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Biomedical subjects

K Yoshizato

Publications and source records attributed to K Yoshizato.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Morphological and immuno-cytochemical characterization of a hetero-spheroid composed of fibroblasts and hepatocytes.

A novel method for the preparation of spheroids containing two types of cells (hetero-spheroid) has been successfully developed by utilizing a collagen-conjugated thermo-responsive polymer, poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide (PNIPAAm), as a cell substratum. PNIPAAm solidifies above its lower critical solution temperature (LCST, about 30 degrees C), and instantly dissolves into the culture medium below its LCST. We firstly seeded and cultured human dermal fibroblasts on the substratum up to a confluent state and then seeded rat primary hepatocytes onto the fibroblast monolayer. The heterospheroid was prepared by detaching the hepatocyte-attached fibroblast monolayer at a temperature below LCST and culturing it on the non-adhesive substratum. The surface area of the substratum and the seeding population ratio of each cell precisely and reproducibly regulated the size and the cell composition of the resulting hetero-spheroid, respectively. Histological and immuno-cytochemical observations of spheroids revealed characteristic organizations of fibroblasts and hepatocytes within a spheroid because the latter cells expressed albumin for up to at least 3 weeks. TEM study of the hetero-spheroid showed the presence of structures morphologically similar to the Disse's space and the bile canaliculus, which are features characteristic of liver. These findings suggest that the method described above is useful for making a hetero-spheroid that morphologically and functionally resembles tissues or organs in vivo, i.e. an organoid.

Animals

Recognition of collagen by fibroblasts through cell surface glycoproteins reactive with Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin.

The role of glycochains of cell surface glycoproteins in the cell to collagen interaction was examined by studying the effect of lectins on the fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction. Lectins of Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (ConA), lentil seed agglutinin (LCA), pea agglutinin (PSA), Ricinus communis agglutinin-60 (RCA), and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) dose-dependently inhibited gel contraction, while lectins of mushroom agglutinin (ABA), peanut agglutinin (PNA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and soybean agglutinin (SBA) did not. Of these lectins, PHA seemed to be worthy of further analysis, because PHA, but not other lectins, inhibited spreading of fibroblasts on collagen fibrils but not on plastic or gelatin, suggesting that cell-surface glycoproteins responsive to the lectin are involved in the specific binding of fibroblasts to native collagen fibrils. The inhibitory effect of PHA-E4, an isolectin of PHA, was more intense than that of PHA-L4, another isolectin of PHA. The collagen gel contraction was also inhibited by tunicamycin and monensin in a concentration-dependent and reversible manner. These results strongly suggest that PHA-E4-reactive glycoproteins of the fibroblast surface play an important role in cell to collagen binding during the gel contraction. Five membrane proteins including beta 1 subunits of the integrin family were obtained by affinity chromatography with PHA-E4.

Cell Movement

Collagen gel contraction by fibroblasts requires cellular fibronectin but not plasma fibronectin.

Fibroblasts embedded in three-dimensional lattices of collagen fibrils have been known to require serum constituents to induce a cell-mediated contraction of collagen gels. The gel contraction was studied with human skin fibroblasts cultured in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Removal of bovine serum fibronectin (sFN) from FBS did not affect the extent of gel contraction. Gel contraction occurred in serum-free defined media. Therefore, it is concluded that sFN is not required for gel contraction. That cellular FN (cFN) synthesized and secreted by fibroblasts plays a crucial role in gel contraction was suggested by the following experiments: (1) We obtained monoclonal antibodies (mAb A3A5) against fibroblast surface antigens, which suppressed the fibroblast-mediated gel contraction. Immunoblot analyses showed that mAb A3A5 recognizes cFN secreted by human fibroblasts and human plasma FN (pFN), but not bovine sFN in FBS used for culture. (2) Addition of rabbit antisera, which recognize human cFN, to a serum-free gel culture inhibited contraction. Uninvolvement of human pFN in gel contraction was further confirmed by the fact that neither pretreatment of fibroblasts with excess amounts of human pFN nor the presence of excess amounts of human pFN in gels affected the extent of gel contraction. This study seems to be the first demonstration of functional difference between cFN and pFN (or sFN) and proposes a novel mode of binding of fibroblasts with collagen fibrils via cFN during cell-mediated collagen morphogenesis.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Effect of tretinoin on collagen gel contraction induced by mouse 3T3 fibroblasts.

