Publications

Cbl is an adaptor protein and an E3 ligase that plays both positive and negative roles in several signaling pathways that affect various cellular functions. Tyrosine 737 is unique to Cbl and is phosphorylated by Syk and Src family kinases. Phosphorylated Cbl Tyr(737) creates a binding site for the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K, which also plays an important role in the regulation of bone resorption by osteoclasts. To investigate the role of Cbl-PI3K interaction in bone homeostasis, we examined the knock-in mice (Cbl(YF/YF)) in which the PI3K binding site in Cbl is ablated due to the mutation in the regulatory tyrosine. We report that in Cbl(YF/YF) mice, despite increased numbers of osteoclasts, bone volume is increased due to defective osteoclast function. Additionally, in ex vivo cultures, mature Cbl(YF/YF) osteoclasts showed an increased ability to survive in the presence of RANKL due to delayed onset of apoptosis. RANKL-mediated signaling is perturbed in Cbl(YF/YF) osteoclasts, and most interestingly, AKT phosphorylation is up-regulated, suggesting that the lack of PI3K sequestration by Cbl results in increased survival and decreased bone resorption. Cumulatively, these in vivo and in vitro results show that, on one hand, binding of Cbl to PI3K negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation, survival, and signaling events (e.g. AKT phosphorylation), whereas on the other hand it positively influences osteoclast function.

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) has efficacy in several experimental models of lung injury; however, the mechanisms underlying KGF's protective effect remain incompletely understood. This study was undertaken to determine whether KGF augments barrier function in primary rat alveolar epithelial cells grown in culture, specifically whether KGF alters tight junction function via claudin expression. KGF significantly increased alveolar epithelial barrier function in culture as assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and paracellular permeability. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting of freshly isolated type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) cells followed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR revealed that more than 97% of claudin mRNA transcripts in these cells were for claudins-3, -4, and -18. Using cultured AT2 cells, we then examined the effect of KGF on the protein levels of the claudins with the highest mRNA levels: -3, -4, -5, -7, -12, -15, and -18. KGF did not alter the levels of any of the claudins tested, nor of zona occludens-1 (ZO-1) or occludin. Moreover, localization of claudins-3, -4, -18, and ZO-1 was unchanged. KGF did induce a marked increase in the apical perijunctional F-actin ring. Actin depolymerization with cytochalasin D blocked the KGF-mediated increase in TER without significantly changing TER in control cells. Together, these data support a novel mechanism by which KGF enhances alveolar barrier function, modulation of the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, these data demonstrate the complete claudin expression profile for AT1 and AT2 cells and indicate that claudins-3, -4, and -18 are the primary claudins expressed in these cell types.

BACKGROUND

Previous research has demonstrated an increase in carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in HIV-infected individuals compared to controls. However, the reason for this increased level of subclinical vascular disease is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To identify HIV-related risk factors for increased cIMT.

METHODS

We evaluated the relationship between HIV-related characteristics (including markers of HIV disease severity and use of antiretroviral therapy) and cIMT measurements in the internal/bulb and common carotid regions among 538 HIV-infected participants from the Study of Fat Redistribution and Metabolic Change in HIV Infection (FRAM). We used Bayesian model averaging to estimate the posterior probability of candidate HIV and non-HIV-related risk factors being true predictors of increased cIMT. Variables with a posterior probability of more than 50% were used to develop a selected regression model for each of the anatomic regions.

RESULTS

For common cIMT, the Bayesian model selection process identified age, African-American race, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure with probability more than 95%, HDL cholesterol with probability 85% and Hispanic ethnicity with probability 51%. Among the HIV-related factors included in the analysis, only tenofovir use was selected (51% probability). In the selected model, duration of tenofovir use was associated with lower common cIMT (-0.0094 mm/year of use; 95% confidence interval: -0.0177 to -0.0010). For internal cIMT, no HIV-related risk factors were above the 50% posterior probability threshold.

CONCLUSION

We observed an inverse association between duration of tenofovir use and common carotid cIMT. Whether this association is causal or due to confounding by indication needs further investigation.