ABSTRACT
All 3 activation pathways of complement—the classic pathway (CP), the alternative pathway, and the lectin pathway (LP)— converge into a common central event: the cleavage and activation of ...the abundant third complement component, C3, via formation of C3‐activating enzymes (C3 convertases). The fourth complement component, C4, and the second component, C2, are indispensable constituents of the C3 convertase complex, C4bC2a, which is formed by both the CP and the LP. Whereas in the absence of C4, CP can no longer activate C3, LP retains a residual but physiologically critical capacity to convert native C3 into its activation fragments, C3a and C3b. This residual C4 and/or C2 bypass route is dependent on LP‐specific mannan‐binding lectin‐associated serine protease‐2. By using various serum sources with defined complement deficiencies, we demonstrate that, under physiologic conditions LP‐specific C4 and/or C2 bypass activation of C3 is mediated by direct cleavage of native C3 by mannan‐binding lectin‐associated serine protease‐2 bound to LP‐activation complexes captured on ligand‐coated surfaces.—Yaseen, S., Demopulos, G., Dudler, T., Yabuki, M., Wood, C. L., Cummings, W. J., Tjoelker, L. W., Fujita, T., Sacks, S., Garred, P., Andrew, P., Sim, R. B., Lachmann, P. J., Wallis, R., Lynch, N., Schwaeble, W. J. Lectin pathway effector enzyme mannan‐binding lectin‐associated serine protease‐2 can activate native complement C3 in absence of C4 and/or C2. FASEB J. 31, 2210–2219 (2017). www.fasebj.org
A by-product in the processing of prostate tissue for cell sorting by collagenase digestion is the media supernatant that remains after the cells are harvested. These supernatants contain proteins ...made by the cells within the tissue. Quantitative proteomic analysis of N-glycosylated proteins detected an increased amount of CD90/THY1 in cancer supernatants compared with non-cancer supernatants. Immunohistochemistry showed that in all carcinomas, regardless of Gleason grade, a layer of CD90-positive stromal fibroblastic cells, ∼5 to 10 cells deep, was localized to tumor glands. In contrast, a no more than 1-cell wide girth of CD90-positive stromal cells was found around benign glands. The increased number of CD90-positive stromal cells in cancer correlated with overexpression of CD90 mRNA detected by gene expression analysis of stromal cells obtained by laser-capture microdissection. There is increasing evidence that cancer-associated stroma has a function in both tumor progression and carcinogenesis. Most experiments to identify cancer biomarkers have focused on the cancer cells. CD90, being a marker for prostate cancer-associated stroma, might be a potential biomarker for this cancer. A non-invasive test could be provided by a urine test. Proteomic analysis of urine from patients with prostate cancer identified CD90; conversely, CD90 was not detected in the urine of post-prostatectomy patients. Furthermore, this urinary CD90 protein was a variant CD90 protein not known to be expressed by such cells as lymphocytes that express CD90. These CD90 results were obtained from ∼90 cases consisting of proteomic analysis of tissue and urine, immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis of tissue media, flow cytometry of cells from digested tissue, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis of isolated stromal cells.
Emerging cancers are sculpted by neo-Darwinian selection for superior growth and survival but minimal immunogenicity; consequently, metastatic cancers often evolve common genetic and epigenetic ...signatures to elude immune surveillance. Immune subversion by metastatic tumours can be achieved through several mechanisms; one of the most frequently observed involves the loss of expression or mutation of genes composing the MHC-I antigen presentation machinery (APM) that yields tumours invisible to Cytotoxic T lymphocytes, the key component of the adaptive cellular immune response. Fascinating ethnographic and experimental findings indicate that cannabinoids inhibit the growth and progression of several categories of cancer; however, the mechanisms underlying these observations remain clouded in uncertainty. Here, we screened a library of cannabinoid compounds and found molecular selectivity amongst specific cannabinoids, where related molecules such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and cannabigerol can reverse the metastatic immune escape phenotype
by inducing MHC-I cell surface expression in a wide variety of metastatic tumours that subsequently sensitizing tumours to T lymphocyte recognition. Remarkably, H3K27Ac ChIPseq analysis established that cannabigerol and gamma interferon induce overlapping epigenetic signatures and key gene pathways in metastatic tumours related to cellular senescence, as well as APM genes involved in revealing metastatic tumours to the adaptive immune response. Overall, the data suggest that specific cannabinoids may have utility in cancer immunotherapy regimens by overcoming immune escape and augmenting cancer immune surveillance in metastatic disease. Finally, the fundamental discovery of the ability of cannabinoids to alter epigenetic programs may help elucidate many of the pleiotropic medicinal effects of cannabinoids on human physiology.
