scholarly journals Generation and Analysis of Mice Lacking the Chemokine Fractalkine

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 3159-3165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald N. Cook ◽  
Shu-Cheng Chen ◽  
Lee M. Sullivan ◽  
Denise J. Manfra ◽  
Maria T. Wiekowski ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Fractalkine (CX3CL1) is the first described chemokine that can exist either as a soluble protein or as a membrane-bound molecule. Both forms of fractalkine can mediate adhesion of cells expressing its receptor, CX3CR1. This activity, together with its expression on endothelial cells, suggests that fractalkine might mediate adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium during inflammation. Fractalkine is also highly expressed in neurons, and its receptor, CX3CR1, is expressed on glial cells. To determine the biologic role of fractalkine, we used targeted gene disruption to generate fractalkine-deficient mice. These mice did not exhibit overt behavioral abnormalities, and histologic analysis of their brains did not reveal any gross changes compared to wild-type mice. In addition, these mice had normal hematologic profiles except for a decrease in the number of blood leukocytes expressing the cell surface marker F4/80. The cellular composition of their lymph nodes did not differ significantly from that of wild-type mice. Similarly, the responses offractalkine −/− mice to a variety of inflammatory stimuli were indistinguishable from those of wild-type mice.

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 6195-6200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoru Senju ◽  
Ken-ichi Iyama ◽  
Hironori Kudo ◽  
Shinichi Aizawa ◽  
Yasuharu Nishimura

ABSTRACT We previously identified a gene encoding a putative GTPase, GTPBP1, which is structurally related to elongation factor 1α, a key component of protein biosynthesis machinery. The primary structure of GTPBP1 is highly conserved between human and mouse (97% identical at the amino acid level). Expression of this gene is enhanced by gamma interferon in a monocytic cell line, THP-1. Although counterparts of this molecule in Caenorhabditis elegans and Ascaris suum have also been identified, the function of this molecule remains to be clarified. In the present study, our immunohistochemical analyses on mouse tissues revealed that GTPBP1 is expressed in some neurons and smooth muscle cells of various organs as well as macrophages. Immunofluorescence analyses revealed that GTPBP1 is localized exclusively in cytoplasm and shows a diffuse granular network forming a gradient from the nucleus to the periphery of the cells in smooth muscle cell lines and macrophages. To investigate the physiological role ofGTPBP1, we used targeted gene disruption in embryonic stem cells to generate GTPBP1-deficient mice. The mutant mice were born at the expected Mendelian frequency, developed normally, and were fertile. No manifest anatomical or behavioral abnormality was observed in the mutant mice. Functions of macrophages, including chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and nitric oxide production, in mutant mice were equivalent to those seen in wild-type mice. No significant difference was observed in the immune response to protein antigen between mutant mice and wild-type mice, suggesting normal function of antigen-presenting cells of the mutant mice. The absence of an eminent phenotype in GTPBP1-deficient mice may be due to functional compensation by GTPBP2, a molecule we recently identified which is similar to GTPBP1 in structure and tissue distribution.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 107 (7) ◽  
pp. 2599-2601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric O. Sekyere ◽  
Louise L. Dunn ◽  
Yohan Suryo Rahmanto ◽  
Des R. Richardson

AbstractMelanotransferrin (MTf) or tumor antigen p97 is a transferrin homolog that binds one iron (Fe) atom and has been suggested to play roles in a variety of processes, including Fe metabolism, eosinophil differentiation, and plasminogen activation. Considering the vital role of Fe in many metabolic pathways, such as DNA and heme synthesis, it is important to understand the function of MTf. To define this, a MTf knockout (MTf–/–) mouse was generated through targeted disruption of the MTf gene. The MTf–/– mice were viable and fertile and developed normally, with no morphologic or histologic abnormalities. Assessment of Fe indices, tissue Fe levels, hematology, and serum chemistry parameters demonstrated no differences between MTf–/– and wild-type (MTf+/+) mice, suggesting MTf was not essential for Fe metabolism.


