We have cloned two novel, alternatively spliced messages of human cyclin D-binding Myb-like protein (hDMP1). The known, full-length protein has been named hDMP1␣ and the new isoforms, hDMP1␤ and hDMP1␥. The hDMP1␣, -␤, and -␥ splice variants have unique expression patterns in normal hematopoietic cells; hDMP1␤ mRNA transcripts are strongly expressed in quiescent CD34؉ cells and freshly isolated peripheral blood leukocytes, as compared with hDMP1␣. In contrast, activated T-cells and developing myeloid cells, macrophages, and granulocytes express low levels of hDMP1␤ transcripts, and hDMP1␥ is ubiquitously and weakly expressed. Mouse Dmp1 has been shown to activate CD13/aminopeptidase N (APN) and p19 ARF gene expression via binding to canonical DNA recognition sites in the respective promoters. Assessment of CD13/APN promoter responsiveness demonstrated that hDMP1␣ but not hDMP1␤ and -␥, is a transcriptional activator. Furthermore, hDMP1␤ was found to inhibit the CD13/ APN promoter transactivation ability of hDMP1␣. Stable, ectopic expression of hDMP1␤ and, to a lesser extent hDMP1␥, reduced endogenous cell surface levels of CD13/APN in U937 cells. Moreover, stable, ectopic expression of hDMP1␤ altered phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced terminal differentiation of U937 cells to macrophages and resulted in maintenance of proliferation. These results demonstrate that hDMP1␤ antagonizes hDMP1␣ activity and suggest that cellular functions of hDMP1 may be regulated by cellular hDMP1 isoform levels.

Fish oils are known for their anti-inflammatory effects. In this paper we investigated the influence of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (omega-3 fatty acids), as well as docosapentaenoic acid, a metabolic product of omega-3 fatty acid metabolism, on O2(-)-production catalyzed by the NADPH oxidase in whole neutrophils and in a cell-free system consisting of neutrophil membranes and cytosol. As a standard we used arachidonic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) found in a high proportion in the Western diet, and known as an effective activator of the oxidase in both systems. Our data show that with omega-3 fatty acids, the O2(-)-production in both systems is reduced as compared to the effect of arachidonic acid. The effects are more pronounced with increasing carbon chain length and increasing numbers of double bonds. Our results suggest another mechanism besides the inhibition of eicosanoid and cytokine production to explain the beneficial effects of fish oils in reducing inflammation.