Xiong, H;Chen, Z;Zhao, J;Li, W;Zhang, S;
PMID: 34919331 | DOI: 10.1111/febs.16326
Phagocytic clearance of apoptotic germ cells (GCs), as well as residual bodies (RBs) released from developing spermatids, is critical for Sertoli cells (SCs) to maintain inner environment homeostasis within testis. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling the phagocytosis are ill defined. Here, we identify a new role for alpha-enolase (ENO1), a key enzyme during glycolysis, as a molecule that facilitates testicular phagocytosis via transactivation of the engulfment and cell motility 1 (Elmo1) gene. Using immunohistochesmitry and double-labeling immunofluorescence, ENO1 was observed to be expressed exclusively in the nuclei of SCs and its expression correlated with the completion of Sertoli cell differentiation. By incubating TM4 cells with different pharmacological inhibitors and establishing TM4Tnfr1-/- cells, we demonstrated that Sertoli cell-specific expression of ENO1 was under a delicate paracrine control from apoptotic GCs. In turn, persistent blockade of ENO1 expression by a validated siRNA protocol resulted in the disturbance of spermatogenesis and impairment of male fertility. Furthermore, using chromatin immunoprecipitation, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and luciferase reporter assay, we showed that in the presence of apoptotic GCs, ENO1 binds to the distal region of the Elmo1 promoter and facilitates transactivation of the Elmo1 gene. In agreement, overexpression of ELMO1 ameliorated ENO1 deficiency-induced impairment of phagocytosis in TM4 cells. These data reveal a novel role for Sertoli cell-specific expression of ENO1 in regulating phagocytosis in testis, identify TNF-α and ELMO1 as critical upstream and downstream factors in mediating ENO1 action, and have important implications for understanding paracrine control of Sertoli cell function by adjacent GCs.This article is protected by
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN
Ichii, O;Hosotani, M;Masum, MA;Horino, T;Nakamura, T;Namba, T;Otani, Y;Elewa, Y;Kon, Y;
PMID: 34686544 | DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2021040575
Background: Kidneys with chronic inflammation develop tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs). Infectious pyelonephritis is characterized by renal pelvis (RP) inflammation. However, the pathological features of TLSs, including their formation and association with non-infectious nephritis, are unclear. Methods: RPs from humans and mice that were healthy or had non-infectious chronic nephritis, were analyzed for TLS development, and the mechanism of TLS formation investigated using urothelium or lymphoid structure cultures. Results: Regardless of infection, TLSs in the RP, termed urinary tract-associated lymphoid structures (UTALSs), formed in humans and mice with chronic nephritis. Moreover, urine played a unique role in UTALS formation. Specifically, we identified urinary IFN-γ as a candidate factor affecting urothelial barrier integrity because it alters occludin expression. In a nephritis mouse model, urine leaked from the lumen of the RP into the parenchyma. In addition, urine immunologically stimulated UTALS-forming cells via cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α) and chemokine (CXCL9, CXCL13) production. CXCL9 and CXCL13 were expressed in UTALS stromal cells and urine stimulation specifically induced CXCL13 in cultured fibroblasts. Characteristically, type XVII collagen (BP180), a candidate autoantigen of bullous pemphigoid, was ectopically localized in the urothelium covering UTALSs and associated with UTALS development by stimulating CXCL9 or IL-22 induction via the TNF-α/FOS/JUN pathway. Notably, UTALS development indices were positively correlated with chronic nephritis development. Conclusion: TLS formation in the RP is possible and altered urine-urothelium barrier-basedUTALS formation may represent a novel mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of chronic nephritis, regardless of urinary tract infection.
