A transição endotélio-mesenquimal (EndMT) é uma forma especializada da transição epitéliomesenquimal (EMT) e é caracterizada pela alteração da morfologia celular para um formato fibroblastoide, perda da expressão dos marcadores endoteliais e ganho da expressão dos marcadores mesenquimais, bem como a aquisição de propriedades invasivas e migratórias. Entretanto, o mecanismo molecular envolvido nesse processo ainda não está totalmente elucidado. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar os fatores indutores da EMT em células endoteliais (CEs) de fontes distintas por meio da superexpressão do fator de transcrição SNAIL e do tratamento com TGF-?2, bem como identificar os mecanismos moleculares envolvidos nesse processo. Para tal, as linhagens de CE da artéria pulmonar (HPAEC), pool de CE primária de veia de cordão umbilical (PHUVEC), CE da aorta (PAEC) e CE da artéria coronária (CAEC) foram induzidas em três condições distintas: I) TGF-?2; II) superexpressão do fator de transcrição SNAIL; III) superexpressão do fator de transcrição SNAIL associado ao tratamento com TGF-?2 (SNAIL+TGF-?2). Após a indução, a expressão dos genes relacionados com a EndMT foi analisada por PCR em tempo real (qPCR) e as CAECs foram as células que apresentaram maior mudança no perfil de expressão gênica, no qual o grupo SNAIL+TGF-?2 apresentou um aumento dos marcadores mesenquimal FN1, SM22, CNN1 e CD90. O grupo SNAIL+TGF-?2 também mostrou uma diminuição dos marcadores endoteliais CD31 e CDH5 por Western blot. Em seguida, a técnica de microarray foi realizada nas CAECs induzidas à EndMT e as análises revelaram um dendrograma cujo perfil mostrou que SNAIL e SNAIL+TGF-?2 se agrupam separadamente das outras condições. Os dados de microarray resultaram em uma rede na qual os genes mesenquimais COL1A1, COL1A2, FN1 e CNN1 estavam aumentados no grupo SNAIL+TGF-?2 comparado com o grupo controle. Os genes diferencialmente expressos entre a análise CT vs. SNAIL+TGF-?2 foram analisados quanto a participação em vias canônicas e a via de regulação da EMT foi uma das mais representadas, a qual inclui a via de sinalização Notch e Wnt. Nos dados de microarray, NOTCH3 e WNT5B estavam superexpressos no grupo SNAIL+TGF-?2 comparado com o controle. Sabendo que Wnt5b pode inibir a via ?-catenina, a expressão de NOTCH3, WNT5B e ?-CATENINA foi avaliada por qPCR e a expressão de NOTCH3 e WNT5B confirmou os dados do microarray e nenhuma diferença estatística foi observada na expressão de ?- CATENINA. Ainda, as CAECs induzidas foram submetidas ao ensaio de migração e de capacidade de formação de estruturas semelhantes a capilares. Foi observado que as CAECSNAIL+ TGF-?2 migraram significativamente comparadas com as outras condições e nenhuma das células induzidas (TGF-?2, SNAIL e SNAIL+TGF-?2) foram capazes de formar estruturas semelhantes a capilares. Alguns microRNAs foram selecionados e avaliados por qPCR. O miR-let7a foi significativamente expresso no grupo SNAIL e SNAIL+TGF-?2. O ensaio de perda e ganho de função do miR-let7a foi realizado, entretanto, a repressão ou a indução do miR-let7a não alterou a EndMT. Esses resultados sugerem que as CEs de fontes anatômicas distintas apresentam respostas diferentes quando estimuladas a sofrerem EndMT. Ademais, a associação entre SNAIL+TGF-?2 é um potente indutor para EndMT e essa indução pode ser mediada pelas vias de sinalização Notch e Wnt não canônica. / Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a specialized form of epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) which is characterized by changes in cell morphology as a fibroblastoid conversion, expression of endothelial markers decreased, expression of mesenchymal markers increased and acquirement of invasive and migratory properties. However, the molecular mechanism associated with this process is not completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the EMT-inducing factors in the endothelial cells (ECs) from different sources through the overexpression of the transcription factor SNAIL and through the treatment with TGF-?2, as well as to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in EndMT. For this purpose, primary pulmonary artery EC (HPAEC), primary pooled umbilical vein EC (PHUVEC), primary aortic EC (PAEC), primary coronary artery EC (CAEC) lineages were induced under three distinct conditions: I) TGF-?2; II) ectopic expression of SNAIL; III) ectopic expression of SNAIL associated with TGF-?2 (SNAIL+TGF- ?2). After the EndMT induction, the expression of the genes associated with EndMT was analyzed by Real time PCR (qPCR) and CAECs showed the most prominent alterations on their gene expression profile which showed that SNAIL+TGF-?2 group presented an increase of mesenchymal markers FN1, SM22, CNN1, and CD90 expression. CAEC-SNAIL+TGF-?2 group also showed a decrease of endothelial markers CD31 and CDH5 by western blot. Then, microarray was performed in CAECs after EndMT induction and hierarchical clustering analysis showed that the ectopic expression of SNAIL and SNAIL+TGF-?2 clustered separately from the other conditions. Microarray data resulted in a network which presented an upregulation of the mesenchymal genes such as COL1A1, COL1A2, FN1, and CNN1 in the CAEC-SNAIL+TGF-?2 compared to control cells. We analyzed the canonical pathways related to the differentially regulated genes between CAEC- SNAIL+TGF-?2 and control cells and the regulation of EMT pathways was the most represented, which includes Notch and Wnt signaling pathway. In the microarray data, NOTCH3 and WNT5B were overexpressed in CAEC-SNAIL+TGF-?2 compared to control. It is known that Wnt5b might inhibit the ?- catenin pathway. Therefore, NOTCH3, WNT5B and ?-CATENIN gene expression were analyzed by qPCR. NOTCH3 and WNT5B gene expression confirmed the microarray data and no statistical difference were observed in ?-CATENIN expression. Moreover, all the CAECs conditions were subjected to scratch migration assay and the formation of capillary-like structures assay. CAEC-SNAIL+TGF-?2 had a significant migration compared to other conditions and the three EndMT inductions (TGF-?2, SNAIL, and SNAIL+TGF-?2) were not able to form capillary-like structures. Some microRNAs were selected and evaluated by qPCR. The miR-let7a was significantly expressed in the SNAIL and SNAIL+TGF-?2 groups. The assay of gain or loss of function of miR-let7a was realized; however, the repression or induction of miR-let7a did not change the EndMT. These results suggest that endothelial cells from distinct anatomical sources have different responses when stimulated to undergo the EndMT. Moreover, the association between SNAIL+TGF-?2 is a potent inductor for EndMT and this induction can be mediated by Notch and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway activation.

