Signaling and crosstalk by C5a and UDP in macrophages selectively use PLCbeta 3 to regulate intracellular free calcium

Studies in fibroblasts, neurons, and platelets have demonstrated the integration of signals from different G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in raising intracellular free Ca2+. To study signal integration in macrophages, we screened RAW264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) for their Ca2+ response to GPCR ligands. We found a synergistic response to complement component 5a (C5a) in combination with uridine 5’-diphosphate (UDP), platelet activating factor (PAF) or lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). The C5a response was Gai-dependent, while the UDP, PAF, and LPA responses were Gaqdependent. Synergy between C5a and UDP, mediated by the C5a and P2Y6 receptors, required dual receptor occupancy, and affected the initial release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores as well as sustained Ca2+ levels. C5a and UDP synergized in generating inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, suggesting synergy in activating phospholipase C (PLC) ß. Macrophages expressed transcripts for three PLCß isoforms (PLCß2, PLCß3, and PLCß4), but GPCR ligands selectively used these isoforms in Ca2+ signaling. C5a predominantly used PLCß3, while UDP used PLCß3 but also PLCß4. Neither ligand required PLCß2. Synergy between C5a and UDP likewise depended primarily on PLCß3. Importantly, the Ca2+ signaling deficiency observed in PLCß3-deficient BMDM was reversed by reconstitution with PLCß3. Neither PI-3 kinase nor PKC was required for synergy. In contrast to Ca2+, PI3-kinase activation by C5a was inhibited by UDP, as was macropinocytosis, which depends on PI3- kinase. PLCß3 may thus provide a selective target for inhibiting Ca2+ responses to mediators of inflammation, including C5a, UDP, PAF, and LPA

Haloperidol-Based Irreversible Inhibitors of the HIV-1 and HIV-2 Proteases

The proteases expressed by the HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses process the polyproteins encoded by the viral genomes into the mature proteins required for virion replication and assembly. Eight analogs of haloperidol have been synthesized that cause time-dependent inactivation of the HIV-1 protease and, in six cases, HIV-2 protease. The IC values for the analogues are comparable to that of haloperidol itself. Enzyme inactivation is due to the presence of an epoxide in two of the analogues and carbonyl-conjugated double or triple bonds in the others. Irreversible inactivation is confirmed by the failure to recover activity when one of the inhibitors is removed from the medium. At pH 8.0, the agents inactivate the HIV-1 protease 4–80 times more rapidly than the HIV-2 protease. Faster inactivation of the HIV-1 protease is consistent with alkylation of cysteine residues because the HIV-1 protease has four such residues whereas the HIV-2 protease has none. Inactivation of the HIV-2 protease requires modification of non-cysteine residues. The similarities in the rates of inactivation of the HIV-2 protease by six agents that have intrinsically different reactivities toward nucleophiles suggest that the rate-limiting step in the inactivation process is not the alkylation reaction itself. At least five of the agents inhibit polyprotein processing in an ex vivo cell assay system, but they are also toxic to the cells

A Specific Interaction of Small Molecule Entry Inhibitors with the Envelope Glycoprotein Complex of the Junín Hemorrhagic Fever Arenavirus*

Arenaviruses are responsible for acute hemorrhagic fevers worldwide and are recognized to pose significant threats to public health and biodefense. Small molecule compounds have recently been discovered that inhibit arenavirus entry and protect against lethal infection in animal models. These chemically distinct inhibitors act on the tripartite envelope glycoprotein (GPC) through its unusual stable signal peptide subunit to stabilize the complex against pH-induced activation of membrane fusion in the endosome. Here, we report the production and characterization of the intact transmembrane GPC complex of Junín arenavirus and its interaction with these inhibitors. The solubilized GPC is antigenically indistinguishable from the native protein and forms a homogeneous trimer in solution. When reconstituted into a lipid bilayer, the purified complex interacts specifically with its cell-surface receptor transferrin receptor-1. We show that small molecule entry inhibitors specific to New World or Old World arenaviruses bind to the membrane-associated GPC complex in accordance with their respective species selectivities and with dissociation constants comparable with concentrations that inhibit GPC-mediated membrane fusion. Furthermore, competitive binding studies reveal that these chemically distinct inhibitors share a common binding pocket on GPC. In conjunction with previous genetic studies, these findings identify the pH-sensing interface of GPC as a highly vulnerable target for antiviral intervention. This work expands our mechanistic understanding of arenavirus entry and provides a foundation to guide the development of small molecule compounds for the treatment of arenavirus hemorrhagic fevers

Expression of Interest for a Phase-II LHCb Upgrade: Opportunities in flavour physics, and beyond, in the HL-LHC era

A Phase-II Upgrade is proposed for the LHCb experiment in order to take full advantage of the flavour-physics opportunities at the HL-LHC, and other topics that can be studied with a forward spectrometer. This Upgrade, which will be installed in Long Shutdown 4 of the LHC (2030), will build on the strengths of the current experiment and the Phase-I Upgrade, but will consist of re-designed sub-systems that can operate at a luminosity of 2×1034cm−2s−1, ten times that of the Phase-I Upgrade detector. New and improved detector components will increase the intrinsic performance of the experiment in certain key areas. In particular the installation of a tungsten sampling electromagnetic calorimeter will widen LHCb's capabilities for decays involving π0 and η mesons, electrons, and photons from loop-level penguin processes. The physics motivation is presented, and the prospects for operating the LHCb Interaction Point at high luminosity are assessed. The challenges for the detector are described and possible solutions are discussed. Finally, the key R\&D areas are summarised, together with a set of initial modifications suitable for implementation during Long Shutdown 3 (2024--2026)