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The minichromosome maintenance (Mcm) and Cdc6 proteins are important regulators of eucaryotic DNA replication. In most normal tissues, a similar proportion of cells express Mcm-2 and Ki-67. The present study showed that in both normal and abnormal states, the proportion of megakaryocytes expressing Mcm-2 is roughly seven times as many as those that express Ki-67. This is likely to be related to the process of endomitosis and endoreduplication. We also demonstrated that a significantly lower proportion of megakaryocytes in myelodysplastic syndrome express Mcm-2. These findings provide new insights into megakaryocyte biology.

The activity of satellite cells during myogenesis, development, or skeletal muscle regeneration is strongly modelled using cultures of single muscle fibers. However, there are variations in reported features of gene or protein expression as examined with single-fiber cultures. Here, we examined the potential differences in activation of satellite cells on normal mouse muscle fibers produced during a standard isolation protocol, with or without agitation during collagenase digestion. Activation was detected in satellite cells on fibers after 24 and 48 h of culture in basal growth medium using immunodetection of the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) into DNA and quantification of the number of BrdU-positive cells per fiber. After 24 and 48 h in culture under nonactivating conditions, the number of activated (BrdU+) satellite cells was greater on fibers that had received gentle agitation during collagenase digestion than on those that were subject to digestion without agitation during isolation. The findings are interpreted to mean that at least some of the variation among published reports may derive from the application of various methods of fiber isolation. The information should be useful for maintaining satellite cell quiescence during studies of the regulatory steps that lead to satellite cell activation.Key words: activation, skeletal muscle, proliferation, single-fiber culture, myogenesis.

A novel lipocalin gene is here reported that represents the fourth member of a cluster we have identified in the chicken genome. This cluster also includes Chondrogenesis-Associated Lipocalins β and γ (CALβ, CALγ) and Extracellular Fatty Acid Binding Protein (Ex-FABP). The new gene codes for a 22-kDa secreted protein with three cysteine residues and a series of sequence features well conserved in the lipocalin family. All the genes in the cluster are structurally similar presenting comparable exon/intron boundary positions and exon sizes. A phylogenetic analysis indicates the monophyletic grouping of these genes, and their relationship with the lipocalins α-1-microglobulin (A1mg), complement factor 8γ chain (C8GC), prostaglandin D synthase (PGDS), and neutrophil-gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). The new cluster gene appears to be the ortholog of the mammalian C8GC and was thus named Ggal-C8GC. This orthology also suggests that this lipocalin was present in the ancestor common to reptiles and mammals. In addition to other expressing tissues, Ex-FABP, CALβ and CALγ genes are highly transcribed in chondrocytes at late stages of chondrogenesis during endochondral bone formation and/or upon inflammatory stimulation. Here, we show that they are also transcriptionally induced when chondrocytes are subjected to various biological events as cell quiescence, cell shape transition, and hormonal stimulation. By contrast, Ggal-C8GC transcripts are only barely detectable in chondrocytes, but are more abundant in liver, kidney, brain, heart, skeletal muscle and particularly in skin. Moreover, no expression induction was observed neither during chondrocyte differentiation, nor upon any of the stimulations mentioned above. This indicates that the Ggal-C8GC gene was co-opted for a novel function after the duplication events that gave rise to the cluster. The peculiar coordinated regulation of Ex-FABP, CALβ and CALγ, and the apparent divergent role of Ggal-C8GC suggest that these gene duplications may have been maintained during evolution by a sub-functionalization mechanism where some common function(s) are shared by several members of the cluster and some other specialized function(s) are unique to other members. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., This work was partially supported by funds from the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC, Italy) and MURST.

Clusterin is overexpressed during tissue and cell involution and downregulated in proliferating cells. Its role in cell survival, cell death and neoplastic transformation remains debated. We studied the expression and distribution of clusterin mRNA and protein in human prostate carcinoma (CaP) specimens of different degrees of malignancy. Fresh CaP specimens were obtained from 25 patients subjected to long-term androgen ablation before surgery. Clusterin expression was studied by Northern and Western analysis, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, in comparison with Gas1 and histone H3 mRNA (markers of cell quiescence and S phase of the cell cycle, respectively). Clusterin is downregulated in CaP in comparison with matched benign controls. In low-grade CaP, clusterin colocalized with Gas1 to the stromal compartment, and in some glands, the basal lamina was heavily stained. In high-grade CaP clusterin stained the remnants of stromal matrix while histone H3 localized to cancer cells, which were very rarely clusterin positive. High clusterin expression was found in the branches of a nerve infiltrated by tumor. The periglandular clusterin expression found in low-grade CaP could result from induction of quiescence and/or apoptosis of prostatic fibroblasts lining those glands in which tumor invasion is at an initial stage, involving basal lamina. In advanced CaP, the staining of the remnants of the extracellular matrix suggests a role for clusterin in the process of dismantling the stromal organization caused by cancer progression.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate specific keratocyte phenotypes (keratocyte, fibroblast, myofibroblast) for cell contractility and ability to contract extracellular matrix. Rabbit keratocyte phenotype was modulated by exposure to optimal proliferative doses of IGF-I, IL-1alpha, FGF2, PDGF-AB, and TGFbeta(1). Cells were then evaluated by immunocytochemistry, western blot, collagen gel contraction and LPA stimulation to measure: (1) focal adhesion (FA), fibronectin (FN) and f-actin assembly; (2) expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA); (3) ability to contract extracellular matrix and (4) determine contractile ability, respectively. Untreated keratocytes showed no ability to contract collagen matrix. IGF-I and IL-1alpha increased cell proliferation (70.2 and 74.3%, respectively) but did not alter keratocyte phenotype or ability to contract matrix. FGF2 and PDGF induced fibroblast differentiation with FA and FN assembly and significant (p

Satellite cells are quiescent muscle stem cells that promote postnatal muscle growth and repair. Here we show that myostatin, a TGF-β member, signals satellite cell quiescence and also negatively regulates satellite cell self-renewal. BrdU labeling in vivo revealed that, among the Myostatin-deficient satellite cells, higher numbers of satellite cells are activated as compared with wild type. In contrast, addition of Myostatin to myofiber explant cultures inhibits satellite cell activation. Cell cycle analysis confirms that Myostatin up-regulated p21, a Cdk inhibitor, and decreased the levels and activity of Cdk2 protein in satellite cells. Hence, Myostatin negatively regulates the G1 to S progression and thus maintains the quiescent status of satellite cells. Immunohistochemical analysis with CD34 antibodies indicates that there is an increased number of satellite cells per unit length of freshly isolated Mstn−/− muscle fibers. Determination of proliferation rate suggests that this elevation in satellite cell number could be due to increased self-renewal and delayed expression of the differentiation gene (myogenin) in Mstn−/− adult myoblasts. Taken together, these results suggest that Myostatin is a potent negative regulator of satellite cell activation and thus signals the quiescence of satellite cells.

There exists abundant evidence that mutations that change the function or expression of growth-regulatory genes can lead to progression to a cancerous phenotype, and the progressive accumulation of such changes as the underpinning of tumorigenesis forms the basis for the somatic mutation theory (SMT) of cancer [1]. At a molecular level, that model of tumorigenesis suggests that progression to a cancerous phenotype can be driven by gain-of-function in growth-promoting oncogenes and/or loss-of-function in growth inhibitory tumor suppressor genes within somatic cells (a third class of “stability” genes are also a contributor to tumorigenesis [2] but are not considered in this paper). A frequently used analogy for that model compares these classes of genes to the gas pedal and brakes of an automobile [2]. However, there is evidence that this model may not be sufficient in itself to explain the development of cancer [3]. For example, the influence of the milieu of tumor development may strongly influence its development, and so an alternative model in which the tissue microenvironment is a critical factor in tumorigenesis has provided the basis for the tissue organization field theory (TOFT) [4]. Although not all differences between these theories are irreconcilable, a key difference between these models is that quiescence is postulated to be the default state of “normal cells” in SMT, whereas proliferation is assumed as the default state of cells in TOFT [4]. It follows from the requirement for growth promotion in the SMT that the default state of the cell is static. Indeed, it is well established that primary cultured cells from metazoan organisms fail to proliferate in the absence of appropriate growth factors. Johnston et al. have further suggested that cellular progression to a cancerous phenotype may represent a reversion of metazoan cells to a more primitive evolutionary phenotype whose “freedom to proliferate” occurs at the expense of the host's long-term survival [5]. This suggestion is supported by similarities between the behavior of cancer cells and the likely behavior of unicellular ancestors of metazoan organisms, as in both cases their growth is not subject to external regulation by other cells. Again, this phrasing also implies a freedom not to proliferate. However, as pointed out by Soto and Sonnenschein [4], that freedom does not seem to be enjoyed even by modern unicellular eukaryotes. If the default state of growth is truly different between unicellular and multicellular organisms, then it follows that a profound change in the default state of cells occurred during evolution of metazoan organisms and that the change is reversed in carcinogenesis. However, there may be another, simpler explanation that requires considering the growth-promoting signaling pathways from an evolutionary perspective. The earliest cells would necessarily have been required to be independently growing entities limited externally only by the supply of resources and internally by their capacity to proliferate. As also argued by Johnston et al. [5], millennia of selective pressures in unicellular ancestors of modern eukaryotes would have favored those that were able to divide most rapidly. In that way, evolution may have led to the development of early cells as organisms designed primarily or entirely to proliferate at the maximum possible rate. During the evolution of metazoans, it seems highly unlikely that complex, ligand-dependent signaling pathways emerged de novo as a requirement for growth. Rather, the most straightforward explanation for their appearance may be that they evolved from growth-related processes that already occurred in a ligand-independent manner in their unicellular ancestors. There may be any number of ways that could have been accomplished. One such example may be presented by the membrane-associated Ras protein and its associated signaling pathways, which play a vital role in cell cycle progression of both unicellular organisms and cells of metazoans. At least in some unicellular organisms such as yeast, regulation of Ras does not involve receptors for extracellular ligands, but rather involves intrinsic signals relating to stress and metabolism [6]. However, in cells of most or all metazoan organisms, Ras acts as a downstream effector for growth factor receptor signaling [7]. Thus, in metazoan cells, growth factor signaling pathways may have arisen by co-opting processes that occurred constitutively in their unicellular ancestors. In that sense, ligand binding may not actually stimulate growth but instead permit it by completing an interrupted circuit, in the same way that turning on a light switch permits the flow of electricity to light a bulb. It is possible to envision other scenarios that might also have led to the appropriation and repurposing of intracellular processes to become part of other ligand-responsive signaling pathways in metazoans. In the assessment of any such potential scenarios, it may be particularly instructive to analyze the structure and functions of signaling pathway components identified in unicellular organisms that are closely related to metazoans [8]. If this proposal is correct, then the function of ligand-stimulated signaling pathways could be viewed not as a system wherein growth factors can be added to promote growth but rather as a system in which growth factors can be withheld to control growth. Thus, the quiescence of cultured metazoan cells in the absence of growth factors would not reflect a passive lack of growth stimulation but rather an active process of growth inhibition. Furthermore, such a model would imply that oncogenes, which are considered stimulators of growth, actually function to permit growth by overcoming limitations imposed during the transition to multicellularity. Although this concept does not argue against an important role for genetic changes within cells during progression to cancer, as proposed in the SMT, it does support the idea of proliferation as a default state of cells, as proposed in TOFT [1, 3, 4]. It further suggests that gene products that appear to “promote” growth actually act to reveal the cell's innate tendency to grow. Thus, this proposal calls into question the gas pedal and brake analogy for cell growth. If it is valid, then perhaps a better comparison would be a soapbox racer rolling down a hillside pathway. In this analogy, the pull of gravity would represent the innate tendency to grow. Transient and reversible growth-inhibitory processes (e.g. absence of ligand) could be incorporated into this model as brakes that could be applied by the driver. Mechanisms to permanently halt growth are readily incorporated into such an analogy by invoking runaway lanes on one side of the pathway into which the racer can be steered and brought to rest off the main pathway (terminal differentiation), and by invoking a steep cliff face parallel to the pathway on the other side over which the racer could be steered (apoptosis). This analogy would also suggest that at least some limited cell cycle progression would be required for cell death, a proposal that is consistent with observations of cell-cycle progression in many apoptotic cells [9]. Although superficially this is a more complicated analogy than the gas pedal and brake, this model is still approachable and more readily accounts for the various potential fates of the cell. In addition, this concept may better account for the evolutionary emergence of growth-factor dependence in cells of metazoans.

The antiproliferative B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2(TIS21/PC3)) is emerging as an important regulator of cell cycle dynamics. BTG2(TIS21/PC3) expression increases in response to the induction of DNA damage, cell differentiation, cell quiescence, cell contact, and as part of a positive feedback mechanism in response to growth stimulation. The objective of the present study was to provide further insight into the biological function of BTG2(TIS21/PC3) by determining the expression levels and cellular localization of BTG2(TIS21/PC3) in a spectrum of normal human tissues and to determine the proliferative indices (based on Ki-67 staining) and apoptotic indices (based on TUNEL assay) in those cell populations where BTG2(TIS21/PC3) was differentially expressed. Highest levels of BTG2(TIS21/PC3) expression were seen in kidney proximal tubules, lung alveolar bronchial epithelium and in the basal cell layer of prostate acini. BTG2(TIS21/PC3) was expressed at significantly different levels within the different epithelial populations of the kidney (proximal vs distal tubules) and prostate (acinar basal cells vs lumenal cells). Moderate levels of expression were seen in the acinar cells of breast and pancreas and in the mucosal epithelium of the intestine. Low levels of expression were seen in neurons, hepatocyctes, the zona granulosa of the ovary, round spermatids and thyroid follicles. Our results therefore indicate an imperfect correlation between the terminally differentiated phenotype and BTG2(TIS21/PC3) expression, but no correlation between basal cellular proliferative or apoptotic indices and BTG2(TIS21/PC3) expression levels.

BACKGROUND: Ecotropic viral integration site 1 (EVI1) gene encodes a transcription factor, containing ten zinc finger motifs found within two domains of the protein. Abnormal expression of EVI1 is found in 5-10% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and is associated with unfavorable outcome. EVI1 maintains the self-renewal capacity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), of cell quiescence and stem cell-like phenotypes in leukemia cells. EVI1 knocked out mice die approximately 10.5 days post-coitus (d.p.c.; E10.5) with defect or hypoplasty in heart, cranial ganglia, peripheral nervous system. It is possible that EVI1 also regulates the fate of neural stem cells (NPCs) and glioma initiating cells (GICs) as well as HSCs. METHODS: We investigated the biological effect of knockdown and overexpression of EVI1 against NPCs and GICs. RESULTS: We found that NPCs from nestin-cre induced EVI1 (-/-) mouse differentiated to neuron and glial cells earlier than wild type NPCs. Notch signals were altered in EVI1 (-/-) NPCs. Knockdown experiment with shEVI1 in GICs showed the monolayerd GICs hard to stick to laminin-coated dish by alteration of integrin signals. Because laminin is a major component of niche of NPCs and GICs, EVI1 has an important role to maintain the stem cell capacity by committing to niche. Moreover overexpression of EVI1 in U87 MG and GICs decreased cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, EVI1 regulates the cell fate and proliferation of NPCs and GICs. SECONDARY CATEGORY: n/a.

Objective: We sought to understand why smooth muscle cell proliferation is effectively repressed in intact rat aortic tissue. Methods: Quiescent isolated rat aortic smooth muscle cells and segments of intact rat aorta were stimulated with 10% serum and the time course of expression and activity of proteins involved in cell cycle control were determined. Results: After serum stimulation, smooth muscle cells in intact aortic tissue exhibit no proliferation, whereas isolated cells entered S phase 14–16 h later. Activation of ERKs 1 and 2, and induction of cyclin D1 occurred both in isolated cells and aortic tissue. Regulation of Cdk4, cyclin E and Cdk2 protein levels was also not different. Levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs), p16 and p27, were initially high in quiescent isolated cells and tissue; levels were downregulated by serum in isolated cells but not in aortic tissue. Cyclin D1/Cdk4, and cyclin E/Cdk2 kinases were active before S phase entry in isolated cells, but remained inactive in aortic tissue. Conclusions: Cell cycle entry is prevented in aortic tissue, and this is associated with an inability to downregulate p16 and p27 CKIs, and therefore to activate cyclin D1 and cyclin E associated kinase activities.

B cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) is a p53 target that negatively regulates cell cycle progression in response to DNA damage and other stress. The objective of this study was to examine the expression, regulation and tumor suppressor properties of BTG2 in prostate cells. By immunohistochemistry BTG2 protein was detected in approximately 50% of basal cells in benign glands from the peripheral zone of the human prostate. BTG2 was expressed in all hyperproliferative atrophic peripheral zone lesions examined (simple atrophy, post-atrophic hyperplasia and proliferative inflammatory atrophy), but was undetectable or detectable at very low levels in the hyperproliferative epithelial cells of HGPIN and prostate cancer. BTG2 mRNA was detected in non-malignant prostate epithelial (PE) cells and in LNCaP cells, but not in PC-3 cells, consistent with p53-dependent regulation. In PE cells BTG2 protein was detected in areas of cell confluence by immunohistochemistry. BTG2 protein in LNCaP cells was undetectable by immunohistochemistry but was detected by immunoblotting at 8- to 9-fold lower levels than in PE cells. BTG2 protein levels were shown to be regulated by the ubiquitin-proteosome system. Forced expression of BTG2 in PC-3 cells was accompanied by a decreased rate of cell proliferation and decreased tumorigenicity of these cells in vivo. Taken together, these findings suggest that BTG2 functions as a tumor suppressor in prostate cells that is activated by cell quiescence, cell growth stimuli as part of a positive feedback mechanism and in response to DNA damage or other cell stress. The low steady-state levels of BTG2 protein in HGPIN and prostate cancer, a potential consequence of increased proteosomal degradation, may have important implications in the initiation and progression of malignant prostate lesions. Furthermore, these findings suggest that a significant component of the p53 G(1) arrest pathway might be inactivated in prostate cancer even in the absence of genetic mutations in p53.

adult skeletal muscle shows a very high level of plasticity that is necessary for adaptation to various conditions. Moreover, it possesses the remarkable capacity to regenerate after injury, and such plasticity derives from the properties of satellite cells—a group of cells that restore muscle

Skeletal muscle is one of a several adult post-mitotic tissues that retain the capacity to regenerate. This relies on a population of quiescent precursors, termed satellite cells. Here we describe two novel markers of quiescent satellite cells: CD34, an established marker of hematopoietic stem cells, and Myf5, the earliest marker of myogenic commitment. CD34+ve myoblasts can be detected in proliferating C2C12 cultures. In differentiating cultures, CD34+ve cells do not fuse into myotubes, nor express MyoD. Using isolated myofibers as a model of synchronous precursor cell activation, we show that quiescent satellite cells express CD34. An early feature of their activation is alternate splicing followed by complete transcriptional shutdown of CD34. This data implicates CD34 in the maintenance of satellite cell quiescence.In heterozygous Myf5nlacZ/+ mice, all CD34+ve satellite cells also express β-galactosidase, a marker of activation of Myf5, showing that quiescent satellite cells are committed to myogenesis. All such cells are positive for the accepted satellite cell marker, M-cadherin. We also show that satellite cells can be identified on isolated myofibers of the myosin light chain 3F-nlacZ-2E mouse as those that do not express the transgene. The numbers of satellite cells detected in this way are significantly greater than those identified by the other three markers.We conclude that the expression of CD34, Myf5, and M-cadherin defines quiescent, committed precursors and speculate that the CD34−ve, Myf5−ve minority may be involved in maintaining the lineage-committed majority.

Contrary to their traditional role, microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to an increase in translation during cell quiescence. This function may be exploited for microRNA-mediated regulation of protein expression.

Ribonucleotide reductase (RR) is a cytoplasmatic enzyme catalyzing the reduction of all four ribonucleotides to their corresponding deoxyribonucleotides. Its activity strongly correlates to the rate of DNA synthesis. By using a specific monoclonal antibody against the large M1 subunit of RR, we assessed the expression of M1-RR versus DNA content by dual-parameter flow cytometry. The aim of this paper was to compare the variations in the immunopositivity for M1-RR during the cell cycle to the positivity for other cell cycle markers identifying either proliferating cells (Ki-67 and PCNA) or quiescent cells (statin). To do this, normal human embryonic fibroblasts in different growth conditions as well as several other mammalian cell lines (rat C6 glioma cells; mouse 3T3 fibroblasts and B16 melanoma cells; human epithelial EUE cells and mammary carcinoma MCF-7 cells) were used. The expression of M1-RR antigen was found to correlate positively with the expression of Ki-67 and PCNA, and negatively with the expression of statin. During early G1 phase, M1-RR becomes detectable by specific antibodies relatively later compared to PCNA and Ki-67; therefore, the lack of immunopositivity for M1-RR cannot be taken as an absolute indication of cell quiescence in G0.

Fibroblasts cultured in mechanically stressed collagen matrices proliferate, whereas cells in floating collagen matrices become quiescent. Previous research indicated that one factor contributing to cell quiescence in floating matrices was reduced receptor autophosphorylation in response to PDGF stimulation (i.e., PDGF receptor desensitization). To learn more about the mechanism of PDGF receptor desensitization, we analyzed changes in PDGF receptor autophosphorylation and receptor kinase activity after stressed collagen matrices were switched to floating conditions, which results in rapid cell contraction and dissipation of mechanical stress. PDGF receptor desensitization occurred during contraction stimulated by serum but not in the absence of serum, and desensitization was prevented by inhibitors of contraction but not by inhibitors of the contraction-activated cyclic AMP signaling pathway. Receptor desensitization resulted from decreased receptor kinase activity rather than from elevated protein tyrosine phosphatase activity, and only receptors unoccupied at the time of contraction were affected. After contraction, radiolabeled PDGF binding to the cells was decreased, which suggested that receptor desensitization resulted from a contraction-dependent change in receptor availability or affinity.

Hypotonicity-induced Ca2+ signals and volume regulation were studied in proliferating and quiescent subpopulations of multicellular prostate cancer spheroids. Enzymatic dissociation of multicellular spheroids 100 ± 19 μm in diameter, which are entirely proliferative, yielded a population of cells with a mean cell diameter of 17.5 ± 1.4 μm. After dissociation of spheroids in a size class of 200 ± 30, 300 ± 60, and 400 ± 65 μm in diameter, two subpopulations of cells with mean cell diameters corresponding to 12.9 ± 1.9 μm and 16.7 ± 2 μm were discriminated. The subpopulation of large cells was shown to be proliferative by positive Ki-67 antibody staining; the subpopulation of small cells was Ki-67 negative, indicating cell quiescence. In a spheroid size class of 100 ± 19 μm, a distinct subpopulation of quiescent cells was absent. Superfusion by hypotonic solutions revealed that only the proliferating cell fraction showed a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) and a [Ca2+]i transient. Both effects were absent in the quiescent cell population. The [Ca2+]i transient persisted in low (10 nM) Ca2+ solution and in the presence of 4 mM extracellular Ni2+ but was abolished in the presence of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase blocker 2,5-di-tert-butylhydrochinone (t-BHQ). The t-BHQ likewise inhibited RVD, indicating that Ca2+ release from intracellular stores was necessary for RVD. Moreover, [Ca2+]i and RVD were dependent on an intact microfilament cytoskeleton because after 30 min of preincubation with cytochalasin B the [Ca2+]i transient was significantly reduced and RVD was abolished. The absence of RVD and [Ca2+]i transient in quiescent cells may be due to differences in the amount and the cytosolic arrangement of F-actin observed in quiescent cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 175:129–140, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Growing multicellular prostate tumor spheroids develop quiescent cell subpopulations in central regions with features of intrinsic multicell-mediated drug resistance. Doxorubicin (dox) uptake was significantly reduced in large spheroids (diameter 400 ± 70 μm), which consist predominantly of quiescent cells, as compared to small spheroids (diameter 100 ± 50 μm), which consist entirely of proliferating cells. After removal of dox from the incubation medium, dox fluorescence declined more efficiently in large spheroids, which led to a decreased dox toxicity as revealed by colony-forming assays. Verapamil significantly increased dox retention in large spheroids and, consequently, augmented dox toxicity. At a depth 80 μm from the spheroid periphery, a significantly decreased dox fluorescence was observed in the deep, quiescent cell layers of large spheroids. The P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR)-reversing agents verapamil, cyclosporin A, quinidine, sodium orthovanadate and tamoxifen significantly increased dox fluorescence at this depth, whereas genistein, indomethacin, probenecid and brefeldin A, which reverse multidrug-resistance-associated protein (MRP) function, exerted no effect. Anti-P-glycoprotein immunohistochemistry of multicellular tumor spheroids revealed an increase of P-glycoprotein expression in large speroids as compared to small spheroids, which was most prominent in the Ki-67-negative, quiescent cell layers 60 to 100 μm distant from the periphery of the spheroid, indicating that the MDR phenotype is related to cell quiescence. This was corroborated by whole-cell patchclamp experiments, where the C219 antibody, which is directed against the ATP-binding site of P-glycoprotein, significantly inhibited P-glycoprotein-associated, volume-activated chloride currents in quiescent, but not proliferating cells from multicellular tumor spheroids. Int. J. Cancer 75:855–863, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Ionizing radiation is known to induce remodeling of stromal microenvironment and enhance cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the molecular alterations of low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) induced non-targeted/bystander responses which affect a complex interplay of stromal cells and pre-leukemic cells in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. As a model of BM stromal cells and pre-leukemic cells, we utilized primary BM-derived stromal cells (MSCs) and the Epstein- Barr virus (EBV) infected and immortalized pre-leukemic B-lymphocyte cell line (EBV-B). LDIR (100 mGy, 4MV X ray from a LINAC) caused cell growth inhibition and moderate apoptosis induction in MSCs (viable cells % of control; 75.8 ± 2.4, specific SubG1 % 7.1 ± 0.8 at 24 h) but not in EBV-B cells. We further observed persistent upregulation of p21 mRNA (p< 0.001, RQ-PCR) after acute low-dose irradiation in MSCs but not in EBV-B cells, suggesting radiation induced senescence-like changes in MSCs. In EBV-B cells co-cultured with MSCs, low-dose irradiation induced moderate cell growth inhibition (viable cells % of control; 81.3 ± 6.5) without significant apoptosis induction. To gain insights into the molecular changes induced by LDIR in both, MSC and EBV-B cells we utilized genomic and proteomic analyses. To exclude possible contamination of MSCs, we confirmed negative expression of CD90 mRNA in the tested EBV-B samples. We first screened up to 28,869 genes by cDNA microarray (Affymetrix) and performed functional network analysis by MetaCore (GeneGo). LDIR induced upregulation of 48 genes and the downregulation of 45 (i.e., > 1.3-fold regulation) with prominent stimulation of cell adhesion pathways in MSCs. Of note, 31 of 48 up-regulated genes were small nucleolar RNAs. In EBV-B cells, LDIR upregulated 69 genes/downregulated 130 genes with significant stimulation of the TGFbeta dependent induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways. In EBV-B cells co-cultured with MSCs, LDIR induced immune response signaling along with integrin-mediated cell-matrix adhesion pathway with 42 genes upregulation / 34 genes downregulation. Up-regulation of inflammatory IL8 mRNA (2.0±0.03 fold, p In summary, we have demonstrated the LDIR effects on BM-derived stromal cells and pre-leukemic cells under MSC co-culture conditions mimicking the BM microenvironment. We conclude that LDIR may support pre-malignant cells survival via direct activation of TGFbeta dependent EMT pathways, which contribute to antiapoptosis, and via interactions with irradiated neighboring BM stromal cells which promote quiescence and survival of pre-leukemic cells. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) adapt to the varying needs for the replenishment of terminally differentiated blood cells by switching between quiescence, self-renewal and differentiation. A tight regulation of this balance is crucial to ensure hematopoietic homeostasis over a lifetime. In the bone marrow (BM), HSCs reside in specialized microenvironments, or niches, that regulate HSC behavior. Although all niche cells identified thus far have a non-hematopoietic origin (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells, osteoprogenitors, endothelial cells and sympathetic nerves), less is known about HSC regulation by its progeny. During confocal imaging studies of whole-mount BM, we have noted an association between HSCs and megakaryocytes (Mk); indeed up to 50% of Lin-CD41-CD48-CD150+ HSC were in direct contact with Mk. HSC were located at an average of 15.4 µm-distance to Mk. This distribution was not random (p=6x10-8) as demonstrated by two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. To assess the functional role of Mk in HSC regulation in vivo, we bred PF4-cre mice (in which the Cre recombinase gene is under the control of the Mk-specific platelet factor 4 (PF4) promoter) with iDTR mice (where cre-mediated recombination induces expression of the diphtheria toxin (DT) receptor). After 7 days of DT treatment PF4-cre:iDTR mice showed specific BM Mk depletion (5.3-fold reduction; P Disclosures: Lambert: Amgen: Research Funding; Nestle: Consultancy; GSK: Research Funding.

Aims Performance horses are at high risk of injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT). Studies have shown that autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) injected into SDFT lesions subsequently result in a significant reduction of re-injury in National Hunt racehorses; however, recent studies show that only 25% of implanted MSCs survive 24 h post injection. The reason for this loss is unclear but may relate to cell quiescence or injection-related mortality. We hypothesised that cell viability and mortality is increased with needle gauge. Methods Equine MSCs cultured in vitro were resuspended to a final suspension density of 5 x 105 cells/ml to mimic that used for implantation in clinic. The cell suspension was injected through a 19 gauge, 21 gauge (current practice in clinic) or 23 gauge needle. Mesenchymal stem cells viability and mortality was analysed over a 24 h period post injection using alamarBlue® and Annexin V (apoptosis) assays, respectively. Results There was a 25% reduction in viability (P

Notch signaling plays an important role in normal tissue development through its role in cell-fate determination, survival and proliferation. There are four mammalian homologues, Notch1-4. It has been suggested that in the normal human breast, Notch signaling has a role in self-renewal of mammary stem cells and/or expansion of luminal progenitor cells, however the roles of individual Notch receptors are not clear. Activation of the Notch pathway has been associated with several human cancers, including breast cancer. Transgenic animals overexpressing Notch1, 3, or 4 in the mammary gland develop tumors. Notch 2 was part of gene expression signature for cancer stem cells from breast cancer cell lines, but its role in breast development and breast cancer is poorly understood. In order to investigate the role of Notch2 in functional assays we performed shRNA knockdown in primary mammary epithelial cells and assessed the effect on mammosphere formation. We found an increase in primary, secondary and tertiary sphere formation. Similar results were seen after silencing Notch2 in breast cancer cell lines, in standard cultivation systems. We investigated the expression of Notch2 in the normal mammary stem/progenitor cell population by immunohistochemical staining of normal breast sections. We detected an overlap between high levels of Notch2 expression and the stem/progenitor cell marker ALDH1A1. Furthermore, we detected a strong correlation between ALDH1A1 positive cells and nuclear localization of Notch downstream target Hes1, indicating that Notch signaling is active in these cells. As Hes1 has been implicated in stem cell quiescence, we performed double stainings for Hes1, ALDH1A1 and markers associated with cell proliferation (MCM2, Ki67) and cell quiescence (p21, p27). We found that ALDH1A1 positive cells were predominantly resting or quiescent. We also detected co-expression of Hes1 and the cell cycle protein p27, which controls cell cycle arrest in G1. Similar results were seen in a breast tumor xenografted in immunodeficient mice where tumor cells with high Notch2 expression were negative for the proliferation marker MCM2 and positive for p27. Taken together, our data indicate that Notch2 has a role in keeping stem/progenitor cells in a quiescent state in the normal breast epithelium and possibly in a subset of breast cancers. This is in contrast to the other Notch receptors, which seem to enhance cell proliferation. These results imply that response of breast cancers to treatment with Notch inhibitors (currently in clinical trials) may be determined by the relative expression and activity of the four Notch receptors. Targeting individual Notch receptors may represent a more tailored and more efficacious intervention. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-189. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-189

Background The atrioventricular node (AVN) is a key component of the cardiac pacemaker-conduction system. Although it is known that receptors for the peptide hormone endothelin-1 (ET-1) are expressed in the AVN, there is very little information available on the modulatory effects of ET-1 on AVN electrophysiology. This study characterises for the first time acute modulatory effects of ET-1 on AVN cellular electrophysiology. Methods Electrophysiological experiments were conducted in which recordings were made from rabbit isolated AVN cells at 35–37°C using the whole-cell patch clamp recording technique. Results Application of ET-1 (10 nM) to spontaneously active AVN cells led rapidly (within ∼13 s) to membrane potential hyperpolarisation and cessation of spontaneous action potentials (APs). This effect was prevented by pre-application of the ETA receptor inhibitor BQ-123 (1 µM) and was not mimicked by the ETB receptor agonist IRL-1620 (300 nM). In whole-cell voltage-clamp experiments, ET-1 partially inhibited L-type calcium current (ICa,L) and rapid delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr), whilst it transiently activated the hyperpolarisation-activated current (If) at voltages negative to the pacemaking range, and activated an inwardly rectifying current that was inhibited by both tertiapin-Q (300 nM) and Ba2+ ions (2 mM); each of these effects was sensitive to ETA receptor inhibition. In cells exposed to tertiapin-Q, ET-1 application did not produce membrane potential hyperpolarisation or immediate cessation of spontaneous activity; instead, there was a progressive decline in AP amplitude and depolarisation of maximum diastolic potential. Conclusions Acutely applied ET-1 exerts a direct modulatory effect on AVN cell electrophysiology. The dominant effect of ET-1 in this study was activation of a tertiapin-Q sensitive inwardly rectifying K+ current via ETA receptors, which led rapidly to cell quiescence.

Mammalian cells in culture have individual nutritional requirements which are mainly fulfilled by the addition of fetal calf serum to the basic culture medium. Since many of the serum components are as yet poorly understood or even completely unknown, a number of difficulties arise in the evaluation of the effect of exogenously added factors or drugs on the growth of the cells. This paper presents data demonstrating the successful adaptation, routine cultivation and cryopreservation of bovine lens epithelial cells (BLEC) under serum-free culture conditions by use of the commercially available serum substitutes BMS, BM 86 Wissler and Ultroser G. Moreover, a culture medium especially designed for cell quiescence, named LR-1, is presented. Cells cultivated in culture medium containing 10% fetal calf serum served as controls. While BM-86 Wissler caused significantly reduced growth rates within 2 days and, finally, cell death after 12 days of incubation, the use of BMS resulted in growth rates which did not differ from the corresponding controls. Ultroser G resulted in a significant increase of proliferative activity of BLEC. LR-1 medium caused cell quiescence and kept the cells alive for a number of days. Thus, LR-1 allowed evaluation of the response of the cells to a mitogenic mixture from bovine brain mainly containing endothelial cell growth factor. The results demonstrate that cultivation of BLEC is possible under serum-free culture conditions. Moreover, the medium LR-1, which causes cell quiescence, is useful for the evaluation of growth factor-induced effects in vitro.

Fetal rat brown adipocytes at time zero of culture constitute a population of cells of broad spectrum, as estimated by cell size, endogenous fluorescence and lipid content, and show an intrinsic mitogenic competence. They express constitutively early growth-related genes such as c-myc, c-fos, and beta-actin, tissue specific-genes such as the uncoupling protein (UCP) and the lipogenic marker malic enzyme (ME). Fetal brown adipocytes bear a high expression of insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR), and show a high affinity IGF-I specific-binding to its receptor, and a high number of binding sites per cell. After cell quiescence, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) was as potent as 10% FCS in inducing DNA synthesis, cell number increase, and the entry of cells into the cell-cycle. In addition, IGF-I or 10% FCS for 48 h increased the percentage of [3H]thymidine-labeled nuclei as compared to quiescent cells. Single cell autoradiographic microphotographs show typical multilocular fat droplets brown adipocytes, resulting positive to [3H]thymidine-labeled nuclei in response to IGF-I. IGF-I increased mRNA expression of the early-response genes c-fos (30 min), c-myc (2 and 24 h), and H-ras (4 and 24 h). 10% FCS also increased c-fos and c-myc, but failed to increase H-ras as an early event. IGF-I or 10% FCS, however, similarly increased the mRNA late expression of c-myc, H-ras, c-raf, beta-actin, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) at 72 h, as compared to quiescent cells. IGF-I or FCS maintained at 24 h or increased at 48 and 72 h UCP mRNA expression. The results demonstrate that IGF-I is a mitogen for fetal rat brown adipocytes, capable of inducing the expression of early and late growth-regulated genes, and of increasing the lipogenic marker ME and the tissue-specific gene UCP, suggesting the involvement of IGF-I in the differentiation as well as in the proliferation processes.

Abstract 3390 In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the mechanisms of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) beyond the Bcr-Abl mutations are not well understood. We have previously reported that TKI imatinib induces cell-surface expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4, which results in enhanced migration towards CXCL12-producing BM stromal cells, promotes cell quiescence and development of the microenvironment-mediated, non-pharmacological drug resistance (Jin, Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7:48). Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase directly activates Src-related kinase Lyn known to frequently localize in lipid raft plasma membrane microdomains and interact with CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling and is directly activated by p210Bcr-Abl. In this study, we investigated the effects of TKIs on the localization and interaction of CXCR4 and Lyn in the lipid rafts, and the role of lipid rafts as the signal transduction platform for CML cell migration. Confocal microscopy and discontinuous sucrose density gradient fractionation demonstrated that in CML cells CXCR4 primarily localized in the non-raft cell surface regions, while Lyn was present both in the lipid raft and non-raft fractions. In turn, the active, phosphorylated form (p-)LynTyr396 is present within the lipid rafts, while inactive p-LynTyr507 in non-raft fractions. Imatinib treatment under co-culture with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) induced CXCR4 clustering in lipid raft fractions, which was directly co-immunoprecipitaed with Lyn. Under these culture conditions, imatinib repressed p-LynTyr507, but failed to deplete p-LynTyr396. Knock-down of Lyn by siRNA, Src inhibitor treatment, or lipid raft destruction by methyl-b cyclodextrin (MbCD) abrogated imatinib-induced KBM5 migration to MSCs and CXCL12 without affecting CXCR4 surface expression. Consistent with its effects on Src, dual Src/Abl kinase inhibitor dasatinib induced significantly less migration of CML cells to CXCL12 compared with imatinib or nilotinib (p =0.04). In summary, our data indicate that stromal cells interfere with inhibitory effects of TKI on active Lyn (p-Lyn)Tyr396 in CML cells and promote clustering of CXCR4 in lipid rafts where it co-localizes with p-LynTyr396 and facilitates migration of CML cells to the MSC monolayer. Lipid raft disruption by cholesterol depletion inhibit CML cells migration, suggesting that lipid rafts represent one of the key signaling modules responsible for interactions of CML cells with cells of BM niche. We propose that pharmacological disruption of lipid rafts may eliminate BM-resident CML cells through interference with microenvironment-mediated resistance. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

We have investigated the amount of DNA topoisomerase II and phosphorylation of the enzyme in Swiss 3T3 cells during the transition from cell quiescence to proliferation. A relatively high level of phosphorylation was observed with proliferating cells while no or a very low level of phosphorylation was observed with quiescent cells. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the phosphorylated topoisomerase II revealed that the phosphorylated aminoacyl residue was serine. When quiescent cells were stimulated to grow by the addition of serum, DNA synthesis began to increase at 9 h after serum addition, reaching a maximum at 15 h and then declining. The amount of topoisomerase II began to increase at 6 h and reached a maximum at 22-27 h, corresponding to the G2 phase. The phosphorylation of topoisomerase II measured by pulse-labeling gradually increased from 6 to 18 h and reached a maximum at 22 h when the amount of the enzyme was maximum. The level of phosphorylation measured by continuous-labeling increased gradually up to 12 h and markedly up to 28 h, and then declined. The increase in the rate of phosphorylation in the G2 phase was affected by inhibiting DNA synthesis, but the increase in the amount of the enzyme was not. Thus, it was suggested that the regulation of phosphorylation of topoisomerase II differs from that of the amount of the enzyme.

Passage 1 rat dermal papilla cells were transfected with immortalizing oncogenes and cell lines were established, which were shown to contain and express these genes (1). Polyomavirus LT-, LT tsa - and adenovirus E1A 13s-transfected cells retained to different extents the characteristic aggregative behaviour of primary cells. Adenovirus 12s-transfected cells appeared transformed and aggregated abnormally at all cell densities. The use of a temperature-sensitive LT protein showed that switching off the immortalizing function produced cell quiescence or senescence and morphology alterations. KEYWORDS Dermal papilla; hair; oncogenes; immortalization.

