Identification of laminin receptor in gingival tissue and its interaction with tooth cementum laminin

Looking into laminin receptor: critical discussion regarding the non-integrin 37/67-kDa laminin receptor/RPSA protein

The 37/67-kDa laminin receptor (LAMR/RPSA) was originally identified as a 67-kDa binding protein for laminin, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that provides cellular adhesion to the basement membrane. LAMR has evolutionary origins, however, as a 37-kDa RPS2 family ribosomal component. Expressed in all domains of life, RPS2 proteins have been shown to have remarkably diverse physiological roles that vary across species. Contributing to laminin binding, ribosome biogenesis, cytoskeletal organization, and nuclear functions, this protein governs critical cellular processes including growth, survival, migration, protein synthesis, development, and differentiation. Unsurprisingly given its purview, LAMR has been associated with metastatic cancer, neurodegenerative disease and developmental abnormalities. Functioning in a receptor capacity, this protein also confers susceptibility to bacterial and viral infection. LAMR is clearly a molecule of consequence in human disease, directly mediating pathological events that make it a prime target for therapeutic interventions. Despite decades of research, there are still a large number of open questions regarding the cellular biology of LAMR, the nature of its ability to bind laminin, the function of its intrinsically disordered C-terminal region and its conversion from 37 to 67 kDa. This review attempts to convey an in-depth description of the complexity surrounding this multifaceted protein across functional, structural and pathological aspects.

Immunolocalization of glycosaminoglycans in ageing, healthy and periodontally diseased human cementum

The distribution of glycosaminoglycans in the extracellular matrix of human cementum was investigated in periodontally involved and periodontal disease-free teeth separated into eight different age groups (from 12 to 90 years), to investigate possible changes in the distribution of glycosaminoglycan species associated with ageing and periodontal disease. A standard indirect immunoperoxidase technique was used, with a panel of monoclonal antibodies, 2B6, 3B3, 5D4, and 7D4, that recognize epitopes in chondroitin-4-sulphate/dermatan sulphate (C-4S/DS), chondroitin-6-sulphate (C-6S), keratan sulphate (KS) and a novel sulphated chondroitin sulphate (CS) epitope, respectively. Intense positive staining for C4-S/DS was observed at the margins and lumina of almost all the lacunae and canaliculi in cellular cementum in all sections. Immunoreactivity to C6-S, KS and novel CS epitopes was limited to a proportion of lacunae and canaliculi in all sections, although C6-S and the novel CS epitopes were more widely distributed than KS. In acellular cementum, there was no demonstrable staining for any of the glycosaminoglycans except where periodontal ligament (Sharpey's) fibres insert; periodontal ligament fibres inserting in cellular cementum also demonstrated positive immunoreactivity. In addition, the cementoblasts on the outer root surface, as well as the pericellular areas around a proportion of these cells, demonstrated positive immunoreactivity. These results indicate that glycosaminoglycan species present in human cementum include C4-S, DS, C6-S, and novel sulphated CS epitopes. KS is also present in cementum but is limited to a more restricted proportion of lacunae and canaliculi. Regional differences in the distribution of glycosaminoglycans exist between the two cementum types, but no qualitative differences in that distribution were observed between the various age groups or between periodontally involved and periodontal disease-free teeth. The immunoreactivity observed in a proportion of lacunae after staining for C6-S, KS, and novel sulphated CS epitopes could suggest the existence of different cementocyte subpopulations.

Inhibition of gastric mucosal mucin receptor by Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide: effect of sulglycotide

1. A receptor for mucin was isolated from the solubilized gastric epithelial cell membrane by affinity chromatography on Sepharose-bound wheat germ agglutinin. 2. The receptor protein displayed a molecular weight of 97 kDa and exhibited specific affinity towards mucin-coated surfaces. The optimum for mucin binding occurred at 60-100 micrograms/ml, while the values for the receptor were 2.0-3.1 micrograms/ml. 3. The mucin binding to the receptor was susceptible to Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide which caused maximum inhibition of 91% at 30 mu/ml. This inhibitory effect of the lipopolysaccharide was abolished by a gastroprotective agent, sulglycotide. 4. The effect of sulglycotide was dose dependent and at 50 micrograms/ml produced a 94% restoration in receptor-mucin binding. Furthermore, sulglycotide was also capable of enhancing (97%) the mucin binding to its receptor in the absence of the lipopolysaccharide. 5. The results demonstrate that H. pylori through its lipopolysaccharide interferes in the interaction of mucin with gastric epithelial surfaces and that a gastroprotective agent, sulglycotide, counteracts this effect, and hence is capable of preventing the loss of mucin coat continuity occurring with H. pylori infection.

