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Differential impact of simultaneous migration on coevolving hosts and parasites.

BACKGROUND: The dynamics of antagonistic host-parasite coevolution are believed to be crucially dependent on the rate of migration between populations. We addressed how the rate of simultaneous migration of host and parasite affected resistance and infectivity evolution of coevolving meta-populations of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens and a viral parasite (bacteriophage). The increase in genetic variation resulting from small amounts of migration is expected to increase rates of adaptation of both host and parasite. However, previous studies suggest phages should benefit more from migration than bacteria; because in the absence of migration, phages are more genetically limited and have a lower evolutionary potential compared to the bacteria. RESULTS: The results supported the hypothesis: migration increased the resistance of bacteria to their local (sympatric) hosts. Moreover, migration benefited phages more than hosts with respect to 'global' (measured with respect to the whole range of migration regimes) patterns of resistance and infectivity, because of the differential evolutionary responses of bacteria and phage to different migration regimes. Specifically, we found bacterial global resistance peaked at intermediate rates of migration, whereas phage global infectivity plateaued when migration rates were greater than zero. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that simultaneous migration of hosts and parasites can dramatically affect the interaction of host and parasite. More specifically, the organism with the lower evolutionary potential may gain the greater evolutionary advantage from migration.

Biological Evolution↗

Flavonoids promote cell migration in nontumorigenic colon epithelial cells differing in Apc genotype: implications of matrix metalloproteinase activity.

Colonic epithelial cell migration is required for movement up to the apex of the crypt and, hence, normal differentiated cell function. This migratory phenotype is dependent upon wild-type adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) expression. The purpose of this study is to determine whether specific flavonoids induce cell migration in colon epithelial cells either wild type or heterozygous for Apc genotype. Nontumorigenic murine colon epithelial cell lines with distinct Apc genotypes, young adult mouse colon (YAMC; Apc+/+) cells, and Immortomouse/Min colon epithelial (IMCE; Apc(Min/+)) cells were used to assess the ability of specific flavonoids to induce cell migration relative to migration induced by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). The citrus flavanones naringenin and hesperetin did not induce cell migration comparable with HGF in either cell type. However, the glycosylated forms of these flavanones, naringin and hesperidin, induced migration differentially in YAMC and IMCE cells. Specifically, naringin and hesperidin induced the greatest migratory response in IMCE cells at 1 microM (P < 0.01) and induced migration greater than untreated control cells (P < 0.05) but equal to HGF-treated cells. In YAMC cells, hesperidin did not induce migration except at the 100-microM concentration. Apigenin induced migration in IMCE cells at 1 (P < 0.05) and 50 microM (P < 0.01) and did not induce migration in the YAMC cells. Catechin induced migration at the highest concentration (300 microM) only in the IMCE cells, whereas epicatechin induced migration at the lowest concentration only (1 microM) in IMCE cells. Overall, the glycosylated citrus flavanones induced the greatest migratory response at the lowest concentration in IMCE cells. Co-treatment of IMCE cells with the global matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor Ilomastat in the presence of naringin, hesperidin, or apigenin demonstrated that flavonoid-induced migration was dependent on MMP activity. Induction of the migratory phenotype by flavonoids in these models of preneoplastic epithelial cells suggests a novel mechanism for colon cancer prevention.

Animals↗

Two distinct roles for Ras in a developmentally regulated cell migration.

Receptor tyrosine kinases have been shown to promote cell movement in a variety of systems. The Ras protein, a well-documented downstream effector for receptor tyrosine kinases, may contribute to receptor tyrosine kinase-mediated motility. In the present study, we have examined the role of Ras in the migration of a small subset of follicle cells, known as the border cells, during Drosophila oogenesis. A dominant-negative Ras protein inhibited cell migration when expressed specifically in border cells during the period when these cells normally migrate. When expressed prior to migration, dominant-negative Ras promoted premature initiation of migration. Conversely, expression of constitutively active Ras prior to migration resulted in a significant delay in the initiation step. Furthermore, the defect in initiation of border cell migration found in slbo1, a mutation at the locus that encodes Drosophila C/EBP, was largely rescued by reducing Ras activity in border cells prior to migration. Taken together, these observations indicate that Ras activity plays two distinct roles in the border cells: (1) reduction in Ras activity promotes the initiation of that migration process and (2) Ras activity is required during border cell migration. We further examined the possible involvement of two downstream effectors of Ras in border cell migration. Raf activity was dispensable to border cell migration while reduced Ral activity inhibited initiation. We therefore suggest that Ras plays a critical role in the dynamic regulation of border cell migration via a Raf-independent pathway.

