High Mobility Group Nucleosomal Binding Domain 2 Research Articles

Inhibitory effect of HMGN2 protein on human hepatitis B virus expression and replication in the HepG2.2.15 cell line

Natural killer (NK) cells and cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) have been implicated as important effectors of antiviral defense. We previously isolated a novel antibacterial polypeptide, which was identified as high mobility group nucleosomal-binding domain 2 (HMGN2), from human mononuclear leukocytes. This study examined the antiviral activity of HMGN2 against human hepatitis virus B. HMGN2 was isolated and purified from the acid soluble proteins of the human THP-1 cell line, and identified by mass spectrum, Western blot and antibacterial assay. The hepatitis B virus (HBV)-transfected HepG2.2.15 cell line was used in the in vitro assay system. In the range of 1-100 microg/ml HMGN2, no cytotoxicity for HepG2.2.15 cells was detected by MTT assay. When incubated with HMGN2 at 1-100 microg/ml for 72 or 144 h, there was a significant reduction in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression, which were detected by ELISA, and a significant reduction in HBV DNA copies, which was determined by the real time quantitative PCR, in the supernatant of HepG2.2.15 cells. Northern and Southern blot analysis also showed that the levels of the HBV 3.5 kb and the 2.4/2.1 kb mRNA species and HBV replicative intermediate DNA were significantly reduced in the HMGN2-treated HepG2.2.15 cells. These results indicated that HMGN2 protein could markedly inhibit HBV protein expression and replication in vitro.

Purification of antimicrobial factors from human cervical mucus

The aim of this study was to separate bactericidal proteins from healthy female cervical mucus. Cervical mucus was collected and dissolved in 1% acetic acid. The antimicrobial activity of acid-soluble extracts was detected by gel overlay assay against Escherichia coli ATCC 43827. The extracts showed considerable amount of antibacterial activity with a clearly visible band. The bactericidal band was purified by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and the antibacterial activity of the eluate was examined using radial diffusion assay. Two antimicrobial proteins were purified and were further characterized by Tricine sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, N-terminal sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The proteins were identified as high-mobility group nucleosomal-binding domain 2 (HMG N2) and secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor (SLPI). SLPI is an antimicrobial peptide already known in the cervical mucus while HMG N2 in the cervical mucus had not been previously reported. The expression of HMG N2 mRNA was detected in Hela cells and cervical epithelial cells by RT-PCR. Slit hybridization showed abundant amounts of the HMG N2 protein in the cervical mucus. These results suggest that the expression of HMG N2 and SLPI in the healthy female cervical mucus may be relevant to their immune surveillance and defense against potential pathogens in human reproductive system.

HMGN2: a novel antimicrobial effector molecule of human mononuclear leukocytes?

Leukocytes are a central cellular element of innate-immune defense in mammals. In addition to the generation of toxic oxygen radicals and nitric oxide, leukocytes express and secrete a broad array of antimicrobial proteins and peptides. In the study, an antimicrobial polypeptide was isolated and purified from human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes in the presence of interleukin (IL)-2. Microsequencing provided that its N-terminal amino sequence was PKRKAEGDAK, which was identical to high mobility group nucleosomal-binding domain 2 (HMGN2). Mass spectrometric value and Western blot also indicated its individual character of HMGN2. The antimicrobial assays showed that the Escherichia coli-based production of HMGN2 had a potent antimicrobial activity against E. coli ML-35p, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and to some extent, against Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The HMGN2 alpha-helical domain had the same antimicrobial activity as HMGN2. The immunocytochemistry staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot revealed that HMGN2 was present in the cytoplasm of mononuclear leukocytes and released to the extracellular environment when stimulated with IL-2. These results suggest that HMGN2 would be a novel antimicrobial effector molecule of human mononuclear leukocyte.

Alpha-Helical domain is essential for antimicrobial activity of high mobility group nucleosomal binding domain 2 (HMGN2)1

To examine the antimicrobial spectrum and functional structure of high mobility group nucleosomal binding domain 2 (HMGN2). OMIGA protein structure software was used to analyze the two-dimensional structure of HMGN2. Synthetic short peptides were generated for studying the relationship between function and structure. Prokaryotic expression vectors were constructed for the holo-HMGN2 and its helical domain. Their E coli-based products were also prepared for antimicrobial testing. The antimicrobial assay included minimal effective concentration, minimal inhibitory concentration, and minimal bactericidal concentration. OMIGA protein structure software analysis revealed a transmembrane alpha-helical structure (the putative antimicrobial domain) located from position 18 to 48 of the HMGN2 protein sequence. The antimicrobial assay showed that the MIC of the recombinant holo-HMGN2 against E coli ML-35p (an ampicillin-resistance strain), Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 were 12.5, 25, and 100 mg/L, respectively. Against the same microorganisms, the MIC of the synthetic HMGN2 alpha-helical domain were 12.5, 25, and 100 mg/L, respectively, that is, the same as with the recombinant form of HMGN2. In contrast, recombinant holo-HMGN2 was inactive against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. The synthetic N-terminal and C-terminal fragments of HMGN2 had no antimicrobial activity against E coli ML-35p, P aeruginosa ATCC 27853 or C albicans ATCC 10231. HMGN2 showed potent antimicrobial activity against E coli ML-35p, P aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and, to some extent, against C albicans ATCC 10231, but was inactive against S aureus ATCC 25923 in these assay systems. Itos alpha-helical structure may be essential for the antimicrobial activity of HMGN2.

Activation of the nuclear factor kappa B pathway following ischemia-reperfusion of the murine testis.

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) of the testis results in testicular oxidative stress and germ cell-specific apoptosis. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) is a nuclear transcription factor involved in the control of a number of cellular processes, and its activation is part of the cellular stress response to a variety of factors including cytokine stimulation, irradiation, and IR. The present study investigates NF-kappaB activation after IR of the murine testis and potential downstream target genes of that activation. Mice were subjected to a period of testicular ischemia followed by 0-4 hours of reperfusion. Activation of NF-kappaB was assessed by 1) Western blot analysis of the NF-kappaB inhibitory protein, IkappaBalpha; 2) immunohistochemistry for IkappaBalpha; and 3) TranSignal NF-kappaB target gene array (107 genes) analysis. Results demonstrate that IkappaBalpha is phosphorylated on serine 32 reaching a peak by 2 hours after IR of the testis. A decrease in total IkappaBalpha was also noted at 2 hours after IR, consistent with the rapid degradation of the phosphorylated protein. Phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaBalpha is indicative of NF-kappaB activation. Immunolocalization revealed IkappaBalpha specifically in Sertoli cells of the murine testis. Results of the TranSignal target gene array revealed that the expression of 9 genes was consistently changed 2 hours after IR of the testis, 3 of which increased in expression and 6 of which were down-regulated. Most notably, high-mobility group nucleosomal binding domain 1 increased in expression while platelet-derived growth factor B and Wilms tumor homolog decreased. These results suggest that testicular IR releases the suppression of NF-kappaB by IkappaBalpha in Sertoli cells. Activation of the NF-kappaB pathway in the testis resulted in an alteration of expression of potential NF-kappaB target genes, some increased while others decreased. The specific roles of these genes in the testicular response to IR remains to be determined.