Homologous tropomyosins from vertebrate and invertebrate: Recombinant calibrator proteins in functional biological assays for tropomyosin allergenicity assessment of novel animal foods.

BACKGROUND: Novel foods may provide new protein sources for a growing world population but entail risks of unexpected food-allergic reactions. No guidance on allergenicity assessment of novel foods exists, while for genetically modified (GM) crops it includes comparison of sequence identity with known allergens, digestibility tests and IgE serum screening. OBJECTIVE: As a proof of concept, to evaluate non-/allergenic tropomyosins (TMs) regarding their potential as new calibrator proteins in functional biological in vitro assays for the semi-quantitative allergy risk assessment of novel TM-containing animal foods with mealworm TM as an example. METHODS: Purified TMs (shrimp, Penaeus monodon; chicken Gallus gallus; E coli overexpression) were compared by protein sequencing, circular dichroism analysis and in vitro digestion. IgE binding was quantified using shrimp-allergic patients' sera (ELISA). Biological activities were investigated (skin testing; titrated basophil activation tests, BAT), compared to titrated biological mediator release using humanized rat basophil leukaemia (RBL) cells. RESULTS: Shrimp and chicken TMs showed high sequence homology, both alpha-helical structures and thermal stability. Shrimp TM was stable during in vitro gastric digestion, chicken TM degraded quickly. Both TMs bound specific IgE from shrimp-allergic patients (significantly higher for shrimp TM), whereas skin reactivity was mostly positive with only shrimp TM. BAT and RBL cell assays were positive with shrimp and chicken TM, although at up to 100- to 1000-times lower allergen concentrations for shrimp than chicken TM. In RBL cell assays using both TM as calibrators, an activation of effector cells by mealworm TM similar to that by shrimp TM confirmed the already reported high allergenic potency of mealworm TM as a novel protein source. CONCLUSIONS & CLINICAL RELEVANCE: According to current GM crops' allergenicity assessment, non-allergenic chicken TM could falsely be considered an allergen on a weight-of-evidence approach. However, calibrating allergenic potency in functional BAT and RBL cell assays with clinically validated TMs allowed for semi-quantitative discrimination of novel food protein's allergenicity. With TM calibration as a proof of concept, similar systems of homologous protein might be developed to scale on an axis of allergenicity.

Unexpected function of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase in supporting hyperglycolysis in stimulated neutrophils: key role of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase.

The phagocyte NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) is an enzymatic complex that is involved in innate immunity, notably via its capacity to produce toxic reactive oxygen species. Recently, a proteomic analysis of the constitutively active Nox2 complex, isolated from neutrophil fractions, highlighted the presence of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (PFK-2). The purpose of this work was to study the relationship between PFK-2 and NADPH oxidase in neutrophils. Data have underlined a specific association of the active phosphorylated form of PFK-2 with Nox2 complex in stimulated neutrophils. In its active form, PFK-2 catalyzes the production of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, which is the main allosteric activator of phosphofructo-1-kinase, the limiting enzyme in glycolysis. Pharmacologic inhibition of PFK-2 phosphorylation and cell depletion in PFK-2 by a small interfering RNA strategy led to a decrease in the glycolysis rate and a reduction in NADPH oxidase activity in stimulated cells. Surprisingly, alteration of Nox2 activity impacted the glycolysis rate, which indicated that Nox2 in neutrophils was not only required for reactive oxygen species production but was also involved in supporting the energetic metabolism increase that was induced by inflammatory conditions. PFK-2 seems to be a strategic element that links NADPH oxidase activation and glycolysis modulation, and, as such, is proposed as a potential therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases.-Baillet, A., Hograindleur, M.-A., El Benna, J., Grichine, A., Berthier, S., Morel, F., Paclet, M.-H. Unexpected function of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase in supporting hyperglycolysis in stimulated neutrophils: key role of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase.

