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Background: Metastatic melanoma requires early detection, being treatment resistant. However, the earliest events of melanoma metastasis, and especially of dermal invasion, remain ill defined.Results and Methods: Gene expression profiles of two clonal subpopulations, selected from the same human melanoma cell line, but differing in ability to cross the dermal-epidermal junction in skin reconstructs, were compared by oligonucleotide microarray. Of 26 496 cDNA probes, 461 were differentially expressed (>2-fold; P< 0.001), only 71 genes being upregulated in invasive cells. Among them, TSPAN8, a tetraspanin not yet described in melanoma, was upregulated at mRNA and protein levels in melanoma cells from the invasive clone, as assessed by RT-PCR, flow cytometry and western blot analysis. Interestingly, TSPAN8 was the only tetraspanin in which overexpression correlated with invasive phenotype. Flow cytometry of well-defined melanoma cell lines confirmed that TSPAN8 was exclusively expressed by invasive, but not non-invasive melanoma cells or normal melanocytes. Immunohistochemistry revealed that TSPAN8 was expressed by melanoma cells in primary melanomas and metastases, but not epidermal cells in healthy skin. The functional role of TSPAN8 was demonstrated by silencing endogenous TSPAN8 with siRNA, reducing invasive outgrowth from tumour spheroids within matrigel without affecting cell proliferation or survival.Conclusion: TSPAN8 expression may enable melanoma cells to cross the cutaneous basement membrane, leading to dermal invasion and progression to metastasis. TSPAN8 could be a promising target in early detection and treatment of melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver transplantation (LT) is a major treatment for patients with end-stage liver diseases. Steatosis is a significant risk factor for primary graft nonfunction and associated with poor long-term graft outcomes. Traditionally, the evaluation of steatosis is based on frozen section examination to estimate the percentage of hepatocytes containing lipid vesicles. However, this visual evaluation correlates poorly with the true lipid content. This study aimed to address the potential of infrared (IR) microspectroscopy for rapidly estimating lipid content in the context of LT and assessing its impact on survival. Clinical data were collected for >20 months from 58 patients who underwent transplantation. For each liver graft, macrovacuolar steatosis and microvesicular steatosis were evaluated through histologic examination of frozen tissue section. Triglycerides (TG) were further quantified using gas phase chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and estimated by IR microspectroscopy. A linear relationship and significant correlation were observed between the TG measured by GC-FID and those estimated using IR microspectroscopy (R 2  = 0.86). In some cases, microvesicular steatosis was related to high lipid content despite low levels of macrovacuolar steatosis. Seven patients experienced posttransplantation liver failure, including 5 deceased patients. All patients underwent transplantation with grafts containing significantly high TG levels. A concentration of 250 nmol/mg was identified as the threshold above which the risk of failure after LT significantly increased, affecting 35% of patients. Our study established a strong correlation between LT outcomes and lipid content. IR microspectroscopy proved to be a rapid and reliable approach for assessing the lipid content in clinical settings., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. A clearer understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor growth and invasiveness remains crucial for developing new therapies. Here, the expression of tetraspanins, a family of plasma membrane organizers involved in tumor progression, has been addressed. Integrative approaches combining transcriptomics and bioinformatics allow demonstrating the induced and heterogeneous expression of Tspan15 in HCC. Tspan15 positive tumors exhibit signatures related to hepatic progenitor cells as well as recurrence of cancer. Immunohistochemistry experiments confirm Tspan15 expression in the subset of HCC expressing stemness-related markers such as EpCAM and Cytokeratin-19. Functional networks reveal that most of these genes expressed in correlation to Tspan15 support cell proliferation. Furthermore, Tspan15 overexpression in the hepatoma cell line HepG2 significantly increases cell proliferation. A quantitative proteomic analysis of the secretome reveals a higher abundance of the protein connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a pleiotropic matricellular signaling protein. Proteomic profiling of Tspan15 complexes allows identifying numerous membrane proteins including several growth factor receptors. Finally, Tspan15 increases ERK1/2 phosphorylation that directly controls CTGF expression and secretion. In conclusion, Tspan15 is a new stemness-related marker in HCC which exhibits high potential of tumor growth and recurrence., (© 2019 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The mechanisms driving the development of extracapillary lesions in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN) remain poorly understood. A key question is how parietal epithelial cells (PECs) invade glomerular capillaries, thereby promoting injury and kidney failure. Here we show that expression of the tetraspanin CD9 increases markedly in PECs in mouse models of CGN and FSGS, and in kidneys from individuals diagnosed with these diseases. Cd9 gene targeting in PECs prevents glomerular damage in CGN and FSGS mouse models. Mechanistically, CD9 deficiency prevents the oriented migration of PECs into the glomerular tuft and their acquisition of CD44 and β1 integrin expression. These findings highlight a critical role for de novo expression of CD9 as a common pathogenic switch driving the PEC phenotype in CGN and FSGS, while offering a potential therapeutic avenue to treat these conditions.

Tetraspanins are a family of proteins possessing four transmembrane domains that help in lateral organization of plasma membrane proteins. These proteins interact with each other as well as other receptors and signaling proteins, resulting in functional complexes called "tetraspanin microdomains." Tetraspanins, including CD82, play an essential role in the pathogenesis of fungal infections. Dectin-1, a receptor for the fungal cell wall carbohydrate β-1,3-glucan, is vital to host defense against fungal infections. The current study identifies a novel association between tetraspanin CD82 and Dectin-1 on the plasma membrane of Candida albicans -containing phagosomes independent of phagocytic ability. Deletion of CD82 in mice resulted in diminished fungicidal activity, increased C. albicans viability within macrophages, and decreased cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1β) at both mRNA and protein level in macrophages. Additionally, CD82 organized Dectin-1 clustering in the phagocytic cup. Deletion of CD82 modulates Dectin-1 signaling, resulting in a reduction of Src and Syk phosphorylation and reactive oxygen species production. CD82 knockout mice were more susceptible to C. albicans as compared with wild-type mice. Furthermore, patient C. albicans -induced cytokine production was influenced by two human CD82 single nucleotide polymorphisms, whereas an additional CD82 single nucleotide polymorphism increased the risk for candidemia independent of cytokine production. Together, these data demonstrate that CD82 organizes the proper assembly of Dectin-1 signaling machinery in response to C. albicans ., (Copyright © 2019 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.)

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a condition which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Markers for NASH diagnosis are still lacking. We performed a comprehensive lipidomic analysis on human liver biopsies including normal liver, nonalcoholic fatty liver and NASH. Random forests-based machine learning approach allowed characterizing a signature of 32 lipids discriminating NASH with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, we validated this signature in an independent group of NASH patients. Then, metabolism dysregulations were investigated in both patients and murine models. Alterations of elongase and desaturase activities were observed along the fatty acid synthesis pathway. The decreased activity of the desaturase FADS1 appeared as a bottleneck, leading upstream to an accumulation of fatty acids and downstream to a deficiency of long-chain fatty acids resulting to impaired phospholipid synthesis. In NASH, mass spectrometry imaging on tissue section revealed the spreading into the hepatic parenchyma of selectively accumulated fatty acids. Such lipids constituted a highly toxic mixture to human hepatocytes. In conclusion, this study characterized a specific and sensitive lipid signature of NASH and positioned FADS1 as a significant player in accumulating toxic lipids during NASH progression.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver diseases including the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Particularly, core protein has been involved in HCV-related liver pathologies. However, the impact of HCV core on signaling pathways supporting the genesis of HCC remains largely elusive. To decipher the host cell signaling pathways involved in the oncogenic potential of HCV core, a global quantitative phosphoproteomic approach was carried out. This study shed light on novel differentially phosphorylated proteins, in particular several components involved in translation. Among the eukaryotic initiation factors that govern the translational machinery, 4E-BP1 represents a master regulator of protein synthesis that is associated with the development and progression of cancers due to its ability to increase protein expression of oncogenic pathways. Enhanced levels of 4E-BP1 in non-modified and phosphorylated forms were validated in human hepatoma cells and in mouse primary hepatocytes expressing HCV core, in the livers of HCV core transgenic mice as well as in HCV-infected human primary hepatocytes. The contribution of HCV core in carcinogenesis and the status of 4E-BP1 expression and phosphorylation were studied in HCV core/Myc double transgenic mice. HCV core increased the levels of 4E-BP1 expression and phosphorylation and significantly accelerated the onset of Myc-induced tumorigenesis in these double transgenic mice. These results reveal a novel function of HCV core in liver carcinogenesis potentiation. They position 4E-BP1 as a tumor-specific target of HCV core and support the involvement of the 4E-BP1/eIF4E axis in hepatocarcinogenesis., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST All authors have nothing to disclose.

Melanoma is well known for its propensity for lethal metastasis and resistance to most current therapies. Tumor progression and drug resistance depend to a large extent on the interplay between tumor cells and the surrounding matrix. We previously identified Tetraspanin 8 (Tspan8) as a critical mediator of melanoma invasion, whose expression is absent in healthy skin. The present study investigated whether Tspan8 may influence cell-matrix anchorage and regulate downstream molecular pathways leading to an aggressive behavior. Using silencing and ectopic expression strategies, we showed that Tspan8-mediated invasion of melanoma cells resulted from defects in cell-matrix anchorage by interacting with β1 integrins and by interfering with their clustering, without affecting their surface or global expression levels. These effects were associated with impaired phosphorylation of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and its downstream target Akt-S473, but not FAK. Specific blockade of Akt or ILK activity strongly affected cell-matrix adhesion. Moreover, expression of a dominant-negative form of ILK reduced β1 integrin clustering and cell-matrix adhesion. Finally, we observed a tumor-promoting effect of Tspan8 in vivo and a mutually exclusive expression pattern between Tspan8 and phosphorylated ILK in melanoma xenografts and human melanocytic lesions. Altogether, the in vitro, in vivo and in situ data highlight a novel regulatory role for Tspan8 in melanoma progression by modulating cell-matrix interactions through β1 integrin-ILK axis and establish Tspan8 as a negative regulator of ILK activity. These findings emphasize the importance of targeting Tspan8 as a means of switching from low- to firm-adhesive states, mandatory to prevent tumor dissemination.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) is a precursor of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a condition that may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Markers for diagnosis of NASH are still lacking. We have investigated lipid markers using mouse models that developed NAFL when fed with high fat diet (HFD) or NASH when fed using methionine choline deficient diet (MCDD). We have performed a comprehensive lipidomic analysis on liver tissues as well as on sera from mice fed HFD (n = 5), MCDD (n = 5) or normal diet as controls (n = 10). Machine learning approach based on prediction analysis of microarrays followed by random forests allowed identifying 21 lipids out of 149 in the liver and 14 lipids out of 155 in the serum discriminating mice fed MCDD from HFD or controls. In conclusion, the global approach implemented allowed characterizing lipid signatures specific to NASH in both liver and serum from animal models. This opens new avenue for investigating early and non-invasive lipid markers for diagnosis of NASH in human.

Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive disease due to mutations of the gene encoding the copper-transporter ATP7B. The diagnosis is hampered by the variability of symptoms induced by copper accumulation, the inconstancy of the pathognomonic signs and the absence of a reliable diagnostic test. We investigated the diagnostic potential of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) that allows quantitative analysis of multiple elements. Studies were performed on animal models using Wistar rats (n = 10) and Long Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats (n = 11), and on human samples including normal livers (n = 10), alcohol cirrhosis (n = 8), haemochromatosis (n = 10), cholestasis (n = 6) and WD (n = 22). XRF experiments were first performed using synchrotron radiation to address the elemental composition at the cellular level. High-resolution mapping of tissue sections allowed measurement of the intensity and the distribution of copper, iron and zinc while preserving the morphology. Investigations were further conducted using a laboratory X-ray source for irradiating whole pieces of tissue. The sensitivity of XRF was highlighted by the discrimination of LEC rats from wild type even under a regimen using copper deficient food. XRF on whole formalin-fixed paraffin embedded needle biopsies allowed profiling of the elements in a few minutes. The intensity of copper related to iron and zinc significantly discriminated WD from other genetic or chronic liver diseases with 97.6% specificity and 100% sensitivity. This study established a definite diagnosis of Wilson's disease based on XRF. This rapid and versatile method can be easily implemented in a clinical setting.

Background: The challenging diagnosis and poor prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma require the determination of biomarkers. Autoantibodies could be used in the clinic as diagnostic markers for the early detection of tumours. By proteomic approaches, several autoantibodies were proposed as potential markers. We tried in this study, to perform a serological proteome analysis, using various antigenic substrates, including tumours and human liver., Methods: Sera from patients (n = 13) and healthy donors (n = 10) were probed on immunoblots performed using 2-dimensionally separated proteins from cholangiocarcinoma cell lines (CCLP1 and CCSW1), from the liver of healthy subject and interestingly, from tumour and adjacent non-tumour liver tissues from five patients with cholangiocarcinoma and tested with their corresponding serum. Spots of interest were identified using mass spectrometry and classified according gene ontology analysis., Results: A comparison of the whole immunoblotting patterns given by cholangiocarcinoma sera against those obtained with normal control sera enabled the definition of 862 spots. Forty-five different proteins were further analysed, corresponding to (1) spots stained with more than four of 13 (30 %) sera tested with the CCLP1 or the CCSW1 cell line and with the normal liver, and (2) to spots immunoreactive with at least two of the five sera probed with their tumour and non-tumour counter-part of cholangiocarcinoma. Immunoreactive proteins with catalytic activity as molecular function were detected at rates of 93 and 64 % in liver from healthy subjects or cholangiocarcinoma non-tumour tissues respectively, compared to 43, 33, 33 % in tumour tissues, or CCSW1 and CCLP1 cell lines. A second pattern was represented by structural proteins with rates of 7 and 7 % in normal liver or non-tumour tissues compared to 14, 33 and 67 % in tumour tissue, CCSW1 or CCLP1 cell lines. Proteins with a binding function were detected at rates of 7 % in non-tumour tissue and 14 % in tumour tissue. Using the extracted tumour tissue, serotransferrin was targeted by all cholangiocarcinoma-related sera., Conclusions: Immunological patterns depended on the type of antigen substrate used; i.e. tumour versus non tumour specimens. Nevertheless, a combination of multiple autoantibodies tested with the most appropriate substrate might be more sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Hepatocarcinogenesis is a multistep process characterized in patients with chronic liver diseases by a spectrum of hepatic nodules that mark the progression from regenerative nodules to dysplastic lesions followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The differential diagnosis between precancerous dysplastic nodules and early HCC still represents a challenge for both radiologists and pathologists. We addressed the potential of Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy for grading cirrhotic nodules on frozen tissue sections., Methods: The study was focused on 39 surgical specimens including normal livers (n = 11), dysplastic nodules (n = 6), early HCC (n = 1), progressed HCC on alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 10) or hepatitis C virus cirrhosis (n = 11). The use of the bright infrared source emitted by the synchrotron radiation allowed investigating the biochemical composition at the cellular level. Chemical mapping on whole tissue sections was further performed using a FTIR microscope equipped with a laboratory-based infrared source. The variance was addressed by principal component analysis., Results: Profound alterations of the biochemical composition of the pathological liver were demonstrated by FTIR microspectroscopy. Indeed, dramatic changes were observed in lipids, proteins and sugars highlighting the metabolic reprogramming in carcinogenesis. Quantifiable spectral markers were characterized by calculating ratios of areas under specific bands along the infrared spectrum. These markers allowed the discrimination of cirrhotic nodules, dysplastic lesions and HCC. Finally, the spectral markers can be measured using a laboratory FTIR microscope that may be easily implemented at the hospital., Conclusion: Metabolic reprogramming in liver carcinogenesis can constitute a signature easily detectable using FTIR microspectroscopy for the diagnosis of precancerous and cancerous lesions.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a frequent lesion associated with obesity, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. The hallmark feature of fatty liver disease is steatosis, which is the intra-cellular accumulation of lipids resulting in the formation of vesicles in hepatocytes. Steatosis is a precursor of steatohepatitis, a condition that may progress to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. We addressed the potential of Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy for grading steatosis on frozen tissue sections. The use of the bright infrared source emitted by synchrotron radiation (SR) allowed the investigation of the biochemical composition at the cellular level. The variance in the huge number of spectra acquired was addressed by principal component analysis (PCA). The study demonstrated that the progression of steatosis corresponds not only to the accumulation of lipids but also to dramatic changes in the qualitative composition of the tissue. Indeed, a lower grade of steatosis showed a decrease in glycogen content and a concomitant increase in lipids in comparison with normal liver. Intermediate steatosis exhibited an increase in glycogen and major changes in lipids, with a significant contribution of esterified fatty acids with elongated carbon chains and unsaturated lipids, and these features were more pronounced in a high grade of steatosis. Furthermore, the approach allows a systematic discrimination of morphological features, leading to a separate investigation of steatotic vesicles and the non-steatotic counterpart of the tissue. This highlighted the fact that dramatic biochemical changes occur in the non-steatotic part of the tissue also despite its normal histological aspect, suggesting that the whole tissue reflects the grade of steatosis.

Fibrillar distribution in the rat tail tendon and mice liver can be measured using optical methods. Two-photon excitation provides easy assessment of fibrotic collagen types I and II. Single photon deep ultraviolet (DUV) excitation imaging highlights all collagen types without discrimination. Their combination on the same tissue area provides a better overview of collagens in fibrillar diseases.

The characterization of membrane proteins is still challenging. The major issue is the high hydrophobicity of membrane proteins that necessitates the use of detergents for their extraction and solubilization. The very poor compatibility of mass spectrometry with detergents remains a tremendous obstacle in studies of membrane proteins. Here, we investigated the potential of atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) for mass spectrometry study of membrane proteins. This work was focused on the tetraspanin CD9 and the multidrug transporter BmrA. A set of peptides from CD9, exhibiting a broad range of hydropathicity, was investigated using APPI as compared to electrospray ionization (ESI). Mass spectrometry experiments revealed that the most hydrophobic peptides were hardly ionized by ESI whereas all peptides, including the highly hydrophobic one that corresponds to the full sequence of the first transmembrane domain of CD9, were easily ionized by APPI. The native protein BmrA purified in the presence of the non-ionic detergent beta-D-dodecyl maltoside (DDM) was digested in-solution using trypsin. The resulting peptides were investigated by flow injection analysis of the mixture followed by mass spectrometry. Upon ESI, only detergent ions were detected and the ionic signals from the peptides were totally suppressed. In contrast, APPI allowed many peptides distributed along the sequence of the protein to be detected. Furthermore, the parent ion corresponding to the first transmembrane domain of the protein BmrA was detected under APPI conditions. Careful examination of the APPI mass spectrum revealed a-, b-, c- and y- fragment ions generated by in-source fragmentation. Those fragment ions allowed unambiguous structural characterization of the transmembrane domain. In conclusion, APPI-MS appears as a versatile method allowing the ionization and fragmentation of hydrophobic peptides in the presence of detergent.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry is dependent on coreceptor complex formation between the tetraspanin superfamily member CD81 and the tight junction protein claudin-1 (CLDN1) on the host cell membrane. The receptor tyrosine kinase EGFR acts as a cofactor for HCV entry by promoting CD81-CLDN1 complex formation via unknown mechanisms. We identify the GTPase HRas, activated downstream of EGFR signaling, as a key host signal transducer for EGFR-mediated HCV entry. Proteomic analysis revealed that HRas associates with tetraspanin CD81, CLDN1, and the previously unrecognized HCV entry cofactors integrin β1 and Ras-related protein Rap2B in hepatocyte membranes. HRas signaling is required for lateral membrane diffusion of CD81, which enables tetraspanin receptor complex assembly. HRas was also found to be relevant for entry of other viruses, including influenza. Our data demonstrate that viruses exploit HRas signaling for cellular entry by compartmentalization of entry factors and receptor trafficking., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: The development of potentially severe non-graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) hepatitis resembling autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has been reported after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The aim of this study was to better characterize this form of hepatitis, particularly through the identification of autoantigens recognized by patient sera. Five patients who received an allogeneic BMT for the treatment of hematological diseases developed liver dysfunction with histological features suggestive of AIH. Before and during the onset of hepatic dysfunction, sera were tested on immunoblottings performed with cytosolic, microsomal, mitochondrial, and nuclear proteins from rat liver homogenate and resolved by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Antigenic targets were identified by mass spectrometry. During the year that followed BMT, all patients presented with GVHD. Acute hepatitis then occurred after the withdrawal, or during the tapering, of immunosuppressive therapy. At that time, no patients had a history of liver toxic drug absorption, patent viral infection, or any histopathological findings consistent with GVHD. Immunoreactive spots stained by sera collected at the time of hepatic dysfunction were more numerous and more intensely expressed than those stained by sera collected before. Considerable patient-dependent pattern heterogeneity was observed. Among the 259 spots stained exclusively by sera collected at the time of hepatitis, a total of 240 spots were identified, corresponding to 103 different proteins. Twelve of them were recognized by sera from 3 patients., Conclusions: This is the first immunological description of potentially severe non-GVHD hepatitis occurring after BMT, determined using a proteomic approach and enabling a discussion of the mechanisms that transform an alloimmune reaction into an autoimmune response. Any decision to withdraw immunosuppression after allogeneic BMT should be made with caution., (Copyright © 2012 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.)

Liver is subject to various chronic pathologies, progressively leading to cirrhosis, which is associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. There is an urgent need for diagnostic and prognostic markers of chronic liver diseases and liver cancer. Spectroscopy-based approaches can provide an overview of the chemical composition of a tissue sample offering the possibility of investigating in depth the subtle chemical changes associated with pathological states. In this study, we have addressed the composition of cirrhotic liver tissue by combining synchrotron Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy and synchrotron micro-X-ray fluorescence (XRF) on the same tissue section using a single sample holder in copper. This allowed investigation of the in situ biochemical as well as elemental composition of cells and tissues at high spatial resolution. Cirrhosis is characterized by regeneration nodules surrounded by annular fibrosis. Hepatocytes within cirrhotic nodules were characterized by high content in esters and sugars as well as in phosphorus and iron compared with fibrotic septa. A high heterogeneity was observed between cirrhotic nodules in their content in sugars and iron. On fibrosis, synchrotron XRF revealed enrichment in calcium compared to cirrhotic hepatocytes. Careful scrutiny of tissue sections led to detection of the presence of microcrystals that were demonstrated as precipitates of calcite using synchrotron FTIR. These results demonstrated that synchrotron FTIR and synchrotron XRF microspectroscopies provide complementary information on the chemical composition of cirrhotic hepatocytes and fibrotic septa in cirrhosis.

Metastasis is the major cause of death by cancer. Indeed, metastatic colonies can reactivate and become life threatening, sometimes months or years after the initial diagnosis and surgery of the primary tumor. Therefore, there is a crucial need to develop methods for diagnosis of tumor cells that exhibit high metastatic potential. Here, we addressed the capability of vibrational spectroscopy for investigating the effects induced by CDCP1 expression in colon carcinoma cells. This transmembrane protein has been suggested to play a key role in metastasis by its pleiotropic function. We focused on a cellular model constituted by the cell lines SW480 and SW620 derived respectively from the primary tumor and a lymph node metastasis of the same patient. Induced CDCP1 expression in SW480 led to marked changes in cell morphology. Whereas SW480 form a cell layer, the SW480/CDCP1 cells exhibited reduced cell-to-cell contact. On collagen I, SW480 was more spread and filopodia were observed. In contrast, SW480/CDCP1 cells exhibited lower spreading with no formation of filopodia. Synchrotron Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy experiments were performed on this cellular model. High quality spectroscopic information at sub-cellular resolution, provided by the use of the synchrotron source in infrared microspectroscopy, was recorded on numerous individual cells. Multivariate analysis of spectra recorded using principal component analysis indicated a highest intensity increase of the 970 and 1080 cm(-1) bands, and a modest intensity increase of the 1240 cm(-1) band in the SW480/CDCP1 cells. These bands were correlated with an increased content of phosphorylated proteins as confirmed by in situ labelling using a monoclonal antibody directed against phosphorylated tyrosines. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the vibrational technique used in this study exhibits the capability to characterize spectral signatures of CDCP1-induced effects in colon carcinoma cells. This study may open new avenues for rapid diagnosis of cells with a metastatic potential.

Mass spectrometry (MS) has dramatically evolved in the last two decades and has been the driving force of the spectacular expansion of proteomics during this period. However, the very poor compatibility of MS with detergents is still a technical obstacle in some studies, in particular on membrane proteins. Indeed, the high hydrophobicity of membrane proteins necessitates the use of detergents for their extraction and solubilization. Here, we address the analytical potential of high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) for separating peptides from detergents. The study was focused on peptides from the human integral membrane protein CD9. A tryptic peptide was mixed with the non-ionic detergents Triton X-100 or beta-D-dodecyl maltoside (DDM) as well as with the ionic detergents sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or sodium deoxycholate (SDC). Although electrospray ionization (ESI) alone led to a total suppression of the peptide ion signal on mass spectra with only detection of the detergents, use of FAIMS allowed separation and clear identification of the peptide with any of the detergents studied. The detection and identification of the target compound in the presence of an excess of detergents are then feasible. FAIMS should prove especially useful in the structural and proteomic analysis of membrane proteins., (Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Tumor invasion and metastasis are major obstacles to clinical treatment that rely on cell migration. Here, we elucidate a mechanism of colon carcinoma cell migration that is supported by the cell surface tetraspanin Co-029 (tspan8), which is known to favor tumor progression and metastasis. This mechanism is unmasked by silencing of E-cadherin or its associated adapter molecule p120-catenin (p120ctn), and it involves a switch in signaling between the collagen-binding integrins α(1)β(1) and α(2)β(1). Direct interaction between E-cadherin and Co-029 was documented by chemical cross-linking and immunohistologic analysis of colon carcinomas. High expression of Co-029 and cytoplasmic delocalization of p120ctn were each associated with poor prognosis. Cell motility was reduced severely by antibody-mediated disruption of Co-029 only when p120ctn was silenced, suggesting that tumor progression may be hindered by Co-029 targeting. Our findings define a function for tetraspanin Co-029 as a modifier of cancer cell motility and reveal an adhesion signaling network implicated in progression and metastasis., (© 2010 AACR.)

CD9P-1 is a cell surface protein with immunoglobulin domains and an unknown function that specifically associates with tetraspanins CD9 and CD81. Overexpression of CD9P-1 in HEK-293 cells induces dramatic changes in cell spreading and migration on various matrices. Experiments using time-lapse videomicroscopy revealed that CD9P-1 expression has led to higher cell motility on collagen I but lower motility on fibronectin through a beta1-integrins dependent mechanism. On collagen I, the increase in cell motility induced by CD9P-1 expression was found to involve integrin alpha2beta1 and CD9P-1 was observed to associate with this collagen receptor. The generation of CD9P-1 mutants demonstrated that the transmembrane and the cytoplasmic domains are necessary for inducing effects on cell motility. On the other hand, expression of tetraspanins CD9 or CD81 was shown to reverse the effects of CD9P-1 on cell motility on collagen I or fibronectin with a concomitant association with CD9P-1. Thus, the ratio of expression levels between CD9P-1 and its tetraspanin partners can regulate cell motility.

Mass spectrometry and spectroscopy-based approaches can provide an overview of the chemical composition of a tissue sample. This opens up the possibility to investigate in depth the subtle biochemical changes associated with pathological tissues. In this study, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and synchrotron-FT-IR and -UV imaging were applied to the same tissue section by using the same sample holder. The tested sample involved liver cirrhosis, which is characterized by regeneration nodules surrounded by annular fibrosis. A tissue section from a cirrhotic liver was deposited on a gold coated glass slide and was initially analyzed by FT-IR microspectroscopy in order to image the distribution of lipids, proteins, sugars, and nucleic acids. This technique has identified collagen enrichment in fibrosis whereas esters were mostly distributed into the cirrhotic nodules. The exact same section was investigated using TOF-SIMS demonstrating that some molecular lipid species were differentially distributed into the fibrosis areas or cirrhotic nodules. Spectra of UV microspectroscopy obtained from the same section allowed visualizing high autofluorescence from fibrous septa confirming the presence of collagen. Altogether, these results demonstrated that TOF-SIMS and FT-IR/UV microspectroscopy analyses can be successfully performed on the same tissue section.

Tetraspanins are integral membrane proteins involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. They associate with each other in multimolecular complexes containing numerous membrane proteins. As a first step towards the study of the supramolecular organization of tetraspanin complexes, we have implemented a proteomic approach based on in situ protein cross-linking on living cells followed by affinity purification of tetraspanin complexes. This allowed observing the presence of high molecular weight protein complexes that were characterized as containing CD9P-1/CD315 using LC-MS/MS. Western blot analyses and the use of different tags demonstrated the presence of CD9P-1 oligomer in cis-association at cell surface. A significant amount of CD9P-1 oligomer was observed on various cell types. We have shown that CD9P-1 self-associates independently from its association with tetraspanins. However, the expression level of CD9 or CD81 that associate directly and specifically with CD9P-1, positively modulates the cross-linking efficiency of CD9P-1. Thus, tetraspanins can play a role on CD9P-1 oligomerization status.