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Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) are prominent in foreign body granulomas, infectious and inflammatory processes, and auto-immune, neoplastic and genetic disorders, but the molecular determinants that specify the formation and function of these cells are not defined. Here, using tandem mass tag-mass spectrometry, we identified a differentially upregulated protein, C-type lectin domain family 10 member (herein denoted CD301, also known as CLEC10A), that was strongly upregulated in mouse RAW264.7 macrophages and primary murine macrophages undergoing interleukin (IL-4)-induced MGC formation. CD301+ MGCs were identified in biopsy specimens of human inflammatory lesions. Function-inhibiting CD301 antibodies or CRISPR/Cas9 deletion of the two mouse CD301 genes (Mgl1 and Mgl2) inhibited IL-4-induced binding of N-acetylgalactosamine-coated beads by 4-fold and reduced MGC formation by 2.3-fold (P<0.05). IL-4-driven fusion and MGC formation were restored by re-expression of CD301 in the knockout cells. We conclude that in monocytes, IL-4 increases CD301 expression, which mediates intercellular adhesion and fusion processes that are required for the formation of MGCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adseverin is an actin-binding protein involved in osteoclastogenesis, but its role in inflammation-induced bone loss is not well-defined. Here, we examined whether IL1β and TNFα regulate adseverin expression to control osteoclastogenesis in mouse primary monocytes and RAW264.7 cells. Adseverin was colocalized with subcortical actin filaments and was enriched in the fusopods of fusing cells. In precursor cells, adseverin overexpression boosted the formation of RANKL-induced multinucleated cells. Both IL1β and TNFα enhanced RANKL-dependent TRAcP activity by 1.6-fold and multinucleated cell formation (cells with ≥3 nuclei) by 2.6- and 3.3-fold, respectively. However, IL1β and TNFα did not enhance osteoclast formation in adseverin-knockdown cells. RANKL-dependent adseverin expression in bone marrow cells was increased by both IL1β (5.4-fold) and TNFα (3.3-fold). Luciferase assays demonstrated that this expression involved transcriptional regulation of the adseverin promoter. Activation of the promoter was restricted to a 1118 bp sequence containing an NF-κB binding site, upstream of the transcription start site. TNFα also promoted RANKLinduced osteoclast precursor cell migration. We conclude that IL1β and TNFα enhance RANKL-dependent expression of adseverin, which contributes to fusion processes in osteoclastogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibroblasts remodel extracellular matrix collagen, in part, through phagocytosis. This process requires formation of cell extensions, which in turn involves interaction of the actin-binding protein flightless-1 (FliI) with non-muscle myosin IIA (NMMIIA; heavy chain encoded by MYH9) at cell-matrix adhesion sites. As Ca2+ plays a central role in controlling actomyosin-dependent functions, we examined how Ca2+ controls the generation of cell extensions and collagen remodeling. Ratio fluorimetry demonstrated localized Ca2+ influx at the extensions of fibroblasts. Western blotting and quantitative (q)PCR showed high expression levels of the Ca2+-permeable transient receptor potential vanilloid-4 (TRPV4) channel, which co-immunoprecipitated with β1 integrin and localized to adhesions. Treatment with β2β1-integrin-blocking antibody or the TRPV4-specific antagonist AB159908, as well as reduction of TRPV4 expression through means of siRNA, blocked Ca2+ influx. These treatments also inhibited the interaction of FliI with NMMIIA, reduced the number and length of cell extensions, and blocked collagen remodeling. Pulldown assays showed that Ca2+ depletion inhibited the interaction of purified FliI with NMMIIA filaments. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments showed that FliI-NMMIIA interactions require Ca2+ influx.We conclude that Ca2+ influx through the TRPV4 channel regulates FliI-NMMIIA interaction, which in turn enables generation of the cell extensions essential for collagen remodeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulation of N-cadherin-mediated intercellular adhesion strength in fibroblasts is poorly characterized; this is due, in part, to a lack of available quantitative models. We used a recombinant N-cadherin chimeric protein and a Rat 2 fibroblast, donor-acceptor cell model, to study the importance of cortical actin filaments and cortactin in the strengthening of N-cadherin adhesions. In wash-off assays, cytochalasin D (1 μM) reduced intercellular adhesion by threefold, confirming the importance of cortical actin filaments in strengthening of N-cadherin-mediated adhesions. Cortactin, an actin filament binding binding protein, spatially colocalized to, and directly associated with, nascent N-cadherin adhesion complexes. Transfection of Rat-2 cells with cortactin-specific, RNAi oligonucleotides reduced cortactin protein by 85% and intercellular adhesion by twofold compared with controls (P<0.005) using the donor-acceptor model. Cells with reduced cortactin exhibited threefold less N-cadherin-mediated intercellular adhesion strength compared with controls in wash-off assays using N-cadherin-coated beads. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting showed that N-cadherin-associated cortactin was phosphorylated on tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin was not required for recruitment to N-cadherin adhesions it was necessary for cadherin-mediated intercellular adhesion strength. Thus cortactin, and phosphorylation of its tyrosine residues, are important for N-cadherin-mediated intercellular adhesion strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the regulation by glycogen synthase kinase-3 of the formation of long lamellipodia in human keratinocytes. Wound healing process; Inhibition of the formation of E-lams; Effects of staurosporine treatment.

Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) are prominent in foreign body granulomas, infectious and inflammatory processes, and auto-immune, neoplastic and genetic disorders, but the molecular determinants that specify the formation and function of these cells are not defined. Here, using tandem mass tag-mass spectrometry, we identified a differentially upregulated protein, C-type lectin domain family 10 member (herein denoted CD301, also known as CLEC10A), that was strongly upregulated in mouse RAW264.7 macrophages and primary murine macrophages undergoing interleukin (IL-4)-induced MGC formation. CD301+ MGCs were identified in biopsy specimens of human inflammatory lesions. Function-inhibiting CD301 antibodies or CRISPR/Cas9 deletion of the two mouse CD301 genes (Mgl1 and Mgl2) inhibited IL-4-induced binding of N-acetylgalactosamine-coated beads by 4-fold and reduced MGC formation by 2.3-fold (P<0.05). IL-4-driven fusion and MGC formation were restored by re-expression of CD301 in the knockout cells. We conclude that in monocytes, IL-4 increases CD301 expression, which mediates intercellular adhesion and fusion processes that are required for the formation of MGCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the development of pressure-induced cardiac hypertrophy, fibroblasts are activated to become myofibroblasts, which exhibit actin-cytoskeletal remodeling and express α-smooth muscle actin (SMA; encoded by ACTA2). Currently, the mechanosensing signaling pathways that regulate SMA expression are not defined. Because focal-adhesion complexes are putative mechanosensing organelles, we examined the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and its interaction with gelsolin in the regulation of SMA expression. We subjected NIH3T3 cells to tensile forces (0.65 pN/μm²) by using collagen-coated magnetite beads attached to integrins. After stimulation by mechanical force, FAK and gelsolin were recruited to magnetite beads and there was increased phosphorylation of Tyr397FAK. Mechanical force enhanced SMA promoter activity by twofold; this increased activity was blocked by FAK knockdown using siRNA and by deletion of gelsolin. Force-induced nuclear translocation of MRTF-A, a transcriptional co-activator of SMA that is regulated by actin filaments, was also reduced by FAK knockdown. Phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2], which uncaps gelsolin from actin filaments, was enriched at sites of force application. Type-I phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5 kinase-γ(PIP5KI), which generates PtdIns(4,5)P2, associated with FAK and was required for force-mediated SMA-promoter activity and actin assembly. Catalytically inactive PIP5KIγinhibited force-induced phosphorylation of FAK at Tyr397. These data suggest a novel pathway in which mechanosensing by FAK regulates actin assembly via gelsolin and the activity of PIP5KIγ actin assembly in turn controls SMA expression via MRTF-A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spreading and migration of cells on adhesive substrates is regulated by the counterbalance of contractile and protrusive forces. Non-muscle myosin IIA, an ubiquitously expressed contractile protein and enzyme, is implicated in the regulation of cell spreading and directional migration in response to various stimuli. Here we show that discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), a tyrosine kinase receptor activated by type I collagen, associates with the non-muscle myosin IIA heavy chain (NMHC-IIA) upon ligand stimulation. An association was also indicated by coimmunoprecipitation of NMHC-IIA with full-length DDR1, but not with the truncated DDR1d-isoform lacking the kinase domain. DDR1 was important for assembly of NMHC-IIA into filaments on cells plated on collagen. DDR1 expression inhibited cell spreading over collagen but promoted cell migration. By contrast, blockade of non-muscle myosin II activity by blebbistatin enhanced cell spreading but inhibited migration over collagen. We propose that myosin and DDR1 impact cell spreading and migration by regulating adhesive contacts with collagen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pressure or volume overload, hypertrophic growth of the myocardium is associated with myofibroblast differentiation, a process in which cardiac fibroblasts express smooth muscle α-actin (SMA). The signaling mechanisms that mediate force-induced myofibroblast differentiation and SMA expression are not defined. We examined the role of the Rho-Rho-kinase pathway in force-induced SMA expression in fibroblasts using an in vitro model system that applies static tensile forces (0.65 pN/µm²) to integrins via collagen-coated magnetite beads. Force maximally induced RhoA activation at 10 minutes that was localized to force application sites and required intact actin filaments. Force application induced phosphorylation of LIM kinase (5-10 minutes) and an early dephosphorylation of cofilin (5 minutes) that was followed by prolonged cofilin phosphorylation. These responses were blocked by Y27632, an inhibitor of Rho kinase. Force promoted actin filament assembly at force application sites (10-20 minutes), a process that required Rho kinase and cofilin. Force application induced nuclear translocation of the transcriptional co-activator MRTF-A but not MRTF-B. Nuclear translocation of MRTF-A required Rho kinase and intact actin filaments. Force caused 3.5-fold increases of SMA promoter activity that were completely blocked by transfection of cells with dominant-negative MRTF-A or by inhibition of Rho kinase or by actin filament disassembly. These data indicate that mechanical forces mediate actin assembly through the Rho-Rho-kinase-LIMK cofilin pathway. Force-mediated actin filament assembly promotes nuclear translocation of MRTF and subsequent activation of the SMA promoter to enhance SMA expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]