Chronically shortened rod outer segments accompany photoreceptor cell death in Choroideremia

X-linked choroideremia (CHM) is a disease characterized by gradual retinal degeneration caused by loss of the Rab Escort Protein, REP1. Despite partial compensation by REP2 the disease is characterized by prenylation defects in multiple members of the Rab protein family that are master regulators of membrane traffic. Remarkably, the eye is the only organ affected in CHM patients, possibly because of the huge membrane traffic burden of the post mitotic photoreceptors, which synthesise outer segments, and the adjacent retinal pigment epithelium that degrades the spent portions each day. In this study, we aimed to identify defects in membrane traffic that might lead to photoreceptor cell death in CHM. In a heterozygous null female mouse model of CHM (Chmnull/WT), degeneration of the photoreceptor layer was clearly evident from increased numbers of TUNEL positive cells compared to age matched controls, small numbers of cells exhibiting signs of mitochondrial stress and greatly increased microglial infiltration. However, most rod photoreceptors exhibited remarkably normal morphology with well-formed outer segments and no discernible accumulation of transport vesicles in the inner segment. The major evidence of membrane trafficking defects was a shortening of rod outer segments that was evident at 2 months of age but remained constant over the period during which the cells die. A decrease in rhodopsin density found in the outer segment may underlie the outer segment shortening but does not lead to rhodopsin accumulation in the inner segment. Our data argue against defects in rhodopsin transport or outer segment renewal as triggers of cell death in CHM.

Remodeling of the Basal Labyrinth of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells With Osmotic Challenge, Age, and Disease

Purpose

The basal surface of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is folded into a complex basal labyrinth thought to facilitate solute and water transport. We aimed to analyze and define the structural organization of the basal labyrinth of the RPE to enable quantitative analysis of structural changes in age and disease and to better understand the relationship between basal labyrinth structure and efficiency of transepithelial transport.

Methods

Conventional transmission and serial block-face scanning electron microscopy and electron tomography were used to examine the structure of the basal labyrinth in mouse eyes of different ages and genotypes and with and without osmotic shock before fixation.

Results

We identified structurally distinct zones (stacked and ribbon-like) within the RPE basal labyrinth that are largely organelle free and cisternal elements that make contact with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. These zones are lost in a hierarchic fashion with age and prematurely in a model of the progressive retinal degenerative disease, choroideremia. Junctional complexes crosslink closely opposed infoldings. Spacing between the basal infoldings was affected by subtle osmotic changes while osmotic shock induced dramatic remodeling of the infoldings.

Conclusions

The basal labyrinth has complex but ordered structural elements that break down with age and in choroideremia. The geometry of these elements and site of contact with ER and mitochondria likely facilitate the ion transport that drives water transport across the basal RPE surface. Changes in structure in response to local osmotic variation may allow transport to be modulated in order to maintain RPE volume.

Dual chemical probes enable quantitative system-wide analysis of protein prenylation and prenylation dynamics

Post-translational farnesylation or geranylgeranylation at a C-terminal cysteine residue regulates the localization and function of over 100 proteins, including the Ras isoforms, and is a therapeutic target in diseases including cancer and infection. Here, we report global and selective profiling of prenylated proteins in living cells enabled by the development of isoprenoid analogues YnF and YnGG in combination with quantitative chemical proteomics. Eighty prenylated proteins were identified in a single human cell line, 64 for the first time at endogenous abundance without metabolic perturbation. We further demonstrate that YnF and YnGG enable direct identification of post-translationally processed prenylated peptides, proteome-wide quantitative analysis of prenylation dynamics and alternative prenylation in response to four different prenyltransferase inhibitors, and quantification of defective Rab prenylation in a model of the retinal degenerative disease choroideremia.

Beneficial effects on vision in patients undergoing retinal gene therapy for choroideremia

Retinal gene therapy is increasingly recognized as a novel molecular intervention that has huge potential in treating common causes of blindness, the majority of which have a genetic aetiology1-5. Choroideremia is a chronic X-linked retinal degeneration that was first described in 18726. It leads to progressive blindness due to deficiency of Rab-escort protein 1 (REP1). We designed an adeno-associated viral vector to express REP1 and assessed it in a gene therapy clinical trial by subretinal injection in 14 patients with choroideremia. The primary endpoint was vision change in treated eyes 2 years after surgery compared to unoperated fellow eyes. Despite complications in two patients, visual acuity improved in the 14 treated eyes over controls (median 4.5 letter gain, versus 1.5 letter loss, P = 0.04), with 6 treated eyes gaining more than one line of vision (>5 letters). The results suggest that retinal gene therapy can sustain and improve visual acuity in a cohort of predominantly late-stage choroideremia patients in whom rapid visual acuity loss would ordinarily be predicted.

Rab27-Dependent Exosome Production Inhibits Chronic Inflammation and Enables Acute Responses to Inflammatory Stimuli

Extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, have recently been implicated as novel mediators of immune cell communication in mammals. However, roles for endogenously produced exosomes in regulating immune cell functions in vivo are just beginning to be identified. In this article, we demonstrate that Rab27a and Rab27b double-knockout (Rab27DKO) mice that are deficient in exosome secretion have a chronic, low-grade inflammatory phenotype characterized by elevated inflammatory cytokines and myeloproliferation. Upon further investigation, we found that some of these phenotypes could be complemented by wild-type (WT) hematopoietic cells or administration of exosomes produced by GM-CSF-expanded bone marrow cells. In addition, chronically inflamed Rab27DKO mice had a blunted response to bacterial LPS, resembling endotoxin tolerance. This defect was rescued by bone marrow exosomes from WT, but not miR-155^-/-, cells, suggesting that uptake of miR-155-containing exosomes is important for a proper LPS response. Further, we found that SHIP1 and IRAK-M, direct targets of miR-155 that are known negative regulators of the LPS response, were elevated in Rab27DKO mice and decreased after treatment with WT, but not miR-155^-/-, exosomes. Together, our study finds that Rab27-dependent exosome production contributes to homeostasis within the hematopoietic system and appropriate responsiveness to inflammatory stimuli.

Imbalanced Rab3D versus Rab27 increases cathepsin S secretion from lacrimal acini in a mouse model of Sjögren's Syndrome

The mechanism responsible for the altered spectrum of tear proteins secreted by lacrimal gland acinar cells (LGAC) in patients with Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) remains unknown. We have previously identified increased cathepsin S (CTSS) activity as a unique characteristic of tears of patients with SS. Here, we investigated the role of Rab3D, Rab27a, and Rab27b proteins in the enhanced release of CTSS from LGAC. Similar to patients with SS and to the male nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of SS, CTSS activity was elevated in tears of mice lacking Rab3D. Findings of lower gene expression and altered localization of Rab3D in NOD LGAC reinforce a role for Rab3D in suppressing excess CTSS release under physiological conditions. However, CTSS activity was significantly reduced in tears of mice lacking Rab27 isoforms. The reliance of CTSS secretion on Rab27 activity was supported by in vitro findings that newly synthesized CTSS was detected in and secreted from Rab27-enriched secretory vesicles and that expression of dominant negative Rab27b reduced carbachol-stimulated secretion of CTSS in cultured LGAC. High-resolution 3D-structured illumination microscopy revealed microdomains of Rab3D and Rab27 isoforms on the same secretory vesicles but present in different proportions on different vesicles, suggesting that changes in their relative association with secretory vesicles may tailor the vesicle contents. We propose that a loss of Rab3D from secretory vesicles, leading to disproportionate Rab27-to-Rab3D activity, may contribute to the enhanced release of CTSS in tears of patients with SS.

Sequential and compartmentalized action of Rabs, SNAREs, and MAL in the apical delivery of fusiform vesicles in urothelial umbrella cells

As major urothelial differentiation products, uroplakins are targeted to the apical surface of umbrella cells. Via the sequential actions of Rabs 11, 8, and 27b and their effectors, uroplakin vesicles are transported to a subapical zone above a K20 network and fuse, via a SNARE-mediated and MAL-facilitated step, with the urothelial apical membrane.

Uroplakins (UPs) are major differentiation products of urothelial umbrella cells and play important roles in forming the permeability barrier and in the expansion/stabilization of the apical membrane. Further, UPIa serves as a uropathogenic Escherichia coli receptor. Although it is understood that UPs are delivered to the apical membrane via fusiform vesicles (FVs), the mechanisms that regulate this exocytic pathway remain poorly understood. Immunomicroscopy of normal and mutant mouse urothelia show that the UP-delivering FVs contained Rab8/11 and Rab27b/Slac2-a, which mediate apical transport along actin filaments. Subsequently a Rab27b/Slp2-a complex mediated FV–membrane anchorage before SNARE-mediated and MAL-facilitated apical fusion. We also show that keratin 20 (K20), which forms a chicken-wire network ∼200 nm below the apical membrane and has hole sizes allowing FV passage, defines a subapical compartment containing FVs primed and strategically located for fusion. Finally, we show that Rab8/11 and Rab27b function in the same pathway, Rab27b knockout leads to uroplakin and Slp2-a destabilization, and Rab27b works upstream from MAL. These data support a unifying model in which UP cargoes are targeted for apical insertion via sequential interactions with Rabs and their effectors, SNAREs and MAL, and in which K20 plays a key role in regulating vesicular trafficking.

Exosome-delivered microRNAs modulate the inflammatory response to endotoxin

MicroRNAs regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally and function within the cells in which they are transcribed. However, recent evidence suggests that microRNAs can be transferred between cells and mediate target gene repression. We find that endogenous miR-155 and miR-146a, two critical microRNAs that regulate inflammation, are released from dendritic cells within exosomes and are subsequently taken up by recipient dendritic cells. Following uptake, exogenous microRNAs mediate target gene repression and can reprogramme the cellular response to endotoxin, where exosome-delivered miR-155 enhances while miR-146a reduces inflammatory gene expression. We also find that miR-155 and miR-146a are present in exosomes and pass between immune cells in vivo, as well as demonstrate that exosomal miR-146a inhibits while miR-155 promotes endotoxin-induced inflammation in mice. Together, our findings provide strong evidence that endogenous microRNAs undergo a functional transfer between immune cells and constitute a mechanism of regulating the inflammatory response.

Response to inflammatory stimuli such as endotoxin is coordinated at many levels. Here, the authors show that two microRNAs known to regulate inflammatory response inside the cell are secreted by dendritic cells and modulate inflammatory signalling in the neighbouring cells.

