CD47 Receptor Globally Regulates Metabolic Pathways That Control Resistance to Ionizing Radiation

Modulating tissue responses to stress is an important therapeutic objective. Oxidative and genotoxic stresses caused by ionizing radiation are detrimental to healthy tissues but beneficial for treatment of cancer. CD47 is a signaling receptor for thrombospondin-1 and an attractive therapeutic target because blocking CD47 signaling protects normal tissues while sensitizing tumors to ionizing radiation. Here we utilized a metabolomic approach to define molecular mechanisms underlying this radioprotective activity. CD47-deficient cells and cd47-null mice exhibited global advantages in preserving metabolite levels after irradiation. Metabolic pathways required for controlling oxidative stress and mediating DNA repair were enhanced. Some cellular energetics pathways differed basally in CD47-deficient cells, and the global declines in the glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites characteristic of normal cell and tissue responses to irradiation were prevented in the absence of CD47. Thus, CD47 mediates signaling from the extracellular matrix that coordinately regulates basal metabolism and cytoprotective responses to radiation injury.     

Two Global Conformation States of a Novel NAD(P) Reductase Like Protein of the Thermogenic Appendix of the Sauromatum guttatum Inflorescence

A novel NAD(P) reductase like protein (RL) belonging to a class of reductases involved in phenylpropanoid synthesis was previously purified to homogeneity from the Sauromatum guttatum appendix. The Sauromatum appendix raises its temperature above ambient temperature to ~30 °C on the day of inflorescence opening (D-day). Changes in the charge state distribution of the protein in electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry spectra were observed during the development of the appendix. RL adopted two conformations, state A (an extended state) that appeared before heat-production (D ? 4 to D ? 2), and state B (a compact state) that began appearing on D ? 1 and reached a maximum on D-day. RL in healthy leaves of Arabidopsis is present in state A, whereas in thermogenic sporophylls of male cones of Encephalartos ferox is present in state B. These conformational changes strongly suggest an involvement of RL in heat-production. The biophysical properties of this protein are remarkable. It is self-assembled in aqueous solutions into micrometer sizes of organized morphologies. The assembly produces a broad range of cyclic and linear morphologies that resemble micelles, rods, lamellar micelles, as well as vesicles. The assemblies could also form network structures. RL molecules entangle with each other and formed branched, interconnected networks. These unusual assemblies suggest that RL is an oligomer, and its oligomerization can provide additional information needed for thermoregulation. We hypothesize that state A controls the plant basal temperature and state B allows a shift in the temperature set point to above ambient temperature.     

The role of human rhinovirus in immunology, COPD, and corresponding treatments

The common cold is most often a result of human rhinovirus (HRV) infection. Common cold symptoms including rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction frequently occur during HRV infection of the upper respiratory tract. Conversely, HRV may also infect the epithelial cells of the lower respiratory tract. Symptom severity associated with HRV infection ranges from mild to potentially serious depending on a person’s susceptibility and pre-existing condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. An over active host immune response is believed to be the primary contributor to HRV pathogenesis. Enhanced activity of various host cell cytokines and granulocytes mediate specific cellular pathways inducing many of the symptoms associated with HRV infection. There are over 100 serotypes of HRV which can be further categorized based on the specific characteristics of each type. The two main categories of HRV consist of the major and minor groups. The unique host cell receptor is the distinguishing factor between these two groups. Yet, these viruses may also differ in mechanism of infection and replication. Due to the high frequency of hospital and clinical visits and the corresponding economic burden, novel therapies are of interest. Several different treatment options varying from herbal remedies to anti-viral drugs have been studied. However, the vast number of HRV serotypes complicates the progress of developing a universal treatment for attenuating HRV infection.