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Biomedical subjects

G Tarone

Publications and source records attributed to G Tarone.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Cloning of cDNA for a novel mouse membrane glycoprotein (gp42): shared identity to histocompatibility antigens, immunoglobulins and neural-cell adhesion molecules.

A full-length clone encoding a murine membrane glycoprotein, gp42, was selected from a mouse fibroblast cDNA expression library by screening with a polyclonal antiserum. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence indicates that gp42 is a transmembrane protein of 273 aa with a large N-terminal portion exposed outside the cell and a short cytoplasmic domain. Computer assisted analysis shows that gp42 is distinct from previously characterized proteins, but shares a number of structural features with the class II histocompatibility antigens. The sizes of the extracellular domains of gp42 and of class II histocompatibility antigens are similar, the position of four cysteines and the location of several aa residues are conserved. Some of these conserved residues are also present in immunoglobulins (Ig) and in the neural-cell adhesion molecule, thus indicating that gp42 is a new member of the Ig superfamily.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interaction of fibronectin with cultured human endothelial cells: characterization of the specific receptor.

In this study we provide a characterization of the fibronectin (FN) binding to endothelial cells (EC), and we identify the FN binding site on these cells. 125I-FN binding to EC in suspension was time dependent and reached a plateau at 4 h. Cold FN inhibited this interaction in a concentration-dependent way, but vitronectin, fibrinogen, and IgG were poorly effective. About 80% of the total FN associated to EC at the equilibrium was specifically bound; of this, 60% was reversibly bound, while 20% appeared to be internalized. The FN binding was saturable and an apparent dissociation constant of about 0.23 x 10(-6) mol/L and a maximal number of binding sites of about 9.8 x 10(5) was estimated from binding isotherms. Autoradiography data showed that EC-associated 125I-FN was all in high mol wt form that did not enter the gel. We then characterize the FN receptor (FNR) in EC. An antiserum to the FNR isolated from human placenta inhibited FN binding to EC by 89%, and using the immunoblotting technique, it recognized two bands in the EC detergent extract of mol wt 125/160 Kd. This antiserum also recognized the EC membrane protein complex eluted from the FN affinity column by an arg-gly-asp (RGD) peptide. When this complex was included into liposomes, it poorly bound to FN. However, the binding was strikingly increased by addition of Mn in the buffer and was specific for FN in respect to other substrata. These data define the FN binding site in EC and indicate that it is functionally and structurally related to that isolated from human placenta.

Antigens, Surface↗

Inhibition of experimental metastasis of murine fibrosarcoma cells by oligopeptide analogues to the fibronectin cell-binding site.

We have analyzed the effect of the synthetic oligopeptides Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro (GRGDSP) and Gly-Arg-Gly-Glu-Ser-Pro (GRGESP), analogues to the fibronectin cell-binding sequence, on the formation of experimental lung metastasis. SR-BALB were injected alone or in conjunction with GRGDSP or GRGESP in the tail vein of BALB/c mice. Co-injection with GRGESP reduced by approximately 70% the number of metastatic colonies per mouse. However, co-injection with the closely related peptide GRGDSP, containing the conservative substitution Glu/Asp, did not affect metastatic behavior. GRGESP peptide anti-metastatic activity was not due to a toxic effect on tumor cells or on mice. In vitro adhesion assays testing for a possible effect of the peptide on cell-matrix interactions indicated that the GRGESP peptide did not affect cell adhesion to the matrix proteins tested.

Animals↗

Purification of the beta subunit of the fibronectin receptor.

In this work we describe a method for purification of the beta subunit of the mouse fibronectin receptor (GP135). Cellular glycoproteins were isolated from a detergent extract of SR-Balb tumor cell membranes by two steps of affinity chromatography on lentil lectin-Sepharose and wheat-germ-agglutinin--agarose. This material was subsequently bound to an Affi gel 102 column and eluted by increasing salt concentration. Most of the GP135 was eluted at 80 mM sodium chloride together with a few other components. A final step of hydroxyapatite chromatography in sodium dodecyl sulphate allowed elution of GP135 as a single chromatographic peak. Fractions containing GP135 were identified at each chromatographic step by immunoblotting with a specific antiserum. By this procedure GP135 was purified to homogeneity as judged by SDS-PAGE analysis of 125I-labelled material.

Animals↗

Vanadate-treated baby hamster kidney fibroblasts show cytoskeleton and adhesion patterns similar to their Rous sarcoma virus-transformed counterparts.

