LPS response and tolerance in the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been used in the present work to study the fish response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure and LPS tolerance. These mechanisms are not completely understood in mammals and, presently, are totally unknown in fish. Zebrafish larval survival was assessed following treatment with various types of LPS at a variety of concentrations to determine the sensitivity of zebrafish to LPS-induced immune activation. In addition, fish pretreated with a sublethal concentration of LPS did not die after exposure to a lethal concentration of LPS demonstrating, for the first time that LPS tolerance also happens in fish. The time interval between pretreatment and secondary exposure as well as the type of pretreatment dictated the strength of protection. Since zebrafish are in intimate contact with microorganisms, the high resistance of fish to LPS suggests that there must be a tight control of the LPS receptor cluster in order to avoid an excess of inflammation. One of these components is CXCR4, which has previously been shown to regulate the signal transduced by TLR4. Treating fish with AMD3100, a specific inhibitor of CXCR4, increased LPS treatment associated mortality. Blocking CXCR4 via chemical or genetic inhibition resulted in a reversion of LPS tolerance, thus further supporting the negative regulatory role of CXCR4 in this inflammatory response. In support of an inhibitory role for CXCR4 in the inflammatory cascade, IL-1 transcript levels were elevated in both unstimulated and LPS stimulated zebrafish Odysseus (CXCR4 deficient mutant) larvae.

A healthy community through health system partnerships: the approach of Markham Stouffville Hospital

The structure of the Canadian healthcare system, particularly in Ontario, has remained remarkably stable over the past 25 years. No other private sector industry employing hundreds of thousands of people, spending tens of billions of dollars annually and serving millions of consumers every day has survived for 30 years without the need to reinvent itself in quite fundamental ways. How then has the healthcare sector in Canada avoided the pressure to "reinvent itself?"

Structure of the mouse Stat 3/5 locus: evolution from Drosophila to zebrafish to mouse

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat) are transcription factors that can be activated by many cytokines. While Drosophila contains only one Stat (d-Stat), mammals contain seven, with STATs 3, 5a, and 5b being the closest functional relatives. To understand the evolutionary relationship between d-Stat and vertebrate STATs 3 and 5, we isolated, sequenced, and analyzed the zebrafish Stat3 (z-Stat3) gene and a 500-kb region spanning mouse chromosome 11, 60.5 cM containing three Stat genes (m-Stats). Within this region we identified the genes encoding m-Stats 3, 5a, and 5b, Cnp1, Hcrt/Orexin, Ptrf, GCN5, mDj11, and four new genes. The 5' ends of the m-Stat5a and m-Stat5b genes are juxtaposed to each other, and the 3' ends of the m-Stat3 and Stat5a genes face each other. While the m-Stat5a and m-Stat3 genes have one promoter each, which are active in many tissues, the m-Stat5b gene acquired two distinct promoters. The distal promoter is expressed ubiquitously, and transcription from the proximal promoter is restricted to liver, muscle, and mammary tissue. Through a comparison of exon-intron boundaries from the m-Stat3, m-Stat5a, and m-Stat5b, z-Stat3, and d-Stat genes, we deduced their evolutionary relationship. We propose that the Stat3 and Stat5 lineages are derived from the duplication of a common primordial gene and that d-Stat is a part of the Stat5 lineage.

Zebrafish homolog of the leukemia gene CBFB: its expression during embryogenesis and its relationship to scl and gata-1 in hematopoiesis

Mammalian CBFB encodes a transcription factor (CBF beta) that in combination with CBF alpha 2 binds to specific DNA sequences and regulates expression of a number of hematopoietic genes. CBFB is associated with human leukemias through a chromosome 16 inversion and is essential for definitive hematopoiesis during mouse embryo development. We have isolated a zebrafish cbfb complementary DNA (cDNA) clone from a zebrafish kidney cDNA library. This cbfb is highly homologous to human and mouse CBFB/Cbfb genes at both the DNA and protein level. In biochemical analyses, cbfbeta binds to human CBF alpha 2 and enhances its DNA binding. During zebrafish development, cbfb is expressed in the lateral plate mesoderm at tail bud stage and in the intermediate cell mass (ICM, the location of embryonic hematopoiesis) between the 21- to 26-somite stages. The cbfb is also expressed in Rohon-Beard cells, cranial nerve ganglia, hindbrain, retina, branchial arches, jaw, and fin buds. Expression of cbfb is decreased or absent in the ICM and Rohon-Beard cells in some hematopoietic mutants and is unaffected in others. We have also analyzed the expression of scl and gata-1 in the same hematopoietic mutants to ascertain the relative order of these transcription factors to cbfb in zebrafish hematopoiesis. Our results indicate that cbfb is expressed in early hematopoietic progenitors and that its expression pattern in the hematopoietic mutants is similar to that of scl. (Blood. 2000;96:4178-4184)

Characterization of zebrafish full-length prothrombin cDNA and linkage group mapping

In this paper, we report the complete cDNA sequence of zebrafish prothrombin. The cDNA sequence predicts that zebrafish prothrombin is synthesized as a pre-proprotein consisting of a Gla domain, two kringle domains, and a two-chain protease domain. Zebrafish prothrombin is structurally very similar to human and other vertebrate prothrombins. Zebrafish and human prothrombin share 53% amino acid identity whereas zebrafish and hagfish prothrombin share 51% identity. Amino acid alignments of various prothrombins identified conservation of many of the functional/structural motifs suggesting that the vertebrate prothrombins may have similar functions. The three-dimensional structure of prothrombin predicted by homology modeling also revealed that the prothrombin fragment 1 and the catalytic domain structures are well conserved except for the insertion of an extra 7-amino-acid loop in the connecting region (CR) between the Gla and kringle I domain of fragment 1. Linkage analysis revealed that the prothrombin gene locus on linkage group 7 in zebrafish is syntenic to the human chromosome 11-prothrombin region suggesting its preservation through evolution. The availability of this cDNA sequence in zebrafish adds to our knowledge of the zebrafish hemostatic system and provides support for the view that similarities between zebrafish and mammalian coagulation exist, thus underscoring the relevance of the zebrafish model for studying human hemostasis.

Protein-damaging stresses activate c-Jun N-terminal kinase via inhibition of its dephosphorylation: a novel pathway controlled by HSP72

Various stresses activate the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), which is involved in the regulation of many aspects of cellular physiology, including apoptosis. Here we demonstrate that in contrast to UV irradiation, heat shock causes little or no stimulation of the JNK-activating kinase SEK1, while knocking out the SEK1 gene completely blocks heat-induced JNK activation. Therefore, we tested whether heat shock activates JNK via inhibition of JNK dephosphorylation. The rate of JNK dephosphorylation in unstimulated cells was high, and exposure to UV irradiation, osmotic shock, interleukin-1, or anisomycin did not affect this process. Conversely, exposure of cells to heat shock and other protein-damaging conditions, including ethanol, arsenite, and oxidative stress, strongly reduced the rate of JNK dephosphorylation. Under these conditions, we did not observe any effects on dephosphorylation of the homologous p38 kinase, suggesting that suppression of dephosphorylation is specific to JNK. Together, these data indicate that activation of JNK by protein-damaging treatments is mediated primarily by inhibition of a JNK phosphatase(s). Elevation of cellular levels of the major heat shock protein Hsp72 inhibited a repression of JNK dephosphorylation by these stressful treatments, which explains recent reports of the suppression of JNK activation by Hsp72.

The molecular nature of zebrafish swirl: BMP2 function is essential during early dorsoventral patterning

Early dorsoventral pattern formation in vertebrate embryos is regulated by opposing activities of ventralizing bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and dorsal-specific BMP antagonists such as Chordin, Noggin and Follistatin. Specific defects in early dorsoventral patterning have been recently found in a number of zebrafish mutants, which exhibit either a ventralized or dorsalized phenotype. One of these, the ventralized mutant chordino (originally called dino) is caused by a mutation in the zebrafish chordin homologue and interacts genetically with the dorsalized mutant swirl. In swirl mutant embryos, dorsal structures such as notochord and somites are expanded while ventral structures such as blood and nephros are missing. Here we demonstrate that the swirl phenotype is caused by mutations in the zebrafish bmp2 gene (zbmp2). While injection of mRNAs encoded by the mutant alleles has no ventralizing effect, injection of wild-type zbmp2 mRNA leads to a complete rescue of the swirl mutant phenotype. Fertile adult mutant fish were obtained, showing that development after gastrulation is not dependent on zbmp2 function. In addition zBMP2 has no maternal role in mesoderm induction. Our analysis shows that swirl/BMP2, unlike mouse BMP2 but like mouse BMP4, is required for early dorsoventral patterning of the zebrafish embryo.

