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Biomedical subjects

L Silengo

Publications and source records attributed to L Silengo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Muscle beta1D integrin reinforces the cytoskeleton-matrix link: modulation of integrin adhesive function by alternative splicing.

Expression of muscle-specific beta1D integrin with an alternatively spliced cytoplasmic domain in CHO and GD25, beta1 integrin-minus cells leads to their phenotypic conversion. beta1D-transfected nonmuscle cells display rounded morphology, lack of pseudopodial activity, retarded spreading, reduced migration, and significantly enhanced contractility compared with their beta1A-expressing counterparts. The transfected beta1D is targeted to focal adhesions and efficiently displaces the endogenous beta1A and alphavbeta3 integrins from the sites of cell-matrix contact. This displacement is observed on several types of extracellular matrix substrata and leads to elevated stability of focal adhesions in beta1D transfectants. Whereas a significant part of cellular beta1A integrin is extractable in digitonin, the majority of the transfected beta1D is digitonin-insoluble and is strongly associated with the detergent-insoluble cytoskeleton. Increased interaction of beta1D integrin with the actin cytoskeleton is consistent with and might be mediated by its enhanced binding to talin. In contrast, beta1A interacts more strongly with alpha-actinin, than beta1D. Inside-out driven activation of the beta1D ectodomain increases ligand binding and fibronectin matrix assembly by beta1D transfectants. Phenotypic effects of beta1D integrin expression in nonmuscle cells are due to its enhanced interactions with both cytoskeletal and extracellular ligands. They parallel the transitions that muscle cells undergo during differentiation. Modulation of beta1 integrin adhesive function by alternative splicing serves as a physiological mechanism reinforcing the cytoskeleton- matrix link in muscle cells. This reflects the major role for beta1D integrin in muscle, where extremely stable association is required for contraction.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

Dissection of pathways implicated in integrin-mediated actin cytoskeleton assembly. Involvement of protein kinase C, Rho GTPase, and tyrosine phosphorylation.

A panel of antibodies to the alphaIIbbeta3 integrin was used to promote adhesion of Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the alphaIIbbeta3 fibrinogen receptor. While some alphaIIbbeta3 antibodies were not able to induce p125 focal adhesion kinase (p125FAK) tyrosine phosphorylation, all the antibodies equally support cell adhesion but not spreading and assembly of actin stress fibers. Absence of stress fibers was also obtained by plating on antibodies directed to the hamster beta1 integrin. In contrast, cells plated on matrix proteins spread organizing actin stress fibers. Treatment with phorbol esters phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced cells to spread on antibodies-coated dishes but not to organize actin in stress fibers. The combination of PMA and cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1), a specific Rho activator, induced cell spreading and organization of stress fibers. PMA or the combination of PMA and CNF1 also increases tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK in response to antibodies that were otherwise unable to trigger this response. These data show that: 1) matrix proteins and antibodies differ in their ability to induce integrin-dependent actin cytoskeleton organization (while matrix induced stress fibers formation, antibodies did not); 2) p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation is insufficient per se to trigger actin stress fibers formation since antibodies that activate p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation did not lead to actin stress fibers assembly; and 3) the inability of anti-integrin antibodies to trigger stress fibers organization is overcome by concomitant activation of the protein kinase C (PKC) and Rho pathways; PKC activation leads to cell spreading and Rho activation is required to organize actin stress fibers.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

Green fluorescent protein as a reporter of gene expression in transgenic mice.

We used the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria as a reporter of gene expression in transgenic mice. The GFP coding sequence was placed under the control of the human hemopexin and the mouse beta1 integrin promoter that were previously studied in transgenic mice using the lacZ reporter gene. We showed that GFP has a higher degree of sensitivity compared to the lacZ reporter gene allowing to identify cells with low and otherwise undetectable beta-galactosidase activity. Thus we showed the potentiality of GFP in replacing lacZ as a reporter gene to investigate promoter mapping and gene regulation in transgenic mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

An intronic deletion in TP53 gene causes exon 6 skipping in breast cancer.

