Showing papers by "Herbert C. Morse published in 2006"
TL;DR: Previously unappreciated roles for IRF8 in the transcriptional regulation of B cell GC reactions that include direct regulation of AICDA and BCL6 are suggested.
Abstract: Interferon (IFN) consensus sequence-binding protein/IFN regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is a transcription factor that regulates the differentiation and function of macrophages, granulocytes, and dendritic cells through activation or repression of target genes. Although IRF8 is also expressed in lymphocytes, its roles in B cell and T cell maturation or function are ill defined, and few transcriptional targets are known. Gene expression profiling of human tonsillar B cells and mouse B cell lymphomas showed that IRF8 transcripts were expressed at highest levels in centroblasts, either from secondary lymphoid tissue or transformed cells. In addition, staining for IRF8 was most intense in tonsillar germinal center (GC) dark-zone centroblasts. To discover B cell genes regulated by IRF8, we transfected purified primary tonsillar B cells with enhanced green fluorescent protein–tagged IRF8, generated small interfering RNA knockdowns of IRF8 expression in a mouse B cell lymphoma cell line, and examined the effects of a null mutation of IRF8 on B cells. Each approach identified activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA) and BCL6 as targets of transcriptional activation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated in vivo occupancy of 5′ sequences of both genes by IRF8 protein. These results suggest previously unappreciated roles for IRF8 in the transcriptional regulation of B cell GC reactions that include direct regulation of AICDA and BCL6.
181 citations
TL;DR: The discovered epitope-specific antibody-mediated degradation of MBP suggests a mechanistic explanation of the slow development of neurodegeneration associated with MS.
Abstract: Autoantibody-mediated tissue destruction is among the main features of organ-specific autoimmunity. This report describes “an antibody enzyme” (abzyme) contribution to the site-specific degradation of a neural antigen. We detected proteolytic activity toward myelin basic protein (MBP) in the fraction of antibodies purified from the sera of humans with multiple sclerosis (MS) and mice with induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Chromatography and zymography data demonstrated that the proteolytic activity of this preparation was exclusively associated with the antibodies. No activity was found in the IgG fraction of healthy donors. The human and murine abzymes efficiently cleaved MBP but not other protein substrates tested. The sites of MBP cleavage determined by mass spectrometry were localized within immunodominant regions of MBP. The abzymes could also cleave recombinant substrates containing encephalytogenic MBP85-101 peptide. An established MS therapeutic Copaxone appeared to be a specific abzyme inhibitor. Thus, the discovered epitope-specific antibody-mediated degradation of MBP suggests a mechanistic explanation of the slow development of neurodegeneration associated with MS.
178 citations
TL;DR: The anti-MBP autoantibody-mediated proteolysis may be regarded as an additional marker of the disease progression, based on their proteolytic activity against the targeted autoantigen.
49 citations
TL;DR: It is reported that, unlike in humans, the mouse and rat Eat2 genes are duplicated with an identical genomic organization.
Abstract: Human EAT-2 (SH2D1B) and SLAM-associated protein (SAP) (SH2D1A) are single SH2-domain adapters, which bind to specific tyrosine residues in the cytoplasmic tail of six signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) (SLAMF1)-related receptors. Here we report that, unlike in humans, the mouse and rat Eat2 genes are duplicated with an identical genomic organization. The coding regions of the mouse Eat2a and Eat2b genes share 91% identity at the nucleotide level and 84% at the protein level; similarly, segments of introns are highly conserved. Whereas expression of mouse Eat2a mRNA was detected in multiple tissues, Eat2b was only detectable in mouse natural killer cells, CD8+ T cells, and ovaries, suggesting a very restricted tissue expression of the latter. Both the EAT-2A and EAT-2B coimmunoprecipitated with mouse SLAM in transfected cells and augmented tyrosine phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic tail of SLAM. Both EAT-2A and EAT-2B bind to the Src-like kinases Fyn, Hck, Lyn, Lck, and Fgr, as determined by a yeast two-hybrid assay. However, unlike SAP, the EAT-2 proteins bind to their kinase domains and not to the SH3 domain of these kinases. Taken together, the data suggest that both EAT-2A and EAT-2B are adapters that recruit Src kinases to SLAM family receptors using a mechanism that is distinct from that of SAP.
34 citations
TL;DR: In normal lymphocytes and most human B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas, there is an inverse correlation between proliferative activity and expression of p27; however, a subset of NHL with high mitotic indices expresses p27, which is inactive due to sequestration in nuclear protein complexes or due to cytoplasmic retention.
32 citations
TL;DR: Results indicate that, throughout the developmental program of DCs, ICSBP differentially controls Ag uptake and MHC class II (MHC-II) presentation affecting both functions only in differentiated peripheral DCs.
27 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that pEmu-B29-TCL1 transgenic B cells primed for transformation must experience the GC environment and, for at least some, develop genome instability to become fully malignant.
21 citations
TL;DR: This is the first report of spontaneous MKL in mice, defining VWF as a biomarker for diagnosis and suggesting possible involvement of a series of genes in disease pathogenesis.
11 citations
01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: The role of IRF8 in the regulation of B cell genes has been investigated in this paper, where the authors identify activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA) and BCL6 as targets of transcriptional activation.
Abstract: Interferon (IFN) consensus sequence-binding protein/IFN regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is a transcription factor that regulates the differentiation and function of macrophages, granulocytes, and dendritic cells through activation or repression of target genes. Although IRF8 is also expressed in lymphocytes, its roles in B cell and T cell maturation or function are ill defi ned, and few transcriptional targets are known. Gene expression profi ling of human tonsillar B cells and mouse B cell lymphomas showed that IRF8 transcripts were expressed at highest levels in centroblasts, either from secondary lymphoid tissue or transformed cells. In addition, staining for IRF8 was most intense in tonsillar germinal center (GC) darkzone centroblasts. To discover B cell genes regulated by IRF8, we transfected purifi ed primary tonsillar B cells with enhanced green fl uorescent protein–tagged IRF8, generated small interfering RNA knockdowns of IRF8 expression in a mouse B cell lymphoma cell line, and examined the effects of a null mutation of IRF8 on B cells. Each approach identifi ed activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA) and BCL6 as targets of transcriptional activation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated in vivo occupancy of 5′ sequences of both genes by IRF8 protein. These results suggest previously unappreciated roles for IRF8 in the transcriptional regulation of B cell GC reactions that include direct regulation of AICDA and BCL6.
9 citations
TL;DR: It is indicated that GC-derived lymphomas cannot develop in the absence of AID, thereby providing direct support to the notion that AID-mediated mistakes in antigen receptor gene modification events are responsible for B-NHL pathogenesis.
1 citations