Translational repression of pre-formed cytokine-encoding mRNA prevents chronic activation of memory T cells.

Memory T cells are critical for the immune response to recurring infections. Their instantaneous reactivity to pathogens is empowered by the persistent expression of cytokine-encoding mRNAs. How the translation of proteins from pre-formed cytokine-encoding mRNAs is prevented in the absence of infection has remained unclear. Here we found that protein production in memory T cells was blocked via a 3' untranslated region (3' UTR)-mediated process. Germline deletion of AU-rich elements (AREs) in the Ifng-3' UTR led to chronic cytokine production in memory T cells. This aberrant protein production did not result from increased expression and/or half-life of the mRNA. Instead, AREs blocked the recruitment of cytokine-encoding mRNA to ribosomes; this block depended on the ARE-binding protein ZFP36L2. Thus, AREs mediate repression of translation in mouse and human memory T cells by preventing undesirable protein production from pre-formed cytokine-encoding mRNAs in the absence of infection.

Proteomic Analyses of Human Regulatory T Cells Reveal Adaptations in Signaling Pathways that Protect Cellular Identity.

To obtain a molecular definition of regulatory T (Treg) cell identity, we performed proteomics and transcriptomics on various populations of human regulatory and conventional CD4+ T (Tconv) cells. A protein expression signature was identified that defines all Treg cells, and another signature that defines effector Treg cells. These signatures could not be extrapolated from transcriptome data. Unique cell-biological and metabolic features in Treg cells were defined, as well as specific adaptations in cytokine, TCR, and costimulatory receptor signaling pathways. One such adaptation-selective STAT4 deficiency-prevented destabilization of Treg cell identity and function by inflammatory cytokines, while these signals could still induce critical transcription factors and homing receptors via other pathways. Furthermore, our study revealed surface markers that identify FOXP3+CD4+ T cells with distinct functional properties. Our findings suggest that adaptation in signaling pathways protect Treg cell identity and present a resource for further research into Treg cell biology.

Intestinal tissue-resident memory T cells maintain distinct identity from circulating memory T cells after in vitro restimulation.

Resident memory T (TRM) cells have been recently established as an important subset of memory T cells that provide early and essential protection against reinfection in the absence of circulating memory T cells. Recent findings showing that TRM expand in vivo after repeated antigenic stimulation indicate that these memory T cells are not terminally differentiated. This suggests an opportunity for in vitro TRM expansion to apply in an immunotherapy setting. However, it has also been shown that TRM may not maintain their identity and form circulating memory T cells after in vivo restimulation. Therefore, we set out to determine how TRM respond to antigenic activation in culture. Using Listeria monocytogenes and LCMV infection models, we found that TRM from the intraepithelial compartment of the small intestine expand in vitro after antigenic stimulation and subsequent resting in homeostatic cytokines. A large fraction of the expanded TRM retained their phenotype, including the expression of key TRM markers CD69 and CD103 (ITGAE). The optimal culture of TRM required low O2 pressure to maintain the expression of these and other TRM-associated molecules. Expanded TRM retained their effector capacity to produce cytokines after restimulation, but did not acquire a highly glycolytic profile indicative of effector T cells. The proteomic analysis confirmed TRM profile retention, including expression of TRM-related transcription factors, tissue retention factors, adhesion molecules, and enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism. Collectively, our data indicate that limiting oxygen conditions supports in vitro expansion of TRM cells that maintain their TRM phenotype, at least in part, suggesting an opportunity for therapeutic strategies that require in vitro expansion of TRM.

Endothelial ICAM-1 Adhesome Recruits CD44 for Optimal Transcellular Migration of Human CTLs.

