An O‐Glycosylation of Fibronectin Mediates Hepatic Osteodystrophy Through α4β1 Integrin

Patients with cholestatic liver disease experience increased fracture risk. Higher circulating levels of a fibronectin isoform called oncofetal fibronectin (oFN) were detected in a subset of such patients. Administering this isoform to mice suppresses osteoblast differentiation and diminishes bone mineral density in vivo, suggesting it is responsible for bone loss in cholestatic liver disease. The aim of this study was to define the mechanism by which oFN affects osteoblast function and evaluate possible modifiers in experimental hepatic osteodystrophy. The fibronectin isoform oFN is characterized by the presence of various glycosylations. In line with this, adding oFN that underwent enzymatic O‐deglycosylation to osteoblasts normalized nodule formation in vitro. Of three possible O‐glycosylation sites in oFN, only a mutation at AA 33 of the variable region or binding of this glycosylated site with an antibody normalized osteoblast differentiation. Because the responsible site is located in the variable region of fibronectin, which binds to α4β1 or α4β7 integrins, these integrins were evaluated. We show that integrin α4β1 mediates the inhibitory effect of oFN both in vitro as well as in vivo. In a hepatic osteodystrophy mouse model, we demonstrate that liver fibrosis is associated with increased circulating oFN and diminished BMD. In addition, trabecular bone loss induced by oFN injection or fibrosis induction could be prevented by either administering an antibody that binds to α4 integrin (PS/2) or the CS1 peptide, which contains a binding site for α4β1 integrin. In summary, oFN inhibits osteoblast activity. This is because of an O‐glycosylation in the variable region that results in decreased integrin‐mediated signaling. This deleterious effect can be thwarted by binding α4β1 integrin. Thus, we have characterized the defect and the receptor mediating bone loss in patients with hepatic osteodystrophy and evaluated possible therapeutic interventions in a murine model. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

滋肾解毒活血中药对狼疮性肾炎系膜增殖的影响

【目的】探讨滋肾解毒活血中药四草汤煎剂(SCT)(由白花蛇舌草、丹参、半枝莲、旱莲草、紫草根、益母草、桃仁、川芎、赤芍、全蝎组成)对狼疮性肾炎(LN)患者系膜增殖及产生纤维连接蛋白(FN)、Bcl-2基因表达等的影响。【方法】选择LN患者60例随机分为治疗组与对照组各30例。2组均采用激素标准疗程加环磷酞胺冲击治疗,治疗组在此基础上加服滋肾解毒活血中药四草汤煎剂治疗。观察治疗前后Bcl-2抗原及Fas抗原的表达、血清FN、血清和尿Ⅳ胶原(CⅣ)以及血瘀证计分情况等指标的变化。【结果】SCT煎剂可使外周血T淋巴细胞亚群CD4 和CD8 上的Fas、Bcl-2表达减弱。肾组织病理切片免疫组化显示治疗组系膜细胞增殖程度减轻,Bcl-2阳性个数、Bcl-2蛋白值降低(P<0.01);血清FN、血清和尿CⅣ水平均较对照组低(P<0.01)。治疗后治疗组血瘀证计分低于对照组(P<0.01)。【结论】滋肾解毒活血中药SCT煎剂对LN患者系膜增殖及产生FN、CⅣ有明显的抑制作用,并通过影响Fas、Bcl-2抗原的表达等途径来防止肾小球硬化的发生、发展,从而治疗狼疮性肾炎。     

Fibronectin purification from human plasma in a packed-bed column system with gelatin immobilized PHEMA microspheres

Bioaffinity chromatography has a unique and powerful role that is used as a purification tool in the production of therapeutic plasma protein derivatives. In this study, a bioaffinity-ligand, i.e. gelatin, was covalently immobilized with PHEMA microspheres (150-200 μm in diameter). The affinity sorbent carrying 7.5 mg gelatin g^-1 polymer was then used to separate fibronectin from human plasma in a packed-bed column system. Fibronectin separation from human plasma on unmodified PHEMA microspheres was 0.45 mg g^-1, while much higher adsorption values, up to 21.8 mg g^-1, were obtained with gelatin-immobilized microspheres. The fibronectin adsorption capacity of the microspheres decreased with an increase in the recirculation rate of plasma. Fibronectin adsorption increased with decreasing temperature, and the maximum adsorption achieved at 4°C (26.3 mg fibronectin g^-1). Up to 94.7% of the adsorbed fibronectin was desorbed by using 2 M urea in the presence of 1 M sodium chloride as elution agent. The adsorption-desorption cycle was repeated ten times using the same affinity column. There was no remarkable reduction in the adsorption capacity of the gelatin-immobilized PHEMA microspheres.     

Assessment of fibronectin conformation adsorbed to polytetrafluoroethylene surfaces from serum protein mixtures and correlation to support of cell attachment in culture

Surfaces of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were exposed to buffered aqueous solutions containing radio-labeled human fibronectin ([¹²⁵I]Fn), Fn/bovine serum albumin (BSA) binary mixtures of various ratios or whole human plasma dilutions for 1 h. Total adsorbed Fn and albumin adsorption following rinsing was quantified on this surface. ¹²⁵I-labeled monoclonal antibodies against either the tenth type-III Fn repeat unit (containing the cell-binding RGDS integrin recognition motif) or the Fn amino-terminal domain were used to probe the accessibility of each of these respective Fn regions post-adsorption. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured on PTFE surfaces pre-exposed to each of these protein adsorption conditions and compared to identical conditions on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS). Fn adsorption to PTFE is dependent upon the concentration of albumin co-adsorbing from solution: albumin out-competes Fn for PTFE surface sites even at non-physiological Fn/HSA ratios 10–100-fold biased in Fn. Antibodies against Fn do not readily recognize Fn adsorbed on PTFE as the HSA co-adsorption concentration in either binary mixtures or in plasma increases, indicating albumin masking of adsorbed Fn. At Fn/HSA ratios rich in Fn (1 : 1, 1 :100), albumin co-adsorption actually improves anti-Fn antibody recognition of adsorbed Fn. HUVEC attachment efficiency to PTFE after protein adsorption correlates with amounts of Fn adsorbed and levels of anti-Fn antibody recognition of Fn on PTFE, linking cell attachment to integrin recognition of both adsorbed Fn density and Fn adsorbed conformation on PTFE surfaces.     

