Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Fibronectin; Integrins'

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007.
Radhakrishna, Harish, Committee Member ; Zhu, Cheng, Committee Member ; LaPlaca, Michelle C., Committee Member ; Garca, Andrs J., Committee Chair ; Kowalczyk, Andrew P., Committee Member.

Proteins represent major constituent of the extracellular matrix which plays an important role in the formation, maintenance and remodeling of tissues, this project focuses on adsorption of two specific serum proteins fibronectin (FN) and vitronectin (VTN) responsible for mediating cell matrix interaction through integrin binding, tripeptide Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence found in these protein features are recognized by αβV3 integrin which ultimately helps in clot formation.

Human embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that have indefinite replicative potential and ability to differentiate into derivatives of three germ layers. HESCs are conventionally derived and grown on mitotically inactivated mouse embryonic fibroblasts and there are some alternative feeder types of human origin that have been used to replenish hESCs while trying to prevent cross-species contamination. The trophic factors that are secreted by the feeders are found to be important for long-term pluripotency but there are also supportive culture systems for hESCs lacking feeder cells which might suggest that not only the interactions with the feeders affect the behaviour of hESCs but also the components of the niche may take part in the decision of self-renewal or differentiation. Extracellular matrix components are known to exert their stimulatory or inhibitory effects by localising cells into a specific microenvironment in natural niches but have been relatively little investigated for hESCs. The aim of this study was to investigate ECM components which might have a role in the maintenance of hESCs. I have first investigated human placental stromal fibroblasts and immortalised human placental stromal fibroblasts for the support hESC pluripotency as an anlternative feeder type to conventional mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Secondly, the matrices derived from hPSFs and ihPSFs were assessed for their ability to support hESC pluripotency. Tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify ECM components released by human feeders in order to characterise the range of extracellular matrix proteins that support the growth of self-renewing hESCs. The majority of the molecules was shared between the cell types irrespective of hPSF cell derived matrix was not being supportive for hESC pluripotency, with some ECM components being unique ihPSFs. Collagen VI, tenascin C and versican were tested for hESC attachment and as substrates for feeder-free culture system in order to develop an optimised feeder-free system. Furthermore, integrin receptor profile of different hESC lines was also determined in order to identify the mechanisms of substrate attachment. Integrin attachment was shown to be vital for hESC engagement to fibronectin and vitronectin in feeder-free systems. The components of the integrin signalling machinery were identified in hESCs and the significance of integrin-mediated signalling in hESC self-renewal was demonstrated by blocking integrin β1 on fibronectin and integrin aVβ5 on vitronectin. Moreover, intracellular signalling mediator c-Src was shown to involve in ECMregulated signalling by affecting the phosphorylation of Focal Adhesion Kinase. Inhibition of Src led to a decrease in the expression of pluripotency-associated markers. Finally, the effects of growth factor supplementation on the maintenance of pluripotency in defined feeder-free conditions were studied by withdrawal of growth factors and blocking FGF Receptors. FGF-2 was shown to be essential for long-term self-renewal while the effects on pluripotency deteriorated in the absence of both FGF-2 and Activin A. Taken together this project highlighted the importance of substrate attachment and growth factors on the regulation of hESC self-renewal.

The structural and mechanical properties of a surface often play an integral part in the determination of the cell adhesion strength and design parameters for creating a biodegradable electrospun scaffold. Nanofibers composed of the globular proteins bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fibronectin were produced by electrospinning with the electrospun protein scaffold serving as an extracellular matrix to which adhesion interaction will exist with cells via cell surface integrin. This interaction is vital in regulation cell differentiation, growth and migration and cell adhesion. We will demonstrate the ability to manipulate ligand-receptor interaction, the properties of the electrospun fibers, control and the formation of focal adhesions sites in cells cultured on the fibers with the ultimate goal of developing a biomimetric scaffold to investigate how cell adhesion molecules modulate cell behavior in a 3-dimentional culture.

La matrice extracellulaire (MEC) constitue une plateforme fibrillaire intégrant l'action des signaux chimiques et mécaniques de l'environnement. La fibronectine (FN), un composant majeur de la MEC, est au centre de cette plateforme de biorégulation et module de nombreuses actions biologiques telles que l’adhésion et la motilité cellulaires, la prolifération et la différenciation, ainsi que la structure et le dépôt de la MEC. La FN se présente sous deux formes : la FN plasmatique (pFN) et la FN cellulaire (cFN), dite « oncofoetale ». Cette dernière est nommée ainsi pour son expression uniquement au cours du développement et dans certaines conditions physiopathologiques (réparation tissulaire, inflammation et cancer). La différence entre les deux est l’existence dans la cFN des domaines supplémentaires EDB et EDA, qui résultent d’un épissage alternatif. Comment la présence de ces « extra-domaines », EDA et EDB , régit l'assemblage des FN et comment les variantes assemblées régulent le comportement des cellules est en grande partie inconnu. Des études de délétion ciblées d’un seul domaine chez la souris ont révélé le rôle de l'EDA dans des phénomènes très variés dont la morphogenèse des valves lymphatiques, l'athérosclérose et la cicatrisation / fibrose. Au niveau moléculaire, l'inclusion de l'EDA élargit le répertoire des récepteurs cellulaires de la FN (intégrines α4β1, α7β1 et TLR4). A ce jour, aucun récepteur n'a été rapporté pour l’EDB. De ce fait il a été proposé que sa présence modifierait la conformation du site de liaison de FN aux cellules et faciliterait ainsi l’assemblage fibrillaire induit par les intégrines via des mécanismes qui restent à établir.Le but des travaux de cette thèse était de décoder les rôles de l'EDA et de l'EDB de la FN, et plus précisément de :1) étudier l'impact de la présence des domaines EDA et EDB sur l'assemblage fibrillaire de la FN à la surface de cellules compétentes pour l'assemblage, et2) déterminer comment la présence de l’EDB et de l’EDA influence les propriétés biochimiques, physiques et fonctionnelles de la matrice, qui à leur tour affectent le comportement des cellules qui y sont attachées.Dans un premier temps l’équipe a développé un ensemble d'outils biologiques composé de : i) vecteurs lentiviraux hébergeant la séquence codante complète du gène de la cFN humaine contenant l’un, les deux ou aucun des « extra-domaines » alternativement épissés, ii) des variants de FN recombinants purifiés, iii) des fibroblastes embryonnaires de souris FN -/- (Fn1 -/- MEF), et iv) des MEF exprimant des variantes de FN. Cette batterie outils uniques a été utilisée pour étudier l'assemblage spécifique de variantes par les fibroblastes et les effets de réseaux de cFN homogène sur le comportement cellulaire.Nos résultats ont montré que les « extra-domaines « de la FN sont responsables au niveau des fibroblastes du réglage fin de l’amplitude de plusieurs réponses dont l’assemblage de la matrice, la croissance et le métabolisme énergétique. En utilisant une approche informatique « non-biaisée », nous avons démontré que la présence des « extra-domaines » modifie la structure de la matrice de la FN déposée par les fibroblastes. Ceci témoigne d’événements de signalisation cellulaire différents, qui sont susceptibles de modifier aussi bien les réponses précoces que tardives induites par la FN. Les matrices variant-spécifiques que nous avons développées représentent des outils très puissants pour décrypter les fonctions des « extra-domaines » de la FN dans les multiples types de cellules impliquées non seulement dans des réponses physiologiques mais également dans des situations pathologiques
The Extracellular Matrix (ECM) constitutes a fibrillar platform that integrates the action of chemical and mechanical cues from the environment. Fibronectin (FN), a major component of the ECM, is at the center of this bioregulatory stage, modulating numerous biological procedures such as cell adhesion and motility, cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as ECM deposition and structure. FN is found in two forms: plasma FN (pFN) and cellular FN (cFN). cFN differs from pFN by the presence of alternatively spliced Extra Domains, namely EDB and EDA. Each of these alternatively spliced regions is encoded by a single exon, the regulation of which is strictly regulated and limited to embryonic tissues, as well as pathophysiological conditions such as wound healing, inflammation, and cancer. The term “oncofetal” was coined in order to describe FN isoforms harboring either of the Extra Domains, that are normally absent in adult tissues.How the presence of EDA and EDB regulates FN assembly and how the assembled variants regulate cell behavior is largely unknown. Single Extra Domain-targeted deletion studies in the mouse have revealed roles for EDA in the morphogenesis of lymphatic valves, atherosclerosis, and wound healing/fibrosis. Mechanistically, the inclusion of EDA expands the repertoire of cellular FN receptors (α4β1, α7β1 integrins and TLR4). To date, no ligand has been reported for EDB. Rather, its presence has been postulated to alter the conformation of the cell-binding domain of FN and to facilitate integrin-driven fibrillar assembly by mechanisms that remain to be established.The aim of this dissertation is to provide more insight regarding the roles of the FN Extra Domains EDA and EDB, and more specifically:1) To investigate how the presence of alternatively spliced EDA and EDB domains affect the fibrillar assembly of FN at the surface of assembly-competent cells, and2) To determining how the presence of EDB and EDA influences the biochemical, physical, and functional properties of the matrix that in turn affect the behavior of cells attached to it.Here we present a biological toolset composed of : i) lentiviral vectors harboring the full-length coding sequence of human cFN containing one, both, or none of the alternatively-spliced Extra Domains, ii) purified recombinant FN variants, iii) FN-null mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) and iv) FN variant-expressing MEFs. These unique tools were used to study variant-specific assembly by fibroblasts and the effects of homogeneous cFN networks on cell behavior.Utilizing an unbiased computational approach, we document that the presence of the Extra Domains results in a distinct pattern of FN deposition and assembly that in turn influences both early and late signaling events that control cell proliferation as well as cell contractility. Finally, we present a series of novel data that point towards a FN-impacted control of cell energetics.We conclude that FN Extra Domains are responsible for the fine-tuning of the extent of several cellular processes that can reflect strict regulation in pathophysiological procedures such as tissue repair, fibrosis, and tumor progression

