PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Akihiko Yoshimura

Publications and source records attributed to Akihiko Yoshimura.

117 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Recombinant human CIS2 (SOCS2) protein: subcloning, expression, purification, and characterization.

The 1x myc-tagged cDNA encoding for human CIS2 protein was subcloned into a pET-29a+ vector in order to express and produce a recombinant S-peptide tagged and 1x myc-tagged protein in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The constitutively expressed protein was isolated from inclusion bodies by a simple solubilization-renaturation procedure and purified by anion-exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose. The recombinant form was found to be pure and monomeric as judged by both SDS-PAGE and gel-filtration chromatography and its biological activity was proven by its ability to bind to the tyrosine-phosphorylated cytosolic fragment of human growth hormone receptor fused to glutathione-S-transferase. Recombinant CIS2 was compared by biochemical, immunological, and molecular methods to the CIS2 protein expressed in eukaryotic cells. This report describes the first substantial production of biologically active recombinant human CIS2.

Blotting, Western↗

Preparation and expression of biologically active prolactin and growth hormone receptors and suppressor of cytokine signaling proteins 1, 2, 3, and 6 tagged with cyan and yellow fluorescent proteins.

To prepare reagents for a study of the interactions of prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) receptors (Rs) with suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins in living cells by fluorescence resonance energy transfer methodology, the respective proteins were tagged with cyan (CFP) or yellow (YFP) fluorescent protein. Constructs encoding ovine (o)PRLR-YFP, oPRLR-CFP, oGHR-YFP, and oGHR-CFP tagged downstream of the receptor DNA were prepared in the plasmid pcDNA plasmid and tested for biological activity in HEK 293T cells transiently cotransfected with those constructs and the reporter gene encoding luciferase. All four constructs were biologically active and as potent as their untagged counterparts. Cells transfected with those proteins exhibited fluorescence in the cytoplasm and the membrane. Constructs encoding DNA tagged with YFP or CFP upstream of SOCS1, SOCS2, SOCS3, and SOCS6 were prepared in pECFP-C1 and pEYFP-C1 plasmids. The biological activities of SOCS1 and SOCS3 tagged at their amino termini were assayed by their ability to inhibit placental lactogen (PL)- or GH-induced activation of JAK2/STAT5-mediated luciferase transcription in HEK 293T cells; the activity of SOCS2 was assayed by its ability to abolish SOCS1-induced inhibition. The tagged proteins exhibited biological activity that was equal to or even more potent than their untagged counterparts. The biological activities of CFP-SOCS2 and YFP-SOCS2 were also assayed using GST-GHR binding assay. Their interaction with the cytosolic domain of GHR was equivalent to their respective untagged counterparts. The biological activity of the construct encoding SOCS6 was not tested because of lack of a suitable assay. Cells transfected with eight of these tagged constructs expressed the fluorescent proteins in both the nucleus and cytosol; the tagged SOCS2 was localized mostly in the latter compartment.

Animals↗

SOCS1/JAB is a negative regulator of LPS-induced macrophage activation.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers innate immune responses through Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4. We show here that the suppressor of cytokine-signaling-1 (SOCS1/JAB) is rapidly induced by LPS and negatively regulates LPS signaling. SOCS1(+/-) mice or SOCS1(-/-) mice with interferon-gamma (IFNgamma)-deficient background were more sensitive to LPS-induced lethal effects than were wild-type littermates. LPS-induced NO(2)(-) synthesis and TNFalpha production were augmented in SOCS1(-/-) macrophages. Furthermore, LPS tolerance, a protection mechanism against endotoxin shock, was also strikingly reduced in SOCS1(-/-) cells. LPS-induced I-kappaB and p38 phosphorylation was upregulated in SOCS1(-/-) macrophages, and forced expression of SOCS1 suppressed LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation. Thus, SOCS1 directly suppresses TLR4 signaling and modulates innate immunity.

Animals↗

SH2-B is required for both male and female reproduction.

Many growth factors and hormones modulate the reproductive status in mammals. Among these, insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) regulate the development of gonadal tissues. SH2-B has been shown to interact with insulin and IGF-I receptors, although the role of SH2-B in these signals has not been clarified. To investigate the role of SH2-B, we generated mice with a targeted disruption of the SH2-B gene. Both male and female SH2-B(-/-) mice showed slight retardation in growth and impaired fertility. Female knockout mice possess small, anovulatory ovaries with reduced numbers of follicles and male SH2-B(-/-) mice have small testes with a reduced number of sperm. SH2-B(-/-) cumulus cells do not respond to either follicle-stimulating hormone or IGF-I. These data suggest that SH2-B plays a critical role in the IGF-I-mediated reproductive pathway in mice.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Regulation and function of the cytokine-inducible SH-2 domain proteins, CIS and SOCS3, in mammary epithelial cells.

The cytokine-inducible src homology 2 (SH-2) proteins, CIS (cytokine inducible SH-2 domain protein) and SOCS3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 3), are implicated in the negative regulation of prolactin (PRL) receptor-mediated activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5). We have studied the expression and function of CIS and SOCS3 proteins in the mouse mammary gland and in HC11 mammary epithelial cells. CIS and SOCS3 were differentially regulated: high expression levels of CIS mRNA were measured during the second half of pregnancy, whereas SOCS3 expression was high during the first 12 d post conceptum. SOCS3 levels increased, whereas CIS levels decreased, in the initial phase of involution. At the beginning of the lactation period both CIS and SOCS3 were high. PRL and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were able to induce CIS and SOCS3, whereas glucocorticoids inhibited their expression in mammary epithelial cells. The effect of EGF was much stronger on SOCS3 than on CIS. Ectopic expression of both SOCS3 and CIS inhibited STAT5 activation. Our data indicate that in the mammary gland CIS and SOCS3 are involved in regulating STAT5 signaling at three different instances: 1) SOCS3 serves as a mediator of the inhibitory EGF effect on PRL-induced STAT5 activation; 2) CIS and SOCS3 play a role as negative feedback inhibitors of PRL action; 3) Inhibition of CIS and SOCS3 expression by glucocorticoids contributes to the positive effect of glucocorticoids on PRL-induced STAT5 activation.

Animals↗

Regulation of cytokine signaling and inflammation.

Inflammation progresses by the action of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), the tumor necrosis factor (TNF), gamma-interferon (IFNgamma), IL-12, IL-18, and the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and is resolved by anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, IFNalpha, and the transforming growth factor (TGF)beta. The intracellular signal transduction pathways of these cytokines have been studied extensively, and these pathways ultimately activate transcription factors, such as NF-kappaB, Smad, and STATs. Recently, the negative-feedback regulation of these pathways has been identified. In this review, we provide examples of the relationship between cytokine signal transduction, negative-signal regulation, and inflammatory disease models. Furthermore, we illustrate several approaches for treating inflammatory diseases by modulating extracellular and intracellular signaling pathways.

Animals↗

Interleukin-10 and cAMP-elevating agents cooperate to induce suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 via a protein kinase A-independent signal.

We have recently shown that IL-10 represents an efficient stimulus for suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS)-3 mRNA expression in human neutrophils and PBMC. Herein, we identify cAMP-elevating agents such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), PGE1, forskolin, dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) and cholera toxin as a novel class of agonists able to induce SOCS-3 mRNA and protein expression in human leukocytes, cooperating with interleukin-10 (IL-10) in such activities. While PGE2 or dbcAMP prolonged the stability of SOCS-3 mRNA isolated from IL-10-treated leukocytes, inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (H89, KT5720, and St-Ht31 peptide) did not influence the action of PGE2/dbcAMP and/or IL-10 on SOCS-3 mRNA and protein expression, implying that their effect are mediated through a PKA-independent pathway. Taken together, our data identify cAMP-elevating substances as a novel class of agonists able to trigger SOCS-3 expression, and suggest that SOCS-3 might be involved in the regulatory effects of cAMP-elevating substances.

Bucladesine↗