Natural resistance to intracellular pathogens: modulation of macrophage signal transduction related to the expression of the Bcg locus.

In mice, the Bcg/Nramp1 gene of the chromosome 1 has been implicated in natural resistance or susceptibility to infection with several intramacrophage microorganisms. Functional studies of Bcg/Nramp1 congenic macrophages have shown that this gene has many pleiotropic effects on macrophage activation and function. Although a specific role of Bcg/Nramp1 in the control of pleiotropic effects has not been defined yet, several observations propose unifying hypothesis for its complex role: metal ion transport is the primary function of the Bcg/Nramp1 gene, the availability of metal ions as cofactors for many proteins results from this primary function and, in turn, the effect on signal transduction results from ion-regulated expression of cellular proteins and their functions. In the present study, we examined the possible alterations in signal transduction pathways related to different allelic expression of the Bcg locus in B10R (Bcgr/Nramp1s) and B10S (Bcgs/Nramp1r) macrophages. We have utilized 1-DE and 2-DE immunoblot analyses and investigated phosphorylation of proteins using either anti-phosphotyrosine antibody or antibodies recognizing specific phospho-forms of signaling proteins. In the basal state, B10R macrophages had a superior ability to phosphorylate p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and manganese superoxide dismutase. B10S counterparts were characterized by increased phosphorylation of Erk1/Erk2 MAPKs. The activation of macrophages revealed higher phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription in response to interferon gamma and a rapid decline in the level of inhibitory kappa B-alpha protein induced by lipopolysaccharide in B10R macrophages compared to B10S. Altogether, our results demonstrate a link between allelic expression of the Bcg/Nramp1 gene and alterations in several macrophage signaling pathways, and support the hypothesis that the allelic expression of Bcg/Nramp1 may be functionally linked to resistance to infectious disease and, inversely, to autoimmune disease susceptibility.

Influence of the bcg locus on natural resistance to primary infection with the facultative intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis in mice.

The implication of the Bcg locus in the control of natural resistance to infection with a live vaccine strain (LVS) of the intracellular pathogen Francisella tularensis was studied. Analysis of phenotypic expression of natural resistance and susceptibility was performed using mouse strains congenic at the Bcg locus. Comparison of the kinetics of bacterial colonization of spleen showed that B10.A.Bcg(r) mice were extremely susceptible during early phases of primary sublethal infection, while their congenic C57BL/10N [Bcg(s)] counterparts could be classified as resistant to F. tularensis LVS infection according to the 2-log-lower bacterial CFU within the tissue as long as 5 days after infection. Different phenotypes of Bcg congenic mice were associated with differential expression of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-10, and gamma interferon and production of reactive oxygen intermediates. These results strongly suggest that the Bcg locus, which is close or identical to the Nramp1 gene, controls natural resistance to infection by F. tularensis and that its effect is the opposite of that observed for other Bcg-controlled pathogens.

Proteomics approach in classifying the biochemical basis of the anticancer activity of the new olomoucine-derived synthetic cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, bohemine.

The aim of this study was to use two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) to characterize the quantitative changes in the protein composition of the CEM T-lymphoblastic leukemia cell line after treatment with bohemine (BOH), a synthetic olomoucin-derived cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI). Cell classification, reflecting protein patterns, clearly distinguished two main groups: one group consists of 9, 12 and 24 h treated BOH cells while the second is represented by the 0 and 24 h control untreated cells and the 6 h BOH-exposed CEM lymphoblasts. Discriminant protein spots differentially expressed in the BOH-treated CEM cells were selected for identification by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) or electrospray ionization-tandem MS (ESI-MS/MS). Five of the selected protein spots were unequivocally identified as alpha-enolase, triosephosphate isomerase, eukaryotic initiation factor 5A, and alpha- and beta-subunits of Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 1. These proteins, all significantly downregulated in CEM T-lymphoblast leukemia in the course of BOH treatment, are known to play an important role in cellular functions such as glycolysis, protein biosynthesis, and cytoskeleton rearrangement. These results indicate that the cellular effects of olomoucine-derived CDKIs are not dependent on their ability to inhibit CDKs and could be mediated by several factors such as a decrease in protein synthesis and/or glycolysis which in turn diminishes the ability of cancer cells to function.

Natural resistance to intracellular parasites: a study by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with multivariate analysis.

Natural resistance to Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is determined by the Bcg gene (Nramp1), which is exclusively expressed by mature macrophages. The Nramp1 gene is a dominant autosomal gene that has two allelic forms; r confers resistance and s confers susceptibility to infection with intracellular pathogen. Although the wide range of pleiotropic immunological effects of the Nramp1 gene has been described, the exact mechanism of its action remains elusive. In this study we searched for differentially expressed proteins that might provide clues in the studies on Nramp1 gene function. We performed two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of cellular proteins prepared from a B10R macrophage line derived from mice carrying the r allele of the Nramp1 gene, B10S macrophages carrying the s allele, and B10R-Rb macrophages transfected with Nramp1-ribozyme. The classification of protein patterns and selection of distinct proteins characteristic of r or s allele-carrying macrophages was performed using the principal component analysis. We found differential expression of four proteins with the following isoelectric point/molecular weight (pI/Mr) in B10R macrophages compared to B10S and B10R-Rb macrophages: 6.6/25, 7.0/22, 9.1/31.5, and 5.3/8.5. The protein 7.0/22 has been identified as Mn-superoxide dismutase and the best candidate for protein p6.6/25 seems to be Bcl-2 according to the immunoblot analysis. When the splenic macrophages carrying the r or s allele were analyzed, the changes in relative abundance for proteins 6.6/25 and p7.0/22 were satisfactorily reproduced. Overall, the two identified proteins are important in the regulation of intracellular redox balance and the regulation of apoptosis in macrophages, respectively. Our findings may suggest their possible biological role in the innate immunity against intracellular pathogens.

Infection-activated T lymphocytes resist nitric oxide-mediated immunosuppression in the course of Francisella tularensis 15L experimental infection.

Study of the inhibition of splenocyte proliferation stimulated by concanavalin A (Con A), induced by Francisella tularensis 15L infection, showed that immunosuppression is mediated by nitric oxide (NO). A certain fraction of cells, however, resist the antiproliferative activities of NO and these were characterized as Thy-1.2 positive infection-activated T lymphocytes. The importance of this phenomenon for the development of specific anti-infectious immunity was studied further in naturally resistant and susceptible mouse strains. The naturally resistant mouse strain (C57BL/10) was characterized by early production of NO and depressed splenocyte responsiveness to the mitogen. Early production of NO prevented activation of certain fractions of T lymphocytes. Hence the antibodies of these animals were only directed against three main F. tularensis antigens. Late or reduced release of NO from activated macrophages of susceptible strains (C3H/He and BALB/c) on the other hand was accompanied by late or reduced immunosuppression. This resulted in polyclonal activation of the immune system because the antibodies of these mice reacted with 6-12 compounds of the tularaemic antigen. The difference in heterogeneity of specific antibodies was not caused by a defect in the clonal network, as both the susceptible and resistant strains responded similarly to inactivated F. tularensis antigen.

Overexpression of calcium-binding protein calgranulin B in colonic mucosal diseases.

Subtractive two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) has been used for the study of the protein patterns of the normal colonic mucosa and the specimens collected from patients diagnosed for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colonic polyps and colorectal cancer. We found a 13 kDa protein that was detected in five of seven adenomas and in 13 of 15 colorectal carcinomas while it was absent or only slightly expressed in normal colonic mucosa. Furthermore, this protein occurred in all specimens collected from patients suffering from IBD and its quantity reflected the increased severity of inflammation. The combination of microsequencing and mass spectrometry led to the identification of the 13 kDa spot as calgranulin B. Our results indicate that the production of calgranulin B is unregulated in inflammatory, preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of colonic mucosa.

Early consequences of macrophage-Francisella tularensis interaction under the influence of different genetic background in mice.

The induction, regulation and expression of protective immunity against Francisella tularensis LVS infection is dependent on the results of primary interaction between the cells of host's immunoregulatory system and the microbe. The early events, at least on the side of macrophages, are under the genetic control. To determine the impact of genes that might be involved in the control of resistance to Francisella tularensis LVS infection, we have used three different inbred strains of mice with increasing resistance to this infection in order C3H/HeJ (Lpsd), C3H/HeN (Lpsn"), and C57B1/10N (Lpsn"). The controlled production of IL-10, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha coupled with increased production of reactive oxygen metabolites during early phase of infection distinguished less susceptible C3H/HeN mice from their more susceptible cogenic C3H/HeJ counterparts. The enhancement of oxidative metabolism that appeared on day 5 after the infection of both C3H/HeN and C57B1/10N mice closely correlated with increasing resistance of these two strains of mice to Francisella tularensis LVS infection. These mice were also capable to reach the highest level of TNF-alpha on day 5 after the infection. At the same time interval, only C57B1/10N mice produced significantly enhanced level of nitric oxide. Overall, these parameters may suggest their possible biological role in early-phase resistance to Francisella tularensis LVS infection and their subsequent consequences for ultimate control of infection and its clearance.

The different expression of proteins recognized by monoclonal anti-heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) antibody in human colonic diseases.

Analysis of the expression of hsp70 (70 kDa heat-shock proteins) in normal and pathological tissues might prove their potential diagnostic and prognostic values. In the present study, we combined high-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with immunoblotting to study hsp70 expression in normal, preneoplastic and neoplastic colonic mucosa. By monoclonal anti-hsp70 antibody, recognizing both the constitutive and inducible forms of hsp70, we have detected six charge isoforms localized in the pH 5.1-5.3 range and in the molecular mass range of 68-69 kDa in normal colonic mucosa. Immunostaining of hsp70 in polypous and malignant tissues revealed qualitative as well as quantitative changes in the expression of more acidic isoforms of hsp70 in comparison with normal tissue. Furthermore, the different basic isoforms of hsp70 were detected in chronically inflamed colonic mucosa from patients suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). Besides the standard hsp70 protein pattern, additional proteins with molecular masses of about 39, 40, 74 and 75 kDa were variably immunostained in normal and pathological specimens. These observations suggest that hsp70 expression may be closely linked to disease etiology and/or pathophysiology.

Natural resistance to infection with intracellular pathogens: cross-talk between Nramp1 and Lps genes.

This study was designed to analyze the association of Nramp1 and/or Lps genes with differential protein expression in macrophages in order to select candidate proteins that might be related to resistance/susceptibility to various microbial infections under the control of the Nramp1 and/or Lps genes. The macrophage cell lines derived from bone marrow of Nramp1 or Lps congenic mice were utilized and high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoreis (2-DE), separating proteins according to their charge and size, was used as a window into alterations in gene expression and a means to compare the macrophages carrying a resistant allele of Nramp1 gene and/or normal allele of Lps gene, with their counterparts carrying either a susceptible allele of Nramp1 or defective allele of the Lps gene. We demonstrate that the changes of constitutive levels of two proteins named according to their isoelectric point/molecular weight (pI/Mr), p6.6/25 and p7.0/22, discriminate satisfactorily not only the macrophages congenic at the Nramp1 gene but also the macrophages congenic at the Lps gene, thus reflecting their common genotype (Nramp1r, Lps[n]). Furthermore, the decreased constitutive levels of these proteins in macrophages carrying a defective allele of Lps but preserving a resistant allele of Nramp1 can be, at least in part, restored by stimulation with interferon gamma or lipopolysaccharide. 2-DE immunoblot analysis identified the p7.0/22 protein as manganese superoxide dismutase. Bcl-2 appears to be the best candidate for p6.6/25 as suggested by 2-DE quantitative alterations and Western blot analysis. These proteins are important in the regulation of intracellular redox balance and the regulation of apoptosis in macrophages and their alterations might reflect closely the transport functions of ions or other charged substrates suggested for Nramp1 protein.

The immune response against Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain in Lps(n) and Lps(d) mice.

The impact of Lps gene on the course of immune response against subcutaneous infection of mice with Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain was studied. Production and specificity of antibodies, cytotoxic responses of macrophages and NK-cells, spontaneous production ex vivo of cytokines IL-1 alpha, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha in spleen cell cultures in C3H/HeJ (Lps(d)) mice in comparison with C3H/HeN (Lps(n)) mice were tested. The value of LD(50) was significantly different in the two strains of mice (8.0 x 10(5) cfu for C3H/HeJ versus 4.61 x 10(3) cfu for C3H/HeJ mice after subcutaneous inoculation). The production of NO(2) is also impaired in C3H/HeJ mice in the early intervals after infection. Thus, the defective Lps gene of C3H/HeJ mice influences both the level of innate resistance of mice to F. tularensis live vaccine strain infection and the process of induction and regulation of immune response against this intracellular bacterial pathogen.