MicroRNA-containing T-regulatory-cell-derived exosomes suppress pathogenic T helper 1 cells

Foxp3(+) T regulatory (Treg) cells prevent inflammatory disease but the mechanistic basis of suppression is not understood completely. Gene silencing by RNA interference can act in a cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous manner, providing mechanisms of intercellular regulation. Here, we demonstrate that non-cell-autonomous gene silencing, mediated by miRNA-containing exosomes, is a mechanism employed by Treg cells to suppress T-cell-mediated disease. Treg cells transferred microRNAs (miRNA) to various immune cells, including T helper 1 (Th1) cells, suppressing Th1 cell proliferation and cytokine secretion. Use of Dicer-deficient or Rab27a and Rab27b double-deficient Treg cells to disrupt miRNA biogenesis or the exosomal pathway, respectively, established a requirement for miRNAs and exosomes for Treg-cell-mediated suppression. Transcriptional analysis and miRNA inhibitor studies showed that exosome-mediated transfer of Let-7d from Treg cell to Th1 cells contributed to suppression and prevention of systemic disease. These studies reveal a mechanism of Treg-cell-mediated suppression mediated by miRNA-containing exosomes.

Retinal gene therapy in patients with choroideremia: initial findings from a phase 1/2 clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Choroideremia is an X-linked recessive disease that leads to blindness due to mutations in the CHM gene, which encodes the Rab escort protein 1 (REP1). We assessed the effects of retinal gene therapy with an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector encoding REP1 (AAV.REP1) in patients with this disease.

METHODS

In a multicentre clinical trial, six male patients (aged 35-63 years) with choroideremia were administered AAV.REP1 (0·6-1·0×10(10) genome particles, subfoveal injection). Visual function tests included best corrected visual acuity, microperimetry, and retinal sensitivity tests for comparison of baseline values with 6 months after surgery. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01461213.

FINDINGS

Despite undergoing retinal detachment, which normally reduces vision, two patients with advanced choroideremia who had low baseline best corrected visual acuity gained 21 letters and 11 letters (more than two and four lines of vision). Four other patients with near normal best corrected visual acuity at baseline recovered to within one to three letters. Mean gain in visual acuity overall was 3·8 letters (SE 4·1). Maximal sensitivity measured with dark-adapted microperimetry increased in the treated eyes from 23·0 dB (SE 1·1) at baseline to 25·3 dB (1·3) after treatment (increase 2·3 dB [95% CI 0·8-3·8]). In all patients, over the 6 months, the increase in retinal sensitivity in the treated eyes (mean 1·7 [SE 1·0]) was correlated with the vector dose administered per mm(2) of surviving retina (r=0·82, p=0·04). By contrast, small non-significant reductions (p>0·05) were noted in the control eyes in both maximal sensitivity (-0·8 dB [1·5]) and mean sensitivity (-1·6 dB [0·9]). One patient in whom the vector was not administered to the fovea re-established variable eccentric fixation that included the ectopic island of surviving retinal pigment epithelium that had been exposed to vector.

INTERPRETATION

The initial results of this retinal gene therapy trial are consistent with improved rod and cone function that overcome any negative effects of retinal detachment. These findings lend support to further assessment of gene therapy in the treatment of choroideremia and other diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, for which intervention should ideally be applied before the onset of retinal thinning.

FUNDING

UK Department of Health and Wellcome Trust.

Conditional ablation of the choroideremia gene causes age-related changes in mouse retinal pigment epithelium

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a pigmented monolayer of cells lying between the photoreceptors and a layer of fenestrated capillaries, the choriocapillaris. Choroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked progressive degeneration of these three layers caused by the loss of function of Rab Escort protein-1 (REP1). REP1 is involved in the prenylation of Rab proteins, key regulators of membrane trafficking. To study the pathological consequences of chronic disruption of membrane traffic in the RPE we used a cell type-specific knock-out mouse model of the disease, where the Chm/Rep1 gene is deleted only in pigmented cells (Chm^Flox, Tyr-Cre+). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to quantitate the melanosome distribution in the RPE and immunofluorescent staining of rhodopsin was used to quantitate phagocytosed rod outer segments in retinal sections. The ultrastructure of the RPE and Bruch’s membrane at different ages was characterised by TEM to analyse age-related changes occurring as a result of defects in membrane traffic pathways. Chm/Rep1 gene knockout in RPE cells resulted in reduced numbers of melanosomes in the apical processes and delayed phagosome degradation. In addition, the RPE accumulated pathological changes at 5–6 months of age similar to those observed in 2-year old controls. These included the intracellular accumulation of lipofuscin-containing deposits, disorganised basal infoldings and the extracellular accumulation of basal laminar and basal linear deposits. The phenotype of the Chm^Flox, Tyr-Cre+ mice suggests that loss of the Chm/Rep1 gene causes premature accumulation of features of aging in the RPE. Furthermore, the striking similarities between the present observations and some of the phenotypes reported in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) suggest that membrane traffic defects may contribute to the pathogenesis of AMD.

