The human MICA (MHC I-related chain A) gene, encoding a ligand for the NKG2D (NKG2-D type II integral membrane protein) receptor, is highly polymorphic. A group of MICA alleles, named MICA 5.1 (prototype, MICA*008), produce a truncated protein due to a nucleotide insertion in the transmembrane domain. These alleles are very frequent in all of the human populations studied and they have different biological properties, compared with full-length alleles, e.g. recruitment into exosomes, which makes them very potent for down-modulating the NKG2D receptor in effector immune cells. Moreover, MICA*008 is not affected by viral immune evasion mechanisms that target other MICA alleles. In the present study, we demonstrate that MICA*008 acquires a GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol) anchor and that this modification is responsible for many of the distinct biological features of the truncated MICA alleles, including recruitment of the protein to exosomes. MICA*008 processing is also unusual as it is observed in the endoplasmic reticulum as a Triton TM X-114 soluble protein, partially undergoing GPI modification while the rest is exocytosed, suggesting a new model for MICA*008 release. This is the first report of a GPI-anchored MICA allele. The finding that this modification occurs in both families of human NKG2D ligands, as well as in the murine system, suggests positive pressure to maintain this biochemical feature.

Our results reveal that the high expression and function of Kv7 channels in the LCA and their down-regulation by diabetes critically determine the sensitivity to key regulators of coronary tone.

Quercetin is a dietary flavonoid which exerts vasodilator, antiplatelet and antiproliferative effects and reduces blood pressure, oxidative status and end-organ damage in humans and animal models of systemic hypertension. We hypothesized that oral quercetin treatment might be protective in a rat model of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Three weeks after injection of monocrotaline, quercetin (10 mg/kg/d per os) or vehicle was administered for 10 days to adult Wistar rats. Quercetin significantly reduced mortality. In surviving animals, quercetin decreased pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy and muscularization of small pulmonary arteries. Classic biomarkers of pulmonary arterial hypertension such as the downregulated expression of lung BMPR2, Kv1.5, Kv2.1, upregulated survivin, endothelial dysfunction and hyperresponsiveness to 5-HT were unaffected by quercetin. Quercetin significantly restored the decrease in Kv currents, the upregulation of 5-HT2A receptors and reduced the Akt and S6 phosphorylation. In vitro, quercetin induced pulmonary artery vasodilator effects, inhibited pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. In conclusion, quercetin is partially protective in this rat model of PAH. It delayed mortality by lowering PAP, RVH and vascular remodeling. Quercetin exerted effective vasodilator effects in isolated PA, inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in PASMCs. These effects were associated with decreased 5-HT2A receptor expression and Akt and S6 phosphorylation and partially restored Kv currents. Therefore, quercetin could be useful in the treatment of PAH.