Abstract In malignancies many alterations involving matrix macromolecule synthesis, secretion and assembly into basement membranes (BMs) as well as their degradation are present. The most important groups associated with matrix turnover are matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs). In this study altogether 285 tissue samples were investigated comprising various malignant epithelial tumors and normal tissue structures, in which the distribution of different laminin chains was studied immunohistochemically. Laminin α5, β1 and γ1 were detected almost in all the BMs studied including normal tissues and malignancies, whereas α1 chain of laminin was present only in certain BMs. Laminin γ2 chain was solely expressed by epithelial BMs and was present in intracellular space especially in individual carcinoma cells infiltrating in the tumor stroma and in tumor cells in close contact with BM zone. Generally epithelial tumors contained quite well-formed BMs around their tumor clusters, except for infiltrative breast carcinoma and diffuse type gastric carcinoma. In situ hybridization revealed that only epithelial cells contained mRNAs for laminin α1 and γ2 chains, whereas laminin β1 chain and α1(IV) collagen were synthesized mainly by stromal cells. mRNA for MMP-2 was produced mainly by stromal cells in hepatocellular carcinoma of liver (HCC) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, whereas MMP-9 and MT1-MMP were equally synthesized by carcinoma cells and cells of tumor stroma. However, in HCCs of grade III carcinoma cells predominated in their MT1-MMP expression. All three MMPs were immunolocalized to malignant epithelial cells and showed variably stromal cell positivity. Statistically mRNA synthesis for MT1-MMP was significantly associated with the shortened survival of patients with HCC (P ≤ 0.01). TIMP-1-3 mRNA, and especially TIMP-3, expressions in normal endometrium were significantly increased in endometrial stromal cells towards the secretory phase. In various endometrial hyperplasias TIMPs and MT1-MMP expressions were quite comparable to those seen in proliferating endometrium. In endometrial adenocarcinomas their expressions were significantly increased and the most intensified mRNA expressions were seen in grade III adenocarcinomas. Especially TIMP-3 and MT1-MMP mRNAs were synthesized by carcinoma cells. The results indicate that epithelial malignancies are capable of active synthesis and assembly of BM macromolecules. Simultaneous matrix synthesis and degradation seen in malignancies suggest that the mechanisms involved in matrix turnover are not lost during malignant transformation. mRNA synthesis for MMPs and TIMPs is generally increased in epithelial malignancies. The results therefore strongly support the concept that MMPs have an active role in carcinoma cell invasion.

Hyaluronidase 2 (HYAL2) is a GPI-linked protein that is proposed to initiate the degradation of hyaluronan (HA), a major extracellular matrix component of many vertebrate tissues. Hyal2 knockout (KO) mice displayed craniofacial abnormalities and severe preweaning lethality. 54% of the surviving KOs developed a grossly dilated left or right atrium, requiring euthanasia, by 3 months of age. We hypothesize that the absence of HYAL2 leads to the accumulation of HA in organs/tissues where HA is normally abundant resulting in developmental defects and organs dysfunction. Molecular and histological analysis of HYAL2 KO hearts demonstrated extracellular accumulation of high molecular mass (HMM) HA in the heart valves, myocardium, serum and lungs which was associated with severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Further, structural and functional analyses of Hyal2 KO mouse hearts using high-frequency ultrasound revealed atrial dilation accompanied by diastolic dysfunction that was evident as early as 4 weeks of age, and progressed with age. Further, 50% of HYAL2 KO mice exhibited a triatrial heart (cor-triatriatum). Histological analyses revealed that the atrial dilation was the result of excess tissue, and did not correlate with the presence of cor triatrium. Hyal2 KO mice were found to have increased numbers of mesenchymal cells at early stages of development, presumably due to the presence of excess HA, that lead to cardiac dysfunction. Further examination of HYAL2 distribution in a broad range of mouse tissues, and accumulation of HA in its absence demonstrated that HYAL2 is mainly localized to endothelial cells and some specialized epithelial cells, and plays a major role in HMM-HA degradation. These studies demonstrated that HYAL2 is important for HA degradation and organ development. In the longer term, our findings will be valuable for understanding pathologies associated with the disruption of HA catabolism, and potentially in the identification of HYAL2-deficient patients. / May 2016

In the lung, epithelial cell migration plays a key role in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. When the respiratory epithelium is injured, the epithelial lining in the respiratory system can be seriously damaged. Spreading and migrating of the surviving cells neighboring a wound are essential for airway epithelial repair. When the repair process is affected, aberrant remodeling may occur, which is important in the pathogenesis of lung diseases. However, in comparison with other cellular and molecular functions in the respiratory system, our understanding on lung epithelial cell migration and invasion is limited. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms that govern these cellular processes, I asked whether normal (non-cancerous) human airway epithelial cells can form podosomes, a cellular structure discovered from cancer and mesenchymal cells that controls cell migration and invasion. I found that phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, induced podosome formation in primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells, and in normal human airway epithelial BEAS2B cells. PDBu-induced podosomes were capable of degrading fibronectin-gelatin-sucrose matrix. PDBu also increased the invasiveness of these epithelial cells. I further demonstrated that PDBu-induced podosome formation was mainly mediated through redistribution of conventional PKCs, especially PKCα, from the cytosol to the podosomes, whereas atypical PKCζ played a dominant role in the proteolytic activity of podosomes through recruitment of MMP-9 to podosomes, and MMP-9 secretion and activiation. I also found that that PDBu can activate PI3K/Akt/Src and ERK1/2 and JNK but not p38. PI3K, Akt and Src were critical for podosome formation, whereas ERK1/2 and JNK mediated the proteolytic activity of podosomes via MMP-9 recruitment, gene expression, release and activation without affecting podosome assembly. Podosomes are important for epithelial cell migration and invasion, thus contributing to respiratory epithelial repair and regeneration. My thesis work unveils the molecular mechanisms that regulate podosomal formation and proteolytic function in normal human bronchial epithelial cells. These novel findings may enhance our understanding of cell migration and invasion in lung development and repair. Similar mechanisms may be also applicable to other cell types in distinct organs.

In the lung, epithelial cell migration plays a key role in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. When the respiratory epithelium is injured, the epithelial lining in the respiratory system can be seriously damaged. Spreading and migrating of the surviving cells neighboring a wound are essential for airway epithelial repair. When the repair process is affected, aberrant remodeling may occur, which is important in the pathogenesis of lung diseases. However, in comparison with other cellular and molecular functions in the respiratory system, our understanding on lung epithelial cell migration and invasion is limited. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms that govern these cellular processes, I asked whether normal (non-cancerous) human airway epithelial cells can form podosomes, a cellular structure discovered from cancer and mesenchymal cells that controls cell migration and invasion. I found that phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, induced podosome formation in primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells, and in normal human airway epithelial BEAS2B cells. PDBu-induced podosomes were capable of degrading fibronectin-gelatin-sucrose matrix. PDBu also increased the invasiveness of these epithelial cells. I further demonstrated that PDBu-induced podosome formation was mainly mediated through redistribution of conventional PKCs, especially PKCα, from the cytosol to the podosomes, whereas atypical PKCζ played a dominant role in the proteolytic activity of podosomes through recruitment of MMP-9 to podosomes, and MMP-9 secretion and activiation. I also found that that PDBu can activate PI3K/Akt/Src and ERK1/2 and JNK but not p38. PI3K, Akt and Src were critical for podosome formation, whereas ERK1/2 and JNK mediated the proteolytic activity of podosomes via MMP-9 recruitment, gene expression, release and activation without affecting podosome assembly. Podosomes are important for epithelial cell migration and invasion, thus contributing to respiratory epithelial repair and regeneration. My thesis work unveils the molecular mechanisms that regulate podosomal formation and proteolytic function in normal human bronchial epithelial cells. These novel findings may enhance our understanding of cell migration and invasion in lung development and repair. Similar mechanisms may be also applicable to other cell types in distinct organs.

