Biomedical subjects

Martin Alexander Schwartz

Publications and source records attributed to Martin Alexander Schwartz.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Integrin signalling in directed cell migration.

Migrating cells tend to continue moving in the same direction, a property called persistence. During migration, cells, by definition, form new adhesions at their front and break old adhesions at the rear. We hypothesize that the distinction between new adhesions at the front and older adhesions at the rear plays a major role in directional persistence. We propose specific mechanisms of persistence on the basis of known properties of integrin signals, in hope of stimulating investigation of these ideas.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

A mechanosensory complex that mediates the endothelial cell response to fluid shear stress.

Shear stress is a fundamental determinant of vascular homeostasis, regulating vascular remodelling, cardiac development and atherogenesis, but the mechanisms of transduction are poorly understood. Previous work showed that the conversion of integrins to a high-affinity state mediates a subset of shear responses, including cell alignment and gene expression. Here we investigate the pathway upstream of integrin activation. PECAM-1 (which directly transmits mechanical force), vascular endothelial cell cadherin (which functions as an adaptor) and VEGFR2 (which activates phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase) comprise a mechanosensory complex. Together, these receptors are sufficient to confer responsiveness to flow in heterologous cells. In support of the relevance of this pathway in vivo, PECAM-1-knockout mice do not activate NF-kappaB and downstream inflammatory genes in regions of disturbed flow. Therefore, this mechanosensing pathway is required for the earliest-known events in atherogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

The subendothelial extracellular matrix modulates NF-kappaB activation by flow: a potential role in atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerotic plaque forms in regions of the vasculature exposed to disturbed flow. NF-kappaB activation by fluid flow, leading to expression of target genes such as E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1, may regulate early monocyte recruitment and fatty streak formation. Flow-induced NF-kappaB activation is downstream of conformational activation of integrins, resulting in new integrin binding to the subendothelial extracellular matrix and signaling. Therefore, we examined the involvement of the extracellular matrix in this process. Whereas endothelial cells plated on fibronectin or fibrinogen activate NF-kappaB in response to flow, cells on collagen or laminin do not. In vivo, fibronectin and fibrinogen are deposited at atherosclerosis-prone sites before other signs of atherosclerosis. Ligation of integrin alpha2beta1 on collagen prevents flow-induced NF-kappaB activation through a p38-dependent pathway that is activated locally at adhesion sites. Furthermore, altering the extracellular matrix to promote p38 activation in cells on fibronectin suppresses NF-kappaB activation, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy for treating atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Integrin activation and matrix binding mediate cellular responses to mechanical stretch.

Mechanical tension is a critical determinant of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, and development. Integrins have been implicated in sensing force but little is known about how forces are transduced to biochemical signals. We now show that mechanical strain stimulates conformational activation of integrin alphavbeta3 in NIH3T3 cells. Integrin activation is mediated by phosphoinositol 3-kinase and is followed by an increase in integrin binding to extracellular matrix proteins. Mechanical stretch stimulation of JNK was dependent on new integrin binding to extracellular matrix. These data define a molecular mechanism for the role of integrins in mechanotransduction.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

p21-activated kinase regulates endothelial permeability through modulation of contractility.

Endothelial cells lining the vasculature have close cell-cell associations that maintain separation of the blood fluid compartment from surrounding tissues. Permeability is regulated by a variety of growth factors and cytokines and plays a role in numerous physiological and pathological processes. We examined a potential role for the p21-activated kinase (PAK) in the regulation of vascular permeability. In both bovine aortic and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, PAK is phosphorylated on Ser141 during the activation downstream of Rac, and the phosphorylated subfraction translocates to endothelial cell-cell junctions in response to serum, VEGF, bFGF, TNFalpha, histamine, and thrombin. Blocking PAK activation or translocation prevents the increase in permeability across the cell monolayer in response to these factors. Permeability correlates with myosin phosphorylation, formation of actin stress fibers, and the appearance of paracellular pores. Inhibition of myosin phosphorylation blocks the increase in permeability. These data suggest that PAK is a central regulator of endothelial permeability induced by multiple growth factors and cytokines via an effect on cell contractility. PAK may therefore be a suitable drug target for the treatment of pathological conditions where vascular leak is a contributing factor, such as ischemia and inflammation.

Actins↗

PubMed2004

The novel Cdc42 guanine nucleotide exchange factor, zizimin1, dimerizes via the Cdc42-binding CZH2 domain.

Rho family small GTPases are critical regulators of multiple cellular processes and activities. Dbl homology domain-containing proteins are the classical guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) responsible for activation of Rho proteins. Recently another group of mammalian Rho-GEFs was discovered that includes CDM (Ced-5, DOCK180, Myoblast city) proteins that activate Rac and zizimin1 that activates Cdc42 via a nonconventional GEF module that we named the CZH2 domain. We report here that zizimin1 dimerizes via the CZH2 domain and that dimers are the only form detected. Dimerization was mapped to a approximately 200-amino acid region that overlaps but is distinct from the Cdc42-binding sequences. Rotary shadowing electron microscopy revealed zizimin1 to be a symmetric, V-shaped molecule. Experiments with DOCK180 and homology analysis suggest that dimerization may be a general feature of CZH proteins. Deletion and mutation analysis indicated existence of individual Cdc42-binding sites in the zizimin1 monomers. Kinetic measurements demonstrated increased binding affinity of Cdc42 to zizimin1 at higher Cdc42 concentration, suggesting positive cooperativity. These features are likely to be critical for Cdc42 activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

Integrins in mechanotransduction.

Mechanical forces are crucial to the regulation of cell and tissue morphology and function. At the cellular level, forces influence cytoskeletal organization, gene expression, proliferation, and survival. Integrin-mediated adhesions are intrinsically mechanosensitive and a large body of data implicates integrins in sensing mechanical forces. We review the relationship between integrins and mechanical forces, the role of integrins in cellular responses to stretch and fluid flow, and propose that some of these events are mechanistically related.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Modulation of Rac localization and function by dynamin.

The GTPase dynamin controls a variety of endocytic pathways, participates in the formation of phagosomes, podosomal adhesions, and invadopodia, and in regulation of the cytoskeleton and apoptosis. Rac, a member of the Rho family of small GTPases, controls formation of lamellipodia and focal complexes, which are critical in cell migration and phagocytosis. We now show that disruption of dynamin(-2) function alters Rac localization and inhibits cell spreading and lamellipodia formation even though Rac is activated. Dominant-negative K44A dynamin(-2) inhibited cell spreading and lamellipodia formation on fibronectin without blocking cell adhesion; dynamin(-2) depletion by specific small interfering RNA inhibited lamellipodia in a similar manner. Dyn2(K44A) induced Rac mislocalization away from cell edges, into abnormal dorsal ruffles, and led to increased total Rac activity. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging of Rac activity confirmed its predominant localization to aberrant dorsal ruffles in the presence of dominant-negative dyn2(K44A). Dyn2(K44A) induced the accumulation of tubulated structures bearing membrane-bound Rac-GFP. Constitutively active but not wild-type GFP-Rac was found on macropinosomes and Rac-dependent, platelet-derived growth factor-induced macropinocytosis was abolished by Dyn2(K44A) expression. These data suggest an indispensable role of dynamin in Rac trafficking to allow for lamellipodia formation and cell spreading.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Modulation of DNA damage-induced apoptosis by cell adhesion is independently mediated by p53 and c-Abl.

Conventional cancer therapies are based on preferential killing of tumor cells by DNA damage. Previous work showed that, for certain cell types, loss of integrin-mediated adhesion decreased the apoptotic response to DNA damage because of decreased p53 levels after detachment from the extracellular matrix. Integrin ligation restored p53 and sensitivity to DNA damage. In this study, we show that c-Abl mediates a second pathway by which adhesion to extracellular matrix regulates cell killing by chemotherapeutic agents 5-arabinofuranosylcytosine, cisplatin, and camptothecin. Activation of c-Abl tyrosine kinase by DNA damage requires cell adhesion. Abl-dependent stabilization of p73, a p53-related proapoptotic transcription factor, is also adhesion-dependent. Sensitivity to the Abl inhibitor STI571 suggests differential utilization of the p53 and c-Abl/p73 pathways by different tumor cell lines. These data suggest that killing of p53-negative tumor cells by chemotherapy would be enhanced by integrin ligation to activate the alternative c-Abl/p73 pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Localized cdc42 activation, detected using a novel assay, mediates microtubule organizing center positioning in endothelial cells in response to fluid shear stress.

Fluid flow regulates morphology, physiology, and pathophysiology of vascular endothelial cells (reviewed in Ref. 1). The small GTPase Cdc42 mediates polarity in several systems including migrating cells and early embryos, which involve reorientation of the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) and Golgi apparatus toward the direction of movement. Here, we show that Cdc42 is activated by fluid shear stress and that activation is a consequence of integrins binding to extracellular matrix. A novel fluorescence energy transfer assay to visualize Cdc42 activation in single cells shows that Cdc42 activity is polarized in the direction of flow. Localized activation of Cdc42 as well as the activity of Par6 and protein kinase Czeta direct the reorientation of the MTOC to a position on the downstream side of the nucleus relative to the direction of flow. Thus, shear-stimulated integrin dynamics induce polarized Cdc42 activity, which induces MTOC localization through the Par6-protein kinase Czeta complex.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Activation of Rac1 by shear stress in endothelial cells mediates both cytoskeletal reorganization and effects on gene expression.

Hemodynamic shear stress is a fundamental determinant of vascular remodeling and atherogenesis. Changes in focal adhesions, cytoskeletal organization and gene expression are major responses of endothelial cells to shear stress. Here, we show that activation of the small GTPase Rac is essential for gene expression and for providing spatial information for shear stress-induced cell alignment. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) localizes activated Rac1 in the direction of flow. This directional Rac1 activation is downstream of shear-induced new integrin binding to extracellular matrix. Additionally, Rac1 mediates flow-induced stimulation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and the subsequent expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), an adhesion receptor involved in the recruitment of leukocytes to atherosclerotic plaque. These studies provide a unifying model linking three of the main responses to shear stress that mediate both normal adaptation to hemodynamic forces and inflammatory dysfunction of endothelial cells in atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Effects of cell tension on the small GTPase Rac.

Cells in the body are subjected to mechanical stresses such as tension, compression, and shear stress. These mechanical stresses play important roles in both physiological and pathological processes; however, mechanisms transducing mechanical stresses into biochemical signals remain elusive. Here, we demonstrated that equibiaxial stretch inhibited lamellipodia formation through deactivation of Rac. Nearly maximal effects on Rac activity were obtained with 10% strain. GAP-resistant, constitutively active V12Rac reversed this inhibition, supporting a critical role for Rac inhibition in the response to stretch. In contrast, activation of endogenous Rac with a constitutively active nucleotide exchange factor did not, suggesting that regulation of GAP activity most likely mediates the inhibition. Uniaxial stretch suppressed lamellipodia along the sides lengthened by stretch and increased it at the adjacent ends. A fluorescence assay for localized Rac showed comparable changes in activity along the sides versus the ends after uniaxial stretch. Blocking polarization of Rac activity by expressing V12Rac prevented subsequent alignment of actin stress fibers. Treatment with Y-27632 or ML-7 that inhibits myosin phosphorylation and contractility increased lamellipodia through Rac activation and decreased cell polarization. We hypothesize that regulation of Rac activity by tension may be important for motility, polarization, and directionality of cell movement.

Amides↗

PubMed2002

A dominant-negative p65 PAK peptide inhibits angiogenesis.

PAK1 is a protein kinase downstream of the small GTPases Rac and Cdc42 that previous work has implicated in endothelial cell migration via modulation of cell contraction. The first proline-rich region of PAK that binds to an SH3 domain from the adapter protein NCK was responsible for these dominant-negative effects. To test the role of PAK in angiogenesis, we prepared a peptide in which the proline-rich region was fused to the polybasic sequence from the HIV Tat protein to facilitate entry into cells. We show that the short peptide selectively binds NCK, whereas a mutant peptide does not. Treatment of cells with the PAK peptide but not the control peptide disrupts localization of PAK. This peptide specifically inhibited endothelial cell migration and contractility similarly to full-length dominant-negative PAK. In an in vitro tube-forming assay, the PAK peptide specifically blocked formation of multicellular networks. In an in vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane assay, the PAK peptide specifically blocked angiogenesis. These results, therefore, suggest a role for PAK in angiogenesis.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2002

Integrins regulate the apoptotic response to DNA damage through modulation of p53.

p53 mediates apoptosis of cells after DNA damage including tumor cells after radiation or chemotherapy. Survival of isolated cancer cells after therapy leads to recurrence of therapy-resistant tumors. We now show that for some melanoma, sarcoma, or fibroblastic cell types that survive without integrin-mediated adhesion, apoptosis in response to DNA damage requires cell adhesion. This effect correlates with rapid changes in levels of p14/p19 Arf and its downstream component, p53. Killing of nonadherent cells is increased by treatment with antiintegrin antibodies or by increasing levels of p53 or Arf. Consistent with low p53 levels, suspended cells show chromosomal instability after irradiation. Thus, loss of normal adhesion in susceptible tumor cells during genotoxic stress may play a role in therapy resistance and promote survival of cells with aberrant DNA.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Integrins regulate GTP-Rac localized effector interactions through dissociation of Rho-GDI.

The proper function of Rho GTPases requires precise spatial and temporal regulation of effector interactions. Integrin-mediated cell adhesion modulates the interaction of GTP-Rac with its effectors by controlling GTP-Rac membrane targeting. Here, we show that the translocation of GTP-Rac to membranes is independent of effector interactions, but instead requires the polybasic sequence near the carboxyl terminus. Cdc42 also requires integrin-mediated adhesion for translocation to membranes. A recently developed fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based assay yields the surprising result that, despite its uniform distribution, the interaction of activated V12-Rac with a soluble, cytoplasmic effector domain is enhanced at specific regions near cell edges and is induced locally by integrin stimulation. This enhancement requires Rac membrane targeting. We show that Rho-GDI, which associates with cytoplasmic GTP-Rac, blocks effector binding. Release of Rho-GDI after membrane translocation allows Rac to bind to effectors. Thus, Rho-GDI confers spatially restricted regulation of Rac-effector interactions.

3T3 Cells↗