Matrix-associated Growth Factors Research Articles

Regional and disease-specific glycosaminoglycan composition and function in decellularized human lung extracellular matrix.

Decellularized lung scaffolds and hydrogels are increasingly being utilized in ex vivo lung bioengineering. However, the lung is a regionally heterogenous organ with proximal and distal airway and vascular compartments of different structures and functions that may be altered as part of disease pathogenesis. We previously described decellularized normal whole human lung extracellular matrix (ECM) glycosaminoglycan (GAG) composition and functional ability to bind matrix-associated growth factors. We now determine differential GAG composition and function in airway, vascular, and alveolar-enriched regions of decellularized lungs obtained from normal, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. Significant differences were observed in heparan sulfate (HS), chondroitin sulfate (CS), and hyaluronic acid (HA) content and CS/HS compositions between both different lung regions and between normal and diseased lungs. Surface plasmon resonance demonstrated that HS and CS from decellularized normal and COPD lungs similarly bound fibroblast growth factor 2, but that binding was decreased in decellularized IPF lungs. Binding of transforming growth factor β to CS was similar in all three groups but binding to HS was decreased in IPF compared to normal and COPD lungs. In addition, cytokines dissociate faster from the IPF GAGs than their counterparts. The differences in cytokine binding features of IPF GAGs may result from different disaccharide compositions. The purified HS from IPF lung is less sulfated than that from other lungs, and the CS from IPF contains more 6-O-sulfated disaccharide. These observations provide further information for understanding functional roles of ECM GAGs in lung function and disease. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Lung transplantation remains limited due to donor organ availability and need for life-long immunosuppressive medication. One solution, the ex vivo bioengineering of lungs via de- and recellularization has not yet led to a fully functional organ. Notably, the role of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) remaining in decellularized lung scaffolds is poorly understood despite their important effects on cell behaviors. We have previously investigated residual GAG content of native and decellularized lungs and their respective functionality, and role during scaffold recellularization. We now present a detailed characterization of GAG and GAG chain content and function in different anatomical regions of normal diseased human lungs. These are novel and important observations that further expand knowledge about functional GAG roles in lung biology and disease.

Functional role of glycosaminoglycans in decellularized lung extracellular matrix

Despite progress in use of decellularized lung scaffolds in ex vivo lung bioengineering schemes, including use of gels and other materials derived from the scaffolds, the detailed composition and functional role of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteoglycans (PGs) and their glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains remaining in decellularized lungs, is poorly understood. Using a commonly utilized detergent-based decellularization approach in human autopsy lungs resulted in disproportionate losses of GAGs with depletion of chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) > heparan sulfate (HS) > hyaluronic acid (HA). Specific changes in disaccharide composition of remaining GAGs were observed with disproportionate loss of NS and NS2S for HS groups and of 4S for CS/DS groups. No significant influence of smoking history, sex, time to autopsy, or age was observed in native vs. decellularized lungs. Notably, surface plasmon resonance demonstrated that GAGs remaining in decellularized lungs were unable to bind key matrix-associated growth factors FGF2, HGF, and TGFβ1. Growth of lung epithelial, pulmonary vascular, and stromal cells cultured on the surface of or embedded within gels derived from decellularized human lungs was differentially and combinatorially enhanced by replenishing specific GAGs and FGF2, HGF, and TGFβ1. In summary, lung decellularization results in loss and/or dysfunction of specific GAGs or side chains significantly affecting matrix-associated growth factor binding and lung cell metabolism. GAG and matrix-associated growth factor replenishment thus needs to be incorporated into schemes for investigations utilizing gels and other materials produced from decellularized human lungs. Statement of significanceDespite progress in use of decellularized lung scaffolds in ex vivo lung bioengineering schemes, including use of gels and other materials derived from the scaffolds, the detailed composition and functional role of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteoglycans (PGs) and their glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains remaining in decellularized lungs, is poorly understood. In the current studies, we demonstrate that glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are significantly depleted during decellularization and those that remain are dysfunctional and unable to bind matrix-associated growth factors critical for cell growth and differentiation. Systematically repleting GAGs and matrix-associated growth factors to gels derived from decellularized human lung significantly and differentially affects cell growth. These studies highlight the importance of considering GAGs in decellularized lungs and their derivatives.

The Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Fibrosis in Liver Cancer.

Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, causing more than 700,000 deaths annually. Because of the wide landscape of genomic alterations and limited therapeutic success of targeting tumor cells, a recent focus has been on better understanding and possibly targeting the microenvironment in which liver tumors develop. A unique feature of liver cancer is its close association with liver fibrosis. More than 80% of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) develop in fibrotic or cirrhotic livers, suggesting an important role of liver fibrosis in the premalignant environment (PME) of the liver. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), in contrast, is characterized by a strong desmoplasia that typically occurs in response to the tumor, suggesting a key role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and fibrosis in its tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we discuss the functional contributions of myofibroblasts, CAFs, and fibrosis to the development of HCC and CCA in the hepatic PME and TME, focusing on myofibroblast- and extracellular matrix-associated growth factors, fibrosis-associated immunosuppressive pathways, as well as mechanosensitive signaling cascades that are activated by increased tissue stiffness. Better understanding of the role of myofibroblasts in HCC and CCA development and progression may provide the basis to target these cells for tumor prevention or therapy.

Molecular and cellular basis of scleroderma.

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to fibrosis of the skin and involved internal organs. No efficient therapy is currently available. This review summarizes recent progress made in basic as well as clinical science and concludes with a concept that therapy targeting fibrosis in scleroderma needs to take into account the global microenvironment in the skin with its diverse cellular players interacting with a complex extracellular matrix environment and matrix-associated growth factors.

MicroRNA-100 inhibits osteosarcoma cell proliferation by targeting Cyr61

Increasing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in almost every step of cellular processes and are often aberrantly expressed in human cancer. Therefore, the discovery of miRNAs may provide a new and powerful tool for understanding the mechanism and treatment of carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional significance of miR-100 and to identify its possible target genes in osteosarcoma (OS) cells. Here, we found that expression level of miR-100 was significantly decreased in osteosarcoma tissues in comparison with the adjacent normal tissues. The enforced expression of miR-100 was able to inhibit cell proliferation in Saos-2 and MG63 cells, while its antisense oligonucleotides (antisense miR-100) promoted cell proliferation. Moreover, our results further revealed that expression of Cyr61, an extracellular matrix-associated growth factor, was negatively regulated by miR-100. Therefore, we consider that miR-100 acts as a tumor suppressor for osteosarcoma. It may provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic options for human osteosarcoma in the future.

Cell-instructive hydrogels to assemble in biofluids

which mimic fundamental characteristics of naturally occurring extracellular microenvironments, is a key task in the rapidly progressing fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (DOI: 10.1038/nature08602). Importantly, cell-instructive matrix signals – including matrix-associated growth factors, ligands of cellular adhesion receptors, intrinsic viscoelastic properties and susceptibility for cell-driven reorganization – have to be presented in a spatiotemporally adjusted manner (DOI: 10.1002/marc.201200382). For that purpose, the current practice in cell biology and biotechnology mostly relies on reconstituting non-covalently associating biopolymer meshworks (collagen fibrils, Matrigel). Although effective in numerous in vitro approaches to cell signaling, these preparations are hardly compatible with safety requirements for medical applications and are often not suitable for the mechanistic investigation of particular exogenous signals. Recent approaches have therefore aimed at forming covalent polymer hydrogel networks in the presence of cells in culture or even within living tissue. A range of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) conjugates with adhesive peptide ligands and/or degradable peptide crosslinkers were converted in cell-compatible crosslinking schemes, including Michael-type addition, triazole formation, enzymatic (Factor XIIIa/ transglutaminase-mediated) crosslinking, and photoinduced polymerization. Amongst these, the Michael-type addition reaction turned out to be particularly powerful, as it does not require a catalyst, has no side products, and proceeds rapidly under physiological conditions (DOI: 10.1002/adma.201103574). The thiol group of cysteine residues can participate as a nucleophile in this reaction, which massively extends the number of suitable substrates and simplifies the attachment of bioactive peptides or proteins. A very common synthetic scheme for the formation of PEG-peptide hydrogels utilizes dithiol-containing peptides to react with PEG-polymers carrying electron deficient double bonds at the terminal groups. Recently, this scheme was further extended by incorporating glycosaminoglycan building blocks for the in situ formation of biohybrid gel matrices, which allows for the versatile biomimetic functionalization of the obtained materials with a plethora of glycosaminoglycan-binding growth factors: Michaeltype reaction schemes were applied for the formation of customized, cell-embedding, PEG-glycosaminoglycan hydrogels with precisely adjusted polymer network properties and independently tunable signaling characteristics (DOI: 10.1002/adma. 201300691). These materials provide a means for the effective modulation of therapeutically relevant cell fate decisions in vivo and are thus expected to become instrumental in medical technologies aimed at regenerating diseased or injured tissues.