Prospective evaluation of FibroTest®, FibroMeter®, and HepaScore® for staging liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B: comparison with hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Fibrosis blood tests have been validated in chronic hepatitis C. Their diagnostic accuracy is less documented in hepatitis B. The aim of this study was to describe the diagnostic performance of FibroTest®, FibroMeter®, and HepaScore® for liver fibrosis in hepatitis B compared to hepatitis C. METHODS: 510 patients mono-infected with hepatitis B or C and matched on fibrosis stage were included. Blood tests were performed the day of the liver biopsy. Histological lesions were staged according to METAVIR. RESULTS: Fibrosis stages were distributed as followed: F0 n=76, F1 n=192, F2 n=132, F3 n=54, F4 n=56. Overall diagnostic performance of blood tests were similar between hepatitis B and C with AUROC ranging from 0.75 to 0.84 for significant fibrosis, 0.82 to 0.85 for extensive fibrosis and 0.84 to 0.87 for cirrhosis. Optimal cut-offs were consistently lower in hepatitis B compared to hepatitis C, especially for the diagnosis of extensive fibrosis and cirrhosis, with decreased sensitivity and negative predictive values. More hepatitis B than C patients with F ⩾3 were underestimated: FibroTest®: 47% vs. 26%, FibroMeter®: 24% vs. 6%, HepaScore®: 41% vs. 24%, p<0.01. Multivariate analysis showed that hepatitis B (0R 3.4, 95% CI 1.2-19.2, p<0.02) and low γGT (OR 7.3, 95% CI 2.0-27.0, p<0.003) were associated with fibrosis underestimation. CONCLUSION: Overall the diagnostic performance of blood tests is similar in hepatitis B and C. The risk of underestimating significant fibrosis and cirrhosis is however greater in hepatitis B and cannot be entirely corrected by the use of more stringent cut-offs.

Molecular interface of S100A8 with cytochrome b558 and NADPH oxidase activation.

S100A8 and S100A9 are two calcium binding Myeloid Related Proteins, and important mediators of inflammatory diseases. They were recently introduced as partners for phagocyte NADPH oxidase regulation. However, the precise mechanism of their interaction remains elusive. We had for aim (i) to evaluate the impact of S100 proteins on NADPH oxidase activity; (ii) to characterize molecular interaction of either S100A8, S100A9, or S100A8/S100A9 heterocomplex with cytochrome b(558); and (iii) to determine the S100A8 consensus site involved in cytochrome b(558)/S100 interface. Recombinant full length or S100A9-A8 truncated chimera proteins and ExoS-S100 fusion proteins were expressed in E. coli and in P. aeruginosa respectively. Our results showed that S100A8 is the functional partner for NADPH oxidase activation contrary to S100A9, however, the loading with calcium and a combination with phosphorylated S100A9 are essential in vivo. Endogenous S100A9 and S100A8 colocalize in differentiated and PMA stimulated PLB985 cells, with Nox2/gp91(phox) and p22(phox). Recombinant S100A8, loaded with calcium and fused with the first 129 or 54 N-terminal amino acid residues of the P. aeruginosa ExoS toxin, induced a similar oxidase activation in vitro, to the one observed with S100A8 in the presence of S100A9 in vivo. This suggests that S100A8 is the essential component of the S100A9/S100A8 heterocomplex for oxidase activation. In this context, recombinant full-length rS100A9-A8 and rS100A9-A8 truncated 90 chimera proteins as opposed to rS100A9-A8 truncated 86 and rS100A9-A8 truncated 57 chimeras, activate the NADPH oxidase function of purified cytochrome b(558) suggesting that the C-terminal region of S100A8 is directly involved in the molecular interface with the hemoprotein. The data point to four strategic (87)HEES(90) amino acid residues of the S100A8 C-terminal sequence that are involved directly in the molecular interaction with cytochrome b(558) and then in the phagocyte NADPH oxidase activation.

Coupling of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase with NADPH oxidase in neutrophils: Nox2 activity regulation by NADPH availability.

