes by whole cell patch clamp recordings. Action potential duration was prolonged in N-cad CKO ventricle myocytes compared with wild type. Relative to wild type, I(K,slow) density was significantly reduced consistent with decreased expression of Kv1.5 and Kv accessory protein, Kcne2, in the N-cad CKO myocytes. The decreased Kv1.5/Kcne2 expression correlated with disruption of the actin cytoskeleton and reduced cortactin at the sarcolemma. Biochemical experiments revealed that cortactin co-immunoprecipitates with Kv1.5. Finally, cortactin was required for N-cadherin-mediated enhancement of Kv1.5 channel activity in a heterologous expression system. Our results demonstrate a novel mechanistic link among the cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin, the actin-binding scaffold protein, cortactin, and Kv channel remodeling in the heart. These data suggest that in addition to gap junction remodeling, aberrant Kv1.5 channel function contributes to the arrhythmogenic phenotype in N-cad CKO mice.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity is necessary for E-cadherin-activated Src signaling

Co-operation between cadherin adhesion molecules and the cytoskeleton is a key aspect of tissue morphogenesis that is mediated by cortical signaling at adhesive junctions. One such signal is the non-receptor tyrosine kinase, Src, which acts in several pathways at epithelial junctions, including E-cadherin signaling itself. We now present two new insights into junctional Src signaling. Firstly, we report that upstream protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity is required to stimulate E-cadherin-activated Src signaling at junctions. Perturbing PTP activity with vanadate selectively reduced the activity of Src tyrosine kinases at junctions. Moreover, E-cadherin homophilic ligation could not stimulate Src signaling in vanadate-treated cells. Additionally, vanadate treatment phenocopied the effects of Src inhibition on the actin cytoskeleton, suggesting that PTP activity is required for the dynamic regulation of the actin cytoskeleton by cadherin-activated Src signaling. Secondly, we identified a role for PTP-activated Src signaling in supporting apical junctional tension by targeting non-muscle myosin IIB. The linear shape of the apical junctions was lost in PTP- and Src-inhibited cells, and inhibiting Src selectively affected the junctional localization of myosin IIB but not of myosin IIA. We conclude that PTP-activated Src signaling is a possible upstream regulator of myosin IIB at the epithelial zonula adherens.

Cortactin/tyrosine-phosphorylated cortactin interaction with connexin 43 in mouse seminiferous tubules

Deletion of the cortactin gene leads to male infertility. Considering that cortactin is an actin filament (F-actin)-binding protein associated with intercellular junctions, we measured changes in the expression and distribution of cortactin and tyrosine phosphorylated cortactin (P-cortactin) in the seminiferous epithelium of developing and adult mice to address the physiological significance of cortactin to germ cell differentiation. Cortactin was expressed in neonatal and developing Sertoli cells. Cortactin levels decreased early during puberty, while P-cortactin increased. Cortactin labeling was intense in the basal and apical thirds of the epithelium. Sertoli cell cytoplasmic processes facing spermatogonia, preleptotene spermatocytes, and step 8-13 spermatids were intensely labeled by both cortactin and P-cortactin. In contrast, the middle region of Sertoli cells exhibited diffuse cortactin labeling but no P-cortactin. This is consistent with the view that plasma membrane segments facing germ cells are part of the continuum of Sertoli cell junctional complexes that extend over lateral and apical membranes of supporting cells. Moreover, F-actin and P-cortactin share a common location in the seminiferous epithelium. The increased P-cortactin levels detected during puberty may be related to the modulatory effect of cortactin tyrosine phosphorylation on actin assembly at sites of selected Sertoli cell-germ cell contacts. Cortactin and connexin 43 (Cx43) were physically linked in seminiferous tubule homogenates and their colocalization in the basal and apical thirds of the seminiferous epithelium was stage-dependent. Our results suggest that cortactin-Cx43 interaction helps coordinate formation of cell-to-cell junctions and organization of the subsurface actin cytoskeleton in specific regions of the epithelium.

