FGF-4 signaling is involved in mir-206 expression in developing somites of chicken embryos

The microRNAs (miRNAs) are recently discovered short, noncoding RNAs, that regulate gene expression in metazoans. We have cloned short RNAs from chicken embryos and identified five new chicken miRNA genes. Genome analysis identified 17 new chicken miRNA genes based on sequence homology to previously characterized mouse miRNAs. Developmental Northern blots of chick embryos showed increased accumulation of most miRNAs analyzed from 1.5 days to 5 days except, the stem cell-specific mir-302, which was expressed at high levels at early stages and then declined. In situ analysis of mature miRNAs revealed the restricted expression of mir-124 in the central nervous system and of mir-206 in developing somites, in particular the developing myotome. In addition, we investigated how miR-206 expression is controlled during somite development using bead implants. These experiments demonstrate that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) -mediated signaling negatively regulates the initiation of mir-206 gene expression. This may be mediated through the effects of FGF on somite differentiation. These data provide the first demonstration that developmental signaling pathways affect miRNA expression. Thus far, miRNAs have not been studied extensively in chicken embryos, and our results show that this system can complement other model organisms to investigate the regulation of many other miRNAs

Immunolocalization of fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1), its receptor (FGFR-1), and fibroblast-specific protein-1 (FSP-1) in inflammatory renal disease

Immunolocalization of fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1), its receptor (FGFR-1), and fibroblast-specific protein-1 (FSP-1) in inflammatory renal disease.BackgroundThe fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family has functions in development, cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. While FGF-2 induces fibrosis, the role of FGF-1 in inflammation and fibrosis is less defined. We examined the expression of FGF-1 and FGF receptor (FGFR-1) to determine if renal diseases with varying etiologies of inflammation, including lupus nephritis (LN), acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) and acute rejection superimposed on chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN), showed varying patterns of expression. We also examined the expression of fibroblast-specific protein-1 (FSP-1), which has been linked to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibrosis, to determine whether it was linked to potential profibrotic and inflammatory FGF-1 mechanisms.MethodsProliferative LN (PLN) (N = 12), nonproliferative lupus nephritis (NPLN) (N = 5), AIN (N = 6), CAN (N = 4), and normal kidneys (N = 3) were studied. FGF, FGFR-1, and FSP-1 were localized by immunohistochemistry, and intensity scored on a 0 to 3+ scale. Double staining with CD68 and separate immunohistochemical staining for CD4 and CD8 with serial sections analysis were done to identify if T lymphocytes or macrophages showed staining for FGF-1 and FGFR-1 or FSP-1.ResultsIn normal kidneys, FGF-1 was expressed in mesangial cells (0.67 ± 0.58), glomerular endothelial (0.67 ± 0.58), visceral, and parietal epithelial cells (1.67 ± 0.58). FGFR-1 showed a similar pattern of staining but also was expressed in tubular epithelium, and arterial endothelium and smooth muscle. Expression of FGF-1 was increased over normal in glomerular parenchymal cells only in CAN in podocytes (2.30 ± 0.58 vs. 3.00 ± 0.00) (P < 0.05) and parietal epithelial cells (1.67 ± 0.58 vs. 2.25 ± 0.50) (P < 0.05). Infiltrating glomerular and interstitial inflammatory cells in diseased glomeruli also expressed FGF-1 and FGFR-1. Tubular cells expressed slightly increased FGFR-1 in renal diseases vs. normal, whereas tubules remained negative for FGF-1 in diseased kidneys. FSP-1 expression was prominent in the interstitium in all kidneys with interstitial inflammation, and most prominent in CAN. Interstitial FSP-1+ cells were consistent with a myofibroblast-type morphology, and did not stain with CD-68. FSP-1 expression was closely associated with inflammatory cells expressing FGF-1 and FGFR-1. FSP-1 also showed positivity within crescents and occasional podocytes in PLN.ConclusionThe expression of FGF-1 and FGFR-1 in infiltrating lymphocytes and macrophages, and of FGFR-1 in tubules, is supportive, but does not prove causality, of the possibility that FGF-1 might have both autocrine and paracrine functions in renal inflammation. However, the initial stimulus for renal inflammation, whether immune complex, hypersensitivity or rejection, did not alter expression patterns of FGF-1 or its receptor. The colocalization of inflammatory infiltrates with interstitial fibrosis supports the possibility of a contribution of FGF-1 for chemotaxis and associated fibrosis, further supported by interstitial FSP-1 expression closely associated with these inflammatory cells expressing FGF-1 and FGFR-1