Balb/3T3 fibroblasts were cultured in type I collagen gel and the effects of tretinoin (all-trans-retinoic acid) were examined on cell growth and the gel contraction produced by cells. Cell proliferation was suppressed and the degree of gel contraction was enhanced by the addition of 10(-7) and 10(-6) M tretinoin. Growth and gel contractility of transformed cells derived from the Balb/3T3 cells were not influenced by this agent. Addition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol ester, which is known to antagonize tretinoin in several biological processes, enhanced gel contraction synergistically with tretinoin. These results suggest that tretinoin influences cell-to-collagen interactions.

Animals

Biochemical and immunological characterization of collagen molecules from echinothurioid sea urchin Asthenosoma ijimai.

Collagens collected from the test (the external hard covering of invertebrates) of the sea urchin, Asthenosoma ijimai, were characterized biochemically and immunologically. The amino-acid composition was typical of that of mammalian collagens. Crystals of segment-long-spacing showed that the molecules of sea urchin collagen were 300 nm long. Selective salt precipitation revealed that the collagen has the same solubility characteristics as type I collagen. The collagen was denatured at 23.1 degrees C. Anti-sea urchin collagen antisera were immunologically cross-reacted with collagens of the same species and the starfish Asterina pectinifera. However, the antisera showed no or slight responses to collagens of bovine type I, II, III, IV and V. The collagen molecules contained four alpha-chains, named alpha 1(SU), alpha 2(SU), alpha 3(SU) and alpha 4(SU), respectively. All of the four alpha-chains were eluted in the same fraction on gel filtration chromatography. Chains of alpha 1(SU) and alpha 2(SU) were extracted earlier than alpha 3(SU) and alpha 4(SU) during pepsin digestion. Other biochemical and immunological analyses clearly demonstrated that test of sea urchins contains two genetically different, but biochemically similar, species of collagens, one of which is composed of alpha 1(SU) and alpha 2(SU) chains, and the other of alpha 3(SU) and alpha 4(SU).

Animals

Cell cycle analysis of human dermal fibroblasts cultured on or in hydrated type I collagen lattices.

The proliferation and cell cycle phase composition of human dermal fibroblasts cultured on or in type I collagen lattices (reconstituted dermis model) were examined. On collagen lattices, as compared with conventional cultures on plastic dishes, the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts was suppressed, being arrested at about one-half the saturation density after 10 days of culture. In collagen lattices, proliferation was further suppressed, being nearly arrested within 4-7 days of culture. Cells were analyzed for cell cycle phases by two-color flow cytometry using DNA staining and S phase cell staining with FITC-conjugated antibromodeoxyuridine antibody. After 5 days of culture, the number of S phase cells on collagen lattices was 49.3% of that on plastic dishes, with an increase in G0G1 phase cells of 79.8%. In collagen lattices, the number of S phase cells was very small (4.3% of all cells), and most of the cells accumulated in G0G1 phase. These findings suggest that the cell cycle of fibroblasts is arrested at G0G1 phase by their interaction with collagen. On the basis of these results, the reconstituted dermis model using collagen lattice is considered to be analogous to the dermis in vivo with respect to cell growth and cell cycle phase composition.

Cell Cycle

Cell culture on a thermo-responsive polymer surface.