Induction of cyclin D1 by simian virus 40 small tumor antigen

Cell-cycle progression is mediated by a co-ordinated interaction between cyclin-dependent kinases and their target proteins including the pRB and E2F/DP-1 complexes. Immunoneutralization and antisense experiments have established that the abundance of cyclin D1, a regulatory subunit of the cyclin-dependent kinases, may be rate-limiting for G1 phase progression of the cell cycle. Simian virus 40 (SV40) small tumor (t) antigen is capable of promoting G1 phase progression and augments substantially the efficiency of SV40 transformation through several distinct domains. In these studies, small t antigen stimulated cyclin D1 promoter activity 7-fold, primarily through an AP-1 binding site at -954 with additional contributions from a CRE site at -57. The cyclin D1 AP-1 and CRE sites were sufficient for activation by small t antigen when linked to an heterologous promoter. Point mutations of small t antigen between residues 97-103 that reduced PP2A binding were partially defective in the induction of the cyclin D1 promoter. These mutations also reduced activation of MEK1 and two distinct members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, the ERKs (extracellular signal regulated kinases) and the SAPKs (stress-activated protein kinases), in transfected cells. Dominant negative mutants of either MEK1, ERK or SEK1, reduced small t-dependent induction of the cyclin D1 promoter. SV40 small t induction of the cyclin D1 promoter involves both the ERK and SAPK pathways that together may contribute to the proliferative and transformation enhancing activity of small t antigen.

Stimulation of the P-450 side chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1) promoter through ras- and Ets-2-signaling pathways

Expression of the ovine P-450 side-chain cleavage enzyme gene (CYP11A1) is stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF) through a pathway that involves c-Jun in JEG-3 placental cells. Growth factor signaling involves ras-dependent and ras-independent signaling pathways, which in turn regulate gene transcription through related but distinct mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways (MAPKs) including the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs). We investigated the intracellular signaling pathways governing EGF induction of the CYP11A1 promoter. EGF stimulation of the CYP11A1 promoter (4-fold) was reduced 60% by a dominant negative mutant of ras (N17), and 30-40% by antisense ras. EGF induced both ERK and SAPK activity in JEG-3 cells. EGF-induced CYP11A1 promoter activity was reduced 60% by the MEK1 inhibitor PD098059 and 50% by a dominant negative mutant of the ERK-specific regulator MEK1. In contrast, dominant negative mutants of the SAPK-specific activator, SEK1, induced a further increase in EGF-induced CYP11A1 promoter activity. Constitutively active mutants of ras (V12 or L61) increased CYP11A1 promoter activity 6- to 8-fold. Deletion of the EGF response element (EGF-RE) between -92 and -77 bp reduced ras induction by 60%; however, a residual 3-fold induction remained through the proximal -77 bp. Mutation of the EGF-RE AP-1-like sequence in the context of the native promoter reduced CYP11A1 promoter activation by ras 60%. The EGF-RE sequence was sufficient for 6-fold activation by ras in the context of an heterologous thymidine kinase promoter. Candidate transcription factor targets (c-Jun, c-Ets-2) for the ras-signaling cascade were examined for their effects on CYP11A1 promoter activity. Overexpression of c-Jun induced the CYP11A1 promoter through the EGF-RE; however, c-Ets-2 activation of the CYP11A1 promoter (12-fold) required the proximal ras-responsive promoter sequences that are distinct from the EGF/MEK/c-Jun-responsive element. Induction of the CYP11A1 promoter by EGF involves a ras/MEK1/AP-1-dependent pathway that is distinct from induction by ras/c-Ets-2.

The mixed lineage kinase SPRK phosphorylates and activates the stress-activated protein kinase activator, SEK-1

SPRK (also called PTK-1 and MLK-3), a member of the mixed lineage kinase subfamily of (Ser/Thr) protein kinases, encodes an amino-terminal SH3 domain followed by a kinase catalytic domain, two leucine zippers interrupted by a short spacer, a Rac/Cdc42 binding domain, and a long carboxyl-terminal proline-rich region. We report herein that SPRK activates the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs) but not ERK-1 during transient expression in COS cells; the p38 kinase is activated modestly (1.3-2 fold) but consistently. SPRK also activates cotransfected SEK-1/MKK-4, a dual specificity kinase which phosphorylates and activates SAPK. Reciprocally, expression of mutant, inactive SEK-1 inhibits completely the basal and SPRK-activated SAPK activity. Immunoprecipitated recombinant SPRK is able to phosphorylate and activate recombinant SEK-1 in vitro to an extent comparable to that achieved by MEK kinase-1. These results identify SPRK as a candidate upstream activator of the stress-activated protein kinases, acting through the phosphorylation and activation of SEK-1.

The stress-activated protein kinase pathway mediates cell death following injury induced by cis-platinum, UV irradiation or heat

BACKGROUND

Stimuli that stress cells, including inflammatory cytokines, ultra-violet irradiation, DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic drugs and heat shock, stimulate a recently identified cytoplasmic signaling system that is structurally related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. This pathway consists of a cascade of protein kinases including stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK), also termed Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and two kinases that activate it, MEKK and SEK/MKK4. Despite rapid progress in delineating the components of this pathway, the cellular consequence of its activation remains to be defined.

