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Biomedical subjects

V L Magnuson

Publications and source records attributed to V L Magnuson.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Alpha 5 integrin subunit expression changes during myogenesis.

Fibronectin and its cellular receptor, the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin, are involved in the transmembrane signalling events that control muscle cell differentiation. In this study, the expression of the alpha 5 integrin subunit was followed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine alterations during myogenesis. In studies of murine muscle, we found a 90% reduction in the level of the alpha 5 integrin subunit mRNA during early postnatal development. Concurrently, the fibronectin alternative splicing pattern changed markedly in the EIIIB and V exons. In-vitro analyses of these molecules during myoblast differentiation revealed changes that followed trends similar to those observed in vivo, although of lesser magnitude. These observations imply an important role of fibronectin and the alpha 5 integrin subunit in muscle development.

Alternative Splicing

Immunohistological localization of cell adhesion proteins and integrins in the periodontium.

The distribution of the cell adhesion proteins vitronectin, fibronectin, tenascin, and laminin as well as several integrin subunits, alpha 2, alpha 5, and alpha v, was studied in primate periodontal tissues. Full baboon mandibular sections were analyzed by immunohistochemical methods in order to localize the molecules studied in both soft and hard tissues. Vitronectin was associated with the connective tissue of the marginal gingiva, the periodontal ligament, as well as the endosteum and periosteum. A notable finding was the particularly high staining intensity of vitronectin in the periodontal ligament. Fibronectin was widely distributed in the periodontal connective tissue and was also localized to the pericellular matrix of osteocytes and blood vascular elements. Epithelial basement membranes stained positively for both fibronectin and tenascin. These proteins were also expressed in the periosteal and endosteal connective tissues and the periodontal ligament. The staining intensity for tenascin was higher in zones along the cementum and bone surfaces. Laminin was, characteristically, limited to basement membranes of epithelium and endothelium. The distribution of fibronectin, tenascin, and laminin is related to previous findings in other species. The localization of the several integrin alpha-subunits is also described in full baboon mandibular sections. The vitronectin receptor (alpha v) had a uniquely strong expression in osteoclasts of the alveolar bone and was found, at lesser intensity, on periodontal ligament fibroblasts. The fibronectin receptor alpha subunit, alpha 5, was also observed on osteoclasts, and, in addition, was widely distributed on fibroblasts, cementoblasts, and osteoblasts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alveolar Process

Quantitative assay for morphogenesis indicates the role of extracellular matrix components and G proteins.

A quantitative assay for morphogenesis is described that involves counting the organizing centers (swirling patterns) formed by many cultured fibroblasts. Organizing centers, which are found in vivo, represent one of the smallest units of morphogenesis. We show that macroscopically visible organizing centers form by the merger of smaller organizing centers. Parallel orientation of cells on plastic substrata requires cell-cell contact, but organizing centers can develop without cell-cell contact on collagen gels. On collagen gels, the orientation of collagen fibers determines the orientation of cells with respect to one another. Although organizing centers resemble fingerprints, we have shown that a stochastic process determines the spatial orientation of organizing centers. Treatment of transformed cell lines with agents that increase cAMP levels or alter the activity of guanine nucleotide binding proteins resulted in the generation of organizing centers. Cholesterol precursors involved in protein isoprenylation were found to be potent reverse-transformation agents that could alter the two-dimensional morphogenesis of cells. The simple assay described should permit the analysis of morphogenesis at the molecular and cellular levels.

Animals

The alternative splicing of fibronectin pre-mRNA is altered during aging and in response to growth factors.

The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to examine alternative splicing at each of the three fibronectin exons known to undergo alternative splicing, i.e. extra domain A (ED-A), extra domain B (ED-B), and type III connecting sequence (IIICS). Ratios of fibronectin mRNAs with or without a given exon were determined in several rat tissues and human cell lines during aging in vivo and cellular senescence in vitro. We demonstrate that statistically significant shifts in the alternative splicing of fibronectin occur during aging in vivo and in vitro. Since all three alternatively spliced exons are spliced out at a higher frequency in aging tissues and cells, the fibronectin protein produced by old cells should be slightly smaller than that obtained from young cells. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrates tissue-specific patterns of alternative splicing in several tissues. Whereas fibronectin mRNAs from adult rat tissues were found to range from 0 to 25% ED-A+ and from 0 to 10% ED-B+, fibronectin mRNAs from cultured cell lines were found to be approximately 50-60% ED-A+ and 15-25% ED-B+. We observed similarity in splicing of fibronectin RNA by the different cultured cell lines obtained from many tissues and attribute this observation to the effect of growth factors. We demonstrate that serum deprivation; placement of cells into primary culture; and growth factors such as transforming growth factor beta 1, retinoic acid, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 can all change the alternative splicing of fibronectin pre-mRNA in the ED-A, ED-B, and type III connecting sequence exons. Possible mechanisms for the regulation of the alternative splicing of fibronectin RNA by growth factors are discussed.

Aging

IL-1 beta and prostaglandins regulate integrin mRNA expression.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of IL-1 beta on integrin expression in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells. Human recombinant IL-1 beta (rIL-1 beta) produced significant increases in both alpha 2- and alpha 5-subunit mRNA levels, as well as a smaller increase in alpha v-subunit mRNA. In contrast, IL-1 beta decreased alpha 4-subunit mRNA levels by approximately 30% relative to untreated controls. These findings suggest that human IL-1 beta differentially regulates expression of integrins. When cultures were treated with both IL-1 beta and the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, the expression of alpha 2-, alpha 5-, and alpha v-subunit mRNA levels were dramatically increased relative to untreated controls; co-treatment with 0.5 mM prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) partially reversed this effect. Indomethacin alone did not affect integrin mRNA levels. Treatment with IL-1 beta or IL-1 beta + indomethacin also induced significant changes in MG-63 morphology (i.e., increased cell elongation) and increased the ability of cells to contract collagen gels. PGE2 reversed the above effects on cell morphology and gel contraction. These findings indicate that (a) IL-1 beta differentially regulates the expression of integrins and (b) that PGE2, which is induced by IL-1 beta, may provide a negative feedback loop which counteracts the stimulatory effect of IL-1 beta on integrin gene expression. It is suggested that products of inflammation may affect cell behavior by differentially regulating the expression of various integrins.

Actins

Cultivation of mammalian cells in heat-sealable pouches that are permeable to carbon dioxide.

Petri plates, 96-well plates, and other unsealed culture vessels are the chief cause of air-borne contamination of cell cultures. In this study, heat-sealable plastic pouches that are permeable to CO2 and other gases are used as a means to avoid contamination. Several applications of heat-sealable pouches are described. First, petri plates can simply be sealed in a wide variety of plastic films that are permeable to CO2. Second, a few CO2-permeable plastic films can be used directly as substrata for mammalian cell growth and can also be cut with a simple hole punch for the isolation of clones. Third, one can grow cells in chemically sterilized carbonic acid solutions and thereby avoid the use of a CO2 incubator entirely.

Animals