Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.1.3.16 (calcineurin)
17,112 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

CD134 (OX40) is involved in T cell costimulation and T cell-dependent antibody production. We show strongly increased T cell expression of CD134 in a model of T helper 2-mediated systemic autoimmunity, induced by HgCl2. Regulation of CD134 expression on CD4+ T cells was further studied in vitro, identifying CD134 as an early marker of T cell activation. CD134 expression could be induced by interleukin-4, but not by interferon-gamma or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Effects of interleukin-4 and of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate on CD134 expression could be blocked by the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporin. Combination of these stimuli with ionomycin resulted in a strongly synergistic increase of CD134 expression, which was blocked by the calcineurin-inhibitor cyclosporin A. The results demonstrate the involvement of two synergistically acting pathways in induction of CD134 expression. Furthermore, they suggest a role for interleukin-4 in induction of CD134 expression in vivo.
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PMID:Strong expression of CD134 (OX40), a member of the TNF receptor family, in a T helper 2-type cytokine environment. 976 31

1. In human epithelial-like DLD-I cells, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) II expression was induced by interferon-gamma (100 u ml(-1)) alone and, to a larger extent, by a cytokine mixture (CM) consisting of interferon-gamma, interleukin-1beta (50 u ml(-1)) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (10 ng ml(-1)). 2. CM-induced NOS II expression was inhibited by tyrphostin B42 (mRNA down to 1%; nitrite production down to 0.5% at 300 microM) and tyrphostin A25 (mRNA down to 24%, nitrite production down to 1% at 200 microM), suggesting the involvement of janus kinase 2 (JAK-2). Tyrphostin B42 also blocked the CM-induced JAK-2 phosphorylation (kinase assay) and reduced the CM-stimulated STAT1alpha binding activity (gel shift analysis). 3. CM reduced the nuclear binding activity of transcription factor AP-1. A heterogenous group of compounds, that stimulated the expression of c-fos/c-jun, enhanced the nuclear binding activity of AP-1. This group includes the protein phosphatase inhibitors calyculin A, okadaic acid, and phenylarsine oxide, as well as the inhibitor of translation anisomycin. All of these compounds reduced CM-induced NOS II mRNA expression (to 9% at 50 nM calyculin A; to 28% at 500 nM okadaic acid; to 18% at 10 microM phenylarsine oxide; and to 19% at 100 ng ml(-1) anisomycin) without changing NOS II mRNA stability. In cotransfection experiments, overexpression of c-Jun and c-Fos reduced promoter activity of a 7 kb DNA fragment of the 5'-flanking sequence of the human NOS II gene to 63%. 4. Nuclear extracts from resting DLD-1 cells showed significant binding activity for transcription factor NF-kappaB, which was only slightly enhanced by CM. The NF-kappaB inhibitors dexamethasone (1 microM), 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (50 microM), panepoxydone (5 microg ml(-1)) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (100 microM) produced no inhibition of CM-induced NOS II induction. 5. We conclude that in human DLD-1 cells, the interferon-gamma-JAK-2-STAT1alpha pathway is important for NOS II induction. AP-1 (that is downregulated by CM) seems to be a negative regulator of NOS II expression. NF-kappaB, which is probably important for basal activity of the human NOS II promoter, is unlikely to function as a major effector of CM in DLD-1 cells.
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PMID:Cytokine induction of NO synthase II in human DLD-1 cells: roles of the JAK-STAT, AP-1 and NF-kappaB-signaling pathways. 977 60

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for the clonotype of an autoreactive T cell may be useful reagents in the modulation of autoimmune disease. We have previously reported the generation of a set of mAb specific for the clonotypic structure of a human T-cell clone recognizing an epitope of human cartilage gp-39. This glycoprotein was recently identified as a candidate autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that small amounts of immobilized anticlonotype mAb can induce anergy in the autoreactive clone. Following the anergic stimulus, T cells failed to proliferate upon restimulation as a result of a lack of interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene transcription. In addition, a diminished interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production was found. Our data indicate that anergy was not a result of T-cell receptor (TCR) downmodulation or the absence of free TCR. The anergic state was induced independent of costimulation or the presence of IL-2 and no protein synthesis was required for the induction of anergy. Anticlonotype mAb-induced anergy was prevented by cyclosporin A, suggesting that active signalling via the calcium/calcineurin pathway was required for the induction of anergy. In coculture experiments, anergic T cells were found to suppress the response of reactive cells from the same clone. This bystander suppression led to 90% inhibition of peptide-induced proliferation. Together, these findings suggest that mAb to the clonotypic structure of autoreactive T cells may be suitable reagents for the functional inactivation of these T cells in autoimmune diseases.
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PMID:T-cell anergy induced by clonotype-specific antibodies: modulation of an autoreactive human T-cell clone in vitro. 1023 45

Tacrolimus (FK-506) and cyclosporin A (CsA) are calcineurin antagonists used widely as T-cell immunosuppressants; however, their relative efficacy on the production of interleukin-18 (IL-18) remains undefined. We have examined the effects of FK-506 and CsA on the cytokine generation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We studied the levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18), IL-12, IL-10, IL-6, IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the supernatant in allo-MLR by ELISA assay. Supernatant levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 were detected 12 h after MLR and markedly increased thereafter. In contrast, production of IL-18 was detected at 12 h, reached a near maximum level at 24 h and decreased at 72 h. These results suggested that IFN-gamma production depended on IL-18, IL-12 and IL-2 in the early phase of MLR and depended mainly on IL-12 and IL-2 in the late phase. Both calcineurin antagonists inhibit the generation of IL-18, which plays a large role in allogeneic cell interactions, in macrophages and they also promote an equivalent down-regulation of T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 responses in a concentration-dependent manner. About 90% of IFN-gamma production induced by MLR was inhibited by an anti-IL-18 antibody, showing that IL-18 can trigger IFN-gamma production in MLR. These results suggest that dual signaling consisting of antigen-driven nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) activation and LPS-mediated NF-kappaB activation is crucial for IL-18 production in macrophages, and that IL-18 can trigger IFN-gamma production in T-cells by MLR.
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PMID:Calcineurin antagonists inhibit interferon-gamma production by downregulation of interleukin-18 in human mixed lymphocyte reactions. 1106 69

Tacrolimus (FK506), an inhibitor of calcineurin, is an immunosuppressive agent used in clinical trials of transplant patients. Although FK506 targets Ca(2+)-mediated T-cell signaling, phenotype(s) of the specific target cells and the corresponding cytokine pathways are not well known. In this study, the impact of FK506 on number and characteristic of T-cells in selected lymphoid tissues of gnotobiotic (GB) piglets was determined. FK506-treated GB piglets were compared with untreated GB and conventional piglets. The T-helper, cytotoxic, natural killer, double-positive, and activated T-cell populations were analyzed in suspensions of mononuclear cells isolated from thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes and peripheral blood. In vitro secretion of interleukin-8 and interferon-gamma in concanavalin A-stimulated lymphoid cell-cultures was measured by ELISA. Daily intramuscular treatment of GB piglets with 1mg/kg of FK506 from birth for 4 weeks resulted in lowered (P<0.05) in vitro secretion of interferon-gamma and interleukin-8. Moreover, depletions of MNC in systemic and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues were observed in piglets treated with FK506. The depletions of mononuclear cells and low levels of interferon-gamma and interleukin-8 in piglets treated with FK506 were accompanied by lower proportion of CD3+, CD2+CD4+ and CD2+CD8+ T-cell phenotypes in peripheral blood but not in thymus and mesenteric lymph nodes. These results indicate that FK506-treatment causes immunosuppression in GB piglet, and this effect could be exploited further to study opportunistic pathogens in pig model.
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PMID:Tacrolimus-FK506 induced immunosuppression in gnotobiotic piglets. 1113 26

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins are both tyrosine- and serine-phosphorylated, mediating signal transduction and gene regulation. Following gene regulation, STAT activity in the nucleus is then terminated by a nuclear protein phosphatase(s), which remains unidentified. Using novel antibody arrays to screen the Stat1-specific protein phosphatase(s), we identified a SHP-2-Stat1 interaction in the A431 cell nucleus. SHP-2 and Stat1 nuclear localization and their association in response to either epidermal growth factor or interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) were confirmed by immunofluorescent staining and affinity precipitation assays. The SHP-2 C-terminal region containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase activity interacted with the C-terminal SH2 transcriptional activation domain of Stat1. In SHP-2-/- mouse fibroblast cells, Stat1 phosphorylation at both the tyrosine residue Tyr(701) and the serine residue Ser(727) by IFNgamma was enhanced and prolonged. Consistently, purified GST-SHP-2 dephosphorylated Stat1 at both tyrosine and serine residues when immunoprecipitated phospho-Stat1 or a peptide corresponding to the sequence surrounding Tyr(P)(701) or Ser(P)(727) of Stat1 was used as the substrate. Overexpression of SHP-2 in 293T cells inhibited IFNgamma-dependent Stat1 phosphorylation and suppressed Stat1-dependent induction of luciferase activity. Our findings demonstrate that SHP-2 is a dual-specificity protein phosphatase involved in Stat1 dephosphorylation at both tyrosine and serine residues and plays an important role in modulating STAT function in gene regulation.
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PMID:SHP-2 is a dual-specificity phosphatase involved in Stat1 dephosphorylation at both tyrosine and serine residues in nuclei. 1227 Sep 32

Expression of stem cell antigen-1 (Ly-6A/E) is developmentally regulated in murine B cells. However, little is known about its modulation during B cell activation. We report here the differential regulation of Ly-6A/E expression in response to diverse activation signals in mature B cells. Stimulation of resting B cells through the antigen receptor (BCR) inhibited, Ly-6A/E surface expression in dose dependent manner. Activation induced downregulation of Ly-6A/E is specific to BCR mediated signaling events as stimulation of B cells with anti-CD40, lipopolysaccharide or interferon-gamma induced upregulation of Ly-6A/E surface expression. The activation induced differential modulation of Ly-6A/E expression is mediated at the mRNA levels. A role for BCR signaling in inhibition of Ly-6A/E expression was further confirmed using STAT-1(-/-) B cells, which expressed constitutive, but not inducible Ly-6A/E. The BCR induced inhibition of Ly-6A/E RNA and surface expression was mimicked by ionomycin, but not phorbol myristate acetate, indicating a role for calcium but not protein kinase C dependent signaling events. Inhibition of calcineurin reversed the BCR or ionomycin inhibited Ly-6A/E expression. Interestingly, in vitro differentiation analysis of Ly-6A/E(+) and Ly-6A/E(-) splenic B cells revealed the Ly-6A/E(+) cells to be the major source of antibody production, suggesting a potential role for Ly-6A/E in B cell differentiation. These studies provide the first evidence for activation induced differential modulation and differentiation of Ly-6A/E(+) B cells.
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PMID:Activation induced differential regulation of stem cell antigen-1 (Ly-6A/E) expression in murine B cells. 1464 3

Barbiturates are frequently used for the treatment of intracranial hypertension after brain injury but their application is associated with a profound increase in the infection rate. The mechanism of barbiturate-induced failure of protective immunity is still unknown. We provide evidence that nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), an essential transcription factor in T cell activation, is a target of barbiturate-mediated immunosuppression in human T lymphocytes. Treatment of primary CD3+ lymphocytes with barbiturates inhibited the PMA and ionomycin induced increase in DNA binding of NFAT, whereas the activity of other transcription factors, such as Oct-1, SP-1, or the cAMP response element-binding protein, remained unaffected. Moreover, barbiturates suppressed the expression of a luciferase reporter gene under control of NFAT (stably transfected Jurkat T cells), and of the cytokine genes interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma that contain functional binding motifs for NFAT within their regulatory promotor domains (human peripheral blood CD3+ lymphocytes). Neither GABA receptor-initiated signaling nor direct interactions of barbiturates with nuclear proteins affected the activity of NFAT. In contrast, barbiturates suppressed the calcineurin-dependent dephosphorylation of NFAT in intact T cells and also inhibited the enzymatic activity of calcineurin in a cell-free system, excluding upstream regulation. Thus, our results demonstrate a novel mechanism of direct inhibition of the calcineurin/calmodulin complex that may explain some of the known immunosuppressive effects associated with barbiturate treatment.
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PMID:Barbiturates directly inhibit the calmodulin/calcineurin complex: a novel mechanism of inhibition of nuclear factor of activated T cells. 1474 77

The immunomodulatory lectin, Volvariella volvacea lectin (VVL), isolated from the edible mushroom, Volvariella volvacea, has been shown to stimulate the expression of Th1 cytokines and the proliferative activity of mouse splenocytes (She et al. [1998]: Biochem Biophys Res Comm 247:106-111). In order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these activities, we conducted a kinetic analysis of the early and late activation markers in mouse T lymphocytes: (1) flow cytometric analysis of calcium influx, (2) induction of activation molecules (CD25 and CD69), (3) expression and DNA-binding activity of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), NFkappaB, and activation protein-1 (AP-1), (4) translational production of cytokines (interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFNgamma)), and (5) cell proliferation by expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and tritiated thymidine incorporation. All results showed that VVL induced a rapid expression of CD69, CD25, NFAT, IL-2, and PCNA in a dose- and time-dependent manner, leading to lymphocyte proliferation. These effects brought about by VVL were more potent than those stimulated by equimolar concentrations of mitogenic lectin, concanavalin A (Con A). Cell activation and proliferation were mediated through a calcium-dependent pathway as demonstrated by a VVL-induced increase of intracellular calcium influx, and a proliferation inhibition by the Ca-dependent phosphatase calcineurin blocker-cyclosporin A (CsA). Taken all data together, VVL is a lectin which activates lymphocyte through successive calcium influx, nuclear localization of NFAT transcription factor, induction of activation markers, CD25 and CD69, intracellular cytokine production, and cell proliferation.
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PMID:Volvariella volvacea lectin activates mouse T lymphocytes by a calcium dependent pathway. 1525 2

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease which often becomes manifest in early infancy and is characterized by itchy eczematous lesions with characteristic localization. The cellular infiltrate of allergic eczematous skin diseases (i.e. AD, allergic contact dermatitis) is mainly composed of mononuclear cells. Whereas allergic contact dermatitis is always triggered by allergen-specific T cells, a number of allergic and nonallergic trigger factors appear to be relevant in AD. This article discusses data coming from immunological studies focusing on T-cell responses in AD. The concept of a switch from a T helper type 1 (Th1) to a Th2 cytokine profile in lesional skin of AD is well accepted. Besides CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD8+ cells are likely to play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. Recent studies point to the induction of apoptosis in keratinocytes by interferon-gamma derived from skin-homing T cells as a further important mechanism for the induction and maintenance of the eczema. Recent clinical studies have confirmed the major role of food allergy and infectious microorganisms as trigger factors of AD. New therapeutic strategies for AD include topical calcineurin inhibitors which were introduced as a new therapeutic principle at the beginning of this decade.
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PMID:Allergic manifestations of skin diseases--atopic dermatitis. 1635 50


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