Identification of an autoantigen on the surface of apoptotic human T cells as a new protein interacting with inflammatory group IIA phospholipase A2

One of the most studied secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2), the group IIA sPLA2, is found at high levels in inflammatory fluids of patients with autoimmune diseases. A characteristic of group IIA sPLA2 is its preference for negatively charged phospholipids, which become exposed on the extracellular leaflet of apoptotic cell membranes. We recently showed that low molecular weight heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and uncharacterized detergent-insoluble binding site(s) contribute to the enhanced binding of human group IIA PLA2 (hGIIA) to apoptotic human T cells. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry we now identify vimentin as the major HSPG-independent binding protein of hGIIA on apoptotic primary T lymphocytes. Vimentin is partially exposed on the surface of apoptotic T cells and binds hGIIA via its rod domain in a calcium-independent manner. Studies with hGIIA mutants showed that specific motifs in the interfacial binding surface are involved in the interaction with vimentin. The sPLA2 inhibitor LY311727, but not heparin, inhibited this interaction. In contrast, heparin but not LY311727 abrogated the binding of hGIIA to cellular HSPGs. Importantly, vimentin does not inhibit the catalytic activity of hGIIA. Altogether, the results show that vimentin, in conjunction with HSPGs, contributes to the enhanced binding of hGIIA to apoptotic T cells.

Interaction of low molecular weight group IIA phospholipase A2 with apoptotic human T cells: role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans

Human group IIA phospholipase A2 (hIIA PLA2) is a 14 kDa secreted enzyme associated with inflammatory diseases. A newly discovered property of hIIA PLA2 is the binding affinity for the heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) glypican-1. In this study, the binding of hIIA PLA2 to apoptotic human T cells was investigated. Little or no exogenous hIIA PLA2 bound to CD3-activated T cells but significant binding was measured on activated T cells induced to undergo apoptosis by anti-CD95. Binding to early apoptotic T cells was greater than to late apoptotic cells. The addition of heparin and the hydrolysis of HSPG by heparinase III only partially inhibited hIIA PLA2 binding to apoptotic cells, suggesting an interaction with both HSPG and other binding protein(s). Two low molecular weight HSPG were coimmunoprecipitated with hIIA PLA2 from apoptotic T cells, but not from living cells. Treatment of CD95-stimulated T cells with hIIA PLA2 resulted in the release of arachidonic acid but not oleic acid from cells and this release was blocked by heparin and heparinase III. Altogether, these results suggest a role for hIIA PLA2 in the release of arachidonic acid from apoptotic cells through interactions with HSPG and its potential implication in the progression of inflammatory diseases.

Perturbations in the control of cellular arachidonic acid levels block cell growth and induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells

Our previous studies demonstrated that inhibitors of arachidonate-phospholipid remodeling [i.e. the enzyme CoA-independent transacylase (CoA-IT)] decrease cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in neoplastic cells. The goal of the current study was to elucidate the molecular events associated with arachidonate-phospholipid remodeling that influence cell proliferation and survival. Initial experiments revealed the essential nature of cellular arachidonate to the signaling process by demonstrating that HL-60 cells depleted of arachidonate were more resistant to apoptosis induced by CoA-IT inhibition. In cells treated with CoA-IT inhibitors a marked increase in free arachidonic acid and AA-containing triglycerides were measured. TG enrichment was likely due to acylation of arachidonic acid into diglycerides and triglycerides via de novo glycerolipid biosynthesis. To determine the potential of free fatty acids to affect cell proliferation, HL-60 cells were incubated with varying concentrations of free fatty acids; exogenously provided 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation, whereas oleic acid was without effect. Blocking 5-lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenases had no effect on the inhibition of cell proliferation induced by arachidonic acid or CoA-IT inhibitors. An increase in cell-associated ceramides (mainly in the 16:0-ceramide fraction) was measured in cells exposed to free arachidonic acid or to CoA-IT inhibitors. This study, in conjunction with other recent studies, suggests that perturbations in the control of cellular arachidonic acid levels affect cell proliferation and survival.

Residues involved in co-factor and substrate binding of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase PTR1 producing methotrexate resistance in Leishmania

The Leishmania short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase gene ptr1 has been isolated while characterizing antifolate-resistant Leishmania mutants. PTR1 is active as a tetramer and can reduce pterins and folates. PTR1 has several of the hallmarks of the short chain dehydrogenase/reductase family, including a glycine rich co-factor binding site at its N-terminus, and the consensus catalytic site TyrXaa3Lys. To start probing the structure/function of PTR1, we have generated by site-directed mutagenesis five mutants, either in the co-factor-binding site, Y38D or in the catalytic site Y195F, Y195W, K199R or in a PTR1-specific region, Y175F. The mutated versions of PTR1 were studied in vivo in Leishmania and at the biochemical level using purified proteins. The Y175F mutant showed properties similar to wild-type PTR1 in every aspect tested, but all the other mutants were inactive even if they were purified as tetramers. To test the ability of the mutated PTR1 versions to bind its co-factor and substrates, trypsin digestion experiments were carried out under conditions upon which binding will prevent wild-type PTR1 of being digested by trypsin. The wild-type PTR1 as well as Y175F and Y195F mutants were protected against trypsin digestion whereas Y38D and K199R mutants were not. Mutations in regions involved in co-factor binding (Y38D) or in catalytic site (K199R) altered the binding of the ligands, explaining why those protein versions are inactive.

Functional analysis of Mycoplasma arthritidis-derived mitogen interactions with class II molecules

The ability of superantigens (SAGs) to trigger various cellular events via major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules is largely mediated by their mode of interaction. Having two MHC class II binding sites, staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is able to dimerize MHC class II molecules on the cell surface and consequently induces cytokine gene expression in human monocytes. In contrast, cross-linking with specific monoclonal antibodies or T-cell receptor is required for staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) to induce similar responses. In the present study, we report how Mycoplasma arthritidis-derived mitogen (MAM) may interact with MHC class II molecules to induce cytokine gene expression in human monocytes. The data presented indicate that MAM-induced cytokine gene expression in human monocytes is Zn2+ dependent. The MAM-induced response is completely abolished by pretreatment with SEA mutants that have lost their capacity to bind either the MHC class II alpha or beta chain, with wild-type SEB, or with wild-type TSST-1, suggesting that MAM induces cytokine gene expression most probably by inducing dimerization of class II molecules. In addition, it seems that SEA and MAM interact with the same or overlapping binding sites on the MHC class II beta chain and, on the other hand, that they bind to the alpha chain most probably through the regions that are involved in SEB and TSST-1 binding.