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P Nettesheim

Publications and source records attributed to P Nettesheim.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Type I collagen gel modulates extracellular matrix synthesis and deposition by tracheal epithelial cells.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, including those present in basement membranes, are known to play an important role in morphogenesis and differentiation. Primary rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells grown on permeable membranes in air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures differentiate into mucous and ciliated cells. We previously showed that RTE cell differentiation is accelerated and enhanced on type I collagen gel-coated membranes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether type I collagen gel matrix also regulates basement membrane formation by RTE cells and whether this correlates with differentiation. Therefore, we examined the synthesis and deposition of several ECM molecules by RTE cells maintained on uncoated and type I collagen gel-coated permeable membranes in ALI cultures. Fibronectin, thrombospondin-1, and alpha-1 type IV collagen gene expression were down-regulated in cultures maintained on type I collagen gel-coated membranes and in differentiated cultures. Fibronectin and laminin alpha, beta, and gamma protein levels also were decreased slightly in response to type I collagen gel and differentiation. Deposition of fibronectin and laminin were dependent on type I collagen gel substratum. While fibronectin and laminin deposition were evident underlying both undifferentiated and differentiated cultures on type I collagen gel, deposition of these proteins on uncoated membranes was not readily detectable in undifferentiated cultures and was limited to patches of fibronectin deposition beneath differentiated cultures. Evidence suggestive of a discontinuous basal lamina-like structure was most apparent underlying differentiated cultures on type I collagen gel. These date demonstrate that ECM RNA and protein expression by RTE cells in ALI cultures are down-regulated by type I collagen gel whereas differentiation and ECM deposition are accelerated and enhanced on type I collagen gel.

Animals↗

Tumor necrosis factor alpha stimulates arachidonic acid metabolisms and mucus production in rat tracheal epithelial cell cultures.

Air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures of rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells were used to study the response of differentiated airway epithelial cells to the inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). We found that the cultures expressed low levels of TNF alpha receptors. TNF alpha stimulated the AA-cascade: cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and prostaglandin H synthase 2 (PGHS2) were upregulated; as a result prostaglandin E (PGE2) secretion was increased. Subsequent to the increase in PGE2 mucus secretion increased, suggesting that PGE2 may act as an autocrine regulator of mucus secretion.

Animals↗

Identification of seven rat axonemal dynein heavy chain genes: expression during ciliated cell differentiation.

Axonemal dyneins are molecular motors that drive the beating of cilia and flagella. We report here the identification and partial cloning of seven unique axonemal dynein heavy chains from rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells. Combinations of axonemal-specific and degenerate primers to conserved regions around the catalytic site of dynein heavy chains were used to obtain cDNA fragments of rat dynein heavy chains. Southern analysis indicates that these are single copy genes, with one possible exception, and Northern analysis of RNA from RTE cells shows a transcript of approximately 15 kb for each gene. Expression of these genes was restricted to tissues containing axonemes (trachea, testis, and brain). A time course analysis during ciliated cell differentiation of RTE cells in culture demonstrated that the expression of axonemal dynein heavy chains correlated with the development of ciliated cells, while cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain expression remained constant. In addition, factors that regulate the development of ciliated cells in culture regulated the expression of axonemal dynein heavy chains in a parallel fashion. These are the first mammalian dynein heavy chain genes shown to be expressed specifically in axonemal tissues. Identification of the mechanisms that regulate the cell-specific expression of these axonemal dynein heavy chains will further our understanding of the process of ciliated cell differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Regulation of MUC5 and MUC1 gene expression: correlation with airway mucous differentiation.

