scholarly journals Desmoplakin is required for epidermal integrity and morphogenesis in the Xenopus laevis embryo

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navaneetha Krishnan Bharathan ◽  
Amanda J.G. Dickinson

AbstractDesmoplakin (Dsp) is a unique and critical desmosomal protein, however, it is unclear whether this protein and desmosomes themselves are required for epidermal morphogenesis. Using morpholinos or Crispr/Cas9 mutagenesis we decreased the function of Dsp in frog embryos to better understand its role during epidermal development. Dsp morphant and mutant embryos had developmental defects that mimicked what has been reported in mammals. Such defects included epidermal fragility which correlated with reduction in cortical keratin and junctional e-cadherin in the developing epidermis. Dsp protein sequence and expression are also highly similar with mammals and suggest shared function across vertebrates. Most importantly, we also uncovered a novel function for Dsp in the morphogenesis of the epidermis in X. laevis. Specifically, Dsp is required during the process of radial intercalation where basally located cells move into the outer epidermal layer. Once inserted these newly intercalated cells expand their apical surface and then they differentiate into specific epidermal cell types. Decreased levels of Dsp resulted in the failure of the radially intercalating cells to expand their apical surface, thereby reducing the number of differentiated multiciliated and secretory cells. Dsp is also required in the development of other ectodermally derived structures such as the mouth, eye and fin that utilize intercalating-like cell movements. We have developed a novel system, in the frog, to demonstrate for the first time that desmosomes not only protect against mechanical stress but are also critical for epidermal morphogenesis.Summary StatementCritical desmosomal protein, desmoplakin, is required for proper distribution and levels of cytoskeletal elements and e-cadherin. Thus embryos with decreased desmoplakin have defects in epidermal integrity and morphogenesis.

2004 ◽  
Vol 64 (3a) ◽  
pp. 511-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. de Souza ◽  
A. M. Leal-Zanchet

The present study aims at providing a detailed description of the histology, as well as the first histochemical characterization, of the secretory cells of the epidermis, pharynx, and copulatory organs of Choeradoplana iheringi, in order to give further support to studies on the physiology of these organs. The secretory cells are distinguished on the basis of secretion morphology and its staining properties, using trichrome methods and histochemical reactions. Four cell types open through the epidermis of Ch. iheringi, three of them secreting basic protein and a fourth containing glycosaminoglycan mucins. The epidermal lining cells store glycogen. In the pharynx, four secretory cell types were distinguished. Two types produce glycoprotein, a third type secretes basic protein, and another one produces glycosaminoglycan mucins. In the male copulatory organs, the prostatic vesicle receives four secretory cell types containing basic protein, except for one type which produces glycoprotein. The two secretory cell types opening into the male atrium secrete, respectively, glycoprotein, and glycosaminoglycan mucins. In the female copulatory organs, the female atrium and its proximal diverticulum, the vagina, receive two types of secretory cells producing, respectively, basic protein and glycosaminoglycan mucins. Another secretory cell type constitutes the so-called shell glands which open into the common glandular duct, secreting basic protein. The lining cells of the male and female atria produce a mucous secretion containing glycosaminoglycans. In addition, the lining epithelium of the female atrium presents an apical secretion of a proteic nature. The occurrence of a kind of spermatophore is reported for the first time for a species of Choeradoplana. This structure is located in the male or female atria in different specimens, and characterized by erythrophil, xanthophil, and/or mixed secretions associated with sperm.


2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 332-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya Tolmachova ◽  
Ross Anders ◽  
Jane Stinchcombe ◽  
Giovanna Bossi ◽  
Gillian M. Griffiths ◽  
...  

Vesicular transport is a complex multistep process regulated by distinct Rab GTPases. Here, we show for the first time that an EGFP-Rab fusion protein is fully functional in a mammalian organism. We constructed a PAC-based transgenic mouse, which expresses EGFP-Rab27a under the control of endogenous Rab27a promoter. The EGFP-Rab27a transgene was fully functional and rescued the two major defects of the ashen Rab27a knockout mouse. We achieved cell-specific expression of EGFP-Rab27a, which faithfully followed the pattern of expression of endogenous Rab27a. We found that Rab27a is expressed in an exceptionally broad range of specialized secretory cells, including exocrine (particularly in mucin- and zymogen-secreting cells), endocrine, ovarian, and hematopoietic cells, most of which undergo regulated exocytosis. We suggest that Rab27a acts in concert with Rab3 proteins in most regulated secretory events. The present strategy represents one way in which the complex pattern of expression and function of proteins involved in specialized cell types may be unraveled.


Author(s):  
J. Chakraborty ◽  
A. P. Sinha Hikim ◽  
J. S. Jhunjhunwala

Although the presence of annulate lamellae was noted in many cell types, including the rat spermatogenic cells, this structure was never reported in the Sertoli cells of any rodent species. The present report is based on a part of our project on the effect of torsion of the spermatic cord to the contralateral testis. This paper describes for the first time, the fine structural details of the annulate lamellae in the Sertoli cells of damaged testis from guinea pigs.One side of the spermatic cord of each of six Hartly strain adult guinea pigs was surgically twisted (540°) under pentobarbital anesthesia (1). Four months after induction of torsion, animals were sacrificed, testes were excised and processed for the light and electron microscopic investigations. In the damaged testis, the majority of seminiferous tubule contained a layer of Sertoli cells with occasional spermatogonia (Fig. 1). Nuclei of these Sertoli cells were highly pleomorphic and contained small chromatinic clumps adjacent to the inner aspect of the nuclear envelope (Fig. 2).


Author(s):  
S. Tai

Extensive cytological and histological research, correlated with physiological experimental analysis, have been done on the anterior pituitaries of many different vertebrates which have provided the knowledge to create the concept that specific cell types synthesize, store and release their specific hormones. These hormones are stored in or associated with granules. Nevertheless, there are still many doubts - that need further studies, specially on the ultrastructure and physiology of these endocrine cells during the process of synthesis, transport and secretion, whereas some new methods may provide the information about the intracellular structure and activity in detail.In the present work, ultrastructural study of the hormone-secretory cells of chicken pituitaries have been done by using TEM as well as HR-SEM, to correlate the informations obtained from 2-dimensional TEM micrography with the 3-dimensional SEM topographic images, which have a continous surface with larger depth of field that - offers the adventage to interpretate some intracellular structures which were not possible to see using TEM.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ofir Klein ◽  
Ronit Sagi-Eisenberg

Anaphylaxis is a notorious type 2 immune response which may result in a systemic response and lead to death. A precondition for the unfolding of the anaphylactic shock is the secretion of inflammatory mediators from mast cells in response to an allergen, mostly through activation of the cells via the IgE-dependent pathway. While mast cells are specialized secretory cells that can secrete through a variety of exocytic modes, the most predominant mode exerted by the mast cell during anaphylaxis is compound exocytosis—a specialized form of regulated exocytosis where secretory granules fuse to one another. Here, we review the modes of regulated exocytosis in the mast cell and focus on compound exocytosis. We review historical landmarks in the research of compound exocytosis in mast cells and the methods available for investigating compound exocytosis. We also review the molecular mechanisms reported to underlie compound exocytosis in mast cells and expand further with reviewing key findings from other cell types. Finally, we discuss the possible reasons for the mast cell to utilize compound exocytosis during anaphylaxis, the conflicting evidence in different mast cell models, and the open questions in the field which remain to be answered.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
Yu-Hao Liu ◽  
Chien-Chang Chen ◽  
Yi-Jen Hsueh ◽  
Li-Man Hung ◽  
David Hui-Kang Ma ◽  
...  

Although several modes of reprogramming have been reported in different cell types during iPSC induction, the molecular mechanism regarding the selection of different modes of action is still mostly unknown. The present study examined the molecular events that participate in the selection of such processes at the onset of somatic reprogramming. The activity of STAT3 versus that of Erk1/2 reversibly determines the reprogramming mode entered; a lower activity ratio favors the deterministic process and vice versa. Additionally, extraneous E-cadherin facilitates the early events of somatic reprogramming, potentially by stabilizing the LIF/gp130 and EGFR/ErbB2 complexes to promote entry into the deterministic process. Our current findings demonstrated that manipulating the pSTAT3/pErk1/2 activity ratio in the surrounding milieu can drive different modes of action toward either the deterministic or the stochastic process in the context of OSKM-mediated somatic reprogramming.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 767-781
Author(s):  
Vanessa Pinatto Gaspar ◽  
Anelise Cardoso Ramos ◽  
Philippe Cloutier ◽  
José Renato Pattaro Junior ◽  
Francisco Ferreira Duarte Junior ◽  
...  

KIN (Kin17) protein is overexpressed in a number of cancerous cell lines, and is therefore considered a possible cancer biomarker. It is a well-conserved protein across eukaryotes and is ubiquitously expressed in all cell types studied, suggesting an important role in the maintenance of basic cellular function which is yet to be well determined. Early studies on KIN suggested that this nuclear protein plays a role in cellular mechanisms such as DNA replication and/or repair; however, its association with chromatin depends on its methylation state. In order to provide a better understanding of the cellular role of this protein, we investigated its interactome by proximity-dependent biotin identification coupled to mass spectrometry (BioID-MS), used for identification of protein–protein interactions. Our analyses detected interaction with a novel set of proteins and reinforced previous observations linking KIN to factors involved in RNA processing, notably pre-mRNA splicing and ribosome biogenesis. However, little evidence supports that this protein is directly coupled to DNA replication and/or repair processes, as previously suggested. Furthermore, a novel interaction was observed with PRMT7 (protein arginine methyltransferase 7) and we demonstrated that KIN is modified by this enzyme. This interactome analysis indicates that KIN is associated with several cell metabolism functions, and shows for the first time an association with ribosome biogenesis, suggesting that KIN is likely a moonlight protein.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Peter Walentek

Mucociliary epithelia are composed of multiciliated, secretory, and stem cells and line various organs in vertebrates such as the respiratory tract. By means of mucociliary clearance, those epithelia provide a first line of defense against inhaled particles and pathogens. Mucociliary clearance relies on the correct composition of cell types, that is, the proper balance of ciliated and secretory cells. A failure to generate and to maintain correct cell type composition and function results in impaired clearance and high risk to infections, such as in congenital diseases (e.g., ciliopathies) as well as in acquired diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). While it remains incompletely resolved how precisely cell types are specified and maintained in development and disease, many studies have revealed important mechanisms regarding the signaling control in mucociliary cell types in various species. Those studies not only provided insights into the signaling contribution to organ development and regeneration but also highlighted the remarkable plasticity of cell identity encountered in mucociliary maintenance, including frequent trans-differentiation events during homeostasis and specifically in disease. This review will summarize major findings and provide perspectives regarding the future of mucociliary research and the treatment of chronic airway diseases associated with tissue remodeling.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 640
Author(s):  
Natalia R. Moyetta ◽  
Fabián O. Ramos ◽  
Jimena Leyria ◽  
Lilián E. Canavoso ◽  
Leonardo L. Fruttero

Hemocytes, the cells present in the hemolymph of insects and other invertebrates, perform several physiological functions, including innate immunity. The current classification of hemocyte types is based mostly on morphological features; however, divergences have emerged among specialists in triatomines, the insect vectors of Chagas’ disease (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Here, we have combined technical approaches in order to characterize the hemocytes from fifth instar nymphs of the triatomine Dipetalogaster maxima. Moreover, in this work we describe, for the first time, the ultrastructural features of D. maxima hemocytes. Using phase contrast microscopy of fresh preparations, five hemocyte populations were identified and further characterized by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. The plasmatocytes and the granulocytes were the most abundant cell types, although prohemocytes, adipohemocytes and oenocytes were also found. This work sheds light on a controversial aspect of triatomine cell biology and physiology setting the basis for future in-depth studies directed to address hemocyte classification using non-microscopy-based markers.


1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 2203-2212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon M. Holy ◽  
Darwin D. Wittrock

The female reproductive organs (ovary, vitellaria, and Mehlis' gland) of the digenetic trematode Halipegus eccentricus were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Oocytes entered diplotene while in the ovary and produced cortical granules and lipid bodies. Vitelline cells produced large amounts of eggshell protein but no yolk bodies. Two types of Mehlis' gland secretory cells were present, distinguishable by the morphology of their rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, and secretory bodies, and by the persistence of recognizable secretory material within the ootype lumen after exocytosis. In an attempt to standardize the nomenclature regarding the cell types of the Mehlis' gland, a classification that takes into account these four criteria is proposed. Two basic types of Golgi body organization were noted for the cells of the female reproductive system: a stack of flattened cisternae (Mehlis' gland alpha cells) and spherical Golgi bodies with vesicular cisternae (oocytes, vitelline cells, and Mehlis' gland beta cells).


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