Streptococcus pneumoniae infection suppresses allergic airways disease by inducing regulatory T-cells.

An inverse association exists between some bacterial infections and the prevalence of asthma. We investigated whether Streptococcus pneumoniae infection protects against asthma using mouse models of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway disease (AAD). Mice were intratracheally infected or treated with killed S. pneumoniae before, during or after OVA sensitisation and subsequent challenge. The effects of S. pneumoniae on AAD were assessed. Infection or treatment with killed S. pneumoniae suppressed hallmark features of AAD, including antigen-specific T-helper cell (Th) type 2 cytokine and antibody responses, peripheral and pulmonary eosinophil accumulation, goblet cell hyperplasia, and airway hyperresponsiveness. The effect of infection on the development of specific features of AAD depended on the timing of infection relative to allergic sensitisation and challenge. Infection induced significant increases in regulatory T-cell (Treg) numbers in lymph nodes, which correlated with the degree of suppression of AAD. Tregs reduced T-cell proliferation and Th2 cytokine release. The suppressive effects of infection were reversed by anti-CD25 treatment. Respiratory infection or treatment with S. pneumoniae attenuates allergic immune responses and suppresses AAD. These effects may be mediated by S. pneumoniae-induced Tregs. This identifies the potential for the development of therapeutic agents for asthma from S. pneumoniae.

c-MYC is a radiosensitive locus in human breast cells.

Ionising radiation is a potent human carcinogen. Epidemiological studies have shown that adolescent and young women are at increased risk of developing breast cancer following exposure to ionising radiation compared with older women, and that risk is dose-dependent. Although it is well understood which individuals are at risk of radiation-induced breast carcinogenesis, the molecular genetic mechanisms that underlie cell transformation are less clear. To identify genetic alterations potentially responsible for driving radiogenic breast transformation, we exposed the human breast epithelial cell line MCF-10A to fractionated doses of X-rays and examined the copy number and cytogenetic alterations. We identified numerous alterations of c-MYC that included high-level focal amplification associated with increased protein expression. c-MYC amplification was also observed in primary human mammary epithelial cells following exposure to radiation. We also demonstrate that the frequency and magnitude of c-MYC amplification and c-MYC protein expression is significantly higher in breast cancer with antecedent radiation exposure compared with breast cancer without a radiation aetiology. Our data also demonstrate extensive intratumor heterogeneity with respect to c-MYC copy number in radiogenic breast cancer, suggesting continuous evolution at this locus during disease development and progression. Taken together, these data identify c-MYC as a radiosensitive locus, implicating this oncogenic transcription factor in the aetiology of radiogenic breast cancer.

A 33 kDa molecular marker of sperm acrosome differentiation and maturation in the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii).

This study was undertaken to identify potential molecular markers of acrosomal biogenesis and post-testicular maturation in marsupials, using the tammar wallaby as a model species. A two-step sperm extraction procedure yielded two protein extracts of apparent acrosomal origin and a tail extract. The extracts were analysed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. Several prominent polypeptide bands (45, 38 and 33 kDa) appeared common to both acrosomal extracts. Antiserum raised against the 33 kDa polypeptide from the inner acrosomal membrane matrix (IAMM) extract showed immunoreactivity with 45, 38 and 33 kDa polypeptides in both acrosomal extracts, indicating that the 33 kDa polypeptide was related to the proteins in the 45 and 38 kDa bands. Therefore, the antiserum was used as a molecular probe. Indirect immuno-fluorescence indicated that the acrosome was the major location of the 33 kDa polypeptide. This contention was confirmed by ultrastructural study: immunogold labelling indicated that the 33 kDa polypeptide associated with acrosomal matrix components throughout acrosomal development in the testes and throughout post-testicular maturation in the epididymis. The label clearly delineated the changing morphology of the maturing marsupial acrosome. This is the first study to use immunocytochemical techniques to chart testicular and post-testicular development of any sperm organelle in a marsupial. As a result of this study, a 33 kDa molecular marker of marsupial acrosome differentiation and maturation has been identified. It may be possible to chart similar events in other marsupial species and identify opportunities for manipulating fertility.

Motility activation and second messenger signalling in spermatozoa from rat cauda epididymidis.

This study examined molecular mechanisms involved in the activation of motility in spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis of rats. A 1.05-fold dilution of semen from the cauda epididymidis with 300 mmol sucrose l(-1) did not activate motility in spermatozoa. Addition of dibutyryl cAMP, pentoxifylline or Ca(2+) to the sucrose activated motility in the short term (<30-60 min). A fivefold dilution of semen from the cauda epididymidis with a modified Tyrode's medium (BWW) activated and sustained vigorous motility that could not be attenuated with kinase inhibitors. This motility was associated with a transient increase in intracellular cAMP during the first 60 s of activation. Lower motility was activated in Ca(2+)-deficient media but this was not associated with an increase in cAMP. A fivefold dilution with plasma from the cauda epididymidis did not activate motility. The addition of Ca(2+) to the sucrose induced an increase in cAMP of similar duration but lower magnitude to that associated with dilution in BWW. The results from this study indicate that the cAMP and Ca(2+) signal transduction pathways are involved in activation of sperm motility, and that the increase in intracellular cAMP in rat spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis undergoing motility activation is Ca(2+)-dependent. This is the first study to report a Ca(2+)-dependent increase in cAMP associated with motility activation in immotile mammalian spermatozoa. In light of these data, a model is proposed whereby cAMP and Ca(2+) act as synarchic messengers, initiating a signal transduction cascade, which is independent of protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation of flagella proteins in immotile spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis.

Adenylyl cyclase isoforms in rat testis and spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis.

Expression of adenylyl cyclase genes in rat testis and spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis was investigated using RT-PCR analysis. Genes encoding the transmembrane adenylyl cyclases (tmAC) II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII were expressed in the testis, whereas only the gene for tmAC III was expressed in caudal spermatozoa. Immunocytochemistry was used to investigate which tmAC were translated into putative, functional proteins in spermatozoa. Indirect immunofluorescence localized the tmAC II enzyme to a region on the head occupied by the acrosome. The tmAC III enzyme was localized to the posterior margin of the head and to the flagellum, whereas tmAC V and/or VI was localized to the region where the ventral surface of the acrosomal equatorial segment is located. The tmAC VII and VIII enzymes were localized to the convex margin of the head, covering the dorsal region of the acrosomal crescent. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that five apparently different tmAC enzymes are localized to discrete subcellular regions of mammalian spermatozoa. These findings provide a fundamental basis for future studies, to determine the physiological roles of tmAC in testis and mature spermatozoa.