The hepatic Ashwell-Morell receptor (AMR) can bind and remove desialylated platelets. We demonstrate that platelets become desialylated as they circulate and age in blood. Binding of desialylated platelets to the AMR induces hepatic thrombopoietin (TPO) gene transcription and translation, thereby regulating platelet production. The highly conserved endocytic AMR signals through Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and the acute phase response signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in vivo and in vitro. Recognition of this novel physiological feedback mechanism illuminates the pathophysiology of platelet diseases, such as Essential Thrombocythemia and Immune Thrombocytopenia, and contributes to our understanding of the mechanisms of thrombocytopenia observed with JAK1/2 inhibition.

Wnt/B-catenin signaling plays an essential role in colon carcinogenesis. Galectin-3, a B-galactoside-binding protein, has been implicated in Wnt signaling, but the precise mechanisms by which galectin-3 modulates the Wnt pathway are unknown. In the present study, we determined the effects of galectin-3 on the Wnt/B-catenin pathway in colon cancer cells, as well as the mechanisms involved. Galectin-3 levels were manipulated in human colon cancer cells by stable transfection of galectin-3 antisense, short hairpin RNA, or fulllength galectin-3 cDNA, and effects on B-catenin levels, subcellular distribution, and Wnt signaling were determined. Galectin-3 levels correlated with B-catenin levels in a variety of colon cancer cell lines. Down-regulation of galectin-3 resulted in decreased B-catenin protein levels but no change in B-catenin mRNA levels, suggesting that galectin-3 modulates B-catenin by another mechanism. Reduction of galectin-3 led to reduced nuclear B-catenin with a concomitant decrease in TCF4 transcriptional activity and expression of its target genes. Conversely, transfection of galectin-3 cDNA into colon cancer cells increased B-catenin expression and TCF4 transcriptional activity. Down-regulation of galectin-3 resulted in AKT and glycogen synthase kinase-3B (GSK-3B) dephosphorylation and increased GSK activity, increasing B-catenin phosphorylation and degradation. Ly294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and dominant-negative AKT, suppressed TCF4 transcriptional activity induced by galectin-3 whereas LiCl, a GSK-3B inhibitor, increased TCF4 activity, mimicking the effects of galectin-3. These results suggest that galectin-3 mediates Wnt signaling, at least in part, by regulating GSK-3B phosphorylation and activity via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway, and, thus, the degradation of B-catenin in colon cancer cells. [Cancer Res 2009;69(4):1343-9]

T cells must migrate in order to encounter antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and to execute their varied functions in immune defense and inflammation. ATP release and autocrine signaling through purinergic receptors contribute to T cell activation at the immune synapse that T cells form with APCs. Here, we show that T cells also require ATP release and purinergic signaling for their migration to APCs. We found that the chemokine stromal-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) triggered mitochondrial ATP production, rapid bursts of ATP release, and increased migration of primary human CD4+ T cells. This process depended on pannexin-1 ATP release channels and autocrine stimulation of P2X4 receptors. SDF-1α stimulation caused localized accumulation of mitochondria with P2X4 receptors near the front of cells, resulting in a feed-forward signaling mechanism that promotes cellular Ca2+ influx and sustains mitochondrial ATP synthesis at levels needed for pseudopod protrusion, T cell polarization, and cell migration. Inhibition of P2X4 receptors blocked the activation and migration of T cells in vitro. In a mouse lung transplant model, P2X4 receptor antagonist treatment prevented the recruitment of T cells into allograft tissue and the rejection of lung transplants. Our findings suggest that P2X4 receptors are therapeutic targets for immunomodulation in transplantation and inflammatory diseases.

SARS-CoV-2 is a spherical, enveloped, single-stranded positive RNA virus with a diameter of 80 nm-160 nm and a genome size of 29.9 kb

Background Heart transplantation is a lifesaving procedure for patients with end-stage heart failure. Despite much effort and advances in the field, current immunosuppressive regimens are still associated with poor long-term cardiac allograft outcomes as well as with the development of complications including infections and malignancies. The development of a novel, short-term and effective immunomodulatory protocol will thus be an important achievement. The purine adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), released during cell damage/activation, is sensed by the ionotropic purinergic receptor P2X7 (P2X7R) on lymphocytes and regulates T cell activation. Novel clinical-grade P2X7R inhibitors are available, rendering the targeting of P2X7R a potential therapy in cardiac transplantation. Methods and Results We analyzed P2X7R expression in patients and mice and P2X7R targeting in murine recipients in the context of cardiac transplantation. Our data demonstrate that P2X7R is specifically upregulated in graft-infiltrating lymphocytes in cardiac-transplanted humans and mice. Short-term P2X7R targeting with periodate-oxidized ATP (oATP) promotes long-term cardiac transplant survival in 80% of murine recipients of a fully mismatched allograft. Long-term survival of cardiac transplants was associated with reduced T cell activation, Th1/Th17 differentiation and inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation in T cells, thus leading to a reduced transplant infiltrate and coronaropathy. In vitro genetic upregulation of the P2X7R pathway was also shown to stimulate Th1/Th17 cell generation. Finally, P2X7R targeting halted the progression of coronaropathy in a murine model of chronic rejection as well. Conclusions P2X7R targeting is a novel clinically relevant strategy to prolong cardiac transplant survival.