Expression and function of αβ1 integrins in pancretic beta (INS-1) cells

Integrin-extracellular matrix interactions are important determinants of beta cell behaviours. The β1 integrin is a well-known regulator of beta cell activities; however, little is known of its associated α subunits. In the present study, αβ1 integrin expression was examined in the rat insulinoma cell line (INS-1) to identify their role in beta cell survival and function. Seven α subunits associated with β1 integrin were identified, including α1-6 and αV. Among these heterodimers, α3β1 was most highly expressed. Common ligands for the α3β1 integrin, including fibronectin, laminin, collagen I and collagen IV were tested to identify the most suitable matrix for INS-1 cell proliferation and function. Cells exposed to collagen I and IV demonstrated significant increases in adhesion, spreading, cell viability, proliferation, and FAK phosphorylation when compared to cells cultured on fibronectin, laminin and controls. Integrin-dependent attachment also had a beneficial effect on beta cell function, increasing Pdx-1 and insulin gene and protein expression on collagens I and IV, in parallel with increased basal insulin release and enhanced insulin secretion upon high glucose challenge. Furthermore, functional blockade of α3β1 integrin decreased cell adhesion, spreading and viability on both collagens and reduced Pdx-1 and insulin expression, indicating that its interactions with collagen matrices are important for beta cell survival and function. These results demonstrate that specific αβ1 integrin-ECM interactions are critical regulators of INS-1 beta cell survival and function and will be important in designing optimal conditions for cell-based therapies for diabetes treatment.     

Biologically relevant effects of mRNA amplification on gene expression profiles

Background  

Gene expression microarray technology permits the analysis of global gene expression profiles. The amount of sample needed limits the use of small excision biopsies and/or needle biopsies from human or animal tissues. Linear amplification techniques have been developed to increase the amount of sample derived cDNA. These amplified samples can be hybridised on microarrays. However, little information is available whether microarrays based on amplified and unamplified material yield comparable results.     

Effect of sex and bright coloration on survival and predator‐induced wing damage in an aposematic lantern fly with startle display

1. Aposematic coloration in prey promotes its survival by conspicuously advertising unpalatability to predators. Although classical examples of aposematic signals involve constant presentation of a signal at a distance, some animals suddenly display warning colours only when they are attacked. 2. Characteristics of body parts suddenly displayed, such as conspicuous coloration or eyespot pattern, may increase the survival of the prey by startling the predator, and/or by signalling unpalatability to the predators at the moment of attack. 3. The adaptive value of such colour patterns suddenly displayed by unpalatable prey has not been studied. We experimentally blackened the red patch in the conspicuous red–white–black hindwing pattern displayed by an unpalatable insect Lycorma delicatula White (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in response to predator's attack. 4. There was no evidence that the presence of the red patch increased prey survival over several weeks. We hypothesise that predators generalised from the red–white–black patches on the hindwings of unpalatable L. delicatula to any similar wing display as a signal of unpalatability. Because a higher proportion of males than females stay put at their resting sites, displaying their wings in response to repeated attacks by predators, wing damage was more frequent in males than in females. 5. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental test of an adaptive role of aposematic signals presented by unpalatable prey during sudden displays triggered by direct predatory attack.     

Increase of the production of tumor necrosis factor in endotoxin shock in mice presensitized with sera of tumor-bearing mice or tumor cell factor]

We investigated the phenomenon of increased sensitivity of tumor-bearing mice to endotoxin shock. I/V administration of sera from tumor (EL-4, B16, R815, MOPC-315) bearers or tumoral culture media into intact mice caused the increased sensitivity to lethal action of LPS plus GMDP. Production of TNF in above mice was also significantly increased under the influence of LPS plus GMDP. Sensitivity induced factors in tumor bearing mice sera have mol. weight more than 50 kDa. This action was partially abolished by indomethacin.