Interferon-Inducible Myxovirus Resistance Proteins: Potential Biomarkers for Differentiating Viral from Bacterial Infections.

BACKGROUND: In 2015, the 68th World Health Assembly declared that effective, rapid, low-cost diagnostic tools were needed for guiding optimal use of antibiotics in medicine. This review is devoted to interferon-inducible myxovirus resistance proteins as potential biomarkers for differentiating viral from bacterial infections. CONTENT: After viral infection, a branch of the interferon (IFN)-induced molecular reactions is triggered by the binding of IFNs with their receptors, a process leading to the activation of mx1 and mx2, which produce antiviral Mx proteins (MxA and MxB). We summarize current knowledge of the structures and functions of type I and III IFNs. Antiviral mechanisms of Mx proteins are discussed in reference to their structural and functional data to provide an in-depth picture of protection against viral attacks. Knowing such a mechanism may allow the development of countermeasures and the specific detection of any viral infection. Clinical research data indicate that Mx proteins are biomarkers for many virus infections, with some exceptions, whereas C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin have established positions as general biomarkers for bacterial infections. SUMMARY: Mx genes are not directly induced by viruses and are not expressed constitutively; their expression strictly depends on IFN signaling. MxA protein production in peripheral blood cells has been shown to be a clinically sensitive and specific marker for viral infection. Viral infections specifically increase MxA concentrations, whereas viruses have only a modest increase in CRP or procalcitonin concentrations. Therefore, comparison of MxA and CRP and/or procalcitonin values can be used for the differentiation of infectious etiology.

Binding of cholera toxin B subunit to intestinal epithelial cells.

We have prepared 125I-labeled cholera toxin B subunit (125I-labeled CT-B, a specific activity of 98Ci/mmol) and found that it binds to rat IEC-6 and human Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells with high affinity (Kd 3.6 and 3.7nM, respectively). The binding of labeled protein was completely inhibited by unlabeled thymosin-α1 (TM-α1), interferon-α2 (IFN-α2), and the synthetic peptide LKEKK that corresponds to residues 16-20 in TM-α1 and 131-135 in IFN-α2, but was not inhibited by the synthetic peptide KKEKL with inverted amino acid sequence (Ki>10µM). Thus, TM-α1, IFN-α2, and the peptide: LKEKK bind with high affinity and specificity to the cholera toxin receptor on IEC-6 and Caco-2 cells. It was found that CT-B and the peptide: LKEKK at concentrations of 10-1000nM increased in a dose-dependent manner the nitric oxide production and the soluble guanylate cyclase activity in IEC-6 and Caco-2 cells.

Human myeloma IgG4 reveals relatively rigid asymmetric Y-like structure with different conformational stability of CH2 domains.

Human IgG4 (hIgG4) has weak pro-inflammatory activity. The structural basis for this is still unclear. Here a 3D model of myeloma hIgG4 was created at ∼3nm resolution using electron microscopy (EM) with negative staining and single-particle 3D reconstruction. The hIgG4 model reveals relatively rigid asymmetric Y-like structure. The model shows that one Fab subunit is closer to the upper portion of the Fc subunit (CH2 domain) than the other Fab. This is in agreement with X-ray crystallography and X-ray/neutron scattering, recently published by others. The same hIgG4 sample was studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fluorescence. The thermodynamics and fluorescence observations indicate that one CH2 domain displays less conformational stability than the other. This finding is consistent with the flipping of one CH2 domain, observed in pembrolizumab (recombinant hIgG4) by X-ray crystallography. The specific feature of hIgG4 CH2 domains together with relatively rigid asymmetric Y-like structure, in which one Fab subunit is closer to the upper portion of the Fc subunit (CH2 domain) than the other Fab, can explain the unique biological properties of hIgG4, such as its weak pro-inflammatory activity.

Interaction of cholera toxin B subunit with T and B lymphocytes.

We have prepared 125I-labeled cholera toxin B subunit (125I-labeled CT-B, a specific activity of 98Ci/mmol) and found that its binding to T and B lymphocytes from the blood of healthy donors was high-affinity (Kd 2.8 and 3.0nM, respectively). The binding of labeled protein was completely inhibited by unlabeled thymosin-α1 (TM-α1), interferon-α2 (IFN-α2), and the synthetic peptide LKEKK that corresponds to residues 16-20 in TM-α1 and 131-135 in IFN-α2, but was not inhibited by the synthetic peptide KKEKL with inverted amino acid sequence (Ki>10µM). Thus, TM-α1, IFN-α2, and the peptide: LKEKK bind with high affinity and specificity to CT-B receptor on donor blood T and B lymphocytes. It was found that CT-B and the peptide: LKEKK at concentrations of 10-1000nM increased in a dose-dependent manner the soluble guanylate cyclase activity in T and B lymphocytes.

Three-dimensional structure of the human myeloma IgG2.

Human immunoglobulin G, subclass 2 (hIgG2), plays an important role in immunity to bacterial pathogens and in numerous pathological conditions. However, there is a lack of information regarding the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the hIgG2 molecule. We used electron microscopy (EM), differential scanning microcalorimetry (DSC) and fluorescence for structural analysis of the hIgG2. DSC and fluorescence indicated two types of interaction between CH1 domain of Fab (antigen-binding fragment/subunit) and CH2 domain of Fc (complement fixation fragment/subunit) simultaneously present in the sample: close interaction, which increases the thermostability of both, CH1 and CH2 domains, and weak (or no) interaction, which is typical for most IgGs but not hIgG2. Thermodynamics could not determine if both types of interactions are present within a single molecule. To address this question, EM was used. We employed a single-particle reconstruction and negative staining approach to reveal the three-dimensional structure of the hIgG2. A three-dimensional model of hIgG2 was created at 1.78 nm resolution. The hIgG2 is asymmetrical: one Fab subunit is in close proximity to the upper portion of the Fc subunit (CH2 domain) and the other Fab is distant from Fc. The plane of Fab subunits is nearly perpendicular to Fc. EM structure of the hIgG2 is in good agreement with thermodynamic data: a Fab distant from Fc should exhibit a lower melting temperature while a Fab interacting with Fc should exhibit a higher melting temperature. Both types of Fab subunits exist within one molecule resembling an A/B hIgG2 isoform introduced earlier on physicochemical level by Dillon et al. (2008). In such an arrangement, the access to the upper portion of Fc subunit is partially blocked by a Fab subunit. That might explain for instance why hIgG2 mildly activates complement and binds poorly to Fc receptors. Understanding of the three-dimensional structure of the hIgG2 should lead to better design of antibody-based therapeutics.

Adhesive organelles of Gram-negative pathogens assembled with the classical chaperone/usher machinery: structure and function from a clinical standpoint.

This review summarizes current knowledge on the structure, function, assembly and biomedical applications of the superfamily of adhesive fimbrial organelles exposed on the surface of Gram-negative pathogens with the classical chaperone/usher machinery. High-resolution three-dimensional (3D) structure studies of the minifibers assembling with the FGL (having a long F1-G1 loop) and FGS (having a short F1-G1 loop) chaperones show that they exploit the same principle of donor-strand complementation for polymerization of subunits. The 3D structure of adhesive subunits bound to host-cell receptors and the final architecture of adhesive fimbrial organelles reveal two functional families of the organelles, respectively, possessing polyadhesive and monoadhesive binding. The FGL and FGS chaperone-assembled polyadhesins are encoded exclusively by the gene clusters of the γ3- and κ-monophyletic groups, respectively, while gene clusters belonging to the γ1-, γ2-, γ4-, and π-fimbrial clades exclusively encode FGS chaperone-assembled monoadhesins. Novel approaches are suggested for a rational design of antimicrobials inhibiting the organelle assembly or inhibiting their binding to host-cell receptors. Vaccines are currently under development based on the recombinant subunits of adhesins.

FGL chaperone-assembled fimbrial polyadhesins: anti-immune armament of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens.

This review summarizes the current knowledge on the structure, function, assembly, and biomedical applications of the family of adhesive fimbrial organelles assembled on the surface of Gram-negative pathogens via the FGL chaperone/usher pathway. Recent studies revealed the unique structural and functional properties of these organelles, distinguishing them from a related family, FGS chaperone-assembled adhesive pili. The FGL chaperone-assembled organelles consist of linear polymers of one or two types of protein subunits, each possessing one or two independent adhesive sites specific to different host cell receptors. This structural organization enables these fimbrial organelles to function as polyadhesins. Fimbrial polyadhesins may ensure polyvalent fastening of bacteria to the host cells, aggregating their receptors and triggering subversive signals that allow pathogens to evade immune defense. The FGL chaperone-assembled fimbrial polyadhesins are attractive targets for vaccine and drug design.

