Direct cell–cell contact between periodontal ligament fibroblasts and osteoclast precursors synergistically increases the expression of genes related to osteoclastogenesis

The formation of bone resorbing osteoclasts in vivo is orchestrated by cells of the osteoblast lineage such as periodontal ligament fibroblasts that provide the proper signals to osteoclast precursors. Although the requirement of cell–cell interactions is widely acknowledged, it is unknown whether these interactions influence the expression of genes required for osteoclastogenesis and the ultimate formation of osteoclasts. In the present study we investigated the effect of cell–cell interaction on the mRNA expression of adhesion molecules and molecules involved in osteoclast formation in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human primary periodontal ligament fibroblasts, both as solitary cultures and in co‐culture. We further analyzed the formation of multinucleated, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) positive cells and assessed their bone resorbing abilities. Interestingly, gene expression of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and of osteoclastogenesis‐related genes (RANKL, RANK, TNF‐α, and IL‐1β) was highly up‐regulated in the co‐cultures compared to mono‐cultures and the 5–10‐fold up‐regulation reflected a synergistic increase due to direct cell–cell interaction. This induction strongly overpowered the effects of known osteoclastogenesis inducers 1,25(OH)₂VitD₃ and dexamethasone. In case of indirect cell–cell contact mRNA expression was not altered, indicating that heterotypic adhesion is required for the increase in gene expression. In addition, the number of osteoclast‐like cells that were formed in co‐culture with periodontal ligament fibroblasts was significantly augmented compared to mono‐cultures. Our data indicate that cell–cell adhesion between osteoclast precursors and periodontal ligament fibroblasts significantly modulates the cellular response which favors the expression of osteoclast differentiation genes and the ultimate formation of osteoclasts. J. Cell. Physiol. 222: 565–573, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

VEGF: a modifier of the del22q11 (DiGeorge) syndrome?

Hemizygous deletion of chromosome 22q11 (del22q11) causes thymic, parathyroid, craniofacial and life-threatening cardiovascular birth defects in 1 in 4,000 infants. The del22q11 syndrome is likely caused by haploinsufficiency of TBX1, but its variable expressivity indicates the involvement of additional modifiers. Here, we report that absence of the Vegf164 isoform caused birth defects in mice, reminiscent of those found in del22q11 patients. The close correlation of birth and vascular defects indicated that vascular dysgenesis may pathogenetically contribute to the birth defects. Vegf interacted with Tbx1, as Tbx1 expression was reduced in Vegf164-deficient embryos and knocked-down vegf levels enhanced the pharyngeal arch artery defects induced by tbx1 knockdown in zebrafish. Moreover, initial evidence suggested that a VEGF promoter haplotype was associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular birth defects in del22q11 individuals. These genetic data in mouse, fish and human indicate that VEGF is a modifier of cardiovascular birth defects in the del22q11 syndrome.     

Biological containment of genetically modified Lactococcus lactis for intestinal delivery of human interleukin 10

Genetically modified Lactococcus lactis secreting interleukin 10 provides a therapeutic approach for inflammatory bowel disease. However, the release of such genetically modified organisms through clinical use raises safety concerns. In an effort to address this problem, we replaced the thymidylate synthase gene thyA of L. lactis with a synthetic human IL10 gene. This thyA- hIL10+ L. lactis strain produced human IL-10 (hIL-10), and when deprived of thymidine or thymine, its viability dropped by several orders of magnitude, essentially preventing its accumulation in the environment. The biological containment system and the bacterium's capacity to secrete hIL-10 were validated in vivo in pigs. Our approach is a promising one for transgene containment because, in the unlikely event that the engineered L. lactis strain acquired an intact thyA gene from a donor such as L. lactis subsp. cremoris, the transgene would be eliminated from the genome.     

Revascularization of ischemic tissues by PlGF treatment,and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis,arthritis and atherosclerosis by anti-Flt1

The therapeutic potential of placental growth factor (PlGF) and its receptor Flt1 in angiogenesis is poorly understood. Here, we report that PlGF stimulated angiogenesis and collateral growth in ischemic heart and limb with at least a comparable efficiency to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). An antibody against Flt1 suppressed neovascularization in tumors and ischemic retina, and angiogenesis and inflammatory joint destruction in autoimmune arthritis. Anti-Flt1 also reduced atherosclerotic plaque growth and vulnerability, but the atheroprotective effect was not attributable to reduced plaque neovascularization. Inhibition of VEGF receptor Flk1 did not affect arthritis or atherosclerosis, indicating that inhibition of Flk1-driven angiogenesis alone was not sufficient to halt disease progression. The anti-inflammatory effects of anti-Flt1 were attributable to reduced mobilization of bone marrow-derived myeloid progenitors into the peripheral blood; impaired infiltration of Flt1-expressing leukocytes in inflamed tissues; and defective activation of myeloid cells. Thus, PlGF and Flt1 constitute potential candidates for therapeutic modulation of angiogenesis and inflammation.     

A panel of candidate tumor antigens in colorectal cancer revealed by the serological selection of a phage displayed cDNA expression library

In the last few years it has been shown that the humoral immune response in cancer patients is a rich source of putative cancer vaccine candidates. To fully explore the complex information present within the Ab repertoire of cancer patients, we have applied a method, serological Ag selection, to molecularly define tumor Ags recognized by the humoral immune response in colorectal cancer (CRC). First, we built a cDNA display library by cloning a cDNA library from CRC cell line HT-29 for expression as a fusion protein with a filamentous phage minor coat protein, pVI. This cDNA display library was then enriched on pooled sera from CRC patients who had undergone active specific immunization with autologous tumor. We identified a panel of 19 clones reactive with the serum pool. Seventeen of 19 (89%) clones showed reactivity with one or more of the eight Ag-reactive sera, conversely six of eight (75%) sera were reactive with at least one of the 19 clones. Sequencing revealed that these 19 clones represented 13 different Ags. A detailed serological analysis of the 13 different Ags showed preferential reactivity to sera of cancer patients for six different Ags. Four of these Ags displayed increased serum reactivity after the active specific immunization procedure. Furthermore, one of the six Ags, a novel Ag homologous to HSPC218, showed restricted expression in normal testis, suggesting that it belongs to the cancer-testis Ag family. Some of the Ags we have identified may be candidates for tumor vaccination, for sero-diagnosis of cancer, as prognostic markers, or as probes for monitoring tumor cell-based vaccination trials.     

Phosphorylation of IP3R1 and the regulation of [Ca2+]i responses at fertilization: a role for the MAP kinase pathway.

A sperm-induced intracellular Ca2+ signal ([Ca2+]i) underlies the initiation of embryo development in most species studied to date. The inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate receptor type 1 (IP3R1) in mammals, or its homologue in other species, is thought to mediate the majority of this Ca2+ release. IP3R1-mediated Ca2+ release is regulated during oocyte maturation such that it reaches maximal effectiveness at the time of fertilization, which, in mammalian eggs, occurs at the metaphase stage of the second meiosis (MII). Consistent with this, the [Ca2+]i oscillations associated with fertilization in these species occur most prominently during the MII stage. In this study, we have examined the molecular underpinnings of IP3R1 function in eggs. Using mouse and Xenopus eggs, we show that IP3R1 is phosphorylated during both maturation and the first cell cycle at a MPM2-detectable epitope(s), which is known to be a target of kinases controlling the cell cycle. In vitro phosphorylation studies reveal that MAPK/ERK2, one of the M-phase kinases, phosphorylates IP3R1 at at least one highly conserved site, and that its mutation abrogates IP3R1 phosphorylation in this domain. Our studies also found that activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway is required for the IP3R1 MPM2 reactivity observed in mouse eggs, and that eggs deprived of the MAPK/ERK pathway during maturation fail to mount normal [Ca2+]i oscillations in response to agonists and show compromised IP3R1 function. These findings identify IP3R1 phosphorylation by M-phase kinases as a regulatory mechanism of IP3R1 function in eggs that serves to optimize [Ca2+]i release at fertilization.     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of an Azospirilium brasilense indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase gene

Azospirillum brasilense isolated from the rhizosphere of different plants has the ability to excrete indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) into the culture media. Cosmid p0.2, isolated from an A. brasilense Sp245 genome library in pLAFR1, complements the Tn5-induced mutant SpM7918 of A. brasilense Sp6 which excretes reduced amounts of IAA. Restriction mapping and gene expression studies identified a BglII-EcoRI 4.3 kb fragment of p0.2 sufficient for the restoration of high levels of IAA production in mutant SpM7918. Tn5 mutagenesis localized the gene responsible on a 1.8 kb SmaI fragment. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that this fragment contains one complete open reading grame. The predicted protein sequence shows extensive homology with the indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase of Enterobacter cloacae and the pyruvate decarboxylases of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas mobilis. The A. brasilense mutant Sp245a, constructed by homogenotization of a Tn5 insertion derivative of the 1.8 kb SmaI fragment, also displayed reduced IAA production. Introduction of the cloned wild-type gene into Rhizobium meliloti 1021 resulted in increased IAA production. Cell-free extracts prepared from R. meliloti and A. brasilense transconjugants harboring this gene could convert indole-3-pyruvic acid to indole-3-acetaldehyde and tryptophol. These results clearly demonstrate that IAA production in A. brasilense is mediated by indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase.     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of an Azospirilium brasilense indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase gene

Molecular Genetics and Genomics - Azospirillum brasilense isolated from the rhizosphere of different plants has the ability to excrete indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) into the culture media. Cosmid...