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Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (Ngal) is a biomarker for acute and chronic renal injuries, including polycystic kidney disease (PKD). However, the effect of Ngal on PKD progression remains unexplored. To study this, we generated 3 strains of mice with different expression levels of Ngal within an established PKD model (Pkd1L3/L3): Pkd1L3/L3 (with endogenous Ngal), Pkd1L3/L3; NgalTg/Tg (with endogenous and overexpression of exogenous kidney-specific Ngal) and Pkd1L3/L3; Ngal-/- mice (with Ngal deficiency). Knockout of endogenous Ngal had no effect on phenotypes, cystic progression, or survival of the PKD mice. However, the transgenic mice had a significantly longer lifespan, smaller (but not fewer) renal cysts, and less interstitial fibrosis than the mice without or with endogenous Ngal. Western-blot analyses showed significant increases in Ngal and cleaved caspase-3 and decreases in α-smooth muscle actin, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α, pro-caspase 3, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin, and S6 Kinase in the transgenic mice as compared with the other 2 strains of PKD mice. Thus, overexpression of exogenous kidney-specific Ngal reduced cystic progression and prolonged the lifespan in PKD mice, was associated with reductions in interstitial fibrosis and proliferation, and augmented apoptosis.

Summary Autophagy, a cellular self-eating mechanism, is important for maintaining cell survival and tissue homeostasis in various stressed conditions. Although the molecular mechanism of autophagy induction has been well studied, how cells terminate autophagy process remains elusive. Here, we show that ULK1, a serine/threonine kinase critical for autophagy initiation, is a substrate of the Cul3-KLHL20 ubiquitin ligase. Upon autophagy induction, ULK1 autophosphorylation facilitates its recruitment to KLHL20 for ubiquitination and proteolysis. This autophagy-stimulated, KLHL20-dependent ULK1 degradation restrains the amplitude and duration of autophagy. Additionally, KLHL20 governs the degradation of ATG13, VPS34, Beclin-1, and ATG14 in prolonged starvation through a direct or indirect mechanism. Impairment of KLHL20-mediated regulation of autophagy dynamics potentiates starvation-induced cell death and aggravates diabetes-associated muscle atrophy. Our study identifies a key role of KLHL20 in autophagy termination by controlling autophagy-dependent turnover of ULK1 and VPS34 complex subunits and reveals the pathophysiological functions of this autophagy termination mechanism.

Summary The molecular process underlying T cell anergy is incompletely understood. Deltex1 (DTX1) is a Notch target with unknown physiological function. Here we show that Dtx1 was a transcription target of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and participated in T cell anergy. DTX1 protein was upregulated during T cell anergy, and transgenic expression of Dtx1 attenuated T cell activation. DTX1 inhibited T cell activation by both E3-dependent and E3-independent mechanisms. In addition, DTX1 suppressed T cell activation in the absence of its Notch-binding domain. Importantly, DTX1 regulated the expression of two anergy-associated molecules, growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible 45 β (Gadd45β) and Cbl-b. DTX1 interacted with early growth response 2 (Egr-2) for optimum expression of Cbl-b. Furthermore, deficiency of DTX1 augmented T cell activation, conferred resistance to anergy induction, enhanced autoantibody generation, and increased inflammation. DTX1 therefore represents a component downstream of calcium-NFAT signaling that regulates T cell anergy.

Role of α 3 β 1 integrin in tubulogenesis of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Background We isolated several Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) subclones that exhibit different degrees of branching tubulogenesis in lower concentrations of collagen gel. The M634 clone formed cell aggregates in 0.3% collagen gel, but developed branching tubules vigorously in 0.1% collagen gel. In contrast, the Y224 clone formed cysts in 0.3% collagen gel and displayed fewer branching structures in 0.1% collagen gel. Morphologically, M634 cells exhibited higher levels of cell scattering as well as collagen-induced cell migration than Y224. We conducted this study to delineate the underlying mechanism of branching tubulogenesis in M634 cells. Methods Components of the focal contact machinery were analyzed in both cell lines, including the extracellular matrix glycoproteins fibronectin, laminin, and vitronectin; cytoskeleton-associated elements α-actinin, talin, and vinculin; and receptors for extracellular matrix and α 2 , α 3 , α 5 , α v , β 1 , and β 3 integrins. Furthermore, we established several stable transfectants of α 3 integrin antisense RNA in M634 cells to examine the role of α 3 β 1 integrin in branching morphogenesis directly. Results There were no obvious differences in levels of the focal adhesion complex proteins between M634 and Y224 cells, except that the content of the α 3 and β 1 integrins were 1.2- and 0.6-fold higher in M634 cells, respectively. The expression of α 3 integrin antisense RNA significantly lowered the levels of α 3 integrin mRNA and protein. The potential of cell scattering, migration, and branching tubulogenesis in M634 cells was inhibited according to the decrease in α 3 integrin expression. Conclusion Our data indicate that expression of α 3 β 1 integrin regulates cell scattering, migration, and branching tubulogenesis of MDCK cells, possibly via adhesion to or serving as a signaling molecule for type I collagen.

Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells develop into simple epithelial cell cysts when cultured in type I collagen gel. We found that MDCK cells initially grow into multilayer cell aggregates and subsequently develop central lumen that contain apoptotic cells. We hypothesized that apoptosis might be essential for the formation of MDCK cysts.Using MDCK cells cultured in collagen gel as the experimental model, we investigated how renal cells organize to form cysts. To delineate the role of apoptosis in the process of cyst formation, MDCK cells were transfected with the bcl-2 gene. Characterization of apoptosis was studied by morphological and biochemical methods.Bcl-2 overexpression conferred resistance to apoptosis. Cultured in collagen gel, Bcl-2 transfectants rarely formed a simple epithelial cyst, but instead remained as a multilayer cell aggregate containing central or multiple lumens, or even developing into branching structures.Because Bcl-2 overexpression averts cyst cavitation, these data clearly indicate that apoptosis is an essential initial event for renal cyst formation.

A 22-kDa protein was increased quantitatively, as measured by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis techniques, in lung microsomes prepared from Angiostrongylus cantonensis-infected rats. However, it was almost absent in normal rats. The protein was purified by sequential chromatography on Superdex 200 columns and identified chemically and immunologically as ferritin. Using isoelectric focusing and anion exchange chromatography, it was identified as L ferritin. Distribution of this 22-kDa protein in the lung tissue of A. cantonensis-infected rate was studied by immunocytochemistry. Positively stained cells were mainly infiltrated macrophages. Our results suggest that L ferritin accumulation in the macrophages may be related to the proliferation of connective tissue elements and the inflammatory response to A. cantonensis dwelling in the pulmonary arteries of the rat.

Cellular FLICE inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) is an inhibitor of caspase-8 and is required for macrophage development. Recent studies reveal a selective role of caspase-8 in non-canonical IL-1β production that is independent of caspase-1 or inflammasome. Here we demonstrated that c-FLIP is an unexpected contributor to canonical inflammasome activation for the generation of caspase-1 and active IL-1β. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-, R848-, and heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes (HKLM)-induced IL-1β production in macrophages was attenuated in the absence of c-FLIP. Decreased IL-1β expression was attributed to a reduced activation of caspase-1 in c-FLIP-deficient cells. In contrast, the production of TNF- α was not affected by deficiency in c-FLIP. c-FLIP interacted with NLRP3 or procaspase-1. Proximity ligation assay revealed that c-FLIP is required for the full NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, and c-FLIP associates with NLRP3 inflammasome components in situ . c-FLIP-deficiency also reduced AIM2 inflammasome activation. In contrast, c-FLIP inhibited SMAC mimetic- or FasL-induced IL-1β generation that is caspase-8-mediated. Our results demonstrate a caspase-8-independent role of c-FLIP in the optimal activation of the NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes, and suggest that c-FLIP could be a valid target for treatment of inflammatory diseases caused by over-activation of inflammasomes. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how T-helper (Th) 17 cells and interleukin (IL) −17 contribute to root resorption during orthodontic tooth movement. Materials and Methods: Experiment 1: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model mice and wild type mice were subjected to the orthodontic force (OF) to induce root resorption (heavy OF) of the upper first molars. The double-immunofluorescence analysis for IL-17/CD4 was performed to detect Th17 cells in the periodontal ligament (PDL). Experiment 2: Atopic dermatitis (AD) model mice and wild type mice were subjected to the heavy OF to induce movement of the upper first molars. The expression levels of the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), IL-17, IL-6, and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL) proteins were determined in the PDL by an immunohistochemical analysis. Moreover, the fluorescent localization immunoassay was performed to detect Th17 cells. Furthermore, the effects of the compression force on co-cultures of CD4 + cells from AD patients or healthy individuals and human PDL cells were investigated with regard to the levels of secretion and mRNA expression of IL-17, IL-6, RANKL, and osteoprotegerin (OPG). Results: Experiment 1: The double-immunofluorescence analysis for IL-17/CD4 detected immunoreaction. Experiment 2: The immunoreactivities for TRAP, IL-17, IL-6, and RANKL in the AD group were found to be significantly increased. The double-immunofluorescence analysis for IL-17/CD4 detected immunoreaction. The secretion of IL-17, IL-6 and RANKL, and the mRNA levels of IL-6 and RANKL in the AD patients were increased compared with those in healthy individuals. Conclusion: Th17-producing IL-17 may be associated with the deterioration of orthodontic root resorption.