The BPI-like/PLUNC family proteins in cattle

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 1006-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas T. Wheeler ◽  
Brendan J. Haigh ◽  
Marita K. Broadhurst ◽  
Kylie A. Hood ◽  
Nauman J. Maqbool

Members of the protein family having similarity to BPI (bactericidal/permeability increasing protein) (the BPI-like proteins), also known as the PLUNC (palate, lung and nasal epithelium clone) family, have been found in a range of mammals; however, those in species other than human or mouse have been relatively little characterized. Analysis of the BPI-like proteins in cattle presents unique opportunities to investigate the function of these proteins, as well as address their evolution and contribution to the distinct physiology of ruminants. The present review summarizes the current understanding of the nature of the BPI-like locus in cattle, including the duplications giving rise to the multiple BSP30 (bovine salivary protein 30 kDa) genes from an ancestral gene in common with the single PSP (parotid secretory protein) gene found in monogastric species. Current knowledge of the expression of the BPI-like proteins in cattle is also presented, including their pattern of expression among tissues, which illustrate their independent regulation at sites of high pathogen exposure, and the abundance of the BSP30 proteins in saliva and salivary tissues. Finally, investigations of the function of the BSP30 proteins are presented, including their antimicrobial, lipopolysaccharide-binding and bacterial aggregation activities. These results are discussed in relation to hypotheses regarding the physiological role of the BPI-like proteins in cattle, including the role they may play in host defence and the unique aspects of digestion in ruminants.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seshagiri R. Nandula ◽  
Ian Huxford ◽  
Thomas T. Wheeler ◽  
Conrado Aparicio ◽  
Sven-Ulrik Gorr

AbstractSaliva plays important roles in the mastication, swallowing and digestion of food, speech and lubrication of oral mucosa, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity and control of body temperature in grooming animals. The salivary protein BPIFA2 (BPI fold containing family A member 2; former names: Parotid Secretory Protein, PSP, SPLUNC2, C20orf70) is related to lipid-binding and LPS-binding proteins expressed in mucosa. Indeed, BPIFA2 binds LPS but the physiological role of BPIFA2 remains to be determined. To address this question, Bpifa2 knockout (Bpifa2tm1(KOMP)Vlcg) (KO) mice were phenotyped with a special emphasis on saliva and salivary glands. Saliva collected from KO mice was less able to spread on a hydrophobic surface than wild-type saliva and the surface tension of KO saliva was close to that of water. These data suggest that BPIFA2 is a salivary surfactant that is mainly responsible for the low surface tension of mouse saliva. The reduced surfactant activity of KO saliva did not affect consumption of dry food or grooming, but saliva from KO mice contained less LPS than wild-type saliva. Indeed, mice lacking BPIFA2 responded to ingested LPS with an increased stool frequency, suggesting that BPIFA2 plays a role in the solubilization and activity of ingested LPS. Consistent with these findings, BPIFA2-depleted mice also showed increased insulin secretion and metabolomic changes that were consistent with a mild endotoxemia. These results support the distal physiological function of a salivary protein and reinforce the connection between oral biology and systemic disease.


Cells ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 288
Author(s):  
Julie Massart ◽  
Karima Begriche ◽  
Jessica H. Hartman ◽  
Bernard Fromenty

Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is pivotal in hepatotoxicity induced by alcohol abuse and different xenobiotics. In this setting, CYP2E1 generates reactive metabolites inducing oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. In addition, this enzyme appears to play a role in the progression of obesity-related fatty liver to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Indeed, increased CYP2E1 activity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is deemed to induce reactive oxygen species overproduction, which in turn triggers oxidative stress, necroinflammation and fibrosis. In 1997, Avadhani’s group reported for the first time the presence of CYP2E1 in rat liver mitochondria, and subsequent investigations by other groups confirmed that mitochondrial CYP2E1 (mtCYP2E1) could be found in different experimental models. In this review, we first recall the main features of CYP2E1 including its role in the biotransformation of endogenous and exogenous molecules, the regulation of its expression and activity and its involvement in different liver diseases. Then, we present the current knowledge on the physiological role of mtCYP2E1, its contribution to xenobiotic biotransformation as well as the mechanism and regulation of CYP2E1 targeting to mitochondria. Finally, we discuss experimental investigations suggesting that mtCYP2E1 could have a role in alcohol-associated liver disease, xenobiotic-induced hepatotoxicity and NAFLD.


2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne van Dommelen ◽  
René de Mot ◽  
Jos Vanderleyden

This paper originates from an address at the 8th International Symposium on Nitrogen Fixation with Non-Legumes, Sydney, NSW, December 2000 Ammonium uptake by cells has been studied for more than a century, but only recently a family of ammonium transporters (Mep/Amt) with 10–12 transmembrane domains has been defined. These proteins are probably ubiquitous, since homologues have been found in the major kingdoms of living organisms. Plants as well as yeast and some archaebacteria have multiple Mep/Amt paralogues, which can be distinguished by their affinity for ammonium and the ammonium analogue methylammonium. Most ammonium transporters are induced in nitrogen-starving conditions, both in prokaryotes and plants. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli and Azospirillum brasilense Mep/Amt proteins where shown to be necessary for growth when the external concentration of the diffusive ammonium form (NH3) becomes limiting. Ammonium transporters also play an important role in pseudohyphal differentiation in yeast and efficient symbiotic interaction between Rhizobium etli and its host plant. In most bacteria, NH4+ transport appears to be a uniport mechanism driven by the membrane potential, but, depending on the organism, a different mode of ammonium uptake may be operating. Current knowledge offers the basis to investigate further the physiological role of ammonium transporters in the natural habitat of organisms and their importance in plant–bacteria interactions.


2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 781-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.T. Wheeler ◽  
K. Hood ◽  
K. Oden ◽  
J. McCracken ◽  
C.A. Morris

Members of the family of BPI (bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein)-like proteins are as yet incompletely characterized, particularly in cattle, where full-length sequence information is available for only three of the 13 family members known from other species. Structural bioinformatic analyses incorporating bovine homologues of several members of the BPI-like protein family, including two forms of bovine parotid secretory protein (PSP), showed that this family is also present in cattle. Expression analyses of several members of the BPI-like protein family in cattle, including PSP (Bsp30), von Ebner's minor salivary gland protein (VEMSGP) and lung-specific X protein (LUNX), showed a restricted pattern of expression, consistent with earlier hypotheses that these proteins function in the innate immune response to bacteria. The possible role of bovine PSP in susceptibility to pasture bloat in cattle is discussed.


Endocrines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-283
Author(s):  
Naohiro Yano ◽  
Yu Tina Zhao ◽  
Ting C. Zhao

Irisin is a myokine that primarily targets adipose tissue, where it increases energy expenditure and contributes to the beneficial effects of exercise through the browning of white adipose tissue. As our knowledge has deepened in recent years, muscle has been found to be a major target organ for irisin as well. Several studies have attempted to characterize the role of irisin in muscle to improve glucose metabolism through mechanisms such as reducing insulin resistance. Although they are very intriguing reports, some contradictory results make it difficult to grasp the whole picture of the action of irisin on muscle. In this review, we attempted to organize the current knowledge of the role of irisin in muscle glucose metabolism. We discussed the direct effects of irisin on glucose metabolism in three types of muscle, that is, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, and the myocardium. We also describe irisin’s effects on mitochondria and its interactions with other hormones. Furthermore, to consider the relationship between the irisin-induced improvement of glucose metabolism in muscle and systemic disorders of glucose metabolism, we reviewed the results from animal interventional studies and human clinical studies.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza Hanieh

The immune system is regulated by distinct signaling pathways that control the development and function of the immune cells. Accumulating evidence suggest that ligation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr), an environmentally responsive transcription factor, results in multiple cross talks that are capable of modulating these pathways and their downstream responsive genes. Most of the immune cells respond to such modulation, and many inflammatory response-related genes contain multiple xenobiotic-responsive elements (XREs) boxes upstream. Active research efforts have investigated the physiological role of Ahr in inflammation and autoimmunity using different animal models. Recently formed paradigm has shown that activation of Ahr by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM) prompts the differentiation of CD4+Foxp3+regulatory T cells (Tregs) and inhibits T helper (Th)-17 suggesting that Ahr is an innovative therapeutic strategy for autoimmune inflammation. These promising findings generate a basis for future clinical practices in humans. This review addresses the current knowledge on the role of Ahr in different immune cell compartments, with a particular focus on inflammation and autoimmunity.


2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-229
Author(s):  
Bojana Simovic Markovic ◽  
Ljubica Vucicevic ◽  
Sanja Bojic ◽  
Vladislav Volarevic

ABSTRACT Autophagy is a catabolic mechanism in the cell that involves the degradation of unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular components by the lysosomal machinery. Recent studies have indicated that autophagy is a source of autoantigens, thus highlighting its potential role in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. There are at least three different forms of autophagy: macroautophagy, microautophagy and chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). The physiological role of autophagy is to maintain cellular homeostasis by removing long-lived, damaged proteins and dysfunctional organelles and by providing energy. Aberrant autophagy may contribute to chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases. An understanding of the complex relationships between autophagy and autophagy-related genes in each autoimmune disease creates the possibility of developing more specific and effective therapeutic strategies. Given the importance of autophagy in immune functions, this review article summarises current knowledge about the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.


2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 977-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin D. Bingle ◽  
Ruth L. Seal ◽  
C. Jeremy Craven

We present the BPIFAn/BPIFBn systematic nomenclature for the PLUNC (palate lung and nasal epithelium clone)/PSP (parotid secretory protein)/BSP30 (bovine salivary protein 30)/SMGB (submandibular gland protein B) family of proteins, based on an adaptation of the SPLUNCn (short PLUNCn)/LPLUNCn (large PLUNCn) nomenclature. The nomenclature is applied to a set of 102 sequences which we believe represent the current reliable data for BPIFA/BPIFB proteins across all species, including marsupials and birds. The nomenclature will be implemented by the HGNC (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee).


2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. R83-R92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Pascual ◽  
María Hidalgo-Figueroa ◽  
Raquel Gómez-Díaz ◽  
José López-Barneo

Neurotrophic factors are small proteins necessary for neuron survival and maintenance of phenotype. They are considered as promising therapeutic tools for neurodegenerative diseases. The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protects catecholaminergic cells from toxic insults; thus, its potential therapeutic applicability in Parkinson's disease has been intensely investigated. In recent years, there have been major advances in the analysis of GDNF signaling pathways in peripheral neurons and embryonic dopamine mesencephalic cells. However, the actual physiological role of GDNF in maintaining catecholaminergic central neurons during adulthood is only starting to be unraveled, and the mechanisms whereby GDNF protects central brain neurons are poorly known. In this study, we review the current knowledge of GDNF expression, signaling, and function in adult brain, with special emphasis on the genetic animal models with deficiency in the GDNF-dependent pathways.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document