The Molecular Events Involved in Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Proliferation Induced by the Conditioned Medium from B104 Neuroblastoma Cells

The conditioned medium from B104 neuroblastoma cells (B104CM) induces proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) in vitro. However, the molecular events that occur during B104CM-induced proliferation of OPCs has not been well clarified. In the present study, using OPCs immunopanned from embryonic day 14 Sprague–Dawley rat spinal cords, we explored the activation of several signaling pathways and the expression of several important immediate early genes (IEGs) and cyclins in OPCs in response to B104CM. We found that B104CM can induce OPC proliferation through the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (Erk1/2), but not PI3K or p38 MAPK signaling pathways in vitro. The IEGs involved in B104CM-induced OPC proliferation include c-fos, c-jun and Id2, but not c-myc, fyn, or p21. The cyclins D1, D2 and E are also involved in B104CM-stimulated proliferation of OPCs. The activation of Erk results in subsequent expression of IEGs (such as c-fos, c-jun and Id-2) and cyclins (including cyclin D1, D2 and E), which play key roles in cell cycle initiation and OPC proliferation. Collectively, these results suggest that the phosphorylation of Erk1/2 is an important molecular event during OPC proliferation induced by B104CM.     

Modulation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell secretome by ECM-like hydrogels

It has been demonstrated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSCs) transplantation has beneficial effects on several central nervous system (CNS) debilitating conditions. Growing evidence indicate that trophic factors secreted by these cells are the key mechanism by which they are acting. These cells are frequently used in combination with 3D artificial matrices, for instance hydrogels, in tissue engineering-based approaches. However, so far, no study has been reported on the influence of such matrices, namely the presence or absence of extracellular matrix motifs, on BM-MSCs secretome and its effects in neuronal cell populations. In this sense, we herein studied the impact of a hydrogel, gellan gum, on the behavior and secretome of BM-MSCs, both in its commercial available form (commonly used in tissue engineering) and in a fibronectin peptide-modified form. The results showed that in the presence of a peptide in the gellan gum hydrogel, BM-MSCs presented higher proliferation and metabolic activity than in the regular hydrogel. Moreover, the typical spindle shape morphology of BM-MSCs was only observed in the modified hydrogel. The effects of the secretome of BM-MSCs were also affected by the chemical nature of the extracellular matrix. BM-MSCs cultured in the modified hydrogel were able to secrete factors that induced higher metabolic viabilities and neuronal cell densities, when compared to those of the unmodified hydrogel. Thus adding a peptide sequence to the gellan gum had a significant effect on the morphology, activity, proliferation and secretome of BM-MSCs. These results highlight the importance of mimicking the extracellular matrix when BM-MSCs are cultured in hydrogels for CNS applications.     

Ribosomal protein S7 regulates arsenite-induced GADD45α expression by attenuating MDM2-mediated GADD45α ubiquitination and degradation

The stress-responding protein, GADD45α, plays important roles in cell cycle checkpoint, DNA repair and apoptosis. In our recent study, we demonstrate that GADD45α undergoes a dynamic ubiquitination and degradation in vivo, which process can be blocked by the cytotoxic reagent, arsenite, resulting in GADD45α accumulation to activate JNKs cell death pathway, thereby revealing a novel mechanism for the cellular GADD45α functional regulation. But the factors involved in GADD45α stability modulations are unidentified. Here, we demonstrated that MDM2 was an E3 ubiquitin ligase for GADD45α. One of MDM2-binding partner, ribosomal protein S7, interacted with and stabilized GADD45α through preventing the ubiquitination and degradation of GADD45α mediated by MDM2. This novel function of S7 is unrelated to p53 but seems to depend on S7/MDM2 interaction, for the S7 mutant lacking MDM2-binding ability lost its function to stabilize GADD45α. Further investigations indicated that arsenite treatment enhanced S7–MDM2 interaction, resulting in attenuation of MDM2-dependent GADD45α ubiquitination and degradation, thereby leading to GADD45α-dependent cell death pathway activation. Silencing S7 expression suppressed GADD45α-dependent cytotoxicity induced by arsenite. Our findings thus identify a novel function of S7 in control of GADD45α stabilization under both basal and stress conditions and its significance in mediating arsenite-induced cellular stress.     

Quantitative assessment of the associations between MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and risk of fractures: a meta-analysis

Many studies have investigated the associations between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and risk of fractures, but the impact of MTHFR polymorphisms on fractures risk is unclear owing to the obvious inconsistence among those studies. This study aims to quantify the strength of association between MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and risk of fractures. We searched the PubMed, Embase and Wanfang databases for articles relating the association between MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and risk of fractures in humans. We estimated summary odds ratios (ORs) with their confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the associations. Meta-analyses suggested MTHFR C677T polymorphism was associated with increased risk of any site fractures (for T vs. C, OR = 1.17, 95 % CI 1.03–1.32; for TT vs. CC, OR = 1. 31, 95 % CI 1.11–1.54; for TT vs. CT, OR = 1.22, 95 % CI 1.04–1.43; for TT vs. CT/CC, OR = 1.31, 95 % CI 1.13–1.51). Besides, MTHFR A1298C polymorphism was also associated with increased risk of any site fractures. Subgroup meta-analyses suggested MTHFR C677T polymorphism was associated with increased risk of vertebral fractures under three genetic contrast modes (for TT vs. CC, OR = 1.43, 95 % CI 1.05–1.95; for TT vs. CT, OR = 1.36, 95 % CI 1.01–1.85; for TT vs. CT/CC, OR = 1.50, 95 % CI 1.17–1.91), but there was no association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and risk of hip fractures and non-vertebral fractures (all P values were more than 0.05). Thus, individuals with homozygote genotype TT of MTHFR C677T have obviously increased risk of vertebral fractures compared those with heterozygote genotype CT or homozygote genotype CC. There is no association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and risk of hip fractures and non-vertebral fractures.     

