CD38 expression enhances sensitivity of lymphoma T and B cell lines to biochemical and receptor-mediated apoptosis

CD38 has been widely characterised both as an ectoenzyme and as a receptor. In the present paper, we investigated the role of CD38 as possible modulator of apoptosis. CD38-positive (CD38(+)) and negative (CD38(-)) fractions, obtained by sorting CD38(+) cells from lymphoma T (Jurkat) and lymphoma B (Raji) and by transfecting lymphoma LG14 and myeloid leukemia K562 cell lines, were used. Cellular subpopulations were exposed to different triggers (H(2)O(2), UV-B, alpha-TOS and hrTRAIL) and the extent of apoptosis was determined by Annexin V-FITC/PI assay. Our data showed that, in lymphoma cells, propensity to apoptosis was significantly linked to CD38 expression and that, remarkably, such response was independent of the nature of the trigger used. Inhibition of CD38 expression by antisense oligonucleotides treatment resulted in CD38-silenced fractions which were as prone to apoptosis as CD38(-) ones. Notably, susceptibility of K562 to apoptosis-inducing challenges was not affected by CD38 expression.     

Different mutations in the oafA gene lead to loss of O5-antigen expression in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

Aims: To analyse genetic changes in the oafA gene explaining the loss of O5‐antigen expression in Salmonella Typhimurium and Salm. 4,[5],12:i:‐. Methods and Results: The oafA gene in 52 O5‐antigen‐negative and 77 O5‐antigen‐positive Salm. Typhimurium (N = 47) and Salm. 4,[5],12:i:‐ (monophasic Salm. Typhimurium strains, N = 82) was investigated by a combination of PCR screening and DNA sequencing to identify mutations leading to the suppression of the O5‐antigen. Various DNA sequence changes within the open reading frame (ORF) of oafA in O5‐antigen‐negative strains could be identified. In 77% of the O5‐antigen‐negative strains, a 7‐bp deletion of a duplicated sequence within the functional oafA gene led to a frameshift in the ORF. In four strains, an IS4 element and in two, an IS1 element was inserted at different positions. Four other strains carried at different positions single base pair substitutions causing a premature stop codon. Finally, in two strains, a deletion of the oafA 3′end of undetermined size was responsible for the lack of O5‐antigen expression. In none of the strains investigated, the complete ORF of oafA was deleted. Primers were designed and used to detect the most prominent variants. Conclusions: O5‐antigen‐negative Salm. Typhimurium and Salm. 4,[5],12:i:‐ strains carry an oafA pseudogene caused by different genetic events indicating that there is a selection for oafA mutations leading to the loss of O5‐antigen expression. Significance and Impact of the Study: The loss of O5‐antigen expression may be an example of a common evolutionary mechanism to escape host defence or to adapt to environmental changes. The data are the basis for the development of diagnostic PCR assays for the differentiation of O5‐antigen‐positive and O5‐antigen‐negative Salm. Typhimurium and its monophasic (Salm. 4,[5],12:i‐) strains.     

Relative expression of KLK5 to LEKTI is associated with aggressiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma

BackgroundOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a challenging cancer to treat despite all the advances of the last 50 years. Kallikrein 5 (KLK5) is among the serine proteases implicated in OSCC development. However, whether the activity of KLK5 promotes carcinogenesis is still controversial. Moreover, knowledge regarding the role of the KLK5 cognate inhibitor, Lympho-Epithelial Kazal-Type related Inhibitor (LEKTI), in OSCC is scarce. We have, thus, sought to investigate the importance of KLK5 and LEKTI expression in premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity.MethodsKLK5 and LEKTI protein expression was evaluated in 301 human samples, which were comprised of non-malignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity. Moreover, a bioinformatic analysis of the overall survival rate from 517 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) samples was performed. Additionally, to mimic the uncovered KLK5 to serine peptidase inhibitor (SPINK5) imbalance, the KLK5 gene was abrogated in an OSCC cell line using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The generated cell line was then used for in vivo and in vitro carcinogenesis related experiments.ResultsLEKTI was found to be statistically downregulated in OSCCs, with increased KLK5/SPINK5 mRNA ratio being associated with a shorter overall survival (p = 0.091). Indeed, disruption of KLK5 to SPINK5 balance through the generation of KLK5 null OSCC cells led to smaller xenografted tumors and statistically decreased proliferation rates following multiple time points of BrdU treatment in vitro.ConclusionThe association of increased enzyme/inhibitor ratio with poor prognosis indicates KLK5 to SPINK5 relative expression as an important prognostic marker in OSCC.     

The identification of N-glycosylated residues of the human 5-HT3B receptor subunit: importance for cell membrane expression

The 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT(3)) receptor is a pentameric ligand-gated ion channel with potential molecular isoforms arising from different subunit combinations and/or different post-translational modifications of the individual subunits. Since N-glycosylation of the 5-HT3A subunit impacts cell surface trafficking, the presence of N-glycosylation of the human (h) 5-HT3B subunit and the influence upon cell membrane expression was investigated. Following transient expression of the h5-HT3B subunit by human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293 cells) stably expressing the h5-HT3A subunit, the N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin reduced the size of the predominant h5-HT3B-immunoreactive protein (～ 55 kDa reduced to ～ 40 kDa). Disruption of each consensus N-glycosylation sequences in the h5-HT3B subunit (N31S, N75S, N117S, N147S and N182S) resulted in a reduced molecular weight (by ～ 2-4 kDa) of each mutant when expressed by HEK293 cells stably expressing the h5-HT3A subunit. Immunocytochemical studies demonstrated that disruption of each of the N-glycosylation sequences (individually or combined) reduced the expression of the mutant h5-HT3B subunit protein in the cell membrane when co-expressed with the h5-HT3A subunit. The present study has identified utilised N-glycosylation sites of the h5-HT3B subunit and demonstrated that they promote subunit expression in the cell membrane; a prerequisite for 5-HT(3) receptor function.     

Analysis and expression of the Borrelia burgdorferi P/Gau fla gene: Identification of heterogeneity with the B31 strain

The flagellin gene from the P/Gau strain of Borrelia burgdorferi was cloned and sequenced. The translated P/Gau flagellin protein differed from the flagellin of the B31 strain at 13 of 336 amino acids. This includes seven differences between amino acids 190-234, an immunodominant and specific region for B. burgdorferi. The entire flagellin molecule, as well as peptides of the internal portion of the protein which is more specific for B. burgdorferi, has been expressed in Escherichia coli using a pET7HIS.2 expression system. These peptides may be of great value for the development of sensitive and specific recombinant-based serological assays.     

An immunochemical method for the detection of the expression of human gene loci in human-rodent somatic cell hybrids with special reference to the GPI locus

Species-specific antibodies, prepared against unpurified human and Chinese hamster fibroblast extracts, were used to identify the parental origins of enzymes in human-hamster somatic cell hybrids. Results of the detection of the expression of the human glucosephosphate isomerase gene locus (GPI) by electrophoretic and immunochemical techniques were concordant in 17 instances. The human GPI synthesized by fibroblasts derived from skin explants and by somatic cell hybrids retaining the human GPI locus, regardless of whether the human parental cells were lymphocytes or fibroblasts, appeared to be antigenically identical.This work was supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada (Grant MA-4061). Personnel and operating support were provided by The Children's Hospital of Winnipeg Research Foundation, Inc.     

