Stress alters the expression of aquaporins in cultured rat intestinal epithelial cells

Aquaporins Are Differentially Regulated in Canine Cryptorchid Efferent Ductules and Epididymis

Simple Summary

The distribution and expression of aquaporins (AQPs) in the testes and spermatozoa of several animal species play important roles in spermatogenesis and spermatozoon transit in this region. The aim of this study was to evaluate AQP7, AQP8, and AQP9 localization and expression in the efferent ductules and epididymal regions (the caput, corpus, and cauda) of normal and cryptorchid dogs. The results from immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) show regional tissue distributions, particularly at the level of the epithelium of efferent ductules and both the regions caput and cauda of the canine cryptorchid epididymis. These findings support the hypothesis that these channel proteins respond differently to multiple stimuli that cause cryptorchidism (hormones, heat, osmolarity, etc.) and participate in the mechanisms of cell “resilience” or apoptosis taking place in the epididymis.

Abstract

The efferent ductules and the epididymis are parts of the male reproductive system where spermatozoa mature. Specialized epithelial cells in these ducts contribute to the transport of fluids produced by spermatozoa’s metabolic activity. Aquaporins (AQPs) have been demonstrated to be expressed in the spermatozoan membrane and testis epithelial cells, where they contribute to regulating spermatozoan volume and transit through environments of differing osmolality. Due to the lack of detailed literature regarding AQP expression in the canine male genital tract, the aim of this study was to investigate both the distribution and expression of AQP7, AQP8, and AQP9 in the efferent ductules and epididymal regions (caput, corpus, and cauda) from normal and cryptorchid dogs by using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results show different patterns for the distribution and expression of the examined AQPs, with particular evidence of their upregulation in the caput and downregulation in the cauda region of the canine cryptorchid epididymis. These findings are associated with a modulation of Hsp70 and caspase-3 expression, suggesting the participation of AQPs in the luminal microenvironment modifications that are peculiar characteristics of this pathophysiological condition.

Development of Donor Recipient Chimeric Cells of bone marrow origin as a novel approach for tolerance induction in transplantation

Background

Cell therapies and chimerism-based strategies are currently the most successful approach for tolerance induction in transplantation. This study aimed to establish and characterize novel Donor Recipient Chimeric Ccell (DRCC) therapy of bone marrow (BM) origin presenting donor-recipient phenotype to support tolerance induction.

Methods

Ex vivo fusions of fully MHC-mismatched BM cells from ACI (RT1^a) and Lewis (RT1^l) rats were performed using polyethylene-glycol (PEG). The creation of rat DRCC was tested by flow cytometry (FC), confocal microscopy and PCR. FC characterized DRCC's phenotype (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45, CD90, CD11b/c, CD45RA, OX-82, or CD4/CD25) and apoptosis, while mixed lymphocyte reaction assessed DRCC's immunogenicity and colony forming unit assay tested DRCC's differentiation and proliferation. DRCC's polyploidy was evaluated using Hoechst33342 staining and COMET assay tested genotoxicity of fusion procedure. ELISA analyzed the secretion of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, TGFß1, IFNγ and TNFα by DRCC at day 1, 5 and 14 post-fusion. The DRCC's phenotype after long-term culturing was assessed by reverse-transcription PCR.

Results

The chimeric state of DRCC was confirmed. Fusion did not change the expression of hematopoietic markers compared to BM controls. Although an increased number of early and late apoptotic (Annexin V⁺/Sytox blue^- and Annexin V⁺/Sytox blue⁺, respectively) DRCC was detected at 24h post-fusion, the number significantly decreased at day 5 (38.4%±3.1% and 22.6%±2.5%, vs. 28.3%±2.5% and 13.9%±2.6%, respectively, P<0.05). DRCC presented decreased immunogenicity, increased expression of IL-10 and TGFβ1 and proliferative potential comparable to BM controls. The average percentage of tetraploid DRCC was 3.1%±0.2% compared to 0.96%±0.1% in BM controls. The lack of damage to the DRCC's DNA content supported the DRCC's safety. In culture, DRCC maintained proliferation for up to 28 days while preserving hematopoietic profile.

Conclusions

This study confirmed feasibility of DRCC creation via ex vivo PEG mediated fusion. The created DRCC revealed pro-tolerogenic properties indicating potential immunomodulatory effect of DRCC therapy when applied in vivo to support tolerance induction in solid organ and vascularized composite allograft transplantation.

HSD1 and AQP7 short-term gene regulation by cortisone in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Adipose Tissue (AT) is a complex organ with a crucial regulatory role in energy metabolism and in the development of obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome (MS). Modified responses and the metabolism of hormones have been observed in visceral adiposity during obesity, specifically as related with cortisone. The objective of this study was to assess, in the 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell line, the short-term effect of cortisone on the expression of 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (Hsd1), which is responsible for activation of cortisone into cortisol, and for Aquaporin 7 (Aqp7), involved in glycerol transport through the cell membrane. Total RNA (tRNA) and complementary DNA (cDNA) were obtained from cell samples treated with cortisone (0.1, 1, and 10 μM) during different times (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min, and 48 h) to quantify the expression of the aforementioned genes by real time PCR employing MnSOD and Ppia as housekeeping genes. There was a time-dependent response of Aqp7, a dose-dependent response of Hsd1, and an increase observed in the expression of both genes during min 1 of treatment (5- and 6-fold, respectively), followed by a decrease during the following 5-10 min (P < 0.05). With the 1-μM cortisone treatment, both genes showed cubic tendencies in their expression; the Hsd1 tendency is described by the equation y = 0.18×(3)-1.65×(2)+3.59x+1.31, while the Aqp7 tendency is described by y = 0.33×(3)-2.67×(2)+4.93x+1.84. There are immediate and quantitatively important actions of cortisone on the expression of Aqp7 and Hsd1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.