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Model driven quantification of individual and collective cell migration.

While the control of cell migration by biochemical and biophysical factors is largely documented, a precise quantification of cell migration parameters in different experimental contexts is still questionable. Indeed, these phenomenological parameters can be evaluated from data obtained either at the cell population level or at the individual cell level. However, the range within which both characterizations of cell migration are equivalent remains unclear. We analyse here to which extent both sources of data could be integrated within a unified description of cell migration by considering the motility of the endothelial cell line EAhy926. Using time-lapse video-microscopy and associated analysis of digital image time series, we quantified EAhy926 random motility coefficient, migration speed and trajectory persistence time in two different migration assays: the in vitro wound healing assay, and the cell-populated agarose drop assay. In order to analyse the agreement between independent quantifications of cell motility based either on individual cell analysis or cell population dynamic analysis, a theoretical multi-agents cellular model was developed and discussed as a possible theoretical framework able to unify these multi-scale data. Model simulations especially reveal the potential bias induced by cell proliferation and cell-cell adhesion when cell migration parameters are estimated from the extensively used in vitro wound healing assay.

Cell Line↗

Eosinophil trafficking to sites of allergic inflammation.

Eosinophils play a prominent pro-inflammatory role in allergic inflammation. Studies utilizing flow chambers, intravital video-microscopy, and cytokine and adhesion molecule-deficient mice have provided important insight into the mechanisms of eosinophil trafficking in inflamed blood vessels and into tissues in vivo. While the bone marrow generation of eosinophils is finely regulated by interleukin (IL)-5, the trafficking of eosinophils into tissues is regulated by several cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules with overlapping functions. Prospects for therapeutically inhibiting eosinophilic inflammation by inhibiting eosinophil adhesion to endothelium are dependent on an improved understanding of the relative importance of individual cytokines and adhesion molecules in regulating eosinophil adhesion to endothelium. Alternative strategies to inhibit eosinophilic inflammation include the use of immunostimulatory DNA sequences containing a CpG motif to act as a Th1 adjuvant to prevent Th2 responses associated with IL-5 and eosinophilia. Immunostimulatory DNA sequences do not induce eosinophil apoptosis, but function at the level of the bone marrow to inhibit the IL-5-induced bone marrow generation and release of eosinophils.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Blebbing, free Ca2+ and mitochondrial membrane potential preceding cell death in hepatocytes.

Cell surface 'blebbing' is an early consequence of hypoxic and toxic injury to cells. A rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ has been suggested as the stimulus for bleb formation and the final common pathway to irreversible cell injury. Here, using digitized low-light video microscopy, we examine blebbing, cytosolic free Ca2+, mitochondrial membrane potential and loss of cell viability in individual cultured hepatocytes. Unexpectedly, we found that after 'chemical hypoxia' with cyanide and iodoacetate, cytosolic free Ca2+ does not change during bleb formation or before loss of cellular viability. Cell death was precipitated by a sudden breakdown of the plasma membrane permeability barrier, possibly caused by rupture of a cell surface bleb.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Retinoic acid modulates both invasion and plasma membrane ruffling of MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cells in vitro.

The invasiveness of MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cells was tested in vitro via confronting cultures with embryonic chick heart fragments. Invasive (e.g. MCF-7/6) and non-invasive (e.g. MCF-7/AZ) variants were detected. Automated image analysis of time-lapse video-microscopy recordings showed that the plasma membrane ruffling activity of the invasive MCF-7/6 variant was higher than the ruffling activity of the non-invasive MCF-7/AZ variant. Addition of all-trans-retinoic acid to the culture medium (10(-6) M) inhibited both invasion and ruffling of MCF-7/6 cells, while MCF-7/AZ cells became invasive and acquired an increased ruffling by the same type of treatment. A similar opposite effect on MCF-7 cells was not found after treatment with other ligands of the nuclear steroid/thyroid receptor superfamily. Triiodo-l-thyronine (up to 10(-5) M) and beta-oestradiol (up to 10(-6) M) did not alter the invasiveness of the cells, while dexamethasone (10(-6) M) and the pure anti-oestrogen ICI 164,384 inhibited both invasion and ruffling. Our data show that retinoic acid can modulate invasiveness in opposite directions.

Animals↗

Golgi biogenesis in Toxoplasma gondii.

