FUT4 is involved in PD-1-related immunosuppression and leads to worse survival in patients with operable lung adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: As an important glycosyltransferase, fucosyltransferase IV (FUT4) is abnormally upregulated in different types of cancers, but its clinical role remains inexplicit. This work aimed to determine the predictive ability of FUT4 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) after curative resection, as well as to explore the role of a possible FUT4 molecular mechanism on LUAD malignant behavior. METHODS: A total of 273 LUAD patients after curative resection with complete clinicopathological and RNAseq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort were collected. Correlation of FUT4 with overall survival (OS) was analyzed based on TCGA and further validated by online "Kaplan-Meier Plotter" database and IHC in 70 LUAD patients recruited in the First Hospital of China Medical University cohort. Multivariate Cox regression analysis and 1000 bootstrapping were performed to verify the predictive value of FUT4. Gene set enrichment assay (GSEA) was performed to investigate the biological characteristics. Correlation between PD-1 and FUT4 was analyzed based on TCGA cohort and validated by IHC on cohort from our hospital. RESULTS: Increased FUT4 expression led to reduced overall survival (OS) of LUAD patients based on TCGA (p = 0.006 and 0.001 for dichotomous and trichotomous modeling, respectively) and externally validated in KMPLOTTER (p = 0.01) and by IHC based on cohort from our hospital (p = 0.005 and p = 0.019 for dichotomous and trichotomous modeling, respectively). FUT4 overexpression was an independent high risk factor for OS along with advanced pT stage and pTNM stage (p = 0.001, p = 0.037, and p < 0.001, respectively). GSEA revealed that FUT4 overexpression might correlate with shortened survival of LUAD patients by promoting cell proliferation via ERBB signaling, and suppressing immune response-related pathways. FUT4 expression positively correlated with PD-1 in TCGA (p = 0.026) and validated by IHC on cohort from our hospital (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Increased FUT4 expression led to reduced OS in operable LUAD. FUT4 showed significant correlation with immune response and PD-1 expression.

Increased expression of GCNT1 is associated with altered O-glycosylation of PSA, PAP, and MUC1 in human prostate cancers.

BACKGROUND: Protein glycosylation is a common posttranslational modification and glycan structural changes have been observed in several malignancies including prostate cancer. We hypothesized that altered glycosylation could be related to differences in gene expression levels of glycoprotein synthetic enzymes between normal and malignant prostate tissues. METHODS: We interrogated prostate cancer gene expression data for reproducible changes in expression of glycoprotein synthetic enzymes. Over-expression of GCNT1 was validated in prostate samples using RT-PCR. ELISA was used to measure core 2 O-linked glycan sialyl Lewis X (sLe(x) ) of prostate specific antigen (PSA), Mucin1 (MUC1), and prostatic acidic phosphatase (PAP) proteins. RESULTS: A key glycosyltransferase, GCNT1, was consistently over-expressed in several prostate cancer gene expression datasets. RT-PCR confirmed increased transcript levels in cancer samples compared to normal prostate tissue in fresh-frozen prostate tissue samples. ELISA using PSA, PAP, and MUC1 capture antibodies and a specific core 2 O-linked sLe(x) detection antibody demonstrated elevation of this glycan structure in cancer compared to normal tissues for MUC1 (P = 0.01), PSA (P = 0.03) and near significant differences in PAP sLe(x) levels (P = 0.06). MUC1, PSA and PAP protein levels alone were not significantly different between paired normal and malignant prostate samples. CONCLUSIONS: GCNT1 is over-expressed in prostate cancer and is associated with higher levels of core 2 O-sLe(x) in PSA, PAP and MUC1 proteins. Alterations of O-linked glycosylation could be important in prostate cancer biology and could provide a new avenue for development of prostate cancer specific glycoprotein biomarkers.

