Hiroyuki Nunoi

Novel Human Homologues of p47phox and p67phox Participate in Activation of Superoxide-producing NADPH Oxidases

Abstract The catalytic core of a superoxide-producing NADPH oxidase (Nox) in phagocytes is gp91phox/Nox2, a membrane-integrated protein that forms a heterodimer with p22phox to constitute flavocytochrome b558. The cytochrome becomes activated by interacting with the adaptor proteins p47phox and p67phox as well as the small GTPase Rac. Here we describe the cloning of human cDNAs for novel proteins homologous to p47phox and p67phox, designated p41nox and p51nox, respectively; the former is encoded by NOXO1 (Nox organizer 1), and the latter is encoded by NOXA1 (Nox activator 1). The novel homologue p41nox interacts with p22phox via the two tandem SH3 domains, as does p47phox. The protein p51nox as well as p67phox can form a complex with p47phox and with p41nox via the C-terminal SH3 domain and binds to GTP-bound Rac via the N-terminal domain containing four tetratricopeptide repeat motifs. These bindings seem to play important roles, since p47phox and p67phox activate the phagocyte oxidase via the same interactions. Indeed, p41nox and p51nox are capable of replacing the corresponding classical homologue in activation of gp91phox. Nox1, a homologue of gp91phox, also can be activated in cells, when it is coexpressed with p41nox and p51nox, with p41nox and p67phox, or with p47phox and p51nox; in the former two cases, Nox1 is partially activated without any stimulants added, suggesting that p41nox is normally in an active state. Thus, the novel homologues p41nox and p51nox likely function together or in combination with a classical one, thereby activating the two Nox family oxidases.

Mechanism for Phosphorylation-induced Activation of the Phagocyte NADPH Oxidase Protein p47 phox TRIPLE REPLACEMENT OF SERINES 303, 304, AND 328 WITH ASPARTATES DISRUPTS THE SH3 DOMAIN-MEDIATED INTRAMOLECULAR INTERACTION IN p47 phox , THEREBY ACTIVATING THE OXIDASE

Activation of the superoxide-producing phagocyte NADPH oxidase requires interaction between p47 phox and p22 phox , which is mediated via the SH3 domains of the former protein. This interaction is considered to be induced by exposure of the domains that are normally masked by an intramolecular interaction with the C-terminal region of p47 phox . Here we locate the intramolecular SH3-binding site at the region of amino acid residues 286–340, where Ser-303, Ser-304, and Ser-328 that are among several serines known to become phosphorylated upon cell stimulation exist. Simultaneous replacement of the three serines in p47 phox with aspartates or glutamates, each mimicking phosphorylated residues, is sufficient for disruption of the intramolecular interaction and resultant access to p22 phox . The triply mutated proteins are also capable of activating the NADPH oxidase without in vitro activators such as arachidonate under cell-free conditions. In a whole-cell system where expression of the wild-type p47 phox reconstitutes the stimulus-dependent oxidase activity, substitution of the kinase-insensitive residue alanine for Ser-328 as well as for Ser-303/Ser-304 leads to a defective production of superoxide. These findings suggest that phosphorylation of the three serines in p47 phox induces a conformational change to a state accessible to p22 phox , thereby activating the NADPH oxidase.

Tetratricopeptide Repeat (TPR) Motifs of p67 phox Participate in Interaction with the Small GTPase Rac and Activation of the Phagocyte NADPH Oxidase

The small GTPase Rac functions as a molecular switch in several important cellular events including cytoskeletal reorganization and activation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase, the latter of which leads to production of superoxide, a precursor of microbicidal oxidants. During formation of the active oxidase complex at the membrane, the GTP-bound Rac appears to interact with the N-terminal region of p67 phox , another indispensable activator that translocates from the cytosol upon phagocyte stimulation. Here we show that the p67 phox N terminus lacks the CRIB motif, a well known Rac target, but contains four tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) motifs with highly α-helical structure. Disruption of any of the N-terminal three TPRs, but the last one, results in defective interaction with Rac, while all the four are required for the NADPH oxidase activation. We also find that Arg-102 in the third repeat is likely involved in binding to Rac via an ionic interaction, and that replacement of this residue with Glu completely abrogates the capability of activating the oxidase both in vivo andin vitro. Thus the TPR motifs of p67 phox are packed to function as a Rac target, thereby playing a crucial role in the active oxidase complex formation.

