Haprin-deficient spermatozoa are incapable of in vitro fertilization.

Haprin (TRIM36) is a ubiquitin-protein ligase that mediates ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of target proteins. It is expressed in the testes in both mice and humans and is thought to be involved in spermiogenesis, the acrosome reaction, and fertilization. However, the functional role of Haprin is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological role of Haprin in fertility. Homozygous haprin-deficient mice were generated and these mice, and their spermatozoa, were analyzed to detect morphological and fertility-related abnormalities. In these models, normal spermatogenesis was observed but sperm quality was reduced with haprin-deficient mice having poorer sperm morphology and motility than wild-type mice. Interestingly, haprin-deficient mice showed normal in vivo fertility but could not fertilize oocytes under standard in vitro fertilization conditions. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that Haprin deficiency causes morphological abnormalities in spermatozoa, indicating that Haprin is involved in spermiogenesis.

Anti-Proliferative Activities and Apoptosis Induction by Triterpenes Derived from Eriobotrya japonica in Human Leukemia Cell Lines.

Eriobotrya japonica leaf is a traditional herbal medicine that contains numerous triterpenes, which have various pharmacological properties. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative activity of four triterpenes derived from E. japonica, including corosolic acid (CA), ursolic acid (UA), maslinic acid (MA) and oleanolic acid (OA), in human leukemia cell lines. CA showed the strongest anti-proliferative activity in all of the leukemia cell lines tested, but not in normal human skin fibroblast cell lines. To determine the mechanism underlying the anti-proliferative effect of CA, we examined the effect of CA on molecular events known as apoptosis induction. CA induced chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, sub-G(1) phase DNA, activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9 and the cleavage of PARP in HL-60. CA also activated Bid and Bax, leading to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (∆ψ(m)) and cytochrome c release into the cytosol, whereas Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were unaffected by CA. These results suggest that CA has an anti-proliferative effect on leukemia cells via the induction of apoptosis mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase activation. CA may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of human leukemia.

SIRT1 prevents replicative senescence of normal human umbilical cord fibroblast through potentiating the transcription of human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene.

SIRT1, the mammalian homolog of sirtuins, has emerged as a mediator of the beneficial effects of calorie restriction. Among them, we focused on the SIRT1-induced prevention of cellular senescence, and tried to reveal the molecular mechanisms that define the effects of SIRT1. Firstly in this study, we observed that overexpression of SIRT1 resulted in the prevention of cellular senescence of normal human umbilical cord fibroblast HUC-F2 cells. Here, we focused on the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene as a target of the SIRT1-induced prevention of cellular senescence. Results showed that SIRT1, SIRT1 activator, resveratrol, and SIRT1 activating condition, starved condition, increased the transcription of hTERT in HUC-F2 cells. Next, we found that SIRT1 increased hTERT transcription in a c-MYC-dependent manner, triggered the transcription of the c-MYC gene and increased the amount of c-MYC recruited to the hTERT promoter. Further, SIRT1 increased the transcriptional activation ability of c-MYC and correspondingly increased the amount of acetylated H4 histone at the hTERT promoter. All of these results indicated that SIRT1 activates hTERT transcription through the involvement of c-MYC, and suggested that this SIRT1-induced augmentation of hTERT transcription resulted in the extension of the cellular life span of HUC-F2 cells.

Age-related functional decline of human B cells.

This study aimed to investigate the changes in B cell functional decline and antigen sensitization with aging using two Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-immortalized human B cell lines, one from a 22-year-old man (EBV-B young) and the other from a 65-year-old man (EBV-B old). The activity of senescence-associated ß-galactosidase, a marker of cellular senescence, was enhanced in the EBV-B old cells compared with EBV-B young cells. Moreover, the levels of p16, p21, IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-ß1, which are senescence-associated secretary phenotypes, were also increased in EBV-B old cells. In vitro immunization of EBV-B cells with ß-lactoglobulin further showed that EBV-B old cells had a reduced cell population of naïve B cells than that of EBV-B young cells. Furthermore, HLA-DR expression, which is important for antigen presentation, was decreased in the EBV-B old cells. Comparative microarray analysis between EBV-B young and old cells also showed decreased expression of antibody genes, such as those of the heavy chain and light chain (κ chain). These results suggest that cellular senescence and decreased gene expression are responsible, at least in part, for the decline in B cell function and antigen sensitization capacity with aging, which ultimately impairs the function of the acquired immune system.

