Immunoglobulins in hypertrophic scars and keloids

Immunoglobulins A, G, and M were localized in normal skin, hypertrophic scars, keloids, and mature scars by the direct immunofluorescent antibody method. All three immunoglobulins appeared increased in the lesions above levels observed in normal skin. Extractions of the immunoglobulins from the same type of tissues also suggested an increase above levels from normal skin. The data suggest attritional leakage of several plasma proteins from the microvasculature in the lesions. No one immunoglobulin appears significantly increased in the lesions compared with others.     

病理性瘢痕的发病机制及临床治疗方法的进展

增生性瘢痕和瘢痕疙瘩是临床上常见的病理性瘢痕。本文阐述了局部和全身因素对其形成的影响机制,并对其临床治疗方法的现状和将来的可能性治疗作一概述。     

Differential apoptosis markers in human keloids and hypertrophic scars fibroblasts

We previously demonstrated the increased amyloid precursor protein (APP) immunoreactivity around the site of damage after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the function of APP after TBI has not been evaluated. In this study, we investigated the effects of direct infusion of an anti-APP antibody into the damaged brain region on cerebral function and morphological changes following TBI in rats. Three days after TBI, there were many TUNEL-positive neurons and astrocytes around the damaged region and a significantly greater number of TUNEL-positive cells in the PBS group compared with the anti-APP group found. Seven days after TBI, there were significantly a greater number of large glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells, long elongated projections, and microtubule-associated protein-2-positive cells around the damaged region in the anti-APP group compared with the PBS group found. Seven days after TBI, the region of brain damage was significantly smaller and the time to arrival at a platform was significantly shorter in the anti-APP group compared with the PBS group. Furthermore, after TBI in the anti-APP group, the time to arrival at the platform recovered to that observed in uninjured sham operation group rats. These data suggest that the overproduction of APP after TBI inhibits astrocyte activity and reduces neural cell survival around the damaged brain region, which speculatively may be related to the induction of Alzheimer disease-type dementia after TBI.     

Fibronectin in the area opaca of the young chick embryo

Summary Distribution of fibronectin-like immunoreactivity was studied in the area opaca of the young chick embryo (stages 4–6 HH) by use of the immunofluorescence and protein A-coupled to colloidal gold techniques. Fibronectin, associated to the basement membrane, formed a fibrillar network, the pattern of which changed from the centre to the periphery of the area opaca. At the ultrastructural level, differences in fibronectin distribution were found between non-moving and moving cells. The epithelial-like cells presented fibronectin staining exclusively on their basal side. Actively migrating cells (edge and mesodermal cells) showed immunoreactive material localized around their entire surface and within the cytoplasm. The fibronectin distribution is discussed in relation to three important phenomena taking place during the early growth of the area opaca: (i) anchorage and migration of the edge cells, (ii) modification of cell shape in relation to mechanical tension, and (iii) expansion of the area vasculosa.     

Fibronectin (FN) localizations in mitochondria-rich cells of frog epidermis

Indirect immunoperoxidase detection of fibronectin (FN) in the ventral frog epidermis showed that only one type of epidermal cell, the mitochondria-rich cells (MRC), was FN-detected. FN was found in MRC having rounded, flask-like and intermediate shapes, located at different levels of the epidermis between the stratum germinativum and the stratum corneum. These cells contained cytoplasmic FN particularly in the form of small granules. Our results support the view that MRC differ from other epidermal cells in their in vivo FN localizations.     

N－糖链在纤连蛋白分泌及纤连蛋白受体与配体结合中的作用

应用能阻断糖蛋白Ｎ－糖链合成的衣霉素（ＴＭ）,研究了Ｎ－糖链缺失对ＨＴ１０８０细胞分泌纤连蛋白（Ｆｎ）以及纤连蛋白受体（ＦｎＲ）与配体结合的影响。结果发现,１μｇ／ｍｌ的ＴＭ可抑制Ｎ－糖链的合成（此时,３Ｈ－甘露糖掺入下降６３％）,但细胞分泌Ｆｎ的量仅下降３３％,这主要是由于蛋白合成受ＴＭ抑制（２５％）而引起,因而,Ｎ－糖链缺失可能并不影响Ｆｎ的分泌。而在同样条件下,单个细胞结合１２５Ｉ－Ｆｎ的量显著下降,显示Ｎ－糖链的缺失可能导致了膜上ＦｎＲ总量或其与配体结合的亲和力的改变。ＴＭ处理组的ＦｎＲ的内吞率与对照组相比较无明显差异,提示受体分子中的Ｎ－糖链缺失不影响其内吞过程．     

