Hemoglobin induces the expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in dendritic cells through the activation of PI3K, PKC, and NF-kappaB and the generation of reactive oxygen species.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway of tryptophan (Trp) metabolism. IDO is immunosuppressive and is induced by inflammation in macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). Previous studies have shown the serum Kyn/Trp levels in patients with hemolytic anemia to be notably high. In the present study, we demonstrated that hemoglobin (Hb), but not hemin or heme-free globin (Apo Hb), induced IDO expression in bone marrow-derived myeloid DCs (BMDCs). Hb induced the phosphorylation and degradation of I kappaB alpha. Hb-induced IDO expression was inhibited by inhibitors of PI3-kinase (PI3K), PKC and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. Hb translocated both RelA and p52 from the cytosol to the nucleus and induced the intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hb-induced IDO expression was inhibited by anti-oxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) or mixtures of SOD and catalase, however, IDO expression was enhanced by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, an inhibitor of catalase, suggesting that the generation of ROS such as O(2) (-), H(2)O(2), and hydroxyl radical is required for the induction of IDO expression. The generation of ROS was inhibited by a PKC inhibitor, and this action was further enhanced by addition of a PI3K inhibitor. Hb induced Akt phosphorylation, which was inhibited by a PI3K inhibitor and enhanced by a PKC inhibitor. These results suggest that the activation of NF-kappaB through the PI3K-PKC-ROS and PI3K-Akt pathways is required for the Hb-induced IDO expression in BMDCs.

High-affinity uptake of kynurenine and nitric oxide-mediated inhibition of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in bone marrow-derived myeloid dendritic cells.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)-initiated tryptophan metabolism along the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway in some dendritic cells (DC) such as plasmacytoid DC (pDC) regulates T-cell responses. It is unclear whether bone marrow-derived myeloid DC (BMDC) express functional IDO. The IDO expression was examined in CD11c(+)CD11b(+) BMDC differentiated from mouse bone marrow cells using GM-CSF. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG) induced the expression of IDO protein with the production of nitric oxide (NO) in BMDC in cultures for 24h. In the enzyme assay using cellular extracts of BMDC, the IDO activity of BMDC stimulated with CpG was enhanced by the addition of a NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, suggesting that IDO activity was suppressed by NO production. On the other hand, the concentration of Kyn in the culture supernatant of BMDC was not increased by stimulation with CpG. Exogenously added Kyn was taken up by BMDC independently of CpG stimulation and NO production, and the uptake of Kyn was inhibited by a transport system L-specific inhibitor or high concentrations of tryptophan. The uptake of tryptophan by BMDC was markedly lower than that of Kyn. In conclusion, IDO activity in BMDC is down-regulated by NO production, whereas BMDC strongly take up exogenous Kyn.

Diazotization of kynurenine by acidified nitrite secreted from indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-expressing myeloid dendritic cells.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)-initiated tryptophan metabolism along the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway regulates T-cell responses in some dendritic cells (DC) such as plasmacytoid DC. A Kyn assay using HPLC showed that samples were frequently deproteinized with trichloroacetic acid (TCA). In the present study, bone marrow-derived myeloid DC (BMDC) were differentiated from mouse bone marrow cells with GM-CSF. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG) induced the expression of IDO protein with NO production in BMDC cultured for 24 h. The concentrations of Kyn in the culture supernatants were not increased by stimulation with CpG but rather decreased by based on the Kyn assay after deproteinization with TCA. The level of Kyn exogenously added into the cell-free culture supernatant of BMDC stimulated with CpG was severely decreased by deproteinization with TCA but not methanol, and the decrease was prevented when BMDC was stimulated with CpG in the presence of a NOS inhibitor. Under acidic conditions, Kyn reacted with nitrite produced by BMDC, and generated a new compound that was not detected by Ehrlich reagent reacting with the aromatic amino residue of Kyn. An analysis by mass spectrometry showed the new compound to be a diazotization form of Kyn. In conclusion, the deproteinization of samples by acidic treatment should be avoided for the Kyn assay when NO is produced.

Cinnabarinic acid generated from 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid strongly induces apoptosis in thymocytes through the generation of reactive oxygen species and the induction of caspase.