Loss of Sprouty produces a ciliopathic skeletal phenotype in mice through upregulation of Hedgehog signaling
Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Hruba, E;Kavkova, M;Dalecka, L;Macholan, M;Zikmund, T;Varecha, M;Bosakova, M;Kaiser, J;Krejci, P;Hovorakova, M;Buchtova, M;
PMID: 34423857 | DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4427
The Sprouty family is a highly conserved group of intracellular modulators of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-signaling pathways, which have been recently linked to primary cilia. Disruptions in the structure and function of primary cilia cause inherited disorders called ciliopathies. We aimed to evaluate Sprouty2 and Sprouty4 gene dependent alterations of ciliary structure and to focus on the determination of its association with Hedgehog signaling defects in chondrocytes. Analysis of the transgenic mice phenotype with Sprouty2 and Sprouty4 deficiency revealed several defects, including improper endochondral bone formation and digit patterning, or craniofacial and dental abnormalities. Moreover, reduced bone thickness and trabecular bone mass, skull deformities, or chondroma-like lesions were revealed. All these pathologies might be attributed to ciliopathies. Elongation of the ciliary axonemes in embryonic and postnatal growth plate chondrocytes was observed in Sprouty2-/- and Sprouty2+/- ;Sprouty4-/- mutants compared with corresponding littermate controls. Also, cilia-dependent Hedgehog signaling was upregulated in Sprouty2/4 mutant animals. Ptch1 and Ihh expression were upregulated in the autopodium and the proximal tibia of Sprouty2-/- ;Sprouty4-/- mutants. Increased levels of the GLI3 repressor (GLI3R) form were detected in Sprouty2/4 mutant primary fibroblast embryonic cell cultures and tissues. These findings demonstrate that mouse lines deficient in Sprouty proteins manifest phenotypic features resembling ciliopathic phenotypes in multiple aspects and may serve as valuable models to study the association between overactivation of RTK and dysfunction of primary cilia during skeletogenesis. This article is protected by
CACHD1-deficient mice exhibit hearing and balance deficits associated with a disruption of calcium homeostasis in the inner ear
Tian, C;Johnson, K;Lett, J;Voss, R;Salt, A;Hartsock, J;Steyger, P;Ohlemiller, K;
| DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2021.108327
CACHD1 recently was shown to be an α2δ-like subunit that can modulate the activity of some types of voltage-gated calcium channels, including the low-voltage activated, T-type CaV3 channels. CACHD1 is widely expressed in the central nervous system but its biological functions and relationship to disease states are unknown. Here, we report that mice with deleterious Cachd1 mutations are hearing impaired and have balance defects, demonstrating that CACHD1 is functionally important in the peripheral auditory and vestibular organs of the inner ear. The vestibular dysfunction of Cachd1 mutant mice, exhibited by leaning and head tilting behaviors, is related to a deficiency of calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) in the saccule and utricle. The auditory dysfunction, shown by ABR threshold elevations and reduced DPOAEs, is associated with reduced endocochlear potentials and increased endolymph calcium concentrations. Paint-fills of mutant inner ears from prenatal and newborn mice revealed dilation of the membranous labyrinth caused by an enlarged volume of endolymph. These pathologies all can be related to a disturbance of calcium homeostasis in the endolymph of the inner ear, presumably caused by the loss of CACHD1 regulatory effects on voltage-gated calcium channel activity. Cachd1 expression in the cochlea appears stronger in late embryonic stages than in adults, suggesting an early role in establishing endolymph calcium concentrations. Our findings provide new insights into CACHD1 function and suggest the involvement of voltage-gated calcium channels in endolymph homeostasis, essential for normal auditory and vestibular function.
