Gene expression profiling of early intervertebral disc degeneration reveals a down-regulation of canonical Wnt signaling and caveolin-1 expression: implications for development of regenerative strategies

Introduction

Early degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) involves a change in cellular differentiation from notochordal cells (NCs) in the nucleus pulposus (NP) to chondrocyte-like cells (CLCs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the gene expression profiles involved in this process using NP tissue from non-chondrodystrophic and chondrodystrophic dogs, a species with naturally occurring IVD degeneration.

Methods

Dual channel DNA microarrays were used to compare 1) healthy NP tissue containing only NCs (NC-rich), 2) NP tissue with a mixed population of NCs and CLCs (Mixed), and 3) NP tissue containing solely CLCs (CLC-rich) in both non-chondrodystrophic and chondrodystrophic dogs. Based on previous reports and the findings of the microarray analyses, canonical Wnt signaling was further evaluated using qPCR of relevant Wnt target genes. We hypothesized that caveolin-1, a regulator of Wnt signaling that showed significant changes in gene expression in the microarray analyses, played a significant role in early IVD degeneration. Caveolin-1 expression was investigated in IVD tissue sections and in cultured NCs. To investigate the significance of Caveolin-1 in IVD health and degeneration, the NP of 3-month-old Caveolin-1 knock-out mice was histopathologically evaluated and compared with the NP of wild-type mice of the same age.

Results

Early IVD degeneration involved significant changes in numerous pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin signaling. With regard to Wnt/β-catenin signaling, axin2 gene expression was significantly higher in chondrodystrophic dogs compared with non-chondrodystrophic dogs. IVD degeneration involved significant down-regulation of axin2 gene expression. IVD degeneration involved significant down-regulation in Caveolin-1 gene and protein expression. NCs showed abundant caveolin-1 expression in vivo and in vitro, whereas CLCs did not. The NP of wild-type mice was rich in viable NCs, whereas the NP of Caveolin-1 knock-out mice contained chondroid-like matrix with mainly apoptotic, small, rounded cells.

Conclusions

Early IVD degeneration involves down-regulation of canonical Wnt signaling and Caveolin-1 expression, which appears to be essential to the physiology and preservation of NCs. Therefore, Caveolin-1 may be regarded an exciting target for developing strategies for IVD regeneration.     

Role of conserved and nonconserved residues in the Ca(2+)-dependent carbohydrate-recognition domain of a rat mannose-binding protein. Analysis by random cassette mutagenesis.

The carbohydrate-recognition domain of rat serum mannose-binding protein A has been subjected to random cassette mutagenesis. Mutant domains, expressed in bacteria, were initially screened for binding to invertase-coated nitrocellulose and then analyzed further for Ca2+ affinity, saccharide binding, resistance to proteolysis, and oligomerization. The results are consistent with previous evolutionary and structural studies. Six out of seven completely inactive mutants have changes in residues directly involved in ligating Ca2+. Most changes in conserved residues which form part of the hydrophobic core characteristic of Ca(2+)-dependent (C-type) animal lectins result in decreased affinity for Ca2+, even though these residues are distant from the Ca2+ sites. Changes can be made in large portions of the surface without affecting saccharide binding. The results indicate that the precise arrangement of the regular portion of the domain containing the hydrophobic core is necessary for formation of a stable Ca(2+)-ligated structure under physiological conditions. The data also suggest that the saccharide-binding site is likely to be in close proximity to the bound Ca2+.     

Characterizing Race/Ethnicity and Genetic Ancestry for 100,000 Subjects in the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging (GERA) Cohort

Using genome-wide genotypes, we characterized the genetic structure of 103,006 participants in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California multi-ethnic Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging Cohort and analyzed the relationship to self-reported race/ethnicity. Participants endorsed any of 23 race/ethnicity/nationality categories, which were collapsed into seven major race/ethnicity groups. By self-report the cohort is 80.8% white and 19.2% minority; 93.8% endorsed a single race/ethnicity group, while 6.2% endorsed two or more. Principal component (PC) and admixture analyses were generally consistent with prior studies. Approximately 17% of subjects had genetic ancestry from more than one continent, and 12% were genetically admixed, considering only nonadjacent geographical origins. Self-reported whites were spread on a continuum along the first two PCs, indicating extensive mixing among European nationalities. Self-identified East Asian nationalities correlated with genetic clustering, consistent with extensive endogamy. Individuals of mixed East Asian–European genetic ancestry were easily identified; we also observed a modest amount of European genetic ancestry in individuals self-identified as Filipinos. Self-reported African Americans and Latinos showed extensive European and African genetic ancestry, and Native American genetic ancestry for the latter. Among 3741 genetically identified parent–child pairs, 93% were concordant for self-reported race/ethnicity; among 2018 genetically identified full-sib pairs, 96% were concordant; the lower rate for parent–child pairs was largely due to intermarriage. The parent–child pairs revealed a trend toward increasing exogamy over time; the presence in the cohort of individuals endorsing multiple race/ethnicity categories creates interesting challenges and future opportunities for genetic epidemiologic studies.     

