A new transgenic reporter line reveals Wnt-dependent Snai2 re-expression and cranial neural crest differentiation in Xenopus

During vertebrate embryogenesis, the cranial neural crest (CNC) forms at the neural plate border and subsequently migrates and differentiates into many types of cells. The transcription factor Snai2, which is induced by canonical Wnt signaling to be expressed in the early CNC, is pivotal for CNC induction and migration in Xenopus. However, snai2 expression is silenced during CNC migration, and its roles at later developmental stages remain unclear. We generated a transgenic X. tropicalis line that expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) driven by the snai2 promoter/enhancer, and observed eGFP expression not only in the pre-migratory and migrating CNC, but also the differentiating CNC. This transgenic line can be used directly to detect deficiencies in CNC development at various stages, including subtle perturbation of CNC differentiation. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry confirm that Snai2 is re-expressed in the differentiating CNC. Using a separate transgenic Wnt reporter line, we show that canonical Wnt signaling is also active in the differentiating CNC. Blocking Wnt signaling shortly after CNC migration causes reduced snai2 expression and impaired differentiation of CNC-derived head cartilage structures. These results suggest that Wnt signaling is required for snai2 re-expression and CNC differentiation

Porcine-derived collagen peptides promote re-epithelialisation through activation of integrin signalling

\ua9 2024 The Authors. Wound Repair and Regeneration published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wound Healing Society.Chronic non-healing cutaneous wounds represent a major burden to patients and healthcare providers worldwide, emphasising the continued unmet need for credible and efficacious therapeutic approaches for wound healing. We have recently shown the potential for collagen peptides to promote proliferation and migration during cutaneous wound healing. In the present study, we demonstrate that the application of porcine-derived collagen peptides significantly increases keratinocyte and dermal fibroblast expression of integrin α2β1 and activation of an extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK)-focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signalling cascade during wound closure in vitro. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of integrin β1 impaired porcine-derived collagen peptide-induced wound closure and activation of ERK-FAK signalling in keratinocytes but did not impair ERK or FAK signalling in dermal fibroblasts, implying the activation of differing downstream signalling pathways. Studies in ex vivo human 3D skin equivalents subjected to punch biopsy-induced wounding confirmed the ability of porcine-derived collagen peptides to promote wound closure by enhancing re-epithelialisation. Collectively, these data highlight the translational and clinical potential for porcine-derived collagen peptides as a viable therapeutic approach to promote re-epithelialisation of superficial cutaneous wounds

Short-term health effects in the general population following a major train accident with acrylonitrile in Belgium

Background: Following a train derailment, several tons of acrylonitrile (ACN) exploded, inflamed and part of the ACN ended up in the sewage system of the village of Wetteren. More than 2000 residents living in the close vicinity of the accident and along the sewage system were evacuated. A human biomonitoring study of the adduct N-2-cyanoethylvaline (CEV) was carried out days 14-21 after the accident. Objectives: (1) To describe the short-term health effects that were reported by the evacuated residents following the train accident, and (2) to explore the association between the CEV concentrations, extrapolated at the time of the accident, and the self-reported short-term health effects. Methods: Short-term health effects were reported in a questionnaire (n=191). An omnibus test of independence was used to investigate the association between the CEV concentrations and the symptoms. Dose-response relationships were quantified by Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). Results: The most frequently reported symptoms were local symptoms of irritation. In non-smokers, dose-dependency was observed between the CEV levels and the self-reporting of irritation (p=0.007) and nausea (p=0.007). Almost all non-smokers with CEV concentrations above 100 pmol/g globin reported irritation symptoms. Both absence and presence of symptoms was reported by non-smokers with CEV concentrations below the reference value and up to 10 times the reference value. Residents who visited the emergency services reported more symptoms. This trend was seen for the whole range of CEV concentrations, and thus independently of the dose. Discussion and conclusion: The present study is one of the first to relate exposure levels to a chemical released during a chemical incident to short-term (self-reported) health effects. A dose-response relation was observed between the CEV concentrations and the reporting of short-term health effects in the non-smokers. Overall, the value of self-reported symptoms to assess exposure showed to be limited. The results of this study confirm that a critical view should be taken when considering self-reported health complaints and that ideally biomarkers are monitored to allow an objective assessment of exposure

A new Transgenic Reporter Line Reveals Wnt-dependent Snai2 Re-expression and Cranial Neural Crest Differentiation in Xenopus

During vertebrate embryogenesis, the cranial neural crest (CNC) forms at the neural plate border and subsequently migrates and diferentiates into many types of cells. The transcription factor Snai2, which is induced by canonical Wnt signaling to be expressed in the early CNC, is pivotal for CNC induction and migration in Xenopus. However, snai2 expression is silenced during CNC migration, and its roles at later developmental stages remain unclear. We generated a transgenic X. tropicalis line that expresses enhanced green fuorescent protein (eGFP) driven by the snai2 promoter/enhancer, and observed eGFP expression not only in the pre-migratory and migrating CNC, but also the diferentiating CNC. This transgenic line can be used directly to detect defciencies in CNC development at various stages, including subtle perturbation of CNC diferentiation. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry confrm that Snai2 is re-expressed in the diferentiating CNC. Using a separate transgenic Wnt reporter line, we show that canonical Wnt signaling is also active in the diferentiating CNC. Blocking Wnt signaling shortly after CNC migration causes reduced snai2 expression and impaired diferentiation of CNC-derived head cartilage structures. These results suggest that Wnt signaling is required for snai2 reexpression and CNC diferentiation

Insulin-like growth factor I activates the invasion suppressor function of E-cadherin in MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cells in vitro.

The calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin has been shown to counteract invasion of epithelial neoplastic cells. Using three monoclonal antibodies, we have demonstrated the presence of E-cadherin at the surface of human MCF-7/6 mammary carcinoma cells by indirect immunofluorescence coupled to flow cytometry and by immunocytochemistry. Nevertheless, MCF-7/6 cells failed to aggregate in a medium containing 1.25 mM CaCl2, and they were invasive after confrontation with embryonic chick heart fragments in organ culture. Treatment of MCF-7/6 cells with 0.5 microgram ml-1 insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) led to homotypic aggregation within 5 to 10 min and inhibited invasion in vitro during at least 8 days. The effect of IGF-I on cellular aggregation was insensitive to cycloheximide. However, monoclonal antibodies that interfered with the function of either the IGF-I receptor (alpha IR3) or E-cadherin (HECD-1, MB2) blocked the effect of IGF-I on aggregation. The effects of IGF-I on aggregation and on invasion could be mimicked by 1 microgram ml-1 insulin, but not by 0.5 microgram ml-1 IGF-II. The insulin effects were presumably not mediated by the IGF-I receptor, since they could not be blocked by an antibody against this receptor (alpha IR3). Our results indicate that IGF-I activates the invasion suppressor role of E-cadherin in MCF-7/6 cells

E-cadherin and loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 16 in breast carcinogenesis: different genetic pathways in ductal and lobular breast cancer?

Loss of heterozygosity at the long arm of chromosome 16 is one of the most frequent genetic events in breast cancer. In the search for tumour suppressor genes that are the target of loss of heterozygosity at 16q, the E-cadherin gene CDH1 was unveiled by the identification of truncating mutations in the retained copy. However, only lobular tumours showed E-cadherin mutations. Whereas investigations are still devoted to finding the target genes in the more frequent ductal breast cancers, other studies suspect the E-cadherin gene to also be the target in this tumour type. The present article discusses the plausibility of those two lines of thought

TGF-beta 1 induces human alveolar epithelial to mesenchymal cell transition (EMT)

Background: Fibroblastic foci are characteristic features in lung parenchyma of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). They comprise aggregates of mesenchymal cells which underlie sites of unresolved epithelial injury and are associated with progression of fibrosis. However, the cellular origins of these mesenchymal phenotypes remain unclear. We examined whether the potent fibrogenic cytokine TGF-β1 could induce epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the human alveolar epithelial cell line, A549, and investigated the signaling pathway of TGF-β1-mediated EMT. Methods: A549 cells were examined for evidence of EMT after treatment with TGF-β1. EMT was assessed by: morphology under phase-contrast microscopy; Western analysis of cell lysates for expression of mesenchymal phenotypic markers including fibronectin EDA (Fn-EDA), and expression of epithelial phenotypic markers including E-cadherin (E-cad). Markers of fibrogenesis, including collagens and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were also evaluated by measuring mRNA level using RT-PCR, and protein by immunofluorescence or Western blotting. Signaling pathways for EMT were characterized by Western analysis of cell lysates using monoclonal antibodies to detect phosphorylated Erk1/2 and Smad2 after TGF-β1 treatment in the presence or absence of MEK inhibitors. The role of Smad2 in TGF-β1-mediated EMT was investigated using siRNA. Results: The data showed that TGF-β1, but not TNF-α or IL-1β, induced A549 cells with an alveolar epithelial type II cell phenotype to undergo EMT in a time-and concentration-dependent manner. The process of EMT was accompanied by morphological alteration and expression of the fibroblast phenotypic markers Fn-EDA and vimentin, concomitant with a downregulation of the epithelial phenotype marker E-cad. Furthermore, cells that had undergone EMT showed enhanced expression of markers of fibrogenesis including collagens type I and III and CTGF. MMP-2 expression was also evidenced. TGF-β1-induced EMT occurred through phosphorylation of Smad2 and was inhibited by Smad2 gene silencing; MEK inhibitors failed to attenuate either EMT-associated Smad2 phosphorylation or the observed phenotypic changes. Conclusion: Our study shows that TGF-β1 induces A549 alveolar epithelial cells to undergo EMT via Smad2 activation. Our data support the concept of EMT in lung epithelial cells, and suggest the need for further studies to investigate the phenomenon

Deletion upstream of MAB21L2 highlights the importance of evolutionarily conserved non-coding sequences for eye development

Anophthalmia, microphthalmia and coloboma (AMC) comprise a spectrum of developmental eye disorders, accounting for approximately 20% of childhood visual impairment. While non-coding regulatory sequences are increasingly recognised as contributing to disease burden, characterising their impact on gene function and phenotype remains challenging. Furthermore, little is known of the nature and extent of their contribution to AMC phenotypes. We report two families with variants in or near MAB21L2, a gene where genetic variants are known to cause AMC in humans and animal models. The first proband, presenting with microphthalmia and coloboma, has a likely pathogenic missense variant (c.338 G > C; p.[Trp113Ser]), segregating within the family. The second individual, presenting with microphthalmia, carries an ~ 113.5 kb homozygous deletion 19.38 kb upstream of MAB21L2. Modelling of the deletion results in transient small lens and coloboma as well as midbrain anomalies in zebrafish, and microphthalmia and coloboma in Xenopus tropicalis. Using conservation analysis, we identify 15 non-coding conserved elements (CEs) within the deleted region, while ChIP-seq data from mouse embryonic stem cells demonstrates that two of these (CE13 and 14) bind Otx2, a protein with an established role in eye development. Targeted disruption of CE14 in Xenopus tropicalis recapitulates an ocular coloboma phenotype, supporting its role in eye development. Together, our data provides insights into regulatory mechanisms underlying eye development and highlights the importance of non-coding sequences as a source of genetic diagnoses in AMC

Hakai reduces cell-substratum adhesion and increases epithelial cell invasion

[Abstract] Background. The dynamic regulation of cell-cell adhesions is crucial for developmental processes, including tissue formation, differentiation and motility. Adherens junctions are important components of the junctional complex between cells and are necessary for maintaining cell homeostasis and normal tissue architecture. E-cadherin is the prototype and best-characterized protein member of adherens junctions in mammalian epithelial cells. Regarded as a tumour suppressor, E-cadherin loss is associated with poor prognosis in carcinoma. The E3 ubiquitin-ligase Hakai was the first reported posttranslational regulator of the E-cadherin complex. Hakai specifically targetted E-cadherin for internalization and degradation and thereby lowered epithelial cell-cell contact. Hakai was also implicated in controlling proliferation, and promoted cancer-related gene expression by increasing the binding of RNA-binding protein PSF to RNAs encoding oncogenic proteins. We sought to investigate the possible implication of Hakai in cell-substratum adhesions and invasion in epithelial cells. Methods. Parental MDCK cells and MDCK cells stably overexpressing Hakai were used to analyse cell-substratum adhesion and invasion capabilities. Western blot and immunofluoresecence analyses were performed to assess the roles of Paxillin, FAK and Vinculin in cell-substratum adhesion. The role of the proteasome in controlling cell-substratum adhesion was studied using two proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin and MG132. To study the molecular mechanisms controlling Paxillin expression, MDCK cells expressing E-cadherin shRNA in a tetracycline-inducible manner was employed. Results. Here, we present evidence that implicate Hakai in reducing cell-substratum adhesion and increasing epithelial cell invasion, two hallmark features of cancer progression and metastasis. Paxillin, an important protein component of the cell-matrix adhesion, was completely absent from focal adhesions and focal contacts in Hakai-overexpressing MDCK cells. The expression of Paxillin was found to be regulated by a proteasome-independent mechanism, possibly due to the decreased abundance of E-cadherin. Conclusions. Taken together, these results suggest that Hakai may be involved in two hallmark aspects of tumour progression, the lowering cell-substratum adhesion and the enhancement of cell invasion.Xunta de Galicia; PS09/24Xunta de Galicia; 10CSA916023P

A comparative evaluation of various invasion assays testing colon carcinoma cell lines

Various colon carcinoma cell lines were tested in different invasion assays, i.e. invasion into Matrigel, into confluent fibroblast layers and into chicken heart tissue. Furthermore, invasive capacity and metastatic potential were determined in nude mice. The colon carcinoma cells used were the human cell lines Caco-2, SW-480, SW-620 and HT-29, and the murine lines Colon-26 and -38. None of the human colon carcinoma cells migrated through porous membranes coated with Matrigel; of the murine lines, only Colon-26 did. When incubated in a mixture of Matrigel and culture medium non-invading cells formed spheroid cultures, whereas invading cells showed a stellate outgrowth. Only the heterogeneously shaped (epithelioid and stellate) cells of SW-480 and SW-620 and the spindle-shaped cells of Colon-26 invaded clearly confluent skin and colon fibroblasts as well as chicken heart tissue. However, when transplanted into the caecum of nude and syngeneic mice, all the lines tested were invasive with the exception of Caco-2 cells. We conclude that the outcome of in vitro tests measuring the invasive capacity of neoplastic cells is largely dependent on the test system used. Invasive capacity in vitro is strongly correlated with cells having a spindle cell shape, vimentin expression and E-cadherin down regulation. In contrast, HT-29 and Colon-38 cells having an epithelioid phenotype were clearly invasive and metastatic in vivo, but not in vitro. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig