Regulation of cell migration is an important step for the development of branching tubule morphogenesis in collagen gel. Here, we showed that discoidin domain receptor (DDR) 1a/b inhibited collagen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat) 1/3 and cell migration triggered by α2β1-integrin. Overexpression of DDR1a/b increased the interaction of DDR1 with SHP-2 and up-regulated the tyrosine phosphatase activity of SHP-2. Expression of catalytically inactive SHP-2 in DDR1-transfected cells restored the tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat3 and cell migration. We demonstrated that the Src homology-2 (SH2)-SH2 and phosphotyrosyl phosphatase (PTP) domains of SHP-2 were responsible for interaction with DDR1 and that both tyrosine phosphorylation sites 703 and 796 of DDR1 were essential for it to bind with SHP-2. Mutation of tyrosine 703 or 796 of DDR1 abolished the ability of DDR1 to inhibit the tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat1 and Stat3 and restored collagen-induced cell migration and hepatocyte growth factor-induced branching tubulogenesis in collagen gel. Together, these results demonstrate that SHP-2 is required for the DDR1-induced suppression of Stat1 and Stat3 tyrosine phosphorylation, cell migration, and branching tubulogenesis.

The numbers of both the HSP20-containing neurons and the HSP20-containing glia inversely correlated with the outcomes of ischaemic stroke. In addition, preischaemic treadmill exercise improves outcomes of ischaemic stroke by increasing the numbers of both the HSP20-containing neurons and the HSP20-containing glia.

The commercial value of marine Nannochloropsis oculata has been recognized due to its high content of eicosapentaenoic acid (>50% w/w). To make it as a profitable bioresource, one of the most desirable goals is to develop a quality-controlled, cost-effective, and large-scale photobioreactor for N. oculata growth. Generally, closed culture system can offer many advantages over open system such as small space requirement, controllable process and low risk of contamination. However, oxygen accumulation is often a detrimental factor for enclosed microalgal culture that has seriously hampered the development of microalga-related industries. In this study, we proposed to use fluorochemical as oxygen carrier to overcome the challenge where four liquid fluorochemicals namely perfluorooctyl bromide, perfluorodecalin, methoxynonafluorobutane, and ethoxynonafluorobutane were investigated separately. Our results showed that the microalgal proliferation with different fluorinated liquids was similar and comparable to the culture without a fluorochemical. When cultured in the photobioreactor with 60% oxygen atmosphere, the N. oculata can grow up in all the fluorochemical photobioreactors, but completely inhibited in the chamber without a fluorochemical. Moreover, the perfluorooctyl bromide system exhibited the most robust efficacy of oxygen removal in the culture media (perfluorooctyl bromide > perfluorodecalin > methoxynonafluorobutane > ethoxynonafluorobutane), and yielded a >3-fold increase of biomass production after 5 days. In summary, the developed fluorochemical photobioreactors offer a feasible means for N. oculata growth in closed and large-scale setting without effect of oxygen inhibition.

Previous study demonstrated that low substratum rigidity down-regulates focal adhesion proteins. In this study we found that cells cultured on collagen gel exhibited higher migration capacity than those cultured on collagen gel-coated dishes. Low rigidity of collagen gel induced delayed but persistent phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Inhibition of collagen gel-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation by MEK inhibitors and ERK2 kinase mutant induced a rounding up of the cells and prevented collagen gel-induced cell migration. Interestingly, phosphorylated ERK1/2 induced by low rigidity was present in focal adhesion sites and the lipid raft. MbetaCD (Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin), a lipid raft inhibitor, inhibited collagen gel-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and cell migration. Overexpression of FAK C-terminal fragment (FRNK) in MDCK cells triggered ERK phosphorylation. Meanwhile, low substratum rigidity induced degradation of FAK into a 35 kDa C-terminal fragment. A calpain inhibitor that partially rescued FAK degradation also prevented low rigidity-induced ERK phosphorylation. However, MbetaCD did not prevent low rigidity-induced FAK degradation. Taken together, we demonstrate that the degradation product of FAK induced by collagen gel triggers activation of ERK1/2, which in turn facilitates cell spreading and migration through the lipid raft.

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