A splice variant of PGRP-LC required for expression of antimicrobial peptides in Anopheles gambiae

Members of the peptidoglycan recognition protein （PGRP） family play essential roles in different manifestations of immune responses in insects. PGRP-LC, one of seven members of this family in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae produced several spliced variants. Here we show that PGRP-LC, and not other members of the PGRP family nor the six members of the Gram-negative binding protein families, is required for the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes （such as CEC1 and GAM1） under the control of the Imd-Rel2 pathway in an A. gambiae cell line, 4a3A. PGRP-LC produces many splice variants that can be classified into three sub-groups （LC1, LC2 and LC3）, based on the carboxyl terminal sequences. RNA interference against one LC1 sub-group resulted in dramatic reduction of CEC1 and GAM1. Over-expression of LCla and to a lesser extent LC3a （a member of the LC1 and LC3 sub-group, respectively） in the 4a3A cell line enhances the expression of CEC1 and GAM1. These results demonstrate that the LC1-subgroup splice variants are essential for the expression of CEC1 and GAM1 in A. gambiae cell line.     

Identification and expression profiling of putative odorant-binding proteins in the malaria mosquitoes, Anopheles gambiae and A.arabiensis

~~Identification and expression profiling of putative odorant-binding proteins in the malaria mosquitoes, Anopheles gambiae and A. arabiensis1. Curtis, C. F., Introduction 1: An overview of mosquito biology, behaviour and importance, in Olfaction in Mosquito-Host Interactions (eds. Bock, G. R.. Cardew, G.), New York: Wiley, 1996, 3-7. 2. Nighom, A., Hildebrand. J. G.. Dissecting the molecular mechanisms of olfaction in a malaria-vector mosquito, PNAS, 2002, 99(3): 1113-…     

Innate immunity against malaria parasites in Anopheles gambiae

Malaria continues to exert a huge toll in the world today, causing approximately 400 million cases and killing between 1-2 million people annually. Most of the malaria burden is borne by countries in Africa. For this reason, the major vector for malaria in this continent, Anopheles gambiae, is under intense study. With the completion of the draft sequence of this important vector, efforts are underway to develop novel control strategies. One promising area is to harness the power of the innate immunity of this mosquito species to block the transmission of the malaria parasites. Recent studies have demonstrated that Toll and Imd signaling pathways and other immunity-related genes （encoding proteins possibly function in recognition or as effector molecules） play significant roles in two different arms of innate immunity： level of infection intensity and melanization of Plasmodium oocysts. The challenges in the future are to understand how the functions of these different genes are coordinated in defense against malaria parasites, and if different arms of innate immunity are cross-regulated or coordinated.     

Characterization of miRNomes in Acute and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cell Lines

Myeloid leukemias are highly diverse diseases and have been shown to be associated with microRNA（miRNA） expression aberrations. The present study involved an in-depth miRNome analysis of two human acute myeloid leukemia（AML） cell lines, HL-60 and THP-1, and one human chronic myeloid leukemia（CML） cell line, K562, via massively parallel signature sequencing. mRNA expression profiles of these cell lines that were established previously in our lab facilitated an integrative analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression patterns. miRNA expression profiling followed by differential expression analysis and target prediction suggested numerous miRNA signatures in AML and CML cell lines. Some miRNAs may act as either tumor suppressors or oncomiRs in AML and CML by targeting key genes in AML and CML pathways. Expression patterns of cell type-specific miRNAs could partially reflect the characteristics of K562, HL-60 and THP-1 cell lines, such as actin filament-based processes, responsiveness to stimulus and phagocytic activity. miRNAs may also regulate myeloid differentiation, since they usually suppress differentiation regulators. Our study provides a resource to further investigate the employment of miRNAs in human leukemia subtyping, leukemogenesis and myeloid development. In addition, the distinctive miRNA signatures may be potential candidates for the clinical diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of myeloid leukemias.     

