The chocolate mutation, which is associated with oculocutaneous albinism in mice, has been attributed to a G146T transversion in the conserved GTP/GDP-interacting domain of Rab38, a small GTPase that regulates intracellular vesicular trafficking. Rab38 displays a unique tissue-specific expression pattern with highest levels present in the lung. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of Rab38-G146T on lung phenotype and to investigate the molecular basis of the mutant gene product (Rab38 cht protein). Chocolate lungs exhibited a uniform enlargement of the distal airspaces with mild alveolar destruction as well as a slight increase in lung compliance. Alveolar type II cells were engorged with lamellar bodies of increased size and number. Hydrophobic surfactant constituents (ie, phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein B) were increased in lung tissues but decreased in alveolar spaces, consistent with a malfunction in lamellar body secretion and the subsequent cellular accumulation of these organelles. In contrast to wild-type Rab38, native Rab38 cht proteins were found to be hydrophilic and not bound to intracellular membranes. Unexpectedly, recombinant Rab38 cht proteins retained GTP-binding activity but failed to undergo prenyl modification that is required for membranebinding activity. These results suggest that the genetic abnormality of Rab38 affects multiple lysosome-related organelles , resulting in lung disease in addition to oculocutaneous albinism. (Am J

Several Long-Evans rat substrains carrying the phenotype of oculocutaneous albinism and bleeding diathesis are a rat model of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS). The mutation responsible for the phenotype (Ruby) was identified as a point mutation in the initiation codon of Rab38 small GTPase that regulates intracellular vesicle transport. As patients with HPS often develop life-limiting interstitial pneumonia accompanied by abnormal morphology of alveolar type II cells, we investigated lung surfactant system in Long-Evans Cinnamon rats, one strain of the Ruby rats. The lungs showed conspicuous morphology of type II cells containing markedly enlarged lamellar bodies. Surfactant phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein B were increased in lung tissues and lamellar bodies but not in alveolar lumen. Expression levels of mRNA for surfactant proteins A, B, C, and D were not altered. Isolated type II cells showed aberrant secretory pattern of newly synthesized [ 3 H]phosphatidylcholine, i.e., decreased basal secretion and remarkably amplified agonist-induced secretion.[ 3 H]phosphatidylcholine synthesis and uptake by type II cells were not altered. Thus Rab38-deficient type II cells appear to carry abnormality in lung surfactant secretion but not in synthesis or uptake. These results suggest that aberrant lung surfactant secretion may be involved in the pathogenesis of interstitial pneumonia in HPS.Ruby; Long-Evans Cinnamon rat; alveolar type II cells; lamellar body HERMANSKY-PUDLAK SYNDROME (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting from abnormal trafficking relating to lysosome-related organelles such as melanosomes, platelet dense granules, and lamellar bodies in alveolar type II cells (10,29). HPS is clinically characterized by oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding diathesis, and, based on its genetic background, additional abnormalities such as progressive interstitial pneumonia. Interstitial pneumonia is the most serious complication arising in patients with HPS and has no effective therapy and is generally fatal by middle age. The lung histology show interstitial pneumonia characterized by enlarged alveolar type II cells that are fulfilled with giant lamellar bodies containing prominently increased surfactant phospholipids (16). It is possible that lung surfactant abnormalities may be closely related to lung pathology in HPS lungs.Several Long-Evans (LE) substrains including Fawn-hooded (FH) and Tester-Moriyama (TM) rats show oculocutaneous albinism and bleeding diathesis and hence are considered to be rat models of human HPS. The responsible gene Ruby was recently identified as Rab38 (18), a member of the Rab small GTPase family that regulates intracellular vesicle transport. A point mutation found in the initiation codon of Rab38 has been assumed to cause null translation of the protein. LE Cinnamon (LEC) rats, which carry ATP7B gene mutation and have been used as a rat model of Wilson disease (31), have also been identified as Ruby rats that harbor the Rab38 mutation (18). Thus Rab38 has been nominated...

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