bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Granzyme C Supports Efficient CTL-Mediated Killing Late in Primary Alloimmune Responses
Authors: Getachew Yonas , Stout-Delgado Heather , Miller Bonnie C. , Thiele Dwain L. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractIt is well established that granzymes A and B play a role in CTL killing of target cells by the perforin-dependent granule exocytosis pathway. The functions of multiple additional granzymes expressed in CTL are less well defined. In the present studies, CTL generated from mice deficient in dipeptidyl peptidase 1 (DPP1) were used to investigate the contribution of granzyme C to CTL killing of allogeneic target cells. DPP1 is required for activation of granzymes A and B by proteolytic removal of their N-terminal dipeptide prodomains while a significant portion of granzyme C is processed normally in the absence of DPP1. Cytotoxicity of DPP1−/− CTL generated in early (5-day) MLC in vitro and in peritoneal exudate cells 5 days after initial allogeneic sensitization in vivo was significantly impaired compared with wild-type CTL. Following 3 days of restimulation with fresh allogeneic stimulators however, cytotoxicity of these DPP1−/− effector cells was comparable to that of wild-type CTL. Killing mediated by DPP1−/− CTL following restimulation was rapid, perforin dependent, Fas independent and associated with early mitochondrial injury, phosphatidyl serine externalization, and DNA degradation, implicating a granzyme-dependent apoptotic pathway. The increased cytotoxicity of DPP1−/− CTL following restimulation coincided with increased expression of granzyme C. Moreover, small interfering RNA inhibition of granzyme C expression during restimulation significantly decreased cytotoxicity of DPP1−/− but not wild-type CTL. These results indicate that during late primary alloimmune responses, granzyme C can support CTL-mediated killing by the granule exocytosis pathway in the absence of functional granzymes A or B.
An Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase-Independent Mechanism of Secondary VH Gene Rearrangement in Preimmune Human B Cells
Authors: Longo Nancy S. , Grundy Gabrielle J. , Lee Jisoo , Gellert Martin , Lipsky Peter E. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractVH replacement is a form of IgH chain receptor editing that is believed to be mediated by recombinase cleavage at cryptic recombination signal sequences (cRSS) embedded in VH genes. Whereas there are several reports of VH replacement in primary and transformed human B cells and murine models, it remains unclear whether VH replacement contributes to the normal human B cell repertoire. We identified VH→VH(D)JH compound rearrangements from fetal liver, fetal bone marrow, and naive peripheral blood, all of which involved invading and recipient VH4 genes that contain a cryptic heptamer, a 13-bp spacer, and nonamer in the 5′ portion of framework region 3. Surprisingly, all pseudohybrid joins lacked the molecular processing associated with typical VH(D)JH recombination or nonhomologous end joining. Although inefficient compared with a canonical recombination signal sequences, the VH4 cRSS was a significantly better substrate for in vitro RAG-mediated cleavage than the VH3 cRSS. It has been suggested that activation-induced cytidine deamination (AICDA) may contribute to VH replacement. However, we found similar secondary rearrangements using VH4 genes in AICDA-deficient human B cells. The data suggest that VH4 replacement in preimmune human B cells is mediated by an AICDA-independent mechanism resulting from inefficient but selective RAG activity.
Induction of A:T Mutations Is Dependent on Cellular Environment but Independent of Mutation Frequency and Target Gene Location
Authors: Ukai Akiko , Ishimaru Konomi , Ouchida Rika , Mori Hiromi , Kano Chie , Moritan Toshiyuki , Wang Ji-Yang 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBased on its substrate specificity, activation-induced cytidine deaminase can directly induce C:G mutations in Ig genes. However the origin of A:T mutations, which occur in a similar proportion in germinal center (GC) B cells, is unclear. Genetic evidence suggests that the induction of A:T mutations requires the components of the mismatch repair system and DNA polymerase η (POLH). We found that fibroblasts and GC B cells expressed similar levels of the mismatch repair components, but nonetheless the fibroblasts failed to generate a significant proportion of A:T mutations in a GFP reporter gene even after POLH overexpression. To investigate whether the ability to generate A:T mutations is dependent on the cellular environment (i.e., GC B cell or fibroblast) or the target gene (i.e., Ig or GFP), we developed a mutation detection system in a human GC-like cell line. We introduced a GFP gene with a premature stop codon into Ramos cells and compared the activation-induced cytidine deaminase-induced mutations in the endogenous VH and the transgenic GFP genes. Remarkably, a high proportion of A:T mutations was induced in both genes. Ectopic expression of POLH did not further increase the proportion of A:T mutations but diminished the strand bias of these mutations that is normally observed in VH genes. Intriguingly, the total mutation frequency in the GFP gene was consistently one-fifth of that in the VH gene. These results demonstrate that the ability to generate A:T mutations is dependent on the GC B cell environment but independent of the mutation frequency and target gene location.
