Cell type expression mediated by cell cycle events, and signaled by mitogens and growth inhibitors

Behavior of Stem-Like Cells, Precursors for Tissue Regeneration in Urodela, Under Conditions of Microgravity

We summarize data from our experiments on stem-like cell-dependent regeneration in amphibians in microgravity. Considering its deleterious effect on many tissues, we asked whether microgravity is compatible with reparative processes, specifically activation and proliferation of source cells. Experiments were conducted using tailed amphibians, which combine profound regenerative capabilities with high robustness, allowing an in vivo study of lens, retina, limb, and tail regeneration in challenging settings of spaceflight. Microgravity promoted stem-like cell proliferation to a varying extent (up to 2-fold), and it seemed to speed up source cell dedifferentiation, as well as sequential differentiation in retina, lens, and limb, leading to formation of bigger and more developed regenerates than in 1g controls. It also promoted proliferation and hypertrophy of Müller glial cells, eliciting a response similar to reactive gliosis. A significant increase in stem-like cell proliferation was mostly beneficial for regeneration and only in rare cases caused moderate tissue growth abnormalities. It is important that microgravity yielded a lasting effect even if applied before operations. We hypothesize on the potential mechanisms of gravity-dependent changes in stem-like cell behavior, including fibroblast growth factor 2 signaling pathway and heat shock proteins, which were affected in our experimental settings. Taken together, our data indicate that microgravity does not disturb the natural regenerative potential of newt stem-like cells, and, depending on the system, even stimulates their dedifferentiation, proliferation, and differentiation. We discuss these data along with publications on mammalian stem cell behavior in vitro and invertebrate regeneration in vivo in microgravity. In vivo data are very scarce and require further research using contemporary methods of cell behavior analysis to elucidate mechanisms of stem cell response to altered gravity. They are relevant for both practical applications, such as managing human reparative responses in spaceflight, and fundamental understanding of stem cell biology.

The cellular and molecular bases of vertebrate lens regeneration

Lens regeneration takes place in some vertebrates through processes of cellular dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation, processes by which certain differentiated cell types can give rise to others. This review describes the principal forms of lens regeneration that occur in vivo as well as related in vitro systems of transdifferentiation. Classic experimental studies are reviewed that define the tissue interactions that trigger these events in vivo. Recent molecular analyses have begun to identify the genes associated with these processes. These latter studies generally reveal tremendous similarities between embryonic lens development and lens regeneration. Different models are proposed to describe basic molecular pathways that define the processes of lens regeneration and transdifferentiation. Finally, studies are discussed suggesting that fibroblast growth factors play key roles in supporting the process of lens regeneration. Retinoids, such as retinoic acid, may also play important roles in this process.

Urodelean amphibians in studies on microgravity: effects upon organ and tissue regeneration

Results obtained from nine experiments performed onboard Russian biosatellites have shown that microgravity promotes tissue regeneration in the newt, Pleurodeles waltl. The effect has been reproduced in all flights and on a clinostat as well for eye tissues (lens and retina), limbs and tail. The effect was demonstrated in 1.5- to 2-fold increase in cell proliferation in the early stages of regeneration in space flight. Animals "flown" intact and operated after flight regenerated faster than control ones and showed long-lasting micro-"g" effect. The most recent experiment flew aboard the Bion-11 biosatellite. This test was performed for study on microgravity effect on neural retina regeneration after optic nerve lesioning in the newt. Obtained results confirmed our previous information about intensification of regenerative processes in detached neural retina in urodela exposed to simulated weightlessness (Grigoryan et al., 1998). In particular, we found the increase and activation of cell populations participating in neural retina restoration and maintenance of retinal structure. Our findings suggest that promoting effect of microgravity upon regeneration could be influenced by several factors, largely influenced by a response of the whole organism to changed gravity vector. We hypothesized the synthesis of the specific range of stress proteins induced by micro-"g" and their regulative role in cell proliferation. Such a hypothesis for the existence of "altered gravity stress proteins" is discussed.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors and regeneration of the eye lens

If the eye lens of the adult newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, is removed, a new lens will regenerate and only from the dorsal, not the ventral, iris. The source, pigmented epithelial cells, would normally no longer divide, but upon lentectomy they do re-enter the cell cycle and form lens. The cause for this capability is unknown, but the mitogenic Fibroblast Growth Factors and their receptors may be involved. We have demonstrated that FGF receptors are present and operative in lens regeneration, since receptor-directed mitotoxins inhibit regeneration; heterogeneity and differential density in FGF-binding and receptor localization in iris sectors is also present. We propose that the spatial distribution of FGF receptors, especially the amphibian homolog of FGFR-3, is important in initiation of regeneration of eye lens.

In vitro lens transdifferentiation of Xenopus laevis outer cornea induced by Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF)

It has been shown that lens regeneration from outer cornea of larval Xenopus laevis is dependent on neural retina both in vivo and in tissue culture. The isolated outer cornea cultured in the presence of bovine brain-derived acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor (aFGF) is able to reprogram the differentiation into lens fibers, although this transdifferentiative process is not coupled with the formation of a normally organized lens. The capacity of aFGF to promote lens differentiation from cornea is not linked to its mitogenic activity. The cultured corneal cells can transdifferentiate into lens fibers in the presence of aFGF when DNA replication and cell proliferation are prevented by addition of aphidicolin, a specific inhibitor of DNA polymerase in eukaryotes, to the culture medium.

