Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Cell”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

PINCH1 regulates cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesions, cell polarity and cell survival during the peri-implantation stage.

PINCH1 is composed of 5 LIM domains, binds integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and locates to integrin-mediated adhesion sites. In order to investigate PINCH1 function we generated mice and embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived embryoid bodies (EBs) lacking the PINCH1 gene. Similar to mice lacking beta1 integrin or Ilk, loss of PINCH1 arrested development at the peri-implantation stage. In contrast to beta1 integrin or Ilk mutants, however, disruption of the PINCH1 gene produced implantation chambers with visible cell clumps even at embryonic day 9.5. In order to define the phenotype leading to the peri-implantation lethality we made PINCH1-null EBs and found similar but also additional defects not observed in beta1 integrin or Ilk mutant EBs. The similarities included abnormal epiblast polarity, impaired cavitation and detachment of endoderm and epiblast from basement membranes. Additional defects, which were not observed in beta1 integrin- or ILK-deficient mice or EBs, included abnormal cell-cell adhesion of endoderm and epiblast as well as the presence of apoptotic cells in the endodermal cell layer. Although ILK and PINCH1 were shown to be involved in the phosphorylation of serine-473 of PKB/Akt, immunostaining with specific antibodies revealed no apparent alteration of PKB/Akt phosphorylation in PINCH1-deficient EBs. Altogether these data demonstrate an important role of PINCH1 for integrin function, actin organization, cell-cell adhesion and endodermal cell survival during the implanting of mouse embryos.

Actins↗
PubMed1994

Cytokine synthesis and apoptosis by intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes: signaling of high density alpha beta T cell receptor+ and gamma delta T cell receptor+ T cells via T cell receptor-CD3 complex results in interferon-gamma and interleukin-5 production, while low density T cells undergo DNA fragmentation.

To study the biological consequences of cytokine production and apoptosis by intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), we have studied these characteristics in both the high and low density CD3+ IEL populations. Stimulation of low- or high-density CD3+ IEL via the T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex using monoclonal anti-CD3, anti-alpha beta TCR or anti-gamma delta TCR antibodies resulted in opposing effects. In one case, a significant number of the high-density CD3+ T cells entered cell cycle from the resting stage (DNA replication was observed) and anti-TCR-CD3 treatment enhanced the numbers of interferon-gamma and interleukin-5 spot-forming cells in this cell fraction. In contrast, when the low-density alpha beta TCR+ or gamma delta TCR+ T cells were activated via the TCR-CD3 complex, DNA fragmentation was observed. These results demonstrated that the activation signals transduced via the TCR-CD3 complex resulted in their entry into the cell cycle and subsequent interferon-gamma and interleukin-5 production in the high-density IEL T cell subset. However, identical signals induced apoptosis in the majority of the low-density fraction of CD3+ IEL.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Identification of properties that can distinguish primitive populations of stromal-cell-responsive lympho-myeloid cells from cells that are stromal-cell-responsive but lymphoid-restricted and cells that have lympho-myeloid potential but are also capable of competitively repopulating myeloablated recipients.

