Cloning of an immunoglobulin family adhesion molecule selectively expressed by endothelial cells

Cell-cell junctions in focus - imaging junctional architectures and dynamics at high resolution

Studies utilizing electron microscopy and live fluorescence microscopy have significantly enhanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate junctional dynamics during homeostasis, development and disease. To fully grasp the enormous complexity of cell-cell adhesions, it is crucial to study the nanoscale architectures of tight junctions, adherens junctions and desmosomes. It is important to integrate these junctional architectures with the membrane morphology and cellular topography in which the junctions are embedded. In this Review, we explore new insights from studies using super-resolution and volume electron microscopy into the nanoscale organization of these junctional complexes as well as the roles of the junction-associated cytoskeleton, neighboring organelles and the plasma membrane. Furthermore, we provide an overview of junction- and cytoskeletal-related biosensors and optogenetic probes that have contributed to these advances and discuss how these microscopy tools enhance our understanding of junctional dynamics across cellular environments.

Studying the Pulmonary Endothelium in Health and Disease: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report

Lung endothelium resides at the interface between the circulation and the underlying tissue, where it senses biochemical and mechanical properties of both the blood as it flows through the vascular circuit and the vessel wall. The endothelium performs the bidirectional signaling between the blood and tissue compartments that is necessary to maintain homeostasis while physically separating both, facilitating a tightly regulated exchange of water, solutes, cells, and signals. Disruption in endothelial function contributes to vascular disease, which can manifest in discrete vascular locations along the artery-to-capillary-to-vein axis. Although our understanding of mechanisms that contribute to endothelial cell injury and repair in acute and chronic vascular disease have advanced, pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie site-specific vascular disease remain incompletely understood. In an effort to improve the translatability of mechanistic studies of the endothelium, the American Thoracic Society convened a workshop to optimize rigor, reproducibility, and translation of discovery to advance our understanding of endothelial cell function in health and disease.

Cell Adhesion at the Tight Junctions: New Aspects and New Functions

Tight junctions (TJ) are cell-cell adhesive structures that define the permeability of barrier-forming epithelia and endothelia. In contrast to this seemingly static function, TJs display a surprisingly high molecular complexity and unexpected dynamic regulation, which allows the TJs to maintain a barrier in the presence of physiological forces and in response to perturbations. Cell-cell adhesion receptors play key roles during the dynamic regulation of TJs. They connect individual cells within cellular sheets and link sites of cell-cell contacts to the underlying actin cytoskeleton. Recent findings support the roles of adhesion receptors in transmitting mechanical forces and promoting phase separation. In this review, we discuss the newly discovered functions of cell adhesion receptors localized at the TJs and their role in the regulation of the barrier function.

Propionate regulates tight junction barrier by increasing endothelial-cell selective adhesion molecule in human intestinal Caco-2 cells

Regulation of the intestinal barrier is closely associated with intestinal microbial metabolism. This study investigated the role of propionate, a major short-chain fatty acid produced by intestinal microorganisms, in the regulation of the tight junction (TJ) barrier in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. Propionate strengthened TJ barrier integrity, as indicated by decreased permeability to macromolecules and increased transepithelial electrical resistance in Caco-2 cells. DNA microarray analysis revealed that propionate upregulated endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM), a TJ-associated protein, without any increase in other TJ proteins. The upregulation of ESAM was confirmed using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence analyses. Luciferase promoter analysis demonstrated that propionate induced the transcriptional activation of ESAM. The effects of propionate were sensitive to nilotinib inhibition of NR2C2. Overexpression of human ESAM (hESAM) in canine kidney epithelial MDCK-II cells lowered the permeability to macromolecules in a manner similar to that of propionate-treated Caco-2 cells. hESAM overexpression facilitated calcium-induced assembly of the TJ complex in MDCK-II cells. Taken together, propionate strengthened the intestinal TJ barrier by increasing ESAM levels in Caco-2 cells.

Bi-allelic variants in the ESAM tight-junction gene cause a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with fetal intracranial hemorrhage

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an essential gatekeeper for the central nervous system and incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) is higher in infants with a history of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We discovered a rare disease trait in thirteen individuals, including four fetuses, from eight unrelated families associated with homozygous loss-of-function variant alleles of ESAM which encodes an endothelial cell adhesion molecule. The c.115del (p.Arg39Glyfs∗33) variant, identified in six individuals from four independent families of Southeastern Anatolia, severely impaired the in vitro tubulogenic process of endothelial colony-forming cells, recapitulating previous evidence in null mice, and caused lack of ESAM expression in the capillary endothelial cells of damaged brain. Affected individuals with bi-allelic ESAM variants showed profound global developmental delay/unspecified intellectual disability, epilepsy, absent or severely delayed speech, varying degrees of spasticity, ventriculomegaly, and ICH/cerebral calcifications, the latter being also observed in the fetuses. Phenotypic traits observed in individuals with bi-allelic ESAM variants overlap very closely with other known conditions characterized by endothelial dysfunction due to mutation of genes encoding tight junction molecules. Our findings emphasize the role of brain endothelial dysfunction in NDDs and contribute to the expansion of an emerging group of diseases that we propose to rename as "tightjunctionopathies."

Mice with endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule deficiency develop coronary microvascular rarefaction and left ventricle diastolic dysfunction

Endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM) regulates inflammatory cell adhesion and transmigration and promotes angiogenesis. Here, we examined the role of ESAM in cardiac vascularization, inflammatory cell infiltration, and left ventricle (LV) diastolic function under basal and hemodynamic stress conditions. We employed mice with homozygous genetic deletion of ESAM (ESAM-/- ) and also performed uninephrectomy and aldosterone infusion (UNX-Aldo) to induce volume and pressure overload. Using echocardiography, we found that ESAM-/- mice display no change in systolic function. However, they develop LV diastolic dysfunction, as indicated by a significantly reduced E/A ratio (E = early, A = late mitral inflow peak velocities), increased E/e' ratio, isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), and E wave deceleration time. An unbiased automated tracing and 3D reconstruction of coronary vasculature revealed that ESAM-/- mice had reduced coronary vascular density. Arteries of ESAM-/- mice exhibited impaired endothelial sprouting and in cultured endothelial cells siRNA-mediated ESAM knockdown reduced tube formation. Changes in ESAM-/- mice were accompanied by elevated myocardial inflammatory cytokine and myeloperoxidase-positive neutrophil levels. Furthermore, UNX-Aldo procedure in wild type mice induced LV diastolic dysfunction, which was accompanied by significantly increased serum ESAM levels. When compared to wild types, ESAM-/- mice with UNX-Aldo displayed worsening of LV diastolic function, as indicated by increased IVRT and pulmonary edema. Thus, we propose that ESAM plays a mechanistic role in proper myocardial vascularization and the maintenance of LV diastolic function under basal and hemodynamic stress conditions.