The purpose of this paper was to obtain probes to study the structure and function of mucins in rat models of airway cell differentiation and disease. We report the isolation and characterization of the rat cDNA homologue of the human airway secretory mucin, MUC5. Furthermore, we demonstrate the coordinate regulation of the expression of MUC5 and MUC1 (a membrane-bound mucin) and mucous differentiation. The rat MUC5 was cloned by the RT-PCR using motifs conserved in the secretory mucins, MUC2 and MUC5. The rat cDNA revealed a high degree of sequence similarity to human MUC5 (73% at the amino acid level). Alignments with three other secretory mucins (human MUC5, human MUC2, rat MUC2), indicated a conservation of the cysteines and of the octapeptide motifs, but a lack of conservation of a short tandem repeat sequence that is found only in the human MUC5. Northern analysis of MUC1 and MUC5 indicated a specific tissue-restricted pattern of expression. Surprisingly, rat MUC5 exhibited a monodisperse signal, a characteristic that is unusual for most secretory mucins, including the human MUC5. Expression of MUC1 and MUC5 correlated with mucous differentiation. Both genes were expressed at undetectable or very low levels in undifferentiated cultures, but both mucins became strongly expressed during mucous differentiation. Furthermore, neither mucin gene was expressed in retinoid-deficient cultures that undergo squamous instead of mucous differentiation. These studies demonstrate that expression of MUC1 and MUC5 is coordinately regulated with airway mucous cell differentiation. These cDNAs should provide useful tools to study mucin synthesis during differentiation and disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Retinoid-induced differentiation regulates prostaglandin H synthase and cPLA2 expression in tracheal epithelium.

Rat tracheal epithelial cells cultured in vitro at an air-liquid interface can differentiate into a mucociliary or squamous phenotype depending on the presence or absence of retinoic acid (RA). The airway epithelium is known to produce a number of eicosanoids. We propose that eicosanoid biosynthesis is dependent on the differentiation status of the epithelium. Therefore, prostaglandin production and the expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and the prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) isoforms were investigated during differentiation to these two phenotypes. The major eicosanoid produced by both phenotypes was prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Proliferating undifferentiated cultures produced low levels of PGE2 regardless of retinoid status. Differentiated mucociliary cultures produced high levels of PGE2 (50 ng/10(6) cells), whereas differentiated squamous cultures produced low levels of PGE2 (< 5 ng/10(6) cells). Mucociliary cultures expressed high levels of cPLA2 and PGHS-2 isoform mRNA and protein. In contrast squamous cultures expressed very low levels of cPLA2 and PGHS-2 transcript and protein. The PGHS-1 isoform was expressed in squamous but not in mucociliary cultures. We investigated changes in expression of these enzymes during retinoid treatment of established squamous cultures. Treatment with RA resulted in a rapid (24 h) downregulation of PGHS-1 mRNA expression. However, the cPLA2 and PGHS-2 genes were expressed in squamous cultures only after 3 days of RA treatment coincident with redifferentiation of the culture to a mucociliary phenotype. These studies reveal that retinoid-induced differentiation of airway epithelium into either a mucociliary or squamous phenotype results in profound changes in the expression of cPLA2 and PGHS isozymes that regulate prostaglandin formation.

Animals↗

Quantitation of mucin RNA by PCR reveals induction of both MUC2 and MUC5AC mRNA levels by retinoids.

The polydispersity of most human secretory mucin messages has made them difficult to detect specifically and quantitatively, impeding the evaluation of the relative expression of the various mucin genes and their role in normal and pathological conditions. For this reason, we developed competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods to measure the airway mucins MUC2 and MUC5AC. Oligonucleotide pairs were designed that specifically detect MUC2 and MUC5AC, as demonstrated by the size and sequence of the PCR product and the expected tissue distribution. The mucin oligonucleotide primers were used to synthesize internal competitive standards, called MIMIC. Using this assay, the relative expression of these messages was analyzed in retinoid-replete or -deprived cultures of normal human tracheobronchial epithelial (NHTBE) cells. Retinoid deficiency induces squamous metaplasia in vivo and in vitro. Consistent with these observations and in contrast to a previous report, retinoid-deprived cultures produced at least an order of magnitude less MUC2 and MUC5AC message than retinoid-replete cultures. In summary, this paper describes methodology that can be applied to the specific and quantitative measurement of mucin messages and demonstrates that, in NHTBE cells, the level of MUC2 and MUC5AC mRNA is increased by retinoids.