Six hundred and thirty primary breast cancer were screened for abnormalities in exons 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the TP53 tumour suppressor gene. Analysis of the structure of the TP53 gene exons was performed with the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method and with direct sequencing of amplified DNA. In a breast tumour case from a postmenopausal patient, we found a deletion of 36 bp in intron 5 and no immunohistochemical staining for p53. We amplified and sequenced the cDNA region between exons 4 and 7 and showed that the deletion causes the skipping of exon 6. The resulting mRNA sequence had a frameshift that yields an inactive protein with a truncated C terminus. These results show the first example of intronic deletion causing exon skipping at the TP53 gene level.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Focal adhesion and stress fiber formation is regulated by tyrosine phosphatase activity.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins plays an important role in the regulation of focal adhesions and stress fiber organization. In the present study we examined the role of tyrosine phosphatases in this process using p125FAK and paxillin as substrates. We show that tyrosine phosphatase activity in Swiss 3T3 cells was markedly increased when actin stress fibers were disassembled by cell detachment from the substratum, by serum starvation, or by cytochalasin D treatment. This activity was blocked by phenylarsine oxide, an inhibitor of a specific class of tyrosine phosphatases characterized by two vicinal thiol groups in the active site. Phenylarsine oxide treatment of serum-starved cells induced increased tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK and paxillin in a dose-dependent manner and induced assembly of focal adhesions and actin stress fibers, showing that inhibition of one or more phenylarsine oxide-sensitive tyrosine phosphatases is a sufficient stimulus for triggering focal adhesion and actin stress fiber formation in adherent cells.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1996

Specific expression in brain and liver driven by the hemopexin promoter in transgenic mice.

Transgenic mice harboring the human hemopexin promoter sequences linked to the lacZ reporter gene were generated and analyzed for temporal and spatial distribution of beta-galactosidase. Upstream sequences spanning from -1800, -700 and -500 bp to the transcription start point direct regulated beta-galactosidase expression specifically to the liver and to the brain of transgenic mice. These results suggest that the 500 bp DNA fragment flanking the 5'end of the human hemopexin gene contains the cis-acting elements required for tissue and developmental stage-specific expression in vivo and provide evidence for a new extrahepatic site of expression of the hemopexin gene.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1996

Ciliary neurotrophic factor constitutively expressed in the nervous system of transgenic mice protects embryonic dorsal root ganglion neurons from apoptosis.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a potent survival factor for several neuronal populations. It is expressed postnatally by Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system and by some glial and neuronal cells in the central nervous system. We used the promoter of the neurofilament light chain gene to produce transgenic mice that express CNTF in neurons from the beginning of neuronal differentiation. These transgenic animals may represent a suitable model to identify neuronal cell types responsive to CNTF in vivo and to study the mechanism of action of this neurotrophic factor. We show that dorsal root ganglion neurons of transgenic mice expressing CNTF in neurons are protected from apoptosis during embryonic development: 40% of these cells undergo apoptosis between embryonic day 12.5 and postnatal day 5 in transgenic mice whereas 60% do so in control animals. However, protection from apoptosis does not result in an increase in the total number of neurons at the end of development. We discuss our results with regard to CNTF potentialities in vivo and the significance of programmed cell death during development.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Analysis of regulatory regions of the ciliary neutrophic factor gene in transgenic mice.