It is well known that activation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase requires the association of cytosolic proteins (p67-phox, p47-phox, p40-phox, and Rac) with the membrane cytochrome b(558), leading to its conformation change. Recently, the phagocyte NADPH oxidase complex was isolated in a constitutively active form. In this complex, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH), an enzyme involved in the production of intracellular NADPH, was identified. This protein was absent from the oxidase complex isolated from B lymphocytes, suggesting a specific interaction with the neutrophil NADPH oxidase. To clarify the implication of 6PGDH in the NADPH oxidase activity, a siRNA approach was conducted in neutrophil-like PLB985 cells. NADPH oxidase activity of siRNA-transfected cells was shown to be decreased. Similar results were obtained in vitro, after reconstitution of oxidase activity with subcellular fractions isolated from siRNA-transfected cells. Interestingly, the Michaelis constant (K(m)) of Nox2 for NADPH increases in 6PGDH-depleted cells. Moreover, 6PGDH coimmunoprecipitated with oxidase cytosolic factors from cytosol of stimulated cells. Data suggested that the affinity of Nox2 for NADPH is increased in the presence of 6PGDH on cell stimulation. The present work proposes a new way of NADPH oxidase activity regulation by modulating Nox2 affinity for NADPH.

The E-loop is involved in hydrogen peroxide formation by the NADPH oxidase Nox4.

In contrast to the NADPH oxidases Nox1 and Nox2, which generate superoxide (O(2)(·-)), Nox4 produces hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). We constructed chimeric proteins and mutants to address the protein region that specifies which reactive oxygen species is produced. Reactive oxygen species were measured with luminol/horseradish peroxidase and Amplex Red for H(2)O(2) versus L-012 and cytochrome c for O(2)(·-). The third extracytosolic loop (E-loop) of Nox4 is 28 amino acids longer than that of Nox1 or Nox2. Deletion of E-loop amino acids only present in Nox4 or exchange of the two cysteines in these stretches switched Nox4 from H(2)O(2) to O(2)(·-) generation while preserving expression and intracellular localization. In the presence of an NO donor, the O(2)()-producing Nox4 mutants, but not wild-type Nox4, generated peroxynitrite, excluding artifacts of the detection system as the apparent origin of O(2)(·-). In Cos7 cells, in which Nox4 partially localizes to the plasma membrane, an antibody directed against the E-loop decreased H(2)O(2) but increased O(2)(·-) formation by Nox4 without affecting Nox1-dependent O(2)(·-) formation. The E-loop of Nox4 but not Nox1 and Nox2 contains a highly conserved histidine that could serve as a source for protons to accelerate spontaneous dismutation of superoxide to form H(2)O(2). Mutation of this but not of four other conserved histidines also switched Nox4 from H(2)O(2) to O(2)(·-) formation. Thus, H(2)O(2) formation is an intrinsic property of Nox4 that involves its E-loop. The structure of the E-loop may hinder O(2)(·-) egress and/or provide a source for protons, allowing dismutation to form H(2)O(2).

Synovial fluid proteomic fingerprint: S100A8, S100A9 and S100A12 proteins discriminate rheumatoid arthritis from other inflammatory joint diseases.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated SF and serum proteomic fingerprints of patients suffering from RA, OA and other miscellaneous inflammatory arthritides (MIAs) in order to identify RA-specific biomarkers. METHODS: SF profiles of 65 patients and serum profiles of 31 patients were studied by surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry technology. The most discriminating RA biomarkers were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight and their overexpression was confirmed by western blotting and ELISA. RESULTS: Three biomarkers of 10 839, 10 445 and 13 338 Da, characterized as S100A8, S100A12 and S100A9 proteins, were the most up-regulated proteins in RA SF. Their expression was about 10-fold higher in RA SF vs OA SF. S100A8 exhibited a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 69% in discriminating RA from other MIAs, whereas S100A12 displayed a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 64%. Three peptides of 3351, 3423 and 3465 Da, corresponding to the alpha-defensins-1, -2 and -3, were also shown to differentiate RA from other MIAs with weaker sensitivity and specificity. Levels of S100A12, S100A8 and S100A9 were statistically correlated with the neutrophil count in MIA SF but not in the SF of RA patients. S100A8, S100A9, S100A12 and alpha-defensin expression in serum was not different in the three populations. CONCLUSION: The most enhanced proteins in RA SF, the S100A8, S100A9 and S00A12 proteins, distinguished RA from MIA with high accuracy. Possible implication of resident cells in this increase may play a role in RA physiopathology.

