Active endocannabinoids are secreted on extracellular membrane vesicles

Endocannabinoids primarily influence neuronal synaptic communication within the nervous system. To exert their function, endocannabinoids need to travel across the intercellular space. However, how hydrophobic endocannabinoids cross cell membranes and move extracellularly remains an unresolved problem. Here, we show that endocannabinoids are secreted through extracellular membrane vesicles produced by microglial cells. We demonstrate that microglial extracellular vesicles carry on their surface N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA), which is able to stimulate type-1 cannabinoid receptors (CB₁), and inhibit presynaptic transmission, in target GABAergic neurons. This is the first demonstration of a functional role of extracellular vesicular transport of endocannabinoids.     

Pentavalent outer membrane vesicles of Vibrio cholerae induce adaptive immune response and protective efficacy in both adult and passive suckling mice models

Recently, we demonstrated oral immunizations with single serotype outer membrane vesicles of Vibrio cholerae induced serogroup specific protective immunity in the RITARD model. In our present study, we advanced our research by formulating multi-serotype outer membrane vesicles, mixing the OMVs of five virulent V. cholerae strains. Four doses of oral immunization with cholera pentavalent outer membrane vesicles (CPMVs) induced V. cholerae specific B and T cell responses. CPMVs-immunized mice generated long lasting serum IgG, IgA, IgM as well as mucosal sIgA and also elicited a higher percentage of CD4+ T cell distribution in spleen. Our study revealed that in vitro CPMVs-activated dendritic cells were secreting T cell polarizing cytokines, IL-12p40, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-1β. Moreover, purified splenic CD4+ T cells of immunized mice also secreted IL-4, IL-13 and IL-17 cytokines, indicating the initiation of Th2 and Th17 cell mediated immune responses. CPMVs immunized adult female mice and their offspring were significantly protected from heterologous challenge with wild type V. cholerae. CPMVs could be exploited for the development of a novel non-living vaccine against circulating cholera in near future.     

Solubilization of a functionally active proline carrier from membranes of Escherichia coli with an organic solvent.

A proline transport carrier was extracted from the membranes of Escherichia coli with acidic n-butanol. Vesicles reconstituted from the butanol extract and E. coli phospholipids and preloaded with K⁺ showed rapid uphill uptake of proline when energy was supplied as a membrane potential introduced by K⁺-diffusion via valinomycin. Proline uptake by the reconstituted vesicles, like that of intact cells and isolated membrane vesicles, was inhibited by 3,4-dehydroproline, SH reagents, and a proton conducting uncoupler. Reconstituted vesicles of mutants defective in proline transport showed little or no proline uptake. The proline carrier was partially purified from the extract and separated from the bulk of phospholipids on Sephadex LH-20.     

Immune cell-derived small extracellular vesicles in cancer treatment

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) secreted by most cells carry bioactive macromolecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids for intercellular communication. Given that some immune cell-derived sEVs exhibit anti-cancer properties, these sEVs have received scientific attention for the development of novel anti-cancer immunotherapeutic agents. In this paper, we reviewed the latest advances concerning the biological roles of immune cell-derived sEVs for cancer therapy. sEVs derived from immune cells including dendritic cells (DCs), T cells, natural-killer (NK) cells, and macrophages are good candidates for sEV-based cancer therapy. Besides their role of cancer vaccines, DC-shed sEVs activated cytotoxic lymphocytes and killed tumor cells. sEVs isolated from NK cells and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells exhibited cytotoxicity against cancer cells. sEVs derived from CD8⁺ T and CD4⁺ T cells inhibited cancer-associated cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) and activated B cells, respectively. M1-macrophage-derived sEVs induced M2 to M1 repolarization and also created a pro-inflammatory environment. Hence, these sEVs, via mono or combination therapy, could be considered in the treatment of cancer patients in the future. In addition, sEVs derived from cytokine-stimulated immune cells or sEV engineering could improve their anti-tumor potency.     

