Effect of tenascin-X together with vascular endothelial growth factor A on cell proliferation in cultured embryonic hearts

Impairment of corneal epithelial wound healing is association with increased neutrophil infiltration and reactive oxygen species activation in tenascin X-deficient mice

The purpose of the study was to uncover the role of tenascin X in modulation of healing in mouse corneas subjected to epithelium debridement. Healing in corneas with an epithelial defect was evaluated at the levels of gene and protein expression. Wound healing-related mediators and inflammatory cell infiltration were detected by histology, immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR. Tenascin X protein was upregulated in the wounded wild-type (WT) corneal epithelium. The lack of tenascin X impaired closure of an epithelial defect and accelerated infiltration of neutrophils into the wound periphery as compared to the response in WT tissue. Expression of wound healing-related proinflammatory and reparative components, i.e., interleukin-6, transforming growth factor β, matrix metalloproteinases, were unaffected by the loss of tenascin X expression. Marked accumulation of malondialdehyde (a lipid peroxidation-derived product) was observed in KO healing epithelia as compared with its WT counterpart. Neutropenia induced by systemic administration of a specific antibody rescued the impairment of epithelial healing in KO corneas, with reduction of malondialdehyde levels in the epithelial cells. Finally, we showed that a chemical scavenging reactive oxygen species reversed the impairment of attenuation of epithelial repair with a reduction of tissue levels of malondialdehyde. In conclusion, loss of tenascin X prolonged corneal epithelial wound healing and increased neutrophilic inflammatory response to debridement in mice. Tenascin X contributes to the control of neutrophil infiltration needed to support the regenerative response to injury and prevent the oxidative stress mediators from rising to cytotoxic levels.

Loss of tenascin X gene function impairs injury-induced stromal angiogenesis in mouse corneas

To determine the contribution by tenascin X (Tnx) gene expression to corneal stromal angiogenesis, the effects were determined of its loss on this response in TNX knockout (KO) mice. In parallel, the effects of such a loss were evaluated on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) gene and protein expression in fibroblasts and macrophages in cell culture. Histological, immunohistochemical and quantitative RT‐PCR changes determined if Tnx gene ablation on angiogenic gene expression, inflammatory cell infiltration and neovascularization induced by central corneal stromal cauterization. The role was determined of Tnx function in controlling VEGF‐A or TGFβ1 gene expression by comparing their expression levels in ocular fibroblasts and macrophages obtained from wild‐type (WT) and body‐wide Tnx KO mice. Tnx was up‐regulated in cauterized cornea. In Tnx KO, macrophage invasion was attenuated, VEGF‐A and its cognate receptor mRNA expression along with neovascularization were lessened in Tnx KOs relative to the changes occurring in their WT counterpart. Loss of Tnx instead up‐regulated in vivo mRNA expression of anti‐angiogenic VEGF‐B but not VEGF‐A. On the other hand, TGFβ1 mRNA expression declined in Tnx KO cultured ocular fibroblasts. Loss of Tnx gene expression caused VEGF‐A expression to decline in macrophages. Tnx gene expression contributes to promoting TGFβ1 mRNA expression in ocular fibroblasts and VEGF‐A in macrophages, macrophage invasion, up‐regulation of VEGF‐A expression and neovascularization in an injured corneal stroma. On the other hand, it suppresses anti‐angiogenic VEGF‐B mRNA expression in vivo.

Vesicoureteral reflux and the extracellular matrix connection

Primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a common pediatric condition due to a developmental defect in the ureterovesical junction. The prevalence of VUR among individuals with connective tissue disorders, as well as the importance of the ureter and bladder wall musculature for the anti-reflux mechanism, suggest that defects in the extracellular matrix (ECM) within the ureterovesical junction may result in VUR. This review will discuss the function of the smooth muscle and its supporting ECM microenvironment with respect to VUR, and explore the association of VUR with mutations in ECM-related genes.

Genome-wide association study of age-related macular degeneration identifies associated variants in the TNXB-FKBPL-NOTCH4 region of chromosome 6p21.3

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual loss in Western populations. Susceptibility is influenced by age, environmental and genetic factors. Known genetic risk loci do not account for all the heritability. We therefore carried out a genome-wide association study of AMD in the UK population with 893 cases of advanced AMD and 2199 controls. This showed an association with the well-established AMD risk loci ARMS2 (age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2)-HTRA1 (HtrA serine peptidase 1) (P =2.7 × 10(-72)), CFH (complement factor H) (P =2.3 × 10(-47)), C2 (complement component 2)-CFB (complement factor B) (P =5.2 × 10(-9)), C3 (complement component 3) (P =2.2 × 10(-3)) and CFI (P =3.6 × 10(-3)) and with more recently reported risk loci at VEGFA (P =1.2 × 10(-3)) and LIPC (hepatic lipase) (P =0.04). Using a replication sample of 1411 advanced AMD cases and 1431 examined controls, we confirmed a novel association between AMD and single-nucleotide polymorphisms on chromosome 6p21.3 at TNXB (tenascin XB)-FKBPL (FK506 binding protein like) [rs12153855/rs9391734; discovery P =4.3 × 10(-7), replication P =3.0 × 10(-4), combined P =1.3 × 10(-9), odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-1.6] and the neighbouring gene NOTCH4 (Notch 4) (rs2071277; discovery P =3.2 × 10(-8), replication P =3.8 × 10(-5), combined P =2.0 × 10(-11), OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.2-1.4). These associations remained significant in conditional analyses which included the adjacent C2-CFB locus. TNXB, FKBPL and NOTCH4 are all plausible AMD susceptibility genes, but further research will be needed to identify the causal variants and determine whether any of these genes are involved in the pathogenesis of AMD.

Role of matricellular proteins in cardiac tissue remodeling after myocardial infarction

After onset of myocardial infarction (MI), the left ventricle (LV) undergoes a continuum of molecular, cellular, and extracellular responses that result in LV wall thinning, dilatation, and dysfunction. These dynamic changes in LV shape, size, and function are termed cardiac remodeling. If the cardiac healing after MI does not proceed properly, it could lead to cardiac rupture or maladaptive cardiac remodeling, such as further LV dilatation and dysfunction, and ultimately death. Although the precise molecular mechanisms in this cardiac healing process have not been fully elucidated, this process is strictly coordinated by the interaction of cells with their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The components of ECM include basic structural proteins such as collagen, elastin and specialized proteins such as fibronectin, proteoglycans and matricellular proteins. Matricellular proteins are a class of non-structural and secreted proteins that probably exert regulatory functions through direct binding to cell surface receptors, other matrix proteins, and soluble extracellular factors such as growth factors and cytokines. This small group of proteins, which includes osteopontin, thrombospondin-1/2, tenascin, periostin, and secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine, shows a low level of expression in normal adult tissue, but is markedly upregulated during wound healing and tissue remodeling, including MI. In this review, we focus on the regulatory functions of matricellular proteins during cardiac tissue healing and remodeling after MI.

Formation of the coronary vasculature during development

The formation of the coronary vasculature involves a series of carefully regulated temporal events that include vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, arteriogenesis and remodeling. This review explores these events, which begin with the migration of proepicardial cells to form the epicardium and end with postnatal growth and remodeling. Coronary endothelial, smooth muscle and fibroblast cells differentiate via epithelial-mesenchymal transformation; these cells delaminate from the epicardium. Following the formation of a tubular network by endothelial cells, an aortic ring of endothelial cells penetrates the aorta at the left and right aortic cusps to form the two ostia. Smooth muscle cell recruitment occurs rapidly and the coronary artery network begins forming as blood flow is established. Recent studies have identified a number of regulatory molecules that play key roles in epicardial formation and the transformation of its component cells into mesenchyme. Moreover, we are finally gaining some understanding regarding the interplay of angiogenic growth factors in the complex process of establishing the coronary vascular tree. Understanding coronary embryogenesis is important for interventions regarding adult cardiovascular diseases as well as those necessary to correct congenital defects.

