Matrix metalloproteinase 2 releases active soluble ectodomain of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1.

Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of a soluble fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor type 1 (FGFR1) extracellular domain in the circulation and in vascular basement membranes. However, the process of FGFR1 ectodomain release from the plasma membrane is not known. Here we report that the 72-kDa gelatinase A (matrix metalloproteinase type 2, MMP2) can hydrolyze the Val368-Met369 peptide bond of the FGFR1 ectodomain, eight amino acids upstream of the transmembrane domain, thus releasing the entire extracellular domain. Similar results were obtained regardless of whether FGF was first bound to the receptor or not. The action of MMP2 abolished binding of FGF to an immobilized recombinant FGFR1 ectodomain fusion protein and to Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing FGFR1 The released recombinant FGFR1 ectodomain was able to bind FGF after MMP2 cleavage, suggesting that the cleaved soluble receptor maintained its FGF binding capacity. The activity of MMP2 could not be reproduced by the 92-kDa gelatinase B (MMP9) and was inhibited by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase type 2. These studies demonstrate that FGFR1 may be a specific target for MMP2 on the cell surface, yielding a soluble FGF receptor that may modulate the mitogenic and angiogenic activities of FGF.

Preferential self-association of basic fibroblast growth factor is stabilized by heparin during receptor dimerization and activation.

Central to signaling by fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) is the oligomeric interaction of the growth factor and its high-affinity cell surface receptor, which is mediated by heparin-like polysaccharides. It has been proposed that the binding of heparin-like polysaccharides to FGF induces a conformational change in FGF, resulting in the formation of FGF dimers or oligomers, and this biologically active form is 'presented' to the FGF receptor for signal transduction. In this study, we show that monomeric basic FGF (FGF-2) preferentially self-associates and forms FGF-2 dimers and higher-order oligomers. As a consequence, FGF-2 monomers are oriented for binding to heparin-like polysaccharides. We also show that heparin-like polysaccharides can readily bind to self-associated FGF-2 without causing a conformational change in FGF-2 or disrupting the FGF-2 self-association, but that the bound polysaccharides only additionally stabilize the FGF-2 self-association. The preferential self-association corresponds to FGF-2 translations along two of the unit cell axes of the FGF-2 crystal structures. These two axes represent the two possible heparin binding directions, whereas the receptor binding sites are oriented along the third axis. Thus, we propose that preferential FGF-2 self-association, further stabilized by heparin, like "beads on a string," mediates FGF-2-induced receptor dimerization and activation. The observed FGF-2 self-association, modulated by heparin, not only provides a mechanism of growth factor activation but also represents a regulatory mechanism governing FGF-2 biological activity.

Pulmonary malformation in transgenic mice expressing human keratinocyte growth factor in the lung.

Expression of human keratinocyte growth factor (KGF/FGF-7) was directed to epithelial cells of the developing embryonic lung of transgenic mice disrupting normal pulmonary morphogenesis during the pseudoglandular stage of development. By embryonic day 15.5(E15.5), lungs of transgenic surfactant protein C (SP-C)-KGF mice resembled those of humans with pulmonary cystadenoma. Lungs were cystic, filling the thoracic cavity, and were composed of numerous dilated saccules lined with glycogen-containing columnar epithelial cells. The normal distribution of SP-C proprotein in the distal regions of respiratory tubules was disrupted. Columnar epithelial cells lining the papillary structures stained variably and weakly for this distal respiratory cell marker. Mesenchymal components were preserved in the transgenic mouse lungs, yet the architectural relationship of the epithelium to the mesenchyme was altered. SP-C-KGF transgenic mice failed to survive gestation to term, dying before E17.5. Culturing mouse fetal lung explants in the presence of recombinant human KGF also disrupted branching morphogenesis and resulted in similar cystic malformation of the lung. Thus, it appears that precise temporal and spatial expression of KGF is likely to play a crucial role in the control of branching morphogenesis during fetal lung development.

Survival and differentiation of adult neuronal progenitor cells transplanted to the adult brain.

The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is one of the few areas of the adult brain that undergoes neurogenesis. In the present study, cells capable of proliferation and neurogenesis were isolated and cultured from the adult rat hippocampus. In defined medium containing basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), cells can survive, proliferate, and express neuronal and glial markers. Cells have been maintained in culture for 1 year through multiple passages. These cultured adult cells were labeled in vitro with bromodeoxyuridine and adenovirus expressing beta-galactosidase and were transplanted to the adult rat hippocampus. Surviving cells were evident through 3 months postimplantation with no evidence of tumor formation. Within 2 months postgrafting, labeled cells were found in the dentate gyrus, where they differentiated into neurons only in the intact region of the granule cell layer. Our results indicate that FGF-2 responsive progenitors can be isolated from the adult hippocampus and that these cells retain the capacity to generate mature neurons when grafted into the adult rat brain.

The site of action of neuronal acidic fibroblast growth factor is the organ of Corti of the rat cochlea.

Here we show that the mature cochlear neurons are a rich source of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), which is expressed in the neuronal circuitry consisting of afferent and efferent innervation. The site of action of neuronal aFGF is likely to reside in the organ of Corti, where one of the four known FGF receptor (FGFR) tyrosine kinases--namely, FGFR-3 mRNA--is expressed. Following acoustic overstimulation, known to cause damage to the organ of Corti, a rapid up-regulation of FGFR-3 is evident in this sensory epithelium, at both mRNA and protein levels. The present results provide in vivo evidence for aFGF being a sensory neuron-derived, anterogradely transported factor that may exert trophic effects on a peripheral target tissue. In this sensory system, aFGF, rather than being a neurotrophic factor, seems to promote maintenance of the integrity of the organ of Corti. In addition, aFGF, released from the traumatized nerve endings, may be one of the first signals initiating protective recovery and repair processes following damaging auditory stimuli.

Efeito da cirurgia bariátrica sobre parâmetros clínicos, laboratoriais e fatores de risco cardiovascular

Introdução - Na prevenção primária das doenças cardiovasculares, a adoção de estilo de vida saudável representa uma das estratégias mais importantes. Entretanto, baixos índices de adesão e o abandono da dieta constituem obstáculo importante ao tratamento. Neste sentido, as intervenções cirúrgicas surgiram como um mecanismo promotor da restrição alimentar e têm ganhado importância não só pelo tratamento da obesidade como também no controle dos fatores de risco cardiovascular e na possível redução da mortalidade. Através de estudos clínicos foi possível observar que estas estratégias cirúrgicas promovem profundas modificações estruturais no trato gastrointestinal gerando aumento da saciedade e da sensibilidade à insulina. Em especial para os pacientes diabéticos, por si só associados a maior risco cardiovascular, as cirurgias bariátricas seriam capazes de promover um efeito muito intenso e agudo sobre os marcadores relacionados ao desenvolvimento da aterosclerose. Um evento muito definido no tempo como uma intervenção cirúrgica pode ser muito útil para o estudo e identificação de mecanismos que ainda não estão completamente estabelecidos no processo aterosclerótico. Objetivos - Analisar o comportamento das variáveis laboratoriais, clínicas e estruturais relacionadas ao desenvolvimento e progressão da aterosclerose em indivíduos diabéticos submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica. Métodos - Foram incluídos vinte voluntários diabéticos refratários ao tratamento clínico e que apresentavam obesidade abdominal. Deste grupo, metade foi aleatoriamente selecionada para realização da cirurgia bariátrica e metade foi mantida em tratamento clínico otimizado. Todos os participantes foram submetidos a exames clínicos e bioquímicos nas mesmas ocasiões, até trinta dias antes da cirurgia, três e vinte e quatro meses após a cirurgia. Nestas ocasiões além do perfil lipídico e da glicemia, determinamos os hormônios incretínicos, adipocinas. A avaliação da quantidade de gordura epicárdica e a presença de esteatose hepática será realizada somente após dois anos de seguimento em conjunto com as demais variáveis,. Foram incluídos também 10 indivíduos saudáveis e com IMC dentro da normalidade, como parte do grupo controle. Estes indivíduos foram submetidos à coleta de sangue em dois momentos para avaliação dos mesmos metabólitos. Resultados - No momento pré-intervenção os indivíduos do grupo cirúrgico e clinico eram diferentes em relação ao IMC, Glicemia e Triglicérides, sendo assim, os resultados obtidos foram ajustados minimizando o impacto destas diferenças. Após o seguimento de 3 meses, o grupo cirúrgico apresentou redução significativa nos valores de peso, IMC (33,4 ± 2,6 vs. 27,4±2,8 kg/m2, p < 0,001), HbA1c (9,26 ± 2,12 vs. 6,18±0,63%, p < 0,001), CT (182,9 ± 45,4 vs. 139,8 ± 13 mg/dl, p < 0,001), HDL (33,1 ± 7,7 vs. 38,4 ± 10,6 mg/dL, p < 0,001), TG (369,5 ± 324,6 vs. 130,8 ± 43,1 mg/dL, p < 0,001), Pro-insulina (12.72±9,11 vs. 1,76±1,14 pM, p < 0,001), RBP-4 (9,85±2,53 vs. 7,3±1,35 ng/ml, p < 0,001) e CCK (84,8±33,2 vs. 79,9 ± 31,1, ng/ml, p < 0,001), houve também aumento significativo nos níveis de HDL-colesterol (33,1 ± 7,7 vs. 38,4 ± 10,6 mg/dL, p < 0,001), Glucagon (7,4 ± 7,9 vs. 10,2±9,7 pg/ml, p < 0,001) e FGF- 19 (74,1 ± 45,8 vs. 237,3 ± 234 pg/ml, p=0,001). Um dado interessante foi que os valores de Pro-insulina, RBP-4, HbA1c e HDL- colesterol no grupo cirúrgico atingiram valores similares àqueles do grupo controle três meses após a intervenção, sendo que o FGF-19 apresentava valor duas vezes maior do que o encontrado no grupo de indivíduos saudáveis (237 ± 234 vs. 98 ± 102,1 pg/ml). O grupo clínico não apresentou variação nas variáveis clinicas, apenas nos valores de glucagon com redução significativa no período pós-intervenção (18,1 ± 20,7 vs. 16,8 ± 18,4 pg/ml, p < 0,001). Conclusão - Concluímos que indivíduos diabéticos descompensados e refratários ao tratamento clínico, quando submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica, apresentam uma alteração profunda do ponto de vista clínico, metabólico e hormonal, em relação ao indivíduos de mesmo perfil mantidos em tratamento clínico otimizado. Esta importante alteração, observada já com três meses após a intervenção, pode representar uma importante redução do risco cardiovascular nestes indivíduos. Individualmente, a notável modificação dos valores de FGF-19 associadas à intervenção devem ser estudadas com maior profundidade para compreensão de seu significado e sua potencial utilidade como marcador ou como um dos protagonistas no mecanismo de prevenção cardiovascular

