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Biomedical subjects

R Auerbach

Publications and source records attributed to R Auerbach.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Isolation and characterization of endothelial cells from different organs of fetal pigs.

The purpose of this study was to isolate endothelial cells from different organs of porcine fetuses and to examine the binding of endothelial markers including lectins. Endothelial cells were isolated from the aorta, cerebral cortex, myocardium, ovary and testis. Binding of the antibodies to von Willebrand factor (vWF) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), the presence of Weibel Palade bodies (WPB), uptake of acetylated low density lipoprotein (acLDL), and labelling with the lectins Bandeiraea simplicifolia agglutinin I (BS I), Peanut agglutinin (PNA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA I) were examined. Cell preparations displayed cobblestone-like morphology with the exception of testicular endothelium, which formed arcuate structures. Endothelium isolated from the brain labelled more strongly than any other cell line with the lectin PNA, but it did not express ACE. In contrast to other cell preparations, myocardial endothelium showed very low binding of anti-vWF. Ovarian endothelium was able to perform in vitro angiogenesis. Moreover, these endothelial cells possessed the largest number of WPB. Testicular endothelium displayed highest binding of vWF. Endothelium isolated from the aorta, in contrast to all other endothelial cells, did not take up acLDL. These results demonstrate that organ- and tissue-specific heterogeneity is already expressed in fetal endothelium.

Animals↗

Isolation and propagation of yolk-sac-derived endothelial cells from a hypervascular transgenic mouse expressing a gain-of-function fps/fes proto-oncogene.

We report on the isolation and propagation of endothelial cells from the mouse embryonic yolk sac, the earliest site of blood vessel development, and on the advantages of a hypervascular transgenic mouse source of these cells. These transgenic mice express multiple copies of an activated allele of the human fps/fes proto-oncogene and display hypervascularity progressing to multifocal hemangiomas. This phenotype suggested a role of the fps/fes proto-oncogene in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis and led us to investigate the growth characteristics of yolk-sac-derived endothelial cells from transgenic fps/fes embryos. We have established eight independent cell clones from a mixture of transgenic and control yolk sacs from Day 12 embryos. Southern blot hybridization analysis showed all eight clones to be derived from transgenic cells, suggesting a growth advantage of cells carrying the activated fps/fes gene. A cell line, Clone 166 (C166), established from one of these clones, was more fully characterized. C166 exhibits normal endothelial characteristics, such as rearrangement into tubelike structures when placed on Matrigel, expression of angiotensin converting enzyme, retention of cobblestone morphology at confluence, and the presence of cell surface receptors for acetylated low density lipoprotein. The cells constitutively express murine endothelial cell adhesion molecule VCAM-1 and the vascular addressin identified by antibody MECA-99. As expected, the cell line expresses high levels of the cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinase encoded by the fps/fes proto-oncogene. The clone we have described as well as other endothelial cell lines that we have established from the mouse embryonic yolk sac should prove useful for the study of endothelial cell differentiation and for the determination of the mechanisms underlying the establishment of organ-specific endothelial cell heterogeneity.

Alleles↗

Replacing a surface loop endows ribonuclease A with angiogenic activity.

Angiogenin (ANG) promotes the formation of blood vessels in animals. This hormone is a small, monomeric protein that is homologous to bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase). ANG is a poor ribonuclease but its ribonucleolytic activity is essential for its angiogenic activity. RNase is not angiogenic. A hybrid protein was produced in which 13 residues of a divergent surface loop of ANG were substituted for the analogous 15 residues of RNase. The value of kcat/Km for the cleavage of uridylyl(3'-->5')adenosine by this hybrid protein was 20-fold less than that of RNase but 10(5)-fold greater than that of ANG. The thermal stability of the hybrid protein was also less than that of RNase. Nevertheless, the RNase/ANG hybrid protein promotes angiogenesis in mice at least as extensively as does authentic ANG. Thus we present a protein endowed with a noncognate biological activity simply by replacing a single element of secondary structure. In addition, a 13-residue peptide corresponding to the surface loop of ANG inhibits endogenous angiogenesis in mice. These results support a model in which both a surface loop and a catalytic site are necessary for the promotion of blood vessel formation by ANG or RNase. The dissection of structure/function elements in ANG reveals a unique opportunity to develop new molecules that modulate neovascularization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Quantitative differences in neoglycoprotein binding for vascular endothelial cells from porcine brain, ovary, and testis in vitro.

