Impact of Histone H1 on the Progression of Allergic Rhinitis and Its Suppression by Neutralizing Antibody in Mice

Nuclear antigens are known to trigger off innate and adaptive immune responses. Recent studies have found that the complex of nucleic acids and core histones that are derived from damaged cells may regulate allergic responses. However, no fundamental study has been performed concerning the role of linker histone H1 in mast cell-mediated type I hyperreactivity. In this study, we explored the impact of histone H1 on mast cell-mediated allergic responses both in vitro and in vivo. In the course of a bona-fide experimental allergen sensitization model upon co-injection with alum adjuvant, ovalbumin (OVA), but not PBS, induced elevated levels of circulating histone H1. Intranasal challenge with histone H1 to OVA/alum- (but not PBS/alum)-sensitized mice induced significantly severer symptoms of allergic rhinitis than those in mice sensitized and challenged with OVA. A monoclonal antibody against histone H1 not only suppressed mast cell degranulation, but also ameliorated OVA-induced nasal hyperreactivity and IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Our present data suggest that nuclear histone H1 represents an alarmin-like endogenous mediator acting on mast cells, and that its blockage has a therapeutic potential for mast cell-mediated type I hyperreactivity.     

CFTR mediates bicarbonate-dependent activation of miR-125b in preimplantation embryo development

Although HCO₃⁻ is known to be required for early embryo development, its exact role remains elusive. Here we report that HCO₃⁻ acts as an environmental cue in regulating miR-125b expression through CFTR-mediated influx during preimplantation embryo development. The results show that the effect of HCO₃⁻ on preimplantation embryo development can be suppressed by interfering the function of a HCO₃⁻-conducting channel, CFTR, by a specific inhibitor or gene knockout. Removal of extracellular HCO₃⁻ or inhibition of CFTR reduces miR-125b expression in 2 cell-stage mouse embryos. Knockdown of miR-125b mimics the effect of HCO₃⁻ removal and CFTR inhibition, while injection of miR-125b precursor reverses it. Downregulation of miR-125b upregulates p53 cascade in both human and mouse embryos. The activation of miR-125b is shown to be mediated by sAC/PKA-dependent nuclear shuttling of NF-κB. These results have revealed a critical role of CFTR in signal transduction linking the environmental HCO₃⁻ to activation of miR-125b during preimplantation embryo development and indicated the importance of ion channels in regulation of miRNAs.     

A型流感病毒PB1-F2蛋白与MOAP-1的相互作用

【目的】探讨A型流感病毒PB1-F2蛋白和人类凋亡调节因子1(MOAP-1)之间的相互作用。【方法】构建pACT2-MOAP-1重组质粒,与pGBKT7-PB1-F2质粒共转化酵母AH109,检测转化菌在四缺培养基的生长情况及β半乳糖苷酶报告基因的活性;利用GST pull-down和免疫共沉淀(Co-IP)技术进一步验证PB1-F2与宿主细胞蛋白MOAP-1的相互作用;通过过表达PB1-F2和MOAP-1,检测PB1-F2对MOAP-1蛋白表达水平的影响。【结果】酵母双杂交结果表明,PB1-F2和MOAP-1可以在酵母细胞内特异性结合。GST pull-down和Co-IP实验也进一步证实了这两种蛋白的相互作用,而且PB1-F2可上调外源MOAP-1的蛋白水平。【结论】流感病毒PB1-F2与MOAP-1存在相互作用,PB1-F2可能通过与MOAP-1的相互作用参与调控细胞生长及凋亡过程。     

Increased Risks of Mortality and Atherosclerotic Complications in Incident Hemodialysis Patients Subsequently with Bone Fractures: A Nationwide Case-Matched Cohort Study

Background

Hemodialysis (HD) patients with bone fractures have an increased risk for death. However, the risks for mortality and atherosclerotic complications in incident HD patients subsequently with bone fractures are unknown.

Methods

Data derived from the Taiwan National Health Institute Research Database between January 1997 and December 2008 was analyzed. The enrolled patients included 3,008 incident HD patients subsequently with a single long bone fracture (LB Fx) and 2,070 incident HD patients subsequently with a single non-long bone fracture (NLB Fx). These patients were matched (1:5 ratio) for age, sex, and same duration of HD with incident HD patients who had no fractures and outcomes were measured over a 3-year follow-up.

Results

After demographic and co-morbidity adjustment, LB Fx increased the risk for overall mortality (HR = 1.59, p < 0.001) and stroke (HR = 1.09, p = 0.028) in incident HD patients. NLB Fx increased the risk for overall mortality (HR = 1.52, p < 0.001), stroke (HR = 1.19, p < 0.001), coronary artery disease (CAD), (HR = 1.13, p = 0.003), and peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), (HR = 1.41, p < 0.001) in incident HD patients. Moreover, incident patients subsequently with NLB Fx had significantly higher risks of CAD and PAOD than those subsequently with LB Fx.

Conclusions

The rates of mortality and stroke were significantly higher in incident HD patients subsequently with bone fractures than in matched patients without bone fractures. Incident HD patients subsequently with NLB Fx had significantly higher risks of CAD and PAOD than those subsequently with LB Fx and without bone fractures. Thus, incident HD patients subsequently with bone fractures should be closely followed for a higher mortality and possible development of atherosclerotic complications.     

Lysosomal membrane permeabilization is involved in oxidative stress-induced apoptotic cell death in LAMP2-deficient iPSCs-derived cerebral cortical neurons

Patients with Danon disease may suffer from severe cardiomyopathy, skeletal muscle dysfunction as well as varying degrees of mental retardation, in which the primary deficiency of lysosomal membrane-associated protein-2 (LAMP2) is considerably associated. Owing to the scarcity of human neurons, the pathological role of LAMP2 deficiency in neural injury of humans remains largely elusive. However, the application of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) may shed light on overcoming such scarcity.In this study, we obtained iPSCs derived from a patient carrying a mutated LAMP2 gene that is associated with Danon disease. By differentiating such LAMP2-deficient iPSCs into cerebral cortical neurons and with the aid of various biochemical assays, we demonstrated that the LAMP2-deficient neurons are more susceptible to mild oxidative stress-induced injury.The data from MTT assay and apoptotic analysis demonstrated that there was no notable difference in cellular viability between the normal and LAMP2-deficient neurons under non-stressed condition. When exposed to mild oxidative stress (10 μM H₂O₂), the LAMP2-deficient neurons exhibited a significant increase in apoptosis. Surprisingly, we did not observe any aberrant accumulation of autophagic materials in the LAMP2-deficient neurons under such stress condition.Our results from cellular fractionation and inhibitor blockade experiments further revealed that oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in the LAMP2-deficient cortical neurons was caused by increased abundance of cytosolic cathepsin L. These results suggest the involvement of lysosomal membrane permeabilization in the LAMP2 deficiency associated neural injury.     

Participation of c-FLIP in NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome activation

Cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) is an inhibitor of caspase-8 and is required for macrophage survival. Recent studies have revealed a selective role of caspase-8 in noncanonical IL-1β production that is independent of caspase-1 or inflammasome. Here we demonstrated that c-FLIP_L is an unexpected contributor to canonical inflammasome activation for the generation of caspase-1 and active IL-1β. Hemizygotic deletion of c-FLIP impaired ATP- and monosodium uric acid (MSU)-induced IL-1β production in macrophages primed through Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Decreased IL-1β expression was attributed to a reduced activation of caspase-1 in c-FLIP hemizygotic cells. In contrast, the production of TNF-α was not affected by downregulation in c-FLIP. c-FLIP_L interacted with NLRP3 or procaspase-1. c-FLIP is required for the full NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and NLRP3 mitochondrial localization, and c-FLIP is associated with NLRP3 inflammasome. c-FLIP downregulation also reduced AIM2 inflammasome activation. In contrast, c-FLIP inhibited SMAC mimetic-, FasL-, or Dectin-1-induced IL-1β generation that is caspase-8-mediated. Our results demonstrate a prominent role of c-FLIP_L in the optimal activation of the NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes, and suggest that c-FLIP could be a valid target for treatment of inflammatory diseases caused by over-activation of inflammasomes.     

A novel property of spider silk: chemical defence against ants

Spider webs are made of silk, the properties of which ensure remarkable efficiency at capturing prey. However, remaining on, or near, the web exposes the resident spiders to many potential predators, such as ants. Surprisingly, ants are rarely reported foraging on the webs of orb-weaving spiders, despite the formidable capacity of ants to subdue prey and repel enemies, the diversity and abundance of orb-web spiders, and the nutritional value of the web and resident spider. We explain this paradox by reporting a novel property of the silk produced by the orb-web spider Nephila antipodiana (Walckenaer). These spiders deposit on the silk a pyrrolidine alkaloid (2-pyrrolidinone) that provides protection from ant invasion. Furthermore, the ontogenetic change in the production of 2-pyrrolidinone suggests that this compound represents an adaptive response to the threat of natural enemies, rather than a simple by-product of silk synthesis: while 2-pyrrolidinone occurs on the silk threads produced by adult and large juvenile spiders, it is absent on threads produced by small juvenile spiders, whose threads are sufficiently thin to be inaccessible to ants.