PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Syndecans”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,009 records · Page 56Linked to original sources

Acute vascular rejection and accommodation: divergent outcomes of the humoral response to organ transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The most difficult barrier to organ transplantation is humoral rejection, a condition initiated by binding of antibodies to blood vessels in the graft. Fortunately, humoral rejection is not the only outcome of antibody binding to the graft. In some cases, accommodation, a condition in which the graft does not undergo humoral injury despite the existence of humoral immunity directed against it, occurs and the graft remains seemingly inured. The mechanism underlying accommodation is uncertain, but changes in the function of antibodies, changes in the target antigen, and changes in the graft imparting resistance to injury have been implicated. METHODS: Using the swine-to-baboon cardiac xenograft model, we asked which mechanism(s) may distinguish acute vascular rejection from accommodation. RESULTS: In both acute vascular rejection and accommodation, antibodies were bound and complement activated in blood vessels of the graft. However, in acute vascular rejection, the full complement cascade was activated; while in accommodation, the complement cascade was interrupted, suggesting complement was inhibited in the latter condition. In acute vascular rejection, heparan sulfate and syndecan-4-phosphate, which can aid in complement control, were nearly absent, whereas in accommodation these were present in heightened amounts. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that control of complement may underlie accommodation, at least in part, and raise the possibility that this control and possibly other protective mechanisms could be exerted by heparan sulfate.

Acute Disease↗

Identification and characterization of a cell surface proteoglycan on keratinocytes.

Proteoglycans fill the intercellular space between keratinocytes but their structure and function are not well understood. We have identified and partially characterized one intercellular proteoglycan on human keratinocytes, for which we propose the name epican (epidermal intercellular proteoglycan). Monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) were generated from a mixture of keratinocyte proteoglycans. One, designated MoAb17, identified the core protein of an intercellular proteoglycan that had an apparent mobility of greater than 250 kDa on Western blots. The core protein itself had an apparent mobility of 180 kDa following deglycosylation with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. Enzymatic deglycosylation revealed that most core protein molecules were substituted with heparan sulfate but that some carried chondroitin sulfate instead. Smaller forms of the core protein were more abundant in tissue-culture medium than in cell extracts. This proteoglycan was localized by immunofluorescence to the intercellular space of the epidermis and the surface of keratinocytes in vitro, particularly at cell-cell contacts. MoAb17 did not react with protoglycans extracted from other skin cells, nor did it bind to basement membranes or connective tissue. Comparison of Western immunoblots using MoAb17 and antibodies to core proteins of other proteoglycans suggested that epican is not related to syndecan but is a member of the CD44 family.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Interleukin-5 regulates genes involved in B-cell terminal maturation.

Interleukin (IL)-5 induces CD38-activated splenic B cells to differentiate into immunoglobulin M-secreting cells and undergo micro to gamma 1 class switch recombination (CSR) at the DNA level, resulting in immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) production. Interestingly, IL-4, a well-known IgG1-inducing factor does not induce immunoglobulin production or micro to gamma 1 CSR in CD38-activated B cells. In the present study, we implemented complementary DNA microarrays to investigate the contribution of IL-5-induced gene expression in CD38-stimulated B cells to immunoglobulin-secreting cell differentiation and micro to gamma 1 CSR. IL-5 and IL-4 stimulation of CD38-activated B cells induced the expression of 418 and 289 genes, respectively, that consisted of several clusters. Surprisingly, IL-5-inducible 78 genes were redundantly regulated by IL-4. IL-5 and IL-4 also suppressed the gene expression of 319 and 325 genes, respectively, 97 of which were overlapped. Genes critically regulated by IL-5 include immunoglobulin-related genes such as J chain and immunoglobulinkappa, and genes involved in B-cell maturation such as BCL6, activation-induced cytidine deaminase (Aid) and B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1) and tend to be induced slowly after IL-5 stimulation. Intriguingly, among genes, the retroviral induction of Blimp-1 and Aid in CD38-activated B cells could induce IL-4-dependent maturation to Syndecan-1+ antibody-secreting cells and micro to gamma 1 CSR, respectively, in CD38-activated B cells. Taken together, preferential Aid and Blimp-1 expression plays a critical role in IL-5-induced immunoglobulin-secreting cell differentiation and micro to gamma 1 CSR in CD38-activated B cells.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1↗

Isolation and characterization of the proteoglycans synthesized by adult human pulp fibroblasts in vitro.

The proteoglycans synthesized by fibroblasts derived from healthy human adult dental pulps have been isolated and characterized on the basis of their glycosaminoglycan content, molecular size and charge. The proteoglycans were identified by their labelling with [35S] sulphate and susceptibility to digestion by papain. The sulphated glycosaminoglycans associated with the proteoglycans were identified following specific enzymatic and chemical degradations as chondroitin sulphate, dermatan sulphate and heparan sulphate. Dermatan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate and heparan sulphate were the principal glycosaminoglycans associated with the cell layers. The proteoglycans could be fractionated on the basis of their charge and size into a number of heterogeneous pools. The principal proteoglycans isolated were small and contained either chondroitin sulphate or dermatan sulphate and most likely correspond to decorin and biglycan. Other molecules with features similar to versican and syndecan were also identified.

Adult↗

A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) is expressed by astrocytes and is increased in multiple sclerosis.

A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) is a newly described member of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily that was first identified as a factor favouring tumorigenesis. APRIL is also important for several immune functions, including B-cell survival. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that is commonly diagnosed in early adulthood. Several TNF superfamily members have been identified in brains of patients with MS, although their exact function within the CNS is presently unknown. To investigate whether APRIL is expressed in the CNS, we studied APRIL protein expression by immunohistochemistry in MS patients and controls. Morphologically, APRIL-positive cells appeared to be astrocytes. A two-colour immunohistochemistry revealed that APRIL expression was cytoplasmic, granular and restricted to GFAP-positive cells. Conversely, HLA class II-positive microglial cells were negative for APRIL expression. APRIL-positive cells were fewer in brains of controls compared with those with MS. We further corroborated our findings by studying APRIL protein expression in several glioblastoma cell lines, and found APRIL to be expressed by most cell lines analysed. APRIL's binding partner syndecan-1 (CD138) was detected in brains of neither MS nor control patients. Furthermore, B cells were detectable in the brain of one of five patients with MS. We conclude that APRIL is expressed by reactive astrocytes in MS and may be of relevance in gliotic scar formation.

Adult↗

Transcriptional response to the neuroleptic-like compound Ampullosporin A in the rat ketamine model.

Psychotic disorders affecting up to 1% of the human population represent pathological changes to the metabolic homeostasis of the brain. Increasing evidence in the literature suggests complex biochemical and/or transcriptional alterations accompanying schizophrenia-like phenomena. Sub-chronic treatment with sub-anaesthetic doses of ketamine induces schizophrenia-related psychotic alterations that can be used as an animal model in the study of this disorder. Ampullosporin A belongs to a specific group of pore-forming fungal peptides, peptaibols. We focused on the analysis of molecular events occurring in the brain of ketamine-pre-treated rats after administration of Ampullosporin A with neuroleptic-like activity. The complex experimental approach allowed us to correlate the use of low molecular weight substances with a transcriptome fingerprint in the prefrontal cortex. We found 63 genes to be up-regulated and 22 genes suppressed, with transthyretin, syndecan-1 and NeuroD1 showing the highest degree of up-regulation. Our results suggest the possibility that Ampullosporin A belongs to the group of neuroleptic-like compounds, inducing massive changes in neurotransmitter receptor composition, calcium signalling cascades and second messenger systems, and leading to the plastic reorganization of brain tissue, metabolic pathways and synapses.

Animals↗

Intracellular trafficking in neurones and glia of fibroblast growth factor-2, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 and heparan sulphate proteoglycans in the injured adult rat cerebral cortex.

