Bibliography: leaves 300-326. / 326 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Evaluates an in vitro experimental system which was designed to assess functions of platelets and cultured endothelial cells when they were incubated either independently or in combination. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, 1995

Copy of author's previously published article in pocket on back end-paper. Includes bibliography (leaves 135-185). Aims to characterise the expression of PETA-3 (Platelet Endothelial Tetraspan Antigen-3), CD9, CD63 and ?gb?s1 integrins in normal human tissue ; to determine the subcellular localisation in endothilial cells and platelets ; to investigate protein-protein interactions involving PETA-3 ; and to examine the effects of anti-PETA-3 monoclonial antibodies on platelet and endothilial cell function.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Lipoprotein binding and metabolism in actively-dividing (subconfluent) and quiescent (postconfluent) bovine aortic endothelial cells (ECs) were qualitatively investigated by fluorescence microscopy using dioctadecylindocarbocyanine-labelled lipoproteins and by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. LDL and acetylated-LDL (AcLDL) were seen bound to the surfaces of subconfluent ECs (at 4°C or at 37°C), as a random distribution of punctate foci. ECs therefore closely resembled fibroblasts in the distribution of LDL receptors on their surfaces. No binding of LDL was seen on postconfluent EC surfaces by either direct or indirect fluorescence microscopy. The patterns of AcLDL binding on postconfluent ECs resembled those on subconfluent ECs. Intracellular LDL and AcLDL occurred as perinuclear accumulations of large fluorescent disc-shaped profiles in subconfluent ECs. These accumulations were shown to arise from surface-bound material by pulse-chase experiments. Intracellular LDL was absent in the majority of postconfluent ECs, while AcLDL accumulation was massive. "Wounding" of cultures allowed simultaneous assessment of lipoprotein metabolism in quiescent and actively-dividing areas of the same culture. Quantitative assessments of the above-mentioned phenomena were made using ¹²⁵I-labelled lipoproteins. Receptor-mediated binding of LDL decreased five to ten-fold as the cultures modulated from subconfluent to postconfluent morphology. No receptor-bound LDL was detected in postconfluent ECs. Conversely, the amount of AcLDL bound increased at least fivefold during EC growth in parallel cultures. The amounts of lipoproteins endocytosed and metabolised were generally related proportionately to the amounts bound in each case. The distribution of LDL receptors on cultured cells was also investigated at the ultrastructural level using colloidal gold-conjugated LDL as a probe, and similarly labelled antibodies as probes. Whole-mounted cells with receptor probes bound to them were examined directly in the transmission electron microscope. The topographical distribution of LDL receptors has not been investigated by these techniques before. A novel method of preparing cytochemically-labelled, whole-mounted cells from styrene culture dishes was developed and used in this study. LDL Receptors expressed on the surfaces of human skin fibroblasts served to standardise these colloidal gold techniques and fortuitously led to new information on receptor distribution. Normal (FGo) and LDL receptor-negative mutant fibroblasts (GM 2000) acted as positive and negative controls respectively. Normal fibroblast LDL receptors were grouped into clusters consistent in size with coated pits (200 - 500 nm in diameter). A novel finding was the presence of a diffuse population of receptors scattered randomly amongst the clustered receptors. Another mutant fibroblast, GM 2408A, known to have an aberrant LDL receptor distribution, was also examined. Its receptors were shown to be dispersed singly, and in occasional groups of two and three, at random over the cell surfaces. No clusters were detected. The receptor-negative GM 2000 bound virtually no probes. While not as sensitive as the colloidal gold-conjugated LDL probe, an antireceptor monoclonal antibody (IgG-C7), localised by indirect immunogold labelling, gave similar results when applied to the above cells. This was taken as strong corroborative evidence that the LDL receptor distributions as determined by colloidal gold-conjugated LDL were correct. It is suggested that the dispersed population of receptors on normal fibroblasts may represent newly-emerged recycling receptors which have yet to cluster in coated pits. A further new finding reported here is the existence of the same two patterns of LD L receptors, dispersed and clustered, on the surface of subconfluent ECs. It was noted, from the study of whole-mounted and thin-sectioned cells, that the receptors were preferentially arranged in rings following the circumference of coated pit areas on the cell surface. Often these rings associated in groups or even coalesced into compound clusters. The significance of these groupings is not yet understood. In sharp contrast to the situation on subconfluent ECs, no LDL receptors (probed with the extremely sensitive colloidal-gold conjugated LDL) could be detected at the EM level on the surface of postconfluent ECs. Active cells in wounded postconfluent monolayers expressed abundant receptors detected at the EM level. It is concluded that postconfluent quiescent bovine aortic ECs in vitro metabolise virtually no LDL via the LDL-receptor pathway due to a vanishingly low number of LDL receptors. This contrasts with the ability of postconfluent cells to metabolise relatively large amounts of AcLDL via a receptor-mediated mechanism. The significance of these conclusions is discussed with respect to the interaction of plasma lipoproteins with the endothelium in vivo.

Copy of author's previously published article in pocket on back end-paper. / Includes bibliography (leaves 135-185). / 185, [94] leaves, [32] leaves of plates : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Aims to characterise the expression of PETA-3 (Platelet Endothelial Tetraspan Antigen-3), CD9, CD63 and ?gb?s1 integrins in normal human tissue ; to determine the subcellular localisation in endothilial cells and platelets ; to investigate protein-protein interactions involving PETA-3 ; and to examine the effects of anti-PETA-3 monoclonial antibodies on platelet and endothilial cell function. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine, 1999

Doctor of Philosophy / Benign tumours grow by expanding and displacing the surrounding tissues, while malignant tumours replace and destroy the surrounding tissues by invasion. Although there is extensive literature on mechanisms of tumour invasion and metastasis, with an emphasis on angiogenesis, adhesion, degradation of the extracellular matrix and migration, an important question not clearly addressed by the literature, but nonetheless approached in this thesis, is that of the fate of normal cells during tissue replacement by migrating invasive malignant cells. Earlier work in the laboratory where this PhD candidature was carried out, investigated the effect of osteosarcoma cells on endothelium. In contrast to the expected angiogenic effect of malignant cells for endothelium, it was found that the human osteosarcoma cell line (SAOS-2) induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in contact dependent manner (McEwen et al., 2003). It was suggested that apoptosis of endothelium by malignant tumour cells may facilitate tumour invasion and metastasis (McEwen et al., 2003), and one of the aims of the current study was to extend these findings to include human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMC). The major finding of this thesis was that SAOS-2 induced a reduction in the apparent cell culture density of HGF and HUASMC in a contact-dependent manner. The SW480 colorectal carcinoma cell line did not have any clear effect upon the apparent stromal cell culture density of either HGF or HUASMC, suggesting that the effect under investigation was tumour cell line specific. Surprisingly and in contrast to the similar effect reported for endothelium (Chen et al., 2005; McEwen et al., 2003), the effect of SAOS-2 upon HGF and HUASMC was not due to stromal cell apoptosis. Apoptosis was ruled out as a possible mechanism for the reduced apparent culture density under study, by using widely accepted methods which are dependent upon intermucleosomal fragmentation of DNA, the permeability of plasma membranes to dyes in advanced apoptosis and necrosis, phosphatidylserine translocation as well as inhibitor studies blocking both caspase dependent and independent pathways. While apoptosis was not demonstrated, the possibility emerged that reduced apparent stromal cell culture density reflected fusion events rather than the simple removal of cells as had been earlier reported for HUVEC (McEwen et al., 2003). This idea was supported by reduced SAOS-2 circularity in co-culture. Confocal microscopy of cells pre-labelled with fluorescent dyes further supported this idea, with dual-labelling as evidence of cell fusion. Although occasional homotypic fusion of stromal cells was seen, heterotypic fusion of stromal cells with SAOS-2 was much more prevalent. Time lapse microscopy was performed to further characteristic cell fusion in co-cultures, and revealed multiple transient fusions between SAOS-2 and HGF. To work towards determining the biological relevance of the key observation, two stable SAOS-2 GFP clones were generated for future planned studies using human gingival explants and nude mice. Importantly, the clones were similar to native SAOS-2 with regard to alkaline phosphatise expression and reducing apparent stromal cell culture density. Transient fusions between HGF and SAOS-2, may be a mechanism for cooption of stromal cells into the malignant process, facilitating tumour invasion. Additionally, heterocellular fusion of SAOS-2 with stromal cells may facilitate immune evasion, while it seems likely that despite the absence of an identical activity in SW480 cells, other malignant tumour cells may also express similar activity.

Includes bibliographical references. / xvii, 228 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Methods were developed to observe and quantify neutrophil transendothelial migration, both together with or independently of neutrophil-endothelial adhesion. Two mechanicisms of neutrophil transmigration were identified, and the role of one of the major mediators of this process, IL-8, was described. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine 1994

Includes bibliographical references. / xvii, 228 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Methods were developed to observe and quantify neutrophil transendothelial migration, both together with or independently of neutrophil-endothelial adhesion. Two mechanicisms of neutrophil transmigration were identified, and the role of one of the major mediators of this process, IL-8, was described. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine 1994

Doctor of Philosophy / Benign tumours grow by expanding and displacing the surrounding tissues, while malignant tumours replace and destroy the surrounding tissues by invasion. Although there is extensive literature on mechanisms of tumour invasion and metastasis, with an emphasis on angiogenesis, adhesion, degradation of the extracellular matrix and migration, an important question not clearly addressed by the literature, but nonetheless approached in this thesis, is that of the fate of normal cells during tissue replacement by migrating invasive malignant cells. Earlier work in the laboratory where this PhD candidature was carried out, investigated the effect of osteosarcoma cells on endothelium. In contrast to the expected angiogenic effect of malignant cells for endothelium, it was found that the human osteosarcoma cell line (SAOS-2) induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in contact dependent manner (McEwen et al., 2003). It was suggested that apoptosis of endothelium by malignant tumour cells may facilitate tumour invasion and metastasis (McEwen et al., 2003), and one of the aims of the current study was to extend these findings to include human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMC). The major finding of this thesis was that SAOS-2 induced a reduction in the apparent cell culture density of HGF and HUASMC in a contact-dependent manner. The SW480 colorectal carcinoma cell line did not have any clear effect upon the apparent stromal cell culture density of either HGF or HUASMC, suggesting that the effect under investigation was tumour cell line specific. Surprisingly and in contrast to the similar effect reported for endothelium (Chen et al., 2005; McEwen et al., 2003), the effect of SAOS-2 upon HGF and HUASMC was not due to stromal cell apoptosis. Apoptosis was ruled out as a possible mechanism for the reduced apparent culture density under study, by using widely accepted methods which are dependent upon intermucleosomal fragmentation of DNA, the permeability of plasma membranes to dyes in advanced apoptosis and necrosis, phosphatidylserine translocation as well as inhibitor studies blocking both caspase dependent and independent pathways. While apoptosis was not demonstrated, the possibility emerged that reduced apparent stromal cell culture density reflected fusion events rather than the simple removal of cells as had been earlier reported for HUVEC (McEwen et al., 2003). This idea was supported by reduced SAOS-2 circularity in co-culture. Confocal microscopy of cells pre-labelled with fluorescent dyes further supported this idea, with dual-labelling as evidence of cell fusion. Although occasional homotypic fusion of stromal cells was seen, heterotypic fusion of stromal cells with SAOS-2 was much more prevalent. Time lapse microscopy was performed to further characteristic cell fusion in co-cultures, and revealed multiple transient fusions between SAOS-2 and HGF. To work towards determining the biological relevance of the key observation, two stable SAOS-2 GFP clones were generated for future planned studies using human gingival explants and nude mice. Importantly, the clones were similar to native SAOS-2 with regard to alkaline phosphatise expression and reducing apparent stromal cell culture density. Transient fusions between HGF and SAOS-2, may be a mechanism for cooption of stromal cells into the malignant process, facilitating tumour invasion. Additionally, heterocellular fusion of SAOS-2 with stromal cells may facilitate immune evasion, while it seems likely that despite the absence of an identical activity in SW480 cells, other malignant tumour cells may also express similar activity.