Cell migration and invasion play a role in many physiological and pathological processes and are therefore subject of intensive research efforts. Despite of the intensively investigated biochemical processes associated with the migration and invasion of cells, such as cancer cells, the contribution ofmechanobiological processes to themigratory capacity of cells as well as the role of physical polymeric phase transitions is not yet clearly understood. Unfortunately, these experiments are not very informative because they completely disregard the influence of the three-dimensional cell environment. Despite this data situation, it was possible to adequately demonstrate that there exists a direct mechanical interplay between cells and theirmicroenvironment in both directions, where both elements can bemechanically altered by one another. In line with these results, it has turned out that the mechanobiological molecular processes through which cells interact with each other and additionally sense their nearby microenvironment have an impact on cellular functions such as cellular motility. The mechanotransduction processes have become the major focus of biophysical research and thereby, diverse biophysical approaches have been developed and improved to analyze the mechanical properties of individual cells and extracellular matrix environments. Both, the cell mechanics and matrix environmentmechanics regulate the cellmigration types in confined microenvironments and hence it seems to be suitable to identify and subsequently present a common bidirectional interplay between cells and their matrix environment. Moreover, hallmarks of the mechanophenotype of invasive cells and extracellular matrices can be defined. This review will point out how on the one hand the intracellular cytoskeletal architecture and on the other hand the matrix architecture contribute to cellular stiffness or contractility and thereby determines the migratory phenotype and subsequently the emergence of a distinct migration mode. Finally, in this review it is discussed whether universal hallmarks of the migratory phenotype can be defined.

1. Abstract Protein kinase C α (PKCα) is a serine/threonine protein kinase regulating many different signaling pathways. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of PKCα in amoeboid morphology and invasion of cancer cells. It was observed, that expression of PKCα as well as its phosphorylation on Thr497 remained unchanged upon amoeboid-mesenchymal transition of A375m2 cells (induced by inhibition of ROCK kinase) both in 3D and in 2D environment. However, activation of PKCα by PKC activator treatment resulted in mesenchymal- amoeboid transition of K2 and MDA-MB-231 mesenchymal cell lines, although it did not change overall invasivity ability of cells to invade 3D collagen. Notably, PKCα activation significantly reduced matrix degrading abilities of A375m2 cells. Conversely, inhibition of PKCα by PKCα inhibitor treatment caused amoeboid-mesenchymal transition of amoeboid A375m2 cells and it was associated with decreased invasiveness of all three cell lines used. PKCα inhibitor did not have any effect on gelatin degradation area of A375m2 cells. Consistently, specific siRNA mediated downregulation of PKCα lead to transition from amoeboid to mesenchymal morphology of A375m2 cells and reduced invasiveness of cells into 3D collagen. Moreover, gelatin degrading abilities of A375m2 cells were...

This thesis ventures with the extracellular matrix protein (ECM) fibronectin (FN) as an interface protein in the interaction between cells and materials to design microenvironment for future use in tissue engineering. It is studied the FN adsorption and conformations, cell behaviour to different FN conformation, cell adhesion, reorganisation and remodelling of FN at the material interface, the role of growth factors (GF) and their interactions with components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), the immunology cell response, and the stem cell fate influenced by the extrinsic signals coming from the engineered microenvironments using ECM's proteins. To investigate the FN response, in terms of adsorbed amount and conformation to different chemical properties of the material, model surfaces were used. Self assembled monolayers (SAM) with different percentages of two different chemical groups were used: CH3 and OH. FN adsorption, initial cell adhesion and signalling (focal adhesions, integrin expression and phosphorylation of FAK) is related with the reorganisation and secretion of FN and matrix degradation. It is shown that matrix degradation at the cell material interface depends on surface chemistry in metalloproteinase-dependent way. A direct relationship between FN activity at the cell-material interface and metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) expression was found, being the product of a sequence of events that include integrin expression, focal adhesion formation, matrix reorganisation and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation. Two