Animals↗

Migration of the Drosophila primordial midgut cells requires coordination of diverse PS integrin functions.

Cell migration during embryogenesis involves two populations of cells: the migrating cells and the underlying cells that provide the substratum for migration. The formation of the Drosophila larval midgut involves the migration of the primordial midgut cells along a visceral mesoderm substratum. We show that integrin adhesion receptors are required in both populations of cells for normal rates of migration. In the absence of the PS integrins, the visceral mesoderm is disorganised, the primordial midgut cells do not display their normal motile appearance and their migration is delayed by 2 hours. Removing PS integrin function from the visceral mesoderm alone results in visceral mesoderm disorganization, but only causes a modest delay in migration and does not affect the appearance of the migrating cells. Removing PS integrin function from the migrating cells causes as severe a delay in migration as the complete loss of PS integrin function. The functions of PS1 and PS2 are specific in the two tissues, endoderm and mesoderm, since they cannot substitute for each other. In addition there is a partial redundancy in the function of the two PS integrins expressed in the endoderm, PS1 (alphaPS1betaPS) and PS3 (alphaPS3betaPS), since loss of just one alpha subunit in the midgut results in either a modest delay (alphaPS1) or no effect (alphaPS3). We have also examined the roles of small GTPases in promoting migration of the primordial midgut cells. We find that dominant negative (N17) versions of Rac and Cdc42 cause a very similar defect in migration as loss of integrins, while those of Rho and Ras have no effect. Thus integrins are involved in mediating migration by creating an optimal substratum for adhesion, adhering to that substratum and possibly by activating Rac and Cdc42.

Animals↗

Ephrin-B ligands play a dual role in the control of neural crest cell migration.

Little is known about the mechanisms that direct neural crest cells to the appropriate migratory pathways. Our aim was to determine how neural crest cells that are specified as neurons and glial cells only migrate ventrally and are prevented from migrating dorsolaterally into the skin, whereas neural crest cells specified as melanoblasts are directed into the dorsolateral pathway. Eph receptors and their ephrin ligands have been shown to be essential for migration of many cell types during embryonic development. Consequently, we asked if ephrin-B proteins participate in the guidance of melanoblasts along the dorsolateral pathway, and prevent early migratory neural crest cells from invading the dorsolateral pathway. Using Fc fusion proteins, we detected the expression of ephrin-B ligands in the dorsolateral pathway at the stage when neural crest cells are migrating ventrally. Furthermore, we show that ephrins block dorsolateral migration of early-migrating neural crest cells because when we disrupt the Eph-ephrin interactions by addition of soluble ephrin-B ligand to trunk explants, early neural crest cells migrate inappropriately into the dorsolateral pathway. Surprisingly, we discovered the ephrin-B ligands continue to be expressed along the dorsolateral pathway during melanoblast migration. RT-PCR analysis, in situ hybridisation, and cell surface-labelling of neural crest cell cultures demonstrate that melanoblasts express several EphB receptors. In adhesion assays, engagement of ephrin-B ligands to EphB receptors increases melanoblast attachment to fibronectin. Cell migration assays demonstrate that ephrin-B ligands stimulate the migration of melanoblasts. Furthermore, when Eph signalling is disrupted in vivo, melanoblasts are prevented from migrating dorsolaterally, suggesting ephrin-B ligands promote the dorsolateral migration of melanoblasts. Thus, transmembrane ephrins act as bifunctional guidance cues: they first repel early migratory neural crest cells from the dorsolateral path, and then later stimulate the migration of melanoblasts into this pathway. The mechanisms by which ephrins regulate repulsion or attraction in neural crest cells are unknown. One possibility is that the cellular response involves signalling to the actin cytoskeleton, potentially involving the activation of Cdc42/Rac family of GTPases. In support of this hypothesis, we show that adhesion of early migratory cells to an ephrin-B-derivatized substratum results in cell rounding and disruption of the actin cytoskeleton, whereas plating of melanoblasts on an ephrin-B substratum induces the formation of microspikes filled with F-actin.

