Potential roles and targeted therapy of the CXCLs/CXCR2 axis in cancer and inflammatory diseases

The chemokine receptor CXCR2 and its ligands are implicated in the progression of tumours and various inflammatory diseases. Activation of the CXCLs/CXCR2 axis activates multiple signalling pathways, including the PI3K, p38/ERK, and JAK pathways, and regulates cell survival and migration. The CXCLs/CXCR2 axis plays a vital role in the tumour microenvironment and in recruiting neutrophils to inflammatory sites. Extensive infiltration of neutrophils during chronic inflammation is one of the most important pathogenic factors in various inflammatory diseases. Chronic inflammation is considered to be closely correlated with initiation of cancer. In addition, immunosuppressive effects of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) against T cells attenuate the anti-tumour effects of T cells and promote tumour invasion and metastasis. Over the last several decades, many therapeutic strategies targeting CXCR2 have shown promising results and entered clinical trials. In this review, we focus on the features and functions of the CXCLs/CXCR2 axis and highlight its role in cancer and inflammatory diseases. We also discuss its potential use in targeted therapies.     

The signal transducer gp130: solution structure of the carboxy-terminal domain of the cytokine receptor homology region

The transmembrane glycoprotein gp130 is the common signal transducing receptor subunit of the interleukin-6-type cytokines. It is a member of the cytokine-receptor superfamily predicted to consist of six domains in its extracellular part. The second and third domain constitute the cytokine-binding module defined by a set of four conserved cysteines and a WSXWS motif, respectively. The three-dimensional structure of the carboxy-terminal domain of this region was determined by multidimensional NMR. The domain consists of seven beta-strands constituting a fibronectin type III-like topology. The structure reveals that the WSDWS motif of gp130 is part of an extended tryptophan/arginine zipper which modulates the conformation of the CD loop.     

Evidence that the product of the human X-linked CGD gene, gp91-phox, is a voltage-gated H(+) pathway

Expression of gp91-phox in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO91) cells is correlated with the presence of a voltage-gated H(+) conductance. As one component of NADPH oxidase in neutrophils, gp91-phox is responsible for catalyzing the production of superoxide (O(2).(2)). Suspensions of CHO91 cells exhibit arachidonate-activatable H(+) fluxes (Henderson, L.M., G. Banting, and J.B. Chappell. 1995. J. Biol. Chem. 270:5909-5916) and we now characterize the electrical properties of the pathway. Voltage-gated currents were recorded from CHO91 cells using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique under conditions designed to exclude a contribution from ions other than H(+). As in other voltage-gated proton currents (Byerly, L., R. Meech, and W. Moody. 1984. J. Physiol. 351:199-216; DeCoursey, T.E., and V.V. Cherny. 1993. Biophys. J. 65:1590-1598), a lowered external pH (pH(o)) shifted activation to more positive voltages and caused the tail current reversal potential to shift in the manner predicted by the Nernst equation. The outward currents were also reversibly inhibited by 200 microM zinc. Voltage-gated currents were not present immediately upon perforating the cell membrane, but showed a progressive increase over the first 10-20 min of the recording period. This time course was consistent with a gradual shift in activation to more negative potentials as the pipette solution, pH 6.5, equilibrated with the cell contents (reported by Lucifer yellow included in the patch pipette). Use of the pH-sensitive dye 2'7' bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5(and 6) carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) suggested that the final intracellular pH (pH(i)) was approximately 6.9, as though pH(i) was largely determined by endogenous cellular regulation. Arachidonate (20 microM) increased the amplitude of the currents by shifting activation to more negative voltages and by increasing the maximally available conductance. Changes in external Cl(-) concentration had no effect on either the time scale or the appearance of the currents. Examination of whole cell currents from cells expressing mutated versions of gp91-phox suggest that: (a) voltage as well as arachidonate sensitivity was retained by cells with only the NH(2)-terminal 230 amino acids, (b) histidine residues at positions 111, 115, and 119 on a putative membrane-spanning helical region of the protein contribute to H(+) permeation, (c) histidine residues at positions 111 and 119 may contribute to voltage gating, (d) the histidine residue at position 115 is functionally important for H(+) selectivity. Mechanisms of H(+) permeation through gp91-phox include the possible protonation/deprotonation of His-115 as it is exposed alternatively to the interior and exterior faces of the cell membrane (see Starace, D.M., E. Stefani, and F. Bezanilla. 1997. Neuron. 19:1319-1327) and the transfer of protons across an "H-X-X-X-H-X-X-X-H" motif lining a conducting pore.     

Atomic insight into the CD4 binding-induced conformational changes in HIV-1 gp120

The entry of HIV-1 into a target cell requires gp120 and receptor CD4 as well as coreceptor CCR5/CXCR4 recognition events associated with conformational changes of the involved proteins. The binding of CD4 to gp120 is the initiation step of the whole process involving structural rearrangements that are crucial for subsequent pathways. Despite the wealth of knowledge about the gp120/CD4 interactions, details of the conformational changes occurring at this stage remain elusive. We have performed molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent based on the gp120/CD4/CD4i crystal structure in conjunction with modeled V3 and V4 loops to gain insight into the dynamics of the binding process. Three differentiated interaction modes between CD4 and gp120 were found, which involve electrostatics, hydrogen bond and van der Waals networks. A "binding funnel" model is proposed based on the dynamical nature of the binding interface together with a CD4-attraction gradient centered in gp120 at the CD4-Phe43-binding cavity. Distinct dynamical behaviors of free and CD4-bound gp120 were monitored, which likely represent the ground and pre-fusogenic states, respectively. The transition between these states revealed concerted motions in gp120 leading to: i) loop contractions around the CD4-Phe43-insertion cavity; ii) stabilization of the four-stranded "bridging sheet" structure; and iii) translocation and clustering of the V3 loop and the bridging sheet leading to the formation of the coreceptor binding site. Our results provide new insight into the dynamic of the underlying molecular recognition mechanism that complements the biochemical and structural studies.     

Involvement of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leishmania donovani</Emphasis> major surface glycoprotein gp63 in promastigote multiplication

The major surface glycoprotein gp63 of the kinetoplastid protozoal parasiteLeishmania is implicated as a ligand mediating uptake of the parasite into, and survival within, the host macrophage. By expressing gp63 antisense RNA from an episomal vector inL. donovani promastigotes, gp63-deficient transfectants were obtained. Reduction of the gp63 level resulted in increased generation times, altered cell morphology, accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and increased numbers of binucleate cells with one or two kinetoplasts. Growth was stimulated, and the number of binucleate cells reduced, by addition to the culture of a bacterially expressed fusion protein containing the fibronectin-like SRYD motif and the zinc-binding (metalloprotease) domain of gp63. These observations support an additional role of gp63 in promastigote multiplication; the fibronectin-like properties of gp63 may be important in this process     

Small proline-rich protein 1A is a gp130 pathway- and stress-inducible cardioprotective protein

The interleukin-6 cytokines, acting via gp130 receptor pathways, play a pivotal role in the reduction of cardiac injury induced by mechanical stress or ischemia and in promoting subsequent adaptive remodeling of the heart. We have now identified the small proline-rich repeat proteins (SPRR) 1A and 2A as downstream targets of gp130 signaling that are strongly induced in cardiomyocytes responding to biomechanical/ischemic stress. Upregulation of SPRR1A and 2A was markedly reduced in the gp130 cardiomyocyte-restricted knockout mice. In cardiomyocytes, MEK1/2 inhibitors prevented SPRR1A upregulation by gp130 cytokines. Furthermore, binding of NF-IL6 (C/EBPbeta) and c-Jun to the SPRR1A promoter was observed after CT-1 stimulation. Histological analysis revealed that SPRR1A induction after mechanical stress of pressure overload was restricted to myocytes surrounding piecemeal necrotic lesions. A similar expression pattern was found in postinfarcted rat hearts. Both in vitro and in vivo ectopic overexpression of SPRR1A protected cardiomyocytes against ischemic injury. Thus, this study identifies SPRR1A as a novel stress-inducible downstream mediator of gp130 cytokines in cardiomyocytes and documents its cardioprotective effect against ischemic stress.     

Production and purification of melanoma gp100 antigen and polyclonal antibodies

gp100 is a melanoma-associated antigen found to carry immunogenic epitopes that can induce a CTL response against tumor cells. Production and purification of large quantities of this polypeptide may be important in the context of diagnosis and vaccinating against melanoma. To overcome the hydrophobic nature of gp100, we cloned and expressed only a part of the protein, and obtained a hydrophilic recombinant polypeptide (HR-gp100) that contained most of the immunogenic peptides. High yield was achieved in an Escherichia coli expression system. The protein was purified by AKTA Prime using anionic-columns. Polyclonal antibodies developed in chicken against HR-gp100 were efficient at detecting gp100 in melanoma cells, as determined by Western blot analysis and by immunohistochemistry. HR-gp100 can be used to develop a vaccine against melanoma. Antibodies to HR-gp100 may be used to detect tumors of melanocytic origin or to determine the level of gp100 expression in tumors prior to immunotherapy with the protein or one of its peptides.