Large scale purification and immunolocalization of bovine uroplakins I, II, and III. Molecular markers of urothelial differentiation

Comparison of uroplakin expression during urothelial carcinogenesis induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine in rats and mice

The expression of uroplakins, the tissue-specific and differentiation-dependent membrane proteins of the urothelium, was analyzed immunohistochemically in N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN)-treated rats and mice during bladder carcinogenesis. Male Fischer 344 rats were treated with 0.05% BBN in the drinking water for 10 wk and were euthanatized at week 20 of the experiment. BBN was administered to male B6D2F, mice; it was either provided at a rate of 0.05% in the drinking water (for 26 wk) or 5 mg BBN was administered by intragastric gavage twice weekly for 10 wk, followed by 20 wk without treatment. In rats, BBN-induced, noninvasive, low-grade, papillary, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) showed decreased uroplakin-staining of cells lining the lumen but showed increased expression in some nonluminal cells. In mice, nonpapillary, high-grade dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and invasive carcinoma were induced. There was a marked decrease in the number of uroplakin-positive cells lining the lumen and in nonluminal cells. This occurred in normal-appearing urothelium in BBN-treated mice and in dysplasic urothelium, in carcinoma in situ, and in invasive TCC. The percentage of uroplakin-positive nonluminal cells was higher in control mice than in rats, but it was lower in the mouse than in the rat after BBN treatment. Uroplakin expression was disorderly and focal in BBN-treated urothelium in both species. These results indicate that BBN treatment changed the expression of uroplakins during bladder carcinogenesis, with differences in rats and mice being related to degree of tumor differentiation.

Immunohistochemical analysis of uroplakins, urothelial specific proteins, in ovarian Brenner tumors, normal tissues, and benign and neoplastic lesions of the female genital tract

Uroplakins are the characteristic integral membrane proteins in terminally differentiated, superficial urothelial asymmetric unit membrane. Brenner tumors of the ovary and Walthard cell nests of Fallopian tubes have been considered to represent urothelial differentiation in the female genital tract, but no definitive differentiation marker has been demonstrated supporting such a conclusion. An immunohistochemical analysis was performed to assess the expression of uroplakins in these lesions as well as in various benign and neoplastic lesions and normal tissues of the female genital tract. Focal expression of uroplakins was observed on the luminal surface of ovarian Brenner tumor cells forming microcysts in all 5 cases examined. In contrast, uroplakins were slightly expressed in only 1 of 12 cases of Walthard cell nests, even in the presence of microcyst formation. Uroplakins were not expressed in other benign or malignant lesions or normal tissues of the female genital tract. These results support the hypothesis that the Brenner tumor and possibly Walthard cell nests represent urothelial (transitional cell) differentiation.

New concepts of histological changes in experimental augmentation cystoplasty: insights into the development of neoplastic transformation at the enterovesical and gastrovesical anastomosis

PURPOSE

To our knowledge the pathogenesis of malignancy associated with ileal cystoplasty, ureterosigmoidostomy and ileal conduits is currently unknown. To gain further insights into the mechanism of neoplastic transformation we studied histological changes in a canine augmentation cystoplasty model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Enterocystoplasty and gastrocystoplasty were performed using a 5 to 7 cm. patch of ileum in 8 dogs and gastric antrum in 6. Specimens were harvested 4 months postoperatively. Representative 3 microm sections of the enterovesical and gastrovesical junctions were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Uroplakin expression was assessed using an indirect peroxidase method subjected to double staining with alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiffreagent.

RESULTS

The bladder portion of the augmentation cystoplasty had 3 to 4 stratified cell layers covered with a distinctive umbrella cell layer. Strong uroplakin staining was visible in all cell layers except the basal layer. At the enterovesical and gastrovesical junctions 6 to 10 layers of hyperplastic, urothelial appearing cells covered the glandular epithelium of the ileal and gastric segments. These cells expressed uroplakins. At this junction zone there was a marked decrease of underlying enteric glands, which had atrophied in proportion to the degree of urothelial hyperplasia. Double staining of uroplakin stained sections with alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff reagent revealed mucosubstances in hyperplastic urothelial cells covering the enteral segments, indicating that the cells co-expressed uroplakins and mucins.

CONCLUSIONS

Histological changes in this experimental canine model of augmentation cystoplasty indicated that the overgrowth of hyperplastic transitional epithelium develops at the enterovesical and gastrovesical junctions. These cells express not only uroplakins, but also mucosubstances. Our results suggest that the migrated hyperplastic urothelial cells have undergone changes characteristic of the enteric and gastric epithelium, which may have important implications in the pathogenesis of malignancy in bladder augmentations.

