Inhibition of CDK9 as a therapeutic strategy for inflammatory arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterised by synovial inflammation and proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes. The induction of apoptosis has long been proposed as a target for proliferative autoimmune diseases, and has further been shown to act as a successful treatment of experimental models of arthritis, such as collagen-induced arthritis. Here we examined the effects of specific oral small-molecule inhibitors of the transcription regulating cyclin-dependent kinase 9 on the development and progression of collagen-induced arthritis. DBA/1 mice were immunised with bovine collagen type II and treated orally with specific CDK9 inhibitors. The effects of CDK9 inhibition on RNA levels and protein expression, apoptosis induction, caspase activation and lymphocyte phenotype were further analysed. Mice showed a significant delay in disease onset and a reduction in disease severity following treatment with CDK9 inhibitors. Inhibiting CDK9 activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells resulted in the loss of Mcl-1 expression at both the protein and RNA levels, along with a subsequent increase in apoptosis. CDK9 specific inhibitors may be a potential alternative treatment not only of cancer, but also for autoimmune- and inflammatory diseases. Taken together, these results show that transient inhibition of CDK9 induces apoptosis in leukocyte subsets and modulates the immune response.

The Justy mutation identifies Gon4-like as a gene that is essential for B lymphopoiesis.

A recessive mutation named Justy was found that abolishes B lymphopoiesis but does not impair other major aspects of hematopoiesis. Transplantation experiments showed that homozygosity for Justy prevented hematopoietic progenitors from generating B cells but did not affect the ability of bone marrow stroma to support B lymphopoiesis. In bone marrow from mutant mice, common lymphoid progenitors and pre-pro-B cells appeared normal, but cells at subsequent stages of B lymphopoiesis were dramatically reduced in number. Under culture conditions that promoted B lymphopoiesis, mutant pre-pro-B cells remained alive and began expressing the B cell marker CD19 but failed to proliferate. In contrast, these cells were able to generate myeloid or T/NK precursors. Genetic and molecular analysis demonstrated that Justy is a point mutation within the Gon4-like (Gon4l) gene, which encodes a protein with homology to transcriptional regulators. This mutation was found to disrupt Gon4l pre-mRNA splicing and dramatically reduce expression of wild-type Gon4l RNA and protein. Consistent with a role for Gon4l in transcriptional regulation, the levels of RNA encoding C/EBPalpha and PU.1 were abnormally high in mutant B cell progenitors. Our findings indicate that the Gon4l protein is required for B lymphopoiesis and may function to regulate gene expression during this process.

An EF hand mutation in Stim1 causes premature platelet activation and bleeding in mice.

Changes in cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels regulate a variety of fundamental cellular functions in virtually all cells. In nonexcitable cells, a major pathway of Ca2+ entry involves receptor-mediated depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores followed by the activation of store-operated calcium channels in the plasma membrane. We have established a mouse line expressing an activating EF hand motif mutant of stromal interaction molecule 1 (Stim1), an ER receptor recently identified as the Ca2+ sensor responsible for activation of Ca2+ release-activated (CRAC) channels in T cells, whose function in mammalian physiology is not well understood. Mice expressing mutant Stim1 had macrothrombocytopenia and an associated bleeding disorder. Basal intracellular Ca2+ levels were increased in platelets, which resulted in a preactivation state, a selective unresponsiveness to immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif-coupled agonists, and increased platelet consumption. In contrast, basal Ca2+ levels, but not receptor-mediated responses, were affected in mutant T cells. These findings identify Stim1 as a central regulator of platelet function and suggest a cell type-specific activation or composition of the CRAC complex.

Mutation of mouse Mayp/Pstpip2 causes a macrophage autoinflammatory disease.

Macrophage actin-associated tyrosine phosphorylated protein (MAYP)/PSTPIP2, a PCH protein, is involved in the regulation of macrophage motility. Mutations in a closely related gene, PSTPIP1/CD2BP1, cause a dominantly inherited autoinflammatory disorder known as PAPA syndrome. A mutant mouse obtained by chemical mutagenesis exhibited an autoinflammatory disorder characterized by macrophage infiltration and inflammation, leading to osteolysis and necrosis in paws and necrosis of ears. Positional cloning of this recessive mutation, termed Lupo, identified a T to A nucleotide exchange leading to an amino acid substitution (I282N) in the sequence of MAYP. Mayp(Lp/Lp) disease was transferable by bone marrow transplantation and developed in the absence of lymphocytes. Consistent with the involvement of macrophages, lesion development could be prevented by the administration of clodronate liposomes. MAYP is expressed in monocytes/macrophages and in a Mac1+ subfraction of granulocytes. LPS stimulation increases its expression in macrophages. Because of the instability of the mutant protein, MAYP expression is reduced 3-fold in Mayp(Lp/Lp) macrophages and, on LPS stimulation, does not rise above the level of unstimulated wild-type (WT) cells. Mayp(Lp/Lp) mice expressed elevated circulating levels of several cytokines, including MCP-1; their macrophages exhibited altered cytokine production in vitro. These studies suggest that MAYP plays an anti-inflammatory role in macrophages.