A cell sorting protocol for selecting high-producing sub-populations of Sf9 and High Five™ cells

Insect cell lines such as Sf9 and High Five™ have been widely used to produce recombinant proteins mostly by the lytic baculovirus vector system. We have recently established an expression platform in Sf9 cells using a fluorescence-based recombinase mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) strategy which has similar development timelines but avoids baculovirus infection. To expedite cell engineering efforts, a robust fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) protocol optimized for insect cells was developed here. The standard sorting conditions used for mammalian cells proved to be unsuitable, resulting in post-sorting viabilities below 10% for both cell lines. We found that the extreme sensitivity to the shear stress displayed by Sf9 and High Five™ cells was the limiting factor, and using Pluronic F-68 in the cell suspension could increase post-sorting viabilities in a dose dependent manner. The newly developed protocol was then used to sort stable populations of both cell lines tagged with a DsRed-expressing cassette. Before sorting, the average fluorescence intensity of the Sf9 cell population was 3-fold higher than that of the High Five™ cell population. By enriching with the 10% strongest DsRed-fluorescent cells, the productivity of both cell populations could be successfully improved. The established sorting protocol potentiates the use of RMCE technology for recombinant protein production in insect cells.     

A Model of the Membrane-bound Cytochrome b5-Cytochrome P450 Complex from NMR and Mutagenesis Data

Microsomal cytochrome b₅ (cytb₅) is a membrane-bound protein that modulates the catalytic activity of its redox partner, cytochrome P4502B4 (cytP450). Here, we report the first structure of full-length rabbit ferric microsomal cytb₅ (16 kDa), incorporated in two different membrane mimetics (detergent micelles and lipid bicelles). Differential line broadening of the cytb₅ NMR resonances and site-directed mutagenesis data were used to characterize the cytb₅ interaction epitope recognized by ferric microsomal cytP450 (56 kDa). Subsequently, a data-driven docking algorithm, HADDOCK (high ambiguity driven biomolecular docking), was used to generate the structure of the complex between cytP4502B4 and cytb₅ using experimentally derived restraints from NMR, mutagenesis, and the double mutant cycle data obtained on the full-length proteins. Our docking and experimental results point to the formation of a dynamic electron transfer complex between the acidic convex surface of cytb₅ and the concave basic proximal surface of cytP4502B4. The majority of the binding energy for the complex is provided by interactions between residues on the C-helix and β-bulge of cytP450 and residues at the end of helix α4 of cytb₅. The structure of the complex allows us to propose an interprotein electron transfer pathway involving the highly conserved Arg-125 on cytP450 serving as a salt bridge between the heme propionates of cytP450 and cytb₅. We have also shown that the addition of a substrate to cytP450 likely strengthens the cytb₅-cytP450 interaction. This study paves the way to obtaining valuable structural, functional, and dynamic information on membrane-bound complexes.     

Cell proliferation is promoted by compressive stress during early stage of chondrogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs

The presence of an appropriate number of viable cells is prerequisite for successive differentiation during chondrogenesis. Chondrogenic differentiation has been reported to be influenced by mechanical stimuli. This research aimed to study the effects of cyclic compressive stress on cell viability of rat bone marrow‐derived MSCs (BMSCs) during chondrogenesis as well as its underlying mechanisms. The results showed that dynamic compression increased cell quantity and viability remarkably in the early stage of chondrogenesis, during which the expression of Ihh, Cyclin D1, CDK4, and Col2α1 were enhanced significantly. Possible signal pathways implicated in the process were explored in our study. MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK were not found to function in this process while BMP signaling seemed to play an important role in the mechanotransduction during chondrogenic proliferation. In conclusion, dynamic compressive stress could enhance cell viability during chondrogenesis, which might be achieved by activating BMP signaling. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 1935–1942, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Responses of a top and a meso predator and their prey to moon phases

We compared movement patterns and rhythms of activity of a top predator, the Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus, a mesopredator, the red fox Vulpes vulpes, and their shared principal prey, the rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, in relation to moon phases. Because the three species are mostly nocturnal and crepuscular, we hypothesized that the shared prey would reduce its activity at most risky moon phases (i.e. during the brightest nights), but that fox, an intraguild prey of lynx, would avoid lynx activity peaks at the same time. Rabbits generally moved further from their core areas on darkest nights (i.e. new moon), using direct movements which minimize predation risk. Though rabbits responded to the increased predation risk by reducing their activity during the full moon, this response may require several days, and the moon effect we observed on the rabbits had, therefore, a temporal gap. Lynx activity patterns may be at least partially mirroring rabbit activity: around new moons, when rabbits moved furthest and were more active, lynxes reduced their travelling distances and their movements were concentrated in the core areas of their home ranges, which generally correspond to areas of high density of rabbits. Red foxes were more active during the darkest nights, when both the conditions for rabbit hunting were the best and lynxes moved less. On the one hand, foxes increased their activity when rabbits were further from their core areas and moved with more discrete displacements; on the other hand, fox activity in relation to the moon seemed to reduce dangerous encounters with its intraguild predator.