Rous sarcoma virus-transformed baby hamster kidney fibroblasts (RSV/B4-BHK) adhere to a fibronectin-coated substratum by means of dot-like adhesion sites called podosomes in view of their shape and function as cellular feet (Tarone et al.: Exp Cell Res 159:141, 1985). Podosomes concentrate tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, including pp60v-src, and appear in many cells transformed by oncogenes coding for tyrosine kinases. In this paper we used orthovanadate, an inhibitor of phosphotyrosine phosphatases, in order to increase the cellular concentration of phosphotyrosine and to study whether this treatment induced the cytoskeleton remodeling leading to the formation of podosomes. Indeed, orthovanadate (10-100 microM) induced in a time- and dose-dependent manner the redistribution of F-actin and the formation of podosomes in BHK cells. Cytoskeleton remodeling occurred along with a marked increase of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins. The vanadate effect on the cytoskeletal phenotype was enhanced by the simultaneous treatment of cells with a phorbol ester. Under the latter conditions almost all BHK cells showed podosomes. The vanadate effect was reversible insofar as podosomes and tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins disappeared. Then, vanadate treatment of normal cells induced the cascade of events leading to the cytoskeletal changes typical of transformation and suggested that the transformed cytoskeletal phenotype may be primarily induced by the tyrosine phosphorylation of unknown target(s) operated by endogenous kinases.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Aggregation of macrophages and fibroblasts is inhibited by a monoclonal antibody to the hyaluronate receptor.

To examine the role of the hyaluronate receptor in cell to cell adhesion, we have employed the K-3 monoclonal antibody (MAb) which specifically binds to the hyaluronate receptor and blocks its ability to interact with hyaluronate. In the first set of experiments, we investigated the spontaneous aggregation of SV-3T3 cells, which involves two distinct mechanisms, one of which is dependent upon the presence of divalent cation and the other is independent. The divalent cation-independent aggregation was found to be completely inhibited by both intact and Fab fragments of the K-3 MAb. In contrast, the K-3 MAb had no effect on the divalent cation-dependent aggregation of cells. In a second set of experiments, we examined alveolar macrophages. The presence of hyaluronate receptors on alveolar macrophages was demonstrated by the fact that detergent extracts of these cells could bind [3H]hyaluronate, and this binding was blocked by the K-3 MAb. Immunoblot analysis of alveolar macrophages showed that the hyaluronate receptor had a Mr of 99,500, which is considerably larger than the 85,000 Mr for that on BHK cells. When hyaluronate was added to suspensions of alveolar macrophages, the cells were induced to aggregate. This effect was inhibited by the K-3 MAb, suggesting that the hyaluronate-induced aggregation was mediated by the receptor.

Animals↗

Distribution of hyaluronate and hyaluronate receptors in the adult lung.

In the present study, we have examined the distribution of both hyaluronate receptors and hyaluronate in adult hamster lung. The receptor for hyaluronate is a transmembrane glycoprotein of Mr 85,000 that interacts with actin filaments and is thought to mediate many of the effects that hyaluronate has on cell behaviour, such as cell-to-cell adhesion and migration. It was localized histochemically with a monoclonal antibody, designated as K-3, which specifically binds to the receptor. Hyaluronate was detected by a biotinylated form of cartilage proteoglycan, which binds with high affinity and specificity to hyaluronate. At the light-microscopic level, both hyaluronate and its receptor were present on the basolateral surfaces of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium, suggesting that these two components interact with each other. This interaction may be important for maintaining the attachment of the epithelium to the basement membrane. In addition, hyaluronate was present in the adventitial regions of large pulmonary blood vessels. Receptors for hyaluronate were also evident on the surfaces of pulmonary macrophages, as demonstrated by the fact that K-3 immunoreactive cells coincided with cells positive for non-specific esterase, a characteristic feature of macrophages. The receptors on pulmonary macrophages probably mediate the effects that hyaluronate has on these cells with respect to cell-to-cell adhesion and migration.

Animals↗

The hyaluronate receptor is identical to a glycoprotein of Mr 85,000 (gp85) as shown by a monoclonal antibody that interferes with binding activity.

