Tissue-specific response of the human platelet-activating factor receptor gene to retinoic acid and thyroid hormone by alternative promoter usage

A RORE-dependent Intronic Enhancer in the IL-7 Receptor-α Locus Controls Glucose Metabolism via Vγ4+ γδT17 Cells

The IL-7R regulates the homeostasis, activation, and distribution of T cells in peripheral tissues. Although several transcriptional enhancers that regulate IL-7Rα expression in αβ T cells have been identified, enhancers active in γδ T cells remain unknown. In this article, we discovered an evolutionarily conserved noncoding sequence (CNS) in intron 2 of the IL-7Rα-chain (IL-7Rα) locus and named this region CNS9. CNS9 contained a conserved retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor (ROR)-responsive element (RORE) and exerted RORγt-dependent enhancer activity in vitro. Mice harboring point mutations in the RORE in CNS9 (CNS9-RORmut) showed reduced IL-7Rα expression in IL-17-producing Vγ4+ γδ T cells. In addition, the cell number and IL-17A production of Vγ4+ γδ T cells were reduced in the adipose tissue of CNS9-RORmut mice. Consistent with the reduction in IL-17A, CNS9-RORmut mice exhibited decreased IL-33 expression in the adipose tissue, resulting in fewer regulatory T cells and glucose intolerance. The CNS9-ROR motif was partially responsible for IL-7Rα expression in RORγt+ regulatory T cells, whereas IL-7Rα expression was unaffected in RORγt-expressing Vγ2+ γδ T cells, Th17 cells, type 3 innate lymphoid cells, and invariant NKT cells. Our results indicate that CNS9 is a RORΕ-dependent, Vγ4+ γδ T cell-specific IL-7Rα enhancer that plays a critical role in adipose tissue homeostasis via regulatory T cells, suggesting that the evolutionarily conserved RORΕ in IL-7Rα intron 2 may influence the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Role of micronutrients in the modulation of immune system and platelet activating factor in patients with COVID-19; a narrative review

Background

Dietary micronutrients may play important roles in the improvement of the immune responses against SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to assess the effect of micronutrients on platelet activating factor (PAF) and immunity with a special focus on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods

All paper published in English on the effects of micronutrients including fat soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins, and minerals on PAF, immunity, and COVID-19 were collected from online valid databases.

Results

Vitamin A may modulate the expression of PAF-receptor gene in patients with COVID-19. Vitamin D may modulate inflammatory response through influencing PAF pathway. Vitamin E may improve COVID-19 related heart injuries by exert anti-PAF activities. Vitamin C status may have PAF related anti-inflammatory and micro-thrombotic effects in SARS-CoV-2 patients. Furthermore, some trace elements such as copper, selenium, and iron may have key roles in strengthens immunity by inactivate PAF acetyl hydrolase.

Conclusion

This narrative review study highlighted the importance of micronutrients in the improvement of immune function through modulation of PAF in patients with COVID-19. Further longitudinal studies are warranted.

Micronutrients, Phytochemicals and Mediterranean Diet: A Potential Protective Role against COVID-19 through Modulation of PAF Actions and Metabolism

The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an emerging situation with high rates of morbidity and mortality, in the pathophysiology of which inflammation and thrombosis are implicated. The disease is directly connected to the nutritional status of patients and a well-balanced diet is recommended by official sources. Recently, the role of platelet activating factor (PAF) was suggested in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. In the present review several micronutrients (vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, and minerals), phytochemicals and Mediterranean diet compounds with potential anti-COVID activity are presented. We further underline that the well-known anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic actions of the investigated nutrients and/or holistic dietary schemes, such as the Mediterranean diet, are also mediated through PAF. In conclusion, there is no single food to prevent coronavirus Although the relationship between PAF and COVID-19 is not robust, a healthy diet containing PAF inhibitors may target both inflammation and thrombosis and prevent the deleterious effects of COVID-19. The next step is the experimental confirmation or not of the PAF-COVID-19 hypothesis.

Multi-layered global gene regulation in mouse embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from the inner cell mass of developing embryos have tremendous potential in regenerative medicine due to their unique properties: ES cells can be maintained for a prolonged time without changes in their cellular characteristics in vitro (self-renewal), while sustaining the capacity to give rise to all cell types of adult organisms (pluripotency). In addition to the development of protocols to manipulate ES cells for therapeutic applications, understanding how such unique properties are maintained has been one of the key questions in stem cell research. During the past decade, advances in high-throughput technologies have enabled us to systematically monitor multiple layers of gene regulatory mechanisms in ES cells. In this review, we briefly summarize recent findings on global gene regulatory modes in ES cells, mainly focusing on the regulatory factors responsible for transcriptional and epigenetic regulations as well as their modular regulatory patterns throughout the genome.