Induction of HLA-G expression in a melanoma cell line OCM-1A following the treatment with 5-aza-2＇-deoxycytidine

The non-classical HLA class Ⅰ antigen HLA-G is an immune modulator which inhibits the functions of T cells, NK cells, and the Dendritic cells （DC）. As a result, HLA-G expression in malignant cells may provide them with a mechanism to escape the immune surveillance. In melanoma, HLA-G antigen expression has been found in 30% of surgically removed lesions but in less than 1% of established cell lines. One possible mechanism underlying the differential HLA-G expression in vivo and in vitro is that the HLA-G gene is epigenetically repressed in melanoma cells in vitro. To test this hypothesis, we treated the HLA-G negative melanoma cell line OCM-1A with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2＇-deoxycytidine （5-AC） and analyzed whether HLA-G expression can be restored. Our data strongly suggest that HLA-G is silenced as a result of CpG hypermethylation within a 5＇ regulatory region encompassing 220 bp upstream of the start codon. After treatment, HLA-G mRNA expression was dramatically increased. Western blot and flow cytometry showed that HLA-G protein was induced. Interestingly, HLA-G cell surface expression on the 5-AC treated OCM-1A cells is much less than that on the HLA-G positive JEG-3 cells while a similar amount of total HLA-G was observed. Possible mechanisms for the difference were analyzed in the study such as cell cold-treatment, peptide loading and antigen processing machinery components （APM） as well as β2 microglobulin （β2-m） expression. Data revealed that the APM component calreticulin might be involved in the lower HLA-G surface expression on OCM-1A cells. Taken together, our results indicated that DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism by which HLA-G antigen expression is modulated in melanoma cells in vitro. Furthermore, to the first time, we hypothesized that the deficiency of calreticulin might be involved in the low HLA-G surface expression on the 5-AC treated OCM-1A cells.     

CD44 clustering is involved in monocyte differentiation

Differentiation of monocytes into macrophages is an import ant process under physiological and pathological conditions, but the underlying mechanism of monocyte differentiation is not completely clear. Some adhesion molecules have been reported to play an important role in cell differentiation. CD44 is an important adhesion molecule that mediates cell cell and cellmatrix interaction, and participates in a wide variety of cellular functions. As CD44 has been reported to show different activated states between monocytes and macrophages, we propose that CD44 may be involved in monocyte differentiation. In this study, we explored the role of CD44 in monocyte differentiation and further studied the mechanisms that were involved in. THP1 cells （human monocyfic leukemia cell line） were induced with phorbol 12myristate 13acetate （PMA） to establish the model of monocyte differentiation in vitro. It was found that CD44 expression and binding capacity to hyaluronic acid were increased significantly, and the distribution of CD44 was con verted into clusters during differentiation. The PMAinduced CD44 clustering and CD44 high expression were suppressed by blocking CD44, which resulted in the inhibition of CD14 expression. PMAinduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 signal was also suppressed by blocking CD44. Our results suggested that CD44 was involved in monocyte differentiation. The mechanisms of monocyte differentiation following CD44 acti vation may include CD44 high expression and clustering which in turn lead to phosphorylation of ERK1/2.     

A suspended cell line from Trichoplusia ni （Lepidoptera）： Characterization and expression of recombinant proteins

A suspended cell line from Trichoplusia ni embryos was established, and its susceptibility to Autographa californica multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus （AcMNPV） infection was investigated. This cell line had characteristics distinct from the BTI-Tn5B 1- 4 cell line （Tn5B 1-4） from T. ni in growth, and showed approximately the same responses to AcMNPV infection, production of occlusion bodies, and levels of recombinant protein expression. No clumps were observed at maximum cell density at late-log phase in shake-flask or T-flask cultures, and thus the cells represent a useful new contribution for baculovirus research. The cells consist of two major morphological types： approximately 70% spindle-shaped cells and 30% round cells. The cell line was highly susceptible to virus infection and produced around 107 AcMNPV occlusion bodies per cell, on average. Production of β-galactosidase and secreted alkaline phosphatase was high with 3.97 ± 0.13 × 10^4 IU/mL and 3.48 ± 0.40IU/mL, respectively. This cell line may be applicable for studies of scale-up production of viruses or baculovirus-insect cell expression. We also believe the new line can be a source for cell clones with higher production of virus and recombinant proteins compared to the parent or other existing cell lines such as Tn5B 1-4.     

Ectopic expression of clusterin／apolipoprotein J or Bcl-2 decreases thesensitivity of HaCaT cells to toxic effects of ropivacaine

