Sustained phosphorylation of MARCKS in differentiating neurogenic regions during chick embryo development.

MARCKS, a substrate for several kinases, has critical functions in morphogenetic processes involved in the development of the nervous system. We previously described the purification of MARCKS from chick embryo brain, using a monoclonal antibody (mAb 3C3), raised against embryonic neural retina. Here we show that mAb 3C3 is an antibody sensitive to phosphorylation state. We used it to explore the appearance and developmental progression of phospho-MARCKS (ph-MARCKS) during initial stages of neurogenesis in retina and spinal cord, and compared its distribution with total MARCKS. Before the onset of neural differentiation, MARCKS protein was already accumulated in neural and non-neural embryonic tissues, while ph-MARCKS immunoreactivity was weak, although ubiquitous too. A sudden increase of ph-MARCKS, paralleling a total MARCKS augmentation, was particularly noticeable in the earliest differentiating neurons in the neural retina. Ganglion cells displayed a high ph-MARCKS signal in the soma, as well as in the growing axon. A short time thereafter, a similar increase of ph-MARCKS was present across the entire width of the neural retina, where the differentiation of other neurons and photoreceptors occurs. The increase of ph-MARCKS in cells took place before the detection of the transcription factor Islet-1/2, an early neuronal differentiation molecular marker, in cells of the same region. Analogous phenomena were observed in cervical regions of the spinal cord, where motor neurons were differentiating. Neurogenic regions in the spinal cord contained higher amounts of ph-MARCKS than the floor plate. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that the appearance and relatively long-lasting presence of ph-MARCKS polypeptides are related to specific signaling pathways active during neurogenesis.

Apical accumulation of MARCKS in neural plate cells during neurulation in the chick embryo.

BACKGROUND: The neural tube is formed by morphogenetic movements largely dependent on cytoskeletal dynamics. Actin and many of its associated proteins have been proposed as important mediators of neurulation. For instance, mice deficient in MARCKS, an actin cross-linking membrane-associated protein that is regulated by PKC and other kinases, present severe developmental defects, including failure of cranial neural tube closure. RESULTS: To determine the distribution of MARCKS, and its possible relationships with actin during neurulation, chick embryos were transversely sectioned and double labeled with an anti-MARCKS polyclonal antibody and phalloidin. In the neural plate, MARCKS was found ubiquitously distributed at the periphery of the cells, being conspicuously accumulated in the apical cell region, in close proximity to the apical actin meshwork. This asymmetric distribution was particularly noticeable during the bending process. After the closure of the neural tube, the apically accumulated MARCKS disappeared, and this cell region became analogous to the other peripheral cell zones in its MARCKS content. Actin did not display analogous variations, remaining highly concentrated at the cell subapical territory. The transient apical accumulation of MARCKS was found throughout the neural tube axis. The analysis of another epithelial bending movement, during the formation of the lens vesicle, revealed an identical phenomenon. CONCLUSIONS: MARCKS is transiently accumulated at the apical region of neural plate and lens placode cells during processes of bending. This asymmetric subcellular distribution of MARCKS starts before the onset of neural plate bending. These results suggest possible upstream regulatory actions of MARCKS on some functions of the actin subapical meshwork.

Evidence for a noncholinergic function of acetylcholinesterase during development of chicken retina as shown by fasciculin.

Fasciculin 2 (FAS), an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) peripheral site ligand that inhibits mammalian AChE in the picomolar range and chicken AChE only at micromolar concentrations, was used in chick retinal cell cultures to evaluate the influence of AChE on neuronal development. The effects of other AChE inhibitors that bind the active and/or the peripheral site of the enzyme [paraoxon, eserine, or 1,5-bis(4-allyldimethylammoniumphenyl) pentan-3-one dibromide (BW284c51)] were also studied. Morphological changes of cultured neurons were observed with the drugs used and in the different cell culture systems studied. Cell aggregates size decreased by more than 35% in diameter after 9 days of FAS treatment, mainly due to reduction in the presumptive plexiform area of the aggregates. Eserine showed no effect on the morphology of the aggregates, although it fully inhibited the activity of AChE. In dense stationary cell culture, cluster formation increased after 3 days and 6 days of FAS treatment. However, FAS, at concentrations in which changes of morphological parameters were observed, did not inhibit the AChE activity as measured histochemically. In contrast, paraoxon treatment produced a slight morphological alteration of the cultures, while a strong inhibition of enzyme activity caused by this agent was observed. BW284c51 showed a harmful, probably toxic effect, also causing a slight AChE inhibition. It is suggested that the effect of an anticholinesterase agent on the morphological modifications of cultured neurons is not necessarily associated with the intensity of the AChE inhibition, especially in the case of FAS. Moreover, most of the effects of AChE on culture morphology appear to be independent of the cholinolytic activity of the enzyme. The results obtained demonstrate that FAS is not toxic for the cells and suggest that regions of the AChE molecule related to the enzyme peripheral site are likely to be involved with the nonclassical role of AChE.

