Fission and uncoating of synaptic clathrin-coated vesicles are perturbed by disruption of interactions with the SH3 domain of endophilin

Coordination between sequential steps in synaptic vesicle endocytosis, including clathrin coat formation, fission, and uncoating, appears to involve proteinprotein interactions. Here, we show that compounds that disrupt interactions of the SH3 domain of endophilin with dynamin and synaptojanin impair synaptic vesicle endocytosis in a living synapse. Two distinct endocytic intermediates accumulated. Free clathrin-coated vesicles were induced by a peptide-blocking endophilin's SH3 domain and by antibodies to the proline-rich domain (PRD) of synaptojanin. Invaginated clathrin-coated pits were induced by the same peptide and by the SH3 domain of endophilin. We suggest that the SH3 domain of endophilin participates in both fission and uncoating and that it may be a key component of a molecular switch that couples the fission reaction to uncoating.

Rathke's cleft cyst associated with hypophysitis: MRI

We report a symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst associated with hypophysitis in a 61-year-old woman. We demonstrate the MRI features and discuss the pathophysiology. To the best of our knowledge this is the first description of a Rathke's cleft cyst shrinking after high-dose steroid therapy.

Skew transposition of vertical rectus muscles for excyclovertical deviation

PURPOSE

The authors established a surgical treatment for excyclovertical strabismus in which either the inferior rectus muscle or the superior rectus muscle was transposed diagonally. The effects and the safety of the procedure, called skew transposition, were studied.

METHODS

Eighteen operations using local anesthesia with eye drops were performed on 17 cases, including 10 with superior oblique palsy. Diplopia was checked during the operation with the cooperation of each patient. Both the clinical findings and eye deviation were examined during observation periods.

RESULTS

After the first operation, the diplopia in the primary position had disappeared in 10 cases and had improved in the other 7. The average effect of all operations on excyclodeviation was a correction of 6.2 degrees in the primary position. In the 7 cases of superior oblique palsy that received nasal recession of the inferior rectus muscle, the average correction of excyclodeviation was 6.4 degrees, and vertical deviation improved 1.8 degrees per 1 mm of recession. In no case did the diplopia worsen, nor were there any complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This safe procedure facilitates the simultaneous improvement of both excyclo- and vertical deviations. It may become the treatment of choice for excyclovertical strabismus.

Altered expression of fatty acid-metabolizing enzymes in aromatase-deficient mice

Hepatic steatosis is a frequent complication in nonobese patients with breast cancer treated with tamoxifen, a potent antagonist of estrogen. In addition, hepatic steatosis became evident spontaneously in the aromatase-deficient (ArKO) mouse, which lacks intrinsic estrogen production. These clinical and laboratory observations suggest that estrogen helps to maintain constitutive lipid metabolism. To clarify this hypothesis, we characterized the expression and activity in ArKO mouse liver of enzymes involved in peroxisomal and mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation. Northern analysis showed reduced expression of mRNAs for very long fatty acyl-CoA synthetase, peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA oxidase, and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, enzymes required in fatty acid beta-oxidation. In vitro assays of fatty acid beta-oxidation activity using very long (C24:0), long (C16:0), or medium (C12:0) chain fatty acids as the substrates confirmed that the corresponding activities are also diminished. Impaired gene expression and enzyme activities of fatty acid beta-oxidation were restored to the wild-type levels, and hepatic steatosis was substantially diminished in animals treated with 17beta-estradiol. Wild-type and ArKO mice showed no difference in the binding activities of the hepatic nuclear extracts to a peroxisome proliferator response element. These findings demonstrate the pivotal role of estrogen in supporting constitutive hepatic expression of genes involved in lipid beta-oxidation and in maintaining hepatic lipid homeostasis.

Anatomical reasons for problems after neurectomy for blepharospasm: a study in cadavers

The purpose of this study is to clarify the mechanisms of the problems that develop after neurectomy for blepharospasm. The left facial nerves in 10 Japanese cadavers were dissected under a surgical microscope. The temporal, zygomatic, and buccal branches innervated to the orbicularis oculi muscle. These three groups formed a well-communicating plexus posterior to the orbicularis. The most inferior buccal branch curved in the deep layer in the lower part of the cheek. In the cheek, both the buccal and the temporal branches had ramifications of other facial muscles. The information given in previous anatomical textbooks did not specifically define the denervation of the orbicularis. When neurectomy was done in the past, the inferior buccal branch may have been kept intact, or other facial muscles as well as the orbicularis may have been denervated which caused the blepharospasm to recur and complications to develop after neurectomy.

Constitutional t(3;11)(p21;q23) in a family, including one member with lymphoma: establishment of novel cell lines with this translocation

We describe a family with an inherited constitutional chromosome translocation (3;11) (p21;q23). Of three proven translocation carriers, one had duodenal malignant lymphoma (B-cell diffuse lymphoma, medium-sized cell type). The t(3;11)(p21;q23) was detected not only in hematopoietic cells including the patient's lymphoma cells, non-pathological bone marrow, and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood, but also in fibroblasts of the skin. We have successfully established an Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line and a Herpesvirus saimiri-transformed T-cell line from the patient, and found that both cell lines also carried this translocation. The patient's asymptomatic mother and sister had the same chromosomal abnormality. Chromosomal abnormalities of the 11q23 band occur frequently in various hematopoietic malignant disorders, and 3q21 has been linked to the pathogenesis of several solid tumors including carcinomas of the kidney, lung, and breast. Although 11q23 is known to recombine with many different chromosomal segments, t(3;11)(p21;q23) has not been reported to our knowledge. Further assessment is warranted to clarify if this constitutional translocation predisposes to certain malignancies. Our cell lines carrying the novel chromosome translocation would be useful for the molecular analysis of the rearranged genes involving both 3p21 and 11q23.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus caused by treatment with interferon-beta

A 57-year-old man was referred to our outpatient clinic after interferon-beta (IFN-beta) treatment for 7 weeks. While IFN-beta therapy was continued in our outpatient clinic, his blood glucose level increased gradually, and he was admitted to our hospital for hyperglycemia. The patient was prescribed a 1,600-kcal diet and intensive insulin therapy was performed. GAD antibody became positive 15 months after the start of IFN therapy, and disappeared 27 months after the start of IFN therapy. Insulin secretion was depleted and the patient had HLA-DR4, B54, and DRB1*0405. This appears to be a case of type 1 diabetes mellitus induced by administration of IFN-beta alone.

Differential effects of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 on nitric oxide production by murine macrophages

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 on nitric oxide (NO) production by macrophages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Elicited or resident peritoneal macrophages (PMO) and a macrophage cell line Raw264.7 were primed by IL-4 or IL-10 for 6 hours, and were further incubated in the presence of interferon (IFN)-gamma and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 48 hours. NO2- accumulation in the supernatant of cultured cells was used as an indicator of NO production and was determined by the standard Griess reaction adapted for microplates. The amount of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the culture supernatants was determined with a commercially available ELISA kit. The absorbance was measured at 450 nm with a microplate photometer.

RESULTS

IL-4 inhibited NO production by murine macrophages of different sources and the macrophage cell line Raw264.7. In contrast, different macrophage populations showed differential responses to IL-10. After stimulation with LPS or IFN-gamma, IL-10 suppressed NO production by elicited PMO but enhanced NO production by resident PMO or by Raw264.7. Both IL-4 and IL-10 inhibited the production of TNF-alpha, which has been shown to play a crucial role in NO production. In the presence or the absence of blocking antibody to TNF-alpha, IL-10 always enhanced NO production by resident PMO. This result suggests that the inhibition of TNF-alpha production and the enhancement of NO production by resident PMO stimulated with IL-10 are independent, coexisting events.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors other than TNF-alpha have been suspected to influence NO production by macrophages, and this study indicates that IL-10 may be a candidate cytokine for resident PMO.

Essential role of phosphoinositide metabolism in synaptic vesicle recycling

Growing evidence suggests that phosphoinositides play an important role in membrane traffic. A polyphosphoinositide phosphatase, synaptojanin 1, was identified as a major presynaptic protein associated with endocytic coated intermediates. We report here that synaptojanin 1-deficient mice exhibit neurological defects and die shortly after birth. In neurons of mutant animals, PI(4,5)P2 levels are increased, and clathrin-coated vesicles accumulate in the cytomatrix-rich area that surrounds the synaptic vesicle cluster in nerve endings. In cell-free assays, reduced phosphoinositide phosphatase activity correlated with increased association of clathrin coats with liposomes. Intracellular recording in hippocampal slices revealed enhanced synaptic depression during prolonged high-frequency stimulation followed by delayed recovery. These results provide genetic evidence for a crucial role of phosphoinositide metabolism in synaptic vesicle recycling.

Comparison of pathogenic factors expressed by group A Streptococci isolated from patients with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and scarlet fever

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) is an illness with high mortality. To obtain clues to understanding the pathogenesis of STSS, we investigated the expression of several pathogenic factors in ten group A streptococcus (GAS) isolates from ten patients with STSS in Japan, in comparison with ten GAS isolates from children with scarlet fever. The ten scarlet fever-derived GAS isolates were equally low in lethality and anti-phagocytic activity in mice and in the production of streptolysin O (SLO), and equally high in production of superantigenic exotoxins (SAGTs) and cysteine proteinase. By comparison, the ten STSS-derived GAS isolates were heterogeneous in the expression of the above pathogenic factors, which ranged from low to high values. Most of the ten STSS-derived isolates were higher in lethality and anti-phagocytic activity and production of SLO, and lower in the production of SAGTs and cysteine proteinase than the ten scarlet fever-derived isolates. The results suggest that the lethality and anti-phagocytic activity examined in mice and SLO may be involved mainly in the development of most of the ten STSS cases.

Inheritance of chromosomally integrated human herpesvirus 6 DNA

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) genome has been detected in several human lymphoproliferative disorders with no signs of active viral infection, and found to be integrated into chromosomes in some cases. We previously reported a woman with HHV-6-infected Burkitt's lymphoma. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the viral genome was integrated into the long arm of chromosome 22 (22q13). The patient's asymptomatic husband also carried HHV-6 DNA integrated at chromosome locus 1q44. To assess the possibility of chromosomal transmission of HHV-6 DNA, we looked for HHV-6 DNA in the peripheral blood of their daughter. She had HHV-6 DNA on both chromosomes 22q13 and 1q44, identical to the site of viral integration of her mother and father, respectively. The findings suggested that her viral genomes were inherited chromosomally from both parents. The 3 family members were all seropositive for HHV-6, but showed no serological signs of active infection. To confirm the presence of HHV-6 DNA sequences, we performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with 7 distinct primer pairs that target different regions of HHV-6. The viral sequences were consistently detected by single-step PCR in all 3 family members. We propose a novel latent form for HHV-6, in which integrated viral genome can be chromosomally transmitted. The possible role of the chromosomally integrated HHV-6 in the pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative diseases remains to be explained.

Recruitment of an alternatively spliced form of synaptojanin 2 to mitochondria by the interaction with the PDZ domain of a mitochondrial outer membrane protein

Synaptojanin 1 is an inositol 5'-phosphatase highly enriched in nerve terminals with a putative role in recycling of synaptic vesicles. We have previously described synaptojanin 2, which is more broadly expressed as multiple alternatively spliced forms. Here we have identified and characterized a novel mitochondrial outer membrane protein, OMP25, with a single PDZ domain that specifically binds to a unique motif in the C-terminus of synaptojanin 2A. This motif is encoded by the exon sequence specific to synaptojanin 2A. OMP25 mRNA is widely expressed in rat tissues. OMP25 is localized to the mitochondrial outer membrane via the C-terminal transmembrane region, with the PDZ domain facing the cytoplasm. Overexpression of OMP25 results in perinuclear clustering of mitochondria in transfected cells. This effect is mimicked by enforced expression of synaptojanin 2A on the mitochondrial outer membrane, but not by the synaptojanin 2A mutants lacking the inositol 5'-phosphatase domain. Our findings provide evidence that OMP25 mediates recruitment of synaptojanin 2A to mitochondria and that modulation of inositol phospholipids by synaptojanin 2A may play a role in maintenance of the intracellular distribution of mitochondria.

[Tumor metastases and adhesion molecules carbohydrates and lectins]

The expression of carbohydrate antigens has been shown by retrospective immunohistochemical analysis to correlate to the progression and metastases of human cancers. However, the mechanisms of these changes of carbohydrate expression and the role of carbohydrates in the malignant behavior of tumor cells are not well known. In this article, we introduce methods to experimentally modify carbohydrate expression in tumor cells and to assess the involvement of these carbohydrate antigens in the malignant behavior of tumor cells. Modifications of the biosynthesis of O- and N-linked carbohydrates, and glycolipids are achieved by treating cultured tumor cells with culture media containing Benzyl-alpha-GalNAc, swainsonine, or D-PDMP, respectively. Enzymatic digestion of cell surface carbohydrates with sialidase, endo-beta-galactosidase or other glycosidases can also be performed. These cells can be used for short term experiments such as adhesion assays. However, modified carbohydrates may be recovered during in vitro and in vivo assays. By transfection of glycosyltransferase cDNA, or selection of tumor cells by binding lectins or antibodies, stable carbohydrate variant cells can be obtained which are suitable for long term experiments such as the experimental formation of metastases in vivo. The biological function of tumor cell surface carbohydrates may be diverse. These molecules are thought to influence adhesion interaction between tumor cells and the endothelial cells of target organs. However, carbohydrate recognition molecules, or lectins, are expressed on a variety of cells in the vascular system and in the immune system. Therefore, it is essential to design appropriate experimental models to study the biological significance of carbohydrate-lectin interactions in cancer progression and metastatic dissemination. Adhesion assays of tumor cells to selectin-transfected CHO cells were performed. Taking molecules other than selectins into consideration, adhesion assays using frozen tissue sections were also performed.

Suppression of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine generation by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine

OBJECTIVE

Accumulated evidence suggests that N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), which is a dominant antigen of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), is generated in the peritoneal cavity of patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and that this process may be involved in the pathophysiology of the peritoneal injury found with CAPD treatment. Since CML is a sequential product of glycation and oxidation processes, CML generation could be suppressed by antioxidants. The aim of this in vitro study was to clarify the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, on CML generation from proteins under high glucose settings mimicking peritoneal dialysis solutions.

DESIGN

Test proteins (bovine serum albumin/type I collagen) were incubated continuously for 16 weeks in glucose solutions (200 mmol/L) with or without NAC (2 mmol/L), and the generation time courses (8 and 16 weeks) of CML and furosine (the biomarker of the glycation products of the early Maillard reaction) were determined.

RESULTS

In both proteins, furosine and CML were progressively generated in accordance with the duration of the incubation period. No apparent differences were found between solutions with and without NAC in furosine levels at the 8th and 16th weeks. However, the generation of CML was lower in the solution with NAC throughout the test periods.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that NAC could suppress the generation of CML. This indicates the therapeutic potential of antioxidants for the glycoxidative stress-related peritoneal injury occurring during CAPD.

Expression of mucin genes and carbohydrate epitopes in 19 human colon carcinoma cell lines

The levels of mRNA corresponding to the MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC6 genes were determined in 19 human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method using specific primers in an attempt to correlate to the levels of cell surface carbohydrate epitopes. All 19 cell lines expressed MUC1 and MUC5B mRNA, whereas MUC2, MUC5AC, or MUC6 mRNA were only detected in 8, 3, or 2 of 19 cell lines, respectively. Sialyl Lewis a carbohydrates, identified by the monoclonal antibody (mAb) CA19-9, and sialyl Lewis X carbohydrates. identified by mAb KM93, were observed, with most of the cell lines expressing multiple mucin core polypeptide genes but with few cell lines expressing only MUC1 and MUC5B. Sialyl Tn epitopes identified by mAb B195.3R11 and by mAb TKH-2 were strongly expressed on both of two MUC6-positive cells, whereas only a small portion of MUC6-negative cells expressed these epitopes. Strict correlation between mucin gene expression and any carbohydrate epitopes examined was not observed.

