Constitutive BAK/MCL1 complexes predict paclitaxel and S63845 sensitivity of ovarian cancer

We previously found that preformed complexes of BAK with antiapoptotic BCL2 proteins predict BH3 mimetic sensitivities in lymphohematopoietic cells. These complexes have not previously been examined in solid tumors or in the context of conventional anticancer drugs. Here we show the relative amount of BAK found in preformed complexes with MCL1 or BCLX_L varies across ovarian cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Cells bearing BAK/MCL1 complexes were more sensitive to paclitaxel and the MCL1 antagonist {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"S63845","term_id":"400540","term_text":"S63845"}}S63845. Likewise, PDX models with BAK/MCL1 complexes were more likely to respond to paclitaxel. Mechanistically, BIM induced by low paclitaxel concentrations interacted preferentially with MCL1 and displaced MCL1-bound BAK. Further studies indicated that cells with preformed BAK/MCL1 complexes were sensitive to the paclitaxel/{"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"S63845","term_id":"400540","term_text":"S63845"}}S63845 combination, while cells without BAK/MCL1 complexes were not. Our study suggested that the assessment of BAK/MCL1 complexes might be useful for predicting response to paclitaxel alone or in combination with BH3 mimetics.Subject terms: Chemotherapy, Apoptosis     

Expression of type XXIII collagen mRNA and protein

Collagen XXIII is a member of the transmembranous subfamily of collagens containing a cytoplasmic domain, a membrane-spanning hydrophobic domain, and three extracellular triple helical collagenous domains interspersed with non-collagenous domains. We cloned mouse, chicken, and humanalpha1(XXIII) collagen cDNAs and showed that this non-abundant collagen has a limited tissue distribution in non-tumor tissues. Lung, cornea, brain, skin, tendon, and kidney are the major sites of expression. In contrast, five transformed cell lines were tested for collagen XXIII expression, and all expressed the mRNA. In vivo the alpha1(XXIII) mRNA is found in mature and developing organs, the latter demonstrated using stages of embryonic chick cornea and mouse embryos. Polyclonal antibodies were generated in guinea pig and rabbit and showed that collagen XXIII has a transmembranous form and a shed form. Comparison of collagen XXIII with its closest relatives in the transmembranous subfamily of collagens, types XIII and XXV, which have the same number of triple helical and non-collagenous regions, showed that there is a discontinuity in the alignment of domains but that striking similarities remain despite this.     

Cholesterol depletion induces solid-like regions in the plasma membrane

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked and transmembrane major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II I-E(k) proteins, as well as N-(6-tetramethylrhodaminethiocarbamoyl)-1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (Tritc-DHPE), are used as probes to determine the effect of cholesterol concentration on the organization of the plasma membrane at temperatures in the range 22 degrees C-42 degrees C. Cholesterol depletion caused a decrease in the diffusion coefficients for the MHC II proteins and also for a slow fraction of the Tritc-DHPE population. At 37 degrees C, reduction of the total cell cholesterol concentration results in a smaller suppression of the translational diffusion for I-E(k) proteins (twofold) than was observed in earlier work at 22 degrees C (five sevenfold) Vrljic, M., S. Y. Nishimura, W. E. Moerner, and H. M. McConnell. 2005. Biophys. J. 88:334-347. At 37 degrees C, the diffusion of both I-E(k) proteins is Brownian (0.9 < alpha-parameter < 1.1). More than 99% of the protein population diffuses homogeneously when imaged at 65 frames per s. As the temperature is raised from 22 degrees C to 42 degrees C, a change in activation energy is seen at approximately 35 degrees C in the Arrhenius plots. Cytoskeletal effects appear to be minimal. These results are consistent with a previously described model of solid-like domain formation in the plasma membrane.     

Mutations in the tight-junction gene claudin 19 (CLDN19) are associated with renal magnesium wasting, renal failure, and severe ocular involvement

Claudins are major components of tight junctions and contribute to the epithelial-barrier function by restricting free diffusion of solutes through the paracellular pathway. We have mapped a new locus for recessive renal magnesium loss on chromosome 1p34.2 and have identified mutations in CLDN19, a member of the claudin multigene family, in patients affected by hypomagnesemia, renal failure, and severe ocular abnormalities. CLDN19 encodes the tight-junction protein claudin-19, and we demonstrate high expression of CLDN19 in renal tubules and the retina. The identified mutations interfere severely with either cell-membrane trafficking or the assembly of the claudin-19 protein. The identification of CLDN19 mutations in patients with chronic renal failure and severe visual impairment supports the fundamental role of claudin-19 for normal renal tubular function and undisturbed organization and development of the retina.     

