From Genes to Bioleaching: Unraveling Sulfur Metabolism in Acidithiobacillus Genus.

Sulfur oxidation stands as a pivotal process within the Earth's sulfur cycle, in which Acidithiobacillus species emerge as skillful sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. They are able to efficiently oxidize several reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs) under extreme conditions for their autotrophic growth. This unique characteristic has made these bacteria a useful tool in bioleaching and biological desulfurization applications. Extensive research has unraveled diverse sulfur metabolism pathways and their corresponding regulatory systems. The metabolic arsenal of the Acidithiobacillus genus includes oxidative enzymes such as: (i) elemental sulfur oxidation enzymes, like sulfur dioxygenase (SDO), sulfur oxygenase reductase (SOR), and heterodisulfide reductase (HDR-like system); (ii) enzymes involved in thiosulfate oxidation pathways, including the sulfur oxidation (Sox) system, tetrathionate hydrolase (TetH), and thiosulfate quinone oxidoreductase (TQO); (iii) sulfide oxidation enzymes, like sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR); and (iv) sulfite oxidation pathways, such as sulfite oxidase (SOX). This review summarizes the current state of the art of sulfur metabolic processes in Acidithiobacillus species, which are key players of industrial biomining processes. Furthermore, this manuscript highlights the existing challenges and barriers to further exploring the sulfur metabolism of this peculiar extremophilic genus.

Antitumor effects of a monoclonal antibody to human CCR9 in leukemia cell xenografts.

Tumor expression of certain chemokine receptors is associated with resistance to apoptosis, migration, invasiveness and metastasis. Because CCR9 chemokine receptor expression is very restricted in healthy tissue, whereas it is present in tumors of distinct origins including leukemias, melanomas, prostate and ovary carcinomas, it can be considered a suitable candidate for target-directed therapy. Here, we report the generation and characterization of 91R, a mouse anti-human CCR9 IgG2b monoclonal antibody that recognizes an epitope within the CCR9 N-terminal domain. This antibody inhibits the growth of subcutaneous xenografts from human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia MOLT-4 cells in immunodeficient Rag2(-/-) mice. Tumor size in 91R-treated mice was reduced by 85% compared with isotype-matched antibody-treated controls. Tumor reduction in 91R-treated mice was concomitant with an increase in the apoptotic cell fraction and tumor necrotic areas, as well as a decrease in the fraction of proliferating cells and in tumor vascularization. In the presence of complement or murine natural killer cells, 91R promoted in vitro lysis of MOLT-4 leukemia cells, indicating that this antibody might eliminate tumor cells via complement- and cell-dependent cytotoxicity. The results show the potential of the 91R monoclonal antibody as a therapeutic agent for treatment of CCR9-expressing tumors.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor contributes to the MEK/ERK-dependent maintenance of the immature state of human dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) promote tolerance or immunity depending on their maturation state, which is enhanced or accelerated upon MEK-ERK signaling pathway inhibition. We have determined the contribution of MEK-ERK activation to the profile of gene expression of human immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) and peripheral blood myeloid DCs. ERK inhibition altered the expression of genes that mediate Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 19 (CCL19)-directed migration (CCR7) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) binding (CD36, SCARB1, OLR1, CXCL16) by immature DCs. In addition, ERK upregulated CCL2 expression while impairing the expression of DC maturation markers (RUNX3, ITGB7, IDO1). MEK-ERK-regulated genes exhibited an overrepresentation of cognate sequences for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transcription factor, whose transcriptional and DNA-binding activities increased in MDDCs upon exposure to the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126. Therefore, the MEK-ERK signaling pathway regulates antigen capture, lymph node homing, and acquisition of maturation-associated genes, and its contribution to the maintenance of the immature state of MDDCs and myeloid DCs is partly dependent on the activity of AhR. Since pharmacologic modulation of the MEK-ERK signaling pathway has been proposed as a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer, our findings indicate that ERK inhibitors might influence antitumor responses through regulation of critical DC effector functions.

TLR triggering on tolerogenic dendritic cells results in TLR2 up-regulation and a reduced proinflammatory immune program.