Overexpression of cortactin increases invasion potential in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Cortactin, an F-actin binding protein, stabilizes F-actin networks and promotes actin polymerization by activating the Arp2/3 complex. Overexpression of cortactin has been reported in several human cancers. Cortactin stimulates cell migration, invasion, and experimental metastasis. However, the underlying mechanism is not still understood. In the present study, we therefore evaluated the possibility that cortactin could be appropriate as a molecular target for cancer gene therapy. In 70 primary oral squamous cell carcinomas and 10 normal oral mucosal specimens, cortactin expression was evaluated by immunological analyses, and the correlations of the overexpression of cortactin with clinicopathologic factors were evaluated. Overexpression of cortactin was detected in 32 of 70 oral squamous cell carcinomas; significantly more frequently than in normal oral mucosa. Cortactin overexpression was more frequent in higher grade cancers according to T classification, N classifications, and invasive pattern. Moreover, RNAi-mediated decrease in cortactin expression reduced invasion. Downregulation of cortactin expression increased the expression levels of E-cadherin, β-catenin, and EpCAM. The siRNA of cortactin also reduced PTHrP expression via EGF signaling. These results consistently indicate that the overexpression of cortactin is strongly associated with an aggressive phenotype of oral squamous cell carcinoma. In conclusion, we propose that cortactin could be a potential molecular target of gene therapy by RNAi targeting in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Generation of cortactin floxed mice and cellular analysis of motility in fibroblasts

Cortactin is an F-actin binding protein that has been suggested to play key roles in various cellular functions. Here, we generated mice carrying floxed alleles of the cortactin (Cttn) gene (Cttn(flox/flox) mice). Expression of Cre recombinase in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from Cttn(flox/flox) embryos depleted cortactin within days, without disturbing F-actin distribution and localization of multiple actin-binding proteins. Cre-mediated deletion of Cttn also did not affect cell migration. To obtain mice with a Cttn null allele, we next crossed Cttn(flox/flox) mice with transgenic mice that express Cre recombinase ubiquitously. Western blot and immunocytochemical analysis confirmed complete elimination of cortactin expression in MEFs carrying homozygously Cttn null alleles. However, we found no marked alteration of F-actin organization and cell migration in Cttn null-MEFs. Thus, our results indicate that depletion of cortactin in MEFs does not profoundly influence actin-dependent cell motility.

Rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton and E-cadherin-based adherens junctions caused by neoplasic transformation change cell-cell interactions

E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion, which is essential for the maintenance of the architecture and integrity of epithelial tissues, is often lost during carcinoma progression. To better understand the nature of alterations of cell-cell interactions at the early stages of neoplastic evolution of epithelial cells, we examined the line of nontransformed IAR-2 epithelial cells and their descendants, lines of IAR-6-1 epithelial cells transformed with dimethylnitrosamine and IAR1170 cells transformed with N-RasG12D. IAR-6-1 and IAR1170 cells retained E-cadherin, displayed discoid or polygonal morphology, and formed monolayers similar to IAR-2 monolayer. Fluorescence staining, however, showed that in IAR1170 and IAR-6-1 cells the marginal actin bundle, which is typical of nontransformed IAR-2 cells, disappeared, and the continuous adhesion belt (tangential adherens junctions (AJs)) was replaced by radially oriented E-cadherin-based AJs. Time-lapse imaging of IAR-6-1 cells stably transfected with GFP-E-cadherin revealed that AJs in transformed cells are very dynamic and unstable. The regulation of AJ assembly by Rho family small GTPases was different in nontransformed and in transformed IAR epithelial cells. As our experiments with the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 and the myosin II inhibitor blebbistatin have shown, the formation and maintenance of radial AJs critically depend on myosin II-mediated contractility. Using the RNAi technique for the depletion of mDia1 and loading cells with N17Rac, we established that mDia1 and Rac are involved in the assembly of tangential AJs in nontransformed epithelial cells but not in radial AJs in transformed cells. Neoplastic transformation changed cell-cell interactions, preventing contact paralysis after the establishment of cell-cell contact and promoting dynamic cell-cell adhesion and motile behavior of cells. It is suggested that the disappearance of the marginal actin bundle and rearrangements of AJs may change the adhesive function of E-cadherin and play an active role in migratory activity of carcinoma cells.

Identification of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins associated with metastasis and functional analysis of FER in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Aberrant activity of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins is commonly associated with HCC metastasis. Cell signaling events driven by these proteins are implicated in numerous processes that alter cancer cell behavior. Exploring the activities and signaling pathways of these proteins in HCC metastasis may help in identifying new candidate molecules for HCC-targeted therapy.

METHODS

Hep3B (a nonmetastatic HCC cell line) and MHCC97H (a highly metastatic HCC cell line) were used in this study, and the tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins expressed in these cell lines were profiled by a phosphoproteomics technique based on LC-MS/MS. Protein-protein interaction and functional clustering analyses were performed to determine the activities of the identified proteins and the signaling pathways closely related to HCC metastasis.