Junctional Adhesion Molecules: Potential Proteins in Atherosclerosis

Junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) are cell-cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily and are involved in the regulation of diverse atherosclerosis-related processes such as endothelial barrier maintenance, leucocytes transendothelial migration, and angiogenesis. To combine and further broaden related results, this review concluded the recent progress in the roles of JAMs and predicted future studies of JAMs in the development of atherosclerosis.

3D Visualization of Human Blood Vascular Networks Using Single-Domain Antibodies Directed against Endothelial Cell-Selective Adhesion Molecule (ESAM)

High-quality three-dimensional (3D) microscopy allows detailed, unrestricted and non-destructive imaging of entire volumetric tissue specimens and can therefore increase the diagnostic accuracy of histopathological tissue analysis. However, commonly used IgG antibodies are oftentimes not applicable to 3D imaging, due to their relatively large size and consequently inadequate tissue penetration and penetration speed. The lack of suitable reagents for 3D histopathology can be overcome by an emerging class of single-domain antibodies, referred to as nanobodies (Nbs), which can facilitate rapid and superior 2D and 3D histological stainings. Here, we report the generation and experimental validation of Nbs directed against the human endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (hESAM), which enables spatial visualization of blood vascular networks in whole-mount 3D imaging. After analysis of Nb binding properties and quality, selected Nb clones were validated in 2D and 3D imaging approaches, demonstrating comparable staining qualities to commercially available hESAM antibodies in 2D, as well as rapid and complete staining of entire specimens in 3D. We propose that the presented hESAM-Nbs can serve as novel blood vessel markers in academic research and can potentially improve 3D histopathological diagnostics of entire human tissue specimens, leading to improved treatment and superior patient outcomes.

Chemerin Effect on the Endometrial Proteome of the Domestic Pig during Implantation Obtained by LC-MS/MS Analysis

Chemerin (CHEM) is a hormone mainly expressed in adipocytes involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis and inflammatory response. CHEM expression has been demonstrated in the structures of the porcine hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, as well as in the uterus, trophoblasts and conceptuses of pigs. In this study, we performed high-throughput proteomic analyses (liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS) to examine the influence of CHEM (400 ng/mL) on differentially regulated proteins (DRPs) in the porcine endometrial tissue explants during implantation (15 to 16 days of gestation). Among all 352 DRPs, 164 were up-regulated and 188 were down-regulated in CHEM-treated group. DRPs were assigned to 47 gene ontology (GO) terms (p-adjusted < 0.05). Validation of four DRPs (IFIT5, TGFβ1, ACO1 and PGRMC1) by Western blot analysis confirmed the veracity and accuracy of the LC-MS/MS method used in the present study. We suggest that CHEM, by modulating various protein expressions, takes part in the endometrial cell proliferation, migration and invasion at the time of implantation. It also regulates the endometrial immune response, sensitivity to P4 and the formation of new blood vessels. Additionally, CHEM appears to be an important factor involved in endothelial cell dysfunction during the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The identification of a large number of DRPs under the influence of CHEM provides a valuable resource for understanding the molecular mechanisms of this hormone action during implantation, which is a prerequisite for better control of pig reproduction.

Transcriptional and Epigenetic Bioinformatic Analysis of Claudin-9 Regulation in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is a heterogeneous disease that represents 5% to 10% of all new cancer cases worldwide. Advances in histological diagnosis and the discovery of new genes have admitted new genomic classifications. Nevertheless, the bioinformatic analysis of gastric cancer databases has favored the detection of specific differentially expressed genes with biological significance. Claudins, a family of proteins involved in tight junction physiology, have emerged as the key regulators of cellular processes, such as growth, proliferation, and migration, associated with cancer progression. The expression of Claudin-9 in the gastric cancer tissue has been linked to poor prognosis, however, its transcriptional and epigenetic regulations demand a more comprehensive analysis. Using the neural network promoter prediction, TransFact, Uniprot-KB, Expasy-SOPMA, protein data bank, proteomics DB, Interpro, BioGRID, String, and the FASTA protein sequence databases and software, we found the following: (1) the promoter sequence has an unconventional structure, including different transcriptional regulation elements distributed throughout it, (2) GATA 4, GATA 6, and KLF5 are the key regulators of Claudin-9 expression, (3) Oct1, NF-κB, AP-1, c-Ets-1, and HNF-3β have the higher binding affinity to the CLDN9 promoter, (4) Claudin-9 interacts with cell differentiation and development proteins, (5) CLDN9 is highly methylated, and (6) Claudin-9 expression is associated with poor survival. In conclusion, Claudin-9 is a protein that should be considered a diagnostic marker as its gene promoter region binds to the transcription factors associated with the deregulation of cell control, enhanced cell proliferation, and metastasis.

Global proteomic analyses of human cytotrophoblast differentiation/invasion

During human pregnancy, cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) from the placenta differentiate into specialized subpopulations that play crucial roles in proper fetal growth and development. A subset of these CTBs differentiate along an invasive pathway, penetrating the decidua and anchoring the placenta to the uterus. A crucial hurdle in pregnancy is the ability of these cells to migrate, invade and remodel spiral arteries, ensuring adequate blood flow to nourish the developing fetus. Although advances continue in describing the molecular features regulating the differentiation of these cells, assessment of their global proteomic changes at mid-gestation remain undefined. Here, using sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment-ion spectra (SWATH), which is a data-independent acquisition strategy, we characterized the protein repertoire of second trimester human CTBs during their differentiation towards an invasive phenotype. This mass spectrometry-based approach allowed identification of 3026 proteins across four culture time points corresponding to sequential stages of differentiation, confirming the expression dynamics of established molecules and offering new information into other pathways involved. The availability of a SWATH CTB global spectral library serves as a beneficial resource for hypothesis generation and as a foundation for further understanding CTB differentiation dynamics.

