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Herbert Spring

Publications and source records attributed to Herbert Spring.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Human SGT interacts with Bag-6/Bat-3/Scythe and cells with reduced levels of either protein display persistence of few misaligned chromosomes and mitotic arrest.

The human small glutamine-rich TPR-containing protein (hSGT) is essential for cell division since RNA-interference-mediated strong reduction of hSGT protein levels causes mitotic arrest (M. Winnefeld, J. Rommelaere, and C. Cziepluch, The human small glutamine-rich TPR-containing protein is required for progress through cell division, Exp. Cell Res. 293 (2004), 43-57). Analysis of HeLa cells expressing a histone 2A-YFP fusion protein revealed the continuous presence of few mislocalized chromosomes close to the spindle poles as possible cause for hSGT depletion-dependent prometaphase arrest. Cells unable to rescue these mislocalized chromosomes into the metaphase plate died at this stage through apoptosis. In order to address hSGT function at the molecular level, mass spectrometry analysis of proteins which co-immunoprecipitated with Flag-tagged hSGT was performed. Thereby, Hsp70 and Bag-6/Bat-3/Scythe were identified as novel hSGT interaction partners while interaction with Hsc70 was confirmed. Results obtained with truncated versions of the hSGT protein revealed that Bag-6/Bat-3/Scythe and Hsp70 or Hsc70 were independently able to form complexes with hSGT. Interaction of hSGT with Hsc70, Hsp70 or Bag-6/Bat-3/Scythe was demonstrated in prometaphase, thereby suggesting a possible role for complexes containing hSGT and distinct (co)-chaperones during mitosis. Finally, cells from populations with reduced levels of Bag-6/Bat-3/Scythe also displayed persistence of mislocalized chromosomes and mitotic arrest, which strongly indicated that hSGT-Bag-6/Bat-3/Scythe complexes could be directly or indirectly required for complete chromosome congression.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2006

Dynamics of the actin-binding protein drebrin in motile cells and definition of a juxtanuclear drebrin-enriched zone.

The actin-binding protein (ABP) drebrin, isoform E2, is involved in remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton and in formation of cell processes, but its role in cell migration has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we have studied the organization of drebrin in motile cultured cells such as murine B16F1 melanoma and human SV80 fibroblast cells, using live cell confocal microscopy. In cells overexpressing DNA constructs encoding drebrin linked to EGFP, numerous long, branched cell processes were formed which slowly retracted and extended, whereas forward movement was halted. In contrast, stably transfected B16F1 cells containing drebrin-EGFP at physiological levels displayed lamellipodia and were able to migrate on laminin. Surprisingly, in such cells, drebrin was absent from anterior lamellipodia but was enriched in a specific juxtanuclear zone, the "drebrin-enriched zone" (DZ), and in the tail. In leading edges of SV80 cells, characterized by pronounced actin microspikes, drebrin was specifically enriched along posterior portions of the microspikes, together with tropomyosin. Drebrin knock-down by small interfering RNAs did not impair movements of SV80 cells. Our results confirm the role of drebrin E2 in the formation of branching processes and further indicate that during cell migration, the protein contributes to retraction of the cell body and the tail but not to lamellipodia formation. In particular, the novel, sizable juxtanuclear DZ structure will have to be characterized in future experiments with respect to its molecular assembly and cell biological functions.

Actins↗
PubMed2006

Delivery of substances and their target-specific topical activation.

Goal in pharmaceutical research is achievement of necessary drug concentrations in the target organ, effective treatment with safe delivery of genetic agents, while sparing normal tissue and minimizing side effects. A new "BioShuttle"-delivery system harbouring a cathepsin B cutting site, a nuclear address sequence and a functional peptide was developed and tumor cells were treated. Transport and subcellular activation were determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy permitting the conclusion: BioShuttle-conjugates prove as efficient tools for genetic interventions by selective and topical activation of therapeutic peptide precursors by enzymatic cleavage. As shown here for glioma cells and the cathepsin B cleavable site, living cells can be treated with high specificity and selectivity for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2006

Identification of the junctional plaque protein plakophilin 3 in cytoplasmic particles containing RNA-binding proteins and the recruitment of plakophilins 1 and 3 to stress granules.

