Impaired Peyer's patch development in BOB.1/OBF.1-deficient mice.

BOB.1/OBF.1 expression regulates the transcription of direct and indirect target genes. We propose that BOB.1/OBF.1 affects CXCL13-CXCR5 signaling of LTinducer and LTorganizer cells during embryonic Peyer's patch organogenesis as well as of B cells and follicular dendritic cells during lymphocyte homing at postnatal stages of secondary lymphoid organ development.

Canonical NF-κB signaling in hepatocytes acts as a tumor-suppressor in hepatitis B virus surface antigen-driven hepatocellular carcinoma by controlling the unfolded protein response.

UNLABELLED: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains the most common risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Efficient suppression of HBV viremia and necroinflammation as a result of nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment is able to reduce HCC incidence; nevertheless, hepatocarcinogenesis can occur in the absence of active hepatitis, correlating with high HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) levels. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is a central player in chronic inflammation and HCC development. However, in the absence of severe chronic inflammation, the role of NF-κB signaling in HCC development remains elusive. As a model of hepatocarcinogenesis driven by accumulation of HBV envelope polypeptides, HBsAg transgenic mice, which show no HBV-specific immune response, were crossed to animals with hepatocyte-specific inhibition of canonical NF-κB signaling. We detected prolonged, severe endoplasmic reticulum stress already at 20 weeks of age in NF-κB-deficient hepatocytes of HBsAg-expressing mice. The unfolded protein response regulator binding immunoglobulin protein/78-kDa glucose-regulated protein was down-regulated, activating transcription factor 6, and eIF2α were activated with subsequent overexpression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein. Notably, immune cell infiltrates and liver transaminases were unchanged. However, as a result of this increased cellular stress, insufficient hepatocyte proliferation due to G1 /S-phase cell cycle arrest with overexpression of p27 and emergence of ductular reactions was detected. This culminated in increased DNA damage already at 20 weeks of age and finally led to 100% HCC incidence due to NF-κB inhibition. CONCLUSION: The role of canonical NF-κB signaling in HCC development depends on the mode of liver damage; in the case of HBsAg-driven hepatocarcinogenesis, NF-κB in hepatocytes acts as a critical tumor suppressor by augmenting the endoplasmic reticulum stress response.

Cardiac-Specific Activation of IKK2 Leads to Defects in Heart Development and Embryonic Lethality.

The transcription factor NF-κB has been associated with a range of pathological conditions of the heart, mainly based on its function as a master regulator of inflammation and pro-survival factor. Here, we addressed the question what effects activation of NF-κB can have during murine heart development. We expressed a constitutively active (CA) mutant of IKK2, the kinase activating canonical NF-κB signaling, specifically in cardiomyocytes under the control of the α-myosin heavy chain promoter. Expression of IKK2-CA resulted in embryonic lethality around E13. Embryos showed defects in compact zone formation and the contractile apparatus, and overall were characterized by widespread inflammation with infiltration of myeloid cells. Gene expression analysis suggested an interferon type I signature, with increased expression of interferon regulatory factors. While apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was only increased at later stages, their proliferation was decreased early on, providing an explanation for the disturbed compact zone formation. Mechanistically, this could be explained by activation of the JAK/STAT axis and increased expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21. A rescue experiment with an IκBα superrepressor demonstrated that the phenotype was dependent on NF-κB. We conclude that activation of NF-κB is detrimental during normal heart development due to excessive activation of pro-inflammatory pathways.

Analysis of nuclear actin by overexpression of wild-type and actin mutant proteins.

Compared to the cytoplasmic F-actin abundance in cells, nuclear F-actin levels are generally quite low. However, nuclear actin is present in certain cell types including oocytes and under certain cellular conditions including stress or serum stimulation. Currently, the architecture and polymerization status of nuclear actin networks has not been analyzed in great detail. In this study, we investigated the architecture and functions of such nuclear actin networks. We generated nuclear actin polymers by overexpression of actin proteins fused to a nuclear localization signal (NLS). Raising nuclear abundance of a NLS wild-type actin, we observed phalloidin- and LifeAct-positive actin bundles forming a nuclear cytoskeletal network consisting of curved F-actin. In contrast, a polymer-stabilizing actin mutant (NLS-G15S-actin) deficient in interacting with the actin-binding protein cofilin generated a nuclear actin network reminiscent of straight stress fiber-like microfilaments in the cytoplasm. We provide a first electron microscopic description of such nuclear actin polymers suggesting bundling of actin filaments. Employing different cell types from various species including neurons, we show that the morphology of and potential to generate nuclear actin are conserved. Finally, we demonstrate that nuclear actin affects cell function including morphology, serum response factor-mediated gene expression, and herpes simplex virus infection. Our data suggest that actin is able to form filamentous structures inside the nucleus, which share architectural and functional similarities with the cytoplasmic F-actin.

MyD88 is involved in myeloid as well as lymphoid hematopoiesis independent of the presence of a pathogen.

