GPR119, a novel G protein-coupled receptor target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

GPR119 is a G protein-coupled receptor expressed predominantly in the pancreas (beta-cells) and gastrointestinal tract (enteroendocrine cells) in humans. De-orphanization of GPR119 has revealed two classes of possible endogenous ligands, viz., phospholipids and fatty acid amides. Of these, oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is one of the most active ligands tested so far. This fatty acid ethanolamide is of particular interest because of its known effects of reducing food intake and body weight gain when administered to rodents. Agonists at the GPR119 receptor cause an increase in intracellular cAMP levels via G(alphas) coupling to adenylate cyclase. In vitro studies have indicated a role for GPR119 in the modulation of insulin release by pancreatic beta-cells and of GLP-1 secretion by gut enteroendocrine cells. The effects of GPR119 agonists in animal models of diabetes and obesity are reviewed, and the potential value of such compounds in future therapies for these conditions is discussed.

Word length and vowel duration in apraxia of speech: the use of relative measures.

Previous research has established that the duration of stressed word stem vowels is shorter in polysyllabic words than in monosyllabic words for normal speakers and for speakers with aphasia and apraxia of speech (AOS). However, the results are inconsistent across studies with regard to the magnitude and pattern of the duration reduction for apraxic speakers. We hypothesized that this inconsistency may be explained based on different relative measures of duration reduction. A speech sample was obtained from 10 aphasic speakers with AOS, 10 aphasic speakers without AOS, and 10 normal controls. As predicted, the use of two different relative measures resulted in different vowel reduction patterns, both of which were consistent with previous reports. The results further indicate that the production of polysyllabic words is particularly taxing in AOS and is associated with a substantial reduction of speaking rate compared to other aphasic and normal speakers.

The design and synthesis of potent inhibitors of hepatitis C virus NS3-4A proteinase.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the cause of the majority of transfusion-associated hepatitis and a significant proportion of community-acquired hepatitis worldwide. Infection by HCV frequently leads to persistent infections that result in a range of clinical conditions including an asymptomatic carrier state, severe chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis and, in some cases, hepatocellular carcinoma. The HCV genome consists of a single-stranded, positive sense RNA containing an open reading frame of approximately 9060 nucleotides. This is translated into a single polyprotein of approximately 3020 amino acids (C-E1-E2-p7-NS2-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5A-NS5B), which in turn is processed by a series of host and viral proteinases into at least 10 cleavage products. The N-terminal portion of the NS3 protein encodes a serine proteinase that is responsible for the cleavage at the NS3-4A, NS4A-4B, NS4B-5A and NS5A-5B junctions. The 54 amino acid NS4A protein is a cofactor that binds to the NS3 protein and enhances its proteolytic activity. This report describes the expression of a recombinant NS3-4A proteinase fusion protein in Escherichia coli and the in vitro characterization of the enzyme activity using synthetic peptide substrates. It then demonstrates how these results were employed to guide the design of potent inhibitors of this enzyme.

Selective stimulation of hepatitis C virus and pestivirus NS5B RNA polymerase activity by GTP.

NS5B of the hepatitis C virus is an RNA template-dependent RNA polymerase and therefore the key player of the viral replicase complex. Using a highly purified enzyme expressed with recombinant baculoviruses in insect cells, we demonstrate a stimulation of RNA synthesis up to 2 orders of magnitude by high concentrations of GTP but not with ATP, CTP, UTP, GDP, or GMP. Enhancement of RNA synthesis was found with various heteropolymeric RNA templates, with poly(C)-oligo(G)12 but not with poly(A)-oligo(U)12. Several amino acid substitutions in polymerase motifs B, C, and D previously shown to be crucial for RdRp activity were tested for GTP stimulation of RNA synthesis. Most of these mutations, in particular those affecting the GDD motif (motif C) strongly reduced or completely abolished activation by GTP, suggesting that the same NTP-binding site is used for stimulation and RNA synthesis. Since GTP did not affect the overall RNA binding properties or the elongation rate, high concentrations of GTP appear to accelerate a rate-limiting step at the level of initiation of RNA synthesis. Finally, enhancement of RNA synthesis by high GTP concentrations was also found with NS5B of the pestivirus classical swine fever virus, but not with the 3D polymerase of poliovirus. Thus, stimulation of RdRp activity by GTP is evolutionarily conserved between the closely related hepaciviruses and pestiviruses but not between these and the more distantly related picornaviruses.