Animals↗

Multiple influences on the migration of precerebellar neurons in the caudal medulla.

Neurons destined to form several precerebellar nuclei are generated in the dorsal neuroepithelium (rhombic lip) of caudal hindbrain. They form two ventrally directed migratory streams, which behave differently. While neurons in the superficial migration migrate in a subpial position and cross the midline to settle into the contralateral hindbrain, neurons in the olivary migration travel deeper in the parenchyma and stop ipsilaterally against the floor plate. In the present study, we compared the behavior of the two neuronal populations in an organotypic culture system that preserves several aspects of their in vivo environment. Both migrations occurred in mouse hindbrain explants dissected at E11.5 even when the floor plate was ablated at the onset of the culture period, indicating that they could rely on dorsoventral cues already distributed in the neural tube. Nevertheless, the local constraints necessary for the superficial migration were more specific than for the olivary migration. Distinct chemoattractive and chemorespulsive signal were found to operate on the migrations. The floor plate exhibited a strong chemoattractive influence on both migrations, which deviated from their normal path in the direction of ectopic floor plate fragments. It was also found to produce a short-range stop signal and to induce inferior olive aggregation. The ventral neural tube was also found to inhibit or slow down the migration of olivary neurons. Interestingly, while ectopic sources of netrin were found to influence both migrations, this effect was locally modulated and affected differentially the successive phases of migration. Consistent with this observation, while neurons in the superficial migration expressed the Dcc-netrin receptor, the migrating olivary neurons did not express Dcc before they reached the midline. Our observations provide a clearer picture of the hierarchy of environmental cues that influence the morphogenesis of these precerebellar nuclei.

Animals↗

Substratum-dependent stimulation of fibroblast migration by the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin.

Nanomolar concentrations of native fibronectin and its RGDS-containing cell-binding domain have previously been reported to stimulate fibroblast migration in the transmembrane (or 'Boyden chamber') assay; in contrast, the gelatin-binding domain (GBD) of fibronectin has consistently been reported to be devoid of migration-stimulating activity in this assay. We have examined the effects of fibronectin and several of its purified functional domains on the migration of human skin fibroblasts in what is presumably a more physiologically relevant assay involving the movement of cells into a 3-D matrix of native type I collagen fibrils. We report that: (a) femtomolar concentrations of GBD stimulate fibroblast migration into such collagen matrices; and (b) fibronectin, as well as peptides containing all other of its functional domains, do not exhibit migration-stimulating activity when tested in the femtomolar to nanomolar concentration range (i.e. 0.1 pg/ml to 1 microgram/ml). The correct assignment of migration-stimulating activity to GBD, rather than to a contaminant, was confirmed by: (a) the use of several fibronectin and GBD purification protocols; (b) the neutralization of GBD migration-stimulating activity by monoclonal antibodies directed against epitopes present in this domain; (c) the time-dependent generation of migration-stimulating activity by the proteolytic degradation of native fibronectin; and (d) obtaining an identical dose-response curve with a genetically engineered GBD peptide. The cryptic migration-stimulating activity of GBD was not affected by the presence of serum or native fibronectin, but was inhibited by TGF-beta 1. Parallel experiments using the transmembrane assay confirmed that GBD was devoid of migration-stimulating activity in this assay when membranes coated with gelatin were used, but revealed that significant stimulation of migration was achieved with membranes coated with native type I collagen. Cells preincubated with GBD for 24 hours whilst growing on plastic tissue culture dishes and then plated onto native collagen matrices in the absence of further GBD also displayed an elevated migration compared to controls. Taken together, these observations suggest that: (a) the interaction of GBD with a putative cell surface receptor (and not the collagen substratum) initiates a persistent alteration in cell phenotype which is manifest by an increase in migratory activity when these cells are cultured on a native collagen substratum; and (b) GBD may play a hitherto unrecognised role in the control of cell migration in response to the local release of proteases during pathological processes, such as tumour invasion and wound repair.

