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Wayne I Lencer

Publications and source records attributed to Wayne I Lencer.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Paneth cell cryptdins act in vitro as apical paracrine regulators of the innate inflammatory response.

Intestinal-specific antimicrobial alpha-defensins, termed cryptdins, are secreted into the intestinal lumen by mouse Paneth cells in response to microbial pathogens. Cryptdins kill microbes by forming pores in their limiting membranes. The cryptdin isoforms 2 and 3 also can form anion-conductive pores in eukaryotic cell membranes, thus affecting cell physiology. Here, we find that when applied to apical membranes of the human intestinal cell line T84, cryptdin 3 (Cr3) induces secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 8 (IL-8) in a dose-dependent manner. The induction of IL-8 secretion is specific to the cryptdins that form channels in mammalian cell membranes because cryptdin 4, which does not form pores in T84 cells, does not induce IL-8 secretion. Cr3 induces inflammatory cytokine secretion by activating NF-kappaB and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in a Ca2+-dependent manner, but influx by extra-cellular Ca2+ is not involved. Unlike other known inflammatory agonists, signal transduction by Cr3 occurs slowly, suggesting a novel mechanism of action. These results show that selective cryptdins may amplify their roles in innate immunity by acting as novel paracrine agonists to coordinate an inflammatory response with the antimicrobial secretions of Paneth cells.

Blotting, Western↗

Bidirectional transepithelial IgG transport by a strongly polarized basolateral membrane Fcgamma-receptor.

The human MHC class I-related neonatal Fc receptor, hFcRn, mediates bidirectional transport of IgG across mucosal barriers. Here, we find that at steady state hFcRn distributes predominantly to an apical intracellular compartment and almost exclusively to the basolateral cell surface of polarized epithelial cells. It moves only transiently to the apical membrane. Ligand binding does not redistribute the steady state location of the receptor. Removal of the cytoplasmic tail that contains di-leucine and tryptophan-based endocytosis motifs or incubation at low temperature (18 degrees C) redistributes the receptor apically. The rates of endocytosis of the full-length hFcRn from the apical or basolateral membrane domains, however, are equal. Thus, the strong cell surface polarity displayed by hFcRn results from dominant basolateral sorting by motifs in the cytoplasmic tail that nonetheless allows for a cycle of bidirectional transcytosis.

Animals↗

Human neonatal Fc receptor mediates transport of IgG into luminal secretions for delivery of antigens to mucosal dendritic cells.

Mucosal secretions of the human gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genital tracts contain significant quantities of IgG. The mechanism by which IgG reaches luminal secretions and the function of IgG in these locations are unknown. Here, we find that the human neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is the vehicle that transports IgG across the intestinal epithelial barrier into the lumen where the IgG can bind cognate antigen. The FcRn can then recycle the IgG/antigen complex back across the intestinal barrier into the lamina propria for processing by dendritic cells and presentation to CD4(+) T cells in regional organized lymphoid structures. These results explain how IgG is secreted onto mucosal surfaces and scavenges luminal antigens for recognition by the immune system.

Adoptive Transfer↗

Retrograde transport of cholera toxin into the ER of host cells.

Cholera toxin moves from the plasma membrane to the ER of host cells to cause disease. Here we discuss recent studies on the mechanism of transport from plasma membrane to the ER and on the reactions that unfold and retrotranslocate a portion of the toxin to the cytosol where toxicity is induced.

Cell Membrane↗

Diarrhea-associated HIV-1 APIs potentiate muscarinic activation of Cl- secretion by T84 cells via prolongation of cytosolic Ca2+ signaling.

Aspartyl protease inhibitors (APIs) effectively extend the length and quality of life in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but dose-limiting side effects such as lipodystrophy, insulin resistance, and diarrhea have limited their clinical utility. Here, we show that the API nelfinavir induces a secretory form of diarrhea in HIV-infected patients. In vitro studies demonstrate that nelfinavir potentiates muscarinic stimulation of Cl(-) secretion by T84 human intestinal cell monolayers through amplification and prolongation of an apical membrane Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) conductance. This stimulated ion secretion is associated with increased magnitude and duration of muscarinically induced intracellular Ca(2+) transients via activation of a long-lived, store-operated Ca(2+) entry pathway. The enhanced intracellular Ca(2+) signal is associated with uncoupling of the Cl(-) conductance from downregulatory intracellular mediators generated normally by muscarinic activation. These data show that APIs modulate Ca(2+) signaling in secretory epithelial cells and identify a novel target for treatment of clinically important API side effects.

