Integrin α11β1 is a receptor for collagen XIII

Insight into the role of integrins and integrins-targeting biomaterials in bone regeneration

Features of the extracellular matrix, along with biochemical factors, have a momentous impress in making genes on and/or off. The interaction of cells and the extracellular matrix is mediated by integrins. Therefore, these molecules have pivotal roles in regulating cell behaviors. Integrins include a group of molecules with a variety of characteristics that can affect different molecular cascades. Considering the importance of these molecules in tissue regeneration after injury, it is necessary to know well the integrins involved in the process of connecting cells to the extracellular matrix in each tissue.With the increase in life expectancy, bone tissue engineering has received more attention from researchers. Integrins are critical components in osteoblast differentiation, survival, and bone mechanotransduction. During osteogenic differentiation in stem cells, specific integrins facilitate multiple signaling pathways through their cytoplasmic domain, leading to the induction of osteogenic differentiation. Also, due to the importance of using biomaterials in bone tissue engineering, efforts have been made to design and use biomaterials with maximum interaction with integrins. Notably, the use of RGD peptide or fibronectin for surface modification is a well-established and commonly employed approach to manipulate integrin activity.This review article looks into integrins' role in bone development and regeneration. It then goes on to explore the complex mechanisms by which integrins contribute to these processes. In addition, this review discusses the use of natural and synthetic biomaterials that target integrins to promote bone regeneration.

Identification of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA Network Regulated by Hsp90 in Human Melanoma A375 Cells

BACKGROUND

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is highly expressed in human melanoma. Hsp90 inhibitors can suppress the growth of human melanoma A375 cells; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

METHODS

A375 cells were treated with SNX-2112, an Hsp90 inhibitor, for 48 h, and wholetranscriptome sequencing was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 2,528 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 895 upregulated and 1,633 downregulated genes. Pathway enrichment analyses of differentially expressed mRNAs identified the extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction pathway as the most significantly enriched pathway. The ECM receptor family mainly comprises integrins (ITGs) and collagens (COLs), wherein ITGs function as the major cell receptors for COLs. 19 upregulated miRNAs were found to interact with 6 downregulated ITG genes and 8 upregulated miRNAs were found to interact with 3 downregulated COL genes. 9 differentially expressed circRNAs in SNX-2112- treated A375 cells were identified as targets of the ITG- and COL-related miRNAs. Based on the differentially expressed circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs, ITGs- and COL-based circRNAmiRNA- mRNA regulatory networks were mapped, revealing a novel regulatory mechanism of Hsp90-regulated melanoma.

CONCLUSION

Targeting the ITG-COL network is a promising approach to the treatment of melanoma.

Contribution of collagen XIII to lung function and development of pulmonary fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Collagen XIII is a transmembrane collagen associated with neuromuscular junction development, and in humans its deficiency results in congenital myasthenic syndrome type 19 (CMS19), which leads to breathing difficulties. CMS19 patients usually have restricted lung capacity and one patient developed chronic lung disease. In single-cell RNA sequencing studies, collagen XIII has been identified as a marker for pulmonary lipofibroblasts, which have been implicated in the resolution of pulmonary fibrosis.

METHODS

We investigated the location and function of collagen XIII in the lung to understand the origin of pulmonary symptoms in human CMS19 patients. Additionally, we performed immunostainings on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) samples (N=5) and both normal and fibrotic mouse lung. To study whether the lack of collagen XIII predisposes to restrictive lung disease, we exposed Col13a1-modified mice to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

RESULTS

Apparently normal alveolar septum sections of IPF patients' lungs stained faintly for collagen XIII, and its expression was pinpointed to the septal fibroblasts in the mouse lung. Lung capacity was increased in mice lacking collagen XIII by over 10%. In IPF samples, collagen XIII was expressed by basal epithelial cells, hyperplastic alveolar epithelial cells and stromal cells in fibrotic areas, but the development of pulmonary fibrosis was unaffected in collagen XIII-deficient mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in mouse lung function appear to represent a myasthenic manifestation of collagen XIII deficiency. We suggest that respiratory muscle myasthenia is the primary cause of the breathing problems suffered by CMS19 patients in addition to skeletal deformities. Induction of collagen XIII expression in the IPF patients' lungs warrants further studies to reveal collagen XIII-dependent disease mechanisms.

Forward genetics and functional analysis highlight Itga11 as a modulator of murine psoriasiform dermatitis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. Repeated epicutaneous application of Aldara® (imiquimod) cream results in psoriasiform dermatitis in mice. The Aldara®-induced psoriasiform dermatitis (AIPD) mouse model has been used to examine the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Here, we used a forward genetics approach in which we compared AIPD that developed in 13 different inbred mouse strains to identify genes and pathways that modulated disease severity. Among our primary results, we found that the severity of AIPD differed substantially between different strains of inbred mice and that these variations were associated with polymorphisms in Itga11. The Itga11 gene encodes the integrin α11 subunit that heterodimerizes with the integrin β1 subunit to form integrin α11β1. Less information is available about the function of ITGA11 in skin inflammation; however, a role in the regulation of cutaneous wound healing, specifically the development of dermal fibrosis, has been described. Experiments performed with Itga11 gene-deleted (Itga11-/- ) mice revealed that the integrin α11 subunit contributes substantially to the clinical phenotype as well as the histopathological and molecular findings associated with skin inflammation characteristic of AIPD. Although the skin transcriptomes of Itga11-/- and WT mice do not differ from one another under physiological conditions, distinct transcriptomes emerge in these strains in response to the induction of AIPD. Most of the differentially expressed genes contributed to extracellular matrix organization, immune system, and metabolism of lipids pathways. Consistent with these findings, we detected a reduced number of fibroblasts and inflammatory cells, including macrophages, T cells, and tissue-resident memory T cells in skin samples from Itga11-/- mice in response to AIPD induction. Collectively, our results reveal that Itga11 plays a critical role in promoting skin inflammation in AIPD and thus might be targeted for the development of novel therapeutics for psoriasiform skin conditions. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Green biomanufacturing in recombinant collagen biosynthesis: trends and selection in various expression systems

Collagen, classically derived from animal tissue, is an all-important protein material widely used in biomedical materials, cosmetics, fodder, food, etc. The production of recombinant collagen through different biological expression systems using bioengineering techniques has attracted significant interest in consideration of increasing market demand and the process complexity of extraction. Green biomanufacturing of recombinant collagen has become one of the focus topics. While the bioproduction of recombinant collagens (type I, II, III, etc.) has been commercialized in recent years, the biosynthesis of recombinant collagen is extremely challenging due to protein immunogenicity, yield, degradation, and other issues. The rapid development of synthetic biology allows us to perform a heterologous expression of proteins in diverse expression systems, thus optimizing the production and bioactivities of recombinant collagen. This review describes the research progress in the bioproduction of recombinant collagen over the past two decades, focusing on different expression systems (prokaryotic organisms, yeasts, plants, insects, mammalian and human cells, etc.). We also discuss the challenges and future trends in developing market-competitive recombinant collagens.

Transcriptomic Networks Reveal the Tissue-Specific Cold Shock Responses in Japanese Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Low temperature is among the important factors affecting the distribution, survival, growth, and physiology of aquatic animals. In this study, coordinated transcriptomic responses to 10 °C acute cold stress were investigated in the gills, hearts, livers, and spleens of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), an important aquaculture species in east Asia. Histological examination suggested different levels of injury among P. olivaceus tissues after cold shock, mainly in the gills and livers. Based on transcriptome and weighted gene coexpression network analysis, 10 tissue-specific cold responsive modules (CRMs) were identified, revealing a cascade of cellular responses to cold stress. Specifically, five upregulated CRMs were enriched with induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs), mainly corresponding to the functions of "extracellular matrix", "cytoskeleton", and "oxidoreductase activity", indicating the induced cellular response to cold shock. The "cell cycle/division" and "DNA complex" functions were enriched in the downregulated CRMs for all four tissues, which comprised inhibited DEGs, suggesting that even with tissue-specific responses, cold shock may induce severely disrupted cellular functions in all tissues, reducing aquaculture productivity. Therefore, our results revealed the tissue-specific regulation of the cellular response to low-temperature stress, which warrants further investigation and provides more comprehensive insights for the conservation and cultivation of P. olivaceus in cold water.

The role of integrin family in bone metabolism and tumor bone metastasis

Integrins have been the research focus of cell-extracellular matrix adhesion (ECM) and cytokine receptor signal transduction. They are involved in the regulation of bone metabolism of bone precursor cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), osteoblasts (OBs), osteoclasts (OCs), and osteocytes. Recent studies expanded and updated the role of integrin in bone metabolism, and a large number of novel cytokines were found to activate bone metabolism pathways through interaction with integrin receptors. Integrins act as transducers that mediate the regulation of bone-related cells by mechanical stress, fluid shear stress (FSS), microgravity, hypergravity, extracellular pressure, and a variety of physical factors. Integrins mediate bone metastasis of breast, prostate, and lung cancer by promoting cancer cell adhesion, migration, and survival. Integrin-mediated targeted therapy showed promising prospects in bone metabolic diseases. This review emphasizes the latest research results of integrins in bone metabolism and bone metastasis and provides a vision for treatment strategies.

Ion elemental-optimized layered double hydroxide nanoparticles promote chondrogenic differentiation and intervertebral disc regeneration of mesenchymal stem cells through focal adhesion signaling pathway

Chronic low back pain and dyskinesia caused by intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) are seriously aggravated and become more prevalent with age. Current clinical treatments do not restore the biological structure and inherent function of the disc. The emergence of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has provided new insights into the treatment of IDD. We synthesized biocompatible layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles and optimized their ion elemental compositions to promote chondrogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs). The chondrogenic differentiation of LDH-treated MSCs was validated using Alcian blue staining, qPCR, and immunofluorescence analyses. LDH-pretreated hUC-MSCs were differentiated prior to transplantation into the degenerative site of a needle puncture IDD rat model. Repair and regeneration evaluated using X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, and tissue immunostaining 4–12 weeks after transplantation showed recovery of the disc space height and integrated tissue structure. Transcriptome sequencing revealed significant regulatory roles of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and integrin receptors of focal adhesion signaling pathway in enhancing chondrogenic differentiation and thus prompting tissue regeneration. The construction of ion-specific LDH nanomaterials for in situ intervertebral disc regeneration through the focal adhesion signaling pathway provides theoretical basis for clinical transformation in IDD treatment.

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LDH nanoparticles with different elemental compositions are constructed to optimize the chondrogenic differentiation of hUC-MSCs.

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Optimized-LDH pretreated hUC-MSCs transplantation show recovery of disc space height and integrated tissue structure.

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ECM and focal adhesion signaling pathway play significant roles in LDH-promoted cell differentiation and tissue regeneration.

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Ion-specific optimizing LDH provides theoretical basis for clinical transformation on IDD treatment.

Genomic Analysis of the Endangered Fonni's Dog Breed: A Comparison of Genomic and Phenotypic Evaluation Scores

The Fonni's dog is an ancient Sardinian breed for livestock and property guarding. In recent years, the number of new registrations to the breeding book has slumped and, thus, this breed risks being lost forever. This work refocuses attention to the Fonni's dog, analysing its genomic makeup and comparing different phenotypical and genetic evaluation scores. Thirty Fonni's dogs were ranked by their general accordance to the breed typicality (typicality score) and to the provisional standard by official judges (judges' score). They were genotyped with a 230K SNP BeadChip and compared with 379 dogs of 24 breeds. Genomically, the Fonni's dogs placed themselves near shepherd dogs and showed a unique genetic signature, which was used to create the genomic score. This score better correlated with typicality (ρ = 0.69, p < 0.0001) than the judges' score (ρ = 0.63, p = 0.0004), which showed little variability among the included dogs. Hair texture or colour were significantly associated in the three scores. The Fonni's dog is confirmed as a well-distinguished breed, despite being selected mainly for its work abilities. The evaluation criteria used during dog expositions can be improved to increase their variability and include elements typical of the breed. The recovery of the Fonni's dog would be possible only with a shared vision between the Italian kennel club and breeders, and the support of regional programs.

Stages of preadipocyte differentiation: biomarkers and pathways for extracellular structural remodeling

BACKGROUND

This study utilized bioinformatics to analyze the underlying biological mechanisms involved in adipogenic differentiation, synthesis of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and angiogenesis during preadipocyte differentiation in human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome at different time points and identify targets that can potentially improve fat graft survival.

RESULTS

We analyzed two expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at six different time points after the initiation of preadipocyte differentiation. Related pathways were identified using Gene Ontology/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). We further constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and its central genes. The results showed that upregulated DEGs were involved in cell differentiation, lipid metabolism, and other cellular activities, while downregulated DEGs were associated with angiogenesis and development, ECM tissue synthesis, and intercellular and intertissue adhesion. GSEA provided a more comprehensive basis, including participation in and positive regulation of key pathways of cell metabolic differentiation, such as the "peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway" and the "adenylate-activated protein kinase signaling pathway," a key pathway that negatively regulates pro-angiogenic development, ECM synthesis, and adhesion.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified the top 20 hub genes in the PPI network, including genes involved in cell differentiation, ECM synthesis, and angiogenesis development, providing potential targets to improve the long-term survival rate of fat grafts. Additionally, we identified drugs that may interact with these targets to potentially improve fat graft survival.

Transcriptomic Profiling Analysis of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cell Lines Treated with Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia

Simple Summary

Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fifth cause of cancer mortality among men. Although localized and confined tumors are relatively curable, patients with advanced metastatic prostate cancer are still problematic. Hypoxia, which is a marked characteristic of advanced solid tumors, has been suggested to induce the progression of prostate cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of chronic intermittent hypoxia on a castration-resistant prostate cancer cell line in inducing cancer progression using RNA sequencing analysis. Through RNA sequencing analysis, we prove that COL13A1, which is a key factor for the progression of metastasis, is closely related to metastatic prostate cancer. These results suggest that our findings indicate a novel strategy for the clinical management of mCRPC.

Abstract

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is still a major concern in men’s health, with 375,000 cancer deaths annually. Hypoxia, which is a marked characteristic of advanced solid tumors, has been suggested to induce prostate cancer towards CRPC, metastasis and treatment resistance. To evaluate the effect of hypoxia on prostate cancer, two and five cycles of hypoxia and reoxygenation were administered using 22Rv1 cell lines and denominated as 22Rv1-CI and 22Rv1-PCI, respectively. Cancer cell migration was promoted in 22Rv1-CI compared to controls, and the expression of COL13A1 was significantly up-regulated in 22Rv1-CI according to differentially expressed gene analysis of RNA sequencing among groups. Cancer cell migration was impeded in a wound healing assay after transfecting si-COL13A1. Moreover, the expression of COL13A1 was also higher in the cell line originating from bone metastatic prostate cancer compared to other cell lines. Using the open database GEO, we also confirmed that the expression of COL13A1 was higher in bone metastatic prostate cancer tissue than in localized prostate cancer tissue in patients. Therefore, COL13A1 may be closely related to the bony metastasis of prostate cancer, and our findings may provide valuable information on the pathophysiology of the metastatic niche induced by hypoxia in patients with CRPC.

The CMS19 disease model specifies a pivotal role for collagen XIII in bone homeostasis

Mutations in the COL13A1 gene result in congenital myasthenic syndrome type 19 (CMS19), a disease of neuromuscular synapses and including various skeletal manifestations, particularly facial dysmorphisms. The phenotypic consequences in Col13a1 null mice (Col13a1^−/−) recapitulate the muscle findings of the CMS19 patients. Collagen XIII (ColXIII) is exists as two forms, a transmembrane protein and a soluble molecule. While the Col13a1^−/− mice have poorly formed neuromuscular junctions, the prevention of shedding of the ColXIII ectodomain in the Col13a1^tm/tm mice results in acetylcholine receptor clusters of increased size and complexity. In view of the bone abnormalities in CMS19, we here studied the tubular and calvarial bone morphology of the Col13a1^−/− mice. We discovered several craniofacial malformations, albeit less pronounced ones than in the human disease, and a reduction of cortical bone mass in aged mice. In the Col13a1^tm/tm mice, where ColXIII is synthesized but the ectodomain shedding is prevented due to a mutation in a protease recognition sequence, the cortical bone mass decreased as well with age and the cephalometric analyses revealed significant craniofacial abnormalities but no clear phenotypical pattern. To conclude, our data indicates an intrinsic role for ColXIII, particularly the soluble form, in the upkeep of bone with aging and suggests the possibility of previously undiscovered bone pathologies in patients with CMS19.

Biological Tissue-Inspired Living Self-Healing Hydrogels Based on Cadherin-Mediated Specific Cell-Cell Adhesion

Regarding synthetic self-healing materials, as healing reactions occur at the molecular level, bond formation occurs when healing chemicals are nanometer distances apart. However, motility of healing chemicals in materials is quite limited, permitting only passive diffusion, which reduces the chance of bond formation. By contrast, biological-tissues exhibit significant high-performance self-healing, and cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion is a key mechanism in the healing process. This is because cells are capable of a certain level of motility and actively migrate to damage sites, thereby achieving cell-cell adhesion with high efficacy. Here, we report biological-tissue-inspired, self-healing hydrogels in which azide-modified living cells are covalently cross-linked with alkyne-modified alginate polymers via bioorthogonal reactions. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate their unique self-healing capabilities originating from cadherin-mediated adhesion between cells incorporated into the gels as mobile healing mechanism. This study provides an example of self-healing material incorporating living components into a synthetic material to promote self-healing.