Pleiotrophin Expression during Odontogenesis

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is an extracellular matrix-associated growth factor and chemokine expressed in mesodermal and ectodermal cells. It plays an important role in osteoblast recruitment and differentiation. There is limited information currently available about PTN expression during odontoblast differentiation and tooth formation, and thus the authors aimed to establish the spatiotemporal expression pattern of PTN during mouse odontogenesis. Immortalized mouse dental pulp (MD10-D3, MD10-A11) and odontoblast-like (M06-G3) and ameloblast-like (EOE-3M) cell lines were grown and samples prepared for immunocytochemistry, Western blot, and conventional and quantitative PCR analysis. Effects of BMP2, BMP4, and BMP7 treatment on PTN expression in odontoblast-like M06-G3 cells were tested by quantitative PCR. Finally, immunohistochemistry of sectioned mice mandibles and maxillaries at developmental stages E16, E18, P1, P6, P10, and P28 was performed. The experiments showed that PTN, at both the mRNA and protein level, was expressed in all tested epithelial and mesenchymal dental cell lines and that the level of PTN mRNA was influenced differentially by the bone morphogenetic proteins. The authors observed initial expression of PTN in the inner enamel epithelium with prolonged expression in the ameloblasts and odontoblasts throughout their stages of maturation and strong expression in the terminally differentiated and enamel matrix-secreting ameloblasts and odontoblasts of the adult mouse incisors and molars.

The in vitro elution of BMP-7 from demineralized bone matrix

Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) grafts induce new bone formation by locally releasing matrix-associated growth factors, such as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), to the surrounding tissue after implantation. However, the release kinetics of BMPs from DBM lack characterization. Such information can potentially help to improve processing techniques to maximize graft osteoinductive potential, as well as increase understanding of the osteoinductive process itself. We produced DBM with three particle size ranges from bovine cortical bone, i.e., <106, 106-300, and 300-710μm and extracted 1.5g of each size range in 40ml of Sorensen's buffer at room temperature for up to 168h. The BMP-7 concentration of the DBM and the buffer were measured at each time point using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. Based on measurement of the concentration of BMP-7 in the buffer, the 0-8h elution rate was high, i.e., 3.3, 2.9, and 2.2ng BMP-7/g DBMh, and for the 8-168h interval was much lower, at 0.039, 0.15, and 0.11ng BMP-7/g DBMh for the three size ranges, respectively. By 168h, there was no indication that elution was nearing completion. Measurement of the residual BMP-7 remaining in the DBM as a function of time yielded unexpected results, i.e., after the BMP-7 content of the DBM declined for the first 4-6h, it paradoxically increased for the remaining interval. We propose a two-compartment model to help explain these results in terms of the possible distribution of BMP-7 in bone matrix.

Cyr61 expression in osteosarcoma indicates poor prognosis and promotes intratibial growth and lung metastasis in mice

Osteosarcoma is the most frequent primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents with a high propensity for lung metastasis, the major cause of disease-related death. Reliable outcome-predictive markers and targets for osteosarcoma metastasis-suppressing drugs are urgently needed for more effective treatment of metastasizing osteosarcoma, which has a current mean 5-year survival rate of approximately 20%. This study investigated the prognostic value and the biological relevance of the extracellular matrix-associated growth factor Cyr61 of the CCN family of secreted proteins in osteosarcoma and metastasis. The prognostic value of Cyr61 was assessed with Kaplan-Meier analyses based on Cyr61 immunostaining of a tissue microarray of osteosarcoma biopsies collected from 60 patients with local or metastatic disease. Effects of Cyr61 overexpression on intratibial tumor growth and lung metastasis of the low metastatic human SaOS-2 osteosarcoma cell line were examined in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. Cyr61-provoked signaling was studied in vitro in nonmanipulated SaOS-2 cells. Cyr61 immunostaining of osteosarcoma tissue cores correlated significantly (p = 0.02) with poor patient survival. Mice intratibially injected with Cyr61-overexpressing SaOS-2 cells showed faster tumor growth and an increase in number and outgrowth of lung metastases and consequently significantly (p = 0.0018) shorter survival than mice injected with control SaOS-2 cells. Cyr61-evoked PI-3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling in SaOS-2 cells resulted in a subcellular redistribution of the cell cycle inhibitor p21(Cip1/WAF1). Cyr61 has considerable potential as a novel marker for poor prognosis in osteosarcoma and is an attractive target for primary tumor- and metastases-suppressing drugs.