Fibronectin and heparin binding domains of latent TGF-beta binding protein (LTBP)-4 mediate matrix targeting and cell adhesion

Latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-β binding proteins are extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins involved in the regulation of TGF-β sequestration and activation. In this study, we have identified binding domains in LTBP-4, which mediate matrix targeting and cell adhesion. LTBP-4 was found to possess heparin binding activity, especially in its N-terminal region. The C-terminal domain of LTBP-4 supported fibroblast adhesion, a property reduced by soluble heparin. In addition, we found that LTBP-4 binds directly to fibronectin (FN), which was indispensable for the matrix assembly of LTBP-4. The FN binding sites were also located in the N-terminal region. Interestingly, heparin was able to reduce the binding of LTBP-4 to FN. In fibroblast cultures, LTBP-4 colocalized first with FN and subsequently with fibrillin-1, pointing to a role for FN in the early assembly of LTBP-4. In FN −/− fibroblasts, LTBP-mediated ECM targeting was disturbed, resulting in increased TGF-β activity. These results revealed new molecular interactions which are evidently important for the ECM targeting, but which also are evidence of novel functions for LTBP-4 as an adhesion molecule.     

Fibronectin (FN) localizations in early wound healing of cultured frog skins

The wound healing process of frog skin fragments in epibolic cultures has provided information on FN localizations during the migration of keratinocytes. Mainly two FN localizations were studied by indirect immunodetections: Epidermal localization around keratinocytes which have acquired a fibroblastic shape. Dermal localizations of the sectioned collagen of the stratum spongiosum and stratum compactum detected at the beginning of the culture. Both localizations were observed in this epibolic wound healing process during 6 hr and 24 hr in culture and showed a differential sensitivity to cycloheximide (CHX). It was worth noting that fibronectin was permanently detected in the subcutaneous tissue of non-cultured or cultured skin fragments with or without CHX.     

HyTK基因转移联合ganciclovir对瘢痕成纤维细胞的体外杀伤作用

增生性瘢痕和瘢痕疙瘩的过度增生主要是由于高度增生活性的成纤维细胞的数量异常增多及细胞外基质合成增加所致．用逆转录病毒载体介导单纯疱疹病毒胸苷激酶基因（ＨＳＶｔｋ）的转移,随后应用药物９－（１,３－二羟基－丙氧基－甲基）鸟嘌呤（ｇａｎｃｉｃｌｏｖｉｒ,ＧＣＶ）可选择性地杀死增生细胞．采用组织块贴壁法在体外原代培养成功增生性瘢痕病人的成纤维细胞（ＦＢ）．重组逆转录病毒ＧＴＫ转染ＦＢ细胞后,用ｈｙｇｒｏｍｙｃｉｎＢ筛选出阳性细胞克隆（ＦＢ／ＧＴＫ）,经ＰＣＲ方法检测证明ＨｙＴＫ基因已成功地导入ＦＢ中,但不含可复制的辅助病毒．分别用不同浓度的ＧＣＶ作用于ＦＢ／ＧＴＫ及ＦＢ,光镜下观察不同时间后细胞形态变化及ＭＴＴ法检测细胞活性．结果表明,ＧＣＶ浓度大于０．１μｍｏｌ／Ｌ时即对ＦＢ／ＧＴＫ有显著的杀伤作用,且具有强有力的“旁观者效应”     

Multi-factorial modulation of IGD motogenic potential in MSF (Migration Stimulating Factor)

Migration Stimulating Factor (MSF) is a genetically truncated isoform of fibronectin (Fn). MSF is a potent stimulator of fibroblast migration, whereas full length Fn is devoid of motogenic activity. MSF and Fn contain four IGD motifs, located in the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th type I modules; these modules are referred to as ³FnI, ⁵FnI, ⁷FnI and ⁹FnI, respectively. We have previously reported that mutation of IGD motifs in modules ⁷FnI and ⁹FnI of MSF is sufficient to completely abolish the motogenic response of target adult skin fibroblasts. We now report that the IGD sequences in ³FnI and ⁵FnI are also capable of exhibiting motogenic activity when present within fragments of MSF. When present within ^1-5FnI, these sequences require the presence of serum or vitronectin for their motogenic activity to be manifest, whereas the IGD sequences in ⁷FnI and ⁹FnI are bioactive in the absence of serum factors. All MSF and IGD-containing peptides stimulated the phosphorylation of the integrin binding protein focal adhesion kinase (FAK) but did not necessarily affect migration. These results suggest that steric hindrance determines the motogenic activity of MSF and Fn, and that both molecules contain cryptic bioactive fragments.     