Human nucleotide sequences related to the transforming gene of a murine sarcoma virus: studies with cloned viral and cellular DNAs

A recombinant plasmid, pI26, has been constructed by cloning into pBR322 a transforming gene of murine sarcoma virus (a Moloney strain, clone 124, MSV) synthesized by detergent-treated virions. From this plasmid a XbaI-HindIII fragment has been isolated which contains only mos-specific sequences. This mos-specific probe has been used for screening a human gene library cloned in bacteriophage λ Charon 4A. Of these, 19 clones have been isolated containing mos-related sequences. By physical mapping and molecular hybridization it has been shown that these sequences are neighboured by DNA regions related to Moloney murine leukemia virus. Recombinant phages have also been found containing human inserts related to MLV, not to the mos gene. The possible existence of murine-like endogenous retroviruses in the normal human genome, including that of a sarcoma type, is discussed. By Northern blotting, expression of the cellular c-mos gene has been detected in mouse liver treated with a hepatocarcinogen. The general significance of the suggested model for evaluating the relationship between chemical carcinogenesis and oncogene expression is discussed.     

Interferon-α-(IFN) producing CHO cell lines are resistant to the antiproliferative activity of IFN: A correlation with gene expression

CHO cell lines that constitutively produce the murine interferon-α (IFN-α) subspecies α4 and α6 were constructed. The producer cell lines were protected against viral (vesicular stomatitis virus) infection by the IFN species secreted, but were resistant to the growth inhibitory activity of the IFN species. As compared with α4, the α6 protein displayed a high antiproliferative activity when added to normal CHO cells, which correlates completely with the high antiviral activity of a6 on these cells. Three messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) species, which are normally induced in CHO cells by IFN treatment (1–8, 2–5A synthetase, and ISG 15) were constitutively present in CHO producer cell lines. The level of another mRNA (ISG 54), however, was very low in the producer cells as compared with its expression in short-term IFN-treated cells. These data indicate that 1–8, 2–5A synthetase and ISG 15 are not involved in the antigrowth activity of IFN in this system, but rather suggest a function of ISG 54 in this respect.     

Sli-miR-34-5p响应植物次生物质正调控斜纹夜蛾谷胱甘肽S-转移酶基因SlGSTe1的表达

【目的】昆虫解毒酶系统是昆虫适应植物次生物质的主要机制,研究调控解毒酶基因表达的mi RNA将发现可用于害虫防治的靶标分子。本研究旨在探究Sli-miR-34-5p对斜纹夜蛾Spodopteralitura中应对植物次生物质的解毒酶谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)基因的调控作用。【方法】通过实时荧光定量PCR检测Sli-miR-34-5p在斜纹夜蛾5龄第1天幼虫进食芥菜Brassica juncea后中肠中的表达;在斜纹夜蛾5龄第1天幼虫体内及细胞株中超表达Sli-miR-34-5p模拟体类似物(mimics)或抑制剂(inhibitors),采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot分析Sli-miR-34-5p已知或推测的靶基因的表达变化;利用双荧光素酶报告系统验证Sli-miR-34-5p对靶标基因的表达调控作用;采用生物信息学方法预测Sli-miR-34-5p可能的靶基因,以了解其可能的作用机理。【结果】结果表明,Sli-mi R-34-5p在斜纹夜蛾5龄第1天幼虫进食芥菜24和48 h时的中肠中表达显著上调。在斜纹夜蛾5龄第1天幼虫血淋巴中超表达Sli-miR-34-5p mimic,进食芥菜的斜纹夜蛾中SlGSTe1转录上调;反之,超表达Sli-miR-34-5p inhibitor,SlGSTE1蛋白水平显著下调。在斜纹夜蛾Spli-221细胞株中添加芥菜次生物质吲哚-3-甲醇(I3C),Sli-miR-34-5p和SlGSTe1的表达量均呈现上调的趋势;此外,在细胞中转染Sli-miR-34-5p mimic,SlGSTe1的表达水平明显上调。然而,生物信息学预测和双荧光素酶报告系统检测结果显示,Sli-miR-34-5p并不直接作用于靶基因Sl GSTe1。【结论】研究结果提示Sli-miR-34-5p通过促进斜纹夜蛾谷胱甘肽S-转移酶基因Sl GSTe1的表达而参与斜纹夜蛾应对植物次生物质的胁迫。     

From benzimidazole to indole-5-carboxamide Thumb Pocket I inhibitors of HCV NS5B polymerase. Part 1: indole C-2 SAR and discovery of diamide derivatives with nanomolar potency in cell-based subgenomic replicons

Replacement of the benzimidazole core of allosteric Thumb Pocket 1 HCV NS5B finger loop inhibitors by more lipophilic indole derivatives provided up to 30-fold potency improvements in cell-based subgenomic replicon assays. Optimization of C-2 substitution on the indole core led to the identification of analogs with EC₅₀ <100 nM and modulated the pharmacokinetic properties of the inhibitors based on preliminary data from in vitro ADME profiles and in vivo rat PK.     

Retracted: Long noncoding LINC01551 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation,migration, and invasion by acting as a competing endogenous RNA of microRNA-122-5p to regulate ADAM10 expression

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a severe disease with high mortality in the world. It has been shown that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) might play a role in HCC. The aim of the present study was to identify the role of long intergenic noncoding RNA 01551 (LINC01551) in the HCC development and explore the underlying mechanism of LINC01551/miR-122-5p/ADAM10 axis. The differentially expressed lncRNAs associated with HCC were screened out by a microarray analysis. The expression of LINC01551, miR-122-5p, and ADAM10 was determined in HCC tissues and cells. The potential miRNA (miR-122-5p) regulated by LINC01551 was explored, and the target relationship between miR-122-5p and ADAM10 was confirmed. To evaluate the effect of LINC01551 and miR-122-5p on proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of HCC, different plasmids were delivered into MHCC97-H cells. High expression of LINC01551 and ADAM10 yet low-expression of miR-122-5p were revealed in HCC tissues and cells. Overexpression of miR-122-5p could downregulate ADAM10. Biological prediction websites and fluorescence in situ hybridization assay verified that LINC01551 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm. Silencing LINC01551 reduced HCC cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle entry yet induce cell apoptosis. Upregulation of LINC01551 increased its ability of competitively binding to miR-122-5p, thus reducing miR-122-5p and upregulating ADAM10 expression, as well as promoting the proliferative, migrative, and invasive ability. Taken together the results, it is highly possible that LINC01551 functions as an competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to regulate the miRNA target ADAM10 by sponging miR-122-5p and therefore promotes the development of HCC, highlighting a promising competitive new target for the HCC treatment.     

Using cell size kinetics to determine optimal harvest time for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera frugiperda</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoplusia ni</Emphasis> BTI-TN-5B1-4 cells infected with a baculovirus expression vector system expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein

Infecting insect cells with a baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) is an increasingly popular method for the production of recombinant proteins. Due to the lytic nature of the system, however, determining the optimal harvest time is critical for maximizing protein yield. We found that measuring the change in average diameter during the progress of infection with an automated cell analysis system (Cedex HiRes, Innovatis AG) could be used to determine the time of maximum protein production and, thus, optimal harvest time. As a model system, we use insect cells infected with a baculovirus expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). We infected two commonly used insect cell lines, Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) and Trichoplusia ni BTI-TN-5B1-4 (Hi5) with an Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) encoding EGFP at various multiplicities of infection (MOI). We monitored the progress of infection with regard to viability, viable cell density and change in average cell diameter with a Cedex HiRes analyzer and compared the results to the EGFP produced. Peak protein production was reached one to two days after the point of maximum average diameter in all conditions. Thus, optimal harvest time could be determined by monitoring the change in average cell diameter during the course of an infection of a cell culture.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cis</Emphasis>-regulation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">IRF5</Emphasis>expression is unable to fully account for systemic lupus erythematosus association: analysis of multiple experiments with lymphoblastoid cell lines

Introduction  

Interferon regulatory factor 5 gene (IRF5) polymorphisms are strongly associated with several diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The association includes risk and protective components. They could be due to combinations of functional polymorphisms and related to cis-regulation of IRF5 expression, but their mechanisms are still uncertain. We hypothesised that thorough testing of the relationships between IRF5 polymorphisms, expression data from multiple experiments and SLE-associated haplotypes might provide useful new information.