Role of T-bet in commitment of TH1 cells before IL-12-dependent selection

How cytokines control differentiation of helper T (TH) cells is controversial. We show that T-bet, without apparent assistance from interleukin 12 (IL-12)/STAT4, specifies TH1 effector fate by targeting chromatin remodeling to individual interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) alleles and by inducing IL-12 receptor beta2 expression. Subsequently, it appears that IL-12/STAT4 serves two essential functions in the development of TH1 cells: as growth signal, inducing survival and cell division; and as trans-activator, prolonging IFN-gamma synthesis through a genetic interaction with the coactivator, CREB-binding protein. These results suggest that a cytokine does not simply induce TH fate choice but instead may act as an essential secondary stimulus that mediates selective survival of a lineage.     

Innate antiviral responses by means of TLR7-mediated recognition of single-stranded RNA

Interferons (IFNs) are critical for protection from viral infection, but the pathways linking virus recognition to IFN induction remain poorly understood. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells produce vast amounts of IFN-alpha in response to the wild-type influenza virus. Here, we show that this requires endosomal recognition of influenza genomic RNA and signaling by means of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and MyD88. Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) molecules of nonviral origin also induce TLR7-dependent production of inflammatory cytokines. These results identify ssRNA as a ligand for TLR7 and suggest that cells of the innate immune system sense endosomal ssRNA to detect infection by RNA viruses.     

Role of Na+/H+ exchange by interferon-gamma in enhanced expression of JE and I-A beta genes

The rapid transductional sequences initiated by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on binding to its receptor regulate functional and genomic responses in many cells but are not well defined. Induction of macrophage activation is an example of such functional and genomic changes in response to IFN-gamma. Addition of IFN-gamma to murine macrophages, at activating concentrations, produced rapid (within 60 seconds) alkalinization of the cytosol and a concomitant, rapid influx of 22Na+. Amiloride inhibited the ion fluxes and the accumulation of specific messenger RNA for two genes induced by IFN-gamma (the early gene JE and the beta chain of the class II major histocompatibility complex gene I-A). The data indicate that IFN-gamma initiates rapid exchange of Na+ and H+ by means of the Na+/H+ antiporter and that these amiloride-sensitive ion fluxes are important to some of the genomic effects of IFN-gamma.     

Secretion of human interferons by yeast

Plasmids were constructed to direct synthesis of the human interferons IFN-alpha 1, IFN-alpha 2, and IFN-gamma in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of IFN genes containing coding sequences for secretion signals resulted in the secretion of IFN activity. A large proportion of the IFN-alpha 1 and IFN-alpha 2 isolated from the yeast cell growth media had the same amino termini as the natural mature interferons, suggesting a removal of the signal sequences identical to that of human cells. These results show that a lower eukaryote, such as yeast, can utilize and process a human signal sequence.     

Role of the guanosine triphosphatase Rac2 in T helper 1 cell differentiation

T helper 1 (TH1) cells mediate cellular immunity, whereas TH2 cells potentiate antiparasite and humoral immunity. We used a complementary DNA subtraction method, representational display analysis, to show that the small guanosine triphosphatase Rac2 is expressed selectively in murine TH1 cells. Rac induces the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) promoter through cooperative activation of the nuclear factor kappa B and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Tetracycline-regulated transgenic mice expressing constitutively active Rac2 in T cells exhibited enhanced IFN-gamma production. Dominant-negative Rac inhibited IFN-gamma production in murine T cells. Moreover, T cells from Rac2-/- mice showed decreased IFN-gamma production under TH1 conditions in vitro. Thus, Rac2 activates TH1-specific signaling and IFN-gamma gene expression.     

F-cell production in sickle cell anemia: regulation by genes linked to beta-hemoglobin locus

Strong correlation of F-reticulocyte levels within sib pairs with sickle cell (SS) anemia suggests that the wide-ranging levels found in the SS population are governed by genes linked to the beta S-site. Correlations between F-cell levels in parents and F-reticulocyte levels in their children indicates that these same genes regulate F-cell production in nonanemic persons. Comparison of outcrossed and inbred SS populations suggests that relative well-being arises from homozygosity for alleles dictating high F-reticulocyte response to anemia.     

Regulation of antigen-specific CD8+ T cell homeostasis by perforin and interferon-gamma

T cell memory depends on factors that regulate expansion and death of these cells after antigenic stimulation. Mice deficient in perforin and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) exhibited increased expansion, altered immunodominance, and decreased death of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells after infection with an attenuated strain of Listeria monocytogenes, which was cleared from these mice. Expansion of CD8+ T cells was controlled by perforin, whereas IFN-gamma regulated immunodominance and the death phase. Thus, perforin and IFN-gamma regulate distinct elements of CD8+ T cell homeostasis independently of their role as antimicrobial effector molecules.     

Split anergy in a CD8+ T cell: receptor-dependent cytolysis in the absence of interleukin-2 production

Engagement of the antigen-specific receptor (TCR) of CD4+ T lymphocytes without a second (costimulatory) signal prevents the subsequent production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by these cells. Because IL-2 is a key immunoregulatory lymphokine and is also produced by a subset of CD8+ T cells that are able to kill target cells, the effect of engaging the TCR of one such clone in the absence of costimulatory signals was examined. The capacity for TCR-dependent IL-2 production was lost, indicating comparable costimulator-dependent signaling requirements for IL-2 production in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. However, TCR-mediated cytotoxicity was not impaired, implying that costimulation is required for only certain TCR-dependent effector functions.     

Type 1 interferons and the virus-host relationship: a lesson in détente

The interface between an infectious agent and its host represents the ultimate battleground for survival: The microbe must secure a niche for replication, whereas the host must limit the pathogen's advance. Among the host's arsenal of antimicrobial factors, the type 1 interferons (IFNs) induce potent defense mechanisms against viruses and are key in the host-virus standoff. Viruses have evolved multiple tricks to avoid the immediate antiviral effects of IFNs and, in turn, hosts have adapted use of this innate cytokine system to galvanize multiple additional layers of immune defense. The plasticity that exists in these interactions provides us with a lesson in détente.     

Interferon-gamma and B cell stimulatory factor-1 reciprocally regulate Ig isotype production

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and B cell stimulatory factor-1 (BSF-1), also known as interleukin-4, are T cell-derived lymphokines that have potent effects on B cell proliferation and differentiation. They are often secreted by distinct T cell clones. It is now shown that IFN-gamma stimulates the expression of immunoglobulin (Ig) of the IgG2a isotype and inhibits the production of IgG3, IgG1, IgG2b, and IgE. By contrast, BSF-1 has powerful effects in promoting switching to the expression of IgG1 and IgE but markedly inhibits IgM, IgG3, IgG2a, and IgG2b. These results indicate that BSF-1 and IFN-gamma as well as the T cells that produce them may act as reciprocal regulatory agents in the determination of Ig isotype responses. The effects of IFN-gamma and BSF-1 on isotype expression are independent.     

Further heterogeneity of human alpha interferon mRNA species

Translationally active (in Xenopus oocytes) human alpha interferon (IFN) messenger RNA's (mRNA's) derived from Sendai virus--induced leukocyte cultures display a bimodal distribution of RNA lengths on electrophoresis through agarose-CH3HgOH gels. The major population (alpha s) consists of mRNA of length 0.7 to 1.4 kilobases, while the minor population (alpha L) consists of RNA of length 1.6 to 3.5 kilobases. Induction of human leukocytes in the presence of 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB; 100 micromolar) appears to inhibit the accumulation of IFN-alpha s and to enhance that of IFN-alpha L mRNA's (average length about 1.8 kilobases in preparations from DRB-treated cells). Interferons derived from the alpha s mRNA's represent the group of previously recognized alpha interferons while the alpha L interferons are distinguishable from this group by their lower heterospecific activity on bovine cells compared to human cells, their apparent slower mobility in sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gels, and their apparent heteroclitic response toward an antiserum to IFN-alpha.     

猪苓多糖对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞一氧化氮生成、iNOS活性和细胞内还原型谷胱甘肽含量的影响

目的 :观察猪苓多糖 (PPS)对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞一氧化氮 (NO)生成及其免疫调节作用和抗肿瘤作用机制。方法 :采用Griess反应、荧光法和DTNB比色法分别测定不同剂量的PPS作用小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞的NO生成量、诱导型一氧化氮合酶 (iNOS)活性及细胞内还原性谷胱甘肽 (GSH)含量的变化。结果 :PPS能使小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞NO生成增加 ,i NOS活性增高 ,并呈作用剂量依赖关系 ;PPS在刺激小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞NO合成同时 ,伴有细胞内GSH水平的降低 ,呈负相关 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :PPS能提高小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞iNOS活性 ,增加NO合成 ,消耗细胞内的GSH。提示细胞内GSH可能起到调节巨噬细胞NO生成和保护宿主细胞免受NO介导的细胞毒作用     

水牛 STAT5a 和 STAT5b 基因启动子克隆及其活性分析

为了解转录激活与信号转导因子5(STAT5)在水牛乳腺发育及泌乳生理中的功能,对水牛STAT5a和STAT5b基因的5′调控区启动子序列进行了克隆,并比较其活性.根据GenBank已公布的牛STAT5a和STAT5b基因序列设计特异性引物,以广西本地水牛乳腺组织基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR法分别扩增不同长度STAT5a和STAT5b基因启动子片段并进行生物信息学分析.结果表明:克隆得到的水牛STAT5a基因启动子片段(P1和P2)大小是500bp,700bp,STAT5b基因启动子片段(P3,P4和P5)大小是500bp,800bp,1 500bp.在线分析结果显示,仅P2片段中存在高甲基化位点,且富含SP1,AP2等转录因子结合位点.将构建的不同长度启动子片段分别连入pGL3-Basic载体,分别转染水牛乳腺上皮细胞,检测荧光素酶表达水平.与未转染组相比,P1~P5质粒转染组的荧光素酶比值均显著提高(p0.05);添加5mg/mL质量浓度催乳素(PRL)处理乳腺上皮细胞,P3质粒转染组的荧光素酶比值显著高于其他各组(p0.05).以上结果表明,水牛STAT5a和STAT5b基因启动子活性均受到PRL调节,两者表达水平在水牛乳腺上皮细胞中不同,且STAT5b基因表达受PRL调控更为明显.     

信号转导和转录激活子5b(STAT5b)及其STAT5b基因的研究进展

信号转导和转录激活子5b(STAT5b)是STATs家族的重要成员,在细胞内信号转导和转录激活中发挥关键的作用。STAT5b具有广泛的生物学效应,参与动物生长、繁殖、泌乳和代谢。为了对STAT5b及其STAT5b基因有一全面、深入的了解,综述了STAT5b基因的定位、STAT5b基因的结构、STAT5b的生物学功能以及STAT5b的表达、多态及遗传效应研究,该基因在动物生产性能方面,具有广阔的研究前景。