Epithelial membrane protein 3 (Emp3) downregulates induction and function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes by macrophages via TNF-α production.

Tetraspanin membrane protein, epithelial membrane protein 3 (Emp3), is expressed in lymphoid tissues. Herein, we have examined the Emp3 in antigen presenting cell (APC) function in the CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) induction. Emp3-overexpressing RAW264.7 macrophage cell line derived from BALB/c mice reduced anti-C57BL/6 alloreactive CTL induction, while Emp3-knockdown RAW264.7 enhanced it compared with parent RAW267.4. Emp3-overexpressing RAW264.7 inhibited, but Emp3-knockdown RAW264.7 augmented, CD8+ T cell proliferation, interferon-γ secretion, IL-2 consumption, and IL-2Rα expression on CD8+ T cells. The supernatant from co-culture with Emp3-overexpressing RAW264.7 contained higher amount of TNF-α, and TNF- α neutralization significantly restored all these inhibitions and the alloreactive CTL induction. These results suggest that Emp3 in allogeneic APCs possesses the inhibitory function of alloreactive CTL induction by downregulation of IL-2Rα expression CD8+ T cells via an increase in TNF-α production. This demonstrates a novel mechanism for regulating CTL induction by Emp3 in APCs through TNF-α production.

Oral mucosal irritation study in hamster to evaluate a therapeutic apparatus using hydrogen peroxide photolysis for periodontitis treatment.

We conducted an oral mucosal irritation study in hamsters to evaluate a therapeutic apparatus using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) photolysis for periodontitis treatment (ISO 10993-Part 10, Annex B.3). The cheek pouches in 15 male hamsters were allocated to one of six groups. Group 1 received pure water treatment (control group). Group 2 received laser irradiation at 80 mW. Group 3 received 3% H2O2. Groups 4-6 received laser irradiation of 3% H2O2 at 80, 40, and 20 mW, respectively. The total treatment time was set at 7 min and treatment was repeated three times at approximately 1-h intervals. Macroscopic and microscopic histologic observations of the treated sites were performed immediately after each treatment and/or 24 h after the last treatment. The mean scores in macroscopic and histologic examinations in all six groups were 0. Accordingly, irritation indices calculated by subtracting the mean score in each experimental group from that in the control group (Group 1) were 0. Our results suggest that treatment with the apparatus has no mucosal irritation potential in hamster cheek pouches under test conditions simulating clinical conditions.

Simple determination of o-phenylphenol in skin lotion by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection after pre-column derivatization with 4-(N-chloroformylmethyl-N-methylamino)-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole.

o-Phenylphenol (OPP) in skin lotion was quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection after pre-column derivatization with 4-(N-chloroformylmethyl-N-methylamino)-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-COCl) in borate buffer (pH 8.5) at room temperature for 2 min. The column [150 mm x 3.0 mm internal diameter (i.d.)], which contained 5 µm particles of C18 packing material, was eluted at room temperature (flow rate: 0.5 ml/min) with mobile phase prepared by addition of acetonitrile (550 ml) to 450 ml of Milli-Q water containing trifluoroacetic acid (0.1 v/v%). 2-Hydroxyfluorene was used as an internal standard. The retention times of NBD-CO-OPP and NBD-CO-IS derivatives were 16.2 and 22.2 min, respectively. The calibration plot was linear in the range of 0.01-0.2 µg/ml with an r2 value of 0.9960, and the lower limit of detection was 0.003 µg/ml (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1; absolute amount of 12 pg/20 µl injection). The coefficient of variation was less than 8.8%. Contents of OPP in three skin lotions were determined with the present system, and the recovery from spiked samples was satisfactory.

Cathepsins are required for Toll-like receptor 9 responses.

Toll-like receptors (TLR) recognize a variety of microbial products and activate defense responses. Pathogen sensing by TLR2/4 requires accessory molecules, whereas little is known about a molecule required for DNA recognition by TLR9. After endocytosis of microbes, microbial DNA is exposed and recognized by TLR9 in lysosomes. We here show that cathepsins, lysosomal cysteine proteases, are required for TLR9 responses. A cell line Ba/F3 was found to be defective in TLR9 responses despite enforced TLR9 expression. Functional cloning with Ba/F3 identified cathepsin B/L as a molecule required for TLR9 responses. The protease activity was essential for the complementing effect. TLR9 responses were also conferred by cathepsin S or F, but not by cathepsin H. TLR9-dependent B cell proliferation and CD86 upregulation were apparently downregulated by cathepsin B/L inhibitors. Cathepsin B inhibitor downregulated interaction of CpG-B with TLR9 in 293T cells. These results suggest roles for cathepsins in DNA recognition by TLR9.