Recent studies on the subcellular distribution of cytoplasmic plaque proteins of intercellular junctions have revealed that a number of such proteins can also occur in the cyto- and the nucleoplasm. This occurrence in different, and distant locations suggest that some plaque proteins play roles in cytoplasmic and nuclear processes in addition to their involvement in cell-cell adhesive interactions. Plakophilin (PKP) 3, a member of the arm-repeat family of proteins, occurs, in a diversity of cell types, both as an architectural component in plaques of desmosomes and dispersed in cytoplasmic particles. In immuno-selection experiments using PKP3-specific antibodies, we have identified by mass spectrometric analysis the following RNA-binding proteins: Poly (A) binding protein (PABPC1), fragile-X-related protein (FXR1), and ras-GAP-SH3-binding protein (G3BP). Moreover, the RNA-binding proteins codistributed after sucrose gradient centrifugation in PKP3-containing fractions corresponding to 25-35 S and 45-55 S. When cells are exposed to environmental stress (e.g., heat shock or oxidative stress) proteins FXR1, G3BP, and PABPC1 are found, together with PKP3 or PKP1, in "stress granules" known to accumulate stalled translation initiation complexes. Moreover, the protein eIF-4E and the ribosomal protein S6 are also detected in PKP3 particles. Our results show that cytoplasmic PKP3 is constitutively associated with RNA-binding proteins and indicate an involvement in processes of translation and RNA metabolism.

Caco-2 Cells↗
PubMed2005

Chemokines direct endothelial progenitors into tumor neovessels.

Tumor neovasculature substantially derives from sprouting of existing vessels, whereas the functional contribution of bone marrow-derived progenitors to neovessels remains controversial. We used transgenic mouse models of multistep carcinogenesis to monitor incorporation of bone marrow-derived cells into the neovasculature and to elucidate mechanisms of endothelial precursor cell (EPC) recruitment into the tumor microenvironment. We unequivocally demonstrate integration of bone marrow cells into the tumor vasculature as a late event in carcinogenesis that temporally correlates with VEGF release by the tumor and mobilization of circulating EPC in the periphery. Moreover, we demonstrate a chemokine-dependent mechanism of EPC homing into tumor, whereby neovessels of late-stage tumors release a battery of CC chemokines, which direct CCR2(+) and CCR5(+) progenitors into the vasculature. Thus, we show that tumor vessels promote their own growth and development in a self-amplifying fashion.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Rocaglamide derivatives are immunosuppressive phytochemicals that target NF-AT activity in T cells.

Aglaia (family Meliaceae) plants are used in traditional medicine (e.g., in Vietnam) for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases and allergic inflammatory disorders such as asthma. Inflammatory diseases arise from inappropriate activation of the immune system, leading to abnormal expression of genes encoding inflammatory cytokines and tissue-destructive enzymes. The active compounds isolated from these plants are derivatives of rocaglamide. In this study we show that rocaglamides are potent immunosuppressive phytochemicals that suppress IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-2, and IL-4 production in peripheral blood T cells at nanomolar concentrations. We demonstrate that rocaglamides inhibit cytokine gene expression at the transcriptional level. At the doses that inhibit cytokine production, they selectively block NF-AT activity without impairing NF-kappaB and AP-1. We also show that inhibition of NF-AT activation by rocaglamide is mediated by strong activation of JNK and p38 kinases. Our study suggests that rocaglamide derivatives may serve as a new source of NF-AT-specific inhibitors for the treatment of certain inflammatory diseases.

Aglaia↗
PubMed2005

Tumor cell invasiveness correlates with changes in integrin expression and localization.

In nontumorigenic mammary epithelial cells (EpH4), transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta1) causes cell cycle arrest/apoptosis, but induces epitheliomesenchymal transition (EMT) in Ha-Ras-transformed EpH4 cells (EpRas). EMT is closely correlated with late-stage tumor progression and results in fibroblastic, migratory cells displaying a mesenchymal gene expression program (FibRas). EpRas and FibRas cells showed strongly increased cell substrate adhesion to fibronectin, collagens I/IV and laminin 1. Furthermore, Ras transformation caused enhanced or de-novo expression of the integrin subunits beta1, alpha2 and alpha3, or alpha5 and alpha6, respectively, the latter subunits being even more strongly expressed in FibRas cells. Importantly, polarized EpRas cells expressed integrin subunits beta1 and alpha6 at distinct (apical and lateral) membrane domains, while FibRas cells coexpressed these integrins and alpha5 at the entire plasma membrane. During EMT, EpRas cells formed an alpha5beta1 complex and deposited its ligand fibronectin into the extracellular matrix. Function-blocking alpha5 antibodies attenuated migration, and caused massive apoptosis in EpRas cells undergoing TGFbeta1-induced EMT in collagen gels, but failed to affect EpRas- or FibRas-derived structures. We conclude that functional alpha5beta1 integrin is centrally implicated in EMT induction. Importantly, FibRas cells also failed to deposit the alpha6beta4 ligand laminin 5, suggesting that alpha6beta4 is no longer functional after EMT and replaced by mesenchymal integrins such as alpha5beta1.

Breast↗
PubMed2005

Drebrin, an actin-binding, cell-type characteristic protein: induction and localization in epithelial skin tumors and cultured keratinocytes.

Isoform E2 of drebrin, an actin-binding protein originally identified in neuronal cells, has recently been identified in diverse non-neuronal cells, mostly in association with cell processes and intercellular junctions. Here, we report on the presence of drebrin in normal human skin, epithelial skin cancers, and cultured keratinocytes. Keratinocytes of normal epidermis contain almost no drebrin but the protein is readily seen in hair follicles. By immunohistochemistry and immunoblot, basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are rich in drebrin, and confocal laser scanning and immunoelectron microscopy show accumulation at adhering junctions, in co-localization with actin and partially with plaque proteins. In squamous cell carcinomas, keratoacanthomas, and in epidermal precancers, drebrin is heterogeneously distributed, appearing as mosaics. Primary keratinocyte cultures contain significant amounts of drebrin enriched at adhering junctions. When epithelium-derived cells devoid of drebrin are transfected with drebrin-enhanced green fluorescent protein, constructs accumulate in the cell periphery, and immunoprecipitation shows complexes with actin. During epidermal growth factor induced formation of cell processes, drebrin retains this junction association, as observed by live cell microscopy. Our results suggest novel functions of drebrin such as an involvement in cell-cell adhesion and tumorigenesis and a potential value in diagnosis of BCC.

Cell Line, Tumor↗
PubMed2003

A novel cell-cell junction system: the cortex adhaerens mosaic of lens fiber cells.

The anucleate prismoid fiber cells of the eye lens are densely packed to form a tissue in which the plasma membranes and their associated cytoplasmic coat form a single giant cell-cell adhesive complex, the cortex adhaerens. Using biochemical and immunoprecipitation methods in various species (cow, pig, rat), in combination with immunolocalization microscopy, we have identified two different major kinds of cortical complex. In one, the transmembrane glycoproteins N-cadherin and cadherin-11 [which also occur in heterotypic ('mixed') complexes] are associated with alpha- and beta-catenin, plakoglobin (proportions variable among species), p120ctn and vinculin. The other complex contains ezrin, periplakin, periaxin and desmoyokin (and so is called the EPPD complex), usually together with moesin, spectrin(s) and plectin. In sections through lens fiber tissue, the short sides of the lens fiber hexagons appear to be enriched in the cadherin-based complexes, whereas the EPPD complexes also occur on the long sides. Moreover, high resolution double-label fluorescence microscopy has revealed, on the short sides, a finer, almost regular mosaicism of blocks comprising the cadherin-based, catenin-containing complexes, alternating with patches formed by the EPPD complexes. The latter, a new type of junctional plaque ensemble of proteins hitherto known only from certain other cell types, must be added to the list of major lens cortex proteins. We here discuss its possible functional importance for the maintenance of lens structure and functions, notably clear and sharp vision.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Intracellular visualization of prostate cancer using magnetic resonance imaging.

The term "molecular imaging" can be broadly defined as the in vivo characterization and measurement of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level. Is a gene expression magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) possible? Therefore, we have developed a novel intravital and intracellular MRI contrast agent composed of a gadolinium complex, an oligonucleotide sequence [peptide nucleic acid (PNA)], and a transmembrane carrier peptide that is composed of a peptide sequence similar to that of the homeodomain of the Antennapedia protein. The goal of our study was to determine whether this contrast agent could be accumulated in tumor cells in vitro (HeLa cells) and in vivo (Dunning R3327 AT1 rat prostate adenocarcinoma) and whether the specificity of the PNA for the up-regulated c-myc mRNA in the cell's cytoplasm would have an effect on contrast agent retention in the tumor cells. Using the c-myc-specific and a c-myc-nonspecific control PNA, an increase in signal intensity in the tumor cells was observed after 10 min in vitro and in vivo (maximum was reached in HeLa cells in vitro in 60 min, in Dunning R3327 AT1 rat prostate adenocarcinoma cells in vivo in 30 min). This increase of signal intensity could be maintained in vitro in HeLa cells for only 4 h and in Dunning R3327 AT1 rat prostate adenocarcinoma cells in vivo at least for 5 h by using the c-myc mRNA-specific PNA as a "retention" agent.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2003

Tubulin diversity in trophozoites of Giardia lamblia.

Giardia lamblia is a diplomonad that parasitizes the small intestine of vertebrates. The trophozoite is multiflagellar and its cytoskeleton presents a complex organization of microtubular structures. One of these, the adhesive disk, consists of a microtubular spiral. The median body, whose function is not yet determined, is also composed by microtubules. The cell has eight flagella and two microtubule sheets, known as the funis. In this study we used several antibodies and immunofluorescence microscopy to help in the characterization of these structures. We observed that Giardia tubulin reacts with antibodies raised against very distinct immunogens. The antibodies used were against: (1) alpha-tubulin from chicken embryo brain, Trypanosoma brucei, sea urchin sperm, Paramecium, acetylated alpha-tubulin from Paramecium, and tyrosinated alpha-tubulin, (2) beta-tubulin from chicken embryo brain and Physarum polycephalum, and (3) an antibody with specificity to beta-tubulin having as immunogen the FtsZ bacterial protein. Each cytoskeletal structure of Giardia presented a distinct pattern of labeling by the several antibodies used. These data indicate that even being considered one of the most ancient of organisms, Giardia shares similarities (at least in relation to tubulin) with other organisms. They also open some questions about the organization and composition of its microtubular structures.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Changes in the expression and localization of hepatocellular transporters and radixin in primary biliary cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Expression and localization of human hepatocellular transporters and of radixin, cross-linking actin with some membrane transporters, may change in cholestatic liver diseases. METHODS: We investigated the uptake transporters OATP2 (SLC21A6), OATP8 (SLC21A8), and NTCP (SLC10A1), the export pumps MRP2 (ABCC2), MRP3 (ABCC3), MRP6 (ABCC6), and P-glycoproteins (ABCB1, ABCB4, ABCB11), and radixin, in non-icteric primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC stages I-III) and control human liver needle-biopsies using immunofluorescence microscopy and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Expression and localization of all transporters were unchanged in PBC I-II. Immunostaining intensities of uptake transporters decreased in PBC III with a concomitant decrease in mRNA levels. Immunostaining intensities and mRNA levels of export pumps were similar in controls and PBC I-III, however, irregular MRP2 immunostaining suggested redistribution of MRP2 into intracellular structures in PBC III. Areas of irregular MRP2 immunostaining showed largely reduced radixin immunostaining, whereas normal hepatocytes had MRP2 and radixin confined to the canalicular membrane. Disrupted localization of radixin and MRP2 supports the concept that radixin contributes to the canalicular localization of MRP2. CONCLUSIONS: Down-regulation of uptake transporters may contribute to the impaired hepatobiliary elimination in advanced PBC, and partially altered localization of MRP2 may reflect the onset of changes leading to icteric PBC.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Gold finder: a computer method for fast automatic double gold labeling detection, counting, and color overlay in electron microscopic images.

This work presents a computerized method to identify, detect, evaluate, and, by colored overlay, present gold particle pairs in electron microscopy (EM), even in wide-field views. Double gold immunolabeled specimens were analyzed in a LEO 912 electron microscope equipped with a 2k x 2k-pixel slow-scan cooled CCD camera connected to a computer with analySIS 3.1 PRO image processing software. The acquisition of a high-resolution and high-dynamic-range image by the camera allowed correct segmentation of the gold particles, separating them from other cell structures and from the substrate. Particle identification was performed by a classification module designed by us. Based on shape and size, the computer recognized the group of small particles and classified them as either singular or clustered and differentiated these from the single bigger type. The final image shows the particle types separated and colored, and indicates the total number of objects encountered in the specific region of interest. Moreover, a montage tool allowed us to obtain final representative images of large microscopic fields, which on analysis by the Gold Finder module provided information on the distribution and localization of antigens comparable to that provided by the wide-field light microscope images.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Cell biological and biochemical characterization of drebrin complexes in mesangial cells and podocytes of renal glomeruli.

