Detection of the Tim-3 ligand, galectin-9, inside the allograft during a rejection episode

Introduction: Tim-3 is a Th1 lymphocytes membrane protein with inhibitory function. Its ligand, galectin-9, was recently identified and it is expressed in some lymphocyte subpopulation. In addition, endothelial cells and fibroblasts can also express galectin-9 according to the local cytokine milieu. Both molecules can act as important regulatory tools in the immune system. Aim: Evaluate the expression of these immunoregulatory molecules inside kidney allografts during acute rejection episodes. Methods: By using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, we measured the levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) for galectin-9 and Tim-3 in 21 samples obtained at allograft nephrectomy. Five samples received the histological diagnosis of acute non-vascular rejection (ANVR), twelve of acute vascular rejection (AVR), and five of loss of non-immune cause (LNIC; as control). As cytolytic response markers we measured mRNA levels of granzyme B, interferon-gamma and perforin. The statistic analysis was performed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation. Results: The mean levels of Tim-3 mRNA expression were 13.99 +/- 6.99 for LNIC, 48.13 +/- 54.47 for RACNV and 238.63 +/- 333.14 for RAV (p = 0.004). For galectin-9, the mean values were 0.57 +/- 0.49 for LNIC, 0.66 +/- 0.36 for RACNV and 2.34 +/- 1.62 for RAV (p = 0.006). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between both molecules (r = 0.526, p = 0.016). Also. granzyme B, perforin and interferon-gamma mRNA expression were different among the three groups. Conclusion: Messenger RNA level expressions of all the studied molecules were higher inside allografts with more severe rejection. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between galectin-9 and Tim-3 mRNA levels. The simultaneous expression of galectin-9 and Tim-3 may indicate an immunoregulatory function, during the ongoing cytotoxic response. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Age-Related Expansion of Tim-3 Expressing T Cells in Vertically HIV-1 Infected Children

As perinatally HIV-1-infected children grow into adolescents and young adults, they are increasingly burdened with the long-term consequences of chronic HIV-1 infection, with long-term morbidity due to inadequate immunity. In progressive HIV-1 infection in horizontally infected adults, inflammation, T cell activation, and perturbed T cell differentiation lead to an "immune exhaustion'', with decline in T cell effector functions. T effector cells develop an increased expression of CD57 and loss of CD28, with an increase in co-inhibitory receptors such as PD-1 and Tim-3. Very little is known about HIV-1 induced T cell dysfunction in vertical infection. In two perinatally antiretroviral drug treated HIV-1-infected groups with median ages of 11.2 yr and 18.5 yr, matched for viral load, we found no difference in the proportion of senescent CD28(-)CD57(+)CD8(+) T cells between the groups. However, the frequency of Tim-3(+)CD8(+) and Tim-3(+)CD4(+) exhausted T cells, but not PD-1(+) T cells, was significantly increased in the adolescents with longer duration of infection compared to the children with shorter duration of HIV-1 infection. PD-1(+)CD8(+) T cells were directly associated with T cell immune activation in children. The frequency of Tim-3(+)CD8(+) T cells positively correlated with HIV-1 plasma viral load in the adolescents but not in the children. These data suggest that Tim-3 upregulation was driven by both HIV-1 viral replication and increased age, whereas PD-1 expression is associated with immune activation. These findings also suggest that the Tim-3 immune exhaustion phenotype rather than PD-1 or senescent cells plays an important role in age-related T cell dysfunction in perinatal HIV-1 infection. Targeting Tim-3 may serve as a novel therapeutic approach to improve immune control of virus replication and mitigate age related T cell exhaustion.

CD8(+) T cells specific for tumor antigens can be rendered dysfunctional by the tumor microenvironment through upregulation of the inhibitory receptors BTLA and PD-1.

Cytotoxic T cells that are present in tumors and capable of recognizing tumor epitopes are nevertheless generally impotent in eliciting tumor rejection. Thus, identifying the immune escape mechanisms responsible for inducing tumor-specific CD8(+) T-cell dysfunction may reveal effective strategies for immune therapy. The inhibitory receptors PD-1 and Tim-3 are known to negatively regulate CD8(+) T-cell responses directed against the well-characterized tumor antigen NY-ESO-1. Here, we report that the upregulation of the inhibitory molecule BTLA also plays a critical role in restricting NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) T-cell expansion and function in melanoma. BTLA-expressing PD-1(+)Tim-3(-) CD8(+) T cells represented the largest subset of NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) T cells in patients with melanoma. These cells were partially dysfunctional, producing less IFN-γ than BTLA(-) T cells but more IFN-γ, TNF, and interleukin-2 than the highly dysfunctional subset expressing all three receptors. Expression of BTLA did not increase with higher T-cell dysfunction or upon cognate antigen stimulation, as it does with PD-1, suggesting that BTLA upregulation occurs independently of functional exhaustion driven by high antigen load. Added with PD-1 and Tim-3 blockades, BTLA blockade enhanced the expansion, proliferation, and cytokine production of NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) T cells. Collectively, our findings indicate that targeting BTLA along with the PD-1 and Tim-3 pathways is critical to reverse an important mechanism of immune escape in patients with advanced melanoma.

Merkel cell polyomavirus-specific CD8 T cells in Merkel cell carcinoma: T cell receptor diversity & novel immune therapies

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Plasma polymer and biomolecule modification of 3-D scaffolds for tissue engineering

Plasma polymerization was used to coat a melt electrospun polycaprolactone scaffold to improve cell attachment and organization. Plasma polymerization was performed using an amine containing monomer, allylamine, which then allowed for the subsequent immobilization of biomolecules i.e. heparin and fibroblast growth factor-2. The stability of the plasma polymerized amine-coating was demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and imaging time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry revealed that a uniform plasma amine-coating was deposited throughout the scaffold. Based upon comparison with controls it was evident that the combination scaffold aided cell ingress and the formation of distinct fibroblast and keratinocyte layers.

Design of symmetric TIM barrel proteins from first principles

Background: Computational protein design is a rapidly maturing field within structural biology, with the goal of designing proteins with custom structures and functions. Such proteins could find widespread medical and industrial applications. Here, we have adapted algorithms from the Rosetta software suite to design much larger proteins, based on ideal geometric and topological criteria. Furthermore, we have developed techniques to incorporate symmetry into designed structures. For our first design attempt, we targeted the (alpha/beta)(8) TIM barrel scaffold. We gained novel insights into TIM barrel folding mechanisms from studying natural TIM barrel structures, and from analyzing previous TIM barrel design attempts. Methods: Computational protein design and analysis was performed using the Rosetta software suite and custom scripts. Genes encoding all designed proteins were synthesized and cloned on the pET20-b vector. Standard circular dichroism and gel chromatographic experiments were performed to determine protein biophysical characteristics. 1D NMR and 2D HSQC experiments were performed to determine protein structural characteristics. Results: Extensive protein design simulations coupled with ab initio modeling yielded several all-atom models of ideal, 4-fold symmetric TIM barrels. Four such models were experimentally characterized. The best designed structure (Symmetrin-1) contained a polar, histidine-rich pore, forming an extensive hydrogen bonding network. Symmetrin-1 was easily expressed and readily soluble. It showed circular dichroism spectra characteristic of well-folded alpha/beta proteins. Temperature melting experiments revealed cooperative and reversible unfolding, with a T-m of 44 degrees C and a Gibbs free energy of unfolding (Delta G degrees) of 8.0 kJ/mol. Urea denaturing experiments confirmed these observations, revealing a C-m of 1.6 M and a Delta G degrees of 8.3 kJ/mol. Symmetrin-1 adopted a monomeric conformation, with an apparent molecular weight of 32.12 kDa, and displayed well resolved 1D-NMR spectra. However, the HSQC spectrum revealed somewhat molten characteristics. Conclusions: Despite the detection of molten characteristics, the creation of a soluble, cooperatively folding protein represents an advancement over previous attempts at TIM barrel design. Strategies to further improve Symmetrin-1 are elaborated. Our techniques may be used to create other large, internally symmetric proteins.

The intraspecific difference of the triose phosphate isomerase ( tim) gene from Giardia lamblia

目的　探讨蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫 (Giardialamblia)磷酸丙糖异构酶基因种内差异。方法　提取虫体总DNA ,对所有虫株磷酸丙糖异构酶 (tim)基因部分片段进行PCR扩增。测定序列后 ,用简约法和NJ法构建系统树进行系统发育分析。结果　共有 12 4个位点存在变异 (占所有测定序列中的 2 3% ) ,且大多数为发生在密码子的同义突变。两种构树方法所得二树的分枝结构相似 ,均将受试的 16株蓝氏贾第虫分为明显的两组。结论　宿主及地理因素对蓝氏贾第虫群体的遗传多样性影响不大。在DNA分子进化水平上 ,自然选择的影响十分显著。可将tim基因作为蓝氏贾第虫群体遗传结构一个十分有效的遗传标记。

腐生型眼虫Astasia longa 两种TIM 同工酶cDNA的克隆和分析

　利用3′2 RACE 和5′2 RACE 技术, 从腐生型眼虫长变胞藻( Astasia longa) 克隆了磷酸丙糖异构酶 ( TIM) 的两个同工酶cDNA 全序列。分析表明: 它们分别编码定位于细胞质的胞质型TIM (cTIM) 和定位于质 体的质体型TIM (p TIM) ; 后者的N 端具有引导该酶定位到质体中去的典型“前导序列”。根据这些事实我们推 测腐生型眼虫A . longa 质体中可能存在功能性的TIM , 并进一步认为该质体可能不只是一般意义上的“叶绿体 退化的残迹”, 而仍是一种至少有TIM 参与其代谢活动的功能性细胞器[动物学报50 (3) : 414 - 419 , 2004 ] 。

蓝氏贾第虫分离株tim 基因序列分析比较研究

　为了探讨来源于不同地理位置贾第虫分离株之间的遗传学关系, 采用tim 基因扩增、限制性酶切和 DNA 序列分析方法对来自我国(C1、C2、、CH2、CH3)、柬埔寨(CAM )、澳大利亚(A 1、A 2) 和美国(BP、CDC) 共9 株 蓝氏贾第虫的基因型进行了分析比较。结果表明,A 1、A 2 和CAM 属第1 型(WB) ; CH2 和CH3 属第2 型(JH) ; C1、 C2、BP 和CDC 属第3 型(GS)。本实验结果提示, 虫株间遗传学关系并非由地理位置的远近所决定。来源于同一地 理位置的虫株其遗传学特性可有很大的差异。相反, 来源于地理位置相隔很远的虫株其遗传学特性却可极为相近。 贾第虫分离株基因型的确定可为本虫分子系统进化和分子流行病学研究提供重要资料。