MyD88 was originally described as a primary response gene up-regulated during myeloid differentiation after IL-6 induction. Later, MyD88 was shown to be a key molecule necessary for IL1, IL18 and Toll-like receptor signaling. Since these receptors recognize abundantly produced cytokines during infection or molecular patterns of pathogens, MyD88 itself was suggested to be an important regulator of the first line of defense against invading pathogens, including the differentiation and maturation of myeloid cells. Here we describe that MyD88 is important for early and late hematopoietic events that occur independently of antigen under steady-state conditions. In MyD88-deficient mice the earliest alteration in hematopoiesis was found at the level of long-term hematopoietic stem cells. Moreover, we found that MyD88 influences not only the development of the myeloid lineage but also the differentiation of B cells. The B cell defect observed in Btk-deficient mice is further enhanced when both molecules, Btk and MyD88, are not expressed. Therefore, MyD88 affects myeloid as well as lymphoid hematopoiesis. Since Btk and MyD88 deficiencies influence differentially myeloid and lymphoid development, both molecules seem to act in different signaling pathways important for appropriate developmental events during myelo- and lymphopoiesis.

Neutrophil development and function critically depend on Bruton tyrosine kinase in a mouse model of X-linked agammaglobulinemia.

Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) is essential for B cell development and function and also appears to be important for myeloid cells. The bone marrow of Btk-deficient mice shows enhanced granulopoiesis compared with that of wild-type mice. In purified granulocyte-monocyte-progenitors (GMP) from Btk-deficient mice, the development of granulocytes is favored at the expense of monocytes. However, Btk-deficient neutrophils are impaired in maturation and function. Using bone marrow chimeras, we show that this defect is cell-intrinsic to neutrophils. In GMP and neutrophils, Btk plays a role in GM-CSF- and Toll-like receptor-induced differentiation. Molecular analyses revealed that expression of the lineage-determining transcription factors C/EBPα, C/EBPß, and PU.1, depends on Btk. In addition, expression of several granule proteins, including myeloperoxidase, neutrophilic granule protein, gelatinase and neutrophil elastase, is Btk-dependent. In the Arthus reaction, an acute inflammatory response, neutrophil migration into tissues, edema formation, and hemorrhage are significantly reduced in Btk-deficient animals. Together, our findings implicate Btk as an important regulator of neutrophilic granulocyte maturation and function in vivo.

Epstein-barr virus-induced gene-3 is expressed in human atheroma plaques.

Atherosclerosis is characterized by a complex immune response in the vessel wall, involving both inflammation and autoimmune processes. Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (Ebi3) is a member of the interleukin (IL)-12 heterodimeric cytokine family, which has important immunomodulatory functions. To date, little is known about the role of Ebi3 in vascular disease. We examined the expression of Ebi3 in human atheromatous lesions and analyzed its transcriptional regulation in vascular cells. The in situ expression of Ebi3 in human endarterectomy specimens was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In these lesions, smooth muscle cells expressed Ebi3 as well as the IL-27alpha/p28 and IL-12alpha/p35 subunits. Primary aortic smooth muscle cells up-regulated Ebi3 in response to proinflammatory stimuli like tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma. Interestingly, pretreatment of these cells with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist rosiglitazone strongly reduced Ebi3 induction. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that this inhibition is due to interference with p65/RelA recruitment to the Ebi3 promoter. Our data support a possible role of Ebi3 in atherogenesis either as homodimer or as IL-27/IL-35 heterodimer, and suggest that Ebi3 could be an interesting target for therapeutic manipulation in atherosclerosis.

Myc regulates embryonic vascular permeability and remodeling.

Previous work has shown that c-Myc is required for adequate vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. To further investigate the contribution of Myc to these processes, we conditionally expressed c-Myc in embryonic endothelial cells using a tetracycline-regulated system. Endothelial Myc overexpression resulted in severe defects in the embryonic vascular system. Myc-expressing embryos undergo widespread edema formation and multiple hemorrhagic lesions. They die between embryonic days 14.5 and 17.5. The changes in vascular permeability are not caused by deficiencies in vascular basement membrane composition or pericyte coverage. However, the overall turnover of endothelial cells is elevated as is revealed by increased levels of both proliferation and apoptosis. Whole-mount immunohistochemical analysis revealed alterations in the architecture of capillary networks. The dermal vasculature of Myc-expressing embryos is characterized by a reduction in vessel branching, which occurs despite upregulation of the proangiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor-A and angiopoietin-2. Thus, the net outcome of an excess of vascular endothelial growth factor-A and angiopoietin-2 in the face of an elevated cellular turnover appears to be a defect in vascular integrity.

Identification of novel Myc target genes with a potential role in lymphomagenesis.

The c-Myc transcription factor regulates a wide set of genes involved in processes such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Therefore, altered expression of Myc leads to deregulation of a large number of target genes and, as a consequence, to tumorigenesis. For understanding Myc-induced transformation, identification of these target genes is essential. In this study, we searched for Myc target genes involved in lymphomagenesis using different mouse T and B cell lymphoma cell lines transformed by a conditional Myc-allele. Target genes obtained by microarray experiments were further subjected to a kinetic analysis of mRNA expression upon Myc inactivation/reactivation, bioinformatic examination of Myc binding sites and chromatin immunoprecipitation. This approach allowed us to define targets whose activation is a direct consequence of Myc binding. Among the 38 novel Myc targets, we identified several genes implicated in the tumor development. These genes are not only relevant for mouse lymphomas because we observed their upregulation in human lymphomas as well. Our findings further the understanding of Myc-induced lymphomagenesis and help toward developing more efficient antitumor strategies.