RESULTS

We have screened cells for defects in SAPK signaling and identified a cell line, previously characterized for its thermotolerance properties, as being more refractive to SAPK activation induced by heat stress than its thermosensitive parental line. Stable expression of dominant inhibiting SEK mutants in thermosensitive parental cells specifically and effectively blocked SAPK activation after heat shock. These lines also became markedly resistant to the cytocidal effects of thermal stress, confirming the phenotype of the thermotolerant line. These cell lines defective in SAPK activation were also resistant to the lethal effects of the DNA-damaging drug cis-platinum.

CONCLUSIONS

Experimentally induced stable blockade of SAPK activation in cells with normal thermosensitivity is sufficient to confer resistance to cell death induced by diverse stimuli including heat and the chemotherapeutic agent cis-platinum. These results suggest that activation of the SAPK pathway by diverse cell stressors plays a critical part in mediating the toxicity of these treatments and inducing cell death. SAPK activation in this context could broadly influence cellular response to stress, modulate apoptosis during development or determine the clinical response of tumor cells to cytotoxic therapies.

c-Abl activation regulates induction of the SEK1/stress-activated protein kinase pathway in the cellular response to 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine

Previous work has shown that treatment of cells with the antimetabolite 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) is associated with induction of the c-jun gene. The present studies demonstrate that ara-C activates the c-Abl non-receptor tyrosine kinase. We also demonstrate that activity of the stress-activated protein kinase (SAP kinase/JNK) is increased in ara-C-treated cells. Using cells deficient in c-Abl (Abl-/-) and after introduction of the c-abl gene, we show that ara-C-induced c-Abl activity is necessary for the stimulation of SAP kinase. Other studies using cells transfected with a SEK1 dominant negative demonstrate that ara-C-induced SAP kinase activity is SEK1-dependent. Furthermore, we show that overexpression of truncated c-Abl results in activation of the SEK1/SAP kinase cascade.

Evolutionarily conserved alternative pre-mRNA splicing regulates structure and function of the spectrin-actin binding domain of erythroid protein 4.1

A developmental alternative splicing switch, involving exon 16 of protein 4.1 pre-mRNA, occurs during mammalian erythropoiesis. By controlling expression of a 21-amino acid peptide required for high-affinity interaction of protein 4.1 with spectrin and actin, this switch helps to regulate erythrocyte membrane mechanical stability. Here we show that key aspects of protein 4.1 structure and function are conserved in nucleated erythroid cells of the amphibian Xenopus laevis. Analysis of protein 4.1 cDNA sequences cloned from Xenopus erythrocytes and oocytes showed that tissue-specific alternative splicing of exon 16 also occurs in frogs. Importantly, functional studies with recombinant Xenopus erythroid 4.1 demonstrated specific binding to and mechanical stabilization of 4.1-deficient human erythrocyte membranes. Phylogenetic sequence comparison showed two evolutionarily conserved peptides that represent candidate spectrin-actin binding sites. Finally, in situ hybridization of early embryos showed high expression of 4.1 mRNA in ventral blood islands and in developing brain structures. These results demonstrate that regulated expression of structurally and functionally distinct protein 4.1 isoforms, mediated by tissue-specific alternative splicing, has been highly evolutionarily conserved. Moreover, both nucleated amphibian erythrocytes and their enucleated mammalian counterparts express 4.1 isoforms functionally competent for spectrin-actin binding.

Antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) in saliva of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients and in persons at risk for AIDS

Whole saliva samples collected from available people at risk in Boston for infection with human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III/LAV), from late 1984 through early 1985, were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to viral proteins. Fourteen of 20 (70%) acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients and 14 of 15 (93%) AIDS-related complex (ARC) patients had salivary antibodies that reacted with the virus-encoded glycoproteins gp160 and gp120 of HTLV-III infected cells. All of the AIDS and ARC patients had serum antibodies to the same antigens. Of 20 sex partners of AIDS/ARC patients, nine (45%) showed anti-HTLV-III antibodies, and four of 18 (22%) healthy homosexual males also were positive for such antibodies. Serum and salivary antibody status were the same in these groups. A minority of those patients positive for salivary antibodies to env gene-encoded gp160 and gp120 also had salivary antibodies to gag gene-encoded proteins of 55,000, 24,000, and/or 17,000 daltons. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) class antibodies comprised the majority of the salivary antibody response. The spectrum of HTLV-III proteins detected by the salivary and serum antibodies was similar. The possibility that secretory IgA from the gut-associated lymphoid system may play a role to restrict salivary transmission of HTLV-III should be considered.