Urothelial hinge as a highly specialized membrane: detergent-insolubility, urohingin association, and in vitro formation

Urothelial surface is covered by numerous plaques (consisting of asymmetric unit membranes or AUM) that are interconnected by ordinary looking hinge membranes. We describe an improved method for purifying bovine urothelial plaques using 2% sarkosyl and 25 mM NaOH to remove contaminating membrane and peripheral proteins selectively. Highly purified plaques interconnected by intact hinge areas were obtained, indicating that the hinges are as detergent-insoluble as the plaques. These plaque/hinge preparations contained uroplakins, an as yet uncharacterized 18-kDa plaque-associated protein, plus an 85-kDa glycoprotein that is known to be hinge-associated in situ. Examination of the isolated, in vitro-resealed bovine AUM vesicles by quick-freeze deep-etch showed that each AUM particle consists of a 16-nm, luminally exposed "head" anchored to the lipid bilayer via a 9-mm transmembranous "tail", and that an AUM plaque can break forming several smaller plaques separated by newly formed particle-free, hinge-like areas. These data lend support to our recently proposed three-dimensional model of mouse urothelial plaques. In addition, our findings suggest that urothelial plaques are dynamic structures that can rearrange giving rise to new plaques with intervening hinges; that the entire urothelial apical surface (both plaque and hinge areas) is highly specialized; and that these two membrane domains may be equally important in fulfilling some of the urothelial functions.

Expression of transitional cell-specific genes, uroplakin Ia and II, in bladder cancer: detection of circulating cancer cells in the peripheral blood of metastatic patients

BACKGROUND

Uroplakins (UP), urothelium-specific transmembrane proteins, are present only in urothelia and may be good candidates as tumor markers specific for transitional cell carcinomas (TCC). We investigated the expression of UP-Ia and UP-II genes in the tissues and peripheral blood of patients with TCC.

METHODS

We investigated UP-Ia and UP-II gene expression in tissues from 12 patients with TCC by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HT1197, a TCC cell line, was used as an indicated cell line to assess a detection system for the UP-II gene-expressing cancer cells by nested RT-PCR. We also investigated UP-II gene expression in the peripheral blood of 12 other patients with TCC by nested RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Prior to the investigation of UP-Ia and UP-II gene expression, a partial nucleotide sequence of human UP-II gene cDNA was determined to prepare the primers for RT-PCR. Uroplakin genes were expressed in both cancerous and non-cancerous urothelia taken from all patients examined by RT-PCR. The detection sensitivity of our assay showed that one cancer cell could be detected in 5 mL peripheral blood. UP-II gene-expression was detected in the peripheral blood from all three patients with metastatic TCC but not from the nine patients with non-metastatic TCC nor the three healthy volunteers.

CONCLUSIONS

Uroplakins may be employed as tumor markers for transitional cell cancer, because they are highly conserved and well expressed, not only in non-cancerous cells but also in cancer cells. Furthermore, detection of UP-II gene expression in blood by nested RT-PCR may provide helpful information in the diagnosis and management of TCC.

Primary uroepithelial cultures. A model system to analyze umbrella cell barrier function

Despite almost 25 years of effort, the development of a highly differentiated and functionally equivalent cell culture model of uroepithelial cells has eluded investigators. We have developed a primary cell culture model of rabbit uroepithelium that consists of an underlying cell layer that interacts with a collagen substratum, an intermediate cell layer, and an upper cell layer of large (25-100 micrometer) superficial cells. When examined at the ultrastructural level, the superficial cells formed junctional complexes and had an asymmetric unit membrane, a hallmark of terminal differentiation in bladder umbrella cells. These cultured "umbrella" cells expressed uroplakins and a 27-kDa uroepithelial specific antigen that assembled into detergent-resistant asymmetric unit membrane particles. The cultures had low diffusive permeabilities for water (2.8 x 10(-4) cm/s) and urea (3.0 x 10(-7) cm/s) and high transepithelial resistance (>8000 Omega cm2) was achieved when 1 mM CaCl2 was included in the culture medium. The cell cultures expressed an amiloride-sensitive sodium transport pathway and increases in apical membrane capacitance were observed when the cultures were osmotically stretched. The described primary rabbit cell culture model mimics many of the characteristics of uroepithelium found in vivo and should serve as a useful tool to explore normal uroepithelial function as well as dysfunction as a result of disease.

