Biology subjects

Qu, B.

Publications and source records attributed to Qu, B..

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Profiling of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid

In saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) soluble factors such as cytokines, chemokines and growth factors have shown a great potential serving as biomarkers for early detection and/or diagnosis of oral and systemic diseases. However, GCF and saliva, which one is a better source is still under debate. This study aimed to gain an overview of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in saliva and GCF to pave the way for selecting suitable oral fluids for oral and systemic diseases. Multiplex cytokine assay was conducted to determine concentrations of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in saliva and GCF samples from healthy subjects. The protocol for sample collection was carefully optimized. Stabilization, repeatability, and donor variation of the profiles were analyzed. We found that for different donors, cytokine and chemokine profiles showed unique patterns in saliva but similar patterns in GCF. In terms of growth factors, the profiles were individualized in saliva and GCF. All profiles stayed stable for the same healthy individual. In saliva, profiles of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors are individualized for different donors. In GCF, profiles of cytokines and chemokines are similar. Other factors, such as growth factors and T helper-related cytokines, are highly variable in donors. Profiles of soluble factors are not correlated in saliva and GCF. The comprehensive cytokine profiles in saliva and GCF reported in this work would serve as a good base for choosing promising cytokines for developing biomarkers in oral fluids.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2021

T cell stiffness is enhanced upon formation of immunological synapse

T cells are activated by cognate target cells via an intimate contact, termed immunological synapse (IS). Cellular mechanical properties, especially stiffness, are essential to regulate cell functions, T cell stiffness at a subcellular level at the IS still remains largely elusive. In this work, we established an atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based elasticity mapping method on whole T cells to obtain an overview of the stiffness with a resolution of ~ 60 nm. Using Jurkat T-cells and primary human CD4+ T cells, we show that in the T cells in contact with functionalized surfaces, the lamellipodia are stiffer than the cell body. Upon IS formation, T cell stiffness is substantially enhanced both at the lamellipodia and in cell body. Chelation of intracellular Ca2+ abolishes IS-induced stiffening at the lamellipodia but has no influence on cell body-stiffening, suggesting different regulatory mechanism of IS-induced stiffening between the lamellipodia and the cell body.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2020

SARS-CoV-2 detection with CRISPR diagnostics

The novel coronavirus (CoV) disease termed COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) is causing a massive pandemic worldwide, threatening public health systems across the globe. During this ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, nucleic acid detection has played an important role in early diagnosis. Here we report a SARS-CoV-2 detection protocol using a CRISPR-based CRISPR diagnostic platform - CDetection (Cas12b-mediated DNA detection). By combining sample treatment protocols and nucleic acid amplification methods with CDetection, we have established an integrated viral nucleic acid detection platform - CASdetec (CRISPR-assisted detection). The detection limit of CASdetec for SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus is 1 x 104 copies/mL, with no cross reactivity observed. Our assay design and optimization process can provide guidance for future CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection assay development and optimization.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2020

High glucose attenuates Ca2+ influx in cytotoxic T lymphocytes upon target recognition

The killing efficiency of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) is tightly regulated by intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Glucose is the key energy source for CTLs, lack of which significantly impairs CTL activation, proliferation and effector functions. The impact of high glucose on Ca2+ influx in CTLs remains largely elusive. In this work, we stimulated primary human CD8+ T cells in medium containing either 25 mM (high glucose, HG) or 5.6 mM glucose (normal glucose, NG). We found that store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) induced by thapsigargin (Tg) is elevated in HG-cultured CTLs compared to their counterparts in NG. Unexpectedly, the Ca2+ influx elicited by recognition of target cells is reduced in HG-cultured CTLs. Under HG condition, STIM1 and STIM2, the calcium sensors in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), were down-regulated; ORAI1, the main structural component of calcium-release activated channels, remained unchanged, whereas ORAI2 and ORAI3 were up-regulated. The fraction of necrosis of HG-cultured CTLs was enhanced after killing without affecting glucose uptake. Thus, our findings reveal that HG has a distinctive impact on Tg-evoked SOCE and target recognition-induced Ca2+ influx in CTLs and causes more CTL death after killing, suggesting a novel regulatory role of high glucose on modulating CTL functions.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Optoregulated force application to cellular receptors using molecular motors

Mechanotransduction events in physiological environments are difficult to investigate, in part due to the lack of experimental tools to apply forces to mechanosensitive receptors remotely. Inspired by cellular mechanisms for force application (i.e. motor proteins pulling on cytoskeletal fibers), here we present a unique molecular machine that can apply forces at cell-matrix and cell-cell junctions using light as an energy source. The key actuator is a light-driven rotatory molecular motor linked to polymer chains, which is intercalated between a membrane receptor and an engineered biointerface. The light-driven actuation of the molecular motor is converted in mechanical twisting of the polymer chains, which will in turn effectively "pulls" on engaged cell membrane receptors (integrins, cadherins...) within the illuminated area. Applied forces have the adequate magnitude and occur at time scales within the relevant ranges for mechanotransduction at cell-friendly exposure conditions, as demonstrated in forcedependent focal adhesion maturation and T cell activation experiments. Our results reveal the potential of nanomotors for the manipulation of living cells at the molecular scale and demonstrate, for the first time, a functionality which at the moment cannot be achieved by any other means.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

New Tricks for an old molecule: Preserved antibacterial activity of ribosomal protein S15 during evolution

Previous studies show that some ribosomal proteins possess antimicrobial peptide (AMP) activity. However, information as such remains rather fragmentary and limited. Here we demonstrated for the first time that amphioxus RPS15, BjRPS15, was a previously uncharacterized AMP, which was not only capable of identifying Gram-negative and -positive bacteria via interaction with LPS and LTA but also capable of killing the bacteria. We also showed that both the sequence and 3D structure of RPS15 and its prokaryotic homologs were highly conserved, suggesting its antibacterial activity is universal across widely separated taxa. Actually this was supported by the facts that the residues positioned at 45-67 formed the core region for the antimicrobial activity of BjRPS15, and its prokaryotic counterparts, including Nitrospirae RPS1933-55, Aquificae RPS1933-55 and P. syringae RPS1950-72, similarly displayed antibacterial activities. BjRPS15 functioned by both interaction with bacterial membrane via LPS and LTA and membrane depolarization as well as induction of intracellular ROS. Moreover, we showed that RPS15 existed extracellularly in amphioxus, shrimp, zebrafish and mice, hinting it may play a critical role in systematic immunity in different animals. In addition, we found that neither BjRPS15 nor its truncated form BjRPS1545-67 were toxic to mammalian cells, making them promising lead molecules for the design of novel peptide antibiotics against bacteria. Collectively, these indicate that RPS15 is a new member of AMP with ancient origin and high conservation throughout evolution. Author summaryRibosomal protein, a component of ribonucleoprotein particles, is traditionally known involved in protein synthesis in a cell. Here we demonstrated for the first time that amphioxus ribosomal protein 15 was a novel antibacterial protein, capable of recognizing Gram-negative and -positive bacteria as well as killing them. It killed the bacteria by a combined mode of action of disrupting bacterial membrane integrity and inducing radical oxygen species production. We also showed that both eukaryotic ribosomal protein 15 and its prokaryotic counterpart ribosomal protein 19 possessed antibacterial activity, indicating that the antibacterial property is universal for this family of molecules. Moreover, we found that ribosomal protein 15 was present in the circulation system of various animals including shrimp, amphioxus, zebrafish and mice, suggesting it may physiologically play a key role in systematic immunity. Altogether, our study provides a new angle for understanding the biological function of ribosomal proteins.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Migration of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in 3D Collagen Matrices

CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells are the main cytotoxic killer cells of the human body to eliminate pathogen-infected or tumorigenic cells (= target cells). To find their targets they have to navigate and migrate through a complex biological microenvironments, a key component of which is the extracellular matrix (ECM). The mechanisms underlying killer cells navigation are not well understood. To mimic an ECM we use a matrix formed by different collagen concentrations, and analyze migration trajectories of primary human CTLs. Different migration patterns are observed and can be grouped into three motility types: slow, fast and mixed. The dynamics are well described by a two-state persistent random walk model which allows cells to switch between slow motion with low persistence, and fast motion with high persistence. We hypothesize that the slow motility mode describes CTLs creating channels through the collagen matrix by deforming and tearing apart collagen fibers, and that the fast motility mode describes CTLs moving within these channels. Experimental evidence supporting this scenario is presented by visualizing migrating T cells following each other on exactly the same track and showing cells moving quickly in channel-like cavities within the surrounding collagen matrix. Consequently, the efficiency of the stochastic search process of CTLs in the ECM should strongly be influenced by a dynamically changing channel network produced by the killer cells themselves.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2019

HBV DNA is a substrate for the cGAS/STING pathway but is not sensed in infected hepatocytes

HBV chronic infection is a critical risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. Although debated, the absence of innate immune response to HBV infection in hepatocytes is becoming the current view. However the underlying reasons are poorly understood. This study aims to define potential viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), and to elucidate whether HBV counteracts the innate pathways. The innate immune response to HBV infection was monitored by interferon-stimulated gene 54 (ISG54) mRNA, a direct downstream transcriptional target of Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 (IRF3), or IRF3 phosphorylation. The immunostimulatory potential of naked HBV DNAs or RNAs and the respective PRRs were determined upon viral nucleic acid transfection in immunocompetent cells including knockout cells lacking key molecules of innate pathways. The expression and functionality of DNA and RNA sensing pathways in primary human hepatocytes (PHH) were assessed. The inhibition of the DNA-sensing pathway by HBV was tested using IRF3 nuclear translocation assay. Our study revealed that HBV infection does not induce an innate response in infected hepatocytes, even in absence of HBV X protein. HBV relaxed-circular DNA (rcDNA) and DNA replication intermediates, but not HBV RNAs, are immunostimulatory and sensed by Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate-Adenosine Monophosphate Synthase (cGAS) and Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING). Although PHH express DNA sensors to reduced levels compared to myeloid cells, they can respond to naked HBV rcDNA. However, we show that the absence of innate response to HBV infection in hepatocytes is not due to an active inhibition of the DNA sensing pathway by the virus. HBV passively evades the innate immune response in infected hepatocytes by (i) producing non-immunostimulatory RNAs, (ii) avoiding sensing of its DNAs by cGAS/STING without active inhibition of the pathway, possibly through shielding of the viral DNAs by the capsid. Author summaryInnate immune responses are the first line of defense against viral infections. They lead to the production of antiviral factors after recognition of specific viral features by the infected cells. Here we show that HBV, a major cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer, avoids recognition by infected hepatocytes through different means. First, HBV RNAs, contrarily to other viral RNAs, are not immunostimulatory. Second, we show that naked HBV DNAs are recognized by cGAS/STING and induce an innate immune response. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this pathway is active in hepatocytes and is not inhibited by the virus. Instead, we propose that HBV DNAs are not accessible to cGAS/STING in the context of an infection. This might be due to shielding of the viral DNA by the viral capsid.

microbiology↗