Microglia-glioblastoma interactions: New role for Wnt signaling.

Glioblastoma, the most aggressive and fatal type of brain tumor, is capable of interacting with brain immune cells such as microglia, which contributes to the growth of these tumors. Various molecules, including growth factors and cytokines, have been identified as regulators of microglia-glioblastoma interaction. Recent studies suggest that the Wnt family of lipoglycoproteins plays an important role, not only in biological events during development, but also in cancer progression, and can be part of microglia recruitment to glioblastoma as well as of tumor growth and invasion. Here, we discuss recent interesting findings that support a role for Wnt signaling pathways in the microglia-glioblastoma crosstalk.

Cell cytoskeleton and tether extraction.

We perform a detailed investigation of the force × deformation curve in tether extraction from 3T3 cells by optical tweezers. Contrary to conventional wisdom about tethers extracted from cells, we find that actin filaments are present within them, so that a revised theory of tether pulling from cells is called for. We also measure steady and maximum tether force values significantly higher than previously published ones for 3T3 cells. Possible explanations for these differences are investigated. Further experimental support of the theory of force barriers for membrane tube extension is obtained. The potential of studies on tether pulling force × deformation for retrieving information on membrane-cytoskeleton interaction is emphasized.

Malnutrition increases NO production and induces changes in inflammatory and oxidative status in the distal colon of lactating rats.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have indicated the lack of breast feeding as a risk factor associated with later development of inflammatory bowel disease. Nevertheless, the repercussion of little feeding during suckling on large intestine inflammatory response and anti-oxidant resources has not yet been completely understood. This study hypothesized that unfavorable lactation is able to induce oxidative stress and release of inflammatory mediators modifying the integrity of the colon epithelium in weanling rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were reared under different early nutritional conditions according to litter size in two groups: N6 (6 pups/dam) and N15 (15 pups/dam) until the 25th postnatal day. The distal colon was removed and processed for biochemical, morphometric, and immunohistochemical analyzes. Lipoperoxidation, nitric oxide (NO), reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukins-1ß, 4 and 10 (IL-1ß; IL-4; IL-10) levels, and total superoxide dismutase (tSOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were assessed. Morphometric analysis was carried out using paraffin sections and wholemount myenteric plexus preparations. KEY RESULTS: Increased lipoperoxidation, NO, TNF-α and IL-1b levels, reduced tSOD and increased CAT activities were found in the N15 compared to N6 group. No intergroup difference was detected for IL-10, while lower levels of IL-4, GSH and GSSG and lower neuronal size and density were induced by undernutrition. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Reduced feeding during suckling changed the inflammatory response and oxidative status in the colon of weanling rats. These data suggest potential mechanisms by which malnutrition early in life may increase the vulnerability of the large intestine to insults.

A 28-bp negative element with multiple factor-binding activity controls expression of the vimentin-encoding gene.

The promoter of the human vimentin-encoding gene (VIM) contains two enhancers separated by a negative region. The distal and proximal enhancers bind the transcription factors, AP-1 and NK-kappaB, respectively, which contribute to serum induction of Vim synthesis. We were interested in looking for particular regulatory elements that might be responsible for tissue-specific extinction and culture-dependent activation of human VIM. We have identified a 48-bp sequence in the distal enhancer which had not been reported before. This sequence includes a negative element, NE2, which confers transcriptional repression in transfection experiments and binds at least two factors in vitro. NE2 may participate in the differentiation-stage-specific control of VIM expression which involves multiple regulatory sequences and several positive and negative trans-acting factors.

Involvement of histone H4 gene transcription factor 1 in downregulation of vimentin gene expression during skeletal muscle differentiation.

Upon in vitro myogenesis, the intermediate filament protein vimentin is replaced by desmin, the switch in gene expression occurring essentially at the transcriptional level. Trying to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of this genetic control, we show here that the vimentin promoter is specifically recognized and activated by a protein most probably identical to H4TF-1, and that this factor is present in proliferating myoblasts but disappears upon fusion of these cells into multinucleated myotubes. Our results suggest that H4TF-1 is a differentiation stage-specific factor involved in the downregulation of vimentin gene expression during myogenesis.

Desmin heterogeneity in the main electric organ of Electrophorus electricus.

