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Stimulation of growth hormone and prolactin release from rat pituitary cell aggregates by bombesin- and ranatensin-like peptides is potentiated by estradiol, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, and dexamethasone.

The effect of the bombesin-like peptides, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and neuromedin-C (NMC), and the ranatensin-like peptides, neuromedin-B (NMB), neuromedin-B30 (NMB30), and neuromedin-B32 (NMB32), on pituitary GH and PRL release was studied in perifused anterior pituitary aggregate cell cultures from 9- to 12-week-old male rats cultured in serum-free defined medium supplemented with 0.05 nM T3 and 4 nM dexamethasone (DEX). All peptides stimulated PRL and GH release. GRP and NMC stimulated hormone release in a concentration-dependent manner between 0.1-10 nM. NMB was slightly more potent than NMB30 and NMB32, but was significantly less potent than GRP and NMC. The magnitude of the PRL response to GRP and NMC inversely correlated with that of the GH response. Cultures with relatively low PRL response levels displayed high GH responses, whereas the opposite was found in cultures with high PRL response levels. The stimulatory actions of GRP, NMC, and NMB were blocked by the bombesin receptor antagonist Leu13 psi (CH2NH) Leu14-bombesin, supporting the specificity of the findings. Addition of 1 nM estradiol (E2) to the culture medium provoked an impressive (4- to 10-fold) increase in the magnitude of the GH response to NMC without changing the EC50 value (0.5 nM). In contrast, E2 significantly decreased the stimulation of GH release by rat GH-releasing factor. In the E2-treated aggregates 3 nM NMC stimulated GH release to a comparable extent as 0.1 nM GRF. 5 alpha-Dihydrotesterone (10 and 100 nM) and DEX (80 nM) also enhanced the GH response to NMC, but to a much smaller extent than E2. E2 had also a stimulatory effect on the PRL response to NMC, particularly in cultures with a low intrinsic PRL response. The PRL response to NMC was decreased by DEX and slightly augmented by 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. It is concluded that bombesin- and ranatensin-like peptides have a stimulatory effect on GH and PRL release at the pituitary level. Since their action on GH release is strongly potentiated by E2 and much less so by glucocorticoids, these peptides clearly distinguish their activity and specificity from that of the protagonist releasing factor GH-releasing factor, suggesting a role in sex-related differences in GH release or in the control of GH secretion during sexual maturation.

Animals↗

The effect of amiloride on the cardiac chronotropic responses to isoproterenol in myocardial aggregate cells in culture.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that amiloride alters the response of cardiac myocytes to isoproterenol. Myocardial cell aggregates were prepared from 7 day-old chick embryos maintained in culture for 72 hrs before study. Isoproterenol, 10-8 M to 10-5 M, significantly (P less than 0.05) increased contractile frequency of myocardial aggregates. The effects of isoproterenol were maximum within 5 min. of exposure and declined thereafter. In the absence of isoproterenol, amiloride, at 10-6 M and 10-7 M produced a transient decrease in contractile frequency while amiloride at 10-5 M produced a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in contractile frequency. Amiloride significantly (P less than 0.05) increased the effect of isoproterenol on cardiac contractile frequency. There was a greater and more sustained response to isoproterenol in the presence of amiloride. Furthermore, the magnitude of these effects were greater with higher concentrations of amiloride. These data indicate that amiloride accentuates the cardiac chronotropic response to isoproterenol and suggest that, because amiloride inhibits sodium entry in these cells, change in intracellular sodium may be one of the mechanisms mediating the chronotropic action of isoproterenol on the heart.

Amiloride↗

Signal transduction, chemotaxis, and cell aggregation in Dictyostelium discoideum cells without myosin heavy chain.

Dictyostelium discoideum cells have been generated that lack myosin heavy chain (MHC) due to antisense RNA inactivation of the endogenous mRNA or to insertional mutagenesis of the myosin gene. These cells retain chemotactic movement in gradients of the chemoattractant cAMP. Furthermore, cAMP does induce many biochemical and physiological responses in aggregative cells, including binding of cAMP to surface receptors, modification, and down-regulation of the receptor; activation of adenylate and guanylate cyclase, secretion of cAMP; and the association of actin to the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton. Cells lacking MHC were found to have a requirement for bivalent cations in the medium for optimal chemotaxis and cell aggregation.

Actins↗

Hydraulic permeability of immobilized bacterial cell aggregates.

A dense aggregate of cells was retained in a reactor by a supported porous membrane. A continuous flow of nutrient medium was maintained through the cell aggregate and membrane. The hydraulic resistance of the cell aggregate was monitored throughout experiments with either growing or chemically cross-linked cells, under conditions of varying flow rates. Digital image analysis was used to characterize the sizes, separations, and orientations of several thousand individual cells in electron micrographs of chemically cross-linked cell aggregates. Two nonlinear phenomena were observed. First, the hydraulic resistance varied in direct relation to and reversibly with flow rate. Second, in constant flow-rate experiments the hydraulic resistance increased with time at a faster rate than could be attributed to cell growth. Both of these phenomena were dependent upon and could be explained by the ability of cells to move with respect to one another, under the influences of Brownian motion and of convection. Such relative motion could allow changes in net alignment of cells in the direction of flow and in the volume fraction of cells in the aggregate. This explanation is consistent with image analysis data. The observed sensitivity of hydraulic resistance to flow rate was inconsistent with a model that assumed elastic deformation of individual cells, and no evidence of cell deformation was found in electron micrographs.

Journal Article↗

Fahraeus-effect-reversal (FER) in compaction stasis (CS): microrheological and haemodynamic consequences of intravascular sedimentation of red cell aggregates.

Red cell aggregate sedimentation under gravitation produces pronounced and rapid "phase separation effects" culminating in "compaction stasis" (CS), i.e. almost complete stuffing of microvessels by RBC. This can be readily observed and monitored in microvessels of vertically placed mesentery preparations by a horizontally aimed intravital microscope as shown by (GOBEL et al. VIRCHOW's Arch., 1988,). "Layered flow", floatational plasma skimming and progressive increase in local tube hematocrit (HT) up to 100% ("compaction stasis") occurs during induced low flow states in vivo (here preferentially in postcapillary venules), as well as in vitro (non-permeable artificial micro tube networks). Quantitative densitometry and velocimetry in vertically placed microvessels demonstrates that the process of RCA sedimentation results in progressive vertical skewing of the velocity profile, culminating in standstill of the RBC-sediment in the dependent vessel half, with superfluent plasma and small aggregates in the upper vessel half. The theory of compaction stasis is developed: in striking contrast to the situation under high shear conditions, red cells travel on slower trajectories than plasma: due to "red cell undervelocity" the average residence times of RBC in a venule is much higher than that of plasma. Consequently, CS can be explained as the result of a FAHRAEUS effect reversal since the principle of mass conservation requires that HT much greater than HD. Network aspects and hemodynamic consequences are also incorporated into the theory.

Animals↗

The ultrastructure of imaginal disc cells in primary cultures and during cell aggregation in continuous cell lines.

We have examined the ultrastructure of cellular vesicles in primary cultures of wing imaginal disc cells of Drosophila melanogaster. These cells maintain the apico-basal polarity characteristic of epithelial cells. The apical surfaces secrete extracellular material into the lumen of the vesicle from plasma membrane plaques at the tip of microvilli. During the course of one passage, cells from the established cell lines grow to confluence and then aggregate into discrete condensations joined by aligned bridges of cells. Cells in these aggregates are tightly packed, and there appears to be a loss of the epithelial polarity characteristic of the vesicle cells. Elongated cell extensions containing numerous microtubules are found in aggregates, and we suggest that these may be epithelial feet involved in the aggregation process. Virus particles are commonly found both within the nucleus and the cytoplasm of cells in the aggregates.

Animals↗

[Activation and cell-aggregation of mononucleus cells after short-term stimulation with mitogen and tuberculin].

The aim of the study was the description of morphological changes in mononukleated cells after short-term stimulation by mitogen and tuberculin visible by light- and electronmicroscopy and in differences between nucleus areas measured by planimetry. Already 1 hr. after p.h.a. stimulation lymphocytes forme clusters in which the mononucleated cells were present mostly as irritated and exhausted cells. In PPD-stimulated lymphocytes clusters were formed after 16 to 24 hrs. These cells were activated. Within clusters strong intercellular contacts were visible using the electron-microscopy. The results of planimetry in regard to nucleus areas of lymphocytes and monocytes were significantly dependent from the kind of mitogen or antigen and the duration of incubation time (analysis of variance).