In order to study the regulatory regions of the human ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) gene we made constructs containing sequences upstream and downstream of CNTF coding regions and the lacZ gene and analysed their expression in transgenic mice. We show that 240 bp upstream of the translation start codon are sufficient for the transcription of the lacZ gene. A further 4 kb upstream sequence is required for the expression of the transgene in Schwann cells. These two upstream regions together with a 2 kb downstream fragment drive high level of expression of the lacZ gene in the sciatic nerve. Our results indicate that these three fragments contain regulatory regions able to mimic the CNTF expression pattern in the mouse peripheral nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation and focal adhesion assembly: studies with phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitors.

p125FAK is a major tyrosine kinase phosphorylated in response to integrin-dependent adhesion. In this study we use vanadate and phenylarsine oxide (PAO), known inhibitors of phosphotyrosine phosphatases (PTPases), as a tool to artificially modulate p125FAK phosphorylation in human endothelial and in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Vanadate treatment strongly upregulates in a dose-dependent manner the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in adherent cells. PAO induces a more restricted profile of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, increasing primarily a broad band of 120-140 kDa. Maximal stimulation of p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation is reached at 10 microM PAO. In contrast, in vanadate-treated cells the p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation shows a biphasic curve, being increased at high doses of vanadate (100 microM) and downregulated at low doses (25 microM). Immunofluorescence analysis of cells treated with PTPase inhibitors showed a direct correlation between the level of p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation and the assembly of focal adhesions and actin stress fibers. Downregulation of p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation is observed by treating cells with cytochalasin D (CD), a drug known to rapidly disrupt the actin cytoskeleton. When PTPase inhibitors are added in combination to CD, the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK remains high and focal adhesions and actin stress fibers are preserved from the CD-mediated disruption. Based on these data we suggest that assembly of actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in inhibiting PTPases involved in p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation.

Actins↗
PubMed1995

Ciliary neurotrophic factor-induced gene expression in human neuroblastoma cell lines.

We have analyzed the response of the human neuroblastoma cell lines SK-N-SH (clone SY5Y) and SK-N-BE to the ciliary neurotrophic factor CNTF. In both cell lines CNTF induced the expression of the mRNA for two transcription factors, c-fos and NGF1A. The induction was rapid and transient reaching a maximum between 30 and 60 min after exposure to CNTF and subsequently declining. The level of induction of both c-fos and NGF1A mRNAs was much higher in SK-N-BE neuroblastoma cells compared to the SY5Y. Both cells express comparable levels of the transcript for the CNTF receptor-alpha. This mRNA was down regulated after 5 days of CNTF stimulation in both cell lines. CNTF also induced increased levels of the transcript for the growth cone associated protein GAP43 in SK-N-BE, but not in SY5Y cells. Induction followed a slower kinetic compared to that observed for c-fos and NGF1A. In fact, the GAP43 mRNA levels increased during 2 days of exposure to CNTF. Morphological analysis of CNTF treated cells showed that SK-N-BE undergo significant differentiation in response to CNTF (increased number of cells with neurites and increased neurite length) while SY5Y did not show appreciable morphological differentiation. These data shows that CNTF may elicit different response in neuroblastoma cell lines.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1995

DNA neosynthesis in Auerbach plexus ganglia isolated from the rat hypertrophic gut: an electrophoretic analysis.

We analysed using electrophoresis the total genomic DNA extracted from isolated Auerbach plexus ganglia of the hypertrophic duodenum upstream from a partial experimental stenosis. Results indicated the presence of two extra-bands migrating below the high molecular weight DNA. suggesting that DNA amplification is the basic mechanism of the DNA neosynthesis previously observed in myenteric neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Alpha v integrin subunit is predominantly located in nervous tissue and skeletal muscle during mouse development.

