Kaori Shimazaki

Carotenoid availability affects the development of a colour-based mate preference and the sensory bias to which it is genetically linked

Regardless of their origins, mate preferences should, in theory, be shaped by their benefits in a mating context. Here we show that the female preference for carotenoid colouration in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) exhibits a phenotypically plastic response to carotenoid availability, confirming a key prediction of sexual selection theory. Earlier work indicated that this mate preference is genetically linked to, and may be derived from, a sensory bias that occurs in both sexes: attraction to orange objects. The original function of this sensory bias is unknown, but it may help guppies find orange-coloured fruits in the rainforest streams of Trinidad. We show that the sensory bias also exhibits a phenotypically plastic response to carotenoid availability, but only in females. The sex-specificity of this reaction norm argues against the hypothesis that it evolved in a foraging context. We infer instead that the sensory bias has been modified as a correlated effect of selection on the mate preference. These results provide a new type of support for the hypothesis that mate preferences for sexual characters evolve in response to the benefits of mate choice—the alternatives being that such preferences evolve entirely in a non-mating context or in response to the costs of mating.

Frequency of Anti-Retinal Antibodies in Normal Human Serum

Background: Anti-retinal antibodies have been described in the context of autoimmune retinopathies and are often presumed to be pathogenic or disease associated. However, full characterization of patterns of anti-retinal antibody reactivity in normal human serum has been limited. The purpose of this work was to identify the profile of anti-retinal IgG antibodies in serum used as controls in laboratory testing. Methods: Normal human sera used in commercial diagnostic laboratories were tested for the presence of immunoreactivity against soluble human retinal proteins using Western blot analysis of fractionated soluble human retinal proteins. Reactivity was quantified using computerized densitometry, and the level of reactivity was standardized relative to a control positive serum with known reactivity against recoverin. Results: Some anti-retinal reactivity was observed in the majority of all tested normal sera. Reactivity against one to two protein bands was observed in 33%. Reactivity against five or more distinct bands was observed in 22%. There was a tendency for serum from women to react with three or more protein bands compared with serum from men. Conclusions: The presence of anti-retinal antibodies is observed in a majority of normal control human sera, suggesting that identification of new candidate retinal autoantigens should be cautiously interpreted and subject to rigorous testing for disease association. Additional studies will aid development of a standardized protocol for validation of potential pathogenic seroreactivity.

The Tetraspan Protein EMP2 Regulates Expression of Caveolin-1

Caveolin-1 is the primary component of caveolae and functions in a variety of intracellular activities, including membrane trafficking and signal transduction. EMP2 (epithelial membrane protein 2) is a tetraspan protein recently identified as a novel regulator of caveolin-1 expression. In this study, we analyzed the mechanism of EMP2-mediated caveolin-1 regulation. In NIH 3T3 cells and in the human retinal pigment epithelium cell line (ARPE-19), EMP2 regulates caveolin-1 transcription and more substantially its protein levels. EMP2-mediated down-regulation of caveolin-1 does not affect caveolin-1 translational efficiency, phosphorylation, or proteasome-mediated degradation. Analysis of caveolin-1 protein half-life indicates the EMP2-mediated loss of caveolin-1 occurs rapidly. Protease inhibition and laser confocal microscopy associates this fate with specific intracellular compartmentalization, including early lysosomal delivery. These findings elucidate a new mechanism of caveolin-1 regulation and define an additional role for EMP2 as a key regulator of cell membrane composition.

Diabodies Targeting Epithelial Membrane Protein 2 Reduce Tumorigenicity of Human Endometrial Cancer Cell Lines

Purpose: Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy. One promising biomarker is epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2), and its expression is an independent prognostic indicator for tumors with poor clinical outcome expression. The present study assesses the suitability of EMP2 as a therapeutic target. Experimental Design: Human monovalent anti-EMP2 antibody fragments were isolated from a human phage display library and engineered as bivalent antibody fragments (diabodies) with specificity and avidity to both EMP2 peptides and native cell-surface EMP2 protein. Diabodies were assessed using cell death and apoptosis assays. In addition, the efficacy of EMP2 diabodies on endometrial cancer tumors was determined using mouse xenograft models. Results: Treatment of human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines with anti-EMP2 diabodies induced significant cell death and caspase-3 cleavage in vitro. These responses correlated with cellular EMP2 expression and were augmented by progesterone, which physiologically induces EMP2 expression. In vivo, treatment of subcutaneous human xenografts of HEC-1A cell lines with anti-EMP2 diabodies suppressed tumor growth and induced cell death in the xenograft. Conclusions: These findings suggest that EMP2 may be a potential pharmacologic target for human endometrial cancer.

Electroretinographic abnormalities in multiple sclerosis: possible role for retinal autoantibodies

BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with inflammation of the uveal tract, suggesting an immunological link between the uvea and central nervous system (CNS) in this disease. The retina is embryologically derived from the CNS, and it is conceivable that retinal antigens may also be recognized by the immune system in MS. Electroretinographic abnormalities, as well as retinal autoantibodies, have previously been described in MS. We performed this study to further explore the possibility of retinal autoimmunity in MS.MethodsThirty-four patients with clinically definite MS and thirty-seven healthy controls were recruited. All patients and controls had standard electroretinographic (ERG) testing done, as well as a brightflash ERG protocol to isolate rod photoreceptor function. Patient and control sera were analyzed for the presence of antiretinal antibodies using Western blot techniques.ResultsWe found statistically significant differences between MS patients and controls in four ERG parameters. In the MS group, implicit times of the rod-cone b-wave response, cone b-wave response, and rod photoreceptor response were increased. The amplitudes of the photopic oscillatory potentials were reduced in the MS group. Patients with the highest titres of retinal autoantibodies had delayed rod-cone b-wave implicit times and diminished photopic oscillatory potential amplitudes.ConclusionsWe report ERG evidence of retinal dysfunction in patients with MS. We also report the first use of the brightflash ERG protocol in MS, which demonstrated rod photoreceptor dysfunction. Patients with the highest antiretinal antibody titres had abnormal ERG recordings. Retinal autoimmunity is a possible explanation for these observed ERG abnormalities in MS patients.

Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome: a case with an autoimmune reactivity against retinal and renal antigens.

Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) generally occurs at young age and has a female preponderance. Renal biopsy reveals interstitial infiltration of inflammatory cells and edema, and the associated intraocular inflammation typically consists of an anterior, bilateral uveitis. The pathogenesis of TINU likely involves both humoral and cellular immunity and is mediated by medications, infectious agents, or other unknown causes. A previous report detected a renal antigen recognized by the serum of a TINU patient. In this report the authors extend these observations to document seroreactivity against a retinal antigen of similar size.

Blockade of epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) abrogates infection of Chlamydia muridarum murine genital infection model

New methods are needed to eradicate or prevent Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Blockade of epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) by genetic silencing or neutralizing polyclonal antibody reduced chlamydial infectivity in vitro. This study tests the prediction that recombinant anti-EMP2 diabody could reduce early chlamydial infection of the genital tract in vivo. In a murine infection model, pretreatment with anti-EMP2 diabody, as compared with control diabody, significantly reduced bacterial load, tissue production of inflammatory cytokines, recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and local tissue inflammation. These findings support EMP2 as a potential preventative and therapeutic target for genital chlamydial infection.