Studies on BrdU labeling of hematopoietic cells: stem cells and cell lines

Studies using chronic in vivo BrdU exposure, isolating primitive stem cells, and determining BrdU labeling, indicate that stem cells cycle. BrdU is also incorporated into DNA during damage/repair. DNA, which has incorporated BrdU due to cycle transit is heavier than normal, while the density of DNA with damage/repair incorporation is intermediate. DNA density of purified lineage-rhodamine low (rho(low)) Hoechst low (Ho(low)) stem cells or FDC-P1 cell line cells-was assessed in vitro, after exposure to cytokines and BrdU (cycling model) or cytokines and BrdU with bleomycin to induce strand breaks and hydroxyurea to halt cycle progression (damage/repair model). We determined DNA density using cesium chloride (CsCl) gradients and either fluorometry or dot blot chemiluminesence. DNA from BrdU labeled cycling Lin-rho(lo)Ho(lo) or FDC-P1 cells was heavier than normal DNA, while damage repair DNA had an intermediate density. We then assessed BrdU labeling of Lin-rho(lo)Ho(lo) cells in vivo. We found that 70.9% of lin-rho(lo)Ho(lo) cells labeled at 5 weeks. DNA density of these cells was low, in the damage/repair range, but similar results were obtained with stem cells, which had proliferated in vivo. Dilution of BrdU in in vitro culture of proliferating FDC-P1 cells also resulted in damage/repair density. We conclude that in vitro BrdU labeling models can distinguish between proliferation and damage/repair, but that we cannot obtain high enough in vivo levels to address this issue. All together, while we cannot absolutely exclude damage/repair as contributing to stem cell BrdU labeling, the data indicate that primitive bone marrow stem cells are probably a cycling population.     

GROWTH OF STEM CELL CONCENTRATES IN DIFFUSION CHAMBERS (DC)

The growth in diffusion chamber (DC) of normal murine marrow and marrow separated by discontinuous albumin centrifugation was studied. The colony-forming cells (CFC) assayed in soft agar, total cell counts and differentials were measured in the DC over a 19 day period after intraperitoneal implantation into CF₁ mice. Growth of implants of normal marrow or fraction 3 (F3) in which CFC had been concentrated 1.7–3.9-fold were compared at an initial cell concentration of 1 × 10⁵. There was a good correlation between the number of CFC implanted with granulocyte production but not with macrophage production. When higher cell concentrations of normal unfractionated marrow were implanted growth was reduced as was recovery of CFC. In two experiments in which both CFU and CFC concentrations were measured there was a general correlation between the two.     

Colony-stimulating factor-1 modulates alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor expression in murine bone marrow macrophages.

Primary cultures of murine bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) were prepared from marrow cell suspensions. These cells expressed specific receptors that recognized the transformed conformation of human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) generated by reaction with CH3NH2. alpha 2M receptor expression was regulated by colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1). The BMMs were deprived of CSF-1 for 6 h and then treated with different concentrations of the purified cytokine. After 18 h, binding of 125I-alpha 2M-CH3NH2 was examined at 4 degrees C. Analysis of the saturation isotherms and Scatchard transformations indicated that the KD was not affected by CSF-1 (1.9-2.4 nM), whereas the maximum specific radioligand binding capacity (Bmax) was increased from 5.6 x 10(4) receptors/cell in the absence of CSF-1 to 2.2 x 10(5) and 2.6 x 10(5) receptors/cell for BMMs treated with 1,000 and 10,000 units/ml CSF-1, respectively. The difference in total cellular protein after exposure to different levels of CSF-1 for 18 h was small (1.50-1.92 ng/cell) and not statistically significant. A 6-12-h lag phase was identified between the time of CSF-1 exposure and increased alpha 2M receptor expression. Cycloheximide completely blocked the increase in alpha 2M receptor expression when added simultaneously with the CSF-1; greater than 50% inhibition was observed when the cycloheximide was added up to 8 h later. The RNA synthesis inhibitors, actinomycin D and daunomycin, prevented increased alpha 2M receptor expression when added up to 4 h after the CSF-1, but had no effect at 8 h. At 37 degrees C, uptake and digestion of 125I-alpha 2M-CH3NH2 was increased in BMMs treated with 1,000 units/ml CSF-1 for 18 h compared with untreated cells. These studies demonstrate that CSF-1 increases the expression of alpha 2M receptors in BMMs through a pathway that requires new RNA and protein synthesis. We hypothesize that increased alpha 2M receptor expression may play an important role in cellular growth and differentiation.     

Mechanical stretch regulates the expression of specific miRNA in extracellular vesicles released from lung epithelial cells

The underlying mechanism of normal lung organogenesis is not well understood. An increasing number of studies are demonstrating that extracellular vesicles (EVs) play critical roles in organ development by delivering microRNAs (miRNA) to neighboring and distant cells. miRNAs are important for fetal lung growth; however, the role of miRNA–EVs (miRNAs packaged inside the EVs) during fetal lung development is unexplored. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of miRNA–EVs in MLE-12, a murine lung epithelial cell line subjected to mechanical stretch in vitro with the long-term goal to investigate their potential role in the fetal lung development. Both cyclic and continuous mechanical stretch regulate miRNA differentially in EVs released from MLE-12 and intracellularly, demonstrating that mechanical signals regulate the expression of miRNA–EVs in lung epithelial cells. These results provide a proof-of-concept for the potential role that miRNA–EVs could play in the development of fetal lung.