Alpha v integrin subunit can dimerize with different beta subunits to form receptors for several matrix proteins. The function of these receptors in vivo is still largely unknown. We examined the localization of alpha v integrin during mouse development and showed that its distribution is dynamically regulated in the glia of the central nervous system and in skeletal muscle. Immunoreactivity in the neural tube was firstly localized at embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) around cell bodies lining the lumen and along tiny fibres extending towards the outer margin. At E12.5 alpha v distribution follows the highly defined pattern of the radial glia: fascicles of immunoreactive fibres form parallel palisades, in particular along the hindbrain and the spinal cord. At E15.5, although with weaker intensity, alpha v was still detectable in radial glia fibres, and it codistributed with glial fibrillary acidic protein positive fascicles. After birth (P8) alpha v immunoreactivity in the brain and spinal cord decreased dramatically, but remained high in the radial glia of the cerebellum. In adult mice alpha v reactivity in the central nervous system disappeared. During myogenesis alpha v appears at E10.5 in myotomal cells and from E12.5 alpha v was evident in myoblasts and in myotubes. In the developing skeletal muscle of E15.5 embryos, immunoreactivity became more concentrated in the apical portion of the myotubes. In adult striated muscle the amount of alpha v subunit dramatically declined and immunostaining was no longer detectable. During development, alpha v was weakly evident in other sites including heart and endothelia of blood vessels, mesonephric tubula, smooth muscle of the digestive tract, and bronchia. Comparative analysis of the localization of alpha v, alpha 3, and alpha 5 integrin subunits indicated that alpha v has a unique and highly regulated distribution pattern. The distribution in the nervous system is consistent with a role of alpha v in neuron-glia interaction during the organization of the neuronal layers in the brain cortex and in the cerebellum. Moreover, alpha v is likely to be involved in the myotendinous junction during embryonic life, suggesting a dual functional role of this integrin in muscle and nervous tissue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Role of tyrosine phosphorylation in matrix-induced neurite outgrowth in human neuroblastoma cells.

Adhesion of human neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-SH clone SY5Y) to laminin or collagen type IV promotes tyrosine phosphorylation of a group of proteins with molecular mass ranging from 100 to 130 kDa and of a protein of 180 kDa. The same pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation was observed when SY5Y cells were allowed to adhere to culture dishes coated with monoclonal antibodies directed to the integrin subunits expressed in the cells, alpha 1, alpha 3, and beta 1, indicating that these receptors are responsible for this signaling mechanism. Using specific antibodies we identified the focal adhesion kinase p125FAK as a component of the 100- to 130-kDa phosphoproteins. Treatment with genistein or herbimycin A, two specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors, greatly reduced the tyrosine phosphorylation of the 100- to 130- and the 180-kDa proteins in response to laminin or collagen IV. Concomitantly, neurite outgrowth on the matrix proteins was strongly inhibited. This effect was observed in two distinct neuroblastoma cell lines, SY5Y and SK-N-BE. Genistein and herbimycin A treatment did not affect cell viability nor cause retraction of preformed neurites. These data suggest that matrix-induced tyrosine phosphorylation events are involved in neurite extension.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1994

Expression of beta 1B integrin isoform in CHO cells results in a dominant negative effect on cell adhesion and motility.

The integrin subunit beta 1B, a beta 1 isoform with a unique sequence at the cytoplasmic domain, forms heterodimers with integrin alpha chains and binds fibronectin, but it does not localize to focal adhesion sites (Balzac, F., A. Belkin, V. Koteliansky, Y. Balabanow, F. Altruda, L. Silengo, and G. Tarone. 1993. J. Cell Biol. 121:171-178). Here we analyze the functional properties of human beta 1B by expressing it in hamster CHO cells. When stimulated by specific antibodies, beta 1B does not trigger tyrosine phosphorylation of a 125-kD cytosolic protein, an intracellular signalling pathway that is activated both by the endogenous hamster or the transfected human beta 1A. Moreover, expression of beta 1B results in reduced spreading on fibronectin and laminin, but not on vitronectin. Expression of beta 1B also results in severe reduction of cell motility in the Boyden chamber assay. Reduced cell spreading and motility could not be accounted for by preferential association of beta 1B with a given integrin alpha subunit. These data, together with our previous results, indicate that beta 1B interferes with beta 1A function when expressed in CHO cells resulting in a dominant negative effect on cell adhesion and migration.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Integrin-mediated signal transduction in human endothelial cells: analysis of tyrosine phosphorylation events.

Adhesion of human umbilical endothelial cells to fibronectin resulted in increased tyrosine phosphorylation of a group of proteins with molecular mass ranging from 100 to 130 kDa and of a 70 kDa protein. This pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation was also observed when endothelial cells adhered to vitronectin, collagen IV, collagen I and laminin or to culture dishes coated with antibodies directed to either beta 1, alpha 3, alpha 5, alpha 6 or beta 3 integrin subunits. Increased phosphorylation of the 100-130 kDa proteins was detectable as early as 30 sec after adhesion, reached maximal level after 15 min, and remained high as long as the cells adhere to culture dishes. The 70 kDa protein was phosphorylated with a slower kinetics and its phosphorylation increased over a period of 3 h. Using specific monoclonal antibodies, the major component of the 100-130 kDa complex was identified as the focal adhesion tyrosine kinase p125FAK. The phosphorylation of the p125FAK was also observed by inducing beta 1 integrin clustering in non adherent HEC, indicating that this is a primary signalling event induced by integrins. Using tyrosine kinase inhibitors, we show a direct correlation between integrin-stimulated tyrosine kinases and assembly of focal adhesions and actin fibres.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1993

Human beta 1-integrin gene expression is regulated by two promoter regions.

We report the cloning of two full-length cDNAs coding for the human beta 1-integrin which diverge from each other for their 5'-untranslated sequences. Characterization of a genomic clone containing these two sequences showed that they are contiguous, spaced by 261 nucleotides, and both followed by donor splice sites. Analysis by primer extension and transient transfection in a human osteogenic sarcoma cell line (MG-63) demonstrated the existence of two independent promoters for transcription initiation. The two promoter regions are very G+C-rich, and lack both a TATA box and a CAAT box. Northern blot analysis showed that transcripts starting from the distal promoter (with respect to the first coding exon) are at least 20-fold more abundant than transcripts originating from the proximal one. The levels of both transcripts increase after transforming growth factor-beta 1 induction, however, mRNAs originating from the proximal promoter increase at an higher extent. Reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction analysis performed on different human tissues and cell lines revealed that, while the distal promoter is ubiquitously active, the proximal promoter is not. These findings suggest a possible complex pattern for regulation of the human beta 1-integrin gene expression.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Expression and functional analysis of a cytoplasmic domain variant of the beta 1 integrin subunit.

We have previously described a variant form of the integrin beta 1 subunit (beta 1B)1 characterized by an altered sequence at the cytoplasmic domain. Using polyclonal antibodies to a synthetic peptide corresponding to the unique sequence of the beta 1B, we analyzed the expression of this molecule in human tissues and cultured cells. Western blot analysis showed that the beta 1B is expressed in skin and liver and, in lower amounts, in skeletal and cardiac muscles. The protein was not detectable in brain, kidney, and smooth muscle. In vitro cultured keratinocytes and hepatoma cells are positive, but fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells are negative. An astrocytoma cell line derived from immortalized fetal astrocytes was found to express beta 1B. In these cells beta 1B represent integral of 30% of the beta 1 and form heterodimers with alpha 1 and alpha 5 subunits. To investigate the functional properties of beta 1B, the full-length cDNA coding for this molecule was transfected into CHO cells. Stable transfectants were selected and the beta 1B was identified by a mAb that discriminate between the transfected human protein and the endogenous hamster beta 1A. Immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that the beta 1B was exported at the cell surface in association with the endogenous hamster alpha subunits. The alpha 5/beta 1B complex bound to a fibronectin-affinity matrix and was specifically released by RGD-containing peptides. Thus beta 1B and beta 1A are similar as far as the alpha/beta association and fibronectin binding are concerned. The two proteins differ, however, in their subcellular localization. Immunofluorescence studies indicated, in fact, that beta 1B, in contrast to beta 1A, does not localize in focal adhesions. The restricted tissue distribution and the distinct subcellular localization, suggest that beta 1B has unique functional properties.

Amino Acid Sequence↗