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Biomedical subjects

J P Thiery

Publications and source records attributed to J P Thiery.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Src and Ras are involved in separate pathways in epithelial cell scattering.

We have demonstrated previously that Src controls the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced dispersion of NBT-II carcinoma epithelial cells. Here we show that while only Src and Yes were expressed and activated by EGF, microinjected kinase-inactive mutants of Src (SrcK-) and Fyn (FynK-) were able to exert a dominant-negative effect on the scattering response. Both SH2 and SH3 domains of FynK- were required for inhibition of cell scattering. Expression of dominant-negative N17Ras also abrogated EGF-induced dispersion, showing that Ras is another regulator of cell dispersion. Expression of SrcK- did not alter EGF-evoked Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, Shc-Grb2 complex formation and MAPK activation, three elements of the Ras pathway. Furthermore, the expression of Jun-Fos and Slug rescued the block induced by N17Ras but not by SrcK-, showing that Src kinases and Ras operate in separate pathways. In addition, actinomycin D inhibition of RNA synthesis repressed the ability of the activated mutant L61Ras but not that of F527Src to induce epithelial cell scattering. Since tyrosine phosphorylation of cytoskeleton-associated proteins pp125FAK and cortactin were abolished in EGF-stimulated SrcK- cells, we concluded that, in contrast to Ras, Src kinases may control epithelial cell dispersion in the absence of gene expression and by directly regulating the organization of the cortical cytoskeleton.

Animals

Frequent loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 10q in muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 10 has been observed in several human cancers including glioblastomas, meningiomas, melanomas and endometrial and prostate carcinomas. We have investigated the incidence of LOH on chromosome 10 in 36 human transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs) of the bladder, three upper urinary tract TCCs and one lymph node metastasis, using a panel of 27 highly polymorphic markers spanning 10p (short arm) and 10q (long arm). Fourteen bladder tumours (39%), the three upper urinary tract tumours and the lymph node metastasis showed LOH for at least one locus on chromosome 10. Remarkably, LOH on chromosome 10 was observed mainly in muscle-invasive (P = 0.01) and high grade tumours (P = 0.03). For five tumours and the lymph node metastasis, LOH was found at all informative loci, indicating monosomy or isodisomy of chromosome 10. The deletion mapping of the tumours with partial loss delineated two minimal regions of loss on chromosome 10q. One region, the most telomeric, was bounded by markers D10S214 and D10S169 and the other, the most proximal, was bounded by markers D10S222 and D10S531. Our results demonstrate that chromosome 10q LOH is common in muscle-invasive bladder cancers and that two potential tumour suppressor loci, at 10q24.1-q24.3 and 10q26.1-q26.2, may contribute to the malignant progression of these tumours. Localization of the smallest common regions of loss in bladder tumours provides a starting point for the identification of the genes involved.

Animals

The zinc-finger protein slug causes desmosome dissociation, an initial and necessary step for growth factor-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential morphogenetic process during embryonic development. It can be induced in vitro by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), or by FGF-1 in our NBT-II cell model for EMT. We tested for a central role in EMT of a zinc-finger protein called Slug. Slug mRNA and protein levels were increased transiently in FGF-1-treated NBT-II cells. Transient or stable transfection of Slug cDNA in NBT-II cells resulted in a striking disappearance of the desmosomal markers desmoplakin and desmoglein from cell-cell contact areas, mimicking the initial steps of FGF-1 or HGF/SF- induced EMT. Stable transfectant cells expressed Slug protein and were less epithelial, with increased cell spreading and cell-cell separation in subconfluent cultures. Interestingly, NBT-II cells transfected with antisense Slug cDNA were able to resist EMT induction by FGF-1 or even HGF/SF. This antisense effect was suppressed by retransfection with Slug sense cDNA. Our results indicate that Slug induces the first phase of growth factor-induced EMT, including desmosome dissociation, cell spreading, and initiation of cell separation. Moreover, the antisense inhibition experiments suggest that Slug is also necessary for EMT.

Amino Acid Sequence

Direct role of the carboxy-terminal cell-binding domain of fibronectin in neural crest cell motility.

We have analyzed the interaction of neural crest cells with fragments of fibronectin corresponding to the different spliced variants of the COOH-terminal cell-binding domain (COOH-ter CBD). We have shown that this domain can support cell adhesion and migration and that both the IIICS and HepII regions are involved in these events. The rate of locomotion is high, although undirectional, compared to that of whole fibronectin. Interactions with the COOH-ter CBD are controlled by alpha4beta1 and maybe other beta1 integrins and cell-surface proteoglycans. These receptors act cooperatively to mediate attachment, spreading, and migration on fibronectin.

Animals

FGF-2 and FGF-1 expressed in rat bladder carcinoma cells have similar angiogenic potential but different tumorigenic properties in vivo.

The comparative biological properties of NBT-II cells, a rat bladder carcinoma cell line constitutively expressing FGF-1 and FGF-2 were analysed in nude mice. FGF-1 is not secreted by the transfected cells unless the cDNA contains a signal sequence; conversely, NBT-II cells transfected with FGF-2 coding sequence produce and secrete the factor in a biologically active form. Bovine brain capillary endothelial cells are stimulated to proliferate upon addition of medium conditioned by the FGF-2-producing cells and this activity can be abrogated by the addition of anti-FGF-2 blocking antibodies. In addition, the FGF-2-containing medium, which cannot stimulate NBT-II cells due to absence of appropriate receptors, is able to induce scattering of NBT-II cells expressing the FGFR1. It has been reported previously that FGF-1-producing cells are highly tumorigenic in nude mice and induce carcinoma with a period of latency reduced from 6 to 5 weeks when compared to parental NBT-II cells. In contrast, NBT-II cells producing FGF-2 are no more tumorigenic than parental cells, indicating that FGF-1 and FGF-2 have different oncogenic properties in carcinoma. FGF-1 and FGF-2 are potent antiogenic factors that trigger the host endothelial cells. VEGF, another potent angiogen was found to be expressed in small amounts by NBT-II cells and to be expressed in reduced amount in the FGF-producing cells. In the NBT-II system in vivo FGF-1 and FGF-2 are highly and comparatively angiogenic in the resultant carcinoma and this occurs in the absence of production of significant amounts of VEGF by the carcinoma cells. Taken together, our results indicate that activated angiogenesis is not sufficient for rapid tumor expansion. FGF-1 behaves as a tumorigenic factor in the NBT-II bladder carcinoma cell model, whereas expression and secretion of large amounts of FGF-2 are not sufficient for increasing tumor growth.

Animals

Decreased expression of keratinocyte growth factor receptor in a subset of human transitional cell bladder carcinomas.

Growth factors and growth factor receptors are involved in tumor progression. The fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene encodes distinct isoforms. The isoforms which bind KGF (keratinocyte growth factor or FGF-7) are called KGF-R or FGFR2b. KGF-R is expressed in different epithelia and is involved in the control of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Expression of KGF-R mRNA was examined in normal human bladder and transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC) by semi-quantitative RT-PCR using TFIID and GAPDH as internal standards. In normal bladder, the KGF-R mRNA was detected in the urothelium but not in the underlying stroma. In TCCs, the level of KGF-R mRNA was generally either normal or low. Eighteen out of 54 TCCs had a KGF-R mRNA level below 30% of that found in normal urothelium. This decrease in KGF-R mRNA was not accompanied by an increase in BEK (FGFR2c) mRNA, the other major splice variant of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene. Expression of the KGF-R was also monitored by immunohistochemistry using a functional KGF-immunoglobulin chimera. The receptor was uniformly expressed throughout the normal urothelium except for the umbrella cells. Immunoreactivity for KGF-R was found to be negative in tumors with low levels of KGF-R mRNA, while the peritumoral normal urothelium was positive. Among patients with muscle invasive tumors, those exhibiting a low level of KGF-R mRNA had a significantly higher proportion of cancer deaths. Our results suggest that decreased expression of KGF-R can be considered as a marker of tumor progression in muscle invasive TCCs.

Adult

Multiple roles for integrins during development.

Interactions between cells and extracellular matrix play a crucial role during development by controlling tissue remodelling and cell migration. Integrins are the main family of cell surface receptors for extracellular matrix. The knockout of integrin genes in mouse embryos has provided new insights into the function of these receptors during embryonic development and morphogenesis. The lethality observed either during embryonic life or after birth suggests that many integrins are essential.

Animals

Model systems of epithelium-mesenchyme transitions.

This contribution discusses which factors bring about the transformation of epithelium to mesenchyme. Amongst biological agents which have this role are a number of cytokines (e.g. EGF, FGF-1, TGF-beta, HGF/SF) and extracellular matrix macromolecules, such as collagens. The coordinated changes in cell morphology, associated with the induction of cell motility and the loss of inter-cellular junctions, are under the control of signaling molecules that transduce the signal emanating from the plasma membrane, which ultimately lead to changes in gene expression.

Animals

Alpha 2 beta 1 integrin is required for the collagen and FGF-1 induced cell dispersion in a rat bladder carcinoma cell line.

