Antibody microarray analysis of inflammatory mediator release by human leukemia T-cells and human non small cell lung cancer cells.

Cytokines and chemokines are responsible for regulating inflammation and the immune response. Cytokine and chemokine release is typically measured by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) or Western blot analysis. To expedite the analysis of samples for multiple cytokines/chemokines, we have developed slide-based Thermo Scientific ExcelArray Antibody Sandwich Microarrays. Each slide consists of 16 subarrays (wells), each printed with 12 specific antibodies in triplicate and positive and negative control elements. This 16-well format allows for the analysis of 10 test samples using a six-point standard curve. The array architecture is based on the "sandwich" ELISA, in which an analyte protein is sandwiched between an immobilized capture antibody and a biotinylated detection antibody, using streptavidin-linked Thermo Scientific DyLight 649 Dye for quantitation. The observed sensitivity of this assay was <10 pg/mL. In our experiments, the Jurkat cell line was used as a model for human T-cell leukemia, and the A549 cell line was used as a model for human non-small cell lung cancer. To evoke a cytokine/chemokine response, cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA, TPA), and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Cell supernatants derived from both untreated and stimulated cells were analyzed on four different arrays (Inflammation I, Inflammation II, Angiogenesis, and Chemotaxis), enabling the quantitation of 41 unique analytes. Stimulated cells showed an increase in the expression level of many of the test analytes, including IL-8, TNF-alpha, and MIP-1alpha, compared to the non-treated controls. Our experiments clearly demonstrate the utility of antibody microarray analysis of cell-culture supernatants for the profiling of cellular inflammatory mediator release.     

Plant F-box Proteins – Judges between Life and Death

Selective protein degradation through the ubiquitin–26S proteasome system is a key mechanism for post-translational control of regulatory proteins in all eukaryotes. The pivotal components in this system are the multi-subunit E3 Ub-ligase enzymes responsible for specific recognition and ubiquitination of degradation targets. In this review, we focus on plant F-box proteins which confer specificity to the SCF-type E3 enzyme complexes. F-box proteins represent one of the largest and most heterogeneous superfamilies in plants, with hundreds of different representatives exposing an extensive variability of C-terminal target-binding domains, and as such, modulating almost every aspect of plant growth and development. Since the first reports on plant F-box proteins over a decade ago, a lot of progress has been made in our understanding of their relevance for plant physiology. In this review, we combine well-established knowledge with the most recent advances related to plant F-box proteins and their role in plant development, hormone signaling and defense pathways. We also elaborate on the yet poorly described carbohydrate-binding plant F-box proteins presumably targeting glycoproteins for proteasomal degradation.     

The galactose‐binding lectin isolated from Bauhinia bauhinioides Mart seeds inhibits neutrophil rolling and adhesion via primary cytokines

In this study, the amino acid sequence and anti‐inflammatory effect of Bauhinia bauhinioides (BBL) lectin were evaluated. Tandem mass spectrometry revealed that BBL possesses 86 amino acid residues. BBL (1 mg/kg) intravenously injected in rats 30 min prior to inflammatory stimuli inhibited the cellular edema induced by carrageenan in only the second phase (21% – 3 h, 19% – 4 h) and did not alter the osmotic edema induced by dextran. BBL also inhibited carrageenan peritoneal neutrophil migration (51%), leukocyte rolling (58%) and adhesion (68%) and the neutrophil migration induced by TNF‐α (64%). These effects were reversed by the association of BBL with galactose, demonstrating that the carbohydrate‐binding domain is essential for lectin activity. In addition, BBL reduced myeloperoxidase activity (84%) and TNF‐α (68%) and IL1‐β (47%) levels. In conclusion, the present investigation demonstrated that BBL contains highly homologous isolectins, resulting in a total of 86 amino acid residues, and exhibits anti‐inflammatory activity by inhibiting neutrophil migration by reducing TNF‐α and IL1‐β levels via the lectin domain. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical investigation on the glycan‐binding specificity of Agrocybe cylindracea galectin using molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulation studies

Galectins are β‐galactoside binding proteins which have the ability to serve as potent antitumor, cancer biomarker, and induce tumor cell apoptosis. Agrocybe cylindracea galectin (ACG) is a fungal galectin which specifically recognizes α(2,3)‐linked sialyllactose at the cell surface that plays extensive roles in the biological recognition processes. To investigate the change in glycan‐binding specificity upon mutations, single point and double point site‐directed in silico mutations are performed at the binding pocket of ACG. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies are carried out for the wild‐type (ACG) and single point (ACG1) and double point (ACG2) mutated ACGs to investigate the dynamics of substituted mutants and their interactions with the receptor sialyllactose. Plausible binding modes are proposed for galectin–sialylglycan complexes based on the analysis of hydrogen bonding interactions, total pair‐wise interaction energy between the interacting binding site residues and sialyllactose and binding free energy of the complexes using molecular mechanics–Poisson–Boltzmann surface area. Our result shows that high contribution to the binding in different modes is due to the direct and water‐mediated hydrogen bonds. The binding specificity of double point mutant Y59R/N140Q of ACG2 is found to be high, and it has 26 direct and water‐mediated hydrogen bonds with a relatively low‐binding free energy of −47.52 ± 5.2 kcal/mol. We also observe that the substituted mutant Arg59 is crucial for glycan‐binding and for the preference of α(2,3)‐linked sialyllactose at the binding pocket of ACG2 galectin. When compared with the wild‐type and single point mutant, the double point mutant exhibits enhanced affinity towards α(2,3)‐linked sialyllactose, which can be effectively used as a model for biological cell marker in cancer therapeutics. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

甘露糖结合凝集素对小鼠脾脏CD11c+髓样树突状细胞表型和

目的 探讨甘露聚糖结合凝集素(Mannan-binding lectin,MBL)对CD11c+髓样树突状细胞(CD11c+mDC)表型和功能的影响.方法 应用磁珠分选技术获得BALB/c小鼠脾脏CD1 1c+ mDC和CD4+T淋巴细胞.在CD11c+mDC中加入不同浓度的MBL(2.5～20 μg/mL)刺激,以不加MBL的细胞作为对照,应用ELISA法检测细胞培养上清液中的IL-12水平,流式细胞仪检测细胞表面分子CD40、CD80、CD86及HLA-DR的表达.用MTT法测定CD11c+mDC刺激CD4+T淋巴细胞的增殖能力.ELISA法检测细胞培养液中IL-4和IFN-γ水平.结果 MBL显著增强CD11c+mDC表面分子CD40、CD80、CD86及HLA-DR的表达和IL-12的分泌,促进CD4+T淋巴细胞的增殖和抗原递呈能力,诱导CD4+T向TH1反应分化.结论 MBL能够有效刺激CD11c+mDC的活化,诱导CD4+T淋巴细胞向TH1反应分化.     

酵母多糖影响人朗格汉斯细胞C型凝集素受体的研究

探究酵母多糖（Zymosan）对人朗格汉斯细胞（Langerhans cells, LCs）C型凝集素受体（C-type lectin receptors, CLRs）的影响。收集健康志愿者血液样本,Ficoll淋巴细胞分离液分离外周血单个核细胞,CD14磁珠分选CD14⁺细胞,用含有GM-CSF（1 000 U/mL）、IL-4（1 000 U/mL）、TGFβ-1（10 ng/mL）的培养液诱导培养LCs, Zymosan刺激LCs,8、24 h后收集细胞。提取Zymosan实验组和对照组细胞RNA,实时RT PCR分析5种CLRs（Dectin-1、Dectin-2、DC-SIGN、Mincle、MRC-2） mRNA的水平,扩增产物测序鉴定。共检测10个个体来源LCs在酵母多糖刺激后其CLRs mRNA变化的情况。在10组样本中,有6组Dectin 2受体mRNA较对照组增加（变化倍数≥2）,其中3组增加明显（变化倍数≥5）,最大增加倍数为20.91;有5组Mincle受体mRNA较对照组增加（变化倍数≥2）,其中4组增加明显（变化倍数≥5）,最大增加倍数为19.98;有1组MRC-2受体mRNA较对照组明显增加（变化倍数≥5）。Dectin-1和DC-SIGN受体mRNA没有增加。Zymosan能增加部分个体来源LCs内Dectin-2、Mincle和MRC-2受体mRNA的水平,而对Dectin-1和DC-SIGN受体mRNA的水平没有影响。本研究结果完善了Zymosan调节机体免疫功能的作用机制。     

Artificial leaf aids analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence and P700 absorbance in studies involving microalgae

Measuring chlorophyll fluorescence and P700 absorbance has been widely used to study photosynthesis in both terrestrial plants and algae. However, in order to apply these measurement techniques to study microalgae, a concentrated suspension of algae, which is usually prepared by centrifugation, is required. In this study, instead of using centrifugation, we concentrated microalgae on a nitrocellulose membrane using filtration to create an ‘artificial leaf’ before analysis. Overall, we were able to generate values of the appropriate photosynthetic parameters that were comparable to those obtained when chlorophyll fluorescence and P700 absorbance were measured following centrifugation. There were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) between the artificial leaf method and the traditional cuvette method for determining chlorophyll fluorescence or P700 absorbance at appropriate chlorophyll concentrations. We were also able to reduce background noise by using a filter membrane as a carrier. Therefore, an artificial leaf has the potential to be a valuable tool for phycologists interested in studying microalgal photosynthesis by enabling them to eliminate tedious centrifugation steps. In addition, fluorometers commonly used for studying the leaves of higher plants will also be suitable for studying microalgae.     

Development of M2BPGi: a novel fibrosis serum glyco-biomarker for chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis diagnostics

Many proteins in the living body are glycoproteins, which present glycans linked on their surface. Glycan structures reflect the degree of cell differentiation or canceration and are cell specific. These characteristics are advantageous in the development of various disease biomarkers. Glycoprotein-based biomarkers (glyco-biomarkers) are developed by utilizing the specific changes in the glycan structure on a glycoprotein secreted from the diseased cells of interest. Therefore, quantification of the altered glycan structures is the key to developing a new glyco-biomarker. Glycoscience is a relatively new area of molecular science, and recent advancement of glycotechnologies is remarkable. In the author’s institute, new glycoscience technologies have been designed to be efficiently utilized for the development of new diagnostic agents. This paper introduces a strategy for glyco-biomarker development, which was successfully applied in the development of Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein M2BPGi, a liver fibrosis marker now commercially available for clinical use.