Role of histamine and platelet-activating factor in allergic rhinitis

This review is focused on the effects of histamine and platelet-activating factor (PAF) in allergic rhinitis and the plausible implications for therapy. Rhinitis is defined as a heterogeneous disorder resulting from an IgE-mediated reaction associated with nasal inflammation of variable intensity. Two phases of response are triggered by an IgE/allergen cross-linking event: the first is the release of preformed mediators such as histamine or interleukins from mast cells and basophils; the second begins when cells start producing lipid-derived mediators. One of these mediators is PAF. Apart from leukotrienes, PAF is perhaps the most potent inflammatory mediator in allergic rhinitis for inducing vascular leakage, a response that may contribute to the appearance of rhinorrhea and nasal congestion.

Chromosomal location, structure, and temporal expression of the platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFr) gene in porcine endometrium and embryos relative to estrogen receptor alpha gene expression

Although platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFr) gene was well characterized in the human, little was known about it in domestic animals. Porcine PAFr gene was mapped using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The structure of this gene was investigated using a 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique. Temporal expression of PAFr and estrogen receptor alpha genes (ER), and distribution of the PAFr transcripts in porcine endometrial and embryonic tissues on days 0, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 were analyzed using DNA competitors and reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The porcine PAFr gene was mapped to SSC6q26-27. Alternative splicing of primary transcripts of the PAFr gene produced two different transcripts. Transcript 1 was expressed in all tissues and cells, and transcript 2 was detected in all tissues but white blood cells. The temporal expression of the PAFr gene in endometrial (P > 0.05) and embryonic (P < 0.05) tissues of pregnant sows increased from day 10 to 16. The temporal expression of ER genes in endometrial tissues of pregnant sows decreased from day 10 to 18 (P < 0.05). In addition, ER expression was detectable in 20-60% of embryonic tissue samples, which generally decreased. In combination with previously obtained data on PAF and estradiol-17beta (E(2)) concentrations in pregnant uterine luminal fluids (pULF), endometrial and embryonic tissues, the present results indicated that the increasing PAFr transcripts were positively associated with increasing levels of PAF. Both ER transcripts and E(2) found in pULF decreased correspondingly from day 13 to 16. These results indicate that via PAFr, PAF could play a dominant role in peri-implantation development in pigs as compared to E(2).

G-protein-independent activation of Tyk2 by the platelet-activating factor receptor

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent pro-inflammatory phospholipid with multiple physiological and pathological effects. PAF exerts its activity through a specific heptohelical G-protein coupled receptor, expressed on a variety of cell types, including leukocytes. In this study, we showed that PAF induced a rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the Tyk2 kinase in the monocytic cell lines U937 and MonoMac-1. PAF-initiated Tyk2 phosphorylation was also observed in COS-7 cells transiently transfected with the human PAF receptor (PAFR) and Tyk2 cDNAs. In addition, we found that Tyk2 co-immunoprecipitated and co-localized with PAFR, independently of ligand binding. Deletion mutants of Tyk2 indicated that the N terminus of the kinase was important for the binding to PAFR. Activation of Tyk2 was followed by a time-dependent 2-4-fold increase in the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1), STAT2, and STAT3 and a sustained 2.5-fold increase in STAT5 tyrosine phosphorylation. In MonoMac-1 cells, STAT1 and STAT3 translocated to the nucleus following PAF stimulation, and their translocation in transiently transfected COS-7 cells was shown to be dependent on the presence of Tyk2. In addition, when COS-7 cells were transfected with PAFR and constructs containing PAFR promoter 1, coupled to the luciferase reporter gene, PAF induced a 3.6-fold increase in promoter activation in the presence of Tyk2. Finally, PAFR mutants that could not couple to G-proteins were found to effectively mediate Tyk2 activation and signaling. Taken together, these findings suggest an important role for the Janus kinase/STAT pathway in PAFR signaling, independent of G-proteins, and in the regulation of PAF receptor expression by its ligand.

Platelet-activating factor and related lipid mediators

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid with potent, diverse physiological actions, particularly as a mediator of inflammation. The synthesis, transport, and degradation of PAF are tightly regulated, and the biochemical basis for many of these processes has been elucidated in recent years. Many of the actions of PAF can be mimicked by structurally related phospholipids that are derived from nonenzymatic oxidation, because such compounds can bind to the PAF receptor. This process circumvents much of the biochemical control and presumably is regulated primarily by the rate of degradation, which is catalyzed by PAF acetylhydrolase. The isolation of cDNA clones encoding most of the key proteins involved in regulating PAF has allowed substantial recent progress and will facilitate studies to determine the structural basis for substrate specificity and the precise role of PAF in physiological events.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor and genetically engineered PAF receptor mutant mice

Platelet-activating factor (PAF, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) is a biologically active phospholipid mediator. Although PAF was initially recognized for its potential to induce platelet aggregation and secretion, intense investigations have elucidated potent biological actions of PAF in a broad range of cell types and tissues, many of which also produce the molecule. PAF acts by binding to a unique G-protein-coupled seven transmembrane receptor. PAF receptor is linked to intracellular signal transduction pathways, including turnover of phosphatidylinositol, elevation in intracellular calcium concentration, and activation of kinases, resulting in versatile bioactions. On the basis of numerous pharmacological reports, PAF is thought to have many pathophysiological and physiological functions. Recently advanced molecular technics enable us not only to clone PAF receptor cDNAs and genes, but also generate PAF receptor mutant animals, i.e., PAF receptor-overexpressing mouse and PAF receptor-deficient mouse. These mutant mice gave us a novel and specific approach for identifying the pathophysiological and physiological functions of PAF. This review also describes the phenotypes of these mutant mice and discusses them by referring to previously reported pharmacological and genetical data.

Human intestinal epithelial cells express receptors for platelet-activating factor

The intestinal epithelium produces and responds to cytokines and lipid mediators that play a key role in the induction and regulation of mucosal inflammation. The lipid mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) can be produced and degraded by the human intestinal epithelium and is known to mediate a range of proinflammatory and other biological effects in the intestinal mucosa. In the studies herein, we assessed whether or not human intestinal epithelial cells express cell surface or intracellular PAF receptors (PAF-R), whether expression of these receptors can be regulated, and whether human intestinal epithelial cells respond to PAF. Several human colon epithelial cell lines (HT-29, Caco-2, T84, HCT-8, HCA-7, I407, and LS-174T) were shown by RT-PCR to constitutively express mRNA for PAF-R. In addition, PAF-R expression was demonstrated by immunoblot analysis and PAF-R was shown to be constitutively expressed on the cell surface of several of these cell lines, as assessed by flow cytometry. PAF-R expression by human colon epithelial cells was upregulated by stimulation with retinoic acid but not by stimulation with PAF, proinflammatory agonists (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, interferon-gamma), or transforming growth factor-alpha. PAF-R on intestinal epithelial cells were functional, as PAF stimulation of the cells increased tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular proteins, including proteins of 75 and 125 kDa, and this response was blocked by a PAF-R antagonist. Consistent with the findings using cell lines, PAF-R were also constitutively expressed by normal human colon and small intestinal epithelium in vivo, as shown by immunohistology. The constitutive and regulated expression of functional PAF-R by human intestinal epithelium suggests PAF produced by the intestinal epithelial cells or cells underlying the epithelium has autocrine or paracrine effects on intestinal epithelial cells.

Roles of plasma platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase in allergic, inflammatory, and atherosclerotic diseases

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) mediates a variety of physiologic and pathologic events by activating platelets, neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and smooth muscle cells. A strongly oxidizing environment induces fragmentation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids of membrane phospholipids, and the resulting oxidized phospholipids are structurally similar to PAF and mimic its biologic actions. The effects of PAF and oxidized phospholipids are abolished by hydrolysis of the sn-2 residue, a reaction catalyzed by PAF acetylhydrolase. Plasma and intracellular forms of PAF acetylhydrolase have been purified and characterized. The plasma form binds with high affinity to lipoproteins in plasma. Furthermore, changes in the activity of this enzyme are associated with various human diseases and animal models of human pathology, suggesting that it may play important roles in their pathogenesis. Studies that have defined the properties of this enzyme and its roles in physiologic and pathologic processes are reviewed. Such studies have provided insight into the functions of PAF and oxidized phospholipids as well as into the etiology of allergic, inflammatory, and atherosclerotic diseases.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) induces growth stimulation, inhibition, and suppression of oncogenic transformation in NRK cells overexpressing the PAF receptor

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid mediator with various physiological functions, including cellular growth and transformation. PAF exerts biological activities through G-protein-coupled receptors. In normal rat fibroblasts overexpressing a cloned PAF receptor, PAF induced immediate early oncogene expression and mitogenic responses. On the other hand, PAF strongly inhibited the epidermal growth factor-induced mitogenic growth response, growth acceleration, and anchorage-independent cell growth in a soft agar. Furthermore, PAF suppressed v-src- or v-ras-induced oncogenic morphological changes and anchorage-independent growth. Our observations suggest that PAF is a unique growth regulator with apparently diverse functions. Dual actions of PAF may relate to the point of action in the cell cycle; PAF stimulates the mitogenic response in G0-arrested cells in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner, while it inhibits the G1 to S transition through a pertussis toxin-resistant manner.