Exocyst-mediated membrane trafficking is required for branch outgrowth in Drosophila tracheal terminal cells

Branching morphogenesis, the process by which cells or tissues generate tree-like networks that function to increase surface area or in contacting multiple targets, is a common developmental motif in multicellular organisms. We use Drosophila tracheal terminal cells, a component of the insect respiratory system, to investigate branching morphogenesis that occurs at the single cell level. Here, we show that the exocyst, a conserved protein complex that facilitates docking and tethering of vesicles at the plasma membrane, is required for terminal cell branch outgrowth. We find that exocyst-deficient terminal cells have highly truncated branches and show an accumulation of vesicles within their cytoplasm and are also defective in subcellular lumen formation. We also show that vesicle trafficking pathways mediated by the Rab GTPases Rab10 and Rab11 are redundantly required for branch outgrowth. In terminal cells, the PAR-polarity complex is required for branching, and we find that the PAR complex is required for proper membrane localization of the exocyst, thus identifying a molecular link between the branching and outgrowth programs. Together, our results suggest a model where exocyst mediated vesicle trafficking facilitates branch outgrowth, while de novo branching requires cooperation between the PAR and exocyst complexes.     

Exosomes Derived from Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppress Angiogenesis by Down-Regulating VEGF Expression in Breast Cancer Cells

Exosomes are small membrane vesicles released by a variety of cell types. Exosomes contain genetic materials, such as mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs), implying that they may play a pivotal role in cell-to-cell communication. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which potentially differentiate into multiple cell types, can migrate to the tumor sites and have been reported to exert complex effects on tumor progression. To elucidate the role of MSCs within the tumor microenvironment, previous studies have suggested various mechanisms such as immune modulation and secreted factors of MSCs. However, the paracrine effects of MSC-derived exosomes on the tumor microenvironment remain to be explored. The hypothesis of this study was that MSC-derived exosomes might reprogram tumor behavior by transferring their molecular contents. To test this hypothesis, exosomes from MSCs were isolated and characterized. MSC-derived exosomes exhibited different protein and RNA profiles compared with their donor cells and these vesicles could be internalized by breast cancer cells. The results demonstrated that MSC-derived exosomes significantly down-regulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tumor cells, which lead to inhibition of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, miR-16, a miRNA known to target VEGF, was enriched in MSC-derived exosomes and it was partially responsible for the anti-angiogenic effect of MSC-derived exosomes. The collective results suggest that MSC-derived exosomes may serve as a significant mediator of cell-to-cell communication within the tumor microenvironment and suppress angiogenesis by transferring anti-angiogenic molecules.     

Vesicles Bearing Toxoplasma Apicoplast Membrane Proteins Persist Following Loss of the Relict Plastid or Golgi Body Disruption

Toxoplasma gondii and malaria parasites contain a unique and essential relict plastid called the apicoplast. Most apicoplast proteins are encoded in the nucleus and are transported to the organelle via the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Three trafficking routes have been proposed for apicoplast membrane proteins: (i) vesicular trafficking from the ER to the Golgi and then to the apicoplast, (ii) contiguity between the ER membrane and the apicoplast allowing direct flow of proteins, and (iii) vesicular transport directly from the ER to the apicoplast. Previously, we identified a set of membrane proteins of the T. gondii apicoplast which were also detected in large vesicles near the organelle. Data presented here show that the large vesicles bearing apicoplast membrane proteins are not the major carriers of luminal proteins. The vesicles continue to appear in parasites which have lost their plastid due to mis-segregation, indicating that the vesicles are not derived from the apicoplast. To test for a role of the Golgi body in vesicle formation, parasites were treated with brefeldin A or transiently transfected with a dominant-negative mutant of Sar1, a GTPase required for ER to Golgi trafficking. The immunofluorescence patterns showed little change. These findings were confirmed using stable transfectants, which expressed the toxic dominant-negative sar1 following Cre-loxP mediated promoter juxtaposition. Our data support the hypothesis that the large vesicles do not mediate the trafficking of luminal proteins to the apicoplast. The results further show that the large vesicles bearing apicoplast membrane proteins continue to be observed in the absence of Golgi and plastid function. These data raise the possibility that the apicoplast proteome is generated by two novel ER to plastid trafficking pathways, plus the small set of proteins encoded by the apicoplast genome.     

Molecular assemblies and membrane domains in multivesicular endosome dynamics

Along the degradation pathway, endosomes exhibit a characteristic multivesicular organization, resulting from the budding of vesicles into the endosomal lumen. After endocytosis and transport to early endosomes, activated signaling receptors are incorporated into these intralumenal vesicles through the action of the ESCRT machinery, a process that contributes to terminate signaling. Then, the vesicles and their protein cargo are further transported towards lysosomes for degradation. Evidence also shows that intralumenal vesicles can undergo “back-fusion” with the late endosome limiting membrane, a route exploited by some pathogens and presumably followed by proteins and lipids that need to be recycled from within the endosomal lumen. This process depends on the late endosomal lipid lysobisphosphatidic acid and its putative effector Alix/AIP1, and is presumably coupled to the invagination of the endosomal limiting membrane at the molecular level via ESCRT proteins. In this review, we discuss the intra-endosomal transport routes in mammalian cells, and in particular the different mechanisms involved in membrane invagination, vesicle formation and fusion in a space inaccessible to proteins known to control intracellular membrane traffic.     

Sialic Acids on Varicella-Zoster Virus Glycoprotein B Are Required for Cell-Cell Fusion

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a member of the human Herpesvirus family that causes varicella (chicken pox) and zoster (shingles). VZV latently infects sensory ganglia and is also responsible for encephalomyelitis. Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), a member of the sialic acid (SA)-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin family, is mainly expressed in neural tissues. VZV glycoprotein B (gB) associates with MAG and mediates membrane fusion during VZV entry into host cells. The SA requirements of MAG when associating with its ligands vary depending on the specific ligand, but it is unclear whether the SAs on gB are involved in the association with MAG. In this study, we found that SAs on gB are essential for the association with MAG as well as for membrane fusion during VZV infection. MAG with a point mutation in the SA-binding site did not bind to gB and did not mediate cell-cell fusion or VZV entry. Cell-cell fusion and VZV entry mediated by the gB-MAG interaction were blocked by sialidase treatment. N-glycosylation or O-glycosylation inhibitors also inhibited the fusion and entry mediated by gB-MAG interaction. Furthermore, gB with mutations in N-glycosylation sites, i.e. asparagine residues 557 and 686, did not associate with MAG, and the cell-cell fusion efficiency was low. Fusion between the viral envelope and cellular membrane is essential for host cell entry by herpesviruses. Therefore, these results suggest that SAs on gB play important roles in MAG-mediated VZV infection.     

Fatty acid transport protein 2 interacts with ceramide synthase 2 to promote ceramide synthesis

Dihydroceramide is a lipid molecule generated via the action of (dihydro)ceramide synthases (CerSs), which use two substrates, namely sphinganine and fatty acyl-CoAs. Sphinganine is generated via the sequential activity of two integral membrane proteins located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Less is known about the source of the fatty acyl-CoAs, although a number of cytosolic proteins in the pathways of acyl-CoA generation modulate ceramide synthesis via direct or indirect interaction with the CerSs. In this study, we demonstrate, by proteomic analysis of immunoprecipitated proteins, that fatty acid transporter protein 2 (FATP2) (also known as very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase) directly interacts with CerS2 in mouse liver. Studies in cultured cells demonstrated that other members of the FATP family can also interact with CerS2, with the interaction dependent on both proteins being catalytically active. In addition, transfection of cells with FATP1, FATP2, or FATP4 increased ceramide levels although only FATP2 and 4 increased dihydroceramide levels, consistent with their known intracellular locations. Finally, we show that lipofermata, an FATP2 inhibitor which is believed to directly impact tumor cell growth via modulation of FATP2, decreased de novo dihydroceramide synthesis, suggesting that some of the proposed therapeutic effects of lipofermata may be mediated via (dihydro)ceramide rather than directly via acyl-CoA generation. In summary, our study reinforces the idea that manipulating the pathway of fatty acyl-CoA generation will impact a wide variety of down-stream lipids, not least the sphingolipids, which utilize two acyl-CoA moieties in the initial steps of their synthesis.     

Localization of membrane proteins in membrane vesicles of Bacillus subtilis.

Electrons can be transferred to the respiratory chain in whole cells and in membrane vesicles of Bacillus subtilis W 23 by the membrane impermeable electron donor reduced 5-N-methyl-phenazonium-3-sulfonate as efficiently as by the membrane permeable electron donor reduced 5-N-methyl-phenazonium methyl-sulfate, indicating that the respiratory chain is accessible from the outside of the membrane.Succinate is oxidized by whole cells and membrane vesicles at a low rate and does not energize transport of l-glutamate. In the presence of 5-N-methyl-phenazonium-3-sulfonate or 5-N-methyl-phenazonium methyl-sulfate, the oxidation rate and the rate of l-glutamate transport are increased considerably. The electrons are transferred directly from succinic dehydrogenase to these acceptors. Succinic dehydrogenase must therefore be exposed to the outside surface of the membrane in both membrane vesicles and whole cells. The exposure of succinic dehydrogenase to the outside is also indicated by the observations that only a 5% increase in the oxidation rates of succinate-5-N-methyl-phenazonium methylsulfate and succinate-5-N-methyl-phenazonium-3-sulfonate is observed upon solubilization of the membrane with the nonionic detergent Brij-58. Furthermore, treatment of membrane vesicles with trypsin decreases by more than 95% these oxidation rates.NADH is oxidized at a high rate and energizes transport of l-glutamate in whole cells and membrane vesicles effectively. The NADH-oxidation is not effected by trypsin treatment of the vesicles indicating that the oxidation occurs at the inside-surface of the membrane. Trypsin treatment of the vesicles, however, significantly decreases the rate of l-glutamate transport driven by NADH. Therefore component(s) of the transport system for l-glutamate must be effected by trypsin treatment. No apparent differences could be observed in the localization of membrane-bound functions between membrane vesicles and whole cells. This strongly supports the contention that the vesicle membrane of B. subtilis has the same orientation as the cytoplasmic membrane of whole cells.     

Exosomes: a common pathway for a specialized function

Exosomes are membrane vesicles that are released by cells upon fusion of multivesicular bodies with the plasma membrane. Their molecular composition reflects their origin in endosomes as intraluminal vesicles. In addition to a common set of membrane and cytosolic molecules, exosomes harbor unique subsets of proteins linked to cell type-associated functions. Exosome secretion participates in the eradication of obsolete proteins but several findings, essentially in the immune system, indicate that exosomes constitute a potential mode of intercellular communication. Release of exosomes by tumor cells and their implication in the propagation of unconventional pathogens such as prions suggests their participation in pathological situations. These findings open up new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.     

Transport of α-aminoisobutyrate by cells and membrane vesicles of Pseudomonas fluorescens

The transport of α-aminoisobutyrate into Pseudomonas fluorescens NCIB 8865 and membrane vesicles prepared from this organism has been studied. Uptake by cells was mediated by two active transport systems with different apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ values, while transport into membrane vesicles was mediated by a single component. The effect of inhibitors on the energy-coupling mechanism for α-aminoisobutyrate transport in these systems suggests that a membrane potential may play a significant role in supporting α-aminoisobutyrate transport. The magnitude of the membrane potential in the vesicle system, and the sensitivity of its generation to inhibitors, has been measured using ¹³⁷Cs in the presence of valinomycin. Direct attempts to demonstrate a proton-symport mechanism for α-aminoisobutyrate transport were negative.     

Pathways of D-fructose transport in Arthrobacter pyridinolis

Previous work indicated that Arthrobacter pyridinolis can transport d-fructose by either a phosphoenolpyruvate: d-fructose phosphotransferase system or by a respiration-coupled system. The respiration-coupled transport system for d-fructose, which is stimulated by the addition of l-malate, has been characterized in membrane vesicles from d-fructose-grown cells. Such vesicles carry out malate-dependent uptake of d-fructose but not of d-glucose or l-rhamnose, indicating that there is a sugar-specific component to the respiration-coupled transport system. A mutant which is deficient in the d-fructose-specific component was isolated. Vesicles from fructose-glutamate-grown cells of a phosphotransferase-negative strain (AP100) exhibited malate-dependent d-fructose uptake, while phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent uptake was reduced to a small fraction of that seen with vesicles from wild-type cells. Inhibitors of electron transport, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone, 2,4-dinitrophenol and N-ethylmaleimide caused marked inhibition of malate-dependent d-fructose uptake while exerting little or no effect on phosphoenolpyru-vate-dependent transport of the sugar in vesicles from wild-type cells. Activity of a flavin adenine dinucleotide-linked l-malic dehydrogenase was detected in membrane vesicles as well as in whole cells.     

Phospholipid fatty acid remodeling and carbonylated protein increase in extracellular vesicles released by airway epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract

Cigarette smoke (CS) represents one of the most relevant environmental risk factors for several chronic pathologies. Tissue damage caused by CS exposure is mediated, at least in part, by oxidative stress induced by its toxic and pro-oxidant components. Evidence demonstrates that extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by various cell types exposed to CS extract (CSE) are characterized by altered biochemical cargo and gained pathological properties. In the present study, we evaluated the content of oxidized proteins and phospholipid fatty acid profiles of EVs released by human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells treated with CSE. This specific molecular characterization has hitherto not been performed. After confirmation that CSE reduces viability of BEAS-2B cells and elevates intracellular ROS levels, in a dose-dependent manner, we demonstrated that 24 h exposure at 1% CSE, a concentration that only slight modifies cell viability but increases ROS levels, was able to increase carbonylated protein levels in cells and released EVs. The release of oxidatively modified proteins via EVs might represent a mechanism used by cells to remove toxic proteins in order to avoid their intracellular overloading. Moreover, 1% CSE induced only few changes in the fatty acid asset in BEAS-2B cell membrane phospholipids, whereas several rearrangements were observed in EVs released by CSE-treated cells. The impact of changes in acyl chain composition of CSE-EVs accounted for the increased saturation levels of phospholipids, a membrane parameter that might influence EV stability, uptake and, at least in part, EV-mediated biological effects. The present in vitro study adds new information concerning the biochemical composition of CSE-related EVs, useful to predict their biological effects on target cells. Furthermore, the information regarding the presence of oxidized proteins and the specific membrane features of CSE-related EVs can be useful to define the utilization of circulating EVs as marker for diagnosing of CS-induced lung damage and/or CS-related diseases.     

Functional Advantages of Porphyromonas gingivalis Vesicles

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone pathogen of periodontitis. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) have been considered as both offense and defense components of this bacterium. Previous studies indicated that like their originating cells, P. gingivalis vesicles, are able to invade oral epithelial cells and gingival fibroblasts, in order to promote aggregation of some specific oral bacteria and to induce host immune responses. In the present study, we investigated the invasive efficiency of P. gingivalis OMVs and compared results with that of the originating cells. Results revealed that 70–90% of human primary oral epithelial cells, gingival fibroblasts, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells carried vesicles from P. gingivalis 33277 after being exposed to the vesicles for 1 h, while 20–50% of the host cells had internalized P. gingivalis cells. We also detected vesicle-associated DNA and RNA and a vesicle-mediated horizontal gene transfer in P. gingivalis strains, which represents a novel mechanism for gene transfer between P. gingivalis strains. Moreover, purified vesicles of P. gingivalis appear to have a negative impact on biofilm formation and the maintenance of Streptococcus gordonii. Our results suggest that vesicles are likely the best offence weapon of P. gingivalis for bacterial survival in the oral cavity and for induction of periodontitis.     

Outer membrane vesicles of Porphyromonas gingivalis attenuate insulin sensitivity by delivering gingipains to the liver

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are nanosized particles derived from the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. Oral bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) is known to be a major pathogen of periodontitis that contributes to the progression of periodontal disease by releasing OMVs. The effect of Pg OMVs on systemic diseases is still unknown. To verify whether Pg OMVs affect the progress of diabetes mellitus, we analyzed the cargo proteins of vesicles and evaluated their effect on hepatic glucose metabolism. Here, we show that Pg OMVs were equipped with Pg-derived proteases gingipains and translocated to the liver in mice. In these mice, the hepatic glycogen synthesis in response to insulin was decreased, and thus high blood glucose levels were maintained. Pg OMVs also attenuated the insulin-induced Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK-3β) signaling in a gingipain-dependent fashion in hepatic HepG2 cells. These results suggest that the delivery of gingipains mediated by Pg OMV elicits changes in glucose metabolisms in the liver and contributes to the progression of diabetes mellitus.     

An Hg-sensitive channel mediates the diffusional component of glucose transport in olive cells

In several organisms solute transport is mediated by the simultaneous operation of saturable and non-saturable (diffusion-like) uptake, but often the nature of the diffusive component remains elusive. The present work investigates the nature of the diffusive glucose transport in Olea europaea cell cultures. In this system, glucose uptake is mediated by a glucose-repressible, H⁺-dependent active saturable transport system that is superimposed on a diffusional component. The latter represents the major mode of uptake when high external glucose concentrations are provided. In glucose-sufficient cells, initial velocities of d- and l-[U-¹⁴C]glucose uptake were equal and obeyed linear concentration dependence up to 100 mM sugar. In sugar starved cells, where glucose transport is mediated by the saturable system, countertransport of the sugar pairs 3-O-methyl-d-glucose/d-[U-¹⁴C]glucose and 3-O-methyl-d-glucose/3-O-methyl-d-[U-¹⁴C]glucose was demonstrated. This countertransport was completely absent in glucose-sufficient cells, indicating that linear glucose uptake is not mediated by a typical sugar permease. The endocytic inhibitors wortmannin-A and NH₄Cl inhibited neither the linear component of d- and l-glucose uptake nor the absorption of the nonmetabolizable glucose analog 3-O-methyl-d-[U-¹⁴C]glucose, thus excluding the involvement of endocytic mediated glucose uptake. Furthermore, the formation of endocytic vesicles assessed with the marker FM1-43 proceeded at a very slow rate. Activation energies for glucose transport in glucose sufficient cells and plasma membrane vesicles were 7 and 4 kcal mol^− 1, respectively, lower than the value estimated for diffusion of glucose through the lipid bilayer of phosphatidylethanolamine liposomes (12 kcal mol^− 1). Mercury chloride inhibited both the linear component of sugar uptake in sugar sufficient cells and plasma membrane vesicles, and the incorporation of the fluorescent glucose analog 2-NBDG, suggesting protein-mediated transport. Diffusive uptake of glucose was inhibited by a drop in cytosolic pH and stimulated by the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine. The data demonstrate that the low-affinity, high-capacity, diffusional component of glucose uptake occurs through a channel-like structure whose transport capacity may be regulated by intracellular protonation and phosphorylation/dephosphorylation.     

Production of Outer Membrane Vesicles and Outer Membrane Tubes by Francisella novicida

Francisella spp. are highly infectious and virulent bacteria that cause the zoonotic disease tularemia. Knowledge is lacking for the virulence factors expressed by Francisella and how these factors are secreted and delivered to host cells. Gram-negative bacteria constitutively release outer membrane vesicles (OMV), which may function in the delivery of virulence factors to host cells. We identified growth conditions under which Francisella novicida produces abundant OMV. Purification of the vesicles revealed the presence of tube-shaped vesicles in addition to typical spherical OMV, and examination of whole bacteria revealed the presence of tubes extending out from the bacterial surface. Recently, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have been shown to produce membrane-enclosed projections, termed nanotubes, which appear to function in cell-cell communication and the exchange of molecules. In contrast to these previously characterized structures, the F. novicida tubes are produced in liquid as well as on solid medium and are derived from the OM rather than the cytoplasmic membrane. The production of the OMV and tubes (OMV/T) by F. novicida was coordinately regulated and responsive to both growth medium and growth phase. Proteomic analysis of purified OMV/T identified known Francisella virulence factors among the constituent proteins, suggesting roles for the vesicles in pathogenesis. In support of this, production of OM tubes by F. novicida was stimulated during infection of macrophages and addition of purified OMV/T to macrophages elicited increased release of proinflammatory cytokines. Finally, vaccination with purified OMV/T protected mice from subsequent challenge with highly lethal doses of F. novicida.     

Flotillin-2 Modulates Fas Signaling Mediated Apoptosis after Hyperoxia in Lung Epithelial Cells

Lipid rafts are subdomains of the cell membrane with distinct protein composition and high concentrations of cholesterol and glycosphingolipids. Raft proteins are thought to mediate diverse cellular processes including signal transduction. However, its cellular mechanisms remain unclear. Caveolin-1 (cav-1, marker protein of caveolae) has been thought as a switchboard between extracellular matrix (ECM) stimuli and intracellular signals. Flotillin-2/reggie-1(Flot-2) is another ubiquitously expressed raft protein which defines non-caveolar raft microdomains (planar raft). Its cellular function is largely uncharacterized. Our novel studies demonstrated that Flot-2, in conjunction with cav-1, played important functions on controlling cell death via regulating Fas pathways. Using Beas2B epithelial cells, we found that in contrast to cav-1, Flot-2 conferred cytoprotection via preventing Fas mediated death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) formation, subsequently suppressed caspase-8 mediated extrinsic apoptosis. Moreover, Flot-2 reduced the mitochondria mediated intrinsic apoptosis by regulating the Bcl-2 family and suppressing cytochrome C release from mitochondria to cytosol. Flot-2 further modulated the common apoptosis pathway and inhibited caspase-3 activation via up-regulating the members in the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family. Last, Flot-2 interacted with cav-1 and limited its expression. Taken together, we found that Flot-2 protected cells from Fas induced apoptosis and counterbalanced the pro-apoptotic effects of cav-1. Thus, Flot-2 played crucial functions in cellular homeostasis and cell survival, suggesting a differential role of individual raft proteins.