Der Erfolg neuer Strategien in der Regenerativen Medizin und im Tissue Engineering hängt maßgeblich von einem gut entwickeltem vaskulären Netzwerk ab, welches die auf den Implantaten wachsenden Zellen und Gewebe versorgen. Oberflächeneigenschaften der Implantate sowie die Präsentation verschiedener Liganden für extrazelluläre Matrixproteine spielen bei der Besiedlung der Implantate, als auch bei der Bildung versorgender Blutgefäße durch die Endothelzellen eine wesentliche Rolle. In dieser Arbeit konnte durch Variation der Anbindungsstärke (kovalent oder physisorptiv) des extrazellulären Matrixproteins Fibronektins an die MSA-Copolymere der Einfluss des Aufbaus der extrazellulären Matrix auf das Differenzierungsverhalten der Endothelzellen gezeigt werden. Auch die initiale Konzentration von Adhäsionsproteinen an der Substratoberfläche zeigte sich bedeutend für das Verhalten der Zellen. Optimal für eine gute Adhäsion, native Entwicklung und Kapillarbildung der Endothelzellen war die stabile (kovalente) Anbindung weniger Adhäsionsproteine (hier Fibronektin) an die Substratoberfläche, so dass die Zellen problemlos adhärieren konnten. Erfolgte die weiter Proteinadsorption an die Oberflächen in einem nativen Zustand (hier auf den hydrophilen Oberflächen) so waren die Endothelzellen in der Lage, die extrazelluläre Matrix zu reorganisieren und ein dem in vivo Zustand ähnlicher Aufbau der extrazellulären Matrix konnte realisiert werden. Dies ermöglichte den Zellen wiederum ein natürliches Verhalten. Die Ausbildung einer moderaten Anzahl von Adhäsionsstellen der Zellen, sowie der in vivo ähnliche Aufbau der Adhäsionspunkte ermöglichte den Zellen einen eher lockeren Kontakt zum Substrat. Daher waren sie sehr flexibel in ihrer Morphologieanpassung. Unter diesen Bedingungen war es möglich, dass die Endothelzellen bei Stimulierung der Angiogenese kapillarähnliche Strukturen ausbildeten. Die Verwendung dreidimensionaler Zellkulturträger zeigte eine Unterstützung der Kapillarbildung der Endothelzellen in Abhängigkeit unter den beschrieben Bedingungen
The success of tissue engineering strategies using artificial scaffolds crucially depends on a controlled formation of well-developed vascular networks in growing tissues. The presentation of extracellular matrix ligands on scaffolds is often envisioned as an appropriate strategy to support capillary formation. We show that the control of primary coupling mode — covalent versus physisorbed — as well as of secondary interactions of cell-secreted extracellular matrix proteins have a strong impact on endothelial cell development. A set of maleic anhydride copolymer thin films was used as planar model substrates. They exhibit a switchable mode of primary matrix coupling combined with a gradation of secondary matrix–substrate interactions due to a variation of surface hydrophobicity and polarity. We found that the cells adhere in a more native state at a low amount of covalent primary coupled fibronectin ligands in conjunction with weak interactions of secondarily adsorbed adhesion ligands on hydrophilic surfaces. These substrates allow for a formation of capillary-like networks of endothelial cells. High ligand densities and strong secondary hydrophobic interactions inhibit a pronounced capillary formation. The composition and structure of the formed extracellular matrix correlates well with the specific integrin expression pattern. From these results it is concluded that the formation of blood capillaries in artificial scaffolds can be triggered by controlling primary and secondary coupling of cell adhesion ligands to implant materials. 2

