Abstract Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is typically characterized by recurrent infections, granulomatous disease, and an increased susceptibility to autoimmune disease. We report a novel ...homozygous mutation in NCF2 that permits residual expression of an alternatively spliced variant in a patient with duodenitis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), followed by a late-onset, single pulmonary infection in the setting of immunosuppressive medications. This report highlights the importance of considering CGD in patients who present initially exclusively with autoimmune disease.
Background Studies of asthma have been limited by a poor understanding of how nonallergic environmental exposures, such as air pollution and infection, are translated in the lung into inflammation ...and wheezing. Objective Our goal was to understand the mechanism of nonallergic asthma that leads to airway hyperreactivity (AHR), a cardinal feature of asthma independent of adaptive immunity. Method We examined mouse models of experimental asthma in which AHR was induced by respiratory syncytial virus infection or ozone exposure using mice deficient in T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM1/HAVCR1) , an important asthma susceptibility gene. Results TIM1−/− mice did not have airways disease when infected with RSV or when repeatedly exposed to ozone, a major component of air pollution. On the other hand, the TIM1−/− mice had allergen-induced experimental asthma, as previously shown. The RSV- and ozone-induced pathways were blocked by treatment with caspase inhibitors, indicating an absolute requirement for programmed cell death and apoptosis. TIM-1–expressing, but not TIM-1–deficient, natural killer T cells responded to apoptotic airway epithelial cells by secreting cytokines, which mediated the development of AHR. Conclusion We defined a novel pathway in which TIM-1, a receptor for phosphatidylserine expressed by apoptotic cells, drives the development of asthma by sensing and responding to injured and apoptotic airway epithelial cells.
Fc receptor homolog 4 (FcRH4) is a B cell-specific member of the recently identified family of FcRHs whose intracellular domain contains three potential immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory ...motifs (ITIMs). The signaling potential of this receptor, shown here to be preferentially expressed by memory B cells, was compared with the inhibitory receptor FcγRIIb in B cells expressing either WT FcγRIIb or chimeric proteins in which the intracellular domain of FcRH4 was fused to the transmembrane and extracellular domains of FcγRIIb. Coligation of the FcγRIIb/FcRH4 chimeric protein with the B cell receptor (BCR) led to tyrosine phosphorylation of the two membrane-distal tyrosines and profound inhibition of BCR-mediated calcium mobilization, whole cell tyrosine phosphorylation, and mitogen-activated protein (MAP)-kinase activation. Mutational analysis of the FcRH4 cytoplasmic region indicated that the two membrane-distal ITIMs are essential for this inhibitory potential. Phosphopeptides corresponding to these ITIMs could bind the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing tyrosine phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2, which associated with the WT FcRH4 and with mutants having inhibitory capability. These findings indicate the potential for FcRH4 to abort B cell receptor signaling by recruiting SHP-1 and SHP-2 to its two membrane distal ITIMs.
The prevalence of peanut (PN) and tree nut (TN) allergy in children has tripled in the past decade. Prenatal exposures, including maternal diet and medications, may account for some of this increase. ...In the United States, progesterone for luteal support in assisted reproduction is commonly formulated in PN or sesame seed (SS) oil.
To determine whether prenatal exposure to PN or SS oil as progesterone in oil increases the child's odds of PN, TN, or SS allergy.
Parents of 1,272 children evaluated by allergists from May 2005 through October 2009 completed questionnaires on conception, prenatal exposures, dietary history, and allergic history, with review of the child's medical record and skin prick and specific IgE test results. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using multivariable adjusted logistic regression models.
Children of mothers with a history of infertility, in vitro fertilization, or use of progesterone in oil did not have increased odds of PN, TN, and/or SS sensitization. Maternal consumption of TNs during first 2 trimesters was associated with 60% higher odds of having a PN/TN/SS-sensitized child (95% confidence interval 1.01-2.51), with similarly increased odds with maternal SS ingestion. Odds of PN/TN/SS sensitization were doubled in children with asthma or environmental allergies.
Neither maternal infertility nor exposure to PN or SS oils through progesterone support during assisted reproduction treatment was associated with increased odds of PN/TN/SS sensitization in the child. However, maternal ingestion of TNs and SS during pregnancy was associated with increased odds of PN/TN/SS sensitization in the child.
Xeroderma pigmentosum is a hereditary disease caused by defective DNA repair. Somatic cell genetics and biochemical studies with cell-free extracts indicate that at least 16 polypeptides are required ...to carry out the repair reaction proper, i.e. the removal of the lesion from the DNA by the dual incisions of the damaged strand. To find out if these proteins are necessary and sufficient for excision repair, they were obtained at a high level of purity in five fractions. The mixture of these five fractions reconstituted the excision nuclease (excinuclease) activity. Using the reconstituted excinuclease, we found that the excised fragment remains associated with the post-incision DNA-protein complex, suggesting that accessory proteins are needed to release the excised oligomer.
Background A number of heritable immune dysregulatory diseases result from defects affecting regulatory T (Treg) cell development, function, or both. They include immune dysregulation, ...polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome, which is caused by mutations in forkhead box P3(FOXP3), and IPEX-like disorders caused by mutations in IL-2 receptor (IL2RA), signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b(STAT5b), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1(STAT1). However, the genetic defects underlying many cases of IPEX-like disorders remain unknown. Objective We sought to identify the genetic abnormalities in patients with idiopathic IPEX-like disorders. Methods We performed whole-exome and targeted gene sequencing and phenotypic and functional analyses of Treg cells. Results A child who presented with an IPEX-like syndrome and severe Treg cell deficiency was found to harbor a nonsense mutation in the gene encoding LPS-responsive beige-like anchor (LRBA), which was previously implicated as a cause of common variable immunodeficiency with autoimmunity. Analysis of subjects with LRBA deficiency revealed marked Treg cell depletion; profoundly decreased expression of canonical Treg cell markers, including FOXP3, CD25, Helios, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4; and impaired Treg cell-mediated suppression. There was skewing in favor of memory T cells and intense autoantibody production, with marked expansion of T follicular helper and contraction of T follicular regulatory cells. Whereas the frequency of recent thymic emigrants and the differentiation of induced Treg cells were normal, LRBA-deficient T cells exhibited increased apoptosis and reduced activities of the metabolic sensors mammalian target of rapamycin complexes 1 and 2. Conclusion LRBA deficiency is a novel cause of IPEX-like syndrome and Treg cell deficiency associated with metabolic dysfunction and increased apoptosis of Treg cells.
DNA photolyase is a light-dependent DNA repair enzyme. It binds to cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in DNA and upon excitation with a blue light photon splits the cyclobutane ring and restores the ...pyrimidines to native forms. The enzyme is specific for pyrimidine dimers, and it is not known to catalyze any other reaction either in ground or in excited state. However, when photolyase binds to but cannot catalyze repair because of lack of photoreactivating light, it still aids DNA repair by stimulating the nucleotide excision repair system. Recently, it was found that yeast photolyase binds to other lesions in DNA. In particular, the binding to cisplatin damaged DNA was highly specific. However, in vivo experiments revealed that this binding, in contrast to binding, did not stimulate but actually inhibited the removal of cisplatin damage by excision repair and hence photolyase sensitized cells to killing by cisplatin. In the present study, it is demonstrated that Escherichia coli DNA photolyase binds specifically to cisplatin 1,2-d(GpG) intrastrand cross-link and stimulates the removal of the lesion by E. coli excision nuclease in vitro. In agreement with the in vitro data, in vivo experiments revealed that photolyase makes cells more resistant to cisplatin killing.
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