ABCA1 Exerts Tumor-Suppressor Function in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Defective cholesterol efflux pathways in mice promote the expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and a bias toward the myeloid lineage, as observed in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Here, we identify 5 somatic missense mutations in ABCA1 in 26 patients with CMML. These mutations confer a proliferative advantage to monocytic leukemia cell lines in vitro. In vivo inactivation of ABCA1 or expression of ABCA1 mutants in hematopoietic cells in the setting of Tet2 loss demonstrates a myelosuppressive function of ABCA1. Mechanistically, ABCA1 mutations impair the tumor-suppressor functions of WT ABCA1 in myeloproliferative neoplasms by increasing the IL-3Rβ signaling via MAPK and JAK2 and subsequent metabolic reprogramming. Overexpression of a human apolipoprotein A-1 transgene dampens myeloproliferation. These findings identify somatic mutations in ABCA1 that subvert its anti-proliferative and cholesterol efflux functions and permit the progression of myeloid neoplasms. Therapeutic increases in HDL bypass these defects and restore normal hematopoiesis.

Viaud et al. show that ABCA1 mutants identified in CMML patients diminish the tumor-suppressor functions of ABCA1 and cooperate with Tet2 loss to confer the hypersensitivity of myeloid progenitors to IL-3 receptor β canonical signaling, which can be prevented by raising HDL levels.

Lysosomal Cholesterol Hydrolysis Couples Efferocytosis to Anti-Inflammatory Oxysterol Production

RATIONALE

Macrophages face a substantial amount of cholesterol after the ingestion of apoptotic cells, and the LIPA (lysosomal acid lipase) has a major role in hydrolyzing cholesteryl esters in the endocytic compartment.

OBJECTIVE

Here, we directly investigated the role of LIPA-mediated clearance of apoptotic cells both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We show that LIPA inhibition causes a defective efferocytic response because of impaired generation of 25-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol. Reduced synthesis of 25-hydroxycholesterol after LIPA inhibition contributed to defective mitochondria-associated membrane leading to mitochondrial oxidative stress-induced NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing) inflammasome activation and caspase-1-dependent Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) degradation. A secondary event consisting of failure to appropriately activate liver X receptor-mediated pathways led to mitigation of cholesterol efflux and apoptotic cell clearance. In mice, LIPA inhibition caused defective clearance of apoptotic lymphocytes and stressed erythrocytes by hepatic and splenic macrophages, culminating in splenomegaly and splenic iron accumulation under hypercholesterolemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings position lysosomal cholesterol hydrolysis as a critical process that prevents metabolic inflammation by enabling efficient macrophage apoptotic cell clearance.

Disruption of Glut1 in Hematopoietic Stem Cells Prevents Myelopoiesis and Enhanced Glucose Flux in Atheromatous Plaques of ApoE(-/-) Mice

RATIONALE

Inflamed atherosclerotic plaques can be visualized by noninvasive positron emission and computed tomographic imaging with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose, a glucose analog, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

Here, we directly investigated the role of Glut1-mediated glucose uptake in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mouse model of atherosclerosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We first showed that the enhanced glycolytic flux in atheromatous plaques of ApoE(-/-) mice was associated with the enhanced metabolic activity of hematopoietic stem and multipotential progenitor cells and higher Glut1 expression in these cells. Mechanistically, the regulation of Glut1 in ApoE(-/-) hematopoietic stem and multipotential progenitor cells was not because of alterations in hypoxia-inducible factor 1α signaling or the oxygenation status of the bone marrow but was the consequence of the activation of the common β subunit of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor/interleukin-3 receptor driving glycolytic substrate utilization by mitochondria. By transplanting bone marrow from WT, Glut1(+/-), ApoE(-/-), and ApoE(-/-)Glut1(+/-) mice into hypercholesterolemic ApoE-deficient mice, we found that Glut1 deficiency reversed ApoE(-/-) hematopoietic stem and multipotential progenitor cell proliferation and expansion, which prevented the myelopoiesis and accelerated atherosclerosis of ApoE(-/-) mice transplanted with ApoE(-/-) bone marrow and resulted in reduced glucose uptake in the spleen and aortic arch of these mice.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified that Glut1 connects the enhanced glucose uptake in atheromatous plaques of ApoE(-/-) mice with their myelopoiesis through regulation of hematopoietic stem and multipotential progenitor cell maintenance and myelomonocytic fate and suggests Glut1 as potential drug target for atherosclerosis.

Maintenance of Macrophage Redox Status by ChREBP Limits Inflammation and Apoptosis and Protects against Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesion Formation

Enhanced glucose utilization can be visualized in atherosclerotic lesions and may reflect a high glycolytic rate in lesional macrophages, but its causative role in plaque progression remains unclear. We observe that the activity of the carbohydrate-responsive element binding protein ChREBP is rapidly downregulated upon TLR4 activation in macrophages. ChREBP inactivation refocuses cellular metabolism to a high redox state favoring enhanced inflammatory responses after TLR4 activation and increased cell death after TLR4 activation or oxidized LDL loading. Targeted deletion of ChREBP in bone marrow cells resulted in accelerated atherosclerosis progression in Ldlr(-/-) mice with increased monocytosis, lesional macrophage accumulation, and plaque necrosis. Thus, ChREBP-dependent macrophage metabolic reprogramming hinders plaque progression and establishes a causative role for leukocyte glucose metabolism in atherosclerosis.

The TRPM4 channel inhibitor 9-phenanthrol

The phenanthrene-derivative 9-phenanthrol is a recently identified inhibitor of the transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) 4 channel, a Ca(2+) -activated non-selective cation channel whose mechanism of action remains to be determined. Subsequent studies performed on other ion channels confirm the specificity of the drug for TRPM4. In addition, 9-phenanthrol modulates a variety of physiological processes through TRPM4 current inhibition and thus exerts beneficial effects in several pathological conditions. 9-Phenanthrol modulates smooth muscle contraction in bladder and cerebral arteries, affects spontaneous activity in neurons and in the heart, and reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced cell death. Among promising potential applications, 9-phenanthrol exerts cardioprotective effects against ischaemia-reperfusion injuries and reduces ischaemic stroke injuries. In addition to reviewing the biophysical effects of 9-phenanthrol, here we present information about its appropriate use in physiological studies and possible clinical applications.

Epithelial-mesenchymal-transition-like and TGFβ pathways associated with autochthonous inflammatory melanoma development in mice

We compared gene expression signatures of aggressive amelanotic (Amela) melanomas with those of slowly growing pigmented melanomas (Mela), identifying pathways potentially responsible for the aggressive Amela phenotype. Both tumors develop in mice upon conditional deletion in melanocytes of Ink4a/Arf tumor suppressor genes with concomitant expression of oncogene H-Ras(G12V) and a known tumor antigen. We previously showed that only the aggressive Amela tumors were highly infiltrated by leukocytes concomitant with local and systemic inflammation. We report that Amela tumors present a pattern of de-differentiation with reduced expression of genes involved in pigmentation. This correlates with reduced and enhanced expression, respectively, of microphthalmia-associated (Mitf) and Pou3f2/Brn-2 transcription factors. The reduced expression of Mitf-controlled melanocyte differentiation antigens also observed in some human cutaneous melanoma has important implications for immunotherapy protocols that generally target such antigens. Induced Amela tumors also express Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT)-like and TGFβ-pathway signatures. These are correlated with constitutive Smad3 signaling in Amela tumors and melanoma cell lines. Signatures of infiltrating leukocytes and some chemokines such as chemotactic cytokine ligand 2 (Ccl2) that contribute to leukocyte recruitment further characterize Amela tumors. Inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation pathway in Amela tumor lines leads to reduced expression of EMT hallmark genes and inhibits both proinflammatory cytokine Ccl2 gene expression and Ccl2 production by the melanoma cells. These results indicate a link between EMT-like processes and alterations of immune functions, both being controlled by the MAPK pathway. They further suggest that targeting the MAPK pathway within tumor cells will impact tumor-intrinsic oncogenic properties as well as the nature of the tumor microenvironment.

A rare mRNA variant of the human lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase LCK gene with intron B retention and exon 7 skipping encodes a putative protein with altered SH3-dependent molecular interactions

A rare mRNA variant of the human lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase LCK gene that retains intron B and excludes exon 7 (B+7-) due to alternative splicing of the canonical LCK transcripts was identified and characterized. LCK B+7- mRNA is detected in all tested peripheral blood T lymphocytes total RNA samples but is apparently sequestered in the nucleus. The presence of intron B sequence does not disrupt the reading frame and results in the insertion of 58 aminoacids, containing a proline-rich region just upstream of p56lck SH3 domain. This putative isoform encodes an unstable 516 aminoacids protein (LckB+7-) which can be expressed in transfected COS-7 cells. Furthermore in Jurkat T cell extracts, a recombinant intron B plus SH3 p56lck domain fails to interact with some TCR-induced tyrosine phosphorylated polypeptides and known p56lck partners such as Sam68 and c-Cbl. The biological function of this rare messenger remains to be elucidated.

Single and combined deletions of the NTAL/LAB and LAT adaptors minimally affect B-cell development and function

NTAL (non-T-cell activation linker, also called LAB) and LAT (linker for activation of T cells) are evolutionarily related transmembrane adaptor proteins that are phosphorylated upon immunoreceptor engagement. Using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, both NTAL and LAT were found to be expressed in B cells. However, LAT expression was limited to early B cells, whereas NTAL expression typified mature B cells. To delineate their roles in B-cell development and function, Ntal-deficient mice were generated and crossed with Lat-deficient mice. B cells developed in Lat(-/-) Ntal(-/-) double-deficient mice and in mice lacking either of the two adaptors with the same efficiency as in wild-type mice. Upon B-cell antigen receptor cross-linking, Ntal(-/-) B cells exhibited slightly increased Ca(2+) mobilization and proliferation. In addition, Ntal-deficient mice had increased levels of natural antibodies and slightly increased humoral response to a T-dependent antigen. Normal titers of serum-specific immunoglobulins were produced in response to a T-cell-independent antigen. Although NTAL is also expressed in plasma cells, its absence did not affect the hypergammaglobulinemia E and G1 that developed in mice with a mutation in tyrosine 136 of LAT. Therefore, NTAL does not play a role in B cells symmetric to the role played by LAT in T cells.

Mechanisms governing B cell developmental defects in invariant chain-deficient mice

Invariant chain (Ii)-deficient mice exhibit profound B cell defects that have remained poorly understood, because they could not be simply explained by impaired Ag presentation. We found that Ii deficiency induced cell autonomous defects of two distinct B cell lineages. The life span of mature follicular (FO) B cells was reduced, accounting for their markedly decreased frequency, whereas, in contrast, marginal zone (MZ) B cells accumulated. Other Ii-expressing lineages such as B1 B cells and dendritic cells were unaffected. Surprisingly, the life span of FO B cells was fully corrected in Ii/I-Abeta doubly deficient mice, revealing that Ii-free I-Abeta chains alter FO B cell survival. In contrast, the accumulation of MZ B cells was controlled by a separate mechanism independent of I-Abeta. Interestingly, in Ii-deficient mice lacking FO B cells, the MZ B cells invaded the FO zone, suggesting that intact follicules contribute to the retention of B cells in the MZ. These findings reveal unexpected consequences of Ii deficiency on the development and organization of B cell follicles.

Macrophages control the retention and trafficking of B lymphocytes in the splenic marginal zone

The marginal zone of the spleen is a precisely ordered region that contains specialized subsets of B lymphocytes and macrophages. Disruption of the negative signaling inositol phosphatase, SH2-containing inositol-5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP), results in the loss of marginal zone B cells (MZBs) with reorganization of marginal zone macrophages (MZMOs) to the red pulp of the spleen. This primary macrophage defect, as revealed by selectively depleting SHIP in myeloid cells shows that MZMOs are specifically required for the retention of MZBs. The MZMO phenotype was reverted in SHIP/Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) double knockout mice, thus identifying the Btk activating pathway as an essential component being regulated by SHIP. Furthermore, we identified a direct interaction between the MARCO scavenger receptor on MZMOs and MZBs. Activation or disruption of this interaction results in MZB migration to the follicle. The migration of the MZMOs was further studied after the response to Staphylococcus aureus, which induced MZMOs to move into the red pulp while MZBs migrated into the follicular zone. The marginal zone is therefore a dynamic structure in which retention and trafficking of B cells requires specific macrophage-B cell interactions.

Characterization of a Ca2+-activated nonselective cation channel during dedifferentiation of cultured rat ventricular cardiomyocytes

Cardiac hypertrophy is associated with electrical activity modifications, including sustained depolarization, that lead to a propensity for arrhythmias. The ionic currents underlying the sustained depolarization are not well defined. Similar modifications were reported on adult rat cardiomyocytes in primary culture undergoing dedifferentiation. Using the single-channel measurements on these cells, we identified the appearance of a Ca2+-activated nonselective cation channel (NSCCa) during the dedifferentiation process. In excised inside-out patches the channel presented a linear I/V relationship with a conductance of 26.5 pS. It was equally selective for Na+ and K+ and impermeable to Cl- and Ca2+ ions. The open probability increased with depolarization and with rise in intracellular calcium concentration. The channel activity was reduced by intracellular ATP and suppressed by flufenamic acid. Channel detection increased after incubation with a purinergic receptor agonist (ATPgS) or a PKC activator (PMA). Furthermore, occurrence of the channel developed during the culture. Absent at one day in vitro (d.i.v.), channel activity was present in 5, 46, 27 and 19% of patches after 4, 7, 14 and 21 d.i.v., respectively. We suggest that the channel may be associated with pro-arrhythmic signaling, in particular during the release of transmitters from autonomic nerve endings in the hypertrophied hearts.

Absence of marginal zone B cells in Pyk-2-deficient mice defines their role in the humoral response

The lymphoid organs contain specialized microanatomic structures composed of lymphoid, myeloid and stromal cells that are vital to the generation of an effective adaptive immune response. Although the existence of these specialized structures has been known for over a century, the developmental signals that generate them and the specific roles of these structures in the immune response have remained largely elusive. Because of their position adjacent to the marginal sinuses, marginal zone B (MZB) cells are amongst the first population of cells seen by blood born antigens and are presumed to have a critical role in host defense against bacterial pathogens. Here we demonstrate that a deficiency of the tyrosine kinase (Pyk-2) results in a cell autonomous defect of MZB cell production. In response to repetitive polysaccharide antigens (T-independent type II (TI-II)) Pyk-2-deficient mice displayed marked suppression of IgM, IgG3 and IgG2a production. Furthermore, complement receptor engagement proved necessary for the specific targeting of polysaccharide antigens to MZB cells. These results suggest how innate immune responses mediated through complement coupling are translated into an adaptive response by MZB cells, and provide a potential mechanism for the T cell independence of humoral responses to polysaccharide antigens.

Synapse formation and spontaneous activity in rat brainstem neurons in primary culture

The correlation between synaptogenesis and onset of spontaneous action potentials was assessed in rat brainstem cells up to 29 days in primary culture. Cells exhibited different stages of maturation followed by electron microscopy and patch clamp recordings. Terminal boutons with no preferential orientation of presynaptic vesicles appeared after 2 days in culture. After 5 days, preferential orientation of presynaptic vesicles and thickening of postsynaptic membranes were observed. The spontaneous discharge of action potentials, single or bursting, was observed after 7 days in vitro. This was followed by the expression of a 128-pS K(+) channel starting at 13 days in vitro. A 69-pS K(+) channel was also present throughout the duration of the cultures. These results suggest that spontaneous discharge of action potentials does not occur before synapses are formed and K(+) channel types develop differentially in brainstem neurons in vitro.

SHIP recruitment attenuates Fc gamma RIIB-induced B cell apoptosis

Fc gammaRIIB is an inhibitory receptor that terminates activation signals initiated by antigen cross-linking of the BCR through the recruitment of SHIP. Fc gammaRIIB can also signal independently of BCR coligation to directly mediate an apoptotic response, requiring only an intact transmembrane domain. Failure to recruit SHIP, either by deletion of SHIP or mutation of Fc gammaRIIB, results in enhanced Fc gammaRIIB-triggered apoptosis. Thus, in the germinal center, where ICs are retained by FDCs, Fc gammaRIIB may be an active determinant in the negative selection of B cells whose BCRs have reduced affinity for antigen as a result of somatic hypermutation. Selection of B cells may represent the sum of opposing signals generated by the interaction of ICs with the BCR and Fc gammaRIIB through pathways modulated by SHIP.

B cell antigen receptor engagement inhibits stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1alpha chemotaxis and promotes protein kinase C (PKC)-induced internalization of CXCR4

The entry of B lymphocytes into secondary lymphoid organs is a critical step in the development of an immune response, providing a site for repertoire shaping, antigen-induced activation and selection. These events are controlled by signals generated through the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) and are associated with changes in the migration properties of B cells in response to chemokine gradients. The chemokine stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1alpha is thought to be one of the driving forces during those processes, as it is produced inside secondary lymphoid organs and induces B lymphocyte migration that arrests upon BCR engagement. The signaling pathway that mediates this arrest was genetically dissected using B cells deficient in specific BCR-coupled signaling components. BCR-induced inhibition of SDF-1alpha chemotaxis was dependent on Syk, BLNK, Btk, and phospholipase C (Plc)gamma2 but independent of Ca2+ mobilization, suggesting that the target of BCR stimulation was a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent substrate. This target was identified as the SDF-1alpha receptor, CXCR4, which undergoes PKC- dependent internalization upon BCR stimulation. Mutation of the internalization motif SSXXIL in the COOH terminus of CXCR4 resulted in B cells that constitutively expressed this receptor upon BCR engagement. These studies suggest that one pathway by which BCR stimulation results in inhibition of SDF-1alpha migration is through PKC-dependent downregulation of CXCR4.

Arg352 is a major determinant of charge selectivity in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator chloride channel

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator forms an anion-selective channel. We previously showed that charge selectivity, the ability to discriminate between anions and cations, occurs near the cytoplasmic end of the channel. The molecular determinants of charge selectivity, however, are unknown. We investigated the role of Arg352, a residue flanking the predicted cytoplasmic end of the M6 segment, in the mechanism of charge selectivity. We determined the Cl- to Na+ permeability ratio (PCl/PNa) from the reversal potential measured in a 10-fold NaCl gradient. For the wild type, PCl/PNa was 36 (range of 28-51). For the R352H mutant, PCl/PNa was dependent on cytoplasmic pH. At pH 5.4, the PCl/PNa was 33 (range of 27-41), similar to that of the wild type, but at pH 7.2, where the histidine should be largely uncharged, PCl/PNa was 3 (range of 2.9-3.1). For the R352C and R352Q mutants, PCl/PNa was 7 (range of 6-8) and 4 (range of 3.5-4.4), respectively. Furthermore, Na+ which does not carry a significant fraction of the current through the wild type is measurably conducted through R352Q. Thus, the charge of the side chain at position 352 is a strong determinant of charge selectivity. In the wild type, the positive charge on Arg352 contributes to an electrostatic potential in the channel that forms a barrier to cation permeation. Mutation of Arg352 did not alter the halide selectivity sequence. Selectivity among halides must involve other residues.

Modulation of immune complex-induced inflammation in vivo by the coordinate expression of activation and inhibitory Fc receptors

Autoantibodies and immune complexes are major pathogenic factors in autoimmune injury, responsible for initiation of the inflammatory cascade and its resulting tissue damage. This activation results from the interaction of immunoglobulin (Ig)G Fc receptors containing an activation motif (ITAM) with immune complexes (ICs) and cytotoxic autoantibodies which initiates and propagates an inflammatory response. In vitro, this pathway can be interrupted by coligation to FcgammaRIIB, an IgG Fc receptor containing an inhibitory motif (ITIM). In this report, we describe the in vivo consequences of FcgammaRII deficiency in the inflammatory response using a mouse model of IC alveolitis. At subthreshold concentrations of ICs that fail to elicit inflammatory responses in wild-type mice, FcgammaRII-deficient mice developed robust inflammatory responses characterized by increased hemorrhage, edema, and neutrophil infiltration. Bronchoalveolar fluids from FcgammaRII-/- stimulated mice contain higher levels of tumor necrosis factor and chemotactic activity, suggesting that FcgammaRII deficiency lowers the threshold of IC stimulation of resident cells such as the alveolar macrophage. In contrast, complement- and complement receptor-deficient mice develop normal inflammatory responses to suprathreshold levels of ICs, while FcRgamma-/- mice are completely protected from inflammatory injury. An inhibitory role for FcgammaRII on macrophages is demonstrated by analysis of FcgammaRII-/- macrophages which show greater phagocytic and calcium flux responses upon FcgammaRIII engagement. These data reveal contrasting roles for the cellular receptors for IgG on inflammatory cells, providing a regulatory mechanism for setting thresholds for IC sensitivity based on the ratio of ITIM to ITAM FcgammaR expression. Exploiting the FcgammaRII inhibitory pathway could thus provide a new therapeutic approach for modulating antibody-triggered inflammation.

Cl- absorption across the thick ascending limb is not altered in cystic fibrosis mice. A role for a pseudo-CFTR Cl- channel

The cortical thick ascending limb (CTAL) absorbs Cl- via a Na+-K+-Cl- cotransport at the apical membrane and several Cl- channels at the basolateral membrane, including a 9-pS channel having several properties of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Having checked that CFTR mRNA is present in the mouse CTAL, we investigated whether this channel is a CFTR molecule by applying the patch-clamp technique to CTALs microdissected from CFTR knockout mice (cftrm1Unc). The 9-pS channel was active in cell-attached patches from tubules of mice homozygous for the disrupted cftr gene [CFTR (-/-)] at the same frequency and with the same activity (NPo) as in normal [CFTR (+/+)] or heterozygous [CFTR (+/-)] mice. The conductive properties of the channel, studied on inside-out patches, were identical in CFTR (-/-), CFTR (+/+), and CFTR (+/-) tubules, as were the sensitivities to internal pH and internal ATP, two typical features of this channel. In addition, the Cl- absorption in isolated, microperfused CTALs and the Na+-K+-Cl- cotransport activity were identical in CFTR (-/-), CFTR (+/+), and CFTR (+/-) mice. These results show that the 9-pS Cl- channel is distinct from CFTR, and that the CFTR protein has no influence on the Cl- absorption in this part of the renal tubule.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein by Lyn and Btk is regulated by CDC42

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare immunodeficiency disease affecting mainly platelets and lymphocytes. Here, we show that the WAS gene product, WASp, is tyrosine phosphorylated upon aggregation of the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilonRI) at the surface of RBL-2H3 rat tumor mast cells. Lyn and the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), two protein tyrosine kinases involved in Fc epsilonRI-signaling phosphorylate WASp and interact with WASp in vivo. Interestingly, expression of a GTPase defective mutant form of CDC42, that interacts with WASp, is accompanied by a substantial increase in WASp tyrosine phosphorylation. This study suggests that activated CDC42 recruits WASp to the plasma membrane where it becomes phosphorylated by Lyn and Btk. We conclude that WASp represents a connection between protein tyrosine kinase signaling pathways and CDC42 function in cytoskeleton and cell growth regulation in hematopoietic cells.

Probing the structural and functional domains of the CFTR chloride channel

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) forms an anion-selective channel involved in epithelial chloride transport. Recent studies have provided new insights into the structural determinants of the channel's functional properties, such as anion selectivity, single-channel conductance, and gating. Using the scanning-cysteine-accessibility method we identified 7 residues in the M1 membrane-spanning segment and 11 residues in and flanking the M6 segment that are exposed on the water-accessible surface of the protein; many of these residues may line the ion-conducting pathway. The pattern of the accessible residues suggests that these segments have a largely alpha-helical secondary structure with one face exposed in the channel lumen. Our results suggest that the residues at the cytoplasmic end of the M6 segment loop back into the channel, narrowing the lumen, and thereby forming both the major resistance to ion movement and the charge-selectivity filter.

The SH3 domain of Bruton's tyrosine kinase interacts with Vav, Sam68 and EWS

Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase which controls crucial steps of differentiation of B lymphocytes. Mutations affecting either the PH, SH3, SH2 or kinase domain of BTK all give rise to X linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) in humans. In this study, the authors report that the BTK-SH3 domain binds to a set of proteins expressed in pro-B, pre-B and B cell lines. Three of them were characterized as Vav, Sam68 and EWS. The authors show that a Pro-->Leu substitution in a region of the SH3 domain, which is deleted in an XLA patient, is sufficient to abolish BTK-SH3 binding potential. The authors also report that several of the BTK-SH3 binding proteins, including Sam68, EWS and Vav, are tyrosine phosphorylated in conditions that also promote BTK kinase activity. For EWS and Sam68 this tyrosine phosphorylation was cell cycle dependent.

Immunodeficiency in protein kinase cbeta-deficient mice

Cross-linking of the antigen receptor on lymphocytes by antigens or antibodies to the receptor results in activation of enzymes of the protein kinase C (PKC) family. Mice homozygous for a targeted disruption of the gene encoding the PKC-betaI and PKC-betaII isoforms develop an immunodeficiency characterized by impaired humoral immune responses and reduced cellular responses of B cells, which is similar to X-linked immunodeficiency in mice. Thus PKC-betaI and PKC-betaII play an important role in B cell activation and may be functionally linked to Bruton's tyrosine kinase in antigen receptor-mediated signal transduction.

Inhibition of a small-conductance cAMP-dependent Cl- channel in the mouse thick ascending limb at low internal pH

1. A small-conductance Cl- channel that is stimulated by ATP and protein kinase A has been identified in the basolateral membranes of cortical thick ascending limbs (CTALs) of the mouse nephron. The present study uses the cell-attached and inside-out variants of the patch-clamp technique to investigate the pH sensitivity of this channel. 2. The open-state probability (Po) was dependent upon the internal pH in inside-out patches. Expressed as a percentage of the Po value at pH 7.2, Po increased to about 180% at pH 7.6, and decreased to 25% at pH 6.8. Po was close to zero at pH 6.4. The internal pH had no effect on the channel unit conductance. 3. The effect of pH on the CTAL Cl- channel was assessed in intact cells using NH4Cl to acidify the intracellular compartment. Experiments with the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 2',7'-(carboxyethyl)-5'(6')-carboxy fluorescein penta-acetoxymethyl ester (BCECF) indicated that 1 mmol l-1 NH4Cl acidified the cytoplasm by 0.15 pH units and 5 mmol l-1 NH4Cl by 0.34 pH units. These concentrations of NH4Cl reduced the activity of the CTAL Cl- channel by 24 and 82% in cell-attached patches, showing that moderate changes in internal pH substantially altered the activity of this channel. NH4+ had no direct effect on channel activity. 4. Inhibition at low pH is a newly discovered property of small-conductance Cl- channels in epithelia, which might help discriminate between types of Cl- channel.

Effects of internal pH on the nonselective cation channel from the mouse collecting tubule

We investigated the effects of internal pH on Ca-activated, nucleotide-inhibited nonselective cation channels in the basolateral membranes of mouse collecting tubules, using the inside-out variant of the patch clamp technique. pH modulated the channel open probability (Po), giving a bell-shaped curve peaking at pH 6.8/7.0: Po at pH 6.0 was 11 +/- 6% of Po at pH 7.2 and 32 +/- 7% at pH 8.0. The open and closed time distributions, best fitted to the sum of two exponentials, were differently sensitive to acid and alkaline conditions. Low pH reduced the short and long open times to 38 and 24% of their pH 7.2 values, while high pH produced a 4-fold increase in the long closed time. As previously reported, 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS) induced a quasi-permanent opening of the channel. The inhibition of the channel produced by high pH disappeared in the presence of SITS, while the inhibition produced by low pH was unaffected. These results suggest that the pH dependence of the channel is due to two separate mechanisms. pH was without effect on the ATP-evoked inhibition of the channel, while high pH profoundly reduced the steepness of the AMP inhibition curve, without altering the half-maximal inhibitory AMP concentration.