A transição endotélio-mesenquimal (EndMT) é uma forma especializada da transição epitéliomesenquimal (EMT) e é caracterizada pela alteração da morfologia celular para um formato fibroblastoide, perda da expressão dos marcadores endoteliais e ganho da expressão dos marcadores mesenquimais, bem como a aquisição de propriedades invasivas e migratórias. Entretanto, o mecanismo molecular envolvido nesse processo ainda não está totalmente elucidado. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar os fatores indutores da EMT em células endoteliais (CEs) de fontes distintas por meio da superexpressão do fator de transcrição SNAIL e do tratamento com TGF-?2, bem como identificar os mecanismos moleculares envolvidos nesse processo. Para tal, as linhagens de CE da artéria pulmonar (HPAEC), pool de CE primária de veia de cordão umbilical (PHUVEC), CE da aorta (PAEC) e CE da artéria coronária (CAEC) foram induzidas em três condições distintas: I) TGF-?2; II) superexpressão do fator de transcrição SNAIL; III) superexpressão do fator de transcrição SNAIL associado ao tratamento com TGF-?2 (SNAIL+TGF-?2). Após a indução, a expressão dos genes relacionados com a EndMT foi analisada por PCR em tempo real (qPCR) e as CAECs foram as células que apresentaram maior mudança no perfil de expressão gênica, no qual o grupo SNAIL+TGF-?2 apresentou um aumento dos marcadores mesenquimal FN1, SM22, CNN1 e CD90. O grupo SNAIL+TGF-?2 também mostrou uma diminuição dos marcadores endoteliais CD31 e CDH5 por Western blot. Em seguida, a técnica de microarray foi realizada nas CAECs induzidas à EndMT e as análises revelaram um dendrograma cujo perfil mostrou que SNAIL e SNAIL+TGF-?2 se agrupam separadamente das outras condições. Os dados de microarray resultaram em uma rede na qual os genes mesenquimais COL1A1, COL1A2, FN1 e CNN1 estavam aumentados no grupo SNAIL+TGF-?2 comparado com o grupo controle. Os genes diferencialmente expressos entre a análise CT vs. SNAIL+TGF-?2 foram analisados quanto a participação em vias canônicas e a via de regulação da EMT foi uma das mais representadas, a qual inclui a via de sinalização Notch e Wnt. Nos dados de microarray, NOTCH3 e WNT5B estavam superexpressos no grupo SNAIL+TGF-?2 comparado com o controle. Sabendo que Wnt5b pode inibir a via ?-catenina, a expressão de NOTCH3, WNT5B e ?-CATENINA foi avaliada por qPCR e a expressão de NOTCH3 e WNT5B confirmou os dados do microarray e nenhuma diferença estatística foi observada na expressão de ?- CATENINA. Ainda, as CAECs induzidas foram submetidas ao ensaio de migração e de capacidade de formação de estruturas semelhantes a capilares. Foi observado que as CAECSNAIL+ TGF-?2 migraram significativamente comparadas com as outras condições e nenhuma das células induzidas (TGF-?2, SNAIL e SNAIL+TGF-?2) foram capazes de formar estruturas semelhantes a capilares. Alguns microRNAs foram selecionados e avaliados por qPCR. O miR-let7a foi significativamente expresso no grupo SNAIL e SNAIL+TGF-?2. O ensaio de perda e ganho de função do miR-let7a foi realizado, entretanto, a repressão ou a indução do miR-let7a não alterou a EndMT. Esses resultados sugerem que as CEs de fontes anatômicas distintas apresentam respostas diferentes quando estimuladas a sofrerem EndMT. Ademais, a associação entre SNAIL+TGF-?2 é um potente indutor para EndMT e essa indução pode ser mediada pelas vias de sinalização Notch e Wnt não canônica. / Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a specialized form of epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) which is characterized by changes in cell morphology as a fibroblastoid conversion, expression of endothelial markers decreased, expression of mesenchymal markers increased and acquirement of invasive and migratory properties. However, the molecular mechanism associated with this process is not completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the EMT-inducing factors in the endothelial cells (ECs) from different sources through the overexpression of the transcription factor SNAIL and through the treatment with TGF-?2, as well as to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in EndMT. For this purpose, primary pulmonary artery EC (HPAEC), primary pooled umbilical vein EC (PHUVEC), primary aortic EC (PAEC), primary coronary artery EC (CAEC) lineages were induced under three distinct conditions: I) TGF-?2; II) ectopic expression of SNAIL; III) ectopic expression of SNAIL associated with TGF-?2 (SNAIL+TGF- ?2). After the EndMT induction, the expression of the genes associated with EndMT was analyzed by Real time PCR (qPCR) and CAECs showed the most prominent alterations on their gene expression profile which showed that SNAIL+TGF-?2 group presented an increase of mesenchymal markers FN1, SM22, CNN1, and CD90 expression. CAEC-SNAIL+TGF-?2 group also showed a decrease of endothelial markers CD31 and CDH5 by western blot. Then, microarray was performed in CAECs after EndMT induction and hierarchical clustering analysis showed that the ectopic expression of SNAIL and SNAIL+TGF-?2 clustered separately from the other conditions. Microarray data resulted in a network which presented an upregulation of the mesenchymal genes such as COL1A1, COL1A2, FN1, and CNN1 in the CAEC-SNAIL+TGF-?2 compared to control cells. We analyzed the canonical pathways related to the differentially regulated genes between CAEC- SNAIL+TGF-?2 and control cells and the regulation of EMT pathways was the most represented, which includes Notch and Wnt signaling pathway. In the microarray data, NOTCH3 and WNT5B were overexpressed in CAEC-SNAIL+TGF-?2 compared to control. It is known that Wnt5b might inhibit the ?