A genetically modulated Toll-like-receptor-tolerant phenotype in peripheral blood cells of children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

Dysregulated innate immune responses contribute to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), characterized by gastrointestinal, mucocutaneous, and/or cardiovascular injury occurring weeks after SARS-CoV-2 exposure. To investigate innate immune functions in MIS-C, we stimulated ex vivo peripheral blood cells from MIS-C patients with agonists of Toll-like receptors (TLR), key innate immune response initiators. We found severely dampened cytokine responses and elevated gene expression of negative regulators of TLR signaling. Increased plasma levels of zonulin, a gut leakage marker, were also detected. These effects were also observed in children enrolled months after MIS-C recovery. Moreover, cells from MIS-C children carrying rare genetic variants of lysosomal trafficking regulator (LYST) were less refractory to TLR stimulation and exhibited lysosomal and mitochondrial abnormalities with altered energy metabolism. Our results strongly suggest that MIS-C hyperinflammation and/or excessive or prolonged stimulation with gut-originated TLR ligands drive immune cells to a lasting refractory state. TLR hyporesponsiveness is likely beneficial, as suggested by excess lymphopenia among rare LYST variant carriers. Our findings point to cellular mechanisms underlying TLR hyporesponsiveness; identify genetic determinants that may explain the MIS-C clinical spectrum; suggest potential associations between innate refractory states and long COVID; and highlight the need to monitor long-term consequences of MIS-C.

Discovery of a small-molecule inhibitor of the TRIP8b-HCN interaction with efficacy in neurons.

Major depressive disorder is a critical public health problem with a lifetime prevalence of nearly 17% in the United States. One potential therapeutic target is the interaction between hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels and an auxiliary subunit of the channel named tetratricopeptide repeat-containing Rab8b-interacting protein (TRIP8b). HCN channels regulate neuronal excitability in the mammalian hippocampus, and recent work has established that antagonizing HCN function rescues cognitive impairment caused by chronic stress. Here, we utilize a high-throughput virtual screen to find small molecules capable of disrupting the TRIP8b-HCN interaction. We found that the hit compound NUCC-0200590 disrupts the TRIP8b-HCN interaction in vitro and in vivo. These results provide a compelling strategy for developing new small molecules capable of disrupting the TRIP8b-HCN interaction.

Phytoplankton community structure changes during autumn and spring in response to environmental variables in Methana, Saronikos Gulf, Greece.

Phytoplankton community was investigated during two contrasting periods using offshore plankton samples in the volcanic area of Methana peninsula (Saronikos Gulf): the first at early autumn (warm period, September 2016) and the second one at early spring (cold period, March 2017). In order to investigate the phytoplankton community structure in the complex geo-biochemical conditions of the area, samples were collected from stations near the CO2 hydrothermal vents, at the hydrothermal sulfur and radioactive springs and at a fishery nearby Methana town. Three major phytoplankton groups, Bacillariophyceae, Dinophyceae, and Prymnesiophyceae, were studied, using inverted microscopy. In early autumn, Dinophyceae were dominant in the majority of the stations with cell concentrations of Prorocentrum spp. up to ~ 35.5 × 103 cells l-1. In early spring, the dominant class was Bacillariophyceae with dominant genus Nitzschia/Pseudo-nitzschia presenting cell concentrations up to ~ 33.9 × 103 cells l-1. Furthermore, Prymnesiophyceae appeared in both spring and autumn samples with small fluctuations. Total phytoplankton cell concentrations followed a seasonal trend, presenting slightly lower values in the hydrothermal-effected area in comparison with the broader Saronikos Gulf, confirming the prevalence of oligotrophic conditions. Seasonal variation was very strong, revealing an association with water temperature and nutrient content. Those environmental variables proved to have a strong effect that was reflected in the phytoplankton community structure.

