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Tyrosine-599 of the c-Mpl receptor is required for Shc phosphorylation and the induction of cellular differentiation.

Interaction of thrombopoietin (TPO) with its receptor, c-Mpl, triggers cell growth and differentiation responses controlling primitive haemopoietic cell production and megakaryocytopoiesis. To examine the important receptor domains and signal transduction pathways involved in these cellular responses, c-Mpl cytoplasmic domain truncation and tyrosine substitution mutants were generated. In the myelomonocytic leukaemia cell lines WEHI3B-D+ and M1, ectopic expression of the wild-type c-Mpl receptor induced TPO-dependent cellular differentiation characterized by increased cell migration through agar and acquisition of the morphology and molecular markers of macrophages. Consistent with the concept that proliferative and differentiation signals emanate from distinct receptor domains, the C-terminal 33 amino acids of c-Mpl were dispensable for a proliferative response in Ba/F3 cells but proved critical for WEHI3B-D+ and M1 differentiation. Finer mapping revealed that substitution of Tyr599 by phenylalanine within this c-Mpl domain was sufficient to abolish the normal differentiation response. Moreover, in contrast to the normal c-Mpl receptor, this same mplY599F mutant was also incapable of stimulating TPO-dependent Shc phosphorylation, the association of Shc with Grb2 or c-Mpl and of inducing c-fos expression. Thus activation of components of the Ras signalling cascade, initiated by interaction of Shc with c-Mpl Tyr599, may play a decisive role in specific differentiation signals emanating from the c-Mpl receptor.

Animals↗

Regulation of DNA topoisomerases during cellular differentiation.

DNA topoisomerase II has been shown to be a nuclear marker for cell proliferation and a therapeutic target in cancer chemotherapy. In order to study the regulation of DNA topoisomerases during cellular differentiation, MELC were induced to differentiate by treatment with 5 mM HMBA. At day five, approximately 95% of MELC had reproducibly undergone differentiation. The level of topoisomerase II, as measured by immunoblotting with anti-topoisomerase II antisera, showed a parallel decrease to approximately 5-10% of the control level by day five. Activity measurements showed a similar decrease during the time course of MELC differentiation. Immunofluorescence studies at day five showed that only about 5% of the MELC had strong nuclear immunofluorescence. These results indicate that the level and activity of DNA topoisomerase II are significantly lower in differentiated versus undifferentiated cells. We also observed that the level and activity of topoisomerase II dropped twofold as cells grew to high cell densities in the absence of HMBA. In contrast, the topoisomerase I levels in MELC remained relatively constant throughout growth and differentiation.

Animals↗

Cellular differentiation status of epithelial polyps of the colorectum: the gastric foveolar cell-type in hyperplastic polyps.

AIMS: The 'metaplastic' polyp of the colorectum, a synonym for the hyperplastic polyp, was named based only on features of the crypt epithelium. It is considered non-neoplastic, but the precise cellular differentiation status remains to be proven. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-eight hyperplastic polyps, 12 serrated adenomas, 45 tubular adenomas and five juvenile polyps were studied for their phenotypic expression using gastric (foveolar or pyloric gland cell), small intestinal (goblet cell), and colonic (goblet cell) cellular markers by immunohistochemical and mucin histochemical techniques. Gastric foveolar cell-type differentiation was significantly expressed in hyperplastic polyps, while colonic differentiation was also consistently preserved. Neither gastric pyloric-type nor small intestinal differentiation was observed. The same cell differentiation status as hyperplastic polyps was observed in serrated adenomas but not in tubular adenomas or juvenile polyps. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of hyperplastic polyps are composed of hybrid epithelium, with bidirectional differentiation to both gastric foveolar and colonic epithelial cells in the same crypt. Therefore hyperplastic polyps might be interpreted as the outcome of abnormal cell differentiation of stem cells. The same phenotypic expression suggests that hyperplastic polyps and serrated adenomas share the same cell lineage.

Adenoma↗

Effect of the inducers of cellular differentiation and of ionizing radiation on thymus lymphocytes: chromatin degradation and programmed cell death.

The cytotoxic response of thymocytes to chemical inducers of differentiation does not represent a non-specific toxic action of these drugs. The death of thymocytes treated with the inducers or with gamma-rays is associated with internucleosomal chromatin fragmentation. All treatments are more effective on the most radiosensitive sub-population of these cells. This subpopulation is characterized by the maximal level of spontaneous DNA lesions. Incubation of thymocytes with the inducers of differentiation raises the level of these lesions. It is suggested that the processes of thymocyte death after the inducer treatment or irradiation and of cellular differentiation have features in common, and the capacity of thymocytes to limit or reverse the potentially lethal effects of these treatments is determined by the level of pre-existing spontaneous DNA lesions.

Animals↗

Function of RNH-1/14-3-3 beta gene in cellular differentiation and proliferation.

It has recently been reported that the members of 14-3-3 protein family participate in cell cycle control and associate with Raf, Bcr, Bcr-Abl, and polyomavirus middle tumor antigen (MT) as modulators of signal transduction. During cDNA cloning for the 17-kDa neuronal differentiation factor (K2 factor) secreted from rat hepatoma Kagura-2 (K2) cells from a K2 cDNA library using rat prepronerve growth factor (prepro NGF) cDNA as a probe, we obtained RNH-1 (rat NGF homologue) clone, which was identified as 14-3-3 beta cDNA, but not K2 factor, although no significant homology is present between 14-3-3 beta and prepro NGF cDNAs. RNH-1/14-3-3 beta gene was markedly expressed as a 2.9-kb mRNA in K2 cells and in newborn rat brain tissue. In PC12 cells the expression of this gene was down-regulated during the neuronal differentiation primed by NGF. The enforced expression of RNH-1/14-3-3 beta in PC12 and K2 cells conferred on them a higher sensitivity to NGF for neuronal differentiation and an intense growth ability in low serum medium, respectively. These results provide additional evidence that RNH-1/14-3-3 beta protein participates in cellular differentiation, proliferation and transformation through the signal transduction pathways of various growth factors.

14-3-3 Proteins↗

Relevance of major histocompatibility complex class II expression as a hallmark for the cellular differentiation in the human adrenal cortex.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens are expressed on adrenocortical cells of the zona reticularis and have been shown to be a marker of dignity. This suggests a correlation to the zellular differentiation of the adrenal cortex. Therefore, we immunohistochemically investigated the MHC class II expression in the context of the ontogenesis of the zonal and cellular differentiation in fetal, postnatal, childhood, and adult adrenals. Cell types and cell turnover were studied using specific immune markers (including expression of CD95/ Fas), in situ end labeling of apoptosis, and electron microscopy. We show that prenatal (fetal and definitive) steroid cells, as well as postnatal adrenals, reveal no expression of MHC class II. In childhood, these antigens first appear by the fourth year, in parallel with the differentiation of reticularis cells. The expression index in childhood was 7.43% +/- 2.78 (mean +/- SEM), in adult adrenals 18.63% +/- 3.14 (third decade), and 15.15% +/- 1.26 (fourth through sixth decade). In conclusion, MHC class II expression and the development of the functional maturation of the adult adrenal cortex occur simultaneously. The expression of MHC class II on steroid cells may thus be involved in potential immune-adrenal interactions.

Adrenal Cortex↗

IL-22 regulates the expression of genes responsible for antimicrobial defense, cellular differentiation, and mobility in keratinocytes: a potential role in psoriasis.

IL-22 is an IFN-IL-10 cytokine family member, which is produced by activated Th1 and NK cells and acts primarily on epithelial cells. Here we demonstrate that IL-22, in contrast to its relative IFN-gamma, regulates the expression of only a few genes in keratinocytes. This is due to varied signal transduction. Gene expressions regulated by IL-22 should enhance antimicrobial defense [psoriasin (S100A7), calgranulin A (S100A8), calgranulin B (S100A9)], inhibit cellular differentiation (e.g., profilaggrin, keratins 1 and 10, kallikrein 7), and increase cellular mobility [e.g., matrix metalloproteinease 1 (MMP1, collagenase 1), MMP3 (stromelysin 1), desmocollin 1]. In contrast, IFN-gamma favored the expression of MHC pathway molecules, adhesion molecules, cytokines, chemokines, and their receptors. The IL-22 effects were transcriptional and either independent of protein synthesis and secretion, or mediated by a secreted protein. Inflammatory conditions, but not keratinocyte differentiation, amplified the IL-22 effects. IL-22 application in mice enhanced cutaneous S100A9 and MMP1 expression. High IL-22 levels in psoriatic skin were associated with strongly up-regulated cutaneous S100A7, S100A8, S100A9, and MMP1 expression. Psoriatic patients showed strongly elevated IL-22 plasma levels, which correlated with the disease severity. Expression of IL-22 and IL-22-regulated genes was reduced by anti-psoriatic therapy. In summary, despite similarities, IFN-gamma primarily amplifies inflammation, while IL-22 may be important in the innate immunity and reorganization of epithelia.

Animals↗

Cellular differentiation in the cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme.

Nostoc punctiforme is a phenotypically complex, filamentous, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium, whose vegetative cells can mature in four developmental directions. The particular developmental direction is determined by environmental signals. The vegetative cell cycle is maintained when nutrients are sufficient. Limitation for combined nitrogen induces the terminal differentiation of heterocysts, cells specialized for nitrogen fixation in an oxic environment. A number of unique regulatory events and genes have been identified and integrated into a working model of heterocyst differentiation. Phosphate limitation induces the transient differentiation of akinetes, spore-like cells resistant to cold and desiccation. A variety of environmental changes, both positive and negative for growth, induce the transient differentiation of hormogonia, motile filaments that function in dispersal. Initiation of the differentiation of heterocysts, akinetes and hormogonia are hypothesized to depart from the vegetative cell cycle, following separate and distinct events. N. punctiforme also forms nitrogen-fixing symbiotic associations; its plant partners influence the differentiation and behavior of hormogonia and heterocysts. N. punctiforme is genetically tractable and its genome sequence is nearly complete. Thus, the regulatory circuits of three cellular differentiation events and symbiotic interactions of N. punctiforme can be experimentally analyzed by functional genomics.

Cell Division↗

Regulation of the terminal event in cellular differentiation: biological mechanisms of the loss of proliferative potential.

Human plasma has been demonstrated to contain factors that induce the sequential expression of nonterminal and terminal adipocyte differentiation in 3T3 T mesenchymal stem cells. We now report the development of methods for the isolation of purified populations of nonterminally differentiated cells and terminally differentiated cells, and we show that it is possible to experimentally induce transition from the nonterminal to the terminal state of differentiation. With this model system it is therefore now possible to examine the biological and molecular processes associated with the terminal event in differentiation, i.e., the irreversible loss of proliferative potential. In this regard, we demonstrate that transition from the nonterminal to terminal state of differentiation is a complex metabolic process that consists of at least two steps and that this process can be triggered by pulse exposure to an inducer for approximately 12 h but that approximately 24-48 h is required for the process to be completed. The data also establish that induction of the terminal event in differentiation requires protein synthesis but not RNA and DNA synthesis. These and additional results suggest that loss of proliferative potential associated with the terminal event in cellular differentiation is a distinct regulatory process, and we suggest that defects in this regulatory process may be of etiological significance in the pathogenesis of specific human diseases, especially cancer.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Contribution of electron microscopy to understanding cellular differentiation in mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract: a study of 82 tumors.

Eighty-two mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract were examined by electron microscopy for the purposes of subtyping for diagnostic precision and of understanding cellular differentiation. Tumors were subclassified into leiomyoma/leiomyosarcoma, tumors of the interstitial cell of Cajal (equivalent to traditionally defined GISTs [Miettinen et al. Hum Pathol. 1999; 30:1213-1220; Mod Pathol. 2000; 13:1134-1142]), gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumors (GANTs), and fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors, using criteria from the literature. Leiomyoma/leiomyosarcoma were diagnosed by myofilaments, attachment plaques, plasmalemmal caveolae, and lamina; GIST by processes or cell bodies full of intermediate filaments, solitary focal densities amid intermediate filaments, attachment plaques with incomplete lamina, scarce myofilaments, and smooth endoplasmic reticulum; GANTs by neuroendocrine granules, cell bodies/processes full of intermediate filaments (more rarely microtubules), and smooth endoplasmic reticulum; fibroblastic/myofibroblastic tumors by abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, myofilaments, and fibronexuses. Seventy-three tumors (89%) were successfully subclassified, as 5 leiomyoma/leiomyosarcoma (6%), 36 GISTs (44%), 22 GANTs (27%), 10 fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors (12%). Results indicated overlap between poorly differentiated leiomyosarcoma and GIST, and between GIST and GANT. GANT is emphasized as a neuronal tumor identifiable by electron microscopy, and thereby distinguishable from GIST.

Aged↗

Studies of cellular differentiation by automated cell separation. Two model systems: Friend virus-transformed cells and Hydra attenuata.

The automated high-speed analysis and separation of cells on the basis of spectroscopic parameters has been applied to studies of cellular differentiation in two systems. The temporal changes following induction of differentiation by dimethylsulfoxide in the Friend virus-transformed erythroid cells were quantitated by multiparameter analysis leading to the separation of discrete subpopulations. Thus, following induction, cell size decreased as measured by light scattering, the number of H-2 histocompatibility antigen sites decreased as measured by indirect fluorescent antibody binding, the number of lectin-binding sites per cell increased as measured by fluorescein-labeled concanavalin-A and the microviscosity of the hydrocarbon region of the plasma membrane increased as determined by the fluorescence emission anisotropy of the membrane probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Cells were separated on the basis of several of these parameters and analyzed for their hemogloglobin content by benzidine staining. Examination of cells separated according to the anisotropy parameter showed that high anisotropy values were correlated with (a) small cell size, (b) positive staining with benzidine and (c) pronounced reactivity with fluorescent antibody to the erythrocyte protein spectrin. Disaggregated cells from Hydra attenuata were selectively stained with the dyes rhodanile blue, 7-(p-methoxybenzylamino)-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole and fluorescamine. Distribution analyses and preliminary separations indicated the feasibility of obtaining homogeneous classes of cell types in a viable state. The experiments with emission anisotropy represent the first analyses and separations of single cells on the basis of fluorescence polarization. Many other uses of this technique are anticipated.

Autoanalysis↗

Electron Transport Regulates Cellular Differentiation in the Filamentous Cyanobacterium Calothrix.

Differentiation of the filamentous cyanobacteria Calothrix sp strains PCC 7601 and PCC 7504 is regulated by light spectral quality. Vegetative filaments differentiate motile, gas-vacuolated hormogonia after transfer to fresh medium and incubation under red light. Hormogonia are transient and give rise to vegetative filaments, or to heterocystous filaments if fixed nitrogen is lacking. If incubated under green light after transfer to fresh medium, vegetative filaments do not differentiate hormogonia but may produce heterocysts directly, even in the presence of combined nitrogen. We used inhibitors of thylakoid electron transport (3-[3,4-dichlorophenyl]-1,1-dimethylurea and 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone) to show that the opposing effects of red and green light on cell differentiation arise through differential excitations of photosystems I and II. Red light excitation of photosystem I oxidizes the plastoquinone pool, stimulating differentiation of hormogonia and inhibiting heterocyst differentiation. Conversely, net reduction of plastoquinone by green light excitation of photosystem II inhibits differentiation of hormogonia and stimulates heterocyst differentiation. This photoperception mechanism is distinct from the light regulation of complementary chromatic adaptation of phycobilisome constituents. Although complementary chromatic adaptation operates independently of the photocontrol of cellular differentiation, these two regulatory processes are linked, because the general expression of phycobiliprotein genes is transiently repressed during hormogonium differentiation. In addition, absorbance by phycobilisomes largely determines the light wavelengths that excite photosystem II, and thus the wavelengths that can imbalance electron transport.

Journal Article↗

Regulation of glycolipid synthesis in HL-60 cells by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to glycosyltransferase sequences: effect on cellular differentiation.

Treatment of the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine:beta-1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferase (GM2-synthase; EC 2.4.1.92) and CMP-sialic acid:alpha-2,8-sialyltransferase (GD3-synthase; EC 2.4.99.8) sequences effectively down-regulated the synthesis of more complex gangliosides in the ganglioside synthetic pathways after GM3, resulting in a remarkable increase in endogenous GM3 with concomitant decreases in more complex gangliosides. The treated cells underwent monocytic differentiation as judged by morphological changes, adherent ability, and nitroblue tetrazolium staining. These data provide evidence that the increased endogenous ganglioside GM3 may play an important role in regulating cellular differentiation and that the antisense DNA technique proves to be a powerful tool in manipulating glycolipid synthesis in the cell.

Base Sequence↗

Sugar levels altered by ectopic expression of a yeast-derived invertase affect cellular differentiation of developing cotyledons of Vicia narbonensis L.

In order to change the sugar status during seed development a yeast-derived invertase gene was expressed in cotyledons of Vicia narbonensis. As a result, sucrose decreased whereas hexoses accumulated. We analysed cell structure and cellular differentiation in cotyledons expressing the yeast-invertase. Transgenic cells contained large and long-persisting vacuoles apparently serving as storage compartments for hexoses and clusters of storage-protein aggregates. In the wild-type, large vacuoles did not persist but were replaced by smaller protein bodies. During maturation and desiccation, the transgenic cells showed plasmolysis and vesiculation of the endo-membrane system. Immunogold-labelling revealed that the storage proteins vicilin and legumin were present within the cytoplasm and the extraprotoplasmic space and were attached to membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and the nuclei. Protein storage vacuoles in mature seeds appeared heterogeneous and only partially filled. The data suggest that sugars control the subcellular organisation of the vacuolar system. Transcript levels encoding a tonoplast intrinsic protein, a marker for membranes of protein storage vacuoles, remained unchanged whereas mRNA levels of a hexose and a sucrose transporter increased. Generally, transgenic seeds appeared to be physiologically younger than wild-type seeds of the same age. The data underline the important role of sugars in legume seed development.

Cell Differentiation↗

Cellular differentiation in response to nutrient availability: The repressor of meiosis, Rme1p, positively regulates invasive growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the transition from a nutrient-rich to a nutrient-limited growth medium typically leads to the implementation of a cellular adaptation program that results in invasive growth and/or the formation of pseudohyphae. Complete depletion of essential nutrients, on the other hand, leads either to entry into a nonbudding, metabolically quiescent state referred to as G0 in haploid strains or to meiosis and sporulation in diploids. Entry into meiosis is repressed by the transcriptional regulator Rme1p, a zinc-finger-containing DNA-binding protein. In this article, we show that Rme1p positively regulates invasive growth and starch metabolism in both haploid and diploid strains by directly modifying the transcription of the FLO11 (also known as MUC1) and STA2 genes, which encode a cell wall-associated protein essential for invasive growth and a starch-degrading glucoamylase, respectively. Genetic evidence suggests that Rme1p functions independently of identified signaling modules that regulate invasive growth and of other transcription factors that regulate FLO11 and that the activation of FLO11 is dependent on the presence of a promoter sequence that shows significant homology to identified Rme1p response elements (RREs). The data suggest that Rme1p functions as a central switch between different cellular differentiation pathways.

Base Sequence↗

Prognostic importance of cellular differentiation in medulloblastoma of childhood.

Medulloblastoma is the most common intracranial primitive neuroectodermal malignancy of childhood. Certain parameters are predictive of survival in children with medulloblastoma; however, tumor histology is of unclear prognostic value. A classification system, proposed by Rorke for all central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms composed of primitive neuroepithelial cells, was utilized in a review of 38 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed medulloblastoma. The classification is based on the concept that medulloblastoma is not unique to the cerebellum but is similar to tumors that may arise elsewhere in the CNS consequent to neoplastic transformation of primitive neuroepithelial cells. Cells forming the tumors may remain in the undifferentiated state or they may exhibit differentiation along glial, and/or ependymal, and/or neuronal lines. For purposes of simplification, the cases were divided into two major groups: those primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET's) which showed no evidence of cellular differentiation (PNET-U) and those that were differentiated (PNET-D). There were 20 cases in the PNET-U group and 18 in the PNET-D group. The 4-year survival rate was 70% for PNET-U, compared to 32% for PNET-D (p = 0.004). Only one of 10 children with PNET-D with differentiation along more than one cell line survived. Other factors, including age at diagnosis, tumor metastasis (TM) stage, and extent of surgical resection, were analyzed and were of prognostic importance; but histological features remained statistically significant within each subgroup.

Adolescent↗

Lipid, apolipoprotein, and lipoprotein synthesis and secretion during cellular differentiation in Caco-2 cells.

Although Caco-2 cells are frequently employed for the study of enterocyte lipid metabolism, variable results have been reported regarding their ability to synthesize and secrete lipids and apolipoproteins. The major goal of this investigation is to examine the capacity of Caco-2 cells to elaborate and secrete lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins at different degrees of morphological and functional differentiation. Cells were cultured in medium with 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), on permeable polycarbonate filters from 2 to 30 d in the presence of 14C-oleate or 35S-methionine. Cellular differentiation, as assessed by morphology (light and electron microscopy), transepithelial resistance, free fatty acid flux, and sucrase activity, progressed steadily up to 20 d of culture. Caco-2 cells esterified oleic acid mainly into phospholipids, triglycerides (TG), and smaller amounts of cholesterol esters. Lipid synthesis began as early as 2 d, and TG secretion was enhanced with increased duration of culture. However, very low efficiency of lipid export was observed at all levels of differentiation, reaching a maximum of only 6% of intracellular lipids. VLDL and LDL were the dominant lipoproteins secreted, with HDL comprising < 20% of the total. VLDL secretion increased, while LDL decreased, whereas the lipid composition of lipoproteins varied little with increasing duration of culture. Apoprotein B and A-I synthesis and secretion increased markedly from 11 to 20 d of culture. The ratio of apo B-100/B-48 decreased between 11 and 30 d, consistent with enhanced apo B editing of more mature enterocytes. Taken together, our data suggest that from 20 d of culture, Caco-2 cells are morphologically and functionally mature, capable of lipid esterification, and lipoprotein and apolipoprotein synthesis. However, despite their functional and morphological similarities to mature enterocytes, Caco-2 cells have a very limited lipid export capacity.

Apolipoproteins↗

Differential cellular immune responsiveness to systems of the major histocompatibility complex.

Antigens determined by genes of the major histocompatibility complex can be divided into two systems" the LD (lymphocyte-defined or L determinant) and SD (serologically defined or S determinant) antigens. This division is based on the differential cellular responsiveness to these two sets of antigens of two subpopulations of T lymphocytes: a proliferating helper cell responds primarily to the LD antigens while a cytotoxic T lymphocyte responds most strongly to the SD antigens.

Animals↗