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de Sousa JC, Santos SACS, Kurtenbach E. Multiple approaches for the evaluation of connexin-43 expression and function in macrophages. J Immunol Methods 2024; 533:113741. [PMID: 39111361 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2024.113741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Connexins are essential gap junction proteins that play pivotal roles in intercellular communication in various organs of mammals. Connexin-43 (Cx43) is expressed in various components of the immune system, and there is extensive evidence of its participation in inflammation responses. The involvement of Cx43 in macrophage functionality involves the purinergic signaling pathway. Macrophages contribute to defenses against inflammatory reactions such as bacterial sepsis and peritonitis. Several assays can identify the presence and activity of Cx43 in macrophages. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can measure the relative mRNA expression of Cx43, whereas western blotting can detect protein expression levels. Using immunofluorescence assays, it is possible to analyze the expression and observe the localization of Cx43 in cells or tissues. Moreover, connexin-mediated gap junction intercellular communication can be evaluated using functional assays such as microinjection of fluorescent dyes or scrape loading-dye transfer. The use of selective inhibitors contributes to this understanding and reinforces the role of connexins in various processes. Here, we discuss these methods to evaluate Cx43 and macrophage gap junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlia Costa de Sousa
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
| | | | - Eleonora Kurtenbach
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
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2
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Pun R, Cavanaugh AM, Aldrich E, Tran O, Rudd JC, Hansen LA, North BJ. PKCμ promotes keratinocyte cell migration through Cx43 phosphorylation-mediated suppression of intercellular communication. iScience 2024; 27:109033. [PMID: 38375220 PMCID: PMC10875573 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Downregulation of intercellular communication through suppression of gap junctional conductance is necessary during wound healing. Connexin 43 (Cx43), a prominent gap junction protein in skin, is downregulated following wounding to restrict communication between keratinocytes. Previous studies found that PKCμ, a novel PKC isozyme, regulates efficient cutaneous wound healing. However, the molecular mechanism by which PKCμ regulates wound healing remains unknown. We have identified that PKCμ suppresses intercellular communication and enhances cell migration in an in vitro wound healing model by regulating Cx43 containing gap junctions. PKCμ can directly interact with and phosphorylate Cx43 at S368, which leads to Cx43 internalization and downregulation. Finally, utilizing phosphomimetic and non-phosphorylatable S368 substitutions and gap junction inhibitors, we confirmed that PKCμ regulates intercellular communication and in vitro wound healing by controlling Cx43-S368 phosphorylation. These results define PKCμ as a critical regulator of Cx43 phosphorylation to control cell migration and wound healing in keratinocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renju Pun
- Biomedical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Ann M. Cavanaugh
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Emily Aldrich
- Biomedical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Olivia Tran
- Biomedical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Justin C. Rudd
- Biomedical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Laura A. Hansen
- Biomedical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Brian J. North
- Biomedical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
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3
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Acharya BR, Fang JS, Jeffery ED, Chavkin NW, Genet G, Vasavada H, Nelson EA, Sheynkman GM, Humphries MJ, Hirschi KK. Connexin 37 sequestering of activated-ERK in the cytoplasm promotes p27-mediated endothelial cell cycle arrest. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201685. [PMID: 37197981 PMCID: PMC10192821 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Connexin37-mediated regulation of cell cycle modulators and, consequently, growth arrest lack mechanistic understanding. We previously showed that arterial shear stress up-regulates Cx37 in endothelial cells and activates a Notch/Cx37/p27 signaling axis to promote G1 cell cycle arrest, and this is required to enable arterial gene expression. However, how induced expression of a gap junction protein, Cx37, up-regulates cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 to enable endothelial growth suppression and arterial specification is unclear. Herein, we fill this knowledge gap by expressing wild-type and regulatory domain mutants of Cx37 in cultured endothelial cells expressing the Fucci cell cycle reporter. We determined that both the channel-forming and cytoplasmic tail domains of Cx37 are required for p27 up-regulation and late G1 arrest. Mechanistically, the cytoplasmic tail domain of Cx37 interacts with, and sequesters, activated ERK in the cytoplasm. This then stabilizes pERK nuclear target Foxo3a, which up-regulates p27 transcription. Consistent with previous studies, we found this Cx37/pERK/Foxo3a/p27 signaling axis functions downstream of arterial shear stress to promote endothelial late G1 state and enable up-regulation of arterial genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bipul R Acharya
- Department of Cell Biology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jennifer S Fang
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Erin D Jeffery
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Nicholas W Chavkin
- Department of Cell Biology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Gael Genet
- Department of Cell Biology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Hema Vasavada
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Nelson
- Department of Cell Biology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Gloria M Sheynkman
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Martin J Humphries
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Karen K Hirschi
- Department of Cell Biology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Audebert M, Assmann AS, Azqueta A, Babica P, Benfenati E, Bortoli S, Bouwman P, Braeuning A, Burgdorf T, Coumoul X, Debizet K, Dusinska M, Ertych N, Fahrer J, Fetz V, Le Hégarat L, López de Cerain A, Heusinkveld HJ, Hogeveen K, Jacobs MN, Luijten M, Raitano G, Recoules C, Rundén-Pran E, Saleh M, Sovadinová I, Stampar M, Thibol L, Tomkiewicz C, Vettorazzi A, Van de Water B, El Yamani N, Zegura B, Oelgeschläger M. New approach methodologies to facilitate and improve the hazard assessment of non-genotoxic carcinogens-a PARC project. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1220998. [PMID: 37492623 PMCID: PMC10364052 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1220998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Carcinogenic chemicals, or their metabolites, can be classified as genotoxic or non-genotoxic carcinogens (NGTxCs). Genotoxic compounds induce DNA damage, which can be detected by an established in vitro and in vivo battery of genotoxicity assays. For NGTxCs, DNA is not the primary target, and the possible modes of action (MoA) of NGTxCs are much more diverse than those of genotoxic compounds, and there is no specific in vitro assay for detecting NGTxCs. Therefore, the evaluation of the carcinogenic potential is still dependent on long-term studies in rodents. This 2-year bioassay, mainly applied for testing agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, is time-consuming, costly and requires very high numbers of animals. More importantly, its relevance for human risk assessment is questionable due to the limited predictivity for human cancer risk, especially with regard to NGTxCs. Thus, there is an urgent need for a transition to new approach methodologies (NAMs), integrating human-relevant in vitro assays and in silico tools that better exploit the current knowledge of the multiple processes involved in carcinogenesis into a modern safety assessment toolbox. Here, we describe an integrative project that aims to use a variety of novel approaches to detect the carcinogenic potential of NGTxCs based on different mechanisms and pathways involved in carcinogenesis. The aim of this project is to contribute suitable assays for the safety assessment toolbox for an efficient and improved, internationally recognized hazard assessment of NGTxCs, and ultimately to contribute to reliable mechanism-based next-generation risk assessment for chemical carcinogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Audebert
- INRAE: Toxalim, INRAE, INP-ENVT, INP-EI-Purpan, Université de Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Ann-Sophie Assmann
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Amaya Azqueta
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, UNAV: University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Pavel Babica
- RECETOX: RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Emilio Benfenati
- IRFMN: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri—IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Sylvie Bortoli
- INSERM: INSERM UMR-S 1124 T3S—Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Peter Bouwman
- UL-LACDR: Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Albert Braeuning
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tanja Burgdorf
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Xavier Coumoul
- INSERM: INSERM UMR-S 1124 T3S—Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Kloé Debizet
- INSERM: INSERM UMR-S 1124 T3S—Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Maria Dusinska
- Health Effects Laboratory, NILU: The Climate and Environmental Research Institute, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Norman Ertych
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörg Fahrer
- Department of Chemistry, RPTU: Division of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Verena Fetz
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ludovic Le Hégarat
- ANSES: French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Fougères Laboratory, Toxicology of Contaminants Unit, Fougères, France
| | - Adela López de Cerain
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, UNAV: University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Harm J. Heusinkveld
- RIVM: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Kevin Hogeveen
- ANSES: French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Fougères Laboratory, Toxicology of Contaminants Unit, Fougères, France
| | - Miriam N. Jacobs
- Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, UKHSA: UK Health Security Agency, Chilton, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Mirjam Luijten
