Enhancement of Procollagen Biosynthesis by p180 through Augmented Ribosome Association on the Endoplasmic Reticulum in Response to Stimulated Secretion

A coiled-coil microtubule-bundling protein, p180, was originally reported as a ribosome-binding protein on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is highly expressed in secretory tissues. Recently, we reported a novel role for p180 in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) expansion following stimulated collagen secretion. Here, we show that p180 plays a key role in procollagen biosynthesis and secretion in diploid fibroblasts. Depletion of p180 caused marked reductions of secreted collagens without significant loss of the ER membrane or mRNA. Metabolic labeling experiments revealed that the procollagen biosynthetic activity was markedly affected following p180 depletion. Moreover, loss of p180 perturbs ascorbate-stimulated de novo biosynthesis mainly in the membrane fraction with a preferential secretion defect of large proteins. At the EM level, one of the most prominent morphological features of p180-depleted cells was insufficient ribosome association on the ER membranes. In contrast, the ER of control cells was studded with numerous ribosomes, which were further enhanced by ascorbate. Similarly biochemical analysis confirmed that levels of membrane-bound ribosomes were altered in a p180-dependent manner. Taken together, our data suggest that p180 plays crucial roles in enhancing collagen biosynthesis at the entry site of the secretory compartments by a novel mechanism that mainly involves facilitating ribosome association on the ER.     

Role of Platelet-Actlvatlng-Factor (PAF) on Cellular Responses after Stimulation with Leptospire Lipopolysaccharide

Leptospire lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated the adherence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Enhanced PMN adherence in response to leptospire LPS can be mediated by platelet-activator-factor (PAF), because a PAF antagonist reduced adherence. Leptospire LPS also induced the adherence platelets or U937. The second experiment involved leptospire LPS elicited platelet aggregation in a PMN-platelet mixture, because leptospire LPS stimulated human PMN but not the human platelets. The platelet response was observed only in the mixture system and was inhibited by a PAF antagonist. PAF could be an important pathogenic factor in human leptospirosis.     

Effects of heavy ion to the primary [correction of rimary] culture of mouse brain cells.

To investigate effects of low dose heavy particle radiation to CNS system, we adopted mouse neonatal brain cells in culture being exposed to heavy ions by HIMAC at NIRS and NSRL at BNL. The applied dose varied from 0.05 Gy up to 2.0 Gy. The subsequent biological effects were evaluated by an induction of apoptosis and neuron survival focusing on the dependencies of the animal strains, SCID, B6, B6C3F1, C3H, used for brain cell culture, SCID was the most sensitive and C3H the least sensitive to particle radiation as evaluated by 10% apoptotic criterion. The LET dependency was compared with using SCID and B6 cells exposing to different ions (H, C, Ne, Si, Ar, and Fe). Although no detectable LET dependency was observed in the high LET (55-200 keV/micrometers) and low dose (<0.5 Gy) regions. The survivability profiles of the neurons were different in the mouse strains and ions. In this report, a result of memory and learning function to adult mice after whole-body and brain local irradiation at carbon ion and iron ion.     

Interactions of Opioid and Chemokine Receptors: Oligomerization of mu, kappa, and delta with CCR5 on Immune Cells

Activation of opioid receptors by morphine was previously shown to specifically induce the expression of chemokine receptor CCR5, promoting simian AIDS virus entry and replication in immune cells. The present study was undertaken to determine whether these two structurally and functionally distinct G-protein-coupled receptors are in close proximity and form an oligomeric complex in the cell membrane so that the activation of one triggers the activity of the other. Both human CEM ×174 and monkey lymphocytes were used in this study and gave similar results. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that CCR5, but not CD4 nor Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger, coprecipitates with all three subtypes (mu, delta, and kappa) of opioid receptors. A single protein band immunoreactive with antibodies against both the CCR5 and the opioid receptors was identified after electrophoresis on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels. Chemical crosslinking experiments using glutaraldehyde or BS³ indicate that these receptors are closely situated on the cell membrane with an intermolecular distance less than 11.4Å. Functional studies revealed that a combination treatment of cells with morphine, an agonist for mu, and MIP-1β, a ligand for CCR5, suppresses the inhibitory effect of MIP-1β and increases the stimulatory effect of morphine on CCR5 expression. These results suggest that oligomerization of chemokine receptor CCR5 and opioid receptors on the cell membrane of human or monkey lymphocytes may modulate receptor functions.     

