Kevin M. Curtis

Brain edema, due largely to astrocyte swelling, and the subsequent increase in intracranial pressure and brain herniation, are major complications of acute liver failure (ALF). Elevated level of brain ammonia has been strongly implicated in the development of astrocyte swelling associated with ALF. The means by which ammonia brings about astrocyte swelling, however, is incompletely understood. Recently, oxidative/nitrosative stress and associated signaling events, including activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), as well as activation of the transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), have been implicated in the mechanism of ammonia-induced astrocyte swelling. Since these signaling events are known to be regulated by the transcription factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), we examined the state of STAT3 activation in ammonia-treated cultured astrocytes, and determined whether altered STAT3 activation and/or protein expression contribute to the ammonia-induced astrocyte swelling. STAT3 was found to be dephosphorylated (inactivated) at Tyrosine705 in ammonia-treated cultured astrocytes. Total STAT3 protein level was also reduced in ammonia-treated astrocytes. We also found a significant increase in protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type-1 (PTPRT-1) protein expression in ammonia-treated cultured astrocytes, and that inhibition of PTPRT-1 enhanced the phosphorylation of STAT3 after ammonia treatment. Additionally, exposure of cultured astrocytes to inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatases diminished the ammonia-induced cell swelling, while cultured astrocytes over-expressing STAT3 showed a reduction in the astrocyte swelling induced by ammonia. Collectively, these studies strongly suggest that inactivation of STAT3 represents a critical event in the mechanism of the astrocyte swelling associated with acute liver failure.

Introduction: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into multiple cell types, including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. These pluripotent cells secrete hepa...

The identification of multipotent mammary stem cells (MaSCs) has provided an explanation for the unique regenerative capacity of the mammary gland throughout adult life. However, it remains unclear what genes maintain MaSCs and control their specification into the two epithelial lineages: luminal and basal. LBH is a novel transcription co-factor in the WNT pathway with hitherto unknown physiological function. LBH is expressed during mammary gland development and aberrantly overexpressed in aggressive ‘basal’ subtype breast cancers. Here, we have explored the in vivo role of LBH in mammopoiesis. We show that in postnatal mammary epithelia, LBH is predominantly expressed in the Lin⁻CD29^highCD24⁺ basal MaSC population. Upon conditional inactivation of LBH, mice exhibit pronounced delays in mammary tissue expansion during puberty and pregnancy, accompanied by increased luminal differentiation at the expense of basal lineage specification. These defects could be traced to a severe reduction in the frequency and self-renewal/differentiation potential of basal MaSCs. Mechanistically, LBH induces expression of key epithelial stem cell transcription factor ΔNp63 to promote a basal MaSC state and repress luminal differentiation genes, mainly that encoding estrogen receptor α (Esr1/ERα). Collectively, these studies identify LBH as an essential regulator of basal MaSC expansion/maintenance, raising important implications for its potential role in breast cancer pathogenesis.

Chronic hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) is a major complication in patients with severe liver disease. Elevated blood and brain ammonia levels have been implicated in its pathogenesis, and astrocytes are the principal neural cells involved in this disorder. Since defective synthesis and release of astrocytic factors have been shown to impair synaptic integrity in other neurological conditions, we examined whether thrombospondin‐1 (TSP‐1), an astrocytic factor involved in the maintenance of synaptic integrity, is also altered in CHE. Cultured astrocytes were exposed to ammonia (NH₄Cl, 0.5–2.5 mM) for 1–10 days, and TSP‐1 content was measured in cell extracts and culture media. Astrocytes exposed to ammonia exhibited a reduction in intra‐ and extracellular TSP‐1 levels. Exposure of cultured neurons to conditioned media from ammonia‐treated astrocytes showed a decrease in synaptophysin, PSD95, and synaptotagmin levels. Conditioned media from TSP‐1 over‐expressing astrocytes that were treated with ammonia, when added to cultured neurons, reversed the decline in synaptic proteins. Recombinant TSP‐1 similarly reversed the decrease in synaptic proteins. Metformin, an agent known to increase TSP‐1 synthesis in other cell types, also reversed the ammonia‐induced TSP‐1 reduction. Likewise, we found a significant decline in TSP‐1 level in cortical astrocytes, as well as a reduction in synaptophysin content in vivo in a rat model of CHE. These findings suggest that TSP‐1 may represent an important therapeutic target for CHE. image Defective release of astrocytic factors may impair synaptic integrity in chronic hepatic encephalopathy. We found a reduction in the release of the astrocytic matricellular proteins thrombospondin‐1 (TSP‐1) in ammonia‐treated astrocytes; such reduction was associated with a decrease in synaptic proteins caused by conditioned media from ammonia‐treated astrocytes. Exposure of neurons to CM from ammonia‐treated astrocytes, in which TSP‐1 is over‐expressed, reversed (by approx 75%) the reduction in synaptic proteins. NF‐kB = nuclear factor kappa B; PSD95 = post‐synaptic density protein 95; ONS = oxidative/nitrative stress.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a paracrine factor involved in organogenesis, tissue repair, and wound healing. We report here that HGF promotes osteogenic differentiation through the transcription of key osteogenic markers, including osteocalcin, osterix, and osteoprotegerin in human mesenchymal stem cells and is a necessary component for the establishment of osteoblast mineralization. Blocking endogenous HGF using PHA665752, a c-Met inhibitor (the HGF receptor), or an HGF-neutralizing antibody attenuates mineralization, and PHA665752 markedly reduced alkaline phosphatase activity. Moreover, we report that HGF promotion of osteogenic differentiation involves the rapid phosphorylation of p38 and differential regulation of its isoforms, p38α and p38β. Western blot analysis revealed a significantly increased level of p38α and p38β protein, and reverse transcription quantitative PCR revealed that HGF increased the transcriptional level of both p38α and p38β. Using small interfering RNA to reduce the transcription of p38α and p38β, we saw differential roles for p38α and p38β on the HGF-induced expression of key osteogenic markers. In summary, our data demonstrate the importance of p38 signaling in HGF regulation of osteogenic differentiation.

