Manisha Sharma

Hyaluronan deposition and correlation with inflammation in a murine ovalbumin model of asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by airway remodeling, which includes changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM). However the role of the ECM in mediating these changes is poorly understood. Hyaluronan (HA), a major component of the ECM, has been implicated in asthma as well as in many other biological processes. Our study investigates the processes involved in HA synthesis, deposition, localization and degradation during an acute and chronic murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic pulmonary inflammation. Mice were sensitized, challenged to OVA and sacrificed at various time points during an 8-week challenge protocol. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids, blood, and lung tissue were collected for study. RNA, HA, protein and histopathology were analyzed. Analyses of lung sections and BAL fluids revealed an early deposition and an increase in HA levels within 24 h of antigen exposure. HA levels peaked at day 8 in BAL, while inflammatory cell recovery peaked at day 6. Hyaluronan synthase (HAS)1 and HAS2 on RNA levels peaked within 2 h of antigen exposure, while hyaluronidase (HYAL)1 and HYAL2 on RNA levels decreased. Both inflammatory cell infiltrates and collagen deposition co-localized with HA deposition within the lungs. These data support a role for HA in the pathogenesis of inflammation and airway remodeling in a murine model of asthma. HA deposition appears largely due to up regulation of HAS1 and HAS2. In addition, HA appears to provide the scaffolding for inflammatory cell accumulation as well as for new collagen synthesis and deposition.

IQ-domain GTPase-activating Protein 1 Regulates β-Catenin at Membrane Ruffles and Its Role in Macropinocytosis of N-cadherin and Adenomatous Polyposis Coli

β-Catenin is an integral component of E-cadherin dependent cell-cell junctions. Here we show that β-catenin co-localizes with IQ-domain GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1), adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), and N-cadherin at actin-positive membrane ruffles in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. We used deletion mapping to identify the membrane ruffle-targeting region of β-catenin, localizing it to amino acids 47-217, which overlap the IQGAP1 binding site. Knockdown by small interference RNA (siRNA) revealed IQGAP1-dependent membrane targeting of β-catenin, APC, and N-cadherin. Transient overexpression of IQGAP1 or N-cadherin increased β-catenin at membrane ruffles. IQGAP1/APC regulates cell migration, and using a wound healing assay we demonstrate that siRNA-mediated loss of β-catenin also caused a modest reduction in the rate of cell migration. More significantly, we discovered that β-catenin is internalized by Arf6-dependent macropinocytosis near sites of membrane ruffling. The β-catenin macropinosomes co-stained for APC, N-cadherin, and to a lesser extent IQGAP1, and internalization of each binding partner was abrogated by siRNA-dependent knockdown of β-catenin. In addition, β-catenin macropinosomes co-localized with the lysosomal marker, lysosome associated membrane protein 1, consistent with their recycling by the late endosomal machinery. Our findings expand on current knowledge of β-catenin function. We propose that in motile cells β-catenin is recruited by IQGAP1 and N-cadherin to active membrane ruffles, wherein β-catenin mediates the internalization and possible recycling of the membrane-associated proteins N-cadherin and APC.

The FAD-shielding Residue Phe1395 Regulates Neuronal Nitric-oxide Synthase Catalysis by Controlling NADP+ Affinity and a Conformational Equilibrium within the Flavoprotein Domain

Phe1395 stacks parallel to the FAD isoalloxazine ring in neuronal nitric-oxide synthase (nNOS) and is representative of conserved aromatic amino acids found in structurally related flavoproteins. This laboratory previously showed that Phe1395 was required to obtain the electron transfer properties and calmodulin (CaM) response normally observed in wild-type nNOS. Here we characterized the F1395S mutant of the nNOS flavoprotein domain (nNOSr) regarding its physical properties, NADP+ binding characteristics, flavin reduction kinetics, steady-state and pre-steady-state cytochrome c reduction kinetics, and ability to shield its FMN cofactor in response to CaM or NADP(H) binding. F1395S nNOSr bound NADP+ with 65% more of the nicotinamide ring in a productive conformation with FAD for hydride transfer and had an 8-fold slower rate of NADP+ dissociation. CaM stimulated the rates of NADPH-dependent flavin reduction in wild-type nNOSr but not in the F1395S mutant, which had flavin reduction kinetics similar to those of CaM-free wild-type nNOSr. CaM-free F1395S nNOSr lacked repression of cytochrome c reductase activity that is typically observed in nNOSr. The combined results from pre-steady-state and EPR experiments revealed that this was associated with a lesser degree of FMN shielding in the NADP+-bound state as compared with wild type. We conclude that Phe1395 regulates nNOSr catalysis in two ways. It facilitates NADP+ release to prevent this step from being rate-limiting, and it enables NADP(H) to properly regulate a conformational equilibrium involving the FMN subdomain that controls reactivity of the FMN cofactor in electron transfer.

A conserved flavin-shielding residue regulates NO synthase electron transfer and nicotinamide coenzyme specificity

Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) are flavoheme enzymes that contain a ferredoxin:NADP+-reductase (FNR) module for binding NADPH and FAD and are unusual because their electron transfer reactions are controlled by the Ca2+-binding protein calmodulin. A conserved aromatic residue in the FNR module of NOS shields the isoalloxazine ring of FAD and is known to regulate NADPH binding affinity and specificity in related flavoproteins. We mutated Phe-1395 (F1395) in neuronal NOS to Tyr and Ser and tested their effects on nucleotide coenzyme specificity, catalytic activities, and electron transfer in the absence or presence of calmodulin. We found that the aromatic side chain of F1395 controls binding specificity with respect to NADH but does not greatly affect affinity for NADPH. Measures of flavin and heme reduction kinetics, ferricyanide and cytochrome c reduction, and NO synthesis established that the aromatic side chain of F1395 is required to repress electron transfer into and out of the flavins of neuronal NOS in the calmodulin-free state, and is also required for calmodulin to fully relieve this repression. We speculate that the phenyl side chain of F1395 is part of a conformational trigger mechanism that negatively or positively controls NOS electron transfer depending on the presence of calmodulin. Such use of the conserved aromatic residue broadens our understanding of flavoprotein structure and regulation.

TSG-6 protein is crucial for the development of pulmonary hyaluronan deposition, eosinophilia, and airway hyperresponsiveness in a murine model of asthma.

Background: TSG-6 is important in the organization of hyaluronan (HA). Results: Lack of TSG-6 results in diminished HA accumulation, inflammation, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Conclusion: TSG-6 is essential for the pathological manifestations in a murine model of asthma. Significance: TSG-6 is likely to contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma. Hyaluronan (HA) deposition is often correlated with mucosal inflammatory responses, where HA mediates both protective and pathological responses. By modifying the HA matrix, Tnfip6 (TNF-α-induced protein-6; also known as TSG-6 (TNF-stimulated gene-6)) is thought to potentiate anti-inflammatory and anti-plasmin effects that are inhibitory to leukocyte extravasation. In this study, we examined the role of endogenous TSG-6 in the pathophysiological responses associated with acute allergic pulmonary inflammation. Compared with wild-type littermate controls, TSG-6−/− mice exhibited attenuated inflammation marked by a significant decrease in pulmonary HA concentrations measured in the bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue. Interestingly, despite the equivalent induction of both humoral and cellular Th2 immunity and the comparable levels of cytokines and chemokines typically associated with eosinophilic pulmonary inflammation, airway eosinophilia was significantly decreased in TSG-6−/− mice. Most importantly, contrary to their counterpart wild-type littermates, TSG-6−/− mice were resistant to the induction of airway hyperresponsiveness and manifested improved lung mechanics in response to methacholine challenge. Our study demonstrates that endogenous TSG-6 is dispensable for the induction of Th2 immunity but is essential for the robust increase in pulmonary HA deposition, propagation of acute eosinophilic pulmonary inflammation, and development of airway hyperresponsiveness. Thus, TSG-6 is implicated in the experimental murine model of allergic pulmonary inflammation and is likely to contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma.