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can be potent and highly specific therapeutics, diagnostics and research reagents. Nonetheless, mAb discovery using current in vivo or in vitro approaches can be costly ...and time-consuming, with no guarantee of success. We have established a platform for rapid discovery and optimization of mAbs ex vivo. This DTLacO platform derives from a chicken B cell line that has been engineered to enable rapid selection and seamless maturation of high affinity mAbs. We have validated the DTLacO platform by generation of high affinity and specific mAbs to five cell surface targets, the receptor tyrosine kinases VEGFR2 and TIE2, the glycoprotein TROP2, the small TNF receptor family member FN14, and the G protein-coupled receptor FZD10. mAb discovery is rapid and humanization is straightforward, establishing the utility of the DTLacO platform for identification of mAbs for therapeutic and other applications.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent pro-inflammatory phospholipid that activates cells involved in inflammation. The biological activity of PAF depends on its structural features, namely an ...ether linkage at the sn-1 position and an acetate group at the sn-2 position. The actions of PAF are abolished by hydrolysis of the acetyl residue, a reaction catalysed by PAF acetylhydrolase. There are at least two forms of this enzyme--one intracellular and another that circulates in plasma and is likely to regulate inflammation. Here we report the molecular cloning and characterization of the human plasma PAF acetylhydrolase. The unique sequence contains a Gly-Xaa-Ser-Xaa-Gly motif commonly found in lipases. Recombinant PAF acetylhydrolase has the substrate specificity and lipoprotein association of the native enzyme, and blocks inflammation in vivo: it markedly decreases vascular leakage in pleurisy and paw oedema, suggesting that PAF acetylhydrolase might be a useful therapy for severe acute inflammation.
The platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolases catalyze hydrolysis of the
sn-2 ester bond of PAF and related pro-inflammatory phospholipids and thus attenuate their bioactivity. One secreted ...(plasma) and four intracellular isozymes have been described. The intracellular isozymes are distinguished by differences in primary sequence, tissue localization, subunit composition, and substrate preferences. The most thoroughly characterized intracellular isoform, Ib, is a G-protein-like complex with two catalytic subunits (α1 and α2) and a regulatory β subunit. The β subunit is a product of the LIS1 gene, mutations of which cause Miller–Dieker lissencephaly. Isoform II is a single polypeptide that is homologous to the plasma PAF acetylhydrolase and has antioxidant activity in several systems. Plasma PAF acetylhydrolase is also a single polypeptide with a catalytic triad of amino acids that is characteristic of the α/β hydrolases. Deficiency of this enzyme has been associated with a number of pathologies. The most common inactivating mutation, V279F, is found in >30% of randomly surveyed Japanese subjects (4% homozygous, 27% heterozygous). The prevalence of the mutant allele is significantly greater in patients with asthma, stroke, myocardial infarction, brain hemorrhage, and nonfamilial cardiomyopathy. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that recombinant plasma PAF acetylhydrolase can prevent or attenuate pathologic inflammation in a number of animal models. In addition, preliminary clinical results suggest that the recombinant enzyme may have pharmacologic potential in human inflammatory disease as well. These observations underscore the physiological importance of the PAF acetylhydrolases and point toward new approaches for controlling pathologic inflammation.
Purpose: Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a phospholipid mediator of inflammation, has been recently detected on tumor cells but
its effect in tumor development is largely undefined.
Experimental ...Design: To address its potential role in tumor biology, we inhibited intratumor PAF activity by engineering tumor cell lines to express
plasma PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), the major PAF-inactivating enzyme, and studied their behavior in vitro and in vivo .
Results: When transfected with PAF-AH, KS-Imm human Kaposi’s sarcoma cells implanted in SCID mice and B16F10 mouse melanoma cells
implanted in syngenic C57Bl/6J mice showed significantly reduced vascularization and growth allowing longer survival compared
with control tumors. The amounts of bioactive PAF extracted from PAF-AH-transfected tumors were significantly reduced. In vitro , expression of PAF-AH did not influence cell proliferation, whereas it inhibited PAF-dependent cell motility in Kaposi’s
sarcoma cells that express PAF-receptor but not in melanoma cells that did not express it. On the other hand, PAF-induced
endothelial tubulogenesis in Matrigel was inhibited by incubation with supernatant from PAF-AH-transfected melanoma cells,
indicating that PAF-AH inhibits in vitro neoangiogenesis.
Conclusions: We demonstrated that in situ PAF inactivation affects tumor vascularization and growth through inhibition of neoangiogenesis and, in the case of cells
expressing PAF receptor, also tumor cell motility.
Lysophosphatidylcholine is an abundant component of plasma and oxidized LDL that displays several biological activities, some of which may occur through the platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor. ...We find that commercial lysophosphatidylcholine, its alkyl homolog (lyso-PAF), and PAF all induce inflammation in a murine model of pleurisy. Hydrolysis of PAF to lyso-PAF by recombinant PAF acetylhydrolase abolished this eosinophilic infiltration, implying that lyso-PAF should not have displayed inflammatory activity. Saponification of lyso-PAF or PAF acetylhydrolase treatment of lyso-PAF or lysophosphatidylcholine abolished activity; neither lysolipid should contain susceptible sn-2 residues, suggesting contaminants account for the bioactivity. Lyso-PAF and to a lesser extent lysophosphatidylcholine stimulated Ca(2+) accumulation in 293 cells stably transfected with the human PAF receptor, and this was inhibited by specific PAF receptor antagonists. Again, treatment of lyso-PAF or lysophosphatidylcholine with recombinant PAF acetylhydrolase, a nonselective phospholipase A(2), or saponification of lyso-PAF destroyed the PAF-like activity, a result incompatible with lyso-PAF or lysophosphatidylcholine being the actual agonist. We conclude that neither lyso-PAF nor lysophosphatidylcholine is a PAF receptor agonist, nor are they inflammatory by themselves. We suggest that PAF or a PAF-like mimetic accounts for inflammatory effects of lysophosphatidylcholine and lyso-PAF.
Mammalian chitinase, a chitinolytic enzyme expressed by macrophages, has been detected in atherosclerotic plaques and is elevated
in blood and tissues of guinea pigs infected with Aspergillus . Its ...normal physiological function is unknown. To understand how the enzyme interacts with its substrate, we have characterized
the chitin-binding domain. The C-terminal 49 amino acids make up the minimal sequence required for chitin binding activity.
The absence of this domain does not affect the ability of the enzyme to hydrolyze the soluble substrate, triacetylchitotriose,
but abolishes hydrolysis of insoluble chitin. Within the minimal chitin-binding domain are six cysteines; mutation of any
one of these to serine results in complete loss of chitin binding activity. Analysis of purified recombinant chitin-binding
domain revealed the presence of three disulfide linkages. The recombinant domain binds specifically to chitin but does not
bind chitosan, cellulose, xylan, β-1,3-glucan, β-1,3â1,4-glucan, or mannan. Fluorescently tagged chitin-binding domain was
used to demonstrate chitin-specific binding to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Mucor rouxii, and Neurospora crassa . These experiments define structural features of the minimal domain of human chitinase required for both specifically binding
to and hydrolyzing insoluble chitin and demonstrate relevant binding within the context of the fungal cell wall.
The platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolases are enzymes that were initially characterized by their ability to hydrolyze platelet-activating factor (PAF). In human plasma, PAF acetylhydrolase (EC ...3.1.1.47) circulates in a complex with low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). This association defines the physical state of PAF acetylhydrolase, confers a long half-life, and is a major determinant of its catalytic efficiency in vivo. The lipoprotein–associated enzyme accounts for all of the PAF hydrolysis in plasma but only two-thirds of the protein mass. To characterize the enzyme–lipoprotein interaction, we employed site-directed mutagenesis techniques. Two domains within the primary sequence of human PAF acetylhydrolase, tyrosine 205 and residues 115 and 116, were important for its binding to LDL. Mutation or deletion of those sequences prevented the association of the enzyme with lipoproteins. When residues 115 and 116 from human PAF acetylhydrolase were introduced into mouse PAF acetylhydrolase (which normally does not associate with LDL), the mutant mouse PAF acetylhydrolase associated with lipoproteins. To analyze the role of apolipoprotein (apo) B100 in the formation of the PAF acetylhydrolase–LDL complex, we tested the ability of PAF acetylhydrolase to bind to lipoproteins containing truncated forms of apoB. These studies indicated that the carboxyl terminus of apoB plays a key role in the association of PAF acetylhydrolase with LDL. These data on the molecular basis of the PAF acetylhydrolase–LDL association provide a new level of understanding regarding the pathway for the catabolism of PAF in human blood.