CD81 Controls Sustained T Cell Activation Signaling and Defines the Maturation Stages of Cognate Immunological Synapses

In this study, we investigated the dynamics of the molecular interactions of tetraspanin CD81 in T lymphocytes, and we show that CD81 controls the organization of the immune synapse (IS) and T cell activation. Using quantitative microscopy, including fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), phasor fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy-Föster resonance energy transfer (phasorFLIM-FRET), and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM), we demonstrate that CD81 interacts with ICAM-1 and CD3 during conjugation between T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs). CD81 and ICAM-1 exhibit distinct mobilities in central and peripheral areas of early and late T cell-APC contacts. Moreover, CD81–ICAM-1 and CD81-CD3 dynamic interactions increase over the time course of IS formation, as these molecules redistribute throughout the contact area. Therefore, CD81 associations unexpectedly define novel sequential steps of IS maturation. Our results indicate that CD81 controls the temporal progression of the IS and the permanence of CD3 in the membrane contact area, contributing to sustained T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3-mediated signaling. Accordingly, we find that CD81 is required for proper T cell activation, regulating CD3ζ, ZAP-70, LAT, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation; CD69 surface expression; and interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion. Our data demonstrate the important role of CD81 in the molecular organization and dynamics of the IS architecture that sets the signaling threshold in T cell activation.     

Recombinant expression of Ole e 6, a Cys-enriched pollen allergen, in Pichia pastoris yeast: detection of partial oxidation of methionine by NMR

Olive pollen is one of the main causes of allergy in Mediterranean countries. Ole e 6, an olive pollen allergen, is a small (5.8 kDa) and acidic protein (pI 4.2) and no homologous proteins have been isolated or characterized so far. Ole e 6 has been efficiently expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. The cDNA encoding Ole e 6 was inserted into the plasmid vector pPIC9 and overexpressed in GS115 yeast cells. The recombinant product was purified by size-exclusion chromatography followed by reverse-phase HPLC. N-terminal sequencing, amino acid composition analysis, CD, NMR, and IgG-binding experiments were employed to characterize the purified protein. NMR data revealed the oxidation of the methionine at position 28 in approximately 50% of the recombinant protein but, although this alters its electrophoretic behavior, it did not affect folding or IgG-binding properties of rOle e 6. The recombinant form of Ole e 6 expressed in P. pastoris can be employed for structural and biochemical studies.     

Familial Danish dementia: co-existence of Danish and Alzheimer amyloid subunits (ADan AND A{beta}) in the absence of compact plaques

Familial Danish dementia is an early onset autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder linked to a genetic defect in the BRI2 gene and clinically characterized by dementia and ataxia. Cerebral amyloid and preamyloid deposits of two unrelated molecules (Danish amyloid (ADan) and beta-amyloid (Abeta)), the absence of compact plaques, and neurofibrillary degeneration indistinguishable from that observed in Alzheimer disease (AD) are the main neuropathological features of the disease. Biochemical analysis of extracted amyloid and preamyloid species indicates that as the solubility of the deposits decreases, the heterogeneity and complexity of the extracted peptides exponentially increase. Nonfibrillar deposits were mainly composed of intact ADan-(1-34) and its N-terminally modified (pyroglutamate) counterpart together with Abeta-(1-42) and Abeta-(4-42) in approximately 1:1 mixture. The post-translational modification, glutamate to pyroglutamate, was not present in soluble circulating ADan. In the amyloid fractions, ADan was heavily oligomerized and highly heterogeneous at the N and C terminus, and, when intact, its N terminus was post-translationally modified (pyroglutamate), whereas Abeta was mainly Abeta-(4-42). In all cases, the presence of Abeta-(X-40) was negligible, a surprising finding in view of the prevalence of Abeta40 in vascular deposits observed in sporadic and familial AD, Down syndrome, and normal aging. Whether the presence of the two amyloid subunits is imperative for the disease phenotype or just reflects a conformational mimicry remains to be elucidated; nonetheless, a specific interaction between ADan oligomers and Abeta molecules was demonstrated in vitro by ligand blot analysis using synthetic peptides. The absence of compact plaques in the presence of extensive neuro fibrillar degeneration strongly suggests that compact plaques, fundamental lesions for the diagnosis of AD, are not essential for the mechanism of dementia.     

BRI2 interacts with amyloid precursor protein (APP) and regulates amyloid beta (Abeta) production

Transmembrane proteins BRI2 and amyloid precursor protein (APP) co-localize with amyloid beta (Abeta) lesions in sporadic Alzheimer disease and mutations in both precursor proteins are linked to early-onset familial cases of cerebral amyloidosis associated with dementia and/or cerebral hemorrhage. A specific interaction between BRI2 and APP was unveiled by immunoprecipitation experiments using transfected and non-transfected cells. The use of deletion mutants further revealed that stretches 648-719 of APP751 and 46-106 of BRI2, both inclusive of the full transmembrane domains, are sufficient for the interaction. Removal of most of the APP and BRI2 extracellular domains without affecting the interaction implies that both proteins interact when are expressed on the same cell membrane (cis) rather than on adjacent cells (trans). The presence of BRI2 had a modulatory effect on APP processing, specifically increasing the levels of cellular APP as well as beta-secretase-generated COOH-terminal fragments while decreasing the levels of alpha-secretase-generated COOH-terminal fragments as well as the secretion of total APP and Abeta peptides. Determining the precise molecular pathways affected by the specific binding between APP and BRI2 could result in the identification of common therapeutic targets for these sporadic and familial neurodegenerative disorders.     

Systemic catabolism of Alzheimer's Abeta40 and Abeta42

To better understand the physiologic excretion and/or catabolism of circulating peripheral amyloid beta (Abeta), we labeled human Abeta40 (monomeric, with predominant unordered structure) and Abeta42 (mixture of monomers and oligomers in approximately 50:50 ratio, rich in beta-sheet conformation) with either Na(125)I or (125)I-tyramine cellobiose, also known as the cell-trapping ligand procedure, testing their blood clearance and organ uptake in B6SJLF1/J mice. Irrespective of the labeling protocol, the peptide conformation, and the degree of oligomerization, both Abeta40 and Abeta42 showed a short half-life of 2.5-3.0 min. The liver was the major organ responsible for plasma clearance, accounting for >60% of the peptide uptake, followed by the kidney. In vivo, hepatocytes captured >90% of the radiolabeled peptides which, after endocytosis, were preferentially catabolized and excreted into the bile. Biliary excretion of intact as well as partially degraded Abeta species became obviously relevant at doses above 10 microg. The use of biotin-labeled Abeta allowed the visualization of the interaction with HepG2 cells in culture, whereas competitive inhibition experiments with unlabeled Abeta demonstrated the specificity of the binding. The capability of the liver to uptake, catabolize, and excrete large doses of Abeta, several orders of magnitude above its physiologic concentration, may explain not only the femtomolar plasma levels of Abeta but the little fluctuation observed with age and disease stages.     

Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) Degrades Soluble Vasculotropic Amyloid-β E22Q and L34V Mutants,Delaying Their Toxicity for Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Patients carrying mutations within the amyloid-β (Aβ) sequence develop severe early-onset cerebral amyloid angiopathy with some of the related variants manifesting primarily with hemorrhagic phenotypes. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are typically associated with blood brain barrier disruption and hemorrhagic transformations after ischemic stroke. However, their contribution to cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related hemorrhage remains unclear. Human brain endothelial cells challenged with Aβ synthetic homologues containing mutations known to be associated in vivo with hemorrhagic manifestations (AβE22Q and AβL34V) showed enhanced production and activation of MMP-2, evaluated via Multiplex MMP antibody arrays, gel zymography, and Western blot, which in turn proteolytically cleaved in situ the Aβ peptides. Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry analysis highlighted the generation of specific C-terminal proteolytic fragments, in particular the accumulation of Aβ-(1–16), a result validated in vitro with recombinant MMP-2 and quantitatively evaluated using deuterium-labeled internal standards. Silencing MMP-2 gene expression resulted in reduced Aβ degradation and enhanced apoptosis. Secretion and activation of MMP-2 as well as susceptibility of the Aβ peptides to MMP-2 degradation were dependent on the peptide conformation, with fibrillar elements of AβE22Q exhibiting negligible effects. Our results indicate that MMP-2 release and activation differentially degrades Aβ species, delaying their toxicity for endothelial cells. However, taking into consideration MMP ability to degrade basement membrane components, these protective effects might also undesirably compromise blood brain barrier integrity and precipitate a hemorrhagic phenotype.     

CD300 heterocomplexes, a new and family-restricted mechanism for myeloid cell signaling regulation

The CD300 family of myeloid immunoglobulin receptors includes activating (CD300b, CD300e) and inhibitory members (CD300a, CD300f), as well as molecules of uncertain function presenting a negative charge within their transmembrane domain (CD300c, CD300d). In this paper, we establish that CD300c is a functional immune receptor able to deliver activating signals upon ligation in RBL-2H3 mast cells. CD300c signaling is partially mediated by a direct association with the immune receptor tyrosine-based activation motif-bearing adaptor FcεRγ. The existence of complementary transmembrane-charged residues in certain CD300 receptors suggested the formation of heterodimers within this family. Indeed, we proved the interaction between CD300b and CD300c in transfected COS-7 cells and demonstrated that it has important functional consequences. Unexpectedly, dimmer formation was dependent on the immunoglobulin domains rather than the charged transmembrane residues. Concordantly, all CD300 members were found to interact with each other, even with themselves, forming both homo- and heterodimers. We found that the combination of CD300 receptors in a complex differentially modulates the signaling outcome, strongly suggesting a new mechanism by which CD300 complexes could regulate the activation of myeloid cells upon interaction with their natural ligands.     

Characterization and identification of field ectomycorrhizae of Boletus edulis and Cistus ladanifer

Field ectomycorrhizae sampled under Boletus edulis and Cistus ladanifer have been characterized and described in detail based on standard morphological and anatomical characters. The described ectomycorrhiza has traits typical of Boletales: whitish with three differentiated plectenchymatous layers in the mantle in plan view forming ring-like structures and rhizomorphs with highly differentiated hyphae. The inflated, smooth cystidia-like clavate end cells on the surface of the rhizomorphs and their slightly twisted external hyphae are additional characterizing features. The Hartig net occupies 1 1/2 rows of cortical cells, partly reaching the endodermis. Not all hyphae have clamps. The identification of the fungal symbiont as B. edulis was confirmed by ITS rDNA sequence comparison between mycorrhizas and sporocarps. The singularity of this symbiotic association, as well as its ecological and practical implications, are discussed.     

Transactivation of EGFR by LPS induces COX-2 expression in enterocytes

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the leading cause of gastrointestinal morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. NEC is characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory response to bacterial flora leading to bowel necrosis. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediates inflammation through TLR4 activation and is a key molecule in the pathogenesis of NEC. However, LPS also induces cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which promotes intestinal barrier restitution through stimulation of intestinal cell survival, proliferation, and migration. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation prevents experimental NEC and may play a critical role in LPS-stimulated COX-2 production. We hypothesized that EGFR is required for LPS induction of COX-2 expression. Our data show that inhibiting EGFR kinase activity blocks LPS-induced COX-2 expression in small intestinal epithelial cells. LPS induction of COX-2 requires Src-family kinase signaling while LPS transactivation of EGFR requires matrix metalloprotease (MMP) activity. EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors block LPS stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK, suggesting an important role of the MAPK/ERK pathway in EGFR-mediated COX-2 expression. LPS stimulates proliferation of IEC-6 cells, but this stimulation is inhibited with either the EGFR kinase inhibitor AG1478, or the selective COX-2 inhibitor Celecoxib. Taken together, these data show that EGFR plays an important role in LPS-induction of COX-2 expression in enterocytes, which may be one mechanism for EGF in inhibition of NEC.