Neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonists abrogate methamphetamine-induced striatal dopaminergic neurotoxicity in the murine brain

Methamphetamine (METH) is an addictive substance that also causes extensive neural degeneration in the central nervous system. Because METH augments striatal substance P (SP) levels, we hypothesized that this neuropeptide plays a role in methamphetamine-induced toxicity and neural damage in the striatum. In this study we present evidence demonstrating that signaling through the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor by SP plays an important role in methamphetamine-induced toxicity in the striatum. We tested the effects of the selective NK-1 receptor antagonists WIN-51,708 and L-733,060 on several markers of dopaminergic terminal toxicity in the mouse striatum. Administration of NK-1 receptor antagonist prevented the loss of dopamine transporters assessed by autoradiography and western blotting, the loss of tissue dopamine assessed by high-pressure liquid chromatography, and the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase, as well as the induction of glial fibrillary acidic protein determined by western blotting. Pre-treatment with NK-1 receptor antagonist had no effect on METH-induced hyperthermia. Pre-exposure of mice to either of the NK-1 receptor antagonists alone was without effect on all of these neurochemical markers. These results provide the first evidence that tachykinins, particularly SP, acting through NK-1 receptors, play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of nigrostriatal dopaminergic terminal degeneration induced by METH. This finding could lead to novel therapeutic strategies to offset drug addictions as well as in the treatment of a number of disorders including Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases.     

The EF-hand Ca2+ Binding Domain Is Not Required for Cytosolic Ca2+ Activation of the Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor

Activation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) by elevating cytosolic Ca²⁺ is a central step in the process of Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ release, but the molecular basis of RyR2 activation by cytosolic Ca²⁺ is poorly defined. It has been proposed recently that the putative Ca²⁺ binding domain encompassing a pair of EF-hand motifs (EF1 and EF2) in the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (RyR1) functions as a Ca²⁺ sensor that regulates the gating of RyR1. Although the role of the EF-hand domain in RyR1 function has been studied extensively, little is known about the functional significance of the corresponding EF-hand domain in RyR2. Here we investigate the effect of mutations in the EF-hand motifs on the Ca²⁺ activation of RyR2. We found that mutations in the EF-hand motifs or deletion of the entire EF-hand domain did not affect the Ca²⁺-dependent activation of [³H]ryanodine binding or the cytosolic Ca²⁺ activation of RyR2. On the other hand, deletion of the EF-hand domain markedly suppressed the luminal Ca²⁺ activation of RyR2 and spontaneous Ca²⁺ release in HEK293 cells during store Ca²⁺ overload or store overload-induced Ca²⁺ release (SOICR). Furthermore, mutations in the EF2 motif, but not EF1 motif, of RyR2 raised the threshold for SOICR termination, whereas deletion of the EF-hand domain of RyR2 increased both the activation and termination thresholds for SOICR. These results indicate that, although the EF-hand domain is not required for RyR2 activation by cytosolic Ca²⁺, it plays an important role in luminal Ca²⁺ activation and SOICR.     

IL-2 Receptor Signaling Is Essential for the Development of Klrg1+ Terminally Differentiated T Regulatory Cells

Thymic-derived natural T regulatory cells (Tregs) are characterized by functional and phenotypic heterogeneity. Recently, a small fraction of peripheral Tregs has been shown to express Klrg1, but it remains unclear as to what extent Klrg1 defines a unique Treg subset. In this study, we show that Klrg1(+) Tregs represent a terminally differentiated Treg subset derived from Klrg1(-) Tregs. This subset is a recent Ag-responsive and highly activated short-lived Treg population that expresses enhanced levels of Treg suppressive molecules and that preferentially resides within mucosal tissues. The development of Klrg1(+) Tregs also requires extensive IL-2R signaling. This activity represents a distinct function for IL-2, independent from its contribution to Treg homeostasis and competitive fitness. These and other properties are analogous to terminally differentiated short-lived CD8(+) T effector cells. Our findings suggest that an important pathway driving Ag-activated conventional T lymphocytes also operates for Tregs.     

