The role of stratifin in fibroblast–keratinocyte interaction

Stratifin is a member of 14-3-3 protein family, a highly conserved group of proteins constituted by seven isoforms. They are involved in numerous crucial intracellular functions such as cell cycle and apoptosis, regulation of signal transduction pathways, cellular trafficking, cell proliferation and differentiation, cell survival, and protein folding and processing, among others. At epidermal level, stratifin (also called 14-3-3 sigma) has been described as molecule with relevant functions. For instance, this isoform is a marker associated with keratinocyte differentiation. In this maturation process, the presence of dominant negative molecules of p53 induces a “stemness condition” of keratinocyte precursor cells and suppression of stratifin expression. In addition, the recently described keratinocyte-releasable form of stratifin is involved in dermal fibroblast MMP-1 over-expression through c-Fos and c-Jun activity. This effect is mediated, at least in part, by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Other MMP family members such as stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), stromelysin-2 (MMP-10), neutrophil collagenase (MMP-8), and membrane-type MMP-24 (MT5-MMP) are also up-regulated by stratifin. Within fibroproliferative disorder of skin, hypertrophic scar and keloids exhibit a high content of collagen, proteoglycans, and fibronectin. Thus, the MMP profile induced by stratifin is an interesting starting point to establish new therapeutic tools to control the process of wound healing. In this review, we will focus on site of synthesis and mode of action of stratifin in skin and wound healing.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor is a β-rich protein

The conformation of the 153-residue form of human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was studied with circular dichroism (CD) and sequence prediction methods. The far-UV CD spectrum with a minimum at 202 nm resembled that of an unordered polypeptide/protein or a protein rich in distorted antiparallel β-sheets. Analysis of the CD spectrum by the least-squares method of Changet al. (1978) and the CONTIN program of Provencher and Glöckner (1981) suggested that about one half of the molecule consisted of β-sheet and there was no α-helix. These estimates agreed with the prediction by the sequence method of Garnieret al. (1978) using decision constants based on CD results. bFGF had an unusual CD band at 187 nm, which disappeared upon ionization of Tyr side chains atpH 11.7. It also had another unusual property of irreversibly converting the CD spectrum to a helix-like one with a double minimum at 205 and 215 and a maximum at 189 nm upon heating the solution to above 55°C. The helicity was also enhanced in trifluoroethanol and in sodium dodecyl sulfate. The mutant bFGF in which cysteines 76 and 94 were replaced by serine residues had essentially the same properties as the wild-type.     

Human lung fibroblast express acetylcholinesterase during apoptosis in vitro

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) plays a key role in terminating neurotransmission at cholinergic synapses. AChE is also found in tissues devoid of cholinergic responses, indicating its potential function beyond neurotransmission. It has been suggested that AChE may participate in development, differentiation, and pathogenic processes such as Alzheimer's disease and tumorigenesis. We examined AChE expression in human lung fibroblast cell line (HLF) upon induction of apoptosis by UV or G418. AChE is induced in all apoptotic cells examined as determined by cytochemical staining, immunological analysis, affinity     

NF-κB inhibition compromises cardiac fibroblast viability under hypoxia

Cardiac fibroblasts are reported to be relatively resistant to stress stimuli compared to cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts of non-cardiac origin. However, the mechanisms that facilitate their survival under conditions of stress remain unclear. We explored the possibility that NF-κB protects cardiac fibroblasts from hypoxia-induced cell death. Further, we examined the expression of the antiapoptotic cIAP-2 and Bcl-2 in hypoxic cardiac fibroblasts, and their possible regulation by NF-κB. Phase contrast microscopy and propidium iodide staining revealed that cardiac fibroblasts are more resistant than pulmonary fibroblasts to hypoxia. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay showed that hypoxia activates NF-κB in cardiac fibroblasts. Supershift assay indicated that the active NF-κB complex is a p65/p50 heterodimer. An I-κB-super-repressor was constructed that prevented NF-κB activation and compromised cell viability under hypoxic but not normoxic conditions. Similar results were obtained with Bay 11-7085, an inhibitor of NF-κB. Western blot analysis showed constitutive levels of Bcl-2 and hypoxic induction of cIAP-2 in these cells. NF-κB inhibition reduced cIAP-2 but not Bcl-2 levels in hypoxic cardiac fibroblasts. The results show for the first time that NF-κB is an important effector of survival in cardiac fibroblasts under hypoxic stress and that regulation of cIAP-2 expression may contribute to its pro-survival role.     

