Limulus anti-LPS factor: An anticoagulant which inhibits the endotoxin-mediated activation of Limulus coagulation system

Exposure of $\text{Limulus}$ amebocytes to bacterial endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) results in the activation of the coagulation system, which consists of several protein components. During the separation of these components, a potent anticoagulant, named tentatively anti-LPS factor, which inhibits the endotoxin-mediated coagulation reaction, was found in both amebocytes from the hemolymphs of $\text{Tachypleus}\text{tridentatus}$ and $\text{Limulus}\text{polyphemus}$. The principle purified partially from $\text{Tachypleus}$ amebocyte lysate had a molecular weight less than 10,000, as judged with the ordinary gelfiltration experiment. It inhibited specifically the activation of factor B, which has recently been characterized to be a coagulation factor highly sensitive to LPS, but it did not inhibit the activities of the active factor B and the active clotting enzyme separated from the lysate. The inhibitory activity of anti-LPS factor disappeared almost completely by the treatments with pronase-P and subtilisin, suggesting its polypeptide-like substance, but it resisted to a boiling treatment. A possible site of the anticoagulant action on the $\text{Limulus}$ coagulation system was discussed.     

Construction of a sensitive pyrogen-testing cell model by site-specific knock-in of multiple genes

A pyrogen test is crucial for evaluating the safety of drugs and medical equipment, especially those involved in injections. As existing pyrogen tests, including the rabbit pyrogen test, the limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) test and the monocyte activation test have limitations, development of new models for pyrogen testing is necessary. Here we develop a sensitive cell model for pyrogen test based on the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) signal pathway. TLR4, MD2, and CD14 play key roles in the LPS-mediated pyrogen reaction. We established a new TLR4/MD2/CD14-specific overexpressing knock-in cell model using the CRISPR/CAS9 technology and homologous recombination to detect LPS. Stimulation of our TLR4/CD14/MD2 knock-in cell line model with LPS leads to the release of the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha, with a detection limit of 0.005 EU/ml, which is greatly lower than the lower limit of 0.015 EU/ml detected by the Tachypleus amebocyte lysate (TAL) assay.     

Preparation and immunogenicity of conjugate based on hydrazine-treated lipopolysaccharide antigen of Vibrio cholerae O139

A glycoconjugate construct was based on attachment of V. cholerae O139 hydrazine-treated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to carboxylated bovine serum albumin (CBSA) via its amino group. The immunological properties of the glycoconjugate were tested using BALB/c mice, injected subcutaneously without any adjuvant three times at 2?weeks interval. The immunogenicity of the conjugate was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, testing of anti-LPS IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies. The conjugate elicited a statistically significant increase of LPS-specific IgG levels in mice (p?<?0.001). The specific anti-LPS IgG and IgA response after the second booster dose was significantly higher compared with reference and unconjugated detoxified LPS response. Antibodies elicited by the dLPS–CBSA conjugate were vibriocidal.     

脂多糖模拟肽13L诱导对小鼠内毒素休克的保护反应

为研究LPS 2630表位模拟肽13L是否能诱导抗脂多糖（LPS）抗体的产生、对细菌攻击及内毒素休克的保护性反应,合成了模拟LPS表位的短肽13L．用合成肽13L-蓝载体（blue carrier,BC）交联物免疫Balb／C小鼠,观察小鼠体内抗LPS抗体产生的规律,并观察免疫小鼠细菌感染存活时间,用颈总动脉插管测定技术观察免疫小鼠内毒素休克的血压变化．结果显示,合成肽13L-BSA交联物能与兔抗鼠伤寒和大肠杆菌LPS抗血清及抗鼠伤寒LPS单抗结合,证明短肽13L可模拟LPS的抗原性．用13L-BC交联物免疫可诱发小鼠体内针对大肠杆菌LPS 2630和鼠伤寒沙门氏菌LPS 7261的抗体反应,该反应可被灭活大肠杆菌及两种LPS所加强,其抗体亚类主要为IgG2a,其次为IgG2b与IgM,而IgG1与IgG3含量极低．免疫13L-BC小鼠显示对细菌攻击的抵抗,与免疫BC对照小鼠比较,其存活时间分别为（12&#177;1．3）天和（5．3&#177;0．4）天（P〈0．01）．免疫13L-BC小鼠对静脉注射LPS诱发内毒素休克的保护作用体现在血压下降幅度明显低于对照动物,在LPS 2630攻击后1、2、3及4h时两组动物血压明显差别（P〈0．05、P〈0．01、P〈0．05及P〈0．01）,而LPS 7261攻击后1、2、3及4h时两组动物血压差别则略小于LPS 2630组（P〉0．05、P〈0．05、P〈0．05及P〈0．01）．上述结果证明,LPS表位模拟肽13L交联物免疫小鼠可产生针对细菌攻击及内毒素休克的保护性效应,提示该模拟肽作为LPS交叉保护性疫苗候选的可行性．     