Choline Is an Intracellular Messenger Linking Extracellular Stimuli to IP3-Evoked Ca2+ Signals through Sigma-1 Receptors

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Toll样受体调节树突状细胞中腺苷受体A2B亚型的表达及功能

树突状细胞（dendritic cell,DC）表面所表达的腺苷受体A2B亚型（ADOR-A2B）可促进DC对辅助性T淋巴细胞（T helper cell,Th）的激活,导致自身免疫性疾病的发生或加重. 本文旨在研究作为免疫反应的诱导分子Toll样受体（Toll-like receptors, TLRs）是否可调节ADOR-A2B在DC中的表达并籍此影响其功能. 体外诱导小鼠骨髓细胞分化为树突状细胞（BM-DC）,以多种TLRs的配体,Pam3csk4、polyIC、LPS及CpG进行干预. 提取细胞总RNA,real-time PCR测定ador-a2a、ador-a2b的表达;放射性配体结合实验测定BM-DC对3H 腺苷结合能力的变化.以LPS及选择性ADOR-A2B激动剂BAY 60-6583协同干预BM-DC,ELISA测定培养基中IL-1、IL-6及IL-12的含量. 以干预后的BM DC刺激naive CD4细胞,ELISA测定培养基中IL-17A、IFNγ的含量,荧光抗体染色及流式细胞仪分析检测CD4细胞的分化. 结果显示, TLR 4的配体LPS可显著提高BM DC中ador-a2b的表达及对腺苷的结合能力. BAY 60-6583与LPS相协同可刺激BM DC分泌多种致炎因子,并增加其诱导CD4细胞向Th1及Th17分化的能力. 由此可见,Toll样受体可上调ador-a2b在DC中的表达,并可籍此增加DC分泌促炎因子的能力及对CD4细胞的刺激作用.     

Hepatic Serum Amyloid A1 Aggravates T Cell-mediated Hepatitis by Inducing Chemokines via Toll-like Receptor 2 in Mice

Serum amyloid A is a proinflammatory molecule that induces leukocyte infiltration and promotes neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells under inflammatory conditions. The aim of this study was to examine whether Saa1 aggravates T cell-mediated hepatitis by inducing chemokines in a liver-specific, Saa1-overexpressing, transgenic (TG) mouse model. We generated TG mice in which Saa1 was overexpressed specifically in liver tissue. The chemokines monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP1), MIP1α, MIP1β, interferon γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10), and eotaxin were induced in Saa1 TG mice. After concanavalin A treatment, Saa1 expression was higher in Saa1 TG mice than in WT mice. More severe liver injury, increased hepatocyte apoptosis, and higher levels of hepatic enzymes were observed in Saa1 TG mice than in WT mice. Liver infiltration of CD4⁺ T cells and macrophages increased after inducing hepatitis. Activation of T cells was higher in Saa1 TG mice than in WT mice, and the populations of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells were altered by overexpressing Saa1 in TG mice. Secretion of various cytokines, such as interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 6, increased in Saa1 TG mice. Injecting a Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) antagonist in vivo inhibited chemokine expression and IκBα phosphorylation and showed that the induction of chemokines by Saa1 was dependent on TLR2. Hepatic Saa1 accelerated T cell-mediated hepatitis by inducing chemokine production and activating T cells by TLR2. Therefore, Saa1 might be a novel inflammatory factor that acts as a chemokine modulator in hepatitis.     

Na+-dependent Ca2+ Extrusion Governs Response Recovery in Frog Olfactory Receptor Cells

To study the mechanism by which Ca²⁺, which enters during the odor response, is extruded during response recovery, recordings were made from isolated frog olfactory receptor cells using the suction pipette technique, while superfusing the olfactory cilia with solutions of modified ionic composition. When external Na⁺ was substituted with another cation, the response to odor was greatly prolonged. This prolongation of the response was similar irrespective of whether Na⁺ was replaced with Li⁺, which permeates the cyclic nucleotide-gated conductance, or choline, which does not. The prolonged current was greatly reduced by exposure to 300 μM niflumic acid, a blocker of the calcium-activated chloride channel, indicating that it is carried by this conductance, and abolished if Ca²⁺ was omitted from the external solution, demonstrating that Ca²⁺ influx is required for its generation. When the cilia were exposed to Na⁺-free solution after odor stimulation, the recovery of the response to a second stimulus from the adaptation induced by the first was greatly reduced. We conclude that a Na⁺-dependent Ca²⁺ extrusion mechanism is present in frog olfactory cilia and that it serves as the main mechanism that returns cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration to basal levels after stimulation and mediates the normally rapid recovery of the odor response and the restoration of sensitivity after adaptation.     

T Cell Repertoire Diversity Is Decreased in Type 1 Diabetes Patients

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is an immune-mediated disease. The autoreactive T cells in T1D patients attack and destroy their own pancreatic cells. In order to systematically investigate the potential autoreactive T cell receptors (TCRs), we used a high-throughput immune repertoire sequencing technique to profile the spectrum of TCRs in individual T1D patients and controls. We sequenced the T cell repertoire of nine T1D patients, four type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients and six nondiabetic controls. The diversity of the T cell repertoire in T1D patients was significantly decreased in comparison with T2D patients (P = 7.0E
08 for CD4+ T cells, P = 1.4E
04 for CD8+ T cells) and nondiabetic controls (P = 2.7E
09 for CD4+ T cells, P = 7.6E
06 for CD8+ T cells). Moreover, T1D patients had significantly more highly-expanded T cell clones than T2D patients (P = 5.2E
06 for CD4+ T cells, P = 1.9E
07 for CD8+ T cells) and nondiabetic controls (P =1.7E
07 for CD4+ T cells, P= 3.3E
03 for CD8+ T cells). Furthermore, we identified a group of highly-expanded T cell receptor clones that are shared by more than two T1D patients. Although further validation in larger cohorts is needed, our data suggest that T cell receptor diversity measurements may become a valuable tool in investigating diabetes, such as using the diversity as an index to distinguish different types of diabetes.     

Dlk1-Mediated Temporal Regulation of Notch Signaling Is Required for Differentiation of Alveolar Type II to Type I Cells during Repair

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Tubulin Polymerization Modulates Interleukin-2 Receptor Signal Transduction in Human T Cells

Few data exist on the modulation of cytokine receptor signaling by the actin or tubulin cytoskeleton. Therefore, we studied interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) signaling in phytohemagglutinine (PHA)-pretreated human T cells in the context of alterations in the cytoskeletal system induced by cytochalasin D (CyD), jasplaklinolide (Jas), taxol (Tax), or colchicine (Col). We found that changes in cytoskeletal tubulin polymerization altered the strength of several IL-2-triggered signals. Moreover, Tax-induced tubulin hyperpolymerization augmented the surface expression of the IL-2R β -chain and enhanced the association of the IL-2R γ -chain with cytoskeletal tubulin. The IL-2R β -chain, in turn, was constitutively associated with tubulin and, more weakly, actin. To exclude the possibility that these associations are artifacts caused by PHA, we confirmed them in T cells from TCR-transgenic DO11.10 mice stimulated with their nominal antigen. We conclude that altered polymerization of cytoskeletal components, especially tubulin, is accompanied by modulation of IL-2 signaling at the receptor level.     

P2Y1 Receptor Activation of the TRPV4 Ion Channel Enhances Purinergic Signaling in Satellite Glial Cells

Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels of peripheral sensory pathways are important mediators of pain, itch, and neurogenic inflammation. They are expressed by primary sensory neurons and by glial cells in the central nervous system, but their expression and function in satellite glial cells (SGCs) of sensory ganglia have not been explored. SGCs tightly ensheath neurons of sensory ganglia and can regulate neuronal excitability in pain and inflammatory states. Using a modified dissociation protocol, we isolated neurons with attached SGCs from dorsal root ganglia of mice. SGCs, which were identified by expression of immunoreactive Kir4.1 and glutamine synthetase, were closely associated with neurons, identified using the pan-neuronal marker NeuN. A subpopulation of SGCs expressed immunoreactive TRP vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) and responded to the TRPV4-selective agonist GSK1016790A by an influx of Ca²⁺ ions. SGCs did not express functional TRPV1, TRPV3, or TRP ankyrin 1 channels. Responses to GSK1016790A were abolished by the TRPV4 antagonist HC067047 and were absent in SGCs from Trpv4^−/− mice. The P2Y₁-selective agonist 2-methylthio-ADP increased [Ca²⁺]_i in SGCs, and responses were prevented by the P2Y1-selective antagonist MRS2500. P2Y₁ receptor-mediated responses were enhanced in TRPV4-expressing SGCs and HEK293 cells, suggesting that P2Y₁ couples to and activates TRPV4. PKC inhibitors prevented P2Y₁ receptor activation of TRPV4. Our results provide the first evidence for expression of TRPV4 in SGCs and demonstrate that TRPV4 is a purinergic receptor-operated channel in SGCs of sensory ganglia.     

Key Amino Acid Residues Involved in Multi-Point Binding Interactions between Brazzein, a Sweet Protein, and the T1R2-T1R3 Human Sweet Receptor