Gastric mucosal laminin receptor expression with ulcer healing by ebrotidine

1. The effect of antiulcer agent, ebrotidine, on the expression of gastric mucosal laminin receptor during ulcer healing was investigated. 2. Rats with acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers were treated twice daily for 14 consecutive days either with ebrotidine at 100 mg/kg or placebo, and then at different stages of treatment used for the isolation and quantitation of gastric mucosal laminin receptor. 3. The binding assays revealed that the ulcer healing was accompanied by an increase in mucosal expression of laminin receptor. A 2.7-fold increase in the receptor expression occurred by 4th day following the development of ulcer and reached a maximum of 8.6-fold increase by the 14th day when the ulcer was essentially healed. 4. Treatment with ebrotidine caused accelerated ulcer healing (7 days), which was accompanied by a remarkable enhancement in the laminin receptor expression. A 2.5-fold increase in the receptor expression over that of controls occurred by the 4th day of ebrotidine treatment, and a 1.7-fold increase was still observed at the 14th day of treatment. 5. The results suggest that ebrotidine, by evoking enhanced mucosal cell laminin receptor expression, promotes reepithelization and, hence, hastens the ulcer healing.

Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide inhibition of gastric mucosal laminin receptor: effect of sulglycotide

1. The effect of cell-wall lipopolysaccharide from Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium implicated in the etiology of gastric disease, on the gastric mucosal laminin-receptor was investigated. 2. The receptor, isolated from gastric epithelial cell membrane by affinity chromatography on laminin-coupled Sepharose, was radioiodinated and incorporated into liposomes which exhibited specific affinity towards laminin-coated surface. 3. The binding of liposomal receptor to laminin-coated surface was inhibited by H. pylori lipopolysaccharide, which at 50 micrograms/ml caused a nearly complete (97%) inhibition in binding. 4. The inhibitory effect of the lipopolysaccharide was prevented by a cytoprotective agent, sulglycotide, that evoked a 92% restoration in binding at 40 micrograms/ml. 5. The results demonstrate that through its lipopolysaccharide H. pylori is capable of disrupting the gastric mucosal integrity and that this detrimental effect could be successfully countered by sulglycotide.

Regulation of buccal mucosal calcium channel activity by salivary mucins

1. The effect salivary mucins on the activity of calcium channel isolated from buccal mucosal cell membranes was investigated. The uptake of 45Ca2+ while only moderately (15%) affected by the intact low and high molecular weight mucin forms, was significantly inhibited, by the acidic low and high molecular weight salivary mucins which evoked 64 and 60% inhibition, respectively. 2. The inhibitory effect of salivary mucins was associated with the sialic acid and sulfate ester groups of the carbohydrate chains, as the removal of either group caused partial loss in the glycoproteins inhibition, and the complete loss in the inhibitory effect occurred following desialylation and desulfation. 3. The channel in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and ATP responded by an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of 55 and 170 kDa proteins, and the phosphorylated channels showed a 46% increase in 45Ca2+ uptake. The phosphorylation and the calcium uptake were susceptible to inhibition by a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein. 4. The binding of EGF to calcium channel receptor protein was inhibited by the low and high molecular weight acidic mucins, causing 41.2 and 36.1% reduction, respectively. This reduction in binding was dependent upon the presence of sulfate ester and sialic acid groups, as evidenced by the loss of the glycoproteins' inhibitory capacity following removal of these groups. 5. The results for the first time demonstrate that salivary mucins actively participate in the modulation of the EGF-controlled buccal mucosal calcium channel activity expression, a process of importance to the preservation of oral tissue integrity.

