Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) during mitosis in retinal progenitor cells

Most studies of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) activation in retinal tissue were done in the context of neurodegeneration. In this study, we investigated the behavior of JNK during mitosis of progenitor cells in the retina of newborn rats. Retinal explants from newborn rats were kept in vitro for 3 hours and under distinct treatments. Sections of retinal explants or freshly fixed retinal tissue were used to detect JNK phosphorylation by immunohistochemistry, and were examined through both fluorescence and confocal microscopy. Mitotic cells were identified by chromatin morphology, histone-H3 phosphorylation, and location in the retinal tissue. The subcellular localization of proteins was analyzed by double staining with both a DNA marker and an antibody to each protein. Phosphorylation of JNK was also examined by western blot. The results showed that in the retina of newborn rats (P1), JNK is phosphorylated during mitosis of progenitor cells, mainly during the early stages of mitosis. JNK1 and/or JNK2 were preferentially phosphorylated in mitotic cells. Inhibition of JNK induced cell cycle arrest, specifically in mitosis. Treatment with the JNK inhibitor decreased the number of cells in anaphase, but did not alter the number of cells in either prophase/prometaphase or metaphase. Moreover, cells with aberrant chromatin morphology were found after treatment with the JNK inhibitor. The data show, for the first time, that JNK is activated in mitotic progenitor cells of developing retinal tissue, suggesting a new role of JNK in the control of progenitor cell proliferation in the retina.     

Asymmetric production of surface-dividing and non-surface-dividing cortical progenitor cells

Mature neocortical layers all derive from the cortical plate (CP), a transient zone in the dorsal telencephalon into which young neurons are continuously delivered. To understand cytogenetic and histogenetic events that trigger the emergence of the CP, we have used a slice culture technique. Most divisions at the ventricular surface generated paired cycling daughters (P/P divisions) and the majority of the P/P divisions were asymmetric in daughter cell behavior; they frequently sent one daughter cell to a non-surface (NS) position, the subventricular zone (SVZ), within a single cell-cycle length while keeping the other mitotic daughter for division at the surface. The NS-dividing cells were mostly Hu+ and their daughters were also Hu+, suggesting their commitment to the neuronal lineage and supply of early neurons at a position much closer to their destiny than from the ventricular surface. The release of a cycling daughter cell to SVZ was achieved by collapse of the ventricular process of the cell, followed by its NS division. Neurogenin2 (Ngn2) was immunohistochemically detected in a certain cycling population during G1 phase and was further restricted during G2-M phases to the SVZ-directed population. Its retroviral introduction converted surface divisions to NS divisions. The asymmetric P/P division may therefore contribute to efficient neuron/progenitor segregation required for CP initiation through cell cycle-dependent and lineage-restricted expression of Ngn2.     

Asymmetric distribution of mitochondria and of spindle microtubules in opposite directions in differential mitosis of germ line cells in Acricotopus

Additional chromosomes present only in the germ line are a specific feature of the Orthocladiinae, a subfamily of the Chironomidae. During the complex chromosome cycle in the orthocladiid Acricotopus lucidus, about half of the germ-line-limited chromosomes (Ks) are eliminated in the first division of the primary germ cells. Following normal gonial mitoses, the reduction in the number of Ks is compensated for, in the last mitosis prior to meiosis, by a monopolar movement of the unseparated Ks, while the somatic chromosomes (Ss) segregate equally. This differential mitosis produces daughter cells with different chromosome constitutions and diverse developmental fates. A preferential segregation of mitochondria occurs to one pole associated with an asymmetric formation of the mitotic spindle. This has been detected in living gonial cells in both sexes by using MitoTracker probes and fluorochrome-labelled paclitaxel (taxol). In males, the resulting unequal partitioning of mitochondria to the daughter cells is equalised by the transport of mitochondria through a permanent cytoplasmic bridge from the aberrant spermatocyte to the primary spermatocyte. This asymmetry in the distribution and in the segregation of cytoplasmic components in differential gonial mitosis in Acricotopus may be involved in the process of cell-fate determination. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.     

Microtubule rearrangements during mitosis in multinucleate cells

The peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method for the detection of polymerized tubulin has been used to study the microtubule rearrangements during mitosis in PtK1 and HeLa multinucleate cells obtained by polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-mediated fusion. We demonstrate here that the transition of the microtubular cytoskeleton from interphase to mitosis is an inducible event and independent of the factor(s) responsible for chromatin condensation and nuclear envelope breakdown. However, for the induction of the microtubule rearrangements nuclear envelope breakdown is required. At midprophase, cytoskeletal microtubule rearrangements start for multinucleate PtK1 cells, whereas in HeLa cells such changes are delayed, and a more abrupt transition is observed here. After complete nuclear envelope breakdown (prometaphase) mitotic asters and spindles but no cytoplasmic (interphase) microtubuli can be observed in both systems. Metaphase is characterized by an interaction between the different mitotic poles which show the form of bipolar spindles, but individual separated mitotic poles far removed from the chromatin can also be seen.     

Formation sites and distribution of osteoclast progenitor cells during the ontogeny of the mouse

The presence of osteoclast progenitor cells in embryonic, fetal, young growing, and adult murine tissues and organs was investigated in a coculture system with fetal metatarsal bones stripped of periosteum and not yet invaded by osteoclasts. Osteoclasts were found to originate from the early yolk sac and from every tissue tested in the fetus and young mouse. In the adult mouse they were formed only from tissues with a large mononuclear phagocyte population. No osteoclasts could be generated from the young embryo proper, prior to establishment of the vascular connection with the yolk sac. Progenitors of osteoclasts or their stem cells therefore do not develop from undifferentiated mesenchyme outside the yolk sac, but are distributed from the yolk sac to embryonic tissues and hematopoietic organs through the vascular circulation. The embryonic distribution of osteoclast progenitors coincides with the distribution of immature macrophages. Furthermore, they are present before the formation of monocytes in the fetus. The results also indicate that osteoclast precursor cells are not identical with mature, differentiated macrophages, but are cells with little capacity to phagocytose and therefore are, at the most immature progenitors of macrophages or cells of an early diverging lineage. In view of these results the derivation of osteoclasts is discussed.     

Asymmetric distribution of the apical plasma membrane during neurogenic divisions of mammalian neuroepithelial cells

At the onset of neurogenesis in the mammalian central nervous system, neuroepithelial cells switch from symmetric, proliferative to asymmetric, neurogenic divisions. In analogy to the asymmetric division of Drosophila neuroblasts, this switch of mammalian neuroepithelial cells is thought to involve a change in cleavage plane orientation from perpendicular (vertical cleavage) to parallel (horizontal cleavage) relative to the apical surface of the neuroepithelium. Here, we report, using TIS21-GFP knock-in mouse embryos to identify neurogenic neuroepithelial cells, that at the onset as well as advanced stages of neurogenesis the vast majority of neurogenic divisions, like proliferative divisions, show vertical cleavage planes. Remarkably, however, neurogenic divisions of neuroepithelial cells, but not proliferative ones, involve an asymmetric distribution to the daughter cells of the apical plasma membrane, which constitutes only a minute fraction (1-2%) of the entire neuroepithelial cell plasma membrane. Our results support a novel concept for the cell biological basis of asymmetric, neurogenic divisions of neuroepithelial cells in the mammalian central nervous system.     

Chromatid distribution at mitosis in cultured Wallabia bicolor cells

An analysis of labelled centromere regions of chromosomes in metaphase cells of the Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) demonstrates conclusively that chromatids do not co-segregate in sets which contain DNA template strands of identical age. Also, there is no tendency for chromatids of homologous chromosome pairs to distribute non-randomly. The data are consistent with the assumption of random distribution of chromatids at mitosis.     

Stage-specific changes in gene expression in acutely isolated mouse CNS progenitor cells

Neural progenitor cells can be derived from a variety of developmental stages when they are preferentially proliferating, undergoing neurogenesis or undergoing gliogenesis. We used FACS sorting and the LeX surface marker to enrich neural progenitor cells from different embryonic stages and adult and compared their gene expression profiles using Affymetrix Microarrays. Our results show that, while there are common genes expressed in the progenitor cell population from all stages, there are also significant differences in gene expression patterns that correlate with stage-related behaviors. These data indicate that progenitor cells change during development and that adult and embryonic neural progenitor cells are intrinsically different.     

Homeostatic expansion of T cells during immune insufficiency generates autoimmunity

During illness and stress, the immune system can suffer a considerable loss of T cells (lymphopenia). The remaining T cells undergo vigorous compensatory expansion, known as homeostatic proliferation, to reconstitute the immune system. Interestingly, human diseases of autoimmune etiology often present with immune deficiencies such as lymphopenia. In this study, we show that reduced T cell numbers and the resulting exaggerated homeostatic-type proliferation of T cells generate autoimmunity. The cycling T cell population is short lived, and the depleted memory compartment fuels the generation of new effector T cells. A catalyst for these phenomena is the increased responses to the cytokine IL-21, a mediator that regulates T cell turnover. We conclude that poor T cell survival and lymphopenia precipitate autoimmune disease.     

The distribution of sister chromatids at mitosis in Chinese hamster cells

The recent demonstration by Rosenberger and Kessell (1968) that chromatids segregate non-randomly in yeast, has again raised questions about the randomness of chromatid segregation in higher organisms. Autoradiographic studies of synchronized Chinese hamster cells show that at the second anaphase after labeling the chromatids segregate in a completely random manner.Supported by NIH Grant GM No. 15886.     

Caudal dorsal artery generates hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells via the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition in zebrafish

Zebrafish hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells(HSPCs) originate from the hemogenic endothelium of the ventral wall of the dorsal aorta(DA) through the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition(EHT) from approximately 30 to 60 hours post fertilization(hpf). However, whether other artery sites can generate HSPCs de novo remains unclear. In this study, using live imaging and lineage tracing, we found that the caudal dorsal artery(CDA) in the caudal hematopoietic tissue directly gave rise to HSPCs through EHT.This process initiated from approximately 60 hpf and terminated at approximately 156 hpf. Compared with that in the DA, fewer EHT events were observed in the CDA. The EHT events in the DA and CDA were similarly regulated by Runx1 but differentially influenced by blood flow(i.e., the EHT frequency in CDA was affected to a lesser extent when circulation was compromised in the tnnt2a~(-/-)mutant). Therefore,the whole artery, including both DA and CDA, was endowed with the ability to produce HSPCs during a much longer time period. Coincidently, the lineage tracing results indicated that adult hematopoietic cells originated from the embryonic endothelium, and those produced later preferentially colonized the adult thymus. Collectively, our study revealed that the CDA serves as an additional source of hematopoiesis, and it shows similar but not identical properties with the DA.     

Visual activity regulates neural progenitor cells in developing xenopus CNS through musashi1

Regulation of progenitor cell fate determines the numbers of neurons in the developing brain. While proliferation of neural progenitors predominates during early central nervous system (CNS) development, progenitor cell fate shifts toward differentiation as CNS circuits develop, suggesting that signals from developing circuits may regulate proliferation and differentiation. We tested whether activity regulates neurogenesis in?vivo in the developing visual system of Xenopus tadpoles. Both cell proliferation and the number of musashi1-immunoreactive progenitors in the optic tectum decrease as visual system connections become stronger. Visual deprivation for 2?days increased proliferation of musashi1-immunoreactive radial glial progenitors, while visual experience increased neuronal differentiation. Morpholino-mediated knockdown and overexpression of musashi1 indicate that musashi1 is necessary and sufficient for neural progenitor proliferation in the CNS. These data demonstrate a mechanism by which increased brain activity in developing circuits decreases cell proliferation and increases neuronal differentiation through the downregulation of musashi1 in response to circuit activity.     

Surface functions during mitosis in rat basophilic leukemia cells

At the entry into mitosis, cells abruptly lose membrane activities such as phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and capping. The present studies test if mitotic cells also resist functional responses to cell surface ligand-receptor interactions. The IgE receptors of RBL-2H3 rat basophilic leukemia cells were labeled with anti-dinitrophenol IgE (anti-DNP-IgE) and then cross-linked with multivalent ligands (DNP-bovine serum albumin [BSA]; DNP-B-phycoerythrin; DNP-BSA-gold). IgE-receptor cross-linking modulates cell surface organization and function and releases serotonin and other mediators of allergic and asthmatic reactions from interphase cells (Pfeiffer, J. R., JC. Seagrave, B. H. Davis, G. G. Deanin, and J. M. Oliver, 1985, J. Cell Biol., 101:2145-2155). It was found that anti-DNP-IgE-receptor complexes are preserved on the cell surface throughout mitosis; they continue to bind DNP-proteins, and the resulting antigen-IgE-receptor complexes can redistribute to coated pits on the cell surface. Furthermore, there is no loss of [3H]serotonin through mitosis. Nevertheless, antigen-stimulated [3H]-serotonin release is strongly impaired in mitotic-enriched as compared with mixed interphase or G1-enriched cell populations. In addition, antigen binding transforms the surface of interphase cells from a microvillous to a plicated topography and stimulates the uptake of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran by fluid pinocytosis. Mitotic cells maintain a microvillous surface topography after antigen treatment, and fluid pinocytosis virtually ceases from prometaphase to telophase. Phorbol myristate acetate, a tumor promoter that activates protein kinase C, restores surface ruffling activity to mitotic cells. Thus, the mitosis-specific freezing of membrane and secretory responses is most likely due to the failure of transmembrane signaling.     

Detection of the membrane-calcium distribution during mitosis in Haemanthus endosperm with chlorotetracycline

The distribution of membrane-associated calcium has been determined at various stages of mitosis in Haemanthus endosperm cells with the fluorescent chelate probe chlorotetracycline (CTC). CTC fluorescence in Haemanthus has two components: punctate, because of mitochondrial and plastid membrane-Ca++; and diffuse, primarily because of Ca++ associated with endoplasmic reticulum membranes. Punctate fluorescence assumes a polar distribution throughout mitosis. Cones of diffuse fluorescence in the chromosomse-to-pole regions of the metaphase spindle appear to coincide with the kinetochore fibers; during anaphase, the cones of fluorescence coalesce and this region of the spindle exhibits uniform diffuse fluorescence. Perturbation of the cellular Ca++ distribution by treatment with lanthanum, procaine, or EGTA results in a loss of diffuse fluorescence with no accompanying change in the intensity of punctate fluorescence. Detergent extraction of cellular membranes causes a total elimination of CTC fluorescence. CTC fluorescence of freshly teased crayfish claw muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum coincides with the A bands and is reduced by perfusion with lanthanum, procaine, and EGTA in a manner similar to that for diffuse fluorescence in the endosperm cells. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that a membrane system in the chromosome-to-pole region of the mitotic apparatus functions in the localized release of sequestered Ca++, thereby regulating the mechanochemical events of mitosis.     

Cell surface changes during mitosis and cytokinesis of epithelial cells

Summary PtK2 cells were studied with scanning electron microscopy to record changes on the cell surface during mitosis and cytokinesis. During prophase, prometaphase and metaphase, the cells remain very flat with few microvilli on their surfaces. In anaphase cells, there is a marked increase in the number of microvilli, most of which are clumped over the separating chromosomes and polar regions of the mitotic spindle leaving the surface of the interzonal spindle region relatively smooth. Microvilli appear over the interzonal spindle region in telophase and the cells also increase in height. At the beginning of cleavage, the distribution of microvilli is roughly uniform over the surface but it becomes asymmetric at the completion of cleav-age when the daughter cells begin to spread. At this time most microvilli are over the daughter nuclei and the surfaces that border the former cleavage furrow. The regions of the daughter cells distal to the furrow are the first to spread and their surfaces have very few microvilli. When chromosome movement is inhibited by either Nocodazole or Taxol, microvilli formation is inhibited on the arrested cells. Nevertheless cell rounding still takes place in the normal time period. It is concluded from these observations that the signal for the onset of chromosome movement in anaphase is accompanied by a signal for the formation of microvilli. It is suggested that there is also a separate signal for the cell-rounding event in mitosis and that microvilli do not play a role in this contractile process.     

Dynamic distribution of Ser-10 phosphorylated histone H3 in cytoplasm of MCF-7 and CHO cells during mitosis

The dynamic distribution of phosphorylated Histone H3 on Serl 0 (phospho-H3) in cells was investigated to determine its function during mitosis. Human breast adenocarcinoma cells MCF-7, and Chinese hamster cells CHO were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence staining with an antibody against phospho-H3. We found that the phosphorylation begins at early prophase, and spreads throughout the chromosomes at late prophase. At metaphase, most of the phospho-H3 aggregates at the end of the condensed entity of chromosomes at equatorial plate. During anaphase and telophase,the fluorescent signal of phospho-H3 is detached from chromosomes into cytoplasm. At early anaphase, phospho-H3 shows ladder bands between two sets of separated chromosome, and forms “sandwich-like structure” when the chromosomes condensed. With the cleavage progressing, the “ladders” of the histone contract into a bigger bright dot. Then the histone aggregates and some of compacted microtubules in the midbody region are composed into a “bar-like”complex to separate daughter cells. The daughter cells seal their plasma membrane along with the ends of the “bar”,inside which locates microtubules and modified histones, to finish the cytokinesis and keep the “bar complex” out of the cells. The specific distribution and kinetics of phospho-H3 in cytoplasm suggest that the modified histones may take part in the formation of midbody and play a crucial role in cytokinesis.