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The role of cyclic AMP and protein kinase A in stimulation of neutrophil migration by endothelins.

The role of cAMP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) in endothelin (ET)-stimulated migration of human neutrophils was studied. Endothelins caused an increase in neutrophil migration when they were applied in low (nanomolar) concentrations; stimulation of migration was either predominantly chemokinetic (ET-1) or chemotactic (ET-2, ET-3). All endothelins, at concentrations which gave maximal stimulation of migration, caused an increase of cAMP level. Two inhibitors of adenylate cyclase, MDL-12330A and SQ-22536, completely inhibited migration activated by ET-1, ET-2 or ET-3, indicating that cAMP generation played a decisive role in endothelin-activated migration. The role of PKA in endothelin-activated migration was considered. Two specific antagonists of PKA strongly inhibited endothelin-activated migration. KT-5720, an inhibitor of PKA, also inhibited ET-activated migration, but only when electroporated cells were used. The results suggest that the effect of cAMP on endothelin-activated migration was mediated by PKA.

Adenine↗

Adhesion molecules mediating neutrophil migration to arthritis in vivo and across endothelium and connective tissue barriers in vitro.

Neutrophils, or polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs), migrate through vascular endothelium and in connective tissue during inflammation. In rats with adjuvant arthritis, migration to joints of radiolabeled (111In) blood PMNLs was examined to define the role of specific selectin and integrin adhesion molecules in this process. Based on monoclonal antibody studies, P-selectin was required for normal PMNL migration to the joints. Although E-selectin alone was not essential, it mediated PMNL accumulation when the P-selectin mechanism was blocked. However, 30% to 40% of the PMNL accumulation was L-, P-, and E-selectin-independent. The integrins, LFA-1 and Mac-1 (CD11/CD18), and VLA-4 mediated PMNL migration to arthritic joints. However, 20% to 40% of PMNL accumulation was via CD18- and VLA-4-independent mechanisms. Human PMNL migration in vitro across unstimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), induced by C5a or IL-8, was virtually all mediated by the CD18 (beta2) integrins, LFA-1 and Mac-1. PMNL transendothelial migration was partly CD18-independent (35%) when endothelium was activated with cytokines, such as interleukin-1, and a chemotactic gradient, such as C5a, was also present. This CD18-independent migration was partially E-selectin-dependent in vitro. PMNL migration across synovial fibroblasts induced by C5a was mediated by Mac-1, VLA-4, VLA-5, and VLA-6, functioning in concert. However, up to 30% of migration was via mechanisms as yet to be defined. Thus, PMNL transendothelial and extravascular migration involves some shared, and some distinct mechanisms, as well as some yet to be identified. Defining these mechanisms may help develop therapies for controlling PMNL involvement in inflammation in the vascular and extravascular spaces.

Animals↗

Migration of retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro modulated by monocyte chemotactic protein-1: enhancement and inhibition.

BACKGROUND: The migration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is an initial step in the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). This in vitro study was carried out to investigate the effects of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) on the migration and proliferation of RPE cells. METHODS: We used an in vitro wound healing model in which a small area of a confluent monolayer of human RPE (HRPE) cells was denuded with a razor blade. The cultures were subsequently incubated with MCP-1, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, or combinations thereof. Neutralizing IgG1 of antihuman MCP-1, dexamethasone (DEX) or daunorubicin were also added to the cultures to test their inhibitory effects on migration of RPE cells. HRPE migration was measured as the number of cells that entered the denuded area. The effect of MCP-1 on proliferation of HRPE cells was examined by MTT assay. RESULTS: MCP-1 stimulated HRPE cell migration in a dose-dependent manner. IL-1beta or TNF-alpha slightly stimulated HRPE cell migration, but adding anti-MCP- IgG1 significantly reduced this effect. MCP-1-induced migration could be inhibited by DEX but not by daunorubicin. MCP-1 did not show a significant effect on HRPE cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: MCP-1 stimulates HRPE cell migration, suggesting that this chemokine regulates the development of PVR at the initial stage. The migration of HRPE cells induced by IL-1beta and TNF-alpha may be associated with the MCP-1 that HRPE cells secretes under the stimulation of these two cytokines. The knowledge that MCP-1-induced migration of HRPE cells is inhibited by DEX may be useful in devising an effective treatment for PVR.

Cell Division↗

Oxidative stress produced with cell migration increases synthetic phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) is important in vascular pathogenesis. Understanding how these factors relate to cell migration can improve design of therapeutic interventions to control vascular disease. We compared the proliferation, protein content and migration of cultured aortic VSMC from wild type (WT) versus transgenic mice (Tgp22phox), in which overexpression of p22phox was targeted to VSMC. Also, we compared H2O2 generation and expression of specific phenotypic markers of non-migrating with migrating WT versus Tgp22phox VSMC in an in vitro wound scratch model. Enhanced H2O2 production in Tgp22phox versus WT VSMC (p < 0.005) significantly correlated with increased protein content, proliferation, and migration. VSMC migrating across the wound edge produced more H2O2 than non-migrating VSMC (p < 0.05). The expression of synthetic phenotypic markers, tropomyosin 4 and myosin heavy chain embryonic (SMemb), was enhanced significantly, while the expression of contractile marker, smooth muscle alpha-actin, was reduced significantly in migrating versus non-migrating cells, and also in Tgp22phox versus WT (p < 0.005) VSMC. These results are consistent with increased production of ROS accelerating the switch from the contractile to the synthetic phenotype, characterized by increases in proliferation, migration, and expression of TM4 and SMemb and decreased alpha-actin.

Animals↗

A comparison of fibronectin, laminin, and galactosyltransferase adhesion mechanisms during embryonic cardiac mesenchymal cell migration in vitro.

Embryonic hearts contain a homogeneous population of mesenchymal cells which migrate through an extensive extracellular matrix (ECM) to become the earliest progenitors of the cardiac valves. Since these cells normally migrate through an ECM containing several adhesion substrates, this study was undertaken to examine and compare three ECM binding mechanisms for mesenchymal cell migration in an in vitro model. Receptor mechanisms for the ECM glycoproteins fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LM) and the cell surface receptor galactosyltransferase (GalTase), which binds an uncharacterized ECM substrate, were compared. Primary cardiac explants from stage 17 chick embryos were cultured on three-dimensional collagen gels. Mesenchymal cell outgrowth was recorded every 24 hr and is reported as a percentage of control. Migration was perturbed using specific inhibitors for each of the three receptor mechanisms. These included the hexapeptide GRGDSP (300-1000 micrograms/ml), which mimics a cell binding domain of FN, the pentapeptide YIGSR (300-1000 micrograms/ml), which mimics a binding domain of LM, and alpha-lactalbumin (1-10 mg/ml), a protein modifier of GalTase activity. The functional role of these adhesion mechanisms was further tested using antibodies to avian integrin (JG22) and avian GalTase. While the FN-related peptide had no significant effect on cell migration it did produce a rounded cellular morphology. The LN-related peptide inhibited mesenchymal migration 70% and alpha-lactalbumin inhibited cell migration 50%. Antibodies against integrin and GalTase inhibited mesenchymal cell migration by 80 and 50%, respectively. The substrate for GalTase was demonstrated to be a single high molecular weight substrate which was not LM or FN. Control peptides, proteins and antibodies demonstrated the specificity of these effects. These data demonstrate that multiple adhesion mechanisms, including cell surface GalTase, are potentially functional during cardiac mesenchymal cell migration. The sensitivity of cell migration to the various inhibitors suggests that occupancy of specific ECM receptors can modulate the activity of other, unrelated, ECM adhesion mechanisms utilized by these cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Hormonal correlates of migration and territorial behavior in juvenile willow tits during autumn.

This study compared plasma levels of dihydrotestosterone, testosterone, corticosterone, luteinizing hormone, growth hormone, and prolactin in migrating juvenile willow tits with those in territorial juveniles. Both categories of birds were caught in late September. Migrating juveniles had higher plasma levels of corticosterone than territorial juveniles. Only corticosterone secretion was affected by "handling stress" in both migrating and territorial juveniles. However, territorial birds showed a much stronger relationship between these two variables. It is suggested that high corticosterone levels are involved in the emigration of juveniles out of the coniferous forest. Only juveniles were found among the migrating willow tits, and these birds were not well adapted for migration. Migrating juvenile males had less fat stored than did territorial ones. Furthermore, migrating juvenile males had higher liver/somatic index and higher plasma levels of growth hormone than did territorial males. These results indicate that migrating males had been, or were, exposed to food restrictions. The same proportion of migrating and territorial juveniles, males as well as females, had high plasma levels of testosterone. We suggest that these high levels were caused by recent aggressive interactions. To test the hypothesis that high plasma levels of testosterone are important for a juvenile to become a member of a territorial winter group, we performed a field experiment in which juveniles were given testosterone implants (controls were given empty silastic tubes) at the beginning of the territorial establishment period. The same proportion of testosterone-implanted birds and control birds succeeded in becoming members of territorial winter groups. Thus, testosterone does not seem to play an essential role in autumn territoriality, and it does not prevent autumn migration.

Animals↗

Lymphocyte and granulocyte migration across the endothelial layer of bovine pulmonary artery intimal explants towards lymphocyte conditioned medium.

An intravenous infusion of endotoxin into sheep results in accumulation of equal numbers of lymphocytes and granulocytes in the pulmonary microcirculation. The role of the sequestered lymphocytes in acute lung injury is not known. The present study examines whether lymphocyte migration through pulmonary endothelium contributes to endothelial damage and also examines the effect of lymphokines on granulocyte migration. Bovine pulmonary artery intimal explants were mounted in Boyden chambers and conditioned media, prepared from bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes, was used as the chemoattractant. The rate of 51Cr labelled bovine granulocyte lymphocyte migration into intimal explants was determined over a 3 hr incubation period. Permeability changes were assessed by adding trace amounts of 14C-sucrose and 3H-water to the upper well and following their rate of equilibration with the lower well. 6-Keto-PGF1 alpha was measured in the upper well. Lymphocyte conditioned media was found to be chemotactic for both lymphocytes and granulocytes (lymphocyte migration at 60 min: lymphocyte conditioned media = 18.5 +/- 2.3%, mean +/- s.e. RPMI control = 12.5 +/- 1.5; granulocyte migration at 120 min: conditioned media = 36.1 +/- 5.7, RPMI control = 18.2 +/- 3.0). Ultrastructural examination revealed leukocyte migration followed an orderly sequence during which the leukocytes maintained close contact with the adjacent endothelial cells. No structural evidence of endothelial cell damage was seen at any time examined. Granulocyte migration was associated with an increased rate of 14C-sucrose equilibration after 2 hr of incubation (lower well counts/upper well counts at 2 hr, RPMI control = 0.18 +/- 0.02; lymphocyte conditioned medium = 0.30 +/- 0.04) indicating alteration in the endothelial barrier function. Leukocyte migration, particularly lymphocyte migration, was accompanied by a marked increase in prostacyclin accumulation (3 hr: no leukocytes, 188 +/- 17 ng/ml; lymphocytes, 560 +/- 104). These in vitro findings suggest that lymphocytes and lymphokines may be involved in acute lung injury and also that permeability changes associated with granulocyte migration may depend on the chemoattractant.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

In vitro differentiation inhibits the migration of cultured neonatal rat cortical astrocytes transplanted to the neonatal rat cerebrum.

Neonatal rat astrocytes transplanted into the rat cerebrum migrate extensively. However, few of the molecular signals determining this migration have been defined. In the present study, in vitro modifications were designed to examine whether differentiation prior to transplantation would affect the magnitude or pattern of astrocyte migration in the neonatal host brain. Here, cortical astrocytes were collected from the brains of rats 1-3 days postpartum and purified by culturing them in DME medium supplemented with 10% calf serum. After 14-21 days, astrocytes were labelled with fluorescein-tagged latex microspheres for 16 hr; the label was then removed and replaced with either fresh medium or fresh serum-free medium plus 1 mM dbcAMP. After 48 hr, cells were harvested and then transplanted into the right frontal cerebrum of neonatal rats at 3 days postpartum by injection with a hand-held Hamilton syringe. Animals were sacrificed at 3, 6, 9, 15, 21 and 28 days after inoculation and their brains examined with fluorescence microscopy. Astrocytes not exposed to dbcAMP prior to implantation migrated along the corpus callosum, internal capsule, glial limitans, ventricular linings and the hippocampal structure. They also appeared to migrate in a radial fashion toward the periphery from the ventricular lining. Astrocytes treated with dbcAMP prior to transplantation did not appear to migrate into the neonatal parenchyma, remaining confined to the injection site for at least 6 days. Migration then appeared to commence at a normal rate after 9 days. Thus, neonatal cortical migrate outward in a pattern similar to that defined by the radial glia. Astrocytes differentiated by dbcAMP treatment, however, do not appear to migrate to any large degree in the neonatal brain until the treatment effect diminishes, suggesting that differentiation may represent an end-point to glial migration in the neonatal host brain.