2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 2536-2538 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Mellado ◽  
G. Garcia-Effron ◽  
M. J. Buitrago ◽  
L. Alcazar-Fuoli ◽  
M. Cuenca-Estrella ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The role of Aspergillus fumigatus 14α-sterol demethylase (Cyp51A) in azole drug susceptibility was assessed. Targeted disruption of cyp51A in azole-susceptible and -resistant strains decreased MICs from 2- to 40-fold. The cyp51A mutants were morphologically indistinguishable from the wild-type strain, retaining the ability to cause pulmonary disease in neutropenic mice.


mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adria Carbo ◽  
Danyvid Olivares-Villagómez ◽  
Raquel Hontecillas ◽  
Josep Bassaganya-Riera ◽  
Rupesh Chaturvedi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe development of gastritis duringHelicobacter pyloriinfection is dependent on an activated adaptive immune response orchestrated by T helper (Th) cells. However, the relative contributions of the Th1 and Th17 subsets to gastritis and control of infection are still under investigation. To investigate the role of interleukin-21 (IL-21) in the gastric mucosa duringH. pyloriinfection, we combined mathematical modeling of CD4+T cell differentiation within vivomechanistic studies. We infected IL-21-deficient and wild-type mice withH. pyloristrain SS1 and assessed colonization, gastric inflammation, cellular infiltration, and cytokine profiles. ChronicallyH. pylori-infected IL-21-deficient mice had higherH. pyloricolonization, significantly less gastritis, and reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines compared to these parameters in infected wild-type littermates. Thesein vivodata were used to calibrate anH. pyloriinfection-dependent, CD4+T cell-specific computational model, which then described the mechanism by which IL-21 activates the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-17 during chronicH. pyloriinfection. The model predicted activated expression of T-bet and RORγt and the phosphorylation of STAT3 and STAT1 and suggested a potential role of IL-21 in the modulation of IL-10. Driven by our modeling-derived predictions, we found reduced levels of CD4+splenocyte-specifictbx21androrcexpression, reduced phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3, and an increase in CD4+T cell-specific IL-10 expression inH. pylori-infected IL-21-deficient mice. Our results indicate that IL-21 regulates Th1 and Th17 effector responses during chronicH. pyloriinfection in a STAT1- and STAT3-dependent manner, therefore playing a major role controllingH. pyloriinfection and gastritis.IMPORTANCEHelicobacter pyloriis the dominant member of the gastric microbiota in more than 50% of the world’s population.H. pyloricolonization has been implicated in gastritis and gastric cancer, as infection withH. pyloriis the single most common risk factor for gastric cancer. Current data suggest that, in addition to bacterial virulence factors, the magnitude and types of immune responses influence the outcome of colonization and chronic infection. This study uses a combined computational and experimental approach to investigate how IL-21, a proinflammatory T cell-derived cytokine, maintains the chronic proinflammatory T cell immune response driving chronic gastritis duringH. pyloriinfection. This research will also provide insight into a myriad of other infectious and immune disorders in which IL-21 is increasingly recognized to play a central role. The use of IL-21-related therapies may provide treatment options for individuals chronically colonized withH. pylorias an alternative to aggressive antibiotics.


2003 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 2534-2544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wieslaw Kozak ◽  
Anna Kozak

Male C57BL/6J mice deficient in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) genes (knockout) and control (wild-type) mice were implanted intra-abdominally with battery-operated miniature biotelemeters (model VMFH MiniMitter, Sunriver, OR) to monitor changes in body temperature. Intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 50 μg/kg) was used to trigger fever in response to systemic inflammation in mice. To induce a febrile response to localized inflammation, the mice were injected subcutaneously with pure turpentine oil (30 μl/animal) into the left hindlimb. Oral administration (gavage) of N G-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA) for 3 days (80 mg · kg−1 · day−1in corn oil) before injection of pyrogens was used to inhibit all three NOSs ( N G-monomethyl-d-arginine acetate salt and corn oil were used as control). In normal male C57BL/6J mice, l-NMMA inhibited the LPS-induced fever by ∼60%, whereas it augmented fever by ∼65% in mice injected with turpentine. Challenging the respective NOS knockout mice with LPS and with l-NMMA revealed that inducible NOS and neuronal NOS isoforms are responsible for the induction of fever to LPS, whereas endothelial NOS (eNOS) is not involved. In contrast, none of the NOS isoforms appeared to trigger fever to turpentine. Inhibition of eNOS, however, exacerbates fever in mice treated with l-NMMA and turpentine, indicating that eNOS participates in the antipyretic mechanism. These data support the hypothesis that nitric oxide is a regulator of fever. Its action differs, however, depending on the pyrogen used and the NOS isoform.


2003 ◽  
Vol 197 (10) ◽  
pp. 1297-1302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Hegen ◽  
Linhong Sun ◽  
Naonori Uozumi ◽  
Kazuhiko Kume ◽  
Mary E. Goad ◽  
...  

