The domain on the Duffy blood group antigen for binding Plasmodium vivax and P. knowlesi malarial parasites to erythrocytes.

Plasmodium vivax and the related simian malarial parasite P. knowlesi use the Duffy blood group antigen as a receptor to invade human erythrocytes and region II of the parasite ligands for binding to this erythrocyte receptor. Here, we identify the peptide within the Duffy blood group antigen of human and rhesus erythrocytes to which the P. vivax and P. knowlesi ligands bind. Peptides from the NH2-terminal extracellular region of the Duffy antigen were tested for their ability to block the binding of erythrocytes to transfected Cos cells expressing on their surface region II of the Duffy-binding ligands. The binding site on the human Duffy antigen used by both the P. vivax and P. knowlesi ligands maps to a 35-amino acid region. A 34-amino acid peptide from the equivalent region of the rhesus Duffy antigen blocked the binding of P. vivax to human erythrocytes, although the P. vivax ligand expressed on Cos cells does not bind rhesus erythrocytes. The binding of the rhesus peptide, but not the rhesus erythrocyte, to the P. vivax ligand was explained by interference of carbohydrate with the binding process. Rhesus erythrocytes, treated with N-glycanase, bound specifically to P. vivax region II. Thus, the interaction of P. vivax ligand with human and rhesus erythrocytes appears to be mediated by a peptide-peptide interaction. Glycosylation of the rhesus Duffy antigen appears to block binding of the P. vivax ligand to rhesus erythrocytes.

The Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines (DARC) is expressed in endothelial cells of Duffy negative individuals who lack the erythrocyte receptor.

The Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines (DARC), first identified on erythrocytes, functions not only as a promiscuous chemokine receptor but also as a receptor for the malarial parasite, Plasmodium vivax. The recent finding that DARC is ubiquitously expressed by endothelial cells lining postcapillary venules provides a possible insight into the function of this receptor because this anatomic site is an active interface for leukocyte trafficking. However, the biological significance of DARC is questionable since it has not yet been determined whether individuals lacking the expression of this protein on their erythrocytes (Duffy negative individuals), who are apparently immunologically normal, express the receptor on endothelial cells. However, we report here that DARC is indeed expressed in endothelial cells lining postcapillary venules and splenic sinusoids in individuals who lack the erythrocyte receptor. These findings are based on immunohistochemical, biochemical, and molecular biological analysis of tissues from Duffy negative individuals. We also present data showing that, in contrast to erythrocyte DARC, cells transfected with DARC internalize radiolabeled ligand. We conclude that the DARC may play a critical role in mediating the effects of proinflammatory chemokines on the interactions between leukocyte and endothelial cells since the molecular pathology of the Duffy negative genotype maintains expression on the latter cell type.

A receptor for the malarial parasite Plasmodium vivax: the erythrocyte chemokine receptor.

Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum are the major causes of human malaria, except in sub-Saharan Africa where people lack the Duffy blood group antigen, the erythrocyte receptor for P. vivax. Duffy negative human erythrocytes are resistant to invasion by P. vivax and the related monkey malaria, P. knowlesi. Several lines of evidence in the present study indicate that the Duffy blood group antigen is the erythrocyte receptor for the chemokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and melanoma growth stimulatory activity (MGSA). First, IL-8 binds minimally to Duffy negative erythrocytes. Second, a monoclonal antibody to the Duffy blood group antigen blocked binding of IL-8 and other chemokines to Duffy positive erythrocytes. Third, both MGSA and IL-8 blocked the binding of the parasite ligand and the invasion of human erythrocytes by P. knowlesi, suggesting the possibility of receptor blockade for anti-malarial therapy.

Chemokines: molecular double agents.

Chemokines are best known as signalling molecules that attract leukocytes to sites of inflammation, but recent results show they are also important regulators of hematopoiesis during development.

CD4-independent association between HIV-1 gp120 and CXCR4: functional chemokine receptors are expressed in human neurons.