Regulation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase activity: phosphorylation of gp91phox/NOX2 by protein kinase C enhances its diaphorase activity and binding to Rac2, p67phox, and p47phox.

Neutrophils generate microbicidal oxidants through activation of a multicomponent enzyme called NADPH oxidase. During activation, the cytosolic NADPH oxidase components (p47(phox), p67(phox), p40(phox), and Rac2) translocate to the membranes, where they associate with flavocytochrome b(558), which is composed of gp91(phox)/NOX2 and p22(phox), to form the active system. During neutrophil stimulation, p47(phox), p67(phox), p40(phox), and p22(phox) are phosphorylated; however, the phosphorylation of gp91(phox)/NOX2 and its potential role have not been defined. In this study, we show that gp91(phox) is phosphorylated in stimulated neutrophils. The gp91(phox) phosphoprotein is absent in neutrophils from chronic granulomatous disease patients deficient in gp91(phox), which confirms that this phosphoprotein is gp91(phox). The protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X inhibited phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced phosphorylation of gp91(phox), and protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylated the recombinant gp91(phox)- cytosolic carboxy-terminal flavoprotein domain. Two-dimensional tryptic peptide mapping analysis showed that PKC phosphorylated the gp91(phox)-cytosolic tail on the same peptides that were phosphorylated on gp91(phox) in intact cells. In addition, PKC phosphorylation increased diaphorase activity of the gp91(phox) flavoprotein cytosolic domain and its binding to Rac2, p67(phox), and p47(phox). These results demonstrate that gp91(phox) is phosphorylated in human neutrophils by PKC to enhance its catalytic activity and assembly of the complex. Phosphorylation of gp91(phox)/NOX2 is a novel mechanism of NADPH oxidase regulation.

New p22-phox monoclonal antibodies: identification of a conformational probe for cytochrome b 558.

The phagocyte NADPH oxidase, belonging to the NADPH oxidase family (Nox), is dedicated to the production of bactericidal reactive oxygen species. The enzyme catalytic center is the cytochrome b(558), formed by 2 subunits, Nox2 (gp91-phox) and p22-phox. Cytochrome b(558) activation results from a conformational change induced by cytosolic regulatory proteins (p67-phox, p47-phox, p40-phox and Rac). The catalytic subunit is Nox2, while p22-phox is essential for both Nox2 maturation and the membrane anchorage of regulatory proteins. Moreover, it has been shown to be necessary for novel Nox activity. In order to characterize both p22-phox topology and cytochrome b(558) conformational change, 6 monoclonal antibodies were produced against purified cytochrome b(558). Phage display epitope mapping combined with a truncation analysis of recombinant p22-phox allowed the identification of epitope regions. Some of these antibodies almost completely inhibited in vitro reconstituted NADPH oxidase activity. Data analysis identified antibodies that recognized epitopes involved in either Nox2 maturation or Nox2 activation. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis and confocal microscopy performed on stimulated neutrophils showed that the monoclonal antibody 12E6 bound preferentially active cytochrome b(558). These monoclonal antibodies provided novel and unique probes to investigate maturation, activation and activity, not only of Nox2 but also of novel Nox.

[Molecular aspects of chronic granulomatous disease. "the NADPH oxidase complex"]. / Bases moléculaires de la granulomatose septique "le complexe de la NADPH oxydase".

