Biochemical Changes in the Niche Following Tumor Cell Invasion.

Metastatic cancer is the leading cause of all cancer related deaths. Prostate cancer (PCa) metastasizes preferentially to the bone marrow, specifically within the endosteal niche. Endosteal cells secrete homing molecules that may recruit PCa cells to the bone marrow. Once there, the biochemical signature of this niche regulates PCa fate including cellular dormancy or cell cycle arrest, reactivation and resistance to chemotherapeutics. Growth factors, interleukins, adhesion molecules, as well as extra-cellular matrix proteins can collectively change the phenotype of PCa cells. Understanding the biochemical signature of endosteal niche parasitism by PCa is imperative for the establishment of new and innovative therapeutic strategies. This review seeks to summarize these important niche signatures and the potential therapeutic approaches to target metastatic PCa within the bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1956-1964, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Immunohistochemical and molecular characterization of the human periosteum.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to characterize the cell of the human periosteum using immunohistological and molecular methods. METHODS: Phenotypic properties and the distribution of the cells within the different layers were investigated with immunohistochemical staining techniques and RT-PCR, focussing on markers for stromal stem cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts and immune cells. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical results revealed that all stained cells were located in the cambium layer and that most cells were positive for vimentin. The majority of cells consisted of stromal stem cells and osteoblastic precursor cells. The density increased towards the deeper layers of the cambium. In addition, cells positive for markers of the osteoblast, chondrocyte, and osteoclast lineages were found. Interestingly, there were MHC class II-expressing immune cells suggesting the presence of dendritic cells. Using lineage-specific primer pairs RT-PCR confirmed the immunofluorescence microscopy results, supporting that human periosteum serves as a reservoir of stromal stem cells, as well as cells of the osteoblastic, and the chondroblastic lineage, osteoclasts, and dendritic cells. CONCLUSION: Our work elucidates the role of periosteum as a source of cells with a high regenerative capacity. Undifferentiated stromal stem cells as well as osteoblastic precursor cells are dominating in the cambium layer. A new outlook is given towards an immune response coming from the periosteum as MHC II positive immune cells were detected.

Evaluation of immunocompatibility of tissue-engineered periosteum.

Tissue-engineered periosteum (TEP) and 'intramembranous ossification' may be an alternative approach to bone tissue engineering. In the previous study we attained successful bone defect reparation with homemade TEP in an allogenic rabbit model. But its allogenic immunocompatibility remained unknown. In this study TEP was constructed by seeding osteogenically induced mesenchymal stem cells of rabbit onto porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS). A mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was applied to evaluate the in vitro immunogenicity. The ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-lymphocytes was tested kinetically to evaluate the systematic reaction of the TEP allograft, and a histological examination was performed to investigate local inflammation and ectopic osteogenesis. MLR indicated that TEP had a higher in vitro immunostimulation than SIS (p < 0.05). The ratios of CD4(+)/CD8(+) lymphocytes increased in both TEP and SIS implanted groups in 2 weeks, followed by a decrease to a normal level from 2 to 4 weeks. Histological examination revealed modest lymphocyte infiltration for no more than 2 weeks. Moreover, subcutaneous ectopic ossification was observed in TEP allograft animals (8/12). Our findings imply that TEP has a certain immune reaction for the allograft, but it is not severe enough to impact osteogenesis in the allogenic rabbit model.

Anti-inflammatory effects of limb ischaemic preconditioning are mediated by sensory nerve activation in rats.

We have shown that ischaemic preconditioning ameliorates both the local periosteal and the systemic leukocyte activation evoked by limb ischaemia-reperfusion. We hypothesized that the activation of chemosensitive afferent nerves by transient ischaemia contributes to the protective mechanisms of ischaemic preconditioning via a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-dependent mechanism. In Sprague-Dawley rats, 60-min complete limb ischaemia was followed by 180 min of reperfusion. In further experiments, the CGRP analogue hCGRP (0.3 µg kg(-1)) or ischaemic preconditioning (2 × 10-min ischaemia/10-min reperfusion) was applied prior to the ischaemia-reperfusion insult. Ischaemic preconditioning was performed in three subgroups in which animals received the CGRP receptor antagonist CGRP(8-37) (30 µg kg(-1) h(-1)), the chemosensitive afferent nerve inactivator resiniferatoxin (3 × 15 µg kg(-1), sc), or vehicle. The effects of CGRP(8-37) and resiniferatoxin on ischaemia-reperfusion without ischaemic preconditioning were also evaluated. In the tibial periosteum of rats, intravital fluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemistry revealed significant attenuations of ischaemia-reperfusion-induced post-ischaemic leukocyte-endothelial interactions (rolling and adherence in the postcapillary venules) and tissue intracellular adhesion molecule expression following ischaemic preconditioning or hCGRP administration. Administration of CGRP(8-37) or pretreatment of animals with resiniferatoxin reversed the anti-inflammatory effects of limb ischaemic preconditioning, but failed to affect the microcirculatory consequences of ischaemia-reperfusion without ischaemic preconditioning. The results suggest that activation of the chemo- (capsaicin-) sensitive afferent nerves is involved in the mechanisms of microcirculatory anti-inflammatory protection provided by limb ischaemic preconditioning. Controlled activation of chemosensitive C-fibres or the CGRP receptors by the induction of ischaemic preconditioning or other means may furnish therapeutic benefit by ameliorating the periosteal microcirculatory consequences of tourniquet ischaemia.

