Cell-mediated immunity in experimental cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis are caused by Leishmania major, L. tropica, L. mexicana, L. amazonensis and L. panamensis. Like all leishmanial species, these are obligate intracellular parasites of the mononuclear phagocyte system, with a restricted range of vertebrate hosts including humans, dogs, rodents and arboreal animals. The disease evolves chronically, usually with slow healing, but can sometimes become nonhealing, diffuse disseminating or relapsing. The parasite exists within the macrophages of the vertebrate host in the amastigote form. These transform into extracellular flagellated promastigotes in the gut of the sandfly vectors. The promastigotes can then be injected into new vertebrate hosts as the insects feed. Promastigotes, and to a lesser extent amastigotes, can now be grown in tissue culture. This, together with the use of inbred mouse strains that are susceptible to most of the Leishmania species which are pathogenic for man, has facilitated great advances in our understanding of the immunological control of leishmaniasis. However, as Eddy Liew points out, there are still many unanswered questions.     

Synthesis of Neu5Ac- and Neu5Gc-alpha-(2-->6')-lactosamine 3-aminopropyl glycosides

In order to prepare 3-aminopropyl glycosides of Neu5Ac-alpha-(2-->6')-lactosamine trisaccharide 1, and its N-glycolyl containing analogue Neu5Gc-alpha-(2-->6')-lactosamine 2, a series of lactosamine acceptors with two, three, and four free OH groups in the galactose residue was studied in glycosylations with a conventional sialyl donor phenyl [methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-D-glycero-alpha- and beta-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onates (3) and a new donor phenyl [methyl 4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-5-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylacetamido)-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-D-glycero-alpha- and beta-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onates (4), respectively. The lactosamine 4',6'-diol acceptor was found to be the most efficient in glycosylation with both 3 and 4, while imide-type donor 4 gave slightly higher yields with all acceptors, and isolation of the reaction products was more convenient. In the trisaccharides, obtained by glycosylation with donor 4, the 5-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylacetamido) moiety in the neuraminic acid could be efficiently transformed into the desired N-glycolyl fragment, indicating that such protected oligosaccharide derivatives are valuable precursors of sialo-oligosaccharides containing N-modified analogues of Neu5Ac.     

Cell-type specific interaction of Neu differentiation factor (NDF/heregulin) with Neu/HER-2 suggests complex ligand-receptor relationships.

The Neu/HER-2 receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in some types of human adenocarcinomas, including tumors of the breast and the ovary. A 44 kDa glycoprotein that elevates tyrosine phosphorylation of Neu has been isolated and named Neu differentiation factor (NDF), or heregulin. Here we show that NDF affects tyrosine phosphorylation of Neu in human tumor cells of breast, colon and neuronal origin, but not in ovarian cells that overexpress the receptor. By using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to Neu, we found that the ovarian receptor is immunologically and biochemically similar to the mammary p185neu. Nevertheless, unlike breast-derived Neu, the ovarian protein did not display covalent cross-linking to radiolabeled NDF, and was devoid of ligand-induced association with phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase. Direct binding analysis showed that NDF binds with high affinity (Kd approximately 10(-9) M) to mammary cells, but its weak association with ovarian cells is probably mediated by heparin-like molecules. Similar to the endogenous receptor, the ectopically overexpressed Neu of mammary cells, but not of ovarian and fibroblastic cells, exhibited elevated levels of NDF-induced phosphorylation and covalent cross-linking of the radiolabeled factor. Taken together, our results imply that NDF binding to cells requires both Neu and an additional cellular component, whose identity is still unknown, but its tissue distribution is more restricted than the expression of the neu gene.     

Innate immunity: cutaneous expression of Toll-like receptors

Toll receptors were first identified as an essential molecule for embryonic patterning in Drosophila and were subsequently shown to be a key in antibacterial and antifungal immunity in adult flies. Toll receptors have been conserved throughout evolution. In mammals, TLRs have been implicated in both inflammatory responses and innate host defense to pathogens. The 11 different TLRs recognize conserved molecular patterns of microbial pathogens termed pathogen-specific molecular patterns (PAMPs), that permit to confer responsiveness to a wide variety of pathogens. Endogenous ligands are also able to activate TLRs. All adult tissue is capable to express at least one of member of TLR family, but a largest repertoire of TLRs is found in tissues exposed to the external environment. The TLR activation induce the NF-kappaB translocation to the nucleus and cytokine secretion. Since the primary function of skin is to provide an effective barrier against outside agression, it is likely that keratinocytes may play a role in a rapid and efficient host defence system, and the fact that keratinocytes are capable of expressing a wide variety of TLRs is subsequently not surprising.     

