Non-apoptotic role of BID in inflammation and innate immunity

Innate immunity is a fundamental defence response that depends on evolutionarily conserved pattern recognition receptors for sensing infections or danger signals. Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD) proteins are cytosolic pattern-recognition receptors of paramount importance in the intestine, and their dysregulation is associated with inflammatory bowel disease. They sense peptidoglycans from commensal microorganisms and pathogens and coordinate signalling events that culminate in the induction of inflammation and anti-microbial responses. However, the signalling mechanisms involved in this process are not fully understood. Here, using genome-wide RNA interference, we identify candidate genes that modulate the NOD1 inflammatory response in intestinal epithelial cells. Our results reveal a significant crosstalk between innate immunity and apoptosis and identify BID, a BCL2 family protein, as a critical component of the inflammatory response. Colonocytes depleted of BID or macrophages from Bid(-/-) mice are markedly defective in cytokine production in response to NOD activation. Furthermore, Bid(-/-) mice are unresponsive to local or systemic exposure to NOD agonists or their protective effect in experimental colitis. Mechanistically, BID interacts with NOD1, NOD2 and the IκB kinase (IKK) complex, impacting NF-κB and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling. Our results define a novel role of BID in inflammation and immunity independent of its apoptotic function, furthering the mounting evidence of evolutionary conservation between the mechanisms of apoptosis and immunity.     

NLRP10 is a NOD-like receptor essential to initiate adaptive immunity by dendritic cells

NLRs (nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich-repeat-containing receptors; NOD-like receptors) are a class of pattern recognition receptor (PRR) that respond to host perturbation from either infectious agents or cellular stress. The function of most NLR family members has not been characterized and their role in instructing adaptive immune responses remains unclear. NLRP10 (also known as PYNOD, NALP10, PAN5 and NOD8) is the only NLR lacking the putative ligand-binding leucine-rich-repeat domain, and has been postulated to be a negative regulator of other NLR members, including NLRP3 (refs 4-6). We did not find evidence that NLRP10 functions through an inflammasome to regulate caspase-1 activity nor that it regulates other inflammasomes. Instead, Nlrp10(-/-) mice had a profound defect in helper T-cell-driven immune responses to a diverse array of adjuvants, including lipopolysaccharide, aluminium hydroxide and complete Freund's adjuvant. Adaptive immunity was impaired in the absence of NLRP10 because of a dendritic cell (DC) intrinsic defect in emigration from inflamed tissues, whereas upregulation of DC costimulatory molecules and chemotaxis to CCR7-dependent and -independent ligands remained intact. The loss of antigen transport to the draining lymph nodes by a subset of migratory DCs resulted in an almost absolute loss in naive CD4(+) T-cell priming, highlighting the critical link between diverse innate immune stimulation, NLRP10 activity and the immune function of mature DCs.     

Cysteine methylation disrupts ubiquitin-chain sensing in NF-κB activation

NF-κB is crucial for innate immune defence against microbial infection. Inhibition of NF-κB signalling has been observed with various bacterial infections. The NF-κB pathway critically requires multiple ubiquitin-chain signals of different natures. The question of whether ubiquitin-chain signalling and its specificity in NF-κB activation are regulated during infection, and how this regulation takes place, has not been explored. Here we show that human TAB2 and TAB3, ubiquitin-chain sensory proteins involved in NF-κB signalling, are directly inactivated by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli NleE, a conserved bacterial type-III-secreted effector responsible for blocking host NF-κB signalling. NleE harboured an unprecedented S-adenosyl-l-methionine-dependent methyltransferase activity that specifically modified a zinc-coordinating cysteine in the Npl4 zinc finger (NZF) domains in TAB2 and TAB3. Cysteine-methylated TAB2-NZF and TAB3-NZF (truncated proteins only comprising the NZF domain) lost the zinc ion as well as the ubiquitin-chain binding activity. Ectopically expressed or type-III-secretion-system-delivered NleE methylated TAB2 and TAB3 in host cells and diminished their ubiquitin-chain binding activity. Replacement of the NZF domain of TAB3 with the NleE methylation-insensitive Npl4 NZF domain resulted in NleE-resistant NF-κB activation. Given the prevalence of zinc-finger motifs and activation of cysteine thiol by zinc binding, methylation of zinc-finger cysteine might regulate other eukaryotic pathways in addition to NF-κB signalling.     

