Characterization of the 5'-flanking region of the murine polymeric IgA receptor gene

Expression characteristics of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor in Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) lungs

Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR), the transmembrane transporter of polymeric immunoglobulin A and M, has multiple immune functions. To explore the characteristics of pIgR expression in Bactrian camel lungs, twelve healthy adult (2-7 years old) Bactrian camels were systematically studied. The results showed that pIgR was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and membrane of ciliated cells, as well as in the cytoplasm and membrane of basal cells, serous cells of bronchial glands, club cells and alveolar type 2 cells in Bactrian camel lungs. Specially, as the bronchial branches extended, the pIgR expression level in ciliated cells significantly declined (p<0.05), and the corresponding bronchial luminal areas obviously decreased (p<0.05). However, pIgR was not expressed in goblet cells, endocrine cells, alveolar type 1 cells and mucous cells of bronchial glands. The results demonstrated that ciliated cells continuously distributed throughout the whole bronchial tree mucosa were the major expression sites of pIgR, and pIgR was also expressed in basal cells, serous cells of bronchial glands, club cells and alveolar type 2 cells, which would facilitate secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) transmembrane transport by pIgR and form an intact protective barrier. Moreover, the pIgR expression level in ciliated cells was positively correlated with the bronchial luminal areas; but negatively correlated with the cleanliness of airflow through the bronchial cross-sections, showing that the pIgR expression level in the bronchial epithelium was inhomogeneous. Our study provided a foundation for further exploring the regulatory functions of immunoglobulins (i.e., SIgA) after transport across the membrane by pIgR in Bactrian camel lungs.

IL-25 improves IgA levels during parenteral nutrition through the JAK-STAT pathway

INTRODUCTION

Parenteral nutrition (PN) impairs mucosal immunity and increases the risk of infection in part via lower IgA levels at mucosal surfaces. Transport of immunoglobulin A (IgA) across the mucosa to the gut lumen depends on the epithelial transport protein, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR), which is reduced during PN. In vitro, studies demonstrate that IL-4 up-regulates pIgR production via Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling. Because IL-4 stimulates IgA and is reduced during PN, we hypothesized that the suppressed pIgR is a result of decreased JAK-1 and STAT-6 phosphorylation. Because IL-4 is mediated by IL-25, we also hypothesized that PN + IL-25 would restore luminal IgA by increasing phosphorylated JAK-1 and STAT-6, resulting in increased tissue pIgR and luminal IgA.

METHOD

Experiment 1: 2 days after intravenous cannulation, male Institute of Cancer Research mice were randomized to chow (n = 11) or PN (n = 9). Experiment 2: 2 days after intravenous cannulation, male Institute of Cancer Research mice were randomized to chow (n = 12), PN (n = 10), or PN + 0.7 μg of exogenous IL-25 (n = 11) per day. After 5 days, distal ileum tissue was collected, homogenized, and protein extracted for JAK-STAT expression levels using a phospho-specific antibody microarray. Tissue was homogenized to measure pIgR expression via Western blot or fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde to measure pIgR expression via immunohistochemistry. Small intestinal wash fluid was collected and IgA was quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Experiment 1: PN significantly reduced phosphorylated JAK-1 and STAT-6 compared with chow. PN also decreased the tissue levels of the Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, as well as pIgR, and luminal IgA compared with chow. Experiment 2: Exogenous administration of PN + IL-25 increased the phosphorylated JAK-1 and STAT-6 compared with PN alone. IL-25 completely restored expression of IL-13 to chow levels. IL-4, pIgR, IgA, and phosphorylated JAK-1 were significantly increased with IL-25 treatment compared with PN but failed to reach levels measured in chow. STAT-6 was significantly increased with IL-25 treatment compared with chow and PN.

CONCLUSIONS

PN significantly decreases the JAK-STAT pathway by reducing levels of phosphorylated STAT-6 and JAK-1. Consistent with our previous work, sIgA, pIgR, and IL-4 decreased with PN, whereas the addition of IL-25 to PN reversed these decreases and demonstrated the role of the JAK-STAT pathway in vivo during PN.

JAK-STAT and intestinal mucosal immunology

The intestinal mucosal immune system is challenged with bacteria, viruses, and parasites, in addition to food and environmental antigens, that require dynamic immune responsiveness for homeostasis. One central signaling pathway is JAK-STAT, which regulates the adaptive and innate immune arms of mucosal immunity as well as epithelial repair and regeneration. Adaptive immunity includes lymphocyte mediated secretion of specific antibodies, while innate immune respones include secretion of non-antigen specific compounds. This review examines effects of specialized nutrition support on JAK-STAT in innate immune function and in lymphocyte modulation and epithelial antibody transport in gut-associated lymphoid tissue.

Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor

The surface of mucosal sites, such as the intestinal tract, are covered by epithelial cells. To protect the intestinal environment from invading pathogens and maintain homeostasis, the human body developed an exquisite acquired immune system, referred to as the mucosal immune system, in which epithelial cells and lymphocytes function cooperatively. The main player in this immune system is the polymeric immunoglobulins (pIgs), in particular dimeric IgA (dIgA). To exert its protective effect, dIgA produced in the lamina propria must be transported to the intestinal lumen across epithelial cells. This process is called transcytosis and is mediated by polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR), which is exclusively produced by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). DIgA is captured by pIgR on the basolateral surface of IECs and transcytosed to the opposite side of IECs. The dIgA-pIgR complex is expressed on the apical surface of IECs and proteolytically cleaved to generate secretory IgA (SIgA). This review describes the current understanding and recent progress in this research field.

Characterization of the rat intestinal Fc receptor (FcRn) promoter: transcriptional regulation of FcRn gene by the Sp family of transcription factors

The regulatory elements that control the transcriptional regulation of the intestinal Fc receptor (FcRn) have not been elucidated. The objective of this study was to characterize the core promoter region of the rat FcRn gene. Chimeric clones that contained various regions of the promoter located upstream of the luciferase reporter were transiently transfected into either IEC-6 or Caco-2 cell lines and nuclear extracts were used to perform DNase I footprint and DNA binding assays (EMSA). Transfection of chimeric upstream nested deletions-luciferase reporter clones into either of these cell lines supported robust reporter activity and identified the location of the minimal promoter at -157/+135. DNase I footprint analysis revealed two complexes located within the gene's core promoter region, and site-directed mutagenesis identified two regions that were critical to maintain basal expression. EMSA identified the presence of five Sp elements within the immediate promoter region that are capable of binding members of the Sp family of proteins. Among the five Sp elements, one element appears to not bind Sp1, Sp2, or Sp3 while influencing the interaction of Sp proteins with an adjacent Sp site. Overexpression of either Sp1 or Sp3 augments activity of the minimal promoter in Sp-deficient Drosophila SL2 cells. In summary, we report on the characterization of the rat FcRn minimal promoter, including the characterization of five Sp elements within this region that interact with members of the Sp family of transcriptional factors and drive promoter activity in intestinal cell lines.

Role of passive and adaptive immunity in influencing enterocyte-specific gene expression

Numerous genes expressed by intestinal epithelial cells are developmentally regulated, and the influence that adaptive (AI) and passive (PI) immunity have in controlling their expression has not been evaluated. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that both PI and AI influenced enterocyte gene expression by developing a breeding scheme that used T and B cell-deficient recombination-activating gene (RAG) mice. RNA was isolated from the liver and proximal/distal small intestine at various ages, and the steady-state levels of six different transcripts were evaluated by RNase protection assay. In wild-type (WT) pups, all transcripts [Fc receptor of the neonate (FcRn), polymeric IgA receptor (pIgR), GLUT5, lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (lactase), apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT), and Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1)] studied were developmentally regulated at the time of weaning, and all transcripts except ASBT had the highest levels of expression in the proximal small intestine. In WT suckling pups reared in the absence of PI, pIgR mRNA levels were increased 100% during the early phase of development. In mice lacking AI, the expression of pIgR and lactase were significantly attenuated, whereas FcRn and GLUT5 levels were higher compared with WT mice. Finally, in the absence of both passive and active immunity, expression levels of pIgR and lactase were significantly lower than similarly aged WT mice. In summary, we report that the adaptive and passive immune status of mice influences steady-state mRNA levels of several important, developmentally regulated enterocyte genes during the suckling and weaning periods of life.

Multiple transcription factors in 5'-flanking region of human polymeric Ig receptor control its basal expression

The polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR) is a critical component of the mucosal immune system and is expressed in largest amounts in the small intestine. In this study, we describe the initial characterization of the core promoter region of this gene. Expression of chimeric promoter-reporter constructs was supported in Caco-2 and HT-29 cells, and DNase I footprint analysis revealed a large protein complex within the core promoter region. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments determined that elements within this region serve to either augment or repress basal activity of the human pIgR promoter. Band shift assays of overlapping oligonucleotides within the core promoter identified eight distinct complexes; the abundance of most complexes was enhanced in post-confluent cells. In summary, we report the characterization of the human pIgR promoter and the essential role that eight different nuclear complexes have in controlling basal expression of this gene in Caco-2 cells.

Regulation of the human Na(+)-glucose cotransporter gene, SGLT1, by HNF-1 and Sp1

The Na(+)-glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) is expressed primarily by small intestinal epithelial cells and transports the monosaccharides glucose and galactose across the apical membrane. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of 5.3 kb of the 5'-flanking region of the SGLT1 gene by transiently transfecting reporter constructs into a variety of epithelial cell lines. A fragment (nt -235 to +22) of the promoter showed strong activity in the intestinal cell line Caco-2 but was inactive in a nonintestinal epithelial cell line (Chinese hamster ovary). Within this region, three cis-elements, a hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF-1) and two GC box sites are critical for maintaining the gene's basal level of expression. The two GC boxes bind to several members of the Sp1 family of transcription factors and, in the presence of HNF-1, synergistically upregulate transactivation of the promoter. A novel 16-bp element just downstream of one GC box was also shown to influence the interaction of Sp1 to its binding site. In summary, we report the identification and characterization of the human SGLT1 minimal promoter and the critical role that HNF-1 and Sp1-multigene members have in enhancing the basal level of its transcription in Caco-2 cells.

The B-cell system of human mucosae and exocrine glands

The mucosae and exocrine glands harbour the largest activated B-cell system of the body, amounting to some 80-90% of all immunoglobulin (Ig)-producing cells. The major product of these immunocytes is polymeric (p)IgA (mainly dimers) with associated J chain. Both pIgA and pentameric IgM contain a binding site for the polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR), or secretory component (SC), which is a requirement for their active external transport through secretory epithelia. The pIgR/SC binding site depends on covalent incorporation of the J chain into the quaternary structure of the polymers when they are produced by the local immunocytes. This important differentiation characteristic appears to be sufficient functional justification for the J chain to be expressed also by most B cells terminating at secretory effector sites with IgD or IgG production; they probably represent a "spin-off" from sequential downstream CH switching on its way to pIgA expression, thus apparently reflecting a maturational stage of effector B-cell clones compatible with homing to these sites. Observations in IgA-deficient individuals suggest that the magnitude of this homing is fairly well maintained even when the differentiation pathway to IgA is blocked. Certain microenvironmental elements such as specific cytokines and dendritic cells appear to be required for induction of IgA synthesis, but it remains virtually unknown why this isotype normally is such a dominating product of local immunocytes and why they have such a high level of J chain expression. Also, despite the recent identification of some important requirements in terms of adhesion molecules (e.g. integrin alpha 4 beta 7 and MAdCAM-1) that explain the "gut-seeking" properties of enterically induced B cells, the origin of regionalized homing of B cells to secretory effector sites outside the gut remains elusive. Moreover, little is known about immune regulation underlying the striking disparity of both the class (IgD, IgM) and subclass (IgA1, IgA2, IgG1, IgG2) production patterns shown by local immunocytes in various regions of the body, although the topical microbiota and other environmental stimuli might be important. Rational design of local vaccines will depend on better knowledge of both inductive and migratory properties of human mucosal B cells.

The first exon of the human sc gene contains an androgen responsive unit and an interferon regulatory factor element

Secretory component (SC) plays a key role in the transport of IgA and IgM to the lumina of many glands. The gene is constitutively expressed, but can be modulated by hormonal and immunological stimuli. Recently, the promoter and the first exon of the human sc gene have been cloned. The first exon contains a putative androgen/glucocorticoid response element (ARE/GRE) and an Interferon Regulatory Factor Element (IRF-E). Here we show that the ARE/GRE can bind the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of both the androgen (AR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with a preference for the AR-DBD. In transient transfection experiments, this element confers higher responsiveness to androgens than to glucocorticoids. The IRF-E can function as an IRF-2, but surprisingly not as an IRF-I responsive element. We postulate that these two regulatory elements play a key role in the complex regulation of the sc gene in vivo.