Cell Line↗

Mucociliary differentiation of serially passaged normal human tracheobronchial epithelial cells.

The goal of our studies was to establish procedures for subculturing normal human tracheobronchial epithelial (NHTBE) cells without compromising their ability to differentiate into mucous and ciliated cells (i.e., differentiation competence) and to study the regulation of airway secretions by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and retinoic acid (RA). Primary NHTBE cells were obtained from a commercial source and subcultured repeatedly in serum-free medium on plastic tissue culture dishes. The subcultured cells were tested after every passage for differentiation competence in air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures. The apical secretions of cultured NHTBE cells were characterized by immunoblotting, Western blotting, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a variety of antibodies. They contained mucin-like materials as well as lysozyme, lactoferrin, and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI). We found that an EGF concentration of 25 ng/ml, which is commonly used in airway cell cultures, adversely affected growth, mucin production, and morphology of ALI cultures and that RA was essential for mucociliary differentiation. Without RA, the epithelium became squamous and mucin secretions decreased 300- to 900-fold. In contrast, secretion of lysozyme, lactoferrin, and SLPI was significantly increased in RA-depleted cultures. Cells of passage 2 (P-2) through P-4 remained competent to differentiate into mucous and ciliated cells when grown in ALI cultures. However, mucin secretion and ciliagenesis decreased in P-3 and P-4 cell cultures and P-3 but not P-4 cell cultures exhibited bioelectric properties characteristic of airway epithelium. We concluded that P-2 and P-3 NHTBE cell cultures retain many important features of normal airway epithelium. This enables one to conduct many studies of airway cell biology with a greatly expanded (6,000-fold) cell pool.

Bronchi↗

Regulation of mucociliary differentiation of rat tracheal epithelial cells by type I collagen gel substratum.

Adult rat tracheal epithelial cells plated at low density on type I collagen gel-coated permeable membranes in air-liquid interface cultures rapidly proliferate to reach high cell densities and display a pseudostratified mucociliary epithelium after 2 wk in culture. To determine the importance of exogenous extracellular matrix for RTE cell growth and differentiation, RTE cells were seeded on uncoated or type I collagen gel-coated membranes. Growth rate and plateau cell densities were similar under these two conditions; however, RTE cell attachment was twofold higher on type I collagen gel-coated membranes. Cell distribution during log growth was significantly different, with numerous small colonies observed on Giemsastained uncoated membranes and fewer, larger colonies observed on type I collagen gel-coated membranes. Under both conditions, the epithelial morphology was predominantly pseudostratified in plateau-phase cultures. Based on experiments measuring the percentage of secretory cells and the amount of mucous secretion, development of the secretory cell phenotype was delayed in the absence of exogenous matrix but reached similar levels of secretory differentiation by day 13 of culture. In contrast, the development of ciliated cells was markedly reduced on uncoated membranes. These data suggest that although plating cells on type I collagen gel enhances cell attachment and accelerates the onset of secretory differentiation, type I collagen gel seems to be more critical for ciliated cell differentiation than for secretory cell differentiation.

Animals↗

Mucin production by SPOC1 cells--an immortalized rat tracheal epithelial cell line.

An airway epithelial mucous goblet cell line would be useful towards understanding mechanisms underlying the common problem of respiratory mucus hypersecretion. SPOC1 is a novel rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cell line that developed cytologic features suggestive of mucous goblet cells when grown in tracheal grafts in vivo (Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 1995; 12:385-395). Our aims were to determine whether SPOC1 cells were capable of mucin synthesis and to directly compare mucin production by SPOC1 cells and RTE cells. Towards this end, we validated the use of monoclonal antibody (mAb) RTE11 (Exp. Lung Res. 1992; 18:323-342) as an immunologic probe for rat airway secretory mucin. Our results strongly suggest that mAb RTE11 detects a carbohydrate antigen that is a sensitive and specific marker for rat tracheobronchial secretory mucin. SPOC1 cells in tracheal grafts in vivo contained granules with ultrastructural features similar to mucous granules in normal rat airway goblet cells and they were strongly stained by mAb RTE11. Retinoic acid (RA) and culture on porous supports are known to profoundly modify airway epithelial cell phenotype in vitro. Expression of several retinoid-responsive proteins was similar in cultured SPOC1 and primary RTE cells, but major differences in mucin production were noted. Primary RTE cells in vitro only made mucin when grown on porous supports in the presence of RA, whereas SPOC1 cells produced mucin when grown on plastic or glass surfaces and even in the absence of RA. Interestingly, RA enhanced mucin secretion by SPOC1 cells during the early plateau stage of culture but there were no differences due to RA late in the culture period. SPOC1 cells are capable of mucin production and will be a useful tool for studying select aspects of airway secretory cell differentiation and function.

Animals↗

Epidermal growth factor regulates expression of the mucous phenotype of rat tracheal epithelial cells.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) regulates mucous differentiation of airway epithelial cells in culture. Reduction of the EGF concentration below 25 ng/ml, which is the concentration routinely used in rat tracheal epithelial cell cultures, resulted in a 2 to 3-fold decrease in the percentage of mucous cells as determined by a mucin monoclonal antibody. The amount of secreted mucin decreased more than 10-fold within 5 days after reducing the EGF concentration. MUC5 gene expression, which was previously shown to correlate with mucous differentiation, was also reduced more than 8-fold. Addition of 25 ng/ml EGF to EGF-deprived cultures resulted in rapid induction of MUC5 expression. Following tissue injury and during inflammation the release of EGF and its functional analogue TGF alpha have been observed and may be involved in the mucus hypersecretion characteristic of many airway diseases.

Animals↗

Regulation of ciliated cell differentiation in cultures of rat tracheal epithelial cells.

The cellular pathway of ciliated cell differentiation and its regulation is poorly defined. To begin to understand the process of ciliated cell differentiation, we sought to identify factors regulating ciliated cell development in vitro. Rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells were cultured on collagen gel-coated membranes at an air-liquid interface in hormone- and growth factor-supplemented medium (complete medium [CM]). Under these conditions, RTE cells first proliferate and then differentiate into a pseudostratified mucociliary epithelium. Ciliated cell differentiation was measured using a monoclonal antibody, RTE3, which was shown to specifically react with the plasma membrane of ciliated cells. Cultures were immunostained in situ, and the percentage of the culture surface covered with ciliated cells was estimated using videomicroscopy and an image analysis program. If an air-liquid interface was not created and the cells were maintained in the submerged state, ciliated cell differentiation was suppressed 25-fold. Culture in the absence of mitogenic components present in CM, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), cholera toxin (CT), or bovine pituitary extract, resulted in 2- to 4-fold increases in the percentage of ciliated cells. When both EGF and CT were removed from the media, DNA synthesis and total cell number was reduced, while ciliated cell differentiation increased as much as 5-fold. These results demonstrate that submersion inhibits, while withdrawal of mitogenic compounds promotes, ciliated cell differentiation in vitro.

Animals↗

Phenotype and differentiation potential of a novel rat tracheal epithelial cell line.

In this report we described the establishment and characterization of a continuous rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cell line spontaneously derived from secondary RTE cell cultures. Designated SPOC1, this cell line is nontumorigenic and maintains a diploid karyotype with specific, nonrandom chromosomal alterations involving chromosomes 1, 3, and 6. SPOC1 cells demonstrate decreased requirements for peptide growth factors, compared with primary RTE cells. Upon inoculation into denuded rat tracheas, which are then implanted into syngeneic hosts, SPOC1 cells initially form a stratified squamous epithelium, which becomes less stratified with time and forms glandlike invaginations into the surrounding lamina propria. No evidence of ciliated cell differentiation is detected. The epithelium formed by SPOC1 cells in tracheal grafts reacts with antibodies specific for keratin 14, 13, and 19 (but not keratin 18) at both early and late time points, although the localization of antibody staining changes as the epithelium becomes less stratified with time. The suprabasal epithelial cells become positive for alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff staining at later time points. The near-normal karyotype and differentiation potential of SPOC1 cells make this cell line a unique window into early changes occurring during immortalization of airway epithelial cells and will allow studies of relationships between differentiation state and neoplastic transformation.

Animals↗

Expression of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in cultured rat tracheal epithelial cells.

Rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells were cultured on membrane support with and without retinoic acid (RA). In early (6-day-old) cultures, the epithelium is a monolayer or bilayer of undifferentiated cells and secretes little mucuslike product either in the absence or presence of RA. In late (12- to 15-day-old) cultures, the epithelium differentiates as a mucociliary epithelium in the presence of RA and as a squamous epithelium in the absence of RA. The purpose of our study was to determine whether a number of xenobiotic enzymes are expressed in these cultures and whether their expression depends on the state of differentiation. Enzyme expression was characterized by electrophoresis and immunoblotting as a function of time in culture and phenotypic differentiation. Cytochrome P450 1A1 was not expressed in freshly harvested RTE cells. This isoenzyme was induced in rats by gavage with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or by exposure of early RTE cell cultures to TCDD, provided RA was also added to the cultures. Cytochrome P450 2B1 was observed in freshly isolated RTE cells, but not in early or late RTE cultures. In contrast, expression of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase was decreased in early cultures, but was increased in well-differentiated cultures. Flavin-containing monooxygenase was detected in lung tissue, but not in freshly harvested or cultured RTE cells. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) mu and pi were expressed in freshly harvested RTE cells. GST pi was expressed in early and late cultures, whereas GST mu was expressed in late cultures, but could not be found in early cultured RTE cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Alterations in the localization of F-actin, fibronectin, and thrombospondin occur prior to neoplastic transformation in rat tracheal epithelial cells.

Structural glycoproteins and cytoskeletal proteins play a major role in the regulation of cellular organization and function. Changes in the structure and function of these proteins are involved in the cascade of events which lead to neoplastic transformation. We evaluated RNA levels, protein localization, and organization of selected proteins in an in vitro model system of respiratory carcinogenesis to examine alterations in cell architecture. Localization of fibronectin (Fn), thrombospondin (Tsp), and F-actin was examined in (1) primary rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells; (2) spontaneously immortalized nonneoplastic cells (SPOC-1); and (3) neoplastic cells (EGV5T) derived from tumors arising following transplantation of an N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-transformed RTE cell line into nude mice. Proteins were stained with fluorescein-labeled antibodies or phalloidin compound and analysis was performed with a confocal laser scanning microscope. Primary RTE cells display organized F-actin stress fibers, perinuclear Fn and Tsp, and pericellular Fn in fibrillar arrays. In larger colonies, Tsp occurs between cells and occasionally in fibrillar arrays. SPOC-1 cells, unlike primary RTE cells and neoplastic EGV5T cells, seldom form junctions and exhibit few cell surface extensions. F-actin stress fibers are reduced in these immortalized cells. F-actin in SPOC-1 cells occurs in the perinuclear region, scattered diffusely throughout the cell and in punctate adhesions. Fn and Tsp are localized to the perinuclear region with Fn staining more intensely. EGV5T neoplastic cells also display a dramatic loss of stress fibers and F-actin is concentrated mainly near the cell periphery. Perinuclear staining of Fn and Tsp occurs in some cells within the colony. Levels of Tsp RNA and Fn RNA and protein are significantly reduced in both cell lines compared to primary RTE cells. We conclude that structural protein disruptions are early events in the transformation of these respiratory epithelial cells.

Actins↗

Regulation of transformation frequency by exogenous and endogenous growth factors in rat tracheal epithelial cells.

