Proteomic analysis of germinating urediniospores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi,causal agent of Asian soybean rust

Phakopsora pachyrhizi is an obligate pathogen that causes Asian soybean rust. Asian soybean rust has an unusually broad host range and infects by direct penetration through the leaf cuticle. In order to understand the early events in the infection process, it is important to identify and characterize proteins in P. pachyrhizi. Germination of the urediniospore is the first stage in the infection process and represents a critical life stage applicable to studies with this obligate pathogen. We have applied a 2‐DE and MS approach to identify 117 proteins from the National Center of Biotechnology Information nonredundant protein database and a custom database of Basidiomycota EST sequences. Proteins with roles in primary metabolism, energy transduction, stress, cellular regulation and signaling were identified in this study. This data set is accessible at http://world‐2dpage.expasy.org/repository/database=0018 .     

Ice premelting during differential scanning calorimetry

Premelting at the surface of ice crystals is caused by factors such as temperature, radius of curvature, and solute composition. When polycrystalline ice samples are warmed from well below the equilibrium melting point, surface melting may begin at temperatures as low as -15 degrees C. However, it has been reported (. Biophys. J. 65:1853-1865) that when polycrystalline ice was warmed in a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) pan, melting began at about -50 degrees C, this extreme behavior being attributed to short-range forces. We show that there is no driving force for such premelting, and that for pure water samples in DSC pans curvature effects will cause premelting typically at just a few degrees below the equilibrium melting point. We also show that the rate of warming affects the slope of the DSC baseline and that this might be incorrectly interpreted as an endotherm. The work has consequences for DSC operators who use water as a standard in systems where subfreezing runs are important.     

The cytokine and chemokine expression profile of nucleus pulposus cells: implications for degeneration and regeneration of the intervertebral disc

Introduction

The aims of these studies were to identify the cytokine and chemokine expression profile of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and to determine the relationships between NP cell cytokine and chemokine production and the characteristic tissue changes seen during intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration.

Methods

Real-time q-PCR cDNA Low Density Array (LDA) was used to investigate the expression of 91 cytokine and chemokine associated genes in NP cells from degenerate human IVDs. Further real-time q-PCR was used to investigate 30 selected cytokine and chemokine associated genes in NP cells from non-degenerate and degenerate IVDs and those from IVDs with immune cell infiltrates (‘infiltrated’). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for four selected cytokines and chemokines to confirm and localize protein expression in human NP tissue samples.

Results

LDA identified the expression of numerous cytokine and chemokine associated genes including 15 novel cytokines and chemokines. Further q-PCR gene expression studies identified differential expression patterns in NP cells derived from non-degenerate, degenerate and infiltrated IVDs. IHC confirmed NP cells as a source of IL-16, CCL2, CCL7 and CXCL8 and that protein expression of CCL2, CCL7 and CXCL8 increases concordant with histological degenerative tissue changes.

Conclusions

Our data indicates that NP cells are a source of cytokines and chemokines within the IVD and that these expression patterns are altered in IVD pathology. These findings may be important for the correct assessment of the ‘degenerate niche’ prior to autologous or allogeneic cell transplantation for biological therapy of the degenerate IVD.     

Cytokine polymorphisms in chronic inflammatory diseases with reference to occupational diseases

Genes which encode inflammatory cytokines are subject to polymorphisms in their regulatory regions that may effect both the level and ratio of cytokines produced in response to exogenous stimuli. These variant alleles are observed in a large percent of the population and are often associated with increased or decreased susceptibility or severity (modifiers) to infectious, immune or inflammatory diseases. Environmental factors can also play either a direct (i.e., causative factor) or indirect (modifying factor) role in these diseases. Thus, it would follow that gene-environment interactions would effect the expression and/or progression of the disease. In the present review, the concept that some of the common allelic variants found in cytokine genes represent modifying factors in chronic inflammatory diseases associated with occupational exposure is discussed.     

Arsenic carcinogenicity: relevance of c-Src activation

Environmental and occupational exposure to arsenic is associated with increased risk of skin, urinary bladder and respiratory tract cancers. Increasing evidence indicates that arsenic acts at the level of tumor promotion by modulating the signaling pathways responsible for cell growth. One of this pathways might include c-Src dependent EGFR and MAPK activation.     

Purification of a modified form of bovine antithrombin III as an HIV-1 CD8+ T-cell antiviral factor

CD8(+) T-cells secrete soluble factor(s) capable of inhibiting both R5- and X4-tropic strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). CCR5 chemokine ligands, released from activated CD8(+) T-cells, contribute to the antiviral activity of these cells. These CC-chemokines, however, do not account for all CD8(+) T-cell antiviral factor(s) (CAF) released from these cells, particularly because the elusive CAF can inhibit the replication of X4 HIV-1 strains that use CXCR4 and not CCR5 as a coreceptor. Here we demonstrate that activated CD8(+) T-cells of HIV-1-seropositive individuals modify serum bovine antithrombin III into an HIV-1 inhibitory factor capable of suppressing the replication of X4 HIV-1. These data indicate that antithrombin III may play a role in the progression of HIV-1 disease.     

Differential expression of the IFN-gamma-inducible CXCR3-binding chemokines,IFN-inducible protein 10, monokine induced by IFN,and IFN-inducible T cell alpha chemoattractant in human cardiac allografts: association with cardiac allograft vasculopathy and acute rejection

CXCR3 chemokines exert potent biological effects on both immune and vascular cells. The dual targets suggest their important roles in cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and rejection. Therefore, we investigated expression of IFN-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), IFN-inducible T cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC), monokine induced by IFN (Mig), and their receptor CXCR3 in consecutive endomyocardial biopsies (n = 133) from human cardiac allografts and corresponding normal donor hearts (n = 11) before transplantation. Allografts, but not normal hearts, contained IP-10, Mig, and I-TAC mRNA. Persistent elevation of IP-10 and I-TAC was associated with CAV. Allografts with CAV had an IP-10-GAPDH ratio 3.7 +/- 0.8 compared with 0.8 +/- 0.2 in those without CAV (p = 0.004). Similarly, I-TAC mRNA levels were persistently elevated in allografts with CAV (6.7 +/- 1.9 in allografts with vs 1.5 +/- 0.3 in those without CAV, p = 0.01). In contrast, Mig mRNA was induced only during rejection (2.4 +/- 0.9 with vs 0.6 +/- 0.2 without rejection, p = 0.015). In addition, IP-10 mRNA increased above baseline during rejection (4.1 +/- 2.3 in rejecting vs 1.8 +/- 1.2 in nonrejecting biopsies, p = 0.038). I-TAC did not defer significantly with rejection. CXCR3 mRNA persistently elevated after cardiac transplantation. Double immunohistochemistry revealed differential cellular distribution of CXCR3 chemokines. Intragraft vascular cells expressed high levels of IP-10 and I-TAC, while Mig localized predominantly in infiltrating macrophages. CXCR3 was localized in vascular and infiltrating cells. CXCR3 chemokines are induced in cardiac allografts and differentially associated with CAV and rejection. Differential cellular distribution of these chemokines in allografts indicates their central roles in multiple pathways involving CAV and rejection. This chemokine pathway may serve as a monitor and target for novel therapies to prevent CAV and rejection.     

Correlation of the conformation of a modified ribonuclease octapeptide, homologous to peptide T, with its ability to induce CD4-dependent monocyte chemotaxis

Peptide T, from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), whose sequence is Ala-Ser-Thr-Thr-Thr-Asn-Tyr-Thr, has been shown to inhibit attachment of this virus to T cells and neural cells bearing the CD4 receptor. This peptide shares extensive homology with the 19–26 segment of ribonuclease A (RNase A), whose sequence is Ala-Ala-Ser-Ser-Ser-Asn-Tyr-Cys. Based on comparison of the structures of peptides occurring in proteins of known structure that are homologous to peptide T,viz, RNase A and endothiapepsin and on conformational energy calculations, we predicted that peptide T adopts a structure much like that for residues 19–26 in RNase A. A critical feature is a bend involving residues Thr 4-Asn 7 in peptide T corresponding to Ser 22-Tyr 25 in the RNase A peptide. Our proposed structure for peptide T has recently been confirmed by Cotelleet al. (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 171, 596–602). We now show directly that the RNase A peptide, with Met replacing Cys 26 to prevent disulfide exchange reactions, strongly induces monocyte-chemotaxis that is blocked by anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody. Both peptide T and RNase A fail to induce chemotaxis, however, in neutrophils which do not express surface CD4 receptors. These results suggest that both peptides interact with the CD4 receptor in inducing monocyte chemotaxis. We have also prepared cyclo-RNase A peptide with Met 26. Using molecular dynamics and conformational energy calculations, we find that the cyclic peptide cannot form a bend structure involving Ser 22-Tyr 25 that is superimposable on the RNase A bend. Indeed, we find that this peptide is inactive in inducing monocyte chemotaxis despite the fact that its amino acid sequence is identical to that of the open chain form. This result suggests that a correlation between the -bend structure of the RNase A peptide and peptide T and their abilities to bind to the CD4 receptor.