RGS13 Controls G Protein-Coupled Receptor-Evoked Responses of Human Mast Cells
Authors: Bansal Geetanjali , DiVietro Jeffrey A. , Kuehn Hye Sun , Rao Sudhir , Nocka Karl H. , Gilfillan Alasdair M. , Druey Kirk M. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation and release of vasoactive mediators induced by allergens elicits allergic responses. Although G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-induced signals may amplify IgE-dependent degranulation, how GPCR signaling in mast cells is regulated remains incompletely defined. We investigated the role of regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins in the modulation of these pathways in human mast cells. Several RGS proteins were expressed in mast cells including RGS13, which we previously showed inhibited IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation and anaphylaxis in mice. To characterize how RGS13 affects GPCR-mediated functions of human mast cells, we analyzed human mast cell lines (HMC-1 and LAD2) depleted of RGS13 by specific small interfering RNA or short hairpin RNA and HMC-1 cells overexpressing RGS13. Transient RGS13 knockdown in LAD2 cells lead to increased degranulation to sphingosine-1-phosphate but not to IgE-Ag or C3a. Relative to control cells, HMC-1 cells stably expressing RGS13-targeted short hairpin RNA had greater Ca2+ mobilization in response to several natural GPCR ligands such as adenosine, C5a, sphingosine-1-phosphate, and CXCL12 than wild-type cells. Akt phosphorylation, chemotaxis, and cytokine (IL-8) secretion induced by CXCL12 were also greater in short hairpin RGS13-HMC-1 cells compared with control. RGS13 overexpression inhibited CXCL12-evoked Ca2+ mobilization, Akt phosphorylation and chemotaxis. These results suggest that RGS13 restricts certain GPCR-mediated biological responses of human mast cells.
Complement Receptor of the Ig Superfamily Enhances Complement-Mediated Phagocytosis in a Subpopulation of Tissue Resident Macrophages
Authors: Gorgani Nick N. , He Jeannie Q. , Katschke Kenneth J. , Helmy Karim Y. , Xi Hongkang , Steffek Micah , Hass Philip E. , van Lookeren Campagne Menno 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAn important function of the complement cascade is to coat self and foreign particles with C3-proteins that serve as ligands for phagocytic receptors. Although tissue resident macrophages play an important role in complement-mediated clearance, the receptors coordinating this process have not been well characterized. In the present study, we identified a subpopulation of resident peritoneal macrophages characterized by high expression of complement receptor of the Ig superfamily (CRIg), a recently discovered complement C3 receptor. Macrophages expressing CRIg showed significantly increased binding and subsequent internalization of complement-opsonized particles compared with CRIg negative macrophages. CRIg internalized monovalent ligands and was able to bind complement-opsonized targets in the absence of Ca2+ and Mg2+, which differs from the β2-integrin CR3 that requires divalent cations and polyvalent ligands for activation of the receptor. Although CRIg dominated in immediate binding of complement-coated particles, CRIg and CR3 contributed independently to subsequent particle phagocytosis. CRIg thus identifies a subset of tissue resident macrophages capable of increased phagocytosis of complement C3-coated particles, a function critical for immune clearance.
