Cell Surface Glycan Changes in the Spontaneous Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Equine Amniotic Multipotent Progenitor Cells.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research study explored how the cell surfaces of certain progenitor cells, specifically equine amniotic epithelial and mesenchymal cells, change as the cells naturally transition from one type to another. The researchers analyzed cell cultures and discovered specific patterns in the glycans, a type of molecule on the cells’ surfaces, that were characteristic of each cell type and its transitional state.
Cellular Transformation and Source
In the initial phase of the study, the researchers focused on amniotic epithelial cells (AECs) as their subject of study. These cells are known to naturally transform into amniotic mesenchymal cells (AMCs) under in vitro conditions. The cells were sourced from amniotic membranes and pure cell cultures derived using clone AEC and AMC cell lines obtained by the dilution technique.
Transdifferentiation and Analysis
Transdifferentiation, in this context, refers to the process where cells originating from the epithelial line are converted into mesenchymal cells. All cells generated this way were considered transdifferentiated. Afterward, the glycan pattern in AECs, AMCs, and epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiated cells (EMTCs) was assessed using a technique involving 12 varieties of lectins (proteins that bind to specific sugar molecules).
Cell Marker Shift
The resulting data showed a shift in protein markers, with cytokeratin markers disappearing in the EMTCs, and another marker, vimentin, emerging. This shift confirms the transformation of the cells.
Glycan Profile
Further analysis revealed that the cells exhibited a unique glycan profile after transition. The dominant glycan molecules on all three types of amnion cells were galactose, N-acetyl neuraminic acid, and others. Interestingly, fucose, galactose, and other glycans were found to be less common on EMTCs than on AECs.
Significance of Research Findings
The findings suggest that as the cells transition from epithelial to mesenchymal cells, the remodeling of the cell surface glycans creates cell-specific glycan profiles. This discovery presents a first-time observation of cell surface glycan alterations during the spontaneous epithelial-mesenchymal transition of equine amnion cells. The results also highlight a key difference between the glycosylation patterns of spontaneous EMTCs and those of tumoral cells undergoing the same transition.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Reproduction Unit, Large Animal Hospital, Universitx00E0; degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Adipogenesis
- Amnion / cytology
- Animals
- Cell Membrane / metabolism
- Cell Shape
- Cell Transdifferentiation
- Cells, Cultured
- Chondrogenesis
- Epithelial Cells / cytology
- Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
- Female
- Glycosylation
- Horses
- Immunoassay
- Lectins
- Mesoderm / cytology
- Multipotent Stem Cells / cytology
- Neurogenesis
- Osteogenesis
- Polysaccharides / metabolism
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Russo V, El Khatib M, di Marcantonio L, Ancora M, Wyrwa R, Mauro A, Walter T, Weisser J, Citeroni MR, Lazzaro F, Di Federico M, Berardinelli P, Cammà C, Schnabelrauch M, Barboni B. Tendon Biomimetic Electrospun PLGA Fleeces Induce an Early Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Tenogenic Differentiation on Amniotic Epithelial Stem Cells. Cells 2020 Jan 27;9(2).
- Buffone A, Weaver VM. Don't sugarcoat it: How glycocalyx composition influences cancer progression. J Cell Biol 2020 Jan 6;219(1).
- Mauro A, Sanyal H, Canciello A, Berardinelli P, Russo V, Bernabò N, Valbonetti L, Barboni B. In Vitro Effect of Estradiol and Progesterone on Ovine Amniotic Epithelial Cells. Stem Cells Int 2019;2019:8034578.
- Canciello A, Russo V, Berardinelli P, Bernabò N, Muttini A, Mattioli M, Barboni B. Progesterone prevents epithelial-mesenchymal transition of ovine amniotic epithelial cells and enhances their immunomodulatory properties. Sci Rep 2017 Jun 19;7(1):3761.
- Accogli G, Desantis S, Martino NA, Dell'Aquila ME, Gemeiner P, Katrlík J. A lectin-based cell microarray approach to analyze the mammalian granulosa cell surface glycosylation profile. Glycoconj J 2016 Oct;33(5):717-24.
- Gaspari G, Lange-Consiglio A, Cremonesi F, Desantis S. Role of Glycans in Equine Endometrial Cell Uptake of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Amniotic Mesenchymal Stromal Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Feb 19;26(4).