RESULTS

In both cell lines, a total of 247 phosphotyrosine (pTyr) proteins containing 281 pTyr sites were identified without any stimulation. The involvement of almost 30% of these in liver or liver cancer has not been reported previously. Biological process clustering analysis indicated that pTyr proteins involved in cell motility, migration, protein autophosphorylation, cell-cell communication, and antiapoptosis functions were overexpressed during metastasis. Pathway clustering analysis revealed that signaling pathways such as those involved in EGFR signaling, cytokine- and chemokine-mediated signal transduction, and the PI3K and JAK-STAT cascades were significantly activated during HCC metastasis. Moreover, noncanonical regulation of the JNK cascade might also provide new targets for HCC metastasis. After comparing the pTyr proteins that were differentially expressed during HCC cell metastasis, we selected FER, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, and validated its role in terms of both expression and function. The data confirmed that FER might play a critical role in the invasion and metastasis of HCC.

CONCLUSION

The identification of pTyr proteins and signaling pathways associated with HCC metastasis could provide useful information for selecting new molecular intervention targets. Moreover, FER might serve as a novel drug target in future HCC therapy.

Cortactin is a functional target of E-cadherin-activated Src family kinases in MCF7 epithelial monolayers

Src family kinases (SFKs) signal in response to E-cadherin to support cadherin adhesion and the integrity of cell-cell contacts (McLachlan, R. W., Kraemer, A., Helwani, F. M., Kovacs, E. M., and Yap, A. S. (2007) Mol. Biol. Cell 18, 3214-3223). We now identify the actin-regulatory protein, cortactin, as a target of E-cadherin-activated SFK signaling. Tyr-phosphorylated cortactin was found at cell-cell contacts in established epithelial monolayers, and cortactin became acutely tyrosine-phosphorylated when E-cadherin adhesion was engaged. In all circumstances, cortactin tyrosine phosphorylation was blocked by inhibiting SFK signaling. Importantly, Tyr-phosphorylated cortactin was necessary to preserve the integrity of cadherin contacts and the perijunctional actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, expression of a phosphomimetic cortactin mutant could prevent SFK blockade from disrupting cadherin organization, thereby placing cortactin functionally downstream of SFK signaling at cadherin adhesions. We conclude that SFK and cortactin constitute an important signaling pathway that functionally links E-cadherin adhesion and the actin cytoskeleton.

Role of the protein tyrosine kinase Syk in regulating cell-cell adhesion and motility in breast cancer cells

The expression of the Syk protein tyrosine kinase in breast cancer cells is inversely correlated with invasive growth and metastasis. The expression of Syk inhibits cell motility while supporting the formation of cell clusters by enhancing cell-cell contacts and promoting the redistribution of the adhesion proteins cortactin and vinculin to these contacts. Syk associates physically with cortactin and catalyzes its phosphorylation on tyrosine. The clustering of integrins leads to the phosphorylation of Syk and of numerous cellular proteins in a manner dependent on the activity of the kinase and on the presence of tyrosine 342 located in the linker B region. The ability of Syk to participate in integrin-mediated protein tyrosine phosphorylation correlates well with its ability to inhibit cell motility.

Changes in regulation of cell-cell adhesion during tumor transformation

Cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion defines the integrity of most tissues. Cell-cell adherens junctions are dynamic structures whose functional state is regulated by interactions of cadherin with beta-catenin, p120, and actin cytoskeleton structures. Small GTPases of the Rho family and GTPase Rap1 play the central role in the formation and maintenance of cell-cell adhesion. Aberrant activation of signaling pathways, transcriptional repression of the E-cadherin gene, ectopic expression of N-cadherin, and disturbances in regulation of adhesive and transcriptional functions of beta-catenin stimulate tumor progression.

VIP and VIP gene silencing modulation of differentiation marker N-cadherin and cell shape of corneal endothelium in human corneas ex vivo

PURPOSE

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is expressed by corneal endothelial (CE) cells and is present in the aqueous humor, which bathes CE cells in vivo. This study demonstrated the role of CE cell VIP in maintaining the expression level of a CE differentiation marker, N-cadherin, and the hexagonal cell shape.

METHODS

To determine the most effective VIP concentration, bovine corneoscleral explants were treated with 0 (control) and 10(-12) to 10(-6) M VIP. Paired human corneas (nine donors) from an eye bank were used as control; the other corneas were treated with VIP. To silence endogenous VIP, paired fresh human donor corneas (from seven cadavers) were transduced with VIP shRNA or the control lentiviral particles and then bisected/quartered for quantitative analysis by semiquantitative RT-PCR (for mRNA) and Western blot analysis/immunocytochemistry (for protein), whereas alizarin red S staining revealed CE cell shape.

