The cytotoxicity of eosinophil cationic protein/ribonuclease 3 on eukaryotic cell lines takes place through its aggregation on the cell membrane

Human eosinophil cationic protein (ECP)/ ribonuclease 3 (RNase 3) is a protein secreted from the secondary granules of activated eosinophils. Specific properties of ECP contribute to its cytotoxic activities associated with defense mechanisms. In this work the ECP cytotoxic activity on eukaryotic cell lines is analyzed. The ECP effects begin with its binding and aggregation to the cell surface, altering the cell membrane permeability and modifying the cell ionic equilibrium. No internalization of the protein is observed. These signals induce cell-specific morphological and biochemical changes such as chromatin condensation, reversion of membrane asymmetry, reactive oxygen species production and activation of caspase-3-like activity and, eventually, cell death. However, the ribonuclease activity component of ECP is not involved in this process as no RNA degradation is observed. In summary, the cytotoxic effect of ECP is attained through a mechanism different from that of other cytotoxic RNases and may be related with the ECP accumulation associated with the inflammatory processes, in which eosinophils are present. Received 26 October 2007; accepted 23 November 2007     

Evidence for the intracellular accumulation of anandamide in adiposomes

Anandamide is a lipid messenger that carries out a wide variety of biological functions. It has been suggested that anandamide accumulation involves binding to a saturable cellular component. To identify the structure(s) involved in this process, we analyzed the intracellular distribution of both biotinylated and radiolabeled anandamide, providing direct evidence that lipid droplets, also known as adiposomes, constitute a dynamic reservoir for the sequestration of anandamide. In addition, confocal microscopy and biochemical studies revealed that the anandamide-hydrolase is also spatially associated with lipid droplets, and that cells with a larger adiposome compartment have an enhanced catabolism of anandamide. Overall, these findings suggest that adiposomes may have a critical role in accumulating anandamide, possibly by connecting plasma membrane to internal organelles along the metabolic route of this endocannabinoid. S. Oddi, F. Fezza: These authors contributed equally to the study.     

The protease-activated receptor-3 (PAR-3) can signal autonomously to induce interleukin-8 release

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) play a clear role in the burst of inflammatory reactions and immune responses. However, for PAR-3, the most elusive member of the PAR family, the functional role is still largely unclear. It has been claimed that PAR-3 does not signal autonomously, although the wide expression of human PAR-3 indicates its important physiological roles. We demonstrate that in HEK-293 cells, stably transfected with human PAR-3, thrombin induced calcium signaling, IL-8 gene expression and IL-8 release. We confirmed this finding using human lung epithelial and human astrocytoma cells that express endogenous PAR-3. Moreover, thrombin exposure of HEK-293 cells resulted in ERK1/2 activation coinciding with IL-8 release. The effects of thrombin were not dependent on PAR-1 activation, as confirmed by PAR-1 gene silencing. Thus, we propose that PAR-3 is able to signal autonomously to induce IL-8 release mediated by ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which contributes actively to inflammatory responses. Received 9 December 2007; received after revision 16 January 2008; accepted 18 January 2008     

Molecular and Cellular Basis of Regeneration and Tissue Repair

The ability to produce differentiated cell types at will offers one approach to cell therapy and therefore the treatment and cure of degenerative diseases such as diabetes and liver failure. Until recently it was thought that differentiated cells could only be produced from embryonic or adult stem cells. However, we now know that this is not the case, and there is a growing body of evidence to show that one differentiated cell type can convert into a completely different phenotype (transdifferentiation). Understanding the cellular and molecular basis of transdifferentiation will allow us to reprogram cells for transplantation. This approach will complement the use of embryonic and adult stem cells in the treatment of degenerative disorders. In this review, we will focus on some well-documented examples of transdifferentiation.     

Endocrine-dependent expression of circadian clock genes in insects

Current models state that insect peripheral oscillators are directly responsive to light, while mammalian peripheral clock genes are coordinated by a master clock in the brain via intermediate factors, possibly hormonal. We show that the expression levels of two circadian clock genes, period (per) and Par Domain Protein 1 (Pdp1) in the peripheral tissue of an insect model species, the linden bug Pyrrhocoris apterus, are inversely affected by contrasting photoperiods. The effect of photoperiod on per and Pdp1 mRNA levels was found to be mediated by the corpus allatum, an endocrine gland producing juvenile hormone. Our results provide the first experimental evidence for the effect of an endocrine gland on circadian clock gene expression in insects. Received 31 October 2007; received after revision 7 January 2008; accepted 9 January 2008 D. Dolezel, L. Zdechovanova: These authors contributed equally to this work.     

Regulation of phagocyte migration and recruitment by Src-family kinases

Src-family kinases (SFKs) regulate different granulocyte and monocyte/macrophage responses. Accumulating evidence suggests that members of this family are implicated in signal transduction pathways regulating phagocytic cell migration and recruitment into inflammatory sites. Macrophages with a genetic deficiency of SFKs display marked alterations in cytoskeleton dynamics, polarization and migration. This same phenotype is found in cells with either a lack of SFK substrates and/or interacting proteins such as Pyk2/FAK, c-Cbl and p190RhoGAP. Notably, SFKs and their downstream targets also regulate monocyte recruitment into inflammatory sites. Depending on the type of assay used, neutrophil migration in vitro may be either dependent on or independent of SFKs. Also neutrophil recruitment in in vivo models of inflammation may be regulated differently by SFKs depending on the tissue involved. In this review we will discuss possible mechanisms by which SFKs may regulate phagocytic cell migratory abilities.     

Coilin levels and modifications influence artificial reporter splicing

Cajal bodies (CBs) and Gems are nuclear domains that contain factors responsible for spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) biogenesis. The marker protein for CBs is coilin. In addition to snRNPs, coilin and other factors, canonical CBs contain the survivor of motor neuron protein (SMN). SMN can also localize to Gems. Considering the important role that coilin plays in the formation and composition of CBs, we tested the splicing efficiency of several cell lines that vary in regards to coilin level and modification using an artificial reporter substrate. We found that cells with both hypomethylated coilin and Gems are more efficient at reporter splicing compared to cells in which SMN localizes to CBs. In contrast, coilin reduction, which induces Gem formation, decreases cell proliferation and artificial reporter splicing. These findings demonstrate that coilin modifications or levels impact artificial reporter splicing, possibly by influencing snRNP biogenesis. Received 26 December 2007; received after revision 5 February 2008; accepted 7 February 2008     

Olfactory ensheathing cells are attracted to, and can endocytose, bacteria

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) have been shown previously to express Toll-like receptors and to respond to bacteria by translocating nuclear factor-kappaB from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In this study, we show that OECs extended significantly more pseudopodia when they were exposed to Escherichia coli than in the absence of bacteria (p=0.019). Co-immunoprecipitation showed that E. coli binding to OECs was mediated by Toll-like receptor 4. Lyso-Tracker, a fluorescent probe that accumulates selectively in lysosomes, and staining for type 1 lysosome-associated membrane proteins demonstrated that endocytosed FITC-conjugated E. coli were translocated to lysosomes. They appeared to be subsequently broken down, as shown by transmission electron microscopy. No obvious adherence to the membrane and less phagocytosis was observed when OECs were incubated with inert fluorescent microspheres. The ability of OECs to endocytose bacteria supports the notion that OECs play an innate immune function by protecting olfactory tissues from bacterial infection.