p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and NADPH Oxidase (NOX) are cytoprotective determinants in the trophozoite-induced apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells

In a host–parasite interaction model, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were co-incubated with trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica to determine if the cytotoxic killing of PBMCs involves (NOX)-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Experimental PBMC populations were pre-treated with diphenylene iodonium chloride to inhibit NOX, N-acetylcysteine to inhibit p47^phox (a subunit of NOX), and SB202190 to inhibit p38 MAPK, with co-suppression of caspases. Percentage apoptosis, caspase-3 activity and ROS generation were monitored in all PBMC populations. Pre-treatment significantly raised the proportion of apoptotic PBMCs, but changes in caspase-3 activity and ROS production were relatively negligible. These results indicate that p38 MAPK and NOX were cytoprotective determinants in the trophozoite-induced apoptosis of PBMCs. Further, the programmed cell death herein investigated was independent of both caspases and ROS, and the exact mechanism of cell death remains to be an open question.     

fra(1) (p11), fra(1) (q22) and r(1) (p11q22) in a retarded girl.

A mentally retarded girl with a 46,XX/47, XX+r(1) (p11q22q22p11)/47, XX+r(1) (p11q22) fra(1) (p31) fra(1) (p11) fra(1) (q22) karyotype who inherited the fragile sites from the normal mother was studied. The conicidence of fra(1) (p11) and fra(1) (q22) with the ring chromosome breakpoints strongly suggests a cause-effect relationship. This finding agrees with other reported associations between fragile sites and structural chromosome abnormalities and constitutes the fourth reported of a de novo structurally abnormal chromosome as a consequence of presumed in vivo fragile sites instability. Although risk figures for chromosome anomalies and cancer associated with fragile sites are lacking, carriers of fra (1) (p11) may have a higher risk for abnormalities of chromosome 1 in somatic and gonadal cells than the general population.     

Functional Expression of GFP-linked Human Heart Sodium Channel (hH1) and Subcellular Localization of the a Subunit in HEK293 Cells and Dog Cardiac Myocytes

Recent evidence suggests that biosynthesis of the human heart Na+ channel (hH1) protein is rapidly modulated by sympathetic interventions. However, data regarding the intracellular processing of hH1 in vivo are lacking. In this study we sought to establish a model that would allow us to study the subcellular localization of hH1 protein. Such a model could eventually help us to better understand the trafficking of hH1 in vivo and its potential role in cardiac conduction. We labeled the C-terminus of hH1 with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and compared the expression of this construct (hH1-GFP) and hH1 in transfected HEK293 cells. Fusion of GFP to hH1 did not alter its electrophysiological properties. Confocal microscopy revealed that hH1-GFP was highly expressed in intracellular membrane structures. Immuno-electronmicrographs showed that transfection of hH1-GFP and hH1 induced proliferation of three types of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes to accommodate the heterologously expressed proteins. Labeling with specific markers for the ER and the Golgi apparatus indicated that the intracellular channels are almost exclusively retained within the ER. Immunocytochemical labeling of the Na+ channel in dog cardiomyocytes showed strong fluorescence in the perinuclear region of the cells, a result consistent with our findings in HEK293 cells. We propose that the ER may serve as a reservoir for the cardiac Na+ channels and that the transport from the ER to the Golgi apparatus is among the rate-limiting steps for sarcolemmal expression of Na+ channels.     

Receptor signaling lymphocyte-activation molecule family 1 (Slamf1) regulates membrane fusion and NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) activity by recruiting a Beclin-1/Vps34/ultraviolet radiation resistance-associated gene (UVRAG) complex

Phagocytosis is a pivotal process by which macrophages eliminate microorganisms upon recognition by pathogen sensors. Surprisingly, the self-ligand cell surface receptor Slamf1 functions not only as a co-stimulatory molecule but also as a microbial sensor of several Gram-negative bacteria. Upon entering the phagosome of macrophages Slamf1 induces production of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, which positively regulates the activity of the NOX2 enzyme and phagolysosomal maturation. Here, we report that in Escherichia coli-containing phagosomes of mouse macrophages, Slamf1 interacts with the class III PI3K Vps34 in a complex with Beclin-1 and UVRAG. Upon phagocytosis of bacteria the NOX2 activity was reduced in macrophages isolated from Beclin-1(+/-) mice compared with wild-type mice. This Slamf1/Beclin-1/Vps34/UVRAG protein complex is formed in intracellular membrane compartments as it is found without inducing phagocytosis in macrophages, human chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells, and transfectant HEK293 cells. Elimination of its cytoplasmic tail abolished the interaction of Slamf1 with the complex, but deletion or mutation of the two ITAM motifs did not. Both the BD and CCD domains of Beclin-1 were required for efficient binding to Slamf1. Because Slamf1 did not interact with Atg14L or Rubicon, which can also form a complex with Vps34 and Beclin-1, we conclude that Slamf1 recruits a subset of Vps34-associated proteins, which is involved in membrane fusion and NOX2 regulation.     

