Publications

No abstract is provided for this article.

We identified alternatively spliced forms of Stat2 in human and mouse mRNAs. The spliced forms are generated by reading through the intron between exon 20 and 21, which correspond to the region encoding SH2 domain. The spliced forms contain a stop codon in SH2 domain, and therefore give rise to a short form of Stat2 when the mRNAs are translated. The putative translated proteins lack half of the SH2 domain, the tyrosine phosphorylation site required for dimerization (or oligomereization) and DNA binding, and C‐terminal activation domain. The significance of these spliced forms is discussed.

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is produced upon viral infection and can activate innate immunity. Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acids [poly(I:C)] is a synthetic mimetic of dsRNA and functions through an endosomal receptor, Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 or cytosolic receptors. Another type of dsRNA, polyadenylic:polyuridylic acids [poly(A:U)], can also act as an immune adjuvant, but it remains unclear how it exhibits its adjuvant effects. Here, we have characterized the adjuvant effects of poly(A:U). Poly(A:U) could induce both IFN-alpha and IL-12p40 from murine bone marrow dendritic cells (DCs). Poly(A:U)-induced IFN-alpha production depended on a DC subset, plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC), and required TLR7. IL-12p40 was also produced by poly(A:U)-stimulated pDC in a TLR7-dependent manner. In addition to pDC, conventional dendritic cell (cDC) also produced IL-12p40 in response to poly(A:U). This IL-12p40 induction resulted from two cDC subsets, CD24(high) cDC and CD11b(high) cDC in a TLR3- and TLR7-dependent manner, respectively. In vivo injection of poly(A:U) with antigen led to clonal expansion of and IFN-gamma production from antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells. Consistent with the in vitro findings, TLR3 and TLR7 were required for the clonal T-cell expansion. Notably, TLR3, rather than TLR7, was critical for generating IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells. CD8(+) T-cell responses induced by poly(A:U) were independent of type I IFN signaling. Our results demonstrate that poly(A:U) functions as an in vivo immunoadjuvant mainly through TLR3 and TLR7.

Influenza is a ssRNA virus that has been responsible for widespread morbidity and mortality; however, the innate immunological mechanisms that drive the adaptive anti-influenza immune response in vivo are yet to be fully elucidated. TLRs are pattern recognition receptors that bind evolutionarily conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns, induce dendritic cell maturation, and consequently aid the development of effective immune responses. We have examined the role of TLRs in driving effective T and B cell responses against influenza virus. We found TLR3 and its associated adapter molecule, Toll/IL-R domain-containing adaptor-inducing IFN-beta, did not play a role in the development of CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cell responses against influenza virus, nor did they influence influenza-specific B cell responses. Surprisingly, TLR7 and MyD88 also played negligible roles in T cell activation and effector function upon infection with influenza virus; however, their signaling was critical for regulating anti-influenza B cell Ab isotype switching. The induction of appropriate anti-influenza humoral responses involved stimulation of TLRs on B cells directly and TLR-induced production of IFN-alpha, which acted to reduce IgG1 and increase IgG2a/c class switching. Notably, direct TLR signaling on B cells or T cell help through the CD40-CD40L interaction was sufficient to support B cell proliferation and IgG1 production, whereas IFN-alpha was critical for fine-tuning the nature of the isotype switch. Taken together, these data reveal that TLR signaling is not required for anti-influenza T cell responses, but through both direct and indirect means orchestrates appropriate anti-influenza B cell responses.

Intrinsically disordered domains have been reported to play important roles in signal transduction networks by introducing cooperativity into protein–protein interactions. Unlike intrinsically disordered domains that become ordered upon binding, the EF-SAM domain in the stromal interaction molecule (STIM) 1 is distinct in that it is ordered in the monomeric state and partially unfolded in its oligomeric state, with the population of the two states depending on the local Ca2 + concentration. The oligomerization of STIM1, which triggers extracellular Ca2 + influx, exhibits cooperativity with respect to the local endoplasmic reticulum Ca2 + concentration. Although the physiological importance of the oligomerization reaction is well established, the mechanism of the observed cooperativity is not known. Here, we examine the response of the STIM1 EF-SAM domain to changes in Ca2 + concentration using mathematical modeling based on in vitro experiments. We find that the EF-SAM domain partially unfolds and dimerizes cooperatively with respect to Ca2 + concentration, with Hill coefficients and half-maximal activation concentrations very close to the values observed in vivo for STIM1 redistribution and extracellular Ca2 + influx. Our mathematical model of the dimerization reaction agrees quantitatively with our analytical ultracentrifugation-based measurements and previously published free energies of unfolding. A simple interpretation of these results is that Ca2 + loss effectively acts as a denaturant, enabling cooperative dimerization and robust signal transduction. We present a structural model of the Ca2 +-unbound EF-SAM domain that is consistent with a wide range of evidence, including resistance to proteolytic cleavage of the putative dimerization portion.

No abstract is provided for this article.

RNA virus infection is recognized by retinoic acid-inducible gene (RIG)-I–like receptors (RLRs), RIG-I, and melanoma differentiation–associated gene 5 (MDA5) in the cytoplasm. RLRs are comprised of N-terminal caspase-recruitment domains (CARDs) and a DExD/H-box helicase domain. The third member of the RLR family, LGP2, lacks any CARDs and was originally identified as a negative regulator of RLR signaling. In the present study, we generated mice lacking LGP2 and found that LGP2 was required for RIG-I– and MDA5-mediated antiviral responses. In particular, LGP2 was essential for type I IFN production in response to picornaviridae infection. Overexpression of the CARDs from RIG-I and MDA5 in Lgp2 −/− fibroblasts activated the IFN-β promoter, suggesting that LGP2 acts upstream of RIG-I and MDA5. We further examined the role of the LGP2 helicase domain by generating mice harboring a point mutation of Lys-30 to Ala ( Lgp2 K30A/K30A ) that abrogated the LGP2 ATPase activity. Lgp2 K30A/K30A dendritic cells showed impaired IFN-β productions in response to various RNA viruses to extents similar to those of Lgp2 −/− cells. Lgp2 −/− and Lgp2 K30A/K30A mice were highly susceptible to encephalomyocarditis virus infection. Nevertheless, LGP2 and its ATPase activity were dispensable for the responses to synthetic RNA ligands for MDA5 and RIG-I. Taken together, the present data suggest that LGP2 facilitates viral RNA recognition by RIG-I and MDA5 through its ATPase domain.

Summary Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium ( S . typhimurium ) is an intracellular pathogen that causes macrophage cell death by at least two different mechanisms. Rapid cell death is dependent on the Salmonella pathogenicity island‐1 protein SipB whereas delayed cell death is independent of SipB and occurs 18–24 hr post infection. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is essential for the delayed cell death. LPS is the main structural component of the outer membrane of Gram‐negative bacteria and is recognized by Toll‐like receptor 4, signalling via the adapter proteins Mal, MyD88, Tram and Trif. Here we show that S . typhimurium induces SipB‐independent cell death through Toll‐like receptor 4 signalling via the adapter proteins Tram and Trif. In contrast to wild type bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM), Tram –/– and Trif –/– BMDM proliferate in response to Salmonella infection.

Recognition of virus presence via RIG-I (retinoic acid inducible gene I) and/or MDA5 (melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5) initiates a signaling cascade that culminates in transcription of innate response genes such as those encoding the alpha/beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) cytokines. It is generally assumed that MDA5 is activated by long molecules of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) produced by annealing of complementary RNAs generated during viral infection. Here, we used an antibody to dsRNA to show that the presence of immunoreactivity in virus-infected cells does indeed correlate with the ability of RNA extracted from these cells to activate MDA5. Furthermore, RNA from cells infected with encephalomyocarditis virus or with vaccinia virus and precipitated with the anti-dsRNA antibody can bind to MDA5 and induce MDA5-dependent IFN-alpha/beta production upon transfection into indicator cells. However, a prominent band of dsRNA apparent in cells infected with either virus does not stimulate IFN-alpha/beta production. Instead, stimulatory activity resides in higher-order structured RNA that contains single-stranded RNA and dsRNA. These results suggest that MDA5 activation requires an RNA web rather than simply long molecules of dsRNA.

Intestinal plasma cells predominantly produce immunoglobulin (Ig) A, however, their functional diversity remains poorly characterized. Here we show that murine intestinal IgA plasma cells can be newly classified into two populations on the basis of CD11b expression, which cannot be discriminated by currently known criteria such as general plasma cell markers, B cell origin and T cell dependence. CD11b(+) IgA(+) plasma cells require the lymphoid structure of Peyer's patches, produce more IgA than CD11b(-) IgA(+) plasma cells, proliferate vigorously, and require microbial stimulation and IL-10 for their development and maintenance. These features allow CD11b(+) IgA(+) plasma cells to mediate early-phase antigen-specific intestinal IgA responses induced by oral immunization with protein antigen. These findings reveal the functional diversity of IgA(+) plasma cells in the murine intestine.

IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in natural killer cell activation and T helper 1 (Th1) cell responses. Mast cells and basophils are major inducers and effectors of allergic inflammation. Here we show that basophils and mast cells derived by culture of bone marrow cells with IL-3 for 10 days express IL-18Rα chain and that basophils produce large amounts of IL-4 and IL-13 in response to stimulation with IL-3 and IL-18. Injection of IL-12 and IL-18 inhibits IgE production in helminth-infected wild-type mice and abolishes the capacity of their basophils to produce IL-4 and IL-13 in response to stimulation either with IL-3 and IL-18 or with FcɛR cross-linkage. By contrast, this combination of cytokines actually increases IgE levels in helminth-infected IFN-γ −/− mice and enhances IL-4 and IL-13 production by their basophils. Furthermore, injection of IL-18 alone enhances basophil production of IL-4 and histamine both in wild-type and IFN-γ −/− mice. Thus, IL-18 has the potential to stimulate basophils but, when given with IL-12, exhibits an antiallergic action in vivo .

Host defense against the intracellular protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi depends on Toll-like receptor (TLR)-dependent innate immune responses. Recent studies also suggest the presence of TLR-independent responses to several microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. However, the TLR-independent responses to protozoa remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate a novel TLR-independent innate response pathway to T. cruzi. Myd88(-/-)Trif(-/-) mice lacking TLR signaling showed normal T. cruzi-induced Th1 responses and maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), despite high sensitivity to the infection. IFN-gamma was normally induced in T. cruzi-infected Myd88(-/-)Trif(-/-) innate immune cells, and further was responsible for the TLR-independent Th1 responses and DC maturation after T. cruzi infection. T. cruzi infection induced elevation of the intracellular Ca(2+) level. Furthermore, T. cruzi-induced IFN-gamma expression was blocked by inhibition of Ca(2+) signaling. NFATc1, which plays a pivotal role in Ca(2+) signaling in lymphocytes, was activated in T. cruzi-infected Myd88(-/-)Trif(-/-) innate immune cells. T. cruzi-infected Nfatc1(-/-) fetal liver DCs were impaired in IFN-gamma production and DC maturation. These results demonstrate that NFATc1 mediates TLR-independent innate immune responses in T. cruzi infection.