Cell electrophoresis — a method for cell separation and research into cell surface properties

In this paper, we discuss the application of various methods of cell electrophoresis in research into cell surface properties (analytical methods), and the separation of uniform cell subpopulations from cell mixtures (preparative methods). The emphasis is on the prospects of the development of simplified and versatile methodologies, i.e. microcapillary cell electrophoresis and horizontal cell electrophoresis under near-isopycnic conditions. New perspectives are considered on the use of analytical and preparative cell electrophoresis in research on cell differentiation, neoplastic transformation, cell-cell interactions and the biology of stem cells. Paper authored by participants of the international conference: XXXIV Winter School of the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology of Jagiellonian University, Zakopane, March 7–11, 2007, “The Cell and Its Environment”. Publication cost was covered by the organisers of this meeting.     

Polarization and Migration of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells Rely on the RhoA/ROCK I Pathway and an Active Reorganization of the Microtubule Network

Understanding the physiological migration of hematopoietic progenitors is important, not only for basic stem cell research, but also in view of their therapeutic relevance. Here, we investigated the role of the Rho kinase pathway in the morphology and migration of hematopoietic progenitors using an ex vivo co-culture consisting of human primary CD34⁺ progenitors and mesenchymal stromal cells. The addition of the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 led to the abolishment of the uropod and microvillar-like structures of hematopoietic progenitors, concomitant with a redistribution of proteins found therein (prominin-1 and ezrin). Y-27632-treated cells displayed a deficiency in migration. Time-lapse video microscopy revealed impairment of the rear pole retraction. Interestingly, the knockdown of ROCK I, but not ROCK II, using RNA interference (RNAi) was sufficient to cause the referred morphological and migrational changes. Unexpectedly, the addition of nocodazole to either Y-27632- or ROCK I RNAi-treated cells could restore their polarized morphology and migration suggesting an active role for the microtubule network in tail retraction. Finally, we could demonstrate using RNAi that RhoA, the upstream regulator of ROCK, is involved in these processes. Collectively, our data provide new insights regarding the role of RhoA/ROCK I and the microtubules in the migration of stem cells.     

Cell separation with horizontal cell electrophoresis under near-isopycnic conditions on a “density cushion”

This report describes an improvement made to the horizontal cell electrophoresis methodology. It involves using two liquid layers differing in density to produce an interface described as a "density cushion". The electrophoretic system that employed an anti-convective porous matrix to separate red blood cells (RBC) and charged dyes effectively was found to be unsuitable for some other mammalian cells. The "density cushion" method was found to be more versatile and applicable to studies on the separation of a variety of cell types. The experiments described show the differences between the electrophoretic mobilities of a human eosinophilic leukaemia cell line (Eol-1) and RBC, both with and without the modification of the cell surface properties.     

酸性磷酸酶法检测体外培养细胞数

利用小鼠成纤维细胞系(NIH3T3)、小鼠骨髓瘤细胞系(SP2/0)、人大肠癌细胞系(LO-VO)和人白血病细胞系(K562),评价酸性磷酸酶(APA)法用于检测体外各类型细胞的增殖和杀伤作用。用直线回归分析光吸收度与每孔活细胞数的关系。结果表明,APA法能准确地反映检测的活细胞数(相关系数均>0.99)。本方法不仅能很好地检测表皮生长因子对细胞的增殖作用,也能够检测顺铂对体外细胞的杀伤作用。结果表明APA法简单、灵敏,可以用于上皮和间质等贴壁和悬浮生长的细胞计数。     

Expanisns

Biochemical dissection of the “acid-growth” process of plant cell walls led to the isolation of a new class of wall loosening proteins, called expansins. These proteins affect the rheology of growing walls by permitting the microfibril-matrix network to slide, thereby enabling the wall to expand. Molecular sequence analysis suggests that expansins might have a cryptic glycosyl transferase activity, but biochemical results suggest that expansins disrupt noncovalent bonding between microfibrils and the matrix. Recent discoveries of a new expansin family and gene expression in fruit, meristerms and cotton fibers have enlarged our view of the developmental functions of this group of wall loosening proteins.     