In Vitro Analysis of FGF-23 Induced Gene Expression

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) has recently been shown to be involved in phosphate regulation and bone mineralization. This study evaluated the effect of FGF-23 on three human cell lines (Caco-2, HK-2, SaOS-2) representing three different sites of phosphate regulation (small intestine, kidney proximal tubules, and bone, respectively). FGF-23 induced gene expression was studied using Clontech human Atlas glass microarrays containing various assortments of genes and by a custom designed oligo microarray containing specific genes selected for their biological relevance to FGF-23\u27s potential function. FGF-23 induced differential gene expression in all three cell types, suggesting that FGF-23 may be capable of acting on these three primary sites of phosphate regulation. Human small intestine-like endothelial cell line, Caco-2, showed upregulation of several genes including parathyroid hormone receptors 1 and 2. FGF-23 inhibited the expression of water channel transporters aquaporin 5 and 6 in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells while upregulating aquaporin expression in HK-2 cells. Somatostatin receptors 1-4 were identified to be upregulated in the human kidney, HK-2 cell line. Mucin 2, a gene that is linked to abnormal cellular growth, was consistently induced by FGF-23 in all three cell lines. Families of aquaporins, somatostatins, parathyroid hormones, and other identified differentially expressed genes are involved in different signaling pathways that are associated with phosphate and calcium regulation. Selected candidates were analyzed further by real-time RT-PCR. These data support FGF-23 induced regulation of aquaporin 5 mRNA in HK-2 cells and 1-alpha-hydroxylase mRNA in Caco cells. FGF-23 induced changes in mRNA analysis of four additional genes was less than two-fold in triplicate analysis of selected samples. Taken together, these results suggest that each cell type may have responded to FGF-23, but additional validation of the array data set will be required to identify those genes specifically regulated by FGF-23. Further refinement of this data set will undoubtedly uncover additional functions of FGF-23 and may provide valuable insight into designing therapeutic approaches for phosphate specific disorders

Multiple roles for FGF-3 during cranial nerve development in the chicken

FGF-3 has been implicated in the development of the hindbrain and otocyst in vertebrate embryos. Since the chicken embryo offers a favourable system in which to study the development of these structures, we have isolated and characterised cDNAs for chicken Fgf-3 and determined its pattern of expression in chick embryos from stage 3 (primitive streak) to stage 25 (early organogenesis). Within the developing cranial neural tube, Fgf-3 exhibits dynamic spatial and temporal expression. During extension of the head process, RNA is detected in the midline of the developing neural plate. In neurulating embryos, transcripts are observed initially in rhombomeres 4 and 5 of the hindbrain and later, in rhombomere 6. During hindbrain development, expression is lost from these rhombomeres, but becomes restricted to rhombomere boundaries, providing an intracellular marker which distinguishes a population of cells within boundary regions. Fgf-3 expression is elevated in ventral and medial boundary regions and is greatly reduced in dorsal parts. Studies of regenerating rhombomere boundaries show that Fgf-3 expression is induced in reforming boundaries when even-numbered rhombomere tissue is grafted next to odd, but not when like is juxtaposed to like. Fgf-3 disappears from boundary regions just prior to the loss of the morphological boundaries suggesting a boundary-associated function. Other sites of expression have also been identified. At early stages of development Fgf-3 is expressed in the epiblast and mesendoderm of the primitive streak, in mesoderm lateral to the streak and in Hensen's node. In older embryos transcripts are detected in the endoderm of the pharyngeal pouches, the ectoderm of the second and third pharyngeal arches and the stomodeum. Expression was also detected in the segmental plate and in the posterior half of the three most-recently generated somites

Expression of fibroblast growth factor-β and transforming growth factor-β in mauli banana stem (Musa Acuminate) extract gel - treated traumatic ulcer

Purpose: To investigate the effect of mauli banana (Musa acuminate) stem topical gel extract application on the expression of transforming growth factor - β (TGF - β) and fibroblast growth factor-β (FGF-β) during the healing process in traumatic oral ulcers. Methods: The work represented a true experimental study incorporating a post test - only control group design. Four groups of male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegivus) (n = 20) with traumatic oral ulcers were given mauli banana stem extract gel of varying concentrations the negative control group: 0 %; treatment group I: 25 %; treatment group II: 37.5 %; and treatment group III: 50 %. The animals were subsequently sacrificed prior to conducting biopsy on day 5. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in order to analyze the degree of FGF-β and TGF–β expressions. Results: TGF–β was strongly expressed in treatment group II (16.80 ± 1.30). TGF-β expression was significantly different, except between treatment groups II and III (Table 2). FGF-β was strongly expressed in treatment group II (15.60 ± 3.97). There was significant difference in FGF-β expression between all the groups with the exception of treatment groups I and III. Conclusion: Topical application of mauli banana stem extract gel (37.5 % concentration) stimulates FGF-β and TGF-β expression on day 5 of traumatic oral ulcer healing process. Thus, the extract gel has potentials for clinical application for the therapy of traumatic oral ulcer

Gene expression analysis of bovine embryonic disc, trophoblast and parietal hypoblast at the start of gastrulation

In cattle early gastrulation-stage embryos (Stage 5), four tissues can be discerned: (i) the top layer of the embryonic disc consisting of embryonic ectoderm (EmE); (ii) the bottom layer of the disc consisting of mesoderm, endoderm and visceral hypoblast (MEH); (iii) the trophoblast (TB); and (iv) the parietal hypoblast. We performed microsurgery followed by RNA-seq to analyse the transcriptome of these four tissues as well as a developmentally earlier pre-gastrulation embryonic disc. The cattle EmE transcriptome was similar at Stages 4 and 5, characterised by the OCT4/SOX2/NANOG pluripotency network. Expression of genes associated with primordial germ cells suggest their presence in the EmE tissue at these stages. Anterior visceral hypoblast genes were transcribed in the Stage 4 disc, but no longer by Stage 5. The Stage 5 MEH layer was equally similar to mouse embryonic and extraembryonic visceral endoderm. Our data suggest that the first mesoderm to invaginate in cattle embryos is fated to become extraembryonic. TGFβ, FGF, VEGF, PDGFA, IGF2, IHH and WNT signals and receptors were expressed, however the representative members of the FGF families differed from that seen in equivalent tissues of mouse embryos. The TB transcriptome was unique and differed significantly from that of mice. FGF signalling in the TB may be autocrine with both FGFR2 and FGF2 expressed. Our data revealed a range of potential inter-tissue interactions, highlighted significant differences in early development between mice and cattle and yielded insight into the developmental events occurring at the start of gastrulation

Long term expression of bicistronic vector driven by the FGF-1 IRES in mouse muscle

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Electrotransfer of plasmid DNA into skeletal muscle is a promising strategy for the delivery of therapeutic molecules targeting various muscular diseases, cancer and lower-limb ischemia. Internal Ribosome Entry Sites (IRESs) allow co-expression of proteins of interest from a single transcriptional unit. IRESs are RNA elements that have been found in viral RNAs as well as a variety of cellular mRNAs with long 5' untranslated regions. While the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) IRES is often used in expression vectors, we have shown that the FGF-1 IRES is equally active to drive short term transgene expression in mouse muscle. To compare the ability of the FGF-1 IRES to drive long term expression against the EMCV and FGF-2 IRESs, we performed analyses of expression kinetics using bicistronic vectors that express the bioluminescent <it>renilla </it>and firefly luciferase reporter genes. Long term expression of bicistronic vectors was also compared to that of monocistronic vectors. Bioluminescence was quantified <it>ex vivo </it>using a luminometer and <it>in vivo </it>using a CCD camera that monitors luminescence within live animals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our data demonstrate that the efficiency of the FGF-1 IRES is comparable to that of the EMCV IRES for long term expression of bicistronic transgenes in mouse muscle, whereas the FGF-2 IRES has a very poor activity. Interestingly, we show that despite the global decrease of vector expression over time, the ratio of firefly to <it>renilla </it>luciferase remains stable with bicistronic vectors containing the FGF-1 or FGF-2 IRES and is slightly affected with the EMCV IRES, whereas it is clearly unstable for mixed monocistronic vectors. In addition, long term expression more drastically decreases with monocistronic vectors, and is different for single or mixed vector injection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data validate the use of bicistronic vectors rather than mixed monocistronic vectors for long term expression, and support the use of the FGF-1 IRES. The use of a cellular IRES over one of viral origin is of particular interest in the goal of eliminating viral sequences from transgenic vectors. In addition, the FGF-1 IRES, compared to the EMCV IRES, has a more stable activity, is shorter in length and more flexible in terms of downstream cloning of second cistrons. Finally, the FGF-1 IRES is very attractive to develop multicistronic expression cassettes for gene transfer in mouse muscle.</p

Effects of massage on the expression of proangiogenic markers in rat skin

  Introduction. Massage is a physiotherapeutic treatment, commonly used in both therapy and restoration of normal body functions. The aim of this work was to determine the effects of skin massage on stimulating the expression of angiogenesis-initiating factors, i.e. VEGF-A, FGF-2 (bFGF) and CD34 and on skin regeneration processes. Material and methods. The study was conducted on 48 Buffalo strain rats, randomly divided into two groups. In the first group (M, the massaged group), massage was applied five times a week for 7 weeks. In the second study group (C, the control group), the massage was omitted. Massage consisted of spiral movements at the plantar surface of skin for 5 min on each rear extremity. The gene expression of proangiogenic factors, including VEGF-A, FGF-2, CD34 at the mRNA level was determined using real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin sections of rat skin to determine VEGF-A, FGF-2 CD34 and Ki-67expression. Results. An increase in mRNA expression in the skin of the rat’s rear extremity for VEGF-A and FGF-2 in the first week of the experiment was shown in the M group compared with the control rats. The upregulation of CD34 mRNA expression was also observed in the M group. We observed positive correlations between VEGF-A mRNA expression and the expression of mRNA for FGF-2 and CD34, as well as correlation between the expression of mRNA for FGF-2 and CD34. The immunohistochemical expression of VEGF-A, FGF-2 and CD34 was at a much lower level in the skin of control rats relative to the skin of massaged animals. Moreover, significantly higher immunoreactivity was shown for nuclear protein Ki-67 in epidermal cells in the M group compared with the C group. Conclusions. Rat skin massage increased the expression of the main angiogenesis-stimulating factors and the proliferative activity of epidermal cells, which can stimulate skin regeneration and tissue repairing processes

FGF-2 and FGFR-1 immunoexpression in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Orientador: Jacks Jorge JuniorDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de PiracicabaResumo: O fator de crescimento fibroblástico 2 (FGF-2) e o receptor do fator de crescimento fibroblástico 1 (FGFR-1) estão associados à maior capacidade de invasão tumoral, proliferação celular, angiogênese e ao potencial de metástase. Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a expressão de FGF-2 e FGFR-1 na displasia epitelial oral (DEO) e carcinoma espinocelular de língua (CECL). Foram selecionados retrospectivamente cento e sessenta e sete casos, incluindo 85 espécimes cirúrgicos de pacientes com CECL, provenientes do Hospital Onofre Lopes, Natal, Brasil, além de 46 biópsias incisionais de CECL e 36 de DEO provenientes do arquivo do Laboratório de Patologia Oral da Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (UNICAMP). Cortes de tecido parafinado foram submetidas à reação imunoistoquímica para FGF-2 e FGFR-1. As lâminas foram escaneadas e a marcação imunoistoquímica foi quantificada digitalmente pelo software Aperio Positive Pixel Count v9. Cinco áreas iguais foram selecionadas no estroma e no epitélio tumoral. Os resultados foram exportados e o score final de cada lesão foi obtido através da soma da porcentagem de pixels fracos, moderados e fortes, gerando um valor que variou de 100 a 300. Os casos foram divididos como tendo "baixa expressão" ou "alta expressão" das proteínas de acordo com a mediana dos grupos. FGF-2 e FGFR-1 foram mais expressos em DEO de alto grau do que em DEO de baixo grau, tanto no epitélio, como nas células do estroma (p<0.05). A sobrevivência doença específica (SDE) em 5 anos foi de 47,3% dos pacientes com CECL. A alta expressão de FGF-2 nas células inflamatórias e mesenquimatosas do estroma foi associada à invasão vascular e pior prognóstico. Pacientes com alta expressão de FGF-2 no estroma apresentaram taxa de SDE em 5 anos de 36,7%, contra 59,3% dos pacientes com baixa expressão (HR: 2,272; IC95%: 1.213-4.254; p=0,008). A alta expressão de FGFR-1 no estroma foi correlacionada com metástases linfonodais e metástases à distância. Pacientes com alta expressão de FGFR-1 no epitélio apresentaram taxa de SDE em 5 anos de 22,9%, contra 75,6% dos pacientes com baixa expressão (HR: 2,594; IC95%: 1,390-4,841; p=0,003). O mesmo aconteceu com FGFR-1 no estroma, com taxa de SDE em 5 anos de 32,9%, contra 64,0% (HR: 3,378; IC95%: 1,816-6,286; p=0,001). A análise multivariada de Cox confirmou que a expressão de FGF-2 no estroma (HR: 2,197; IC95%: 1,128-4,282; p=0,02), FGFR-1 no epitélio (HR: 3,178; IC95%: 1,505-6,709; p=0,002) e FGFR-1 no estroma (HR: 3,041; IC95%: 1,454-6,356; p=0,003) estão fortemente associadas a um maior risco de morte relacionada ao CECL. Em conjunto, nossos achados demonstram que FGF-2 e FGFR-1 desempenham um papel importante na DEO e no CECL, estando associados à presença de metástase e à sobrevivência dos pacientesAbstract: Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR-1) expression is associated with tumour invasiveness, cell proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis potential. This study aimed to investigate FGF-2 and FGFR-1 expression in oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). One hundred and sixty-seven cases were retrospectively selected, including 85 surgical specimens of patients with TSCC, from Onofre Lopes Hospital, Natal, Brazil, besides 46 TSCC and 36 OED incisional biopsies from the Laboratory of Oral Pathology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Tissue sections were submitted to immunohistochemical reaction for FGF-2 and FGFR-1. Slides were scanned and the immunostaining was digitally quantified by the Aperio Positive Pixel Count v9 software. Five areas were selected from the stroma and the epithelium. Results were exported and the final score of each lesion was obtained by the sum of the percentage of weak, moderate and strong pixels, resulting in a value ranging from 100 to 300. Cases were classified as "weak expression" or "high expression" of the proteins, accordingly to the group median. FGF-2 and FGFR-1 were more expressed in high-grade OED than in low-grade OED, either in the stroma or in the epithelium (p<0.05). The 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rate was 47.3% of the patients with TSCC. FGF-2 high expression in the inflammatory and mesenchymal cells of the stroma was associated with vascular invasion and worse prognosis. Patients with high expression of FGF-2 in the stroma had a 5-year DSS of 36.7%, against 59.3% of patients with low expression (HR: 2.272; CI(95%): 1.213-4.254; p=0.008). FGFR-1 high expression in the stroma was correlated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. Patients with high expression of FGFR-1 in the tumour had a 5-year DSS of 22.9%, against 75.6% of patients with low expression (HR: 2.594; CI(95%): 1.390-4.841; p=0.003). The same was observed with FGFR-1 in the stroma, with a 5-year DSS of 32.9%, against 64.0% (HR: 3.378; CI(95%): 1.816-6.286; p=0.001). The Cox multivariate analysis confirmed that the expression of FGF-2 in the stroma (HR: 2.197; CI(95%): 1.128-4.282; p=0.02), FGFR-1 in the tumour (HR: 3.178; CI(95%): 1.505-6.709; p=0.002) and FGFR-1 in the stroma (HR: 3.041; CI(95%): 1.454-6.356; p=0.003) are strongly associated with a higher risk of death related to TSCC. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that FGF-2 and FGFR-1 play an important role in OED and TSCC, and are associated with the presence of metastasis and patients disease-specific survivalMestradoEstomatopatologiaMestre em Estomatopatologia33003033009P4CAPE