不同浓度尼古丁对牙周膜成纤维细胞增殖及纤维结合蛋白合成的作用

目的:探讨不同浓度尼古丁对人牙周膜成纤维细胞(PDLFs)增殖及纤维结合蛋白(Fn)合成的作用。方法:不同浓度的尼古丁(50 ng/ml,250 ng/ml,500 ng/ml,1μg/ml,2μg/ml,3μg/ml)作用于PDLFs,MTT比色法检测细胞增殖活性,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期,酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)检测Fn合成含量。结果:不同浓度尼古丁作用下:人PDLFs的增殖均被抑制,且呈浓度依赖性。浓度为250 ng/ml~3 ug/ml的尼古丁有明显抑制人PDLFs增殖的作用(P0.05),3 ug/ml尼古丁显示出最强的抑制增殖作用(P0.01);人PDLFs的G0-G1期、S期、G2-M期与对照组相比,G0-G1期细胞周期分布比例逐渐增高,S期和G2-M期逐渐降低,差异均有统计学意义,呈浓度依赖性;人PDLFs合成Fn逐渐减少,呈浓度依赖性。浓度为50 ng/ml~3μg/ml的尼古丁均有明显抑制人PDLFs合成Fn的作用(P0.05),其中3μg/ml抑制作用最强。结论:尼古丁抑制牙周膜细胞的增殖及Fn的合成,呈浓度依赖性,并影响其细胞周期的进程,进而影响牙周新附着的形成,加重牙周病的病情。     

miR-145-5p attenuates hypertrophic scar via reducing Smad2/Smad3 expression

The study was designed to explore the underlying mechanism of micro ribonucleic acids (miR)-145-5p in the process of hypertrophic scar (HS). The difference in the relative content of miR-145-5p between HS and adjacent normal skin collected from 5 patients was detected via RT-PCR. Expressions of Smad2 and Smad3 with or without TGF-β1 was detected by western blotting. Fibroblasts apoptosis rate was examined by Annexin V/Propidium Iodide double staining. HS fibroblasts (HSFs) were isolated from HS tissues, cultured and then divided into control group, miR-145-5p inhibitor group (transfected with miR-145-5p inhibitor) and miR-145-5p mimic group (transfected with miR-145-5p plasmid) based on different treatment methods. Next, CCK-8 was employed to examine the function of miR-145-5p in HSF proliferation. Luciferase assay was conducted to confirm whether Smad2/3 were direct targets of miR-145-5p, and RT-PCR was done to measure the expression of miR-145-5p, Smad2/Smad3 and fibrosis-related genes of fibroblasts in three groups. Wound injury mice model was established to determine the function of miR-145-5p in regulating scar formation. miR-145-5p was found lowly expressed in HS tissues. Compared with Control group, miR-145-5p mimic decreased the levels of Smad2/3, arrested the activation and proliferation of HSFs and induced HSFs apoptosis. Overexpressing miR-145-5p achieved the contrary results. Smad2/3 was confirmed as the target of miR-145-5p. Moreover, miR-145-5p mimic decreased the recruitment of fibroblasts in vivo and decreased the expression of fibrosis-related genes after wound injury. In conclusion, miR-145-5p arrests the development of fibrogenesis and decreases HS formation by reducing the expression of Smad2/3. miR-145-5p may be an optional novel molecular target for treating HS.     

Fibronectin has multifunctional roles in posterior capsular opacification (PCO)

Fibrotic posterior capsular opacification (PCO), one of the major complications of cataract surgery, occurs when lens epithelial cells (LCs) left behind post cataract surgery (PCS) undergo epithelial to mesenchymal transition, migrate into the optical axis and produce opaque scar tissue. LCs left behind PCS robustly produce fibronectin, although its roles in fibrotic PCO are not known. In order to determine the function of fibronectin in PCO pathogenesis, we created mice lacking the fibronectin gene (FN conditional knock out -FNcKO) from the lens. While animals from this line have normal lenses, upon lens fiber cell removal which models cataract surgery, FNcKO LCs exhibit a greatly attenuated fibrotic response from 3 days PCS onward as assessed by a reduction in surgery-induced cell proliferation, and fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) production and deposition. This is correlated with less upregulation of Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) and integrin signaling in FNcKO LCs PCS concomitant with sustained Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling and elevation of the epithelial cell marker E cadherin. Although the initial fibrotic response of FNcKO LCs was qualitatively normal at 48 h PCS as measured by the upregulation of fibrotic marker protein αSMA, RNA sequencing revealed that the fibrotic response was already quantitatively attenuated at this time, as measured by the upregulation of mRNAs encoding molecules that control, and are controlled by, TGFβ signaling, including many known markers of fibrosis. Most notably, gremlin-1, a known regulator of TGFβ superfamily signaling, was upregulated sharply in WT LCs PCS, while this response was attenuated in FNcKO LCs. As exogenous administration of either active TGFβ1 or gremlin-1 to FNcKO lens capsular bags rescued the attenuated fibrotic response of fibronectin null LCs PCS including the loss of SMAD2/3 phosphorylation, this suggests that fibronectin plays multifunctional roles in fibrotic PCO development.     

RSK2 Protein Suppresses Integrin Activation and Fibronectin Matrix Assembly and Promotes Cell Migration

Modulation of integrin activation is important in many cellular functions including adhesion, migration, and assembly of the extracellular matrix. RSK2 functions downstream of Ras/Raf and promotes tumor cell motility and metastasis. We therefore investigated whether RSK2 affects integrin function. We report that RSK2 mediates Ras/Raf inactivation of integrins. As a result, we find that RSK2 impairs cell adhesion and integrin-mediated matrix assembly and promotes cell motility. Active RSK2 appears to affect integrins by reducing actin stress fibers and disrupting focal adhesions. Moreover, RSK2 co-localizes with the integrin activator talin and is present at integrin cytoplasmic tails. It is thereby in a position to modulate integrin activation and integrin-mediated migration. Activation of RSK2 promotes filamin phosphorylation and binding to integrins. We also find that RSK2 is activated in response to integrin ligation to fibronectin. Thus, RSK2 could participate in a feedback loop controlling integrin function. These results reveal RSK2 as a key regulator of integrin activity and provide a novel mechanism by which it may promote cell migration and cancer metastasis.     

Binding of CD157 Protein to Fibronectin Regulates Cell Adhesion and Spreading

CD157/BST-1 behaves both as an ectoenzyme and signaling receptor and is an important regulator of leukocyte trafficking and ovarian cancer progression. However, the molecular interactions underpinning the role of CD157 in these processes remain obscure. The biological functions of CD157 and its partnership with members of the integrin family prompted us to assume the existence of a direct interaction between CD157 and an unknown component of the extracellular matrix. Using solid-phase binding assays and surface plasmon resonance analysis, we demonstrated that CD157 binds fibronectin with high affinity within its heparin-binding domains 1 and 2. Furthermore, we found that CD157 binds to other extracellular matrix proteins containing heparin-binding domains. Finally, we proved that the CD157-fibronectin interaction occurs with living cells, where it elicits CD157-mediated cell responses. Indeed, knockdown of CD157 in Met-5A mesothelial cells changed their morphology and cytoskeleton organization and attenuated the activation of intracellular signaling pathways triggered by fibronectin. This led to impaired cell spreading and adhesion to selected extracellular matrix proteins. Collectively, these findings indicate a central role of CD157 in cell-extracellular matrix interactions and make CD157 an attractive therapeutic target in inflammation and cancer.     

