scholarly journals Interference with thyroid histogenesis by inhibitors of collagen synthesis.

1977 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 446-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
S R Hilfer ◽  
G L Pakstis

Histogenesis of thyroid follicles in the chick embryo begins with a penetration by cells of the mesenchymal capsule into a solid epithelial primordium. Before penetration occurs, slits containing fibrillar material form between the epithelial cells. The fibrillar material is an epithelial cell product as shown by its formation within channels that form in cultures of isolated epithelial primordia. The drugs L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (LACA) and alpha, alpha'-dipyridyl, which interfere with collagen synthesis, prevent the formation of fibrils in cultured epithelial primordia and in cultures of whole thyroids. Furthermore, mesenchymal cells do not invade when whole thyroid primordia are cultured in the presence of either drug. The effects of alpha, alpha'-dipyridyl are reversed by washing out the drug; the effects of LACA are reversed by incubation with equimolar or greater amounts of L-proline added to the medium along with the drug. The results are interpreted to mean that the fibrillar material is collagen of epithelial origin, that the collagen in some way plays a role in mesenchymal penetration of the epithelial primordium, and that the epithelium is responsible for the pattern of lobulation within the developing gland.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Lambert ◽  
Adam L. MacLean ◽  
Alexander G. Fletcher ◽  
Alexander N. Combes ◽  
Melissa H. Little ◽  
...  

AbstractThe adult mammalian kidney has a complex, highly-branched collecting duct epithelium that arises as a ureteric bud sidebranch from an epithelial tube known as the nephric duct. Subsequent branching of the ureteric bud to form the collecting duct tree is regulated by subcellular interactions between the epithelium and a population of mesenchymal cells that surround the tips of outgrowing branches. The mesenchymal cells produce glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), that binds with RET receptors on the surface of the epithelial cells to stimulate several subcellular pathways in the epithelium. Such interactions are known to be a prerequisite for normal branching development, although competing theories exist for their role in morphogenesis. Here we introduce the first agent-based model of ex vivo kidney uretic branching. Through comparison with experimental data, we show that growth factor-regulated growth mechanisms can explain early epithelial cell branching, but only if epithelial cell division depends in a switch-like way on the local growth factor concentration; cell division occurring only if the driving growth factor level exceeds a threshold. We also show how a recently-developed method, “Approximate Approximate Bayesian Computation”, can be used to infer key model parameters, and reveal the dependency between the parameters controlling a growth factor-dependent growth switch. These results are consistent with a requirement for signals controlling proliferation and chemotaxis, both of which are previously identified roles for GDNF.Author SummaryA number of important congenital disorders arise due to incomplete development of the mammalian kidney. Elucidating the cause of these conditions requires an understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to kidney morphogenesis. Whilst experimental work has suggested several candidate mechanisms, their importance is still not well understood. Here we develop a computational model of kidney morphogenesis at the individual cell level to compare these different hypotheses. Guided by existing experimental evidence we propose that a generic growth factor, that we term “GDNF”, produced from the mesenchyme surrounding the epithelium, can drive a number of cellular responses. Simulations of our agent-based model reveal that diffusion of GDNF, coupled with GDNF-stimulated epithelial cell division, can generate the branching patterns seen in ex vivo kidney explant experiments. We also find that branching depends on the sensitivity of cell proliferation to changes in GDNF levels. In particular our model only generates realistic branching when there is significant variation in GDNF levels along the boundary of the epithelium, and most cells divide only if the local concentration of GDNF exceeds a threshold value. We conclude that feedback between mesenchymal cells that produce GDNF, and epithelial cells that consume it, is vital for normal kidney organogenesis.


