• Getting sticky with it: Phospholipid fou

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Mon May 9 22:30:42 2022
    Getting sticky with it: Phospholipid found to play a key role in
    epithelial cell adhesion
    Phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2) is essential for epithelial
    cell-cell adhesion and maintaining cellular identity

    Date:
    May 9, 2022
    Source:
    Tokyo University of Science
    Summary:
    Cells have certain proteins that help them adhere to each
    other while covering body surfaces and organs. Loss of these
    identifying proteins could result in cellular progression towards
    cancer and, subsequently, metastasis. However, lipids may play
    a role in maintaining cellular identity as well. Scientists have
    now identified the role of PIP2, a phospholipid, in maintaining
    epithelial cell-cell adhesion and cellular identity. Their findings
    will help develop strategies aimed at suppressing metastasis.



    FULL STORY ==========================================================================
    In multicellular organisms, body cells adhere to each other to form
    tissues that perform various physiological functions. Epithelial cells
    form our skin and lining surfaces, such as the gut and other ducts, and
    protect our internal organs. To maintain the integrity of an organism
    and function properly, it is important for these cells to remain
    attached to each other. They do so through specific types of cellular junctions. These junctions are characterized by proteins, which also
    help in maintaining cellular identity. The loss of these proteins from
    cell surfaces causes them to lose their identity as epithelial cells,
    prompting their transformation into mesenchymal cells (through a process
    known as epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, or EMT), and subsequently, their progression towards cancer and fibrosis. These cancerous cells are
    only loosely adherent to each other (given that the proteins that helped maintain cellular adhesion are now lost), so they may separate from each
    other, migrate into the bloodstream, and cause the cancer to metastasize (spread to other parts of the body).


    ==========================================================================
    Now, while the role of proteins in maintaining cellular identity is
    well- researched, we can't help but wonder-do lipids (fatty molecules)
    also play a role in characterizing cells and preventing EMT? Under the guidance of Dr. Yoshikazu Nakamura and Dr. Kaori Kanemaru, researchers
    from Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Tokyo University of Pharmacy and
    Life Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Akita University,
    Hokkaido University, and Kobe University have tried to find an answer
    to this question.

    "We know lipids are an important class of biomolecules, necessary for
    certain cellular functions. One such lipid, a phosphatidylinositol, forms
    a phospholipid called phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2)," Associate Professor Dr. Nakamura from TUS dives into the topic. He tells us that
    PIP2 is important because it is crucial for the formation of signaling molecules that regulate cell proliferation, survival, and migration. "We
    had evidence that higher amounts of PIP2 were found in the epidermal
    layer of skin, so we hypothesized that this phospholipid contributed to
    the properties and characterization of epithelial cells." The findings
    from their study have been published in Nature Communications. The
    paper describes how the team used a battery of analytical techniques
    including chromatography, mass spectroscopy, immunofluorescence,
    retroviral expression, and real-time quantitative PCR to confirm that
    PIP2 plays a critical role in the determination of epithelial identity.

    "We saw that epithelial cells lost their properties when PIP2 was
    depleted from their cell membranes. On the other hand, osteosarcoma cells (which are cancerous, non-epithelial cells) gained epithelial cell-like properties when PIP2 was produced in their plasma membranes." says
    Dr. Nakamura, with a look of excitement. The group was also able to
    show that PIP2regulates these epithelial properties by recruiting Par3
    -- a protein which guides vesicles intracellularly -- to the plasma
    membrane. Once in the plasma membrane, Par3 facilitates the formation
    of adherens junctions (one of the cellular junctions discussed above)
    which anchor neighboring cells together. This partially prevents EMT,
    and hence, progression of cancer.

    "So," Dr. Nakamura explains, "In theory, PIP2's partial inhibition of
    EMT could halt cancer progression, making this phospholipid an attractive target molecule for anti-cancer treatment." TUS' research has opened a
    new avenue for the development of anti-cancer drug development, possibly
    giving us a solution that will "stick."

    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Tokyo_University_of_Science. Note:
    Content may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Kaori Kanemaru, Makoto Shimozawa, Manabu Kitamata, Rikuto Furuishi,
    Hinako Kayano, Yui Sukawa, Yuuki Chiba, Takatsugu Fukuyama, Junya
    Hasegawa, Hiroki Nakanishi, Takuma Kishimoto, Kazuya Tsujita,
    Kazuma Tanaka, Toshiki Itoh, Junko Sasaki, Takehiko Sasaki, Kiyoko
    Fukami, Yoshikazu Nakamura. Plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol
    (4,5)- bisphosphate is critical for determination of epithelial
    characteristics.

    Nature Communications, 2022; 13 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30061-9 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220509100934.htm

    --- up 10 weeks, 10 hours, 50 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)