Macrophage stimulating protein promotes liver metastases of small cell lung cancer cells by affecting the organ microenvironment

The organ microenvironment significantly affects the processes of cancer metastasis. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of interaction between tumor cells and the organ microenvironment is crucial for the development of effective therapeutic strategies to eradicate cancer metastases. Macrophage stimulating protein (MSP), an activator of macrophages, regulates a pleiotropic array of effects, including proliferation, cellular motility, invasiveness, angiogenesis, and resistance to anoikis. However, the role of MSP in cancer metastasis is still largely unknown. In this study, the action of MSP on the production of metastases was determined in a multiple-organ metastasis model. The murine MSP gene was transfected into two human SCLC cell lines, SBC-5 and H1048, to establish transfectants secreting biologically active MSP. MSP gene transduction did not affect cell proliferation and motility in vitro. Intravenously inoculated MSP transfectants produced significantly larger numbers of liver metastases than parental cells or vector control clones, while there were no significant differences in bone or lung metastases among them. Immunohistochemical analyses of liver metastases revealed that tumor-associated microvessel density and tumor-infiltrating macrophages were significantly increased in lesions produced by MSP transfectants. MSP could stimulate the migration of murine macrophages and endothelial cells in vitro. Consequently, MSP may be one of the major determinants that affects the properties of tumor stroma and that produces a permissive microenvironment to promote cancer metastasis.     

Kupffer cells influence parenchymal invasion and phenotypic orientation, but not the proliferation, of liver progenitor cells in a murine model of liver injury

Activation of myofibroblasts (MF) and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition predispose the expansion and differentiation of liver progenitor cells (LPC) during chronic liver injury. Because Kupffer cells (KC) are active modulators of tissue response and fibrosis, we analyzed their role in a model of LPC proliferation. A choline-deficient diet, supplemented by ethionine (CDE) was administrated to C57Bl/6J mice that were depleted of KC by repeated injections of clodronate (CLO) and compared to PBS-injected mice. On CDE, massive KC activation was observed in the PBS group, but this was blunted in CLO-treated mice. The depletion of KC did not influence LPC proliferation but reduced their invasive behavior. Instead of being found far into the parenchyma, as was found in the PBS group (mean distance from portal vein: 209 μm), LPC of CLO mice remained closer to the portal area (138 μm), forming aggregates and phenotypically resembling cells of biliary lineage. Notably, removal of KC was also associated with a significant decrease in amount of MF and ECM and in the expression of profibrotic factors. Thus, besides ECM and MF, KC are also a significant component of the microenvironmental changes preceding LPC expansion. Depletion of KC may limit the LPC parenchymal invasion through a deficiency in chemoattracting factors, reduced activation of MF, and/or a paucity of the ECM framework necessary for cell motility.     

Role of the Ito cell in liver parenchymal fibrosis in rats fed alcohol and a high fat-low protein diet.

Eight pairs of young adult rats were pair-fed a high fat-low protein diet and ethanol or isocaloric glucose by permanent intragastric cannula for up to 6 months. Biopsies of the liver were taken monthly and the fibrosis was quantitated morphometrically using the sirius red polarization method of collagen visualization by light microscopy. Morphometric analysis of the sinusoids and scars were performed on electron micrographs made from the liver biopsies. An increase in the collagen in both the central and portal areas was found when the livers of the alcohol-fed rats were compared with controls. The predominant cell in the scars was the Ito cell. An increase in the percentage of the total Ito cell square area made up of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) was noted when the sinusoids of the liver of the ethanol-fed rats were compared with controls. No difference in the RER was found when the sinusoidal Ito cells were compared with the Ito cells located within the scars of the ethanol-fed rats. It was concluded that Ito cell "activation" by chronic ethanol feeding in the sinusoids of rats accurately predicts "activation" of the Ito cells within scars. The Ito cells are diffusely activated even though the scarring is localized. This implies that local factors as well as Ito cell activation are necessary for scar formation. In the case of alcoholic liver disease, scar formation may be initiated by centrilobular necrosis.     

The matricellular protein CCN1 promotes mucosal healing in murine colitis through IL-6

The matricellular protein CCN1 (CYR61) is known to function in wound healing and is upregulated in colons of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, yet its specific role in colitis is unknown. Here we have used Ccn1^dm/dm knockin mice expressing a CCN1 mutant unable to bind integrins α₆β₁ and α_Mβ₂ as a model to probe CCN1 function in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Ccn1^dm/dm mice exhibited high mortality, impaired mucosal healing, and diminished interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression during the repair phase of DSS-induced colitis compared with wild-type mice, despite having comparable severity of initial inflammation and tissue injury. CCN1-induced IL-6 expression in macrophages through integrin α_Mβ₂ and in fibroblasts through α₆β₁, and IL-6 promoted intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) proliferation. Administration of purified CCN1 protein fully rescued Ccn1^dm/dm mice from DSS-induced mortality, restored IEC proliferation and enhanced mucosal healing, whereas delivery of IL-6 partially rectified these defects. CCN1 therapy accelerated mucosal healing and recovery from DSS-induced colitis even in wild-type mice. These findings reveal a critical role for CCN1 in restoring mucosal homeostasis after intestinal injury in part through integrin-mediated induction of IL-6 expression, and suggest a therapeutic potential for activating the CCN1/IL-6 axis for treating inflammatory bowel disease.     

小鼠干细胞抗原阳性胎肝细胞在受体鼠脑组织中的分化

为了解胎肝干细胞是否具有向神经组织细胞分化的潜能 ,本研究采用免疫磁珠法分离雄性胎鼠肝组织中干细胞抗原 1(stemcellantigen ,Sca 1)阳性细胞 ,尾静脉注射Sca 1+ 细胞 (2 0× 10 3个 小鼠 )到经致死剂量 (10 0Gy)放射线照射的 10～ 12周C5 7BL 6J雌性小鼠。免疫组化和FISH双染色检测结果显示移植 2、4、6月后受体雌鼠脑组织内存在大量Y染色体阳性细胞 ,约占脑组织总细胞为 4 5 %± 0 5 % ,分布包括 :侧脑室脉络膜丛、脑室室管膜、大脑白质灰质、小脑等。这些Y染色体阳性细胞表达神经组织细胞特异标志 ,如神经元特异核蛋白 (Neuron specificnucleiprotein ,Ne uN)、神经纤维细丝蛋白M(neurofilament 16 0Ka,NF M)、微管蛋白Ⅲ (tubulinⅢ ,TuJ 1)、或者胶质纤维酸性蛋白 (Glialfibrillaryacidicprotein,GFAP)等 ,其中Y染色体和NeuN均阳性的细胞为 1 2 %± 0 3%、Y染色体和GFAP均阳性的细胞为 1 0 %± 0 2 %。这说明胎肝Sca 1+ 细胞能迁移进入脑组织 ,并且分化成神经细胞和星形胶质细胞。     

HMGB1 promotes CXCL12-dependent egress of murine B cells from Peyer's patches in homeostasis

High mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) is an alarmin that, once released, promotes inflammatory responses, alone and as a complex with the chemokine CXCL12. Here, we report that the HMGB1–CXCL12 complex plays an essential role also in homeostasis by controlling the migration of B lymphocytes. We show that extracellular HMGB1 is critical for the CXCL12-dependent egress of B cells from the Peyer's patches (PP). This promigratory function of the complex was restricted to the PPs, since HMGB1 was not required for B-cell migratory processes in other locations. Accordingly, we detected higher constitutive levels of the HMGB1–CXCL12 complex in PPs than in other lymphoid organs. HMGB1–CXCL12 in vivo inhibition was associated with a reduced basal IgA production in the gut. Collectively, our results demonstrate a role for the HMGB1–CXCL12 complex in orchestrating B-cell trafficking in homeostasis, and provide a novel target to control lymphocyte migration in mucosal immunity.     

小鼠胎肝Sca-1+细胞分化为骨骼肌细胞

探讨小鼠胚胎肝组织中干细胞抗原-1阳性的细胞(Sca-1+细胞)向骨骼肌细胞分化的潜能.取14.5d的小鼠胎肝,制作细胞悬液;用单克隆免疫磁珠细胞分离技术分离Sca-1+细胞;用PCR鉴别Y染色体性别决定区域(SRY)基因序列;将2×103个雄性小鼠Sca-1+细胞输注给经致死剂量(10Gy)60钴全身照射的雌性小鼠体内;于移植后2个月,处死受体小鼠,取骨骼肌组织固定、制片;用免疫组织化学染色和荧光原位杂交检测雌性受体小鼠骨骼肌组织内供体小鼠胎肝Sca-1+细胞向骨骼肌细胞分化情况.结果在骨骼肌组织内发现存在Y染色体阳性的供体来源的细胞,同时呈现骨骼肌组织的部分特征,表型为Dystrophin+/Flt-1-/CD45-F4/80-.提示小鼠胎肝Sca-1+细胞(其中绝大部分是造血干细胞)具有向骨骼肌组织细胞分化的潜能.     

miR-34a promotes liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis via mediating Sirt1/p53 signaling pathway

PurposeThis research aimed to explore the correlation between miR-34a expression in peripheral blood and clinical characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) as well as the diagnostic and prognostic values of serum miR-34a in CHC.MethodsSerum samples of 41 CHC patients and 18 normal participants were collected to examine the expression levels of miR-34a using qRT-PCR. The changes of serum TBA, liver enzyme AST and ALT were also determined by enzyme colorimetry and rate method. The levels of serum fibrotic markers hyaluronic acid (HA), type III procollagen (PCIII), type IV collagen (IV-C) and laminin (LN) were detected by radioimmunoassay. Degree of liver fibrosis was examined by liver biopsy. Western blot analysis was used to investigate the expression of ac-p53, p53 and Sirt1 in the liver tissues of CHC patients.ResultsMiR-34a was significantly increased in the serum of CHC patients than that in healthy participants, and serum miR-34a was correlated with liver fibrosis index. Serum TBA, AST and ALT levels, and AST/ALT ratios in patients with CHC were increased with increasing degree of fibrosis, and were positively associated with serum miR-34a. Furthermore, the liver tissues of CHC patients showed low Sirt1 protein expression and highly ac-p53 protein expression.ConclusionsSerum miR-34a in patients with CHC could promote liver fibrosis through mediating the Sirt1/p53 pathway and might function as pivotal biomarker on the prognosis and diagnosis of CHC patients.     

急性肾衰竭与胎肝Sca-1+细胞向肾脏细胞的分化

目的： 研究急性肾衰竭(ARF)对胎肝Sca-1+细胞向肾组织细胞分化频率的影响。 方法： 用磁性细胞分选(MACS)和PCR技术分离、鉴定小鼠雄性胎肝Sca-1+细胞；将2×104的雄性胎肝Sca-1+细胞输注给致死量射线照射(［60Co］，8 Gy)的同系雌性小鼠体内；8周后，将受体小鼠随机分为A、B和C 3组(A组：单纯辐射；B组：ARF和C组：ARF-Sca-1+)，用50%(V/V)的甘油(11.6 mL/kg)诱导B组和C组小鼠产生ARF；72 h后，将新制备的2×104的雄性胎肝Sca-1+细胞输注给C组小鼠。8周后处死全部实验小鼠，取肾脏固定制片；用Y染色体探针进行荧光原位杂交（fluorescence in situ hybridization， FISH），显微观察、摄像并用专业软件进行图像分析和数据处理。 结果： 在单纯辐射、ARF和ARF-Sca-1+ 3种模型小鼠的肾小管上皮、间质、肾小球和肾小球边缘等部位，均发现含Y染色体的细胞；在ARF和ARF-Sca-1+小鼠的肾组织切片中，分别发现成对和成环状排列的含Y染色体的细胞，有组成部分肾小管的趋势；胎肝Sca-1+细胞在单纯辐射、ARF和ARF-Sca-1+ 3种模型小鼠的肾组织切片中的分化频率分别为(1.65±0.18)%、(8.58±1.34)%和(18.13±1.91)%，后者与前者比较，差别有显著意义(P＜0.01)，显示分化频率伴随肾组织的损伤和再生而增加。 结论： 急性肾组织损伤和自然再生的生理微环境有助于促进胎肝Sca-1+细胞向肾组织细胞的分化。     

MDR1-P-glycoprotein behaves as an oncofetal protein that promotes cell survival in gastric cancer cells

P-glycoprotein (P-gp), traditionally linked to cancer poor prognosis and multidrug resistance, is undetectable in normal gastric mucosa and overexpressed in gastric cancer (GC). We propose that P-gp may be involved in Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-related gastric carcinogenesis by inhibiting apoptosis. Aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of P-gp in fetal stomach and in Hp-related gastric carcinogenesis, the epigenetic control of the multi-drug resistance-1 (MDR1) gene, the localization and interaction between P-gp and Bcl-x(L) and the effect of the selective silencing of P-gp on cell survival. P-gp and Bcl-xl expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on 28 spontaneously abortive human fetuses, 66 Hp-negative subjects, 138 Hp-positive chronic gastritis (CG) of whom 28 with intestinal metaplasia (IM) and 45 intestinal type GCs. P-gp/Bcl-x(L) colocalization was investigated by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and protein-protein interaction by co-immunoprecipitation, in basal conditions and after stress-induced apoptosis, in GC cell lines AGS and MKN-28 and hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep-G2. The role of P-gp in controlling apoptosis was evaluated by knocking down its expression with a specific small interfering RNAs in stressed AGS and MKN-28 cell lines. P-gp is expressed in the gastric mucosa of all human fetuses while, it is undetectable in adult normal mucosa and re-expressed in 30/110 Hp-positive non-IM-CG, 28/28 IM-CG and 40/45 GCs. P-gp expression directly correlates with that of Bcl-x(L) and with the promoter hypomethylation of the MDR1 gene. In GC cell lines, P-gp is localized on the plasma membrane and mitochondria where it colocalizes with Bcl-x(L). Co-immunoprecipitation confirms the physical interaction between P-gp and Bcl-x(L) in AGS, MKN-28 and Hep-G2, at both basal level and after stress-induced apoptosis. The selective silencing of P-gp sensitizes GC cells to stress-induced apoptosis. P-gp behaves as an oncofetal protein that, by cross-talking with Bcl-x(L), acts as an anti-apoptotic agent in Hp-related gastric carcinogenesis.     

Absence of Notch1 in murine myeloid cells attenuates the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by affecting Th1 and Th17 priming

Inhibition of Notch signalling in T cells attenuates the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Growing evidence indicates that myeloid cells are also key players in autoimmune processes. Thus, the present study evaluates the role of the Notch1 receptor in myeloid cells on the progression of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)_35‐55‐induced EAE, using mice with a myeloid‐specific deletion of the Notch1 gene (MyeNotch1KO). We found that EAE progression was less severe in the absence of Notch1 in myeloid cells. Thus, histopathological analysis revealed reduced pathology in the spinal cord of MyeNotch1KO mice, with decreased microglia/astrocyte activation, demyelination and infiltration of CD4⁺ T cells. Moreover, these mice showed lower Th1 and Th17 cell infiltration and expression of IFN‐γ and IL‐17 mRNA in the spinal cord. Accordingly, splenocytes from MyeNotch1KO mice reactivated in vitro presented reduced Th1 and Th17 activation, and lower expression of IL‐12, IL‐23, TNF‐α, IL‐6, and CD86. Moreover, reactivated wild‐type splenocytes showed increased Notch1 expression, arguing for a specific involvement of this receptor in autoimmune T cell activation in secondary lymphoid tissues. In summary, our results reveal a key role of the Notch1 receptor in myeloid cells for the initiation and progression of EAE.     

Ferroportin-1 is a 'nuclear'-negative acute-phase protein in rat liver: a comparison with other iron-transport proteins

Liver is the central organ of iron metabolism. During acute-phase-response (APR), serum iron concentration rapidly decreases. The current study aimed to compare expression and localization of iron transport protein ferroportin-1 (Fpn-1) and of other iron import proteins after experimental tissue damage induced by injecting turpentine oil in the hind limbs of rats and mice. Serum and spleen iron concentration decreased with an increase in total liver, cytoplasmic and nuclear iron concentration. In liver, mRNA amount of Fpn-1, Fpn-1a, Fpn-1b, HFE, hemojuvelin (HJV) and hephaestin (heph) genes showed a rapid decrease. Hepcidin, divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT-1), transferrin (Tf) and Tf-receptor-1 (TfR1), TfR-2 (TfR2) gene expression was increased. Western blot analysis of liver tissue lysate confirmed the changes observed at mRNA level. In spleen, a rapid decrease in gene expression of Fpn-1, Fpn-1a, Fpn-1b, DMT-1, Tf, TfR1 and TfR2, and an increase in hepcidin was observed. Immunohistochemistry of DMT-1 and TfR2 were mainly detected in the nucleus of rat liver and spleen, whereas TfR1 was clearly localized in the plasma membrane. Fpn-1 was mostly found in the nuclei of liver cells, whereas in spleen, the protein was mainly detected in the cell membrane. Western blot analysis of liver fractions confirmed immunohistochemical results. In livers of wild-type mice, gene expression of Fpn-1, Fpn-1a and Fpn-1b was downregulated, whereas hepcidin gene expression was increased. In contrast, these changes were less pronounced in IL-6ko-mice. Cytokine (IL-6, IL-1b and TNF-a) treatment of rat hepatocytes showed a downregulation of Fpn-1, Fpn-1a and Fpn-1b, and upregulation of hepcidin gene expression. Moreover, western blot analysis of cell lysate of IL-6-treated hepatocytes detected, as expected, an increase of a2-macroglobulin (positive acute-phase protein), whereas albumin (negative acute-phase protein) and Fpn-1 were downregulated. Our results demonstrate that liver behaves as a 'sponge' for iron under acute-phase conditions, and Fpn-1 behaves as a negative acute-phase protein in rat hepatocytes mainly, but not exclusively, because of the effect of IL-6. These changes could explain iron retention in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus of hepatocytes during APR.     

肝纤维化大鼠转化生长因子β1／Smad蛋白的动态表达及意义

目的探讨转化生长因子TGF—β1／Smad信号通路在实验性肝纤维化发生中的作用。方法50只健康雄性SD大鼠分为2组：正常组和模型组,模型组大鼠利用40％CCl4油剂诱导形成肝纤维化模型,于6周及9周观测肝标本的病理,免疫组化法检测肝组织TGF—β1／Smad蛋白表达。结果①肝组织病理：与正常组比较,模型组大鼠肝组织都有不同程度的炎症和纤维化产生。模型组纤维化程度较正常对照组明显,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;②TGF—β1／Smad基因蛋白：免疫组织化学检测显示,与正常对照组相比,模型组大鼠肝脏中TGF—β1、转化生长因子βI型受体（TβR—I）、Smad2、3、Smad,蛋白表达均显著增强（P〈0．01）,模型组大鼠肝脏TGF—β1、TβR-I、Smad。和Smad,之间存在正相关关系（P〈0．05或0．01）;模型组大鼠肝脏纤维化分级与TGF—β1、TβR—I、Smad2/3和Smad,之间存在正相关关系（P〈0．05或0．01）。结论肝组织TGF—β1／Smad蛋白表达水平与肝纤维化程度相关,TGF-β1／Smad信号的增强可能促进了肝纤维化的进展。     

Interferon-inducible protein 10, but not monokine induced by gamma interferon, promotes protective type 1 immunity in murine Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia

CXC chemokines that lack the ELR motif, including interferon-inducible protein 10 [IP-10 (CXCL10)] and monokine induced by gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) [MIG (CXCL9)], have been shown to mediate the generation of type 1 immune responses. In this study, we found that intrapulmonary administration of the gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae resulted in the local and systemic expression of IP-10, followed sequentially by MIG expression. MIG mRNA expression in the lungs of Klebsiella-infected mice required the endogenous production of IFN-gamma, whereas IP-10 was expressed in both an IFN-gamma-dependent and an IFN-gamma-independent fashion. Antibody-mediated neutralization of IP-10 resulted in reduced bacterial clearance and decreased survival, whereas bacterial clearance was unaltered in mice treated with anti-MIG antibody. Impaired bacterial clearance in anti-IP-10 antibody-treated mice was associated with significant reductions in the number and/or activational status of NK and NK-T cells, CD4+ T cells, and gammadelta T cells, as well as a reduction in the expression of IFN-gamma. Conversely, the transient transgenic expression of murine IP-10 using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer resulted in improved bacterial clearance when IP-10 adenovirus was given concomitant with intrapulmonary bacterial challenge. These results indicate that IP-10 is an important component of innate immunity against extracellular bacterial pathogens of the lung and may represent a candidate molecule for immunotherapy in the setting of severe respiratory tract infection.     

The role of hepatic stellate cells and transforming growth factor-beta(1) in cystic fibrosis liver disease

Liver disease causes significant morbidity and mortality from multilobular cirrhosis in patients with cystic fibrosis. Abnormal bile transport and biliary fibrosis implicate abnormal biliary physiology in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis-associated liver disease (CFLD), yet the mediators linking biliary events to fibrosis remain unknown. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the pre-eminent mediators of fibrosis in a range of hepatic disorders. The dominant stimulus for matrix production by HSCs is the cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1). In CFLD, the role of HSCs and the source of TGF-beta(1) have not been evaluated. Liver biopsy tissue obtained from 38 children with CFLD was analyzed. Activated HSCs, identified by co-localization of procollagen alpha(1)(I) mRNA and alpha-smooth muscle actin, were demonstrated as the cellular source of excess collagen production in the fibrosis surrounding the bile ducts and the advancing edge of scar tissue. TGF-beta protein and TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression were shown to be predominantly expressed by bile duct epithelial cells. TGF-beta(1) expression was significantly correlated with both hepatic fibrosis and the percentage of portal tracts showing histological abnormalities associated with CFLD. This study demonstrates a definitive role for HSCs in fibrogenesis associated with CFLD and establishes a potential mechanism for the induction of HSC collagen gene expression through the production of TGF-beta(1) by bile duct epithelial cells.