Persistence of TGF-β1 induction of increased fibroblast contractility

Fibroblast contraction of collagen gels is regarded as a model of wound contraction. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta added to such gels can augment contraction consistent with its suggested role as a mediator of fibrotic repair. Since fibroblasts isolated from fibrotic tissues have been suggested to express a "fibrotic phenotype," we hypothesized that TGF-beta exposure may lead to a persistent increase in fibroblasts' contractility. To evaluate this question, confluent human fetal lung fibroblasts were treated with serum-free Dulbecco modified Eagle medium (DMEM), with or without 100 pM [corrected] TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, or TGF-beta3 for 48 h. Fibroblasts were then trypsinized and cast into gels composed of native type I collagen isolated from rat tail tendons. After 20 min for gelation, the gels were released and maintained in serum-free DMEM. TGF-beta-pretreated fibroblasts caused significantly more rapid gel contraction (52.5+/-0.6, 50.9+/-0.2, and 50.3+/-0.5% by TGF-beta1, -beta2, and -beta3 pretreated fibroblasts, respectively) than control fibroblasts (74.0+/-0.3%, P < 0.01). This effect is concentration dependent (50-200 nM), and all three isoforms had equal activity. The effect of TGF-beta1, however, persisted for only a short period of time following the removal of TGF-beta, and was lost with sequential passage. These observations suggest that the persistent increase in collagen-gel contractility, mediated by fibroblasts from fibrotic tissues, would not appear to be solely due to previous exposure of these cells to TGF-beta.     

Proteomic profiling identifies markers for inflammation-related tumor–fibroblast interaction

Background

Cancer associated fibroblasts are activated in the tumor microenvironment and contribute to tumor progression, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and inflammation.

Methods

To identify proteins characteristic for fibroblasts in colorectal cancer we used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to derive protein abundance from whole-tissue homogenates of human colorectal cancer/normal mucosa pairs. Alterations of protein levels were determined by two-sided t test with greater than threefold difference and an FDR of < 0.05. Public available datasets were used to predict proteins of stromal origin and link protein with mRNA regulation. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the localization of selected proteins.

Results

We identified a set of 24 proteins associated with inflammation, matrix organization, TGFβ receptor signaling and angiogenesis mainly originating from the stroma. Most prominent were increased abundance of SerpinB5 in the parenchyme and latent transforming growth factor β-binding protein, thrombospondin-B2, and secreted protein acidic-and-cysteine-rich in the stroma. Extracellular matrix remodeling involved collagens type VIII, XII, XIV, and VI as well as lysyl-oxidase-2. In silico analysis of mRNA levels demonstrated altered expression in the tumor and the adjacent normal tissue as compared to mucosa of healthy individuals indicating that inflammatory activation affected the surrounding tissue. Immunohistochemistry of 26 tumor specimen confirmed upregulation of SerpinB5, thrombospondin B2 and secreted protein acidic-and-cysteine-rich.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the feasibility of detecting tumor- and compartment-specific protein-signatures that are functionally meaningful by proteomic profiling of whole-tissue extracts together with mining of RNA expression datasets. The results provide the basis for further exploration of inflammation-related stromal markers in larger patient cohorts and experimental models.

     

β1 integrins regulate fibroblast chemotaxis through control of N-WASP stability

Chemotactic migration of fibroblasts towards growth factors, such as during development and wound healing, requires precise spatial coordination of receptor signalling. However, the mechanisms regulating this remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that β1 integrins are required both for fibroblast chemotaxis towards platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and growth factor-induced dorsal ruffling. Mechanistically, we show that β1 integrin stabilises and spatially regulates the actin nucleating endocytic protein neuronal Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) to facilitate PDGF receptor traffic and directed motility. Furthermore, we show that in intact cells, PDGF binding leads to rapid activation of β1 integrin within newly assembled actin-rich membrane ruffles. Active β1 in turn controls assembly of N-WASP complexes with both Cdc42 and WASP-interacting protein (WIP), the latter of which acts to stabilise the N-WASP. Both of these protein complexes are required for PDGF internalisation and fibroblast chemotaxis downstream of β1 integrins. This represents a novel mechanism by which integrins cooperate with growth factor receptors to promote localised signalling and directed cell motility.     

Interferon-γ modulates lung macrophage production of PDGF-BB and fibroblast growth

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mediator of fibroblast proliferation and chemotaxis. We have studied here the cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ) which is known to prime macrophages for increased PDGF production. Thus, we postulated that IFN-γ would act as a positive regulator of PDGF-BB secretion by rat alveolar macrophages, and in addition we asked whether or not the IFN-γ (a known anti-mitogenic cytokine) would block the growth response of primary lung fibroblasts to the PDGF-BB. Macrophages incubated with IFN-γ or iron spheres alone for 24 h secreted 2.5-fold more PDGF-BB than control macrophages incubated in serum-free medium. Preincubation of macrophages with IFN-γ prior to the addition of iron spheres synergistically increased PDGF-BB production 2–10-fold after 24 h. In contrast, when IFN-γ was added to quiescent rat lung fibroblasts (RLFs) in the presence of PDGF-BB, the cytokine induced a concentration-dependent decrease in cell growth, while IFN-γ alone did not affect proliferation. [¹²⁵I]PDGF-BB receptor assays showed that neither preincubation nor coincubation of RLF with IFN-γ affected PDGF-BB binding to its receptors.     

DNA methylation regulates α-smooth muscle actin expression during cardiac fibroblast differentiation

Cardiac fibroblast (CF) differentiation to myofibroblasts expressing α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) plays a key role in cardiac fibrosis. Therefore, a study of the mechanism regulating α-SMA expression is a means to understanding the mechanism of fibroblast differentiation and cardiac fibrosis. Previous studies have shown that DNA methylation is associated with gene expression and is related to the development of tissue fibrosis. However, the mechanisms by which CF differentiation is regulated by DNA methylation remain unclear. Here, we explored the epigenetic regulation of α-SMA expression and its relevance in CF differentiation. In this study, we demonstrated that α-SMA was overexpressed and DNMT1 expression was downregulated in the infarct area after myocardial infarction. Treatment of CFs with transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁) in vitro upregulated α-SMA expression via epigenetic modifications. TGF-β₁ also inhibited DNMT1 expression and activity during CF differentiation. In addition, α-SMA expression was regulated by DNMT1. Conversely, increasing DNMT1 expression levels rescued the TGF-β₁-induced upregulation of α-SMA expression. Finally, TGF-β₁ regulated α-SMA expression by inhibiting the DNMT1-mediated DNA methylation of the α-SMA promoter. Taken together, our research showed that inhibition of the DNMT1-mediated DNA methylation of the α-SMA promoter plays an essential role in CF differentiation. In addition, DNMT1 may be a new target for the prevention and treatment of myocardial fibrosis.     

Does survivin overexpression enhance the efficiency of fibroblast cell-based wound therapy?

Molecular Biology Reports - Cell-based wound therapy is faced with some limiting factors that decrease the therapeutic efficacy of transplanted cells. In this study, we aimed to genetically modify...     

TGF-β-mediated upregulation of Sox9 in fibroblast promotes renal fibrosis

TGF-β signaling plays a principal role in renal fibrosis, but the precise mechanisms and the downstream factors are still largely unknown. Sox9 exhibits diverse roles in regulating the production of extracellular matrix proteins. Here we found that Sox9 was induced by TGF-β in the kidney fibroblast and acted as an important downstream mediator of TGF-β signaling in promoting renal fibrosis. TGF-β/Smad signaling mediated the upregulation of Sox9 in kidney fibroblast by binding to a conserved enhancer. In different mouse models of renal fibrosis, as well as in the kidney biopsy tissue from patients with renal fibrosis, Sox9 expression significantly increased. Immunostaining confirmed the upregulation of Sox9 in the kidney fibroblast during renal fibrosis. Delivery of Sox9 knockdown plasmid to the kidney by ultrasound microbubble–mediated gene transfer suppressed the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) or folic acid-induced mouse renal fibrosis, whereas ectopic expression of Sox9 aggravated renal fibrosis. In addition, we identified Sox9 as a direct target of miR-30. Notably, miR-30 expression was significantly inhibited by TGF-β1 in the kidney fibroblast and the downregulation of miR-30 was observed in renal fibrosis. Mechanistically, inhibition of miR-30 independently strengthened the effect of TGF-β/Smad signaling on Sox9 upregulation. Adenovirus-mediated ectopic expression of miR-30 in kidney fibroblast greatly reduced UUO-induced renal fibrosis by targeting Sox9. These findings link Sox9 to intrinsic mechanisms of TGF-β signaling in renal fibrosis and may have therapeutic potential for tissue fibrosis.     

Extracellular sequestration and release of fibroblast growth factor: a regulatory mechanism?

Basic fibroblast growth factor, (bFGF), promotes the formation of new blood capillaries and is sequestered and protected by binding to heparan sulfate (HS), both on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix. Release of HS-bound bFGF by heparin-like molecules and HS-degrading enzymes (i.e., heparanase) provides a novel mechanism for regulation of the growth of capillary blood vessels in normal and pathological situations. The extracellular matrix also serves as a storage depot for other growth factors and enzymes.     

TGFβ signaling in lung epithelium regulates bleomycin-induced alveolar injury and fibroblast recruitment

The response of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) to lung injury plays a central role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, but the mechanisms by which AECs regulate fibrotic processes are not well defined. We aimed to elucidate how transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling in lung epithelium impacts lung fibrosis in the intratracheal bleomycin model. Mice with selective deficiency of TGFβ receptor 2 (TGFβR2) in lung epithelium were generated and crossed to cell fate reporter mice that express β-galactosidase (β-gal) in cells of lung epithelial lineage. Mice were given intratracheal bleomycin (0.08 U), and the following parameters were assessed: AEC death by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP-mediated nick-end labeling assay, inflammation by total and differential cell counts from bronchoalveolar lavage, fibrosis by scoring of trichrome-stained lung sections, and total lung collagen content. Mice with lung epithelial deficiency of TGFβR2 had improved AEC survival, despite greater lung inflammation, after bleomycin administration. At 3 wk after bleomycin administration, mice with epithelial TGFβR2 deficiency showed a significantly attenuated fibrotic response in the lungs, as determined by semiquantitatve scoring and total collagen content. The reduction in lung fibrosis in these mice was associated with a marked decrease in the lung fibroblast population, both total lung fibroblasts and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-derived (S100A4(+)/β-gal(+)) fibroblasts. Attenuation of TGFβ signaling in lung epithelium provides protection from bleomycin-induced fibrosis, indicating a critical role for the epithelium in transducing the profibrotic effects of this cytokine.     

Molecular cloning and developmental expression of rat fibroblast growth factor receptor 3

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are involved in the control of a variety of biological functions including regulation and differentiation of various cell types. Furthermore, they play important roles in the processes of regeneration, angiogenesis, and chemotaxis. The family of FGF receptors (FGFRs) comprises four members, FGFR-1 to -4, which exist in several differentially expressed splice variants. Except for FGFR-3, primary structures and expression of the three other FGFRs have been described in the rat system. Although expression studies with heterologous probes of FGFR-3 from mice have been performed in the rat system, these analyses were limited and the complete set of receptors has not yet been revealed. To understand the developmental functions of FGFR-3, it is important to elucidate the expression pattern in embryos of different stages. In this study, we have isolated a cDNA of FGFR-3 from rat brain. Expression analyses by RT-PCR of adult rat revealed expression in several tissues, however, expression levels were highest in lung and brain. During embryonic development, FGFR-3 displays a diffuse expression in most tissues at embryonic day 14 (E14), as observed by in situ hybridization experiments. In E18 the expression pattern is more restricted, showing strong signals in spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia, cortex, chondrocytes, and endothelial cells. The temporal and spatial pattern of FGFR-3 expression suggests specific functions in several tissues during development.     

Macropinocytosis of the PDGF β-receptor promotes fibroblast transformation by H-RasG12V

Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling is frequently increased in tumor cells, sometimes as a result of decreased receptor down-regulation. The extent to which the endocytic trafficking routes can contribute to such RTK hyperactivation is unclear. Here, we show for the first time that fibroblast transformation by H-RasG12V induces the internalization of platelet-derived growth factor β-receptor (PDGFRβ) by macropinocytosis, enhancing its signaling activity and increasing anchorage-independent proliferation. H-RasG12V transformation and PDGFRβ activation were synergistic in stimulating phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity, leading to receptor macropinocytosis. PDGFRβ macropinocytosis was both necessary and sufficient for enhanced receptor activation. Blocking macropinocytosis by inhibition of PI 3-kinase prevented the increase in receptor activity in transformed cells. Conversely, increasing macropinocytosis by Rabankyrin-5 overexpression was sufficient to enhance PDGFRβ activation in nontransformed cells. Simultaneous stimulation with PDGF-BB and epidermal growth factor promoted macropinocytosis of both receptors and increased their activation in nontransformed cells. We propose that H-Ras transformation promotes tumor progression by enhancing growth factor receptor signaling as a result of increased receptor macropinocytosis.     

Production of interferon-β by fibroblast cells on membranes prepared by extracellular matrix proteins

The fibroblast cells from normal human skin were cultured on Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and cast membranes prepared using extracellular matrix proteins (e.g., collagen, fibronectin, laminin and vitronectin). The cell density of the fibroblast cells cultured on the cast membranes was found to be higher than that on the cast membranes made of fibronectin, vitronectin and collagen-blended membranes. This indicates that not only the primary structure of proteins but the preparation methods of the membranes, i.e., casting and LB methods, are a strong factor affecting cell growth. The concentration and production of interferon-β per unit cell were found to be higher on the LB membranes than on the cast membranes made of the same proteins except in the case of collagen. However, the cell density on the cast membranes was higher than that on the LB membranes. These results appear to result from the suppressed growth of NB1-RGB cells on the LB membranes leading to the enhanced production of interferon-β on the LB membranes. The highest production of interferon-β per unit cell was observed for the NB1-RGB cells on the collagen-blended membranes with fibronectin and vitronectin. The collagen-blended membranes appear to offer a more natural and appropriate environment for NB1-RGB cells to produce interferon-β. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

In vitro effects of ascorbic acid and β-glycerophosphate on human gingival fibroblast cells

Ascorbic acid (AA) and β-glycerophosphate (βG) are considered in vitro osteogenic factors important to the differentiation of osteoblastic progenitor and dental pulp cells into mineralized tissue-forming cells. So, the present study investigated in vitro if these mineralizing inducible factors (AA and βG) could influence differentiation of human gingival fibroblasts when compared with human pulp cells and osteogenic cells derived from rat calvaria cultured. The expression of osteopontin (OPN) and osteoadherin (OSAD) was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence, immunocytochemistry as well as Western-blotting. In addition, the main ultrastructural aspects were also investigated. No mineralized matrix formation occurred on gingival fibroblasts induced with AA + βG. On these cells, no expression of OPN and OSAD was observed when compared with pulp cells, pulp cells induced with AA + βG as well as osteogenic cells. Ultrastructure analysis additionally showed that gingival fibroblasts exhibited typical fibroblast morphology with no nodule formation. The present findings showed that AA and βG could not promote a mineralized cell differentiation of human gingival fibroblasts and confirm that human dental pulp cells, as the osteogenic cells, are capable to form a mineralized extracellular.     

Variations in expression of mutant β actin accompanying incremental increases in human fibroblast tumorigenicity

Treatment of cultured human diploid fibroblasts with a chemical carcinogen produced a clonal neoplastic cell line (HUT-14) that expresses a mutant β actin, nearly an equal amount of normal β actin and one additional nonmuscle actin species, γ actin. These three actins are the principal structural components of the detergent-resistant cytoskeleton. A substrain of HUT-14 was derived from a tumor produced by inoculation of a nude mouse with a highly selected subclone of HUT-14 cells. Cells of this new substrain, HUT-14T, exhibit a more variant distribution of cytoskeletal actin than the parent HUT-14 strain and a further diminution in cytoskeletal fibronectin. HUT-14T is also elevated in tumorigenicity, producing larger, faster-growing fibrosarcomas in the nude mouse than the parent HUT-14 strain with fewer inoculated cells. These phenotypic cellular changes accompany a biochemical and functional change in the mutant β-actin polypeptide. The more variant mutant actin of HUT-14T differs from the original mutant polypeptide by: one additional negative net charge, a short half-life in the cell, a greatly diminished ability to incorporate into the detergent-resistant cytoskeleton, a decrease in affinity for deoxyribonuclease I and a faster rate of synthesis. It appears that the mutant actin of HUT-14 acquired a second-site mutation that was selected during a subcloning step prior to derivation of the HUT-14T substrain. The hypothesis of a second-site mutation is supported by the finding that the new β-actin species in HUT-14T cells is translated correctly from HUT-14T mRNA in vitro. The increased rate of synthesis of mutant β actin in HUT-14T cells is accompanied by an approximate doubling in the relative amount of translatable mutant β-actin mRNA, an event that occurred separately from the event that produced the altered mutant β actin. These separate variations in β-actin expression are accompanied by incremental increases of malignant potential in this cell line.