Characterization of MARCKS (Myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate) identified by a monoclonal antibody generated against chick embryo neural retina.

To identify molecular markers of cell differentiation in developing nervous tissue, monoclonal antibodies against chick embryo neural retina were made. One of them, 3C3mAb, recognized a developmentally regulated antigen present in several organs of the CNS. Data from MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and peptide sequencing of the immuno-affinity purified protein indicated identity of the antigen with MARCKS. The immunoreactive material was always found as a unique polypeptide (Mr 71 kDa) in SDS-PAGE, however isoelectrofocusing revealed the existence of several bands (pI ranging from 4.0 to 4.5). Interestingly some retinal cell types, as photoreceptors, exhibited an extremely significant decrease in the intensity of the immunoreactive material during the final phases of terminal differentiation while others, as some retinal neurons, maintained the immunoreactivity when fully differentiated. Taken together these results indicate that MARCKS, a protein susceptible of several posttranslational modifications as myristoylation and phosphorylation at variable extent, may act differently in neural retina cell types.

Analysis of nuclear degradation during lens cell differentiation.

Lens cells demonstrate a terminal differentiation process with loss of their organelles including nuclei. Chromatin disappearance is characterised by the same changes as most apoptotic cells, i.e. condensation of chromatin and cleavage into high molecular weight fragments and oligonucleosomes. The endo-deoxyribonucleases (bicationic (Ca2+, Mg2+), mono-cationic (Ca2+ or Mg2+) and acidic non-cationic dependent nucleases) are present in lens fibre cells. Our results suggest that the acidic non-cationic nuclease (DNase II) plays a major role in chromatin cleavage. This nuclease, known to be lysosomal, is found in lens fibre nuclei and only an antibody directed against DNase II inhibits the acidic DNA cleavage of lens fibre nuclei. In addition, there must be another DNase implicated in the process which is not DNase I but appears to be a Ca2+, Mg2+ dependent molecule. Regulation of these DNase activities may be accomplished by the effect of post-translational modifications, acidic pH, mitochondrial release molecules, growth factors or oncogenes. Finally, fibre cells lose organelles without cytoplasmic elimination. The survival of these differentiated cells might be due to the action of survival factors such as FGF 1.

alpha-Crystallin polypeptides in developing chicken lens cells.

We provide evidence that the different cells that form the chicken lens have isoelectric variants of alpha-crystallins at early and late developmental stages. We separated the alpha A and alpha B-crystallin subclasses by sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and then further resolved each by isoelectric focusing and assays with specific anti alpha-crystallin antibodies. We found that the annular pad, cortical and nuclear fibers, as well as the epithelial cells, contain alpha A and alpha B native chains and their respective isoelectric variants. These results on adult and embryonic lenses obtained a short time after the onset of alpha-crystallin expression suggest that lens cells, having different phenotypes, are able to produce post-translational modifications of the alpha A and alpha B chains as a part of their developmental program.

Characterisation of eye-lens DNases: long term persistence of activity in post apoptotic lens fibre cells.

Fibre cells in the ocular lens exhibit a constitutive apoptotic process of nuclear degradation that includes chromatin breakage, generating a ladder pattern of DNA fragments. This process is intrinsic to the normal terminal differentiation program. Despite the loss of nucleus and cytoplasmic organelles, the terminal differentiated fibre cells remain in the lens during the whole life span of the individual. The lens cells thus provide a unique system in which to determine the presence and fate of endonucleases once the chromatin has been cleaved. We report here on the presence of DNase activity in nucleated and anucleated lens cells. Using a nuclease gel assay and double-stranded DNA as substrate, we found active 30 and 60 kDa DNases. The enzymatic activities were Ca(2+), Mg(2+) dependent, and active at neutral pH. The relative amount of these forms changed during development and aging of the lens fibre cells. Both forms were inhibited by Zn(2+), aurintricarboxylic acid, and G-actin. The proteins were also separated by SDS-PAGE, renatured after removing SDS and incubated in the presence of native DNA adsorbed to a membrane. Therefore it was possible to demonstrate, by means of a nick translation reaction, that the enzymes produced single strand cuts. Based on these findings we propose that these chick lens nucleases are probably related to DNase I.

DNA strand breakage during physiological apoptosis of the embryonic chick lens: free 3' OH end single strand breaks do not accumulate even in the presence of a cation-independent deoxyribonuclease.