- catenin pathway. Therefore, NOTCH3, WNT5B and ?-CATENIN gene expression were analyzed by qPCR. NOTCH3 and WNT5B gene expression confirmed the microarray data and no statistical difference were observed in ?-CATENIN expression. Moreover, all the CAECs conditions were subjected to scratch migration assay and the formation of capillary-like structures assay. CAEC-SNAIL+TGF-?2 had a significant migration compared to other conditions and the three EndMT inductions (TGF-?2, SNAIL, and SNAIL+TGF-?2) were not able to form capillary-like structures. Some microRNAs were selected and evaluated by qPCR. The miR-let7a was significantly expressed in the SNAIL and SNAIL+TGF-?2 groups. The assay of gain or loss of function of miR-let7a was realized; however, the repression or induction of miR-let7a did not change the EndMT. These results suggest that endothelial cells from distinct anatomical sources have different responses when stimulated to undergo the EndMT. Moreover, the association between SNAIL+TGF-?2 is a potent inductor for EndMT and this induction can be mediated by Notch and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway activation.

Articular cartilage is an avascular and flexible connective tissue found in joints. It produces a cushioning effect at the joints and provides low friction to protect the ends of the bones from wear and tear/damage. It has poor repair capacity and any injury can result pain and loss of mobility. One of the common forms of articular cartilage disease which has a huge impact on patient's life is arthritis. Research on cartilage cell/tissue engineering will help patients to improve their physical activity by replacing or treating the diseased/damaged cartilage tissue. Cartilage cell, called chondrocyte is embedded in the matrix (Lacunae) and has round shape in vivo. The in vitro monolayer culture of primary chondrocyte causes morphological change characterized as dedifferentiation. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), a cytokine superfamily, regulates cell function, including differentiation and proliferation. The effect of TGF-β1, 2, 3, and their manipulated forms in biological regulation of primary chondrocyte was investigated in this work. A novel method was developed to isolate and purify the primary chondrocytes from knee joint of neonate Sprague-Dawley rat, and the effect of some supplementations such as hyaluronic acid and antibiotics were also investigated to provide the most appropriate condition for in vitro culture of chondrocyte cells. Addition of 0.1mg/ml hyaluronic acid in chondrocyte culture media resulted an increase in primary chondrocyte proliferation and helped the cells to maintain chondrocytic morphology. TGF-β1, 2 and 3 caused chondrocytes to obtain fibroblastic phenotype, alongside an increase in apoptosis. The healing process of the wound closure assay of chondrocyte monolayers were slowed down by all three isoforms of TGF-β. All three types of TGF-β negatively affected the strength of chondrocyte adhesion. TGF-β1, 2 and 3 up regulated the expression of collagen type-II, but decreased synthesis of collagen type-I, Chondroitin sulfate glycoprotein, and laminin. They did not show any significant change in production of S-100 protein and fibronectin. TGF-β2, and 3 did not change expression of integrin-β1 (CD29), but TGF-β1 decreased the secretion of this adhesion protein. Manipulated TGF-β showed huge impact on formation of fibroblast like morphology of chondrocytes with chondrocytic phenotype. These isoforms also decreased the expression of laminin, chondroitin sulfate glycoprotein, and collagen type-I, but they increased production of collagen type-II and did not induce synthesis of fibronectin and S-100 protein. In addition, the strength of cell adhesion on solid surface was reduced by manipulated TGF-β. Only manipulated form of TGF-β1 and 2 could increase the proliferation rate. Manipulation of TGF-β did not up regulate the expression of integrin-β1 in planar culture system. The implications of this R&D work are that the manipulation of TGF-β by combination of TGF-β1, 2, and 3 can be utilized in production of superficial zone of cartilage and perichondrium. The collagen, fibronectin and hyaluronic acid could be recruited for the fabrication of a biodegradable scaffold that promotes chondrocyte growth for autologous chondrocyte implantation or for formation of cartilage.

