Modifications of proteins by 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in the ventilatory muscles of rats

Although 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE, a product of lipid peroxidation) is a major cause of oxidative damage inside skeletal muscles, the exact proteins modified by HNE are unknown. We used two-dimensional electrophoresis, immunoblotting, and mass spectrometry to identify selective proteins targeted by HNE inside the diaphragm of rats under two conditions: severe sepsis [induced by E. coli lipopolysaccharides (LPS)] and during strenuous muscle contractions elicited by severe inspiratory resistive loading (IRL). Diaphragm HNE-protein adduct formation (detected with a polyclonal antibody) increased significantly after 1 and 3 h of LPS injection with a return to baseline values thereafter. Similarly, HNE-protein adduct formation inside the diaphragm rose significantly after 6 but not 3 h of IRL. Mass spectrometry analysis of HNE-modified proteins revealed enolase 3b, aldolase and triosephosphate isomerase 1, creatine kinase, carbonic anyhdrase III, aconitase 2, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase, and electron transfer flavoprotein-beta. Measurements of in vitro enolase activity in the presence of pure HNE revealed that HNE significantly attenuated enolase activity in a dose-dependent fashion, suggesting that HNE-derived modifications have inhibitory effects on enzyme activity. We conclude that lipid peroxidation products may inhibit muscle contractile performance through selective targeting of enzymes involved in glycolysis, energy production as well as CO(2) hydration.     

Distribution of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and their HLA-C ligands in two Iranian populations

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) gene frequencies vary between populations and contribute to functional variation in immune responses to viruses, autoimmunity and reproductive success. This study describes the frequency distribution of 12 variable KIR genes and their HLA-C ligands in two Iranian populations who have lived for many generations in different environments: the Azerbaijanis at high altitude and the Jonobi people at sea level. The results are compared with those published for other human populations and a large group of English Caucasians. Differences were seen in KIR and HLA-C group frequencies, in linkage disequilibrium and inhibitory/activating KIR ratios between the groups. Similarities with geographically close populations in the frequencies of the KIR A and B haplotypes and KIR AA genotype reflected their common ancestry. The extreme variability of the KIR gene family and their HLA-C ligands is highlighted and their importance in defining differences between geographically and culturally isolated communities subject to different environmental pressures who come from the same ethnic grouping.     

NOD2-deficient mice have impaired resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection through defective innate and adaptive immunity

NOD2/CARD15 mediates innate immune responses to mycobacterial infection. However, its role in the regulation of adaptive immunity has remained unknown. In this study, we examined host defense, T cell responses, and tissue pathology in two models of pulmonary mycobacterial infection, using wild-type and Nod2-deficient mice. During the early phase of aerosol infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nod2(-/-) mice had similar bacterial counts but reduced inflammatory response on histopathology at 4 and 8 wk postchallenge compared with wild-type animals. These findings were confirmed upon intratracheal infection of mice with attenuated Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin. Analysis of the lungs 4 wk after bacillus Calmette-Guérin infection demonstrated that Nod2(-/-) mice had decreased production of type 1 cytokines and reduced recruitment of CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells. Ag-specific T cell responses in both the spleens and thoracic lymph nodes were diminished in Nod2(-/-) mice, indicating impaired adaptive antimycobacterial immunity. The immune regulatory role of NOD2 was not restricted to the lung since Nod2 disruption also led to reduced type 1 T cell activation following i.m. bacillus Calmette-Guérin infection. To determine the importance of diminished innate and adaptive immunity, we measured bacterial burden 6 mo after aerosol infection with M. tuberculosis and followed a second infected group for assessment of survival. Nod2(-/-) mice had a higher bacterial burden in the lungs 6 mo after infection and succumbed sooner than did wild-type controls. Taken together, these data indicate that NOD2 mediates resistance to mycobacterial infection via both innate and adaptive immunity.     

Developmental defects observed in hypomorphic anaphase-promoting complex mutants are linked to cell cycle abnormalities

In C. elegans, mutants in the anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C) exhibit defects in germline proliferation, the formation of the vulva and male tail, and the metaphase to anaphase transition of meiosis I. Oocytes lacking APC/C activity can be fertilized but arrest in metaphase of meiosis I and are blocked from further development. To examine the cell cycle and developmental consequences of reducing but not fully depleting APC/C activity, we analyzed defects in embryos and larvae of mat-1/cdc-27 mutants grown at semi-permissive temperatures. Hypomorphic embryos developed to the multicellular stage but were slow to complete meiosis I and displayed aberrant meiotic chromosome separation. More severely affected embryos skipped meiosis II altogether and exhibited striking defects in meiotic exit. These latter embryos failed to produce normal eggshells or establish normal asymmetries prior to the first mitotic division. In developing larvae, extended M-phase delays in late-dividing cell lineages were associated with defects in the morphogenesis of the male tail. This study reveals the importance of dosage-specific mutants in analyzing molecular functions of a ubiquitously functioning protein within different cell types and tissues, and striking correlations between specific abnormalities in cell cycle progression and particular developmental defects.     

Src-dependent association of Cas and p85 phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase in v-crk-transformed cells

Cellular changes associated with oncogenic transformation are generally caused by deregulation of signal transduction pathways. We show that, in cells transformed by the v-crk oncogene, the adapter protein Cas forms a stable complex with the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) coincident with the appearance of Cas-associated PI3K activity. The interaction between Cas and p85 PI3K appears to be driven primarily by Src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of Cas, and mapping studies indicate that the carboxyl terminus of Cas is necessary and sufficient for binding to p85 PI3K. One of the cellular effects of v-Crk expression is to promote DNA synthesis in the presence of low serum. This effect is potentiated in Cas-null fibroblasts when wild-type Cas is expressed, but not when a Cas variant is expressed that lacks the carboxyl-terminal p85 PI3K binding region. This suggests that the association of Cas with p85 PI3K may play a role in uncoupling growth regulatory pathways through v-Crk.     

A Combined In Vitro Imaging and Multi-Scale Modeling System for Studying the Role of Cell Matrix Interactions in Cutaneous Wound Healing

Many cell types remodel the extracellular matrix of the tissues they inhabit in response to a wide range of environmental stimuli, including mechanical cues. Such is the case in dermal wound healing, where fibroblast migrate into and remodel the provisional fibrin matrix in a complex manner that depends in part on the local mechanical environment and the evolving multi-scale mechanical interactions of the system. In this study, we report on the development of an image-based multi-scale mechanical model that predicts the short-term (24 hours), structural reorganization of a fibrin gel by fibroblasts. These predictive models are based on an in vitro experimental system where clusters of fibroblasts (i.e., explants) were spatially arranged into a triangular geometry onto the surface of fibrin gels that were subjected to either Fixed or Free in-plane mechanical constraints. Experimentally, regional differences in short-term structural remodeling and cell migration were observed for the two gel boundary conditions. A pilot experiment indicated that these small differences in the short-term remodeling of the fibrin gel translate into substantial differences in long-term (4 weeks) remodeling, particularly in terms of collagen production. The multi-scale models were able to predict some regional differences in remodeling and qualitatively similar reorganization patterns for the two boundary conditions. However, other aspects of the model, such as the magnitudes and rates of deformation of gel, did not match the experiments. These discrepancies between model and experiment provide fertile ground for challenging model assumptions and devising new experiments to enhance our understanding of how this multi-scale system functions. These efforts will ultimately improve the predictions of the remodeling process, particularly as it relates to dermal wound healing and the reduction of patient scarring. Such models could be used to recommend patient-specific mechanical-based treatment dependent on parameters such as wound geometry, location, age, and health.     

BCG Educates Hematopoietic Stem Cells to Generate Protective Innate Immunity against Tuberculosis

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Multiple Protein Analysis of Formalin-fixed and Paraffin-embedded Tissue Samples with Reverse phase Protein Arrays

Reverse-phase protein arrays (RPPAs) have become an important tool for the sensitive and high-throughput detection of proteins from minute amounts of lysates from cell lines and cryopreserved tissue. The current standard method for tissue preservation in almost all hospitals worldwide is formalin fixation and paraffin embedding, and it would be highly desirable if RPPA could also be applied to formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue. We investigated whether the analysis of FFPE tissue lysates with RPPA would result in biologically meaningful data in two independent studies. In the first study on breast cancer samples, we assessed whether a human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 2 score based on immunohistochemistry (IHC) could be reproduced with RPPA. The results showed very good concordance between the IHC and RPPA classifications of HER2 expression. In the second study, we profiled FFPE tumor specimens from patients with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in order to find new markers for differentiating these two subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer. p21-activated kinase 2 could be identified as a new differentiation marker for squamous cell carcinoma. Overall, the results demonstrate the technical feasibility and the merits of RPPA for protein expression profiling in FFPE tissue lysates.Many diseases are characterized by the expression of specific proteins and the activation status of distinct signaling pathways (1). Thus, protein expression profiling and activation patterns are instrumental for understanding disease, the development of effective treatments, and the identification of patients who will respond to particular therapies. Traditional ways of analyzing protein expression (e.g. Western blot) can be used for these purposes but often are labor intensive, have low throughput, and consume high sample volumes. Reverse-phase protein array (RPPA)¹ technology is a very promising method that circumvents these issues (2–4). For RPPA, minute amounts of whole protein lysates from a multitude of samples are spotted onto slides, and individual proteins are detected via protein-specific antibodies. This enables medium- to high-throughput analysis of precious low-volume sample material.Lysates for RPPA have so far been generated mainly from cell lines or fresh frozen tissue. However, because of the high amount of effort involved in the use of liquid nitrogen for sample preservation, in almost all hospitals worldwide formalin fixation and paraffin embedding is the preferred method for tissue preservation. Therefore, it would be highly desirable if protein-specific epitopes could be quantitatively extracted and analyzed from formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue, as this would make the majority of clinical specimens accessible for mechanistic protein-based research.In recent years, several research groups have established protocols for protein extraction from FFPE tissue. Common to all of them is the use of high concentrations of ionic detergents, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate, and high temperature. It was shown that these methods even make it possible to extract full-length proteins from FFPE tissue (5–12). The coefficient of variation of the relative extraction efficiency based on Western blot and densitometric assessment of actin typically is below 20% (13). To assess whether the analysis of FFPE tissue lysates would result in biologically meaningful data, we analyzed FFPE breast cancer tissue samples by RPPA for the expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and compared it to HER2 assessment by the gold standard used in clinical practice, which is based on immunohistochemistry (IHC). Successful recovery of HER2 from FFPE tissue should result in concordant HER2 classification between RPPA and IHC.In the second part of the study, FFPE samples of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were examined via RPPA. Samples from two subtypes of NSCLC, adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), were analyzed for more than 150 proteins, including two proteins that are known to be differentially expressed between the two subtypes. The objectives of this analysis were to further assess the validity of the approach by confirming the two positive controls and to identify new markers for the differentiation of the two subtypes of NSCLC.