Clara cell surface of the rat: scanning and transmission electron microscopic study

Summary In normal young rats, groups of Clara cells in the bronchioles showed the formation of many cytoplasmic blebs on their cytoplasmic domes. Detached blebs rested on the bronchiolar epithelial cells. The scanning (SEM) and transmision electron microscope (TEM) studies suggest localized changes of Clare cell surface activities by increased formation of cytoplasmic blebs which may represent the apocrine type of secretion.This project was supported by research grants from NIH HD-10139 and the American Heart Association, Kansas Affiliate. We used the Electron Microscope Research Service Laboratory of the University of Kansas Medical Center.     

The LRRK2 G2019S mutant exacerbates basal autophagy through activation of the MEK/ERK pathway

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are a major cause of familial Parkinsonism, and the G2019S mutation of LRRK2 is one of the most prevalent mutations. The deregulation of autophagic processes in nerve cells is thought to be a possible cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this study, we observed that G2019S mutant fibroblasts exhibited higher autophagic activity levels than control fibroblasts. Elevated levels of autophagic activity can trigger cell death, and in our study, G2019S mutant cells exhibited increased apoptosis hallmarks compared to control cells. LRRK2 is able to induce the phosphorylation of MAPK/ERK kinases (MEK). The use of 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis[2-aminophenylthio]butadiene (U0126), a highly selective inhibitor of MEK1/2, reduced the enhanced autophagy and sensibility observed in G2019S LRRK2 mutation cells. These data suggest that the G2019S mutation induces autophagy via MEK/ERK pathway and that the inhibition of this exacerbated autophagy reduces the sensitivity observed in G2019S mutant cells.     

Species-specific differences in the mitogenic activity of heparin-binding growth factors in the sera of various mammals.

Sera from different mammalian species displayed great differences in mitogenic activity, as measured by stimulation of DNA synthesis in BALB/c 3T3 cells (3T3 cells). Among the sera examined, fetal bovine serum was least active, and increasing activity was detected in calf serum, human serum, rat serum and mouse serum, in that order. Rat and mouse sera exhibited extremely high mitogenic activity with 3T3 cells, but when TIG-1 human fetal lung fibroblasts were used for the DNA assay instead, the activity levels of all of the sera were lower, and the differences between them were smaller. To determine the reasons for these differences, the heparin-binding growth factors in each serum were separated on a heparin affinity column. Five peaks of DNA-stimulating activity were obtained. Three of these were found in all sera examined, with both 3T3 cells and TIG-1 cells. Two other peaks were found only with 3T3 cells; one was peculiar to rat and mouse sera, with extremely high activity in the rat, and the other was specific to fetal serum. The dependence of the activity of these peaks on the cells used for the test was confirmed using normal rat lung fibroblasts and immortalized rat kidney cells. These findings adequately explain the species-specific differences in mitogenic activity of whole sera, and the variation in activity depending on the cells used for assay of DNA synthesis.     

Species-specific differences in the mitogenic activity of heparin-binding growth factors in the sera of various mammals

Sera from different mammalian species displayed great differences in mitogenic activity, as measured by stimulation of DNA synthesis in BALB/c 3T3 cells (3T3 cells). Among the sera examined, fetal bovine serum was least active, and increasing activity was detected in calf serum, human serum, rat serum and mouse serum, in that order. Rat and mouse sera exhibited extremely high mitogenic activity with 3T3 cells, but when TIG-1 human fetal lung fibroblasts were used for the DNA assay instead, the activity levels of all of the sera were lower, and the differences between them were smaller. To determine the reasons for these differences, the heparin-binding growth factors in each serum were separated on a heparin affinity column. Five peaks of DNA-stimulating activity were obtained. Three of these were found in all sera examined, with both 3T3 cells and TIG-1 cells. Two other peaks were found only with 3T3 cells; one was peculiar to rat and mouse sera, with extremely high activity in the rat, and the other was specific to fetal serum. The dependence of the activity of these peaks on the cells used for the test was confirmed using normal rat lung fibroblasts and immortalized rat kidney cells. These findings adequately explain the species-specific differences in mitogenic activity of whole sera, and the variation in activity depending on the cells used for assay of DNA synthesis.     