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a hereditary illness generally occurring in childhood, in the form of recurrent severe infections. The main pathogens are staphylococci and aspergilli. It results from a failure of professional phagocytes, and particularly neutrophils, to produce superoxide ions O2- and their derivatives, which protect cells from bacterial, invasion through an oxidative and toxic defence mechanism. At an infection site. contact between the neutrophils and microorganisms or an inflammatory mediator triggers a respiratory burst, which results in the activation of the NADPH oxidase enzyme complex. NADPH depletes surrounding oxygen to yield O2-. In its active form. NADPH oxidase is an assembly of two components, namely the membrane cytochrome b558 (consisting o two subunits, gp91-phox and p22-phox) and soluble protein factors present in the resting neutrophil cytoplasm. Transfer of these cytosolic factors and their anchorage to cytochrome b558 determines the activity of NADPH oxidase. The respiratory burst lasts no more than a few minutes, but the precise mechanisms underlying its termination are not well known. In chronic granulomatous disease, neutrophils have lost their bactericidal capacity The most frequent form is hereditary and X-linked; in this case, the affected gene is CYBB, which encodes gp91-phox, the catalytic subunit of cytochrome b558. In autosomal and recessive forms of CGD the mutations affect the genes encoding p22-phox, p67-phox or p47-phox. We have unraveled the assembly mechanisms of the NADPH oxidase complex and have demonstrated that the cytosolic factor p67-phox is the determining element: it triggers both the assembly and the activation of NI4DPH oxidase. Binding of p67-phox to cytochrome b558 induces a gradual conformational change of cytochrome b558, which then becomes capable of transferring electrons produced in the cytoplasm from NADPH to oxygen, reducing the latter to O2-. The isolation of NADPH oxidase in its active and assembled form has allowed us to identify the activation partners of the oxidase complex. We also demonstrated that calcium-binding myeloid-related proteins (MRP). that are abundant in neutrophil cytoplasm, play a fundamental role in this activation. CGD patient management is essentially based on long-term high-dose prophylactic antibiotic administration. Gene therapy is promising but some distance away from practical application. We are currently investigating a new therapeutic concept that consists of transferring cytochrome b558 protein directly into deficient cells (initially the PLB 985 X cell line), encapsulated in proteoliposomes, which are hydrophobic.

Liposome-mediated cellular delivery of active gp91(phox).

BACKGROUND: Gp91(phox) is a transmembrane protein and the catalytic core of the NADPH oxidase complex of neutrophils. Lack of this protein causes chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a rare genetic disorder characterized by severe and recurrent infections due to the incapacity of phagocytes to kill microorganisms. METHODOLOGY: Here we optimize a prokaryotic cell-free expression system to produce integral mammalian membrane proteins. CONCLUSIONS: Using this system, we over-express truncated forms of the gp91(phox) protein under soluble form in the presence of detergents or lipids resulting in active proteins with a "native-like" conformation. All the proteins exhibit diaphorase activity in the presence of cytosolic factors (p67(phox), p47(phox), p40(phox) and Rac) and arachidonic acid. We also produce proteoliposomes containing gp91(phox) protein and demonstrate that these proteins exhibit activities similar to their cellular counterpart. The proteoliposomes induce rapid cellular delivery and relocation of recombinant gp91(phox) proteins to the plasma membrane. Our data support the concept of cell-free expression technology for producing recombinant proteoliposomes and their use for functional and structural studies or protein therapy by complementing deficient cells in gp91(phox) protein.

New insights into the membrane topology of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase: characterization of an anti-gp91-phox conformational monoclonal antibody.

Cytochrome b(558) is the catalytic core of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase that mediates the production of bactericidal reactive oxygen species. Cytochrome b(558) is formed by two subunits gp91-phox and p22-phox (1/1), non-covalently associated. Its activation depends on the interaction with cytosolic regulatory proteins (p67-phox, p47-phox, p40-phox and Rac) leading to an electron transfer from NADPH to molecular oxygen and to the release of superoxide anions. Several studies have suggested that the activation process was linked to a change in cytochrome b(558) conformation. Recently, we confirmed this hypothesis by isolating cytochrome b(558) in a constitutively active form. To characterize active and inactive cytochrome b(558) conformations, we produced four novel monoclonal antibodies (7A2, 13B6, 15B12 and 8G11) raised against a mixture of cytochrome b(558) purified from both resting and stimulated neutrophils. The four antibodies labeled gp91-phox and bound to both native and denatured cytochrome b(558). Interestingly, they were specific of extracellular domains of the protein. Phage display mapping combined to the study of recombinant gp91-phox truncated forms allowed the identification of epitope regions. These antibodies were then employed to investigate the NADPH oxidase activation process. In particular, they were shown to inhibit almost completely the NADPH oxidase activity reconstituted in vitro with membrane and cytosol. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis and confocal microscopy performed on stimulated neutrophils pointed out the capacity of the monoclonal antibody 13B6 to bind preferentially to the active form of cytochrome b(558). All these data suggested that the four novel antibodies are potentially powerful tools to detect the expression of cytochrome b(558) in intact cells and to analyze its membrane topology. Moreover, the antibody 13B6 may be conformationally sensitive and used as a probe for identifying the active NADPH oxidase complex in vivo.

Prospective comparison of six non-invasive scores for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis have recently been developed as an alternative to liver biopsy. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of 6 scores (MP3, Fibrotest, Fibrometer, Hepascore, Forns' score and APRI). METHODS: We studied 180 chronic hepatitis C patients. Liver fibrosis was staged according to the METAVIR scoring system. RESULTS: Overall diagnostic performance of scores determined by AUROCs ranged from 0.86 for Fibrometer to 0.78 for Forns' score (NS) for discriminating F0F1 versus F2F3F4. For discriminating F0F1F2 versus F3F4, AUROCs ranged from 0.91 for Fibrometer to 0.78 for Forns' score (p<0.02). Significant or extensive fibrosis was predicted in 10-86% of patients with positive predictive value (PPV) ranging from 55% to 94%. Using logistic regression, statistical independence was demonstrated for MP3, Fibrotest and APRI. Diagnostic performance of paired-combination scores was then evaluated. The best combinations could select one-third of patients for whom either absence of significant fibrosis or presence of extensive fibrosis could be predicted with more than 90% of certainty. CONCLUSIONS: Current non-invasive scores give reliable information on liver fibrosis in one-third of chronic hepatitis C patients, especially when used in combination.

Leu505 of Nox2 is crucial for optimal p67phox-dependent activation of the flavocytochrome b558 during phagocytic NADPH oxidase assembly.

The role of Leu505 of Nox2 on the NADPH oxidase activation process was investigated. An X-CGD PLB-985 cell line expressing the Leu505Arg Nox2 mutant was obtained, exactly mimicking the phenotype of a previously published X91+-CGD case. In a reconstituted cell-free system (CFS), NADPH oxidase and iodonitrotetrazolium (INT) reductase activities were partially maintained concomitantly with a partial cytosolic factors translocation to the plasma membrane. This suggests that assembly and electron transfer from NADPH occurred partially in the Leu505Arg Nox2 mutant. Moreover, in a simplified CFS using purified mutant cytochrome b558 and recombinant p67phox, p47phox, and Rac1proteins, we found that the Km for NADPH and for NADH was about three times higher than those of purified WT cytochrome b558, indicating that the Leu505Arg mutation induces a slight decrease of the affinity for NADPH and NADH. In addition, oxidase activity can be extended by increasing the amount of p67phox in the simplified CFS assay. However, the maximal reconstituted oxidase activity using WT purified cytochrome b558 could not be reached using mutant cytochrome b558. In a three-dimensional model of the C-terminal tail of Nox2, Leu505 appears to have a strategic position just at the entry of the NADPH binding site and at the end of the alpha-helical loop (residues 484-504), a potential cytosolic factor binding region. The Leu505Arg mutation seems to affect the oxidase complex activation process through alteration of cytosolic factors binding and more particularly the p67phox interaction with cytochrome b558, thus affecting NADPH access to its binding site.

NAD(P)H oxidase activity of Nox4 in chondrocytes is both inducible and involved in collagenase expression.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are regulators of redox-sensitive cell signaling pathways. In osteoarthritis, human interleukin-1beta is implicated in cartilage destruction through an ROS-dependent matrix metalloproteinase production. To determine the molecular source of ROS production in the human IL-1beta (hIL-1beta)-sensitive chondrocyte immortalized cell line C-20/A4, transfected cells were constructed that overexpress NAD(P)H oxidases. First, RT-PCR analysis showed that the C-20/A4 cell line expressed Nox2, Nox4, p22( phox ), and p67( phox ), but not p47( phox ). It was found that ROS production by C-20/A4 chondrocytes does not depend on PMA and ionomycin activation. This indicates that Nox2 was not involved in the production of ROS. In C- 20/A4 cells that overexpress Nox4, hIL-1beta stimulated ROS production three times more than the normal production of C-20/A4 cells. Moreover, there was a fourfold increase in the production of collagenase (MMP-1) by chondrocytes that overexpress Nox4. Interestingly, MMP-1 production in cells that overexpress Nox2 was not sensitive to hIL-1beta. These data suggest that under hIL-1beta stimulation, C-20/A4 chondrocytes produce MMP-1 through a Nox4-mediated, ROS-dependent pathway.

