Authorship：Last author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

DOI： 10.1016/j.bone.2020.115471

researchmap

Authorship：Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1038/s41590-019-0457-3

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Dendritic cells (DCs), which are vital for immune responses, are derived from bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells via common DC progenitors (CDPs). DC lineage fate decisions occurring at stages much earlier than CDPs have recently been recognized, yet the mechanism remains elusive. By single-cell RNA-sequencing, in vivo cell transfer experiments, and an assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing using wild-type, IRF8-GFP chimera knock-in or IRF8-knockout mice, we demonstrate that IRF8 regulates chromatin at the lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitor (LMPP) stage to induce early commitment toward DCs. A low but significant expression of IRF8, a transcription factor essential for DC and monocyte development, was initiated in a subpopulation within LMPPs. These IRF8+ LMPPs were derived from IRF8- LMPPs and predominantly produced DCs, especially classical DC1s, potentially via known progenitors, such as monocyte-DC progenitors, CDPs, and preclassical DCs. IRF8+ LMPPs did not generate significant numbers of monocytes, neutrophils, or lymphocytes. Although IRF8- and IRF8+ LMPPs displayed very similar global gene expression patterns, the chromatin of enhancers near DC lineage genes was more accessible in IRF8+ LMPPs than in IRF8- LMPPs, an epigenetic change dependent on IRF8. The majority of the genes epigenetically primed by IRF8 were still transcriptionally inactive at the LMPP stage, but were highly expressed in the downstream DC lineage populations such as CDPs. Therefore, early expression of the key transcription factor IRF8 changes chromatin states in otherwise multipotent progenitors, biasing their fate decision toward DCs.

DOI： 10.1182/blood-2018-06-857789

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Last author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Authorship：Last author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs), mononuclear phagocytes essential for immune responses, develop from hematopoietic stem cells via monocyte-DC progenitors (MDPs). The molecular basis of their development remains unclear. Because promoter-distal enhancers are key to cell fate decisions, we analyzed enhancer landscapes during mononuclear phagocyte development in vivo. Monocyte- and DC-specific enhancers were gradually established at progenitor stages before the expression of associated genes. Of the transcription factors predicted to bind to these enhancers, IRF8, essential for monocyte and DC development, was found to be required for the establishment of these enhancers, particularly those common to both monocyte and DC lineages. Although Irf8-/- mononuclear phagocyte progenitors, including MDPs, displayed grossly normal gene expression patterns, their enhancer landscapes resembled that of an upstream progenitor population. Our results illustrate the dynamic process by which key transcription factors regulate enhancer formation and, therefore, direct future gene expression to achieve mononuclear phagocyte development.

DOI： 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.02.048

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese  

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese  

DOI： 10.11406/rinketsu.58.798

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Bio-Protocol, LLC  

DOI： 10.21769/bioprotoc.2295

researchmap

Authorship：Last author   Language：Japanese  

CiNii Books

researchmap

Other Link： http://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2017224118

Authorship：Corresponding author   Language：Japanese  

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：OXFORD UNIV PRESS  

Monocytes and macrophages play critical roles in immune responses, tissue homeostasis and disease progression. There are a number of functionally and phenotypically distinct subpopulations throughout the body. However, the mechanisms by which macrophage and monocyte heterogeneity is established remain unclear. Recent studies have suggested that most tissue-resident macrophages originate from fetal progenitors but not from hematopoietic stem cells, whereas some subpopulations are derived from adult monocytes. In addition, transcription factors specifically required for the development of each subpopulation have been identified. Interestingly, local environmental factors such as heme, retinoic acid and RANKL induce the expression and/or activation of tissue-specific transcription factors, thereby controlling transcriptional programs specific for the subpopulations. Thus, distinct differentiation pathways and local microenvironments appear to contribute to the determination of macrophage transcriptional identities. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our knowledge of the transcriptional control of macrophage and monocyte development.

DOI： 10.1093/intimm/dxx016

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：CELL PRESS  

Interferon regulatory factor-5 (IRF5), a transcription factor critical for the induction of innate immune responses, contributes to the pathogenesis of the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in humans and mice. Lyn, a Src family kinase, is also implicated in human SLE, and Lyn-deficient mice develop an SLE-like disease. Here, we found that Lyn physically interacted with IRF5 to inhibit ubiquitination and phosphorylation of IRF5 in the TLR-MyD88 pathway, thereby suppressing the transcriptional activity of IRF5 in a manner independent of Lyn's kinase activity. Conversely, Lyn did not inhibit NF-kappa B signaling, another major branch downstream of MyD88. Monoallelic deletion of Irf5 alleviated the hyperproduction of cytokines in TLR-stimulated Lyn(-/-) dendritic cells and the development of SLE-like symptoms in Lyn(-/-) mice. Our results reveal a role for Lyn as a specific suppressor of the TLR-MyD88-IRF5 pathway and illustrate the importance of fine-tuning IRF5 activity for the maintenance of immune homeostasis.

DOI： 10.1016/j.immuni.2016.07.015

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC  

The transcription factor, interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF8), is required for the development of monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), basophils, and eosinophils, while it inhibits the generation of neutrophils. Recently, the molecular mechanisms by which IRF8 regulates their development have been increasingly clarified by genome-wide analyses, including chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing and transcriptome profiling. IRF8 associates with the myeloid master transcription factor, PU.1, to promote the establishment of cell-type-specific enhancers and gene expression, thereby driving monocyte development or maintaining the plasmacytoid DC-specific gene expression profiles. Furthermore, microbial stimulation enables IRF8 to associate with other transcription factors, including IRF1, to induce immune response genes. Knowledge about the regulation of Irf8 expression in myeloid development has also increased. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of transcriptional and epigenetic regulation involving IRF8 in the development of myeloid cells.

DOI： 10.1089/jir.2015.0138

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：JAPANESE SOCIETY ALLERGOLOGY  

Basophils and mast cells play important roles in host defense against parasitic infections and allergic responses. Several progenitor populations, either shared or specific, for basophils and/or mast cells have been identified, thus elucidating the developmental pathways of these cells. Multiple transcription factors essential for their development and the relationships between them have been also revealed. For example, IRF8 induces GATA2 expression to promote the generation of both basophils and mast cells. The STAT5-GATA2 axis induces C/EBP alpha and MITF expression, facilitating the differentiation into basophils and mast cells, respectively. In addition, C/EBP alpha and MITF mutually suppress each other's expression. This review provides an overview of recent advances in our understanding of how transcription factors regulate the development of basophils and mast cells. Copyright (C) 2016, Japanese Society of Allergology. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.

DOI： 10.1016/j.alit.2016.01.006

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese  

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Hematopoietic stem cells give rise to various blood cell types with diverse functions, although these different cell types harbor essentially identical genome sequences. The basis for this cell type diversity is the establishment of specific gene expression patterns through transcription factor regulation. Transcription factors recognize and bind to specific nucleotide sequences in target genes and recruit chromatin modifiers to alter the epigenetic status of these genes, thereby controlling their expression. Dysregulation of these processes can cause diseases such as leukemia. Due to rapid advances in high-throughput experimental techniques including chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA-seq, the study of transcription factors is now entering a new era. In this review, we update the current knowledge of developmental pathways in myeloid cells, particularly mononuclear phagocytes (i.e., monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells), and the transcription factors known to be required for their development. We subsequently provide an overview of the cooperative and antagonistic mechanisms by which the myeloid transcription factors regulate their target genes, with an emphasis on chromatin biology.

DOI： 10.11406/rinketsu.56.1861

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

CiNii Books

researchmap

Other Link： http://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2015273062

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：SPRINGER JAPAN KK  

DOI： 10.1007/s12185-015-1770-8

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：SPRINGER JAPAN KK  

Interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF8) is a transcription factor expressed in hematopoietic cells, particularly in mononuclear phagocytes [monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs)] and their progenitors. Various studies have demonstrated that IRF8 is essential for the development of monocytes, DCs, eosinophils, and basophils. Conversely, IRF8 suppresses the generation of neutrophils. Accordingly, Irf8 (-/-) mice develop immunodeficiency and a chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)-like disease. Mutations and loss of expression of the human IRF8 gene are also associated with immunodeficiency and CML, respectively. Recent findings have begun to reveal the transcription factor network and epigenetic changes governed by IRF8. For example, in mononuclear phagocyte progenitors, IRF8 cooperates with PU.1 to promote the formation of promoter-distal enhancers to induce monocyte-related genes including the critical downstream transcription factor gene Klf4. On the other hand, IRF8 blocks C/EBP alpha activity to suppress the neutrophil differentiation program. Indeed, Irf8 (-/-) mononuclear phagocyte progenitors fail to efficiently generate monocytes and DCs and, instead, aberrantly give rise to neutrophils. This article provides an overview of recent advances in our understanding of the role of IRF8 in myelopoiesis and related diseases.

DOI： 10.1007/s12185-015-1761-9

Web of Science

Scopus

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：WILEY-BLACKWELL  

Macrophages are extremely heterogeneous mononuclear phagocytes widely distributed throughout the body. They play unique roles in each organ where they reside. Among macrophage subsets, red pulp macrophages (RPMs) that localize in the splenic red pulp, are critical for maintenance of blood homeostasis by actively phagocytosing injured and senescent erythrocytes and blood-borne particulates. Recent evidence indicates that RPMs are mainly generated during embryogenesis and are maintained during adult life. Furthermore, the cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors (namely, Spi-C, IRF8/4, heme oxygenase-1, and M-CSF) that regulate the development and survival of RPMs have been identified. Although the immunological properties of RPMs have yet to be elucidated fully, pioneering studies have demonstrated that these cells are capable of inducing differentiation of regulatory T cells via expression of transforming growth factor- and secrete a large amount of type I interferons during parasitic infections. In this review, we describe recent advances in understanding of the functions and development of RPMs.

DOI： 10.1111/1348-0421.12228

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Basophils and mast cells play critical roles in host defense against pathogens and allergic disorders. However, the molecular mechanism by which these cells are generated is not completely understood. Here we demonstrate that interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF8), a transcription factor essential for the development of several myeloid lineages, also regulates basophil and mast cell development. irf8(-/-) mice displayed a severe reduction in basophil counts, which was accounted for by the absence of pre-basophil and mast cell progenitors (pre-BMPs). Although Irf8(-/-) mice retained peripheral tissue mast cells, remaining progenitors from mice including granulocyte progenitors (GPs) were unable to efficiently generate either basophils or mast cells, indicating that IRF8 also contributes to the development of mast cells. IRF8 appeared to function at the GP stage, because IRF8 was expressed in GPs, but not in basophils, mast cells, and basophi/mast cell-restricted progenitor cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that GATA2, a transcription factor known to promote basophil and mast cell differentiation, acts downstream of IRF8. These results shed light on the pathways and mechanism underlying the development of basophils and mast cells.

DOI： 10.1182/blood-2014-02-557983

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

CiNii Books

researchmap

Other Link： http://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2015086538

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP  

Myeloid progenitors lose their potential to generate neutrophils when they adopt the mononuclear phagocyte lineage. The mechanism underlying this lineage restriction remains unknown. We here report that the protein expression of IRF8, an essential transcription factor for the development of dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes, sharply increases at the monocyte-DC progenitor (MDP) stage and remains high in common monocyte progenitors (cMoPs). Irf8(-/-) MDPs and cMoPs accumulate but fail to efficiently generate their downstream populations, instead giving rise to neutrophils in vivo. IRF8 physically interacts with the transcription factor C/EBP alpha and prevents its binding to chromatin in MDPs and cMoPs, blocking the ability of C/EBP alpha to stimulate transcription and neutrophil differentiation. A partial inhibition of C/EBP activity in Irf8(-/-) haematopoietic progenitors alleviates the neutrophil overproduction in vivo. Thus, IRF8 not only bestows monocyte and DC differentiation potential upon mononuclear phagocyte progenitors but also restrains these progenitors from differentiating into neutrophils.

DOI： 10.1038/ncomms5978

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH  

BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have dramatically improved therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). However, several problems leading to TKI resistance still impede a complete cure of this disease. IFN regulatory factor-8 (IRF8) is a transcription factor essential for the development and functions of immune cells, including dendritic cells. Irf8(-/-) mice develop a CML-like disease and IRF8 expression is downregulated in patients with CML, suggesting that IRF8 is involved in the pathogenesis of CML. In this study, by using a murine CML model, we show that BCR-ABL strongly inhibits a generation of dendritic cells from an early stage of their differentiation in vivo, concomitant with suppression of Irf8 expression. Forced expression of IRF8 overrode BCR-ABL (both wild-type and T315I-mutated) to rescue dendritic cell development in vitro, indicating that the suppression of Irf8 causes dendritic cell deficiency. Gene expression profiling revealed that IRF8 restored the expression of a significant portion of BCR-ABL-dysregulated genes and predicted that BCR-ABL has immune-stimulatory potential. Indeed, IRF8-rescued BCR-ABL-expressing dendritic cells were capable of inducing CTLs more efficiently than control dendritic cells. Altogether, our findings suggest that IRF8 is an attractive target in next-generation therapies for CML. (C) 2013 AACR.

DOI： 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-13-0802

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Monocytes regulate host defenses, inflammation, and tissue homeostasis. The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF8) stimulates monocyte/macrophage differentiation, yet genome-wide understanding of the differentiation program initiated by IRF8 is lacking. By combining chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing with gene expression profiling, we show that during IRF8-dependent monocyte differentiation, IRF8 binding occurs at both promoter-proximal and promotor-distal regions together with the transcription factor PU.1 and is associated with gene induction. Many of the promoter-distal IRF8 binding sites show an increase in histone H3 lysine 4 monomethylation, a signature for enhancers. However, about half the IRF8-induced genes were not bound by IRF8, suggesting the involvement of downstream transcription factors. Analysis of DNA motifs in cis-regulatory elements of these indirect IRF8 target genes predicted that Kruppel-like factor-4 (KLF4)-essential for Ly6C(+) monocyte development-is one such factor. Indeed, monocyte development in Irf8(-/-) mice is as defective as that in Klf4(-/-) chimeric mice. Moreover, Irf8(-/-) monocyte-dendritic cell progenitors do not express Klf4 messenger RNA. Introduction of KLF4 into an Irf8(-/-) myeloid progenitor cell line induced a subset of IRF8 target genes and caused partial monocyte differentiation. Taken together, our present results uncover genome-wide behavior of IRF8 and identify an IRF8-KLF4 axis that operates during monocyte differentiation.

