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Heat shock protein (HSP) 47 and collagen are upregulated during neointimal formation in the balloon-injured rat carotid artery.

Heat shock protein (HSP) 47, a collagen-specific molecular chaperone, is thought to be essential for the proper processing and secretion of procollagen molecules. We investigated the time course and localization of HSP47 and collagen expression after balloon catheter angioplasty in the rat carotid artery, based on the premise that accumulation of extracellular matrix components is a main feature of intimal hyperplasia in humans and in laboratory animals. Low levels of HSP47 expression were evident in uninjured carotid arteries. Northern blot analysis revealed that HSP47 mRNA expression was markedly stimulated 1--3 days after the induced injury and a high level was maintained for 7 days, followed by a gradual decline for up to 21 days after the injury. These changes in HSP47 expression paralleled changes in alpha 1(I) collagen expression. Immunohistochemical staining revealed colocalization of HSP47 and collagen in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of the media and intima. In situ hybridization analysis showed that activated SMCs, which proliferated and migrated into the intima, expressed high levels of HSP47. In cultured human aortic SMCs, similar upregulation of HSP47 and alpha1(I) collagen by TGF-beta was noted. These results show that SMCs activated after balloon injury express high levels of HSP47 and collagen during cell proliferation and migration, hence an overproduction of collagen and development of intimal thickening. Thus, HSP47 plays a role in the formation and progression of neointima after angioplasty.

Animals↗

Osteopontin is colocalized with the adhesion molecule CEACAM1 in the extravillous trophoblast of the human placenta and enhances invasion of CEACAM1-expressing placental cells.

CONTEXT: The human placenta is a complex tissue and possesses, through its capacity to proliferate and to invade maternal tissue, qualities that are usually found in malignant tumors. Osteopontin (OPN) and CEACAM1 may regulate these processes. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to investigate the expression pattern of OPN in the human placental components and to correlate it with CEACAM1 expression and function in placental cell invasiveness. DESIGN: Immunohistochemistry with an OPN-specific antibody and immunofluorescence were performed on normal placental samples to investigate the expression pattern of OPN and CEACAM1 in the human placenta. Extravillous trophoblast (EVT) hybridoma cells transfected with CEACAM1 and stimulated with OPN were studied using the Matrigel invasion assay. RESULTS: All placentae presented very strong expression of OPN in the EVT at the invasion front, where it colocalized with CEACAM1. In addition, OPN was also present in the villous trophoblast, with strongest expression in the cytotrophoblast of the first trimester. Transfection with CEACAM1 followed by stimulation with OPN resulted in increased invasiveness of EVT hybridoma cells. CONCLUSION: The present study shows the first systematic analysis of OPN expression pattern in the human placenta showing strong expression in the EVT at the invasion front. Colocalization of OPN with CEACAM1 in the EVT indicates that they might act together to regulate invasiveness at the maternal-fetal interface. Using an in vitro model, we also demonstrated increased cellular invasiveness after OPN treatment. We speculate that OPN and CEACAM1 may act as a functional complex involved in the regulation of placental invasiveness.

Antigens, CD↗

AthaMap web tools for the analysis and identification of co-regulated genes.

The AthaMap database generates a map of cis-regulatory elements for the whole Arabidopsis thaliana genome. This database has been extended by new tools to identify common cis-regulatory elements in specific regions of user-provided gene sets. A resulting table displays all cis-regulatory elements annotated in AthaMap including positional information relative to the respective gene. Further tables show overviews with the number of individual transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) present and TFBS common to the whole set of genes. Over represented cis-elements are easily identified. These features were used to detect specific enrichment of drought-responsive elements in cold-induced genes. For identification of co-regulated genes, the output table of the colocalization function was extended to show the closest genes and their relative distances to the colocalizing TFBS. Gene sets determined by this function can be used for a co-regulation analysis in microarray gene expression databases such as Genevestigator or PathoPlant. Additional improvements of AthaMap include display of the gene structure in the sequence window and a significant data increase. AthaMap is freely available at http://www.athamap.de/.