The endothelial lining of blood vessels is covered with a thin polysaccharide coat called the glycocalyx. This layer of polysaccharides contains hyaluronan that forms a protective coat on the endothelial surface. Upon inflammation, leukocytes leave the circulation and enter inflamed tissue by crossing inflamed endothelial cells, mediated by adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1/CD54. To what extent the glycocalyx participates in the regulation of leukocyte transmigration is not clear. During extravasation, leukocyte integrins cluster ICAM-1, resulting in the recruitment of a number of intracellular proteins and subsequent downstream effects in the endothelial cells. For our studies, we used primary human endothelial and immune cells. With an unbiased proteomics approach, we identified the full ICAM-1 adhesome and identified 93 (to our knowledge) new subunits of the ICAM-1 adhesome. Interestingly, we found the glycoprotein CD44 as part of the glycocalyx to be recruited to clustered ICAM-1 specifically. Our data demonstrate that CD44 binds hyaluronan to the endothelial surface, where it locally concentrates and presents chemokines that are essential for leukocytes to cross the endothelial lining. Taken together, we discover a link between ICAM-1 clustering and hyaluronan-mediated chemokine presentation by recruiting hyaluronan to sites of leukocyte adhesion via CD44.

Memory CD8+ T cells upregulate glycolysis and effector functions under limiting oxygen conditions.

Memory CD8+ T cells are indispensable for maintaining long-term immunity against intracellular pathogens and tumors. Despite their presence at oxygen-deprived infected tissue sites or in tumors, the impact of local oxygen pressure on memory CD8+ T cells remains largely unclear. We sought to elucidate how oxygen pressure impacts memory CD8+ T cells arising after infection with Listeria monocytogenes-OVA. Our data revealed that reduced oxygen pressure during in vitro culture switched CD8+ T cell metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to a glycolytic phenotype. Quantitative proteomic analysis showed that limiting oxygen conditions increased the expression of glucose transporters and components of the glycolytic pathway, while decreasing TCA cycle and mitochondrial respiratory chain proteins. The altered CD8+ T cell metabolism did not affect the expansion potential, but enhanced the granzyme B and IFN-γ production capacity. In vivo, memory CD8+ T cells cultured under low oxygen pressure provided protection against bacterial rechallenge. Taken together, our study indicates that strategies of cellular immune therapy may benefit from reducing oxygen during culture to develop memory CD8+ T cells with superior effector functions.

Distinct protein patterns related to postnatal development in small for gestational age preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants, especially those born small for gestational age (SGA), are at risk of short-term and long-term health complications. Characterization of changes in circulating proteins postnatally in preterm infants may provide valuable fundamental insights into this population. Here, we investigated postnatal developmental patterns in preterm infants and explored protein signatures that deviate between SGA infants and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants using a mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics workflow. METHODS: Longitudinal serum samples obtained at postnatal days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 from 67 preterm infants were analyzed using unbiased MS-based proteomics. RESULTS: 314 out of 833 quantified serum proteins change postnatally, including previously described age-related changes in immunoglobulins, hemoglobin subunits, and new developmental patterns, e.g. apolipoproteins (APOA4) and terminal complement cascade (C9) proteins. Limited differences between SGA and AGA infants were found at birth while longitudinal monitoring revealed 69 deviating proteins, including insulin-sensitizing hormone adiponectin, platelet proteins, and 24 proteins with an annotated function in the immune response. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the potential of MS-based serum profiling in defining circulating protein trajectories in the preterm infant population and its ability to identify longitudinal alterations in protein levels associated with SGA. IMPACT: Postnatal changes of circulating proteins in preterm infants have not fully been elucidated but may contribute to development of health complications. Mass spectrometry-based analysis is an attractive approach to study circulating proteins in preterm infants with limited material. Longitudinal plasma profiling reveals postnatal developmental-related patterns in preterm infants (314/833 proteins) including previously described changes, but also previously unreported proteins. Longitudinal monitoring revealed an immune response signature between SGA and AGA infants. This study highlights the importance of taking postnatal changes into account for translational studies in preterm infants.

N-glycan-mediated shielding of ADAMTS13 prevents binding of pathogenic autoantibodies in immune-mediated TTP.

Immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is an autoimmune disorder caused by the development of autoantibodies targeting different domains of ADAMTS13. Profiling studies have shown that residues R568, F592, R660, Y661, and Y665 within exosite-3 of the spacer domain provide an immunodominant region of ADAMTS13 for pathogenic autoantibodies that develop in patients with iTTP. Modification of these 5 core residues with the goal of reducing autoantibody binding revealed a significant tradeoff between autoantibody resistance and proteolytic activity. Here, we employed structural bioinformatics to identify a larger epitope landscape on the ADAMTS13 spacer domain. Models of spacer-antibody complexes predicted that residues R568, L591, F592, K608, M609, R636, L637, R639, R660, Y661, Y665, and L668 contribute to an expanded epitope within the spacer domain. Based on bioinformatics-guided predictions, we designed a panel of N-glycan insertions in this expanded epitope to reduce the binding of spacer domain autoantibodies. One N-glycan variant (NGLY3-ADAMTS13, containing a K608N substitution) showed strongly reduced reactivity with TTP patient sera (28%) as compared with WT-ADAMTS13 (100%). Insertion of an N-glycan at amino acid position 608 did not interfere with processing of von Willebrand factor, positioning the resulting NGLY3-ADAMTS13 variant as a potential novel therapeutic option for treatment of iTTP.

Mass spectrometry-based analysis on the impact of whole blood donation on the global plasma proteome.

BACKGROUND: Biomonitoring may provide important insights into the impact of a whole blood donation for individual blood donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Here, we used unbiased mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics to assess longitudinal changes in the global plasma proteome, after a single blood donation for new and regular donors. Subsequently, we compared plasma proteomes of 76 male and female whole blood donors, that were grouped based on their ferritin and hemoglobin (Hb) levels. RESULTS: The longitudinal analysis showed limited changes in the plasma proteomes of new and regular donors after a whole blood donation during a 180-day follow-up period, apart from a significant short-term decrease in fibronectin. No differences were observed in the plasma proteomes of donors with high versus low Hb and/or ferritin levels. Plasma proteins with the highest variation between and within donors included pregnancy zone protein, which was associated with sex, Alfa 1-antitrypsin which was associated with the allelic variation, and Immunoglobulin D. Coexpression analysis revealed clustering of proteins that are associated with platelet, red cell, and neutrophil signatures as well as with the complement system and immune responses, including a prominent correlating cluster of immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin J chain (JCHAIN), and CD5 antigen-like (CD5L). DISCUSSION: Overall, our proteomic approach shows that whole blood donation has a limited impact on the plasma proteins measured. Our findings suggest that plasma profiling can be successfully employed to consistently detect proteins and protein complexes that reflect the functionality and integrity of platelets, red blood cells, and immune cells in blood donors and thus highlights its potential use for donor health monitoring.

CD29 identifies IFN-γ-producing human CD8+ T cells with an increased cytotoxic potential.

Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells can effectively kill target cells by producing cytokines, chemokines, and granzymes. Expression of these effector molecules is however highly divergent, and tools that identify and preselect CD8+ T cells with a cytotoxic expression profile are lacking. Human CD8+ T cells can be divided into IFN-γ- and IL-2-producing cells. Unbiased transcriptomics and proteomics analysis on cytokine-producing fixed CD8+ T cells revealed that IL-2+ cells produce helper cytokines, and that IFN-γ+ cells produce cytotoxic molecules. IFN-γ+ T cells expressed the surface marker CD29 already prior to stimulation. CD29 also marked T cells with cytotoxic gene expression from different tissues in single-cell RNA-sequencing data. Notably, CD29+ T cells maintained the cytotoxic phenotype during cell culture, suggesting a stable phenotype. Preselecting CD29-expressing MART1 TCR-engineered T cells potentiated the killing of target cells. We therefore propose that CD29 expression can help evaluate and select for potent therapeutic T cell products.

Factor VIII-driven changes in activated factor IX explored by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry.

The assembly of the enzyme-activated factor IX (FIXa) with its cofactor, activated factor VIII (FVIIIa) is a crucial event in the coagulation cascade. The absence or dysfunction of either enzyme or cofactor severely compromises hemostasis and causes hemophilia. FIXa is a notoriously inefficient enzyme that needs FVIIIa to drive its hemostatic potential, by a mechanism that has remained largely elusive to date. In this study, we employed hydrogen-deuterium exchange-mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to investigate how FIXa responds to assembly with FVIIIa in the presence of phospholipids. This revealed a complex pattern of changes that partially overlaps with those changes that occur upon occupation of the substrate-binding site by an active site-directed inhibitor. Among the changes driven by both cofactor and substrate, HDX-MS highlighted several surface loops that have been implicated in allosteric networks in related coagulation enzymes. Inspection of FVIIIa-specific changes indicated that 3 helices are involved in FIXa-FVIIIa assembly. These are part of a basic interface that is also known as exosite II. Mutagenesis of basic residues herein, followed by functional studies, identified this interface as an extended FVIIIa-interactive patch. HDX-MS was also applied to recombinant FIXa variants that are associated with severe hemophilia B. This revealed that single amino acid substitutions can silence the extended network of FVIIIa-driven allosteric changes. We conclude that HDX-MS has the potential to visualize the functional impact of disease-associated mutations on enzyme-cofactor complexes in the hemostatic system.

Syntaxin 5 determines Weibel-Palade body size and von Willebrand factor secretion by controlling Golgi architecture.

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a multimeric hemostatic protein primarily synthesized in endothelial cells. VWF is stored in endothelial storage organelles, the Weibel-Palade bodies (WPB), whose biogenesis strongly depends on VWF anterograde trafficking and Golgi architecture. Elongated WPB morphology is correlated to longer VWF strings with better adhesive properties. We previously identified the SNARE SEC22B, which is involved in anterograde endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi transport, as a novel regulator of WPB elongation. To elucidate novel determinants of WPB morphology we explored endothelial SEC22B interaction partners in a mass spectrometry-based approach, identifying the Golgi SNARE Syntaxin 5 (STX5). We established STX5 knockdown in endothelial cells using shRNA-dependent silencing and analyzed WPB and Golgi morphology, using confocal and electron microscopy. STX5-depleted endothelial cells exhibited extensive Golgi fragmentation and decreased WPB length, which was associated with reduced intracellular VWF levels, and impaired stimulated VWF secretion. However, the secretion-incompetent organelles in shSTX5 cells maintained WPB markers such as Angiopoietin 2, P-selectin, Rab27A, and CD63. In brief, we identified SNARE protein STX5 as a novel regulator of WPB biogenesis.

GPA33: A Marker to Identify Stable Human Regulatory T Cells.

FOXP3-expressing regulatory T (Treg) cells safeguard immunological tolerance. Treg cells can be generated during thymic development (called thymic Treg [tTreg] cells) or derived from mature conventional CD4+ T cells that underwent TGF-ß-mediated conversion in the periphery (called peripheral Treg [pTreg] cells). Murine studies have shown that tTreg cells exhibit strong lineage fidelity, whereas pTreg cells can revert into conventional CD4+ T cells. Their stronger lineage commitment makes tTreg cells the safest cells to use in adoptive cell therapy, increasingly used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Markers to distinguish human tTreg cells from pTreg cells have, however, not been found. Based on combined proteomic and transcriptomic approaches, we report that the Ig superfamily protein GPA33 is expressed on a subset of human Treg cells. GPA33 is acquired late during tTreg cell development but is not expressed on TGF-ß-induced Treg cells. GPA33 identifies Treg cells in human blood that lack the ability to produce effector cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-17), regardless of differentiation stage. GPA33high Treg cells universally express the transcription factor Helios that preferentially marks tTreg cells and can robustly and stably be expanded in vitro even without rapamycin. Expanded GPA33high Treg cells are suppressive, unable to produce proinflammatory cytokines, and exhibit the epigenetic modifications of the FOXP3 gene enhancer CNS2, necessary for indelible expression of this critical transcription factor. Our findings thus suggest that GPA33 identifies human tTreg cells and provide a strategy to isolate such cells for safer and more efficacious adoptive cell therapy.

Flow-induced Reorganization of Laminin-integrin Networks Within the Endothelial Basement Membrane Uncovered by Proteomics.

The vessel wall is continuously exposed to hemodynamic forces generated by blood flow. Endothelial mechanosensors perceive and translate mechanical signals via cellular signaling pathways into biological processes that control endothelial development, phenotype and function. To assess the hemodynamic effects on the endothelium on a system-wide level, we applied a quantitative mass spectrometry approach combined with cell surface chemical footprinting. SILAC-labeled endothelial cells were subjected to flow-induced shear stress for 0, 24 or 48 h, followed by chemical labeling of surface proteins using a non-membrane permeable biotin label, and analysis of the whole proteome and the cell surface proteome by LC-MS/MS analysis. These studies revealed that of the >5000 quantified proteins 104 were altered, which were highly enriched for extracellular matrix proteins and proteins involved in cell-matrix adhesion. Cell surface proteomics indicated that LAMA4 was proteolytically processed upon flow-exposure, which corresponded to the decreased LAMA4 mass observed on immunoblot. Immunofluorescence microscopy studies highlighted that the endothelial basement membrane was drastically remodeled upon flow exposure. We observed a network-like pattern of LAMA4 and LAMA5, which corresponded to the localization of laminin-adhesion molecules ITGA6 and ITGB4. Furthermore, the adaptation to flow-exposure did not affect the inflammatory response to tumor necrosis factor α, indicating that inflammation and flow trigger fundamentally distinct endothelial signaling pathways with limited reciprocity and synergy. Taken together, this study uncovers the blood flow-induced remodeling of the basement membrane and stresses the importance of the subendothelial basement membrane in vascular homeostasis.

D' domain region Arg782-Cys799 of von Willebrand factor contributes to factor VIII binding.

In the complex with von Willebrand factor (VWF) factor VIII (FVIII) is protected from rapid clearance from circulation. Although it has been established that the FVIII binding site resides in the N-terminal D'-D3 domains of VWF, detailed information about the amino acid regions that contribute to FVIII binding is still lacking. In the present study, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry was employed to gain insight into the FVIII binding region on VWF. To this end, time-dependent deuterium incorporation was assessed in D'-D3 and the FVIII-D'-D3 complex. Data showed reduced deuterium incorporation in the D' region Arg782-Cys799 in the FVIII-D'-D3 complex compared to D'-D3. This implies that this region interacts with FVIII. Site-directed mutagenesis of the six charged amino acids in Arg782-Cys799 into alanine residues followed by surface plasmon resonance analysis and solid phase binding studies revealed that replacement of Asp796 affected FVIII binding. A marked decrease in FVIII binding was observed for the D'-D3 Glu787Ala variant. The same was observed for D'-D3 variants in which Asp796 and Glu787 were replaced by Asn796 and Gln787. Site-directed mutagenesis of Leu786, which together with Glu787 and Cys789 forms a short helical region in the crystal structure of D'-D3, also had a marked impact on FVIII binding. The combined results show that the amino acid region Arg782-Cys799 is part of a FVIII binding surface. Our study provides new insight into FVIII-VWF complex formation and defects therein that may be associated with bleeding caused by markedly reduced levels of FVIII.

The RNA-Binding Protein ATXN2 is Expressed during Megakaryopoiesis and May Control Timing of Gene Expression.

Megakaryopoiesis is the process during which megakaryoblasts differentiate to polyploid megakaryocytes that can subsequently shed thousands of platelets in the circulation. Megakaryocytes accumulate mRNA during their maturation, which is required for the correct spatio-temporal production of cytoskeletal proteins, membranes and platelet-specific granules, and for the subsequent shedding of thousands of platelets per cell. Gene expression profiling identified the RNA binding protein ATAXIN2 (ATXN2) as a putative novel regulator of megakaryopoiesis. ATXN2 expression is high in CD34+/CD41+ megakaryoblasts and sharply decreases upon maturation to megakaryocytes. ATXN2 associates with DDX6 suggesting that it may mediate repression of mRNA translation during early megakaryopoiesis. Comparative transcriptome and proteome analysis on megakaryoid cells (MEG-01) with differential ATXN2 expression identified ATXN2 dependent gene expression of mRNA and protein involved in processes linked to hemostasis. Mice deficient for Atxn2 did not display differences in bleeding times, but the expression of key surface receptors on platelets, such as ITGB3 (carries the CD61 antigen) and CD31 (PECAM1), was deregulated and platelet aggregation upon specific triggers was reduced.