Modulation of gastric mucosal calcium channel activity by mucus glycoprotein

1. The effect of gastric mucus glycoprotein on the activity of calcium channel isolated from gastric epithelial cell membrane was investigated. The 45Ca2+ uptake into the vesicle-reconstituted channels, while only moderately (14%) affected by the intact mucus glycoprotein, was found significantly inhibited (59%) by the acidic glycoprotein fraction. This effect was associated with the sialic acid and sulfate ester groups of the glycoprotein, as their removal caused a loss in the inhibition. 2. The channel complex in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and ATP responded by an increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation of 55 and 170 kDa proteins, and the vesicles containing the phosphorylated channels showed a 50% increase in 45Ca2+ uptake. The phosphorylation and the calcium uptake were susceptible to inhibition by a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein. 3. The channel protein phosphorylation was inhibited by the acidic mucus glycoprotein, which also interfered with the binding of EGF to the channel protein. The inhibitory effect was dependent upon the presence of sulfate ester and sialic acid groups, as evidenced by the loss of the glycoprotein inhibitory capacity following their removal. 4. The results suggest that the acidic gastric mucus glycoproteins, by modulating the EGF-controlled calcium channel phosphorylation, play a major role in gastric mucosal calcium homeostasis.

Activation of gastric mucosal calcium channels by epidermal growth factor

1. Gastric mucosal calcium channel complex was isolated from the solubilized epithelial cell membranes by affinity chromatography on wheat germ agglutinin. 2. The complex following labeling with [3H]PN200-110 was reconstituted into phosphatidylcholine vesicles which exhibited active 45Ca2+ uptake into intravesicular space as evidenced by La3+ displacement and osmolarity measurements. The 45Ca2+ uptake was independent of sodium and potassium gradients indicating the electroneutral nature of the process. 3. The gastric mucosal channels on epidermal growth factor binding in the presence of ATP responded by an increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation of 55 and 170 kDa subunits of calcium channel. 4. The phosphorylated channels following reconstitution into vesicles displayed at 48% greater 45Ca2+ uptake, thus indicating the tyrosine kinase involvement in EGF dependent activation of calcium channel. 5. The results point towards the importance of epidermal growth factor in the maintenance of gastric mucosal calcium homeostasis.

Activation of dihydropyridine-sensitive parotid salivary gland calcium channels by epidermal growth factor

The calcium channel complex of the parotid was isolated from solubilized acinar-cell membranes by affinity chromatography on wheatgerm agglutinin. The channel, after labelling the calcium antagonist-receptor site with [3H]-PN200-100, was reconstituted into phosphatidylcholine vesicles that exhibited active 45Ca2+ uptake. This uptake was independent of sodium and potassium gradients, indicating its electroneutrality. The channels responded in a dose-dependent manner to the dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, PN200-110, which at 0.4 microM exerted a maximal inhibitory effect of 75% on 45Ca2+ uptake; a 46% enhancement in 45Ca2+ uptake occurred with a specific calcium-channel activator, BAY K8644. On epidermal growth-factor (EGF) binding in the presence of ATP, there was an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of 55 and 170 kDa calcium-channel proteins. Such phosphorylated channels, after reconstitution into vesicles, displayed a 61% greater 45Ca2+ uptake, indicating the involvement of tyrosine kinase in EGF-dependent activation of the calcium channel. The results point towards the importance of EGF in the regulation of calcium homeostasis in salivary gland.

Effect of sucralfate on gastric mucosal calcium channels activity

1. The effect of anti-ulcer agent, sucralfate, on the activity of the gastric mucosal calcium channel was investigated using calcium channels purified from rat gastric epithelial cell membranes. 2. The channels on reconstitution into phosphatidylcholine vesicles responded in a concentration-dependent manner to a calcium channel activator, BAY K8644, as well as to a calcium channel antagonist, PN200-110. The 45Ca2+ uptake was inhibited by sucralfate. Maximum inhibitory effect was attained at 100 micrograms/ml sucralfate, at which point a 52% decrease in the uptake occurred. 3. EGF-induced channel protein phosphorylation showed an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of 55 and 170 kDa proteins, and the vesicles containing the phosphorylated channels displayed a 48% greater 45Ca2+ uptake. This phosphorylation process was inhibited by sucralfate. Furthermore, sucralfate also interfered with the binding of EGF to calcium channel protein. 4. The results indicate that sucralfate protects the cellular integrity from calcium imbalance by modulating the EGF-stimulated gastric mucosal calcium channel phosphorylation.

GM1-ganglioside regulation of EGF-induced gastric mucosal calcium channel activation

1. Calcium channels, isolated from gastric epithelial cell membranes when reconstituted into phosphatidylcholine vesicles exhibited active 45Ca2+ uptake as evidenced by a dose dependent response to calcium channel activator, BAY K8644, and antagonist, PN200-110. 2. The channels on epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding in the presence of ATP showed an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of 55 and 170 kDa calcium channel proteins. Such phosphorylated channels following reconstitution into the vesicles displayed a 48% greater 45Ca2+ uptake than that of the controls. 3. The binding of EGF to calcium channel protein was inhibited by GM1-ganglioside reaching maximum inhibition of 65% at 40 nM GM1. In contrast, calcium channel antagonist, PN200-110, had no effect on EGF binding. 4. The EGF-stimulated calcium channel protein phosphorylation was inhibited by GM1. This inhibitory effect was mainly reflected in the decrease of tyrosine phosphorylation of 55 and 170 kDa proteins. 5. The results suggest the participation of GM1-ganglioside in the regulation of EGF-stimulated gastric mucosal calcium channel activation.

Platelet-derived growth factor activation of gastric mucosal calcium channels

Gastric mucosal calcium channel complex was isolated from the solubilized epithelial cell membranes by affinity chromatography on wheat germ agglutinin. The complex following labeling with [3H]PN200-100 was reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles which exhibited active 45Ca2+ uptake. The channels responded in a dose dependent manner to dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, PN200-110, which at 0.5 microM exerted maximal inhibitory affect of 66% on 45Ca2+ uptake, while a 52% enhancement in 45Ca2+ uptake occurred with a specific calcium channel activator, BAY K8644. On platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) binding in the presence of ATP, channels showed an increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation of 55 and 170kDa subunits of calcium channel. Such phosphorylated channels following reconstitution into vesicles displayed a 78% greater 45Ca2+ uptake. The results point towards the importance of PDGF in the regulation of gastric mucosal calcium homeostasis.

Inhibition of gastric mucosal laminin receptor by Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide

Laminin receptor was isolated from gastric epithelial cell membrane by the procedure involving membrane solubilization with octylglucoside followed by affinity chromatography on laminin-coupled Sepharose. The receptor protein, eluted from the matrix with cation-free EDTA buffer, yielded on SDS-PAGE a single 67kDa band. After radioiodination, the protein was incorporated into liposomes which displayed specific affinity toward the laminin-coated surface. The binding of liposomal receptor to the laminin-coated surface was inhibited by lipopolysaccharide from H.pylori. The inhibitory effect was proportional to the concentration of lipopolysaccharide up to 50 micrograms/ml at which point a 96% decrease in the receptor binding occurred. It is suggested that a similar process may account for the loss of mucosal integrity in the pathogenesis of H. pylori associated gastric disease.

Inhibition of gastric mucosal laminin receptor by Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide: effect of nitecapone

1. A gastric mucosal laminin receptor has been isolated from the epithelial cell membrane by affinity chromatography on Sepharose-bound laminin, and following radioiodination was incorporated into liposomes which displayed specific affinity towards the laminin-coated surface. 2. The binding of liposomal receptor to the laminin-coated surface was inhibited by Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide and reached a maximum value of 96% at 50 micrograms/ml. 3. The inhibitory effect of H. pylori lipopolysaccharide on the receptor-laminin binding was prevented by an antiulcer agent, nitecapone. The effect was concentration dependent and produced a maximum response of 83% at 30 micrograms/ml of drug concentration. 4. The results demonstrate that H. pylori is capable of disrupting gastric mucosal integrity by interfering with epithelial cell-laminin binding, and that an antiucler agent, nitecapone, counteracts this effect.