Carrier-immobilized carbohydrates are valuable tools for assessing the glycoligand-binding capacity of cell surfaces. A panel of 10 types of fluorescent neoglycoproteins has been synthesized to determine the extent of their specific binding to endothelial cells in vitro that have been obtained from porcine brain, ovary, and testis. Different sugar moieties revealed a nonuniform capacity to bind to the endothelial cells as determined by flow cytometric analysis, the histogenetic origin of the preparations being an important factor. Binding of mannose, xylose, and glucuronic acid was especially pronounced, but the extent of cell-associated fluorescence was significantly different dependent on the source of the endothelial cells. These results clearly reveal that endothelial cells in vitro display the capacity to specifically recognize defined carbohydrate moieties. Moreover, endothelial cells of different tissue origin can exhibit variability in this property, potentially endowing this cell type with site-dependent molecular properties.

Animals↗

A transformed murine myocardial vascular endothelial cell clone: characterization of cells in vitro and of tumours derived from clone in situ.

In the course of maintaining a cloned murine myocardium-derived endothelial cell line (mouse heart endothelial cell clone 5; MHEC5) a spontaneously transformed variant has been identified (clone MHEC5-T). On injection into histocompatible mice, clone MHEC5-T uniformly generated epithelioid haemangioendotheliomas. Clone MHEC5-T underwent significant additional alterations in addition to the acquisition of tumour-forming potential in vivo along with the diagnostic correlate of loss of cellular contact inhibition in vitro. Whereas the transformed cells maintained lectin-binding properties characteristic of endothelial cells, they lost the cell surface receptor(s) for acetylated low density lipoprotein and no longer bound antibodies to either angiotensin converting enzyme or von Willebrand factor-associated antigen. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), expressed constitutively on the parent clone, was down-regulated in the transformed cell line. The transformed cells acquired immunoreactivity to antibodies directed against cytokeratin, and they showed a markedly increased response to migration-inducing factors in vitro. The cell line described in this report demonstrates that the in vitro transformation of myocardium-derived endothelial cells can lead through transitional stages of differentiation to a new stable phenotype characterized by endothelial--to--epithelioid transition. The study of MHEC5-T cells, in addition to providing insight into the biology of cardiac neoplasms, may help to elucidate regulatory mechanisms involved in endothelial cell activation, transition and transformation.

Animals↗

Isolation and identification of fresh tumor-derived endothelial cells from a murine RIF-1 fibrosarcoma.

Tumor vasculature is anatomically heterogeneous and distinct from the vasculature found in normal mature tissues. Examination of the differences between tumor and normal vasculature is critical to the future design of therapeutic modalities which either target tumor vasculature or potentially enable more efficient delivery of tumor cytotoxic agents. Such efforts to date have been hampered due to the inability to isolate live endothelial cells from solid tumors. We report here the isolation of fresh, noncultured endothelial cells from a C3H/HeJ RIF-1 murine fibrosarcoma through the use of fluorescence-activated cell sorting based on antibody staining for angiotensin-converting enzyme with further characterization by uptake and metabolism of acetylated low-density lipoprotein, factor VIII staining, and electron microscopy.

Animals↗

Angiogenesis inhibition: a review.

In this review we discuss the concept of anti-angiogenesis, which is the inhibition of neovascularization. Anti-angiogenic agents are viewed from the standpoint of their effect on various elements of the angiogenic process, including induction of vascular discontinuity, endothelial cell movement, endothelial cell proliferation, and three-dimensional restructuring of patent vessels. An effort is made to place the many different approaches to anti-angiogenesis research into a comprehensible structure, in order to identify problems of evaluation and interpretation, thereby providing a clearer basis for determining promising and needed directions for further investigation.

Animals↗

In vitro differentiation of B cells and myeloid cells from the early mouse embryo and its extraembryonic yolk sac.

The yolk sac is the first site of hematopoiesis during ontogeny. However, the source of early embryonic hematopoietic stem cells remains unresolved. Early studies have shown that cells obtained from day-8 and -9 extraembryonic yolk sacs can give rise to T cells and myeloid cells, whereas the embryo itself appears to lack such cells. Controversy remains as to whether it is the embryo itself or the extraembryonic yolk sac that contains the initial precursors capable of differentiating into B cells. This study used the approach of enriching hematopoietic stem cells by immunocytoadherence and studying cells isolated from within the embryo itself or from the yolk sac obtained at days 8 and 9 of mouse embryonic development. We report that on day 9, both yolk sac-derived and embryo-derived cells can give rise to B cells and myeloid cells in vitro. On day 8, however, cells isolated from the yolk sac but not from the embryo produce myeloid colonies in vitro; neither source of stem cells generates B cells. Our study suggests that myeloid precursors migrate from yolk sac to embryo earlier than has previously been reported but that the origin for B cell precursors remains to be determined.

Animals↗

Identification and characterization of hematopoietic stem cells from the yolk sac of the early mouse embryo.

The yolk sac is the first site of hematopoiesis in the mammalian embryo. However, little is known about the initial stem cells in the yolk sac. We have isolated hematopoietic stem cells from early mouse embryonic yolk sac by using a sequential protocol of nonadherence to plastic, density gradient centrifugation, immunocytoadherence, and cell sorting. Isolated, nonadherent, density < 1.077-g/cm3, surface antigen AA4.1+, wheat germ agglutinin bright (WGAbright) cells give rise to multiple lineages, including T cells, B cells, and myeloid cells, as detected by using fetal thymus organ culture, S17 stromal feeder layers, or methylcellulose culture colony-forming cells, respectively. AA4.1+, WGAbright cells expressed high levels of heat-stable antigen (HSA) and CD45 (Ly-5) but did not significantly express major histocompatibility complex antigens, CD44, or Sca-1. Peak stem cell concentration is reached by day 11, before stem cells can be found in the liver, omentum, or thymus. In vivo long-term reconstitution of lethally irradiated mice was effected by as few as 720 AA4.1+, WGAbright yolk sac cells, but it required addition of a subset of bone marrow cells capable of providing immediate (short-term) radiation protection. Yolk sac donor-derived T cells, B cells, and macrophages were readily identified 6 months after transfer of yolk sac-derived stem cells. We suggest that, because of their cell surface phenotype as well as their capacity to differentiate in vitro and in vivo, the cells isolated from the mouse embryonic yolk sac may include the most primitive hematopoietic pluripotential stem cells yet identified.

Animals↗

Organ-specific change in Dolichos biflorus lectin binding by myocardial endothelial cells during in vitro cultivation.

Endothelial cells of the NMRI mouse strain express a cell surface glycoprotein recognized by the lectin Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA). This study documents a marked organ-specific increase in DBA-specific lectin binding of myocardium-derived endothelial cells (MEC) of the NMRI/GSF mouse during in vitro cultivation. An up to 20-fold increase in DBA binding sites is observed in long-term culture, an increase not found in other NMRI-derived endothelial cell lines (e.g., brain, aorta). The increase appears restricted to DBA in that binding with other lectins (PNA, WGA) was unaltered. NMRI MEC cultures maintain typical endothelial cell attributes such as cobblestone morphology on confluence, expression of endothelial cell-specific surface markers, and production of angiotensin-converting enzyme. Cultures routinely become aneuploid within 4 passages, several passages before upregulation of the DBA binding site(s). Myocardial endothelial cells sorted to obtain DBAhi and DBAlo cell populations generally maintained their sorted phenotype for 3 to 4 passages. Limiting dilution cloning resulted in clones varying in DBA expression. Clones for DBAhi expression maintained their DBA affinity for at least 10 passages (> 30 doublings), whereas DBAlo clones gave rise to varying numbers of DBAhi cells within 2 to 4 passages. We hypothesize that the change in DBA affinity accompanies in vitro aging, that the change is independent of alterations in karyotype, and that the increase in DBA affinity may reflect a change in one or more other endothelial cell properties. Additional studies will be necessary to determine whether the in vitro changes are correlated with specific functional alterations and whether they accurately reflect progressive changes of MEC in vivo.

Animals↗

Alveolar macrophage surface carbohydrate expression is altered in interstitial lung disease as determined by lectin-binding profiles.