Tolerogenic dendritic cells (TDC) offer a promising therapeutic potential to ameliorate autoimmune diseases. Reported to inhibit adaptive immune responses, little is known about their innate immunity receptor repertoire. In this study, we compared three types of human TDC (IL-10-DC, dexamethasone (DX)-DC, and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-DC) by their TLR expression and response to a set of TLR ligands. TDC are endowed with the same TLR set as standard monocyte-derived dendritic cells but respond differentially to the TLR stimuli Pam3CSK4, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, LPS, and flagellin. TDC expressed low or no IL-12-related cytokines and remarkably elevated IL-10 levels. Interestingly, only TDC up-regulated the expression of TLR2 upon stimulation. This boosted the tolerogenic potential of these cells, because IL-10 production was up-regulated in TLR2-stimulated, LPS-primed DX-DC, whereas IL-12 and TNF-alpha secretion remained low. When comparing the TDC subsets, DX-DC and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-DC up-regulated TLR2 irrespective of the TLR triggered, whereas in IL-10-DC this effect was only mediated by LPS. Likewise, DX-DC and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-DC exhibited impaired ability to mature, reduced allostimulatory properties, and hampered capacity to induce Th1 differentiation. Therefore, both DX-DC and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-DC display the strongest tolerogenic and anti-inflammatory features and might be most suitable tools for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Molecular cloning characterization and expression of porcine immunoreceptor SIRPalpha.

SWC3 is a porcine CD that has been the reference marker of myeloid lineage. It is expressed in every myelomonocytic cell from early bone marrow precursors. We have identified the molecule recognized by anti-SWC3 antibodies as a member of the signal-regulatory proteins (SIRPs)alpha family. Here, we describe the cloning of a cDNA coding for a porcine SIRPalpha protein. The sequence is 2470 nucleotides long and contains an open reading frame encoding a 507 amino acid sequence. The predicted polypeptide was composed of a 30 amino acids putative signal peptide, a 342 amino acid extracellular region, a 23 amino acid transmembrane segment and a 112 amino acid cytoplasmic domain. Analysis of the sequence reveals a high degree of homology with known SIRPs in other species, being easily identified the three extracellular Ig type domains and two cytoplasmic ITIM motifs characteristic of this molecule. The gene coding for porcine SIRPalpha has been mapped to porcine chromosome 17, in a region syntenic to the human chromosome 20 where SIRP genes have been mapped. During the analysis of SIRP gene expression in tissues by RT-PCR, we noticed the existence of a shorter mRNA, and cloned the corresponding cDNA. This coded for a splicing variant of SIRPalpha that lacked the two membrane proximal Ig domains. In transfection experiments, we have been able to show that anti-SWC3 antibodies recognize both forms of the molecule, mapping the SWC3 epitopes to the N-terminal IgV type domain.

Molecular cloning, characterization and tissue expression of porcine Toll-like receptor 4.

A cDNA containing the porcine Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) coding sequence has been cloned by RT-PCR from alveolar macrophages mRNA, and its complete sequence has been determined. The predicted amino acid sequence comprises an extracellular domain with 21 leucine-rich repeats (LRR) and a LRR-C-terminal (LRR-CT) motif, followed by a 30 amino acid transmembrane segment, and a 179 amino acid intracytoplasmic region containing the Toll/IL-1R domain. Pig TLR4 shows 63-80% amino acid sequence identity with those of cow, horse, cat, human, rabbit and mouse. The degree of sequence identity rises to over 90% in the TIR domain. The whole TLR4 sequence and its ectodomain were expressed as GFP fusion proteins in CHO cells. Using RT-PCR analysis, porcine TLR4 transcripts were detected in DCs, monocytes and macrophages, and in tissue samples of bone marrow, thymus, lymph node, spleen, brain, liver, kidney and ovary. The expressed protein will be used for the development of reagents. Knowledge of TLR4 expression will help to address mechanisms of immune induction by antigens and vaccines.

Phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of porcine blood monocytes and its relation with maturation.

