Expression of the heparin-binding cytokines, midkine (MK) and HB-GAM (pleiotrophin) is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during fetal development and organogenesis

Development ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.A. Mitsiadis ◽  
M. Salmivirta ◽  
T. Muramatsu ◽  
H. Muramatsu ◽  
H. Rauvala ◽  
...  

Midkine (MK) and heparin binding-growth associated molecule (HB-GAM or pleiotrophin), constitute a new family of heparin-binding proteins implicated in the regulation of growth and differentiation (T. Muramatsu (1993) Int. J. Dev. Biol. 37, 183–188). We used affinity-purified antibodies against MK and HB-GAM to analyze their distribution during mouse embryonic development. From 9 to 14.5 day post-coitum (dpc), both proteins were detected in central and peripheral nervous systems, facial processes, limb buds, sense organs, respiratory, digestive, urogenital, and skeletal systems. MK and HB-GAM were often localized on the surface of differentiating cells and in basement membranes of organs undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. The level of MK protein decreased considerably in the 16.5 dpc embryo, whereas HB-GAM staining persisted in many tissues. Our in situ hybridization results revealed a widespread expression of MK transcripts that was not always consistent with the distribution of MK protein in developing tissues. In many epithelio-mesenchymal organs MK and HB-GAM were codistributed with syndecan-1, a cell surface proteoglycan. In limb buds and facial processes, MK, HB-GAM, and syndecan-1 were localized to the apical epithelium and the adjacent proliferating mesenchyme. Both MK and HB-GAM bound syndecan-1 in solid-phase assays in a heparan sulfate-dependent manner. The biological effects of MK and HB-GAM on limb and facial mesenchyme were studied in vitro by application of beads preloaded with the proteins. Neither MK nor HB-GAM stimulated mesenchymal cell proliferation or induced syndecan-1 expression. Taken together these results indicate that MK and HB-GAM may play regulatory roles in differentiation and morphogenesis of the vertebrate embryo, particularly in epithelio-mesenchymal organs, and suggest molecular interactions with syndecan-1.

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 494-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sameer Suresh Bhagyawant ◽  
Dakshita Tanaji Narvekar ◽  
Neha Gupta ◽  
Amita Bhadkaria ◽  
Ajay Kumar Gautam ◽  
...  

Background: Diabetes and hypertension are the major health concern and alleged to be of epidemic proportions. This has made it a numero uno subject at various levels of investigation. Glucosidase inhibitor provides the reasonable option in treatment of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) as it specifically targets post prandial hyperglycemia. The Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) plays an important role in hypertension. Therefore, inhibition of ACE in treatment of elevated blood pressure attracts special interest of the scientific community. Chickpea is a food legume and seeds contain carbohydrate binding protein- a lectin. Some of the biological properties of this lectin hitherto been elucidated. Methods: Purified by ion exchange chromatography, chickpea lectin was tested for its in vitro antioxidant, ACE-I inhibitory and anti-diabetic characteristic. Results: Lectin shows a characteristic improvement over the synthetic drugs like acarbose (oral anti-diabetic drug) and captopril (standard antihypertensive drug) when, their IC50 values are compared. Lectin significantly inhibited α-glucosidase and α-amylase in a concentration dependent manner with IC50 values of 85.41 ± 1.21 ҝg/ml and 65.05 ± 1.2 µg/ml compared to acarbose having IC50 70.20 ± 0.47 value of µg/ml and 50.52 ± 1.01 µg/ml respectively. β-Carotene bleaching assay showed antioxidant activity of lectin (72.3%) to be as active as Butylated Hydroxylanisole (BHA). In addition, lectin demonstrated inhibition against ACE-I with IC50 value of 57.43 ± 1.20 µg/ml compared to captopril. Conclusion: Lectin demonstrated its antioxidant character, ACE-I inhibition and significantly inhibitory for α-glucosidase and α-amylase seems to qualify as an anti-hyperglycemic therapeutic molecule. The biological effects of chickpea lectin display potential for reducing the parameters of medically debilitating conditions. These characteristics however needs to be established under in vivo systems too viz. animals through to humans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yorick Janssens ◽  
Nathan Debunne ◽  
Anton De Spiegeleer ◽  
Evelien Wynendaele ◽  
Marta Planas ◽  
...  

AbstractQuorum sensing peptides (QSPs) are bacterial peptides produced by Gram-positive bacteria to communicate with their peers in a cell-density dependent manner. These peptides do not only act as interbacterial communication signals, but can also have effects on the host. Compelling evidence demonstrates the presence of a gut-brain axis and more specifically, the role of the gut microbiota in microglial functioning. The aim of this study is to investigate microglial activating properties of a selected QSP (PapRIV) which is produced by Bacillus cereus species. PapRIV showed in vitro activating properties of BV-2 microglia cells and was able to cross the in vitro Caco-2 cell model and reach the brain. In vivo peptide presence was also demonstrated in mouse plasma. The peptide caused induction of IL-6, TNFα and ROS expression and increased the fraction of ameboid BV-2 microglia cells in an NF-κB dependent manner. Different metabolites were identified in serum, of which the main metabolite still remained active. PapRIV is thus able to cross the gastro-intestinal tract and the blood–brain barrier and shows in vitro activating properties in BV-2 microglia cells, hereby indicating a potential role of this quorum sensing peptide in gut-brain interaction.


2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith Gonzales ◽  
Babette Weksler ◽  
Daisuke Tsuruta ◽  
Robert D. Goldman ◽  
Kristine J. Yoon ◽  
...  

The α4 laminin subunit is a component of endothelial cell basement membranes. An antibody (2A3) against the α4 laminin G domain stains focal contact-like structures in transformed and primary microvascular endothelial cells (TrHBMECs and HMVECs, respectively), provided the latter cells are activated with growth factors. The 2A3 antibody staining colocalizes with that generated by αv and β3 integrin antibodies and, consistent with this localization, TrHBMECs and HMVECs adhere to the α4 laminin subunit G domain in an αvβ3-integrin–dependent manner. The αvβ3 integrin/2A3 antibody positively stained focal contacts are recognized by vinculin antibodies as well as by antibodies against plectin. Unusually, vimentin intermediate filaments, in addition to microfilament bundles, interact with many of the αvβ3 integrin-positive focal contacts. We have investigated the function of α4-laminin and αvβ3-integrin, which are at the core of these focal contacts, in cultured endothelial cells. Antibodies against these proteins inhibit branching morphogenesis of TrHBMECs and HMVECs in vitro, as well as their ability to repopulate in vitro wounds. Thus, we have characterized an endothelial cell matrix adhesion, which shows complex cytoskeletal interactions and whose assembly is regulated by growth factors. Our data indicate that this adhesion structure may play a role in angiogenesis.


Angiogenesis ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Heil ◽  
Rita Mitnacht-Krauss ◽  
Katja Issbrücker ◽  
Joop van den Heuvel ◽  
Christoph Dehio ◽  
...  

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mizuki Yamamoto ◽  
Maki Kiso ◽  
Yuko Sakai-Tagawa ◽  
Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto ◽  
Masaki Imai ◽  
...  

Although infection by SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of coronavirus pneumonia disease (COVID-19), is spreading rapidly worldwide, no drug has been shown to be sufficiently effective for treating COVID-19. We previously found that nafamostat mesylate, an existing drug used for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), effectively blocked Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) S protein-mediated cell fusion by targeting transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), and inhibited MERS-CoV infection of human lung epithelium-derived Calu-3 cells. Here we established a quantitative fusion assay dependent on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) S protein, angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and TMPRSS2, and found that nafamostat mesylate potently inhibited the fusion while camostat mesylate was about 10-fold less active. Furthermore, nafamostat mesylate blocked SARS-CoV-2 infection of Calu-3 cells with an effective concentration (EC)50 around 10 nM, which is below its average blood concentration after intravenous administration through continuous infusion. On the other hand, a significantly higher dose (EC50 around 30 μM) was required for VeroE6/TMPRSS2 cells, where the TMPRSS2-independent but cathepsin-dependent endosomal infection pathway likely predominates. Together, our study shows that nafamostat mesylate potently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 S protein-mediated fusion in a cell fusion assay system and also inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro in a cell-type-dependent manner. These findings, together with accumulated clinical data regarding nafamostat’s safety, make it a likely candidate drug to treat COVID-19.


1985 ◽  
Vol 226 (3) ◽  
pp. 789-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Dickson ◽  
J Walls

The influence of an excess of retinol on bone formation was studied by using cultures of embryonic-chick calvaria. Retinol decreased collagen synthesis in a dose-dependent manner, non-collagenous protein synthesis being relatively unaffected. Collagen synthesis was significantly inhibited after 24 h of culture with retinol and was progressively decreased, compared with control cultures containing no retinol, as the period of culture was increased. The effect of retinol on collagen synthesis could be reversed by incubation of calvaria for further periods in retinol-free medium. Incorporation of [3H]thymidine and [3H]uridine into DNA and RNA respectively was not altered by culturing calvaria with retinol for 22 h. These latter findings, and the selectivity for collagen synthesis, all suggested that the effect observed was not a cell-toxicity phenomenon. The effect of retinol on collagen synthesis by chick calvarial osteoblasts was probably direct and not mediated by osteoclasts, since a negligible number of the latter cells is present in chick calvaria. In cultures of neonatal murine calvaria, which contain many osteoclasts, retinol similarly inhibited synthesis of collagen, but not of non-collagenous protein; the concentrations of retinol necessary to produce the response were similar to those required to stimulate bone resorption in vitro.


1990 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 777-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
J B McCarthy ◽  
A P Skubitz ◽  
Z Qi ◽  
X Y Yi ◽  
D J Mickelson ◽  
...  

Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix components such as fibronectin has a complex basis, involving multiple determinants on the molecule that react with discrete cell surface macromolecules. Our previous results have demonstrated that normal and transformed cells adhere and spread on a 33-kD heparin binding fragment that originates from the carboxy-terminal end of particular isoforms (A-chains) of human fibronectin. This fragment promotes melanoma adhesion and spreading in an arginyl-glycyl-aspartyl-serine (RGDS) independent manner, suggesting that cell adhesion to this region of fibronectin is independent of the typical RGD/integrin-mediated binding. Two synthetic peptides from this region of fibronectin were recently identified that bound [3H]heparin in a solid-phase assay and promoted the adhesion and spreading of melanoma cells (McCarthy, J. B., M. K. Chelberg, D. J. Mickelson, and L. T. Furcht. 1988. Biochemistry. 27:1380-1388). The current studies further define the cell adhesion and heparin binding properties of one of these synthetic peptides. This peptide, termed peptide I, has the sequence YEKPGSP-PREVVPRPRPGV and represents residues 1906-1924 of human plasma fibronectin. In addition to promoting RGD-independent melanoma adhesion and spreading in a concentration-dependent manner, this peptide significantly inhibited cell adhesion to the 33-kD fragment or intact fibronectin. Polyclonal antibodies generated against peptide I also significantly inhibited cell adhesion to the peptide, to the 33-kD fragment, but had minimal effect on melanoma adhesion to fibronectin. Anti-peptide I antibodies also partially inhibited [3H]heparin binding to fibronectin, suggesting that peptide I represents a major heparin binding domain on the intact molecule. The cell adhesion activity of another peptide from the 33-kD fragment, termed CS1 (Humphries, M. J., A. Komoriya, S. K. Akiyama, K. Olden, and K. M. Yamada. 1987. J. Biol. Chem., 262:6886-6892) was contrasted with peptide I. Whereas both peptides promoted RGD-independent cell adhesion, peptide CS1 failed to bind heparin, and exogenous peptide CS1 failed to inhibit peptide I-mediated cell adhesion. The results demonstrate a role for distinct heparin-dependent and -independent cell adhesion determinants on the 33-kD fragment, neither of which are related to the RGD-dependent integrin interaction with fibronectin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge A. Arias-del-Angel ◽  
Jesús Santana-Solano ◽  
Moisés Santillán ◽  
Rebeca G. Manning-Cela

Abstract Numerous works have demonstrated that trypanosomatid motility is relevant for parasite replication and sensitivity. Nonetheless, although some findings indirectly suggest that motility also plays an important role during infection, this has not been extensively investigated. This work is aimed at partially filling this void for the case of Trypanosoma cruzi. After recording swimming T. cruzi trypomastigotes (CL Brener strain) and recovering their individual trajectories, we statistically analyzed parasite motility patterns. We did this with parasites that swim alone or above monolayer cultures of different cell lines. Our results indicate that T. cruzi trypomastigotes change their motility patterns when they are in the presence of mammalian cells, in a cell-line dependent manner. We further performed infection experiments in which each of the mammalian cell cultures were incubated for 2 h together with trypomastigotes, and measured the corresponding invasion efficiency. Not only this parameter varied from cell line to cell line, but it resulted to be positively correlated with the corresponding intensity of the motility pattern changes. Together, these results suggest that T. cruzi trypomastigotes are capable of sensing the presence of mammalian cells and of changing their motility patterns accordingly, and that this might increase their invasion efficiency.


Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luna Ge ◽  
Yazhou Cui ◽  
Kai Cheng ◽  
Jinxiang Han

Isopsoralen (IPRN), one of the main effective ingredients in Psoralea corylifolia Linn, has a variety of biological effects, including antiosteoporotic effects. In vivo studies show that IPRN can increase bone strength and trabecular bone microstructure in a sex hormone deficiency-induced osteoporosis model. However, the mechanism underlying this osteogenic potential has not been investigated in detail. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of IPRN-induced osteogenesis in MC3T3-E1 cells. Isopsoralen promoted osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, increased calcium nodule levels and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and upregulated osteoblast markers, including ALP, runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1). Furthermore, IPRN limited the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by directly binding to AhR. The AhR target gene cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A member 1 (CYP1A1) was also inhibited in vitro and in vivo. This effect was inhibited by the AhR agonists indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC). Moreover, IPRN also increased estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression in an AhR-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that IPRN acts as an AhR antagonist and promotes osteoblast differentiation via the AhR/ERα axis.


1995 ◽  
Vol 310 (2) ◽  
pp. 461-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
C A Feghali ◽  
T M Wright

gamma RF-1 is a recently identified transcription factor induced by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) which binds to a unique palindromic enhancer, gamma RE-1, in the promoter of the mig gene. This paper describes the ligand-dependent and ligand-independent activation of gamma RF-1 in a cell-free system. gamma RF-1 activity was induced by IFN-gamma in a time-dependent manner from 5 to 60 min in lysates prepared from the human monocytic leukaemia line THP-1 and the human epidermoid carcinoma line A431. The activation of gamma RF-1 in vitro required both ATP and an inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatases (sodium orthovanadate or pervanadate). In the presence of limiting concentrations (micromolar) of ATP, activation was also dependent upon stimulation with IFN-gamma, whereas at millimolar concentrations of ATP, gamma RF-1 was activated by either sodium orthovanadate or pervanadate in the absence of ligand. Based on cell fractionation studies, both membrane and cytosol components were essential for activation of gamma RF-1 in vitro. Consistent with a role for one or more tyrosine kinases in the activation of gamma RF-1, its DNA binding activity was blocked by monoclonal anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies and by the tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein, lavendustin A and herbimycin A. A comparison with recently described pathways of IFN-mediated transcription factor regulation indicates that the in vitro activation of gamma RF-1 is unique, requiring both membrane and cytosol fractions and inhibition of endogenous tyrosine phosphatase activity.


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