Cutting into innate immunity

Enhancement of phagocytic activity of macrophage-like cells by pyrogallol-type green tea polyphenols through caspase signaling pathways

We investigated the phagocytosis-enhancing activity of green tea polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epicatechin (EC) catechin (+C) and strictinin, using VD3-differentiated HL60 cells. EGCG, EGC, ECG and strictinin, but not EC and +C, increased the phagocytic activity of macrophage-like cells, and a caspase inhibitor significantly inhibited phagocytic activities. These results suggest that the pyrogallol-type structure in green tea polyphenols may be important for enhancement of the phagocytic activity through caspase signaling pathways.

Exon-trapping mediated by the human retrotransposon SVA

Although most human retrotransposons are inactive, both inactive and active retrotransposons drive genome evolution and may influence transcription through various mechanisms. In humans, three retrotransposon families are still active, but one of these, SVA, remains mysterious. Here we report the identification of a new subfamily of SVA, which apparently formed after an alternative splicing event where the first exon of the MAST2 gene spliced into an intronic SVA and subsequently retrotransposed. Additional examples of SVA retrotransposing upstream exons due to splicing into SVA were also identified in other primate genomes. After molecular and computational experiments, we found a number of functional 3' splice sites within many different transcribed SVAs across the human and chimpanzee genomes. Using a minigene splicing construct containing an SVA, we observed splicing in cell culture, along with SVA exonization events that introduced premature termination codons (PTCs). These data imply that an SVA residing within an intron in the same orientation as the gene may alter normal gene transcription either by gene-trapping or by introducing PTCs through exonization, possibly creating differences within and across species.

Regulated expression of caspase-12 gene in human retinal pigment epithelial cells suggests its immunomodulating role

PURPOSE

To investigate the expression and regulation of the short form of caspase-12, caspase-12S, in human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells.

METHODS

hRPE cells were stimulated by the proinflammatory agents IL-1beta (2 ng/mL) and TNF-alpha (20 ng/mL); LPS (1000 ng/mL); coculture with monocytes; the immunomodulating agent cyclosporine (Cys; 30 ng/mL); the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (100 U/mL); and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducers tunicamycin (3 or 10 muM) and thapsigargin (25 or 100 nM) for 6 hours or longer. The total RNAs were isolated and subjected to semiquantitative and quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis. Effects of tunicamycin and thapsigargin on IL-1beta- and TNF-alpha-stimulated MCP-1 mRNA expression and protein production were further examined by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTS

RT-PCR results showed that caspase-12S is the predominant form of caspase-12 in the examined hRPE cells of this study, with expression at levels as high as those in many other human tissues such as pancreas, prostate, small intestine, lung, spleen, and kidney. Treatment with IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, as well as LPS and coculture with monocytes reduced hRPE caspase-12S mRNA expression within 6 hours. In contrast, hRPE exposure to cyclosporine (Cys) and the cytokine IL-10 for 6 hours increased caspase-12S mRNA expression. Compared to Cys and IL-10, the ER stress activators tunicamycin and thapsigargin were even more potent enhancers of hRPE caspase-12S gene expression. They also caused corresponding reductions in IL-1beta- and TNF-alpha-induced MCP-1 mRNA expression and protein production.

CONCLUSIONS

hRPE cells express a high level of caspase-12S. The regulated expression of caspase-12S suggests that this caspase recruitment domain (CARD)-only protein may be an endogenous dominant negative regulator that modulates inflammatory responses in hRPE cells.