Anti-dsDNA Antibodies Promote Initiation,and Acquired Loss of Renal Dnase1 Promotes Progression of Lupus Nephritis in Autoimmune (NZBxNZW)F1 Mice

Background

Lupus nephritis is characterized by deposition of chromatin fragment-IgG complexes in the mesangial matrix and glomerular basement membranes (GBM). The latter defines end-stage disease.

Methodology/Principals

In the present study we determined the impact of antibodies to dsDNA, renal Dnase1 and matrix metalloprotease (MMP) mRNA levels and enzyme activities on early and late events in murine lupus nephritis. The major focus was to analyse if these factors were interrelated, and if changes in their expression explain basic processes accounting for lupus nephritis.

Findings

Early phases of nephritis were associated with chromatin-IgG complex deposition in the mesangial matrix. A striking observation was that this event correlated with appearance of anti-dsDNA antibodies and mild or clinically silent nephritis. These events preceded down-regulation of renal Dnase1. Later, renal Dnase1 mRNA level and enzyme activity were reduced, while MMP2 mRNA level and enzyme activity increased. Reduced levels of renal Dnase1 were associated in time with deficient fragmentation of chromatin from dead cells. Large fragments were retained and accumulated in GBM. Also, since chromatin fragments are prone to stimulate Toll-like receptors in e.g. dendritic cells, this may in fact explain increased expression of MMPs.

Significance

These scenarios may explain the basis for deposition of chromatin-IgG complexes in glomeruli in early and late stages of nephritis, loss of glomerular integrity and finally renal failure.     

Heat Shock Protein 70 Expression Is Spatially Distributed in Human Placenta and Selectively Upregulated during Labor and Preeclampsia

Placental oxidative stress is a feature of both human labor and the pregnancy syndrome preeclampsia. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) can be induced in cells as a protective mechanism to cope with cellular stress. We hypothesized that HSP 70 would increase during labor and preeclampsia and that expression would vary in different placental zones. Samples were obtained from 12 sites within each placenta: 4 equally spaced apart pieces were sampled from the inner, middle and outer placental regions. Non-labor, labor and preeclampsia were studied. HSP 70 expression was investigated by Western blot analysis. HSP 70 protein expression was increased in the middle compared with the outer area (p = 0.03) in non-labor and in both the inner and middle areas compared with the outer area (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02 respectively) in labor. HSP 70 was increased in the preeclampsia non-labor group compared to the control non-labor group in the inner region (p = 0.003) and in the control labor group compared with the preeclampsia labor group at the middle area (p = 0.001). In conclusion HSP 70 is expressed in a spatial manner in the placenta. Changes in HSP 70 expression occur during labor and preeclampsia but at different zones within the placenta. The physiological and pathological significance of these remains to be elucidated but the results have important implications for how data obtained from studies in placental disease (and other organs) can be influenced by sampling methods.     

A Dexamethasone Prodrug Reduces the Renal Macrophage Response and Provides Enhanced Resolution of Established Murine Lupus Nephritis

We evaluated the ability of a macromolecular prodrug of dexamethasone (P-Dex) to treat lupus nephritis in (NZB × NZW)F1 mice. We also explored the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of this prodrug. P-Dex eliminated albuminuria in most (NZB × NZW)F1 mice. Furthermore, P-Dex reduced the incidence of severe nephritis and extended lifespan in these mice. P-Dex treatment also prevented the development of lupus-associated hypertension and vasculitis. Although P-Dex did not reduce serum levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies or glomerular immune complexes, P-Dex reduced macrophage recruitment to the kidney and attenuated tubulointerstitial injury. In contrast to what was observed with free dexamethasone, P-Dex did not induce any deterioration of bone quality. However, P-Dex did lead to reduced peripheral white blood cell counts and adrenal gland atrophy. These results suggest that P-Dex is more effective and less toxic than free dexamethasone for the treatment of lupus nephritis in (NZB × NZW)F1 mice. Furthermore, the data suggest that P-Dex may treat nephritis by attenuating the renal inflammatory response to immune complexes, leading to decreased immune cell infiltration and diminished renal inflammation and injury.     

Decay-Accelerating Factor 1 Deficiency Exacerbates Leptospiral-Induced Murine Chronic Nephritis and Renal Fibrosis

Leptospirosis is a global zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira, which can colonize the proximal renal tubules and persist for long periods in the kidneys of infected hosts. Here, we characterized the infection of C57BL/6J wild-type and Daf1^−/− mice, which have an enhanced host response, with a virulent Leptospira interrogans strain at 14 days post-infection, its persistence in the kidney, and its link to kidney fibrosis at 90 days post-infection. We found that Leptospira interrogans can induce acute moderate nephritis in wild-type mice and is able to persist in some animals, inducing fibrosis in the absence of mortality. In contrast, Daf1^−/− mice showed acute mortality, with a higher bacterial burden. At the chronic stage, Daf1^−/− mice showed greater inflammation and fibrosis than at 14 days post-infection and higher levels at all times than the wild-type counterpart. Compared with uninfected mice, infected wild-type mice showed higher levels of IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13, with similar levels of α-smooth muscle actin, galectin-3, TGF-β1, IL-17, IFN-γ, and lower IL-12 levels at 90 days post-infection. In contrast, fibrosis in Daf1^−/− mice was accompanied by high expression of α-smooth muscle actin, galectin-3, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-γ, similar levels of TGF-β1, IL-12, and IL-17 and lower IL-4 levels. This study demonstrates the link between Leptospira-induced murine chronic nephritis with renal fibrosis and shows a protective role of Daf1.     

Paraoxonase 2 Protein Is Spatially Expressed in the Human Placenta and Selectively Reduced in Labour

Humans parturition involves interaction of hormonal, neurological, mechanical stretch and inflammatory pathways and the placenta plays a crucial role. The paraoxonases (PONs 1–3) protect against oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation, modulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and regulation of apoptosis. Nothing is known about the role of PON2 in the placenta and labour. Since PON2 plays a role in oxidative stress and inflammation, both features of labour, we hypothesised that placental PON2 expression would alter during labour. PON2 was examined in placentas obtained from women who delivered by cesarean section and were not in labour and compared to the equivalent zone of placentas obtained from women who delivered vaginally following an uncomplicated labour. Samples were obtained from 12 sites within each placenta: 4 equally spaced apart pieces were sampled from the inner, middle and outer placental regions. PON2 expression was investigated by Western blotting and real time PCR. Two PON2 forms, one at 62 kDa and one at 43 kDa were found in all samples. No difference in protein expression of either isoform was found between the three sites in either the labour or non-labour group. At the middle site there was a highly significant decrease in PON2 expression in the labour group when compared to the non-labour group for both the 62 kDa form (p = 0.02) and the 43 kDa form (p = 0.006). No spatial differences were found within placentas at the mRNA level in either labour or non-labour. There was, paradoxically, an increase in PON2 mRNA in the labour group at the middle site only. This is the first report to describe changes in PON2 in the placenta in labour. The physiological and pathological significance of these remains to be elucidated but since PON2 is anti-inflammatory further studies are warranted to understand its role.     

Adiponectin and Leptin Induce VCAM-1 Expression in Human and Murine Chondrocytes

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common rheumatic diseases, are characterized by irreversible degeneration of the joint tissues. There are several factors involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases including pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipokines and adhesion molecules.

Objective

Up to now, the relationship between adipokines and adhesion molecules at cartilage level was not explored. Thus, the aim of this article was to study the effect of leptin and adiponectin on the expression of VCAM-1 in human and murine chondrocytes. For completeness, intracellular signal transduction pathway was also explored.

Methods

VCAM-1 expression was assessed by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis upon treatment with leptin, adiponectin and other pertinent reagents in cultured human primary chondrocytes. Signal transduction pathways have been explored by using specific pharmacological inhibitors in the adipokine-stimulated human primary chondrocytes and ATDC5 murine chondrocyte cell line.

Results

Herein, we demonstrate, for the first time, that leptin and adiponectin increase VCAM-1 expression in human and murine chondrocytes. In addition, both adipokines have additive effect with IL-1β. Finally, we demonstrate that several kinases, including JAK2, PI3K and AMPK are at a play in the intracellular signalling of VCAM-1 induction.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results suggest that leptin and adiponectin could perpetuate cartilage-degrading processes by inducing also factors responsible of leukocyte and monocyte infiltration at inflamed joints.     

人sTNFR1基因原核表达及体外抗肝细胞凋亡的活性研究

采用RT-PCR,从Hela细胞的mRNA中扩增人sTNFR1基因,构建含有目的片段的T载体克隆及原核表达载体pMAL-c2x重组质粒亚克隆,转化入大肠杆菌,测序证实其序列与基因数据库中sTNFR1基因一致.经异丙基-β-D半乳糖苷酶（IPTG）诱导表达,淀粉树脂亲和层析法纯化,得到融合蛋白sTNFR1-MBP.结果显示：经Western-blotting检测,sTNFR1-MBP具有免疫活性L流式细胞术检测目的蛋白对TNF-α诱导QSG7701凋亡有抑制作用,这为今后的研究打下了基础.     

AMPD1 C34T Mutation Selectively Affects AMP-Deaminase Activity in the Human Heart

Possession of the nonsense mutation in AMPD1 C34T gene has been linked to improved survival in patients with heart failure, possibly by promoting the formation of adenosine. This mutation is known to decrease the activity of AMP-deaminase in skeletal muscle. We have found that the AMPD1 mutation decreases the activity of AMP-deaminase in the heart without changing the activity of any other enzymes of adenine nucleotide metabolism. Protective mechanism of this mutation may be thus induced by local cardiac metabolic changes.     

硝基还原酶结构域蛋白1在大鼠睾丸组织中特异性高表达在人类睾丸癌中表达下调

通过克隆分离鉴定得到大鼠硝基还原酶结构域蛋白1(rNOR1),发现rNOR1 cDNA含有1 418 个碱基,编码含379个氨基酸残基的rNOR1蛋白．rNOR1与人类NOR1 (hNOR1)和小鼠NOR1 (mNOR1)的同源性分别为89% 和93%,这三种同源蛋白都含有OSCP1家族的保守结构域．rNOR1基因在大鼠睾丸中选择性高表达,而且与之同源的人类hNOR1也选择性高表达于睾丸中．通过免疫组化检测人类不同睾丸癌中的hNOR1蛋白表达,发现hNOR1蛋白在非癌变睾丸组织和胚胎性癌组织中高表达,而在精原细胞癌和分化型非精原细胞癌(畸胎瘤,卵黄囊瘤)中低表达．这些数据表明,hNOR1可能是一种睾丸选择性表达基因,睾丸癌hNOR1表达的改变或许可以帮助我们阐明hNOR1蛋白在生殖细胞系肿瘤发生中的功能．     

人HMGB1分子的克隆、重组蛋白表达与生物学活性

采用RT-PCR,从重症肝炎病人外周血单个核细胞（peripheral blood mononuclear cells PBMCs）的mRNA中扩增高迁移率族蛋白1（high mobility group box－1 protein,HMGB1）基因,构建重组表达质粒pGEX4T-1-HMGB1,转化入大肠杆菌,测序证实其序列与基因数据库中HMGB1基因(NM_002128)一致。诱导表达的融合蛋白GST-HMGB1,用Glutathione Sepharose 4B亲和层析纯化,经Thrombin酶切得到HMGB1。结果显示：经Western-blotting检测,GST-HMGB1 和HMGB1均具有免疫活性; ELISA和MTT检测发现,两者均能刺激RAW264.7细胞产生大量TNF-α,明显刺激HeLa细胞增殖。GST-HMGB1具有良好的生物学活性,为今后的研究打下了基础。     

人sTNFR1基因的克隆、融合表达与生物学活性

采用RT-PCR,从Hela细胞的mRNA中扩增人sTNFR1基因,构建含有目的片段的T载体克隆及原核表达载体pMAL-c2x重组质粒亚克隆,转化入大肠杆菌,测序证实其序列与基因数据库中sTNFR1基因一致。经异丙基-β-D半乳糖苷酶（IPTG）诱导表达,淀粉树脂亲和层析法纯化,得到融合蛋白sTNFR1-MBP。结果显示：经Western-blotting检测,sTNFR1-MBP具有免疫活性;MTT检测目的蛋白可有效地封闭TNFα对QSG7701的细胞毒性作用;流式细胞术检测目的蛋白对TNF-α诱导QSG7701凋亡有抑制作用;sTNFR1-MBP具有良好的生物活性,为今后的研究打下了基础。     

Identical Expression Profiling of Human and Murine TIPE3 Protein Reveals Links to Its Functions

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein-8 like-3 (TNFAIP8L3, TIPE3) is a newly discovered member of TNFAIP8 family and regarded as a lipid second messenger transfer protein that promotes cancer. Yet the nature of the cells and tissues that express TIPE3 protein has not been determined. In this study, we examined TIPE3 expression in various murine and human tissues by immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. We found that TIPE3 expression was almost identical in most organs from human and mice. TIPE3 is a cytoplasmic protein expressed preferentially in epithelial-derived cells with secretory functions. Furthermore, TIPE3 protein is highly expressed in most human carcinoma cell lines. These results suggest that TIPE3 may play important roles in carcinogenesis and cell secretion.     

人源类溶菌酶蛋白6在毕赤酵母中的重组表达及活性分析

利用毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)重组表达人源类溶菌酶蛋白6(human lysozyme-like protein6,h Lyzl6),对其酶学性质进行分析。根据毕赤酵母密码子偏爱性设计并人工合成h Lyzl6基因,将其连接至含有乙醇氧化酶启动子(AOX1)的p PIC9K质粒构建重组表达载体p PIC9K-hlyzl6;重组表达载体经线性化后电转化入毕赤酵母GS115感受态细胞,经G418筛选获得高拷贝重组菌株后进行甲醇诱导表达。经甲醇诱导72 h后发酵液上清中酶活性达到最高值,发酵液上清经SDSPAGE检测在14.8 k Da处有重组h Lyzl6蛋白条带,分子量符合预期,通过甲壳素亲和层析可对其进行纯化;采用比浊法测定h Lyzl6酶学活性,结果表明h Lyzl6对溶壁微球菌(Micrococcus lysodeikticus)有较好的杀灭作用,最适反应温度为40℃,最适p H为5.5,其酶活力为54 700U/mg,Cu2+对其活性有明显抑制,EC50为30.2799 mg/L。采用基因工程方法首次在毕赤酵母GS115成功表达了重组h Lyzl6,证实其在体外具有杀菌活性,初步揭示h Lyzl6在男性生殖系统先天性免疫中发挥了一定作用,为进一步研究h Lyzl6的功能和应用开发奠定了基础。     

Rat CRM1 Is Responsible for the Poor Activity of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Rex Protein in Rat Cells

Rat models of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-related diseases such as adult T-cell leukemia and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis have been reported. However, these models do not completely reproduce human diseases partly because HTLV-1 replicates poorly in rats. We investigated here the possible reason for this. We found that the activity of Rex in rat cells is quite low compared to that in human cells. As Rex function depends largely on the CRM1 protein, whose human type (human CRM1 [hCRM1]) directly binds to Rex and exports it from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, we assessed whether rat CRM1 (rCRM1) could act as well as hCRM1 as a cofactor for Rex activity. We first cloned a cDNA encoding rCRM1 and found that both rCRM1 and hCRM1 could bind to and export Rex protein to the cytoplasm with similar efficiencies. However, unlike hCRM1, rCRM1 could hardly support Rex function because of its poor ability in inducing the Rex-Rex interaction required for RNA export into the cytoplasm. These observations suggest that the poor ability of rCRM1 to act as a cofactor for Rex function may be responsible for the poor replication of HTLV-1 in rats.     

The Upregulation of Genomic Imprinted DLK1-Dio3 miRNAs in Murine Lupus Is Associated with Global DNA Hypomethylation

Epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation and microRNAs (miRNAs) are now increasingly recognized as vital contributors to lupus etiology. In this study, we investigated the potential interaction of these two epigenetic factors in lupus-prone MRL-lpr mice. We recently reported dysregulated expression of miRNAs in splenocytes of MRL-lpr mice. Here, we report that a majority of the upregulated miRNAs in MRL-lpr mice is located at the genomic imprinted DLK1-Dio3 domain. Further, we show a differential magnitude of upregulation of DLK1-Dio3 miRNA cluster in purified splenic CD4⁺ T, CD19⁺ B, and splenic CD4^-CD19^- cells from MRL-lpr lupus mice when compared to control MRL mice. MRL-lpr splenocytes (especially CD19⁺ and CD4^-CD19^- subsets) were hypomethylated compared to cells from control, MRL mice. We further show that deliberate demethylation of splenocytes from control MRL mice, but not from MRL-lpr lupus mice, with specific DNA methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine significantly augmented DLK1-Dio3 miRNAs expression. These findings strongly indicate that the upregulation of DLK1-Dio3 miRNAs in lupus splenic cell subsets is associated with reduced global DNA methylation levels in lupus cells. There was a differential upregulation of DLK-Dio3 miRNAs among various demethylated splenic cell subsets, which implies varied sensitivity of DLK1-Dio3 miRNA cluster in these cell subsets to DNA hypomethylation. Finally, inhibition of select DLK1-Dio3 miRNA such as miR-154, miR-379 and miR-300 with specific antagomirs significantly reduced the production of lupus-relevant IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated splenocytes from MRL-lpr mice. Our study is the first to show that DNA methylation regulates genomic imprinted DLK1-Dio3 miRNAs in autoimmune lupus, which suggests a connection of DNA methylation, miRNA and genomic imprinting in lupus pathogenesis.     

人HPPCn重组蛋白可溶性表达及其增殖活性检测

HPPCn是一种新的肝细胞刺激因子,获得较高纯度的具有生物活性的HPPCn蛋白对研究其生物学功能具有重要意义。HPPCn在重组质粒PET-24a(+)/HPPCn中,诱导表达产物主要以包涵体形式为主。为优化表达条件,运用冷休克表达载体pColdⅡ和无缝克隆技术获得重组质粒pColdⅡ/HPPCn,分别对诱导温度、时间、分子伴侣等诱导条件进行筛选,镍离子柱亲和层析纯化,Western blot分析目的蛋白特异性,不同浓度人HPPCn重组蛋白(0、10、100ng/ml)刺激SMMC7721细胞,免疫细胞化学方法测定Brdu掺入、PCNA表达变化。目的蛋白在培养温度为16℃,终浓度为0.1mmol/L的IPTG过夜诱导时为可溶性表达,最终得到人重组HPPCn蛋白纯度为94.88%,人HPPCn重组蛋白可刺激SMMC7721细胞Brdu掺入增加、PCNA表达水平上调,其刺激作用具有量效关系。通过冷休克表达系统获得可溶性表达的人重组HPPCn蛋白,其具有促进SMMC7721细胞增殖的生物学功能,为深入研究HPPCn的作用机制提供了技术条件。     

Mammalian Orc1 Protein Is Selectively Released from Chromatin and Ubiquitinated during the S-to-M Transition in the Cell Division Cycle

Previous studies have shown that changes in the affinity of the hamster Orc1 protein for chromatin during the M-to-G(1) transition correlate with the activity of hamster origin recognition complexes (ORCs) and the appearance of prereplication complexes at specific sites. Here we show that Orc1 is selectively released from chromatin as cells enter S phase, converted into a mono- or diubiquitinated form, and then deubiquitinated and re-bound to chromatin during the M-to-G(1) transition. Orc1 is degraded by the 26S proteasome only when released into the cytosol, and peptide additions to Orc1 make it hypersensitive to polyubiquitination. In contrast, Orc2 remains tightly bound to chromatin throughout the cell cycle and is not a substrate for ubiquitination. Since the concentration of Orc1 remains constant throughout the cell cycle, and its half-life in vivo is the same as that of Orc2, ubiquitination of non-chromatin-bound Orc1 presumably facilitates the inactivation of ORCs by sequestering Orc1 during S phase. Thus, in contrast to yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe), mammalian ORC activity appears to be regulated during each cell cycle through selective dissociation and reassociation of Orc1 from chromatin-bound ORCs.