Endothelial cell mechanics and blood flow forces in vascular morphogenesis

The vertebrate cardiovascular system is made up by a hierarchically structured network of highly specialised blood vessels. This network emerges during early embryogenesis and evolves in size and complexity concomitant with embryonic growth and organ formation. Underlying this plasticity are actin-driven endothelial cell behaviours, which allow endothelial cells to change their shape and move within the vascular network. In this review, we discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in vascular network formation and how these intrinsic mechanisms are influenced by haemodynamic forces provided by pressurized blood flow. While most of this review focusses on in vivo evidence from zebrafish embryos, we also mention complementary findings obtained in other experimental systems.

Heterocellular spheroids of the neurovascular blood-brain barrier as a platform for personalized nanoneuromedicine

Nanoneuromedicine investigates nanotechnology to target the brain and treat neurological diseases. In this work, we biofabricated heterocellular spheroids comprising human brain microvascular endothelial cells, brain vascular pericytes and astrocytes combined with primary cortical neurons and microglia isolated from neonate rats. The structure and function are characterized by confocal laser scanning and light sheet fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, western blotting, and RNA sequencing. The spheroid bulk is formed by neural cells and microglia and the surface by endothelial cells and they upregulate key structural and functional proteins of the blood-brain barrier. These cellular constructs are utilized to preliminary screen the permeability of polymeric, metallic, and ceramic nanoparticles (NPs). Findings reveal that penetration and distribution patterns depend on the NP type and that microglia would play a key role in this pathway, highlighting the promise of this platform to investigate the interaction of different nanomaterials with the central nervous system in nanomedicine, nanosafety and nanotoxicology.

Vascular Endothelial Integrity Affects the Severity of Enterovirus-Mediated Cardiomyopathy

Coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is present in epithelial and vascular endothelial cell junctions. We have previously shown a hemorrhagic phenotype in germ-line CAR knock-out mouse embryos; we have also found that CAR interacts with ZO-1 and β-catenin. However, the role of CAR in vascular endothelial junction permeability has not been proven. To understand the roles of CAR in the vascular endothelial junctions, we generated endothelium-specific CAR knockout (CAR-eKO) mice. In the absence of CAR, the endothelial cell layer showed an increase in transmembrane electrical resistance (TER, Ω) and coxsackievirus permeability. Evans blue dye and 70 kDa dextran-FITC were delivered by tail vein injection. We observed increased vascular permeability in the hearts of adult CAR-eKO mice compare with wild-type (WT) mice. There was a marked increase in monocyte and macrophage penetration into the peritoneal cavity caused by thioglycolate-induced peritonitis. We found that CAR ablation in endothelial cells was not significantly increased coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) induced myocarditis in murine model. However, tissue virus titers were significantly higher in CAR-eKO mice compared with WT. Moreover, CVB3 was detected in the brain of CAR-eKO mice. Endothelial CAR deletion affects the expression of major endothelial junction proteins, such as cadherin and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) in the cultured endothelial cells as well as liver vessel. We suggest that CAR expression is required for normal vascular permeability and endothelial tight junction homeostasis. Furthermore, CVB3 organ penetration and myocarditis severities were dependent on the endothelial CAR level.

Autonomous TGFβ signaling induces phenotypic variation in human acute myeloid leukemia

Heterogeneity of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) is involved in their collective chemoresistance. To eradicate LSCs, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms underlying their heterogeneity. Here, we aimed to identify signals responsible for heterogeneity and variation of LSCs in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Monitoring expression levels of endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM), a hematopoietic stem cell-related marker, was useful to detect the plasticity of AML cells. While healthy human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells robustly expressed ESAM, AML cells exhibited heterogeneous ESAM expression. Interestingly, ESAM^- and ESAM⁺ leukemia cells obtained from AML patients were mutually interconvertible in culture. KG1a and CMK, human AML clones, also represented the heterogeneity in terms of ESAM expression. Single cell culture with ESAM^- or ESAM⁺ AML clones recapitulated the phenotypic interconversion. The phenotypic alteration was regulated at the gene expression level, and RNA sequencing revealed activation of TGFβ signaling in these cells. AML cells secreted TGFβ1, which autonomously activated TGFβ pathway and induced their phenotypic variation. Surprisingly, TGFβ signaling blockade inhibited not only the variation but also the proliferation of AML cells. Therefore, autonomous activation of TGFβ signaling underlies the LSC heterogeneity, which may be a promising therapeutic target for AML.

Haploinsufficiency of TANK-binding kinase 1 prepones age-associated neuroinflammatory changes without causing motor neuron degeneration in aged mice

Loss-of-function mutations in TANK-binding kinase 1 cause genetic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Consistent with incomplete penetrance in humans, haploinsufficiency of TANK-binding kinase 1 did not cause motor symptoms in mice up to 7 months of age in a previous study. Ageing is the strongest risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Hypothesizing that age-dependent processes together with haploinsufficiency of TANK-binding kinase 1 could create a double hit situation that may trigger neurodegeneration, we examined mice with hemizygous deletion of Tbk1 (Tbk1 ^+/- mice) and wild-type siblings up to 22 months. Compared to 4-month old mice, aged, 22-month old mice showed glial activation, deposition of motoneuronal p62 aggregates, muscular denervation and profound transcriptomic alterations in a set of 800 immune-related genes upon ageing. However, we did not observe differences regarding these measures between aged Tbk1 ^+/- and wild-type siblings. High age did also not precipitate TAR DNA-binding protein 43 aggregation, neurodegeneration or a neurological phenotype in Tbk1^{+/ -} mice. In young Tbk1^{+/ -} mice, however, we found the CNS immune gene expression pattern shifted towards the age-dependent immune system dysregulation observed in old mice. Conclusively, ageing is not sufficient to precipitate an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or frontotemporal dementia phenotype or spinal or cortical neurodegeneration in a model of Tbk1 haploinsufficiency. We hypothesize that the consequences of Tbk1 haploinsufficiency may be highly context-dependent and require a specific synergistic stress stimulus to be uncovered.

Endothelial Cell-Selective Adhesion Molecule Contributes to the Development of Definitive Hematopoiesis in the Fetal Liver

Endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM) is a lifelong marker of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Although we previously elucidated the functional importance of ESAM in HSCs in stress-induced hematopoiesis in adults, it is unclear how ESAM affects hematopoietic development during fetal life. To address this issue, we analyzed fetuses from conventional or conditional ESAM-knockout mice. Approximately half of ESAM-null fetuses died after mid-gestation due to anemia. RNA sequencing analyses revealed downregulation of adult-type globins and Alas2, a heme biosynthesis enzyme, in ESAM-null fetal livers. These abnormalities were attributed to malfunction of ESAM-null HSCs, which was demonstrated in culture and transplantation experiments. Although crosslinking ESAM directly influenced gene transcription in HSCs, observations in conditional ESAM-knockout fetuses revealed the critical involvement of ESAM expressed in endothelial cells in fetal lethality. Thus, we showed that ESAM had important roles in developing definitive hematopoiesis. Furthermore, we unveiled the importance of endothelial ESAM in this process.

