Interaction of the coronavirus nucleoprotein with nucleolar antigens and the host cell

Coronavirus nucleoproteins (N proteins) localize to the cytoplasm and the nucleolus, a subnuclear structure, in both virus-infected primary cells and in cells transfected with plasmids that express N protein. The nucleolus is the site of ribosome biogenesis and sequesters cell cycle regulatory complexes. Two of the major components of the nucleolus are fibrillarin and nucleolin. These proteins are involved in nucleolar assembly and ribosome biogenesis and act as chaperones for the import of proteins into the nucleolus. We have found that fibrillarin is reorganized in primary cells infected with the avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and in continuous cell lines that express either IBV or mouse hepatitis virus N protein. Both N protein and a fibrillarin-green fluorescent protein fusion protein colocalized to the perinuclear region and the nucleolus. Pull-down assays demonstrated that IBV N protein interacted with nucleolin and therefore provided a possible explanation as to how coronavirus N proteins localize to the nucleolus. Nucleoli, and proteins that localize to the nucleolus, have been implicated in cell growth-cell cycle regulation. Comparison of cells expressing IBV N protein with controls indicated that cells expressing N protein had delayed cellular growth. This result could not to be attributed to apoptosis. Morphological analysis of these cells indicated that cytokinesis was disrupted, an observation subsequently found in primary cells infected with IBV. Coronaviruses might therefore delay the cell cycle in interphase, where maximum translation of viral mRNAs can occur.

Avaliação da expressão das isoformas da molécula HLA-G e do perfil da resposta imune em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil (LESJ)

O lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil (LESJ) é uma doença inflamatória crônica causada pela produção de autoanticorpos, que reconhecem como estranhos antígenos próprios do organismo, e possuem alta morbidade e mortalidade em relação à doença no adulto. Em sua patogênese estão envolvidos fatores ambientais, hormonais, imunológicos e genéticos. Estudos de associação genética demonstraram que a susceptibilidade ao lúpus é poligênica, e entre os genes envolvidos está o HLA-G que é responsável pela regulação da resposta imune. No estudo, foi analisada a expressão de isoforma da molécula HLA-G e observamos o perfil de resposta imune em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil. Os pacientes que participaram do estudo foram selecionados no serviço de Reumatologia do Hospital das Clínicas e foi coletado sangue periférico de 10 pacientes no momento ativo e inativo do LESJ. O estudo comparou a expressão do mRNA do HLA-G5, IL-10 e TNF, os níveis plasmáticos de sHLA-G e citocinas Th1, Th2 e Th17 entre os grupos com a doença ativa, inativa e o grupo de crianças saudáveis aplicando os testes de Mann-Whitney U e Kruskal-Wallis. Os resultados mostraram que pacientes com LESJ ativo apresentaram níveis elevados das citocinas IL-10 (p=0,004) e IL-6 (p=0,011), além de apresentarem expressão de mRNA do TNF mais elevada em relação ao grupo inativo (p0,05). Mesmo com número reduzido, foi possível caracterizar que houve mudança do perfil de citocinas durante a ativação do LESJ, e a relação dessa ativação com a expressão de HLA-G solúvel, além de servir como base para proposta de um modelo de regulação imunológica, que poderá ser validado em futuros experimentos

Estudo da influência dos alelos do HLA classe I e II e do polimorfismo dos genes de citocinas na infecção pelo HTLV-1

