Early stage of cytomegalovirus infection suppresses host microRNA expression regulation in human fibroblasts

Responses to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection are largely individual and cell type specific. We investigated molecular profiles in 2 primary cell cultures of human fibroblasts, which are highly or marginally sensitive to HCMV infection, respectively. We screened expression of genes and microRNAs (miRs) at the early (3 hours) stage of infection. To assess molecular pathway activation profiles, we applied bioinformatic algorithms OncoFinder and MiRImpact. In both cell types, pathway regulation properties at mRNA and miR levels were markedly different. Surprisingly, in the infected highly sensitive cells, we observed a “freeze” of miR expression profiles compared to uninfected controls. Our results evidence that in the sensitive cells, HCMV blocks intracellular regulation of microRNA expression already at the earliest stage of infection. These data suggest somewhat new functions for HCMV products and demonstrate dependence of miR expression arrest on the host-encoded factors.     

Induction of apoptosis in human replicative senescent fibroblasts

Cellular senescence is an irreversible growth phase characteristic of normal cells. We have found that human senescent fibroblasts can be induced to undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis) by ceramide, TNF-alpha, or okadaic acid. The most profound effects were induced by TNF-alpha and okadaic acid treatment. In the present study, we also evaluated the contribution of lysosomal activation as a possible mechanism underlying the induction of apoptosis. Four lysosomal enzyme activities were measured: beta-galactosidase, alpha-galactosidase A, beta-glucoronidase, and acid phosphatase. Using an in situ assay, we have found that the activity of beta-galactosidase, which is also a biochemical marker of senescence, is induced in young proliferating fibroblasts following exposure to all three apoptotic inducing agents. The other enzymes were not significantly induced in young fibroblasts following exposure to agents that induce apoptosis. During replicative senescence, three of the four lysosomal enzymes tested (beta-galactosidase, alpha-galactosidase A, and beta-glucoronidase) are constitutively expressed at high levels. TNF-alpha was the only agent that induced lysosomal activity in senescent fibroblasts, of which only alpha-galactosidase A activity was induced. Our studies show that senescent fibroblasts can be induced to undergo apoptosis in a signal-dependent manner. However, the lysosomal enzymes examined do not appear to be correlated with apoptotic induction.     

Induction of surface IgG receptors in cytomegalovirus-infected human fibroblasts

Binding studies on diploid human fibroblasts with human immunoglobulin G (IgG) demonstrate the existence of a specific receptor for this class of immunoglobulin. The receptor preferentially binds aggregated human IgG and recognizes these complexes via the Fc portion of the molecule. Cytomegalovirus infection of diploid human fibroblasts results in a more than 100-fold increase in the number of IgG-receptors present on the cell surface. The binding of aggregated IgG by these newly expressed receptors exhibits the characteristics of the binding mediated by the receptors detectable in uninfected cells.     

Interferon effects on the growth and division of human fibroblasts.

The overall rate of proliferation of human fibroblasts in culture is reduced at interferon concentrations greater than 40 international reference units (U)/ml. Inhibition is near maximal at 640 U/ml, at which concentration the doubling time between 24 and 72 h after beginning of treatment is increased 2–3 times over the control value. Inhibition of cell proliferation was not readily reversible upon removal of interferon and refeeding of cultures. Study of the mitotic behavior of individual cells showed that the first intermitotic interval after beginning of treatment with interferon (640 U/ml) was prolonged in about two-thirds of the cells. In this fraction, many cells failed to divide again after the second post-treatment mitosis, while others exhibited a progressively increasing intermitotic interval with subsequent divisions. One-third of the interferon-treated fibroblasts initially divided at a rate similar to the rate of proliferation of control cells, but subsequently these cells also slowed down and finally stopped dividing. After treatment at 640 U/ml for 3 days, the rates of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis were depressed to 86, 75, and 64% of control values, respectively. However, the interferon-treated fibroblasts had grown larger than control cells as indicated by the following parameters: cell attachment area, 165%; volume, 131%; DNA content, 130% and protein content, 150%. Thus, interferon does not prevent cell growth, but interferes with cell division.     

The permeability barrier in the epidermis of the grass snake during the resting stage of the sloughing cycle

Summary Tracer and freeze-fracture replication techniques show that there are two morphologically and topographically distinct permeability barriers in the epidermis of the grass snake. Tight junctions interconnect the apico-lateral plasma membranes of the uppermost living cells, establishing an ionic or osmotic gradient between the stratum germinativum and alpha layer. The second barrier is formed by intercellular lipid sheets in the overlying mesos layer, which are very similar to the barrier found in the stratum corneum of mammals.     

Induction of mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in cultured human fibroblasts.

Mitochondria of cultured normal human fibroblast cells were found to contain the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. The activity of this enzyme in these cells is increased 2- to 3-fold by addition of 5 . 10(-4) M dibutyryl cyclic AMP, or 1.5- to 2-fold by the addition of dexamethasone (2 . 10(-7) M) or hydrocortisone (1.38 . 10(-6) M). These increases in enzyme activity were inhibited cycloheximide and actinomycin D, suggesting they are dependent upon de novo protein synthesis. Cultured human fibroblasts may thus provide a useful system for studying the regulation of mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase.     

Induction of cystine transport activity in human fibroblasts by oxygen

The transport activity for cystine in cultured human fibroblasts decreased after incubation of the cells under a low oxygen concentration. After the incubation for 48 h under 3% oxygen, the Vmax of the transport was decreased to less than one-third of that of the control cells, with little change in Km. The similar transport activity was observed in the cells cultured under 3% oxygen for 10-40 days with several times of passages. When these low oxygen-cultured cells were incubated under room air, the activity was enhanced with a lag of about 4 h and was almost completely restored within 24 h. This restoration required protein synthesis. The cystine transport activity increased by 50% after exposure of the cells to hyperoxia (40% oxygen). From these results it is concluded that the transport activity for cystine is induced by oxygen. In contrast, little change in the transport activities for alanine and leucine occurred in the cells exposed to the corresponding hypoxia or hyperoxia. Since the cystine transported into the cells is reduced to cysteine and the cysteine readily exits to the culture medium where it autoxidizes to cystine, a cystine-cysteine cycle across the plasma membrane has been postulated. Since the autoxidation of cysteine in the culture medium was markedly slowed down under the low oxygen concentration, the change in the cystine transport activity in response to the oxygen concentration was regarded as pertinent. Induction of the cystine transport activity may constitute a protective mechanism against the oxidative stress, to which the culture cells are exposed, by providing the cells with cysteine which is mainly incorporated into glutathione.     

Early induction of autophagy in human fibroblasts after infection with human cytomegalovirus or herpes simplex virus 1

The infection of human fetal foreskin fibroblasts (HFFF2) with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) resulted in the induction of autophagy. This was demonstrated by the increased lipidation of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), a hallmark of autophagy, and by the visualization of characteristic vesicles within infected cells. The response was detected first at 2 h postinfection and persisted for at least 3 days. De novo protein synthesis was not required for the effect, since HCMV that was irradiated with UV light also elicited the response, and furthermore the continuous presence of cycloheximide did not prevent induction. Infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) under conditions that inhibited viral gene expression provoked autophagy, whereas UV-irradiated respiratory syncytial virus did not. The induction of autophagy occurred when cells were infected with HCMV or HSV-1 that was gradient purified, but HCMV dense bodies and HSV-1 light particles, each of which lack nucleocapsids and genomes, were inactive. The depletion of regulatory proteins Atg5 and Atg7, which are required for autophagy, reduced LC3 modification in response to infection but did not result in any detectable difference in viral or cellular gene expression at early times after infection. The electroporation of DNA into HFFF2 cultures induced the lipidation of LC3 but double-stranded RNA did not, even though both agents stimulated an innate immune response. The results show a novel, early cellular response to the presence of the incoming virion and additionally demonstrate that autophagy can be induced by the presence of foreign DNA within cells.     

Induction of 3T3 cell division at the monolayer stage : Early changes in macromolecular processes

We have previously demonstrated that 3T3 cells at the monolayer stage can be induced to divide by brief treatment with a variety of proteases. We have now used this system to investigate the macromolecular changes occurring in 3T3 cells induced to divide in this manner. Immediately after pronase treatment, 3T3 cells become agglutinable with concanavalin A. This is rapidly followed in order by a decrease in cyclic AMP concentration within the cell, and an increase in RNA synthesis and uridine transport. The increases in RNA synthesis and uridine transport are dependent on concomitant protein synthesis. Specific protein synthesis follows 1 h after protease treatment, with DNA synthesis occurring 24 h after treatment and mitosis 30 h after treatment. This work suggests that following alteration of the surface membrane a variety of intercellular macromolecular processes occur which eventually culminate in DNA synthesis and cell division. Such a series of events may occur during each cell cycle in non-confluent 3T3 cells.     

Antigen presentation by human dermal fibroblasts: activation of resting T lymphocytes

We have shown that human dermal fibroblasts, exposed to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to induce surface class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens, were capable of presenting tetanus toxoid (TT) antigen to human TT-specific T cell clones. Antigen presentation by fibroblasts was antigen dependent, required HLA-DR expression by fibroblasts, and was MHC restricted. In contrast, we now report that IFN-gamma-treated fibroblasts are unable to present TT antigen to purified resting T cells obtained from the peripheral blood of TT-immune donors. In addition, although IFN-gamma-treated fibroblasts were able to stimulate alloreactive T cell clones, they were unable by themselves to stimulate primary allogeneic responses in resting T cells. The failure of fibroblasts to stimulate resting T cells was not due to suppressor effects by fibroblasts, because induction of TT and alloantigen responses in resting T cells by monocytes was not inhibited by the presence of fibroblasts. On the contrary, IFN-treated fibroblasts were synergistic with small numbers of monocytes in activating resting T cells. In addition, the failure of antigen presentation by fibroblasts to resting T cells was reversed by the addition of recombinant human interleukin 2 (rIL 2) to cultures, but not of purified human interleukin 1 (IL 1). These results emphasize that the requirements for activation of resting T cells differ from those of T cell clones. Although fibroblasts can efficiently present antigen to T cell clones, antigen presentation by fibroblasts to resting T cells requires the addition of exogenous IL 2. It is postulated that fibroblasts differ from classical antigen-presenting cells in that fibroblasts are incapable of stimulating the production of IL 2 in resting T cells.     

Induction of interferon gamma in human gingival fibroblasts challenged with phytohaemagglutinin

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) is a potential immunoregulatory cytokine, which is secreted mainly by cells of immune origin. In this study, we examined the capacity of human gingival fibroblasts as non-professional immune cells to express IFN-gamma messenger RNA (mRNA) and to produce the protein. Cultures of fibroblast cells were established from gingival biopsies from three children. The expression of mRNA for IFN-gamma was studied by in situ hybridization, and the level of IFN-gamma was determined by cell-released capturing ELISA. Treatment of the cells with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) (2.5, 5.0, and 10 microg/ml) increased the number of IFN-gamma mRNA expressing cells and the protein production at 1, 6, and 24 h. Non-stimulated cells did not reveal measurable levels of IFN-gamma mRNA or the protein. The inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) (100 microg/ml) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) (10 ng/ml) did not affect IFN-gamma mRNA expression or protein production. Treatment of the cells with 1 microM phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) stimulated IFN-gamma mRNA expression but had no effect on IFN-gamma protein production. We conclude that human gingival fibroblasts not only transcribe IFN-gamma mRNA but also produce the IFN-gamma protein in response to PHA. The finding that human gingival fibroblasts, produce the cytokine IFN-gamma, further support the concept that these cells take an active part in the modulation of the inflammatory and immune response in the periodontal tissue.