Synthetic Biology Reveals the Uniqueness of the RIP Kinase Domain.

The RIP kinases (RIPKs) play an essential role in inflammatory signaling and inflammatory cell death. However, the function of their kinase activity has been enigmatic, and only recently has kinase domain activity been shown to be crucial for their signal transduction capacity. Despite this uncertainty, the RIPKs have been the subject of intense pharmaceutical development with a number of compounds currently in preclinical testing.

Inhibitory effects of chloride on the activation of caspase-1, IL-1beta secretion, and cytolysis by the P2X7 receptor.

The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is an ATP-gated cation channel that activates caspase-1 leading to the maturation and secretion of IL-1beta. Because previous studies indicated that extracellular Cl- exerts a negative allosteric effect on ATP-gating of P2X7R channels, we tested whether Cl- attenuates the P2X7R-->caspase-1-->IL-1beta signaling cascade in murine and human macrophages. In Bac1 murine macrophages, substitution of extracellular Cl- with gluconate produced a 10-fold increase in the rate and extent of ATP-induced IL-1beta processing and secretion, while reducing the EC50 for ATP by 5-fold.

Potentiation of caspase-1 activation by the P2X7 receptor is dependent on TLR signals and requires NF-kappaB-driven protein synthesis.

The proinflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and IL-18 are inactive until cleaved by the enzyme caspase-1. Stimulation of the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), an ATP-gated ion channel, triggers rapid activation of caspase-1. In this study we demonstrate that pretreatment of primary and Bac1 murine macrophages with TLR agonists is required for caspase-1 activation by P2X7R but it is not required for activation of the receptor itself.

Enhanced activation of Akt and extracellular-regulated kinase pathways by simultaneous occupancy of Gq-coupled 5-HT2A receptors and Gs-coupled 5-HT7A receptors in PC12 cells.

The most commonly prescribed antidepressants, the serotonin (5-HT) selective reuptake inhibitors, increase 5-HT without targeting specific receptors. Yet, little is known about the interaction of multiple receptor subtypes expressed by individual neurons. Specifically, the effect of increases in cAMP induced by Gs-coupled 5-HT receptor subtypes on the signaling pathways modulated by other receptor subtypes has not been studied.

Maitotoxin induces biphasic interleukin-1beta secretion and membrane blebbing in murine macrophages.

Maitotoxin (MTX) is a potent shellfish toxin widely used as an in vitro tool for increasing intracellular Ca2+ and studying Ca2+ -dependent processes. MTX also induces membrane blebbing and nonselective pores similar to those elicited by the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), an ATP-gated cation channel expressed in inflammatory leukocytes. We therefore tested whether MTX treatment of lipopolysaccharide-primed murine macrophages would mimic the ability of activated P2X7R to induce secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta).

Oxidized ATP (oATP) attenuates proinflammatory signaling via P2 receptor-independent mechanisms.

Periodate-oxidized ATP (oATP), which covalently modifies nucleotide-binding proteins, can significantly attenuate proinflammatory signaling. Although the P2X7 nucleotide receptor (P2X7R) is irreversibly antagonized by oATP, it is unclear whether anti-inflammatory actions of oATP are predominantly mediated via its actions on P2X7R. Here, we describe inhibitory effects of oATP on proinflammatory responses in three human cell types that lack expression of P2X7R: human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), HEK293 cells, and 1321N1 astrocytes.

Functionalized congeners of tyrosine-based P2X(7) receptor antagonists: probing multiple sites for linking and dimerization.

Chemically funtionalized analogues of antagonists of the P2X(7) receptor, an ATP-gated cation channel, were synthesized as tools for biophysical studies of the receptor. These functionalized congeners were intended for use in chemical conjugation with retention of biological potency. The antagonists were L-tyrosine derivatives, related to [N-benzyloxycarbonyl-O-(4-arylsulfonyl)-L-tyrosyl]benzoylpiperazine (such as MRS2409, 2).

Potent P2X Receptor Antagonists: Tyrosyl Derivatives Synthesized Using a Sequential Parallel Synthetic Approach.

Novel analogs of 1-(,-bis[5-isoquinolinesulfonyl]-N-methyl-L-tyrosyl)-4-phenylpiperazine (KN-62,1) were synthesized and found to be potent antagonists in a functional assay, inhibition of ATP-induced K efflux in HEK293 cells expressing recombinant human P2X receptors. Antagonism of murine P2X receptors was also observed. The analogs consisted of L-tyrosine derivatives, of the general structure R-Tyr(OR)-piperazinyl-R, in which three positions were systematically varied in structure through facile acylation reactions.