Molecular diversity of three S-allele cDNAs associated with gametophytic self-incompatibility in Lycopersicon peruvianum

We isolated S allele-associated cDNA clones from each of the stylar cDNA libraries of Lycopersicon peruvianum of two different S genotypes (S ₁₂S_band S ₁₃ S _c) with S ₁₁ S _callele-associated cDNA (LPS11) as a probe. The longest cDNA clones, designated LPS12 and LPS13, which were 779 bp and 853 bp in length, contained open reading frames of 189 and 210 amino acids, respectively. The three S alleleassociated cDNAs (LPS11, LPS12, and LPS13) did not cross-hybridize to each other under highly stringent condition by northern blot analysis. Their average identity to Nicotiana alata S-proteins so far was 49%. The fragments corresponding to LPS11 or LPS12 cosegregated with their respective S alleles in genetic crosses. From these results, we conclude that the three cloned cDNAs were derived from the three different S alleles of L. peruvianum.     

Anti-LPS factor in the horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus. Its hemolytic activity on the red blood cell sensitized with lipopolysaccharide

Anti-LPS factor, which inhibits the endotoxin mediated coagulation system in the horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus, was found to lyse red blood cells sensitized with gram-negative bacterial LPS, but not to lyse unsensitized cells. This hemolysis occurred even at 0 degree C and was completed within 1 min. The binding of anti-LPS factor to LPS must be essential for the hemolysis, because free LPS inhibited the hemolytic action of anti-LPS factor.     

An N-[(R)-(-)-2-Hydroxypropionyl]-α-L-Perosamine Homopolymer Constitutes the O Polysaccharide Chain of the Lipopolysaccharide from Vibrio cholerae O144 Which Has Antigenic Factor(s) in Common with V. cholerae O76

Chemical and serological studies were performed with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Vibrio cholerae O144 (O144). The LPS of O144 contained D -glucose, D -galactose, L -glycero-D -manno-heptose, D -fructose, D -quinovosamine (2-amino-2,6-dideoxy-D -gluco-pyranose) and L -perosamine (4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-L -manno-pyranose). The perosamine, a major component sugar of the LPS from O144, was in an L -configuration, as is also the case in the LPS from V. cholerae O76 (O76), in contrast to the D -configuration of the perosamine in the LPS of V. cholerae O1. A structural analysis revealed that the O polysaccharide chain of the LPS from O144 is an α(1 → 2)-linked homopolymer of (R)-(-)-2-hydroxypropionyl-L -perosamine. The serological cross-reactivity between O144 and O76 was clearly revealed by cross-agglutination and cross-agglutinin absorption tests with whole cells, as well as by passive hemolysis tests with sheep red-blood cells that had been sensitized with the LPS from O144 and O76. In contrast, in passive hemolysis tests, the LPS of O144 did not cross-react serologically with the LPSs from other strains such as V. cholerae O1 (Ogawa and Inaba), V. cholerae O140, Vibrio bio-serogroup 1875 (Original and Variant) and Yersinia enterocolitica O9. The LPSs from these strains consist of O polysaccharide chains composed of α(1 → 2)-linked homopolymers of D -perosamine with various N-acyl groups, and they share the Inaba antigen factor C of V. cholerae O1 in common. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that the absolute configuration of the perosamine residue in homopolymers plays a very important role in the expression of the serological specificity of the Inaba antigen factor C of V. cholerae O1.     