Three-dimensional analysis of the 16 nm urothelial plaque particle: luminal surface exposure, preferential head-to-head interaction, and hinge formation

The luminal surface of mouse urothelium in contact with the urine is almost entirely covered with plaques consisting of uroplakin-containing particles that form p6 hexagonal crystals with a center-to-center distance of 16 nm. A combination of quick-freeze/deep-etch images and our previous negative staining data indicate that the head domain of the uroplakin particle, which is exposed without an extensive glycocalyx shield, interacts closely with the head domains of the neighboring particles, while the membrane-embedded tail domains are farther apart; and that urothelial particles and plaques are not rigid structures as they can change their configuration in response to mechanical perturbations. Based on these data, we have constructed three-dimensional models depicting the structural organization of urothelial particles and plaques. Our models suggest that the head-to-head interaction may play a key role in determining the shape and size of the urothelial plaques. These models can explain many properties of urothelial plaques including their unique shape, detergent-insolubility, and morphological changes during vesicle maturation.

Uroplakin gene expression by normal and neoplastic human urothelium

cDNA sequences for human uroplakins UPIa, UPIb, UPII, and UPIII were cloned and used to investigate uroplakin transcription by normal and neoplastic urothelial cells. Normal urothelium expressed mRNA for all four uroplakins, although UPIII could be detected only by ribonuclease protection assay. By in situ hybridization, UPIa and UPII were confined to superficial cells and UPIb was also expressed by intermediate cells. Cultured normal human urothelial cells showed a proliferative basal/intermediate cell phenotype and constitutive expression of UPIb only. Uroplakin expression by transitional cell carcinoma cell lines was related to their differentiated phenotype in vitro. RT4 cells expressed all uroplakins, VM-CUB-3 expressed three uroplakins, RT112 and HT1376 cells expressed only UPIb in high abundance, and COLO232, KK47, and EJ cells had no detectable expression. These results correlated with patterns of uroplakin expression in tumors. UPIa and UPII were detected superficially only in well differentiated transitional cell carcinoma papillae. UPIb was positive in seven of nine and overexpressed in five of nine noninvasive transitional cell carcinomas and was also present in four of eight invasive transitional cell carcinomas. Lymph node metastases retained the same pattern of UPIb expression as the primary tumor. Unlike the three differentiation-regulated uroplakins, UPIb may have an alternative role in urothelial cell/tissue processes.

Expression of uroplakin Ib and uroplakin III genes in tissues and peripheral blood of patients with transitional cell carcinoma

Uroplakins (UPs), urothelium-specific transmembrane proteins, are present only in urothelial cells. We have determined the nucleotide sequences of human UP-Ib and UP-III and synthesized specific primer pairs. The two UP genes were expressed in both cancerous and noncancerous urothelial taken from all patients examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These genes were also detected in the peripheral blood of 3 patients with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), but not in that from 9 patients with non-metastatic TCC or 3 healthy volunteers. The sensitivity of our assay was sufficient to detect one cancer cell in 5 ml of peripheral blood. Detection of UP gene-expression in blood by RT-PCR may provide helpful information for the diagnosis and management of TCC.

Water and solute permeabilities of medullary thick ascending limb apical and basolateral membranes

The medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) reabsorbs solute without water and concentrates NH4+ in the interstitium without a favorable pH gradient, activities which require low water and NH3 permeabilities. The contributions of different apical and basolateral membrane structures to these low permeabilities are unclear. We isolated highly purified apical and basolateral MTAL plasma membranes and measured, by stopped-flow fluorometry, their permeabilities to water, urea, glycerol, protons, and NH3. Osmotic water permeability at 20 degrees C averaged 9.4 +/- 0.8 x 10(-4) cm/s for apical and 11.9 +/- 0.5 x 10(-4) cm/s for basolateral membranes. NH3 permeabilities at 20 degrees C averaged 0.0023 +/- 0.00035 and 0.0035 +/- 0.00080 cm/s for apical and basolateral membranes, respectively. These values are consistent with those obtained in isolated perfused tubules and can account for known aspects of MTAL function in vivo. Because the apical and basolateral membrane unit permeabilities are similar, the ability of the apical membrane to function as the site of barrier function arises from its very small surface area when compared with the highly redundant basolateral membrane.

