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Functional Cooperation (functional + cooperation)
Selected AbstractsActivated CD1d-restricted natural killer T cells secrete IL-2: innate help for CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells?EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2005Shuiping Jiang Abstract CD4+CD25+ and CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells are thymus-derived self-reactive regulatory T,cells that play a key role in the control of pathological immune responses. Little is known about functional cooperation between innate regulatory NKT,cells and adaptive CD4+CD25+ regulatory cells. Here we show that human CD4+V,24+V,11+ (CD4+ NKT) cells isolated from peripheral blood by flow cytometric cell sorting secrete substantial amounts of IL-2 after stimulation with dendritic cells (DC) and ,-Galactosylceramide. When cocultured with CD4+CD25+ cells, CD4+ NKT,cells promoted moderate proliferation of CD4+CD25+ cells. The proliferation of CD4+CD25+ T,cells was due to soluble IL-2 produced by activated CD4+ NKT,cells. The expanded CD4+CD25+ cells remained anergic and retained their potent suppressive properties. These findings indicate that unlike conventional CD4+ and CD8+ T,cells, which are susceptible to CD4+CD25+ regulatory cell suppression, NKT,cells promote CD4+CD25+ regulatory cell proliferation. These data raise the possibility that NKT,cells can function as helper cells to CD4+CD25+ regulatory T,cells, thereby providing a link between the two naturally occurring populations of regulatory T,cells. [source] Uncoupling of the ATPase activity from the branch migration activity of RuvAB protein complexes containing both wild-type and ATPase-defective RuvB proteinsGENES TO CELLS, Issue 9 2003Takashi Hishida Background:,Escherichia coli RuvAB promotes branch migration of Holliday junctions during recombination repair and homologous recombination. RuvB forms a hexameric ring through which duplex DNA passes and is translocated in an ATP-dependent manner. ATPase-deficient RuvB mutant K68A has a mutation in the Walker A motif and exerts a dominant-negative effect on in vivo repair of UV-induced DNA damage. In this study, we examined RuvAB-dependent branch migration in the presence of a mutant RuvB, K68A. Results:, Mixing K68A with wild-type RuvB resulted in the formation of heterohexamers that showed unique properties of DNA binding, ATPase, and branch migration activities different from those of either wild-type or mutant homohexamers. RuvB heterohexamers inhibited branch migration and caused Holliday junctions to accumulate during RecA-mediated strand exchange. In the presence of RuvA, RuvB heterohexamers had Holliday junction-dependent ATPase activity, but did not promote branch migration. Conclusions:, These results suggest that functional cooperation among the subunits in the hexamers is required for branch migration, but inclusion of inactive subunits is tolerated for ATP hydrolysis. Therefore, we propose that an essential ATP hydrolysis-dependent functional cooperation is induced in RuvB hexamer subunits during RuvAB-mediated branch migration. [source] Spatial organization and isotubulin composition of microtubules in epidermal tendon cells of Artemia franciscanaJOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 2 2005Godelieve R.J. Criel Abstract Epidermally derived tendon cells attach the exoskeleton (cuticle) of the Branchiopod crustacean, Artemia franciscana, to underlying muscle in the hindgut, while the structurally similar transalar tendon (epithelial) cells, which also arise from the epidermis and are polarized, connect dorsal and ventral exopodite surfaces. To establish these latter attachments the transalar tendon cells interact with cuticles on opposite sides of the exopodite by way of their apical surfaces and with one another via basal regions, or the cuticle attachments may be mediated through linkages with phagocytic storage cells found in the hemolymph. In some cases, phyllopod tendon cells attach directly to muscle cells. Tendon cells in the hindgut of Artemia possess microtubule bundles, as do the transalar cells, and they extend from the basal myotendinal junction to the apical domain located near the cuticle. The bundled microtubules intermingle with thin filaments reminiscent of microfilaments, but intermediate filament-like structures are absent. Microtubule bundles converging at apical cell surfaces contact structures termed apical invaginations, composed of cytoplasmic membrane infoldings associated with electron-dense material. Intracuticular rods protrude from apical invaginations, either into the cuticle during intermolt or the molting fluid in premolt. Confocal microscopy of immunofluorescently stained samples revealed tyrosinated, detyrosinated, and acetylated tubulins, the first time posttranslationally modified isoforms of this protein have been demonstrated in crustacean tendon cells. Microfilaments, as shown by staining with phalloidin, coincided spatially with microtubule bundles. Artemia tendon cells clearly represent an interesting system for study of cytoskeleton organization within the context of cytoplasmic polarity and the results in this article indicate functional cooperation of microtubules and microfilaments. These cytoskeletal elements, either acting independently or in concert, may transmit tension from muscle to cuticle in the hindgut and resist compression when connecting exopodite cuticular surfaces. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Life-span phenotypes of elav and Rbp9 in Drosophila suggest functional cooperation of the two elav-family protein genesARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2010Gakuta Toba Abstract The ELAV family of RNA-binding proteins is involved in various aspects of the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, from alternative splicing to translation. The members of this family have been shown to interact with each other and have been suggested to function as homo- and/or hetero-multimers. However, the functional interactions among them have not been demonstrated in vivo. In this study, we examined the genetic interaction between elav and Rbp9, two of the three genes encoding ELAV-family proteins in Drosophila. Mutants of both elav and Rbp9 showed shorter life spans than the control, with elav showing a shorter life span than Rbp9. The survival curve of elav-Rbp9 double-mutant flies was indistinguishable from that of elav single-mutant flies, suggesting that both mutations affect longevity through the same pathway. Considering the fact that both genes are co-expressed in adult neurons, we hypothesize that ELAV and Rbp9 cooperate to maintain the functional integrity of the adult nervous system. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||