Fibroblast-associated protein-α expression and BPV nucleic acid distribution in equine sarcoids
Tura, G;Savini, F;Gallina, L;La Ragione, RM;Durham, AE;Mazzeschi, M;Lauriola, M;Avallone, G;Sarli, G;Brunetti, B;Muscatello, LV;Girone, C;Bacci, B;
PMID: 34128437 | DOI: 10.1177/03009858211022696
Sarcoids are the most common cutaneous tumor of equids and are caused by bovine papillomavirus (BPV). Different clinical subtypes of sarcoids are well characterized clinically but not histologically, and it is not known whether viral activity influences the clinical or histological appearance of the tumors. The aim of this study was to verify whether the development of different clinical types of sarcoids or the presence of certain histological features were associated with BPV distribution within the tumor. The presence of BPV was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and visualized in histological sections by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) in 74 equine sarcoids. Furthermore, to better characterize the molecular features of neoplastic cells, immunohistochemistry for S100, smooth muscle actin-α (αSMA), and fibroblast-associated protein-α (FAPα) was performed. The presence of BPV was confirmed in all tissues examined by either or both PCR and CISH (72/74, 97% each). Of 70/74 CISH-positive cases, signal distribution appeared as either diffuse (61/70, 87%) or subepithelial (9/70, 13%); the latter was more frequently observed in the verrucous subtype. However, no statistically significant association was found between clinical subtypes and specific histological features or hybridization pattern. Moreover, CISH signal for BPV was not detected in the epidermis overlying sarcoids nor in the tissue surrounding the neoplasms. By immunohistochemistry, αSMA confirmed the myofibroblastic differentiation of neoplastic cells in 28/74 (38%) sarcoids. Using tissue microarrays, FAPα labelling was observed in neoplastic fibroblasts of all sarcoids, suggesting this marker as a potential candidate for the immunohistochemical diagnosis of sarcoids.
Temporal and spatial expression of adrenomedullin and its receptors in the porcine uterus and peri-implantation conceptuses
Paudel, S;Liu, B;Cummings, MJ;Quinn, KE;Bazer, FW;Caron, KM;Wang, X;
PMID: 34104954 | DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab110
Adrenomedullin (ADM) is an evolutionarily conserved multi-functional peptide hormone that regulates implantation, embryo spacing and placentation in humans and rodents. However, the potential roles of ADM in implantation and placentation in pigs, as a litter-bearing species, are not known. This study determined abundances of ADM in uterine luminal fluid, and the patterns of expression of ADM and its receptor components (CALCRL, RAMP2, RAMP3, and ACKR3) in uteri from cyclic and pregnant gilts, as well as conceptuses (embryonic/fetus and its extra-embryonic membranes) during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy. Total recoverable ADM was greater in the uterine fluid of pregnant compared with cyclic gilts between Days 10 and 16 post-estrus, and was from uterine luminal epithelial (LE) and conceptus trophectoderm (Tr) cells. Uterine expression of CALCRL, RAMP2, and ACKR3 were affected by day (P < 0.05), pregnant status (P < 0.01) and/or day x status (P < 0.05). Within porcine conceptuses, expression of CALCRL, RAMP2 and ACKR3 increased between Days 10 and 16 of pregnancy. Using an established porcine trophectoderm (pTr1) cell line, it was determined that 10-7 M ADM stimulated proliferation of pTr1 cells (P < 0.05) at 48 h, and increased phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (p-MTOR) and 4E binding protein 1 (p-4EBP1) by 6.1- and 4.9-fold (P < 0.0001), respectively. These novel results indicate a significant role for ADM in uterine receptivity for implantation and conceptus growth and development in pigs. They also provide a framework for future studies of ADM signaling to affect proliferation and migration of Tr cells, spacing of blastocysts, implantation and placentation in pigs.