Fibronectin in early avian embryos: Synthesis and distribution along the migration pathways of neural crest cells

Summary Immunoperoxidase labelling for fibronectin (FN) in chick embryos showed FN-positive basement membranes surrounding the neural crest cell population prior to crest-cell migration. At cranial levels, crest cells migrated laterally into a large cell-free space. Initially they moved as a tongue of cells contacting the FN-positive basement membrane of the ectoderm, but later the crest cell population expanded into space further from the ectoderm, until eventually the entire cranial cell-free space was occupied by mesenchyme cells. This was accompanied by the appearance of FN among the crest cells. At trunk levels, crest cells entered a relatively small space already containing FN-positive extracellular material. At later stages the migration of trunk crest cells broadly matched the distribution of FN. In vitro, chick and quail embryo ectoderm, endoderm, somites, notochord and neural tube synthesized and organized fibrous FN-matrices, as shown by immunofluorescence. Ectoderm and endoderm deposited this matrix only on the substrate face. The FN content of endoderm and neural tube matrices was transient, the immunofluorescence intensity declining after 1–2 days in culture. Some crest cells of cranial and sacral axial levels synthesized FN. Our data suggests that these were the earliest crest cells to migrate from these levels. This ability may be the first expression of mesenchymal differentiation in these crest cells, and in vivo enable them to occupy a large space. Almost all crest cells from cervico-lumbar axial levels were unable to synthesize FN. In vivo, this inability may magnify the response of these crest cells to FN provided by the neighbouring embryonic tissues.     

A Processed Multidomain Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Adhesin Binds Fibronectin,Plasminogen, and Swine Respiratory Cilia

Porcine enzootic pneumonia is a chronic respiratory disease that affects swine. The etiological agent of the disease, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, is a bacterium that adheres to cilia of the swine respiratory tract, resulting in loss of cilia and epithelial cell damage. A M. hyopneumoniae protein P116, encoded by mhp108, was investigated as a potential adhesin. Examination of P116 expression using proteomic analyses observed P116 as a full-length protein and also as fragments, ranging from 17 to 70 kDa in size. A variety of pathogenic bacterial species have been shown to bind the extracellular matrix component fibronectin as an adherence mechanism. M. hyopneumoniae cells were found to bind fibronectin in a dose-dependent and saturable manner. Surface plasmon resonance was used to show that a recombinant C-terminal domain of P116 bound fibronectin at physiologically relevant concentrations (K_D 24 ± 6 nm). Plasmin(ogen)-binding proteins are also expressed by many bacterial pathogens, facilitating extracellular matrix degradation. M. hyopneumoniae cells were found to also bind plasminogen in a dose-dependent and saturable manner; the C-terminal domain of P116 binds to plasminogen (K_D 44 ± 5 nm). Plasminogen binding was abolished when the C-terminal lysine of P116 was deleted, implicating this residue as part of the plasminogen binding site. P116 fragments adhere to the PK15 porcine kidney epithelial-like cell line and swine respiratory cilia. Collectively these data suggest that P116 is an important adhesin and virulence factor of M. hyopneumoniae.     

Effects of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) on fibronectin (FN) production by human skin and scar fibroblasts

The fibroblast-type cell found in hypertrophic scars and keloids demonstrates an elevated fibronectin (FN) production, compared to the same type of cell in normal dermis. We wished to determine if the effects of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) on FN production in these cell types would be equivalent or different. Cell lines were established from the dermis (reticularis) of hypertrophic scars, keloids, uninvolved normal skin adjacent to the lesions, including an assumed normal skin adjacent to a keloid (AS), and normal skin from a different uninjured patient (DS). Each parent tissue from which the cell lines originated was diagnosed histologically. Each hypertrophic scar, keloid and normal adjacent skin, with one exception, showed typical histologic findings confirming the clinical diagnosis. DS was also normal. AS, although assumed to be normal, in fact, demonstrated portions of nodules from the adjacent keloid. All cell lines were grown under standard conditions with subconfluent cells metabolically labeled for radioimmunoassays measuring FN at passage 3 (8 to 9 weeks in culture) in the absence and presence of PDGF. Significant differences in production of FN/cell and FN/PR/cell between two hypertrophic scars and their matched normal skins and for one keloid and its matched normal skin were observed. However, no significant difference was observed between the other keloid and AS, nor between the other hypertrophic scar and DS. PDGF significantly stimulated FN production in 2 of 4 NS cell lines, and in the AS cell line. By FN/cell values, 2 of 5 cell lines from the lesions were inhibited and one was increased. In terms of FN/PR/cell, 1 of 5 cell lines from the lesions was stimulated and the others showed no differences. The mixed results may be attributable to the likelihood that the cell lines represent mixed populations. This study demonstrates the importance of: 1) histological characterization of all parent tissues from which cell lines are derived, and 2) matching cell lines from lesions with cell lines from uninvolved normal dermis, in the same individual.