Antimicrobial activity of truncated alpha-defensin (human neutrophil peptide (HNP)-1) analogues without disulphide bridges.

Antimicrobial peptides play an important role in host defence, particularly in the oral cavity where there is constant challenge by microorganisms. The a-defensin antimicrobial peptides comprise 30–50% of the total protein in the azurophilic granules of human neutrophils, the most abundant of which is human neutrophil peptide 1 (HNP-1). Despite its antimicrobial activity, a limiting factor in the potential therapeutic use of HNP-1 is its chemical synthesis with the correct disulphide topology. In the present study, we synthesised a range of truncated defensin analogues lacking disulphide bridges. All the analogues were modelled on the C-terminal region of HNP-1 and their antimicrobial activity was tested against a range of microorganisms, including oral pathogens. Although there was variability in the antimicrobial activity of the truncated analogues synthesised, a truncated peptide named 2Abz23S29 displayed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, effectively killing all the bacterial strains tested. The finding that truncated peptides, modelled on the C-terminal ß-hairpin region of HNP-1 but lacking disulphide bridges, display antimicrobial activity could aid their potential use in therapeutic interventions.

The human coronavirus 229E superfamily 1 helicase has RNA and DNA duplex-unwinding activities with 5'-to-3' polarity.

The human coronavirus 229E replicase gene encodes a protein, p66HEL, that contains a putative zinc finger structure linked to a putative superfamily (SF) 1 helicase. A histidine-tagged form of this protein, HEL, was expressed using baculovirus vectors in insect cells. The purified recombinant protein had in vitro ATPase activity that was strongly stimulated by poly(U), poly(dT), poly(C), and poly(dA), but not by poly(G). The recombinant protein also had both RNA and DNA duplex-unwinding activities with 5'-to-3' polarity. The DNA helicase activity of the enzyme preferentially unwound 5'-oligopyrimidine-tailed, partial-duplex substrates and required a tail length of at least 10 nucleotides for effective unwinding. The combined data suggest that the coronaviral SF1 helicase functionally differs from the previously characterized RNA virus SF2 helicases.

Ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of trihydrophobin 1 (TH1) by the human papilloma virus E6-associated protein (E6-AP).

Human Papilloma virus E6-associated protein (E6-AP), which is known as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, mediates ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of a series of cellular proteins. In this paper, we identify here trihydrophobin 1 (TH1), an integral subunit of the human negative transcription elongation factor (NELF) complex, as a novel E6-AP interaction protein and a target of E6-AP-mediated degradation. Overexpression of E6-AP results in degradation of TH1 in a dose-dependent manner, whereas knock-down of endogenous E6-AP elevates the TH1 protein level. TH1 protein turnover is substantially faster, compared to controls, in cells that overexpressed E6-AP. Wild-type E6-AP promotes the ubiquitination of TH1, while a catalytically inactive point mutant of E6-AP abolishes its ubiquitination. Furthermore, in vitro ubiquitination assay also demonstrates that TH1 can be ubiquitinated by E6-AP. The degradation is blocked by treatment with proteasome inhibitor MG132. Herein, we provide strong evidence that TH1 is a specific substrate that is targeted for degradation through E6-AP-catalyzed polyubiquitination.

Monocyte-dependent oncostatin M and TNFa synergize to stimulate unopposed matrix metalloproteinase-1/3 secretion from human lung fibroblasts in tuberculosis

Leukocyte-derived matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are implicated in the tissue destruction characteristic of tuberculosis (TB). The contribution of lung stromal cells to MMP activity in TB is unknown. Oncostatin M (OSM) is an important stimulus to extrapulmonary stromal MMP induction, but its role in regulation of pulmonary MMP secretion or pathophysiology of TB is unknown. We investigated OSM secretion from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-infected human monocytes/macrophages and the networking effects of such OSM on lung fibroblast MMP secretion. Mtb increased monocyte OSM secretion dose dependently in vitro. In vivo tuberculous granulomas immunostained positively for OSM. Further, conditioned media from Mtb-infected monocytes (CoMTb) induced monocyte OSM secretion (670 ± 55 versus 166 ± 14 pg/mL in controls), implicating an autocrine loop. Mtb-induced OSM secretion was prostaglandin (PG) sensitive, and required activation of surface G-protein coupled receptors. OSM induction was ERK MAP kinase dependent, p38-requiring but JNK-independent. OSM synergized with TNF-, a key cytokine in TB granuloma formation, to stimulate pulmonary fibroblast MMP-1/-3 secretion, while suppressing secretion of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-1/-2. In summary, Mtb infection of monocytes results in PG-dependent OSM secretion, which synergizes with TNF- to drive functionally unopposed fibroblast MMP-1/-3 secretion, demonstrating a previously unrecognized role for OSM in TB.

