scholarly journals In Vivo 17β-Estradiol Treatment Contributes to Podocyte Actin Stabilization in Female db/db Mice

Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (12) ◽  
pp. 5888-5895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Catanuto ◽  
Alessia Fornoni ◽  
Simone Pereira-Simon ◽  
Fayi Wu ◽  
Kerry L. Burnstein ◽  
...  

Abstract We recently showed that 17β-estradiol (E2) treatment ameliorated type 2 diabetic glomerulosclerosis in mice in part by protecting podocyte structure and function. Progressive podocyte damage is characterized by foot process effacement, vacuolization, detachment of podocytes from the glomerular basement membrane, and apoptosis. In addition, podocytes are highly dependent on the preservation of their actin cytoskeleton to ensure proper function and survival. Because E2 administration prevented podocyte damage in our study on diabetic db/db mice and has been shown to regulate both actin cytoskeleton and apoptosis in other cell types and tissues, we investigated whether actin remodeling and apoptosis were prevented in podocytes isolated from E2-treated diabetic db/db mice. We performed G-actin/F-actin assays, Western analysis for Hsp25 expression, Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) activity, and apoptosis assays on previously characterized podocytes isolated from both in vivo-treated placebo and E2 female db/db mice. We found that in vivo E2 protects against a phenotype change in the cultured podocytes characterized by a percent increase of F-actin vs. G-actin, suppression of Hsp25 expression and transcriptional activation, increase of Rac1 activity, and decreased apoptotic intermediates. We conclude from these studies that E2 treatment protects against podocyte damage and may prevent/reduce diabetes-induced kidney disease.

2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 2324-2336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriano Augusto Cattani ◽  
Valérie Delphine Bonfardin ◽  
Alfonso Represa ◽  
Yehezkel Ben-Ari ◽  
Laurent Aniksztejn

Cell-surface glutamate transporters are essential for the proper function of early cortical networks because their dysfunction induces seizures in the newborn rat in vivo. We have now analyzed the consequences of their inhibition by dl-TBOA on the activity of the developing CA1 rat hippocampal network in vitro. dl-TBOA generated a pattern of recurrent depolarization with an onset and decay of several seconds' duration in interneurons and pyramidal cells. These slow network oscillations (SNOs) were mostly mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in pyramidal cells and by GABA and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in interneurons. However, in both cell types SNOs were blocked by NMDA receptor antagonists, suggesting that their generation requires a glutamatergic drive. Moreover, in interneurons, SNOs were still generated after the blockade of NMDA-mediated synaptic currents with MK-801, suggesting that SNOs are expressed by the activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors. Long-lasting bath application of glutamate or NMDA failed to induce SNOs, indicating that they are generated by periodic but not sustained activation of NMDA receptors. In addition, SNOs were observed in interneurons recorded in slices with or without the strata pyramidale and oriens, suggesting that the glutamatergic drive may originate from the radiatum and pyramidale strata. We propose that in the absence of an efficient transport of glutamate, the transmitter diffuses in the extracellular space to activate extrasynaptic NMDA receptors preferentially present on interneurons that in turn activate other interneurons and pyramidal cells. This periodic neuronal coactivation may contribute to the generation of seizures when glutamate transport dysfunction is present.


RMD Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e000744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Klein

The reading of acetylation marks on histones by bromodomain (BRD) proteins is a key event in transcriptional activation. Small molecule inhibitors targeting bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins compete for binding to acetylated histones. They have strong anti-inflammatory properties and exhibit encouraging effects in different cell types in vitro and in animal models resembling rheumatic diseases in vivo. Furthermore, recent studies that focus on BRD proteins beyond BET family members are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily A. McGlade ◽  
Gerardo G. Herrera ◽  
Kalli K. Stephens ◽  
Sierra L. W. Olsen ◽  
Sarayut Winuthayanon ◽  
...  

AbstractOne of the endogenous estrogens, 17β-estradiol (E2) is a female steroid hormone secreted from the ovary. It is well established that E2 causes biochemical and histological changes in the uterus. The oviduct response to E2 is virtually unknown in an in vivo environment. In this study, we assessed the effect of E2 on each oviductal cell type, using an ovariectomized-hormone-replacement mouse model, single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), in situ hybridization, and cell-type-specific deletion in mice. We found that each cell type in the oviduct responded to E2 distinctively, especially ciliated and secretory epithelial cells. The treatment of exogenous E2 did not drastically alter the transcriptomic profile from that of endogenous E2 produced during estrus. Moreover, we have identified and validated genes of interest in our datasets that may be used as cell- and region-specific markers in the oviduct. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1) was characterized as an E2-target gene in the mouse oviduct and was also expressed in human Fallopian tubes. Deletion of Igf1 in progesterone receptor (Pgr)-expressing cells resulted in female subfertility, partially due to an embryo developmental defect and embryo retention within the oviduct. In summary, we have shown that oviductal cell types are differentially regulated by E2 and support gene expression changes that are required for normal embryo development and transport in mouse models.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 573-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Csépányi-Kömi ◽  
Gábor Sirokmány ◽  
Miklós Geiszt ◽  
Erzsébet Ligeti