Characterization of a novel monoclonal antibody that senses nitric oxide-dependent activation of soluble guanylate cyclase.

Two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against bovine lung soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) were prepared and characterized. mAb 3221 recognized both the alpha- and beta-subunits of sGC and had greater binding affinity to the enzyme in the presence of NO. mAb 28131 recognized only the beta-subunit and its affinity did not change with NO. Neither mAb cross-reacted with particulate GC. Cultured Purkinje cells from rats were treated with S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, an NO donor, and examined by immunocytochemical methods. The immunoreactivity associated with mAb 3221 increased with the cGMP content in a crude extract of cerebellum and the NO2 generated in the culture medium increased.     

Alteration of the kinetics of type I procollagen synthesis in human osteosarcoma cells by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

The kinetics of type I procollagen synthesis in a human osteosarcoma cell line, MG 63, were investigated after treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25-(OH)₂ D₃), a hormonal inducer of phenotypic differentiation. Pulse label and chase experiments demonstrated greatly enhanced production and more rapid reduction of intracellular procollagen molecules in the 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃–treated cells as compared to the nontreated case. After a chase for 1 h, labeled procollagen was reduced by nine-tenths in 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃–treated cells, while half of the radioactivity still remained in nontreated cells. The expression rate of type I collagen, which was examined by pulse label experiment, was elevated in association with an increase in the mRNA coding for the type I collagen α1 chain by 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃ treatment. However, the amount of intracellular procollagen present after 4 h continuous labeling was almost the same, independent of the 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃ treatment. Thus, we conclude that strage of the molecule was not affected. The results therefore suggest an increase in both the synthesis and secretion of type I collagen. The 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃ treatment was also found to induce the α subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase and to be associated with an elevated level of hydroxyproline in the procollagen. Moreover, gelatinase B–resistant procollagen molecules, indicative of intracellular procollagen molecules in the stable triple helical form, were detected only in the 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃–treated cells. These data suggest more efficient proline hydroxylation is involved in rapid secretion of procollagen after hormone administration. The present evidence points to posttranslational control of procollagen synthesis. J. Cell. Biochem. 65:542–549. © 1997 Wiley-Liss Inc.     

The cleavage site preference of the porcine pepsin on the N-terminal α1 chain of bovine type I collagen: a focal analysis with mass spectrometry

Bovine type I collagen consists of two α1 and one α2 chains, containing the internal triple helical regions and the N- and C-terminal telopeptides. In industries, it is frequently digested with porcine pepsin to produce a triple helical collagen without the telopeptides. However, the digestion mechanism is not precisely understood. Here, we performed a mass spectrometric analysis of the pepsin digest of the N-terminal telopeptide pQLSYGYDEKSTGISVP (1–16) in the α1 chain. When purified collagen was digested, pQLSYGY (1–6) and pQLSYGYDEKSTG (1–12) were identified, while DEKSTG (7–12) was not. When the N-terminal telopeptide mimetic synthetic peptide pQLSK(MOCAc)GYDEKSTGISK(Dnp)P-NH₂ was digested, pQLSK(MOCAc)GYDEKSTG (1–12) and ISK(Dnp)P-NH₂ (13?16) were readily identified, pQLSK(MOCAc)GY (1?6) and DEKSTGISK(Dnp)P-NH₂ (7?16) were weakly detected, and DEKSTG (7–12) was hardly identified. These results suggest that pepsin preferentially cleaves Tyr6–Asp7 and less preferentially Gly12–Ile13. They also suggest that the former cleavage requires native collagen structure, while the latter cleavage does not.     

Silibinin ameliorates Aβ<Subscript>25-35</Subscript>-induced memory deficits in rats by modulating autophagy and attenuating neuroinflammation as well as oxidative stress

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammatory response, oxidative stress and autophagy are involved in amyloid β (Aβ)-induced memory deficits. Silibinin (silybin), a flavonoid derived from the herb milk thistle, is well known for its hepatoprotective activities. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of silibinin on Aβ_25-35-injected rats. Results demonstrated that silibinin significantly attenuated Aβ_25-35-induced memory deficits in Morris water maze and novel object-recognition tests. Silibinin exerted anxiolytic effect in Aβ_25-35-injected rats as determined in elevated plus maze test. Silibinin attenuated the inflammatory responses, increased glutathione (GSH) levels and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and upregulated autophagy levels in the Aβ_25-35-injected rats. In conclusion, silibinin is a potential candidate for AD treatment because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and autophagy regulating activities.