PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Couture

Publications and source records attributed to C Couture.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Glucocorticoid-inducible retrovector for regulated transgene expression in genetically engineered bone marrow stromal cells.

Transplantable bone marrow stromal cells can be utilized for cell therapy of mesenchymal disorders. They can also be genetically engineered to express synthetic transgenes and subsequently serve as a platform for systemic delivery of therapeutic proteins in vivo. Inducible production of therapeutic proteins would markedly enhance the usefulness of stromal cells for cell therapy applications. We determined whether synthetic corticosteroid hormones can be used to tightly control transgene expression via the glucocorticoid response pathway in primary bone marrow stromal cells. This regulatory mechanism does not require the presence of potentially immunogenic prokaryotic or chimeric "Trans-activators." Further, synthetic corticosteroids are pharmaceutical agents that can be readily used in vivo. We designed a self-inactivating retroviral vector in which expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter is controlled by a minimal synthetic promoter composed of five tandem glucocorticoid response elements upstream of a TATAA box. Vesicular stomatitis virus G-pseudotyped retroparticles were synthesized and utilized to transduce cultured cell lines and primary rat bone marrow stromal cells. We have shown that primary rat bone marrow stromal cells could be efficiently engineered with our GRE-containing retrovector, basal reporter expression was low in the absence of exogenous synthetic corticosteroids, and GFP expression was dexamethasone inducible and reversible. To summarize, this strategy allows dexamethasone-induced, "on-demand" transgene expression from transplantable genetically engineered bone marrow stromal cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

T-cell receptor-mediated anergy of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120-specific CD4(+) cytotoxic T-cell clone, induced by a natural HIV type 1 variant peptide.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection triggers a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response mediated by CD8(+) and perhaps CD4(+) CTLs. The mechanisms by which HIV-1 escapes from this CTL response are only beginning to be understood. However, it is already clear that the extreme genetic variability of the virus is a major contributing factor. Because of the well-known ability of altered peptide ligands (APL) to induce a T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated anergic state in CD4(+) helper T cells, we investigated the effects of HIV-1 sequence variations on the proliferation and cytotoxic activation of a human CD4(+) CTL clone (Een217) specific for an epitope composed of amino acids 410 to 429 of HIV-1 gp120. We report that a natural variant of this epitope induced a functional anergic state rendering the T cells unable to respond to their antigenic ligand and preventing the proliferation and cytotoxic activation normally induced by the original antigenic peptide. Furthermore, the stimulation of Een217 cells with this APL generated altered TCR-proximal signaling events that have been associated with the induction of T-cell anergy in CD4(+) T cells. Importantly, the APL-induced anergic state of the Een217 T cells could be prevented by the addition of interleukin 2, which restored their ability to respond to their nominal antigen. Our data therefore suggest that HIV-1 variants can induce a state of anergy in HIV-specific CD4(+) CTLs. Such a mechanism may allow a viral variant to not only escape the CTL response but also facilitate the persistence of other viral strains that may otherwise be recognized and eliminated by HIV-specific CTLs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Dephosphorylation of ZAP-70 and inhibition of T cell activation by activated SHP1.

Studies with motheaten mice, which lack the SHP1 protein tyrosine phosphatase, indicate that this enzyme plays an important negative role in T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling. The physiological substrates for SHP1 in T lymphocytes, however, have remained unclear or controversial. To define these targets for SHP1 we have compared the effects of constitutively active and inactive mutants of SHP1 on TCR signaling. Expression of wild-type SHP1 had a very small effect on the TCR-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of ZAP-70 and Syk, even when SHP1 was overexpressed 20 - 100-fold over endogenous SHP1. Inactive SHP1-D421A and wild-type SHP2 were without effects. Constitutively active SHP1-DeltaSH2 had a more pronounced effect on ZAP-70 and Syk, even when expressed at near physiological levels. SHP1-DeltaSH2 also inhibited events downstream of ZAP-70 and Syk, such as activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase Erk2 and the transcriptional activation of the interleukin-2 gene. In contrast, a constitutively active SHP2-DeltaSH2 had no statistically significant effect (although it caused a slight augmentation in some individual experiments). None of the constructs influenced the anti-CD3-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the TCR zeta-chain or phospholipase Cgamma1, indicating that Src family kinase function was intact. Taken together, our findings support the notion that ZAP-70 and Syk can be direct substrates for SHP1 in intact cells. However, the two SH2 domains of SHP1 did not facilitate its recognition of ZAP-70 and Syk as substrates in intact cells. Therefore, we suggest that SHP1 is not actively recruited to inhibit TCR signaling induced by ligation of this receptor alone. Instead, we propose that ligation of a distinct inhibitory receptor leads to the recruitment of SHP1 via its SH2 domains, activation of SHP1 and subsequently inhibition of TCR signals if the inhibitory receptor is juxtaposed to the TCR.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Atypical presentation of a carcinoid syndrome].

A 76-year-old woman presenting with right heart failure is reported. The investigation showed an ileal carcinoid tumour with multiple metastases and tricuspid regurgitation caused by a cardiac carcinoid lesion. Echocardiographic study and histopathological examination revealed typical characteristics of carcinoid heart disease. Nevertheless, except for the cardiac symptomatology, the patient did not show any other clinical manifestation of the carcinoid syndrome. Isolated right heart failure as the first sign of a carcinoid syndrome is rare; only two other cases have been described in the literature.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Temporal phases in apoptosis defined by the actions of Src homology 2 domains, ceramide, Bcl-2, interleukin-1beta converting enzyme family proteases, and a dense membrane fraction.

We have begun to explore the mechanisms of apoptosis using a cell-free system based on extracts from Xenopus eggs. Nuclei assembled or placed in these extracts undergo the morphological changes typical of apoptosis and eventually disintegrate. We used this system to investigate the potential involvement in apoptosis of proteins containing Src homology 2 (SH2) domains, which are known to interact with specific tyrosine-phosphorylated ligands. SH2 domains from a number of signaling proteins, including Lck, Src, and Abl, inhibited apoptosis when present at concentrations of 10-100 nM. The inhibition was dependent on specific interaction with endogenous tyrosine-phosphorylated ligands. A synthetic peptide ligand for Src family SH2 domains also inhibited apoptosis in a phosphotyrosine-dependent manner. Kinetic analysis defined three phases in the apoptotic process occurring in this cell-free system. SH2 domains and ceramide act throughout the first 60-90 min of the process (the "initiation" phase). Next, Bcl-2, interleukin-1beta converting enzyme family(CPP32-like) proteases, and the heavy membrane fraction act in a period occurring approximately 90-120 min after the start of incubation (the "sentencing" phase). In the final phase ("execution"), the process of active nuclear destruction ensues.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Role of Tyr518 and Tyr519 in the regulation of catalytic activity and substrate phosphorylation by Syk protein-tyrosine kinase.

The Syk protein-tyrosine kinase is expressed in many hematopoietic cells and is involved in signaling from various receptors for antigen and Fc portions of IgG and IgE. After cross-linking of these receptors, Syk is rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues. We have previously reported that Syk expressed in COS cells is predominantly phosphorylated at both Tyr518 and Tyr519 at its putative autophosphorylation site. In this study, we have examined the role of each of these two residues for the catalytic activity of Syk in vitro and for the Syk-induced phosphorylation of cellular proteins in intact cells. Mutation of either residue had minor effects on the catalytic activity of Syk, and even the double mutant [F518, F519]Syk was about 60% as active as the wild-type enzyme. In intact cells, however, all three mutants consistently failed to induce the extensive tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins typically observed with wild-type Syk. We have recently shown that the doubly phosphorylated Y518/Y519 site is also the site for association of Syk with the SH2 domain of the Lck kinase, which suggests that although phosphates at Y518/Y519 may enhance the catalytic activity of Syk, its interaction with Src family protein-tyrosine kinases is at least equally important for the induction of downstream substrate phosphorylation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Reconstitution of T cell antigen receptor-induced Erk2 kinase activation in Lck-negative JCaM1 cells by Syk.

The two related protein-tyrosine kinases Syk and Zap are rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues and enzymatically activated upon crosslinking of the T cell antigen receptor. We have previously reported that the activation of Syk is less dependent on the Src family kinase Lck than the activation of Zap. Here we report that overexpression of Syk in the Lck-negative JCaM1 cells enabled the T cell antigen receptor/CD3 complex to induce a normal activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and expression of a nuclear factor of activated T cells reporter construct. In contrast, Zap and other protein-tyrosine kinases were unable to reconstitute these signaling pathways when expressed at the same levels. In parallel, Syk was phosphorylated on tyrosine, while Zap was not. The Syk-mediated T cell antigen receptor-induced MAPK activation was detectable within 1 min of receptor stimulation and peaked at 3-5 min. The capacity of Syk to reconstitute the MAPK response required the catalytic activity of Syk, an intact autophosphorylation site (Y518 and Y519), both Src homology 2 domains and it was blocked by the inhibitory N17-mutated dominant-negative Ras construct. A Y341-->F mutant of Syk, which is deficient in its interaction with phospholipase Cy1 and Vav, was less efficient than wild-type Syk. Our results suggest that Syk, in contrast to Zap, can transduce signals from the T cell antigen receptor independently of Lck.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Differential T cell signaling induced by antagonist peptide-MHC complexes and the associated phenotypic responses.

Certain changes in TCR contact residues have been shown to have profound effects on the capacity of a peptide Ag to stimulate a T cell response. Although some of these changes apparently lead to a complete loss of the ability to interact with the TCR, others result in partial agonist activity (e.g., cytokine production without proliferation) or antagonist activity (i.e., the capacity to inhibit the engagement to the TCR by Ag). We show MHC class II-restricted antagonist activity was associated with a differential pattern of early tyrosine phosphorylation events that was characterized by a preponderance of phosphorylation of low molecular mass TCRzeta and the failure to phosphorylate Zap-70. These early tyrosine phosphorylation patterns are the same as those previously described for partial agonists. Thus, a partial agonist phenotype such as anergy induction cannot be ascribed in a causal manner to this pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation. We further extend the studies of signal transduction elicited by agonist and antagonist peptides by characterizing differential recruitment of Zap-70 associated with TCRzeta isoforms and differential phosphorylation of p120 proto-oncogene c-Cbl. Another early event following TCR engagement by Ag, down-modulation of the TCR, was studied with antagonist peptides. We show that antagonist peptides do not cause TCR down-modulation. This failure may represent a mechanism by which antagonists inhibit antigen-mediated stimulation of T cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Regulation of the low molecular weight phosphotyrosine phosphatase by phosphorylation at tyrosines 131 and 132.

Activation of resting T lymphocytes is initiated by rapid but transient tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of cellular proteins. Several protein tyrosine kinases and protein tyrosine phosphatases are known to be important for this response. Here we report that normal T lymphocytes express the B isoform of low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase B (LMPTP-B). The cDNA was cloned from Jurkat T cells, and an antiserum was raised against it. LMPTP immunoprecipitated from resting Jurkat T cells was found to be tyrosine phosphorylated. On stimulation of the cells through their T cell antigen receptor, the phosphotyrosine content of LMPTP-B declined rapidly. In co-transfected COS cells, Lck and Fyn caused phosphorylation of LMPTP, whereas Csk, Zap, and Jak2 did not. Most of the phosphate was located at Tyr-131, and some was also located at Tyr-132. Incubation of wild-type LMPTP with Lck and adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) caused a 2-fold increase in the activity of LMPTP. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that Tyr-131 is important for the catalytic activity of LMPTP, and that thiophosphorylation of Tyr-131, and to a lesser degree Tyr-132, is responsible for the activation.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1997

Diminished TCR signaling in cutaneous T cell lymphoma is associated with decreased activities of Zap70, Syk and membrane-associated Csk.

Malignant cells of patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) are of monoclonal origin and of the CD4+/CD45RO+ subset. Since unlike their normal counterparts, triggering of their TCR/CD3 in vitro elicits only a weak mitogenic response, we set out to determine which of the signal transduction molecules initiated by anti-CD3E antibodies are affected in neoplastic cells. The results obtained from analysis of tumor cells from four patients show a general reduction in basal and induced tyrosine phosphorylation of a wide range of signaling proteins. Furthermore, the function of members from distinct families of protein tyrosine kinases was altered in neoplastic cells. The enzymatic activity of the membrane-bound fraction of Csk was suppressed, and its association with other cellular proteins was altered. There was a decline in the amount and activity of Syk, and a slight decrease in the specific activity of Lck kinases. Zap70 tyrosyl phosphorylation was reduced or undetectable and the kinase associated weakly, or not at all, with the TCR zeta chain. We propose that dampened TCR-triggered responses in CTCL are caused by suppression of an array of effector molecules required for coupling cell surface receptors to early and late signaling events.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A three-step allele-level DRB1-DRB3-DRB4-DRB5 genotyping assay using polymerase chain reaction with immobilized sequence-specific oligoprobes.

A three-step reverse hybridization assay for allele level-resolution DRB1-DRB3-DRB4-DRB5 genotyping is described. Samples are initially amplified using a generic primer pair for all DRB1-DRB3-DRB4-DRB5 alleles and PCR products are hybridized to generic typing membranes. An intermediate-resolution level genotyping is obtained at this point. Depending on the phenotype, samples are then subjected to a DR1, DR2, DR4, DR52A, DRB3 and/or DRB5 type-specific amplification and hybridization. A third step, involving sequence-specific PCR followed by type-specific hybridization, is only performed to solve certain DR4 and DR52A heterozygous combinations. The assay allows 100% allele level-resolution DRB genotyping. Hybridization membranes contain panels of SSO probes that were optimized to all react specifically under identical stringency conditions. A computer program was written to assist in analysis of the hybridization patterns. The assay was throughly evaluated and has been used to type over 10,000 donors from the Canadian Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry (UBMDR) at allele level-resolution. This method proved to be flexible, easy to update for newly described alleles, easy to perform, fast, and safe. It is also reliable and specific, as 9 novel DRB alleles so far have been detected as aberrant hybridization patterns.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

Regulation of the Lck SH2 domain by tyrosine phosphorylation.

Src homology 2 (SH2) domains bind to phosphotyrosine (Tyr(P)) residues in specific sequence contexts in other proteins and thereby mediate tyrosine phosphorylationdependent protein-protein interactions. The SH2 domain of the Src family kinase Lck is phosphorylated at tyrosine 192 in T cells upon T cell antigen receptor triggering. We have studied the consequences of this phosphorylation on the properties of the SH2 domain and on the function of Lck in T cell activation. We report that phosphorylation at Tyr192 reduced the capacity of the isolated SH2 domain to bind a high affinity peptide ligand and Tyr(P)-containing cellular proteins. This effect was mimicked by mutation of Tyr192 to an acidic residue. In intact T cells, where Lck participates in T cell antigen receptor signal transduction in an SH2 domain-dependent manner, phosphorylation of Tyr192 correlated with reduced downstream signaling. Our results indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation of the SH2 domain of Lck terminates its high affinity binding to ligands, thereby negatively regulating its participation in T cell antigen receptor signaling. This represents a novel mechanism for the regulation of the function of SH2 domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Identification of the site in the Syk protein tyrosine kinase that binds the SH2 domain of Lck.

The Syk protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) is expressed in many hematopoietic cells and is involved in signaling from various receptors for antigen and Fc portions of IgG and IgE. Upon cross-linking of these receptors, Syk is rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues and enzymatically activated. We and others have found that the Lck kinase, a member of the Src family of PTKs, binds through its Src homology (SH) 2 domain to tyrosine phosphorylated Syk and to the related Zap kinase. Here we report that this interaction is direct and identify the two tandem tyrosines at the autophosphorylation site of Syk, Tyr518, and Tyr519, as the binding site for the SH2 domain of Lck. Mutation of either or both tyrosines to phenylalanines abrogated binding, while mutation of a second repetition of the motif at Tyr539 and Tyr540, or of the three tyrosines in the C terminus of Syk, did not. The SH2 domain of Lck bound the autophosphorylation site only when both Tyr518 and Tyr519 were phosphorylated. In intact cells the binding of the SH2 domain of Lck correlated with the ability of Syk to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Involvement of Src-homology-2-domain-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase 2 in T cell activation.

Activation of resting T lymphocytes by ligands to the complex of T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and CD3 is initiated by a series of critical tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events. Protein-tyrosine kinases of the Syk, Src and Csk families and the CD45 protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) are known to be involved in these early biochemical reactions. We have found that one of the two T-cell-expressed SH2-domain-containing PTPases, SHPTP2, is rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine upon addition of anti-CD3 mAbs. This response was absent in cells lacking the Src family kinase Lck. Concomitantly with tyrosine phosphorylation, SHPTP2 co-immunoprecipitated with two unphosphorylated cellular proteins; phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p85 and Grb2. Binding of SHPTP2 to Grb2 occurred through the SH2 domain of Grb2, while the association between SHPTP2 and p85 seemed to be mediated through Grb2 as an intermediate. In addition, many other molecules associate with Grb2 and may thereby become juxtaposed to SHPTP2. Our results indicate that SHPTP2 participates actively at an early stage in TCR signaling and that its phosphorylation on tyrosine may direct a Grb2-dependent association with selected substrates.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1996

Vav: function and regulation in hematopoietic cell signaling.

Vav, a 95 kDa proto-oncogene product expressed specifically in hematopoietic cells, was originally isolated as a transforming human oncogene. Vav contains an array of functional domains that are involved in interactions with other proteins and, possibly, with lipids. These include, among others, a putative guanine nucleotide exchange domain, a cysteine-rich region similar to the phorbol ester/diacylglycerol-binding domain of protein kinase C, a pleckstrin-homology domain, and Src-homology 2 and 3 (SH2 and SH3, respectively) domains. The presence of these domains, the transforming activity of the vav oncogene, and the rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav induced by triggering of diverse receptors indicate that it plays an important role in hematopoietic cell signaling pathways. Such a role is supported by recent studies using "knockout" mice and transiently transfected T cells, in which Vav deletion or overexpression, respectively, had marked effects on lymphocyte development or activation. The presence of a putative guanine nucleotide exchange domain, the prototype of which is found in the dbl oncogene product, implies that Vav functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for one (or more) members of the Ras-like family of small GTP-binding proteins. In support of such a role, Vav preparations were found in some (but not other) studies to mediate in vitro-specific GEF activity for Ras. Additional studies are required to identify the physiological regulators and targets of Vav, and its exact role in hematopoietic cell development and signaling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Functional and physical interactions of Syk family kinases with the Vav proto-oncogene product.

Syk family kinases are essential for lymphocyte development and activation. Therefore the identification of their direct effectors is of critical importance. Here, we report that Syk interacts in the yeast two-hybrid system with Vav, a proto-oncogene product exclusively expressed in hematopoietic cells. This interaction was direct, required the catalytic activity of Syk, the SH2 domain of Vav, and tyrosine residues in the linker domain of Syk. Vav also associated with Syk and Zap in antigen receptor-stimulated B or T cells, respectively. Functionally, Vav was phosphorylated by Syk family kinases both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, Syk and Vav cooperated to activate NF-AT synergistically. These results indicate that the interaction between Syk family kinases and Vav plays an important role in coupling immune recognition receptors to signaling pathways involved in lymphokine production.

B-Lymphocytes↗