Mitogenic activity of edible mushroom lectins

A special group of lectins were isolated from three popular Asian edible mushrooms: Volvariella volvacea, Pleurotus flabellatus and Hericium erinacium, and their mitogenic activities towards mouse T cells were compared to the extensively investigated Agaricus bisporus lectin (ABL) and the Jack bean lectin, Concanavalin A (Con A). Among the four mushroom lectins tested, V. volvacea lectin (VVL) exhibited strong mitogenic activity as demonstrated by 3H-thymidine incorporation, which was at least 10-fold more effective than that of Con A, and the other mushroom lectins did not exhibit any proliferative activity. Treatment with VVL and ABL resulted in activation of the protein tyrosine kinase, p56lck, and expression of early activation markers, CD69 and CD25, but only VVL induced intracellular calcium influx while ABL triggered cell death. The calcium influx was sensitive to calcium channel antagonists such as nifedipine and verapamil. The P. flabellatus lectin (PFL) and H. erinacium lectin (HEL) did not stimulate p56lck expression and cell proliferation. Neither of these lectins interfered with Con A-mediated lymphocyte proliferation, which further indicated that both PFL and HEL were non-mitogenic. Taken all results together, VVL induced mitogenesis through T cell receptors and the subsequent calcium signaling pathway.     

Immunosuppression in human peripheral blood T lymphocytes by fluvastatin

Statins are competitive inhibitors of HMG-CoAreductase, which is the major rate-limiting enzyme thatcontrols the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid[1]. Mevalonate derived intermediates, such as isoprenoid,farnyesylpyrophosphate and geranylpyrophosphate, serveas important lipid attachments for the posttranslationalmodification of a variety of proteins such as small GTP-binding proteins of the Ras and Rho superfamily involvedin intracellular signaling [2]. Therefore, apart from the we…     

T cell activation via Leu-23 (CD69)

The CD69 (Leu-23) activation Ag is a phosphorylated 28 to 32-kDa disulfide-linked homodimer that is rapidly induced after lymphocyte activation. CD69 is not present on the surface of peripheral blood resting T cells, but is constitutively expressed by CD3bright thymocytes. Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by stimulation of the TCR/CD3 or by phorbol esters directly induces CD69 expression on T cells. In the attempt to elucidate the function of CD69 we investigated the ability of the CD69 glycoprotein to transmit an activation signal. Cross-linking of CD69 by mAb induced a prolonged elevation of intracellular [Ca2+], mostly due to an influx of extracellular Ca2+. This signal alone was unable to effectively activate PKC. When PKC was simultaneously activated by PMA, stimulation of CD69 induced IL-2 and IFN-gamma gene expression, enhancement of CD25 expression, and ultimately IL-2-dependent T cell proliferation. Both CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral T cells responded to CD69-mediated activation. Stimulation of CD69 induced proliferation of thymocytes as well as peripheral T cells, but both required independent PKC activation by PMA. Cyclosporin A, which does not prevent PKC-induced CD69 expression, completely suppressed CD69-induced IL-2 and IFN-gamma gene expression. Although the signal delivered by the CD69 initiates T cell proliferation, it is unable to trigger cytotoxicity programs in CD69+-activated T cells or T cell clones.     

PKCtheta is required for the activation of human T lymphocytes induced by CD43 engagement

The turnover of phosphoinositides leading to PKC activation constitutes one of the principal axes of intracellular signaling. In T lymphocytes, the enhanced and prolonged PKC activation resulting from the engagement of the TcR and co-receptor molecules ensures a productive T cell response. The CD43 co-receptor promotes activation and proliferation, by inducing IL-2 secretion and CD69 expression. CD43 engagement has been shown to promote phosphoinositide turnover and DAG production. Moreover, PKC activation was found to be required for the activation of the MAP kinase pathway in response to CD43 ligation. Here we show that CD43 engagement led to the membrane translocation and enzymatic activity of specific PKC isoenzymes: cPKC (alpha/beta), nPKC (epsilon and theta;), aPKC (zeta) and PKCmu. We also show that activation of PKCtheta; resulting from CD43 ligation induced CD69 expression through an ERK-dependent pathway leading to AP-1, NF-kappaB activation and an ERK independent pathway promoting NFAT activation. Together, these data suggest that PKCtheta; plays a critical role in the co-stimulatory functions of CD43 in human T cells.     

