层粘连蛋白(LN)和纤维连接蛋白(FN)在植入期地鼠子宫内膜中的表达——形态学和免疫组织化学研究

选用未孕及怀孕4－8天地鼠子宫内膜,用组织学、免疫组织化学染色及图像分析法,研究植入前后地鼠子宫内膜中LN、FN分布及含量的变化,探讨其与植入过程的相关关系。结果：在未孕地鼠,LN主要分布于宫内膜各类上皮基膜内,FN存在于基膜及细胞外基质中。孕4－8天,各类上皮基膜中LN、FN表达明显增多,与未孕地鼠相比,差异显（P＜0.01）。随着蜕膜形成,蜕膜（基质）细胞周围LN及FN表达增多。上述结果表明,LN、FN与植入过程及蜕膜功能密切相关。     

双峰驼睾丸和隐睾细胞外基质相关蛋白的组织化学特征及超微结构比较

为探索细胞外基质相关蛋白在隐睾双峰驼的分布情况及其组织化学特征,应用电镜技术和多种组织化学方法比较了隐睾和正常睾丸的超微结构,组织化学特点及层粘连蛋白（LN）、Ⅳ型胶原（Col Ⅳ）和硫酸乙酰肝素糖蛋白（HSPG）的分布特征。结果显示：(1)与正常睾丸间质结构相比,光镜下隐睾生精小管发育不全,间质内胶原纤维稀疏,网状纤维分布明显,间质血管及生精小管固有膜PAS及AB-PAS阳性反应较弱。电镜下,隐睾生精上皮基膜明显增生,外围I型胶原纤维较少,管周肌样细胞不典型;间质毛细血管及Leydig细胞周围纤维细胞多见,而正常睾丸在间质毛细血管及Leydig细胞周围多分布有成纤维细胞。(2) 免疫组织化学染色显示,正常睾丸组织的Col Ⅳ、LN及HSPG在Leydig细胞内均为强阳性表达,Col Ⅳ和LN在毛细血管内皮细胞强阳性表达,后者在Sertoli细胞的表达尤为明显,HSPG在精原细胞无表达;隐睾时Col Ⅳ、LN及HSPG在Leydig细胞内阳性表达均明显减弱,Col Ⅳ、LN在管周肌样细胞及毛细血管内皮细胞阳性表达也减弱明显,HSPG在精原细胞较强阳性表达,且在精子细胞呈强阳性表达。免疫组织化学图像分析结果显示,双峰驼正常睾丸组织中Col Ⅳ和LN的分布显著高于隐睾组织（P<0.05）,HSPG检测结果在正常睾丸与隐睾之间无统计学差异（P>0.01）。该研究表明,双峰驼隐睾生精小管发育异常,间质组织中合成胶原纤维的能力下降,睾丸细胞外基质的重要成分Col Ⅳ,LN与正常组差异显著与生精小管及Leydig细胞异常发育有关,而HSPG在隐睾生精上皮的强阳性表达与精原细胞发育不成熟密切相关。     

层粘连蛋白促进实体型瘤细胞粘着、铺展及~3H-TdR参人

 恶性肿瘤细胞或粘着于基膜以及在一定的基质上增殖对于肿瘤的浸润转移至关重要。层粘连蛋白(1aminin,LN)是基膜所特有的非胶原糖蛋白。我们研究了LN在肿瘤细胞粘着、铺展及增殖中的作用。通过测定粘着细胞所释放的LDH活性定量分析细胞粘着率。LN可显著增加体外培养的小鼠S180-V肉瘤及B16-MBK黑色素瘤细胞在玻璃及Ⅳ型胶原基质上粘着及铺展。纤维粘连蛋白(fibronectin,FN)亦有类似作用。而非糖蛋白(牛血清清蛋白)或其他糖蛋白(鸡卵清清蛋白或免疫球蛋白)均无类似作用。此外,LN或FN抗体可分别抑制细胞粘着于LN或FN。这些结果表明LN或FN促细胞粘着作用是专一性的。扫描电镜观察表明,粘着在LN敷盖的玻璃表面的瘤细胞呈多突扁平形、膜皱襞及微绒毛十分稀少,而粘着在裸露的玻璃表面者为球形,膜皱襞及微绒毛甚多。再者,~3H-TdR向粘着于LN基质上的瘤细胞群的参入量显著高于粘着在裸露玻璃面者。     

纤维粘连蛋白及层粘连蛋白与肿瘤细胞的浸润和转移

纤维粘连蛋白(fibronectin,FN)及层粘连蛋白(laminin,LN)是近年来受到广泛重视的细胞外基质非胶原糖蛋白。FN主要由中胚层来的细胞产生,亦可由上皮细胞及内皮细胞生成;LN则主要由上皮细胞及内皮细胞合成。FN以可溶及不溶两种形式分别存在于各种体液及细胞外基质(包括某些基膜);LN则以不溶的形式     

小鼠Lewis肺癌组织中层粘连蛋白受体的分离及其性质的研究

层粘连蛋白(Laminin,LN)是基膜(basement membrane)中的一种主要大分子糖蛋白。一些研究资料表明肿瘤细胞的浸润转移可能与LN有关。肿瘤细胞与LN的作用可能是通过细胞表面LN受体进行的。本文采用亲和层析法从小鼠Lewis肺癌组织中分离LN受体并对其理化性质进行研究。Lewis肺癌LN受体的表观分子量为70,000,还原后SDS电泳图为一条较宽的条带。氨基酸组成中疏水氨基酸占38％,苏氨酸、絲氨酸、门冬氨酸(包括门冬酰胺)占23.5％,通过硝酸纤维素膜片法用HRP-LN测定受体与LN的结合特性,证明具有配基结合专一性,饱和性及高亲和性(Kd=0.95×10~(-9)mol/L)。     

狼疮性肾炎患者肾组织中胎源性微嵌合体的表达及其临床意义

目的：探讨胎源性微嵌合体（FMc）与狼疮性肾炎（LN）的相关性。方法：收集生育过男胎的24例LN和24例肾小球轻微病变（GML）的女性患者肾活检组织,采用荧光原位杂交技术（FISH）检测细胞中的Y染色体,并收集患者孕育史、临床和实验室资料进行分析。结果：在9例LN和3例GML的肾组织中发现Y染色体阳性嵌合细胞,两组发生率的差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,但在LN组,嵌合细胞的出现与蛋白尿、血清肌酐、抗双链DNA抗体、抗核抗体、补体C3、C4水平及SLEDAI评分等之间均无相关（P>0.05）。结论：FMc在女性LN患者肾组织中的发生频率高于对照组GML患者,但FMc的存在很可能与LN的发病、疾病活动性和进展性无关。     

Polι与移行细胞癌发生关系的实验研究

目的:检测DNA聚合酶■(Pol■)在膀胱肿瘤细胞株及移行细胞癌组织中的表达,探讨Pol■在移行细胞癌组织中表达的意义。方法:培养膀胱肿瘤细胞株BIU87细胞、T24细胞株,利用RT-PCR方法检测Pol■在膀胱肿瘤细胞株中的表达;收集人膀胱粘膜正常组织、临床膀胱肿瘤和肾盂癌的移行细胞癌组织标本,利用RT-PCR方法检测组织标本中Pol■的表达。结果:Pol■在膀胱肿瘤细胞株中丰富表达,显著高于膀胱正常粘膜组织(P<0.01);Pol■在膀胱肿瘤及肾盂癌组织的表达显著高于膀胱正常粘膜组织的表达(P<0.01),且与移行细胞癌的分级相关。结论:Pol■在移行细胞癌组织中的高表达可能与膀胱肿瘤的发生、发展相关,为进一步研究Pol■在膀胱肿瘤中表达的意义打下基础。     