Ischemic limb preconditioning downregulates systemic inflammatory activation.

We examined local and systemic antiinflammatory consequences of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in a rat model of limb ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) by characterizing the leukocyte-endothelial interactions in the periosteum and the expression of adhesion molecules playing a role in leukocyte-mediated inflammatory processes. IPC induction (2 cycles of 10 min of complete limb ischemia and 10 min of reperfusion) was followed by 60 min of ischemia/180 min of reperfusion or sham-operation. Data were compared with those on animals subjected to I-R and sham-operation. Neutrophil leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions (intravital videomicroscopy), intravascular neutrophil activation (CD11b expression changes by flow cytometry), and soluble and tissue intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; ELISA and immunohistochemistry, respectively) expressions were assessed. I-R induced enhanced leukocyte rolling and adherence in the periosteal postcapillary venules after 120 and 180 min of reperfusion. This was associated with a significantly enhanced CD11b expression (by approximately 80% and 72%, respectively) and moderately increased soluble and periosteal ICAM-1 expressions. IPC prevented the I-R-induced increases in leukocyte adherence and CD11b expression without influencing the soluble and tissue ICAM-1 levels. The results show that limb IPC exerts not only local, but distant antiinflammatory effects through significant modulation of neutrophil recruitment.

Activation of the acquired immune response reduces coupled bone formation in response to a periodontal pathogen.

Osteoimmunolgy involves the interaction of the immune system with skeletal elements. This interaction can lead to the formation of osseous lesions. To investigate how the acquired immune response could contribute to osteolytic lesions, we injected the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis adjacent to calvarial bone with or without prior immunization against the bacterium. Activation of the acquired immune response increased osteoclastogenesis and decreased coupled bone formation. The latter was accompanied by an increase in nuclear translocation of the transcription factor FOXO1 in vivo, increased apoptosis of bone-lining cells measured by the TUNEL assay and number of activated caspase-3 positive cells and a decrease in bone lining cell density. Further studies were conducted with MC3T3 osteoblastic cells. Apoptosis and increased FOXO1 DNA binding activity were induced when a combination of cytokines was tested, IL-beta, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma. Knockdown of FOXO1 by small interfering RNA significantly reduced cytokine stimulated apoptosis, cleaved caspase-3/7 activity and decreased mRNA levels of the proapoptotic genes, TNF-alpha, FADD, and caspase-3, -8, and -9. These results indicate that activation of the acquired immunity by a periodontal pathogen reduces the coupling of bone formation and resorption. This may occur by enhancing bone lining cell apoptosis through a mechanism that involves increased FOXO1 activation. These studies give insight into inflammatory bone diseases such as periodontal disease and arthritis were the formation of lytic lesions occurs in conjunction with deficient bone formation and activation of an acquired immune response.

Human periosteum-derived progenitor cells express distinct chemokine receptors and migrate upon stimulation with CCL2, CCL25, CXCL8, CXCL12, and CXCL13.

For bone repair, transplantation of periosteal progenitor cells (PCs), which had been amplified within supportive scaffolds, is applied clinically. More innovative bone tissue engineering approaches focus on the in situ recruitment of stem and progenitor cells to defective sites and their subsequent use for guided tissue repair. Chemokines are known to induce the directed migration of bone marrow CD34(-) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The aim of our study was to determine the chemokine receptor expression profile of human CD34(-) PCs and to demonstrate that these cells migrate upon stimulation with selected chemokines. PCs were isolated from periosteum of the mastoid bone and displayed a homogenous cell population presenting an MSC-related cell-surface antigen profile (ALCAM(+), SH2(+), SH3(+), CD14(-), CD34(-), CD44(+), CD45(-), CD90(+)). The expression profile of chemokine receptors was determined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Both methods consistently demonstrated that PCs express receptors of all four chemokine subfamilies CC, CXC, CX(3)C, and C. Migration of PCs and a dose-dependent migratory effect of the chemokines CCL2 (MCP1), CCL25 (TECK), CXCL8 (IL8), CXCL12 (SDF1alpha), and CXCL13 (BCA1), but not CCL22 (MDC) were demonstrated using a 96-multiwell chemotaxis assay. In conclusion, for the first time, here we report that human PCs express chemokine receptors, present their profile, and demonstrate a dose-dependent migratory effect of distinct chemokines on these cells. These results are promising towards in situ bone repair therapies based on guiding PCs to bone defects, and encourage further in vivo studies.