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Investigation Of Murine Spleen As A Niche For Hematopoiesis., Jonathan Tan, Helen O'Neill Sep 2015

Investigation Of Murine Spleen As A Niche For Hematopoiesis., Jonathan Tan, Helen O'Neill

Jonathan Tan

Background Spleen as a lymphoid tissue is specialized for monitoring blood and mounting immunity against blood-borne antigens. Antigen-presenting cells present in spleen commonly develop from bone marrow-derived precursors that enter blood circulation. However, a distinct splenic myeloid antigen-presenting cell subset described in this laboratory, namely “dendritic-like cells” (L-DC), has been hypothesized not to share a bone marrow origin. Methods In this study, the presence of endogenous hematopoietic progenitors in spleen was investigated by transplanting intact spleen into allotype-distinct recipients and monitoring development of progeny cells in grafted tissues. Results Successful engraftment of donor spleens was achieved for up to 4 …


Delineation Of Precursors In Murine Spleen That Develop In Contact With Splenic Endothelium To Give Novel Dendritic-Like Cells., Jonathan Tan, Pravin Periasamy, Helen O'Neill Sep 2015

Delineation Of Precursors In Murine Spleen That Develop In Contact With Splenic Endothelium To Give Novel Dendritic-Like Cells., Jonathan Tan, Pravin Periasamy, Helen O'Neill

Jonathan Tan

Hematopoietic cell lineages are best described in terms of distinct progenitors with limited differentiative capacity. To distinguish cell lineages, it is necessary to define progenitors and induce their differentiation in vitro. We previously reported in vitro development of immature dendritic-like cells (DCs) in long-term cultures (LTCs) of murine spleen, and in cocultures of spleen or bone marrow (BM) over splenic endothelial cell lines derived from LTCs. Cells produced are phenotypically distinct CD11b(hi)CD11c(lo)CD8(-)MHC-II(-) cells, tentatively named L-DCs. Here we delineate L-DC progenitors as different from known DC progenitors in BM and DC precursors in spleen. The progenitor is contained within the …


Haematopoietic Stem Cells In Spleen Have Distinct Differentiative Potential For Antigen Presenting Cells., Jonathan Tan, Helen O'Neill Sep 2015

Haematopoietic Stem Cells In Spleen Have Distinct Differentiative Potential For Antigen Presenting Cells., Jonathan Tan, Helen O'Neill

Jonathan Tan

Dendritic cells (DC) are known to develop from macrophage dendritic progenitors (MDP) in bone marrow (BM), which give rise to conventional (c)DC and monocytes, both dominant antigen presenting cell (APC) subsets in spleen. This laboratory has however defined a distinct dendritic-like cell subset in spleen (L-DC), which can also be derived in long-term cultures of spleen. In line with the restricted in vitro development of only L-DC in these stromal cultures, we questioned whether self-renewing HSC or progenitors exist in spleen with restricted differentiative capacity for only L-DC. Neonatal spleen and BM were compared for their ability to reconstitute mice …


Integrin (Alpha 6 Beta 4) Regulation Of Eif-4e Activity And Vegf Translation: A Survival Mechanism For Carcinoma Cells, Jun Chung, Robin E. Bachelder, Elizabeth A. Lipscomb, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Integrin (Alpha 6 Beta 4) Regulation Of Eif-4e Activity And Vegf Translation: A Survival Mechanism For Carcinoma Cells, Jun Chung, Robin E. Bachelder, Elizabeth A. Lipscomb, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

We define a novel mechanism by which integrins regulate growth factor expression and the survival of carcinoma cells. Specifically, we demonstrate that the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin enhances vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) translation in breast carcinoma cells. The mechanism involves the ability of this integrin to stimulate the phosphorylation and inactivation of 4E-binding protein (4E-BP1), a translational repressor that inhibits the function of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E). The regulation of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation by alpha 6 beta 4 derives from the ability of this integrin to activate the PI-3K-Akt pathway and, consequently, the rapamycin-sensitive kinase mTOR that …


Evidence That Distinct States Of The Integrin Alpha6beta1 Interact With Laminin And An Adam, M. S. Chen, E. A. Almeida, A. P. Huovila, Y. Takahashi, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio, J. M. White Nov 2010

Evidence That Distinct States Of The Integrin Alpha6beta1 Interact With Laminin And An Adam, M. S. Chen, E. A. Almeida, A. P. Huovila, Y. Takahashi, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio, J. M. White

Arthur M. Mercurio

Integrins can exist in different functional states with low or high binding capacity for particular ligands. We previously provided evidence that the integrin alpha6beta1, on mouse eggs and on alpha6-transfected cells, interacted with the disintegrin domain of the sperm surface protein ADAM 2 (fertilin beta). In the present study we tested the hypothesis that different states of alpha6beta1 interact with fertilin and laminin, an extracellular matrix ligand for alpha6beta1. Using alpha6-transfected cells we found that treatments (e.g., with phorbol myristate acetate or MnCl2) that increased adhesion to laminin inhibited sperm binding. Conversely, treatments that inhibited laminin adhesion increased sperm binding. …


The Integrin Alpha6beta4 Functions In Carcinoma Cell Migration On Laminin-1 By Mediating The Formation And Stabilization Of Actin-Containing Motility Structures, Isaac Rabinovitz, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

The Integrin Alpha6beta4 Functions In Carcinoma Cell Migration On Laminin-1 By Mediating The Formation And Stabilization Of Actin-Containing Motility Structures, Isaac Rabinovitz, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

Functional studies on the alpha6beta4 integrin have focused primarily on its role in the organization of hemidesmosomes, stable adhesive structures that associate with the intermediate filament cytoskeleton. In this study, we examined the function of the alpha6beta4 integrin in clone A cells, a colon carcinoma cell line that expresses alpha6beta4 but no alpha6beta1 integrin and exhibits dynamic adhesion and motility on laminin-1. Time-lapse videomicroscopy of clone A cells on laminin-1 revealed that their migration is characterized by filopodial extension and stabilization followed by lamellae that extend in the direction of stabilized filopodia. A function-blocking mAb specific for the alpha6beta4 integrin …


Integrin Alpha 6 Beta 4 Mediates Dynamic Interactions With Laminin, Aydin Tozeren, Hynda K. Kleinman, Stephen Wu, Arthur M. Mercurio, Stephen W. Byers Nov 2010

Integrin Alpha 6 Beta 4 Mediates Dynamic Interactions With Laminin, Aydin Tozeren, Hynda K. Kleinman, Stephen Wu, Arthur M. Mercurio, Stephen W. Byers

Arthur M. Mercurio

We present here a novel form of dynamic adhesion in which both the integrin receptor and the ligand supporting dynamic adhesion have been identified. Laminar flow assays showed that laminin supported attachment of alpha 6 beta 4-positive cells in the presence of fluid shear stress (tau < or = 2 dyn/cm2), indicating that these cells adhered to laminin within a fraction of a second. Further increases in flow rate (3.5 dyn/cm2 < or = tau < or = 100 dyn/cm2) initiated rolling of attached cells in the direction of flow, suggesting that rapidly formed adhesion is reversible and repeatable. Laminin fragment E8, which …


Role Of E-Cadherin In The Response Of Tumor Cell Aggregates To Lymphatic, Venous And Arterial Flow: Measurement Of Cell-Cell Adhesion Strength, Stephen W. Byers, Connie L. Sommers, Becky Hoxter, Arthur M. Mercurio, Aydin Tozeren Nov 2010

Role Of E-Cadherin In The Response Of Tumor Cell Aggregates To Lymphatic, Venous And Arterial Flow: Measurement Of Cell-Cell Adhesion Strength, Stephen W. Byers, Connie L. Sommers, Becky Hoxter, Arthur M. Mercurio, Aydin Tozeren

Arthur M. Mercurio

Defects in the expression or function of the calcium dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin are common in invasive, metastatic carcinomas. In the present study the response of aggregates of breast epithelial cells and breast and colon carcinoma cells to forces imposed by laminar flow in a parallel plate flow channel was examined. Although E-cadherin negative tumor cells formed cell aggregates in the presence of calcium, these were significantly more likely than E-cadherin positive cell aggregates to disaggregate in response to low shear forces, such as those found in a lymphatic vessel or venule (< 3.5 dyn/cm2). E-cadherin positive normal breast epithelial cells and E-cadherin positive breast tumor cell aggregates could not be disaggregated when exposed to shear forces in excess of those found in arteries (> 100 dyn/cm2). E-cadherin negative cancer cells …