Association of the interferon-gamma receptor variant (Val14Met) with systemic lupus erythematosus

Genetic factors seem to play a significant role in susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the amino acid polymorphism (Val14Met) found within the IFN-gamma receptor gene (IFNGR1) plays a prominent role in susceptibility to SLE. We found Val14Met located at the COOH terminal of the signal peptide of the IFN-gamma receptor. There was a significant difference in this polymorphism frequency between SLE patients and healthy populations. To clarify whether this amino acid substitution resulted in the alteration of the receptor function, we evaluated the induction of HLA-DR antigen expression on B cells by IFN-gamma stimulation. There was also a significant difference in the induction of HLA-DR by IFN-gamma stimulation between B cells. Furthermore, an intracellular cytokine assay indicated that the Th1/Th2 balance of Th cells bearing the variant receptor shifted to Th2. The genetic polymorphism found within the IFN-gamma receptor gene (Val14Met) may result in a shift to Th2, and this shift may increase susceptibility to SLE.

Synaptojanin family members are implicated in endocytic membrane traffic in yeast

The synaptojanins represent a subfamily of inositol 5′-phosphatases that contain an NH2-terminal Sac1p homology domain. A nerve terminal-enriched synaptojanin, synaptojanin 1, was previously proposed to participate in the endocytosis of synaptic vesicles and actin function. The genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains three synaptojanin-like genes (SJL1, SJL2 and SJL3), none of which is essential for growth. We report here that a yeast mutant lacking SJL1 and SJL2 (Deltasjl1 Deltasjl2) exhibits a severe defect in receptor-mediated and fluid-phase endocytosis. A less severe endocytic defect is present in a Deltasjl2 Deltasjl3 mutant, while endocytosis is normal in a Deltasjl1 Deltasjl3 mutant. None of the mutants are impaired in invertase secretion. The severity of the endocytic impairment of the sjl double mutants correlates with the severity of actin and polarity defects. Furthermore, the deletion of SJL1 suppresses the temperature-sensitive growth defect of sac6, a mutant in yeast fimbrin, supporting a role for synaptojanin family members in actin function. These findings provide a first direct evidence for a role of synaptojanin family members in endocytosis and provide further evidence for a close link between endocytosis and actin function.

Direct association of YY-1 with c-Myc and the E-box binding protein in regulation of glycophorin gene expression

We previously reported that YY-1, a versatile transcription factor, regulates expression of glycophorin gene by binding to its locus control region-like region (Gp-LCR) in combination with E-box binding protein during murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cell differentiation. In the present work, we demonstrated that YY-1 and c-Myc, a nuclear oncoprotein, were physically associated in vivo and that down regulation of c-Myc liberated free YY-1 from its complex, resulting in the functional binding of YY-1 to the Gp-LCR. We also showed that the E-box binding protein (EBP) which bound to E-box was physically associated with YY-1, facilitated binding of YY-1 to the neighboring site and their combinatorial binding may stimulate the GpLCR mediated enhancement of erythroid-specific transcription of glycophorin gene in MEL cells.

Comparison of 16 human colon carcinoma cell lines for their expression of sialyl LeX antigens and their E-selectin-dependent adhesion

Two anti-sialyl Lewis X (sLeX) monoclonal antibodies, mAb FH6 and mAb KM93, were analyzed by flow cytometry for their ability to bind to 16 human colon carcinoma cells. The binding profiles of these two anti-sLeX monoclonal antibodies did not correspond to each other. Three of the cell lines were reactive with mAb FH6 but not with mAb KM93. These three cell lines did not adhere to Chinese hamster ovary cells that were stably transfected with human E-selectin cDNA in an E-selectin-dependent manner. In contrast, almost all human colon carcinoma cell lines that bound to mAb KM93 adhered to cells that expressed E-selectin. These results suggest that a subtype of sLeX carbohydrate epitopes recognized by mAb FH6 do not always function as ligands for E-selectin.