Although 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ [1α,25(OH)₂D₃] is considered the most biologically active vitamin D₃ metabolite, the vitamin D₃ prohormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ [25(OH)D₃], is metabolized into other forms, including 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ [24R,25(OH)₂D₃]. Herein we show that 24R,25(OH)₂D₃ is fundamental for osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Our approach involved analyses of cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and pro-osteogenic genes (collagen 1A1, osteocalcin, vitamin D receptor [VDR], vitamin D₃-hydroxylating enzymes [cytochrome P450 hydroxylases: CYP2R1, CYP27A1, CYP27B1 and CYP24A1]) and assessment of Ca²⁺ mineralization of extracellular matrix. 24R,25(OH)₂D₃ inhibited hMSC proliferation, decreased 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B) expression, thereby reducing the ability of hMSCs to convert 25(OH)D₃ to 1α,25(OH)₂D₃, and promoted osteoblastic differentiation through increased alkaline phosphatase activity and Ca²⁺ mineralization. 24R,25(OH)₂D₃ decreased expression of the 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ receptor, VDR. 24R,25(OH)₂D₃ but not 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ induced Ca²⁺ mineralization dependent on the absence of the glucocorticoid analog, dexamethasone. To elucidate the mechanism(s) for dexamethasone-independent 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ inhibition/24R,25(OH)₂D₃ induction of Ca²⁺ mineralization, we demonstrated that 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ increased whereas 24R,25(OH)₂D₃ decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. 25(OH)D₃ also decreased ROS production, potentially by conversion to 24R,25(OH)₂D₃. Upon inhibition of the vitamin D₃-metabolizing enzymes (cytochrome P450s), 25(OH)D₃ increased ROS production, potentially due to its known (low) affinity for VDR. We hypothesize that vitamin D₃ actions on osteoblastic differentiation involve a regulatory relationship between 24R,25(OH)₂D₃ and 1α,25(OH)₂D₃. These results implicate 24R,25(OH)₂D₃ as a key player during hMSC maturation and bone development and support the concept that 24R,25(OH)₂D₃ has a bioactive role in the vitamin D₃ endocrine system.

Astrocyte swelling and the subsequent increase in intracranial pressure and brain herniation are major clinical consequences in patients with acute hepatic encephalopathy. We recently reported that conditioned media from brain endothelial cells (ECs) exposed to ammonia, a mixture of cytokines (CKs) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), when added to astrocytes caused cell swelling. In this study, we investigated the possibility that ammonia and inflammatory agents activate the toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) in ECs, resulting in the release of factors that ultimately cause astrocyte swelling. We found a significant increase in TLR4 protein expression when ECs were exposed to ammonia, CKs or LPS alone, while exposure of ECs to a combination of these agents potentiate such effects. In addition, astrocytes exposed to conditioned media from TLR4‐silenced ECs that were treated with ammonia, CKs or LPS, resulted in a significant reduction in astrocyte swelling. TLR4 protein up‐regulation was also detected in rat brain ECs after treatment with the liver toxin thioacetamide, and that thioacetamide‐treated TLR4 knock‐out mice exhibited a reduction in brain edema. These studies strongly suggest that ECs significantly contribute to the astrocyte swelling/brain edema in acute hepatic encephalopathy, likely as a consequence of increased TLR4 protein expression by blood‐borne noxious agents. image Ammonia and inflammatory agents, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or cytokines (CKs), activate the toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) in endothelial cells (ECs) ultimately resulting in astrocyte swelling. TLR4 protein upregulation was detected in rat brain ECs in acute hepatic encephalopathy (AHE), whereas TLR4 knock‐out mice exhibited a reduction in brain edema after AHE. These studies suggest that ECs significantly contribute to the astrocyte swelling/brain edema in AHE.

Among the consequences of Alzheimer disease are disturbances in synaptic integrity that ultimately lead to impaired cognitive functions. Thrombospondins are extracellular matrix proteins that, in the CNS, are predominantly produced by astrocytes and have been implicated in synaptogenesis. This study examined the effects of amyloid-β (Aβ1–42; Aβ) peptide on intracellular and extracellular levels of thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) in cultured astrocytes. Amyloid-β caused a significant (1- to 3-fold) increase in astrocytic intracellular levels of TSP-1 (increased retention) that was associated with a reduction of its release from astrocytes. Because Aβ is known to induce oxidative stress in astrocytes, we examined the effects of the antioxidants tempol and apocynin on astrocytic TSP-1 levels and release. Treatment of Aβ-exposed astrocyte cultures with antioxidants significantly diminished its cellular retention and stimulated its release. Furthermore, the addition of conditioned media derived from Aβ-treated cultured astrocytes that contained a reduced TSP-1 content resulted in a significant loss of synaptophysin and PSD95 in cultured neurons. These findings suggest that Aβ-mediated reduction in astrocytic TSP-1 release, possibly related to oxidative stress, contributes to the loss of synaptophysin in neurons. Strategies aimed at enhancing the astrocytic release of TSP-1 may have a therapeutic benefit in Alzheimer disease.