Cell Movement↗

Migration of neutrophils across monolayers of cultured microvascular endothelial cells. An in vitro model of leucocyte extravasation.

Monolayers of bovine microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) grown on connective tissue derived from human amniotic membrane were used to examine the transendothelial migration of human neutrophils in vitro. Neutrophils placed above these cultures migrated in response to a chemotactic gradient generated by placing 10(-7) M-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine (fMLP) below the cultures. Under these conditions, an average of 29 +/- 12% of the total population of neutrophils migrated beneath the endothelium after 1 or 2 h of incubation. Neutrophil migration in the absence of fMLP or in the presence of equal concentrations of fMLP above and below the cultures was less than 8% of the response to a 10(-7) M-fMLP gradient. Migration was a rapid event. Neutrophils began adhering to the apical surface of the endothelium within 2 min following exposure to an fMLP gradient; Ca2+ was required for this initial adhesion. Within 10 min, the majority of neutrophils associated with the BMEC-amnion cultures had migrated beneath the endothelial monolayer. Ultrastructural studies revealed that the initial adhesion between migrating neutrophils and endothelium was characterized by close contact between the two types of cell in focal areas. This close association was maintained as the neutrophils traversed the clefts between endothelial cells. Following their migration across the endothelium, neutrophils often were observed lying between the endothelium and its basement membrane. With time, the neutrophils penetrated the basement membrane and moved into the underlying amniotic connective tissue. To test the role of neutrophil proteinases in breaching endothelial and subendothelial barriers, migration was allowed to proceed in the presence of a variety of proteinase inhibitors, including p-nitrophenyl p'-guanidinobenzoate, soybean trypsin inhibitor, 6-aminocaproic acid, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, leupeptin, antipain and methoxysuccinyl alanine-alanine-proline-valine chloromethyl ketone. None of these had a significant effect on the number of neutrophils that migrated or the depth to which they penetrated the amniotic tissue as compared with controls. In contrast, pepstatin and chymostatin reduced migration in response to fMLP to 7% and 52% of control values, respectively. However, these two inhibitors did not affect migration in response to another chemoattractant, leukotriene B4. Migration was neither enhanced nor inhibited by the following treatments: (1) removal of plasminogen from the calf serum used in the assay medium and addition of polyclonal antibody to plasminogen; (2) addition of monoclonal or polyclonal antibody to plasminogen activator.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Calcium↗

The tyrosine kinase pyk2 promotes migration and invasion of glioma cells.

Glioblastoma multiforme is extraordinarily aggressive due to the propensity of cells to migrate away from the tumor core into the surrounding normal brain. In this report, we investigated the role of proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2) and FAK with regard to influencing glioma cell phenotypes. Expression of Pyk2 stimulated glioma cell migration, whereas expression of FAK inhibited glioma cell migration and stimulated cell cycle progression. Pyk2 autophosphorylation was necessary, but not sufficient, to stimulate cellular migration. The N-terminal domain of Pyk2 is required for stimulation of migration as an N-terminally deleted variant of Pyk2 failed to stimulate migration, whereas expression of an autonomous Pyk2 N-terminal domain inhibited cell migration. Substitution of the C-terminal domain of Pyk2 with the corresponding domain of FAK stimulated cell migration as effectively as wild-type Pyk2; however, substitution of the N-terminal domain of Pyk2 with that of FAK inhibited cell migration, substantiating that the N-terminal domain of Pyk2 was required to stimulate migration. Silencing of Pyk2 expression by RNA interference significantly inhibited glioma migration. Cell migration was restored on re-expression of Pyk2, but expression of FAK in Pyk2 knockdown cells failed to restore migration. We conclude that Pyk2 plays a central role in the migratory behavior of glioblastomas.

Animals↗

Lymphocyte migration through monolayers of endothelial cell lines involves VCAM-1 signaling via endothelial cell NADPH oxidase.

Lymphocytes migrate from the blood across endothelial cells to reach foreign substances sequestered in peripheral lymphoid organs and inflammatory sites. To study intracellular signaling in endothelial cells during lymphocyte migration, we used murine endothelial cell lines that promote lymphocyte migration and constitutively express VCAM-1. The maximum rate of resting splenic lymphocyte migration across monolayers of the endothelial cells occurred at 0-24 h. This migration was inhibited by anti-VCAM-1 or anti-alpha4 integrin, suggesting that VCAM-1 adhesion was required for migration. To determine whether signals within the endothelial cells were required for migration, irreversible inhibitors of signal transduction molecules were used to pretreat the endothelial cell lines. Inhibitors of NADPH oxidase activity (diphenyleneiodonium and apocynin) blocked migration >65% without affecting adhesion. Because NADPH oxidase catalyzes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we examined whether ROS were required for migration. Scavengers of ROS inhibited migration without affecting adhesion. Furthermore, VCAM-1 ligand binding stimulated NADPH oxidase-dependent production of ROS by the endothelial cells lines and primary endothelial cell cultures. Finally, VCAM-1 ligand binding induced an apocynin-inhibitable actin restructuring in the endothelial cell lines at the location of the lymphocyte or anti-VCAM-1-coated bead, suggesting that an NADPH oxidase-dependent endothelial cell shape change was required for lymphocyte migration. In summary, VCAM-1 signaled the activation of endothelial cell NADPH oxidase, which was required for lymphocyte migration. This suggests that endothelial cells are not only a scaffold for lymphocyte adhesion, but play an active role in promoting lymphocyte migration.

Actins↗

DM-GRASP is necessary for nonradial cell migration during chick diencephalic development.

Cell migration is fundamental to normal CNS development. Radial migration, along radial glial fibers, has been the principal pathway studied, however, nonradial or tangential cell migration has increasingly been identified at all levels of the CNS. Receptors, cell adhesion molecules, and extracellular matrix molecules have all been shown to participate in radial cell migration. In contrast, the molecular basis of nonradial cell migration has only recently begun to be elucidated. Using replication defective retroviral vectors we have determined the location and time when nonradial cell migration begins in the developing chick diencephalon. We have identified three molecules that are expressed in spatially and temporally restricted domains that are consistent with them playing a role in nonradial cell migration. One of these molecules, DM-GRASP, a transmembrane protein with five extracellular Ig domains, is expressed on the nonradially migrating cells in addition to axons. To test the hypothesis that DM-GRASP participates in guiding nonradial cell migration, we injected a replication-defective retroviral vector used for lineage tracing followed by a DM-GRASP blocking antibody. Embryos injected with the blocking antibody showed a near complete block in nonradial cell migration specifically where DM-GRASP is expressed. Furthermore, morphological analyses revealed disruption of the normal architecture of the diencephalon indicating nonradial cell migration is necessary for normal morphological development of the brain. Our data indicate that DM-GRASP is necessary for nonradial cell migration in the chick diencephalon and have provided a system to further explore the function of nonradial cell migration during CNS development.

Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule↗

Vasoactive agents modulate migration of monocytes across glomerular endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Macrophages seem to play an important role in the development of glomerulosclerosis. In both human and experimental animal models of focal glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), infiltration of macrophages in the mesangium has been considered key in the development of FSGS. METHODS: In the present study, we evaluated the effect of vasoactive agents on the migration of monocytes across a filter in a modified Boyden chamber as well as across a cultured glomerular endothelial cell layer (in vitro model of glomerular mesangium). Both light as well as scanning electron microscopic studies were performed. We evaluated the effect of vasoactive agents including histamine, prostaglandin (PG) E2, angiotensin II, endothelin-1, platelet-activating factor, and interleukin-1 (IL) on the migration of monocytes/macrophages across an endothelial cell layer as well as a gelatin-coated filter. In addition, we evaluated the effect of cyclic adenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and PGE2 on vasoactive-induced migration of monocytes. RESULTS: Histamine increased (P < 0.003) the migration of monocytes across the filter. This effect of histamine was dose-dependent. Histamine at concentrations of 10(-8) to 10(-5) mol/L induced optimal migration across the filter (control, 16.6 +/- 1.1 vs histamine, 10(-8) mol/L, 40.9 +/- 0.9 monocytes/high power field). Cimetidine, an H2 receptor blocker, attenuated (P < 0.001) the effect of histamine on the migration of monocytes. PGE2 inhibited the migration of monocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Histamine increased (P < 0.001) the passage of monocytes across the glomerular endothelial cell layer (control, 1012 +/- 37 vs 1711 +/- 163 cpm/well). Histamine also increased the migration of murine macrophages across the glomerular endothelial cell layer. PGE2 inhibited the migration of monocytes across the endothelial cell layer under basal as well as histamine-stimulated states. Dibutyryl cyclic (DBc) AMP also attenuated the migration of monocytes under basal as well as histamine-stimulated states. Both PGE2 and DBcAMP also attenuated the IL-1 beta-stimulated migration of monocytes. Angiotensin II, endothelin-1, and platelet-activating factor did not modulate the migration of monocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Vasoactive agents directly modulate the transmigration of monocytes. The present in vitro study provides a basis for a hypothesis that vasoactive agents may also be modulating the migration of monocytes across the glomerular endothelial cell layer (into the mesangium).

Animals↗

Front-cell-specific expression of membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and gelatinase A during cohort migration of colon carcinoma cells induced by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor.

Migration of tumor cells is usually assessed as single cell locomotion in vitro using Boyden chamber type assays. In vivo, however, carcinoma cells frequently invade the surrounding tissue as coherent clusters or nests of cells. We have called this type of movement "cohort migration" and developed a two-dimensional in vitro cohort migration model, in which human rectal well-differentiated adenocarcinoma cells (L-10) migrate from piled-up cell islands as coherent sheets of cells when stimulated with hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor. In this study, we examined whether there is a cohort migration-specific way of expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and whether degradation of extracellular matrix is necessary for this type of migration. Production of membrane-type 1-MMP (MT1-MMP) and gelatinase A (MMP-2) by L-10 cells was demonstrated by gelatin zymography, immunoblotting, and reverse transcription-PCR. When cohort migration was induced with hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor, MT1-MMP and MMP-2 were immunolocalized predominantly in the leading edges of the front cells of migrating cell sheets, with the following cells being negative. In addition, during the cohort migration on gelatin-coated substratum, the gelatin matrix was degraded by the cells, in a very organized manner, causing radially arrayed lysis of gelatin matrix at the sites of leading edges. BB94, a synthetic inhibitor specific to MMPs, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 and -2, and the COOH-terminal hemopexin-like domain of MMP-2 inhibited the migration on gelatin matrix. Thus, these data demonstrate that gelatin matrix is reorganized to suit cell migration via leading-edge-of-front-cell-specific localization of MT1-MMP and MMP-2 during cohort migration and suggest that the reorganization is essential for this type of migration.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Tenascin-C promotes microvascular cell migration and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase.

Enhanced expression of tenascin-C (TN-C) at the invasive edges of glioblastoma multiforme in close association with vascular sprouts, suggests a role for TN-C in microvascular cell migration. To test this hypothesis, we studied the migration of endothelial cells in vitro. In an aggregate migration assay, bovine retinal endothelial cells (BRECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells spread and migrated similarly on TN-C or fibronectin (FN). In contrast, U251 MG glioma cells migrated less on TN-C than on FN. Morphological features of U251 MG glioma cells on TN-C included poor cell spreading and short processes. In contrast, on FN, U251 MG glioma cells spread and exhibited long radial processes. Using a transmembrane migration assay, we observed that BREC adhesion was similar on TN-C or FN, whereas U251 MG glioma cells adhered better to FN than to TN-C. In addition, BRECs migrated more across the membrane toward regions coated with TN-C than FN, and conversely, U251 MG glioma cells migrated more toward FN than TN-C. Migration of endothelial and glioma cells toward TN-C or FN occurred in a dose-dependent manner and was strongly dependent on cell adhesion. In this assay, ultrastructural study revealed the migrating phenotype of the endothelial cells through the micropores of the membrane and their spread morphology on TN-C. Moreover, in situ hybridization revealed specific expression of TN-C in migrating microvascular cells in a cerebral microvascular ring assay. Finally in a phosphorylation assay, TN-C enhanced focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation of BRECs, but not of U251 MG glioma cells, and FN enhanced focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation of both BRECs and U251 MG cells. The expression of TN-C by migrating endothelial cells and the promotion of endothelial cell adhesion and migration by TN-C suggest a potential role for TN-C in pathological angiogenesis.

