scholarly journals Stem Cell Microarrays for Assessing Growth Factor Signaling in Engineered Glycan Microenvironments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austen L Michalak ◽  
Greg W Trieger ◽  
Kelsey A Trieger ◽  
Kamil Godula

The incorporation of extracellular matrix (ECM) elements such as adhesion motifs, growth factors and signaling molecules provides unique functionalities to biomaterials in regenerative medicine. However, an often overlooked component of native microenvironments are extracellular glycans, which are key players in mediating biological processes in signaling and development. Here, we describe a cellular microarray which presents well-defined glycan structures in a synthetic hydrogel ECM microenvironment to colonies of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in a spaitally adressable format. In conjunction with synthetic glycan microenvironments, this new platform enables screening well-defined desulfated heparin glycans in the extracellular space by linking protein-glycan interactions directly with mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling events leading to differentiation. The cellular array technique provides a potent tool to rapidly optimize the glycan ECM and providing guiding principles for incorporation of functional glycan elements into biomaterial design.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica K. Sawyer ◽  
Zahra Kabiri ◽  
Ruth A. Montague ◽  
Sarah V. Paramore ◽  
Erez Cohen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSignal transduction pathways are intricately fine-tuned to accomplish diverse biological processes. An example is the conserved Ras/mitogen-activated-protein-kinase (MAPK) pathway, which exhibits context-dependent signaling output dynamics and regulation. Here, by altering codon usage as a novel platform to control signaling output, we screened the Drosophila genome for modifiers specific to either weak or strong Ras-driven eye phenotypes. We mapped the underlying gene from one modifier to the ribosomal gene RpS21. RpS21 preferentially influences weak Ras/MAPK signaling outputs, and negatively regulates Ras/MAPK in multiple cell/tissue and signaling settings. In turn, MAPK signaling may regulate its own negative feedback by promoting RpS21 expression. These data show that codon usage manipulation can identify output-specific signaling regulators, and identify RpS21 as an in vivo Ras/MAPK phenotypic regulator.


PLoS Genetics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e1009228
Author(s):  
Jessica K. Sawyer ◽  
Zahra Kabiri ◽  
Ruth A. Montague ◽  
Scott R. Allen ◽  
Rebeccah Stewart ◽  
...  

Signal transduction pathways are intricately fine-tuned to accomplish diverse biological processes. An example is the conserved Ras/mitogen-activated-protein-kinase (MAPK) pathway, which exhibits context-dependent signaling output dynamics and regulation. Here, by altering codon usage as a novel platform to control signaling output, we screened the Drosophila genome for modifiers specific to either weak or strong Ras-driven eye phenotypes. Our screen enriched for regions of the genome not previously connected with Ras phenotypic modification. We mapped the underlying gene from one modifier to the ribosomal gene RpS21. In multiple contexts, we show that RpS21 preferentially influences weak Ras/MAPK signaling outputs. These data show that codon usage manipulation can identify new, output-specific signaling regulators, and identify RpS21 as an in vivo Ras/MAPK phenotypic regulator.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 482
Author(s):  
Elisa Gómez-Gil ◽  
Alejandro Franco ◽  
Beatriz Vázquez-Marín ◽  
Francisco Prieto-Ruiz ◽  
Armando Pérez-Díaz ◽  
...  

Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways execute essential functions in eukaryotic organisms by transducing extracellular stimuli into adaptive cellular responses. In the fission yeast model Schizosaccharomyces pombe the cell integrity pathway (CIP) and its core effector, MAPK Pmk1, play a key role during regulation of cell integrity, cytokinesis, and ionic homeostasis. Schizosaccharomyces japonicus, another fission yeast species, shows remarkable differences with respect to S. pombe, including a robust yeast to hyphae dimorphism in response to environmental changes. We show that the CIP MAPK module architecture and its upstream regulators, PKC orthologs Pck1 and Pck2, are conserved in both fission yeast species. However, some of S. pombe’s CIP-related functions, such as cytokinetic control and response to glucose availability, are regulated differently in S. japonicus. Moreover, Pck1 and Pck2 antagonistically regulate S. japonicus hyphal differentiation through fine-tuning of Pmk1 activity. Chimeric MAPK-swapping experiments revealed that S. japonicus Pmk1 is fully functional in S. pombe, whereas S. pombe Pmk1 shows a limited ability to execute CIP functions and promote S. japonicus mycelial development. Our findings also suggest that a modified N-lobe domain secondary structure within S. japonicus Pmk1 has a major influence on the CIP signaling features of this evolutionarily diverged fission yeast.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 256
Author(s):  
Shuyan Yang ◽  
Hongyi Zhou ◽  
Weihua Dai ◽  
Juan Xiong ◽  
Fusheng Chen

The effects of a static magnetic field (SMF) on Monascus ruber M7 (M. ruber M7) cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates under SMF treatment at different intensities (5, 10, and 30 mT) were investigated in this paper. The results revealed that, compared with the control (CK, no SMF treatment), the SMF at all tested intensities did not significantly influence the morphological characteristics of M. ruber M7, while the intracellular and extracellular Monascus pigments (MPs) and extracellular citrinin (CIT) of M. ruber M7 were increased at 10 and 30 mT SMF but there was no impact on the MPs and CIT at 5 mT SMF. The transcriptome data of M. ruber M7 cultured at 30 mT SMF on PDA for 3 and 7 d showed that the SMF could increase the transcriptional levels of some relative genes with the primary metabolism, including the carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism, especially in the early growing period (3 d). SMF could also affect the transcriptional levels of the related genes to the biosynthetic pathways of MPs, CIT, and ergosterol, and improve the transcription of the relative genes in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway of M. ruber M7. These findings provide insights into a comprehensive understanding of the effects of SMF on filamentous fungi.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2333
Author(s):  
Yulong Sun ◽  
Yuanyuan Kuang ◽  
Zhuo Zuo

In the process of exploring space, the astronaut’s body undergoes a series of physiological changes. At the level of cellular behavior, microgravity causes significant alterations, including bone loss, muscle atrophy, and cardiovascular deconditioning. At the level of gene expression, microgravity changes the expression of cytokines in many physiological processes, such as cell immunity, proliferation, and differentiation. At the level of signaling pathways, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway participates in microgravity-induced immune malfunction. However, the mechanisms of these changes have not been fully elucidated. Recent studies suggest that the malfunction of macrophages is an important breakthrough for immune disorders in microgravity. As the first line of immune defense, macrophages play an essential role in maintaining homeostasis. They activate specific immune responses and participate in large numbers of physiological activities by presenting antigen and secreting cytokines. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent advances on the dysfunction of macrophages arisen from microgravity and to discuss the mechanisms of these abnormal responses. Hopefully, our work will contribute not only to the future exploration on the immune system in space, but also to the development of preventive and therapeutic drugs against the physiological consequences of spaceflight.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 2490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Chung Huang ◽  
Chun-Hsun Huang ◽  
Sindy Hu ◽  
Hui-Ling Peng ◽  
Shu-Ju Wu