Reciprocal NFAT1 and NFAT2 nuclear localization in CD8+ anergic T cells is regulated by suboptimal calcium signaling

Anergy is an important mechanism of maintaining peripheral immune tolerance. T cells rendered anergic are refractory to further stimulation and are characterized by defective proliferation and IL-2 production. We used a model of in vivo anergy induction in murine CD8+ T cells to analyze the initial signaling events in anergic T cells. Tolerant T cells displayed reduced phospholipase Cgamma activation and calcium mobilization, indicating a defect in calcium signaling. This correlated with a block in nuclear localization of NFAT1 in anergic cells. However, we found that stimulation of anergic, but not naive T cells induced nuclear translocation of NFAT2. This suggested that NFAT2 is activated preferentially by reduced calcium signaling, and we confirmed this hypothesis by stimulating naive T cells under conditions of calcium limitation or partial calcineurin inhibition. Thus, our work provides new insight into how T cell stimulation conditions might dictate specific NFAT isoform activation and implicates NFAT2 involvement in the expression of anergy-related genes.     

Single-cell analysis of costimulation by B cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts demonstrates heterogeneity in responses of CD4(+) memory T cells.

Human endothelial cells (EC) express MHC class II molecules in vivo and are likely to be involved in presentation of antigens to CD4(+) T cells. We examined, at the single-cell level, EC presentation of superantigens to resting CD4(+) memory T cells. Within 2 h of adherence to class II+ EC early T cell activation is evidenced by translocation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), surface expression of CD69, and synthesis of IFN-gamma and IL-2. Naive T cells are not activated. T cell activation is dependent on the prior induction of MHC class II molecules on EC and is blocked by antibodies to LFA-3 (CD58). Our data place EC along a spectrum of antigen-presenting ability. Activated B cells and macrophages trigger more cells to express cytokines than do EC and at lower antigen concentrations; EC are in turn, superior to fibroblasts or smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, the concept of activation thresholds for cytokine synthesis within T cells also extends to earlier activation events: NFAT translocation is relatively easy to trigger, as is CD69 expression; fewer cells can be triggered to express IFN-gamma and fewer still to express IL-2. EC may, therefore, contribute to a graded immune response by inducing qualitatively and quantitatively different responses than professional APC.     

Cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary inflammation is attenuated in CD69-deficient mice

Cluster of differentiation 69 (CD69) has been identified as a lymphocyte early activation marker, and recent studies have indicated that CD69 mediates intracellular signals and plays an important role in various inflammatory diseases. Cigarette smoke (CS) is a strong proinflammatory stimulus that induces the release of proinflammatory mediators by recruiting macrophages and neutrophils into the lung tissue, and is one of the main risk factors for a number of chronic diseases. However, the potential role of CD69 in CS-induced pulmonary inflammation has not been determined. To address to this question, CD69-deficient (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to CS-induced acute pulmonary inflammation. After the exposure with CS, the expression of CD69 in the lung of WT mice was significantly induced, it was predominantly observed in macrophages. In conjunction with this phenomenon, neutrophil and macrophage cell counts, and expression of several cytokines were significantly higher in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of CS-exposed WT mice compared with air-exposed WT mice. Likewise, the CS-induced accumulation of inflammatory cells and cytokines expression were significantly lower in CD69-KO mice than in WT mice. These results suggest that CD69 on macrophages is involved in CS-induced acute pulmonary inflammation.     

喘可治注射液对小鼠体外CD4+CD25+T细胞的影响

利用荧光抗体标记和流式细胞术检测喘可治对刀豆蛋白A(ConA)诱导的T细胞CD69和CD25表达的影响,研究喘可治是否具有促进CD4 CD25 调节性T细胞升高的作用.结果发现喘可治对ConA诱导的T细胞活化标志分子CD69的表达具有抑制作用,但对CD25的表达具有促进作用.说明喘可治对T细胞活化具有抑制作用,CD25表达的上调并不是由活化引起的,而很可能是CD4 CD25 Tr水平升高的标志.     