We have investigated the role of integrins in the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by either collagen or fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) in the rat bladder carcinoma cell line NBT-II. The major collagen-binding receptor is the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin. An increase in expression of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin coincided with EMT induced by either collagen or FGF-1. When both inducers were present, a further increase in alpha 2 expression was observed which correlated with an enhancement in the speed of locomotion. Overexpression of human alpha 2 in NBT-II cells did not trigger EMT but rendered cells more sensitive to the dispersing effect of collagen and FGF-1. Anti-human alpha 2 blocking antibodies affected cell scattering and motility induced by either collagen or FGF-1. These data demonstrate that alpha 2 beta 1 integrin is the mediator of the cell scattering effect induced by collagen. They also indicate that a functional alpha 2 integrin is essential for the motile behavior of NBT-II cells during the FGF-1 induced EMT.

Animals

[Metastatic process].

The metastatic dissemination is one characteristic property of malignant tumors. It represents a crucial step in the progression of the disease. Multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms are involved in the dissemination of cancer cells and their proliferation at secondary sites. The metastatic process requires the transient or permanent acquisition of invasive properties mediated in part by diverse families of proteases. Numerous growth factors control the autocrine or paracrine growth of the tumor. These factors can also act as motogens and may contribute to the maintainance of the loss of the differentiated state of tumors. Angiogenesis of newly formed primary tumors is required for further growth and dissemination. Malignant cells modulate their adhesive status throughout the different steps of dissociation from the primary tumor and their intravasation and extravasation from lymph and blood vessels. Proteases, adhesion molecules, growth factors, angiogens and their cognate receptors may constitute markers to assign a metastatic phenotype and could serve as targets for the management of patients.

Animals

Androgen suppressed apoptosis is modified in p53 deficient mice.

Several in vitro studies have provided evidence that the tumor suppressor protein, p53, is involved in the cell death process referred to as apoptosis. The recent development of p53 knock-out mice has enabled further investigation into the function of p53 for apoptosis, in vivo. Radiation-induced apoptosis is suppressed in such mice, yet other forms of apoptosis do not seem to be significantly affected. In this report, we present evidence that such male p53 nullizygous mice have less apoptosis in the prostate glands associated with the first 4 days following castration. Ventral prostate glands were obtained from normal, heterozygous p53-null and p53 nullizygous mice at daily intervals after castration. These tissues were stained for apoptosis with the use of the in situ and labeling method and apoptotic bodies were quantified by microscopy. Although labeled apoptotic bodies were observed in post-castrated tissues from all of these genetic variant mice, the onset of apoptosis was delayed and the occurrence of apoptosis was significantly reduced in the p53 nullizygous mice when compared to normal controls. Heterozygous p53-null mice were intermediate for these criteria. Examination of the internucleosomal DNA fragmentation pattern at 2 days of castration supports a significant diminution of prostate cell apoptosis in nullizygous p53 mice. Additionally, large nucleated and multinucleated cells were detected in the prostate epithelium of noncastrated p53 nullizygous mice and these abnormal cells were increased after castration. Flow cytometric analysis of these tissues confirmed a high number of 4C and 8C DNA content cells in the p53 nullizygous prostates and their frequency was increased by castration. In concordance with an earlier study, we conclude that functional p53 protein is not essential for prostate epithelial cells to undergo castration-induced apoptosis. However, wild-type p53 does appear to enhance this process, especially in the early period following castration, and this protein may regulate an aberrant prostate cell cycling activity that follows castration.

Androgens

Myoepithelial cell differentiation in the developing mammary gland: progressive acquisition of smooth muscle phenotype.

The most important portion of the mammary gland development occurs postnatally, with distinct periods of intensive morphogenesis taking place between birth and puberty and during pregnancy and lactation. To characterize the differentiation process of mammary myoepithelial cells, we have studied the expression patterns of several smooth muscle phenotypic markers, including contractile proteins, alpha-smooth muscle-actin (alpha-SM-actin), smooth muscle myosin heavy chains (SM-MHC), and calponin; components of cell-extracellular matrix adherens junctions, phosphoglucomutase-related protein (PGM), vinculin variants, integrin subunits; and laminin variant chains in the developing rat mammary gland using immunofluorescence microscopy. alpha-SM-actin- and SM-MHC-positive cells were found first in newborn animals, while calponin, PGM and alpha1 integrin subunit began to be expressed in prepubertal animals (1.5 weeks). Vinculin, beta1 and alpha3 integrin subunits were largely confined to the basal cell layer at all developmental stages examined with greater staining starting at 1.5 weeks. Meta-vinculin was identified only in myoepithelial cells of the lactating gland. gamma1 laminin chain was present in the mammary gland basement membrane throughout development, while the beta2 chain was revealed in 3-week-old animals and accumulated later in postpubertal animals (7 weeks). Similarly, beta2 laminin chain was absent from the forming alveoli basement membrane in pregnant rats and started to accumulate in the lactating gland. In addition to temporal changes, we have observed spatial differences in the distribution of the phenotypic markers. Both in pre- and in postpubertal animals, alpha-SM-actin- and SM-MHC-positive cells of the growing ductal ends contained low amounts if any of calponin, PGM, and beta2 laminin chain. We conclude that during postnatal development, mammary myoepithelial cells progressively acquire a differentiated phenotype as revealed by the expression of various smooth muscle markers. Maturation of the myoepithelial cells is accompanied by upregulation of the smooth muscle integrin expression followed by accumulation of beta2-containing laminin variant. Thus, changes in adhesion system parallel with the myoepithelial cell differentiation.

