PDGF-D, a new protease-activated growth factor.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been directly implicated in developmental and physiological processes, as well as in human cancer, fibrotic diseases and arteriosclerosis. The PDGF family currently consists of at least three gene products, PDGF-A, PDGF-B and PDGF-C, which selectively signal through two PDGF receptors (PDGFRs) to regulate diverse cellular functions. After two decades of searching, PDGF-A and B were the only ligands identified for PDGFRs. Recently, however, database mining has resulted in the discovery of a third member of the PDGF family, PDGF-C, a functional analogue of PDGF-A that requires proteolytic activation. PDGF-A and PDGF-C selectively activate PDGFR-alpha, whereas PDGF-B activates both PDGFR-alpha and PDGFR-beta. Here we identify and characterize a new member of the PDGF family, PDGF D, which also requires proteolytic activation. Recombinant, purified PDGF-D induces DNA synthesis and growth in cells expressing PDGFRs. In cells expressing individual PDGFRs, PDGF-D binds to and activates PDGFR-beta but not PDGFR-alpha. However, in cells expressing both PDGFRs, PDGF-D activates both receptors. This indicates that PDGFR-alpha activation may result from PDGFR-alpha/beta heterodimerization.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein is carried on lipoproteins and acts as a cofactor in the neutralization of LPS.

Lipoproteins isolated from normal human plasma can bind and neutralize bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and may represent an important mechanism in host defense against gram-negative septic shock. Recent studies have shown that experimentally elevating the levels of circulating high-density lipoproteins (HDL) provides protection against death in animal models of endotoxic shock. We sought to define the components of HDL that are required for neutralization of LPS. To accomplish this we have studied the functional neutralization of LPS by native and reconstituted HDL using a rapid assay that measures the CD14-dependent activation of leukocyte integrins on human neutrophils. We report here that reconstituted HDL particles (R-HDL), prepared from purified apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) combined with phospholipid and free cholesterol, are not sufficient to neutralize the biologic activity of LPS. However, addition of recombinant LPS binding protein (LBP), a protein known to transfer LPS to CD14 and enhance responses of cells to LPS, enabled prompt binding and neutralization of LPS by R-HDL. Thus, LBP appears capable of transferring LPS not only to CD14 but also to lipoprotein particles. In contrast with R-HDL, apoA-I containing lipoproteins (LpA-I) isolated from plasma by selected affinity immunosorption (SAIS) on an anti-apoA-I column, neutralized LPS without addition of exogenous LBP. Several lines of evidence demonstrated that LBP is a constituent of LpA-I in plasma. Passage of plasma over an anti-apoA-I column removed more than 99% of the LBP detectable by ELISA, whereas 31% of the LBP was recovered by elution of the column. Similarly, the ability of plasma to enable activation of neutrophils by LPS (LBP/Septin activity) was depleted and recovered by the same process. Furthermore, an immobilized anti-LBP monoclonal antibody coprecipitated apoA-I. The results described here suggest that in addition to its ability to transfer LPS to CD14, LBP may also transfer LPS to lipoproteins. Since LBP appears to be physically associated with lipoproteins in plasma, it is positioned to play an important role in the neutralization of LPS.

Molecules from Staphylococcus aureus that bind CD14 and stimulate innate immune responses.

Mammals mount a rapid inflammatory response to gram-negative bacteria by recognizing lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin). LPS binds to CD14, and the resulting LPS-CD14 complex induces synthesis of cytokines and up-regulation of adhesion molecules in a variety of cell types. Gram-positive bacteria provoke a very similar inflammatory response, but the molecules that provoke innate responses to these bacteria have not been defined. Here we show that protein-free, phenol extracts of Staphylococcus aureus contain a minor component that stimulates adhesion of neutrophils and cytokine production in monocytes and in the astrocytoma cell line, U373. Responses to this component do not absolutely require CD14, but addition of soluble CD14 enhances sensitivity of U373 cells by up to 100-fold, and blocking CD14 on monocytes decreases sensitivity nearly 1,000-fold. Deletion of residues 57-64 of CD14, which are required for responses to LPS, also eliminates CD14-dependent responses to S. aureus molecules. The stimulatory component of S. aureus binds CD14 and blocks binding of radioactive LPS. Unlike LPS, the activity of S. aureus molecules was neither enhanced by LPS binding protein nor inhibited by bactericidal/permeability increasing protein. The active factor in extracts of S. aureus is also structurally and functionally distinct from the abundant species known as lipoteichoic acid (LTA). Cell-stimulating activity fractionates differently from LTA on a reverse-phase column, pure LTA fails to stimulate cells, and LTA antagonizes the action of LPS in assays of IL-6 production. These studies suggest that mammals may use CD14 in innate responses to both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, and that gram-positive bacteria may contain an apparently unique, CD14-binding species that initiates cellular responses.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein accelerates the binding of LPS to CD14.

