MGL2+ Dermal Dendritic Cells Are Sufficient to Initiate Contact Hypersensitivity In Vivo

Background

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells in the mammalian immune system. In the skin, epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal dendritic cells (DDCs) survey for invasive pathogens and present antigens to T cells after migration to the cutaneous lymph nodes (LNs). So far, functional and phenotypic differences between these two DC subsets remain unclear due to lack of markers to identify DDCs.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In the present report, we demonstrated that macrophage galactose-type C-type lectin (MGL) 2 was exclusively expressed in the DDC subset in the skin-to-LN immune system. In the skin, MGL2 was expressed on the majority (about 88%) of MHCII⁺CD11c⁺ cells in the dermis. In the cutaneous LN, MGL2 expression was restricted to B220⁻CD8α^loCD11b⁺CD11c⁺MHCII^hi tissue-derived DC. MGL2⁺DDC migrated from the dermis into the draining LNs within 24 h after skin sensitization with FITC. Distinct from LCs, MGL2⁺DDCs localized near the high endothelial venules in the outer T cell cortex. In FITC-induced contact hypersensitivity (CHS), adoptive transfer of FITC⁺MGL2⁺DDCs, but not FITC⁺MGL2⁻DCs into naive mice resulted in the induction of FITC-specific ear swelling, indicating that DDCs played a key role in initiation of immune responses in the skin.

Conclusions/Significance

These results demonstrated the availability of MGL2 as a novel marker for DDCs and suggested the contribution of MGL2⁺ DDCs for initiating CHS.     

CiMutT, an asidian MutT homologue, has a 7, 8-dihydro-8-oxo-dGTP pyrophosphohydrolase activity responsible for sanitization of oxidized nucleotides in Ciona intestinalis

The oxidized nucleotide precursors 7, 8-dihydro-8-oxo-dGTP (8-oxo-dGTP) and 1, 2-dihydro-2-oxo-dATP (2-oxo-dATP) are readily incorporated into nascent DNA strands during replication, which would cause base substitution mutations. E. coli MutT and human homologue hMTH1 hydrolyze 8-oxo-dGTP, thereby preventing mutations. In this study, we searched for hMTH1 homologues in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis using the NCBI-BLAST database. Among several candidates, we focused on one open reading frame, designated as CiMutT, because of its high degree of identity (41.7%) and similarity (58.3%) to the overall amino acid sequence of hMTH1, including the Nudix box. CiMutT significantly suppressed the mutator activity of E. coli mutT mutant. Purified CiMutT had a pyrophosphohydrolase activity that hydrolyzed 8-oxo-dGTP to 8-oxo-dGMP and inorganic pyrophosphate. It had a pH optimum of 9.5 and Mg(++) requirement with optimal activity at 5 mM. The activity of CiMutT for 8-oxo-dGTP was comparable to that of hMTH1, while it was 100-fold lower for 2-oxo-dATP than that of hMTH1. These facts indicate that CiMutT is a functional homologue of E. coli MutT. In addition, the enzyme hydrolyzed all four of the unoxidized nucleoside triphosphates, with a preference for dATP. The specific activity for 8-oxo-dGTP was greater than that for unoxidized dATP and dGTP. These results suggest that CiMutT has the potential to prevent mutations by 8-oxo-dGTP in C. intestinalis.     

Tyro3 family-mediated cell entry of Ebola and Marburg viruses

Filoviruses, represented by the genera Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus, cause a lethal hemorrhagic fever in humans and in nonhuman primates. Although filovirus can replicate in various tissues or cell types in these animals, the molecular mechanisms of its broad tropism remain poorly understood. Here we show the involvement of members of the Tyro3 receptor tyrosine kinase family-Axl, Dtk, and Mer-in cell entry of filoviruses. Ectopic expression of these family members in lymphoid cells, which otherwise are highly resistant to filovirus infection, enhanced infection by pseudotype viruses carrying filovirus glycoproteins on their envelopes. This enhancement was reduced by antibodies to Tyro3 family members, Gas6 ligand, or soluble ectodomains of the members. Live Ebola viruses infected both Axl- and Dtk-expressing cells more efficiently than control cells. Antibody to Axl inhibited infection of pseudotype viruses in a number of Axl-positive cell lines. These results implicate each Tyro3 family member as a cell entry factor in filovirus infection.     