The potent gliogenic and neurotrophic fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 signals through a receptor complex comprising high-affinity FGF receptor (FGFR)1 with heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) as co-receptors. We examined the intracellular dynamics of FGF-2, FGFR1 and the HSPGs syndecan-2 and -3, glypican-1 and -2, and perlecan in neurones and glia in and around adult rat cerebral wounds. In the intact cerebral cortex, FGF-2 and FGFR1 mRNA and protein were constitutively expressed in astrocytes and neurones respectively. FGF-2 protein was localized exclusively to astrocyte nuclei. After injury, expression of FGF-2 mRNA was up-regulated only in astrocytes, whereas FGFR1 mRNA expression was increased in both glia and neurones, a disparity indicating that FGF-2 may act as a paracrine and autocrine factor for neurones and glia respectively. FGF-2 protein localized to both cytoplasm and nuclei of injury-responsive neurones and glia. There was weak or no staining of HSPGs in the normal cerebral neuropil and glia nuclei, with a few immunopositive neurones. Specific HSPGs responded to injury by differentially co-localizing with trafficked intracellular FGF-2 and FGFR1. The spatiotemporal dynamics of FGF-2-FGFR1-HSPG complex formation implies a role for individual HSPGs in regulating FGF-2 storage, nuclear trafficking and cell-specific injury responses in CNS wounds.

Animals↗

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans in glomerular inflammation.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are glycoproteins consisting of a core protein to which linear heparan sulfate side chains are covalently attached. These heparan sulfate side chains can be modified at different positions by several enzymes, which include N-deacetylases, N- and O-sulfotransferases, and an epimerase. These heparan sulfate modifications give rise to an enormous structural diversity, which corresponds to the variety of biologic functions mediated by heparan sulfate, including its role in inflammation. The HSPGs in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), perlecan, agrin, and collagen XVIII, play an important role in the charge-selective permeability of the glomerular filter. In addition to these HSPGs, various cell types express HSPGs at their cell surface, which include syndecans, glypicans, CD44, and betaglycan. During inflammation, HSPGs, especially heparan sulfate, in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and at the surface of endothelial cells bind chemokines, which establishes a local concentration gradient recruiting leukocytes. Endothelial and leukocyte cell surface HSPGs also play a role in their direct adhesive interactions via other cell surface adhesion molecules, such as selectins and beta2 integrin. Activated leukocytes and endothelial cells exert heparanase activity, resulting in degradation of heparan sulfate moieties in the ECM, which facilitates leukocyte passage into tissues and the release of heparan sulfate-bound factors. In various renal inflammatory diseases the expression of agrin and GBM-associated heparan sulfate is decreased, while the expression of CD44 is increased. Heparan sulfate or heparin preparations affect inflammatory cell behavior and have promising therapeutic, anti-inflammatory properties by preventing leukocyte adhesion/influx and tissue damage.

Animals↗

Phenotypic, morphologic changes and Ig secretion induced on B-NHL cells in vitro by interferon alpha and all-trans-retinoic acid: possible progression toward a more differentiated state.

Twenty-five B-cell-nonHodgkin's lymphomas (B-NHL): 6 lymphocytic, 2 centrocytic, 13 follicular, centrocytic/centroblastic, 2 lymphoplasmocytoid and 2 centroblastic were tested for their ability to acquire features of mature plasma cells under the effect of interferon alpha (final concentration, 600 UI/ml), all-trans-retinoic-acid (ATRA) (final concentration, 10(-6) mol/l) and the association of both. B-NHL cells were negatively purified (>99%) by an immunomagnetic method, cultured for 7 d with or without interferon and ATRA, then stained with anti-CD19, CD20, surface Ig, DR, CD38 and with anti-CD138 (syndecan-1) antibody-recognizing plasma cells. Ig production was estimated in culture supernatants by an ELISA method and changes in cell morphology were investigated on May-Grunwald-Giemsa-stained cytospin preparations. In all cases interferon and ATRA, alone or in association, were able to induce changes in the immunophenotypic profile, associated or not with morphologic changes and induction of Ig secretion. All changes were greatly variable from one to the other B-NHL sample and no relationship could be found between a particular pattern of change and the histological subtype. Interferon alpha was more potent than ATRA in inducing changes. In favour of a differentiation process, we observed a concomitant decrease of DR expression and increase of CD38 expression in 8 cases with interferon alpha, and in 4 cases with ATRA. Although interferon- or ATRA-treated cells did not display cytologic, functional features and changes of the immunophenotypic profile fully compatible with those of terminally differentiated cells, these results suggest a possible transition toward more differentiated elements, especially with interferon alpha.