An overview of the KIN1/PAR-1/MARK kinase family

Members of the KIN1/PAR-1/MARK kinase family are conserved from yeast to humans and share a similar primary structural organization. Several kinases of this family appear to be at the crossroads of various biological functions including cell polarity, cell cycle control, intracellular signalisation, microtubules stability and protein stability. Here we present an overview of known roles of KIN1/PAR-1/MARK kinases including pEg3 a newly identified member which is regulated during the cell cycle and is a potential regulator of the cell cycle progression. Some common modes of action can be deciphered for this protein kinase family.     

犬皮肤成纤维细胞的分离、培养及鉴定

目的探索和建立适用于犬皮肤成纤维细胞的体外分离、培养及鉴定的技术方法。方法采用组织贴块培养法和胰蛋白酶、胶原酶Ⅰ联合消化法对犬皮肤成纤维细胞进行体外培养、传代。并对所培养的细胞进行倒置显微镜观察和苏木素-伊红染色,观察成纤维细胞形态,并对培养细胞行波形蛋白免疫荧光染色。结果倒置相差显微镜下可见长梭形细胞生长,苏木素-伊红染色可见细胞呈漩涡状、平行排列,第5代细胞免疫荧光检测波形蛋白(vimentin)表达阳性。结论建立了高效快速分离和稳定培养成纤维细胞的方法,为诱导犬心房纤维化提供了充足的种子细胞。     

The plant cell body: a cytoskeletal tool for cellular development and morphogenesis

Summary Certain aspects of cellular behaviour in relation to growth and development of plants can be understood in terms of the cell body concept proposed by Daniel Mazia in 1993. During the interphase of the mitotic cell cycle, the plant cell body is held to consist of a nucleus and a perinuclear microtubule-organizing centre from which microtubules radiate into the cytoplasm. During mitosis and cytokinesis in meristematic cells, and also during the period of growth in post-mitotic cells immediately beyond the meristem, the plant cell body undergoes various characteristic morphological transformations, many of which are proposed as being related to changing structural connections with the actin-based component of the cytoskeleton and with specialized, plasma-membrane-associated sites at the cell periphery. In post-mitotic cells, these transformations of the plant cell body coincide with, and probably provide conditions for, the various pathways of development which such cells follow. They are also responsible, for the acquisition of new cellular polarities. Events in which the plant cell body participates include the formation of a mitotic spindle, phragmoplast, and new cell division wall, the rearrangement of a diffuse type of cell wall growth into tip growth (as occurs, e.g., during the initiation and subsequent development of root hairs), and the growth and division that occurs in reactivated vacuolate cells. If more evidence can be marshalled in support of the existence and properties of the plant cell body, then this concept could prove useful in interpreting the cytological bases of a range of developmental events in plants.Abbreviations CMT cortical microtubule - EMT endoplasmic microtubule - ER endoplasmic reticulum - MF microfilament - MT microtubule - MTOC microtubule-organizing centre - PPB preprophase band (of microtubules) - QC quiescent centre - VSC vesicle supply centre     

A Scalable Approach to Prevent Teratoma Formation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

As the renewable source of all cell types in the body, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great promise for human cell therapy. However, one major bottleneck that hinders the clinic application of hESCs is that hESCs remaining with their differentiated derivatives pose cancer risk by forming teratomas after transplantation. NANOG is a critical pluripotency factor specifically expressed in hESCs but rarely in their differentiated derivatives. By introducing a hyperactive variant of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene into the 3′-untranslated region of the endogenous NANOG gene of hESCs through homologous recombination, we developed a safe and highly scalable approach to efficiently eliminate the teratoma risk associated with hESCs without apparent negative impact on their differentiated cell types. As thymidine kinase is widely used in human gene therapy trials and is the therapeutic target of U. S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, our strategy could be effectively applied to the clinic development of hESC-based human cell therapy.     