Cell Aggregation↗

Invasion of human embryonic fibroblast cell aggregates by rat tumor cells of different metastatic capacities.

Aggregates of normal human Wi38 cells are used as a three dimensional substrate to test in vitro the behavior of rat tumor cells which exhibit different invasive and metastatic capabilities in vivo. The invasive but non metastatic tumor cells colonize the Wi38 cell aggregates, invade and destroy them within three days. The non invasive but highly metastatic tumor cells settle in a limited number on the aggregates but show no further activities. Co-cultivation of these tumor cells with cell suspension of single Wi38 cells under aggregation conditions does not hinder the Wi38 cells in forming aggregates. The results show that the invasive process in the metastatic cascade needs more specific reaction partners and host environment than local tumor growth. The conditions of the first process cannot be mimicked by a simple model.

Animals↗

Three dimensional culture of pineal cell aggregates: a model of cell-cell co-operation.

Three dimensional (3-D) cultures of pineal cell aggregates were obtained by constant gyratory shaking the heterogenous cell populations, obtained from the rat pineals, in the DMEM (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium). Within 4 days, the pineal cells became organized into a tissue like configuration appearing as a compact ball, evidenced by the scanning electron microscopy. The 3-D aggregates seemed to be mainly composed of pinealocytes (round-oval cells), glial (elongated cells) and other unknown cells. The heterogenous cells were separated by intercellular spaces. The ultrastructural characteristics revealed by transmission electron microscopy exhibited the presence of granular lysosomes, typical of pinealocytes actively involved in the secretion. These pineal cell aggregates secreted melatonin and other indole amines i.e. 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MT), indole acetic acid (IAA), 5-methoxy-3-indole acetic acid (5-MIAA), tryptophol (TOL) and 5-methoxytryptophol (5-MTL) in the culture medium, indicating the functional aspect of pinealocytes. The 3-D aggregates cultures had advantages over the pineal monolayer cultures as, after 4 days of culture, the amounts of indole amines secreted by 3-D aggregates were higher than those secreted by monolayer cultures. Besides, the 3-D aggregates remained functional till 24 days in the gyratory culture conditions. In the continuous perifusion system, the 3-D aggregates secreted melatonin while challanged with isoproterenol. This 3-D model of pineal cell aggregates might be useful, in future, to perform other kinetic studies of the release of indole amines in perifusion experiments as this system allows the maintenance of pineal cells for a long period of time.

5-Methoxytryptamine↗

Re-expression of 117 antigen, a cell surface glycoprotein of aggregating cells, during terminal differentiation of Dictyostelium discoideum prespore cells.

117 antigen is a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of D. discoideum cells at aggregation. It then disappears and is later re-expressed on the surface of a subpopulation of cells at culmination, the terminal differentiation stage (Sadeghi et al. 1987). A cDNA clone was used to show that the appearance of cell surface 117 antigen accurately reflects the expression of the 117 gene as measured by mRNA levels. It was also shown that during multicellular development there is a reciprocal relationship between the levels of 117 mRNA and the mRNA which codes for prespore surface glycoprotein, PsA. Dual parameter flow cytometry was used to demonstrate that the 117 antigen is found on the surface of maturing prespore cells after the PsA glycoprotein disappears, but that it is not found on mature spores. Using three monoclonal antibodies which identify respectively 117 antigen, PsA, and MUD3 antigen (a spore coat glycoprotein--probably Sp96), two new stages of final spore maturation were defined. These results indicate that there is a recapitulation of at least one aggregative cell surface glycoprotein in the prespore subpopulation of cells as they rise up the stalk during final spore development. This raises the possibility that culmination, which involves complex three dimensional morphogenetic movements not unlike those observed during animal embryogenesis, involves components of the two-dimensional pattern seen during aggregation.

Antigens, Differentiation↗

Cell aggregation by scaffolded receptor clusters.