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a recurrent allergic skin disease caused by genetic and environmental factors. Patients with AD may experience immune imbalance, increased levels of mast cells, immunoglobulin (Ig) E and pro-inflammatory factors (Cyclooxygenase, COX-2 and inducible NO synthase, iNOS). While spilanthol (SP) has anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, its effect on AD remains to be explored. To develop a new means of SP, inflammation-related symptoms of AD were alleviated, and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was used to induce AD-like skin lesions in BALB/c mice. Histopathological analysis was used to examine mast cells and eosinophils infiltration in AD-like skin lesions. The levels of IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Western blot was used for analysis of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and COX-2 and iNOS protein expression. Topical SP treatment reduced serum IgE and IgG2a levels and suppressed COX-2 and iNOS expression via blocked mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in DNCB-induced AD-like lesions. Histopathological examination revealed that SP reduced epidermal thickness and collagen accumulation and inhibited mast cells and eosinophils infiltration into the AD-like lesions skin. These results indicate that SP may protect against AD skin lesions through inhibited MAPK signaling pathways and may diminish the infiltration of inflammatory cells to block allergic inflammation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4211
Author(s):  
Yen-Tze Liu ◽  
Hsin-Yu Ho ◽  
Chia-Chieh Lin ◽  
Yi-Ching Chuang ◽  
Yu-Sheng Lo ◽  
...  

Platyphyllenone is a type of diarylheptanoid that exhibits anti-inflammatory and chemoprotective effects. However, its effect on oral cancer remains unclear. In this study, we investigated whether platyphyllenone can promote apoptosis and autophagy in SCC-9 and SCC-47 cells. We found that it dose-dependently promoted the cleavage of PARP; caspase-3, -8, and -9 protein expression; and also led to cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Platyphyllenone up-regulated LC3-II and p62 protein expression in both SCC-9 and SCC-47 cell lines, implying that it can induce autophagy. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that platyphyllenone significantly decreased p-AKT and increased p-JNK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in a dose-dependent manner. The specific inhibitors of p-JNK1/2 also reduced platyphyllenone-induced cleavage of PARP, caspase-3, and caspase -8, LC3-II and p62 protein expression. These findings are the first to demonstrate that platyphyllenone can induce both autophagy and apoptosis in oral cancers, and it is expected to provide a therapeutic option as a chemopreventive agent against oral cancer proliferation.


Author(s):  
Ahmad Ahmadzadeh ◽  
Saeid Shahrabi ◽  
Kaveh Jaseb ◽  
Fatemeh Norozi ◽  
Mohammad Shahjahani ◽  
...  

BRAF is a serine/threonine kinase with a regulatory role in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. A mutation in the RAF gene, especially in BRAF protein, leads to an increased stimulation of this cascade, causing uncontrolled cell division and development of malignancy. Several mutations have been observed in the gene coding for this protein in a variety of human malignancies, including hairy cell leukemia (HCL). BRAF V600E is the most common mutation reported in exon15 of BRAF, which is observed in almost all cases of classic HCL, but it is negative in other B-cell malignancies, including the HCL variant. Therefore it can be used as a marker to differentiate between these B-cell disorders. We also discuss the interaction between miRNAs and signaling pathways, including MAPK, in HCL. When this mutation is present, the use of BRAF protein inhibitors may represent an effective treatment. In this review we have evaluated the role of the mutation of the BRAF gene in the pathogenesis and progression of HCL.


2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingyu Hou ◽  
Wenhui Wang ◽  
Feizi Hu ◽  
Yuanxing Zhang ◽  
Dahai Yang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Bacterial phosphothreonine lyases have been identified to be type III secretion system (T3SS) effectors that irreversibly dephosphorylate host mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling to promote infection. However, the effects of phosphothreonine lyase on nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling remain largely unknown. In this study, we detected significant phosphothreonine lyase-dependent p65 degradation during Edwardsiella piscicida infection in macrophages, and this degradative effect was blocked by the protease inhibitor MG132. Further analysis revealed that phosphothreonine lyase promotes the dephosphorylation and ubiquitination of p65 by inhibiting the phosphorylation of mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase-1 (MSK1) and by inhibiting the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38α, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Moreover, we revealed that the catalytic active site of phosphothreonine lyase plays a critical role in regulating the MAPK-MSK1-p65 signaling axis. Collectively, the mechanism described here expands our understanding of the pathogenic effector in not only regulating MAPK signaling but also regulating p65. These findings uncover a new mechanism by which pathogenic bacteria overcome host innate immunity to promote pathogenesis.


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