γ-irradiation modulates vascular smooth muscle cell and extracellular matrix function: implications for neointimal development

Clinical relevance γ-Irradiation has found clinical application in the prevention of vascular recurrent stenosis. Although short-term results indicate reduction of recurrent stenosis, late results are not so promising. This in vitro study interrogated the biologic effects of γ-irradiation on vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and their extracellular matrix, to enable understanding of how it affects recurrent stenosis. The results are mixed: γ-irradiation does not inhibit protein synthesis, but does inhibit SMC three-dimensional migration, enhances SMC transformation to a contractile phenotype, and reduces the functional activity of matrix-associated growth factors. This provides insight into how γ-irradiation alters the biologic response of arteries after intervention.

The role of mast cells in tumour angiogenesis.

The role of mast cells in tumour angiogenesis.

THE EFFECTS OF EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX AND OSTEOGENIC PROTEIN-1 ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENTIATION OF RAT SYMPATHETIC NEURONS

The growth patterns of axons and dendrites differ with respect to their number, length, branching, and spatial orientation; therefore, it is likely that these processes differ in their growth requirements. To examine this hypothesis, we have been analyzing the responses of cultured rat sympathetic neurons to three types of stimuli: large structural proteins of the extracellular matrix, matrix-associated growth factors, and neurotrophins. Purified structural proteins such as laminin and collagen IV have been found to promote only axonal growth; whereas the matrix associated growth factor, osteogenic protein-1, selectively stimulates dendritic growth. In contrast, nerve growth factor modulates the growth of both types of processes. These data suggest that process-specific interactions with the extracellular environment may be critical determinants of cell shape in neurons. Perinatal rat sympathetic neurons grown in culture in the absence of serum or glial cells extend a single process which is axonal in nature. Exposure to osteogenic protein-1 causes the formation of additional processes which express the morphological, cytoskeletal, and ultrastructural characteristics of dendrites. Consistent with observations on the regulation of dendritic growth in sympathetic neurons in situ, the dendrite-promoting activity of osteogenic protein-1 is independent of synaptic or electrical activity, but is modulated by nerve growth factor. In the presence of optimal concentrations of osteogenic protein-1 and nerve growth factor, the size of the dendritic arbor extended by cultured sympathetic neurons approximates that seen in situ at comparable developmental stages. Osteogenic protein-1 does not promote dendritic growth in cultured neurons obtained from embryonic ciliary, dorsal root, trigeminal or nodose ganglia, suggesting that its morphogenetic effects are cell selective. Since mRNA for osteogenic protein-1 is expressed in mature as well as embryonic target tissues of the sympathetic nervous system, we also examined the effects of osteogenic protein-1 on cultures of sympathetic neurons derived from adult rats. Consistent with results obtained with perinatal neurons, osteogenic protein-1 selectively promoted dendritic growth in adult neurons. These data suggest that this matrix-associated growth factor could play a role not only in the morphogenesis of the developing nervous system, but also in the maintenance and remodeling of dendritic structures in the mature animal. Copyright © 1996 ISDN. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Growth Factors in the Regulation of Plasminogen-Plasmin System in Tumor Cells

Growth regulatory polypeptides, which act in an autocrine or paracrine fashion, are increasingly implicated in the control of pericellular proteolysis. Representatives of major growth factor families, like EGF, PDGF, IGF, FGF, IL, and TGF beta, and in addition, TNFs have effects both on cell proliferation and proteolytic events. Some of them participate in the control of proteolytic events by affecting pericellular PA activity. These factors regulate the synthesis, secretion, and activity of both PAs and their inhibitors in a cell and factor-specific manner. Interestingly, most of these affect simultaneously the secretion of both PAs and their inhibitors, sometimes concomitantly. In addition to PAs, growth factors modulate secretion of collagenases, transin, and stromelysin, and their respective inhibitors, TIMP. The balance of pericellular proteolytic activity is regulated according to the nature and interaction of various growth factors. Pericellular proteolysis can be modulated by growth factors at different levels. Several growth factors are able to regulate the amount and composition of the extracellular matrices. This, in turn, may affect the interactions of certain growth factors with the pericellular matrix structures. Altered structure of the matrix due to excessive proteolytic activity may thus limit the amount and activity of matrix-associated growth factors. Several growth factors exist in latent forms, and activation of these growth factors often requires proteolytic processing. A regulatory loop is thus formed where active growth factors affect the secretion of proteolytic enzymes and thus the concentrations of active ligands.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)