BACKGROUND: Chemokines are a family of proteins that chemoattract and activate immune cells by interacting with specific receptors on the surface of their targets. We have shown previously that chemokine receptors including the interleukin-8 receptor B (CXCR2) and the Duffy blood group antigen are expressed on subsets of neurons in various regions of the adult nervous system. RESULTS: Using a combination of immunohistochemical staining and receptor binding studies, we show that hNT cells, which are differentiated human neurons derived from the cell line NTera2, express functional chemokine receptors of the C-X-X and C-C types. These chemokine receptors include CXCR2, CXCR4, CCR1 and CCR5. We demonstrate high-affinity binding of both types of chemokines to hNT neurons and dose-dependent chemotactic responses to these chemokines in differentiated, but no t undifferentiated, NTera 2 cells. In addition, we show that the envelop glycoprotein from the T-cell-tropic human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) strain IIIB is a CD4-independent, dose-dependent inhibitor of the binding of stromal cell-derived factor 1 to its receptor, CXCR4. CONCLUSIONS: These data support recent findings that members of the chemokine family, including CCR5 and LESTR/Fusin (CXCR4), function as coreceptors in combination with CD4 for HIV-1 invasion. This is the first report of functional expression of chemokine receptors on human neurons. Furthermore, our studies provide for direct CD4-independent association of the viral envelope protein of the HIV-1 strain III with the chemokine receptor CXCR4.

Neuronal apoptosis induced by HIV-1 gp120 and the chemokine SDF-1 alpha is mediated by the chemokine receptor CXCR4.

CXCR4, a seven transmembrane domain G-protein-coupled receptor for the Cys-X-Cys class of chemokines, is one of several chemokine receptors that can act as a co-receptor with CD4 for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) glycoprotein gp120 [1-3]. CXCR4 can mediate the entry of HIV-1 strains that specifically infect T cells, such as the IIB strain (see [4] for review). Recent reports indicate that gp120 can signal through CXCR4 [5] and it has been suggested that signal transduction, mediated by the viral envelope, might influence viral-associated cytopathicity or apoptosis [6]. Neuronal apoptosis is a feature of HIV-1 infection in the brain [7,8], although the exact mechanism is unknown. Here, we address the possible role of CXCR4 in inducing apoptosis using cells of the hNT human neuronal cell line; these cells resemble immature post-mitotic cholinergic neurons and have a number of neuronal characteristics [9-15]. We have previously shown that gp120 from the HIV-1 IIIB strain binds with high affinity to CXCR4 expressed on hNT neurons [15]. We now find that both IIIB gp120 and the Cys-X-Cys chemokine SDF-1 alpha can directly induce apoptosis in hNT neurons in the absence of CD4 and in a dose-dependent manner. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a chemokine and an HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein eliciting apoptotic responses through a chemokine receptor.

Human adipocyte glucose transport system. Biochemical and functional heterogeneity of hexose carriers.

We have investigated glucose transport proteins in isolated human adipocytes. Using the cytochalasin B binding assay to measure glucose transporters in subcellular membrane subfractions, we found that insulin induced translocation of intracellular glucose transporters to the cell surface. Isoelectric focusing of glucose transporters photolabeled with [3H]cytochalasin B revealed two distinct glucose transporter isoforms in low density microsomes focusing at pH 5.6 and pH 6.4, but only the pH 5.6 isoform was detectable in plasma membranes and only the pH 6.4 form was found in the high density microsomes. Insulin recruited only the pH 5.6 glucose transporter from the low density microsomes to the plasma membrane with no effect on the pH 6.4 transporter isoform. The results suggest that the pH 6.4 species is an immature form of the glucose transporter initially located in the high-density microsome fraction, which then migrates to the low-density microsomes where it matures (converted to pH 5.6 species) and becomes available for insulin-mediated recruitment to the plasma membrane.

Postcapillary venule endothelial cells in kidney express a multispecific chemokine receptor that is structurally and functionally identical to the erythroid isoform, which is the Duffy blood group antigen.