The aggregation of cells by lectins or antibodies is important for biotechnological and therapeutic applications. One strategy to augment the avidity and aggregating properties of these mediators is to maximize the number of their ligand binding sites. The valency of lectins and antibodies, however, is limited by their quaternary structures. To overcome this limitation, we explored the use of polymers generated by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) as scaffolds to noncovalently assemble multiple copies of a lectin, the tetravalent protein concanavalin A (Con A). We demonstrate that complexes between Con A and multivalent scaffolds aggregate cells of a T cell leukemia line (Jurkat) more effectively than Con A alone. We anticipate that synthetic scaffolds will offer a new means of facilitating processes that rely on cell aggregation, such as pathogen clearance and immune recognition.

Cell Aggregation↗

A suitable method for identifying cell aggregates in laser scanning cytometry listmode data for analyzing disaggregated cell suspensions obtained from human cancers.

BACKGROUND: The presence of cell aggregates in cell suspensions obtained from human solid tumors can interfere with the measurement of cell DNA content of cell singlets, and can confound multiparameter analysis of other measurements on the same cells. Flow cytometric corrections for cell aggregates based on signal pulse shape have not proven to be reliable. Mathematical models have been developed to correct for cell aggregates in binned DNA histogram data, but they are not suitable for the correction of correlated non-DNA measurements obtained on the same cells. METHODS: A total of 21 samples representing a variety of normal and malignant human cell types, including normal lymphocytes, normal sputum, human breast cancer cell lines, and mechanically disaggregated cell suspensions from primary breast cancers and nonsmall cell lung cancers, were studied by laser scanning cytometry (LSC) using the CompuCyte laser scanning cytometer (Cambridge, MA). Nuclear area, nuclear perimeter, and an LSC-based cell texture parameter were measured on approximately 400 cells in each sample, using an air-cooled, violet laser emitting at a wavelength of 405 nm for DAPI excitation, and each cell was classified as a singlet or aggregate by its appearance under direct observation. A "saddle function" provided by CompuCyte was used, together with an algorithm based on the measurements of nuclear area, perimeter, and cell texture (the APT algorithm), to identify cell aggregates and exclude them from the listmode data file. RESULTS: Proportions of cell aggregates in the uncorrected samples ranging from 6 to 56% (mean, 20%) were reduced to proportions ranging from 0 to 7% (mean, 2.4%) after correction. The discriminant function was "tuned" to maintain both average cell singlet purity and average cell singlet yield at >70% over a broad range of cell DNA contents. CONCLUSIONS: A combined approach to cell aggregate detection, which utilizes both the saddle function and the APT algorithm, produces list mode data files that exclude >80% of cell aggregates from samples of disaggregated cell suspensions of human tumors and other sources of clinical material. Such data files are suitable for multiparameter analysis.

Algorithms↗

Influence of folliculo-stellate cells on biphasic luteinizing hormone secretion response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone in rat pituitary cell aggregates.

Anterior pituitary cells cultured as three-dimensional cell aggregates and incubated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) show a biphasic pattern of luteinizing hormone (LH) release when steroid-free bovine follicle fluid is added to the culture medium. Initially, the GnRH-induced LH release is low (lag-phase response), but LH release increases during further incubations with GnRH (primed-state response). Also, in aggregates of dispersed cells from long-term ovariectomized rats cultured for 2 days in the presence of 1% bovine follicle fluid, a low initial LH responsiveness to GnRH could be restored. Cycloheximide was found to block the induction of the primed state, indicating the protein synthesis dependency of GnRH self-priming. In aggregates from gonadotroph-enriched cell populations obtained by velocity sedimentation in a bovine serum albumin gradient, addition of 1% bovine follicle fluid to the culture medium also restored a biphasic pattern of GnRH-induced LH release. However, co-culturing the gonadotroph-enriched cell aggregates with a folliculo-stellate (FS) cell-enriched population resulted in the attenuation of the differences in LH secretion rate between early and late responses to GnRH. The present example of the attenuation by folliculo-stellate cells of pituitary hormone secretion responses demonstrates that the cells regulate the cellular processes leading to a priming of the LH response to GnRH, rather than interfering with the access of GnRH to its receptor in gonadotrophs. Finally, it was found that stimulation of the adenylate cyclase enzyme with maximal effective doses of forskolin counteracted the inhibitory effect of bovine follicle fluid on the initial LH response to GnRH, but did not completely abolish the biphasic pattern of LH release. It is concluded that coupling to the adenylate cyclase enzyme is presumably involved in the LH surge inhibiting feedback action on the pituitary cells, but also other messenger pathways and intercellular interactions between pituitary cells may play a role in establishing a biphasic LH release at the pituitary level following GnRH administration.

