β-Catenin mediates cyclic strain-stimulated cardiomyogenesis in mouse embryonic stem cells through ROS-dependent and integrin-mediated PI3K/Akt pathways

Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates various cellular events involved in the proliferation and differentiation and these events are affected sensitively by applying to mechanical stimuli. However, the mechanisms by which mechanical force stimulates cardiomyogenesis are not extensively explored. In this study we investigated the cellular mechanisms by which β-catenin signaling regulates cardiac differentiation of strain-subjected embryonic stem (ES) cells. The application of cells to cyclic strain increased beating cardiomyocyte foci with the attendant increases of Cx 43 and Nkx 2.5 proteins. Anti-oxidants such as vitamin C or N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) blocked the strain-mediated increases of Cx 43, Nkx 2.5, and α5/β1 integrins. These anti-oxidants also suppressed the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt in cyclic strain-subjected cells. Western blot analysis revealed that PI3K is a critical downstream effector of β1 integrin signaling and mediates Cx 43 and Nkx 2.5 expression in cyclic strain-applied ES cells. Cyclic strain increased the expression of β-catenin and stimulated its nuclear translocation from the cytosol, which was prevented by anti-oxidant treatment. In addition, the application to cyclic strain increased mRNA expression of β-catenin target genes, Axin2 and c-myc, as well as the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β. Furthermore, the blockage of β-catenin by its specific siRNA transfection diminished the cellular levels of Cx 43 and Nkx 2.5 proteins and the number of beating cardiomyocyte foci. Collectively, these results suggest that β-catenin-mediated signaling is required for cyclic strain-stimulated cardiomyogenesis through ROS-dependent and integrin-mediated PI3K-Akt signaling cascades.     

Nuclear translocation of β-catenin during mesenchymal stem cells differentiation into hepatocytes is associated with a tumoral phenotype

Wnt/β-catenin pathway controls biochemical processes related to cell differentiation. In committed cells the alteration of this pathway has been associated with tumors as hepatocellular carcinoma or hepatoblastoma. The present study evaluated the role of Wnt/β-catenin activation during human mesenchymal stem cells differentiation into hepatocytes. The differentiation to hepatocytes was achieved by the addition of two different conditioned media. In one of them, β-catenin nuclear translocation, up-regulation of genes related to the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, such as Lrp5 and Fzd3, as well as the oncogenes c-myc and p53 were observed. While in the other protocol there was a Wnt/β-catenin inactivation. Hepatocytes with nuclear translocation of β-catenin also had abnormal cellular proliferation, and expressed membrane proteins involved in hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic behavior and cancer stem cells. Further, these cells had also increased auto-renewal capability as shown in spheroids formation assay. Comparison of both differentiation protocols by 2D-DIGE proteomic analysis revealed differential expression of 11 proteins with altered expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cathepsin B and D, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, triosephosphate isomerase, inorganic pyrophosphatase, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A or lactate dehydrogenase β-chain were up-regulated only with the protocol associated with Wnt signaling activation while other proteins involved in tumor suppression, such as transgelin or tropomyosin β-chain were down-regulated in this protocol. In conclusion, our results suggest that activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway during human mesenchymal stem cells differentiation into hepatocytes is associated with a tumoral phenotype.     

EGCG通过抑制wnt/β-catenin信号通路调节猪骨骼肌卫星细胞的增殖和分化

为了阐明Wnt/β-catenin信号通路在猪骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖分化中的作用,利用Wnt/β-catenin信号通路抑制剂(-)-表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)处理猪骨骼肌卫星细胞,采用MTT、流式细胞术、免疫荧光和Western印迹等方法检测了细胞增殖和分化情况.结果显示,与对照组相比,EGCG以时间、浓度依赖方式抑制猪骨骼肌卫星细胞的增殖.流式细胞术检测细胞周期结果表明,与对照组相比,经EGCG处理后,猪骨骼肌卫星细胞的G1期细胞比例上升,而G2和S期细胞比例下降,这说明细胞被阻滞在G1期,细胞的增殖受到抑制.免疫荧光检测分化过程中MyHC的表达,与对照组相比,EGCG促进猪骨骼肌卫星细胞的分化,并降低增殖标志基因MyoD以及细胞周期蛋白D的表达量,而提高了分化标志基因MyoG和MyHC的表达量.在猪骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖分化过程中,EGCG降低β-联蛋白的表达量,且核内的β-联蛋白明显减少.结果表明,EGCG通过抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路抑制猪骨骼肌卫星细胞的增殖,促进其分化.     

Expression of heat shock genes during differentiation of mammalian osteoblasts and promyelocytic leukemia cells.

The progressive differentiation of both normal rat osteoblasts and HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells involves the sequential expression of specific genes encoding proteins that are characteristic of their respective developing cellular phenotypes. In addition to the selective expression of various phenotype marker genes, several members of the heat shock gene family exhibit differential expression throughout the developmental sequence of these two cell types. As determined by steady state mRNA levels, in both osteoblasts and HL-60 cells expression of hsp27, hsp60, hsp70, hsp89 alpha, and hsp89 beta may be associated with the modifications in gene expression and cellular architecture that occur during differentiation. In both differentiation systems, the expression of hsp27 mRNA shows a 2.5-fold increase with the down-regulation of proliferation while hsp60 mRNA levels are maximal during active proliferation and subsequently decline post-proliferatively. mRNA expression of two members of the hsp90 family decreases with the shutdown of proliferation, with a parallel relationship between hsp89 alpha mRNA levels and proliferation in osteoblasts and a delay in down-regulation of hsp89 alpha mRNA levels in HL-60 cells and of hsp89 beta mRNA in both systems. Hsp70 mRNA rapidly increases, almost twofold, as proliferation decreases in HL-60 cells but during osteoblast growth and differentiation was only minimally detectable and showed no significant changes. Although the presence of the various hsp mRNA species is maintained at some level throughout the developmental sequence of both osteoblasts and HL-60 cells, changes in the extent to which the heat shock genes are expressed occur primarily in association with the decline of proliferative activity. The observed differences in patterns of expression for the various heat shock genes are consistent with involvement in mediating a series of regulatory events functionally related to the control of both cell growth and differentiation.     

Differences in proliferation rate between CADASIL and control vascular smooth muscle cells are related to increased TGFβ expression

Cerebral autosomal‐dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a familial fatal progressive degenerative disorder. One of the pathological hallmarks of CADASIL is a dramatic reduction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in cerebral arteries. Using VSMCs from the vasculature of the human umbilical cord, placenta and cerebrum of CADASIL patients, we found that CADASIL VSMCs had a lower proliferation rate compared to control VSMCs. Exposure of control VSMCs and endothelial cells (ECs) to media derived from CADASIL VSMCs lowered the proliferation rate of all cells examined. By quantitative RT‐PCR analysis, we observed increased Transforming growth factor‐β (TGFβ) gene expression in CADASIL VSMCs. Adding TGFβ‐neutralizing antibody restored the proliferation rate of CADASIL VSMCs. We assessed proliferation differences in the presence or absence of TGFβ‐neutralizing antibody in ECs co‐cultured with VSMCs. ECs co‐cultured with CADASIL VSMCs exhibited a lower proliferation rate than those co‐cultured with control VSMCs, and neutralization of TGFβ normalized the proliferation rate of ECs co‐cultured with CADASIL VSMCs. We suggest that increased TGFβ expression in CADASIL VSMCs is involved in the reduced VSMC proliferation in CADASIL and may play a role in situ in altered proliferation of neighbouring cells in the vasculature.     

川芎嗪体外诱导小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞的研究

为了探讨川芎嗪体外诱导小鼠骨髓间质干细胞（BMSCs）分化为神经元样细胞的作用,以小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞为研究对象,实验分为空白对照组、β-巯基乙醇（BME）阳性对照组和川芎嗪诱导组。采用荧光免疫化学和Western blot方法,分别检测神经干细胞巢蛋白（nestin）和经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）的表达;RT-PCR检测诱导不同时间对神经细胞相关基因Nestin、NSE、β-微管蛋白III（β-Tubulin III）和核受体相关因子-1（Nurr1）mRNA表达的影响。结果显示川芎嗪诱导间充质干细胞24 h后,细胞形态发生显著改变,细胞突起形成且数目不等,形成神经元样细胞。细胞死亡率低于β-巯基乙醇诱导组。免疫荧光化学法和western blot结果显示：川芎嗪诱导后的细胞nes-tin和NSE蛋白表达呈阳性,且表达丰度显著高于β-巯基乙醇诱导组。川芎嗪作用不同时间的BMSCs表达神经细胞相关基因Nestin、β-Tubulin III、NSE和Nurrl。结果表明川芎嗪能定向诱导小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞,是较理想的诱导剂。     

Multilineage differentiation of Cbfa1-deficient calvarial cells in vitro

We characterized calvaria-derived cells of Cbfa1-deficient mice to determine their stages of differentiation. In long-term culture, Cbfa1-deficient calvarial cells did not acquire osteoblastic phenotypes, but numerous adipocyte foci appeared with an increase in the expression of marker genes for adipocyte differentiation. In culture with BMP-2, Cbfa1-deficient calvarial cells still failed to generate bone nodules but differentiated into chondrocytes and further to terminal hypertrophic chondrocytes, and adipocyte foci were decreased. Cbfa1-deficient calvarial cells transplanted into the peritoneal cavity of athymic mice using BMP-2-coated diffusion chambers generated cartilage but not bone. These data indicate that Cbfa1-deficient calvarial cells completely lack the ability to differentiate into mature osteoblasts and Cbfa1 has an inhibitory function in adipocyte differentiation. As Cbfa1-deficient calvarial cells were enriched with immature mesenchymal cells, which can differentiate into adipocytes and chondrocytes, it is suggested that Cbfa1 plays an essential role in determining the lineage of multipotential mesenchymal precursor cells.     

Proteomic differences between microvascular endothelial cells and the EA.hy926 cell line forming three‐dimensional structures

Proteomic changes of two types of human endothelial cells (ECs) were determined and compared to morphological alterations occurring during the scaffold‐free in vitro formation of 3D structures resembling vascular intimas. The EA.hy926 cell line and human microvascular ECs (HMVECs) were cultured on a random positioning machine or static on ground (normal gravity) for 5 and 7 days, before their morphology was examined and their protein content was analysed by MS after free‐flow electrophoretic separation. A total of 1175 types of proteins were found in EA.hy926 cells and 846 in HMVEC forming 3D structures faster than the EA.hy926 cells. Five hundred and eighty‐four of these kinds of proteins were present in both types of cells. They included a number of metabolic enzymes, of structure‐related and stress proteins. Comparing proteins of EA.hy926 cells growing either adherently on ground or in 3D aggregates on the random positioning machine revealed that ribosomal proteins were enhanced, while tubes are formed and various components of 26S proteasomes remained prevalent in static normal gravity control cells only. The fast developing tube‐like 3D structures of HMVEC suggested a transient augmentation of ribosomal proteins during the 3D assembling of ECs.     

Protein complexes associated with β-catenin differentially influence the differentiation profile of neonatal and adult CD8+ T cells

The canonical Wnt signaling pathway is a master cell regulator involved in CD8⁺ T cell proliferation and differentiation. In human CD8⁺ T cells, this pathway induces differentiation into memory cells or a “stem cell memory like” population, which is preferentially present in cord blood. To better understand the role of canonical Wnt signals in neonatal or adult blood, we compared the proteins associated with β-catenin, in nonstimulated and Wnt3a-stimulated human neonatal and adult naive CD8⁺ T cells. Differentially recruited proteins established different complexes in adult and neonatal cells. In the former, β-catenin-associated proteins were linked to cell signaling and immunological functions, whereas those of neonates were linked to proliferation and metabolism. Wnt3a stimulation led to the recruitment and overexpression of Wnt11 in adult cells and Wnt5a in neonatal cells, suggesting a differential connexion with planar polarity and Wnt/Ca²⁺ noncanonical pathways, respectively. The chromatin immunoprecipitation polymerase chain reaction β-catenin was recruited to a higher level on the promoters of cell renewal genes in neonatal cells and of differentiation genes in those of adults. We found a preferential association of β-catenin with CBP in neonatal cells and with p300 in the adult samples, which could be involved in a higher self-renewal capacity of the neonatal cells and memory commitment in those of adults. Altogether, our results show that different proteins associated with β-catenin during Wnt3a activation mediate a differential response of neonatal and adult human CD8⁺ T cells.     

STAT3 is indispensable to IL-27-mediated cell proliferation but not to IL-27-induced Th1 differentiation and suppression of proinflammatory cytokine production

IL-27, a member of the IL-6/IL-12 family, activates both STAT1 and STAT3 through its receptor, which consists of WSX-1 and gp130 subunits, resulting in augmentation of Th1 differentiation and suppression of proinflammatory cytokine production. In the present study, we investigated the role of STAT3 in the IL-27-mediated immune functions. IL-27 induced phosphorylation of STAT1, -2, -3 and -5 in wild-type naive CD4+ T cells, but failed to induce that of STAT3 and STAT5 in STAT3-deficient cohorts. IL-27 induced not only proinflammatory responses including up-regulation of ICAM-1, T-box expressed in T cells, and IL-12Rbeta2 and Th1 differentiation, but also anti-inflammatory responses including suppression of proinflammatory cytokine production such as IL-2, IL-4, and IL-13 even in STAT3-deficient naive CD4+ T cells. In contrast, IL-27 augmented c-Myc and Pim-1 expression and induced cell proliferation in wild-type naive CD4+ T cells but not in STAT3-deficient cohorts. Moreover, IL-27 failed to activate STAT3, augment c-Myc and Pim-1 expression, and induce cell proliferation in pro-B BaF/3 transfectants expressing mutant gp130, in which the putative STAT3-binding four Tyr residues in the YXXQ motif of the cytoplasmic region was replaced by Phe. These results suggest that STAT3 is activated through gp130 by IL-27 and is indispensable to IL-27-mediated cell proliferation but not to IL-27-induced Th1 differentiation and suppression of proinflammatory cytokine production. Thus, IL-27 may be a cytokine, which activates both STAT1 and STAT3 through distinct receptor subunits, WSX-1 and gp130, respectively, to mediate its individual immune functions.     

The Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Binding Protein Acid-labile Subunit Alters Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Fate

Age-related osteoporosis is accompanied by an increase in marrow adiposity and a reduction in serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and the binding proteins that stabilize IGF-1. To determine the relationship between these proteins and bone marrow adiposity, we evaluated the adipogenic potential of marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from mice with decreased serum IGF-1 due to knockdown of IGF-1 production by the liver or knock-out of the binding proteins. We employed 10–16-week-old, liver-specific IGF-1-deficient, IGFBP-3 knock-out (BP3KO) and acid-labile subunit knock-out (ALSKO) mice. We found that expression of the late adipocyte differentiation marker peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ was increased in marrow isolated from ALSKO mice. When induced with adipogenic media, MSC cultures from ALSKO mice revealed a significantly greater number of differentiated adipocytes compared with controls. MSCs from ALSKO mice also exhibited decreased alkaline-phosphatase positive colony size in cultures that were stimulated with osteoblast differentiation media. These osteoblast-like cells from ALSKO mice failed to induce osteoclastogenesis of control cells in co-culture assays, indicating that impairment of IGF-1 complex formation with ALS in bone marrow alters cell fate, leading to increased adipogenesis.     

All-trans-retinoid acid induces the differentiation of P19 cells into neurons involved in the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway

The pluripotent mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line P19 is widely used as a model for research on all-trans-retinoid acid (RA)-induced neuronal differentiation; however, the signaling pathways involved in this process remain unclear. This study aimed to reveal the molecular mechanism underlying the RA-induced neuronal differentiation of P19 cells. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were used to determine the expression of neuronal-specific markers, whereas flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle and cell apoptosis. The expression profiles of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in RA-induced neuronal differentiation of P19 cells were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing, and the functions of differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs) were determined by bioinformatics analysis. RA induced an increase in both class III β-tubulin (TUBB3) and neurofilament medium (NEFM) mRNA expression, indicating that RA successfully induces neuronal differentiation of P19 cells. Cell apoptosis was not affected; however, cell proliferation decreased. We found 4117 DEMs, which were enriched in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and cell cycle. Particularly, a few DEMs could be identified in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway networks, such as PI3K, Akt, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), P21, and Bax. RA significantly increased the protein expression of PI3K, Akt, phosphorylated Akt, GSK3β, phosphorylated GSK3β, CDK4, and P21, but it reduced Bax protein expression. The Akt inhibitor affected the increase of TUBB3 and NEFM mRNA expression in RA-induced P19 cells. The molecular mechanism underlying the RA-induced neuronal differentiation of P19 cells is potentially involved in the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway. The decreased cell proliferation ability of neuronally differentiated P19 cells could be associated with the expression of cell cycle proteins.