The programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), by binding to PD-1 on the surface of immune cells, activates a major immune checkpoint pathway. Elevated expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells mediates tumor-induced T-cell exhaustion and immune suppression; therefore protect the survival of tumor cells. Although blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis exhibits great potential in cancer treatment, mechanisms driving the up-regulation of PD-L1 in tumor cells remain not fully understood. Here we found that type Iγ phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns(4)P) 5-kinase (PIPKIγ) is required for PD-L1 expression in triple negative breast cancer cells. Depletion of PIPKIγ inhibits both intrinsic and induced PD-L1 expression. Results from further analyses suggest that PIPKIγ promotes the transcription of the PD-L1 gene by activating the NF-κB pathway in these cells. These results demonstrate that PIPKIγ-dependent expression of PD-L1 is likely important for the progression of triple negative breast cancer.

Tissue factor (TF) pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is a well-characterized activated factor X (FXa)-dependent inhibitor of TF-initiated coagulation produced in two alternatively spliced isoforms, TFPIα and TFPIβ. The TFPIα C terminus has a basic sequence nearly identical to a portion of the factor V (FV) B domain necessary for maintaining FV in an inactive conformation via interaction with an acidic region of the B domain. We demonstrate rapid inhibition of prothrombinase by TFPIα mediated through a high-affinity exosite interaction between the basic region of TFPIα and the FV acidic region, which is retained in FXa-activated FVa and platelet FVa. This inhibitory activity is not mediated by TFPIβ and is lost upon removal of the acidic region of FVa by thrombin. The data identify a previously undescribed, isoform-specific anticoagulant function for TFPIα and are a unique description of physiologically relevant inhibition of prothrombinase. These findings, combined with previous descriptions of differential expression patterns of TFPIα and TFPIβ in platelets and endothelial cells, suggest that the TFPI isoforms may act through distinct mechanisms to inhibit the initial stages of intravascular coagulation, with TFPIβ acting to dampen TF expressed on the surface of vascular cells, whereas TFPIα dampens the initial prothrombinase formed on the activated platelet surface.hemophilia | bleeding | thrombosis

Background Generation of active procoagulant cofactor FVa and its subsequent association with the enzyme FXa to form the prothrombinase complex is a pivotal initial event in blood coagulation and has been the subject of investigative effort, speculation and controversy. The current paradigm assumes that FV activation is initiated by limited proteolysis by traces of (meizo) thrombin. Methods and Results Recombinant tick salivary protein TIX-5 was produced and anticoagulant properties were studied using plasma, whole blood and purified systems. Here we report that TIX-5 specifically inhibits FXa-mediated FV activation involving the B-domain of FV and show that FXa activation of FV is pivotal for plasma and blood clotting. In line, tick feeding is impaired on TIX-5 immune rabbits displaying the in vivo importance of TIX-5. Conclusions Our data elucidate a unique molecular mechanism by which ticks inhibit the host's coagulation system. Based on our data we propose a revised blood coagulation scheme wherein direct FXa-mediated FV activation occurs in the initiation phase during which thrombin-mediated FV activation is restrained by fibrinogen and inhibitors.

Membrane ruffle formation requires remodeling of cortical actin filaments, a process dependent upon the small G-protein Rac. Growth factors stimulate actin remodeling and membrane ruffling by integration of signaling pathways that regulate actin-binding proteins. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 ) regulates the activity of many actin-binding proteins and is produced by the type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKIs). Here we show in MG-63 cells that only the PIPKI␣ isoform is localized to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced membrane ruffles. Further, expression of kinase dead PIPKI␣, which acts as a dominant negative mutant, blocked membrane ruffling, suggesting that PIPKI␣ and PIP 2 participate in ruffling. To explore this, PIPKI␣ was overexpressed in serumstarved cells and stimulated with PDGF. In serumstarved cells, PIPKI␣ expression did not stimulate actin remodeling, but when these cells were stimulated with PDGF, actin rapidly reorganized into foci but not membrane ruffles. PIPKI␣-mediated formation of actin foci was independent of both Rac1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activities. Significantly, coexpression of dominant active Rac1 with PIPKI␣ in PDGF-stimulated cells resulted in membrane ruffling. The PDGF-and Rac1-stimulated ruffling was inhibited by expression of kinase-dead PIPKI␣. Combined, these data support a model where the localized production of PIP 2 by PIPKI␣ is necessary for actin remodeling, whereas formation of membrane ruffles required Rac signaling.

Phosphoinositide signaling pathways regulate numerous processes in eukaryotic cells, including migration, proliferation, and survival. The regulatory lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate is synthesized by two distinct classes of phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs), the type I and II PIPKs. Although numerous physiological functions have been identified for type I PIPKs, little is known about the functions and regulation of type II PIPK. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified an interaction between the type II␤ PIPK isoform (PIPKII␤) and SPOP (speckle-type POZ domain protein), a nuclear speckle-associated protein that recruits substrates to Cul3-based ubiquitin ligases. PIPKII␤ and SPOP interact and co-localize at nuclear speckles in mammalian cells, and SPOP mediates the ubiquitylation of PIPKII␤ by Cul3-based ubiquitin ligases. Additionally, stimulation of the p38 MAPK pathway enhances the ubiquitin ligase activity of Cul3-SPOP toward multiple substrate proteins. Finally, a kinase-dead PIPKII␤ mutant enhanced ubiquitylation of Cul3-SPOP substrates. The kinase-dead PIPKII␤ mutant increases the cellular content of its substrate lipid phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate (PI5P), suggesting that PI5P may stimulate Cul3-SPOP activity through a p38-dependent signaling pathway. Expression of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 4-phosphatases that generate PI5P dramatically stimulated Cul3-SPOP activity and was blocked by the p38 inhibitor SB203580. Taken together, these data define a novel mechanism whereby the phosphoinositide PI5P leads to stimulation of Cul3-SPOP ubiquitin ligase activity and also implicate PIPKII␤ as a key regulator of this signaling pathway through its association with the Cul3-SPOP complex.Phosphoinositide signaling pathways modulate a diverse array of cellular processes in eukaryotes. Modification of the inositol ring by lipid kinases and phosphatases produces distinct phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP) 2 isomers. These phosphatidylinositol phosphate isomers in turn selectively modulate the activities of effector proteins. In the cytosol, phosphoinositides regulate numerous processes, including actin polymerization, focal adhesion dynamics, ion channel activity, growth factor receptor signaling, and vesicle trafficking (1-4).In the nucleus, an autonomous phosphoinositide cycle regulates processes, including differentiation, proliferation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis (5). Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI-4,5-P 2 ) is a critical phosphoinositide in eukaryotic cells. PI-4,5-P 2 is not only itself a potent signaling molecule but is also a precursor of other second messengers such as phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and diacylglycerol. Because of its multipotent signaling capacity, the regulated synthesis of PI-4,5-P 2 is essential for eukaryotes. In mammalian cells, PI-4,5-P 2 is synthesized by two classes of phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs) (6). Type I PIPKs (PIPKIs) preferentially use phosphatidylinos...

Inhibitory antibodies to factors VIII or IX represent a serious complication for hemophilia patients. Treatment involves products that bypass the intrinsic pathway and promote thrombin generation. Direct infusion of factor Xa should also restore hemostasis; however, it has a short half-life in plasma and could activate systemic coagulation in an uncontrolled fashion. Here we show that factor Xa mutants with zymogen-like properties (FXa I16L and FXa V17A ) circumvent these limitations. In the absence of factor Va, the

Background: B-domain fragments of factor V (FV) were used to assess the mechanism by which it is maintained as a procofactor. Results: A basic region fragment binds to FV containing an intact acidic region and inhibits FXa binding. Conclusion: B-domain sequences function as cis-and trans-acting elements to suppress FV(a) procoagulant function. Significance: The results provide mechanistic insight into FV autoinhibition and activation.

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