different materials with subtle variations in their chemical composition were employed as a drastically different FN conformation: from a globular conformation on PMA (poly (methyl acrylate)) to the formation of a well-interconnected FN network (similar to the FN physiological fibrillar network) triggered by PEA (poly (ethyl acrylate)). The formation of focal adhesions (vinculin), FAK expression and phosphorylation, specific integrin binding, protein and gene expression for ¿5 and ¿v was studied, seeking to correlate cell adhesion with matrix degradation. It is demonstrated that the material-driven FN fibrillogenesis on PEA triggers proteolytic activity: MMP activity is higher as a compensatory mechanism to the inability of cells to reorganise this FN network. Looking into the role of protein-material interactions and stem cell fate, and with the knowledge on PEA, we engineer different synergistic microenvironments to direct cell and stem cell fate. FN has a growth factor (GF) binding domain on its molecule (FNIII12-14) and has been demonstrated to produce a synergistic response when occurs at the same time the recognition of the cell binding domain (FNIII9-10). It is demonstrated that this domain is available on the FN coated PEA, and exploiting these interactions between PEA, FN and GF, it is developed a microenvironment to control cell behaviour and tissue repair. It is studied the BMP2 binding and presentation, the effect of BMP2 presentation on MSC proliferation and differentiation. These systems allow not only enhanced activity of GF compared to soluble administration, but also reduce GF doses, improving safety and cost effectiveness. Finally, the immunological reaction of the microenvironment developed is studied using dendritic cells, beside the conformational structure of ECM protein importance in DC integrin-based activation it is studied, helping to establish the field of adhesion-based modulation of DC as a general mechanism that has previously not been defined. The microenvironment didn't induce any maturation in DC, while different FN conformation shows differences in DC morphology and citokine level production (IL-10 and IL-12). / En esta tesis se estudia la interacción de una proteina de la matriz extracelular, fibronectina (FN) como interfase en la interacción entre células y materiales, para diseñar microambientes con el propósito de ser usados en el futuro en ingeniería tisular. Se estudia la adsorción y conformación de FN y la relación con el diferente comportamiento celular: la adhesión celular, la reorganización y remodelado de la FN en la interfase célula-material, el papel que juegan los factores de crecimiento y sus interacciones con los componentes de la matriz extracelular, la respuesta immunológica y el destino celular de células madre influenciadas por las señales extrínsecas provenientes de microambientes elaborados a partir de proteínas de la matriz extracelular. Con el objetivo de investigar la respuesta a la FN en términos de conformación y cantidad absorbida a diferentes propiedades químicas del material, se usaron materiales modelo: monocapas autoensambladas (self-assembled monolayers, SAM). Las químicas estudiadas fueron CH3 and OH. La adsorption de FN, adhesion y señalización (adhesiones focales, expresión de interinas y fosforilación de quinasas de adhesiones focales (FAK)) se estudiaron en relación a la reorganización y secreción de FN y degradación de la matriz extracelular. Se demuestra que la degradación de la matriz extracelular en la interfase célula-material depende de la química de la superficie, a través de las metaloproteinasas. Se ha descubierto una relación directa entre la actividad de la FN que se encuentra en el material y la expresión de metaloproteinasa 9 (MMP9), a través de la expresión de integrinas, formación de adhesiones focales, reorganización de la matriz extracelular y fosforilación de FAK En el siguiente capítulo se emplean materiales poliméricos con una sutil diferencia en la composición química, provocando una diferencia drástica en la conformación de la FN: se pasa de una conformación globular en PMA (polimetil acrilato) a una conformación en forma de red interconectada en PEA (polietil acrilato). Con el propósito de relacionar la adhesión celular con la degradación de la matriz extracelular, se estudia la formación de adhesiones focales (vinculina), la expresión y fosforilación de FAK, la unión específica de integrinas y la expresión de las integrinas ¿5 and ¿v. Se demuestra que la formación de una red de FN sobre PEA induce la actividad proteolítica: la actividad de las MMPs es mayor, actuando como mecanismo compensatorio a la incapacidad de reorganización de la red de FN. Haciendo uso de la conformación de la FN sobre PEA, se estudiaron las interacciones entre la proteína-material y el destino celular de células madres. La FN posee un dominio de unión de factores de crecimiento (FNIII12-14) y se ha demostrado que se produce una respuesta sinérgica cuando el reconocimiento ocurre junto con el dominio