Alveolar macrophages and newly recruited monocytes are targets of infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Therefore, we examined the expression of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1), which plays an important role in host defense against M. tuberculosis, in undifferentiated and differentiated cells. Infection induced IRF-1 in both. IRF-1 from undifferentiated, uninfected monocytic cell lines was modified during extraction to produce specific species that were apparently smaller than intact IRF-1. After infection by M. tuberculosis or differentiation, intact IRF-1 was recovered. Subcellular fractions were assayed for the ability to modify IRF-1 or inhibit its modification. A serine protease on the cytoplasmic surface of an organelle or vesicle in the "lysosomal/mitochondrial" fraction from undifferentiated cells was responsible for the modification of IRF-1. Thus, the simplest explanation of the modification is cleavage of IRF-1 by the serine protease. Recovery of intact IRF-1 correlated with induction of a serine protease inhibitor that was able to significantly reduce the modification of IRF-1. The inhibitor was present in the cytoplasm of M. tuberculosis-infected or -differentiated cells. It is likely that induction of both IRF-1 and the serine protease inhibitor in response to infection by M. tuberculosis represent host defense mechanisms.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M202965200 | DOI Listing |
Chem Sci
January 2025
School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow Joseph Black Building, University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
To overcome the limitations of using large extrinsic chromophores for biological imaging, fluorescent unnatural α-amino acids have been widely adopted as intrinsic peptidic probes. Although various classes have been successfully utilised for imaging applications, novel amino acid probes readily prepared through operationally simple synthetic methodology are still required. Here, we report a new approach for the synthesis of unnatural α-amino acids a one-pot process involving activation and palladium-catalysed arylation of tyrosine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Immunol
January 2025
International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD) Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI), University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Keloid scars (KS) and hypertrophic scars (HS) are fibroproliferative wound healing defects characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the dermis of affected individuals. Although transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is known to be involved in the formation of KS and HS, the molecular mechanisms responsible for its activation remain unclear. In this study we investigated Granzyme B (GzmB), a serine protease with established roles in fibrosis and scarring through the cleavage of ECM proteins, as a potential new mediator of TGF-β activation in KS and HS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Transl Med
January 2025
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Background: HER2-targeted therapies have revolutionized the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer patients, leading to significant improvements in tumor response rates and survival. However, resistance and incomplete response remain considerable challenges. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition is a novel therapeutic strategy for the management of dyslipidemia by enhancing the clearance of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol receptors, however recent evidence also shows links between PCSK9 and cancer cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJCO Glob Oncol
January 2025
Genitourinary Medical Oncology Service, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo (ICESP), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Purpose: Prior noncontemporary studies showed that oral cyclophosphamide is an active treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, cyclophosphamide is currently underutilized in routine clinical practice given the lack of survival benefit and the emergence of more effective treatments.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our institutional database to identify patients with mCRPC treated with cyclophosphamide.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
February 2025
Department of Biological Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202.
The mammalian Hippo kinases, MST1 and MST2, regulate organ development and suppress tumor formation by balancing cell proliferation and death. In macrophages, inflammasomes detect molecular patterns from invading pathogens or damaged host cells and trigger programmed cell death. In addition to lytic pyroptosis, the signatures associated with apoptosis are induced by inflammasome activation, but how the inflammasomes coordinate different cell death processes remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!