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Biomedical subjects

L Trusolino

Publications and source records attributed to L Trusolino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Autoantibodies against a 72-kDa ductal cell membrane glycoprotein in a patient affected by Sjögren's syndrome and gastric MALT lymphoma.

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting exocrine glands, resulting in xerostomia and xerophthalmia. Lymphocytic infiltration and fibrosis of exocrine glands as well as the presence of autoantibodies against organ-specific and non-organ-specific antigens are the hallmarks of the disease. We investigated whether some patients affected by Sjögren's syndrome might have autoantibodies directed against epithelial duct cell membrane proteins. We screened sera from patients affected by Sjögren's syndrome by indirect immunofluorescence on monkey salivary gland sections and FG-Met-2 cells (a pancreatic carcinoma cell line with ductal features) for the presence of antisalivary duct antibodies. Positive sera were employed in immunoprecipitation experiments on (35)S-methionine in vivo labeled and surface-biotinylated FG-Met-2 cells. The serum of a patient affected by Sjögren's syndrome and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma gave positive and distinct membrane immunostaining on FG-Met-2 cells. Immunoprecipitation with the patient's serum from (35)S-methionine-labeled cell extracts followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and autoradiography showed the presence of autoantibodies against a 72-kDa protein. After biotin-surface labeling of FG-Met-2 cells, a band with identical electrophoretic mobility was immunoprecipitated by the serum, demonstrating that the 72-kDa band is a membrane glycoprotein. We demonstrated by three complementary approaches, i.e., immunocytochemistry, (35)S-methionine in vivo labeling, and cell surface biotinylation, the presence of autoantibodies directed against a duct cell membrane protein of 72-kDa in a patient affected by Sjögren's syndrome and gastric MALT lymphoma. Autoantibodies directed against this novel membrane autoantigen may be an additional serological marker in some cases of Sjögren's syndrome.

Aged↗

A signaling adapter function for alpha6beta4 integrin in the control of HGF-dependent invasive growth.

alpha6beta4 integrin and the Met receptor for HGF have been shown independently to promote invasive growth. We demonstrate here that Met selectively associates with alpha6beta4. In carcinoma cells expressing Met alone, HGF does not exert significant biological effects. Ectopic expression of alpha6beta4 restores HGF-regulated processes. Following Met activation, alpha6beta4 is tyrosine phosphorylated and combines with Shc and PI3K, generating an additional signaling platform that potentiates HGF-triggered activation of Ras- and PI3K-dependent pathways. In the presence of an alpha6beta4 mutant defective for Shc recruitment, Met cannot sustain HGF-mediated responses. Surprisingly, a truncated beta4 unable to bind laminins retains the activity of wild-type alpha6beta4. Such findings invoke an unexpected role for alpha6beta4 in cancer invasion as a functional amplifier of biochemical outputs rather than a mechanical adhesive device.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Osteopontin is an autocrine mediator of hepatocyte growth factor-induced invasive growth.

In epithelial cells, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) activates a genetic program involving cell-cell dissociation ("scattering"), growth and invasiveness. The full program is not elicited by other growth factors like epidermal growth factor, and is aberrantly activated during cancer progression to the invasive-metastatic phenotype. To identify genes involved in the onset of invasive growth, we explored by cDNA microarrays the in vitro transcriptional response to HGF of mouse embryo liver cells. We identified osteopontin (OPN), a secreted matrix protein, as a major HGF transcriptional target. The wave of OPN induction is maximal at 6 h, in concomitance with the initiation of scattering, and is specific, because no other matrix protein among those explored by the microarray is affected. Interestingly, HGF, but not epidermal growth factor, promotes cell adhesion to OPN via the CD44 receptor. Scattering is significantly impaired by antibodies against OPN and CD44; conversely, constitutive OPN overexpression dramatically increases the motile and invasive responses to HGF, leading to disruption of the ordered morphogenetic program triggered by this ligand.

Animals↗

Integrin expression and IgA nephropathy: in vitro modulation by IgA with altered glycosylation and macromolecular IgA.

BACKGROUND: Signal transduction by mesangial cell (MC) integrins regulates cell growth and survival, extracellular matrix production, and organization. The aim of the study was to investigate human MC integrin modulation by differently glycosylated IgA and macromolecular IgA, which are thought to play a pathogenetic role in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). METHODS: MCs were incubated with purified human polymeric IgA, heat-aggregated IgA, IgA glycoforms generated by enzymatic hydrolysis of saccharide residues and serum fractions from IgAN patients, and controls isolated by lectin affinity and containing IgA with peculiar glycan patterns. Integrins were quantitated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Cultured MCs highly expressed alphavbeta3 and some alpha3beta1; alphavbeta3 was up-regulated by matrix components (P < 0.02). In vitro desialylated and degalactosylated polymeric human IgA enhanced alphavbeta3 expression on cultured MCs (P < 0.001). Serum IgA glycoforms isolated from IgAN patients with high exposure of internal sugars, GalNAc, Neu5Ac2,6GalNAc, and Man enhanced alphav expression on cultured MCs more than healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS.: These data support the hypothesis that IgA glycation plays a role in modulating the cell-matrix interaction, and that this mechanism can be operating in IgAN.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

HGF/scatter factor selectively promotes cell invasion by increasing integrin avidity.

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) controls a genetic program known as 'invasive growth', which involves as critical steps cell adhesion, migration, and trespassing of basement membranes. We show here that in MDA-MB-231 carcinoma cells, these steps are elicited by HGF/SF but not by epidermal growth factor (EGF). Neither factor substantially alters the production or activity of extracellular matrix proteases. HGF/SF, but not EGF, selectively promotes cell adhesion on laminins 1 and 5, fibronectin, and vitronectin through a PI3-K-dependent mechanism. Increased adhesion is followed by enhanced invasiveness through isolated matrix proteins as well as through reconstituted basement membranes. Inhibition assays using function-blocking antibodies show that this phenomenon is mediated by multiple integrins including beta1, beta3, beta4, and beta5. HGF/SF triggers clustering of all these integrins at actin-rich adhesive sites and lamellipodia but does not quantitatively modify their membrane expression. These data suggest that HGF/SF promotes cell adhesion and invasiveness by increasing the avidity of integrins for their specific ligands.

Actins↗

Growth factor-dependent activation of alphavbeta3 integrin in normal epithelial cells: implications for tumor invasion.

Integrin activation is a multifaceted phenomenon leading to increased affinity and avidity for matrix ligands. To investigate whether cytokines produced during stromal infiltration of carcinoma cells activate nonfunctional epithelial integrins, a cellular system of human thyroid clones derived from normal glands (HTU-5) and papillary carcinomas (HTU-34) was employed. In HTU-5 cells, alphavbeta3 integrin was diffused all over the membrane, disconnected from the cytoskeleton, and unable to mediate adhesion. Conversely, in HTU-34 cells, alphavbeta3 was clustered at focal contacts (FCs) and mediated firm attachment and spreading. alphavbeta3 recruitment at FCs and ligand-binding activity, essentially identical to those of HTU-34, occurred in HTU-5 cells upon treatment with hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF). The HTU-34 clone secreted HGF/SF and its receptor was constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated suggesting an autocrine loop responsible for alphavbeta3 activated state. Antibody-mediated inhibition of HGF/SF function in HTU-34 cells disrupted alphavbeta3 enrichment at FCs and impaired adhesion. Accordingly, activation of alphavbeta3 in normal cells was produced by HTU-34 conditioned medium on the basis of its content of HGF/SF. These results provide the first example of a growth factor-driven integrin activation mechanism in normal epithelial cells and uncover the importance of cytokine-based autocrine loops for the physiological control of integrin activation.

Antigens, CD↗

Altered expression of alpha 6 integrin subunit in oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant lesions.

The expression and distribution of integrin chains alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 5, alpha 6, beta 1, beta 4, collagen type IV, laminin 1 and laminin 5 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and oral keratoses with and without dysplasia (OL) have been studied by immunochemistry and western blotting. Focal interruptions of basement membrane protein staining were detected in SCC indicating a loss of continuity, whereas tumour nests were apparently completely surrounded by laminin 1, type IV collagen and laminin 5; the loss of basement membrane components in OL was found in only one specimen showing severe dysplasia. The localisation of integrins showed altered suprabasal and pericellular expression of the alpha 6 chain in all but one SCC, as well as in many OL samples, whereas the beta 4 subunit showed only a faint pericellular redistribution in SCC. In OL, beta 4 was often seen in a normal basally polarised distribution. Western blotting analysis confirmed that alpha 6 protein levels were abnormally high in cancerous lesions, whereas quantitative recovery of the beta 4 subunit in SCC was only minimal, suggesting a dissociation in the synthetic ratios of the two chains of the alpha 6 beta 4 heterodimer in SCC. Because alterations in the polarised expression of integrin alpha 6 beta 4 have been seen during epithelial tumour progression and wound healing, we suggest that the lack of restricted basal polarisation of alpha 6 could be an early but non-specific marker of oral malignancy, indicating that the generation of abnormal signals from the extracellular matrix may be involved.

Antigens, CD↗

Interactions between scatter factors and their receptors: hints for therapeutic applications.

The scatter factors, which include hepatocyte growth factor and macrophage stimulating protein, stand out from other cytokines because of their uncommon biological properties. In addition to promoting cell growth and protection from apoptosis, they are involved in the control of cell dissociation, migration into extracellular matrices, and a unique process of differentiation called 'branching morphogenesis'. Through the concerted regulation of these complex phenomena, scatter factors promote development, regeneration, and reconstruction of normal organ architecture. In transformed epithelia, scatter factors can mediate tumor invasive growth, a harmful feature of neoplastic progression in which cancer cells invade surrounding tissues, penetrate across the vascular walls, and eventually disseminate throughout the body, giving rise to systemic metastases. A much-debated issue in basic biology, which has strong implications for experimental medicine, is how to dissociate the favorable effects of growth factors from their adverse ones. Accordingly, to find agonists or antagonists with potential therapeutic applications is a crucial undertaking for current research. Domain-mapping analyses of growth factor molecules can help to isolate specific structural requirements for the induction of selective biological effects. Based on the observation that certain growth factors must undergo posttranslational modifications to exert a full response, it is possible to interfere with their activation mechanisms to modulate their functions. Finally, the identification of cell type-specific coreceptors able to potentiate their activity allows drawing of a functional body map, where some organs or tissues may be more responsive than others to growth factors. This review is focused on how, and to what extent, scatter factors can behave 'well' or 'badly' according to their molecular structure, the way they are activated, and the way they interact with cell surface receptors and coreceptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Topography and biological role of integrins in human skin.

We report the topography of integrins in the human epidermis and in cultured human keratinocytes. Both in situ and in vitro beta 1 integrins are exposed at the cell-cell adhesion interface while beta 4 is located on the basal membrane in contact with the basal lamina. Such defined sorting identifies discrete cell membrane domains that may be involved in defining, building up, and maintaining epithelial cell polarity. The distribution of integrins is deeply altered in hyperproliferative states like those occurring in several experimental conditions and in epidermal diseases.

Basement Membrane↗

[Adhesion molecules in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: possible indication of prognosis].

Thirty patients with laryngeal tumors were divided into two groups on the basis of whether clinical and pathological features indicated good or bad prognosis. Samples of each tumor group were selected and examined by immunohistochemistry using mAbs, raised against integrin chains (beta 1, beta 4, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6) and their ligands laminin 1 and 5, collagen type IV, two fibronectin isoforms (ED-A and ED-B) and two isoforms of tenascin known to be associated with neoplasm. Controls were provided by samples of tumor-free laryngeal mucosa removed during the surgical procedure. The normal topographical integrin pattern and the continuity of the basement membrane components was altered in both groups but the extent of these changes was significantly greater in those tumors with poor prognosis. Therefore, the groups could easily and reliably be distinguished by simply observing their immunohistochemical features. It is suggested that performing immunohistochemical analysis on biopsies may aid in early diagnosis as well as in adopting the proper therapeutic strategy to follow for these tumors. The above molecules may become one of the diagnostic tools available for head and neck surgical pathologists.

Adult↗

Hypertension-associated point mutations in the adducin alpha and beta subunits affect actin cytoskeleton and ion transport.

The adducin heterodimer is a protein affecting the assembly of the actin-based cytoskeleton. Point mutations in rat adducin alpha (F316Y) and beta (Q529R) subunits are involved in a form of rat primary hypertension (MHS) associated with faster kidney tubular ion transport. A role for adducin in human primary hypertension has also been suggested. By studying the interaction of actin with purified normal and mutated adducin in a cell-free system and the actin assembly in rat kidney epithelial cells (NRK-52E) transfected with mutated rat adducin cDNA, we show that the adducin isoforms differentially modulate: (a) actin assembly both in a cell-free system and within transfected cells; (b) topography of alpha V integrin together with focal contact proteins; and (c) Na-K pump activity at V(max) (faster with the mutated isoforms, 1281 +/- 90 vs 841 +/- 30 nmol K/h.mg pt., P < 0.0001). This co-modulation suggests a role for adducin in the constitutive capacity of the epithelia both to transport ions and to expose adhesion molecules. These findings may also lead to the understanding of the relation between adducin polymorphism and blood pressure and to the development of new approaches to the study of hypertension-associated organ damage.

Actins↗

Changes in integrin and E-cadherin expression in neoplastic versus normal thyroid tissue.

UNLABELLED: BACK: The functional organization of polarized epithelia depends mostly on adhesion molecules belonging to the integrin and cadherin families. These molecules either recognize basement membrane components, such as laminins, or form intercellular junctions via homotypic interactions. Such tissue organization is often disrupted upon neoplastic transformation, and the resulting loss of functional polarization and cell cohesion might be a prerequisite for the invasive and metastatic behavior of carcinomas. PURPOSE: We studied modifications on thyroid adhesive mechanisms at various stages of neoplastic progression in terms of adhesion molecule expression, topography, and functional regulation by tyrosine kinases. Starting from this working hypothesis, we sought to identify one or more biological markers that would be suggestive of malignant transformation and poorer prognosis and that could be developed as a reliable indicator(s) in early diagnostic steps. METHODS: The study was carried out on both surgical samples and the corresponding fine-needle aspiration biopsy smears (numbers of specimens collected: 19 adenomas, seven follicular carcinomas, 13 papilary carcinomas, and 39 normal tissues). Immunohistochemistry of tissue sections and smears and immuno-precipitation and western blot analysis of protein extracts were done with a battery of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Northern blotting was performed on RNA extracts from frozen tissue samples and use of an integrin subunit beta4 complementary DNA probe. RESULTS: Our findings can be summarized as follows: 1) In normal thyroid cells, the cooperative role of integrin alpha6beta4 and laminin 5/kalinin in hemidesmosome-mediated adhesion adhesion is missing, and recognition of the basal lamina occurs via integrin alpha3beta1 and laminin 1 and/or 2 (this pattern being maintained in adenomas but altered in carcinomas regardless of their histotype or differentiation grade); 2) only in carcinomas with clinical and/or histologic aggressiveness do neoexpression of integrin subunit beta4 and loss of laminin 2/merosin occur, indicating de novo assembly of integrin alpha6beta4; 3) pericellular redistribution and cytoskeletal disconnection of the E-cadherin-catenin complex occur; and 4) basal E-cadherin tyrosine phosphorylation decreases in carcinomas as compared with that in normal and adenomatous tissue. CONCLUSION: The malignant progression of thyroid tumors involves marked rearrangement of cell-basement membrane and cell-cell adhesion molecules and changes in their cytoskeleton linkage. These rearrangements are also easily and reproducibly detected on fine-needle aspiration biopsy smears. IMPLICATIONS: Immunodetection of adhesion molecules in sections and/or fine-needle smears may complement the toolbox of thyroid surgical pathologists; it may expand the possibilities of achieving a correct early diagnosis of thyroid tumors and of gaining some prognostic information on thyroid tumors.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

Tubulointerstitial responses in the progression of glomerular diseases: albuminuria modulates alpha v beta 5 integrin.

Proteinuria represents one of the most unfavorable prognostic factors in the progression of nephropathies. Several lines of evidence support a role for proteinuria per se in the development of interstitial fibrosis, albeit the molecular mechanisms are still unknown. We investigated the potential role of integrins expressed on tubular cells in regulating the synthesis and organization of interstitial matrix or as mediators of tubulointerstitial damage in conditions mimicking the nephrotic milieu. Under basal conditions, cultured tubular cells highly expressed alpha 3 beta 1 and, at focal contacts, alpha v beta 3. In contrast, alpha v beta 5 was weakly and diffusely distributed all over the plasma membrane. Cultures on a variety of matrix substrates (fibronectin, laminin, collagen types I and IV, vitronectin, von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen) did not induce any phenotypic change in integrin expression by tubular cells. Conversely, the addition of albumin resulted in a highly increased membrane expression of beta 5, which was organized in typical focal contacts and was related to the dose of albumin added. Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, immunoprecipitation and RT-PCR experiments argue for a complex mechanism that includes increased post-transcriptionally regulated protein synthesis, accelerated conversion of precursors to mature forms, and increased surface delivery to discrete adhesive structures. Up-regulation of the beta 5 chain in tubular cells was confirmed in 9 out of 11 kidney biopsies from proteinuric glomerulonephritides including membranous and focal sclerosing glomerulonephritis, while it was not expressed in nonproteinuric kidneys including five biopsy specimens. This is the first report indicating that proteinuria up-regulates the surface expression and distribution of a specific integrin chain on tubular cells. These observations suggest the participation of integrins in a hitherto unexplored mechanism of tubulo-interstitial responses to glomerular injury.

Albuminuria↗

Adhesion properties and integrin expression of cultured human osteoclast-like cells.

Osteoclast interaction with extracellular matrix drives the sequential events that end with bone resorption. However, the role of matrix proteins is not yet fully understood. We studied this problem on human osteoclast-like cells derived from giant cell tumors of bone (GCT cells). On GCT cells we considered cytoskeletal organization, adhesion properties, and integrin expression upon plating in serum-free medium onto fibronectin (FN), collagen (COL), thrombospondin (TSP), bone sialoprotein (BSPII), and osteopontin (OPN). GCT cells promptly adhered and spread on FN, BSPII, and OPN, while only 50% adhered on COL and none on TSP. The integrin beta 1 chain was always associated to focal adhesions, while the alpha v beta 3 heterodimer was detected in focal contacts only upon plating on BSPII, OPN, and FN. The focal clustering of beta 1 was impaired by monensin treatment, indicating that endogenous FN secretion was required to drive beta 1 into focal contacts. Conversely, alpha v beta 3 clustering was also not affected by monensin when cells were plated onto plasma FN. Immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled GCT cell lysates showed that three different heterodimers (alpha v beta 3, alpha 3 beta 1, and alpha 5 beta 1) were assembled. Adhesion to FN was completely inhibited by beta 1 antibodies at dilutions up to 1:400, while beta 3 antibodies, at similar dilutions, impaired spreading but not adhesion. We conclude that alpha v beta 3 is the main integrin used by GCT cells in bone recognition. We also suggest that selected substrata may induce the release and the organization of endogenous FN that eventually drives the recruitment of a beta 1 integrin receptor into focal contacts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Integrins and basement membrane proteins in skin carcinomas.

The topography of some integrins and basement membrane proteins in cutaneous basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) has been studied by immunohistochemistry. The typical cell-to-cell distribution of alpha 2 beta 1 and alpha 3 beta 1 of normal epidermis becomes pericellular in both BCC and SCC cells. BCC and SCC also showed different patterns of expression of alpha 6 beta 4, the integrin normally located at the basal surface of basal epidermal keratinocytes. SCC showed high expression and pericellular distribution of alpha 6 beta 4, while BCC did not express alpha 6 beta 4 at all also in Western blotting. The basement membrane was markedly different in the two tumor types. Laminin and collagen type IV were conserved in the basement membrane zone of both tumors while nicein/kalinin was absent from BCC cells. The simultaneous loss of expression of alpha 6 beta 4 and nicein/kalinin in BCC cells but not in SCC cells indicates that alpha 6 beta 4 and one potential ligand may be co-regulated in both BCC and SCC. We suggest a role for this phenomenon in the pathogenesis of these epidermal tumors.

Antigens, Surface↗

A monoclonal antibody identifies a novel GPI-anchored glycoprotein involved in epithelial intercellular adhesion.

BD31 mAb, raised against a line of gastric carcinoma cells, reacts with intercellular boundaries of human transformed cells originating from carcinomas or sarcomas growing in epithelial-like clusters as well as in primary cultures of epithelial and endothelial cells. BD31 also reacts with intercellular rims of normal and transformed epithelial tissues and is particularly abundant in glands and fast-growing epithelia but absent in nervous and muscle tissues as well as in blood and in mesenchyme-derived cells. Confocal analysis indicates that BD31 is located in dots at cell-cell contacts but not in basal and apical domains of cultured and in situ epithelial cells. mAb BD31 precipitates a 100 kDa protein from cells labeled with [35S]methionine or [3H]glucosamine as well as from 125I-surface-labeled cells. This glycoprotein resists to trypsin in the presence of Ca2+, releases an 80 kDa fragment in the medium and does not react with antibodies to the conserved cytodomain of known cadherins or, specifically, to the ectodomain of E-cadherin in western blotting; moreover, the lack of cadherin cytodomain and protein removal by phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase indicate its membrane anchoring by a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) moiety. BD31 IgGs do not impair cell-matrix adhesion but induce inhibition of Ca(2+)-dependent aggregation, loss of cell-cell adhesion, scattering of confluent cells and appearance of migratory cell phenotypes in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This novel GPI-anchored glycoprotein may regulate intercellular adhesion by a mechanism involving membrane-associated phospholipases.

Animals↗