The in vitro influences of neurotensin on the motility characteristics of human U373 glioblastoma cells

in Neuropathology & Applied Neurobiology (2006), 32(6), 575-584

Astrocytic tumours are associated with dismal prognoses due to their pronounced ability to diffusely invade the brain parenchyma. Various neuropeptides, including gastrin, are able to modulate tumour ... [more ▼]

Astrocytic tumours are associated with dismal prognoses due to their pronounced ability to diffusely invade the brain parenchyma. Various neuropeptides, including gastrin, are able to modulate tumour astrocyte migration. While neurotensin has been shown to influence the proliferation of glioma cells and the migratory ability of a large set of other cell types, its role in glioma cell migration has never been investigated. Neurotensin-induced modifications to the motility features of human U373 glioblastoma cells therefore constitute the topic of the present study. We evidenced that three subtypes of neurotensin receptors (NTR1, NTR2 and NTR3) are expressed in U373 glioblastoma cells, at least as far as their mRNAs are concerned. Treating U373 tumour cells with 10 nM neurotensin markedly modified the morphological patterns of these cells and also profoundly altered the organization of their actin cytoskeletons. Pull-down assays revealed that neurotensin induced the activation in U373 cells of both Rac1 and Cdc42 but not RhoA. Scratch wound assays evidenced that neurotensin (0.1 and 10 nM) very significantly inhibited wound colonization by U373 cells cultured in the absence of serum. In addition, quantitative phase-contrast videomicroscopy analyses showed that neurotensin decreases the motility levels of U373 glioblastoma cells when these cells are cultured on plastic. In sharp contrast, neurotensin stimulates the motility of U373 cells when they are cultured on laminin, which is a pro-adhesive extracellular matrix component ubiquitously secreted by glioma cells. Our data thus strongly suggest that, in addition to gastrin, neurotensin is a neuropeptide capable of modulating tumour astrocyte migration into the brain parenchyma. [less ▲]

In Vitro Kinetics of a Newborn Rat Astroglia-Derived Neuronotoxic Activity

in Neuroscience Letters (1989), 102(2-3), 268-72

A low-molecular weight astrocyte-derived neuronotoxic activity (ANTA) was detected, using a colorimetric bioassay of cell survival, by its effect on cultured granule cells. This neuronotoxic activity was ... [more ▼]

A low-molecular weight astrocyte-derived neuronotoxic activity (ANTA) was detected, using a colorimetric bioassay of cell survival, by its effect on cultured granule cells. This neuronotoxic activity was found to be released rapidly from newborn rat astrocytes in culture upon incubation in 50 mM K+-containing growth medium. The release by astrocytes could be induced repetitively by successive incubations in high-K+ medium alternating with incubations in normal medium. Astrocytes were also found to inactivate rapidly isobutanol-extracted ANTA in normal K+-containing growth medium. Kinetic studies showed that ANTA induces a slow (greater than 12 h) degeneration of cultured granule cells. ANTA is shown here to be an intermediate of normal astrocyte metabolism and to display appropriate kinetic characteristics compatible with its proposed role in inducing part of the delayed neuronal loss that occurs after a brain injury (secondary neuronal death). [less ▲]

In vitro modelisation of prions neuroinvasion mediated by dendritic cells

Poster (2008, October)

In vitro models for the study of cartilage damage and repair

in Reginster, Jean-Yves; Pelletier, J-P; Martel-Pelletier, J (Eds.) et al Osteoarthritis: Clinical and experimental aspects (1999)

In vitro modulation of human gingival epithelial cell attachment and migration by minocycline-HCL.

in Journal of Periodontal Research (1998), 33(6), 377-85

Although the influence of tetracyclines on periodontal connective tissue cells has been the topic of many in vitro and in vivo studies, data regarding their effects on gingival epithelial cells are scarce ... [more ▼]

Although the influence of tetracyclines on periodontal connective tissue cells has been the topic of many in vitro and in vivo studies, data regarding their effects on gingival epithelial cells are scarce. The present in vitro study was designed to examine the influence of minocycline, a semi-synthetic analog of tetracycline, on human gingival keratinocyte (HGK) attachment and migration. Attachment tests were performed with HGK prelabeled by tritiated amino-acids. Increasing concentrations of minocycline (10, 50, 100 micrograms/ml) in the medium produced no significant modification of cell adhesion kinetics compared to control conditions, except for 100 micrograms/ml which statistically significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the number of attached cells beyond 6 h. A 24-h cell preincubation in 10 micrograms/ml of minocycline did not alter the kinetics of HGK attachment. Scanning electron microscopic observations of attached HGK showed that the presence of 10 micrograms/ml of minocycline in the "attachment medium" induced the production of multiple filopodial extensions. Migration tests in Boyden chambers for 40 h demonstrated that HGK preincubation for 24 h in a 10 micrograms/ml minocycline-HCl solution increased significantly (p < 0.005) cell migration towards a gradient of fetal calf serum. The presence of 10 micrograms/ml of minocycline in contact with the keratinocytes in the upper compartment of the migration chambers also produced a significant (p < 0.005) result. In contrast, the presence of minocycline in the lower compartments did not produce any chemoattractive effect. Within the limits of their significance, these results suggest that, at concentrations not beyond 50 micrograms/ml, minocycline could fasten the periodontal wound coverage by epithelial cells and allow the normal reformation of a junctional epithelium. [less ▲]

In vitro modulation of human gingival keratinocyte migration by minocycline-HCl.

Poster (1998)

In vitro modulation of keratinocyte attachment by minocycline HCl.

Poster (1994)

In vitro modulation of keratinocyte attachment to dentine by minocycline.

Poster (1996)

In vitro multiplication of an industrial fiber plant: kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.)

Poster (2012, April 23)

In vitro oocyte IGF-I priming increases inner cell mass proliferation of in vitro-formed bovine blastocysts

in Theriogenology (2012), 78(3), 517-527

Studies addressing the effects of supraphysiological levels of IGF-1 on oocyte developmental competence are relevant for unravelling conditions resulting in high bioavailability of IGF-1, such as the ... [more ▼]

Studies addressing the effects of supraphysiological levels of IGF-1 on oocyte developmental competence are relevant for unravelling conditions resulting in high bioavailability of IGF-1, such as the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study investigated the effects of supraphysiological levels of IGF-1 during in vivo folliculogenesis on the morula-blastocyst transition in bovine embryos. Compacted morulae were non-surgically collected and frozen for subsequent mRNA expression analysis (IGF1R, IGBP3, TP53, AKT1, SLC2A1, SLC2A3, and SLC2A8), or underwent confocalmicroscopy analysis for protein localization (IGF1R and TP53), or were cultured in vitro for 24 h. In vitro-formed blastocysts were subjected to differential cell staining. The mRNA expression of SLC2A8 was higher in morulae collected from cows treated with IGF-1. Both IGF1R and TP53 protein were present in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm. IGF-1 treatment did not affect protein localization of both IGF1R and TP53. In vitro-formed blastocysts derived from morulae recovered from IGF-1-treated cows displayed a higher number of cells in the inner cell mass (ICM). Total cell number (TCN) of in vitro-formed blastocysts was not affected. A higher mean ICM/TCN proportion was observed in in vitro-formed blastocysts derived from morulae collected from cows treated with IGF-1. The percentage of in vitro-formed blastocysts displaying a low ICM/TCN proportion was decreased by IGF-1 treatment. In vitro-formed blastocysts with a high ICM/TCN proportion were only detected in IGF-1 treated cows. Results show that even a short in vivo exposure of oocytes to a supraphysiological IGF-1 microenvironment can increase ICM cell proliferation in vitro during the morula to blastocyst transition [less ▲]