The mouse and human IGSF6 (DORA) genes map to the inflammatory bowel disease 1 locus and are embedded in an intron of a gene of unknown function.

We have previously characterized IGSF6 (DORA), a novel member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IGSF) from human and rat expressed in dendritic and myeloid cells. Using a probe from the open reading frame of the rat cDNA, we isolated a cosmid which contains the entire mouse gene. By comparative analysis and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, we defined the intron/exon structure and the mRNA of the mouse gene and, with respect to human BAC clones, the human gene. The genes span 10 kb (mouse) and 12 kb (human), with six exons arranged in a manner similar to other members of the IGSF. All intron/exon boundaries follow the GT-AG rule. Expression of the mouse Igsf6 gene is restricted to cells of the immune system, particularly macrophages. Northern blot revealed a single mRNA of 2.5 kb, in contrast to the human gene which is expressed as two mRNAs of 1 and 2.5 kb. The human and mouse genes were localized to a locus associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Analysis of the flanking regions of the Igsf6 gene revealed the presence of an unrelated gene, transcribed from the opposite strand of the DNA and oriented such that the Igsf6 gene is encoded entirely within an intron. An identical organization is seen in human. This gene of unknown function is transcribed and processed, contains homologues in Caenorhabditis elegans and prokaryotes, and is expressed in most organs in the mouse.

Increased anti-tumour efficacy of doxorubicin when combined with sulindac in a xenograft model of an MRP-1-positive human lung cancer

Background: A number of cellular proteins, including P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and Multiple drug Resistance Protein (MRP-1), act as drug efflux pumps and are important in the resistance of many cancers to chemotherapy. We previously reported that a small number of NSAIDs could inhibit the activity of MRP-1. Materials and Methods: We chose sulindac as a candidate agent for further investigation as it has the most favourable efficacy and toxicity profile of the agents available for a potential specific MRP-1 inhibitor. NCI H460 cells expressed MRP-1 protein (by Western blot) and also the toxicity, of doxorubicin (a substrate of MRP-1) could be potentiated in this line using non-toxic concentrations of the MRP-1 substrate/inhibitor sulindac. These cells were implanted in nude mice and the animals divided into various groups which were administered doxorubicin and/or sulindac. Results: Sulindac was shown to significantly potentiate the tumour growth inhibitor activity of doxorubicin in this MRP-1-overexpressing human tumour xenograft model. Conclusion: Sulindac may be clinically useful as an inhibitor of the MRP-1 cancer resistance mechanism.

Anti-apoptotic effects of Z alpha-1 antitrypsin in human bronchial epithelial cells.

α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) deficiency is a genetic disease which manifests as early-onset emphysema or liver disease. Although the majority of α1-AT is produced by the liver, it is also produced by bronchial epithelial cells, amongst others, in the lung. Herein, we investigate the effects of mutant Z α1-AT (ZAAT) expression on apoptosis in a human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE14o-) and delineate the mechanisms involved.

Control, M variant α1-AT (MAAT)- or ZAAT-expressing cells were assessed for apoptosis, caspase-3 activity, cell viability, phosphorylation of Bad, nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation and induced expression of a selection of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes.

Expression of ZAAT in 16HBE14o- cells, like MAAT, inhibited basal and agonist-induced apoptosis. ZAAT expression also inhibited caspase-3 activity by 57% compared with control cells (p = 0.05) and was a more potent inhibitor than MAAT. Whilst ZAAT had no effect on the activity of Bad, its expression activated NF-κB-dependent gene expression above control or MAAT-expressing cells. In 16HBE14o- cells but not HEK293 cells, ZAAT upregulated expression of cIAP-1, an upstream regulator of NF-κB. cIAP1 expression was increased in ZAAT versus MAAT bronchial biopsies.

The data suggest a novel mechanism by which ZAAT may promote human bronchial epithelial cell survival.