Molecular cloning, expression analysis and enzymatic characterization of cathepsin K from olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

We assessed the putative physiological roles of cathepsin K from a flatfish, olive flounder. We cloned a cDNA encoding for cathepsin K (PoCtK), a cysteine protease of the papain family from olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. The tissue-specific expression pattern of PoCtK, determined via real-time PCR analysis, revealed ubiquitous expression in normal tissues with high levels of expression in the spleen and bone marrow. However, PoCtK expression was significantly increased in the muscle and gill at 3–24 h post-injection with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The cDNA encoding for the mature enzyme of PoCtK was expressed in Escherichia coli using the pGEX-4T-1 expression vector system. Its activity was quantified via the cleavage of the synthetic peptide Z-Gly-Pro-Arg-MCA, zymography, and the collagen degradation assay. The optimum pH for the protease activity was 8, and the recombinant PoCtK enzyme degraded collagen types I, II, III, IV, and VI and acid-soluble collagen from olive flounder muscle in the presence of chondroitin 4-sulphate (C-4S). Therefore, our data indicate that cathepsin K may play a role in the immune system of fish skin and muscle, in addition to its principal bone-specific function as a collagenolytic enzyme.     

Decursin negatively regulates LPS-induced upregulation of the TLR4 and JNK signaling stimulated by the expression of PRP4 in vitro

ABSTRACT

The current investigation was carried out to analyze the correlation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pre-mRNA processing factor 4B (PRP4) in inducing inflammatory response and cell actin cytoskeleton rearrangement in macrophages (Raw 264.7) and colorectal (HCT116) as well as skin cancer (B16-F10) cells. Cell lines were stimulated with LPS, and the expression of PRP4 as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines and proteins like IL-6, IL-1β, TLR4, and NF-κB were assayed. The results demonstrated that LPS markedly increased the expression of PRP4, IL-6, IL-1β, TLR4, and NF-κB in the cells. LPS and PRP4 concomitantly altered the morphology of cells from an aggregated, flattened shape to a round shape. Decursin, a pyranocoumarin from Angelica gigas, inhibited the LPS and PRP4-induced inflammatory response, and reversed the induction of morphological changes. Finally, we established a possible link of LPS with TLR4 and JNK signaling, through which it activated PRP4. Our study provides molecular insights for LPS and PRP4-related pathogenesis and a basis for developing new strategies against metastasis in colorectal cancer and skin melanoma. Our study emphasizes that decursin may be an effective treatment strategy for various cancers in which LPS and PRP4 perform a critical role in inducing inflammatory response and morphological changes leading to cell survival and protection against anti-cancer drugs.     

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Stimulates the Production of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α and Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) by Osteoclasts (OCL) in Murine Bone Marrow Cell Culture

Osteoclasts (OCL) resorb bone. They are essential for the development of normal bones and the repair of impaired bones. The function of OCL is presumed to be supported by cytokines and other biological mediators, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nitric oxide (NO). Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent inducer of TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which is the specific enzyme for synthesizing NO from L-arginine. To obtain direct evidence on LPS-induced TNF-α production and iNOS expression by OCL, OCL-enriched cultures were prepared by 7-day cocultures of bone marrow cells of adult BALB/c mice and osteoblastic cells (OBs) derived from calvaria of newborn BALB/c mice, and the generation of TNF-α and iNOS in OCL stimulated with LPS was examined immunocytochemically. When the cultured cells were stimulated with 100 ng/ml of LPS, OCL clearly showed TNF-α and iNOS expression. Without LPS-stimulation, no expression was observed. TNF activity in the culture supernatants of the OCL-enriched cultures in the presence of LPS was also detected by cytotoxic assay that used TNF-sensitive L929 cells. The dentin resorption activity of OCL was estimated by area and number of pits formed on dentin slices, which were covered by the OCL fraction and cultured in the presence or absence of LPS, sodium nitroprusside (SNP; a NO generating compound), N^G-monomethyl L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA; a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS)), or LPS plus L-NMMA. Pit formation was obviously inhibited in the presence of SNP and slightly inhibited in the presence of L-NMMA, but it was not affected in the presence of LPS or LPS plus L-NMMA. These findings indicate that OCL produces TNF and expresses iNOS in response to LPS, but the LPS-activation of OCL scarcely affects pit formation by them.     

Low concentration of lipopolysaccharide acts on MC3T3‐E1 osteoblasts and induces proliferation via the COX‐2‐independent NFκB pathway

The translocations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the gut and its effects on bone healing are usually of clinical interest during bone fracture. As already widely stuided, Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) is a key enzyme for prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) production, which induces the nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) activation and is beneficial to fracture healing. In order to know their roles in skeletal regeneration, mouse MC3T3‐E1 osteoblasts were treated with NFκB inhibitor BAY 11‐7082 and sc791 (a selective COX‐2 inhibitor), in the presence of LPS. Interestingly, LPS could induce osteoblasts proliferation through increasing NFκB activation and translocation. This induction was not related to COX‐2 expression, suggesting that LPS‐induced NFκB activiation is independent of COX‐2. It is possible that low concentration of LPS can act as a stimulating factor of the NFκB pathway in nonstimulated cells such as osteoblasts. COX‐2 is not necessary for the NFκB pathway during LPS‐induced proliferation of osteoblasts since sc791 had no effects on this induction. These studies provide insight into a potential mechanism by which LPS can affect bone tissue repair in the initial phase of inflammation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phage specificity and lipopolysaccarides of stem- and root-nodulating bacteria (Azorhizobium caulinodans, Sinorhizobium spp., and Rhizobium spp.) of Sesbania spp

Phage susceptibility pattern and its correlation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and plasmid profiles may help in understanding the phenotypic and genotypic diversity among highly promiscuous group of rhizobia nodulating Sesbania spp.; 43 phages were from two stem-nodulating bacteria of S. rostrata and 16 phages were from root-nodulating bacteria of S. sesban, S. aegyptica and S. rostrata. Phage susceptibility pattern of 38 Sesbania nodulating bacteria was correlated with their LPS rather than plasmid profiles. Different species of bacteria (A. caulinodans- ORS571, SRS1-3 and Sinorhizobium saheli- SRR907, SRR912) showing distinct LPS subtypes were susceptible to different group of phages. Phages could also discriminate the strains of Si. saheli (SSR312, SAR610) possessing distinct LPS subtypes. Phages of Si. meliloti (SSR302) were strain-specific. All the strains of R. huautlense having incomplete LPS (insignificant O-chain) were phage-resistant. In in vitro assay, 100% of the phages were adsorbed to LPS of indicator bacterium or its closely related strain(s) only. These observations suggest the significance of LPS in phage specificity of Sesbania nodulating rhizobia. Highly specific phages may serve as biological marker for monitoring the susceptible bacterial strains in culture collections and environment.     

Molecular cloning, mRNA expression and enzymatic characterization of cathepsin F from olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Cathepsin F is a recently described papain-like cysteine protease of unknown function, and unique among cathepsins due to an elongated N-terminal pro-region, which contains a cystatin domain. In the present study, the cDNA of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) cathepsin F (PoCtF) was cloned by the combination of homology molecular cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approaches. The PoCtF gene was determined to consist of the 1844 bp nucleotide sequence which encodes for a 475-amino acid polypeptide. The results of RT-PCR analysis revealed ubiquitous expression throughout the entirety of healthy flounder tissues; however the PoCtF expressions increased significantly in gill at 3 h post-injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Also, immunostaining using anti-PoCtF antibody was strongest on the epidermal mucus in the fin.The cDNA encoding mature enzyme of PoCtF was expressed in Escherichia coli using the pGEX-4 T-1 expression vector system. Its activity was quantified by cleaving the synthetic peptide Z-Phe-Arg-AMC, a substrate commonly used for functional characterization of cysteine proteinases, and the optimal pH for the protease activity was 7.5. The findings of the present study suggest that PoCtF has a higher optimum pH than mammalian cathepsin F, and PoCtF is an interesting target for future investigations of the role of cathepsin F in the epidermal mucus and fish innate immune system.     

