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Results for “epithelial polarity”

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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1978

Asymmetric budding of viruses in epithelial monlayers: a model system for study of epithelial polarity.

Infection of two different lines of polarized epithelial cells grown as monolayers with several types of enveloped viruses results, for each virus type, in a characteristic asymmetric budding of virions. Influenza virus (WSN strain), simian virus 5, and Sendai virus bud exclusively from the free (apical) surface of the cells, while vesicular stomatitis virus acquires its envelope only from the basolateral plasma membrane. Because different viruses select specific domains of plasma membrane in the same cell type, virus-infected epithelial monolayers can provide an excellent model system for studies of the mechanisms that generate regional differences in the distribution of plasma membrane components of epithelial cells.

Cell Line↗
PubMed2026

Centrosome migration and apical membrane formation during epithelial polarization in MDCK cysts.

Polarization is crucial for the proper functioning of epithelial cells. Early hallmarks include the trafficking and enrichment of polarity molecules to form the apical membrane (AM) or cell-cell junctions, and the apical positioning of the centrosome. However, the dependencies among polarity molecules, AM formation, and centrosome positioning remain poorly understood. When cultured in Matrigel, de novo polarization of a single epithelial cell is often coupled with cytokinesis. During mitotic exit, centrosomes move to the future AM site, raising questions about their role in polarization. We perturbed centrosomes and polarity regulators in Matrigel-cultured cells and manipulated polarity direction using suspension culture to examine the relationships among polarization features. Surprisingly, centrosomal microtubules may not be necessary for centrosome positioning or AM formation, but their absence reduces the efficiency of AM formation. The polarity regulator Par3, rather than AM component trafficking, influences centrosome positioning. In suspension culture, centrosomes migrate in the direction opposite to AM formation. Taken together, our findings define the hierarchical relationships among several polarization features and show that centrosome-based polarity is not universal in epithelial cells, providing new insights into the mechanisms of epithelial polarization.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

From immature to mature epithelium: unveiling structural dynamics and transcriptional programs in rainbow trout intestinal barrier.

The intestinal epithelium is crucial for nutrient absorption, immune defense, and barrier function in farmed fish. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its development and maturation in salmonids remain poorly characterized, hindering our ability to address pervasive gut health challenges in aquaculture. In this study, we use the RTgutGC cell line to implement an epithelial maturation model with the aim of characterizing the global transcriptional program in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). We evaluated in vitro culture conditions to generate a polarized epithelial barrier with high transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER = 75.8 Ω × cm2), low permeability (6.2 × 10-6 cm/s), and well-defined apical specializations, including microvilli-like structures and clusters of these structures (brush border). Comparative transcriptomic profiling between immature (7 days post-seeding, dps) and mature (28 dps) epithelia revealed 3,817 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional enrichment analysis showed that maturation was characterized by the downregulation of proliferative and ribosomal pathways and the concerted upregulation of processes critical for barrier function, including transmembrane transport, proteolysis, cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization, and tight junction assembly. We identified a core set of 60 genes indicators of epithelial maturation, encompassing solute transporters (slc26a6, slc43a2), tight junction proteins (tjp1, cldn1, cldn3, cldn5, cldn18, among others), and structural components essential for microvilli formation and polarization (cdhr5b, pard6a). By integrating ultrastructural, functional, and transcriptomic data, this study established a framework for future mechanistic investigations into gut development and maturation in vitro. This set of mature epithelium indicators has diverse applications, such as the design of nutritional and pharmacological interventions to improve gut health and resilience in farmed fish.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Single-cell profiling decodes patagium development in gliding mammal.

The gliding patagium represents a key adaptation for mammalian flight, but its cellular development remains unexplored. Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing of embryonic flying squirrel patagium and dorsal skin, we construct a single-cell atlas of patagium development and identify two distinct fibroblast subpopulations (Fp2 and Fr) highly enriched in the patagium. These fibroblasts are characterized by the patagium upregulation of Wnt5a, Fgf7, and Fgf10, and are associated with patagium morphogenesis through dermal-epidermal putative communication interactions between dermal fibroblasts (Fp2 and Fr) and epithelial basal keratinocytes. Specifically, Fp2 fibroblasts are potentially involved in distal dermal condensation and epithelial thickening together with elevated Wnt5a expression, while both Fp2 and Fr fibroblasts could play a role in epithelial polarization and thickening through Fgf7 and Fgf10, as suggested by ex vivo assays. Our data suggest that gliding patagium development results from the co-option of conserved WNT and FGF signaling pathways within a specialized fibroblast-epithelial context, illustrating how modifications of conserved developmental programs give rise to derived morphological traits.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

scribble mutants cooperate with oncogenic Ras or Notch to cause neoplastic overgrowth in Drosophila.

Cancer is a multistep process involving cooperation between oncogenic or tumor suppressor mutations and interactions between the tumor and surrounding normal tissue. Here we present the first description of cooperative tumorigenesis in Drosophila, by using a system that mimics the development of tumors in mammals. We have used the MARCM system to generate mutant clones of the apical-basal cell polarity tumor suppressor gene, scribble, in the context of normal tissue. We show that scribble mutant clones in the eye disc exhibit ectopic expression of cyclin E and ectopic cell cycles, but do not overgrow due to increased cell death mediated by the JNK pathway and the surrounding wild-type tissue. In contrast, when oncogenic Ras or Notch is expressed within the scribble mutant clones, cell death is prevented and neoplastic tumors develop. This demonstrates, for the first time in Drosophila, that activated alleles of Ras and Notch can act as cooperating oncogenes in the development of epithelial tumors, and highlights the importance of epithelial polarity regulators in restraining oncogenes and preventing tumor formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Polarity of proximal tubular epithelial cells in relation to transepithelial transport.

Transport properties of brush border microvilli and basal-lateral plasma membranes isolated from rat kidney cortex were studied by a millipore filtration technique. Brush border microvilli but not basal-lateral plasma membranes contain sodium dependent stereospecific transport system for D-glucose, L-phenylalanine and inorganic phosphate as indicated by saturability, countertransport and inhibition by structurally related compounds. Reduction of equilbrium uptake by increasing medium osmolarity suggests transport into an osmotically reactive space rather than binding to the membranes. Electrogenecity of the sodium-sugar and sodium-amino-acid cotransport system was established by their dependence on artificially imposed diffusion potentials. Also a NA+/H+ antiport system can be demonstrated in microvilli vesicles by demonstrating counterflow of both ions under short circuit conditions. Basal-lateral plasma membranes contain sodium independent stereospecific transport systems for sugars and amino acids. These results demonstrate a marked functional polarity of the cell membranes in respect to sodium dependent and sodium independent transport systems. This polarity in conjunction with the asymmetrical distribution of sodium between the intra- and extracellular space seems to enable the proximal tubule epithelial cells to perform active transepithelial transport.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Polarized monolayers formed by epithelial cells on a permeable and translucent support.

An epithelial cell line (MDCK) was used to prepare monolayers which, in vitro, develop properties of transporting epithelia. Monolayers were formed by plating cells at high densities (10(6) cells/cm2) on collagen-coated nylon cloth disks to saturate the area available for attachment, thus avoiding the need for cell division. An electrical resistance developed within 4-6 h after plating and achieved a steady-state value of 104 +/- 1.8 omega-cm2 after 24 h. Mature monolayers were morphologically and functionally polarized. They contained junctional complexes composed of desmosomes and tight junctions with properties similar to those of "leaky" epithelia. Monolayers were capable of maintaining a spontaneous electrical potential sensitive to amiloride, produced a net water flux from the apical to basal side, and discriminated between Na+ and Cl- ions. The MDCK permeability barrier behaves as a "thin" membrane with negatively charged sites. It has: (a) a linear conductance/concentration relationship; (b) an asymmetric instantaneous current/voltage relationship; (c) a reduced ability to discriminate between Na+ and Cl- caused by lowering the pH; and (d) a characteristic pattern of ionic selectivity which suggests that the negatively charged sites are highly hydrates and of medium field strength. Measurements of Na+ permeability of electrical and tracer methods ruled out exchange diffusion as a mechanism for ion permeation and the lack of current saturation in the I/deltapsi curves does not support the involvement of carriers. The discrimination between Na+ and Cl- was severely but reversibly decreased at low pH, suggesting that Na+-specific channels which exclude Cl- contain acidic groups dissociated at neutral pH. Bound Ca++ ions are involved in maintaining the integrity of the junctions in MDCK monolayers as was shown by a reversible drop of resistance and opening of the junctions in Ca++-free medium containing EGTA. Several other epithelial cell lines are capable of developing a significant resistance under the conditions used to obtain MDCK monolayers.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Adenylate and guanylate cyclase activities and cellular differentiation in rat small intestine.