The human erythrocyte chemokine receptor has recently been shown to be identical to the Duffy blood group antigen and is expressed in multiple organs, including kidney. Here we have examined the molecular properties of the renal isoform. Immunoblot analysis of erythrocyte and kidney detergent lysates, with a monoclonal antibody (Fy6) to the Duffy antigen, revealed that the renal isoform had a molecular mass of 43-45 kD, which could be distinguished from that observed in erythroid cells (38-47 kD). Chemical cross-linking of kidney membranes to 125I-melanoma growth stimulatory activity (MGSA) indicated that the renal chemokine receptor had a molecular mass of 38-45 kD. Binding of 125I-labeled MGSA to kidney membranes was competitively inhibited by the addition of unlabeled MGSA, IL-8, regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secrted, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1. Scatchard analysis of MGSA binding showed that the chemokine receptor from renal tissues had a binding affinity of 3.5 nM similar to that observed for the erythroid isoform (5-10 nM). The primary structure of the renal chemokine receptor predicted from the nucleotide sequence of cDNA from renal tissues is identical to that reported for the erythroid isoform. Immunocytochemical staining of kidney with Fy6 localized expression to endothelial cells present in postcapillary venules. These studies implicate the Duffy antigen/chemokine receptor in the complex interactions between postcapillary endothelial cells and granulocytes, which are modulated by pro-inflammatory chemokines.

Polyclonal antibody directed against human RANTES ameliorates disease in the Lewis rat adjuvant-induced arthritis model.

Adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) is one of many animal models of rheumatoid arthritis, a disease characterized by a T-lymphocyte and macrophage cellular infiltrate. We have characterized the development of this disease model with respect to chemokine expression. Increased levels of two chemokines, RANTES, a T-lymphocyte and monocyte chemo-attractant, and KC a chemoattractant for neutrophils, were found in whole blood and in the joint. Surprisingly, levels of MIP-1alpha, another T-lymphocyte and monocyte chemoattractant, were unchanged throughout the course of the disease in whole blood and only slightly elevated in the joint. RANTES expression plays an important role in the disease since a polyclonal antibody to RANTES greatly ameliorated symptoms in animals induced for AIA and was found to be as efficacious as treatment with indomethacin, a non-steroidal anti inflammatory. Polyclonal antibodies to either MIP-1alpha or KC were ineffective. This is the first report to show the importance of RANTES in the development of AIA.

Chemokine receptors.

Although chemokines were originally defined as host defense proteins it is now clear that their repertoire of functions extend well beyond this role. For example chemokines such as MGSA have growth regulatory properties while members of the CXC chemokine family can be mediators or inhibitors of angiogenesis and may be important targets for oncology. Recent work shows that the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its cognate ligand SDF play important roles in the development of the immune, circulatory and central nervous systems. In addition, chemokine receptors play an important role in the pathogenesis of the AIDS virus, HIV-1. Taken together these findings expand the biological importance of chemokines from that of simple immune modulators to a much broader biological role than was at first appreciated and these and other properties of the chemokine receptor family are discussed in detail in this review.

Protein kinase C-linked inactivation of the interleukin-1 receptor in a human transformed B-cell line.

The effect of tumor-promoting phorbol ester treatment on the binding of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) to specific cell surface receptors was investigated. A 1 h exposure of Raji human B lymphoma cells with the protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester, phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu), reduced IL-1 beta binding by up to 90% of control cells. This effect was dose-dependent and was not observed with 4-alpha-phorbol, an inactive tumor promoter. Analysis of 125I-labeled IL-1 beta binding to intact cells revealed that PDBu caused a 91% decrease in high-affinity cell-surface receptor number without an effect on receptor affinity. The phorbol ester response was rapid (30 min), observed both at 4 and 37 degrees C, and was preceded by the rapid translocation (t much less than 6 min) of protein kinase C (PKC) from the cytosol to the cell membrane. The PDBu-induced decrease in IL-1 beta receptor number was inhibited by prior incubation of cells for 30 min with the PKC inhibitor 1-(5-Isoquinoline sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7). The decrease in receptor binding was not due to enhanced IL-1 beta receptor internalization or shedding into the extracellular medium, since a similar effect was observed with solubilized IL-1 beta receptor. The most likely explanation for the phorbol ester effect appears to be cell surface inactivation of IL-1 receptors. These data suggest that modulation of PKC activity could play a role in the regulation of the IL-1 beta receptor.

Biochemical characterization and subcellular distribution of the glucose transporter from rat brain microvessels.

This study describes the biochemical characterization and subcellular distribution of glucose transporters from isolated rat brain cortical microvessels. The D-glucose inhibitable [3H]cytochalasin B binding assay was used to quantitate glucose transporter binding sites in plasma membranes, high-density microsomes and low-density microsomes prepared from basal and insulin-stimulated cells. Incubation with insulin for 30 min increased the number of glucose transporters in the high-density microsomes by around 33% but had no effect on the number of glucose transporters in the plasma membrane or low-density microsomes. Prolonged incubation with insulin (2 h), however, resulted in a small but significant redistribution of glucose transporters to the low-density microsomes. Preincubation of cells with cycloheximide blocked this insulin-induced increase in glucose transporter number, suggesting that this effect of insulin was due to the synthesis of new glucose transport proteins. Specific labeling of glucose transporters was achieved by photoincorporation of [3H]cytochalasin B. Labeled membranes from all fractions contained a single D-glucose inhibitable peak, migrating with a molecular size of 55 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Isoelectric focusing of the 55 kDa protein revealed one major peak of D-glucose inhibitable radioactivity focusing at pH 6.0 in all fractions.

CXCR4 on human endothelial cells can serve as both a mediator of biological responses and as a receptor for HIV-2.

It has been shown that deletion of the chemokine receptor, CXCR4, causes disordered angiogenesis in mouse models. In the present studies, we examined the distribution and trafficking of CXCR4 in human endothelial cells, tested their responses to the CXCR4 ligand, SDF-1, and asked whether endothelial cell CXCR4 can serve as a cell surface receptor for the binding of viruses. The results show that CXCR4 is present on endothelial cells from coronary arteries, iliac arteries and umbilical veins (HUVEC), but expression was heterogeneous, with some cells expressing CXCR4 on their surface, while others did not. Addition of SDF-1 caused a rapid decrease in CXCR4 surface expression. It also caused CXCR4-mediated activation of MAPK, release of PGI(2), endothelial migration, and the formation of capillary-like structures by endothelial cells in culture. Co-culture of HUVEC with lymphoid cells that were chronically infected with a CD4-independent/CXCR4-tropic variant of HIV-2 resulted in the formation of multinucleated syncytia. Formation of the syncytia was inhibited by each of several different CXCR4 antibodies. Thus, our findings indicate: (1) that CXCR4 is widely expressed on human endothelial cells; (2) the CXCR4 ligand, SDF-1, can evoke a wide variety of responses from human endothelial cells; and (3) CXCR4 on endothelial cells can serve as a receptor for isolates of HIV that can utilize chemokine receptors in the absence of CD4.

Molecular properties of the chemokine receptor family.

Chemokine receptors play a major role in the mobilization and activation of the cells of the immune system, and are discussed in this review by Richard Horuk. Six receptors that bind chemokines with high affinity have been cloned and all belong to the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. Chemokine receptors are mainly expressed in immune cells, which are their major target cells. However, two of the cloned receptors are expressed by viruses and may play a role in protecting the virus from immune surveillance. In addition, a novel chemokine receptor that is expressed in human erythrocytes not only binds CC and CXC chemokines with high affinity but is also a receptor for the malarial parasite Plasmodium vivax.

Blood-brain glucose transfer in diabetes mellitus. Decreased number of glucose transporters at blood-brain barrier.

This study describes the effects of streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus on the glucose-transporter system of the rat blood-brain barrier. Subcellular membrane fractions, i.e., plasma membranes and high- and low-density microsomes, were prepared from isolated brain microvessels derived from control and diabetic animals. The number of glucose transporters in each of the membrane fractions from both control and diabetic animals was determined by the D-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin B-binding assay. The total number of glucose transporters was decreased by 43% in STZ-treated rats compared with controls (35 vs. 115 pmol/mg protein; P less than .05). The glucose-transporter number in plasma membranes was decreased by 50%, in high-density microsomes by 38%, and in low-density microsomes by 45%. Incubation of isolated microvessels from control animals with 7 microM insulin for 30 min at 37 degrees C led to a cycloheximide-sensitive 27% increase (P less than .05) in the number of transporters in high-density microsomes. This insulin effect was significantly diminished to 15% in the diabetic animals (P less than .05). In conclusion, STZ-induced diabetes decreases the glucose-transporter number in all subcellular membrane fractions derived from isolated rat brain microvessels, and the insulin-induced increase in de novo synthesis of glucose transporters in brain microvessels is diminished in these chronically diabetic animals.

The solution structure of melanoma growth stimulating activity.

The solution structure of melanoma growth stimulating activity (MGSA), a dimeric chemokine consisting of 73 residues per monomer, has been determined using two-dimensional homonuclear and three-dimensional heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. Structure calculations were carried out using a hybrid distance geometry-simulated annealing approach with the programs DGII and X-PLOR. The structure is based on a total of 2362 experimental restraints, comprising 2150 NOE-derived distance restraints (2076 unambiguous intrasubunit restraints, 60 unambiguous intersubunit restraints, and 14 ambiguous restraints with potential contributions from both intra- and intersubunit NOEs), 84 distance restraints for 42 backbone hydrogen bonds, and 128 torsion angle restraints. The ambiguous distance restraints were treated using a target function which accounts for both intra- and intermolecular contributions to the NOE intensity. A total of 25 structures were calculated, with the backbone (N, C alpha, C) atomic r.m.s. distribution about the mean coordinates for residues 8 to 69 being 0.44(+/- 0.10) A for the dimer and 0.34(+/- 0.07) A for the individual monomers. The N- and C-terminal residues (1 to 7 and 70 to 73, respectively) are disordered. The overall structure of the MGSA dimer is similar to that reported previously for the NMR and X-ray structures of interleukin-8 (IL-8), and consists of a six-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet packed against two C-terminal antiparallel alpha-helices. A best fit superposition of the NMR structure of MGSA on the X-ray and NMR structures of IL-8 yields backbone atomic r.m.s. differences of 0.99 and 1.28 A, respectively for individual monomers, and 1.08 and 1.82 A, respectively for the dimers (using MGSA residues 8 to 14 and 19 to 69). In general, the MGSA structure resembles the IL-8 X-ray structure more than it does the IL-8 NMR structure. At the tertiary (monomer) level the two main differences between the MGSA solution structure and IL-8 NMR structure involve the loops between residues 14 to 19 and between residues 30 to 38. At the quaternary (dimer) level the difference results from differing angles between the beta-strands which form the dimer interface, and is manifest as a different interhelical separation (distance of closest approach between the two helices is 15.3 A in the IL-8 NMR structure and 11.7 (+/- 0.4) A in the MGSA structure).

The Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines: structural analysis and expression in the brain.

The Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) is expressed in human erythrocytes and on endothelial cells lining postcapillary venules in kidney and spleen. DARC is a promiscuous chemokine receptor and a binding protein for the malarial parasite Plasmodium vivax. The expression of DARC by subsets of endothelial cells and neurons in discrete anatomic sites in the brain suggests that this enigmatic receptor may have multiple roles in normal and pathological physiology. Conservation of this promiscuous chemokine binding function is evident from the similarity in nucleotide sequence of DARC homologues from multiple species, as well as the high-affinity binding of human chemokines to murine and avian erythrocytes. Analysis of the functional domains of DARC using chimeric receptors and and monoclonal antibodies to multiple extracellular domains localized chemokine binding to structures in the amino terminal extracellular domain (E1). Scatchard analysis demonstrated that a chimeric DARC receptor, composed of the E1 domain of DARC and the predicted hydrophobic helices and loops of interleukin-8RB (IL-8RB), bound IL-8, and MGSA with KD values almost identical to the wild type receptors and bound a repertoire of C-X-C and C-C chemokines characteristic of DARC. Although numerous reports have demonstrated that chemokines such as IL-8 are expressed in the brain, presumably by glial cells, little insight into the nature of their role in normal or pathological physiology in the nervous system has developed because the target cells that express the corresponding receptors have not yet been identified. Northern blotting experiments suggest that mRNA encoding DARC are expressed in the central nervous system, however, interpretation of this is unclear because of the ubiquitous expression of DARC lining postcapillary venules. This study provides direct evidence to localize expression of DARC in the central nervous system. Immunohistochemical examination of human archival sections of the brain with monoclonal antibodies specific for DARC localize expression of DARC to cell bodies and processes of Purkinjie cells in the cerebellum. The immunohistochemical findings were supported by analysis of chemokine binding and radioligand crosslinking with membranes made from various brain fractions. The hierarchical expression of DARC in neurons in the cerebellum suggest that chemokines may play an important role in the modulation of neuronal activity by glial cells.

The role of CXC chemokines in the regulation of angiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer.

Angiogenesis is a critical component of tumor biology. In recent years newer techniques of cell and molecular biology have led to important advances in our understanding of this process. The regulation of angiogenesis depends on a balance between the activity of local factors that promote (angiogenic factors) or inhibit (angiostatic factors) neovascularization. Nowhere is this paradigm of a balance more apparent than in the study of tumor-associated angiogenesis. Tumors promote angiogenesis through a combination of overexpression of angiogenic factors and local inhibition of angiostatic factors. This strategy leads to an angiogenic environment that promotes tumor growth and metastases. Our laboratory has focused studies on the role of the CXC chemokine family in the regulation of angiogenesis by non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this article, we review our findings that the CXC chemokine family is composed of members that are either angiogenic or angiostatic. We have found that in NSCLC an imbalance exists in the expression of these factors that favors tumor-derived angiogenesis, and therefore tumor growth and metastases. Furthermore, when this imbalance is corrected to reduce the presence of angiogenic factors or increase the presence of angiostatic factors, tumor growth and metastases are reduced.

Partial purification and characterization of the glucagon receptor.

Specific labeling of liver plasma membrane glucagon receptors has been achieved by the photoincorporation of a 125I-labeled photoderivative of glucagon, NE-4-azidophenylamidinoglucagon. Identification of glucagon receptors was facilitated by irradiating membranes in the presence of excess unlabeled glucagon. Isoelectric focusing of radioiodinated membrane proteins revealed one major band of glucagon displaceable material which had an isoelectric point of 5.85. When this material was isolated and run on SDS-polyacrylamide gels a major labeled band of Mr55000 was obtained which had properties consistent with those of the glucagon receptor. These studies indicate that a purification of the glucagon receptor of greater than 700-fold can be attained through the use of isoelectric focusing and SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis.

Identification and characterization of the rat adipocyte glucose transporter by photoaffinity crosslinking.

The photoaffinity crosslinking agent hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidobenzoate has been used to attach [3H]cytochalasin B to a rat adipocyte low-density microsomal membrane protein of 45-50 kDa. The characteristics of the [3H]cytochalasin B-labeled protein are consistent with those of the adipocyte glucose transporter. The low-density microsomes from cells incubated without insulin incorporate twice the amount of radioactivity per mg membrane protein than low-density microsomes derived from insulin-stimulated cells. This value agrees with the distribution of glucose transporters measured in this intracellular membrane fraction prepared from basal and insulin-treated cells by [3H]cytochalasin B binding. Preincubation of membranes with 500 mM D-glucose reduces the photoaffinity crosslinking by 48% relative to that observed with 500 mM L-glucose. Isoelectric focusing of low-density microsomes containing the photoaffinity crosslinked transporter yields three bands of radioactivity focusing at pH values of 5.5, 4.5, and 4.2 respectively. Following isolation from the isoelectric focusing gel and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, all three peaks can be shown to contain a band of 45-50 kDa which crossreacts with an antiserum raised against the purified human erythrocyte glucose transporter. These results suggest that the identification, isolation and purification of the adipocyte glucose transporter is now possible using the techniques described above.