Evidence for a role for notch signaling in the cytokine-dependent survival of activated T cells

Peripheral T cell homeostasis results from a balance between factors promoting survival and those that trigger deletion of Ag-reactive cells. The cytokine IL-2 promotes T cell survival whereas reactive oxygen species (ROS) sensitize T cells to apoptosis. Two pathways of activated T cell apoptosis-one triggered by Fas ligand and the other by cytokine deprivation-depend on ROS, with the latter also regulated by members of the Bcl-2 family. Notch family proteins regulate several cell-fate decisions in metazoans. Ectopic expression of the Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD) in T cells inhibits Fas-induced apoptosis. The underlying mechanism is not known and the role, if any, of Notch in regulating apoptosis triggered by cytokine deprivation or neglect has not been examined. In this study, we use a Notch1/Fc chimera; a blocking Ab to Notch1 and chemical inhibitors of gamma-secretase to investigate the role of Notch signaling in activated T cells of murine origin. We show that perturbing Notch signaling in activated CD4+/CD8+ T cells maintained in IL-2 results in the accumulation of ROS, reduced Akt/protein kinase B activity, and expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL, culminating in apoptosis. A broad-spectrum redox scavenger inhibits apoptosis but T cells expressing mutant Fas ligand are sensitive to apoptosis. Activated T cells isolated on the basis of Notch expression (Notch+) are enriched for Bcl-xL expression and demonstrate reduced susceptibility to apoptosis triggered by neglect or oxidative stress. Furthermore, enforced expression of NICD protects activated T cells from apoptosis triggered by cytokine deprivation. Taken together, these data implicate Notch1 signaling in the cytokine-dependent survival of activated T cells.     

Ligand-specific dynamics of the progesterone receptor in living cells and during chromatin remodeling in vitro

Progesterone receptor (PR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key regulator of several processes in reproductive function. We have studied the dynamics of the interaction of PR with a natural target promoter in living cells through the use of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis and also have characterized the dynamics of the interaction of PR with the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter reconstituted into chromatin in vitro. In photobleaching experiments, PR in the presence of the agonist R5020 exhibits rapid exchange with the MMTV promoter in living cells. Two PR antagonists, RU486 and ZK98299, have opposite effects on receptor dynamics in vivo. In the presence of RU486, PR binds to the promoter and is exchanged more slowly than the agonist-activated receptor. In contrast, PR bound to ZK98299 is not localized to the promoter and exhibits higher mobility in the nucleoplasm than the agonist-bound receptor. Significantly, PR bound to R5020 or RU486 can recruit the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex to the promoter, but PR activated with ZK98299 cannot. Furthermore, we found ligand-specific active displacement of PR from the MMTV promoter during chromatin remodeling in vitro and conclude that the interaction of PR with chromatin is highly dynamic both in vivo and in vitro. We propose that factor displacement during chromatin remodeling is an important component of receptor mobility and that ligand-specific interactions with remodeling complexes can strongly influence receptor nuclear dynamics and rates of exchange with chromatin in living cells.     

BMP4 and noggin control embryonic blood vessel formation by antagonistic regulation of VEGFR-2 (Quek1) expression

Regulation of VEGFR-2 (Quek1) is an important mechanism during blood vessel formation. In the paraxial mesoderm, Quek1 expression is restricted to the lateral portion of the somite and later to sclerotomal cells surrounding the neural tube. By grafting of either intermediate mesoderm or BMP4 beads into the paraxial mesoderm, we show that BMP4 is a positive regulator of VEGFR-2 (Quek1) expression in the quail embryo. Separation of somites from intermediate mesoderm leads to down-regulation of Quek1 expression. The expression of Quek1 in the medial somite half is normally repressed by the notochord and becomes up-regulated and lateromedially expanded after separation of the notochord. Our results show that up-regulation of BMP4 leads to an increase of the number of blood vessels, whereas inhibition of BMP4 by noggin results in a reduction of blood vessels.     

Novel carboxylated N-glycans contain oligosaccharide-linked glutamic acid

We previously reported that N-glycans from bovine lung contain novel carboxylate groups. Here, we provide evidence that the carboxylated glycans contain glutamic acid. We labeled HeLa cells with [2,3-(3)H]glutamate and used a carboxylate-specific monoclonal antibody to enrich for the desired proteins. PNGaseF digestion of these proteins released labeled N-glycans with a free amino group and 1-3 carboxylates. Mild acid hydrolysis had no effect, but strong acid hydrolysis of the glycans released >80% of the (3)H as glutamate. Reducing the carboxylates to alcohols prior to hydrolysis eliminated the [(3)H]glutamate and generated [(3)H]4-amino 5-hydroxy pentanoic acid, suggesting that [(3)H]glutamate was linked to the glycan through its gamma-carboxyl. The glutamate-containing N-glycans resisted exoglycosidase digestion and oligosaccharide processing inhibitors greatly reduced [(3)H]glutamate incorporation. These results demonstrate that mammalian cells synthesize complex-type N-glycans with glutamate linked to their antennae, further expanding their potential for covalent or ionic interactions.     

Inhibition of lipid peroxidation by botanical extracts of Ocimum sanctum: in vivo and in vitro studies

Ocimum sanctum, the Indian holy basil, has significant ability to scavenge highly reactive free radicals. Shade dried leaf powder of the plant was extracted with water and alcohol, and then fractionated with different solvents. Both extracts and their fractions have in vitro anti-lipidperoxidative activity at very low concentrations. In vivo, hypercholesterolemia-induced erythrocyte lipid peroxidation activity was inhibited by aqueous extracts of Ocimum in a dose-dependent manner in male albino rabbits. Aqueous extract feeding also provided significant liver and aortic tissue protection from hypercholesterolemia-induced peroxidative damage.     

Wuchereria bancrofti: cloning and characterization of heat shock protein 70 from the human lymphatic filarial parasite

Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was identified as an immunodominant antigen by screening a Wuchereria bancrofti (Wb) microfilarial cDNA library with pooled Wb-infected sera, with 28% of the immunopositive clones coding for Wb-HSP70. The deduced amino acid sequence showed greater than 97 and 85% identity with HSP70 from filarial nematodes and humans, respectively. Recombinant HSP70 (74 kDa) and a recombinant protein from the C-terminal portion (43 kDa) also reacted with pooled Wb-infected sera, suggesting that the C-terminal region of HSP70 contains at least one antibody epitope. Brugia malayi L3 larvae showed increasing levels of HSP70 with increasing temperatures. Further, a polyclonal mouse anti-Wb-HSP70 antibody had reactivity to the HSP70 of cattle filarial parasite Settaria digitata and to human HSP70 derived from a Hep-2 cell line. Immune reactivity to Wb-HSP70 was strong, with uninfected non-endemic normal sera showing significantly greater reactions than sera from filaria-infected individuals. Both immunodominant self-HSP70 and HSP70 from other microbial infections may be primary targets for developing autoantibodies naturally.     

Effect of alpha-tocopherol on peroxidative membrane damage caused by doxorubicin: an in vitro study in human erythrocytes

Level of lipid peroxidation in doxorubicin treated human erythrocytes was studied and compared with that of cells pretreated with alpha-tocopherol. Erythrocytes treated with alpha-tocopherol had reduced level of lipid peroxidation with concomitantly lowered membrane damage. The membrane damage was monitored by the levels of conjugated diene absorption, lipid hydroperoxides and lipid peroxides. alpha-tocopherol was not effective in inhibiting the conjugated diene formation, but the lipid hydroperoxides and the lipid peroxide levels were significantly decreased. Methemoglobin level was found to be increased in alpha-tocopherol pretreated cells, which protects the membrane from damage. Erythrocyte membrane lipids were found to be decreased during doxorubicin treatment and alpha-tocopherol significantly reduced the membrane lipid breakdown. Level of reduced glutathione was maintained in alpha-tocopherol pretreated cells. These results are discussed with reference to the antioxidant property of alpha-tocopherol.