Transcription factor c-Rel plays a crucial role in driving anti-CD40-mediated innate colitis
MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY
Authors: Visekruna, A.; Linnerz, T.; Martinic, V.; Vachharajani, N.; Hartmann, S.; Harb, H.; Joeris, T.; Pfefferle, P. I.; Hofer, M. J.; Steinhoff, U.
Abstract
Genetic and environmental factors, including the commensal microbiota, have a crucial role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease. Aberrant activation of the transcription factor NF-kappa B is associated with chronic intestinal inflammation in mice and humans. Recently, an emerging family of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) has been identified at mucosal sites contributing to the maintenance of gut homeostasis and intestinal immunopathology. Here, we show that the NF-kappa B protein c-Rel regulates the inflammatory potential of colonic IFN-gamma(+)Thy1(+) ILCs to induce anti-CD40-mediated colitis in rag1(-/-) mice. Stimulation of dendritic cells (DCs) with anti-CD40 or CD40L led to translocation of c-Rel into the nucleus resulting in induction of expression of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-23, key regulators of innate cell-induced colitis. While c-Rel deficiency completely abrogated anti-CD40-induced colitis, adoptively transferred wild-type DCs were able to induce pronounced colonic inflammation in rag1(-/-) rel(-/-) mice. In summary, these results suggest that the expression of c-Rel in DCs is essential for initiating anti-CD40-mediated intestinal pathogenesis.
Identification of THY1 as a novel thyrotrope marker and THY1 antibody-mediated thyrotrope isolation in the rat anterior pituitary gland
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
Authors: Horiguchi, Kotaro; Nakakura, Takashi; Yoshida, Saishu; Tsukada, Takehiro; Kanno, Naoko; Hasegawa, Rumi; Takigami, Shu; Ohsako, Shunji; Kato, Takako; Kato, Yukio
Abstract
Contact-dependent (juxtacrine) signaling is important for local cell-to-cell interaction and has received attention in recent years regarding its role in pituitary function, differentiation, and development This study investigated one of the juxtacrine-related molecules, thymocyte differentiation antigen 1 (THY1), in the anterior lobe of the rat pituitary gland. Western blot analysis revealed expression of the THY1 protein in the adult rat anterior lobe. We also found that the THY1 ligand, integrin-(beta 2(ITGB2), is also expressed in the pituitary gland. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses showed that both THY1 mRNA and protein were present in almost, if not all, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-immunopositive cells (thyrotropes) and that ITGB2 was co-expressed in these cells. As THY1 appeared to represent a novel marker for thyrotropes, we then attempted to isolate these cells from various anterior lobe cells by the use of a THY1 antibody and a pluriBead-cascade cell isolation system. This technology allowed the isolation of thyrotropes with 83% purity at about 17-fold enrichment. Furthermore, the isolated THY1-immunopositive cells had higher Tsh mRNA levels compared with THY1-immunonegative cells and released TSH in response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone. These findings indicated that THY1 represents a potent thyrotrope marker and that the thyrotrope isolation method using the THY1 antibody may serve as a powerful tool to analyze their function including juxtacrine regulation through THY1/ITGB2 interaction. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.