1
|
Dean WF, Albert RM, Nawara TJ, Ubil M, Beggs RR, Mattheyses AL. Dsg2 ectodomain organization increases throughout desmosome assembly. Cell Adh Migr 2024; 18:1-13. [PMID: 38566311 PMCID: PMC10993919 DOI: 10.1080/19336918.2024.2333366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Desmosomes are intercellular junctions that regulate mechanical integrity in epithelia and cardiac muscle. Dynamic desmosome remodeling is essential for wound healing and development, yet the mechanisms governing junction assembly remain elusive. While we and others have shown that cadherin ectodomains are highly organized, how this ordered architecture emerges during assembly is unknown. Using fluorescence polarization microscopy, we show that desmoglein 2 (Dsg2) ectodomain order gradually increases during 8 h of assembly, coinciding with increasing adhesive strength. In a scratch wound assay, we observed a similar increase in order in desmosomes assembling at the leading edge of migratory cells. Together, our findings indicate that cadherin organization is a hallmark of desmosome maturity and may play a role in conferring adhesive strength.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William F. Dean
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Rose M. Albert
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Tomasz J. Nawara
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Melanie Ubil
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Reena R. Beggs
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Alexa L. Mattheyses
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu B, Liu Y, Yang S, Ye J, Hu J, Chen S, Wu S, Liu Q, Tang F, Liu Y, He Y, Du Y, Zhang G, Guo Q, Yang C. Enhanced desmosome assembly driven by acquired high-level desmoglein-2 promotes phenotypic plasticity and endocrine resistance in ER + breast cancer. Cancer Lett 2024; 600:217179. [PMID: 39154704 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217179] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Acquired resistance to endocrine treatments remains a major clinical challenge. In this study, we found that desmoglein-2 (DSG2) plays a major role in acquired endocrine resistance and cellular plasticity in ER+ breast cancer (BC). By analysing the well-established fulvestrant-resistant ER+ BC model using single-cell RNA-seq, we revealed that ER inhibition leads to a specific increase in DSG2 in cancer cell populations, which in turn enhances desmosome formation in vitro and in vivo and cell phenotypic plasticity that promotes resistance to treatment. DSG2 depletion reduced tumorigenesis and metastasis in fulvestrant-resistant xenograft models and promoted fulvestrant efficiency. Mechanistically, DSG2 forms a desmosome complex with JUP and Vimentin and triggers Wnt/PCP signalling. We showed that elevated DSG2 levels, along with reduced ER levels and an activated Wnt/PCP pathway, predicted poor survival, suggesting that a DSG2high signature could be exploited for therapeutic interventions. Our analysis highlighted the critical role of DSG2-mediated desmosomal junctions following antiestrogen treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bohan Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuting Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuang Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingwen Ye
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiajie Hu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Si Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiyi Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinqing Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fen Tang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiwen Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiqing He
- Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Du
- Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoliang Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Guo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuixia Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nanavati BN, Noordstra I, Lwin AKO, Brooks JW, Rae J, Parton RG, Verma S, Duszyc K, Green KJ, Yap AS. The desmosome-intermediate filament system facilitates mechanotransduction at adherens junctions for epithelial homeostasis. Curr Biol 2024:S0960-9822(24)01013-3. [PMID: 39153481 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.07.074] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Epithelial homeostasis can be critically influenced by how cells respond to mechanical forces, both local changes in force balance between cells and altered tissue-level forces.1 Coupling of specialized cell-cell adhesions to their cytoskeletons provides epithelia with diverse strategies to respond to mechanical stresses.2,3,4 Desmosomes confer tissue resilience when their associated intermediate filaments (IFs)2,3 stiffen in response to strain,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 while mechanotransduction associated with the E-cadherin apparatus12,13 at adherens junctions (AJs) actively modulates actomyosin by RhoA signaling. Although desmosomes and AJs make complementary contributions to mechanical homeostasis in epithelia,6,8 there is increasing evidence to suggest that these cytoskeletal-adhesion systems can interact functionally and biochemically.8,14,15,16,17,18,19,20 We now report that the desmosome-IF system integrated by desmoplakin (DP) facilitates active tension sensing at AJs for epithelial homeostasis. DP function is necessary for mechanosensitive RhoA signaling at AJs to be activated when tension was applied to epithelial monolayers. This effect required DP to anchor IFs to desmosomes and recruit the dystonin (DST) cytolinker to apical junctions. DP RNAi reduced the mechanical load that was applied to the cadherin complex by increased monolayer tension. Consistent with reduced mechanical signal strength, DP RNAi compromised assembly of the Myosin VI-E-cadherin mechanosensor that activates RhoA. The integrated DP-IF system therefore supports AJ mechanotransduction by enhancing the mechanical load of tissue tension that is transmitted to E-cadherin. This crosstalk was necessary for efficient elimination of apoptotic epithelial cells by apical extrusion, demonstrating its contribution to epithelial homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bageshri Naimish Nanavati
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ivar Noordstra
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Angela K O Lwin
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - John W Brooks
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - James Rae
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Robert G Parton
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Suzie Verma
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kinga Duszyc
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kathleen J Green
- Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 06011, USA
| | - Alpha S Yap
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang H, Yu H, Li Q. Exploration of cell-cell interactions and the notch signaling pathway in the gonadal niche of Crassostrea gigas. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2024; 294:111639. [PMID: 38641164 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111639] [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: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in governing cell fate determinations within the gonadal niche. This study provides an extensive elucidation of the male and female gonadal niches within Crassostrea gigas. Examination via transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of desmosome-like connection not only between germ cells and niche cells but also among adjacent niche cells within the oyster gonad. Transcriptomic analysis identified several putative Notch pathway components, including CgJAG1, CgNOTCH1, CgSuh, and CgHey1. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a close evolutionary relationship between CgJAG1, CgNOTCH1, and CgHey1 and Notch members present in Drosophila. Expression profiling results indicated a notable abundance of CgHey1 in the gonads, while CgJAG1 and CgNOTCH1 displayed distinct expression patterns associated with sexual dimorphism. In situ hybridization findings corroborated the predominant expression of CgJAG1 in male niche cells, while CgNOTCH1 was expressed in both male and female germ cells, as well as female niche cells. These findings demonstrate the important role of the Notch signaling pathway in the gonadal niche of oysters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266003, China. https://twitter.com/huihui_wang12707
| | - Hong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China; Laboratory of Tropical Marine Germplasm Resources and Breeding Engineering, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya 572000, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Perl AL, Pokorny JL, Green KJ. Desmosomes at a glance. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261899. [PMID: 38940346 PMCID: PMC11234380 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Desmosomes are relatives of ancient cadherin-based junctions, which emerged late in evolution to ensure the structural integrity of vertebrate tissues by coupling the intermediate filament cytoskeleton to cell-cell junctions. Their ability to dynamically counter the contractile forces generated by actin-associated adherens junctions is particularly important in tissues under high mechanical stress, such as the skin and heart. Much more than the simple cellular 'spot welds' depicted in textbooks, desmosomes are in fact dynamic structures that can sense and respond to changes in their mechanical environment and external stressors like ultraviolet light and pathogens. These environmental signals are transmitted intracellularly via desmosome-dependent mechanochemical pathways that drive the physiological processes of morphogenesis and differentiation. This Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster review desmosome structure and assembly, highlight recent insights into how desmosomes integrate chemical and mechanical signaling in the epidermis, and discuss desmosomes as targets in human disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abbey L Perl
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jenny L Pokorny
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Kathleen J Green
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dasgupta I, Rangineni DP, Abdelsaid H, Ma Y, Bhushan A. Tiny Organs, Big Impact: How Microfluidic Organ-on-Chip Technology Is Revolutionizing Mucosal Tissues and Vasculature. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:476. [PMID: 38790343 PMCID: PMC11117503 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11050476] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Organ-on-chip (OOC) technology has gained importance for biomedical studies and drug development. This technology involves microfluidic devices that mimic the structure and function of specific human organs or tissues. OOCs are a promising alternative to traditional cell-based models and animals, as they provide a more representative experimental model of human physiology. By creating a microenvironment that closely resembles in vivo conditions, OOC platforms enable the study of intricate interactions between different cells as well as a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms pertaining to diseases. OOCs can be integrated with other technologies, such as sensors and imaging systems to monitor real-time responses and gather extensive data on tissue behavior. Despite these advances, OOCs for many organs are in their initial stages of development, with several challenges yet to be overcome. These include improving the complexity and maturity of these cellular models, enhancing their reproducibility, standardization, and scaling them up for high-throughput uses. Nonetheless, OOCs hold great promise in advancing biomedical research, drug discovery, and personalized medicine, benefiting human health and well-being. Here, we review several recent OOCs that attempt to overcome some of these challenges. These OOCs with unique applications can be engineered to model organ systems such as the stomach, cornea, blood vessels, and mouth, allowing for analyses and investigations under more realistic conditions. With this, these models can lead to the discovery of potential therapeutic interventions. In this review, we express the significance of the relationship between mucosal tissues and vasculature in organ-on-chip (OOC) systems. This interconnection mirrors the intricate physiological interactions observed in the human body, making it crucial for achieving accurate and meaningful representations of biological processes within OOC models. Vasculature delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to mucosal tissues, ensuring their proper function and survival. This exchange is critical for maintaining the health and integrity of mucosal barriers. This review will discuss the OOCs used to represent the mucosal architecture and vasculature, and it can encourage us to think of ways in which the integration of both can better mimic the complexities of biological systems and gain deeper insights into various physiological and pathological processes. This will help to facilitate the development of more accurate predictive models, which are invaluable for advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Abhinav Bhushan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA; (I.D.); (D.P.R.); (H.A.); (Y.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Steinert L, Fuchs M, Sigmund AM, Didona D, Hudemann C, Möbs C, Hertl M, Hashimoto T, Waschke J, Vielmuth F. Desmosomal Hyper-adhesion Affects Direct Inhibition of Desmoglein Interactions in Pemphigus. J Invest Dermatol 2024:S0022-202X(24)00308-7. [PMID: 38677661 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.03.042] [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: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
During differentiation, keratinocytes acquire a strong, hyper-adhesive state, where desmosomal cadherins interact calcium ion independently. Previous data indicate that hyper-adhesion protects keratinocytes from pemphigus vulgaris autoantibody-induced loss of intercellular adhesion, although the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Thus, in this study, we investigated the effect of hyper-adhesion on pemphigus vulgaris autoantibody-induced direct inhibition of desmoglein (DSG) 3 interactions by atomic force microscopy. Hyper-adhesion abolished loss of intercellular adhesion and corresponding morphological changes of all pathogenic antibodies used. Pemphigus autoantibodies putatively targeting several parts of the DSG3 extracellular domain and 2G4, targeting a membrane-proximal domain of DSG3, induced direct inhibition of DSG3 interactions only in non-hyper-adhesive keratinocytes. In contrast, AK23, targeting the N-terminal extracellular domain 1 of DSG3, caused direct inhibition under both adhesive states. However, antibody binding to desmosomal cadherins was not different between the distinct pathogenic antibodies used and was not changed during acquisition of hyper-adhesion. In addition, heterophilic DSC3-DSG3 and DSG2-DSG3 interactions did not cause reduced susceptibility to direct inhibition under hyper-adhesive condition in wild-type keratinocytes. Taken together, the data suggest that hyper-adhesion reduces susceptibility to autoantibody-induced direct inhibition in dependency on autoantibody-targeted extracellular domain but also demonstrate that further mechanisms are required for the protective effect of desmosomal hyper-adhesion in pemphigus vulgaris.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Letyfee Steinert
- Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Fuchs
- Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna M Sigmund
- Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dario Didona
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Hudemann
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christian Möbs
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Michael Hertl
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Takashi Hashimoto
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jens Waschke
- Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Franziska Vielmuth
- Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fülle JB, de Almeida RA, Lawless C, Stockdale L, Yanes B, Lane EB, Garrod DR, Ballestrem C. Proximity Mapping of Desmosomes Reveals a Striking Shift in Their Molecular Neighborhood Associated With Maturation. Mol Cell Proteomics 2024; 23:100735. [PMID: 38342409 PMCID: PMC10943070 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2024.100735] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Desmosomes are multiprotein adhesion complexes that link intermediate filaments to the plasma membrane, ensuring the mechanical integrity of cells across tissues, but how they participate in the wider signaling network to exert their full function is unclear. To investigate this, we carried out protein proximity mapping using biotinylation (BioID). The combined interactomes of the essential desmosomal proteins desmocollin 2a, plakoglobin, and plakophilin 2a (Pkp2a) in Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells were mapped and their differences and commonalities characterized as desmosome matured from Ca2+ dependence to the mature, Ca2+-independent, hyper-adhesive state, which predominates in tissues. Results suggest that individual desmosomal proteins have distinct roles in connecting to cellular signaling pathways and that these roles alter substantially when cells change their adhesion state. The data provide further support for a dualistic concept of desmosomes in which the properties of Pkp2a differ from those of the other, more stable proteins. This body of data provides an invaluable resource for the analysis of desmosome function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith B Fülle
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Craig Lawless
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Liam Stockdale
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Bian Yanes
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - E Birgitte Lane
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - David R Garrod
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Christoph Ballestrem
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bartolomé RA, Pintado-Berninches L, Martín-Regalado Á, Robles J, Calvo-López T, Ortega-Zapero M, Llorente-Sáez C, Boukich I, Fernandez-Aceñero MJ, Casal JI. A complex of cadherin 17 with desmocollin 1 and p120-catenin regulates colorectal cancer migration and invasion according to the cell phenotype. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:31. [PMID: 38263178 PMCID: PMC10807196 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-02956-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cadherin-17 (CDH17), a marker of differentiation in intestinal cells, binds and activates α2β1 integrin to promote cell adhesion and proliferation in colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. Furthermore, CDH17 associates with p120- and β-catenin in a manner yet to be fully elucidated. In this report, we explored the molecular mediators involved in this association, their contribution to CRC dissemination and potential therapeutic implications. METHODS Proteomic and confocal analyses were employed to identify and validate CDH17 interactors. Functional characterization involved the study of proliferation, migration, and invasion in cell lines representative of various phenotypes. Immunohistochemistry was conducted on CRC tissue microarrays (TMA). In vivo animal experiments were carried out for metastatic studies. RESULTS We found that desmocollin-1 (DSC1), a desmosomal cadherin, interacts with CDH17 via its extracellular domain. DSC1 depletion led to increased or decreased invasion in CRC cells displaying epithelial or mesenchymal phenotype, respectively, in a process mediated by the association with p120-catenin. Down-regulation of DSC1 resulted in an increased expression of p120-catenin isoform 1 in epithelial cells or a shift in cellular location in mesenchymal cells. Opposite results were observed after forced expression of CDH17. DSC1 is highly expressed in budding cells at the leading edge of the tumor and associates with poor prognosis in the stem-like, mesenchymal CRC subtypes, while correlates with a more favorable prognosis in the less-aggressive subtypes. In vivo experiments demonstrated that DSC1 silencing reduced tumor growth, liver homing, and metastasis in CRC mesenchymal cells. Furthermore, a synthetic peptide derived from CDH17, containing the NLV motif, effectively inhibited invasion and liver homing in vivo, opening up new possibilities for the development of novel therapies focused on desmosomal cadherins. CONCLUSIONS These findings shed light on the multifaceted roles of CDH17, DSC1, and p120-catenin in CRC metastasis, offering insights into potential therapeutic interventions for targeting desmosomal cadherins in poorly-differentiated carcinomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rubén A Bartolomé
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | | | - Ángela Martín-Regalado
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Javier Robles
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Protein Alternatives SL. Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tania Calvo-López
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Marina Ortega-Zapero
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Celia Llorente-Sáez
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Present address: Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Issam Boukich
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Protein Alternatives SL. Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Jesús Fernandez-Aceñero
- Pathology Service. Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
- Fundación de Investigación Biomédica del HCSC (FIBHCSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - J Ignacio Casal
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mukherjee S, Goswami S, Dash S, Samanta D. Structural basis of molecular recognition among classical cadherins mediating cell adhesion. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:2103-2115. [PMID: 37970977 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230356] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Cadherins are type-I membrane glycoproteins that primarily participate in calcium-dependent cell adhesion and homotypic cell sorting in various stages of embryonic development. Besides their crucial role in cellular and physiological processes, increasing studies highlight their involvement in pathophysiological functions ranging from cancer progression and metastasis to being entry receptors for pathogens. Cadherins mediate these cellular processes through homophilic, as well as heterophilic interactions (within and outside the superfamily) by their membrane distal ectodomains. This review provides an in-depth structural perspective of molecular recognition among type-I and type-II classical cadherins. Furthermore, this review offers structural insights into different dimeric assemblies like the 'strand-swap dimer' and 'X-dimer' as well as mechanisms relating these dimer forms like 'two-step adhesion' and 'encounter complex'. Alongside providing structural details, this review connects structural studies to bond mechanics merging crystallographic and single-molecule force spectroscopic findings. Finally, the review discusses the recent discoveries on dimeric intermediates that uncover prospects of further research beyond two-step adhesion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarbartha Mukherjee
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, West Bengal, India
| | - Saumyadeep Goswami
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, West Bengal, India
| | - Sagarika Dash
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, West Bengal, India
| | - Dibyendu Samanta
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, West Bengal, India
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhang N, Häring M, Wolf F, Großhans J, Kong D. Dynamics and functions of E-cadherin complexes in epithelial cell and tissue morphogenesis. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 5:585-601. [PMID: 38045551 PMCID: PMC10689684 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-023-00206-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Cell-cell adhesion is at the center of structure and dynamics of epithelial tissue. E-cadherin-catenin complexes mediate Ca2+-dependent trans-homodimerization and constitute the kernel of adherens junctions. Beyond the basic function of cell-cell adhesion, recent progress sheds light the dynamics and interwind interactions of individual E-cadherin-catenin complex with E-cadherin superclusters, contractile actomyosin and mechanics of the cortex and adhesion. The nanoscale architecture of E-cadherin complexes together with cis-interactions and interactions with cortical actomyosin adjust to junctional tension and mechano-transduction by reinforcement or weakening of specific features of the interactions. Although post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and glycosylation have been implicated, their role for specific aspects of in E-cadherin function has remained unclear. Here, we provide an overview of the E-cadherin complex in epithelial cell and tissue morphogenesis focusing on nanoscale architectures by super-resolution approaches and post-translational modifications from recent, in particular in vivo, studies. Furthermore, we review the computational modelling in E-cadherin complexes and highlight how computational modelling has contributed to a deeper understanding of the E-cadherin complexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhang
- Department of Biology, Philipps University, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Häring
- Göttingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN), Georg August University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fred Wolf
- Göttingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN), Georg August University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Großhans
- Department of Biology, Philipps University, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Göttingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN), Georg August University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Deqing Kong
- Department of Biology, Philipps University, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Göttingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN), Georg August University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Shome S, Jia K, Sivasankar S, Jernigan RL. Characterizing interactions in E-cadherin assemblages. Biophys J 2023; 122:3069-3077. [PMID: 37345249 PMCID: PMC10432173 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.06.009] [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: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cadherin intermolecular interactions are critical for cell-cell adhesion and play essential roles in tissue formation and the maintenance of tissue structures. In this study, we focus on E-cadherin, a classical cadherin that connects epithelial cells, to understand how they interact in cis and trans conformations when attached to the same cell or opposing cells. We employ coevolutionary sequence analysis and molecular dynamics simulations to confirm previously known interaction sites as well as to identify new interaction sites. The sequence coevolutionary results yield a surprising result indicating that there are no strongly favored intermolecular interaction sites, which is unusual and suggests that many interaction sites may be possible, with none being strongly preferred over others. By using molecular dynamics, we test the persistence of these interactions and how they facilitate adhesion. We build several types of cadherin assemblages, with different numbers and combinations of cis and trans interfaces to understand how these conformations act to facilitate adhesion. Our results suggest that, in addition to the established interaction sites on the EC1 and EC2 domains, an additional plausible cis interface at the EC3-EC5 domain exists. Furthermore, we identify specific mutations at cis/trans binding sites that impair adhesion within E-cadherin assemblages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sayane Shome
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Kejue Jia
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Sanjeevi Sivasankar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Robert L Jernigan
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Rübsam M, Püllen R, Tellkamp F, Bianco A, Peskoller M, Bloch W, Green KJ, Merkel R, Hoffmann B, Wickström SA, Niessen CM. Polarity signaling balances epithelial contractility and mechanical resistance. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7743. [PMID: 37173371 PMCID: PMC10182030 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33485-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelia maintain a functional barrier during tissue turnover while facing varying mechanical stress. This maintenance requires both dynamic cell rearrangements driven by actomyosin-linked intercellular adherens junctions and ability to adapt to and resist extrinsic mechanical forces enabled by keratin filament-linked desmosomes. How these two systems crosstalk to coordinate cellular movement and mechanical resilience is not known. Here we show that in stratifying epithelia the polarity protein aPKCλ controls the reorganization from stress fibers to cortical actomyosin during differentiation and upward movement of cells. Without aPKC, stress fibers are retained resulting in increased contractile prestress. This aberrant stress is counterbalanced by reorganization and bundling of keratins, thereby increasing mechanical resilience. Inhibiting contractility in aPKCλ-/- cells restores normal cortical keratin networks but also normalizes resilience. Consistently, increasing contractile stress is sufficient to induce keratin bundling and enhance resilience, mimicking aPKC loss. In conclusion, our data indicate that keratins sense the contractile stress state of stratified epithelia and balance increased contractility by mounting a protective response to maintain tissue integrity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Rübsam
- Department Cell Biology of the Skin, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Robin Püllen
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Biological Information Processing, IBI-2: Mechanobiology, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Frederik Tellkamp
- Department Cell Biology of the Skin, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alessandra Bianco
- Department Cell Biology of the Skin, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marc Peskoller
- Department Cell Biology of the Skin, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Bloch
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sport Medicine, German Sport University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kathleen J Green
- Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Rudolf Merkel
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Biological Information Processing, IBI-2: Mechanobiology, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Bernd Hoffmann
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Biological Information Processing, IBI-2: Mechanobiology, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Sara A Wickström
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Carien M Niessen
- Department Cell Biology of the Skin, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Troyanovsky SM. Adherens junction: the ensemble of specialized cadherin clusters. Trends Cell Biol 2023; 33:374-387. [PMID: 36127186 PMCID: PMC10020127 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The cell-cell connections in adherens junctions (AJs) are mediated by transmembrane receptors, type I cadherins (referred to here as cadherins). These cadherin-based connections (or trans bonds) are weak. To upregulate their strength, cadherins exploit avidity, the increased affinity of binding between cadherin clusters compared with isolated monomers. Formation of such clusters is a unique molecular process that is driven by a synergy of direct and indirect cis interactions between cadherins located at the same cell. In addition to their role in adhesion, cadherin clusters provide structural scaffolds for cytosolic proteins, which implicate cadherin into different cellular activities and signaling pathways. The cluster lifetime, which depends on the actin cytoskeleton, and on the mechanical forces it generates, determines the strength of AJs and their plasticity. The key aspects of cadherin adhesion, therefore, cannot be understood at the level of isolated cadherin molecules, but should be discussed in the context of cadherin clusters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergey M Troyanovsky
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Lee EJ, Kim Y, Salipante P, Kotula AP, Lipshutz S, Graves DT, Alimperti S. Mechanical Regulation of Oral Epithelial Barrier Function. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10050517. [PMID: 37237587 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10050517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial cell function is modulated by mechanical forces imparted by the extracellular environment. The transmission of forces onto the cytoskeleton by modalities such as mechanical stress and matrix stiffness is necessary to address by the development of new experimental models that permit finely tuned cell mechanical challenges. Herein, we developed an epithelial tissue culture model, named the 3D Oral Epi-mucosa platform, to investigate the role mechanical cues in the epithelial barrier. In this platform, low-level mechanical stress (0.1 kPa) is applied to oral keratinocytes, which lie on 3D fibrous collagen (Col) gels whose stiffness is modulated by different concentrations or the addition of other factors such as fibronectin (FN). Our results show that cells lying on intermediate Col (3 mg/mL; stiffness = 30 Pa) demonstrated lower epithelial leakiness compared with soft Col (1.5 mg/mL; stiffness = 10 Pa) and stiff Col (6 mg/mL; stiffness = 120 Pa) gels, indicating that stiffness modulates barrier function. In addition, the presence of FN reversed the barrier integrity by inhibiting the interepithelial interaction via E-cadherin and Zonula occludens-1. Overall, the 3D Oral Epi-mucosa platform, as a new in vitro system, will be utilized to identify new mechanisms and develop future targets involved in mucosal diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Jin Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Yoontae Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Paul Salipante
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Anthony P Kotula
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Sophie Lipshutz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Dana T Graves
- Department of Periodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Stella Alimperti
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Characterizing the Biophysical Properties of Adhesive Proteins in Live Cells Using Single-Molecule Atomic Force Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2600:63-77. [PMID: 36587090 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2851-5_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Cell adhesion proteins play essential roles in the formation, regeneration, and maintenance of tissue. However, the molecular mechanisms by which cells regulate the conformation and binding properties of adhesion proteins are poorly understood. These biophysical properties can be resolved, with single-molecule resolution, using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Here, we outline how AFM force measurements can be used to study the conformation, cytoskeletal linkage, binding strength, and force-dependent bond lifetimes of adhesion proteins in live cells.
Collapse
|
17
|
Spindler V, Gerull B, Green KJ, Kowalczyk AP, Leube R, Marian AJ, Milting H, Müller EJ, Niessen C, Payne AS, Schlegel N, Schmidt E, Strnad P, Tikkanen R, Vielmuth F, Waschke J. Meeting report - Desmosome dysfunction and disease: Alpine desmosome disease meeting. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:286226. [PMID: 36594662 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Desmosome diseases are caused by dysfunction of desmosomes, which anchor intermediate filaments (IFs) at sites of cell-cell adhesion. For many decades, the focus of attention has been on the role of actin filament-associated adherens junctions in development and disease, especially cancer. However, interference with the function of desmosomes, their molecular constituents or their attachments to IFs has now emerged as a major contributor to a variety of diseases affecting different tissues and organs including skin, heart and the digestive tract. The first Alpine desmosome disease meeting (ADDM) held in Grainau, Germany, in October 2022 brought together international researchers from the basic sciences with clinical experts from diverse fields to share and discuss their ideas and concepts on desmosome function and dysfunction in the different cell types involved in desmosome diseases. Besides the prototypic desmosomal diseases pemphigus and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, the role of desmosome dysfunction in inflammatory bowel diseases and eosinophilic esophagitis was discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Volker Spindler
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Brenda Gerull
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kathleen J Green
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrew P Kowalczyk
- Department of Dermatology, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.,Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Rudolf Leube
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, 52057 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ali J Marian
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hendrik Milting
- Erich und Hanna Klessmann-Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Forschung und Entwicklung, Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie, Herz und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Universitätsklinikum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Georgstr. 11, 32545 Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
| | - Eliane J Müller
- Dermfocus, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Department for BioMedical Research, Molecular Dermatology and Stem Cell Research, University of Bern, CH-3008 Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carien Niessen
- Department Cell Biology of the Skin, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Aimee S Payne
- Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nicolas Schlegel
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Paediatric Surgery University Hospital Würzburg, Wuerzburg 97080, Germany
| | - Enno Schmidt
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, 23538 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Pavel Strnad
- Medical Clinic III, Gastroenterology, Metabolic Diseases and Intensive Care, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ritva Tikkanen
- Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Giessen, Friedrichstrasse 24, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Franziska Vielmuth
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Waschke
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Could E-cadherin overexpression promote epithelial differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells by mediating mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition? Med Hypotheses 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2023.111016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
|
19
|
Fuchs M, Radeva MY, Spindler V, Vielmuth F, Kugelmann D, Waschke J. Cytoskeletal anchorage of different Dsg3 pools revealed by combination of hybrid STED/SMFS-AFM. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:25. [PMID: 36602635 PMCID: PMC9816259 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04681-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) is a desmosomal cadherin mediating cell adhesion within desmosomes and is the antigen of the autoimmune blistering skin disease pemphigus vulgaris. Therefore, understanding of the complex desmosome turnover process is of high biomedical relevance. Recently, super resolution microscopy was used to characterize desmosome composition and turnover. However, studies were limited because adhesion measurements on living cells were not possible in parallel. Before desmosomal cadherins are incorporated into nascent desmosomes, they are not bound to intermediate filaments but were suggested to be associated with the actin cytoskeleton. However, direct proof that adhesion of a pool of desmosomal cadherins is dependent on actin is missing. Here, we applied single-molecule force spectroscopy measurements with the novel single molecule hybrid-technique STED/SMFS-AFM to investigate the cytoskeletal anchorage of Dsg3 on living keratinocytes for the first time. By application of pharmacological agents we discriminated two different Dsg3 pools, only one of which is anchored to actin filaments. We applied the actin polymerization inhibitor Latrunculin B to modify the actin cytoskeleton and the PKCα activator PMA to modulate intermediate filament anchorage. On the cellular surface Dsg3 adhesion was actin-dependent. In contrast, at cell-cell contacts, Dsg3 adhesion was independent from actin but rather is regulated by PKC which is well established to control desmosome turn-over via intermediate filament anchorage. Taken together, using the novel STED/SMFS-AFM technique, we demonstrated the existence of two Dsg3 pools with different cytoskeletal anchorage mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Fuchs
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mariya Y Radeva
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Volker Spindler
- Department of Biomedicine and Institute of Anatomy, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Franziska Vielmuth
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniela Kugelmann
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Waschke
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Schmitt T, Hudemann C, Moztarzadeh S, Hertl M, Tikkanen R, Waschke J. Dsg3 epitope-specific signalling in pemphigus. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1163066. [PMID: 37143675 PMCID: PMC10151755 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1163066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pemphigus is an autoantibody driven disease that impairs the barrier function of the skin and mucosa by disrupting desmosomes and thereby impeding cellular cohesion. It is known that the different clinical phenotypes of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) are dependent on the autoantibody profile and target antigens that, amongst others, are primarily desmoglein (Dsg)1 and/or Dsg3 for PV and Dsg1 for PF. However, it was reported that autoantibodiesagainst different epitopes of Dsg1 and Dsg3 can be pathogenic or not. The underlying mechanisms are very complex and involve both direct inhibition of Dsg interactions and downstream signalling. The aim of this study was to find out whether there is target-epitope-specific Dsg3 signalling by comparing the effects of the two pathogenic murine IgGs, 2G4 and AK23. Methods Dispase-based dissociation assay, Western Blot analysis, Stimulated emission depletion microscopy, Fura-based Ca2+ flux measurements, Rho/Rac G-Protein-linked immunosorbent assay, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The IgGs are directed against the EC5 and EC1 domain of Dsg3, respectively. The data show that 2G4 was less effective in causing loss of cell adhesion, compared to AK23. STED imaging revealed that both autoantibodies had similar effects on keratin retraction and reduction of desmosome number whereas only AK23 induced Dsg3 depletion. Moreover, both antibodies induced phosphorylation of p38MAPK and Akt whereas Src was phosphorylated upon treatment with AK23 only. Interestingly, Src and Akt activation were p38MAPK-dependent. All pathogenic effects were rescued by p38MAPK inhibition and AK23-mediated effects were also ameliorated by Src inhibition. Discussion The results give first insights into pemphigus autoantibody-induced Dsg3 epitope-specific signalling which is involved in pathogenic events such as Dsg3 depletion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Schmitt
- Instiute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Ludwig-Maximilian -Universität (LMU) Munich, München, Germany
| | - Christoph Hudemann
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sina Moztarzadeh
- Instiute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Ludwig-Maximilian -Universität (LMU) Munich, München, Germany
| | - Michael Hertl
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ritva Tikkanen
- Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jens Waschke
- Instiute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Ludwig-Maximilian -Universität (LMU) Munich, München, Germany
- *Correspondence: Jens Waschke,
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Jin Y, Gao XY, Zhao J, Tian WS, Zhang YL, Tian EJ, Zhou BH, Wang HW. Estrogen deficiency aggravates fluoride-induced small intestinal mucosa damage and junctional complexes proteins expression disorder in rats. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 246:114181. [PMID: 36252517 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the effect of estrogen deficiency on the small intestinal mucosal barrier induced by fluoride (F), F exposure models of ovariectomy (OVX) rats (surgically removed ovaries) and non-OVX rats (normal condition) were established by adding sodium fluoride (NaF) (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/L, calculated by F ion) in drinking water for 90 days. The intestinal mucosal histomorphology, mucosal barrier function, and protein expression levels of tight junctions (TJs), adhesion junctions (AJs), and desmosomes were evaluated in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and 5-Bromo-2-deoxyUridine (BrdU) measurement showed that excessive F-induced damage to intestinal epithelial cells and inhibited the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells, eventually decreasing the number of goblet cells and decreasing glycoprotein secretion, as indicated by Alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Further immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that excessive F decreased the protein expression levels of occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), E-cadherin, and desmoplakin (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and enhanced the expression of claudin-2 (P < 0.01), suggesting that cell-to-cell junctions were disrupted. Collectively, F exposure impaired the small intestinal mucosal barrier by inducing damage to intestinal epithelial cells and inhibiting intestinal epithelial cell proliferation. Disorders in the junctional complex protein expression blocked the synergy between intercellular communication and aggravated mucosal injury. In particular, estrogen deficiency exacerbated F-induced enterotoxicity, which provides new explanations for the development and severity of intestinal disease in postmenopausal women with high-F areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ye Jin
- Henan Key Laboratory of Environmental and Animal Product Safety, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiao-Ying Gao
- Henan Key Laboratory of Environmental and Animal Product Safety, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jing Zhao
- Henan Key Laboratory of Environmental and Animal Product Safety, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wei-Shun Tian
- Henan Key Laboratory of Environmental and Animal Product Safety, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu-Ling Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Environmental and Animal Product Safety, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Er-Jie Tian
- Henan Key Laboratory of Environmental and Animal Product Safety, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bian-Hua Zhou
- Henan Key Laboratory of Environmental and Animal Product Safety, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hong-Wei Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Environmental and Animal Product Safety, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Kuburich NA, den Hollander P, Pietz JT, Mani SA. Vimentin and cytokeratin: Good alone, bad together. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:816-826. [PMID: 34953942 PMCID: PMC9213573 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The cytoskeleton plays an integral role in maintaining the integrity of epithelial cells. Epithelial cells primarily employ cytokeratin in their cytoskeleton, whereas mesenchymal cells use vimentin. During the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cytokeratin-positive epithelial cells begin to express vimentin. EMT induces stem cell properties and drives metastasis, chemoresistance, and tumor relapse. Most studies of the functions of cytokeratin and vimentin have relied on the use of either epithelial or mesenchymal cell types. However, it is important to understand how these two cytoskeleton intermediate filaments function when co-expressed in cells undergoing EMT. Here, we discuss the individual and shared functions of cytokeratin and vimentin that coalesce during EMT and how alterations in intermediate filament expression influence carcinoma progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nick A Kuburich
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Petra den Hollander
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Jordan T Pietz
- Department of Creative Services, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Sendurai A Mani
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Desmoglein-2 is important for islet function and β-cell survival. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:911. [PMID: 36309486 PMCID: PMC9617887 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05326-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes is a complex disease characterized by the lack of endogenous insulin secreted from the pancreatic β-cells. Although β-cell targeted autoimmune processes and β-cell dysfunction are known to occur in type 1 diabetes, a complete understanding of the cell-to-cell interactions that support pancreatic function is still lacking. To characterize the pancreatic endocrine compartment, we studied pancreata from healthy adult donors and investigated a single cell surface adhesion molecule, desmoglein-2 (DSG2). Genetically-modified mice lacking Dsg2 were examined for islet cell mass, insulin production, responses to glucose, susceptibility to a streptozotocin-induced mouse model of hyperglycaemia, and ability to cure diabetes in a syngeneic transplantation model. Herein, we have identified DSG2 as a previously unrecognized adhesion molecule that supports β-cells. Furthermore, we reveal that DSG2 is within the top 10 percent of all genes expressed by human pancreatic islets and is expressed by the insulin-producing β-cells but not the somatostatin-producing δ-cells. In a Dsg2 loss-of-function mice (Dsg2lo/lo), we observed a significant reduction in the number of pancreatic islets and islet size, and consequently, there was less total insulin content per islet cluster. Dsg2lo/lo mice also exhibited a reduction in blood vessel barrier integrity, an increased incidence of streptozotocin-induced diabetes, and islets isolated from Dsg2lo/lo mice were more susceptible to cytokine-induced β-cell apoptosis. Following transplantation into diabetic mice, islets isolated from Dsg2lo/lo mice were less effective than their wildtype counterparts at curing diabetes. In vitro assays using the Beta-TC-6 murine β-cell line suggest that DSG2 supports the actin cytoskeleton as well as the release of cytokines and chemokines. Taken together, our study suggests that DSG2 is an under-appreciated regulator of β-cell function in pancreatic islets and that a better understanding of this adhesion molecule may provide new opportunities to combat type 1 diabetes.
Collapse
|
24
|
Investigation of comorbid autoimmune diseases in women with autoimmune bullous diseases: An interplay of autoimmunity and practical implications. Int J Womens Dermatol 2022; 8:e053. [PMID: 36225612 PMCID: PMC9543088 DOI: 10.1097/jw9.0000000000000053] [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: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune bullous diseases are a group of skin disorders resulting from an autoimmune reaction against intercellular adhesion molecules or components of the basement membrane of skin and mucosa. Autoimmune disorders often occur in patients with a history of another autoimmune disease and most autoimmune diseases have a striking female predominance. In this review, we aim to analyze the different associations of autoimmune bullous diseases with other autoimmune diseases and highlight the distinctiveness of the female gender in these associations.
Collapse
|
25
|
Moch M, Schieren J, Leube RE. Cortical tension regulates desmosomal morphogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:946190. [PMID: 36268507 PMCID: PMC9577410 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.946190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical stability is a fundamental and essential property of epithelial cell sheets. It is in large part determined by cell-cell adhesion sites that are tightly integrated by the cortical cytoskeleton. An intimate crosstalk between the adherens junction-associated contractile actomyosin system and the desmosome-anchored keratin intermediate filament system is decisive for dynamic regulation of epithelial mechanics. A major question in the field is whether and in which way mechanical stress affects junctional plasticity. This is especially true for the desmosome-keratin scaffold whose role in force-sensing is virtually unknown. To examine this question, we inactivated the actomyosin system in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and canine kidney cells (MDCK) and monitored changes in desmosomal protein turnover. Partial inhibition of myosin II by para-nitro-blebbistatin led to a decrease of the cells' elastic modulus and to reduced desmosomal protein turnover in regions where nascent desmosomes are formed and, to a lower degree, in regions where larger, more mature desmosomes are present. Interestingly, desmosomal proteins are affected differently: a significant decrease in turnover was observed for the desmosomal plaque protein desmoplakin I (DspI), which links keratin filaments to the desmosomal core, and the transmembrane cadherin desmoglein 2 (Dsg2). On the other hand, the turnover of another type of desmosomal cadherin, desmocollin 2 (Dsc2), was not significantly altered under the tested conditions. Similarly, the turnover of the adherens junction-associated E-cadherin was not affected by the low doses of para-nitro-blebbistatin. Inhibition of actin polymerization by low dose latrunculin B treatment and of ROCK-driven actomyosin contractility by Y-27632 treatment also induced a significant decrease in desmosomal DspI turnover. Taken together, we conclude that changes in the cortical force balance affect desmosome formation and growth. Furthermore, they differentially modulate desmosomal protein turnover resulting in changes of desmosome composition. We take the observations as evidence for a hitherto unknown desmosomal mechanosensing and mechanoresponse pathway responding to an altered force balance.
Collapse
|
26
|
Vae Priest A, Koirala R, Sivasankar S. Cadherins can dimerize via asymmetric interactions. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:1639-1646. [PMID: 35532156 PMCID: PMC9829383 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14373] [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: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cadherins are essential cell-cell adhesion proteins that interact in two distinct conformations: X-dimers and strand-swap dimers. Both X-dimers and strand-swap dimers are thought to exclusively rely on symmetric sets of interactions between key amino acids on both cadherin binding partners. Here, we use single-molecule atomic force microscopy and computer simulations to show that symmetry in cadherin binding is dispensable and that cadherins can also interact in a novel conformation that asymmetrically incorporates key elements of both strand-swap dimers and X-dimers. Our results clarify the biophysical rules for cadherin binding and demonstrate that cadherins interact in a more diverse range of conformations than previously understood.