DOI： 10.1182/blood-2012-06-437863

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE  

Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 8 and IRF4 are structurally-related, hematopoietic cell-specific transcription factors that cooperatively regulate the differentiation of dendritic cells and B cells. Whilst in myeloid cells IRF8 is known to modulate growth and differentiation, the role of IRF4 is poorly understood. In this study, we show that IRF4 has activities similar to IRF8 in regulating myeloid cell development. The ectopic expression of IRF4 in myeloid progenitor cells in vitro inhibits cell growth, promotes macrophages, but hinders granulocytic cell differentiation. We also show that IRF4 binds to and activates transcription through the IRF-Ets composite sequence (IECS). Furthermore, we demonstrate that Irf8(-/-)Irf4(-/-) mice exhibit a more severe chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)-like disease than Irf8(-/-) mice, involving a disproportionate expansion of granulocytes at the expense of monocytes/macrophages. Irf4(-/-) mice, however, display no obvious abnormality in myeloid cell development, presumably because IRF4 is expressed at a much lower level than IRF8 in granulocyte-macrophage progenitors. Our results also suggest that IRF8 and IRF4 have not only common but also specific activities in myeloid cells. Since the expression of both the IRF8 and IRF4 genes is downregulated in CML patients, these results may add to our understanding of CML pathogenesis.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0025812

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

CiNii Books

researchmap

Other Link： http://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2010271971

Authorship：Last author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATL ACAD SCIENCES  

The generation of mice lacking the expression of the IRF3 transcription factor (Irf3(-/-) mice) has revealed its crucial role in the activation of the type I IFN response. The Bcl2l12 gene, encoding Bcl2L12 protein structurally related to the Bcl-2 family, was found to almost overlap with the Irf3 gene, and the null mutation previously introduced into the Irf3 allele resulted in the functional inactivation of the Bcl2l12 gene; therefore, the mice are correctly termed Irf3(-/-) Bcl2l12(-/-) mice. Embryonic fibroblasts from Irf3(-/-)Bcl2l12(-/-) mice (Irf3(-/-)Bcl2l12(-/-) MEFs) showed resistance to DNA damage-induced apoptosis, accompanied by impaired caspase cleavage. This apoptotic defect in Irf3(-/-) Bcl2l12(-/-) MEFs was rescued by the ectopic expression of Bcl2L12, but not IRF3. The Bcl2L12-mediated apoptotic response depended on the cell type and extracellular stimulus. In contrast, the previously reported defect in the induction of type I IFN genes by nucleic acids in Irf3(-/-)Bcl2l12(-/-) MEFs was rescued by expressing IRF3, but not Bcl2L12. Thus, our present study revealed, on the one hand, a cell type-dependent proapoptotic function of Bcl2L12 and, on the other hand, confirmed the essential role of IRF3 in type I IFN response.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.0905702106

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC  

The H3.3 histone variant is synthesized throughout cell cycle and deposited onto chromatin in a replication-independent manner. It is enriched in transcriptionally active regions of chromatin and is implicated in epigenetic memory. The dynamics of H3.3 deposition during transcriptional activation, however, have not been fully studied so far. Here we examined H3.3 incorporation into interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes in confluent mouse NIH3T3 cells expressing H3.3 fused to the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). Following IFN stimulation, H3.3-YFP was rapidly incorporated into all four IFN-activated genes tested, with the highest enrichment seen in the distal end of the coding region. Surprisingly, H3.3 enrichment in the coding region continued for an extended period of time, long after transcription ceased. The promoter region, although constitutively enriched with H3.3-YFP, did not show an increase in its deposition in response to IFN stimulation. Further, although H3.3-YFP deposition stably remained in non-dividing cells for days after IFN stimulation, it was rapidly diminished in dividing cells. Lastly, we examined the role of H3.3 in IFN-stimulated transcription by a short hairpin RNA approach and found that IFN-stimulated transcription was significantly impaired in H3.3 knockdown cells. Results indicate that H3.3 plays a role in IFN-mediated transcription, and its deposition leaves a prolonged post-transcriptional mark in these genes.

DOI： 10.1074/jbc.M805651200

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Last author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATL ACAD SCIENCES  

Apoptosis is a highly regulated process of cell suicide that occurs during development, host defense, and pathophysiology. The transcription factor IFN regulatory factor 5 (IRF5), known to be involved in the activation of innate immune responses, recently has been shown to be critical for DNA damage-induced apoptosis and tumor suppression. Here, we report on a cell-type-specific role of IRF5 in promoting apoptosis upon signaling through the death receptor Fas (CD95/APO-1/TNFRSF6). In particular, we show that mice deficient in the Irf5 gene are resistant to hepatic apoptosis and lethality in response to the in vivo administration of a Fas-activating monoclonal antibody, and that IRF5 is involved in a stage of Fas signaling that precedes the activation of caspase 8 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). In addition to hepatocytes, IRF5 is also required for apoptosis in dendritic cells activated by hypomethylated CpG but not in thymocytes and embryonic fibroblasts in vitro. Thus, these findings reveal a cell-type-specific function for IRF5 in the complex regulatory mechanism of death-receptor-induced apoptosis.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.0712295105

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Part of collection (book)   Publisher：ANNUAL REVIEWS  

The interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family, consisting of nine members in mammals, was identified in the late 1980s in the context of research into the type I interferon system. Subsequent studies over the past two decades have revealed the versatile and critical functions performed by this transcription factor family. Indeed, many IRF members play central roles in the cellular differentiation of hematopoietic cells and in the regulation of gene expression in response to pathogen-derived danger signals. In particular, the advances made in understanding the immunobiology of Toll-like and other pattern-recognition receptors have recently generated new momentum for the study of IRFs. Moreover, the role of several IRF family members in the regulation of the cell cycle and apoptosis has important implications for understanding susceptibility to and progression of several cancers.

DOI： 10.1146/annurev.immunol.26.021607.090400

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF-8)/interferon consensus sequence-binding protein (ICSBP) is a transcription factor that controls myeloid-cell development. Microarray gene expression analysis of Irf-8(-/-) myeloid progenitor cells expressing an IRF-8/estrogen receptor chimera (which differentiate into macrophages after addition of estradiol) was used to identify 69 genes altered by IRF-8 during early differentiation (62 up-regulated and 7 down-regulated). Among them, 4 lysosomal/endosomal enzyme-related genes (cystatin C, cathepsin C, lysozyme, and prosaposin) did not require de novo protein synthesis for induction, suggesting that they were direct targets of IRF-8. We developed a reporter assay system employing a self-inactivating retrovirus and analyzed the cystatin C and cathepsin C promoters. We found that a unique cis element mediates IRF-8-induced activation of both promoters. Similar elements were also found in other IRF-8 target genes with a consensus sequence (GAAANN[N]GGAA) comprising a core IRF-binding motif and an Ets-binding motif; this sequence is similar but distinct from the previously reported Ets/IRF composite element. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that IRF-8 and the PU.1 Ets transcription factor bind to this element in vivo. Collectively, these data indicate that IRF-8 stimulates transcription of target genes through a novel cis element to specify macrophage differentiation.

DOI： 10.1182/blood-2005-01-0080

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS  

Dendritic cells (DCs) are bone marrow (BM)-derived APCs central to both innate and adaptive immunity. DCs are a heterogeneous cell population composed of multiple subsets with diverse functions. The mechanism governing the generation of multiple DC subsets is, however, poorly understood. In this study we investigated the roles of closely related transcription factors, IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-4 and IRF-8, in DC development by analyzing IRF-4(-/-), IRF-8(-/-), and IRF-4(-/-)IRF-8(-/-) (double-knockout) mice. We found that IRF-4 is required for the generation of CD4(+) DCs, whereas IRF-8 is, as reported previously, essential for CD8alpha(+) DCs. Both IRFs support the development of CD4(-)CD8alpha(-) DCs. IRF-8 and, to a lesser degree, IRF-4 contribute to plasmacytoid DC (PDC) development. Thus, the two IRFs together regulate the development of all conventional DCs as well as PDCs. Consistent with these findings, IRF-4, but not IRF-8, was expressed in CD4(+) DCs, whereas only IRF-8 was expressed in CD8alpha(+) DCs. CD4(-)CD8alpha(-) DCs and PDCs expressed both IRFs. We also demonstrate in vitro that GM-CSF-mediated DC differentiation depends on IRF-4, whereas Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand-mediated differentiation depends mainly on IRF-8. Gene transfer experiments with double-knockout BM cells showed that both IRFs have an overlapping activity and stimulate a common process of DC development. Nonetheless, each IRF also possesses a distinct activity to stimulate subset-specific gene expression, leading to the generation of functionally divergent DCs. Together, IRF-4 and IRF-8 serve as a backbone of the molecular program regulating DC subset development and their functional diversity.

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Interferon consensus sequence binding protein/interferon regulatory factor 8 (ICSBP/IRF-8) is a transcription factor that controls myeloid cell development. ICSBF-/- mice develop a chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)-like syndrome. Several observations on patients and mouse models have implicated ICSBP in the pathogenesis of CML. In this paper, we investigated whether ICSBP modulates the growth-promoting activity of Bcr/Abl, the causal oncoprotein for CIVIL. When transformed with p210 Bcr/Abl, ICSBP-/- myeloid progenitor cells lost growth factor dependence and grew in the absence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. When ICSBP was ectopically expressed, Bcr/Abl-transformed cells underwent complete growth arrest and differentiated into mature, functional macrophages without inhibiting the kinase activity of Bcr/Abl. Providing a mechanistic basis for the growth arrest, ICSBP markedly repressed c-Myc messenger RNA (mRNA)expression, a downstream target of Bcr/Abl. A further analysis with the ICSBP/estrogen receptor chimera showed that ICSBP repression of c-Myc is indirect and is mediated by another gene(s). We identified Blimp-1 and METS/PE1, potent c-Myc repressors, as direct targets of ICSBP activated in these cells. Consistent with this, ectopic Blimp-1 repressed c-Myc expression and inhibited cell growth. These results indicate that ICSBP inhibits growth of Bcr/Abl-transformed myeloid progenitor cells by activating several genes that interfere with the c-Myc pathway. (C) 2003 by The American Society of Hematology.

DOI： 10.1182/blood-2003-01-0291

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：MARY ANN LIEBERT INC PUBL  

Interferon (IFN) consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP)/IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-8 is an IFNgamma-inducible transcription factor of the IRF family and regulates transcription through multiple target DNA elements, such as IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE), Ets/IRF composite element, and IFN-gamma activation site (GAS). ICSBP-/- mice are immunodeficient and susceptible to various pathogens. They have defects in the macrophage function, including the ability to induce interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40 and some IFN-gamma-responsible genes. In addition, ICSBP-/- mice develop a chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)-like syndrome, where a systemic expansion of granulocytes is followed by a fatal blast crisis. ICSBP-/- mice harbor an increased number of myeloid progenitor cells, and the -/- progenitors preferentially give rise to granulocytes, although they cannot efficiently generate another descendant of the myeloid lineage, macrophages. Studies with myeloid progenitor cells have shown that ICSBP drives their differentiation toward macrophage, whereas it inhibits granulocyte differentiation. Furthermore, myeloid cells from ICSBP-/- mice are resistant to apoptosis. These results illustrate the mechanism by which the loss of ICSBP leads to immunodeficiency and CML-like syndrome and suggest ICSBP's critical role in the development of myeloid cells.

DOI： 10.1089/107999002753452755

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：CELL PRESS  

During hematopoiesis, myeloid progenitor cells give rise to granulocytes and macrophages. To study the role for ICSBP, a hematopoietic cell-specific transcription factor in myeloid cell development, the gene was introduced into myeloid progenitor cells established from ICSBP-/- mice. ICSBP retrovirus-transduced cells differentiated into mature macrophages with phagocytic activity, which coincided with the induction of specific target DNA binding activity. Similar to macrophages in vivo, ICSBP-transduced cells were growth arrested, expressed many macrophage-specific genes, and responded to macrophage activation signals. Contrary to this, ICSBP transduction led to repression of granulocyte-specific genes and inhibited G-CSF-mediated granulocytic differentiation in these and other myeloid progenitor cells. Together, ICSBP has a key role in the myeloid cell lineage selection and macrophage maturation.

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS INC JNL-COMP SUBSCRIPTIONS  

The roles of interferons (IFNs) in apoptosis are not fully understood. Zn this study we show that in the U937 monoblastic leukemia cell line, pretreatment with IFN-gamma enhanced sensitivity to apoptosis triggered by gamma-irradiation or antitumor agents (etoposide or adriamycin), as well as by anti-Fas antibody. In addition, IFN-gamma caused an increased expression of the interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (Ice) gene, following strong induction of the interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) gene, the product of which is a transcriptional activator of the Ice gene. An inhibitor of ICE/Ced-3 family proteases, Z-Asp-CH2-DCB, blocked apoptosis in control cells as well as in IFN-gamma-pretreated cells. These results suggest that enhanced susceptibility of IFN-gamma-pretreated cells to apoptosis is mediated through the induction of Ice by IRF-1. This pathway is not affected by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) since neutralizing antibody against IL-1 beta failed to suppress the IFN-gamma-mediated enhancement of cell death, and IL-1 beta itself did not mimic the effect of IFN-gamma. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.

DOI： 10.1006/bbrc.1996.1752

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：MACMILLAN MAGAZINES LTD  

LYMPHOCYTES are particularly susceptible to DNA damage-induced apoptosis, a response which may serve as a form of 'altruistic suicide' to counter their intrinsic high potential for mutation and clonal expansion(1). The tumour suppressor p53 has been shown to regulate this type of apoptosis in thymocytes(2,3), but an as yet unknown, p53-independent pathway(s) appears to mediate the same event in mitogen-activated mature T lymphocytes(4). Here we show that DNA damage-induced apoptosis in these T lymphocytes is dependent on the antioncogenic transcription factor interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1 (refs 5-7). Thus two different anti-oncogenic transcription factors, p53 and IRF-1, are required for distinct apoptotic pathways in T lymphocytes. We also show that mitogen induction of the interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme (ICE) gene(8-10), a mammalian homologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans cell death gene ced-3, is IRF-1-dependent. Ectopic overexpression of IRE-1 results in the activation of the endogenous gene for ICE and enhances the sensitivity of cells to radiation-induced apoptosis.

DOI： 10.1038/376596a0

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Tumor development often requires cellular adaptation to a unique, high metabolic state; however, the molecular mechanisms that drive such metabolic changes in TFE3-rearranged renal cell carcinoma (TFE3-RCC) remain poorly understood. TFE3-RCC, a rare subtype of RCC, is defined by the formation of chimeric proteins involving the transcription factor TFE3. In this study, we analyzed cell lines and genetically engineered mice, demonstrating that the expression of the chimeric protein PRCC-TFE3 induced a hypoxia-related signature by transcriptionally upregulating HIF1α and HIF2α. The upregulation of HIF1α by PRCC-TFE3 led to increased cellular ATP production by enhancing glycolysis, which also supplied substrates for the TCA cycle while maintaining mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. We crossed TFE3-RCC mouse models with Hif1α and/or Hif2α knockout mice and found that Hif1α, rather than Hif2α, is essential for tumor development in vivo. RNA-seq and metabolomic analyses of the kidney tissues from these mice revealed that ketone body production is inversely correlated with tumor development, whereas de novo lipid synthesis is upregulated through the HIF1α/SREBP1-dependent mechanism in TFE3-RCC. Our data suggest that the coordinated metabolic shift via the PRCC-TFE3/HIF1α/SREBP1 axis is a key mechanism by which PRCC-TFE3 enhances cancer cell metabolism, promoting tumor development in TFE3-RCC.

DOI： 10.1111/gtc.13195

PubMed

researchmap

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Wiley  

DOI： 10.1111/all.16173

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), previously called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a growing concern worldwide, with liver fibrosis being a critical determinant of its prognosis. Monocyte-derived macrophages have been implicated in MASH-associated liver fibrosis, yet their precise roles and the underlying differentiation mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we unveil a key orchestrator of this process: long chain saturated fatty acid-Egr2 pathway. Our findings identify the transcription factor Egr2 as the driving force behind monocyte differentiation into hepatic lipid-associated macrophages (hLAMs) within MASH liver. Notably, Egr2-deficiency reroutes monocyte differentiation towards a macrophage subset resembling resident Kupffer cells, hampering hLAM formation. This shift has a profound impact, suppressing the transition from benign steatosis to liver fibrosis, demonstrating the critical pro-fibrotic role played by hLAMs in MASH pathogenesis. Long-chain saturated fatty acids that accumulate in MASH liver emerge as potent inducers of Egr2 expression in macrophages, a process counteracted by unsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, oral oleic acid administration effectively reduces hLAMs in MASH mice. In conclusion, our work not only elucidates the intricate interplay between saturated fatty acids, Egr2, and monocyte-derived macrophages but also highlights the therapeutic promise of targeting the saturated fatty acid-Egr2 axis in monocytes for MASH management.

