bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PGRL Is a Major CD81-Associated Protein on Lymphocytes and Distinguishes a New Family of Cell Surface Proteins
Authors: Clark Krista L. , Zeng Zhihong , Langford Amy L. , Bowen Starla M. , Todd Scott C. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractCD81 exerts a range of interesting effects on T cells including early thymocyte differentiation, LFA-1 activation, and provision of costimulation. To better understand the mechanisms by which CD81 influences T cell function we evaluated CD81 molecular complexes on T cells. The most prominent CD81-associated cell surface protein on thymocytes as well as a number of T cell and B cell lines has an apparent molecular mass of 75 kDa. The 75-kDa protein was purified and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry followed by postsource-decay profiling. p75 is a novel type I transmembrane protein of the Ig superfamily which is most similar to FPRP. We cloned and sequenced both human and mouse PG regulatory-like protein (PGRL) and characterized mouse PGRL expression in both lymphocytes and nonlymphoid tissues. The discovery of PGRL allows for the clustering of a small family of related proteins including PGRL, FPRP, V7/CD101, and IGSF3. Expression constructs containing various domains of PGRL with an epitope tag were coexpressed with CD81 and used to determine that the interaction of CD81 with PGRL requires the membrane distal Ig3–Ig4 domains of PGRL. Although it remains to be determined whether PGRL possesses PG regulatory functions, transwell chamber experiments show that PGs and CD81 coordinately regulate T cell motility.
The Initiation of B Cell Clonal Expansion Occurs Independently of Pre-B Cell Receptor Formation
Authors: Kline Gregory H. , Hayden Tracy A. , Riegert Patricia 
Published: April 2014

AbstractCurrent models of B cell development posit that clonal expansion occurs as a direct result of Ig H chain expression. To test this hypothesis, we isolated a population of early B cells in which H chain recombination is initiated and assessed VHDJH rearrangements in both cycling and noncycling cells. We found that actively dividing cells within this population are enriched for H chain rearrangements that are productive when compared with their counterparts in G0/G1, apparently supporting a role for H chain expression in initiating early B cell division; entrance into the cell cycle was accompanied by VH gene-dependent H chain selection. However, we also identified a phenotypically identical population of actively cycling early B cells in the absence of H chain expression in recombination activating gene knockout mice. In addition, actively cycling early B cells could be detected in pre-B cell receptor (pBCR)-negative λ5 knockout mice, but we found no evidence for VH-dependent H chain selection in this population. Given these results, we suggest that the initiation of clonal expansion, at this early stage in B cell development, occurs independently of H chain expression. Although the cycling cell pool is enriched for pBCR-positive cells in mice expressing surrogate L chain, pBCR formation is not required for the initiation of cell division.
Efficient Chromosomal Mapping of a Methylcholanthrene- Induced Tumor Antigen by CTL Immunoselection
Authors: Akilesh Shreeram , Dudley Mark E. , Eden Peter A. , Roopenian Derry C. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractIt has been difficult to genetically map the genes encoding tumor Ags because they arise as a consequence of somatic mutational events. CTL-mediated immunoselection can impose potent immunoselective pressure against tumor cells, resulting in the survival of rare tumor Ag-loss variants. We subjected a heterozygous 3-methylcholanthrene-induced murine sarcoma cell line to CTL immunoselection, selecting for the loss of a tumor-specific Ag, recognized antigen from MCA-induced tumor 1 (Ram1). Several variants eluded CTL recognition by genetic loss of the hemizygously expressed tumor-specific Ag epitope. A frequently observed genetic escape mechanism was spontaneous mitotic recombination resulting in loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 4. Higher density genetic analyses along with functional confirmation with an independently produced chromosome 4 loss of heterozygosity variant positioned the Ram1 locus to a distal 7.1 cM interval on chromosome 4. This region of the mouse genome is rich in tumor-modifier genes and this positioning of Ram1 may thus provide insight into the genetic basis of 3-methycholanthrene-induced tumor Ags.
