A novel role for endoplasmic reticulum protein 46 (ERp46) in platelet function and arterial thrombosis in mice

Although several members of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family support thrombosis, other PDI family members with the CXYC motif remain uninvestigated. ERp46 has three CGHC redox-active sites and a radically different molecular architecture than other PDIs. Expression of ERp46 on the platelet surface increased with thrombin stimulation. An anti-ERp46 antibody inhibited platelet aggregation, ATP release, and αIIbβ3 activation. ERp46 protein potentiated αIIbβ3 activation, platelet aggregation and ATP release, while inactive ERp46 inhibited these processes. ERp46-knockout mice had prolonged tail-bleeding times, and decreased platelet accumulation in thrombosis models that was rescued by infusion of ERp46. ERp46-deficient platelets had decreased αIIbβ3 activation, platelet aggregation, ATP release and P-selectin expression. The defects were reversed by wild-type ERp46 and partially reversed by ERp46 containing any of the three active sites. Platelet aggregation stimulated by an αIIbβ3-activating peptide was inhibited by the anti-ERp46 antibody and was decreased in ERp46-deficient platelets. ERp46 bound tightly to αIIbβ3 by surface plasmon resonance but poorly to platelets lacking αIIbβ3, and physically associated with αIIbβ3 upon platelet activation. ERp46 mediated clot retraction and platelet spreading. ERp46 more strongly reduced disulfide bonds in the β3 subunit than other PDIs, and in contrast to PDI generated thiols in β3 independently of fibrinogen. ERp46 cleaved the Cys473-Cys503 disulfide bond in β3 implicating a target for ERp46. Finally, ERp46-deficient platelets have decreased thiols in β3 implying that ERp46 cleaves disulfide bonds in platelets. In conclusion, ERp46 is critical for platelet function and thrombosis and facilitates αIIbβ3 activation by targeting disulfide bonds.

Sequential Dynamics of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-1(SCD1)/Ligand Binding and Unbinding Mechanism: A Computational Study

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1 or delta-9 desaturase, D9D) is a key metabolic protein that modulates cellular inflammation and stress, but overactivity of SCD1 is associated with diseases, including cancer and metabolic syndrome. This transmembrane endoplasmic reticulum protein converts saturated fatty acids into monounsaturated fatty acids, primarily stearoyl-CoA into oleoyl-CoA, which are critical products for energy metabolism and membrane composition. The present computational molecular dynamics study characterizes the molecular dynamics of SCD1 with substrate, product, and as an apoprotein. The modeling of SCD1:fatty acid interactions suggests that: (1) SCD1:CoA moiety interactions open the substrate-binding tunnel, (2) SCD1 stabilizes a substrate conformation favorable for desaturation, and (3) SCD1:product interactions result in an opening of the tunnel, possibly allowing product exit into the surrounding membrane. Together, these results describe a highly dynamic series of SCD1 conformations resulting from the enzyme:cofactor:substrate interplay that inform drug-discovery efforts.

Interleukin 10 Plays an Important Role in Neonatal Rats with Hypoxic-Ischemia Associated with B-Cell Lymphoma 2 and Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein 29

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a synthetic inhibitor of human cytokines with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. This study was designed to investigate the expression variation of IL-10 in the multiple sites including cortex, hippocampus, and lung tissues of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) rats and explore the crucial role of IL-10 in alleviating HI brain damage. In this study, neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to the right common carotid artery ligation, followed by 2 h of hypoxia. The expression of IL-10 in the cortex, hippocampus, and lung tissues was measured with immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and western blot (WB). Immunofluorescence double staining was performed to observe the localization of IL-10 in neurons and astrocytes. Moreover, not-targeting and targeting IL-10 siRNA lentivirus vectors were injected into the rats of the negative control (NC) and IL-10 group, respectively, and the mRNA levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and endoplasmic reticulum protein 29 (ERp29) were detected by RT-qPCR following IL-10 silence. The results demonstrated that the IL-10 expression was markedly increased after HI and IL-10 were colocalized with neurons and astrocytes which were badly injured by HI insult. In addition, Bcl-2 and ERp29 were remarkably decreased following IL-10 mRNA interference compared with the NC group. Our findings revealed that IL-10 exerted its antiapoptotic and neuroprotective effects by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and ERp29, indicating that IL-10 may be a promising molecule target for HIE treatment.

Analysis of Zika virus capsid-Aedes aegypti mosquito interactome reveals pro-viral host factors critical for establishing infection

The escalating global prevalence of arboviral diseases emphasizes the need to improve our understanding of their biology. Research in this area has been hindered by the lack of molecular tools for studying virus-mosquito interactions. Here, we develop an Aedes aegypti cell line which stably expresses Zika virus (ZIKV) capsid proteins in order to study virus-vector protein-protein interactions through quantitative label-free proteomics. We identify 157 interactors and show that eight have potentially pro-viral activity during ZIKV infection in mosquito cells. Notably, silencing of transitional endoplasmic reticulum protein TER94 prevents ZIKV capsid degradation and significantly reduces viral replication. Similar results are observed if the TER94 ortholog (VCP) functioning is blocked with inhibitors in human cells. In addition, we show that an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, UBR5, mediates the interaction between TER94 and ZIKV capsid. Our study demonstrates a pro-viral function for TER94/VCP during ZIKV infection that is conserved between human and mosquito cells.

MO630SNOGO-B IS AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTOR TO GLOMERULAR ENDOTHELIAL CELL STABILITY AND VASCULAR REMODELLING INTERVENING ON VEGFA/VEGFR2 SIGNALLING

Background and Aims Nogo-B is an endoplasmic reticulum protein present as a full length and circulating soluble isoform (sNogo-B) corresponding to the first ∼200aa of the N-terminus. Nogo-B is expressed in glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) and is downregulated in the diabetic glomeruli; its repletion, ameliorates diabetic glomerulopathy. However, the precise biological role of Nogo-B and its soluble form in GEC is not well understood. We hypothesise that sNogo-B could modulate VEGFA/VEGFR2 signalling, and vascular remodelling resulting in improved GECs health and vascular remodelling (vessel repair/new vessel formation). We predict that this effect may be mediated by changes in VEGFA/VEGFR2 signalling; a critical signalling pathway which regulates blood vessel function in physiology and disease. Method For this experiment we used human conditionally immortalised GECs. Cells were used after differentiation at 37°. GECs were infected with adenovirus vector expressing sNogo-B or identical vector lacking sNogo-B cDNA (control vector). Cells were serum starved (4 hours, FBS 2%) and exposed to VEGFA (50 ng/ml) for 5’ 10’ 15’ min and VEGFR2 phosphorylation assessed with western immunoblotting. Results VEGFA-Mediated VEGFR2 phosphorylation was upregulated in wild-type GECs after 15 min VEGFA incubation (P<0.05) n=4. sNogo-B overexpression upregulated the sNogo-B protein level in the supernatant by 10 fold and prevented VEGFA/VEGFR2 phosphorylation in human immortalized glomerular endothelial cells(P<0.05). Conclusion sNogo-B prevents the VEGFA mediated VEGFR2 phosphorylation in GECs. Upregulation of VEGFA/VEGFR2 signalling has been implicated in diabetic glomerulopathy. sNogo-B inhibition of VEGFA/VEGFR2 signalling opens new investigations looking at the potential role of sNogo-B as therapeutic target in diabetic nephropathy.