RESULTS

VIP concentration dependently increased bovine CE cell N-cadherin mRNA levels, with the maximal effect observed between 10(-10) (1.47 +/- 0.06-fold; P = 0.002) and 10(-8) M VIP (1.48 +/- 0.18-fold; P = 0.012). VIP (10(-8) M) treatment increased N-cadherin protein levels in bovine and human CE cells to 1.98 +/- 0.28-fold (P = 0.005) and 1.17 +/- 0.10 (range, 0.91-1.87)-fold (P = 0.050) of their respective controls. VIP antagonist (SN)VIPhyb diminished the VIP effect. VIP silencing resulted in deterioration of the hexagonal cell shape and decreased levels of VIP protein and mRNA, N-cadherin (but not connexin-43) mRNA and protein, and the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein.

CONCLUSIONS

Through its autocrine VIP, CE cells play an active role in maintaining the differentiated state and suppressing apoptosis in the corneal endothelium in situ.

Homotypic and endothelial cell adhesions via N-cadherin determine polarity and regulate migration of vascular smooth muscle cells

Migration of smooth muscle cells from the arterial media to the intima is central to several vascular pathologies including restenosis. This study demonstrates that, like directional migration of other cells, smooth muscle migration is accompanied by a dramatic, polarized reorganization of the cell cytoskeleton that is accompanied by activation of the Rho GTPase Cdc42 and inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta. We also show, for the first time, that signals generated at the posterior-lateral aspects of wound edge cells by the cell-cell adhesion molecule N-cadherin are required for polarization and rapid migration of vascular smooth muscle. Importantly, when a cohort of migrating smooth muscle cells encounter CHO cells or the A10 smooth muscle cell line, neither of which expresses N-cadherin, polarity is only slightly suppressed. However, when smooth muscle cells encounter stably transfected, N-cadherin-expressing A10 cells or (N-cadherin-expressing) vascular endothelium, they rapidly lose their polarized phenotype. The latter finding indicates that endothelial signaling to innermost smooth muscle cells via N-cadherin may be critical to normal vessel wall stability. We infer that asymmetrical distribution of N-cadherin is necessary for the establishment of cell polarity during migration and that N-cadherin ligation is highly effective in abrogating polarized migration. Finally, we showed that endothelial cell polarity does not depend on N-cadherin; therefore, this molecule may be an attractive target for therapies to prevent restenosis without suppressing endothelial repair and risking late thrombosis.

Cortactin in tumor invasiveness

Cortactin is a cytoskeletal protein and src kinase substrate that is frequently overexpressed in cancer. Animal studies suggest that cortactin overexpression increases tumor aggressiveness, possibly through promotion of tumor invasion and metastasis. Recently, many studies have documented a role for cortactin in promoting cell motility and invasion, including a critical role in invadopodia, actin rich-subcellular protrusions associated with degradation of the extracellular matrix by cancer cells. Here, I review the evidence and potential mechanisms for cortactin as a critical mediator of tumor cell invasion.

A molecular clutch between the actin flow and N-cadherin adhesions drives growth cone migration

The adhesion molecule N-cadherin plays important roles in the development of the nervous system, in particular by stimulating axon outgrowth, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect are mostly unknown. One possibility, the so-called "molecular clutch" model, could involve a direct mechanical linkage between N-cadherin adhesion at the membrane and intracellular actin-based motility within neuronal growth cones. Using live imaging of primary rat hippocampal neurons plated on N-cadherin-coated substrates and optical trapping of N-cadherin-coated microspheres, we demonstrate here a strong correlation between growth cone velocity and the mechanical coupling between ligand-bound N-cadherin receptors and the retrograde actin flow. This relationship holds by varying ligand density and expressing mutated N-cadherin receptors or small interfering RNAs to perturb binding to catenins. By restraining microsphere motion using optical tweezers or a microneedle, we further show slippage of cadherin-cytoskeleton bonds at low forces, and, at higher forces, local actin accumulation, which strengthens nascent N-cadherin contacts. Together, these data support a direct transmission of actin-based traction forces to N-cadherin adhesions, through catenin partners, driving growth cone advance and neurite extension.

