Stress response of pancreatic islets from diabetes prone BB rats of different age

Protective and/or repair mechanisms are thought to be activated in pancreatic beta cells in response to injury during insulitis. Manifestation of type-1 diabetes may depend on an imbalance between beta cell damage and repair. To prove this hypothesis, the ability of collagenase-isolated islets to respond to heat stress depending on the age of BB rats was investigated. The islets were exposed either to 44 degrees C (HS) or 37 degrees C (control) for 30 min and then kept at 37 degrees C for 5 h. Immediately and 5 h after heat shock, insulin secretion in response to 20 mmol/l glucose and total protein synthesis of heat-exposed islets were significantly diminished as compared with controls. The islet proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting. Islets from BB rats at an age of 6-90 days responded to heat shock with the expression of major heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70). Islets from 3-day old rats, however, did not respond with induction of HSP 70. In contrast we could detect inducible HSP 70 in islets from 3-day old diabetes-resistant LEW rats. In islets from 90-day old BB rats we observed a decreased amount of HSP 70 compared with islets from 9-, 12-, 30- and 60-day old animals. There was also a higher extent of HSP 70 to observe in islets from 90-day old LEW rats as compared with 90-day old BB rats. Differences in HSP 70 expression between islets of 3-day old BB and LEW rats and other age groups of BB rats might represent distinct stages of maturation of islets whereas diminished expression of HSP 70 in islets of 90-day old BB rats at the age of high probability of developing diabetes might result from reduced ability to induce protective mechanisms.     

Blueberry supplemented diet reverses age-related decline in hippocampal HSP70 neuroprotection

Dietary supplementation with antioxidant rich foods can decrease the level of oxidative stress in brain regions and can ameliorate age-related deficits in neuronal and behavioral functions. We examined whether short-term supplementation with blueberries might enhance the brain's ability to generate a heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) mediated neuroprotective response to stress. Hippocampal (HC) regions from young and old rats fed either a control or a supplemented diet for 10 weeks were subjected to an in vitro inflammatory challenge (LPS) and then examined for levels of HSP70 at various times post LPS (30, 90 and 240 min). While baseline levels of HSP70 did not differ among the various groups compared to young control diet rats, increases in HSP70 protein levels in response to an in vitro LPS challenge were significantly less in old as compared to young control diet rats at the 30, 90 and 240 min time points. However, it appeared that the blueberry diet completely restored the HSP70 response to LPS in the old rats at the 90 and 240 min times. This suggests that a short-term blueberry (BB) intervention may result in improved HSP70-mediated protection against a number of neurodegenerative processes in the brain. Results are discussed in terms of the multiplicity of the effects of the BB supplementation which appear to range from antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activity to signaling.     

Beta-cell expression of 65-kDa heat-shock protein mRNA is function- and age-dependent.

This study examined the expression of mRNA coding for the 65-kDa heat-shock protein (HSP) in rat islet cells of different functional states and different ages. In addition, beta cells and non-beta cells purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting were studied. Total RNA from islet cells and insulin-producing RINm5F cells was isolated and analyzed by Northern blotting using a cDNA probe coding for the human homologue to the mycobacterial 65-kDa HSP, after which blots were quantified by densitometric scanning. Isolated beta cells were found to express 65-kDa HSP mRNA. The expression was increased in Lewis islet cells exposed to heat shock or high glucose concentration, four- and three-fold, respectively (p < 0.01). In isolated beta cells cultured at high glucose concentration a doubling in the content of 65-kDa HSP mRNA was seen compared with islets cultured at low glucose concentration (p < 0.05). In islets from Lewis rats fasted for 24 h, the content of 65-kDa HSP mRNA was 42% lower than in islets isolated from normally fed Lewis rats (p < 0.01). Both in BB rats and Wistar Furth rats the content of 65-kDa HSP mRNA was found to be higher in the 30- and the 60-day-old rats compared with the neonatal animals (p < 0.01). The expression of 65-kDa HSP mRNA was increased in RINm5F cells following heat shock, while no induction was seen after stimulation with glucose, TPA or IBMX. It is concluded that the 65-kDa heat-shock protein belongs to the family of inducible functional antigens in beta cells, which strengthens the interest in 65-kDa HSP as an antigen possibly involved in the initiation of autoimmune beta-cell destruction.     

Erythroid lineage-specific expression and inducibility of the major heat shock protein HSP70 during avian embryogenesis

We have studied the expression of the major heat shock protein HSP70 during maturation of avian erythroid cells. Primitive and definitive erythroid cells were isolated from staged day 3-8 chicken embryos, and the levels of HSP70 mRNA and protein synthesis were examined. The highest levels of HSP70 are detected in polychromatic cells of the day 3-4 primitive erythroid cell. After the initial burst of HSP70 expression the levels of HSP70 mRNA and protein synthesis decline. Although HSP70 is constitutively expressed, neither HSP70 synthesis nor HSP70 mRNA levels were heat shock inducible in primitive red cells. In contrast, definitive red cells respond to heat shock by a 10- to 20-fold increase in HSP70 protein synthesis with little change in HSP70 mRNA levels. These studies reveal that HSP70 expression in erythroid cells is lineage specific, that the levels of HSP70 mRNA are not induced by heat shock, and finally, that the increased expression of HSP70 in definitive cells is due to increased translatability of HSP70 mRNA.     

Insulitis and mechanisms of disease resistance: studies in an animal model of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is an autoimmune disease characterised by extreme insulin deficiency due to an overall decrease in the mass of properly functioning β-cells. This reduction occurs as a result of insulitis, the outcome of which will depend upon the intensity of the cytotoxic attack and the ability of β-cells to resist and repair immune mediated cell damage. To further elucidate the relationship between the insulitis process and β-cell defence and repair mechanisms in the prevention of diabetes we have studied a unique subgroup of diabetes prone (DP) BB/S rats which have demonstrated an ability to recover from IDDM (BB/S-R). Animals were diagnosed as diabetic at 115 days of age, subsequently receiving insulin therapy (1.49+/-0.1 IU/day) for a total of 19.7 days during 1 to 4 episodes of IDDM. Following a prolonged symptom-free period of 90 days, an IPGTT revealed that BB/S-R rats possessed normal glycaemic control. Islets were isolated from the BB/S-R rats and their glucose-stimulated insulin response was shown to be comparable to Wistar control islets . Furthermore, control and BB/S-R islets showed both a similar structural integrity and insulin content. BB/S-R islets cultured for 24 hr in IL-1β (10^-13 M) maintained a significant insulin secretory response to glucose in contrast to Wistar controls in which the response was completely inhibited. Nitrite production was induced by IL-1β, in a dose-dependent manner, in control islets whereas there was no significant increase in production in the islets of BB/S-R rats. These findings suggest that previous immune directed ß-cell attack may induce a state of increased resistance to subsequent deleterious effects of cytokine-mediated cytotoxicity. Overall therefore, the present study shows how the ”recovered” BB/S-R rat model provides a unique opportunity to assess the direct effects of insulitis on pancreatic islets and how this interaction may subsequently determine disease outcome.     

In vitro stimulation by islet antigen facilitates the detectability of beta-cell reactive cells in diabetes-prone BB/OK rats.

It has been supposed that beta-cell destruction in man and animals is due to autoreactive T-cells. We used the [51Cr]-release assay to identify the presence of beta-cell reactive cells in the spleen of diabetes-prone BB/OK rats before and after diabetes manifestation as well as in long-term normoglycaemic rats with a reduced diabetes risk of 3%. Splenic mononuclear cells (MNCs) obtained from diabetes-resistant LEW.1W and the majority of long-term normoglycaemic BB/OK rats (86.4%) showed no reactivity to pancreatic islets in vitro. In contrast, beta-cell reactive cells were identified in dependence on age in 30.4-65.0% of 75-120 days old normoglycaemic rats and in relation to diabetes duration (1 and 20 days) in 75.0% and 16.0% of diabetic BB/OK rats. Islet antigen-specific stimulation of splenic MNCs, that showed no spontaneous islet-directed reactivity, resulted in a concentration-dependent activation of cytolytically reactive cells in BB/OK but not in LEW.1W rats. Splenic MNCs derived from all diabetic, from 82.4% of young normoglycaemic and from 46.2% of long-term normoglycaemic BB/OK rats developed an islet-directed reactivity in vitro. Phenotyping of MNCs showed a significant increase of activated IL2R+ T-lymphocytes in diabetic BB/OK rats, but without any correlation to their cytolytic potential in the [51Cr]-release assay. Despite this fact, IL2R+ cells enriched from the pool of MNCs mediated an enhanced [51Cr]-release from islets, indicating their relevance in the beta-cell destruction. These data suggest, that functional reactivity rather than phenotypic characterization of MNCs is useful to identify the existence of beta-cell reactive cells. Furthermore, for screening diabetes risk in young normoglycaemic BB/OK rats besides the detection of beta-cell reactive cells the occurrence of regulatory cells seems to be decisive.     

Stressed stem cells: Temperature response in aged mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from young (6 week) and aged (56 week) Wistar rats were cultured at standard (37 degrees C) and reduced (32 degrees C) temperature and compared for age markers and stress levels. (ROS, NO, TBARS, carbonyls, lipofuscin, SOD, GPx, apoptosis, proteasome activity) and heat shock proteins (HSP27, -60, -70, -90). Aged MSCs display many of the stress markers associated with aging in other cell types, but results vary across marker categories and are temperature dependant. In young MSCs, culturing at reduced temperature had a generally beneficial effect: the anti-apoptotic heat shock proteins HSP 27, HSP70, and HSP90 were up-regulated; pro-apoptotic HSP60 was downregulated; SOD, GPx increased; and levels in ROS, NO, TBARS, carbonyl, and lipofuscin were diminished. Apoptosis was reduced, but also proteasome activity. In contrast, in aged MSCs, culturing at reduced temperature generally produced no 'beneficial' changes in these parameters, and can even have detrimental effects. Implications for tissue engineering and for stem cell gerontology are discussed. The results suggest that a 'hormesis' theory of stress response can be extended to MSCs, but that cooling cultivation temperature stress produces positive effects in young cells only.     

Effects of quercetin and sunphenon on responses of cancer cells to heat shock damage.

Quercetin is a flavonoid well known to inhibit growth and heat shock protein (HSP) synthesis of cancer cells. However, sunphenon has been scarcely reported concerning effects on cancer cells. We compared the effects of sunphenon with those of quercetin on the human cholangio-cellular carcinoma cell line (HuCC-T1). Both flavonoids inhibited HuCC-T1 growth in a concentration-dependent manner without reduction of HSP70 and HSP90 expression before heat shock damage. The heat shock reduced the cell viability of the quercetin-treated HuCC-T1, but not that of the sunphenon-treated cells. This inhibitory effect of quercetin on tolerance to heat shock is thought to be due to marked suppression of HSP72. Sunphenon conversely increased HSP72 expression after heat shock. Although neither flavonoid altered HSP90 protein levels before and after heat shock, quercetin delayed the reorganization of filamentous actin (F-actin) during the recovery period after heat shock. Since HSP90 could preserve F-actin structure during stresses, quercetin might affect the interaction between HSP90 and F-actin without influencing HSP90 expression. In conclusion, quercetin would be more useful than sunphenon in combined therapy with hyperthermia for cancer.     

HSP70 gene expression in Mytilus galloprovincialis hemocytes is triggered by moderate heat shock and Vibrio anguillarum, but not by V. splendidus or Micrococcus lysodeikticus

Complete sequence of HSP70 cDNA from the mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis was established before quantifying its expression following moderate heat shock or injection of heat-killed bacteria. HSP70 cDNA is comprised of 2378 bp including one ORF of 654 aa, with a predicted 70 bp 5'-UTR and a 343 bp 3'-UTR (GenBank, 18 Jan 05, AY861684). Alignment identity ranged from 89% for Crassostrea ariakensis to 72% for C. virginica. Curiously, HSP70 gene and cDNA sequences from M. galloprovincialis, deposited later (03 and 27 May), show only 73% identity with the present sequence. Meanwhile, characteristic motifs of the HSP70 family were located in conserved positions. Expression of HSP70 gene was quantified on circulating hemocyte mRNA using Q-PCR after RT using random hexaprimers. Housekeeping gene was 28S rRNA. Four stresses were applied: heat shock that consisted of immersing mussels for 90 min at 30 degrees C and returning them to 20 degrees C sea water, one injection of heat-killed Gram-negative bacteria, Vibrio splendidus LGP32, one injection of heat-killed Gram-negative bacteria Vibrio anguillarum, one injection of heat-killed Gram-positive bacteria Micrococcus lysodeikticus. We found no significant modification of 28S rRNA gene expression. Significant increase of 5.2 +/- 0.4 fold the ratio HSP70/28S rRNA was observed 6 h after heat shock and was maximum at 15 h (6.1 +/- 1.1), and still significant after 24 h (1.7 +/- 0.03). Similarly, injecting V. anguillarum resulted in a significant increase of 2.7 +/- 0.1 after 12 h. Expression was maximum after 48 h (5.2 +/- 0.05) and returned to baseline after 72 h. In contrast, injecting V. splendidus or M. lysodeikticus failed to significantly modulate HSP70 gene expression at least during the first 3 days post-injection. Consequently, mussel hemocytes appeared to discriminate between pathogenic and non-pathogenic Vibrios, as well as between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.     

Expression of stress proteins HSP 72 & HSP 32 in response to endotoxemia

Pretreatment with heat decreases mortality and acute lung injury in the rat septic shock model, presumably by the production of heat shock proteins (HSP). However, endotoxin, a severe cell stresser, has not been shown to induce HSP 70. We investigated the effects of severe endotoxemia on the expression of specific protective stress proteins, including HSP 72 (inducible HSP 70), HSP 32 (heme oxygenase-1), and HSP 90. Fifteen rats received intravenously either 3 mg/kg of endotoxin (E. coli O127:B8 lipopolysaccharide, LPS) (n=9) or saline (n=6). Two hr later the spleen was removed and splenocytes were separated into three groups and analyzed for specific HSP by Western blot. In Group 1, both endotoxin-treated and saline-treated splenocytes were incubated for 3 hr at 37 degrees C. In Group 2, the splenocytes were washed twice, then heat shocked for 30 min at 42 degrees C and subsequently incubated for 2.5 hr at 37 degrees C. In Group 3, splenocytes were washed twice, then incubated for 3.0 hr at 37 degrees C. HSP 90 & HSP 70c (constitutive) were present in all groups. Consistent with observations by others, HSP 72 was not induced in Group 1. HSP 72 was induced in both the saline-treated and endotoxin-treated splenocytes after heating (Group 2). However, in the absence of heat stress, HSP 72 was present in endotoxin-treated but not in saline-treated splenocytes after incubation (Group 3). Conversely, HSP 32, while present in Group 1 splenocytes, was not detected in the endotoxin-treated splenocytes of Group 2 and Group 3, but was present in the saline-treated cells. In conclusion, endotoxemic shock results in induction of HSP 72 and depletion of HSP 32, but only after the cells have been washed and further incubated.     

榄香烯复合瘤苗的HSP70表达及其主动免疫预防效应

为进一步阐明本室专利榄香烯复合瘤苗(EC-TCV)的主动免疫效应与其HSP70-肿瘤肽之间的关系,本文以42℃热休克(H)为对照,首先检测了榄香烯(E)、丝裂霉素C(MMC)、戊二醛(G)单独或复合处理时对小鼠HCa-F肝癌、L615白血病细胞膜HSP(HSP70、HSP90)表达的影响,发现只有膜HSP70的表达在两种榄香烯复合瘤苗中均升高,随后以E-MMC复合处理的HCa-F细胞中提纯的HSP70-肿瘤肽(HHSP70)为免疫原,以小鼠HCa-F肝癌细胞为模型,研究了HHSP70的主动免疫预防效应及其特异性。结果表明,E、MMC、G同H相似,也具有应激原作用,能诱导应激蛋白HSP70的表达;而且HSP70在HCa-F和L615两种肿瘤细胞均以E-MMC-G三者复合处理时为最高;HHSP70能诱发机体产生主动抗瘤效应,且这种效应有一定的肿瘤特异性。     

Age-related changes in HSP25 expression in basal ganglia and cortex of F344/BN rats

Normal aging is associated with chronic oxidative stress. In the basal ganglia, oxidative stress may contribute to the increased risk of Parkinson's disease in the elderly. Neurons are thought to actively utilize compensatory defense mechanisms, such as heat shock proteins (HSPs), to protect from persisting stress. Despite their protective role, little is known about HSP expression in the aging basal ganglia. The purpose of this study was to examine HSP expression in striatum, substantia nigra, globus pallidus and cortex in 6-, 18- and 30-month-old Fischer 344/Brown Norway rats. We found robust age-related increases in phosphorylated and total HSP25 in each brain region studied. Conversely, HSP72 (the inducible form of HSP70) was reduced with age, but only in the striatum. p38 MAPK, a protein implicated in activating HSP25, did not change with age, nor did HSC70 (the constitutive form of HSP70), or HSP60. These results suggest that HSP25 is especially responsive to age-related stress in the basal ganglia.     