Abstract 4248 In patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), imatinib resistance is of increasing importance. We have recently reported that the constitutively activated Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase in CML suppresses CXCL12/CXCR4-mediated migration of CML cells to the bone marrow (BM) stroma. This finding can explain the characteristic leukocytosis in CML. In turn, tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib inhibits Bcr-Abl, enhances migration of CML cells towards CXCL12-producing BM stromal cells which in turn promotes cell quiescence and development of the microenvironment-mediated, non-pharmacological drug resistance (Jin, Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7:48). In this study, we further investigated the molecular mechanisms of imatinib-induced CML cell migration and adherence to the bone marrow-derived stromal cells (MSC). Src-related kinase Lyn regulates survival and responsiveness of CML cells to inhibition of BCR-ABL kinase and is known to interact with CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling. Lyn frequently localizes in lipid raft fractions, which act as signal transduction platforms for a variety of intracellular processes. Therefore, we investigated the effects of imatinib on the localization of activated Lyn in the lipid raft structures of KBM-5 CML cells under co-culture conditions with CXCL12-secreting MSC or recombinant CXCL12. Confocal microscopy and discontinuous sucrose density gradient fractionation demonstrated that CXCR4 and phosphorylated CXCR4 localized in the higher-density detergent-soluble non-raft cell surface regions in KBM5 cells in the presence and absence of imatinib, with or without MSC, which suggests that CXCR4 does not directly associate with lipid rafts. In contrast, Lyn was present both in the low-density raft and in the high-density non-raft fractions, which contained CXCR4. We have further demonstrated co-localization of CXCR4 with Lyn, and their direct interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. Notably, the active form of phosphorylated p-LynTyr396 clustered in lipid rafts, while inactive p-LynTyr507 in non-raft fractions. In suspension KBM-5 cultures imatinib depleted both, p-LynTyr396 and p-LynTyr507. In contrast, under MSC co-culture conditions imatinib repressed p-LynTyr507, but failed to deplete p-LynTyr396 in lipid rafts, and p-LynTyr396 further accumulated in non-raft fractions, likely associating with CXCR4. Knock-down of Lyn by siRNA, Src inhibitor treatment or lipid raft destruction by methyl-b cyclodextrin (MbCD) abrogated imatinib-induced KBM5 migration to MSCs and CXCL12, indicating the critical role of p-LynTyr396 in cell migration. Since the a4b1 integrin VLA-4 represents a cooperative molecular pathway guiding BM homing in addition to CXCL12/CXCR4, we next investigated the localization and expression of VLA-4 in KBM5 cells. Imatinib decreased VLA-4 protein expression both in lipid raft and non-raft fractions without affecting VLA-4 gene expression levels as determined by quantitative RT-PCR. Interestingly, VLA-4 reduction by imatinib or lipid raft destruction by MbCD did not affect the ability to adhere to fibronectin. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that under conditions mimicking BM microenvironment imatinib restores CXCL12-dependent migration through interactions between CXCR4 and active p-Lyn Tyr396 in non-raft microdomains of CML cells and that p-Lyn Tyr396 localized in lipid rafts is contributing to the CML cell migration. We propose that while CXCR4 is segregated from lipid raft fractions, imatinib through Bcr-Abl kinase inhibition induces the compartmental changes of multivalent Lyn complex between lipid raft and non-raft fractions, restoring the interactions between Lyn and CXCR4 and stimulating cell migration. Our findings indicate that leukemic BM microenvironment may be involved in imatinib resistance in a subset of CML patients through activation of Lyn kinase, consistent with reported higher clinical activity of Bcr-Abl/Src inhibitor dasatinib in patients with imatinib-resistant CML. We propose that BM stroma cells produce abundant CXCL12 and attract migrating cells through adhesive interactions with the extracellular matrix, which may in turn facilitate lodging into BM niches of imatinib-exposed CML cells and promote non-pharmacological resistance to this agent. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

SUMMARY 1. In tissue culture the growth characteristics of aortic smooth muscle cells isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were compared with those of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. 2. Aortic smooth muscle cells from SHR exhibit enhanced proliferation when grown in the presence of low (1%) and moderate (5%) concentrations of fetal calf serum. 3. Cell quiescence in cultures of smooth muscle from SHR becomes apparent at cell densities approximately 20% higher than in cultures from WKY rats. 4. These different growth characteristics of smooth muscle between the two strains of rats may contribute to the early pre-hypertensive development of vascular hypertrophy in the SHR.

Background: In HIV-infected patients on long-term HAART, virus persistence in resting long-lived CD4 T cells is a major barrier to curing the infection. Cell quiescence, by favouring HIV latency, reduces the risk of recognition and cell destruction by cytotoxic lymphocytes. Several cell-activation-based approaches have been proposed to disrupt cell quiescence and then virus latency, but these approaches have not eradicated the virus. CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a CD4 + Tcell subset with particular activation properties. We investigated the role of these cells in virus persistence in patients on long-term HAART. Methodology/Principal Findings: We found evidence of infection of resting Tregs (HLADR 2 CD69 2 CD25 hi FoxP3 + CD4 + T cells) purified from patients on prolonged HAART. HIV DNA harbouring cells appear more abundant in the Treg subset than in non-Tregs. The half-life of the Treg reservoir was estimated at 20 months. Since Tregs from patients on prolonged HAART showed hyporesponsiveness to cell activation and inhibition of HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte-related functions upon activation, therapeutics targeting cell quiescence to induce virus expression may not be appropriate for purging the Treg reservoir. Conclusions: Our results identify Tregs as a particular compartment within the latent reservoir that may require a specific approach for its purging.

The avian neuroretina (NR) is composed of photoreceptors and different neurons that are derived from proliferating precursor cells. Neuronal differentiation takes place after terminal mitosis. We have previously shown that differentiating NR cells can be induced to proliferate by infection with Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) and that cell multiplication requires expression of a functional v-src gene. We speculated that the quiescence of NR cells could be determined by specific genes. Cell proliferation could then result from the negative regulation of these genes by the v-src protein. By differential hybridization of a cDNA library, we isolated eight clones corresponding to genes expressed in postmitotic NR cells from 13-day-old quail embryos, transcriptional levels of which are significantly reduced in NR cells induced to proliferate by tsNY68, an RSV mutant with temperature-sensitive mitogenic activity. Partial sequencing analysis indicated that one RNA encoded the calmodulin gene, whereas the other seven showed no similarity to known sequences. By using v-src mutants that induce NR cell proliferation in the absence of transformation, we showed that transcription of six genes was negatively regulated by the v-src protein and that of four genes was correlated with NR cell quiescence. We also report that a subset of genes are specifically transcribed in neural cells and developmentally regulated in the NR. These results indicate that the v-src protein regulates expression of genes likely to play a role in the control of neural cell growth or differentiation.The avian neuroretina (NR) is composed of photoreceptors and different neurons that are derived from proliferating precursor cells. Neuronal differentiation takes place after terminal mitosis. We have previously shown that differentiating NR cells can be induced to proliferate by infection with Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) and that cell multiplication requires expression of a functional v-src gene. We speculated that the quiescence of NR cells could be determined by specific genes. Cell proliferation could then result from the negative regulation of these genes by the v-src protein. By differential hybridization of a cDNA library, we isolated eight clones corresponding to genes expressed in postmitotic NR cells from 13-day-old quail embryos, transcriptional levels of which are significantly reduced in NR cells induced to proliferate by tsNY68, an RSV mutant with temperature-sensitive mitogenic activity. Partial sequencing analysis indicated that one RNA encoded the calmodulin gene, whereas the other seven showed no similarity to known sequences. By using v-src mutants that induce NR cell proliferation in the absence of transformation, we showed that transcription of six genes was negatively regulated by the v-src protein and that of four genes was correlated with NR cell quiescence. We also report that a subset of genes are specifically transcribed in neural cells and developmentally regulated in the NR. These results indicate that the v-src protein regulates expression of genes likely to play a role in the control of neural cell growth or differentiation.

