Cooperation between β- and γ-cytoplasmic actins in the mechanical regulation of endothelial microparticle formation

FASEB J. 2013 Feb;27(2):672-83. doi: 10.1096/fj.12-216531. Epub 2012 Nov 16.

Abstract

Elevated endothelial microparticle (MP) levels are observed in numerous diseases, increasingly supporting roles as effectors and valuable markers of vascular dysfunction. While a contractile role for the actin cytoskeleton has been implicated in vesiculation, i.e., MP production, the precise interactions and mechanisms of its constituents, β- and γ-cytoplasmic actins, is unknown. Human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells were stimulated with known agonists, and vesiculation development was monitored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and flow cytometry. These data in combination provide new insight into the kinetics, patterns of vesiculating cell recruitment, and degrees of response specific to stimuli. Reorganization of β- and γ-actins, F-actin, vinculin, and talin accompanied significant MP release. β-Actin redistribution into basal stress fibers following stimulation was associated with increased apically situated actin-rich particulate structures, which in turn directly correlated with electron-lucent membrane protrusions observed by SEM. Y-27632 Rho-kinase inhibition abolished basal β-actin fiber formation, minimizing apically associated actin-rich structures, significantly reducing membrane protrusions and MP release to near basal levels. Cytoskeletal protein expression and distribution varied between MPs and mother cells, as determined by Western blot. These data strongly suggest that β-actin plays an active facilitative role in agonist-induced protuberance formation, through mechanical interactions with newly described actin-rich structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / physiology*
  • Actins / ultrastructure
  • Amides / pharmacology
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Calcimycin / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell-Derived Microparticles / drug effects
  • Cell-Derived Microparticles / physiology*
  • Cell-Derived Microparticles / ultrastructure
  • Cytoskeleton / drug effects
  • Cytoskeleton / physiology
  • Cytoskeleton / ultrastructure
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology*
  • Endothelial Cells / ultrastructure
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Kinetics
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Models, Biological
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology
  • rho-Associated Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Actins
  • Amides
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Pyridines
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • thrombin receptor peptide (42-47)
  • Y 27632
  • Calcimycin
  • Interferon-gamma
  • rho-Associated Kinases