The sweet protein brazzein [recombinant protein with sequence identical with the native protein lacking the N-terminal pyroglutamate (the numbering system used has Asp2 as the N-terminal residue)] activates the human sweet receptor, a heterodimeric G-protein-coupled receptor composed of subunits Taste type 1 Receptor 2 (T1R2) and Taste type 1 Receptor 3 (T1R3). In order to elucidate the key amino acid(s) responsible for this interaction, we mutated residues in brazzein and each of the two subunits of the receptor. The effects of brazzein mutations were assayed by a human taste panel and by an in vitro assay involving receptor subunits expressed recombinantly in human embryonic kidney cells; the effects of the receptor mutations were assayed by in vitro assay. We mutated surface residues of brazzein at three putative interaction sites: site 1 (Loop43), site 2 (N- and C-termini and adjacent Glu36, Loop33), and site 3 (Loop9-19). Basic residues in site 1 and acidic residues in site 2 were essential for positive responses from each assay. Mutation of Y39A (site 1) greatly reduced positive responses. A bulky side chain at position 54 (site 2), rather than a side chain with hydrogen-bonding potential, was required for positive responses, as was the presence of the native disulfide bond in Loop9-19 (site 3). Results from mutagenesis and chimeras of the receptor indicated that brazzein interacts with both T1R2 and T1R3 and that the Venus flytrap module of T1R2 is important for brazzein agonism. With one exception, all mutations of receptor residues at putative interaction sites predicted by wedge models failed to yield the expected decrease in brazzein response. The exception, hT1R2 (human T1R2 subunit of the sweet receptor):R217A/hT1R3 (human T1R3 subunit of the sweet receptor), which contained a substitution in lobe 2 at the interface between the two subunits, exhibited a small selective decrease in brazzein activity. However, because the mutation was found to increase the positive cooperativity of binding by multiple ligands proposed to bind both T1R subunits (brazzein, monellin, and sucralose) but not those that bind to a single subunit (neotame and cyclamate), we suggest that this site is involved in subunit-subunit interaction rather than in direct brazzein binding. Results from this study support a multi-point interaction between brazzein and the sweet receptor by some mechanism other than the proposed wedge models.     

Vdelta1+ T cells are crucial for repertoire formation of gammadelta T cells in the lung

The pulmonary resident T lymphocytes (RPLs) expressing a nearly invariant T cell receptor γδ heterodimer (γδTCR) migrate from fetal thymus to the lung epithlium, followed by RPL subsets expressing diverse sets of γδTCRs after birth. However, it remains unclear whether the fetal type Vγ6/Vδ1⁺ RPLs are essential for γδ T cell repertoire formation in the lung epithelium. In this study, we found a marked decrease in the number of γδRPLs at 4 weeks of age in Vδ1^−/− mice and they predominantly expressed Vγ6 and Vδ4 genes. The skewed diversity towards the Vδ4-(Dδ1)-Dδ2-Jδ2 junctional region was observed only in γδ RPLs from 4-week-old Vδ1^−/− mice, compared with those from 8-week-old Vδ1^−/− mice and the both ages of wild-type mice. These results suggest that the invariant Vδ1⁺ T cells are crucial not only for optimal γδ T cell expansion but also for affecting the migration or microenvironment for other γδ T cells in the lung epithelium.     

可溶性Jagged-1/Fc嵌合蛋白诱导淋巴结细胞向CD4+CD25+ T细胞分化

直接用可溶性Jagged-1/Fc嵌合蛋白(Jagged-1/Fc)在体外诱导小鼠淋巴结细胞向CD4 CD25 T细胞分化.通过荧光标记单克隆抗体染色结合流式细胞术,观察不同剂量Jagged-1/Fc在不同时间对淋巴结细胞向CD4 CD25 T细胞分化的影响,观察Jagged-1/Fc诱导T细胞内细胞因子的变化;藉ELISA法检测Jagged-1/Fc诱导分化的T细胞分泌TGF-β1、IL-4和IL-10的水平.结果显示,超过500.0μg/L剂量的Jagged-1/Fc使CD4 CD25 T细胞百分比明显增高,诱导时间需要4～6天,抗Jagged-1单抗能抵消Jagged-1/Fc的诱导作用,用DAPT阻断Notch信号通路的活化也能抑制Jagged-1/Fc的诱导作用,Jagged-1/Fc诱导分化的T细胞培养上清中IL-4和IL-10的水平明显增高,TGF-β1无明显变化,胞内IL-4,IL-10,IL-2和TNF-α的水平也呈增高趋势.上述结果表明,可溶性Jagged-1/Fc嵌合蛋白在体外可诱导小鼠淋巴结细胞向CD4 CD25 调节性T细胞分化.     

Assessment of T Cell Receptor Complex Expression Kinetics in Natural Killer Cells

Among the polypeptides that comprise the T cell receptor (TCR), only CD3ζ is found in Natural Killer (NK) cells, where it transmits signals from activating receptors such as CD16 and NKp46. NK cells are potent immune cells that recognize target cells through germline-encoded activating and inhibitory receptors. Genetic engineering of NK cells enables tumor-specific antigen recognition and, thus, has a significant promise in adoptive cell therapy. Ectopic expression of engineered TCR components in T cells leads to mispairing with the endogenous components, making a knockout of the endogenous TCR necessary. To circumvent the mispairing of TCRs or the need for knockout technologies, TCR complex expression has been studied in NK cells. In the current study, we explored the cellular processing of the TCR complex in NK cells. We observed that in the absence of CD3 subunits, the TCR was not expressed on the surface of NK cells and vice versa. Moreover, a progressive increase in surface expression of TCR between day three and day seven was observed after transduction. Interestingly, the TCR complex expression in NK92 cells was enhanced with a proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib) but not a lysosomal inhibitor (chloroquine). Additionally, we observed that the TCR complex was functional in NK92 cells as measured by estimating CD107a as a degranulation marker, IFNγ cytokine production, and killing assays. NK92 cells strongly degranulated when CD3ε was engaged in the presence of TCR, but not when only CD3 was overexpressed. Therefore, our findings encourage further investigation to unravel the mechanisms that prevent the surface expression of the TCR complex.     

Slc35c2 Promotes Notch1 Fucosylation and Is Required for Optimal Notch Signaling in Mammalian Cells

Mammalian Notch receptors require modification by fucose on epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) repeats of their extracellular domain to respond optimally to signal induction by canonical Notch ligands. Inactivation of the Golgi GDP-fucose transporter Slc35c1 in mouse or human does not cause marked defects in Notch signaling during development, and shows milder fucosylation defects than those observed in mice unable to synthesize GDP-fucose, indicating the existence of another mechanism for GDP-fucose transport into the secretory pathway. We show here that fibroblasts from mice or humans lacking Slc35c1 exhibit robust Notch signaling in co-culture signaling assays. A potential candidate for a second GDP-fucose transporter is the related gene Slc35c2. Overexpression of Slc35c2 reduces expression of the fucosylated epitopes Lewis X and sialylated Lewis X in CHO cells, indicating competition with Slc35c1. The fucosylation of a Notch1 EGF repeat fragment that occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum was increased in CHO transfectants overexpressing Slc35c2. In CHO cells with low levels of Slc35c2, both Delta1- and Jagged1-induced Notch signaling were reduced, and the fucosylation of a Notch1 fragment was also decreased. Immunofluorescence microscopy of rat intestinal epithelial cells and HeLa cells, and analysis of rat liver membrane fractions showed that Slc35c2 is primarily colocalized with markers of the cis-Golgi network and endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). The combined results suggest that Slc35c2 is either a GDP-fucose transporter that competes with Slc35c1 for GDP-fucose, or a factor that otherwise enhances the fucosylation of Notch and is required for optimal Notch signaling in mammalian cells.     

靶向人源BCMA的嵌合抗原受体T细胞构建及体外抗肿瘤活性研究

摘要 目的：通过对CAR结构的ScFv单链可变区进行改造,构建并筛选具有更强杀伤肿瘤细胞功能的新型靶向人源B细胞成熟抗原（BCMA）的嵌合抗原受体 (CAR)-T细胞。方法：构建靶向人源BCMA的CAR分子,用逆转录病毒载体包装成功后转导健康志愿者的T细胞,制备Anti-BCMA-CAR-T细胞。将Anti-BCMA-CAR-T细胞作为观察组,普通T细胞作为对照组,将其与RPMI-8226细胞共培养,采用CFSE染色的T细胞增殖实验观察两组体外增殖能力。采用荧光素酶化学发光实验检测两组细胞在不同效靶比（1:8、1:4、1:2、1:1、2:1、4:1）对RPMI-8226细胞的杀伤效率,采用流式细胞术检测两组细胞在不同效靶比（1:4、1:2、1:1、2:1、4:1）对RPMI-8226细胞的杀伤效率。结果：CFSE检测结果显示,与对照组比较,观察组FITC信号明显左移,表明T细胞增殖能力越强。流式细胞术检测结果显示,相同效靶比时,观察组对RPMI-8226细胞的杀伤效率均高于对照组（P均<0.05）;荧光素酶化学发光实验结果显示,相同效靶比时,观察组对RPMI-8226细胞的杀伤效率均高于对照组（P均<0.05）。在效靶比为4:1时,CAR170-T（未经改造的传统的ScFv）细胞和CAR174-T（经改造的ScFv）细胞的杀伤效率分别达到了88.5±0.3 %和98.5±0.7 %。结论：通过对CAR结构的ScFv单链可变区进行改造后成功构建出的新型靶向BCMA的CAR-T细胞,它能保持较强的增殖活性且具有更强的杀伤肿瘤细胞的能力。