Animals↗

Expression of fusion regulatory proteins (FRPs) on human peripheral blood monocytes. Induction of homotypic cell aggregation and formation of multinucleated giant cells by anti-FRP-1 monoclonal antibodies.

Fusion regulatory proteins (FRPs) are newly defined cell surface molecules that enhance and/or induce virus-mediated cell fusion. Anti-FRP-1 Abs reacted with all of the established cells derived from humans and monkeys, whereas FRPs were found to be selectively expressed on a fraction of monocytes in human PBMCs. Granulocytes expressed no FRP-1 molecules, but approximately 18% of granulocytes expressed FRP-2 molecules. Alveolar macrophages also expressed FRP-1 molecules. FRP-1 expression was enhanced by culture of monocytes, but CD14 expression was not influenced by cultivation. Anti-FRP-1 Abs induced homotypic cell aggregation and multinucleated giant cell formation of monocytes. Anti-beta 2 integrin Ab blocked anti-FRP-1 Ab-induced cell aggregation, and anti-beta 1 integrin Ab and fibronectin inhibited anti-FRP-1 Ab-induced polykaryocyte formation. There was no competitive binding to monocytes between anti-FRP-1 Ab and anti-beta 1 or anti-beta 2 integrin Ab or fibronectin. Furthermore, there was no enhancement of beta 1 and beta 2 integrin expression by anti-FRP-1 Ab on monocytes. These findings suggest that anti-FRP-1 Ab activated integrin systems, and that the functions of anti-FRP-1 Ab were demonstrated through the activated integrin systems. Furthermore, it is inferred that integrin systems are involved in polykaryocyte formation of monocytes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Monoclonal antibody mNI-11 strongly induces homotypic cell aggregation of monocyte-like cell line U937: effects of conditioned medium and cytochalasin B].

A mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated as mNI-11, has been produced. This mAb strongly induced homotypic cell aggregation (HCA) of monocyte-like cell line U937 cultured with conditioned medium derived from PHA-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and cytochalasin B. HCA occurred at an optimal temperature of 37 C but not 4 C. mAbs to CD18 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 beta; LAF-1 beta) and CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1; ICAM-1) completely inhibited this HCA. These results suggest that mNI-11 strongly induces HCA of the U937 cells in an activated form after stimulation with conditioned medium and cytochalasin B.

Animals↗

Sponge cell aggregation.

Dissociated sponge cell system has proved to be a useful model to study the process of cell aggregation both on cellular and subcellular level. The purpose of this review is to discuss recent results obtained from experiments with the marine sponge Geodia cydonium. Dissociated cells form functional aggregates during a process which can be sub-divided into three phases: first, formation of small primary aggregates in the presence of Ca2+; second, formation of secondary aggregates in the presence of an aggregation factor and third, reconstitution of a functional system of water-containing channels by rearrangement in the secondary aggregates. On subcellular level a series of macromolecules are known which are involved in the control of aggregation and separation of sponge cells: Aggregation factor, aggregation receptor, anti-aggregation receptor, beta-glucuronidase, beta-glucuronosyltransferase, beta-galactosyltransferase, beta-galactosidase and a lectin. These components might be linked in the following sequence: (a) Activation of the aggregation receptor by its enzymic glucuronylation; (b) Adhesive recognition of the cells, mediated by the aggregation factor and the glucuronylated aggregation receptor; (c) Inactivation of the aggregation receptor by its deglucuronylation with the membrane-associated beta-glucuronidase; (d) Cell separation due to either the loss of the recognition site (glucuronic acid) of the aggregation receptor for the aggregation factor or to an inactivation of the aggregation factor by the anti-aggregation receptor. The activity of the anti-aggregation receptor is most likely controlled by the Geodia lectin. The events leading to cell-cell recognition cause a change in the following metabolic events: Increase of oxygen uptake, decrease of cyclic AMP level, increase of cyclic GMP level and stimulation of programmed syntheses.

Animals↗