Identification of the promoters for the human and murine protective protein/cathepsin A genes

Protective protein/cathepsin A (PPCA) is a lysosomal serine carboxypeptidase that forms a complex with beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase. Its deficiency in humans leads to the lysosomal storage disorder galactosialidosis (GS). The pathologic manifestations in patients relate primarily to the severe deficiency of neuraminidase, and the physiological significance of cathepsin A activity remains unclear. The mouse model of GS, which closely resembles the human phenotype, shows that cells from numerous tissues, especially the central nervous system (CNS), are affected by this disease. To study the site and level of expression of PPCA mRNA in murine and human tissues, we analyzed the promoter regions of the corresponding genes. Their 5' genomic regions were strikingly similar in both organization and sequence. A single 1.8-kb PPCA transcript is present in humans, whereas mouse tissues have a major 1.8-kb and a minor 2.0-kb transcript, both of which are differentially expressed. These two mouse mRNA species differ only in their 5' untranslated region (UTR). The larger mRNA, unique to mouse, is transcribed from an upstream TATA-box-containing promoter, which is absent in the human gene. The downstream promoter, which transcribes the 1.8-kb mRNA common to human and mouse, has characteristics of housekeeping gene promoters and contains putative Sp1 binding sites and three USF/MLTF sequences. In vitro studies demonstrated that expression from the downstream promoter is higher than that from the upstream murine-specific promoter. In situ hybridization of mouse tissue sections identified regions of the brain that preferentially express the 2.0-kb transcript. Our results imply that PPCA mRNA distribution and regulation in murine tissues differs from that in human tissues.

Bronchial hyperreactivity, increased endotoxin lethality and melanocytic tumorigenesis in transgenic mice overexpressing platelet-activating factor receptor

Although platelet-activating factor (PAF) has been shown to exert pleiotropic effects on isolated cells or tissues, controversy still exists as to whether it plays significant pathophysiological roles in vivo. To answer this question, we established transgenic mice over-expressing a guinea-pig PAF receptor (PAFR). The transgenic mice showed a bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine and an increased mortality when exposed to bacterial endotoxin. An aberrant melanogenesis and proliferative abnormalities in the skin were also observed in the transgenic mice, some of which spontaneously bore melanocytic tumors in the dermis after aging. Thus, PAFR transgenic mice proved to be a useful model for studying the basic pathophysiology of bronchial asthma and endotoxin-induced death, and screening of therapeutics for these disorders. Furthermore, our findings provide new insights regarding the role of PAF in the morphogenesis of dermal tissues as well as the mitogenic activity of PAF and PAFR in vivo.

Predominant expression of platelet-activating factor receptor in the rat brain microglia

Cellular localization of platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor in the rat brain was determined by (1) in situ hybridization, (2) Northern blot analysis in primary cell cultures of neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and fibroblasts, and (3) Ca2+ imaging in hippocampal culture. In situ hybridization revealed that the PAF receptor mRNA is expressed intensely in microglia and moderately in neurons. Northern blot analysis revealed that PAF receptor mRNA is the most abundant in microglia. In primary hippocampal cultures, PAF elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentration in microglia and also in neurons, but to a lesser extent. These results suggest predominant presence of PAF receptor in microglia. Cultured microglia also expressed cPLA2 mRNA the most intensely. PAF-activated microglia released arachidonic acid in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner and without conversion to its derivatives. We propose that microglia as well as neurons contribute to PAF-related events in the CNS by releasing arachidonic acid.

Predominant expression of platelet-activating factor receptor in the rat brain microglia

Cellular localization of platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor in the rat brain was determined by (1) in situ hybridization, (2) Northern blot analysis in primary cell cultures of neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and fibroblasts, and (3) Ca2+ imaging in hippocampal culture. In situ hybridization revealed that the PAF receptor mRNA is expressed intensely in microglia and moderately in neurons. Northern blot analysis revealed that PAF receptor mRNA is the most abundant in microglia. In primary hippocampal cultures, PAF elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentration in microglia and also in neurons, but to a lesser extent. These results suggest predominant presence of PAF receptor in microglia. Cultured microglia also expressed cPLA2 mRNA the most intensely. PAF-activated microglia released arachidonic acid in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner and without conversion to its derivatives. We propose that microglia as well as neurons contribute to PAF-related events in the CNS by releasing arachidonic acid.