[EN] This thesis deals with the development of a living biointerface between synthetic substrates and living cells to engineer cell-material interactions for tissue engineering purposes. This living biointerface is made of Lactococcus lactis, a non-pathogenic lactic bacteria widely used as starter in the dairy industry and, recently, in the expression of heterologous proteins in applications such as oral vaccine delivery or membrane-bound expression of proteins. L. lactis has been engineered to display the III 7-10 fragment of the fibronectin fused to GFP as reporter protein. Fibronectin is a ubiquitous protein present in the extracellular matrix, a complex mesh of structural and adhesive proteins which serve as mechanical support and development niche for cells of a wide variety of tissues. This fragment contains two important sequences, RGD and PHSRN. RGD is an adhesive sequence that interacts with a wide range of integrins, membrane-bound receptors that play a role in cellular processes such as adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation. On the other hand, PHSRN binds synergistically with RGD to some integrins such as alpha-5-beta-1 and others, increasing the specificity of this interaction. Genetically engineered L. lactis has been thoroughly characterized to test its capabilities as a living interface. This strain was found to express the FNIII 7-10-GFP fragment covalently linked to the cell wall and biological activity and expression levels of this fragment was assessed with techniques such as Western blot, ELISA and immunofluorescence. Moreover, this strain still holds the ability to develop biofilms, communities of sessile, attached bacteria to abiotic surfaces which helps greatly in the generation of a stable monolayer of bacteria between synthetic substrates and mammalian cells. Mammalian cell behaviour in response to the expressed fibronectin fragment on L. lactis membrane was also assessed. Several cell lines were tested, such as Fn-/Fn- and NIH3T3 fibroblasts, C2C12 myoblasts and human bone-marrow derived mesenchymal cells. This living biointerface was found to trigger cell adhesion and FAK phosphorylation, a marker for intracellular integrin-mediated signalling in all of the tested cell lines. It also triggered myoblast-to-myotube differentiation on C2C12 cells. In hMSCs, the cell-wall exposed fibronectin fragment was found to enhance the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, a kinase involved in the MAPK pathway, which is deeply involved in a multitude of cellular processes related to differentiation, proliferation and migration. Nevertheless, this thesis is a proof of concept that this novel system can be further exploited to express almost any desired protein or small molecule to help in the development of new tissues from progenitor cells. These molecules can be either secreted in the medium or displayed in the membrane, and can also be constitutively expressed or in-demand, due to the great flexibility of L. lactis and the wide variety of expression systems available. This interface based on living bacteria establishes a new paradigm in surface functionalization for biomedical engineering applications.
[ES] Esta tesis aborda el desarrollo de una biointerfase viviente entre materiales sintéticos y células vivas con el objetivo de dirigir la interacción célula-material en aplicaciones de ingeniería tisular. Esta biointerfase está compuesta de Lactococcus lactis, una bacteria láctica no patógena, ampliamente usada en la industria láctea como inóculo, y, recientemente, en la expresión heteróloga de proteínas para su uso como vacunas de administración oral o su expresión en membrana. L. lactis ha sido genéticamente modificado para expresar el fragmento III 7-10 de la fibronectina, unida a GFP como reporter. La fibronectina es una proteína presente de forma ubicua en la matriz extracelular, una compleja red de proteínas adhesivas y estructurales cuyo propósito es servir como soporte estructural y como nicho de desarrollo para diversos tejidos. Este fragmento contiene dos secuencias importantes, RGD y PHSRN. RGD es una secuencia adhesiva de unión que interacciona con una amplia variedad de integrinas, receptores de membrana que juegan muchos e importantes papeles en diferentes procesos celulares, como adhesión, proliferación, migración o diferenciación. Por otra parte, PHSRN se une a las integrinas de forma sinérgica con RGD facilitando aún más estos procesos y aumentando la especificidad de esta interacción. Esta cepa de L. lactis modificada ha sido ampliamente caracterizada para estudiar su idoneidad como interfaz funcional viviente. Se ha demostrado que L. lactis es capaz de expresar el fragmento FNIII7-10-GFP covalentemente anclado a la pared celular bacteriana, habiéndose caracterizado también su actividad biológica con técnicas como Western blot, ELISA e inmunofluorescencia. Esta cepa mantiene la capacidad de desarrollo de biofilms presente en la gran mayoría de microorganismos. Los biofilms son comunidades de bacterias sésiles adheridas a un sustrato que pueden ser usadas como interfase física entre células de mamífero y sustratos abióticos. También se ha estudiado la respuesta celular a la fibronectina expuesta en la membrana de L. lactis. Se estudiaron varias líneas celulares, como fibroblastos Fn-/Fn- y NIH3T3, mioblastos C2C12 y células mesenquimales humanas derivadas de médula ósea. Esta interfase viviente fue capaz de provocar respuesta celular en forma de adhesión en todas las líneas estudiadas, además de inducir diferenciación de mioblastos a miotubos en C2C12 y de provocar la fosforilación de FAK, un marcador de señalización celular mediada por integrinas. En células mesenquimales humanas se demostró la capacidad del fragmento de fibronectina expuesto para fosforilar ERK1/2, una kinasa perteneciente a la ruta de señalización MAPK, ruta que forma parte de muchos procesos celulares importantes como diferenciación, proliferación y migración. Pese a todo, esta tesis es sólo una prueba de concepto de un sistema que puede ser utilizado para expresar casi cualquier proteína o molécula pequeña deseada, que puede ser muy útil en el desarrollo de nuevos tejidos a partir de sus células progenitoras. Estas moléculas pueden ser secretadas en el medio o ancladas en la pared celular, de forma constitutiva o bajo demanda, debido a la flexibilidad y amplia variedad de sistemas de expresión disponibles para L. lactis. Esta biointerfase basada en bacterias vivas establece un nuevo paradigma en el campo de la funcionalización de superficies para aplicaciones de ingeniería biomédica.
[CAT] Aquesta tesi aborda el desenvolupament d'una interfase viva entre materials sintètics i cèl·lules vives amb l'objectiu de dirigir la interacció cèl·lula-material, per al seu ús en aplicacions d'enginyeria tissular. Aquesta interfase està composta de Lactococcus lactis, un bacteri làctic, no patogènic i àmpliament utilitzat en l'industria làctica com a inòcul, i, recentment, en l'expressió heteròloga de proteïnes per al seu ús com vacunes d'administració oral o per a la seva expressió en membrana. L. lactis ha sigut genèticament modificada per a expressar el fragment III7-10 de la fibronectina, unida a GFP com a reporter. La fibronectina és una proteïna present de forma ubiqua en la matriu extracel·lular, una complexa xarxa de proteïnes adhesives i estructurals que s'utilitzen com a suport estructural i com a nínxol de desenvolupament per a diversos teixits. Aquest fragment conté dos seqüències importants, RGD i PHSRN. RGD és una seqüència adhesiva d'unió a integrines, receptors de membrana que juguen molts i molt importants papers en diferents processos cel·lulars, com poden ser adhesió, proliferació, migració o diferenciació. Per altra banda, PHSRN s'uneix a les integrines de forma sinèrgica amb RGD facilitant encara més aquests processos i augmentant l'especificitat d'aquesta interacció. Aquesta modificació genètica de L. lactis ha estat àmpliament caracteritzada per provar les seves característiques com a interfase funcional vivent. S'ha demostrat que L. lactis és capaç d'expressar el fragment FNIII 7-10-GFP covalentment ancorat a la paret cel·lular bacteriana, havent-se caracteritzat també la seva activitat biològica amb tècniques com Western blot, ELISA i immunofluorescència. A més, aquest cep manté la capacitat de desenvolupament de biofilms, comunitats de bacteris sèssils adherits a un substrat que poden ser utilitzades com a interfase física entre cèl·lules de mamífer i substrats abiòtics. També s'ha estudiat la resposta cel·lular a la fibronectina expressada en la paret cel·lular de L. lactis. El estudi es va fer utilitzant diverses línies cel·lulars, com fibroblasts Fn-/Fn- i NIH3T3, mioblasts C2C12 i cèl·lules mesenquimals humanes derivades de medul·la òssia. Aquesta interfase vivent va ser capaç de provocar resposta cel·lular en forma d'adhesió a totes les línies estudiades, a més d'induir diferenciació de mioblasts a miotubs en C2C12 i de provocar la fosforilació de FAK, un marcador de senyalització cel·lular mediat per integrines, en les línies assajades. En cèl·lules mesenquimals humanes es va demostrar la capacitat del fragment de fibronectina exposat per fosforilar ERK1/2, una kinasa pertanyent a la ruta de senyalització MAPK, ruta que forma part de molts processos cel·lulars importants com diferenciació, proliferació i migració. Malgrat tot, aquesta tesi mostra només una prova de concepte d'un sistema que pot ser utilitzat per expressar gairebé qualsevol proteïna o molècula petita desitjada, que pot ser molt útil en el desenvolupament de nous teixits a partir de les seves cèl·lules progenitores. Aquestes molècules poden ser secretades en el medi o ancorades a la paret cel·lular, de manera constitutiva o sota demanda, a causa de la flexibilitat i àmplia varietat de sistemes d'expressió disponibles per L. lactis Aquesta biointerfase basada en bacteris vius estableix un nou paradigma en el camp de la funcionalització de superfícies per a aplicacions d'enginyería biomèdica.
Rodrigo Navarro, A. (2015). Functional living biointerfaces to direct cell-material interaction [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/51461
TESIS