CD14 is a 55-kD protein found as a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein on the surface of monocytes, macrophages, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and as a soluble protein in the blood. Both forms of CD14 participate in the serum-dependent responses of cells to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). While CD14 has been described as a receptor for complexes of LPS with LPS-binding protein (LBP), there has been no direct evidence showing whether a ternary complex of LPS, LBP, and CD14 is formed, or whether CD14 binds LPS directly. Using nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native PAGE), we show that recombinant soluble CD14 (rsCD14) binds LPS in the absence of LBP or other proteins. Binding of LPS to CD14 is stable and of low stoichiometry (one or two molecules of LPS per rsCD14). Recombinant LBP (rLBP) does not form detectable ternary complexes with rsCD14 and LPS, but it does accelerate the binding of LPS to rsCD14. rLBP facilitates the interaction of LPS with rsCD14 at substoichiometric concentrations, suggesting that LBP functions catalytically, as a lipid transfer protein. Complexes of LPS and rsCD14 formed in the absence of LBP or other serum proteins strongly stimulate integrin function on PMN and expression of E-selectin on endothelial cells, demonstrating that LBP is not necessary for CD14-dependent stimulation of cells. These results suggest that CD14 acts as a soluble and cell surface receptor for LPS, and that LBP may function primarily to accelerate the binding of LPS to CD14.

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 mediates rolling of human neutrophils on P-selectin.

Neutrophils roll on P-selectin expressed by activated platelets or endothelial cells under the shear stresses in the microcirculation. P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is a high affinity ligand for P-selectin on myeloid cells. However, it has not been demonstrated that PSGL-1 contributes to the rolling of neutrophils on P-selectin. We developed two IgG mAbs, PL1 and PL2, that appear to recognize protein-dependent epitopes on human PSGL-1. The mAbs bound to PSGL-1 on all leukocytes as well as on heterologous cells transfected with PSGL-1 cDNA. PL1, but not PL2, blocked binding of 125-I-PSGL-1 to immobilized P-selectin, binding of fluid-phase P-selectin to myeloid and lymphoid leukocytes, adhesion of neutrophils to immobilized P-selectin under static conditions, and rolling of neutrophils on P-selectin-expressing CHO cells under a range of shear stresses. PSGL-1 was localized to microvilli on neutrophils, a topography that may facilitate its adhesive function. These data indicate that (a) PSGL-1 accounts for the high affinity binding sites for P-selectin on leukocytes, and (b) PSGL-1 must interact with P-selectin in order for neutrophils to roll on P-selectin at physiological shear stresses.

Identification of a novel human fibroblast growth factor and characterization of its role in oncogenesis.

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family of signaling molecules has been implicated in normal developmental and physiological processes, as well as in human malignancy. Using a homology-based genomic DNA mining process, we identified a human gene encoding a novel member of the FGF family, that we designate FGF-20. The FGF-20 cDNA was isolated, and its sequence confirmed the gene prediction. FGF-20 is expressed in normal brain, particularly the cerebellum, and in some cancer cell lines. Recombinant FGF-20 protein induces DNA synthesis in a variety of cell types and is recognized by multiple FGF receptors. Ectopic expression of FGF-20 in NIH 3T3 cells renders the cells transformed in vitro and tumorigenic in nude mice. These results underscore the utility of mining genomic DNA databases and reveal FGF-20 to be a novel oncogene that may play a role in human cancer.

Dual effects of soluble CD14 on LPS priming of neutrophils.

To evaluate the effect of soluble CD14 (sCD14) on human neutrophil response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we developed an LPS-priming assay that measures the chemiluminescence response to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine stimulation. Priming by 1 ng/mL rough LPS occurred in the presence of either serum or recombinant LPS-binding protein (LBP) only. Priming was completely CD14-dependent because preincubation of the neutrophils with an anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody prevented priming. We hypothesize that sCD14 enhances LPS response in neutrophils, but this response is not as effective as LPS response via membrane CD14 (mCD14). In our experiments sCD14 is present in an excess compared with mCD14. Priming of neutrophils occurs with low LBP, supposedly via sCD14-LPS complexes. With high LBP, addition of sCD14 inhibited LPS-priming of neutrophils. In that case, LPS may be transported to sCD14, preventing a more effective response via mCD14. In this study we demonstrate that the effect of sCD14 on neutrophil response to LPS is a delicate balance between activation and inhibition depending on concentration of serum or LBP.

Cloning and characterization of a gene encoding extracellular metalloprotease from Streptomyces lividans.

The prt gene, encoding a protease (Prt) from Streptomyces lividans TK24, was cloned and sequenced. An S. lividans host with plasmid-borne prt secreted 200 micrograms/ml of a 22-kDa Prt into the culture medium. Prt is classified as a metalloprotease since its activity is significantly inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline or EDTA. The region upstream from prt codes for an incomplete open reading frame (ORF) oriented opposite to prt. This ORF has a strong similarity to a gene family (lysR) whose members regulate the transcription of structural genes required for either biosynthesis or degradation.

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the N-acetylmuramidase M1-encoding gene from Streptomyces globisporus.

The gene (acm) encoding N-acetylmuramidase M1 (ACM) was cloned of Streptomyces globisporus ATCC No. 21553. The nucleotide sequence of the acm gene was determined and found to code for an ORF of 294 amino acids (aa). Comparison of aa sequence deduced from the acm gene with the N-terminal sequence of the extracellular enzyme suggests that ACM is synthesized with a 77-aa leader peptide. A comparison of the ACM aa sequence with the aa sequences of other proteins in the NBRF data base reveals that ACM has strong similarity to the N-O-diacetylmuramidase secreted by the fungus Chalaropsis.

Biological responses to PDGF-BB versus PDGF-DD in human mesangial cells.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and PDGF-DD mediate mesangial cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. While PDGF-BB is a ligand for the PDGF alpha- and beta-receptor chains, PDGF-DD binds more selectively to the beta-chain, suggesting potential differences in the biological activities. Signal transduction and regulation of gene expression induced by PDGF-BB and -DD were compared in primary human mesangial cells (HMCs), which expressed PDGF alpha- and beta-receptor subunits. The growth factor concentrations used were chosen based on their equipotency in inducing HMCs proliferation and binding to the betabeta-receptor. Both growth factors, albeit at different concentrations induced phosphorylation and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2. In addition, PDGFs led to the phosphorylation and activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT3. HMCs proliferation induced by either PDGF-BB or -DD could be blocked by signal transduction inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase-, Janus kinase (JAK)/STAT-, or phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase pathways. Using a gene chip array and subsequent verification by real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction, we found that in HMC genes for matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) and MMP-14 and, to a low extent, cytochrome B5 and cathepsin L were exclusively regulated by PDGF-BB, whereas no exclusive gene regulation was detected by PDGF-DD. However, at the protein level, both MMP-13 and -14 were equally induced by PDGF-BB and -DD. PDGF-BB and -DD effect similar biological responses in HMCs albeit at different potencies. Rare apparently differential gene regulation did not result in different protein expression, suggesting that in HMCs both PDGFs exert their biological activity almost exclusively via the PDGF beta-receptor.

Diphosphoryl lipid A from Rhodobacter sphaeroides inhibits complexes that form in vitro between lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein, soluble CD14, and spectrally pure LPS.

An early event in septic shock is the activation of macrophages by a complex consisting of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS-binding protein (LBP), and the cell surface antigen CD14. The complexes that form between [3H]ReLPS (ReLPS is deep-rough-chemotype hexacyl LPS from E. coli D31m4), soluble CD14 (sCD14), and LBP were analyzed by two independent methods, native (nondenaturing) gel electrophoresis and size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This is the first reported use of HPLC to purify and study LPS-protein complexes. The binding of [3H]ReLPS to LBP and sCD14 was inhibited by preincubation with diphosphoryl lipid A from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RsDPLA), a potent LPS antagonist. In addition, [3H]ReLPS bound to LBP and to a truncated form of sCD14 [sCD14(1-152)] that contained the LPS binding domain. Binding to both proteins was blocked by RsDPLA. Thus, RsDPLA competes in a 1:1 ratio for the same or nearby binding sites on ReLPS complexes. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of aggregated ReLPS eluting from the HPLC indicated that only LBP, not sCD14, was bound to the aggregated ReLPS. This finding supports the binary model of LPS complex formation with LBP and sCD14.

Repression and catabolite gene activation in the araBAD operon.

Catabolite gene activation of the araBAD operon was examined by using catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) site deletion mutants. A high-affinity CAP-binding site between the divergently orientated araBAD and araC operons has been previously identified by DNase I footprinting techniques. Subsequent experiments disagreed as to whether this site is directly involved in stimulating araBAD expression. In this paper, we present data showing that deletions generated by in vitro mutagenesis of the CAP site led to a five- to sixfold reduction in single-copy araBAD promoter activity in vivo. We concluded that catabolite gene activation of araBAD involves this CAP site. The hypothesis that CAP stimulates the araBAD promoter primarily by relieving repression was then tested. The upstream operator araO2 was required for repression, but we observed that the magnitude of CAP stimulation was unaffected by the presence or absence of araO2. We concluded that CAP plays no role in relieving repression. Other experiments showed that when CAP binds it induces a bend in the ara DNA; similar bending has been reported upon CAP binding to lac DNA. This conformational change in the DNA may be essential to the mechanism of CAP activation.

Influence of CD14, LBP and BPI in the monocyte response to LPS of different polysaccharide chain length.

In this study we examined the involvement of human serum, recombinant lipopolysaccharide binding protein (rLBP), recombinant (r)CD14, CD14 antibodies and recombinant bactericidal permeability-increasing factor (rBPI) in the induction of TNF by Salmonella minnesota LPS of different polysaccharide chain lengths. Soluble rCD14 and rLBP markedly enhanced LPS 6261 TNF production and to a lesser degree also enhanced TNF production from Re 595 LPS and lipid A DP. Addition of anti-CD14 antibodies resulted in nearly complete inhibition of LPS 6261-induced TNF production and partial inhibition of Re 595 LPS and lipid A DP-induced TNF release. The ability of lipid A MP to induce TNF production increased with addition of rCD14. Addition of rLBP or anti-CD14 antibodies had no detectable effect on lipid A MP-induced TNF production. The effect of rBPI was also tested and the results showed that only the TNF-inducing ability from smooth LPS was completely inhibited by rBPI. Recombinant BPI was considerably less effective in inhibiting Re 595 LPS-induced TNF production, and lipid A DP was not affected by rBPI. Our data suggest that the ability of rLBP, rCD14, CD14 antibodies and rBPI to modulate LPS induced TNF production is strongly dependent on the LPS polysaccharide chain length.

Endotoxin receptors (CD14) are found with CD16 (Fc gamma RIII) in an intracellular compartment of neutrophils that contains alkaline phosphatase.

CD14 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein on the surfaces of monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) that binds and initiates cellular responses to bacterial LPS. PMN also contain an intracellular pool of CD14 that can be deployed rapidly to the cell surface in response to stimulation with a variety of agonists. To determine which of the well-characterized subcellular compartments of PMN contains CD14, cells were cavitated and fractionated on Percoll gradients. The gradient fractions were assayed for CD14 by ELISA and Western blot and for the marker proteins beta-glucuronidase (azurophil granules), vitamin B12 binding protein (specific granules), alkaline phosphatase (secretory vesicles and plasma membrane), and HLA (plasma membrane). Approximately one-half of the CD14 ran with plasma membrane fractions and one-half with intracellular membranes of light density. Both intracellular and cell surface CD14 were associated tightly with membrane, and both forms showed identical electrophoretic mobility. The intracellular CD14 was clearly not present in azurophil granules or specific granules, but ran precisely with alkaline phosphatase, a marker for secretory vesicles. Parallel studies showed that an additional GPI-linked protein, Fc gamma RIII (CD16), also fractionated precisely with CD14 and alkaline phosphatase. Association of CD14 with secretory vesicles were confirmed by studies on cells stimulated with the formyl peptide fNLLP for 20 min at 37 degrees C before fractionation. This treatment caused translocation of CD14 from intracellular fractions to plasma membrane fractions. No release of the specific granule marker vitamin B12 binding protein was observed under these conditions, whereas two other GPI-anchored proteins, alkaline phosphatase and CD16, moved coincidentally with CD14 to comigrate with the plasma membrane. Time course studies of CD14 and CD16 surface expression confirmed the rapid and coordinate up-regulation of these proteins. Thus, the intracellular compartment containing CD14 and CD16 had the properties of secretory vesicles. These vesicles may represent a specialized membrane domain of PMN enriched in GPI-anchored proteins.

Identification of a domain in soluble CD14 essential for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signaling but not LPS binding.

