Cheng Cao

Diagnosis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) by Detection of SARS Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Antibodies in an Antigen-Capturing Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

ABSTRACT Recombinant severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus nucleocapsid protein was employed to establish an antigen-capturing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Antinucleocapsid protein antibodies could be detected in 68.4% of probable SARS patients 6 to 10 days after illness and in 89.6% of the patients 11 to 61 days after illness. No false-positive results were observed in 20 non-SARS fever patients, 24 non-SARS respiratory illness patients, and 20 health care workers. Among 940 other non-SARS clinical serum samples, only 1 was found to be weakly positive. This method provides a new, sensitive, and specific approach for SARS diagnosis.

Profile of Antibodies to the Nucleocapsid Protein of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-Associated Coronavirus in Probable SARS Patients

ABSTRACT Profiles of antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus in 445 probable SARS patients and 3,749 healthy people or non-SARS patients were analyzed by antigen-capturing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antinucleocapsid antibodies were elucidated in 17.5% of the probable SARS patients 1 to 7 days after the onset of symptoms and in 80% of the patients 8 to 14 days after the onset. About 90% of the probable SARS patients were positive 15 or more days after illness. Antibody titers increased up to 70 days, and high antibody titers were maintained at least for another 3 months. Of the healthy people and non-SARS patients, only seven (0.187%) were weakly positive.

The Nucleocapsid Protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Inhibits Cell Cytokinesis and Proliferation by Interacting with Translation Elongation Factor 1α

ABSTRACT Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the etiological agent of SARS, an emerging disease characterized by atypical pneumonia. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen with the nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV as a bait, the C terminus (amino acids 251 to 422) of the N protein was found to interact with human elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1α), an essential component of the translational machinery with an important role in cytokinesis, promoting the bundling of filamentous actin (F-actin). In vitro and in vivo interaction was then confirmed by immuno-coprecipitation, far-Western blotting, and surface plasmon resonance. It was demonstrated that the N protein of SARS-CoV induces aggregation of EF1α, inhibiting protein translation and cytokinesis by blocking F-actin bundling. Proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes and other human cell lines was significantly inhibited by the infection of recombinant retrovirus expressing SARS-CoV N protein.

Overexpression of Mps1 in colon cancer cells attenuates the spindle assembly checkpoint and increases aneuploidy

The spindle assembly checkpoint kinase Mps1 is highly expressed in several types of cancers, but its cellular involvement in tumorigenesis is less defined. Herein, we confirm that Mps1 is overexpressed in colon cancer tissues. Further, we find that forced expression of Mps1 in the colon cancer cell line SW480 enables cells to become resistant to both Mps1 inhibition-induced checkpoint depletion and cell death. Overexpression of Mps1 also increases genome instability in tumor cells owing to a weakened spindle assembly checkpoint. Collectively, our findings suggest that high levels of Mps1 contribute to tumorigenesis by attenuating the spindle assembly checkpoint.

Antibody responses against SARS-coronavirus and its nucleocaspid in SARS patients.

Abstract Background: SARS-Cov is the etiologic agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome. An understanding of the antibody responses to the viral components is very important for diagnosis and vaccine development. Objective: The spectrum of SARS-specific antibody profiles in SARS patients was investigated from 7 to 210 days after the onset of the symptoms. Study design: Serial serum samples from 14 SARS patients were isolated from 7 to 210 days after the onset of the symptoms, and were tested for anti-viral IgG and IgM by indirect immunofluorescence tests (IFA), anti-nucleocaspid antibody by ELISA tests and viral neutralization. Results: Anti-viral (IgG) and anti-nucleocaspid antibodies were observed in 13 of 14 patients at 14 days after the onset of symptoms, and in all 14 patients at 30–210 days thereafter. Anti-viral antibody (IgM) was detected maximally at 30 days, later than that for the IgG class. IgM antibody declined and became undetectable between 60 to 180 days after the onset of the symptoms. Neutralizing viral antibodies were demonstrated in the sera from all of the patients with SARS symptoms. Conclusions: Anti-viral IgG, IgM, and anti-nucleocaspid antibodies were detected 7–30 days in patients after the onset of SARS symptoms. Anti-viral IgM antibodies disappeared earlier than IgG. Viral neutralization was demonstrated in the sera from the convalescent patients.

Inhibition of HBV replication by theophylline

We have suggested recently that ATM-Rad3-Related (ATR) DNA damage signaling pathway, which responds to single-strand breaks in DNA, was activated in response to HBV infection. ATR knockdown cells showed decreased HBV DNA yields, implying HBV infection and replication activate and exploit the activated DNA damage response. Host cell proteins may constitute an attractive target for anti-HBV-1 therapeutics, since development of drug resistance against compounds targeting these cellular cofactor proteins is unlikely. In this study, we show that one of the clinically used compounds of ATR and ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) kinases inhibitor, theophylline (Tp), significantly reduced the yield of HBV DNA, HBsAg and HBeAg in HepG2215 cell culture system, furthermore, Tp could also suppress serum HBV DNA and HBsAg levels in the HBV-transgenic mice. Consistent with this result, immunohistology also showed reduced intensity of HBsAg staining on livers from Tp-treatment group. Taken together, these data indicated the feasibility of therapeutic approaches that target host cell proteins by inhibiting a cellular gene that was required for HBV replication and provided a potential approach for the prevention and treatment of HBV infection.

