Cell-Type-Specific Intracellular Protein Delivery with Inactivated Botulinum Neurotoxin.

The ability to deliver proteins and peptides across the plasma membrane into the cytosol of living mammalian cells would be highly impactful for both basic science and medicine. Natural cell-penetrating protein toxins have shown promise as protein delivery platforms, but existing approaches are limited by immunogenicity, lack of cell-type-specificity, or their multi-component nature. Here we explore inactivated botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) as a protein delivery platform. Using split luciferase reconstitution in the cytosol as a readout for endosomal escape and cytosolic delivery, we showed that BoNT chimeras with nanobodies replacing their natural receptor binding domain can be selectively targeted to cells expressing nanobody-matched surface markers. We used chimeric BoNTs to deliver a range of cargo from 1.3 to 55 kDa in size, and demonstrated selective delivery of orthogonal cargoes to distinct cell populations within a mixed culture. These explorations suggest that BoNT may be a versatile platform for targeted protein and peptide delivery into mammalian cells.

Botulinum Neurotoxin F Subtypes Cleaving the VAMP-2 Q58⁻K59 Peptide Bond Exhibit Unique Catalytic Properties and Substrate Specificities.

In the recent past, about 40 botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) subtypes belonging to serotypes A, B, E, and F pathogenic to humans were identified among hundreds of independent isolates. BoNTs are the etiological factors of botulism and represent potential bioweapons; however, they are also recognized pharmaceuticals for the efficient counteraction of hyperactive nerve terminals in a variety of human diseases. The detailed biochemical characterization of subtypes as the basis for development of suitable countermeasures and possible novel therapeutic applications is lagging behind the increase in new subtypes. Here, we report the primary structure of a ninth subtype of BoNT/F. Its amino-acid sequence diverges by at least 8.4% at the holotoxin and 13.4% at the enzymatic domain level from all other known BoNT/F subtypes. We found that BoNT/F9 shares the scissile Q58/K59 bond in its substrate vesicle associated membrane protein 2 with the prototype BoNT/F1. Comparative biochemical analyses of four BoNT/F enzymatic domains showed that the catalytic efficiencies decrease in the order F1 > F7 > F9 > F6, and vary by up to a factor of eight. KM values increase in the order F1 > F9 > F6 ≈ F7, whereas kcat decreases in the order F7 > F1 > F9 > F6. Comparative substrate scanning mutagenesis studies revealed a unique pattern of crucial substrate residues for each subtype. Based upon structural coordinates of F1 bound to an inhibitor polypeptide, the mutational analyses suggest different substrate interactions in the substrate binding channel of each subtype.

Stimulation of IgY responses in gene gun immunized laying hens by combined administration of vector DNA coding for the target antigen Botulinum toxin A1 and for avian cytokine adjuvants.

DNA immunization is a convenient and effective way of inducing a specific antibody response. In mammals, co-administration of vectors encoding immunostimulatory cytokines can enhance the humoral response resulting in elevated antibody titers. We therefore set out to investigate the effect using avian interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and avian interleukin 6 (IL-6) as genetic adjuvants when immunizing laying hens. A BoNT A1 holotoxoid DNA immunogen carrying two inactivating mutations was evaluated for its ability to induce a specific and sustained IgY antibody response. Both the holotoxoid and the cytokine sequences were codon-optimized. In vitro, the proteins were efficiently expressed in transfected HEK 293T cells and the cytokines were secreted into the culture supernatants. Whereas eggs from hens immunized via gene gun using a prime boost strategy showed no differences in their total IgY content, the specific αBoNT A1 response was slightly elevated up to 1.4× by the IL-1ß adjuvant vector and increased by 3.8× by the IL-6 vector. Finally, although hens receiving the IL-1ß adjuvant had laying capacities above the average, hens receiving the IL-6 adjuvant experienced laying problems.

Coordinate expression of cytokines and chemokines by NK cells during murine cytomegalovirus infection.