Increased clozapine plasma concentrations and side effects induced by smoking cessation in 2 CYP1A2 genotyped patients.

Clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic, depends mainly on cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) for its metabolic clearance. CYP1A2 is inducible by smoking, and lower plasma concentrations of clozapine are measured in smokers than in nonsmokers. Case reports have been published on the effects of discontinuing smoking in patients receiving clozapine, which might lead to elevated plasma concentrations and severe side effects. We present 2 cases on the consequences of smoking cessation in patients receiving this drug. In the first patient, smoking cessation resulted, within 2 weeks, in severe sedation and fatigue, with an approximately 3-fold increase of plasma clozapine concentrations. In the second patient, a very high plasma concentration of clozapine (3004 ng/mL) was measured 6 days following a 16-day stay in a general hospital, during which smoking was prohibited. In the latter patient, the replacement of omeprazole, a strong CYP1A2 inducer, by pantoprazole, a weaker CYP1A2 inducer, could have contributed, in addition to smoking cessation, to the observed strong increase of plasma clozapine concentrations. Genotyping of the 2 patients revealed that they were carriers of the AA genotype for the -164C>A polymorphism (CYP1A2*1F) in intron 1 of CYP1A2 gene, which has previously been shown to confer a high inducibility of CYP1A2 by smoking. Thus, at the initiation of clozapine treatment, smoking patients should be informed that, if they decide to stop smoking, they are encouraged to do so but must inform their prescriber beforehand. Also, because of the increased use of no-smoking policies in many hospitals, studies examining the consequences of such policies on the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2, taking into account different CYP1A2 genotypes, are needed.

Crucial role of two potential cytosolic regions of Nox2, 191TSSTKTIRRS200 and 484DESQANHFAVHHDEEKD500, on NADPH oxidase activation.

Assembly of cytosolic factors p67(phox) and p47(phox) with cytochrome b(558) is one of the crucial keys for NADPH oxidase activation. Certain sequences of Nox2 appear to be involved in cytosolic factor interaction. The role of the D-loop (191)TSSTKTIRRS(200) and the C-terminal (484)DESQANHFAVHHDEEKD(500) of Nox2 on oxidase activity and assembly was investigated. Charged amino acids were mutated to neutral or reverse charge by directed mutagenesis to generate 21 mutants. Recombinant wild-type or mutant Nox2 were expressed in the X-CGD PLB-985 cell model. K195A/E, R198E, R199E, and RR198199QQ/AA mutations in the D-loop of Nox2 totally abolished oxidase activity. However, these D-loop mutants demonstrated normal p47(phox) translocation and iodonitrotetrazolium (INT) reductase activity, suggesting that charged amino acids of this region are essential for electron transfer from FAD to oxygen. Replacement of Nox2 D-loop with its homolog of Nox1, Nox3, or Nox4 was fully functional. In addition, fMLP (formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine)-activated R199Q-Nox2 and D-loop(Nox4)-Nox2 mutants exhibited four to eight times the NADPH oxidase activity of control cells, suggesting that these mutations lead to a more efficient oxidase activation process. In contrast, the D484T and D500A/R/G mutants of the alpha-helical loop of Nox2 exhibited no NADPH oxidase and INT reductase activities associated with a defective p47(phox) membrane translocation. This suggests that the alpha-helical loop of the C-terminal of Nox2 is probably involved in the correct assembly of the NADPH oxidase complex occurring during activation, permitting cytosolic factor translocation and electron transfer from NADPH to FAD.

Characterization of six novel mutations in the CYBB gene leading to different sub-types of X-linked chronic granulomatous disease.

