Molecular cloning and characterization of a putative lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha factor (LITAF) gene homologue from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri

LPS-induced TNF-alpha factor (LITAF) is a novel transcriptional factor that was first discovered in LPS-stimulated human macrophage cell line THP-1. LITAF can bind to TNF-a promoter to regulate its expression. The first scallop LITAF (named as CfLITAF) was cloned from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri by Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques. The cDNA of CfLITAF was of 1240 bp and consisted of a 5' untranslated region (UTR) of 112 bp, a 3' UTR of 678 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 450 bp encoding a polypeptide of 149 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 16.08 kDa and theoretical isoelectric point of 6.77. A typical conserved LITAF-domain was identified in CfLITAF by SMART analysis. Homology analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of CfLITAF with other known sequences by using the BLAST program revealed that CfLITAF was homologous to the LITAF from human and rat (Identity = 46%), cattle, horse, mouse and chicken (Identity = 48%), western clawed frog (Identity = 42%), and zebrafish (Identity = 50%). The mRNA expression of CfLITAF in different tissues including haemocytes, muscle, mantle, heart, gill and gonad, and the temporal expression in haemocytes challenged by LPS or peptidoglycan (PGN) were measured by Real-time RT-PCR. CfLITAF mRNA transcripts could be detected in all tissues examined and be up-regulated in haemocytes after LPS challenge. No significant changes were observed after PGN stimulation. All these data indicated the existence of LITAF in scallop and also provided clue on the presence of TNF-alpha-like molecules in invertebrates. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effets cellulaires de l’activation de ligases de l’ubiquitine par la protéine lysosomale LITAF

LITAF (lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha factor), une protéine lysosomale, possède deux motifs PPXY capables d’interagir avec les domaines WW d’un sous-groupe spécifique de trois ligases de l’ubiquitine. Ces ligases sont impliquées dans l’ubiquitylation ainsi que la dégradation de diverses protéines cellulaires aux lysosomes et aux protéasomes. Les travaux menés dans le cadre de cette étude visaient à démontrer que LITAF active ces ligases et à déterminer les conséquences de cette activation sur les substrats de ces ligases. Pour y parvenir, des expériences d’ubiquitylation in vivo et in vitro ont été menées en présence de LITAF ainsi que des ligases et des substrats appropriés. L’activation des ligases a été mesurée par leur taux d’autoubiquitylation et celle de leurs substrats par leur taux d’ubiquitylation et de dégradation. Les résultats obtenus montrent que l’activité des ligases est augmentée en présence de LITAF et que l’ubiquitylation et la dégradation des substrats de ces ligases sont partiellement augmentées. LITAF semble donc jouer un rôle de régulateur des ligases de l’ubiquitine. L’importance de ces résultats réside dans le fait que l'expression et la localisation intracellulaire de LITAF sont affectées dans plusieurs pathologies. Nos résultats amènent un éclairage nouveau sur le rôle physiologique de cette protéine et pourraient expliquer en partie comment l'altération de l'expression de LITAF affecte l'équilibre cellulaire.

栉孔扇贝CfLITAF基因的克隆与表达分析

关于无脊椎动物中是否存在细胞因子一直都存在着异议。从细胞因子本身入手，运用细胞生物学和免疫学手段，已经在软体动物、节肢动物和棘皮动物等无脊椎动物中证实了高等动物细胞因子样活性物质的存在，然而利用分子生物学手段至今没有得到任何核苷酸或蛋白序列信息，而从与细胞因子相关的分子如调控其表达的转录因子入手来研究无脊椎动物中的细胞因子样物质的存在，或许会得到意想不到的惊喜。 最近从人的单核细胞系THP-1中分离纯化出一种新型的转录因子，它可以被LPS诱导表达，产生的蛋白在TNF-α的表达过程中起着非常重要的作用，因而命名为LPS-induced TNF-α factor（LITAF）。随后该基因在小鼠和鸡中也被克隆分离出来，其编码的蛋白已经证实在TNF-α的表达过程中起着不可或缺的作用。迄今为止，在无脊椎动物中还没有相关同源基因的报道。 本研究采用大规模EST测序方法，结合锚定PCR技术从栉孔扇贝体内克隆到了高等动物LITAF基因的同源基因CfLITAF的全长cDNA序列。该cDNA全长为1240bp，其中5' 非编码区（UTR）为112 bp；开放阅读框（Open Reading Frame, ORF）包括450 bp，编码149个氨基酸残基，该多肽的理论分子量为16.08 kDa，等电点为6.77；3' UTR为678bp，包含一个poly A尾巴。SMART结构域预测发现CfLITAF蛋白含有一个保守的LITAF结构域。实时定量PCR检测CfLITAF基因在栉孔扇贝主要免疫器官中的表达分布情况，发现在所检测的六种组织血细胞、外套膜、肌肉、心、腮、性腺中均能检测到CfLITAF基因转录本的不同丰度的表达。血淋巴和肌肉中的表达量相差不大，而在心、外套膜、腮和性腺中的表达量要高于血淋巴和肌肉中的表达量，分别是血中表达量的2.45、2.82、9.23和24.93倍。 为了验证其表达量是否会受到LPS的诱导，利用QRT-PCR（quantitative real time PCR）检测了CfLITAF基因在受到LPS和PGN刺激后在血细胞中的表达规律。结果如下：在LPS刺激后3h，CfLITAF的表达量显著上调，达到了原初水平的1.5倍，随着时间的延长，其表达量逐渐恢复到刺激前水平；在用PGN刺激血细胞后的9个小时内均没有检测到CfLITAF基因mRNA表达量的显著变化。实验中所用血细胞为同一批原代培养的栉孔扇贝血淋巴细胞，细胞活力通过台盼蓝拒染实验测定。 CfLITAF基因的克隆与表达分析，不仅为进一步认识栉孔扇贝的免疫防御机制提供了实验参考，更重要的是为无脊椎动物中细胞因子样物质的研究提供了一个分子水平上的线索，为无脊椎动物中细胞因子样物质的研究奠定了理论基础。

Identification and characterization of Kava-derived compounds mediating TNF-alpha suppression

There is a substantial unmet need for new classes of drugs that block TNF-α-mediated inflammation, and particularly for small molecule agents that can be taken orally. We have screened a library of natural products against an assay measuring TNF-α secretion in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 cells, seeking compounds capable of interfering with the TNF-α-inducing transcription factor lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-α factor. Among the active compounds were several produced by the kava plant (Piper mysticum), extracts of which have previously been linked to a range of therapeutic effects. When tested in vivo, a representative of these compounds, kavain, was found to render mice immune to lethal doses of lipopolysaccharide. Kavain displays promising pharmaceutical properties, including good solubility and high cell permeability, but pharmacokinetic experiments in mice showed relatively rapid clearance. A small set of kavain analogs was synthesized, resulting in compounds of similar or greater potency in vitro compared with kavain. Interestingly, a ring-opened analog of kavain inhibited TNF-α secretion in the cell-based assay and suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-α factor expression in the same cells, whereas the other compounds inhibited TNF-α secretion without affecting lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-α factor levels, indicating a potential divergence in mechanism of action.

Immunomodulatory activity and control of Salmonella Enteritidis colonization in the intestinal tract of chickens by Lactobacillus based probiotic

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)