Evidence for a Myotomal Hox/Myf Cascade Governing Nonautonomous Control of Rib Specification within Global Vertebral Domains

Hox genes are essential for the patterning of the axial skeleton. Hox group 10 has been shown to specify the lumbar domain by setting a rib-inhibiting program in the presomitic mesoderm (PSM). We have now produced mice with ribs in every vertebra by ectopically expressing Hox group 6 in the PSM, indicating that Hox genes are also able to specify the thoracic domain. We show that the information provided by Hox genes to specify rib-containing and rib-less areas is first interpreted in the myotome through the regional-specific control of Myf5 and Myf6 expression. This information is then transmitted to the sclerotome by a system that includes FGF and PDGF signaling to produce vertebrae with or without ribs at different axial levels. Our findings offer a new perspective of how Hox genes produce global patterns in the axial skeleton and support a redundant nonmyogenic role of Myf5 and Myf6 in rib formation.

Revisiting the involvement of signaling gradients in somitogenesis

During embryonic development, formation of individual vertebrae requires that the paraxial mesoderm becomes divided into regular segmental units known as somites. Somites are sequentially formed at the anterior end of the presomitic mesoderm (PSM) resulting from functional interactions between the oscillatory activity of signals promoting segmentation and a moving wavefront of tissue competence to those signals, eventually generating a constant flow of new somites at regular intervals. According to the current model for somitogenesis, the wavefront results from the combined activity of two opposing functional gradients in the PSM involving the Fgf, Wnt and retinoic acid (RA) signaling pathways. Here, I use published data to evaluate the wavefront model. A critical analysis of those studies seems to support a role for Wnt signaling, but raise doubts regarding the extent to which Fgf and RA signaling contribute to this process.

The effects of bicycle accommodations on bicycle/motor vehicle safety traffic operations. Final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.

Symbol signs 2. The development of passenger/pedestrian oriented symbols for use in transportation-related facilities. Final report.

Transportation Department, Research and Special Programs Administration, Washington, D.C.

FHWA international scanning report on advanced transportation technology.

Mode of access: Internet.

FHWA study tour for highway safety management practices in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

Mode of access: Internet.

Acquiring highway transportation information from abroad: final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.

Acquiring highway transportation information from abroad: handbook.

Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.

OECD seminar on strategic planning for road research programs. Conference proceedings.

Federal Highway Administration, Office of Safety and Traffic Operations Research Development, McLean, Va.