Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
07:05
TGF-β-mediated Endothelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EndMT) and the Functional Assessment of EndMT Effectors using CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing
Published on: February 26, 2021
Caspases and p38 MAPK regulate endothelial cell adhesiveness for mesenchymal stem cells
Irina A Potapova1, Ira S Cohen, Sergey V Doronin
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America.
Plos One
|September 27, 2013
Summary
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) specifically adhere to distressed endothelial cells. This adhesion is mediated by p38 MAPK activation and caspase potentiation in apoptotic endothelial cells, clarifying MSC homing mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Immunology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are crucial for tissue repair and home to injury sites.
- The precise mechanisms governing MSC homing remain largely unknown.
- Endothelial cell distress is implicated in modulating MSC interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) adhesion to endothelial cells at injury sites.
- To investigate the role of endothelial cell apoptosis and associated signaling pathways in MSC homing.
Main Methods:
- Utilized in vitro models of endothelial cell apoptosis.
- Assessed MSC adhesion to apoptotic endothelial cells.
- Investigated the involvement of endothelial caspases and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- Endothelial cell apoptosis significantly enhances endothelial cell adhesiveness for MSCs.
- MSC adhesion to apoptotic endothelial cells is dependent on endothelial caspase activation and p38 MAPK signaling.
- p38 MAPK activation is primary, while caspase activation potentiates the adhesion process.
Conclusions:
- MSCs specifically recognize and adhere to distressed or apoptotic endothelial cells.
- The findings reveal a novel mechanism for MSC homing to injury sites.
- This study provides critical insights into the cell-cell interactions governing regenerative processes.
Related Concept Videos
01:07MAPK Signaling Cascades
Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
01:17Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Some...
01:25Selectins
Cell adhesion is an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain, which...
01:19Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...
01:13Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces
In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue.
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...