The skin interstitium sequesters excess Na + and Cl -in salt-sensitive hypertension. Mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) cells are recruited to the skin, sense the hypertonic electrolyte accumulation in skin, and activate the tonicity-responsive enhancer-binding protein (TONEBP, also known as NFAT5) to initiate expression and secretion of VEGFC, which enhances electrolyte clearance via cutaneous lymph vessels and increases eNOS expression in blood vessels. It is unclear whether this local MPS response to osmotic stress is important to systemic blood pressure control. Herein, we show that deletion of TonEBP in mouse MPS cells prevents the VEGFC response to a high-salt diet (HSD) and increases blood pressure. Additionally, an antibody that blocks the lymph-endothelial VEGFC receptor, VEGFR3, selectively inhibited MPS-driven increases in cutaneous lymphatic capillary density, led to skin Cl -accumulation, and induced salt-sensitive hypertension. Mice overexpressing soluble VEGFR3 in epidermal keratinocytes exhibited hypoplastic cutaneous lymph capillaries and increased Na + , Cl -, and water retention in skin and salt-sensitive hypertension. Further, we found that HSD elevated skin osmolality above plasma levels. These results suggest that the skin contains a hypertonic interstitial fluid compartment in which MPS cells exert homeostatic and blood pressure-regulatory control by local organization of interstitial electrolyte clearance via TONEBP and VEGFC/VEGFR3-mediated modification of cutaneous lymphatic capillary function.

Humoral autoimmunity paralleled by the accumulation of follicular helper T cells (T(FH) cells) is linked to mutation of the gene encoding the RNA-binding protein roquin-1. Here we found that T cells lacking roquin caused pathology in the lung and accumulated as cells of the T(H)17 subset of helper T cells in the lungs. Roquin inhibited T(H)17 cell differentiation and acted together with the endoribonuclease regnase-1 to repress target mRNA encoding the T(H)17 cell-promoting factors IL-6, ICOS, c-Rel, IRF4, IκBNS and IκBζ. This cooperation required binding of RNA by roquin and the nuclease activity of regnase-1. Upon recognition of antigen by the T cell antigen receptor (TCR), roquin and regnase-1 proteins were cleaved by the paracaspase MALT1. Thus, this pathway acts as a 'rheostat' by translating TCR signal strength via graded inactivation of post-transcriptional repressors and differential derepression of targets to enhance T(H)17 differentiation.

The RNA-binding protein Roquin is required to prevent autoimmunity. Roquin controls T-helper cell activation and differentiation by limiting the induced expression of costimulatory receptors such as tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 4 (Tnfrs4 or Ox40). A constitutive decay element (CDE) with a characteristic triloop hairpin was previously shown to be recognized by Roquin. Here we use SELEX assays to identify a novel U-rich hexaloop motif, representing an alternative decay element (ADE). Crystal structures and NMR data show that the Roquin-1 ROQ domain recognizes hexaloops in the SELEX-derived ADE and in an ADE-like variant present in the Ox40 3′-UTR with identical binding modes. In cells, ADE-like and CDE-like motifs cooperate in the repression of Ox40 by Roquin. Our data reveal an unexpected recognition of hexaloop cis elements for the posttranscriptional regulation of target messenger RNAs by Roquin.

The RNA-binding proteins Roquin-1 and Roquin-2 redundantly control gene expression and cell-fate decisions. Here, we show that Roquin not only interacts with stem–loop structures, but also with a linear sequence element present in about half of its targets. Comprehensive analysis of a minimal response element of the Nfkbid 3′-UTR shows that six stem–loop structures cooperate to exert robust and profound post-transcriptional regulation. Only binding of multiple Roquin proteins to several stem–loops exerts full repression, which redundantly involved deadenylation and decapping, but also translational inhibition. Globally, most Roquin targets are regulated by mRNA decay, whereas a small subset, including the Nfat5 mRNA, with more binding sites in their 3′-UTRs, are also subject to translational inhibition. These findings provide insights into how the robustness and magnitude of Roquin-mediated regulation is encoded in complex cis-elements.

The ubiquitously expressed RNA-binding proteins Roquin-1 and Roquin-2 are essential for appropriate immune cell function and postnatal survival of mice. Roquin proteins repress target mRNAs by recognizing secondary structures in their 3′-UTRs and by inducing mRNA decay. However, it is unknown if other cellular proteins contribute to target control. To identify cofactors of Roquin, we used RNA interference to screen~1500 genes involved in RNA-binding or mRNA degradation, and identified NUFIP2 as a cofactor of Roquin-induced mRNA decay. NUFIP2 binds directly and with high affinity to Roquin, which stabilizes NUFIP2 in cells. Post-transcriptional repression of human ICOS by endogenous Roquin proteins requires two neighboring non-canonical stem-loops in the ICOS 3′-UTR. This unconventional cis-element as well as another tandem loop known to confer Roquin-mediated regulation of the Ox40 3′-UTR, are bound cooperatively by Roquin and NUFIP2. NUFIP2 therefore emerges as a cofactor that contributes to mRNA target recognition by Roquin.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are important posttranscriptional regulators during hematopoietic lineage commitment and lymphocyte development. Mature miRNAs are processed from primary miRNA transcripts in two steps by the microprocessor complex, consisting of Drosha and its partner DiGeorge Critical Region 8 (DGCR8), and the RNAse III enzyme, Dicer. Conditional ablations of Drosha and Dicer have established the importance of both RNAses in B- and T-cell development. Here, we show that a cre-mediated B-cell specific deletion of DGCR8 in mice results in a nearly complete maturation block at the transition from the pro-B to the pre-B cell stage, and a failure to upregulate Ig μ heavy chain expression in pro-B cells. Furthermore, we found that the death of freshly isolated DGCR8-deficient pro-B cells could be partially prevented by enforced Bcl2 expression. We conclude from these findings that the microprocessor component DGCR8 is essential for survival and differentiation of early B-cell progenitors.

We examined and compared the actions of IGF-I and -II on the release of insulin from isolated, intact rat islets of Langerhans within a perifusion system. Islets were isolated from adult male rats by collagenase digestion and Ficoll gradient separation, and were maintained in tissue culture for 48 h before perifusion. Following an equlibration period, islets were perifused with medium containing 2.7 mM glucose from 0 to 30 min. and 2.7, 11.1 or 16.7 mM glucose from 30 to 90 min. All chambers then received medium with 2.7 mM glucose from 90 to 120 min. Various doses (6.7-53 nM) of IGF-1, des(1-3) IGF-I or IGF-II were given either as a pulse between 30 and 35 min, or continuously from 30 to 90 min. Insulin was measured in effluent medium by RIA. When 11.1 mM glucose was administered after 30 min an immediate increase in insulin release occurred, from a baseline of 1-3 pmol/fraction to approximately 7 pmol/ fraction. The elevated rate of release was maintained until 90 min, and fell when the glucose concentration was lowered. Glucose at 16.7 mM was a less effective insulin secretogogue than was 11.1 mM. When islets received a pulse infusion of IGF-I (13.3 nM) at 30 min in the presence of 11.1 mM glucose, a statistically significant increase (p < 0.005) in insulin release occurred, of approximately 10 pmol/fraction in excess of that seen with glucose alone. The IGF-1-stimulated insulin release was still higher than controls at 115 min. When the concentration of IGF-I was altered between 6.7 nM and 53 nM, maximum insulin release was achieved with 13.3 nM IGF I, both lower and higher concentrations being less effective. A significant inhibition of insulin release occurred with 53 nM IGF-I compared with glucose alone. IGF-II (13.3 nM) did not significantly increase insulin release, while 53 nM IGF-II significantly inhibited release of insulin relative to controls. Des(1-3) IGF-I (13.3 nM), which has a reduced binding affinity for IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), administered with 11.1 mM glucose caused an immediate increase in insulin release, which fell to control values within 30 min. Western ligand blot analysis identified four IGFBP species in perifused islets, of 46 kDa, 35 kDa, 28 kDa, and 19 kDa respectively, of which the 28 kDa species was identified immunologically as IGFBP-1. When IGF-I was administered continuously from 30 to 90 min it inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin release at all concentrations used. The results suggest that under perfusion conditions, IGF-I can act both as a potent insulin secretogogue, augmenting the actions of glucose, and as an inhibitor of insulin release, depending on concentration and kinetics of administration.

The quality and quantity of BCR signals impact on cell fate decisions of B lymphocytes. Here, we describe novel gene-targeted mice, which in the context of normal VDJ recombination show hypomorphic expression of immunoglobulin μ heavy chain (μHC) mRNA levels and hence lower pre-BCR and BCR levels. Hypomorphic expression of μHC leads to augmented selection processes at all stages of B-cell development, noticeably at the expansion of pre-B cells, the positive selection of immature B lymphocytes in the bone marrow and the selection of the follicular (FO), marginal zone (MZ) and B1 B-lymphocyte compartment in peripheral lymphoid organs. Immature as well as mature FO and MZ B lymphocytes in the peripheral lymphoid organs express lower levels of the receptor for B-cell activating factor (BAFF). In addition, hypomorphic expression of the BCR favours receptor editing. Together, our results highlight the critical importance of pre-BCR and BCR receptor levels for the normal development of B-lymphocyte subpopulations in the context of intact VDJ recombination and a diverse antibody repertoire.