Two different R gene loci co-evolved with Avr2 of Phytophthora infestans and confer distinct resistance specificities in potato.

Late blight, caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans, is the most devastating disease in potato. For sustainable management of this economically important disease, resistance breeding relies on the availability of resistance (R) genes. Such R genes against P. infestans have evolved in wild tuber-bearing Solanum species from North, Central and South America, upon co-evolution with cognate avirulence (Avr) genes. Here, we report how effectoromics screens with Avr2 of P. infestans revealed defense responses in diverse Solanum species that are native to Mexico and Peru. We found that the response to AVR2 in the Mexican Solanum species is mediated by R genes of the R2 family that resides on a major late blight locus on chromosome IV. In contrast, the response to AVR2 in Peruvian Solanum species is mediated by Rpi-mcq1, which resides on chromosome IX and does not belong to the R2 family. The data indicate that AVR2 recognition has evolved independently on two genetic loci in Mexican and Peruvian Solanum species, respectively. Detached leaf tests on potato cultivar 'Désirée' transformed with R genes from either the R2 or the Rpi-mcq1 locus revealed an overlapping, but distinct resistance profile to a panel of 18 diverse P. infestans isolates. The achieved insights in the molecular R - Avr gene interaction can lead to more educated exploitation of R genes and maximize the potential of generating more broad-spectrum, and potentially more durable control of the late blight disease in potato.

Bronchoalveolar lavage pepsin in acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Some patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis experience acute exacerbations in their respiratory status leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. Occult aspiration of gastric contents has been proposed as one possible mechanism leading to these acute exacerbations. We sought to determine whether pepsin, a marker of gastric aspiration, is elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from patients during acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, compared with that obtained in stable disease. Lavage samples were obtained in a case-control study of well-characterised patients. Acute exacerbation was defined using standard criteria. Levels of lavage pepsin were compared in cases and controls, and were correlated with clinical features and disease course. 24 cases with acute exacerbations and 30 stable controls were identified. There were no significant differences in baseline demographics between the two groups. Pepsin level was an indicator of acute exacerbation status (p=0.04). On average, pepsin appeared higher in patients with acute exacerbations compared with stable controls. This difference was driven by a subgroup of eight patients (33%) with pepsin levels ≥70 ng·mL(-1). Pepsin level was not an independent predictor of survival time. These results suggest occult aspiration may play a role in some cases of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Neurofibromatosis-associated lung disease: a case series and literature review.

An association of neurofibromatosis with diffuse lung disease (NF-DLD) has been described, but its true prevalence and characteristics remain unclear. The objective of the present study was to define diffuse lung disease in patients with neurofibromatosis. A retrospective case series and literature review in a tertiary care academic medical centre is reported in which medical records, chest radiographs and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans were reviewed. A total of 55 adult patients with neurofibromatosis were identified, three of whom had NF-DLD. A literature review revealed 16 articles reporting 61 additional cases, yielding a total of 64 NF-DLD cases. The mean age of patients was 50 yrs. Males outnumbered females; most reported dyspnoea. Of the 16 subjects with documented smoking histories, 12 were ever-smokers. Eight patients had HRCT scan results demonstrating ground-glass opacities (37%), bibasilar reticular opacities (50%), bullae (50%), cysts (25%) and emphysema (25%); none had honeycombing. A group of 14 patients had surgical biopsy results that showed findings of interstitial fibrosis (100%) and interstitial inflammation (93%). In conclusion, neurofibromatosis with diffuse lung disease is a definable clinical entity, characterised by upper lobe cystic and bullous disease and lower lobe fibrosis. Its relationship to smoking remains unclear.

Tissue-selective mast cell reconstitution and differential lung gene expression in mast cell-deficient Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) sash mice.

BACKGROUND: Mast cell-deficient Kit(W)/Kit(W-v) mice are an important resource for studying mast cell functions in vivo. However, because they are compound heterozygotes in a mixed genetic background and are infertile, they cannot be crossed easily with other mice. OBJECTIVE: To overcome this limitation, we explored the use of Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) mice for studying mast cell biology in vivo. RESULTS: These mice are in a C57BL/6 background, are fertile and can be bred directly with other genetically modified mice. Ten-week-old Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) are profoundly mast cell-deficient. No mast cells are detected in any major organ, including the lung. Gene microarrays detect differential expression of just seven of 16,463 genes in lungs of Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) mice compared with wild-type mice, indicating that resting mast cells regulate expression of a small set of genes in the normal lung. Injecting 10(7) bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) into tail veins of Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) mice reconstitutes mast cell populations in lung, stomach, liver, inguinal lymph nodes, and spleen, but not in the tongue, trachea or skin. Injection of BMMC into ear dermis or peritoneum reconstitutes mast cells locally in these tissues. When splenectomized Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) mice are intravenously injected with BMMC, mast cells circulate longer and are found more often in the liver and inguinal lymph nodes, indicating that the spleen acts as a reservoir for mast cells following injection and limits migration to some tissues. CONCLUSION: In summary, these findings show that mast cell-deficient Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) mice possess unique attributes that favour their use for studying mast cell functions in vivo.

Dipeptidyl peptidase I is essential for activation of mast cell chymases, but not tryptases, in mice.

Dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI) is the sole activator in vivo of several granule-associated serine proteases of cytotoxic lymphocytes. In vitro, DPPI also activates mast cell chymases and tryptases. To determine whether DPPI is essential for their activation in vivo, we used enzyme histochemical and immunohistochemical approaches and solution-based activity assays to study these enzymes in tissues and bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) from DPPI +/+ and DPPI -/- mice. We find that DPPI -/- mast cells contain normal amounts of immunoreactive chymases but no chymase activity, indicating that DPPI is essential for chymase activation and suggesting that DPPI -/- mice are functional chymase knockouts. The absence of DPPI and chymase activity does not affect the growth, granularity, or staining characteristics of BMMCs and, despite prior predictions, does not alter IgE-mediated exocytosis of histamine. In contrast, the level of active tryptase (mMCP-6) in DPPI -/- BMMCs is 25% that of DPPI +/- BMMCs. These findings indicate that DPPI is not essential for mMCP-6 activation but does influence the total amount of active mMCP-6 in mast cells and therefore may be an important, but not exclusive mechanism for tryptase activation.

Angiotensin II generation by mast cell alpha- and beta-chymases.

Mast cells secrete alpha- and beta-chymases. Primate alpha-chymases generate angiotensin (AT) II by selectively hydrolyzing AT I's Phe(8)-His(9) bond. This is distinct from the AT converting enzyme (ACE) pathway. In humans, alpha-chymase is the major non-ACE AT II-generator. In rats, beta-chymases destroy AT II by cleaving at Tyr(4)-Ile(5). Past studies predicted that AT II production versus destruction discriminates alpha- from beta-chymases and that Lys(40) in the substrate-binding pocket determines alpha-chymase Phe(8) specificity. This study examines these hypotheses by comparing AT II generation by human alpha-chymase (containing Lys(40)), dog alpha-chymase (lacking Lys(40)), and mouse mMCP-4 (a beta-chymase lacking Lys(40); orthologous to AT II-destroying rat chymase rMCP-1). The results suggest that human and dog alpha-chymase generate AT II exclusively and with comparable efficiency, although dog chymase contains Ala(40) rather than Lys(40). Furthermore, AT II is the major product generated by degranulation supernatants from cultured dog mast cells, which release tryptases and dipeptidylpeptidase as well as alpha-chymase. In contrast to rMCP-1, mMCP-4 beta-chymase readily generates AT II. Although there is competing AT I hydrolysis at Tyr(4), mMCP-4 does not destroy AT II quickly once it is formed. We conclude (1) that chymases are the dominant AT I-hydrolyzing mast cell peptidases, (2) that residues other than Lys(40) are key determinants of alpha-chymase AT I Phe(8) specificity, (3) that beta-chymases can generate AT II, and (4) that alpha- and beta-chymases are not strictly dichotomous regarding AT I cleavage specificity.

Characterization of human gamma-tryptases, novel members of the chromosome 16p mast cell tryptase and prostasin gene families.

Previously, this laboratory identified clusters of alpha-, beta-, and mast cell protease-7-like tryptase genes on human chromosome 16p13.3. The present work characterizes adjacent genes encoding novel serine proteases, termed gamma-tryptases, and generates a refined map of the multitryptase locus. Each gamma gene lies between an alpha1H Ca2+ channel gene (CACNA1H) and a betaII- or betaIII-tryptase gene and is approximately 30 kb from polymorphic minisatellite MS205. The tryptase locus also contains at least four tryptase-like pseudogenes, including mastin, a gene expressed in dogs but not in humans. Genomic DNA blotting results suggest that gammaI- and gammaII-tryptases are alleles at the same site. betaII- and betaIII-tryptases appear to be alleles at a neighboring site, and alphaII- and betaI-tryptases appear to be alleles at a third site. gamma-Tryptases are transcribed in lung, intestine, and in several other tissues and in a mast cell line (HMC-1) that also expresses gamma-tryptase protein. Immunohistochemical analysis suggests that gamma-tryptase is expressed by airway mast cells. gamma-Tryptase catalytic domains are approximately 48% identical with those of known mast cell tryptases and possess mouse homologues. We predict that gamma-tryptases are glycosylated oligomers with tryptic substrate specificity and a distinct mode of activation. A feature not found in described tryptases is a C-terminal hydrophobic domain, which may be a membrane anchor. Although the catalytic domains contain tryptase-like features, the hydrophobic segment and intron-exon organization are more closely related to another recently described protease, prostasin. In summary, this work describes gamma-tryptases, which are novel members of chromosome 16p tryptase/prostasin gene families. Their unique features suggest possibly novel functions.

Dipeptidyl peptidase I cleaves matrix-associated proteins and is expressed mainly by mast cells in normal dog airways.

Dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI) is a cysteine protease found in many tissues, including the lung. Major cell types expressing DPPI in vitro include myelomonocytic cells, cytotoxic T cells, and mast cells. After activation and degranulation, cytotoxic T cells and mast cells secrete DPPI. With a goal of clarifying possible roles for DPPI in lung diseases, we sought to identify cells expressing DPPI in lung tissue, hypothesizing that lung mast cells are major producers of DPPI and that secreted DPPI cleaves extracellular matrix proteins. To address these hypotheses, we used immunohistochemical techniques to localize DPPI in normal dog airways, lung, and cultured mast cells, and we used purified DPPI to examine cleavage of matrix-associated proteins in vitro. We found that mast cells are the major identifiable source of DPPI in airways and that macrophages are the major source in alveoli. Within mast cells, DPPI localizes to cytoplasmic granules. We also found that DPPI endoproteolytically cleaves the extracellular matrix proteins fibronectin and collagen types I, III, and IV. The finding of DPPI in airway mast cells and its cleavage of matrix proteins suggest the possibility that DPPI plays a role in mast cell-mediated turnover of matrix proteins and in airway remodeling of chronic airway diseases such as asthma.

Importance of lysosomal cysteine proteases in lung disease.

The human lysosomal cysteine proteases are a family of 11 proteases whose members include cathepsins B, C, H, L, and S. The biology of these proteases was largely ignored for decades because of their lysosomal location and the belief that their function was limited to the terminal degradation of proteins. In the past 10 years, this view has changed as these proteases have been found to have specific functions within cells. This review highlights some of these functions, specifically their roles in matrix remodeling and in regulating the immune response, and their relationship to lung diseases.

No effect of bipolar interferential electrotherapy and pulsed ultrasound for soft tissue shoulder disorders: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of bipolar interferential electrotherapy (ET) and pulsed ultrasound (US) as adjuvants to exercise therapy for soft tissue shoulder disorders (SD). METHODS: Randomised placebo controlled trial with a two by two factorial design plus an additional control group in 17 primary care physiotherapy practices in the south of the Netherlands. Patients with shoulder pain and/or restricted shoulder mobility, because of a soft tissue impairment without underlying specific or generalised condition, were enrolled if they had not recovered after six sessions of exercise therapy in two weeks. They were randomised to receive (1) active ET plus active US; (2) active ET plus dummy US; (3) dummy ET plus active US; (4) dummy ET plus dummy US; or (5) no adjuvants. Additionally, they received a maximum of 12 sessions of exercise therapy in six weeks. Measurements at baseline, 6 weeks and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months later were blinded for treatment. OUTCOME MEASURES: recovery, functional status, chief complaint, pain, clinical status, and range of motion. RESULTS: After written informed consent 180 patients were randomised: both the active treatments were given to 73 patients, both the dummy treatments to 72 patients, and 35 patients received no adjuvants. Prognosis of groups appeared similar at baseline. Blinding was successfully maintained. At six weeks seven patients (20%) without adjuvants reported very large improvement (including complete recovery), 17 (23%) and 16 (22%) with active and dummy ET, and 19 (26%) and 14 (19%) with active and dummy US. These proportions increased to about 40% at three months, but remained virtually stable thereafter. Up to 12 months follow up the 95% CI for differences between groups for all outcomes include zero. CONCLUSION: Neither ET nor US prove to be effective as adjuvants to exercise therapy for soft tissue SD.

Mast cell expression of gelatinases A and B is regulated by kit ligand and TGF-beta.

Our prior work shows that cultured BR cells derived from dog mastocytomas secrete the 92-kDa proenzyme form of gelatinase B. We provided a possible link between mast cell activation and metalloproteinase-mediated matrix degradation by demonstrating that alpha-chymase, a serine protease released from secretory granules by degranulating mast cells, converts progelatinase B to an enzymatically active form. The current work shows that these cells also secrete gelatinase A. Furthermore, gelatinases A and B both colocalize to alpha-chymase-expressing cells of canine airway, suggesting that normal mast cells are a source of gelatinases in the lung. In BR cells, gelatinase B and alpha-chymase expression are regulated, whereas gelatinase A expression is constitutive. Progelatinase B mRNA and enzyme expression are strongly induced by the critical mast cell growth factor, kit ligand, which is produced by fibroblasts and other stromal cells. Induction of progelatinase B is blocked by U-73122, Ro31-8220, and thapsigargin, implicating phospholipase C, protein kinase C, and Ca2+, respectively, in the kit ligand effect. The profibrotic cytokine TGF-beta virtually abolishes the gelatinase B mRNA signal and also attenuates kit ligand-mediated induction of gelatinase B expression, suggesting that an excess of TGF-beta in inflamed or injured tissues may alter mast cell expression of gelatinase B, which is implicated in extracellular matrix degradation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. In summary, these data provide the first evidence that normal mast cells express gelatinases A and B and suggest pathways by which their regulated expression by mast cells can influence matrix remodeling and fibrosis.

Regulated expression, processing, and secretion of dog mast cell dipeptidyl peptidase I.

Dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI) is a cysteine protease found predominantly in myelomonocytic cells, cytotoxic T-cells, and mast cells. Recent studies identify an intracellular role for mast cell-DPPI (MC-DPPI) by activating prochymase and protryptase to their mature forms. To better define MC-DPPI and to explore the possibility of extracellular roles, we purified MC-DPPI from mastocytoma cells. We found the dog C2 mastocytoma cell line to be the richest source yet described for DPPI, purifying up to 200 microg of enzyme per g of cells. Dog MC-DPPI has an Mr of approximately 175,000 and consists of four subunits, each composed of a propeptide, light chain, and heavy chain. The heavy chain is N-glycosylated and is heterogeneously processed to three different forms. NH2-terminal sequences of the heavy chain and propeptide are identical to those predicted from a cDNA clone we sequenced from a mastocytoma cDNA library. The dog cDNA-derived sequence is 86% identical to that of human DPPI. Dog mastocytoma cells incubated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate increase expression of MC-DPPI mRNA. MC-DPPI maintains its activity for dipeptide substrates at a neutral to alkaline pH. Cells stimulated with ionophore or substance P secrete MC-DPPI in parallel with the granule-associated mediators tryptase and histamine. Thus, dog mastocytoma cells secrete DPPI that is active at the pH of extracellular fluids, suggesting that MC-DPPI may act outside the cell.

Polymer length of teichuronic acid released from cell walls of Micrococcus luteus.

Teichuronic acid released from its phosphodiester linkage to peptidoglycan in the cell walls of Micrococcus luteus by mild acid treatment is resolved into a ladderlike series of bands by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels in the presence of borate. Each band of the ladder differs from its nearest neighbor by one disaccharide repeat unit, ----4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-mannopyranuronosyl-(1----6)- alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-. Acid-fragmented teichuronic acid, after conversion to the phenylamine derivative, was fractionated by preparative-scale molecular sieve column chromatography, which produced a series of elution peaks. Fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry of the smallest member of the series determined its molecular weight and established its identity as the phenylamine derivative of one disaccharide repeat unit of teichuronic acid. Homologous fractions of the same series were used to index the ladder of bands obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from samples containing a more extensive distribution of polymer lengths. Nearly native teichuronic acid consists of polymers with a broad range of molecular sizes ranging from 20 to 55 disaccharide units. The most abundant species are those which have 25 to 40 repeat units. Prolonged treatment of teichuronic acid with the acid conditions used to release it from peptidoglycan causes gradual fragmentation of the teichuronic acid.

Evidence for chloride secretion in the intestine of the winter flounder.

The effects of a novel antisecretory peptide (CAP) isolated from porcine heart and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on ion transport were investigated in the winter flounder intestine. Partially purified CAP caused a two- to sixfold increase in the serosa-negative short-circuit current (Isc) with no significant change in tissue conductance. CAP significantly inhibited the serosal-to-mucosal (S-M) unidirectional Cl flux without affecting either Na or Rb transepithelial fluxes. The Isc after the addition of CAP was completely inhibited by 0.1 microM atriopeptin III (AP-3), 10 microM bumetanide, and 100 microM 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcGMP). In contrast to the effects of CAP on Isc, VIP decreased the serosa-negative Isc by 40-60%. VIP stimulated the S-M unidirectional Cl flux without affecting transepithelial Na transport. When food was present in the intestine, the basal Isc was occasionally found to be serosa positive, ranging between 10 and 40 microA/cm2. Treatment of tissues exhibiting serosa-positive currents with VIP resulted in an increase (positive direction) in Isc. Addition of CAP to tissues with a serosa-positive Isc or to tissues pretreated with VIP resulted in a serosa-negative Isc.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiac antisecretory peptide inhibits intestinal chloride secretion.

A heat-stable low-molecular-weight peptide isolated from porcine heart inhibited vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and ionomycin (a Ca ionophore) -stimulated Cl secretion across the rat ileum. The antisecretory effects of this peptide were resistant to the neuronal conduction blocker tetrodotoxin, suggesting that submucosal nerves were not involved in mediating its effects on Cl transport. Activity was found in extracts of the right and left atria and in the ventricles of the heart. The antisecretory effect was not mimicked by atrial natriuretic factor, brain natriuretic peptide, or by putative antisecretory factors (neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, enkephalin, and norepinephrine), suggesting that cardiac antisecretory peptide is a unique regulatory factor that may regulate Cl transport in the intestinal mucosa and other epithelia.

Sodium and chloride transport across the isolated porcine gallbladder.

Porcine gallbladder, stripped of serosal muscle, mounted in Ussing chambers, and bathed in plasma-like Ringer solution generates a serosal positive transepithelial potential of 4-7 mV and a short-circuit current (Isc) of 50-120 microA/cm2. Substitution of Cl with gluconate or HCO3 with N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) results in a 50% decrease in Isc. Treatment with 1 mM amiloride (mucosal side) or 0.1 mM acetazolamide (both sides) causes 25-27% inhibition of the Isc. Mucosal addition of 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid inhibits the Isc by 17%. Serosal addition of 0.1 mM bumetanide inhibits the Isc by 28%. Amiloride (1 mM) inhibits the net transepithelial fluxes of Na and Cl by 55 and 41%, respectively. Substitution of Cl with gluconate inhibits the net Na flux by 50%, whereas substitution of HCO3 with HEPES inhibits 85-90% of the net Na flux and changes Cl absorption to net secretion. Based on these results, it is hypothesized that Na and Cl transport across the apical membrane is mediated by two pathways, Na-H/Cl-HCO3 exchange and Na-HCO3 cotransport. Partial recycling of Cl and HCO3 presumably occurs through a Cl conductive pathway and Cl-HCO3 exchange, respectively, in the apical membrane. This results in net Na absorption, which accounts for most of the Isc observed under basal conditions. The effect of bumetanide on the basolateral membrane and the fact that Cl secretion occurs when HCO3 is absent suggests that Cl secretion involves a basolateral NaCl or Na-K-Cl cotransport system arranged in series with a Cl conductive pathway in the apical membrane.

Regulation of ion transport in porcine gallbladder: effects of VIP and norepinephrine.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and norepinephrine (NE) on Na and Cl transport across the isolated porcine gallbladder. Serosal addition of either VIP or secretin increased the short-circuit current (Isc). The half-maximal effect for VIP was 84.3 nM. The effect of VIP was mimicked by 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP). Replacement of Cl with gluconate nearly abolished the effect of 8-BrcAMP on Isc, whereas HCO3 replacement with N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethane-sulfonic acid buffer had no effect. Transepithelial flux measurements indicated that 8-BrcAMP stimulates net Cl secretion and inhibits Na absorption. Norepinephrine inhibits VIP-stimulated changes in Isc as well as the basal Isc. NE does not, however, reverse the effects of 8-BrcAMP on Isc. The effects of NE are antagonized by yohimbine (alpha 2-adrenergic receptor antagonist) but not prazosin (an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist). VIP causes a 2.5-fold increase in cAMP content in the gallbladder epithelium. This increase is blocked by NE. Serosal tetrodotoxin did not inhibit the peptide effects, indicating that VIP receptors are localized on the epithelium. Depolarization of submucosal nerves with veratrine inhibited the basal Isc and was reversible with yohimbine. This result indicated that sympathetic nerve pathways regulate Na and Cl absorption in vitro.