Deregulation of Apoptotic Factors Bcl-xL and Bax Confers Apoptotic Resistance to Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells and Contributes to Their Persistence in Cancer

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are heterogeneous immature myeloid cells that accumulate in response to tumor progression. Compelling data from mouse models and human cancer patients showed that tumor-induced inflammatory mediators induce MDSC differentiation. However, the mechanisms underlying MDSC persistence is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that tumor-induced MDSCs exhibit significantly decreased spontaneous apoptosis as compared with myeloid cells with the same phenotypes from tumor-free mice. Consistent with the decreased apoptosis, cell surface Fas receptor decreased significantly in tumor-induced MDSCs. Screening for changes of key apoptosis mediators downstream the Fas receptor revealed that expression levels of IRF8 and Bax are diminished, whereas expression of Bcl-xL is increased in tumor-induced MDSCs. We further determined that IRF8 binds directly to Bax and Bcl-x promoter in primary myeloid cells in vivo, and IRF8-deficient MDSC-like cells also exhibit increased Bcl-xL and decreased Bax expression. Analysis of CD69 and CD25 levels revealed that cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are partially activated in tumor-bearing hosts. Strikingly, FasL but not perforin and granzymes were selectively activated in CTLs in the tumor-bearing host. ABT-737 significantly increased the sensitivity of MDSCs to Fas-mediated apoptosis in vitro. More importantly, ABT-737 therapy increased MDSC spontaneous apoptosis and decreased MDSC accumulation in tumor-bearing mice. Our data thus determined that MDSCs use down-regulation of IRF8 to alter Bax and Bcl-xL expression to deregulate the Fas-mediated apoptosis pathway to evade elimination by host CTLs. Therefore, targeting Bcl-xL is potentially effective in suppression of MDSC persistence in cancer therapy.     

The Soluble Interleukin-6 Receptor Is a Mediator of Hematopoietic and Skeletal Actions of Parathyroid Hormone

Both PTH and IL-6 signaling play pivotal roles in hematopoiesis and skeletal biology, but their interdependence is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) on hematopoietic and skeletal actions of PTH. In the bone microenvironment, PTH stimulated sIL-6R protein levels in primary osteoblast cultures in vitro and bone marrow in vivo in both IL-6^+/+ and IL-6^−/− mice. PTH-mediated hematopoietic cell expansion was attenuated in IL-6^−/− compared with IL-6^+/+ bone marrow, whereas sIL-6R treatment amplified PTH actions in IL-6^−/− earlier than IL-6^+/+ marrow cultures. Blocking sIL-6R signaling with sgp130 (soluble glycoprotein 130 receptor) inhibited PTH-dependent hematopoietic cell expansion in IL-6^−/− marrow. In the skeletal system, although intermittent PTH administration to IL-6^+/+ and IL-6^−/− mice resulted in similar anabolic actions, blocking sIL-6R significantly attenuated PTH anabolic actions. sIL-6R showed no direct effects on osteoblast proliferation or differentiation in vitro; however, it up-regulated myeloid cell expansion and production of the mesenchymal stem cell recruiting agent, TGF-β1 in the bone marrow microenvironment. Collectively, sIL-6R demonstrated orphan function and mediated PTH anabolic actions in bone in association with support of myeloid lineage cells in the hematopoietic system.     

Immune Activation and Regulation in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Plasmodium fragile-Coinfected Rhesus Macaques

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is characterized by immune activation, while chronic malaria is associated with elevated interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels. How these apparently antagonizing forces interact in the coinfected host is poorly understood. Using a rhesus macaque model of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-Plasmodium fragile coinfection, we evaluated how innate immune effector cells affect the balance between immune activation and regulation. In vitro Toll-like receptor (TLR) responses of peripheral blood myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) and monocytes were temporarily associated with acute parasitemic episodes and elevated plasma IL-10 levels. Prolonged infection resulted in a decline of mDC function. Monocytes maintained TLR responsiveness but, in addition to IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, also produced IL-10. Consistent with the role of spleen in the clearance of parasite-infected red blood cells, coinfected animals also had increased splenic IL-10 mRNA levels. The main cellular source of IL-10 in the spleens of coinfected animals, however, was not splenic macrophages but T cells, suggesting an impairment of adaptive immunity. In contrast to those in spleen, IL-10-positive cells in axillary lymph nodes of coinfected animals were predominantly mDC, reminiscent of the immunosuppressive phenotype of peripheral blood mDC. Concurrent with IL-10 induction, however, SIV infection promoted elevated systemic IL-12 levels. The continuously increasing ratio of plasma IL-12 to IL-10 suggested that the overall host response in SIV-P. fragile-coinfected animals was shifted toward immune activation versus immune regulation. Therefore, SIV-P. fragile coinfection might be characterized by earlier manifestation of immune dysfunction and exhaustion than that of single-pathogen infections. This could translate into increased morbidity in HIV-malaria-coinfected individuals.     

Overground versus underground: a genetic insight into dispersal and abundance of the Cape dune mole‐rat

Molecular methods are commonly used to investigate cryptic populations that are difficult to locate or observe directly. The population dynamics of many subterranean organisms have been overlooked, at least in part, as a result of the absence of appropriate molecular markers. Recent studies in African mole‐rats have raised questions about the modes of dispersal and mate acquisition. In the present study, we apply a suite of 25 microsatellite markers to test the overground/underground dispersal hypotheses. Using these data, we also apply an approach to estimate population size and look for signal of demographic expansion or contraction. The genetic data suggest that the same breeding population extends between locations (approximately 50 km), with elevated inbreeding coefficients suggestive of some degree of isolation of the urban location. Low genetic differentiation between study sites supports the proposed high levels of vagility of dispersing individuals overground. We find a signal of long‐term population decline of Bathyergus suillus in this region. Their adherence to mesic conditions potentially recommends B. suillus to be of utility in monitoring the proposed climate‐induced desiccation of the Western Cape. Of potential interest is the discovery of a second divergent population at the rural location, with microsatellite data suggesting contemporary reproductive isolation and a mitochondrial divergence putatively dated at approximately 0.6 Mya. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110 , 890–897.     

Latitude drives diversification in Madagascar's endemic dry forest rodent Eliurus myoxinus (subfamily Nesomyinae)

Numerous hypotheses have been proposed for the historical processes governing the rich endemism of Madagascar's biodiversity. The ‘watershed model’ suggests that drier climates in the recent geological past have resulted in the contraction of forests around major watersheds, thereby defining areas of endemism. We test whether this hypothesis explains phylogeographical patterns in a dry forest‐dependent rodent, Eliurus myoxinus, an endemic species widely distributed through western Madagascar. We sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome b locus and nuclear introns of the β‐fibrinogen and the growth hormone receptor genes for E. myoxinus. Using a parametric bootstrapping approach, we tested whether the mitochondrial gene tree data fit expectations of local differentiation given the watershed model. We additionally estimated population differentiation and historical demographic parameters, and reconstructed the spatial history of E. myoxinus to highlight spatial and temporal patterns of differentiation. The data do not support the watershed model as a clear explanation for the genetic patterns of diversity within extant E. myoxinus populations. We find striking patterns of latitudinal genetic structure within western Madagascar, and indicate possible roles for environmental and ecological gradients along this axis in generating phylogeographical diversity. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110 , 500–517.     

Teaching animal habitat selection using wildlife tracking equipment

We present a hands-on outdoor activity coupled with classroom discussion to teach students about wildlife habitat selection, the process by which animals choose where to live. By selecting locations or habitats with many benefits (e.g., food, shelter, mates) and few costs (e.g., predators), animals improve their ability to survive and reproduce. Biologists track animal movement using radio telemetry technology to study habitat selection so they can better provide species with habitats that promote population growth. We present a curriculum in which students locate “animals” (transmitters) using radio telemetry equipment and apply math skills (use of fractions and percentages) to assess their “animal's” habitat selection by comparing the availability of habitat types with the proportion of “animals” they find in each habitat type.     

Quality of core collections for effective utilisation of genetic resources review, discussion and interpretation

Definition of clear criteria for evaluation of the quality of core collections is a prerequisite for selecting high-quality cores. However, a critical examination of the different methods used in literature, for evaluating the quality of core collections, shows that there are no clear guidelines on the choices of quality evaluation criteria and as a result, inappropriate analyses are sometimes made leading to false conclusions being drawn regarding the quality of core collections and the methods to select such core collections. The choice of criteria for evaluating core collections appears to be based mainly on the fact that those criteria have been used in earlier publications rather than on the actual objectives of the core collection. In this study, we provide insight into different criteria used for evaluating core collections. We also discussed different types of core collections and related each type of core collection to their respective evaluation criteria. Two new criteria based on genetic distance are introduced. The consequences of the different evaluation criteria are illustrated using simulated and experimental data. We strongly recommend the use of the distance-based criteria since they not only allow the simultaneous evaluation of all variables describing the accessions, but they also provide intuitive and interpretable criteria, as compared with the univariate criteria generally used for the evaluation of core collections. Our findings will provide genebank curators and researchers with possibilities to make informed choices when creating, comparing and using core collections.     

Multilocus Genotype Analysis of Escherichia coli O157 Isolates from Australia and the United States Provides Evidence of Geographic Divergence

Escherichia coli O157 is a food-borne pathogen whose major reservoir has been identified as cattle. Recent genetic information has indicated that populations of E. coli O157 from cattle and humans can differ genetically and that this variation may have an impact on their ability to cause severe human disease. In addition, there is emerging evidence that E. coli O157 strains from different geographical regions may also be genetically divergent. To investigate the extent of this variation, we used Shiga toxin bacteriophage insertion sites (SBI), lineage-specific polymorphisms (LSPA-6), multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA), and a tir 255T>A polymorphism to examine 606 isolates representing both Australian and U.S. cattle and human populations. Both uni- and multivariate analyses of these data show a strong association between the country of origin and multilocus genotypes (P < 0.0001). In addition, our results identify factors that may play a role in virulence that also differed in isolates from each country, including the carriage of stx₁ in the argW locus uniquely observed in Australian isolates and the much higher frequency of stx₂-positive (also referred to as stx_2a) strains in the U.S. isolates (4% of Australian isolates versus 72% of U.S. isolates). LSPA-6 lineages differed between the two continents, with the majority of Australian isolates belonging to lineage I/II (LI/II) (LI, 2%; LI/II, 85%; LII, 13%) and the majority of U.S. isolates belonging to LI (LI, 60%; LI/II, 16%; LII, 25%). The results of this study provide strong evidence of phylogeographic structuring of E. coli O157 populations, suggesting divergent evolution of enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157 in Australia and the United States.