Swine monocytes constitute a heterogeneous population of cells which can be divided into four subsets based on the expression of SWC3, CD14, CD163 and swine leucocyte antigen (SLA) DR markers. These subsets appear to represent different maturation stages in a pathway along which these cells up-regulate the expression of SLA DR and CD163 antigens and reduce that of CD14. Differences in the expression of adhesion and costimulatory molecules are also patent, with a progressive increase in the expression of CD11a, wCD11R1, CD29, CD49d, CD61, CD1a and CD80/86, and a concomitant decrease in that of wCD11R2. Besides, these subsets differ in their capacity for tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production in response to lipopolysaccharide + interferon-gamma. The CD163(+) CD14(-) SLA DR(+) subset produces higher amounts of TNF-alpha than the CD163(-) CD14(+) SLA DR(-) subset, whereas CD163(+) CD14(+) SLA DR(+) and CD163(-) CD14(+) SLA DR(+) subsets show intermediate values. CD163(+) monocytes also display a higher ability to present soluble antigens to T cells than CD163(-) monocytes.

In vitro effect of classical swine fever virus on a porcine aortic endothelial cell line.

The effect of classical swine fever (CSF) virus on some phenotypic and functional features of an established porcine aortic endothelial cell (AOC) line was investigated. AOC cells show most of the characteristics of primary endothelial cells, avoiding the alterations and senescence that these cells undergo after a few passages in culture. AOC cells were susceptible to CSF virus infection to a high degree, reaching 90% of CSF virus positive cells after 24 h of infection; however as with other porcine susceptible cells, no cytopathic effect could be observed. In these conditions none of the surface molecules studied, including SLA-II MHC antigens, adhesion or co-stimulatory molecules, were altered by virus infection after 24 or 48 h. Functionally CSF virus infection induced a decrease in the pro-coagulant activity of the AOC cells, determined by the increase in the clot formation time shown by the lysates of these cells. This contrasts with the increase observed in the expression of mRNA corresponding to IL-1 alpha and IL-6, two proinflammatory and pro-coagulant cytokines, in CSF virus-infected AOC cells.

In vitro differentiation of porcine blood CD163- and CD163+ monocytes into functional dendritic cells.

Swine monocytes constitute a heterogeneous cell population containing subsets with distinct functional capacities or representing different maturational stages. Based on the expression of CD163, we have recently identified two monocyte subpopulations. In this study, we investigate the ability of both CD163- and CD163+ monocytes to differentiate into dendritic cells (DCs) in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4. Monocyte differentiation into DC is accompanied by an up-regulation of the expression of swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) I, SLA II and CD80/86 molecules, and a decrease in the expression of CD14, CD16 and CD163. These DC express the pan-myeloid marker SWC3 and display typical dendritic cytoplasmic projections. When monocytes are split into CD163+ and CD163- cells, both subsets give rise to DC. However, compared to CD163- monocyte-derived DC (MoDC), CD163+ MoDC appear to have reached a more advanced stage of maturation, expressing higher levels of SLA II and CD80/86 and inducing more efficiently proliferation of T cells to recall antigens and alloantigens.

Identification of porcine macrophages with monoclonal antibodies in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues.

Here we report the successful use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) BL1H7, BA1C11 (anti-SWC3) and 4E9 for immunohistochemical identification of macrophages in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded porcine tissues. Retrieval of antigen reactivity was achieved by heating the slides in a domestic pressure cooker, which makes the technique suitable for the routine laboratory. This method allows to perform retrospective studies in routinely processed tissues and may be useful to investigate the role of macrophages in different pathological processes.

Isolation and characterization of immortalized porcine aortic endothelial cell lines.

Primary porcine endothelial cells have a limited life span in culture. After four to five passages, they tend to de-differentiate and eventually reach senescence. The aim of this work was to establish immortalized porcine aortic endothelial cell lines (AOCs) to facilitate in vitro studies of different pathological process involving the endothelium. Primary porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs) were transfected with a plasmid containing the SV40 genome and selected on the basis of morphological and phenotypical features. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated uptake of acetylated low density lipoproteins (Ac-LDL) and constitutive expression of SLA class I, CD29, CD31, CD41/61, CD80/86, CD46, SWC3, and LAMP-1 antigens by all analyzed lines and showed little differences to primary cells. The functional similarity between primary and immortalized endothelial cells was demonstrated in a cytotoxicity assay using a human natural killer cell line (NKL) as effector. The AOCs cell lines should be valuable tools for in vitro study of the human immune response against pig endothelial cells. In addition, they would be very useful to gain insight in the pathogenesis of some viral haemorrhagic diseases of pig such as African swine fever (ASF) or classical swine fever (CSF).