Kouji Kato

Cutting Edge: Tyk2 Is Required for the Induction and Nuclear Translocation of Daxx Which Regulates IFN-α-Induced Suppression of B Lymphocyte Formation

IFN-α inhibits B lymphocyte development, and the nuclear protein Daxx has been reported to be essential for this biological activity. We show in this study that IFN-α inhibits the clonal proliferation of B lymphocyte progenitors in response to IL-7 in wild-type, but not in tyk2-deficient, mice. In addition, the IFN-α-induced up-regulation and nuclear translocation of Daxx are completely abrogated in the absence of tyk2. Therefore, tyk2 is directly involved in IFN-α signaling for the induction and translocation of Daxx, which may result in B lymphocyte growth arrest and/or apoptosis.

Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription 3 Augments the Transcriptional Activity of CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein α in Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor Signaling Pathway

The Janus kinase (Jak)-Stat pathway plays an essential role in cytokine signaling. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) promotes granulopoiesis and granulocytic differentiation, and Stat3 is the principle Stat protein activated by G-CSF. Upon treatment with G-CSF, the interleukin-3-dependent cell line 32D clone 3(32Dcl3) differentiates into neutrophils, and 32Dcl3 cells expressing dominant-negative Stat3 (32Dcl3/DNStat3) proliferate in G-CSF without differentiation. Gene expression profile and quantitative PCR analysis of G-CSF-stimulated cell lines revealed that the expression of C/EBPα was up-regulated by the activation of Stat3. In addition, activated Stat3 bound to CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α, leading to the enhancement of the transcription activity of C/EBPα. Conditional expression of C/EBPα in 32Dcl3/DNStat3 cells after G-CSF stimulation abolishes the G-CSF-dependent cell proliferation and induces granulocytic differentiation. Although granulocyte-specific genes, such as the G-CSF receptor, lysozyme M, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin precursor (NGAL) are regulated by Stat3, only NGAL was induced by the restoration of C/EBPα after stimulation with G-CSF in 32Dcl3/DNStat3 cells. These results show that one of the major roles of Stat3 in the G-CSF signaling pathway is to augment the function of C/EBPα, which is essential for myeloid differentiation. Additionally, cooperation of C/EBPα with other Stat3-activated proteins are required for the induction of some G-CSF responsive genes including lysozyme M and the G-CSF receptor.

Intracellular signal transduction of interferon on the suppression of haematopoietic progenitor cell growth

Summary. Interferon (IFN)‐α and IFN‐γ suppress the growth of haematopoietic progenitor cells. IFN‐α activates Janus kinase‐1 (Jak1) and Tyrosine kinase‐2 (Tyk2), followed by the phosphorylation of the signal transducers and activators of transcription, Stat1 and Stat2. IFN‐γ activates Jak1 and Jak2, followed by the activation of Stat1. Activated Stats bind the promoter regions of IFN‐inducible genes. We evaluated the role of Tyk2 and Stat1 in the IFN‐mediated inhibition of haematopoietic progenitor cell growth. While IFN‐α (1000 U/ml) suppressed the number of granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐forming units (CFU‐GM) or erythroid burst‐forming units (BFU‐E) from wild‐type mouse bone marrow cells, this suppression was partially inhibited by a deficiency in Tyk2 and completely inhibited by a deficiency in Stat1. High levels of IFN‐α (10 000 U/ml) suppressed the CFU‐GM or BFU‐E obtained from Stat1‐deficient mice, but did not suppress this growth in cells from Tyk2‐deficient mice. Stat1 was phosphorylated by IFN‐α in Tyk2‐deficient cells, although the level of phosphorylation was weaker than that observed in wild type mice. Thus, the inhibitory signal on haematopoietic progenitor cells mediated by IFN‐α may be transduced by two signalling pathways, one regulated by Tyk2 and the other dependent on Stat1. IFN‐γ also suppressed the number of CFU‐GM or BFU‐E, and this pathway was mediated by IFN‐γ in a Stat1‐dependent manner, independently of Tyk2.

Apoptosis in perforated cornea of a patient with graft-versus-host disease

CASE REPORT Although ocular complications associated with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can include corneal dysfunction, corneal perforation is not common. We report the presence of apoptotic cells in a perforated cornea of a patient with GVHD. A 72-year-old man with the angioimmunoblastic type of malignant lymphoma developed chronic GVHD after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Despite systemic and topical treatment, both corneas perforated, and penetrating keratoplasty with cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation was performed on both eyes. COMMENTS The corneal button excised from the right eye was examined histologically and stained for apoptotic cells by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). This revealed thinning of the epithelial cell layer and stroma, with cells, including lymphocytes, infiltrating to the site of the perforation. Some of the epithelial cells and keratocytes were TUNEL positive. The presence of apoptotic cells in our case suggests that apoptosis may be involved in the perforation of the cornea in patients with GVHD.

The lipocalin 24p3, which is an essential molecule in IL-3 withdrawal-induced apoptosis, is not involved in the G-CSF withdrawal-induced apoptosis.

Abstract: Many hematopoietic cells undergo apoptosis when deprived of specific cytokines. Lipocalin 24p3, reported to be induced in hematopoietic cells by interleukin 3 (IL‐3) depletion, induces hematopoietic cell apoptosis despite the presence of IL‐3. As granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) depletion also induces the apoptosis of G‐CSF‐dependent cell line cells, we examined the effect of 24p3 on the apoptotic function induced by G‐CSF depletion. 24p3 was induced by the depletion of IL‐3, but not G‐CSF, in cytokine‐dependent cell lines. Although 24p3 suppressed growth induced by IL‐3, it did not influence G‐CSF‐dependent cell growth. These observations show that 24p3 is not involved in the G‐CSF withdrawal‐induced apoptosis, although it is essential in IL‐3 withdrawal‐induced apoptosis.

Therapy-related chronic myelogenous leukaemia following autologous stem cell transplantation for Ewing's sarcoma

Summary. A 17‐year‐old Japanese woman with Ewings sarcoma was initially treated with conventional chemotherapy and local irradiation, and then with high‐dose chemotherapy supported by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Four years later she was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). The BCR/ABL fusion gene was detected in both peripheral blood and bone marrow cells by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, but not in the harvest product of peripheral blood stem cells which were infused at the time of transplantation. This case adds to the accumulating evidence of therapy‐related CML developing after high‐dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation.