Identification of the IL-17 receptor related molecule IL-17RC as the receptor for IL-17F

The proinflammatory cytokines IL-17A and IL-17F have a high degree of sequence similarity and share many biological properties. Both have been implicated as factors contributing to the progression of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Moreover, reagents that neutralize IL-17A significantly ameliorate disease severity in several mouse models of human disease. IL-17A mediates its effects through interaction with its cognate receptor, the IL-17 receptor (IL-17RA). We report here that the IL-17RA-related molecule, IL-17RC is the receptor for IL-17F. Notably, both IL-17A and IL-17F bind to IL-17RC with high affinity, leading us to suggest that a soluble form of this molecule may serve as an effective therapeutic antagonist of IL-17A and IL-17F. We generated a soluble form of IL-17RC and demonstrate that it effectively blocks binding of both IL-17A and IL-17F, and that it inhibits signaling in response to these cytokines. Collectively, our work indicates that IL-17RC functions as a receptor for both IL-17A and IL-17F and that a soluble version of this protein should be an effective antagonist of IL-17A and IL-17F mediated inflammatory diseases.     

Production of 17-hydroxypregnenolone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone by the immature rat ovary

The concentration of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH-prog), but not 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-OH-preg), was detectable in the sera of 5 day old female rats. The level of 17-OH-preg increased dramatically between day 5 and 10, remained high for 5 days and then decreased to low levels by day 25; a second increase was found on day 35. 17-OH-prog began to increase in the serum after day 10, reached a peak by day 20 and then decreased by day 25 and remained the same through day 35. Stimulation of the ovaries of intact females with 20 IU of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin resulted in a prompt increase in both progestins, but a much larger increase in 17-OH-preg than in 17-OH-prog. Increases were similar, but quantitatively less, in hypophysectomized females. The results demonstrate that the ovaries of immature rats contain an active 17-hydroxylase system.     

Large-scale synthesis of the mRNA analogue C17AUGA4C17

The large-scale synthesis of the mRNA analogue C17AUGA4C17 is described. This molecule is 41 bases in length and contains three unique codons in its central region. tRNA binding studies at 6 mM Mg2+ in the absence and presence of the labeled heteropolymer show the mutual stimulation of tRNA and mRNA binding and demonstrate that this mRNA provides a simple and suitable system for the analysis of the reactions of the ribosomal elongation cycle.     

AtCOX17, an Arabidopsis homolog of the yeast copper chaperone COX17

We have identified a new plant gene, AtCOX17, encoding a protein that shares sequence similarity to COX17, a Cu-binding protein from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and vertebrates that mediates the delivery of Cu to the mitochondria for the assembly of a functional cytochrome oxidase complex. The newly characterized Arabidopsis protein has six Cys residues at positions corresponding to those known to coordinate Cu binding in the yeast homolog. Moreover, we show that the Arabidopsis COX17 cDNA complements a COX17 mutant of yeast restoring the respiratory deficiency associated with that mutation. These two lines of evidence indicate that the plant protein identified here is a functional equivalent of yeast COX17 and might serve as a Cu delivery protein for the plant mitochondria. COX17 was identified by investigating the hypersensitive response-like necrotic response provoked in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves after harpin inoculation. AtCOX17 expression was activated by high concentrations of Cu, bacterial inoculation, salicylic acid treatment, and treatments that generated NO and hydrogen peroxide. All of the conditions inducing COX17 are known to inhibit mitochondrial respiration and to produce an increase of reactive oxygen species, suggesting that gene induction occurs in response to stress situations that interfere with mitochondrial function.     

The human IL-17F/IL-17A heterodimeric cytokine signals through the IL-17RA/IL-17RC receptor complex

IL-17A and IL-17F, produced by the Th17 CD4(+) T cell lineage, have been linked to a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. We recently reported that activated human CD4(+) T cells produce not only IL-17A and IL-17F homodimers but also an IL-17F/IL-17A heterodimeric cytokine. All three cytokines can induce chemokine secretion from bronchial epithelial cells, albeit with different potencies. In this study, we used small interfering RNA and Abs to IL-17RA and IL-17RC to demonstrate that heterodimeric IL-17F/IL-17A cytokine activity is dependent on the IL-17RA/IL-17RC receptor complex. Interestingly, surface plasmon resonance studies indicate that the three cytokines bind to IL-17RC with comparable affinities, whereas they bind to IL-17RA with different affinities. Thus, we evaluated the effect of the soluble receptors on cytokine activity and we find that soluble receptors exhibit preferential cytokine blockade. IL-17A activity is inhibited by IL-17RA, IL-17F is inhibited by IL-17RC, and a combination of soluble IL-17RA/IL-17RC receptors is required for inhibition of the IL-17F/IL-17A activity. Altogether, these results indicate that human IL-17F/IL-17A cytokine can bind and signal through the same receptor complex as human IL-17F and IL-17A. However, the distinct affinities of the receptor components for IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-17F/IL-17A heterodimer can be exploited to differentially affect the activity of these cytokines.     

Proteomic analysis of the bacteriocin thuricin 17 produced by Bacillus thuringiensis NEB17

Thuricin 17 is a recently discovered bacteriocin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis NEB17. The objective of this work was to conduct a proteomic analysis of this bacteriocin. The partial N- and C-terminal amino-acid sequences of thuricin 17 have now been determined using the Edman degradation and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-quadrapole time of flight mass spectrometry (MS)/MS. A hydrophobic cluster analysis indicates that thuricin 17 contains a hydrophobic region, potentially corresponding to a membrane associated domain. Based on time of production, this bacteriocin may be produced as a secondary metabolite. Interestingly, thuricin 17 shares the same N-terminal sequence, DWTXWSXL, with a previously reported bacteriocin, Bacthuricin F4, produced by B. thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki strain BUPM4. This is the first time two bacteriocins from different Bacillus species have been shown to share similar N-terminal sequences.     

Identification of radioactive 17beta-estradiol-17-beta-D-glucuronide and 17alpha-estradiol-17-beta-D-glucuronide in the urine of the domestic fowl after intramuscular injection of [4-14C]estrone.

Two previously uncharacterized radioactive estrogen conjugates, 17beta-estradiol-17-beta-D-glucuronide (3-hydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17beta-D-glucopyranosiduronate) and 17alpha-estradiol-17beta-D-glucuronide (3-hydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17alpha-yl-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronate), have been identified in small but significant amounts in avian urine and in a ratio of approximately 2:1 after intramuscular injection of [4-14C]estrone.     

17-Epimerization of 17 alpha-methyl anabolic steroids in humans: metabolism and synthesis of 17 alpha-hydroxy-17 beta-methyl steroids.

The 17-epimers of the anabolic steroids bolasterone (I), 4-chlorodehydromethyltestosterone (II), fluoxymesterone (III), furazabol (IV), metandienone (V), mestanolone (VI), methyltestosterone (VII), methandriol (VIII), oxandrolone (IX), oxymesterone (X), oxymetholone (XI), stanozolol (XII), and the human metabolites 7 alpha,17 alpha-dimethyl-5 beta-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (XIII) (metabolite of I), 6 beta-hydroxymetandienone (XIV) (metabolite of V), 17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androst-1-ene-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (XV) (metabolite of V), 3'-hydroxystanozolol (XVI) (metabolite of XII), as well as the reference substances 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androstan-3-one (XVII), 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androst-1-en-3-one (XVIII) (also a metabolite of V), the four isomers 17 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (XIX) (also a metabolite of VI, VII, and XI), 17 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-androstane-3 beta,17 beta-diol (XX), 17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (XXI) (also a metabolite of V, VII, and VIII), 17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androstane-3 beta,17 beta-diol (XXII), and 17 beta-hydroxy-7 alpha,17 alpha-dimethyl-5 beta-androstan-3-one (XXIII) were synthesized via a 17 beta-sulfate that spontaneously hydrolyzed in water to several dehydration products, and to the 17 alpha-hydroxy-17 beta-methyl epimer. The 17 beta-sulfate was prepared by reaction of the 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl steroid with sulfur trioxide pyridine complex. The 17 beta-methyl epimers are eluted in gas chromatography as trimethylsilyl derivatives from a capillary SE-54 or OV-1 column 70-170 methylen units before the corresponding 17 alpha-methyl epimer. The electron impact mass spectra of the underivatized and trimethylsilylated epimers are in most cases identical and only for I, II, and V was a differentiation between the 17-epimers possible. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra show for the 17 beta-methyl epimer a chemical shift for the C-18 protons (singlet) of about 0.175 ppm (in deuterochloroform) to a lower field. 13C NMR spectra display differences for the 17-epimeric steroids in shielding effects for carbons 12-18 and 20. Excretion studies with I-XII with identification and quantification of 17-epimeric metabolites indicate that the extent of 17-epimerization depends on the A-ring structure and shows a great variation for the different 17 alpha-methyl anabolic steroids.