The bladder as a bioreactor: urothelium production and secretion of growth hormone into urine

Uroplakin genes are expressed in a bladder-specific and differentiation-dependent fashion. Using a 3.6-kb promoter of mouse uroplakin II gene, we have generated transgenic mice that express human growth hormone (hGH) in their bladder epithelium, resulting in its secretion into the urine at 100-500 ng/ml. The levels of urine hGH concentration remain constant for longer than 8 months. hGH is present as aggregates mostly in the uroplakin-delivering cytoplasmic vesicles that are targeted to fuse with the apical surface. Using the bladder as a bioreactor offers unique advantages, including the utility of all animals throughout their lives. Using urine, which contains little protein and lipid, as a starting material facilitates recombinant protein purification.

Methods to enhance in vivo urothelial growth on seromuscular colonic segments in the dog

PURPOSE

We demonstrated survival and expansion in vivo of urothelial free autografts on demucosalized seromuscular segments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four methods of in vivo urothelial expansion were investigated on demucosalized colonic segments in the canine model. Group 1 underwent colonic mucosal removal by manual stripping, group 2 underwent removal of colonic mucosa and submucosa, and group 3 underwent manual stripping of the colonic mucosa followed by treatment with protamine sulfate and urea. In the 3 groups urothelial autografts were then placed on the seromuscular segment and tubularized over a balloon splint. In group 4 the colonic mucosa was removed but the grafts were not tubularized. Instead the colonic segment was sutured to the parietal peritoneum.

RESULTS

Group 4 grafts had no epithelial growth and shrinkage of the bowel segment. Group 1 grafts had minimal growth with no expansion and colonic mucosal regrowth. Group 2 grafts demonstrated growth and expansion, although these colonic segments had a significant inflammatory response and fibrosis. Group 3 grafts had the best growth and expansion with the least inflammatory response, and 1 colonic segment was almost completely covered with urothelium.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated in vivo expansion of urothelial autografts grown on seromuscular colonic segments. Preservation of the submucosa is essential to prevent fibrosis of the seromuscular colonic segment and a balloon stent is crucial to prevent graft contraction. Treatment of the demucosalized segment with protamine sulfate and urea results in better urothelial expansion and less colonic mucosal regrowth.

Formation of asymmetric unit membrane during urothelial differentiation

Mammalian urothelium undergoes unique membrane specialization during terminal differentiation making numerous rigid-looking membrane plaques (0.3-0.5 micron diameter) that cover the apical cell surface. The outer leaflet of these membrane plaques is almost twice as thick as the inner leaflet hence the name asymmetric unit membrane (AUM). Ultrastructural studies established that the outer leaflet of AUM is composed of 16 nm particles forming two dimensional crystals, and that each particle forms a 'twisted ribbon' structure. We showed recently that highly purified bovine AUMs contain four major integral membrane proteins: uroplakins Ia (27 kD), Ib (28 kD), II (15 kD) and III (47 kD). Studies of the protease sensitivity of the different subdomains of uroplakins and other considerations suggest that UPIa and UPIb have 4 transmembrane domains, while UPII and UPIII have only one transmembrane domain. Chemical crosslinking studies showed that UPIa and UPIb, which share 39% amino acid sequence, are topologically adjacent to UPII and UPIII, respectively, thus raising the possibility that there exist two biochemically distinct AUM particles, i.e., those containing UPIa/UPII vs. UPIb/UPIII. Bovine urothelial cells grown in the presence of 3T3 feeder cells undergo clonal growth forming stratified colonies capable of synthesizing and processing all known uroplakins. Transgenic mouse studies showed that a 3.6 kb 5'-flanking sequence of mouse uroplakin II gene can drive the expression of bacterial LacZ gene to express in the urothelium. Further studies on the biosynthesis, assembly and targeting of uroplakins will offer unique opportunities for better understanding the structure and function of AUM as well as the biology of mammalian urothelium.