HMGB1在狼疮性肾炎肾小球细胞外基质沉积中的作用及其可能机制

狼疮性肾炎(lupus nephritis,LN)的病理改变多种多样,硬化性肾小球肾炎是多数LN患者的终末阶段,因此,该研究探讨了肾小球硬化的原因及机制。该研究通过免疫组化技术检测发现,与癌旁远端正常组织相比,LN肾组织晚期糖基化终产物受体(receptor for advanced glycation end products,RAGE)与IV型胶原蛋白(collagen IV,Col IV)的表达水平均明显上调且二者呈明显正相关;ELISA技术检测结果发现,甘草酸及Box A均可抑制由狼疮性肾炎患者置换血浆所诱导的人系膜细胞培养上清中FN蛋白表达的上调;Western blot及IP检测显示,高迁移率组蛋白B1(high mobility group box 1,HMGB1)可与HMC表面的RAGE结合并上调其表达水平。综上所述,研究者推测,HMGB1可能先与系膜细胞表面的RAGE结合,继而诱导系膜细胞细胞外基质沉积,从而参与LN肾损伤的发生。     

紧密连接蛋白claudin-4 在肾透明细胞癌中的表达及预后意义

目的:探讨claudin-4在肾透明细胞癌中的表达及与临床病理特征及预后的相关性。方法:应用免疫组织化学技术检测50例肾透明细胞癌组织及10例正常肾组织标本中claudin-4的表达情况,并分析与临床病理参数的相关性;随机选取其中4例肾透明细胞癌患者癌组织及4例正常肾新鲜组织,Western blot检测claudin-4的表达情况,并与免疫组化检测结果进行相关性分析;结合随访结果分析claudin-4的表达水平与患者无疾病生存期的关系。结果:Claudin-4在肾透明细胞癌组织中的表达显著高于肾正常组织(P<0.05),表达水平与肿瘤的直径、TNM分期、临床分期及淋巴结转移相关;Western blot结果也表明claudin-4在肾透明细胞癌组织中的表达显著高于肾正常组织(P<0.01),与免疫组化结果呈显著正相关(r2=0.748,P<0.01);Kaplan-Meier分析显示claudin-4高表达组患者的患者无疾病生存期为20.7个月,显著低于低表达组的30.8个月。COX多因素比例风险模型分析显示,claudin-4的表达不是肾透明细胞癌的独立预后因素(RR值=1.686,95%CI 0.174~16.311,P=0.652)。结论:claudin-4蛋白表达上调可能促进肾透明细胞癌的发生和发展,有可能作为肾透明细胞癌潜在的治疗靶点及影响不良预后的指标。     

Ki67在肿瘤中的表达及其临床指导意义

近年来,研究表明ki67的表达与很多肿瘤疾病的发生发展密切相关,如乳腺癌、卵巢癌、淋巴癌等。临床上,常通过免疫组化的方法检测ki67指数,反映正常和病变组织或细胞的增殖活性,对良、恶性肿瘤进行鉴别诊断,帮助恶性肿瘤的早期诊断、治疗方法选择和疗效的评估。但是,目前在临床和基础研究中,均无法以一个固定的ki67值判定不同肿瘤疾病的恶性程度,也无法以一个精确的ki67临界值判定肿瘤的恶性程度,有时更需要在治疗过程中对病患肿瘤组织的ki67指标进行跟踪检查来指导新的治疗及判断预后。本文主要就目前ki67指数与不同肿瘤的恶性程度、治疗效果及预后判断的关系进行了综述。     

Perlecan up-regulation of FRNK suppresses smooth muscle cell proliferation via inhibition of FAK signaling

We previously reported that fully assembled basement membranes are nonpermissive to smooth muscle cell (SMC) replication and that perlecan (PN), a basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is a dominant effector of this response. We report here that SMC adhesion to basement membranes, and perlecan in particular, up-regulate the expression of focal adhesion kinase-related nonkinase (FRNK), a SMC-specific endogenous inhibitor of FAK, which subsequently suppresses FAK-mediated, ERK1/2-dependent growth signals. Up-regulation of FRNK by perlecan is actively and continuously regulated. Relative to the matrix proteins studied, the effects are unique to perlecan, because plating of SMCs on several other basement membrane proteins is associated with low levels of FRNK and corresponding high levels of FAK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation and SMC growth. Perlecan supports SMC adhesion, although there is reduced cell spreading compared with fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN), or collagen type IV (IV). Despite the reduction in cell spreading, we report that perlecan-induced up-regulation of FRNK is independent of cell shape changes. Growth inhibition by perlecan was rescued by overexpressing a constitutively active FAK construct, but overexpressing kinase-inactivated mutant FAK or FRNK attenuated fibronectin-stimulated growth. These data indicate that perlecan functions as an endogenously produced inhibitor of SMC growth at least in part through the active regulation of FRNK expression. FRNK, in turn, may control SMC growth by downregulating FAK-dependent signaling events.     

Assembly and tissue functions of early embryonic laminins and netrins

Vertebrate laminins and netrins share N-terminal domain structure, but appear to be only distantly related. Both families can be divided into different subfamilies on the basis of structural considerations. Recent observations suggest that specific laminin and netrin members have developmental functions that are highly conserved across species. Vertebrate laminin-1 (alpha1beta1gamma1) and laminin-10 (alpha5beta1gamma1), like the two Caenorhabditis elegans laminins, are embryonically expressed and are essential for basement membrane assembly. Basement membrane assembly is a cooperative process in which laminins polymerize through their LN domains and anchor to the cell surface through their G domains; this leads to cell signaling through integrins and dystroglycan (and possibly other receptors) recruited to the adherent laminin. Netrins may associate with this network through heterotypic LN domain interactions. Vertebrate netrin-1, like invertebrate UNC-6/netrins, is well known as an extracellular guidance cue that directs axon migration towards or away from the ventral midline. It also regulates cell adhesions and migrations, probably as a basement membrane component. Although sharing structural features, these two vertebrate protein families are quite distinct, having both retained members that mediate the ancestral developmental functions.     

The basement membrane protein laminin-5 acts as a soluble cell motility factor

One of the basement membrane (BM) proteins, laminin-5 (LN5), is known to support efficient cell adhesion and migration through interaction with integrins on the basal plasma membrane. Here, we show that a soluble form of LN5 induced migration of human epithelial cells and carcinoma cells by interacting with integrins on the apical cell surface. Although both LN5 and laminin-10/11 (LN10/11) promoted cell migration when coated onto a plastic surface as insoluble substrata, only LN5 stimulated cell migration in its soluble form on other substrata such as fibronectin (FN), vitronectin (VN) and collagen. Soluble LN5 interacted with integrins alpha3beta1 and alpha6beta1 on the apical cell surface and stimulated cell migration, while the cell morphology was largely dependent on the underlying substratum. Thus, integrin signals from the apical surface and the basal surface synergistically regulated cytoskeletal organization and cell motility. Soluble and insoluble LN5 induced cell motility by activating signal pathways via protein kinase C (PKC), phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase (PI3-K) and MAP kinase. The PKC dependency was more prominent for soluble LN5 than insoluble LN5, and was absent in the stimulation by insoluble LN10/11. In vitro scratch assays with keratinocytes, self-produced soluble LN5 bound to the apical cell surface of migrating cells at the scratched edges, suggesting that soluble LN5 may contribute to cell migration in pathological conditions such as wound healing and tumor invasion.     

Determinants of laminin polymerization revealed by the structure of the α5 chain amino-terminal region

The polymerization of laminin into a cell-associated network--a key step in basement membrane assembly--is mediated by the laminin amino-terminal (LN) domains at the tips of the three short arms of the laminin αβγ-heterotrimer. The crystal structure of a laminin α5LN-LE1-2 fragment shows that the LN domain is a β-jelly roll with several elaborate insertions that is attached like a flower head to the stalk-like laminin-type epidermal growth factor-like tandem. A surface loop that is strictly conserved in the LN domains of all α-short arms is required for stable ternary association with the β- and γ-short arms in the laminin network.     

Glucose modulates basement membrane fibroblast growth factor-2 via alterations in endothelial cell permeability

The effects of glucose extremes on vascular physiology and endothelial cell function have been examined across a range of time scales. Not unexpectedly, chronic glucose exposure induces long term tissue effects. Yet short term exposure can also impose lasting consequences. The persistence of vascular pathology after euglycemic restoration further suggests a glucose exposure memory. Slow turnover reservoirs such as basement membrane are candidates for prolongation of acute events. We hypothesized that glucose-induced vascular dysfunction is related to altered vasoactive compound handling within the endothelial cell-basement membrane co-regulatory unit. Endothelial cell basement membrane-associated fibroblast growth factor-2 increased linearly with culture glucose within days of elevated glucose exposure. Surprisingly, basement membrane fibroblast growth factor-2 binding kinetics remained unchanged. The glucose-induced increase in basement membrane fibroblast growth factor-2 was instead related to enhanced endothelial cell fibroblast growth factor-2 release and permeability. Cellular fibroblast growth factor-2 release occurred concomitant with apoptosis but was not blocked by caspase inhibitors. These data suggest that release was associated with sub-lethal early apoptotic cell membrane damage, perhaps related to reactive oxygen species formation. High glucose basement membrane in turn enhanced endothelial cell proliferation in a fibroblast growth factor-2-dependent manner. We now show that glucose-induced alterations in endothelial cell function promote changes in basement membrane composition, and these changes further affect endothelial cell function. These data highlight the interrelationship of cell and basement membrane in pathological conditions such as hyperglycemia. These phenomena may explain long term effects on the endothelium of short term exposure to glucose extremes.     

Role of laminin terminal globular domains in basement membrane assembly

Laminins contribute to basement membrane assembly through interactions of their N- and C-terminal globular domains. To further analyze this process, recombinant laminin-111 heterotrimers with deletions and point mutations were generated by recombinant expression and evaluated for their ability to self-assemble, interact with nidogen-1 and type IV collagen, and form extracellular matrices on cultured Schwann cells by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Wild-type laminin and laminin without LG domains polymerized in contrast to laminins with deleted alpha1-, beta1-, or gamma1-LN domains or with duplicated beta1- or alpha1-LN domains. Laminins with a full complement of LN and LG domains accumulated on cell surfaces substantially above those lacking either LN or LG domains and formed a lamina densa. Accumulation of type IV collagen onto the cell surface was found to require laminin with separate contributions arising from the presence of laminin LN domains, nidogen-1, and the nidogen-binding site in laminin. Collectively, the data support the hypothesis that basement membrane assembly depends on laminin self-assembly through formation of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-LN domain complexes and LG-mediated cell surface anchorage. Furthermore, type IV collagen recruitment into the laminin extracellular matrices appears to be mediated through a nidogen bridge with a lesser contribution arising from a direct interaction with laminin.     

DNA cleavage function of seryl-histidine dipeptide and its application

Summary. Previously published evidences highlighted the effect of transglutaminase (TG, EC 2.3.2.13) activation on the reduction of the in vitro adhesive and invasive behaviour of murine B16-F10 melanoma cells, as well as in vivo. Here, we investigated the influence of spermidine (SPD) incorporation by TG into basement membrane components i.e. laminin (LN) or Matrigel (MG), on the adhesion and invasion of B16-F10 melanoma cells by these TG/SPD-modified substrates. The adhesion assays showed that cell binding to the TG/SPD-modified LN was reduced by 30%, when compared to untreated LN, whereas the reduction obtained using TG/SPD-modified MG was 35%. Similarly, tumor cell invasion by the Boyden chamber system through TG/SPD modified LN or MG was respectively reduced by 45%, and by 69%. Evaluation of matrix metalloproteinase (gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9) activities by gel-zymography showed that MMP-2 activity was unaffected, while MMP-9 activity was reduced by about 32% using TG/SPD-modified substrate. These results strongly suggest that the observed antiinvasive effect of TG activation in the host may be ascribed to the covalent incorporation of polyamines, which led to the post-translational modification of some components of the cell basement membrane. This modification may interfere with the metastatic property of melanoma cells, affecting the proteolytic activity necessary for their migration and invasion activities. Authors’ address: Simone Beninati, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, I-00133 Rome, Italy     

Intracellular accumulation of basement membrane components during morphogenesis of rat submandibular gland

The distribution of two basement membrane (BM) components, laminin (LN) and type IV collagen (COLL IV), during acino-tubular morphogenesis of rat submandibular gland was examined immunohistochemically to determine the role of BM in the development of acino-tubular structures. On day 14 of gestation, LN could be found only in the BM separating an undifferentiated cell cluster of gland epithelium from surrounding mesenchyme. However, during a short period through days 15 to 17, LN was detected not only in the BM but also in intracellular vesicles of the cells of the terminal cluster. Immunoelectron microscopy showed the intracellular immunoreactive sites to be rough endoplasmic reticulum, indicating that active LN synthesis occurs in the cells of the terminal cluster. Intracellular immunostaining of LN disappeared completely on day 19 with the development of simple epithelium from the cell cluster, even though BM remained reactive. COLL IV also was accumulated in the intracellular vesicles of terminal cluster cells on day 16 of gestation but not on day 19. These results indicate that synthesis of certain BM components is transiently stimulated in gland epithelium before the formation of simple epithelial structure, and that these components are significantly involved in morphogenesis of the submandibular gland.     

Alterations in lung basement membrane during fetal growth and type 2 cell development

We studied basement membrane development in the late fetal and in the neonatal rat lung, from the 18th day of gestation (term = 22 days) through the 8th postnatal day, with particular emphasis on the gas-exchange region of the lung. In the periphery of the lung, as type 2 cells differentiate, the continuous basement membrane develops openings beneath these cells. Basal cytoplasmic foot processes extend through these discontinuities into the underlying interstitium, often approaching interstitial cells closely. These discontinuities and extensive foot processes are associated only with type 2 epithelial cells and not with either differentiated airway cells or with the type 1 alveolar lining cells derived from type 2 cells. The type 2 cell basement membrane discontinuities and penetrating foot processes are maximal in the perinatal period and decrease in the week after birth. The appearance of openings in type 2 cell basement membrane and changes in distribution, linear density, and ruthenium red staining of anionic sites suggest that the epithelial basement membrane undergoes continuous remodeling throughout development, particularly in association with type 2 cell differentiation and growth of lung surface area. Epithelial cell foot processes may interact with underlying interstitial cells and affect the coordination of lung surface growth with the development of its connective tissue framework.     

Basement membrane collagen requirements for attachment and growth of mammary epithelium.

In vivo mammary epithelial cells rest upon a basement membrane composed in part of type IV collagen which is synthesized by these cells. In this study, basement membrane collagen is shown to be selectively recognized by normal mammary ducts and alveoli for attachment and growth when compared to the types of collagen derived from stroma (types I or III) or cartilage (type II). Cell attachment and growth on type I collagen is inhibited by the proline analogue, cis-hydroxyproline, which blocks normal collagen production. These effects of cis-hydroxyproline are not apparent when a basement membrane collagen substratum is provided. Unlike normal mammary epithelium, mammary fibroblasts show little preference for the collagen to which they will attach. A requirement of type IV collagen synthesis for normal mammary epithelial cell attachment and growth on stromal collagen in vitro may have significance in vivo where a basement membrane scaffold may be necessary for normal mammary morphogenesis and growth.