Adult↗

Gangliosides that associate with lipid rafts mediate transport of cholera and related toxins from the plasma membrane to endoplasmic reticulm.

Cholera toxin (CT) travels from the plasma membrane of intestinal cells to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where a portion of the A-subunit, the A1 chain, crosses the membrane into the cytosol to cause disease. A related toxin, LTIIb, binds to intestinal cells but does not cause toxicity. Here, we show that the B-subunit of CT serves as a carrier for the A-subunit to the ER where disassembly occurs. The B-subunit binds to gangliosides in lipid rafts and travels with the ganglioside to the ER. In many cells, LTIIb follows a similar pathway, but in human intestinal cells it binds to a ganglioside that fails to associate with lipid rafts and it is sorted away from the retrograde pathway to the ER. Our results explain why LTIIb does not cause disease in humans and suggest that gangliosides with high affinity for lipid rafts may provide a general vehicle for the transport of toxins to the ER.

Animals↗

Claudin-8 expression in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells augments the paracellular barrier to cation permeation.

Claudins are a family of integral membrane proteins of the tight junction that are thought to participate in the permeation of solutes across epithelia via the paracellular pathway. Claudin-8 is expressed in the distal renal tubule, which has a characteristically low passive permeability to monovalent cations. To test the hypothesis that claudin-8 plays a role in forming a tight paracellular barrier to cations, stably transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney II cell lines with inducible expression of claudin-8 were generated. Induction of claudin-8 expression was associated with down-regulation of endogenous claudin-2 protein. Other tight junction proteins were expressed and targeted normally, and the number of junctional strands was minimally altered. By Ussing chamber and radiotracer flux studies, claudin-8 expression was found to reduce paracellular permeability to monovalent inorganic and organic cations and to divalent cations but not to anions or neutral solutes. The size selectivity, charge dependence, and activation energy of paracellular cation permeation were all unchanged. These observations are consistent with a model in which claudin-2 encodes a highly cation-permeable channel, whereas claudin-8 acts primarily as a cation barrier. When exogenous claudin-8 is expressed, it replaces endogenous claudin-2, inserting in its place into existing tight junction strands, thereby reducing the apparent number of functional cation pores. Our findings suggest that claudin-8 plays an important role in the paracellular cation barrier of the distal renal tubule.

Animals↗

The intracellular voyage of cholera toxin: going retro.

Cholera toxin (CT) and related AB(5)-subunit toxins move from the plasma membrane through the trans-Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the cytosol of host cells. The toxins exploit a specific glycolipid pathway rather than a protein pathway. They bind glycolipids that associate with lipid rafts at the cell surface, which carry the toxins retrograde to the Golgi and ER. In the ER, the A1-chain of the CT unfolds and enters the cytosol by hijacking the cellular machinery that enables misfolded proteins to cross the membrane for degradation by the proteasome, a process termed retro-translocation. Upon entering the cytosol, the A1-chain rapidly refolds, avoids the proteasome and induces toxicity.

Animals↗

Distribution of the IgG Fc receptor, FcRn, in the human fetal intestine.

The intestinal Fc receptor, FcRn, functions in the maternofetal transfer of gamma globulin (IgG) in the neonatal rodent. In humans, most of this transfer is presumed to occur in utero via the placenta. Although the fetus swallows amniotic fluid that contains immunoglobulin, it is unknown whether this transfer also occurs via the fetal intestine. A human FcRn has been identified in the syncytiotrophoblast that mediates the maternofetal transfer of antibody. It has also been identified in human fetal intestine and is postulated to function in IgG transport. We hypothesize that the human fetal intestinal FcRn may play a role in IgG transport from the amniotic fluid into the fetal circulation. The aim of this study was to characterize the distribution of the FcRn along the human fetal intestine. Lysates prepared from human fetal intestine and from a nonmalignant human fetal intestinal epithelial cell line (H4) were subjected to Western blot analysis and probed using anti-FcRn antibodies. A 42-kD band, consistent with the known molecular weight of the FcRn, was detected along the human fetal intestine and in H4 cells. Expression of the human FcRn was confirmed with immunohistochemistry. Our study demonstrates the expression of FcRn along the human fetal intestine and in a human nonmalignant fetal intestinal epithelial cell line (H4), which by location indicates that FcRn could play a role in the uptake and transport of IgG in the human fetus.

Adult↗

Role of ubiquitination in retro-translocation of cholera toxin and escape of cytosolic degradation.

Cholera toxin travels from the cell surface of affected mammalian cells to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where the A1 chain is released and retro-translocated across the ER membrane into the cytosol. We have tested whether, as in other cases, retro-translocation requires poly-ubiquitination. We show that an A1 chain mutant that lacks lysines and has a blocked N-terminus, and therefore cannot be ubiquitinated, remains active in vivo. The A1 chain is not degraded in the cytosol, as demonstrated by the fact that proteasome inhibitors do not stimulate its activity. When additional lysines are introduced into the A1 chain, moderate degradation by the proteasome is observed. The unfolded A1 chain rapidly refolds in vitro. These results show that poly-ubiquitination is not required for retro-translocation of all proteins across the ER membrane and indicate that the reason why the toxin escapes degradation in the cytosol may be both its paucity of lysines and its rapid refolding.

Chlorine↗

The heavy chain of neonatal Fc receptor for IgG is sequestered in endoplasmic reticulum by forming oligomers in the absence of beta2-microglobulin association.

The heavy chain (HC) of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) for IgG is non-convalently associated with beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m). In beta(2)m(-/-) mice, FcRn functions are greatly impaired. We sought to determine how FcRn HC, particularly its structure and biogenesis, is affected by the absence of beta(2)m. Human FcRn HC, expressed from the beta(2)m-null cell line FO-1(FcRn), was present as a monomeric 45-kDa protein under reducing conditions but primarily as a 92-kDa oligomeric protein under non-reducing conditions. Two-dimensional electrophoresis and MS analysis showed that the 92-kDa protein was a dimer of the 45-kDa HC. Immunostaining showed that FcRn HC in FO-1(FcRn) was co-localized with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein Bip/GRP78 but not with an endosome protein, EEA1. In contrast, FcRn HC in FO-1(FcRn+beta2m) was detected in both the ER and endosome. The dimeric HC in FcRn oligomers was free of beta(2)m association in FO-1(FcRn+beta2m). Mutation of non-paired cysteine residues at positions 48 and 251 within the human FcRn cDNA failed to eliminate the oligomers. The FcRn HC oligomers could be reduced by reconstitution of FO-1(FcRn) with beta(2)m or by balanced expression of FcRn HC with beta(2)m, or beta(2)m fused with a KDEL retention sequence. Similarly, the majority of FcRn HC isolated from neonatal beta(2)m(-/-) mice was in a dimeric form under non-reducing conditions. The amount of FcRn HC was significantly decreased in beta(2)m(-/-) mice and FO-1(FcRn). Furthermore, beta(2)m-free FcRn HC was sensitive to endoglycosidase digestion. These results indicate that FcRn HC alone can form disulphide-bonded oligomers in the ER, which may represent a misfolded protein. The beta(2)m association with FcRn HC is critical for correct folding of FcRn and exiting the ER for routing to endosomes and the cell surface.

Animals↗

Receptor-mediated immunoglobulin G transport across mucosal barriers in adult life: functional expression of FcRn in the mammalian lung.

Mucosal secretions of the human gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genital tracts contain the immunoglobulins (Ig)G and secretory IgA (sIgA) that function together in host defense. Exactly how IgG crosses epithelial barriers to function in mucosal immunity remains unknown. Here, we test the idea that the MHC class I-related Fc-receptor, FcRn, transports IgG across the mucosal surface of the human and mouse lung from lumen to serosa. We find that bronchial epithelial cells of the human, nonhuman primate, and mouse, express FcRn in adult-life, and demonstrate FcRn-dependent absorption of a bioactive Fc-fusion protein across the respiratory epithelium of the mouse in vivo. Thus, IgG, like dimeric IgA, can cross epithelial barriers by receptor-mediated transcytosis in adult animals. These data show that mucosal surfaces that express FcRn reabsorb IgG and explain a mechanism by which IgG may act in immune surveillance to retrieve lumenal antigens for processing in the lamina propria or systemically.

Animals↗

Functional reconstitution of human FcRn in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells requires co-expressed human beta 2-microglobulin.

The major histocompatibility complex class I-related neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn, assembles as a heterodimer consisting of a heavy chain and beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m), which is essential for FcRn function. We observed that, in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, the function of human FcRn in mediating the bidirectional transport of IgG was significantly increased upon co-expression of the human isoform of beta(2)m. In MDCK cells, the presence of human beta(2)m endowed upon human FcRn an enhanced ability to exit the endoplasmic reticulum and acquire mature carbohydrate side-chain modifications at steady state, a faster kinetics of maturation, and augmented localization at the cell surface as a mature glycoprotein able to bind IgG. Although human FcRn with immature carbohydrate side-chain modifications was capable of exhibiting pH-dependent binding of IgG, only human FcRn with mature carbohydrate side-chain modifications was detected on the cell surface. These results show that human FcRn travels to the cell surface via the normal secretory pathway and that the appropriate expression and function of human FcRn in MDCK cells depends upon the co-expression of human beta(2)m.

Animals↗

Uncoupling of the cholera toxin-G(M1) ganglioside receptor complex from endocytosis, retrograde Golgi trafficking, and downstream signal transduction by depletion of membrane cholesterol.

To induce toxicity, cholera toxin (CT) must first bind ganglioside G(M1) at the plasma membrane, enter the cell by endocytosis, and then traffic retrograde into the endoplasmic reticulum. We recently proposed that G(M1) provides the sorting motif necessary for retrograde trafficking into the biosynthetic/secretory pathway of host cells, and that such trafficking depends on association with lipid rafts and lipid raft function. To test this idea, we examined whether CT action in human intestinal T84 cells depends on membrane cholesterol. Chelation of cholesterol with 2-hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin or methyl beta-cyclodextrin reversibly inhibited CT-induced chloride secretion and prolonged the time required for CT to enter the cell and induce toxicity. These effects were specific to CT, as identical conditions did not alter the potency or toxicity of anthrax edema toxin that enters the cell by another mechanism. We found that endocytosis and trafficking of CT into the Golgi apparatus depended on membrane cholesterol. Cholesterol depletion also changed the density and specific protein content of CT-associated lipid raft fractions but did not entirely displace the CT-G(M1) complex from these lipid raft microdomains. Taken together these data imply that cholesterol may function to couple the CT-G(M1) complex with raft domains and with other membrane components of the lipid raft required for CT entry into the cell.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Cryptdin 3 forms anion selective channels in cytoplasmic membranes of human embryonic kidney cells.

Cryptdins are antimicrobial peptides secreted by Paneth cells located at the base of intestinal crypts. In addition to their antimicrobial function, cryptdins may also regulate salt and water secretion by intestinal epithelial cells. Recent work with short-circuit current measurements indicated that at least one cryptdin peptide, cryptdin 3, induces apical conductance(s) in Cl(-) secretory, including cystic fibrosis, epithelia. In the present study, we characterized the cryptdin 3-induced anion channel activity in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells with single-channel patch-clamp techniques. The patch pipette was filled with solution containing different concentrations of cryptdin 3, and, after gigaseal formation, the channel activity was recorded with either cell-attached or inside-out patch modes. We found an anion selective channel with a conductance of 15 pS and open probability of 0.19, regardless of cryptdin 3 concentration. The mean open and closed times varied with the cryptdin 3 concentration. For cryptdin 3 concentrations of 10, 4, 1, and 0.5 microg/ml in the pipette, the corresponding mean open times were 1.2, 7.0, 9.0, and 17.4 ms and the corresponding mean closed times were 1.1, 1.6, 4.2, and 12.5 ms. These results suggest that cryptdin 3 forms anion-selective channels on the cytoplasmic membrane of HEK cells and that the kinetics of one such channel are affected by its interaction with other such channels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