Animals

Changes in the fibronectin-specific integrin expression pattern modify the migratory behavior of sarcoma S180 cells in vitro and in the embryonic environment.

The molecules that mediate cell-matrix recognition, such as fibronectins (FN) and integrins, modulate cell behavior. We have previously demonstrated that FN and the beta 1-integrins are used during neural crest cell (NCC) migration in vitro as well as in vivo, and that the FN cell-binding domains I and II exhibit functional specificity in controlling either NCC attachment, spreading, or motility in vitro. In the present study, we have analyzed the effect of changes in the integrin expression patterns on migratory cell behavior in vivo. We have generated, after stable transfection, S180 cells expressing different levels of alpha 4 beta 1 or alpha 5 beta 1 integrins, two integrins that recognize distinct FN cell-binding domains. Murine S180 cells were chosen because they behave similarly to NCC after they are grafted into the NCC embryonic pathways in the chicken embryo. Thus, they provide a model system with which to investigate the mechanisms controlling in vitro and in vivo migratory cell behavior. We have observed that either the overexpression of alpha 5 beta 1 integrin or the induction of alpha 4 beta 1 expression in transfected S180 cells enhances their motility on FN in vitro. These genetically modified S180 cells also exhibit different migratory properties when grafted into the early trunk NCC migratory pathways. We observe that alpha 5 and low alpha 4 expressors migrate in both the ventral and dorsolateral paths simultaneously, in contrast to the parental S180 cells or the host NCC, which are delayed by 24 h in their invasion of the dorsolateral path. Moreover, the alpha 4 expressors exhibit different migratory properties according to their level of alpha 4 expression at the cell surface. Cells of the low alpha 4 expressor line invade both the ventral and dorsolateral pathways. In contrast, the high expressors remain as an aggregate at the graft site, possibly the result of alpha 4 beta 1-dependent homotypic aggregation. Thus, changes in the repertoire of FN-specific integrins enable the S180 cells to exploit different pathways in the embryo and regulate the speed with which they disperse in vivo and in culture. Our studies correlate well with known changes in integrin expression during neural crest morphogenesis and strongly suggest that neural crest cells that migrate into the dorsolateral path, i.e., melanoblasts, do so only after they have upregulated the expression of FN receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

pp60c-src is a positive regulator of growth factor-induced cell scattering in a rat bladder carcinoma cell line.

The NBT-II rat carcinoma cell line exhibits two mutually exclusive responses to FGF-1 and EGF, entering mitosis at cell confluency while undergoing an epithelium-to-mesenchyme transition (EMT) when cultured at subconfluency. EMT is characterized by acquisition of cell motility, modifications of cell morphology, and cell dissociation correlating with the loss of desmosomes from cellular cortex. The pleiotropic effects of EGF and FGF-1 on NBT-II cells suggest that multiple signaling pathways may be activated. We demonstrate here that growth factor activation is linked to at least two intracellular signaling pathways. One pathway leading to EMT involves an early and sustained stimulation of pp60c-src kinase activity, which is not observed during the growth factor-induced entry into the cell cycle. Overexpression of normal c-src causes a subpopulation of cells to undergo spontaneous EMT and sensitizes the rest of the population to the scattering activity of EGF and FGF-1 without affecting their mitogenic responsiveness. Addition of cholera toxin, a cAMP-elevating agent, severely perturbs growth factor induction of EMT without altering pp60c-src activation, therefore demonstrating that cAMP blockade takes place downstream or independently of pp60c-src. On the other hand, overexpression of a mutated, constitutively activated form of pp60c-src does not block cell dispersion while strongly inhibiting growth factor-induced entry into cell division. Moreover, stable transfection of a dominant negative mutant of c-src inhibits the scattering response without affecting mitogenesis induced by the growth factors. Altogether, these results suggest a role for pp60c-src in epithelial cell scattering and indicate that pp60c-src might contribute unequally to the two separate biological activities engendered by a single signal.

Animals