Concise review: mesenchymal stem/multipotent stromal cells: the state of transdifferentiation and modes of tissue repair--current views.
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Mesenchymal stem cells or multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) isolated from the bone marrow of adult organisms were initially characterized as plastic adherent, fibroblastoid cells with the capacity to generate heterotopic osseous tissue when transplanted in vivo. In recent years, MSCs or MSC-like cells have been shown to reside within the connective tissue of most organs, and their surface phenotype has been well described. A large number of reports have also indicated that the cells possess the capacity to transdifferentiate into epithelial cells and lineages derived from the neuroectoderm. The broad developmental plasticity of MSCs was originally thought to contribute to their demonstrated efficacy in a wide variety of experimental animal models of disease as well as in human clinical trials. However, new findings suggest that the ability of MSCs to alter the tissue microenvironment via secretion of soluble factors may contribute more significantly than their capacity for transdifferentiation in tissue repair. Herein, we critically evaluate the literature describing the plasticity of MSCs and offer insight into how the molecular and functional heterogeneity of this cell population, which reflects the complexity of marrow stroma as an organ system, may confound interpretation of their transdifferentiation potential. Additionally, we argue that this heterogeneity also provides a basis for the broad therapeutic efficacy of MSCs. (+info)
Neuroendocrine-like prostate cancer cells: neuroendocrine transdifferentiation of prostate adenocarcinoma cells.
(10/531)
Neuroendocrine (NE) cells represent a minor cell population in the epithelial compartment of normal prostate glands and may play a role in regulating the growth and differentiation of normal prostate epithelia. In prostate tumor lesions, the population of NE-like cells, i.e., cells exhibiting NE phenotypes and expressing NE markers, is increased that correlates with tumor progression, poor prognosis, and the androgen-independent state. However, the origin of those NE-like cells in prostate cancer (PCa) lesions and the underlying molecular mechanism of enrichment remain an enigma. In this review, we focus on discussing the distinction between NE-like PCa and normal NE cells, the potential origin of NE-like PCa cells, and in vitro and in vivo studies related to the molecular mechanism of NE transdifferentiation of PCa cells. The data together suggest that PCa cells undergo a transdifferentiation process to become NE-like cells, which acquire the NE phenotype and express NE markers. Thus, we propose that those NE-like cells in PCa lesions were originated from cancerous epithelial cells, but not from normal NE cells, and should be defined as 'NE-like PCa cells'. We further describe the biochemical properties of newly established, stable NE-like lymph node carcinoma of the prostate (LNCaP) cell lines, transdifferentiated from androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells under androgen-deprived conditions. Knowledge of understanding NE-like PCa cells will help us to explore new therapeutic strategies for treating PCa. (+info)
Twist expression in patients with cervical cancer is associated with poor disease outcome.
(11/531)
BACKGROUND: Twist, a basic helix--loop-helix transcription factor, has been reported to be associated with the development and progression of human cancer. We examined the distribution and expression of Twist in cervical cancer to examine its clinical significance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined the distribution and expression of Twist in 101 cervical cancer specimens and determined the association between their expression and the clinico-pathological features observed, including patient outcome. RESULTS: Of the 101 specimens, 55 cases were negative for Twist immuno-expression, whereas 46 were positive. When categorized into negative versus positive expression, Twist was not associated with any of the clinico-pathological parameters examined. Positive Twist expression significantly predicted poorer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) when compared with negative expression (P < 0.01). In the multivariate analyses, positive Twist expression was an independent prognostic factor for OS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data imply that positive Twist expression seems to be a useful marker in patients with cervical cancer likely to have an unfavorable clinical outcome. (+info)
Myeloma light chains induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells.
(12/531)
BACKGROUND: To determine the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as a potential mechanism contributing to the characteristic tubulointerstitial renal fibrosis in multiple myeloma, we examined whether myeloma light chains (LCs) directly induce EMT in human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTECs). METHODS: As positive controls we used TGF-beta1 and cyclosporine A (CsA), two agents known to induce EMT in PTECs. Human LCs were isolated and purified from the urine of myeloma patients with modest renal insufficiency without evidence of glomerular involvement. HK-2 cells were exposed to kappa LC (25 microM) for periods up to 72 h. RESULTS: LCs induced marked cellular morphological alterations in PTECs, accompanied with increased expression levels of profibrotic TGF-beta1, FSP-1 and extracellular matrix components. Using semiquantitative immunoblotting and RT-PCR, we observed that the expression of E-cadherin decreased after 24 h, while the expression of alpha-SMA increased in PTEC after continuous exposure to kappa-LCs. Human serum albumin (HSA; 160 microM) had less potent effect on the expression of EMT-related molecules. Neutralizing TGF-beta1 antibody blocked CsA-induced EMT but had no effect on LC-exposed cells. LC-induced EMT and the secretions of IL-6 and MCP-1 were, however, markedly attenuated by p38 MAPK interference. The use of bone morphogenetic protein-7 or pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) induced the formation of cell aggregates, and the reacquisition of E-cadherin expression and renal proximal tubule epithelial morphology within the confluent cell monolayer during and after LC exposure. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that LC is a direct stimulus for EMT in PTECs. LC-induced EMT involved multiple cytokines, is modulated by p38 MAPK, but appeared independent of the action of TGF-beta1. LC-induced EMT may be an important mechanism of kidney injury associated with myeloma and may be reversible upon the administration of exogenous PACAP. (+info)
Transdifferentiation in developmental biology, disease, and in therapy.
(13/531)
Transdifferentiation (or metaplasia) refers to the conversion of one cell type to another. Because transdifferentiation normally occurs between cells that arise from the same region of the embryo, understanding the molecular and cellular events in cell type transformations may help to explain the mechanisms underlying normal development. Here we review examples of transdifferentiation in nature focusing on the possible role of cell type switching in metamorphosis and regeneration. We also examine transdifferentiation in mammals in relation to disease and the use of transdifferentiated cells in cellular therapy. (+info)
Pitx2 prevents osteoblastic transdifferentiation of myoblasts by bone morphogenetic proteins.
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Muscle cells are often exposed to bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in pathological muscle and/or bone conditions. Because BMPs function as strong bone inducers as well as myogenesis inhibitors, certain molecules likely prevent muscle cells from converting into pathologic bone; without these molecules, de novo bone would form as observed in myositis ossificans traumatica. When C2C12 myoblasts are exposed to BMPs, they differentiate into osteoblastic cells but cannot mature into bone cells. As the Osterix gene, a transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation, is only transiently induced upon BMP stimulation in C2C12 cells, we hypothesized that unknown transcriptional repressor(s) inhibit Osterix expression and prevent complete osteoblastic differentiation. Gene microarray analyses were performed to identify putative inhibitors for osteoblastic differentiation, and the paired-like homeodomain transcription factor Pitx2 (also termed Rieg), which plays an important regulatory role in left-right asymmetry, was identified. Pitx2 was induced 2 days after BMP stimulation in C2C12 cells in concert with Osterix down-regulation. Overexpression of Pitx2 repressed Osterix expression and subsequent osteoblastic differentiation, whereas Runx2, the most upstream regulator of osteogenesis, was unaffected. Conversely, the induction of short hairpin RNA for Pitx2 in C2C12 cells enhanced Osterix expression and osteoblastic maturation upon BMP stimulation. Moreover, mouse embryonic fibroblasts containing myoblasts from Pitx2-null embryos showed enhanced Osterix expression upon BMP stimulation. These findings suggest that Pitx2 suppresses osteogenic signals induced by BMPs in myoblasts to prevent their osteoblastic conversion. (+info)
Influence of irbesartan on expression of ILK and its relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction.
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AIM: Irbesartan, a new antagonist of the type 1 angiotensin II receptor, has been proven to be renal protective in both diabetic and non-diabetic nephropathy, but its exact mechanism is still uncertain. Here we investigated the influence of irbesartan on the expression of the integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and its relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). METHODS: The mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operation (C, n=20), UUO (n=40), and UUO with irbesartan treatment (UUO+irbesartan, n=40). Irbesartan was given at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight per day by gavage. The experimental animals in the control group received the same volume of vehicle (0.9% saline solution). The animals were sacrificed at d 1, 3, 7, and 14, respectively, after the surgery. RESULTS: The expression of the ILK at mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased in the UUO group 1 d after the surgery, which was significantly decreased by treatment with irbesartan (P<0.01, respectively). The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was significantly increased, while E-cadherin was decreased in mice with UUO at d 3 after the surgery. Treatment with irbesartan significantly abrogated such effects (P<0.01). The immunohistochemistry analysis indicated that the protein expression of the ILK was positively correlated with alpha-SMA, but negatively with E-cadherin. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that irbesartan attenuated renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in UUO mice, which may be related to the inhibition of ILK expression, subsequently preventing the tubular EMT. (+info)
Cell type complexity in the basal metazoan Hydra is maintained by both stem cell based mechanisms and transdifferentiation.
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Understanding the mechanisms controlling the stability of the differentiated cell state is a fundamental problem in biology. To characterize the critical regulatory events that control stem cell behavior and cell plasticity in vivo in an organism at the base of animal evolution, we have generated transgenic Hydra lines [Wittlieb, J., Khalturin, K., Lohmann, J., Anton-Erxleben, F., Bosch, T.C.G., 2006. Transgenic Hydra allow in vivo tracking of individual stem cells during morphogenesis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 103, 6208-6211] which express eGFP in one of the differentiated cell types. Here we present a novel line which expresses eGFP specifically in zymogen gland cells. These cells are derivatives of the interstitial stem cell lineage and have previously been found to express two Dickkopf related genes [Augustin, R., Franke, A., Khalturin, K., Kiko, R., Siebert, S. Hemmrich, G., Bosch, T.C.G., 2006. Dickkopf related genes are components of the positional value gradient in Hydra. Dev. Biol. 296 (1), 62-70]. In the present study we have generated transgenic Hydra in which eGFP expression is under control of the promoter of one of them, HyDkk1/2/4 C. Transgenic Hydra recapitulate faithfully the previously described graded activation of HyDkk1/2/4 C expression along the body column, indicating that the promoter contains all elements essential for spatial and temporal control mechanisms. By in vivo monitoring of eGFP+ gland cells, we provide direct evidence for continuous transdifferentiation of zymogen cells into granular mucous cells in the head region. We also show that in this tissue a subpopulation of mucous gland cells directly derives from interstitial stem cells. These findings indicate that both stem cell-based mechanisms and transdifferentiation are involved in normal development and maintenance of cell type complexity in Hydra. The results demonstrate a remarkable plasticity in the differentiation capacity of cells in an organism which diverged before the origin of bilaterian animals. (+info)