Biochemical characterization of the very long-chain fatty acid elongase ELOVL7

Very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) have a variety of physiological functions and are related to numerous disorders. The key step of VLCFA elongation is catalyzed by members of the elongase family, ELOVLs. Mammals have seven ELOVLs (ELOVL1-7), yet none of them has been purified and analyzed. In the presented study we purified ELOVL7 and measured its activity by reconstituting it into proteoliposomes. Purified ELOVL7 exhibited high activity toward acyl-CoAs with C18 carbon chain length. The calculated K(m) values toward C18:3(n-3)-CoA and malonyl-CoA were both in the μM range. We also found that progression of the VLCFA cycle enhances ELOVL7 activity.     

Cysteine-to-serine shuffling using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression system improves protein secretion: case of a nonglycosylated mutant of miraculin, a taste-modifying protein

PURPOSE OF WORK: Soluble protein expression is an important first step during various types of protein studies. Here, we present the screening strategy of secretable mutant. The strategy aimed to identify those cysteine residues that provoke protein misfolding in the heterologous expression system. Intentional mutagenesis studies should consider the size of the library and the time required for expression screening. Here, we proposed a cysteine-to-serine shuffling mutation strategy (CS shuffling) using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression system. This strategy of site-directed shuffling mutagenesis of cysteine-to-serine residues aims to identify the cysteine residues that cause protein misfolding in heterologous expression. In the case of a nonglycosylated mutant of the taste-modifying protein miraculin (MCL), which was used here as a model protein, 25% of all constructs obtained from CS shuffling expressed MCL mutant, and serine mutations were found at Cys47 or Cys92, which are involved in the formation of the disulfide bond. This indicates that these residues had the potential to provoke protein misfolding via incorrect disulfide bonding. The CS shuffling can be performed using a small library and within one week, and is an effective screening strategy of soluble protein expression.     

The relationship between muscle deoxygenation and activation in different muscles of the quadriceps during cycle ramp exercise

The relationship between muscle deoxygenation and activation was examined in three different muscles of the quadriceps during cycling ramp exercise. Seven young male adults (24 ± 3 yr; mean ± SD) pedaled at 60 rpm to exhaustion, with a work rate (WR) increase of 20 W/min. Pulmonary oxygen uptake was measured breath-by-breath, while muscle deoxygenation (HHb) and activity were measured by time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and surface electromyography (EMG), respectively, at the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus medialis (VM). Muscle deoxygenation was corrected for adipose tissue thickness and normalized to the amplitude of the HHb response, while EMG signals were integrated (iEMG) and normalized to the maximum iEMG determined from maximal voluntary contractions. Muscle deoxygenation and activation were then plotted as a percentage of maximal work rate (%WR(max)). The HHb response for all three muscle groups was fitted by a sigmoid function, which was determined as the best fitting model. The c/d parameter for the sigmoid fit (representing the %WR(max) at 50% of the total amplitude of the HHb response) was similar between VL (47 ± 12% WR(max)) and VM (43 ± 11% WR(max)), yet greater (P < 0.05) for RF (65 ± 13% WR(max)), demonstrating a "right shift" of the HHb response compared with VL and VM. The iEMG also showed that muscle activation of the RF muscle was lower (P < 0.05) compared with VL and VM throughout the majority of the ramp exercise, which may explain the different HHb response in RF. Therefore, these data suggest that the sigmoid function can be used to model the HHb response in different muscles of the quadriceps; however, simultaneous measures of muscle activation are also needed for the HHb response to be properly interpreted during cycle ramp exercise.     