Desmin, the muscle-specific intermediate filament protein was purified from the main electric organ of Electrophorus electricus. It is shown that pure desmin can be separated into 5 isoforms presenting different isoelectric points. These isoforms have similar molecular weight, react with an antibody directed against desmin and generate identical peptides after digestion with protease V8 from Staphylococcus aureus.

Astrocytic cerebellar cell clones synthesize the beta' isoforms of the beta-tubulin protein family.

We have analysed the isotubulin pattern of three astrocytic cell clones, derived from spontaneously established permanent cell cultures originating from 8-day postnatal mice cerebellar explants, in comparison with that of primary astroglial cultures from embryonic brain and cerebellum. These astrocytic clones, which may represent the different astroglial cell types of mouse cerebellum, did not produce the alpha- and beta-acidic isoforms, these being found only in cells of neuronal lineage. However, the three astrocytic clones, but not the primary astroglial cultures, did synthesize the beta'-tubulin isoforms; in addition quantitative analysis of the beta' proteins showed a positive correlation between the ability of the cells to extend processes and their synthesis of the beta' isoforms. These data suggest that the presence of beta'-tubulin is not specific for neuronal cells but may be related to the ability of cells from the nervous system to extend processes.

Thyroid hormone induces protein secretion and morphological changes in astroglial cells with an increase in expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein.

Thyroid hormone (T3) induces in vitro differentiation of astrocytes from the developing rat brain. T3 treatment induced the appearance of long processes in cultured cerebral hemisphere and mesencephalon astrocytes from embryonic and newborn rats. T3 treatment also produced a change in the morphology of cultured cerebellar astrocytes from 10-day-old rats, but not in cerebellar astrocytes from newborn rats. An increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was also seen in the T3-treated newborn cerebral hemisphere and mesencephalic astrocytes. The morphological changes were induced earlier when the astrocytes were treated with conditioned medium (CM) obtained from cultures previously exposed to T3. Our results show that astrocytes from the developing rat brain are not homogeneous in their responsiveness to T3. Furthermore, the fact that CM produces a response similar to that obtained with T3 treatment but in less time, suggests that T3 might induce the secretion of factors by cultured astrocytes. These factors might, by an autocrine/paracrine effect, induce the expression of GFAP and differentiation in developing brain astrocytes.

T3 affects cerebellar astrocyte proliferation, GFAP and fibronectin organization.

Thyroid hormone T3 and conditioned medium from cerebellar T3-treated astrocytes induced proliferation in astroglial cells. In addition, T3 treatment promoted alterations in the organization of cytoskeleton (GFAP) and extracellular matrix (fibronectin) in these cerebellar astrocytes in culture. GFAP filaments that normally spread in the cytoplasm of astrocytes became organized around the cell nucleus. Fibronectin that had a punctate distribution on control cell surface, became diffused in T3-treated astrocytes. This hormone also induced growth factor(s) secretion by astrocytes. These results suggest that T3 may be an important regulator of astrocyte growth and differentiation.

Endogenous phosphorylation of tau proteins in brain slices.

Tau protein phosphorylation has been implicated as a main process that regulates microtubule dynamics. A large number of tau isoforms is generated by phosphorylation through the action of a diversity of kinases. We have analysed variations in tau phosphorylation by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, where a great heterogeneity of isoforms can be detected. Using mouse brain slices from various developmental stages we have found preferential phosphorylation of low molecular weight tau isoforms in all the ages analysed. A greater isoform diversity was found in juvenile than in adult brain. Brain slices provide a tightly regulated environment that preserves cell compartmentalization and has shown to be very useful for studies on tau phosphorylation.

Differential patterns of laminin expression in lateral and medial midbrain glia.

An analysis of the extra cellular matrix (ECM) in regionally heterogeneous midbrain glia has been started. Immunoreactivity to laminin has been tested in confluent glial cultures from lateral (L) and medial (M) sectors of 14 days mouse embryos (E14) and in neurone-glia cocultures kept for 48 hours after plating of E14 midbrain freshly-dissociated neurones. Laminin is present in both types of glial cultures, but its distribution assumes a punctate pattern in glia that is not permissive for neurite growth (M-glia) and a fibrillar configuration in a favourable glial substrate (L-glia). Moreover, laminin expression is dramatically upregulated in co-cultures although fibrillar and punctate patterns are maintained.

Glial cells with differential neurite growth-modulating properties probed by atomic force microscopy.

Lateral (L) and medial (M) midbrain astrocytes differ in their ability to support neuritic growth (L, permissive; M, non-permissive) with properties of M glia depending on heparan sulfate (HS). Here we show by atomic force microscopy that the surfaces of formaldehyde-fixed astrocytes differ by conspicuous 250 nm protrusions in L and by a HS-dependent fibrillar network in M glia, thus, demonstrating correlations between cell surface morphology and functional properties.

Two simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed cell lines from the mouse striatum and mesencephalon presenting astrocytic characters. II. Interactions with mesencephalic neurons.

In an accompanying paper we report the characterization on the basis of pharmacological and immunological criteria of two astrocytic cell lines originating from the rostral mesencephalon and the striatum of the embryonic mouse (F7-Mes and F12-Str). This report compares the interactions of primary mesencephalic neurons with the astrocytic clones to that displayed with either an SV40-transformed fibroblastic clone (BT2) or primary mesencephalic (G-Mes) and striatal (G-Str) astrocytes. We show that BT2 differs from all other cell types (F7-Mes, F12-Str, G-Mes and G-Str). Indeed, as opposed to these cells BT2 is a poor substratum for neuronal adhesion or neuritic growth. This was clearly demonstrated by morphological examination of cocultures of the tested cells with either mesencephalic explants or dissociated cells. In addition a statistical analysis is provided which only concerns the dopaminergic (DA) neurons visualized by autoradiography after specific uptake of [3H]DA. The number of DA cells attached, the total length of their neurites and the degree of branching behaviour were examined. With the help of these criteria we show that F7-Mes and F12-Str are very similar to primary astrocytes and differ highly significantly from BT2. However, although sharing the main astrocytic features, F7-Mes and F12-Str do not differ from one another in their ability to induce the branching of DA neurites as their non-transformed counterparts do.

Two simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed cell lines from the mouse striatum and mesencephalon presenting astrocytic characters. I. Immunological and pharmacological properties.

Dissociate cultures were initiated from embryonic rostral mesencephalic and striatal tissues dissected from the mouse brain and previously incubated with a simian virus 40 (SV40) suspension. After several weeks in culture foci of fastly dividing cells were resuspended and cloned by successive dilutions. Several clones expressing the SV40 nuclear T antigen were obtained by these procedures and two of them, one mesencephalic (F7-Mes) and one striatal (F12-Str) were screened for the expression of glial or neuronal characters. Both clones possess adenylate cyclase-linked beta 2-adrenergic receptors. They also take up and synthesize gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in amounts compatible with a glial origin. As is the case for astrocytes, the uptake of GABA is inhibited by beta-alanine and rather insensitive to the presence of diaminobutyric acid (DABA), a specific inhibitor of the neuronal GABA carrier. The most convincing evidence that F7-Mes and F12-Str belong to the astrocytic lineage comes from the fact that the two cell lines synthesize glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as demonstrated by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. In an accompanying paper we also show that these lines behave like astrocytes when considered from the point of view of neuroglial interactions.

Two simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed cell lines from the mouse striatum and mesencephalon presenting astrocytic characters. III. A light and electron microscopic study.

In two preceding papers we described the cloning of two astrocytic cell lines by simian virus 40 (SV40) transformation of embryonic mouse mesencephalon (F7-Mes) and striatum (F12-Str). The characterization of these lines as belonging to the astrocytic lineage is based on pharmacological, immunocytochemical and physiological data. Here we present quantitative and qualitative data on the morphological aspects of these two astrocytic clones observed under light and electron microscopy. We show that the clones present ultrastructural characters reminiscent of the morphology of young astrocytes. On one hand, they are rather similar to primary astrocytes in culture; on the other, they differ both from a clonal fibroblastic cell line (BT2) and from embryonic mouse fibroblasts in primary culture. These astroblastic clones display 4 morphologically different cell populations which we called types I, II, III and IV. Types II and III are very similar and represent the most predominant cells; their morphologies strongly remind of that of astroblasts. Type I corresponds to glioblasts and does not account for more than 15-20% of the total population. Type IV, which is very similar to differentiated velamentous astrocytes, normally represent ca. 5% of the cells. However, when the transformed cells are treated with mitomycin or mitomycin + dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), the proportion of type IV cells increases very much (up to more than 50% of the cells) while types I, II and III become less numerous. Morphological analysis therefore confirms that the two cell lines derived from the SV40 transformation of 14-day-old embryonic mesencephalic and striatal cells belong to the astrocytic lineage. Moreover, it seems that they can differentiate in vitro in cell culture conditions either spontaneously or under the action of pharmacological treatments known to enhance normal astrocyte maturation.

Thyroid hormone action on astroglial cells from distinct brain regions during development.

Astrocytes are target to triiodothyronine (T3) hormone action during rat brain development. In this work, we show that astrocytes from distinct developing brain regions are differently responsive to thyroid hormone. Distinctly from embryonic or newborn cerebral hemisphere and mesencephalic astrocytes, newborn cerebellar and embryonic hippocampal astrocytes do not change their morphology in response of hormone treatment. We also analysed protein synthesis and secretion from these T3-treated astrocytes. The results showed a significant increase in protein synthesis in astrocytes from older brain regions. Maximum effect, however, was observed in cerebral hemisphere astrocytes from newborn rats. The protein secretion effect was also more evident in the cerebral hemisphere as well as in cerebellar astrocytes from newborn rats. In addition, we examined T3 effects on GFAP/vimentin expression by culturing 6-day old cerebellar astrocytes. In this case T3 seems to induce GFAP expression which might be occurring as a first step to astrocyte differentiation.

Differences in the isodesmin pattern between the electric organs of Electrophorus electricus L.

Desmin, the intermediate filament protein of muscle, is present in the electric organs of Electrophorus electricus L. as five isovariants, instead of the one to two isovariants found in muscle. We analyzed the isodesmin pattern in the three different electric organs using densitometry of Coomassie blue-stained bands in electrofocusing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We were able to compare the relative amount of each of the five desmin isovariants in an isodesmin pattern characteristic of each electric organ. These patterns proved to be, in some cases, statistically different. Desmin in each electric organ could have slightly different functions in order to correlate with the organ-specific isovariant patterns.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP): modulation by growth factors and its implication in astrocyte differentiation.

Intermediate filament (IF) proteins constitute an extremely large multigene family of developmentally and tissue-regulated cytoskeleton proteins abundant in most vertebrate cell types. Astrocyte precursors of the CNS usually express vimentin as the major IF. Astrocyte maturation is followed by a switch between vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression, with the latter being recognized as an astrocyte maturation marker. Levels of GFAP are regulated under developmental and pathological conditions. Upregulation of GFAP expression is one of the main characteristics of the astrocytic reaction commonly observed after CNS lesion. In this way, studies on GFAP regulation have been shown to be useful to understand not only brain physiology but also neurological disease. Modulators of GFAP expression include several hormones such as thyroid hormone, glucocorticoids and several growth factors such as FGF, CNTF and TGF beta, among others. Studies of the GFAP gene have already identified several putative growth factor binding domains in its promoter region. Data obtained from transgenic and knockout mice have provided new insights into IF protein functions. This review highlights the most recent studies on the regulation of IF function by growth factors and hormones.

Cross-talk between neurons and glia: highlights on soluble factors.

The development of the nervous system is guided by a balanced action between intrinsic factors represented by the genetic program and epigenetic factors characterized by cell-cell interactions which neural cells might perform throughout nervous system morphogenesis. Highly relevant among them are neuron-glia interactions. Several soluble factors secreted by either glial or neuronal cells have been implicated in the mutual influence these cells exert on each other. In this review, we will focus our attention on recent advances in the understanding of the role of glial and neuronal trophic factors in nervous system development. We will argue that the functional architecture of the brain depends on an intimate neuron-glia partnership.

Mouse brain Tau proteins: microheterogeneity and phosphorylation.

Tau proteins are involved in polymerization of tubulin into microtubules. They comprise a heterogeneous group of proteins that can be resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis using a non-equilibrium pH gradient in the first dimension. Developmental studies show that mouse brain Tau proteins are more heterogeneous in 15-day old mice than in newborn pups or adults. Tau phosphorylation is also more heterogeneous at this stage.