Nectin4/PRR4, a new afadin-associated member of the nectin family that trans-interacts with nectin1/PRR1 through V domain interaction.

Nectins are adhesion molecules that participate in the organization of epithelial and endothelial junctions and serve as receptors for herpes simplex virus entry. They belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily, are homologues of the poliovirus receptor (PVR/CD155), and were also named poliovirus receptor-related (PRR) proteins. We identify a new member of the nectin family named nectin4. Peptide sequences of human and murine nectin4 share 92% identity, and as for other members, the ectodomain is made of three immunoglobulin-like domains of V, C, C types. In contrast to other nectin molecules, detection of nectin4 transcripts is mainly restricted to placenta in human tissues. Expression is broader in mouse, and interestingly nectin4 is detected at days 11, 15, and 17 during murine embryogenesis. Nectin4 interacts with afadin, a F-actin-associated molecule, via its carboxyl-terminal cytoplasmic sequence. Both molecules co-localize at cadherin-based adherens junctions in the MDCKII epithelial cell line. Nectins are homophilic adhesion molecules, and recently heterophilic interactions have been described between nectin3/nectin1 and nectin3/nectin2. We confirmed these trans-interactions and also described nectin3 as the PVR/CD155 ligand. By means of several approaches, we report on the identification of nectin4 as a new ligand for nectin1. First, a soluble chimeric recombinant nectin4 ectodomain (nectin4-Fc) trans-interacts with cells expressing nectin1 but not with cells expressing nectin2, nectin3, or PVR/CD155. Conversely, nectin1-Fc binds to cells expressing nectin4. Second, nectin1-Fc precipitates nectin4 expressed in COS cells. Third, reciprocal in vitro physical interactions were detected between nectin4-Fc and nectin1-Fc. The nectin4-Fc/nectin4-Fc interaction was detected suggesting that nectin4 exhibits both homophilic and heterophilic properties. Using the same approaches we demonstrate, for the first time, that the V domain of nectin1 acts as a major functional region involved in trans-heterointeraction with nectin4 and also nectin3.

Human nectin3/PRR3: a novel member of the PVR/PRR/nectin family that interacts with afadin.

We have isolated nectin3/PRR3, the fourth human member of the nectin/PRR family, also described as the alpha herpes virus receptor family. Nectin/PRR members are adhesion molecules expressed at intercellular junctions. Nectin3/PRR3 is a transmembrane protein, whose extracellular region contains three Ig-like domains (V, C and C) and shares approximately 30% identity with the other members. It is mainly expressed in testis and placental tissues. SDS-PAGE analyses demonstrate that nectin3/PRR3 has a molecular weight of 83kDa. Nectin1/PRR1L and nectin2/PRR2S and L were found to be specifically expressed at the intercellular junctions. This localization is in part due to the interaction of the C-terminal part of these receptors (ended by the consensus sequence A/EXYV) and the PDZ domain of afadin. In this report we demonstrate that the nectin3/PRR3 receptor carries the A/EXYV consensus sequence and interacts in vivo with both long and short isoforms of afadin. These results suggest that the human nectin3/PRR3 is a new afadin-associated molecule.

The murine homolog of human Nectin1delta serves as a species nonspecific mediator for entry of human and animal alpha herpesviruses in a pathway independent of a detectable binding to gD.

The full-length cDNA of the murine homolog of human nectin1delta (mNectin1delta), also known as human poliovirus receptor related 1 (PRR1) or herpesvirus entry mediator C, was cloned and showed a >90% identity with its human counterpart. mNectin1delta is expressed in some murine cell lines, exemplified by NIH 3T3 and L cells, and in murine tissues. It mediates entry of an extended range of herpes simplex virus (HSV) strains, porcine pseudorabies virus (PrV), and bovine herpesvirus 1. A soluble form of the mediator blocked infectivity in mNectin1delta and human nectin1delta (hNectin1delta)-expressing cells, suggesting a physical interaction of the mediator with virions. The higher concentrations of soluble mNectin1 required to block infectivity relative to soluble hNectin1 suggest that the target of the two molecules is not identical. Entry of HSV, but not PrV, was blocked by soluble mNectin1delta in NIH 3T3 and L cells. Two features were unexpected. First, soluble mNectin1delta failed to physically interact with HSV glycoprotein D (gD) at a detectable level, although it interacted physically with virions. Second, coexpression of mNectin1delta and HSV gD did not restrict HSV or PrV infection, whereas coexpression of hNectin and gD did restrict infection, suggesting that mNectin1delta fails to be sequestered by HSV gD. We conclude that mNectin1delta serves as a species-nonspecific mediator for entry of the human and animal alphaherpesviruses. This activity, at least for HSV, is independent of a detectable binding to gD.

Specific and common activities of the FLT3 and KIT tyrosine kinase receptors revealed by the use of cultured mast cells.

Development of the hematopoietic lineages is partially under the control of hematopoietic receptors with tyrosine kinase activity (RTK). To compare the cellular functions of two of the class III RTK, FLT3 and KIT, a murine chimeric FMS/FLT3 (FF3) receptor was expressed ectopically using retroviral infection, in normal IL3-derived cultured mast cells. Stimulation of the chimeric receptor produced a full mitogenic signal and led to mast cell maturation, as occurs upon activation of the endogenous KIT receptor. When introduced into mast cells derived from KIT-deficient White spotting (W) mutant mice, the FF3 receptor bypassed their mitogenic defect. KIT activation induced a synergistic mitogenic activity in mast cells upon IL3 stimulation, whereas FF3 appeared to down-modulate the IL3 response. Adhesion to fibronectin was specifically associated with KIT signaling.

Phosphatidylinositol-3' kinase is not required for mitogenesis or internalization of the Flt3/Flk2 receptor tyrosine kinase.

Flt3/Flk2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is expressed on early hematopoietic progenitor cells. Flt3/Flk2 belongs to a family of receptors, including Kit and colony-stimulating factor-1R, which support growth and differentiation within the hematopoietic system. The Flt3/Flk2 ligand, in combination with other growth factors, stimulates the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors of both lymphoid and myeloid lineages in vitro. We report that phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) binds to a unique site in the carboxy tail of murine Flt3/Flk2. In distinction to Kit and colony-stimulating factor-1R, mutant receptors unable to couple to PI3K and expressed in rodent fibroblasts or in the interleukin 3-dependent cell line Ba/F3 provide a mitogenic signal comparable to wild-type receptors. Flt3/Flk2 receptors that do not bind to PI3K also normally down-regulate, a function ascribed to PI3K in the context of other receptor systems. These data point to the existence of other unidentified pathways that, alone or in combination with PI3K, transduce these cellular responses following the activation of Flt3/Flk2.

Analysis of the mitogenic pathway of the FLT3 receptor and characterization in its C terminal region of a specific binding site for the PI3' kinase.

The FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) belongs to the class III subfamily which includes PDGF, CSF1 and SLF receptors. The recent cloning of the FLT3 ligand suggesting its important role in the differentiation and proliferation of the hematopoietic stem cells, has confirmed the initial expression analysis showing restricted pattern of receptor expression within the primitive hematopoietic population. To better understand the function of the FLT3 receptor and its relationship with the other hematopoietic RTKs, we analyzed the mitogenic pathway and substrate specificity of this receptor. The construction of a chimeric receptor called FF3, between the extracellular region of the CSF1 receptor fused with the transmembrane and the cytoplasmic regions of FLT3, has allowed an analysis in the absence of FLT3 ligand. We have shown in previous studies that FF3 is able to transduce the signal induced by CSF1, to induce tyrosine phosphorylation and/or association of several cytoplasmic proteins. We show here that this new receptor is fully functional in Ba/F3 hematopoietic cells, inducing a CSF1 dependence when expressed at the surface of this IL3 dependent cell line. The PI3' Kinase interacts with the FF3 receptor through SH2 domains and its binding site is localized on the tyrosine residue 958 in the C terminal part of the receptor.

Two cases of water-melon stomach and a review of the literature.

We report two cases of "water-melon stomach", which is a peculiar form of gastric antral vascular ectasia, characterized by a specific and striking endoscopic aspect. It is observed in a context of chronic iron deficiency anemia and gastrointestinal blood loss, particularly in elderly female patients. The clinical endoscopic, histologic, pathogenic and therapeutic aspects are described, with review of the literature.

A modified rapid enzyme immunoassay for the detection of rabies and rabies-related viruses: RREID-lyssa.

This paper presents a modification of the previously described Rapid Rabies Enzyme Immuno-Diagnosis test (RREID) by using biotinylated antibodies, streptavidin conjugate and a mixture of monospecific polyclonal antibodies against several lyssaviruses. In the modified technique (RREID-lyssa), microplates were sensitized with a mixture of purified antibodies against ribonucleoprotein (RNP) from Pasteur virus (Lyssavirus serotype 1), European Bat Lyssavirus (EBL, unclassified) and Mokola virus (Lyssavirus serotype 3). Bound RNP was detected by the same antibodies labelled with biotin and peroxidase-strepavidin conjugate. These techniques were used for the detection of RNP of different Lyssavirus serotypes (rabies and rabies-related viruses). For lyssavirus specimens of serotype 1, the threshold of detection of RREID and RREID-lyssa were similar. However, a smaller amount of labelled antibodies was needed when biotinylated antibodies were used. For specimens infected by rabies-related strains (serotypes 2, 3, 4 and EBL), the threshold of detection of the RREID-lyssa was between two and 512 times lower than with the RREID. The sensitivity and the specificity of the RREID-lyssa for rabies virus (serotype 1) when tested on a small field trial (53 specimens) were found to be identical to the RREID. Consequently, RREID-lyssa can be a useful tool for diagnostic laboratories that receive specimens infected by rabies-related viruses.

[A hospital epidemic due to Achromobacter calcoaceticus]. / Une épidémie hospitaliére provoquée par Acinetobacter calcoaceticus

35 patients were secondarily infected in our hospital with a strain of A. calcoaceticus resistant to the usual antibiotics and sulfonamides, but sensitive to colimycin. The epidemic lasted 118 days and is not yet finished. Each of the infected patients had a severe surgical or medical illness, underwent operations, trachetomy, etc. and was treated with antibiotics. A. calcoaceticus persisted alone or was associated with other bacteria from 1 to 46 days, in specimens (sputum, etc. or in blood) sometimes until death. It is not pathogenic for rabbits and mice; its pathogenicity in man is discussed in the text. The epidemic strain was not harboured by 15 doctors, students or nurses, nor present on 147 objects in the vicinity of the patients, but was found in a bottle of aqueous 1% eosin solution in the room of an infected child. Experiments show that A. calcoaceticus is not killed by a 1% eosin solution, and freely multiplies in broth containing 0,5% eosin. It is easy to identify the first case and chronology of the epidemic, but it is less easy to identify each time the means of propagation. Usually, infected patients seem to be the source of further infection. Does eosin paly more than an occasional role? Were the germs transported by dust? This not very disturbing epidemic suggests that less pathogenic germs may still cause unsuspected hospital epidemics.