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Stimulation of the CD95/Fas/Apo-1 receptor leads to apoptosis through activation of the caspase family of cysteine proteases and disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Deltapsim). We show that, in Jurkat human T cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes, Fas-induced apoptosis is preceded by 1) an increase in reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) and 2) an elevation of Deltapsim. These events are followed by externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), disruption of Deltapsim, and cell death. The caspase inhibitor peptides, DEVD-CHO, Z-VAD.fmk, and Boc-Asp.fmk, blocked Fas-induced PS externalization, disruption of Deltapsim, and cell death, suggesting that these events are sequelae of caspase activation. By contrast, in the presence of caspase inhibitors, ROI levels and Deltapsim of Fas-stimulated cells remained elevated. Because ROI levels and Deltapsim are regulated by the supply of reducing equivalents from the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), we studied the impact of transaldolase (TAL), a key enzyme of the PPP, on Fas signaling. Overexpression of TAL accelerated Fas-induced mitochondrial ROI production, Deltapsim elevation, activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3, proteolysis of poly(A)DP-ribose polymerase, and PS externalization. Additionally, suppression of TAL diminished these activities. Therefore, by controlling the balance between mitochondrial ROI production and metabolic supply of reducing equivalents through the PPP, TAL regulates susceptibility to Fas-induced apoptosis. Early increases in ROI levels and Deltapsim as well as the dominant effect of TAL expression on activation of caspase-8/Fas-associated death domain-like IL-1beta-converting enzyme, the most upstream member of the caspase cascade, suggest a pivotal role for redox signaling at the initiation of Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Transaldolase (TAL) is a key enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway, which is responsible for generation of reducing equivalents to protect cellular integrity from reactive oxygen intermediates. While exons 2 and 3 are highly repetitive, the complete TAL-H gene is mapped to a single genomic locus (TALDO1(2)) by several independent approaches. Southern blot hybridization of a 827-bp 3' EcoRI fragment of the TAL-H cDNA to human-mouse somatic cell hybrid DNA localized TALDO1 to the p13-->pter region of chromosome 11. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with a 15-kb genomic fragment harboring exons 1 and 2 mapped TALDO1 to 11p15.4-p15.5. A truncated and mutated segment of TAL-H exon 5 terminating with a poly(A) tail was identified in a pseudogene locus (TALDOP1) on chromosome 1. Reverse transcriptase-PCR studies of human-mouse somatic cell hybrids revealed the presence of the functional TAL-H gene on chromosome 11 and its absence on human chromosome 1. Mapping of radiation hybrids placed TALDO1 between markers WI-1421 and D11S922 on 11p15.

Transaldolase is a key enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway. While antibody (Ab) 169, directed against the N-terminal 139 residues of human transaldolase (TAL-H), had no effect on enzyme activity, Ab 12484 raised against full length and functional recombinant TAL-H inhibited catalytic activity. This tentatively mapped the catalytic site to the C-terminal 140-336 amino acid portion of TAL-H. Dihydroxyacetone transfer reactions catalyzed by transaldolase depend on Schiff base formation by a lysine residue. Replacement of lysine-142 by glutamine using site-directed mutagenesis resulted in a complete loss of enzyme activity, suggesting that lysine-142 is essential for the catalytic activity of TAL-H.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between the presence of antibodies to an endogenous retroviral element-encoded nuclear protein autoantigen, HRES-1, and the presence of other antinuclear antibodies and HLA class II alleles in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and overlap syndromes., Methods: Antibody reactivities to native and recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides were assessed by counterimmunoelectrophoresis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting. HLA class II alleles were determined by oligonucleotide typing., Results: Forty-eight percent of the 153 patients with autoimmune disease, and 52% of the subgroup with SLE, had HRES-1 antibodies. In contrast, 3.6% of 111 normal donors, and none of 42 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or 50 asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus 1-infected patients, had HRES-1 antibodies. Chi-square analyses revealed a significant association between anti-HRES-1 and anti-RNP and an inverse correlation between HRES-1 and Ro/La autoantibodies in patients with SLE or overlap syndromes. Antigenic epitopes of HRES-1 and the retroviral gag-related region of the 70-kd protein component of U1 small nuclear RNP, which share 3 consecutive highly charged amino acids (Arg-Arg-Glu), an additional Arg, and functionally similar Arg/Lys residues, represent cross-reactive epitopes between the two proteins. Selective removal of HRES-1 antibodies from sera of HRES-1-seropositive/RNP-seropositive patients by absorption on recombinant HRES-1/glutathione-S-transferase-conjugated agarose beads had no effect on anti-RNP reactivities. A comparative multivariate analysis of HLA class II genes revealed a differential segregation of DQB1 alleles in HRES-1-seropositive versus HRES-1-seronegative patients (P = 0.04). While a relative increase of DQB1*0402 among HRES-1-seropositive patients was noted across ethnic groups (P = 0.02), a decrease of DQB1*0201 and DQB1*0301 was found in white HRES-1-seropositive patients (P = 0.04)., Conclusion: Autoantibodies to HRES-1 are detectable in a distinct subset of patients with autoimmune disease, primarily in those who do not have antibodies to Ro and La. Anti-HRES-1 and anti-RNP reactivities are mediated by cross-reactive but separate antibody molecules. HLA-DQB genes, rather than HLA-DRB or DQA genes, may have a more significant influence on generation of these antinuclear autoantibodies.

The possibility of a retroviral etiology has long been raised in a number of autoimmune disorders. More recently, Sjögren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis were noted in transgenic mice carrying the tax gene of human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I). To evaluate the involvement of HTLV-I Tax in autoimmunity, its effect on expression of autoantigens was investigated. A metallothionein promoter-driven p40tax expression plasmid, pMAXRHneo-1, was stably transfected into Molt4 and Jurkat cells and the p40tax protein was induced with CdCl2. trans-Activation or trans-repression of autoantigens by HTLV-I Tax was studied by Western blot analysis utilizing autoantigen-specific murine monoclonal and rabbit polyvalent antibodies as well as sera from 161 autoimmune patients. Induction of p40tax of HTLV-I had no significant effect on levels of expression of common autoantigens U1 snRNP, Sm, Ro, La, HSP-70, topoisomerase I/Scl70, PCNA, and HRES-1. Expression of two potentially novel autoantigens, 44 and 46 kDa, was induced by p40tax as detected by sera of progressive systemic sclerosis patients, BAK and VAR. By contrast, expression of 24- and 34-kDa proteins was suppressed in response to induction of p40tax as detected by sera of systemic lupus erythematosus patients PUS and HOR. Because none of these patients were infected by HTLV-I, a protein functionally similar to p40tax may be involved in eliciting autoantigen expression and a subsequent autoantibody response in a minority of patients with PSS and SLE. Sera of autoimmune patients may also be utilized to detect novel proteins trans-activated or trans-repressed by p40tax of HTLV-I.

The human genome contains a complex variety of inherited endogenous retroviral sequences (ERSs), several of which are transcriptionally active and contain open reading frames. Aberrant expression of ERSs and generation of antibodies to ERS-encoded proteins have recently been revealed in autoimmune disorders. Involvement of ERSs could explain both the familial aggregation and the detection of antiretroviral antibodies in autoimmune diseases.

Antibodies reactive with human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) proteins p19, p24, gp46, p56, and gp68 were detected in four of 27 patients with mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome (MF/SS) and one patient with Kaposi's sarcoma using radioimmunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. Seroreactivity patterns to HTLV-I proteins of MF/SS sera were indeterminate or limited in comparison with sera of patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. HTLV-I gag- and tax/rex-specific DNA was demonstrated in peripheral blood from three of the MF/SS patients and from the patient with Kaposi's sarcoma by the polymerase chain reaction. HTLV-I-specific DNA sequences were not detected in a cohort of seven seronegative MF/SS patients. The frequency of HTLV-I infection was four of 27 or 14.8% among the MF/SS patients, which is several hundredfold higher than in normal blood donors. The present data suggest a possible association of HTLV-I or a related retrovirus with mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome and Kaposi's sarcoma.

Effects of the cyclooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin and naproxen on renal PAH excretion were studied in volume-expanded and sodium-loaded, conscious rats of different ages. Indomethacin and naproxen reduce renal PAH excretion in 5- and 10-day-old rats but not in rats of older ages. Findings can be explained by a decrease in glomerular filtration rate. In addition, a competitive inhibition of PAH transport by the organic acids indomethacin and naproxen must be mentioned. Until now it is not known whether or not there is a direct or indirect influence of prostaglandins on processes involved in tubular PAH transport.

The nephrotoxic cysteine S-conjugate S-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-L-cysteine (CTFC) is metabolized by kidney homogenates and subcellular fractions to pyruvate and a reactive thiol, which is cytotoxic and partially decomposes to yield hydrogen sulfide and thiosulfate. Although hydrogen sulfide is a potent mitochondrial poison, the mitochondrial toxicity of CTFC is not attributable to hydrogen sulfide formation, as shown by different sites of inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by CTFC and hydrogen sulfide. The efficient mitochondrial oxidation of hydrogen sulfide apparently serves to protect mitochondria against the toxic effects of hydrogen sulfide generated from CTFC.

The effect of S-(1,2,3,4,4-pentachloro-1,3-butadienyl)-L-cysteine (PCBC), a metabolite of the nephrocarcinogen hexachloro-1,3-butadiene, and related cysteine S-conjugates on rat kidney mitochondrial DNA, RNA and protein synthesis was studied. Chloramphenicol-sensitive mitochondrial protein synthesis was inhibited (greater than 95%) by 0.5 mM PCBC. Similarly, mtRNA synthesis was inhibited (approximately 80%) by 0.125 mM PCBC, and mtDNA synthesis was inhibited by 0.125-0.5 mM PCBC. The cysteine S-conjugates S-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-L-cysteine and S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine were less potent inhibitors. The effects of PCBC on DNA, RNA and protein synthesis were blocked by aminooxyacetic acid, an inhibitor of cysteine conjugate beta-lyase, thus demonstrating the essential role of beta-lyase in the bioactivation of PCBC. In mitochondria incubated with PCBC for 1 h, 60% of the high mol. wt DNA was degraded. Agarose gel electrophoresis of mtDNA showed that the supercoiled form was converted to the relaxed circular form and to shorter linear fragments. These studies show that PCBC, a metabolite of the nephrocarcinogen hexachloro-1,3-butadiene, has important effects on mitochondrial macromolecule synthesis and on the mitochondrial genome.