scholarly journals Connexin26 mediates CO2-dependent regulation of breathing via glial cells of the medulla oblongata

Author(s):  
Joseph Van de Wiel ◽  
Louise Meigh ◽  
Amol Bhandare ◽  
Jonathan Cook ◽  
Sarbjit Nijjar ◽  
...  

AbstractBreathing is highly sensitive to the PCO2 of arterial blood. Although CO2 is detected via the proxy of pH, CO2 acting directly via Cx26 may also contribute to the regulation of breathing. Here we exploit our knowledge of the structural motif of CO2-binding to Cx26 to devise a dominant negative subunit (Cx26DN) that removes the CO2-sensitivity from endogenously expressed wild type Cx26. Expression of Cx26DN in glial cells of a circumscribed region of the medulla - the caudal parapyramidal area – reduced the adaptive change in tidal volume and minute ventilation by approximately 30% at 6% inspired CO2. As central chemosensors mediate about 70% of the total response to hypercapnia, CO2-sensing via Cx26 in the caudal parapyramidal area contributed about 45% of the centrally-mediated ventilatory response to CO2. Our data unequivocally links the direct sensing of CO2 to the chemosensory control of breathing and demonstrates that CO2-binding to Cx26 is a key transduction step in this fundamental process.

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph van de Wiel ◽  
Louise Meigh ◽  
Amol Bhandare ◽  
Jonathan Cook ◽  
Sarbjit Nijjar ◽  
...  

AbstractBreathing is highly sensitive to the PCO2 of arterial blood. Although CO2 is detected via the proxy of pH, CO2 acting directly via Cx26 may also contribute to the regulation of breathing. Here we exploit our knowledge of the structural motif of CO2-binding to Cx26 to devise a dominant negative subunit (Cx26DN) that removes the CO2-sensitivity from endogenously expressed wild type Cx26. Expression of Cx26DN in glial cells of a circumscribed region of the mouse medulla - the caudal parapyramidal area – reduced the adaptive change in tidal volume and minute ventilation by approximately 30% at 6% inspired CO2. As central chemosensors mediate about 70% of the total response to hypercapnia, CO2-sensing via Cx26 in the caudal parapyramidal area contributed about 45% of the centrally-mediated ventilatory response to CO2. Our data unequivocally link the direct sensing of CO2 to the chemosensory control of breathing and demonstrates that CO2-binding to Cx26 is a key transduction step in this fundamental process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (1) ◽  
pp. R190-R202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charoula Eleni Giannakopoulou ◽  
Adamantia Sotiriou ◽  
Maria Dettoraki ◽  
Michael Yang ◽  
Fotis Perlikos ◽  
...  

Proinflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1β (IL-1β) affect the control of breathing. Our aim is to determine the effect of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 οn the control of breathing. IL-10 knockout mice (IL-10−/−, n = 10) and wild-type mice (IL-10+/+, n = 10) were exposed to the following test gases: hyperoxic hypercapnia 7% CO2-93% O2, normoxic hypercapnia 7% CO2-21% O2, hypoxic hypercapnia 7% CO2-10% O2, and hypoxic normocapnia 3% CO2-10% O2. The ventilatory function was assessed using whole body plethysmography. Recombinant mouse IL-10 (rIL-10; 10 μg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to wild-type mice ( n = 10) 30 min before the onset of gas challenge. IL-10 was administered in neonatal medullary slices (10–30 ng/ml, n = 8). We found that IL-10−/−mice exhibited consistently increased frequency and reduced tidal volume compared with IL-10+/+mice during room air breathing and in all test gases (by 23.62 to 33.2%, P < 0.05 and −36.23 to −41.69%, P < 0.05, respectively). In all inspired gases, the minute ventilation of IL-10−/−mice was lower than IL-10+/+(by −15.67 to −22.74%, P < 0.05). The rapid shallow breathing index was higher in IL-10−/−mice compared with IL-10+/+mice in all inspired gases (by 50.25 to 57.5%, P < 0.05). The intraperitoneal injection of rIL-10 caused reduction of the respiratory rate and augmentation of the tidal volume in room air and also in all inspired gases (by −12.22 to −29.53 and 32.18 to 45.11%, P < 0.05, respectively). IL-10 administration in neonatal rat ( n = 8) in vitro rhythmically active medullary slice preparations did not affect either rhythmicity or peak amplitude of hypoglossal nerve discharge. In conclusion, IL-10 may induce a slower and deeper pattern of breathing.


2003 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikita Gamper ◽  
Mark S. Shapiro

To quantify the modulation of KCNQ2/3 current by [Ca2+]i and to test if calmodulin (CaM) mediates this action, simultaneous whole-cell recording and Ca2+ imaging was performed on CHO cells expressing KCNQ2/3 channels, either alone, or together with wild-type (wt) CaM, or dominant-negative (DN) CaM. We varied [Ca2+]i from &lt;10 to &gt;400 nM with ionomycin (5 μM) added to either a 2 mM Ca2+, or EGTA-buffered Ca2+-free, solution. Coexpression of wt CaM made KCNQ2/3 currents highly sensitive to [Ca2+]i (IC50 70 ± 20 nM, max inhibition 73%, n = 10). However, coexpression of DN CaM rendered KCNQ2/3 currents largely [Ca2+]i insensitive (max inhibition 8 ± 3%, n = 10). In cells without cotransfected CaM, the Ca2+ sensitivity was variable but generally weak. [Ca2+]i modulation of M current in superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons followed the same pattern as in CHO cells expressed with KCNQ2/3 and wt CaM, suggesting that endogenous M current is also highly sensitive to [Ca2+]i. Coimmunoprecipitations showed binding of CaM to KCNQ2–5 that was similar in the presence of 5 mM Ca2+ or 5 mM EGTA. Gel-shift analyses suggested Ca2+-dependent CaM binding to an “IQ-like” motif present in the carboxy terminus of KCNQ2–5. We tested whether bradykinin modulation of M current in SCG neurons uses CaM. Wt or DN CaM was exogenously expressed in SCG cells using pseudovirions or the biolistic “gene gun.” Using both methods, expression of both wt CaM and DN CaM strongly reduced bradykinin inhibition of M current, but for all groups muscarinic inhibition was unaffected. Cells expressed with wt CaM had strongly reduced tonic current amplitudes as well. We observed similar [Ca2+]i rises by bradykinin in all the groups of cells, indicating that CaM did not affect Ca2+ release from stores. We conclude that M-type currents are highly sensitive to [Ca2+]i and that calmodulin acts as their Ca2+ sensor.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 20200029
Author(s):  
Nicholas Dale

Breathing is essential to provide the O 2 required for metabolism and to remove its inevitable CO 2 by-product. The rate and depth of breathing is controlled to regulate the excretion of CO 2 to maintain the pH of arterial blood at physiological values. A widespread consensus is that chemosensory cells in the carotid body and brainstem measure blood and tissue pH and adjust the rate of breathing to ensure its homeostatic regulation. In this review, I shall consider the evidence that underlies this consensus and highlight historical data indicating that direct sensing of CO 2 also plays a significant role in the regulation of breathing. I shall then review work from my laboratory that provides a molecular mechanism for the direct detection of CO 2 via the gap junction protein connexin26 (Cx26) and demonstrates the contribution of this mechanism to the chemosensory regulation of breathing. As there are many pathological mutations of Cx26 in humans, I shall discuss which of these alter the CO 2 sensitivity of Cx26 and the extent to which these mutations could affect human breathing. I finish by discussing the evolution of the CO 2 sensitivity of Cx26 and its link to the evolution of amniotes.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 651
Author(s):  
Hsiao-Cheng Tsai ◽  
Che-Hong Chen ◽  
Daria Mochly-Rosen ◽  
Yi-Chen Ethan Li ◽  
Min-Huey Chen

It is estimated that 560 million people carry an East Asian-specific ALDH2*2 dominant-negative mutation which leads to enzyme inactivation. This common ALDH2 polymorphism has a significant association with osteoporosis. We hypothesized that the ALDH2*2 mutation in conjunction with periodontal Porphyromonas gingivalis bacterial infection and alcohol drinking had an inhibitory effect on osteoblasts and bone regeneration. We examined the prospective association of ALDH2 activity with the proliferation and mineralization potential of human osteoblasts in vitro. The ALDH2 knockdown experiments showed that the ALDH2 knockdown osteoblasts lost their proliferation and mineralization capability. To mimic dental bacterial infection, we compared the dental bony defects in wild-type mice and ALDH2*2 knockin mice after injection with purified lipopolysaccharides (LPS), derived from P. gingivalis which is a bacterial species known to cause periodontitis. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scan results indicated that bone regeneration was significantly affected in the ALDH2*2 knockin mice with about 20% more dental bony defects after LPS injection than the wild-type mice. Moreover, the ALDH2*2 knockin mutant mice had decreased osteoblast growth and more dental bone loss in the upper left jaw region after LPS injection. In conclusion, these results indicated that the ALDH2*2 mutation with alcohol drinking and chronic exposure to dental bacterial-derived toxin increased the risk of dental bone loss.


2007 ◽  
Vol 176 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam C. Smith ◽  
Won Do Heo ◽  
Virginie Braun ◽  
Xiuju Jiang ◽  
Chloe Macrae ◽  
...  

Members of the Rab guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) family are key regulators of membrane traffic. Here we examined the association of 48 Rabs with model phagosomes containing a non-invasive mutant of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). This mutant traffics to lysosomes and allowed us to determine which Rabs localize to a maturing phagosome. In total, 18 Rabs associated with maturing phagosomes, each with its own kinetics of association. Dominant-negative mutants of Rab23 and 35 inhibited phagosome–lysosome fusion. A large number of Rab GTPases localized to wild-type Salmonella-containing vacuoles (SCVs), which do not fuse with lysosomes. However, some Rabs (8B, 13, 23, 32, and 35) were excluded from wild-type SCVs whereas others (5A, 5B, 5C, 7A, 11A, and 11B) were enriched on this compartment. Our studies demonstrate that a complex network of Rab GTPases controls endocytic progression to lysosomes and that this is modulated by S. Typhimurium to allow its intracellular growth.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 109 (8) ◽  
pp. 3417-3423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Bousquet ◽  
Cyril Broccardo ◽  
Cathy Quelen ◽  
Fabienne Meggetto ◽  
Emilienne Kuhlein ◽  
...  

Abstract We report a novel t(7;9)(q11;p13) translocation in 2 patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). By fluorescent in situ hybridization and 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends, we showed that the paired box domain of PAX5 was fused with the elastin (ELN) gene. After cloning the full-length cDNA of the chimeric gene, confocal microscopy of transfected NIH3T3 cells and Burkitt lymphoma cells (DG75) demonstrated that PAX5-ELN was localized in the nucleus. Chromatin immunoprecipitation clearly indicated that PAX5-ELN retained the capability to bind CD19 and BLK promoter sequences. To analyze the functions of the chimeric protein, HeLa cells were cotransfected with a luc-CD19 construct, pcDNA3-PAX5, and with increasing amounts of pcDNA3-PAX5-ELN. Thus, in vitro, PAX5-ELN was able to block CD19 transcription. Furthermore, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) experiments showed that PAX5-ELN was able to affect the transcription of endogenous PAX5 target genes. Since PAX5 is essential for B-cell differentiation, this translocation may account for the blockage of leukemic cells at the pre–B-cell stage. The mechanism involved in this process appears to be, at least in part, through a dominant-negative effect of PAX5-ELN on the wild-type PAX5 in a setting ofPAX5 haploinsufficiency.


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (4) ◽  
pp. F1230-F1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo Mi Kim ◽  
Christoph Eisner ◽  
Robert Faulhaber-Walter ◽  
Diane Mizel ◽  
Susan M. Wall ◽  
...  