We have recently described a modification of the long-term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC) assay that allows the identification and quantitation of a subset of murine LTC-IC that are able to generate both myeloid and lymphoid progeny in vitro. These "LTC-ICML" are inseparable from either standard LTC-IC or cells with long-term in vivo lympho-myeloid repopulating potential (competitive repopulating units, or CRU) present in normal adult mouse marrow but are detected at 15- to 30-fold lower frequencies. To determine whether at least part of this discrepancy is due to a reduced sensitivity of the LTC-ICML assay, a number of strategies to try to improve the original protocol were tested. Prolongation of the second phase of the assay (when the cells are maintained under lymphoid LTC conditions) from 7 to 10 days and inclusion of Flt3 ligand (FL) in the assay used to detect the production of B-lineage cells (CFU-pre-B) increased the average yield of CFU-pre-B per LTC-ICML by a factor of 3- to 20-fold; however, neither of these manipulations increased the frequency of LTC-ICML detected. Similarly, the use of S17 fibroblasts as feeders also did not improve the sensitivity of the LTC-ICML assay. On the other hand, approximately threefold more LTC-ICML could be detected when the initial phase of the assay (when the cells are maintained under myeloid LTC conditions) was shortened from 4 weeks to 1 week. In addition, this latter modification showed the existence in adult mouse marrow of a previously unrecognized, very early B220- stage of lymphoid development characterized by a relative resistance to both 5-fluorouracil and hydrocortisone. The discovery of such cells is of significant interest; however, their presence in adult mouse marrow in numbers comparable to those of both LTC-ICML and myeloid-restricted LTC-IC imposes severe restrictions on the use of the shorter LTC-ICML assay which offset its increased sensitivity. Interestingly, the present studies also show that both LTC-IC and LTC-ICML numbers are significantly better maintained (approximately twofold to sixfold) in myeloid LTC than are CRU. This differential maintenance of LTC-IC and CRU in vitro may be related to the fact that the detection of each of these two functionally defined progenitors involves the use of different ligand receptor systems. Alternatively, it is possible that at least some LTC-IC and CRU may represent developmentally distinct cell types. Taken together, these findings suggest a model of hematopoietic stem cell regulation in which retention of totipotentiality and maintenance of responsiveness to specific regulators may not be tightly linked.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Disintegrin causes proteolysis of beta-catenin and apoptosis of endothelial cells. Involvement of cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions in regulating cell viability.

Disintegrins, the snake venom-derived arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-containing peptides, have been demonstrated to inhibit angiogenesis through induction of endothelial cell apoptosis. However, it is not clear how a disintegrin causes endothelial apoptosis. In this study, we elucidated the action mechanism of disintegrin in causing endothelial apoptosis by using rhodostomin as a tool. We showed that cell detachment was observed at the early stage of rhodostomin treatment. It was initiated through the blockade by integrin alphanubeta3 and was accelerated by a mechanical stretch from neighboring cells. Both rhodostomin and poly(HEME) induced a higher percentage of cells at G2-M phase, the cleavage of beta-catenin and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase during apoptosis, indicating that cell detachment is a prerequisite for rhodostomin-induced apoptosis. Moreover, pp125(FAK) phosphorylation and actin cytoskeleton were affected upon rhodostomin treatment. The activation of caspase-3 but not that of caspase-9 was detected after rhodostomin treatment. In addition, general caspase inhibitors inhibited the cleavage of beta-catenin and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and DNA fragmentation, whereas they did not prevent cell shape change or detachment. According to these results, we concluded that disintegrin-induced endothelial apoptosis is a complex process, not merely caused by a blockade of endothelial integrin alphanubeta3 but also by an accompanied shape change and mechanical stretches among cells.

Actins↗
PubMed1991

Human lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells: III. Effect of L-phenylalanine methyl ester on LAK cell activation from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: possible protease involvement of monocytes, natural killer cells and LAK cells.

We have shown that depletion of monocytes from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by L-phenylalanine methyl ester (PheOMe) enhanced lymphokine-activated killer cell (LAK) generation by recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) at high cell density. In this study, we have investigated the mechanism of action of PheOMe on LAK activation by using trypsin, chymotrypsin, tosylphenylalaninechloromethanol (TPCK, a chymotrypsin inhibitor), tosyl-L-lysinechloromethane (TLCK, a trypsin inhibitor), phenylalaninol (PheOH), and benzamidine. PBMC were treated with 1-5 mM PheOMe for 40 min at room temperature in combination with the various agents, washed and assessed for their effects on natural killer (NK) activity against K562 cells and monocyte depletion. The treated cells were then cultured with or without rIL-2 for 3 days. LAK cytotoxicity was assayed against 51Cr-labeled K562 and Raji tumor target cells. TPCK at 10 micrograms/ml partially inhibited depletion of monocytes by PheOMe. TLCK did not prevent depletion of monocytes nor inhibition of NK activity induced by PheOMe. TPCK and TLCK inhibited NK activity by themselves. TPCK but not TLCK inhibited rIL-2 induction of LAK cells. On the other hand, PheOH and benzamidine (analogs of PheOMe) lacked any effect on monocyte depletion but abrogated the inhibitory effect of PheOMe on NK activity. They had no effect on rIL-2 activation of LAK activity enhanced by PheOMe. Trypsin potentiated the inhibitory effect of PheOMe on NK activity and monocyte depletion. Trypsin partially inhibited IL-2 activation of LAK activity enhanced by PheOMe. Chymotrypsin had little effect on NK activity but prevented the inhibitory effect of PheOMe on NK activity. It had little effect on monocyte depletion induced by PheOMe. PheOMe was hydrolysed by monocytes and chymotrypsin to Phe and methanol as determined by HPLC. TPCK inhibited hydrolysis of PheOMe by monocytes. Our data suggest that the effects of PheOMe on monocytes, NK cells and LAK activation involve protease activities of monocytes.