Hepatic stellate cell as a Mac-2-binding protein-producing cell in patients with liver fibrosis
Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology
Gantumur, D;Harimoto, N;Muranushi, R;Hoshino, K;Batbayar, C;Hagiwara, K;Yamanaka, T;Ishii, N;Tsukagoshi, M;Igarashi, T;Watanabe, A;Kubo, N;Araki, K;Yokobori, T;Aishima, S;Shirabe, K;
PMID: 33877725 | DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13648
Mac-2 binding protein (M2BP) glycosylated isomer (M2BPGi) is a serum marker of liver fibrosis; M2BPGi is a glycosylated form of M2BP. Hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have been studied to determine the source of M2BP. This study proposes to identify the origin of M2BP in fibrotic liver. Using liver fibrosis tissue specimens from 15 patients with liver cancer, M2BP mRNA and M2BP were detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The expression levels of M2BP mRNA were evaluated with scores of 3, 2, and 1. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was carried out to evaluate the distribution of M2BP mRNA and the activated-HSC marker αSMA mRNA; multicolor fluorescent immunohistochemistry was used for protein localization of M2BP, αSMA, and CD68. The Kruskal-Wallis test analyzed the relationship between M2BP mRNA expression and existing serum fibrosis markers. M2BP mRNA was expressed in spindle-shaped cells along the fibrous septa and in the perisinusoidal area of the fibrotic liver. The HSC markers αSMA mRNA and M2BP mRNA were colocalized in the spindle-shaped cells; on the protein level, M2BP was expressed in Kupffer cells. M2BP mRNA expression was positively correlated with serum M2BPGi levels. Aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index, Fibrosis-4, hyaluronic acid, and the 15-minute indocyanine green retention rate were significantly correlated with M2BP mRNA expression. M2BP mRNA transcription in fibrotic liver was primarily observed in HSCs but not at the M2BP level, which suggests that HSCs might produce and introduce M2BP to Kupffer cells and serum.
Personalized therapeutic strategies in HER2-driven gastric cancer
Gastric cancer : official journal of the International Gastric Cancer Association and the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association
Ughetto, S;Migliore, C;Pietrantonio, F;Apicella, M;Petrelli, A;D'Errico, L;Durando, S;Moya-Rull, D;Bellomo, SE;Rizzolio, S;Capelôa, T;Ribisi, S;Degiuli, M;Reddavid, R;Rapa, I;Fumagalli, U;De Pascale, S;Ribero, D;Baronchelli, C;Sgroi, G;Rausa, E;Baiocchi, GL;Molfino, S;Manenti, S;Bencivenga, M;Sacco, M;Castelli, C;Siena, S;Sartore-Bianchi, A;Tosi, F;Morano, F;Raimondi, A;Prisciandaro, M;Gloghini, A;Marsoni, S;Sottile, A;Sarotto, I;Sapino, A;Marchiò, C;Cassoni, P;Guarrera, S;Corso, S;Giordano, S;
PMID: 33755862 | DOI: 10.1007/s10120-021-01165-w
Trastuzumab is the only approved targeted therapy in patients with HER2-amplified metastatic gastric cancer (GC). Regrettably, in clinical practice, only a fraction of them achieves long-term benefit from trastuzumab-based upfront strategy. To advance precision oncology, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of different HER2-targeted strategies, in HER2 "hyper"-amplified (≥ 8 copies) tumors. We undertook a prospective evaluation of HER2 targeting with monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates, in a selected subgroup of HER2 "hyper"-amplified gastric patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), through the design of ad hoc preclinical trials. Despite the high level of HER2 amplification, trastuzumab elicited a partial response only in 2 out of 8 PDX models. The dual-HER2 blockade with trastuzumab plus either pertuzumab or lapatinib led to complete and durable responses in 5 (62.5%) out of 8 models, including one tumor bearing a concomitant HER2 mutation. In a resistant PDX harboring KRAS amplification, the novel antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan (but not trastuzumab emtansine) overcame KRAS-mediated resistance. We also identified a HGF-mediated non-cell-autonomous mechanism of secondary resistance to anti-HER2 drugs, responsive to MET co-targeting. These preclinical randomized trials clearly indicate that in HER2-driven gastric tumors, a boosted HER2 therapeutic blockade is required for optimal efficacy, leading to complete and durable responses in most of the cases. Our results suggest that a selected subpopulation of HER2-"hyper"-amplified GC patients could strongly benefit from this strategy. Despite the negative results of clinical trials, the dual blockade should be reconsidered for patients with clearly HER2-addicted cancers.