Members of the Rac/Rho family of small GTPases play an essential role in phagocytic cells in organization of the actin cytoskeleton and production of toxic oxygen compounds. GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) decrease the amount of the GTP-bound active form of small GTPases, and contribute to the control of biologic signals. The number of potential Rac/RhoGAPs largely exceeds the number of Rac/Rho GTPases and the expression profile, and their specific role in different cell types is largely unknown. In this study, we report for the first time the properties of full-length ARHGAP25 protein, and show that it is specifically expressed in hematopoietic cells, and acts as a RacGAP both in vitro and in vivo. By silencing and overexpressing the protein in neutrophil model cell lines (PLB-985 and CosPhoxFcγR, respectively) and in primary macrophages, we demonstrate that ARHGAP25 is a negative regulator of phagocytosis acting probably via modulation of the actin cytoskeleton.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (1) ◽  
pp. H241-H250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose A. Ospina ◽  
Sue P. Duckles ◽  
Diana N. Krause

We have previously shown that estrogen treatment increases cerebrovascular cyclooxygenase-1, prostacyclin synthase, and production of prostacyclin. Therefore, vascular tone and prostanoid production were measured to investigate functional consequences of estrogen exposure. Middle cerebral arteries were isolated from ovariectomized female Fischer-344 rats with or without chronic in vivo 17β-estradiol treatment. In vivo 17β-estradiol treatment increased cerebral artery diameter; functional endothelium was required for expression of these differences. The nonspecific cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin constricted, whereas arachidonic acid dilated, cerebral arteries from estrogen-treated animals. Estrogen exposure increased production of prostacyclin by cerebral arteries. Conversely, in estrogen-deficient animals, indomethacin dilated and arachidonic acid constricted cerebral blood vessels. This correlated with vasorelaxation following inhibition of the thromboxane-endoperoxide receptor with SQ-29548 but not after selective blockade of thromboxane synthase with furegrelate, suggesting prostaglandin endoperoxide (i.e., PGH2) activity. Removal of the endothelium or selective blockade of cyclooxygenase-1 with SC-560 abolished estrogen-mediated differences in the effects of arachidonate on vessel diameter and on prostacyclin production by cerebral arteries. These data suggest 17β-estradiol decreases cerebrovascular tone by shifting the primary end product of the endothelial cyclooxygenase-1 pathway from the constrictor prostaglandin PGH2 to the vasodilator prostacyclin. These effects of estrogen may contribute to the heightened thromboresistance and enhanced cerebral blood flow documented in preversus postmenopausal women.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine J. Sellers ◽  
Iain A. Watson ◽  
Deepak P. Srivastava

AbstractEstrogens have been shown to rapidly regulate local signalling events at both synapses and within the nucleus. The result of these signalling events is to rapidly modulate synapse structure and function, as well as epigenetic mechanisms including histone modifications. Ultimately these mechanisms are thought to contribute to long-lasting changes in neural circuitry, and thus influences cognitive functions such as learning and memory. However, the mechanisms by which estrogen-mediated local synaptic and nuclear signalling events are coordinated are not well understood. In this study we have found that the scaffold protein afadin, (also known as AF-6), undergoes a bi-directional trafficking to both synaptic and nuclear compartment in response to acute 17β-estradiol (estradiol) treatment. Interestingly, nuclear accumulation of afadin was coincidental with an increase in the phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10 (H3S10p). This histone modification is associated with the remodelling of chromatin into an open euchromatin state, allowing for transcriptional activation and related learning and memory processes. Critically, the cyto-nuclear trafficking of afadin was required for estradiol-dependent H3S10p. We further determined that nuclear accumulation of afadin is sufficient to induce phosphorylation of the mitogentic kinases ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) within the nucleus. Moreover, nuclear pERK1/2 was required for estradiol-dependent H3S10p. Taken together, we propose a model whereby estradiol incudes the bi-directional trafficking of afadin to synaptic and nuclear sub-compartments. Within the nucleus, afadin is required for increased pERK1/2 which in turn is required for H3S10p. Therefore this represents a mechanism through which estrogens may be able to coordinate both synaptic and nucleosomal events within the same neuronal population.


2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Wojciak-Stothard ◽  
Belen Torondel ◽  
Lan Zhao ◽  
Thomas Renné ◽  
James M. Leiper

Endogenously produced nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, asymmetric methylarginine (ADMA) is associated with vascular dysfunction and endothelial leakage. We studied the role of ADMA, and the enzymes metabolizing it, dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAH) in the regulation of endothelial barrier function in pulmonary macrovascular and microvascular cells in vitro and in lungs of genetically modified heterozygous DDAHI knockout mice in vivo. We show that ADMA increases pulmonary endothelial permeability in vitro and in in vivo and that this effect is mediated by nitric oxide (NO) acting via protein kinase G (PKG) and independent of reactive oxygen species formation. ADMA-induced remodeling of actin cytoskeleton and intercellular adherens junctions results from a decrease in PKG-mediated phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) and a subsequent down-regulation of Rac1 activity. The effects of ADMA on endothelial permeability, Rac1 activation and VASP phosphorylation are prevented by overexpression of active DDAHI and DDAHII, whereas inactive DDAH mutants have no effect. These findings demonstrate for the first time that ADMA metabolism critically determines pulmonary endothelial barrier function by modulating Rac1-mediated remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton and intercellular junctions.