Chymotrypsin↗
PubMed2004

Agonist-induced internalization of leukotriene B(4) receptor 1 requires G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 but not arrestins.

The leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) receptor (BLT1) becomes desensitized upon repeated agonist stimulation. Little is known, however, about BLT1 internalization, which follows desensitization in most G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). In the current study, transiently expressed BLT1 readily internalized, after LTB(4) stimulation, in RBL-2H3 cells that express high levels of endogenous GPCR kinase 2 (GRK2) but did not in COS-7 or human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells, which do not overexpress GRK. The internalization of BLT1 could be blocked in RBL-2H3 cells by coexpressing dominant-negative (DN) GRK2 K220R and could be promoted in HEK293 cells by coexpressing wild-type (WT) GRK2. Coexpression of WT or DN nonvisual arrestins had no effect on BLT1 internalization. Moreover, upon stimulation with LTB(4), BLT1 did not induce arrestin-green fluorescence protein redistribution in either cell type, even in the presence of overexpressed GRK2. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments confirmed that BLT1 could associate with GRK2 but not with arrestins. A C-tail-truncated mutant of BLT1 lost the capacity to internalize and associate with GRK2 upon exposure to LTB(4), suggesting that the C-tail was required for receptor internalization and association with GRK2. Taken together, our results indicate that the C terminus of BLT1 plays a pivotal role in receptor internalization and GRK2 association. Moreover, ligand-induced BLT1 internalization is dependent on GRK2 but independent of arrestins. This may allow differential, cell-type-specific signaling in response to LTB(4), depending on GRK expression levels.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells enhance cell-cell interaction between human endometrial epithelial cells and BeWo-cell spheroids.

BACKGROUND: Previously, it was reported that T-lymphocytes derived from non-pregnant mice promote murine embryo implantation. In order to examine the immunological regulation of endometrial receptivity in humans, the effects of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on endometrial epithelial cell (EEC) function were monitored by a newly developed attachment assay using primary human EEC culture and BeWo cell-derived spheroids. METHODS AND RESULTS: EECs isolated from 25 women in the mid- and late proliferative and early, mid- and late secretory phases were subjected to monolayer culturing. Spheroids were constructed from BeWo cells, a human choriocarcinoma cell line, by incubation with continuous rolling, after which their interaction with cultured EECs was studied. The mean (+/- SEM) number of attached spheroids was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the EEC culture derived from women in the mid-secretory phase (90 +/- 2.9%) than the other groups (ranging from 0 to 5.8 +/- 3.7%), which is in agreement with the existence of a so-called 'implantation window'. After 72 h co-culture of EECs with PBMCs, the number of attached spheroids significantly increased in the EEC cultures derived from the late proliferative and early secretory phases [65.0 +/- 21.7 versus 5.0 +/- 2.0% (P < 0.05) and 83.1 +/- 4.1 versus 4.4 +/- 1.9% (P < 0.01)]. CONCLUSIONS: This attachment assay appears to be a useful method with which to assess endometrial receptivity. Functional change of EECs induced by PBMCs suggests possible regulation of endometrial receptivity by immune cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Role of the major histocompatibility complex in T cell activation of B cell subpopulations Lyb-5+ and Lyb-5- B cell subpopulations differ in their requirement for major histocompatibility complex-restricted T cell recognition.

This report has examined the requirements for T helper (T(H)) cell recognition of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinants expressed by B cells for the activation of unprimed Lyb-5(+) and Lyb-5(-) B cell subpopulations . The generation of primary T(H) cell-dependent plaque-forming cell responses in vitro microculture required the presence of Lyb-5(+) B cells because B cell populations that were deprived, either genetically or serologically, of the Lyb-5(+) subpopulation were not activated in these responses. Cell-mixing experiments in which A X B {arrow} A chimeric T(H) cells were mixed with purified populations of parental accessory cells and parental B cells demonstrated that the in vitro activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells did not require T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants, although it did require T(H) cell recognition of accessory cell MHC determinants . In contrast to the failure of Lyb-5(-) B cells to be activated in primary T(H) cell-dependent responses in vitro microculture, isolated populations of Lyb-5(-) B cells were triggered by T(H) cells in vivo in short-term adoptive transfer experiments . By the use of A X B {arrow} A chimeric T(H) cells and parental strain B adoptive hosts, it was possible in vivo to distinguish genetically restricted T(H) cell recognition of B cells from genetically restricted T(H) cell recognition of accessory cells. Similar to the results obtained in vitro, the activation in vivo of unfractionated (Lyb-5(+) plus Lyb-5(-)) B cell populations did not require T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants . In contrast, in the same in vivo responses activation of isolated populations of Lyb-5(-) B cells did require T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants. The most straightforward interpretation of these experiments is that T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants is required for the activation of Lyb-5(-) B cells but is not required for the activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells . To better understand why T(H) cell activation of one B cell subpopulation is genetically restricted, whereas activation of another subpopulation is not, the response of Lyb-5(+) and Lyb-5(-) B cells to the soluble activating factors present in concanavalin A-induced spleen cell supernates (Con A SN) was examined. It was observed that Lyb-5(-) B cells, as opposed to Lyb-5(+) B cells, were unable to respond in microculture to the nonspecific T(H) cell- activating factors present in Con A SN, even though they were able to nonspecifically respond under the same conditions to trinitrophenyllipopolysaccharide. It was observed that the ability of B cell subpopulations to respond to nonspecific soluble T cell factors paralleled their ability to be activated by T(H) cells in a genetically unrestricted manner. Thus, the present experiments demonstrate that activation by T(H) cells of Lyb-5(-) B cells is MHC restricted, whereas activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells is not. These experiments suggest that one possible explanation for such differences is that activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells does not require direct interaction with T(H) cells because they can be activated by soluble activation signals that T(H) cells secrete.

Antibody-Producing Cells↗
PubMed1994

Inhibition of skin xenograft rejection by depleting T-cell receptor alpha beta-bearing cells without T-cell receptor gamma delta-bearing cells or natural killer cells by monoclonal antibody.

We compared the effects of in vivo administration of the anti-T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha beta monoclonal antibody (mAb) (H57-597) to those of the anti-CD3 mAb (145-2C11), with or without anti-NK1.1 mAb (PK136), on xenogeneic skin graft survival in mice. In anti-TCR alpha beta mAb-treated B6 mice, F344 rat skin grafts survived for about 54 days, whereas in anti-CD3 mAb-treated B6 mice with or without anti-NK1.1 mAb treatment grafts survived about 25 days. In anti-TCR alpha beta mAb-treated B6 mice, TCR alpha beta-bearing T-lymphocyte function was completely abrogated, although TCR gamma delta-bearing T-lymphocyte function was still intact on day 9. In the anti-CD3 mAb-treated mice, the functions of both types of T lymphocytes were completely abrogated. On day 32, when most of the skin xenografts had been rejected in the anti-CD3 mAb-treated mice, the functions of both T lymphocytes had recovered considerably, and could actually respond to F344 antigens. In contrast, the function of TCR alpha beta-bearing cells had only partially recovered in the anti-TCR alpha beta mAb-treated mice. Finally, natural killer (NK) activity in the anti-TCR alpha beta mAb-treated mice was intact on day 32, when rat skin grafts still survived. In contrast, NK activity in the anti-CD3 mAb plus anti-NK1.1 mAb-treated mice did not recover on day 32, when skin xenografts had already been rejected. These results suggest that TCR gamma delta-bearing T cells and NK cells by themselves, at least in the absence of TCR alpha beta-bearing T cells, do not mediate xenogeneic skin graft rejection in mouse/rat combinations.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

T-cell responses induced by the parenteral injection of antigen-modified syngeneic cells. III. Dissociation of primed cytolytic T-cell and efferent suppressor-T-cell activity following intravenous injection of trinitrophenol-modified syngeneic spleen cells.

The parenteral injection of ligand-coupled syngeneic spleen cells has profound effects on immune responsiveness. In this regard, it was examined whether the primed in vitro trinitrophenol (TNP)-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses observed in splenic T-cell populations from mice injected intravenously (iv) with syngeneic TNP-modified spleen cells (TNP-SC) are related to the efferent-acting suppressor-T-cell (Ts) activity observed in splenocytes from iv primed mice. Treatment of mice with cyclophosphamide, adult thymectomy, or monoclonal anti-I-J antiserum prior to the iv injection of TNP-SC was found to eliminate the ability of splenic Ts from these mice to suppress the passive transfer of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) mediated by trinitrochlorobenzene-immune T cells. In contrast, spleen cells from these pretreated mice showed no impairment in the development of augmented TNP-specific CTL responses upon in vitro restimulation with TNP-SC. Separation of the two activities was also achieved in a kinetic analysis. It is concluded that specific enhancement of CTL responsiveness induced by the iv injection of TNP-SC is related to the expansion of a population prelytic Lyt 2+ CTL effector cells which does not appear to contain efferent-acting Lyt 2+ Ts active in suppressing DTH expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Synthetic peptides that mimic the adhesive recognition signal of fibronectin: differential effects on cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion in embryonic chick cells.

Although fibronectin has been implicated in cell-cell as well as cell-substratum interactions, most experimentation has focused on cell-substratum interactions of fibroblasts. We have examined the effect of the specific peptide GRGDS derived from the cell-binding sequence of fibronectin upon cell-cell and cell-substratum interactions using embryonic cells and tissues. Embryonic chick segmental plate cells undergo compaction (i.e., increased cell-cell adhesion) during the early stages of somitogenesis. Fibronectin has been implicated in this increase in cell-cell interaction. In contrast, precardiac mesoderm undergoes directional migration upon a fibronectin-rich substratum, exhibiting both cell-cell and cell-substratum interactions. The segmental plate cells, which are the precursors of embryonic somites, normally show very little cell-cell or cell-substratum interaction in culture. These cells exhibit a striking increase in intercellular adhesion, but exhibit no cell-substratum adhesion, in the presence of relatively low concentrations of the fibronectin-derived peptide GRGDS. Somite cells, which normally exhibit both cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion in culture, show complete inhibition of cell-substratum adhesion in the presence of this peptide. Precardiac mesoderm, which normally exhibits both cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion in culture, shows a marked inhibition of both processes in the presence of GRGDS. Since the finding that a monovalent competitive inhibitor of fibronectin binding can stimulate cell-cell adhesion was unexpected, we propose a "trigger" hypothesis, whereby the peptide recognition signal acts as a specific signal or trigger for the morphogenetic process of compaction. There is a striking specificity to this effect, since synthetic peptides with even conservative changes in the amino acid sequence have no effect. Finally, we find that under certain conditions the effect of the specific peptide is lost in 6-8 hr and the cells resume cell-substratum interactions or, in the case of the segmental plate cells, revert from the compacted state and exhibit a substantial decrease in cell-cell adhesion. Our studies indicate the diversity of cell and tissue responses possible when even a single peptide inhibitor of adhesion, and we have identified the first known activating effect of a fibronectin peptide on cell behavior and differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Systematic characterization of human CD8+ T cells with natural killer cell markers in comparison with natural killer cells and normal CD8+ T cells.

We investigated the function of CD56+ CD8+ T cells (CD56+ T cells) and CD56- CD57+ CD8+ T cells (CD57+ T cells; natural killer (NK)-type T cells) and compared them with those of normal CD56- CD57- CD8+ T cells (CD8+ T cells) and CD56+ NK cells from healthy volunteers. After the stimulation with immobilized anti-CD3 antibodies, both NK-type T cells produced much larger amounts of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) than CD8+ T cells. Both NK-type T cells also acquired a more potent cytotoxicity against NK-sensitive K562 cells than CD8+ T cells while only CD56+ T cells showed a potent cytotoxicity against NK-resistant Raji cells. After the stimulation with a combination of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12 and IL-15, the IFN-gamma amounts produced were NK cells > or = CD56+ T cells > or = CD57+ T cells > CD8+ T cells. The cytotoxicities against K562 cells were NK cells > CD56+ T cells > or = CD57+ T cells > CD8+ T cells while cytotoxicities against Raji cells were CD56+ T cells > CD57+ T cells > or = CD8+ T cells > or = NK cells. However, the CD3-stimulated proliferation of both NK-type T cells was smaller than that of CD8+ T cells partly because NK-type T cells were susceptible to apoptosis. In addition to NK cells, NK-type T cells but not CD8+ T cells stimulated with cytokines, expressed cytoplasmic perforin and granzyme B. Furthermore, CD3-stimulated IFN-gamma production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) correlated with the proportions of CD57+ T cells in PBMC from donors. Our findings suggest that NK-type T cells play an important role in the T helper 1 responses and the immunological changes associated with ageing.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Cell-cell adhesion-independent killing due to lymphokine-activated killer cells against glioblastoma cell lines.

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells can kill several tumor cells. Their killing activity is generally due to cell-cell adhesion. Cell-cell adhesion of the LAK cells to the target cells is essential for LAK lysis. In this report, however, we describe that the LAK cells can also kill the target cells by cell-cell adhesion-independent killing. Killing occurred after the target cells were exposed to the LAK cells. When the LAK cells were added to glioblastoma cell lines T98G and U373MG (which proliferate by adhering to the bottom of a culture flask), the LAK cells killed them by cell-cell adhesion killing within 4 h (early killing). On the other hand, when small numbers of the LAK cells were added, some of the target cells escaped from the early killing. At 4 and 6 h after the adding the LAK cells, when the LAK cells were discarded from the flask by washing with PBS, the escaped cells still adhered and were alive. However, they ultimately died over the next 24-96 h (late killing). The late killing was the cell-cell adhesion-independent killing, because it occurred after the LAK cells were removed. In this killing, numerous granules and vacuoles appeared in the cytoplasm of the cells. The vacuoles enlarged and then the cells died. The cell death was different from apoptosis, because the nucleus was intact until the late stage and no DNA fragment laddering in the degenerated cells was recognized. The vacuoles were stained with acid phosphatase and the cell death was inhibited with 3-methyladenine (an inhibitor of lysosome), suggesting that the late killing may be autophagic cell death due to activated lysosome. Induction of late killing in tumor cells using the LAK cells may become one approach for cancer therapy.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed2000

Stem cell factor functions as a survival factor for mature Leydig cells and a growth factor for precursor Leydig cells after ethylene dimethane sulfonate treatment: implication of a role of the stem cell factor/c-Kit system in Leydig cell development.

The significance of the interaction between Sertoli cell-produced stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor, c-kit, on Leydig cells (LCs) during LC development and differentiation is unknown. In the present study, we investigated the potential role of the SCF/c-kit system in LC apoptosis and precursor LC proliferation after ethylene dimethane sulfonate (EDS) treatment in rats. A function-blocking anti-c-kit antibody, ACK-2, was used to block SCF/c-kit interaction at four time points, corresponding to the peak of LC apoptosis and three waves of proliferation of precursor LCs. Blockade of SCF/c-kit interaction by ACK-2 accelerated LC apoptosis and inhibited proliferation of precursor LCs during the first two waves of precursor LC proliferation around days 3-4 and day 10, but not the third wave of precursor LC proliferation around day 20 after EDS treatment. The data suggest that the soluble SCF might act as a survival factor for mature LCs and a growth factor for precursor LCs after EDS-induced LC depletion. This is also supported by a close correlation between the oscillating levels of soluble SCF mRNA and the profiles of LC apoptosis and regeneration. Since regeneration of the LC population after EDS treatment resembles the development of adult-type LCs during prepubertal life, the present findings imply that soluble SCF might participate in regulation of the formation of the LC population during testicular development. Our data also support a model in which delicate and reciprocal regulation exists between soluble SCF production by Sertoli cells, testosterone production by LCs, and pituitary gonadotropins.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Extracellular annexin II is associated with divalent cation-dependent tumor cell-endothelial cell adhesion of metastatic RAW117 large-cell lymphoma cells.

Using fixed microvessel endothelial cell monolayers the molecules involved in the adhesion of liver-preferring murine RAW117 large cell lymphoma cells to murine liver-derived microvessel endothelial cells were identified by affinity isolation. Detergent lysates obtained from poorly (P) or highly (H10) liver-metastatic cells inhibited RAW117-H10 cell adhesion to hepatic sinusoidal endothelial (HSE) cell monolayers. Allowing detergent lysates of cell surface-labeled RAW117 cells to bind to fixed HSE cell monolayers and eluting the bound components indicated that several tumor cell surface molecules (approximately 70, approximately 35, approximately 32, approximately 22, and approximately 14 kDa) might be involved in RAW117 cell-HSE cell adhesion. The approximately 35 kDa component was cation dependent in its binding to target HSE cells. Increasing detergent concentration had no effect on binding of the approximately 35 kDa component to HSE cell monolayers, whereas treatment with 0.5 M NaCl resulted in its selective elution from HSE cells. Incubation of the HSE cell monolayers with detergent lysates from cell surface-labeled RAW117-H10 cells resulted in selective depletion of the approximately 35 kDa component, suggesting that the binding is saturable. This divalent cation-dependent molecule is one of the major tumor cell surface components bound by several types of endothelial cells and murine hepatocytes, whereas there was poor binding of this component to unfixed or fixed human red blood cells. The purified, partially (approximately 40%) sequenced molecule had amino acid sequence identity with murine but not bovine annexin II, indicating that it was not bound from the bovine serum used to grow RAW117 cells. Using antibodies specific for annexin II flow cytometry indicated equivalent amounts of annexin II are expressed on RAW117 cell surfaces in the absence or presence of excess EDTA, whereas annexin I was only found in low amounts on the surfaces of RAW117 cells. Annexin II antibodies inhibited by approximately 40-50% the adhesion of RAW117 tumor cells to live or fixed endothelial cells, and purified tumor cell surface fractions containing the approximately 35 kDa component partially inhibited (approximately 35%) RAW117 cell-HSE cell adhesion. The data indicate that annexin II is expressed on the extracellular surface of RAW117 cells, and cell surface-annexin II mediates a portion of the Ca(2+)-dependent RAW117 cell adhesion to liver microvessel endothelial cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Ultrastructural study of TPA-induced cell motility: human well-differentiated rectal adenocarcinoma cells move as coherent sheets via localized modulation of cell-cell adhesion.

We previously found that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-enhanced invasion of Matrigel was associated with augmentation of cell motility but not with metalloproteinase activity in a highly metastatic variant (L-10) of human rectal adenocarcinoma cell line RCM-1. In a two-dimensional cell motility assay, TPA induced active L-10 cell locomotion with characteristic morphology; the cells moved outwards from the cell islands mainly as a localized coherent sheet of cells. The leading cells showed locomotor morphologies with fan-shaped leading lamellae while the following cells had cell contacts on all sides and appeared to lack leading lamellae. In the present ultrastructural study, the following cells frequently showed tapering cytoplasmic protrusions and leading lamella-like processes underlapping a preceding cell, indicating that the locomotion mechanism is almost the same for both the leading and following cells. For this type of locomotion as a coherent sheet we propose that localized modulation of cell-cell adhesion was induced such that wide intercellular gaps occurred at the lower portion of the cells to allow the cells to extend the tapering cytoplasmic processes and leading lamellae while close cell-cell contacts remained at the upper portion of the cells. These TPA-induced changes took place predominantly in the cells at the periphery of the cell islands, while the cells in the middle of the cell islands maintained close cell-cell contacts including complex interdigitation all around the cells, suggesting the modulation of TPA action by cell-cell interaction. Additionally, consistent with the evidence for junctional complexes between the cells moving outwards, the Lucifer-yellow dye transfer studies showed some, limited cell-cell coupling, suggesting the presence of at least some gap junctional intercellular communication in the moving cell sheets.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed2004

Cell-cell interaction mediated by cadherin-11 directly regulates the differentiation of mesenchymal cells into the cells of the osteo-lineage and the chondro-lineage.

UNLABELLED: We studied cadherin-11 function in the differentiation of mesenchymal cells. Teratomas harboring the cadherin-11 gene generated bone and cartilage preferentially. Cadherin-11 transfectants of C2C12 cells and cadherin-11 and/or N-cadherin transfectants of L cells showed that cadherin-11 together with N-cadherin-induced expression of ALP and FGF receptor 2. These results suggest that cadherin-11 directly regulates the differentiation of mesenchymal cells into the cells of the osteo-lineage and the chondro-lineage in a different manner from N-cadherin. INTRODUCTION: Cell-cell interaction is an essential event for tissue formation; however, the role of cell-cell adhesion in mesenchymal tissue formation as well as in cell differentiation in this tissue remains unclear. cadherins, which are calcium-dependent cell adhesion receptors, form adherence junctions after adherence and aggregation of cells. Because cadherin-11 as well as N-cadherin has been reported to be a mesenchyme-related cadherin, we examined the cadherin-11 action in teratomas and in the cell lines C2C12 and L cell. Herein, we show that cell-cell interaction mediated by cadherin-11 is responsible for bone and cartilage formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It has been previously reported that N-cadherin-expressing E-cadherin-/- ES transfectants formed neuroepithelium and cartilage in teratomas. Thus, we transfected the E-cadherin-/- ES cell line with the cadherin-11 gene. Moreover, we also transfected C2C12 cells and L cells with the cadherin-11 gene for morphological analysis and study of the induced differentiation at the molecular level. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Teratomas derived from embryonic stem cells in which the cadherin-11 gene had been expressed exogenously contained bone and cartilage preferentially, showing that cadherin-11 is involved in mesenchymal tissue formation, specifically in controlling the differentiation of these cells into osteoblasts and chondrocytes. Therefore, we further examined the functional difference between cadherin-11 and N-cadherin. The expression patterns of cadherin-11 and N-cadherin in cells of the mouse osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1 showed that each cadherin was located independently of the cell-cell adhesion site and acted individually. In hanging drop cultures, cadherin-11 L cell transfectants aggregated in a sheet-like structure, whereas N-cadherin transfectants aggregated in a spherical form, indicating that each cadherin confers a different 3D architecture because of its individual adhesive property. To investigate the molecular mechanism of cadherin-11 action in cell differentiation, we analyzed cadherin-11 transfectants of C2C12 cells and cadherin-11 and/or N-cadherin transfectants of L cells and showed that cadherin-11, together with N-cadherin, induced expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. These results suggest that cadherin-11 directly regulates the differentiation of mesenchymal cells into the cells of the osteo-lineage and the chondro-lineage in a different manner from N-cadherin.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2004

Upregulation of the viability of nucleus pulposus cells by bone marrow-derived stromal cells: significance of direct cell-to-cell contact in coculture system.

STUDY DESIGN: Upregulation of the viability of nucleus pulposus cells by coculture with bone marrow-derived stromal cells using a novel culture system. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to apply a novel coculture system having direct cell-to-cell contact between nucleus pulposus cells and bone marrow-derived stromal cells for stimulation of nucleus pulposus cells. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Reinsertion of nucleus pulposus cells was effective for treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration. However, obtaining highly viable nucleus pulposus cells was necessary to achieve successful results. Thus, an alternative method to upregulate the biologic and metabolic viabilities of nucleus pulposus cells was desired. METHODS: Nucleus pulposus cells and bone marrow-derived stromal cells were isolated from New Zealand white rabbits. A 6-well culture plate and insert with track-etched membrane having 0.4 microm pores at the bottom were used for coculture. Nucleus pulposus cells were monocultured, cocultured conventionally (having no direct cell-to-cell contact) with bone marrow-derived stromal cells, or cocultured having direct cell-to-cell contact with bone marrow-derived stromal cells. On day 4 of coculture, nucleus pulposus cells were evaluated for proliferation using WST-8 assay, deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by measuring [H]-thymidine uptake, and proteoglycan synthesis by measuring [S]-sulfate uptake. We also quantified cytokines in supernatants from the culture system. RESULTS: Cell proliferation, deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, and proteoglycan synthesis of nucleus pulposus cells were significantly upregulated in samples cocultured having direct cell-to-cell contact. Moreover, evaluations of supernatants revealed that growth factors associated with proliferation and cellular metabolism of nucleus pulposus cells were increased. CONCLUSIONS: Direct cell-to-cell contact in coculture system between nucleus pulposus cells and bone marrow-derived stromal cells accomplished significant upregulation in viability of nucleus pulposus cells.

Animals↗