Virulence of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolate in mice is determined by failure to induce Th1 type immunity and is associated with induction of IFN-α/β

To understand how virulent mycobacteria subvert host immunity and establish disease, we examined the differential response of mice to infection with various human outbreak Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates. One clinical isolate, HN878, was found to be hypervirulent, as demonstrated by unusually early death of infected immune-competent mice, compared with infection with other clinical isolates. The differential effect on survival required lymphocyte function because severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice infected with HN878 or other clinical isolates all died at the same rate. The hypervirulence of HN878 was associated with failure to induce M. tuberculosis-specific proliferation and IFN-γ production by spleen and lymph node cells from infected mice. In addition, 2- to 4-fold lower levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-12, and IFN-γ mRNAs were observed in lungs of HN878-infected mice. IL-10, IL-4, and IL-5 mRNA levels were not significantly elevated in lungs of HN878 infected mice. In contrast, IFN-α mRNA levels were significantly higher in lungs of these mice. To further investigate the role of Type 1 IFNs, mice infected with HN878 were treated intranasally with purified IFN-α/β. The treatment resulted in increased lung bacillary loads and even further reduced survival. These results suggest that the hypervirulence of HN878 may be due to failure of this strain to stimulate Th1 type immunity. In addition, the lack of development of Th1 immunity in response to HN878 appears to be associated with increased induction of Type 1 IFNs.

Identification of the zinc-dependent endothelial cell binding protein for high molecular weight kininogen and factor XII: identity with the receptor that binds to the globular "heads" of C1q (gC1q-R).

High molecular weight kininogen (HK) and factor XII are known to bind to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a zinc-dependent and saturable manner indicating that HUVEC express specific binding site(s) for those proteins. However, identification and immunochemical characterization of the putative receptor site(s) has not been previously accomplished. In this report, we have identified a cell surface glycoprotein that is a likely candidate for the HK binding site on HUVECs. When solubilized HUVEC membranes were subjected to an HK-affinity column in the presence or absence of 50 microM ZnCl2 and the bound membrane proteins eluted, a single major protein peak was obtained only in the presence of zinc. SDS/PAGE analysis and silver staining of the protein peak revealed this protein to be 33 kDa and partial sequence analysis matched the NH2 terminus of gC1q-R, a membrane glycoprotein that binds to the globular "heads" of C1q. Two other minor proteins of approximately 70 kDa and 45 kDa were also obtained. Upon analysis by Western blotting, the 33-kDa band was found to react with several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing different epitopes on gC1q-R. Ligand and dot blot analyses revealed zinc-dependent binding of biotinylated HK as well as biotinylated factor XII to the isolated 33-kDa HUVEC molecule as well as recombinant gC1q-R. In addition, binding of 125I-HK to HUVEC cells was inhibited by selected monoclonal anti-gC1q-R antibodies. C1q, however, did not inhibit 125I-HK binding to HUVEC nor did those monoclonals known to inhibit C1q binding to gC1q-R. Taken together, the data suggest that HK (and factor XII) bind to HUVECs via a 33-kDa cell surface glycoprotein that appears to be identical to gC1q-R but interact with a site on gC1q-R distinct from that which binds C1q.

Complementation of the beige mutation in cultured cells by episomally replicating murine yeast artificial chromosomes.

Chédiak-Higashi syndrome in man and the beige mutation of mice are phenotypically similar disorders that have profound effects upon lysosome and melanosome morphology and function. We isolated two murine yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) that, when introduced into beige mouse fibroblasts, complement the beige mutation. The complementing YACs exist as extrachromosomal elements that are amplified in high concentrations of G418. When YAC-complemented beige cells were fused to human Chédiak-Higashi syndrome or Aleutian mink fibroblasts, complementation of the mutant phenotype also occurred. These results localize the beige gene to a 500-kb interval and demonstrate that the same or homologous genes are defective in mice, minks, and humans.

Identification of residues that control specific binding of the Shc phosphotyrosine-binding domain to phosphotyrosine sites.

The Shc adaptor protein contains two phosphotyrosine [Tyr(P)]binding modules--an N-terminal Tyr(P) binding (PTB) domain and a C-terminal Src homology 2 (SH2) domain. We have compared the ability of the Shc PTB domain to bind the receptors for nerve growth factor and insulin, both of which contain juxtamembrane Asn-Pro-Xaa-Tyr(P) motifs implicated in PTB binding. The Shc PTB domain binds with high affinity to a phosphopeptide corresponding to the nerve growth factor receptor Tyr-490 autophosphorylation site. Analysis of individual residues within this motif indicates that the Asn at position -3 [with respect to Tyr(P)], in addition to Tyr(P), is critical for PTB binding, while the Pro at position -2 plays a less significant role. A hydrophobic amino acid 5 residues N-terminal to the Tyr(P) is also essential for high-affinity binding. In contrast, the Shc PTB domain does not bind stably to the Asn-Pro-Xaa-Tyr(P) site at Tyr-960 in the activated insulin receptor, which has a polar residue (Ser) at position -5. Substitution of this Ser at position -5 with Ile markedly increased binding of the insulin receptor Tyr-960 phosphopeptide to the PTB domain. These results suggest that while the Shc PTB domain recognizes a core sequence of Asn-Pro-Xaa-Tyr(P), its binding affinity is modulated by more N-terminal residues in the ligand, which therefore contribute to the specificity of PTB-receptor interactions. An analysis of residues in the Shc PTB domain required for binding to Tyr(P) sites identified a specific and evolutionarily conserved Arg (Arg-175) that is uniquely important for ligand binding and is potentially involved in Tyr(P) recognition.