DOI： 10.1038/s42003-024-06357-5

PubMed

researchmap

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

DOI： 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114107

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

mRNA vaccines are promising for cancer treatment. Efficient delivery of mRNAs encoding tumor antigens to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) is critical to elicit anti-tumor immunity. Herein, we identified a novel lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation, L17-F05, for mRNA vaccines by screening 34 ionizable lipids and 28 LNP formulations using human primary APCs. Subcutaneous delivery of L17-F05 mRNA vaccine encoding Gp100 and Trp2 inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the survival of mice bearing B16F10 melanoma. L17-F05 efficiently delivered mRNAs to conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) and macrophages in draining lymph nodes (dLNs). cDCs functioned as the main APCs by presenting antigens along with enhanced expression of co-stimulatory molecules. Macrophages triggered innate immune responses centered on type-I interferon (IFN-I) in dLNs. Lymph node (LN) macrophage depletion attenuated APC maturation and anti-tumor activity of L17-F05 mRNA vaccines. Loss-of-function studies revealed that L17-F05 works as a self-adjuvant by activating the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway in macrophages. Collectively, the self-adjuvanticity of L17-F05 triggered innate immune responses in LN macrophages via the STING-IFN-I pathway, contributing to APC maturation and potent anti-tumor activity of L17-F05 mRNA vaccines. Our findings provide strategies for further optimization of mRNA vaccines based on the innate immune response driven by LN macrophages.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.01.020

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Dysregulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor-associated protein (ATRAP) expression in cardiovascular, kidney, and adipose tissues is involved in the pathology of hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, atherosclerosis, kidney injury, and metabolic disorders. Furthermore, ATRAP is highly expressed in bone marrow-derived immune cells; however, the functional role of immune cell ATRAP in obesity-related pathology remains unclear. Thus, we sought to identify the pathophysiological significance of immune cell ATRAP in the development of visceral obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders using a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. METHODS: Initially, we examined the effect of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity on the expression of immune cell ATRAP in wild-type mice. Subsequently, we conducted bone marrow transplantation to generate two types of chimeric mice: bone marrow wild-type chimeric (BM-WT) and bone marrow ATRAP knockout chimeric (BM-KO) mice. These chimeric mice were provided an HFD to induce visceral obesity, and then the effects of immune cell ATRAP deficiency on physiological parameters and adipose tissue in the chimeric mice were investigated. RESULTS: In wild-type mice, body weight increase by HFD was associated with increased expression of immune cell ATRAP. In the bone marrow transplantation experiments, BM-KO mice exhibited amelioration of HFD-induced weight gain and visceral fat expansion with small adipocytes compared BM-WT mice. In addition, BM-KO mice on the HFD showed significant improvements in white adipose tissue metabolism, inflammation, glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance, compared with BM-WT mice on the HFD. Detailed analysis of white adipose tissue revealed significant suppression of HFD-induced activation of transforming growth factor-beta signaling, a key contributor to visceral obesity, via amelioration of CD206+ macrophage accumulation in the adipose tissue of BM-KO mice. This finding suggests a relevant mechanism for the anti-obesity phenotype in BM-KO mice on the HFD. Finally, transcriptome analysis of monocytes indicated the possibility of genetic changes, such as the enhancement of interferon-γ response at the monocyte level, affecting macrophage differentiation in BM-KO mice. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our results indicate that ATRAP in bone marrow-derived immune cells plays a role in the pathogenesis of visceral obesity. The regulation of ATRAP expression in immune cells may be a key factor against visceral adipose obesity with metabolic disorders.

DOI： 10.1016/j.metabol.2023.155706

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publisher：(一社)日本癌学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND: Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome, caused by germline alteration of folliculin (FLCN) gene, develops hybrid oncocytic/chromophobe tumour (HOCT) and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC), whereas sporadic ChRCC does not harbor FLCN alteration. To date, molecular characteristics of these similar histological types of tumours have been incompletely elucidated. METHODS: To elucidate renal tumourigenesis of BHD-associated renal tumours and sporadic renal tumours, we conducted whole genome sequencing (WGS) and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) of sixteen BHD-associated renal tumours from nine unrelated BHD patients, twenty-one sporadic ChRCCs and seven sporadic oncocytomas. We then compared somatic mutation profiles with FLCN variants and RNA expression profiles between BHD-associated renal tumours and sporadic renal tumours. FINDINGS: RNA-seq analysis revealed that BHD-associated renal tumours and sporadic renal tumours have totally different expression profiles. Sporadic ChRCCs were clustered into two distinct clusters characterized by L1CAM and FOXI1 expressions, molecular markers for renal tubule subclasses. Increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number with fewer variants was observed in BHD-associated renal tumours compared to sporadic ChRCCs. Cell-of-origin analysis using WGS data demonstrated that BHD-associated renal tumours and sporadic ChRCCs may arise from different cells of origin and second hit FLCN alterations may occur in early third decade of life in BHD patients. INTERPRETATION: These data further our understanding of renal tumourigenesis of these two different types of renal tumours with similar histology. FUNDING: This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grants, RIKEN internal grant, and the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104596

PubMed

researchmap

Publisher：Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory  

Abstract

Metabolic pathways are plastic and rapidly change in response to stress or perturbation. Current metabolic profiling techniques require lysis of many cells, complicating the tracking of metabolic changes over time after stress in rare cells such as hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Here, we aimed to identify the key metabolic enzymes that define metabolic differences between steady-state and stress conditions in HSCs and elucidate their regulatory mechanisms. Through quantitative¹³C metabolic flux analysis of glucose metabolism using high-sensitivity glucose tracing and mathematical modeling, we found that HSCs activate the glycolytic rate-limiting enzyme phosphofructokinase (PFK) during proliferation and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) inhibition. Real-time measurement of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in single HSCs demonstrated that proliferative stress or OXPHOS inhibition led to accelerated glycolysis via increased activity of PFKFB3, the enzyme regulating an allosteric PFK activator, within seconds to meet ATP requirements. Furthermore, varying stresses differentially activated PFKFB3 via PRMT1-dependent methylation during proliferative stress and via AMPK-dependent phosphorylation during OXPHOS inhibition. Overexpression ofPfkfb3induced HSC proliferation and promoted differentiated cell production, whereas inhibition or loss ofPfkfb3suppressed them. This study reveals the flexible and multilayered regulation of HSC metabolism to sustain hematopoiesis under stress and provides techniques to better understand the physiological metabolism of rare hematopoietic cells.

Key Points

Combined isotope tracing, mathematical modeling, and single cell ATP analysis enable high-resolution evaluation of blood cell metabolism.

Under stress, HSCs quickly accelerate glycolysis to meet ATP demands and maintain hematopoiesis via context-dependent PFKFB3 activation.

DOI： 10.1101/2023.03.16.532898

researchmap

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

DOI： 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112165

researchmap

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

DOI： 10.1016/j.ejpb.2022.12.017

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

In mammals, primordial germ cells (PGCs) enter meiosis and differentiate into primary oocytes in embryonic ovaries. Previously, we demonstrated that meiotic gene induction and meiotic initiation were impaired in female germline cells of conditional knockout (CKO) mice lacking the Smarcb1 (Snf5) gene, which encodes a core subunit of the switching defective/sucrose non-fermenting (SWI/SNF) complex. In this study, we classified meiotic genes expressed at lower levels in Snf5 CKO females into two groups based on promoter accessibility. The promoters of 74% of these genes showed lower accessibility in mutant mice, whereas those of the remaining genes were opened without the SWI/SNF complex. Notably, the former genes included Meiosin, which encodes a transcriptional regulator essential for meiotic gene activation. The promoters of the former and the latter genes were mainly modified with H3K27me3/bivalent and H3K4me3 histone marks, respectively. A subset of the former genes was precociously activated in female PGCs deficient in polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs). Our results point to a mechanism through which the SWI/SNF complex coordinates meiotic gene activation via the remodeling of PRC-repressed genes, including Meiosin, in female germline cells.

DOI： 10.1111/gtc.12990

PubMed

researchmap

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Springer Science and Business Media LLC  

Abstract

Chromosomal translocation generates the MLL-AF4 fusion gene, which causes acute leukemia of multiple lineages. MLL-AF4 is a strong oncogenic driver that induces leukemia without additional mutations and is the most common cause of pediatric leukemia. However, establishment of a murine disease model via retroviral transduction has been difficult owning to a lack of understanding of its regulatory mechanisms. Here, we show that MLL-AF4 protein is post-transcriptionally regulated by RNA-binding proteins, including those of KHDRBS and IGF2BP families. MLL-AF4 translation is inhibited by ribosomal stalling, which occurs at regulatory sites containing AU-rich sequences recognized by KHDRBSs. Synonymous mutations disrupting the association of KHDRBSs result in proper translation of MLL-AF4 and leukemic transformation. Consequently, the synonymous MLL-AF4 mutant induces leukemia in vivo. Our results reveal that post-transcriptional regulation critically controls the oncogenic activity of MLL-AF4; these findings might be valuable in developing novel therapies via modulation of the activity of RNA-binding proteins.

DOI： 10.1038/s41467-022-34558-1

researchmap

Other Link： https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-34558-1

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

Our understanding of how each hereditary kidney cancer adapts to its tissue microenvironment is incomplete. Here, we present single-cell transcriptomes of 108,342 cells from patient specimens including from six hereditary kidney cancers. The transcriptomes displayed distinct characteristics of the cell of origin and unique tissue microenvironment for each hereditary kidney cancer. Of note, hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC)-associated kidney cancer retained some characteristics of proximal tubules, which were completely lost in lymph node metastases and present as an avascular tumor with suppressed T cells and TREM2-high macrophages, leading to immune tolerance. Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD)-associated kidney cancer exhibited transcriptomic intratumor heterogeneity (tITH) with increased characteristics of intercalated cells of the collecting duct and upregulation of FOXI1-driven genes, a critical transcription factor for collecting duct differentiation. These findings facilitate our understanding of how hereditary kidney cancers adapt to their tissue microenvironment.

DOI： 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104463

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a clonal disorder of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and frequent progression to leukemia. It has long remained unresolved how MDS cells, which are less proliferative, inhibit normal hematopoiesis and eventually dominate the bone marrow space. Despite several studies implicating mesenchymal stromal or stem cells (MSCs), a principal component of the HSC niche, in the inhibition of normal hematopoiesis, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that both human and mouse MDS cells perturb bone metabolism by suppressing the osteolineage differentiation of MSCs, which impairs the ability of MSCs to support normal HSCs. Enforced MSC differentiation rescues the suppressed normal hematopoiesis in both in vivo and in vitro MDS models. Intriguingly, the suppression effect is reversible and mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from MDS cells. These findings shed light on the novel MDS EV-MSC axis in ineffective hematopoiesis.

DOI： 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110805

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Although activation of the renin-angiotensin system and of its glomerular components is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, the functional roles of the tubular renin-angiotensin system with AT1 receptor signaling in diabetic nephropathy are unclear. Tissue hyperactivity of the renin-angiotensin system is inhibited by the angiotensin II type 1 receptor-associated protein ATRAP, which negatively regulates receptor signaling. The highest expression of endogenous ATRAP occurs in the kidney, where it is mainly expressed by tubules but rarely in glomeruli. Here, we found that hyperactivation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor signaling in kidney tubules exacerbated diabetic glomerular injury in a mouse model of streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy. These phenomena were accompanied by decreased expression of CD206, a marker of alternatively activated and tissue-reparative M2 macrophages, in the kidney tubulointerstitium. Additionally, adoptive transfer of M2- polarized macrophages into diabetic ATRAP-knockout mice ameliorated the glomerular injury. As a possible mechanism, the glomerular mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and oxidative stress components were increased in diabetic knockout mice compared to non-diabetic knockout mice, but these increases were ameliorated by adoptive transfer. Furthermore, proximal tubule-specific ATRAP downregulation reduced tubulointerstitial expression of CD206, the marker of M2 macrophages in diabetic mice. Thus, our findings indicate that tubular ATRAP-mediated functional modulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor signaling modulates the accumulation of tubulointerstitial M2 macrophages, thus affecting glomerular manifestations of diabetic nephropathy via tubule-glomerular crosstalk.

DOI： 10.1016/j.kint.2022.01.031

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Sexual reproduction involves the creation of sex-dependent gametes, oocytes and sperm. In mammals, sexually dimorphic differentiation commences in the primordial germ cells (PGCs) in embryonic gonads; PGCs in ovaries and testes differentiate into meiotic primary oocytes and mitotically quiescent prospermatogonia, respectively. Here, we show that the transition from PGCs to sex-specific germ cells was abrogated in conditional knockout mice carrying a null mutation of Smarcb1 (also known as Snf5) gene, which encodes a core subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. In female mutant mice, failure to upregulate meiosis-related genes resulted in impaired meiotic entry and progression, including defects in synapsis formation and DNA double strand break repair. Mutant male mice exhibited delayed mitotic arrest and DNA hypomethylation in retrotransposons and imprinted genes, resulting from aberrant expression of genes related to growth and de novo DNA methylation. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the SWI/SNF complex is required for transcriptional reprogramming in the initiation of sex-dependent differentiation of germ cells.

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-021-03538-8

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publisher：(NPO)日本免疫学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented threat to humanity that has provoked global health concerns. Since the etiopathogenesis of this illness is not fully characterized, the prognostic factors enabling treatment decisions have not been well documented. Accurately predicting the progression of the disease would aid in appropriate patient categorization and thus help determine the best treatment option. Here, we have introduced a proteomic approach utilizing data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) to identify the serum proteins that are closely associated with COVID-19 prognosis. Twenty-seven proteins were differentially expressed between severely ill COVID-19 patients with an adverse or favorable prognosis. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed that 15 of the 27 proteins might be regulated by cytokine signaling relevant to interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and their differential expression was implicated in the systemic inflammatory response and in cardiovascular disorders. We further evaluated practical predictors of the clinical prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients. Subsequent ELISA assays revealed that CHI3L1 and IGFALS may serve as highly sensitive prognostic markers. Our findings can help formulate a diagnostic approach for accurately identifying COVID-19 patients with severe disease and for providing appropriate treatment based on their predicted prognosis.

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-021-98253-9

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publisher：(一社)日本血液学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Public Library of Science (PLoS)  

<sec id="sec001">
<title>Background</title>
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic rapidly increases the use of mechanical ventilation (MV). Such cases further require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and have a high mortality.


</sec>
<sec id="sec002">
<title>Objective</title>
We aimed to identify prognostic biomarkers pathophysiologically reflecting future deterioration of COVID-19.


</sec>
<sec id="sec003">
<title>Methods</title>
Clinical, laboratory, and outcome data were collected from 102 patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. Interleukin (IL)-6 level and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA copy number in plasma were assessed with ELISA kit and quantitative PCR.


</sec>
<sec id="sec004">
<title>Results</title>
Twelve patients died or required ECMO owing to acute respiratory distress syndrome despite the use of MV. Among various variables, a ratio of oxygen saturation to fraction of inspired oxygen (SpO2/FiO2), IL-6, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA on admission before intubation were strongly predictive of fatal outcomes after the MV use. Moreover, among these variables, combining SpO2/FiO2, IL-6, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA showed the highest accuracy (area under the curve: 0.934). In patients with low SpO2/FiO2 (&lt; 261), fatal event-rate after the MV use at the 30-day was significantly higher in patients with high IL-6 (&gt; 49 pg/mL) and SARS-CoV-2 RNAaemia (&gt; 1.5 copies/μL) compared to those with high IL-6 or RNAaemia or without high IL-6 and RNAaemia (88% vs. 22% or 8%, <italic>log-rank test P</italic> = 0.0097 or <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.0001, respectively).


</sec>
<sec id="sec005">
<title>Conclusions</title>
Combining SpO2/FiO2 with high IL-6 and SARS-CoV-2 RNAaemia which reflect hyperinflammation and viral overload allows accurately and before intubation identifying COVID-19 patients at high risk for ECMO use or in-hospital death despite the use of MV.


</sec>

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0256022

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Monocytes and macrophages may be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc); however, its etiology and regulation of monocyte and macrophage function in SSc remain unknown. Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 8 is a transcriptional regulator that is essential for the differentiation and function of monocytes and macrophages, and thus may be involved in the regulation of macrophage phenotypes in SSc fibrosis. In this study, we measured IRF8 levels in circulating monocytes of 26 SSc patients (diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), n = 11; limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc), n = 15) and 14 healthy controls. IRF8 levels were significantly suppressed in monocytes of dcSSc patients and correlated negatively with the modified Rodnan total skin thickness score. Next, we assessed cell surface markers, cytokine profiles, and extracellular matrix (ECM) expression levels in IRF8-silenced monocyte-derived macrophages (siIRF8-MDMs). siIRF8-MDMs displayed an M2 phenotype and significantly upregulated mRNA and protein levels of pro-fibrotic factors and ECM components. Finally, we assessed skin fibrosis in myeloid cell-specific IRF8 conditional knockout (IRF8flox/flox; Lyz2Cre/+) mice and found upregulated ECM mRNA levels and increased bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis. In conclusion, altered IRF8 regulation in monocytes and macrophages may be involved in SSc pathogenesis.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jid.2021.02.015

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (OGT) is a unique enzyme introducing O-GlcNAc moiety on target proteins, and it critically regulates various cellular processes in diverse cell types. However, its roles in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) remain elusive. Here, using Ogt conditional knockout mice, we show that OGT is essential for HSPCs. Ogt is highly expressed in HSPCs, and its disruption induces rapid loss of HSPCs with increased reactive oxygen species and apoptosis. In particular, Ogt-deficient hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) lose quiescence, cannot be maintained in vivo, and become vulnerable to regenerative and competitive stress. Interestingly, Ogt-deficient HSCs accumulate defective mitochondria due to impaired mitophagy with decreased key mitophagy regulator, Pink1, through dysregulation of H3K4me3. Furthermore, overexpression of PINK1 restores mitophagy and the number of Ogt-deficient HSCs. Collectively, our results reveal that OGT critically regulates maintenance and stress response of HSCs by ensuring mitochondrial quality through PINK1-dependent mitophagy.

DOI： 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108579

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

The chromatin protein positive coactivator 4 (PC4) has multiple functions, including chromatin compaction. However, its role in immune cells is largely unknown. We show that PC4 orchestrates chromatin structure and gene expression in mature B cells. B-cell-specific PC4-deficient mice show impaired production of antibody upon antigen stimulation. The PC4 complex purified from B cells contains the transcription factors (TFs) IKAROS and IRF4. IKAROS protein is reduced in PC4-deficient mature B cells, resulting in de-repression of their target genes in part by diminished interactions with gene-silencing components. Upon activation, the amount of IRF4 protein is not increased in PC4-deficient B cells, resulting in reduction of plasma cells. Importantly, IRF4 reciprocally induces PC4 expression via a super-enhancer. PC4 knockdown in human B cell lymphoma and myeloma cells reduces IKAROS protein as an anticancer drug, lenalidomide. Our findings establish PC4 as a chromatin regulator of B cells and a possible therapeutic target adjoining IKAROS in B cell malignancies.

DOI： 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108517

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate gender-dependent antitumor immune response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. METHODS: This study enrolled 58 patients (25 females and 33 males) with borderline resectable PDAC who underwent R0 surgical resection after NACRT. The resected tumor specimens were analyzed for tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs); tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (CD8+ and CD4+ T cells); regulatory T cells; and IRF-5-expressing cells using immunohistochemical staining for CD163, CD204, CD8, CD4, Foxp3, and IRF-5 antigen. The relationship between clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes was evaluated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis. RESULTS: Females had longer overall survival (P = .044) and relapse-free survival (P = .044) than males. The CD204+ TAM number was significantly lower in females than in males (P = .009). No significant difference occurred between female and male patients in other tumor-infiltrating immune cells. IRF-5+ cell number was significantly higher in female patients (P = .002). Negative correlation occurred between CD204+ cells and IRF-5-positive cells (P = .003, r = -.385). CONCLUSIONS: Female gender was an independent prognostic factor possibly due to the greater reduction in CD204+ TAM infiltration in tumors after NACRT. The beneficial effects of NACRT on TAMs' infiltration might be associated with gender-dependent IRF-5 expression.

DOI： 10.1002/jhbp.883

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Microglia are the principal phagocytes that clear cell debris in the central nervous system (CNS). This raises the question, which cells remove cell debris when microglial phagocytic activity is impaired. We addressed this question using Siglechdtr mice, which enable highly specific ablation of microglia. Non-microglial mononuclear phagocytes, such as CNS-associated macrophages and circulating inflammatory monocytes, did not clear microglial debris. Instead, astrocytes were activated, exhibited a pro-inflammatory gene expression profile, and extended their processes to engulf microglial debris. This astrocytic phagocytosis was also observed in Irf8-deficient mice, in which microglia were present but dysfunctional. RNA-seq demonstrated that even in a healthy CNS, astrocytes express TAM phagocytic receptors, which were the main astrocytic phagocytic receptors for cell debris in the above experiments, indicating that astrocytes stand by in case of microglial impairment. This compensatory mechanism may be important for the maintenance or prolongation of a healthy CNS.

DOI： 10.15252/embj.2020104464

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English  

OBJECTIVE: Excessive prostaglandin E2 production is a hallmark of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Enhanced expression of prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) has been demonstrated in human AAAs. Although moderate expression of EP4 contributes to vascular homeostasis, the roles of excessive EP4 in vascular pathology remain uncertain. We aimed to investigate whether EP4 overexpression in VSMCs exacerbates AAAs. Approach and Results: We constructed mice with EP4 overexpressed selectively in VSMCs under an SM22α promoter (EP4-Tg). Most EP4-Tg mice died within 2 weeks of Ang II (angiotensin II) infusion due to AAA, while nontransgenic mice given Ang II displayed no overt phenotype. EP4-Tg developed much larger AAAs than nontransgenic mice after periaortic CaCl2 application. In contrast, EP4fl/+;SM22-Cre;ApoE-/- and EP4fl/+;SM22-Cre mice, which are EP4 heterozygous knockout in VSMCs, rarely exhibited AAA after Ang II or CaCl2 treatment, respectively. In Ang II-infused EP4-Tg aorta, Ly6Chi inflammatory monocyte/macrophage infiltration and MMP-9 (matrix metalloprotease-9) activation were enhanced. An unbiased analysis revealed that EP4 stimulation positively regulated the genes binding cytokine receptors in VSMCs, in which IL (interleukin)-6 was the most strongly upregulated. In VSMCs of EP4-Tg and human AAAs, EP4 stimulation caused marked IL-6 production via TAK1 (transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1), NF-κB (nuclear factor-kappa B), JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), and p38. Inhibition of IL-6 prevented Ang II-induced AAA formation in EP4-Tg. In addition, EP4 stimulation decreased elastin/collagen cross-linking protein LOX (lysyl oxidase) in both human and mouse VSMCs. CONCLUSIONS: Dysregulated EP4 overexpression in VSMCs promotes inflammatory monocyte/macrophage infiltration and attenuates elastin/collagen fiber formation, leading to AAA exacerbation.

DOI： 10.1161/ATVBAHA.120.314297

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

SynNotch receptor technology is a versatile tool that uses the regulatory notch core portion with an extracellular scFv and an intracellular transcription factor that enables to program customized input and output functions in mammalian cells. In this study, we designed a novel synNotch receptor comprising scFv against HBs antigen linked with an intracellular artificial transcription factor and exploited it for viral sensing and cellular immunotherapy. The synNotch receptor expressing cells sensed HBV particles and membrane-bound HBs antigens and responded by expressing reporter molecules, secNL or GFP. We also programmed these cells to dispense antiviral responses such as type I interferon and anti-HBV neutralizing mouse-human chimeric antibodies. Our data reveal that synNotch receptor signaling works for membrane-bound ligands such as enveloped viral particles and proteins borne on liposomal vesicles. This study establishes the concepts of "engineered immunity" where the synNotch platform is utilized for cellular immunotherapy against viral infections.

DOI： 10.1016/j.isci.2020.100867

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publisher：(NPO)日本免疫学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) induces osteoclast (OC) differentiation from bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). The transcription factors nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) and interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 8 play positive and negative roles, respectively, in this process. However, genomewide mapping of the active cis-regulatory elements regulating OC differentiation has not been performed, and little is known about the global landscape of OC-specific gene regulation. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation and formaldehyde-assisted isolation of regulatory elements followed by sequencing to show that PU.1 transcription factor binding motifs were overrepresented at active cis-regulatory regions in both murine BMMs and OCs, while IRF and NFAT binding motifs were selectively enriched at these regions in BMMs and OCs, respectively. We also found that RANKL induced the downregulation of Irf8 and upregulation of Nfatc1 expression, which was associated with dramatic alterations in histone modification. BMM-specific PU.1 binding sites were observed to overlap with IRF8 binding sites in BMMs, and this also occurred for OC-specific PU.1 binding sites and NFATc1 binding sites in OCs. The expression of genes with IRF8 peaks within BMM-specific PU.1 binding sites was significantly higher in BMMs than in OCs, while that of genes with NFATc1 peaks within OC-specific PU.1 binding sites was significantly higher in OCs than in BMMs. Our results suggest that PU.1 switches its transcription partner from IRF8 to NFATc1 and alters the binding regions during RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, which is associated with changes in epigenetic profiles and the control of cell type-specific gene expression. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

DOI： 10.1002/jbmr.3689

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English  

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) brings numerous inflammatory cells, including macrophages, from the circulating blood to lesions, but pathophysiological impact resulting from spatiotemporal dynamics of macrophages is unknown. Here, we show that macrophages centripetally migrate toward the lesion epicenter after infiltrating into the wide range of spinal cord, depending on the gradient of chemoattractant C5a. However, macrophages lacking interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) cannot migrate toward the epicenter and remain widely scattered in the injured cord with profound axonal loss and little remyelination, resulting in a poor functional outcome after SCI. Time-lapse imaging and P2X/YRs blockade revealed that macrophage migration via IRF8 was caused by purinergic receptors involved in the C5a-directed migration. Conversely, pharmacological promotion of IRF8 activation facilitated macrophage centripetal movement, thereby improving the SCI recovery. Our findings reveal the importance of macrophage centripetal migration via IRF8, providing a novel therapeutic target for central nervous system injury.

DOI： 10.1126/sciadv.aav5086

PubMed

researchmap

DOI： 10.1038/s41467-019-09867-7

PubMed

researchmap

DOI： 10.1074/jbc.RA118.005550

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publisher：(NPO)日本免疫学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Epigenetic memory for signal-dependent transcription has remained elusive. So far, the concept of epigenetic memory has been largely limited to cell-autonomous, preprogrammed processes such as development and metabolism. Here we show that IFNβ stimulation creates transcriptional memory in fibroblasts, conferring faster and greater transcription upon restimulation. The memory was inherited through multiple cell divisions and led to improved antiviral protection. Of ∼2,000 IFNβ-stimulated genes (ISGs), about half exhibited memory, which we define as memory ISGs. The rest, designated nonmemory ISGs, did not show memory. Surprisingly, mechanistic analysis showed that IFN memory was not due to enhanced IFN signaling or retention of transcription factors on the ISGs. We demonstrated that this memory was attributed to accelerated recruitment of RNA polymerase II and transcription/chromatin factors, which coincided with acquisition of the histone H3.3 and H3K36me3 chromatin marks on memory ISGs. Similar memory was observed in bone marrow macrophages after IFNγ stimulation, suggesting that IFN stimulation modifies the shape of the innate immune response. Together, external signals can establish epigenetic memory in mammalian cells that imparts lasting adaptive performance upon various somatic cells.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.1720930115

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：SPRINGER  

Interferon regulatory factor 8 (Irf8) is a transcription factor that negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation and Irf8 global knockout (Irf8 (-/-)) mice have been shown to have reduced bone volume resulting from increased osteoclast numbers. However, detailed analysis of the functions of Irf8 in osteoclast precursors with a monocyte/macrophage linage is difficult, because the population and properties of hematopoietic cells in Irf8 (-/-) mice are severely altered. Therefore, to clearly elucidate the functions of Irf8 during osteoclastogenesis, we established myeloid cell-specific Irf8 conditional knockout (Irf8 (fl/fl) ;Lyz2 (cre/+)) mice. We found that trabecular bone volume in the Irf8 (fl/fl) ;Lyz2 (cre/+) mice was not significantly affected, while exposure to M-CSF and RANKL significantly increased TRAP activity in vitro in osteoclasts that underwent osteoclastogenesis from bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) induced from bone marrow cells (BMCs) of those mice by addition of M-CSF. Our results also showed that expression of Irf8 mRNA and protein in BMMs obtained from Irf8 (fl/fl) ;Lyz2 (cre/+) mice and cultured with M-CSF was reduced. These findings predicted that Lyz2/Lyz2-cre expression is induced when BMCs differentiate into BMMs in cultures with M-CSF. In osteoclast differentiation cultures, Lyz2 was gradually increased by M-CSF during the first 3 days of culture, then rapidly decreased by the addition of RANKL with M-CSF during the next 3 days. Furthermore, BMCs differentiated into osteoclasts while maintaining a low level of Lyz2 expression when cultured simultaneously with both M-CSF and RANKL from the initiation of culture. These findings suggest that Lyz2-cre expression is induced along with differentiation to BMMs by BMCs obtained from Irf8 (fl/fl) ;Lyz2 (cre/+) mice and cultured with M-CSF. In addition, Irf8 was down-regulated by activation of the cre/loxP recombination system in BMMs and osteoclastogenesis was accelerated. Based on our results, we propose the existence in vivo of a new lineage of osteoclast precursors among BMCs, which differentiate into osteoclasts without up-regulation of Lyz2 expression.

DOI： 10.1007/s10616-016-0013-z

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

We describe four families with affected siblings showing unique clinical features: early-onset (before 1 year of age) progressive diffuse brain atrophy with regression, postnatal microcephaly, postnatal growth retardation, muscle weakness/atrophy, and respiratory failure. By whole-exome sequencing, we identified biallelic TBCD mutations in eight affected individuals from the four families. TBCD encodes TBCD (tubulin folding co-factor D), which is one of five tubulin-specific chaperones playing a pivotal role in microtubule assembly in all cells. A total of seven mutations were found: five missense mutations, one nonsense, and one splice site mutation resulting in a frameshift. In vitro cell experiments revealed the impaired binding between most mutant TBCD proteins and ARL2, TBCE, and β-tubulin. The in vivo experiments using olfactory projection neurons in Drosophila melanogaster indicated that the TBCD mutations caused loss of function. The wide range of clinical severity seen in this neurodegenerative encephalopathy may result from the residual function of mutant TBCD proteins. Furthermore, the autopsied brain from one deceased individual showed characteristic neurodegenerative findings: cactus and somatic sprout formations in the residual Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, which are also seen in some diseases associated with mitochondrial impairment. Defects of microtubule formation caused by TBCD mutations may underlie the pathomechanism of this neurodegenerative encephalopathy.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ajhg.2016.08.005

PubMed

researchmap

Web of Science

researchmap

Publisher：American Heart Association, Inc.  

researchmap

Other Link： http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8006-5485

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS  

Objective Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration causes neointima, which is related to vascular remodeling after mechanical injury and atherosclerosis development. We previously reported that an exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac) 1 was upregulated in mouse arterial neointima and promoted SMC migration. In this study, we examined the molecular mechanisms of Epac1-induced SMC migration and the effect of Epac1 deficiency on vascular remodeling in vivo.
Approach and Results Platelet-derived growth factor-BB promoted a 2-fold increase in SMC migration in a primary culture of aortic SMCs obtained from Epac1(+/+) mice (Epac1(+/+)-ASMCs), whereas there was only a 1.2-fold increase in Epac1(-/-)-ASMCs. The degree of platelet-derived growth factor-BB-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ was smaller in Fura2-labeled Epac1(-/-)-ASMCs than in Epac1(+/+)-ASMCs. In Epac1(+/+)-ASMCs, an Epac-selective cAMP analog or platelet-derived growth factor-BB increased lamellipodia accompanied by cofilin dephosphorylation, which is induced by Ca2+ signaling, whereas these effects were rarely observed in Epac1(-/-)-ASMCs. Furthermore, 4 weeks after femoral artery injury, prominent neointima were formed in Epac1(+/+) mice, whereas neointima formation was significantly attenuated in Epac1(-/-) mice in which dephosphorylation of cofilin was inhibited. The chimeric mice generated by bone marrow cell transplantation from Epac1(+/+) into Epac1(-/-) mice and vice versa demonstrated that the genetic background of vascular tissues, including SMCs rather than of bone marrow-derived cells affected Epac1-mediated neointima formation.
Conclusions These data suggest that Epac1 deficiency attenuates neointima formation through, at least in part, inhibition of SMC migration, in which a decrease in Ca2+ influx and a suppression of cofilin-mediated lamellipodia formation occur.

DOI： 10.1161/ATVBAHA.115.306534

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：BIOMED CENTRAL LTD  

Background: Accumulation of tumor-infiltrating mast cells (MCs) predicts poor survival in several cancers after resection. However, its effect on the prognosis of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is not known.
Methods: Our retrospective study included 135 patients who underwent potentially curative resection for CRLM between 2001 and 2010. Expression of tryptase, MAC387, CD83, and CD31, which are markers for MCs, macrophages, mature dendritic cells, and vascular endothelial cells, respectively, was determined via immunohistochemistry of resected tumor specimens. The relationship between immune cell infiltration and long-term outcome was investigated.
Results: The median follow-up time was 48.4 months for all patients and 57.5 months for survivors. Overall survival (OS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 91.0, 62.4, and 37.4 %, respectively. Five year disease free survival (DFS) and OS rates were 21.6 and 38.1 %, respectively, in patients with high MC infiltration, and 42.6 and 55.6 %, respectively, in patients with low MC infiltration (p &lt; 0.01 for both DFS and OS). Infiltration of other types of immune cells did not correlate with survival. Multivariate analyses indicated that hypoalbuminemia and high peritumoral MC infiltration were significant predictors of unfavorable OS.
Conclusion: High peritumoral MC infiltration predicts poor prognosis in patients who underwent hepatectomy for CRLM. The number of MCs in metastatic lesions is important for predicting the prognosis of CRLM patients and as an indication of therapy.

DOI： 10.1186/s12885-015-1863-z

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：OXFORD UNIV PRESS  

A novel anti-semaphorin antibody that ameliorates sepsis.Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), originally identified as a potent growth cone collapsing factor in developing sensory neurons, is now recognized as a key player in immune, cardiovascular, bone metabolism and neurological systems. Here we established an anti-Sema3A monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the effects of Sema3A both in vitro and in vivo. The anti-Sema3A neutralization chick IgM antibodies were screened by combining an autonomously diversifying library selection system and an in vitro growth cone collapse assay. We further developed function-blocking chick-mouse chimeric and humanized anti-Sema3A antibodies. We found that our anti-Sema3A antibodies were effective for improving the survival rate in lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis in mice. Our antibody is a potential therapeutic agent that may prevent the onset of or alleviate symptoms of human diseases associated with Sema3A.

DOI： 10.1093/intimm/dxv014

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：JAPANESE PHARMACOLOGICAL SOC  

Interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF8) plays a crucial role in the transformation of microglia to a reactive state by regulating the expression of various genes. In the present study, we show that IRF1 is required for IRF8-induced gene expression in microglia. Peripheral nerve injury induced IRF1 gene upregulation in the spinal microglia in an IRF8-dependent manner. IRF8 transduction in cultured microglia induced de novo gene expression of IRF1. Importantly, knockdown of the IRF1 gene in IRF8-transduced microglia prevented upregulation of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). Therefore, our findings suggest that expression of IL-1 beta is dependent on IRF1 in IRF8-expressing reactive microglia. (c) 2015 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Japanese Pharmacological Society.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jphs.2015.08.002

Web of Science

Scopus

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP  

APOBEC3G (A3G) is an innate antiviral restriction factor that strongly inhibits the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). An HIV-1 accessory protein, Vif, hijacks the host ubiquitin-proteasome system to execute A3G degradation. Identification of the host pathways that obstruct the action of Vif could provide a new strategy for blocking viral replication. We demonstrate here that the host protein ASK1 (apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1) interferes with the counteraction by Vif and revitalizes A3G-mediated viral restriction. ASK1 binds the BC-box of Vif, thereby disrupting the assembly of the Vif-ubiquitin ligase complex. Consequently, ASK1 stabilizes A3G and promotes its incorporation into viral particles, ultimately reducing viral infectivity. Furthermore, treatment with the antiretroviral drug AZT (zidovudine) induces ASK1 expression and restores the antiviral activity of A3G in HIV-1-infected cells. This study thus demonstrates a distinct function of ASK1 in restoring the host antiviral system that can be enhanced by AZT treatment.

DOI： 10.1038/ncomms7945

Web of Science

Scopus

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：JAPANESE PHARMACOLOGICAL SOC  

We investigated the role of interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) in a model of chronic pain in which repeated cold stress (RCS) exposure produces tactile allodynia. RCS exposure produced a decrease in paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) to mechanical stimulation. Spinal microglia of RCS-exposed mice were morphologically activated. Expression of IRF8 was significantly increased in the spinal cord of RCS-exposed mice and was localized in microglia. IRF8-knockout mice failed to show the RCS-induced decrease in PWT. Thus, RCS exposure activates spinal microglia and upregulation of IRF8 in these cells is involved in the development of tactile allodynia after RCS exposure.

DOI： 10.1254/jphs.14143SC

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：SPRINGER  

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, are constitutively mobile cells that undergo rapid directional movement toward sites of tissue disruption. However, transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of microglial motility remain unknown. In the present study, we show that interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF8) regulates microglial motility. We found that ATP and complement component, C5a, induced chemotaxis of IRF8 wild-type microglia. However, these responses were markedly suppressed in microglia lacking IRF8 (Irf8 (-/-)). In a consistent manner, phosphorylation of Akt (which plays a crucial role in ATP-induced chemotaxis) was abolished in Irf8 (-/-)microglia. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that motility-related microglial genes such as P2Y(12) receptor were significantly suppressed in Irf8 (-/-)microglia. Furthermore, Irf8 (-/-)microglia exhibited a differential expression pattern of nucleotide-degrading enzymes compared with their wild-type counterparts. Overall, our findings suggest that IRF8 may regulate microglial motility via the control of microglial gene expression.

DOI： 10.1007/s11302-014-9413-8

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELIFE SCIENCES PUBLICATIONS LTD  

The eradication of tumor cells requires communication to and signaling by cells of the immune system. Natural killer (NK) cells are essential tumor-killing effector cells of the innate immune system; however, little is known about whether or how other immune cells recognize tumor cells to assist NK cells. Here, we show that the innate immune receptor Dectin-1 expressed on dendritic cells and macrophages is critical to NK-mediated killing of tumor cells that express N-glycan structures at high levels. Receptor recognition of these tumor cells causes the activation of the IRF5 transcription factor and downstream gene induction for the full-blown tumoricidal activity of NK cells. Consistent with this, we show exacerbated in vivo tumor growth in mice genetically deficient in either Dectin-1 or IRF5. The critical contribution of Dectin-1 in the recognition of and signaling by tumor cells may offer new insight into the anti-tumor immune system with therapeutic implications.

DOI： 10.7554/eLife.04177

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP  

In response to neuronal injury or disease, microglia adopt distinct reactive phenotypes via the expression of different sets of genes. Spinal microglia expressing the purinergic P2X4 receptor (P2X4R) after peripheral nerve injury (PNI) are implicated in neuropathic pain. Here we show that interferon regulatory factor-5 (IRF5), which is induced in spinal microglia after PNI, is responsible for direct transcriptional control of P2X4R. Upon stimulation of microglia by fibronectin, IRF5 induced de novo expression of P2X4R by directly binding to the promoter region of the P2rx4 gene. Mice lacking Irf5 did not upregulate spinal P2X4R after PNI, and also exhibited substantial resistance to pain hypersensitivity. Furthermore, we found that expression of IRF5 in microglia is regulated by IRF8. Thus, an IRF8-IRF5 transcriptional axis may contribute to shifting spinal microglia toward a P2X4R-expressing reactive state after PNI. These results may provide a new target for treating neuropathic pain.

DOI： 10.1038/ncomms4771

Web of Science

researchmap

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP  

Actively transcribed genes are enriched with the histone variant H3.3. Although H3.3 deposition has been linked to transcription, mechanisms controlling this process remain elusive. We investigated the role of the histone methyltransferase Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome candidate 1 (WHSC1) (NSD2/MMSET) in H3.3 deposition into interferon (IFN) response genes. IFN treatment triggered robust H3.3 incorporation into activated genes, which continued even after cessation of transcription. Likewise, UV radiation caused H3.3 deposition in UV-activated genes. However, in Whsc1(-/-) cells IFN- or UV-triggered H3.3 deposition was absent, along with a marked reduction in IFN- or UV-induced transcription. We found that WHSC1 interacted with the bromodomain protein 4 (BRD4) and the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) and facilitated transcriptional elongation. WHSC1 also associated with HIRA, the H3.3-specific histone chaperone, independent of BRD4 and P-TEFb. WHSC1 and HIRA co-occupied IFN-stimulated genes and supported prolonged H3.3 incorporation, leaving a lasting transcriptional mark. Our results reveal a previously unrecognized role of WHSC1, which links transcriptional elongation and H3.3 deposition into activated genes through two molecularly distinct pathways.

DOI： 10.1038/emboj.2013.176

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY  

RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and the pausing complex, NELF and DSIF, are detected near the transcription start site (TSS) of many active and silent genes. Active transcription starts when the pause release factor P-TEFb is recruited to initiate productive elongation. However, the mechanism of P-TEFb recruitment and regulation of NELF/DSIF during transcription is not fully understood. We investigated this question in interferon (IFN)-stimulated transcription, focusing on BRD4, a BET family protein that interacts with P-TEFb. Besides P-TEFb, BRD4 binds to acetylated histones through the bromodomain. We found that BRD4 and P-TEFb, although not present prior to IFN treatment, were robustly recruited to IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) after stimulation. Likewise, NELF and DSIF prior to stimulation were hardly detectable on ISGs, which were strongly recruited after IFN treatment. A shRNA-based knockdown assay of NELF revealed that it negatively regulates the passage of Pol II and DSIF across the ISGs during elongation, reducing total ISG transcript output. Analyses with a BRD4 small-molecule inhibitor showed that IFN-induced recruitment of P-TEFb and NELF/DSIF was under the control of BRD4. We suggest a model where BRD4 coordinates both positive and negative regulation of ISG elongation.

DOI： 10.1128/MCB.01180-12

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：WILEY-BLACKWELL  

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) suppresses immune responses through inhibition of the development of IL-17 producing Th17 cells and induction of IL-10 production. We previously showed that forced expression of early growth response gene 2 (Egr-2), a transcription factor required for T-cell anergy induction, induces IL-10 and lymphocyte activation gene 3 expression and confers regulatory activity on CD4+ T cells in vivo. Here, we evaluated the role of Egr-2 in IL-27-induced IL-10 production. Among various IL-10-inducing factors, only IL-27 induced high levels of Egr-2 and lymphocyte activation gene 3 expression. Intriguingly, IL-27 failed to induce IL-10 in Egr-2-deficient T cells. IL-27-mediated induction of Prdm1 that codes B lymphocyte induced maturation protein-1, a transcriptional regulator important for IL-10 production in CD4+ T cells, was also impaired in the absence of Egr-2. Although IL-27-mediated IL-10 induction was dependent on both STAT1 and STAT3, only STAT3 was required for IL-27-mediated Egr-2 induction. These results suggest that IL-27 signal transduction through Egr-2 and B lymphocyte induced maturation protein-1 plays an important role in IL-10 production. Furthermore, Egr-2-deficient CD4+ T cells showed dysregulated production of IFN- and IL-17 in response to IL-27 stimulation. Therefore, Egr-2 may play key roles in controlling the balance between regulatory and effector cytokines.

DOI： 10.1002/eji.201242942

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE  

Some anti-cancer drugs, including those that alter microtubule dynamics target mitotic cells and induce apoptosis in some cell types. However, such drugs elicit protective responses in other cell types allowing cells to escape from drug-induced mitotic inhibition. Cells with a faulty protective mechanism undergo defective mitosis, leading to genome instability. Brd4 is a double bromodomain protein that remains on chromosomes during mitosis. However, Brd4 is released from mitotic chromosomes when cells are exposed to anti-mitotic drugs including nocodazole. Neither the mechanisms, nor the biological significance of drug-induced Brd4 release has been fully understood. We found that deletion of the internal C-terminal region abolished nocodazole induced Brd4 release from mouse P19 cells. Furthermore, cells expressing truncated Brd4, unable to dissociate from chromosomes were blocked from mitotic progression and failed to complete cell division. We also found that pharmacological and peptide inhibitors of the c-jun-N-terminal kinases (JNK) pathway, but not inhibitors of other MAP kinases, prevented release of Brd4 from chromosomes. The JNK inhibitor that blocked Brd4 release also blocked mitotic progression. Further supporting the role of JNK in Brd4 release, JNK2-/- embryonic fibroblasts were defective in Brd4 release and sustained greater inhibition of cell growth after nocodazole treatment. In sum, activation of JNK pathway triggers release of Brd4 from chromosomes upon nocodazole treatment, which mediates a protective response designed to minimize drug-induced mitotic stress.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0034719

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：CELL PRESS  

Microglia become activated by multiple types of damage in the nervous system and play essential roles in neuronal pathologies. However, how microglia transform into reactive phenotypes is poorly understood. Here, we identify the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) as a critical regulator of reactive microglia. Within the spinal cord, IRF8 expression was normally low; however, the expression was markedly upregulated in microglia, but not in neurons or astrocytes, after peripheral nerve injury (PNI). IRF8 overexpression in cultured microglia promoted the transcription of genes associated with reactive states; conversely, IRF8 deficiency prevented these gene expressions in the spinal cord following PNI. Furthermore, IRF8-deficient mice were resistant to neuropathic pain, a common sequela of PNI, and transferring IRF8-overexpressing microglia spinally to normal mice produced pain. Therefore, IRF8 may activate a program of gene expression that transforms microglia into a reactive phenotype. Our findings provide a newly observed mechanism for microglial activation.

DOI： 10.1016/j.celrep.2012.02.014

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：The Japan Society for Clinical Immunology  

IL-10は抗炎症性サイトカインであり，IL-27はSTAT1, STAT3依存性にIL-10の産生を誘導する．また，CD4⁺T細胞におけるIL-10産生において，Blimp-1（遺伝子名<i>Prdm1</i>）も重要な働きをもつことが知られている．<br>   既に我々はT細胞にanergyを誘導する働きをもつ転写因子Egr-2のCD4⁺T細胞への強制発現により，IL-10産生が誘導されることを報告した．今回我々はIL-27によるIL-10産生誘導におけるEgr-2の関与を検討した．CD4⁺ナイーブT細胞のTCR刺激時にIL-27を添加するとEgr-2, Prdm1, IL-10の発現亢進が認められた．Egr-2欠損CD4⁺ナイーブT細胞を用いた場合，Prdm1及びIL-10のIL-27 刺激による誘導は認められなかった．更に，IL-27受容体WSX1を欠損したCD4⁺ナイーブT細胞では，IL-27刺激によるEgr-2の誘導が消失した．Luciferase assayによりEgr-2の誘導が<i>Prdm1</i>プロモーターの活性化に繋がり，ChIP assayの結果Egr-2が<i>Prdm1</i>のプロモーター領域に結合することが明らかとなった．また，STAT1ノックアウトマウス並びにCD4特異的STAT3コンディショナルノックアウトマウス由来のCD4⁺ナイーブT細胞においては，IL-27刺激によるEgr-2の誘導は認められず，双方のEgr-2誘導への関与が示唆された．これらの結果，Egr-2とBlimp-1を介したIL-27シグナル伝達経路は，ナイーブT細胞からのIL-10産生に重要であることが示された．Egr-2を発現するCD4陽性CD5陰性LAG3陽性制御性T細胞サブセットとの関連も含めて考察する．<br>

DOI： 10.2177/jsci.35.342b

researchmap

Other Link： http://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2012350668

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Language：English   Publisher：SPRINGER  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATL ACAD SCIENCES  

Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 5 is a key transcription factor for the activation of innate immune responses downstream of Toll-like receptor signaling. Based on recent genetic analyses, IRF5 is a focus for its potential involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), although how IRF5 contributes to SLE is uncertain. In this study, we demonstrate a requirement for IRF5 in the development of murine SLE via its role in B lymphocytes. We show that antinuclear autoantibodies and Ig glomerular deposits, hallmarks of SLE, are absent in Irf5(-/-) mice challenged to develop SLE by pristane injection. In particular, production of autoantibodies of the IgG2a subtype, the most prominent isotype in inducing autoimmunity, requires IRF5. Finally, we provide evidence for the critical role of this transcription factor in the secretion of pathogenic antibodies through its direct control of class switch recombination of the gamma 2a locus. By demonstrating a B-cell-intrinsic role, this study places IRF5 in a context that may have implications for understanding the pathogenesis of human SLE.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.1005599107

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：SPRINGER  

Nine interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) compose a family of transcription factors in mammals. Although this family was originally identified in the context of the type I interferon system, subsequent studies have revealed much broader functions performed by IRF members in host defense. In this review, we provide an update on the current knowledge of their roles in immune responses, immune cell development, and regulation of oncogenesis.

DOI： 10.1007/s00262-009-0804-6

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP  

The activation of innate immune responses by nucleic acids is crucial to protective and pathological immunities and is mediated by the transmembrane Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and cytosolic receptors(1,2). However, it remains unknown whether a mechanism exists that integrates these nucleic-acid-sensing systems. Here we show that high-mobility group box (HMGB) proteins 1, 2 and 3 function as universal sentinels for nucleic acids. HMGBs bind to all immunogenic nucleic acids examined with a correlation between affinity and immunogenic potential. Hmgb1(-/-) and Hmgb2(-/-) mouse cells are defective in type-I interferon and inflammatory cytokine induction by DNA or RNA targeted to activate the cytosolic nucleic-acid-sensing receptors; cells in which the expression of all three HMGBs is suppressed show a more profound defect, accompanied by impaired activation of the transcription factors interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B. The absence of HMGBs also severely impairs the activation of TLR3, TLR7 and TLR9 by their cognate nucleic acids. Our results therefore indicate a hierarchy in the nucleic-acid-mediated activation of immune responses, wherein the selective activation of nucleic-acid-sensing receptors is contingent on the more promiscuous sensing of nucleic acids by HMGBs. These findings may have implications for understanding the evolution of the innate immune system and for the treatment of immunological disorders.

DOI： 10.1038/nature08512

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATL ACAD SCIENCES  

The activation of the innate immune responses by DNA exposed within the cytosol has gained much attention and, in this context, several cytosolic DNA sensors have been identified. However, previous studies revealed the operation of redundant and complex mechanisms and it still remains to be clarified how the DNA-mediated evocation of diverse innate immune responses can be achieved. Here we show that two RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), RIG-I and MDA5, known as cytosolic RNA receptors, nonredundantly function as cytosolic DNA receptors that lead to the selective activation of type I IFN genes. Wedemonstrate that overexpression of otherwise IFN-inducible RIG-I or MDA5 in IFN signal-deficient cells results in a marked enhancement of type I IFN gene induction upon cytosolic DNA stimulation, while in their absence the induction is impaired. Interestingly, the DNA-mediated induction of other cytokine genes was barely affected by the absence of RLRs. Indeed, unlike the RNA-RLR pathway that activates the transcription factors IRF3 and NF-kappa B, the DNA-RLR pathway is primarily responsible for the IRF3 activation critical for type I IFN gene transcription, illustrating a deliberate divergence of the DNA signaling pathways. Expectedly, the RLR pathway also contributes to intricate innate immune responses against infection by a DNA virus. Our study may provide insights into the complexity of host defense mechanisms that thwart immune evasion by DNA-containing pathogens.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.0909545106

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP  

Bone metabolism results from a balance between osteoclast-driven bone resorption and osteoblast-mediated bone formation. Diseases such as periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis are characterized by increased bone destruction due to enhanced osteoclastogenesis(1,2). Here we report that interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF-8), a transcription factor expressed in immune cells, is a key regulatory molecule for osteoclastogenesis. IRF-8 expression in osteoclast precursors was downregulated during the initial phase of osteoclast differentiation induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), which is encoded by the Tnfsf11 gene. Mice deficient in Irf8 showed severe osteoporosis, owing to increased numbers of osteoclasts, and also showed enhanced bone destruction after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. Irf8(-/-) osteoclast precursors underwent increased osteoclastogenesis in response to RANKL and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). IRF-8 suppressed osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting the function and expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1). Our results show that IRF-8 inhibits osteoclast formation under physiological and pathological conditions and suggest a model where downregulation of inhibitory factors such as IRF-8 contributes to RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis.

DOI： 10.1038/nm.2007

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：CURRENT BIOLOGY LTD  

The sensing of nucleic acids by pattern recognition receptors is a central feature of innate immunity and is mediated by two types of receptors, Toll-like receptors and cytosolic receptors. Indeed, DNA, be it pathogen-derived or self-derived, can potently trigger the innate immune system; and much attention has been focused on the regulation of the DNA-sensing system(s) in the context of protective and pathological immune responses. An accumulating body of evidence has demonstrated that in addition to the membrane-bound type DNA-sensing receptor TLR9, there are cytosolic DNA receptors that can also evoke these responses. In particular, DAI (DLM-1/ZBP1), Trex1, and other regulators of the cytosolic DNA-sensing system have recently been identified and characterized. Here, we summarize our current understanding of how cytosolic DNA receptors contribute to the regulation of innate immune responses and discuss the complexity of the cytosolic DNA-sensing system as well as its future prospects.

DOI： 10.1016/j.coi.2009.01.005

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATL ACAD SCIENCES  

A conundrum of innate antiviral immunity is how nucleic acid-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and RIG-I/MDA5 receptors cooperate during virus infection. The conventional wisdom has been that the activation of these receptor pathways evokes type I IFN (IFN) responses. Here, we provide evidence for a critical role of a Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)-dependent type II IFN signaling pathway in antiviral innate immune response against Coxsackievirus group B serotype 3 (CVB3), a member of the positive-stranded RNA virus family picornaviridae and most prevalent virus associated with chronic dilated cardiomyopathy. TLR3-deficient mice show a vulnerability to CVB3, accompanied by acute myocarditis, whereas transgenic expression of TLR3 endows even type I IFN signal-deficient mice resistance to CVB3 and other types of viruses, provided that type II IFN signaling remains intact. Taken together, our results indicate a critical cooperation of the RIG-I/MDA5-type I IFN and the TLR3-type II IFN signaling axes for efficient innate antiviral immune responses.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.0810372105

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC  

Brd4 is a bromodomain protein that binds to acetylated chromatin. It regulates cell growth, although the underlying mechanism has remained elusive. Brd4 has also been shown to control transcription of viral genes, whereas its role in transcription of cellular genes has not been fully elucidated. Here we addressed the role of Brd4 in cell growth and transcription using a small hairpin ( sh) RNA approach. The Brd4 shRNA vector stably knocked down Brd4 protein expression by similar to 90% in NIH3T3 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Brd4 knockdown cells were growth impaired and grew more slowly than control cells. When synchronized by serum starvation and released, Brd4 knockdown cells were arrested at G(1), whereas control cells progressed to S phase. In microarray analysis, although numerous genes were up-regulated during G(1) in control cells, many of these G(1) genes were not up-regulated in Brd4 knockdown cells. Reintroduction of Brd4 rescued expression of these G(1) genes in Brd4 knockdown cells, allowing cells to progress toward S phase. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that Brd4 was recruited to the promoters of these G(1) genes during G(0)-G(1) progression. Furthermore, Brd4 recruitment coincided with increased binding of Cdk9, a component of P-TEFb and RNA polymerase II to these genes. Brd4 recruitment was low to absent at genes not affected by Brd4 shRNA. The results indicate that Brd4 stimulates G(1) gene expression by binding to multiple G(1) gene promoters in a cell cycle-dependent manner.

DOI： 10.1074/jbc.M707603200

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATL ACAD SCIENCES  

DNA, whether it is microbe-derived or host-derived, evokes immune responses when exposed to the cytosol of a cell. We previously reported that DNA-dependent activator of IFN regulatory factors (DAI), also referred to as DLM-1/ZBP1, functions as a DNA sensor that activates the innate immune system. In the present study, we examined the regulation of the complex DNA-sensing system by DAI and other molecules. We first show that DAI directly interacts with DNA in vitro and that it requires three DNA-binding domains for full activation in vivo. We also show that the artificially induced dimerization of DAI results in the DNA-independent activation of type I IFN genes, thereby providing a better understanding for the molecular basis of DAI activation. Furthermore, we provide evidence for the presence of additional DNA sensors, either positively or negatively regulating cytosolic DNA-mediated innate immune responses. These results in toto provide insights into the mechanism of DAI activation and reveal the complex regulatory mechanisms underlying DNA-mediated protective and pathologic immune responses.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.0801295105

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：WILEY-BLACKWELL  

A family of transcription factors, the interferon regulatory factors (IRF), was identified originally in the context of the regulation of the type I interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta system. The IRF family has now expanded to nine members, and gene-disruption studies have revealed the critical involvement of these members in multiple facets of host defense systems, such as innate and adaptive immune responses and tumor suppression. In the present review article, we aim at summarizing our current knowledge of the roles of IRF in host defense, with special emphasis on their involvement in the regulation of oncogenesis.

DOI： 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2007.00720.x

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：BLACKWELL PUBLISHING  

Human neutrophil migratory responses to Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists were studied using videomicroscopy. When challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, TLR4 agonist) or N-palmitoyl-S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl]-(R)-cysteinyl-seryl-(lysyl)(3)-lysine (P3CSK4, TLR2 agonist), neutrophils displayed enhanced motility, which was found to reflect increased random migration but not directed migration (chemotaxis). Enhanced neutrophil motility was detected within 10 min after stimulation with LPS or P3CSK4, and was sustained for more than 80 min. Stimulation of neutrophils with LPS or P3CSK4 resulted in the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which preceded neutrophil migration. TLR-mediated neutrophil migration was strongly suppressed by pretreatment of cells with U0126 (MAPK/ERK kinase inhibitor) but not with U0124 (an inactive analogue of U0126) or SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor), and was almost completely abolished by pretreatment of cells with U0126 and SB203580 in combination. Randomly migrating neutrophils in response to LPS or P3CSK4 displayed directed migration when further challenged with gradient concentrations of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) or platelet-activating factor (PAF). These findings indicate that TLR agonists stimulate human neutrophil migration via the activation of ERK and p38 MAPK, and FMLP- or PAF-induced neutrophil chemotaxis is not affected by the pre-exposure of cells to TLR agonists.

DOI： 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2007.02684.x

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Among dendritic cell (DC) subsets, CD8 alpha(+) DCs and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) produce high levels of IL12 and type I interferons (IFNs), respectively, and confer early innate immunity. Development of CD8 alpha(+) DCs and pDCs requires the interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8). Recently, a spontaneous point mutation was identified in the Irf8/Icsbp gene in the BXH2 mouse, which exhibits an immunodeficient phenotype similar to the IRF8 knockout (KO) mouse. We show that this mutation, designated IRF8(R294c), abolishes the development of CD8 alpha(+) DCs without impairing pDC development, and eliminates production of IL12p40, while retaining that of type I IFNs. Electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that IRF8(R294c) failed to interact with partner transcription factors and did not bind certain promoters that require partner interactions. Together, this work indicates that IRF8-partner interactions play different roles in CD8 alpha(+) DCs and pDCs, revealing a mechanistic separation that underlies development of these DC subsets.

DOI： 10.1182/blood-2007-07-100750

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：CELL PRESS  

Dendritic cells (DCs) produce type I interferons (IFNs) in greater amounts than other cells, but the mechanisms remain elusive. Here we studied the role of a transcription factor, IRF8, in DC induction of type I IFNs. Upon newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection, bone marrow-derived plasmacytoid and conventional DCs induced IFN transcripts, exhibiting two-phase kinetics. The second, amplifying phase represented an IFN feedback response that accounted for much of IFN protein production. Induction of second phase transcription required IRF8. Mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and Toll-like receptor-mediated IFN induction in DCs also required IRF8. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that IRF7, IRF8, and RNA polymerase 11 were recruited to the IFN promoters upon stimulation. Moreover, sustained RNA polymerase II recruitment to the promoters critically depended on IRF8. Together, these data indicate that IRF8 magnifies the second phase of IFN transcription in DCs by prolonging binding of basic transcription machinery to the IFN promoters, thereby playing a role in innate immunity.

DOI： 10.1016/j.immuni.2007.06.009

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS  

IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-8 is a transcription factor important for the development and function of macrophages. It plays a critical role in the induction of cytokine genes, including IL-12p40. Immunopurification and mass spectrometry analysis found that IRF-8 interacted with Ro52 in murine macrophages upon IFN-gamma and TLR stimulation. Ro52 is an IFN-inducible protein of the tripartite motif (TRIM) family and is an autoantigen present in patients with Sjogren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. Ro52 has a RING motif and is capable of ubiquitinating itself. We show that IRF-8 is ubiquitinated by Ro52 both in vivo and in vitro. Ectopic expression of Ro52 enhanced IL-12p40 expression in IFN-gamma/TLR-stimulated macrophages in an IRF-8-dependent manner. Together, Ro52 is an E3 ligase for IRF-8 that acts in a non-degradation pathway of ubiquitination, and contributes to the elicitation of innate immunity in macrophages.

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH  

Apoptotic resistance is often associated with metastatic phenotype in tumor cells and is considered a hallmark of tumor progression. In this study, IFN regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) expression was found to be inversely correlated with an apoptotic-resistant and metastatic phenotype in human colon carcinoma cell lines in vitro. This inverse correlation was further extended to spontaneously arising primary mammary carcinoma and lung metastases in a mouse tumor model in vivo. Exogenous expression of IRFS in the metastatic tumor cell line restored, at least partially, the sensitivity of the tumor cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis, and disruption of IRFS function conferred the poorly metastatic tumors with enhanced apoptotic resistance and metastatic capability. DNA demethylation restored IRF8 expression and sensitized the metastatic tumor cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Analysis of genomic DNA isolated from both primary and metastatic tumor cells with methylation-sensitive PCR revealed hyper-methylation of the IRFS promoter in metastatic tumor cells but not in primary tumor cells. Taken together, our data suggest that IRFS is both an essential regulator in Fas-mediated apoptosis pathway and a metastasis suppressor in solid tumors and that metastatic tumor cells use DNA hypermethylation to repress IRF8 expression to evade apoptotic cell death and to acquire a metastatic phenotype.

DOI： 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-4068

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC  

Interferon (IFN) regulatory factor-8 (IRF-8), previously known as ICSBP, is a myeloid cell essential transcription factor. Mice with null mutation in IRF-8 are defective in the ability of myeloid progenitor cells to mature toward macrophage lineage. Accordingly, these mice develop chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). We demonstrate here that IRF-8 is an obligatory regulator of the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene in activated macrophages, leading to the expression of the PML-I isoform. This regulation is most effective together with two other transcription factors, IRF-1 and PU.1. PML is a tumor suppressor gene that serves as a scaffold protein for nuclear bodies. IRF-8 is not only essential for the IFN-gamma-induced expression of PML in activated macrophages but also for the formation of nuclear bodies. Reduced IRF-8 transcript levels were reported in CML patients, and a recovery to normal levels was observed in patients in remission following treatment with IFN-alpha. We demonstrate a significant correlation between the levels of IRF-8 and PML in these CML patients. Together, our results indicate that some of the myeloleukemia suppressor activities of IRF-8 are mediated through the regulation of PML. When IRF-8 levels are compromised, the reduced PML expression may lead to genome instability and eventually to the leukemic phenotype.

DOI： 10.1074/jbc.M607825200

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) and IRF-8, also known as interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP), are important regulators of macrophage differentiation and function. These factors exert their activities through the formation of heterocomplexes. As such, they are coactivators of various interferon-inducible genes in macrophages. To gain better insights into the involvement of these two transcription factors in the onset of the innate immune response and to identify their regulatory network in activated macrophages, DNA microarray was employed. Changes in the expression profile were analyzed in peritoneal macrophages from wild type mice and compared to IRF-1 and IRF-8 null mice, before and following 4 h exposure to IFN-gamma and LPS. The expression pattern of 265 genes was significantly changed (up/down) in peritoneal macrophages extracted from wild type mice following treatment with IFN-gamma and LPS, while no changes in the expression levels of these genes were observed in samples of the same cell-type from both IRF-1 and IRF-8 null mice. Among these putative target genes, numerous genes are involved in macrophage activity during inflammation. The expression profile of 10 of them was further examined by quantitative RT-PCR. In addition, the promoter regions of three of the identified genes were analyzed by reporter gene assay for the ability to respond to IRF-1 and IRF-8. Together, our results suggest that both IRF- I and IRF-8 are involved in the transcriptional regulation of these genes. We therefore suggest a broader role for IRF- I and IRF-8 in macrophages differentiation and maturation, being important inflammatory mediators. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.molimm.2006.02.026

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：MARY ANN LIEBERT INC  

Interleukin-10 ( IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that modulates innate and adaptive immunity. IL-10 transcripts and the protein were induced in murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells ( BMDCs) after toll-like receptor ( TLR) stimulation. IL-10 induction was TLR ligand selective, in that CpG DNA, imidazoquinolin, peptidoglycan, and zymosan but not lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) and poly I: C led to IL-10 production. IL-10 induction was, however, completely absent in MyD88(-/-) DCs that lacked a TLR adaptor showing that IL-10 induction depends on TLR signaling. Kinetic analysis of IL-10 induction by CpG and imidazoquinolin revealed a prolonged lag phase prior to a measurable rise in transcript levels, which peaked at 12-24 h after stimulation. Stat3, implicated in IL-10 gene transcription, was also induced after TLR stimulation with the kinetics similar to those of IL-10 induction. Further, Stat3 was phosphorylated and bound to the IL-10 promoter in TLR-stimulated DCs. Supporting a link with IL-10 induction, STAT3 induction was absent in MyD88(-/-) DCs. These data suggest a two- step model where the initial TLR signaling induced proinflammatory cytokines, which then activated Stat3, leading to the induction of IL-10. TLR- stimulated IL-10 production may regulate DC maturation steps, thereby influencing the ensuing immune responses.

DOI： 10.1089/jir.2006.26.893

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：INST BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY  

Dendritic cells (DC), although a minor population in hematopoietic cells, produce type I interferons (IFN) and other cytokines and are essential for innate immunity. They are also potent antigen presenters and regulate adaptive immunity. Among DC subtypes plasmacytoid DC (pDC) produce the highest amounts of type I IFN. In addition, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-12 and IL-10 are induced in DC in response to Toll like receptor (TLR) signaling and upon viral infection. Proteins in the IRF family control many aspects of DC activity. IPF-8 and IRF-4 are essential for DC development. They differentially control the development of four DC subsets. IPF-8(-/-) mice are largely devoid of pDC and CD8 alpha(+) DC, while IRF-4(-/-) mice lack CD4(+)DC. IRF-8(-/-), IRF4(-/-), double knock-out mice have only few CD8a (-)CD4(-)DC that lack MHC II. IRF proteins also control type I IFN induction in DC. IRF-7, activated upon TLR signaling is required for IFN induction not only in pDC, but also in conventional DC (cDC) and non-DC cell types. IRF-3, although contributes to IFN induction in fibroblasts, is dispensable in IFN induction in DC. Our recent evidence reveals that type I IFN induction in DC is critically dependent on IRF-8, which acts in the feedback phase of IFN gene induction in DC. Type I IFN induction in pDC is mediated by MyD88 dependent signaling pathway, and differs from pathways employed in other cells, which mostly rely on TLR3 and RIG-I family proteins. Other pro-inflammatory cytokines are produced in an IRF-5 dependent manner. However, IR-F-5 is not required for IFN induction, suggesting the presence of separate mechanisms for induction of type I IFN and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. IFN and other cytokines produced by activated DC in turn advance DC maturation and change the phenotype and function of DC. These processes are also likely to be governed by IRF family proteins.

DOI： 10.1038/sj.cr.7310018

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：MARY ANN LIEBERT INC  

Both type I interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) and type II IFN ( IFN-gamma) exert many functions that are restricted to immune cells. Thus, they play critical roles in innate and adaptive immunity. IFN regulatory factor-4 (IRF-4) and IRF-8 ( formerly PU. 1 interaction partner [ Pip] and IFN consensus sequence binding domain [ ICSBP], respectively) are immune cell-specific members of the IRF family that regulate the development of myeloid, lymphoid, and dendritic cells. They form a heterodimeric complex with another immune cell-specific transcription factor PU. 1-Spi-1 and regulate transcription of genes in the immune system. This review describes the role of the IRF-8-PU.1 complex in modulating IFN signaling in an immune cell-specific manner. Our studies revealed that some but not all IFN-gamma-inducible genes carry an IFN-gamma activation site ( GAS) element that contains a binding site for the IRF8-PU.1 complex. The IRF-8-PU.1 complex can take part in GAS-mediated transcription and amplify expression of IFN-gamma-responsive genes initiated by Stat1 in macrophages. Similarly, some but not all IFN-alpha/beta-responsive genes are shown to carry an IFN-stimulated response element ( ISRE) that contains an IRF-8-PU.1 binding site. The participation of IRF-8-PU.1 in ISRE-mediated transcription results in the augmentation of IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 ( ISGF3)-induced transcription in macrophages. Thus, GAS and ISRE elements, classically defined as universal IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-gamma response sequences, are not the same, and some harbor an embedded motif for IRF8-PU. 1 binding that functions only in immune cells. Accordingly, the IRF-8-PU.1 complex provides secondary IFN signaling pathways unique to the immune system. Collectively, the contribution of IRF-8 and PU. 1 to IFN-regulated gene expression may in part account for immune cell-specific functions of IFNs.

DOI： 10.1089/jir.2005.25.770

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATL ACAD SCIENCES  

IFN regulatory factor (IRF) 8 is a transcription factor that directs macrophage differentiation. By fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we visualized the movement of IRF8-GFP in differentiating macrophages. Recovery data fitted to mathematical models revealed two binding states for IRF8. The majority of IRF8 was highly mobile and transiently interacted with chromatin, whereas a small fraction of IRF8 bound to chromatin more stably. IRF8 mutants that did not stimulate macrophage differentiation showed a faster recovery, revealing little interaction with chromatin. A macrophage activation signal by IFN-gamma/LPS led to a global slowdown of IRF8 movement, leading to increased chromatin binding. In fibroblasts where IRF8 has no known function, WT IRF8 moved as fast as the mutants, indicating that IRF8 does not interact with chromatin in these cells. However, upon introduction of IRF8 binding partners, PU.1 and/or IRF1, the mobility of IRF8 was markedly reduced, producing a more stably bound component. Together, IRF8-chromatin interaction is dynamic in live macrophages and influenced by partner proteins and immunological stimuli.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.0504014102

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：CELL PRESS  

The antiviral protein kinase PKR inhibits protein synthesis by phosphorylating the translation initiation factor eIF2 alpha on Ser51. Binding of double-stranded RNA to the regulatory domains of PKR promotes dimerization, autophosphorylation, and the functional activation of the kinase. Herein, we identify mutations that activate PKR in the absence of its regulatory domains and map the mutations to a recently identified dimerization surface on the kinase catalytic domain. Mutations of other residues on this surface block PKR autophosphorylation and eIF2 alpha phosphorylation, while mutating Thr446, an autophosphorylation site within the catalytic-domain activation segment, impairs eIF2 alpha phosphorylation and viral pseudosubstrate binding. Mutational analysis of catalytic-domain residues preferentially conserved in the eIF2 alpha kinase family identifies helix alpha G as critical for the specific recognition of eIF2 alpha. We propose an ordered mechanism of PKR activation in which catalytic-domain climerization triggers Thr446 autophosphorylation and specific eIF2 alpha substrate recognition.

DOI： 10.1016/j.cell.2005.06.041

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH  

Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG ODN) activate the innate immune system by interacting with Toll-like receptor 9. The resultant immune response increases host resistance to infection by a variety of pathogenic microorganisms, including Listeria monocytogenes. There is a considerable interest in harnessing the immunoprotective properties of CpG ODN, yet little is known of the cell phenotype(s) responsible for mediating this protection. This work demonstrates that treatment of mice with CpG ODN increases the number of Thy1.2(+), CD11c(+) dendritic cells (Thy1.2(+) DC) in the spleen, which are both necessary and sufficient for transferring resistance to infection from CpG-treated donors to naive recipients. These CpG-activated Thy1.2(+) DC are distinct from conventional (CD11c(hi), Thy1.2(-)) or plasmacytoid DC (mPDCA(+)), and secrete IFN-gamma that contributes to protection. These findings suggest that a novel Thy1.2(+) DC subset plays a critical role in mediating the immunoprotective activity of CpG DNA.

DOI： 10.1002/eji.200425795

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC  

Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) and interferon consensus sequence-binding protein (ICSBP or IRF-8) are two members of the IRF family of transcription factors that play critical roles in interferon signaling in a wide range of host responses to infection and malignancy. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a key factor in the induction of innate resistance and generation of T helper type 1 cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In this work, we find that ICSBP-deficient macrophages are highly defective in the production of IL-12. The defect is also observed at the level of IL-12 p40 and p35 mRNA expression. Transcriptional analyses revealed that ICSBP is a potent activator of the IL-12 p35 gene. It acts through a site localized to -226 to -219, named ICSBP-response element (ICSBP-RE), in the human IL-12 p35 promoter through physical association with IRF-1 both in vitro and in vivo. Co-expression of ICSBP and IRF-1 synergistically stimulates the IL-12 p35 promoter activity. Mutations at the ICSBP-RE results in the loss of protein binding as well as transcriptional activation by ICSBP alone or together with IRF-1. This study provides novel mechanistic information on how signals initiated during innate and adaptive immune responses synergize to yield greater IL-12 production and sustained cellular immunity.

DOI： 10.1074/jbc.M406565200

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

CDKN2B (INK4B), which encodes the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p15(INK4b), is up-regulated by many cytokines found in hematopoietic environments in vivo. In human acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs), it is inactivated with high frequency. To gain insight into the regulatory pathways leading to the normal activation of p15(Ink4b) expression, we examined interferon beta (IFNbeta)-induced transcription. Using reporter gene assays in murine myelold cells M1, we determined that a 328-bp fragment, located 117 to 443 bp upstream of the translation initiation site, was sufficient to activate transcription. Both the interferon consensus sequence-binding protein/interferon regulatory factor 8 (ICSBP/IRF-8) and PU.1 were able to increase transcription from this region. It was determined that both ICSBP and PUA must bind to DNA to form a stable PU.1/ ICSBP binding complex. Interestingly, introduction of the ICSBP into ICSBP-null Tot2 cells led to a significant increase in p15(Ink4b) RNA expression. This regulation of the Ink4b promoter is apparently myelold specific because both ICSBP and PUA are myeloid commitment factors. Importantly, this provides a mechanism to explain in part the tumor suppressor activity of ICSBP, since ICSBP-deficient mice develop a chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)-like disease and a high percentage of human AML and CML lack ICSBP transcripts. D 2004 by The American Society of Hematology

DOI： 10.1182/blood-2003-01-0285

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS  

Unmethylated CpG DNA binds to the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and activates NF-kappaB to induce cytokine genes in dendritic cells (DCs). IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-8/IFN consensus sequence binding protein is a transcription factor important for development and activation of DCs. We found that DCs from IRF-8(-/-) mice were unresponsive to CpG and failed to induce TNF-alpha and IL-6, targets of NF-kappaB. Revealing a signaling defect selective for CpG, these cytokines were robustly induced in IRF-8(-/-) DCs in response to LPS that signals through TLR4. IRF-8(-/-) DCs expressed TLR9, adaptor myeloid differentiation factor 88, and other signaling molecules, but CpG failed to activate NF-kappaB in -/- cells. This was due to the selective inability of -/- DCs to activate I-kappaB kinase alphabeta the kinases required for NF-kappaB in response to CpG. IRF-8 reintroduction fully restored CpG activation of NF-kappaB and cytokine induction in -/- DCs. Together, TLR signals that activate NF-kappaB are diverse among different TLRs, and TLR9 signaling uniquely depends on IRF-8 in DCs.

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC  

Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp1) is a proton/divalent cation antiporter exclusively expressed in monocyte/macrophage cells with a unique role in innate resistance to intraphagosomal pathogens. In humans, it is linked to several infectious diseases, including leprosy, pulmonary tuberculosis, visceral leishmaniasis, meningococcal meningitis, and human immunodeficiency virus as well as to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. Here we demonstrate that the restricted expression of Nramp1 is mediated by the macrophage-specific transcription factor IRF-8. This factor exerts its activity via protein-protein interaction, which facilitates its binding to target DNA. Using yeast two-hybrid screen we identified Myc Interacting Zinc finger protein 1 (Miz-1) as new interacting partner. This interaction is restricted to immune cells and takes place on the promoter Nramp1 in association with PU.1, a transcription factor essential for myelopoiesis. Consistent with these data, IRF-8 knockout mice are sensitive to a repertoire of intracellular pathogens. Accordingly, IRF-8(-/-) mice express low levels of Nramp1 that can not be induced any further. Thus, our results explain in molecular terms the role of IRF-8 in conferring innate resistance to intracellular pathogens and point to its possible involvement in autoimmune diseases.

DOI： 10.1074/jbc.M307954200

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Dendritic cells (DCs) develop from bone marrow (BM) progenitor cells and mature in response to external signals to elicit functions important for innate and adaptive immunity. Interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP; also called interferon regulatory factor 8 [IRF-8]) is a hematopoietic cell-specific transcription factor expressed in BM progenitor cells that contributes to myeloid cell development. In light of our earlier observation that ICSBP-/- mice lack CD8alpha(+) DCs, we investigated the role of ICSBP in DC development in vitro in the presence of FIt3 ligand. Immature ICSBP-/- DCs developed from BM progenitor cells showed assorted defects, did not mature in response to activation signals, and failed to express CD8alpha and interleukin 12 (IL-12) p40, a feature consistent with ICSBP-/- DCs in vivo. We show that retroviral introduction of ICSBP restores the development of immature DCs that can fully mature on activation signals. All the defects seen with ICSBP-/- DCs were corrected after ICSBP transduction, including the expression. of CD8a and IL-12 p40 as well as major histocompatability complex class II and other costimulatory molecules. ICSBP is known to regulate gene expression by interacting with partner proteins PU.1 and IRFs, thereby binding to target elements ISRE and EICE. Analysis of a series of ICSBP mutants showed that the intact DNA-binding activity as well as the ability to interact with partner proteins are required for the restoration of DC development/maturation, pointing to the transcriptional function of ICSBP as a basis of restoration. Taken together, this study identifies ICSBP as a factor critical for both early differentiation and final maturation of DCs. (C) 2003 by The American Society of Hematology.

DOI： 10.1182/blood-2002-05-1327

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS  

IFN consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP/IFN regulatory factor 8) is a hematopoietic cell-specific transcription factor essential for the generation of CD8alpha(+) dendritic cells (DO). We found that ICSBP(-/-) mice lack B220(+)CD11b(-) plasmacytoid DO (pDCs) in addition to CD8a+ DO. Although ICSBP(-/-) mice have B220(-)CD11b(+) myeloid DCs (mDCs), they fail to mature upon Toll-like receptors signaling. Accordingly, ICSBP(-/-) bone marrow progenitor. tor cells were defective in generating pDCs in the fins-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand-based culture system and mDCs generated in this system were defective in maturation. We demonstrate that introduction of ICSBP rescues the development of pDCs from -/- bone marrow progenitors. ICSBP also restored the ability of both pDcs and mDCs to mature after Toll-like receptor signals. ICSBP restored DCs produced IFN-alpha and IL-12p40 in a DCs subset-selective manner with the amounts comparable to those by +/+ DCs. Together, ICSBP is essential for early pDC development and final maturation of both pDCs, and mDCs.

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY  

ICSBP (IRF-8) is a transcription factor of the IRF family expressed only in the immune system. It is induced in macrophages by gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and contributes to macrophage functions. By interacting with Ets family protein PU.1, ICSBP binds to the IRF/Ets composite element and stimulates transcription. ICSBP binds to another DNA element, the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE), a common target of the IRF family. Limited knowledge as to how ICSBP and other IRF proteins regulate ISRE-dependent transcription in WN-y-activated macrophages is available. By mass-spectrometric analysis of ISRE-bound proteins in macrophages, we identified TEL, another Ets member, as a factor recruited to the element in an IFN-y-dependent manner. In vitro analysis with recombinant proteins indicated that this recruitment is due to a direct interaction between ICSBP and TEL, which is enhanced by the presence of ISRE. Significantly, the interaction with TEL in turn resulted in the recruitment of the histone deacetytase HDAC3 to the ISRE, causing increased repression of IFN-y-mediated reporter activity through the ISRE. This repression may provide a negative-feedback mechanism operating after the initial transcriptional activation by IFN-y. By associating with two different Ets family proteins, ICSBP exerts a dual function in IFN-y-dependent gene regulation in an immune system-specific manner.

DOI： 10.1128/MCB.22.21.7439-7448.2002

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY  

Brd4 belongs to the BET family of nuclear proteins that carry two bromodomains implicated in the interaction with chromatin. Expression of Brd4 correlates with cell growth and is induced during early G, upon mitogenic stimuli. In the present study, we investigated the role of Brd4 in cell growth regulation. We found that ectopic expression of Brd4 in NIH 3T3 and HeLa cells inhibits cell cycle progression from G, to S. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that endogenous and transfected Brd4 interacts with replication factor C (RFC), the conserved five-subunit complex essential for DNA replication. In vitro analysis showed that Brd4 binds directly to the largest subunit, RFC-140, thereby interacting with the entire RFC. In line with the inhibitory activity seen in vivo, recombinant Brd4 inhibited RFC-dependent DNA elongation reactions in vitro. Analysis of Brd4 deletion mutants indicated that both the interaction with RFC-140 and the inhibition of entry into S phase are dependent on the second bromodomain of Brd4. Lastly, supporting the functional importance of this interaction, it was found that cotransfection with RFC-140 reduced the growth-inhibitory effect of Brd4. Taken as a whole, the present study suggests that Brd4 regulates cell cycle progression in part by interacting with RFC.

DOI： 10.1128/MCB.22.18.6509-6520.2002

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS  

IFN consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP; IFN regulatory factor-8) is a transcription factor of the IFN regulatory factor family. Disruption of this gene results in a leukemia-like disease in mice. To investigate the role of ICSBP in myeloid cell development, lineage marker-negative (Lin(-)) bone marrow progenitor cells were purified from ICSBP+/+ and ICSBP-/- mice and tested for gene expression and colony-forming ability. ICSBP was expressed in Lin- progenitor cells, and its levels were markedly increased by IFN-gamma. The colony-forming potential of ICSBP-/- progenitor cells was grossly abnormal, as they gave rise to a disproportionately high number of granulocyte colonies and many fewer macrophage colonies. IFN-gamma inhibited colony formation, while promoting macrophage maturation in ICSBP+/+ cells. In contrast, the effects of IFN-gamma were completely absent in ICSBP-/- progenitors. By retrovirus transduction we tested whether reintroduction of ICSBP restores a normal colony-forming potential in -/- progenitor cells. The wild-type ICSBP, but not transcriptionally defective mutants, corrected abnormal colony formation by increasing macrophage colonies and decreasing granulocyte colonies. Taken together, ICSBP plays a critical role in myeloid cell development by controlling lineage selection and is indispensable for IFN-gamma-dependent modulation of progenitor cell maturation.

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATL ACAD SCIENCES  

PCAF plays a role in transcriptional activation, cell-cycle arrest, and cell differentiation in cultured cells. PCAF contributes to transcriptional activation by acetylating chromatin and transcription factors through its intrinsic histone acetylase activity. In this report, we present evidence for the in vivo function of PCAF and the closely related PCAF-B/GCN5. Mice lacking PCAF are developmentally normal without a distinct phenotype. In PCAF null-zygous mice, protein levels of PCAF-B/GCN5 are drastically elevated in lung and liver, where PCAF is abundantly expressed in wild-type mice. suggesting that PCAF-B/GCN5 functionally compensates for PCAF. In contrast, animals lacking PCAF-B/GCN5 die between days 9.5 and 11.5 of gestation. Normally, PCAF-B/GCN5 mRNA is expressed at high levels already by day a. whereas PCAF mRNA is first detected on day 12.5, which may explain, in part, the distinct knockout phenotypes, These results provide evidence that PCAF and PCAF-B/GCN5 play distinct but functionally overlapping roles in embryogenesis.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.97.21.11303

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

To examine the role of retinoids in hematopoietic cell growth in vivo, we studied female SENCAR mice made vitamin A deficient by dietary restriction. Deficient mice exhibited a dramatic increase in myeloid cells in bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood. The abnormal expansion of myeloid cells was detected from an early stage of vitamin A deficiency and contrasted with essentially normal profiles of T and B lymphocytes. This abnormality was reversed on addition of retinoic acid to the vitamin A-deficient diet, indicating that the myeloid cell expansion is a direct result of retinoic acid deficiency. TUNEL analysis indicated that spontaneous apoptosis, a normal process in the life cycle of myeloid cells, was impaired in vitamin A-deficient mice, which may play a role in the increased myeloid cell population. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of purified granulocytes showed that expression of not only RAR, but RXRs, 2 nuclear receptors that mediate biologic activities of retinoids, was significantly reduced in cells of deficient mice, This work shows that retinoids critically control the homeostasis of myeloid cell population in vivo and suggests that deficiency in this signaling pathway may contribute to various myeloproliferative disorders, (Blood, 2000;95: 3349-3356) (C) 2000 by The American Society of Hematology.

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：STOCKTON PRESS  

We investigated hemostatic parameters in a prospective study of 16 patients who received bone marrow transplants (BMT), We found a significant rise in the levels of fibrinogen, plasmin-cr, antiplasmin inhibitor complex, tissue-plasminogen activator.plasminogen activator inhibitor complex (t-PA.PAI), von Willebrand factor antigen, and thrombomodulin on day 14 after transplant compared with values before transplant. Protein C and thrombin-antithrombin III levels did not change significantly. No significant changes in prothrombin time ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, or protein S Here detected, Patients who had grades II-IV graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (n = 6) showed a significantly higher level of t-PA.PAI on day 14 compared with those with grades 0-I GVHD (n = 10) (P = 0.0062), Three patients with grades II-IV GVHD developed thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) on days 19, 19 and 62. In these patients, we noted significantly lower levels of fibrinogen (P = 0.0383), and significantly higher le, els of t-PA PAI (P = 0.0008) and thrombomodulin (P = 0.0001) on day 14 compared with those patients who did not develop TMA. These results suggest that prothrombotic states and endothelial damage may be caused by the conditioning regimen and/or acute GVHD during BRIT; thrombomodulin values on day 14 post BAIT may be useful in surveillance for TMA because of endothelial cell injury.

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：STOCKTON PRESS  

We report a patient who relapsed in a patella and knee joint after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for Ph chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The patient complained of pain and swelling of knee joint 14 months post-BMT. Fluid from the knee joint included leukemic cells consistent with the immunophenotype of blasts prior to BMT and also revealed the bcr/abl transcript by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an abnormal signal in the patella, Radiotherapy to the localized extramedullary lesion was successful and no bone marrow relapse has been detected cytologically and cytogenetically to date. This case suggests that the physician should be aware of unusual relapse sites of leukemia post-BMT.

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE  

Hematopoietic cells differentially bind to the C-terminal heparin-binding domain of fibronectin depending on the activation state of integrin alpha(4) beta(1). In this study, we have identified a synthetic peptide derived from the C-terminal heparin-binding domain of fibronectin that promotes adhesion of PMA-treated U937 cells (a monocytic cell line) in a dose-dependent manner, A peptide (FN-C/H-V; residues Gln(1892) to Gly(1910)) was active to inhibit adhesion of PMA-treated U937 cells to the 29-kDa fragment comprising the C-terminal heparin-binding domain of fibronectin. A peptide with scrambled version of FN-C/H-V lost the inhibitory activity on the adhesion, Furthermore, the IgG-conjugated FN-C/H-V promoted the adhesion of PMA-treated U937 cells to an extent comparable to that of the 29-kDa fragment, The adhesion of PMA-treated U937 cells on IgG-conjugated FN-C/H-V was inhibited both by anti-alpha(4) beta(1) antibody and by glycosaminoglycans including chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate, The other peptide, FN-C/H-II, was also a weak adhesion-promoting domain, These results suggest that the amino acid sequence defined by peptide FN-C/H-V contributes to the main adhesion-promoting activity of the 29-kDa fragment of fibronectin to stimulated U937 cells. The regulation of interactions of alpha(4) beta(1) integrin and glycosaminoglycans with ligands in fibronectin may have important implications for the migration and function of U937 cells. (C) 1997 Academic Press.

DOI： 10.1006/bbrc.1997.7259

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：SPRINGER VERLAG  

We observed a patient in whom graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) appeared to induce a positive effect. This 32-year-old male with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia received a bone marrow transplant (BMT) from an HLA-identical sibling donor. We analyzed the bone marrow with the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to screen for the minor bcr/abl transcript, which indicates the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD). MRD was present in the pre-and post-transplant phases, There was no evidence of acute GVHD by post-transplant day 45. We abruptly discontinued the immunosuppressive therapy in an attempt to eliminate MRD by inducing an antileukemic reaction during GVHD, GVHD associated with diarrhea and liver dysfunction developed on day 64. On day 105, MRD disappeared and GVHD was treated with prednisolone and cyclosporin. The disappearance of MRD may have been due to the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect mediated by the alloimmune response of donor T lymphocytes. These findings suggest that induction of the GVL effect may be useful for eliminating MRD after BMT in leukemia patients at high risk of recurrence of the disease.

DOI： 10.1007/s001470050065

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：SLACK INC  

Background: Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) shows its antitumor effect through binding to specific cell surface receptors, A DNA synthesis inhibitor, hydroxyurea (HU), has been successfully combined with IFN-alpha to improve the efficiency of IFN therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), To understand the mechanism of this combination effect, expression of IFN-alpha or receptors on the CML cell line, K562, was studied before and after treatment with HU.
Methods: Cells were treated,vith HU at a dose of 0, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 mmol/L for 48 hours. Binding assays were performed using I-125-labeled IFN-alpha at 4 degrees C, Cell cycle analysis was carried out using flow cytometer following staining cellular DNA with propidium iodide, Northern blot analysis was performed to evaluate the inducibility of interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) gene expression by IFN-alpha.
Results: Hydroxyurea-treated cells showed a dose- and time-dependent increase in binding of I-125-labeled IFN-alpha (maximal 2.5-fold), The increase of binding was caused by an increase in the number of binding sites with a constant receptor affinity, Similar results were obtained in the Burkitt's lymphoma cell line, Daudi, Cell cycle analyses suggested that upregulation of the IFN receptor may have occurred as a result of the alteration in the cell cycle distribution, Furthermore, IFN-alpha induction of the IFN-inducible gene IRF-1 mRNA in HU-treated K562 cells was 2-fold higher than that in untreated cells.
Conclusions: Thus, HU may have an ability to enhance the response to IFN-alpha probably because of its ability to upregulate the IFN-alpha receptors, suggesting that this may be involved in the mechanism of effective combination therapy of IFN-alpha with HU.

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：STOCKTON PRESS  

The transcription factor IRF-1 has been shown to function as a tumor suppressor. Here we report that a significant proportion of the IRF-1 mRNA detected in normal human hematopoietic cells and cultured cell lines lacks exon 2 (containing the AUG initiation codon) and 3 as a result of exon skipping. Surprisingly, when we examined the bone marrow and peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or leukemia secondary to MDS, we could still detect the exon-skipped form but little or none of the intact IRF-1 mRNA. This appears to be the result of accelerated exon skipping since we could find no mutations within the exons and splicing junctions from these patients. The exon-skipped form of IRF-1 lacking exons 2 and 3 displayed neither DNA binding nor tumor suppressive activities. Thus this accelerated exon skipping may cause the inactivation of IRF-1 and thereby contribute to the development of human hematopoietic malignancies.

Web of Science

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：STOCKTON PRESS  

We describe a case of cold agglutinin disease (CAD) following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. This 36-year-old male developed CAD 3 weeks after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Cyclosporin A and methotrexate had been administered to prevent graft-versus-host disease. Other agents administered included cytomegalovirus hyperimmune globulin and recombinant human G-CSF. Pericarditis preceded the development of CAD. The characterization of cold agglutinin (CA) was monoclonal IgM-kappa with anti-Pr antigen specificity, probably derived from the engrafted donor lymphocytes. The administration of prednisolone led to transient improvement. The CA titer decreased without further treatment 12 weeks after transplant.

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Between 1981 and 1990, ACOMEP-BD regimen (adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, etoposide, prednisolone, bleomycin, dacarbazine) was compared with VEPA regimen (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, prednisolone, adriamycin) in 66 newly diagnosed patients younger than 65 of age, with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The median age of the patients was 47.5 years (range 22-64 years), 43 males and 23 females. One patients were in stage I, 6 were in II, 27 were in III, 32 were in IV. Twenty-seven patients received VEPA and 39 received ACOMEP-BD. The therapeutic results of 66 patients with ACOMEP-BD or VEPA were as follows: complete remission (CR) rate of 54% and 48%
relapse rate of 29% and 77%
CR duration of 2-34 months (mean: 22 months) and 2-74 months (16 months)
freedom-from-relapse survival (at 3 years) of 71% and 38%
and overall survival (at 4 years) of 62% and 26%, respectively. In these results, only relapse rate was significant and the others were not. Prognostic factors were performance status (PS) and lactate dehydrogenase level for ACOMEP-BD, and PS and marrow involvement for VEPA. Received dose intensity was 0.85 in ACOMP-BD and 0.41 in VEPA. It was expected that outcome of patients with NHL can be improved by increasing dose intensity.

Scopus

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Myelodysplastic syndrome (refractory anemia with excess of blasts
RAEB) with marked basophilia and eosinophilia is described. An 82-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of severe normocytic normochromic anemia (Hb 5.6 g/dl). The white cell count was 9,200/microliters with marked basophilia (34.5%) and eosinophilia (19.5%). The bone marrow aspiration also revealed both basophilia and eosinophilia, with blast contents of 9%. Diagnosis of RAEB was established. Although the treatment with red cell transfusion and ubenimex (Bastatin) was started, anemia was not improved. A karyotype of the bone marrow cells from this patient showed 47, XY, +8, i (17q), which has been observed as additional chromosomal abnormalities in blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia. The diagnosis of CML was not compatible with this case, because Ph1 chromosome and bcr gene rearrangement were negative. It is concluded that eosinophilia and basophilia might be derived from clonal abnormalities associated with MDS.

Scopus

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS  

Web of Science

researchmap

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (trade magazine, newspaper, online media)  

DOI： 10.7875/first.author.2016.089

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：WILEY-BLACKWELL  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本循環制御医学会  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

DOI： 10.1016/j.cyto.2014.07.239

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：JAPANESE PHARMACOLOGICAL SOC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

DOI： 10.1016/j.cyto.2013.06.157

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

DOI： 10.1016/j.cyto.2013.06.229

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

DOI： 10.1016/j.cyto.2013.06.278

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：JAPANESE PHARMACOLOGICAL SOC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：JAPANESE PHARMACOLOGICAL SOC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：JAPANESE PHARMACOLOGICAL SOC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：JAPANESE PHARMACOLOGICAL SOC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：JAPANESE PHARMACOLOGICAL SOC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：JAPANESE PHARMACOLOGICAL SOC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

DOI： 10.1016/j.cyto.2011.07.176

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：JAPANESE PHARMACOLOGICAL SOC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

DOI： 10.1016/j.cyto.2010.07.071

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

DOI： 10.1016/j.cyto.2010.07.065

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD  

DOI： 10.1016/j.neures.2010.07.119

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：JAPANESE PHARMACOLOGICAL SOC  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS LTD ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本口腔組織培養学会  

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER SOC CELL BIOLOGY  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：Japanese  

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：W B SAUNDERS CO  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：Japanese  

CiNii Books

researchmap

Other Link： http://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/1998039756

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：W B SAUNDERS CO  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：English   Publisher：Nature Publishing Group  

Lymphocytes are highly sensitive to DNA damage-induced apoptosis. In thymocytes, the tumor suppressor p53 has been shown to be required for this type of apoptosis. However an as yet unknown, p53-independent pathway(s) appears to mediate the same event in mitogenically activated mature T lymphocytes. By using mice with a null mutation in the IRF-1 gene, we revealed that DNA damage-induced apoptosis in the latter cell type is dependent on the anti-oncogenic transcription factor interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1). Thus two different anti-oncogenic transcription factors, p53 and IRF-1, are required for distinct apoptotic pathways in T lymphocytes. Furthermore, we found that mitogen induction of the interleukin-1β-converting enzyme (Ice) gene, a mammalian homolog of the Caenorhabditis elegans cell death gene ced-3, is also IRF-1-dependent. An IRF-1 binding sequence was identified in the 5′ flanking region of the Ice gene. In addition, ectopic overexpression of IRF-1 results in the activation of the endogenous Ice gene and enhances the sensitivity of cells to radiation-induced apoptosis. Thus, induction of Ice gene may be involved in IRF-1 dependent DNA damage-induced apoptosis in activated mature T lymphocytes.

Scopus

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese  

CiNii Books

researchmap

Language：English   Publisher：PLENUM PRESS DIV PLENUM PUBLISHING CORP  

Web of Science

researchmap