Gliadin stimulation of murine macrophage inflammatory gene expression and intestinal permeability are MyD88-dependent: role of the innate immune response in Celiac disease

Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of TLR signaling in intestinal homeostasis. Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered in susceptible individuals by the ingestion of gliadin-containing grains. In this study, we sought to test the hypothesis that gliadin initiates this response by stimulating the innate immune response to increase intestinal permeability and by up-regulating macrophage proinflammatory gene expression and cytokine production. To this end, intestinal permeability and the release of zonulin (an endogenous mediator of gut permeability) in vitro, as well as proinflammatory gene expression and cytokine release by primary murine macrophage cultures, were measured. Gliadin and its peptide derivatives, 33-mer and p31-43, were found to be potent inducers of both a zonulin-dependent increase in intestinal permeability and macrophage proinflammatory gene expression and cytokine secretion. Gliadin-induced zonulin release, increased intestinal permeability, and cytokine production were dependent on myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), a key adapter molecule in the TLR/IL-1R signaling pathways, but were neither TLR2- nor TLR4-dependent. Our data support the following model for the innate immune response to gliadin in the initiation of CD. Gliadin interaction with the intestinal epithelium increases intestinal permeability through the MyD88-dependent release of zonulin that, in turn, enables paracellular translocation of gliadin and its subsequent interaction with macrophages within the intestinal submucosa. There, the interaction of gliadin with macrophages elicits a MyD88-dependent proinflammatory cytokine milieu that facilitates the interaction of T cells with APCs, leading ultimately to the Ag-specific adaptive immune response seen in patients with CD.     

A novel model of demyelinating encephalomyelitis induced by monocytes and dendritic cells

Local inflammation may be a precipitating event in autoimmune processes. In this study, we demonstrate that regulated influx of monocytes and dendritic cells (DC) into the CNS causes an acute neurological syndrome that results in a demyelinating encephalomyelitis. Expansion of monocytes and DC by conditional expression of Flt3 ligand in animals expressing CCL2 in the CNS promoted parenchymal cell infiltration and ascending paralysis in 100% of the mice within 9 days of Flt3 ligand induction. Depletion of circulating monocytes and DC reduced disease incidence and severity. Unlike the classical models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells did not affect disease induction. T cells and demyelinating lesions were observed in the CNS at a later stage as a result of organ-specific inflammation. We propose that alterations in the numbers or function of monocytes and DC coupled to dysregulated expression of chemokines in the neural tissues, favors development of CNS autoimmune disease.     

Immunoproteasomes are essential for clearance of Listeria monocytogenes in nonlymphoid tissues but not for induction of bacteria-specific CD8+ T cells

Microbial infections induce the replacement of constitutive proteasomes by immunoproteasomes (I-proteasomes). I-proteasomes support efficient generation of MHC class I epitopes and influence immunodominance hierarchies of CD8(+) T cells. Recently, the function of I-proteasomes in antimicrobial responses was challenged by showing that the lack of I-proteasomes has no effect on induction and function of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-specific CD8(+) T cells. Here, we show that infection with Listeria monocytogenes rapidly induces I-proteasomes in nonlymphoid tissues, which leads to enhanced generation of protection relevant CD8(+) T cell epitopes. I-proteasome-deficient mice (beta5i(-/-) mice) exhibited normal frequencies of L. monocytogenes-specific CD8(+) T cells. However, clearance of L. monocytogenes in liver but not spleen was significantly impaired in I-proteasome-deficient mice. In summary, our studies demonstrate that induction of I-proteasomes is required for CD8(+) T cell-mediated elimination of L. monocytogenes from nonlymphoid but not lymphoid tissues.     

Phosphorylation of the growth factors bFGF, NGF and BDNF: a prerequisite for their biological activity

The aim of this work was to test whether growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) undergo autophosphorylation and whether this affects their biological activity. Incubation of those growth factors with [gamma-(32)P]ATP resulted in phosphorylation in vitro. The phosphate bond was resistant to alkaline pH, yet acid-labile. Addition of alkaline phosphatase resulted in time and protein dependent dephosphorylation. Concomitantly, alkaline phosphatase abolished the neuroprotective effect of those growth factors upon oxygen and glucose deprivation and upon staurosporine-induced cell death. For those studies, we were using primary cultures of cortical and hippocampal neurons from embryonic and neonatal rats. Incubation of bFGF with non-hydrolyzable ATP-gammaS resulted in phosphorylation and in neuroprotection resistant to alkaline phosphatase. We conclude that bFGF, NGF and BDNF undergo autophosphorylation on site(s) other than serine, threonine, tyrosine and/or ATP-binding, and that this binding of phosphate is essential for neuroprotection in vivo.