The purpose of our studies was to re-evaluate the rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) transformation system and to identify critical variables that affect the development of enhanced growth variants (EGV). The enhanced growth variant colony, which is a preneoplastic cell variant, is the quantifiable transformation endpoint in RTE cultures. Using a standard protocol the frequency of EGV colony formation was shown to be inversely related to the number of clonogenic cells (CFU) seeded per dish in control cultures as well as in cultures treated with the transforming agent 6-nitrochrysene (6-NC). Experiments showed that the major mechanisms that underlie the CFU density-dependent inhibition of EGV colony formation are depletion of growth factors from and accumulation of autocrine TGF-beta in the media. Thus the cells themselves are creating the selection environment, which allows only the EGVs to survive. The effects of agents such as 6-NC, which increase the frequency of EGV colony formation, are to induce a cellular phenotype that is less susceptible to the selection environment. We showed that TGF-beta-neutralizing antibodies added to the selection media significantly increased EGV colony formation in control cultures but not in 6-NC-exposed cultures. In addition we demonstrated that the development of EGV colonies is much less susceptible to inhibition by (exogenous) TGF-beta in 6-NC-exposed than in control cultures. Thus spontaneous and 6-NC EGV colony formation are distinguishable based on TGF-beta sensitivity. To conduct quantitative cell transformation experiments with RTE cells it is essential that the number of surviving CFU per dish is the same in control and treated cultures. Under the conditions used in the studies described here, 350-500 CFU per culture was found to be the optimum CFU density. Besides 6-NC, agents that have been shown to increase EGV colony frequency under conditions similar to those described here are nitrosamines, NNK, nickel compounds and X-rays.

Animals↗

Growth and differentiation of tracheal epithelial progenitor cells.

The purpose of these studies was to determine whether both basal and secretory rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells served as multipotent epithelial progenitors and whether both cell types gave rise to a similar "poorly differentiated" cell during the early phase of epithelial regeneration in denuded tracheal grafts. Griffonia simplicifolia I (GSI) lectin and flow cytometry were used for cell sorting. More than 98% of GSI-positive cells expressed plasma membrane alpha 1-3 terminal galactose (Gal), and 95% contained keratin 14 (K14), phenotypic markers for basal cells; < 1% were secretory or ciliated cells. Less than 2% of the GSI-negative cells expressed Gal or K14, but this fraction contained 16% ciliated cells and 54-79% secretory cells, dependent on whether periodic acid-Schiff staining or binding of an anti-secretory cell monoclonal antibody (RTE 12) was used as the criterion. Equal numbers of viable cells from either fraction were inoculated into denuded tracheal grafts, which were studied on days 1-14. At 24 h, greater numbers of GSI-negative than -positive cells were found attached to the graft wall; the keratin staining pattern of the attached cells was similar to that of the parent cell populations, but monoclonal antibody-detectable secretory and ciliated cell epitopes, originally present in the GSI-negative fraction, were lost. 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine uptake was not seen at 24 h, but by 48 h all epithelial cells from both fractions entered the cell cycle. From 48 to 96 h, cells derived from either fraction were ultrastructurally indistinguishable; they were poorly differentiated and highly proliferative, and all expressed Gal and K14. A mature epithelium evolved from the poorly differentiated cells in both sets of grafts, but secretory and ciliated cells appeared earlier in grafts inoculated with GSI-negative cells. The results strongly suggest that in this model of tracheal epithelial regeneration both basal and secretory cells "dedifferentiated" into a similar highly proliferative phenotype from which a mucociliary epithelium "redifferentiated."

Animals↗

Regulation of normal and transformed tracheobronchial epithelial cell proliferation by autocrine growth factors.

Several peptide growth factors have been identified as autocrine regulators of normal tracheobronchial epithelial cells, including the transforming growth factors alpha and beta. Using in vitro tissue culture models of multistep neoplastic transformation as well as cell lines derived from human bronchogenic tumors, a significant number of growth factors have been found to function as autocrine factors for neoplastic tracheobronchial cells as well. In several instances, the regulation of the autocrine pathway is disrupted in neoplastic tracheobroncial cells compared with their normal counterparts. These results indicate that there are multiple aberrations in growth factor pathways occurring in tracheobronchial epithelial cells during progression to the neoplastic phenotype.

Animals↗