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Cigarette smoke (CS) induces inflammatory responses characterized by increase of immune cells and cytokine release. Remodeling processes, such as mucus hypersecretion and extracellular matrix protein production, are also directly or indirectly induced by CS. Recently, we showed that activation of the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) attenuates CS extract-induced interleukin (IL)-8 release from cultured airway smooth muscle cells. Using an acute, short-term model of CS exposure, we now studied the role of Epac1, Epac2, and the Epac effector phospholipase-Cε (PLCε) in airway inflammation and remodeling in vivo. Compared to wild-type mice exposed to CS, the number of total inflammatory cells, macrophages, and neutrophils and total IL-6 release was lower in Epac2(-/-) mice, which was also the case for neutrophils and IL-6 in PLCε(-/-) mice. Taken together, Epac2, acting partly via PLCε, but not Epac1, enhances CS-induced airway inflammation in vivo. In total lung homogenates of Epac1(-/-) mice, MUC5AC and matrix remodeling parameters (transforming growth factor-β1, collagen I, and fibronectin) were increased at baseline. Our findings suggest that Epac1 primarily is capable of inhibiting remodeling processes, whereas Epac2 primarily increases inflammatory processes in vivo.-Oldenburger, A., Timens, W., Bos, S., Smit, M., Smrcka, A. V., Laurent, A.-C., Cao, J., Hylkema, M., Meurs, H., Maarsingh, H., Lezoualc'h, F., and Schmidt, M. Epac1 and Epac2 are differentially involved in inflammatory and remodeling processes induced by cigarette smoke.

In diverse neuronal processes ranging from neuronal survival to synaptic plasticity cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent signaling is tightly connected with the protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt pathway but the precise nature of this connection remains unknown. In the current study we investigated the effect of two mainstream pathways initiated by cAMP, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac1 and Epac2) on PKB/Akt phosphorylation in primary cortical neurons and HT-4 cells. We demonstrate that PKA activation leads to a reduction of PKB/Akt phosphorylation, whereas activation of Epac has the opposite effect. This effect of Epac on PKB/Akt phosphorylation was mediated by Rap activation. The increase in PKB/Akt phosphorylation after Epac activation could be blocked by pretreatment with Epac2 siRNA and to a somewhat smaller extent by Epac1 siRNA. PKA, PKB/Akt and Epac were all shown to establish complexes with neuronal A-kinase anchoring protein150 (AKAP150). Interestingly, activation of Epac increased phosphorylation of PKB/Akt complexed to AKAP150. From experiments using PKA-binding deficient AKAP150 and peptides disrupting PKA anchoring to AKAPs, we conclude that AKAP150 acts as a key regulator in the two cAMP pathways to control PKB/Akt phosphorylation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-09-12T16:53:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2002 National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a rare, autosomal dominant form of gingival overgrowth. Affected individuals have a benign, slowly progressive, nonhemorrhagic, fibrous enlargement of the oral masticatory mucosa. Genetic loci for autosomal dominant forms of HGF have been localized to chromosome 2p21-p22 (HGF1) and chromosome 5q13-q22 (HGF2). To identify the gene responsible for HGF1, we extended genetic linkage studies to refine the chromosome 2p21-p22 candidate interval to similar to2.3 Mb. Development of an integrated physical and genetic map of the interval identified 16 genes. Sequencing of these genes, in affected and unaffected HGF1 family members, identified a mutation in the Son of sevenless-1 (SOS1) gene in affected individuals. In this report, we describe the genomic structure of the SOS1 gene and present evidence that insertion of a cytosine between nucleotides 126,142 and 126,143 in codon 1083 of the SOS1 gene is responsible for HGF1. This insertion mutation, which segregates in a dominant manner over four generations, introduces a frameshift and creates a premature stop codon, abolishing four functionally important proline-rich SH3 binding domains normally present in the carboxyl-terminal region of the SOS1 protein. The resultant protein chimera contains the wild-type SOS1 protein for the N-terminal amino acids 1-1083 fused to a novel 22-amino acid carboxyl terminus. Similar SOS1 deletion constructs are functional in animal models, and a transgenic mouse construct with a comparable SOS1 chimera produces a phenotype with skin hypertrophy. Clarification of the functional role of this SOS1 mutant has implications for understanding other forms of gingival fibromatosis and corrective gingival-tissue management. Univ Pittsburgh, Sch Dent Med, Ctr Craniofacial & Dent Genet, Div Oral Biol & Pathol, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA; Univ Pittsburgh, Grad Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Human Genet, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA; Universidade de Taubaté (Unitau), Sch Dent, Dept Periodont

Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor (Rab GDI), will induce the dissociation of GDP-bound rab3A from synaptic membranes and will inhibit GDP dissociation from Sec4, a member of the Rab subgroup of the Ras GTPase superfamily which is required for exocytosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We report that Rab GDI releases GDP-bound Sec4 from yeast membranes. dGDI, a Drosophila homologue can similarly inhibit GDP dissociation from Sec4 and release GDP-bound Sec4 from yeast membranes. An activity partially purified from yeast cytosol dissociates GDP-bound Sec4 from yeast membranes, suggesting that yeast also possess a GDI protein that functions to recycle Sec4 from its target membrane.

1. 1. The transverse distribution of phosphatidylcholine in rat sarcoplasmic reticulum was investigated employing 13 C NMR in conjunction with the shift reagent DyCl 3 . 2. 2. Sarcoplasmic reticulum phosphatidylcholine was enriched with 13 C by feeding rats a diet containing [ N - Me 3 - 13 C]choline. Up to 32% of the sarcoplasmic reticulum phosphatidyl-[ N - Me 3 - 12 C]choline was replaced by phosphatidyl-[ N - Me 3 - 13 C]choline. 3. 3. Titration of 13 C-enriched sarcoplasmic reticulum with Dy 3+ indicates that 40% of the phosphatidyl-[ N - Me 3 - 13 C]choline is exposed to the external medium, whereas 60% is shielded from interaction with Dy 3+ . 4. 4. Incubation of 32 P-labelled sarcoplasmic reticulum with excess mitochondria and phosphatidylcholine exchange protein results in a fast transport of approx. 80% of [ 32 P]phosphatidylcholine to the mitochondria indicating that part of the phosphatidylcholine pool is involved in a rapid transbilayer movement.