1997 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 759-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Brancolini ◽  
Dean Lazarevic ◽  
Joe Rodriguez ◽  
Claudio Schneider

Cell death by apoptosis is a tightly regulated process that requires coordinated modification in cellular architecture. The caspase protease family has been shown to play a key role in apoptosis. Here we report that specific and ordered changes in the actin cytoskeleton take place during apoptosis. In this context, we have dissected one of the first hallmarks in cell death, represented by the severing of contacts among neighboring cells. More specifically, we provide demonstration for the mechanism that could contribute to the disassembly of cytoskeletal organization at cell–cell adhesion. In fact, β-catenin, a known regulator of cell–cell adhesion, is proteolytically processed in different cell types after induction of apoptosis. Caspase-3 (cpp32/apopain/yama) cleaves in vitro translated β-catenin into a form which is similar in size to that observed in cells undergoing apoptosis. β-Catenin cleavage, during apoptosis in vivo and after caspase-3 treatment in vitro, removes the amino- and carboxy-terminal regions of the protein. The resulting β-catenin product is unable to bind α-catenin that is responsible for actin filament binding and organization. This evidence indicates that connection with actin filaments organized at cell–cell contacts could be dismantled during apoptosis. Our observations suggest that caspases orchestrate the specific and sequential changes in the actin cytoskeleton occurring during cell death via cleavage of different regulators of the microfilament system.


Endocrinology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 157 (9) ◽  
pp. 3410-3419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dakota C. Jacobs ◽  
Rebecca E. Veitch ◽  
Patrick E. Chappell

In females, ovarian estradiol modulates kisspeptin (Kiss-1) synthesis to act as an obligatory regulator of downstream gonadotropin release in vivo, via stimulation of GnRH neurons. Changes in the ovarian condition are relayed to the neuroendocrine hypothalamus via two sexually dimorphic Kiss-1 populations, located in the anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) and arcuate nuclei, conveying estradiol-positive and -negative feedback, respectively. To elucidate how differential responsiveness to estradiol is mediated in these populations, we generated two kisspeptin-secreting cell lines from an adult kiss1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) female mouse. These lines recapitulate in vivo responsiveness to estradiol, with KTaV-3 (AVPV) cells demonstrating significantly increased kiss1 expression under high physiological estradiol exposure, whereas KTaR-1 (arcuate) cells exhibit kiss1 suppression after lower estradiol exposure. Baseline expression of estrogen receptor-α (esr1) differs significantly between KTaV-3 and KTaR-1 cells, with KTaR-1 cells demonstrating higher basal expression of esr1. Estradiol stimulation of kiss1 expression in KTaV-3 cells is modulated in a dose-dependent manner up to 25.0 pM, with less responsiveness observed at higher doses (>50.0 pM). In contrast, KTaR-1 kiss1 attenuates at lower estradiol doses (2.0–5.0 pM), returning to baseline levels at 25.0 pM and greater. Furthermore, the expression of the core clock genes bmal1 and per2 show normal rhythms in KTaV-3 cells, regardless of estradiol treatment. Conversely, KTaR-1 antiphasic transcription of bmal1 and per2 is phase delayed by low estradiol treatment. Strikingly, estradiol induces circadian rhythms of kiss1 expression only in KTaV-3 cells. Further exploration into estradiol responsiveness will reveal mechanisms responsible for the differential expression pattern demonstrated in vivo between these cell types.


Author(s):  
Siliang Xu ◽  
Shi-Wen Jiang ◽  
Fengbiao Guo ◽  
Tristan Senkowski ◽  
Jinping Li ◽  
...  

SET protein carries out multiple functions including those for protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibition, histone modification, DNA repair and gene regulation. SET overexpression has been detected in brain neurons of Alzheimer's disease patients, follicle theca cells of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) patients, and ovarian cancer cells, indicating that SET may play a pathological role for these disorders. SET transcript 2, produced by a specific promoter, represents a major transcript variant in different cell types. In this study, we characterized the transcriptional activation of human SET transcript 2 promoter in HeLa cells. Promoter deletion experiments and co-transfection assays indicated that ZFX, the Zinc finger and X-linked transcription factor, was able to transactivate the SET promoter. A proximal promoter region containing four ZFX-binding sites was found to be critical for the ZFX-mediated transactivation. Mutagenesis study indicated that the site located closest to the transcription start site accounted for most of the ZFX-mediated transactivity. Manipulation of ZFX levels by overexpression or siRNA knockdown confirmed the significance and specificity of the ZFX-mediated SET promoter activation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation results verified the binding of ZFX to its cognate site in the SET promoter. These findings have led to identification of ZFX as an upstream factor regulating SET gene expression. More studies are required to define the in vivo significance of this mechanism, and specifically, its implication for several benign and malignant diseases related to SET dysregulation.


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