Expression in cochlea and retina of myosin VIIa, the gene product defective in Usher syndrome type 1B.

Myosin VIIa is a newly identified member of the myosin superfamily of actin-based motors. Recently, the myosin VIIa gene was identified as the gene defective in shaker-1, a recessive deafness in mice [Gibson, F., Walsh, J., Mburu, P., Varela, A., Brown, K.A., Antonio, M., Beisel, K.W., Steel, K.P. & Brown, S.D.M. (1995) Nature (London) 374, 62-64], and in human Usher syndrome type 1B, an inherited disease characterized by congenital deafness, vestibular dysfunction, and retinitis pigmentosa [Weil, D., Blanchard, S., Kaplan, J., Guilford, P., Gibson, F., Walsh, J., Mburu, P., Varela, A., Levilliers, J., Weston, M.D., Kelley, P.M., Kimberling, W.J., Wagenaar, M., Levi-Acobas, F., Larget-Piet, D., Munnich, A., Steel, K.P., Brown, S.D.M. & Petit, C. (1995) Nature (London) 374, 60-61]. To understand the normal function of myosin VIIa and how it could cause these disease phenotypes when defective, we generated antibodies specific to the tail portion of this unconventional myosin. We found that myosin VIIa was expressed in cochlea, retina, testis, lung, and kidney. In cochlea, myosin VIIa expression was restricted to the inner and outer hair cells, where it was found in the apical stereocilia as well as the cytoplasm. In the eye, myosin VIIa was expressed by the retinal pigmented epithelial cells, where it was enriched within the apical actin-rich domain of this cell type. The cell-specific localization of myosin VIIa suggests that the blindness and deafness associated with Usher syndrome is due to lack of proper myosin VIIa function within the cochlear hair cells and the retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

Tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of STAT5, STAT3, and Janus kinases by interleukins 2 and 15.

The cytokines interleukin 2 (IL-2) and IL-15 have similar biological effects on T cells and bind common hematopoietin receptor subunits. Pathways that involve Janus kinases (JAKs) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) have been shown to be important for hematopoietin receptor signaling. In this study we identify the STAT proteins activated by IL-2 and IL-15 in human T cells. IL-2 and IL-15 rapidly induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 and STAT5, and DNA-binding complexes containing STAT3 and STAT5 were rapidly activated by these cytokines in T cells. IL-4 induced tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of STAT3 but not STAT5. JAK1 and JAK3 were tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to IL-2 and IL-15. Hence, the JAK and STAT molecules that are activated in response to IL-2 and IL-15 are similar but differ from those induced by IL-4. These observations identify the STAT proteins activated by IL-2 and IL-15 and therefore define signaling pathways by which these T-cell growth factors may regulate gene transcription.

Membrane disposition of the M5-M6 hairpin of Na+,K(+)-ATPase alpha subunit is ligand dependent.

Extensive proteolytic digestion of Na+,K(+)-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.37) by trypsin produces a preparation where most of the extramembrane portions of the alpha subunit have been digested away and the beta subunit remains essentially intact. The fragment Gln-737-Arg-829 of the Na+,K(+)-ATPase alpha subunit, which includes the putative transmembrane hairpin M5-M6, is readily, selectively, and irreversibly released from the posttryptic membrane preparation after incubation at 37 degrees C for several minutes. Once released from the membrane, the fragment aggregates but remains water soluble. Occlusion of K+ or Rb+ specifically prevents release of the Gln-737-Arg-829 fragment into the supernatant. Labeling of the posttryptic membrane preparation with cysteine-directed reagents revealed that Cys-802 (which is thought to be located within the M6 segment) is protected against the modification by Rb+ while this fragment is in the membrane but can be readily modified upon release. Cation occlusion apparently alters the folding and/or disposition of the M5-M6 fragment in the membrane in a way that does not occur when the fragment migrates to the aqueous phase. The ligand-dependent disposition of the M5-M6 hairpin in the membrane along with recent labeling studies suggest a key role for this segment in cation pumping by Na+,K(+)-ATPase.

CT-2576, an inhibitor of phospholipid signaling, suppresses constitutive and induced expression of human immunodeficiency virus.

Viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) require cellular activation for expression. Cellular activation in lymphoid cells is associated with augmented accumulation of certain phosphatidic acid (PA) species derived from the hydrolysis of glycan phosphatidylinositol (GPI). This suggests that activation of a phospholipid pathway may play a role in initiation of viral replication. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of tat gene expression on the production of cellular PA species, as the Tat protein is essential for HIV expression and has been implicated in activating the expression of multiple host cellular genes. Expression of tat increased the expression of PA. We then tested whether synthetic inhibitors of PA metabolism would inhibit activation of the HIV long terminal repeat by Tat and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). CT-2576 suppressed both PA generation induced by Tat and HIV long terminal repeat-directed gene expression in response to Tat or TNF-alpha at a posttranscriptional step. CT-2576 also inhibited constitutive as well as TNF-alpha- and interleukin 6-induced expression of HIV p24 antigen in chronically infected U1 cells and in peripheral blood lymphocytes acutely infected with a clinical isolate of HIV. Pharmacological inhibition of synthesis of selected PA species may therefore provide a therapeutic approach to suppression of HIV replication.