Effects of 3-nitrobenzothiazolo[3,2-a]quinolinium chloride (NBQ) and doxorubicin on lens regeneration in the adult newt: a morphological study

The antitumor drug 3-nitrobenzothiazolo [3,2-a] quinolinium chloride (NBQ) stimulates the in vivo lens regeneration in the adult newt Notophthalmus viridescens and induces a differentiated state in HL-60 leukemia cells. Because the cytotoxic drug doxorubicin (Adriamycin) induces differentiation of HL-60 cells in vitro we decided to compare the effect(s) of doxorubicin with NBQ on lens regeneration in vivo. Both drugs were injected intraperitoneally at six different schedules. Morphological criteria of the different regeneration stages were used in the analysis of the regenerates. NBQ stimulated lens regeneration independently of the time intervals and the stage of regeneration at which the drug was administered. There was an increase in the mean number of mitoses suggesting that NBQ stimulated cell proliferation. Doxorubicin administered for five days did not modify the regenerative process. On the other hand, doxorubicin given for periods of nine or more days after lentectomy, strongly inhibited the formation of a new lens. Thus, the inhibitory effect of doxorubicin is dependent on the continuous long term contact with the tissue. Although NBQ and doxorubicin are both DNA intercalators, they induced the effects on lens regeneration through different mechanisms.

A mechanism generating heterogeneity in thyroid epithelial cells: suppression of the thyrotropin/cAMP-dependent mitogenic pathway after cell division induced by cAMP-independent factors

The mechanisms that generate the intercellular heterogeneity of functional and proliferation responses in a tissue are generally unknown. In the thyroid gland, this heterogeneity is peculiarly marked and it has been proposed that it could result from the coexistence of genetically different subpopulations of thyrocytes. To evaluate the heterogeneity of proliferative responses in primary culture of dog thyrocytes, we asked whether the progeny of cells having incorporated 3H thymidine in a first period of the culture could have a distinct proliferative fate during a second labeling period (incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine revealed by immunofluorescence staining combined with autoradiography of 3H thymidine). No growth-prone subpopulations were detected and the great majority of cells were found to response to either EGF or thyrotropin (TSH) through cAMP. However, only a fraction of cells replicated DNA at one given period and a clustered distribution of labeled cells within the monolayer, which was different for thymidine- or bromodeoxyuridine-labeled cells, indicates some local and temporal synchrony of neighboring cells. The TSH/cAMP-dependent division of thyrocytes preserved their responsiveness to both TSH and EGF mitogenic pathways. By contrast, cells that had divided during a momentary treatment with EGF lost the mitogenic sensitivity to TSH and cAMP (forskolin) but retained the sensitivity to EGF. Since cells that had not divided kept responsiveness to both TSH and EGF, this generated two subpopulations differing in mitogen responsiveness. The extinction of the TSH/cAMP-dependent mitogenic pathway was delayed (1-2 d) but stable. Cell fusion experiments suggest it was due to the induction of a diffusible intracellular inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent growth pathway. These findings provide a useful model of the generation of a qualitative heterogeneity in the cell sensitivity to various mitogens, which presents analogies with other epigenetic processes, such as differentiation and senescence. They shed a new light on the significance of the coexistence of different modes of cell cycle controls in thyroid epithelial cells.

Stimulatory effects of retinal extract and fibroblast growth factor on lentoidogenesis in cultures of chick embryo neuroretinal cells

A crude extract prepared from embryonic chick retina stimulates growth and particularly transdifferentiation into lens when added as a supplement to neuroretinal (NR) cultures in vitro. This effect is especially marked when using a medium (H) containing 5% horse serum, where growth factors are likely to be limiting. The level of delta-crystallin (lens marker) production in such cultures increases with the concentration of extract. Using extracts from earlier and later stages of retinal development, there is an age-dependent decline in the extent to which transdifferentiation is stimulated. However, such extracts have little effect on the activity of CAT, a neuronal marker enzyme. These effects are most probably mediated by growth factors present in the retinal extract acting upon Müller glial cells or their precursors in the NR cultures. In support of this suggestion, we show that purified fibroblast growth factor (but not epidermal growth factor) exerts similar effects on both culture growth and delta-crystallin accumulation.

Macrophage mobilization and morphology during lens regeneration from the iris epithelium in newts: studies with correlated scanning and transmission electron microscopy

The lens was removed from both eyes of adult newts (Notophthalmus viridescens), and the eyes were fixed in Karnovsky's fixative every 2 days 0-20 days after operation. Anterior half-eyes were prepared by standard procedures for scanning electron microscopy of the surface. Before fixation, the posterior iris surface was cleaned of adhering vitreous mechanically with forceps or by treatment with bovine testicular hyaluronidase or with hyaluronidase and collagenase. Some specimens were cryofractured in buffer or ethanol transverse to the mid-dorsal iris, and the fractured surface viewed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cells with various combinations of ridges, blebs, filopodia, and lamellipodia were observed adhering to the posterior surface of the iris by 6 days after lentectomy. These cells, which exhibited the surface characteristics of macrophages, became more numerous in specimens fixed after longer intervals. Invasion of the iris epithelium was observed in a cryofractured specimen. After observations with SEM, selected specimens were embedded in plastic and sectioned for study with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The cells on the iris surface had the cytological characteristics of macrophages, and other macrophages were located within the iris epithelium. In specimens fixed 16 or more days after lentectomy, a bulging lens vesicle was regenerating from the dorsal pupillary margin of the iris. Macrophages were absent or few on the surface of this developing lens but remained scattered over the adjoining iris. Roles that might be played by these macrophages during the transdifferentiation of iris epithelium into lens are discussed.