SHARPIN forms a linear ubiquitin ligase complex regulating NF-κB activity and apoptosis

SHARPIN is a ubiquitin-binding and ubiquitin-like-domain-containing protein which, when mutated in mice, results in immune system disorders and multi-organ inflammation. Here we report that SHARPIN functions as a novel component of the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) and that the absence of SHARPIN causes dysregulation of NF-κB and apoptotic signalling pathways, explaining the severe phenotypes displayed by chronic proliferative dermatitis (cpdm) in SHARPIN-deficient mice. Upon binding to the LUBAC subunit HOIP (also known as RNF31), SHARPIN stimulates the formation of linear ubiquitin chains in vitro and in vivo. Coexpression of SHARPIN and HOIP promotes linear ubiquitination of NEMO (also known as IKBKG), an adaptor of the IκB kinases (IKKs) and subsequent activation of NF-κB signalling, whereas SHARPIN deficiency in mice causes an impaired activation of the IKK complex and NF-κB in B cells, macrophages and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). This effect is further enhanced upon concurrent downregulation of HOIL-1L (also known as RBCK1), another HOIP-binding component of LUBAC. In addition, SHARPIN deficiency leads to rapid cell death upon tumour-necrosis factor α (TNF-α) stimulation via FADD- and caspase-8-dependent pathways. SHARPIN thus activates NF-κB and inhibits apoptosis via distinct pathways in vivo.     

Lymphoid tissue genesis induced by commensals through NOD1 regulates intestinal homeostasis

Intestinal homeostasis is critical for efficient energy extraction from food and protection from pathogens. Its disruption can lead to an array of severe illnesses with major impacts on public health, such as inflammatory bowel disease characterized by self-destructive intestinal immunity. However, the mechanisms regulating the equilibrium between the large bacterial flora and the immune system remain unclear. Intestinal lymphoid tissues generate flora-reactive IgA-producing B cells, and include Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes, as well as numerous isolated lymphoid follicles (ILFs). Here we show that peptidoglycan from Gram-negative bacteria is necessary and sufficient to induce the genesis of ILFs in mice through recognition by the NOD1 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 1) innate receptor in epithelial cells, and beta-defensin 3- and CCL20-mediated signalling through the chemokine receptor CCR6. Maturation of ILFs into large B-cell clusters requires subsequent detection of bacteria by toll-like receptors. In the absence of ILFs, the composition of the intestinal bacterial community is profoundly altered. Our results demonstrate that intestinal bacterial commensals and the immune system communicate through an innate detection system to generate adaptive lymphoid tissues and maintain intestinal homeostasis.     

SHARPIN is a component of the NF-κB-activating linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex

Cpdm (chronic proliferative dermatitis) mice develop chronic dermatitis and an immunodeficiency with increased serum IgM, symptoms that resemble those of patients with X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome and hypohydrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XHM-ED), which is caused by mutations in NEMO (NF-κB essential modulator; also known as IKBKG). Spontaneous null mutations in the Sharpin (SHANK-associated RH domain interacting protein in postsynaptic density) gene are responsible for the cpdm phenotype in mice. SHARPIN shows significant similarity to HOIL-1L (also known as RBCK1), a component of linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), which induces NF-κB activation through conjugation of linear polyubiquitin chains to NEMO. Here, we identify SHARPIN as an additional component of LUBAC. SHARPIN-containing complexes can linearly ubiquitinate NEMO and activated NF-κB. Thus, we re-define LUBAC as a complex containing SHARPIN, HOIL-1L, and HOIP (also known as RNF31). Deletion of SHARPIN drastically reduced the amount of LUBAC, which resulted in attenuated TNF-α- and CD40-mediated activation of NF-κB in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) or B cells from cpdm mice. Considering the pleomorphic phenotype of cpdm mice, these results confirm the predicted role of LUBAC-mediated linear polyubiquitination in NF-κB activation induced by various stimuli, and strongly suggest the involvement of LUBAC-induced NF-κB activation in various disorders.     