Human Colon Carcinoma Cells Use Multiple Receptors To Adhere To Laminin: Involvement Of Alpha 6 Beta 4 And Alpha 2 Beta 1 Integrins, Margaret M. Lotz, Cynthia A. Korzelius, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Human Colon Carcinoma Cells Use Multiple Receptors To Adhere To Laminin: Involvement Of Alpha 6 Beta 4 And Alpha 2 Beta 1 Integrins, Margaret M. Lotz, Cynthia A. Korzelius, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

In this study, we used clone A, a human colon carcinoma cell line, to characterize those integrins that mediate colon carcinoma adhesion to laminin. Monoclonal antibodies specific for the human beta 1 subunit inhibited clone A adhesion to laminin. They also precipitated a complex of surface proteins that exhibited an electrophoretic behavior characteristic of alpha 2 beta 1 and alpha 3 beta 1. A monoclonal antibody specific for alpha 2 (PIH5) blocked clone A adhesion to laminin, as well as to collagen I. An alpha 3-specific antibody (P1B5) had no effect on clone A adhesion to laminin, even though it …


Regulation Of Cellular Interactions With Laminin By Integrin Cytoplasmic Domains: The A And B Structural Variants Of The Alpha 6 Beta 1 Integrin Differentially Modulate The Adhesive Strength, Morphology, And Migration Of Macrophages, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Regulation Of Cellular Interactions With Laminin By Integrin Cytoplasmic Domains: The A And B Structural Variants Of The Alpha 6 Beta 1 Integrin Differentially Modulate The Adhesive Strength, Morphology, And Migration Of Macrophages, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

Several integrin alpha subunits have structural variants that are identical in their extracellular and transmembrane domains but that differ in their cytoplasmic domains. The functional significance of these variants, however, is unknown. In the present study, we examined the possibility that the A and B variants of the alpha 6 beta 1 integrin laminin receptor differ in function. For this purpose, we expressed the alpha 6A and alpha 6B cDNAs, as well as a truncated alpha 6 cDNA (alpha 6-delta CYT) in which the cytoplasmic domain sequence was deleted after the GFFKR pentapeptide, in P388D1 cells, an alpha 6 deficient …


Adam12 Induces Actin Cytoskeleton And Extracellular Matrix Reorganization During Early Adipocyte Differentiation By Regulating Beta1 Integrin Function, Nobuko Kawaguchi, Christina Sundberg, Marie Kveiborg, Behzad Moghadaszadeh, Meena Asmar, Nikolaj Dietrich, Charles Kumar Thodeti, Finn C. Nielsen, Peter Moller, Arthur M. Mercurio, Reidar Albrechtsen, Ulla M. Wewer Nov 2010

Adam12 Induces Actin Cytoskeleton And Extracellular Matrix Reorganization During Early Adipocyte Differentiation By Regulating Beta1 Integrin Function, Nobuko Kawaguchi, Christina Sundberg, Marie Kveiborg, Behzad Moghadaszadeh, Meena Asmar, Nikolaj Dietrich, Charles Kumar Thodeti, Finn C. Nielsen, Peter Moller, Arthur M. Mercurio, Reidar Albrechtsen, Ulla M. Wewer

Arthur M. Mercurio

Changes in cell shape are a morphological hallmark of differentiation. In this study we report that the expression of ADAM12, a disintegrin and metalloprotease, dramatically affects cell morphology in preadipocytes, changing them from a flattened, fibroblastic appearance to a more rounded shape. We showed that the highest levels of ADAM12 mRNA were detected in preadipocytes at the critical stage when preadipocytes become permissive for adipogenic differentiation. Furthermore, as assessed by immunostaining, ADAM12 was transiently expressed at the cell surface concomitant with the reduced activity of beta1 integrin. Co-immunoprecipitation studies indicated the formation of ADAM12/beta1 integrin complexes in these preadipocytes. Overexpression …


Transcriptional Regulation Of Vegf-A By The Unfolded Protein Response Pathway, Rajarshi Ghosh, Kathryn L. Lipson, Karen E. Sargent, Arthur M. Mercurio, Joan S. Hunt, David Ron, Fumihiko Urano Nov 2010

Transcriptional Regulation Of Vegf-A By The Unfolded Protein Response Pathway, Rajarshi Ghosh, Kathryn L. Lipson, Karen E. Sargent, Arthur M. Mercurio, Joan S. Hunt, David Ron, Fumihiko Urano

Arthur M. Mercurio

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is crucial to many physiological and pathological processes including development and cancer cell survival. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA) is the predominant mediator of angiogenesis in the VEGF family. During development, adverse environmental conditions like nutrient deprivation, hypoxia and increased protein secretion occur. IRE1alpha, PERK, and ATF6alpha, master regulators of the unfolded protein response (UPR), are activated under these conditions and are proposed to have a role in mediating angiogenesis. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we show that IRE1alpha, PERK, and ATF6alpha powerfully regulate VEGFA mRNA expression under various stress conditions. In Ire1alpha(-/-) and Perk(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts and ATF6alpha-knockdown …


Endothelial Cells Assemble Two Distinct Alpha6beta4-Containing Vimentin-Associated Structures: Roles For Ligand Binding And The Beta4 Cytoplasmic Tail, Suzanne M. Homan, Arthur M. Mercurio, Susan E. Laflamme Nov 2010

Endothelial Cells Assemble Two Distinct Alpha6beta4-Containing Vimentin-Associated Structures: Roles For Ligand Binding And The Beta4 Cytoplasmic Tail, Suzanne M. Homan, Arthur M. Mercurio, Susan E. Laflamme

Arthur M. Mercurio

The alpha6beta4 laminin binding integrin functions in the assembly of type I hemidesmosomes, which are specialized cell-matrix adhesion sites found in stratified epithelial cells. Although endothelial cells do not express all the components of type I hemidesmosomes, endothelial cells can express the alpha6beta4 integrin. Because endothelial cells lose expression of alpha6beta4 in culture, we expressed recombinant alpha6beta4 in the dermal microvascular endothelial cell line, HMEC-1, to test whether endothelial cells can assemble adhesion structures containing alpha6beta4. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we found that recombinant alpha6beta4 concentrates specifically in a novel fibrillar structure on the basal surface of endothelial cells in the …


Regulation Of Alpha 6 Beta 1 Integrin Laminin Receptor Function By The Cytoplasmic Domain Of The Alpha 6 Subunit, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Regulation Of Alpha 6 Beta 1 Integrin Laminin Receptor Function By The Cytoplasmic Domain Of The Alpha 6 Subunit, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

The alpha 6 beta 1 integrin is expressed on the macrophage surface in an inactive state and requires cellular activation with PMA or cytokines to function as a laminin receptor (Shaw, L. M., J. M. Messier, and A. M. Mercurio. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 110:2167-2174). In the present study, the role of the alpha 6 subunit cytoplasmic domain in alpha 6 beta 1 integrin activation was examined. The use of P388D1 cells, an alpha 6-integrin deficient macrophage cell line, facilitated this analysis because expression of either the alpha 6A or alpha 6B subunit cDNAs restores their activation responsive laminin adhesion …


Transcriptional Activation Of Integrin Beta6 During The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Defines A Novel Prognostic Indicator Of Aggressive Colon Carcinoma, Richard C. Bates, David I. Bellovin, Courtney Brown, Elizabeth Maynard, Bingyan Wu, Hisaaki Kawakatsu, Dean Sheppard, Peter Oettgen, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Transcriptional Activation Of Integrin Beta6 During The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Defines A Novel Prognostic Indicator Of Aggressive Colon Carcinoma, Richard C. Bates, David I. Bellovin, Courtney Brown, Elizabeth Maynard, Bingyan Wu, Hisaaki Kawakatsu, Dean Sheppard, Peter Oettgen, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