Correlation of hyaluronan deposition with infiltration of eosinophils and lymphocytes in a cockroach-induced murine model of asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that exhibits airway remodeling with changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM). The role of the ECM in mediating these changes is poorly understood. Hyaluronan (HA), a major component of the ECM, has been implicated in many biological processes in diseases. This study investigates the processes involved in HA synthesis, deposition and localization during the propagation of cockroach-induced asthma. Mice were sensitized and challenged with cockroach antigen, and sacrificed at various time points during an 8-week challenge protocol. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid revealed an increase in total nucleated cells as early as 6h, which peaked at 6 days. Histopathologic analysis of the lung tissue revealed an influx of inflammatory cells at the peribronchial and perivascular regions starting at 12 h, which peaked at 6 days and persisted to 8 weeks. Eosinophils predominated in the early time points while lymphocytes predominated during the late time points. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) data showed that hyaluronan synthase 1 (HAS1) mRNA peaked within 6 h and then declined. HAS2 mRNA also peaked within 6 h but remained elevated throughout the 8-week exposure course. HA levels in lung tissue and BAL increased at 12 h and peaked by 6 and 8 days, respectively. Inflammatory cells and new collagen formation localized in areas of HA deposition. Taken together, these data support a role for HA in the pathogenesis in asthma.

Engineering nitric oxide synthase chimeras to function as NO dioxygenases.

Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) catalyze a two-step oxidation of l-arginine to form nitric oxide (NO) and l-citrulline. NOS contains a N-terminal oxygenase domain (NOSoxy) that is the site of NO synthesis, and a C-terminal reductase domain (NOSred) that binds nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and provides electrons to the NOSoxy heme during catalysis. The three NOS isoforms in mammals inducible NOS (iNOS), neuronal NOS (nNOS), and endothelial NOS (eNOS) share high structural similarity but differ in NO release rates and catalytic properties due to differences in enzyme kinetic parameters. These parameters must be balanced for NOS enzymes to release NO, rather than consume it in a competing, inherent NO dioxygenase reaction. To improve understanding, we drew on a global catalytic model and previous findings to design three NOS chimeras that may predominantly function as NO dioxygenases: iNOSoxy/nNOSred (Wild type (WT) chimera), V346I iNOSoxy/nNOSred (V346I chimera) and iNOSoxy/S1412D nNOSred (S1412D chimera). The WT and S1412D chimeras had higher NO release than the parent iNOS, while the V346I chimera exhibited much lower NO release, consistent with expectations. Measurements indicated that a greater NO dioxygenase activity was achieved, particularly in the V346I chimera, which dioxygenated an estimated two to four NO per NO that it released, while the other chimeras had nearly equivalent NO dioxygenase and NO release activities. Computer simulations of the global catalytic model using the measured kinetic parameters produced results that mimicked the measured outcomes, and this provided further insights on the catalytic behaviors of the chimeras and basis of their increased NO dioxygenase activities.

Erratum: Specific Armadillo repeat sequences facilitate β-catenin nuclear transport in live cells via direct binding to nucleoporins Nup62, Nup153, and RanBP2/Nup358 (Journal of Biological Chemistry (2012) 287 (819-831))

Abstract β-Catenin transduces the Wnt signal from the membrane to nucleus, and certain gene mutations trigger its nuclear accumulation leading to cell transformation and cancer. β-Catenin shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm independent of classical Ran/transport receptor pathways, and this movement was previously hypothesized to involve the central Armadillo (Arm) domain. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) assays were used to delineate functional transport regions of the Arm domain in living cells. The strongest nuclear import/export activity was mapped to Arm repeats R10–12 using both in vivo FRAP and in vitro export assays. By comparison, Arm repeats R3–8 of β-catenin were highly active for nuclear import but displayed a comparatively weak export activity. We show for the first time using purified components that specific Arm sequences of β-catenin interact directly in vitro with the FG repeats of the nuclear pore complex (NPC) components Nup62, Nup98, and Nup153, indicating an independent ability of β-catenin to traverse the NPC. Moreover, a proteomics screen identified RanBP2/Nup358 as a binding partner of Arm R10–12, and β-catenin was confirmed to interact with endogenous and ectopic forms of Nup358. We further demonstrate that knock-down of endogenous Nup358 and Nup62 impeded the rate of nuclear import/export of β-catenin to a greater extent than that of importin-β. The Arm R10–12 sequence facilitated transport even when β-catenin was bound to the Arm-binding partner LEF-1, and its activity was stimulated by phosphorylation at Tyr-654. These findings provide functional evidence that the Arm domain contributes to regulated β-catenin transport through direct interaction with the NPC.

The hydrophobic rich N- and C-terminal tails of β-catenin facilitate nuclear import.

This article was withdrawn by the authors before final publication on May 18, 2015.