Impaired intercellular adhesion and immature adherens junctions in merlin-deficient human primary schwannoma cells

Schwannomas that occur spontaneously or in patients with neurofibromatosis Type 2, lack both alleles for the tumor suppressor and plasma membrane-cytoskeleton linker merlin. We have shown that human primary schwannoma cells display activation of the RhoGTPases Rac1 and Cdc42 which results in highly dynamic and ongoing protrusive activity like ruffling. Ruffling is an initial and temporally limited step in the formation of intercellular contacts like adherens junctions that are based on the cadherin-catenin system. We tested if there is a connection between Rac1-induced ongoing ruffling and the maintenance, stabilization and functionality of adherens junctions and if this is of relevance in human, merlin-deficient schwannoma cells. We show intense ongoing ruffling is not limited to membranes of single human primary schwannoma cells, but occurs also in membranes of contacting cells, even when confluent. Live cell imaging shows that newly formed contacts are released after a short time, suggesting disturbed formation or stabilization of adherens junctions. Morphology, high phospho-tyrosine levels and cortactin staining indicate that adherens junctions are immature in human primary schwannoma cells, whereas they display characteristics of mature adherens junctions in human primary Schwann cells. When merlin is reintroduced, human primary schwannoma cells show only initial ruffling in contacting cells and adherens junctions appear more mature. We therefore propose that ongoing Rac-induced ruffling causes immature adherens junctions and leads to impaired, nonfunctional intercellular adhesion in aggregation assays in merlin-deficient schwannoma cells that could be an explanation for increased proliferation rates due to loss of contact inhibition or tumor development in general.

Osteopontin expression is required for myofibroblast differentiation

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional cytokine that is strongly expressed in healing wounds and fibrotic lesions, both of which are characterized by the formation of myofibroblasts. We examined the role of OPN in myofibroblast differentiation induced by the profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor-beta1. In cultured cardiac or dermal fibroblasts treated with transforming growth factor-beta1, there was a 2- to 5-fold increase in the expression of the myofibroblast markers alpha-smooth muscle actin and extradomain A fibronectin but no significant increase of these proteins in OPN-null fibroblasts. Phalloidin staining for actin filaments and immunostaining for alpha-smooth muscle actin and focal adhesion proteins showed reduced stress fibers, focal adhesions, and lamellipodia in OPN-null fibroblasts compared with wild-type cells. OPN-null fibroblasts exhibited 40% to 60% less spreading, 50% less resistance to detachment by shear force, and a approximately 3-fold reduction in collagen gel contraction. These defects were partially rescued by ectopic expression of OPN. Mass spectrometric analysis of proteins in focal adhesions formed on collagen type I beads revealed an enrichment of HMGB1 protein in wild-type cells, whereas HMGB1 was not detected in OPN-null cells. Treatment of wild-type cells with small interfering RNA to knock down OPN reduced transforming growth factor-beta1-induced alpha-smooth muscle actin and HMGB1 to levels observed in OPN-null cells. These studies demonstrate that OPN is required for the differentiation and activity of myofibroblasts formed in response to the profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor-beta1.

Mammalian diaphanous-related formin Dia1 controls the organization of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell junctions

The formin-homology protein Dia1 is a target of RhoA and a potent activator of nucleation and elongation of actin filaments. Here, we demonstrate that short-hairpin (sh) RNA-mediated downregulation of Dia1 in human MCF7 epithelial cells disrupts adherens junctions, as manifested by the significantly decreased localization of E-cadherin and associated proteins to cell-cell contacts. Expression of mouse Dia1, which is insensitive to the human Dia1-specific shRNA, rescued the junctional integrity. Coexpression of GFP-tagged Dia1 and a constitutively active RhoA mutant, RhoA-V14, resulted in localization of the exogenous GFP-Dia1 to the cell-cell junctions. This localization was accompanied by a strong increase in the width of the adhesion zone and augmentation of the actin, E-cadherin and beta-catenin content of the junctions. A constitutively active Dia1 mutant lacking the N-terminal portion was unable to localize to cell-cell junctions and did not show any junction-strengthening effect. The adherens junction enhancement induced by Dia1 and active RhoA did not require microtubules, but depended on the activity of myosin II. Inhibition of myosin II activity abolished the Dia1-mediated reinforcement of cell-cell junctions and instead induced the formation of numerous actin-rich filopodia at the contact zone. Thus, Dia1 localizes to and controls cadherin-mediated junctions in a RhoA-dependent manner.

Nucleation and growth of cadherin adhesions

Cell-cell contact formation relies on the recruitment of cadherin molecules and their anchoring to actin. However, the precise chronology of events from initial cadherin trans-interactions to adhesion strengthening is unclear, in part due to the lack of access to the distribution of cadherins within adhesion zones. Using N-cadherin expressing cells interacting with N-cadherin coated surfaces, we characterized the formation of cadherin adhesions at the ventral cell surface. TIRF and RIC microscopies revealed streak-like accumulations of cadherin along actin fibers. FRAP analysis indicated that engaged cadherins display a slow turnover at equilibrium, compatible with a continuous addition and removal of cadherin molecules within the adhesive contact. Association of cadherin cytoplasmic tail to actin as well as actin cables and myosin II activity are required for the formation and maintenance of cadherin adhesions. Using time lapse microscopy we deciphered how cadherin adhesions form and grow. As lamellipodia protrude, cadherin foci stochastically formed a few microns away from the cell margin. Neo-formed foci coalesced aligned and coalesced with preformed foci either by rearward sliding or gap filling to form cadherin adhesions. Foci experienced collapse at the rear of cadherin adhesions. Based on these results, we present a model for the nucleation, directional growth and shrinkage of cadherin adhesions.

Src phosphorylation of cortactin enhances actin assembly

Src kinase mediates growth factor signaling and causes oncogenic transformation, which includes dramatic changes in the actin cytoskeleton, cell shape, and motility. Cortactin was discovered as a substrate for Src. How phosphorylation of cortactin can enhance actin assembly is unknown. Here, using an actin assembly system reconstituted from purified components, we demonstrate for the first time a biochemical mechanism by which Src phosphorylation of cortactin affects actin assembly. The adaptor Nck is an important component of the system, linking phosphorylated cortactin with neuronal WASp (N-WASp) and WASp-interacting protein (WIP) to activate Arp2/3 complex.

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate produced by PIP5KIgamma regulates gelsolin, actin assembly, and adhesion strength of N-cadherin junctions

Phosphoinositides regulate several actin-binding proteins but their role at intercellular adhesions has not been defined. We found that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) was generated at sites of N-cadherin-mediated intercellular adhesion and was a critical regulator of intercellular adhesion strength. Immunostaining for PI(4,5)P2 or transfection with GFP-PH-PLCdelta showed that PI(4,5)P2 was enriched at sites of N-cadherin adhesions and this enrichment required activated Rac1. Isoform-specific immunostaining for type I phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5 kinase (PIP5KI) showed that PIP5KIgamma was spatially associated with N-cadherin-Fc beads. Association of PIP5KIgamma with N-cadherin adhesions was in part dependent on the activation of RhoA. Transfection with catalytically inactive PIP5KIgamma blocked the enrichment of PI(4,5)P2 around beads. Catalytically inactive PIP5KIgamma or a cell-permeant peptide that mimics and competes for the PI(4,5)P2-binding region of the actin-binding protein gelsolin inhibited incorporation of actin monomers in response to N-cadherin ligation and reduced intercellular adhesion strength by more than twofold. Gelsolin null fibroblasts transfected with a gelsolin severing mutant containing an intact PI(4,5)P2 binding region, demonstrated intercellular adhesion strength similar to wild-type transfected controls. We conclude that PIP5KIgamma-mediated generation of PI(4,5)P2 at sites of N-cadherin contacts regulates intercellular adhesion strength, an effect due in part to PI(4,5)P2-mediated regulation of gelsolin.

Force-induced polarized mitosis of endothelial and smooth muscle cells in arterial remodeling

Arteries display highly directional growth and remodeling that are specific to increases in the mechanical loads imposed on them by blood pressure, blood flow, and lengthwise tensile forces that are transmitted from the tissues to which they are attached. This study examined the effect of mechanical forces on the direction in which mitosis delivers daughter cells, as a mechanism for directional growth. Lateral forces were imposed on surface integrins of cultured endothelial cells by seeding the cells with arginine-glycine-aspartate peptide-coated magnetic microspheres and applying a magnetic field. Video images revealed that the mitotic axis of dividing cells became highly biased in the direction of applied force. Distribution of cortactin, which participates in polarized mitoses driven by other stimuli, was highly sensitive to mechanical loading and interfering with cortactin function arrested cell growth. Smooth muscle cell mitoses also proved to be sensitive to mechanical force: when lengthwise force imposed on rabbit carotid arteries was altered by excision of a vessel segment and reanastomosis of the cut ends, direction of mitosis was dramatically altered. These findings indicate that influences of mechanical force can modulate the manner in which mitosis of vascular cells contributes to reorganization of arterial wall tissue.

N-cadherin as a therapeutic target in cancer

During tumor progression, cancer cells undergo dramatic changes in the expression profile of adhesion molecules resulting in detachment from original tissue and acquisition of a highly motile and invasive phenotype. A hallmark of this change, also referred to as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, is the loss of E- (epithelial) cadherin and the de novo expression of N- (neural) cadherin adhesion molecules. N-cadherin promotes tumor cell survival, migration and invasion, and a high level of its expression is often associated with poor prognosis. N-cadherin is also expressed in endothelial cells and plays an essential role in the maturation and stabilization of normal vessels and tumor-associated angiogenic vessels. Increasing experimental evidence suggests that N-cadherin is a potential therapeutic target in cancer. A peptidic N-cadherin antagonist (ADH-1) has been developed and has entered clinical testing. In this review, the authors discuss the biochemical and functional features of N-cadherin, its potential role in cancer and angiogenesis, and summarize the preclinical and clinical results achieved with ADH-1.

Not so simple: the complexity of phosphotyrosine signaling at cadherin adhesive contacts

Cadherin cell-cell adhesion critically determines tissue organization and integrity in many organs of the body. Cadherin function influences patterning and morphogenesis while cadherin dysfunction contributes to disease, notably tumor invasion and metastasis. Cell signaling events are intimately linked with cadherin function; it is increasingly apparent that not only do cellular signals regulate cadherin function, but cadherins can also, in turn, modulate cell signaling itself. In this review, we discuss the complex interrelationship between phosphotyrosine-based cell signaling and cadherin adhesion. We focus on the interplay of events that occur at the cell surface and address three issues: the diverse mechanisms that activate phosphotyrosine signaling at cadherin cell-cell contacts, the functional impact of such signaling for cadherin adhesion, and the emerging capacity for cadherins to regulate growth factor signaling.

Rho-family small GTPases are involved in forskolin-induced cell-cell contact formation of renal glomerular podocytes in vitro

Intercellular adhesions between renal glomerular epithelial cells (also called podocytes) are necessary for the proper function of the glomerular filtration barrier. Although our knowledge of the molecular composition of podocyte cell-cell contact sites has greatly progressed, the underlying molecular mechanism regulating the formation of these cell-cell contacts remains largely unknown. We have used forskolin, an activator of adenylyl cyclase that elevates the level of intracellular cAMP, to investigate the effect of cAMP and three Rho-family small GTPases (RhoA, Cdc42, and Rac1) on the regulation of cell-cell contact formation in a murine podocyte cell line. Transmission electron microscopy and the immunostaining of cell adhesion molecules and actin-associated proteins have revealed a structural change at the site of cell-cell contact following forskolin treatment. The activity of the Rho-family small GTPases before and after forskolin treatment has been evaluated with a glutathione-S-transferase pull-down assay. Forskolin reinforces the integrity of cell-cell contacts, resulting in the closure of an intercellular adhesion zipper, accompanied by a redistribution of cell adhesion molecules and actin-associated proteins in a continuous linear pattern at cell-cell contacts. The Rho-family small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42 are activated during closure of the adhesion zipper, whereas RhoA is suppressed. Thus, cAMP promotes the assembly of cell-cell contacts between podocytes via a mechanism that probably involves Rho-family small GTPases.

Beyond the epithelium: Cadherin function in fibrous connective tissues

In fibrous connective tissues, fibroblasts are organized into syncytia, cellular networks that enable matrix remodeling and that are interconnected by intercellular adherens junctions (AJs). The AJs of fibroblasts are mediated by N-cadherin, a broadly expressed classical cadherin that is critically involved in developmental processes, wound healing and several diseases of mesenchymal tissues. In contrast to E-cadherin-dependent junctions of epithelia, the formation of AJs in fibrous connective tissues is relatively uncharacterized. Work over the last several years has documented an expanding list of molecules which function to regulate N-cadherin mediated junctions such as: Fer, PTP1B, cortactin, calcium, gelsolin, PIP5KIgamma, PIP2, and the Rho family of GTPases. We present an overview on the regulation of N-cadherin-mediated junction formation that highlights recent molecular advances in the field and rationalizes the roles of N-cadherin in connective tissue function.

Cortactin: the gray eminence of the cytoskeleton

Cortactin, an actin filament-binding protein and target of multiple kinases, has emerged as a central element connecting signaling pathways with cytoskeleton restructuring. It is involved in a perplexingly diverse array of cellular processes, including cell motility, invasiveness, synaptogenesis, endocytosis, intercellular contact assembly, and host-pathogen interactions, where the common denominator appears to be a role in the coordination of membrane dynamics with cytoskeletal remodeling. Although in recent years our knowledge about cortactin has increased exponentially, the exact mechanisms underlying its fundamental roles remain to be defined.