Adhesion and growth of CaCo2 cells on surface-modified PEEK substrata

A series of surface-functionalized poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) films has been prepared by selective wet-chemistry; they are hydroxylated polymer (PEEK-OH) obtained by reduction, aminated polymer (PEEK-[]-NH2) prepared by coupling a diisocyanate reagent to PEEKOH (PEEK-[]-NCO) followed by hydrolysis, and carboxylated and aminocarboxylated polymers (PEEK-[]-GABA and PEEK-Lysine) resulting from the coupling of aminoacids to PEEK-[]-NCO. The aminated and carboxylated substrata promoted the adhesion and growth of CaCo2 cells in the presence of serum. Fibronectin (FN), an extra-cellular matrix protein, has been covalently fixed and/or adsorbed on various PEEK substrata, in the presence or not of a polymeric surfactant (Pluronic F68). The performances of the FN-grafted substrata (PEEK-[]-FN(1) and PEEK-[]-FN(2)) were significantly higher than those of reference substrata simply coated with FN (PEEK-OH(+FN)(1) and (2), PEEK-[]-NH2(+FN)(1) and (2)), considering the adhesion and spreading of CaCo2 cells in the absence of serum. Moreover, the stability of the adherent cells on the FN-adsorbed substrata dramatically depended on the experimental conditions applied during the PEEK coating with FN.     

Development of a cultured dermal substitute composed of a spongy matrix of hyaluronic acid and atelo-collagen combined with fibroblasts: fundamental evaluation

We have developed an allogeneic cultured dermal substitute (CDS) by cultivating fibroblasts on a 2-layered spongy matrix of hyaluronic acid (HA) and atelo-collagen (Col). The HA sponge was designed to have a honeycomb structure with many holes (0.5 mm diameter) separated by a distance of 4 mm. Part of the Col sponge was able to penetrate into these holes, and the resulting anchoring structure allows binding of a HA spongy layer with a Col spongy layer. The preparation of the CDS consists of two steps: (i) attachment of cells to the Col surface of the hydrated 2-layered spongy matrix and (ii) proliferation of cells on this sponge immersed in culture medium. The aim of the present study was to assess properties of fresh and cryopreserved CDS. Fibroblasts seeded on the Col surface of the 2-layered spongy matrix attached, proliferated and released vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibronectin. The amount of VEGF released from cryopreserved CDS after thawing slowly in an incubator at 37°C and re-cultivation for 1 week was about 300 pg/ml. After thawing quickly in a water bath at 37°C and re-cultivation for 1 week, the amount of VEGF released was about 600 pg/ml. These findings indicate that the cryopreserved CDS maintained its ability to release a significant amount of VEGF. Retention of the therapeutic properties of CDS after cryopreservation is important for clinical use.     

Fabrication and enzymatic degradation of fibronectin-based ultrathin films

Novel fibronectin (FN)-based ultrathin films were prepared by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. Among the various combinations of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as FN, gelatin (G), α-elastin (E) and heparin (Hep), FN/Hep, FN/G and FN/E nanofilms were successfully fabricated in phosphate buffer solutions (pH 7.4). The film thickness of the nanofilms, in which each component can interact with each other by FN-specific interactions, was larger than that of other LbL films (E/Hep, G/E and G/Hep) prepared by electrostatic interactions. The FN/G film was rapidly decomposed by treatment with elastase, thus demonstrating, the enzymatic biodegradability of the nanofilm. We prepared the FN/heparinoid multilayers composed of FN and dextran sulfate (Dex), and its thickness was much larger than that of the FN/α-poly(L-lysine hydrochloride) (PLL) film prepared by LbL assembly using common electrostatic interactions. Furthermore, the FN/G and FN/Dex nanofilms prepared by FN-specific interaction were more stable in Eagle's MEM with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) than the electrostatic assembling films, FN/PLL and PLL/Dex. FN-based multilayers composed of FN and ECM components can be useful as artificial ECM films for tissue engineering and other biomedical applications.     

Fibronectin promotes cell proliferation of human pre-B cell line via its interactions with VLA-4 and VLA-5

Abstract

Fibronectin (FN) is thought to play an important role in various aspects of hematopoiesis through binding to very late antigen (VLA)-4 and VLA-5. Little is known, however, about the effects of FN on the proliferation of B cell progenitors. In this study, we investigated the effects of immobilized FN on the proliferation of the pre-B cell line, Nalm-6, which expresses both VLA-4 and VLA-5. Immobilized FN significantly promoted the proliferation of Nalm-6 cells through the synergistic effects of VLA-4 and VLA-5. Furthermore, FN induced the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) of Nalm-6 cells. The MAPK kinase 1 (MEK1) inhibitor, PD98059, and Src family tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A, inhibited the FN-promoted proliferation of Nalm-6 cells. These results demonstrate that the interactions of FN and VLA-4/VLA-5 transmit the growth signals that are mediated through Src family tyrosine kinases and the MAPK cascade in Nalm-6 cells. The precise mechanism of synergistic effect of VLA-4 and VLA-5 on FN-promoted proliferation of Nalm-6 cells should be further investigated.