Anti-ATF5 monoclonal antibody Made to order

Hemophagocy-tic syndrome (HPS) is a fatal, pro-inflammatory cytokine disorder that is associated with viral infections and immune disorders. Previously, we demonstrated that Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) could down-regulate the SAP gene, enhancing Th1 cytokine secretion in T cells and leading to HPS. The exact mechanism of SAP gene regulation by LMP-1 remains to be clarified. In this study, using cDNA microarray analysis, we identified ATF5 as the candidate transcriptional repressor for SAP expression in LMP-1-expressing T cells. LMP-1 up-regulated ATF5 via TRAF2,5/NF-kappa B signals to suppress SAP gene expression. Reporter assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that ATF5 bound differentially to two sites of the SAP promoter. In resting T cells, ATF5 bound predominantly to the high-affinity site in the-81 to-74 region while additionally binding to the low-affinity site at-305 to -296 in LMP-1-expressing T cells. Such binding subsequently disrupted the transcription of the SAP gene. At the same time, Th1 cytokine secretion was enhanced. This phenomenon was also observed in conditions such as ATF5 overexpression, phytohemagglutinin stimulation of primary T cells, and ligand engagement of T-cell lines. Therefore, the down-regulation of the SAP gene by ATF5 may represent a common mechanism for the pathogenesis of HPS that is associated with either Epstein-Barr virus infection or immune disorders with dysregulated cell activation. (Am J Pathol 2008, 173: 1397-1405; DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2008.080440)

Preeclampsia (PE) is a dangerous complication of pregnancy, especially when it presents at <34 wk of gestation (PE < 34 wk). It is a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality and also increases the risk of cardiometabolic diseases in later life for both mother and offspring. Placental oxidative stress induced by defective placentation sits at the epicenter of the pathophysiology. The placenta is susceptible to activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), and we hypothesized this may affect mitochondrial function. We first examined mitochondrial respiration before investigating evidence of mitochondrial UPR (UPRmt) in placentas of PE < 34 wk patients. Reduced placental oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) capacity measured in situ was observed despite no change in protein or mRNA levels of electron transport chain complexes. These results were fully recapitulated by subjecting trophoblast cells to repetitive hypoxia-reoxygenation and were associated with activation of a noncanonical UPRmt pathway; the quality-control protease CLPP, central to UPRmt signal transduction, was reduced, while the cochaperone, TID1, was increased. Transcriptional factor ATF5, which regulates expression of key UPRmt genes including HSP60 and GRP75, showed no nuclear translocation. Induction of the UPRmt with methacycline reduced OXPHOS capacity, while silencing CLPP was sufficient to reduce OXPHOS capacity, membrane potential, and promoted mitochondrial fission. CLPP was negatively regulated by the PERK-eIF2 alpha arm of the endoplasmic reticulum UPR pathway, independent of ATF4. Similar changes in the UPRmt pathway were observed in placentas from PE < 34 wk patients. Our results identify UPRmt as a therapeutic target for restoration of placental function in early-onset preeclampsia.