We have used a thermo-responsive polymer, poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide (PNI-PAAm), as a substratum for the culture of human dermal fibroblasts by conjugating it with collagen. The cells attached well, spread, and grew on the substratum, indicating that the polymer has no toxicity towards the cells. PNIPAAm is insoluble in water over the lower critical solution temperature (LCST; about 32 degrees C) and reversibly solubilized below the LCST. Taking advantage of this conversion, monolayered fibroblasts cultured on the substratum containing the PNIPAAm over the LCST, were completely detachable from the substratum by simply lowering the temperature below the LCST, without the use of conventional detaching agents such as trypsin and EDTA. The detached cell sheet gradually aggregated and finally formed a multicellular spheroid. This polymer may provide a convenient and potentially useful technology for cell culture.

Acrylic Resins

Parallel arrangement, growth inhibition and cell cycle phase analysis of human dermal fibroblasts cultured in collagen lattice.

Human dermal fibroblasts were cultured in a hydrated type I collagen lattice. When collagen fibers were arranged in one direction, fibroblasts were arranged in the same direction. Cell proliferation was markedly suppressed in the collagen lattice as compared with that on plastic, with growth being arrested after day 5. No differences in proliferation were observed between aligned cells and randomly oriented cells. Flow cytometry with DNA staining was performed to analyze each phase of the cell cycle of fibroblasts. Among the 10,000 cell population, S phase cells on day 2 of culture accounted for 43% on plastic but were markedly inhibited to 25% in the lattice. On day 4, S phase cells accounted for 33% on plastic but only for 10% in the lattice. These findings suggest that cell advancement to the S phase is markedly inhibited in the collagen lattice, resulting in accumulation of most of cells in the G0G1 phase. The present study clearly showed that culture in the collagen lattice allowed alignment of fibroblasts with a definite orientation as observed in vivo and produced a status resembling that in vivo in terms of proliferation and cell cycle phase composition.

Adult

Correlation of contractility and proliferative potential with the extent of differentiation in mouse fibroblastic cell lines cultured in collagen lattices.

Four types of fibroblastic cell lines at various stage of differentiation, which had been derived from syngeneic mice, were cultured in collagen lattices (reconstituted dermis model). Lattice contraction, growth in the lattice, and cell morphology were compared. The following cell lines were used: [I] precrisis cells within several subcultures derived from the skin of Balb/c mice, [II] an established normal cell line derived from syngeneic mice (Balb/3T3 clone A31), and [III] two transformed lines (Balb/3T12-3, 3T3-B-SV40) originating from [II]. The cells adopted a bipolar spindle form in the collagen lattice. Lattice contraction was the most marked with cell type [I] followed in order by [II] and [III]. Relative growth in the lattice occurred in the reverse order (III greater than II greater than I). These findings suggested a correlation between lattice contraction and growth in the lattice and also between the extent of differentiation and lattice contraction.

Animals

Cell death in the anuran tadpole tail: thyroid hormone induces keratinization and tail-specific growth inhibition of epidermal cells.

The mechanism of thyroid hormone-induced and glucocorticoid-modulated death of tail epidermal cells from tadpoles of bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, was investigated by comparing tail epidermal cells with dorsal body epidermal cells. From morphological and biochemical criteria, there were two types of epidermal cells: basal cells and skein cells. The abundance of these cells was different between the tail and the body skin. Fifty percent of body cells and more than 95% of tail cells were skein cells. Effects of 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3, 10(-8) M) and cortisol (5 X 10(-7) M) were investigated with cultured epidermal cells. T3 differently regulated the keratinization of the tail and body cells. The keratinization of the tail epidermal cells was not observed without T3. T3 induced the keratinization dramatically. On the other hand, body epidermal cells were constantly undergoing keratinization without the hormone: T3 merely accelerated the rate of keratinization. Cortisol generally did not show any significant effect on keratinization. T3 showed opposite effects on DNA synthesis of the tail and body cells: suppression of tail cells and stimulation of body cells. Cortisol weakened the inhibitory effect of T3 on DNA synthesis in tail cells. Immunofluorescent micrographs with anti-BrdU showed that T3 decreased the number of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle in the case of tail cells but not of body cells. Thus, thyroid hormone plays dual roles for the tadpole epidermal cells: one is an induction and a promotion of keratinization in tail and body cells, respectively, and the other is an opposite regulation for the proliferation of both epidermal cells. These roles seem to have crucial connections to a tail-specific cell death induced by thyroid hormone.