1967 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan L. Allenspach ◽  
L. E. Roth

Selected tissues from chick embryos were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde and 1% OsO4, both buffered at pH 7.6 with Veronal-acetate, and were embedded in Maraglas or Araldite. Two types of cell division have been noted. Generally, epithelial cells divide predominantly by a shortening of the chromosome-to-pole distance rather than by spindle elongation; mesenchymal cells undergo extensive spindle elongation. The presence of numerous continuous microtubules in cells that undergo extensive spindle elongation functionally implicates these tubules in the elongation process. In most embryonic epithelia, the cleavage furrow converges to a fixed site forming a mid-body near the anchoring desmosomes at the free surface; symmetrical furrow formation is typical of mesenchymal cells which lack desmosomes. The hypothesis of cleavage furrow formation and the fate of the mid-body that is formed during cytokinesis are discussed.


1966 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 407-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. VAUGHAN ◽  
J. P. TRINKAUS

Chick embryo epithelial cells, cultured in vitro on a plane glass surface, show ruffled membrane activity like that seen in fibroblasts. When similar epithelial cells come into contact, long-lasting adhesions form, which are associated with the cessation of membrane activity. Movement of epithelial cell sheets is correlated with adhesion to the substratum of some or all of the marginal cells. Such adhesion does not occur in the absence of membrane activity. Non-marginal cells ordinarily appear to be non-adherent to the substratum; occasionally, however, they become adherent when attachments to neighbouring cells in a sheet are broken. This behaviour is accompanied by marked membrane activity. Mobilization and orientation of marginal cells are the vital steps in movements of coherent cell sheets.


2003 ◽  
Vol 198 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Jenkinson ◽  
Eric J. Jenkinson ◽  
Graham Anderson

Formation of a mature thymic epithelial microenvironment is an essential prerequisite for the generation of a functionally competent T cell pool. It is likely that recently identified thymic epithelial precursors undergo phases of proliferation and differentiation to generate mature cortical and medullary thymic microenvironments. The mechanisms regulating development of immature thymic epithelial cells are unknown. Here we provide evidence that expansion of embryonic thymic epithelium is regulated by the continued presence of mesenchyme. In particular, mesenchymal cells are shown to mediate thymic epithelial cell proliferation through their provision of fibroblast growth factors 7 and 10. In contrast, differentiation of immature thymic epithelial cells, including acquisition of markers of mature cortical and medullary epithelium, occurs in the absence of ongoing mesenchymal support. Collectively, our data define a role for mesenchymal cells in thymus development, and indicate distinct mechanisms regulate proliferation and differentiation of immature thymic epithelial cells. In addition, our findings may aid in studies aimed at developing strategies to enhance thymus reconstitution and functioning in clinical certain contexts where thymic epithelial cell function is perturbed.


Author(s):  
V. F. Allison ◽  
G. C. Fink ◽  
G. W. Cearley

It is well known that epithelial hyperplasia (benign hypertrophy) is common in the aging prostate of dogs and man. In contrast, little evidence is available for abnormal epithelial cell growth in seminal vesicles of aging animals. Recently, enlarged seminal vesicles were reported in senescent mice, however, that enlargement resulted from increased storage of secretion in the lumen and occurred concomitant to epithelial hypoplasia in that species.The present study is concerned with electron microscopic observations of changes occurring in the pseudostratified epithelium of the seminal vescles of aging rats. Special attention is given to certain non-epithelial cells which have entered the epithelial layer.


Author(s):  
D.G. Osborne ◽  
L.J. McCormack ◽  
M.O. Magnusson ◽  
W.S. Kiser

During a project in which regenerative changes were studied in autotransplanted canine kidneys, intranuclear crystals were seen in a small number of tubular epithelial cells. These crystalline structures were seen in the control specimens and also in regenerating specimens; the main differences being in size and number of them. The control specimens showed a few tubular epithelial cell nuclei almost completely occupied by large crystals that were not membrane bound. Subsequent follow-up biopsies of the same kidneys contained similar intranuclear crystals but of a much smaller size. Some of these nuclei contained several small crystals. The small crystals occurred at one week following transplantation and were seen even four weeks following transplantation. As time passed, the small crystals appeared to fuse to form larger crystals.


