J. Pearcey

AMPK activation increases uncoupling protein‐3 expression and mitochondrial enzyme activities in rat muscle without fibre type transitions

The present study examined the effect of chronic activation of 5′‐AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) on the metabolic profile, including uncoupling protein‐3 (UCP‐3) and myosin heavy chain (MHC)‐based fibre phenotype of rodent fast‐twitch tibialis anterior muscle. Sprague‐Dawley rats were given daily injections of 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide‐1‐β‐D‐ribofuranoside (AICAR), a known activator of AMPK, or vehicle (control) for 28 days. After AICAR treatment, UCP‐3 expression at the mRNA level was elevated 1.6 ± 0.1‐fold (P < 0.006) and corresponded to a 3.3 ± 0.2‐fold increase in UCP‐3 protein content (P < 0.0001). In addition, the activities of the mitochondrial reference enzymes citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7) and 3‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA‐dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.35), which are known to increase in proportion to mitochondrial volume density, were elevated 1.6‐fold (P < 0.006), while the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) was reduced to 80 % of control (P < 0.02). No differences were detected after AICAR treatment in the activities of the glycolytic reference enzymes glyceraldehydephosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12) or phosphofructokinase (EC 2.7.1.11), nor were MHC‐based fibre‐type transitions observed, using immunohistochemical or electrophoretic analytical methods. These changes could not be attributed to variations in inter‐organ signalling by metabolic substrates or insulin. We conclude that an AMPK‐dependent pathway of signal transduction does mimic some of the metabolic changes associated with chronic exercise training, but does not affect expression of the MHC‐based structural phenotype. Thus, the metabolic and MHC‐based fibre types do not appear to be regulated in a co‐ordinated way, but may be independently modified by different signalling pathways.

Development of a coupled spectrophotometric assay for GlfT2, a bifunctional mycobacterial galactofuranosyltransferase

As a key constituent of their protective cell wall all mycobacteria produce a large structural component, the mycolyl-arabinogalactan (mAG) complex, which has at its core a galactan moiety of alternating beta-(1-->5) and beta-(1-->6) galactofuranosyl residues. Galactan biosynthesis is essential for mycobacterial viability and thus inhibitors of the enzymes involved in its assembly are potential drugs for the treatment of mycobacterial diseases, including tuberculosis. Only two galactofuranosyltransferases, GlfT1 and GlfT2, are responsible for the biosynthesis of the entire galactan domain of the mAG and we report here the first high-throughput assay for GlfT2. Successful implementation of the assay required the synthesis of multi-milligram amounts of the donor for the enzyme, UDP-Galf, 1, which was achieved using a chemoenzymatic approach. We also describe an improved expression system for GlfT2, which provides a larger amount of active protein for the assay. Kinetic analysis of 1 and a known trisaccharide acceptor for the enzyme, 2, have been carried out and the apparent K(m) and k(cat) values obtained for the latter are in agreement with those obtained using a previously reported radiochemical assay. The assay has been implemented in 384-well microtiter plates, which will facilitate the screening of large numbers of potential GlfT2 inhibitors, with possible utility as novel anti-TB drugs.

Synthetic UDP-furanoses as potent inhibitors of mycobacterial galactan biogenesis.

UDP-galactofuranose (UDP-Galf) is a substrate for two types of enzymes, UDP-galactopyranose mutase and galactofuranosyltransferases, which are present in many pathogenic organisms but absent from mammals. In particular, these enzymes are involved in the biosynthesis of cell wall galactan, a polymer essential for the survival of the causative agent of tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We describe here the synthesis of derivatives of UDP-Galf modified at C-5 and C-6 using a chemoenzymatic route. In cell-free assays, these compounds prevented the formation of mycobacterial galactan, via the production of short dead-end intermediates resulting from their incorporation into the growing oligosaccharide chain. Modified UDP-furanoses thus constitute novel probes for the study of the two classes of enzymes involved in mycobacterial galactan assembly, and studies with these compounds may ultimately facilitate the future development of new therapeutic agents against tuberculosis.

Synthesis of sugar-amino acid-nucleosides as potential glycosyltransferase inhibitors.

Sugar-amino acid-nucleosides (SAAN) were synthesized to mimic glycosyl nucleotide donors based on the hypothesis that a basic amino acid may interact with carboxylate groups of the enzyme in a manner similar to the diphosphate metal ion complex. C-Glycoside analogues of the d-galactopyranose or l-arabinofuranose ring systems, and four amino acids (lysine, glutamine, tryptophan, and histidine), were chosen for this study. The targets were synthesized and tested against GlfT2, a galactofuranosyltransferase essential for cell wall galactan biosynthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The inhibition assay showed that analogues containing histidine and tryptophan are moderate inhibitors of GlfT2.

Discarded Human Thymus Is a Novel Source of Stable and Long-Lived Therapeutic Regulatory T Cells.

Regulatory T cell (Treg)–based therapy is a promising approach to treat many immune‐mediated disorders such as autoimmune diseases, organ transplant rejection, and graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD). Challenges to successful clinical implementation of adoptive Treg therapy include difficulties isolating homogeneous cell populations and developing expansion protocols that result in adequate numbers of cells that remain stable, even under inflammatory conditions. We investigated the potential of discarded human thymuses, routinely removed during pediatric cardiac surgery, to be used as a novel source of therapeutic Tregs. Here, we show that large numbers of FOXP3+ Tregs can be isolated and expanded from a single thymus. Expanded thymic Tregs had stable FOXP3 expression and long telomeres, and suppressed proliferation and cytokine production of activated allogeneic T cells in vitro. Moreover, expanded thymic Tregs delayed development of xenogeneic GVHD in vivo more effectively than expanded Tregs isolated based on CD25 expression from peripheral blood. Importantly, in contrast to expanded blood Tregs, expanded thymic Tregs remained stable under inflammatory conditions. Our results demonstrate that discarded pediatric thymuses are an excellent source of therapeutic Tregs, having the potential to overcome limitations currently hindering the use of Tregs derived from peripheral or cord blood.

MHC-Matched A-Expressing Blood Cells Induce ABO Tolerance in Infant and Adult Mice

Purpose ABO-incompatible heart transplantation (ABOi HTx) is safe during infancy and allows increased donor access. Post-ABOi HTx B cell tolerance develops to donor blood group antigen(s) by mechanisms not fully defined. We developed A-transgenic mice (A-Tg) that express A-antigen on vascular endothelium and erythrocytes and demonstrated A-antigen specific tolerance induced by HTx into 4 wk-old, MHC-identical, wild-type (WT) mice. Herein, we explored intentional tolerance induction in infant and adult WT mice using A-Tg blood cells. Methods WT BALB/c mice were injected ip (weekly×3) with intact A-Tg BALB/c blood cells (±40Gy irradiated), beginning at 7 days (neonates) or 5 months of age (adults; see Table). Two weeks after treatment, all mice were injected ip (weekly×5) with human A-erythrocytes (‘A-sensitized’) in an attempt to elicit anti-A antibody (Ab) production. Serum anti-A and 3rd-party (non-A anti-human) Ab were assessed by hemagglutination assay. Results In response to A-sensitization, high levels of anti-A Ab were produced in untreated mice (group 1, Table). In contrast, anti-A remained undetectable in A-sensitized mice previously treated as neonates with A-Tg blood cells ±irradiation (groups 2&3). Treatment of adult mice (groups 4&5) with A-Tg blood cells resulted in reduced anti-A production in response to A-sensitization compared with untreated mice (group 1). Adult mice with undetectable natural anti-A (group 4) produced less anti-A vs those with pre-existing natural anti-A (group 5). Third-party antibody responses were high for all groups. Conclusions Our results suggest that the erythrocyte component of A-Tg blood cells can induce robust A-antigen-specific tolerance in WT mice. Importantly, our findings suggest that tolerance to A-antigen is not limited to the neonatal period but can also be induced in adults, especially in mice without previously detectable natural anti-A antibody. Intentional induction of tolerance to A/B-antigen(s) may allow subsequent ABOi HTx. Supported by Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada; Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta; Alberta Innovates Health Solutions; and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) through the Canadian National Transplant Research Program (CNTRP). Table. No title available.

