Bioelectrical dynamics are required for normal development of the sea urchin embryo

Bioelectricity refers to differential membrane voltage and cytoplasmic ion concentrations in tissues or cells which persist over long periods of time. Differences in these steady-state ionic conditions are responsible for large-scale axial patterning and morphogenesis in developing embryos. The sea urchin embryo is an excellent model organism for studying embryonic development, yet a comprehensive study of bioelectricity in sea urchin development has not been reported. Differential ion channel activity is a primary means by which bioelectricity is controlled; thus, we hypothesized that disrupting ion channel activity would reveal the requirements for bioelectricity in the sea urchin embryo. We performed a screen of ion channel inhibitors and discovered that their activities are required for many processes in sea urchin development. We chose two interesting phenotypes to investigate further. First, we demonstrate that H+/K+ ATPase (HKA) activity is required for biomineralization of the sea urchin larval skeleton. We determined that embryos raised with HKA inhibitors initially exhibit voltage and pH changes, then revert to normal voltage and pH during biomineralization via compensatory changes in sodium and chloride ions; it is likely that these compensatory changes lead to defects in transport of carbonate ions, that in turn, inhibit biomineralization of the calcium carbonate skeleton. We hypothesize that similar mechanisms are at play in human patients on long-term HKA inhibitors to treat acid reflux, in whom biomineralization is also decreased. Next, we demonstrate that V-type H+ ATPase (VHA) activity is required for specification of the dorsal-ventral (DV) axis, for the normal inactivation of p38 MAPK in the presumptive dorsal region, and for the subsequent asymmetric onset of expression of the TGFβ family member Nodal, that locally specifies the ventral territory. Embryos treated with VHA inhibitors exhibit global p38 MAPK activity and Nodal expression, and are ventralized. We describe previously unknown gradients of voltage and pH across the DV axis, the sharpness of which requires VHA activity. We propose that the voltage and pH gradients encode spatial information which confers asymmetry on p38 MAPK activity. Overall, we demonstrate that bioelectrical changes are essential for development of the sea urchin embryo, specifically via roles in biomineralization and DV axis specification.2019-01-2

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation during platelet storage: Consequences for platelet recovery and hemostatic function in vivo

Platelets undergo several modifications during storage that reduce their posttransfusion survival and functionality. One important feature of these changes, which are known as platelet storage lesion, is the shedding of the surface glycoproteins GPIb-α and GPV. We recently demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM17) mediates mitochondrial injury-induced shedding of adhesion receptors and that TACE activity correlates with reduced posttransfusion survival of these cells. We now confirm that TACE mediates receptor shedding and clearance of platelets stored for 16 hours at 37°C or 22°C. We further demonstrate that both storage and mitochondrial injury lead to the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) in platelets and that TACE-mediated receptor shedding from mouse and human platelets requires p38 MAP kinase signaling. Protein kinase C, extracellular regulated-signal kinase MAPK, and caspases were not involved in TACE activation. Both inhibition of p38 MAPK and inactivation of TACE during platelet storage led to a markedly improved posttransfusion recovery and hemostatic function of platelets in mice. p38 MAPK inhibitors had only minor effects on the aggregation of fresh platelets under static or flow conditions in vitro. In summary, our data suggest that inhibition of p38 MAPK or TACE during storage may significantly improve the quality of stored platelets

H+/K+ ATPase activity is required for biomineralization in sea urchin embryos

AbstractThe bioelectrical signatures associated with regeneration, wound healing, development, and cancer are changes in the polarization state of the cell that persist over long durations, and are mediated by ion channel activity. To identify physiologically relevant bioelectrical changes that occur during normal development of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus, we tested a range of ion channel inhibitors, and thereby identified SCH28080, a chemical inhibitor of the H+/K+ ATPase (HKA), as an inhibitor of skeletogenesis. In sea urchin embryos, the primary mesodermal lineage, the PMCs, produce biomineral in response to signals from the ectoderm. However, in SCH28080-treated embryos, aside from randomization of the left-right axis, the ectoderm is normally specified and differentiated, indicating that the block to skeletogenesis observed in SCH28080-treated embryos is PMC-specific. HKA inhibition did not interfere with PMC specification, and was sufficient to block continuing biomineralization when embryos were treated with SCH28080 after the initiation of skeletogenesis, indicating that HKA activity is continuously required during biomineralization. Ion concentrations and voltage potential were abnormal in the PMCs in SCH28080-treated embryos, suggesting that these bioelectrical abnormalities prevent biomineralization. Our results indicate that this effect is due to the inhibition of amorphous calcium carbonate precipitation within PMC vesicles

The Lack of ADAM17 Activity during Embryonic Development Causes Hemorrhage and Impairs Vessel Formation

Background: ADAM17/TACE activity is important during embryonic development. We wished to investigate possible roles of this metalloprotease, focusing on vascular development. Methodology/Principal Findings: Mice mutant in the enzymatic activity of ADAM17 were examined at various stages of embryonic development for vascular pattern and integrity using markers for vessel wall cells. We observed hemorrhage and edema starting at embryonic day E14.5 and becoming more severe as development proceeded; prior to embryonic day E14.5, embryos appeared normal. Staining for PECAM-1/CD31 revealed abnormalities in the patterns of branching of the embryonic vasculature at E14.5. Conclusions/Significance: These abnormalities preceded association of pericytes or monocyte/macrophage cells with the affected vessels and, therefore, presumably arise from defects in endothelial function consequent upon failure of ADAM17 to cleave one or more substrates involved in vascular development, such as Notch, Delta, VEGFR2 or JAM-A. Our study demonstrates a role for ADAM17 in modulating embryonic vessel development and function

The developmental transcriptome for Lytechinus variegatus exhibits temporally punctuated gene expression changes

Embryonic development is arguably the most complex process an organism undergoes during its lifetime, and understanding this complexity is best approached with a systems-level perspective. The sea urchin has become a highly valuable model organism for understanding developmental specification, morphogenesis, and evolution. As a non-chordate deuterostome, the sea urchin occupies an important evolutionary niche between protostomes and vertebrates. Lytechinus variegatus (Lv) is an Atlantic species that has been well studied, and which has provided important insights into signal transduction, patterning, and morphogenetic changes during embryonic and larval development. The Pacific species, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Sp), is another well-studied sea urchin, particularly for gene regulatory networks (GRNs) and cis-regulatory analyses. A well-annotated genome and transcriptome for Sp are available, but similar resources have not been developed for Lv. Here, we provide an analysis of the Lv transcriptome at 11 timepoints during embryonic and larval development. Temporal analysis suggests that the gene regulatory networks that underlie specification are well-conserved among sea urchin species. We show that the major transitions in variation of embryonic transcription divide the developmental time series into four distinct, temporally sequential phases. Our work shows that sea urchin development occurs via sequential intervals of relatively stable gene expression states that are punctuated by abrupt transitions.National Science FoundationFirst author draf

Circulating DNA and myeloperoxidase indicate disease activity in patients with thrombotic microangiopathies

Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) are a group of life-threatening disorders characterized by thrombocytopenia, fragmentation of erythrocytes, and ischemic organ damage. Genetic disorders, autoimmune disease, and cancer are risk factors for TMAs, but an additional, unknown trigger is needed to bring about acute disease. Recent studies suggest that DNA and histones are released during inflammation or infection and stimulate coagulation, thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, and organ damage in mice. We show that extracellular DNA and histones as well as markers of neutrophils are present in acute TMAs. Analysis of plasma from TMA patients of different clinical categories revealed elevated levels of DNA-histone complexes and myeloperoxidase (MPO) from neutrophil granules as well as S100A8/A9, a heterocomplex abundant in neutrophil cytosol. During therapy of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a subtype of TMAs often associated with severe ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motifs, member 13) deficiency, plasma DNA and MPO were inversely correlated with platelet counts, and their levels indicated amelioration or exacerbation of the disease. ADAMTS13 deficiency together with increased levels of plasma DNA and MPO were characteristic for acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. A minor infection often precedes acute TMA and extracellular DNA and histones released during the inflammatory response could provide the second hit, which precipitates acute TMA in patients with pre-existing risk factors