El sistema lewis hoy. nuevos enfoques / The lewis system today. new approaches

La expresión de antígenos (Ags) Lewis depende de alelos heredados en loci independientes, el gen Secretor (SE) que codifica la fucosiltransferasa 2 (FUT2) y el gen Lewis (LE) que codifica la fucosiltransferasa 3 (FUT3). El gen Se codifica una glicosiltransferasa que adiciona una fucosa en la cadena precursora de tipo 1 formando el Ag H en secreciones y fluidos. Como los azúcares inmunodominantes del Ag A y B pueden ser agregados a la cadena H de tipo 1, la FUT2 también controla la expresión de Ag A y B en las secreciones. El gen se es un alelo no funcional. El gen Le codifica una transferasa diferente que adiciona una fucosa en el 2do carbono en el precursor de tipo 1. El alelo le no es funcional. Las FUT2 y FUT3 interactúan para la formación de Ags Lewis en secreciones y fluídos. Los Ags Lewis en los eritrocitos no son en realidad parte integral de la membrana, están adsorbidos sobre la superficie en forma pasiva a partir del plasma. Están ampliamente distribuidos en tejidos humanos, eritrocitos, endotelio, riñón, tracto genitourinario, epitelio gastrointestinal y son receptores para algunos patógenos. Los anticuerpos (Acs) anti-Lewis en general no son clínicamente significativos, aunque se han publicado algunos casos de reacciones transfusionales hemolíticas, enfermedad hemolítica fetoneonatal y rechazo de transplante renal. Este trabajo es una revisión sobre los Ags del Sistema Lewis enfocada hacia sus diferentes funciones biológicas y su importancia en campos variados fuera del Banco de Sangre y la Inmunohematología tradicional.

The expression of Lewis blood group antigens depends on the alleles inherited at independent loci, FUT2 Secretor gene (SE) and FUT3 Lewis gene (LE). The Se and Le alleles encode separate fucosyltransferases that interact to form Lewis antigens in secretions and fluids. The Lewis antigens on red blood cells are not integral to the membrane but are passively adsorbed from the plasma. The allele Se encodes a transferase that adds fucose to type 1 precursor chains in secretions and fluids to form type 1 H antigen. Because A and B terminal sugars may be added to type 1 H chains, FUT2 also controls A and B expression in secretions. The FUT2 allele se gen is a nonfunctional allele. The FUT3 allele Le encodes a transferase that adds a fucose in other position in type 1 H precursor. The FUT3 allele le gen is a nonfunctional allele. The Le antigens are widely distributed in human tissues and fluids and are receptors for some pathogenic organisms. Lewis antibodies are rare and clinically no significant, although there are some reports of hemolytic transfusion reactions, hemolytic disease of the newborn and renal transplant rejection. This review focuses on different biological functions of Lewis antigens and their importance in some fields other than Blood Banks and traditional.

[Glycan ligand specificity of killer lectin receptors].

Sialyl Lewis X (sLeX) antigen, Neu5Acα2,3Galß1,4(Fucα1,3)GlcNAc-R, is expressed on the glycoproteins in sera or the surface of the cells and the expression of sLeX is enhanced in various conditions such as the inflammation and cancer. SLeX in the serum is utilized as a tumor marker. To clarify the roles of sLeX on secreted glycoproteins in vivo, we investigate the regulation of natural killer (NK) cell-dependent cytotoxicity through sLeX. NK cells express many receptors to kill the target cells such as cancerous cells and non-self, and their protein ligands have been elucidated. Of the killer lectin-like receptors (KLRs) on NK cells, several have been reported to recognize glycans. Using recombinant extracellular domains of KLRs (rKLRs: rNKG2A, C, D and rCD94), we evaluated their glycan ligand specificity and binding affinities using EIA methods. We clarified that all of these rKLRs can bind to high sLeX-expressing glycoprotein and heparin, heparan sulfate and highly sulfated polysaccharides and that glycan binding sites on NKG2D are mostly overlapped with those of protein ligands. In this review, we show the recent findings concerning the glycan ligands of these KLRs.

Leukemic priming of resting NK cells is killer Ig-like receptor independent but requires CD15-mediated CD2 ligation and natural cytotoxicity receptors.

Resting human NK cells require a two-stage activation process that we have previously described as "priming" and "triggering." NK-sensitive tumor cells provide both priming and triggering signals. NK-resistant tumors evade lysis, mostly by failure to prime; however, we recently reported a tumor cell line (CTV-1) that primes resting NK cells but fails to trigger lysis. In this article, we report two additional leukemia cell lines that prime NK cells but are resistant to lysis. Tumor-mediated NK priming is via CD2 binding to a ligand within CD15 on the tumor cell. NK-resistant RAJI cells became susceptible to NK lysis following transfection and expression of CD15. Blockade of CD15 on K562 cells or on CD15(+) RAJI cells significantly inhibited lysis, as did blockade of CD2 on resting NK cells. NK priming via CD2 induced CD16 shedding, releasing CD3ζ to the CD2, leading to its phosphorylation and the subsequent phosphorylation of linker for activation of T cells and STAT-5 and synthesis of IFN-γ. Blockade of C-type lectin receptors significantly suppressed the tumor-mediated priming of NK cells, whereas blockade of Ig-superfamily-like receptors had no effect at the NK-priming stage. Tumor priming of resting NK cells was irrespective of HLA expression, and blockade of HLA-killer Ig-like receptor interactions did not influence the incidence or degree of priming. However, CD15-CD2 interactions were critical for NK priming and were required, even in the absence of HLA-mediated NK inhibition. Tumor-mediated priming led to a sustained primed state, and the activated NK cells retained the ability to lyse NK-resistant tumors, even after cryopreservation.

CD138/syndecan-1 and SSEA-1 mark distinct populations of developing ciliary epithelium that are regulated differentially by Wnt signal.

Ciliary epithelium (CE), which consists of nonpigmented and pigmented layers, develops from the optic vesicle. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying CE development have not been closely examined, in part because cell-surface markers suitable for specific labeling of subregions of the retina were unknown. Here, we identified CD138/syndecan-1 and stage specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) CD15 as cell-surface antigens marking nonpigmented and pigmented CE, respectively. During retinal development, both CD138 and SSEA-1 were expressed in the early stage, and segregation of these markers in the tissue began at around embryonic day (E) 10. As a result, CD138-positive (CD138+) cells were found at the most distal tip of the retina, and SSEA-1+ cells were found in the periphery adjacent to the area of CD138 expression. In vitro characterization of isolated CD138+ or SSEA-1+ cell subpopulations revealed that CD138+ cells lose their retinal progenitor characteristics between E13 and E16, suggesting that they commit to becoming nonpigmented CE cells within this period. By in vivo mouse models, we found that stabilized beta-catenin expanded the area of CD138+ nonpigmented CE and that elimination of beta-catenin inhibited development of nonpigmented CE cells. These findings are the first to use cell-surface markers to ascertain the spatial and temporal transitions that occur in developing CE.

The distribution and behavior of extragonadal primordial germ cells in Bax mutant mice suggest a novel origin for sacrococcygeal germ cell tumors.

In the mouse, germ cells that do not reach the genital ridges rapidly die by a wave of apoptosis that requires the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. In Bax-null embryos, large numbers of ectopic (extragonadal) germ cells fail to die. We have studied the fates of these, in an effort to understand the etiology of human extragonadal germ cell tumors, which are thought to arise from ectopic germ cells. We find that ectopic germ cells in which apoptosis is blocked form a heterogeneous population, which partially differentiates along the gonocyte pathway to different extents in different regions of the embryo, and in the two genders. In particular, a previously undescribed population of ectopic germ cells was identified in the tail. These germ cells retained primitive markers for longer than ectopic germ cells in other regions, and represent a possible origin for sacrococcygeal type I extragonadal germ cell tumors found in neonates and infants. This hypothesis is supported, but not proved, by the finding of cells expressing the germ cell marker Oct4 associated with a coccygeal germ cell tumor in a human infant.

Le(x) glycan mediates homotypic adhesion of embryonal cells independently from E-cadherin: a preliminary note.

Le(x) glycan and E-cadherin (Ecad) are co-expressed at embryonal stem (ES) cells and embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells. While the structure and function of Ecad mediating homotypic adhesion of these cells have been well established, evidence that Le(x) glycan also mediates such adhesion is weak, despite the fact that Le(x) oligosaccharide inhibits the compaction process. To provide stronger evidence, we knocked out Ecad gene in EC and ES cells to establish F9 Ecad (-/-) and D3M Ecad (-/-) cells, which highly express Le(x) glycan but do not express Ecad at all. Both F9 Ecad (-/-) and D3M Ecad (-/-) cells displayed strong autoaggregation in the presence of Ca(2+), while PYS-2 cells, which express trace amount of Ecad and undetectable level of Le(x) glycan, did not display autoaggregation. In addition, F9 Ecad (-/-) and D3M Ecad (-/-) cells displayed strong adhesion to plates coated with Le(x) glycosphingolipid (III(3)FucnLc4Cer), in dose-dependent manner, in the presence of Ca(2+). Thus, ES or EC cells display autoaggregation and strong adhesion to Le(x)-coated plates in the absence of Ecad, further supporting the notion of Le(x) self-recognition (i.e., Le(x)-to-Le(x) interaction) in cell adhesion.

c-kit marks late retinal progenitor cells and regulates their differentiation in developing mouse retina.

Retinal progenitor cells are believed to display altered proliferation and differentiation during retinal development, suggesting that retinal progenitor cell populations are not homogeneous. However, the composition of progenitor cell populations is not known, due in part to the lack of known surface markers identifying distinct stages of retinal progenitor cells. We found a dramatic change in the expression profile of the cell surface antigens c-kit and stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) in retinal progenitor cells during development. While SSEA-1 was expressed early in development, c-kit expression peaked in late stage progenitor cells. The identification of these developmental markers enabled us to characterize distinct sub-populations of retinal progenitor cells. Progenitor cell subpopulations expressing either SSEA-1, c-kit, or both showed different proliferation and differentiation abilities. Although SSEA-1-positive cells were augmented by beta-catenin signaling, c-kit-positive cells were positively regulated by Notch signaling. Taken together, our data suggest that c-kit and SSEA-1 can be used to spatiotemporally differentiate retinal progenitor populations that have intrinsically distinct characteristics. Prolonged expression of c-kit by a retrovirus resulted in the promotion of proliferation and the appearance of nestin-positive cells in the presence of the c-kit ligand, stem cell factor (SCF). This suggests a role for c-kit, Notch, and the beta-catenin signaling network in retinal development.

LeX is expressed by principle progenitor cells in the embryonic nervous system, is secreted into their environment and binds Wnt-1.

LeX/SSEA1/CD15 is an extracellular matrix-associated carbohydrate expressed by ES cells and by adult neural and bone marrow stem cells. It is important for cell adhesion, compaction and FGF2 responses of early embryonic stem cells; however, its function at later stages is not clear. We now show that LeX is expressed by primary mouse neural progenitor cells, including neural stem cells, neuroblasts and glioblasts, but not by their more differentiated products. LeX distinguishes highly proliferative cells even in the primitive neuroepithelium, demonstrating heterogeneity in cell potential before radial glia arise. At later stages, LeX expressing progenitors are frequently radial in morphology. Surface LeX expression can be used to enrich neural stem and progenitor cells from different CNS regions throughout development by FACS. We found that LeX expression is particularly strong in neural regions with prolonged neurogenesis, e.g., the olfactory epithelium, hippocampus, basal forebrain and cerebellum. These regions also express high levels of the growth factors FGF8 and/or Wnt-1. We show here that LeX-containing molecules in the developing nervous system bind Wnt-1. Our findings suggest that LeX, which is present on the surface of principle neural progenitors and secreted into their extracellular niche, may bind and present growth factors important for their proliferation and self-renewal.

SSEA-1 marks regionally restricted immature subpopulations of embryonic retinal progenitor cells that are regulated by the Wnt signaling pathway.

Identification and expansion of retinal progenitor cells are critical issues from both scientific and clinical aspects. Here, we identified SSEA-1 (CD15) as a novel surface antigen that can be used to define immature retinal progenitor cells. SSEA-1-expressing retinal cells were found in the peripheral region of the early embryonic mouse retina, and then their number dramatically disappeared along with retinal development. FACS analysis showed that the cells strongly positive for SSEA-1 co-expressed Ki67 proliferation antigen in all the developmental stages examined. The SSEA-1-expressing cells formed larger colonies than the non-expressing ones in retinal re-aggregation cultures. Moreover, late onset of rhodopsin expression was observed in SSEA-1-positive progenitor cells, supporting the idea that these cells have an intrinsically immature character. Differential expression of Wnt signal-related genes between SSEA-1-positive and -negative subpopulations of retina cells was revealed, and the expression of constitutively active forms of Wnt signaling molecules resulted in a greater number of SSEA-1-positive cells. In light of all of the data taken together, we propose SSEA-1 to be a surface marker to define a regionally restricted immature subset of progenitor cells of mouse neural retina, with SSEA-1 expression by them positively regulated by Wnt signals.

Lewis X component in human milk binds DC-SIGN and inhibits HIV-1 transfer to CD4+ T lymphocytes.

DC-specific ICAM3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN), which is expressed on DCs, can interact with a variety of pathogens such as HIV-1, hepatitis C, Ebola, cytomegalovirus, Dengue virus, Mycobacterium, Leishmania, and Candida albicans. We demonstrate that human milk can inhibit the DC-SIGN-mediated transfer of HIV-1 to CD4+ T lymphocytes as well as viral transfer by both immature and mature DCs. The inhibitory factor directly interacted with DC-SIGN and prevented the HIV-1 gp120 envelope protein from binding to the receptor. The human milk proteins lactoferrin, alpha-lactalbumin, lysozyme, beta-casein, and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor did not bind DC-SIGN or demonstrate inhibition of viral transfer. The inhibitory effect could be fully alleviated with an Ab recognizing the Lewis X (LeX) sugar epitope, commonly found in human milk. LeX in polymeric form or conjugated to protein could mimic the inhibitory activity, whereas free LeX sugar epitopes could not. We reveal that a LeX motif present in human milk can bind to DC-SIGN and thereby prevent the capture and subsequent transfer of HIV-1 to CD4+ T lymphocytes. The presence of such a DC-SIGN-binding molecule in human milk may both influence antigenic presentation and interfere with pathogen transfer in breastfed infants.

Helicobacter pylori modulates the T helper cell 1/T helper cell 2 balance through phase-variable interaction between lipopolysaccharide and DC-SIGN.

The human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori spontaneously switches lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Lewis (Le) antigens on and off (phase-variable expression), but the biological significance of this is unclear. Here, we report that Le+ H. pylori variants are able to bind to the C-type lectin DC-SIGN and present on gastric dendritic cells (DCs), and demonstrate that this interaction blocks T helper cell (Th)1 development. In contrast, Le- variants escape binding to DCs and induce a strong Th1 cell response. In addition, in gastric biopsies challenged ex vivo with Le+ variants that bind DC-SIGN, interleukin 6 production is decreased, indicative of increased immune suppression. Our data indicate a role for LPS phase variation and Le antigen expression by H. pylori in suppressing immune responses through DC-SIGN.

Animal embryonic stem (ES) cells: self-renewal, pluripotency, transgenesis and nuclear transfer.

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can be maintained indefinitely in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and they express markers of self-renewal and pluripotency, which include the transcription factor Oct 4, STAT-3, stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-1, and alkaline phosphatase (AP). Upon removal of LIF, from the culture medium they cease to express markers such as Oct 4, rapidly losing the capacity for self-renewal and differentiating into a variety of cell types. Gene targeting is feasible in murine ES cells because these cells can be maintained in an undifferentiated state long enough to allow selection of properly targeted cell colonies with a high frequency of homologous recombination. Furthermore, blastocysts cloned from cultured murine ES cells develop to term at an efficiency (10-30%) that is three to ten times higher than blastocysts cloned from the nuclei of differentiated somatic cells. It seems likely that ES cells require less extensive reprogramming than do somatic cells, perhaps because in ES cells, many genes that are essential for early development are already active and thus do not require reactivation. Recently, we succeeded in isolating immortalized equine and bovine ES cells with a normal karyotype, that exhibit features similar to those of murine ES cells and express Oct 4, STAT-3, SSEA-1 and AP. We further confirmed the pluripotential ability of these cells, which were able to undergo somatic differentiation in vitro to neural progenitors and to endothelial or hematopoietic lineages. We were able to use bovine ES cells, as a source of nuclei for nuclear transfer (NT) and we generated cloned cattle with a higher frequency of pregnancies to term than has been achieved with differentiated somatic cells. Moreover, bovine ES cells that expressed enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were incorporated into both the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophectdermal cells of developing blastocysts. These findings should facilitate targeted genetic manipulation of the genome and should allow production of cloned cattle in a single step after modification, as appropriate, of the genome.

Selectins and anti-CD15 (Lewis x/a) antibodies transmit activation signals in Hodgkin's lymphoma-derived cell lines.

OBJECTIVE: The CD15 (Lewis x) cell surface oligosaccharide moiety is expressed in a variety of normal and tumor cells and recognized by selectins. The detection of CD15 on malignant Hodgkin-Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells serves as a diagnostic marker of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). Retrospective studies suggest that the expression of nonsialylated CD15 molecules on HRS cells has a positive prognostic value while presence of sialylated CD15 may correlate with a poor outcome. However, the relevance of the CD15 antigen expression to the pathobiology of the disease is not clear. In this work, we studied the contribution of CD15 to cell adhesion and the activation of signaling cascades in two HL-derived cell lines, KMH-2 and L428. METHODS: Immobilized anti-CD15 monoclonal antibodies and recombinant E- and P-selectins were used to activate KMH-2 and L428 cells. Immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, and the electrophoretic mobility shift assay were performed to detect tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Cbl, c-Jun nuclear translocation, and AP-1 DNA binding. RESULTS: Treatment of cells with antibodies against the sialylated and nonsialylated forms of CD15, or with immobilized selectins, induced changes in cell morphology. Tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Cbl, together with tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple protein substrates, was also induced. In addition, binding of the CD15 molecules induced nuclear translocation of c-Jun and an increase in AP-1 DNA binding activity. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that CD15 has a dual physiological role, both as an adhesion molecule recognized by selectins and as a regulatory molecule upstream to specific intracellular signaling cascades with implications to the pathogenesis of HL.

Limited role of lipopolysaccharide Lewis antigens in adherence of Helicobacter pylori to the human gastric epithelium.

In vitro and in vivo studies from various groups have suggested that Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Lewis x (Le(x)) antigens mediate bacterial adhesion. We have now reevaluated this hypothesis by studying the adherence in situ of H. pylori strain 11637 and its corresponding Le(x)-negative rfbM mutant to human gastric mucosa from patients (n = 22) with various gastric pathologies. Significant binding of the parent strain was observed in only 8 out of 22 sections; in four out of eight patients, the Le(x)-negative mutant bound less well. One of these four patients displayed no gastric abnormalities, and the other three showed dysplasia, metaplasia, and adenocarcinoma, respectively; hence, we are unable to define the circumstances under which LPS-mediated adhesion takes place. We conclude that H. pylori LPS plays a distinct but minor role in adhesion.

Influence of Lewis antigen expression by Helicobacter pylori on bacterial internalization by gastric epithelial cells.

The role of Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Lewis antigens in infection is still not well known. We investigated the influence of Lewis antigen expression by H. pylori on its internalization by AGS cells and the epithelium of human gastric xenografts in nude mice using isogenic mutants in LPS biosynthetic genes. In vivo, colonization rates were unaffected by the change in H. pylori Lewis antigen expression, whereas the number of viable intracellular bacteria was significantly higher with wild-type H. pylori strains expressing Lewis antigens when compared to the isogenic mutants in both models. H. pylori strains expressing more Lewis X antigens (Le(x)) were internalized at a higher rate than those expressing less Le(x), type II Lewis antigens (Le(a) or Le(b)) alone, or no Lewis antigens. Thus, Lewis antigens appear to be involved in the internalization of H. pylori by the gastric epithelium.

Helicobacter pylori does not require Lewis X or Lewis Y expression to colonize C3H/HeJ mice.

Helicobacter pylori strains frequently express Lewis X (Le(x)) and/or Le(y) on their cell surfaces as constituents of the O antigens of their lipopolysaccharide molecules. To assess the effect of Le(x) and Le(y) expression on the ability of H. pylori to colonize the mouse stomach and to adhere to epithelial cells, isogenic mutants were created in which fucT1 alone or fucT1 and fucT2, which encode the fucosyl transferases necessary for Le(x) and Le(y) expression, were deleted. C3H/HeJ mice were experimentally challenged with either wild-type 26695 H. pylori or its isogenic mutants. All strains, whether passaged in the laboratory or recovered after mouse passage, colonized the mice well and without consistent differences. During colonization by the mutants, there was no reversion to wild type. Similarly, adherence to AGS and KatoIII cells was unaffected by the mutations. Together, these findings indicate that Le expression is not necessary for mouse gastric colonization or for H. pylori adherence to epithelial cells.

Expression of liver fatty acid binding protein alters growth and differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

Although expression of liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) modulates cell growth, it is not known if L-FABP also alters cell morphology and differentiation. Therefore, pluripotent embryonic stem cells were transfected with cDNA encoding L-FABP and a series of clones expressing increasing levels of L-FABP were isolated. Untransfected ES cells, as well as ES cells transfected only with empty vector, spontaneously differentiated from rounded adipocyte-like to fibroblast-like morphology, concomitant with marked reduction in expression of stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA-1). These changes in morphology and expression of SSEA-1 were greatest in ES cell clones expressing L-FABP above a threshold level. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy revealed that L-FABP was primarily localized in a diffuse-cytosolic pattern along with a lesser degree of punctate L-FABP expression in the nucleus. Nuclear localization of L-FABP was preferentially increased in clones expressing higher levels of L-FABP. In summary, L-FABP expression altered ES cell morphology and expression of SSEA-1. Taken together with the fact that L-FABP was detected in the nucleus, these data suggested that L-FABP may play a more direct, heretofore unknown, role in regulating ES cell differentiation by acting in the nucleus as well as cytoplasm.