Transmembrane Domain-Mediated Colocalization of HLA-DM and HLA-DR Is Required for Optimal HLA-DM Catalytic Activity
Authors: Weber Dominique A. , Dao Chinh T. , Jun Julie , Wigal Jerrod L. , Jensen Peter E. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractHLA-DM catalyzes peptide loading and exchange reactions by MHC class II molecules. Soluble recombinant DM, lacking transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, was observed to have 200- to 400-fold less activity compared with the full-length protein in assays measuring DM-catalyzed peptide dissociation from purified HLA-DR1 in detergent solutions. Additional studies with truncated soluble DR1 demonstrated that transmembrane domains in DR1 molecules are also required for optimal activity. The potential requirement for specific interaction between the transmembrane domains of DM and DR was ruled out in experiments with chimeric DR1 molecules containing transmembrane domains from either DM or the unrelated protein CD80. These results suggested that the major role of the transmembrane domains is to facilitate colocalization of DM and DR in detergent micelles. The latter conclusion was further supported by the observation that HLA-DM-catalyzed peptide binding to certain murine class II proteins is increased by reducing the volume of detergent micelles. The importance of membrane colocalization was directly demonstrated in experiments in which DM and DR were reconstituted separately or together into membrane bilayers in unilamellar liposomes. Our findings demonstrate the importance of membrane anchoring in DM activity and underscore the potential importance of membrane localization in regulating peptide exchange by class II molecules.
The Role of the Individual Domains in the Structure and Function of the Catalytic Region of a Modular Serine Protease, C1r
Authors: Kardos József , Gál Péter , Szilágyi László , Thielens Nicole M. , Szilágyi Katalin , Lõrincz Zsolt , Kulcsár Péter , Gráf László , Arlaud Gérard  J. , Závodszky Péter 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
The first enzymatic event in the classical pathway of complement activation is autoactivation of the C1r subcomponent of the C1 complex. Activated C1r then cleaves and activates zymogen C1s. C1r is a multidomain serine protease consisting of N-terminal α region interacting with other subcomponents and C-terminal γB region mediating proteolytic activity. The γB region consists of two complement control protein modules (CCP1, CCP2) and a serine protease domain (SP). To clarify the role of the individual domains in the structural and functional properties of the γB region we produced the CCP1-CCP2-SP (γB), the CCP2-SP, and the SP fragments in recombinant form in Escherichia coli. We successfully renatured the inclusion body proteins. After renaturation all three fragments were obtained in activated form and showed esterolytic activity on synthetic substrates similar to each other. To study the self-activation process in detail zymogen mutant forms of the three fragments were constructed and expressed. Our major statement is that the ability of autoactivation and C1s cleavage is an inherent property of the SP domain. We observed that the CCP2 module significantly increases proteolytic activity of the SP domain on natural substrate, C1s. Therefore, we propose that CCP2 module provides accessory binding sites. Differential scanning calorimetric measurements demonstrated that CCP2 domain greatly stabilizes the structure of SP domain. Deletion of CCP1 domain from the CCP1-CCP2-SP fragment results in the loss of the dimeric structure. Our experiments also provided evidence that dimerization of C1r is not a prerequisite for autoactivation.
Cytokine Requirements for Induction of Systemic and Mucosal CTL After Nasal Immunization
Authors: Staats Herman F. , Bradney Curtis P. , Gwinn William M. , Jackson Shawn S. , Sempowski Gregory D. , Liao Hua-Xin , Letvin Norman L. , Haynes Barton F. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractCholera toxin (CT) is frequently used as an experimental adjuvant intranasally for the induction of systemic and mucosal immunity. However, CT is highly reactogenic and not approved for use in humans. To define the cytokine requirements for the nasal activation of the systemic and mucosal immune system, and to design new adjuvants with efficacy similar to CT, we defined the cytokines that were able to replace CT as a nasal adjuvant for the induction of CTL. BALB/c mice were nasally immunized with an HIV immunogen that contains an MHC class I-restricted CTL epitope ± cytokines and tested for HIV-specific immune responses. We found that combinations of IL-1α plus IL-18, IL-1α plus IL-12, and IL-1α plus IL-12 plus GM-CSF each induced optimal splenocyte anti-HIV CTL responses in immunized mice (range 60–71% peptide-specific 51Cr release). Peak H-2Dd-peptide tetramer-binding T cell responses induced by cytokine combinations were up to 5.5% of CD8+ PBMC. Nasal immunization with HIV immunogen and IL-1α, IL-12, and GM-CSF also induced Ag-specific IFN-γ-secreting cells in the draining cervical lymph node and the lung. The use of IL-1α, IL-12, and GM-CSF as nasal adjuvants was associated with an increased expression of MHC class II and B7.1 on nonlymphocytes within the nasal-associated lymphoid tissue/nasal mucosa. Thus, IL-1α, IL-12, IL-18, and GM-CSF are critical cytokines for the induction of systemic and mucosal CTL after nasal immunization. Moreover, these cytokines may serve as effective adjuvants for nasal vaccine delivery.