Der Erfolg neuer Strategien in der Regenerativen Medizin und im Tissue Engineering hängt maßgeblich von einem gut entwickeltem vaskulären Netzwerk ab, welches die auf den Implantaten wachsenden Zellen und Gewebe versorgen. Oberflächeneigenschaften der Implantate sowie die Präsentation verschiedener Liganden für extrazelluläre Matrixproteine spielen bei der Besiedlung der Implantate, als auch bei der Bildung versorgender Blutgefäße durch die Endothelzellen eine wesentliche Rolle. In dieser Arbeit konnte durch Variation der Anbindungsstärke (kovalent oder physisorptiv) des extrazellulären Matrixproteins Fibronektins an die MSA-Copolymere der Einfluss des Aufbaus der extrazellulären Matrix auf das Differenzierungsverhalten der Endothelzellen gezeigt werden. Auch die initiale Konzentration von Adhäsionsproteinen an der Substratoberfläche zeigte sich bedeutend für das Verhalten der Zellen. Optimal für eine gute Adhäsion, native Entwicklung und Kapillarbildung der Endothelzellen war die stabile (kovalente) Anbindung weniger Adhäsionsproteine (hier Fibronektin) an die Substratoberfläche, so dass die Zellen problemlos adhärieren konnten. Erfolgte die weiter Proteinadsorption an die Oberflächen in einem nativen Zustand (hier auf den hydrophilen Oberflächen) so waren die Endothelzellen in der Lage, die extrazelluläre Matrix zu reorganisieren und ein dem in vivo Zustand ähnlicher Aufbau der extrazellulären Matrix konnte realisiert werden. Dies ermöglichte den Zellen wiederum ein natürliches Verhalten. Die Ausbildung einer moderaten Anzahl von Adhäsionsstellen der Zellen, sowie der in vivo ähnliche Aufbau der Adhäsionspunkte ermöglichte den Zellen einen eher lockeren Kontakt zum Substrat. Daher waren sie sehr flexibel in ihrer Morphologieanpassung. Unter diesen Bedingungen war es möglich, dass die Endothelzellen bei Stimulierung der Angiogenese kapillarähnliche Strukturen ausbildeten. Die Verwendung dreidimensionaler Zellkulturträger zeigte eine Unterstützung der Kapillarbildung der Endothelzellen in Abhängigkeit unter den beschrieben Bedingungen.
The success of tissue engineering strategies using artificial scaffolds crucially depends on a controlled formation of well-developed vascular networks in growing tissues. The presentation of extracellular matrix ligands on scaffolds is often envisioned as an appropriate strategy to support capillary formation. We show that the control of primary coupling mode — covalent versus physisorbed — as well as of secondary interactions of cell-secreted extracellular matrix proteins have a strong impact on endothelial cell development. A set of maleic anhydride copolymer thin films was used as planar model substrates. They exhibit a switchable mode of primary matrix coupling combined with a gradation of secondary matrix–substrate interactions due to a variation of surface hydrophobicity and polarity. We found that the cells adhere in a more native state at a low amount of covalent primary coupled fibronectin ligands in conjunction with weak interactions of secondarily adsorbed adhesion ligands on hydrophilic surfaces. These substrates allow for a formation of capillary-like networks of endothelial cells. High ligand densities and strong secondary hydrophobic interactions inhibit a pronounced capillary formation. The composition and structure of the formed extracellular matrix correlates well with the specific integrin expression pattern. From these results it is concluded that the formation of blood capillaries in artificial scaffolds can be triggered by controlling primary and secondary coupling of cell adhesion ligands to implant materials. 2

Abstract While most of the in vitro cultures are carried out on bi-dimensional (2D) substrates, most of the in vivo extracellular matrices are threedimensional (3D). Consequently cells behave differently on 2D substrates as a way to self-adaptation to a non-physiological environment. This fact has encouraged the development of more relevant culture conditions seeking to provide more representative models for biomedicine (e.g. cancer, drug discovery and tissue engineering) and further insights into any dimension-dependent biological mechanism. Different 3D culture systems have been established though their variability and complexity hinder their standardisation in common cell culture procedures. So, this thesis deals with the dimensionality issue in cell/material interactions and introduces sandwich-like microenvironments as a versatile tool to study cell behaviour. Cells cultured within this system use both dorsal and ventral receptors to adhere and spread, undergoing important changes with respect to the 2D cultures and approaching to 3D conditions. Stimulation of dorsal receptors has been previously addressed by overlaying a protein gel on cells already attached on a 2D surface. Here we propose a sandwich-like system that consists of two 2D surfaces so that wider spectra of conditions can be investigated by changing the nature of the substrate (material, topography…) and the protein coatings of both ventral and dorsal sides. Since sandwich culture provides an altered cellular adhesion compared to the traditional 2D substrates by the excitation of the dorsal receptors, changes in the intracellular signalling are expected, which might alter important processes such as proliferation, morphology, migration and differentiation. Hence this thesis evaluates the effect of different sandwich culture parameters in cell behaviour. First, cell fate upon adhesion was evaluated in terms of morphology, proliferation and adhesion. Different conditions were studied such as materials with different properties or protein coatings (dorsal and ventral substrates), as well as the effect of sandwiching cells just after seeding or after been allowed to adhere to the ventral substrate. Interesting results were obtained such as the relationship between the ability of cells to reorganise the ECM with cell morphology, proliferation and adhesion, similarly as observed in 3D hydrogels (degradable vs nondegradable systems). Then, cell migration within sandwich culture was studied by live imaging of a wound healing assay. Results revealed the key effect of both ventral and dorsal substrates in determining the migration rate as well as the migration mode used by cells. Moreover cells within the sandwich culture migrating in the wound healing assay adopted an elongated cell morphology that resembled cells migrating in other 3D systems. Beyond differences in cell morphology and migration, dorsal stimulation promoted cell remodelling of the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) over simple ventral receptor activation in traditional 2D cultures. Finally the effect of sandwich culture on cell differentiation was evaluated. First we showed an increase in C2C12 myogenic differentiation when cultured within the sandwich system. This enhancement was shown to be dorsal stimulation dependent and related to an alteration of the signalling pathway and the growth factor release. To determine if sandwich culture leads only to myogenic differentiation or whether it allows differentiation to other lineages, 4 different human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) lines were cultured under the same conditions. Results showed the same sandwich environment triggered different cell differentiation. This points out the importance of the microenvironment cell niche in vivo, which highly influence cell fate, and thus the need of mimicking it properly in vitro. Overall, sandwich-like microenvironments switch cell behaviour towards 3D-like patterns, demonstrating the importance of this versatile, simple and robust approach to mimic cell microenvironments in vivo.
Ballester Beltrán, J. (2014). Sandwich-like systems to engineer the cellular microenvironment [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/48166
TESIS