Molecular identification of ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) and its functional role in the gastrointestinal tract of the guinea-pig

Ghrelin stimulates gastric motility in vivo in the guinea-pig through activation of growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). In this study, we identified GHS-R1a in the guinea-pig, and examined its distribution and cellular function and compared them with those in the rat. Effects of ghrelin in different regions of gastrointestinal tract were also examined. GHS-R1a was identified in guinea-pig brain cDNA. Amino acid identities of guinea-pig GHS-R1a were 93% to horses and 85% to dogs. Expression levels of GHS-R1a mRNA were high in the pituitary and hypothalamus, moderate in the thalamus, cerebral cortex, pons, medulla oblongata and olfactory bulb, and low in the cerebellum and peripheral tissues including gastrointestinal tract. Comparison of GHS-R1a expression patterns showed that those in the brain were similar but the expression level in the gastrointestinal tract was higher in rats than in guinea-pigs. Guinea-pig GHS-R1a expressed in HEK 293 cells responded to rat ghrelin and GHS-R agonists. Rat ghrelin was ineffective in inducing mechanical changes in the stomach and colon but caused a slight contraction in the small intestine. 1,1-Dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium and electrical field stimulation (EFS) caused cholinergic contraction in the intestine, and these contractions were not affected by ghrelin. Ghrelin did not change spontaneous and EFS-evoked [³H]-efflux from [³H]-choline-loaded ileal strips. In summary, guinea-pig GHS-R1a was identified and its functions in isolated gastrointestinal strips were characterized. The distribution of GHS-R1a in peripheral tissues was different from that in rats, suggesting that the functional role of ghrelin in the guinea-pig is different from that in other animal species.     

DNA glycosylase activities for thymine residues oxidized in the methyl group are functions of the hNEIL1 and hNTH1 enzymes in human cells

Bacteria and eukaryotes possess redundant activities that recognize and remove oxidatively damaged bases from DNA through base excision repair. DNA glycosylases excise damaged bases to initiate the base excision repair pathway. hOgg1 and hNTH1, homologues of E. coli MutM and Nth, respectively, had been identified and characterized in human cells. Recent works revealed that human cells have three orthologues of E. coli Nei, hNEIL1, hNEIL2 and hNEIL3. In the present experiments, hNEIL1 protected the E. coli nth nei mutant from lethal effect of hydrogen peroxide and high frequency of spontaneous mutations under aerobic conditions. Furthermore, hNEIL1 efficiently cleaved double stranded oligonucleotides containing 5-formyluracil (5-foU) and 5-hydroxymethyluracil (5-hmU) in vitro via beta- and delta-elimination reactions. Similar activities were detected with hNTH1. These results indicate that hNEIL1 and hNTH1 are DNA glycosylases that excise 5-foU and 5-hmU as efficiently as Tg in human cells.     

Endothelial lipase is synthesized by hepatic and aorta endothelial cells and its expression is altered in apoE-deficient mice

Both LPL and HL are synthesized in parenchymal cells, are secreted, and bind to endothelial cells. To learn where endothelial lipase (EL) is synthesized in adult animals, the localization of EL in mouse and rat liver was studied by immunohistochemical analysis. Furthermore, to test whether EL could play a role in atherogenesis, the expression of EL in the aorta and liver of apolipoprotein E knockout (EKO) mice was determined. EL in both mouse and rat liver was colocalized with vascular endothelial cells but not with hepatocytes. In contrast, HL was present in both hepatocytes and endothelial cells. By in situ hybridization, EL mRNA was present only in endothelial cells in liver sections. EL was also present at low levels in aorta of normal mice. We fed EKO mice and wild-type mice a variety of diets and determined EL expression in liver and aorta. EKO mice showed significant expression of EL in aorta. EL expression was lower in the liver of EKO mice than in normal mice. Cholesterol feeding decreased EL in liver of both types of mice. In the aorta, EL was higher in EKO than in wild-type mice, and cholesterol feeding had no effect. Together, these data suggest that EL may be upregulated at the site of atherosclerotic lesions and thus could supply lipids to the area.