Compromised host defense on Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms: characterization of neutrophil and biofilm interactions

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that forms biofilms on tissues and other surfaces. We characterized the interaction of purified human neutrophils with P. aeruginosa, growing in biofilms, with regard to morphology, oxygen consumption, phagocytosis, and degranulation. Scanning electron and confocal laser microscopy indicated that the neutrophils retained a round, unpolarized, unstimulated morphology when exposed to P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms. However, transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that neutrophils, although rounded on their dorsal side, were phagocytically active with moderate membrane rearrangement on their bacteria-adjacent surfaces. The settled neutrophils lacked pseudopodia, were impaired in motility, and were enveloped by a cloud of planktonic bacteria released from the biofilms. The oxygen consumption of the biofilm/neutrophil system increased 6- and 8-fold over that of the biofilm alone or unstimulated neutrophils in suspension, respectively. H(2)O(2) accumulation was transient, reaching a maximal measured value of 1 micro M. Following contact, stimulated degranulation was 20-40% (myeloperoxidase, beta-glucuronidase) and 40-80% (lactoferrin) of maximal when compared with formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine plus cytochalasin B stimulation. In summary, after neutrophils settle on P. aeruginosa biofilms, they become phagocytically engorged, partially degranulated, immobilized, and rounded. The settling also causes an increase in oxygen consumption of the system, apparently resulting from a combination of a bacterial respiration and escape response and the neutrophil respiratory burst but with little increase in the soluble concentration of H(2)O(2). Thus, host defense becomes compromised as biofilm bacteria escape while neutrophils remain immobilized with a diminished oxidative potential.     

COX-2-derived prostacyclin mediates opioid-induced late phase of preconditioning in isolated rat hearts

Opioids confer biphasic (early and late) cardioprotection against myocardial infarction by opening mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K(+) channels. It is unknown whether cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which mediates ischemia-induced late preconditioning, also mediates opioid-induced cardioprotection. Isolated perfused rat hearts were subjected to 20 min of global ischemia followed by 20 min of reperfusion. BW-373U86 (BW), a delta-opioid receptor agonist, was administered 1, 12, or 24 h before death. Recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) after ischemia-reperfusion improved when BW was administered 1 or 24 h before ischemia (control: 57 +/- 8, BW 1 h: 75 +/- 5, BW 24 h: 85 +/- 6%) but not when it was administered 12 h before (60 +/- 5%). Levels of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) (a stable metabolite of PGI(2)) in coronary effluent after 20 min of reperfusion were higher with 24-h BW pretreatment than in controls (1,053 +/- 92 vs. 724 +/- 81 pg/ml), whereas 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) levels at baseline did not differ. Administration of a selective COX-2 inhibitor, NS-398, abolished the late phase of cardioprotection (recovery of LVDP, 53 +/- 8%) and attenuated the increase in PGI(2) (706 +/- 138 pg/ml) but did not block the early phase of cardioprotection. The selective COX-1 inhibitor SC-560 did not affect either phase of protection. Western immunoblotting revealed upregulation of PGI(2) synthase protein 24 h after BW administration without changes in COX-1 and COX-2 protein levels. In conclusion, the late (but not the early) phase of delta-opioid receptor-induced preconditioning is mediated by COX-2. A functional coupling between COX-2 and upregulated PGI(2) synthase appears to underlie this cardioprotective phenomenon in the rat.     

Synthesis of an alpha-fucosidase inhibitor, 5a-carba-beta-L-fucopyranosylamine, and fucose-type alpha- and beta-DL-valienamine unsaturated derivatives

Discovery of a very potent alpha-fucosidase inhibitor 5a-carba-alpha-L-fucopyranosylamine led to preparation of its beta-anomer and the respective unsaturated derivatives, fucose-type alpha- and beta-valienamines, in order to elucidate the structure-activity relationship of carba-aminosugar inhibitors of this kind. Compound was demonstrated to be a potent inhibitor (K(i)=2.0 x 10(-7) M, bovine kidney), possessing ca. one-tenth of the activity of the parent. Interestingly, and were found to be rather weak inhibitors, contrary to the expectations based on the activity relationships between the alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, alpha-glucose-type validamine and valienamine.     

GALEIDINIIUM RUGATUM GEN. ET SP. NOV. (DINOPHYCEAE), A NEW COCCOID DINOFLAGELLATE WITH A DIATOM ENDOSYMBIONT1

A new sand‐dwelling dinoflagellate from Palau, Galeidinium rugatum Tamura et Horiguchi gen. et sp. nov., is described. The life cycle of this new alga consists of a dominant nonmotile phase and a brief motile phase. The motile cell transforms itself directly into the nonmotile cell after swimming for a short period, and cell division takes place in the nonmotile phase. The nonmotile cell possesses a dome‐like cell covering, which is wrinkled and equipped with a transverse groove on the surface. The cell has 10–20 chloroplasts and a distinct eyespot. The motile cell is Gymnodinium‐like in shape. The dinoflagellate possesses an endosymbiotic alga to which the chloroplasts belong and which is separated from the host (dinoflagellate) cytoplasm by a unit membrane. The endosymbiont cytoplasm also possesses its own eukaryotic nucleus and mitochondria. The eyespot is surrounded by triple membranes and is located in the host cytoplasm. Photosynthetic pigment analysis, using HPLC, revealed that G. rugatum possesses fucoxanthin as the principal accessory pigment instead of peridinin. The rbcL tree showed that G. rugatum is monophyletic with Durinskia baltica (Levander) Carty et Cox and Kryptoperidinium foliaceum (Stein) Lindemann and that this clade is closely related to the pennate diatom, Cylindrotheca sp. The endosymbiont of G. rugatum is therefore shown to be a diatom. Phylogenetic analysis based on small subunit rDNA sequences demonstrated that G. rugatum, D. baltica, and K. foliaceum, all of which are known to harbor an endosymbiont of diatom origin, are closely related.     

Overexpression of CAF1 encoding a novel Ca2+-binding protein stimulates the transition of Dictyostelium cells from growth to differentiation

Among the expressed genes associated with the switch-over of Dictyostelium cells from cell proliferation to differentiation, the Calfumirin-1 ( CAF1 ) gene has been shown to be preferentially expressed at the initial step of differentiation, encoding a novel Ca²⁺-binding protein (Abe & Maeda 1995). To analyze precisely the function of CAF1 , transformants overexpressing the CAF1 mRNA at the vegetative growth phase and also CAF1 -null mutants were prepared, and their developmental features were compared with those of parental wild-type cells. As a result, the CAF1 -overexpression was found to promote cell differentiation, possibly through prompt induction of the cAMP receptor 1 ( CAR1 ) gene expression. In addition, the CAF1 -overexpressing cells were able to differentiate even under low external Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_e) conditions around 10⁻⁶mol/L at which non-transformed wild-type cells never differentiated. Unexpectedly, however, the CAF1 -null mutant produced by homologous recombination exhibited apparently normal development to form fruiting bodies on non-nutrient agar. These results seem to indicate that CAF1 -overexpression has a stimulatory effect on differentiation, but that the CAF1 protein is not necessarily required for the phase-shift of cells from growth to differentiation.     

Two separate regions essential for nuclear import of the hnRNP D nucleocytoplasmic shuttling sequence

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) D/AUF1 functions in mRNA genesis in the nucleus and modulates mRNA decay in the cytoplasm. Although it is primarily nuclear, it shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. We studied the nuclear import and export of the last exon-encoding sequence common to all its isoforms by its expression as a green fluorescent protein-fusion protein in HeLa cells and by heterokaryon assay. The C-terminal 19-residue sequence (SGYGKVSRRGGHQNSYKPY) was identified as an hnRNP D nucleocytoplasmic shuttling sequence (DNS). In vitro nuclear transport using permeabilized cells indicated that nuclear import of DNS is mediated by transportin-1 (Trn-1). DNS accumulation in the nucleus was dependent on Trn-1, Ran, and energy in multiple rounds of nuclear transport. Use of DNS with deletions, alanine scanning mutagenesis and point mutations revealed that two separate regions (the N-terminal seven residues and the C-terminal two residues) are crucial for in vivo and in vitro transport as well as for interaction with Trn-1. The N- and C-terminal motifs are conserved in the shuttling sequences of hnRNP A1 and JKTBP.     

Convenient synthesis and evaluation of glycosidase inhibitory activity of alpha- and beta-galactose-type valienamines, and some N-alkyl derivatives

Valienamine analogues having alpha- and beta-galactose-type structures were synthesized by racemic modification from (1SR,2RS,3SR)-6-methylenecyclohex-4-ene-1,2,3-triol. Four N-alkyl derivatives of the beta-anomer were readily prepared selectively by treatment of key intermediate 2,6-di-O-acetyl-3,4-O-isopropylidene-5a-carba-alpha- and beta-l-arabino-hex-5(5a)-enopyranosyl bromides with alkyl amines. All compounds were assayed for inhibitory activity against six glycosidases, and the N-dodecyl derivative was shown to be a very strong inhibitor of beta-galactosidase (IC(50) 0.01 microM, bovine liver).     

Hyaluronidase expression in cultured growth plate chondrocytes during differentiation

Hyaluronan (HA) is a major component of the extracellular matrix of cartilage, contributes to its structural and functional integrity, and has various important roles in the differentiation of chondrocytes. HA metabolism is regulated by both anabolic and catabolic processes; however, the details have not yet been clarified. The purpose of this study was to clarify the expression patterns of hyaluronidase (HAase) mRNAs (from the relevant HAase genes: the HYALs) and HAase activity during chondrocyte differentiation. Cartilage tissue and growth plate chondrocytes were isolated from the ribs of 4-week-old male Japanese rabbits. The expression of HYAL mRNAs in cartilage was analyzed by in situ hybridization. The expression levels of HYAL mRNAs in the culture were analyzed for each of the chondrocyte differentiation stages by means of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Enzymatic activity in the conditioned medium from the cultures was examined by using HA zymography and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent-like assay. The expression levels of HYAL1 and HYAL2 mRNAs were enhanced about 2.8-fold and 3.2-fold at the maximum during the early matrix forming stage, respectively, and by about 3.2-fold and 2.0-fold at the maximum in the hypertrophic stage, respectively. HYAL3 mRNA was not detected throughout the experimental period. HAase activity was enhanced at the early matrix forming and hypertrophic stages. These results suggest that selective expression of HYALs is essential for extracellular HA metabolism during chondrocyte differentiation.This research was supported by Grants-in-Aid (no. 11557166) for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan     

Identification of regulatory cis-acting elements for alternative splicing of presenilin 2 exon 5 under hypoxic stress conditions

An alternatively spliced form of the presenilin 2 (PS2) gene lacking exon 5 (PS2V) was found in human brains with sporadic Alzheimer's disease. PS2V was induced by hypoxic stress in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells, indicating that hypoxic stress affects the splicing machineries for PS2 exon 5. Here, we identified the critical cis-acting element (sec 2) on the PS2 pre-mRNA responsible for the aberrant splicing of PS2 exon 5 under hypoxic stress conditions. The element was composed of 23 nucleotides in exon 5 and RNA structural analyses showed a stem-loop structure in this sequence. Treatment with an antisense oligonucleotide directed toward the cis-acting element caused an increase in exon 5 inclusion. These results indicate that the sec 2 identified in this study is a novel regulatory element for exon 5 splicing under stress conditions and that trans-acting factors could specifically bind to the element to skip exon 5 of PS2.     

Molecular cloning and functional analysis of cytochrome P450 1A2 from Japanese monkey liver: comparison with marmoset cytochrome P450 1A2

A cDNA encoding a novel cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) was cloned from the liver of an adult female Japanese monkey. The CYP1A2 protein was expressed in yeast cells and its enzymatic properties were compared with those of marmoset CYP1A2 using ethoxyresorufin (ER) and phenacetin (PN) as substrates. The nucleotide sequence of Japanese monkey CYP1A2 revealed 94.7, 99.5 and 93.5% identities to those of human, cynomolgus monkey and marmoset monkey CYP1A2, respectively. Multiple amino acid sequence alignment of Japanese monkey CYP1A2 with CYP1A2 of humans, cynomolgus monkeys and marmosets showed that Japanese monkey CYP1A2 had 92.4, 99.0 and 91.9% identities to the human, cynomolgus monkey and marmoset enzymes, respectively. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the enzymatic properties as ER and PN O-deethylases were considerably different between the Japanese monkey and the marmoset CYP1A2. Furthermore, both of these reactions in liver microsomal fractions from the Japanese monkey and marmoset showed biphasic kinetics. On the basis of the kinetic parameters, it is suggested that Japanese monkey CYP1A2 is a high-K(m) enzyme in both ER and PN O-deethylations, whereas marmoset CYP1A2 is a high-K(m) and low-K(m) enzyme in ER and PN O-deethylations, respectively. alpha-Naphthoflavone, an inhibitor of human CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, did not completely inhibit the liver microsomal oxidations of ER and PN even at the highest concentration (50muM), supporting the notion that CYP1A2 enzymes are not the sole ER or PN O-deethylase in Japanese monkey and marmoset liver microsomes. Inhibitory effects of furafylline, an inhibitor of human CYP1A2, on ER O-deethylation by recombinant CYP1A2 enzymes were much lower than those of alpha-naphthoflavone, but marmoset CYP1A2 was more sensitive to furafylline than Japanese monkey CYP1A2. These results indicate that the properties of Japanese monkey CYP1A2 are considerably different from those of marmoset CYP1A2.