Effect of tannic acid on the Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Tannic acid was used to fix and stain Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in suspension. An increase in surface microvilli and cytoplasmic blebs in the tumor cells was observed. The mechanism of tannic acid induced surface morphological changes in tumor cells and the formation of a precipitate of protein-tannic acid-heavy metal complex are discussed.     

Cytosolic phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase are involved in cell cycle progression in neuroblastoma cells

Arachidonic acid has been implicated in regulating cellular proliferation, and is preferentially released by the 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). Recently, we demonstrated that cPLA2 is activated at distinct periods during the ongoing cell cycle of neuroblastoma cells. The purpose of the present study was to establish the role of these cPLA2 activity peaks in cell cycle progression. Inhibition of cPLA2 activity with arachidonyl trifluoromethylketone (ATK) in early G1 phase reduced DNA synthesis markedly. A 24-h incubation with ATK revealed no significant difference in cell number compared to untreated cells, although cPLA2 activity was still inhibited. This suggests redundancy of different PLA2 enzymes. Lipoxygenase inhibition in early G1 resulted in G1 phase arrest, whereas inhibitors for cyclooxygenase had no effect. Furthermore, cells stopped progressing through S phase when lipoxygenase was inhibited in early S phase, demonstrating the requirement of lipoxygenase products for S phase progression.     

Unscheduled CDK1 activity in G1 phase of the cell cycle triggers apoptosis in X-irradiated lymphocytic leukemia cells

Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) is a major component of the cell cycle progression engine. Recently, several investigations provided evidence demonstrating that unscheduled CDK1 activation may also be involved in apoptosis in cancerous cells. In this article, we demonstrate that X-ray irradiation induced G1 arrest in MOLT-4 lymphocytic leukemia cells, the arrest being accompanied by reduction in the activity of CDK2, but increased CDK1 activity and cell apoptosis in the G1 phase. Interestingly, this increase in CDK1 and apoptosis by ionizing radiation was prevented by pretreatment with the CDK1 inhibitor, roscovitine, suggesting that CDK1 kinase activity is required for radiation-induced apoptotic cell death in this model system. Furthermore, cyclin B1 and CDK1 were detected co-localizing and associating in G1 phase MOLT-4 cells, with the cellular lysates from these cells revealing a genotoxic stress-induced increase in CDK1 phosphorylation (Thr-161) and dephosphorylation (Tyr-15), as analyzed by postsorting immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Finally, X-irradiation was found to increase Bcl-2 phosphorylation in G1 phase cells. Taken together, these novel findings suggest that CDK1 is activated by unscheduled accumulation of cyclin B1 in G1 phase cells exposed to X-ray, and that CDK1 activation, at the wrong time and in the wrong phase, may directly or indirectly trigger a Bcl-2-dependent signaling pathway leading to apoptotic cell death in MOLT-4 cells. Received 30 March 2006; received after revision 23 June 2006; accepted 24 August 2006 J. Wu and Y. Feng contributed equally to this work.     

Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity prevent cell cycle progression and induce apoptosis at the M/G1 transition in CHO cells

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) activity has been implicated in regulating cell cycle progression at distinct points in the cell cycle by preventing cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. In this study, the role of PI3-kinase activity during the entire G1 phase of the ongoing cell cycle was studied in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells synchronized by mitotic shake-off. We show that inhibition of PI3-kinase activity during and 2 h after mitosis inhibited cell cycle progression into S phase. In the presence of the PI3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin or LY294002, cells were arrested during early G1 phase, leading to the expression of the cleaved caspase-3, a central mediator of apoptosis. These results demonstrate that PI3-kinase activity is required for progression through the M/G1 phase. In the absence of PI3-kinase activity, cells are induced for apoptosis in this particular phase of the cell cycle. Received 7 September 2005; received after revision 26 October 2005; accepted 11 November 2005     

胃癌侧群细胞耐药性研究及干细胞相关基因检测

目的研究胃癌侧群（Side Population,sP）细胞对化疗药物5-Fu（氟尿嘧啶）的耐药性及可能机制,并检测干细胞相关基因Nanog、Musashi-1及cD44的表达情况。方法选择人胃癌细胞株sGc-7901,以荧光染料H0echst 33342染色,维拉帕米桔抗对照,应用流式细胞仪分选sP细胞和nonsP细胞。细胞耐药实验比较sP细胞与nonsP细胞对化疗药物5．Fu的耐药性差异;westem_h10t检测ABcG2和bcl-2蛋白表达情况;流式细胞仪分析细胞周期;荧光定量PcR检测两组细胞中干细胞相关基因Nanog、Musashi-1及cD44mRNA的表达差异。结果胃癌细胞株sGc．790l中sP细胞的比例为2．8％,sP细胞对5-Fu的耐药存活率明显高于non-sP细胞（P〈0．05）,与nonsP细胞相比,sP细胞高表达耐药蛋白ABcG2和抗凋亡蛋白bcl-2,有更多的细胞处于c0／G1期（P〈0．05）,并高表达干细胞相关基因Musashi-1和cD44。结论胃癌sGC_7901细胞株中sP细胞对化疗药物5．Fu的耐药性明显高于nonsP细胞,其耐药机制可能与sP细胞高表达耐药蛋白ABcG2和抗凋亡蛋白bcl-2,有更多细胞处于G0／Gl期有关;Musashi-1和cD44可能是相对特异性的胃癌干细胞标志物。     

Effect of cell proliferation on the condensation of the X chromosome in culture medium of the individual karyotype 49 XXXXX]

The influence of cell proliferation on the condensation of the X chromosome was observed in vitro in human fibroblasts with 49 XXXXX karyotype. The frequency of cells with four Barr-bodies is low during the logarithmic growth phase and increases to 80% when the cells are becoming confluent or, independently of cell contact, when cell growth is arrested in a medium with low serum content. The condensation of th X chromosomes is reversible when the cells start growing again in medium with a higher serum content.     

Effect of tannic acid on the Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Summary Tannic acid was used to fix and stain Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in suspension. An increase in surface microvilli and cytoplasmic blebs in the tumor cells was observed. The mechanism of tannic acid induced surface morphological changes in tumor cells and the formation of a precipitate of protein-tannic acid-heavy metal complex are discussed.Acknowledgment. The author is grateful to Professor F. P. Lisowski for his advice and helpful criticism and to Mr Y. S. Tong for his expert technical assistance. This project was supported by a grant from the Hong Kong University Research Grants Committee.     

Depletion of cellular glycogen during the early logarithmic growth phase of human fibroblasts

Summary Human diploid fibroblasts deplete 50% of their cellular glycogen by day 4 after subcultivation in 100 mg% glucose medium. The glycogen content increases again as the cells approach confluency. Growth of cells in low glucose medium results in rapid glycogen depletion and indicates that stored glycogen has a limited potential as an energy source.Supported in part by a grant from the Frank G. Bressler Fund.     

Surface morphological study of ehrlich ascites tumor cells exposed to microware irradiation and heat

Summary Microwave irradiation of EAT cells caused an increase in length and number of surface microvilli. The tumor cells tend to form large aggregates by means of extensive interdigitation of surface microvilli. On the other hand, heat hyperthermia caused a decrease of surface microvilli but an increase of surface blebs. Hence the surface morphology of EAT cells after in vitro exposure to microwave irradiation differs markedly from that after heat hyperthermia.Part of the results was presented a the Fifth meeting of the European Co-operative Hyperthermia Group, Essen, July 1983.     

Curcumin通过Wnt信号通路抑制乳腺癌细胞MCF-7增殖的研究

目的 观察姜黄素(Curcumin)对乳腺癌细胞MCF-7增殖的影响,以及对细胞内Wnt信号通路的影响,探索Curcumin可能存在的抑制乳腺癌细胞增殖的分子机制.方法 体外培养人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7,并用不同浓度的Curcumin作用不同的时间.用MTT检测Curcumin对MCF-7细胞生长情况的影响;流式细胞仪观察经Curcumin作用后细胞周期的改变;RT-PCR和Westernblot分别检测细胞内β -catenin和下游靶基因CyclinD1的mRNA和蛋白水平的表达.结果 MTT结果显示Curcumin可以抑制MCF-7的增殖,并具有剂量-时间依赖性.在浓度为20 μmol·L-1时,对细胞生长的抑制作用最为明显.流式细胞仪观察细胞周期的结果提示,Curcumin能够阻止MCF-7细胞由G1期进入S期,提高Go/G1期细胞的百分比.RT-PCR和Western blot结果显示,Curcumin显著降低了细胞内β-catenin和CyclinD1的mRNA和蛋白水平的表达,且呈剂量-时间依赖性.结论 Curcumin能够抑制MCF-7细胞胞浆内β -catenin蛋白进入胞核,阻断Wnt信号转导通路.进而抑制下游靶基因CyclinD1的表达,阻止MCF-7由G1期进入S期,有效抑制了MCF-7细胞的增殖.     

Nuclear blebs in oocytes of the fishClarias batrachus

Summary Large nuclear blebs have been observed in oocytes of the fish,Clarias batrachus. The bleb, which contains nucleoplasm, is finally extruded from the nucleus. The extruded body is DNase-sensitive, and it implies that some amount of DNA is extruded from the nucleus of these oocytes.Acknowledgments. We are thankful to Dr. R.K. Sharan, Department of Zoology, Patna University, for providing laboratory facilities, and to Dr V.G. Jhingran and Dr P.V. Dehadrai of ICAR for their keen interest in the work.     

Resolution of small G1 and G2 populations of L1210 leukemia by flow microfluorometric analysis aided by velocity sedimentation

L1210 leukemic cells grown in vitro were subjected to kinetic analysis using a flow microfluorometer. A single broad peak was found for the DNA content distribution if unfractionated cells were used; prior fractionation using lg velocity sedimentation allowed the separation of small peaks with smaller (G1) and larger (G2) DNA contents from the dominant S phase peak with intermediate DNA content.     

Mast-cell reaction in precancerous mouse skin: An immunological response?

Summary The promotion phase of carcinogenesis in mouse skin is accompanied by a mast-cell reaction in the upper dermis. Evidence is presented which suggests that this may be an immunological response, whereby distant lymphocytes migrate to the area and, in the presence of young fibroblasts, become transformed into tissue mast cells.     

Regulation of caldesmon activity by Cdc2 kinase plays an important role in maintaining membrane cortex integrity during cell division

To study the mitosis-specific phosphorylation of caldesmon (CaD), we generated a mutant of the C-terminal fragment (amino acids 244–538) of human fibroblast CaD (CaD39-6F), as well as a mutant of the full-length CaD (CaD-6F), in which all six potential phosphorylation sites for Cdc2 kinase were abolished. The mitotic CaD39-6F-overexpressing cells required more time to progress from anaphase start to 50% cytokinesis, exhibited larger size, and abnormally formed numerous small blebs. In contrast, overexpression of the wild-type C-terminal fragment of CaD (CaD39) did not result in abnormal bleb formation, but led to larger size and prolonged the time requirement between anaphase start and 50% cytokinesis. Similar abnormal blebs were also observed in the CaD-6F-overexpressing cells. CaD-6F-overexpressing cells did not show larger size but required more time to progress from anaphase start to 50% cytokinesis. These results suggest that mitosis-specific phosphorylation of CaD plays a role in inhibiting bleb formation and that the N-terminal fragment of CaD is required for cell size determination. Received 4 September 2002; received after revision 25 November 2002; accepted 4 December 2002     

Scanning electron microscopy of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of Friend leukemia virus-infected spleen cells

Summary Friend leukemia virus (FLV) infected splenocytes treated with rabbit anti-FLV serum and subsequently incubated with splenic lymphocytes from non-immune Balb/c mice were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Villous-covered lymphocytes adherred to the tumor cells and induced surface blebs, numerous membrane pores and eventual tumor cell lysis.