Cell adhesion to extracellular matrices (ECM) is critical to many cellular processes including differentiation, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Alterations in adhesive mechanisms are central to the behavior of cells in pathological conditions including cancer, atherosclerosis, and defects in wound healing. Although significant progress has been made in identifying molecules involved in adhesion, the mechanisms that dictate the generation of strong adhesive forces remain poorly understood. Specifically, the role of nanoscale geometry of the adhesive interface in integrin recruitment and adhesion forces remains elusive due to limitations in the techniques available for engineering cell adhesion environments. The objective of this project was to analyze the role of nanoscale geometry in cell adhesion strengthening to ECM. Our central hypothesis was that adhesive interactions are regulated by integrin clusters whose recruitment is determined by the nanoscale geometry of the adhesive interface and whose heterogeneity in size, spacing, and orientation modulates adhesion strength. The objective of this project was accomplished by 1) developing an experimental technique capable of producing nanoscale patterns of proteins on surfaces for cell adhesion arrays, 2) assessing the regulation of integrin recruitment by geometry of the adhesive interface, and 3) determining the functional implications of adhesive interface geometry by systematically analyzing the adhesion strengthening response to nanoscale patterns of proteins. A printing technique was developed that patterns proteins into features as small as 90nm with high contrast and high reproducibility. Cell adhesion arrays were produced by directly immobilizing proteins into patterns on mixed-SAMs surfaces with a protein-resistant background. Colocalization analysis of integrin recruitment to FN patterns demonstrated a concentrating effect of bound integrins at pattern sizes with areas equivalent to small nascent focal adhesions. At adhesion areas below 333 × 333 nm2, the frequency of integrin recruitment events decreased significantly indicating a threshold size for integrin clustering. Functionally, pattern sizes below the threshold were unable to participate in generation of adhesion strength. In contrast, patterns between the threshold and micron sizes showed a relationship between adhesion strength and area of individual adhesion points, independent of the total available adhesion area. These studies introduce a robust platform for producing nanoscale patterns of proteins in biologically relevant geometries. Results obtained using this approach yielded new insights on the role of nanoscale organization of the adhesive interface in modulating adhesion strength and integrin recruitment.

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), the transdifferentation of an epithelial cell into a mesenchymal fibroblast, is a cellular process necessary for embryonic development and wound healing. However, uncontrolled EMT can result in accumulation of myofibroblasts and excessive deposition of ECM, contributing to the pathological progression of fibrotic diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis. The ability to control EMT is important for development of novel therapeutics for fibrotic pathologies and for designing novel biomaterials for tissue engineering applications seeking to promote EMT for development of complex tissues. EMT is a highly orchestrated process involving the integration of biochemical signals from specific integrin-mediated interactions with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and soluble growth factors such as TGFβ. TGFβ, a potent inducer of EMT, is activated via cell contraction-mediated mechanical release of the growth factor from a macromolecular latency complex. Thus TGFβ activity and subsequent EMT may be influenced by the biochemical and biophysical state of the surrounding ECM. Based on these knowns, it was hypothesized that both changes in integrin engagement and increases in substrate rigidity would modulate EMT due to changes in epithelial cell contraction and TGFβ activation. Here we show that integrin-specific interactions with fibronectin (Fn) fragments displaying both the RGD and PHSRN binding sites facilitate cell binding through α5β1 and α3β1 integrins, and lead to maintenance of epithelial phenotype, while Fn fragments displaying only the RGD site facilitate cell binding through αv integrins and lead to EMT. An in depth investigation into α3β1 binding to Fn fragments indicates that binding is dependent on both the presence and orientation of the PHSRN site. Studies investigating the contribution of ECM stiffening on EMT responses show that increasingly rigid Fn substrates are sufficient to induce spontaneous EMT. Analysis of TGFβ-responsive genes implicate TGFβ-expression, activation or signaling as a mechanism for the observed EMT responses. Together these results suggest that the ECM micromechanical environment is a significant contributor to the onset of EMT responses and provide insights into the design of biomaterial-based microenvironments for the control of epithelial cell phenotype.

Fibronectin (Fn) is an adhesive extracellular matrix protein assembled by fibroblasts into fibrils within ECMs of developing and remodeling tissues. Fn is sensitive to mechanical forces exerted by contractile cells, and can alter its structural conformations in response to mechanical strain within Fn fibrils. We developed probes (both peptide and antibody) to Fn to detect mechano-sensitive perturbations of Fn conformation. Probes were characterized for their binding characteristics (affinity, epitope, mechano-sensitivity) and validated on multiple in vitro and in vivo ECM models. Furthermore, we showed that the mechano-sensitive H5 antibody that we have developed have utility in detection of early molecular signatures of fibrosis in vivo in a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis. Using the H5 antibody, we also report detection of a conformational switch within the integrin binding FnIII9-10 region. Modulation of Fn’s integrin switching behavior may help in the development of controllable “smart” biomaterials, as well as to the development of conformation-specific imaging probes to detect early molecular signatures of tumor and fibrotic ECMs.

Alterations to the tumour microenvironment is a common feature of many cancers, including breast cancer, and there is increasing evidence that alterations to the microenvironment, including; increased integrin expression, ECM deposition and protease activity, promote cancer progression. Most invasive breast cancers arise from a preinvasive stage, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Previous work in our laboratory has shown the microenvironment of DCIS is altered, such that myoepithelial cells (MECs) switch to a tumour-promoting phenotype, associated with upregulation of integrin αvβ6 and fibronectin (FN) expression. Mechanisms by which integrin αvβ6 and FN expression are regulated is unclear. We show DCIS progression into invasion is accompanied by an increase in MEC expression of integrin αvβ6 and periductal FN deposition, and their expression were associated in DCIS. These findings were modelled in isolated primary DCIS-MECs, primary normal MECs and MEC lines, with and without integrin αvβ6 expression, where integrin αvβ6-positive MECs upregulating FN expression. We identified integrin αvβ6-positive DCIS ducts were larger than integrin αvβ6-negative DCIS ducts, and mechanical stretching of primary normal MECs and a normal MEC line led to upregulation of integrin αvβ6 expression and FN deposition in a TGFβ-dependent manner. We further show upregulation of integrin αvβ6 and FN by MECs mediate TGFβ-dependent upregulation of MMP13 which promotes breast cancer cell invasion in vitro. These data show altered tissue mechanics in DCIS and MEC expression of integrin αvβ6 and FN deposition are linked, and implicate TGFβ in their activation. These findings suggest integrin αvβ6 and FN may be used as markers to stratify DCIS patients.

