Biomedical subjects

C J Kirschning

Publications and source records attributed to C J Kirschning.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Human toll-like receptor 2 confers responsiveness to bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) in host cells upon infection. LPS binds to the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)- anchored membrane protein CD14, which lacks an intracellular signaling domain. Here we investigated the role of mammalian Toll-like receptors (TLRs) as signal transducers for LPS. Overexpression of TLR2, but not TLR1, TLR4, or CD14 conferred LPS inducibility of NF-kappaB activation in mammalian 293 cells. Mutational analysis demonstrated that this LPS response requires the intracellular domain of TLR2. LPS signaling through TLR2 was dependent on serum which contains soluble CD14 (sCD14). Coexpression of CD14 synergistically enhanced LPS signal transmission through TLR2. In addition, purified recombinant sCD14 could substitute for serum to support LPS-induced TLR2 activation. LPS stimulation of TLR2 initiated an interleukin 1 receptor-like NF-kappaB signaling cascade. These findings suggest that TLR2 may be a signaling component of a cellular receptor for LPS.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1998

Lipopolysaccharide activates caspase-1 (interleukin-1-converting enzyme) in cultured monocytic and endothelial cells.

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) is a pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine. Mechanisms leading to its secretion include not only release of newly synthesized protein, but also cleavage of a preformed immature precursor protein into an active secretory form by the intracellular protease caspase-1 (formerly termed IL-1-converting enzyme [ICE]). Caspase-1 belongs to a rapidly growing family of cysteine proteases with substrate specificity for aspartate involved in cellular apoptosis. We have used an assay determining the caspase-1 activity based on cleavage of a fluorogenic peptide substrate to elucidate its role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced secretion of IL-1 beta. We show that LPS induces moderate caspase-1 activity in the monocytic cell line THP-1, in freshly isolated peripheral blood monocytes, and in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Caspase-1 activation by LPS was associated with cleavage of the IL-1 beta precursor protein that was followed by release of the mature IL-1 beta protein in monocytic cells. In contrast, subsequent release of IL-1 beta by HUVECs was not significant. LPS-induced caspase-1 activation appeared not to result from modulation of caspase-1 transcript accumulation and inhibition of caspase-1 activity was accomplished by two specific inhibitors, YVAD-CHO and YVAD-CMK, capable of alleviating the release of mature IL-1 beta. Taken together, these results show that LPS moderately activates caspase-1 and that caspase-1 activation contributes to LPS induction of IL-1 beta secretion.

Caspase 1↗

PubMed1998

Lipopolysaccharide and pneumococcal cell wall components activate the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) erk-1, erk-2, and p38 in astrocytes.

Cell wall compounds of gram-positive bacteria are capable of inducing the biosynthesis of proinflammatory cytokines in CNS cells in a similar way as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of gram-negative bacteria does. Astrocytes, which lack the CD14 LPS receptor, have also been shown to respond to LPS-stimulation by increased cytokine synthesis. However, almost nothing is known about signaling steps involved in this process. We have therefore examined signaling events in primary cultures of rat astrocytes and the human astrocytoma cell line U373MG, brought about by LPS and pneumococcal cell walls (PCW). Of particular interest to us was the tyrosine phosphorylation patterns and activation states of three members of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, i.e., extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (erk)-1, erk-2, and the recently identified p38. We show that LPS and PCW initiate tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of erk-1, erk-2, and p38 in a dose-dependent fashion. Inhibitors of tyrosine phosphorylation were able to alleviate this effect and also blocked cytokine production of astrocytes. Both, LPS- and PCW-induced responses of astrocytic cells required the presence of soluble CD14 (sCD14) present in serum. Unraveling the signaling steps induced by bacterial compounds in cells of the CNS may potentially help to elucidate the pathomechanisms of meningitis and central nervous complications of sepsis and may offer options for novel treatment strategies.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Similar organization of the lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) genes suggests a common gene family of lipid-binding proteins.

The transfer of lipids in aqueous environments such as serum has been attributed to a recently characterized class of proteins. Abnormal regulation of serum lipids by these proteins is thought to be a key event in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. Lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) binding protein (LBP) was identified by virtue of its ability to bind bacterial lipid A. We have analyzed the exon-intron organization of the LBP gene and the nucleotide sequence of its approximately 20 kb spanning 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions. When comparing the genomic organization of LBP with that of two other genes coding for lipid transfer proteins, significant homologies were found. The LBP gene includes 15 exons, and the 2-kb promoter contains recognition elements of acute phase-typical reactants and a repetitive 12-mer motif with an as yet unknown protein-binding property. Detailed sequence comparison revealed a closer relatedness of LBP with PLTP than with CETP as demonstrated by an almost identical intron positioning. This high degree of similarity supports functional studies by others suggesting that like LBP, PLTP may also be able to bind and transport bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1997

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-mediated kinase cascades: bifurcation of nuclear factor-kappaB and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK/SAPK) pathways at TNF receptor-associated factor 2.

TNF-induced activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB and the c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK/SAPK) requires TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2). The NF-kappaB-inducing kinase (NIK) associates with TRAF2 and mediates TNF activation of NF-kappaB. Herein we show that NIK interacts with additional members of the TRAF family and that this interaction requires the conserved "WKI" motif within the TRAF domain. We also investigated the role of NIK in JNK activation by TNF. Whereas overexpression of NIK potently induced NF-kappaB activation, it failed to stimulate JNK activation. A kinase-inactive mutant of NIK was a dominant negative inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation but did not suppress TNF- or TRAF2-induced JNK activation. Thus, TRAF2 is the bifurcation point of two kinase cascades leading to activation of NF-kappaB and JNK, respectively.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

PubMed1997

The transcriptional activation pattern of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) involving transcription factors AP-1 and C/EBP beta.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Binding Protein (LBP) is an acute phase protein with the ability to recognize bacterial LPS and transport it to the CD14 molecule or into HDL particles. It is synthesized in hepatocytes and secreted into the blood stream. LBP levels significantly rise during the acute phase response and levels of LBP may be important for an appropriate host reaction to bacterial challenge and for developing the sepsis syndrome. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of LBP regulation we investigated its transcription pattern and performed promoter studies under experimental conditions mimicking an acute phase scenario. In human hepatoma cell lines stimulation with IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and dexamethasone leads to strong transcriptional activation of the LBP gene in a dose- and time-dependent manner. IL-6 alone induces LBP significantly, whereas IL-1 beta mainly increases the IL-6 effect when applied in combination. Our results furthermore show that AP-1 and C/EBP beta are transcription factors involved in the activation of the LBP gene, as revealed by Luciferase reporter gene analysis and electromobility shift assays. Elucidating the mechanism of transcriptional activation of LBP potentially may help in understanding host-pathogen response patterns and mechanisms involved in the acute phase reaction and in the pathophysiology of sepsis.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1996

Effects of site-directed mutagenesis of basic residues (Arg 94, Lys 95, Lys 99) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein on binding and transfer of LPS and subsequent immune cell activation.

LPS-binding protein (LBP) is a 60-kDa acute phase glycoprotein capable of binding the LPS of Gram-negative bacteria and facilitating its diffusion. This process is thought to be of potential importance in inflammatory reactions and pathogenic states such as septic shock syndrome. Here, we report on the identification of a LPS binding domain within the LBP molecule and on the identification of single amino acids important for binding of LPS by LBP. Several synthetic LBP peptides inhibited LPS-LBP interaction, and amino acids Arg 94 and Lys 95 were centrally located in these inhibitory peptides. LBP mutants with amino acid exchanges within this region were expressed and tested in five different functional assays: binding to immobilized LPS; facilitation of binding of LPS aggregates to monocytes; transfer of LPS monomers from aggregates to soluble CD14; transfer of soluble CD14-bound LPS monomers to high density lipoprotein (HDL); and enhancement of LPS-induced cell activation. The double mutant Glu 94/Glu 95 was completely lacking LPS binding, transfer, and cell stimulatory activity, indicating that the integrity of amino acids 94 and 95 is required for LBP function. While mutations of amino acids Arg 94 or Lys 95 into alanine reduced the LPS binding activity of LBP dramatically, the ability to facilitate binding of LPS aggregates to membrane CD14 at the cell surface was retained. These findings emphasize the distinction between binding of LPS aggregates to cells, which is not associated with cell stimulation, and binding of LPS monomers to CD14, which leads to cell stimulation.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1996

The lipopolysaccharide-binding protein is a secretory class 1 acute-phase protein whose gene is transcriptionally activated by APRF/STAT/3 and other cytokine-inducible nuclear proteins.

Acute-phase reactants (APRs) are proteins synthesized in the liver following induction by interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and glucocorticoids, involving transcriptional gene activation. Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) is a recently identified hepatic secretory protein potentially involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis, capable of binding the bacterial cell wall product endotoxin and directing it to its cellular receptor, CD14. In order to examine the transcriptional induction mechanisms by which the LBP gene is activated, we have investigated the regulation of expression of its mRNA in vitro and in vivo as well as the organization of 5' upstream regulatory DNA sequences. We show that induction of LBP expression is transcriptionally regulated and is dependent on stimulation with IL-1beta, IL-6, and dexamethasone. By definition, LBP thus has to be viewed as a class 1 acute-phase protein and represents the first APR identified which is capable of detecting pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, cloning of the LBP promoter revealed the presence of regulatory elements, including the common APR promoter motif APRE/STAT-3 (acute-phase response element/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3). Luciferase reporter gene assays utilizing LBP promoter truncation and point mutation variants indicated that transcriptional activation of the LBP gene required a functional APRE/STAT-3 binding site downstream of the transcription start site, as well as an AP-1 and a C/EBP (CCAAT enhancer-binding protein) binding site. Gel retardation and supershift assays confirmed that upon cytokine stimulation APRF/STAT-3 binds to its recognition site, leading to strong activation of the LBP gene. Unraveling of the mechanism of transcriptional activation of the LBP gene, involving three known transcription factors, may contribute to our understanding of the acute-phase response and the pathophysiology of sepsis and septic shock.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