Phosphorylation of the HCN channel auxiliary subunit TRIP8b is altered in an animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy and modulates channel function.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a prevalent neurological disorder with many patients experiencing poor seizure control with existing anti-epileptic drugs. Thus, novel insights into the mechanisms of epileptogenesis and identification of new drug targets can be transformative. Changes in ion channel function have been shown to play a role in generating the aberrant neuronal activity observed in TLE. Previous work demonstrates that hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels regulate neuronal excitability and are mislocalized within CA1 pyramidal cells in a rodent model of TLE. The subcellular distribution of HCN channels is regulated by an auxiliary subunit, tetratricopeptide repeat-containing Rab8b-interacting protein (TRIP8b), and disruption of this interaction correlates with channel mislocalization. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for HCN channel dysregulation in TLE are unclear. Here we investigated whether changes in TRIP8b phosphorylation are sufficient to alter HCN channel function. We identified a phosphorylation site at residue Ser237 of TRIP8b that enhances binding to HCN channels and influences channel gating by altering the affinity of TRIP8b for the HCN cytoplasmic domain. Using a phosphospecific antibody, we demonstrate that TRIP8b phosphorylated at Ser237 is enriched in CA1 distal dendrites and that phosphorylation is reduced in the kainic acid model of TLE. Overall, our findings indicate that the TRIP8b-HCN interaction can be modulated by changes in phosphorylation and suggest that loss of TRIP8b phosphorylation may affect HCN channel properties during epileptogenesis. These results highlight the potential of drugs targeting posttranslational modifications to restore TRIP8b phosphorylation to reduce excitability in TLE.

Structure of a eukaryotic cyclic-nucleotide-gated channel.

Cyclic-nucleotide-gated channels are essential for vision and olfaction. They belong to the voltage-gated ion channel superfamily but their activities are controlled by intracellular cyclic nucleotides instead of transmembrane voltage. Here we report a 3.5-Å-resolution single-particle electron cryo-microscopy structure of a cyclic-nucleotide-gated channel from Caenorhabditis elegans in the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-bound open state. The channel has an unusual voltage-sensor-like domain, accounting for its deficient voltage dependence. A carboxy-terminal linker connecting S6 and the cyclic-nucleotide-binding domain interacts directly with both the voltage-sensor-like domain and the pore domain, forming a gating ring that couples conformational changes triggered by cyclic nucleotide binding to the gate. The selectivity filter is lined by the carboxylate side chains of a functionally important glutamate and three rings of backbone carbonyls. This structure provides a new framework for understanding mechanisms of ion permeation, gating and channelopathy of cyclic-nucleotide-gated channels and cyclic nucleotide modulation of related channels.

Structural basis of dual Ca2+/pH regulation of the endolysosomal TRPML1 channel.

The activities of organellar ion channels are often regulated by Ca2+ and H+, which are present in high concentrations in many organelles. Here we report a structural element critical for dual Ca2+/pH regulation of TRPML1, a Ca2+-release channel crucial for endolysosomal function. TRPML1 mutations cause mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV), a severe lysosomal storage disorder characterized by neurodegeneration, mental retardation and blindness. We obtained crystal structures of the 213-residue luminal domain of human TRPML1 containing three missense MLIV-causing mutations. This domain forms a tetramer with a highly electronegative central pore formed by a novel luminal pore loop. Cysteine cross-linking and cryo-EM analyses confirmed that this architecture occurs in the full-length channel. Structure-function studies demonstrated that Ca2+ and H+ interact with the luminal pore and exert physiologically important regulation. The MLIV-causing mutations disrupt the luminal-domain structure and cause TRPML1 mislocalization. Our study reveals the structural underpinnings of TRPML1's regulation, assembly and pathogenesis.

Age-related homeostatic midchannel proteolysis of neuronal L-type voltage-gated Ca²âº channels.

Neural circuitry and brain activity depend critically on proper function of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), whose activity must be tightly controlled. We show that the main body of the pore-forming α1 subunit of neuronal L-type VGCCs, Cav1.2, is proteolytically cleaved, resulting in Cav1.2 fragment channels that separate but remain on the plasma membrane. This "midchannel" proteolysis is regulated by channel activity, involves the Ca(2+)-dependent protease calpain and the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and causes attenuation and biophysical alterations of VGCC currents. Recombinant Cav1.2 fragment channels mimicking the products of midchannel proteolysis do not form active channels on their own but, when properly paired, produce currents with distinct biophysical properties. Midchannel proteolysis increases dramatically with age and can be attenuated with an L-type VGCC blocker in vivo. Midchannel proteolysis represents a novel form of homeostatic negative-feedback processing of VGCCs that could profoundly affect neuronal excitability, neurotransmission, neuroprotection, and calcium signaling in physiological and disease states.

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate regulates epidermal growth factor receptor activation.

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P(2) or PIP(2)] is a direct modulator of a diverse array of proteins in eukaryotic cells. The functional integrity of transmembrane proteins, such as ion channels and transporters, is critically dependent on specific interactions with PIP(2) and other phosphoinositides. Here, we report a novel requirement for PIP(2) in the activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Down-regulation of PIP(2) levels either via pharmacological inhibition of PI kinase activity, or via manipulation of the levels of the lipid kinase PIP5K1α and the lipid phosphatase synaptojanin, reduced EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation, whereas up-regulation of PIP(2) levels via overexpression of PIP5K1α had the opposite effect. A cluster of positively charged residues in the juxtamembrane domain (basic JD) of EGFR is likely to mediate binding of EGFR to PIP(2) and PIP(2)-dependent regulation of EGFR activation. A peptide mimicking the EGFR juxtamembrane domain that was assayed by surface plasmon resonance displayed strong binding to PIP(2). Neutralization of positively charged amino acids abolished EGFR/PIP(2) interaction in the context of this peptide and down-regulated epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced EGFR auto-phosphorylation and EGF-induced EGFR signaling to ion channels in the context of the full-length receptor. These results suggest that EGFR activation and downstream signaling depend on interactions of EGFR with PIP(2) and point to the basic JD's critical involvement in these interactions. The addition of this very different class of membrane proteins to ion channels and transporters suggests that PIP(2) may serve as a general modulator of the activity of many diverse eukaryotic transmembrane proteins through their basic JDs.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the urinary bladder: a clinicopathological study of 4 cases and a review of the literature.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) of urinary bladder is a rare tumor exhibiting aggressive behavior. Here we are reviewing the pathologic and clinical characteristics of 4 consecutive cases of this rare tumor. Three out of 4 patients were males and one female. The median age was 72.8 years (range, 60-79 years). Patients underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor and the diagnosis of bladder SC was established on the pathologic examination of the resected bladder tissue. Despite treatment all patients died within 22 months of the diagnosis of SC. SC of the bladder are true biphasic malignant neoplasm exhibiting morphologic and immunohistochemical evidence of epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation with the presence or absence of heterologous elements. The aggressive of the tumor precludes radical therapy whenever possible, since adjuvant therapy seems to have little effect.

Time-course of changes in inflammatory and performance responses following a soccer game.

OBJECTIVE: : To study the effects of a single soccer game on indices of performance, muscle damage, and inflammation during a 6-day recovery period. DESIGN: : Participants were assigned to either an experimental group (E, played in the game; n = 14) or a control group (C, did not participate in the game; n = 10). SETTING: : Data were collected on a soccer field and at the Physical Education and Sports Science laboratory of the Democritus University of Thrace before and after the soccer game. PARTICIPANTS: : Twenty-four elite male soccer players (age, 20.1 +/- 0.8 years; height, 1.78 +/- 0.08 m; weight, 75.2 +/- 6.8 kg). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: : Muscle strength, vertical jumping, speed, DOMS, muscle swelling, leukocyte count, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), cortisol, testosterone, cytokines IL-6 and IL-1b, thioburbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbnyls (PC), and uric acid (UA). RESULTS: : Performance deteriorated 1 to 4 days post-game. An acute-phase inflammatory response consisted of a post-game peak of leukocyte count, cytokines, and cortisol, a 24-hour peak of CRP, TBARS, and DOMS, a 48-hour peak of CK, LDH, and PC, and a 72-hour peak of uric acid. CONCLUSION: : A single soccer game induces short-term muscle damage and marked but transient inflammatory responses. Anaerobic performance seems to deteriorate for as long as 72-hour post-game. The acute phase inflammatory response in soccer appears to follow the same pattern as in other forms of exercise. These results clearly indicate the need of sufficient recovery for elite soccer players after a game.

Acute exercise may exacerbate oxidative stress response in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hemodialyzed patients (HD) demonstrate elevated oxidative stress (OXS) levels. Exercise effects on OXS response and antioxidant status of HD was investigated in the present study. METHODS: Twelve HD and 12 healthy controls (HC) performed a graded exercise protocol. Blood samples, collected prior to and following exercise, were analyzed for lactate, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls (PC), reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity. RESULTS: HC demonstrated higher time-to-exhaustion (41%), lactate (41%) and VO2 peak (55%) levels. At rest, HD exhibited higher TBARS, PC, and catalase activity values and lower GSH, GSH/GSSG, TAC, and GPX levels. Although exercise elicited a marked change of OXS markers in both groups, these changes were more pronounced (p < 0.05) in HD patients. After adjusting for VO2 peak, differences between groups disappeared. VO2 peak was highly correlated with GSH/GSSG, TBARS, TAC and PC at rest and after exercise. CONCLUSIONS: These results imply that HD demonstrate higher OXS levels and a lower antioxidant status than HC at rest and following exercise. Acute exercise appears to exacerbate OXS response in hemodialyzed patients probably due to diminished antioxidant defense. However, aerobic capacity level seems to be related to OXS responses in this population.