几类处在关键进化地位藻类的TIM基因和糖酵解途径的研究

糖酵解作为细胞的重要的基本代谢途径广泛存在于各类生物中。但参与该途径的tim基因／酶和整个途径在细胞中的区室定位情况在一些处在关键进化地位的藻类中还存在许多未知或争议。本文首先对参与该途径的一个重要酶――磷酸丙糖异构酶（TIM）在两种不同营养方式的眼虫上进行了鉴定和序列结构分析，并结合了包括绿藻、红藻和动基体类等在内的其它生物的数据进行了分子系统分析；其次，对该途径在绿藻类的衣藻细胞中的区室定位情况进行了研究，并对该特殊的区室定位途径的进化进行了探讨。得到了如下结果和结论： 1）通过3’与5’-RACE实验，在光合型眼虫Euglena gracilis和Euglena intermedia和腐生型眼虫Astasia longa中各获得了一长一短两个TIM的全长cDNA序列，同时通过基因组DNA-PCR和序列搜索，还获得了两种绿藻和红藻的tim基因序列。前导序列分析显示眼虫的两个cDNA分别编码定位到胞质的cTIM和定位到叶绿体的cpTIM或质体的pTIM。腐生眼虫A. longa的pTIM与光合型眼虫E. gracilis的cpTIM高度相似，其前导序列也具有眼虫典型的核编码叶绿体蛋白质的典型特征；两类不同营养型眼虫的成熟TIM间的同源性达91.6％，并且具有其它TIM所共有的活性中心氨基酸和保守的序列motifs。这表明A. longa的pTIM确实是定位于质体、具有生物活性的cpTIM的同工酶，并提示A. longa的质体还具有与TIM相关的代谢功能（例如脂肪酸的合成），而不仅仅是一个叶绿体的“残迹”。 TIM的序列比对和分子系统分析结果显示：眼虫类和红藻类的TIM共有一个由两个氨基酸组成的插入；更重要的是，眼虫类TIM既没有与被认为与它共祖的动基体类的TIM聚在一起，又没有与被认为为其提供叶绿体（经二次内共生）的绿藻的TIM聚在一起，而是与红藻TIM聚为一枝。这提示眼虫与红藻间在进化历史上可能曾经有过基因交流。 2）采用生物信息学手段结合分子生物学实验，对衣藻基因组和转录组中参与糖酵解相关基因／酶进行了鉴定、定位预测和表达水平分析，结果表明：与其它极大多数的真核生物不同，衣藻细胞质中不具有完整的糖酵解途径，尽管该途径的后三步主要发生在胞质中，但前七步则是发生在叶绿体中的。 分子系统分析表明衣藻叶绿体中参与前6步和细胞质中参与最后2步的糖酵解酶都是胞质型起源，其中参与第4步的FBA更像是由很早时期的胞质型基因重复而来的；而第7步的PGK是由内共生形成叶绿体的蓝细菌的水平基因转移而来。这表明衣藻胞质中所缺少的糖酵解酶是一种次生性丢失的结果，而非原始的特征；其叶绿体中的糖酵解步骤应该是由于原有胞质型糖酵解酶的基因重复之后重新定位或者直接重新定位到叶绿体中，以及内共生产生叶绿体时由蓝细菌的水平基因转移所致。

Prenatal effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, serotonin transporter promoter genotype (SLC6A4), and maternal mood on child behavior at 3 years of age

To investigate whether prenatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant exposure affects behavior in 3-year-olds of antenatally anxious or depressed mothers and whether risk was moderated by the serotonin transporter promoter (SLC6A4) genotype.

Contingency Learning and Reactivity in Preterm and Full-Term Infants at 3 Months

Learning difficulties in preterm infants are thought to reflect impairment in arousal regulation. We examined relationships among gestational age, learning speed, and behavioral and physiological reactivity in 55 preterm and 49 full-term infants during baseline, contingency, and nonreinforcement phases of a conjugate mobile paradigm at 3 months corrected age. For all infants, negative affect, looking duration, and heart rate levels increased during contingency and nonreinforcement phases, whereas respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA, an index of parasympathetic activity) decreased and cortisol did not change. Learners showed greater RSA suppression and less negative affect than nonlearners. This pattern was particularly evident in the preterm group. Overall, preterm infants showed less learning, spent less time looking at the mobile, and had lower cortisol levels than full-term infants. Preterm infants also showed greater heart rate responses to contingency and dampened heart rate responses to nonreinforcement compared to full-term infants. Findings underscore differences in basal and reactivity measures in preterm compared to full-term infants and suggest that the capacity to regulate parasympathetic activity during a challenge enhances learning in preterm infants.