Collapse
|
27
|
Egu DT, Schmitt T, Waschke J. Mechanisms Causing Acantholysis in Pemphigus-Lessons from Human Skin. Front Immunol 2022; 13:884067. [PMID: 35720332 PMCID: PMC9205406 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.884067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune bullous skin disease caused primarily by autoantibodies (PV-IgG) against the desmosomal adhesion proteins desmoglein (Dsg)1 and Dsg3. PV patient lesions are characterized by flaccid blisters and ultrastructurally by defined hallmarks including a reduction in desmosome number and size, formation of split desmosomes, as well as uncoupling of keratin filaments from desmosomes. The pathophysiology underlying the disease is known to involve several intracellular signaling pathways downstream of PV-IgG binding. Here, we summarize our studies in which we used transmission electron microscopy to characterize the roles of signaling pathways in the pathogenic effects of PV-IgG on desmosome ultrastructure in a human ex vivo skin model. Blister scores revealed inhibition of p38MAPK, ERK and PLC/Ca2+ to be protective in human epidermis. In contrast, inhibition of Src and PKC, which were shown to be protective in cell cultures and murine models, was not effective for human skin explants. The ultrastructural analysis revealed that for preventing skin blistering at least desmosome number (as modulated by ERK) or keratin filament insertion (as modulated by PLC/Ca2+) need to be ameliorated. Other pathways such as p38MAPK regulate desmosome number, size, and keratin insertion indicating that they control desmosome assembly and disassembly on different levels. Taken together, studies in human skin delineate target mechanisms for the treatment of pemphigus patients. In addition, ultrastructural analysis supports defining the specific role of a given signaling molecule in desmosome turnover at ultrastructural level.
Collapse
|
28
|
Neel BL, Nisler CR, Walujkar S, Araya-Secchi R, Sotomayor M. Elastic versus brittle mechanical responses predicted for dimeric cadherin complexes. Biophys J 2022; 121:1013-1028. [PMID: 35151631 PMCID: PMC8943749 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cadherins are a superfamily of adhesion proteins involved in a variety of biological processes that include the formation of intercellular contacts, the maintenance of tissue integrity, and the development of neuronal circuits. These transmembrane proteins are characterized by ectodomains composed of a variable number of extracellular cadherin (EC) repeats that are similar but not identical in sequence and fold. E-cadherin, along with desmoglein and desmocollin proteins, are three classical-type cadherins that have slightly curved ectodomains and engage in homophilic and heterophilic interactions through an exchange of conserved tryptophan residues in their N-terminal EC1 repeat. In contrast, clustered protocadherins are straighter than classical cadherins and interact through an antiparallel homophilic binding interface that involves overlapped EC1 to EC4 repeats. Here we present molecular dynamics simulations that model the adhesive domains of these cadherins using available crystal structures, with systems encompassing up to 2.8 million atoms. Simulations of complete classical cadherin ectodomain dimers predict a two-phased elastic response to force in which these complexes first softly unbend and then stiffen to unbind without unfolding. Simulated α, β, and γ clustered protocadherin homodimers lack a two-phased elastic response, are brittle and stiffer than classical cadherins and exhibit complex unbinding pathways that in some cases involve transient intermediates. We propose that these distinct mechanical responses are important for function, with classical cadherin ectodomains acting as molecular shock absorbers and with stiffer clustered protocadherin ectodomains facilitating overlap that favors binding specificity over mechanical resilience. Overall, our simulations provide insights into the molecular mechanics of single cadherin dimers relevant in the formation of cellular junctions essential for tissue function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon L Neel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Collin R Nisler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Biophysics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Sanket Walujkar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Chemical Physics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Raul Araya-Secchi
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcos Sotomayor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Biophysics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Chemical Physics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Yeruva S, Waschke J. Structure and regulation of desmosomes in intercalated discs: Lessons from epithelia. J Anat 2022; 242:81-90. [PMID: 35128661 PMCID: PMC9773171 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
For electromechanical coupling of cardiomyocytes, intercalated discs (ICDs) are pivotal as highly specialized intercellular contact areas. ICD consists of adhesive contacts, such as desmosomes and adherens junctions (AJs) that are partially intermingled and thereby form an area composita to provide mechanical strength, as well as gap junctions (GJ) and sodium channels for excitation propagation. In contrast, in epithelia, mixed junctions with features of desmosomes and AJs are regarded as transitory primarily during the formation of desmosomes. The anatomy of desmosomes is defined by a typical ultrastructure with dense intracellular plaques anchoring the cadherin-type adhesion molecules to the intermediate filament cytoskeleton. Desmosomal diseases characterized by impaired adhesive and signalling functions of desmosomal contacts lead to arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy when affecting cardiomyocytes and cause pemphigus when manifesting in keratinocytes or present as cardiocutaneous syndromes when both cell types are targeted by the disease, which underscores the high biomedical relevance of these cell contacts. Therefore, comparative analyses regarding the structure and regulation of desmosomal contacts in cardiomyocytes and epithelial cells are helpful to better understand disease pathogenesis. In this brief review, we describe the structural properties of ICD compared to epithelial desmosomes and suggest that mechanisms regulating adhesion may at least in part be comparable. Also, we discuss whether phenomena such as hyperadhesion or the bidirectional regulation of desmosomes to serve as signalling hubs in epithelial cells may also be relevant for ICD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Yeruva
- Ludwig‐Maximilian‐Universität München, Anatomische Anstalt, Lehrstuhl Anatomie I – Vegetative AnatomieMunichGermany
| | - Jens Waschke
- Ludwig‐Maximilian‐Universität München, Anatomische Anstalt, Lehrstuhl Anatomie I – Vegetative AnatomieMunichGermany
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Fuchs M, Kugelmann D, Schlegel N, Vielmuth F, Waschke J. Desmoglein 2 can undergo Ca2+-dependent interactions with both desmosomal and classical cadherins including E-cadherin and N-cadherin. Biophys J 2022; 121:1322-1335. [PMID: 35183520 PMCID: PMC9034291 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Desmoglein (Dsg) 2 is a ubiquitously expressed desmosomal cadherin. Particularly, it is present in all cell types forming desmosomes, including epithelial cells and cardiac myocytes and is upregulated in the autoimmune skin disease pemphigus. Thus, we here characterized the binding properties of Dsg2 in more detail using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Dsg2 exhibits homophilic interactions and also heterophilic interactions with the desmosomal cadherin desmocollin (Dsc) 2, and further with the classical cadherins E-cadherin (E-Cad) and N-cadherin (N-Cad), which may be relevant for cross talk between desmosomes and adherens junctions in epithelia and cardiac myocytes. We found that all homo- and heterophilic interactions were Ca2+-dependent. All binding forces observed are in the same force range, i.e., 30 to 40 pN, except for the Dsg2/E-Cad unbinding force, which with 45 pN is significantly higher. To further characterize the nature of the interactions, we used tryptophan, a critical amino acid required for trans-interaction, and a tandem peptide (TP) designed to cross-link Dsg isoforms. TP was sufficient to prevent the tryptophan-induced loss of Dsg2 interaction with the desmosomal cadherins Dsg2 and Dsc2; however, not with the classical cadherins E-Cad and N-Cad, indicating that the interaction modes of Dsg2 with desmosomal and classical cadherins differ. TP rescued the tryptophan-induced loss of Dsg2 binding on living enterocytes, suggesting that interaction with desmosomal cadherins may be more relevant. In summary, the data suggest that the ubiquitous desmosomal cadherin Dsg2 enables the cross talk with adherens junctions by interacting with multiple binding partners with implications for proper adhesive function in healthy and diseased states.
Collapse
|
31
|
Hegazy M, Perl AL, Svoboda SA, Green KJ. Desmosomal Cadherins in Health and Disease. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY 2022; 17:47-72. [PMID: 34425055 PMCID: PMC8792335 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-042320-092912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Desmosomal cadherins are a recent evolutionary innovation that make up the adhesive core of highly specialized intercellular junctions called desmosomes. Desmosomal cadherins, which are grouped into desmogleins and desmocollins, are related to the classical cadherins, but their cytoplasmic domains are tailored for anchoring intermediate filaments instead of actin to sites of cell-cell adhesion. The resulting junctions are critical for resisting mechanical stress in tissues such as the skin and heart. Desmosomal cadherins also act as signaling hubs that promote differentiation and facilitate morphogenesis, creating more complex and effective tissue barriers in vertebrate tissues. Interference with desmosomal cadherin adhesive and supra-adhesive functions leads to a variety of autoimmune, hereditary, toxin-mediated, and malignant diseases. We review our current understanding of how desmosomal cadherins contribute to human health and disease, highlight gaps in our knowledge about their regulation and function, and introduce promising new directions toward combatting desmosome-related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marihan Hegazy
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Abbey L. Perl
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Sophia A. Svoboda
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Kathleen J. Green
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA,Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Beggs RR, Rao TC, Dean WF, Kowalczyk AP, Mattheyses AL. Desmosomes undergo dynamic architectural changes during assembly and maturation. Tissue Barriers 2022; 10:2017225. [PMID: 34983311 PMCID: PMC9621066 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2021.2017225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Desmosomes are macromolecular cell-cell junctions critical for maintaining adhesion and resisting mechanical stress in epithelial tissue. Desmosome assembly and the relationship between maturity and molecular architecture are not well understood. To address this, we employed a calcium switch assay to synchronize assembly followed by quantification of desmosome nanoscale organization using direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (dSTORM). We found that the organization of the desmoplakin rod/C-terminal junction changed over the course of maturation, as indicated by a decrease in the plaque-to-plaque distance, while the plaque length increased. In contrast, the desmoplakin N-terminal domain and plakoglobin organization (plaque-to-plaque distance) were constant throughout maturation. This structural rearrangement of desmoplakin was concurrent with desmosome maturation measured by E-cadherin exclusion and increased adhesive strength. Using two-color dSTORM, we showed that while the number of individual E-cadherin containing junctions went down with the increasing time in high Ca2+, they maintained a wider desmoplakin rod/C-terminal plaque-to-plaque distance. This indicates that the maturation state of individual desmosomes can be identified by their architectural organization. We confirmed these architectural changes in another model of desmosome assembly, cell migration. Desmosomes in migrating cells, closest to the scratch where they are assembling, were shorter, E-cadherin enriched, and had wider desmoplakin rod/C-terminal plaque-to-plaque distances compared to desmosomes away from the wound edge. Key results were demonstrated in three cell lines representing simple, transitional, and stratified epithelia. Together, these data suggest that there is a set of architectural programs for desmosome maturation, and we hypothesize that desmoplakin architecture may be a contributing mechanism to regulating adhesive strength.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reena R Beggs
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Tejeshwar C Rao
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - William F Dean
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Andrew P Kowalczyk
- Departments of Dermatology and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Alexa L Mattheyses
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Burkard N, Meir M, Kannapin F, Otto C, Petzke M, Germer CT, Waschke J, Schlegel N. Desmoglein2 Regulates Claudin2 Expression by Sequestering PI-3-Kinase in Intestinal Epithelial Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 12:756321. [PMID: 34659262 PMCID: PMC8514949 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.756321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammation-induced reduction of intestinal desmosomal cadherin Desmoglein 2 (Dsg2) is linked to changes of tight junctions (TJ) leading to impaired intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) function by undefined mechanisms. We characterized the interplay between loss of Dsg2 and upregulation of pore-forming TJ protein Claudin2. Intraperitoneal application of Dsg2-stablising Tandem peptide (TP) attenuated impaired IEB function, reduction of Dsg2 and increased Claudin2 in DSS-induced colitis in C57Bl/6 mice. TP blocked loss of Dsg2-mediated adhesion and upregulation of Claudin2 in Caco2 cells challenged with TNFα. In Dsg2-deficient Caco2 cells basal expression of Claudin2 was increased which was paralleled by reduced transepithelial electrical resistance and by augmented phosphorylation of AKTSer473 under basal conditions. Inhibition of phosphoinositid-3-kinase proved that PI-3-kinase/AKT-signaling is critical to upregulate Claudin2. In immunostaining PI-3-kinase dissociated from Dsg2 under inflammatory conditions. Immunoprecipitations and proximity ligation assays confirmed a direct interaction of Dsg2 and PI-3-kinase which was abrogated following TNFα application. In summary, Dsg2 regulates Claudin2 expression by sequestering PI-3-kinase to the cell borders in intestinal epithelium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Burkard
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Meir
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Felix Kannapin
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Otto
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Petzke
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christoph-Thomas Germer
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jens Waschke
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department I, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicolas Schlegel
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Schmitt T, Waschke J. Autoantibody-Specific Signalling in Pemphigus. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:701809. [PMID: 34434944 PMCID: PMC8381052 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.701809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pemphigus is a severe autoimmune disease impairing barrier functions of epidermis and mucosa. Autoantibodies primarily target the desmosomal adhesion molecules desmoglein (Dsg) 1 and Dsg 3 and induce loss of desmosomal adhesion. Strikingly, autoantibody profiles in pemphigus correlate with clinical phenotypes. Mucosal-dominant pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is characterised by autoantibodies (PV-IgG) against Dsg3 whereas epidermal blistering in PV and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is associated with autoantibodies against Dsg1. Therapy in pemphigus is evolving towards specific suppression of autoantibody formation and autoantibody depletion. Nevertheless, during the acute phase and relapses of the disease additional treatment options to stabilise desmosomes and thereby rescue keratinocyte adhesion would be beneficial. Therefore, the mechanisms by which autoantibodies interfere with adhesion of desmosomes need to be characterised in detail. Besides direct inhibition of Dsg adhesion, autoantibodies engage signalling pathways interfering with different steps of desmosome turn-over. With this respect, recent data indicate that autoantibodies induce separate signalling responses in keratinocytes via specific signalling complexes organised by Dsg1 and Dsg3 which transfer the signal of autoantibody binding into the cell. This hypothesis may also explain the different clinical pemphigus phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Schmitt
- Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München, Anatomische Anstalt, Lehrstuhl Anatomie I - Vegetative Anatomie, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Waschke
- Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München, Anatomische Anstalt, Lehrstuhl Anatomie I - Vegetative Anatomie, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Koirala R, Priest AV, Yen CF, Cheah JS, Pannekoek WJ, Gloerich M, Yamada S, Sivasankar S. Inside-out regulation of E-cadherin conformation and adhesion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2104090118. [PMID: 34301871 PMCID: PMC8325368 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2104090118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cadherin cell-cell adhesion proteins play key roles in tissue morphogenesis and wound healing. Cadherin ectodomains bind in two conformations, X-dimers and strand-swap dimers, with different adhesive properties. However, the mechanisms by which cells regulate ectodomain conformation are unknown. Cadherin intracellular regions associate with several actin-binding proteins including vinculin, which are believed to tune cell-cell adhesion by remodeling the actin cytoskeleton. Here, we show at the single-molecule level, that vinculin association with the cadherin cytoplasmic region allosterically converts weak X-dimers into strong strand-swap dimers and that this process is mediated by myosin II-dependent changes in cytoskeletal tension. We also show that in epithelial cells, ∼70% of apical cadherins exist as strand-swap dimers while the remaining form X-dimers, providing two cadherin pools with different adhesive properties. Our results demonstrate the inside-out regulation of cadherin conformation and establish a mechanistic role for vinculin in this process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Koirala
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
| | - Andrew Vae Priest
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
| | - Chi-Fu Yen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
| | - Joleen S Cheah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Willem-Jan Pannekoek
- Molecular Cancer Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn Gloerich
- Molecular Cancer Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Soichiro Yamada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Sanjeevi Sivasankar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616;
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Indra I, Troyanovsky RB, Green KJ, Troyanovsky SM. Plakophilin 3 and Par3 facilitate desmosomes' association with the apical junctional complex. Mol Biol Cell 2021; 32:1824-1837. [PMID: 34260281 PMCID: PMC8684708 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e21-01-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Desmosomes (DSMs), together with adherens junctions (AJs) and tight junctions (TJs), constitute the apical cell junctional complex (AJC). While the importance of the apical and basolateral polarity machinery in the organization of AJs and TJs is well established, how DSMs are positioned within the AJC is not understood. Here we use highly polarized DLD1 cells as a model to address how DSMs integrate into the AJC. We found that knockout (KO) of the desmosomal ARM protein Pkp3, but not other major DSM proteins, uncouples DSMs from the AJC without blocking DSM assembly. DLD1 cells also exhibit a prominent extraDSM pool of Pkp3, concentrated in tricellular (tC) contacts. Probing distinct apicobasal polarity pathways revealed that neither the DSM’s association with AJC nor the extraDSM pool of Pkp3 are abolished in cells with defects in Scrib module proteins responsible for basolateral membrane development. However, a loss of the apical polarity protein, Par3, completely eliminates the extraDSM pool of Pkp3 and disrupts AJC localization of desmosomes, dispersing these junctions along the entire length of cell–cell contacts. Our data are consistent with a model whereby Par3 facilitates DSM assembly within the AJC, controlling the availability of an assembly competent pool of Pkp3 stored in tC contacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kathleen J Green
- Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Ebert LM, Vandyke K, Johan MZ, DeNichilo M, Tan LY, Myo Min KK, Weimann BM, Ebert BW, Pitson SM, Zannettino ACW, Wallington-Beddoe CT, Bonder CS. Desmoglein-2 expression is an independent predictor of poor prognosis patients with multiple myeloma. Mol Oncol 2021; 16:1221-1240. [PMID: 34245117 PMCID: PMC8936512 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common haematological malignancy and is an incurable disease of neoplastic plasma cells (PC). Newly diagnosed MM patients currently undergo lengthy genetic testing to match chromosomal mutations with the most potent drug/s to decelerate disease progression. With only 17% of MM patients surviving 10‐years postdiagnosis, faster detection and earlier intervention would unequivocally improve outcomes. Here, we show that the cell surface protein desmoglein‐2 (DSG2) is overexpressed in ~ 20% of bone marrow biopsies from newly diagnosed MM patients. Importantly, DSG2 expression was strongly predictive of poor clinical outcome, with patients expressing DSG2 above the 70th percentile exhibiting an almost 3‐fold increased risk of death. As a prognostic factor, DSG2 is independent of genetic subtype as well as the routinely measured biomarkers of MM activity (e.g. paraprotein). Functional studies revealed a nonredundant role for DSG2 in adhesion of MM PC to endothelial cells. Together, our studies suggest DSG2 to be a potential cell surface biomarker that can be readily detected by flow cytometry to rapidly predict disease trajectory at the time of diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Ebert
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Kate Vandyke
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Myeloma Research Laboratory, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - M Zahied Johan
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Mark DeNichilo
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Lih Y Tan
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Kay K Myo Min
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Benjamin M Weimann
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Brenton W Ebert
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Stuart M Pitson
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Andrew C W Zannettino
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Myeloma Research Laboratory, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Craig T Wallington-Beddoe
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.,Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Claudine S Bonder
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Attachment of Cancer Urothelial Cells to the Bladder Epithelium Occurs on Uroplakin-Negative Cells and Is Mediated by Desmosomal and Not by Classical Cadherins. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115565. [PMID: 34070317 PMCID: PMC8197456 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Urinary bladder cancer is often multifocal; however, the intraluminal dissemination of the urothelial cancer cells is poorly understood. The involvement of N-cadherin in the adhesion of the cancer urothelial cells to the urothelium had not previously been studied. Therefore, we herein explore the possibility of the intraluminal dissemination of the urothelial cancer cells by evaluating the role of classical cadherins in the adhesion of urothelial cancer cells to the urothelium. We used E-cadherin negative T24 cells and established a T24 Ncadlow cell line with an additionally decreased expression of N-cadherin in the plasma membrane and a decreased secretion of proform of metalloproteinase 2. The labelled T24 and T24 Ncadlow cells were seeded onto urothelial in vitro models. After 24 h in co-culture, unattached cancer cells were rinsed and urothelia with attached cancer urothelial cells were processed for fluorescence and electron microscopy. Both the T24 and T24 Ncadlow cells attached to the urothelium, yet only to the uroplakin-negative urothelial cells. The ultrastructural analysis showed that T24 and T24 Ncadlow cells adhere to poorly differentiated urothelial cells by desmosomes. To achieve this, they first disrupt tight junctions of superficial urothelial cells. This study indicates that the lack of E-cadherin expression and decreased expression of N-cadherin in the plasma membrane of T24 cells does not interfere with their adhesion to the urothelium; therefore, our results suggest that intraluminal dissemination of cancer urothelial cells along the urothelium occurs on uroplakin-negative cells and is desmosome-mediated.
Collapse
|
39
|
Mohammed F, Chidgey M. Desmosomal protein structure and function and the impact of disease-causing mutations. J Struct Biol 2021; 213:107749. [PMID: 34033898 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2021.107749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In this graphical review we focus on the structural characteristics of desmosomal proteins, their interactions with each other and with the intermediate filament cytoskeleton. The wealth of structural information that is now available allows predictions to be made about the pathogenic effect of disease-causing mutations. We have selected representative examples of missense mutations that are buried, semi-buried or surface exposed, and demonstrate how such variants could affect the structural fold of desmosomal proteins that are expressed in the heart. We explain how such alterations could compromise desmosomal adhesion, resulting in life threatening diseases including arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiyaz Mohammed
- Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Martyn Chidgey
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Raya-Sandino A, Luissint AC, Kusters DHM, Narayanan V, Flemming S, Garcia-Hernandez V, Godsel LM, Green KJ, Hagen SJ, Conway DE, Parkos CA, Nusrat A. Regulation of intestinal epithelial intercellular adhesion and barrier function by desmosomal cadherin desmocollin-2. Mol Biol Cell 2021; 32:753-768. [PMID: 33596089 PMCID: PMC8108520 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e20-12-0775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of desmosomal cadherin desmocollin-2 (Dsc2) in regulating barrier function in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is not well understood. Here, we report the consequences of silencing Dsc2 on IEC barrier function in vivo using mice with inducible intestinal-epithelial-specific Dsc2 knockdown (KD) (Dsc2ERΔIEC). While the small intestinal gross architecture was maintained, loss of epithelial Dsc2 influenced desmosomal plaque structure, which was smaller in size and had increased intermembrane space between adjacent epithelial cells. Functional analysis revealed that loss of Dsc2 increased intestinal permeability in vivo, supporting a role for Dsc2 in the regulation of intestinal epithelial barrier function. These results were corroborated in model human IECs in which Dsc2 KD resulted in decreased cell-cell adhesion and impaired barrier function. It is noteworthy that Dsc2 KD cells exhibited delayed recruitment of desmoglein-2 (Dsg2) to the plasma membrane after calcium switch-induced intercellular junction reassembly, while E-cadherin accumulation was unaffected. Mechanistically, loss of Dsc2 increased desmoplakin (DP I/II) protein expression and promoted intermediate filament interaction with DP I/II and was associated with enhanced tension on desmosomes as measured by a Dsg2-tension sensor. In conclusion, we provide new insights on Dsc2 regulation of mechanical tension, adhesion, and barrier function in IECs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Raya-Sandino
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Anny-Claude Luissint
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Dennis H. M. Kusters
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Vani Narayanan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284
| | - Sven Flemming
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | | | - Lisa M. Godsel
- Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Kathleen J. Green
- Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Susan J. Hagen
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Daniel E. Conway
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284
| | - Charles A. Parkos
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Asma Nusrat
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Wanuske M, Brantschen D, Schinner C, Stüdle C, Walter E, Hiermaier M, Vielmuth F, Waschke J, Spindler V. Clustering of desmosomal cadherins by desmoplakin is essential for cell-cell adhesion. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2021; 231:e13609. [PMID: 33354837 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
AIM Desmoplakin (Dp) is a crucial component of the desmosome, a supramolecular cell junction complex anchoring intermediate filaments. The mechanisms how Dp modulates cell-cell adhesion are only partially understood. Here, we studied the impact of Dp on the function of desmosomal adhesion molecules, desmosome turnover and intercellular adhesion. METHODS CRISPR/Cas9 was used for gene editing of human keratinocytes which were characterized by Western blot and immunostaining. Desmosomal ultrastructure and function were assessed by electron microscopy and cell adhesion assays. Single molecule binding properties and localization of desmosomal cadherins were studied by atomic force microscopy and super-resolution imaging. RESULTS Knockout (ko) of Dp impaired cell cohesion to drastically higher extents as ko of another desmosomal protein, plakoglobin (Pg). In contrast to Pg ko, desmosomes were completely absent in Dp ko. Binding properties of the desmosomal adhesion molecules desmocollin (Dsc) 3 and desmoglein (Dsg) 3 remained unaltered under loss of Dp. Dp was required for assembling desmosomal cadherins into large clusters, as Dsg2 and Dsc3, adhesion molecules primarily localized within desmosomes, were redistributed into small puncta in the cell membrane of Dp ko cells. Additional silencing of desmosomal cadherins in Dp ko did not further increase loss of intercellular adhesion. CONCLUSION Our data demonstrate that Dp is essential for desmosome formation but does not influence intercellular adhesion on the level of individual cadherin binding properties. Rather, macro-clustering of desmosomal adhesion molecules through Dp is crucial. These results may help to better understand severe diseases which are caused by Dp dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie‐Therès Wanuske
- Department of Biomedicine University of Basel Basel Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität Munich Munich Germany
| | | | - Camilla Schinner
- Department of Biomedicine University of Basel Basel Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität Munich Munich Germany
| | - Chiara Stüdle
- Department of Biomedicine University of Basel Basel Switzerland
| | - Elias Walter
- Faculty of Medicine Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität Munich Munich Germany
| | - Matthias Hiermaier
- Department of Biomedicine University of Basel Basel Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität Munich Munich Germany
| | - Franziska Vielmuth
- Faculty of Medicine Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität Munich Munich Germany
| | - Jens Waschke
- Faculty of Medicine Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität Munich Munich Germany
| | - Volker Spindler
- Department of Biomedicine University of Basel Basel Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität Munich Munich Germany
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Han HJ, Sung JY, Kim SH, Yun UJ, Kim H, Jang EJ, Yoo HE, Hong EK, Goh SH, Moon A, Lee JS, Ye SK, Shim J, Kim YN. Fibronectin regulates anoikis resistance via cell aggregate formation. Cancer Lett 2021; 508:59-72. [PMID: 33771684 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The loss of cell-matrix interactions induces apoptosis, known as anoikis. For successful distant metastasis, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that have lost matrix attachment need to acquire anoikis resistance in order to survive. Cell aggregate formation confers anoikis resistance, and CTC clusters are more highly metastatic compared to single cells; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this aggregation are not well understood. In this study, we demonstrated that cell detachment increased cell aggregation and upregulated fibronectin (FN) levels in lung and breast cancer cells, but not in their normal counterparts. FN knockdown decreased cell aggregation and increased anoikis. In addition, cell detachment induced cell-cell adhesion proteins, including E-cadherin, desmoglein-2, desmocollin-2/3, and plakoglobin. Interestingly, FN knockdown decreased the levels of desmoglein-2, desmocollin-2/3, and plakoglobin, but not E-cadherin, suggesting the involvement of desmosomal junction in cell aggregation. Accordingly, knockdown of desmoglein-2, desmocollin-2, or plakoglobin reduced cell aggregation and increased cell sensitivity to anoikis. Previously, we reported that NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) upregulation is important for anoikis resistance. Nox4 inhibition by siRNA or apocynin decreased cell aggregation and increased anoikis with the downregulation of FN, and, consequently, decreased desmoglein-2, desmocollin-2/3, or plakoglobin. The coexpression of Nox4 and FN was found to be significant in lung and breast cancer patients, based on cBioPortal data. In vivo mouse lung metastasis model showed that FN knockdown suppressed lung metastasis and thus enhanced survival. FN staining of micro tissue array revealed that FN expression was positive for human lung cancer (61%) and breast cancer (58%) patients. Furthermore, the expression levels of FN, desmoglein-2, desmocollin-2, and plakoglobin were significantly correlated with the poor survival of lung and breast cancer patients, as per the Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis. Altogether, our data suggest that FN upregulation and enhanced desmosomal interactions are critical for cell aggregation and anoikis resistance upon cell detachment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyeong-Jun Han
- Division of Translational Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Young Sung
- Division of Translational Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Hyeon Kim
- Division of Translational Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Un-Jung Yun
- Division of Translational Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeryeong Kim
- Division of Translational Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Ju Jang
- Division of Translational Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha-Eun Yoo
- Division of Translational Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Kyung Hong
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Ho Goh
- Division of Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Aree Moon
- Pharmacy, Duksung Women's University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Seon Lee
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Ku Ye
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaegal Shim
- Division of Translational Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Nyun Kim
- Division of Translational Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Shafraz O, Xie B, Yamada S, Sivasankar S. Mapping transmembrane binding partners for E-cadherin ectodomains. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:31157-31165. [PMID: 33229577 PMCID: PMC7733791 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2010209117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
We combine proximity labeling and single molecule binding assays to discover transmembrane protein interactions in cells. We first screen for candidate binding partners by tagging the extracellular and cytoplasmic regions of a "bait" protein with BioID biotin ligase and identify proximal proteins that are biotin tagged on both their extracellular and intracellular regions. We then test direct binding interactions between proximal proteins and the bait, using single molecule atomic force microscope binding assays. Using this approach, we identify binding partners for the extracellular region of E-cadherin, an essential cell-cell adhesion protein. We show that the desmosomal proteins desmoglein-2 and desmocollin-3, the focal adhesion protein integrin-α2β1, the receptor tyrosine kinase ligand ephrin-B1, and the classical cadherin P-cadherin, all directly interact with E-cadherin ectodomains. Our data shows that combining extracellular and cytoplasmic proximal tagging with a biophysical binding assay increases the precision with which transmembrane ectodomain interactors can be identified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Omer Shafraz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Bin Xie
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Soichiro Yamada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Sanjeevi Sivasankar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616;
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Sigmund AM, Steinert LS, Egu DT, Bayerbach FC, Waschke J, Vielmuth F. Dsg2 Upregulation as a Rescue Mechanism in Pemphigus. Front Immunol 2020; 11:581370. [PMID: 33193387 PMCID: PMC7655986 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.581370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In pemphigus vulgaris (PV), autoantibodies directed against the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein (Dsg) 3 cause loss of intercellular adhesion. It is known that Dsg3 interactions are directly inhibited by autoantibody binding and that Dsg2 is upregulated in epidermis of PV patients. Here, we investigated whether heterophilic Dsg2-Dsg3 interactions occur and would modulate PV pathogenesis. Dsg2 was upregulated in PV patients’ biopsies and in a human ex vivo pemphigus skin model. Immunoprecipitation and cell-free atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments demonstrated heterophilic Dsg2-Dsg3 interactions. Similarly, in Dsg3-deficient keratinocytes with severely disturbed intercellular adhesion Dsg2 was upregulated in the desmosome containing fraction. AFM revealed that Dsg2-Dsg3 heterophilic interactions showed binding frequency, strength, Ca2+-dependency and catch-bond behavior comparable to homophilic Dsg3-Dsg3 or homophilic Dsg2-Dsg2 interactions. However, heterophilic Dsg2-Dsg3 interactions had a longer lifetime compared to homophilic Dsg2-Dsg2 interactions and PV autoantibody-induced direct inhibition was significantly less pronounced for heterophilic Dsg2-Dsg3 interactions compared to homophilic Dsg3 interactions. In contrast, a monoclonal anti-Dsg2 inhibitory antibody reduced heterophilic Dsg2-Dsg3 and homophilic Dsg2-Dsg2 binding to the same degree and further impaired intercellular adhesion in Dsg3-deficient keratinocytes. Taken together, the data demonstrate that Dsg2 undergoes heterophilic interactions with Dsg3, which may attenuate autoantibody-induced loss of keratinocyte adhesion in pemphigus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Sigmund
- Department I, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Letyfee S Steinert
- Department I, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Desalegn T Egu
- Department I, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Franziska C Bayerbach
- Department I, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Waschke
- Department I, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Franziska Vielmuth
- Department I, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Hiermaier M, Kliewe F, Schinner C, Stüdle C, Maly IP, Wanuske MT, Rötzer V, Endlich N, Vielmuth F, Waschke J, Spindler V. The Actin-Binding Protein α-Adducin Modulates Desmosomal Turnover and Plasticity. J Invest Dermatol 2020; 141:1219-1229.e11. [PMID: 33098828 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Intercellular adhesion is essential for tissue integrity and homeostasis. Desmosomes are abundant in the epidermis and the myocardium-tissues, which are under constantly changing mechanical stresses. Yet, it is largely unclear whether desmosomal adhesion can be rapidly adapted to changing demands, and the mechanisms underlying desmosome turnover are only partially understood. In this study we show that the loss of the actin-binding protein α-adducin resulted in reduced desmosome numbers and prevented the ability of cultured keratinocytes or murine epidermis to withstand mechanical stress. This effect was not primarily caused by decreased levels or impaired adhesive properties of desmosomal molecules but rather by altered desmosome turnover. Mechanistically, reduced cortical actin density in α-adducin knockout keratinocytes resulted in increased mobility of the desmosomal adhesion molecule desmoglein 3 and impaired interactions with E-cadherin, a crucial step in desmosome formation. Accordingly, the loss of α-adducin prevented increased membrane localization of desmoglein 3 in response to cyclic stretch or shear stress. Our data demonstrate the plasticity of desmosomal molecules in response to mechanical stimuli and unravel a mechanism of how the actin cytoskeleton indirectly shapes intercellular adhesion by restricting the membrane mobility of desmosomal molecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Hiermaier
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Felix Kliewe
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Camilla Schinner
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Stüdle
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - I Piotr Maly
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Therès Wanuske
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Vera Rötzer
- Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicole Endlich
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Franziska Vielmuth
- Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Waschke
- Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Volker Spindler
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Keratin intermediate filaments: intermediaries of epithelial cell migration. Essays Biochem 2020; 63:521-533. [PMID: 31652439 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20190017] [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: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Migration of epithelial cells is fundamental to multiple developmental processes, epithelial tissue morphogenesis and maintenance, wound healing and metastasis. While migrating epithelial cells utilize the basic acto-myosin based machinery as do other non-epithelial cells, they are distinguished by their copious keratin intermediate filament (KF) cytoskeleton, which comprises differentially expressed members of two large multigene families and presents highly complex patterns of post-translational modification. We will discuss how the unique mechanophysical and biochemical properties conferred by the different keratin isotypes and their modifications serve as finely tunable modulators of epithelial cell migration. We will furthermore argue that KFs together with their associated desmosomal cell-cell junctions and hemidesmosomal cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesions serve as important counterbalances to the contractile acto-myosin apparatus either allowing and optimizing directed cell migration or preventing it. The differential keratin expression in leaders and followers of collectively migrating epithelial cell sheets provides a compelling example of isotype-specific keratin functions. Taken together, we conclude that the expression levels and specific combination of keratins impinge on cell migration by conferring biomechanical properties on any given epithelial cell affecting cytoplasmic viscoelasticity and adhesion to neighboring cells and the ECM.
Collapse
|
47
|
Zimmer SE, Kowalczyk AP. The desmosome as a model for lipid raft driven membrane domain organization. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1862:183329. [PMID: 32376221 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Desmosomes are cadherin-based adhesion structures that mechanically couple the intermediate filament cytoskeleton of adjacent cells to confer mechanical stress resistance to tissues. We have recently described desmosomes as mesoscale lipid raft membrane domains that depend on raft dynamics for assembly, function, and disassembly. Lipid raft microdomains are regions of the plasma membrane enriched in sphingolipids and cholesterol. These domains participate in membrane domain heterogeneity, signaling and membrane trafficking. Cellular structures known to be dependent on raft dynamics include the post-synaptic density in neurons, the immunological synapse, and intercellular junctions, including desmosomes. In this review, we discuss the current state of the desmosome field and put forward new hypotheses for the role of lipid rafts in desmosome adhesion, signaling and epidermal homeostasis. Furthermore, we propose that differential lipid raft affinity of intercellular junction proteins is a central driving force in the organization of the epithelial apical junctional complex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie E Zimmer
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States of America; Department of Cell Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States of America
| | - Andrew P Kowalczyk
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States of America; Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Angulo-Urarte A, van der Wal T, Huveneers S. Cell-cell junctions as sensors and transducers of mechanical forces. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1862:183316. [PMID: 32360073 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial and endothelial monolayers are multicellular sheets that form barriers between the 'outside' and 'inside' of tissues. Cell-cell junctions, made by adherens junctions, tight junctions and desmosomes, hold together these monolayers. They form intercellular contacts by binding their receptor counterparts on neighboring cells and anchoring these structures intracellularly to the cytoskeleton. During tissue development, maintenance and pathogenesis, monolayers encounter a range of mechanical forces from the cells themselves and from external systemic forces, such as blood pressure or tissue stiffness. The molecular landscape of cell-cell junctions is diverse, containing transmembrane proteins that form intercellular bonds and a variety of cytoplasmic proteins that remodel the junctional connection to the cytoskeleton. Many junction-associated proteins participate in mechanotransduction cascades to confer mechanical cues into cellular responses that allow monolayers to maintain their structural integrity. We will discuss force-dependent junctional molecular events and their role in cell-cell contact organization and remodeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Angulo-Urarte
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Location AMC, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tanne van der Wal
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Location AMC, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stephan Huveneers
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Location AMC, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Broussard JA, Jaiganesh A, Zarkoob H, Conway DE, Dunn AR, Espinosa HD, Janmey PA, Green KJ. Scaling up single-cell mechanics to multicellular tissues - the role of the intermediate filament-desmosome network. J Cell Sci 2020; 133:jcs228031. [PMID: 32179593 PMCID: PMC7097224 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.228031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells and tissues sense, respond to and translate mechanical forces into biochemical signals through mechanotransduction, which governs individual cell responses that drive gene expression, metabolic pathways and cell motility, and determines how cells work together in tissues. Mechanotransduction often depends on cytoskeletal networks and their attachment sites that physically couple cells to each other and to the extracellular matrix. One way that cells associate with each other is through Ca2+-dependent adhesion molecules called cadherins, which mediate cell-cell interactions through adherens junctions, thereby anchoring and organizing the cortical actin cytoskeleton. This actin-based network confers dynamic properties to cell sheets and developing organisms. However, these contractile networks do not work alone but in concert with other cytoarchitectural elements, including a diverse network of intermediate filaments. This Review takes a close look at the intermediate filament network and its associated intercellular junctions, desmosomes. We provide evidence that this system not only ensures tissue integrity, but also cooperates with other networks to create more complex tissues with emerging properties in sensing and responding to increasingly stressful environments. We will also draw attention to how defects in intermediate filament and desmosome networks result in both chronic and acquired diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Broussard
- Departments of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Avinash Jaiganesh
- Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Hoda Zarkoob
- Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Daniel E Conway
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - Alexander R Dunn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Horacio D Espinosa
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Paul A Janmey
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kathleen J Green
- Departments of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Moch M, Schwarz N, Windoffer R, Leube RE. The keratin-desmosome scaffold: pivotal role of desmosomes for keratin network morphogenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:543-558. [PMID: 31243490 PMCID: PMC7010626 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03198-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Desmosome-anchored keratin intermediate filaments (KFs) are essential for epithelial coherence. Yet, desmosomal KF attachment and network organization are still unexplored in vivo. We, therefore, monitored KF network morphogenesis in fluorescent keratin 8 knock-in murine embryos revealing keratin enrichment at newly formed desmosomes followed by KF formation, KF elongation and KF fusion. To examine details of this process and its coupling to desmosome formation, we studied fluorescent keratin and desmosomal protein reporter dynamics in the periphery of expanding HaCaT keratinocyte colonies. Less than 3 min after the start of desmosomal proteins clustering non-filamentous keratin enriched at these sites followed by KF formation and elongation. Subsequently, desmosome-anchored KFs merged into stable bundles generating a rim-and-spokes system consisting of subcortical KFs connecting desmosomes to each other and radial KFs connecting desmosomes to the cytoplasmic KF network. We conclude that desmosomes are organizing centers for the KF cytoskeleton with a hitherto unknown nucleation capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Moch
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nicole Schwarz
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Reinhard Windoffer
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Rudolf E Leube
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|