We used a spheroid model of colon carcinoma to analyze integrin dynamics as a function of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that provides a paradigm for understanding how carcinoma cells acquire a more aggressive phenotype. This EMT involves transcriptional activation of the beta6 integrin subunit and a consequent induction of alphavbeta6 expression. This integrin enhances the tumorigenic properties of colon carcinoma, including activation of autocrine TGF-beta and migration on interstitial fibronectin. Importantly, this study validates the clinical relevance of the EMT. Kaplan-Meier analysis of beta6 expression in 488 colorectal carcinomas revealed a striking reduction in median survival time of …


The Activation Dependent Adhesion Of Macrophages To Laminin Involves Cytoskeletal Anchoring And Phosphorylation Of The Alpha 6 Beta 1 Integrin, Leslie M. Shaw, Jeanne M. Messier, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

The Activation Dependent Adhesion Of Macrophages To Laminin Involves Cytoskeletal Anchoring And Phosphorylation Of The Alpha 6 Beta 1 Integrin, Leslie M. Shaw, Jeanne M. Messier, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

Macrophages require activation with either PMA (Mercurio, A. M., and L. M. Shaw. 1988. J. Cell Biol. 107:1873-1880) or interferon-gamma (Shaw, L. M., and A. M. Mercurio. 1989. J. Exp. Med. 169:303-308) to adhere to a laminin substratum. In the present study, we identified an integrin laminin receptor on macrophages and characterized cellular changes that occur in response to PMA activation that facilitate laminin adhesion. A monoclonal antibody (GoH3) that recognizes the integrin alpha 6 subunit (Sonnenberg, A., H. Janssen, F. Hogervorst, J. Calafat, and J. Hilgers. 1987. J. Biol. Chem. 262:10376-10383) specifically inhibited adhesion to laminin-coated surfaces. This antibody …


P53 Inhibits Alpha 6 Beta 4 Integrin Survival Signaling By Promoting The Caspase 3-Dependent Cleavage Of Akt/Pkb, Robin E. Bachelder, Mark J. Ribick, Alessandra Marchetti, Rita Falcioni, Silvia Soddu, Kathryn R. Davis, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

P53 Inhibits Alpha 6 Beta 4 Integrin Survival Signaling By Promoting The Caspase 3-Dependent Cleavage Of Akt/Pkb, Robin E. Bachelder, Mark J. Ribick, Alessandra Marchetti, Rita Falcioni, Silvia Soddu, Kathryn R. Davis, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

Although the interaction of matrix proteins with integrins is known to initiate signaling pathways that are essential for cell survival, a role for tumor suppressors in the regulation of these pathways has not been established. We demonstrate here that p53 can inhibit the survival function of integrins by inducing the caspase-dependent cleavage and inactivation of the serine/threonine kinase AKT/PKB. Specifically, we show that the alpha6beta4 integrin promotes the survival of p53-deficient carcinoma cells by activating AKT/PKB. In contrast, this integrin does not activate AKT/PKB in carcinoma cells that express wild-type p53 and it actually stimulates their apoptosis, in agreement with …


The Integrin Alpha 6 Beta 4 Is A Laminin Receptor, Edward C. Lee, Margaret M. Lotz, Glenn D. Steele Jr., Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

The Integrin Alpha 6 Beta 4 Is A Laminin Receptor, Edward C. Lee, Margaret M. Lotz, Glenn D. Steele Jr., Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

In this study, the putative laminin receptor function of the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin was assessed. For this purpose, we used a human cell line, referred to as clone A, that was derived from a highly invasive, colon adenocarcinoma. This cell line, which expresses the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin, adheres to the E8 and not to the P1 fragment of laminin. The adhesion of clone A cells to laminin is extremely rapid with half-maximal adhesion observed at 5 min after plating. Adhesion to laminin is blocked by GoH3, and alpha 6 specific antibody (60% inhibition), as well as …


Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Is An Endogenous Inhibitor Of Snail Transcription: Implications For The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Robin E. Bachelder, Sang-Oh Yoon, Clara Franci, Antonio Garcia De Herreros, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Is An Endogenous Inhibitor Of Snail Transcription: Implications For The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Robin E. Bachelder, Sang-Oh Yoon, Clara Franci, Antonio Garcia De Herreros, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