Regulation of dendritic cell function by insulin/IGF-1/PI3K/Akt signaling through klotho expression

Insulin or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) promotes the activation of phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling in immune cells including dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent professional antigen-presenting cells for naive T cells. Klotho, an anti-aging protein, participates in the regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling, thus the Ca²⁺-dependent migration is reduced in klotho-deficient DCs. The present study explored the effects of insulin/IGF-1 on DC function through klotho expression. To this end, the mouse bone marrow cells were isolated and cultured with GM-CSF to attain bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs). Cells were treated with insulin or IGF-1 and followed by stimulating with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α formation was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Phagocytosis was analyzed by FITC-dextran uptake assay. The expression of klotho was determined by quantitative PCR, immunoprecipitation and western blotting. As a result, treatment of the cells with insulin/IGF-1 resulted in reducing the klotho expression as well as LPS-stimulated TNF-α release and increasing the FITC-dextran uptake but unaltering reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in BMDCs. The effects were abolished by using pharmacological inhibition of PI3K/Akt with LY294002 and paralleled by transfecting DCs with klotho siRNA. In conclusion, the regulation of klotho sensitive DC function by IGF-1 or insulin is mediated through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in BMDCs.     

Development of a sensitive competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of Burkholderia mallei,a Tier 1 select agent

Glanders is a highly contagious and potentially serious disease caused by Burkholderia mallei, a Tier 1 select agent. In this study, we raised a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of B. mallei and developed a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for B. mallei infection. Using the titrated optimal conditions of B. mallei-LPS (2 ng) for microtiter plate coating, sample serum dilution at 1:20 and 3.5 ng/μL anti-LPS mAb B5, the cutoff value of the cELISA was determined using serum samples from 136 glanders-free seronegative horses in Hong Kong. All calculated percentage inhibition (PI) values from these seronegative samples were below 39.6% inhibition (1.5 standard deviations above mean PI) and was used as the cutoff value. The diagnostic sensitivity of the developed LPS-based cELISA was first evaluated using sera from donkeys and mice inoculated with B. mallei. An increasing trend of PI values above the defined cELISA cutoff observed in the donkey and mouse sera suggested positive detection of anti-LPS antibodies. The sensitivity and specificity of the LPS-based cELISA was further evaluated using 31 serologically positive horse sera from glanders outbreaks in Bahrain and Kuwait, of which 30 were tested positive by the cELISA; and 21 seronegative horse sera and 20 seronegative donkey sera from Dubai, of which all were tested negative by the cELISA. A cELISA with high sensitivity (97.2%) and specificity (100%) for the detection of B. mallei antibodies in different animals was developed.     

Deacylated lipopolysaccharides inhibit biofilm formation by Gram-negative bacteria

The extracellular polysaccharides of Vibrio vulnificus play different roles during biofilm development. Among them, the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is crucial for bacterial adherence to surfaces during the initial stage of biofilm formation, on the formation process was examined using various types of LPS extracts. Exogenously added LPS strongly inhibited biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the exogenous addition of a deacylated form of LPS (dLPS) also inhibited biofilm formation. However, an LPS fraction extracted from a mutant not able to produce O-antigen polysaccharides (O-Ag) did not have an inhibitory effect. Furthermore, biofilm formation by several Gram-negative bacteria was inhibited by dLPS addition. In contrast, biofilm formation by Gram-positive bacteria was not influenced by dLPS but was affected by lipoteichoic acid. Therefore, this study demonstrates that O-Ag in LPS is important for inhibiting biofilm formation and may serve an efficient anti-biofilm agent specific for Gram-negative bacteria.     

Phagocytic inhibitory activity in serum of cats immunized withPseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide

Sequentially collected sera from cats chronically immunized withPseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS) serotype 5 were assessed for their effect on phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages from nonimmunized cats. Phagocytosis was measured by incubating macrophage monolayers for 20 min in the presence of³H-labeled bacteria and 5% serum from control or immunized animals. Sustained phagocytic inhibitory activity developed in the sera of eight of 11 immunized cats (mean inhibition ranged from 30% to 73%) after 13 weekly immunizations. The activity was specific because phagocytosis ofStaphylococcus aureus andP. aeruginosa of another serotype (type 6) was unimpaired. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed an increase in the amount of LPS-specific IgG in postimmunization sera from the eight cats with inhibitory activity. The IgG appeared to be serotype specific because significantly higher titers were obtained against LPS serotype 5 than LPS serotype 6. The results suggest that phagocytic inhibitory activity in sera from LPS-immunized cats may be due to anti-LPS IgG.