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Garis M, Meyer MD, Lwigale P. Expression of Nephronectin in the Descemet's membrane of mouse corneas during development and adult homeostasis. Exp Eye Res 2024; 240:109797. [PMID: 38246333 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Nephronectin (Npnt) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein with pleiotropic functions during organogenesis, disease, and homeostasis. Although the ECM plays a crucial role during development and homeostasis of the adult cornea, little is known about the expression of Npnt in the mammalian cornea. Here, we investigated the expression of Npnt during early embryonic and postnatal development, and in adult mouse corneas. We combined ultrastructural and immunohistochemical analyses to study the early formation of the Descemet's membrane and how the expression of Npnt relates to key basement membrane proteins. Our section in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that Npnt mRNA is expressed by the nascent corneal endothelial cells at embryonic day (E) 14.5, whereas the protein is localized in the adjacent extracellular matrix. These expression patterns were maintained in the corneal endothelium and Descemet's membrane throughout development and in adult corneas. Ultrastructural analysis revealed discontinuous electron dense regions of protein aggregates at E18.5 that was separated from the endothelial layer by an electron lucent space. At birth (postnatal day, P0), the Descemet's membrane was a single layer, which continuously thickened throughout P4, P8, P10, and P14. Npnt was localized to the Descemet's membrane by E18.5 and overlapped with Collagens IV and VIII, Laminin, and Perlecan. However, the proteins subsequently shifted and formed distinct layers in the adult cornea, whereby Npnt localized between two Collagen VIII bands and anterior to Collagen IV but overlapped with Laminin and Perlecan. Combined, our results reveal the expression of Npnt in the mouse cornea and define its spatiotemporal localization relative to key basement membrane proteins during the formation of the Descemet's membrane and in the adult cornea. Understanding the spatiotemporal expression of Npnt is important for future studies to elucidate its function in the mammalian cornea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Garis
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77019, USA
| | - Matthew D Meyer
- Shared Equipment Authority, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77019, USA
| | - Peter Lwigale
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77019, USA.
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Yamada Y. Characterization of Novel Cell-Adhesive Peptides for Biomaterial Development. Biol Pharm Bull 2024; 47:1072-1078. [PMID: 38825460 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b24-00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
In previous studies, my group developed cell-adhesive peptide-polysaccharide complexes as biomaterials for tissue engineering. Having a wide variety of cell-adhesive peptides is important as the biological functions of peptide-polysaccharide complexes are highly dependent on the biological activity of peptides. This paper reviews the biological activities of two types of recently characterized cell-adhesive peptides. The first is peptides rich in basic amino acids originating from octaarginine. We analyzed the relationships between the amino acid composition of basic peptides and cell adhesion, elongation, and proliferation and identified the most suitable peptide for cell culture. The second was arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-containing peptides that promote the adhesion of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We identified the RGD-surrounding sequences necessary for iPSC adhesion, clarified the underlying mechanism, and improved cell adhesion by modifying the structure-activity relationships. The novel cell-adhesive peptides identified in our previous studies may aid in the development of novel peptide-based biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Yamada
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
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Watkins SH, Testa C, Simpkin AJ, Smith GD, Coull B, De Vivo I, Tilling K, Waterman PD, Chen JT, Diez-Roux AV, Krieger N, Suderman M, Relton C. An epigenome-wide analysis of DNA methylation, racialized and economic inequities, and air pollution. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.07.570610. [PMID: 38105971 PMCID: PMC10723401 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.07.570610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Importance DNA methylation (DNAm) provides a plausible mechanism by which adverse exposures become embodied and contribute to health inequities, due to its role in genome regulation and responsiveness to social and biophysical exposures tied to societal context. However, scant epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) have included structural and lifecourse measures of exposure, especially in relation to structural discrimination. Objective Our study tests the hypothesis that DNAm is a mechanism by which racial discrimination, economic adversity, and air pollution become biologically embodied. Design A series of cross-sectional EWAS, conducted in My Body My Story (MBMS, biological specimens collected 2008-2010, DNAm assayed in 2021); and the Multi Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA; biological specimens collected 2010-2012, DNAm assayed in 2012-2013); using new georeferenced social exposure data for both studies (generated in 2022). Setting MBMS was recruited from four community health centers in Boston; MESA was recruited from four field sites in: Baltimore, MD; Forsyth County, NC; New York City, NY; and St. Paul, MN. Participants Two population-based samples of US-born Black non-Hispanic (Black NH), white non-Hispanic (white NH), and Hispanic individuals (MBMS; n=224 Black NH and 69 white NH) and (MESA; n=229 Black NH, n=555 white NH and n=191 Hispanic). Exposures Eight social exposures encompassing racial discrimination, economic adversity, and air pollution. Main outcome Genome-wide changes in DNAm, as measured using the Illumina EPIC BeadChip (MBMS; using frozen blood spots) and Illumina 450k BeadChip (MESA; using purified monocytes). Our hypothesis was formulated after data collection. Results We observed the strongest associations with traffic-related air pollution (measured via black carbon and nitrogen oxides exposure), with evidence from both studies suggesting that air pollution exposure may induce epigenetic changes related to inflammatory processes. We also found suggestive associations of DNAm variation with measures of structural racial discrimination (e.g., for Black NH participants, born in a Jim Crow state; adult exposure to racialized economic residential segregation) situated in genes with plausible links to effects on health. Conclusions and Relevance Overall, this work suggests that DNAm is a biological mechanism through which structural racism and air pollution become embodied and may lead to health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Holmes Watkins
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Christian Testa
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Andrew J. Simpkin
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - George Davey Smith
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Brent Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Program in Genetic Epidemiology and Statistical Genetics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kate Tilling
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Pamela D. Waterman
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jarvis T. Chen
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ana V. Diez-Roux
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Nancy Krieger
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Matthew Suderman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Caroline Relton
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Yamada Y, Onda T, Hagiuda A, Kan R, Matsunuma M, Hamada K, Kikkawa Y, Nomizu M. RGDX 1 X 2 motif regulates integrin αvβ5 binding for pluripotent stem cell adhesion. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22389. [PMID: 35657599 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202200317r] [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: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif is a cell adhesion sequence that binds to integrins. Some RGD-containing peptides promote adhesion of both embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs); however, not all such RGD-containing peptides are active. In this study, we elucidated the role of RGD-neighboring sequences on iPSC adhesion using diverse synthetic peptides and recombinant proteins. Our results indicate that iPSC adhesion requires RGDX1 X2 sequences, such as RGDVF and RGDNY, and that the X1 X2 residues are essential for the adhesion via integrin αvβ5 but not αvβ3. iPSCs express integrin αvβ5 but not αvβ3; therefore, iPSC adhesion requires the RGDX1 X2 -containing sequences. The importance of the X1 X2 residues was confirmed with both HeLa and A549 cells, which express integrin αvβ5 but not αvβ3. Analysis of RGD-neighboring sequences provides important insights into ligand-binding specificity of integrins. Identification of integrin αvβ5-binding motifs is potentially useful in drug development, drug delivery, cell culture, and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Yamada
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Toru Onda
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Ayami Hagiuda
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Ryuji Kan
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Masumi Matsunuma
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Keisuke Hamada
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Yamato Kikkawa
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Motoyoshi Nomizu
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Japan
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Whole-exome sequencing in a Japanese multiplex family identifies new susceptibility genes for intracranial aneurysms. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265359. [PMID: 35299232 PMCID: PMC8929693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) cause subarachnoid hemorrhage, which has high rates of mortality and morbidity when ruptured. Recently, the role of rare variants in the genetic background of complex diseases has been increasingly recognized. The aim of this study was to identify rare variants for susceptibility to IA. Methods Whole-exome sequencing was performed on seven members of a Japanese pedigree with highly aggregated IA. Candidate genes harboring co-segregating rare variants with IA were re-sequenced and tested for association with IA using additional 500 probands and 323 non-IA controls. Functional analysis of rare variants detected in the pedigree was also conducted. Results We identified two gene variants shared among all four affected participants in the pedigree. One was the splicing donor c.1515+1G>A variant in NPNT (Nephronectin), which was confirmed to cause aberrant splicing by a minigene assay. The other was the missense p.P83T variant in CBY2 (Chibby family member 2). Overexpression of p.P83T CBY2 fused with red fluorescent protein tended to aggregate in the cytoplasm. Although Nephronectin has been previously reported to be involved in endothelial angiogenic functions, CBY2 is a novel molecule in terms of vascular pathophysiology. We confirmed that CBY2 was expressed in cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells in an isoform2-specific manner. Targeted CBY2 re-sequencing in additional case-control samples identified three deleterious rare variants (p.R46H, p.P83T, and p.L183R) in seven probands, showing a significant enrichment in the overall probands (8/501) compared to the controls (0/323) (p = 0.026, Fisher’s extract test). Conclusions NPNT and CBY2 were identified as novel susceptibility genes for IA. The highly heterogeneous and polygenic architecture of IA susceptibility can be uncovered by accumulating extensive analyses that focus on each pedigree with a high incidence of IA.
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Al-Hamed MH, Altuwaijri N, Alsahan N, Ali W, Abdulwahab F, Alzahrani F, Majrashi N, Alkuraya FS. A null founder variant in NPNT, encoding nephronectin, causes autosomal recessive renal agenesis. Clin Genet 2022; 102:61-65. [PMID: 35246978 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are a spectrum of abnormalities affecting morphogenesis of the kidneys and other structures of the urinary tract. Bilateral renal agenesis (BRA) is the most severe presentation of CAKUT. Loss of either nephronectin (NPNT) or its receptor ITGA8 leads to failure of metanephric kidney development with resulting renal agenesis in murine models. Very recently, a single family with renal agenesis and a homozygous truncating variant in NPNT was reported. We report two families in whom genome-wide linkage analysis showed an autozygous locus linked to BRA (at least one member with unilateral renal agenesis) at 4q24, with an LOD score of ~3. Exome sequencing detected a nonsense variant in NPNT in both families within the linkage interval. The pathogenicity of this variant was supported by RT-PCR data showing complete nonsense-mediated decay of the NPNT transcript. Our report confirms the candidacy of NPNT in renal agenesis in humans and shows that even complete loss of function can be compatible with the formation of a single kidney. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed H Al-Hamed
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Norah Altuwaijri
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nada Alsahan
- Department of Obstetrics and Genecology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wafaa Ali
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Firdous Abdulwahab
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatma Alzahrani
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nada Majrashi
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fowzan S Alkuraya
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Ma J, Bi L, Spurlin J, Lwigale P. Nephronectin-Integrin α8 signaling is required for proper migration of periocular neural crest cells during chick corneal development. eLife 2022; 11:74307. [PMID: 35238772 PMCID: PMC8916771 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, cells aggregate at tissue boundaries to form normal tissue architecture of organs. However, how cells are segregated into tissue precursors remains largely unknown. Cornea development is a perfect example of this process whereby neural crest cells aggregate in the periocular region prior to their migration and differentiation into corneal cells. Our recent RNA-seq analysis identified upregulation of nephronectin (Npnt) transcripts during early stages of corneal development where its function has not been investigated. We found that Npnt mRNA and protein are expressed by various ocular tissues, including the migratory periocular neural crest (pNC), which also express the integrin alpha 8 (Itgα8) receptor. Knockdown of either Npnt or Itgα8 attenuated cornea development, whereas overexpression of Npnt resulted in cornea thickening. Moreover, overexpression of Npnt variants lacking RGD-binding sites did not affect corneal thickness. Neither the knockdown nor augmentation of Npnt caused significant changes in cell proliferation, suggesting that Npnt directs pNC migration into the cornea. In vitro analyses showed that Npnt promotes pNC migration from explanted periocular mesenchyme, which requires Itgα8, focal adhesion kinase, and Rho kinase. Combined, these data suggest that Npnt augments cell migration into the presumptive cornea extracellular matrix by functioning as a substrate for Itgα8-positive pNC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Ma
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, United States
| | - Lian Bi
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, United States
| | - James Spurlin
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, United States
| | - Peter Lwigale
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, United States
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Piperigkou Z, Karamanos NK. Matrix Effectors and Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010200. [PMID: 35008364 PMCID: PMC8750795 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zoi Piperigkou
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis and Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 265 04 Patras, Greece
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH)/Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT), 265 04 Patras, Greece
- Correspondence: (Z.P.); (N.K.K.)
| | - Nikos K. Karamanos
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis and Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 265 04 Patras, Greece
- Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH)/Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT), 265 04 Patras, Greece
- Correspondence: (Z.P.); (N.K.K.)
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