Recombinant baculovirus-expressed NS3 proteinase of hepatitis C virus shows activity in cell-based and in vitro assays.

Recombinant baculoviruses have been constructed which express the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 proteinase and its substrates in insect cells. The expressed proteinase has been shown to carry out trans-cleavage at the NS3/4A, NS4A/4B, NS4B/5A and NS5A/5B junctions in a cell-based assay. When assayed in a cell-free system using in vitro translated substrates, the proteinase could perform trans-processing of the NS4A/4B and NS5A/5B junctions, but only when coexpressed with NS4A, either as an NS3-4A precursor or by co-infection of cells with NS3- and NS4A-expressing recombinant baculoviruses. Possible reasons for the absolute requirement of the NS3 proteinase for NS4A in vitro are discussed.

Production of host shutoff-defective mutants of herpes simplex virus type 1 by inactivation of the UL13 gene.

Two mutants of HSV-1(SC16) carrying disrupted UL13 genes have been generated independently by recombination of wild-type genomic DNA with a plasmid-cloned copy of the UL13 gene containing multiple stop codons. The two mutants were shown to be deficient in UL13 gene expression by Western blotting of infected cells. A revertant virus, in which UL13 expression was restored to a near-normal level, was generated by recombination of one of the UL13-negative mutants with a plasmid carrying the wild-type UL13 gene. The replication of the two UL13-negative viruses in cell culture was somewhat reduced compared to their wild-type parent, and the viruses were unable to produce shutoff of host protein synthesis. The replication of the revertant virus was intermediate between that of the UL13-negative and wild-type viruses, as was its ability to produce host shutoff. Cells infected with the UL13-negative mutants were shown to contain much lower levels than normal of the UL41 gene product, which is known to be required for virion host shutoff. However, there was no significant difference between levels of the UL41 gene product in wild-type and mutant virions. The UL13-negative viruses exhibited different patterns of protein phosphorylation from wild-type virus when infected cells were metabolically labeled with [32P]-orthophosphate and when lysates of infected cells and of virions were subjected to in vitro phosphorylation. However, the UL41 gene product could still be phosphorylated in lysates of UL13-negative virions. We conclude that the UL13 gene is necessary to produce the virion host shutoff effect, but it seems unlikely that the role of UL13 is simply to activate the UL41 gene product by phosphorylation.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 gene UL13 encodes a phosphoprotein that is a component of the virion.

The UL13 open reading frame of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been expressed in insect cells by a recombinant baculovirus and in Escherichia coli. In the latter case, the UL13 gene was fused to the gene for glutathione S-transferase (GST) to allow high-level expression of an 80-kDa GST-UL13 fusion protein. Antibody raised against the fusion protein reacted specifically with the 55-kDa UL13 gene product expressed by the recombinant baculovirus. This antibody also recognized a late phosphoprotein in HSV-1-infected cell lysates and a component of purified HSV-1 virions, both with the same electrophoretic mobility as the baculovirus-expressed protein. The virion component was efficiently phosphorylated in vitro by a virion-associated protein kinase. Using the same antibody, the probable homolog of the UL13 gene product was identified in HSV-2-infected cells and purified virions.

Effect of two novel inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus protease on the maturation of the HIV gag and gag-pol polyproteins.

The ability of two novel synthetic compounds to inhibit the HIV protease-mediated processing of HIV-1 precursor polyproteins was investigated in an in vitro gag-protease mixed lysate assay system and in an assay using recombinant baculoviruses engineered to express the HIV-1 gag and pol genes in cultured insect cells. With the in vitro mixed lysate assay we have shown that both compounds at 1 microM can completely inhibit the HIV-1 and HIV-2 protease-mediated release of p24 from the HIV-1 gag precursor at pH 5.5 and pH 7.0. In the intracellular baculovirus system these compounds were shown to inhibit the protease-mediated maturation of gag and also the excision of the protease moiety from its precursor.

Expression of HIV-1 gp120 and human soluble CD4 by recombinant baculoviruses and their interaction in vitro.

The soluble domains of the envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 (gp120) and human CD4 (sCD4) have been individually expressed in insect cells using recombinant baculoviruses. Each product is secreted from infected cells and accumulates in the surrounding media to levels of 1-2 mg/liter of 2 x 10(9) cells. Both molecules have full biological activity, and conditioned media from infected cells have been used to establish a simple assay for gp120-sCD4 interaction that is highly specific and amenable to mass screening. The crystallization of sCD4 purified from this source is reported.

Expression of glycoprotein D of herpes simplex virus type 1 in a recombinant baculovirus: protective responses and T cell recognition of the recombinant-infected cell extracts.

Recombinant baculoviruses expressing glycoprotein D (gD) of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) have been generated. The proteins expressed from the recombinants have been characterized using monoclonal antibodies on Western blots and by immunoprecipitation. Partially glycosylated 48K polypeptides have been identified as products of the gD gene. Polyclonal sera from H-2k mice infected with HSV-1 recognized the same polypeptides. Furthermore, draining lymph node cells from H-2k mice infected with HSV-1 proliferated in vitro in response to recombinant-infected cell extracts. Immunization with such extracts generated high titre complement-dependent and -independent neutralizing antibody and the mice were protected against a challenge with HSV-1.

The protease and gag gene products of the human immunodeficiency virus: authentic cleavage and post-translational modification in an insect cell expression system.

Three recombinant baculoviruses which are capable of expressing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease, p55gag, and both products simultaneously in insect cell culture have been constructed. Upon co-infection of cells with the protease and p55gag-expressing viruses, authentic processing of the gag precursor is observed to take place. This processing could be reproduced in vitro using mixtures of cellular lysates containing the expressed proteins. When expressed alone, uncleaved p55gag precursor appears to form retroviral core-like particles within the cytoplasm of infected cells. Metabolic labeling studies of the baculovirus-expressed gag products have demonstrated that p17 is myristylated at its amino terminus, and that p24 is phosphorylated. In these respects, the insect cell system is evidently capable of carrying out post-translational processing resembling that which occurs in authentic HIV-1 replication.

Anti-viral protection and prevention of lymphocytic choriomeningitis or of the local footpad swelling reaction in mice by immunization with vaccinia-recombinant virus expressing LCMV-WE nucleoprotein or glycoprotein.

The viral antigen specificity of primary cytotoxic T cell responses (CTL) of H-2b, H-2k, H-2q, H-2s, H-2f and some H-2-recombinant mice against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV-WE isolate) as well as the specificity of some CTL clones and T cell lines was defined on target cells infected with vaccinia-recombinant virus expressing nucleoprotein (Np) or glycoprotein (Gp). Np was recognized together with H-2q (Dq), H-2d (DLd), H-2s and H-2b (Db). Gp specificity was restricted to H-2f and H-2b (Kb and Db); H-2k-restricted CTL anti-LCMV responses were neither Gp nor Np specific. The anti-viral protective immunity induced by vaccinia-Gp or vaccinia-Np recombinants was evaluated in mice. In vivo protection was T cell mediated by class I restricted Ly-2+ T cells; it correlated well with the CTL specificity defined in vitro. Some of the CTL-nonresponder H-2 allele plus Np or H-2 plus Gp combinations were, however, protected to variable and low degrees by vaccinia-recombinant viruses, indicating that anti-viral protection is a more sensitive readout for CTL activity than the in vitro assay. For example, B10.D2 H-2d mice generated measurable CTL responses only to Np; after immunization with a vaccinia-Np recombinant, LCMV titers were 10(4) times lower in spleens than in vaccinia-primed controls. Although vaccinia-Gp-immunized BALB/c mice revealed no CTL activity in vitro, they nevertheless had 10(2) times lower LCMV titers in spleens than controls. Anti-viral protection, particularly in low-responder combinations, was usually short-lived and diminished after 3 weeks. In a high-responder situation, protection was of a longer duration (greater than 8 weeks). Vaccination with vaccinia-Np or Gp recombinants protected mice against lethal T cell-mediated lymphocytic choriomeningitis induced by LCMV or prevented the local footpad swelling reaction; these in vivo effects were H-2 dependent and followed the identical roles established for CTL recognition in vitro.

Baculovirus expression vectors: the requirements for high level expression of proteins, including glycoproteins.

The requirements for high level expression of three foreign proteins using the polyhedrin gene promoter of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV, Baculoviridae) have been investigated. In Spodoptera frugiperda cells infected with the appropriate recombinant baculoviruses, the synthesis of the two S RNA coded genes of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV; i.e. the nucleoprotein, N, and glycoprotein precursor, GPC), or the haemagglutinin gene of influenza A virus, appears to be related to the degree of integrity of the 5' upstream sequence of the polyhedrin gene. No effect on the level of N protein expression was detected when all the polyhedrin gene coding sequences or some of the immediate 3' downstream sequences were deleted. Using the most efficient expression viruses derived from a new transfer vector, pAcYM1, it has been estimated that LCMV N protein represented approximately 50% of the total cellular protein, an observation consistent with the presence of numerous inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm of infected cells. For recombinant viruses derived from the pAcYM1 transfer vector containing the LCMV GPC gene, the level of synthesis of the arenavirus glycoprotein was equivalent to approximately 20% of the cellular protein. Thin sections of cells infected with the GPC recombinant revealed a highly vacuolated cytoplasm.

Identification of the N and NSS proteins coded by the ambisense S RNA of Punta Toro phlebovirus using monospecific antisera raised to baculovirus expressed N and NSS proteins.

An essentially complete DNA copy of the ambisense S RNA species of Punta Toro (PT) phlebovirus (T. Ihara, H. Akashi, and D.H.L. Bishop, 1984, Virology 136, 293-306) has been inserted in either orientation into Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis baculovirus (AcNPV) in lieu of the 5' coding region of the AcNPV polyhedrin gene (G.E. Smith, M.D. Summers, and M.J. Fraser, 1983, Mol. Cell. Biol. 3, 2156-2165). The two types of recombinant viruses were used to infect Spodoptera frugiperda cells and the expressed PT viral proteins characterized. Recombinant AcNPV having the S DNA in one orientation expressed PT virus N protein in amounts estimated to represent some 50% of the infected cell extracts, whereas recombinants with the S DNA in the other orientation expressed the putative PT virus NSS protein in lower quantities. Antisera that were monospecific with respect to each of the two PT proteins virus were raised in mice using the corresponding S. frugiperda infected cell extracts and were employed to identify N and NSS proteins in PT virus-infected Vero cells.

Molecular studies of the differential replication at pyrexial temperatures of two influenza viruses differing in virulence for ferrets.

Replication of a virulent clone (7a) of the reassortant influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34-A/England/939/69 (H3N2) in ferret nasal turbinate tissue is less affected than that of an attenuated clone (64d) by temperatures which occur during pyrexia in ferrets. This is a factor which contributes to the difference in virulence of the two clones. The differential replication of the two clones at pyrexial temperatures has been reproduced in allantois-on-shell (egg-bit) cultures, and the synthesis of viral polypeptides and RNA species examined. This virus-host system was chosen because it was more convenient to use than organ cultures but, like the latter, might provide information relevant to the in vivo situation. With this system it was not possible to achieve single cycle replication: the observed effects are cumulative over several (2 to 3) cycles of replication (24 h) and therefore conclusions from them may not be as definitive as those from single cycle conditions. However, in cells infected with clone 64d both A(+) cRNA and polypeptide synthesis were little affected at 40 degrees C but levels were decreased by about 70-80% at 41 degrees C; A(+) cRNA and polypeptide levels were unaffected even at 41 degrees C with clone 7a. These reductions seem insufficient to account for the 10-fold reduction in infectious yields of clone 64d at 40 degrees C or the 100-fold and 10-fold reductions in yields of clones 64d and 7a respectively at 41 degrees C. There was no evidence of increased production of non-infectious virus at elevated temperatures by either clone. Levels of vRNA were considerably reduced at 40 and 41 degrees C for both clones, but the levels were considerably greater at all temperatures in clone 7a-infected cells than in those infected with clone 64d; vRNA levels were higher for clone 7a at 41 degrees C than for clone 64d at 37 degrees C. The different levels of vRNA do not reflect differences in the availability of template A(-) cRNAs since levels of these were similar for both clones at 37 and 40 degrees C and only reduced for clone 64d at 41 degrees C. Although the interpretation of these data is complicated by multiple cycles of replication it appears that limited availability of vRNA could be an important constraint on the ability of clone 64d to replicate at pyrexial temperatures.

Severity of fever in influenza: studies on the relation between viral surface antigens, pyrexia, level of nasal virus and inflammatory response in the ferret.

Previous work has shown that fever in influenza of ferrets occurs following release of endogenous pyrogen from virus-phagocyte interaction in the upper respiratory tract (URT), and suggested that the poor inflammatory response and correspondingly low fever elicited by A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1), compared with H3N2 reassortant clones of A/Puerto Rico/8/34-A/England/939/69, were related to its H1 and N1 surface antigens. Nasal virus levels, inflammatory and pyrexial responses produced in ferrets by clones 31 (H3N1) and 64b (H1N2) of the same reassortant system suggested a connection between the H1 antigen and low inflammatory response, but results were not conclusive. Unlike A/Puerto Rico/8/34, two recent H1N1 isolates, A/USSR/90/77 and A/Fiji/15899/83, produced a high inflammatory response yet low fever despite large amounts of virus in the URT, suggesting that either no connection exists between the acquisition of the H1 antigen and production of a low inflammatory response, or the H1 antigen of recent isolates, whilst antigenically related to that of A/Puerto Rico/8/34, is biologically different.

Further studies of the reasons for the lack of alveolar infection during influenza in ferrets.

Intratracheal inoculation of influenza virus in the ferret was followed by a more severe airway infection than that produced by nasal infection and was mainly bronchiolar rather than bronchial. Also, virus isolation from the alveolar zone of the lung together with immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques showed that some virus reached the alveoli. Nevertheless, there was no subsequent alveolitis suggesting the existence of a clearance phenomenon. Alveolar macrophages were shown to have phagocytosed virus in vivo and phagocytosis studies in vitro showed that two mechanisms could operate to eradicate the virus. First, a rapid destruction of virus and second an abortive cycle of replication which produced virus antigen but not infectious virus. Experiments with large doses of virus indicated that after intranasal inoculation little virus reached the alveoli so it would probably be quickly cleared by the macrophages.

Recent H1N1 viruses (A/USSR/90/77, A/Fiji/15899/83, A/Firenze/13/83) replicate poorly in ferret bronchial epithelium. Brief report.

Three recent wild-type H1N1 influenza virus isolates (A/USSR/90/77, A/Fiji/15899/83 and A/Firenze/13/83) replicated poorly in organ cultures of ferret bronchial tissue compared with the replication of an H3N2 wild-type virus (A/England/939/69). All four viruses replicated well in nasal turbinate tissue. Examination of one H1N1 virus (A/USSR/90/77) in vivo showed heavy infection in the upper respiratory tract of ferrets but little in the lower respiratory tract. These results raise the possibility that the mildness of human influenza arising from the H1N1 strains may be due to lack of capacity to attack the lower respiratory tract as well as the presence of antibody in previously exposed persons.

Role of maternal immunity in the protection of newborn ferrets against infection with a virulent influenza virus.

Intranasal infection of newborn ferrets with a virulent strain of influenza virus invariably resulted in their deaths following virus replication to high titre in both lung and nasal turbinates (Collie et al., 1980). However, a similar challenge of newborn ferrets born to mothers immunized by infection with virulent or attenuated viruses resulted in complete protection; no virus replicated in their lungs and little or no virus was isolated from their nasal turbinates. Protection appeared to be antibody-mediated since it was sub-type-specific and milk-derived since newborn ferrets born to non-immune mothers but fostered onto immune mothers exhibited a similar level of protection to neonates born to and suckled by immune mothers.

Intracoronary thrombus in syndromes of unstable myocardial ischemia.

The association of coronary thrombosis and transmural myocardial infarction is well documented. We have recently observed apparent intracoronary thrombi in patients with unstable myocardial ischemia without transmural infarction. To assess the frequency and angiographic characteristics of intracoronary defects consistent with thrombi, we reviewed the angiograms of all patients undergoing catheterization within 1 month of the onset of unstable angina or the intermediate coronary syndrome. Of 129 such patients, eight (6.2%) had nonoccluding, hazy, or nonopacified intracoronary filling defects consistent with thrombus in angiographically well-opacified vessels. All defects were just distal to a significant (80% to 99%) coronary stenosis. In each instance the thrombus-involved vessel supplied a myocardial segment referable to the electrocardiographically defined area of ischemia. Support for the theory that the intracoronary defects were thrombi includes three patients with enlargement of the filling defects, who underwent repeat angiography within 7 days, and two patients with embolization of defect fragments. Furthermore these defects were angiographically similar to poststenotic intraluminal defects seen transiently in some patients after partial intracoronary streptokinase recanalization. In conclusion, we have observed, angiographically, intracoronary filling defects consistent with thrombus in some patients with unstable myocardial ischemia.