Cell cycle deregulation and loss of stem cell phenotype in the subventricular zone of TGF-beta adaptor elf-/- mouse brain

Embryonic liver fodrin involved in hepatic stellate cell activation and formation of regenerative nodule in liver cirrhosis

Transforming growth factor (TGF) β₁ plays a critical role in liver fibrosis. Previous studies demonstrated embryonic liver fodrin (ELF), a β-spectrin was involved in TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway as Smad3/4 adaptor. Here we investigate the role of ELF in pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis. In carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced mice model of liver cirrhosis, ELF is up-regulated in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and down-regulated in regenerative hepatocytes of cirrhotic nodules. In activated HSCs in vitro, reduction of ELF expression mediated by siRNA leads to the inhibition of HSC activation and procollagen I expression. BrdU assay demonstrates that down-regulation of ELF expression does not inhibit proliferation of activated HSCs in vitro. Immunostaining of cytokeratin 19 and Ki67 indicates that regenerative hepatocytes in cirrhotic liver are derived from hepatic progenitor cells (HPC). Further study reveals that HPC expansion occurs as an initial phase, before the reduction of ELF expression in regenerative hepatocytes. Regenerative hepatocytes in cirrhotic liver show the change in proliferative activity and expression pattern of proteins involved in G1/S transition, which suggests the deregulation of cell cycle in regenerative hepatocytes. Finally, we find that ELF participates in TGF-β/Smad signal in activated HSCs and hepatocytes through regulating the localization of Smad3/4. These data reveal that ELF is involved in HSC activation and the formation of regenerative nodules derived from HPC in cirrhotic liver.

Transcriptional control of cell cycle-dependent kinase 4 by Smad proteins--implications for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by deregulation of neuronal cell cycle and differentiation control eventually resulting in cell death. During brain development, neuronal differentiation is regulated by Smad proteins, which are elements of the canonical transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, linking receptor activation to gene expression. In the normal adult brain, Smad proteins are constitutively phosphorylated and predominantly localized in neuronal nuclei. Under neurodegenerative conditions such as AD, the subcellular localization of their phosphorylated forms is heavily disturbed, raising the question of whether a nuclear Smad deficiency in neurons might contribute to a loss of neuronal differentiation control and subsequent cell cycle re-entry. Here, we show by luciferase reporter assays, electromobility shift, and RNA interference (RNAi) technique a direct binding of Smad proteins to the CDK4 promoter inducing transcriptional inhibition of cell cycle-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4). Mimicking the neuronal deficiency of Smad proteins observed in AD in cell culture by RNAi results in elevation of Cdk4 and retardation of neurite outgrowth. The results identify Smad proteins as direct transcriptional regulators of Cdk4 and add further evidence to a Smad-dependent deregulation of Cdk4 in AD, giving rise to neuronal dedifferentiation and cell death.

Cell organization, growth, and neural and cardiac development require αII-spectrin

Spectrin α2 (αII-spectrin) is a scaffolding protein encoded by the Spna2 gene and constitutively expressed in most tissues. Exon trapping of Spna2 in C57BL/6 mice allowed targeted disruption of αII-spectrin. Heterozygous animals displayed no phenotype by 2 years of age. Homozygous deletion of Spna2 was embryonic lethal at embryonic day 12.5 to 16.5 with retarded intrauterine growth, and craniofacial, neural tube and cardiac anomalies. The loss of αII-spectrin did not alter the levels of αI- or βI-spectrin, or the transcriptional levels of any β-spectrin or any ankyrin, but secondarily reduced by about 80% the steady state protein levels of βII- and βIII-spectrin. Residual βII- and βIII-spectrin and ankyrins B and G were concentrated at the apical membrane of bronchial and renal epithelial cells, without impacting cell morphology. Neuroepithelial cells in the developing brain were more concentrated and more proliferative in the ventricular zone than normal; axon formation was also impaired. Embryonic fibroblasts cultured on fibronectin from E14.5 (Spna2(-/-)) animals displayed impaired growth and spreading, a spiky morphology, and sparse lamellipodia without cortical actin. These data indicate that the spectrin-ankyrin scaffold is crucial in vertebrates for cell spreading, tissue patterning and organ development, particularly in the developing brain and heart, but is not required for cell viability.

Regulating the availability of transforming growth factor ß1 in B104 neuroblastoma cells

Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 is a key player in early brain development, hence, its availability (i.e., synthesis and release) affects neuronogenesis. TGFbeta1 moves proliferating cells out of the cell cycle and promotes their subsequent migration. The present study tested the hypothesis that neural progenitors self-regulate TGFbeta1. B104 neuroblastoma cells which can grow in the absence of serum or growth factors were used in systematic studies of transcription, translation, release, and activation. These studies relied on quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and real-time polymerase chain reactions. TGFbeta1 positively upregulated its own intracellular expression and promoted increased release of TGFbeta1 from cells. The induction of TGFbeta1 was independent of a change in transcription, but it depended on cycloheximide-inhibited translation. Signaling mediated by downstream Smad2/3 through the TGFbeta receptors and intracellular protein transport were also required for release of TGFbeta1 from B104 cells. Thus, TGFbeta1 production and release were mediated through a feed-forward mechanism and were pivotally regulated at the level of translation. These activities appear to be key for the role of TGFbeta1 in the proliferation and migration of young neurons.