The Shigella flexneri effector OspI deamidates UBC13 to dampen the inflammatory response

Many bacterial pathogens can enter various host cells and then survive intracellularly, transiently evade humoral immunity, and further disseminate to other cells and tissues. When bacteria enter host cells and replicate intracellularly, the host cells sense the invading bacteria as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by way of various pattern recognition receptors. As a result, the host cells induce alarm signals that activate the innate immune system. Therefore, bacteria must modulate host inflammatory signalling and dampen these alarm signals. How pathogens do this after invading epithelial cells remains unclear, however. Here we show that OspI, a Shigella flexneri effector encoded by ORF169b on the large plasmid and delivered by the type ΙΙΙ secretion system, dampens acute inflammatory responses during bacterial invasion by suppressing the tumour-necrosis factor (TNF)-receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6)-mediated signalling pathway. OspI is a glutamine deamidase that selectively deamidates the glutamine residue at position 100 in UBC13 to a glutamic acid residue. Consequently, the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating activity required for TRAF6 activation is inhibited, allowing S. flexneri OspI to modulate the diacylglycerol-CBM (CARD-BCL10-MALT1) complex-TRAF6-nuclear-factor-κB signalling pathway. We determined the 2.0 ? crystal structure of OspI, which contains a putative cysteine-histidine-aspartic acid catalytic triad. A mutational analysis showed this catalytic triad to be essential for the deamidation of UBC13. Our results suggest that S. flexneri inhibits acute inflammatory responses in the initial stage of infection by targeting the UBC13-TRAF6 complex.     

马钱子苷对小胶质细胞活化的抑制作用

为探讨不同浓度的马钱子苷对小胶质细胞活化的抑制作用及其相关分子机制，分离培养了小鼠原代小胶质细胞，用不同浓度的马钱子苷（50、100、200 μmol/L）预处理后，利用脂多糖（lipopolysacharide,LPS）诱导其活化。观察马钱子苷对LPS诱导的小胶质细胞活化、炎症因子释放以及NF-κB信号通路的影响。结果显示:与对照组相比，LPS组小胶质细胞胞体膨大，分泌大量炎症细胞因子，且NF-κB核转移程度增加（P<0.05），小胶质细胞呈明显的M1型活化状态；低、中、高浓度的马钱子苷干预后，小胶质细胞的细胞总面积和细胞核面积显著减少（P<0.05）；中、高浓度的马钱子苷能使TNF-α、IL-6和IL-1β的mRNA表达水平降低（P<0.05）；中浓度的马钱子苷下调TNF-α和IL-1β的蛋白质水平（P<0.05）；此外低、中、高浓度的马钱子苷可以抑制小胶质细胞内iNOS表达和NF-κB信号通路激活。上述结果表明，马钱子苷可明显抑制小胶质细胞活化，减少炎症因子释放，其作用机制可能与抑制NF-κB信号通路有关。这为马钱子苷应用于神经炎症的预防和治疗奠定了理论基础。     

山香圆总黄酮对慢性咽炎模型大鼠 NF-κB、IκBα表达的影响

以2.5%氨水喷咽部建立大鼠慢性咽炎模型,用HE染色法观察咽部病理形态学改变,用ELISA法检测血清炎症因子TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6,用RT-qPCR测定咽部组织NF-κBp65mRNA的表达,用Western blot检测咽部组织NF-κBp65和IκBα蛋白的表达,探讨山香圆总黄酮对慢性咽炎模型大鼠 NF-κB、IκBα表达的影响.结果显示:山香圆总黄酮能明显改善模型大鼠咽部病理形态学; 与模型组比较,山香圆总黄酮各组能不同程度地下调TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6和NF-κBp65的表达并上调IκBα的表达,其中高剂量组最显著.这表明山香圆总黄酮能通过抑制NF-κB的表达和IκBα的解离下调炎症因子TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6的表达,从而减轻炎症,发挥抗慢性咽炎作用.     

Recognition of double-stranded RNA and activation of NF-kappaB by Toll-like receptor 3

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of innate immune-recognition receptors that recognize molecular patterns associated with microbial pathogens, and induce antimicrobial immune responses. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a molecular pattern associated with viral infection, because it is produced by most viruses at some point during their replication. Here we show that mammalian TLR3 recognizes dsRNA, and that activation of the receptor induces the activation of NF-kappaB and the production of type I interferons (IFNs). TLR3-deficient (TLR3-/-) mice showed reduced responses to polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), resistance to the lethal effect of poly(I:C) when sensitized with d-galactosamine (d-GalN), and reduced production of inflammatory cytokines. MyD88 is an adaptor protein that is shared by all the known TLRs. When activated by poly(I:C), TLR3 induces cytokine production through a signalling pathway dependent on MyD88. Moreover, poly(I:C) can induce activation of NF-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases independently of MyD88, and cause dendritic cells to mature.     

二乙基亚硝胺诱导小鼠肝纤维化动态模型的建立及病理机制初探

摘要:目的 为 探 究 肝 纤 维 化 的 发 生 发 展 机 制 及 病 理 病 因 的 特 点, 本 研 究 通 过 建 立 二 乙 基 亚 硝 胺( diethylnitrosamine,DEN)诱导的肝纤维化动态小鼠模型,动态监测上述小鼠模型的血清生化指标,推断肝纤维化阶段。 方法 雄性 C57BL / 6 小鼠按梯度剂量每周 2 次腹腔注射 DEN,连续 8 周。 分别在第 2、4、6 和 8 周收集小鼠的血清和肝组织,通过检测相应血清生化指标、肝组织羟脯氨酸含量以及组织病理学检查监测和评估小鼠肝纤维化的发病进程。 采用 Western blot 检测 TGF-β1、α-SMA 和 TLR4 / MyD88 / NF-κB 信号通路相关蛋白以探究肝纤维化的发病机制。 结果 从第 4 周开始,与 对 照 组 相 比, DEN 诱 导 小 鼠 的 肝 功 能 相 关 血 清 生 化 指 标 ( AST、 ALT、 ALP、T-BIL、A / G 等)出现显著变化,且体质量出现明显下降。 肝脏指数出现明显下降,组织中羟脯氨酸含量均显著升高(P<0. 01) ,组织病理学结果显示 DEN 诱导组小鼠肝组织开始出现轻微胶原沉积。 Western blot 结果表明模型组小鼠肝组织中TGF-β1 和 α-SMA 表达显著上调,TLR4、MyD88、TRAF6 及细胞核 NF-κB p65 蛋白表达水平显著升高,细胞质 p65 NF-κB 表达显著下调。 结论 研究结果表明,肝纤维化的发生机制与肝损伤后激活 TLR4 / MyD88 / NF-κB 信号通路相关,而 TLR4 炎症通路的激活又进一步促进分泌 TGF-β1 并激活肝星状细胞从而导致大量细胞外基质沉积。 本研究表明,通过 DEN 诱导的小鼠肝纤维化发病机制可能与炎症相关,且可通过结合多个血清生化指标初步判断肝纤维化阶段。     

Enhanced bacterial clearance and sepsis resistance in caspase-12-deficient mice

Caspases function in both apoptosis and inflammatory cytokine processing and thereby have a role in resistance to sepsis. Here we describe a novel role for a caspase in dampening responses to bacterial infection. We show that in mice, gene-targeted deletion of caspase-12 renders animals resistant to peritonitis and septic shock. The resulting survival advantage was conferred by the ability of the caspase-12-deficient mice to clear bacterial infection more efficiently than wild-type littermates. Caspase-12 dampened the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-18 (interferon (IFN)-gamma inducing factor) and IFN-gamma, but not tumour-necrosis factor-alpha and IL-6, in response to various bacterial components that stimulate Toll-like receptor and NOD pathways. The IFN-gamma pathway was crucial in mediating survival of septic caspase-12-deficient mice, because administration of neutralizing antibodies to IFN-gamma receptors ablated the survival advantage that otherwise occurred in these animals. Mechanistically, caspase-12 associated with caspase-1 and inhibited its activity. Notably, the protease function of caspase-12 was not necessary for this effect, as the catalytically inactive caspase-12 mutant Cys299Ala also inhibited caspase-1 and IL-1beta production to the same extent as wild-type caspase-12. In this regard, caspase-12 seems to be the cFLIP counterpart for regulating the inflammatory branch of the caspase cascade. In mice, caspase-12 deficiency confers resistance to sepsis and its presence exerts a dominant-negative suppressive effect on caspase-1, resulting in enhanced vulnerability to bacterial infection and septic mortality.     

Novel role of PKR in inflammasome activation and HMGB1 release

The inflammasome regulates the release of caspase activation-dependent cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18 and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). By studying HMGB1 release mechanisms, here we identify a role for double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR, also known as EIF2AK2) in inflammasome activation. Exposure of macrophages to inflammasome agonists induced PKR autophosphorylation. PKR inactivation by genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition severely impaired inflammasome activation in response to double-stranded RNA, ATP, monosodium urate, adjuvant aluminium, rotenone, live Escherichia coli, anthrax lethal toxin, DNA transfection and Salmonella typhimurium infection. PKR deficiency significantly inhibited the secretion of IL-1β, IL-18 and HMGB1 in E. coli-induced peritonitis. PKR physically interacts with several inflammasome components, including NOD-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), NLRP1, NLR family CARD domain-containing protein 4 (NLRC4), absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), and broadly regulates inflammasome activation. PKR autophosphorylation in a cell-free system with recombinant NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC, also known as PYCARD) and pro-caspase-1 reconstitutes inflammasome activity. These results show a crucial role for PKR in inflammasome activation, and indicate that it should be possible to pharmacologically target this molecule to treat inflammation.     

反式白藜芦醇对破骨细胞分化的影响

目的:研究反式白藜芦醇对体外破骨细胞分化的影响.方法建立由骨保护素配体(RANKL)和巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(M-CSF)共同细胞因子的小鼠破骨细胞骨髓诱导体系,将不同浓度的反式白藜芦醇作用于破骨细胞.受试细胞分为对照组、反式白藜芦醇低剂量组(10-8mol.L-1)、反式白藜芦醇中剂量组(10-7mol.L-1)和反式白藜芦醇高剂量组(10-6mol.L-1),并设立空白对照组.7 d后取细胞玻片进行抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶(TRAP)染色,观察破骨细胞并计数;测量抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶(TRAP)活性以及破骨细胞表面NF-κB活化受体(RANK)mRNA表达量.结果诱导培养的破骨细胞形态特征明显;反式白藜芦醇中、高剂量组在细胞数量、TRAP活性上与对照组相比有明显统计学差异(P<0.05);反式白藜芦醇各剂量组在(RANK)mRNA表达量上与对照组相比有明显统计学差异(P<0.05),且呈量效关系.结论:反式白藜芦醇可以抑制体外培养的破骨细胞分化.     

The NLRC4 inflammasome receptors for bacterial flagellin and type III secretion apparatus

Inflammasomes are large cytoplasmic complexes that sense microbial infections/danger molecules and induce caspase-1 activation-dependent cytokine production and macrophage inflammatory death. The inflammasome assembled by the NOD-like receptor (NLR) protein NLRC4 responds to bacterial flagellin and a conserved type III secretion system (TTSS) rod component. How the NLRC4 inflammasome detects the two bacterial products and the molecular mechanism of NLRC4 inflammasome activation are not understood. Here we show that NAIP5, a BIR-domain NLR protein required for Legionella pneumophila replication in mouse macrophages, is a universal component of the flagellin-NLRC4 pathway. NAIP5 directly and specifically interacted with flagellin, which determined the inflammasome-stimulation activities of different bacterial flagellins. NAIP5 engagement by flagellin promoted a physical NAIP5-NLRC4 association, rendering full reconstitution of a flagellin-responsive NLRC4 inflammasome in non-macrophage cells. The related NAIP2 functioned analogously to NAIP5, serving as a specific inflammasome receptor for TTSS rod proteins such as Salmonella PrgJ and Burkholderia BsaK. Genetic analysis of Chromobacterium violaceum infection revealed that the TTSS needle protein CprI can stimulate NLRC4 inflammasome activation in human macrophages. Similarly, CprI is specifically recognized by human NAIP, the sole NAIP family member in human. The finding that NAIP proteins are inflammasome receptors for bacterial flagellin and TTSS apparatus components further predicts that the remaining NAIP family members may recognize other unidentified microbial products to activate NLRC4 inflammasome-mediated innate immunity.     

Absence of S6K1 protects against age- and diet-induced obesity while enhancing insulin sensitivity

Elucidating the signalling mechanisms by which obesity leads to impaired insulin action is critical in the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of diabetes. Recently, mice deficient for S6 Kinase 1 (S6K1), an effector of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) that acts to integrate nutrient and insulin signals, were shown to be hypoinsulinaemic, glucose intolerant and have reduced beta-cell mass. However, S6K1-deficient mice maintain normal glucose levels during fasting, suggesting hypersensitivity to insulin, raising the question of their metabolic fate as a function of age and diet. Here, we report that S6K1-deficient mice are protected against obesity owing to enhanced beta-oxidation. However on a high fat diet, levels of glucose and free fatty acids still rise in S6K1-deficient mice, resulting in insulin receptor desensitization. Nevertheless, S6K1-deficient mice remain sensitive to insulin owing to the apparent loss of a negative feedback loop from S6K1 to insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), which blunts S307 and S636/S639 phosphorylation; sites involved in insulin resistance. Moreover, wild-type mice on a high fat diet as well as K/K A(y) and ob/ob (also known as Lep/Lep) mice-two genetic models of obesity-have markedly elevated S6K1 activity and, unlike S6K1-deficient mice, increased phosphorylation of IRS1 S307 and S636/S639. Thus under conditions of nutrient satiation S6K1 negatively regulates insulin signalling.     

Functional complementation between FADD and RIP1 in embryos and lymphocytes

FADD is a common adaptor shared by several death receptors for signalling apoptosis through recruitment and activation of caspase 8 (refs 1-3). Death receptors are essential for immune homeostasis, but dispensable during embryogenesis. Surprisingly, Fadd(-/-) mice die in utero and conditional deletion of FADD leads to impaired lymphocyte proliferation. How FADD regulates embryogenesis and lymphocyte responses has been a long-standing enigma. FADD could directly bind to RIP1 (also known as RIPK1), a serine/threonine kinase that mediates both necrosis and NF-κB activation. Here we show that Fadd(-/-) embryos contain raised levels of RIP1 and exhibit massive necrosis. To investigate a potential in vivo functional interaction between RIP1 and FADD, null alleles of RIP1 were crossed into Fadd(-/-) mice. Notably, RIP1 deficiency allowed normal embryogenesis of Fadd(-/-) mice. Conversely, the developmental defect of Rip1(-/-) lymphocytes was partially corrected by FADD deletion. Furthermore, RIP1 deficiency fully restored normal proliferation in Fadd(-/-) T cells but not in Fadd(-/-) B cells. Fadd(-/-)Rip1(-/-) double-knockout T cells are resistant to death induced by Fas or TNF-α and show reduced NF-κB activity. Therefore, our data demonstrate an unexpected cell-type-specific interplay between FADD and RIP1, which is critical for the regulation of apoptosis and necrosis during embryogenesis and lymphocyte function.     

细胞凋亡与NF-κB激活的信号传导研究

细胞凋亡是细胞受基因调控的主动死亡方式,对于生物体的正常发育及生理功能的维持具有重要意义。NF-κB是一类在动物细胞中广泛表达的转录因子,其主要生理功能之一是通过诱导凋亡抑制基因的转录,拮抗细胞凋亡的发生。NF-κB的活化调控是细胞生死抉择过程的关键机制之一。现已证明细胞凋亡及NF-κB活化的异常会导致多种人类疾病。本项目从凋亡的执行机制和调控机制两方面入手,对细胞凋亡的机理进行了研究。建立了基于爪蟾卵细胞提取物的非细胞凋亡诱导体系,并利用这一体系,发现爪蟾细胞凋亡特异核酸酶XAD及其特异性的抑制因子IXAD;首次证明磷酸肌酸和核质素在凋亡过程中的作用。克隆了3个新的凋亡诱导基因。在细胞凋亡的调节机制方面,克隆了7个分别作用于NF-κB活化信号通路不同步骤的新的调节基因,发现5个已知蛋白调节不同NF-κB活化途径的新功能。此外,在国际上较早开展了植物细胞凋亡的研究,首次报道体外培养植物细胞凋亡过程中有细胞色素C的释放。     

ND3、NF-κB在遗传性糖尿病长爪沙鼠肝脏、肾脏中的表达定位

的 比较正常血糖长爪沙鼠和自发遗传性糖尿病长爪沙鼠肝脏和肾脏组织中烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸(NADH)脱氢酶亚单位3(NADH dehydrogenase 3,ND3)和核转录因子κb(nuclear factor κB,NF-κB)蛋白的表达定位差异。方法 选取正常血糖长爪沙鼠和自发遗传性糖尿病长爪沙鼠各6只,分别采集动物的肝脏和肾脏组织,利用免疫组织化学检测ND3、NF-κB在各组织中的定位和表达水平。结果 ND3、NF-κB表达于长爪沙鼠肝脏实质细胞胞质中,与对照动物相比,糖尿病长爪沙鼠肝脏中NF-κB表达显著升高;ND3还表达于长爪沙鼠肾脏肾小管上皮细胞胞质中,且与对照动物相比,糖尿病长爪沙鼠肾脏中ND3表达显著升高。结论 在糖尿病长爪沙鼠中,ND3显著高表达于肾脏肾小管上皮细胞,NF-κB显著高表达于肝实质细胞,提示肾脏中ND3和肝脏中NF-κB的异常升高可能参与长爪沙鼠糖尿病的发生和发展。     

Innate immune recognition of bacterial ligands by NAIPs determines inflammasome specificity

Inflammasomes are a family of cytosolic multiprotein complexes that initiate innate immune responses to pathogenic microbes by activating the caspase 1 protease. Although genetic data support a critical role for inflammasomes in immune defence and inflammatory diseases, the molecular basis by which individual inflammasomes respond to specific stimuli remains poorly understood. The inflammasome that contains the NLRC4 (NLR family, CARD domain containing 4) protein was previously shown to be activated in response to two distinct bacterial proteins, flagellin and PrgJ, a conserved component of pathogen-associated type III secretion systems. However, direct binding between NLRC4 and flagellin or PrgJ has never been demonstrated. A homologue of NLRC4, NAIP5 (NLR family, apoptosis inhibitory protein 5), has been implicated in activation of NLRC4 (refs 7-11), but is widely assumed to have only an auxiliary role, as NAIP5 is often dispensable for NLRC4 activation. However, Naip5 is a member of a small multigene family, raising the possibility of redundancy and functional specialization among Naip genes. Here we show in mice that different NAIP paralogues determine the specificity of the NLRC4 inflammasome for distinct bacterial ligands. In particular, we found that activation of endogenous NLRC4 by bacterial PrgJ requires NAIP2, a previously uncharacterized member of the NAIP gene family, whereas NAIP5 and NAIP6 activate NLRC4 specifically in response to bacterial flagellin. We dissected the biochemical mechanism underlying the requirement for NAIP proteins by use of a reconstituted NLRC4 inflammasome system. We found that NAIP proteins control ligand-dependent oligomerization of NLRC4 and that the NAIP2-NLRC4 complex physically associates with PrgJ but not flagellin, whereas NAIP5-NLRC4 associates with flagellin but not PrgJ. Our results identify NAIPs as immune sensor proteins and provide biochemical evidence for a simple receptor-ligand model for activation of the NAIP-NLRC4 inflammasomes.