Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a recombinant filamentous haemagglutinin from Bordetella pertussis.

Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of whooping cough, a major childhood pathogen; acellular vaccines consisting of purified B. pertussis antigens such as filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) are commonly used to prevent pertussis. Despite the importance of FHA in B. pertussis pathogenesis and its inclusion in most acellular vaccines, the functional importance of individual domains in the induction of protective immunity is largely unknown. In this study, we have purified a recombinant FHA protein from Escherichia coli consisting of a 42 kDa maltose binding domain of E. coli and the 43 kDa type I immunodominant domain of FHA. The fusion protein (Mal85) was purified from E. coli cell lysates via affinity chromatography with an amylose column. Mal85 was then delivered to BALB/c mice intranasally encapsulated in liposomes, formulated with Protollin(TM) or in conjunction with an immunostimulatory CpG oligonucleotide. Mice were also vaccinated intraperitoneally with alum-adsorbed Mal85. Sera from all treatment groups showed strong IgG responses to Mal85 and recognized native FHA. Specific salivary IgA was induced in mice vaccinated with Mal85 in liposomes, Protollin(TM) and delivered with CpG. Vaccination with Mal85 encapsulated in liposomes or formulated with Protollin(TM) provided protection against aerosol challenge with B. pertussis in BALB/c mice. These data indicate that the type I domain of FHA is a protective antigen in mice and may serve as a candidate for inclusion in new acellular pertussis vaccines.

Regulation of muscle GLUT-4 transcription by AMP-activated protein kinase.

Skeletal muscle GLUT-4 transcription in response to treatment with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), a known activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), was studied in rats and mice. The increase in GLUT-4 mRNA levels in response to a single subcutaneous injection of AICAR, peaked at 13 h in white and red quadriceps muscles but not in the soleus muscle. The mRNA level of chloramphenicol acyltransferase reporter gene which is driven by 1,154 or 895 bp of the human GLUT-4 proximal promoter was increased in AICAR-treated transgenic mice, demonstrating the transcriptional upregulation of the GLUT-4 gene by AICAR. However, this induction of transcription was not apparent with 730 bp of the promoter. In addition, nuclear extracts from AICAR-treated mice bound to the consensus sequence of myocyte enhancer factor-2 (from -473 to -464) to a greater extent than from saline-injected mice. Thus AMP-activated protein kinase activation by AICAR increases GLUT-4 transcription by a mechanism that requires response elements within 895 bp of human GLUT-4 proximal promoter and that may be cooperatively mediated by myocyte enhancer factor-2.

Identification of a 30-base pair regulatory element and novel DNA binding protein that regulates the human GLUT4 promoter in transgenic mice.

We have previously demonstrated that the important cis-acting elements regulating transcription of the human GLUT4 gene reside within 895 base pairs (bp) upstream of the transcription initiation site (Thai, M. V., Guruswamy, S., Cao, K. T., Pessin, J. E., and Olson, A. L. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 14285-14292). Our studies demonstrated that an MEF2 binding site within this region was necessary, but not sufficient, for GLUT4 promoter function in transgenic mice. We have identified a second regulatory element (Domain I) that functions cooperatively with the MEF2 domain in regulating GLUT4 transcription. Using a yeast-one hybrid screen, we obtained a partial cDNA and generated an antibody directed against a protein binding specifically to Domain I. Sequence analysis of the partial cDNA indicates that the protein binding to Domain I is a novel protein. The antibody specifically labels two proteins of approximately 70 and 50 kDa in Western blot analysis. These molecular masses correspond to Domain I binding proteins identified by UV-cross-linking nuclear extracts to a Domain I probe. The antibody raised against the Domain I binding protein inhibited formation of a Domain I-protein complex in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. We conclude that we have identified an authentic, novel, Domain I binding protein required for transcriptional regulation of the human GLUT4 promoter.

Expression of a prenylation-deficient Rab4 interferes with propagation of insulin signaling through insulin receptor substrate-1.

Rab proteins are small GTP-binding proteins of the Ras superfamily that function in the regulation of vesicle transport processes. The Rab4 isoform has been implicated in insulin action. For instance, overexpression of a prenylation-deficient form of Rab4 has been shown to inhibit insulin-dependent GLUT4 translocation. Other steps affected by Rab4 in the cascade of events resulting from insulin receptor activation have not been elucidated. In the present studies, we measured effects on insulin-signaling proteins in 3T3-L1 adipocytes transiently expressing cytoplasmic forms of Rab4 and Rab5. Expression of a mutant Rab4 lacking a prenylation site resulted in reduced insulin-dependent phosphorylation ofcytoplasmic and internal membrane-associated insulin receptor substrate-1, leading to decreased insulin receptor substrate-1-associated phosphatidylinositol 3'-OH kinase activation and decreased Akt activation. These effects were not observed upon introduction of a similar mutant form of Rab5. These data indicate that Rab4 or a Rab4-associated protein is involved at one or more steps in propagating the insulin signal, in addition to any role it may play in the regulation of GLUT4 vesicle translocation. Our results support models of insulin signaling in which regulation of internal membrane trafficking plays a role in transduction of the insulin signal.

Autograft replacements for the scapholunate ligament: a biomechanical comparison of hand-based autografts.

An ideal replacement for the scapholunate ligament (SLL) has not been found. The carpometacarpal bone-ligament-bone complex at the base of the second and third metacarpal is proposed as a replacement for the SLL in this study. A cadaveric study of matched SLL, second metacarpal-trapezoid ligament, third metacarpal-capitate ligament, and dorsal periosteal retinaculum was performed. Stiffness and strength were obtained from fresh-frozen specimens tested to failure with a hydraulic distractor. The second metacarpal-trapezoid ligament and the third metacarpal-capitate ligament most closely approximated the stiffness and strength of the SLL. The dorsal periosteal retinaculum was significantly less stiff and was significantly weaker than the SLL. This study indicates that the second or third carpometacarpal ligaments are grafts that approximate the mechanical properties of the SLL.

Compactness of the denatured state of a fast-folding protein measured by submillisecond small-angle x-ray scattering.

Time-resolved small-angle x-ray scattering was used to measure the radius of gyration of cytochrome c after initiation of folding by a pH jump. Submillisecond time resolution was obtained with a microfabricated diffusional mixer and synchrotron radiation. The results show that the protein first collapses to compact denatured structures before folding very fast to the native state.

Syntaxin 4, VAMP2, and/or VAMP3/cellubrevin are functional target membrane and vesicle SNAP receptors for insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes.

Introduction of the cytoplasmic domain of syntaxin 4, using either recombinant vaccinia virus or single-cell microinjection, resulted in an inhibition of insulin-stimulated GLUT4 but not GLUT1 translocation to the plasma membrane. This was specific for syntaxin 4, since neither the expression of syntaxin 3 nor the expression of a syntaxin 4 mutant in which the vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP) binding site was deleted had any significant effect. Consistent with the requirement for a functional VAMP binding site, expression of the cytoplasmic domains of VAMP2 or VAMP3/cellubrevin also resulted in an inhibition of insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. In addition, immunoprecipitation of the expressed syntaxin 4 cytoplasmic domain resulted in an insulin-stimulated increase in the coimmunoprecipitation of GLUT4-containing vesicles. Together, these data demonstrate that syntaxin 4, VAMP2, and/or VAMP3/cellubrevin can function as target membrane and vesicle SNAP receptors, respectively, for insulin-responsive GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane.

Divergent insulin and platelet-derived growth factor regulation of focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK) tyrosine phosphorylation, and rearrangement of actin stress fibers.

Insulin treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing high levels of the human insulin receptor resulted in the tyrosine dephosphorylation of the 125-kDa focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK). The decrease in pp125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation paralleled a decrease in the cellular content of actin stress fibers, and these changes were independent of the extracellular matrix on which the cells were grown. The reduction in both pp125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation and actin stress fibers occurred in an insulin concentration-dependent manner, with significant effects at approximately 0.3 nM and a maximal effect at 3 nM. However, in the continuous presence of insulin, the decreases in the tyrosine phosphorylation state of pp125FAK and actin stress fiber content were transient. Maximal reduction of pp125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation was observed following 15 min of insulin treatment, with a return to unstimulated control levels by 60 min. Similarly, actin stress fiber content was maximally reduced by 15 min of insulin treatment and fully recovered by 60 min. In contrast to insulin, platelet-derived growth factor stimulation increased actin stress fiber content and enhanced pp125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation. These data demonstrate a novel signaling role for insulin in inducing the tyrosine dephosphorylation of pp125FAK and a concomitant reorganization of actin stress fibers, which underlies at least one aspect of signaling divergence between the insulin and platelet-derived growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases.

Granular convection observed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Vibrations in a granular material can spontaneously produce convection rolls reminiscent of those seen in fluids. Magnetic resonance imaging provides a sensitive and noninvasive probe for the detection of these convection currents, which have otherwise been difficult to observe. A magnetic resonance imaging study of convection in a column of poppy seeds yielded data about the detailed shape of the convection rolls and the depth dependence of the convection velocity. The velocity was found to decrease exponentially with depth; a simple model for this behavior is presented here.

A base-paired structure in the avian sarcoma virus 5' leader is required for efficient encapsidation of RNA.

Selective encapsidation of avian sarcoma-leukosis virus genomic RNA within virions requires recognition of a cis-acting signal (termed psi) located in the 5' leader of the RNA between the primer binding site and the splice donor site. Computer analyses indicate the potential for numerous secondary structure interactions within this region, including alternative conformations with similar free energy levels. We have constructed mutations designed to disrupt and restore potential secondary structure interactions within psi to investigate the role of these structures in RNA packaging. To test for the ability of psi mutants to package a heterologous reporter gene into virions, chimeric constructs bearing avian sarcoma virus 5' sequences fused to lacZ were transiently cotransfected with a nonpackageable helper construct into chicken embryo fibroblasts. lacZ virions produced from cotransfected cells were used to infect new cultures of chicken embryo fibroblasts, and then an in situ assay for individual cells expressing lacZ was done. Results obtained with this assay were confirmed in direct analyses of isolated virion RNA by RNase protection assays. Two mutations, predicted to disrupt a potential stem structure forming between elements located at nucleotides 160 to 167 and 227 to 234, severely inhibited packaging when either element was mutated. A construct in which these mutations were combined to restore potential base pairing between the two elements displayed a partially restored packaging phenotype. These results strongly suggest that the structure, referred to as the O3 stem, is required for efficient encapsidation of avian sarcoma virus RNA. Site-directed mutagenesis of additional sequence elements located in the O3 loop reduced packaging as measured by the indirect assay, suggesting that these sequences may also be components of the encapsidation signal. The possible implications of the O3 stem structure with regard to translation of avian sarcoma-leukosis virus short upstream open reading frames are discussed.

Avian sarcoma virus RNA synthesis, RNA splicing and virus production in human foreskin fibroblasts: effect of co-infection with human cytomegalovirus.

The level of RNA transcripts in human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells initiated from the avian sarcoma virus (ASV) long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter was stimulated more than 10-fold when the cells were also infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). HCMV was able to stimulate transcription from the ASV LTR promoter even when all the LTR sequence upstream of the TATA box was deleted, suggesting that only the basal LTR promoter is required for the effect. There were no significant changes in the ASV RNA splicing pattern in stimulated and unstimulated HFF cells. The mRNAs showing an increase during HCMV stimulation included aberrantly spliced ASV RNA species as well as unspliced gag-pol, single-spliced env and single-spliced src mRNAs. This pattern was quite different from ASV splicing in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) but typical of that seen in other mammalian cells. A dramatic increase in infectious ASV production from the normally non-permissive HFF was correlated with the increase in amount of ASV RNA in response to HCMV. Thus, there is not an absolute block to ASV production in human cells. However, infectious ASV production was inefficient in HCMV-stimulated HFF compared to that in CEF cells.

The Betty Neuman Systems Model applied to practice: a client with multiple sclerosis.

The importance of nursing theories and models for the growth and development of the profession of nursing is widely acknowledged. The variety of nursing phenomena and situations demands some flexibility in the choice of specific conceptualizations to be used. This paper demonstrates the goodness of fit of the Betty Neuman Systems Model to the care of clients with multiple sclerosis. An adapted assessment tool, based on Neuman's tool, but more useful in the acute care medical setting, is used to gather data related to a woman with recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis. A nursing care plan illustrating the use of Neuman's model is generated, implemented and evaluated. The Neuman Model is demonstrated to be useful and effective in the implementation of the nursing process in this case.

Quantitative determination of enantiomeric compounds. I--Simultaneous measurement of the optical isomers of amphetamine in human plasma and saliva using chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and specific method for the quantitative determination of the optical isomers of amphetamine from human plasma and saliva is described. Amphetamine was extracted from basified plasma or saliva with hexane and then derivatized by reaction with N-pentafluorobenzoyl-S-(-)-prolyl-1-imidazolide. The reaction of the amphetamine enantiomers with this chiral reagent yields diasteriomers which are easily resolved by gas liquid chromatography. The resolved diasteriomers upon elution from the gas chromatograph were measured quantitatively by chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Plasma and saliva levels achieved following the oral administration of 10 mg of dl-, d- and l-amphetamine in man are reported.