Hematologically important mutations: X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (third update)

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an immunodeficiency disorder affecting about 1 in 250,000 individuals. The disease is caused by a lack of superoxide production by the leukocyte enzyme NADPH oxidase. Superoxide is used to kill phagocytosed micro-organisms in neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and macrophages. The leukocyte NADPH oxidase is composed of five subunits, of which the enzymatic component is gp91-phox, also called Nox2. This protein is encoded by the CYBB gene on the X chromosome. Mutations in this gene are found in about 70% of all CGD patients. This article lists all mutations identified in CYBB in the X-linked form of CGD. Moreover, apparently benign polymorphisms in CYBB are also given, which should facilitate the recognition of future disease-causing mutations.

The adaptor protein p40phox as a positive regulator of the superoxide-producing phagocyte oxidase

Activation of the superoxide‐producing phagocyte NADPH oxidase, crucial in host defense, requires the cytosolic proteins p67phox and p47phox. They translocate to the membrane upon cell stimulation and activate flavocytochrome b558, the membrane‐integrated catalytic core of this enzyme system. The activators p67phox and p47phox form a ternary complex together with p40phox, an adaptor protein with unknown function, comprising the PX/PB2, SH3 and PC motif‐ containing domains: p40phox associates with p67phox via binding of the p40phox PC motif to the p67phox PB1 domain, while p47phox directly interacts with p67phox but not with p40phox. Here we show that p40phox enhances membrane translocation of p67phox and p47phox in stimulated cells, which leads to facilitated production of superoxide. The enhancement cannot be elicited by a mutant p40phox carrying the D289A substitution in PC or a p67phox with the K355A substitution in PB1, each being defective in binding to its respective partner. Thus p40phox participates in activation of the phagocyte oxidase by regulating membrane recruitment of p67phox and p47phox via the PB1–PC interaction with p67phox.

Incidence of ANCA-Associated Primary Renal Vasculitis in the Miyazaki Prefecture: The First Population-Based, Retrospective, Epidemiologic Survey in Japan

Clinicoepidemiological manifestations of the vasculitides differ geographically. According to a nationwide, hospital-based survey in Japan, the prevalence of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and/or renal-limited vasculitis (RLV) is much higher than that of Wegeners granulomatosis (WG). However, little is known about the incidence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA)-associated primary renal vasculitis (PRV) in Japan. The incidence of PRV was retrospectively determined by a population-based method in Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan between 2000 and 2004. PRV was defined according to the following criteria from the European Systemic Vasculitis Study Group: (1) new patients with WG, MPA, Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS), or RLV, (2) renal involvement attributable to active vasculitis, and (3) ANCA considered positive if the disease was not histologically confirmed. The numbers of patients with PRV in the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 were 9, 9, 9, 16, and 13, respectively. The male to female ratio was 24:32 and the average age was 70.4 +/- 10.9 (mean +/- SD) yr. The estimated annual incidence of PRV was 14.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.8 to 18.9) and 44.8 (95% CI 33.2 to 56.3) per million adults (>15 yr old) and seniors (>65 yr old), respectively. Ninety-one percent of the patients were myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA positive, but none were positive for proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA. There were no WG or CSS patients. The incidence of PRV did not differ between Japan and Europe, but WG was not widespread in Japan. Furthermore, the ratio of serum MPO to PR3-ANCA among Japanese with PRV was much higher than that found among European and US patients.

Location of the epitope for 7D5, a monoclonal antibody raised against human flavocytochrome b558, to the extracellular peptide portion of primate gp91phox.

Flavocytochrome b558 is the membrane component of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase, and is a heterodimer composed of gp91phox and p22phox subunits. Human flavocytochrome b558 is recognized by monoclonal antibody 7D5 at an unidentified extracellular domain, although our previous study suggested it might recognize p22phox. 7D5 has proven useful in rapid screening of individuals for X‐linked chronic granulomatous disease by flow‐cytometry. Therefore, we re‐evaluated the location of the 7D5 epitope using gene‐engineered cell lines expressing hybrid flavocytochromes composed of human and murine subunit homologues. The current study demonstrates that the 7D5 recognizes epitope only of primate gp91phox. Flow‐cytometric analyses showed that 7D5 consistently bound to cells expressing human gp91phox. In addition, 7D5 immunoprecipitated the ~58 kDa unglycosylated gp91phox protein from solubilized membrane fractions of tunicamycin‐treated PLB‐985 granulocytes, indicating that glycans were not required for 7D5 binding. Transgenic COS7 cells expressing human gp91phox but not p22phox were recognized by 7D5. These results localized the epitope of 7D5 to an extracellular peptide portion of primate gp91phox and indicate that the antibody will be useful for monitoring the efficiency of gene therapy in patients with flavocytochrome b558‐deficient chronic granulomatous disease and for elucidating structural characteristics of flavocytochrome b558.

Apoptosis under hypercytokinemia is a possible pathogenesis in influenza-associated encephalopathy.

Abstract  Background : Influenza‐associated encephalopathy is reported to be frequent in Japan and East Asia. No evaluating markers except interleukin (IL)‐6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and no likely pathological mechanism for the disease have yet been elucidated.

Cytochrome c and tumor necrosis factor-alpha values in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with influenza-associated encephalopathy

Cytochrome c and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations were measured in serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from 10 patients with influenza-associated encephalopathy. In the acute exacerbation phase, serum tumor necrosis factor-α and cytochrome c values were high in patients with a poor prognosis. In the convalescent phase, cerebrospinal fluid cytochrome c values increased remarkably in patients with subsequent brain atrophy.

Fungal Metabolite Gliotoxin Targets Flavocytochrome b558 in the Activation of the Human Neutrophil NADPH Oxidase

ABSTRACT Fungal gliotoxin (GT) is a potent inhibitor of the O2−-generating NADPH oxidase of neutrophils. We reported that GT-treated neutrophils fail to phosphorylate p47phox, a step essential for the enzyme activation, because GT prevents the colocalization of protein kinase C βII with p47phox on the membrane. However, it remains unanswered whether GT directly affects any of NADPH oxidase components. Here, we examine the effect of GT on the NADPH oxidase components in the cell-free activation assay. The O2−-generating ability of membranes obtained from GT-treated neutrophils is 40.0 and 30.6% lower, respectively, than the untreated counterparts when assayed with two distinct electron acceptors, suggesting that flavocytochrome b558 is affected in cells by GT. In contrast, the corresponding cytosol remains competent for activation. Next, GT addition in vitro to the assay consisting of flavocytochrome b558 and cytosolic components (native cytosol or recombinant p67phox, p47phox, and Rac2) causes a striking inhibition (50% inhibitory concentration = 3.3 μM) when done prior to the stimulation with myristic acid. NADPH consumption is also prevented by GT, but the in vitro assembly of p67phox, p47phox, and Rac2 with flavocytochrome b558 is normal. Posterior addition of GT to the activated enzyme is ineffective. The separate treatment of membranes with GT also causes a marked loss of flavocytochrome b558s ability to reconstitute O2− generation, supporting the conclusion at the cellular level. The flavocytochrome b558 heme spectrum of the GT-treated membranes stays, however, unchanged, showing that hemes remain intact. These results suggest that GT directly harms site(s) crucial for electron transport in flavocytochrome b558, which is accessible only before oxidase activation.