Animals↗

Migration patterns of subventricular zone cells in adult mice change after cerebral cortex injury.

The subventricular zone (SVZ) generates the largest number of migratory cells in the adult brain. SVZ neuroblasts migrate to the olfactory bulbs (OB) in the adult, whereas during development, SVZ cells migrate into many adjacent nuclei. Previously, we showed that cerebral cortex injury in the adult causes molecular and cellular changes which may recapitulate the developmental migratory directions. Consistent with this, growth factors, as well as models of illness or injury can cause adult SVZ cells to migrate into non-olfactory bulb nuclei. Here, we tested the hypothesis that cerebral cortex injury in the adult mouse induces changes in migration, by labeling adult SVZ cells with a retroviral vector and examining the distribution of cells 4 days and 3 weeks later. Four days after cortical lesions, disproportionately fewer retrovirally-labeled cells had migrated to the olfactory bulb in lesioned mice than in controls. Conversely, the number of cells found in non-olfactory bulb regions (primarily the area of the lesion and the corpus callosum) was increased in lesioned mice. The morphology of these emigrated cells suggested that they were differentiating into glial cells. Three weeks after cortical injury, the majority of retrovirally-labeled cells in both groups of mice had migrated into the granule and periglomerular layers of the olfactory bulb. At 3 weeks, we still observed retrovirally-labeled glial cells in the corpus callosum and in the area of the injury in lesioned mice. These results suggest that cortical lesions cause a transient change in migration patterns of SVZ progeny, which is characterized by decreases in migration to the olfactory bulb but increased migration towards the injury. Our studies also suggest that cortical lesions induce the production of new glial cells which survive for at least 3 weeks after injury. The data support the concept that in the adult, SVZ cells can generate progeny that migrate towards injured areas and thus potentially be harnessed for neural repair.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Effect of sample composition on electrophoretic migration application to hemoglobin analysis by capillary electrophoresis and agarose electrophoresis.

The electrophoretic migration, in routine analysis, is crucial for compound identification especially when multiple components are present in the sample. In complex or crude samples, such as those obtained from biological fluids, electrophoretic migration often does not correspond well to that of a pure standard compound. Several factors, related to the sample itself, have been identified as modulating the electrophoretic migration in zone electrophoresis both in gel and capillary electrophoresis (CE): solute mobility and concentrations, salt content, and protein interaction in the sample. Peak shape asymmetry often signals changes in migration especially when comparing samples with wide differences in concentration or those containing high ionic strength. Also, the migration of a protein can be influenced by the presence of a high concentration of another slowly migrating protein in the sample. A weak interaction during the separation between the two proteins which lead to a decreased velocity has been postulated. This was confirmed by finding a curve-linear relationship between the ratio of the two hemoglobin (Hb) variants, hemoglobin F (Hb F) and hemoglobin S (Hb S), and the distance between the two in gel electrophoresis (GE); and also by the observation of formation of a new small peak based on the analysis of hemoglobin F by capillary electrophoresis upon the addition of Hb S to the separation buffer. These factors when present together have an additive effect on the migration. As an example, Hb F, present in low but variable concentration in patients with sickle cell disease (Hb S), migrates in gel electrophoresis slightly slower than it is expected; enough to be confused with other unknown variants. However, the small peaks with different migration distances between Hb S and the adult Hb (Hb A) correlated well (r = 0.98) with Hb F performed by an alkali-denaturing assay indicating that these peaks are indeed Hb F in spite of the difference in their migration.

Electrophoresis, Agar Gel↗

Droplet migration in emulsion systems measured using MR methods.

The migration of emulsion droplets under shear flow remains a largely unexplored area of study, despite the existence of an extensive literature on the analogous problem of solid particle migration. A novel methodology is presented to track the shear-induced migration of emulsion droplets based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The work is in three parts: first, single droplets of one Newtonian fluid are suspended in a second Newtonian fluid (water in silicone oil (PDMS)) and are tracked as they migrate within a Couette cell; second, the migration of emulsion droplets in Poiseuille flow is considered; third, water-in-silicone oil emulsions are sheared in a Couette cell. The effect of (a) rotational speed of the Couette, (b) the continuous phase viscosity, and (c) the droplet phase concentration are considered. The equilibrium extent of migration and rate of migration increase with rotational speed for two different emulsion systems and increased continuous phase viscosity, leads to a greater equilibrium extent of migration. The relationship between the droplet phase concentration and migration is however complex. These results for semi-concentrated emulsion systems and wide-gap Couette cells are not well described by existing models of emulsion droplet migration.

Journal Article↗

Participation of PI3K and ERK1/2 pathways are required for human brain vascular smooth muscle cell migration.

Human brain vascular smooth muscle cell (HBVSMC) migration contributes to angiogenesis and several pathological processes in the brain. However, the molecular mechanism of angiogenesis, in which smooth muscle cell contributes, remains unclear. Our study investigates the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the HBVSMC migration and elucidates the chemotactic signaling pathway mediating this action. We used the in vitro 'scratch' wound method to detect the HBVSMC migration. VEGF(165) (1-40ng/ml) induced the HBVSMC migration in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). VEGF(165) does not induce HBVSMC proliferation. Wortmannin, a specific phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, significantly inhibited serine/threonine kinase Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) phosphorylation and reduced HBVSMC migration into the wound edge following VEGF(165) stimulation (P<0.05). PD98059, an extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) inhibitor, also significantly inhibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation and reduced the numbers of SMC migration. Parallel distance measurement showed that VEGF(165) induced HBVSMC migration significantly reduced due to inhibition of PI3K or ERK1/2 phosphorylation (P<0.05). Our results demonstrate that VEGF(165) could induce HBVSMC migration but not proliferation in vitro. Inhibiting Akt/PKB or ERK1/2 phosphorylation could reduce VEGF(165) induced HBVSMC migration. We provide the first evidence that activation of PI3K or ERK1/2 pathways are a crucial event in VEGF(165) mediated signal transduction leading to HBVSMC migration.

Androstadienes↗

The migration of doctors and nurses from South Pacific Island Nations.

Little is known of the structure of the international migration of skilled health professionals. Accelerated migration of doctors and nurses from the Pacific island states of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga to the Pacific periphery is part of the globalization of health care. The findings from a recent survey of 251 doctors and nurses from the three island countries are reported here. Key determinants of both present migration status and future migration intentions were analyzed using econometric methods. Nurses' and doctors' propensities to migrate are influenced by both income and non-income factors, including ownership of businesses and houses. Migrants also tend to have more close relatives overseas, to have trained there, and so experienced superior working conditions. Migration propensities vary between countries, and between nurses and doctors within countries. Tongan nurses have a higher propensity to migrate, mainly because of greater relative earnings differentials, but are also more likely to return home. The role of kinship ties, relative income differentials and working conditions is evident in other developing country contexts. Remittances and return migration, alongside business investment, bring some benefits to compensate for the skill drain. National development policies should focus on encouraging return migration, alongside retention and recruitment, but are unlikely to prevent out migration.

Adult↗

Male-specific cell migration into the developing gonad is a conserved process involving PDGF signalling.

