Analysis of expression of an alternative La (SS-B) cDNA and localization of the encoded N- and C-terminal peptides

And Yet It Moves: Oxidation of the Nuclear Autoantigen La/SS-B Is the Driving Force for Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Shuttling

Decades ago, we and many other groups showed a nucleo-cytoplasmic translocation of La protein in cultured cells. This shuttling of La protein was seen after UV irradiation, virus infections, hydrogen peroxide exposure and the Fenton reaction based on iron or copper ions. All of these conditions are somehow related to oxidative stress. Unfortunately, these harsh conditions could also cause an artificial release of La protein. Even until today, the shuttling and the cytoplasmic function of La/SS-B is controversially discussed. Moreover, the driving mechanism for the shuttling of La protein remains unclear. Recently, we showed that La protein undergoes redox-dependent conformational changes. Moreover, we developed anti-La monoclonal antibodies (anti-La mAbs), which are specific for either the reduced form of La protein or the oxidized form. Using these tools, here we show that redox-dependent conformational changes are the driving force for the shuttling of La protein. Moreover, we show that translocation of La protein to the cytoplasm can be triggered in a ligand/receptor-dependent manner under physiological conditions. We show that ligands of toll-like receptors lead to a redox-dependent shuttling of La protein. The shuttling of La protein depends on the redox status of the respective cell type. Endothelial cells are usually resistant to the shuttling of La protein, while dendritic cells are highly sensitive. However, the deprivation of intracellular reducing agents in endothelial cells makes endothelial cells sensitive to a redox-dependent shuttling of La protein.

Two Be or Not Two Be: The Nuclear Autoantigen La/SS-B Is Able to Form Dimers and Oligomers in a Redox Dependent Manner

According to the literature, the autoantigen La is involved in Cap-independent translation. It was proposed that one prerequisite for this function is the formation of a protein dimer. However, structural analyses argue against La protein dimers. Noteworthy to mention, these structural analyses were performed under reducing conditions. Here we describe that La protein can undergo redox-dependent structural changes. The oxidized form of La protein can form dimers, oligomers and even polymers stabilized by disulfide bridges. The primary sequence of La protein contains three cysteine residues. Only after mutation of all three cysteine residues to alanine La protein becomes insensitive to oxidation, indicating that all three cysteines are involved in redox-dependent structural changes. Biophysical analyses of the secondary structure of La protein support the redox-dependent conformational changes. Moreover, we identified monoclonal anti-La antibodies (anti-La mAbs) that react with either the reduced or oxidized form of La protein. Differential reactivities to the reduced and oxidized form of La protein were also found in anti-La sera of autoimmune patients.

T Cell Mediated Conversion of a Non-Anti-La Reactive B Cell to an Autoreactive Anti-La B Cell by Somatic Hypermutation

Since the first description of nuclear autoantigens in the late 1960s and early 1970s, researchers, including ourselves, have found it difficult to establish monoclonal antibodies (mabs) against nuclear antigens, including the La/SS-B (Sjögrens' syndrome associated antigen B) autoantigen. To date, only a few anti-La mabs have been derived by conventional hybridoma technology; however, those anti-La mabs were not bona fide autoantibodies as they recognize either human La specific, cryptic, or post-translationally modified epitopes which are not accessible on native mouse La protein. Herein, we present a series of novel murine anti-La mabs including truly autoreactive ones. These mabs were elicited from a human La transgenic animal through adoptive transfer of T cells from non-transgenic mice immunized with human La antigen. Detailed epitope and paratope analyses experimentally confirm the hypothesis that somatic hypermutations that occur during T cell dependent maturation can lead to autoreactivity to the nuclear La/SS-B autoantigen.

Detection of autoantibodies to tumour-associated antigens in sera of patients with systemic autoimmunity using a novel protein microblot array

It is well known that sera of patients with systemic autoimmunity contain autoantibodies to nuclear antigens. It is also known that patients with systemic autoimmunity have an increased risk for the development of tumours. Interestingly, tumour patients frequently develop autoantibodies and there is a growing list of potential tumour-associated antigens. It is, however, not known whether or not patients with systemic autoimmunity also develop antibodies to tumour-associated antigens. Here we describe the development of a novel multiprotein array allowing us to screen for autoantibodies to 30 different tumour-associated antigens in parallel. Using this novel assay, we found that the frequency of autoantibodies to the selected tumour-associated antigens is increased between 2- and 14-fold in patients with systemic autoimmunity compared with an age-matched control group.

Autoimmunity as a result of escape from RNA surveillance

In previous studies, we detected a frame shift mutation in the gene encoding the autoantigen La of a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. The mutant La mRNA contains a premature termination codon. mRNAs that prematurely terminate translation should be eliminated by RNA quality control mechanisms. As we find Abs specific for the mutant La form in approximately 30% of sera from anti-La-positive patients, we expected that mutant La mRNAs circumvent RNA control and the expression of mutant La protein could become harmful. Indeed, real-time PCR, immunostaining, and immunoblotting data of mice transgenic for the mutant La form show that mutant La mRNAs are not repressed in these animals and are translated to mutant La protein. In addition to the mutant La protein, we detected a minor portion of native human La in the mutant La-transgenic mice. Therefore, ribosomal frame shifting may allow the mutant La mRNA to escape from RNA control. Interestingly, expression of the mutant La mRNA results in a lupus-like disease in the experimental mice. Consequently, escape of mutant La mRNA from RNA control can have two effects: it 1) results in the expression of an immunogenic (neo)epitope, and 2) predisposes to autoimmunity.

