Collective cell motion in endothelial monolayers.

Collective cell motility is an important aspect of several developmental and pathophysiological processes. Despite its importance, the mechanisms that allow cells to be both motile and adhere to one another are poorly understood. In this study we establish statistical properties of the random streaming behavior of endothelial monolayer cultures. To understand the reported empirical findings, we expand the widely used cellular Potts model to include active cell motility. For spontaneous directed motility we assume a positive feedback between cell displacements and cell polarity. The resulting model is studied with computer simulations and is shown to exhibit behavior compatible with experimental findings. In particular, in monolayer cultures both the speed and persistence of cell motion decreases, transient cell chains move together as groups and velocity correlations extend over several cell diameters. As active cell motility is ubiquitous both in vitro and in vivo, our model is expected to be a generally applicable representation of cellular behavior.

The fibulin-1 gene (FBLN1) is disrupted in a t(12;22) associated with a complex type of synpolydactyly.

Molecular analysis of the reciprocal chromosomal translocation t(12;22)(p11.2;q13.3) cosegregating with a complex type of synpolydactyly showed involvement of an alternatively spliced exon of the fibulin-1 gene (FBLN1 located in 22q13.3) and the C12orf2 (HoJ-1) gene on the short arm of chromosome 12. Investigation of the possible functional involvement of the fibulin-1 protein (FBLN1) in the observed phenotype showed that FBLN1 is expressed in the extracellular matrix (ECM) in association with the digits in the developing limb. Furthermore, fibroblasts derived from patients with the complex type of synpolydactyly displayed alterations in the level of FBLN1-D splice variant incorporated into the ECM and secreted into the conditioned culture medium. By contrast, the expression of the FBLN1-C splice variant was not perturbed in the patient fibroblasts. Based on these findings, we propose that the t(12;22) results in haploinsufficiency of the FBLN1-D variant, which could lead to the observed limb malformations.

Isolation and localization of basic fibroblast growth factor-immunoreactive substance in the epiphyseal growth plate.

Previous research in our laboratory has shown basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to be a permissive mitogen for isolated avian growth plate chondrocytes. The present study was conducted to determine whether bFGF is present in avian growth plate and, if present, to determine its localization within the tissue. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that bFGF is present in the resting proliferative and hypertrophic calcifying zones of the growth plate but is absent from the prehypertrophic zone. Basic FGF appears to be associated with the extracellular matrix of the proliferative zone, but it is predominantly intracellular in the hypertrophic and mineralizing zone chondrocytes. Partial purification of cartilage-derived bFGF was performed on crude extracts of cartilage using heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The presence of bFGF in the heparin-Sepharose column fractions was confirmed by immunoblotting and radioimmunoassay. Furthermore, western blot analysis of the extracts showed multiple protein bands having bFGF immunoreactivity, in the molecular weight range 14.4-18 kD. The data support the hypothesis that bFGF has a dual role in the growth plate. In the proliferative zone it acts as a chondrocyte mitogen, whereas when released from terminal hypertrophic chondrocytes, bFGF may serve as a chemotactic signal for metaphyseal blood vessel proliferation.

Isolation and characterization of microvascular endothelial cells from chicken fat pads.

Microvascular endothelial cells from abdominal fat pads of 6-wk-old broiler chickens were isolated to provide an in vitro system to study their physiological functions. The isolation procedure produced clumps of 10-30 cells, which attached to culture vessels in 4 h and attained confluency in 2 wk. At confluency, cells had a cobblestone appearance but were not contact inhibited and detached from the bottom of the culture vessel 2 wk after reaching confluency. The cells internalized acetylated low density lipoproteins, a characteristic of endothelial cells. This property was used to obtain pure endothelial cell cultures using the cell sorter. When cultured over Matrigel, a reconstituted matrix, the cells aligned themselves into chordlike structures and formed branching microvessels. Cells plated on type I collagen-coated culture flasks occasionally formed chordlike structures and proliferated at a faster rate than cells plated on Matrigel. Cells cultured on laminin-coated plates were slender and had long cytoplasmic extensions; however, cells cultured on uncoated plastic had fibroblastic morphology. These properties are similar to those described for microvessel endothelial cells isolated from tissues of other species.

Autocrine, paracrine, and hormonal signals involved in growth plate chondrocyte differentiation.

Longitudinal bone growth depends upon intricate steps in the metabolism and differentiation of epiphyseal growth plate chondrocytes. These steps involve cell proliferation followed by the synthesis of gene products that are characteristic of the subsequent stages of differentiation. Until recently, the major control of growth plate metabolism was thought to reside with systemic hormones, principally growth hormone. However, it is now apparent that locally produced peptide growth factors play important autocrine and paracrine roles in normal growth plate physiology. Investigations with cultured chondrocytes have demonstrated the importance of the peptide growth factors insulin-like growth factor-I, transforming growth factor-beta, and basic fibroblast growth factor for cell proliferation, extracellular matrix biosynthesis, and changes in morphology associated with the progressive stages of chondrocyte differentiation. All three of these factors have been shown to be present in specific zones of the epiphyseal growth plate. A preliminary map of the epiphyseal growth plate is proposed, which delineates the site and mode of action of systemic and locally produced factors involved in longitudinal bone growth.

Immunolocalization of basic fibroblastic growth factor in avian tibial dyschondroplastic cartilage.

Recent research in our laboratory has demonstrated that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a permissive mitogen for epiphyseal growth plate chondrocytes. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated the presence of bFGF in the proliferative and hypertrophic zones of normal epiphyseal growth plates of 4-wk-old broiler chickens. The purpose of this investigation was to extend this research to include examination of the status of bFGF in the cartilage lesion associated with tibial dyschondroplasia (TD). Immunocytochemistry revealed that the distribution of bFGF in the growth plate proximal to the TD lesion was similar to that observed with normal growth plate. However, the intensity of immunofluorescence was greatly diminished in the TD lesion. The number of chondrocytes staining positive for bFGF was also reduced. In the peripheral edges of the lesion where cartilage was being actively resorbed, the staining intensity was greatly increased when compared to the rest of the TD lesion. Similar patterns were observed in all TD tissues examined whether the lesions were spontaneous or induced by dietary treatments or genetic selection. It is hypothesized that the decrease in bFGF, a potent angiogenic factor, may be responsible for the poor vascularization of the TD lesion.

Retinoic acid reverses ethanol-induced cardiovascular abnormalities in quail embryos.

The effect of ethanol on early avian cardiovascular development was investigated in stage 8 quail embryos grown in culture for 24 hr. When the culture medium contained 1% ethanol, 50% of the embryos developed abnormalities of the cardiovascular system, some of which resembled vitamin A deficiency. Only 15% of the embryos grown in control media developed abnormalities attributed to the manipulation of the embryo. When all-trans-retinoic acid, the active form of vitamin A, was added at 10(-8) M to the ethanol-containing medium, the cardiovascular development was similar to that of untreated controls. Inclusion of 4-methylpyrazole and citral, enzyme inhibitors for the conversion of retinol to retinoic acid, produced cardiovascular abnormalities in embryos similar to those observed in vitamin A deficiency. These abnormalities were partially prevented by the presence of 10(-8) M all-trans-retinoic acid in the medium. Immunohistochemical studies using antibodies specific for the heart muscle myosin heavy chain (MF-20) and quail endothelial cells (QH-1) revealed that looping of the heart of ethanol-treated embryos was prevented, and the embryonal circulation had no or minimal vascular connections to the extraembryonic circulation. Our studies provide indirect evidence that ethanol is producing vitamin A deficiency during embryonic cardiovascular development and that these effects are specifically prevented by the presence of retinoic acid. These findings may explain some of the symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Interaction of apolipoprotein J-amyloid beta-peptide complex with low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-2/megalin. A mechanism to prevent pathological accumulation of amyloid beta-peptide.

Apolipoprotein J (apoJ) has been shown to be the predominant amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta)-binding protein in cerebrospinal fluid. We have previously demonstrated that the endocytic receptor low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-2/megalin (LRP-2), which is expressed by choroid plexus epithelium and ependymal cells lining the brain ventricles and neural tube, binds and mediates cellular uptake of apoJ (Kounnas, M. Z., Loukinova, E. B., Stefansson, S., Harmony, J. A., Brewer, B., Strickland, D. K., and Argraves, W. S. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 13070-13075). In the present study, we evaluated the ability of apoJ to mediate binding of Abeta1-40-apoJ complex to LRP-2 in vitro. Immunoblot analysis showed that incubation of apoJ with Abeta1-40 resulted in the formation of Abeta1-40-apoJ complex and the inhibition of the formation of Abeta1-40 aggregates. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, an estimated dissociation constant (Kd) of 4.8 nM was derived for the interaction between Abeta1-40 and apoJ. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was also used to study the interaction of the Abeta1-40-apoJ complex with LRP-2. The results showed that Abeta alone did not bind directly to LRP-2; however, when Abeta1-40 was combined with apoJ to form a complex, binding to LRP-2 took place. The binding interaction could be blocked by inclusion of the receptor-associated protein, an antagonist of apoJ binding to LRP-2. When LRP-2-expressing cells were given 125I-Abeta1-40, cellular uptake of the radiolabeled peptide was promoted by co-incubation with apoJ. When the cells were provided purified 125I-Abeta1-40-apoJ complex, the complex was internalized and degraded, and both processes were inhibited with polyclonal LRP-2 antibodies. Furthermore, chloroquine treatment inhibited the cellular degradation of the complex. The data indicate that apoJ facilitates Abeta1-40 binding to LRP-2 and that the receptor mediates cellular clearance of Abeta1-40-apoJ complex leading to lysosomal degradation of Abeta1-40. The findings support the possibility that LRP-2 can act in vivo to mediate clearance of the complex from biological fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid and thereby play a role in the regulation of Abeta accumulation.

Monoclonal antibody to fibulin-1 generated by genetic immunization.

Fibulin-1 (Fbln-1) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) and plasma glycoprotein. Considering the growing evidence indicating that Fbln-1 plays a role in cancer we sought to develop monospecific antibodies to better facilitate further studies of the function of Fbln-1 in breast cancer. Using a plasmid expression vector encoding full-length human Fbln-1D as an immunogen and CpG oligodeoxyribonucleotides as adjuvant a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against Fbln-1 was produced. This MAb, designated MEM-2 was of IgM isotype and reacted with bacterially expressed Fbln-1. Furthermore, MEM-2 reacted with Fbln-1 expressed in the ECM released by cultured human breast carcinoma SKBR-3 cells in ELISA, and also with Fbln-1 present in SKBR-3 cell extract in immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. MEM-2 also reacted with Fbln-1 in human breast carcinoma specimens. These findings illustrate the utility of genetic immunization as a means of generating monoclonal antibodies to tumor-related ECM proteins. MEM-2 represents a useful new tool for the study of Fbln-1 in breast cancer.

Cubilin, the endocytic receptor for intrinsic factor-vitamin B(12) complex, mediates high-density lipoprotein holoparticle endocytosis.

Receptors that endocytose high-density lipoproteins (HDL) have been elusive. Here yolk-sac endoderm-like cells were used to identify an endocytic receptor for HDL. The receptor was isolated by HDL affinity chromatography and identified as cubilin, the recently described endocytic receptor for intrinsic factor-vitamin B(12). Cubilin antibodies inhibit HDL endocytosis by the endoderm-like cells and in mouse embryo yolk-sac endoderm, a prominent site of cubilin expression. Cubilin-mediated HDL endocytosis is inhibitable by HDL(2), HDL(3), apolipoprotein (apo)A-I, apoA-II, apoE, and RAP, but not by low-density lipoprotein (LDL), oxidized LDL, VLDL, apoC-I, apoC-III, or heparin. These findings, coupled with the fact that cubilin is expressed in kidney proximal tubules, suggest a role for this receptor in embryonic acquisition of maternal HDL and renal catabolism of filterable forms of HDL.

Fibulin-1 suppression of fibronectin-regulated cell adhesion and motility.

Fibulin-1 is an extracellular matrix protein often associated with fibronectin (FN) in vivo. In this study, the ability of fibulin-1 to modulate adhesion, spreading and motility-promoting activities of FN was investigated. Fibulin-1 was found to have pronounced inhibitory effects on the cell attachment and spreading promoted by FN. Fibulin-1 was also found to inhibit the motility of a variety of cell types on FN substrata. For example, the FN-dependent haptotactic motility of breast carcinoma (MDA MB231) cells, epidermal carcinoma (A431), melanoma (A375 SM), rat pulmonary aortic smooth muscle cells (PAC1) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was inhibited by the presence of fibulin-1 bound to FN-coated Boyden chamber membranes. Cells transfected to overproduce fibulin-1 displayed reduced velocity, distance of movement and persistence time on FN substrata. Similarly, the incorporation of fibulin-1 into FN-containing type I collagen gels inhibited the invasion of endocardial cushion mesenchymal cells migrating from cultured embryonic heart explants. By contrast, incorporation of fibulin-1 into collagen gels lacking FN had no effect on the migration of endocardial cushion cells. These results suggest that the motility-suppressive effects of fibulin-1 might be FN specific. Furthermore, such effects are cell-type specific, in that the migration of gingival fibroblasts and endothelial cells on FN substrata is not responsive to fibulin-1. Additional studies found that the mechanism for the motility-suppressive effects of fibulin-1 does not involve perturbations of interactions between alpha5beta1 or alpha4 integrins, or heparan sulfate proteoglycans with FN. However, fibulin-1 was found to inhibit extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) activation and to suppress phosphorylation of myosin heavy chain. This ability to influence signal transduction cascades that modulate the actin-myosin motor complex might be the basis for the effects of fibulin-1 on adhesion and motility.

Elevated expression and altered processing of fibulin-1 protein in human breast cancer.

The extracellular matrix protein fibulin-1 suppresses the motility and invasiveness of a variety of tumour cell types in vitro as well as the growth of fibrosarcoma tumours in nude mice. In this study, fibulin-1 protein expression in breast carcinoma specimens and normal breast tissue was evaluated immunohistologically. Fibulin-1 protein expression was also semiquantitatively assessed by immunoblot analysis in a collection of normal breast tissues (n=18), benign tumours (n=5) and breast carcinomas (n=39). In normal breast tissue, fibulin-1 protein expression predominated in the ductal epithelium and underlying myoepithelium, with weaker staining evident in the loose connective surrounding the ducts. Examination of breast carcinomas revealed that the tumour cells also expressed fibulin-1 protein. The level of mature fibulin-1 polypeptide (100 kDa) was higher in the breast carcinoma specimens as compared to normal breast tissue (Mann-Whitney U-test, P=0.0005). In addition to the mature fibulin-1 polypeptide, several smaller sized polypeptides of 55, 50 and 25 kDa were detected using monoclonal antibodies reactive towards an epitope located at the N-terminus of fibulin-1. The immunoreactive 50 kDa polypeptide was detected more frequently in breast carcinoma specimens than in normal breast tissue (chi(2)=17.22, P<0.0001). Furthermore, the ratio of the 50 kDa fragment to the mature fibulin-1 polypeptide correlated with the level of oestrogen receptor alpha (Spearman correlation coefficient, rs=0.49, P<0.003, n=36) and progesterone receptor (rs=0.43, P=0.008, n=36) expression in the tumour specimens. Taken together, these findings indicate that elevated expression and altered processing of fibulin-1 is associated with human breast cancer.