Mechanisms Ensuring Endothelial Junction Integrity Beyond VE-Cadherin

Endothelial junctions provide blood and lymph vessel integrity and are essential for the formation of a vascular system. They control the extravasation of solutes, leukocytes and metastatic cells from blood vessels and the uptake of fluid and leukocytes into the lymphatic vascular system. A multitude of adhesion molecules mediate and control the integrity and permeability of endothelial junctions. VE-cadherin is arguably the most important adhesion molecule for the formation of vascular structures, and the stability of their junctions. Interestingly, despite this prominence, its elimination from junctions in the adult organism has different consequences in the vasculature of different organs, both for blood and lymph vessels. In addition, even in tissues where the lack of VE-cadherin leads to strong plasma leaks from venules, the physical integrity of endothelial junctions is preserved. Obviously, other adhesion molecules can compensate for a loss of VE-cadherin and this review will discuss which other adhesive mechanisms contribute to the stability and regulation of endothelial junctions and cooperate with VE-cadherin in intact vessels. In addition to adhesion molecules, endothelial receptors will be discussed, which stimulate signaling processes that provide junction stability by modulating the actomyosin system, which reinforces tension of circumferential actin and dampens pulling forces of radial stress fibers. Finally, we will highlight most recent reports about the formation and control of the specialized button-like junctions of initial lymphatics, which represent the entry sites for fluid and cells into the lymphatic vascular system.

Interference With ESAM (Endothelial Cell-Selective Adhesion Molecule) Plus Vascular Endothelial-Cadherin Causes Immediate Lethality and Lung-Specific Blood Coagulation

Objective:

Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin is of dominant importance for the formation and stability of endothelial junctions, yet induced gene inactivation enhances vascular permeability in the lung but does not cause junction rupture. This study aims at identifying the junctional adhesion molecule, which is responsible for preventing endothelial junction rupture in the pulmonary vasculature in the absence of VE-cadherin.

Approach and Results:

We have compared the relevance of ESAM (endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule), JAM (junctional adhesion molecule)-A, PECAM (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule)-1, and VE-cadherin for vascular barrier integrity in various mouse tissues. Gene inactivation of ESAM enhanced vascular permeability in the lung but not in the heart, skin, and brain. In contrast, deletion of JAM-A or PECAM-1 did not affect barrier integrity in any of these organs. Blocking VE-cadherin with antibodies caused lethality in ESAM −/− mice within 30 minutes but had no such effect in JAM-A −/− , PECAM-1 −/− or wild-type mice. Likewise, induced gene inactivation of VE-cadherin caused rapid lethality only in the absence of ESAM. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that only combined interference with VE-cadherin and ESAM disrupted endothelial junctions and caused massive blood coagulation in the lung. Mechanistically, we could exclude a role of platelet ESAM in coagulation, changes in the expression of other junctional proteins or a contribution of cytoplasmic signaling domains of ESAM.

Conclusions:

Despite well-documented roles of JAM-A and PECAM-1 for the regulation of endothelial junctions, only for ESAM, we detected an essential role for endothelial barrier integrity in a tissue-specific way. In addition, we found that it is ESAM which prevents endothelial junction rupture in the lung when VE-cadherin is absent.

Functional Genomics for the Identification of Modulators of Platelet-Dependent Thrombus Formation

Despite the absence of the genome in platelets, transcription profiling provides important insights into platelet function and can help clarify abnormalities in platelet disorders. The Bloodomics Consortium performed whole-genome expression analysis comparing in vitro–differentiated megakaryocytes (MKs) with in vitro–differentiated erythroblasts and different blood cell types. This allowed the identification of genes with upregulated expression in MKs compared with all other cell lineages, among the receptors BAMBI, LRRC32, ESAM, and DCBLD2. In a later correlative analysis of genome-wide platelet RNA expression with interindividual human platelet reactivity, LLRFIP and COMMD7 were additionally identified. A functional genomics approach using morpholino-based silencing in zebrafish identified various roles for all of these selected genes in thrombus formation. In this review, we summarize the role of the six identified genes in zebrafish and discuss how they correlate with subsequently performed mouse experiments.

Heterocellular molecular contacts in the mammalian stem cell niche

Adult tissue homeostasis and repair relies on prompt and appropriate intervention by tissue-specific adult stem cells (SCs). SCs have the ability to self-renew; upon appropriate stimulation, they proliferate and give rise to specialized cells. An array of environmental signals is important for maintenance of the SC pool and SC survival, behavior, and fate. Within this special microenvironment, commonly known as the stem cell niche (SCN), SC behavior and fate are regulated by soluble molecules and direct molecular contacts via adhesion molecules providing connections to local supporting cells and the extracellular matrix. Besides the extensively discussed array of soluble molecules, the expression of adhesion molecules and molecular contacts is another fundamental mechanism regulating niche occupancy and SC mobilization upon activation. Some adhesion molecules are differentially expressed and have tissue-specific consequences, likely reflecting the structural differences in niche composition and design, especially the presence or absence of a stromal counterpart. However, the distribution and identity of intercellular molecular contacts for adhesion and adhesion-mediated signaling within stromal and non-stromal SCN have not been thoroughly studied. This review highlights common details or significant differences in cell-to-cell contacts within representative stromal and non-stromal niches that could unveil new standpoints for stem cell biology and therapy.

Soluble endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule and incident cardiovascular events in a multiethnic population

BACKGROUND

Cell adhesion molecules are key regulators of atherosclerotic plaque development, but circulating levels of soluble fragments, such as intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), have yielded conflicting associations with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM) is expressed exclusively in platelets and endothelial cells, and soluble ESAM (sESAM) levels have been associated with prevalent subclinical atherosclerosis. We therefore hypothesized that sESAM would be associated with incident ASCVD.

METHODS

sESAM, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were measured in 2,442 participants without CVD in the Dallas Heart Study, a probability-based population sample aged 30-65 years enrolled between 2000 and 2002. ASCVD was defined as first myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, or CV death. A total of 162 ASCVD events were analyzed over 10.4 years.