Chronic granulomatous disease is an inherited disorder in which phagocytes lack a functional NADPH oxidase and so cannot generate superoxide anions (O(2) (-)). The most common form is caused by mutations in CYBB encoding gp91 phox, the heavy chain of flavocytochrome b(558) (XCGD). We investigated 11 male patients and their families suspected of suffering from X-linked CGD. These XCGD patients were classified as having different variants (X91(0), X91(-) or X91(+)) according to their cytochrome b(558) expression and NADPH oxidase activity. Nine patients had X91(0) CGD, one had X91(-) CGD and one had X91(+) CGD. Six mutations in CYBB were novel. Of the four new X91(0) CGD cases, three were point mutations: G65A in exon 2, G387T in exon 5 and G970T in exon 9, leading to premature stop codons at positions Try18, Try125 and Glu320, respectively, in gp91 phox. One case of X91(0) CGD originated from a new 1005G deletion detected in exon 9. Surprisingly, four nonsense mutations in exon 5 led to the generation of two mRNAs, one with a normal size containing the mutation and the other in which exon 5 had been spliced. A novel X91(-) CGD case with low gp91 phox expression was diagnosed. It was caused by an 11-bp deletion in the linking region between exon 12 and intron 12, activating a new cryptic site. Finally, a new X91(+) CGD case was detected, characterized by a missense mutation Leu505Arg in the potential NADPH-binding site of gp91 phox. No clear correlation between the severity of the clinical symptoms and the sub-type of XCGD could be established.

Functional analysis of two-amino acid substitutions in gp91 phox in a patient with X-linked flavocytochrome b558-positive chronic granulomatous disease by means of transgenic PLB-985 cells.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare inherited disorder in which phagocytes lack NADPH oxidase activity. The most common form is caused by mutations in the CYBB gene encoding gp91 phox protein, the heavy chain of cytochrome b(558), which is the redox element of NADPH oxidase. In some rare cases, the mutated gp91 phox is normally expressed but no NADPH oxidase can be detected. This type of CGD is called X91(+) CGD. We have previously reported an X(+) CGD case with a double-missense mutation in gp91 phox. Transgenic PLB-985 cells have now been made to study the impact of each single mutation on oxidase activity and assembly to rule out a possible new polymorphism in the CYBB gene. The His303Asn/Pro304Arg gp91 phox transgenic PLB-985 cells exactly mimic the phenotype of the neutrophils of the X(+) CGD patient. The His303Asn mutation is sufficient to inhibit oxidase activity in intact cells and in a broken cell system, whereas in the Pro304Arg mutant, residual activity suggests that the Pro304Arg substitution is less devastating to oxidase activity than the His303Asn mutation. The study of NADPH oxidase assembly following the in vitro and in vivo translocation of cytosolic factors p47 phox and p67 phox has demonstrated that, in the double mutant and in the His303Asn mutant, NADPH oxidase assembly is abolished, although the translocation is only attenuated in Pro304Arg mutant cells. Thus, even though the His303Asn mutation has a more severe inhibitory effect on NADPH oxidase activity and assembly than the Pro304Arg mutation, neither mutation can be considered as a polymorphism.

Localization of Nox2 N-terminus using polyclonal antipeptide antibodies.

Nox2/gp91(phox) (where phox is phagocyte oxidase) is the catalytic membrane subunit of the granulocyte NADPH oxidase complex involved in host defence. The current model of membrane topology of Nox2 is based upon the identification of glycosylation sites, of regions that interact with the regulatory cytosolic factors and of the epitopes recognized by antibodies. So far, the localization of the N-terminus of Nox2 was only speculative. In order to clarify this localization, we raised a polyclonal antiserum against the N-terminal sequence M(1)GNWVAVNEGL(11). Purified antibodies recognize the mature protein as a broad band at 91 kDa (glycosylated form) or a band at 55 kDa after deglycosylation. Immunocytochemistry and flow-cytometry analysis show a strong binding of the anti-N-terminal antibodies to differentiated HL60 cells and neutrophils respectively, after permeabilization only. The N-terminus of Nox2 is therefore present in the mature protein and is located to the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane.