IL-27-producing CD14(+) cells infiltrate inflamed joints of rheumatoid arthritis and regulate inflammation and chemotactic migration

Interleukin (IL)-27, a heterodimeric cytokine, has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases through mediating differentiation of Th1 or Th17 cells and immune cell activity or survival. However, the origin and effects of IL-27 in joints of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the distribution and anti-inflammatory roles of IL-27 in RA synovium. The IL-27 levels in plasma of RA patients, osteoarthritis (OA) patients, or healthy volunteers (n=15 per group) were equivalent and were at most 1 ng/ml, but the IL-27 level in synovial fluid of RA patients (n=15, mean 0.13 ng/ml; range 0.017-0.37 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in synovial fluid of OA patients (n=15, mean 0.003 ng/ml; range 0-0.033 ng/ml) and potentially lower than in plasma. We analyzed the protein level of IL-27 produced by RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) or mononuclear cells (MNCs) from RA or OA synovial fluid or peripheral blood and showed that IL-27 in RA joints was derived from MNCs but not from FLSs. We also found by flow cytometry that IL-27-producing MNCs were CD14(+), and that these CD14(+)IL-27(+) cells were clearly detected in RA synovium but rarely in OA synovium by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a relatively physiological concentration of IL-27 below 10 ng/ml suppressed the production of IL-6 and CCL20 from RA FLSs induced by proinflammatory cytokines through the IL-27/IL-27R axis. In the synovial fluid of RA, the IL-27 level interestingly had positive correlation with the IFN-γ level (r=0.56, p=0.03), but weak negative correlation with the IL-17A level (r=-0.30, p=0.27), implying that IL-27 in inflammatory joints of RA induces Th1 differentiation and suppresses the development or the migration of Th17 cells. These findings indicate that circulating IL-27-producing CD14(+) cells significantly infiltrate into inflamed regions such as RA synovium and have anti-inflammatory effects in several ways: both directly through the reduction of IL-6 production, and possibly through the induction of Th1 development and the suppression of Th17 development; and indirectly by regulation of recruitment of CCR6(+) cells, such as Th17 cells, through the suppression of CCL20 production. Our results suggest that such a serial negative feedback system could be applied to RA therapy.     

The docking protein FRS2alpha is an essential component of multiple fibroblast growth factor responses during early mouse development

The docking protein FRS2alpha is a major mediator of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling. However, the physiological role of FRS2alpha in vivo remains unknown. In this report, we show that Frs2alpha-null mouse embryos have a defect in anterior-posterior (A-P) axis formation and are developmentally retarded, resulting in embryonic lethality by embryonic day 8. We demonstrate that FRS2alpha is essential for the maintenance of self-renewing trophoblast stem (TS) cells in response to FGF4 in the extraembryonic ectoderm (ExE) that gives rise to tissues of the placenta. By analyzing chimeric embryos, we found that FRS2alpha also plays a role in cell movement through the primitive streak during gastrulation. In addition, experiments are presented demonstrating that Bmp4 expression in TS cells is controlled by mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent FGF4 stimulation. Moreover, both the expression of Bmp4 in ExE and activation of Smad1/5 in epiblasts are reduced in Frs2alpha-null embryos. These experiments underscore the critical role of FRS2alpha in mediating multiple processes during embryonic development and reveal a potential new link between FGF and Bmp4 signaling pathways in early embryogenesis.     

The distinct stage-specific effects of 2-(p-amylcinnamoyl)amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid on the activation of MAP kinase and Cdc2 kinase in Xenopus oocyte maturation

2-(p-amylcinnamoyl)amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid (PACA), pharmacological inhibitor of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)), inhibits epinephrine-stimulated thromboxane production in human platelets. In this study, we investigated the effect of PACA on meiotic maturation individually in stages V and VI oocytes. PACA prevented the maturation in stage V but merely delayed the process in stage VI oocytes. This was associated with the strong inhibition of Mos synthesis at both stages. Besides, PACA-induced inhibition of MAPK activation was evident in stage V but not in stage VI oocytes. PACA also inhibited the activation of Cdc2 kinase (Cdc2) in stage V but merely delayed the process in stage VI oocytes. Furthermore, 5 microM and higher concentrations of PACA completely inhibited the activation of MAPK and Cdc2 only in stage V, not in stage VI, oocytes. Moreover, we propose PACA as a new tool for the study of Xenopus oocyte maturation, which can also play a unique role for the studies of the stage-specific activation of MAPK and Cdc2.     

Synthesis and anti-viral activity of a series of d- and l-2'-deoxy-2'-fluororibonucleosides in the subgenomic HCV replicon system

Based on the discovery of (2'R)-d-2'-deoxy-2'-fluorocytidine as a potent anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) agent, a series of d- and l-2'-deoxy-2'-fluororibonucleosides with modifications at 5- and/or 4-positions were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro activity against HCV and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). The key step in the synthesis, the introduction of 2'-fluoro group, was achieved by either fluorination of 2,2'-anhydronucleosides with hydrogen fluoride-pyridine or potassium fluoride, or a fluorination of arabinonucleosides with DAST. Among the 27 analogues synthesized, only the 5-fluoro compound, namely (2'R)-d-2'-deoxy-2',5-difluorocytidine (13), demonstrated potent anti-HCV activity and toxicity to ribosomal RNA. The replacement of the 4-amino group with a thiol group resulted in the loss of activity, while the 4-methylthio substituted analogue (25) exhibited inhibition of ribosomal RNA. As N(4)-hydroxycytidine (NHC) had previously shown potent anti-HCV activity, we combined the two functionalities of the N(4)-hydroxyl and the 2'-fluoro into one molecule, resulting (2'R)-d-2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-N(4)-hydroxycytidine (23). However, this nucleoside showed neither anti-HCV activity nor toxicity. All the l-forms of the analogues were devoid of anti-HCV activity. None of the compounds showed anti-BVDV activity, suggesting that the BVDV system cannot always predict anti-HCV activity.     

Synthesis and in vitro anti-HCV activity of beta-D- and 1-2'-deoxy-2'-fluororibonucleosides

Based on the discovery of beta-D-2'-deoxy-2'-fluorocytidine as a potent anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) agent, a series of beta-D- and L-2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroibonucleosides with modifications at 5 and/or 4 positions were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro activity against HCV and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). The introduction of the 2'-fluoro group was achieved by either fluorination of 2,2'-anhydronucleosides with hydrogen fluoride-pyridine or potassium fluoride, or a fluorination of arabinonucleosides with DAST. Among the 27 analogues synthesized, only the 5-fluoro compounds, namely beta-D-2'-deoxy-2',5-difluorocytidine (5), had anti-HCV activity in the subgenomic HCV replicon cell line, and inhibitory activity against ribosomal RNA. As beta-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) had previously shown potent anti-HCV activity, the two functionalities of the N4-hydroxyl and the 2'-fluoro were combined into one molecule, yielding beta-D-2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-N4-hydroxycytidine (12). However, this nucleoside showed neither anti-HCV activity nor toxicity. All the L-forms of the analogues were devoid of anti-HCV activity. None of the compounds showed anti-BVDV activity, suggesting that the BVDV system cannot reliably predict anti-HCV activity in vitro.     

Unusual olefin formation by PhSe-F trans-elimination

A new approach to the synthesis of 2',3'-didehydro-2',3-dideoxynucleosides was described in excellent yield through unusual olefin formation by PhSe-F trans-elimination.     

Synthesis and anti-hepatitis C virus activity of nucleoside derivatives of N3, 5'-anhydro-4-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-8-aza-purin-2-ones

A series of N3, 5-Anhydro-4-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-8-azapurin-2-ones were prepared in multistep reactions from uridine as potential anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) agents. The synthetic details as well as biological evaluations are discussed.     

Cardiac neural crest cells contribute to the dormant multipotent stem cell in the mammalian heart

Arodent cardiac side population cell fraction formed clonal spheroids in serum-free medium, which expressed nestin, Musashi-1, and multi-drug resistance transporter gene 1, markers of undifferentiated neural precursor cells. These markers were lost following differentiation, and were replaced by the expression of neuron-, glial-, smooth muscle cell-, or cardiomyocyte-specific proteins. Cardiosphere-derived cells transplanted into chick embryos migrated to the truncus arteriosus and cardiac outflow tract and contributed to dorsal root ganglia, spinal nerves, and aortic smooth muscle cells. Lineage studies using double transgenic mice encoding protein 0-Cre/Floxed-EGFP revealed undifferentiated and differentiated neural crest-derived cells in the fetal myocardium. Undifferentiated cells expressed GATA-binding protein 4 and nestin, but not actinin, whereas the differentiated cells were identified as cardiomyocytes. These results suggest that cardiac neural crest-derived cells migrate into the heart, remain there as dormant multipotent stem cells-and under the right conditions-differentiate into cardiomyocytes and typical neural crest-derived cells, including neurons, glia, and smooth muscle.     

Effects of PFOS and PFOA on L-type Ca2+ currents in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) are amphiphiles found ubiquitously in the environment, including wildlife and humans, and are known to have toxic effects on physiological functions of various tissues. We investigated the effects of PFOS and PFOA on action potentials and L-type Ca(2+) currents, I(CaL), in isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes using whole-cell patch-clamp recording. In current-clamp experiments, PFOS significantly decreased the rate of spike, action potential duration, and peak potential at doses over 10 microM. In voltage-clamp experiments, PFOS increased the voltage-activated peak amplitude of I(CaL), and shifted the half-activation and inactivation voltages of I(CaL) to hyperpolarization. PFOA had similar effects PFOS, but showed significantly lower potency. These findings are consistent with previous observations for anionic n-alkyl surfactants, suggesting that PFOS and PFOA may change membrane surface potential, thereby eliciting general effects on calcium channels. These findings provide further insights into the mechanisms of PFOA and PFOS toxicities.