Cardiomyocyte Differentiation Promotes Cell Survival During Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Inhibition Through Increased Maintenance of Cellular Energy Stores

To address concerns regarding the tumorigenic potential of undifferentiated human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) that may remain after in vitro differentiation and ultimately limit the broad use of hPSC‐derivatives for therapeutics, we recently described a method to selectively eliminate tumorigenic hPSC from their progeny by inhibiting nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT). Limited exposure to NAMPT inhibitors selectively removes hPSC from hPSC‐derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC‐CM) and spares a wide range of differentiated cell types; yet, it remains unclear when and how cells acquire resistance to NAMPT inhibition during differentiation. In this study, we examined the effects of NAMPT inhibition among multiple time points of cardiomyocyte differentiation. Overall, these studies show that in vitro cardiomyogenic commitment and continued culturing provides resistance to NAMPT inhibition and cell survival is associated with the ability to maintain cellular ATP pools despite depletion of NAD levels. Unlike cells at earlier stages of differentiation, day 28 hPSC‐CM can survive longer periods of NAMPT inhibition and maintain ATP generation by glycolysis and/or mitochondrial respiration. This is distinct from terminally differentiated fibroblasts, which maintain mitochondrial respiration during NAMPT inhibition. Overall, these results provide new mechanistic insight into how regulation of cellular NAD and energy pools change with hPSC‐CM differentiation and further inform how NAMPT inhibition strategies could be implemented within the context of cardiomyocyte differentiation. Stem Cells Translational Medicine2017;6:1191–1201

A dual COX-2/sEH inhibitor improves the metabolic profile and reduces kidney injury in Zucker diabetic fatty rat

Cyclooxygenase (COX) and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors have therapeutic potential. The present study investigated efficacy of a novel dual acting COX-2/sEH inhibitor, PTUPB in type 2 diabetic Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats. Male ZDF rats were treated with vehicle or PTUPB (10mg/kg/d, i.p.) for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8-week experimental period, ZDF rats were diabetic (fasting blood glucose, 287±45mg/dL) compared to Zucker Diabetic Lean rats (ZDL, 99±6mg/dL), and PTUPB treatment improved glycemic status in ZDF rats (146±6mg/dL). Kidney injury was evident in ZDF compared to ZDL rats with elevated albuminurea (44±4 vs 4±2mg/d) and nephrinurea (496±127 vs 16±4μg/d). Marked renal fibrosis, tubular cast formation and glomerular injury were also present in ZDF compared to ZDL rats. In ZDF rats, PTUPB treatment reduced kidney injury parameters by 30-80% compared to vehicle. The ZDF rats also demonstrated increased inflammation and oxidative stress with elevated levels of urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 excretion (862±300 vs 319±75ng/d), renal macrophage infiltration (53±2 vs 37±4/mm(2)) and kidney malondialdehyde/protein ratio (10±1 vs 5±1μmol/mg). PTUPB treatment decreased these inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in the kidney of ZDF rats by 25-57%. These data demonstrate protective actions of a novel dual acting COX-2/sEH inhibitor on the metabolic abnormalities and kidney function in ZDF rat model of type 2 diabetes.

Nitric Oxide Suppresses β-Cell Apoptosis by Inhibiting the DNA Damage Response

Nitric oxide, produced in pancreatic β cells in response to proinflammatory cytokines, plays a dual role in the regulation of β-cell fate. While nitric oxide induces cellular damage and impairs β-cell function, it also promotes β-cell survival through activation of protective pathways that promote β-cell recovery. In this study, we identify a novel mechanism in which nitric oxide prevents β-cell apoptosis by attenuating the DNA damage response (DDR). Nitric oxide suppresses activation of the DDR (as measured by γH2AX formation and the phosphorylation of KAP1 and p53) in response to multiple genotoxic agents, including camptothecin, H2O2, and nitric oxide itself, despite the presence of DNA damage. While camptothecin and H2O2 both induce DDR activation, nitric oxide suppresses only camptothecin-induced apoptosis and not H2O2-induced necrosis. The ability of nitric oxide to suppress the DDR appears to be selective for pancreatic β cells, as nitric oxide fails to inhibit DDR signaling in macrophages, hepatocytes, and fibroblasts, three additional cell types examined. While originally described as the damaging agent responsible for cytokine-induced β-cell death, these studies identify a novel role for nitric oxide as a protective molecule that promotes β-cell survival by suppressing DDR signaling and attenuating DNA damage-induced apoptosis.