GroEL1, from Chlamydia pneumoniae, Induces Vascular Adhesion Molecule 1 Expression by p37(AUF1) in Endothelial Cells and Hypercholesterolemic Rabbit

The expression of vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) by endothelial cells may play a major role in atherogenesis. The actual mechanisms of chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) relate to atherogenesis are unclear. We investigate the influence of VCAM-1 expression in the GroEL1 from C. pneumoniae-administered human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) and hypercholesterolemic rabbits. In this study, we constructed the recombinant GroEL1 from C. pneumoniae. The HCAECs/THP-1 adhesion assay, tube formation assay, western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, actinomycin D chase experiment, luciferase reporter assay, and immunohistochemical stainings were performed. The results show that GroEL1 increased both VCAM-1expression and THP-1 cell adhesives, and impaired tube-formation capacity in the HCAECs. GroEL1 significantly increased the VCAM-1 mRNA stability and cytosolic AU-binding factor 1 (AUF1) level. Overexpression of the p37(AUF1) significantly increased VCAM-1 gene expression in GroEL1-induced bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). GroEL1 prolonged the stability of VCAM-1 mRNA by increasing both p37(AUF1) and the regulation of the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the VCAM-1 mRNA in BAECs. In hypercholesterolemic rabbits, GroEL1 administration enhanced fatty-streak and macrophage infiltration in atherosclerotic lesions, which may be mediated by elevated VCAM-1 expression. In conclusion, GroEL1 induces VCAM-1 expression by p37(AUF1) in endothelial cells and enhances atherogenesis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.     

Identification of a Dual Inhibitor of Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) and p70 Ribosomal S6 Kinase1 (S6K1) Pathways

Bioactive phytochemicals can suppress the growth of malignant cells, and investigation of the mechanisms responsible can assist in the identification of novel therapeutic strategies for cancer therapy. Ginger has been reported to exhibit potent anti-cancer effects, although previous reports have often focused on a narrow range of specific compounds. Through a direct comparison of various ginger compounds, we determined that gingerenone A selectively kills cancer cells while exhibiting minimal toxicity toward normal cells. Kinase array screening revealed JAK2 and S6K1 as the molecular targets primarily responsible for gingerenone A-induced cancer cell death. The effect of gingerenone A was strongly associated with relative phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and S6K1, and administration of gingerenone A significantly suppressed tumor growth in vivo. More importantly, the combined inhibition of JAK2 and S6K1 by commercial inhibitors selectively induced apoptosis in cancer cells, whereas treatment with either agent alone did not. These findings provide rationale for dual targeting of JAK2 and S6K1 in cancer for a combinatorial therapeutic approach.     

Two Highly Homologous Promoters of a Squash Aspartic Protease Inhibitor (SQAPI) Multigene Family Exhibit Differential Expression in Transgenic Tobacco Phloem and Trichome Cells

Two variants of the promoter of the squash aspartic acid protease inhibitor multigene family were isolated from Cucurbita maxima cv. ‘Supermarket’ Hybrid genomic DNA. The isolated promoters, possibly not full length, comprised a 5′-untranslated region (UTR) of 202–208 bp, contained a 63-bp upstream open reading frame (uORF) and the immediate upstream sequences of 441–445 bp. The two promoters contained several small deletions relative to each other and 22 single base differences but exhibit overall 92.5% homology over 654 bp. When the promoters were fused to a β-glucuronidase reporter gene and expressed in tobacco, one variant was highly expressed in the companion cells of the inner and outer phloem of leaves and at lower levels in other organs. The other variant was expressed at high levels in the long glandular trichomes of the leaf. Deletion analysis identified a region of ~280 bp immediately upstream of the 5′-UTR containing the TATA box that was responsible for phloem specific expression and a further region of ~180 bp that enhanced expression in one promoter and conferred trichome expression in the other. Removal of the 5′-UTR, including the uORF, inactivated the phloem promoter.     

The Function of Vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) a Subunit Isoforms in Invasiveness of MCF10a and MCF10CA1a Human Breast Cancer Cells

The vacuolar H⁺ ATPases (V-ATPases) are ATP-driven proton pumps that transport protons across both intracellular and plasma membranes. Previous studies have implicated V-ATPases in the invasiveness of various cancer cell lines. In this study, we evaluated the role of V-ATPases in the invasiveness of two closely matched human breast cancer lines. MCF10a cells are a non-invasive, immortalized breast epithelial cell line, and MCF10CA1a cells are a highly invasive, H-Ras-transformed derivative of MCF10a cells selected for their metastatic potential. Using an in vitro Matrigel assay, MCF10CA1a cells showed a much higher invasion than the parental MCF10a cells. Moreover, this increased invasion was completely sensitive to the specific V-ATPase inhibitor concanamycin. MCF10CA1a cells expressed much higher levels of both a1 and a3 subunit isoforms relative to the parental line. Isoforms of subunit a are responsible for subcellular localization of V-ATPases, with a3 and a4 targeting V-ATPases to the plasma membrane of specialized cells. Knockdown of either a3 alone or a3 and a4 together using isoform-specific siRNAs inhibited invasion by MCF10CA1a cells. Importantly, overexpression of a3 but not the other a subunit isoforms greatly increased the invasiveness of the parental MCF10a cells. Similarly, overexpression of a3 significantly increased expression of V-ATPases at the plasma membrane. These studies suggest that breast tumor cells employ particular a subunit isoforms to target V-ATPases to the plasma membrane, where they function in tumor cell invasion.     

丹参变应原基因（Sam a1）的克隆及其原核表达

Ⅰ型变态反应是小分子植物蛋白结合IgE抗体引起的一种疾病。本文首次从丹参中克隆出变应原蛋白基因,命名为：Sam a1（GenBank注册号：EU122383）。Sam a1包含483 bp的开放读码框,编码160个氨基酸残基。其推导氨基酸（命名为：Sam a1）具有Bet v1结构域,属于病原菌相关的Bet v1蛋白家族,与苹果中变应原mal d1类似蛋白同源性高达66％。三级结构预测模型显示Sam a1含有T细胞主要抗原决定簇的C端α螺旋。实时定量PCR结果显示：黄瓜细菌性角斑病菌和NaCl溶液诱导下Sam a1的表达呈现上调趋势,表明Sam a1可能与病程相关蛋白和盐胁迫相关。Sam a1转入大肠杆菌M15后,表达出与预测蛋白大小相当的目标蛋白,IPTG诱导后5～7 h目标蛋白可大量表达。本研究为从植物分子机制上了解中药变态反应作用机制奠定了基础,尤其对中药产业的发展具有重要的意义。     

PC61 (Anti-CD25) Treatment Inhibits Influenza A Virus-Expanded Regulatory T Cells and Severe Lung Pathology during a Subsequent Heterologous Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection

Prior immunity to influenza A virus (IAV) in mice changes the outcome to a subsequent lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection and can result in severe lung pathology, similar to that observed in patients that died of the 1918 H1N1 pandemic. This pathology is induced by IAV-specific memory CD8⁺ T cells cross-reactive with LCMV. Here, we discovered that IAV-immune mice have enhanced CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ T-regulatory (Treg) cells in their lungs, leading us to question whether a modulation in the normal balance of Treg and effector T-cell responses also contributes to enhancing lung pathology upon LCMV infection of IAV-immune mice. Treg cell and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels remained elevated in the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes (mLNs) throughout the acute LCMV response of IAV-immune mice. PC61 treatment, used to decrease Treg cell levels, did not change LCMV titers but resulted in a surprising decrease in lung pathology upon LCMV infection in IAV-immune but not in naive mice. Associated with this decrease in pathology was a retention of Treg in the mLN and an unexpected partial clonal exhaustion of LCMV-specific CD8⁺ T-cell responses only in IAV-immune mice. PC61 treatment did not affect cross-reactive memory CD8⁺ T-cell proliferation. These results suggest that in the absence of IAV-expanded Treg cells and in the presence of cross-reactive memory, the LCMV-specific response was overstimulated and became partially exhausted, resulting in a decreased effector response. These studies suggest that Treg cells generated during past infections can influence the characteristics of effector T-cell responses and immunopathology during subsequent heterologous infections. Thus, in humans with complex infection histories, PC61 treatment may lead to unexpected results.