de unión celular (FNIII9-10). En esta tesis se demuestra que el dominio de unión de factores de crecimiento está disponible en la conformación que adquiere sobre PEA y se diseñan microambientes para controlar el comportamiento celular y regeneración de tejido. Se estudia la unión y presentación de BMP2 y su efecto en la diferenciación de células madre mesenquimales. Los microambientes desarrollados, ademas de mejorar la actividad de los factores de crecimiento comparado con la administración soluble, también reduce la cantidad de factores de crecimiento que se tendría que administrar, mejorando la seguridad y efectividad. Finalmente se estudió la reacción inmunológica a los microambientes desarrollados usando células dendríticas, estudiando además la influencia de la estructura de la conformación de las proteínas en la activación de las células dendríticas a través de las integrinas. Los microambientes no indujeron ninguna maduración de células dendríticas, mientras que la conformación de la FN muestra control / En aquesta tesi s'estudia la interacció entre una proteïna de la matriu extracel.lular, fibronectina (FN) com interfase en la interaccio entre cèl·lules i materials, per a dissenyar microambients amb el propòsit d'utilitzar-se al futur en enginyeria tissular. S'estudia l'adsorció i conformació de la FN i la relació amb el diferent comportament cel·lular: l'adhesió cel·lular, la reorganització i remodelat de la FN a la interfase cèl·lula-material, el paper que juguen els factors de creixement i les seus interaccions amb els components de la matriu extracel·lular, la resposta immunològica i el destí cel·lular de cèl·lules mare influenciades pels senyals extrínseques provinents de microambients elaborats a partir de proteïnes de la matriu extracel·lular. Amb l'objectiu d'investigar la respostar a la FN en termes de conformació i quantitat absorbida a diferents propietats químiques del material, s'utilitzaren materials model: monocapes autoacoblades (self-assembled monolayers, SAM). Les químiques estudiades van ser CH3 and OH. L'absorció de FN, adhesió i senyalització (adhesions focals, expressió d'integrines i fosforilació de quinases d'adhesions focals (FAK)) es van estudiar en relació a al reorganització i secreció de la FN i degradació de la matriu extracel·lular. Es demostra que la degradació de la matriu extracelular en la interfase cèl·lula-material depèn de la química de la superficie, a través de les metal·loproteïnases. S'ha descobert una relació directa entra l'activitat de la FN que es troba en el material i l'expressió de metaloproteinasa 9, a través de l'expressió d'integrines, formació d'adhesions focals, reorganització de la matriu extracel·lular i fosforilació de FAK. Al següent capítol es fan servir materials polimèrics amb una subtil diferència en la composició química, provocant una diferència dràstica en la conformació de la FN: es passa d'una conformació globular en PMA (polimetil acrilat) a una conformació en forma de xarxa interconnectada en PEA (polietil acrilat). Amb el propòsit de relacionar l'adhesió cel·lular amb la degradació de la matriu extracel·lular, s'estudia la formació d'adhesions focals (vinculina), l'expressió i fosforilació de FAK, la unió específica d'integrines i l'expressió de les integrines ¿5 and ¿v. Es demostra que la formació d'una xarxa de FN sobre PEA indueix l'activitat proteolítica: l'activitat de les MMPs és més gran, actuant com a mecanisme compensatori a la incapacitat de reorganització de la xarxa de FN. Fent ús de la conformació de la FN sobre PEA, es van estudiar les interaccions entre la proteïna-material i el destí cel·lular de cèl·lules mares. La FN posseeix un domini d'unió de factors de creixement (FNIII12-14) i s'ha demostrat que es produeix una resposta sinèrgica quan el reconeixement ocurreix juntament amb el domini d'unió cel·lular (FNIII9- 10). En aquesta tesi es demostra que el domini d'unió de factors de creixement està disponible a la conformació que adquireix sobre PEA i es dissenyen microambients per controlar el comportament cel·lular i regeneració de teixit. S'estudia la unió i presentació de BMP2 i el seu efecte en la diferenciació de cèl·lules mare mesenquimals. Els microambientes desenvolupats, a més de millorar l'activitat dels factors de creixement comparat amb l'administració soluble, també redueix la quantitat de factors de creixement que s'hauria d'administrar, millorant la seguretat i efectivitat. Finalment es va estudiar la reacció immunològica als microambients desenvolupats usant cèl·lules dendrítiques, estudiant a més la influència de l'estructura de la conformació de les proteïnes en l'activació de les cèl·lules dendrítiques a través de les integrines. Els microambients no van induir cap maduració de cèl·lules dendrítiques, mentre que la conformació de la FN mostra controlar la morfologia de les cèl·lules dendrítiques i / Llopis Hernández, V. (2017). Material-driven fibronectin fibrillogenesis to engineer cell function [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/90412 / TESIS