Activation of a transfected FGFR-1 receptor in Madin-Darby epithelial cells results in a reversible loss of epithelial properties

Chemotaxis of MDCK-F cells toward fibroblast growth factor-2 depends on transient receptor potential canonical channel 1

Movement toward the source of a chemoattractant gradient is a basic cellular property in health and disease. Enhanced migration during metastasis involves deregulated growth factor signaling. Growth factor stimulation and cell migration converge both on the important second messenger Ca(2+). To date, the molecular identification of Ca(2+) entry pathways activated by growth factors during chemotaxis is still an open issue. We investigated the involvement of the nonselective Ca(2+) channel TRPC1 (transient receptor potential canonical 1) in FGF-2 guided chemotaxis by means of time-lapse video microscopy and by functional Ca(2+) measurements. To specifically address TRPC1 function in transformed MDCK cells we altered the expression levels by siRNA or overexpression. We report that TRPC1 channels are required for the orientation of transformed MDCK cells in FGF-2 gradients because TRPC1 knockdown or pharmacological blockade prevented chemotaxis. Stimulation with FGF-2 triggered an immediate Ca(2+) influx via TRPC1 channels that depended on phospholipase C and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling. Impeding this Ca(2+) influx abolished chemotaxis toward FGF-2. This functional connection correlated with clustering of FGF receptors and TRPC1 channels as was observed by immunolabeling. These findings show the important interplay between growth factor signaling and Ca(2+) influx in chemotaxis.

Semaphorin-3F Is an Inhibitor of Tumor Angiogenesis

The neuropilin-1 (np1) and neuropilin-2 (np2) receptors form complexes with type-A plexins. These complexes serve as signaling receptors for specific class-3 semaphorins. Np1 and np2 function in addition as receptors for heparin-binding forms of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), such as VEGF(165). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) express tyrosine-kinase receptors for VEGF and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), as well as np1, np2, and several type-A plexins. We have found that semaphorin-3F (s3f), a semaphorin which signals through the np2 receptor, was able to inhibit VEGF(165), as well as bFGF-induced proliferation of HUVECs. Furthermore, s3f inhibited VEGF as well as bFGF-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2. Our experiments indicate that bFGF does not bind to neuropilins, nor does s3f inhibit the binding of bFGF to FGF receptors. It is therefore possible that s3f inhibits the activity of bFGF by a mechanism that requires active s3f signal transduction rather than by inhibition of bFGF binding to FGF receptors. s3f also inhibited VEGF(165), as well as bFGF-induced in vivo angiogenesis as determined by the alginate micro-encapsulation and Matrigel plug assays. Overexpression of s3f in tumorigenic human HEK293 cells inhibited their tumor-forming ability but not their proliferation in cell culture. The tumors that did develop from s3f-expressing HEK293 cells developed at a much slower rate and had a significantly lower concentration of tumor-associated blood vessels, indicating that s3f is an inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis.

Transforming growth factor beta-1 induces snail transcription factor in epithelial cell lines: mechanisms for epithelial mesenchymal transitions

The Snail transcription factor has been described recently as a strong repressor of E-cadherin in epithelial cell lines, where its stable expression leads to the loss of E-cadherin expression and induces epithelial-mesenchymal transitions and an invasive phenotype. The mechanisms regulating Snail expression in development and tumor progression are not yet known. We show here that transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFbeta1) induces Snail expression in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells and triggers epithelial-mesenchymal transitions by a mechanism dependent on the MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, TGFbeta1 induces the activity of Snail promoter, whereas fibroblast growth factor-2 has a milder effect but cooperates with TGFbeta1 in the induction of Snail promoter. Interestingly, TGFbeta1-mediated induction of Snail promoter is blocked by a dominant negative form of H-Ras (N17Ras), whereas oncogenic H-Ras (V12Ras) induces Snail promoter activity and synergistically cooperates with TGFbeta1. The effects of TGFbeta1 on Snail promoter are dependent of MEK1/2 activity but are apparently independent of Smad4 activity. In addition, H-Ras-mediated induction of Snail promoter, alone or in the presence of TGFbeta1, depends on both MAPK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activities. These data support that MAPK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathways are implicated in TGFbeta1-mediated induction of Snail promoter, probably through Ras activation and its downstream effectors.

Role of basic fibroblast growth factor-2 in epithelial-mesenchymal transformation

BACKGROUND

Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) plays an important role in embryonic development and tumorigenesis and has been described in organ remodeling during fibrogenesis. In the kidney, EMT can be induced efficiently in cultured proximal tubular epithelium by coincubation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Recently, we also have observed overexpression of basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) protein and mRNA in human kidneys with marked interstitial fibrosis. The aims of the present study were to compare the effects of FGF-2 as a facilitator of EMT in tubular epithelial cells with EGF and TGF-beta1. We analyzed the morphogenic effects of the three cytokines on four different aspects of EMT: cell motility, expression and regulation of cellular markers, synthesis and secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins as well as matrix degradation.

METHODS

Cell motility was studied by a migration assay and cell differentiation markers were analyzed by immunofluorescence and immunoblots. In addition, regulation of the epithelial adhesion molecule E-cadherin and fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP1) were analyzed by luciferase reporter constructs and stable transfections. ELISAs for collagen types I and IV and fibronectin were used for ECM synthesis, and zymograms were utilized for analysis of matrix degradation.

RESULTS

FGF-2 induced cell motility across a tubular basement membrane in two tubular cell lines. All three cytokines induced the expression of vimentin and FSP1, but only FGF-2 and TGF-beta1 reduced cytokeratin expression by immunofluorescence. These effects were most demonstrable in the distal tubular epithelial cell line and were confirmed by immunoblot analyses. Expression of E-cadherin was reduced by 61.5 +/- 3.3% and expression of cytokeratin by 91 +/- 0.5% by TGF-beta1 plus FGF-2. Conversely, the mesenchymal markers alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and FSP1 were induced with FGF-2 by 2.2 +/- 0.1-fold and 6.8 +/- 0.9-fold, respectively. Interestingly, de novo expression of the mesenchymal marker OB-cadherin was induced only by FGF-2 and EGF but not by TGF-beta1. All three cytokines stimulated FSP1 and decreased E-cadherin promoter activity. FGF-2 also induced intracellular fibronectin synthesis but not secretion, the latter of which was stimulated exclusively by TGF-beta1. Finally, zymographic analyses demonstrated that FGF-2 induced MMP-2 activity by 2.6 +/- 0.5-fold and MMP-9 activity by 2.4 +/- 0.1-fold, providing a mechanism for basement membrane disintegration and migratory access of transforming epithelium to the interstitium.

CONCLUSIONS

FGF-2 makes an important contribution to the mechanisms of EMT by stimulating microenvironmental proteases essential for disaggregation of organ-based epithelial units. Furthermore, the expression of epithelial and mesenchymal marker proteins seems to be affected at the promoter level.

FGF signalling is required for differentiation-induced cytoskeletal reorganisation and formation of actin-based processes by podocytes

To examine the potential role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling during cell differentiation, we used conditionally immortalised podocyte cells isolated from kidneys of Fgf2 mutant and wild-type mice. Wild-type mouse podocyte cells upregulate FGF2 expression when differentiating in culture, as do maturing podocytes in vivo. Differentiating wild-type mouse podocyte cells undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal-like transition, reorganise their actin cytoskeleton and extend actin-based cellular processes; all of these activities are similar to the activity of podocytes in vivo. Molecular analysis of Fgf2 mutant mouse podocyte cells reveals a general disruption of FGF signalling as expression of Fgf7 and Fgf10 are also downregulated. These FGF mutant mouse podocyte cells in culture fail to activate mesenchymal markers and their post-mitotic differentiation is blocked. Furthermore, mutant mouse podocyte cells in culture fail to reorganise their actin cytoskeleton and form actin-based cellular processes. These studies show that FGF signalling is required by cultured podocytes to undergo the epithelial to mesenchymal-like changes necessary for terminal differentiation. Together with other studies, these results point to a general role for FGF signalling in regulating cell differentiation and formation of actin-based cellular processes during morphogenesis.

FGF-2 converts mature oligodendrocytes to a novel phenotype

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 differentially regulates oligodendrocyte progenitor proliferation and differentiation in culture, and modulates gene expression of its own receptors, in a developmental and receptor type-specific manner (Bansal et al., 1996a,b). Three FGF receptors (types 1, 2, 3) are expressed in postmitotic, terminally differentiating oligodendrocytes. Exposure of such cells to FGF-2 results in: (a) the down-regulation of myelin-specific gene expression (e.g., ceramide galactosyltransferase, 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase, myelin basic protein, proteolipid protein), (b) dramatic increases in the length of cellular processes in a time- and dose-dependent manner, (c) re-entrance into the cell cycle without accompanying mitosis, and (d) the alteration of the expression of both low- and high-affinity FGF receptors. Compared to oligodendrocyte progenitors, the differentiated oligodendrocytes treated with FGF-2 incorporate BrdU at a slower rates, exhibit different patterns of both FGF high- and low-affinity (syndecans) receptors, and are morphologically very different. In addition, they do not re-express the progenitor markers A2B5, NG2 or PDGFalpha receptor. Therefore, although the FGF-treated cells lose their differentiated OL/myelin markers, they do not revert to progenitors and clearly represent a different, apparently novel, phenotype both morphologically and biochemically, which we have termed NOLs. These data indicate that terminally differentiated oligodendrocytes retain the plasticity to reprogram their differentiation fate under the influence of environmental factors. The possible significance of this response to FGF relative to normal and pathological physiology is discussed. In particular, on the basis of these data we predict the appearance of cells in and around multiple sclerosis plaques with the phenotype O4+, NG2-, A2B5-, O1-, MBP-.