Regulation of phagosome maturation by signals from toll-like receptors

In higher metazoans, phagocytosis is essential in host defense against microbial pathogens and in clearance of apoptotic cells. Both microbial and apoptotic cells are delivered on a common route from phagosomes to lysosomes for degradation. Here, we found that activation of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway by bacteria, but not apoptotic cells, regulated phagocytosis at multiple steps including internalization and phagosome maturation. Phagocytosis of bacteria was impaired in the absence of TLR signaling. Two modes of phagosome maturation were observed, constitutive and inducible; their differential engagement depended on the ability of the cargo to trigger TLR signaling.     

Regulation of SREBP processing and membrane lipid production by phospholipids in Drosophila

Animal cells exert exquisite control over the physical and chemical properties of their membranes, but the mechanisms are obscure. We show that phosphatidylethanolamine, the major phospholipid in Drosophila, controls the release of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) from Drosophila cell membranes, exerting feedback control on the synthesis of fatty acids and phospholipids. The finding that SREBP processing is controlled by different lipids in mammals and flies (sterols and phosphatidylethanolamine, respectively) suggests that an essential function of SREBP is to monitor cell membrane composition and to adjust lipid synthesis accordingly.     

Regulation of the polarity protein Par6 by TGFbeta receptors controls epithelial cell plasticity

The transition of cells from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype is a critical event during morphogenesis in multicellular organisms and underlies the pathology of many diseases, including the invasive phenotype associated with metastatic carcinomas. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) is a key regulator of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the molecular mechanisms that control the dissolution of tight junctions, an early event in EMT, remain elusive. We demonstrate that Par6, a regulator of epithelial cell polarity and tight-junction assembly, interacts with TGFbeta receptors and is a substrate of the type II receptor, TbetaRII. Phosphorylation of Par6 is required for TGFbeta-dependent EMT in mammary gland epithelial cells and controls the interaction of Par6 with the E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf1. Smurf1, in turn, targets the guanosine triphosphatase RhoA for degradation, thereby leading to a loss of tight junctions. These studies define how an extracellular cue signals to the polarity machinery to control epithelial cell morphology.     

富硒粤航1号米对复发性阿弗他溃疡患者血清细胞因子调节

通过分析食用富硒粤航一号米作饮食干预的复发性阿弗他溃疡(RAU)患者血清炎性细胞因子的变化,探讨功能稻米对防治RAU的作用。选用以稻米为主食的RAU患者,分试验组1、2,设对照。试验组1食用富硒粤航一号米,试验组2食用市售常规精米,加维生素BCO和维生素E,对照组食用市售常规精米,观察期为6个月。采用放射免疫分析技术,检测治疗前后血清炎性细胞因子TNF-а、IL-2、IL-6、IL-8的变化。试验结果表明,治疗前:试验组1、2两组观察指标对比(P﹥0.05),TNF-а、IL-2与对照相比(P﹤0.01),试验组1、2IL-6、IL-8与对照相比(P﹥0.05)。治疗后:试验组1TNF-а与治疗前相比(P﹤0.01),与对照相比无显著性差异(P﹥0.05)。IL-2与治疗前相比(P﹤0.01),与对照相比(P﹤0.01)。试验组2TNF-а与治疗前相比(P﹤0.01),与对照相比(P﹤0.01)。IL-2与治疗前相比(P﹤0.01),与对照相比(P﹤0.01)。试验组1、2两项相比(P﹤0.01)。表明食用富硒粤航一号米为主食能改善RAU患者的血清炎性细胞因子TNF-а、IL-2的失衡,对防治RAU发病有作用。     

Proteasome-independent functions of ubiquitin in endocytosis and signaling

Ubiquitination is a reversible posttranslational modification of cellular proteins, in which a 76-amino acid polypeptide, ubiquitin, is primarily attached to the epsilon-amino group of lysines in target proteins. Ubiquitination is a major player in regulating a broad host of cellular processes, including cell division, differentiation, signal transduction, protein trafficking, and quality control. Aberrations in the ubiquitination system are implicated in pathogenesis of some diseases, certain malignancies, neurodegenerative disorders, and pathologies of the inflammatory immune response. Here, we discuss the proteasome-independent roles of ubiquitination in signaling and endocytosis.     

Role of Golgi Apparatus in Sorogenesis by the Cellular Slime Mold Fonticula alba

Aggregating cells of the cellular slime mold Fonticula alba form a volcano-shaped fruiting structure which at maturity bears its spores apically in a globose mucous mass. Numerous dictyosomes forming in the sorogenic cells are involved in the accumulation and deposition of stalk material.     

Use of chemokine receptors by poxviruses

Chemokine receptors serve as portals of entry for certain intracellular pathogens, most notably human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Myxoma virus is a member of the poxvirus family that induces a lethal systemic disease in rabbits, but no poxvirus receptor has ever been defined. Rodent fibroblasts (3T3) that cannot be infected with myxoma virus could be made fully permissive for myxoma virus infection by expression of any one of several human chemokine receptors, including CCR1, CCR5, and CXCR4. Conversely, infection of 3T3-CCR5 cells can be inhibited by RANTES, anti-CCR5 polyclonal antibody, or herbimycin A but not by monoclonal antibodies that block HIV-1 infection or by pertussis toxin. These findings suggest that poxviruses, like HIV, are able to use chemokine receptors to infect specific cell subtypes, notably migratory leukocytes, but that their mechanisms of receptor interactions are distinct.     

Binding of ARF and beta-COP to Golgi membranes: possible regulation by a trimeric G protein

The binding of cytosolic coat proteins to organelles may regulate membrane structure and traffic. Evidence is presented that a small guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein, the adenosine diphosphate ribosylation factor (ARF), reversibly associates with the Golgi apparatus in an energy, GTP, and fungal metabolite brefeldin A (BFA)-sensitive manner similar to, but distinguishable from, the 110-kilodalton cytosolic coat protein beta-COP. Addition of beta gamma subunits of G proteins inhibited the association of both ARF and beta-COP with Golgi membranes that occurred upon incubation with guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP-gamma-S). Thus, heterotrimeric G proteins may function to regulate the assembly of coat proteins onto the Golgi membrane.     

Regulation of NF-kappaB-dependent lymphocyte activation and development by paracaspase

Paracaspase (MALT1), a member of an evolutionarily conserved superfamily of caspase-like proteins, has been shown to bind and colocalize with the protein Bcl10 in vitro and, because of this association, has been suggested to be involved in the CARMA1-Bcl10 pathway of antigen-induced nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation. We demonstrate that primary T and B lymphocytes from paracaspase-deficient mice are defective in antigen-receptor-induced NF-kappaB activation, cytokine production, and proliferation. Paracaspase acts downstream of Bcl10 to induce NF-kappaB activation and is required for the normal development of B cells, indicating that paracaspase provides the missing link between Bcl10 and activation of the IkappaB kinase complex.     

Regulation of X-chromosome counting by Tsix and Xite sequences

In mammals, X-inactivation establishes X-chromosome dosage parity between males and females. How X-chromosome counting regulates this process remains elusive, because neither the hypothesized inactivation "blocking factor" nor the required cis-elements have been defined. Here, a mouse knockout and transgenic analysis identified DNA sequences within the noncoding Tsix and Xite genes as numerators. Homozygous deficiency of Tsix resulted in "chaotic choice" and a variable number of inactive X's, whereas overdosage of Tsix/Xite inhibited X-inactivation. Thus, counting was affected by specific Tsix/Xite mutations, suggesting that counting is genetically separable from but molecularly coupled to choice. The mutations affect XX and XY cells differently, demonstrating that counting and choice are regulated not by one "blocking factor," but by both a "blocking" and a "competence" factor.     

Regulation of fasted blood glucose by resistin

The association between obesity and diabetes supports an endocrine role for the adipocyte in maintaining glucose homeostasis. Here we report that mice lacking the adipocyte hormone resistin exhibit low blood glucose levels after fasting, due to reduced hepatic glucose production. This is partly mediated by activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and decreased expression of gluconeogenic enzymes in the liver. The data thus support a physiological function for resistin in the maintenance of blood glucose during fasting. Remarkably, lack of resistin diminishes the increase in post-fast blood glucose normally associated with increased weight, suggesting a role for resistin in mediating hyperglycemia associated with obesity.     

Regulation of influenza virus infection by microRNAs

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs of 18–25 nucleotides(nt) in length that represent key regulators of many normal cellular functions through the inhibition of mRNA translation and mRNA degradation. To date, over 2 500 mature miRNAs have been identified in plants, animals and several types of viruses. Influenza A virus(IAV), which is a negativesense, single-stranded RNA virus, does not encode viral miRNA. However, IAV infection can alter the expression of host miRNAs, either in cell culture or in host. In turn, host miRNAs regulate IAV life cycle through directly binding to IAV genome or indirectly targeting host factors associated with viral replication. In this review, we briefly summarized the role and significance of miRNA in relation to IAV pathogenesis. Understanding the role of cellular miRNAs during viral infection may be beneficial to the identification of novel therapeutic strategies to block IAV replication.     

Regulation of extravascular coagulation by microvascular permeability

Extravascular coagulation is a prominent feature of such important pathological processes as cellular immunity and neoplasia and has been thought to result from procoagulants associated with the inflammatory or tumor cells peculiar to these entities. It was found that increased microvascular permeability alone is sufficient to induce equivalent extravascular coagulation in several normal tissues. The results indicate that saturating levels of procoagulant are present even in normal tissues and that microvascular permeability is a rate-limiting step in extravascular coagulation.     

Salmonella pathogenesis and processing of secreted effectors by caspase-3

The enteric pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium causes food poisoning resulting in gastroenteritis. The S. Typhimurium effector Salmonella invasion protein A (SipA) promotes gastroenteritis by functional motifs that trigger either mechanisms of inflammation or bacterial entry. During infection of intestinal epithelial cells, SipA was found to be responsible for the early activation of caspase-3, an enzyme that is required for SipA cleavage at a specific recognition motif that divided the protein into its two functional domains and activated SipA in a manner necessary for pathogenicity. Other caspase-3 cleavage sites identified in S. Typhimurium appeared to be restricted to secreted effector proteins, which indicates that this may be a general strategy used by this pathogen for processing of its secreted effectors.     

Regulation of Drosophila life span by olfaction and food-derived odors

Smell is an ancient sensory system present in organisms from bacteria to humans. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, gustatory and olfactory neurons regulate aging and longevity. Using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, we showed that exposure to nutrient-derived odorants can modulate life span and partially reverse the longevity-extending effects of dietary restriction. Furthermore, mutation of odorant receptor Or83b resulted in severe olfactory defects, altered adult metabolism, enhanced stress resistance, and extended life span. Our findings indicate that olfaction affects adult physiology and aging in Drosophila, possibly through the perceived availability of nutritional resources, and that olfactory regulation of life span is evolutionarily conserved.