INTRODUÇÃO: O vírus linfotrópico para células T humanas (HTLV-1) é o principal agente causador da Paraparesia Espástica Tropical / Mielopatia associada ao HTLV-1 (PET/MAH) e da Leucemia da célula T do Adulto (LTA). A maioria dos indivíduos infectados permanece assintomática, somente 2 a 5% irão desenvolver uma das duas doenças. Fatores da interação HTLV-1/ hospedeiro estão envolvidos no risco de desenvolver doença. A lesão neurológica na PET/MAH parece ser consequência de uma reação inflamatória, desencadeada pelo reconhecimento de células infectadas por linfócitos T citotóxicos, com consequente liberação de citocinas e lesão medular. OBJETIVO: Identificar marcadores genéticos, que possam ajudar no prognóstico e tratamento dos pacientes portadores do HTLV-1. MÉTODOS: Nas amostras de 117 portadores do HTLV-1 assintomáticos e 171 pacientes com acometimento neurológico em acompanhamento na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, foram realizadas as tipificações dos genes do HLA Classe I e II, dos polimorfismos dos genes das citocinas -308TNF-\03B1,-174IL-6, +874IFN-\03B3, códon 10 e 25TGF-\03B21 e -1082 - 819-592IL-10, e a quantificação da carga proviral. Os dados foram organizados em um banco de dados no programa SPSS. As frequências alélicas e genotípicas foram obtidas por contagem direta. O equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg foi avaliado para os polimorfismos das citocinas no sitio http://bioinfo.iconcologia.net/ubbweb/SNPStats_web, em relação ao HLA foram utilizadas as ferramentas disponíveis no sítio \201CLos Alamos HIV database tools\201D. As comparações entre os grupos foram realizadas através de tabelas de contingência 2x2 (quiquadrado, exato de Fisher e odds ratios), valores de p\22640,05 foram considerados significantes RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: O alelo A*02 não influencia a condição clínica nem os níveis da carga proviral. Os alelos A*29 e B*44 foram mais frequentes entre os indivíduos assintomáticos e a sua presença influenciou os níveis da carga proviral sugerindo proteção ao desenvolvimento de doença neurológica. O alelo A*68 foi mais frequente entre os pacientes com doença neurológica, porém sua presença não influenciou nos níveis da carga proviral. O alelo C*04 foi mais frequente entre os portadores assintomáticos e não influenciou os níveis de carga proviral, já o alelo DRB1*03 predominou entre os pacientes com doença neurológica e a sua presença entre os indivíduos assintomáticos acarretou níveis mais elevados de carga proviral, sugerindo ser um possível fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de doença neurológica. Na análise do polimorfismo genético das citocinas, o polimorfismo de IL-10, com perfil fenotípico de baixo produtor da citocina foi mais frequente no grupo dos assintomáticos, enquanto que o fenótipo de produtor intermediário predominou entre os sintomáticos. O perfil fenotípico da população estudada foi caracterizado como: baixo produtor da citocina -308TNF-\03B1, intermediário a alto produtor para códon 10 e códon 25 TGF-\03B2, baixo a intermediário produtor para -1082,-819,- 592 IL-10, alto produtor para -174 IL-6 e baixo a intermediário produtor para +874IFN-\03B3

Patterns of Antibodies Against Latent and Lytic Antigens of Human Herpesvirus 8 in an Endemic Population and Patients With Kaposi`s Sarcoma in Mozambique

The patterns of antibodies against latent and lytic antigens of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) were assessed using immunofluorescence assays of samples from 155 persons seropositive for HHV-8 seen at public health centers and 24 patients with Kaposi`s sarcoma (KS) from Mozambique. Of the 155 persons without KS, 48(31%) had antibodies against latent antigens only, 29 (18.7%) had antibodies against lytic antigens only, and 78 (50.3%) had antibodies against both types of antigen. The HHV-8 antibody titer tended to increase with age until age 40, after which it began to decrease. High titers of antibodies against latent and lytic antigens of HHV-8 were detected mostly in persons co-infected with HIV, and these increased titers could have a predictive value. All patients with KS except four patients who were seronegative for HHV-8 had elevated titers of HHV-8 antibodies, predominantly against latent antigens. The data suggest the potential for an increase in the development of KS in this endemic area for HHV-8. J. Med. Virol. 82:1576-1581, 2010. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A Comparative Study of the Frequency of Antibody and Titers Against Human Herpesvirus 8 Latent and Lytic Antigens in ""At-Risk"" Individuals and Among Patients With Kaposi`s Sarcoma

Differences in the prevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and Kaposi`s sarcoma (KS) have been described, depending on the study population and their geographic origin. A cross-sectional study aimed at detecting the frequency and titers of antibodies against HHV-8 latent and lytic antigens in serum samples from individuals with different risk-factors for HHV-8 infection, as well as predictive marker identification in patients with KS, was conducted. Serum samples were collected from seven groups of individuals: 75 patients with AIDS-KS, 5 with classic KS, 16 with African KS, 495 with HIV/AIDS, 805 patients with chronic kidney disease, 683 handicapped individuals, and 757 health care workers. Samples were evaluated for the presence and titers of HHV-8-specific antibodies to latent and lytic antigens using ""in house"" immunofluorescence assays. The results were analyzed by the Chi-square, Fisher`s exact test, Kruskal-Wallis and/or Mann-Whitney U-tests. The frequencies of HHV-8 antibodies were as follows: 87.5-100% in patients with KS, 20.4% in patients with HIV/AIDS, 18% in patients with chronic kidney disease, 1.6% in handicapped individuals, and 1.1% in health care workers. A greater number of samples were antibody positive to lytic antigens. Elevated titers of antibodies to latent and lytic antigens, mostly among patients with KS, were detected. Using established serological assays, different ""at-risk"" populations for HHV-8 infection/disease were detected in this geographic area, confirming HIV/AIDS and identifying patients with chronic kidney disease as high-risk groups. It is suggested that a longitudinal evaluation of antibody titers in patients with chronic kidney disease be undertaken to confirm their predictive value in the development of KS. J. Med. Virol. 81: 1292-1297, 2009. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Impaired dendritic cell differentiation and maturation in the absence of C3

Human monocytes can be differentiated into immature dendritic cells (DCs) in the presence of serum and cytokines. One of the main functions of immature DCs is to capture and process antigens. Following maturation, they differentiate into antigen presenting cells. The role of complement in the differentiation process from monocytes towards immature DCs remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that complement 3 (C3) has a regulatory impact on the expression of specific DC surface molecules and DC-derived cytokine production during DC differentiation. We isolated human adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which were cultured in the presence of GM-CSF plus IL-4 in medium supplemented with normal human serum or C3 deficient serum. The lack of C3 during DC differentiation negatively impacted the expression of C-type lectin receptor DC-SIGN, the antigen presenting molecules HLA-DR and CD1a, and the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86. Further, the spontaneous production of IL-6 and IL-12 was reduced in the absence of C3. Moreover, the maturation of immature DCs in response to LPS challenge was impaired in the absence of C3 as evidenced by reduced MHC-II, co-stimulatory molecule expression as well as modulated IL-12 and TNF-alpha production. Collectively, our results provide evidence for a novel role of C3 as a critical cofactor in human DC differentiation and maturation. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cell activation state influences the modulation of HLA-DR surface expression on human monocytes/macrophages by parenteral fish oil lipid emulsion

Abnormal surface expression of HLA-DR by leukocytes is associated with a poor prognosis in critical care patients. Critical care patients often receive total parenteral nutrition with lipid emulsion (LE). In this study we evaluated the influence of fish oil LE (FO) on human monocyte/macrophage (M phi) expression of surface HLA-DR under distinct activation states. Mononuclear leukocytes from the peripheral blood of healthy volunteers (n = 18) were cultured for 24 hours without LE (control) or with 3 different concentrations (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5%) of the follow LE: a) pure FO b) FO in association (1:1 v/v) with LE composed of 50% medium-chain trygliceride and 50% soybean oil (MCTSO), and c) pure MCTSO. The leukocytes were also submitted to different cell activation states, as determinate by INF-gamma addition time: no INF-gamma addition, 18 hours before, or at the time of LE addition. HLA-DR expression on M phi surface was evaluated by flow cytometry using specific monoclonal antibodies. In relation to controls (for 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5%: 100) FO decreased the expression of HLA-DR when added alone [in simultaneously-activated M phi, for 0.1%: 70 (59 +/- 73); for 0.25%: 51 (48 +/- 56); and for 0.5%: 52.5(50 +/- 58)] or in association with MCTSO [in simultaneously-activated M phi, for 0.1%: 50.5 (47 +/- 61); for 25%: 49 (45 +/- 52); and for 05 %: 51 (44 +/- 54) and in previously-activated M phi, for 1.0 % : 63 (44 +/- 88); for 0.25%: 70 (41 +/- 88); and for 0.5%: 59.5 (39 +/- 79)] in culture medium (Friedman p<0.05). In relation to controls (for 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5%: 100), FO did not influence the expression of these molecules on non-activated M phi [for 0.1 % : 87.5 (75 +/- 93); for 0.25%: 111 (98 +/- 118); and for 0.5%: 101.5 (84 +/- 113)]. Results show that parenteral FO modulates the expression of HLA-DR on human M phi surface accordingly to leukocyte activation state. Further clinical studies evaluating the ideal moment of fish oil LE infusion to modulate leukocyte functions may contribute to a better understanding of its immune modulatory properties.

Population genetic analysis of large sequence polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage antigens

Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of human malaria, invades host erythrocytes using several proteins on the surface of the invasive merozoite, which have been proposed as potential vaccine candidates. Members of the multi-gene PfRh family are surface antigens that have been shown to play a central role in directing merozoites to alternative erythrocyte receptors for invasion. Recently, we identified a large structural polymorphism, a 0.58 Kb deletion, in the C-terminal region of the PfRh2b gene, present at a high frequency in parasite populations from Senegal. We hypothesize that this region is a target of humoral immunity. Here, by analyzing 371 P. falciparum isolates we show that this major allele is present at varying frequencies in different populations within Senegal, Africa, and throughout the world. For allelic dimorphisms in the asexual stage antigens, Msp-2 and EBA-175, we find minimal geographic differentiation among parasite populations from Senegal and other African localities, suggesting extensive gene flow among these populations and/or immune-mediated frequency-dependent balancing selection. In contrast, we observe a higher level of inter-population divergence (as measured by F(st)) for the PfRh2b deletion, similar to that observed for SNPs from the sexual stage Pfs45/48 loci, which is postulated to be under directional selection. We confirm that the region containing the PfRh2b polymorphism is a target of humoral immune responses by demonstrating antibody reactivity of endemic sera. Our analysis of inter-population divergence suggests that in contrast to the large allelic dimorphisms in EBA-175 and Msp-2, the presence or absence of the large PfRh2b deletion may not elicit frequency-dependent immune selection, but may be under positive immune selection, having important implications for the development of these proteins as vaccine candidates. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fonsecaea pedrosoi infection induces differential modulation of costimulatory molecules and cytokines in monocytes from patients with severe and mild forms of chromoblastomycosis

The host defense mechanism in chromoblastomycosis has not been thoroughly investigated. It has been suggested that cell- mediated immunity in patients with long- standing chromoblastomycosis is somehow impaired. As a result, these individuals became unable to develop an efficient immune reaction. Many studies have shown that monocyte- derived macrophages exhibit critical activities in immunity to microorganisms. Moreover, the ability of cells from the monocytic lineage to process and present antigens, to produce cytokines, and to provide costimulatory signals confirms their pivotal role in the initiation of specific immune responses. In the present study, it was observed that monocytes from patients with a severe form of disease had a higher production of IL- 10 and a lower expression of HLA- DR and costimulatory molecules when stimulated with specific antigen or LPS. Immune modulation with recombinant IL- 12 or anti- IL- 10 can restore the antigen- specific Th1- type immune response in chromoblastomycosis patients by up- regulating HLA- DR and costimulatory molecules in monocytes. Therefore, our data show that monocytes from patients with different clinical forms of chromoblastomycosis present distinct phenotypic and functional profiles. This observation suggests possible mechanisms that control the T cell response and influence their role in the development of pathology.

Associação da dose de células CD34 com recuperação hematopoética, infecções e outros desfechos após transplante alogênico de medula óssea de doador familiar HLA-idêntico

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