Severe loss of invariant NKT cells exhibiting anti-HTLV-1 activity in patients with HTLV-1-associated disorders.

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are unique T cells that regulate the immune response to microbes, cancers, and autoimmunity. We assessed the characteristics of iNKT cells from persons infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Whereas most infected persons remain asymptomatic carriers (ACs) throughout their lives, a small proportion, usually with high equilibrium proviral loads,develop 2 diseases: HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). We demonstrated that the frequency of iNKT, NK, and dendritic cells in the peripheral blood of HAM/TSP and ATL patients is decreased. We also observed an inverse correlation between the iNKT cell frequency and the HTLV-1 proviral load in the peripheral blood of infected persons. Notably, in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood cells with alpha-galactosylceramide led to an increase in the iNKT cell number and a subsequent decrease in the HTLV-1-infected T-cell number in samples from ACs but not HAM/TSP or ATL patients. Our results suggest that iNKT cells contribute to the immune defense against HTLV-1, and iNKT-cell depletion plays an important role in the pathogenesis of HAM/TSP and ATL. Therefore, iNKT cell-based immunotherapy may be an effective strategy for preventing these HTLV-1-associated disorders.

Mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase activator of NF-κB regulates NF-κB signaling in cells subjected to ER stress.

The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription factor family members control various biological processes, such as apoptosis and proliferation. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has emerged as a major site of cellular homeostasis regulation. The accumulation of misfolded protein in the ER causes stress and ER stress-induced NF-κB activation to protect cells from apoptosis. In this study, we found a putative ER stress-response element (ERSE) on the promoter of mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase activator of NF-κB (MULAN), and that MULAN expression was upregulated by ER stress. MULAN specifically activated NF-κB dependent gene expression in an E3 ligase activity-dependent manner. The ectopic expression of MULAN induced the nuclear translocation of endogenous p65 and the degradation of IκB. Binding assay revealed that MULAN was associated with transforming growth factor ß-activated kinase (TAK1). The knockdown of MULAN using siRNA inhibited the activation of NF-κB in the cells subjected to ER stress. The findings of our study indicate that MULAN is an E3 ligase that regulates NF-κB activation to protect cells from ER stress-induced apoptosis.

Dual role of vitamin C in an oxygen-sensitive system: discrepancy between DNA damage and cell death.

Although vitamin C is considered to act both as pro-oxidant and antioxidant, the mechanisms underlying these actions are still unclear. Using the oxygen-sensitive system of a strict anaerobe, Prevotella melaninogenica, we investigated both the pro-oxidant and antioxidant mechanisms of vitamin C. In the presence of vitamin C, the 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG) formation induced by oxygen exposure was enhanced, probably due to the action of vitamin C on hydrogen peroxide generated during oxygen exposure: while catalase almost completely suppressed the enhancing effect of vitamin C, 8OHdG formation induced by hydrogen peroxide was enhanced by vitamin C. By contrast, the presence of vitamin C inhibited bacterial cell death, membrane damage, and lipid peroxidation induced by oxygen exposure. Sodium azide showed similar effects to vitamin C, thus the antioxidant action of vitamin C may be due to its quenching of the singlet oxygen generated in this system. Both the pro-oxidant and antioxidant effects of vitamin C were observed only in acidic conditions.

E3 ubiquitin ligase synoviolin is involved in liver fibrogenesis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic hepatic damage leads to liver fibrosis, which is characterized by the accumulation of collagen-rich extracellular matrix. However, the mechanism by which E3 ubiquitin ligase is involved in collagen synthesis in liver fibrosis is incompletely understood. This study aimed to explore the involvement of the E3 ubiquitin ligase synoviolin (Syno) in liver fibrosis. METHODS: The expression and localization of synoviolin in the liver were analyzed in CCl(4)-induced hepatic injury models and human cirrhosis tissues. The degree of liver fibrosis and the number of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) was compared between wild type (wt) and Syno(+/-) mice in the chronic hepatic injury model. We compared the ratio of apoptosis in activated HSCs between wt and Syno(+/-) mice. We also analyzed the effect of synoviolin on collagen synthesis in the cell line from HSCs (LX-2) using siRNA-synoviolin and a mutant synoviolin in which E3 ligase activity was abolished. Furthermore, we compared collagen synthesis between wt and Syno(-/-) mice embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) using quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting, and collagen assay; then, we immunohistochemically analyzed the localization of collagen in Syno(-/-) MEF cells. RESULTS: In the hepatic injury model as well as in cirrhosis, synoviolin was upregulated in the activated HSCs, while Syno(+/-) mice developed significantly less liver fibrosis than in wt mice. The number of activated HSCs was decreased in Syno(+/-) mice, and some of these cells showed apoptosis. Furthermore, collagen expression in LX-2 cells was upregulated by synoviolin overexpression, while synoviolin knockdown led to reduced collagen expression. Moreover, in Syno(-/-) MEF cells, the amounts of intracellular and secreted mature collagen were significantly decreased, and procollagen was abnormally accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the importance of the E3 ubiquitin ligase synoviolin in liver fibrosis.

Abnormally high levels of virus-infected IFN-gamma+ CCR4+ CD4+ CD25+ T cells in a retrovirus-associated neuroinflammatory disorder.

BACKGROUND: Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a human retrovirus associated with both HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), which is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease, and adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). The pathogenesis of HAM/TSP is known to be as follows: HTLV-1-infected T cells trigger a hyperimmune response leading to neuroinflammation. However, the HTLV-1-infected T cell subset that plays a major role in the accelerated immune response has not yet been identified. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, we demonstrate that CD4(+)CD25(+)CCR4(+) T cells are the predominant viral reservoir, and their levels are increased in HAM/TSP patients. While CCR4 is known to be selectively expressed on T helper type 2 (Th2), Th17, and regulatory T (Treg) cells in healthy individuals, we demonstrate that IFN-gamma production is extraordinarily increased and IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, and Foxp3 expression is decreased in the CD4(+)CD25(+)CCR4(+) T cells of HAM/TSP patients as compared to those in healthy individuals, and the alteration in function is specific to this cell subtype. Notably, the frequency of IFN-gamma-producing CD4(+)CD25(+)CCR4(+)Foxp3(-) T cells is dramatically increased in HAM/TSP patients, and this was found to be correlated with disease activity and severity. CONCLUSIONS: We have defined a unique T cell subset--IFN-gamma(+)CCR4(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells--that is abnormally increased and functionally altered in this retrovirus-associated inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system.

Activation of synoviolin promoter in rheumatoid synovial cells by a novel transcription complex of interleukin enhancer binding factor 3 and GA binding protein alpha.

OBJECTIVE: Synoviolin is an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and its overexpression is implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We reported previously that Ets binding site 1 (EBS-1) within the synoviolin promoter is crucial for the expression of synoviolin, and GA binding protein (GABP) binds to this site. This study was undertaken to elucidate the precise mechanisms of transcriptional regulation via EBS-1. METHODS: We performed purification and identification of complex components that bind to EBS-1 and inspected their contributions to the transcriptional regulation of synoviolin in rheumatoid synovial cells. We biochemically purified proteins that had EBS-1 binding activity and identified the proteins using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The identified proteins were verified to recruit and form the complex on EBS-1 using electrophoretic mobility shift assay and coimmunoprecipitation assay. Furthermore, their transcription activities were tested by reporter assays and RNA interference experiments. RESULTS: We identified interleukin enhancer binding factor 3 (ILF-3) as a novel factor in the complex. ILF-3 was demonstrated to activate the synoviolin promoter via association with GABPalpha in rheumatoid synovial cells. In addition, further activation was observed with ILF-2 and GABPbeta, previously reported interactants of ILF-3 and GABPalpha, respectively. Moreover, ILF-3-knockdown experiments showed reduced expression of the synoviolin gene. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that ILF-3, which has been known to regulate IL-2 expression in T cells, up-regulates synoviolin expression with GABPalpha in rheumatoid synovial cells. ILF-3 might be a target for RA treatment through its effect on IL-2 in T cells and synoviolin in rheumatoid synovial cells.

Increased prevalence of group A ß-hemolytic streptococcus among an ethnic population in Kyrgyzstan detected by the rapid antigen detection test.

The incidence of rheumatic fever (RF) has markedly increased in the last 10 years in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, investigating the prevalence of group A ß-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS), which is the cause of RF, in the Kyrgyzstan population is crucial. We studied 189 subjects: 59 children [29 with RF and/or rheumatic heart disease (RHD)] and 130 adults (15 with RHD). The average age of the subjects was 41.0±10.0 years (range 8 months to 72 years). A general clinical examination and medical history including eating habits was carried out. The prevalence of GABHS was tested using the highly sensitive rapid antigen detection test (RADT) to detect the outcrop of streptococcus antigen in smears taken from the mucosal surface of the tonsils or the back of the throat. GABHS antigen was positive in 70 of a total 189 subjects [37.0%; 22/59 children (37.2%), 48/130 adults (36.9%)]. In patients with RF/RHD (n=44), GABHS was positive in 14 subjects [31.8%; 8/29 children (27.6%), 6/15 adults (40.0%)]. Thirty-two subjects with RF/RHD had frequent episodes of tonsillopharyngitis. In subjects without RF/RHD (n=145), GABHS was positive in 56 subjects [38.6%; 14/30 children (46.6%), 42/115 adults (36.5%)]. Thirty of these subjects had frequent episodes of tonsillopharyngitis. Of the 130 adults, the most-consumed dairy products included yoghurt (n=115; 88.4%), milk kasha (n=75; 57.7%) and milk (n=40; 30.7%). Of the 115 subjects in the yoghurt-consuming group, 44 (38.2%) had positive results for GABHS. In the non-yoghurt-consuming group, 4/15 subjects (26.6%) had positive results for GABHS. Using RADT for GABHS, a high prevalence of GABHS antigen was detected not only in patients with RF/RHD, but also in the healthy population (without RF/RHD). The low GABHS prevalence in children with RF/RHD (27.6%) was probably due to corresponding antibiotic therapy. In conclusion, the high prevalence of GABHS is one of the main reasons for the rapid increase in RF/RHD in Kyrgyzstan, and RADT would be an effective tool for its detection.