CD14 is a 55-kDa glycoprotein that binds lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and enables LPS-dependent responses in a variety of cells. Monoclonal antibodies of CD14 such as 3C10 and MEM-18 are known to neutralize biological activity of CD14. Recently, it has been demonstrated that MEM-18 recognizes the LPS-binding site of CD14, between amino acids 57 and 64. It has also been shown that 3C10 recognizes a distinct epitope from that of MEM-18, indicating that 3C10 may yet define another functional domain of CD14. In order to identify the epitope for 3C10, we constructed a series of alanine substitution mutants of soluble CD14 (sCD14). BIAcore analyses showed that regions between amino acids 7 and 10 and between amino acids 11 and 14 are required for 3C10 binding. To assess the effect of altering the 3C10 epitope in CD14, we generated a stable cell line expressing a mutant sCD14 containing alanine substitutions in the region between amino acids 7 and 10, sCD14(7-10)A, and purified this protein to homogeneity. sCD14(7-10)A has impaired ability to mediate LPS-dependent IL-6 up-regulation in U373 cells, integrin activation in neutrophils, and NF-kappa B activation in U373 cells. Purified sCD14(7-10)A was, however, capable of forming a stable complex with LPS in an LPS binding protein-facilitated and LPS binding protein-independent fashion. The ability of sCD14(7-10)A to bind LPS was also demonstrated in assays in which excess sCD14(7-10)A inhibited LPS-mediated tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in whole blood and adhesion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to fibrinogen. These data strongly suggest that a region recognized by neutralizing monoclonal antibody 3C10 contains a domain required for cellular signaling but not for LPS binding.

The P-selectin glycoprotein ligand from human neutrophils displays sialylated, fucosylated, O-linked poly-N-acetyllactosamine.

We previously demonstrated that P-selectin binds with high affinity to a trace, homodimeric glycoprotein ligand on human myeloid cells. The ligand carries the sialyl Lewis x (sLe(x)) epitope, a limited number of N-linked glycans, and clustered, sialylated O-linked glycans. In this study we demonstrate that the polypeptide component of this ligand is identical to that of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), a molecule recently identified by expression cloning from a human myeloid cell cDNA library. We have examined the effects of glycosidases on purified, radioiodinated PSGL-1 from human neutrophils to further characterize the structure and function of the attached oligosaccharides. We found that PSGL-1 had poly-N-acetyllactosamine, only some of which could be removed with endo-beta-galactosidase. The majority of the Le(x) and sLe(x) structures were on endo-beta-galactosidase-sensitive chains. Peptide:N-glycosidase F (PNGaseF) treatment removed at least two of the three possible N-linked oligosaccharides from PSGL-1. Expression of Le(x) and sLe(x) was not detectably altered by PNGaseF digestion, indicating that these structures were primarily on O-linked poly-N-acetyllactosamine. Endo-beta-galactosidase-treated PSGL-1 retained the ability to bind to P-selectin, suggesting that some of the oligosaccharides recognized by P-selectin were either on enzyme-resistant poly-N-acetyllactosamine or on chains which lack poly-N-acetyllactosamine. PNGaseF treatment did not affect the ability of PSGL-1 to bind to P-selectin, demonstrating that the oligosaccharides required for P-selectin recognition are O-linked. PSGL-1 also bound to E-selectin, but with at least 50-fold lower affinity than to P-selectin. These data suggest that PSGL-1 from human neutrophils displays complex, sialylated, and fucosylated O-linked poly-N-acetyllactosamine that promote high affinity binding to P-selectin, but not to E-selectin.

Induction of tumor necrosis factor production from monocytes stimulated with mannuronic acid polymers and involvement of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, CD14, and bactericidal/permeability-increasing factor.

Well-defined polysaccharides, such as beta1-4-linked D-mannuronic acid (poly[M]) derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, induce monocytes to produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF) through a pathway involving membrane CD14. In this study we have investigated the effects of soluble CD14 (sCD14), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), and bactericidal/permeability-increasing factor (BPI) on poly(M) binding to monocytes and induction of TNF production. We show that LBP increased the TNF production from monocytes stimulated with poly(M). Addition of sCD14 alone had only minor effects, but when it was added together with LBP, a rise in TNF production was seen. BPI was found to inhibit TNF production from monocytes stimulated with poly(M) in the presence of LBP, LBP-sCD14, or 10% human serum. Binding studies showed that poly(M) bound to LBP- and BPI-coated immunowells, while no significant binding of poly(M) to sCD14-coated wells in the absence of serum was observed. Binding of poly(M) to monocytes was also examined by flow cytometry, and it was shown that the addition of LBP or 10% human serum clearly increased the binding of poly(M) to monocytes. BPI inhibited the binding of poly(M) to monocytes in the presence of LBP, LBP-sCD14, or 10% human serum. Our data demonstrate a role for LBP, LBP-sCD14, and BPI in modulating TNF responses of defined polysaccharides.

