Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a proinflammatory cytokine that specifically attracts and activates human neutrophils. A murine gene with a high degree of homology to the two known human IL-8 receptors was cloned and then deleted from the mouse genome by homologous recombination in embryonic stem (ES) cells. These mice, although outwardly healthy, had lymphadenopathy, resulting from an increase in B cells, and splenomegaly, resulting from an increase in metamyelocytes, band, and mature neutrophils. Thus, this receptor may participate in the expansion and development of neutrophils and B cells. This receptor was the major mediator of neutrophil migration to sites of inflammation and may provide a potential therapeutic target in inflammatory disease.

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Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) elicits multiple biological effects through two distinct cell surface receptors, TNF-R1 (p55) and TNF-R2 (p75). Most TNF-mediated biological responses, such as cell death, gene induction, antiviral activity and cytokine production, have been attributed to TNF-R1 (refs 1-5). Gene targeting of this receptor confirms its role in the lethality attributable to low doses of lipopolysaccharide after sensitization with D-galactosamine; surprisingly, the toxicity of high doses of lipopolysaccharide was unaffected. The function of TNF-R2 is less well understood, although there are data supporting a role in T-cell development and the proliferation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. To clarify the physiological role of TNF-R2, we have generated mice deficient in this receptor by gene targeting. The TNF-R2-/- mice show normal T-cell development and activity, but we find that they have increased resistance to TNF-induced death. Additionally, such mice injected subcutaneously with TNF show a dramatic decrease in tissue necrosis, indicating that this receptor plays a role in the necrotic effects of TNF.

Caspases have been strongly implicated to play an essential role in apoptosis. A critical question regarding the role(s) of these proteases is whether selective inhibition of an effector caspase(s) will prevent cell death. We have identified potent and selective non-peptide inhibitors of the effector caspases 3 and 7. The inhibition of apoptosis and maintenance of cell functionality with a caspase 3/7-selective inhibitor is demonstrated for the first time, and suggests that targeting these two caspases alone is sufficient for blocking apoptosis. Furthermore, an x-ray co-crystal structure of the complex between recombinant human caspase 3 and an isatin sulfonamide inhibitor has been solved to 2.8-Å resolution. In contrast to previously reported peptide-based caspase inhibitors, the isatin sulfonamides derive their selectivity for caspases 3 and 7 by interacting primarily with the S 2 subsite, and do not bind in the caspase primary aspartic acid binding pocket (S 1 ). These inhibitors blocked apoptosis in murine bone marrow neutrophils and human chondrocytes. Furthermore, in camptothecin-induced chondrocyte apoptosis, cell functionality as measured by type II collagen promoter activity is maintained, an activity considered essential for cartilage homeostasis. These data suggest that inhibiting chondrocyte cell death with a caspase 3/7-selective inhibitor may provide a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis, or other disease states characterized by excessive apoptosis.

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Objective. The spondylarthritides (SpA), including ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), reactive arthritis, and arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease, cause chronic inflammation of the large peripheral and axial joints, eyes, skin, ileum, and colon. Genetic studies reveal common candidate genes for AS, PsA, and Crohn's disease, including IL23R, IL12B, STAT3, and CARD9, all of which are associated with interleukin-23 (IL-23) signaling downstream of the dectin 1 ␤-glucan receptor. In autoimmune-prone SKG mice with mutated ZAP-70, which attenuates T cell receptor signaling and increases the autoreactivity of T cells in the peripheral repertoire, IL-17-dependent inflammatory arthritis developed after dectin 1-mediated fungal infection. This study was undertaken to determine whether SKG mice injected with 1,3-␤-glucan (curdlan) develop evidence of SpA, and the relationship of innate and adaptive autoimmunity to this process.Methods. SKG mice and control BALB/c mice were injected once with curdlan or mannan. Arthritis was scored weekly, and organs were assessed for pathologic features. Anti-IL-23 monoclonal antibodies were injected into curdlan-treated SKG mice. CD4؉ T cells were transferred from curdlan-treated mice to SCID mice, and sera were analyzed for autoantibodies.Results. After systemic injection of curdlan, SKG mice developed enthesitis, wrist, ankle, and sacroiliac joint arthritis, dactylitis, plantar fasciitis, vertebral inflammation, ileitis resembling Crohn's disease, and unilateral uveitis. Mannan triggered spondylitis and arthritis. Arthritis and spondylitis were T cell-and IL-23-dependent and were transferable to SCID recipients with CD4؉ T cells. SpA was associated with collagen-and proteoglycan-specific autoantibodies.Conclusion. Our findings indicate that the SKG ZAP-70 W163C mutation predisposes BALB/c mice to SpA, resulting from innate and adaptive autoimmunity, after systemic ␤-glucan or mannan exposure.The spondylarthritides (SpA) comprise a group of diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and reactive arthritis, that cause chronic joint inflammation and extraarticular inflammatory manifestations, including anterior uveitis, psoriasis, and the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. SpA are thought to be

A number of studies have provided evidence that neuronal cell loss after stroke involves programmed cell death or apoptosis. In particular, recent biochemical and immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated the expression and activation of intracellular proteases, notably caspase-3, which act as both initiators and executors of the apoptotic process. To further elucidate the involvement of caspases in neuronal cell death induced by focal stroke we developed a panel of antibodies and investigated the spatial and temporal pattern of both caspase-8 and caspase-3 expression. Our efforts focused on caspase-8 because its "apical" position within the enzymatic cascade of caspases makes it a potentially important therapeutic target. Constitutive expression of procaspase-8 was detectable in most cortical neurons, and proteolytic processing yielding the active form of caspase-8 was found as early as 6 hr after focal stroke induced in rats by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. This active form of caspase-8 was predominantly seen in the large pyramidal neurons of lamina V. Active caspase-3 was evident only in neurons located within lamina II/III starting at 24 hr after injury and in microglia throughout the core infarct at all times examined. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling, gel electrophoresis of DNA, and neuronal cell quantitation indicated that there was an early nonapoptotic loss of cortical neurons followed by a progressive elimination of neurons with features of apoptosis. These data indicate that the pattern of caspase expression occurring during delayed neuronal cell death after focal stroke will vary depending on the neuronal phenotype.

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