3-Hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HAA) is one of the tryptophan metabolites along the kynurenine pathway and induces apoptosis in T cells. We investigated the mechanism of 3HAA-induced apoptosis in mouse thymocytes. The optimal concentration of 3HAA for apoptosis induction was 300-500 microM. The induction of apoptosis by a suboptimal concentration (100 microM) of 3HAA was enhanced by superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as MnCl2 and further promoted in the presence of catalase. The 3HAA-mediated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was enhanced by SOD or MnCl2 and inhibited by catalase. Corresponding to apoptosis induction, the generation of cinnabarinic acid (CA) through the oxidation of 3HAA was enhanced by SOD or MnCl2 in the presence of catalase. The synthesized CA possessed more than 10 times higher apoptosis-inducing activity than 3HAA. The intracellular ROS generation was induced by CA within 15 min and decreased to the control levels within 4 h, whereas the 3HAA-induced ROS generation increased gradually up to 4 h. Corresponding to ROS generation, the mitochondrial membrane potential was downregulated within 15 min and retained by the CA treatment. Apoptosis induction by 3HAA or CA was dependent on caspases, and caspase-3 was much more strongly activated by CA than 3HAA. In conclusion, the CA generated from 3HAA possesses a strong apoptosis-inducing activity in thymocytes through ROS generation, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and caspase activation.

Binding activity of H-Ras is necessary for in vivo inhibition of ASK1 activity.

H-Ras is well known as one of the essential components of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade, which is a critical prosurvival signaling mechanism in most eukaryotic cells. Ras targets Raf/MEK/ERK cascade by integrating and transmitting extracellular signals from growth factor receptors to Raf, leading to the propagation of signals to modulate a serious of cellular survival events. Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase1 (ASK1) serves as a general mediator of cell death because it is responsive to a variety of death signals. In this study, we found that H-Ras interacted with ASK1 to cause the inhibition of both ASK1 activity and ASK1-induced apoptosis in vivo, which was reversed only partially by addition of RafS621A, an antagonist of Raf, whereas MEK inhibitor, PD98059, and PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, did not disturb the inhibitory effect of H-Ras on ASK-1-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, by means of immunoprecipitate and kinase assays, we demonstrated that the interaction between H-Ras and ASK1 as well as the inhibition of ASK1 activity were dependent on the binding activity of H-Ras. These results suggest that a novel mechanism may be involved in H-Ras-mediated cell survival in addition to the well established MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt kinase-dependent enhancement of cell survival.

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate protects Jurkat cells from methylglyoxal-induced apoptosis by preventing c-Jun N-terminal kinase-mediated leakage of cytochrome c in an extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent manner.

Methylglyoxal (MG) is an endogenous metabolite that increases in the blood and tissues of diabetic patients and is believed to be linked to the development of chronic complications of diabetes. We showed previously that Jurkat cells treated with MG rapidly undergo apoptosis via c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation. In this study, we examined whether phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) can prevent MG-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells. The results showed the following: 1) PMA can prevent MG-induced apoptosis; 2) triggering of this antiapoptotic signal depends on the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway; 3) PMA inhibits MG-induced activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, release of cytochrome c, and decline of mitochondrial membrane potential, but it does not affect MG-induced JNK activation; 4) the ERK pathway modulates outer mitochondrial membrane permeability and regulates the mitochondrial death machinery; and 5) activated ERK prevents JNK-induced leakage of cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria. Taken together, these results suggest that PMA-induced ERK activation can protect Jurkat cells from methylglyoxal-induced apoptosis and that activated ERK exerts its antiapoptotic effects on mitochondria by inhibiting activated JNK-induced permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane.

Involvement of MEKK1/ERK/P21Waf1/Cip1 signal transduction pathway in inhibition of IGF-I-mediated cell growth response by methylglyoxal.

The abnormal accumulation of methylglyoxal (MG), a physiological glucose metabolite, is strongly related to the development of diabetic complications by affecting the metabolism and functions of organs and tissues. These disturbances could modify the cell response to hormones and growth factors, including insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I). In this study, we investigated the effect of MG on IGF-I-induced cell proliferation and the mechanism of the effect in two cell lines, a human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK293), and a mouse fibroblast cell line (NIH3T3). MG rendered these cells resistant to the mitogenic action of IGF-I, and this was associated with stronger and prolonged activation of ERK and over-expression of P21(Waf1/Cip1). The synergistic effect of MG with IGF-I in activation of ERK was completely abolished by PD98059 but not by a specific PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, or a specific PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide. Blocking of Raf-1 activity by expression of a dominant negative form of Raf-1 did not reduce the enhancing effect of MG on IGF-I-induced activation of ERK. However, transfection of a catalytically inactive form of MEKK1 resulted in inactivation of the MG-induced activation of ERK and partial inhibition of the enhanced activation of ERK and over-expression of p21(Waf1/Cip1) induced by co-stimulation of MG and IGF-I. These results suggested that the alteration of intracellular milieu induced by MG through a MEKK1-mediated and PI3K/PKC/Raf-1-independent pathway resulted in the modification of cell response to IGF-I for p21(Waf1/Cip1)-mediated growth arrest, which may be one of the crucial mechanisms for MG to promote the development of chronic clinical complications in diabetes.

Expression of recombinant human beta-defensin-2 gene with C terminal of double marks of Myc and poly-histidine in transfected COS-7 cells / 生物医学工程学杂志

The aim of this study is to explore the possibility and technical itinerary of establishing an mammal engineering cell line in which hBD-2 can be effectively expressed, secreted, detected, separated and purified. The full hBD2 cDNA was inserted into the multi clone site of a eukaryotic expressive plasmid pcDNA3.1/Myc-His(+) and located closely at the upstream of two tag gene (myc and 6 Poly-histidines) so as to construct another recombinant eukaryotic expressive vector of hBD-2 gene: rpcDNA3.1/Myc-His/hBD-2. By the use of RT-PCR with special primers, a band of 240 bp was amplified from COS-7 cells transfected by this recombinant plasmid, which matched full length of cDNA coding hBD2 plus myc epitope and 6 poly-histidines tags. Western blot analysis with specific anti-histidines antibody revealed that the lysate of COS-7 cells transfected by rpcDNA3.1/Myc-His/hBD-2 had a strong band with molecular weight of about 10 Kd that was approximate to the size of chiasmic peptide. Antibacterial activity assay showed that obvious bacterial inhibition occurred in both lysate and supernatant of COS-7 cells transfected by rpcDNA3.1/Myc-His/hBD-2.

Menadione biphasically controls JNK-linked cell death in leukemia Jurkat T cells.

Signals for cell-death induction by menadione were studied in Jurkat T cells. Low concentrations of menadione (10-20 microM) and H(2)O(2) (10-50 microM) induced cell death accompanying low (menadione: <5%) or moderate (H(2)O(2): 10-15%) levels of DNA fragmentation in Jurkat cells. These concentrations of menadione (10 microM) and H(2)O(2) also caused membrane (necrotic) cell death at unproportionally high (80%) and proportional (10-30%) levels, respectively. Higher concentrations (100-5,000 microM) of H(2)O(2) exclusively induced membrane cell death. Unexpectedly, 30-300 microM menadione induced ever-decreasing levels of necrotic cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. An in vitro kinase assay showed that 20-50 microM, but not >100 microM, menadione induced activation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK), whereas a striking activation of JNK was induced by 500-5,000 microM H(2)O(2). Induction of cell death by a low concentration of menadione was partially inhibited in dominant negative JNK gene-transfected Jurkat/VPF cells. A high concentration (300 microM) of menadione was found to inhibit cell-death induction by high concentrations (200-5,000 microM) of H(2)O(2). The JNK inhibitory activity of menadione was also demonstrated in a cell-free system. However, menadione did not activate JNK in vitro. These results suggest that JNK is required for induction of not only apoptotic cell death, but also necrotic cell death in Jurkat T cells and that menadione biphasically controls this JNK-linked signal for inducing cell death.

Redox-linked cell surface-oriented signaling for T-cell death.

T-cell death, which occurs either for ontogenic T-cell selection or for activated T-cell elimination, is normally induced through binding of a specific ligand to cell-surface T-cell receptor for crosslinkage. Heavy metals and carbonyl compounds that bind to protein-reactive groups such as cysteine sulfhydryl groups and lysine epsilon-amino groups may also induce crosslinkage of cell-surface proteins, in part replacing or modifying the ligand-mediated action. This chemical event has been found to accompany clustering of membrane rafts, to which signal-transducing elements such as glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins and Src family protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are attached, and to trigger the signal transduction for apoptotic T-cell death, inducing mitochondrial membrane potential reduction, caspase activation and DNA fragmentation. As signals potentially upstream of this signaling, activations of PTKs and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) family kinases and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were induced following the cell-surface event, and crucial roles of activation of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 by a redox-linked mechanism in the cell-death signaling were demonstrated. Intriguingly, ROS production as well as PTK/MAP family kinase activation occurred in a membrane raft integrity-dependent manner. The redox-linked and cell surface-oriented signal delivery pathway demonstrated here may play an important role in induction of immune disorders by protein reactive group-binding chemicals.