Effect of central myelin on the proliferation and differentiation into O4+ oligodendrocytes of GFP-NSCs

Cell adhesion is an important process during morphogenesis, differentiation, and homeostasis in cell biology. The role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cell adhesion of keratinocytes is unclear. In our study, a human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT cells, which mimics various properties of normal epidermal keratinocytes, was included to elucidate the effect of VEGF on cell-cell adhesion and cell-plate adhesion. Expression of adhesion molecules account for cell adhesion and signal transduction pathways involved in the effect of VEGF on adhesion of HaCaT cells were further investigated. Significant increase of cell-cell adhesion but decrease of the cell-plate adhesion of HaCaT cells induced by VEGF(165) was detected. VEGF increases expression of E-cadherin, but inhibits expression of integrin α6β4 subunit. VEGF(165) at 100?ng/ml activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase. These changes of cell adhesion induced by VEGF were blocked by ERK and VEGFR-2 inhibitor. Our findings suggest that VEGF may modulate cell adhesion of HaCaT cells partly through activation of VEGFR-2/ERK1/2 signaling pathways.     

Distribution of desmoplakin in normal cultured human keratinocytes and in basal cell carcinoma cells

In cultured human keratinocytes (NHEK) maintained in medium containing low levels of Ca2+ (0.04 mM) desmoplakin is a component of certain electron-dense bodies in the cytoplasm. These bodies are associated with bundles of intermediate filaments. Upon elevation of the level of Ca2+ in the culture medium to 1.2 mM, desmoplakin first appears at sites of cell-cell contact in association with bundles of intermediate filaments. Subsequently, desmoplakin becomes incorporated into desmosomes in a manner comparable to that seen in mouse keratinocytes (Jones and Goldman: Journal of Cell Biology 101:506-517, 1985). NHEK cells maintained for 24 hr at Ca2+ concentrations between 0.04 mM and 0.18 mM were processed for immunofluorescence, immunoelectron, and conventional electron microscopical analysis. In NHEK cells grown at Ca2+ concentrations of 0.11 mM, desmoplakin appears to be localized in electron-dense bodies associated with intermediate filaments at sites of cell-cell contact in the absence of formed desmosomes. At a Ca2+ concentration of 0.13 mM desmoplakin is arrayed like beads on a "string" of intermediate filaments at areas of cell-cell association. At 0.15 mM, desmosome formation occurs, and desmoplakin is associated with the desmosomal plaque. In basal cell carcinoma cells desmoplakin is not restricted to desmosomes but also occurs in certain electron-dense bodies morphologically similar to those seen in NHEK maintained in low levels of Ca2+ and during early stages of desmosome assembly. We discuss the possibility of "cycling" of desmoplakin through these bodies in proliferative cells.     

GEF-H1 couples nocodazole-induced microtubule disassembly to cell contractility via RhoA

The RhoA GTPase plays a vital role in assembly of contractile actin-myosin filaments (stress fibers) and of associated focal adhesion complexes of adherent monolayer cells in culture. GEF-H1 is a microtubule-associated guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates RhoA upon release from microtubules. The overexpression of GEF-H1 deficient in microtubule binding or treatment of HeLa cells with nocodazole to induce microtubule depolymerization results in Rho-dependent actin stress fiber formation and contractile cell morphology. However, whether GEF-H1 is required and sufficient to mediate nocodazole-induced contractility remains unclear. We establish here that siRNA-mediated depletion of GEF-H1 in HeLa cells prevents nocodazole-induced cell contraction. Furthermore, the nocodazole-induced activation of RhoA and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) that mediates phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain (MLC) is impaired in GEF-H1–depleted cells. Conversely, RhoA activation and contractility are rescued by reintroduction of siRNA-resistant GEF-H1. Our studies reveal a critical role for a GEF-H1/RhoA/ROCK/MLC signaling pathway in mediating nocodazole-induced cell contractility.     

Ca2+ and UVB Radiation Have No Effect on E-Cadherin-Mediated Melanocyte-Keratinocyte Adhesion

Direct cell-cell contact between melanocytes and keratinocytes has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of human melanocyte function and skin pigmentation. An important role for the calcium-dependent epithelium-specific cell adhesion molecule, E-cadherin, in melanocyte-keratinocyte adhesion was suggested previously. To further clarify regulation of E-cadherin-mediated melanocyte-keratinocyte interactions, we investigated the effects of physiological (Ca²⁺) and environmental (ultraviolet B [UVB] radiation) stimuli on the expression and functional activity of E-cadherin in melanocyte-keratinocyte adhesion. Expression of E-cadherin mRNA was detected by Northern blot analysis in cultured normal human melanocytes at levels similar to those in keratinocytes. Flow cytometry analysis with anti-human and anti-mouse-E-cadherin antibodies (anti-uvomorulin and ECCD-2) showed that cultured normal human keratinocytes, melanocytes, and two metastatic melanoma cell lines express E-cadherin strongly on the cell surfaces. Melanocyte adhesion, particularly to differentiating keratinocytes (cultured in 1.2 mM calcium) but not to proliferating keratinocytes or to fibroblasts, was decreased by 41.7 ± 4.5% in the absence of 1 mM Ca²⁺ during the binding assay. Addition of anti-mouse-E-cadherin antibody (ECCD-1) to the binding assay inhibited the adhesion of melanocytes to differentiating keratinocytes by 88.2 ± 1.1%, while addition of anti-P-cadherin antibody (PCD-1) had no effect. The levels of E-cadherin expression in melanocytes were not changed by the presence of calcium (1 mM) in the medium or by UVB irradiation (20 mJ/cm²) for one day before flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, these treatments had no effect on melanocyte-keratinocyte adhesion. These results demonstrate that E-cadherin is strongly involved in melanocyte adhesion to keratinocytes and suggest the implication of E-cadherin in the overall regulation of the skin pigmentary system.     

Matrix metalloproteinase 19 regulates insulin-like growth factor-mediated proliferation,migration, and adhesion in human keratinocytes through proteolysis of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3

Unlike most other matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-19 is expressed in undifferentiated basal keratinocytes of healthy human skin. The human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT, which like basal keratinocytes constitutively expresses MMP-19, down-regulated the expression of MMP-19 at high calcium concentrations. Calcium-regulation occurred through E-cadherin mediated cell-cell contacts because neutralizing anti-E-cadherin antibodies restored MMP-19 expression in high calcium. Overexpression of MMP-19 in HaCaT cells (HaCaT-WT) increased cellular proliferation, as well as migration and adhesion on type I collagen. This was due to proteolysis of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-3 by MMP-19, which augmented signaling through the IGF-I receptor, as evidenced by its increased autophosphorylation. Conversely, these effects were not observed in cells transfected with MMP-2 or a catalytically inactive MMP-19 mutant. As further proof that increased IGF-signaling promoted adhesion and migration in HaCaT-WT cells, we reproduced these effects by treating parental HaCaT with IGF-I. We observed dephosphorylation of the focal adhesion kinase in HaCaT-WT as well as IGF-I-treated HaCaT cells, suggesting that inactivating focal adhesion kinase is a mechanism by which IGF-I enhances adhesion. Furthermore, IGF-I-triggered motility on type I collagen was mediated by MMP activity, which, however, was distinct from MMP-19. Considering the coexpression of IGFBP-3 and MMP-19 in the skin, we conclude that MMP-19 is a likely candidate to be the major IGFBP-3 degrading MMP in the quiescent epidermis. This activity might have widespread consequences for the behavior of epidermal keratinocytes.     

Ca2+-dependent localization of integrin-linked kinase to cell junctions in differentiating keratinocytes

Integrin complexes are necessary for proper proliferation and differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes. Differentiation of these cells is accompanied by down-regulation of integrins and focal adhesions as well as formation of intercellular adherens junctions through E-cadherin homodimerization. A central component of integrin adhesion complexes is integrin-linked kinase (ILK), which can induce loss of E-cadherin expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation when ectopically expressed in intestinal and mammary epithelia. In cultured primary mouse keratinocytes, we find that ILK protein levels are independent of integrin expression and signaling, since they remain constant during Ca(2+)-induced differentiation. In contrast, keratinocyte differentiation is accompanied by marked reduction in kinase activity in ILK immunoprecipitates and altered ILK subcellular distribution. Specifically, ILK distributes in close apposition to actin fibers along intercellular junctions in differentiated but not in undifferentiated keratinocytes. ILK localization to cell-cell borders occurs independently of integrin signaling and requires Ca(2+) as well as an intact actin cytoskeleton. Further, and in contrast to what is observed in other epithelial cells, ILK overexpression in differentiated keratinocytes does not promote E-cadherin down-regulation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Thus, novel tissue-specific mechanisms control the formation of ILK complexes associated with cell-cell junctions in differentiating murine epidermal keratinocytes.     

Degradation of focal adhesion proteins during nocodazole-induced apoptosis in rat-1 cells

Nocodazole, a microtubule-disrupting agent, induced apoptosis in Rat-1 cells, as indicated by changes in cell morphology, DNA fragmentation, and eventual cell death. During nocodazole-induced apoptosis, normally flat cells became rounded in shape and detached from the extracellular matrix. These morphological changes appeared to be closely associated with degradation of focal adhesion proteins, including p130cas, p125(FAK) and paxillin. p130cas was also degraded in cells treated with staurosporine or etoposide, suggesting that degradation of focal adhesion proteins is a characteristic feature of apoptosis. Nocodazole-induced apoptosis was antagonized by Bcl-2: degradation of focal adhesion proteins was suppressed and cell viability was enhanced in bcl-2 over-expressing cells, even in the presence of nocodazole. Further study of the molecular mechanism of Bcl-2 activation should provide an understanding of the apoptosis induced by disruption of the microtubule network.     

The endocannabinoid system in human keratinocytes. Evidence that anandamide inhibits epidermal differentiation through CB1 receptor-dependent inhibition of protein kinase C,activation protein-1, and transglutaminase

Anandamide (AEA), a prominent member of the endogenous ligands of cannabinoid receptors (endocannabinoids), is known to affect several functions of brain and peripheral tissues. A potential role for AEA in skin pathophysiology has been proposed, yet its molecular basis remains unknown. Here we report unprecedented evidence that spontaneously immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) have the biochemical machinery to bind and metabolize AEA, i.e. a functional type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R), a selective AEA membrane transporter (AMT), an AEA-degrading fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), and an AEA-synthesizing phospholipase D (PLD). We show that, unlike CB1R and PLD, the activity of AMT and the activity and expression of FAAH increase while the endogenous levels of AEA decrease in HaCaT and NHEK cells induced to differentiate in vitro by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) plus calcium. We also show that exogenous AEA inhibits the formation of cornified envelopes, a hallmark of keratinocyte differentiation, in HaCaT and NHEK cells treated with TPA plus calcium, through a CB1R-dependent reduction of transglutaminase and protein kinase C activity. Moreover, transient expression in HaCaT cells of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene under control of the loricrin promoter, which contained a wild-type or mutated activating protein-1 (AP-1) site, showed that AEA inhibited AP-1 in a CB1R-dependent manner. Taken together, these data demonstrate that human keratinocytes partake in the peripheral endocannabinoid system and show a novel signaling mechanism of CB1 receptors, which may have important implications in epidermal differentiation and skin development.     

Functional role for stable microtubules in lens fiber cell elongation

The process of tissue morphogenesis, especially for tissues reliant on the establishment of a specific cytoarchitecture for their functionality, depends a balanced interplay between cytoskeletal elements and their interactions with cell adhesion molecules. The microtubule cytoskeleton, which has many roles in the cell, is a determinant of directional cell migration, a process that underlies many aspects of development. We investigated the role of microtubules in development of the lens, a tissue where cell elongation underlies morphogenesis. Our studies with the microtubule depolymerizing agent nocodazole revealed an essential function for the acetylated population of stable microtubules in the elongation of lens fiber cells, which was linked to their regulation of the activation state of myosin. Suppressing myosin activation with the inhibitor blebbistatin could attenuate the loss of acetylated microtubules by nocodazole and rescue the effect of this microtubule depolymerization agent on both fiber cell elongation and lens integrity. Our results also suggest that acetylated microtubules impact lens morphogenesis through their interaction with N-cadherin junctions, with which they specifically associate in the region where lens fiber cell elongate. Disruption of the stable microtubule network increased N-cadherin junctional organization along lateral borders of differentiating lens fiber cells, which was prevented by suppression of myosin activity. These results reveal a role for the stable microtubule population in lens fiber cell elongation, acting in tandem with N-cadherin cell-cell junctions and the actomyosin network, giving insight into the cooperative role these systems play in tissue morphogenesis.     

