Polyclonal B cell activation by the Eta-1 cytokine and the development of systemic autoimmune disease

Studies of systemic autoimmune disease have led to the view that initiation and progression of the disease process reflects chronic and sustained B cell activation by unidentified polyclonal activating agents. In earlier studies, we found that T cells from MRL/1 mice, which develop murine lupus, express very high levels of a newly defined T cell cytokine, Eta-1. Inasmuch as chronic and sustained B cell stimulation by T cells is a cardinal feature of MRL/1 disease, we determined the effects of this cytokine on Ig production by B cells. We show that both recombinant and biochemically purified natural Eta-1 stimulate IgM and IgG production by mixtures of B cells and macrophages from the autoimmune MRL/l strain. Additional studies suggest that optimal Ig production by Eta-1 may require macrophages and reflect enhanced Ig production by large B cells. These findings support the view that elevated levels of endogenous Eta-1 may cause chronic and sustained polyclonal B cell activation that leads to autoimmune disease in this murine model.     

Phosphorylation of troponin I by protein kinase C: Mechanism of inhibition by calmodulin and troponin C

The mechanism by which calmodulin and troponin C influence phosphorylation of troponin I (TnI) by protein kinase C was investigated. The phosphorylation of TnI by protein kinase C requires the presence of acidic phospholipid, calcium and diacylglycerol. Light scattering intensity and fluorescence intensity experiments showed that TnI associated with the phospholipid membranes and caused extensive aggregation. In the presence of Ca²⁺, TnI-phospholipid interactions were prevented by approximately stoichiometric amounts of either troponin C or calmodulin. Troponin C was shown to completely inhibit phosphorylation of TnI by either protein kianse C or by phosphorylase b kinase. In contrast, calmodulin completely inhibited phosphorylation of TnI by protein kinase C, but had only little effect on TnI phosphorylation by phosphorylase b kinase. Inhibition by calmodulin did not appear to be due to interaction with PKC, since calmodulin mildly increased protein kinase C phosphorylation of histone III-S. The ratio of phosphoserine to phosphothreonine in protein kinase C-phosphorylated TnI remained approximately constant for reactions inhibited by up to 90% by clamodulin. TnI interactions with phospholipid and phosphorylation of TnI by PKC were also prevented by high salt concentrations. However, salt concentrations adequate to inhibit phosphorylation were sufficient to dissociate only TnI, but not protein kinase C from the membrane. These results suggest that the binding of TnI to phospholipid is required for phosphorylation by protein kinase C and that prevention of this binding by any means completely inhibited phosphorylation of TnI by protein kinase C.     

C and N utilization of two lettuce genotypes during growth under non-varying light conditions and after changing the light intensity

Growth and N-incorporation in two lettuce genotypes ( Lactuca sativa L. cv. Deci minor and cv. Grosse brune), which differ significantly in nitrate accumulation, were studied. Under constant environmental conditions cv. Deci minor produced more fresh and dry weight than cv. Grosse brune. Cultivar Deci minor also produced more fresh weight per mmol N absorbed than cv. Grosse brune, and contained less organic nitrogen in the dry matter, but accumulated more nitrate. As cv. Deci minor showed a higher fresh and dry weight production per mmol N absorbed than cv. Grosse brune, it used its nitrogen more efficiently.
When the light intensity was decreased, the growth of both cultivars decreased, and the fresh weight production per mmol N absorbed increased. After reduction of the light intensity, cv. Deci minor maintained a higher fresh weight production per N absorbed than before, whereas cv. Grosse brune returned to its original level. After decrease of the light intensity, an increased nitrate concentration in the cell sap was accompanied by a decreased concentration of organic compounds in both cultivars. The organic nitrogen level in the dry matter remained constant after the higher intensity was reduced. However, due to the decreased dry weight percentage, the demand for nitrogen for protein synthesis decreased on fresh weight basis.
It can be concluded that the two cultivars differ in their partition of C and N between dry matter and cell sap. Nitrate accumulation in preference to accumulation of organic compounds does not automatically result from a shortage of organic compounds. The high accumulation of nitrate of cv. Deci minor enables it to use more carbohydrates for structural growth than cv. Grosse brune.     

Refinement of a quantitative trait locus on equine chromosome 5 responsible for fetlock osteochondrosis in Hanoverian warmblood horses

In this report, we provide 29 new informative microsatellites distributed over a region of 21 Mb on horse chromosome (ECA) 5 and refine a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for fetlock osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) to a genome-wide significant interval between 78.03 and 90.23 Mb on ECA5. Genotyping was performed in 211 Hanoverian warmblood horses from 14 paternal half-sib groups. Within this OCD-QTL, collagen type XXIV alpha 1 was identified as a potential functional candidate gene for equine osteochondrosis. This report is a further step towards unravelling the genes that cause equine osteochondrosis.     

Inhibition of Plasmodium berghei Development in Mosquitoes by Effector Proteins Secreted from Asaia sp. Bacteria Using a Novel Native Secretion Signal

Novel interventions are needed to prevent the transmission of the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria. One possible method is to supply mosquitoes with antiplasmodial effector proteins from bacteria by paratransgenesis. Mosquitoes have a diverse complement of midgut microbiota including the Gram-negative bacteria Asaia bogorensis. This study presents the first use of Asaia sp. bacteria for paratransgenesis against P. berghei. We identified putative secreted proteins from A. bogorensis by a genetic screen using alkaline phosphatase gene fusions. Two were secreted efficiently: a siderophore receptor protein and a YVTN beta-propeller repeat protein. The siderophore receptor gene was fused with antiplasmodial effector genes including the scorpine antimicrobial peptide and an anti-Pbs21 scFv-Shiva1 immunotoxin. Asaia SF2.1 secreting these fusion proteins were fed to mosquitoes and challenged with Plasmodium berghei-infected blood. With each of these effector constructs, significant inhibition of parasite development was observed. These results provide a novel and promising intervention against malaria transmission.     

Loss of immunological tolerance in Gimap5-deficient mice is associated with loss of Foxo in CD4+ T cells

Previously, we reported the abrogation of quiescence and reduced survival in lymphocytes from Gimap5(sph/sph) mice, an ENU germline mutant with a missense mutation in the GTPase of immunity-associated protein 5 (Gimap5). These mice showed a progressive loss of peripheral lymphocyte populations and developed spontaneous colitis, resulting in early mortality. In this study, we identify the molecular pathways that contribute to the onset of colitis in Gimap5(sph/sph) mice. We show that CD4(+) T cells become Th1/Th17 polarized and are critically important for the development of colitis. Concomitantly, regulatory T cells become reduced in frequency in the peripheral tissues, and their immunosuppressive capacity becomes impaired. Most importantly, these progressive changes in CD4(+) T cells are associated with the loss of Forkheadbox group O (Foxo)1, Foxo3, and Foxo4 expression. Our data establish a novel link between Gimap5 and Foxo expression and provide evidence for a regulatory mechanism that controls Foxo protein expression and may help to maintain immunological tolerance.