Local anesthetics inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in various cell types. Ropivacaine, a unique, novel tertiary amine-type anesthetic, was shown to inhibit the proliferation of several cell types including keratinocytes. We found that Ropivacaine could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in an immortalized human keratinocyte line,HaCaT, in a dose- and time-dependent manner and with the deprivation of serum. The dose-dependent induction of apoptosis by ropivacaine was demonstrated by DNA fragmentation analysis and the proteolytic cleavage of a caspase-3 substrate—poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, ropivacaine downregulated the expression of clusterin/ apoliporotein J, a protein with anti-apoptotic properties, in a dose-dependent manner, which well correlated with the induction of apoptosis of HaCaT cells. To investigate the role of clusterin/apoliporotein J in ropivacaine-induced apoptosis,HaCaT cells overexpressing clusterin/apoliporotein J were generated and compared to cells expressing the well established anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. Ectopic overexpression of the secreted form of clusterin/apoliporotein J or Bcl-2decreased the sensitivity of HaCaT cells to toxic effects of ropivacaine as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation, the proteolytic cleavage of PARP and by a reduction in procaspase-3 expression. Furthermore, the downregulation of endogenous clusterin/apolipoprotein J levels by ropivacaine suggested that this might be one mechanism by which ropivacaine induced cell death in HaCaT cells. In conclusion, the ability of ropivacaine to induce antiproliferative responses and to suppress the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein clusterin/apolipoprotein J, combined with previously reported anti-inflammatory activity and analgesic property of the drug, suggests that ropivacaine may have potential utility in the local treatment of tumors.     

Can Anopheles gambiae be infected with Wolbachia pipientis? Insights from an in vitro system

Wolbachia pipientis are maternally inherited endosymbionts associated with cytoplasmic incompatibility, a potential mechanism to drive transgenic traits into Anopheles populations for malaria control. W. pipientis infections are common in many mosquito genera but have never been observed in any Anopheles species, leading to the hypothesis that Anopheles mosquitoes are incapable of harboring infection. We used an in vitro system to evaluate the ability of Anopheles gambiae cells to harbor diverse W. pipientis infections. We successfully established W. pipientis infections (strains wRi and wAlbB) in the immunocompetent Anopheles gambiae cell line Sua5B. Infection was confirmed by PCR, antibiotic curing, DNA sequencing, and direct observation using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The infections were maintained at high passage rates for >30 passages. Our results indicate that there is no intrinsic genetic block to W. pipientis infection in A. gambiae cells, suggesting that establishment of in vivo W. pipientis infections in Anopheles mosquitoes may be feasible.     

Engineered resistance to Plasmodium falciparum development in transgenic Anopheles stephensi

Transposon-mediated transformation was used to produce Anopheles stephensi that express single-chain antibodies (scFvs) designed to target the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. The scFvs, m1C3, m4B7, and m2A10, are derived from mouse monoclonal antibodies that inhibit either ookinete invasion of the midgut or sporozoite invasion of salivary glands. The scFvs that target the parasite surface, m4B7 and m2A10, were fused to an Anopheles gambiae antimicrobial peptide, Cecropin A. Previously-characterized Anopheles cis-acting DNA regulatory elements were included in the transgenes to coordinate scFv production with parasite development. Gene amplification and immunoblot analyses showed promoter-specific increases in transgene expression in blood-fed females. Transgenic mosquito lines expressing each of the scFv genes had significantly lower infection levels than controls when challenged with P. falciparum.     

Wolbachia stimulates immune gene expression and inhibits plasmodium development in Anopheles gambiae

The over-replicating wMelPop strain of the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis has recently been shown to be capable of inducing immune upregulation and inhibition of pathogen transmission in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. In order to examine whether comparable effects would be seen in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, transient somatic infections of wMelPop were created by intrathoracic inoculation. Upregulation of six selected immune genes was observed compared to controls, at least two of which (LRIM1 and TEP1) influence the development of malaria parasites. A stably infected An. gambiae cell line also showed increased expression of malaria-related immune genes. Highly significant reductions in Plasmodium infection intensity were observed in the wMelPop-infected cohort, and using gene knockdown, evidence for the role of TEP1 in this phenotype was obtained. Comparing the levels of upregulation in somatic and stably inherited wMelPop infections in Ae. aegypti revealed that levels of upregulation were lower in the somatic infections than in the stably transinfected line; inhibition of development of Brugia filarial nematodes was nevertheless observed in the somatic wMelPop infected females. Thus we consider that the effects observed in An. gambiae are also likely to be more pronounced if stably inherited wMelPop transinfections can be created, and that somatic infections of Wolbachia provide a useful model for examining effects on pathogen development or dissemination. The data are discussed with respect to the comparative effects on malaria vectorial capacity of life shortening and direct inhibition of Plasmodium development that can be produced by Wolbachia.     