Restenosis is the major cause of the failure of reconstruction methods to restore the blood flow in atherosclerotic arteries. Restenosis results from neointima formation and consequent constrictive remodelling. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration from the tunica media toward the intima is crucial in neointima genesis. The prerequisite for VSMC migratory activity is the modulation from the differentiated (contractile) to the de-differentiated (noncontractile) phenotype. VSMC phenotype change is associated with the altered expression of integrins. alpha8beta1 integrin is upregulated in cell types with contractile properties, including myofibroblasts and mesangial kidney cells. It is one of the integrins that is intensely expressed in mature VSMCs. alpha8beta1 integrin expression during vascular injury and its role in VSMC function have not been studied so far.
In this work, a rat model of carotid angioplasty was used to mimic vascular injury in humans. alpha8beta1 integrin was downregulated in the tunica media concomitantly with loss of the contractile phenotype. In vitro study revealed that it is a differentiation marker of VSMCs. To test the functional significance of the association between alpha8 integrin and the VSMC phenotype, short interference RNA was deployed to silence the alpha8 integrin gene. alpha8 integrin gene silencing heightened VSMC migratory activity as well as modulation of the VSMC phenotype in favour of the noncontractile state. In addition, alpha8 integrin overexpression induced re-differentiation of VSMCs and attenuated their migratory activity. It is, therefore, suggested that alpha8 integrin overexpression after vascular injury might control VSMC migration and neointima formation. On the other hand, alpha8 integrin gene silencing led to a reduced growth rate, which indicated a dichotomy between VSMC migration and proliferation.
In the later stages of neointima formation, constrictive remodeling plays a major role in late lumen loss. Our data demonstrated that alpha8 integrin is upregulated in the neointima during constrictive remodeling with concomitant luminal narrowing. The importance of this finding was highlighted by results showing that alpha8 integrin was required for the VSMC contractile phenotype evoked by transforming growth factor-beta (TFG-beta) and TFG-beta-induced myofibroblastic differentiation of Rat1 fibroblasts. Thus, it appears that alpha8 integrin expression blockade might reduce contractile remodeling and late lumen loss. Although the mechanism of alpha8 integrin signaling is not yet clear, our findings demonstrate that the alpha8 integrin-induced contractile phenotype is blocked by RhoA inhibitors. Furthermore, alpha8 integrin and RhoA are co-immunoprecipitated, and alpha8 integrin gene silencing reduces RhoA activity. Hence, it is postulated that alpha8-RhoA signaling might be closely intertwined.
Altogether, these studies indicate that alpha8 integrin is a contractile marker of VSMCs and a negative regulator of VSMC migration. Therefore, forced alpha8 integrin expression may be applied to reduce neointima formation. However, alpha8 integrin upregulation during constrictive remodeling concomitant with late lumen loss suggest that it could be involved in lumen narrowing. It seems likely that in therapeutic strategies to reduce restenosis the timeline of interference might be very important. Therefore, alpha8 integrin gene silencing in the later stages of neointima formation might be beneficial.

Cell adhesion to proteins adsorbed onto implanted surfaces is particularly important to host responses in biomedical and tissue engineering applications. Biomaterial surface properties influence the type, quantity and functional presentation (activity) of proteins adsorbed upon contact with physiological fluids, and modulate subsequent cell response. Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins (e.g. fibronectin) is primarily mediated by the integrin family of cell-surface receptors. Integrins not only anchor cells, supporting cell spreading and migration, but also trigger signals that regulate survival, proliferation and differentiation. A fundamental understanding of the adhesive interactions at the biomaterial interface is critical to the rational design of biomaterial surfaces. Using model surfaces of self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols on gold presenting well-defined surface chemistries (CH3, OH, COOH, NH2), we investigated the effects of surface chemistry on osteoblastic differentiation. We report that surface chemistry effectively modulates fibronectin adsorption, integrin binding, focal adhesion assembly and signaling to direct the osteoblast cellular functions of adhesion strength, gene expression and matrix mineralization. Specifically, surfaces presenting OH and NH2 functionalities provide enhanced functional presentation of adsorbed fibronectin, promoting specificity of integrin binding as well as elevating focal adhesion assembly and signaling. Furthermore, the OH and NH2 surfaces supported elevated levels of osteoblast differentiation as evidenced by osteoblast-specific gene expression and matrix mineralization. These results contribute to the development of design principles for the engineering of surfaces that direct cell adhesion for biomedical and tissue engineering applications. In particular, the understanding provided by this analysis may be useful in the engineering of surface properties for bone tissue repair and regeneration.

Human adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow have the capacity to self-renew and to differentiate into a variety of cells and tissues. They can leave their niche to migrate to remote tissues where they play a critical role in angiogenesis, wound repair and tissue regeneration. A major goal in adult stem cell research is to define how MSC fate is controlled by the pericellular extracellular matrix (ECM) and soluble factors that largely constitute their tissue-specific niches. Defining crucial regulatory signals that control the fate and function of MSCs in vitro will contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies to improve tissue regeneration. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular relationships between cell-ECM integrin receptors and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) tyrosine kinases, which are crucial in modulating MSC expansion, recruitment, and differentiation towards a number of different cell lineages. This study reports that ECM-directed cross-talk between PDGFR-β and alpha5β1 integrin controls the migration of MSCs. Cell adhesion to fibronectin induced integrin alpha5β1-dependent phosphorylation of PDGFR-β in the absence of growth factor stimulation. Phosphorylated PDGFR-β co-immunoprecipitated with integrin alpha5 and co-localised with alpha5β1 in a transient tidemark of focal adhesions. Adhesion to fibronectin also strongly potentiated platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-stimulated PDGFR-β phosphorylation, in an alpha5β1-dependent manner. PDGFR-β-activated phosphatidylinositol 3 ́-kinase (PI3-kinase) and Akt activity, actin reorganisation and cell migration were all regulated by fibronectin engagement of alpha5β1 integrin. This synergistic relationship between integrin alpha5β1 and PDGFR-β is a fundamental determinant of mesenchymal cell migration. Thus, fibronectin-rich matrices can prime PDGFR-β to recruit mesenchymal cells at sites of tissue remodelling.

Epithelial cells interact with their surrounding extracellular matrix via integrin receptors. Signals generated in this way control epithelial cell migration, proliferation and apoptosis. Changes in the extracellular matrix, integrin expression and protease secretion occur in wound healing and cancer and thus these systems are thought to play a crucial role in such processes. We hypothesise that the interactions between these key players affect epithelial cell behaviour. We have utilised a variety of epithelial cells including normal primary cells and lines with manipulated integrin expression to investigate this further. Epithelial cells are commonly grown in medium containing additives such as hydrocortisone, EGF, insulin and cholera toxin. When epithelial cell are cultured in medium without additives they adopt a more mesenchymal phenotype. This was shown to be due to the absence of EGF which resulted in a down-regulation of the cell-cell adhesion molecule e-cadherin. Experiments were performed exarnining the interaction of epithelial cells with a variety of fibronectin fragments. The adhesion of normal keratinocytes and cell lines expressing low (CI) and high (VB6) levels of the p6 integrin subunit was unaffected on the 120kDa fibronectin fragment when compared to the full length molecule. Motility has been followed using wound assays and Transwell migration assays. The latter showed that migration was significantly increased on the 120kDa fragment but only in the VB6 cells. This may be achieved through the up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) which is increased in the supernatant from VB6 cells plated on 120kDa fragment In vitro this fragment can be generated by incubating full length fibronectin with purified MMP-9. Immunohistochemical studies using oral squamous cell carcinoma tissue indicate that these interactions may occur in vivo with fibronectin, β6 integrin and MMPs all being located at the invading tumour front. We have thus identified an important feedback loop where expression of the p6 integrin subunit which is only seen in wound healing and cancer enhances the motility of and MMP secretion by epithelial cells in contact with the 120kDa fibronectin fragment These enzymes can men further degrade fibronectin to generate additional fragments. If it were possible to distinguish this fragment from the parent molecule immunologically it could prove to be a valuable marker of aggressive OSCC being indicative of a number of pro-tumourigenic processes.