Donor IFN-γ Receptors Are Critical for Acute CD4+ T Cell-Mediated Cardiac Allograft Rejection
Authors: Wiseman Alexander C. , Pietra Biagio A. , Kelly Brian P. , Rayat Gina R. , Rizeq Mona , Gill Ronald G. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractRecent studies using mouse models demonstrate that CD4+ T cells are sufficient to mediate acute cardiac allograft rejection in the absence of CD8+ T cells and B cells. However, the mechanistic basis of CD4-mediated rejection is unclear. One potential mechanism of CD4-mediated rejection is via elaboration of proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ. To determine whether IFN-γ is a critical cytokine in CD4-mediated acute cardiac allograft rejection, we studied whether the expression of IFN-γ receptors on the donor heart was required for CD4-mediated rejection. To investigate this possibility, purified CD4+ T cells were transferred into immune-deficient mice bearing heterotopic cardiac allografts from IFN-γ receptor-deficient (GRKO) donors. While CD4+ T cells triggered acute rejection of wild-type heart allografts, they failed to trigger rejection of GRKO heart allografts. The impairment in CD4-mediated rejection of GRKO hearts appeared to primarily involve the efferent phase of the immune response. This conclusion was based on the findings that GRKO stimulator cells provoked normal CD4 proliferation in vitro and that intentional in vivo challenge of CD4 cells with wild-type donor APC or the adoptive transfer of in vitro primed CD4 T cells failed to provoke acute rejection of GRKO allografts. In contrast, unseparated lymph node cells acutely rejected both GRKO and wild-type hearts with similar time courses, illustrating the existence of both IFN-γ-dependent and IFN-γ-independent mechanisms of acute allograft rejection.
Immature and Mature CD8α+ Dendritic Cells Prolong the Survival of Vascularized Heart Allografts
Authors: O’Connell Peta J. , Li Wei , Wang Zhiliang , Specht Susan M. , Logar Alison J. , Thomson Angus W. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractCD8α+ and CD8α− dendritic cells (DCs) arise from committed bone marrow progenitors and can induce or regulate immune reactivity. Previously, the maturational status of CD8α− (myeloid) DCs has been shown to influence allogeneic T cell responses and allograft survival. Although CD8α+ DCs have been implicated in central tolerance and found to modulate peripheral T cell function, their influence on the outcome of organ transplantation has not been examined. Consistent with their equivalent high surface expression of MHC and costimulatory molecules, sorted mature C57BL/10J (B10; H2b) DCs of either subset primed naive, allogeneic C3H/HeJ (C3H; H2k) recipients for Th1 responses. Paradoxically and in contrast to their CD8α− counterparts, mature CD8α+ B10 DCs given systemically 7 days before transplant markedly prolonged B10 heart graft survival in C3H recipients. This effect was associated with specific impairment of ex vivo antidonor T cell proliferative responses, which was not reversed by exogenous IL-2. Further analyses of possible underlying mechanisms indicated that neither immune deviation nor induction of regulatory cells was a significant contributory factor. In contrast to the differential capacity of the mature DC subsets to affect graft outcome, immature CD8α+ and CD8α− DCs administered under the same experimental conditions significantly prolonged transplant survival. These observations demonstrate for the first time the innate capacity of CD8α+ DCs to regulate alloimmune reactivity and transplant survival, independent of their maturation status. Mobilization of such a donor DC subset with capacity to modulate antidonor immunity may have significant implications for the therapy of allograft rejection.
