Human islet amyloid polypeptide expression in COS-1 cells. A model of intracellular amyloidogenesis.

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is characterized by concurrent loss of beta-cells and deposition of islet amyloid derived from islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). We have previously demonstrated that IAPP-derived amyloid forms intracellularly in humans with chronic excess insulin expression (eg, insulinoma and insulin receptor antibody-induced insulin resistance). To determine whether overexpression of IAPP results in intracellular amyloid in mammalian cells, we transfected COS cells with vectors expressing amyloidogenic human IAPP or non-amyloidogenic rat IAPP. Transfected COS-1 cells secreted comparable amounts of human IAPP and rat IAPP (2.1 to 2.8 nmol/L/48 hours). After 96 hours, 90% of cells expressing human IAPP contained amyloid fibrils and were degenerating or dead, whereas cells transfected with rat IAPP lacked amyloid and were viable. Thus, overexpression of human IAPP can result in intracellular amyloid formation that is associated with cell death, suggesting that intracellular amyloid may play a role in beta-cell loss in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.     

S20G mutant amylin exhibits increased in vitro amyloidogenicity and increased intracellular cytotoxicity compared to wild-type amylin

Human amylin, a major constituent of pancreatic amyloid deposits, may be a pathogenetic factor for noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). We demonstrated that the human amylin S20G gene mutation (S20G) was associated with a history of early onset, more severe type of NIDDM, linking the amylin gene to this disease. Also, we demonstrated that expression of human wild-type (WT) amylin in COS-1 cells leads to intracellular amyloidogenesis and induction of apoptosis, suggesting a possible mechanism for disease induction. Therefore we compared the abilities of S20G and WT amylin to induce apoptosis in transfected COS-1 cells and form amyloid in vitro. We transfected the rat (RAT), mutated human (MUT), WT, and S20G amylin genes into COS-1 cells and measured apoptosis using fluorescent-activated cell sorting analysis at 48, 72, and 96 hours. At 96 hours apoptosis increased significantly (P < 0.01) in cells transfected with WT and S20G over RAT or MUT (WT, 19%; S20G, 25%; RAT, 13%; and MUT, 12%) and the difference between WT and S20G was significant (P < 0.05). Synthetic WT and S20G monomeric peptides were used to generate amyloid fibrils in vitro as measured by the thioflavin T binding assay. The S20G amylin formed approximately twofold more amyloid at a rate approximately threefold higher than WT. Electron micrography indicated that the in vitro amyloid generated by WT and S20G amylins were morphologically indistinguishable. The results suggest that increased cytotoxicity by S20G is because of increased amyloidogenicity, which may be a causative factor in the early development of NIDDM, possibly through loss of ss cell mass.     

Inhibition of islet amyloid polypeptide fibril formation by selenium-containing phycocyanin and prevention of beta cell apoptosis

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) fibril is the major constituent of amyloid deposits in pancreatic islets of type 2 diabetes. Misfolding and hIAPP fibril formation are thought to be important in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Studies have showed that selenium-containing phycocyanin (Se-PC) inhibited the fibrillation of hIAPP to form nanoscale particles, which is mainly by interfering with the combination between hIAPP. Small nanoscale oligomers tended to grow into larger nanoparticles and the size of nanoparticles increased with the incubation time. By interfering with the fibrillation of hIAPP and altering the structure, Se-PC alleviated hIAPP-induced cell apoptosis. Meantime, generation of ROS produced during the fibrillation process was inhibited, which was proposed to be the main factor for the hIAPP-cytotoxicity in beta cells. Taken together, Se-PC inhibited hIAPP fibrillation, thus suppressed the formation of ROS to show protective effect on hIAPP mediated cell apoptosis. Our studies provide useful information for our understanding of the interaction mechanisms of Se-PC on hIAPP structure and protective mechanisms on hIAPP cytotoxicity, presenting useful candidate for anti-diabetes drug development.     

小泛素样修饰蛋白-1对α-突触核蛋白基因突变或过表达诱导的细胞包涵体形成及细胞凋亡的影响

目的 探讨α-突触核蛋白(α-synuclein)的小泛素样修饰蛋白(small ubiquitin-like modifier,SUMO)-1对α-synuclein基因过表达或突变诱导的细胞包涵体形成及细胞凋亡的影响.方法 构建野生型(WT)、A53T突变型和缺失SUMO-1互作氨基酸的K96R突变型、K96R-A53T突变型α-synuclein真核表达质粒.应用脂质体介导转染方式将构建好的质粒转入HEK293细胞;48 h后Hoechst 33258染色,采用Axiovert200型倒置荧光显微镜观察对细胞的影响,应用四甲基偶氮唑盐检测细胞活力,Annexin V-PE流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡.结果 将构建所得真核表达质粒经双酶切鉴定及DNA测序证实;将WT型、A53T型、K96R型、K96R-A53T型α-synuclein真核表达质粒转染HEK293细胞,48 h后伊红染色显示转染野生型α-synuclein- pEGFP组及A53T突变型组某些细胞胞浆内出现圆形的嗜酸性小体(类Lewy小体)形成,分别占细胞总数的9.4％和11.7％,转染K96R及K96R-A53T融合表达载体组细胞内嗜酸性小体形成比率为10.2％和9.8％,两两相比差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).Hoechst染色结果显示,WT组、A53T组细胞核变大,出现着色不均,染色质聚集成斑点状,未见核浓缩或核碎裂.K96R组及K96R-A53T组胞核着色基本均匀.采用四甲基偶氮唑盐法结果显示转染空质粒组细胞活力为96.2％,转染WT组、A53T组细胞活力下降至53.4％及56.1％,转染K96R组及K96R-A53T组细胞活力为72.3％和69.8％;转染48 h后,WT组、A53T组细胞凋亡率分别为32.2％和34.1％,转染K96R组及K96R-A53T突变组细胞凋亡率下降为19.4％和20.3％,两两相比差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 SUMO-1对α-synuclein基因过度表达及α-synuclein基因致病突变A53T诱导的细胞包涵体的形成无明显影响;SUMO-1可加强α-synuclein基因过度表达及α-synuclein基因致病突变A53T诱导的细胞毒性及细胞凋亡,提示SUMO-1参与了细胞凋亡过程.     

融合蛋白FADDdel-GFP对死亡受体介导的胰岛细胞凋亡的影响

目的研究融合蛋白FADDdel-GFP对死亡受体介导的细胞凋亡信号的生物学效应,以探讨通过基因修饰靶细胞对1型糖尿病的影响。方法用脂质体将融合基因pFADDdel-GFP导入胰岛细胞株NIT,通过细胞RT-PCR和荧光显微镜检测其表达,采用FACS检测抗-Fas抗体诱导的胰岛细胞株的细胞毒效应。结果转染重组子pFADDdel-GFP的NITf-g细胞可见绿色荧光蛋白表达;NITf-g细胞对抗-Fas诱导的细胞损伤率为10.16%,细胞内的Caspase-3的活性为12.33%,均明显低于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论成功建立了稳定表达FADDdel-GFP的胰岛细胞株;FADDdel-GFP可有效抑制死亡受体介导的细胞内凋亡信号传导。     

Amyloidosis of pancreatic islets in primary amyloidosis (AL type)

Seven cases of primary amyloidosis (AL-type) were studied immunocytochemically for the possible involvement of pancreatic islets. The two cases with extensive organ involvement by AL-amyloidosis revealed amyloid deposits in pancreatic islets by routine HE and Congo red staining, which were positive for amyloid p and amyloid a, but were only focally positive for light chains kappa and lambda. Positive staining for amyloid p and amyloid a was also noted in the scattered pancreatic acinar tissues, and this positive staining was not specifically located in pancreatic islets as seen in type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is concluded that amyloid deposits in pancreatic islets occur in systemic AL-amyloidosis by a different mechanism from type 2 diabetes. Islet amyloidosis in AL-amyloidosis appears to deposit via circulation, depositing in both pancreatic islets and acinar tissue through blood vessels. In type 2 diabetes, beta islet cells die by cytotoxic effects of smaller amylin (islet amyloid polypeptide, IAPP) aggregates, and the interstitial space created by the necrotic beta cells is replaced by larger IAPP aggregates, to form complex, polymerized islet amyloid. In AL-amyloidosis, the amount of amyloid and light chain deposits in pancreatic islets is much less than that of the other organs and appears to have no connection to type 2 diabetes because the patients did not present diabetes or hyperglycemia. However, considerable islet amyloidosis can be seen in severe AL-type amyloidosis.     

Feline insular amyloid. Ultrastructural evidence for intracellular formation by nonendocrine cells

The objective of this ultrastructural study in cats was to investigate the early relationship of pancreatic islet cells with amyloid deposits. We used pancreatic islets from six domestic cats with minimal and apparently early amyloid deposits. Although amyloid deposits were occasionally arranged perpendicularly to beta cells, and rarely within deep invaginations of these cells, there was no consistent or convincing relationship of extracellular fibrils to any of the major islet stricted to, nongranulated perivascular cells in islets from two of the cats. Small and relatively electron-dense amyloid inclusions contained compact arrays of parallel fibrils. Larger inclusions were more electron-lucent and had loosely and randomly arranged fibrils. Indirect evidence strongly suggested that the fibril-laden inclusions resulted from intracellular production rather than from phagocytosis. The definitive identity of these amyloid-containing cells was not determined. However, these calls lacked secretory granules specific for known islet endocrine cell types and were topographically always located in close proximity to capillaries. The results of our study, therefore, do not directly support a morphologic association of amyloid fibril formation with typical islet endocrine cells. Our results do, however, draw attention to the possibility that nonendocrine cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of insular amyloidosis in the cat.     

自噬基因Beclin 1 shRNA表达质粒的构建及其下调凋亡因子caspase-9效应的研究

构建自噬基因Beclin 1的小发夹RNA(shRNA)真核表达质粒,脂质体包裹后体外转染人宫颈癌HeLa细胞株,通过荧光定量PCR(RT-PCR)和Western blot检测其对HeLa细胞自噬基因Beclin 1 mRNA及蛋白表达的影响,并检测细胞增殖、细胞周期、细胞凋亡情况以及凋亡因子caspase-9 mRNA及蛋白表达的变化。结果表明shRNA真核表达载体可以使HeLa细胞中自噬基因Beclin 1的mRNA及其蛋白含量降低,转染后细胞生长增殖速度加快,凋亡率降低,并伴有caspase-9 mRNA及蛋白量的显著下调。因此,Beclin 1不仅与自噬调控通路有关,而且可以调控凋亡的发生,同时参与两种程序性细胞死亡的过程。     

Synergistic inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis in human pancreatic beta cells by Bcl-2 and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis

To better understand the cytokine death-signal transduction pathways in human beta cells, we investigated the inhibitory effects of Bcl-2 (protooncogene bcl-2) and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) on TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand)-induced human beta-cell destruction. A panel of Bcl-2-overexpressing transfectants of the human beta-cell lines NES2Y and CM was developed by transfection with a pEFpGKpuro vector containing Bcl-2 or an empty vector as a control. TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis of Bcl-2-overexpressing beta cells were clearly decreased, in comparison with wild-type cells and the empty vector transfectants. XIAP-overexpressing CM, NES2Y, and primary islet cells were generated by exposing cells to recombinant adenovirus-expressing XIAP (AdXIAP) or AdLacz as a control. TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis of CM, NES2Y, and primary islet cells infected with AdXIAP were clearly reduced compared with controls. Interestingly, cytotoxicity induced by TRAIL in human beta cells transfected with both Bcl-2 and AdXIAP was much less than that observed in human beta cells transfected with either Bcl-2 or XIAP alone (p < 0.005 in CM and p < 0.03 in NES2Y). Overexpression of both Bcl-2 and XIAP inhibited TRAIL-induced activation of caspases as well as TRAIL-mediated damage of mitochondrial function in cells, suggesting possible regulatory mechanisms. These results indicate that Bcl-2 and XIAP synergistically inhibit TRAIL-mediated death pathways in human beta cells.     

Visualization of fibrillar amyloid deposits in living, transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans animals using the sensitive amyloid dye, X-34

Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans animals can be engineered to express high levels of the human beta amyloid peptide (Abeta). Histochemistry of fixed tissue from these animals reveals deposits reactive with the amyloid-specific dyes Congo Red and thioflavin S (Fay et al., J. Neurochem 71:1616, 1998). Here we show by immuno-electron microscopy that these animals contain intracellular immunoreactive deposits with classic amyloid fibrillar ultrastructure. These deposits can be visualized in living animals using the newly developed, intensively fluorescent, amyloid-specific dye X-34. This in vivo staining allows monitoring of amyloid deposition in individual animals over time. The specificity of this staining is demonstrated by examining transgenic animals expressing high levels of a non-fibrillar beta peptide variant, the beta single-chain dimer. These animals have deposits immunoreactive with anti-beta antibodies, but do not have X-34 deposits or deposits with a fibrillar ultrastructure. X-34 can also be used in vivo to visualize putative amyloid deposits resulting from accumulation of human transthyretin, another amyloidic protein. In vivo amyloid staining with X-34 may be a useful tool for monitoring anti-amyloidic treatments in real time or screening for genetic alterations that affect amyloid formation.     

The transmembrane domain of hepatitis C virus E1 glycoprotein induces cell death

The E1 protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) shows the ability to induce cell lysis by the alteration of membrane permeability when expressed in Escherichia coli cells. This function seems to be an intrinsic property of a C-terminal hydrophobic region of E1 as permeability changes and cell lysis can be blocked by mutagenesis of specific amino acids in this domain. To establish whether the expression of E1 protein and its C-terminal domain was able to induce cell death also in eukaryotic cell, we cloned HCV sequences expressing the full-length E1 (E383), the C-terminal domain (SVP) and a mutant lacking the C-terminal region (E340) in the pRC/CMV expression vector. HepG2 cell line was co-transfected with empty vector or HCV expression plasmids and a reporter vector that expressed beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) to visualize co-transfected blue cells. At 60 h after transfection, the loss of blue cells, considered as a measure of cell death, was 31.5 and 64.3% for the E1 and SVP clones. On the contrary, the number of blue cells after transfection with E340 plasmid was similar to that observed with the control vector. The analysis by the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay revealed an increased number of apoptotic cells at 48 h after transfection with E1 and SVP clones. Furthermore, cells transfected with SVP revealed a typical internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and the activation of caspase-3-like proteases as the specific inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO peptide partially blocked SVP apoptosis. These data indicate that the intracellular expression of HCV E1 protein and its C-terminal domain induces an apoptotic response in human hepatoma cell line.     

丙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白转染HepG2细胞对其p53表达的影响

目的 研究丙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白（HCV—core protein，HCV—C）对HepG2细胞周期、细胞凋亡和n53蛋白表达的影响。方法 表达HCV—C的真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1-core，通过Lipofectamine基因转染法转染HepG2细胞，经G418筛选获得稳定转染HepG2细胞，经Westem Blot证实HCV核心蛋白阳性表达。利用四甲基偶氮唑蓝比色（MTT）法，平板克隆实验和流式细胞术，蛋白印迹和免疫细胞化学法检测HCV核心蛋白对细胞生长增殖率、细胞周期、细胞凋亡率和p53蛋白表达的影响。结果 HCV—C转染组细胞增殖率显著高于空白质粒转染组和未转染组；HCV—C转染组细胞S期所占百分率高于未转染组；HCV-C转染组细胞凋亡率显著低于未转染组；HCV—C转染组细胞突变型p53蛋白的表达高于空白质粒转染组和未转染组。结论 HCV核心蛋白可能通过促进突变型p53蛋白的表达，促进HepG2从G0／1期进入S期，促进细胞生长增殖，抑制细胞凋亡。     

Relationship between amyloid deposition and intracellular structural changes in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy

Transthyretin-related familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy is a systemic amyloidosis caused by mutations in the transthyretin gene. Extracellular deposition of amyloid is the common pathologic hallmark of amyloidoses including Alzheimer disease, AL amyloidosis, AA amyloidosis, and familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy. However, the exact relationship between amyloid deposition and cell death has not yet been clarified. To elucidate this relationship, we studied the effect of transthyretin amyloid fibrils and prefibrillar aggregates on cells by using autopsy tissues obtained from 8 patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, as well as cultured cell lines. Ultrastructural studies of amyloid-laden cardiomyocytes showed that intracellular structural changes correlated with the degree of amyloid deposition and may reflect metabolic disturbances caused by physical limitations imposed by the amyloid deposits. Amyloid-laden vascular endothelial cells, mesangial cells, smooth muscle cells, Schwann cells, and cardiomyocytes, however, had well-preserved cell nuclei and showed no apoptotic changes, even when cells were completely surrounded by prefibrillar transthyretin aggregates and amyloid fibrils. Synthesized prefibrillar transthyretin aggregates, transthyretin fibrils, and amyloid fibrils obtained from patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy evidenced no cytotoxicity in cell culture experiments. Our data thus indicate that neither transthyretin amyloid fibrils nor prefibrillar transthyretin aggregates directly induced apoptosis. However, cellular metabolic disturbances caused by cells' being physically confined by amyloid deposits may induce cell degeneration.     

hPOT1基因过表达对HeLa细胞细胞周期和凋亡的影响

目的观察人POT1(protection of telomeres1)基因过表达对HeLa细胞细胞周期和细胞凋亡的影响。方法利用本课题组构建的hPOTl基因真核表达重组质粒pcDNA3-hPOT1,经脂质体介导瞬时转染HeLa细胞;通过RT-PCR和EMSA法(电泳迁移率改变分析)检测外源基因的表达效果,流式细胞术分析细胞周期,Hoechst33342荧光染色检测细胞凋亡。结果pcDNA3-hPOT1重组质粒转染HeLa细胞48h后,mRNA和蛋白质分析表明,外源性hPOT1基因能在HeLa细胞中有效表达,HeLa细胞阻滞于细胞周期s期,而对凋亡无明显影响。结论hPOT1基因可能参与了高等真核细胞细胞周期调控过程,但与细胞凋亡无密切关系。     

Contribution of human smooth muscle cells to amyloid angiopathy in AL (light-chain) amyloidosis

Objective: Amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a disease process that often compromises the peripheral vascular system and leads to systemic end-organ dysfunction. Although amyloid formation in vessel walls is a multifaceted process, the assembly of the native light chains (LCs) into amyloid fibrils is central to its pathogenesis. Recent evidence suggests that endocytosis and endolysosomal processing of immunoglobin LCs by host cells is essential to the formation of amyloid fibrils that are deposited in at least some tissues. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of vascular smooth muscle in amyloid angiopathy. Methods: Human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were grown on coverslips, four chamber glass slides, and growth factor-reduced Matrigel matrix in the presence of 10 µg/ml of ALs (λ and κ isotypes), nonamyloidogenic LCs, and culture medium (negative control) for 48 and 72 hours. Thereafter, a detailed light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural evaluation was conducted to verify amyloid deposition and characterize the role of SMCs in the formation of amyloid deposits in the various experimental conditions. Results: Amyloid deposits were detected extracellulary as early as 48 hours after exposure of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to AL-LCs (amyloidogenic light chains) as confirmed by affinity to Congo red dye, thioflavin T fluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy. No amyloid was present in the cultures of SMCs treated with medium alone or nonamyloidogenic LCs. SMCs associated with amyloid deposits exhibited CD68, lysosome-associated membrane protein 1-1, and intracellular lambda light chain expression and only focal smooth muscle actin and muscle-specific actin positivity. Electron microscopy revealed these cells to have an expanded mature lysosomal compartment closely associated with deposits of newly formed amyloid fibrils. Conclusions: The interaction of amyloidogenic LCs with VSMCs is necessary for the formation of amyloid fibrils that are deposited in peripheral vessels. VSMCs participate in the formation of amyloid by the intracellular processing of AL-LCs, which is possible due to their transformation from a smooth muscle to a macrophage phenotype. The formation of amyloid fibrils occurs in the mature lysosomal compartment of transformed cells. The amyloid that is formed is then extruded into the extracellular matrix.     

慢病毒介导的GATA6基因沉默对肝癌Huh-7细胞凋亡的影响

目的:研究GATA6基因沉默对肝癌Huh-7细胞凋亡的影响,同时探讨可能的作用机制。方法:构建靶向GATA6基因的慢病毒干扰载体,用流式细胞术确定转染效率,用RT-PCR和Western blotting法检测其对人类肝细胞癌细胞株Huh-7的干扰效果,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡比例,Western blotting法检测各转染组Huh-7细胞NF-κB及Bcl-2蛋白表达。结果:靶向GATA6基因的慢病毒干扰载体感染肝癌Huh-7细胞后,转染效率为57.4%。GATA6在mRNA和蛋白水平的表达明显下降。GATA6沉默的肝癌Huh-7细胞凋亡比例增加(P0.05),NF-κB和Bcl-2蛋白水平表达降低。结论:利用慢病毒载体干扰技术沉默GATA6基因的表达可以明显促进Huh-7细胞凋亡,其机制可能通过NF-κB信号通路调节凋亡相关蛋白的表达,进而影响细胞的凋亡。靶向GATA6的RNA干扰技术在肝癌的基因治疗中具有一定的研究价值。     

Intracellular accumulation of beta-amyloid(1-42) in neurons is facilitated by the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in Alzheimer's disease

Amyloid beta(1-42), a major component of amyloid plaques, binds with exceptionally high affinity to the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and accumulates intracellularly in neurons of Alzheimer's disease brains. In this study, we investigated the possibility that this binding plays a key role in facilitating intraneuronal accumulation of amyloid beta(1-42). Consecutive section immunohistochemistry and digital imaging were used to reveal the spatial relationship between amyloid beta(1-42) and the alpha 7 receptor in affected neurons of Alzheimer's disease brains. Results showed that neurons containing substantial intracellular accumulations of amyloid beta(1-42) invariably express relatively high levels of the alpha 7 receptor. Furthermore, this receptor is highly co-localized with amyloid beta(1-42) within neurons of Alzheimer's disease brains. To experimentally test the possibility that the binding interaction between exogenous amyloid beta(1-42) and the alpha 7 receptor facilitates internalization and intracellular accumulation of amyloid beta(1-42) in Alzheimer's disease brains, we studied the fate of exogenous amyloid beta(1-42) and its interaction with the alpha 7 receptor in vitro using cultured, transfected neuroblastoma cells that express elevated levels of this receptor. Transfected cells exhibited rapid binding, internalization and accumulation of exogenous amyloid beta(1-42), but not amyloid beta(1-40). Furthermore, the rate and extent of amyloid beta(1-42) internalization was related directly to the alpha 7 receptor protein level, since (1) the rate of amyloid beta(1-42) accumulation was much lower in untransfected cells that express much lower levels of this receptor and (2) internalization was effectively blocked by alpha-bungarotoxin, an alpha 7 receptor antagonist. As in neurons of Alzheimer's disease brains, the alpha 7 receptor in transfected cells was precisely co-localized with amyloid beta(1-42) in prominent intracellular aggregates. Internalization of amyloid beta(1-42) in transfected cells was blocked by phenylarsine oxide, an inhibitor of endocytosis.We suggest that the intraneuronal accumulation of amyloid beta(1-42) in Alzheimer's disease brains occurs predominantly in neurons that express the alpha 7 receptor. In addition, internalization of amyloid beta(1-42) may be facilitated by the high-affinity binding of amyloid beta(1-42) to the alpha 7 receptor on neuronal cell surfaces, followed by endocytosis of the resulting complex. This provides a plausible explanation for the selective vulnerability of neurons expressing the alpha 7 receptor in Alzheimer's disease brains and for the fact that amyloid beta(1-42) is the dominant amyloid beta peptide species in intracellular accumulations and amyloid plaques.     

Enhanced adhesion to laminin by apoptotic eosinophils

Apoptotic cells are regarded as inert bodies that turn off intracellular processes and functional capabilities. The objective was to study adhesion by eosinophils in relation to the apoptotic process. Eosinophils were cultured for up to 72 h. The living cells were separated from the apoptotic cells, and their adhesion to transfected cell lines expressing vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin and laminin was measured. To relate the functional studies with cell structure, the surface receptor expression of beta1- and beta2-integrins was investigated by flow cytometry. Apoptotic eosinophils evidenced an increased expression of the alpha-chain of the laminin receptor and CD49f and an increased ability to adhere to a laminin-coated surface. Adhesion to the endothelial cell adhesion receptors E-selectin, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 was absent in apoptotic eosinophils and was paralleled by a low expression of CD11b, CD29, CD49d and CD66b. The specifically increased adhesion to laminin and expression of the laminin receptor alpha-chain is a unique feature of apoptotic eosinophils. When an eosinophil goes into apoptosis, it still possesses the ability to interact with its environment. Our results point to new ideas as to how the apoptotic eosinophil behaves in apoptosis.     

Role of calmodulin in HIV-potentiated Fas-mediated apoptosis.

The recently demonstrated extraordinary rate of turnover of T cells in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected patients and the apparently concomitant high rate of viral production and death are consistent with a large amount of cell death directly due to infection. Apoptosis may be one of the major forms of T cell death in HIV-1 infection. Many apoptotic pathways depend on calcium and therefore would be expected to involve calmodulin. As the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, gp160, contains two known calmodulin-binding domains, we investigated the possibility that the cytoplasmic domain of the HIV-1 envelope protein gp160 could enhance Fas-mediated apoptosis, the major form of apoptosis in lymphocytes. Our studies have shown that 1) transfection of H9 and MOLT-4 cells with a non-infectious HIV proviral clone, pFN, which expresses wild-type gp160, leads to enhanced Fas-mediated apoptosis, 2) transfection of MOLT-4 cells with a pFN construct pFN delta 147, which expresses a carboxyl-terminally truncated gp160 lacking the calmodulin-binding domains, produces less Fas-mediated apoptosis than transfection with pFN, and 3) the calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine and tamoxifen completely inhibit the pFN enhancement of Fas-mediated apoptosis in MOLT-4 cells. We have replicated all of these results using the vectors pSRHS and pSRHS delta 147, which express wild-type gp160 and truncated gp160, respectively, in the absence of other viral proteins. These investigations provide a mechanism by which HIV-1 may induce apoptosis and a possible intracellular target for future therapeutics.     

Immunohistology of islet amyloid polypeptide in diabetes mellitus: Semi-qantitative studies in a post-mortem series

Summary Immunoreactivity for islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in the islets of Langerhans of non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients and non-diabetic patients of a non-selected post-mortem series was studied with a new polyclonal IAPP antibody. Out of 133 patients examined, 124 exhibited immunoreactivity for IAPP. Immunoreactivity was localized intra- and extracellularly and was limited to the islets of Langerhans. No extracellular immunoreactivity was observed in amyloid-negative cases. Co-localization of insulin and IAPP in the same islet-cells was verified by double staining with monoclonal insulin and polyclonal IAPP antibodies. Of 100 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and islet amyloid, 98 exhibited IAPP-positive deposits and 71 exhibited intracellular immunoreactivity. Evaluation of intracellular immunoreactivity and degree of islet amyloid deposition in cases of overt NIDDM revealed an inverse relationship, in that intracellular IAPP immunoreactivity were reduced in patients with developing islet amyloid deposition. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis of primary-cell dysfunction leading to amyloid formation, with subsequent disturbance of-cell homeostasis.Supported by the Johanna and Fritz Buch-Gedächtnisstiftung (Hamburg, FRG)