cDNA cloning, structural features, and eucaryotic expression of human TAG-1/axonin-1.

Axonal surface glycoproteins, composed of repeated immunoglobulin-like and fibronectin-type-III(FNIII)-like domains, mediate adhesion between axons or between axons and non-neuronal cells or extracellular matrix proteins. Several representatives of this group promote neurite outgrowth, when presented as substratum to neurons in culture, and have been implicated in axonal guidance mechanisms. TAG-1 and axonin-1 are presumptive species homologues of the rat and the chick, respectively; together with F11/F3, they form a subgroup of Ig/FNIII-like molecules containing a glycosyl-PtdIns membrane anchor. Recent reports on tumor suppressor genes encoding Ig-like and FNIII-like sequences prompted us to isolate the human homologue to TAG-1 and axonin-1. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed to regions conserved in both TAG-1 and axonin-1 using deoxyinosine at ambiguous positions. An expected 1000-bp fragment was obtained from cDNA derived from adult human cerebellum. Using this PCR fragment as a probe, several clones were isolated from a human fetal brain cDNA library. Nucleotide sequence analysis of a full-length clone, as expected, revealed a high degree of similarity to rat TAG-1 (91% identity) and chicken axonin-1 (75% identity) at the amino acid level. The encoded protein was then transiently expressed in monkey COS1 cells, and a stable mouse myeloma cell line was established expressing human TAG-1/axonin-1. The transfected COS1 and myeloma cells showed immunoreactivity on the cell surface with polyclonal anti-(chicken axonin-1) serum. On Western blots, the same antibodies recognized the recombinant protein migrating slightly slower on SDS/PAGE than chicken axonin-1. A comparison of chicken and human brain-tissue proteins by Western-blot analysis revealed a similar apparent molecular mass difference between the two species, which might be due to three additional N-glycosylation sites present on human TAG-1/axonin-1. Immunostaining of cryostat sections of embryonic retinas with polyclonal anti-(axonin-1) serum showed similar expression patterns in chicken and human samples at corresponding developmental stages. An additional shared feature of human TAG-1/axonin-1, rat TAG-1 and chick axonin-1 is their attachment to the cell membrane with a glycosyl-PtdIns anchor.

A primate model for human cerebral malaria: Plasmodium coatneyi-infected rhesus monkeys.

A major factor in the pathogenesis of human cerebral malaria is blockage of cerebral microvessels by the sequestration of parasitized human red blood cells (PRBC). In vitro studies indicate that sequestration of PRBC in the microvessels is mediated by the attachment of knobs on PRBC to receptors on the endothelial cell surface such as CD36, thrombospondin (TSP), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). However, it is difficult to test this theory in vivo because fresh human brain tissues from cerebral malarial autopsy cases are not easy to obtain. Although several animal models for human cerebral malaria have been proposed, none have shown pathologic findings that are similar to those seen in humans. In order to develop an animal model for human cerebral malaria, we studied brains of rhesus monkeys infected with the primate malaria parasite, Plasmodium coatneyi. Our study demonstrated PRBC sequestration and cytoadherence of knobs on PRBC to endothelial cells in the cerebral microvessels of these monkeys. Cerebral microvessels with sequestered PRBC were shown by immunohistochemical analysis to possess CD36, TSP, and ICAM-1. These proteins were not evident in the cerebral microvessels of uninfected control monkeys. Thus, our study indicates, for the first time, that rhesus monkeys infected with P. coatneyi can be used as a primate model to study human cerebral malaria. By using this animal model, we may be able to evaluate strategies for the development of vaccines to prevent human cerebral malaria.

Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes do not adhere well to C32 melanoma cells or CD36 unless rosettes with uninfected erythrocytes are first disrupted.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites modify the human erythrocytes in which they grow so that some parasitized erythrocytes (PE) can cytoadhere (C+) to host vascular endothelial cells or adhere in rosettes (R+) to uninfected erythrocytes. These C+ and R+ adherence properties of PE appear to mediate much of the pathogenesis of severe malaria infections, in part by blocking blood flow in microvessels. From one parasite strain, PE were selected in vitro for C+ R+ or C+ R- adherence properties and examined in model adherence assays. The C+ R+ PE cytoadhered poorly to C32 melanoma cells or to immobilized CD36 in a settled-cell assay when uninfected human erythrocytes were present and formed rosettes with PE. C+ R- PE adhered well in the same assays. However, C+ R+ PE adhered very well, even better than C+ R- PE, when the rosettes were disrupted and the C+ R+ PE were purified. Adding back rabbit erythrocytes, which do not form rosettes with C+ R+ PE, had simply a dilutional effect. The ability of rosettes to interfere with the detection of adherence must be dealt with in all future assays of malarial PE adherence. Individual PE were observed attached simultaneously to C32 cells and to a few erythrocytes, suggesting that C+ and R+ adherence properties are coexpressed on the same PE. Coexpression of these adherence properties on the same PE may have pathological importance in vivo, where passage of rosettes through capillaries may shear uninfected erythrocytes from rosetted PE and allow direct PE attachment to postcapillary venule walls before rosettes reform.

Plasmodium coatneyi-infected rhesus monkeys: a primate model for human cerebral malaria.

Although several animal models for human cerebral malaria have been proposed in the past, none have shown pathological findings that are similar to those seen in humans. In order to develop an animal model for human cerebral malaria, we studied the pathology of brains of Plasmodium coatneyi (primate malaria parasite)-infected rhesus monkeys. Our study demonstrated parasitized erythrocyte (PRBC) sequestration and cytoadherence of knobs on PRBC to endothelial cells in cerebral microvessels of these monkeys. This is similar to the findings seen in human cerebral malaria. Cerebral microvessels with sequestered PRBC were shown by immunohistochemistry to possess CD36, TSP and ICAM-1. These proteins were not evident in cerebral microvessels of uninfected control monkeys. Our study indicates, for the first time, that rhesus monkeys infected with P. coatneyi can be used as a primate model to study human cerebral malaria.