The cell surface receptor for hyaluronate is an integral membrane glycoprotein of Mr 85,000 (Underhill, C. B., Thurn, A. L., and Lacy, B. E. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 8128-8133), which appears to be associated with actin filaments. This protein is similar in many respects to another protein, termed gp85, which was originally identified by Tarone, G., Ferracini, R., Galeto, G., and Comoglio, P. (1984) J. Cell Biol. 99, 512-519), using a monoclonal antibody designated as K-3. The gp85 is also a membrane glycoprotein of Mr 85,000 which is associated with the cytoskeleton. Indeed, immunohistological staining has shown that it is distributed in patches along stress fibers of spread baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. In the present study, we have used the K-3 monoclonal antibody to determine whether gp85 is identical to the hyaluronate receptor. Initial studies showed that the K-3 antibody reacted with material at Mr 85,000 on immunoblots of a purified preparation of the hyaluronate receptor. In addition, the K-3 antibody specifically blocked the binding of [3H]hyaluronate to detergent extracts of the receptor from both BHK and polyoma virus transformed baby hamster kidney (PY-BHK) cells, as well as to intact PY-BHK cells. These results indicate that the K-3 antibody is directed against the hyaluronate receptor, which therefore must be identical to gp85. The K-3 antibody was then used to determine the relative number of hyaluronate receptors associated with parent (BHK) and transformed (PY-BHK) cells. Using an enzyme-linked assay, we found that parent cells had a substantially greater number of receptors than their transformed counterparts. These results were consistent with those obtained when detergent extracts of cells were directly assayed for [3H]hyaluronate binding activity.

Animals↗

Rous sarcoma virus-transformed fibroblasts and cells of monocytic origin display a peculiar dot-like organization of cytoskeletal proteins involved in microfilament-membrane interactions.

By immunofluorescence and interference reflection microscopy (IRM) we found that F-actin and a group of cytoskeletal proteins involved in microfilament-membrane interaction, including vinculin, alpha-actinin, fimbrin and talin, are specifically organized in discrete dot-like structures corresponding to cell-substratum contact sites in both monocytes and monocyte-derived cells such as macrophages and osteoclasts. These proteins have a precise topological distribution; vinculin and talin form a doughnut-like ring, while actin, fimbrin and alpha-actinin are organized in dots matching the rings. An identical dot-like organization of F-actin and associated cytoskeletal proteins was also detected in malignant fibroblasts transformed by Rous Sarcoma virus (RSV) but not in the corresponding untransformed cells in culture. It is concluded that RSV transformation induces fibroblasts to express a cytoskeletal organization and a pattern of adhesion that are normally found in cells of monocytic origin. We propose that the occurrence of this cytoskeletal organization in RSV-transformed fibroblasts and in monocyte-derived cells may reflect a common ability to migrate across anatomical boundaries.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Chemotaxis of 3T3 and SV3T3 cells to fibronectin is mediated through the cell-attachment site in fibronectin and a fibronectin cell surface receptor.

Fibronectin (FN) is a multidomain extracellular matrix protein that induces attachment and chemotactic migration of fibroblastic cells. In this study we analyzed the molecular determinants involved in the FN-induced chemotactic migration of normal and SV40-transformed 3T3 cells. Two different monoclonal antibodies to the cell-binding site of FN blocked chemotaxis to a 140-kD FN fragment (Ca 140) containing the cell-binding domain. A monoclonal antibody to a determinant distant from the cell-binding site did not affect chemotaxis. A synthetic tetrapeptide, RGDS, which represents the major cell-attachment sequence, was able to compete with FN and the Ca 140 fragment in chemotaxis assays, but this peptide itself had no significant chemotactic activity. A larger peptide encompassing this sequence, GRGDSP, was chemotactic, while the peptide GRGESP, where a glutamic acid residue was substituted for aspartic acid, was inactive. Chemotactic migration could be prevented in a dose-dependent manner by a rabbit polyclonal antiserum to a 140-kD cell surface FN receptor. This antibody was more effective on normal than on transformed 3T3 cells. Neither the anti-FN receptor antiserum nor a monoclonal antibody to the cell-binding site of FN blocked migration induced by another potent chemoattractant, platelet-derived growth factor. These data indicate that FN-induced chemotaxis of 3T3 and SV3T3 cells is mediated via the RGDS cell-attachment site of FN and the 140-kD cell surface FN receptor. The interaction is specific and can be altered by transformation.

Animals↗

The hyaluronate-binding site from the plasma membrane is distinct from the binding protein present in brain.