We report that the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is necessary for the maintenance of the epithelial architecture. Pharmacological inhibition of its activity or reducing its expression using small interfering RNAs in normal breast and skin epithelial cells results in a reduction of E-cadherin expression and a more mesenchymal morphology, both of which are features associated with an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Importantly, GSK-3 inhibition also stimulates the transcription of Snail, a repressor of E-cadherin and an inducer of the EMT. We identify NFkappaB as a transcription factor inhibited by GSK-3 in epithelial cells that is relevant for Snail expression. …


Release Of Camp Gating By The Alpha6beta4 Integrin Stimulates Lamellae Formation And The Chemotactic Migration Of Invasive Carcinoma Cells, Kathleen L. O'Connor, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Release Of Camp Gating By The Alpha6beta4 Integrin Stimulates Lamellae Formation And The Chemotactic Migration Of Invasive Carcinoma Cells, Kathleen L. O'Connor, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

The alpha6beta4 integrin promotes carcinoma in-vasion by its activation of a phosphoinositide 3-OH (PI3-K) signaling pathway (Shaw, L.M., I. Rabinovitz, H.H.-F. Wang, A. Toker, and A.M. Mercurio. Cell. 91: 949-960). We demonstrate here using MDA-MB-435 breast carcinoma cells that alpha6beta4 stimulates chemotactic migration, a key component of invasion, but that it has no influence on haptotaxis. Stimulation of chemotaxis by alpha6beta4 expression was observed in response to either lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) or fibroblast conditioned medium. Moreover, the LPA-dependent formation of lamellae in these cells is dependent upon alpha6beta4 expression. Both lamellae formation and chemotactic migration are inhibited or "gated" by …


Protein Kinase C-Dependent Mobilization Of The Alpha6beta4 Integrin From Hemidesmosomes And Its Association With Actin-Rich Cell Protrusions Drive The Chemotactic Migration Of Carcinoma Cells, Isaac Rabinovitz, Alex Toker, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Protein Kinase C-Dependent Mobilization Of The Alpha6beta4 Integrin From Hemidesmosomes And Its Association With Actin-Rich Cell Protrusions Drive The Chemotactic Migration Of Carcinoma Cells, Isaac Rabinovitz, Alex Toker, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

We explored the hypothesis that the chemotactic migration of carcinoma cells that assemble hemidesmosomes involves the activation of a signaling pathway that releases the alpha6beta4 integrin from these stable adhesion complexes and promotes its association with F-actin in cell protrusions enabling it to function in migration. Squamous carcinoma-derived A431 cells were used because they express alpha6beta4 and migrate in response to EGF stimulation. Using function-blocking antibodies, we show that the alpha6beta4 integrin participates in EGF-stimulated chemotaxis and is required for lamellae formation on laminin-1. At concentrations of EGF that stimulate A431 chemotaxis ( approximately 1 ng/ml), the alpha6beta4 integrin is …


Mechanistic And Signaling Analysis Of Muc4-Erbb2 Signaling Module: New Insights Into The Mechanism Of Ligand-Independent Erbb2 Activity, Goldi Kozloski Sep 2010

Mechanistic And Signaling Analysis Of Muc4-Erbb2 Signaling Module: New Insights Into The Mechanism Of Ligand-Independent Erbb2 Activity, Goldi Kozloski

Goldi A Kozloski

The membrane mucin Muc4 is aberrantly expressed in numerous epithelial carcinomas and is currently used as a cancer diagnostic and prognostic tool. Muc4 can also potentiate signal transduction by modulating differential ErbB2 phosphorylation in the absence and in the presence of the ErbB3 soluble ligand heregulin (HRG-beta1). These features of Muc4 suggest that Muc4 is not merely a cancer marker, but an oncogenic factor with a unique-binding/activation relationship with the receptor ErbB2. In the present study, we examined the signaling mechanisms that are associated with the Muc4-ErbB2 module by analyzing ErbB2 differential signaling in response to Muc4 expression. Our study …


Endothelial Cell Cortactin Phosphorylation By Src Contributes To Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Transmigration In Vitro, L. Yang, Jennifer R. Kowalski, X. Zhan, S. M. Thomas, F. W. Luscinskas Sep 2010

Endothelial Cell Cortactin Phosphorylation By Src Contributes To Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Transmigration In Vitro, L. Yang, Jennifer R. Kowalski, X. Zhan, S. M. Thomas, F. W. Luscinskas

Jennifer Kowalski

The underlying mechanisms that regulate leukocyte transendothelial migration through the vascular endothelium remain unclear. Cortactin is a substrate of Src tyrosine kinases and a regulator of cytoskeletal dynamics. Previous studies demonstrated a role for Src phosphorylation of cortactin in clustering of E-selectin and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 around adherent leukocytes. In the current study, we used an in vitro flow model to investigate the role of Src-induced cortactin phosphorylation in endothelium during polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) transmigration through human umbilical vein endothelium (HUVEC) monolayers preactivated with tumor necrosis factor-{alpha}. Inhibition of Src in HUVEC using Src kinase inhibitors PP2 and SU6656 …


Cortactin Regulates Cell Migration Via Activation Of N-Wasp, Jennifer Kowalski, C. Egile, S. Gil, S. Snapper, R. Li, S. Thomas Sep 2010

Cortactin Regulates Cell Migration Via Activation Of N-Wasp, Jennifer Kowalski, C. Egile, S. Gil, S. Snapper, R. Li, S. Thomas

Jennifer Kowalski

Cortactin is an actin-associated scaffolding protein that regulates cell migration. Amplification of the human gene, EMS1, has been detected in breast, head and neck tumors, where it correlates with increased invasiveness. Cortactin can regulate actin dynamics directly via its N-terminal half, which can bind and activate the Arp2/3 complex. The C-terminal portion of cortactin, however, is thought to have limited function in its regulation of the actin polymerization machinery. In this report, we identify a role for the cortactin C-terminus in regulating cell migration and, more specifically, actin dynamics. Overexpression of either full-length cortactin or cortactin C-terminus is sufficient to …


Münch, Morphology, Microfluidics – Our Structural Problem With The Phloem [Review Article], Michael Knoblauch, Winfried S. Peters Aug 2010

Münch, Morphology, Microfluidics – Our Structural Problem With The Phloem [Review Article], Michael Knoblauch, Winfried S. Peters

Winfried S. Peters

The sieve tubes of the phloem are enigmatic structures. Their role as channels for the distribution of assimilates was established in the 19th century, but their sensitivity to disturbations has hampered the elucidation of their transport mechanisms and its regulation ever since. Ernst Münch's classical monograph of 1930 is generally regarded as the first coherent theory of phloem transport, but the ‘Münchian’ pressure flow mechanism had been discussed already before the turn of the century. Münch's impact rather rested on his simple physical models of the phloem that visualized pressure flow in an intuitive way, and we argue that the …


Microfluidics-Integrated Time-Lapse Imaging For Analysis Of Cellular Dynamics, Dirk Albrecht, Gregory Underhill, Joshua Resnikoff, Avital Mendelson, Sangeeta Bhatia, Jagesh Shah May 2010

Microfluidics-Integrated Time-Lapse Imaging For Analysis Of Cellular Dynamics, Dirk Albrecht, Gregory Underhill, Joshua Resnikoff, Avital Mendelson, Sangeeta Bhatia, Jagesh Shah

Dirk R. Albrecht

An understanding of the mechanisms regulating cellular responses has recently been augmented by innovations enabling the observation of phenotypes at high spatio-temporal resolution. Technologies such as microfluidics have sought to expand the throughput of these methods, although assimilation with advanced imaging strategies has been limited. Here, we describe the pairing of high resolution time-lapse imaging with microfluidic multiplexing for the analysis of cellular dynamics, utilizing a design selected for facile fabrication and operation, and integration with microscopy instrumentation. This modular, medium-throughput platform enables the long-term imaging of living cells at high numerical aperture (via oil immersion) by using a conserved …


Midterm Outcomes Of Autologous Cultivated Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation With Or Without Penetrating Keratoplasty, Hossein Baharvand Apr 2010

Midterm Outcomes Of Autologous Cultivated Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation With Or Without Penetrating Keratoplasty, Hossein Baharvand

university of science & culture

To report the midterm outcomes of autologous limbal stem cell transplantation cultivated on amniotic membrane (AM) with or without subsequent penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) in patients with total unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). Methods: Eight eyes of 8 consecutive patients with unilateral total LSCD underwent autologous limbal stem cell transplantation cultivated on AM. Four eyes underwent subsequent optical PKP. Main outcome measures were corneal vascularization and transparency. Results: The patients were followed for 34.0 6 13.5 months (6–48 months). Seven cases had a stable corneal epithelium with marked decrease in opacification and vascularization. Progressive sectorial conjunctivalization was evident in all …


Legume Phylogeny And The Evolution Of A Unique Contractile Apparatus That Regulates Phloem Transport, Winfried Peters, Claudia Hanakam, Dietmar Haffer, Aart Van Bel, Michael Knoblauch Mar 2010

Legume Phylogeny And The Evolution Of A Unique Contractile Apparatus That Regulates Phloem Transport, Winfried Peters, Claudia Hanakam, Dietmar Haffer, Aart Van Bel, Michael Knoblauch

Winfried S. Peters

Protein bodies called forisomes undergo Ca2+-dependent deformations to occlude sieve tubes reversibly, providing a unique regulatory mechanism of phloem transport. Because forisomes are known exclusively from the Papilionoideae (Leguminosae), the evolution of forisome function may have played a role in the rapid radiation of this huge taxon. The unexpected discovery of a papilionoid species lacking forisomes led us to evaluate a representative set of species covering 33 of the 36 legume tribes traditionally recognized. We found forisomes in Papilionoideae but not in Caesalpinioideae and Mimosoideae. Forisomes were absent from several species of the papilionoid tribe Galegeae. Forisomes with tail-like protrusions …


Supervillin Slows Cell Spreading By Facilitating Myosin Ii Activation At The Cell Periphery, Norio Takizawa, Reiko Ikebe, Mitsuo Ikebe, Elizabeth J. Luna Jan 2010

Supervillin Slows Cell Spreading By Facilitating Myosin Ii Activation At The Cell Periphery, Norio Takizawa, Reiko Ikebe, Mitsuo Ikebe, Elizabeth J. Luna

Elizabeth J. Luna

During cell migration, myosin II modulates adhesion, cell protrusion and actin organization at the leading edge. We show that an F-actin- and membrane-associated scaffolding protein, called supervillin (SV, p205), binds directly to the subfragment 2 domains of nonmuscle myosin IIA and myosin IIB and to the N-terminus of the long form of myosin light chain kinase (L-MLCK). SV inhibits cell spreading via an MLCK- and myosin II-dependent mechanism. Overexpression of SV reduces the rate of cell spreading, and RNAi-mediated knockdown of endogenous SV increases it. Endogenous and EGFP-tagged SV colocalize with, and enhance the formation of, cortical bundles of F-actin …


Supervillin Reorganizes The Actin Cytoskeleton And Increases Invadopodial Efficiency, Jessica Lynn Crowley, Tara C. Smith, Zhiyou Fang, Norio Takizawa, Elizabeth J. Luna Jan 2010

Supervillin Reorganizes The Actin Cytoskeleton And Increases Invadopodial Efficiency, Jessica Lynn Crowley, Tara C. Smith, Zhiyou Fang, Norio Takizawa, Elizabeth J. Luna

Elizabeth J. Luna

Tumor cells use actin-rich protrusions called invadopodia to degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) and invade tissues; related structures, termed podosomes, are sites of dynamic ECM interaction. We show here that supervillin (SV), a peripheral membrane protein that binds F-actin and myosin II, reorganizes the actin cytoskeleton and potentiates invadopodial function. Overexpressed SV induces redistribution of lamellipodial cortactin and lamellipodin/RAPH1/PREL1 away from the cell periphery to internal sites and concomitantly increases the numbers of F-actin punctae. Most punctae are highly dynamic and colocalize with the podosome/invadopodial proteins, cortactin, Tks5, and cdc42. Cortactin binds SV sequences in vitro and contributes to the formation …