Planar AFM macro-probes to study the biomechanical properties of large cells and 3D cell spheroids.

The ability to measure mechanical response of cells under applied load is essential for developing more accurate models of cell mechanics and mechanotransduction. Living cells have been mechanically investigated by several approaches. Among them, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is widely used thanks to its high versatility and sensitivity. In the case of large cells or 3D multicellular aggregates, standard AFM probes may not be appropriate to investigate the mechanical properties of the whole biological system. Owing to their size, standard AFM probes can compress only a single somatic cell or part of it. To fill this gap, we have designed and fabricated planar AFM macro-probes compatible with commercial AFM instruments. The probes are constituted of a large flat compression plate, connected to the chip by two flexible arms, whose mechanical characteristics are tuned for specific biological applications. As proof of concept, we have used the macro-probes to measure the viscoelasticity of large spherical biological systems, which have a diameter above 100 µm: human oocytes and 3D cell spheroids. Compression experiments are combined with visual inspection, using a side-view configuration imaging, which allows us to monitor the sample morphology during the compression and to correlate it with the viscoelastic parameters. Our measurements provide a quantitative estimate of the relaxation times of such biological systems, which are discussed in relation to data present in literature. The broad applicability of the AFM macro-probes can be relevant to study the biomechanical features in any biological process involving large soft materials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The understanding of the role of physical factors in defining cell and tissue functions requires to develop new methods or improve the existing ones to accurately measure the biomechanical properties. AFM is a sensitive and versatile tool to measure the mechanical features from single proteins to single cells. When cells or cell aggregates exceed few tens of microns, AFM suffers from limitations. On these biological systems the control of the contact area and the application of a precise uniform compression becomes crucial. A modification of the standard cantilevers fabrication allowed us obtaining AFM macro-probes, having large planar contact area and spring constant suitable for biological investigations. They were demonstrated valuable to characterize the mechanical properties of large hierarchical biological systems.

AAV-mediated in vivo functional selection of tissue-protective factors against ischaemia.

Functional screening of expression libraries in vivo would offer the possibility of identifying novel biotherapeutics without a priori knowledge of their biochemical function. Here we describe a procedure for the functional selection of tissue-protective factors based on the in vivo delivery of arrayed cDNA libraries from the mouse secretome using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. Application of this technique, which we call FunSel, in the context of acute ischaemia, revealed that the peptide ghrelin protects skeletal muscle and heart from ischaemic damage. When delivered to the heart using an AAV9 vector, ghrelin markedly reduces infarct size and preserves cardiac function over time. This protective activity associates with the capacity of ghrelin to sustain autophagy and remove dysfunctional mitochondria after myocardial infarction. Our findings describe an innovative tool to identify biological therapeutics and reveal a novel role of ghrelin as an inducer of myoprotective autophagy.

Constitutive cholesterol-dependent endocytosis of melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is essential to maintain receptor responsiveness to α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH).

Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a G-protein-coupled receptor expressed in the hypothalamus where it controls feeding behavior. MC4R cycles constitutively and is internalized at the same rate in the presence or absence of stimulation by the agonist, melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). This is different from other G-protein-coupled receptors, such as ß(2)-adrenergic receptor (ß(2)AR), which internalizes more rapidly in response to agonist stimulation. Here, it is found that in immortalized neuronal Neuro2A cells expressing exogenous receptors, constitutive endocytosis of MC4R and agonist-dependent internalization of ß(2)AR were equally sensitive to clathrin depletion. Inhibition of MC4R endocytosis by clathrin depletion decreased the number of receptors at the cell surface that were responsive to the agonist, α-MSH, by 75%. Mild membrane cholesterol depletion also inhibited constitutive endocytosis of MC4R by ∼5-fold, while not affecting recycling of MC4R or agonist-dependent internalization of ß(2)AR. Reduced cholesterol did not change the MC4R dose-response curve to α-MSH, but it decreased the amount of cAMP generated per receptor number indicating that a population of MC4R at the cell surface becomes nonfunctional. The loss of MC4R function increased over time (25-50%) and was partially reversed by mutations at putative phosphorylation sites (T312A and S329A). This was reproduced in hypothalamic GT1-7 cells expressing endogenous MC4R. The data indicate that constitutive endocytosis of MC4R is clathrin- and cholesterol-dependent. MC4R endocytosis is required to maintain MC4R responsiveness to α-MSH by constantly eliminating from the plasma membrane a pool of receptors modified at Thr-312 and Ser-329 that have to be cycled to the endosomal compartment to regain function.

Activating transcription factor 6 limits intracellular accumulation of mutant α(1)-antitrypsin Z and mitochondrial damage in hepatoma cells.

α(1)-Antitrypsin is a serine protease inhibitor secreted by hepatocytes. A variant of α(1)-antitrypsin with an E342K (Z) mutation (ATZ) has propensity to form polymers, is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is degraded by both ER-associated degradation and autophagy, and causes hepatocyte loss. Constant features in hepatocytes of PiZZ individuals and in PiZ transgenic mice expressing ATZ are the formation of membrane-limited globular inclusions containing ATZ and mitochondrial damage. Expression of ATZ in the liver does not induce the unfolded protein response (UPR), a protective mechanism aimed to maintain ER homeostasis in the face of an increased load of proteins. Here we found that in hepatoma cells the ER E3 ligase HRD1 functioned to degrade most of the ATZ before globular inclusions are formed. Activation of the activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) branch of the UPR by expression of spliced ATF6(1-373) decreased intracellular accumulation of ATZ and the formation of globular inclusions by a pathway that required HRD1 and the proteasome. Expression of ATF6(1-373) in ATZ-expressing hepatoma cells did not induce autophagy and increased the level of the proapoptotic factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP) but did not lead to apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Expression of ATF6(1-373) did not cause inhibition of protein synthesis and prevented mitochondrial damage induced by ATZ expression. It was concluded that activation of the ATF6 pathway of the UPR limits ATZ-dependent cell toxicity by selectively promoting ER-associated degradation of ATZ and is thereby a potential target to prevent hepatocyte loss in addition to autophagy-enhancing drugs.

Sparc localizes to the blebs of hobit cells and human primary osteoblasts.

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cystein (SPARC) is a secreted glycoprotein involved in several biological processes such as tissue remodeling, embryonic development, cell/extracellular matrix interactions, and cell migration. In particular, SPARC affects bone remodeling through the regulation of both differentiation/survival of osteoblasts and bone extracellular matrix synthesis/turnover. Here, we investigated SPARC subcellular localization in the human osteoblastic HOBIT cell line by immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis. We show that, under normal exponential cell growth conditions, SPARC localized both to cell nucleus and to cytoplasm, with no co-localization on actin stress fibers. However, in colchicine-treated HOBIT cells and human primary osteoblasts undergoing blebs formation, SPARC showed a different cellular distribution, with an additional marked compartmentalization inside the blebs, where it co-localized with globular actin and actin-binding proteins such as alpha-actinin, cortactin, and vinculin. Moreover, we demonstrate by an in vitro assay that the addition of SPARC to actin and alpha-actinin inhibited the formation of cross-linked actin filaments and disrupted newly formed filaments, most likely due to a direct interaction between SPARC and alpha-actinin, as indicated by immunoprecipitation assay. The specific silencing of SPARC RNA expression markedly decreased the ability of colchicine-treated HOBIT cells to undergo blebbing, suggesting a direct role for SPARC in cell morphology dynamics during cytoskeletal reorganization.

Breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cell line induces spontaneous osteoclastogenesis via a RANK-ligand-dependent pathway.

The metastasis of breast cancer to the skeleton is a serious clinical problem resulting in hypercalcemia, bone fragility and insurmountable pain. The invasion of bony tissue by neoplastic cells usually very rapidly affects the balance between bone apposition and bone resorption. In order to elucidate a mechanism for cancer-induced osteoclastogenesis, cells from a human breast cancer line, MCF-7, were directly co-cultured with murine monocytes RAW 264.7 type CRL 2278. Compared with controls, co-culture of MCF-7 induced differentiation of multinucleated cells by membrane-bound and soluble receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) as quantified by ELISA, Western blot analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and immunocytochemistry. The aim of this study was to determine an in vitro model system of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells grown together with monocytes to show that expression of RANKL promotes osteoclastogenesis, which may indicate a mechanism for the development of osteolytic lesions in breast cancer bone metastasis.