A Novel IFN Regulatory Factor 3-Dependent Pathway Activated by Trypanosomes Triggers IFN-β in Macrophages and Fibroblasts
Authors: Chessler Anne-Danielle C. , Ferreira Ludmila R. P. , Chang Tun-Han , Fitzgerald Katherine A. , Burleigh Barbara A. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Innate immune recognition of intracellular pathogens involves both extracellular and cytosolic surveillance mechanisms. The intracellular protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi triggers a robust type I IFN response in both immune and nonimmune cell types. In this study, we report that signaling through TBK1 and IFN regulatory factor 3 is required for T. cruzi-mediated expression of IFN-β. The TLR adaptors MyD88 and TRIF, as well as TLR4 and TLR3, were found to be dispensable, demonstrating that T. cruzi induces IFN-β expression in a TLR-independent manner. The potential role for cytosolic dsRNA sensing pathways acting through RIG-I and MDA5 was ruled out because T. cruzi was shown to trigger robust expression of IFN-β in macrophages lacking the MAVS/IPS1/VISA/CARDif adaptor protein. The failure of T. cruzi to activate HEK293-IFN-β-luciferase cells, which are highly sensitive to cytosolic triggers of IFN-β expression including Listeria, Sendai virus, and transfected dsRNA and dsDNA, further indicates that the parasite does not engage currently recognized cytosolic surveillance pathways. Together, these findings identify the existence of a novel TLR-independent pathogen-sensing mechanism in immune and nonimmune cells that converges on TBK1 and IFN regulatory factor 3 for activation of IFN-β gene expression.
Multimerization of Surfactant Protein D, but Not Its Collagen Domain, Is Required for Antiviral and Opsonic Activities Related to Influenza Virus
Authors: White Mitchell , Kingma Paul , Tecle Tesfaldet , Kacak Nilgun , Linders Bruce , Heuser John , Crouch Erika , Hartshorn Kevan 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Surfactant protein D (SP-D) plays important roles in the initial innate defense against influenza A virus (IAV). The collagen domain of SP-D is probably critical for its homeostatic functions in vivo and has been implicated in the modulation of macrophage responses to SP-D-ligand complexes. For the current studies, we used a panel of rat SP-D mutants lacking all or part of the collagen domain to more specifically evaluate the contributions of this domain to viral interactions. SP-D multimers lacking the collagenous sequence efficiently neutralized Phil82 IAV, promoted neutrophil uptake of IAV, and also potentiated the IAV-induced neutrophil respiratory burst response. A dodecameric mutant with shortened collagenous arms showed enhanced viral aggregation and neuraminidase inhibition, and an increased capacity to inhibit a partially collectin-resistant strain of IAV. By contrast, truncated molecules lacking an N-terminal and collagen domain showed no detectable antiviral and opsonizing activity, despite preservation of lectin activity and detectable viral binding. Thus, multimerization, which is mediated by the N-peptide, is more important than the collagen domain for efficient viral neutralization and opsonization. However, the structure of the collagen domain significantly influences the anti-viral activity of multimerized forms of SP-D.
Identification of Human T Cell Antigens for the Development of Vaccines against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Bertholet Sylvie , Ireton Gregory C. , Kahn Maria , Guderian Jeffrey , Mohamath Raodoh , Stride Nicole , Laughlin Elsa M. , Baldwin Susan L. , Vedvick Thomas S. , Coler Rhea N. , Reed Steven G. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Development of a subunit vaccine for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) depends on the identification of Ags that induce appropriate T cell responses. Using bioinformatics, we selected a panel of 94 Mtb genes based on criteria that included growth in macrophages, up- or down-regulation under hypoxic conditions, secretion, membrane association, or because they were members of the PE/PPE or EsX families. Recombinant proteins encoded by these genes were evaluated for IFN-γ recall responses using PBMCs from healthy subjects previously exposed to Mtb. From this screen, dominant human T cell Ags were identified and 49 of these proteins, formulated in CpG, were evaluated as vaccine candidates in a mouse model of tuberculosis. Eighteen of the individual Ags conferred partial protection against challenge with virulent Mtb. A combination of three of these Ags further increased protection against Mtb to levels comparable to those achieved with bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination. Vaccine candidates that led to reduction in lung bacterial burden following challenge-induced pluripotent CD4 and CD8 T cells, including Th1 cell responses characterized by elevated levels of Ag-specific IgG2c, IFN-γ, and TNF. Priority vaccine Ags elicited pluripotent CD4 and CD8 T responses in purified protein derivative-positive donor PBMCs. This study identified numerous novel human T cell Ags suitable to be included in subunit vaccines against tuberculosis.