Molecular basis for T cell response induced by altered peptide ligand of type II collagen

Mounting evidence from animal models has demonstrated that alterations in peptide-MHC interactions with the T cell receptor (TCR) can lead to dramatically different T cell outcomes. We have developed an altered peptide ligand of type II collagen, referred to as A9, which differentially regulates TCR signaling in murine T cells leading to suppression of arthritis in the experimental model of collagen-induced arthritis. This study delineates the T cell signaling pathway used by T cells stimulated by the A9·I-A(q) complex. We have found that T cells activated by A9 bypass the requirement for Zap-70 and CD3-ζ and signal via FcRγ and Syk. Using collagen-specific T cell hybridomas engineered to overexpress either Syk, Zap-70, TCR-FcRγ, or CD3-ζ, we demonstrate that A9·I-A(q) preferentially activates FcRγ/Syk but not CD3-ζ/Zap-70. Moreover, a genetic absence of Syk or FcRγ significantly reduces the altered peptide ligand induction of the nuclear factor GATA3. By dissecting the molecular mechanism of A9-induced T cell signaling we have defined a new alternate pathway that is dependent upon FcRγ and Syk to secrete immunoregulatory cytokines. Given the interest in using Syk inhibitors to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis, understanding this pathway may be critical for the proper application of this therapy.     

The influence of cell volume changes on tumour cell proliferation

Ion channels and cell volume control participate in a wide variety of cellular functions, including cell proliferation. According to the pump-leak model or the double Donnan system, the cell volume is constant in physiological medium so long as the cell metabolism and the Na-K pump are not inhibited and the passive Na⁺ permeability is not dramatically increased. At short term, this model has been supported by a large number of experiments made on different cell types. However, at long term, it may be insufficient to describe the volume control because it does not take into account the fact that cells possess a large number of membrane transporters and interconnected volume regulatory mechanisms. In this review, we present recent results indicating that, in physiological conditions, ion channels may have important roles in cell volume control. Furthermore, we emphasize that cell proliferation and volume are phenomenologically correlated. On the basis of the macromolecular crowding theory, the possibility that the cell osmolyte and water content mediates this correlation is discussed.Abbreviations 4-AP 4-aminopyridine - NPPB 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid - TEA tetraethylammonium - TOR target of rapamycin Presented at the Biophysical Society Meeting on Ion channels—from structure to desease held in May 2003, Rennes, France     

Critical role of lipid membranes in polarization and migration of cells: a biophysical view

Cell migration plays vital roles in many biologically relevant processes such as tissue morphogenesis and cancer metastasis, and it has fascinated biophysicists over the past several decades. However, despite an increasing number of studies highlighting the orchestration of proteins involved in different signaling pathways, the functional roles of lipid membranes have been essentially overlooked. Lipid membranes are generally considered to be a functionless two-dimensional matrix of proteins, although many proteins regulating cell migration gain functions only after they are recruited to the membrane surface and self-organize their functional domains. In this review, we summarize how the logistical recruitment and release of proteins to and from lipid membranes coordinates complex spatiotemporal molecular processes. As predicted from the classical framework of the Smoluchowski equation of diffusion, lipid/protein membranes serve as a 2D reaction hub that contributes to the effective and robust regulation of polarization and migration of cells involving several competing pathways.     

Antizyme1基因转染对K562细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

研究鸟氨酸脱羧酶抗酶蛋白对人红白血病K562细胞增殖、三氧化二砷（ As2O3）诱导凋亡时的影响。方法: 定点突变技术构建缺失frameshift位点的pEGFP-N1-AZ1-mutation重组表达载体。脂质体法转染K562细胞,通过G418筛选获得稳定表达antizyme1的K562pAZ1m细胞系。采用不同浓度的As2O3处理细胞,通过MTT法检测细胞增殖,流式细胞术分析细胞周期及凋亡变化。并通过RT-PCR方法检测antiyme1转染对cyclin D1和survivin基因表达的影响。结果：获得稳定表达antizyme1的K562-AZ1m细胞株后,其增殖能力明显减慢。CyclinD1基因表达降低,细胞主要停滞于G0/G1期。在 As2O3的诱导作用下,细胞凋亡增多,survivin基因表达降低。结论：AZ1基因能够抑制K562细胞增殖,通过对cyclinD1的负调控使细胞周期停滞于G0/G1期。并可能通过下调survivin表达来加强 As2O3对其的诱导凋亡作用     

基于微系统技术的细胞微操控、细胞图形化方法及应用

微系统技术给细胞研究提供了一个全新的平台。细胞图形化（Cell Patterning）技术作为全新的细胞培养方式,在细胞研究中发挥重要作用。本文介绍了目前应用于细胞图形化的主要技术,包括光刻（Photolithography）、软光刻（Soft lithography）、模板辅助（Stencil-assisted patterning）等方法,并阐述了利用细胞图形化技术的在基础生物学、组织工程以及基于细胞的生物传感器等方面的主要应用。     

miR-125a-5p转染对肝癌细胞增殖、侵袭、迁移的影响及相关机制研究

摘要 目的：探究miR-125a-5p转染对肝癌细胞增殖、侵袭、迁移的影响及相关机制。方法：将肝癌细胞分为对照组、下调组和上调组,并通过细胞转染建立稳定转染的下调组和上调组。MMT法检测细胞增殖能力,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡能力,Transwell小室实验检测细胞侵袭能力,细胞划痕实验检测细胞迁移能力,Western blot法检测P13K/Akt通路中AKT、Bax、Bcl-2、P13K、P-AKT蛋白表达量。结果：与上调组相比,下调组24、48、72 h细胞增殖率,细胞侵袭、迁移细胞数,AKT、Bcl-2、P13K、P-AKT蛋白表达量显著降低,具有统计学差异（29.67±9.87 vs 17.34±5.71,t=5.192,P＜0.05、34.75±11.56 vs 15.17±5.04,t=7.365,P＜0.05、38.48±12.81 vs 12.51 ±4.13,t=9.153,P＜0.05,72.53±24.17 vs 36.28±12.07,t=6.365,P＜0.05、86.51±28.75 vs 46.28±15.32,t=5.858,P＜0.05,1.26±0.41 vs 0.81±0.26,t=4.397,P＜0.05、1.35±0.44 vs 0.76±0.24,t=5.584,P＜0.05、1.48±0.46 vs 0.79±0.26,t=6.194,P＜0.05、1.22±0.39 vs 0.73±0.24,t=5.584,P＜0.05）;与上调组相比,下调组24、48、72h细胞凋亡率,Bax蛋白表达量显著升高,具有统计学差异（17.62±5.84 vs 29.31±9.75,t=4.879,P＜0.05、14.97±4.65 vs 34.19±11.36,t=7.427,P＜0.05、11.26±3.74 vs 38.62±12.86,t=9.690,P＜0.05,0.75±0.24 vs 1.33±0.43,t=5.587,P＜0.05）。结论：下调miR-125a-5p的表达,可通过作用于P13K/Akt通路,调控AKT、Bax、Bcl-2、P13K、P-AKT蛋白表达量,进而起到抑制肝癌细胞增殖、促进肝癌细胞凋亡以及抑制肝癌细胞的侵袭、迁移能力。     

Natural Pesticide Dihydrorotenone Arrests Human Plasma Cancer Cells at the G0/G1 Phase of the Cell Cycle

Dihydrorotenone (DHR) is a natural pesticide used for farming including organic produces. We recently found that DHR induces human plasma cell apoptosis by provoking endoplasmic reticulum stress. In the present study, we found that DHR arrested human plasma cancer cells at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Mechanistical studies demonstrated that cell cycle arrest was associated with downregulated cell cycle promotors including cyclin D2, cyclin D3, cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDK4, CKD6), and phosphorylated‐Rb. DHR inhibited cyclin D2 transactivation, thus inhibiting its mRNA expression. In addition, DHR upregulated the cell cycle repressors p21 and p53. DHR also increased the phosphorylation level of p53, suggesting the upregulated transactivation function of p53, which was confirmed by the induction of p21, a substrate of activated p53. Moreover, DHR downregulated AKT and ERK phosphorylation, an incentive of cell cycle progression. Therefore, these results collectively demonstrated that DHR disrupts the cell cycle progress, which suggests that DHR is toxic to human plasma cells. Caution is thus suggested when handling with this agent.     

A new method for the preperative and analytical electrophoresis of cells

In this paper, a new method is described for the horizontal electrophoresis of cells on a density cushion under near-isopycnic conditions. When cell sedimentation is minimized, the electrophoresis of red blood cells (RBC) used as model cells within an anti-convective porous matrix (with pores over 300 μm in diameter) was capable of separating a mixture of human and chicken RBC according to their electrophoretic mobilities. Samples taken from the separated RBC bands show over 90% purity for each species. The simultaneous electrophoresis of several RBC samples carried out under identical conditions permitted the use of comparative data based on the electrophoretic mobility of cells which differ in their surface properties. We believe that this relatively simple system, in which cell sedimentation and convection are minimized, has the potential to be modified and adapted for the separation of other cell types/organelles.     

肾小球系膜细胞株的建立及影响其生长的因素

利用肾小球细胞外生长能力的差异,从SD大鼠肾小球中成功分离肾小球系膜细胞(MC)后,探索了培养MC的适宜条件;观察了胰岛素、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)、内皮素(ET-1)和肿瘤坏死因子(TNFα)对MC增殖的影响。结果表明,四种因子均可显著促进MC增殖(P<0.01),其中bFGF作用最强。当胰岛素和bFGF、TNFα或低浓度ET-1(≤10~(-8)mol/L)共同作用于MC时,其促MC增殖显示正协同作用(P<0.01,P<0.05);与高浓度ET-1(≥10~(-7)mol/L)共同作用于MC时,呈负协同作用(P>0.05)。     

Transmembrane and Extracellular Domains of Syndecan-1 Have Distinct Functions in Regulating Lung Epithelial Migration and Adhesion

Syndecan-1 is a cell surface proteoglycan that can organize co-receptors into a multimeric complex to transduce intracellular signals. The syndecan-1 core protein has multiple domains that confer distinct cell- and tissue-specific functions. Indeed, the extracellular, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains have all been found to regulate specific cellular processes. Our previous work demonstrated that syndecan-1 controls lung epithelial migration and adhesion. Here, we identified the necessary domains of the syndecan-1 core protein that modulate its function in lung epithelial repair. We found that the syndecan-1 transmembrane domain has a regulatory function in controlling focal adhesion disassembly, which in turn controls cell migration speed. In contrast, the extracellular domain facilitates cell adhesion through affinity modulation of α₂β₁ integrin. These findings highlight the fact that syndecan-1 is a multidimensional cell surface receptor that has several regulatory domains to control various biological processes. In particular, the lung epithelium requires the syndecan-1 transmembrane domain to govern cell migration and is independent from its ability to control cell adhesion via the extracellular domain.     

一种稳定和高产的肝贮脂细胞分离法

改良国外文献方法,用链霉蛋白酶和胶原酶先后原位灌注大鼠肝脏,以11％Metriza-mide密度梯度分离肝贮脂细胞获得成功。贮脂细胞得率为3—4×10~7个/肝脏,存活率在98％以上,纯度达90—95％,传代培养后纯度在98％以上。