Evidence for a common progenitor of epithelial and mesenchymal components of the liver.

Tissues of the adult organism maintain the homeostasis and respond to injury by means of progenitor/stem cell compartments capable to give rise to appropriate progeny. In organs composed by histotypes of different embryological origins (e.g. the liver), the tissue turnover may in theory involve different stem/precursor cells able to respond coordinately to physiological or pathological stimuli. In the liver, a progenitor cell compartment, giving rise to hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, can be activated by chronic injury inhibiting hepatocyte proliferation. The precursor compartment guaranteeing turnover of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) (perisinusoidal cells implicated with the origin of the liver fibrosis) in adult organ is yet unveiled. We show here that epithelial and mesenchymal liver cells (hepatocytes and HSCs) may arise from a common progenitor. Sca+ murine progenitor cells were found to coexpress markers of epithelial and mesenchymal lineages and to give rise, within few generations, to cells that segregate the lineage-specific markers into two distinct subpopulations. Notably, these progenitor cells, clonally derived, when transplanted in healthy livers, were found to generate epithelial and mesenchymal liver-specific derivatives (i.e. hepatocytes and HSCs) properly integrated in the liver architecture. These evidences suggest the existence of a 'bona fide' organ-specific meso-endodermal precursor cell, thus profoundly modifying current models of adult progenitor commitment believed, so far, to be lineage-restricted. Heterotopic transplantations, which confirm the dual differentiation potentiality of those cells, indicates as tissue local cues are necessary to drive a full hepatic differentiation. These data provide first evidences for an adult stem/precursor cell capable to differentiate in both parenchymal and non-parenchymal organ-specific components and candidate the liver as the instructive site for the reservoir compartment of HSC precursors as yet non-localized in the adult.

Signaling through the JAK/STAT pathway, recent advances and future challenges.

Investigation into the mechanism of cytokine signaling led to the discovery of the JAK/STAT pathway. Following the binding of cytokines to their cognate receptor, signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) are activated by members of the janus activated kinase (JAK) family of tyrosine kinases. Once activated, they dimerize and translocate to the nucleus and modulate the expression of target genes. During the past several years significant progress has been made in the characterization of the JAK/STAT signaling cascade, including the identification of multiple STATs and regulatory proteins. Seven STATs have been identified in mammals. The vital role these STATs play in the biological response to cytokines has been demonstrated through the generation of murine 'knockout' models. These mice will be invaluable in carefully elucidating the role STATs play in regulating the host response to various stresses. Similarly, the solution of the crystal structure of two STATs has and will continue to facilitate our understanding of how STATs function. This review will highlight these exciting developments in JAK/STAT signaling.

CD30 shedding from Karpas 299 lymphoma cells is mediated by TNF-alpha-converting enzyme.

CD30 is a costimulatory receptor on activated lymphocytes and a number of human lymphoma cells. Specific ligation of membrane-bound CD30 or cellular stimulation by PMA results in a metalloproteinase-mediated down-regulation of CD30 and release of its soluble ectodomain (sCD30). In this report, it is demonstrated that PMA-induced CD30 cleavage from Karpas 299 cells was mediated by a membrane-anchored metalloproteinase which was active on intact cells following 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate extraction of membrane preparations. Moreover, CD30 shedding was blocked by the synthetic hydroxamic acid-based metalloproteinase inhibitor BB-2116 (IC(50), 230 nM) and the natural tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-3 (IC(50), 30 nM), but not by the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. This inhibition profile is similar to that of the TNF-alpha- converting enzyme (TACE) and, indeed, mRNA transcripts of the membrane-bound metalloproteinase-disintegrin TACE could be detected in Karpas 299 cells. The ectodomain of TACE was expressed in bacteria as a GST fusion protein (GST-TACE) which cleaved CD30 from the surface of Karpas 299 cells and concomitantly increased the level of sCD30 in the cell supernatants. Hence, TACE does not only control the release of TNF-alpha, but also that of sCD30.

A zinc metalloproteinase is responsible for the release of CD30 on human tumor cell lines.

The activation marker CD30 is expressed on the cell surface of the malignant cells in Hodgkin's disease and a few non-Hodgkin lymphomas. We have analyzed the regulation of membrane-bound CD30 and found that the binding of a variety of anti-CD30 antibodies induced down-regulation of CD30 on cell lines. In addition, such down-modulation was also observed after treatment of the cell surface proteins with the sulfhydryl reagent iodoacetamide or after stimulation of the second messenger pathway with phorbol ester or calcium ionophore. This modulation was abolished at 4 degrees C and strongly inhibited by chelators like EDTA or 1,10-phenanthroline, whereas EGTA, a selective inhibitor of Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases and other inhibitors of serine, thiol and acid proteinases, showed no effect. The down-modulation was strengthened by Zn2+ or Cd2+, but not by other divalent cations such as Fe2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+ or Co2+, thus indicating the involvement of a zinc metalloproteinase in CD30 modulation which can be activated by protein kinase C and by alkylation of sulfhydryl groups. Pulse-chase experiments, analysis of the CD30 glycosylation and specific measurement of the 90-kDa soluble form of CD30 (sCD30) with a sandwich radioimmunoassay revealed that CD30 down-modulation results from enhanced release of 90-kDa sCD30 by the site-specific cleavage of CD30 accomplished by a zinc metalloproteinase. This release occurs at the cell membrane without prior endocytosis.