Timothy A. Bird

Cloning of a Novel Receptor Subunit, AcPL, Required for Interleukin-18 Signaling

We have identified a novel member of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor family, which we have termed AcPL. In transient transfection assays, we were unable to demonstrate a role for AcPL in IL-1-induced activation of NFκB. Interleukin-18 (interferon-γ-inducing factor) is another member of the IL-1 family of cytokines, and it has recently been shown that IL-18 has a weak affinity for IL-1R-rp1. We examined whether AcPL might function alone or in concert with IL-1R-rp1 to mediate IL-18 signaling. We found that both IL-1R-rp1 and AcPL expression were required for induction of NFκB activity and for activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in response to IL-18. Furthermore, a dominant negative version of AcPL specifically inhibited IL-18 signaling. In vitroimmunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that AcPL alone was unable to bind IL-18 with any appreciable affinity. We propose that although IL-1R-rp1 binds the cytokine, IL-1R-rp1 and AcPL proteins are both required for IL-18 signaling, analogous to the requirement for both IL-1R and IL-1RAcP in IL-1-mediated responses.

Activation of Nuclear Transcription Factor NF-κB by Interleukin-1 Is Accompanied by Casein Kinase II-mediated Phosphorylation of the p65 Subunit

In fibroblasts and hepatoma cells, interleukin-1 (IL-1) treatment results in the rapid nuclear accumulation of the transcription factor NF-κB, present largely as p65 (RelA)/p50 heterodimers. It is well established that this process is dependent in large part upon the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of the cytosolic inhibitor IκB. We looked for other IL-1-induced modifications of NF-κB components and found that, in both cell types, IL-1 stimulation led, within minutes, to phosphorylation of both NF-κB p65 and p50. Phosphorylation of p65 was sustained for at least 30 min after addition of the cytokine and occurred principally upon serine residues. Immunoprecipitates of NF-κB complexes contained an associated protein kinase, the biochemical characteristics of which were indistinguishable from casein kinase II (CKII). Purified CKII efficiently phosphorylated p65 in vitro, apparently on the same major sites that became phosphorylated in intact IL-1-treated cells. Although IL-1 treatment caused little apparent stimulation of total cellular CKII activity, the fraction that was specifically associated with NF-κB complexes was markedly elevated by the cytokine. The association of CKII with NF-κB occurred in the cytoplasm, suggesting that this phosphorylation might be involved either in control of translocation of the activated complex or in modulation of its DNA binding properties.

RIP4 Is an Ankyrin Repeat-Containing Kinase Essential for Keratinocyte Differentiation

The epidermis is a stratified, continually renewing epithelium dependent on a balance among cell proliferation, differentiation, and death for homeostasis. In normal epidermis, a mitotically active basal layer gives rise to terminally differentiating keratinocytes that migrate outward and are ultimately sloughed from the skin surface as enucleated squames. Although many proteins are known to function in maintaining epidermal homeostasis, the molecular coordination of these events is poorly understood. RIP4 is a novel RIP (receptor-interacting protein) family kinase with ankyrin repeats cloned from a keratinocyte cDNA library. RIP4 deficiency in mice results in perinatal lethality associated with abnormal epidermal differentiation. The phenotype of RIP4(-/-) mice in part resembles that of mice lacking IKKalpha, a component of a complex that regulates NF-kappaB. Despite the similar keratinocyte defects in RIP4- and IKKalpha-deficient mice, these kinases function in distinct pathways. RIP4 functions cell autonomously within the keratinocyte lineage. Unlike IKKalpha, RIP4-deficient skin fails to fully differentiate when grafted onto a normal host. Instead, abnormal hair follicle development and epidermal dysplasia, indicative of progression into a more pathologic state, are observed. Thus, RIP4 is a critical component of a novel pathway that controls keratinocyte differentiation.

Evidence that map (mitogen-activated protein) kinase activation may be a necessary but not sufficient signal for a restrictive subset of responses in IL-1-treated epidermoid cells

We have investigated the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP-kinase) in KB human epidermoid carcinoma cells treated with interleukin 1 (IL-1). MAP-kinase activity was transient; the time required for activity to reach a maximal level was dependent upon the dose of IL-1, ranging from 15 minutes to 45 minutes. The level of kinase induction correlated well with dose-response curves for two characteristic IL-1-induced responses, PGE2 and IL-6 production. MAP-kinase activity returned to basal levels within 2 hours regardless of the amount of IL-1 added to the system. Exposure of KB cells to free IL-1 was accordingly restricted to periods of 2 hours or less, by replacing IL-1 with an excess of IL-1 receptor antagonist. Even after 2 hours exposure, the ability of IL-1 to induce IL-6 or PGE2 was still IL-1ra-inhibitable by more than 80%, suggesting that events downstream of, or parallel to MAP-kinase activation, requiring the continual formation of new IL-1 receptor complexes, are needed to fully elicit these responses. Two general serine/threonine kinase inhibitors, K252a and quercetin, were found to strongly inhibit MAP kinase in vivo with ED50s of c. 100 nM and 30 microM, respectively. At these concentrations, both compounds effectively inhibited IL-1-driven PGE2 and IL-6 induction without affecting general protein synthesis or secretion. Other non-selective kinase inhibitors had less effect on MAP-kinase activation or IL-1-induced biological responses. The transient activation of MAP-kinase induction correlated strikingly with activation of the transcription factor NF-kappa B. IL-1-induced NF-kappa B activation was, however, relatively insensitive to inhibition by K252a or quercetin. We suggest that MAP-kinase is likely to be a necessary, but not sufficient, intermediate in some (IL-6, PGE2 induction) but not all (NF-kappa B activation) IL-1 responses in these cells.

Similar Hormonal Changes in Sera from Scorbutic and Fasted (Vitamin C-Supplemented) Guinea Pigs, Including Decreased IGF-I and Appearance of an IGF-I Reversible Mitogenic Inhibitor

We previously proposed that the decreased rates of synthesis of collagen and proteoglycans in vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs were unrelated to the role of ascorbate in proline hydroxylation but might result from modulation of hormones known to change during fasting. In the present studies, we found that sera from guinea pigs on an ascorbate-free diet for 24-28 days or from those fasted for 4 days, with vitamin C supplementation, showed similar changes in the concentrations of several hormones. EGF and IGF-II concentrations were unchanged, but cortisol was increased 3-5 times and growth hormone was increased to approximately twice normal levels. Thyroxine and IGF-I concentrations were decreased to 40% and 25-33% of normal levels, respectively. The decrease in serum IGF-I must occur by a growth hormone-independent pathway. The extent of changes in hormone concentrations in sera from ascorbate-deficient guinea pigs was correlated with the extent of weight loss. Sera from scorbutic and fasted guinea pigs failed to stimulate DNA synthesis in quiescent BALB 3T3 cells in the presence of saturating concentrations of EGF and PDGF. Addition of experimental sera to normal serum showed that lack of mitogenic activity was due to the presence of an inhibitor. Inhibition was not related to IGF-I concentrations in the sera, although it was reversed by the addition of IGF-I to sera from scorbutic or fasted animals. These results support our proposed model and suggest that IGF-I, as well as an inhibitor of its activity, plays a role in the regulation of growth by vitamin C and other nutrients.

Coordinate regulation of collagen and proteoglycan synthesis in costal cartilage of scorbutic and acutely fasted, vitamin C-supplemented guinea pigs

The effects of ascorbic acid deficiency and acute fasting (with ascorbate supplementation) on the synthesis of collagen and proteoglycan in costal cartilages from young guinea pigs was determined by in vitro labeling of these components with radioactive proline and sulfate, respectively. Both parameters were coordinately decreased by the second week on a vitamin C-free diet, with a continued decline to 20-30% of control values by the fourth week. These effects were quite specific, since incorporation of proline into noncollagenous protein was reduced by only 30% after 4 weeks on the deficient diet. The time course of the decrease in collagen and proteoglycan synthesis paralleled the loss of body weight induced by ascorbate deficiency. Hydroxylation of proline in collagen synthesized by scorbutic costal cartilage was reduced to about 60% of normal relatively early, and remained at that level thereafter. Neither collagen nor proteoglycan synthesis was returned to normal by the addition of ascorbate (0.2 mM) to cartilage in vitro. Administration of a single dose of ascorbate to scorbutic guinea pigs increased liver ascorbate and restored proline hydroxylation to normal levels by 24 h, but failed to increase the synthesis of collagen or proteoglycan. Synthesis of both extracellular matrix components was restored to control levels after four daily doses of ascorbate. A 96-h total fast, with ascorbate supplementation, produced rates of weight loss and decreases in the synthesis of these two components similar to those produced by acute scurvy. There was a linear correlation between changes in collagen and proteoglycan synthesis and changes in body weight during acute fasting, scurvy, and its reversal. These results suggest that it is the fasting state induced by ascorbate deficiency, rather than a direct action of the vitamin in either of these two biosynthetic pathways, which is the primary regulatory factor.

Regulation of collagen synthesis and mRNA levels in articular cartilage of scorbutic guinea pigs.

Previous studies suggested that decreased type I collagen synthesis in calvaria of ascorbate-deficient guinea pigs was correlated with weight loss rather than defective proline hydroxylation. The generality of this correlation was examined in articular cartilage, which synthesizes mainly type II collagen, by measuring collagen synthesis and proline hydroxylation in vitro in tissue from ascorbate-supplemented and scorbutic guinea pigs. Ascorbate concentrations in tissues were almost completely depleted after 1 week of deficiency, but proline hydroxylation remained normal until after approximately 3 weeks, when it had decreased only by 10%. At that point collagen synthesis had decreased to about 50% of the control value. There was little additional effect on proline hydroxylation but collagen synthesis decreased further to 20% of normal. Procollagen mRNA levels in cartilage, as measured by dot-blot hybridization with a type II-specific cDNA probe, were unchanged after 2 weeks of scurvy, which correlated with the lack of effect on collagen synthesis during that period. Thereafter, during the period when collagen synthesis decreased, procollagen mRNA levels decreased to 20% of control values. Refeeding ascorbate to acutely scorbutic animals led to reversal of defective proline hydroxylation within 24 h with a slower increase in collagen synthesis and mRNA levels. Collagen synthesis returned to the normal level after 4 days with no further increase, while mRNA levels continued to increase to 2.7 times the control values after 7 days. Thus the major mechanism for regulation of collagen synthesis in articular cartilage during scurvy and ascorbate repletion occurs independently of the effect on proline hydroxylation and is associated with changes in mRNA levels. The lack of precise coordination between collagen synthesis and mRNA levels during repletion, however, suggests that there may be additional regulation through post-transcriptional mechanisms.

Decreased extracellular matrix production in scurvy involves a humoral factor other than ascorbate

Our recent studies suggested that decreased collagen synthesis in bone and cartilage of scorbutic guinea pigs was not related to ascorbate-dependent proline hydroxylation. The decrease paralleled scurvy-induced weight loss and reduced proteoglycan synthesis. Those results led us to propose that the effects of ascorbate deficiency on extracellular matrix synthesis were caused by changes in humoral factors similar to those that occur in fasting. Here we present evidence for this proposal. Exposure of chick embryo chondrocytes to scorbutic guinea pig serum, in the presence of ascorbate, led to effects on extracellular matrix synthesis similar to those seen in scorbutic animals. The rates of collagen and proteoglycan synthesis were reduced to approximately 30-50% of the levels in cells cultured in normal guinea pig serum plus ascorbate, but proline hydroxylation and procollagen secretion were unaffected. Similar results were obtained with serum from fasted guinea pigs supplemented in vivo with ascorbate. The growth rate of the chondrocytes was not significantly affected by scorbutic guinea pig serum.

Phorbol ester induces phosphorylation of the 80 kilodalton murine interleukin 1 receptor at a single threonine residue

The cytoplasmic domains of some cell surface receptors become phosphorylated in cells treated with phorbol esters. The present study was undertaken in order to determine whether this is also true of the 80 kDa interleukin 1 receptor (IL1R). Recombinant murine IL1R, transfected into chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells or murine fibroblasts, was immunoprecipitated from [32P]orthophosphate-labelled cells. IL1R phosphorylation was only detected in cells pretreated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and occurred solely on phosphothreonine. In contrast to a previous report, little or no IL1R phosphorylation occurred in response to IL1. By using a truncated receptor and receptors in which threonine residues were changed to alanines, we established that Thr537, near the carboxy-terminus, is the major site of PMA-induced phosphorylation. The human IL1R has a different sequence at this locus, and is apparently not phosphorylated. Binding studies showed that PMA-induced phosphorylation had no discernible effect on ligand binding or internalization.