Hypoglycemia unawareness prevention: Targeting glucagon production

Insulin-dependent individuals with diabetes are at risk for a severe hypoglycemic event that may predispose them to several repeat episodes during which the normal counter regulatory mechanisms that protect against hypoglycemia fail to be activated. This state of hypoglycemia unawareness is characterized by a failure of glucagon release, preventing mobilization of endogenous glucose stores from the liver. We describe the discovery of a novel hormone, produced in pancreatic delta cells, which stimulates glucagon production and release, particularly under low glucose conditions. We hypothesize that this hormone, called neuronostatin, may be effective as a co-therapy with insulin to prevent repeated, potentially fatal episodes of recurrent hypoglycemia.

Neuronostatin acts via GPR107 to increase cAMP-independent PKA phosphorylation and proglucagon mRNA accumulation in pancreatic α-cells

Neuronostatin (NST) is a recently described peptide that is produced from the somatostatin preprohormone in pancreatic δ-cells. NST has been shown to increase glucagon secretion from primary rat pancreatic islets in low-glucose conditions. Here, we demonstrate that NST increases proglucagon message in α-cells and identify a potential mechanism for NST's cellular activities, including the phosphorylation of PKA following activation of the G protein-coupled receptor, GPR107. GPR107 is abundantly expressed in the pancreas, particularly, in rodent and human α-cells. Compromise of GPR107 in pancreatic α-cells results in failure of NST to increase PKA phosphorylation and proglucagon mRNA levels. We also demonstrate colocalization of GPR107 and NST on both mouse and human pancreatic α-cells. Taken together with our group's observation that NST infusion in conscious rats impairs glucose clearance in response to a glucose challenge and that plasma levels of the peptide are elevated in the fasted compared with the fed or fasted-refed state, these studies support the hypothesis that endogenous NST regulates islet cell function by interacting with GPR107 and initiating signaling in glucagon-producing α-cells.

Understanding peptide biology: The discovery and characterization of the novel hormone, neuronostatin

The Human Genome Project provided the opportunity to use bioinformatic approaches to discover novel, endogenous hormones. Using this approach we have identified two novel peptide hormones and review here our strategy for the identification and characterization of the hormone, neuronostatin. We describe in this mini-review our strategy for determining neuronostatin's actions in brain, heart and pancreas. More importantly, we detail our deductive reasoning strategy for the identification of a neuronostatin receptor and our progress in establishing the physiological relevance of the peptide.

CCR5-Dependent Activation of mTORC1 Regulates Translation of Inducible NO Synthase and COX-2 during Encephalomyocarditis Virus Infection

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection of macrophages results in the expression of a number of inflammatory and antiviral genes, including inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. EMCV-induced macrophage activation has been shown to require the presence of CCR5 and the activation of PI3K-dependent signaling cascades. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of PI3K in regulating the macrophage responses to EMCV. We show that PI3K regulates EMCV-stimulated iNOS and COX-2 expression by two independent mechanisms. In response to EMCV infection, Akt is activated and regulates the translation of iNOS and COX-2 through the mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTORC)1. The activation of mTORC1 during EMCV infection is CCR5-dependent and appears to function in a manner that promotes the translation of iNOS and COX-2. CCR5-dependent mTORC1 activation functions as an antiviral response, as mTORC1 inhibition increases the expression of EMCV polymerase. PI3K also regulates the transcriptional induction of iNOS and COX-2 in response to EMCV infection by a mechanism that is independent of Akt and mTORC1 regulation. These findings indicate that macrophage expression of the inflammatory genes iNOS and COX-2 occurs via PI3K- and Akt-dependent translational control of mTORC1 and PI3K-dependent, Akt-independent transcriptional control.

ATM facilitates mouse gammaherpesvirus reactivation from myeloid cells during chronic infection

Gammaherpesviruses are cancer-associated pathogens that establish life-long infection in most adults. Insufficiency of Ataxia-Telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase leads to a poor control of chronic gammaherpesvirus infection via an unknown mechanism that likely involves a suboptimal antiviral response. In contrast to the phenotype in the intact host, ATM facilitates gammaherpesvirus reactivation and replication in vitro. We hypothesized that ATM mediates both pro- and antiviral activities to regulate chronic gammaherpesvirus infection in an immunocompetent host. To test the proposed proviral activity of ATM in vivo, we generated mice with ATM deficiency limited to myeloid cells. Myeloid-specific ATM deficiency attenuated gammaherpesvirus infection during the establishment of viral latency. The results of our study uncover a proviral role of ATM in the context of gammaherpesvirus infection in vivo and support a model where ATM combines pro- and antiviral functions to facilitate both gammaherpesvirus-specific T cell immune response and viral reactivation in vivo.

Macrophage Expression of Inflammatory Genes in Response to EMCV Infection

The expression and production of type 1 interferon is the classic cellular response to virus infection. In addition to this antiviral response, virus infection also stimulates the production of proinflammatory mediators. In this review, the pathways controlling the induction of inflammatory genes and the roles that these inflammatory mediators contribute to host defense against viral pathogens will be discussed. Specific focus will be on the role of the chemokine receptor CCR5, as a signaling receptor controlling the activation of pathways leading to virus-induced inflammatory gene expression.

Distinct differences in the responses of the human pancreatic β-cell line EndoC-βH1 and human islets to proinflammatory cytokines

While insulinoma cells have been developed and proven to be extremely useful in studies focused on mechanisms controlling β-cell function and viability, translating findings to human β-cells has proven difficult because of the limited access to human islets and the absence of suitable insulinoma cell lines of human origin. Recently, a human β-cell line, EndoC-βH1, has been derived from human fetal pancreatic buds. The purpose of this study was to determine whether human EndoC-βH1 cells respond to cytokines in a fashion comparable to human islets. Unlike most rodent-derived insulinoma cell lines that respond to cytokines in a manner consistent with rodent islets, EndoC-βH1 cells fail to respond to a combination of cytokines (IL-1, IFN-γ, and TNF) in a manner consistent with human islets. Nitric oxide, produced following inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, is a major mediator of cytokine-induced human islet cell damage. We show that EndoC-βH1 cells fail to express iNOS or produce nitric oxide in response to this combination of cytokines. Inhibitors of iNOS prevent cytokine-induced loss of human islet cell viability; however, they do not prevent cytokine-induced EndoC-βH1 cell death. Stressed human islets or human islets expressing heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) are resistant to cytokines, and, much like stressed human islets, EndoC-βH1 cells express HSP70 under basal conditions. Elevated basal expression of HSP70 in EndoC-βH1 cells is consistent with the lack of iNOS expression in response to cytokine treatment. While expressing HSP70, EndoC-βH1 cells fail to respond to endoplasmic reticulum stress activators, such as thapsigargin. These findings indicate that EndoC-βH1 cells do not faithfully recapitulate the response of human islets to cytokines. Therefore, caution should be exercised when making conclusions regarding the actions of cytokines on human islets when using this human-derived insulinoma cell line.

Inhibition of an NAD⁺ salvage pathway provides efficient and selective toxicity to human pluripotent stem cells

The tumorigenic potential of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is a major limitation to the widespread use of hPSC derivatives in the clinic. Here, we demonstrate that the small molecule STF-31 is effective at eliminating undifferentiated hPSCs across a broad range of cell culture conditions with important advantages over previously described methods that target metabolic processes. Although STF-31 was originally described as an inhibitor of glucose transporter 1, these data support the reclassification of STF-31 as a specific NAD⁺ salvage pathway inhibitor through the inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT). These findings demonstrate the importance of an NAD⁺ salvage pathway in hPSC biology and describe how inhibition of NAMPT can effectively eliminate hPSCs from culture. These results will advance and accelerate the development of safe, clinically relevant hPSC-derived cell-based therapies.

How the location of superoxide generation influences the β-cell response to nitric oxide

Cytokines impair the function and decrease the viability of insulin-producing β-cells by a pathway that requires the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and generation of high levels of nitric oxide. In addition to nitric oxide, excessive formation of reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, has been shown to cause β-cell damage. Although the reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide results in the formation of peroxynitrite, we have shown that β-cells do not have the capacity to produce this powerful oxidant in response to cytokines. When β-cells are forced to generate peroxynitrite using nitric oxide donors and superoxide-generating redox cycling agents, superoxide scavenges nitric oxide and prevents the inhibitory and destructive actions of nitric oxide on mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and β-cell viability. In this study, we show that the β-cell response to nitric oxide is regulated by the location of superoxide generation. Nitric oxide freely diffuses through cell membranes, and it reacts with superoxide produced within cells and in the extracellular space, generating peroxynitrite. However, only when it is produced within cells does superoxide attenuate nitric oxide-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, gene expression, and toxicity. These findings suggest that the location of radical generation and the site of radical reactions are key determinants in the functional response of β-cells to reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species. Although nitric oxide is freely diffusible, its biological function can be controlled by the local generation of superoxide, such that when this reaction occurs within β-cells, superoxide protects β-cells by scavenging nitric oxide.

Neuronostatin inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion via direct action on the pancreatic α-cell

Neuronostatin is a recently described peptide hormone encoded by the somatostatin gene. We previously showed that intraperitoneal injection of neuronostatin into mice resulted in c-Jun accumulation in pancreatic islets in a pattern consistent with the activation of glucagon-producing α-cells. We therefore hypothesized that neuronostatin could influence glucose homeostasis via a direct effect on the α-cell. Neuronostatin enhanced low-glucose-induced glucagon release in isolated rat islets and in the immortalized α-cell line αTC1-9. Furthermore, incubation with neuronostatin led to an increase in transcription of glucagon mRNA, as determined by RT-PCR. Neuronostatin also inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from isolated islets. However, neuronostatin did not alter insulin release from the β-cell line INS 832/13, indicating that the effect of neuronostatin on insulin secretion may be secondary to a direct action on the α-cell. In agreement with our in vitro data, intra-arterial infusion of neuronostatin in male rats delayed glucose disposal and inhibited insulin release during a glucose challenge. These studies suggest that neuronostatin participates in maintaining glucose homeostasis through cell-cell interactions between α-cells and β-cells in the endocrine pancreas, leading to attenuation in insulin secretion.

Enhanced MIN-6 beta cell survival and function on a nitric oxide-releasing peptide amphiphile nanomatrix

Innovative biomaterial strategies are required to improve islet cell retention, viability, and functionality, and thereby obtain clinically successful outcomes from pancreatic islet cell transplantation. To address this need, we have developed a peptide amphiphile-based nanomatrix that incorporates multifunctional bioactive cues and sustained release of nitric oxide. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of this peptide amphiphile nanomatrix on the viability and functionality of MIN-6 islet cells. Additionally, this study provides insight into the role of nitric oxide in islet cell biology, given that conventional nitric oxide donors are unable to release nitric oxide in a controlled, sustained manner, leading to ambiguous results. It was hypothesized that controlled nitric oxide release in synergy with multifunctional bioactive cues would promote islet cell viability and functionality. Nitric oxide-releasing peptide amphiphile nanomatrices within the range of 16.25 μmol to 130 μmol were used to analyze MIN-6 cell behavior. Both 32.5 μmol and 65 μmol peptide amphiphiles showed improved MIN-6 functionality in response to glucose over a 7-day time period, and the elevated functionality was correlated with both PDX-1 and insulin gene expression. Our results demonstrate that nitric oxide has a beneficial effect on MIN-6 cells in a concentration-dependent manner.

Luminol-based chemiluminescent signals: clinical and non-clinical application and future uses

Chemiluminescence (CL) is an important method for quantification and analysis of various macromolecules. A wide range of CL agents such as luminol, hydrogen peroxide, fluorescein, dioxetanes and derivatives of oxalate, and acridinium dyes are used according to their biological specificity and utility. This review describes the application of luminol chemiluminescence (LCL) in forensic, biomedical, and clinical sciences. LCL is a very useful detection method due to its selectivity, simplicity, low cost, and high sensitivity. LCL has a dynamic range of applications, including quantification and detection of macro and micromolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, DNA, and RNA. Luminol-based methods are used in environmental monitoring as biosensors, in the pharmaceutical industry for cellular localization and as biological tracers, and in reporter gene-based assays and several other immunoassays. Here, we also provide information about different compounds that may enhance or inhibit the LCL along with the effect of pH and concentration on LCL. This review covers most of the significant information related to the applications of luminol in different fields.

Nitric oxide induces ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein-dependent γH2AX protein formation in pancreatic β cells

In this study, the effects of cytokines on the activation of the DNA double strand break repair factors histone H2AX (H2AX) and ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) were examined in pancreatic β cells. We show that cytokines stimulate H2AX phosphorylation (γH2AX formation) in rat islets and insulinoma cells in a nitric oxide- and ATM-dependent manner. In contrast to the well documented role of ATM in DNA repair, ATM does not appear to participate in the repair of nitric oxide-induced DNA damage. Instead, nitric oxide-induced γH2AX formation correlates temporally with the onset of irreversible DNA damage and the induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibition of ATM attenuates cytokine-induced caspase activation. These findings show that the formation of DNA double strand breaks correlates with ATM activation, irreversible DNA damage, and ATM-dependent induction of apoptosis in cytokine-treated β cells.

β-Cell responses to nitric oxide

Autoimmune diabetes is characterized by the selective destruction of insulin-secreting β-cells that occurs during an inflammatory reaction in and around pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Cytokines such as interleukin-1, released by activated immune cells, have been shown to inhibit insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells and cause islet destruction. In response to cytokines, β-cells express inducible nitric oxide synthase and produce micromolar levels of the free radical nitric oxide. Nitric oxide inhibits the mitochondrial oxidation of glucose resulting in an impairment of insulin secretion. Nitric oxide is also responsible for cytokine-mediated DNA damage in β-cells. While nitric oxide mediates the inhibitory and toxic effects of cytokines, it also activates protective pathways that allow β-cells to recover from this damage. This review will focus on the dual role of nitric oxide as a mediator of cytokine-induced damage and the activator of repair mechanisms that protect β-cells from cytokine-mediated injury.

Inducible HSP70 regulates superoxide dismutase-2 and mitochondrial oxidative stress in the endothelial cells from developing lungs

Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD-2) is synthesized in the cytosol and imported into the mitochondrial matrix, where it is activated and functions as the primary antioxidant for cellular respiration. The specific mechanisms that target SOD-2 to the mitochondria remain unclear. We hypothesize that inducible heat shock protein 70 (iHSP70) targets SOD-2 to the mitochondria via a mechanism facilitated by ATP, and this process is impaired in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). We observed that iHSP70 interacts with SOD-2 and targets SOD-2 to the mitochondria. Interruption of iHSP70-SOD-2 interaction with 2-phenylethylenesulfonamide-μ (PFT-μ, a specific inhibitor of substrate binding to iHSP70 COOH terminus) and siRNA-mediated knockdown of iHSP70 expression disrupted SOD-2 transport to mitochondria. Increasing intracellular ATP levels by stimulation of respiration with CaCl2 facilitated the mitochondrial import of SOD-2, increased SOD-2 activity, and decreased the mitochondrial superoxide (O2(·-)) levels in PPHN pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) by promoting iHSP70-SOD-2 dissociation at the outer mitochondrial membrane. In contrast, oligomycin, an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATPase, decreased SOD-2 expression and activity and increased O2(·-) levels in the mitochondria of control PAEC. The basal ATP levels and degree of iHSP70-SOD-2 dissociation were lower in PPHN PAEC and lead to increased SOD-2 degradation in cytosol. In normal pulmonary arteries (PA), PFT-μ impaired the relaxation response of PA rings in response to nitric oxide (NO) donor, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine. Pretreatment with Mito-Q, a mitochondrial targeted O2(·-) scavenger, restored the relaxation response in PA rings pretreated with PFT-μ. Our observations suggest that iHSP70 chaperones SOD-2 to the mitochondria. Impaired SOD-2-iHSP70 dissociation decreases SOD-2 import and contributes to mitochondrial oxidative stress in PPHN.

Do β-cells generate peroxynitrite in response to cytokine treatment?

