Continuous-Wave Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscope for Imaging Actin Cytoskeleton in Fixed and Live Cells.

Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy provides a new opportunity to study fine sub-cellular structures and highly dynamic cellular processes, which are challenging to observe using conventional optical microscopy. Using actin as an example, we explored the feasibility of using a continuous wave (CW)-STED microscope to study the fine structure and dynamics in fixed and live cells. Actin plays an important role in cellular processes, whose functioning involves dynamic formation and reorganization of fine structures of actin filaments. Frequently used confocal fluorescence and STED microscopy dyes were employed to image fixed PC-12 cells (dyed with phalloidin- fluorescein isothiocyante) and live rat chondrosarcoma cells (RCS) transfected with actin-green fluorescent protein (GFP). Compared to conventional confocal fluorescence microscopy, CW-STED microscopy shows improved spatial resolution in both fixed and live cells. We were able to monitor cell morphology changes continuously; however, the number of repetitive analyses were limited primarily by the dyes used in these experiments and could be improved with the use of dyes less susceptible to photobleaching. In conclusion, CW-STED may disclose new information for biological systems with a proper characteristic length scale. The challenges of using CW-STED microscopy to study cell structures are discussed.

Hmgb1 can facilitate activation of the matrilin-1 gene promoter by Sox9 and L-Sox5/Sox6 in early steps of chondrogenesis.

The architectural high mobility group box 1 (Hmgb1) protein acts as both a nuclear and an extracellular regulator of various biological processes, including skeletogenesis. Here we report its contribution to the evolutionarily conserved, distinctive regulation of the matrilin-1 gene (Matn1) expression in amniotes. We previously demonstrated that uniquely assembled proximal promoter elements restrict Matn1 expression to specific growth plate cartilage zones by allowing varying doses of L-Sox5/Sox6 and Nfi proteins to fine-tune their Sox9-mediated transactivation. Here, we dissected the regulatory mechanisms underlying the activity of a conserved distal promoter element 1. We show that this element carries three Sox-binding sites, works as an enhancer in vivo, and allows promoter activation by the Sox5/6/9 chondrogenic trio. In early steps of chondrogenesis, declining Hmgb1 expression overlaps with the onset of Sox9 expression. Unlike repression in late steps, Hmgb1 overexpression in early chondrogenesis increases Matn1 promoter activation by the Sox trio, and forced Hmgb1 expression in COS-7 cells facilitates induction of Matn1 expression by the Sox trio. The conserved Matn1 control elements bind Hmgb1 and SOX9 with opposite efficiency in vitro. They show higher HMGB1 than SOX trio occupancy in established chondrogenic cell lines, and HMGB1 silencing greatly increases MATN1 and COL2A1 expression. Together, these data thus suggest a model whereby Hmgb1 helps recruit the Sox trio to the Matn1 promoter and thereby facilitates activation of the gene in early chondrogenesis. We anticipate that Hmgb1 may similarly affect transcription of other cartilage-specific genes.

Swarm rat chondrosarcoma cells as an in vivo model: lung colonization and effects of tissue environment on tumor growth.

Swarm rat chondrosarcoma cells have been used extensively for biochemical studies of extra-cellular matrix metabolism in cartilage. However, these cells also possess tumor-like behavior in vivo and are useful in investigation of chondrosarcoma biology. the current study was designed to develop a metastatic model using swarm rat chondrosarcoma cells, and to assess the effect of tissue-environment on tumor behavior in vivo. Tumors were implanted subcutaneously or into bone, and animals were assessed radiographically and microscopically for tumor growth and metastasis. The subcutaneous tumor grew to an average mass of 35 g, while tumor implanted into bone grew 75 mg. Transplantation of the cells into the bone led to extensive bone remodeling with invasion of the medullary cavity and destruction of the bone cortex. Light microscopy demonstrated no significant differences in the number of mitoses, cellular atypia or extracellular matrix staining between the two sites of tumor implantation. Interestingly, lung colonization was observed in none of the animals in the subcutaneous tumor injection group, while tumors colonized the lungs in 95% of the rats with tumor injected into bone. Analysis of cDNA libraries from subcutaneous and bone-transplanted tumors demonstrated a complex and diverse array of expressed transcripts, and there were significant differences in gene expression between tumors at different sites. The results of this study suggest swarm rat chondrosarcoma is a model that resembles human chondrosarcoma mimicking its ability to infiltrate and remodel local bone and to colonize the lungs. Furthermore, the interaction between host-tissue and tumor cells plays a major role in the tumor behavior in this model. Identifying these interactions will lead to further understanding of chondrosarcoma and contribute to therapeutic targets in the future.