- RIVM: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Giuseppa Raitano
- IRFMN: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri—IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Cynthia Recoules
- INRAE: Toxalim, INRAE, INP-ENVT, INP-EI-Purpan, Université de Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Elise Rundén-Pran
- Health Effects Laboratory, NILU: The Climate and Environmental Research Institute, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Mariam Saleh
- ANSES: French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Fougères Laboratory, Toxicology of Contaminants Unit, Fougères, France
| | - Iva Sovadinová
- RECETOX: RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martina Stampar
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, NIB: National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Lea Thibol
- Department of Chemistry, RPTU: Division of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | | | - Ariane Vettorazzi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, UNAV: University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Bob Van de Water
- UL-LACDR: Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Naouale El Yamani
- Health Effects Laboratory, NILU: The Climate and Environmental Research Institute, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Bojana Zegura
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, NIB: National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Michael Oelgeschläger
- Department Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) and Department Food Safety, BfR: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
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Ca 2+-Dependent and -Independent Calmodulin Binding to the Cytoplasmic Loop of Gap Junction Connexins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044153. [PMID: 36835569 PMCID: PMC9961272 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Ca2+/calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM) interaction with connexins (Cx) is well-established; however, the mechanistic basis of regulation of gap junction function by Ca2+/CaM is not fully understood. Ca2+/CaM is predicted to bind to a domain in the C-terminal portion of the intracellular loop (CL2) in the vast majority of Cx isoforms and for a number of Cx-s this prediction has proved correct. In this study, we investigate and characterise both Ca2+/CaM and apo-CaM binding to selected representatives of each of the α, β and γ connexin family to develop a better mechanistic understanding of CaM effects on gap junction function. The affinity and kinetics Ca2+/CaM and apo-CaM interactions of CL2 peptides of β-Cx32, γ-Cx35, α-Cx43, α-Cx45 and α-Cx57 were investigated. All five Cx CL2 peptides were found to have high affinity for Ca2+/CaM with dissociation constants (Kd(+Ca)) from 20 to 150 nM. The limiting rate of binding and the rates of dissociation covered a broad range. In addition, we obtained evidence for high affinity Ca2+-independent interaction of all five peptides with CaM, consistent with CaM remaining anchored to gap junctions in resting cells. However, for the α-Cx45 and α-Cx57 CL2 peptides, Ca2+-dependent association at resting [Ca2+] of 50-100 nM is indicated in these complexes as one of the CaM Ca2+ binding sites displays high affinity with Kd of 70 and 30 nM for Ca2+, respectively. Furthermore, complex conformational changes were observed in peptide-apo-CaM complexes with the structure of CaM compacted or stretched by the peptide in a concentration dependent manner suggesting that the CL2 domain may undergo helix-to-coil transition and/or forms bundles, which may be relevant in the hexameric gap junction. We demonstrate inhibition of gap junction permeability by Ca2+/CaM in a dose dependent manner, further cementing Ca2+/CaM as a regulator of gap junction function. The motion of a stretched CaM-CL2 complex compacting upon Ca2+ binding may bring about the Ca2+/CaM block of the gap junction pore by a push and pull action on the CL2 C-terminal hydrophobic residues of transmembrane domain 3 (TM3) in and out of the membrane.
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TNF-α Plus IL-1β Induces Opposite Regulation of Cx43 Hemichannels and Gap Junctions in Mesangial Cells through a RhoA/ROCK-Dependent Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710097. [PMID: 36077498 PMCID: PMC9456118 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Connexin 43 (Cx43) is expressed in kidney tissue where it forms hemichannels and gap junction channels. However, the possible functional relationship between these membrane channels and their role in damaged renal cells remains unknown. Here, analysis of ethidium uptake and thiobarbituric acid reactive species revealed that treatment with TNF-α plus IL-1β increases Cx43 hemichannel activity and oxidative stress in MES-13 cells (a cell line derived from mesangial cells), and in primary mesangial cells. The latter was also accompanied by a reduction in gap junctional communication, whereas Western blotting assays showed a progressive increase in phosphorylated MYPT (a target of RhoA/ROCK) and Cx43 upon TNF-α/IL-1β treatment. Additionally, inhibition of RhoA/ROCK strongly antagonized the TNF-α/IL-1β-induced activation of Cx43 hemichannels and reduction in gap junctional coupling. We propose that activation of Cx43 hemichannels and inhibition of cell-cell coupling during pro-inflammatory conditions could contribute to oxidative stress and damage of mesangial cells via the RhoA/ROCK pathway.
