Studies of the mechanisms for the induction of in vivo tumor immunity. V. A comparison of the generation of the primary cell-mediated cytotoxic response using in vitro mixed-lymphocyte--tumor cell culture and an in vivo technique

In vivo immunization of C57BL/6 mice with FBL-3, a syngeneic Friend-virus-induced leukemia, can induce a specific, T-cell-mediated cytotoxic response, as measured by the ¹²⁵IUdR release assay. In vitro it was difficult to generate an analogous, primary cytotoxic response, using a normal spleen responder population. After modification of the splenic responders by adding normal peritoneal cells, this modified population then had the capacity to mount a primary cytotoxic response in the mixed-lymphocyte-tumor cell culture reaction to FBL-3. We have characterized the effector population as well as the helper (peritoneal) cells which were responsible for elevating the cytolytic response to FBL-3. The results indicate that there are at least two populations of cells which are essential for inducing a primary cell-mediated cytotoxic response. First, the effectors which are directly responsible for mediating the cytotoxic reactions and are derived from radiosensitive T cells and second, a helper cell population which is radioresistant and has the characteristics of macrophages.     

Microbody Malate Dehydrogenase Isozyme in Cotyledons of Cucumis sativus L. during Development

The properties of the microbody malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) (MDH) isozyme from cotyledons of Cucumus sativus L. were compared during development. It is concluded that the isozyme remains unaltered, despite the transition from glyoxysomal to peroxisomal function that occurs during greening of the cotyledons. This conclusion is based on electrophoretic behavior, chromatographic elution from DEAE-cellulose, molecular weight, kinetic behavior, and immunological identity. In most cases, the distinct properties of the other MDH isozymes in the tissue during development provide additional support for an unchanging microbody isozyme. A method for assaying specifically the microbody isozyme was developed; a diluted preparation was assayed spectrophotometrically before and after complete immunological precipitation. The turnover of the microbody MDH isozyme was investigated by a radioactive labeling study. There is incorporation into both glyoxysomal and peroxisomal MDH. Degradation rates do not correspond with either decline of glyoxysomal activity or the continuation of peroxisomal activity. Apparently, the microbody MDH isozyme is continually turned over throughout cotyledon development.     

Temperature dependence of N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine binding in egg lecithin vesicles

The temperature dependence of the binding of PhNapNH₂ ($\text{N-}\text{phenyl-1-naphthylamine}$) to vesicles of egg phosphatidylcholine has been determined. The Arrhenius plot of the association constant exhibits a discontinuity at 20.9 °C, some 30 °C above the broad phase transition region of the phospholipid. In the temperature range above 20 °C, $\text{ΔH}{}^0\text{= ?6100}\text{cal·mol}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ and $\text{ΔS}{}^0\text{= 9.7}\text{e. u.}$; in the temperature range below 20 °C, $\text{ΔH}{}^0\text{= 0}\text{cal · mol}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ and $\text{ΔS}{}^0\text{= 30.4}\text{e. u.}$ These values are consistent with the view that there are well ordered lipid-lipid bonds below 20 °C which are significantly less important above this temperature. The order in the temperature range of 5 to 20 °C, though significantly greater than that above 20 °C, is still significantly less than that in the crystalline state.     

LINC01128 regulates the development of osteosarcoma by sponging miR‐299‐3p to mediate MMP2 expression and activating Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway

Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most common metastatic bone cancers, which results in significant morbidity and mortality. The important role of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the biological processes of OS has been demonstrated through several studies. In the current study, we evaluated the role of the lncRNA, LINC01128, in OS. We analysed the expression of LINC01128 in three OS gene expression omnibus (GEO) data sets {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE21257","term_id":"21257"}}GSE21257, {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE36001","term_id":"36001"}}GSE36001 and {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE42352","term_id":"42352"}}GSE42352. The expression of LINC01128 in OS tissues and matched non‐tumour tissues obtained from 50 OS patients was detected using qRT‐PCR. The association between LINC01128 expression and overall survival of OS patients was evaluated using the Kaplan‐Meier method. The effects of LINC01128 knockdown and overexpression were evaluated through in vitro and in vivo assays. The LINC01128/miR‐299‐3p/ MMP2 axis was verified using dual‐luciferase reporter assay and qRT‐PCR assays. GEO data sets analysis revealed that the expression of LINC01128 was increased in OS. Elevated LINC01128 expression was accompanied by shorter overall survival in OS patients. Functional studies revealed that LINC01128 knockdown reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion of OS cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC01128 sponged miR‐299‐3p to increase MMP2 expression. Rescue assays determined the role of the LINC01128/miR‐299‐3p/MMP2 axis in the proliferation, migration and invasion of OS cells. Additionally, the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway was activated by LINC01128 and MMP2 in OS cell lines. In summary, this study demonstrates that LINC01128 facilitates OS by functioning as a sponge of miR‐299‐3p, thus promoting MMP2 expression and activating the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway.     

The Excitotoxin Quinolinic Acid Induces Tau Phosphorylation in Human Neurons

Some of the tryptophan catabolites produced through the kynurenine pathway (KP), and more particularly the excitotoxin quinolinic acid (QA), are likely to play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer''s disease (AD). We have previously shown that the KP is over activated in AD brain and that QA accumulates in amyloid plaques and within dystrophic neurons. We hypothesized that QA in pathophysiological concentrations affects tau phosphorylation. Using immunohistochemistry, we found that QA is co-localized with hyperphosphorylated tau (HPT) within cortical neurons in AD brain. We then investigated in vitro the effects of QA at various pathophysiological concentrations on tau phosphorylation in primary cultures of human neurons. Using western blot, we found that QA treatment increased the phosphorylation of tau at serine 199/202, threonine 231 and serine 396/404 in a dose dependent manner. Increased accumulation of phosphorylated tau was also confirmed by immunocytochemistry. This increase in tau phosphorylation was paralleled by a substantial decrease in the total protein phosphatase activity. A substantial decrease in PP2A expression and modest decrease in PP1 expression were observed in neuronal cultures treated with QA. These data clearly demonstrate that QA can induce tau phosphorylation at residues present in the PHF in the AD brain. To induce tau phosphorylation, QA appears to act through NMDA receptor activation similar to other agonists, glutamate and NMDA. The QA effect was abrogated by the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine. Using PCR arrays, we found that QA significantly induces 10 genes in human neurons all known to be associated with AD pathology. Of these 10 genes, 6 belong to pathways involved in tau phosphorylation and 4 of them in neuroprotection. Altogether these results indicate a likely role of QA in the AD pathology through promotion of tau phosphorylation. Understanding the mechanism of the neurotoxic effects of QA is essential in developing novel therapeutic strategies for AD.     

Stereoselective binding and activity of oxotremorine analogs at muscarinic receptors in rat brain.

The activities of the enantiomers of BM-5 were examined to measure muscarinic cholinergic selectivity in the central nervous system. Autoradiographic studies assessed the ability of each enantiomer to inhibit the binding of [3H]-(R)-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]-(R)-QNB) to muscarinic receptors in the rat brain. (+)-(R)-BM-5 inhibited [3H]-(R)-QNB binding to rat brain sections at concentrations below 1.0 microM, while 100-fold higher concentrations of (-)-(S)-BM-5 were required for comparable levels of inhibition. Analysis of the autoradiograms indicated that both stereoisomers had a similar distribution of high affinity binding sites. Each enantiomer displayed higher affinity for muscarinic receptors in the superior colliculi and lower affinity for receptors in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. (+)-(R)-BM-5 and oxotremorine inhibited adenylyl cyclase activity in the cerebral cortex with efficacies comparable to that for acetylcholine. (+)-(R)-BM-5 was 26-fold more potent than (-)-(S)-BM-5 in inhibiting adenylyl cyclase. Oxotremorine-M and carbamylcholine stimulated phosphoinositide turnover in the cerebral cortex. Oxotremorine had lower activity and (+)-(R)-BM-5 was essentially inactive at comparable concentrations. The difference in activity of the two enantiomers indicates a remarkable stereochemical selectivity for muscarinic receptors. The stereoselectivity index is comparable for both the autoradiographic assays (48) and measures of adenylyl cyclase activity (26) in the cerebral cortex.     

The NLR protein,NLRX1, and its partner,TUFM, reduce type I interferon,and enhance autophagy

The NLR (nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing) proteins serve as regulators of inflammatory signaling pathways. NLRX1, a mitochondria-localized NLR protein, has been previously shown to negatively regulate inflammatory cytokine production activated via the MAVS-DDX58 (RIG-I) pathway. The literature also indicates that DDX58 has a negative impact upon autophagy. Consistent with the inhibitory role of NLRX1 on DDX58, our recent study indicates a role of NLRX1 in augmenting virus-induced autophagy. This effect is through its interaction with another mitochondrial protein TUFM (Tu translation elongation factor, mitochondrial, also known as EF-TuMT, COXPD4, and P43). TUFM also reduces DDX58-activated cytokines but augments autophagy. Additionally it interacts with ATG12–ATG5-ATG16L1 to form a molecular complex that modulates autophagy. The work shows that both NLRX1 and TUFM work in concert to reduce cytokine response and augment autophagy.