Distinct and opposing roles for Rab27a/Mlph/MyoVa and Rab27b/Munc13-4 in mast cell secretion

Mediator release from mast cells is a critical step in allergic and inflammatory disease. However, the processes regulating the latter stages of granule release are yet to be fully understood. Rab27 small GTPases regulate release of secretory lysosomes in a variety of cells, including mast cell granules. In the present study, using murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) from Rab27-deficient mutant mice, we found that, in contrast to Rab27b, Rab27a primarily plays an inhibitory role in regulating degranulation. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that resting Rab27a-deficient (ashen) BMMCs display abnormal cortical F-actin distribution. Actin disassembly prior to IgE cross-linking increased wild-type BMMC secretion to ashen levels, suggesting that changes in the integrity of cortical F-actin underlie the ashen phenotype. Comparison of the secretory impairment of Rab27b knockout and Rab27a/b double knockout BMMCs highlighted a secondary positive role for Rab27a in enhancing degranulation. Rab27 is known to interact with actin via its effectors melanophilin (Mlph) and myosin Va (MyoVa) in other cell types. To better understand the differing roles of Rab27 proteins, we analysed the secretory phenotype of BMMCs derived from mice lacking Rab27 effector proteins. These experiments revealed that the phenotype of BMMCs deficient in Mlph (leaden) and BMMCs deficient in MyoVa (dilute) resembles the hyper-secretion of ashen BMMCs, while Munc13-4-deficient (jinx) BMMCs phenocopy the Rab27b knockout and double Rab27a/b knockout secretory impairment. We conclude that Rab27a and Rab27b regulate distinct steps in the BMMC degranulation pathway, with Rab27a/Mlph/MyoVa regulating cortical actin stability upstream of Rab27a/b/Munc13-4-dependent granule exocytosis.

CHM/REP1 cDNA delivery by lentiviral vectors provides functional expression of the transgene in the retinal pigment epithelium of choroideremia mice

BACKGROUND

Choroideremia (CHM) is a progressive X-linked degeneration of three ocular layers: photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid, caused by the loss of Rab Escort Protein-1 (REP1). As a recessive monogenic disorder, CHM is potentially curable by gene addition therapy. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential use of lentiviral vectors carrying CHM/REP1 cDNA transgene for CHM treatment.

METHODS

We generated lentiviral vectors carrying either CHM/REP1 cDNA or EGFP transgene under the control of the elongation factor-1α promoter (EF-1α) or its shortened version EFS. We transduced human (HT1080) and dog (D17) cells, CHM patient's fibroblasts and mouse primary RPE cells in vitro, as well as wild-type and CHM mouse retinas in vivo by subretinal injections. Transgene expression was confirmed by immunoblotting, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. CHM/REP1 transgene functionality was assessed by an in vitro prenylation assay.

RESULTS

Lentiviral vectors with CHM/REP1 and EGFP transgenes efficiently transduced HT1080, D17 and CHM fibroblast cells; CHM/REP1 transgene lead to an increase in prenylation activity. Subretinal injections of lentiviral vectors into mouse retinas resulted in efficient transduction of the RPE (30-35% of total RPE cells transduced after a 1-µl injection), long-term expression for at least 6  months and a decrease in amount of unprenylated Rabs in the CHM RPE. Transduction of neuroretinal cells was restricted to the injection site.

CONCLUSIONS

Lentiviral CHM/REP1 cDNA transgene rescues the prenylation defect in CHM mouse RPE and thus could be used to restore REP1 activity in the RPE of CHM patients.

Rab27a-mediated protease release regulates neutrophil recruitment by allowing uropod detachment

Neutrophil migration is vital for immunity and precedes effector functions such as pathogen killing. Here, we report that this process is regulated by the Rab27a GTPase, a protein known to control granule exocytosis. Rab27a-deficient (Rab27a KO) neutrophils exhibit migration defects in vitro and in vivo, and live-cell microscopy suggests that delayed uropod detachment causes the migratory defect. Surface expression of CD11b, a key adhesion molecule, is increased in chemokine-stimulated Rab27a KO neutrophils compared with the control, suggesting a turnover delay caused by a defect in elastase secretion from azurophilic granules at the rear of bone marrow polymorphonuclear leukocytes (BM-PMNs). We suggest that Rab27a-dependent protease secretion regulates neutrophil migration through proteolysis-dependent de-adhesion of uropods, a mechanism that could be conserved in cell migration and invasion.

Rab27b regulates exocytosis of secretory vesicles in acinar epithelial cells from the lacrimal gland

Tear proteins are supplied by the regulated fusion of secretory vesicles at the apical surface of lacrimal gland acinar cells, utilizing trafficking mechanisms largely yet uncharacterized. We investigated the role of Rab27b in the terminal release of these secretory vesicles. Confocal fluorescence microscopy analysis of primary cultured rabbit lacrimal gland acinar cells revealed that Rab27b was enriched on the membrane of large subapical vesicles that were significantly colocalized with Rab3D and Myosin 5C. Stimulation of cultured acinar cells with the secretagogue carbachol resulted in apical fusion of these secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane. Evaluation of morphological changes by transmission electron microscopy of lacrimal glands from Rab27b(-/-) and Rab27(ash/ash)/Rab27b(-/-) mice, but not ashen mice deficient in Rab27a, showed changes in abundance and organization of secretory vesicles, further confirming a role for this protein in secretory vesicle exocytosis. Glands lacking Rab27b also showed increased lysosomes, damaged mitochondria, and autophagosome-like organelles. In vitro, expression of constitutively active Rab27b increased the average size but retained the subapical distribution of Rab27b-enriched secretory vesicles, whereas dominant-negative Rab27b redistributed this protein from membrane to the cytoplasm. Functional studies measuring release of a cotransduced secretory protein, syncollin-GFP, showed that constitutively active Rab27b enhanced, whereas dominant-negative Rab27b suppressed, stimulated release. Disruption of actin filaments inhibited vesicle fusion to the apical membrane but did not disrupt homotypic fusion. These data show that Rab27b participates in aspects of lacrimal gland acinar cell secretory vesicle formation and release.