The purpose of this study was to determine the reactive species that is responsible for cytokine-mediated β-cell death. Inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase prevent this death, and addition of exogenous nitric oxide using donors induces β-cell death. The reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide results in the generation of peroxynitrite, and this powerful oxidant has been suggested to be the mediator of β-cell death in response to cytokine treatment. Recently, coumarin-7-boronate has been developed as a probe for the selective detection of peroxynitrite. Using this reagent, we show that addition of the NADPH oxidase activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate to nitric oxide-producing macrophages results in peroxynitrite generation. Using a similar approach, we demonstrate that cytokines fail to stimulate peroxynitrite generation by rat islets and insulinoma cells, either with or without phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment. When forced to produce superoxide using redox cyclers, this generation is associated with protection from nitric oxide toxicity. These findings indicate that: (i) nitric oxide is the likely mediator of the toxic effects of cytokines, (ii) β-cells do not produce peroxynitrite in response to cytokines, and (iii) when forced to produce superoxide, the scavenging of nitric oxide by superoxide is associated with protection of β-cells from nitric oxide-mediated toxicity.

Sustained NF-κB activation and inhibition in β-cells have minimal effects on function and islet transplant outcomes

The activation of the transcription factor NF-κB leads to changes in expression of many genes in pancreatic β-cells. However, the role of NF-κB activation in islet transplantation has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the state of NF-κB activation would influence the outcome of islet transplantation. Transgenic mice expressing a dominant active IKKβ (constitutively active) or a non-degradable form of IκBα (constitutive inhibition) under control of the rat insulin promoter were generated. Islets from these mice were transplanted into streptozotocin diabetic mice in suboptimal numbers. Further, the effects of salicylate (an inhibitor of NF-κB) treatment of normal islets prior to transplantation, and the effects of salicylate administration to mice prior to and after islet implantation were evaluated. Transplantation outcomes were not affected using islets expressing a non-degradable form of IκBα when compared to wild type controls. However, the transplantation outcomes using islets isolated from mice expressing a constitutively active mutant of NF-κB were marginally worse, although no aberrations of islet function in vitro could be detected. Salicylate treatment of normal islets or mice had no effect on transplantation outcome. The current study draws attention to the complexities of NF-κB in pancreatic beta cells by suggesting that they can adapt with normal or near normal function to both chronic activation and inhibition of this important transcription factor.

Improved MIN6 β-cell function on self-assembled peptide amphiphile nanomatrix inscribed with extracellular matrix-derived cell adhesive ligands

Understanding the role of the pancreatic extracellular matrix (ECM) in supporting islet survival and function drives the pursuit to create biomaterials that imitate and restore the pancreatic ECM microenvironment. To create an ECM mimic holding bioinductive cues for β-cells, self-assembled peptide amphiphiles (PAs) inscribed with four selected ECM-derived cell adhesive ligands are synthesized. After 7 days, compared to control groups cultured on biologically inert substrates, MIN6 β-cells cultured on PAs functionalized with YIGSR and RGDS cell adhesive ligands exhibit elevated insulin secretion in responses to glucose and also form β-cell clusters. These findings suggest that the self-assembled PA nanomatrix may be utilized to improve pancreatic islet transplantation for treating type 1 diabetes.

The autoimmunity-associated gene PTPN22 potentiates toll-like receptor-driven, type 1 interferon-dependent immunity

Immune cells sense microbial products through Toll-like receptors (TLR), which trigger host defense responses including type 1 interferons (IFNs) secretion. A coding polymorphism in the protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene is a susceptibility allele for human autoimmune and infectious disease. We report that Ptpn22 selectively regulated type 1 IFN production after TLR engagement in myeloid cells. Ptpn22 promoted host antiviral responses and was critical for TLR agonist-induced, type 1 IFN-dependent suppression of inflammation in colitis and arthritis. PTPN22 directly associated with TNF receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3) and promotes TRAF3 lysine 63-linked ubiquitination. The disease-associated PTPN22W variant failed to promote TRAF3 ubiquitination, type 1 IFN upregulation, and type 1 IFN-dependent suppression of arthritis. The findings establish a candidate innate immune mechanism of action for a human autoimmunity "risk" gene in the regulation of host defense and inflammation.