The lipid connection-regulation of voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels by phosphoinositides.

Recent findings have revealed a pivotal role for phospholipids phosphatidylinositol -4,5-biphosphate (PIP(2)) and phosphatidylinositol -3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP(3)) in the regulation of high voltage-activated (HVA) Ca(2+) channels. PIP(2) exerts two opposing actions on HVA Ca(2+) channels: It stabilizes their activity but also produces a voltage-dependent inhibition that can be antagonized by protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation. PIP(2) depletion and arachidonic acid together mediate the slow, voltage-independent inhibition of HVA Ca(2+) channels by G( q/11 )-coupled receptors in neurons. A sufficient level of plasma membrane PIP(2) also appears to be necessary for G( betagamma )-mediated inhibition. On the other hand, increased production of PIP(3) by PI-3 kinases promotes trafficking of HVA Ca(2+) channels to the plasma membrane. This review discusses these findings and their implications.

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate regulates NMDA receptor activity through alpha-actinin.

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) has been shown to regulate many ion channels, transporters, and other signaling proteins, but it is not known whether it also regulates neurotransmitter-gated channels. The NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are gated by glutamate and serve as a critical control point in synaptic function. Here we demonstrate that PIP2 supports NMDAR activity. In Xenopus oocytes, overexpression of phospholipase Cgamma (PLCgamma) or preincubation with 10 microm wortmannin markedly reduced NMDA currents. Stimulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) promoted the formation of an immunocomplex between PLCgamma and NMDAR subunits. Stimulation of EGFR or the PLCbeta-coupled M1 acetylcholine receptor produced a robust transient inhibition of NMDA currents. Wortmannin application blocked the recovery of NMDA currents from the inhibition. Using mutagenesis, we identified the structural elements on NMDAR intracellular tails that transduce the receptor-mediated inhibition, which pinpoint to the binding site for the cytoskeletal protein alpha-actinin. Mutation of the PIP2-binding residues of alpha-actinin dramatically reduced NMDA currents and occluded the effect of EGF. Interestingly, EGF or wortmannin affected the interaction between NMDAR subunits and alpha-actinin, suggesting that this protein mediates the effect of PIP2 on NMDARs. In mature hippocampal neurons, expression of the mutant alpha-actinin reduced NMDA currents and accelerated inactivation. We propose a model in which alpha-actinin supports NMDAR activity via tethering their intracellular tails to plasma membrane PIP2. Thus, our results extend the influence of PIP2 to the NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptors and introduce a novel mechanism of "indirect" regulation of transmembrane protein activity by PIP2.

PI(4,5)P2 regulates the activation and desensitization of TRPM8 channels through the TRP domain.

The subjective feeling of cold is mediated by the activation of TRPM8 channels in thermoreceptive neurons by cold or by cooling agents such as menthol. Here, we demonstrate a central role for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) in the activation of recombinant TRPM8 channels by both cold and menthol. Moreover, we show that Ca(2+) influx through these channels activates a Ca(2+)-sensitive phospholipase C and that the subsequent depletion of PI(4,5)P(2) limits channel activity, serving as a unique mechanism for desensitization of TRPM8 channels. Finally, we find that mutation of conserved positive residues in the highly conserved proximal C-terminal TRP domain of TRPM8 and two other family members, TRPM5 and TRPV5, reduces the sensitivity of the channels for PI(4,5)P(2) and increases inhibition by PI(4,5)P(2) depletion. These data suggest that the TRP domain of these channels may serve as a PI(4,5)P(2)-interacting site and that regulation by PI(4,5)P(2) is a common feature of members of the TRP channel family.

Endocytosis and degradative sorting of NMDA receptors by conserved membrane-proximal signals.

Regulation of the abundance of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) at excitatory synapses is critical during changes in synaptic efficacy underlying learning and memory as well as during synapse formation throughout neural development. However, the molecular signals that govern NMDAR delivery, maintenance, and internalization remain unclear. In this study, we identify a conserved family of membrane-proximal endocytic signals, two within the NMDAR type 1 (NR1) subunit and one within the NR2A and NR2B subunits, necessary and sufficient to drive the internalization of NMDARs. These endocytic motifs reside in the region of NMDAR subunits immediately after the fourth membrane segment, a region implicated in use-dependent rundown and NMDA channel inactivation. Although endocytosis driven by the distal C-terminal domain of NR2B is followed by rapid recycling, internalization mediated by membrane-proximal motifs selectively targets receptors to late endosomes and accelerates degradation. These results define a novel conserved signature of NMDARs regulating internalization and postendocytic trafficking.