Regulation of cell–cell junctions by the cytoskeleton

A major form of animal cell-cell adhesion results from the dynamic association of cadherin molecules, cytosolic catenins and actin microfilaments. Cadherins dynamically regulate the cytoskeleton. In turn, the actin cytoskeleton contributes to cadherin molecule oligomerization at cell contacts and to cell reshaping in response to environmental changes. Over the past two years, this evolutionarily conserved adhesion system has been intensively revisited in both its structural and functional aspects; this is illustrated by the remarkable progress in the determination of physical parameters of cadherin bonds (including force measurement) and the new insights into the role of alpha-catenin and the regulation of actin dynamics at cadherin contacts. Other recent studies uncover the important contribution of acto-myosin, microtubules and cell tension to adherens junction formation, cell differentiation and tissue reshaping/remodeling. An open challenge is now to integrate these new data with the diversity of cadherin adhesive complexes.

Cortactin has an essential and specific role in osteoclast actin assembly

Osteoclasts are essential for bone dynamics and calcium homeostasis. The cells form a tight seal on the bone surface, onto which they secrete acid and proteases to resorb bone. The seal is associated with a ring of actin filaments. Cortactin, a c-Src substrate known to promote Arp2/3-mediated actin assembly in vitro, is expressed in osteoclasts and localizes to the sealing ring. To address the role of cortactin and actin assembly in osteoclasts, we depleted cortactin by RNA interference. Cortactin-depleted osteoclasts displayed a complete loss of bone resorption with no formation of sealing zones. On nonosteoid surfaces, osteoclasts flatten with a dynamic, actin-rich peripheral edge that contains podosomes, filopodia, and lamellipodia. Cortactin depletion led to a specific loss of podosomes, revealing a tight spatial compartmentalization of actin assembly. Podosome formation was restored in cortactin-depleted cells by expression of wild-type cortactin or a Src homology 3 point mutant of cortactin. In contrast, expression of a cortactin mutant lacking tyrosine residues phosphorylated by Src did not restore podosome formation. Cortactin was found to be an early component of the nascent podosome belt, along with dynamin, supporting a role for cortactin in actin assembly.

p120 catenin and phosphorylation: Mechanisms and traits of an unresolved issue

p120 catenin is a scaffold protein that interacts with cadherin cytoplasmic domain and acts as a crucial component of the signalling that regulates the cycle of adherens junction formation and disassembly. Here, we review the nature of stimuli that modulate p120ctn function and are translated as serine/threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation events at this multisite substrate for a variety of protein kinases. We also highlight recent findings that tentatively link phosphorylation of p120ctn to its role as a signal integrator capable to influence the state of the cadherin adhesive bond, the cytoskeleton and cell motility.

Actin cytoskeleton remodelling in the anterior pituitary folliculostellate cell line TtT/GF: participation of the actin-binding protein cortactin

We have previously shown that the folliculostellate (FS) cells of the anterior pituitary change their shape from stellate (type I) to polygonal (type II) coincidently with variations in the secretory activity of the pituitary. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in this switch in phenotypes, here we studied the impact of serum factors on the morphology of the FS cell line TtT/GF. TtT/GF cells cultured in serum-containing medium displayed elongated shapes and membrane ruffles similarly to type I cells. Serum deprivation caused the loss of plasma membrane activity and the acquisition by the cells of a sedentary phenotype and of a polygonal shape typical of type II FS cells. Addition of serum to the starved cells induced the reappearance of membrane raffles and lamellipodia. The switch in phenotypes and the maintenance of a motile phenotype depended on tyrosine kinase but not on Erk activity. Because the transition between phenotypes involved the tyrosine kinase-dependent reorganization of cortical actin filaments, we studied the participation of the actin-binding protein, cortactin, a tyrosine kinase substrate. Cortactin and its tyrosine-phosphorylated form, pY421-cortactin, localized to membrane ruffles and lamellipodia in serum-cultured TtT/GF cells, while they were evenly distributed over the whole cell cortex in serum-starved cells. Serum treatment of starved cells induced a transient increase in pY421-cortactin levels and the clustering of pY421-cortactin in membrane regions where protrusions were developing. Both serum responses were blocked by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Together, the results indicate that the transition from a polygonal to an elongated shape entails the acquisition of a dynamic cortical actin cytoskeleton that involves the tyrosine kinase-dependent phosphorylation of cortactin and the translocation of cortical pY421-cortactin to sites of ruffle formation at the plasma membrane.