The Number of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)-Specific Memory CD8 T Cells in the Lung Is Critical for Their Ability to Inhibit RSV Vaccine-Enhanced Pulmonary Eosinophilia
Authors: Olson Matthew R. , Hartwig Stacey M. , Varga Steven M. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractChildren that were administered a formalin-inactivated respiratory syncytial virus (FI-RSV) vaccine experienced enhanced respiratory disease, including pulmonary eosinophilia, after contracting a natural RSV infection. RSV vaccine-enhanced disease can be mimicked in BALB/c mice immunized with either FI-RSV or with a recombinant vaccinia virus (vacv) expressing the RSV attachment (G) protein. We have recently demonstrated that memory CD8 T cells directed against the RSV immunodominant M282–90 epitope inhibit the development of pulmonary eosinophilia in either vacvG- or FI-RSV-immunized mice by reducing the total number of Th2 cells in the lung after RSV challenge. In this study, we show that memory CD8 T cells specific to a subdominant epitope within the RSV fusion (F) protein fail to inhibit the development of pulmonary eosinophilia after RSV challenge of mice previously co-immunized with vacvF and with either vacvG or FI-RSV. We observed that the inability of RSV F85-specific memory CD8 T cells to inhibit the development of pulmonary eosinophilia was largely due to an inadequate total number of F85-specific memory CD8 T cells in the lung at early times after RSV challenge. Increasing the number of F85-specific memory CD8 T cells after immunization grants these cells the ability to inhibit RSV vaccine-enhanced pulmonary eosinophilia. Moreover, we demonstrate that RSV-specific memory CD8 T cells, when present in sufficient numbers, inhibit the production of the Th2-associated chemokines CCL17 and CCL22. Taken together, these results indicate that RSV-specific memory CD8 T cells may alter the trafficking of Th2 cells and eosinophils into the lung.
Factor C Acts as a Lipopolysaccharide-Responsive C3 Convertase in Horseshoe Crab Complement Activation
Authors: Ariki Shigeru , Takahara Shusaku , Shibata Toshio , Fukuoka Takaaki , Ozaki Aya , Endo Yuichi , Fujita Teizo , Koshiba Takumi , Kawabata Shun-ichiro 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
The complement system in vertebrates plays an important role in host defense against and clearance of invading microbes, in which complement component C3 plays an essential role in the opsonization of pathogens, whereas the molecular mechanism underlying C3 activation in invertebrates remains unknown. In an effort to understand the molecular activation mechanism of invertebrate C3, we isolated and characterized an ortholog of C3 (designated TtC3) from the horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus. Flow cytometric analysis using an Ab against TtC3 revealed that the horseshoe crab complement system opsonizes both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Evaluation of the ability of various pathogen-associated molecular patterns to promote the proteolytic conversion of TtC3 to TtC3b in hemocyanin-depleted plasma indicated that LPS, but not zymosan, peptidoglycan, or laminarin, strongly induces this conversion, highlighting the selective response of the complement system to LPS stimulation. Although originally characterized as an LPS-sensitive initiator of hemolymph coagulation stored within hemocytes, we identified factor C in hemolymph plasma. An anti-factor C Ab inhibited various LPS-induced phenomena, including plasma amidase activity, the proteolytic activation of TtC3, and the deposition of TtC3b on the surface of Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, activated factor C present on the surface of Gram-negative bacteria directly catalyzed the proteolytic conversion of the purified TtC3, thereby promoting TtC3b deposition. We conclude that factor C acts as an LPS-responsive C3 convertase on the surface of invading Gram-negative bacteria in the initial phase of horseshoe crab complement activation.
Inhibitors of TLR8 Reduce TNF Production from Human Rheumatoid Synovial Membrane Cultures
Authors: Sacre Sandra M. , Lo Alexandra , Gregory Bernard , Simmonds Rachel E. , Williams Lynn , Feldmann Marc , Brennan Fionula M. , Foxwell Brian M. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe advent of anti-TNF biologicals has been a seminal advance in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and has confirmed the important role of TNF in disease pathogenesis. However, it is unknown what sustains the chronic production of TNF. In this study, we have investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of mianserin, a serotonin receptor antagonist. We discovered mianserin was able to inhibit the endosomal TLRs 3, 7, 8, and 9 in primary human cells and inhibited the spontaneous release of TNF and IL-6 from RA synovial membrane cultures. This suggested a role for these TLRs in production of TNF and IL-6 from RA which was supported by data from chloroquine, an inhibitor of endosomal acidification (a prerequisite for TLRs 3, 7, 8, and 9 activation) which also inhibited production of these cytokines from RA synovial cultures. Only stimulation of TLR 3 or 8 induced TNF from these cultures, indicating that TLR7 and TLR9 were of less consequence in this model. The key observation that indicated the importance of TLR8 was the inhibition of spontaneous TNF production by imiquimod, which we discovered to be an inhibitor of TLR8. Together, these data suggest that TLR8 may play a role in driving TNF production in RA. Because this receptor can be inhibited by small m.w. molecules, it may prove to be an important therapeutic target.
