Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Interferes on Dendritic Cells Maturation by Inhibiting PGE2 Production

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis, endemic in most Latin American countries, especially in Brazil, whose etiologic agent is the thermodimorphic fungus of the genus Paracoccidioides, comprising cryptic species of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, S1, PS2, PS3 and Paracoccidioides lutzii. The mechanisms involved in the initial interaction of the fungus with cells of the innate immune response, as dendritic cells (DCs), deserve to be studied. Prostaglandins (PGs) are eicosanoids that play an important role in modulating functions of immune cells including DCs. Here we found that human immature DCs derived from the differentiation of monocytes cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4 release substantial concentrations of PGE₂, which, however, were significantly inhibited after challenge with P. brasiliensis. In vitro blocking of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) by monoclonal antibodies showed the involvement of mannose receptor (MR) in PGE₂ inhibition by the fungus. In addition, phenotyping assays showed that after challenge with the fungus, DCs do not change their phenotype of immature cells to mature ones, as well as do not produce IL-12 p70 or adequate concentrations of TNF-α. Assays using exogenous PGE₂ confirmed an association between PGE₂ inhibition and failure of cells to phenotypically mature in response to P. brasiliensis. We conclude that a P. brasiliensis evasion mechanism exists associated to a dysregulation on DC maturation. These findings may provide novel information for the understanding of the complex interplay between the host and this fungus.     

Microbial Symbionts Accelerate Wound Healing via the Neuropeptide Hormone Oxytocin

Wound healing capability is inextricably linked with diverse aspects of physical fitness ranging from recovery after minor injuries and surgery to diabetes and some types of cancer. Impact of the microbiome upon the mammalian wound healing process is poorly understood. We discover that supplementing the gut microbiome with lactic acid microbes in drinking water accelerates the wound-healing process to occur in half the time required for matched control animals. Further, we find that Lactobacillus reuteri enhances wound-healing properties through up-regulation of the neuropeptide hormone oxytocin, a factor integral in social bonding and reproduction, by a vagus nerve-mediated pathway. Bacteria-triggered oxytocin serves to activate host CD4+Foxp3+CD25+ immune T regulatory cells conveying transplantable wound healing capacity to naive Rag2-deficient animals. This study determined oxytocin to be a novel component of a multi-directional gut microbe-brain-immune axis, with wound-healing capability as a previously unrecognized output of this axis. We also provide experimental evidence to support long-standing medical traditions associating diet, social practices, and the immune system with efficient recovery after injury, sustained good health, and longevity.     

Functional role of lipid metabolism in activated T-lymphocytes

Exogenous long-chain fatty acids are readily taken up by unstimulated lymphocytes derived from the thymus of calves or rabbits and esterified to complex lipids, primarily phospholipids and triacylglycerols. Compared to saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids are incorporated preferentially. Furthermore, unsaturated fatty acids are transferred from triacylglycerols to phospholipids. The transfer cannot be observed with palmitic acid. With regard to individual phospholipid species, oleic acid and linoleic acid are found primarily in phosphatidylcholine. Arachidonic acid, however, is transferred to phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol as well. This suggests an arachidonic-specific transfer between individual phospholipids. Stimulation of the cells with the mitogen concanavalin A results in an enhanced incorporation of the fatty acids and an enhanced transfer from triacylglycerols to phospholipids. Triacylglycerols may thus be regarded as a labile intracellular storage pool that may be activated upon mitogenic stimulation.     

Activation of Integrin αVβ3 Regulates Cell Adhesion and Migration to Bone Sialoprotein

α_Vβ₃, a broadly distributed member of the integrin family of adhesion receptors, has been implicated in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological events, including control of bone density, angiogenesis, apoptosis, tumor growth, and metastasis. Recently, it has been shown that activation of α_Vβ₃, its transition from a low- to a high-affinity/avidity state, influences its recognition of certain ligands. Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is recognized as an important ligand for α_Vβ₃ in processes ranging from bone formation to the homing of metastatic tumor cells. Here, the influence of α_Vβ₃ activation on the adhesion and migration of relevant cells to BSP has been examined. Stimulation of lymphoblastoid, osteoblastoid, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with PMA or Mn²⁺ markedly enhanced α_Vβ₃-dependent adhesion to BSP. α_Vβ₃-mediated migration of HUVEC or osteoblastic cells to BSP was substantially enhanced by stimulation, demonstrating that α_Vβ₃ activation enhances both adhesive and migratory responses. However, adhesion and/or migration of certain tumor cell lines, including M21 melanoma and MDA MB435 and SKBR3 breast carcinoma cell lines, to BSP was constitutively high and was not augmented by α_Vβ₃-activating stimuli. Inhibitors of the intracellular signaling molecules, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase with wortmannin, hsp90-dependent kinases with geldanamycin, and calpain with calpeptin, but not MAPKK with PD98059, reduced the high spontaneous adhesion and migration of the M21 cells to BSP, consistent with the constitutive activation of the receptor on these tumor cells. These results indicate that the activation state of α_Vβ₃ can regulate cell migration and adhesion to BSP and, by extension, to other ligands of this receptor. The constitutive activation of α_Vβ₃ on neoplastic cells may contribute to tumor growth and metastatic potential.     

Pitfalls in measuring fluorescence polarization in mitogen-stimulated T-lymphocytes

Fluorescence polarization measurements with the probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) were performed to detect changes in the fluidity of plasma membranes from T-lymphocytes stimulated with mitogens. When the cells were incubated with succinyl-concanavalin A an increase in fluorescence polarization was observed. This, however, could be shown to be due to the interaction of the mitogen with the label DPH and did not reflect changes in the plasma membrane. In purified plasma membranes a decrease rather than an increase of fluorescence polarization was observed.     

Regulation of prostaglandin synthesis by protein kinase C in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Resident mouse peritoneal macrophages synthesized and released prostaglandins (PGs) when challenged with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) or 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DiC8). Both stimuli were found to activate Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (PKC). 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine ('H-7') and D-sphingosine, known to inhibit PKC by different mechanisms, were able to decrease the PKC activity of macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Addition of either PKC inhibitor decreased PG synthesis and also the release of arachidonic acid (AA) from phospholipids induced by TPA or DiC8. Simultaneously TPA or DiC8 also decreased incorporation of free AA into membrane phospholipids of macrophages. AA incorporation could be restored, however, by pretreatment with the PKC inhibitors. Our results demonstrate an involvement of PKC in the regulation of PG synthesis in mouse peritoneal macrophages and provide further evidence that reacylation of released fatty acids may be an important regulatory step.     

Characterization of the interleukin-1-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of a 41-kDa plasma membrane protein of the human tumor cell line K 562

A 41-kDa protein, which was specifically phosphorylated upon incubation with natural purified murine interleukin 1, was recently identified by us [Martin, M., Lovett, D. H. and Resch, K. (1986) Immunobiology 171, 165-169] in highly purified plasma membranes from the human tumor cell line K 562. An in vitro assay was used to investigate and characterize the phosphorylation induced by interleukin 1, possibly involved in signal transduction and generation. Plasma membranes were incubated with radiolabeled ATP in the presence of purified natural murine interleukin 1, or recombinant human interleukin 1 alpha and the pattern of phosphoproteins was studied after separation by SDS/PAGE and subsequent autoradiography. A 41-kDa protein (pp41) was specifically phosphorylated on a tyrosine residue in the presence of interleukin 1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The protein showed a weak background phosphorylation in the absence of monokine. Phosphorylation took place very efficiently at 0 degrees C, whereas phosphatases were not active at that temperature. At 37 degrees C, a rapid dephosphorylation was observed which was inhibited specifically by Zn2+ and vanadate. The interleukin-1-specific induction of the phosphorylation could also be observed after detergent solubilization of the plasma membranes. Affinity labeling with an ATP analogue revealed an ATP-binding and cleaving site at 41 kDa. Interleukin 1 did not induce the phosphorylation of p41 in plasma membranes obtained from a subclone of K 562, which did not respond to interleukin 1 with growth inhibition, as was reported recently for the K 562 mother line [Lovett, D. H., Kozan, B., Hadam, M., Resch, K. and Gemsa, D. (1986) J. Immunol. 136, 340-347]. These data suggest that the interleukin-1 receptor is functionally linked to a protein-tyrosine kinase, which is implicated in its biological function.     

Induction of prostanoid synthesis in human platelets by the late complement components C5b-9 and channel forming antibiotic nystatin: inhibition of the reacylation of liberated arachidonic acid

Treatment of human platelets by the purified late complement components C5b-9 results in a dose- and time-dependent release of prostaglandin E (PGE) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2). To study the mechanism underlying the complement-induced prostanoid synthesis, we examined whether C5b-9 affected the enzyme acyl-coA:lysolecithin acyltransferase (E.C.2.3.1.2.3) that catalyzes the reinsertion of liberated arachidonic acid, the precursor molecule of the prostanoids. With C5b-9 doses sufficient to induce prostanoid synthesis, the activity of lysolecithin acyltransferase, measured as conversion of lysophosphatidyl choline to phosphatidyl choline, was inhibited. For comparison, another channel-forming substance, nystatin, was studied. Nystatin had an effect similar to C5b-9: PGE and TXB2 release was stimulated, whereas acyltransferase activity was inhibited. These finding support the concept that inhibition of lysolecithin acyltransferase might be the prerequisite for prostanoid production.