IL13 activates autophagy to regulate secretion in airway epithelial cells

Cytokine modulation of autophagy is increasingly recognized in disease pathogenesis, and current concepts suggest that type 1 cytokines activate autophagy, whereas type 2 cytokines are inhibitory. However, this paradigm derives primarily from studies of immune cells and is poorly characterized in tissue cells, including sentinel epithelial cells that regulate the immune response. In particular, the type 2 cytokine IL13 (interleukin 13) drives the formation of airway goblet cells that secrete excess mucus as a characteristic feature of airway disease, but whether this process is influenced by autophagy was undefined. Here we use a mouse model of airway disease in which IL33 (interleukin 33) stimulation leads to IL13-dependent formation of airway goblet cells as tracked by levels of mucin MUC5AC (mucin 5AC, oligomeric mucus/gel forming), and we show that these cells manifest a block in mucus secretion in autophagy gene Atg16l1-deficient mice compared to wild-type control mice. Similarly, primary-culture human tracheal epithelial cells treated with IL13 to stimulate mucus formation also exhibit a block in MUC5AC secretion in cells depleted of autophagy gene ATG5 (autophagy-related 5) or ATG14 (autophagy-related 14) compared to nondepleted control cells. Our findings indicate that autophagy is essential for airway mucus secretion in a type 2, IL13-dependent immune disease process and thereby provide a novel therapeutic strategy for attenuating airway obstruction in hypersecretory inflammatory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cystic fibrosis lung disease. Taken together, these observations suggest that the regulation of autophagy by Th2 cytokines is cell-context dependent.     

PCT, IL-6及CRP 对新生儿宫内细菌感染的诊断价值

目的:探讨降钙素原(PCT)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)及C反应蛋白(CRP)对新生儿宫内细菌感染的诊断价值。方法:根据感染结局将2013年3月-2014年9月在我院分娩且有宫内感染高危因素的179例新生儿分为感染组(34例)和无感染组(145例),检测两组新生儿的PCT、IL-6及CRP水平,并比较其对宫内细菌感染的诊断价值。结果:感染组新生儿脐带血PCT、IL-6、CRP水平均高于无感染组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。感染组新生儿各单个指标阳性率、两指标联合检测阳性率高于无感染组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),感染组新生儿PCT、IL-6阳性率高于CRP,PCT+IL-6的阳性率高于PCT+CRP、IL-6+CRP,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。PCT+IL-6的灵敏度、准确率高于单个指标及其他两个指标联合检测,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),各项指标检测的特异性比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:新生儿宫内感染采用脐带血PCT检测具有灵敏度高、特异性好的特点,联合IL-6检测是临床诊断新生儿宫内感染的有效方式。     

核质双向转运受体Importin13 在翼状胬肉中的表达及意义

目的:探讨核质双向转运蛋白Importin13(IPO13)在翼状胬肉中的表达及意义。方法:收集2015年1月至2015年6月在中南大学湘雅医院眼科门诊确诊为"翼状胬肉"并行手术切除患者标本5例作为翼状胬肉组,收集人正常球结膜组织5例作为人正常结膜组织组,采用免疫组织化学方法检测两组结膜上皮和翼状胬肉组织IPO13、核转录因子p63、ABCG2、CD133的表达。结果:IPO13及p63表达定位于结膜上皮和翼状胬肉组织上皮基底细胞核内,ABCG2表达定位于结膜上皮和翼状胬肉上皮基底细胞层细胞浆及细胞膜,CD133表达定位于结膜上皮和翼状胬肉上皮基底细胞层细胞膜。IPO13、p63、ABCG2及CD133在人正常结膜组织中均呈低表达(光密度OD值IPO13:0.43±0.30;p63:139.09±40.15;ABCG2:63.63±22.56;CD133:70.31±33.41);在翼状胬肉中表达均明显增高(OD值IPO13:155.1±21.80;p63:617.35±87.43;ABCG2:214.03±34;CD133:201.05±46.38)。两组之间差异显著(IPO13:t'=15.87,P0.005;p63:t'=11.92,P0.005;ABCG2:t=8.15,P0.005;CD133:t=5.08,P0.005)。结论:IPO13、p63、ABCG2及CD133在翼状胬肉中高表达提示其可能在翼状胬肉异常增殖性病变中起着正向调控作用。     

Immunochip analysis identifies association of the RAD50/IL13 region with human longevity

Human longevity is characterized by a remarkable lack of confirmed genetic associations. Here, we report on the identification of a novel locus for longevity in the RAD50/IL13 region on chromosome 5q31.1 using a combined European sample of 3208 long‐lived individuals (LLI) and 8919 younger controls. First, we performed a large‐scale association study on 1458 German LLI (mean age 99.0 years) and 6368 controls (mean age 57.2 years) by targeting known immune‐associated loci covered by the Immunochip. The analysis of 142 136 autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed an Immunochip‐wide significant signal (P_Immunochip = 7.01 × 10^–9) for the SNP rs2075650 in the TOMM40/APOE region, which has been previously described in the context of human longevity. To identify novel susceptibility loci, we selected 15 markers with P_Immunochip < 5 × 10^–4 for replication in two samples from France (1257 LLI, mean age 102.4 years; 1811 controls, mean age 49.1 years) and Denmark (493 LLI, mean age 96.2 years; 740 controls, mean age 63.1 years). The association at SNP rs2706372 replicated in the French study collection and showed a similar trend in the Danish participants and was also significant in a meta‐analysis of the combined French and Danish data after adjusting for multiple testing. In a meta‐analysis of all three samples, rs2706372 reached a P‐value of P_{Immunochip+Repl} = 5.42 × 10^?7 (OR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.12–1.28). SNP rs2706372 is located in the extended RAD50/IL13 region. RAD50 seems a plausible longevity candidate due to its involvement in DNA repair and inflammation. Further studies are needed to identify the functional variant(s) that predispose(s) to a long and healthy life.     

FGF13 modulates the gating properties of the cardiac sodium channel Nav1.5 in an isoform-specific manner

FGF13 (FHF2), the major fibroblast growth factor homologous factor (FHF) in rodent heart, directly binds to the C-terminus of the main cardiac sodium channel, Na_V1.5. Knockdown of FGF13 in cardiomyocytes induces slowed ventricular conduction by altering Na_V1.5 function. FGF13 has five splice variants, each of which possess the same core region and C terminus but differing in their respective N termini. Whether and how these alternatively spliced N termini impart isoform-specific regulation of Na_V1.5, however, has not been reported. Here, we exploited a heterologous expression to explore the specific modulatory effects of FGF13 splice variants FGF13S, FGF13U and FGF13YV on Na_V1.5 function. We found these three splice variants differentially modulated Na_V1.5 current density. Although steady-state activation was unaltered by any of the FGF13 isoforms (compared to control cells expressing Nav1.5 but not expressing FGF13), open-state fast inactivation and closed-state fast inactivation were markedly slowed, steady-state availability was significantly shifted toward the depolarizing direction, and the window current was increased by each of FGF13 isoforms. Most strikingly, FGF13S hastened the rate of Na_V1.5 entry into the slow inactivation state and induced a dramatic slowing of recovery from inactivation, which caused a large decrease in current after either low or high frequency stimulation. Overall, these data showed the diversity of the roles of the FGF13 N-termini in Na_V1.5 channel modulation and suggested the importance of isoform-specific regulation.     

On the influence of provenance to soil quality enhanced stress reaction of young beech trees to summer drought

Climate projections propose that drought stress will become challenging for establishing trees. The magnitude of stress is dependent on tree species, provenance, and most likely also highly influenced by soil quality. European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is of major ecological and economical importance in Central European forests. The species has an especially wide physiological and ecological amplitude enabling growth under various soil conditions within its distribution area in Central Europe. We studied the effects of extreme drought on beech saplings (second year) of four climatically distinct provenances growing on different soils (sandy loam and loamy sand) in a full factorial pot experiment. Foliar δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, C, and N as well as above‐ and belowground growth parameters served as measures for stress level and plant growth. Low‐quality soil enhanced the effect of drought compared with qualitatively better soil for the above‐ and belowground growth parameters, but foliar δ¹³C values revealed that plant stress was still remarkable in loamy soil. For beeches of one provenance, negative sandy soil effects were clearly smaller than for the others, whereas for another provenance drought effects in sandy soil were sometimes fatal. Foliar δ¹⁵N was correlated with plant size during the experiment. Plasticity of beech provenances in their reaction to drought versus control conditions varied clearly. Although a general trend of declining growth under control or drought conditions in sandy soil was found compared to loamy soil, the magnitude of the effect of soil quality was highly provenance specific. Provenances seemed to show adaptations not only to drought but also to soil quality. Accordingly, scientists should integrate information about climatic pre‐adaptation and soil quality within the home range of populations for species distribution modeling and foresters should evaluate soil quality and climatic parameters when choosing donor populations for reforestation projects.     

Stable Isotope Ratios as a Tool for Assessing Changes in Carbon and Nutrient Sources in Antarctic Terrestrial Ecosystems

Samples of an angiosperm species, nine lichen species and a terrestrial alga, were collected from a variety of Antarctic terrestrial habitats, and were analysed for C and N stable isotope composition. Collections were made along natural gradients, the marine gradient, running from the sea coast inland and the moisture gradient, determined by melt water and precipitation runoff, and running towards the sea coast. Considerable variation in stable isotope ratios was found; δ¹³C values ranged between −16 and −32‰ and δ¹⁵N values between −23 and +23‰ The variation in stable carbon isotope ratios could be attributed in part to species specific differences, but differences in water availability also played a role, as was shown for the terrestrial alga Prasiola crispa and the lichen species Usnea antarctica. The differences in the isotope ratios of nitrogen could be retraced to the origin of nitrogen: marine or terrestrial. The nitrogen stable isotope ratios were influenced by both the marine gradient from the sea inland and the melt water and precipitation flow running in the opposite direction, towards the sea. This was shown for the lichen species Turgidosculum complicatulum and the angiosperm species Deschampsia antarctica. The variation in the C and N stable isotope ratios can be used to determine sources and pathways of N and changes in the water availability in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems. Contrary to earlier reports the use of stable N isotope ratios is possible in this case because of the relative simplicity of the structure of the Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems.     

光学蛋白芯片技术在噬菌体M13KO7检测中的应用

将亲和素共价固定在表面改性后的硅片上,通过亲和素与生物素相互作用将生物素标记的噬菌体抗体GP3固定在亲和素膜层表面,当含有M13KO7噬菌体的样品经过抗体表面时,通过噬菌体与抗体之间的相互作用噬菌体就会被抗体捕获,生物学信号可以通过芯片上的膜层厚度变化表现出来,这种膜层厚度变化可以被椭偏生物传感器技术识别。结果表明,GP3抗体在芯片表面形成了饱和的抗体膜层,厚度为6.9nm;M13KO7噬菌体与芯片上固定的抗体会发生特异性相互作用,噬菌体被抗体捕获后形成的复合物膜层厚度为17.5nm,并且随着噬菌体浓度升高膜层厚度增加,检测含有M13KO7噬菌体的样品灵敏度为109pfu/mL。与其它研究病毒与抗体相互作用方法相比光学蛋白芯片技术具有简便快捷、无需标记待检样品和结果直观等优点,为研究病毒与其抗体相互作用以及疾病早期临床诊断提供了一个新的方法。