This thesis aimed at studying mechanisms involved in control of tissue fluid homeostasis during inflammation.

The interstitial fluid pressure (P_IF) is of importance for control of tissue fluid balance. A lowering of P_IF in vivo will result in a transport of fluid from the circulation into the tissue, leading to edema. Loose connective tissues that surround blood vessels have an intrinsic ability to take up fluid and swell. The connective tissue cells exert a tension on the fibrous network of the tissues, thereby preventing the tissues from swelling. Under normal homeostasis, the interactions between the cells and the fibrous network are mediated by β1 integrins. Connective tissue cells are in this way actively controlling P_IF.

Here we show a previously unrecognized function for the integrin αVβ3, namely in the control of P_IF. During inflammation the β1 integrin function is disturbed and the connective tissue cells release their tension on the fibrous network resulting in a lowering of P_IF. Such a lowering can be restored by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) -BB. We demonstrated that PDGF-BB restored P_IF through a mechanism that was dependent on integrin αVβ3. This was shown by the inability of PDGF-BB to restore a lowered P_IF in the presence of anti-integrin β3 IgG or a peptide inhibitor of integrin αVβ3. PDGF-BB was in addition unable to normalize a lowered P_IF in β3 null mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that extracellular proteins from Streptococcus equi modulated αVβ3-mediated collagen gel contraction. Because of the established concordance between collagen gel contraction in vitro and control of P_IF in vivo, a potential role for these proteins in control of tissue fluid homeostasis during inflammation could be assumed. Sepsis and septic shock are severe, and sometimes lethal, conditions. Knowledge of how bacterial components influence P_IF and the mechanisms for tissue fluid control during inflammatory reactions is likely to be of clinical importance in treating sepsis and septic shock.

Le developpement embryonnaire est caracterise par des changements d'adhesion controles dans l'espace et le temps qui regulent les interactions des cellules entre elles et avec la matrice extracellulaire. Les rearrangements cellulaires de la gastrula, les migrations des cellules des cretes neurales ou des cellules germinales primordiales en sont quelques exemples parmis les plus frappants. Dans un premier temps, notre etude a ete centree sur l'etude des interactions entre les cellules embryonnaires de l'amphibien et une proteine de la matrice extracellulaire, la fibronectine (fn). En utilisant des proteines de fusion, nous avons montre que la sequence rgds accompagnee de son site synergetique est capable de promouvoir l'attachement et l'etalement des cellules. De plus, la sequence ldv presente dans certains variants d'epissage alternatif est elle-meme capable de supporter l'attachement et l'etalement des cellules du mesoderme. In vitro, la sequence rgds accompagnee du site synergetique permet l'etalement et l'extension des cellules de la zone marginale dorsale, mais n'est pas suffisante pour soutenir la migration des cellules pionnieres. Celle-ci requiert la presence de la region c-terminale de la molecule probablement via la sequence avdsps. Ces interactions sont mediees par des recepteurs cellulaires de la famille des integrines. Dans un deuxieme temps, nous avons donc montre que la sous unite b#1 des integrines pouvait etre traduite et maturee des les premieres divisions cellulaires. A ce stade la sous unite b#1 apparait associee avec au moins deux sous-unites (140 et 170 kda). Des experiences de perturbation de la fonction de cette sous-unite a l'aide d'arnm tronques du domaine cytoplasmique montrent que l'expression de cette forme provoque les anomalies de la neurulation. Enfin, nous avons recherche quelles pouvaient etre les sous-unites exprimees dans l'embryon. Par la technique de pcr homologue, les sous-unites #2 et #v ont ete clonees. Un clone codant pour toute la sequence de la sous-unite #v a ete isole pour la premiere fois chez l'amphibien. La comparaison des sequences aminopeptidiques avec les autres sous-unites #v est presentee. Nous avons montre que l'arnm ainsi que la proteine sont presents a tous les stades etudies. Dans les phases precoces du developpement, ils sont distribues dans les trois feuillets embryonnaires (ectoderme, mesoderme et endoderme). En revanche, l'expression de la proteine a la surface des cellules est regulee. Presente a la surface des ovocytes en fin d'accroissement, elle devient cytoplasmique lors des premieres divisions cellulaires. Peu avant la gastrulation, la sous-unite #v apparait a la surface des cellules du mesoderme. Cette expression disparait au debut de la neurulation. Les donnees montrent que l'association de la sous unite #v a la surface des cellules peut etre correlee a des processus migratoires tels que la mise en place des cellules du mesoderme ou l'organogenese de l'uretere primaire

A l'aide de cellules cho15b bloquees en prometaphase par du nocodazole, nous avons etudie la fonction du recepteur de la fibronectine exprime a la surface de cellules mitotiques. Une etude par cytometrie en flux a l'aide d'un anticorps dirige contre cette integrine, et des etudes de fixation de fibronectine radiomarquee sur la membrane cellulaire, montrent qu'un nombre constant d'integrines est exprime a la surface cellulaire au cours du cycle cellulaire. De plus, le recepteur de la fibronectine est toujours dans un etat de haute affinite pour son ligand soluble ou insoluble au cours de la mitose. Ces resultats indiquent que l'arrondissement des cellules observe durant la mitose ne resulte pas d'une parte de l'affinite du recepteur pour son ligand extracellulaire ; ce changement morphologique serait plutot la consequence d'une desorganisation des plaques d'adherence. A partir d'un lysat de cellules cho15b, nous avons mis au point un test in vitro afin d'etudier l'interaction de la fibronectine avec le recepteur de la fibronectine dans un environnement cytosolique. Dans ce test, l'interaction integrine/fibronectine necessite du calcium intracellulaire, la calmoduline, et une activite phosphatase. De plus, l'action d'inhibiteurs specifiques de phosphatases et l'inhibition de l'interaction integrine/fibronectine par un anticorps dirige contre la calcineurine, la phosphatase dependante du calcium et de la calmoduline, suggerent que la calcineurine permet l'interaction entre le recepteur de la fibronectine et son ligand. Des experiences de marquage metabolique montrent que l'integrine elle-meme n'est pas la cible d'une cascade de phosphorylation/dephosphorylation impliquant la calcineurine et modulant l'affinite de l'integrine. Ces resultats montrent qu'in vitro, un substrat de la calcineurine regule l'affinite du recepteur de la fibronectine en interagissant avec un effecteur non-identifie

Le glioblastome multiforme (GBM) est la tumeur cérébrale primaire la plus fréquente. Une dérégulation des voies de signalisation de l’EGFR et un fort potentiel invasif sont les caractéristiques principales du GBM. Malheureusement, les essais cliniques impliquant des thérapies anti-EGFR dans le traitement des GBM demeurent inefficaces. Nous avons précédemment montré que le récepteur de la fibronectine, l’intégrine α5β1, est associé avec un mauvais pronostic et une résistance des patients au temodal. Les intégrines peuvent coopérer avec les récepteurs aux facteurs de croissance et ainsi amplifier leur potentiel oncogénique. Ici, nous avons cherché à déterminer le rôle de l’intégrine α5 dans la résistance aux thérapies anti-EGFR. Utilisant la lignée U87 de GBM, on a dans un premier temps confirmé que l’activation de l’intégrine sous l’influence de la fibronectine, potentialisait la signalisation de l’EGFR. La perte d’expression d’α5 sensibilise les cellules U87 aux anti-EGFR (cetuximab, gefitinib) dans des essais de clonogénicité en soft agar. L’expression d’ α5 favorise la résistance aux 2 drogues lors de la migration cellulaire. Pour aller plus loin, nous avons développé un nouveau test basé sur la quantification de l’évasion cellulaire à partir d’une sphère tumorale. La perte d’ α5 augmente la sensibilité des cellules U87 à 2 TKI réversibles spécifiques de l’EGFR, gefitinib et erlotinib, mais n’a pas d’effet sur l’efficacité du lapatinib, un TKI irréversible ciblant EGFR, ErbB2, ErbB3 et ErbB4. Grâce à la microscopie confocale, nous avons montré l’effet important du gefitinib sur l’endocytose de l’intégrine et de l’EGFR. Ces résultats suggèrent que l’expression d’ α5 favorise la résistance aux TKI par l’activation des voies de signalisation des récepteurs ErbB ou en contrôlant le trafic membranaire de l’EGFR. On a aussi montré que pour favoriser l’adhésion cellulaire, l’intégrine α5 stimulait la fibrillogénèse. Dans les cellules migrant à distance de la sphère, l’intégrine α5 est strictement engagée dans des adhésions cellule-substrat contenant la protéine FAK activée. Nos résultats soulignent le rôle central du couple fibronectine/ intégrine α5 dans l’invasivité du GBM et la résistance aux thérapies anti-EGFR
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor. Alteration of the EGFR pathway and high invasive potential are hallmarks of GBM. Unfortunately, trials using anti-EGFR therapies for the treatment of GBM reveal limited efficacy. We previously showed that overexpression of the fibronectin receptor, α5β1 integrin, is associated with a poor prognosis for patients and is responsible for chemoresistance to temodal. Integrins can cross-talk with growth factor receptors and amplified their oncogenic activity. Here, we sought to determine the potential role of α5 integrin in resistance to anti-EGFR therapy. Using U87 GBM cell line, we first confirmed that fibronectin-mediated integrin activation potentiated EGFR signaling. Loss of α5 integrin expression sensitized U87 cells to anti-EGFR drugs (cetuximab, gefitinib) in soft agar clonogenic assay. α5 expression can trigger resistance to both drugs on cell migration. To go further, we developed a new assay based on the quantification of cell evasion from tumor spheroids. α5 depletion increased U87 cell sensitivity to gefitinib and erlotinib, 2 EGFR-selective reversible TKI, but had not effect on lapatinib efficacy, an irreversible TKI that target EGFR, ErbB2, ErbB3 and ErbB4. Confocal microscopy revealed a strong impact of gefitinib on EGFR and integrin endocytosis. These results suggested that α5 expression may trigger resistance to TKI either by activating ErbB pathways or by controlling EGFR membrane trafficking. We also showed that to promote cell adhesion, α5 integrin stimulated fibronectin fibrillogenesis. As cells moved away from the spheroids, α5 became strictly engaged in cell-substratum adhesion sites where it recruited activated FAK. Our work highlights the pivotal role of fibronectin/α5β1 integrin in invasivity of GBM and resistance to anti-EGFR drugs

Metastasis of primary mammary tumors to vital secondary organs is the primary cause of breast cancer-associated death, with no effective treatment. Metastasis is a highly selective process that requires cancer cells to overcome multiple barriers to escape the primary tumor, survive in circulation, and eventually colonize distant secondary organs. One of the important aspects of metastatic cancers is the ability to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the reverse process mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) process. Constant interconversion of tumor cells between these phenotypes creates epithelial-mesenchymal heterogeneity (EMH) and interaction between these tumor cell types and the stromal cell compartment is clearly important to metastasis. In healthy tissues, stromal cells maintain the composition and structure of the tissue through the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and paracrine signaling with epithelial cells. However, little is known about how EMH promotes changes in the ECM to promote breast cancer progression and metastasis. Cancer cells also secret exosomes, nano-size extracellular vesicles, to establish intercellular communication with distant organs in order to induce metastasis. These exosomes contain a plethora of different proteins including extracellular matrix proteins and matrix crosslinking enzymes. Fibronectin, an important ECM protein, plays an active role in tumor progression and is often crosslinked by tissue transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) to promote fibrosis in cancer. Both FN and TGM2 exist in exosomes and are expressed by heterogenous breast tumors. Although FN and TGM2 have been reported to play essential roles in cancer, their involvement in metastasis remains unclear. This work utilizes a variety of approaches to investigate the role of tumor heterogeneity and ECM proteins in promoting breast cancer metastasis. In this dissertation, we establish that mesenchymal cells expressing intracellular FN are held in a stable non-metastatic mesenchymal phenotype and produce cellular fibrils containing functionalized FN capable of supporting the growth of metastatic competent epithelial cells. We introduce a novel 3D culture system consisting of a tessellated scaffold which is capable of recapitulating cellular and matrix phenotypes in vivo. Further, we also demonstrate breast tumor cells secrete exosomes containing TGM2 crosslinked FN fibrils to promote premetastatic niche formation and induction of metastasis. Using genetic approaches, we establish TGM2 is essential and sufficient to drive metastasis. Finally, we demonstrate pharmacological inhibition of TGM2 offers a potential therapeutic strategy to treat metastatic breast cancer. Altogether, our research provides insights into the mechanism through which TGM2 promotes metastatic breast cancer. This work will help in developing new drugs to target TGM2 aimed at reducing breast cancer metastasis.

Fibronectin (fn) and integrin α5 (itgα5) are both key players in cell adhesion and intracellar signaling, however the specific in vivo role of these proteins has never been analyzed in the vertebrate lens. The results presented here indicate that Fn1 and Itgα5 proteins are essential for the proper development of the lens. The loss of Fn1 protein in the zebrafish embryo results in distinct adhesion defects, defects in lens fiber morphogenesis, and cataracts. These results were phenocopied in zebrafish itga5 mutants, thereby indicating an essential role for Fn1 and Itgα5 during lens development. Furthermore, embryos with reduced levels of ptk2.1 (focal adhesion kinase – FAK) also phenocopied the defective fn1 and itgα5 lens, suggesting that FAK is a major player in the intracellular signaling mediated by Fn1/Itgα5 interactions in the lens.
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