A small-conductance Cl- channel in the mouse thick ascending limb that is activated by ATP and protein kinase A

1. Chloride channels were identified in the basolateral membrane of isolated cortical thick ascending limbs (CTALs) of the mouse nephron by the patch-clamp technique. A channel with a conductance of 45 pS, previously shown to be Cl- selective, was detected in 21% of cell-attached patches when CTAL fragments were pre-incubated with 10 mumol l-4 forskolin for at least 15 min. The same channel was found in only 8.5% of cell-attached patches formed on unstimulated tubules. 2. Another channel with a smaller conductance (7-9 pS) was found in 42.8% of cell-attached patches and 57% of inside-out patches in unstimulated CTAL tubules, but in 82-87% of patches from forskolin-treated tubules. 3. The small channels was Cl- selective (Cl(-)-to-Na+ permeability ratio, PCl/PNa = 9.8) with the permeability sequence: NO3- > Br- > Cl- > F- > gluconate. Channel activity decreased (Br-) or disappeared (NO3-) at negative voltages. At 140 mmol l-1, I- completely inhibited channel activity at all voltages, but a PI/PCl ratio of 1.6 was estimated using a low I- concentration (10 mmol l-1). 4. Internal adenosine triphosphate (ATP) increased normalized current (nPo) in 48% of inside-out patches containing Cl- channels from unstimulated tubules and in 63% of patches from forskolin-treated CTAL tubules. The non-hydrolysable ATP analogue, adenosine 5'-adenylyl imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) did not increase channel activity. 5. Adding the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A to the bath in the presence of ATP increased the activity of the small channel in 58% of inside-out patches from unstimulated tubules, but it had no effect on the 45 pS channel. 6. The Cl- channel blockers 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamine)-benzoic acid (NPPB), 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS) or glibenclamide, all at 0.1 mmol l-1, and diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid (DPC), at 1 mmol l-1, inhibited the small channel activity by 80-100% in inside-out patches. 7. These results indicate that two Cl- channels with contrasting properties mediate the basolateral step of NaCl absorption in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle.

A ubiquitous non-selective cation channel in the mouse renal tubule with variable sensitivity to calcium

Basolateral membranes of microdissected collagenase-treated fragments of renal tubules from the mouse were examined using the cell-attached and the cell-free variants of the patch-clamp technique. With a K(+)-rich solution in the pipette, a highly active, inwardly rectifying K+ channel was observed on intact cells of the cortical collecting tubule (CCT). The mean inward and outward conductances were 38.5 +/- 3.1 pS and 17.3 +/- 1.8 pS, respectively (n = 4). In contrast, cell-attached patches were usually inactive when a Na(+)-rich solution filled the patch pipette. However, another type of channel with a conductance of 20-30 pS exhibited a sparse activity in 4/20 CCT. In excised, inside-out patches, the most frequent channel in CCT had an ohmic unit conductance of 27.1 +/- 1.2 pS (n = 17), excluded anions (PCl/PNa = 0.09), discriminated little between NH4+, K+ and Na+ (PNH4/PNa = 1.5; PK/PNa = 0.9), and was much less permeable to Ca2+ and Ba2+ than to Na+ (PCa/PNa = 0.09; PBa/PNa approximately 0). The cation channel was moderately voltage-dependent, showing a decreased open probability (Po) at negative voltages. It was activated by internal calcium (threshold: 1 mumol/l-0.1 mmol/l calcium), and inhibited by the adenine nucleotides ATP, ADP and AMP with half-maximal inhibition of Po at 1.2 mumol/l AMP. As in other cell models, 3',5'-dichlorodiphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid blocked channel activity when added to the internal surface of the membrane patch. Extending our study to other parts of the renal tubule, we found that the basolateral membranes of the proximal (pars recta), distal convoluted, connecting and outer medullary collecting tubules, the thin descending limb and the medullary thick ascending limb all contained a similar Ca- and ATP-sensitive cation channel. The calcium sensitivity varied from one part to another.