Resolving the energy paradox of chaperone/usher-mediated fibre assembly.

Periplasmic chaperone/usher machineries are used for assembly of filamentous adhesion organelles of Gram-negative pathogens in a process that has been suggested to be driven by folding energy. Structures of mutant chaperone-subunit complexes revealed a final folding transition (condensation of the subunit hydrophobic core) on the release of organelle subunit from the chaperone-subunit pre-assembly complex and incorporation into the final fibre structure. However, in view of the large interface between chaperone and subunit in the pre-assembly complex and the reported stability of this complex, it is difficult to understand how final folding could release sufficient energy to drive assembly. In the present paper, we show the X-ray structure for a native chaperone-fibre complex that, together with thermodynamic data, shows that the final folding step is indeed an essential component of the assembly process. We show that completion of the hydrophobic core and incorporation into the fibre results in an exceptionally stable module, whereas the chaperone-subunit pre-assembly complex is greatly destabilized by the high-energy conformation of the bound subunit. This difference in stabilities creates a free energy potential that drives fibre formation.

Folding of the human immunoglobulin G3 Kus core hinge into the thirteenth globular domain.

Earlier, the electron microscopy and hydrodynamic studies revealed the transformation of the globule-like form of the human (h) IgG3 Kus hinge into a rod-like shape under non-denaturing perturbations [Eur. J. Biochem. 190 (1990) 393]. In this work, it is shown with the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) that the melting of a globule-like form of the hIgG3 Kus hinge is a co-operative process. The 'two-state' model accepted for small globular proteins well describes the transition. Thus, in the hIgG3 Kus molecule, the core hinge folds into the thirteenth globular domain. The model of folding of four double poly-L-proline (PLP) helices of the core hinge into the compact tertiary structure similar to 'a folded camp bed' is suggested.

Core hinge of human immunoglobulin G3 as a system of four independent co-operative blocks.

On the heat absorption curves of human immunoglobulin G3 (hIgG3) Kuc melting the scanning calorimetry method reveals a high-temperature (high-T(m)) peak of high intensity that is absent at the curves of other hIgG subclasses and IgG of other species. An analogous peak is observed also at the curves of melting of hIgG3 fragments containing the hinge segments. The high-T(m) peak is accompanied by characteristic changes in circular dichroism (CD) spectra at 220-230 nm. This allows relating the peak to the melting of a poly-L-proline conformation of an extremely long hIgG3 core hinge. The comparison of deltaH(cal) and deltaH(eff) testifies that the core hinge can be considered as a system of four independent co-operative blocks connected by flexible sites. These sites may provide additional flexibility to the hIgG3 molecule and also permit a transition of the rod-like shape of the hinge to compact globule-like conformation.

Long-term metastable conformation of human Fcgamma subunit.

It was found that the human (hu) myeloma IgG1 Ser, its Fcgamma fragment and the chimeric mouse-human monoclonal antibody (chim-mAb), containing the constant part of hu-gamma1-chain, can exist in a long-term metastable conformational state. This state arises as a result of short incubation of IgG molecules and their Fcgamma fragments at pH<2.8 and the consequent rapid neutralisation to pH 7.0-8.0. At pH<2.8 the three-dimensional structure of C(gamma)2 domains is unfolded, but rapidly refolds after neutralisation. At the same time, non-covalent interactions between C(gamma)2 and C(gamma)3 domains are restored very slowly. A metastable state of IgG keeps 70% of complement-binding ability in comparison with the native state.

Synthetic peptide SLTCLVKGFY competes with beta-endorphin for naloxone-insensitive binding sites on rat brain membranes.

The synthetic decapeptide Ser-Leu-Thr-Cys-Leu-Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr (termed immunorphin) corresponding to the sequence 364-373 of the CH3 domain of human immunoglobulin G heavy chain and its synthetic fragment VKGFY were found to compete with 125I-labeled beta-endorphin for high-affinity naloxone-insensitive binding sites on membranes isolated from the rat brain cortex (K(i)=1.18+/-0.09 and 1.58+/-0.11 nM, respectively). The binding specificity study revealed that these binding sites were insensitive not only to naloxone but to [Met(5)]enkephalin and [Leu(5)]enkephalin as well. The K(d) values characterizing the specific binding of 125I-labeled immunorphin and its fragment Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr to these binding sites were determined to be 2.93+/-0.27 nM and 3.17+/-0.29 nM, respectively.