T-Plastin Expression Downstream to the Calcineurin/NFAT Pathway Is Involved in Keratinocyte Migration

Cutaneous wound healing requires keratinocyte proliferation, migration and differentiation to restore the barrier function of the skin. The calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated-T-cell (NFAT) signaling pathway has been recently shown to be involved in keratinocyte growth, differentiation and migration. It is induced by an increased intracellular calcium rate and its inhibition results in decreased capacities of keratinocytes to migrate. Nevertheless, the link between calcineurin activation and keratinocyte migration remains unknown. Recently, Orai1, a pore subunit of a store-operated calcium channel that favors calcium influx, was shown to play a critical role to control proliferation and migration of basal keratinocytes. Of interest, the actin-bundling T-plastin is crucial in cell motility through cross-linking to actin filament and its synthesis was shown to be induced by calcium influx and regulated by the calcineurin/NFAT pathway in tumor Sezary cells. We investigated herein the role of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway-dependent T-plastin in keratinocyte migration, by quantifying T-plastin expression in keratinocytes and by analyzing their migration under calcineurin inhibition or knockdown of NFAT2 or T-plastin. We did confirm the role of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway in keratinocyte migration as shown by their decreased capacities to migrate after FK506 treatment or siNFAT2 transfection in both scratching and Boyden assays. The expression of NFAT2 and T-plastin in keratinocytes was decreased under FK506 treatment, suggesting that T-plastin plays a role in keratinocyte migration downstream to the calcineurin/NFAT pathway. Accordingly, siRNA knockdown of T-plastin expression also decreased their migration capacities. Actin lamellipodia formation as well as FAK and β6-integrin expression were also significantly decreased after treatment with FK506 or siRNA, reinforcing that NFAT2-dependent T-plastin expression plays a role in keratinocyte migration. These results indicate that T-plastin might be considered as a major actor in the mechanisms underlying calcineurin/NFAT-dependent keratinocyte migration and may explain wound-healing defects observed in patients under calcineurin inhibitor long-term treatment.     

草菇不同菌株木聚糖酶xyn基因的表达及其酶活性分析

木聚糖酶是半纤维素酶系的重要组成部分,能够分解水稻、小麦等农作物秸秆中的半纤维素。研究探讨木聚糖酶相关基因及其功能,为进一步探讨木聚糖酶与草菇生物转化率之间的关系提供理论依据。首先通过生物信息学手段构建了草菇2个木聚糖酶基因xyn1和xynII编码氨基酸序列的系统进化树,然后从生物转化率不同的草菇菌株分别提取各自的RNA,反转录为cDNA后,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了xyn1和xynII基因的转录表达情况;最后应用DNS法对这些菌株中的木聚糖酶活性进行了测定。研究结果表明,xyn1编码的氨基酸序列与草腐菌相似性较高,而xynII编码的氨基酸序列与木腐菌遗传差异较小。在木聚糖酶活性测定和实时荧光定量PCR结果中,不同菌株的木聚糖酶活性趋势与xynII的转录表达趋势相似,均呈现依次递减。草菇的木聚糖酶活性与其生物转化率之间存在正相关性,推测草菇不同菌株木聚糖酶活性差异可能表现在转录水平上的差异。     

A novel role for p21-activated protein kinase 2 in T cell activation

To identify novel components of the TCR signaling pathway, a large-scale retroviral-based functional screen was performed using CD69 expression as a marker for T cell activation. In addition to known regulators, two truncated forms of p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2), PAK2DeltaL(1-224) and PAK2DeltaS(1-113), both lacking the kinase domain, were isolated in the T cell screen. The PAK2 truncation, PAK2DeltaL, blocked Ag receptor-induced NFAT activation and TCR-mediated calcium flux in Jurkat T cells. However, it had minimal effect on PMA/ionomycin-induced CD69 up-regulation in Jurkat cells, on anti-IgM-mediated CD69 up-regulation in B cells, or on the migratory responses of resting T cells to chemoattractants. We show that PAK2 kinase activity is increased in response to TCR stimulation. Furthermore, a full-length kinase-inactive form of PAK2 blocked both TCR-induced CD69 up-regulation and NFAT activity in Jurkat cells, demonstrating that kinase activity is required for PAK2 function downstream of the TCR. We also generated a GFP-fused PAK2 truncation lacking the Cdc42/Rac interactive binding region domain, GFP-PAK2(83-149). We show that this construct binds directly to the kinase domain of PAK2 and inhibits anti-TCR-stimulated T cell activation. Finally, we demonstrate that, in primary T cells, dominant-negative PAK2 prevented anti-CD3/CD28-induced IL-2 production, and TCR-induced CD40 ligand expression, both key functions of activated T cells. Taken together, these results suggest a novel role for PAK2 as a positive regulator of T cell activation.