系统性红斑狼疮患者及同胞B淋巴细胞CD40及其核转录因子信号传导系统的研究

目的 探讨系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)及其未患病的同胞外周血中B淋巴细胞核转录因子(NF-kB)信号传导通路的异常.以及CD40刺激后NF-kB的活化情况.方法 病情活动的SLE患者8例,SLE未患病的同胞姐妹9名以及健康对照8名,取外周血B淋巴细胞用Western blot和酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法对CD154刺激前后NF-kB信号系统活化进行检测.结果 ①SLE患者外周血B淋巴细胞中NF-kB信号系统明显活化,其未患病的同胞NF-kB信号系统活化程度介于SLE和健康对照之间.②CD154刺激后,SLE患者和其未患病的同胞外周血B淋巴细胞中NF-kB信号的活化与健康对照不同,SLE未患病的同胞NF-kB信号的活化介于患者和健康对照之间.结论 SLE患者外周血中B淋巴细胞NF-kB信号通路的活化是由遗传易感性和其他因素共同作用的结果.     

Tyrosine nitration limits stretch-induced CD40 expression and disconnects CD40 signaling in human endothelial cells

Hemodynamic forces are important effectors of endothelial cell phenotype and function. Because CD40-CD154 interactions between endothelial cells and mononuclear leukocytes or activated platelets play an important role in vascular dysfunction, we investigated the effects of cyclic stretch on CD40 expression in human cultured endothelial cells. Short-term stretch transiently up-regulated CD40 expression while long-term stretch resulted in a distinct decline in CD40 protein which was prevented by inhibition of the 20S proteasome or scavenging of peroxynitrite. Tyrosine nitration of CD40 also occurred under static conditions on addition of authentic peroxynitrite, and according to mass spectrometry analysis Tyr-82 but not Tyr-31 was its target in the native protein. Immunofluorescence analysis of endothelial cells transduced with a control or Tyr-82 to Ala mutated AAV9-CD40-eGFP expression construct confirmed a peroxynitrite-dependent redistribution of the protein from the cell membrane to the cytoplasm, which was prevented by methyl-β-cyclodextrin. Moreover, CD154-stimulated IL-12p40 and E-selectin expression markedly decreased after exposure to authentic peroxynitrite or cyclic stretch, respectively. Coimmunoprecipitation demonstrated a decreased binding of TRAF2 and TRAF6 to the CD40 protein after tyrosine nitration. Through this posttranslational oxidative modification of an important costimulatory molecule, endothelial cells are able to quickly adapt to unfavorable hemodynamics and maintain their anti-inflammatory phenotype.     

Protein phosphorylation and kinome profiling reveal altered regulation of multiple signaling pathways in B lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective

The cause of B lymphocyte hyperactivity and autoantibody production in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unclear. Previously, we identified abnormalities in the level and translocation of signaling molecules in B cells in SLE patients. The present study was undertaken to examine the extent of signaling abnormalities that relate to altered B cell responses in SLE.

Methods

B lymphocytes from 88 SLE patients and 72 healthy controls were isolated from blood by negative selection. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation and cellular kinase levels were analyzed by Western blotting, flow cytometry, and a kinome array protocol. Changes in protein phosphorylation were determined in ex vivo B cells and following B cell receptor engagement.

Results

Differences in tyrosine phosphorylation in B cells from patients with SLE, compared with matched controls, were demonstrated. Further, the kinome array analysis identified changes in the activation of key kinases, i.e., the activity of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase, which regulates survival and differentiation, was up‐regulated and the activity of Rac and Rho kinases, which regulate the cytoskeleton and migration, was increased. In contrast, the activity of ATR, which regulates the cell cycle, was down‐regulated in SLE patients compared with controls. Differences in signaling pathways were seen in all SLE B lymphocyte subsets that manifested phenotypic features of immature, mature, and memory cells.

Conclusion

This study revealed dysregulation in multiple signaling pathways that control key responses in B cells of SLE patients. Data generated in this study provide a molecular basis for further analysis of the altered B lymphocyte responses in SLE.

     

CD40 induces human multiple myeloma cell migration via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/NF-kappa B signaling

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by clonal expansion of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow and their egress into peripheral blood with progression to plasma cell leukemia. Our previous study defined a functional role of CD40 activation in MM cell homing and migration. In this study, we examine signaling events mediating CD40-induced MM cell migration. We show that cross-linking CD40, using either soluble CD40L (sCD40L) or anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody (mAb), induces phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity and activates its downstream effector AKT in MM.1S cells. CD40 activation also activates the MAP kinase (MEK) pathway, evidenced by phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK), but not c-jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) or p38, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Using pharmacologic inhibitors of PI3K and MEK, as well as adenoviruses expressing dominant-negative and constitutively expressed AKT, we demonstrate that PI3K and AKT activities are required for CD40-induced MM cell migration. In contrast, inhibition of ERK/MEK phosphorylation only partially (10%-15%) prevents migration, suggesting only a minor role in regulation of CD40-mediated MM migration. We further demonstrate that CD40 induces nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B activation as a downstream target of PI3K/AKT signaling, and that inhibition of NF-kappa B signaling using specific inhibitors PS1145 and SN50 completely abrogates CD40-induced MM migration. Finally, we demonstrate that urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), an NF-kappa B target gene, is induced by CD40; and conversely, that uPA induction via CD40 is blocked by PI3K and NF-kappa B inhibitors. Our data therefore indicate that CD40-induced MM cell migration is primarily mediated via activation of PI3K/AKT/NF-kappa B signaling, and further suggest that novel therapies targeting this pathway may inhibit MM cell migration associated with progressive MM.     

Differential regulation of gene expression following CD40 activation of leukemic compared to healthy B cells

It is possible to differentiate malignant from healthy cells and to classify diseases based on identification of specific gene expression profiles. We hypothesized that gene expression profiling could also be used to identify differential activation of healthy and malignant cells, and as a model for this, we examined the molecular sequelae of CD40 activation of healthy and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. Hierarchical clustering analysis of gene expression signatures grouped samples by CD40 activation status and further subclassified CD40-activated CLL cells from healthy B cells. Supervised analyses in healthy B cells compared to CLL cells identified differential regulation of genes governing cell cycle progression and apoptosis. CD40 signaling of CLL cells increases their susceptibility to immune recognition, but promotes survival and cell cycle arrest, making these cells potentially more resistant to chemotherapy. These results illustrate the utility of gene expression profiling to elucidate the molecular sequelae of signaling in healthy cells and altered signaling pathways in malignant cells. This type of approach should be useful to identify targets of therapy of malignant diseases.     

Insulin regulation of GnRH gene expression through MAP kinase signaling pathways

In mammals, reproduction is acutely regulated by metabolic status. Insulin is an important nutritional signal from the periphery that may regulate the reproductive axis. To determine whether insulin acts directly on the GnRH neuron, we performed studies in mouse-derived GnRH-expressing cell lines. Both insulin receptor protein and mRNA were detected in these cells. A saturation radioligand binding assay revealed high affinity, low capacity binding sites for insulin in GnRH neurons. Insulin also stimulated GnRH promoter activity in GnRH neurons. This effect was blocked by pretreatment with the MEK inhibitor, PD98059, indicating a role for MAP kinase signaling. In transient transfection studies, insulin treatment stimulated expression of a 1250 bp mouse GnRH gene promoter fragment four-fold when compared to promoter activity in untreated cells. In contrast, insulin did not stimulate activity of a 587 bp fragment of the mGnRH gene promoter, indicating that the promoter elements mediating insulin stimulation of the GnRH promoter are located between -1250 and -587 bp. Our studies suggest that insulin may regulate reproductive function by direct effects on the GnRH neurons and specifically by stimulating GnRH gene expression.     

CD40 ligand expression on stimulated T-helper lymphocytes in patients with common variable immunodeficiency

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common symptomatic primary antibody deficiency, characterized by reduced serum immunoglobulins levels and increased susceptibility to recurrent pyogenic infections. In this study, we evaluated CD40 ligand expression on stimulated versus unstimulated T-helper lymphocytes of nine Common variable immunodeficient patients in comparison with fifteen normal controls. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and Ionomycin were used to stimulate cells in vitro. After six hours stimulation, the cells were subjected to surface staining with three-color staining procedure. Events were analyzed by flow cytometer, using FloMax software. Results were reported as the percentage of lymphocytes expressing CD markers. We did not find any significant statistical difference in CD40 ligand expression between patients and controls (p > 0.05), despite having stimulation documented by CD69 expression as activation marker in each run. The results of this study are in agreement with some other studies, indicating that CD40 ligand expression on stimulated T-helper lymphocytes of Common variable immunodeficiency patients is similar to normal controls.     

