Stimulation of death receptors activates the extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway that leads to cell death. Although many steps of this apoptotic signaling cascade are known, few mechanisms that counterbalance the death signal have been described. We identified an antiapoptotic protein complex associated with death receptors that contains glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3), DDX3 and cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1 (cIAP-1). GSK3, DDX3 and cIAP-1 are associated in cells with each other and with death receptors. Blocking the actions of GSK3 or DDX3 potentiated caspase-3 activation induced by stimulation of four different death receptors in several types of cells. GSK3 restrained apoptotic signaling by inhibiting formation of the deathinducing signaling complex and caspase-8 activation. Stimulated death receptors surmount the antiapoptotic complex by causing GSK3 inactivation and cleavage of DDX3 and cIAP-1 to enable progression of the apoptotic signaling cascade, but the antiapoptotic complex remains functional in cancer cells resistant to death receptor stimulation, a resistance that is overcome by GSK3 inhibitors. Thus, an antiapoptotic complex of GSK3, DDX3 and cIAP-1 caps death receptors, providing a checkpoint to counterbalance apoptotic signaling.

We examined the activity of ΔF508 cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) stably expressed in polarized cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cells (CFBE41o−) human airway cells and Fisher Rat Thyroid (FRT) cells following treatment with low temperature and a panel of small molecule correctors of ΔF508 CFTR misprocessing. Corr-4a increased ΔF508 CFTR-dependent Cl− conductance in both cell types, whereas treatment with VRT-325 or VRT-640 increased activity only in FRT cells. Total currents stimulated by forskolin and genistein demonstrated similar dose/response effects to Corr-4a treatment in each cell type. When examining the relative contribution of forskolin and genistein to total stimulated current, CFBE41o− cells had smaller forskolin-stimulated Isc following either low temperature or corr-4a treatment (10–30% of the total Isc produced by the combination of both CFTR agonists). In contrast, forskolin consistently contributed greater than 40% of total Isc in ΔF508 CFTR expressing FRT cells corrected with low temperature, and corr-4a treatment preferentially enhanced forskolin dependent currents only in FRT cells (60% of total Isc). ΔF508 CFTR cDNA transcript levels, ΔF508 CFTR C band levels, or cAMP signaling did not account for the reduced forskolin response in CFBE41o− cells. Treatment with non-specific inhibitors of phosphodiesterases (papaverine) or phosphatases (endothall) did not restore ΔF508 CFTR activation by forskolin in CFBE41o− cells, indicating that the Cl− transport defect in airway cells is distal to cAMP or its metabolism. The results identify important differences in ΔF508 CFTR activation in polarizing epithelial models of CF, and have important implications regarding detection of rescued of ΔF508 CFTR in vivo.

SummaryInterleukin (IL)-18, a proinflammatory cytokine, has been recognized recently as an important factor in both treated and untreated patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Consistent with all earlier reports, our quantification of serum IL-18 concentrations in 88 HIV-1 seropositive, North American adolescents (14-18 years old) revealed a positive correlation with cell-free HIV-1 viral load at two separate visits (Spearman's r = = = = 0·31 and 0·50, respectively, P < < < < 0·01 for both), along with a negative correlation with CD4 + + + + T cell counts ( r = = = = -0·31 and − − − − 0·35, P < < < < 0·01 for both). In additional analyses of 66 adults (21-58 years old) from Zambia, HIV-1 seroconversion was associated uniformly with elevated IL-18 production ( P < < < < 0·0001). These epidemiological relationships were independent of other population-related characteristics, including age, gender and ethnicity. In neither study population could serum IL-18 concentrations be associated with the IL-18 gene ( IL18 ) promoter genotypes defined by five major single nucleotide polymorphisms. Collectively, these findings suggest that circulating IL-18 rather than the IL18 genotype may provide a useful biomarker for HIV-1-related events or outcomes.

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To evaluate the effectiveness of a low dose of soluble or liposomal (L) glucosyltransferase-enriched preparation (E-GTF) in inducing mucosal immune responses after intranasal immunization, 12 adults were immunized on days 0 and 7 by the IN route with 62.5 microg of soluble E-GTF or L-E-GTF. An increase in the mean salivary IgA anti-E-GTF response (P < 0.03) was seen in the L-E-GTF but not the soluble E-GTF group. A significant increase (P < 0.05) in the mean specific IgA antibody activity was also seen in nasal wash from both groups. Although the nasal wash responses were higher in the L-E-GTF than in the soluble E-GTF group, they were not significantly different. The soluble E-GTF immunized group showed a higher serum IgG response than the L-E-GTF immunized group on day 90 (P < 0.05). These results indicate that as little as 62.5 microg of E-GTF, when given by the intranasal route, induced an IgA response in secretions.