The CD8 T Cell Compartment Plays a Dominant Role in the Deficiency of Brown-Norway Rats to Mount a Proper Type 1 Immune Response
Authors: Cautain Bastien , Damoiseaux Jan , Bernard Isabelle , Xystrakis Emmanuel , Fournié Emmanuelle , van Breda Vriesman Peter , Druet Philippe , Saoudi Abdelhadi 
Published: April 2014

AbstractDifferential cytokine production by T cells plays an important role in regulating the nature of an immune response. In the rat, Brown-Norway (BN) and Lewis (LEW) strains differ markedly in their susceptibility to develop either type 1 or type 2-mediated autoimmune manifestations. BN rats are susceptible to type 2-dependent systemic autoimmunity, while LEW rats are resistant. Conversely, type 1-mediated, organ-specific autoimmune disease can be easily induced in LEW, but not in BN, rats. The mechanisms involved in the differential development of type 1 and type 2 immune responses by these two strains are still unknown. In the present study we analyzed the contributions of APC, CD4 and CD8 T cells, and MHC molecules in the difference between LEW and BN rats to develop a type 1 immune response. First, we show that the defect of BN T cells to produce type 1 cytokines in vitro does not require the presence of APC and, by using an APC-independent stimulation assay, we have localized the defect within the T cell compartment. Both CD4 and CD8 T cells are involved in the defect of BN rats to develop a type 1 immune response with a major contribution of the CD8 T cell compartment. This defect is associated with an increase in the type 2 cytokine IL-4 in both BN T cell populations, but neutralization of this cytokine does not restore this defect. Finally, by using MHC congenic rats, we show that the MHC haplotype is not involved in the defect of BN T cells to mount a proper type 1 cytokine response.
Conservation and Variation in Human and Common Chimpanzee CD94 and NKG2 Genes
Authors: Shum Benny P. , Flodin Laura R. , Muir David G. , Rajalingam Raja , Khakoo Salim I. , Cleland Sophia , Guethlein Lisbeth A. , Uhrberg Markus , Parham Peter 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
To assess polymorphism and variation in human and chimpanzee NK complex genes, we determined the coding-region sequences for CD94 and NKG2A, C, D, E, and F from several human (Homo sapiens) donors and common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). CD94 is highly conserved, while the NKG2 genes exhibit some polymorphism. For all the genes, alternative mRNA splicing variants were frequent among the clones obtained by RT-PCR. Alternative splicing acts similarly in human and chimpanzee to produce the CD94B variant from the CD94 gene and the NKG2B variant from the NKG2A gene. Whereas single chimpanzee orthologs for CD94, NKG2A, NKG2E, and NKG2F were identified, two chimpanzee paralogs of the human NKG2C gene were defined. The chimpanzee Pt-NKG2CI gene encodes a protein similar to human NKG2C, whereas in the chimpanzee Pt-NKG2CII gene the translation frame changes near the beginning of the carbohydrate recognition domain, causing premature termination. Analysis of a panel of chimpanzee NK cell clones showed that Pt-NKG2CI and Pt-NKG2CII are independently and clonally expressed. Pt-NKG2CI and Pt-NKG2CII are equally diverged from human NKG2C, indicating that they arose by gene duplication subsequent to the divergence of chimpanzee and human ancestors. Genomic DNA from 80 individuals representing six primate species were typed for the presence of CD94 and NKG2. Each species gave distinctive typing patterns, with NKG2A and CD94 being most conserved. Seven different NK complex genotypes within the panel of 48 common chimpanzees were due to differences in Pt-NKG2C and Pt-NKG2D genes.
Prostaglandin E2-Mediated Activation of HIV-1 Long Terminal Repeat Transcription in Human T Cells Necessitates CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein (C/EBP) Binding Sites in Addition to Cooperative Interactions Between C/EBPβ and Cyclic Adenosine 5′-Monophosphate Response Element Binding Protein
Authors: Dumais Nancy , Bounou Salim , Olivier Martin , Tremblay Michel J. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Previous work indicates that treatment of human T cells with PGE2 results in an increase of HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) transcriptional activity. The noticed PGE2-mediated activation of virus gene activity required the participation of specific intracellular second messengers such as calcium and two transcription factors, i.e., NF-κB and CREB. We report in this work that the nuclear transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) is also important for PGE2-dependent up-regulation of HIV-1 LTR-driven gene activity. The implication of C/EBP was shown by using a trans-dominant negative inhibitor of C/EBP (i.e., liver-enriched transcriptional inhibitory protein) and several molecular constructs carrying site-directed mutations in the C/EBP binding sites located within the HIV-1 LTR. Mutated HIV-1 LTR constructs also revealed the involvement of the two most proximal C/EBP binding sites. Data from cotransfection experiments with vectors coding for dominant negative mutants and gel mobility shift assays indicated that PGE2-mediated induction of HIV-1 LTR activity results from a cooperative interaction between C/EBPβ and CREB, two members of the basic leucine zipper family of transcription factors. Altogether these findings indicate that treatment of human T cells with PGE2 induces HIV-1 LTR activity through a complex interplay between C/EBPβ and CREB. Such a combinatorial regulation may represent a mechanism that permits a fine regulation of HIV-1 expression by PGE2 in human T cells.
Mast Cell α-Chymase Reduces IgE Recognition of Birch Pollen Profilin by Cleaving Antibody-Binding Epitopes
Authors: Mellon Matthew B. , Frank Brendon T. , Fang Kenneth C. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
In sensitized individuals birch pollen induces an allergic response characterized by IgE-dependent mast cell degranulation of mediators, such as α-chymase and other serine proteases. In birch and other plant pollens, a major allergen is profilin. In mammals, profilin homologues are found in an intracellular form bound to cytoskeletal or cytosolic proteins or in a secreted form that may initiate signal transduction. IgE specific to birch profilin also binds human profilin I. This cross-reactivity between airborne and endogenous proteins may help to sustain allergy symptoms. The current work demonstrates that cultured mast cells constitutively secrete profilin I, which is susceptible to degranulation-dependent proteolysis. Coincubation of chymase-rich BR mastocytoma cells with Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-chloromethylketone (a chymase inhibitor) blocks profilin cleavage, which does not occur in degranulated HMC-1 mast cells, which are rich in tryptase, but chymase deficient. These data implicate chymase as the serine protease cleaving secreted mast cell profilin. Sequencing of chymase-cleaved profilins reveals hydrolysis at Tyr6-Val7 and Trp35-Ala36 in birch profilin and at Trp32-Ala33 in human profilin, with all sites lying within IgE-reactive epitopes. IgE immunoblotting studies with sera from birch pollen-allergic individuals demonstrate that cleavage by chymase attenuates binding of birch profilin to IgE. Thus, destruction of IgE-binding epitopes by exocytosed chymase may limit further mast cell activation by this class of common plant allergens, thereby limiting the allergic responses in sensitized individuals.
Vaccine Protection Against Functional CTL Abnormalities in Simian Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: McKay Paul F. , Schmitz Jörn E. , Barouch Dan H. , Kuroda Marcelo J. , Lifton Michelle A. , Nickerson Christine E. , Gorgone Darci A. , Letvin Norman L. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that HIV-specific CD8+ CTL are dysfunctional in HIV-infected individuals with progressive clinical disease. In the present studies, cytokine production by virus-specific CTL was assessed in the rhesus monkey model for AIDS to determine its contribution to the functional impairment of CTL. CTL from monkeys infected with nonpathogenic isolates of simian and simian-human immunodeficiency virus expressed high levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 after in vitro exposure to a nonspecific mitogen or the optimal peptide representing a dominant virus-specific CTL epitope. However, similarly performed studies assessing these capabilities in CTL from monkeys infected with pathogenic immunodeficiency virus isolates demonstrated a significant dysfunction in the ability of the CTL to produce IL-2 and TNF-α. Importantly, CTL from vaccinated monkeys that effectively controlled the replication of a highly pathogenic simian-human immunodeficiency virus isolate following challenge demonstrated a preserved capacity to produce these cytokines. These experiments suggest that defects in cytokine production may contribute to CTL dysfunction in chronic HIV or SIV infection. Moreover, an AIDS vaccine that confers protection against clinical disease evolution in this experimental model also preserves the functional capacity of these CTL to produce both IL-2 and TNF-α.