Regulation of haeme oxygenase-1 for treatment of neuroinflammation and brain disorders

Acanthopanax senticosus exerts neuroprotective effects through HO-1 signaling in hippocampal and microglial cells

Extracts of Acanthopanax senticosus, a traditional herb commonly found in Northeastern Asia, are used for treating neurodegenerative disorders such as ischemia and depression. However, the mechanisms of its neuroinflammatory and cytoprotective effects have not been investigated. We examined the mechanism of A. senticosus activity in anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective processes. HO-1 is an inducible enzyme present in most cell lines. ASE increased HO-1 expression, which reduced LPS-induced nitric oxide/ROS production in BV2 cells. Moreover, the induction of HO-1 expression protected cells against glutamate-induced neuronal cell death. Activation of the p38-CREB pathway and translocation of Nrf2 are strongly involved in ASE-induced HO-1 expression. Our results showed that ASE-induced HO-1 expression through the p38-CREB pathway plays an important role in the generation of anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective responses. ASE also increases the translocation of Nrf2 to regulate HO-1 expression. Furthermore, our results indicate that ASE serves as a potential therapeutic agent for neuronal disorders.

Multiple factors from bradykinin-challenged astrocytes contribute to the neuronal apoptosis: involvement of astroglial ROS, MMP-9, and HO-1/CO system

Bradykinin (BK) has been shown to induce the expression of several inflammatory mediators, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), in brain astrocytes. These mediators may contribute to neuronal dysfunction and death in various neurological disorders. However, the effects of multiple inflammatory mediators released from BK-challenged astrocytes on neuronal cells remain unclear. Here, we found that multiple factors were released from brain astrocytes (RBA-1) exposed to BK in the conditioned culture media (BK-CM), including ROS, MMP-9, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/carbon monoxide (CO), leading to neuronal cell (SK-N-SH) death. Exposure of SK-N-SH cells to BK-CM or H2O2 reduced cell viability and induced cell apoptosis which were attenuated by N-acetyl cysteine, indicating a role of ROS in these responses. The effect of BK-CM on cell viability and cell apoptosis was also reversed by immunoprecipitation of BK-CM with anti-MMP-9 antibody (MMP-9-IP-CM) or MMP2/9 inhibitor, suggesting the involvement of MMP-9 in BK-CM-mediated responses. Astroglial HO-1/CO in BK-CM induced cell apoptosis and reduced cell viability which was reversed by hemoglobin. Consistently, the involvement of CO in these cellular responses was revealed by incubation with a CO donor CO-RM2 which was reversed by hemoglobin. The role of HO-1 in BK-CM-induced responses was confirmed by overexpression of HO-1 in SK-N-SH infected with Adv-HO-1. BK-CM-induced cell apoptosis was due to the activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP. Together, we demonstrate that BK-induced several neurotoxic factors, including ROS, MMP-9, and CO released from astrocytes, may induce neuronal death through a caspase-3-dependent apoptotic pathway.

Nitric oxide/soluble guanylyl cyclase signaling mediates depolarization-induced protection of rat mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons from MPP⁺ cytotoxicity

Neuronal electrical activity has been known to affect the viability of neurons in the central nervous system. Here we show that long-lasting membrane depolarization induced by elevated extracellular K(+) recruits nitric oxide (NO)/soluble guanylyl cyclase/protein kinase G signaling pathway, induces 8-nitroguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-nitro-cGMP)-mediated protein S-guanylation, and confers dopaminergic neuroprotection. Treatment of primary mesencephalic cell cultures with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) for 72 h decreased the number of dopaminergic neurons, whereas the cell loss was markedly inhibited by elevated extracellular concentration of K(+) (+40 mM). The neuroprotective effect of elevated extracellular K(+) was significantly attenuated by tetrodotoxin (a Na(+) channel blocker), amlodipine (a voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel blocker), N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) (a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor), and KT5823 or Rp-8-bromo-β-phenyl-1,N(2)-ethenoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate (Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS) (protein kinase G inhibitors). Elevated extracellular K(+) increased 8-nitro-cGMP production resulting in the induction of protein S-guanylation in cells in mesencephalic cultures including dopaminergic neurons. In addition, exogenous application of 8-nitro-cGMP protected dopaminergic neurons from MPP(+) cytotoxicity, which was prevented by zinc protoporphyrin IX, an inhibitor of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Zinc protoporphyrin IX also inhibited the neuroprotective effect of elevated extracellular K(+). On the other hand, KT5823 or Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS did not inhibit the induction of HO-1 protein expression by 8-nitro-cGMP, although these protein kinase G inhibitors abrogated the neuroprotective effect of 8-nitro-cGMP. These results suggest that protein S-guanylation (leading to HO-1 induction) as well as canonical protein kinase G signaling pathway plays an important role in NO-mediated, activity-dependent dopaminergic neuroprotection.

Schisandrin B exhibits anti-inflammatory activity through modulation of the redox-sensitive transcription factors Nrf2 and NF-κB

Schisandrin B (SB), a dibenzocyclooctadiene derivative isolated from Schisandra chinensis and used commonly in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of hepatitis and myocardial disorders, has been recently shown to modulate cellular redox balance. Since we have shown that cellular redox plays an important role in the modulation of immune responses, the present studies were undertaken to study the effects of SB on activation and effector functions of lymphocytes. SB altered the redox status of lymphocytes by enhancing the basal reactive oxygen species levels and altering the GSH/GSSG ratio in lymphocytes. It also induced nuclear translocation of redox sensitive transcription factor Nrf2 and increased the transcription of its dependent genes. SB inhibited mitogen-induced proliferation and cytokine secretion by lymphocytes. SB also significantly inhibited mitogen-induced upregulation of T cell costimulatory molecules and activation markers. It was observed that SB inhibited mitogen-induced phosphorylation of c-Raf, MEK, ERK, JNK, and p38. It suppressed IκBα degradation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB in activated lymphocytes. Anti-inflammatory effects of SB were significantly abrogated by the inhibitors of Nrf2 and HO-1, suggesting the involvement of this pathway. Similar anti-inflammatory effects of SB on lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion were also observed in vivo. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing that the anti-inflammatory effects of SB are mediated via modulation of Nrf2 and NF-κB in lymphocytes.

The biphasic role of microglia in Alzheimer's disease

Neuroinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglia, macrophage-like resident immune cells in the brain, play critical roles in the inflammatory aspects of AD. Microglia may be activated by oligomeric and fibrillar species of amyloid β (Aβ) that are constituents of senile plaques and by molecules derived from degenerated neurons, such as purines and chemokines, which enhance their migration and phagocytosis. The main neurotoxic molecules produced by activated microglia may be reactive oxygen species, glutamate, and inflammatory cytokines such as tumor-necrosis-factor-α and interleukin- (IL-) 1β These molecules differentially induce neurotoxicity. Aβ itself directly damages neurons. In terms of neuroprotective properties, microglia treated with fractalkine or IL-34 attenuate Aβ neurotoxicity by Aβ clearance and the production of antioxidants. Therefore, regulation of the microglial role in neuroprotection may be a useful therapeutic strategy for AD.

The tryptophan metabolite 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid plays anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective roles during inflammation: role of hemeoxygenase-1

Tryptophan metabolism by the kynurenine pathway (KP) is important to the pathogenesis of inflammatory, infectious, and degenerative diseases. The 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) branch of the KP is activated in macrophages and microglia, leading to the generation of 3-HK, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA), and quinolinic acid, which are considered neurotoxic owing to their free radical-generating and N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor agonist activities. We investigated the role of 3-HAA in inflammatory and antioxidant gene expression and neurotoxicity in primary human fetal central nervous system cultures treated with cytokines (IL-1 with or without interferon-γ) or with Toll-like receptor ligands mimicking the proinflammatory central nervous system environment. Results were analyzed by microarray, Western blot, immunostain, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and neurotoxicity assays. 3-HAA suppressed glial cytokine and chemokine expression and reduced cytokine-induced neuronal death. 3-HK also suppressed cytokine-induced neuronal death. Unexpectedly, 3-HAA was highly effective in inducing in astrocytes the expression of hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), an antioxidant enzyme with anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties. Optimal induction of HO-1 required 3-HAA and cytokines. In human microglia, 3-HAA weakly induced HO-1 and lipopolysaccharide suppressed microglial HO-1 expression. 3-HAA-mediated HO-1 expression was confirmed in cultured adult human astrocytes and in vivo after 3-HAA injection to mouse brains. Together, our results demonstrate the novel neuroprotective activity of the tryptophan metabolite 3-HAA and have implications for future therapeutic approaches for neuroinflammatory disorders.

Antioxidant mechanism of isoflavone metabolites in hydrogen peroxide-stimulated rat primary astrocytes: critical role of hemeoxygenase-1 and NQO1 expression

The brain is highly vulnerable to oxidative stress, thus controlling oxidative stress is considered to be an important therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we found that two isoflavone metabolites (tectorigenin and glycitein) inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and subsequent cell death in rat primary astrocytes. The isoflavone metabolites increased the expression of phase II antioxidant enzymes, such as hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and pre-treatment of cells with their specific inhibitors or small interfering RNA (siRNA) reversed the antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of isoflavones. The results suggest that the antioxidant/cytoprotective effects of isoflavone metabolites are at least because of increased HO-1 and NQO1 expression. Further mechanistic studies revealed that isoflavones increase the binding of transcription factors [nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and c-Jun] to the antioxidant response element (ARE) on HO-1 and NQO1 promoters. Down-regulation of Nrf2 and/or c-Jun using dominant-negative mutants (DNMs) or siRNA diminished the expression of HO-1 and NQO1, suggesting that Nrf2 and c-Jun are key transcription factors modulating HO-1/NQO1 expression. Moreover, PI3 kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were shown to be involved in HO-1 and/or NQO1 expression by isoflavones. Our data collectively suggest that HO-1 and NQO1 play a critical role in antioxidant effects of isoflavone metabolites in rat brain astrocytes.

Prevention of both neutrophil and monocyte recruitment promotes recovery after spinal cord injury

Strategies that block infiltration of leukocytes into the injured spinal cord improve sparing of white matter and neurological recovery. In this article, we examine the dependency of recovery on hematogenous depletion of neutrophils and monocytes. Mice were depleted of neutrophils or monocytes by systemic administration of anti-Ly6G or clodronate-liposomes. A third group was depleted of both subsets. Neurological improvement, based on a battery of tests of performance, and white matter sparing, occurred only in animals depleted of both neutrophils and monocytes. We also attempted to define the nature of the environment that was favorable to recovery. Hemeoxygenase-1 and malondialdehyde, markers of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, respectively, were reduced to similar levels in animals depleted of both neutrophils and monocytes, or only monocytes, but remained elevated in the group only depleted of neutrophils. Matrix metalloproteinase-9, a protease involved in early damage, was most strongly reduced in animals depleted of both leukocyte subsets. Finally, disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier and abnormal nonheme iron accumulation were reduced only in animals depleted of both neutrophils and monocytes. Together, these findings indicate cooperation between neutrophils and monocytes in mediating early pathogenesis in the contused spinal cord and defining long-term neurological recovery.

Cranial irradiation leads to acute and persistent neuroinflammation with delayed increases in T-cell infiltration and CD11c expression in C57BL/6 mouse brain

Radiotherapy is commonly employed to treat cancers of the head and neck and is increasingly used to treat other central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Exceeding the radiation tolerance of normal CNS tissues can result in sequelae contributing to patient morbidity and mortality. Animal studies and clinical experience suggest that neuroinflammation plays a role in the etiology of these effects; however, detailed characterization of this response has been lacking. Therefore, a dose-time investigation of the neuroinflammatory response after single-dose cranial irradiation was performed using C57BL/6 mice. Consistent with previous reports, cranial irradiation resulted in multiphasic inflammatory changes exemplified by increased transcript levels of inflammatory cytokines, along with glial and endothelial cell activation. Cranial irradiation also resulted in acute infiltration of neutrophils and a delayed increase in T cells, MHC II-positive cells, and CD11c-positive cells seen first at 1 month with doses ≥ 15 Gy. CD11c-positive cells were found almost exclusively in white matter and expressed MHC II, suggesting a "mature" dendritic cell phenotype that remained elevated out to 1 year postirradiation. Our results indicate that cranial irradiation leads to persistent neuroinflammatory changes in the C57BL/6 mouse brain that includes unique immunomodulatory cell populations.

Features of microglia and neuroinflammation relevant to environmental exposure and neurotoxicity

Microglia are resident cells of the brain involved in regulatory processes critical for development, maintenance of the neural environment, injury and repair. They belong to the monocytic-macrophage lineage and serve as brain immune cells to orchestrate innate immune responses; however, they are distinct from other tissue macrophages due to their relatively quiescent phenotype and tight regulation by the CNS microenvironment. Microglia actively survey the surrounding parenchyma and respond rapidly to changes such that any disruption to neural architecture or function can contribute to the loss in regulation of the microglia phenotype. In many models of neurodegeneration and neurotoxicity, early events of synaptic degeneration and neuronal loss are accompanied by an inflammatory response including activation of microglia, perivascular monocytes, and recruitment of leukocytes. In culture, microglia have been shown to be capable of releasing several potentially cytotoxic substances, such as reactive oxygen intermediates, nitric oxide, proteases, arachidonic acid derivatives, excitatory amino acids, and cytokines; however, they also produce various neurotrophic factors and quench damage from free radicals and excitotoxins. As the primary source for pro-inflammatory cytokines, microglia are implicated as pivotal mediators of neuroinflammation and can induce or modulate a broad spectrum of cellular responses. Neuroinflammation should be considered as a balanced network of processes whereby subtle modifications can shift the cells toward disparate outcomes. For any evaluation of neuroinflammation and microglial responses, within the framework of neurotoxicity or degeneration, one key question in determining the consequence of neuroinflammation is whether the response is an initiating event or the consequence of tissue damage. As examples of environmental exposure-related neuroinflammation in the literature, we provide an evaluation of data on manganese and diesel exhaust particles.

Protective changes of inflammation-related gene expression by the leaves of Eriobotrya japonica in the LPS-stimulated human gingival fibroblast: microarray analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The leaf of Eriobotrya japonica (Ej) has been used for a long time as an oriental medicine to treat pulmonary inflammatory diseases. This study investigated the gene expression changes by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in the cultured human gingival fibroblast and the anti-inflammatory changes of the genes by the leaves of Ej when challenged with LPS using a microarray chip.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A whole transcript genechip (Affymetrix genechip human gene 1.0 ST array) was used. The expression patterns of the significant genes were confirmed by real-time RT-PCR analysis.

RESULTS

The gene array analysis showed that 60 of the 325 genes up-regulated by the LPS when compared to the control were down-regulated by the Ej treatment. Of these 60 genes, the inflammation- and immune response-related genes were especially noted, which indicates that Ej inhibits the induction of the inflammation through LPS stimulation. In addition, 78 of the 158 genes down-regulated by the LPS when compared to the control were up-regulated by the Ej treatment. The regulatory patterns of the representative genes in the real-time RT-PCR correlated with those of the genes shown in the microarray. The Ej extract also inhibited the production of IL-6, TNF-α, and nitrite in the LPS-stimulated cells.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the extract of Ej leaves could be used to inhibit the activation of a wide variety of the inflammation-related genes and the inflammatory mediators. It is suggested that the extract of Ej leaves may be applied to alleviate the inflammation of periodontal diseases.

Parallel evolution of nitric oxide signaling: diversity of synthesis and memory pathways

The origin of NO signaling can be traceable back to the origin of life with the large scale of parallel evolution of NO synthases (NOSs). Inducible-like NOSs may be the most basal prototype of all NOSs and that neuronal-like NOS might have evolved several times from this prototype. Other enzymatic and non-enzymatic pathways for NO synthesis have been discovered using reduction of nitrites, an alternative source of NO. Diverse synthetic mechanisms can co-exist within the same cell providing a complex NO-oxygen microenvironment tightly coupled with cellular energetics. The dissection of multiple sources of NO formation is crucial in analysis of complex biological processes such as neuronal integration and learning mechanisms when NO can act as a volume transmitter within memory-forming circuits. In particular, the molecular analysis of learning mechanisms (most notably in insects and gastropod molluscs) opens conceptually different perspectives to understand the logic of recruiting evolutionarily conserved pathways for novel functions. Giant uniquely identified cells from Aplysia and related species precent unuque opportunities for integrative analysis of NO signaling at the single cell level.

Fractalkine attenuates excito-neurotoxicity via microglial clearance of damaged neurons and antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 expression

Glutamate-induced excito-neurotoxicity likely contributes to non-cell autonomous neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases. Microglial clearance of dying neurons and associated debris is essential to maintain healthy neural networks in the central nervous system. In fact, the functions of microglia are regulated by various signaling molecules that are produced as neurons degenerate. Here, we show that the soluble CX3C chemokine fractalkine (sFKN), which is secreted from neurons that have been damaged by glutamate, promotes microglial phagocytosis of neuronal debris through release of milk fat globule-EGF factor 8, a mediator of apoptotic cell clearance. In addition, sFKN induces the expression of the antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in microglia in the absence of neurotoxic molecule production, including NO, TNF, and glutamate. sFKN treatment of primary neuron-microglia co-cultures significantly attenuated glutamate-induced neuronal cell death. Using several specific MAPK inhibitors, we found that sFKN-induced heme oxygenase-1 expression was primarily mediated by activation of JNK and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2. These results suggest that sFKN secreted from glutamate-damaged neurons provides both phagocytotic and neuroprotective signals.

Erythropoietin enhances endogenous haem oxygenase-1 and represses immune responses to ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Both erythropoietin (EPO) and haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an anti-oxidative stress protein, have proven protective roles in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a reliable animal model of multiple sclerosis. In this study, EPO delivered intraperitoneally could reduce disease severity in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)–EAE mice. To assess the effect of EPO on endogenous HO-1 in EAE, we investigated expression of HO-1 mRNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), protein expression centrally and peripherally by Western blot and immunohistochemistry and mean fluorescence intensity of splenic HO-1 by flow cytometry. A significantly higher expression of HO-1 in both the central nervous system (CNS) and spleen was shown in EPO-treated MOG–EAE mice than in controls.We further examined the immunomodulatory effect of EPO in EAE, and via RT–PCR demonstrated significantly lower expression of interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-23, IL-6 and IL-17 mRNA, and significantly higher expression of IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA in CNS of EPO-treated MOG–EAE mice than in controls. Using flow cytometry, we also observed a significantly decreased ratio of both T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 lymphocyte subsets isolated from CNS and a significantly increased ratio of splenic regulatory CD4 T cells in EPO-treated MOG–EAE mice. In addition, we demonstrated that MOG-specific T cell proliferation was lower in the EPO-treated group than in controls and showed amelioration of EAE by adoptive transfer of splenocytes from EPO-treated MOG–EAE mice. Together, our data show that in EAE, EPO induction of endogenous HO-1 and modulation of adaptive immunity both centrally and peripherally may involve the repression of inflammatory responses.

A retinoic acid receptor agonist Am80 rescues neurons, attenuates inflammatory reactions, and improves behavioral recovery after intracerebral hemorrhage in mice

Am80 (tamibarotene) is a retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonist clinically available for treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. As intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accompanies inflammatory reactions in the brain and also because retinoids may suppress activation of microglia, we investigated the effect of Am80 on collagenase-induced experimental model of ICH in adult mice. Daily oral administration of Am80 (5 mg/kg) starting from 1 day before or from up to 6 hours after intrastriatal injection of collagenase significantly inhibited the decrease in the number of striatal neurons at 3 days after the insult. Am80 showed no significant effect on the hematoma size and the extent of edema associated with hemorrhage. Prominent expression of RARα was observed in activated microglia/macrophages, and the number of activated microglia/macrophages in the perihematoma region was lower in Am80-treated mice than in vehicle-treated mice. Am80 treatment also reduced areas affected by hemorrhage-associated oxidative stress as indicated by nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity, and attenuated heme oxygenase-1 expression in activated microglia/macrophages. Moreover, Am80-treated mice exhibited better recovery from hemorrhage-induced neurologic deficits than vehicle-treated mice. These results suggest that RAR is a promising target of neuroprotective therapy for ICH.

Reactive Oxygen Species-Dependent c-Fos/Activator Protein 1 Induction Upregulates Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression by Bradykinin in Brain Astrocytes

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays a crucial role in tissue pathological changes such as brain injuries. Our previous studies have demonstrated that bradykinin (BK) induces the expression of several inflammatory proteins, including matrix metalloproteinase-9 and COX-2, via mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in rat brain astrocytes (RBA-1). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying BK-induced HO-1 expression in RBA-1 cells remain poorly defined. Here we demonstrated that BK induced HO-1 expression and enzymatic activity via a B(2) BK receptor-activated reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent signaling pathway. NADPH oxidase (Nox)-dependent ROS generation led to activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and then activated the downstream molecules NF-κB and c-Jun, respectively. The c-Fos, an activator protein 1 (AP-1) subunit, was upregulated by activation of NF-κB and c-Jun, which bound to HO-1 promoter and thereby turned on transcription of HO-1 gene. The rat HO-1 promoter containing a putative AP-1 cis-binding site was identified as a crucial domain linking to BK action. Taken together, these results suggested that in RBA-1 cells, activation of ERK/NF-κB and JNK/c-Jun cascades by a Nox/ROS-dependent event enhancing c-Fos/AP-1 activity is essential for HO-1 upregulation and activation induced by BK. Moreover, ROS-dependent NF-E2-related factor 2 activation also contributes to HO-1 induction by BK in astrocytes.

Anti-inflammatory mechanism of ginsenoside Rh1 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated microglia: critical role of the protein kinase A pathway and hemeoxygenase-1 expression

Microglia activation plays a pivotal role in neurodegenerative diseases, and thus controlling microglial activation has been suggested as a promising therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we showed that ginsenoside Rh1 inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia, while Rh1 increased anti-inflammatory IL-10 and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Suppression of microglial activation by Rh1 was also observed in the mouse brain following treatment with LPS. Subsequent mechanistic studies revealed that Rh1 inhibited LPS-induced MAPK phosphorylation and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-mediated transcription without affecting NF-κB DNA binding. As the increase of pCREB (cAMP responsive element-binding protein) is known to result in suppression of NF-κB-mediated transcription, we examined whether Rh1 increased pCREB levels. As expected, Rh1 increased pCREB, which was shown to be related to the anti-inflammatory effect of Rh1 because pre-treatment with protein kinase A inhibitors attenuated the Rh1-mediated inhibition of nitric oxide production and the up-regulation of IL-10 and HO-1. Furthermore, treatment of HO-1 shRNA attenuated Rh1-mediated inhibition of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production. Through this study, we have demonstrated that protein kinase A and its downstream effector, HO-1, play a critical role in the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Rh1 by modulating pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules in activated microglia.

Hemoglobin and iron handling in brain after subarachnoid hemorrhage and the effect of deferoxamine on early brain injury

The purpose of this study was to investigate hemoglobin and iron handling after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), examine the relationship between iron and neuroglial cell changes, and determine whether deferoxamine (DFX) can reduce SAH-induced injury. The SAH was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats (n=110) using an endovascular perforation technique. Animals were treated with DFX (100 mg/kg) or vehicle 2 and 6 hours after SAH induction followed by every 12 hours for 3 days. Rats were killed at 6 hours, Days 1 and 3 to determine nonheme iron and examine iron-handling proteins using Western blot and immunohistochemistry. 8-Hydroxyl-2'-deoxyguanosine and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining were performed to assess oxidative DNA damage and neuronal cell death. After SAH, marked heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) upregulation at Day 3 (P<0.01) was accompanied by elevated nonheme iron (P<0.01), transferrin (Tf) (P<0.01), Tf receptor (P<0.05), and ferritin levels (P<0.01). Deferoxamine treatment reduced SAH-induced mortality (12% versus 29%, P<0.05), brain nonheme iron concentration, iron-handling protein expression, oxidative stress, and neuronal cell death at Day 3 (P<0.01) after SAH. These results suggest that iron overload in the acute phase of SAH causes oxidative injury leading to neuronal cell death. Deferoxamine effectively reduced oxidative stress and neuronal cell death, and may be a potential therapeutic agent for SAH.

Oxidative damage is present in the fatal brain edema of diabetic ketoacidosis

Oxidative stress is implicated as a pathogenic factor in a spectrum of chronic diseases, notably, neurodegenerative disease. Noteworthy in this regard is that type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) results in oxidative stress, leading to systemic complications of T1DM. We hypothesized that oxidative stress associated with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) of T1DM might have measurable brain sequelae. Consistent with this hypothesis are neurohistology and neuroradiologic studies of T1DM that suggest oxidative insults are involved in the chronic complications of diabetic encephalopathy. To further address the role of oxidative stress in an acute setting, specifically in fatal brain edema (BE) associated with DKA, we studied neuronal localization and levels of oxidative stress markers reported to be increased in other neurodegenerative conditions. We demonstrated increased levels of 8-hydroxyguanosine (8OHG), 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus of DKA BE in comparison to controls. However, in the cerebellum, only 8OHG was increased in the Purkinje cells and other cells of the molecular layer. These results indicate a role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of T1DM encephalopathy.

IL-13 downregulates PPAR-gamma/heme oxygenase-1 via ER stress-stimulated calpain activation: aggravation of activated microglia death

Interleukin 13 (IL-13) has been shown to induce the death of activated microglia. We observed that IL-13, but not IL-4 or IL-10, significantly enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induction, apoptosis and death in microglia activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). IL-13 enhanced ER stress-regulated calpain activation and calpain-II expression in LPS-activated microglia. Calpain-II siRNA effectively reversed the IL-13 + LPS-activated caspase-12 activation. Expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) was also increased in activated microglia, and this was effectively blocked by IL-13 and recombinant calpain. Both HO-1 inhibitor and PPAR-gamma antagonist augmented, but calpain inhibitor and PPAR-gamma agonists reversed, apoptosis induction in activated microglia. Transfection of PPAR-gamma siRNA effectively inhibited HO-1 protein expression in activated microglia. LPS stimulated transcriptional activation of HO-1 via an increase in PPAR-gamma DNA binding activity, which was reversed by IL-13. These results indicate that an ER stress-related calpain-down-regulated PPAR-gamma/HO-1 pathway is involved in the IL-13-enhanced activated death of microglia.

The Role of Nrf2 in Cellular Innate Immune Response to Inflammatory Injury

Nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is a master transcription regulator of antioxidant and cytoprotective proteins that mediate cellular defense against oxidative and inflammatory stresses. Disruption of cellular stress response by Nrf2 deficiency causes enhanced susceptibility to infection and related inflammatory diseases as a consequence of exacerbated immuneediated hypersensitivity and autoimmunity. The cellular defense capacity potentiated by Nrf2 activation appears to balance the population of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ of lymph node cells for proper innate immune responses. Nrf2 can negatively regulate the activation of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules such as p38 MAPK, NF-KB, and AP-1. Nrf2 subsequently functions to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines, cell adhesion molecules, matrix metalloprotein-ases, COX-2 and iNOS. Although not clearly elucidated, the antioxidative function of genes targeted by Nrf2 may cooperatively regulate the innate immune response and also repress the expression of proinflammatory mediators.

A protective role of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) in inflammatory disorders

Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor that plays a central role in cellular defense against oxidative and electrophilic insults by timely induction of antioxidative and phase-2 detoxifying enzymes and related stress-response proteins. The 5'-flanking regions of genes encoding these cytoprotective proteins contain a specific consensus sequence termed antioxidant response element (ARE) to which Nrf2 binds. Recent studies have demonstrated that Nrf2-ARE signaling is also involved in attenuating inflammation-associated pathogenesis, such as autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, emphysema, gastritis, colitis and atherosclerosis. Thus, disruption or loss of Nrf2 signaling causes enhanced susceptibility not only to oxidative and electrophilic stresses but also to inflammatory tissue injuries. During the early-phase of inflammation-mediated tissue damage, activation of Nrf2-ARE might inhibit the production or expression of pro-inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines, cell adhesion molecules, matrix metalloproteinases, cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. It is likely that the cytoprotective function of genes targeted by Nrf2 may cooperatively regulate the innate immune response and also repress the induction of pro-inflammatory genes. This review highlights the protective role of Nrf2 in inflammation-mediated disorders with special focus on the inflammatory signaling modulated by this redox-regulated transcription factor.

Anti-inflammatory effects of apigenin on nicotine- and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human periodontal ligament cells via heme oxygenase-1

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Although apigenin exhibits various biological effects, its anti-inflammatory role in the periodontal field remains unknown. We examined the anti-inflammatory effects of apigenin and the underlying mechanism in nicotine- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Western blotting was used to examine the effect of apigenin (10-40 microM) on the LPS- and nicotine-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), as well as the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), in hPDL cells. Pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, and IL-12 were monitored using Griess reagents and ELISA.

RESULTS

Incubation of hPDL cells with apigenin decreased LPS- and nicotine-induced HO-1 protein expression and activity. Apigenin significantly inhibited the nicotine- and LPS-induced production of NO, PGE2, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-12, and the upregulation of iNOS and COX-2 in hPDL cells. Hemin, a selective HO-1 inducer, reversed the apigenin-mediated suppression of nicotine- and LPS-induced NO, PGE2 and cytokine production. Treatment with inhibitors of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase, MAPKs, p38, and JNK, as well as a protein kinase C inhibitor, blocked the anti-inflammatory effects of apigenin in nicotine- and LPS-treated cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Apigenin possesses anti-inflammatory activity in hPDL cells and works through a novel mechanism involving the action of HO-1. Thus, apigenin may have potential benefits as a host modulatory agent in the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease associated with smoking and dental plaque.

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 with hemin attenuates hippocampal injury in rats after acute carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a major cause of brain injury and mortality; delayed neurological syndrome (DNS) is encountered in survivors of acute CO exposure. The toxic effects of CO have been attributed to oxidative stress induced by hypoxia. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is the inducible heme oxygenase isoform, and its induction acts as an important cellular defense mechanism against oxidative stress, cellular injury and disease. In this study, we examined the functional roles of HO-1 induction in a rat model of CO-exposured hippocampal injury. We report that acute CO exposure produces severe hippocampal injury in rats. However, hemin pretreatment reduced both the CO-induced rise in hippocampal water content and levels of neuronal damage in the hippocampus; survival rates at 24 h were significantly improved. Upregulation of HO-1 by hemin pretreatment resulted in a significant decrease in hippocampal levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress; levels of pro-apoptotic caspase-3 were also reduced. In contrast, inhibition of HO activity by administration of tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP, a specific inhibitor of HO) abolished the neuroprotective effects of HO-1 induction. These data suggested that the upregulation of endogenous HO-1 expression therefore plays a pivotal protective role in CO neurotoxicity. Though the precise mechanisms underlying hemin-mediated HO-1 induction and neuroprotection are not known, these may involve the anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of HO-1 enzyme activity.