Control of cell cycling is a key process in stem cell fate. A balance between cell quiescence and proliferation within the stem cell niche in interaction with microenvironment is critical for sustaining long-term hematopoiesis and for protection against stress. Among growth factors regulating haematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSC/HP) cell cycling, TGF-β is known to be a major negative regulator by blocking cell cycle progression during the G1 phase. Besides its effect on HSC/PH and lymphocyte trafficking, the SDF-1/CXCL12 chemokine is another key regulator which helps maintaining hematopoiesis homeostasis. We have previous demonstrated that SDF-1 acts as a survival and cell cycle promoting factor for CD34+ HSC/HP by triggering the G0-G1 transition and then regulating early cell cycle phases suggesting that it may act as an antagonist of TGF-β on cell cycle progression (Lataillade et al., Blood 2000 and 2002). The general aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of this antagonist effect on cell cycle. This work was performed on CD34+ cells purified from the peripheral blood of healthy un-mobilized donors. Since they are mainly in G0, they allow dissecting the early cell cycle phases including the G0-G1 transition. We demonstrated that SDF-1 and TGF-β exert an opposite effect on the expression of cell cycle key regulators such as cyclins and CDKI. We showed that cross-talk between SDF-1 and TGF-β signaling pathways involving PI3K/Akt phosphorylation participates in the control of CD34+ cell cycling. We demonstrated a pivotal role of FoxO3 and mTOR in the TGF-β/SDF-1 control of the quiescence/cycling of hematopoietic progenitors. A model integrating a pivotal role for the activation of two Akt substrates, FoxO3 and mTORC1, in the control of CD34+ cells quiescence/cycling by TGF-β and SDF-1 is proposed. Altogether, our results shed new light on the intracellular signaling mechanisms of SDF-1 and of its implication, together with TGF-β, in cell cycle promotion in primary CD34+ cells. Regarding their opposite effect on cell cycle and survival, we suggest that SDF-1 and TGF-β can be considered as natural mutual competitors, both acting as organizers of the stem cell niche where a balance between HSC hibernation and activation is an essential part of the stemness control.

The p21 WAF1/CIP1 gene is regulated by p53 and encodes a cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)-inhibitor involved in senescence and cell quiescence. The role of p21 as a negative regulator of cell proliferation suggests that it may function as a tumor suppressor gene. However, only a few mutations of the p21 WAF1/CIP1 gene have been reported to date. In order to assess potential p21 WAF1/CIP1 gene alterations in human bladder cancer, we have examined this gene and its encoded product in a well-characterized cohort of 27 primary bladder tumors. Mobility shifts by single-strand conformation polymorphism in the p21 WAF1/CIP1 gene were identified in 2 cases. Sequencing analyses revealed that one of these cases had point mutations in the 3' untranslated region, while the other case had a frame shift mutation at positions 322 (C to A) and a deletion of 8 nucleotides (323→331; CCG→ACG, codon 81 Arg→Thr) that produced a stop signal at codon 83 (Gly→Stop). This tumor had a p21-negative phenotype by immunohistochemistry, but did not lose any allele. We further characterized these cases by the study of TP53 mutations using single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequencing, as well as immunohistochemical assays. Seven mobility shifts were identified and seven cases showed p53 nuclear accumulation. The two cases displaying mutated p21 WAF1/CIP1 had wild-type TP53. It is concluded that p21 WAF1/CIP1 gene aberrations are infrequent in bladder carcinoma but may be occasionally identified in primary bladder tumors.

Cellular DNA and RNA were simultaneously quantitated in individual cells of cycling and quiescent populations by flow cytometry. Based on differences in RNA content, two distinct subcompartments, G1A and G1B, were recognized in the G1 phase of exponentially growing cells. After mitosis, cells reside in the low-RNA, G1A compartment from which they cannot enter the S phase directly. An increase in RNA above a critical level is required for G1 cells to be able to initiate DNA replication; G1 cells with RNA values above this level are classified as G1B. Cell transition from G1A to G1B and from G1B to S was analyzed in a stathmokinetic experiment on L1210 cells with a doubling time of 10 hr. The half-time of cell residence in the indeterminate state of G1 was found to be 1 hr, and the duration of the deterministic portion of G1 phase was 2 hr. The indeterminate state, although not identical with G1A, is most likely located in G1A. Cell quiescence induced by serum deprivation (3T3 cells) or by addition of n-butyrate (L1210) results in cell arrest at a state which, judged by RNA content, is similar to that of G1A of exponentially growing cells. The exit from this state, however, is much slower after stimulation of these blocked cells than the transition of G1A to G1B in cells growing exponentially. Thymidine or hydroxyurea arrest cells in G1B or perhaps at the border between G1B and S. Prolonged incubation of 3T3 cells to confluence results in a marked loss of cellular RNA below the level of the G1A state. This deep quiescent state (G1Q) is distinctly different from the G1A state of cycling cells or cells blocked in G1A by serum deprivation.

NFAT proteins are calcium-regulated transcription factors that play a critical role during the timing and activation of many vertebrate tissues. A recent paper in Cell (Horsley et al., 2008) demonstrates a role of the calcineurin-NFAT-CDK4 pathway in maintaining hair follicle stem cell quiescence. “Knowledge of the hair cycles and their control will undoubtedly give needed insight into many complicated growth processes of other body structures which are not at present well understood.”—Earl O. Butcher (Butcher, 1934)

On the basis of antidromic stimulation we have identified two distinct neuronal populations in the rat ventromedial thalamic nucleus. The largest population (96%) are thalamo-cortical relay cells which project via the internal capsule to the cerebral cortex. The smaller population of cells (4%) project caudally to the reticular formation and superior colliculus. These two cell types could be distinguished further on the basis of their patterns of spontaneous discharge. Relay cells fluctuate between two activity patterns (i) a rhythmic pattern characterized by periods of high-frequency bursting, and (ii) a more tonic discharge pattern of single spikes. The caudally projecting cells had a characteristic fast, regular type of spontaneous firing. Brachium conjunctivum stimulation evokes two distinct responses in thalamic relay cells, (i) a short-latency single spike, (ii) a longer latency, rhythmic response of 2–3 spikes. Both excitatory responses are followed by a period of cell quiescence. The type of response is dependent upon the cell's firing pattern. The short-latency response occurs during tonic, single-spike activity whilst the longer latency response occurs during highfrequency bursting activity. The short-latency response can be altered to the long latency response by increasing the level of anaesthesia or by applying a conditioning shock to known inhibitory pathways. Conversely the long latency response can be altered to the short-latency response by decreasing anaesthesia or by stimulation of the reticular formation. It is argued that both response types are evoked monosynaptically by activation of the same cerebello-thalamic fibres but that different ionic conductances which are active at different levels of membrane polarization are responsible for the two response patterns. Efficient time-locked cerebellothalamo-cortical transmission occurs only during tonic single-spike activity, when cerebellar stimulation evokes a short-latency response. Such transmission is allowed or disallowed by the fine balance between converging excitatory and inhibitory afferents. In addition to a monosynaptic excitatory input from the cerebellar nuclei, relay cells received converging synaptic inputs from the substantia nigra, cerebral cortex, reticular formation and superior colliculus. Due to the anatomical arrangement in the rat it proved impossible to assess the role of the pallidum. The population of caudally projecting cells also received several converging synaptic inputs, but unlike those influencing relay cells, these inputs were all excitatory. We have obtained no clear physiological evidence for the occurrence of local interneurones within the ventromedial nucleus. However, a powerful recurrent inhibitory circuit is activated following antidromic activation of relay cells. The interneurones responsible for this inhibition appear to lie in the thalamic nucleus reticularis.

We are examining the relationship of RNA metabolism and de novo pyrimidine synthesis as parameters of malignant transformation. These initial experiments on normal hamster embryo fibroblasts have shown that excreted nucleosides are markers for intracellular RNA metabolism. We employed affinity chromatography to concentrate the nucleosides in the medium and sensitive column chromatographic procedures to quantitatively measure them. The excretion of pyrimidine nucleoside from hamster embryo fibroblasts in culture was found to be dependent on the growth stage of the cells, with the greatest accumulation occurring during cell quiescence. The major nucleosidee excretion products, uridine and cytidine, were both normal end products of RNA metabolism and the major nucleoside excretion products from cultured cells. The modified nucleosides N-1-methylguanosine, N-2-methylguanosine, N-2-dimethylguanosine, N-4-acetylcytidine, N-1-methylinosine, pseudouridine, N-1-methyladenosine, N-3-methylcytidine, and 5-methylcytidine were found, as were several unidentified nucleosides.

Cell quiescence resulting from culture of normal human fibroblasts in low serum (0.5%) was associated with a subsequent gradual increase in the expression of the cell-surface glycoprotein VLA-1, and a corresponding decrease in the expression of extracellular matrix adhesion receptors VLA-2 and VLA-3. Quantitation using either flow cytometry or immunoprecipitation showed that both the VLA -1 VLA -2 and VLA -1 VLA -3 ratios increased 10- to 28-fold and were still rising when cells remained quiescent for 20–30 days. Although induced by cell quiescence, changes in the levels of VLA-1, VLA-2, and VLA-3 continued to occur well after cell proliferation had stopped and thus do not directly correlate with cell cycle transition events. Despite prolonged serum deprivation resulting in elevated VLA -1 VLA -2 and VLA -1 VLA -3 ratios, growth-arrested cells remained viable and were fully capable of proliferating when restimulated. The increases in VLA -1 VLA -2 and VLA -1 VLA -3 ratios observed on quiescent cells were readily reversible, since after restimulation with 10% serum, these ratios quickly returned within 1–2 days to a level near that found on normal exponentially grown cells. Elevation of VLA -1 VLA -2 and VLA -1 VLA -3 ratios is generally associated with quiescence and is not due just to serum deprivation since density arrest of cells at confluence had similar effects on these ratios.

Gab1 is a scaffold protein that acts downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases. Here, we produced conditional Gab1 mutant mice (by K14- and Krox20-cre) and show that Gab1 mediates crucial signals in the control of both the hair cycle and the self-renewal of hair follicle stem cells. Remarkably, mutant hair follicles do not enter catagen, the destructive phase of the hair cycle. Instead, hair follicle stem cells lose quiescence and become exhausted, and thus no stem cell niches are established in the bulges. Moreover, conditional sustained activation of Mapk signaling by expression of a gain-of-function Mek1(DD) allele (by Krox20-cre) rescues hair cycle deficits and restores quiescence of the stem cells. Our data thus demonstrate an essential role of Gab1 downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases and upstream of Shp2 and Mapk in the regulation of the hair cycle and the self-renewal of hair follicle stem cells.

The steady-state airway epithelium has a low rate of stem cell turnover but can nevertheless mount a rapid proliferative response following injury. This suggests a mechanism to restrain proliferation at steady state. One such mechanism has been identified in skeletal muscle in which pro-proliferative FGFR1 signaling is antagonized by SPRY1 to maintain satellite cell quiescence. Surprisingly, we found that deletion of Fgfr1 or Spry2 in basal cells of the adult mouse trachea caused an increase in steady-state proliferation. We show that in airway basal cells, SPRY2 is post-translationally modified in response to FGFR1 signaling. This allows SPRY2 to inhibit intracellular signaling downstream of other receptor tyrosine kinases and restrain basal cell proliferation. An FGFR1-SPRY2 signaling axis has previously been characterized in cell lines in vitro. We now demonstrate an in vivo biological function of this interaction and thus identify an active signaling mechanism that maintains quiescence in the airway epithelium.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) is an ubiquitous basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, which is ligand-activated and involved in numerous biological processes including cell division, cell quiescence and inflammation. It has been shown that AHR is involved in normal hematopoietic progenitor proliferation in human cells. In addition, loss of AHR in knockout mice is accompanied by a myeloproliferative syndrome-like disease, suggesting a role of AHR in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance. To study the potential role of AHR pathway in CML progenitors and stem cells, we have first evaluated the expression of AHR in UT-7 cell line expressing BCR-ABL. AHR expression was highly reduced in UT-7 cell expressing BCR-ABL as compared to controls. AHR transcript levels, quantified in primary peripheral blood CML cells at diagnosis (n = 31 patients) were found to be significantly reduced compared to healthy controls (n = 15). The use of StemRegenin (SR1), an AHR antagonist, induced a marked expansion of total leukemic cells and leukemic CD34+ cells by about 4- and 10-fold respectively. SR1-treated CML CD34+ cells generated more colony-forming cells and long-term culture initiating cell (LTC-IC)–derived progenitors as compared to non-SR1-treated counterparts. Conversely, treatment of CML CD34+ cells with FICZ, a natural agonist of AHR, induced a 3-fold decrease in the number of CD34+ cells in culture after 7 days. Moreover, a 4-day FICZ treatment was sufficient to significantly reduce the clonogenic potential of CML CD34+ cells and this effect was synergized by Imatinib and Dasatinib treatments. Similarly, a 3-day FICZ treatment contributed to hinder significantly the number of LTC-IC-derived progenitors without synergistic effect with Imatinib. The analysis of molecular circuitry of AHR signaling in CML showed a transcriptional signature in CML derived CD34+ CD38- primitive cells with either low or high levels of AHR, with an upregulation of myeloid genes involved in differentiation in the “AHR low” fraction and an upregulation of genes involved in stem cell maintenance in the “AHR high” fraction. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate for the first time that down-regulation of AHR expression, a major cell cycle regulator, is involved in the myeloproliferative phenotype associated with CML. AHR agonists inhibit clonogenic and LTC-IC-derived progenitor growth and they could be used in leukemic stem cell targeting in CML.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer with short overall survival. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are a class of RNAs more than 200 nucleotides long that do not code for protein and are part of the 90% of the human genome that is transcribed. Earlier experimental studies in mice showed GAS5 (growth arrest specific transcript 5) gene deletion in asbestos driven mesothelioma. GAS5 encodes for a lncRNA whose function is not well known, but it has been shown to act as glucocorticoid receptor decoy and microRNA “sponge”. Our aim was to investigate the possible role of the GAS5 in the growth of MPM. Primary MPM cultures grown in serum-free condition in 3% oxygen or MPM cell lines grown in serum-containing medium were used to investigate the modulation of GAS5 by growth arrest after inhibition of Hedgehog or PI3K/mTOR signalling. Cell cycle length was determined by EdU incorporation assay in doxycycline inducible short hairpinGAS5 clones generated from ZL55SPT cells. Gene expression was quantified by quantitative PCR. To investigate the GAS5 promoter, a 0.77 kb sequence was inserted into a pGL3 reporter vector and luciferase activity was determined after transfection into MPM cells. Localization of GAS5 lncRNA was identified by in situ hybridization. To characterize cells expressing GAS5, expression of podoplanin and Ki-67 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. GAS5 expression was lower in MPM cell lines compared to normal mesothelial cells. GAS5 was upregulated upon growth arrest induced by inhibition of Hedgehog and PI3K/mTOR signalling in in vitro MPM models. The increase in GAS5 lncRNA was accompanied by increased promoter activity. Silencing of GAS5 increased the expression of glucocorticoid responsive genes glucocorticoid inducible leucine-zipper and serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 and shortened the length of the cell cycle. Drug induced growth arrest was associated with GAS5 accumulation in the nuclei. GAS5 was abundant in tumoral quiescent cells and it was correlated to podoplanin expression. The observations that GAS5 levels modify cell proliferation in vitro, and that GAS5 expression in MPM tissue is associated with cell quiescence and podoplanin expression support a role of GAS5 in MPM biology.

STAT5 transcription factors are frequently activated in hematopoietic neoplasms and are targets of various tyrosine kinase oncogenes. Evidences for a crosstalk between STAT5 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism have recently emerged but mechanisms involved in STAT5-mediated regulation of ROS still remain elusive. We demonstrate that sustained activation of STAT5 induced by Bcr-Abl in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells promotes ROS production by repressing expression of two antioxidant enzymes, catalase and glutaredoxin-1(Glrx1). Downregulation of catalase and Glrx1 expression was also observed in primary cells from CML patients. Catalase was shown not only to reduce ROS levels but also, to induce quiescence in Bcr-Abl-positive leukemia cells. Furthermore, reduction of STAT5 phosphorylation and upregulation of catalase and Glrx1 were also evidenced in leukemia cells co-cultured with bone marrow stromal cells to mimic a leukemic niche. This caused downregulation of ROS levels and enhancement of leukemic cell quiescence. These data support a role of persistent STAT5 signaling in the regulation of ROS production in myeloid leukemias and highlight the repression of antioxidant defenses as an important regulatory mechanism.

Muscle satellite cells are the primary source of stem cells for postnatal skeletal muscle growth and regeneration. Understanding genetic control of satellite cell formation, maintenance, and acquisition of their stem cell properties is on-going, and we have identified SOXF (SOX7, SOX17, SOX18) transcriptional factors as being induced during satellite cell specification. We demonstrate that SOXF factors regulate satellite cell quiescence, self-renewal and differentiation. Moreover, ablation of Sox17 in the muscle lineage impairs postnatal muscle growth and regeneration. We further determine that activities of SOX7, SOX17 and SOX18 overlap during muscle regeneration, with SOXF transcriptional activity requisite. Finally, we show that SOXF factors also control satellite cell expansion and renewal by directly inhibiting the output of β-catenin activity, including inhibition of Ccnd1 and Axin2. Together, our findings identify a key regulatory function of SoxF genes in muscle stem cells via direct transcriptional control and interaction with canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling.