Mutant Fusion Proteins Research Articles

P300 Modulates ATF4 Stability and Transcriptional Activity Independently of Its Acetyltransferase Domain

ATF4 plays a crucial role in the cellular response to stress and multiple stress responses pathways converge to the translational up-regulation of ATF4. ATF4 is a substrate of the SCF(betaTrCP) ubiquitin ligase that binds to betaTrCP through phosphorylation on a DSGXXXS motif. We show here that ATF4 stability is also modulated by the histone acetyltransferase p300, which induces ATF4 stabilization by inhibiting its ubiquitination. Despite p300 acetylates ATF4, we found that p300-mediated ATF4 stabilization is independent of p300 catalytic activity, using either the inactive form of p300 or the acetylation mutant ATF4-K311R. ATF4 deleted of its p300 binding domain is no more stabilized by p300 nor recruited into nuclear speckles. In consequence of ATF4 stabilization, both p300 and the catalytically inactive enzyme increase ATF4 transcriptional activity.

Expression of a calmodulin-binding KCNQ2 potassium channel fragment modulates neuronal M-current and membrane excitability

KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 ion channel pore-forming subunits coassemble to form a heteromeric voltage-gated potassium channel that underlies the neuronal M-current. We and others showed that calmodulin (CaM) binds to specific sequence motifs in the C-terminal domain of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3. We also found that a fusion protein containing a KCNQ2 CaM-binding motif, coexpressed with KCNQ2 and KCNQ3, competes with the full-length KCNQ2 channel for CaM binding and thereby decreases KCNQ2/3 current density in heterologous cells. We have explored the importance of CaM binding for the generation of the native M-current and regulation of membrane excitability in rat hippocampal neurons in primary cell culture. M-current properties were studied in cultured neurons by using whole-cell patch clamp recording. The M-current density is lower in neurons expressing the CaM-binding motif fusion protein, as compared to control neurons transfected with vector alone. In contrast, no change in M-current density is observed in cells transfected with a mutant fusion protein that is unable to bind CaM. The CaM-binding fusion protein does not influence the rapidly inactivating A-current or the large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel-mediated fast spike afterhyperpolarization in neurons in which the M-current is suppressed. Furthermore, the CaM-binding fusion protein, but not the nonbinding mutant, increases both the number of action potentials evoked by membrane depolarization and the size of the spike afterdepolarization. These results suggest that CaM binding regulates M-channel function and membrane excitability in the native neuronal environment.

Cross-talk between the Two Divergent Insulin Signaling Pathways Is Revealed by the Protein Kinase B (Akt)-mediated Phosphorylation of Adapter Protein APS on Serine 588

The APS adapter protein is recruited to the autophosphorylated kinase domain of the insulin receptor and initiates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-independent pathway of insulin-stimulated glucose transport by recruiting CAP and c-Cbl. In this study, we have identified APS as a novel substrate for protein kinase B/Akt using an antibody that exhibits insulin-dependent immunoreactivity with a phosphospecific antibody raised against the protein kinase B substrate consensus sequence RXRXX(pS/pT) and a phosphospecific antibody that recognizes serine 21/9 of glycogen synthase kinase-3alpha/beta. This phosphorylation of APS is observed in both 3T3-L1 adipocytes and transfected cells. The insulin-stimulated serine phosphorylation of APS was inhibited by a PI3-kinase inhibitor, LY290004, a specific protein kinase B (PKB) inhibitor, deguelin, and knockdown of Akt. Serine 588 of APS is contained in a protein kinase B consensus sequence for phosphorylation conserved in APS across multiple species but not found in other members of this family, including SH2-B and Lnk. Mutation of serine 588 to alanine abolished the insulin-stimulated serine phosphorylation of APS and prevented the localization of APS to membrane ruffles. A glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing amino acids 534-621 of APS was phosphorylated by purified PKB in vitro, and mutation of serine 588 abolished the PKB-mediated phosphorylation of APS in vitro. Taken together, this study identifies APS as a novel physiological substrate for PKB and the first serine phosphorylation site on APS. These data therefore reveal the molecular cross-talk between the insulin-activated PI3-kinase-dependent and -independent pathways previously thought to be distinct and divergent.

Structural and Mutational Analysis of Trypanosoma brucei Prostaglandin H2 Reductase Provides Insight into the Catalytic Mechanism of Aldo-ketoreductases

Trypanosoma brucei prostaglandin F2alpha synthase is an aldo-ketoreductase that catalyzes the reduction of prostaglandin H2 to PGF2alpha in addition to that of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone. We report the crystal structure of TbPGFS.NADP+.citrate at 2.1 angstroms resolution. TbPGFS adopts a parallel (alpha/beta)8-barrel fold lacking the protrudent loops and possesses a hydrophobic core active site that contains a catalytic tetrad of tyrosine, lysine, histidine, and aspartate, which is highly conserved among AKRs. Site-directed mutagenesis of the catalytic tetrad residues revealed that a dyad of Lys77 and His110, and a triad of Tyr52, Lys77, and His110 are essential for the reduction of PGH2 and 9,10-PQ, respectively. Structural and kinetic analysis revealed that His110, acts as the general acid catalyst for PGH2 reduction and that Lys77 facilitates His110 protonation through a water molecule, while exerting an electrostatic repulsion against His110 that maintains the spatial arrangement which allows the formation of a hydrogen bond between His110 and C11 that carbonyl of PGH2. We also show Tyr52 acts as the general acid catalyst for 9,10-PQ reduction, and thus we not only elucidate the catalytic mechanism of a PGH2 reductase but also provide an insight into the catalytic specificity of AKRs.

The Small G-protein Arf6GTP Recruits the AP-2 Adaptor Complex to Membranes

The small GTP-binding protein ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) is involved in plasma membrane/endosomes trafficking. However, precisely how the activation of Arf6 regulates vesicular transport is still unclear. Here, we show that, in vitro, recombinant Arf6GTP recruits purified clathrin-adaptor complex AP-2 (but not AP-1) onto phospholipid liposomes in the absence of phosphoinositides. We also show that phosphoinositides and Arf6 tightly cooperate to translocate AP-2 to the membrane. In vivo, Arf6GTP (but not Arf6GDP) was found associated to AP-2. The expression of the GTP-locked mutant of Arf6 leads to the plasma membrane redistribution of AP-2 in Arf6GTP-enriched areas. Finally, we demonstrated that the expression of the GTP-locked mutant of Arf6 inhibits transferrin receptor internalization without affecting its recycling. Altogether, our results demonstrated that Arf6GTP interacts specifically with AP-2 and promotes its membrane recruitment. These findings strongly suggest that Arf6 plays a major role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis by directly controlling the assembly of the AP-2/clathrin coat.

Expression and characterization of six clinically relevant uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase gene mutations

The functional consequence of six uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD) gene mutations found in Danish patients with familial porphyria cutanea tarda was investigated. Wild‐type UROD and the 6 mutants (3 missense, 1 nonsense and 2 frameshift mutants) were cloned and expressed using the prokaryotic gGEX‐6P system, in which the protein is produced in fusion with glutathione S‐transferase (GST). Enzymatic activity of the purified recombinant mutant fusion proteins ranged from undetectable to less than 12% of the recombinant wild‐type protein. Mutant proteins cleaved from the GST part did not retain any catalytic activity. These observations can be ascribed to the structure/function relationships of the enzyme, and the fact that the enzyme is a dimer in its active form. Although the clinical manifestation of familial porphyria cutanea tarda is complex, the findings support the notion that different mutations may affect individuals differently.

Diminished Myofibril Organization in Mutant Axolotl Hearts Transfected With Site-Directed Mutants of Sarcomeric Tropomyosins

We used a model lacking endogenous sarcomeric tropomyosin, the cardiac mutant of the Mexican axolotl, to examine the effect of mutant tropomyosins on sarcomeric myofibril formation. Previous studies have introduced wild-type mouse alpha-tropomyosin into mutant hearts in organ culture with subsequent for-mation of organized myofibrils. This study examines the predominant embry-onic axolotl TPM-4 type tropomyosin (TPM4alpha), containing a conservative re- placement of glutamic acid for aspartic acid at the clinically important 175 site. In this study, ATmC-3 (TPM4alpha) promoted formation of organized myofibrils in hearts without endogenous tropomyosin. Site-directed mutagenesis of 175 glutamic acid with 175 glutamine or 175 lysine was toxic to the formation of organized myofibrils in mutant hearts in the absence of endogenous tropo-myosin. Cationic liposome co-transfection of both wild-type tropomyosin and Glu175Gln.TPM4alpha cDNA formed organized myofibrils in mutant hearts. A construct with GFP.Glu175Gln.TPM4alpha cDNA was used to confirm expression of the mutant fusion protein. Mutation at the 175 site in TPM4alpha type or TPM1alpha (striated muscle isoform of the TPM1 gene) was sufficient to alter the protein such that organized myofibrils would not form in ventricles of mutant hearts without endogenous tropomyosin.

Connexin mutations in human disease.

Connexin mutations in human disease.

The H,K-ATPase β Subunit as a Model to Study the Role of N-Glycosylation in Membrane Trafficking and Apical Sorting

The role of N-glycosylation in trafficking of an apical membrane protein, the gastric H,K-ATPase beta subunit linked to yellow fluorescent protein, was analyzed in polarized LLC-PK1 cells by confocal microscopy and surface-specific biotinylation. Deletion of the N-glycosylation sites at N1, N3, N5, and N7 but not at N2, N4, and N6 significantly slowed endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi trafficking, impaired apical sorting, and enhanced endocytosis from the apical membrane, resulting in decreased apical expression. Golgi mannosidase inhibition to prevent carbohydrate chain branching and elongation resulted in faster internalization and degradation of the beta subunit, indicating that terminal glycosylation is important for stabilization of the protein in the apical membrane and protection of internalized protein from targeting to the degradation pathway. The decrease in the apical content of the beta subunit was less with mannosidase inhibition compared with that found in the N1, N3, N5, and N7 site mutants, suggesting that the core region sugars are more important than the terminal sugars for apical sorting.

Visualization of glucocorticoid receptor and mineralocorticoid receptor interactions in living cells with GFP-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Adrenal corticosteroids readily enter the brain and exert markedly diverse effects, including stress responses in the target neural cells via two receptor systems, the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). It has been shown that the GR and MR are highly colocalized in the hippocampus. Given the differential action of the MR and GR in the hippocampal region, it is important to elucidate how these receptors interact with each other in response to corticosteroids. We investigated the heterodimerization of the MR and GR with green fluorescent protein-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy in living cells with spatiotemporal manner. FRET was evaluated in three ways: (1) ratio imaging; (2) emission spectra; and (3) acceptor photobleaching. FRET analysis demonstrated that cyan fluorescent protein-GR and yellow fluorescent protein-MR form heterodimers after corticosterone (CORT) treatment both in the nucleus of cultured hippocampal neurons and COS-1 cells, whereas they do not form heterodimers in the cytoplasm. The content of the GR-MR heterodimer was higher at 10(-6) m CORT than at 10(-9) m CORT and reached a maximum level after 60 min of CORT treatment in both cultured hippocampal neurons and COS-1 cells. The distribution pattern of heterodimers in the nucleus of cultured hippocampal neurons was more restricted than that in COS-1 cells. The present study using mutant fusion proteins in nuclear localization signal showed that these corticosteroid receptors are not translocated into the nucleus in the form of heterodimers even after treatment with ligand and thus allow no heterodimerization to take place in the cytoplasm. These results obtained with FRET analyses give new insights into the sites, time course, and effects of ligand concentration on heterodimersization of the GR and MR.

Regulating innate immune response cytokines in synovitis

Several studies have provided powerful proof of concept for the notion that single cytokine targeting can manifest effective immune suppression even in the context of complex networks of cytokine activities. We have studied the biology and functional expression of the innate response cytokine IL-15 and, more recently, members of the IL-1/IL-1 receptor superfamily in inflammatory synovitis. These cytokines are characterised by early upregulation during inflammatory responses and characteristic functional synergy and cross-regulation in the intact immune response. IL-15 is an IL-2-like cytokine of 15 kDa that possesses broad proinflammatory activities via its heterotrimeric receptor (IL-15Rα/IL-15/2Rβ/common γ), including promoting T-cell maturation, activation, and cytokine production, natural killer cell maturation and effector function, neutrophil activation, dendritic cell activation, endothelial cell rescue from apoptosis, macrophage activation and B-cell activation and isotype switching. IL-15 is expressed at mRNA and protein levels in several inflammatory arthritides including rheumatoid arthritis. When targeted in rodent models of inflammation using either soluble IL-15Rα or modified IL-15 mutant fusion proteins, amelioration of onset and of existing arthritis is observed. A recent phase I study in which a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (HuMax-IL15; Genmab, Copenhagen, Denmark) was administered to 30 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis indicated that IL-15 blockade was well tolerated up to 8 weeks, with early indications of efficacy detected. We have now observed close interactions between IL-15 and IL-1 receptor superfamily signalling in promoting T-cell activation. Specifically, IL-15 synergises with the TLR2 ligand BLP to promote memory T-cell activation (co-stimulatory) and also via a cell membrane-dependent pathway to promote adjacent macrophage activation and tumour necrosis factor release. We have also observed that a further member of the IL-1 receptor superfamily, namely ST2, is expressed in synovial fibroblasts. Membrane-bound ST2 negatively regulates type I IL-1 receptor and TLR4 signalling by sequestrating the adaptors MyD88 and Mal. Intriguingly, soluble ST2 suppresses development of collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice if given prophylactically, and also established collagen-induced arthritis if administered after disease onset. Together these data suggest that complex interactions between the common γ-receptor chain and IL-1 receptor superfamily signalling cytokines are of importance in developing synovial inflammatory responses and that elucidation of these pathways offers therapeutic utility.

Heterologous expression of enzymopenic methemoglobinemia variants using a novel NADH:cytochrome c reductase fusion protein

Hereditary enzymopenic methemoglobinemia is a rare disease that predominantly results from defects in either the erythrocytic (type I) or microsomal (type II) forms of the enzyme NADH:cytochrome b 5 reductase (EC 1.6.2.2). All 25 currently identified type I and type II methemoglobinemia mutants have been expressed in Escherichia coli using a novel six histidine-tagged rat cytochrome b 5/cytochrome b 5 reductase fusion protein designated NADH:cytochrome c reductase (H 6NCR). All 25 H 6NCR variants were isolated and demonstrated to result in two groups of expression products. The first group of 16 mutants, which included the majority of the type I mutants, included K116Q, P131L, L139P, T183S, M193V, S194P, P211L, L215P, A245T, A245V, C270Y, E279K, V305R, V319M, M340−, and F365−, and yielded full-length fusion proteins that retained variable levels of NADH:cytochrome c reductase (NADH:CR) activity, ranging from approximately 2% (M340−) to 92% (K116Q) of that of the wild-type fusion protein. In contrast, the remaining nine mutants that represented the majority of the type II variants, comprised a second group that included Y109*, R124Q, Q143*, R150*, P162H, V172M, R226*, C270R, and R285*, and resulted in truncated H 6NCR variants that retained the amino-terminal cytochrome b 5 domain but were devoid of NADH:CR activity due to the absence of the cytochrome b 5 reductase flavin domain. Kinetic analyses of the first group of full-length mutant fusion proteins indicated that values for both k cat and K m NADH were decreased and increased, respectively, indicating that the various mutations affected both substrate affinity and/or turnover. However, for the second group, the truncated products were the result of incomplete production of the carboxyl-terminal flavin-containing domain or instability of the expression products due to improper folding and/or lack of flavin incorporation.

Opioids Bind to the Amino Acids 84 to 118 of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase UGT2B7

The UDP-glucuronosyltransferase UGT2B7 is an important human UGT isoform that catalyzes the conjugation of many endogenous and exogenous compounds, among them opioids, resulting in the formation of D-glucuronides. The binding site of the aglycone is located in the N-terminal half of the protein. Using NMR analysis, we demonstrate that the opioid binding site in UGT2B7 is within the 84 to 118 N-terminal amino acids. Three maltose binding protein-UGT2B7 fusion proteins, 2B7F3 and 2B7F4 incorporating the amino acids 24 to 118 and 24 to 96 of UGT2B7, respectively, and 2B7F5 incorporating amino acids 84 to 118 of UGT2B7 were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. NMR analysis showed that morphine was bound to the fusion protein 2B7F3 with a K(D) value similar to the K(D) values obtained for the previously produced fusion proteins, which included amino acids 24 to 180. Morphine did not bind to 2B7F4, but it did bind to 2B7F5. Both NMR 1-D spectra and NOESY experiments indicated that the 2B7F5 protein was mediating magnetization transfer within the morphine. These results allowed us to predict and model a binding site within the amino acids 96 to 101 of UGT2B7. A mutant fusion protein 2B7F3 with the substitution D99A was produced, and the NMR spectroscopy analysis of the protein supported the model. A marked reduction of morphine binding was observed when the charged aspartate was substituted with alanine.

Role of tumor suppressor p53 domains in selective binding to supercoiled DNA.

We showed previously that bacterially expressed full-length human wild-type p53b(1-393) binds selectively to supercoiled (sc)DNA in sc/linear DNA competition experiments, a process we termed supercoil-selective (SCS) binding. Using p53 deletion mutants and pBluescript scDNA (lacking the p53 recognition sequence) at native superhelix density we demonstrate here that the p53 C-terminal domain (amino acids 347-382) and a p53 oligomeric state are important for SCS binding. Monomeric p53(361-393) protein (lacking the p53 tetramerization domain, amino acids 325-356) did not exhibit SCS binding while both dimeric mutant p53(319- 393)L344A and fusion protein GCN4-p53(347-393) were effective in SCS binding. Supershifting of p53(320-393)-scDNA complexes with monoclonal antibodies revealed that the amino acid region 375-378, constituting the epitope of the Bp53-10.1 antibody, plays a role in binding of the p53(320-393) protein to scDNA. Using electron microscopy we observed p53-scDNA nucleoprotein filaments produced by all the C-terminal proteins that displayed SCS binding in the gel electrophoresis experiments; no filaments formed with the monomeric p53(361- 393) protein. We propose a model according to which two DNA duplexes are compacted into p53-scDNA filaments and discuss a role for filament formation in recombination.

The Anti-adhesive Activity of Thrombospondin Is Mediated by the N-terminal Domain of Cell Surface Calreticulin

Thrombospondin (TSP) induces reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and restructuring of focal adhesions through binding of amino acids (aa) 17-35 (hep I peptide) of thrombospondin to a cell surface form of calreticulin (CRT). In this report we provide further evidence for the involvement of calreticulin in thrombospondin signaling and characterize thrombospondin-calreticulin interactions. Wild type but not crt(-/-) cells respond to hep I/TSP. Responsiveness can be restored by incubation of cells with exogenous calreticulin or by transfection with calreticulin. Thrombospondin forms complexes with the CRT-N-domain that are enhanced by physiologic levels of calcium and zinc. Consistent with thrombospondin/CRT-N-domain binding, only the CRT-N-domain blocks hep I- and thrombospondin-stimulated focal adhesion disassembly. A series of glutathione S-transferase-N-domain mutants were used to map the sequence within the N-domain that interacts with TSP/hep I. A construct containing aa 1-43 but not a construct of aa 1-31 supported thrombospondin binding and focal adhesion disassembly. A series of overlapping peptides were used to further map the thrombospondin-binding site. Peptides spanning aa 19-36 (RWIESKHKSDFGKFVLSS) blocked hep I-stimulated focal adhesion disassembly, indicating that the TSP/hep I-binding site is located to this sequence in calreticulin. A mutant fusion protein lacking aa 19-36 (glutathione S-transferase-CRTDeltahep I) failed to restore responsiveness to hep I in crt(-/-) cells, bind thrombospondin, or competitively block focal adhesion disassembly, providing evidence for the role of this calreticulin sequence in mediating thrombospondin signaling.

Acquired mutations in GATA1 in the megakaryoblastic leukemia of Down syndrome.

Children with Down syndrome have a 10-20-fold elevated risk of developing leukemia, particularly acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL). While a subset of pediatric AMKLs is associated with the 1;22 translocation and expression of a mutant fusion protein, the genetic alterations that promote Down syndrome-related AMKL (DS-AMKL) have remained elusive. Here we show that leukemic cells from every individual with DS-AMKL that we examined contain mutations in GATA1, encoding the essential hematopoietic transcription factor GATA1 (GATA binding protein 1 or globin transcription factor 1). Each mutation results in the introduction of a premature stop codon in the gene sequence that encodes the amino-terminal activation domain. These mutations prevent synthesis of full-length GATA1, but not synthesis of a shorter variant that is initiated downstream. We show that the shorter GATA1 protein, which lacks the N-terminal activation domain, binds DNA and interacts with its essential cofactor Friend of GATA1 (FOG1; encoded by ZFPM1) to the same extent as does full-length GATA1, but has a reduced transactivation potential. Although some reports suggest that the activation domain is dispensable in cell-culture models of hematopoiesis, one study has shown that it is required for normal development in vivo. Together, these findings indicate that loss of wildtype GATA1 constitutes one step in the pathogenesis of AMKL in Down syndrome.

Expression of Normal and Mutant GFP-Tagged y+L Amino Acid Transporter-1 in Mammalian Cells

Lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI; MIM 222700) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by defective transport of cationic amino acids lysine, arginine and ornithine. The defect is localized in the basolateral membrane of polar epithelial cells of the renal tubules and intestine. The SLC7A7 (solute carrier family 7, member 7) gene that encodes y+LAT-1 (y+L amino acid transporter-1) is mutated in LPI, and leads to the malfunction of the heterodimer composed of y+LAT-1 and 4F2hc (4F2 heavy chain) responsible for the system y+L amino acid transport activity at the membrane. In this study, the intracellular trafficking and membrane expression of wild type and four mutant y+LAT-1 proteins (LPIFin, G54V, 1548delC, W242X) was studied in two human cell lines by expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged proteins. Different SLC7A7 mutations influenced the trafficking of y+LAT-1 in the cells differently, as the wild type and missense mutant fusion proteins localized to the plasma membrane, while the frameshift and nonsense mutants sequestered to the cytoplasmic membranes, never reaching the target areas of the cell.

FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ADRENOLEUKODYSTROPHY PROTEIN (ALDP) AND DISEASE PATHOGENESIS

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is the most common peroxisomal disorder characterized by abnormal accumulation of saturated very long chain fatty acids in tissues and body fluids with predominance in brain white matter and adrenal cortex. The clinical phenotype is highly variable ranging from the severe childhood cerebral form to asymptomatic persons. The responsible ALD gene encodes the adrenoleukodystrophy protein (ALDP), a peroxisomal integral membrane protein that is a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter protein family. The patient gene mutations are heterogeneously distributed over the functional domains of ALDP. The extreme variability in clinical phenotype, even within one affected family, indicates that besides the ALD gene mutations other factors strongly influence the clinical phenotype. To understand the cell biology and function of mammalian peroxisomal ABC transporters and to determine their role in the pathogenesis of X-ALD we developed a system for expressing functional ABC protein domains in fusion with the maltose binding protein. Wild type and mutant fusion proteins of the nucleotide-binding fold were overexpressed, purified, and characterized by photoaffinity labeling with 8-azido ATP or 8-azido GTP and a coupled ATP regenerating enzyme assay for ATPase activity. Our studies provide evidence that peroxisomal ABC transporters utilize ATP to become a functional transporter and that ALD gene mutations alter peroxisomal transport function. The established disease model will be used further to study the influence of possible disease modifier proteins on ALDP function.

Experimental and computational approaches yield a high-resolution, 1-Mb physical map of the region harboring the mouse t haplotype sterility factor, tcs1.

Experimental and computational approaches yield a high-resolution, 1-Mb physical map of the region harboring the mouse t haplotype sterility factor, tcs1.

CD28-B7-Mediated T Cell Costimulation in Chronic Cardiac Allograft Rejection: Differential Role of B7–1 in Initiation versus Progression of Graft Arteriosclerosis

Provision of adequate T cell costimulation is critical for the development of acute and chronic allograft rejection. We have previously reported that early blockade of CD28-B7 T cell costimulation prevents the development of graft arteriosclerosis, in the LEW into F344 rat cardiac transplant model. In this study, we used the same model to examine the requirement for CD28-B7-mediated T cell costimulation in the progression of established chronic rejection and examined the individual roles of B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) costimulatory molecules. Late blockade of CD28-B7 T cell costimulation by the fusion protein CTLA4Ig, which binds both CD80 and CD86, attenuated the development of transplant arteriosclerosis, mononuclear cell infiltration, and parenchymal fibrosis in this model. Selective blockade of CD80 using the mutant fusion protein Y100F was as effective as CTLA4Ig in this regard. In contrast to CTLA4Ig, blockade of CD80 alone by Y100F was ineffective at preventing early graft loss and prolonging graft survival when given early after transplantation. This study is the first to demonstrate that late blockade of CD28-B7 T cell costimulation interrupts chronic cardiac allograft rejection, and it indicates the importance of continued T cell activation in this process. This study further defines functional differences between CD80 and CD86 costimulatory molecules in vivo.