Formation and immunomodulatory function of meningeal B-cell aggregates in progressive CNS autoimmunity
Brain : a journal of neurology
Mitsdörffer, M;Di Liberto, G;Dötsch, S;Sie, C;Wagner, I;Pfaller, M;Kreutzfeldt, M;Fräßle, S;Aly, L;Knier, B;Busch, DH;Merkler, D;Korn, T;
PMID: 33693558 | DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab093
Meningeal B lymphocyte aggregates have been described in autopsy material of patients with chronic Multiple Sclerosis. The presence of meningeal B cell aggregates has been correlated with worse disease. However, the functional role of these meningeal B cell aggregates is not understood. Here, we use a mouse model of Multiple Sclerosis, the spontaneous opticospinal encephalomyelitis model, which is built on the double transgenic expression of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-specific T cell- and B cell-receptors, to show that the formation of meningeal B cell aggregates is dependent on the expression of α4 integrins by antigen-specific T cells. T cell-conditional genetic ablation of α4 integrins in opticospinal encephalomyelitis mice impaired the formation of meningeal B cell aggregates, and surprisingly, led to a higher disease incidence as compared to opticospinal encephalomyelitis mice with α4 integrin-sufficient T cells. B cell-conditional ablation of α4 integrins in opticospinal encephalomyelitis mice resulted in the entire abrogation of the formation of meningeal B cell aggregates, and opticospinal encephalomyelitis mice with α4 integrin-deficient B cells suffered from a higher disease burden than regular opticospinal encephalomyelitis mice. While anti-CD20 antibody-mediated systemic depletion of B cells in opticospinal encephalomyelitis mice after onset of disease failed to efficiently decrease meningeal B cell aggregates without significantly modulating disease progression, treatment with anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor-T cells eliminated meningeal B cell aggregates and exacerbated clinical disease in opticospinal encephalomyelitis mice. Since about 20 percent of B cells in organised meningeal B cell aggregates produced either IL-10 or IL-35, we propose that meningeal B cell aggregates might also have an immunoregulatory function as to the immunopathology in adjacent spinal cord white matter. The immunoregulatory function of meningeal B cell aggregates needs to be considered when designing highly efficient therapies directed against meningeal B cell aggregates for clinical application in Multiple Sclerosis.
Alteration of Colonic Mucin Composition and Cytokine Expression in Acute Swine Dysentery
Lin, SJ;Arruda, B;Burrough, E;
PMID: 33686884 | DOI: 10.1177/0300985821996657
Swine dysentery (SD) is an enteric disease associated with strongly β-hemolytic Brachyspira spp. that cause mucohemorrhagic diarrhea primarily in grower-finisher pigs. We characterized alteration of colonic mucin composition and local cytokine expression in the colon of pigs with acute SD after B. hyodysenteriae (Bhyo) infection and fed either a diet containing 30% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) or a control diet. Colonic tissue samples from 9 noninoculated pigs (Control, N = 4; DDGS, N = 5) and 10 inoculated pigs experiencing acute SD (Bhyo, N = 4; Bhyo-DDGS, N = 6) were evaluated. At the apex of the spiral colon, histochemical staining with high-iron diamine-Alcian blue revealed increased sialomucin (P = .008) and decreased sulfomucin (P = .027) in Bhyo pigs relative to controls, with a dietary effect for sulfomucin. Noninoculated pigs fed DDGS had greater expression of sulfomucin (P = .002) compared to pigs fed the control diet. Immunohistochemically, there was de novo expression of mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) in the Bhyo group while mucin 2 (MUC2) expression was not significantly different between groups. RNA in situ hybridization to detect the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β often showed increased expression in the Bhyo group although without statistical significance, and this was not correlated with MUC5AC or MUC2 expression, suggesting IL-1β is not a major regulator of their secretion in acute SD. Expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β1 was significantly suppressed in the Bhyo group compared to controls (P = .005). This study reveals mucin and cytokine alterations in the colon of pigs with experimentally induced SD and related dietary effects of DDGS.