To determine whether the hyaluronate-binding protein from brain is similar or identical to the hyaluronate-binding site from the cell surface, the two molecules were compared with respect to their physical and binding properties. The hyaluronate-binding protein was purified from mouse brains by lectin-affinity chromatography, and then analyzed by molecular-sieve chromatography and rate-zonal centrifugation, which showed that it has a Stokes radius of 6.3 nm, and a sedimentation coefficient of 4.8 S. These values are remarkably close to those obtained previously for the membrane-associated binding site (a = 6.5 nm, s20,w = 4.8 S), indicating that the two molecules have similar shapes and sizes. Binding studies of the semi-purified proteins showed that the dissociation constant for the brain derived binding protein (Kd = 270 ng/0.5 ml) was similar to that of the cell-surface binding site (Kd = 350 ng/0.5 ml). However, when the two molecules were compared with respect to oligosaccharide inhibition of binding, significant differences were observed. The hexasaccharide significantly inhibited the binding of [3H] hyaluronate to the cell-surface binding site but had only a small effect on the binding to the brain derived protein. Differences were also found between the two molecules with respect to the effects of a monoclonal antibody (K-3). This antibody blocked most of the binding activity of the membrane-associated binding site, but had no effect on the protein from brain. Taken together, these results indicate that although the hyaluronate-binding protein derived from brain and the cell-surface binding site are physically similar, they are distinct proteins.

Animals↗

Platelets express a membrane protein complex immunologically related to the fibroblast fibronectin receptor and distinct from GPIIb/IIIa.

We have previously identified and characterized a membrane glycoprotein complex (GP150/135) that functions as fibronectin receptor (FN-R) in fibroblast adhesion. Here we report that an immunologically related protein complex is expressed at the surface of human platelets. Antibodies monospecific for the smaller subunit (GP135) of the fibroblast FN-R in fact specifically stained the platelet surface, as determined by FACS analysis, and reacted with a component of molecular weight (mol wt) 138,000 as shown in western blots of platelet membranes. Moreover, the same antibodies precipitated the 138,000 component together with a 160,000 protein, suggesting that the two molecules are associated in a supramolecular complex. A comparative analysis indicated that this protein complex is distinct from the GPIIb/IIIa complex, known to function as a receptor of wide specificity for fibrinogen, fibronectin, and von Willebrand factor. Differential extraction experiments revealed that the platelet 138,000 component is an integral membrane protein.

Antibodies↗

A 135,000 molecular weight plasma membrane glycoprotein involved in fibronectin-mediated cell adhesion. Immunofluorescence localization in normal and RSV-transformed fibroblasts.

Monospecific antibodies to GP135, a plasma membrane glycoprotein involved in cell attachment and spreading on fibronectin-coated substratum (Giancotti et al., Exp cell res 156 (1985) 182), were affinity-purified from a broad-spectrum antiserum using the GP135 molecule immobilized on nitrocellulose filters. The purified antibodies specifically inhibited attachment and spreading of normal as well as RSV-transformed fibroblasts on fibronectin-coated dishes indicating that GP135 is involved in adhesion of both normal and transformed cells. Immunofluorescence experiments showed that GP135 has a discrete distribution on control 3T3 fibroblasts. On cells in the process of spreading GP135 was concentrated in 'close contact' sites, while on fully spread cells the glycoprotein was concentrated in 'adhesion plaques' and in streaks co-aligning with portions of stress fibres. In RSV-transformed cells the discrete distribution of GP135 was lost. The protein appeared in a diffuse distribution at the plasma membrane and was not concentrated in the dot- or rosette-shaped substratum contacts sites peculiar to these cells. It is concluded that GP135 mediates adhesion of both normal and RSV-transformed fibroblasts to fibronectin. While in normal cells this glycoprotein participates in the organization of specialized adhesion structures, in RSV-transformed fibroblasts recruiting of GP135 molecules within cell-substratum contact sites is perturbed.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical localization of chondroitin sulfate in normal and pathological human muscle.

The immunohistological localization of chondroitin sulfate (CS) has been studied in normal and pathological human muscle. The bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan digested with chondroitinase ABC (BNC-PG-Ch ABC) has been utilized for the production of a rabbit polyclonal antiserum. In vitro studies showed that the antiserum binds to the unsaturated disaccharide that remains attached to the core protein after digestion of the CS chains with chondroitinase ABC (Ch ABC). As the disaccharide is created specifically by Ch ABC digestion of the CS chains, the antiserum allows the immunolocalization of CS on tissue sections digested with Ch ABC. The immunohistochemical study on normal and pathological muscle demonstrated a localization of CS in all the extracellular structures: endomysium, perimysium, muscle spindle capsule and intrafusal space. In pathological conditions, the CS was raised in all the cases with increased connective tissue, showing a pattern comparable to that obtained with fibronectin and collagen III. None of the pathological conditions displayed any peculiar character of CS distribution. This finding does not support a primary role for CS in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy.

Antibody Specificity↗

Fibronectin-plasma membrane interaction in the adhesion of hemopoietic cells.

Many hemopoietic cell lines were examined for their ability to adhere to culture dishes coated with extracellular matrix proteins. Adhesion assay was performed with murine and human leukemic cell lines representative of different stages of differentiation along both erythroid and myeloid lineages. All the hemopoietic cell lines tested adhered to fibronectin but not to laminin, types I, III, and IV collagen, serum-spreading factor, and cartilage proteoglycans. In addition to immortalized cell lines, immature erythroid and myeloid mouse bone marrow cells adhered to fibronectin. To define the fibronectin region involved in hemopoietic cell adhesion, proteolytic fragments, monoclonal antibodies, and synthetic peptides were used. Among different fibronectin fragments tested, only a 110-kD polypeptide, corresponding to the fibroblast attachment domain, was active in promoting adhesion. Moreover, a monoclonal antibody to the cell binding site located within this domain prevented hemopoietic cell adhesion. Finally, the tetrapeptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, which corresponds to the fibronectin sequence recognized by fibroblastic cells, specifically and competitively inhibited attachment of hemopoietic cells to this molecule. The cell surface molecule involved in the interaction of mouse hemopoietic cells with fibronectin was identified as a 145,000-D membrane glycoprotein by adhesion-blocking antibodies. This glycoprotein was found to be antigenically and functionally related to the GP135 membrane glycoprotein involved in the adhesion of fibroblasts to fibronectin (Giancotti, F. G., P. M. Comoglio, and G. Tarone, 1986, Exp. Cell Res., 163:47-62). On the basis of these data, we conclude that interaction of hemopoietic cells with fibronectin involves a specific fibronectin sequence and a 145,000-D cell surface glycoprotein. We speculate that this property might be relevant for the interaction of hemopoietic cells with the bone marrow stroma, which represents the natural site of hemopoiesis.

Animals↗

Cleavage of a 135 kD cell surface glycoprotein correlates with loss of fibroblast adhesion to fibronectin.

We have previously described a group of three plasma membrane glycoproteins that are recognized by an adhesion-disrupting antiserum and that are involved in fibronectin-mediated BHK cell adhesion. A peculiar property of these molecules is their resistance to tryptic digestion. We have now extended this study in the attempt to identify the active component within this group of molecules. SR/BALB mouse fibroblasts, used in this work, expose at their surface only two trypsin-resistant glycoproteins, gp1 (150 K) and gp2 (135 K), that are recognized by the adhesion-disrupting anti-BHK serum. Controlled proteolysis of the cell surface in the presence of a reducing agent results in the loss of cell adhesion to fibronectin-coated substratum. gp2 is selectively cleaved under these conditions. Moreover, cells treated with trypsin and reducing agent can no longer adsorb the adhesion-relevant antibodies from the anti-BHK serum. These data indicate that gp2 plays a critical role in the adhesion of SR/BALB fibroblasts to fibronectin-coated substratum, and that disulfide bonds are important in the conformation and function of this molecule.

Animals↗

Organization of cytoskeleton and fibronectin matrix in Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transformed fibroblast lines with different metastatic potential.

Metastatic clones growing in 0.6% 'hard' agar were selected from the non-metastatic Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transformed tumorigenic B77-3T3 mouse fibroblast line. The incidence of spontaneous lung metastases varied among clones around 100%, while it was lower than 5% in the parental tumor line. The organization of microfilaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments as well as the pattern of extracellular fibronectin matrix were analyzed by immunofluorescence in two representative clones (B77-AA6 and B77-AA12) and was compared with the structural features displayed by a highly metastasizing RSV-induced mouse sarcoma line (SR-BALB). In the metastatic clones studied microtubules and intermediate filaments were similarly organized in a pattern not significantly different from that of the non-metastatic parental cell line. The major finding was a marked concentration of actin-containing structures in the periphery of cells and notably at the level of surface protrusions, suggesting a high surface motility. In the same lines the production of fibronectin and its distribution in the cell layer and culture medium were analyzed. Metabolic labelling and immunofluorescence experiments indicated that the nonmetastasizing cells (B77-3T3) retain higher amounts of fibronectin in the cell layer and organize this molecule in extracellular fibers, while the metastatic clones (B77-AA6 and B77-AA12) as well as the metastatic line (SR-BALB) are unable to retain and organize fibronectin at their surface. This paper shows that the progression of tumorigenic cell lines toward a metastatic phenotype involves a redistribution of cytoskeletal actin and a loss of organized fibronectin matrix.

Animals↗