Two LXXLL motifs in the N terminus of Mps1 are required for Mps1 nuclear import during G2/M transition and sustained spindle checkpoint responses

Spindle assembly checkpoint kinase Mps1 is spatially and temporally regulated during cell cycle progression. Mps1 is predominately localized to the cytosol in interphase cells, whereas it is concentrated on kinetochores in prophase and prometaphase cells. The timing and mechanism of Mps1 redistribution during cell cycle transition is currently poorly understood. Here, we show that Mps1 relocates from the cytosol to the nucleus at the G2/M boundary prior to nuclear envelope breakdown (NEB). This timely translocation depends on two tandem LXXLL motifs in the N terminus of Mps1, and mutations in either motif abolish Mps1 nuclear accumulation. Furthermore, we found that phosphorylation of Mps1 Ser80 (which is located between the two LXXLL motifs) also plays a role in regulating timely nuclear entry of Mps1. Mps1 that is defective in LXXLL motifs has near wild-type kinase activity. Moreover, the kinase activity of Mps1 appears to be dispensable for nuclear translocation, as inhibition of Mps1 by a highly specific small-molecule inhibitor did not perturb its nuclear entry. Remarkably, translocation-deficient Mps1 can mediate activation of spindle assembly checkpoint response; however, it fails to support a sustained mitotic arrest upon prolonged treatment with nocodazole. The mitotic slippage can be attributed to precocious degradation of Mps1 in the arrested cells. Our studies reveal a novel cell cycle-dependent nuclear translocation signal in the N terminus of Mps1 and suggest that timely nuclear entry could be important for sustaining spindle assembly checkpoint responses.

c-Abl Regulates Proteasome Abundance by Controlling the Ubiquitin-Proteasomal Degradation of PSMA7 Subunit

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is a vital proteolytic pathway required for cell homeostasis. However, the turnover mechanism of the proteasome subunit itself is still not understood. Here, we show that the 20S proteasome subunit PSMA7 is subjected to ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, which was suppressed by PSMA7 phosphorylation at Y106 mediated by the nonreceptor tyrosine kinases c-Abl/Arg. BRCA1 specifically functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase of PSMA7 ubiquitination. c-Abl/Arg regulates cellular proteasome abundance by controlling the PSMA7 subunit supply. Downregulated PSMA7 level results in decreased proteasome abundance in c-Abl/Arg RNAi-knockdown or c-abl/arg-deficient cells, which demonstrated an increased sensitivity to proteasome inhibition. In response to oxidative stress, the c-Abl-mediated upregulation of proteasome level compensates for the proteasomal activity impairment induced by reactive oxygen species. Abl-kinases-regulated biogenesis and homeostasis of proteasome complexes may be important for understanding related diseases and pathological states.

Lack of association between polymorphisms of MASP2 and susceptibility to SARS coronavirus infection

BackgroundThe pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory disease syndrome (SARS) is not fully understood. One case-control study has reported an association between susceptibility to SARS and mannan-binding lectin (MBL) in China. As the downstream protein of MBL, variants of the MBL-associated serine protease-2 (MASP2) gene may be associated with SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection in the same population.MethodsThirty individuals with SARS were chosen for analysis of MASP2 polymorphisms by means of PCR direct sequencing. Tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) were chosen using pairwise tagging algorithms. The frequencies of four tag SNPs (rs12711521, rs2261695, rs2273346 and rs7548659) were ascertained in 376 SARS patients and 523 control subjects, using the Beckman SNPstream Ultra High Throughput genotyping platform.ResultsThere is no significant association between alleles or genotypes of the MASP2 tagSNP and susceptibility to SARS-CoV in both Beijing and Guangzhou populations. Diplotype (rs2273346 and rs12711521)were analyzed for association with susceptibility to SARS, no statistically significant evidence of association was observed. The Beijing and Guangzhou sample groups were homogeneous regarding demographic and genetic parameters, a joined analysis also showed no statistically significant evidence of association.ConclusionOur data do not suggest a role for MASP2 polymorphisms in SARS susceptibility in northern and southern China.

Boosting Immune Response to Hepatitis B DNA Vaccine by Coadministration of Prothymosin α-Expressing Plasmid

ABSTRACT DNA vaccines induce protective humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in several animal models. However, compared to conventional vaccines, DNA vaccines usually induce poor antibody responses. In this study, we report that coadministration of a hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA vaccine with prothymosin α as an adjuvant improves antibody responses to HBV S antigen. We also observed higher seroconversion rates and higher antibody titers. Prothymosin α appears to increase the number and affinity of hepatitis B surface antigen-specific, gamma interferon-secreting T cells and to enhance cellular immune response to the PreS2S DNA vaccine. Interestingly, administering the DNA separately from the prothymosin α plasmid abrogated the enhancement of DNA vaccine potency. The results suggest that prothymosin α may be a promising adjuvant for DNA vaccines.