Electrophoretic analysis of microheterogeneity of paraproteins in a patient with IgD myeloma.

High-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to analyze more precisely serum and urine specimens of a patient suffering from IgD myeloma associated with renal insufficiency. The application of 2-DE with immobilized pH gradient followed by immunoblotting revealed the presence of acidic monoclonal delta chains, hidden on 2-DE by albumin. This approach also enabled to detect two other forms of delta heavy chains expressing both reduced (45 kDa) and high (110 kDa) mol. weight. The analysis of urine specimen proved the presence of three acidic isoforms of monoclonal lambda light chains together with multiple monoclonal light chain fragments, which strongly suggests amyloidogenicity of these monoclonal light chains.

Analysis of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains in urine using two-dimensional electrophoresis.

High-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to analyze kappa-type monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains in urine of two patients with multiple myeloma. The patients were treated, remission lasted about 2.5 years. In the period of relapse of the disease, acid isoforms of kappa chains, pI < 4,95, which had not been present in the urine of these patients before, were found in urine of both patients. Kappa-type Bence-Jones protein in urine of one patient showed unusual behavior: It failed to precipitate in the range of 40-60 degrees C or on boiling.

Two-dimensional electrophoretic study of normal colon mucosa and colorectal cancer.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis has been used to analyze polypeptide composition of specimens of human normal colon mucosa and colorectal carcinomas. Immobilized pH gradient in the first dimension improved the separation and enabled us to analyze proteins from whole tissue samples with high reproducibility. Polypeptides were separated within sigmoidal 3.5-10 pH gradient and range of mol. weight 15-200 KD. In global, protein patterns of normal and malignant tissue seemed to be close to each other. We attempted to combine two-dimensional electrophoretic separation with the immunoblotting technique using patient sera to identify possible tumor antigens. From a wealth of spots on silver stained protein maps of adjacent normal colon mucosa or tumor tissue, only few spots gave positive reaction. These spots might be classified into two groups: 1) common for normal colon mucosa and tumor, 2) specific for tumor tissue. The extent of patient's antibody reaction with antigens appeared to correspond to urinary neopterin level, an index of immune activation.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of four serum samples from patients with IgD myeloma.

Sera containing IgD paraprotein present problems in identifying patients with monoclonal gammopathies because only a small or even no spike may be present on standard serum protein electrophoresis. We have detected heavy chains of IgD monoclonal protein by means of high resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Besides clearly identifying delta heavy chains in maps of serum proteins, we also found size and charge heterogeneity of monoclonal immunoglobulins. The results demonstrate the usefulness of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in the analysis of selected cases of immunoglobulin malignancies.

Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to study immune response against intracellular bacterial infection.

Principal component analysis was applied to two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis patterns, obtained in various phases of infection. Untreated controls could be satisfactorily differentiated from patterns after infection on days 3 and 7 whereas day 10 of infection was grouped with the controls. Comparison of host cellular protein patterns could help to classify in vivo developing infection without requiring any so-called immune marker functions. Immunoaffinity separation of infected cells treated with detergent, followed by 2-D electrophoresis of negative as well as positive eluates, did not reveal radiolabeled bacterial protein antigens.

Macrophage activating factors produced in the course of murine tularemia: effect on multiplication of microbes.

Primary F. tularensis infection in mice induces the production of macrophage activating factors (MAFs) by spleen cells. The stimulation of macrophage cytolytic activity (MAF-c) and hydrogen peroxide production (MAF-H2O2) dominates between days 7 and 10 in the course of tularemia. Three various pools of active fractions (10-11, 14-15, 25-28) were fractionated by two-step chromatography. Typical for 10-11 and 14-15 is MAF-c activity whereas in 25-28 prevails MAF-H2O2. Initial concentrated supernatant (day 7 of infection) and individual fractions have been used to raise antibodies KI (anti 10-11) and KII (anti 14-15). Neutralization reactions with specific antibodies indicate the presence of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in 14-15 (44% inhibitable), interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and interleukin 2 (IL 2) in 25-28 (65% and 30% neutralization, respectively). Utilizing KI and KII, 99% and 90% inhibition of cytolytic activity is reached in 10-11 and 14-15, respectively, in spite of non-specific cross reaction. Western blot analysis of proteins in supernatant on day 7 detects, besides TNF alpha, further protein bands (13, 15.5, 52 and 72 kDa) that seem to be associated with macrophage activation. Significant protective effect against in vivo multiplication of tularemic microbes indicates a certain role of TNF alpha, however, cooperation of other molecules is worth to be taken into consideration.

Superoxide dismutase activity in radioresistant tissues of irradiated rabbits.

The activities of Cu, Zn-containing superoxide dismutase were studied in radioresistant tissues (liver, brain, erythrocytes) of whole-body irradiated rabbits with 6.0 Gy and 24.0 Gy with local shielding. No significant changes were observed after irradiation with 6.0 Gy. Both the changes in Cu, Zn-SOD activity and the protein concentrations were more pronounced after exposure to 24.0 Gy with local shielding of the head and abdominal region. The dose on the shielded regions was about 6.0 Gy. Local shielding of rabbits irradiated with a lethal dose 24.0 Gy influenced positively the survival of animals. However, the decrease in SOD activity on 60th day after irradiation seems to be unfavourable for further survival of rabbits, if we accept that SOD content in tissue is maintained at a rather constant level.

Activity of superoxide dismutase isoenzymes in the bone marrow of irradiated rabbits.

The activities of total, Cu,Zn- and Mn-containing superoxide dismutase were studied in the bone marrow of whole-body irradiated rabbits with 6.0 Gy or 24.0 Gy with local shielding. Irradiation with 6.0 Gy depressed the activities of total and Cu,Zn-SOD on the 8th and 15th days, whereas the activity of Mn-SOD did not change. The exposure to 24.0 Gy with local shielding of head and abdominal region decreased Cu,Zn-SOD activity on the 4th and 60th days after irradiation, Mn-SOD activity was lower nearly at all time intervals investigated. The exposure to 24.0 Gy with shielding of whole body without head region increased markedly Cu,Zn-SOD activity, whereas Mn-SOD activity was diminished on the 8th and 15th days after irradiation in comparison with control group. Mn-SOD activity (U per 10(6) of bone marrow cells) was increased at early time intervals, the changes were not so striking after irradiation of rabbits with 24.0 Gy with shielding of whole body without head region.

Reactive oxygen metabolites in inflammation.

The functions of professional phagocytes depending on oxygen are briefly discussed. After appropriate stimulation, membrane-bound enzyme systems are activated--phospholipase C, protein-kinase C and NADPH-oxidase complex--and superoxide anion is produced. This process is called respiratory burst and is essential for killing of microorganisms but it may cause tissue damage and inflammation. The influence of superoxide anion on metabolism is reviewed. More attention is paid to modulating effects of superoxide anion in connection with the development inflammatory process.

[Modulatory effect of glucans on the function of murine macrophages, NK-cells and lymphocytes]. / Modulacní efekt glukanu na funkcní aktivitu mysích makrofágu, NK-bunek a lymfocytu.

The particulate glucan (G1), soluble glucan preparations (G2 to G5, and G7) isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and glucomanan prepared from culture fluid after cultivation of Candida utilis (G6) were tested for their immunomodulatory activity in vivo and in vitro. In tests in vivo three soluble glucans (G3, G4, and G7) injected s.c. to mice in the dose of 10 mg/kg increased the cytotoxic activity of peritoneal macrophages. The influence of glucans on natural killer cells was without significance. The lymphoproliferative reaction of spleen cells to polyclonal mitogens was inhibited by all the preparations used with the exception of soluble glucan G2. The mitogenic effect of the preparations, co-stimulatory tests and direct cytotoxicity to cells of cell lines used in cytotoxicity assays were assessed in vitro. The transformation index of glucans in the study was increased according to the glucan and dose tested. Inhibition of the lymphoproliferative reaction measured by the co-stimulatory test for optimal concentration of Concanavalin A occurred in a wide range of doses for the preparations G1 to G6. The preparation G7 increased the incorporation of 3HTdR under the same conditions. The use of a suboptimal concentration of Concanavalin A revealed co-stimulatory activity of all the preparations tested. Assessment of the cytotoxic activity of peritoneal macrophages and of the activity of natural killer cells induced in vitro was complicated by the direct cytotoxicity of particulate glucan and soluble glucan G5 (carboxymethylglucan) for target cells (YAC 1, and YAC 1 and K 562 resp.).