Transforming growth factor (TGF)-␤1 induces extracellular matrix deposition and proliferation of mesenchymal cells. We recently reported that interleukin (IL)-6 is an essential mediator of growth factor-induced proliferation of lung fibroblasts. Here, we demonstrate by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunoassay that TGF-␤1 is a potent inducer of IL-6 mRNA and protein in primary human lung fibroblasts. Transient transfections of fibroblasts with a luciferase reporter gene construct containing nucleotides ؊651 to ؉1 of the human IL-6 promoter revealed that TGF-␤1 also potently activated IL-6 promoter activity. Progressive 5-deletions and sitedirected mutagenesis of the parental construct located the TGF-␤1-responsive cis-regulatory element to a known activating protein-1 (AP-1) sequence (nucleotides ؊284 to ؊276). Gel shift analyses revealed that AP-1 DNA binding activity in nuclear extracts was increased 30 min after stimulation with TGF-␤1. In contrast, neither CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-␤, NF-B, nor Sp1 were activated by TGF-␤1. Supershift analyses demonstrated that the AP-1 complex induced by TGF-␤1 was composed of Jun isoforms and absent of Fos isoforms. Moreover, this complex was found to be a JunD homodimer. Our data thus demonstrate that TGF-␤1 is a potent inducer of IL-6 in primary human lung fibroblasts. The TGF-␤1-activated JunD homodimer may be essential for a majority of the biological effects induced by TGF-␤1 in this cell type, such as proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis.

Recent developments indicate that the regeneration of beta cell function and mass in patients with diabetes is possible. A regenerative approach may represent an alternative treatment option relative to current diabetes therapies that fail to provide optimal glycemic control. Here we report that the inactivation of GSK3 by small molecule inhibitors or RNA interference stimulates replication of INS-1E rat insulinoma cells. Specific and potent GSK3 inhibitors also alleviate the toxic effects of high concentrations of glucose and the saturated fatty acid palmitate on INS-1E cells. Furthermore, treatment of isolated rat islets with structurally diverse small molecule GSK3 inhibitors increases the rate beta cell replication by 2-3-fold relative to controls. We propose that GSK3 is a regulator of beta cell replication and survival. Moreover, our results suggest that specific inhibitors of GSK3 may have practical applications in beta cell regenerative therapies.

Using class specific monoclonal antibodies we analyzed the tissue distribution of B cells expressing the three immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes (IgM, IgX, IgY) in Xenopus. Large numbers of IgM- and IgX-, but not IgY-, positive B cells are located in the gut epithelium of the intestine. In this organ up to 60% of all B cells can be IgX positive, while in the spleen or liver they are hardly detectable. The majority of IgX-producing cells resemble plasma cells. IgY-producing cells are found in the liver and spleen but not in the intestine. In contrast to IgY, the expression of IgM and IgX is thymus independent. Upon systemic immunization, a several-fold increase of specific IgM and IgY, but not IgX, antibodies was detected in the sera. This and its association with the mucosae of the intestine resembles results reported for mammalian IgA; therefore, IgX of Xenopus might be considered an analog of IgA.

Transfer of bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei variant 221a from calf serum to dog serum-based medium induces acute iron starvation, as the transferrin receptor (Tf-R) of variant 221a binds dog Tf poorly. We show here that transfer to dog serum induces a 3-5-fold increase in Tf-R mRNA and protein within one doubling time (8 h). Because iron stores are still high 8 h after transfer, we infer that the signal for Tf-R overproduction is the decreased availability of cytosolic iron when cellular iron import drops. Up to 30% of the extra Tf-R spills out of the flagellar pocket onto the pellicular surface. Because the 5-fold increase in Tf-R is accompanied by a 5-fold increase in bovine Tf uptake, the up-regulation of Tf-R levels in response to Tf starvation helps the trypanosome to compete for limiting amounts of Tf. We noted that Tf-R levels also vary in calf serum medium. Cells in dense cultures contain up to 5-fold more Tf-R mRNA and protein than in dilute cultures. Only onetenth of the extra Tf-R reaches the pellicular surface. The increase cannot be explained by a lack of Tf or to cell density sensing but is due to pericellular hypoxia. Our results show that bloodstream-form trypanosomes can regulate the expression of the two Tf-R subunit genes and the localization of their gene products in a flexible manner. This flexibility is made possible by the promoter-proximal position of the two genes in the variant surface glycoprotein expression site.The unicellular protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei can infect a broad range of mammals. It multiplies extracellularly in blood and escapes elimination by the immune system through antigenic variation of its surface coat, which consists of one major protein species, the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG), 1 attached to the plasma membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor (1, 2). African trypanosomes cover their iron need by taking up host transferrin (Tf) (3-5). Uptake occurs in the flagellar pocket (3, 6, 7), an invagination of the plasma membrane where all endocytosis and traffic to the trypanosome surface takes place (8 -12), and is mediated by a transferrin receptor (Tf-R), a heterodimer consisting of subunits encoded by expression site-associated gene (ESAG) 6 and 7 (13-17), which are located in the telomeric VSG gene expression sites (for review, see .The ESAG6 subunit of about 400 amino acids is attached to the plasma membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor; ESAG7 of about 340 amino acids remains membraneattached by holding on to ESAG6 (for review, see Ref. 22). The trypanosomal Tf-R resembles VSG dimers in apparent structure and (distantly) in sequence (23), and it is unlike other Tf-Rs in nature.

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