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Structure of the M148Q mutant of rusticyanin at 1.5 A: a model for the copper site of stellacyanin.

The small blue copper protein rusticyanin from Thiobacillus ferrooxidans contains a type 1 Cu centre with a single axial ligand, Met148, which together with the His-Cys-His trigonal planar ligands produces a distorted trigonal pyramidal coordination geometry to copper. Type 1 Cu sites are found in cupredoxins and several multicopper proteins, including oxidases and nitrite reductases. The role of the axial ligand has been extensively debated in terms of its function in the fine tuning of the redox potential and spectroscopic properties of type 1 Cu sites. Numerous mutations of the Met ligand in azurins have been studied, but interpretation of the results has been complicated by the presence of the additional carbonyl oxygen ligand from Gly45, a neighbouring residue to the coordinating His46. The importance of the axial ligand has been further emphasized by the finding that the type 1 centre in Rhus vernicifera stellacyanin, with the lowest redox potential in a type 1 Cu site of 184 mV, has Gln as the axial ligand, whilst fungal laccase and ceruloplasmin, which have redox potentials of 550-800 mV, have a Leu in this position. Here, the crystal structure of the M148Q mutant of rusticyanin at 1.5 A resolution is presented. This is a significantly higher resolution than that of the structures of native rusticyanin. In addition, the M148Q structure is that of the oxidized protein while the native structures to date are of the reduced protein. The mutant protein crystallizes with two molecules per asymmetric unit, in contrast to the one present in the native crystal form. This mutant's redox potential (550 mV at pH 3.2) is lowered compared with that of the native protein ( approximately 670 mV at pH 3.2) by about 120 mV. The type 1 Cu site of M148Q closely mimics the structural characteristics of the equivalent site in non-glycosylated cucumber stellacyanin (redox potential approximately 260 mV) and, owing to the absence in rusticyanin of the fifth, carbonyl ligand present in azurin, may provide a better model for the R. vernicifera stellacyanin (redox potential approximately 184 mV) type 1 Cu site, which also lacks the fifth ligand. Furthermore, the presence of two molecules in the asymmetric unit cell indicates a potential binding region of the redox partners.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Increases in human epidermal DR+CD1+, DR+CD1-CD36+, and DR-CD3+ cells in allergic versus irritant patch test responses.

In an attempt to differentiate an allergic patch test response from an irritant response, we evaluated by flow cytometry the percentages of various epidermal cell populations isolated from allergen and irritant-treated patch test sites. Nine allergic individuals were patch tested with various allergens (Rhus, dinitrochlorobenzene [DNCB], or nickel chloride) and a vehicle control for 48 h. Eight additional individuals were patch tested with irritating chemicals (sodium lauryl sulfate or nonanoic acid) and with a vehicle control for 48 h. Epidermal cells, isolated from suction blisters, were double labeled for CD1/HLA-DR, CD3/HLA-DR, or CD36/HLA-DR cell surface markers and analyzed by flow cytometry to determine the percentage of various cell populations. A mean increase of 0.91 +/- 0.3 in the percentage of DR+CD1+ Langerhans cells over the vehicle control patch test site was detected in allergen-positive patch test sites in allergic individuals, whereas a decrease of 0.19 +/- 0.2 in the percentage of DR+CD1+ Langerhans cells from the vehicle control patch test site was detected in irritant-treated patch test sites. Epidermal cells from allergen-positive patch test sites also exhibited an increase of 5.2 +/- 1.8 in percentage of DR+CD1- cells over the vehicle control patch test site compared to an increase change of 0.8 +/- 0.4 in epidermal cells isolated from irritant-treated patch test sites. We also found that DR+ cells that lacked the CD1 determinant expressed the macrophage/monocyte antigen CD36 (OKM5). Finally, a 2.3 +/- 0.8 increase in the percentage of DR-CD3+ cells over the vehicle control patch test site was observed in allergen-positive patch test sites compared to an increase of 0.2 +/- 0.2 observed in irritant-treated patch test sites. These results demonstrate a significant increase in DR+CD1+, DR+CD1-CD36+, and DR-CD3+ epidermal cells in allergen-positive patch test sites compared to irritant patch test sites.

Adult↗

Allergic contact dermatitis: novel immunohistologic features.

Leu-8 is a novel antigen expressed by the majority of mature T cells and certain other cells. Recent studies of the allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction indicate that both Leu-8+ and Leu-8- subsets of Leu-3+ T cells have important functions in cell-mediated immunity in vitro. In order to determine whether Leu-3+8+ and/or Leu-3+8- T cells are present in cell-mediated immune reactions in vivo, we studied the immunohistology of allergic contact dermatitis in 8 biopsies from 8 patients with positive patch tests and 3 biopsies from 2 patients with Rhus dermatitis. Both Leu-3+8+ and Leu-3+8- T cells were present in each biopsy. Only 1 case had a definite minority of the Leu-3+8+ subset. These results suggest that, analogous to in vitro systems, both Leu-8+ and Leu-8- subsets of Leu-3+ T cells are involved in cell-mediated immunity in vivo. HLA-DR+ keratinocytes were present in only 3 of 11 biopsies at days 3-7. No HLA-DQ+ keratinocytes were identified. We also confirmed prior findings that Leu-3+ cells are the predominant T-cell population, Langerhans cells are increased, and B cells and NK cells are rare. Furthermore, Tac and Ki-67 expression by T cells and Leu-3 expression by Langerhans cells tended to increase over time.

Adolescent↗

The role of adhesion molecules, chemotactic factors, and cytokines in inflammatory and neoplastic skin disease--1990 update.

In 1986 it was discovered that cultured human keratinocytes, when treated with gamma interferon, attract and bind T lymphocytes and monocytes. More is now known about trafficking of inflammatory cells in the skin, with specific molecular details involving various cytokines, chemotactic factors, and adhesion molecules. One key element is the in vivo movement of T cells that express LFA-1 into the epidermis, and their subsequent binding to keratinocytes via the surface expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). This interaction represents a common immunologic pathway, which has been identified in a wide variety of different skin diseases. This review provides a synopsis of advances in this field, which have grown rapidly during the past few years, and adds recent results dealing with coordinate regulation at the gene-transcriptional level of keratinocyte chemotactic factor production and adhesion molecule expression. Moreover, epidermal keratinocytes appear to play a pre-eminent role in the skin, serving as transducing elements converting exogenously applied low-molecular-weight chemical stimuli such as phorbol ester and urushiol (the active ingredient in poison ivy extracts) into the production of endogenously derived immunoregulatory proteins. These keratinocyte-derived molecules may then influence immunocytes and endothelial cells to further amplify the inflammatory response. The identification of keratinocyte-derived molecules such as IL-8 and ICAM-1, which influence the chemotaxis and adherence of T cells, adds substantial evidence supporting an active participatory role for keratinocytes in cutaneous immunohomeostasis. Finally, we highlight the importance of these immunoregulatory molecules in two malignant cutaneous disorders (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and basal-cell carcinoma) and attempt to integrate these new findings into novel pathophysiologic models for two inflammatory dermatoses (rhus dermatitis and psoriasis).

Biological Factors↗

Childhood bullous pemphigoid: report of a case with life-threatening course during homeopathy treatment.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disorder that may very rarely occur in childhood. We describe a 9-month-old child who developed bullous pemphigoid while she was being treated for presumptive atopic eczema with a homeopathic regimen comprising sulfur, mercury, cantharides, and Rhus (Toxicodendron). She had generalized bullae and a progressive worsening of her general condition with asthenia, dehydration, malnutrition. While the role of homeopathy in triggering the disease remains unclear, our observation attests to the potential life-threatening course of childhood BP in instances where appropriate treatment is withheld.

Dermatitis, Atopic↗

The ICAM-3/LFA-1 interaction is critical for epidermal Langerhans cell alloantigen presentation to CD4+ T cells.

Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-3 is a recently described member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and, as such, is closely related to ICAM-1 and ICAM-2. All three ICAMS are cognate for the counter-receptor lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18). Unlike ICAM-1 and ICAM-2, ICAM-3 is constitutively expressed at high levels on resting leucocytes. We investigated the expression and function of ICAM-3 in normal skin (n = 5), as well as its expression in psoriasis (n = 4), atopic eczema (n = 4), allergic (rhus) contact dermatitis (n = 3), and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL, n = 2). Five-micrometre cryostat sections of skin were stained using monoclonal antibodies to ICAM-3 and a well characterized immunoperoxidase technique. In normal skin, ICAM-3 was expressed by all cutaneous leucocytes but most striking was the strong expression of ICAM-3 by Langerhans cells within both epidermis and dermis. This observation was confirmed by double-labelling with CD1a and negative staining with an IgG1 isotype control. In psoriasis, atopic eczema, allergic contact dermatitis, and CTCL, ICAM-3 was co-expressed on all CD1a+ cells, although, in psoriasis, the intensity of ICAM-3 expression was reduced. Functional blocking experiments were performed to determine whether the observed ICAM-3 expression on Langerhans cells was functionally important in antigen presentation. CD4+ T cells were prepared from peripheral blood and 10(5) CD4+ T cells combined with 10(5) epidermal cells harvested from keratome biopsies of normal skin of an individual allogeneic to the T-cell donor. Addition of 50 micrograms anti-ICAM-3 to the co-culture resulted in a consistent (50%) reduction in degree of alloantigen presentation by Langerhans cells to T cells. Inhibition was 77% of that produced by the addition of anti-LFA-1. These data indicate that ICAM-3 is constitutively expressed by Langerhans cells and is a major ligand for LFA-1 on CD4+ T cells during their response to Langerhans cells. Because fresh Langerhans cells constitutively express little ICAM-1, whereas ICAM-3 is constitutively expressed at high levels, it would appear that ICAM-3 is the dominant functional ICAM on in situ Langerhans cells in the normal epidermis.

Antigen Presentation↗

Electron transfer reaction of stellacyanin at a bare glassy carbon electrode.

Direct (unmediated) electrochemistry of Rhus vernicifera stellacyanin at a glassy carbon electrode has been briefly investigated in phosphate buffer. The voltammetry was practically independent of the buffer concentration, suggesting that the interaction between stellacyanin and the glassy carbon electrode is mainly realized through the hydrophobic interaction. The quasi-reversible process was found to be diffusion controlled at a sweep rate < 80 mVs-1. From stellacyanin concentration dependence, a transformation from linear diffusion to radial diffusion was observed. Two-step voltammetry was affected by translocations of the active site (rotation of the protein molecule on the electrode surface and diffusion). Activation energies for reduction and oxidation processes were determined to be 24 kJmol-1 and 54 kJmol-1, respectively, by the stationary method, and 15 kJmol-1 and 66 kJmol-1, respectively, by cyclic voltammetry. The considerable difference in the activation energies is supposedly due to the reduction and oxidation which are performed utilizing different electron-transfer pathways or because only one electron-transfer pathway (probably through His92) is significantly changed during the reorganization between the oxidized and reduced forms. The fact that the diffusion constant estimated from one-step voltammetry (Dox = 4.2 x 10(-9) cm2 s-1 for 484 microM stellacyanin) is much smaller than that determined from cyclic voltammetry (7.5 x 10(-7) cm2 s-1) derives from the fact that motions of the stellacyanin molecule (rotation leading to translocation of the active site and diffusion) are not fast enough to allow data from potential step voltammetry to be treated as the reversible process, but are fast enough to allow data from cyclic voltammetry to be treated as a diffusion-controlled process.

Carbon↗

Allergic contact dermatitis to plants: an analysis of 68 patients tested at the Skin and Cancer Foundation.

Allergic contact dermatitis to plant allergens is a common problem in Australia. We present the cumulative experience of the Contact Dermatitis Clinic of the Skin and Cancer Foundation (Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia) a tertiary referral clinic. Results from a series of 68 patients with positive patch tests to 88 plant allergens are reported. We found that Grevillea species, Compositae, Rhus, Alstroemeria and various timber sawdusts were the most common plant allergens.

Allergens↗

Age differences in poison ivy dermatitis.

In both man and animals, cell-mediated immunity diminishes with advanced age. Because poison ivy is a very common allergy, we evaluated age-associated differences in the contact allergic reaction to Rhus. Oleoresin patch tests were applied to two age cohorts (18-25 versus 65-84) each of 14 healthy white subjects. In the elderly, the allergic reaction developed more slowly, the inflammatory response at peak was greatly diminished and the dermatitis lasted longer and seemed to be more pruritic.

Adolescent↗

Unusual contact allergens from plants in the family Hydrophyllaceae.

The dermatitic constituents of the glandular hairs of plants in the family Hydrophyllaceae comprise a class of uncommon natural products called "phacelioids". The chemical structures consist of various elaborations of hydroquinone attached to a C10 to C20 prenyl chain. Certain of these compounds are equivalent to the urushiols of Toxicodendron (Rhus) in their capacity to sensitize humans. Although structurally related to the urushiols, the phacelioids do not appear to cross-react in humans either with urushiol, or between phacelioids with different prenyl chains.

Allergens↗

Putative skin-protective formulations in preventing and/or inhibiting experimentally-produced irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.

The effectiveness of skin protective formulations was evaluated in a previously-described in vivo human model. All formulations failed to inhibit ammonium hydroxide and urea irritation. Only paraffin wax in cetyl alcohol statistically (p<0.01) reduced Rhus allergic contact dermatitis. 3 commercial formulations markedly (p<0.001) suppressed sodium lauryl sulfate irritation. Paraffin wax in cetyl alcohol was quantitatively the most effective formulation. These results suggest that some formulations may provide protective effects against certain, but not all, irritants or allergens.

Adult↗

Long-distance dispersal of seeds by retention in digestive tract of birds.

Viable seeds of Celtis, Convolvulus, Malva, and Rhus were regurgitated from the digestive tract of kill-deer (Charadrius vociferus) after 160, 144, 152, and 340 hours, respectively; seeds were recovered in the same way, after long-time retention, from least sandpipers (Erolia minutilla). Most other birds do not retain seeds as long. There is evidence that seeds of many species can remain viable in the intestinal tract of some shorebirds long enough to be transported several thousand miles.

Animals↗

Neutralizing IFN-&#x3b3; autoantibodies are rare and pathogenic in HLA-DRB1*15:02 or 16:02 individuals.

BACKGROUNDWeakly virulent environmental mycobacteria (EM) can cause severe disease in HLA-DRB1*15:02 or 16:02 adults harboring neutralizing anti-IFN-&#x3b3; autoantibodies (nAIGAs). The overall prevalence of nAIGAs in the general population is unknown, as are the penetrance of nAIGAs in HLA-DRB1*15:02 or 16:02 individuals and the proportion of patients with unexplained, adult-onset EM infections carrying nAIGAs.METHODSThis study analyzed the detection and neutralization of anti-IFN-&#x3b3; autoantibodies (auto-Abs) from 8,430 healthy individuals of the general population, 257 HLA-DRB1*15:02 or 16:02 carriers, 1,063 patients with autoimmune disease, and 497 patients with unexplained severe disease due to EM.RESULTSWe found that anti-IFN-&#x3b3; auto-Abs detected in 4,148 of 8,430 healthy individuals (49.2%) from the general population of an unknown HLA-DRB1 genotype were not neutralizing. Moreover, we did not find nAIGAs in 257 individuals carrying HLA-DRB1* 15:02 or 16:02. Additionally, nAIGAs were absent in 1,063 patients with an autoimmune disease. Finally, 7 of 497 patients (1.4%) with unexplained severe disease due to EM harbored nAIGAs.CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that nAIGAs are isolated and that their penetrance in HLA-DRB1*15:02 or 16:02 individuals is low, implying that they may be triggered by rare germline or somatic variants. In contrast, the risk of mycobacterial disease in patients with nAIGAs is high, confirming that these nAIGAs are the cause of EM disease.FUNDINGThe Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Rockefeller University, the St. Giles Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (R01AI095983 and U19AIN1625568), the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program (UL1 TR001866), the French National Research Agency (ANR) under the "Investments for the Future" program (ANR-10-IAHU-01), the Integrative Biology of Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory of Excellence (ANR-10-LABX-62-IBEID), ANR-GENMSMD (ANR-16-CE17-0005-01), ANR-MAFMACRO (ANR-22-CE92-0008), ANRSECTZ170784, the French Foundation for Medical Research (FRM) (EQU201903007798), the ANRS-COV05, ANR GENVIR (ANR-20-CE93-003), and ANR AI2D (ANR-22-CE15-0046) projects, the ANR-RHU program (ANR-21-RHUS-08-COVIFERON), the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 824110 (EASI-genomics), the Square Foundation, Grandir - Fonds de solidarit&#xe9; pour l'enfance, the Fondation du Souffle, the SCOR Corporate Foundation for Science, the Battersea & Bowery Advisory Group, William E. Ford, General Atlantic's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gabriel Caillaux, General Atlantic's Co-President, Managing Director, and Head of business in EMEA, and the General Atlantic Foundation, Institut National de la Sant&#xe9; et de la Recherche M&#xe9;dicale (INSERM) and of Paris Cit&#xe9; University. JR was supported by the INSERM PhD program for doctors of pharmacy (poste d'accueil INSERM). JR and TLV were supported by the Bettencourt-Schueller Foundation and the MD-PhD program of the Imagine Institute. MO was supported by the David Rockefeller Graduate Program, the Funai Foundation for Information Technology (FFIT), the Honjo International Scholarship Foundation (HISF), and the New York Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Society (HNMS).

Adult↗

Butein ameliorates renal concentrating ability in cisplatin-induced acute renal failure in rats.

The present study examined whether the cisplatin-induced nephropathy could be ameliorated by administration of butein isolated from the stems of Rhus verniciflua STOCKS. The present study showed that polyuric profile was revealed in cisplatin-induced acute renal failure (ARF) rats associated with decreases in urinary sodium, potassium, chloride, and creatinine excretion, and osmolality. Among these renal functional parameters, urinary volume and osmolality were partially restored by administration of butein (10 mg/kg, i.p.), but electrolytes and creatinine excretion were not restored. Both solute-free water reabsorption and creatinine clearance were also significantly decreased in rats subjected to cisplatin. When butein was administered in rats with cisplatin-induced ARF for 4 d, solute-free water reabsorption was improved by 91% compared with that of cisplatin-induced ARF rats, but creatinine clearance was not restored. The expression levels of aquaporin 2 (AQP 2) in the inner, outer medulla, and cortex were significantly decreased in the kidney of ARF, which were partially reverted by administration of butein. In histological examination of the kidney, butein treatment partially prevented the lesions at tubules of renal cortex in cisplatin-induced ARF rats, while the lesions at glomeruli were not ameliorated. Taken together, butein ameliorates renal concentrating ability via up-regulation of renal AQP 2 water channel in rats with cisplatin-induced ARF without ameliorating effect on renal filtration defect.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Inhibition of the bacterial surface protein anchoring transpeptidase sortase by medicinal plants.

Inhibition by medicinal plant extracts of a recombinant sortase was evaluated for antibacterial drug discovery. The coding region of sortase, a transpeptidase that cleaves surface proteins of gram-positive bacteria, was amplified by PCR from the chromosome of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538p with the exception of an N-terminal membrane anchor sequence, expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified by metal chelate affinity chromatography. The purified sortase had maximum activity at pH 7.5 and was stable at 20-45 degrees C for the cleavage of a synthetic fluorophore substrate. The enzyme inhibitory activity in medicinal plants was also evaluated for antibacterial drug discovery. Among 80 medicinal plants tested, Cocculus trilobus, Fritillaria verticillata, Liriope platyphylla, and Rhus verniciflua had strong inhibitory activity. The extract with the greatest activity was the ethyl acetate fraction derived from the rhizome of Cocculus trilobus (IC50 = 1.52 microg/ml).

Aminoacyltransferases↗

Toxicodendron dermatitis: poison ivy, oak, and sumac.

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by the Toxicodendron (formerly Rhus) species-poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac-affects millions of North Americans every year. In certain outdoor occupations, for example, agriculture and forestry, as well as among many outdoor enthusiasts, Toxicodendron dermatitis presents a significant hazard. This review considers the epidemiology, identification, immunochemistry, pathophysiology, clinical features, treatment, and prevention of this common dermatologic problem. Recent research in prevention is emphasized, and resources to help in the identification of plants are provided in the bibliography. The literature was searched using a MEDLINE query for "Toxicodendron dermatitis", and the identified article bibliographies were searched as well.

Dermatitis, Toxicodendron↗

[Experimental study of bacteriostatic activity of Chinese herbal medicines on primary cariogenic bacteria in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To screen some Chinese herbal medicines for their inhibitory activity on cariogenic bacteria, and investigate their active ingredients, and measure their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). METHODS: Active components were isolated from every tested Chinese herbal medicine by means of aqueous extraction and ethanolic extraction. Berberine was purified from Coptis chinensis Fra. Disk agar diffusion method was employed in screening herbs with inhibiting effect on cariogenic bacteria. MIC and MBC were determined by broth dilution method. RESULTS: Against Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt, MBCs of Magnolia officinalis ethanolic extract, Berberine, Coptis chinensis Fra aqueous extract and Coptis chinensis Fra ethanolic extract were 0.488, 0.625, 7.800 and 1.950 g/L respectively. Against Streptococcus sobrinus 6715, MBCs of Magnolia extract, Coptis chinensis Fra ethanolic extract, Rhus chinensis Mill ethanolic extract and Phellodendron chinen ethanolic extract were 0.488, 0.625, 1.950, 3.900, 3.900 and 3.900 g/L respectively. Against Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 19246, MBCs of Berberine, Coptis chinensis Fra aqueous extract, Coptis chinensis Fra ethanolic extract, Rheum palmatum L aqueous extract and Rheum palmatum L ethanolic extract were 1.250, 3.900, 3.900, 15.600 and 31.250 g/L respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Magnolia officinalis, Coptis chinensis Fran, Rheum palmatum L aqueous extracts exhibit strong inhibition on cariogenic bacteria. Magnolia officinalis ethanolic extract has the strongest bactericidal effects on Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus.

Cariogenic Agents↗

Occupational skin disease.

Contact dermatitis, the most common occupational skin disease, is characterized by clearly demarcated areas of rash at sites of exposure. The rash improves on removal of the offending agent. In allergic contact dermatitis, even minute exposures to antigenic substances can lead to a skin rash. Common sensitizing agents include nickel and members of the Rhus genus (e.g., poison ivy, poison oak). Severe skin irritants tend to cause immediate red blisters or burns, whereas weaker irritants produce eczematous skin changes over time. An occupational cause should be suspected when rash occurs in areas that are in contact with oil, grease, or other substances. Direct skin testing (patch or scratch) or radioallergosorbent testing may help to identify a specific trigger. Skin cancer can have an occupational link in workers with prolonged exposure to sunlight and certain chemicals, although it can take decades for lesions to develop. In workers with occupational skin disease, workplace changes and protective measures are important to prevent future exposure.

Dermatitis, Occupational↗