The murine NF2 homologue encodes a highly conserved merlin protein with alternative forms

The recently isolated gene for neuroflbromatosls type 2 (NF2)encodes a 595 amlno acid protein, named merlin, which Is relatedto the cytoskeleton-assoclated proteins moesln, ezrin and radlxin.To Identify evolutionarily conserved regions and to providesequence Information necessary for the establishment of a mousemodel for NF2, we have determined the cDNA sequence of the mouseNF2 tumor suppressor gene, and mapped It In the mouse genome.Mouse merlin is a 596 amino acid protein, 98% identical to humanmerlin, but one amlno acid longer due to the Insertion of aproline residue near the C-terminus. Of the nine amlno aciddifferences between mouse and humans, seven occur in the C-termlnal20% of the protein, far from the protein 4. 1 domain that definesthis family. Two of the NF2 cDNA clones reveal evidence of alternativesplicing events that alter the predicted merlin product, oneremoving a 45 amlno acid segment from the middle section ofthe protein and the other changing the C-terminus. The existenceof several different forms of merlin potentially with differentprimary roles will complicate the Identification of the precisefunction that must be disrupted to cause the NF2-assoclatedtumors. The mouse NF2 homologue maps to Chr 11, in a regionhomologous to human Chr 22, but devoid of any mouse mutationswhich could be models of the human disorder.     

Cell-matrix interactions during development and apoptosis of the mouse mammary gland in vivo.

Epithelial cell survival is dependent on extracellular signals provided by both soluble factors and by adhesion. In the mammary gland, extensive apoptosis of epithelial cells occurs rapidly when lactation ceases, but the mechanism of apoptosis induction is not known. In tissue culture, mammary epithelial cells require laminin as a survival ligand and specific beta1 integrins are necessary to suppress apoptosis. To explore the possibility that dynamic changes in cell-matrix interactions contribute to the onset of apoptosis during mammary involution in vivo, a detailed immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of integrin subunits and their extracellular matrix ligands during mouse mammary gland development has been performed. The kinetics of apoptosis were determined by using tissue samples obtained from virgin, pregnant, lactating, and involuting gland. The maximal elevation of apoptosis occurred within 24 hr of weaning as determined by histologic analysis and caspase-3 staining. A wide variety of laminin subunits, together with nidogen-1 and -2, and perlecan were identified within the basement membrane region of epithelial ducts, lobules, and alveoli in both human and mouse mammary gland. However, no change in the distribution of any of the basement membrane proteins or their cognate integrin receptors was observed during the transition from lactation to apoptosis. Instead, we discovered that altered ligand-binding conformation of the beta1 integrin to a nonbinding state coincided with the immediate onset of mammary apoptosis. This finding may provide a novel dynamic mechanism for inhibiting the transduction of extracellular matrix survival signals, thereby contributing to the onset of apoptosis in a developmental context in vivo.     

Mild atopic dermatitis lacks systemic inflammation and shows reduced nonlesional skin abnormalities

1. Download : Download high-res image (227KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Mutations in the human melanocortin-4 receptor gene associated with severe familial obesity disrupts receptor function through multiple molecular mechanisms

Mutations in the melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R) represent the commonest monogenic cause of human obesity. However, information regarding the precise effects of such mutations on receptor function is very limited. We examined the functional properties of 12 different mutations in human MC4R that result in severe, familial, early-onset obesity. Of the nine missense mutants studied, four were completely unable to generate cAMP in response to ligand and five were partially impaired. Four showed evidence of impaired cell surface expression and six of reduced binding affinity for ligand. One mutation in the C-terminal tail, I316S, showed reduced affinity for alpha-MSH but retained normal affinity for the antagonist AgRP. None of the mutations inhibited signaling through co-transfected wild-type receptors. Thus, in the most comprehensive study to date of the functional properties of naturally occurring MC4R mutations we have (1) established that defective expression on the cell surface is a common mechanism impairing receptor function, (2) identified mutations which specifically affect ligand binding affinity thus aiding the definition of receptor structure-function relationships, (3) provided evidence against the notion that these receptor mutants act as dominant-negatives, and (4) identified a potentially novel molecular mechanism of receptor dysfunction whereby a mutation alters the relative affinities of a receptor for its natural agonist versus antagonist.     

Blood endotyping distinguishes the profile of vitiligo from that of other inflammatory and autoimmune skin diseases

1. Download : Download high-res image (180KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

The role of beta-catenin, TGF beta 3, NGF2, FGF2, IGFR2, and BMP4 in the pathogenesis of mesenteric sclerosis and angiopathy in midgut carcinoids

A subset of midgut carcinoids (MCs) result in mesenteric angiopathy (MA) and bowel infarction as a consequence of vascular compression caused by extensive mesenteric sclerosis (MS). The goal of this study was to determine whether the level of expression of several fibrosing-related growth factors was related to the finding of MA and/or MS in MCs. Eighteen cases of MC, 6 with both extensive MS and MA (group I), 5 with extensive MS only (group II), and 7 with ordinary MS only (group III), were analyzed for immunoexpression of beta-catenin, transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF beta 2), nerve growth factor 2 (NGF2), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), insulin growth factor receptor (IGFR), and bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. Standard immunohistochemical technique was used following antigen retrieval. Immunostaining was scored semiquantitively as the product of the percentage and intensity (0 to 2+) of the immunostaining, giving a possible range of 0 to 200. One-way analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney nonparametric analyses were used for statistical analysis. The mean scores of immunoreactivity of each factor in groups I, II, and III were as follows: 135, 174, and 147 for beta-catenin (cytoplasmic reactivity only); 106, 112, and 92 for TGF beta 3; 1.67, 32, and 36 for NGF-2; 2.5, 48, and 55 for FGF-2; 19, 112, and 66 for IGFR2; 140, 45, and 52 for BMP4. There were significant differences in NGF-2 immunoreactivity between groups I and III (P = 0.0023) and in BMP4 immunoreactivity between groups I and II (P = 0.017) and groups I and III (P = 0.022). All MCs expressed high levels of membranous beta-catenin, moderate levels of TGF beta 3 and IGFR2, and low levels of FGF-2, with no significant differences seen among the groups. MCs with prominent MS and MA (group I) expressed significantly higher BMP4 than those in groups II and III, suggesting a potential role of BMP4 in the pathogenesis of MA. The level of NGF-2 expression was significantly lower in group I than in group III, possibly indicating abnormal angiogenesis in the formation of angiopathy.     

Stress and glucocorticoid inhibit apical GLUT2-trafficking and intestinal glucose absorption in rat small intestine

We have proposed a new model of rat intestinal sugar absorption in which high glucose concentrations promote rapid insertion of GLUT2 into the apical membrane, so that absorptive capacity is precisely regulated to match dietary intake. Construction and building work during expansion and refurbishment of our department permitted opportunistic experiments on the effects of building-induced stress on the GLUT2 component of absorption. In fed rats perfused with 75 m m glucose in vivo , stress rapidly inhibited glucose absorption 36.4 ± 3.0% compared with control rats. Selective inhibition of the GLUT2 component with phloretin demonstrated that stress inhibited the GLUT2 component by 42.8 ± 3.8%, which correlated with a corresponding diminution in apical GLUT2 levels: the SGLT1 component and its level were unaltered by stress. Effects of stress were reversed by the administration in drinking water of metyrapone, which inhibits 11-β-hydroxylase. Injection of dexamethasone into control rats 60 min before perfusion resulted in absorption and transporter properties indistinguishable from stressed rats. Our data are consistent with the view that stress activates the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, causing release of glucocorticoid. The ensuing inhibition of GLUT2 trafficking and absorption seems necessary to prevent enhanced intestinal delivery of glucose to the circulation from antagonizing the essential stress response of glucorticoid in mobilizing peripheral energy stores for emergency purposes.