In vitro modification of solid phase multiple antigenic peptides/autoantigens with 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) provide ideal substrates for detection of anti-HNE antibodies and peptide antioxidants

The role of free radicals in protein modification and the importance of anti-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) antibodies as marker of HNE-mediated cell toxicity has been well documented. Proteins modified by HNE in vitro, prior to immobilization on ELISA plates, have served as substrates for assaying these antibodies. We found preferential binding of HNE-modified versus unmodified proteins to ELISA plates and this prompted us to seek a more reliable assay. We report a method to HNE-modify any cysteine/histidine/lysine-containing protein or multiple antigenic peptide (MAP) following their immobilization on an ELISA plate. To a set of wells, HNE (200 microM) dissolved in PBS is added and incubated for 4 h, followed by regular ELISA. Since HNE was supplied dissolved in ethanol, PBS with appropriate amount of ethanol added was used as control. For inhibition experiments, HNE is incubated with or without inhibitors and then added to the wells. The commercial anti-HNE serum bound only to HNE-modified antigens. Sera from rabbits and mice immunized with HNE-modified 60 kDa Ro autoantigen preferentially bound the modified antigens. Modification of solid phase antigens in this manner makes assaying anti-HNE antibodies unambiguous. Lengthy dialysis procedures or the use of spin columns that lead to antigen loss becomes unnecessary for the separation of free HNE. We were able to HNE-modify various antigens (BSA, the autoantigens Ro, La and Sm/nRNP, 60 kDa Ro and Sm MAPs) using this procedure. Using MAPs, we confirmed the importance of histidine, lysine and cysteine residues in HNE modification. In addition, this method allowed identification of inhibitors of HNE-modification. We obtained 61%, 70% and 74% inhibition of HNE-modification of solid phase Ro MAP 166 substrate using BSA, Ro MAP 482 and Ro MAP 166, respectively. Glycyl-proline dipeptide and a MAP from the Sm autoantigen (PPPGMRPP) showed 0% inhibition of HNE-modification.

Upstream flanking sequences and transcription of SINEs

SINEs, short interspersed repeated DNA elements, undergo amplification through retroposition and subsequent integration into a new location in the genome. Each new SINE insertion will be located in a new chromosomal environment, with different flanking sequences. Modulation of transcription by different flanking sequences may play an important role in determining which SINE elements are preferentially active in a genome. We evaluated the ability of upstream flanking sequences to regulate the transcription of three different SINEs (Alu, B2 and ID) by constructing chimeric constructs with known 5' flanking sequences of RNA polymerase III-transcribed genes. Upstream sequences from the 7SL RNA gene, U6 RNA gene, vault RNA gene, and BC1 gene increase transcription of Alu, B2 and BC1 in transient transfections of NIH3T3, HeLa, Neuro2a and C6 glioma cell lines. The 7SL sequence proved most efficient in increasing SINE transcription. The 7SL upstream fused to the BC1 RNA gene (an ID element) was used to create a transgenic mouse line. In contrast to the tissue-specific endogenous BC1 transcription, BC1 transgene transcripts were detected in all tissues tested. However, expression was much higher in those tissues that express the endogenous gene, demonstrating both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. The BC1 RNA was detected in a similar ribonucleoprotein complex in the different tissues.

MHC class II molecules, cathepsins, and La/SSB proteins in lacrimal acinar cell endomembranes

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the lacrimal glands and other epithelia. It has been suggested that acinar cells of the lacrimal glands provoke local autoimmune responses, leading to Sjögren's syndrome when they begin expressing major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. We used isopycnic centrifugation and phase partitioning to resolve compartments that participate in traffic between the basolateral membranes and the endomembrane system to test the hypothesis that MHC class II molecules enter compartments that contain potential autoantigens, i.e., La/SSB, and enzymes capable of proteolytically processing autoantigen, i.e., cathepsins B and D. A series of compartments identified as secretory vesicle membranes, prelysosomes, and microdomains of the trans-Golgi network involved in traffic to the basolateral membrane, to the secretory vesicles, and to the prelysosomes were all prominent loci of MHC class II molecules, La/SSB, and cathepsins B and D. These observations support the thesis that lacrimal gland acinar cells that have been induced to express MHC class II molecules function as autoantigen processing and presenting cells.

An altered intracellular distribution of the autoantigen La/SS-B when translated from a La mRNA isoform

Transcription of the gene encoding for the nuclear autoantigen La resulted in La mRNA isoforms. A promoter switching combined with an alternative splicing pathway replaced exon 1 with exon 1'. Similar to mRNAs encoding for ribosomal proteins, exon 1' started with a pyrimidine-rich 5'-terminus. Moreover, exon 1' contained 5'-GC-rich regions and an oligo(U)-tail of 23 uridine residues. Exon 1' encoded for three open reading frames upstream of the La protein reading frame. In spite of this unusual structure, exon 1' La mRNAs were translated not only in vitro but also in transiently transfected cells. The translational efficiency of exon 1' La mRNA was about 14% of exon 1 La mRNA using rabbit reticulolysate for in vitro translation. Finally, we established permanently transfected mouse cell lines expressing the human exon 1 or exon 1' La mRNA isoform. In all cell lines the respective La mRNAs were translated to La protein. The exon 1 La mRNA-expressing cell lines displayed a mostly nuclear staining pattern. In contrast, a major portion of La protein was found in the cytoplasm of cell lines expressing exon 1' La mRNA.