Cytokine mRNA decay is accelerated by an inhibitor of p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the site(s) in tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) biosynthesis that is blocked by SB202190, a selective inhibitor of p38-mitogen activated protein kinase (p38). MATERIALS: Human blood monocytes isolated by centrifugal elutriation. METHODS: Monocytes were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide in the presence of 0, 0.3, 1 and 3 microM SB202190. Induced TNFalpha, IL-6, and MIP-1alpha protein and mRNA were measured by ELISA and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. The half-lives of cytokine mRNA levels were determined following treatment of cells with actinomycin D or SB202190. RESULTS: SB202190 suppressed >60% of lipopolysaccharide-induced TNFalpha, IL-6, and MIP-1alpha protein and mRNA expression. Suppressed mRNA levels could be attributed to a >2 to 7-fold reduction in cytokine mRNA half-lives. In contrast, SB202190 did not destabilize mRNAs encoding interferon-induced gene 15 protein and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. CONCLUSIONS: Specific mRNA destabilization represents an important and novel site of action for the cytokine suppressive effects of p38 inhibitors.

Soluble CD14 promotes LPS activation of CD14-deficient PNH monocytes and endothelial cells.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) initiates the cascade of inflammatory events that, in infected patients, often result in a lethal systemic inflammatory response known as the sepsis syndrome. We studied LPS-stimulated expression of tissue factor (TF) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and cultured endothelial cells or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in PBMCs. CD14, a PBMC membrane protein, is involved in LPS signaling and is also present as a soluble molecule in serum. CD14 is absent from endothelial cells and, in varying degrees, from monocytes of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). LPS stimulation of TF in normal monocytes was enhanced > 30-fold by serum at low concentrations of LPS (< or = 10 ng/ml). The serum dependence of endothelial cells was even more pronounced; a full response to LPS was not observed in endothelium under serum-free conditions, even with LPS concentrations as high as 100 ng/ml. To better define the role of CD14, CD14-deficient PBMCs from two patients with PNH were compared with normal PBMCs. Although less than 3% of PNH monocytes expressed CD14, LPS-induced synthesis of TF and TNF-alpha by PBMCs from PNH patients was inhibited by anti-CD14 antibodies. Because patient serum samples were found to contain soluble CD14, we sought to determine whether PNH monocytes might respond to LPS through an activation pathway dependent on soluble CD14. Recombinant soluble CD14 substituted for serum to enable LPS stimulation of endothelium, PNH PBMCs, and surprisingly, CD14-replete normal PBMCs. In addition, a truncated sCD14 containing the N-terminal 152 amino acids similarly enabled LPS stimulation of normal PBMCs. These data underscore the importance of soluble CD14 and suggest that CD14 present in serum enables LPS responses in PNH monocytes and endothelial cells and may even influence the effects of LPS in normal human phagocytes.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel protein kinase with a catalytic domain homologous to mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades include MAPK or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), MAPK kinase (MKK or MEK), and MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK or MEKK). MAPKK kinase/MEKK phosphorylates and activates its downstream protein kinase, MAPK kinase/MEK, which in turn activates MAPK. We report herein the isolation of a cDNA encoding a novel protein kinase designated MAPKKK5 from a human macrophage library. The nucleotide sequence predicts that MAPKKK5 encodes an open reading frame of 1374 amino acids with all 11 kinase subdomains. The putative catalytic domain of MAPKKK5 shows significant sequence homology to the kinase domains of the MAPKKK/MEKK level protein kinases from mouse MEKK2 and -3, Drosophila melanogaster PK92B, Saccharomyces cerevisiae STE11, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe BYR2. Northern blot analysis showed that MAPKKK5 transcript is abundantly expressed in human heart and pancreas. When transiently expressed in COS and 293 cells, MAPKKK5 markedly activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase or stress-activated protein kinase, but not MAPK/ERK. Furthermore, MAPKKK5 that was immunoprecipitated from transfected 293 cells was able to phosphorylate and activate MKK4 in vitro, suggesting that MAPKKK5 may be an upstream activator of MKK4 in the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway.