Electrochemical performance of cobalt hydroxide nanosheets formed by the delamination of layered cobalt hydroxide in water.

We report the preparation of monometallic Co(2+)/Co(3+) layered double hydroxide, intercalated with lactate anions (LCoH-Lactate), and its spontaneous delamination in water to form cobalt hydroxide nanosheets. These hydroxide nanosheets formed stable aqueous dispersions. The thickness of a nanosheet was estimated to be approximately 1 nm by atomic force microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering experiments, and corresponds to a single hydroxide layer. Some of the Co(2+) cations were oxidised by oxygen, resulting in a mixed Co(2+)(0.76)Co(3+)(0.24) layer composition. Upon water evaporation, the nanosheets restacked to form transparent self-standing films with a layered structure like that of the original material. The coverage of the surface with side-by-side stacks of nanosheets indicated two-dimensional agglomeration and suggested that these dispersions could be applied to prepare large monolayers of nanosheets. The layers prepared by spin-coating were stable and featured reversible and reproducible redox properties in an alkaline electrolyte. In an evaluation of their electrochemical performance, the cobalt hydroxide nanosheets exhibited durability and fast charge transfer kinetics during repetitive potential cycling up to 200 mV s(-1). The nanosheets prepared by the present method show promise for use in nanocomposite materials for energy storage applications.

The NF-kappa B-inducing kinase induces PC12 cell differentiation and prevents apoptosis.

NF-kappa B has been implicated in the survival and differentiation of PC12 cells. In this study, we examined the effect of the NF-kappa B-inducing kinase (NIK) on these processes. When inducibly expressed in PC12 cells, a kinase-proficient but not -deficient form of NIK promoted neurite process formation and mediated anti-apoptotic signaling. As expected, NIK expression led to I kappa B kinase activation and induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B. However, NIK-induced neurite outgrowth was only partially blocked by concomitant expression of a nondegradable form of I kappa B alpha that completely blocks NF-kappa B induction. In search of additional signaling pathways activated by NIK, we now demonstrate that NIK activates MEK1 phosphorylation and induces the Erk1/Erk2 MAPK pathway. Treatment of PC12 cells with PD98059, a MEK1 inhibitor, potently blocked neurite process formation; however, a dominantly interfering mutant of the upstream Shc adapter failed to alter this response. These findings reveal a new function for NIK as a MEK1-dependent activator of the MAPK pathway and implicate both the I kappa B kinase and MAPK signaling cascades in NIK-induced differentiation of PC12 cells.

Regulation of an essential innate immune response by the p50 subunit of NF-kappaB.

Recognition of bacterial endotoxin (LPS) elicits multiple host responses, including activation of cells of the innate immune system. LPS exposure occurs repeatedly during septicemia, making strict regulation of gene expression necessary. Such regulation might prevent, for example, the continuous production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which could lead to severe vascular collapse. Tolerance to LPS is characterized by a diminished production of TNF during prolonged exposure to LPS, and is therefore likely to represent an essential control mechanism during sepsis. In the present study, which uses mice with genetic deletions of the proteins of NF-kappaB complex, we provide data demonstrating that increased expression of the p50 subunit of NF-kappaB directly results in the downregulation of LPS-induced TNF production. This contention is supported by the following observations: (1) tolerance to LPS is not induced in macrophages from p50-/- mice; (2) long-term pretreatment with LPS does not block synthesis of TNF mRNA in p50-/- macrophages (in contrast to wild-type macrophages); (3) ectopic overexpression of p50 reduces transcriptional activation of the murine TNF promoter; and (4) analysis of the four kappaB sites from the murine TNF promoter demonstrates that binding of p50 homodimers to the positively acting kappaB3 element is associated with development of the LPS-tolerant phenotype. Thus, p50 expression plays a key role in the development of LPS tolerance.

Identification of the TS2/18-recognized epitope on the CD2 molecule as a target for suppression of T cell cytokine synthesis.

CD2 mAb can inhibit T cell activation, but the mechanisms involved are still unclear. In this study, we identify the mAb TS2/18, previously reported to bind to an epitope on the distal domain of the CD2 molecule at amino acids 87-99 (1), as a particularly potent inhibitor of T cell cytokine synthesis. Although TS2/18 is comitogenic with the CD2R mAb VIT13, this mAb combination does not induce the secretion of substantial amounts of cytokines. When added to T cells stimulated with the CD2 mAb pair OKT11-VIT13, TS2/18 efficiently blocks the induction of cytokine synthesis induced by that CD2 mAb pair, although it does not interfere with the binding of OKT11. In addition, TS2/18 inhibits the increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation and the accumulation of phosphatidic acid induced by either OKT11-VIT13 or a cross-linked CD3 mAb. Finally, TS2/18 disrupts CD2 clusters induced by the CD2 mAb pair OKT11-VIT13. We conclude that TS2/18 blocks T cell cytokine synthesis by interfering with early signal transduction, possibly by impairing the formation of signal-transducing molecule complexes on the T cell surface. Together, these data identify the CD2 epitope recognized by the mAb TS2/18 as a candidate epitope for T cell-specific immunosuppressive ligands.

Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, beta 2-integrins, and Src-kinases within a single receptor complex of human monocytes.

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored membrane protein urokinase plasminogen activator-receptor (uPA-R; CD87) is one of the key molecules involved in migration of leukocytes and tumor cells. uPA bound to uPA-R provides the cell proteolytic potential used for degradation of extracellular matrix. uPA-R is also involved in induction of cell adhesion and chemotaxis. Here, we provide a molecular explanation for these uPA-R-related cellular events. By size fractionation of monocyte lysate and affinity isolation on its natural ligand uPA, we demonstrate uPA-R as a component of a receptor complex of relatively large size. Reprecipitation and immunoblotting techniques allowed us to detect the protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) p60fyn, p53/56lyn, p58/64hck, and p59fgr as components of this "uPA-R complex". Activation of monocytes even with enzymatically inactivated uPA resulted in induction of tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting modulation of uPA-R-associated PTKs upon ligand binding. In spite of their presence in large complexes, we did not find the GPI-linked proteins CD14, CD58, and CD59 in the uPA-R complex, which indicates the presence of different receptor domains containing GPI-linked proteins in monocytes. However, we identified the leukocyte integrins LFA-1 and CR3 as components of the uPA-R complex as indicated by coisolation of these molecules, as well as by cocapping and comodulation of uPA-R and leukocyte integrins on the monocyte surface. The assemblage of uPA-R, PTKs and membrane spanning beta 2-integrins in one receptor complex indicates functional cooperation. In regard to the involvement of these molecules in pericellular proteolysis, signal transduction, as well as adhesion and chemotactic movement, we suggest uPA-R complex as a potential cellular device for cell migration.

Signaling and induction of enhanced cytoadhesiveness via the hematopoietic progenitor cell surface molecule CD34.

The transmembrane glycoprotein CD34 shows a highly restricted expression on a crucial subset of hematopoietic cells. We show here that engagement of particular determinants of CD34 can lead to signal transduction and to enhanced adhesiveness of CD34+ hematopoietic cells. Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) directed against O-sialoglycoprotease-sensitive epitopes of CD34 (QBEND10, ICH3, BI.3C5, MY10) but not MoAbs against O-sialoglycoprotease-resistant epitopes (9F2, 8G12) induce actin polymerization in KG-1a and KG-1 cells and strongly enhanced cytoadhesiveness. The capacity to induce adhesion requires cellular energy, divalent cations, and intact cytoskeleton but not de novo protein synthesis. The observed cytoadhesion seems at least in part to be caused by a concomitant activation of the beta 2 integrin cytoadhesion pathway. It can be significantly inhibited with lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 and intercelluar adhesion molecule-1 antibodies. Protein kinase inhibition analyses suggest that the pathways initiated by engagement of the CD34 molecule with certain CD34 MoAbs involves protein tyrosine kinases but that protein kinase C is not critically involved.

Large, detergent-resistant complexes containing murine antigens Thy-1 and Ly-6 and protein tyrosine kinase p56lck.

A number of human and mouse leukocyte surface (glyco)proteins anchored in a membrane via glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) moiety have been previously shown to be noncovalently associated with protein tyrosine kinases (Science 1991. 254: 1016; J. Biol. Chem. 1992. 267: 12317). Here we show that two murine antigens of this group, Thy-1 and Ly-6, implicated in the activation of the T cells, are associated with each other, with the kinase p56lck and with several of potential kinase substrates in very large, detergent-resistant complexes, the size of which is between 50 and 200 nm, as determined by ultrafiltration and gel chromatography. Experiments on simultaneous solubilization of mixed human and mouse cells rule out that the observed complexes are artifacts induced by the detergent. Complexes of similar composition and properties were obtained when either detergents Brij-58, Nonidet-P40 or 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]- 1-propane-sulfonate (Chaps) were used for solubilization of the cells, while octylglucoside at least partially dissociated them. These "GPI-complexes" may be essential for the well-known signal-transducing capacity of Thy-1 and Ly-6.