Cell-surface-associated glycoconjugates play important roles in cellular functions such as antigen presentation and cell adhesion, functions that may be modulated in patients with interstitial lung disease. Because carbohydrate residues can be recognized by specific lectins, we designed our study to establish baseline data for bronchoalveolar-lavage-derived cells from normal volunteers and to compare the lectin-binding properties of these cells with cells recovered from patients presenting with interstitial lung disease. Cells were obtained from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n = 10), patients with sarcoidosis (n = 20), and patients receiving amiodarone without evidence of clinical lung disease (n = 10) as well as from normal volunteers (n = 8). To determine the pattern of cell-surface glycoconjugate expression on alveolar macrophages (AM), we used a panel of 21 fluorochrome-coupled plant lectins and employed flow cytometry to determine their binding to AM. The labeling profiles of AM were found to be highly reproducible for normal subjects. At the lectin concentrations used for this study, some lectins showed very little binding to AM and some displayed intermediate binding, but the majority of the lectins labeled nearly all AM in samples. Fluorescence intensity varied characteristically for cells labeled with different lectins, providing further refinement and permitting discrimination beyond that provided by data restricted to percent of labeling. AM from patients with interstitial lung disease showed increased binding for the plant-derived lectins PNA, UEA-I, BSL-I, VVL, and SJA compared with AM from normal subjects, being most augmented for AM from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Because peripheral blood monocytes from normal subjects show a higher percentage of labeling with PNA, UEA-I, SJA, and BSL-I than did AM, the increased expression of binding sites for these four lectins by AM from patients with interstitial lung disease may reflect the influx of immature blood monocytes and/or the emergence of a proinflammatory macrophage phenotype. This study demonstrated heterogeneous expression of surface carbohydrate residues by AM and blood monocytes from normal subjects and alterations in carbohydrate receptor expression in interstitial lung disease. Lectin-binding properties may prove useful, therefore, in the evaluation of mononuclear phagocyte populations in interstitial lung disease, especially by the identification of functional subsets and/or changed activation states.

Adolescent↗

Identification of haptoglobin as an angiogenic factor in sera from patients with systemic vasculitis.

Angiogenesis is an important process in chronic inflammatory diseases. We observed that sera from patients with systemic vasculitis stimulated angiogenesis in an in vitro model using human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured on a basement membrane (Matrigel) substrate. After 40% ammonium sulfate precipitation, angiogenic activity remained in the low molecular weight fraction and could be inactivated by heat. SDS-page of serum FPLC fractions exhibiting maximal angiogenic activity demonstrated two prominent species of 45 and 16-20 kD in patients' sera. These bands were much less apparent in sera obtained from control subjects. Amino-terminal sequencing of the 45-kD protein demonstrated that it was haptoglobin. Purified haptoglobin stimulated angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. The angiogenic activity of vasculitis patients' sera was partially inhibited by an antihaptoglobin antibody. Furthermore, serum haptoglobin levels in vasculitis patients correlated both with disease and angiogenic activity. Haptoglobin angiogenic activity was confirmed in two in vivo models using an implanted disc and a subcutaneous injection of basement membrane. Stimulation of angiogenesis is a newly recognized biological function of haptoglobin. The increased levels of haptoglobin found in chronic inflammatory conditions may play an important role in tissue repair. In systemic vasculitis, haptoglobin might also compensate for ischemia by promoting development of collateral vessels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A ribonuclease inhibitor expresses anti-angiogenic properties and leads to reduced tumor growth in mice.

Our experiments were designed to determine whether recombinant ribonuclease inhibitor (RNasin) could inhibit angiogenesis and reduce tumor growth in adult mice. We used the Fajardo disc angiogenesis assay as the primary means of measuring new blood vessel growth. This assay measures the penetration of cells into a polyvinyl alcohol sponge with a central core of ELVAX-coated sponge containing test substances. Cell penetration was reduced to 29.3% of control (phosphate-buffered saline; heat-inactivated RNasin) values. Endothelial cell influx was measured by lectin staining and confirmed by culturing cells isolated from sponges by collagenase treatment. RNasin also reduced the augmented reaction evoked by either basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or sodium orthovanadate. To confirm the anti-angiogenic activity of RNasin, Hydron-coated polyvinyl sponges containing bFGF or bFGF plus RNasin were implanted into adult mouse corneas. bFGF induced a strong angiogenic response that was almost completely inhibited by RNasin. RNasin-containing ELVAX-coated sponges implanted subcutaneously underneath an intradermal inoculum of C755 mammary tumor cells caused significant reduction in tumor growth (P < 0.005). The antitumor effect of RNasin correlated with its effect on tumor-induced neovascularization, suggesting that the ability of RNasin to affect tumor growth was due to its ability to inhibit angiogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A cloned lymphoid Thy1+ tumor line derived from murine yolk sac cells maintained in long-term cell culture in the absence of a thymic microenvironment expresses an unusual cell surface phenotype.

We have previously established conditions under which murine yolk sac cells can be maintained in vitro in the absence of thymus, and we reported that a spontaneously transformed Thy1.2+ yolk sac cell line was obtained after long term culture in vitro. We now provide further phenotypic characterization of a clone, YSA1, of this Thy1.2+ cell line showing that it expresses Thy1.2, CD3/TCR V beta 8, IL-2 receptor (IL2R), and heat stable antigen (HSAg), but does not express CD4/CD8 or TCR gamma delta. The YSA1 clone is an immature cell as indicated by the expression of IL2R and HSAg and by nonproduction of IL-2 upon stimulation by anti-CD3 antibody. The data show that yolk sac stem cells can differentiate into CD3/TCR expressing cells in the absence of thymus, but do not progress in vitro paralleling observations made on freshly-isolated yolk sac stem cells.

Animals↗

The endothelial-specific receptor tyrosine kinase, tek, is a member of a new subfamily of receptors.

We have cloned a 4.2-kb murine cDNA encoding the Tek receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), which is expressed in endothelial cells and their progenitors. The 1122-residue protein contains an extracellular domain comprising three fibronectin type III repeats fused to two immunoglobulin-like loops that are in turn separated by three epidermal growth factor-like repeats. The association of these different structural motifs and their characteristic arrangement in the Tek extracellular domain has been reported for only one other RTK, Tie, an endothelial-specific RTK of human origin. We show here that Tek and Tie are encoded by distinct genes and that, together, these receptors define a new subfamily of RTKs. In addition, we demonstrate that the tek cDNA, when introduced into COS cells, encodes a product of 140 kDa and that this protein and/or tek transcripts are detectable in highly vascularized embryonic tissues and in some, but not all, cell lines of endothelial origin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interaction of endothelial cells with a laminin A chain peptide (SIKVAV) in vitro and induction of angiogenic behavior in vivo.

Endothelial cells are known to bind to laminin, and two peptides derived from the laminin A (CTFALRGDNP) and B1 (CDPGYIGSR) chains block the capillary-like tube formation on a laminin-rich basement membrane matrix, Matrigel. In the present study, we have used various in vitro and in vivo assays to investigate the angiogenic-biologic effects of a third active site in the laminin A chain, CSRARKQAASIKVAVSADR (designated PA22-2) on endothelial cells. The SIKVAV-containing peptide was as active as the YIGSR-containing peptide for endothelial cell attachment but was less active than either the RGD-containing peptide or intact laminin. Endothelial cells seeded on this peptide appeared fibroblastic with many extended processes, unlike the normal cobblestone morphology observed on tissue culture plastic. In addition, in contrast to normal tube formation on Matrigel, short irregular structures formed, some of which penetrated the matrix and sprouting was more apparent. Analysis of endothelial cell conditioned media of cells cultured in the presence of this peptide indicated degradation of the Matrigel and zymograms demonstrated active collagenase IV (gelatinase) at 68 and 62 Kd. A murine in vivo angiogenesis assay and the chick yolk sac/chorioallantoic membrane assays with the peptide demonstrated increased endothelial cell mobilization, capillary branching, and vessel formation. These data suggest that the -SIKVAV-site may play an important role in initiating branching and formation of new capillaries from the parent vessels, a behavior that is observed in vivo in response to tumor growth or in the normal vascular response to injury.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[The heterogenicity of the vascular endothelium].

The vascular endothelium has long been considered to be a homogeneous cell type. It is only recently that its remarkable heterogeneity has been shown. The selective and organ-specific adhesion of cells of the immune system, of metastasizing tumor cells and of microorganisms underscores the central position of the endothelium between the circulation and each organ. The use of antibodies and lectins led to the recognition of species-, organ-, and age-specific endothelial cell surface receptors. Identification of the endothelial adhesion molecules and -mechanisms, which are part of the "endothelial organ- and tissue address" would lead to the possibility of blocking the adhesion of cells, such as e.g. tumor cells.

Animals↗