Epithelial cells from the lens equator differentiate into elongated fiber cells. In the final steps of differentiation, the chromatin appears quite condensed and chromatin breakdown into nucleosomes occurs. DNA breaks due to an endodeoxyribonuclease activity corresponding to at least two polypeptides of 30 and 40 kDa have been identified. To identify the nature and the developmental appearance of initial breaks, nick translation reaction was followed both biochemically and in situ in fiber and epithelial cells from chick embryonic lenses. There is no accumulation of single-strand breaks (SSB) with 3'OH ends in lens fiber cells during embryonic development. Such damage can be increased in these cells by treatment with DNAase I indicating the absence of an inhibitor of the nick translation reaction in fiber cells. However, there are indications of the presence of DNA breaks with blocked termini when the phosphatase activity of nuclease P1 is used. The presence of breaks is also indicated by the large amounts of (ADP-ribose)n found in lens fibers particularly at 11 days of embryonic development (E11) as ADP-ribosyl transferase binds to and is activated by DNA strand breaks. Incubation of lens cells in vitro, which causes nucleosomal fragmentation only in fiber cells, produces SSB with 3'OH ends in both epithelia and fibers. Incubation for short periods, observed in experiments in situ, induces SSB first in the central fiber nuclei, which are late in differentiation. This may indicate that these SSB play a physiological role. Long incubations produce larger numbers of SSB in epithelia than fibers. The SSB in the fibers may have been converted into double-strand breaks (D SB), seen as nucleosomal fragments, and therefore no longer act as substrates for nick translation. The nuclease activity responsible for SSB production is independent of divalent cations and could be implicated in lens terminal differentiation.

An improved method combining two electrophoretic procedures: application to the separation of lens alpha-crystallin isoforms.

Polypeptides having different net electric charges and very similar molecular weights, visualized as one single band in sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), can be readily analyzed by an improved method combining two electrophoretic procedures. The methodology consists of the identification and isolation of selected protein bands from SDS-PAGE, their equilibration in an isoelectric focusing (IEF) sample buffer, and their casting and separation in an IEF flat-bed gel. This method requires no extra equipment, is highly reproducible, is suitable for quantitative and comparative studies, and is especially useful in the case of small samples. As a particular example, we analyze here the subunit composition of alpha-crystallins of young and embryonic quail lenses.

Localization of basic fibroblast growth factor binding sites in the chick embryonic neural retina.

We have investigated the localization of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) binding sites during the development of the neural retina in the chick embryo. The specificity of the affinity of bFGF for its receptors was assessed by competition experiments with unlabelled growth factor or with heparin, as well as by heparitinase treatment of the samples. Two different types of binding sites were observed in the neural retina by light-microscopic autoradiography. The first type, localized mainly to basement membranes, was highly sensitive to heparitinase digestion and to competition with heparin. It was not developmentally regulated. The second type of binding site, resistant to heparin competition, appeared to be associated with retinal cells from the earliest stages studied (3-day-old embryo, stages 21-22 of Hamburger and Hamilton). Its distribution was found to vary during embryonic development, paralleling layering of the neural retina. Binding of bFGF to the latter sites was observed throughout the retinal neuroepithelium at early stages but displayed a distinct pattern at the time when the inner and outer plexiform layers were formed. During the development of the inner plexiform layer, a banded pattern of bFGF binding was observed. These bands, lying parallel to the vitreal surface, seemed to codistribute with the synaptic bands existing in the inner plexiform layer. The presence of intra-retinal bFGF binding sites whose distribution varies with embryonic development suggests a regulatory mechanism involving differential actions of bFGF on neural retinal cells.

The effect of eye-derived-growth-factor (EDGFs) on methionine incorporation in the different cell populations of bovine adult lens in organ culture.

When adult bovine lenses were cultured in vitro, the purified retina-derived growth factors EDGF I or EDGF II, as well as the soluble fraction of the retina RE, increased the rate of incorporation of [35S]methionine into protein in cells belonging to different populations in the anterior epithelium as well as in fibers from the most superficial region of the cortex. These fiber cells were the most sensitive to stimulation by the retinal factors as they exhibit a significant increase of total protein synthesis 24 hr after addition of the factors to the culture medium. The epithelial cells studied--central epithelial cells and germinative cells--appeared stimulated only 1 day later. The stimulation of incorporation was not directed towards a particular subset of proteins but to all major polypeptides constituting the electrophoretic pattern of each cell population. It is suggested that this type of ocular signal, which stimulates the expression of a definite program, may act as a permissive signal.

An eye-derived growth factor regulates epithelial cell proliferation in the cultured lens.

Lenses in organ culture permit an analysis of factors acting on epithelial cell growth, while keeping the normal steric constraints of the cell population. By employing this technique with radioautography of epithelial whole mounts, we showed that the DNA synthesis found in the epithelia of cultured bovine lenses follows an organized spatial and temporal pattern during culture. Within the first 48 h, active cells were located at the preequatorial region ("germinative zone"), a distribution consistent with the in vivo spatial organization of multiplying cells. Starting at about 48 h, cells from the central region of the epithelium--a nonproliferating population--were triggered to synthesize DNA in the presence of eye-derived growth factor (EDGF). When cultured in serum-free medium, only a small fraction of the cells was labeled, but when a low serum concentration was present, this fraction reached 50% of the cell population. The stimulatory effect of EDGF required a lag period, but its effect reached a maximum exceeding that found for serum. However, the cells from the germinative region, having a cell density three- to four-fold higher than the central region, were not stimulated to proliferate. This occurred irrespective of the presence of EDGF or serum. If this growth-stimulatory activity derived from the retina were the actual factor controlling cell proliferation in the lens in vivo, then the results presented here would point to the presence of a regulatory mechanism similar to that known for some other hormones.

Modulation of the shape of epithelial lens cells in vitro directed by a retinal extract factor. A model of interconversions and the role of actin filaments and fibronectin.

We have shown previously [1] that bovine epithelial lens cells can be stimulated to divide and elongate by a retinal extract (RE). In this report we show that the morphological response to the stimulatory factor is directly related to the target-cell shape, and we describe how the cell shape can be modulated into morphologically different types. If the cells are grown continuously from the explant in the presence of the RE factor, they keep a typical regular pavement-like epithelial shape (type I), even after serial passages. If the same cells are cultured in the absence of the factor, they become extremely irregular in shape and enlarge enormously (type II), and during serial passage elongate spontaneously to a fibroblast-like pattern. However, when type II cells are stimulated by RE, they elongate dramatically into type III cells as described in [1], provided they are stimulated at the optimal cell density. We show that the transformation of one type to another is directly under the control of RE, and we demonstrate that the changes in cell morphology are accompanied by alterations in cytoplasmic actin filaments. Type I cells contain few microfilaments, while type II cells display actin-tropomyosin polygonal fibre networks that reform during conversion to type III cells and then to elongated stress fibres. The change from type I to type II cells is also accompanied by massive accumulation of surface-associated fibronectin. We conclude that factors obtained directly from the eye have a direct ability to control morphology and proliferation of ocular cells like lens cells perhaps by modulation of cellular adhesiveness mediated by surface fibronectin and reorganization of cytoplasmic actin-based filaments.

Is there a ubiquitous growth factor in the eye? Proliferation induced in different cell types by eye-derived growth factors.

In a previous work [1] we showed that a neutral extract of bovine adult retina RE can stimulate the growth and modify the morphology of bovine epithelial lens (BEL) cells in vitro. We were also able to demonstrate that the differences in cell shape are closely related to the cell growth properties induced by RE and are mediated by cytoskeletal protein organization as well as external proteins. In this study, we report the results of further investigations on this retinal extract. We show that it possesses all the characteristics of other growth factors such as promoting proliferation in low serum concentration or of enhancing the colony-forming efficiency of BEL cells considerably. By comparing the morphological response of BEL cells treated with RE with the response of other cells to other growth factors, we propose that the phenotypic modifications are cell specific, but not growth factor specific. We report also that RE has a broad spectrum of activity since it is able to stimulate cells from different origins and species (vascular and corneal endothelial cells, myoblasts, chondrocytes, neuroblastoma cells, and keratinocytes), but not all of them, since it can be toxic for fibroblasts. In this respect, it has an activity similar in many aspects to FGF and EGF, while it differs from them for some target cells. Its action has also been compared with the effects of retinoic acid derivatives and shown to be strikingly different. RE-like activity can be found in other ocular tissues from bovine and other species. The highest growth-promoting capacities were found in extracts of iris, pigmented epithelium with choroid, and vitreous body. The nature of all these extracts has not yet been determined. Since they are prepared in a similar way and since they have similar growth-promoting activity, we postulate that there is an ubiquitous growth factor in the eye called eye-derived growth factor (EDGF) which may play an important role in physiology and pathology of the eye.

Tumor de Wilms con invasion de vena cava. / Wilm's tumor with vena cava invasiveness

Se presenta un caso de trombosis neoplasica de la vena cava inferior, por nefroblastoma derecho en una nina de 2 anos, que fue tratado por nefrectomia ensanchada, extraccion del trombo, quimioterapia y radioterapia, con una buena evolucion a los 22 meses de la nefre

[Growth factors and cell cultures: a new approach for research in ophthalmology]. / Facteurs de croissance et cultures cellulaires: une approche nouvelle pour la recherche en ophtalmologie.

Tissue culture technology applied to ophtalmology has produced an extensive knowledge of ocular cell physiology. In this work, we review the various factors known to control proliferation and differentiation in lens epithelial cells and corneal endothelial cells. We discuss the role of a new ocular growth factor that we discovered in the retina and whose ubiquitous distribution suggests that it could be involved in tissue-tissue interactions.