Identification and Functional Evaluation of Polyphenols That Induce Regulatory T Cells.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and CD4+/CD25+ T cells play an important role in the suppression of excessive immune responses, homeostasis of immune function, and oral tolerance. In this study, we screened for food-derived polyphenols that induce Tregs in response to retinaldehyde dehydrogenase (RALDH2) activation using macrophage-like THP-1 cells. THP-1 cells were transfected with an EGFP reporter vector whose expression is regulated under the control of mouse Raldh2 promoter and named THP-1 (Raldh2p-EGFP) cells. The THP-1 (Raldh2p-EGFP) cells were treated with 33 polyphenols after inducing their differentiation into macrophage-like cells using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Of the 33 polyphenols, five (kaempferol, quercetin, morin, luteolin and fisetin) activated Raldh2 promoter activity, and both quercetin and luteolin activated the endogenous Raldh2 mRNA expression and enzymatic activity. Furthermore, these two polyphenols increased transforming growth factor beta 1 and forkhead box P3 mRNA expression, suggesting that they have Treg-inducing ability. Finally, we verified that these polyphenols could induce Tregs in vivo and consequently induce IgA production. Oral administration of quercetin and luteolin increased IgA production in feces of mice. Therefore, quercetin and luteolin can induce Tregs via RALDH2 activation and consequently increase IgA production, suggesting that they can enhance intestinal barrier function.

NFAT5 regulates transcription of the mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase gene.

We aimed to clarify the transcription-regulation mechanisms of the mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (mTERT). First, we searched for the promoter region required for transcriptional activation of mTERT and identified an enhancer cis-element (named mTERT-EE) located between -200 and -179bp of the mouse TERT gene (mTERT). EMSA results suggested that nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) member proteins bind to mTERT-EE. We then identified NFAT5 as the factor binding to mTERT-EE and found that it activates the transcription of the mTERT core promoter. The results that siRNA directed against NFAT5 significantly reduced mTERT expression and mTERT core promoter activity and that the expressions of NFAT5 and mTERT were well correlated in various mouse tissues except liver suggest that NFAT5 dominantly and directly regulates mTERT expression. To clarify their functionality further, we investigated the effect of hypertonic stress, a known stimulus affecting the expression and transcriptional activity of NFAT5, on mTERT expression. The result indicated that hypertonic stress activates mTERT transcription via the activation and recruitment of NFAT5 to the mTERT promoter. These results provide useful information about the transcription-regulation mechanisms of mTERT.

Generation of a human anti-tumor necrosis factor-α monoclonal antibody by in vitro immunization with a multiple antigen peptide.

We developed the in vitro immunization method to induce antigen-specific immune responses in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). However, when we used a peptide as sensitizing antigen, the antigen-specific immune response was found to be weak, and hence, we could not effectively obtain the antigen-specific antibody gene. In the present study, we attempted to improve the in vitro immunization method by augmenting the immune response to the peptide antigen. We used a multiple antigen peptide for sensitization. In vitro immunization of the multivalent antigen elicited a strong antigen-specific immune response in the PBMCs, and we succeeded in obtaining antigen-specific antibody genes by the phage-display method. Further, by combining the variable-region genes and constant-region genes of human IgG, we obtained four independent human monoclonal antibodies specific for tumor necrosis factor-α. This might be a good strategy for generating antigen-specific human monoclonal antibodies using a peptide antigen.

Pro-senescent effect of hydrogen peroxide on cancer cells and its possible application to tumor suppression.

Mild oxidative stress is known to induce premature senescence, termed stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS), in normal human diploid cells. We investigated to determine whether mild oxidative stress would trigger SIPS in a human tumor cell line, human lung adenocarcinoma A549. The results showed that sublethal concentrations of H(2)O(2) induced SIPS in A549 cells and consequently attenuated, but did not completely eliminate, the tumorigenicity of these cells. We next investigated the reasons for this incomplete impairment of tumorigenicity in A549 cells in SIPS. The results suggested that H(2)O(2)-treated A549 cells are composed of a heterogeneous cell population: one is sensitive to H(2)O(2), and the other is resistant or undergoes reversal; the latter reverted to their original tumorigenic form. The molecular mechanisms determining the cellular fate of tumor cells in SIPS should be identified in order to make use of SIPS and oncogene-induced senescence in tumor cells as methods of tumor suppression.

Construction of a regulatable cancer-specific adenoviral expression system using human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene promoter.