Animals

Biological evaluation of burn blister fluid.

Human dermal fibroblasts were cultured with blister fluid and 3 of their properties were investigated: cell shape, growth rate, and ability to contract collagen fibrils. In the medium containing the blister fluid, fibroblasts became attached to the tissue culture plastic and became well elongated to a spindle form. The blister fluid demonstrated a potent fibroblast growth-promoting activity comparable to that observed in the serum obtained from the same patient. This activity was independent of the patient's age and the time elapsed since the burn. The growth rate of cells increased as the concentration rose to 20% in the case of serum. Growth promotion by the blister fluid, however, was maximum at the concentration of 2.5%, leveling off thereafter, a fact which suggests the presence of some other factor possessing an inhibitory action on fibroblast growth. The growth-promoting activity of the blister fluid was not destroyed by tryptic digestion. The blister fluid promoted a fibroblast-mediated contraction of collagen fibrils to an extent comparable to that of the serum. The protein-banding pattern of the fluid, obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, was similar to that of the serum. These results suggest that the fluid is an exudate mainly from the vascular system, that is provides a good environment for the fibroblasts in the damaged site, and that it facilitates the healing process.

Adolescent

Functionally polarized layers formed by epidermal cells on a permeable transparent collagen film.

Rat epidermal cells were cultured on a transparent collagen film, which was permeable to low Mr substances. Then the cells were bathed in both media (apical and basal), which were separated by the collagen membrane. The cells formed a multi-layered epidermal sheet with well-developed structures of desmosomes. This sheet on a permeable support was found to be an effective permeability barrier for glucose and amino acids. The epidermal layer showed functional polarity for the uptake and excretion of nutrients, metabolites and newly synthesized proteins: glucose and amino acids were taken up exclusively from the basal medium and lactate was secreted selectively into the same medium, whereas ammonia was secreted into the apical medium. The apical media became more acidic than the basal ones, presumably due to the preferential distribution of H+ transport systems on the apical side of the epidermal layer. The epidermal cells that expressed functional polarities in vitro as described above were able to proliferate and differentiate, and remained healthy for as long as at least 40 days even using a conventional culture medium with foetal calf serum, but without any special growth factors and feeder cells.

Amino Acids

[Normal skin cells in vitro].

Major cells in skin are epidermal cells in epidermis and fibroblasts in dermis. These cells can be isolated as a relatively pure population from the tissues using proteases and chelating agents. In this review we describe the way of culture where these two kinds of cells express normal function as they do in vivo. 1) It is important to consider the polarity of epidermal cell membranes in the transport of nutrients and metabolites when the cells are to be cultured in a healthy state in a long period. Epidermals cells expressed their normal polarities when cultured on a porous thin film of collagen and bathed on both sides (apical and basal) in culture media. 2) It is important to consider the interactions of fibroblasts with collagen when normal morphology and physiology are expected to be expressed in the cell in culture. Collagen affected the morphology of the cell and profoundly decreased the rate of DNA synthesis. We present a hypothesis which explains the fibronectin-independent interaction of fibroblasts with collagen. 3) It is important to consider the interactions between fibroblasts and epidermal cells when normal physiology of the skin as a whole is expected to be expressed in vitro, because exchange of information between them control their metabolic activities and functions. In this review, two examples for this exchange are presented: cell growth and collagenolysis.

Cell Communication

In vitro maturation of collagen fibrils modulates spreading, DNA synthesis, and collagenolysis of epidermal cells and fibroblasts.

Collagen fibrils were maturated in vitro by incubating them in a serum-containing culture medium at 37 degrees C for varied lengths of time. Epidermal cells and fibroblasts were cultured on these maturated collagen gels to see the effects of maturation on cellular morphology and physiology. The spreading and DNA synthesis of both types of cells on the maturated collagen gels were significantly enhanced compared to those on fresh gels. The maturation did not affect the cellular adhesiveness to the substrate. The secretion of collagenase by epidermal cells was suppressed on the maturated collagen gels, the extent of the suppression being related to the length of maturation of the gels. These maturation-related effects of collagen were also observed when collagen was incubated in the medium without serum, indicating that the effects are not due to deposition of serum proteins to collagen gels during maturation. Physical and chemical characterizations of the maturated collagen were performed: the mechanical strength of collagen gels increased in maturated collagen gels, the amounts of insoluble collagen increased with the maturation. These changes in the chemical and physical nature of the maturated collagen gel strongly suggested that there was an increase in intermolecular crosslinks during the process of maturation. These maturation-induced changes in collagen were marked when collagen gels were incubated in the presence of glucose, indicating that a glucose-protein reaction such as the Maillard reaction is involved in this phenomenon.

Animals

Hormonal regulation of growth and life span of bullfrog tadpole tail epidermal cells cultured in vitro.

Epidermal cells were dissociated from tails of the bullfrog tadpole, Rana catesbeiana, and cultured to investigate their response to steroid and thyroid hormones. Charcoal-treated serum (CTS) was used in the growth medium when cells were to be grown in the absence of steroid and thyroid hormones. The cells could be maintained for 2 weeks with a small increase in cell number in medium that contained CTS (CTS medium). Addition of cortisol to CTS medium increased both cellular attachment to the culture dishes and the proliferation of the attached cells with an optimum concentration of 5 X 10(-7) M. The cells remained viable and attached for at least a week. Cortisol stimulated the rate of protein synthesis 1.8-fold but did not alter the rate of DNA synthesis. The cells did not proliferate in the medium containing triiodothyronine (T3) and detached themselves from the dish within 5 days, which occurred in a dose-dependent manner with a maximum effect at 10(-8) M. It drastically decreased the rate of DNA synthesis but did not influence the rate of protein synthesis. These responses of cells to cortisol and T3 may reflect growth and death of tail epidermal cells in vivo at metamorphosis.

Animals

An epidermal factor which induces thyroid hormone-dependent regression of mesenchymal tissues of the tadpole tail.

Explants of tadpole tail skin secreted a factor which induces the thyroid hormone-dependent regression of the tail mesenchyme. The activity of the factor was not sensitive to digestion with trypsin or pronase. Heating at 120 degrees C but not at 100 degrees C for 20 min destroyed the activity. The factor came out gradually through a dialysis membrane. The factor was retarded on a Sephadex G-10 column and eluted with water after the salts fraction. We suggest that the active principle is a non-proteinaceous substance with a low molecular weight.

Animals

Comparative studies on methods of isolating rat epidermal cells.

Epidermal basal cells have been prepared using trypsin or dispase to remove the epidermal sheet from the skin. In addition, for trypsin, the "immersion method" and the "flotation method" have been described. However, there has been no study that quantitatively compares these methods using the same animal, making their usefulness difficult to evaluate. In this report, comparative studies on these methods were undertaken concurrently with newborn and adult rats. The flotation method using trypsin was found to be preferable to the immersion method, because separation of the epidermal sheet by the former method was easier than by the latter. Then, the flotation method using trypsin was compared with the isolation method using dispase, and quantitative estimation was made of the yield, viability, and the number of attached epidermal cells. The dispase method was found to be superior to the trypsin method, especially for cell yield, which was about four times as high as with the latter method. Furthermore, cells dissociated with dispase showed a higher rate of viability and attachment to culture dishes than those done with trypsin. These results clearly demonstrated that the dispase method is more useful for preparing epidermal basal cells than the trypsin method.

Animals