CD40反义RNA对系统性红斑狼疮患者B淋巴细胞功能的影响

目的　探讨瞬间表达的CD4 0反义RNA对EB病毒转染的系统性红斑狼疮 (SLE)患者B淋巴细胞CD4 0分子表达、细胞增生以及免疫球蛋白 (Ig)分泌功能的影响。 方法　构建人CD4 0反义RNA的真核表达载体CD4 0 /pcDNA3,并将其转染入EB病毒转染的SLE患者B淋巴细胞中。应用流式细胞仪 (FACS)检测观察B淋巴细胞膜上CD4 0分子表达的变化 ;应用四甲基偶氮唑盐微量酶反应比色法 (MTT)观察反义CD4RNA对B淋巴细胞增生能力的影响 ;应用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)测定转染后的B淋巴细胞的Ig分泌功能。结果　与转染pcDNA3空载体组相比 ,转染CD4 0 / pcDNA3组的CD4 0分子的表达明显降低 (P <0 0 1) ;细胞的增生能力明显降低 (P <0 0 5 ) ;细胞的Ig分泌功能明显受抑制 (P <0 0 1)。结论　CD4 0反义RNA对SLE患者的B淋巴细胞有明显的免疫调控作用。     

CD27在食管癌中的表达及其潜在基因通路的综合分析

目的 探讨CD27在食管癌中表达差异及其潜在基因调控通路。方法 本研究运用基于基因表达水平值的交互式分析平台(GEPIA),cBio-Porta 分析CD27在食管癌中的表达差异和突变的情况;运用GEPIA做Kaplan-Meier曲线分析CD27在食管癌和头颈部鳞癌患者预后的价值;运用linkedomics做CD27在食管癌中的功能和通路分析,并做Pearson 相关系数分析。结果 CD27在食管癌中以扩增突变为主,不同水平的CD27在食管癌中的表达对TOR复合体、多种激酶(KIT原癌基因受体酪氨酸激酶、转化生长因子受体1、G蛋白偶联受体激酶3)有潜在的影响;CD27对头颈部鳞癌患者生存有显著影响,虽然对食管癌总生存没有显著影响,但高组的总生存较好。结论 CD27的差异表达可能是食管癌发生发展的关键因素。本研究结果提示CD27的表达程度有可能作为食管癌的生物标志物。     

CD19 regulates innate immunity by the toll-like receptor RP105 signaling in B lymphocytes

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major gram-negative bacterial component that stimulates innate immune response and also induces B-lymphocyte activation. Recent studies have revealed that common molecular patterns of microorganisms such as LPS are recognized by toll-like receptors (TLRs). B cells have 2 known TLRs that mediate LPS signaling, TLR4 and RP105 (CD180). While TLR4 is expressed on immune cells of various types, RP105 is preferentially expressed on mature B cells. Here we demonstrate that CD19 plays a major role in regulating signal transduction through RP105. Anti-RP105 ligation induced normal proliferation of B cells from mice deficient for MyD88, an adaptor protein that mediates most TLR pathways. By contrast, the loss of CD19 resulted in modest B-cell proliferation against anti-RP105 stimulation as well as LPS stimulation. LPS induced tyrosine phosphorylation of CD19, which was RP105-dependent but TLR4-independent. CD19 formed a complex with Lyn and Vav following RP105 ligation, and CD19 expression was required for optimal Lyn activation and Vav phosphorylation. Consistently, B cells deficient for CD19 exhibited specific defect in the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases following RP105 ligation and LPS stimulation. In contrast, CD19 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase independently regulated intracellular calcium mobilization induced by anti-RP105 stimulation. Thus, signaling through the B-cell-specific LPS receptor RP105 is uniquely regulated by the B-cell-specific signaling component, Lyn/CD19/Vav complex.     

Role of NF kappa B activator Act1 in CD40-mediated signaling in epithelial cells

CD40, a cell surface receptor in the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, first identified and functionally characterized on B lymphocytes, is also expressed on epithelial and other cells and is now thought to play a more general role in immune regulation. Overexpression of the NF kappa B activator 1 (Act1) leads to the activation of both NF kappa B and Jun kinase in epithelial cell lines. Endogenous Act1 is recruited to the CD40 receptor in human intestinal (HT29) and cervical (HeLa) epithelial cells upon stimulation with CD40 ligand, indicating that Act1 is involved in this signaling pathway. Act1 also interacts with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3, a component involved in CD40-activated pathway. Furthermore, transfection of Act1 into C33A cervical epithelial cells, which do not express it, renders these cells sensitive to CD40 ligand-induced NF kappa B activation and protects them from CD40 ligand-induced apoptosis. We conclude that Act1 plays an important role in CD40-mediated signaling in epithelial cells.