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Wu L, Wang Z, He X, Jiang Y, Pan R, Chen S, Chen Y, Han Y, Yu H, Zhang T. GJA1 reverses arsenic-induced EMT via modulating MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 450:116138. [PMID: 35750204 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic is known as a well-established human carcinogen. Gap Junction Protein Alpha 1 (GJA1) is a multifunction protein that forms gap junction channels and is important for intercellular communication. Recently, its aberrant expression has been shown to associate with cancer recurrence and metastatic spread. However, whether GJA1 plays a role in arsenic carcinogenesis remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that chronic exposure of human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells to sodium arsenite promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via increasing the expression of EMT inducer S100A4 and activation of MAPK/ERK signaling. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that chronic exposure to sodium arsenite reduced GJA1 expression. Forced expression of GJA1 inhibited sodium arsenite-induced EMT via suppressing MAPK/ERK signaling whereas GJA1 knockdown produced an opposite effect. Intriguingly, chronic exposure to sodium arsenite increased autophagy flux. Inhibition of autophagy by pharmacological intervention or genetic deletion of autophagy core gene Beclin-1 upregulated GJA1 expression. These results suggested that GJA1 restrained the carcinogenic effect of sodium arsenite by limiting MAPK/ERK signaling, and GJA1 expression was decreased by arsenic-activated autophagy. In addition, interventions directed at enhancing the level or functional activity of GJA1 could be of preventive and therapeutic interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linqing Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zengbin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Cancer Center of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli He
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | | | | | - Shi Chen
- Kindstar Global Medical Special Inspection Group, Wuhan, China
| | - Yizhong Chen
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanfei Han
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huahui Yu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
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Yawer A, Sychrová E, Raška J, Babica P, Sovadinová I. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals affect sertoli TM4 cell functionality through dysregulation of gap junctional intercellular communication in vitro. Food Chem Toxicol 2022; 164:113004. [PMID: 35413382 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The frequencies of adverse outcomes associated with male reproductive health, including infertility and testicular cancer, are increasing. These adverse trends are partially attributed to increased exposure to environmental agents such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This study addresses effects on EDCs on adjacent prepubertal Sertoli TM4 cells, specifically on 1) testicular gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), one of the hallmarks of non-genotoxic carcinogenicity, 2) GJIC building blocks connexins (Cx), and 3) mitogen-activated protein kinases MAPKs. We selected eight representatives of EDCs: bisphenol A and organochlorine chemicals such as pesticides dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, lindane, methoxychlor, and vinclozolin, industrial chemical 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl, and components of personal care products, triclocarban and triclosan. EDCs rapidly dysregulated GJIC in Sertoli TM4 cells mainly via MAPK p38 and/or Erk1/2/pathways by the intermediate hyper- or de-phosphorylation of Cx43 (Ser368, Ser282) and translocalization of Cx43 from the plasma membrane, suggesting disturbed intracellular trafficking of Cx43 protein. Surprisingly, EDCs did not rapidly activate MAPK Erk1/2 or p38; on the contrary, TCC and TCS decreased their activity (phosphorylation). Our results indicate that EDCs might disrupt testicular homeostasis and development via testicular GJIC, junctional and non-junctional functions of Cx43 and MAPK-signalling pathways in Sertoli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Affiefa Yawer
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Eliška Sychrová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Raška
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Pavel Babica
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Iva Sovadinová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
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9
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Applicability of Scrape Loading-Dye Transfer Assay for Non-Genotoxic Carcinogen Testing. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168977. [PMID: 34445682 PMCID: PMC8396440 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) is recognized as one of the key hallmarks for identifying non-genotoxic carcinogens (NGTxC). Currently, there is a demand for in vitro assays addressing the gap junction hallmark, which would have the potential to eventually become an integral part of an integrated approach to the testing and assessment (IATA) of NGTxC. The scrape loading-dye transfer (SL-DT) technique is a simple assay for the functional evaluation of GJIC in various in vitro cultured mammalian cells and represents an interesting candidate assay. Out of the various techniques for evaluating GJIC, the SL-DT assay has been used frequently to assess the effects of various chemicals on GJIC in toxicological and tumor promotion research. In this review, we systematically searched the existing literature to gather papers assessing GJIC using the SL-DT assay in a rat liver epithelial cell line, WB-F344, after treating with chemicals, especially environmental and food toxicants, drugs, reproductive-, cardio- and neuro-toxicants and chemical tumor promoters. We discuss findings derived from the SL-DT assay with the known knowledge about the tumor-promoting activity and carcinogenicity of the assessed chemicals to evaluate the predictive capacity of the SL-DT assay in terms of its sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for identifying carcinogens. These data represent important information with respect to the applicability of the SL-DT assay for the testing of NGTxC within the IATA framework.
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10
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Lagergren JH, Nardini JT, Baker RE, Simpson MJ, Flores KB. Biologically-informed neural networks guide mechanistic modeling from sparse experimental data. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1008462. [PMID: 33259472 PMCID: PMC7732115 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Biologically-informed neural networks (BINNs), an extension of physics-informed neural networks [1], are introduced and used to discover the underlying dynamics of biological systems from sparse experimental data. In the present work, BINNs are trained in a supervised learning framework to approximate in vitro cell biology assay experiments while respecting a generalized form of the governing reaction-diffusion partial differential equation (PDE). By allowing the diffusion and reaction terms to be multilayer perceptrons (MLPs), the nonlinear forms of these terms can be learned while simultaneously converging to the solution of the governing PDE. Further, the trained MLPs are used to guide the selection of biologically interpretable mechanistic forms of the PDE terms which provides new insights into the biological and physical mechanisms that govern the dynamics of the observed system. The method is evaluated on sparse real-world data from wound healing assays with varying initial cell densities [2]. In this work we extend equation learning methods to be feasible for biological applications with nonlinear dynamics and where data are often sparse and noisy. Physics-informed neural networks have recently been shown to approximate solutions of PDEs from simulated noisy data while simultaneously optimizing the PDE parameters. However, the success of this method requires the correct specification of the governing PDE, which may not be known in practice. Here, we present an extension of the algorithm that allows neural networks to learn the nonlinear terms of the governing system without the need to specify the mechanistic form of the PDE. Our method is demonstrated on real-world biological data from scratch assay experiments and used to discover a previously unconsidered biological mechanism that describes delayed population response to the scratch.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H. Lagergren
- Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Research and Scientific Computation, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- * E-mail: (JHL); (KBF)
| | - John T. Nardini
- Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ruth E. Baker
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew J. Simpson
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kevin B. Flores
- Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Research and Scientific Computation, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- * E-mail: (JHL); (KBF)
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Choi EJ, Palacios-Prado N, Sáez JC, Lee J. Identification of Cx45 as a Major Component of GJs in HeLa Cells. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10101389. [PMID: 33003547 PMCID: PMC7650549 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gap junctions (GJs) are intercellular channels that connect adjacent cells electrically and metabolically. The iodide-yellow fluorescent protein (I-YFP) gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) assay is a recently developed method with high sensitivity. HeLa cells have been widely used as GJ-deficient cells for GJ-related research. Herein, we present evidence showing that HeLa cells have functional GJs comprising connexin (Cx) 45 using the I-YFP GJ assay and CRISPR/Cas9 system. We conducted the I-YFP GJIC assay in HeLa cells, which revealed a weak level of GJIC that could not be detected by the Lucifer yellow scrape-loading assay. The mRNA expression of GJB5 (Cx31.1), GJA1 (Cx43), and GJC1 (Cx45) was detected in HeLa cells by RT-PCR analysis. Knocking out GJC1 (Cx45) abolished GJIC, as analyzed by the I-YFP assay and dual whole-cell patch-clamp assay. These results suggest that HeLa cells express Cx45-based GJs and that the I-YFP GJIC assay can be used for cells with weak GJIC, such as Cx45-expressing HeLa cells. Further, GJC1 (Cx45)-knockout HeLa cells are more suitable as a GJ-null cell model for transfection experiments than wild-type HeLa cells. This experimental design was successfully applied to knock out Cx43 expression and GJIC in A549 lung cancer cells and can thus be used to identify major Cxs in other cell types and to establish GJ assay systems for different Cxs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Ju Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Korea;
| | - Nicolás Palacios-Prado
- Departamento de Fisiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 6513677, Chile; (N.P.-P.); (J.C.S.)
| | - Juan C. Sáez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 6513677, Chile; (N.P.-P.); (J.C.S.)