NKCC1 is a widely expressed isoform of the Na-2Cl-K cotransporter that mediates several direct and indirect vascular effects and regulates expression and release of renin. In this study, we used NKCC1-deficient (NKCC1−/−) and wild-type (WT) mice to assess day/night differences of blood pressure (BP), locomotor activity, and renin release and to study the effects of high (8%) or low (0.03%) dietary NaCl intake on BP, activity, and the renin/aldosterone system. On a standard diet, 24-h mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate determined by radiotelemetry, and their day/night differences, were not different in NKCC1−/− and WT mice. Spontaneous and wheel-running activities in the active night phase were lower in NKCC1−/− than WT mice. In NKCC1−/− mice on a high-NaCl diet, MAP increased by 10 mmHg in the night without changes in heart rate. In contrast, there was no salt-dependent blood pressure change in WT mice. MAP reductions by hydralazine (1 mg/kg) or isoproterenol (10 μg/mouse) were significantly greater in NKCC1−/− than WT mice. Plasma renin (PRC; ng ANG I·ml−1·h−1) and aldosterone (aldo; pg/ml) concentrations were higher in NKCC1−/− than WT mice (PRC: 3,745 ± 377 vs. 1,245 ± 364; aldo: 763 ± 136 vs. 327 ± 98). Hyperreninism and hyperaldosteronism were found in NKCC1−/− mice during both day and night. High Na suppressed PRC and aldosterone in both NKCC1−/− and WT mice, whereas a low-Na diet increased PRC and aldosterone in WT but not NKCC1−/− mice. We conclude that 24-h MAP and MAP circadian rhythms do not differ between NKCC1−/− and WT mice on a standard diet, probably reflecting a balance between anti- and prohypertensive factors, but that blood pressure of NKCC1−/− mice is more sensitive to increases and decreases of Na intake.


Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 165 (3) ◽  
pp. 1083-1093
Author(s):  
Jeong-Ah Seo ◽  
Yajun Guan ◽  
Jae-Hyuk Yu

Abstract Asexual sporulation (conidiation) in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans requires the early developmental activator fluG. Loss of fluG results in the blockage of both conidiation and production of the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin (ST). To investigate molecular mechanisms of fluG-dependent developmental activation, 40 suppressors of fluG (SFGs) that conidiate without fluG have been isolated and characterized. Genetic analyses showed that an individual suppression is caused by a single second-site mutation, and that all sfg mutations but one are recessive. Pairwise meiotic crosses grouped mutations to four loci, 31 of them to sfgA, 6 of them to sfgB, and 1 each to sfgC and sfgD, respectively. The only dominant mutation, sfgA38, also mapped to the sfgA locus, suggesting a dominant negative mutation. Thirteen sfgA and 1 sfgC mutants elaborated conidiophores in liquid submerged culture, indicating that loss of either of these gene functions not only bypasses fluG function but also results in hyperactive conidiation. While sfg mutants show varying levels of restored conidiation, all recovered the ability to produce ST at near wild-type levels. The fact that at least four loci are defined by recessive sfg mutations indicates that multiple genes negatively regulate conidiation downstream of fluG and that the activity of fluG is required to remove such repressive effects.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002203452199662
Author(s):  
J.T. Chen ◽  
C.H. Lin ◽  
H.W. Huang ◽  
Y.P. Wang ◽  
P.C. Kao ◽  
...  

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a rare genetic disorder featured by nonsyndromic pathological overgrowth of gingiva. The excessive gingival tissues can cause dental, masticatory, and phonetic problems, which impose severe functional and esthetic burdens on affected individuals. Due to its high recurrent rate, patients with HGF have to undergo repeated surgical procedures of gingival resection, from childhood to adulthood, which significantly compromises their quality of life. Unraveling the genetic etiology and molecular pathogenesis of HGF not only gains insight into gingival physiology and homeostasis but also opens avenues for developing potential therapeutic strategies for this disorder. Recently, mutations in REST (OMIM *600571), encoding a transcription repressor, were reported to cause HGF (GINGF5; OMIM #617626) in 3 Turkish families. However, the functions of REST in gingival homeostasis and pathogenesis of REST-associated HGF remain largely unknown. In this study, we characterized 2 HGF families and identified 2 novel REST mutations, c.2449C>T (p.Arg817*) and c.2771_2793dup (p.Glu932Lysfs*3). All 5 mutations reported to date are nonsenses or frameshifts in the last exon of REST and would presumably truncate the protein. In vitro reporter gene assays demonstrated a partial or complete loss of repressor activity for these truncated RESTs. When coexpressed with the full-length protein, the truncated RESTs impaired the repressive ability of wild-type REST, suggesting a dominant negative effect. Immunofluorescent studies showed nuclear localization of overexpressed wild-type and truncated RESTs in vitro, indicating preservation of the nuclear localization signal in shortened proteins. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated a comparable pattern of ubiquitous REST expression in both epithelium and lamina propria of normal and HGF gingival tissues despite a reduced reactivity in HGF gingiva. Results of this study confirm the pathogenicity of REST truncation mutations occurring in the last exon causing HGF and suggest the pathosis is caused by an antimorphic (dominant negative) disease mechanism.


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