Orexin-A differentially modulates inhibitory and excitatory synaptic transmission in rat inner retina
Ruan, HZ;Wang, LQ;Yuan, F;Weng, SJ;Zhong, YM;
PMID: 33582153 | DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108492
In this work, modulation by orexin-A of the release of glutamate and GABA from bipolar and amacrine cells respectively was studied by examining the effects of the neuropeptide on miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) of rat retinal ganglion cells (GCs). Using RNAscope in situ hybridization in combination with immunohistochemistry, we showed positive signals for orexin receptor-1 (OX1R) mRNA in the bipolar cell terminals and those for orexin receptor-2 (OX2R) mRNA in the amacrine cell terminals. With whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in rat retinal slices, we demonstrated that application of orexin-A reduced the interevent interval of mEPSCs of GCs through OX1R. However, it increased the interevent interval of mIPSCs, mediated by GABAA receptors, through OX2R. Furthermore, orexin-A-induced reduction of mEPSC interevent interval was abolished by the application of PI-PLC inhibitors or PKC inhibitors. In contrast, orexin-A-induced increase of GABAergic mIPSC interevent interval was mimicked by 8-Br-cAMP or an adenylyl cyclase activator, but was eliminated by PKA antagonists. Finally, application of nimodipine, an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, increased both mEPSC and mIPSC interevent interval, and co-application of orexin-A no longer changed the mEPSCs and mIPSCs. We conclude that orexin-A increases presynaptic glutamate release onto GCs by activating L-type Ca2+ channels in bipolar cells, a process that is mediated by an OX1R/PI-PLC/PKC signaling pathway. However, orexin-A decreases presynaptic GABA release onto GCs by inhibiting L-type Ca2+ channels in amacrine cells, a process that is mediated by an OX2R/cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.
Mitochondrial bioenergetic deficits in C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis motor neurons cause dysfunctional axonal homeostasis
Mehta, AR;Gregory, JM;Dando, O;Carter, RN;Burr, K;Nanda, J;Story, D;McDade, K;Smith, C;Morton, NM;Mahad, DJ;Hardingham, GE;Chandran, S;Selvaraj, BT;
PMID: 33398403 | DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02252-5
Axonal dysfunction is a common phenotype in neurodegenerative disorders, including in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), where the key pathological cell-type, the motor neuron (MN), has an axon extending up to a metre long. The maintenance of axonal function is a highly energy-demanding process, raising the question of whether MN cellular energetics is perturbed in ALS, and whether its recovery promotes axonal rescue. To address this, we undertook cellular and molecular interrogation of multiple patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell lines and patient autopsy samples harbouring the most common ALS causing mutation, C9orf72. Using paired mutant and isogenic expansion-corrected controls, we show that C9orf72 MNs have shorter axons, impaired fast axonal transport of mitochondrial cargo, and altered mitochondrial bioenergetic function. RNAseq revealed reduced gene expression of mitochondrially encoded electron transport chain transcripts, with neuropathological analysis of C9orf72-ALS post-mortem tissue importantly confirming selective dysregulation of the mitochondrially encoded transcripts in ventral horn spinal MNs, but not in corresponding dorsal horn sensory neurons, with findings reflected at the protein level. Mitochondrial DNA copy number was unaltered, both in vitro and in human post-mortem tissue. Genetic manipulation of mitochondrial biogenesis in C9orf72 MNs corrected the bioenergetic deficit and also rescued the axonal length and transport phenotypes. Collectively, our data show that loss of mitochondrial function is a key mediator of axonal dysfunction in C9orf72-ALS, and that boosting MN bioenergetics is sufficient to restore axonal homeostasis, opening new potential therapeutic strategies for ALS that target mitochondrial function.