Cbl-b differentially regulates activation-induced apoptosis in T helper 1 and T helper 2 cells

We previously reported that ligation of CD3 induces antiapoptotic signals in T helper 2 (Th2) cells, and in contrast causes Th1 cells to undergo apoptosis. Here we show that Cbl-b is accountable for the unequal response, revealing a previously unknown cell-specific regulatory function for the molecule. Absence of Cbl-b resulted in resistance to activation-induced apoptosis in murine Th1 cells following CD3 ligation, akin to what is observed in Th2 cells containing Cbl-b. Concurrent with the apoptosis profile, CD3 ligation in the absence of Cbl-b induced raft mobilization and cytoskeletal rearrangement in Th1 cells. Despite their ability to signal from CD3, Th2 cells did not aggregate their rafts, providing an explanation for cell-specific activity of Cbl-b.     

应用四环素调控系统建立可调控抗恶性疟原虫DNA疫苗的初步研究

目的 :应用四环素 (tetracycline,Tet)可调控系统建立可调控的抗恶性疟原虫的DNA疫苗。方法 :首先构建恶性疟原虫顶端膜抗原 1(AMA 1)基因和转录激活因子 (tTA或rtTA)基因的真核表达质粒pTL 8/AMA 1和pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA) ,并大量制备这两种质粒及表达转录抑制子 (tTS)的质粒pUHS6 1。以pTL 8/AMA 1、pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)和pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)加pUHS6 1/tTS免疫小鼠后 ,用四环素类似物强力霉素 (doxcycline ,dox)诱导或抑制上述DNA载体内AMA 1的表达 ,并分离小鼠血清检测针对AMA 1抗体的表达情况。结果 :①构建了真核表达质粒pTL 8/AMA 1和pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA) ;②pTL 8/AMA 1和pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)在没有被诱导表达时 (仅基础表达 ) ,可诱导明显的免疫应答。在以pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)与含tTS的pUHS6 1共同免疫后 ,可极大地降低其免疫应答。应用dox诱导pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)中的AMA 1基因表达后 ,可明显引起免疫应答。结论 :pTL 8/AMA 1(rtTA)附加pUHS6 1构成了可调节的DNA免疫系统。该系统的建立将对进一步深入研究DNA疫苗的免疫机制和调控基因表达 ,减少不良免疫反应以及进行可精确调控的基因治疗打下一定的基础     

The concentrative nucleoside transporter family,SLC28

The SLC28 family consists of three subtypes of sodium-dependent, concentrative nucleoside transporters, CNT1, CNT2, and CNT3 (SLC28A1, SLC28A2, and SLC28A3, respectively), that transport both naturally occurring nucleosides and synthetic nucleoside analogs used in the treatment of various diseases. These subtypes differ in their substrate specificities: CNT1 is pyrimidine-nucleoside preferring, CNT2 is purine-nucleoside preferring, and CNT3 transports both pyrimidine and purine nucleosides. Recent studies have identified key amino acid residues that are determinants of pyrimidine and purine specificity of CNT1 and CNT2. The tissue distributions of the CNTs vary: CNT1 is localized primarily in epithelia, whereas CNT2 and CNT3 have more generalized distributions. Nucleoside transporters in the SLC28 and SLC29 families play critical roles in nucleoside salvage pathways where they mediate the first step of nucleotide biosynthesis. In addition, these transporters work in concert to terminate adenosine signaling. SLC28 family members are crucial determinants of response to a variety of anticancer and antiviral nucleoside analogs, as they modulate the entry of these analogs into target tissues. Further, this family is involved in the absorption and disposition of many nucleoside analogs. Several CNT single nucleoside polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified, but have yet to be characterized.     

Three novel mutations of the fibrillin-1 gene and ten single nucleotide polymorphisms of the fibrillin-3 gene in Marfan syndrome patients

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant disorder of the extracellular matrix. Allelic variations in the gene for fibrillin-1 (FBN1) have been shown to cause MFS. To date, over 550 mutations have been identified in patients with MFS and related connective tissue diseases. However, about a half of MFS cases do not possess mutations in the FBN1 gene. These findings raise the possibility that variants located in other genes cause or modify MFS. To explore this possibility, firstly we analyzed FBN1 allelic variants in 12 Japanese patients with MFS, and secondly we analyzed fibrillin-3 gene (FBN3) in patients without FBN1 mutations using conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE) and direct sequencing analysis. We identified three novel FBN1 mutations and ten FBN3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In this report, we could not detect a responsible mutation of the FBN3 gene for MFS. Although the number of the cases in this report is small, at least these results suggest that disease-causing mutations in exon regions of the FBN3 gene are very rare in MFS.Nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under the accession numbers: AB177797, AB177798, AB177799, AB177800, AB177801, AB177802, AB177803     

Dendritic cells generated in the presence of GM-CSF plus IL-15 prime potent CD8+ Tc1 responses in vivo

Dendritic cells (DC) comprise a system of professional antigen-presenting cells, which induce the stimulation of very rare antigen-specific naive T cells. DC progenitors can be stimulated to differentiate into immature DC by various growth factors, including GM-CSF and IL-4. Here we show that IL-15, in combination with GM-CSF, is a growth factor for murine DC. Murine bone marrow cells, depleted of T cells, B cells, I-A+ cells and Gr-1+ granulocytes, and cultured in the presence of GM-CSF plus IL-15 (IL-15 DC), yielded DC expressing high levels of CD11c and MHC class II molecules, as well as CD11b. These cells expressed significant levels of CD40, CD80 and CD86, and could stimulate allogeneic CD4+ T cells efficiently. Interestingly, IL-15 DC were far superior to DC generated with GM-CSF plus IL-4 in stimulating allogeneic CD8+ T cells in vitro. Consistent with this, IL-15 DC induced much more potent antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses with high levels of Th1 cytokines in vivo, compared to DC generated with GM-CSF plus IL-4, or with GM-CSF plus TGF-beta, or with GM-CSF alone. Together, these data suggest that IL-15 promotes the development of DC, which induce potent Th1 and Tc1 responses in vivo. This suggests potential roles for these IL-15 DC cells in the immunotherapy of tumors and infectious diseases.     

Advanced 1H Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy on Hydrogels, 1

Summary: The nature of the pH dependent collapse of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) hydrogels is investigated using recent ¹H solid‐state NMR methods. In aqueous solution, PMAA changes from an expanded conformation at high pHs to a compact contracted form at low pHs, where hydrogen bonds play a central role. In solid‐state ¹H NMR spectra, recorded under fast magic angle spinning (MAS), dried PMAA samples previously collapsed at low pHs show characteristic signals in the spectral region of the carboxylic acid protons. With the aid of 2D ¹H‐¹H double‐quantum (DQ) MAS NMR spectra, three signals can be distinguished at 8, 10.5 and 12.5 ppm, which are attributed to free carboxylic groups and two different types of hydrogen bonded forms, respectively. The 12.5 ppm signal arises from the hydrogen bond with the shortest H? H distance, corresponding to the form that is most stable with respect to increasing temperature and pH. The weaker hydrogen‐bonded form (with a signal at 10.5 ppm) requires a slightly lower pH, while the free acid signal (at 8 ppm) emerges under the most acidic medium. Moreover, the stabilities of the hydrogen‐bonded carboxylic acid dimers can be inferred from the proton‐proton distances within the dimers, i.e. (275 ± 5) pm and (295 ± 15) pm for the protons at 12.5 and 10.5 ppm, respectively, which are determined by means of DQ MAS sideband patterns. Both the stability of the hydrogen bonds and the acidity of the protons may be related to the stereochemistry and the conformation of the PMAA chains.

     

Distinction between papillary thyroid hyperplasia and papillary thyroid carcinoma by immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin 19, galectin-3, and HBME-1

The histopathology of papillary thyroid hyperplasia and papillary thyroid carcinoma is similar enough to cause a diagnostic dilemma in a few cases. Both lesions may have papillary fronds with fibrovascular cores, nuclear crowding, and nuclear anisocytosis. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 30 randomly selected patients with papillary thyroid hyperplasia and an equal number from patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were analyzed for expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19), galectin-3, and HBME-1. Cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma had moderate to strong CK19, galectin-3, and HBME-1 reactivity although both CK19 and galectin-3 showed positive staining in a significant number of nonneoplastic thyroid cases. HBME-1 was uncommon in the nonneoplastic cases. These results indicate that HBME-1 may be useful in helping to distinguish papillary thyroid carcinoma from hyperplasia in diagnostically difficult cases.     

Metabolic polymorphisms and the micronucleus frequency in buccal epithelium of adolescents living in an urban environment

Micronuclei and other biomarkers were evaluated in oral cells from 11- to 16-year-old girls living in a foster home in the central area of México City. Variables analyzed for possible association with these biomarkers include smoking habits, body mass index, metabolic polymorphisms for NAT1 and GSTM1 and whether the cells were obtained from the cheek or pharynx. The results indicated that individuals having the NAT1*10 homozygous genotype showed a significant increase in chromatin buds and binucleated cells. When the damage in the cheek was compared with damage in the pharynx, a significant increase in micronuclei and binucleated cells was found for the latter tissue in all the individuals analyzed.     

Accumulation of p53 in response to adenovirus early region 1A sensitizes human cells to tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis

Many tumor cells are resistant to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-induced apoptosis. Adenovirus early region 1A (AdE1A) sensitizes the otherwise resistant cells to TNFalpha. AdE1A also stabilizes the p53 protein. The present study demonstrates a correlation between AdE1A-induced sensitization and stabilization of p53 in TNFalpha-induced apoptosis since the N-terminal and CR2 regions, the binding sites for CBP/p300, Rb and 26S proteasome regulatory components, are required for both these actions of AdE1A. TNFalpha does not induce apoptosis and AdE1A fails to sensitize TNFalpha cytotoxicity in p53-negative cells. However, introduction of exogenous p53 overcomes the cellular resistance to TNFalpha toxicity and enhances AdE1A sensitization, demonstrating that AdE1A sensitizes TNFalpha-induced apoptosis by its stabilization of p53. A proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin, enhances TNFalpha cytotoxicity in p53-positive and -negative cells, suggesting that accumulation of cellular proteins other than p53 might also regulate the cellular response to TNFalpha signaling.