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京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第23802号 / 医博第4848号 / 新制||医||1058(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 永井 洋士, 教授 羽賀 博典, 教授 木村 剛 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Interleukin-12 (IL-12), an important immuno-modulator for cell-mediated immunity, shows significant potential as a vaccine adjuvant and anti-cancer therapeutic. However, its clinical application is limited by lack of an effective bioproduction system and by toxicity associated with systemic administration of IL-12. The goals of this research were to determine whether plants can serve as an effective production system for bioactive IL-12, a complex 70kDa glycoprotein cytokine, and whether the plant lectin RTB can facilitate mucosal delivery of IL-12 to immune responsive sites. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing murine IL-12 were generated and characterized. To ensure stochiometric expression of the two separately encoded, disulfide-linked subunits of IL-12 (p35 and p40), a single-chain form of mouse IL-12 (mIL-12) was utilized. Hairy root cultures, as a fast-growing bioproduction system were developed from high expressers of mIL-12. A purification scheme was developed to purify plant-derived mIL-12 from hairy roots and purified mIL-12 was used to assess IL-12 bioactivity in vitro in mouse splenocytes and in vivo in mouse intranasal vaccination trials. Plant-derived mIL-12 triggered induction of interferon-gamma secretion from mouse splenocytes as well as stimulation of cell proliferation with comparable activities to those observed for the animal-cell-derived mIL-12. Mouse vaccination trials using GFP as the antigen and CT as the adjuvant suggested that plant-derived mIL-12 enhanced Th1 immunity and exhibited similar activity to animal-cell-derived mIL-12 in vivo. Plant-derived IL-12 itself was non-immunogenic suggesting conformational equivalency to endogenous mouse IL-12. Ricin B (RTB), the non-toxic carbohydrate-binding subunit of ricin, directs uptake of ricin into mammalian cells and the intracellular trafficking of ricin A, the catalytic subunit of ricin. RTB's function suggests that it may work as a molecular carrier for effective mucosal delivery of IL-12. To prove this hypothesis, transgenic plants producing RTB:IL-12 fusions were generated and characterized. Our results demonstrated that RTB fused to the carboxyl-terminus of IL-12 maintained full lectin activity and IL-12 bioactivity. RTB fused to the amino-terminus of IL-12 did not show lectin activity due to steric hinderance. Purified IL-12:RTB from transgenic plant tissue was tested in an in vitro mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) assay. The results indicate that RTB facilitates the binding of IL-12 to the epithelial cells and presentation of IL-12 to immune responsive cells. In conclusion, my research has shown that transgenic plants are capable of producing valuable bioactive proteins, such as IL-12. Plant-derived mIL-12 exhibited similar activity to animal-cell-derived mIL-12 both in vitro and in vivo. Fusion of IL-12 with the RTB lectin facilitates the delivery of IL-12 to mucosal immune responsive cells and thus may serve as a molecular carrier to enhance IL-12 efficacy and reduce the side-effects associated with systemic administration of IL-12. / Ph. D.

A Lectina Ligadora de Manose (MBL) é uma proteína que reconhece carboidratos na superfície microbiana levando à ativação do sistema complemento. Este processo é mediado por Serino Proteases tal como a MASP-2. O complexo MBL/MASP-2 é responsável pela formação da C3 convertase C4bC2b. Os níveis séricos de MBL e a MASP-2 (genes MBL2 e MASP-2, respectivamente) são geneticamente determinados, e podem ser influenciados pela presença de polimorfismos em um único nucleotídeo SNPs em genes codificadores destas proteínas. OBJETIVO: Determinar os níveis séricos e polimorfismos gênicos da MBL e MASP-2 em uma amostra da população brasileira. MÉTODOS: 294 amostras de doadores de sangue [mediana = 36,51 ± 10,56; 18-63 anos; 91/294 (30,95%) sexo feminino, 203/294 (69,05%) sexo masculino] foram genotipadas para os SNPs do éxon 1 (MBL2): SNPs localizados nos códons 52 (ArgCys), 54 (GlyAsp) e 57 (GlyGlu) e SNP Asp371Tyr (D371Y, A>C ) do gene da MASP-2 (éxon 9). Foi utilizado o ensaio de temperatura de dissociação para éxon 1 (MBL2) e sequenciamento direto dos promoters (H/L, X/Y e P/Q, nas posições -550, -221 e +4, respectivamente). A combinação das variantes do éxon 1 MBL2 foram agrupadas e denominadas alelo O e o genótipo selvagem foi denominado A. O éxon 9 da MASP-2 foi genotipado através da plataforma TaqMan. RESULTADOS: MBL2: 58,5% A/A, 36,39% A/O e 5,1% O/O; promoters: 13% H/H, 39% H/L, 48% L/L; 2% X/X, 26% X/Y, 72% Y/Y; 52% P/P, 37% P/Q, 11% Q/Q; haplótipos encontrados: 15% LXPA, 28% HYPA, 8% LYQO, 12% LYPO, 11% LYPA, 22% LYQA e 4% HYPO. Quanto à produção, 56,12% produziram altos níveis de MBL, 30,61% níveis médios e 13,27% níveis baixos ou insuficientes de MBL. Para MASP-2: 38,78% A/A, 44,56% A/C e 16,67% C/C. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência (5,1%) SNP O/O do éxon 1 (MBL2) está de acordo com a literatura brasileira, é semelhante à européia (4%) e japonesa (5%), menor que a africana (10-14%). Níveis séricos de MBL corresponderam aos genótipos determinados. Esta é a primeira avaliação da frequência do SNP D371Y do gene MASP-2 em uma população brasileira. Os resultados deste trabalho fornecem subsídios para estudos sobre repercussão de MBL e MASP-2 em situações clínicas / BACKGROUND: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a protein that recognizes carbohydrates on microbial surface leading to complement activation. This process is mediated by MBL-associated serine proteases, such as MASP-2. MBL/MASP-2 complex is responsible for generating the C3 convertase C4bC2b. Both MBL and MASP-2 levels are genetically determined, and can be influenced by the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes encoding for these proteins (namely MBL2 and MASP-2). OBJTECTIVE: to determine MBL and MASP-2 serum levels and the frequencies of MBL2 and MASP-2 gene polymorphisms in a Brazilian population sample. METHODS: 294 blood donor samples [median age = 36.51 ± 10.56 years, range 18-63, 91/294 (31%) females and 203/294 (69%) males] were genotyped for MBL2 exon 1 SNPs: single point mutation in codon 52 (ArgCys), 54 (GlyAsp) and 57 (GlyGlu), and MASP-2 polymorphism Asp371Tyr (D371Y, A>C) (exon 9). A melting temperature assay was used to perform the genotyping of MBL2 SNPs. The combination of variants of MBL2 were grouped together as allele O, wild types were indicated as A. Exon 1 promoters were evaluated by direct genotype sequencing- alleles H/L, X/Y and P/Q (positions -550, -221 and +4, respectively). MASP-2 exon 9 genotyping was performed by using TaqMan pre-developed assay. RESULTS: MBL2: 58.5% A/A, 36.39% A/O, 5.1% O/O; promoters: 13% H/H, 39% H/L, 48% L/L; 2% X/X, 26% X/Y, 72% Y/Y; 52% P/P, 37% P/Q, 11% Q/Q; haplotypes: 15% LXPA, 28% HYPA, 8% LYQO, 12% LYPO, 11% LYPA, 22% LYQA and 4% HYPO. MASP-2: 38.78% A/A, 44.56% A/C and 16.67% C/C. CONCLUSION: The prevalence (5.1%) of O/O genotype of MBL2 exon 1 SNPs in our population is in accordance with Brazilian reports, similar to European (4%) and Japanese (5%); lower than Africans (10-14%). There is a correlation between MBL serum levels and genotyping. Moreover, this is the first report of D371Y MASP-2 polymorphism frequency in a Brazilian population. Our data may contribute to new insights on the role of MBL and MASP-2 in clinical conditions

A Lectina Ligadora de Manose (MBL) é uma proteína que reconhece carboidratos na superfície microbiana levando à ativação do sistema complemento. Este processo é mediado por Serino Proteases tal como a MASP-2. O complexo MBL/MASP-2 é responsável pela formação da C3 convertase C4bC2b. Os níveis séricos de MBL e a MASP-2 (genes MBL2 e MASP-2, respectivamente) são geneticamente determinados, e podem ser influenciados pela presença de polimorfismos em um único nucleotídeo SNPs em genes codificadores destas proteínas. OBJETIVO: Determinar os níveis séricos e polimorfismos gênicos da MBL e MASP-2 em uma amostra da população brasileira. MÉTODOS: 294 amostras de doadores de sangue [mediana = 36,51 ± 10,56; 18-63 anos; 91/294 (30,95%) sexo feminino, 203/294 (69,05%) sexo masculino] foram genotipadas para os SNPs do éxon 1 (MBL2): SNPs localizados nos códons 52 (ArgCys), 54 (GlyAsp) e 57 (GlyGlu) e SNP Asp371Tyr (D371Y, A>C ) do gene da MASP-2 (éxon 9). Foi utilizado o ensaio de temperatura de dissociação para éxon 1 (MBL2) e sequenciamento direto dos promoters (H/L, X/Y e P/Q, nas posições -550, -221 e +4, respectivamente). A combinação das variantes do éxon 1 MBL2 foram agrupadas e denominadas alelo O e o genótipo selvagem foi denominado A. O éxon 9 da MASP-2 foi genotipado através da plataforma TaqMan. RESULTADOS: MBL2: 58,5% A/A, 36,39% A/O e 5,1% O/O; promoters: 13% H/H, 39% H/L, 48% L/L; 2% X/X, 26% X/Y, 72% Y/Y; 52% P/P, 37% P/Q, 11% Q/Q; haplótipos encontrados: 15% LXPA, 28% HYPA, 8% LYQO, 12% LYPO, 11% LYPA, 22% LYQA e 4% HYPO. Quanto à produção, 56,12% produziram altos níveis de MBL, 30,61% níveis médios e 13,27% níveis baixos ou insuficientes de MBL. Para MASP-2: 38,78% A/A, 44,56% A/C e 16,67% C/C. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência (5,1%) SNP O/O do éxon 1 (MBL2) está de acordo com a literatura brasileira, é semelhante à européia (4%) e japonesa (5%), menor que a africana (10-14%). Níveis séricos de MBL corresponderam aos genótipos determinados. Esta é a primeira avaliação da frequência do SNP D371Y do gene MASP-2 em uma população brasileira. Os resultados deste trabalho fornecem subsídios para estudos sobre repercussão de MBL e MASP-2 em situações clínicas / BACKGROUND: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a protein that recognizes carbohydrates on microbial surface leading to complement activation. This process is mediated by MBL-associated serine proteases, such as MASP-2. MBL/MASP-2 complex is responsible for generating the C3 convertase C4bC2b. Both MBL and MASP-2 levels are genetically determined, and can be influenced by the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes encoding for these proteins (namely MBL2 and MASP-2). OBJTECTIVE: to determine MBL and MASP-2 serum levels and the frequencies of MBL2 and MASP-2 gene polymorphisms in a Brazilian population sample. METHODS: 294 blood donor samples [median age = 36.51 ± 10.56 years, range 18-63, 91/294 (31%) females and 203/294 (69%) males] were genotyped for MBL2 exon 1 SNPs: single point mutation in codon 52 (ArgCys), 54 (GlyAsp) and 57 (GlyGlu), and MASP-2 polymorphism Asp371Tyr (D371Y, A>C) (exon 9). A melting temperature assay was used to perform the genotyping of MBL2 SNPs. The combination of variants of MBL2 were grouped together as allele O, wild types were indicated as A. Exon 1 promoters were evaluated by direct genotype sequencing- alleles H/L, X/Y and P/Q (positions -550, -221 and +4, respectively). MASP-2 exon 9 genotyping was performed by using TaqMan pre-developed assay. RESULTS: MBL2: 58.5% A/A, 36.39% A/O, 5.1% O/O; promoters: 13% H/H, 39% H/L, 48% L/L; 2% X/X, 26% X/Y, 72% Y/Y; 52% P/P, 37% P/Q, 11% Q/Q; haplotypes: 15% LXPA, 28% HYPA, 8% LYQO, 12% LYPO, 11% LYPA, 22% LYQA and 4% HYPO. MASP-2: 38.78% A/A, 44.56% A/C and 16.67% C/C. CONCLUSION: The prevalence (5.1%) of O/O genotype of MBL2 exon 1 SNPs in our population is in accordance with Brazilian reports, similar to European (4%) and Japanese (5%); lower than Africans (10-14%). There is a correlation between MBL serum levels and genotyping. Moreover, this is the first report of D371Y MASP-2 polymorphism frequency in a Brazilian population. Our data may contribute to new insights on the role of MBL and MASP-2 in clinical conditions

The major obstacle many promising drugs struggle to overcome is the barrier imposed by the outer cell membrane. In addition to technologies such as liposomes and cell-penetrating peptides, more attention is being given to the class of proteins known as lectins to deliver therapeutic and antigenic proteins to the interiors of cells. Lectins bind to but do not modify sugars, and provide an efficient route to endocytosis. The galactose/N-acetyl-galactosamine specific lectin ricin B-chain (RTB) is especially attractive in possibly fulfilling a carrier role due to its well-characterized endocytotic trafficking and its efficacy over a wide range of cell types. By producing RTB recombinantly in plants it is possible to create a fully active, non-toxic carrier that does not rely on the processing of large amounts of toxic material (e.g. castor bean). Payload molecules such as small molecules and proteins can be attached to RTB via chemical conjugation at primary amine groups, without the loss of lectin or uptake activities. The biotin/streptavidin interaction and direct genetic fusion of polypeptides also provide efficient mechanisms for the attachment of payload proteins to RTB. An immunoglobulin domain-based scaffolding mechanism bridges modified RTB and payload proteins when co-expressed in Agrobacterium-infiltrated plant leaves. Carrier and payload proteins expressed in plants and E. coli, respectively, and purified independently are not able to assemble into an efficient carrier/payload arrangement. These findings show that plant cells are able to correctly produce the two components of the carrier/payload system and assemble them into an efficient and flexible capture and carry technology. / Ph. D.

This thesis focuses on the development of carbohydrate coupling chemistry on nanomaterials and their biological activity studies. It is divided into two parts: In part one, two carbohydrate immobilization approaches, based on perfluorophenyl azide (PFPA)-functionalized silica nanoparticles (SNPs), are presented, where the binding affinity of the glyconanoparticles was evaluated through carbohydrate-lectin interaction. In the first approach, PFPAfunctionalized SNPs were treated with propargylated glycosides and functionalized under copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) conditions to give glyconanoparticles. For the second approach, a metal-free coupling chemistry based on perfluorophenyl azide-aldehyde-amine cycloaddition (AAAC) was developed for carbohydrate immobilization on PFPA-functionalized SNPs using glycosyl amine and phenylacetaldehyde. Subsequently, a quantitative fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance (19F qNMR) technique was developed to determine the carbohydrate density on the glyconanoparticles. The addition of an internal standard allowed the accurate determination of carbohydrate density, which was then used to calculate the apparent dissociation constant (Kd ) of the glyconanoparticles with lectin by a ligand competition assay. The developed approaches proved general and versatile, and the carbohydrate-presenting nanoplatforms showed high binding specificity in lectin binding. In part two, microwave irradiation was used to functionalize carbon nanomaterials with PFPA followed by carbohydrate conjugation. The microwave-assisted method proved efficient for a number of carbon nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene and fullerene. The carbohydrates on the glyconanomaterials retained their binding patterns towards cognate lectins. / <p>QC 20150907</p>

Molecular association is part of many important processes in living cells. Computational methods for calculating binding free energies allows for a quantitative examination of biomolecular structures and hypotheses drawn from biochemical experiments. Here, binding free energy calculations for tRNAs and release factors binding to mRNA codons on the ribosome, sugars binding to lectins and purine analogs binding to the purine riboswitch are presented. The relative affinities between cognate and non-cognate tRNAs for different states involved in codon reading on the ribosome were determined. The calculations show that tRNA discrimination varies between different conformations of the 30S subunit, where the existence of both low and high selectivity states provides an efficient common mechanism for initial selection and proofreading. The simulations reveal a desolvation mechanism for the 30S conformational switch with which the accuracy of peptide bond formation can be amplified. When an mRNA stop codon (UAA, UAG or UGA) is located in the ribosomal A-site release factors bind to the ribosome and the synthesized protein is released. RF1 is specific for UAA and UAG whereas RF2 is specific for UAA and UGA. The free energy calculations and an analysis of the performed simulations show the mechanisms for how RF1 and RF2 are able to read the stop codons with different specificities. Also mitochondrial release factors were investigated. Vertebrate mitochondria have four stop codons, UAA, UAG, AGA and AGG and two release factors mtRF1 and mtRF1a. The calculations show how the specificities of both mtRF1 and mtRF1a agree with RF1 and that none of them are likely to read the non-standard stop codons AGA and AGG. The linear interaction energy method has also been examined for the RSL and PA-IIL lectins and for the purine riboswitch. The standard parameterization of the method works well for RSL, but fails for PA-IIL and the purine riboswitch due to compositions of the active sites in these systems. The development of new parameterizations to overcome these problems leads to a better understanding of both the method and the binding mechanisms in these systems.