Morphogenetic Effects of Neuregulin (Neu Differentiation Factor) in Cultured Epithelial Cells

Neuregulin, or neu differentiation factor, induces cell proliferation or differentiation through interaction with members of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases. We report that neuregulin can also induce profound morphogenic responses in cultured epithelial cells of different origins. These effects include scattering of small epithelial islands and rearrangement of larger cell islands into ordered ring-shaped arrays with internal lumens. The ring-forming cells are interconnected by cadherin- and β-catenin-containing adherens junctions. In confluent cultures, neuregulin treatment induces formation of circular lumenlike gaps in the monolayer. Both cell scattering and ring formation are accompanied by a marked increase in cell motility that is independent of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor and its receptor (c-Met). Affinity-labeling experiments implied that a combination of ErbB-2 with ErbB-3 mediates the morphogenic signal of neuregulin in gastric cells. Indeed, a similar morphogenic effect could be reconstituted in nonresponsive cells by coexpression of ErbB-2 and -3. We conclude that a heterodimer between the kinase-defective neuregulin receptor, ErbB-3, and the coreceptor, ErbB-2, mediates the morphogenetic action of neuregulin.     

Large scale purification of gangliosides GM3(Neu5Ac) and GM3(Neu5Gc) by trimethylaminoethyl-Fractogel high-performance liquid chromatography

A preparative anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation of the closely allied monosialogangliosides G_M3(Neu5Ac) and G_M3(Neu5Gc) has been developed. Hybridoma cells, readily available material derived from industrial monoclonal antibody production, were used as ganglioside source and led to fractions with pure G_M3(Neu5Ac) and G_M3(Neu5Gc) in high milligram quantities. The crude ganglioside extract was loaded onto columns filled with the strong anion-exchanger trimethylaminoethyl (TMAE)-Fractogel. Gangliosides were eluted from the stationary phase with a gradient system of ammonium acetate in methanol. The scaled-up approach ranged over more than one order of magnitude from 20 to 500 mg batches of G_M3 gangliosides. Thus, the high-resolution power of the strong anion-exchanger TMAE-Fractogel allowed the preparative isolation by one-step column chromatography of two G_M3 specimens which only differ in one hydroxyl group at position 5 of the neuraminic acid (N-acetyl- versus N-glycolylneuraminic acid).     

Alkaline biocatalysis for the direct synthesis of N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) from N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc)

Integration between the alkaline epimerization of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) to N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine (ManNAc) and the N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) aldolase-catalyzed biotransformation has been assessed experimentally. GlcNAc epimerization took place above pH 9.0, and the initial rate of ManNAc formation increased exponentially to 10.37 mmol/L per hour at pH 12. However, above this pH, severe degradation of pyruvate occurred. A value of 31.3% molar conversion on Pyr was achieved in an integrated biotransformation. The "pseudo"-steady state at the end of the reaction was comparable to the equilibrium achieved with a combination of an epimerase and aldolase enzymes. The integrated reaction proved feasible, but at the expense of pyruvate and Neu5Ac aldolase degradation.     

Innate immunity of fish (overview)

The innate immune system is the only defence weapon of invertebrates and a fundamental defence mechanism of fish. The innate system also plays an instructive role in the acquired immune response and homeostasis and is therefore equally important in higher vertebrates. The innate system's recognition of non-self and danger signals is served by a limited number of germ-line encoded pattern recognition receptors/proteins, which recognise pathogen associated molecular patterns like bacterial and fungal glycoproteins and lipopolysaccharides and intracellular components released through injury or infection. The innate immune system is divided into physical barriers, cellular and humoral components. Humoral parameters include growth inhibitors, various lytic enzymes and components of the complement pathways, agglutinins and precipitins (opsonins, primarily lectins), natural antibodies, cytokines, chemokines and antibacterial peptides. Several external and internal factors can influence the activity of innate immune parameters. Temperature changes, handling and crowding stress can have suppressive effects on innate parameters, whereas several food additives and immunostimulants can enhance different innate factors. There is limited data available about the ontogenic development of the innate immunological system in fish. Active phagocytes, complement components and enzyme activity, like lysozyme and cathepsins, are present early in the development, before or soon after hatching.     

Physical association of pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) immune receptors in Arabidopsis

Plants possess two distinct types of immune receptor. The first type, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), recognizes microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and initiates pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) on recognition. FLS2 is a PRR, which recognizes a part of bacterial flagellin. The second type, resistance (R) proteins, recognizes pathogen effectors and initiates effector-triggered immunity (ETI) on recognition. RPM1, RPS2 and RPS5 are R proteins. Here, we provide evidence that FLS2 is physically associated with all three R proteins. Our findings suggest that signalling interactions occur between PTI and ETI at very early stages and/or that FLS2 forms a PTI signalling complex, some components of which are guarded by R proteins.     

Cell mediated immunity in American cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis

Cellular immune responses were studied in 35 Brazilian patients with either active cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), active mucosal leishmaniasis (ML), or healed cutaneous leishmaniasis. The mean age and duration of illness in the two groups were as follows: 14 CL patients, age 28 +/- 13 yr, disease 5 +/- mo; and 16 ML patients, age 34 +/- 15 yr, disease 86 +/- 117 mo. Patients with CL and ML responded well to leishmania antigen in blastogenesis assays. However, the response of ML patients was over three times greater than the response of CL patients. There was a significant correlation between the magnitude of the lymphoproliferative response and the duration of disease activity. There were no significant differences between CL and ML patients in terms of the following parameters: lymphoproliferative responsiveness to mitogens (phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen) and peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations (T and B cells, oKT8+ and OKT4+ cells, OKT4:OKT8 ratio). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from ML patients also generated interferon-gamma containing lymphokine in response to stimulation with leishmania antigen. This lymphokine was capable of inducing macrophages from ML patients to inhibit the intracellular multiplication of leishmania in vitro. These studies have determined that the parameters of lymphocyte and macrophage functions evaluated in ML and CL patients are comparable, except for an enhanced lymphoproliferative response, with leishmania antigen in ML patients. This later finding may be a function of the long duration of active disease in this population and unrelated to the pathogenesis of their mucosal lesions.     

Aggregation properties of GM3 ganglioside (II3Neu5AcLacCer) in aqueous solutions

The aggregative properties of highly pure GM3 ganglioside in aqueous solution have been studied by static and dynamic laser light scattering measurements and fluorescence spectroscopy experiments performed by the use of a GM3 derivative containing the pyrene group at the end of the fatty acid moiety. GM3 ganglioside spontaneously aggregates as unilamellar vesicles, down to a concentration of 1.25 x 10(-8) M, showing molecular weight and hydrodynamic radius ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 kDa and from 350 to 470 A, respectively. GM3 vesicles are stable with dilution and can be stored at room temperature for some weeks without appreciable change.     

Modulation of Neuritogenesis by Ganglioside-Specific Sialidase (Neu 3) in Human Neuroblastoma NB-1 Cells

Plasma membrane-associated sialidase (Neu 3), which specifically hydrolyzes gangliosides, is relatively abundantly present in the nervous system. To understand the role of Neu 3 in neuronal differentiation, we studied the relationship between neurite outgrowth and Neu 3 expression in human neuroblastoma NB-1 cells. The expression of Neu 3 in NB-1 cells increased when neurite outgrowth in these cells was induced by dibutyryl cAMP. While treatment with dibutyryl cAMP alone enhanced the outgrowth of dendrite-like processes, transfection of the Neu 3 gave rise to a more prominent outgrowth of neurites with axon-like characteristics, even in the absence of dibutyryl cAMP. Neu 3 induction by dibutyryl cAMP is probably attributable, in part, to transactivation of the Neu 3 gene through cAMP responsive elements in the 5-upstream region, as revealed by the promotor activity assay using Neu 3 promotor expression plasmid. These results indicate that Neu 3 regulates neurite formation in NB-1 cells, and suggest that this effect may be enhanced by dibutyryl cAMP via a cAMP-dependent pathway.     

Synthesis of disaccharide Neu5Gcalpha(2-6)GalNAcalpha as a spacer glycoside

The first synthesis of the Neu5Gc analogue of SiaTn disaccharide, which can be detected in breast tumors by immunochemical methods, is reported. The regioselective sialylation of (3-trifluoroacetamidopropyl)-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside with peracetate of the methyl ester of N-acetoxyacetylneuraminic acid beta-ethylthioglycoside in the presence of N-iodosuccinimide and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (or its trimethylsilyl ester) resulted in the derivatives of alpha- and beta-sialyl(2-->6)galactosaminide in 39 and 32% yields, respectively. The catalytic hydrogenolysis of the azido group and subsquent N- and O-acetylation of the alpha-anomer gave the trifluoroacetamidopropyl glycoside peracetate. Removal of the protective groups led to glycoside Neu5Gc alpha(2-->6)GalNAc alpha-O(CH2)3NH2. Using the Neu5Gc derivative with acetoxyacetyl groups at positions O9 and O4 as a donor increases the alpha-selectivity of sialylation to afford the alpha- and beta-anomers in 69 and 8% yields, respectively.     

The cutaneous citadel: a holistic view of skin and immunity

Human skin has 4 major functions: endogenous homeostasis (e.g. regulation of body temperature and fluid balance), metabolism (e.g. Vitamin D synthesis), sensory input, and to serve as a barrier to external threats (e.g. infection, mechanical injury, ultraviolet light). It is the latter function which concerns this review, for the skin's remarkable success in protecting the human body from the outside world is a major component of our immune system. The eminent pathologist, Virchow, whose work in the mid 19th century revolutionized many aspects of medical understanding, viewed the skin as an effective but inanimate barrier (1). However, recent technologies have elucidated a highly complex, dynamic interplay between the skin and other members of the immune system.     

Synthesis of Neu5Ac- and Neu5Gc-α-(2→6′)-lactosamine 3-aminopropyl glycosides

In order to prepare 3-aminopropyl glycosides of Neu5Ac-α-(2→6′)-lactosamine trisaccharide 1, and its N-glycolyl containing analogue Neu5Gc-α-(2→6′)-lactosamine 2, a series of lactosamine acceptors with two, three, and four free OH groups in the galactose residue was studied in glycosylations with a conventional sialyl donor phenyl [methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio- -glycero-α- and β- -galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onates (3) and a new donor phenyl [methyl 4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-5-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylacetamido)-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio- -glycero-α- and β- -galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onates (4), respectively. The lactosamine 4′,6′-diol acceptor was found to be the most efficient in glycosylation with both 3 and 4, while imide-type donor 4 gave slightly higher yields with all acceptors, and isolation of the reaction products was more convenient. In the trisaccharides, obtained by glycosylation with donor 4, the 5-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylacetamido) moiety in the neuraminic acid could be efficiently transformed into the desired N-glycolyl fragment, indicating that such protected oligosaccharide derivatives are valuable precursors of sialo-oligosaccharides containing N-modified analogues of Neu5Ac.     

The cutaneous leishmaniasis vulnerability index (CLVI)

South east of Morocco is one of the biggest cutaneous leishmaniasis disease foci. Despite its non-lethality, this disease causes several socioeconomic and psychological impacts. This disease has lots of risk factors. Some of these are related to the environmental change, and others are linked to the demographic and socio-economical system. The interactions between these risk factors create the need for a multidisciplinary approach to estimate the vulnerability risk to the cutaneous leishmaniasis. In this context, a new index was proposed and six provinces were selected, which are Zagora, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Errachidia, Figuig, and Tata. The findings depict that in term of anthropogenic vulnerability, Tinghir is the most vulnerable to leishmaniasis followed by Errachidia and Ouarzazate. Geographically, Errachidia has the very high vulnerability score and Figuig have the high vulnerability. The results show also an important risk to leishmaniasis in all provinces regarding the socio-economical component, except for Tata. Regarding services category, Zagora is the most vulnerable. However, for the hygiene, Figuig, Ouarzazate, and Errachidia present the high scores of vulnerability, then the rest provinces. The total score of cutaneous leishmaniasis vulnerability of the selected provinces indicates that Tinghir is the most vulnerable regarding this disease followed respectively by Errachidia, Ouarzazate, Zagora, Figuig, and Tata.