Pathogenic mechanisms relevant to rheumatoid arthritis occur in the mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) releases arachidonic acid from cell membranes to initiate the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. These inflammatory mediators have been implicated in the development of CIA. To test the hypothesis that cPLA2α plays a key role in the development of CIA, we backcrossed cPLA2α-deficient mice on the DBA/1LacJ background that is susceptible to CIA. The disease severity scores and the incidence of disease were markedly reduced in cPLA2α-deficient mice compared with wild-type littermates. At completion of the study, >90% of the wild-type mice had developed disease whereas none of the cPLA2α-deficient mice had more than one digit inflamed. Furthermore, visual disease scores correlated with severity of disease determined histologically. Pannus formation, articular fibrillation, and ankylosis were all dramatically reduced in the cPLA2α-deficient mice. Although the disease scores differed significantly between cPLA2α mutant and wild-type mice, anti-collagen antibody levels were similar in the wild-type mice and mutant littermates. These data demonstrate the critical role of cPLA2α in the pathogenesis of CIA.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (5) ◽  
pp. H1963-H1969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Gabel ◽  
Robert E. London ◽  
Colin D. Funk ◽  
Charles Steenbergen ◽  
Elizabeth Murphy

To investigate the role of 12-lipoxygenase in preconditioning, we examined whether hearts lacking the “leukocyte-type” 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOKO) would be protected by preconditioning. In hearts from wild-type (WT) and 12-LOKO mice, left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and 31P NMR were monitored during treatment (±preconditioning) and during global ischemia and reperfusion. Postischemic function (rate-pressure product, percentage of initial value) measured after 20 min of ischemia and 40 min of reperfusion was significantly improved by preconditioning in WT hearts (78 ± 12% in preconditioned vs. 44 ± 7% in nonpreconditioned hearts) but not in 12-LOKO hearts (47 ± 7% in preconditioned vs. 33 ± 10% in nonpreconditioned hearts). Postischemic recovery of phosphocreatine was significantly better in WT preconditioned hearts than in 12-LOKO preconditioned hearts. Preconditioning significantly reduced the fall in intracellular pH during sustained ischemia in both WT and 12-LOKO hearts, suggesting that attenuation of the fall in pH during ischemia can be dissociated from preconditioning-induced protection. Necrosis was assessed after 25 min of ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. In WT hearts, preconditioning significantly reduced the area of necrosis (26 ± 4%) compared with nonpreconditioned hearts (62 ± 10%) but not in 12-LOKO hearts (85 ± 3% in preconditioned vs. 63 ± 11% in nonpreconditioned hearts). Preconditioning resulted in a significant increase in 12( S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in WT but not in 12-LOKO hearts. These data demonstrate that 12-lipoxygenase is important in preconditioning.


2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 811-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ou Shi ◽  
Sidney M. Morris ◽  
Huda Zoghbi ◽  
Carl W. Porter ◽  
William E. O'Brien

ABSTRACT Mammals express two isoforms of arginase, designated types I and II. Arginase I is a component of the urea cycle, and inherited defects in arginase I have deleterious consequences in humans. In contrast, the physiologic role of arginase II has not been defined, and no deficiencies in arginase II have been identified in humans. Mice with a disruption in the arginase II gene were created to investigate the role of this enzyme. Homozygous arginase II-deficient mice were viable and apparently indistinguishable from wild-type mice, except for an elevated plasma arginine level which indicates that arginase II plays an important role in arginine homeostasis.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (3) ◽  
pp. F741-F747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Hochegger ◽  
Tobias Schätz ◽  
Philipp Eller ◽  
Andrea Tagwerker ◽  
Dorothea Heininger ◽  
...  

T cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). To date existing data about the role of the T cell receptor (Tcr) are contradictory. We hypothesize that the Tcr plays a prominent role in the late phase of renal IRI. Therefore, renal IRI was induced in α/β, γ/δ T cell-deficient and wild-type mice by clamping renal pedicles for 30 min and reperfusing for 24, 48, 72, and 120 h. Serum creatinine increased equally in all three groups 24 h after ischemia but significantly improved in Tcr-deficient animals compared with wild-type controls after 72 h. A significant reduction in renal tubular injury and infiltration of CD4+ T-cells in both Tcr-deficient mice compared with wild-type controls was detected. Infiltration of α/β T cells into the kidney was reduced in γ/δ T cell-deficient mice until 72 h after ischemia. In contrast, γ/δ T cell infiltration was equal in wild-type and α/β T cell-deficient mice, suggesting an interaction between α/β and γ/δ T cells. Data from γ/δ T cell-deficient mice were confirmed by in vivo depletion of γ/δ T cells in C57BL/6 mice. Whereas α/β T cell-deficient mice were still protected after 120 h, γ/δ T cell-deficient mice showed a “delayed wild-type phenotype” with a dramatic increase in kidney-infiltrating α/β, Tcr-expressing CD4+ T-cells. This report provides further evidence that α/β T cells are major effector cells in renal IRI, whereas γ/δ T cells play a role as mediator cells in the first 72 h of renal IRI.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document