Animals↗

Mechanisms by which tumor cells and monocytes expressing the angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase mediate human endothelial cell migration.

The angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is highly expressed in many human solid tumors, and the level of its expression is associated with tumor neovascularization, invasiveness, and metastasis and with shorter patient survival time. TP promotes endothelial cell (EC) migration in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo, and these have been linked to its enzymatic activity. The mechanism by which TP stimulates EC migration was investigated using human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs). TP induced concentration-dependent HUVEC migration, which required a TP gradient and thymidine and which was abrogated by the TP inhibitor CIMU (5-chloro-6(1-imidazolylmethyl)uracil). The chemotactic actions of TP plus thymidine were duplicated by the TP metabolite, 2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate (dR-1-P), and 10-fold more potently by its subsequent metabolite, 2-deoxyribose (2dR). Migration induced by dR-1-P, but not 2dR, was blocked by an alkaline phosphatase inhibitor, suggesting that the actions of dR-1-P first required its conversion to 2dR. In the migration assay, [5'-3H]dThd was metabolized to dR-1-P (96%) and 2dR (3.8%), and a gradient of both metabolites was maintained between the lower and upper chambers over the entire 5-h assay. TP expression in human solid tumors occurs in both tumor epithelial cells and in tumor-associated macrophages. The migration assay was adapted to use TP-transfected carcinoma cells to stimulate HUVEC migration, and they were found to induce more migration than did control vector-transfected cells. Human monocyte cells U937 and THP1, which constitutively expressed high levels of TP, also strongly induced HUVEC migration in the coculture assay. CIMU inhibited tumor-cell and monocyte-induced migration. In contrast, a neutralizing antibody to TP had no effect on cell-stimulated HUVEC migration, even though it completely blocked the migration mediated by purified TP. Thus, the intracellular actions of TP were sufficient to stimulate HUVEC chemotaxis. In contrast to purified TP, when incubated with [5'-3H]-thymidine, cells expressing TP released up to 20-fold more 2dR into the medium than dR-1-P. These studies demonstrate that TP-expressing cells mediate EC migration via the intracellular metabolism of thymidine and subsequent extracellular release of 2dR, which forms a chemotactic gradient.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Evidence for recent as well as long term activation of T cells migrating through endothelial cell monolayers in vitro.

As T cells actively extravasate from blood, they adhere to endothelium and then migrate out of the vessel with a locomotive activity. Although both adhesion and locomotion are properties associated with activated T cells, the two processes are not necessarily associated with identical activation states. Using human endothelial cells (EC) cultured to confluence on collagen gel, we examined the activation state of human peripheral blood T cells that adhere to and migrate through EC monolayers with three different methods: flow cytometric analysis of cell surface activation-related molecules, incorporation of tritiated nucleotide, and cell cycle analysis. The results were as follows. 1) Although expression of very late activation Ag integrins VLA-2 and VLA-3 by the initial blood T cell population (unseparated cells) and of adherent T cells was minimal, 40 to 45% of migrating cells were positive for VLA-2 and VLA-3. 2) The percentage of IL-2R+ cells in both unseparated and adherent cells was below 5% whereas the percentage of IL-2R+ cells among the migrating cells was 22 +/- 9% (range, 12 to 31%, n = 6). 3) Migrating cells expressed the highest CD26, whereas CD26 of adherent (nonmigrating) cells was divided into negative and high expression; in contrast, leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (L-selectin) of both adherent and migrating cells was mostly low or negative. 4) [3H]Uridine incorporation of migrating and adherent cells was 2.1- to 2.5-fold and 1.4- to 1.7-fold higher, respectively, than that of unseparated cells, indicating that RNA synthesis of migrating cells as well as adherent cells was enhanced. 5) Cell cycle analysis showed that 23.5% of migrating cells appeared to enter the G1 phase but not S or G2 + M phases whereas 2.2% of unseparated cells and 8.0% of adherent cells that did not migrate had an RNA content consistent with entry into G1. These results suggest that cells migrating from normal human blood through unactivated EC have been activated recently as well as showing evidence of long term activation. The activation state of migrating cells is consistent with the hypothesis that previous in vivo activation is required for cells to migrate through EC in this system.

