Structural Basis for the Acceleration of Procollagen Processing by Procollagen C-Proteinase Enhancer-1

1. Download high-res image (258KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

Dermal fibroblasts contribute to multiple tissues in the accessory limb model

The accessory limb model has become an alternative model for performing investigations of limb regeneration in an amputated limb. In the accessory limb model, a complete patterned limb can be induced as a result of an interaction between the wound epithelium, a nerve and dermal fibroblasts in the skin. Studies should therefore focus on examining these tissues. To date, however, a study of cellular contributions in the accessory limb model has not been reported. By using green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic axolotl tissues, we can trace cell fate at the tissue level. Therefore, in the present study, we transgrafted GFP skin onto the limb of a non‐GFP host and induced an accessory limb to investigate cellular contributions. Previous studies of cell contribution to amputation‐induced blastemas have demonstrated that dermal cells are the progenitors of many of the early blastema cells, and that these cells contribute to regeneration of the connective tissues, including cartilage. In the present study, we have determined that this same population of progenitor cells responds to signaling from the nerve and wound epithelium in the absence of limb amputation to form an ectopic blastema and regenerate the connective tissues of an ectopic limb. Blastema cells from dermal fibroblasts, however, did not differentiate into either muscle or neural cells, and we conclude that dermal fibroblasts are dedifferentiated along its developmental lineage.     

bFGF Promotes the Migration of Human Dermal Fibroblasts under Diabetic Conditions through Reactive Oxygen Species Production via the PI3K/Akt-Rac1- JNK Pathways

Fibroblasts play a pivotal role in the process of cutaneous wound repair, whereas their migratory ability under diabetic conditions is markedly reduced. In this study, we investigated the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on human dermal fibroblast migration in a high-glucose environment. bFGF significantly increased dermal fibroblast migration by increasing the percentage of fibroblasts with a high polarity index and reorganizing F-actin. A significant increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in dermal fibroblasts under diabetic conditions following bFGF treatment. The blockage of bFGF-induced ROS production by either the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) or the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium chloride (DPI) almost completely neutralized the increased migration rate of dermal fibroblasts promoted by bFGF. Akt, Rac1 and JNK were rapidly activated by bFGF in dermal fibroblasts, and bFGF-induced ROS production and promoted dermal fibroblast migration were significantly attenuated when suppressed respectively. In addition, bFGF-induced increase in ROS production was indispensable for the activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin. Therefore, our data suggested that bFGF promotes the migration of human dermal fibroblasts under diabetic conditions through increased ROS production via the PI3K/Akt-Rac1-JNK pathways.     

Influence of TGFBR2, TGFB3, DNMT1, and DNMT3A Knockdowns on CTGF,TGFBR2, and DNMT3A in Neonatal and Adult Human Dermal Fibroblasts Cell Lines

Dermal fibroblasts are responsible for the production of the extracellular matrix that undergoes significant changes during the skin aging process. These changes are partially controlled by the TGF-β signaling, which regulates tissue homeostasis dependently on several genes, including CTGF and DNA methyltransferases. To investigate the potential differences in the regulation of the TGF-β signaling and related molecular pathways at distinct developmental stages, we silenced the expression of TGFB1, TGFB3, TGFBR2, CTGF, DNMT1, and DNMT3A in the neonatal (HDF-N) and adult (HDF-A) human dermal fibroblasts using the RNAi method. Through Western blot, we analyzed the effects of the knockdowns of these genes on the level of the CTGF, TGFBR2, and DNMT3A proteins in both cell lines. In the in vitro assays, we observed that CTGF level was decreased after knockdown of DNMT1 in HDF-N but not in HDF-A. Similarly, the level of DNMT3A was decreased only in HDF-N after silencing of TGFBR2, TGFB3, or DNMT1. TGFBR2 level was lower in HDF-N after knockdown of TGFB3, DNMT1, or DNMT3A, but it was higher in HDF-A after TGFB1 silencing. The reduction of TGFBR2 after silencing of DNMT3A and vice versa in neonatal cells only suggests the developmental stage-specific interactions between these two genes. However, additional studies are needed to explain the dependencies between analyzed proteins.     

Growth Stimulation of Human Skin Fibroblasts by Elastin-Derived Peptides

Elastin-derived peptides (kappa-elastin: KE, mean molecular mass: 75 kDa), either coated onto plastic dishes or added to culture media (0.26 to 1.33 nM) stimulated the growth of human skin fibroblasts (HSF) strains obtained from different donors and tested at different cell passages (4 to 12). Coated 44.4 μg/cm²insoluble elastin (iE) exhibited the same action; coated iE or KE significantly modifies the HSF morphology: after 5-6 days of culture, HSF are more elongated, and at preconfluence state, formation of HSF clusters surrounding iE were observed. Increased ³H thymidine incorporation and proliferative effect of HSF by KE (1.3 to 2.2 fold as compared to control cells) was observed after a lag phase period which raised with initial HSF density. Optimal proliferative effect was obtained at KE 8.5 10^?10M, a value close to the dissociation constant (k_D= 2.7 10^?10M) of KE to HSF. Valine-glycine-valine-alanine-proline-glycine (VGVAPG), but not valine-glycine-valine (VGV) or Valine-glycine-valine-valine-glycine-alanine (VGWGA) also significantly stimulated, optimally at 7.0 10^?10M, HSF proliferation. It was concluded that the stimulatory influence of elastin derived peptides on HSF proliferation was mediated through a binding to plasmalemmal receptor of HSF.     

Growth Stimulation of Human Skin Fibroblasts by Elastin-Derived Peptides

Elastin-derived peptides (kappa-elastin: KE, mean molecular mass: 75 kDa), either coated onto plastic dishes or added to culture media (0.26 to 1.33 nM) stimulated the growth of human skin fibroblasts (HSF) strains obtained from different donors and tested at different cell passages (4 to 12). Coated 44.4 μg/cm²insoluble elastin (iE) exhibited the same action; coated iE or KE significantly modifies the HSF morphology: after 5-6 days of culture, HSF are more elongated, and at preconfluence state, formation of HSF clusters surrounding iE were observed. Increased ³H thymidine incorporation and proliferative effect of HSF by KE (1.3 to 2.2 fold as compared to control cells) was observed after a lag phase period which raised with initial HSF density. Optimal proliferative effect was obtained at KE 8.5 10^-10M, a value close to the dissociation constant (k_D= 2.7 10^-10M) of KE to HSF. Valine-glycine-valine-alanine-proline-glycine (VGVAPG), but not valine-glycine-valine (VGV) or Valine-glycine-valine-valine-glycine-alanine (VGWGA) also significantly stimulated, optimally at 7.0 10^-10M, HSF proliferation. It was concluded that the stimulatory influence of elastin derived peptides on HSF proliferation was mediated through a binding to plasmalemmal receptor of HSF.     

Immunoenzymatic Detection of Collagen Production by Pulmonary Fibroblasts in Serum-Free Culture

We have developed an improved assay for the production of collagen by fibroblasts. Early passage adult mouse lung fibroblasts, established and maintained in serum-free culture, were employed as the target cells. An enzyme immunoassay was used for detection of type I collagen deposited on the substratum, permitting adaptation of the technique to cultures in 96-well microplates. Approximately two-fold enhancement of collagen deposition was induced by exposure to a concentration of 3 ng/ml of transforming growth factor-β1 or of 100 ng/ml of insulin-like growth factor-1 for 48 hr.     

Investigation of Dermal Contact with Soil in Controlled Trials

A series of laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments have been conducted at the University of Washington to improve the empirical grounding of dermal/soil pathway risk calculations. This article presents results from controlled trials, conducted in a greenhouse, in which volunteers engaged in activities in soil amended with a fluorescent marker. Activities included transplanting of bedding plants and laying of pipe by adults and children's play. Soil contact on hands, forearms, lower legs, and faces was examined using both fluoro-metric and gravimetric measurements. Results provide information on pre- and postactivity loadings, the extent of contact associated with the selected activities, and the effects of clothing, activity duration, and soil moisture. Preactivity loadings were consistent with previously reported observations. Following activity, skin coverage was found to be substantially incomplete except on hands. Local soil loadings may therefore deviate markedly from mean values obtained by washing skin surfaces. A protective effect of clothing was observed but may reflect the relatively short duration of the experiments and the use of freshly laundered clothing. No significant trend in soil loading with exposure duration was found, although some evidence of increasing surface area involvement with time was observed. Finally, wet soil activities produced consistently higher loadings on volunteers' hands than dry soil activities.     

脂质体介导外源基因体外转染牛胎儿成纤维细胞条件的优化

通过脂质体（FuGENE-6）介导,将真核表达载体pEGFP-C1成功导入体外培养的牛胎儿成纤维细胞,探讨影响外源基因转染效率的参数,如DNA和脂质体的用量、转染的细胞数量以及细胞暴露于DNA与脂质体复合物的时间长度。通过实验发现,绿色荧光蛋白（green fluorescent protein,GFP）基因的表达随DNA、脂质体量的增加而增加,延长细胞暴露时间反而使转染效率下降,转染细胞数适当才能得到较高的转化率。 Optimization of Parameters of Exogene Transfection of Bovine Fetal Fibroblasts in vitro Mediated by Liposome LI Yang,WU Kai-feng,GUO Xu-dong,GUO Ji-tong,BOU Shor-gan The Research Center for Laboratory Animal Science of Inner Mongolia University,The Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Mammal Reproduction Biology and Biotechnology,Huhhot 010021,China Abstract:pEGFP-C1 eucaryon expression vector was successfully transfected by liposome into bovine fetal fibroblasts.We investigated the effect of parameter such as the dose of DNA and liposome,number of cell transfected and exposure time of the cell to the DNA-liposome complexes.It was indicated that GFP（green fluorescent protein）expression was enhanced as the dose of DNA and liposome increased and on decline as the exposure time was prolonged.The improvement of transfection efficiency depent on the suitable cell number. Key words：liposome; GFP; bovine fetal fibroblasts; transfection     

永生化转基因成纤维细胞治疗帕金森病

将SV40大T抗原的基因（LTAg）转染大鼠原代成纤维细胞并筛选到永生化成纤维细胞（RFLT）,将此细胞皮下植入裸鼠和大鼠脑内均无致瘤性,植入脑内时LTAg基因即停止表达,3个月后取出细胞培养时LTAg基因又会重新表达,将RFLT细胞分别转入酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）、GTP环水解酶－1（GCH）的基因,筛选出稳定表达姝。混合培养的这两种细胞经HPLC－ECD法测出多巴胺（DA）,将它们移植入帕金森病（PD）大鼠模型可明显改善动物的旋转行为（近4个月）,在脑切片中观察到TH和增强型绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP）基因的表达产物,本细胞株的建立为人类PD的基因治疗提供了一种获得新的适用的效应细胞的方法。     

慢病毒直接诱导形成猪iPS细胞无需限定因子

为了证实慢病毒对细胞具有遗传修饰和重编程作用,在本实验中使用慢病毒感染猪胎儿成纤维细胞.结果显示:慢病毒介导的EGFP在猪胎儿成纤维细胞中稳定和高效表达,使用添加LIF和bFGF的细胞培养液,部分猪的胎儿成纤维细胞逐渐改变原有的纤维状形态,形成圆形的细胞,细胞逐步增殖形成细胞集落,细胞集落边界清晰,在饲养层上细胞集落生长迅速,具有稳定的生长性能和正常核型,细胞碱性磷酸酶染色为阳性,表达干细胞特有的标记Oct4、Nanog和SSEA1,在体外能够形成拟胚体,在体内分化形成包含三个生殖层的畸胎瘤.作为核移植的供体细胞,克隆胚的卵裂率为53.33%、桑椹胚率为9.03%、囊胚率为2.07%、孵化囊胚的总细胞数为26.5,在桑椹胚率和囊胚率方面显著低于猪普通胎儿成纤维细胞核移植克隆胚的发育能力(P<0.05).结果证实慢病毒能够直接使猪的胎儿成纤维细胞转变成iPS细胞,因此慢病毒将成为一种理想的材料和工具用于细胞的遗传修饰和细胞重构等方面的研究.     

Dermal mesenchymal stem cells promoted adhesion and migration of endothelial cells by integrin in psoriasis

The unusual dilatation of dermal capillaries and angiogenesis played important roles in psoriasis. Some genes and proteins of dermal mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs) from psoriasis are abnormal and related to the function of endothelial cells (ECs). The present study was aimed to evaluate whether psoriatic DMSCs could affect adhesion and migration of ECs through neovascularization-related integrins in psoriasis. Human DMSCs, collected from psoriasis lesions and healthy skin, respectively, were cocultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The expression levels of three integrins, that is, αvβ3, αvβ5, and α5β1 in HUVECs were tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. The adhesion and migration of HUVECs were detected by adhesion assay and migration assay. The results showed that in psoriasis group, the expression of αVβ3 and α5β1 of HUVECs markedly increased 2.50- and 3.71-fold in messenger RNA levels, and significantly increased 1.63- and 1.92-fold in protein levels, comparing to healthy control group (all p < .05). But β5 was not significantly different between the two groups (p > .05). In addition, compared with control, psoriatic DMSCs promoted HUVECs adhesion by 1.62-fold and migration by 2.91-fold (all p < .05). In conclusion, psoriatic DMSCs impact HUVECs adhesion and migration by upregulating the expression of integrins αVβ3 and α5β1.     

以人皮肤成纤维细胞作为饲养层细胞培养人胚胎干细胞

目的：比较人皮肤成纤维细胞（humandermalfibroblasts,HDFs）与小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞（Mouseembryonicfibroblasts,MEFs）的增殖能力及研究人皮肤成纤维细胞作为饲养层支持人胚胎干细胞（humanembryonicstemcells,hESCs）未分化生长的能力。方法：利用组织贴壁法从人皮肤中分离出HDFs,通过细胞形态的观察和生长曲线的绘制比较HDFs与MEFs的体外增殖能力。将HDFs作为饲养层细胞与hESCs共培养,传代12代后,检测hESCs碱性磷酸酶（AKP）、表面特异性标志及胚胎干细胞特异性转录因子。结果：HDFs可连续传代培养15代以上,10代以下的HDFs增殖迅速,而MEFs自第4代起,增殖能力就明显下降;hESCs在HDFs饲养层上可传代培养12代以上,克隆边界清晰,细胞排列紧密,碱性磷酸酶、表面标志物检测均呈阳性,表达了hESCs特异性转录因子。结论：HDFs比MEFs具有更强的增殖能力;HDFs可作为培养hEscs的饲养层细胞。     

Reductive Stress Selectively Disrupts Collagen Homeostasis and Modifies Growth Factor-independent Signaling Through the MAPK/Akt Pathway in Human Dermal Fibroblasts

1. Download : Download high-res image (72KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

Highlights

• •Changes to the proteome of skin fibroblasts subjected to reductive stress have been quantitated.
• •Only a small set of proteins is selectively diminished upon exposure to reductants.
• •Collagens (COL1A2 and COL6A2) emerge as sentinels of reductive stress.
• •Reductive stress triggers receptor-independent Akt phosphorylation at Ser473.

     

Cyclic Stretch Induces Inflammatory Cytokines via the Oxidative Stress and NF-ΚB Pathways Activation in Human Keratoconic Fibroblasts

The cornea is a load-bearing tissue. Lower biomechanical properties in the local tissue of keratoconic cornea evoke mechanical stress increase. Inflammatory cytokines have been shown to be over-expressed in patients with keratoconus. However, how mechanical stimuli are involved in the production of inflammatory cytokines in keratoconus remains unclear. The objective of the study is to determine the role of mechanical stretch in the regulation of inflammatory cytokines and the underlying mechanisms in keratoconus. Human keratoconic fibroblasts (hKCFs) were subjected to 12% cyclic mechanical stretch at 0.1 Hz or in static conditions as controls. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) were used to inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and NF-κB pathway respectively. ROS production was measured using 2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescindiacetate probe. Conditioned media and cell lysates were collected for protein assessment. Cyclic stretch-induced a higher production of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 in hKCFs than static controls. ROS was also elevated in response to cyclic stretch. Inhibition of ROS or NF-κB attenuated stretch-induced ICAM-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8. Inhibition of stretch-induced ROS production by NAC also attenuated NF-κB activation. Our findings suggest that mechanical stretch may induce the release of inflammatory cytokines by activating oxidative stress and NF-kB pathway, and ROS may positively control NF-κB signaling. Over-expression of inflammatory cytokines induced by mechanical stretch may play a role in progression of keratoconus.     

Uncoordinate regulation of collagenase,stromelysin, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases genes by prostaglandin E2: Selective enhancement of collagenase gene expression in human dermal fibroblasts in culture

The degradative effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1) on the extracellular matrix of connective tissue are mediated primarily by metalloproteinases and prostaglandins. Clinical observations suggest that these effects can be prevented, to some extent, by the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We have examined the role of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) in IL-1-induced gene expression by human skin fibroblasts in culture. Incubation of confluent fibroblast cultures with varying concentrations (0.01–1.0 μg/ml) of PGE₂ led to a dose-dependent elevation of collagenase mRNA steady-state levels, the promoter activity, and the secretion of the protein, whereas relatively little effect was observed on stromelysin and TIMP gene expression. Exogenous PGE₂ had no additive or synergistic effect with IL-1 on collagenase gene expression. Furthermore, commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethacin, acetyl salicylic acid and ibuprofen), at doses which block prostaglandin synthesis in cultured fibroblasts, failed to counteract IL-1-induced collagenase and stromelysin gene expression, nor did they affect TIMP expression. Although the effects of PGE₂ did not potentiate those of IL-1 on collagenase gene expression in vitro, one could speculate that massive production of PGE₂ by connective tissue cells in vivo in response to inflammatory mediators such as IL-1 or tumor necrosis factor-α, could lead to sustained expression of collagenase in connective tissue cells after clearance of the growth factors.     

牛成纤维细胞的分离与体外培养

研究了牛胎儿和成年牛皮肤组织成纤维细胞的分离、培养、纯化方法和生长特征。通过组织块贴壁培养和分离单细胞接种培养均能获得原代牛皮肤细胞。用2.5 g/L胰蛋白酶+1mmol/L EDTA和5 g/L胶原酶I联合消化牛皮肤组织较2.5 g/L胰蛋白酶+1 mmol/L EDTA消化,得到更多的单个细胞,两者之间差异极显著(P<0.01),但其死细胞比率却有较大升高;2.5 g/L胰蛋白酶+1 mmol/L EDTA消化牛胎儿组织得到的单细胞数显著高于皮肤组织消化后得到的细胞数(P<0.01),死细胞比率也高于同种酶消化的皮肤组织。分离纯化的胎儿和皮肤成纤维细胞的生长曲线都正常且相似。2.5 g/L胰蛋白酶+1 mmol/L EDTA消化贴壁细胞后死细胞率明显高于用0.5g/L胰蛋白酶+0.53 mmol/L EDTA消化的细胞(P<0.05);培养24 h后细胞贴壁率前者要明显低于后者(P<0.05)。用0.5 g/L胰蛋白酶轻度消化混杂生长的成纤维细胞和上皮样细胞,经过反复贴壁传代2～3代,可得到较纯的成纤维细胞。     

Suppression of Growth-Associated Phosphorylation of Proteins of Fibroblasts by Collagen Fibrils

Collagen fibrils suppressed serum- or epidermal growth factor (EGF)-inducible DNA synthesis of human fibroblasts. The phosphorylation of cellular proteins upon these mitogenic stimulation was analyzed by two-dimentional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in order to reveal a possible interference of collagen fibrils with the cellular mitogenic signal transduction pathway coupled with the protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation reaction. Spots of phosphorylated proteins numbered 192 on plain plastic which were reduced to 143 on collagen fibrils. More than half of them were matched between the two substrates, most of which were much more weakly phosphorylated on collagen fibrils. EGF stimulated the phosphorylation of these proteins of cells on plastic. Among them a protein with an approximate molecular weight of 27K and an isoelectric point of 5.3 was early and highly responsive to EGF, phosphorylation of which seemed to be catalyzed mainly by protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase. Collagen fibrils significantly suppressed this phosphorylation. The present study demonstrates that collagen fibrils modulate the growth-associated protein phosphorylation of cells, which seems to lead to the suppression of DNA synthesis.     

Intracellular Metabolism of 4-Hydroxynonenal in Primary Cultures of Rabbit Synovial Fibroblasts

The intracellular metabolism of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), a secondary product of lipid peroxidation and mediator of inflammation, which was found in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, was investigated in primary cultures of rabbit synovial fibroblasts. A consumption rate of 27.3 nmol/min × 10⁶ cells was measured for the cultivated fibroblasts. It could be shown, that 4-hydroxynonenal enters the synovial fibroblasts and is metabolized mainly oxidatively to 4-hydroxynonenoic acid, intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and water and by formation of the glutathione-HNE adduct. The share of protein-bound HNE was about up to 8% of the total added HNE after 10 min of incubation. All metabolites accumulates intracellularly within the incubation time except of 4-hydroxynonenal itself. An increase of 4-hydroxynonenoic acid could be detected also extracellularly during the intracellular metabolism of 4-hydroxynonenal. Therefore, an involvement of synovial fibroblasts in the secondary antioxidant defense system of the joints during conditions of higher HNE concentrations like rheumatoid arthritis is suggested. © 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.