Biomedical subjects

Laura L Stunz

Publications and source records attributed to Laura L Stunz.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Expression of the cytoplasmic tail of LMP1 in mice induces hyperactivation of B lymphocytes and disordered lymphoid architecture.

The oncogenic EBV protein LMP1 mimics a dysregulated CD40 receptor in vitro. To compare CD40 and LMP1-mediated events in vivo, transgenic mice were engineered to express mouse CD40 (mCD40tg) or a protein with extracellular mCD40 and cytoplasmic LMP1 (mCD40-LMP1tg). Transgenic and CD40(-/-) mice were bred so that only the transgenic CD40 molecule is expressed in B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. mCD40-LMP1tg mice had normal lymphocyte subsets, and immunization elicited an antibody response featuring normal isotype switching, affinity maturation, and germinal center (GC) formation. However, unimmunized mCD40-LMP1tg mice had expanded immature and germinal center B cells, produced autoantibodies, exhibited marked splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, and elevated serum IL-6. Thus, signaling through the LMP1 cytoplasmic tail results in amplified and abnormal mimicry of CD40 functions in vivo, indicating possible ways in which LMP1 contributes to the pathogenesis of EBV-associated human disease.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Inhibitory oligonucleotides block the induction of AP-1 transcription factor by stimulatory CpG oligonucleotides in B cells.

The proliferative response of primary B cells to CpG oligonucleotides (ODN) involves induction of nuclear activation promoting-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. AP-1 subunits c-Fos, Fos-B, Jun-B, and Jun-D, but not Fra-1 or Fra-2, were all induced by CpG ODNs in B cells within 30 minutes of stimulation, followed by c-Jun at 1-2 hours. c-Jun reached maximum at 6 hours. By 40 hours, Jun-B and Jun-D became dominant. Synthetic ODNs containing a single guanosine triplet/tetrad appropriately distanced from the 5' pyrimidine-rich unit, which inhibit CpG-driven cell cycle entry and apoptosis protection, blocked AP-1 induction by stimulatory ODNs when they were added simultaneously. After 30 minutes of stimulation, adding inhibitor no longer affected AP-1 at 6 hours. No AP-1 subunits escaped ODN inhibition. In a cell line transfected with an AP-1-beta-galactosidase reporter construct, CpG ODN-induced AP-1 transcriptional activity was prevented by inhibitory ODN, but lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AP-1 activity was not. These data suggest that inhibitory ODNs block the CpG ODN-driven signaling pathway at a site proximal to AP-1 induction.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2003

Antigen-specific B-lymphocyte activation.

B lymphocytes comprise a major component of the adaptive mammalian immune system, having the exclusive ability to produce and secrete immunoglobulins (Ig) of various forms (isotypes). This property alone renders B-cell activation critical to immunity, but the fully activated B cell also functions in antigen presentation and the production of a variety of cytokines and chemokines. There are many signals that must be coordinated to achieve and properly regulate antigen-specific B-lymphocyte activation and the development of humoral memory. This review seeks to summarize these components, and to highlight recent advances in each area that contribute to a greater understanding of the complex processes involved in B-cell activation.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Inhibitory oligonucleotides specifically block effects of stimulatory CpG oligonucleotides in B cells.

Reaction to certain motifs in bacterial DNA is an important function of natural immunity. For example, single stranded oligonucleotides (ODN) containing the motif "not C, unmethylated C, G, not G" are powerful mitogens and apoptosis inhibitors for mouse spleen B cells. But replacing GCGTT or ACGTT with GCGGG or ACGGG converted a stimulatory 15-mer ODN into an inhibitory ODN. All inhibitory ODN had three consecutive G, and a fourth G increased inhibitory activity, but a deazaguanosine substitution to prevent planar stacking did not affect activity. Inhibitory ODN blocked apoptosis protection and cell-cycle entry induced by stimulatory ODN, but not that induced by lipopolysaccharide, anti-CD40 or anti-IgM+IL-4. ODN-driven up-regulation of cyclin D(2), c-Myc, c-Fos, c-Jun and Bcl(XL) and down-regulation of cyclin kinase inhibitor p27(kip1) were all blocked by inhibitory ODN. The relative potency of a series of stimulatory and inhibitory ODN was the same for all readouts measured. Interference with uptake of stimulatory ODN could not account for their inhibitory effects. Even if addition of inhibitory ODN was delayed several hours, partial inhibition of stimulatory ODN effects occurred. Inhibitory ODN hold potential as antidotes for excessive ODN stimulation in the clinical setting and provide an important tool for studying ODN recognition.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