Rab27a is required for regulated secretion in cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Rab27a activity is affected in several mouse models of human disease including Griscelli (ashen mice) and Hermansky-Pudlak (gunmetal mice) syndromes. A loss of function mutation occurs in the Rab27a gene in ashen (ash), whereas in gunmetal (gm) Rab27a dysfunction is secondary to a mutation in the alpha subunit of Rab geranylgeranyl transferase, an enzyme required for prenylation and activation of Rabs. We show here that Rab27a is normally expressed in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), but absent in ashen homozygotes (ash/ash). Cytotoxicity and secretion assays show that ash/ash CTLs are unable to kill target cells or to secrete granzyme A and hexosaminidase. By immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, we show polarization but no membrane docking of ash/ash lytic granules at the immunological synapse. In gunmetal CTLs, we show underprenylation and redistribution of Rab27a to the cytosol, implying reduced activity. Gunmetal CTLs show a reduced ability to kill target cells but retain the ability to secrete hexosaminidase and granzyme A. However, only some of the granules polarize to the immunological synapse, and many remain dispersed around the periphery of the CTLs. These results demonstrate that Rab27a is required in a final secretory step and that other Rab proteins also affected in gunmetal are likely to be involved in polarization of the granules to the immunological synapse.     

Rab27a regulates the peripheral distribution of melanosomes in melanocytes

Rab GTPases are regulators of intracellular membrane traffic. We report a possible function of Rab27a, a protein implicated in several diseases, including Griscelli syndrome, choroideremia, and the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome mouse model, gunmetal. We studied endogenous Rab27a and overexpressed enhanced GFP-Rab27a fusion protein in several cultured melanocyte and melanoma-derived cell lines. In pigmented cells, we observed that Rab27a decorates melanosomes, whereas in nonpigmented cells Rab27a colocalizes with melanosome-resident proteins. When dominant interfering Rab27a mutants were expressed in pigmented cells, we observed a redistribution of pigment granules with perinuclear clustering. This phenotype is similar to that observed by others in melanocytes derived from the ashen and dilute mutant mice, which bear mutations in the Rab27a and MyoVa loci, respectively. We also found that myosinVa coimmunoprecipitates with Rab27a in extracts from melanocytes and that both Rab27a and myosinVa colocalize on the cytoplasmic face of peripheral melanosomes in wild-type melanocytes. However, the amount of myosinVa in melanosomes from Rab27a-deficient ashen melanocytes is greatly reduced. These results, together with recent data implicating myosinVa in the peripheral capture of melanosomes, suggest that Rab27a is necessary for the recruitment of myosinVa, so allowing the peripheral retention of melanosomes in melanocytes.     

Cellular and clinical report of new Griscelli syndrome type III cases

The RAB27A/Melanophilin/Myosin-5a tripartite protein complex is required for capturing mature melanosomes in the peripheral actin network of melanocytes for subsequent transfer to keratinocytes. Mutations in any one member of this tripartite complex cause three forms of Griscelli syndrome (GS), each with distinct clinical features but with a similar cellular phenotype. To date, only one case of GS type III (GSIII), caused by mutations in the Melanophilin (MLPH) gene, has been reported. Here, we report seven new cases of GSIII in three distinct Arab pedigrees. All affected individuals carried a homozygous missense mutation (c.102C>T; p.R35W), located in the conserved Slp homology domain of MLPH, and had hypomelanosis of the skin and hair. We report the first cellular studies on GSIII melanocytes, which demonstrated that MLPH(R35W) causes perinuclear aggregation of melanosomes in melanocytes, typical for GS. Additionally, co-immunoprecipitation assays showed that MLPH(R35W) lost its interaction with RAB27A, indicating pathogenicity of the R35W mutation.     

Evidence for defective Rab GTPase-dependent cargo traffic in immune disorders

A fully functional immune system is essential to protect the body against pathogens and other diseases, including cancer. Vesicular trafficking provides the correct localization of proteins within all cell types, but this process is most exquisitely controlled and coordinated in immune cells because of their specialized organelles and their requirement to respond to selected stimuli. More than 60 Rab GTPases play important roles in protein trafficking, but only five Rab-encoding genes have been associated with inherited human disorders, and only one of these (Rab27a) causes an immune defect. Mutations in RAB27A cause Griscelli Syndrome type 2 (GS2), an autosomal recessive disorder of pigmentation and severe immune deficiency. In lymphocytes, Munc13-4 is an effector of Rab27a, and mutations in the gene encoding this protein (UNC13D) cause Familial Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Type 3 (FHL3). The immunological features of GS2 and FHL3 include neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and immunodeficiency due to impaired function of cytotoxic lymphocytes. The small number of disorders caused by mutations in genes encoding Rabs could be due to their essential functions, where defects in these genes could be lethal. However, with the increasing use of next generation sequencing technologies, more mutations in genes encoding Rabs may be identified in the near future.     

Griscelli syndrome: a model system to study vesicular trafficking

Griscelli syndrome (GS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in either the myosin VA (GS1), RAB27A (GS2) or melanophilin (GS3) genes. The three GS subtypes are commonly characterized by pigment dilution of the skin and hair, due to defects involving melanosome transport in melanocytes. Here, we review how detailed studies concerning GS have contributed to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in vesicle transport and membrane trafficking processes. Additionally, we demonstrate that the identification and biological analysis of novel disease‐causing mutations highlighted the functional importance of the RAB27A‐MLPH‐MYO5A tripartite complex in intracellular melanosome transport. As the small GTPase Rab27a is able to interact with multiple effectors, including Slp2‐a and Myrip, we report on their presumed role in melanosome transport. Furthermore, we summarize data suggesting that RAB27B and RAB27A are functionally redundant and hereby provide further insight into the pathogenesis of GS2. Finally, we discuss how the gathered knowledge about the RAB27A‐MLPH‐MYO5A tripartite complex can be translated into a possible therapeutic application to reduce (hyper)pigmentation of the skin.     

Synaptotagmin-like protein 5: a novel Rab27A effector with C-terminal tandem C2 domains

Synaptotagmin-like proteins 1-4 (Slp1-4) are new members of the carboxyl-terminal-type (C-type) tandem C2 proteins and are classified as a subfamily distinct from the synaptotagmin and the Doc2 families, because the Slp family contains a unique homology domain at the amino terminus, referred to as the Slp homology domain (SHD). We previously showed that the SHD functions as a binding site for Rab27A, which is associated with human hemophagocytic syndrome (Griscelli syndrome) [J. Biol. Chem. 277 (2002) 9212; J. Biol. Chem. 277 (2002) 12432]. In the present study, we identified a novel member of the Slp family, Slp5. The same as other Slp family members, the SHD of Slp5 preferentially interacted with the GTP-bound form of Rab27A and marginally with Rab3A and Rab6A, both in vitro and in intact cells, but not with other Rabs tested (Rab1, Rab2, Rab4A, Rab5A, Rab7, Rab8, Rab9, Rab10, Rab11A, Rab17, Rab18, Rab20, Rab22, Rab23, Rab25, Rab28, and Rab37). However, unlike other members of the Slp family, expression of Slp5 mRNA was highly restricted to human placenta and liver. Expression of Slp5 protein and in vivo association of Slp5 with Rab27A in the mouse liver were further confirmed by immunoprecipitation. The results suggest that Slp5 might be involved in Rab27A-dependent membrane trafficking in specific tissues.     

分泌型溶酶体与疾病

传统意义的溶酶体被认为是细胞内消化途径的终点站,是含有多种水解酶和脂肪酶的细胞器,可以消化蛋白以及膜结构等.某些特殊类型的细胞中存在分泌型溶酶体,它既有胞内消化的功能,又有调节分泌功能.在调节溶酶体胞吐的蛋白质中,Rab27a蛋白起到了核心作用.相关基因特别是控制胞吐的基因突变,可造成各种免疫缺陷综合症.星型胶质细胞溶...     