Articular cartilage is an avascular and flexible connective tissue found in joints. It produces a cushioning effect at the joints and provides low friction to protect the ends of the bones from wear and tear/damage. It has poor repair capacity and any injury can result pain and loss of mobility. One of the common forms of articular cartilage disease which has a huge impact on patient¿s life is arthritis. Research on cartilage cell/tissue engineering will help patients to improve their physical activity by replacing or treating the diseased/damaged cartilage tissue. Cartilage cell, called chondrocyte is embedded in the matrix (Lacunae) and has round shape in vivo. The in vitro monolayer culture of primary chondrocyte causes morphological change characterized as dedifferentiation. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-¿), a cytokine superfamily, regulates cell function, including differentiation and proliferation. The effect of TGF-¿1, 2, 3, and their manipulated forms in biological regulation of primary chondrocyte was investigated in this work. A novel method was developed to isolate and purify the primary chondrocytes from knee joint of neonate Sprague-Dawley rat, and the effect of some supplementations such as hyaluronic acid and antibiotics were also investigated to provide the most appropriate condition for in vitro culture of chondrocyte cells. Addition of 0.1mg/ml hyaluronic acid in chondrocyte culture media resulted an increase in primary chondrocyte proliferation and helped the cells to maintain chondrocytic morphology. TGF-¿1, 2 and 3 caused chondrocytes to obtain fibroblastic phenotype, alongside an increase in apoptosis. The healing process of the wound closure assay of chondrocyte monolayers were slowed down by all three isoforms of TGF-¿. All three types of TGF-¿ negatively affected the strength of chondrocyte adhesion. TGF-¿1, 2 and 3 up regulated the expression of collagen type-II, but decreased synthesis of collagen type-I, Chondroitin sulfate glycoprotein, and laminin. They did not show any significant change in production of S-100 protein and fibronectin. TGF-¿2, and 3 did not change expression of integrin-¿1 (CD29), but TGF-¿1 decreased the secretion of this adhesion protein. Manipulated TGF-¿ showed huge impact on formation of fibroblast like morphology of chondrocytes with chondrocytic phenotype. These isoforms also decreased the expression of laminin, chondroitin sulfate glycoprotein, and collagen type-I, but they increased production of collagen type-II and did not induce synthesis of fibronectin and S-100 protein. In addition, the strength of cell adhesion on solid surface was reduced by manipulated TGF-¿. Only manipulated form of TGF-¿1 and 2 could increase the proliferation rate. Manipulation of TGF-¿ did not up regulate the expression of integrin-¿1in planar culture system. The implications of this R&D work are that the manipulation of TGF-¿ by combination of TGF-¿1, 2, and 3 can be utilized in production of superficial zone of cartilage and perichondrium. The collagen, fibronectin and hyaluronic acid could be recruited for the fabrication of a biodegradable scaffold that promotes chondrocyte growth for autologous chondrocyte implantation or for formation of cartilage.