We constructed a novel cancer-specific regulatable adenoviral expression system comprising two vectors: one expressing rtTA, a reverse tetracycline transactivator regulated by the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene promoter, the other expressing the target gene regulated by the tetracycline response element (TRE). rtTA transactivates target gene expression in the presence of doxycycline. Using these vectors, we constructed an adenoviral expression system, the Tel-On system, which enables highly efficient target gene transduction. This system enabled efficient and regulatable cancer-specific gene expression, and can be used in targeted cancer gene therapy.

Anti-peptide antibody production elicited by in vitro immunization of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Human monoclonal antibodies have great potential for use in the treatment of various diseases. We have established an in vitro immunization protocol for inducing antigen-specific antibody production from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In the in vitro immunization protocol, PBMCs are pretreated with L-leucyl-L-leucine methyl ester (LLME) to remove suppressive cells, and are sensitized and cultured with a soluble antigen in the presence of IL-2, IL-4 and muramyl dipeptide for 8 d, and then an antigen-specific antibody is produced. In this study, we examined the novel possibility of an in vitro immunization protocol, specifically, whether LLME-treated PBMCs can be sensitized with a peptide antigen to produce an anti-peptide antibody. The results indicate that antigen-specific immune responses were elicited by a peptide antigen derived from rice allergen, a cholera toxin B subunit, and TNF-alpha as a sensitizing antigen in in vitro immunization. These results suggest that the in vitro immunization protocol is applicable in the generation of an anti-peptide antibody against various antigens, including food allergens, foreign antigens, and self-antigens.

Molecular mechanisms for the p38-induced cellular senescence in normal human fibroblast.

We previously reported that TAK1, one of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAP3Ks), represses the transcription of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene in human cancer cells and induces cellular senescence in normal diploid human cells. On the basis of these results, we presumed a link between hTERT repression and the induction of cellular senescence. In this study, we identified the MAPK p38 as a downstream mediator of TAK1, which represses hTERT transcription. Further, we observed that hTERT expression was repressed in senescent normal human fibroblast, and was attenuated on treatment with SB203580, a p38-specific inhibitor, which suggests that p38 represses hTERT expression during cellular senescence. Next, we demonstrated that repression of hTERT, irrespective of the activation status of p38, is important for the induction of cellular senescence, by using hTERT-overexpressing cells and hTERT-knockdown cells. Our results suggested that p38 is activated during the serial passagings of normal human fibroblast, which results in the repression of hTERT transcription and induction of cellular senescence.

FOXO3a potentiates hTERT gene expression by activating c-MYC and extends the replicative life-span of human fibroblast.

In our previous studies, we reported that SIRT1 prevents cellular senescence in human fibroblast, and that SIRT1-induced inhibition of cellular senescence is due to enhanced hTERT gene expression. In this study, we investigate the molecular mechanisms behind SIRT1-induced potentiation of hTERT transcription and show that FOXO3a functions downstream of SIRT1 and prevents the induction of cellular senescence by enhancing hTERT gene expression. Furthermore, we found that FOXO3a-induced potentiation of hTERT gene expression is regulated in a c-MYC/E-box dependent manner. In addition, we found that FOXO3a binds to the novel binding element in the c-MYC promoter, and this interaction activates the transcription of the c-MYC gene. The resulting increase in c-MYC leads to higher levels of c-MYC recruited to the hTERT promoter and, in turn, activates hTERT gene expression. Taken together, this pathway might constitute the molecular basis for the anti-senescence effects of SIRT1 and FOXO3a.

Suppression of immunoglobulin production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by monocytes via secretion of heavy-chain ferritin.

In vitro antigen stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) does not induce immunoglobulin (Ig) production. However, pretreatment of PBMCs with l-leucyl-l-leucine methyl ester (LLME) prior to in vitro stimulation removes the suppression of Ig production. In the present study, we attempted to identify the target cells of LLME and determine the mechanisms by which Ig production in PBMCs is suppressed. We found that CD14(+) monocytes are involved in the suppression of Ig production in PBMCs. Furthermore, we confirmed that heavy-chain ferritin derived from CD14(+) monocytes suppresses Ig production in PBMCs, possibly through iron sequestration.

Identification of Immunopotentiating Lactic Acid Bacteria that Induce Antibody Production by in vitro Stimulated Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

L-leucyl-L-leucine methyl ester (LLME) is known to remove lysosome-rich cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). To evaluate the immunopotentiating ability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), we adopted the in vitro stimulation protocol of LLME-treated PBMCs as a model assay system and monitored the level of antibody produced by stimulated PBMCs. The results indicated that several LAB strains have immunopotentiating ability against PBMCs, as evidenced by the enhanced antibody production and increased number of antigen-specific B cells. Next, we identified T cells as the direct target cells of the immunopotentiating LAB strain L32, suggesting that L32 induced antibody production by PBMCs through T-cell activation. Finally, we tested the immunopotentiating ability of ligands for Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), which is known to mediate the LAB signal, and observed that both L32 and one of the TLR2 ligands, LTA-BS, induced antigen-specific antibody production by in vitro stimulated PBMC. This suggests that L32 and LTA-BS can be used as an adjuvant for stimulating immune reaction in PBMCs.

Regulatory mechanisms of human and mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase gene transcription: distinct dependency on c-Myc.

Telomerase-a complex ribonucleoprotein enzyme-synthesizes telomeric repeats to avoid telomere loss that accompanies cell division and chromosomal replication. Expression of telomerase is detectable in embryonic cells and cancer cells, but not in normal human cells. On the other hand, in mice, substantial expression of telomerase is detected in normal cells and tissues as well as in immortalized cells. These results suggest that the regulatory mechanisms of telomerase activity in humans and mice differ. Considering these results along with the fact that the expression of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene is a rate-limiting step for telomerase activity, we compared transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of both the species. A series of luciferase assays and RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that c-Myc, a dominant transactivator for human TERT (hTERT), is not involved in the regulation of mouse TERT (mTERT). These results suggest that distinct molecules and pathways are involved in the process of immortalization and tumorigenesis in human and mouse cells.

Protein kinase C delta plays a key role in cellular senescence programs of human normal diploid cells.

In the present study, we clarified that transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) induces cellular senescence in human normal diploid cells, TIG-1, and identified protein kinase Cs (PKCs) as downstream mediators of TGF-beta-induced cellular senescence. Among PKCs, we showed that PKC-delta induced cellular senescence in TIG-1 cells and was activated in replicatively and prematurely senescent TIG-1 cells. The causative role of PKC-delta in cellular senescence programs was demonstrated using a kinase negative PKC-delta and small interfering RNA against PKC-delta. Furthermore, PKC-delta was shown to function in human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene repression. These results indicate that PKC-delta plays a key role in cellular senescence programs, and suggest that the induction of senescence and hTERT repression are coordinately regulated by PKC-delta.

Functional impairment of telomerase in sublines derived from human lung adenocarcinoma exposed to mild oxidative stress.

We investigated the effects of a sublethal concentration of H(2)O(2) on cancer cells by using sublines derived from human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 cells exposed to 200 microM H(2)O(2). These sublines (AST cells) showed an elongated morphology distinct from the rounded morphology of A549 cells. Notably, AST cells demonstrated telomere shortening despite displaying telomerase activity and expressing human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). This functional impairment of telomerase occurred due to perturbed subcellular localization of hTERT in AST cells. Endogenous as well as ectopically expressed hTERT was localized in the nuclei of A549 cells; however, in AST cells, the localization was mainly in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, these AST cells demonstrated decreased tumorigenic features both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that depletion of hTERT from nuclei not only endows cancer cells with a finite replicative life span accompanied by telomere shortening, but also decreases the tumorigenicity of cancer cells.

An Approach to Further Enhance the Cellular Productivity of Exogenous Protein Hyper-producing Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) Cells.

The cell line D29, which was easily and rapidly established by the promoter-activated production and glutamine synthetase hybrid system, secreted recombinant human interleukin-6 (hIL-6) at a productivity rate of 39.5 mug 10(-6) cells day(-1), one of the highest reported levels worldwide. The productivity rate was about 130-fold higher than that of the cell line A7, which was established without both promoter activation and gene amplification. Although D29 cells had a high copy number and high mRNA level of the hIL-6 gene as well as a high secretion rate of hIL-6, large amounts of intracellular hIL-6 protein accumulated in D29 cells compared to A7 cells. Northern blotting analysis showed no change in the GRP78/BiP expression level in D29 cells. In contrast, an electrophoresis mobility shift assay revealed strong activation of NF-kappaB in D29 cells. These results suggest that large amounts of hIL-6 translated from large amounts of hIL-6 mRNA cause excess accumulation of intact hIL-6 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and that subsequent negative feedback signals via the ER overload response inhibit hIL-6 protein secretion. To enhance the hIL-6 productivity rate of D29 cells by releasing the negative feedback signals, the effect of pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate, an inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, was examined. Suppression of NF-kappaB activation in D29 cells produced a 25% augmentation of the hIL-6 productivity rate. Therefore, in highly productive cells like D29 cells, the release of negative feedback signals could increase the total amount of recombinant protein secretion.