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Biomedical subjects

Y Hsing

Publications and source records attributed to Y Hsing.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Requirement for nuclear factor-kappaB activation by a distinct subset of CD40-mediated effector functions in B lymphocytes.

CD40 stimulation, which is crucial for generating an effective T-dependent humoral response, leads to the activation of transcription factors NF-AT (nuclear factor of activated T cells), AP-1 (activator protein-1), and NF-kappaB (nuclear factor-kappaB). However, which CD40-mediated B cell functions actually require activation of specific transcription factors is unknown. We examined the causal relationship between NF-kappaB activation and CD40 effector functions by evaluating CD40 functions in the presence of an inducible mutant inhibitory kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha) superrepressor. IkappaBalphaAA inhibited nuclear translocation of multiple NF-kappaB dimers without the complicating effect of depriving cells of NF-kappaB during development. This approach complements studies that use mice genetically deficient in single or multiple NF-kappaB subunits. Interestingly, only a subset of CD40 effector functions was found to require NF-kappaB activation. Both CD40-induced Ab secretion and B7-1 up-regulation were completely abrogated by expression of IkappaBalphaAA. Surprisingly, up-regulation of Fas, CD23, and ICAM-1 was partially independent, and up-regulation of LFA-1 was completely independent, of CD40-induced NF-kappaB activation. For the first time, it is clear that distinct transcription factors are required for the dynamic regulation of CD40 functions.

Animals

Characterization of CD40 signaling determinants regulating nuclear factor-kappa B activation in B lymphocytes.

CD40 signaling to B cells is important for generating an effective humoral immune response. CD40 ligation leads to B cell activation events such as proliferation, Ig secretion, isotype switching, and up-regulation of cell surface molecules, as well as the generation of memory B cells. Many of these events are dependent upon the ability of CD40 to activate the transcription factor NF-kappa B (NF-kappa B). To define the CD40 signaling components upstream of NF-kappa B activation and the functional consequences downstream of NF-kappa B activation, we examined mouse B cell transfectants expressing wild-type or mutant human CD40. Analysis of CD40 cytoplasmic domain truncation and point mutants defined a 10-amino acid CD40 cytoplasmic signaling determinant required for NF-kappa B activation. A threonine residue at position 234, previously shown to be important for CD40 association with TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), TRAF3, and TRAF5, was not required for NF-kappa B activation. This suggests that in B cells, CD40-induced NF-kappa B activation can occur independently of TRAF2 and TRAF5 association. NF-kappa B activation was independent of the transmembrane domain of CD40, suggesting that it is independent of p23, a molecule that associates with CD40 in a region other than the cytoplasmic domain. Proteasome-dependent inhibitory kappa B alpha (I kappa B alpha) and I kappa B beta degradation occurred downstream of CD40 ligation and preceded CD40-mediated NF-kappa B nuclear translocation. CD40- or pervanadate-mediated I kappa B tyrosine phosphorylation was not detected. NF-kappa B activation correlated with the ability of CD40 to induce Ab secretion and the up-regulation of ICAM-1 and LFA-1. However, NF-kappa B activation was insufficient for CD40-mediated up-regulation of B7-1, Fas, and CD23.

Amino Acid Sequence

Different CD40-mediated signaling events require distinct CD40 structural features.

Signals delivered to B cells through CD40 are critical to the development of humoral immune responses. In this study we characterize regions of the 62-amino acid cytoplasmic domain of human CD40 (hCD40) that are essential for signal transduction and examine the functional consequences of mutations in these regions. A panel of mutant hCD40 molecules was stably expressed in mouse B cell lines and tested for its ability to stimulate Ab secretion, homotypic adhesion, and increased surface expression of B7, Fas, CD23, LFA-1, and intracellular adhesion molecule-1. Our results indicate that CD40 contains at least two major signaling determinants in the cytoplasmic domain: one disrupted by a truncation of 22 amino acids, and a second disrupted by the removal of 10 additional amino acids. The second determinant includes threonine 234, a residue previously shown to be important in CD40 signal transduction. Our functional analysis of alanine and serine substitutions at position 234 indicates that phosphorylation of this residue may be important for full CD40 signaling activity.

Amino Acid Sequence

In search of optimal productivity and hospital size: a case study.

This study examines the relationship between optimal employee productivity and hospital size based on a sample from the state of Texas during 1982-91. Full-time equivalents (FTEs) per adjusted occupied bed is employed to represent productivity. The number of beds, total employees, and eight standard categories are used to measure hospital size. The impact of the diagnosis-related group implementation on productivity is also tested. Major findings suggest that productivity is found to be the highest for hospitals with 272 beds or 945 employees or in the category IV or V. The implementation of the DRG has not increased employee productivity.

Bed Occupancy