Arabidopsis↗

Induction of myometrial 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 messenger ribonucleic acid and protein expression late in rat pregnancy.

Myometrial function in pregnancy is regulated by a range of hormonal stimuli, including glucocorticoids, particularly in the period leading up to parturition. Glucocorticoid hormone action is dependent not only on expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) within target cells, but also on local expression of the enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11betaHSD). Therefore, this study examined changes in myometrial 11betaHSD bioactivity and expression (messenger RNA and protein) of the 11betaHSD-1 isoform and whether 11betaHSD-1 and GR are colocalized to myometrial cells. Myometrial 11-oxoreductase activity (conversion of [3H]11-dehydrocorticosterone to [3H]corticosterone) was only just detectable (<6%) at the postestrus stage of the cycle and on days 5 and 10 of pregnancy, but then increased markedly by day 16 (45 +/- 2%). This activity increased further to maximal levels on day 22 of pregnancy (55 +/- 3%) and remained high on day 23 (term; 34 +/- 3%) before decreasing by 24 h postpartum (9 +/- 2%). High 11beta-dehydrogenase activity was evident before (87 +/- 1%) and during the first half (day 5,91 +/- 1%; day 10, 88 +/- 2%) of pregnancy, was lower on days 16 (55 +/- 2%), 22 (39 +/- 3%), and 23 (58 +/- 1%), then returned to prepregnancy levels 24 h postpartum (86 +/- 1%). The marked induction of 11-oxoreductase activity late in pregnancy was strongly and positively correlated with both 11betaHSD-1 messenger RNA expression (by Northern analysis) and protein (by Western analysis; r = 0.96 and 0.98, respectively; P < 0.001). Moreover, 11betaHSD-1 and GR immunoreactivity were colocalized to the smooth muscle cells of the myometrium and the uterine epithelium late in pregnancy. Collectively, these data demonstrate that a marked induction of 11betaHSD-1 expression occurs in the rat myometrium near term, and this is associated with increased 11-oxoreductase bioactivity. As GR is coexpressed in the myometrium, we suggest that the induction 11betaHSD-1 serves to enhance local glucocorticoid actions and thus facilitate parturition.

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

Galanin in the lizard oviduct: its distribution and relationships with estrogen, VIP and oviposition.

The distribution of neurons containing galanin immunoreactivity (Gal/IR) has been detected in the oviduct of the lizard Podarcis s. sicula during the main phases of its sexual cycle and after 17beta-estradiol treatment. Indirect immunofluorescence technique was applied both to cryostatic sections and whole mount preparations, and Western blot analysis, with an antibody directed against mammalian galanin (Gal), was performed with lizard oviduct extracts. Colocalization of Gal with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) was also studied as well as Gal effects on egg deposition. In the quiescent oviduct of non-reproductive females, scanty Gal/IR fibres were found in the uterine-vaginal segment. During the reproductive period a gradual increase of positive nerve fibres and cell bodies were found distally in the lizard oviduct and the vagina revealed a reactive nerve population denser than elsewhere. Gal-IR nerve structures were present either in the musculature or mucosa and in the intermuscular layer they were organized in a nerve network. In the oviduct of non-reproductive females, 17beta-estradiol administration induced a significant increase of neurons containing Gal/IR. This hormone could be involved in the egg laying by means of galanin action and this hypothesis is supported by the induction of premature oviposition in pre-ovulatory females after Gal administration. Western blot analysis validates this peptide as true Gal, recognising one protein band with a molecular weight (3.2 kDa), similar to that of porcine Gal. Double labelling studies showed the co-presence of Gal and VIP in some neurons.

Animals↗

Dynamic interaction of HIV-1 Nef with the clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway at the plasma membrane.

The HIV-1 Nef protein perturbs the trafficking of membrane proteins such as CD4 by interacting with clathrin-adaptor complexes. We previously reported that Nef alters early/recycling endosomes, but its role at the plasma membrane is poorly documented. Here, we used total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, which restricts the analysis to a approximately 100 nm region of the adherent surface of the cells, to focus on the dynamic of Nef at the plasma membrane relative to that of clathrin. Nef colocalized both with clathrin spots (CS) that remained static at the cell surface, corresponding to clathrin-coated pits (CCPs), and with approximately 50% of CS that disappeared from the cell surface, corresponding to forming clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs). The colocalization of Nef with clathrin required the di-leucine motif essential for Nef binding to AP complexes and was independent of CD4 expression. Furthermore, analysis of Nef mutants showed that the capacity of Nef to induce internalization and downregulation of CD4 in T lymphocytes correlated with its localization into CCPs. In conclusion, this analysis shows that Nef is recruited into CCPs and into forming CCVs at the plasma membrane, in agreement with a model in which Nef uses the clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway to induce internalization of some membrane proteins from the surface of HIV-1-infected T cells.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Colocalization of BAX with BID and VDAC-1 in nimesulide-induced apoptosis of human colon adenocarcinoma COLO 205 cells.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors that belong to non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug family have been shown to have an apoptosis-inducing effect on neoplastic cells. In the present study the effect of nimesulide (NIM), a specific COX-2 inhibitor, on apoptosis and interactions between BCL-2 family death promoters BAX and BID and BAX and VDAC-1 were examined in human colon adenocarcinoma COLO 205 cells. Laser scanning cytometry was applied for the measurement of expression and aggregation of apoptosis-related proteins and quantitative analysis of NIM-induced apoptosis. Double-staining immunoconfocal and immunoelectron microscopy were used for subcellular colocalization of examined proteins. NIM induced apoptosis of COLO 205 cells in a dose-dependent manner. This was accompanied by: (1) a decrease in intracellular prostaglandin (PG) E content; (2) subcellular redistribution and aggregation of BAX and BID on organellar membranes and within the nucleus; (3) colocalization of BAX with BID and BAX with VDAC-1 on organelles; and (4) survival of cells with the highest BCL-2 aggregation. A similar pattern of subcellular redistribution and colocalization of BAX with BID and BAX with VDAC-1 suggests that BAX (in association with BID) controls the function of VDAC-1 and its permeability for apoptogenic factors released from mitochondria of COLO 205 cells stimulated to apoptosis with NIM.

Apoptosis↗

ACTH-regulated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the adult bovine adrenal cortex: a possible role in the maintenance of the microvasculature.

Endothelial cells lining vessels of endocrine tissues are fenestrated. Interactions with the local environment via either soluble factors or cell-cell interactions appear to govern this terminal endothelial differentiation. Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) has previously been reported to modulate endothelial fenestration in the rat adrenal cortex. Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been characterized as a potent inducer of endothelial fenestration, we aimed to characterize the status of VEGF expression in the bovine adult adrenal cortex and asked whether ACTH may regulate VEGF expression. By immunohistochemical analysis, we observed VEGF expression in steroidogenic cells from both zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata of the bovine adrenal cortex. Double-labeling experiments performed on isolated cells in primary culture revealed VEGF immunoreactivity, essentially colocalized with the Golgi apparatus. The expression of two predominant VEGF isoforms, VEGF(121) and VEGF(165), was observed by RT-PCR analysis. ACTH (10 nM) was found to rapidly (within 2-4 h) increase the abundance of these VEGF transcripts, as assessed by both RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis. In parallel, ACTH significantly induced VEGF secretion into the medium of fasciculata cells in primary culture. Thus, our data are consistent with the involvement of ACTH, through its regulation of VEGF expression, in the maintenance of the adult adrenal cortex endothelium.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Chicken oocyte growth: receptor-mediated yolk deposition.

During the rapid final stage of growth, chicken oocytes take up massive amounts of plasma components and convert them to yolk. The oocyte expresses a receptor that binds both major yolk lipoprotein precursors, vitellogenin (VTG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). In the present study, in vivo transport tracing methodology, isolation of coated vesicles, ligand- and immuno-blotting, and ultrastructural immunocytochemistry were used for the analysis of receptor-mediated yolk formation. The VTG/VLDL receptor was identified in coated profiles in the oocyte periphery, in isolated coated vesicles, and within vesicular compartments both outside and inside membrane-bounded yolk storage organelles (yolk spheres). VLDL particles colocalized with the receptor, as demonstrated by ultrastructural visualization of VLDL-gold following intravenous administration, as well as by immunocytochemical analysis with antibodies to VLDL. Lipoprotein particles were shown to reach the oocyte surface by passage across the basement membrane, which possibly plays an active and selective role in yolk precursor accessibility to the oocyte surface, and through gaps between the follicular granulosa cells. Following delivery of ligands from the plasma membrane into yolk spheres, proteolytic processing of VTG and VLDL by cathepsin D appears to correlate with segregation of receptors and ligands which enter disparate sub-compartments within the yolk spheres. In small, quiescent oocytes, the VTG/VLDL receptor was localized to the central portion of the cell. At onset of the rapid growth phase, it appears that this pre-existing pool of receptors redistributes to the peripheral region, thereby initiating yolk formation. Such a redistribution mechanism would obliterate the need for de novo synthesis of receptors when the oocyte's energy expenditure is to be utilized for plasma membrane synthesis, establishment and maintenance of intracellular topography and yolk formation, and preparation for ovulation.

Animals↗

A quantitative model suggests immune memory involves the colocalization of B and Th cells.

A prominent and essential feature of the humoral immune response of vertebrates is immunologic memory: the ability to recall previous exposure to antigen. We present a mathematical model of the growth and interactions of the major cell populations involved in the humoral immune response. Our analysis of this model predicts that the formation of a dynamic association between small numbers of antigen-specific B and Th cells, "colocalization", is sufficient to account for memory and the kinetics of the secondary response--neither specifically differentiated Th or B memory cells nor networks of antigen and anti-idiotypes are required. The colocalization hypothesis explains a number of existing experimental observations and can be tested by straightforward experiments which we describe.

Animals↗

Negative regulation of the rat stromelysin gene promoter by retinoic acid is mediated by an AP1 binding site.

Stromelysin is a member of the metalloproteinase family which plays an important role in extracellular matrix remodelling during many normal and disease processes. We show here that in polyomavirus-transformed rat embryo fibroblast cells (PyT21), the transcription from the stromelysin gene is repressed by the vitamin A derivative retinoic acid (RA). Furthermore, expression vectors encoding the human RA receptors hRAR-alpha, hRAR-beta and hRAR-gamma repress chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) expression from stromelysin promoter-CAT gene expression vectors in RA-treated PyT21 and human HeLa cells, as determined by transient transfection assays. Through mutation and deletion analysis, we show that the RA dependent repression is mediated by a 25 bp region from nucleotide positions -72 to -48 of the rat stromelysin 5'-flanking DNA sequence. Further mutation analysis of this region indicates that the DNA sequence required for RA dependent repression colocalizes with an AP1 binding site which is essential for promoter activity. We show also that RA represses the transcriptional activity of a reporter gene containing a TPA responding AP1 binding site driving the HSV tk promoter. Thus the RAR-RA complex appears to repress transcription of the stromelysin gene by blocking activation by positive regulatory factors. However, we found no evidence supporting the possibility that the RA dependent repression could be due to RAR binding to the AP1 binding site or to the AP1 components c-fos and c-jun.

Animals↗

A comparative nuclear localization study of galectin-1 with other splicing components.

Using both conventional and laser confocal fluorescence microscopy, the intracellular distribution of galectin-1 in HeLa cells was analyzed and compared with the localization of previously documented markers of the nucleus and cytoplasm. The Sm epitopes of the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes (snRNPs) and the non-snRNP splicing factor SC35 yielded only nuclear staining. On the other hand, the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase was cytoplasmic. In contrast to these patterns in which nuclear versus cytoplasmic localizations appeared to be mutually exclusive, galectin-1, as well as galectin-3, yielded simultaneous nuclear and cytoplasmic staining. Confocal microscopy showed galectin-1 fluorescence throughout most of the sections from the top of the cell to the bottom. Through the middle sections, as the plane of focus cuts through the nucleus, there was definite fluorescence staining in the nuclear compartment. This nuclear localization was critically dependent on the type of detergent used to permeabilize the cell: cells treated with saponin or digitonin yielded exclusively cytoplasmic staining while Triton X-100-treated cells showed nuclear as well as cytoplasmic labeling. Finally, double-immunofluorescence analysis showed that, within the nucleoplasm, the following pairs of nuclear antigens could be colocalized in certain speckled structures: (a) SC35 versus Sm; (b) galectin-1 versus Sm; (c) galectin-3 versus Sm; and (d) galectin-1 versus galectin-3. These results establish the presence of galectin-1 in the nuclei of HeLa cells, a conclusion consistent with the identification of the protein in nuclear extracts of the same cells and with its documentation as a factor in pre-mRNA splicing.

Antigens, Differentiation↗

Localization and biochemical characterization of alfalfa mosaic virus replication complexes.

Replication complexes were isolated from alfalfa mosaic virus-infected tobacco protoplasts. Most of the RNA-synthesizing activity appears to colocalize with the intact chloroplasts upon sucrose-gradient centrifugation of cellular homogenates. Further analysis of these replication complexes showed that the enzyme is strongly associated with the outside of the chloroplasts, the endogenous template being well protected against ribonuclease action. RNA polymerase activity is sensitive to protease treatment of intact chloroplast fraction showing that an essential part of the enzyme complex is facing the in vitro medium, and probably the cytosol in vivo.

Cell Compartmentation↗

Differential distribution of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of the rat.

We evaluated the distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), the medullary origin of sympathetic neurogenic vasomotor tone, and the contribution of NOS III to the cardiovascular actions of endogenous NO in the RVLM. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or Western blot analysis revealed that NOS I, II or III was expressed in the ventrolateral medulla at the mRNA or protein level under basal conditions. However, laser scanning confocal microscopic analysis of double-immunofluorescence images showed that whereas NOS I or II immunoreactivity colocalized with cells within the confines of the RVLM that stained positively with the neuronal marker, NeuN, NOS III immunoreactivity was associated primarily with blood vessels. Furthermore, bilateral microinjection into the RVLM of the selective NOS III inhibitor, N(5)-(1-iminoethyl)-L-ornithine, elicited minimal alterations in baseline systemic arterial pressure, heart rate or sympathetic vasomotor outflow in rats anesthetized with propofol. We conclude that whereas NOS I and II are present in neurons within the confines of the RVLM, NOS III is associated primarily with blood vessels. Our results further indicate that NOS III does not appear to contribute to the maintenance of basal sympathetic vasomotor outflows and arterial pressure by the endogenous NO at the RVLM.

Animals↗

Tricolorin A, major phytogrowth inhibitor from Ipomoea tricolor.

The allelopathic potential of Ipomoea tricolor (Convolvulaceae), used in Mexican traditional agriculture as a weed controller, has been demonstrated by measuring the inhibitory activity of organic extracts on seedling growth of Amaranthus leucocarpus and Echinochloa crus-galli. Bioactivity-directed fractionation of the active CHCl3 extract led to the isolation of the allelopathic principle, which turned out to be a mixture of the so-called "resin glycosides" of convolvulaceous plants. The structure of tricolorin A, the major phytogrowth inhibitor present in the active fraction, was elucidated as (11S)-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid 11-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-O-alpha-L-[2-O-(2S-methylbutyryl)-4 -O- (2S-methylbutyryl)] rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fucopyran oside- (1,3"-lactone)[1], based on chemical methods and spectral analysis including 1H-1H COSY, 1H-13CHETCOR, long range 1H-13C COLOC, and selective INEPT experiments. Bioassays showed that radicle elongation of the two weed seedlings tested was inhibited by tricolorin A [1] with IC50 values ranging from 12 to 37 microM. Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to compound 1 with an MIC value of 1.8 micrograms/ml. Significant cytotoxic activity against cultured P-388 and human breast cancer cells (ED50 2.2 micrograms/ml) was demonstrated for compound 1, and it also inhibited phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding using calf brain homogenate as a source of protein kinase C (IC50 43 microM).

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

NOR sites detected by Ag-dAPI staining of an unusual autosome chromosome of Bradysia hygida (Diptera:Sciaridae) colocalize with C-banded heterochromatic region.

The study of chromosomes in insects is a good tool in mitotic process analysis, zoographic localization and evolution investigation. Among them, the Sciaridae offers a karyotype with a small number of chromosomes, where the heterochromatin and nucleolar organizer region, NOR, are easily analyzed in metaphase chromosomes obtained from cerebral ganglia squashes. In this work, the heterochromatic regions on Bradysia hygida mitotic chromosomes, revealed by C-banding, were identified as centromeric blocks on A and C chromosomes and as dark interstitial region in B and X chromosomes. By Ag-DAPI staining, active nucleolus organizer region, NOR, was revealed associated to the constitutive heterochromatin in the end of the C autosome chromosome. The C-band regions and the unusual ribosomal site localization are discussed.

Animals↗

SifA, a type III secreted effector of Salmonella typhimurium, directs Salmonella-induced filament (Sif) formation along microtubules.

A unique feature of Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium (S. typhimurium) is its ability to enter into (invade) epithelial cells and elongate the vacuole it occupies into tubular structures called Salmonella-induced filaments (Sifs). This phenotype is dependent on SifA, a Salmonella virulence factor that requires the SPI-2-encoded type III secretion system for delivery into host cells. Previous attempts to study SifA and other type III secreted proteins have been limited by a lack of suitable reagents. We examined SifA function by expressing SifA with two internal hemagglutinin epitope tags. By employing subcellular fractionation techniques, we determined that translocated SifA was membrane associated in infected HeLa cells. Confocal microscopy revealed that SifA associated with the Salmonella vacuole and with Sifs. Our analysis also revealed that microtubules serve as a scaffold for Sifs, and that SifA colocalizes with microtubules at sites of interaction between lysosomal glycoprotein-containing vesicles and Sifs. Treatment with the microtubule inhibitor nocodazole blocked Sif formation but did not prevent SifA translocation into the Salmonella vacuole. While polymerized actin has been observed on Sifs, this phenotype was transient and did not play a role in promoting or maintaining Sif formation. Our findings demonstrate the essential role of microtubule dynamics in the formation of Sifs and the utility of this epitope tagging strategy for the study of bacterial type III secreted proteins.

Actins↗

Measuring the peptides in individual organelles with mass spectrometry.

New sampling protocols combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) allow the assay of single dense core vesicles. Understanding the packaging of vesicles is important as vesicles are the quanta of information for intercellular communication. Using vesicles from the exocrine atrial gland of Aplysia californica as the model, a wide range of bioactive peptides are detected within each vesicle. Although the expression of the egg-laying hormone gene family of type 1 atrial gland cells has been previously examined, chemical characterization of individual 1-2 microm diameter vesicles demonstrates that products from several genes are colocalized. The mass sensitivity of MALDI MS can be further improved to enable the analysis of even smaller subcellular organelles.

Animals↗