Growth factor activation in myocardial vascularization: therapeutic implications

A rapid growth of the coronary vasculature occurs during prenatal and early postnatal periods as precursor cells from the epi- and sub-epicardium differentiate, migrate and form vascular structures (vasculogenesis) which then fuse, branch and in some cases recruit cells to form three tunics (angiogenesis). These processes are tightly controlled by temporally and spatially expressed growth factors which are stimulated by metabolic and mechanical factors. The process of angiogenesis in the myocardium is not limited to developmental periods of life, but may occur when the heart is challenged by enhanced loading conditions or during hypoxia or ischemia. This review focuses on the activation of growth factors by metabolic and mechanical stimuli in the developing heart and in the adult heart undergoing adaptive responses. Experimental studies support the hypotheses that both metabolic (hypoxia) and mechanical (stretch) factors serve as powerful stimuli for the up-regulation of growth factors which facilitate angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. Both hypoxia and stretch are powerful inducers of VEGF and its receptors, and provide for paracrine and autocrine signaling. In addition to the VEGF family, bFGF and angiopoietins play major roles in myocardial vascularization. Sufficient evidence supports the hypothesis that mechanical (e.g., bradycardia) and metabolic (e.g., thyroxine analogs) may provide effective non-invasive angiogenic therapies for the ischemic and post-infarcted heart.

Role of VEGF family members and receptors in coronary vessel formation

The specific roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members and their receptors (VEGFRs) in coronary vessel formation were studied. By using the quail heart explant model, we found that neutralizing antibodies to VEGF-B or VEGF-C inhibited tube formation on the collagen gel more than anti-VEGF-A. Soluble VEGFR-1, a receptor for VEGF-A and -B, inhibited tube formation by 87%, a finding consistent with that of VEGF-B inhibition. In contrast, addition of soluble VEGFR-2, a receptor for VEGF family members A, C, D, and E, inhibited tube formation by only 43%. Acidic FGF-induced tube formation dependency on VEGF was demonstrated by the attenuating effect of a soluble VEGFR-1 and -2 chimera. The localization of VEGF R-2 and R-3 was demonstrated by in situ hybridization of serial sections, which documented marked accumulations of transcripts for both receptors at the base of the truncus arteriosus coinciding with the temporal and spatial formation of the coronary arteries by means of ingrowth of capillary plexuses. This finding suggests that both VEGFR-2 and R-3 may play a role in the formation of the coronary artery roots. In summary, these experiments document a role for multiple members of the VEGF family and their receptors in formation of the coronary vascular bed.

Adhesive defect in extracellular matrix tenascin-X-null fibroblasts: a possible mechanism of tumor invasion

Extracellular matrix tenascin-X (TNX)-null mice, generated by disruption of the Tnx gene, display augmented invasion and metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma tumor cells due to increased activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. In this study, we investigated cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesions using TNX-null fibroblasts and wild-type fibroblasts. TNX-null fibroblasts exhibited a decreased attachment to fibronectin compared with that of wild-type fibroblasts. B16 melanoma cells were cocultured with wild-type or TNX-null fibroblasts, and the adhesion of B16 melanoma to the fibroblasts was assessed. B16 melanoma cells on wild-type fibroblasts proliferated and spread out in a horizontal direction, whereas those on TNX-null fibroblasts overlapped each other rather than migrating horizontally. These overlapping B16 melanoma cells on TNX-null fibroblasts peeled off faster than those on wild-type fibroblasts. To determine whether the decreased cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesions on TNX-null fibroblasts were due to increased MMP activity, the activities of MMPs in wild-type and TNX-null fibroblasts were compared by gelatinolytic assays. The analysis of MMPs from conditioned media demonstrated that almost the same levels of MMP activities were detected between wild-type and TNX-null fibroblasts. However, contrary to our expectations the activities of MMPs from conditioned media of B16 melanoma cells cocultured on TNX-null fibroblasts were rather reduced than those of B16 melanoma cells cocultured on wild-type. We concluded that the absence of TNX in the extracellular environment might play an important role in enhancement of the detachment of B16 melanoma cells.