Distinct Rab27A binding affinities of Slp2-a and Slac2-a/melanophilin: Hierarchy of Rab27A effectors

The small GTPase Rab27A has recently been shown to regulate melanosome transport in mammalian skin melanocytes through sequentially interacting with two Rab27A effectors, Slac2-a/melanophilin and Slp2-a. Although Slac2-a and Slp2-a contain a similar N-terminal Rab27A-binding domain (named SHD, Slp homology domain), nothing is known about the functional differences between the Slac2-a SHD and Slp2-a SHD. In this study, the Rab27A-binding affinity of ten putative Rab27A effector proteins has been investigated. It has been found that they could be classified into a low-affinity group (e.g., Slac2-a) and a high-affinity group (e.g., Slp2-a and Slp4-a) based on their Rab27A-binding affinity. Kinetic analysis of the GTP-Rab27A-binding to the SHD of Slp2-a, Slp4-a, and Slac2-a by surface plasmon resonance further indicated that the kinetic parameters of Rab27A for the Slp2-a SHD, Slp4-a SHD, and Slac2-a SHD consisted of a fast association rate constant (3.35 x 10(4), 2.06 x 10(4), and 2.11 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), respectively) and a slow dissociation rate constant (4.48 x 10(-4), 3.96 x 10(-4), and 2.37 x 10(-3) s(-1) respectively), and their equilibrium dissociation constants were determined to be 13.4, 19.2, and 112 nM, respectively. Our data suggest that distinct Rab27A binding activities of Slac2-a and Slp2-a ensure the order (or hierarchy) of Rab27A effectors that sequentially function in melanosome transport in melanocytes.     

Liposomal delivery of CTL epitopes to dendritic cells

The induction of strong and long lasting T-cell response, CD4+ or CD8+, is a major requirement in the development of efficient vaccines. An important aspect involves delivery of antigens to dendritic cells (DCs) as antigen presenting cells (APCs) for the induction of potent antigen-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte (CTLs) responses. Protein or peptide-based vaccines become an attractive alternative to the use of live cell vaccines to stimulate CTL responses for the treatment of viral diseases or malignancies. However, vaccination with proteins or synthetic peptides representing discrete CTL epitopes have failed in most instances due to the inability for exogenous antigens to be properly presented to T cells via major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. Modern vaccines, based on either synthetic or natural molecules, will be designed in order to target appropriately professional APCs and to co-deliver signals able to facilitate activation of DCs. In this review, we describe the recent findings in the development of lipid-based formulations containing a combination of these attributes able to deliver tumor- or viral-associated antigens to the cytosol of DCs. We present in vitro and pre-clinical studies reporting specific immunity to viral, parasitic infection and tumor growth.     

Expansion of human autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes on fixed target tumor cells

Human tumor specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were expanded on formalin-fixed autologous target tumor cells derived from glioblastoma multiforme. Growth response of the CTL restimulated with the fixed target cells was larger than those with live target cells. The results suggest that formalin-fixed tumor cells will be stable sources of tumor antigen for efficient autologous CTL expansion and be useful for adoptive immunotherapy of tumors. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

乙型肝炎病毒特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞在病毒清除过程中的作用

在乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染过程中,适应性免疫与病毒的致病和清除密切相关。一般认为,体液免疫产生的抗体可以清除外周循环的病毒颗粒,从而阻止病毒在宿主体内的传播,细胞免疫主要清除被感染细胞中的病毒。HBV特异性的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)在抑制HBV复制过程中发挥着重要的作用。CTL在肝内主要通过分泌γ干扰素抑制病毒,同时,当CTL识别HBV抗原后,HBV特异性CTL募集抗原非特异性炎症细胞对肝组织浸润,造成肝细胞的损伤。对CTL抗病毒作用进行深入研究,将为乙型肝炎的治疗开辟新的途径。