Plasmacytoid dendritic cells regulate Th cell responses through OX40 ligand and type I IFNs

Dendritic cells (DCs) show a functional plasticity in determining Th responses depending on their maturational stage or on maturational signals delivered to the DCs. Human plasmacytoid DCs (PDCs) can induce either Th1- or Th2-type immune responses upon exposure to viruses or IL-3, respectively. In this study we have investigated the Th-polarizing capacity of PDCs after short (24-h) or long (72-h) culture with stimuli and have assessed the expression and function of OX40 ligand (OX40L) in PDC-mediated Th polarization in addition to type I IFN-dependent responses. IL-3-treated PDCs expressed OX40L, but produced almost no IFN-alpha in response to T cell stimulation (CD40 ligand or T cell interaction), resulting in the preferential priming of Th2 cells through OX40L-dependent mechanisms. Meanwhile, PDCs were rapidly endowed by viral infection (Sendai virus) with a high potency to develop IFN-gamma-producing Th cells depending on their capacity to residually produce IFN-alpha. Although Sendai virus-stimulated PDCs simultaneously expressed OX40L in their maturational process, the Th1-inducing effect of endogenous type I IFNs may overcome and thus conceal the OX40L-dependent Th2 responses. However, during maturation in response to Sendai virus over the longer 72-h period, the expression level of OX40L was up-regulated, whereas the residual IFN-alpha-producing ability was down-regulated, and consequently, the PDCs with prolonged Sendai virus stimulation induced Th2 responses to some extent. Thus, PDCs have the distinct means to dictate an appropriate response to environmental stimuli.     

Isolation of porphyran-degrading marine microorganisms from the surface of red alga, Porphyra yezoensis

Marine microorganisms degrading porphyran (POR) were found on the surface of thalli of Porphyra yezoensis. Fifteen crude microorganism groups softened and liquefied the surface of agar-rich plate medium. Among these, 11 microorganism groups degraded porphyran that consisted of sulfated polysaccharide in Porphyra yezoensis. Following isolation, 7 POR-degradable microorganisms were isolated from the 11 POR-degradable microorganism groups.     

Lectin pathway of bony fish complement: identification of two homologs of the mannose-binding lectin associated with MASP2 in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The lectin pathway of complement is considered to be the most ancient complement pathway as inferred from identification of ancient homologs of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and MBL-associated serine proteases (MASPs) in some invertebrates. MBL homologs with galactose selectivity and an MASP3-like sequence also occur in bony fish, linking the evolution of the lectin complement pathway from invertebrates to higher vertebrates. However, these cannot be considered authentic complement components until confirmatory functional evidence is obtained. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of two MBL homologs from a cyprinid teleost, the common carp, Cyprinus carpio. One, designated GalBL, corresponds to the MBL-like molecule with the galactose specificity. The other is an authentic MBL with mannose specificity. Both were found to associate with a serine protease that cleaves native human C4 into C4b but not C4i with a hydrolyzed thioester. Molecular cloning and phylogenetic analysis revealed this C4-activating protease to be carp MASP2, indicating that MASP2 arose before the emergence of bony fish. Database mining of MBL-like genes reveals that MBL and GalBL genes are arranged in tandem in the zebrafish genome and that both lectins are conserved in the distantly related puffer fish. These results imply that bony fish have developed a diverged set of MBL homologs that function in the lectin complement pathway.     

14-3-3eta is a novel regulator of parkin ubiquitin ligase

Mutation of the parkin gene, which encodes an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, is the major cause of autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (ARJP). Although various substrates for parkin have been identified, the mechanisms that regulate the ubiquitin ligase activity of parkin are poorly understood. Here we report that 14-3-3eta, a chaperone-like protein present abundantly in neurons, could bind to parkin and negatively regulate its ubiquitin ligase activity. Furthermore, 14-3-3eta could bind to the linker region of parkin but not parkin with ARJP-causing R42P, K161N, and T240R mutations. Intriguingly, alpha-synuclein (alpha-SN), another familial Parkinson's disease (PD) gene product, abrogated the 14-3-3eta-induced suppression of parkin activity. alpha-SN could bind tightly to 14-3-3eta and consequently sequester it from the parkin-14-3-3eta complex. PD-causing A30P and A53T mutants of alpha-SN could not bind 14-3-3eta, and failed to activate parkin. Our findings indicate that 14-3-3eta is a regulator that functionally links parkin and alpha-SN. The alpha-SN-positive and 14-3-3eta-negative control of parkin activity sheds new light on the pathophysiological roles of parkin.     

Excess peroxisomes are degraded by autophagic machinery in mammals

Peroxisomes are degraded by autophagic machinery termed "pexophagy" in yeast; however, whether this is essential for peroxisome degradation in mammals remains unknown. Here we have shown that Atg7, an essential gene for autophagy, plays a pivotal role in the degradation of excess peroxisomes in mammals. Following induction of peroxisomes by a 2-week treatment with phthalate esters in control and Atg7-deficient livers, peroxisomal degradation was monitored within 1 week after discontinuation of phthalate esters. Although most of the excess peroxisomes in the control liver were selectively degraded within 1 week, this rapid removal was exclusively impaired in the mutant liver. Furthermore, morphological analysis revealed that surplus peroxisomes, but not mutant hepatocytes, were surrounded by autophagosomes in the control. Our results indicated that the autophagic machinery is essential for the selective clearance of excess peroxisomes in mammals. This is the first direct evidence for the contribution of autophagic machinery in peroxisomal degradation in mammals.     

Depletion of hsp90beta induces multiple defects in B cell receptor signaling

Hsp90 participates in many distinct aspects of cellular functions and accomplishes these roles by interacting with multiple client proteins. To gain insight into the interactions between Hsp90 and its clients, here we have reduced the protein level of Hsp90 in avian cells by gene targeting in an attempt to elicit the otherwise undetectable (because of the vast amount of cellular Hsp90) Hsp90-interacting proteins. Hsp90beta-deficient cells can grow, albeit more slowly than wild-type cells. B cell antigen receptor signaling is multiply impaired in these mutant cells; in particular, the amount of immunoglobulin M heavy chain protein is markedly reduced. Furthermore, serum activation does not promote ERK phosphorylation in Hsp90beta-deficient cells. These multifaceted depressive effects seem to be provoked independently of each other and possibly recapitulate the proteome-wide in vivo functions of Hsp90. Reintroduction of the Hsp90beta gene efficiently restores all of the defects. Unexpectedly, however, introducing the Hsp90alpha gene is also effective in restoration; thus, these defects might be caused by a reduction in the total expression of Hsp90 rather than by loss of Hsp90beta-specific function.     

Identification of amino acid residues essential for heparin binding by the A1 domain of human von Willebrand factor

Platelet adhesion is mediated by von Willebrand factor (VWF) that binds platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb). Previous observations suggested that heparin competitively inhibits the binding of VWF to GPIb and may down-regulate platelet adhesion. We performed charged-to-alanine scanning mutagenesis of domain A1 and studied dose-dependent binding to heparin-Sepharose beads. Mutations at Lys1362 and Arg1395, at which the GPIb binding was markedly decreased, showed 41% and 42% binding, respectively. Clustered mutations in the segments 1332KDRKR1336 and 1405KKKK1408, which have been proposed as heparin binding sequences, showed 72% and 52% binding, respectively. However, single alanine substitutions within these clusters showed normal binding. Our findings suggest that heparin may inhibit the binding of VWF to GPIb by interacting with GPIb binding and interpret why some hemorrhagic complications of heparin therapy are not predictable based on techniques for monitoring the conventional anticoagulant effects of heparin.