Antigens, Surface↗

Novel alpha1-adrenergic receptor signaling pathways: secreted factors and interactions with the extracellular matrix.

alpha1-Adrenergic receptor (alpha1-ARs) subtypes (alpha1A, alpha1B, and alpha1D) regulate multiple signal pathways, such as phospholipase C, protein kinase C (PKC), and mitogen-activated protein kinases. We employed oligonucleotide microarray technology to explore the effects of both short- (1 h) and long-term (18 h) activation of the alpha1A-AR to enable RNA changes to occur downstream of earlier well characterized signaling pathways, promoting novel couplings. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies confirmed that PKC was a critical regulator of alpha1A-AR-mediated gene expression, and secreted interleukin (IL)-6 also contributed to gene expression alterations. We next focused on two novel signaling pathways that might be mediated through alpha1A-AR stimulation because of the clustering of gene expression changes for cell adhesion/motility (syndecan-4 and tenascin-C) and hyaluronan (HA) signaling. We confirmed that alpha1-ARs induced adhesion in three cell types to vitronectin, an interaction that was also integrin-, FGF7-, and PKC-dependent. alpha1-AR activation also inhibited cell migration, which was integrin- and PKC-independent but still required secretion of FGF7. alpha1-AR activation also increased the expression and deposition of HA, a glycosaminoglycan, which displayed two distinct structures: pericellular coats and long cable structures, as well as increasing expression of the HA receptor, CD44. Long cable structures of HA can bind leukocytes, which this suggests that alpha1-ARs may be involved in proinflammatory responses. Our results indicate alpha1-ARs induce the secretion of factors that interact with the extracellular matrix to regulate cell adhesion, motility and proinflammatory responses through novel signaling pathways.

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists↗

Functions of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans.

The heparan sulfate on the surface of all adherent cells modulates the actions of a large number of extracellular ligands. Members of both cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan families, the transmembrane syndecans and the glycosylphosphoinositide-linked glypicans, bind these ligands and enhance formation of their receptor-signaling complexes. These heparan sulfate proteoglycans also immobilize and regulate the turnover of ligands that act at the cell surface. The extracellular domains of these proteoglycans can be shed from the cell surface, generating soluble heparan sulfate proteoglycans that can inhibit interactions at the cell surface. Recent analyses of genetic defects in Drosophila melanogaster, mice, and humans confirm most of these activities in vivo and identify additional processes that involve cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. This chapter focuses on the mechanisms underlying these activities and on the cellular functions that they regulate.

Animals↗

Primary human glomerular endothelial cells produce proteoglycans, and puromycin affects their posttranslational modification.

This article describes the possible role of the endothelial cell-surface coat, containing proteoglycans (PGs) with connected glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), in maintaining glomerular permselectivity. Primary human glomerular endothelial cells (HGEC) in culture were treated with the nephrosis-inducing agent puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN). Analysis was made by TaqMan real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, and by metabolic labeling with [(35)S]sulfate. The HGECs express several PGs: syndecan, versican, glypican, perlecan, decorin, and biglycan, which may contribute to the glomerular charge barrier. PAN treatment downregulated both the protein expression (by 25%) and the mRNA expression (by 37 +/- 6%, P < 0.001, n = 8) of versican compared with control. Transferases important for chondroitin and heparan sulfate biosynthesis were also significantly downregulated by PAN, resulting in less sulfate groups, shorter GAG chains, and reduced PG net-negative charge. Moreover, analysis of the cell media after PAN treatment revealed a reduced content of [(35)S]sulfate-labeled PGs (40% of control). We conclude that PAN may cause proteinuria by affecting the endothelial cell-surface layer and not only by disrupting the foot process arrangement of the podocytes. Thus the endothelium may be a more important component of the glomerular barrier than hitherto acknowledged.

Adult↗

Synectin-dependent gene expression in endothelial cells.

Synectin (GIPC1), a receptor scaffold protein, has been isolated by our laboratory as a syndecan-4 cytoplasmic domain binding partner that regulates important aspects of cell motility (Gao Y, Li M, Chen W, Simons M. J Cell Physiol 184: 373-379, 2000; Tkachenko E, Elfenbein A, Tirziu D, Simons M. Circ Res 98: 1398-1404, 2006). Moreover, synectin plays a major role in arterial morphogenesis and in growth factor signaling in arterial endothelial cells by regulating Rac1 activity (Chittenden TW, Claes F, Lanahan AA, Autiero M, Palac RT, Tkachenko EV, Elfenbein A, Ruiz de Almodovar C, Dedkov E, Tomanek R, Li W, Westmore M, Singh J, Horowitz A, Mulligan-Kehoe MJ, Moodie KL, Zhuang ZW, Carmeliet P, Simons M. Dev Cell 10: 783-795, 2006). The present study was carried out to characterize changes in synectin-dependent gene expression induced by homozygous disruption of the gene in endothelial cells. Using a combination of suppression subtraction hybridization and high throughput microarray technology, we have identified aberrant biological processes of transcriptional regulation in synectin(-/-) primary endothelial cells including abnormal basal regulation of genes associated with development, cell organization and biogenesis, intracellular tracking, and cell adhesion. Analysis of gene expression following FGF2 treatment demonstrated significant abnormalities in transcription, cytoskeletal organization and biogenesis, and protein modification and transport in synectin(-/-) compared with synectin(+/+) endothelial cells. These results confirm synectin involvement in FGF2-dependent signal transduction and provide insights into synectin-dependent gene expression in the endothelium.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Pancreatic gene expression during the initiation of acute pancreatitis: identification of EGR-1 as a key regulator.

We hypothesized that genes expressed in pancreatic acinar cells during the initiation of acute pancreatitis determine the severity of the disease. Therefore, we utilized microarrays to identify those genes commonly induced in rat pancreatic acinar cells within 1-4 h in two in vivo models, caerulein and taurocholate administration. This strategy yielded 51 known genes representing a complex array of molecules, including those that are likely to either reduce or increase the severity of the disease. Novel genes identified in the current study included ATF3, BRF1, C/EBPbeta, CGRP, EGR-1, ephrinA1, villin2, ferredoxin, latexin, lipocalin, MKP-1, NGFI-B, RhoA, tissue factor (TF), and syndecan. To validate these microarray results, the role of EGR-1 was further investigated using quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunocytochemistry. EGR-1 expression occurred within acinar cells and correlated with the development of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. Furthermore, the levels of the inflammation-related genes MCP-1, PAI, TF, IL-6, and ICAM-1 and the extent of lung inflammation were reduced during the initiation of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in EGR-1-deficient mice. Thus this study identified EGR-1 and several other novel genes likely to be important in the development and severity of acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗

Antiangiogenic antithrombin induces global changes in the gene expression profile of endothelial cells.

Antithrombin, a serpin family protease inhibitor crucial to hemostasis, acquires antiangiogenic properties on undergoing conformational alterations induced by limited proteolysis or elevated temperature. To better understand the biochemical mechanisms underlying antithrombin antiangiogenic activity, we did genome-wide expression profiling, coupled with quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, Northern blot, and Western blot analyses, to characterize the gene expression patterns that are induced by antiangiogenic antithrombin in cultured primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Overall, 35 genes with significantly increased expression and 93 genes with significantly reduced expression (> or =2-fold changes) due to antiangiogenic antithrombin treatment were identified. More than half of the down-regulated genes have well-established proangiogenic functions in endothelial cells, including cell-surface and matrix proteoglycans (e.g., perlecan, biglycan, and syndecans 1 and 3) and mitogenesis-related signaling proteins (e.g., mitogen-activated protein kinase 3, signal transducers and activators of transcription 2, 3, and 6, and early growth response factor 1). In contrast, most up-regulated genes (e.g., caspase-3, p21, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1, 2, and 3, and adenomatosis polyposis coli) are known for their antiangiogenic functions which include the promotion of cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and the inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis. These results show that the antiangiogenic activity of antithrombin is mediated at least in part by a global genetic reprogramming of endothelial cells and strongly implicate an endothelial cell ligand-receptor signaling mechanism in this reprogramming.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

Regulation of fibroblast growth factor-2 activity by human ovarian cancer tumor endothelium.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is a potent angiogenic cytokine that is dependent on heparan sulfate for its biological activity. We have investigated the relationship among heparan sulfate, FGF-2, and the signal-transducing receptors in human, advanced-stage, serous ovarian adenocarcinoma. Using a unique molecular probe, FR1c-Ap, which consisted of a soluble FGF receptor 1 isoform IIIc covalently linked to an alkaline phosphatase moiety, the distribution of heparan sulfate that had the ability to support the formation of a heparan sulfate/FGF-2/FGFR1 isoform IIIc alkaline phosphatase heparan sulfate construct complex was determined. This may be taken as a surrogate marker for the distribution of biologically active heparan sulfate and was distributed predominantly in endothelial cells and stroma but was absent from adenocarcinoma cells. In situ hybridization revealed the expression of FGFR1 mRNA in the endothelium and reverse transcription-PCR confirmed the presence of FGFR1 isoform IIIc but not isoform IIIb. The presence of FGF-2 around tumor endothelium was detected through immunohistochemistry. Double-staining techniques showed that heparan sulfate was found predominantly at the basal aspect of the endothelium and suggested that syndecan-3 might function as one of the proteoglycans involved in FGF-2 signaling in the endothelium. The data suggest that the entire extracellular signaling apparatus, consisting of FGF-2, biologically active heparan sulfate, and FGFRs capable of responding to FGF-2, is present in ovarian cancer endothelium, thereby highlighting the cytokine and its cognate receptor as potential targets for the antiangiogenic treatment of this disease.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Mechanisms of cell sensitization to alpha radioimmunotherapy by doxorubicin or paclitaxel in multiple myeloma cell lines.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze different mechanisms (cell cycle synchronization, DNA damage, and apoptosis) that might underlie potential synergy between chemotherapy (paclitaxel or doxorubicin) and radioimmunotherapy with alpha radionuclides. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Three multiple myeloma cell lines (LP1, RMI 8226, and U266) were treated with 213Bi-radiolabeled B-B4, a monoclonal antibody that recognizes syndecan-1 (CD138) 24 hours after paclitaxel (1 nmol/L) or doxorubicin (10 nmol/L) treatment. Cell survival was assessed using a clonogenic survival assay. Cell cycle modifications were assessed by propidium iodide staining and DNA strand breaks by the comet assay. Level of apoptosis was determined by Apo 2.7 staining. RESULTS: Radiation enhancement ratio showed that paclitaxel and doxorubicin were synergistic with alpha radioimmunotherapy. After a 24-hour incubation, paclitaxel and doxorubicin arrested all cell lines in the G2-M phase of the cell cycle. Doxorubicin combined with alpha radioimmunotherapy increased tail DNA in the RPMI 8226 cell line but not the LP1 or U266 cell lines compared with doxorubicin alone or alpha radioimmunotherapy alone. Neither doxorubicin nor paclitaxel combined with alpha radioimmunotherapy increased the level of apoptosis induced by either drug alone or alpha radioimmunotherapy alone. CONCLUSION: Both cell cycle arrest in the G2-M phase and an increase in DNA double-strand breaks could lead to radiosensitization of cells by doxorubicin or paclitaxel, but apoptosis would not be involved in radiosensitization mechanisms.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Heparin-binding protein targeted to mitochondrial compartments protects endothelial cells from apoptosis.

Neutrophil-borne heparin-binding protein (HBP) is a multifunctional protein involved in the progression of inflammation. HBP is stored in neutrophil granules and released upon stimulation of the cells in proximity to endothelial cells. HBP affects endothelial cells in multiple ways; however, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the interaction of HBP with these cells are unknown. Affinity isolation and enzymatic degradation demonstrated that HBP released from human neutrophils binds to endothelial cell-surface proteoglycans, such as syndecans and glypican. Flow cytometry indicated that a significant fraction of proteoglycan-bound HBP is taken up by the endothelial cells, and we used radiolabeled HBP to determine the internalization rate of surface-bound HBP. Confocal and electron microscopy revealed that internalized HBP is targeted to perinuclear compartments of endothelial cells, where it colocalizes with mitochondria. Western blotting of isolated mitochondria from HBP-treated endothelial cells showed that HBP is present in 2 forms - 28 and 22 kDa. Internalized HBP markedly reduced growth factor deprivation-induced caspase-3 activation and protected endothelial cells from apoptosis, suggesting that uptake and intracellular routing of exogenous HBP to mitochondria contributes to the sustained viability of endothelial cells in the context of locally activated neutrophils.

Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides↗