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360103, Chile
| | - Jinu Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Korea;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-32-749-4161
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12
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Structure-Dependent Effects of Phthalates on Intercellular and Intracellular Communication in Liver Oval Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176069. [PMID: 32842520 PMCID: PMC7504421 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans are exposed to phthalates released from plastics, cosmetics, or food on a daily basis. Phthalates have low acute liver toxicity, but their chronic exposures could induce molecular and cellular effects linked to adverse health outcomes, such as liver tumor promotion or chronic liver diseases. The alternation of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and MAPK-Erk1/2 pathways in liver progenitor or oval cells can disrupt liver tissue homeostatic mechanisms and affect the development and severity of these adverse outcomes. Our study with 20 different phthalates revealed their structurally dependent effects on liver GJIC and MAPK-Erk1/2 signaling in rat liver WB-F344 cell line with characteristics of liver oval cells. The phthalates with a medium-length side chain (3–6 C) were the most potent dysregulators of GJIC and activators of MAPK-Erk1/2. The effects occurred rapidly, suggesting the activation of non-genomic (non-transcriptional) mechanisms directly by the parental compounds. Short-chain phthalates (1–2 C) did not dysregulate GJIC even after longer exposures and did not activate MAPK-Erk1/2. Longer chain (≥7 C) phthalates, such as DEHP or DINP, moderately activated MAPK-Erk1/2, but inhibited GJIC only after prolonged exposures (>12 h), suggesting that GJIC dysregulation occurs via genomic mechanisms, or (bio)transformation. Overall, medium-chain phthalates rapidly affected the key tissue homeostatic mechanisms in the liver oval cell population via non-genomic pathways, which might contribute to the development of chronic liver toxicity and diseases.
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Yawer A, Sychrová E, Labohá P, Raška J, Jambor T, Babica P, Sovadinová I. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals rapidly affect intercellular signaling in Leydig cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020; 404:115177. [PMID: 32739526 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.115177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
A decline in male fertility possibly caused by environmental contaminants, namely endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), is a topic of public concern and scientific interest. This study addresses a specific role of testicular gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between adjacent prepubertal Leydig cells in endocrine disruption and male reproductive toxicity. Organochlorine pesticides (lindane, methoxychlor, DDT), industrial chemicals (PCB153, bisphenol A, nonylphenol and octylphenol) as well as personal care product components (triclosan, triclocarban) rapidly dysregulated GJIC in murine Leydig TM3 cells. The selected GJIC-inhibiting EDCs (methoxychlor, triclosan, triclocarban, lindane, DDT) caused the immediate GJIC disruption by the relocation of gap junctional protein connexin 43 (Cx43) from the plasma membrane and the alternation of Cx43 phosphorylation pattern (Ser368, Ser279, Ser282) of its full-length and two N-truncated isoforms. After more prolonged exposure (24 h), EDCs decreased steady-state levels of full-length Cx43 protein and its two N-truncated isoforms, and eventually (triclosan, triclocarban) also tight junction protein Tjp-1. The disturbance of GJIC was accompanied by altered activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases MAPK-Erk1/2 and MAPK-p38, and a decrease in stimulated progesterone production. Our results indicate that EDCs might disrupt testicular homeostasis and development via disruption of testicular GJIC, a dysregulation of junctional and non-junctional functions of Cx43, activation of MAPKs, and disruption of an early stage of steroidogenesis in prepubertal Leydig cells. These critical disturbances of Leydig cell development and functions during a prepubertal period might be contributing to impaired male reproduction health later on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Affiefa Yawer
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, building A29, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eliška Sychrová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, building A29, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Labohá
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, building A29, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Raška
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, building A29, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Jambor
- BioFood Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovac Republic
| | - Pavel Babica
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, building A29, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Iva Sovadinová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, building A29, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
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