Conditional deletion of Shp2 tyrosine phosphatase in thymocytes suppresses both pre-TCR and TCR signals

It is well known that T cell differentiation and maturation in the thymus is tightly controlled at multiple checkpoints. However, the molecular mechanism for the control of this developmental program is not fully understood. A number of protein tyrosine kinases, such as Zap-70, Lck, and Fyn, have been shown to promote signals required for thymocyte development, whereas a tyrosine phosphatase Src homology domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase (Shp)1 has a negative effect in pre-TCR and TCR signaling. We show in this study that Shp2, a close relative of Shp1, plays a positive role in T cell development and functions. Lck-Cre-mediated deletion of Shp2 in the thymus resulted in a significant block in thymocyte differentiation/proliferation instructed by the pre-TCR at the beta selection step, and reduced expansion of CD4(+) T cells. Furthermore, mature Shp2(-/-) T cells showed decreased TCR signaling in vitro. Mechanistically, Shp2 acts to promote TCR signaling through the ERK pathway, with impaired activation of ERK kinase observed in Shp2(-/-) T cells. Thus, our results provide physiological evidence that Shp2 is a common signal transducer for pre-TCR and TCR in promoting T cell maturation and proliferation.     

Contrasting effects of T cell growth factors on T cell responses to melanoma in vitro

 Determinants of T cell responses to tumor cells remain largely unknown. In the present study we have used long-term cultures of human melanoma cells and autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes to examine the influence of cytokines with T cell growth activity on the phenotype and cytotoxic and proliferative response of T cells to melanoma. It was found that addition of interleukin-4 (IL-4) inhibited the response of CD8⁺ T cells and promoted the response of the CD4 subset. IL-2 or IL-7 was effective in increasing melanoma-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity in cultures where CD8 T cells were predominant, whereas IL-4 followed by IL-2 was most effective in cultures where CD4 T cells predominated. IL-10 or IL-12 inhibited proliferation and CTL activity against melanoma in long-term cultures. The effects of IL-12 were reproduced in long-term cultures of T cells stimulated with mAb against CD3 and were shown to depend on prior exposure of T cells to IL-12 before IL-2. As yet unidentified factors, such as co-factor expression on melanoma, appear to be as important as exogenous cytokines in determining the nature of T cell responses to melanoma. These results suggest that analysis of responses in long-term culture may assist in defining the role of key cytokines and other determinants of immune responses to melanoma. Received: 4 June 1996 / Accepted: 12 November 1996     

The related adaptors, adaptor in lymphocytes of unknown function X and Rlk/Itk-binding protein, have nonredundant functions in lymphocytes

Adaptors play a critical role in regulating signaling pathways that control lymphocyte development and activation. Adaptor in lymphocytes of unknown function X (ALX) and Rlk/Itk-binding protein (RIBP) are adaptors related by structure and sequence, coexpressed in T cells. Mice deficient for each adaptor demonstrated that ALX and RIBP, respectively, negatively and positively regulate T cell activation in response to TCR/CD28 stimulation. However, these results did not preclude that they may function redundantly in other cell populations, or in response to other stimuli. Therefore, to understand the relationship between these related adaptors, ALX/RIBP-deficient mice were generated. We demonstrate that although ALX and RIBP are expressed throughout T cell development, T cell development occurs normally in these mice. Using the H-Y TCR transgenic model, positive and negative selection were found to proceed unimpeded in the absence of ALX and RIBP. We demonstrate that RIBP is also expressed in B cells; however, RIBP- and ALX/RIBP-deficient mice had normal B cell development, and responded equivalently to wild type in response to IgM, CD40, B cell-activating factor/B lymphocyte stimulator, CpG, and LPS. Interestingly, T cells deficient in both ALX and RIBP behaved similarly to those deficient in ALX alone during T cell activation in response to TCR/CD28, exhibiting increased IL-2 production, CD25 expression, and proliferation, thus showing that ALX deficiency masked the effect of RIBP deficiency. ALX/RIBP-deficient T cells did not have any alterations in either activation-induced cell death or Th1/2 polarization. Therefore, we did not find any functional redundancy or synergy during lymphocyte development, selection, activation, or survival in ALX/RIBP-deficient mice, demonstrating that these molecules function independently.     

Nitrogen deprivation in Fusarium oxysporum promotes mycotoxin production via intermediates in the Krebs cycle and unreported methylmalonyl-CoA mutase activity

Metabolomics - The identification of metabolomic dysregulation appears promising for the prediction of type 1 diabetes and may also reveal metabolic pathways leading to beta-cell destruction....     

Glyphosate-resistant goosegrass. Identification of a mutation in the target enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase

The spontaneous occurrence of resistance to the herbicide glyphosate in weed species has been an extremely infrequent event, despite over 20 years of extensive use. Recently, a glyphosate-resistant biotype of goosegrass (Eleusine indica) was identified in Malaysia exhibiting an LD(50) value approximately 2- to 4-fold greater than the sensitive biotype collected from the same region. A comparison of the inhibition of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) activity by glyphosate in extracts prepared from the resistant (R) and sensitive (S) biotypes revealed an approximately 5-fold higher IC(50)(glyphosate) for the (R) biotype. Sequence comparisons of the predicted EPSPS mature protein coding regions from both biotypes revealed four single-nucleotide differences, two of which result in amino acid changes. One of these changes, a proline to serine substitution at position 106 in the (R) biotype, corresponds to a substitution previously identified in a glyphosate-insensitive EPSPS enzyme from Salmonella typhimurium. Kinetic data generated for the recombinant enzymes suggests that the second substitution identified in the (R) EPSPS does not contribute significantly to its reduced glyphosate sensitivity. Escherichia coli aroA- (EPSPS deficient) strains expressing the mature EPSPS enzyme from the (R) biotype exhibited an approximately 3-fold increase in glyphosate tolerance relative to strains expressing the mature EPSPS from the (S) biotype. These results provide the first evidence for an altered EPSPS enzyme as an underlying component of evolved glyphosate resistance in any plant species.     

Computational and Functional Analyses of a Small-Molecule Binding Site in ROMK

The renal outer medullary potassium channel (ROMK, or Kir1.1, encoded by KCNJ1) critically regulates renal tubule electrolyte and water transport and hence blood volume and pressure. The discovery of loss-of-function mutations in KCNJ1 underlying renal salt and water wasting and lower blood pressure has sparked interest in developing new classes of antihypertensive diuretics targeting ROMK. The recent development of nanomolar-affinity small-molecule inhibitors of ROMK creates opportunities for exploring the chemical and physical basis of ligand-channel interactions required for selective ROMK inhibition. We previously reported that the bis-nitro-phenyl ROMK inhibitor VU591 exhibits voltage-dependent knock-off at hyperpolarizing potentials, suggesting that the binding site is located within the ion-conduction pore. In this study, comparative molecular modeling and in silico ligand docking were used to interrogate the full-length ROMK pore for energetically favorable VU591 binding sites. Cluster analysis of 2498 low-energy poses resulting from 9900 Monte Carlo docking trajectories on each of 10 conformationally distinct ROMK comparative homology models identified two putative binding sites in the transmembrane pore that were subsequently tested for a role in VU591-dependent inhibition using site-directed mutagenesis and patch-clamp electrophysiology. Introduction of mutations into the lower site had no effect on the sensitivity of the channel to VU591. In contrast, mutations of Val¹⁶⁸ or Asn¹⁷¹ in the upper site, which are unique to ROMK within the Kir channel family, led to a dramatic reduction in VU591 sensitivity. This study highlights the utility of computational modeling for defining ligand-ROMK interactions and proposes a mechanism for inhibition of ROMK.     

PGE2 through the EP4 receptor controls smooth muscle gene expression patterns in the ductus arteriosus critical for remodeling at birth

The ductus arteriosus (DA) is a fetal shunt that directs right ventricular outflow away from pulmonary circulation and into the aorta. Critical roles for prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and the EP4 receptor (EP4) have been established in maintaining both the patency of the vessel in utero and in its closure at birth. Here we have generated mice in which loss of EP4 expression is limited to either the smooth muscle (SMC) or endothelial cells and demonstrated that SMC, but not endothelial cell expression of EP4 is required for DA closure. The genome wide expression analysis of full term wild type and EP4(-/-) DA indicates that PGE(2)/EP4 signaling modulates expression of a number of unique pathways, including those involved in SMC proliferation, cell migration, and vascular tone. Together this supports a mechanism by which maturation and increased contractility of the vessel is coupled to the potent smooth muscle dilatory actions of PGE(2).     

A Potent Class of GPR40 Full Agonists Engages the EnteroInsular Axis to Promote Glucose Control in Rodents

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by impaired glucose homeostasis due to defects in insulin secretion, insulin resistance and the incretin response. GPR40 (FFAR1 or FFA1) is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), primarily expressed in insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells and incretin-producing enteroendocrine cells of the small intestine. Several GPR40 agonists, including AMG 837 and TAK-875, have been disclosed, but no GPR40 synthetic agonists have been reported that engage both the insulinogenic and incretinogenic axes. In this report we provide a molecular explanation and describe the discovery of a unique and potent class of GPR40 full agonists that engages the enteroinsular axis to promote dramatic improvement in glucose control in rodents. GPR40 full agonists AM-1638 and AM-6226 stimulate GLP-1 and GIP secretion from intestinal enteroendocrine cells and increase GSIS from pancreatic islets, leading to enhanced glucose control in the high fat fed, streptozotocin treated and NONcNZO10/LtJ mouse models of type 2 diabetes. The improvement in hyperglycemia by AM-1638 was reduced in the presence of the GLP-1 receptor antagonist Ex(9–39)NH₂.     

Deposition of laminin 5 in epidermal wounds regulates integrin signaling and adhesion

Adhesion of keratinocytes in a wound outgrowth to laminin 5 in the basement membrane via integrins alpha6beta4 and alpha3beta1 is distinct from adhesion to dermal collagen via alpha2beta1 or to fibronectin via alpha5beta1. Leading cells in the outgrowth are distinguished from following keratinocytes by deposition of laminin 5, failure to communicate via gap junctions and sensitivity to toxin B, an inhibitor of RhoGTPase. Laminin 5 deposited by leading keratinocytes onto dermal collagen dominates over dermal ligands and changes the cell signals required for adhesion from collagen-dependent to laminin-5-dependent. Thus, deposition of laminin 5 can instruct keratinocytes to switch from an activated phenotype to a quiescent and integrated epithelial phenotype.