Distinct Epidermal Keratinocytes Respond to Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Differently

Following an increase in the use of electric appliances that can generate 50 or 60 Hz electromagnetic fields, concerns have intensified regarding the biological effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on human health. Previous epidemiological studies have suggested the carcinogenic potential of environmental exposure to ELF-EMFs, specifically at 50 or 60 Hz. However, the biological mechanism facilitating the effects of ELF-EMFs remains unclear. Cellular studies have yielded inconsistent results regarding the biological effects of ELF-EMFs. The inconsistent results might have been due to diverse cell types. In our previous study, we indicated that 1.5 mT, 60 Hz ELF-EMFs will cause G1 arrest through the activation of the ATM-Chk2-p21 pathway in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether ELF-EMFs cause similar effects in a distinct epidermal keratinocyte, primary normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK), by using the same ELF-EMF exposure system and experimental design. We observed that ELF-EMFs exerted no effects on cell growth, cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and the activation of ATM signaling pathway in NHEK cells. We demonstrated that the 2 epidermal keratinocytes responded to ELF-EMFs differently. To further validate this finding, we simultaneously exposed the NHEK and HaCaT cells to ELF-EMFs in the same incubator for 168 h and observed the cell growths. The simultaneous exposure of the two cell types results showed that the NHEK and HaCaT cells exhibited distinct responses to ELF-EMFs. Thus, we confirmed that the biological effects of ELF-EMFs in epidermal keratinocytes are cell type specific. Our findings may partially explain the inconsistent results of previous studies when comparing results across various experimental models.     

Cathepsin B is essential for regeneration of scratch-wounded normal human epidermal keratinocytes

Migration, proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes are important processes during tissue regeneration and wound healing of the skin. Here, we focussed on proteases that contribute to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling as a prerequisite of keratinocyte migration. In particular, we assessed the significance of the mammalian cysteine peptidase cathepsin B for human keratinocytes during regeneration from scratch wounding. We describe the construction of a scratch apparatus that allows applying scratches of defined length, width and depth to cultured cells in a reproducible fashion. The rationale for our approach derived from our previous work where we have shown that HaCaT keratinocytes secrete cathepsin B into the extracellular space during spontaneous and induced migration. Here, we observed rapid removal of type IV collagen from underneath lamellipodial extensions of keratinocytes at the advancing fronts of regenerating monolayers, indicating that proteolytic ECM remodeling starts upon initiation of keratinocyte migration. Furthermore, we verified our previous results with HaCaT cells by using normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) and show that non-cell-permeant cathepsin B-specific inhibitors delayed full regeneration of the monolayers from scratch wounding in both cell systems, HaCaT and NHEK. Application of a single dose of cathepsin B inhibitor directly after scratch wounding of keratinocytes demonstrated that cathepsin B is essential during initial stages of wound healing, while its contribution to the subsequent processes of proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes was of less significance. This notion was supported by our observation that the cathepsin B inhibitors used in this study did not affect proliferation rates of keratinocytes of regenerating cultures. Thus, we conclude that cathepsin B is indeed involved in ECM remodeling after its secretion from migrating keratinocytes. Cathepsin B might directly cleave ECM constituents or it may initiate proteolytic cascades that involve other proteases with the ability to degrade ECM components. Because cathepsin B is important for enabling migration of both, HaCaT cells and NHEK, our results support the notion that HaCaT keratinocytes represent an excellent cell culture model for analysis of human epidermal skin keratinocyte migration.     

Novel function for beta 1 integrins in keratinocyte cell-cell interactions.

We have examined the expression, localization, and function of beta 1 integrins on cultured human epidermal keratinocytes using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against the beta 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, and alpha 5 integrin subunits. The beta 1 polypeptide, common to all class 1 integrins, was localized primarily in areas of cell-cell contacts of cultured keratinocytes, as were alpha 2 and alpha 3 polypeptides, suggesting a possible role in cell-cell adhesion for these integrin polypeptides. In contrast, the fibronectin receptor alpha 5 subunit showed no such accumulations in regions of cell-cell contact but was more diffusely distributed in the keratinocyte plasma membrane, consistent with the absence of fibronectin at cell-cell contact sites. Colonies of cultured keratinocytes could be dissociated by treatment with monoclonal antibody specific to the beta 1 polypeptide. Such dissociation of cell-cell contacts also occurred under conditions where the monoclonal antibody had no effect on cell-substrate adhesion. Therefore, beta 1 integrin-dependent cell-cell adhesion can be inhibited without affecting other cell-adhesive interactions. Antibody treatment of keratinocytes maintained in either low (0.15 mM) or high (1.2 mM) CaCl2 also resulted in the loss of organization of intracellular F-actin filaments and beta 1 integrins, even when the anti-beta 1 monoclonal antibody had no dissociating effect on keratinocyte colonies at the higher calcium concentration. Our results indicate that beta 1 integrins play roles in the maintenance of cell-cell contacts between keratinocytes and in the organization of intracellular microfilaments. They suggest that in epithelial cells integrins can function in cell-cell interactions as well as in cell-substrate adhesion.     

Evidence that cadherins play a role in the downregulation of integrin expression that occurs during keratinocyte terminal differentiation

In epidermis the onset of terminal differentiation normally coincides with inhibition of integrin function and expression, thereby ensuring that differentiating cells are selectively expelled from the basal layer. However, when stratification of cultured human epidermal keratinocytes is prevented by reducing the calcium concentration of the medium to 0.1 mM, keratinocytes initiate terminal differentiation while still attached to the culture substrate. We have examined the mechanism by which differentiating keratinocytes adhere to extracellular matrix proteins in low calcium medium and the consequences of inducing stratification by raising the calcium ion concentration to 1.8 mM (Standard Medium). In low calcium medium keratinocytes co-expressed integrins and terminal differentiation markers such as involucrin and peanut lectin-binding glycoproteins: differentiating cells contained integrin mRNA, synthesized integrin proteins de novo and expressed functional mature integrins. There were no differences in integrin synthesis, maturation or break down in low calcium or standard medium, although the level of beta 1 integrins on the surface of proliferating cells was higher in standard medium. Within 6 h of transfer from low calcium to standard medium integrin mRNA was no longer detectable in terminally differentiating cells, integrins were being lost from the cell surface, and selective migration out of the basal layer had begun. Antibodies to P- and E-cadherin, which block calcium-induced stratification, prevented the selective loss of integrin mRNA and protein from terminally differentiating cells. This suggests that cadherins may play a role in the down-regulation of integrin expression that is associated with terminal differentiation.     

RNAi-mediated inhibition of the desmosomal cadherin (desmoglein 3) impairs epithelial cell proliferation

Objectives: Desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) is a desmosomal adhesion protein expressed in basal and immediate suprabasal layers of skin. Importance of Dsg3 in cell-cell adhesion and maintenance of tissue integrity is illustrated by findings of keratinocyte dissociation in the autoimmune disease, pemphigus vulgaris, where autoantibodies target Dsg3 on keratinocyte surfaces and cause Dsg3 depletion from desmosomes. However, recognition of possible participation of involvement of Dsg3 in cell proliferation remains controversial. Currently, available evidence suggests that Dsg3 may have both anti- and pro-proliferative roles in keratinocytes. The aim of this study was to use RNA interference (RNAi) strategy to investigate effects of silencing Dsg3 in cell-cell adhesion and cell proliferation in two cell lines, HaCaT and MDCK. Materials and methods: Cells were transfected with siRNA, and knockdown of Dsg3 was assessed by western blotting, fluorescence-activated cell sorting and confocal microscopy. Cell-cell adhesion was analysed using the hanging drop/fragmentation assay, and cell proliferation by colony forming efficiency, BrdU incorporation, cell counts and organotypic culture. Results: Silencing Dsg3 caused defects in cell-cell adhesion and concomitant reduction in cell proliferation in both HaCaT and MDCK cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that Dsg3 depletion by RNAi reduces cell proliferation, which is likely to be secondary to a defect in cell-cell adhesion, an essential function required for cell differentiation and morphogenesis.     

Role of cyclin B1/Cdc2 up-regulation in the development of mitotic prometaphase arrest in human breast cancer cells treated with nocodazole

Background

During a normal cell cycle, the transition from G₂ phase to mitotic phase is triggered by the activation of the cyclin B1-dependent Cdc2 kinase. Here we report our finding that treatment of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with nocodazole, a prototypic microtubule inhibitor, results in strong up-regulation of cyclin B1 and Cdc2 levels, and their increases are required for the development of mitotic prometaphase arrest and characteristic phenotypes.

Methodology/Principal Findings

It was observed that there was a time-dependent early increase in cyclin B1 and Cdc2 protein levels (peaking between 12 and 24 h post treatment), and their levels started to decline after the initial increase. This early up-regulation of cyclin B1 and Cdc2 closely matched in timing the nocodazole-induced mitotic prometaphase arrest. Selective knockdown of cyclin B1or Cdc2 each abrogated nocodazole-induced accumulation of prometaphase cells. The nocodazole-induced prometaphase arrest was also abrogated by pre-treatment of cells with roscovitine, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, or with cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor that was found to suppress cyclin B1 and Cdc2 up-regulation. In addition, we found that MAD2 knockdown abrogated nocodazole-induced accumulation of cyclin B1 and Cdc2 proteins, which was accompanied by an attenuation of nocodazole-induced prometaphase arrest.

Conclusions/Significance

These observations demonstrate that the strong early up-regulation of cyclin B1 and Cdc2 contributes critically to the rapid and selective accumulation of prometaphase-arrested cells, a phenomenon associated with exposure to microtubule inhibitors.     

Calcium-Induced Intercellular Adhesion of Keratinocytes Does not Involve Accumulation of β1 Integrins at Cell-Cell Contacts and Does not Involve Changes in the Levels or Phosphorylation of Catenins

On initiation of terminal differentiation human epidermal keratinocytes detach from the underlying basement membrane as a result of inactivation and subsequent loss of integrins from the cell surface. Assembly of keratinocytes into multilayered sheets requires functional E-and P-cadherin and when stratification is inhibited in low calcium medium differentiating keratinocytes continue to express functional integrins. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we found that on addition of calcium ions to keratinocyte monolayers there was colocalisation of the β₁ integrins and E-cadherin along the lateral membranes except for a zone close to the substratum which exclusively contained integrins. Quantitative immunoelectron microscopy showed that on induction of stable cell-cell contacts the density of β₁ integrins was the same on the apical and lateral membranes, suggesting that the accumulation of integrins on the lateral membranes observed by immunofluorescence microscopy is due to the increased area of contact between adjacent cells and not to an increase in receptor density. There were no changes in the levels of catenins and their degree of phosphorylation after induction of cell-cell contacts. These observations provide new sights into the mechanism of calcium-dependent intercellular adhesion of keratinocytes.     

Nanomolar concentrations of nocodazole alter microtubule dynamic instability in vivo and in vitro.

Previous studies demonstrated that nanomolar concentrations of nocodazole can block cells in mitosis without net microtubule disassembly and resulted in the hypothesis that this block was due to a nocodazole-induced stabilization of microtubules. We tested this hypothesis by examining the effects of nanomolar concentrations of nocodazole on microtubule dynamic instability in interphase cells and in vitro with purified brain tubulin. Newt lung epithelial cell microtubules were visualized by video-enhanced differential interference contrast microscopy and cells were perfused with solutions of nocodazole ranging in concentration from 4 to 400 nM. Microtubules showed a loss of the two-state behavior typical of dynamic instability as evidenced by the addition of a third state where they exhibited little net change in length (a paused state). Nocodazole perfusion also resulted in slower elongation and shortening velocities, increased catastrophe, and an overall decrease in microtubule turnover. Experiments performed on BSC-1 cells that were microinjected with rhodamine-labeled tubulin, incubated in nocodazole for 1 h, and visualized by using low-light-level fluorescence microscopy showed similar results except that nocodazole-treated BSC-1 cells showed a decrease in catastrophe. To gain insight into possible mechanisms responsible for changes in dynamic instability, we examined the effects of 4 nM to 12 microM nocodazole on the assembly of purified tubulin from axoneme seeds. At both microtubule plus and minus ends, perfusion with nocodazole resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in elongation and shortening velocities, increase in pause duration and catastrophe frequency, and decrease in rescue frequency. These effects, which result in an overall decrease in microtubule turnover after nocodazole treatment, suggest that the mitotic block observed is due to a reduction in microtubule dynamic turnover. In addition, the in vitro results are similar to the effects of increasing concentrations of GDP-tubulin (TuD) subunits on microtubule assembly. Given that nocodazole increases tubulin GTPase activity, we propose that nocodazole acts by generating TuD subunits that then alter dynamic instability.     

Evidence supporting a role for dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, bioenergetics, and p53 in selective teriflunomide-induced apoptosis in transformed versus normal human keratinocytes

We have demonstrated previously that the dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor teriflunomide (TFN) encourages apoptosis in transformed human keratinocytes. Here we sought to determine if this cytotoxic effect could be restricted to transformed keratinocytes relative to their normal human epidermal keratinocyte (NHEK) counterparts, and ascertain a potential mechanistic basis for the selectivity. The NHEK cells proliferated much slower than the premalignant HaCaT and malignant COLO 16 keratinocytes, and exogenous uridine added to the culture medium did not affect this growth. Similarly, DHODH expression and the bioenergetic characteristics of the normal cells were markedly dissimilar from those observed in the transformed cells indicating that de novo pyrimidine synthesis was involved with keratinocyte proliferation. Moreover, a short-term exposure to TFN caused a wild-type p53 response in the NHEK cells illustrating that pyrimidine metabolic stress could regulate this tumor suppressor protein in the normal cells. TFN-induced apoptosis occurred primarily in S phase HaCaT cells. This cell death was sensitive to uridine, an antioxidant, and a caspase inhibitor, and the suppression of Bcl-X_L and the induction of Mn superoxide dismutase preceded it. These events suggested that mitochondrial/redox stress was involved with the cytotoxic effect of TFN. Conversely, a long-term exposure to TFN caused G₀/G₁ arrest in the NHEK cells, which supported a cytoprotective role for p53 against TFN-induced apoptosis. Together, these results propose that TFN could be useful in the prevention or therapy of non-melanoma skin cancers and possibly other hyperproliferative keratinocytic diseases.     

Selective cytotoxicity of Aniba rosaeodora essential oil towards epidermoid cancer cells through induction of apoptosis

Essential oils are complex mixtures of odorous and volatile compounds derived from secondary plant metabolism. They can be isolated from many plants by mechanical pressing or hydro- and steam-distillation and are known to induce a wide range of biological effects through their antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, antioxidant and antimutagenic activities. In order to explore their beneficial properties on human skin cells, we investigated the effects of an essential oil from rosewood Aniba rosaeodora (REO) on the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431, on immortal HaCaT cells thought to represent an early stage of skin carcinogenesis, on transformed normal HEK001 keratinocytes and on primary normal NHEK keratinocytes. In a defined range of concentrations, REO selectively killed A431 and HaCaT cells. The same treatments had only a minor cytotoxic effect on HEK001 and NHEK cells. Preferentially in A431 and HaCaT cells, REO triggered the production of reactive oxygen species, induced depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane and caused caspase-dependent cell death characterized by phosphatidylserine externalization, an early marker of apoptosis. Both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways were implicated in REO-induced cell death. The identification of selective induction of apoptosis in precancerous and cancerous skin cells by REO highlights the potential anticancer activity of this essential oil.