Characterization of the 3-HKT gene in important malaria vectors in India, viz: Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae)

The 3-hydroxykynurenine transaminase (3-HKT) gene plays a vital role in the development of malaria parasites by participating in the synthesis of xanthurenic acid, which is involved in the exflagellation of microgametocytes in the midgut of malaria vector species. The 3-HKT enzyme is involved in the tryptophan metabolism of Anophelines. The gene had been studied in the important global malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae. In this report, we have conducted a preliminary investigation to characterize this gene in the two important vector species of malaria in India, Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles stephensi. The analysis of the genetic structure of this gene in these species revealed high homology with the An. gambiae gene. However, four non-synonymous mutations in An. stephensi and seven in An. culicifacies sequences were noted in the exons 1 and 2 of the gene; the implication of these mutations on enzyme structure remains to be explored.     

Viral paratransgenesis in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae

Paratransgenesis, the genetic manipulation of insect symbiotic microorganisms, is being considered as a potential method to control vector-borne diseases such as malaria. The feasibility of paratransgenic malaria control has been hampered by the lack of candidate symbiotic microorganisms for the major vector Anopheles gambiae. In other systems, densonucleosis viruses (DNVs) are attractive agents for viral paratransgenesis because they infect important vector insects, can be genetically manipulated and are transmitted to subsequent generations. However, An. gambiae has been shown to be refractory to DNV dissemination. We discovered, cloned and characterized the first known DNV (AgDNV) capable of infection and dissemination in An. gambiae. We developed a flexible AgDNV-based expression vector to express any gene of interest in An. gambiae using a two-plasmid helper-transducer system. To demonstrate proof-of-concept of the viral paratransgenesis strategy, we used this system to transduce expression of an exogenous gene (enhanced green fluorescent protein; EGFP) in An. gambiae mosquitoes. Wild-type and EGFP-transducing AgDNV virions were highly infectious to An. gambiae larvae, disseminated to and expressed EGFP in epidemiologically relevant adult tissues such as midgut, fat body and ovaries and were transmitted to subsequent mosquito generations. These proof-of-principle data suggest that AgDNV could be used as part of a paratransgenic malaria control strategy by transduction of anti-Plasmodium peptides or insect-specific toxins in Anopheles mosquitoes. AgDNV will also be extremely valuable as an effective and easy-to-use laboratory tool for transient gene expression or RNAi in An. gambiae.     

按蚊防御素基因家族转录模式和启动子的生物信息学分析

运用生物信息学方法分析冈比亚按（Anopheles gambiae）中防御素基因家族的表达模式和启动子保守区。在ENSEMBL数据库中搜索防御素基因家族序列,然后将基因编号输入angaGEDUCI数据库中进行分析。结果在冈比亚按蚊中存在有4个防御素基因的异构体分子,其中DEF1基因表达模式与其它3个基因存在明显差异。4个防御素基因启动子序列都存在AP-1、GATA-1、GCN4、GR、HNF-3B、TFIID6个转录因子的识别结合位点,表明这6个转录因子是冈比亚按蚊防御素基因家族表达调控所必需的。值得注意的是,DEF1基因启动子序列中存在与性别决定翦关的SOXproteins转录因子的结合位点,暗示DEF1基因的转录调控可能与性别分化有关;而在DEF2基因启动子序列中存在有热激因子（HSTF）的识别结合位点,表明热刺激会调控DEF2基因的表达。     

Comprehensive Genetic Dissection of the Hemocyte Immune Response in the Malaria Mosquito Anopheles gambiae

Reverse genetics in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae by RNAi mediated gene silencing has led in recent years to an advanced understanding of the mosquito immune response against infections with bacteria and malaria parasites. We developed RNAi screens in An. gambiae hemocyte-like cells using a library of double-stranded RNAs targeting 109 genes expressed highly or specifically in mosquito hemocytes to identify novel regulators of the hemocyte immune response. Assays included phagocytosis of bacterial bioparticles, expression of the antimicrobial peptide CEC1, and basal and induced expression of the mosquito complement factor LRIM1. A cell viability screen was also carried out to assess dsRNA cytotoxicity and to identify genes involved in cell growth and survival. Our results identify 22 novel immune regulators, including proteins putatively involved in phagosome assembly and maturation (Ca²⁺ channel, v-ATPase and cyclin-dependent protein kinase), pattern recognition (fibrinogen-domain lectins and Nimrod), immune modulation (peptidase and serine protease homolog), immune signaling (Eiger and LPS-induced factor), cell adhesion and communication (Laminin B1 and Ninjurin) and immune homeostasis (Lipophorin receptor). The development of robust functional cell-based assays paves the way for genome-wide functional screens to study the mosquito immune response to infections with human pathogens.