RESULTS

Increasing sESAM was associated with ASCVD, independent of risk factors (HR Q4 vs Q1: 2.7, 95% CI 1.6-4.6). Serial adjustment for renal function, sICAM-1, VCAM-1, and prevalent coronary calcium did not attenuate these associations. Continuous ESAM demonstrated similar findings (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.2-1.4). Addition of sESAM to traditional risk factors improved discrimination and reclassification (delta c-index: P = .009; integrated-discrimination-improvement index P = .001; net reclassification index = 0.42, 95% CI 0.15-0.68). Neither sICAM-1 nor sVCAM-1 was independently associated with ASCVD.

CONCLUSIONS

sESAM but not sICAM-1 or sVCAM-1 levels are associated with incident ASCVD. Further studies are warranted to investigate the role of sESAM in ASCVD.

Niche Extracellular Matrix Components and Their Influence on HSC

Maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) takes place in a highly specialized microenvironment within the bone marrow. Technological improvements, especially in the field of in vivo imaging, have helped unravel the complexity of the niche microenvironment and have completely changed the classical concept from what was previously believed to be a static supportive platform, to a dynamic microenvironment tightly regulating HSC homeostasis through the complex interplay between diverse cell types, secreted factors, extracellular matrix molecules, and the expression of different transmembrane receptors. To add to the complexity, non-protein based metabolites have also been recognized as a component of the bone marrow niche. The objective of this review is to discuss the current understanding on how the different extracellular matrix components of the niche regulate HSC fate, both during embryonic development and in adulthood. Special attention will be provided to the description of non-protein metabolites, such as lipids and metal ions, which contribute to the regulation of HSC behavior. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1984-1993, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Distinct and redundant functions of Esama and VE-cadherin during vascular morphogenesis

The cardiovascular system forms during early embryogenesis and adapts to embryonic growth by sprouting angiogenesis and vascular remodeling. These processes require fine-tuning of cell-cell adhesion to maintain and re-establish endothelial contacts, while allowing cell motility. We have compared the contribution of two endothelial cell-specific adhesion proteins, VE-cadherin (VE-cad/Cdh5) and Esama (endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule a), during angiogenic sprouting and blood vessel fusion (anastomosis) in the zebrafish embryo by genetic analyses. Different combinations of mutant alleles can be placed into a phenotypic series with increasing defects in filopodial contact formation. Contact formation in esama mutants appears similar to wild type, whereas esama^-/-; ve-cad^+/- and ve-cad single mutants exhibit intermediate phenotypes. The lack of both proteins interrupts filopodial interaction completely. Furthermore, double mutants do not form a stable endothelial monolayer, and display intrajunctional gaps, dislocalization of Zo-1 and defects in apical-basal polarization. In summary, VE-cadherin and Esama have distinct and redundant functions during blood vessel morphogenesis, and both adhesion proteins are central to endothelial cell recognition during anastomosis.

Endothelial Cell-Selective Adhesion Molecule Expression in Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells Is Essential for Erythropoiesis Recovery after Bone Marrow Injury

Numerous red blood cells are generated every second from proliferative progenitor cells under a homeostatic state. Increased erythropoietic activity is required after myelo-suppression as a result of chemo-radio therapies. Our previous study revealed that the endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM), an authentic hematopoietic stem cell marker, plays essential roles in stress-induced hematopoiesis. To determine the physiological importance of ESAM in erythroid recovery, ESAM-knockout (KO) mice were treated with the anti-cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). ESAM-KO mice experienced severe and prolonged anemia after 5-FU treatment compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Eight days after the 5-FU injection, compared to WT mice, ESAM-KO mice showed reduced numbers of erythroid progenitors in bone marrow (BM) and spleen, and reticulocytes in peripheral blood. Megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitors (MEPs) from the BM of 5-FU-treated ESAM-KO mice showed reduced burst forming unit-erythrocyte (BFU-E) capacities than those from WT mice. BM transplantation revealed that hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from ESAM-KO donors were more sensitive to 5-FU treatment than that from WT donors in the WT host mice. However, hematopoietic cells from WT donors transplanted into ESAM-KO host mice could normally reconstitute the erythroid lineage after a BM injury. These results suggested that ESAM expression in hematopoietic cells, but not environmental cells, is critical for hematopoietic recovery. We also found that 5-FU treatment induces the up-regulation of ESAM in primitive erythroid progenitors and macrophages that do not express ESAM under homeostatic conditions. The phenotypic change seen in macrophages might be functionally involved in the interaction between erythroid progenitors and their niche components during stress-induced acute erythropoiesis. Microarray analyses of primitive erythroid progenitors from 5-FU-treated WT and ESAM-KO mice revealed that various signaling pathways, including the GATA1 system, were impaired in ESAM-KO mice. Thus, our data demonstrate that ESAM expression in hematopoietic progenitors is essential for erythroid recovery after a BM injury.

Soluble endothelial cell selective adhesion molecule and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with stable coronary disease: A report from the Heart and Soul Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM) is selectively expressed on vascular endothelium and is postulated to play a role in atherogenesis. We investigated the association of serum soluble ESAM (sESAM) levels with subsequent cardiovascular outcomes in patients with stable ischemic heart disease.

METHODS

We measured sESAM levels in 981 patients with stable coronary disease enrolled between September 2000 and December 2002 in a prospective cohort study. Poisson regression models were used to define the relationship between baseline sESAM levels and cardiovascular outcomes, including myocardial infarction, heart failure hospitalization, and mortality.

RESULTS

There were 293 occurrences of the composite endpoint over a median follow-up of 8.9 years. After adjusting for demographic and clinical risk factors, participants in the highest sESAM quartile (compared to the lower three sESAM quartiles) had a higher rate of the composite endpoint (incident rate ratio (IRR) 1.52 (95% CI 1.16-1.99) as well as of its individual components: myocardial infarction (IRR 1.64 (1.06-2.55)), heart failure hospitalizations (IRR 1.96 (1.32-2.81)), and death (IRR 1.5 (1.2-1.89)). These associations were no longer significant after adjustment for estimated glomerular filtration rate.

CONCLUSIONS

sESAM levels associate with myocardial infarction, heart failure, and death after adjustment for demographic and clinical risk factors, but not after adjustment for kidney function. sESAM may be involved in the pathogenesis of concurrent kidney and cardiovascular disease.

ESAM predicts cardiovascular mortality in diabetic hemodialysis patients

AIM

To assess endothelial cell selective adhesion molecule (ESAM) as predictor of cardiovascular mortality in diabetic dialysis patients (DDPs).

METHODS

ESAM, clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed in 73 DDP. Cardiovascular mortality was recorded in a 2 years' prospective observational study.

RESULTS

Baseline ESAM was 17.1 (10.05-24.8) ng/ml and was correlated to phosphate (r = -0.42, p = 0.008), parathormone (r = -0.36, p = 0.048), albumin (r = -0.24, p = 0.048). ESAM significantly predicted cardiovascular death in univariate [HR = 1.03, 95% CI (1.006-1.054), p = 0.01] and multivariate [HR = 1.034, 95% CI (1.003-1.066), p = 0.03] Cox analysis. Time to cardiovascular death was shorter for patients with ESAM >12.44 ng/ml, p = 0.0045.

CONCLUSION

ESAM is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in DDP.

IgE-activated basophils regulate eosinophil tissue entry by modulating endothelial function

Basophils orchestrate eosinophil recruitment during IgE-dependent dermatitis by interacting with inflamed endothelium and producing IL-4. IL-4 in turn induces endothelial VCAM-1 expression, which is required for subsequent eosinophil accumulation.

Vertebrate immunity has evolved a modular architecture in response to perturbations. Allergic inflammation represents such a module, with signature features of antigen-specific IgE and tissue eosinophilia, although the cellular and molecular circuitry coupling these responses remains unclear. Here, we use genetic and imaging approaches in models of IgE-dependent eosinophilic dermatitis to demonstrate a requisite role for basophils. After antigenic inflammation, basophils initiate transmigration like other granulocytes but, upon activation via their high-affinity IgE receptor, alter their migratory kinetics to persist at the endothelium. Prolonged basophil–endothelial interactions, in part dependent on activation of focal adhesion kinases, promote delivery of basophil-derived IL-4 to the endothelium and subsequent induction of endothelial vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), which is required for eosinophil accumulation. Thus, basophils are gatekeepers that link adaptive immunity with innate effector programs by altering access to tissue sites by activation-induced interactions with the endothelium.

"You Shall Not Pass"-tight junctions of the blood brain barrier

The structure and function of the barrier layers restricting the free diffusion of substances between the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the systemic circulation is of great medical interest as various pathological conditions often lead to their impairment. Excessive leakage of blood-borne molecules into the parenchyma and the concomitant fluctuations in the microenvironment following a transient breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) during ischemic/hypoxic conditions or because of an autoimmune disease are detrimental to the physiological functioning of nervous tissue. On the other hand, the treatment of neurological disorders is often hampered as only minimal amounts of therapeutic agents are able to penetrate a fully functional BBB or blood cerebrospinal fluid barrier. An in-depth understanding of the molecular machinery governing the establishment and maintenance of these barriers is necessary to develop rational strategies allowing a controlled delivery of appropriate drugs to the CNS. At the basis of such tissue barriers are intimate cell-cell contacts (zonulae occludentes, tight junctions) which are present in all polarized epithelia and endothelia. By creating a paracellular diffusion constraint TJs enable the vectorial transport across cell monolayers. More recent findings indicate that functional barriers are already established during development, protecting the fetal brain. As an understanding of the biogenesis of TJs might reveal the underlying mechanisms of barrier formation during ontogenic development numerous in vitro systems have been developed to study the assembly and disassembly of TJs. In addition, monitoring the stage-specific expression of TJ-associated proteins during development has brought much insight into the “developmental tightening” of tissue barriers. Over the last two decades a detailed molecular map of transmembrane and cytoplasmic TJ-proteins has been identified. These proteins not only form a cell-cell adhesion structure, but integrate various signaling pathways, thereby directly or indirectly impacting upon processes such as cell-cell adhesion, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and transcriptional control. This review will provide a brief overview on the establishment of the BBB during embryonic development in mammals and a detailed description of the ultrastructure, biogenesis, and molecular composition of epithelial and endothelial TJs will be given.

Increases in insulin sensitivity among obese youth are associated with gene expression changes in whole blood

OBJECTIVE

Lifestyle intervention can improve insulin sensitivity in obese youth, yet few studies have examined the molecular signatures associated with these improvements. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore gene expression changes in whole blood that are associated with intervention-induced improvements in insulin sensitivity.

METHODS

Fifteen (7M/8F) overweight/obese (BMI percentile = 96.3 ± 1.1) Latino adolescents (15.0 ± 0.9 years) completed a 12-week lifestyle intervention that included weekly nutrition education and 180 minutes of moderate-vigorous exercise per week. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by an oral glucose tolerance test and the Matsuda Index. Global microarray analysis profiling from whole blood was performed to examine changes in gene expression and to explore biological pathways that were significantly changed in response to the intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 1,459 probes corresponding to mRNA transcripts (717 up, 742 down) were differentially expressed with a fold change ≥1.2. These genes were mapped within eight significant pathways identified, including insulin signaling, type 1 diabetes, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Participants with increased insulin sensitivity exhibited five times the number of significant genes altered compared with nonresponders (1,144 vs. 230).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that molecular signatures from whole blood are associated with lifestyle-induced health improvements among high-risk Latino youth.

Impaired tumor angiogenesis and VEGF-induced pathway in endothelial CD146 knockout mice

CD146 is a newly identified endothelial biomarker that has been implicated in angiogenesis. Though in vitro angiogenic function of CD146 has been extensively reported, in vivo evidence is still lacking. To address this issue, we generated endothelial-specific CD146 knockout (CD146^EC-KO) mice using the Tg(Tek-cre) system. Surprisingly, these mice did not exhibit any apparent morphological defects in the development of normal retinal vasculature. To evaluate the role of CD146 in pathological angiogenesis, a xenograft tumor model was used. We found that both tumor volume and vascular density were significantly lower in CD146^EC-KO mice when compared to WT littermates. Additionally, the ability for sprouting, migration and tube formation in response to VEGF treatment was impaired in endothelial cells (ECs) of CD146^EC-KO mice. Mechanistic studies further confirmed that VEGF-induced VEGFR-2 phosphorylation and AKT/p38 MAPKs/NF-κB activation were inhibited in these CD146-null ECs, which might present the underlying cause for the observed inhibition of tumor angiogenesis in CD146^EC-KO mice. These results suggest that CD146 plays a redundant role in physiological angiogenic processes, but becomes essential during pathological angiogenesis as observed in tumorigenesis.

JAM-related proteins in mucosal homeostasis and inflammation

Mucosal surfaces are lined by epithelial cells that form a physical barrier protecting the body against external noxious substances and pathogens. At a molecular level, the mucosal barrier is regulated by tight junctions (TJs) that seal the paracellular space between adjacent epithelial cells. Transmembrane proteins within TJs include junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) that belong to the cortical thymocyte marker for Xenopus family of proteins. JAM family encompasses three classical members (JAM-A, JAM-B, and JAM-C) and related molecules including JAM4, JAM-like protein, Coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR), CAR-like membrane protein and endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule. JAMs have multiple functions that include regulation of endothelial and epithelial paracellular permeability, leukocyte recruitment during inflammation, angiogenesis, cell migration, and proliferation. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the roles of the JAM family members in the regulation of mucosal homeostasis and leukocyte trafficking with a particular emphasis on barrier function and its perturbation during pathological inflammation.

Similarities and differences in the regulation of leukocyte extravasation and vascular permeability

Leukocyte extravasation is regulated and mediated by a multitude of adhesion and signaling molecules. Many of them enable the capturing and docking of leukocytes to the vessel wall. Others allow leukocytes to crawl on the apical surface of endothelial cells to appropriate sites of exit. While these steps are well understood and the adhesion molecules mediating these interactions are largely identified, a still growing number of adhesion receptors mediate the diapedesis process, the actual migration of leukocytes through the endothelial cell layer, and the underlying basement membrane. In most cases, it is not known which molecular processes they actually mediate, whether they enable the migration of leukocytes through the endothelial cell layer or whether they are involved in the destabilization of endothelial junctions. In addition, leukocytes are able to circumvent junctions and transcytose directly through the body of endothelial cells. While this latter route indeed exists, recent work has highlighted in vivo the junctional pathway as the prevalent way of leukocyte exit in various inflamed tissues. Recent work elucidating molecular mechanisms that regulate endothelial junctions and thereby leukocyte extravasation and vascular permeability will be discussed.

Functional clustering of immunoglobulin superfamily proteins with protein-protein interaction information calibrated hidden Markov model sequence profiles

Secreted and cell-surface-localized members of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) play central roles in regulating adaptive and innate immune responses and are prime targets for the development of protein-based therapeutics. An essential activity of the ectodomains of these proteins is the specific recognition of cognate ligands, which are often other members of the IgSF. In this work, we provide functional insight for this important class of proteins through the development of a clustering algorithm that groups together extracellular domains of the IgSF with similar binding preferences. Information from hidden Markov model-based sequence profiles and domain architecture is calibrated against manually curated protein interaction data to define functional families of IgSF proteins. The method is able to assign 82% of the 477 extracellular IgSF protein to a functional family, while the rest are either single proteins with unique function or proteins that could not be assigned with the current technology. The functional clustering of IgSF proteins generates hypotheses regarding the identification of new cognate receptor-ligand pairs and reduces the pool of possible interacting partners to a manageable level for experimental validation.

Plxnd1 expression in thymocytes regulates their intrathymic migration while that in thymic endothelium impacts medullary topology

An important role for plexinD1 in thymic development is inferred from studies of germline Plxnd1 knockout (KO) mice where mislocalized CD69⁺ thymocytes as well as ectopic thymic subcapsular medullary structures were observed. Given embryonic lethality of the Plxnd1^−/− genotype, fetal liver transplantation was employed in these prior analyses. Such embryonic hematopoietic reconstitution may have transferred Plxnd1 KO endothelial and/or epithelial stem cells in addition to Plxnd1 KO lymphoid progenitors, thereby contributing to that phenotype. Here we use Plxnd1^flox/flox mice crossed to pLck-Cre, pKeratin14-Cre, or pTek-Cre transgenic animals to create cell-type specific conditional knockout (CKO) lines involving thymocytes (D1ThyCKO), thymic epithelium (D1EpCKO), and thymic endothelium (D1EnCKO), respectively. These CKOs allowed us to directly assess the role of plexinD1 in each lineage. Loss of plexinD1 expression on double positive (DP) thymocytes leads to their aberrant migration and cortical retention after TCR-mediated positive selection. In contrast, ectopic medulla formation is a consequence of loss of plexinD1 expression on endothelial cells, in turn linked to dysregulation of thymic angiogenesis. D1EpCKO thymi manifest neither abnormality. Collectively, our findings underscore the non-redundant roles for plexinD1 on thymocytes and endothelium, including the dynamic nature of medulla formation resulting from crosstalk between these thymic cellular components.

Endothelial junction regulation: a prerequisite for leukocytes crossing the vessel wall

The leukocytes of the innate immune system, especially neutrophils and monocytes, exit the circulation early in the response to local inflammation and infection. This is necessary to control and prevent the spread of infections before an adaptive immune response can be raised. The endothelial cells and the intercellular junctions that connect them form a barrier that leukocytes need to pass in order to get to the site of inflammation. The junctions are tightly regulated which ensures that leukocytes only exit when and where they are needed. This regulation is disturbed in many chronic inflammatory diseases which are characterized by ongoing recruitment and interstitial accumulation of leukocytes. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms that regulate endothelial cell-cell junctions and prevent or permit leukocyte transendothelial migration.

Regulation of intestinal epithelial permeability by tight junctions

The gastrointestinal epithelium forms the boundary between the body and external environment. It effectively provides a selective permeable barrier that limits the permeation of luminal noxious molecules, such as pathogens, toxins, and antigens, while allowing the appropriate absorption of nutrients and water. This selective permeable barrier is achieved by intercellular tight junction (TJ) structures, which regulate paracellular permeability. Disruption of the intestinal TJ barrier, followed by permeation of luminal noxious molecules, induces a perturbation of the mucosal immune system and inflammation, and can act as a trigger for the development of intestinal and systemic diseases. In this context, much effort has been taken to understand the roles of extracellular factors, including cytokines, pathogens, and food factors, for the regulation of the intestinal TJ barrier. Here, I discuss the regulation of the intestinal TJ barrier together with its implications for the pathogenesis of diseases.

Inflammation in atherosclerosis: a cause or a result of vascular disorders?