Heat shock proteins in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle

Human endometrium is a steroid-sensitive tissue and there isevidence that supports the viewpoint that heat shock proteins(HSP) are implicated in the regulation of steroid function.Therefore, in this study we examined the expression of variousmembers of the heat shock family of proteins in the steroid-responsivehuman endometrium. Western blot analysis revealed that the expressionof HSP90 showed minimal changes throughout the menstrual cycle.When normalized to the amount of HSP90, the expression of HSP27,HSP60 and the constitutive form of heat shock protein 70 (HSC70)increased progressively during the late proliferative and earlysecretory phases, and diminished in the mid- to late secretoryand menstrual phases. In contrast, the inducible form of heatshock protein 70 (HSP70) did not undergo these changes. Thecellular and subcellular localizations of these proteins wereexamined in human endometria by immunohistochemical staining.With the exception of HSP70, which was found primarily in theepithelial cells, the immunoreactivity for other heat shockproteins was found in both the stroraa and the epithelium. Immunoreactivityfor HSP27 was found in the lymphoid aggregates within endometrialstroma, and both HSP27 and HSP90 were found in endothelial cells.The immunoreactive heat shock proteins were found in the nucleiand/or cytoplasm of cells. However, no consistent nuclear versuscytoplasmic staining emerged, and such localization was irrespectiveof the site, the cell type or the phase of the menstrual cycle.Our findings show that endometrium has a full complement ofheat shock proteins. The menstrual cycle-dependent changes inthe amounts of heat shock protein suggest regulation by steroidhormones.     

热休克蛋白70、90在子宫内膜癌中的表达

目的:探讨子宫内膜癌组织中热休克蛋白(HSP)70、90的表达及意义。方法:用免疫组化Envision法及图象分析仪,检测 30例正常子宫内膜、30例增生过长子宫内膜和53例子宫内膜癌中HSP70、HSP90的表达。结果:子宫内膜癌中HSP70表达的灰度值为(209.06±5.36),明显高于正常内膜[(145.21±4.09),P<0.01]和增生过长内膜[(148.59±4.23),P<0.01];子宫内膜癌中HSP90表达的灰度值为(166.98±5.71),明显低于正常子宫内膜[(208.57±31.14),P<0.05]和增生过长子宫内膜[(249.73±4.94),P<0.01]。子宫内膜癌中HSP70的表达随肿瘤病理分级的增加而增强(P<0.01),非内膜样癌(229.90±3.77)较内膜样癌表达强[(198.37±3.15),P<0.01];子宫内膜癌中HSP90表达随肿瘤病理分级的升高而表达减弱,非内膜样癌(140.21±3.22)较内膜样癌表达减弱[(176.59±2.79),P<0.01]。子宫内膜癌中HSP70、90的表达与肌层浸润深度、临床分期及淋巴结转移未见显著相关性(P>0.05)。结论:HSP70、90可能与子宫内膜癌的发生及预后有关。     

Prevention of autoimmune but not allogeneic destruction of grafted islets by different therapeutic strategies

Grafting autoimmune-diabetic recipients with allogeneic islets, graft rejection and disease recurrence as major problems of reaching indefinite survival and tolerance induction have to be solved. Anti-CD25 and anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies were successfully used after allogeneic islet transplantation in experimentally diabetic rats. A temporary anti-CD25 therapy also prevented disease recurrence in autoimmune-diabetic BB rats, while this was not yet reported for an anti-CD4 treatment. In autoimmune-diabetic NOD mice disease recurrence can be successfully treated using an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody. We, therefore, compared the efficacy of a short-term anti-CD25 and anti-CD4 treatment regarding the prevention of allograft rejection and disease recurrence in autoimmune-diabetic BB/OK rats. Both monoclonal antibodies were combined with low doses of Cyclosporin A. Untreated BB/OK rats relapsed into hyperglycaemia within 3 weeks independent of the islet donor, LEW.1A, LEW.1BB/OK or BB/OK rats. However, after grafting MHC-identical allogeneic (LEW.1BB/OK) or syngeneic (BB/OK) islets we observed about 30% spontaneous acceptance. Both the anti-CD25 and anti-CD4 therapy significantly prolonged the survival of allogeneic grafted islets. After MHC-identical allogeneic and syngeneic islet transplantation the temporary immunotherapy increased the proportion of permanent acceptors to 63% and 75%, respectively. The efficacy of both treatment strategies in prolonging allograft survival and prevention of disease recurrence was identical. In summary, anti-CD25 as well as anti-CD4 therapy prevented autoimmune but not allogeneic islet destruction in autoimmune-diabetic BB/OK rats. In conclusion, targeting different immune cells by monoclonal antibodies with different specificities can lead to very similar results with respect to an interruption of allograft rejection and autoimmune reaction.