Two models have been put forward to explain the growth of new Golgi during the cell cycle. The first suggests that a new Golgi grows out of the endoplasmic reticulum by de novo synthesis. The second suggests that a pre-existing Golgi is needed for the growth of a new one, that is, the Golgi is an autonomously replicating organelle. To resolve this issue, we have exploited the simplicity of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which has only a single Golgi stack. Here we show, by using video fluorescence microscopy and three-dimensional reconstructions of serial thin sections, that the Golgi grows by a process of lateral extension followed by medial fission. Further fission leads to the inheritance by each daughter of a pair of Golgi structures, which then coalesce to re-form a single Golgi. Our results indicate that new Golgi grow by autonomous duplication and raise the possibility that the Golgi is a paired structure that is analogous to centrioles.

Animals↗

Spreading of nanofluids on solids.

Suspensions of nanometre-sized particles (nanofluids) are used in a variety of technological contexts. For example, their spreading and adhesion behaviour on solid surfaces can yield materials with desirable structural and optical properties. Similarly, the spreading behaviour of nanofluids containing surfactant micelles has implications for soil remediation, oily soil removal, lubrication and enhanced oil recovery. But the well-established concepts of spreading and adhesion of simple liquids do not apply to nanofluids. Theoretical investigations have suggested that a solid-like ordering of suspended spheres will occur in the confined three-phase contact region at the edge of the spreading fluid, becoming more disordered and fluid-like towards the bulk phase. Calculations have also suggested that the pressure arising from such colloidal ordering in the confined region will enhance the spreading behaviour of nanofluids. Here we use video microscopy to demonstrate both the two-dimensional crystal-like ordering of charged nanometre-sized polystyrene spheres in water, and the enhanced spreading dynamics of a micellar fluid, at the three-phase contact region. Our findings suggest a new mechanism for oily soil removal--detergency.

Journal Article↗

T cell killing does not require the formation of a stable mature immunological synapse.

A notable feature of T lymphocyte recognition on other cell surfaces is the formation of a stable mature immunological synapse. Here we use a single-molecule labeling method to directly measure the number of ligands a cytotoxic T cell engages and track the consequences of that interaction by three-dimensional video microscopy. Like helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells were able to detect even a single foreign antigen but required about ten complexes of peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) to achieve full calcium increase and to form a mature synapse. Thus, cytotoxic T cells and helper T cells are more uniform in their antigen sensitivities than previously thought. Furthermore, only three pMHC complexes were required for killing, showing that stable synapse formation and complete signaling are not required for cytotoxicity.

Animals↗

Continuous T cell receptor signaling required for synapse maintenance and full effector potential.

Although signals through the T cell receptor (TCR) are essential for the initiation of T helper cell activation, it is unclear what function such signals have during the prolonged T cell-antigen-presenting cell contact. Here we simultaneously tracked TCR-CD3 complex and phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity in single T cells using three-dimensional video microscopy. Despite rapid internalization of most of the TCR-CD3, TCR-dependent signaling was still evident up to 10 h after conjugate formation. Blocking this interaction caused dissolution of the synapse and proportional reductions in interleukin 2 production and cellular proliferation. Thus TCR signaling persists for hours, has a cumulative effect and is necessary for the maintenance of the immunological synapse.

Animals↗

Melanoma cell migration is upregulated by tumour necrosis factor-alpha and suppressed by alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone.

We reported recently that the inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) can upregulate integrin expression, cell attachment and invasion of cells through fibronectin in a human melanoma cell line (HBL). Furthermore, the actions of TNF-alpha were suppressed by the addition of an anti-inflammatory peptide alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). In the current study, we extend this work investigating to what extent TNF-alpha might stimulate melanoma invasion by promoting cell migration and whether alpha-MSH is also inhibitory. Two human melanoma cell lines were examined in vitro (HBL and C8161) using a scratch migration assay. Analysis using either time-lapse video microscopy or imaging software analysis of migrating 'fronts' of cells revealed that C8161 cells migrated more rapidly than HBL cells. However, when cells were stimulated with TNF-alpha both cell types responded with a significant increase in migration distance over a 16-26 h incubation time. alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone had an inhibitory effect on TNF-alpha-stimulated migration for HBL cells, completely blocking migration at 10(-9) M. In contrast, C8161 cells did not respond to alpha-MSH (as these cells have a loss-of-function melanocortin-1 receptor). However, stable transfection of C8161 cells with the wild-type melanocortin-1 receptor produced cells whose migration was significantly inhibited by alpha-MSH. In addition, the use of a neutralising antibody to the beta(1)-integrin subunit significantly reduced migration in both cell types. This data therefore supports an inflammatory environment promoting melanoma cell migration, and in addition shows that alpha-MSH can inhibit inflammatory stimulated migration. The data also support a fundamental role of the beta(1)-integrin receptor in melanoma cell migration.

Cell Movement↗

Use of D-myo inositol 1,2,6 trisphosphate to inhibit contractile activity in rat ventricular cardiomyocytes induced by neuropeptide Y and other cardioactive peptides through phospholipase C.

1. D-Myo inositol 1,2,6 trisphosphate (alpha-trinositol, pp56), an isomer of the second messenger substance, inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate, has an interesting pharmacological profile that includes antagonism of a number of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-mediated cellular processes. The ability of pp56 to inhibit selectively the myocardial contraction mediated by NPY in relation to the responses to other cardioactive peptides, including endothelin-1, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), was assessed. In order to investigate the possible interaction of pp56 with mechanisms of inositol phosphate signalling generated in heart muscle cells by activation of the beta-isoenzyme of phospholipase C (PLC beta), noradrenaline was used as a positive control, and isoprenaline and forskolin were included as negative controls. 2. Ventricular cardiomyocytes, isolated from the hearts of adult rats, were stimulated to contract at 0.5 Hz in the presence of calcium ion (2 mM). The concentrations of agonists used were in the region of their maximally effective concentrations for myocyte contraction and the concentration of pp56 was in the range of 1-100 microM. Contractile activity was monitored by video microscopy and maximum shortening determined by image analysis. 3. In the absence of agonist, contractile amplitudes following 20 min preincubation with pp56 were not different from that observed in the absence of pp56. Pp56 (1-100 microM) inhibited significantly the positive contractile response to noradrenaline (5 microM) in the presence of propranolol (500 nM), such that the response was almost completely attenuated at the highest concentration of the inhibitor. Pp56 did not inhibit the positive contractile responses to forskolin (40 microM) or isoprenaline (100 nM). 4. NPY alone does not influence the basal level of contraction of cardiomyocytes, but can attenuate isoprenaline-stimulated contraction and can increase contractile amplitude from basal when the transient outward current is blocked with 4-aminopyridine. In the presence of isoprenaline (100 nM), the negative response to NPY (100 nM) was attenuated significantly by pp56 (1-100 microM). With 4-aminopyridine, the positive contractile response to NPY (200 nM) was decreased by pp56, although this was not statistically significant. 5. Pp56 inhibited the positive contractile responses to CGRP (1 nM) and endothelin-1 (20 nM) completely, but did not affect the responses to secretin (20 nM) or VIP (20 nM). 6. In conclusion, these data challenge the previously obtained selectivity of pp56 as an antagonist of NPY-mediated cellular processes, since responses to CGRP and endothelin-1 were at least equally sensitive. Furthermore, as pp56 discriminated clearly in its inhibition of responses to alpha-adrenoceptor by comparison with beta-adrenoceptor/adenylate cyclase stimulation, it appears that pp56 may be a useful pharmacological agent with which to distinguish between PLC beta-dependent and PLC beta-independent coupling mechanisms. On this basis, further evidence has been obtained that, in rat cardiomyocytes, the contractile responses to NPY, CGRP and endothelin-1 are attributable to the activation of PLC beta-dependent pathways, whereas the responses to secretin and VIP are mediated by PLC beta-independent pathways.

Animals↗

Effects of mibefradil and nifedipine on arteriolar myogenic responsiveness and intracellular Ca(2+).

1. Ca(2+) entry mechanisms underlying spontaneous arteriolar tone and acute myogenic reactivity remain uncertain. These studies aimed to compare the effects of nifedipine and the putative T-channel blocker, mibefradil, on arteriolar myogenic responsiveness and intracellular Ca(2+) (Ca(2+)(i)). 2. First order cremaster muscle arterioles (1A) were isolated from rats, cannulated, pressurized to 70 mmHg in the absence of intraluminal flow, and mechanical responses studied by video microscopy. The Ca(2+)(i) was measured using fluorescence imaging of Fura 2 loaded arterioles. 3. Both nifedipine and mibefradil showed dose-dependent inhibition of spontaneous myogenic tone (at 70 mmHg; pEC(50) 7.04+/-0.17 vs 6.65+/-0.20 respectively, n=6 for both, n.s.) and KCl-induced vasoconstriction (at 70 mmHg; pEC(50) 6.93+/-0. 38 vs 6.45+/-0.27 respectively, n=6 for both, n.s.). 4. In arterioles maintained at 50 mmHg, nifedipine (10(-7) and 10(-5) M) caused a concentration dependent reduction in Ca(2+)(i), however, mibefradil (10(-7) and 10(-5) M) had no effect. Furthermore nifedipine significantly attenuated the increase in Ca(2+)(i) associated with an acute pressure step (50 - 120 mmHg) whereas mibefradil was considerably less effective. 5. Mibefradil (10(-7) M) significantly attenuated contractile responses to 60 mM KCl without altering the KCl-induced increase in Ca(2+)(i), in contrast to nifedipine (10(-7) M) which reduced both Ca(2+)(i) and contraction. 6. Membrane potential of arterioles with spontaneous myogenic tone (70 mmHg) was -41.5+/-1. 0 mV. Nifedipine (10(-7) or 10(-5) M) had no effect on membrane potential, however mibefradil (10(-5) M) caused significant depolarization. 7. In summary, both mibefradil and nifedipine inhibit arteriolar spontaneous tone and acute myogenic reactivity. While there may be overlap in the mechanisms by which these agents inhibit tone, differences in effects on membrane potential and intracellular Ca(2+) levels suggest mibefradil exhibits actions other than blockade of Ca(2+) entry in skeletal muscle arterioles.

Animals↗

Distinct roles of doublecortin modulating the microtubule cytoskeleton.

Doublecortin is a neuronal microtubule-stabilising protein, mutations of which cause mental retardation and epilepsy in humans. How doublecortin influences microtubule dynamics, and thereby brain development, is unclear. We show here by video microscopy that purified doublecortin has no effect on the growth rate of microtubules. However, it is a potent anti-catastrophe factor that stabilises microtubules by linking adjacent protofilaments and counteracting their outward bending in depolymerising microtubules. We show that doublecortin-stabilised microtubules are substrates for kinesin translocase motors and for depolymerase kinesins. In addition, doublecortin does not itself oligomerise and does not bind to tubulin heterodimers but does nucleate microtubules. In cells, doublecortin is enriched at the distal ends of neuronal processes and our data raise the possibility that the function of doublecortin in neurons is to drive assembly and stabilisation of non-centrosomal microtubules in these doublecortin-enriched distal zones. These distinct properties combine to give doublecortin a unique function in microtubule regulation, a role that cannot be compensated for by other microtubule-stabilising proteins and nucleating factors.

Animals↗

Overexpression of wild type p70 S6 kinase interferes with cytokinesis.

p70 S6 kinase (p70s6k) is a serine/threonine kinase which is activated through an unidentified pathway by mitogenic stimuli. Here we demonstrate that stable- and transient-overexpression of wild type (WT)-p70s6k results in perturbation of cytokinesis in NIH3T3 cells. Cells overexpressing WT-p70s6k demonstrated a slow growth rate and lower viability, whereas cells overexpressing a mutant T229A-p70s6k had a similar growth rate and viability as those of parental NIH3T3 cells. Moreover, WT-p70s6k cells demonstrated several abnormalities in cellular morphology; both the cytoplasm and the nuclei were large and a proportion of the cells was multinucleated. Flow cytometric analysis of propidium iodide-stained cells demonstrated that about 50% of the cells had 4N or greater content of DNA. When cell division in WT-p70s6k cells was monitored by time-lapse video microscopy, cytokines was often incomplete after mitosis, producing binucleated cells. Addition of rapamycin to WT-p70s6k cells, which inactivates endogenous and transfected p70s6k, failed to reverse any of the morphological abnormalities. These indicate that overexpression of p70s6k but not increases in activity of p70s6k, is responsible for the phenotype. A molecule which interacts with p70s6k may be involed in this regulation of cytokinesis.

3T3 Cells↗

Mitochondrial K+ as modulator of Ca(2+)-dependent cytotoxicity in hepatocytes. Novel application of the K(+)-sensitive dye PBFI (K(+)-binding benzofuran isophthalate) to assess free mitochondrial K+ concentrations.

In isolated rat hepatocytes a sustained high increase in intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), induced by extracellular ATP, is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. The Ca(2+)-induced effects are Pi-dependent and less severe when the intracellular K+ content is low. In this study, the involvement of mitochondrial K+ processing in Ca(2+)-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and viability was investigated. The recently introduced K(+)-sensitive dye PBFI (K(+)-binding benzofuran isophthalate) has been used in combination with video-microscopy to assess intramitochondrial free K+ concentration ([K+]mito) in rat liver mitochondria in situ. After rapid permeabilization of the plasma membrane to remove cytosolic PBFI, the remaining PBFI was localized in mitochondria, and a 'resting' [K+]mito of approx. 15 mM could be measured. Increased [K+]mito levels were measured after induction of a prolonged increase in [Ca2+]i by ATP. Much lower [K+]mito, more comparable with control levels, were observed when intracellular K+ was depleted by omission of extracellular K+. In permeabilized cells the Ca(2+)-induced, Pi-dependent, dissipation of the MMP was markedly delayed in the absence of K+. These observations suggest involvement of [K+]mito as modulating agent in Ca(2+)-induced cytotoxicity in hepatocytes.

Animals↗

Quantitative assessment of comparative potencies of cholesterol-crystal-promoting factors: relation to mechanistic characterization.

The crystallization of cholesterol is affected by various factors in bile. The present study evaluated the relative importance of cholesterol-nucleation-promoting factors and partially characterized the mechanisms of their action. Model biles with an identical relative composition of cholesterol, egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine and taurocholate, except for replacing phosphatidylcholine (5-20%) with dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine or taurocholate (10-30%) with taurodeoxycholate. Cholesterol crystallization was quantitatively assessed spectrophotometrically and morphologically estimated by the laser-scattering diffraction analyser and video-enhanced microscopy in the absence and presence of concanavalin A-binding glycoprotein isolated from human bile. In a series of experiments, lipid distribution among particulate species was determined after isolation by FPLC. In all experiments, cholesterol crystallization was dose-dependently enhanced with a rank order of: concanavalin A-binding glycoprotein > dilinoleoyl - phosphatidyl choline> taurodeoxycholate. No morphological alteration was evident for vesicles and crystals, but the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio in vesicles was increased significantly by replacement with dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine and excess cholesterol. A high proportion of relatively hydrophilic phosphatidylcholine species such as dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine and excess cholesterol in bile cause a redistribution of cholesterol to increase a vesicular cholesterol/phospholipid ratio, eventually promoting cholesterol crystallization, whereas concanavalin A-binding glycoprotein acts via differing mechanisms.

Bile↗

Especially polymorphonuclear leukocytes, but also monomorphonuclear leukocytes, roll spontaneously in venules of intact rat skin: involvement of E-selectin.

White blood cells roll spontaneously in venules of intact, noninflamed rat skin. We investigated noninvasively in two experimental series which leukocyte subtypes participate in this phenomenon and the possible involvement of E-selectin. Male Lewis rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital, and intravital video microscopy was performed on postcapillary venules in the nail-fold of a hind leg. In series 1 acridine yellow was infused for 15 min (50 mg per kg intravenously) to stain the leukocyte nuclei in situ. With the use of fluorescence microscopy rolling leukocytes could be classified unequivocally as polymorphonuclear (granulocytes) or monomorphonuclear (lymphocytes/monocytes) by the shape of their nucleus. Irrespective of vessel depth beneath the skin surface (25-45 microm), most identified rolling leukocytes were classified as granulocytes (72%-100%; median 89%). This percentage was independent of total rolling leukocyte flux, systemic leukocyte count, or their in vitro differentiation pattern. In series 2, rats were treated with either a synthetic, highly selective E-selectin blocking peptide or a control peptide (intravenously, 12 mg peptide per kg bolus, followed by 50 mg per kg per h). E-selectin blockade significantly reduced the leukocyte rolling level to about 50% of baseline (p <0.01), whereas the rolling velocity increased (p <0.01); the control peptide had no effect. In summary, most of the leukocytes rolling spontaneously in postcapillary venules of intact rat skin are granulocytes, despite the absence of an acute inflammatory reaction. One of the adhesion molecules involved in this phenomenon is E-selectin.

Animals↗

Prolonged E-selectin induction by monocytes potentiates the adhesion of flowing neutrophils to cultured endothelial cells.

We investigated the hypothesis that the infiltration of monocytes into inflamed tissue or damaged vessels would induce a secondary accumulation of neutrophils. Confluent human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and blood monocytes (0.5 or 0.05 monocytes/endothelial cell) were co-incubated for 4 or 24 h. The adhesion of neutrophils flowing over HUVEC was then analysed by video microscopy. Co-incubation caused up to a 40-fold increase in neutrophil adhesion, dependent upon monocyte/HUVEC ratio and duration of incubation. At the lower monocyte/HUVEC ratio, rolling adhesion alone was induced after 4 h co-incubation; however, the full repertoire of rolling, immobilization and migration of neutrophils was observed at all other combinations of co-culture ratio and exposure time. After maximal stimulation by monocytes, antibody blockade of the neutrophil integrin CD18 inhibited neutrophil arrest and migration and revealed underlying rolling adhesion. Rolling was supported by endothelial E-selectin as demonstrated by the almost total abolition of adhesion by a blocking antibody. In a direct comparison, monocytes, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) were assessed for their ability to induce endothelial expression of E-selectin. E selectin was significantly increased by all agents at 4 h, but monocytes alone were able to maintain high levels of E-selectin expression for 24 h. We conclude that monocytes can induce prolonged neutrophil adhesion and migration by activating endothelial cells and causing expression of E-selectin.

Cell Communication↗