Antibody Response to Non-Self Blood Group A-Antigen depends on CD4 T Cells, Forigen Protein and CD22 Interaction

Background ABO-incompatible heart transplantation (ABOi-HTx) is safe during infancy and allows increased donor access. B-cell tolerance develops to donor A/B-antigen(s) (Ag) after ABOi-HTx by mechanisms remaining unclear. We developed transgenic mice (A-Tg) constitutively expressing human A-Ag on vascular endothelium and erythrocytes (RBC) to study anti-A antibody responses. CD22 participates in B-cell tolerance and we found that B cells express high-levels of CD22 in human B cells, decreasing with age. Here we used a mouse model to study the anti-A response in the context of MHC syngeneic, allogeneic and xenogeneic stimulation, and the impact of CD22 expression. Methods Part I: Adult wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 (B6/H-2b), BALB/c (BALB/H-2d), C3H/He (C3H/H-2k), or CD22-deficient B6 (CD22KO) mice received intraperitoneal injections of B6 or BALB A-Tg blood cells or human-RBC membranes (100ul/10%v/v) from blood group-A (hu-A) or O (hu-O); or A-incompatible heart allografts. Serum anti-A Ab was measured by hemagglutination and ELISA (IgG and IgM); graft survival was assessed by palpation. Part II: a) To assess requirement of foreign protein to stimulate anti-A, hu-O RBC/syngeneic A-Tg cells or allogeneic A-Tg blood were co-injected in WT mice; b) to assess T cell dependence of anti-A response, CD4+ T cells were depleted from WT B6 mice before hu-A RBC injection. Part III: To assess the role of CD22, A-Tg or hu-A-RBC, were injected into CD22KO mice with or without CD4+ T-cell depletion. Results Part I: Exposure to allogeneic A-Tg blood cells/heart graft or xenogeneic hu-RBC induced anti-A production (Table), whereas syngeneic A-Tg blood cells did not. Part II: a) mixture of syngeneic A-Tg/hu-O RBC did not induce anti-A; b) after CD4+ T-cell depletion, hu A-RBC failed to elicit anti-A. Part III: Hu A-RBC induced a very high anti-A in CD22KO mice compared to WT B6. In contrast to WT B6 mice, anti-A Ab was elicited in CD22KO mice following injection with A-Tg blood cells or hu A-RBC with CD4+ T cell depletion. Figure. No caption available. Conclusions Our results show that in WT mice, anti-A antibody production depends not only on exposure to A-antigen but also co-engagement with foreign protein and a requirement for CD4+ cells; consistent with a T-dependent anti-A response. Conversely, in CD22KO mice there was no requirement for foreign protein or CD4+ cells to elicit an anti-A antibody response; consistent with a T-independent anti-A response. These findings suggest an important role for the regulatory CD22 receptor in the B cell response to ABH antigens.

Antibody-Mediated Rejection in a Blood Group A-Transgenic Mouse Model of ABO-Incompatible Heart Transplantation.

Background ABO-incompatible (ABOi) organ transplantation is performed owing to unremitting donor shortages. Defining mechanisms of antibody-mediated rejection, accommodation, and tolerance of ABOi grafts is limited by lack of a suitable animal model. We report generation and characterization of a murine model to enable study of immunobiology in the setting of ABOi transplantation. Methods Transgenesis of a construct containing human A1- and H-transferases under control of the ICAM-2 promoter was performed in C57BL/6 (B6) mice. A-transgenic (A-Tg) mice were assessed for A-antigen expression by histology and flow cytometry. B6 wild-type (WT) mice were sensitized with blood group A-human erythrocytes; others received passive anti-A monoclonal antibody and complement after heart transplant. Serum anti-A antibodies were assessed by hemagglutination. “A-into-O” transplantation (major histocompatibility complex syngeneic) was modeled by transplanting hearts from A-Tg mice into sensitized or nonsensitized WT mice. Antibody-mediated rejection was assessed by morphology/immunohistochemistry. Results A-Tg mice expressed A-antigen on vascular endothelium and other cells including erythrocytes. Antibody-mediated rejection was evident in 15/17 A-Tg grafts in sensitized WT recipients (median titer, 1:512), with 2 showing hyperacute rejection and rapid cessation of graft pulsation. Hyperacute rejection was observed in 8/8 A-Tg grafts after passive transfer of anti-A antibody and complement into nonsensitized recipients. Antibody-mediated rejection was not observed in A-Tg grafts transplanted into nonsensitized mice. Conclusions A-Tg heart grafts transplanted into WT mice with abundant anti-A antibody manifests characteristic features of antibody-mediated rejection. These findings demonstrate an effective murine model to facilitate study of immunologic features of ABOi transplantation and to improve potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.