Defective AP-3-dependent VAMP8 trafficking impairs Weibel-Palade body exocytosis in Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome type 2 blood outgrowth endothelial cells.

Weibel-Palade bodies are endothelial secretory organelles that contain von Willebrand factor, P-selectin and CD63. Release of von Willebrand factor from Weibel-Palade bodies is crucial for platelet adhesion during primary hemostasis. Endosomal trafficking of proteins like CD63 to Weibel-Palade bodies during maturation is dependent on the adaptor protein complex 3 complex. Mutations in the AP3B1 gene, which encodes the adaptor protein complex 3 ß1 subunit, result in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome 2, a rare genetic disorder that leads to neutropenia and a mild bleeding diathesis. This is caused by abnormal granule formation in neutrophils and platelets due to defects in trafficking of cargo to secretory organelles. The impact of these defects on the secretory pathway of the endothelium is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of adaptor protein complex 3-dependent mechanisms in trafficking of proteins during Weibel-Palade body maturation in endothelial cells. An ex vivo patient-derived endothelial model of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 2 was established using blood outgrowth endothelial cells that were isolated from a patient with compound heterozygous mutations in AP3B1 Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 2 endothelial cells and CRISPR-Cas9-engineered AP3B1-/- endothelial cells contain Weibel-Palade bodies that are entirely devoid of CD63, indicative of disrupted endosomal trafficking. Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 2 endothelial cells have impaired Ca2+-mediated and cAMP-mediated exocytosis. Whole proteome analysis revealed that, apart from adaptor protein complex 3 ß1, also the µ1 subunit and the v-SNARE VAMP8 were depleted. Stimulus-induced von Willebrand factor secretion was impaired in CRISPR-Cas9-engineered VAMP8-/-endothelial cells. Our data show that defects in adaptor protein complex 3-dependent maturation of Weibel-Palade bodies impairs exocytosis by affecting the recruitment of VAMP8.

Weibel-Palade Body Localized Syntaxin-3 Modulates Von Willebrand Factor Secretion From Endothelial Cells.

OBJECTIVE: Endothelial cells store VWF (von Willebrand factor) in rod-shaped secretory organelles, called Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs). WPB exocytosis is coordinated by a complex network of Rab GTPases, Rab effectors, and SNARE (soluble NSF attachment protein receptor) proteins. We have previously identified STXBP1 as the link between the Rab27A-Slp4-a complex on WPBs and the SNARE proteins syntaxin-2 and -3. In this study, we investigate the function of syntaxin-3 in VWF secretion. APPROACH AND RESULTS: In human umbilical vein endothelial cells and in blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) from healthy controls, endogenous syntaxin-3 immunolocalized to WPBs. A detailed analysis of BOECs isolated from a patient with variant microvillus inclusion disease, carrying a homozygous mutation in STX3(STX3-/-), showed a loss of syntaxin-3 protein and absence of WPB-associated syntaxin-3 immunoreactivity. Ultrastructural analysis revealed no detectable differences in morphology or prevalence of immature or mature WPBs in control versus STX3-/- BOECs. VWF multimer analysis showed normal patterns in plasma of the microvillus inclusion disease patient, and media from STX3-/- BOECs, together indicating WPB formation and maturation are unaffected by absence of syntaxin-3. However, a defect in basal as well as Ca2+- and cAMP-mediated VWF secretion was found in the STX3-/- BOECs. We also show that syntaxin-3 interacts with the WPB-associated SNARE protein VAMP8 (vesicle-associated membrane protein-8). CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal syntaxin-3 as a novel WPB-associated SNARE protein that controls WPB exocytosis.

The D' domain of von Willebrand factor requires the presence of the D3 domain for optimal factor VIII binding.

The D'-D3 fragment of von Willebrand factor (VWF) can be divided into TIL'-E'-VWD3-C8_3-TIL3-E3 subdomains of which TIL'-E'-VWD3 comprises the main factor VIII (FVIII)-binding region. Yet, von Willebrand disease (VWD) Type 2 Normandy (2N) mutations, associated with impaired FVIII interaction, have been identified in C8_3-TIL3-E3. We now assessed the role of the VWF (sub)domains for FVIII binding using isolated D', D3 and monomeric C-terminal subdomain truncation variants of D'-D3. Competitive binding assays and surface plasmon resonance analysis revealed that D' requires the presence of D3 for effective interaction with FVIII. The isolated D3 domain, however, did not show any FVIII binding. Results indicated that the E3 subdomain is dispensable for FVIII binding. Subsequent deletion of the other subdomains from D3 resulted in a progressive decrease in FVIII-binding affinity. Chemical footprinting mass spectrometry suggested increased conformational changes at the N-terminal side of D3 upon subsequent subdomain deletions at the C-terminal side of the D3. A D'-D3 variant with a VWD type 2N mutation in VWD3 (D879N) or C8_3 (C1060R) also revealed conformational changes in D3, which were proportional to a decrease in FVIII-binding affinity. A D'-D3 variant with a putative VWD type 2N mutation in the E3 subdomain (C1225G) showed, however, normal binding. This implies that the designation VWD type 2N is incorrect for this variant. Results together imply that a structurally intact D3 in D'-D3 is indispensable for effective interaction between D' and FVIII explaining why specific mutations in D3 can impair FVIII binding.

Recombinant Expression of the Full-length Ectodomain of LDL Receptor-related Protein 1 (LRP1) Unravels pH-dependent Conformational Changes and the Stoichiometry of Binding with Receptor-associated Protein (RAP).

LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is a highly modular protein and the largest known mammalian endocytic receptor. LRP1 binds and internalizes many plasma components, playing multiple crucial roles as a scavenger and signaling molecule. One major challenge to studying LRP1 has been that it is difficult to express such a large, highly glycosylated, and cysteine-rich protein, limiting structural studies to LRP1 fragments. Here, we report the first recombinant expression of the complete 61 domains of the full-length LRP1 ectodomain. This advance was achieved with a multistep cloning approach and by using DNA dilutions to improve protein yields. We investigated the binding properties of LRP1 using receptor-associated protein (RAP) as a model ligand due to its tight binding interaction. The LRP1 conformation was studied in its bound and unbound state using mass spectrometry, small-angle X-ray scattering, and negative-stain electron microscopy at neutral and acidic pH. Our findings revealed a pH-dependent release of the ligand associated with a conformational change of the receptor. In summary, this investigation of the complete LRP1 ectodomain significantly advances our understanding of this important receptor and provides the basis for further elucidating the mechanism of action of LRP1 in a whole and integrated system.

Glucocorticoids induce differentiation of monocytes towards macrophages that share functional and phenotypical aspects with erythroblastic island macrophages.

The classical central macrophage found in erythroblastic islands plays an important role in erythroblast differentiation, proliferation and enucleation in the bone marrow. Convenient human in vitro models to facilitate the study of erythroid-macrophage interactions are desired. Recently, we demonstrated that cultured monocytes/macrophages enhance in vitro erythropoiesis by supporting hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell survival. Herein, we describe that these specific macrophages also support erythropoiesis. Human monocytes cultured in serum-free media supplemented with stem cell factor, erythropoietin, lipids and dexamethasone differentiate towards macrophages expressing CD16, CD163, CD169, CD206, CXCR4 and the phagocytic TAM-receptor family. Phenotypically, they resemble both human bone marrow and fetal liver resident macrophages. This differentiation is dependent on glucocorticoid receptor activation. Proteomic studies confirm that glucocorticoid receptor activation differentiates monocytes to anti-inflammatory tissue macrophages with a M2 phenotype, termed GC-macrophages. Proteins involved in migration, tissue residence and signal transduction/receptor activity are upregulated whilst lysosome and hydrolase activity GO-categories are downregulated. Functionally, we demonstrate that GC-macrophages are highly mobile and can interact to form clusters with erythroid cells of all differentiation stages and phagocytose the expelled nuclei, recapitulating aspects of erythroblastic islands. In conclusion, glucocorticoid-directed monocyte differentiation to macrophages represents a convenient model system to study erythroid-macrophage interactions.