Adenylate and guanylate cyclase activities were measured in rat small intestinal villus and crypt cells to determine possible correlations with cellular differentiation. Isolated intestinal cells were prepared by a method which effectively separates differentiated villus cells from undifferentiated crypt cells (J Biol Chem 248:2542, 1973). Crypt cells were found to have a significantly lower guanylate cyclase activity than villus cells. Adenylate cyclase activity was higher in crypt cells than villus cells, although the difference was less striking than the reverse gradient observed for guanylate cyclase. There was no gradient of activity for cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase. However, cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase activity was lower in villus cells. No villus to crypt gradient of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate concentration was detected in mucosa frozen rapidly in liquid nitrogen. The properties and subcellular localization of the cyclases were also evaluated, and of particular interest was the localization of guanylate cyclase to the microvillus membrane and the confirmation of adenylate cyclase activity in the lateral-basal membrane. The villus to crypt gradient of guanylate cyclase suggests that this enzyme has a specialized role in the differentiated villus cell. The contrasting subcellular localization of the cyclases suggests that the cyclases may be interrelated, possibly reflecting the epithelial cell polarity for absorption and secretion.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1978

Pigment epithelial proliferation in human retinal detachment with massive periretinal proliferation.

Biopsy specimens from vitreous and preretinal membranes, obtained during vitreous surgery from 39 human eyes suffering from massive periretinal proliferation, were examined electron-microscopically. Analysis of the cellular membranes demonstrated mostly cells with epithelial characteristics: polarization of the cells, basal lamina formation, specialized cellular junctions, and microvilli formation. These epithelioid cells contained prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum, glycogen deposits, a multitude of cytoplasmic filaments, some resembling myofilaments, and nonmembrane bound, sometimes wedge-shaped pigment granules. Macrophages were interspersed in the membranes. There was a striking similarity of these findings to those of an experimental model of retinal detachment in owl monkeys, We concluded that most likely the described cells derived from cells of pigment epithelial origin.

Cell Division↗
PubMed2025

Membrane Palmitoylated Protein 7 is Required for Osteogenesis and is Linked with Bone Mineralization and Osteoporosis: The Functional Evaluation of GEFOS GWAS Hit.

Genome-wide association studies have identified multiple loci associated with bone mineral density, a major determinant of osteoporotic fracture risk. At one such locus, genetic, bioinformatic, and zebrafish knockout data strongly prioritize membrane palmitoylated protein 7 (MPP7) as a candidate gene, although its precise role in bone biology remains poorly defined. MPP7 encodes a member of the p55 Stardust family of membrane-associated guanylate kinase proteins, which are key regulators of epithelial cell polarity and junctional organization. Here, we investigated the functional role of MPP7 in bone biology. We found that MPP7 expression was significantly reduced-by approximately twofold-in bone tissue from osteoporotic patients compared with osteoarthritic patients and non-osteoporotic controls. Furthermore, we generated a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated MPP7 knockout in the human osteosarcoma HOS cell line and demonstrated that MPP7 deletion impairs osteogenic differentiation and completely abrogates mineralization through downregulation of ALPL expression. Knockout cells also displayed altered morphology, suggesting that MPP7 influences osteoblast function via effects on cell polarity and adhesion. Collectively, our findings, together with zebrafish genetic evidence, indicate that MPP7 plays a critical role in osteoblast differentiation and mineralization and may contribute to osteoporosis susceptibility in humans.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Stage-specific remodeling of wingless-related integration sites (WNT) signaling during oocyte-to-embryo transition in pigs.

The WNT signaling pathway is a central regulator of cell polarity, adhesion, cytoskeletal dynamics, and lineage specification during early embryonic development. Although its roles have been extensively studied in murine and human models, the temporal regulation and pathway architecture of WNT signaling during early porcine development remain poorly defined. Here, we performed a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis to characterize WNT pathway dynamics across key stages of pig in vitro development, including immature oocytes (IMO), mature oocytes (MO), zygotes (ZY), cleaved embryos (2-4 cells; CL), and blastocysts (BL). Global analyses revealed major transcriptomic transitions (FDR <0.05; |Fold Change| &#x2265;2) during oocyte maturation and blastocyst formation, whereas zygotes and cleaved embryos exhibited highly similar expression profiles. Module-based and gene-level analyses showed that oocyte maturation is associated with increased expression of extracellular WNT antagonists and components of the &#x3b2;-catenin destruction complex, together with selective regulation of Frizzled receptors, consistent with tight control of canonical WNT signaling at the MII stage. Following fertilization, this inhibitory configuration was partially relieved, alongside transient upregulation of specific WNT ligands, transcriptional mediators, and adhesion-related components during zygotic genome activation and early cleavage. At the blastocyst stage, WNT signaling became increasingly associated with planar cell polarity and epithelial organization modules. Together, the data reveal a highly dynamic and stage-specific restructuring of WNT signaling during early porcine development. Our findings indicate that precise temporal modulation-rather than uniform activation-of WNT pathway components accompanies the porcine oocyte-to-embryo transition, providing a molecular framework to better understand early developmental regulation and offering insights relevant to reproductive biotechnology and developmental biology.

Wnt Signaling Pathway↗
PubMed2017

Route of infection alters virulence of neonatal septicemia Escherichia coli clinical isolates.

Escherichia coli is the leading cause of Gram-negative neonatal septicemia in the United States. Invasion and passage across the neonatal gut after ingestion of maternal E. coli strains produce bacteremia. In this study, we compared the virulence properties of the neonatal E. coli bacteremia clinical isolate SCB34 with the archetypal neonatal E. coli meningitis strain RS218. Whole-genome sequencing data was used to compare the protein coding sequences among these clinical isolates and 33 other representative E. coli strains. Oral inoculation of newborn animals with either strain produced septicemia, whereas intraperitoneal injection caused septicemia only in pups infected with RS218 but not in those injected with SCB34. In addition to being virulent only through the oral route, SCB34 demonstrated significantly greater invasion and transcytosis of polarized intestinal epithelial cells in vitro as compared to RS218. Protein coding sequences comparisons highlighted the presence of known virulence factors that are shared among several of these isolates, and revealed the existence of proteins exclusively encoded in SCB34, many of which remain uncharacterized. Our study demonstrates that oral acquisition is crucial for the virulence properties of the neonatal bacteremia clinical isolate SCB34. This characteristic, along with its enhanced ability to invade and transcytose intestinal epithelium are likely determined by the specific virulence factors that predominate in this strain.

Bacteremia↗
PubMed1979

Translocation of dimeric IgA through neoplastic colon cells in vitro.

We studied the translocation of dimeric IgA across epithelium, using neoplastic human colon cells in culture as a source of epithelial cells, and immunoelectronmicroscopy with peroxidase-labeled antigens and antibodies. The cells had some of the ultrastructural characteristics of normal, mature epithelial cells, i.e., polarity, desmosomal junctions, and secretory component on their basal and lateral plasma membranes. Horseradish peroxidase-labeled dimeric IgA, exposed to the cells at 0 degrees C, bound selectively to secretory component on the cell surfaces. At 37 degrees C, the bound dimeric IgA was taken into the cells by endocytosis and transported apically through the cytoplasm in vesicles. After 30 min, IgA was discharged across the apical surface. Neither colchicine (10(-4) M) nor cytochalasin B (10(-5) M) interfered with binding or endocytosis of dimeric IgA, but colchicine inhibited intracellular transport of the IgA-containing vesicles. These experiments demonstrated that dimeric IgA can be transported through living intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. The transport includes 1) specific binding of IgA dimers to secretory component on plasma membranes, 2) endocytosis of IgA in vesicles, 3) transcytoplasmic transport of the IgA-containing vesicles by a process involving microtubules, and 4) discharge of IgA at the apical surfaces.

Binding Sites, Antibody↗
PubMed1977

Iron-transport characteristics of vesicles of brush-border and basolateral plasma membrane from the rat enterocyte.

Vesicles of brush-border and basolateral plasma membrane were prepared from enterocytes of the rat small intestine. The separateness of these two varieties of plasma membrane was confirmed by appropriate enzyme assays. The uptake of Fe2+ by these membrane vesicles was studied, and the results suggest differences between the two types of membrane in both the amount of Fe2+ taken up and in the rate of uptake. At low (up to 3 micrometer) concentrations of Fe2+, uptake by both membrane types showed evidence of saturation and could be blocked with the thiol inactivator N-ethylmaleimide. The studies suggest that Fe2+ is taken into an osmotically active space by a process of facilitated diffusion at low concentrations, but that at higher concentrations the process appeared to obey first-order kinetics. The data provide further evidence for the existence of functional polarity in the epithelial cell of the small intestine.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

[Ultrastructural and enzyme-histochemical alterations of the dog prostate following castration (author's transl)].

Orchiectomy leads to morphologic and functional alterations of the prostate in dogs within 120 days. The glandular epithelium of the acini under the light microscope shows an advanced atrophy with some remaining slit-like lumina. Ultrastructurally, castration results in loss of cell polarity with preserved epithelial compounds. The columnar epithelium is transformed into small polygonal cells with regressive alterations of nucleus, rough endoplasmatic reticulum, mitochondria and Golgi apparatus. These cells show depositions of lipoids and glycogen. Functionally, gonadectomy results in a loss of secretory activity correspondingly secretory granules that are normally present in large numbers are conspicuously absent, the reduction of rough endoplasmatic reticulum and Golgi apparatus too are expressions of the cessation of synthesis of secretion. This is also indicated by the activity of acid phosphatase that is barely demonstrable in the apical portion of the cytoplasm of atrophic glandular epithelium following castration. Only insignificant changes on the other hand are found in the activity of alkaline phosphatase following withdrawal of androgens, this enzyme does not mirror the atrophy due to castration.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1978

Anterior polar cataract and lysosomal alterations in the lens of rats treated with the amphiphilic lipidosis-inducing drugs chloroquine and chlorphentermine.

Chronic treatment of rats with the amphipilic drugs chloroquine and chlorphentermine caused prominent anterior polar cataracts in virtually all rats. The basic pathologic changes underlying these cataracts were: (a) degeneration of anterior polar and sutural endings of cortical lens cells and (b) multilayered proliferation and invasion of epithelial cells into the anterior polar cortex. Ultrastructurally cortical lens cells displayed various patterns of degeneration, finally undergoing complete liquification. Liquified lens substance was phagocytosed by invading epithelial cells. Cortical lens cells and epithelial cells contained numerous lipidosis-like (lamellated) inclusions, which possessed cytochemical acid phosphatase activity. The present drug-induced lenticular alterations are interpreted as the direct or indirect consequences of a drug-induced disturbance of polar lipid metabolism in the lens.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1977

Polarity reversal in nerve-free hydra.

Hydra experimentally depleted of all nerve cells and nerve stem cells (interstitial cells) demonstrate normal polarity reversal. Thus hydra epithelial cells are capable of controlling complex developmental patterning phenomena.

Animals↗