Selective interactions of UPIa and UPIb, two members of the transmembrane 4 superfamily, with distinct single transmembrane-domained proteins in differentiated urothelial cells

The transmembrane 4 (TM4) superfamily contains many important leukocyte differentiation-related surface proteins including CD9, CD37, CD53, and CD81; tumor-associated antigens including CD63/ME491, CO-029, and SAS; and a newly identified metastasis suppressor gene R2. Relatively little is known, however, about the structure and aggregation state of these four transmembrane-domained proteins. The asymmetrical unit membrane (AUM), believed to play a major role in stabilizing the apical surface of mammalian urothelium thus preventing it from rupturing during bladder distention, contains two TM4 members, the uroplakins (UPs) Ia and Ib. In association with two other (single transmembrane-domained) membrane proteins, UPII and UPIII, UPIa and UPIb form 16-nm particles that naturally form two-dimensional crystalline arrays, thus providing unique opportunities for studying membrane structure and function. To better understand how these proteins interact to form the 16-nm particles, we analyzed their nearest neighbor relationship by chemical cross-linking. We show here that UPIa and UPIb, which share 39% of their amino acid sequence, are cross-linked to UPII and UPIII, respectively. We also show that UPIa has a propensity to oligomerize, forming complexes that are stable in SDS, and that UPII can be readily cross-linked to form homodimers. The formation of UPII homodimers is sensitive, however, to octyl glucoside that can solubilize the AUMs. These data suggest that there exist two types of 16-nm AUM particles that contain UPIa/UPII or UPIb/UPIII, and support a model in which the UPIa and UPII occupy the inner and outer domains, respectively, of the UPIa/UPII particle. This model can account for the apparent "redundancy" of the uroplakins, as the structurally related UPIa and UPIb, by interacting with different partners, may play different roles in AUM formation. The model also suggests that AUM plaques with different uroplakin compositions may differ in their assembly, and in their abilities to interact with an underlying cytoskeleton. Our data indicate that two closely related TM4 proteins, UPIa and UPIb, can be present in the same cell, interacting with distinct partners. AUM thus provides an excellent model system for studying the targeting, processing, and assembly of TM4 proteins.

Permeability properties of the mammalian bladder apical membrane

The luminal surface of mammalian bladder is exposed to urine with a composition widely different from that of plasma that bathes the basolateral surface of epithelium. Therefore we predict that the bladder permeability barrier, which is likely located in the apical membrane (AM), will exhibit low permeabilities to water, urea, NH3, H+, and small nonelectrolytes. AM surface area increases as the bladder fills with urine and decreases during emptying, a process that involves cyclical endocytosis and reinsertion of membrane from a pool of AM endosomes (AME). Rigid-appearing plaques composed of three proteins, uroplakins, have been identified and occupy 70-90% of AM surface area. To determine permeability properties of the AM permeability barrier, we purified AME and measured their permeabilities. Rabbit urinary bladders were removed, and their apical surface was exposed to carboxyfluorescein (CF) or horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Exposure to hypotonic and then isotonic basolateral solutions induced endocytosis of luminal CF or HRP into AME. Electron microscopy of bladders after this treatment revealed HRP entrapped within AME bordered by plaques. AME were purified by differential and sucrose-gradient centrifugation, and CF-containing AME were purified 17.0 +/- 3-fold (SD) with respect to homogenate. Analysis of purified AME by flow cytometry showed that > 95% of vesicles contained CF entrapped from luminal solution and were selectively labeled with anti-uroplakin antibody. AME osmotic water permeability averaged 2.3 +/- 0.66 x 10(-4) cm/s and exhibited a high activation energy, indicating that AM contains no water channels. Permeability to urea and NH3 averaged 7.8 +/- 3.7 x 10(-7) and 1.5 +/- 0.3 x 10(-3) cm/s, respectively, which are exceptionally low and similar to permeabilities of other water-tight membranes, including toad urinary bladder and gastric mucosa. AME behaved as a single population in all permeability studies, which will permit future characterization of protein and lipid structure responsible for these unique permeability properties.

Chromosomal localization of uroplakin genes of cattle and mice

The asymmetric unit membrane (AUM) of the apical surface of mammalian urinary bladder epithelium contains several major integral membrane proteins, including uroplakins IA and IB (both 27 kDa), II (15 kDa), and III (47 kDa). These proteins are synthesized only in terminally differentiated bladder epithelial cells. They are encoded by separate genes and, except for uroplakins IA and IB, appear to be unrelated in their amino acid sequences. The genes encoding these uroplakins were mapped to chromosomes of cattle through their segregation in a panel of bovine x rodent somatic cell hybrids. Genes for uroplakins IA, IB, and II were mapped to bovine (BTA) Chromosomes (Chrs) 18 (UPK1A), 1 (UPK1B), and 15 (UPK2), respectively. Two bovine genomic DNA sequences reactive with a uroplakin III cDNA probe were identified and mapped to BTA 6 (UPK3A) and 5 (UPK3B). We have also mapped genes for uroplakins IA and II in mice, to the proximal regions of mouse Chr 7 (Upk1a) and 9 (Upk2), respectively, by analyzing the inheritance of restriction fragment length variants in recombinant inbred mouse strains. These assignments are consistent with linkage relationships known to be conserved between cattle and mice. The mouse genes for uroplakins IB and III were not mapped because the mouse genomic DNA fragments reactive with each probe were invariant among the inbred strains tested. Although the stoichiometry of AUM proteins is nearly constant, the fact that the uroplakin genes are unlinked indicates that their expression must be independently regulated. Our results also suggest likely positions for two human uroplakin genes and should facilitate further analysis of their possible involvement in disease.