Loss of Rab27 function results in abnormal lung epithelium structure in mice

Rab27 small GTPases regulate secretion and movement of lysosome-related organelles such as T cell cytolytic granules and platelet-dense granules. Previous studies indicated that Rab27a and Rab27b are expressed in the murine lung suggesting that they regulate secretory processes in the lung. Consistent with those studies, we found that Rab27a and Rab27b are expressed in cell types that contain secretory granules: alveolar epithelial type II (AEII) and Clara cells. We then used Rab27a/Rab27b double knockout (DKO) mice to examine the functional consequence of loss of Rab27 proteins in the murine lung. Light and electron microscopy revealed a number of morphological changes in lungs from DKO mice when compared with those in control animals. In aged DKO mice we observed atrophy of the bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium with reduction of cells numbers, thinning of the bronchiolar epithelium and alveolar walls, and enlargement of alveolar airspaces. In these samples we also observed increased numbers of activated foamy alveolar macrophages and granulocyte containing infiltrates together with reduction in the numbers of Clara cells and AEII cells compared with control. At the ultrastructural level we observed accumulation of cytoplasmic membranes and vesicles in Clara cells. Meanwhile, AEII cells in DKO accumulated large mature lamellar bodies and lacked immature/precursor lamellar bodies. We hypothesize that the morphological changes observed at the ultrastructural level in DKO samples result from secretory defects in AEII and Clara cells and that over time these defects lead to atrophy of the epithelium.

PtdIns3P and Rac direct the assembly of the NADPH oxidase on a novel, pre-phagosomal compartment during FcR-mediated phagocytosis in primary mouse neutrophils

The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase is an important mechanism by which neutrophils kill pathogens. The oxidase is composed of a membrane-bound cytochrome and 4 soluble proteins (p67(phox), p40(phox), p47(phox), and GTP-Rac). These components form an active complex at the correct time and subcellular location through a series of incompletely understood mutual interactions, regulated, in part, by GTP/GDP exchange on Rac, protein phosphorylation, and binding to lipid messengers. We have used a variety of assays to follow the spatiotemporal assembly of the oxidase in genetically engineered primary mouse neutrophils, during phagocytosis of both serum- and immunoglobulin G-opsonized targets. The oxidase assembles directly on serum-Staphylococcus aureus-containing phagosomes within seconds of phagosome formation; this process is only partially dependent (∼ 30%) on PtdIns3P binding to p40(phox), but totally dependent on Rac1/2 binding to p67(phox). In contrast, in response to immunoglobulin G-targets, the oxidase first assembles on a tubulovesicular compartment that develops at sites of granule fusion to the base of the emerging phagosome; oxidase assembly and activation is highly dependent on both PtdIns3P-p40(phox) and Rac2-p67(phox) interactions and delivery to the phagosome is regulated by Rab27a. These results define a novel pathway for oxidase assembly downstream of FcR-activation.

Retinal pigment epithelium defects accelerate photoreceptor degeneration in cell type-specific knockout mouse models of choroideremia

PURPOSE

Choroideremia (CHM) is a progressive X-linked degeneration of three ocular layers (photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid), with a complex and still largely unclear pathogenesis. To investigate the pathophysiology of CHM, the authors engineered mice with a cell type-specific Chm/Rep1 knockout (KO).

METHODS

A mouse line carrying a conditional allele Chm(Flox) was crossed with the transgenic line IRBP-Cre to achieve Chm KO, specifically in the photoreceptor layer, and Tyr-Cre to produce Chm KO, specifically in the retinal pigment epithelial and other pigmented cells. Chm(Flox), Tyr-Cre+ and Chm(Flox), IRBP-Cre+ mice were mated to produce mice with Chm KO in both layers. All mouse lines were studied by histology, electron microscopy, electroretinography (ERG), scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), and biochemical

METHODS

RESULTS

In Chm(Flox), IRBP-Cre+ mice the authors observed the progressive degeneration of photoreceptors in the presence of normal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Chm(Flox), Tyr-Cre+ mice exhibited coat color dilution and pigment abnormalities of the RPE in the presence of an intact outer nuclear layer. In 6- to 8-month-old Chm(Flox), Tyr-Cre+, IRBP-Cre+ mice, the degeneration of photoreceptors was accelerated compared with Chm(Flox), IRBP-Cre+ mice but became leveled with age, such that it was comparable at 12 to 14 months. Detailed ERG and SLO analysis supported the histopathologic findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Defects in photoreceptors and RPE can arise because of intrinsic defects caused cell autonomously by the Chm KO. However, when both photoreceptors and RPE are diseased, the dynamics of the degenerative process are altered. Photoreceptor functional deficit and cell death manifest much earlier, suggesting that the diseased RPE accelerates photoreceptor degeneration.