Sequestration of mutated alpha1-antitrypsin into inclusion bodies is a cell-protective mechanism to maintain endoplasmic reticulum function.

A variant alpha1-antitrypsin with E342K mutation has a high tendency to form intracellular polymers, and it is associated with liver disease. In the hepatocytes of individuals carrying the mutation, alpha1-antitrypsin localizes both to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and to membrane-surrounded inclusion bodies (IBs). It is unclear whether the IBs contribute to cell toxicity or whether they are protective to the cell. We found that in hepatoma cells, mutated alpha1-antitrypsin exited the ER and accumulated in IBs that were negative for autophagosomal and lysosomal markers, and contained several ER components, but not calnexin. Mutated alpha1-antitrypsin induced IBs also in neuroendocrine cells, showing that formation of these organelles is not cell type specific. In the presence of IBs, ER function was largely maintained. Increased levels of calnexin, but not of protein disulfide isomerase, inhibited formation of IBs and lead to retention of mutated alpha1-antitrypsin in the ER. In hepatoma cells, shift of mutated alpha1-antitrypsin localization to the ER by calnexin overexpression lead to cell shrinkage, ER stress, and impairment of the secretory pathway at the ER level. We conclude that segregation of mutated alpha1-antitrypsin from the ER to the IBs is a protective cell response to maintain a functional secretory pathway.

Effects of neridronic acid on osteoclasts derived by physiological dual-cell cultures.

Increased osteoclastic activity is observed in many osteopathic disorders - including postmenopausal osteoporosis, Paget's disease, primary bone tumours, lytic bone metastases, multiple myeloma and rheumatoid arthritis - that involve increased bone resorption and a loss of bone mass. Bisphosphonates are highly effective inhibitors of bone resorption that selectively affect the osteoclasts. The aim of this study was to obtain more information about the mechanism of action of bisphosphonates such as neridronic acid using a dual-cell culture model. As a model of osteoclastogenesis we used a murine monocyte/macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 type CRL 2278 co-cultured with murine osteoblasts. The monocyte-osteoblast system allows physiological experimentation of bone anti-resorption drugs, simulating bone turnover in pathologies such as osteoporosis. The direct actions of neridronic acid on cell proliferation and functionality in the co-culture model were examined using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) assay, immunohistochemical localization of actin, and transmission and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that the percentage of TRAP-positive cells, an early marker of osteoclastic differentiation, was significantly higher in control cultures than in co-cultures treated with variable concentrations of neridronic acid. Neridronic acid induced dramatic morphological changes, characterized by the loss of the ruffled border. The actin ring associated with the plasma membrane of the cells treated with neridronic acid was shown to break down. The tissue-specific targeting of neridronic acid to bone mineral suggests that it may inhibit bone resorption by direct effects on osteoclasts or other bone cells in the immediate microenvironment of the osteoclasts. From our study, we conclude that structural alterations induced by neridronic acid in our co-culture system lead to decreased osteoclast function. This may encourage the use of neridronic acid to reduce bone resorption in the therapy of demineralizing metabolic bone disorders.

Constitutive traffic of melanocortin-4 receptor in Neuro2A cells and immortalized hypothalamic neurons.

Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that binds alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and has a central role in the regulation of appetite and energy expenditure. Most GPCRs are endocytosed following binding to the agonist and receptor desensitization. Other GPCRs are internalized and recycled back to the plasma membrane constitutively, in the absence of the agonist. In unstimulated neuroblastoma cells and immortalized hypothalamic neurons, epitopetagged MC4R was localized both at the plasma membrane and in an intracellular compartment. These two pools of receptors were in dynamic equilibrium, with MC4R being rapidly internalized and exocytosed. In the absence of alpha-MSH, a fraction of cell surface MC4R localized together with transferrin receptor and to clathrin-coated pits. Constitutive MC4R internalization was impaired by expression of a dominant negative dynamin mutant. Thus, MC4R is internalized together with transferrin receptor by clathrin-dependent endocytosis. Cell exposure toalpha-MSH reduced the amount of MC4R at the plasma membrane by blocking recycling of a fraction of internalized receptor, rather than by increasing its rate of endocytosis. The data indicate that, in neuronal cells, MC4R recycles constitutively and that alpha-MSH modulates MC4R residency at the plasma membrane by acting at an intracellular sorting step.

Morphological features of osteoclasts derived from a co-culture system.

The interaction between the receptor activator of NfKB (RANK) and its ligand receptor activator of NfKB ligand (RANKL) has recently been proven to be pivotal for osteoclast differentiation and activation. The influence of RANK-RANKL signaling on osteoclast formation was established by co-culturing murine osteoblasts (type CRL-12257) and murine mononuclear monocytes (RAW 264.7). The aim of the present study was to examine, by means of morphological techniques, the interaction between these two cell lines grown in the absolute absence of exogenous cytokines and other stimulating factors. Moreover, we wanted to show that our model could provide a system to analyze the bone resorption process. Mineralized matrix induced morphological changes of osteoclasts (OC) by the formation of organized ruffled-border and a large number of secondary lysosomal vesicles. On the contrary, OC grown on glass coverslips without dentin showed no organized ruffled border or secondary lysosomes. The study of the relationship between these two cell types could establish new approaches for a potential pharmacological control of these cell types and tissues in health and disease.

Rabphilin localizes with the cell actin cytoskeleton and stimulates association of granules with F-actin cross-linked by {alpha}-actinin.

In endocrine cell, granules accumulate within an F-actin-rich region below the plasma membrane. The mechanisms involved in this process are largely unknown. Rabphilin is a cytosolic protein that is expressed in neurons and neuroendocrine cells and binds with high affinity to members of the Rab3 family of GTPases localized to synaptic vesicles and dense core granules. Rabphilin also interacts with alpha-actinin, a protein that cross-links F-actin into bundles and networks and associates with the granule membrane. Here we asked whether rabphilin, in addition to its granule localization, also interacts with the cell actin cytoskeleton. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy show that rabphilin localizes to the sub-plasmalemmal actin cytoskeleton both in neuroendocrine and unspecialized cells. By using purified components, it is found that association of rabphilin with F-actin is dependent on added alpha-actinin. In an in vitro assay, granules, unlike endosomes or mitochondria, associate with F-actin cross-linked by alpha-actinin. Rabphilin is shown to stimulate this process. Rabphilin enhances by approximately 8-fold the granule ability to localize within regions of elevated concentration of cross-linked F-actin. These results suggest that rabphilin, by interacting with alpha-actinin, organizes the cell cytoskeleton to facilitate granule localization within F-actin-rich regions.

TRAIL activates a caspase 9/7-dependent pathway in caspase 8/10-defective SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells with two functional end points: induction of apoptosis and PGE2 release.

Most neuroblastoma cell lines do not express apical caspases 8 and 10, which play a key role in mediating tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) cytotoxicity in a variety of malignant cell types. In this study, we demonstrated that TRAIL induced a moderate but significant increase of apoptosis in the caspase 8/10-deficient SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cell line, through activation of a novel caspase 9/7 pathway. Concomitant to the induction of apoptosis, TRAIL also promoted a significant increase of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release by SK-N-SH cells. Moreover, coadministration of TRAIL plus indomethacin, a pharmacological inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX), showed an additive effect on SK-N-SH cell death. In spite of the ability of TRAIL to promote the phosphorylation of both ERK1/2 and p38/MAPK, which have been involved in the control of COX expression/activity, neither PD98059 nor SB203580, pharmacological inhibitors of the ERK1/2 and p38/MAPK pathways, respectively, affected either PGE2 production or apoptosis induced by TRAIL. Finally, both induction of apoptosis and PGE2 release were completely abrogated by the broad caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, suggesting that both biologic end points were regulated in SK-N-SH cells through a caspase 9/7-dependent pathway.

Diacylglycerol kinase-theta is localized in the speckle domains of the nucleus.

It is well established that the nucleus is endowed with enzymes that are involved in lipid-dependent signal transduction pathways. Diacylglycerol (DAG) is a fundamental lipid second messenger that is produced in the nucleus. Previous reports have shown that the nucleus contains diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs), i.e., the enzymes that, by converting DAG into phosphatidic acid (PA), terminate DAG-dependent events. Here, we show, by immunofluorescence staining and confocal analysis, that DGK-theta localizes mainly to the nucleus of various cell lines, such as MDA-MB-453, MCF-7, PC12, and HeLa. Nuclear DGK-theta co-localizes with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) in domains that correspond to nuclear speckles, as revealed by the use of an antibody to the splicing factor SC-35, a well-established marker for these structures. The spatial distribution of nuclear DGK-theta was dynamic in that it was affected by inhibition of mRNA transcription with alpha-amanitin. Immuno-electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that DGK-theta, PIP(2), and phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase Cbeta1 (PLCbeta1) associated with electron-dense particles within the nucleus that correspond to interchromatin granule clusters. Cell fractionation experiments performed in MDA-MB-453, HeLa, and PC12 cells showed a preferential association of DGK-theta with the nucleus. Western blots demonstrated that DGK-theta was enriched in the nuclear matrix fraction prepared from MDA-MB-453 cells. Immunoprecipitation experiments with an antibody to PLCbeta1 revealed in MDA-MB-453 cells an association between this enzyme and both DGK-theta and phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase Ialpha (PIPKIalpha). Our findings strengthen the contention that speckles represent a crucial site for the nuclear-based inositol lipid cycle. We may speculate that nuclear speckle-located DGK-theta, on cell stimulation with an agonist, converts to PA the DAG derived from PLCbeta1-dependent PIP(2) hydrolysis.

Proliferating or differentiating stimuli act on different lipid-dependent signaling pathways in nuclei of human leukemia cells.

Previous results have shown that the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cell line responds to either proliferating or differentiating stimuli. When these cells are induced to proliferate, protein kinase C (PKC)-beta II migrates toward the nucleus, whereas when they are exposed to differentiating agents, there is a nuclear translocation of the alpha isoform of PKC. As a step toward the elucidation of the early intranuclear events that regulate the proliferation or the differentiation process, we show that in the HL-60 cells, a proliferating stimulus (i.e., insulin-like growth factor-I [IGF-I]) increased nuclear diacylglycerol (DAG) production derived from phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate, as indicated by the inhibition exerted by 1-O-octadeyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and U-73122 (1-[6((17 beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl)amino)hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione), which are pharmacological inhibitors of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C. In contrast, when HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate along the granulocytic lineage by dimethyl sulfoxide, we observed a rise in the nuclear DAG mass, which was sensitive to either neomycin or propranolol, two compounds with inhibitory effect on phospholipase D (PLD)-mediated DAG generation. In nuclei of dimethyl sulfoxide-treated HL-60 cells, we observed a rise in the amount of a 90-kDa PLD, distinct from PLD1 or PLD2. When a phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate-derived DAG pool was generated in the nucleus, a selective translocation of PKC-beta II occurred. On the other hand, nuclear DAG derived through PLD, recruited PKC-alpha to the nucleus. Both of these PKC isoforms were phosphorylated on serine residues. These results provide support for the proposal that in the HL-60 cell nucleus there are two independently regulated sources of DAG, both of which are capable of acting as the driving force that attracts to this organelle distinct, DAG-dependent PKC isozymes. Our results assume a particular significance in light of the proposed use of pharmacological inhibitors of PKC-dependent biochemical pathways for the therapy of cancer disease.

Erythropoietin-induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells is accompanied by the nuclear translocation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and intranuclear generation of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) trisphosphate.

D-3 phosphorylated inositides are a peculiar class of lipids, synthesized by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PtdIns 3-K), which are also present in the nucleus. In order to clarify a possible role for nuclear D-3 phosphorylated inositides during human erythroid differentiation, we have examined the issue of whether or not, in K562 human erythroleukemia cells, erythropoietin (EPO) may generate nuclear translocation of an active PtdIns 3-K. Immunoprecipitation with an anti-p85 regulatory subunit of PtdIns 3-K, revealed that both the intranuclear amount and the activity of the kinase increased rapidly and transiently in response to EPO. Enzyme translocation was blocked by the specific PtdIns 3-K pharmacological inhibitor, LY294002, which also inhibited erythroid differentiation. In vivo, intranuclear synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) trisphosphate (PtdIns (3,4,5)P(3)) was stimulated by EPO. Almost all PtdIns 3-K that translocated to the nucleus was highly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues of the p85 regulatory subunit. These findings strongly suggest that an important step in the signaling pathways that mediate EPO-induced erythroid differentiation may be represented by the intranuclear translocation of an active PtdIns 3-K.