Drebrins are actin-binding proteins (ABP) initially identified in and thought to be specific for neuronal cells, where they appear to contribute to the formation of cell processes. Recent studies have also detected the isoform drebrin E2 in a wide range of non-neuronal cell types, notably in and near actin-rich lamellipodia and filopodia. The present study demonstrates drebrin enrichment in renal glomeruli. Immunohistochemistry and double-label confocal laser scanning microscopy have shown intense drebrin reactions in the mesangial cells of diverse mammalian species. In adult human and bovine kidneys, drebrin is, in addition, markedly enriched in the foot processes of podocytes, as also demonstrable by immunoelectron microscopy. By contrast, the podocytes of rodent glomeruli appear to contain significant drebrin concentrations only during early developmental stages. In differentiated murine podocytes cultured in vitro, however, drebrin is concentrated in the cell processes, where it partially codistributes with actin and other ABP. In biochemical analyses using protein extracts from renal cortices, large (approximately 20S) complexes ("drebrosomes") were found containing drebrin and actin. These findings confirm and extend our hypothesis that drebrin is involved in the regulation of actin dynamics also outside the nervous system. Clearly, drebrin has to be added to the ensemble of ABP regulating the actomyosin system and the dynamics of mesangial cells and foot processes in podocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

CNN-Gd(3+) enables cell nucleus molecular imaging of prostate cancer cells: the last 600 nm.

Molecular imaging is defined as the characterization and measurement of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level. Molecular imaging, therefore, necessitates a sufficient amount of contrast agent within the cell. Consequently, we realized that the intracellular uptake and cell compartment specificity of the commonly used interstitial contrast agent gadolinium (Gd(3+)) with a cell-nucleus directed peptide module could be helpful. This modular molecule is characterized by a Gd(3+)-complex module that is bound to a transmembrane transport unit (TPU) of human origin and further to a nucleus-directed address module (nuclear localization sequence) resulting in a specific cell nucleus-directed nuclear localization sequence-conjugated Gd(3+)-complex (CNN-Gd(3+)-complex). By use of magnetic resonance imaging, Gd(3+) was detected within DU-145 prostate cancer cells after only 10 min. The nuclear localization was confirmed with confocal laser scanning microscopy. The resulting MRI signal enhancement only slightly decreased over the next 48 h compared with an absolute loss of signal enhancement after only 8 h when a random target sequence was used. Therefore, our method seems promising for in vivo application in molecular imaging.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

A common Dubin-Johnson syndrome mutation impairs protein maturation and transport activity of MRP2 (ABCC2).

Absence of a functional multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2; symbol ABCC2) from the hepatocyte canalicular membrane is the molecular basis of Dubin- Johnson syndrome, an inherited disorder associated with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia in humans. In this work, we analyzed a relatively frequent Dubin-Johnson syndrome mutation that leads to an exchange of two hydrophobic amino acids, isoleucine 1173 to phenylalanine (MRP2I1173F), in a predicted extracellular loop of MRP2. HEK-293 cells stably transfected with MRP2I1173F cDNA synthesized a mutant protein that was mainly core-glycosylated, predominantly retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, and degraded by proteasomes. MRP2I1173F did not mediate ATP-dependent transport of leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) into vesicles from plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum preparations while normal MRP2 was functionally active. Human HepG2 cells were used to study localization of MRP2I1173F in a polarized cell system. Quantitative analysis showed that GFP-tagged MRP2I1173F was localized to the apical membrane in only 5% of transfected, polarized HepG2 cells compared with 80% for normal MRP2-GFP. Impaired protein maturation followed by proteasomal degradation of inactive MRP2I1173F explain the deficient hepatobiliary elimination observed in this group of Dubin-Johnson syndrome patients.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2002

Video-microscopy observations of fast dynamic processes in the protozoon Giardia lamblia.

Video-microscopy in combination with digital image processing was used to analyze dynamic processes associated to the life cycle of Giardia lamblia trophozoites. These parasites swim and attach to the epithelial cells, producing the disease known as Giardiasis. Giardia is a multiflagellar cell, presenting 4 pairs of flagella. With the use of analogue and digital tools, we observed that in cells attached to glass slides only 2 of the 4 pairs present active beating (wave propagation). The frequency observed was 17-18 Hz to the anterior and 8-11 Hz to the ventral flagella. These data resulted from several hours of recording using both analogue video and high-speed digital camera. The caudal pair did not show active beating patterns and the same holds true for the posterior one. In this latter pair, oscillations were observed, but they were always associated to the transit of the wave produced by the ventral pair. The analysis performed with free moving cells showed that during its forward dislocation, Giardia lamblia presented either a lateral rocking or a complete rotational (tumbling) movement around its longitudinal axis. A dislocation of the caudal region of the cell both in the lateral and dorso-ventral direction was observed. This movement was completely independent from the flagellar beating and it is likely to be produced by a microtubular complex located in the caudal portion of the cell. The adhesion process of Giardia lamblia was also followed by video-microscopy and the data showed that the ventral disk had an active participation in this process.

Animals↗