Rab27a and Rab27b regulate neutrophil azurophilic granule exocytosis and NADPH oxidase activity by independent mechanisms

Neutrophils rely on exocytosis to mobilize receptors and adhesion molecules and to release microbicidal factors. This process should be strictly regulated because uncontrolled release of toxic proteins would be injurious to the host. In vivo studies showed that the small GTPase Rab27a regulates azurophilic granule exocytosis. Using mouse neutrophils deficient in Rab27a (Rab27a(ash/ash)), Rab27b [Rab27b knockout (KO)] or both [Rab27a/b double KO (DoKo)], we investigated the role of the Rab27 isoforms in neutrophils. We found that both Rab27a and Rab27b deficiencies impaired azurophilic granule exocytosis. Rab27a(ash/ash) neutrophils showed upregulation of Rab27b expression which did not compensate for the secretory defects observed in Rab27a-deficient cells, suggesting that Rab27 isoforms play independent roles in neutrophil exocytosis. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy analysis showed that Rab27a(ash/ash) and Rab27b KO neutrophils have a decreased number of azurophilic granules near the plasma membrane. The effect was exacerbated in Rab27a/b DoKo neutrophils. Rab27-deficient neutrophils showed impaired activation of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase at the plasma membrane although intraphagosomal reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was not affected. Exocytosis of secretory vesicles in Rab27-deficient neutrophils was functional, suggesting that Rab27 GTPases selectively control the exocytosis of neutrophil granules.

Rab27b regulates mast cell granule dynamics and secretion

The Rab GTPase family regulates membrane domain organization and vesicular transport pathways. Recent studies indicate that one member of the family, Rab27a, regulates transport of lysosome-related organelles in specialized cells, such as melanosomes and lytic granules. Very little is known about the related isoform, Rab27b. Here we used genetically modified mice to study the involvement of the Rab27 proteins in mast cells, which play key roles in allergic responses. Both Rab27a and Rab27b isoforms are expressed in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) and localize to secretory granules. Nevertheless, secretory defects as measured by β-hexosaminidase release in vitro and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in vivo were found only in Rab27b and double Rab27 knockout (KO) mice. Immunofluorescence studies suggest that a subset of Rab27b and double Rab27-deficient BMMCs exhibit mild clustering of granules. Quantitative analysis of live-cell time-lapse imaging revealed that BMMCs derived from double Rab27 KO mice showed almost 10-fold increase in granules exhibiting fast movement (>1.5 μm/s), which could be disrupted by nocodazole. These results suggest that Rab27 proteins, particularly Rab27b, play a crucial role in mast cell degranulation and that their action regulates the transition from microtubule to actin-based motility.

Rab27b regulates number and secretion of platelet dense granules

The Rab27 GTPase subfamily consists of two closely related homologs, Rab27a and Rab27b. Rab27a has been shown previously to regulate organelle movement and regulated exocytosis in a wide variety of secretory cells. However, the role of the more restrictedly expressed Rab27b remains unclear. Here we describe the creation of Rab27b knockout (KO) strain that was subsequently crossed with the naturally occurring Rab27a KO line, ashen, to produce double KO (Rab27a(ash/ash) Rab27b(-/-)) mice. Rab27b KO (and double KO) exhibit significant hemorrhagic disease in contrast to ashen mice. In vitro assays demonstrated impaired aggregation with collagen and U46619 and reduced secretion of dense granules in both Rab27b and double KO strains. Additionally, we detected a 50% reduction in the number of dense granules per platelet and diminished platelet serotonin content, possibly due to a dense granule packaging defect into proplatelets during megakaryocyte maturation. The presence of Rab27a partially compensated for the secretory defect but not the reduced granule number. The morphology and function of platelet alpha-granules were unaffected. Our data suggest that Rab27b is a key regulator of dense granule secretion in platelets and thus a candidate gene for delta-storage pool deficiency in humans.

Rab27a regulates phagosomal pH and NADPH oxidase recruitment to dendritic cell phagosomes

To prevent excessive degradation of internalized antigens, which could destroy the peptides recognized by T lymphocytes, dendritic cells have developed several strategies that limit proteolytic activity in phagosomes. The recruitment of the NADPH oxidase NOX2 prevents acidification of phagosomes, limiting antigen degradation. Here, we show that dendritic cells derived from Rab27a-deficient ashen mice show increased phagosome acidification and antigen degradation, causing a defect in antigen cross-presentation. Enhanced acidification results from a delay in the recruitment to phagosomes of a subset of lysosome-related organelles containing the membrane subunits of NOX2. The Rab27a-dependent recruitment of these "inhibitory lysosome-related organelles" to phagosomes continuously limits acidification and degradation of ingested particles in dendritic cells, thus promoting antigen cross-presentation.

Cloning and characterization of Rab Escort Protein (REP) from Arabidopsis thaliana

Intracellular vesicular trafficking is regulated by Rab proteins, small GTPases that require posttranslational geranylgeranylation for biological activity. This covalent modification is catalyzed by Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (RabGGTase) and proceeds only in the presence of accessory Rab Escort Protein (REP). In this communication, we report the cloning and characterization of REP gene of Arabidopsis thaliana. Highest expression of REP mRNA was detected in leaves and flowers in contrast to stems and roots. AtREP is recognized by anti-rat REP1 serum. Interaction of AtREP with the protein substrate is presented, as well as a structural model obtained through homology modeling, based on the known structure of rat REP1.

Independent degeneration of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium in conditional knockout mouse models of choroideremia

Choroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), photoreceptors, and choroid, caused by loss of function of the CHM/REP1 gene. REP1 is involved in lipid modification (prenylation) of Rab GTPases, key regulators of intracellular vesicular transport and organelle dynamics. To study the pathogenesis of CHM and to develop a model for assessing gene therapy, we have created a conditional mouse knockout of the Chm gene. Heterozygous-null females exhibit characteristic hallmarks of CHM: progressive degeneration of the photoreceptors, patchy depigmentation of the RPE, and Rab prenylation defects. Using tamoxifen-inducible and tissue-specific Cre expression in combination with floxed Chm alleles, we show that CHM pathogenesis involves independently triggered degeneration of photoreceptors and the RPE, associated with different subsets of defective Rabs.

A general role for Rab27a in secretory cells

Vesicular transport is a complex multistep process regulated by distinct Rab GTPases. Here, we show for the first time that an EGFP-Rab fusion protein is fully functional in a mammalian organism. We constructed a PAC-based transgenic mouse, which expresses EGFP-Rab27a under the control of endogenous Rab27a promoter. The EGFP-Rab27a transgene was fully functional and rescued the two major defects of the ashen Rab27a knockout mouse. We achieved cell-specific expression of EGFP-Rab27a, which faithfully followed the pattern of expression of endogenous Rab27a. We found that Rab27a is expressed in an exceptionally broad range of specialized secretory cells, including exocrine (particularly in mucin- and zymogen-secreting cells), endocrine, ovarian, and hematopoietic cells, most of which undergo regulated exocytosis. We suggest that Rab27a acts in concert with Rab3 proteins in most regulated secretory events. The present strategy represents one way in which the complex pattern of expression and function of proteins involved in specialized cell types may be unraveled.

Functional redundancy of Rab27 proteins and the pathogenesis of Griscelli syndrome

Griscelli syndrome (GS) patients and the corresponding mouse model ashen exhibit defects mainly in two types of lysosome-related organelles, melanosomes in melanocytes and lytic granules in CTLs. This disease is caused by loss-of-function mutations in RAB27A, which encodes 1 of the 60 known Rab GTPases, critical regulators of vesicular transport. Here we present evidence that Rab27a function can be compensated by a closely related protein, Rab27b. Rab27b is expressed in platelets and other tissues but not in melanocytes or CTLs. Morphological and functional tests in platelets derived from ashen mice are all within normal limits. Both Rab27a and Rab27b are found associated with the limiting membrane of platelet-dense granules and to a lesser degree with alpha-granules. Ubiquitous transgenic expression of Rab27a or Rab27b rescues ashen coat color, and melanocytes derived from transgenic mice exhibit widespread peripheral distribution of melanosomes instead of the perinuclear clumping observed in ashen melanocytes. Finally, transient expression in ashen melanocytes of Rab27a or Rab27b, but not other Rab's, restores peripheral distribution of melanosomes. Our data suggest that Rab27b is functionally redundant with Rab27a and that the pathogenesis of GS is determined by the relative expression of Rab27a and Rab27b in specialized cell types.

Effects of mouse strain, position of integration and tetracycline analogue on the tetracycline conditional system in transgenic mice

The tetracycline conditional system is a very powerful method for achieving control of gene expression in transgenic mice, allowing one to turn expression both off and on in the same animal. We have used it to make a tissue-specific transgenic mouse model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A. This disease is most commonly caused by overexpression of peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) in Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system. Here we describe the effects of position of integration of the transgene, tetracycline analogue and mouse strain in this model. The small transgenes used to express tTA, the LacZ reporter and the pmp22 cDNA were all very dependent on the position of integration with few of the transgenic lines working successfully. In contrast, the single transgenic made with the 560 kb yeast artificial chromosome construct containing the tTA open reading frame worked well. Tetracycline was found to be cleared from mice relatively fast in comparison with doxycycline and is thus useful if one wants to switch on gene expression after extended periods of administration. Finally, the initial litters were on a mixed genetic background and the level of LacZ or pmp22 expression was very variable between mice. We found that expression became uniform between mice, and occurred in a higher proportion of cells, when the transgenes were crossed onto the CBA/Ca background in comparison with the C57BL/6J background.

Induced myelination and demyelination in a conditional mouse model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A, a hereditary demyelinating neuropathy, is usually caused by overexpression of peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) due to a genomic duplication. We have generated a transgenic mouse model in which mouse pmp22 overexpression can be regulated. In this mouse model, overexpression of pmp22 occurs specifically in Schwann cells of the peripheral nerve and is switched off when the mice are fed tetracycline. Overexpression of pmp22 throughout life (in the absence of tetracycline) causes demyelination. In contrast, myelination is nearly normal when pmp22 overexpression is switched off throughout life by feeding the mice tetracycline. When overexpression of pmp22 is switched off in adult mice, correction begins within 1 week and myelination is well advanced by 3 months (although the myelin sheaths are still thinner than normal), indicating that the Schwann cells are poised to start myelination. Upregulation of the gene in adult mice (which had previously had normal pmp22 expression) is followed by active demyelination within 1 week, which had plateaued by 8 weeks. This indicates that Schwann cells with mature myelin are sensitive to increased amounts of pmp22 such that they rapidly demyelinate. Thus, demyelination can largely be corrected within a few months, but the correction will be sensitive to subsequent upregulation of pmp22.

Chromosomal mapping, gene structure and characterization of the human and murine RAB27B gene

BACKGROUND

Rab GTPases are regulators of intracellular membrane traffic. The Rab27 subfamily consists of Rab27a and Rab27b. Rab27a has been recently implicated in Griscelli Disease, a disease combining partial albinism with severe immunodeficiency. Rab27a plays a key role in the function of lysosomal-like organelles such as melanosomes in melanocytes and lytic granules in cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Little is known about Rab27b.

RESULTS

The human RAB27B gene is organised in six exons, spanning about 69 kb in the chromosome 18q21.1 region. Exon 1 is non-coding and is separated from the others by 49 kb of DNA and exon 6 contains a long 3' untranslated sequence (6.4 kb). The mouse Rab27b cDNA shows 95% identity with the human cDNA at the protein level and maps to mouse chromosome 18. The mouse mRNA was detected in stomach, large intestine, spleen and eye by RT-PCR, and in heart, brain, spleen and kidney by Northern blot. Transient over-expression of EGF-Rab27b fusion protein in cultured melanocytes revealed that Rab27b is associated with melanosomes, as observed for EGF-Rab27a.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the Rab27 subfamily of Ras-like GTPases is highly conserved in mammals. There is high degree of conservation in sequence and gene structure between RAB27A and RAB27B genes. Exogenous expression of Rab27b in melanocytes results in melanosomal association as observed for Rab27a, suggesting the two Rab27 proteins are functional homologues. As with RAB27A in Griscelli Disease, RAB27B may be also associated with human disease mapping to chromosome 18.

Cloning, mapping and characterization of the human RAB27A gene

Choroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked retinal degenerative disease that results from mutations in Rab Escort Protein-1 (REP1). REP1 acts in the prenylation of Rab GTPases, regulators of intracellular protein trafficking. Rab27a is unique among Rabs in that it is selectively unprenylated in CHM cells, suggesting that the degenerative process in CHM may result from unprenylation and consequent loss-of-function of Rab27a. As a first step towards the analysis of the Rab27a protein in patients, we report here the characterization of the human RAB27A gene. The putative protein encoded by this gene shares 96% identity with the previously cloned rat homologue. The RAB27A gene comprises five coding exons and two non-coding exons, of which one is alternatively used, and spans approximately 65 kb of DNA. There are three alternative poly-A addition sites in the long 3' UTR and also six potential single-nucleotide polymorphisms. The gene is located on chromosome 15q15-21.1, as determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization, and between markers D15S209 and AFM321ZD5 by radiation hybrid mapping.

Analysis of a YAC with human telomeres and oriP from epstein-barr virus in yeast and 293 cells

One approach to the construction and propagation of a mammalian artificial chromosome is to build it up in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) base. We have demonstrated that circular YACs carrying the Epstein-Barr virus origin of plasmid replication ( oriP ) are maintained as stable, episomal elements in human cells. We wished to determine whether this technology could be extended, to generate linear extrachromosomal elements. Here, we describe the generation of retrofitting constructs, which permit the addition of human telomeres and the oriP domain to YACs. The constructs contain 0.8 kb of human telomere sequence separated by a unique Not I site from 0.7 kb of Tetrahymena telomere sequence. These constructs seed telomere formation with approximately 40-60% efficiency in human 293-EBNA and HT1080 cells whether or not the Tetrahymena sequence is removed by Not I digestion. A detailed analysis demonstrates that YACs carrying the human telomere cassettes on both arms show instability of the telomere sequences in S.cerevisiae at a frequency of approximately 50%. Introduction of correctly retrofitted, linear oriP YACs into human 293-EBNA cells by lipofection resulted in the generation of circular extrachromosomal elements varying in size from 8 to 300 kb. However, no apparently linear YACs could be detected, suggesting that extrachromosomal maintenance of DNA with the oriP /EBNA-1 system is not compatible with linear molecules capped by telomeres.

Cloning and expression of human endothelial-monocyte-activating polypeptide 2 (EMAP-2) and identification of its putative precursor

Endothelial-monocyte-activating polypeptide 2 (EMAP-2) modulates a range of properties of endothelial cells, monocytes and neutrophils in vitro, and induces an acute inflammatory reaction and tumour regression in vivo. We generated the full-length human cDNA sequences of EMAP-2 and its putative precursor pro-EMAP-2 as PCR products. These were cloned into the pCR3 vector and subcloned into pGEX-2T for expression as fusion products with glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Recombinant EMAP-2 (rEMAP-2) was isolated by thrombin cleavage of the fusion protein, followed by affinity chromatography. rEMAP-2 retained biological activity, which was blocked by polyclonal antibodies raised against GST-EMAP-2. By Western blotting, a 34-kDa product corresponding to the predicted precursor proEMAP-2 was detected in lysates of the U937 monocytic cell line, while supernatants contained higher levels of the mature 22-kDa molecule.