Oncogenically active MYD88 mutations in human lymphoma

The activated B-cell-like (ABC) subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains the least curable form of this malignancy despite recent advances in therapy. Constitutive nuclear factor (NF)-κB and JAK kinase signalling promotes malignant cell survival in these lymphomas, but the genetic basis for this signalling is incompletely understood. Here we describe the dependence of ABC DLBCLs on MYD88, an adaptor protein that mediates toll and interleukin (IL)-1 receptor signalling, and the discovery of highly recurrent oncogenic mutations affecting MYD88 in ABC DLBCL tumours. RNA interference screening revealed that MYD88 and the associated kinases IRAK1 and IRAK4 are essential for ABC DLBCL survival. High-throughput RNA resequencing uncovered MYD88 mutations in ABC DLBCL lines. Notably, 29% of ABC DLBCL tumours harboured the same amino acid substitution, L265P, in the MYD88 Toll/IL-1 receptor (TIR) domain at an evolutionarily invariant residue in its hydrophobic core. This mutation was rare or absent in other DLBCL subtypes and Burkitt's lymphoma, but was observed in 9% of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas. At a lower frequency, additional mutations were observed in the MYD88 TIR domain, occurring in both the ABC and germinal centre B-cell-like (GCB) DLBCL subtypes. Survival of ABC DLBCL cells bearing the L265P mutation was sustained by the mutant but not the wild-type MYD88 isoform, demonstrating that L265P is a gain-of-function driver mutation. The L265P mutant promoted cell survival by spontaneously assembling a protein complex containing IRAK1 and IRAK4, leading to IRAK4 kinase activity, IRAK1 phosphorylation, NF-κB signalling, JAK kinase activation of STAT3, and secretion of IL-6, IL-10 and interferon-β. Hence, the MYD88 signalling pathway is integral to the pathogenesis of ABC DLBCL, supporting the development of inhibitors of IRAK4 kinase and other components of this pathway for the treatment of tumours bearing oncogenic MYD88 mutations.     

夏季黄连木排放萜烯类化合物浓度日变化及排放速率的研究

采用流动式采样与气相色谱 质谱联用法研究了意大利撒丁岛Noak’sArk自然生态区主要灌木黄连木 (Pistacialentiscus)萜烯类化合物排放特征、排放速率及其日变化。排放物种包括α 蒎烯、β 蒎烯、桧烯、苎烯、戊花烃、莰烯、β 水芹烯、β 香叶烯、α 松油烯、α 水芹烯和 3 蒈烯 ,以及少量异戊二烯。萜烯类化合物占总排放的 99 4%,异戊二烯仅占 0 6%。在萜烯类化合物中 ,主要排放物为α 蒎烯、β 蒎烯、桧烯和苎烯 ,分别占总排放的 64 5 %、18 4%、6 0 %和 5 9%。萜烯排放速率随温度的升高而增加 ,呈指数相关。在标准条件下 ( 30 3K) ,黄连木树种的排放速率为 2 72±0 72 μg g·h。黄连木排放速率公式中 β值为 0 12 8K-1,与文献值 0 0 5 7～ 0 144K-1相一致。     

Soluble polysialylated NCAM: a novel player of the innate immune system in the lung

Posttranslational modification of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) by polysialic acid (polySia) is well studied in the nervous system and described as a dynamic modulator of plastic processes like precursor cell migration, axon fasciculation, and synaptic plasticity. Here, we describe a novel function of polysialylated NCAM (polySia-NCAM) in innate immunity of the lung. In mature lung tissue of healthy donors, polySia was exclusively attached to the transmembrane isoform NCAM-140 and located to intracellular compartments of epithelial cells. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, however, increased polySia levels and processing of the NCAM carrier were observed. Processing of polysialylated NCAM was reproduced in a mouse model by bleomycin administration leading to an activation of the inflammasome and secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β. As shown in a cell culture model, polySia-NCAM-140 was kept in the late trans-Golgi apparatus of lung epithelial cells and stimulation by IL-1β or lipopolysaccharide induced metalloprotease-mediated ectodomain shedding, resulting in the secretion of soluble polySia-NCAM. Interestingly, polySia chains of secreted NCAM neutralized the cytotoxic activity of extracellular histones as well as DNA/histone-network-containing “neutrophil extracellular traps”, which are formed during invasion of microorganisms. Thus, shedding of polySia-NCAM by lung epithelial cells may provide a host-protective mechanism to reduce tissue damage during inflammatory processes.     

The bonobo genome compared with the chimpanzee and human genomes

Two African apes are the closest living relatives of humans: the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and the bonobo (Pan paniscus). Although they are similar in many respects, bonobos and chimpanzees differ strikingly in key social and sexual behaviours, and for some of these traits they show more similarity with humans than with each other. Here we report the sequencing and assembly of the bonobo genome to study its evolutionary relationship with the chimpanzee and human genomes. We find that more than three per cent of the human genome is more closely related to either the bonobo or the chimpanzee genome than these are to each other. These regions allow various aspects of the ancestry of the two ape species to be reconstructed. In addition, many of the regions that overlap genes may eventually help us understand the genetic basis of phenotypes that humans share with one of the two apes to the exclusion of the other.     

Inhibition of cell proliferation caused by oncogenic DNA-polyoma virus

Zusammenfassung Eine eindrucksvolle, über 30 Tage beobachtete Hemmung der Zellproliferation in Niere und Leber wird verursacht durch Infektion neugeborener Ratten mit unserem PV-Stamm. Dieses Phänomen ist bei adult infizierten Ratten nur im Nierenmark nachweisbar und fehlt bei Mäusen ganz.

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This investigation was supported in part by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant No. Ge 121/10).     

Sirt1 promotes fat mobilization in white adipocytes by repressing PPAR-gamma

Calorie restriction extends lifespan in organisms ranging from yeast to mammals. In yeast, the SIR2 gene mediates the life-extending effects of calorie restriction. Here we show that the mammalian SIR2 orthologue, Sirt1 (sirtuin 1), activates a critical component of calorie restriction in mammals; that is, fat mobilization in white adipocytes. Upon food withdrawal Sirt1 protein binds to and represses genes controlled by the fat regulator PPAR-gamma (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma), including genes mediating fat storage. Sirt1 represses PPAR-gamma by docking with its cofactors NCoR (nuclear receptor co-repressor) and SMRT (silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors). Mobilization of fatty acids from white adipocytes upon fasting is compromised in Sirt1+/- mice. Repression of PPAR-gamma by Sirt1 is also evident in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, where overexpression of Sirt1 attenuates adipogenesis, and RNA interference of Sirt1 enhances it. In differentiated fat cells, upregulation of Sirt1 triggers lipolysis and loss of fat. As a reduction in fat is sufficient to extend murine lifespan, our results provide a possible molecular pathway connecting calorie restriction to life extension in mammals.     

Antagonism between Ca and Na ions at neurohypophysial nerve terminals

Résumé La secrétion hormonale de neurohypophyses isolées de rat a été estimée à l'aide d'un test d'éjection du lait. Au moment de la dépolarisation des terminaisons neurosecrétrices, il y a compétition entre le sodium et le calcium externes pour d'hypothétiques sites membranaires. Pour des concentrations de calcium inférieures ou égales à la concentration physiologique, la libération hormonale est fonction du rapport [Ca²⁺]/[Na⁺]² dans le milieu externe.

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This work was supported by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation No. 5340.3 and 3.556.71 and the F. Hoffmann-La-Roche Foundation No. 117.     

On the storage and mobilization of organic resources in the hepatopancreas of a crab (Paratelphusa hydrodromus)

Résumé Etude des changements cycliques observés dans les hydrates de carbone et les lipides contenus dans l'hépatopancreas du crabeParatelphusa hydrodromus pendant le cycle de mue.     

Recovery and identification of interferon in the rabbit urine

Riassunto È stato dimostrato che l'inoculazione endovenosa di virus Sindbis nel coniglio provoca formazione di interferone che viene liberato nel sangue ed escreto con le urine. L'interferone urinario sembra derivare quasi completamente dal siero, ha alti titoli ed ha le stesse proprietà fisico-chimiche e biologiche dell'interferone sierico.