Transgenic Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Hepatocytes Accelerates Endotoxin-Induced Acute Liver Failure
Authors: Han Chang , Li Guiying , Lim Kyu , DeFrances Marie C. , Gandhi Chandrashekhar R. , Wu Tong 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Bacterial LPS (endotoxin) is implicated in the pathogenesis of acute liver failure and several chronic inflammatory liver diseases. To evaluate the effect of hepatocyte cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in LPS-induced liver injury, we generated transgenic mice with targeted expression of COX-2 in the liver by using the albumin promoter-enhancer driven vector and the animals produced were subjected to a standard experimental protocol of LPS-induced acute fulminant hepatic failure (i.p. injection of low dose of LPS in combination with d-galactosamine (d-GalN)). The COX-2 transgenic mice exhibited earlier mortality, higher serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels and more prominent liver tissue damage (parenchymal hemorrhage, neutrophilic inflammation, hepatocyte apoptosis, and necrosis) than wild-type mice. Western blot analysis of the liver tissues showed that LPS/d-GalN treatment for 4 h induced much higher cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, caspase-3, and caspase-9 in COX-2 transgenic mice than in wild-type mice. Increased hepatic expression of JNK-2 in COX-2 transgenic mice suggest that up-regulation of JNK-2 may represent a potential mechanism for COX-2-mediated exacerbation of liver injury. Blocking the prostaglandin receptor, EP1, prevented LPS/d-GalN-induced liver injury and hepatocyte apoptosis in COX-2 transgenic mice. Accordingly, the mice with genetic ablation of EP1 showed less LPS/d-GalN-induced liver damage and less hepatocyte apoptosis with prolonged survival when compared with the wild-type mice. These findings demonstrate that COX-2 and its downstream prostaglandin receptor EP1 signaling pathway accelerates LPS-induced liver injury. Therefore, blocking COX-2-EP1 pathway may represent a potential approach for amelioration of LPS-induced liver injury.
CD40-Induced Signaling in Human Endothelial Cells Results in mTORC2- and Akt-Dependent Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Dormond Olivier , Contreras Alan G. , Meijer Esther , Datta Dipak , Flynn Evelyn , Pal Soumitro , Briscoe David M. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
We have examined CD40-dependent signals in endothelial cells (EC) mediating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-induced angiogenesis. We treated confluent cultures of EC with soluble CD40L (sCD40L), and by Western blot found a marked increase in the phosphorylation of Akt, 4EBP-1, and S6K1, compared with untreated cells. EC were transfected with a full-length VEGF promoter-luciferase construct and cultured in the absence or presence of rapamycin and sCD40L. We found that rapamycin, which blocks mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling, inhibited sCD40L-mediated transactivation of VEGF. In addition, by Western blot, we found that the transfection of EC with small interfering RNA (siRNA) to rictor (to inhibit mTORC2), and not raptor (to inhibit mTORC1), inhibited sCD40L-dependent protein expression of VEGF. In additions, we found that basal levels of phosphorylated Akt as well as VEGF were increased in EC transfected with the raptor siRNA. Also, rapamycin failed to inhibit VEGF promoter activation, as well as VEGF protein expression in EC transfected with a constitutively active construct of Akt, further demonstrating that mTORC1 is not necessary for CD40- and Akt-induced expression of VEGF. Finally, we injected human CD40L-transfected fibroblasts or mock transfectants into human skin on SCID mice. We found that the injection of CD40L transfectants, but not mock cells, resulted in VEGF expression and mediated a marked angiogenesis reaction, and this response was reduced in mice treated with rapamycin. Together, these observations indicate that mTORC2 and Akt facilitate CD40-inducible expression of VEGF in EC, which is of clinical importance in tumor growth and the progression of chronic inflammatory diseases.