Male-specific migration of cells from the mesonephric kidney into the embryonic gonad is required for testis formation in the mouse. It is unknown, however, whether this process is specific to the mouse embryo or whether it is a fundamental characteristic of testis formation in other vertebrates. The signalling molecule/s underlying the process are also unclear. It has previously been speculated that male-specific cell migration might be limited to mammals. Here, we report that male-specific cell migration is conserved between mammals (mouse) and birds (quail-chicken) and that it involves proper PDGF signalling in both groups. Interspecific co-cultures of embryonic quail mesonephric kidneys together with embryonic chicken gonads showed that quail cells migrated specifically into male chicken gonads at the time of sexual differentiation. The migration process is therefore conserved in birds. Furthermore, this migration involves a conserved signalling pathway/s. When GFP-labelled embryonic mouse mesonephric kidneys were cultured together with embryonic chicken gonads, GFP+ mouse cells migrated specifically into male chicken gonads and not female gonads. The immigrating mouse cells contributed to the interstitial cell population of the developing chicken testis, with most cells expressing the endothelial cell marker, PECAM. The signalling molecule/s released from the embryonic male chicken gonad is therefore recognised by both embryonic quail and mouse mesonephric cells. A candidate signalling molecule mediating the male-specific cell migration is PDGF. We found that PDGF-A and PDGF receptor-alpha are both up-regulated male-specifically in embryonic chicken and mouse gonads. PDGF signalling involves the phosphotidylinositol 3-kinase (PIK3) pathway, an intracellular pathway proposed to be important for mesonephric cell migration in the mammalian gonad. We found that a component of this pathway, PI3KC2alpha, is expressed male-specifically in developing embryonic chicken gonads at the time of sexual differentiation. Treatment of organ cultures with the selective PDGF receptor signalling inhibitor, AG1296 (tyrphostin), blocked or impaired mesonephric cell migration in both the mammalian and avian systems. Taken together, these studies indicate that a key cellular event in gonadal sex differentiation is conserved among higher vertebrates, that it involves PDGF signalling, and that in mammals is an indirect effect of Sry expression.

Animals↗

The interplay between integrins alphaMbeta2 and alpha5beta1 during cell migration to fibronectin.

A directed migration of leukocytes through the extracellular matrix requires the regulated engagement of integrin cell adhesion receptors. The integrin alpha(M)beta(2) (CD11b/CD18, Mac-1) is progressively upregulated to high levels on migrating phagocytic leukocytes in response to inflammatory stimuli and is able to bind numerous ligands in the interstitial matrix. The role of alpha(M)beta(2) in migration of leukocytes through the extracellular matrix and its cooperation with other leukocyte integrins during migration are not understood. Using a model system consisting of cells that express different levels of alpha(M)beta(2) and an invariable level of endogenous integrin alpha(5)beta(1), we have explored a situation relevant to migrating neutrophils when alpha(M)beta(2) and alpha(5)beta(1) engage the same ligand, fibronectin. We show that fibronectin is a ligand for alpha(M)beta(2) and that both alpha(M)beta(2) and alpha(5)beta(1) on the alpha(M)beta(2)-expressing cells contribute to adhesion to fibronectin. However, migration of these cells to fibronectin is mediated by alpha(5)beta(1), whereas alpha(M)beta(2) retards migration. The decrease in migration correlates directly with the increased alpha(M)beta(2) density. Ligation of alpha(M)beta(2) with function-blocking antibodies can reverse this effect. The restorative effects of antibodies are caused by the removal of restraint imposed by the excess of alpha(M)beta(2)-fibronectin adhesive bonds. These findings indicate that alpha(M)beta(2) can increase general cell adhesiveness which results in braking of cell migration mediated by integrin alpha(5)beta(1). Because alpha(M)beta(2) binds numerous proteins in the extracellular matrix with a specificity overlapping that of the beta(1) integrins, the results suggest that alpha(M)beta(2) can affect the beta(1) integrin-mediated cell migration.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Noncatalytic domain of uPA stimulates human extravillous trophoblast migration by using phospholipase C, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase.

The serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) promotes matrix degradation by many cell types, including the invasive extravillous trophoblast (EVT) of the human placenta. The noncatalytic amino-terminal end of uPA binds to uPA receptors (uPARs) expressed by these cells. A highly polarized expression of uPAR-bound uPA at the migration front of EVT cells in situ suggests a functional role of uPA:uPAR interaction in EVT cell migration. The present study examined whether uPA stimulates EVT cell migration, independent of proteolytic function, and investigated some of the signaling pathways involved. Using in vitro-propagated EVT cells in Transwell migration assays, both uPA and its noncatalytic amino-terminal fragment (ATF) were shown to stimulate migration through multiporous polycarbonate (pore size 8 microm) membranes. A uPAR-blocking antibody inhibited basal and ATF-stimulated migration. Migration was found to be stimulated by hypoxic conditions, which upregulates uPAR expression; this stimulation was abrogated with the uPAR-blocking antibody, indicating the role of endogenous uPA in EVT cell migration. Spectrofluorometric measurement of cytosolic calcium in cells treated with uPA and ATF demonstrated a rapid rise in [Ca2+](i), which was prevented by pretreatment of cells with thapsigargin, indicating a release from intracellular stores. Both basal and ATF-mediated migratory responses were suppressed in the presence of selective pharmacological inhibitors LY294002, U73122, and U0126, implicating the respective roles of phosphatidinylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K), phospholipase C (PLC), and MEK1/2 in basal and ATF-stimulated migratory capacity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that uPA:uPAR interaction stimulates EVT cell migration, independent of uPA enzymatic activity, using the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and calcium signaling events including the participation of PI 3-K and PLC. These findings are relevant to clinical conditions of aberrant trophoblast migration, including spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, and choriocarcinoma.

Calcium↗

Bi-directional migration of lens epithelial cells in a physiological electrical field.

An endogenous electric field (EF) exists in the vertebrate lens, but the influences of this on the functions of lens epithelial cells (LECs) are unclear. Because LECs from different regions experience different patterns of endogenous EFs and show striking differences in morphology and function, bovine LECs from different regions were cultured in an applied EF to mimic that occurring naturally. The migration of LECs from central and peripheral regions was both stimulated and directed by an applied EF. Field-directed cell migration required serum, or growth factors. Cells cultured in serum free medium lost directed migration completely and this was restored partially by the addition of basic fibroblast growth factor. The direction of cell migration depended on both EF-strength and the origin of the LECs. Both central and peripheral LECs moved anodally at 150-250mVmm(-1). In a low EF (50mVmm(-1)), peripheral LECs migrated in the opposite direction, cathodally, but central LECs did not respond. Peripheral LECs alone therefore showed field strength dependent, bi-directional migration. A physiological EF enhanced activation of ERK1/2, a signaling molecule in the MAP kinase pathway, and this also required serum. Interestingly, expression of active ERK1/2 was enhanced in peripheral LECs at both 50 and 200mVmm(-1), which stimulated migration in different directions. In central LECs, which showed directed migration only at higher EFs, active ERK1/2 was increased only at 200mVmm(-1). The MAP kinase inhibitor U0126 prevented activation of ERK1/2 in LECs and inhibited EF-directed migration, implicating MAP kinase signaling in directing the migration of LECs in a physiological EF.

Animals↗

Rho-Rho kinase is involved in smooth muscle cell migration through myosin light chain phosphorylation-dependent and independent pathways.

Although Rho, a small GTPase, has been demonstrated to play an important role in the smooth muscle contraction and relaxation, little is known about the involvement of Rho protein in smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration. In this study the role of Rho-Rho kinase pathway was examined in SMC migration induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). C3 transferase, a specific inhibitor of Rho, blocked SMC migration induced by PDGF and LPA. Y-27632, a specific inhibitor of Rho kinase, a direct target molecule of Rho, inhibited PDGF and LPA-induced SMC migration in a concentration dependent manner. Although rapid increase in myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation in SMC treated with LPA was observed, no enhanced MLC phosphorylation was detected in response to PDGF. Y-27632 suppressed LPA-induced as well as basal level of MLC phosphorylation. ML-9, a specific inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), inhibited PDGF and LPA-induced SMC migration without the suppression of MLC phosphorylation at 5 min incubation, suggesting that MLCK may contribute to SMC migration via mechanism other than MLC phosphorylation. These results suggest that Rho-Rho kinase pathway is implicated in SMC migration and that different signaling pathways downstream of Rho-Rho kinase may be involved in LPA and PDGF-induced SMC migration. MLC phosphorylation via Rho-Rho kinase pathway appears to be implicated in LPA-dependent SMC migration. Whereas PDGF-mediated SMC migration is independent of increased MLC phosphorylation and other target molecules downstream of Rho-Rho kinase seem to be involved.

Amides↗