Sound data support the concept that in atherosclerosis, inflammation and dyslipidemia intersect each other and that irrespective of the initiator, both participate from the early stages to the ultimate fate of the atheromatous plaque. The two partakers manoeuvre a vicious circle in atheroma formation: dyslipidaemia triggers an inflammatory process and inflammation elicits dyslipidaemia. Independent of the initial cause, the atherosclerotic lesions occur focally, in particular arterial-susceptible sites, by a process that, although continuous, can be arbitrarily divided into a sequence of consecutive stages that lead from fatty streak to the fibro-lipid plaque and ultimately to plaque rupture and thrombosis. In the process, the initial event is a change in endothelial cells (EC) constitutive properties. Then, the molecular alarm signals send by dysfunctional EC are decoded by specific blood immune cells (monocytes, T lymphocytes, neutrophils, mast cells) and by the resident vascular cells, that respond by initiating a robust inflammatory process, in which the cells and the factors they secrete hasten the atheroma development. Direct and indirect crosstalk between the cells housed within the nascent plaque, complemented by the increase in risk factors of atherosclerosis lead to atheroma development and outcome. The initial inflammatory response can be regarded as a defense/protective reaction mechanism, but its further amplification, speeds up atherosclerosis. In this review, we provide an overview on the role of inflammation and dyslipidaemia and their intersection in atherogenesis. The data may add to the foundation of a novel attitude in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Low serum endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule predicts increase in albuminuria in type 2 diabetes patients

PURPOSE

The newly discovered endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM) stabilizes the interendothelial tight junction; it circulates in serum as a soluble fraction. In experimental diabetes, reduced ESAM expression in the kidney is associated with albuminuria. We investigated, for the first time, serum ESAM as a predictor of progression of kidney disease in type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

T2D non-nephrotic patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) > 30 ml/min were included. History, medication and laboratory evaluation were assessed at inclusion and the end of study; ESAM was determined at baseline.

RESULTS

Eighty-eight patients--mean age 63 ± 10.84 years, 49 (55.68 %) males--were prospectively followed up for 20 months. Baseline GFR was 76.37 ± 29.56 ml/min, and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) 21.63(7.08-94.52) mg/g; ESAM was 12.85(6.13-19.83) ng/ml. Difference (Δ) in UACR between end of study and baseline was inversely related to serum albumin (r = -0.27, p = 0.017) and ESAM (r = -0.21, p = 0.047); ΔGFR correlated to glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.22, p = 0.05). In multiple regression, introducing variables susceptible to influence progression of kidney disease, ΔUACR was significantly related to log ESAM (p = 0.005) and ΔGFR to glycated hemoglobin (p = 0.016).

CONCLUSION

Serum ESAM is a predictor of worsening of albuminuria in T2D patients without advanced kidney disease.

Endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule in diabetic nephropathy

BACKGROUND

Endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule (ESAM) contributes to the integrity of tight junctions and modulates endothelial function. ESAM has been linked to experimental diabetic nephropathy; its soluble fraction is related to atherosclerosis in humans. In this cross-sectional observational study, we describe for the first time serum ESAM in type 2 diabetic patients with different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its relationship to vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). Materials and methods  We included diabetic patients with different stages of CKD and controls. History, laboratory evaluation, serum ESAM and VEGF-A and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were obtained.

RESULTS

Endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule was higher in non-CKD diabetic patients 13.80 (6.15-18.70) ng/mL (n=45) than controls 7.30 (4.60-9.40) ng/mL (n=48), P=0.001. VEGF-A had a similar pattern: 71.3 (54.75-120.70) vs. 43.20 (30.1-65.90) pg/mL, P<0.0001. ESAM was 10.4 (5.6-17.4) ng/mL in predialysis CKD patients (n=59) and 22.35 (8.55-29.95) ng/mL in dialysis patients (n=36), P<0.001. Patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR)<15 mL/min had the highest ESAM (P=0.003). ESAM was similar in normoalbuminuric, microalbuminuric and proteinuric patients. ESAM was directly correlated with the duration of diabetes (r(2)=0.048, P=0.009), C-reactive protein (r(2)=0.028, P=0.05), VEGF-A (r(2)=0.040, P=0.01) and inversely with HbA1C (r(2)=0.036, P=0.03), haemoglobin (r(2)=0.062, P=0.005) and albumin (r(2)=0.0·40, P=0.026). In multiple regression diabetes duration, HbA1C and VEGF-A were significant predictors of ESAM. In controls, ESAM was inversely related to VEGF (r(2)=037, P=0.01).

CONCLUSION

Endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule and VEGF-A are higher in patients with diabetes than in controls. The highest ESAM is found in dialysis patients. ESAM correlates with diabetes duration and control, inflammation and VEGF-A in patients with diabetes, but not in controls.

Function of junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) in leukocyte migration and homeostasis

Homeostasis is a word widely used in the scientific community to refer to the property of a system to maintain its uniformity and functionality. In living organisms, the word refers to the concept enunciated 150 years ago by C. Bernard by which external variations must be compensated for in order to maintain internal conditions compatible with life. This is especially true in the case of highly dynamic system such as the hematopoietic system that requires the coordinated control of cell proliferation and death within specialized microenvironments that are anatomically distinct. As a consequence, hematopoietic cell adhesion and migration must be tightly controlled in order for hematopoietic cells to reach and to be maintained in appropriate microenvironments. The junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) are adhesion molecules that belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSf) and that have been initially identified as important players controlling vascular permeability and leukocyte transendothelial migration. This involves the regulated localization of the JAMs at lateral endothelial cell/cell borders and their interaction with leukocyte integrins. More recently, some of the JAM family members have also been found to be expressed by stromal cells and to regulate chemokine secretion within lymphoid organs, acting not only on leukocyte transendothelial migration, but also on hematopoietic cell retention within specialized microenvironments. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding the role of the JAMs in leukocyte adhesion and migration to tentatively draw an integrated view of the homeostatic function of the JAMs within the hematopoietic system.

Regulation of epithelial proliferation by tight junction proteins

The epithelial tight junction (TJ) is the apical-most intercellular junction and serves as a gatekeeper for the paracellular pathway by permitting regulated passage of fluid and ions while restricting movement of large molecules. In addition to these vital barrier functions, TJ proteins are emerging as major signaling molecules that mediate crosstalk between the extracellular environment, the cell surface, and the nucleus. Biochemical studies have recently determined that epithelial TJs contain over a hundred proteins that encompass transmembrane proteins, scaffolding molecules, cytoskeletal components, regulatory elements, and signaling molecules. Indeed, many of these proteins have defined roles in regulating epithelial polarity, differentiation, and proliferation. This review will focus on recent findings that highlight a role for TJ proteins in controlling cell proliferation during epithelial homeostasis, wound healing, and carcinogenesis.