A VE-cadherin-PAR3-α-catenin complex regulates the Golgi localization and activity of cytosolic phospholipase A(2)α in endothelial cells

VE-cadherin regulates migration inhibitory factor synthesis and release

OBJECTIVE

Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin-mediated adherens junction is critical to maintain endothelial integrity. Besides its role of homophilic intercellular adhesion, VE-cadherin also has a role of outside-in signaling with functional consequences for vascular physiology. However, the nature of these signals remains not completely understood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used in cell culture experiments. Confluent HUVECs were treated with VE-cadherin function-blocking antibodies BV9 (50 μg/ml) or IgG control. Antibody array was used to screen for cytokine/chemokine in supernatant. For VE-cadherin knockdown, siRNA transfection was used. ELISA, Western blot, and qRT-PCR were used to confirm the expression of screened cytokine/chemokine. To explore the possible mechanisms, Scr phosphorylation was detected and Scr inhibitor PP2 (1 μM) was used. To investigate in vivo relevance of the findings, BV9 and the indicated neutralizing antibodies were injected into mice and then lung vascular leak and inflammation were examined by Evans blue assay and lung tissue H&E, respectively.

RESULTS

Using a non-biased, high-throughout human cytokine/chemokine antibody array, we first found that disruption of VE-cadherin-mediated adhesion by function-blocking antibody BV9 triggered the release of migration inhibitory factor (MIF). This VE-cadherin-mediated release of MIF further confirmed by ELISA with both VE-cadherin blocking antibody and siRNA technique was due to enhanced expression of MIF mRNA, which was mediated by Src kinase activation. In addition, in vivo lung vascular leak induced by VE-cadherin function-blocking antibody was partly alleviated by neutralizing MIF.

CONCLUSIONS

VE-cadherin regulates MIF synthesis and release via Src kinase. Our data provide additional evidence to the concept that VE-cadherin transfers intracellular signals to coordinate the state of cell-cell adhesion with gene expression.

Dynamic of VE-cadherin-mediated spermatid-Sertoli cell contacts in the mouse seminiferous epithelium

Spermatids are haploid differentiating cells that, in the meantime they differentiate, translocate along the seminiferous epithelium towards the tubule lumen to be just released as spermatozoa. The success of such a migration depends on dynamic of spermatid-Sertoli cell contacts, the molecular nature of which has not been well defined yet. It was demonstrated that the vascular endothelial cadherin (VEC) is expressed transitorily in the mouse seminiferous epithelium. Here, we evaluated the pattern of VEC expression by immunohistochemistry first in seminiferous tubules at different stages of the epithelial cycle when only unique types of germ cell associations are present. Changes in the pattern of VEC localization according to the step of spermatid differentiation were analysed in detail using testis fragments and spontaneously released germ cells. Utilizing the first wave of spermatogenesis as an in vivo model to have at disposal spermatids at progressive steps of differentiation, we checked for level of looser VEC association with the membrane by performing protein solubilisation under mild detergent conditions and assays through VEC-immunoblotting. Being changes in VEC solubilisation paralleled in changes in phosphotyrosine (pY) content, we evaluated if spermatid VEC undergoes Y658 phosphorylation and if this correlates with VEC solubilisation and spermatid progression in differentiation. Altogether, our study shows a temporally restricted pattern of VEC expression that culminates with the presence of round spermatids to progressively decrease starting from spermatid elongation. Conversely, pY658-VEC signs elongating spermatids; its intracellular polarized compartmentalization suggests a possible involvement of pY658-VEC in the acquisition of spermatid cell polarity.

Par-3 modulates intestinal epithelial barrier function through regulating intracellular trafficking of occludin and myosin light chain phosphorylation

BACKGROUND

Tight junctions play a critical role in the maintenance of intestinal barrier function. Partitioning-defective protein 3 (Par-3) can regulate intestinal barrier function through the modulation of tight junction assembly and cell polarity. However, the mechanisms are still not fully understood.

METHODS

Adult C57BL/6 mice were treated with dextran sulfate sodium for 7 days, and segments of colon were harvested for immunofluorescent staining of Par-3. Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells were treated with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) for 24 h, and Par-3 expression was detected by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. Additionally, Caco-2 cells were treated with Par-3 small interfering RNA, and altered expression and subcellular localization of tight junction proteins were studied by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, the interaction between Par-3 and myosin light chain (MLC) was detected by immunoprecipitation.

RESULTS

Par-3 was downregulated in murine dextran sulfate sodium induced acute inflammation and TNF-α-treated Caco-2 cells. Depletion of Par-3 expression by small interfering RNA delayed intestinal epithelial barrier development in Caco-2 cells. This regulation was due to the redistribution of the tight junction protein occludin rather than the altered total levels of tight junction proteins. Par-3 silencing blocked the trafficking of occludin from or through the Golgi complex to the cell surface, and dramatically induced occludin accumulated at the Golgi complex. Importantly, Par-3 can interact with MLC, and loss of Par-3 upregulated MLC kinase expression and MLC phosphorylation, which contributed to intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that Par-3 plays an important role in the modulation of intestinal barrier function by regulating delivery of occludin as well as suppression of MLC phosphorylation.

Lipid droplets as a novel cargo of tunnelling nanotubes in endothelial cells

Intercellular communication is a fundamental process in the development and functioning of multicellular organisms. Recently, an essentially new type of intercellular communication, based on thin membrane channels between cells, has been reported. These structures, termed intercellular or tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs), permit the direct exchange of various components or signals (e.g., ions, proteins, or organelles) between non-adjacent cells at distances over 100 μm. Our studies revealed the presence of tunnelling nanotubes in microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1). The TNTs were studied with live cell imaging, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering spectroscopy (CARS). Tunneling nanotubes showed marked persistence: the TNTs could connect cells over long distances (up to 150 μm) for several hours. Several cellular organelles were present in TNTs, such as lysosomes and mitochondria. Moreover, we could identify lipid droplets as a novel type of cargo in the TNTs. Under angiogenic conditions (VEGF treatment) the number of lipid droplets increased significantly. Arachidonic acid application not only increased the number of lipid droplets but also tripled the extent of TNT formation. Taken together, our results provide the first demonstration of lipid droplets as a cargo of TNTs and thereby open a new field in intercellular communication research.