Biomedical subjects

Jinghong Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Jinghong Wang.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Wild-type microglia extend survival in PU.1 knockout mice with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The most common inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease affecting adult motoneurons, is caused by dominant mutations in the ubiquitously expressed Cu(2+)/Zn(2+) superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Recent studies suggest that glia may contribute to motoneuron injury in animal models of familial ALS. To determine whether the expression of mutant SOD1 (mSOD1(G93A)) in CNS microglia contributes to motoneuron injury, PU.1(-/-) mice that are unable to develop myeloid and lymphoid cells received bone marrow transplants resulting in donor-derived microglia. Donor-derived microglia from mice overexpressing mSOD1(G93A), an animal model of familial ALS, transplanted into PU.1(-/-) mice could not induce weakness, motoneuron injury, or an ALS-like disease. To determine whether expression of mSOD1(G93A) in motoneurons and astroglia, as well as microglia, was required to produce motoneuron disease, PU.1(-/-) mice were bred with mSOD1(G93A) mice. In mSOD1(G93A)/PU.1(-/-) mice, wild-type donor-derived microglia slowed motoneuron loss and prolonged disease duration and survival when compared with mice receiving mSOD1(G93A) expressing cells or mSOD1(G93A) mice. In vitro studies confirmed that wild-type microglia were less neurotoxic than similarly cultured mSOD1(G93A) microglia. Compared with wild-type microglia, mSOD1(G93A) microglia produced and released more superoxide and nitrite+nitrate, and induced more neuronal death. These data demonstrate that the expression of mSOD1(G93A) results in activated and neurotoxic microglia, and suggests that the lack of mSOD1(G93A) expression in microglia may contribute to motoneuron protection. This study confirms the importance of microglia as a double-edged sword, and focuses on the importance of targeting microglia to minimize cytotoxicity and maximize neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases.

Aging↗

PubMed2006

Role of the cyclic AMP response element in the bcl-2 promoter in the regulation of endogenous Bcl-2 expression and apoptosis in murine B cells.

We have previously shown for B-cell lines that the cyclic AMP response element (CRE) is a major positive regulatory site in the bcl-2 promoter. However, the role of the CRE in the regulation of endogenous bcl-2 expression in vivo has not been characterized. We used gene targeting to generate knock-in mice in which a mutated CRE was introduced into the bcl-2 promoter region (mutCRE-bcl2 mice). Quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that mutation of the CRE abolished the binding of CREB/ATF and CBP transcription factors to the bcl-2 promoter and greatly diminished the binding of NF-kappaB factors. The mutant CRE significantly reduced the expression of Bcl-2 in B cells and rendered them susceptible to surface immunoglobulin- and chemotherapeutic agent-induced apoptosis. The low levels of Bcl-2 were not changed with activation of the cells. The numbers of pre-B, immature B, and mature B cells in the bone marrow were decreased, as were the numbers of splenic B cells in mutCRE-bcl2 mice. Our findings indicate that the CRE in the bcl-2 promoter has an important functional role in the regulation of endogenous Bcl-2 expression and plays a critical role in the coordination of signals that regulate B-cell survival.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Medium-chain fatty acids as ligands for orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR84.

Free fatty acids (FFAs) play important physiological roles in many tissues as an energy source and as signaling molecules in various cellular processes. Elevated levels of circulating FFAs are associated with obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Here we show that GPR84, a previously orphan G protein-coupled receptor, functions as a receptor for medium-chain FFAs with carbon chain lengths of 9-14. Medium-chain FFAs elicit calcium mobilization, inhibit 3',5'-cyclic AMP production, and stimulate [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) binding in a GPR84-dependent manner. The activation of GPR84 by medium-chain FFAs couples primarily to a pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i/o) pathway. In addition, we show that GPR84 is selectively expressed in leukocytes and markedly induced in monocytes/macrophages upon activation by lipopolysaccharide. Furthermore, we demonstrate that medium-chain FFAs amplify lipopolysaccharide-stimulated production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-12 p40 through GPR84. Our results indicate a role for GPR84 in directly linking fatty acid metabolism to immunological regulation.

Aequorin↗

PubMed2006

Kynurenic acid as a ligand for orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR35.

Local catabolism of the essential amino acid tryptophan is considered an important mechanism in regulating immunological and neurological responses. The kynurenine pathway is the main route for the non-protein metabolism of tryptophan. The intermediates of the kynurenine pathway are present at micromolar concentrations in blood and are regulated by inflammatory stimuli. Here we show that GPR35, a previously orphan G protein-coupled receptor, functions as a receptor for the kynurenine pathway intermediate kynurenic acid. Kynurenic acid elicits calcium mobilization and inositol phosphate production in a GPR35-dependent manner in the presence of G(qi/o) chimeric G proteins. Kynurenic acid stimulates [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) binding in GPR35-expressing cells, an effect abolished by pertussis toxin treatment. Kynurenic acid also induces the internalization of GPR35. Expression analysis indicates that GPR35 is predominantly detected in immune cells and the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, we show that kynurenic acid inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our results suggest unexpected signaling functions for kynurenic acid through GPR35 activation.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Regulatory elements in the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene 3'-enhancers induce c-myc deregulation and lymphomagenesis in murine B cells.

Burkitt's lymphoma is invariably associated with chromosomal translocations that juxtapose the c-myc proto-oncogene with regulatory elements of the immunoglobulin heavy (IgH) or light chain loci resulting in the deregulation of c-myc expression. However, the enhancer elements mediating c-myc deregulation in vivo remain largely unidentified. To investigate the role of the IgH 3'-enhancers in c-myc deregulation, we used gene targeting to generate knock-in mice in which four DNase I hypersensitive regions from the murine IgH 3'-region were integrated into the 5'-region of the c-myc locus. The IgH 3'-enhancers induced the up-regulation of c-myc expression specifically in B cells of IgH-3'-E-myc mice. After approximately 10 months, the mice developed a Burkitt-like B cell lymphoma with the phenotype of B220+, IgM+, and IgD(low). Analysis of immunoglobulin gene rearrangements indicated that the lymphoma cells were of clonal origin. The presence of a rapidly expanding population of B cells in the spleen and bone marrow of young knock-in mice at 2-4 months of age was observed. Premalignant splenic B cells of knock-in mice showed higher spontaneous and induced apoptosis; however, malignant B cells were more resistant to apoptosis. The p53-ARF-Mdm2 pathway was disabled in half of the lymphomas examined, in most cases through Mdm2 overexpression. Although c-myc expression was increased in premalignant B cells, the promoter shift from P2 to P1 was observed only in malignant B cells. Our studies demonstrate that the IgH 3'-enhancers play an important role in c-myc deregulation and B cell lymphomagenesis in vivo.

Alleles↗

PubMed2004

The determinant step in ergot alkaloid biosynthesis by an endophyte of perennial ryegrass.

Many cool-season grasses harbor fungal endophytes in the genus Neotyphodium, which enhance host fitness, but some also produce metabolites--such as ergovaline--believed to cause livestock toxicoses. In Claviceps species the first step in ergot alkaloid biosynthesis is thought to be dimethylallyltryptophan (DMAT) synthase, encoded by dmaW, previously cloned from Claviceps fusiformis. Here we report the cloning and characterization of dmaW from Neotyphodium sp. isolate Lp1, an endophyte of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). The gene was then disrupted, and the mutant failed to produce any detectable ergovaline or simpler ergot and clavine alkaloids. The disruption was complemented with the C. fusiformis gene, which restored ergovaline production. Thus, the biosynthetic role of DMAT synthase was confirmed, and a mutant was generated for future studies of the ecological and agricultural importance of ergot alkaloids in endophytes of grasses.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

PubMed2004

Analysis of multiple Invs transcripts in mouse and MDCK cells.

Infantile nephronophthisis is associated with cystic kidneys, situs inversus, and INVS mutations. The function of the INVS product, inversin, is unknown but evidence suggests there are multiple inversin isoforms with differing molecular weights, cellular localization patterns, and binding partners. We used Northern blots, RT-PCR, and sequence analysis to identify alternative INVS transcripts. Northern blots probed with Invs cDNA detected four bands in normal mouse kidney. RT-PCR of mouse kidney RNA revealed Invs transcripts with skipping of exon 5, 11, or 13. We sequenced canine (MDCK-II cells) INVS and determined that the corresponding full-length protein shares identity with mouse (74%) and human (84%) inversin. Canine INVS produces a transcript that skips exon 12. Exon skips cause loss of inversin protein motifs, including ankyrin repeats, IQ domains, destruction boxes, and nuclear localization signals. Identification of INVS splice variants will help us determine which inversin protein motifs contribute to left-right asymmetry and kidney development.

Alternative Splicing↗