Animals↗

Distinct mechanisms mediate the initial and sustained phases of cell migration in epidermal growth factor receptor-overexpressing cells.

Elevated levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are predictive of increased invasion and metastasis in many human cancers. In the present study, we have shown that two distinct pathways regulate cell migration in EGFR-overexpressing invasive cells such as MDA 468 breast cancer cells: mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK or ERK 1 and 2) pathways play a major role in early stages to cell migration; and protein kinase C delta isoforms (PKC-delta) play a significant role in later stages of sustained cell migration. Inhibition of MAPK activity with MAP kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059 blocks early stages of cell migration (up to 4 h); however, cells revert back to enhanced cell migration after 4 h. While inhibition of PKC-delta activity with rottlerin or dominant-negative PKC-delta expression blocks sustained cell migration after 4 h and up to 12 h, the combination of MAPK and PKC inhibitors completely blocked transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha)-induced cell migration in EGFR-overexpressing breast cancer cells. However, inhibition of MAPK activity completely blocked cell migration in low EGFR-expressing non-invasive breast cancer cells such as MCF-7 cells. Forced overexpression of EGFR in MCF-7 cells (EGFR/MCF-7 cells) resulted in cell migration patterns seen in MDA 468 cells, that is, MAPK pathways play a major role in early stages to cell migration, and PKC-delta plays a major role in later stages of sustained cell migration. The above data demonstrate that EGFR-overexpressing invasive cells have the ability to compensate the loss of MAPK-mediated signaling through activation of PKC-delta signaling for cell migration, which plays a major role in invasion and metastasis. In addition, data suggest that inhibition of MAPK and PKC-delta signaling pathways should abrogate cell migration and invasion in EGFR-overexpressing human breast cancer cells.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Regulation of human vascular smooth muscle cell migration by beta-adrenergic receptors.

Migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are two events involved in atherosclerosis, restenosis after balloon angioplasty, and stenosis of grafted vessels. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) found in stenotic vessels is known to induce migration of VSMCs. VSMCs express both alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors on their surface, and blood vessels are innervated by the adrenergic nervous system and exposed to circulating epinephrine. We examined the role of these receptors on PDGF-induced migration of VSMCs. VSMCs were cultured from saphenous vein segments. Migration was stimulated by PDGF. Effect of pretreatment of VSMCs with the beta-agonist isoproterenol, the alpha-agonist phenylephrine, or forskolin on PDGF-induced migration was examined with a modified Boyden chamber. Cell migration was quantitated by spectrophotometry. Intracellular cyclic AMP was determined by radioimmunoassay. PDGF significantly induced VSMC migration. Isoproterenol (0.1 and 1.0 microM) inhibited PDGF-induced migration by 30 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively. Forskolin (10 microM) completely blocked PDGF-induced migration. The migration inhibition by isoproterenol or forskolin was associated with a significant elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP. In contrast, phenylephrine had no effect on PDGF-induced migration or on cyclic AMP. Activation of beta-adrenergic receptors and the consequent rise in intracellular cyclic AMP inhibits migration of VSMCs induced by PDGF. These results are consistent with the notion that adrenergic agonists with substantial beta-receptor affinity, such as isoproterenol, can inhibit smooth muscle cell migration.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