The Core Fucose on an IgG Antibody is an Endogenous Ligand of Dectin-1.

The core fucose, a major modification of N-glycans, is implicated in immune regulation, such as the attenuation of the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of antibody drugs and the inhibition of anti-tumor responses via the promotion of PD-1 expression on T cells. Although the core fucose regulates many biological processes, no core fucose recognition molecule has been identified in mammals. Herein, we report that Dectin-1, a known anti-ß-glucan lectin, recognizes the core fucose on IgG antibodies. A combination of biophysical experiments further suggested that Dectin-1 recognizes aromatic amino acids adjacent to the N-terminal asparagine at the glycosylation site as well as the core fucose. Thus, Dectin-1 appears to be the first lectin-like molecule involved in the heterovalent and specific recognition of characteristic N-glycans on antibodies.

Association between Lys198Asn polymorphism of endothelin-1 gene and ischemic stroke: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Endothelin (ET)-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by endothelial cells and associated with vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Lys198Asn is a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of gene encoding ET-1 (EDN1). It is hypothesized that it might have a role in altering ET-1 and ultimately leading to vascular dysfunction and ischemic stroke. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the association between Lys198Asn polymorphism of EDN1 gene and susceptibility of ischemic stroke. METHODS: This meta-analysis was conducted according to the guidance of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Web of Science, J-STAGE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for relevant studies. The association between Lys198Asn polymorphism and ischemic stroke susceptibility was evaluated by calculating the pooled ORs and 95% CIs. RESULTS: Our analysis included 1,291 cases and 2,513 controls. Meta-analysis established a significant association between Lys198Asn SNP of EDN1 gene and ischemic stroke when assuming either recessive model (OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.02-1.65; p = .03; I2  = 41%) or dominant model (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.24-1.76; p < .001; I2  = 61%). There was no evidence of publication bias in either of the recessive model (Egger test: p = .23; Begg test: p = .85) or dominant model (Egger test: p = .79; Begg test: p = .85). A subgroup analysis based on subtypes of ischemic stroke showed that Lys198Asn SNP was only associated with large vessel infarction but not with lacunar infarction caused by small vessel disease. A subgroup analysis based on ethnicity revealed that the Lys198Asn polymorphism of the EDN1 gene was associated with ischemic stroke only in Caucasians. CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis suggests that Lys198Asn polymorphism of EDN1 gene is associated with an increased risk for ischemic stroke.

Enhancement of solubility and yield of a ß-glucan receptor Dectin-1 C-type lectin-like domain in Escherichia coli with a solubility-enhancement tag.

Dectin-1 is a C-type lectin-like pattern recognition receptor for ß(1-3)-glucans. It plays a crucial role in protecting against fungal invasion through binding to ß-glucans which are commonly present on the fungal cell wall. To probe its ligand binding mechanism by NMR, we expressed the recombinant murine Dectin-1 C-type lectin-like domain (CTLD) in E. coli using pCold vector and purified it. However, the high concentration of Dectin-1 CTLD required for NMR analysis could not be attained due to its inherent low solubility and low bacterial expression. In this study, we tried to increase expression and solubility of Dectin-1 CTLD by codon optimization and fusion of a GB1 tag (B1 domain of streptococcal Protein G). GB1 was inserted on either the N-terminal (NT) or C-terminal end as well as both terminal ends of human and mouse Dectin-1 CTLDs. A pure monomeric sample was only obtained with NT-GB1 fused mouse Dectin-1. Expression of mouse Dectin-1 CTLD yielded 0.9 ± 0.2 mg/L culture, codon optimized mouse Dectin-1 CTLD produced 1.4 ± 0.2 mg/L, and the tag-fused domain 7.1 ± 0.3 mg/L. The tag also increased solubility from 0.1 mM to 1.4 mM. The recombinant protein was correctly folded, in a monomeric state, and specifically bound ß-glucan laminarin. These results indicate that fusing GB1 to the N-terminus of mouse Dectin-1 domain advantageously increases yield and solubility, allows retention of native structure, and that the site of fusion is critical.