Molecular cloning of a 47 kDa tissue-specific and differentiation-dependent urothelial cell surface glycoprotein

Despite the fact that bladder epithelium has many interesting biological features and is a frequent site of carcinoma formation, relatively little is known about its biochemical differentiation. We have shown recently that a 47 kDa glycoprotein, uroplakin III (UPIII), in conjunction with uroplakins I (27 kDa) and II (15 kDa), forms the asymmetric unit membrane (AUM)--a highly specialized biomembrane characteristic of the apical surface of bladder epithelium. Deglycosylation and cDNA sequencing revealed that UPIII contains up to 20 kDa of N-linked sugars attached to a core protein of 28.9 kDa. The presence of an N-terminal signal peptide sequence and a single transmembrane domain located near the C terminus, plus the N-terminal location of all the potential N-glycosylation sites, points to a type I (N-exo/C-cyto) configuration. Thus the mass of the extracellular domain (20 kDa plus up to 20 kDa of sugar) of UPIII greatly exceeds that of its intracellular domain (5 kDa). Such an asymmetrical mass distribution, a feature shared by the other two major uroplakins, provides a molecular explanation as to why the luminal leaflet of AUM is almost twice as thick as the cytoplasmic one. The fact that of the three major proteins of AUM only UPIII has a significant cytoplasmic domain suggests that this molecule may play an important role in AUM-cytoskeleton interaction in terminally differentiated urothelial cells.

2D crystallization: from art to science

The techniques as well as the principles of the 2D crystallization of membrane and water-soluble proteins for electron crystallography are reviewed. First, the biophysics of the interactions between proteins, lipids and detergents is surveyed. Second, crystallization of membrane proteins in situ and by reconstitution methods is discussed, and the various factors involved are addressed. Third, we elaborate on the 2D crystallization of water-soluble proteins, both in solution and at interfaces, such as lipid monolayers, mica, carbon film or mercury surfaces. Finally, techniques and instrumentations that are required for 2D crystallization are described.

Interaction of trichohyalin with intermediate filaments: three immunologically defined stages of trichohyalin maturation

"Trichohyalin" is a 220-kD protein found in trichohyalin granules that are present as major differentiation products in the medulla and inner root sheath cells of human hair follicles. It was unclear whether this protein served as an intermediate filament precursor in the inner root sheath or as an intermediate-filament-associated (matrix) protein. We have produced a panel of monoclonal antibodies (AE15-17) to this protein and used them to trace its fate during inner root sheath differentiation. These studies have allowed us to define three immunologically distinct forms of this trichohyalin protein. They are 1) the AE15-positive form, which is found throughout all trichohyalin granules; 2) the AE16-positive form, which is localized as discrete punctae on the surface of trichohyalin granules; and 3) the AE17-positive, intermediate-filament-bound form, which associates with the inner root sheath filaments with a regular, 400-nm periodicity. From these results we suggest that the 220-kD trichohyalin protein is an intermediate-filament-associated protein that may play a role in the lateral aggregation, precise alignment, and stabilization of inner root sheath filament bundles.

Differential spatial and temporal expression of two type III intermediate filament proteins in olfactory receptor neurons

Olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) do not express the typical neuronal intermediate filament proteins (IFPs), the neurofilament triplet proteins. Immunocytochemical evidence shows that ORNs coexpress vimentin and peripherin but distribute them differently. Specifically, ORNs contain vimentin in dendrites, cell bodies, and axons, but not in terminals in glomeruli; peripherin is present in axons, but excluded from dendrites, cell bodies, and terminal glomeruli. In adult rats, ORN axon fascicles are variably stained with antisera for peripherin; in juvenile rats, staining of fascicles is uniform. Staining with antibody to vimentin is uniform in both adult and juvenile ORN axon fascicles. The unusual pattern of IFP expression and intracellular sorting may have implications for the unique plastic and regenerative capacities of these neurons.