[A case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by smut spores of Ustilago esculenta].

A 49-year-old woman was admitted with cough, general fatigue, and dyspnea on effort. Her hobby was the Japanese traditional handicraft of lacquer-carving. She sometimes used smut spores of Ustilago esculenta, pronounced as "Makomozumi"on lacquer ware. The chest radiographs showed diffuse ground-glass opacities and small centrilobular nodules. Bronchoalveolar lavage yielded a marked number of lymphocytes as well as total cell counts and a low CD4 +/CD8 + ratio. The transbronchial lung biopsy specimen revealed lymphocytic alveolitis and non-necrotizing epithelioid cell granulomas. The results of provocation test by Makomozumi were positive. Serum tests of the specific antibody against extracted soluble antigens of smut spores were positive. The peripheral lymphocyte proliferation test, performed with Mokomozumi antigens was also positive. The final diagnosis was hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by smut spores of fungus Ustilago esculenta.

A protein associated with toll-like receptor 4 (PRAT4A) regulates cell surface expression of TLR4.

TLRs recognize microbial products. Their subcellular distribution is optimized for microbial recognition. Little is known, however, about mechanisms regulating the subcellular distribution of TLRs. LPS is recognized by the receptor complex consisting of TLR4 and MD-2. Although MD-2, a coreceptor for TLR4, enhances cell surface expression of TLR4, an additional mechanism regulating TLR4 distribution has been suggested. We show here that PRAT4A, a novel protein associated with TLR4, regulates cell surface expression of TLR4. PRAT4A is associated with the immature form of TLR4 but not with MD-2 or TLR2. PRAT4A knockdown abolished LPS responsiveness in a cell line expressing TLR4/MD-2, probably due to the lack of cell surface TLR4. PRAT4A knockdown down-regulated cell surface TLR4/MD-2 on dendritic cells. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism regulating TLR4/MD-2 expression on the cell surface.

A molecule that is associated with Toll-like receptor 4 and regulates its cell surface expression.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize microbial products and induce immune responses. Their subcellular distribution is believed to be optimized for their pathogen recognition. Little is known, however, about molecular mechanisms regulating the subcellular distribution of TLR. Lipopolysaccharide, a principal membrane component of the Gram-negative bacteria, is recognized by the receptor complex consisting of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and MD-2. We here show that a novel molecule, a PRotein Associated with Tlr4 (PRAT4B), regulates cell surface expression of TLR4. PRAT4B has a signal peptide followed by a mature peptide. PRAT4B is associated with the hypoglycosylated, immature form of TLR4 but not with MD-2 or TLR2. Downregulation of PRAT4B mRNA with small interfering RNA decreased cell surface TLR4 on HEK293 cells. These results suggest a novel mechanism regulating the subcellular distribution of TLR4.

Lipid A antagonist, lipid IVa, is distinct from lipid A in interaction with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-MD-2 and ligand-induced TLR4 oligomerization.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and MD-2 recognizes lipid A, the active moiety of microbial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Little is known about mechanisms for LPS recognition by TLR4-MD-2. Here we show ligand-induced TLR4 oligomerization, homotypic interaction of TLR4, which directly leads to TLR4 signaling. Since TLR4 oligomerization normally occurred in the absence of the cytoplasmic portion of TLR4, TLR4 oligomerization works upstream of TLR4 signaling. Lipid IVa, a lipid A precursor, is agonistic on mouse TLR4-MD-2 but turns antagonistic on chimeric mouse TLR4-human MD-2, demonstrating that the antagonistic activity of lipid IVa is determined by human MD-2. Binding studies with radioactive lipid A and lipid IVa revealed that lipid IVa is similar to lipid A in dose-dependent and saturable binding to mouse TLR4-human MD-2. Lipid IVa, however, did not induce TLR4 oligomerization, and inhibited lipid A-dependent oligomerization of mouse TLR4-human MD-2. Thus, lipid IVa binds mouse TLR4-human MD-2 but does not trigger TLR4 oligomerization. Binding study further revealed that the antagonistic activity of lipid IVa correlates with augmented maximal binding to mouse TLR4-human MD-2, which was approximately 2-fold higher than lipid A. Taken together, lipid A antagonist lipid IVa is distinct from lipid A in binding to TLR4-MD-2 and in subsequent triggering of TLR4 oligomerization. Given that the antagonistic activity of lipid IVa is determined by MD-2, MD-2 has an important role in a link between ligand interaction and TLR4 oligomerization.