Immunology of Helicobacter pylori: insights into the failure of the immune response and perspectives on vaccine studies

Helicobacter pylori infects the stomach of half of the human population worldwide and causes chronic active gastritis, which can lead to peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. The host immune response to the infection is ineffective, because the bacterium persists and the inflammation continues for decades. Bacterial activation of epithelial cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils leads to a T helper cell 1 type of adaptive response, but this remains inadequate. The host inflammatory response has a key functional role in disrupting acid homeostasis, which impacts directly on the colonization patterns of H pylori and thus the extent of gastritis. Many potential mechanisms for the failure of the host response have been postulated, and these include apoptosis of epithelial cells and macrophages, inadequate effector functions of macrophages and dendritic cells, VacA inhibition of T-cell function, and suppressive effects of regulatory T cells. Because of the extent of the disease burden, many strategies for prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines have been investigated. The goal of enhancing the host's ability to generate protective immunity has met with some success in animal models, but the efficacy of potential vaccines in humans remains to be demonstrated. Aspects of H pylori immunopathogenesis are reviewed and perspectives on the failure of the host immune response are discussed. Understanding the mechanisms of immune evasion could lead to new opportunities for enhancing eradication and prevention of infection and associated disease.     

Molecular modeling of the prekallikrein structure provides insights into high-molecular-weight kininogen binding and zymogen activation

BACKGROUND: Prekallikrein (PK) plays a central role in the contact system that activates blood coagulation and is involved in the regulation of blood pressure. OBJECTIVES: To provide three-dimensional structural data for PK and rationalize the molecular basis of substrate recognition and zymogen activation. PATIENTS/METHODS: The PK homology model was constructed using the coagulation factor (F) XI crystal structure as a template with the program SWISS-MODEL. RESULTS: The domain organization of the PK apple domains and serine protease is conserved compared to FXI. Surface charge calculations on the PK model revealed that ligand binding to high-molecular-weight kininogen (HK) is predicted to have two key determinants: a pocket within the apple 2 domain and a basic channel formed at the interface of apple domains 1 and 4. A hereditary mutation resulting in PK deficiency (Gly104Arg) and the Lys140 alpha-kallikrein cleavage site both disrupt HK binding and are shown to map to opposite sides of the apple 2 domain pocket. The model also describes the differences in the apple 4 domain that prevents dimer formation in PK vs. FXI. A C-terminal extension in the PK serine protease domain is described as a potential substrate for prolylcarboxypeptidase. CONCLUSIONS: The interaction between PK and HK is mediated by two discrete surfaces formed by the PK A1, A2 and A4 domains with charge likely to be a critical component of the binding. A novel mode of PK activation is postulated to involve prolylcarboxypeptidase cleaving at the C-terminus rather than the activation loop.     

Muscarinic modulation of TREK currents in mouse sympathetic superior cervical ganglion neurons

Muscarinic receptors play a key role in the control of neurotransmission in the autonomic ganglia, which has mainly been ascribed to the regulation of potassium M‐currents and voltage‐dependent calcium currents. Muscarinic agonists provoke depolarization of the membrane potential and a reduction in spike frequency adaptation in postganglionic neurons, effects that may be explained by M‐current inhibition. Here, we report the presence of a riluzole‐activated current (I_RIL) that flows through the TREK‐2 channels, and that is also inhibited by muscarinic agonists in neurons of the mouse superior cervical ganglion (mSCG). The muscarinic agonist oxotremorine‐M (Oxo‐M) inhibited the I_RIL by 50%, an effect that was abolished by pretreatment with atropine or pirenzepine, but was unaffected in the presence of himbacine. Moreover, these antagonists had similar effects on single‐channel TREK‐2 currents. I_RIL inhibition was unaffected by pretreatment with pertussis toxin. The protein kinase C blocker bisindolylmaleimide did not have an effect, and neither did the inositol triphosphate antagonist 2‐aminoethoxydiphenylborane. Nevertheless, the I_RIL was markedly attenuated by the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor ET‐18‐OCH3. Finally, the phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase/phosphatidylinositol‐4‐kinase inhibitor wortmannin strongly attenuated the I_RIL, whereas blocking phosphatidylinositol 4,5‐bisphosphate (PIP₂) depletion consistently prevented I_RIL inhibition by Oxo‐M. These results demonstrate that TREK‐2 currents in mSCG neurons are inhibited by muscarinic agonists that activate M1 muscarinic receptors, reducing PIP₂ levels via a PLC‐dependent pathway. The similarities between the signaling pathways regulating the I_RIL and the M‐current in the same neurons reflect an important role of this new pathway in the control of autonomic ganglia excitability.     

作用于雄激素受体不同结合位点的前列腺癌治疗药物的研究进展

前列腺癌是最常见的男性泌尿生殖系统的恶性肿瘤。雄激素受体在前列腺癌的发生、发展中起着重要作用。目前,所有治疗前列腺癌的药物(包括第一代的氟他胺、比卡鲁胺、尼鲁米特和第二代的恩扎鲁胺)都与雄激素受体的配体结合口袋结合,并且这些药物有着相似的分子结构,这可能引起药物之间的交叉耐药。为了避免耐药性的产生,研究者们致力于发现雄激素受体上新的药物结合位点。除雄激素受体配体结合位点外,主要对作用于氮端结合位点上的第一活性功能区(AF1)、第二活性功能区(AF2)、AF2附近的第三结合功能区(BF3)和DNA结合位点(DBD)的药物进行综述。     

Advances in understanding the molecular basis of the first steps in color vision

Serving as one of our primary environmental inputs, vision is the most sophisticated sensory system in humans. Here, we present recent findings derived from energetics, genetics and physiology that provide a more advanced understanding of color perception in mammals. Energetics of cis–trans isomerization of 11-cis-retinal accounts for color perception in the narrow region of the electromagnetic spectrum and how human eyes can absorb light in the near infrared (IR) range. Structural homology models of visual pigments reveal complex interactions of the protein moieties with the light sensitive chromophore 11-cis-retinal and that certain color blinding mutations impair secondary structural elements of these G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Finally, we identify unsolved critical aspects of color tuning that require future investigation.     

UBXN2A regulates nicotinic receptor degradation by modulating the E3 ligase activity of CHIP

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) containing the α3 subunit are known for their prominent role in normal ganglionic transmission while their involvement in the mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction and smoking-related disease has been emerging only in recent years. The amount of information available on the maturation and trafficking of α3-containing nAChRs is limited. We previously showed that UBXN2A is a p97 adaptor protein that facilitates the maturation and trafficking of α3-containing nAChRs. Further investigation of the mechanisms of UBXN2A actions revealed that the protein interacts with CHIP (carboxyl terminus of Hsc70 interacting protein), whose ubiquitin E3 ligase activity regulates the degradation of several disease-related proteins. We show that CHIP displays E3 ligase activity toward the α3 nAChR subunit and contributes to its ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. UBXN2A interferes with CHIP-mediated ubiquitination of α3 and protects the nicotinic receptor subunit from endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation (ERAD). UBXN2A also cross-talks with VCP/p97 and HSC70/HSP70 proteins in a complex where α3 is likely to be targeted by CHIP. Overall,we identify CHIP as an E3 ligase for α3 and UBXN2A as a protein that may efficiently regulate the stability of CHIP’s client substrates.     

抑制IGF2基因的siRNA表达载体对肝癌Huh-7细胞增殖的抑制作用

目的:研究抑制人胰岛素样生长因子2(IGF2)基因的siRNA表达载体对肝癌Huh-7细胞增殖的抑制作用。方法:将重组人甲胎蛋白(hAFP)和人端粒酶逆转录酶(hTERT)双启动子调控抑制IGF2基因的siRNA表达载体pGL3-h AFP-hTERT-siRNA3(简称siRNA3)转染Huh-7细胞和正常肝L-02细胞,另设阴性对照(载体p GL3-hAFP-hTERT)组和空白对照组。采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应法检测各组细胞转染48 h后IGF2 mRNA表达;酶标仪检测转染0、24、48、72 h后的细胞活性;流式细胞仪检测转染48h后细胞周期、细胞凋亡;Western blot法检测细胞IGF2、增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)、细胞周期蛋白(Cyclin)E2、Cyclin D2、Cdc2、Bcl-2蛋白表达水平。结果:与阴性对照组和空白对照组比较,转染siRNA3的Huh-7细胞中IGF2 mRNA表达明显减弱,转染48、72 h后Huh-7细胞活性明显降低,G1期Huh-7细胞明显增加,S期Huh-7细胞明显减少;Huh-7细胞早期、晚期及总凋亡百分比均明显增加,IGF2、PCNA、Cyclin E2、Cyclin D2、Cdc2和Bcl-2蛋白表达均明显减弱,以上差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01或P<0.05)。转染siRNA3表达载体的L-02细胞上述指标均无明显变化(P>0.05)。结论:重组hAFP和hTERT双启动子调控针对IGF2基因的siRNA可特异性抑制Huh-7细胞IGF2表达及细胞增殖,其可能与下调IGF2 mRNA及蛋白表达,进而引起细胞增殖相关基因PCNA、细胞周期调控相关基因Cyclin E2、Cyclin D2、Cdc2及细胞凋亡调控相关基因Bcl-2蛋白表达下调有关。     

Hazard identification of cis/trans-zearalenone through the looking-glass

Among the food-related health issues, the presence of contaminants has a prominent role, due to the wide range of exogenous compounds that can occur in food commodities and to their large differences in structure and biological activity. A comprehensive assessment of the related risk is thus actually demanding in terms of time and facilities involved. In this context, the use of computational strategies can be an effective choice for supporting the hazard identification procedure at the early stage. In this work, we focused on the food contaminant zearalenone by comparing the trans and cis isomers, respectively the well-known mycoestrogen and its still largely understudied isomer. We estimated the possible effects exerted by human metabolism on the xenoestrogenicity of cis-ZEN by using a validated in silico strategy based on docking simulations and rescoring procedures. Similarly, the exploitation of the most promising enzymatic detoxifying routes designed for trans-ZEN – which relies on the enzyme lactono hydrolase from Clonostachys rosea – has been assessed for the cis-isomer as well. Our results showed that both isomers can act as functional analogues with respect to xenoestrogenic activity, and several cis-ZEN metabolites with high biological potential have been identified. On the contrary, in spite of the high degree of structural analogy, the cis isomer showed a pattern of interaction with the degrading enzyme in stark contrast with that observed for trans-ZEN. For these reasons, the outcomes presented herein strongly support the inclusion of cis-ZEN in further studies of occurrence, metabolism and bioactivity assessment, and suggest the need for a dedicated handling for the cis isomer in risk assessment studies.