Author(s):  
Raoul Fresco ◽  
Mary Chang-Lo

Confusion surrounds the nature of the “adenomatoid tumor” of the testis, as evidenced by the large number of synonyms which have been ascribed to it. Various authors have considered the tumor to be of endothelial, mesothelial or epithelial origin. There appears to be no controversy as to the stromal elements of the tumor, which consists mainly of smooth muscle and fibrous tissue. It is the irregular gland-like spaces which have given rise to the numerous theories as to its histogenesis, and even recent ultrastructural studies fail to agree on the origin of these structures.Electron microscopy of a typical intrascrotal adenomatoid tumor showed the gland-like spaces to be lined by epithelial cells (Fig. 1), rich in cytoplasmic tonofibrils and united to each other by numerous desmosomes (Fig. 2). The most salient feature of these epithelial cells was the presence on their luminal surface of numerous long and repeatedly branching microvillous structures of the type known as stereocilia (Fig. 3). These are extremely long slender cell processes which are as much as three to four times the length of those in brush borders.


1993 ◽  
Vol 264 (1) ◽  
pp. F149-F157 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Gailit ◽  
D. Colflesh ◽  
I. Rabiner ◽  
J. Simone ◽  
M. S. Goligorsky

Tubular obstruction by detached renal tubular epithelial cells is a major cause of oliguria in acute renal failure. Viable renal tubular cells can be recovered from urine of patients with acute tubular necrosis, suggesting a possible defect in cell adhesion to the basement membrane. To study this process of epithelial cell desquamation in vitro, we investigated the effect of nonlethal oxidative stress on the integrin adhesion receptors of the primate kidney epithelial cell line BS-C-1. Morphological and functional studies of cell adhesion properties included the following: interference reflection microscopy, intravital confocal microscopy and immunocytochemistry, flow cytometric analysis of integrin receptor abundance, and cell-matrix attachment assay. High levels of the integrin subunits alpha 3, alpha v, and beta 1 were detected on the cell surface by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, as well as lower levels of alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha 6, and beta 3. Exposure of BS-C-1 cells to nonlethal oxidative stress resulted in the disruption of focal contacts, disappearance of talin from the basal cell surface, and in the redistribution of integrin alpha 3-subunits from predominantly basal location to the apical cell surface. As measured in a quantitative cell attachment assay, oxidative stress decreased BS-C-1 cell adhesion to type IV collagen, laminin, fibronectin, and vitronectin. Defective adhesion was not associated with a loss of alpha 3-, alpha 4-, or alpha v-integrin subunits from the cell surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (2) ◽  
pp. C522-C529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine Elliott ◽  
Nadezhda N. Zheleznova ◽  
Patricia D. Wilson

c-Src is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase whose activity is induced by phosphorylation at Y418 and translocation from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane. Increased activity of c-Src has been associated with cell proliferation, matrix adhesion, motility, and apoptosis in tumors. Immunohistochemistry suggested that activated (pY418)-Src activity is increased in cyst-lining autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) epithelial cells in human and mouse ADPKD. Western blot analysis showed that SKI-606 (Wyeth) is a specific inhibitor of pY418-Src without demonstrable effects on epidermal growth factor receptor or ErbB2 activity in renal epithelia. In vitro studies on mouse inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD) cells and human ADPKD cyst-lining epithelial cells showed that SKI-606 inhibited epithelial cell proliferation over a 24-h time frame. In addition, SKI-606 treatment caused a striking statistically significant decrease in adhesion of mIMCD and human ADPKD to extracellular collagen matrix. Retained viability of unattached cells was consistent with a primary effect on epithelial cell anchorage dependence mediated by the loss of extracellular matrix (ECM)-attachment due to α2β1-integrin function. SKI-606-mediated attenuation of the human ADPKD hyperproliferative and hyper-ECM-adhesive epithelial cell phenotype in vitro was paralleled by retardation of the renal cystic phenotype of Pkd1 orthologous ADPKD heterozygous mice in vivo. This suggests that SKI-606 has dual effects on cystic epithelial cell proliferation and ECM adhesion and may have therapeutic potential for ADPKD patients.


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