Cytokines and chemokines activate and direct effector cells during infection. We previously identified a functional group of five cytokines and chemokines, namely, IFN-gamma, activation-induced T cell-derived and chemokine-related cytokine/lymphotactin, macrophage-inflammatory protein 1alpha, macrophage-inflammatory protein 1beta, and RANTES, coexpressed in individual activated NK cells, CD8(+) T cells, and CD4(+) Th1 cells in vitro and during in vivo infections. However, the stimuli during infection were not known. In murine CMV (MCMV) infection, the DAP12/KARAP-associated Ly49H NK cell activation receptor is crucial for resistance through recognition of MCMV-encoded m157 but NK cells also undergo in vivo nonspecific responses to uncharacterized stimuli. In this study, we show that Ly49H ligation by m157 resulted in a coordinated release of all five cytokines/chemokines from Ly49H(+) NK cells. Whereas other cytokines also triggered the release of these cytokines/chemokines, stimulation was not confined to the Ly49H(+) population. At the single-cell level, the production of the five mediators showed strong positive correlation with each other. Interestingly, NK cells were a major source of these five cytokines/chemokines in vitro and in vivo, whereas infected macrophages produced only limited amounts of macrophage-inflammatory protein 1alpha, macrophage-inflammatory protein1beta, and RANTES. These findings suggest that both virus-specific and nonspecific NK cells play crucial roles in activating and directing other inflammatory cells during MCMV infection.

Neutrophil influx in response to a peritoneal infection with Salmonella is delayed in lipopolysaccharide-binding protein or CD14-deficient mice.

The induction of an adaptive immune response to a previously unencountered pathogen is a time-consuming process and initially the infection must be held in check by the innate immune system. In the case of an i.p. infection with Salmonella typhimurium, survival requires both CD14 and LPS-binding protein (LBP) which, together with Toll-like receptor 4 and myeloid differentiation protein 2, provide a sensitive means to detect bacterial LPS. In this study, we show that in the first hours after i.p. infection with Salmonella a local inflammatory response is evident and that concomitantly neutrophils flood into the peritoneum. This rapid neutrophil influx is dependent on TNF since it is 1) abolished in TNF KO mice and 2) can be induced by i.p. injection of TNF in uninfected animals. Neutrophil influx is not strictly dependent on the presence of either LBP or CD14. However, in their absence, no local inflammatory response is evident, neutrophil migration is delayed, and the mice succumb to the infection. Using confocal microscopy, we show that the neutrophils which accumulate in CD14 and LBP null mice, albeit with delayed kinetics, are nevertheless fully capable of ingesting the bacteria. We suggest that the short delay in neutrophil influx gives the pathogen a decisive advantage in this infection model.

ICOS and CD28 reversely regulate IL-10 on re-activation of human effector T cells with mature dendritic cells.

With newly generated ICOS-ligand (ICOS-L)-specific monoclonal antibodies we determined that human Langerhans cells in situ express similar levels of ICOS-L, CD80, and CD86, compared to immature dendritic cells (DC) derived from monocytes in vitro. Maturation of DC strongly up-regulated CD80 and CD86 but did not significantly change ICOS-L levels. On coculture of "naive"CD4(+) T cells with mature DC in the presence of superantigen, ICOS was highly up-regulated on T cells, but played only a secondary role in the CD28-dominated release of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, and did not participate in the induction of IL-2. Cocultures of "effector" CD4(+) T cells with mature DC revealed CD28 as the driving force for the secretion of IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-6, and IL-13, with no apparent contribution of ICOS. In contrast, the release of IL-10 was differentially regulated. Interaction of ICOS with ICOS-L strongly promoted IL-10 secretion, whereas the CD28/B7 pathway acted as a potent attenuator of IL-10 release. Our data thus indicate a selective regulation of IL-10 secretion by ICOS on re-activation of effector T cells with professional antigen-presenting cells (bearing CD80 and CD86) in lymphoid tissue.

MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, RANTES, and ATAC/lymphotactin function together with IFN-gamma as type 1 cytokines.

We analyzed for the first time the expression of chemokines in subpopulations of the murine immune system at the single-cell level. We demonstrate in vitro and in a model of murine listeriosis that macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, MIP-1beta, regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and activation-induced, T cell-derived, and chemokine-related cytokine (ATAC)/lymphotactin are cosecreted to a high degree with IFN-gamma by activated individual natural killer (NK), CD8(+) T, and CD4(+) T helper 1 (Th1) cells. Functionally, ATAC and the CC chemokines cooperate with IFN-gamma in the up-regulation of CD40, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, molecules playing a central role in the effector phase of macrophages. Our data indicate that (i) MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, RANTES, and ATAC are not only chemoattractants but also coactivators of macrophages, (ii) MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, RANTES, and ATAC constitute together with IFN-gamma a group of "type 1 cytokines," and (iii) these cytokines act together as a functional unit that is used by NK cells in the innate phase and then "handed over" to CD8(+) T cells in the antigen-specific phase of the immune defense, thus bridging the two components of a Th1 immune reaction.