Transducin-like enhancer of split-1 is expressed and functional in human macrophages

The accessible chromatin landscape of lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammatory response identifying epigenome signatures and transcription regulatory networks in chickens

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce systemic inflammatory response (SIR) in animals. Understanding the regulatory mechanism of SIR and therapies to ensure healthy growth is urgently needed. Chromatin remodeling plays a crucial role in the expression of genes involved in immune diseases. In the present study, the ATAC-seq analysis revealed 3491 differential open chromatin sites in the spleen of chicks with SIR induced by LPS challenge, and we presented the motifs on these sites and the associated transcription factors. The regulatory network was presented by combining the differential open chromatin data with the mRNAs and exploded cytokines. Interestingly, the LPS challenge could regulate the mRNA expression of 202 genes through chromatin reprogramming, including critical genes such as TLE1 and JUN, which regulate signaling pathways such as I-κB kinase/NF-κB, Toll-like receptor, and downstream cytokine genes. Furthermore, dietary daidzein could inhibit DNA topoisomerase II, which reprograms the spatial conformation of chromatin in the inflammatory response and attenuates SIR. In conclusion, we successfully identified key genes directly regulated by chromatin reprogramming in SIR and demonstrated the chromatin epigenome signatures and transcriptional regulatory network, which provides an important reference for further research on avian epigenetics. There is great potential for alleviating SIR using dietary daidzein.

Roles of transducin-like enhancer of split (TLE) family proteins in tumorigenesis and immune regulation

Mammalian transducin-like enhancer of split family proteins (TLEs) are homologous to Drosophila Groucho (Gro) and are essential transcriptional repressors. Seven TLE family members, TLE1-7, have been identified to date. These proteins do not bind DNA directly; instead, they bind a set of transcription factors and thereby inhibit target gene expression. Loss of TLEs in mice usually leads to defective early development; however, TLE functions in developmentally mature cells are unclear. Recent studies have revealed that TLEs are dysregulated in certain human cancer types and may function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in different contexts. TLE levels also affect the efficacy of cancer treatments and the development of drug resistance. In addition, TLEs play critical roles in the development and function of immune cells, including macrophages and lymphocytes. In this review, we provide updates on the expression, function, and mechanism of TLEs; discuss the roles played by TLEs in tumorigenesis and the inflammatory response; and elaborate on several TLE-associated signaling pathways, including the Notch, Wnt, and MAPK pathways. Finally, we discuss potential strategies for targeting TLEs in cancer therapy.

Tle1 attenuates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury by suppressing NOD2/NF-κB signaling

Liver damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) remains a primary issue in multiple hepatic surgeries. Innate immune-mediated inflammatory responses during the reperfusion stage aggravate the injury. Nevertheless, the detailed mechanism of hepatic I/R has not been fully clarified yet. Our research focuses on the role of Transducin-like enhancer of split-1 (Tle1) in the liver I/R injury and the relation between Tle1 and Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2). To answer these questions, we constructed mouse models of I/R and cell models of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). We found decreased Tle1 accompanied by increased NOD2 during reperfusion. Mice pro-injected with Tle1-siRNA emerged aggravated liver dysfunction. Repression of Tle1 had a significant impact on NOD2 and downstream NF-κB signaling in vitro. However, alteration of NOD2 failed to affect the expression of Tle1. To conclude, our study demonstrates that Tle1 shelters the liver from I/R injury through suppression of NOD2-dependent NF-κB activation and subsequent inflammatory responses.

M2 Macrophages as a Potential Target for Antiatherosclerosis Treatment

Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammation course, which could induce life-threatening diseases such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Optimal medical treatments for atherosclerotic risk factors with current antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs (for example, statins) are widely used in clinical practice. However, many patients with established disease still continue to have recurrent cardiovascular events in spite of treatment with a state-of-the-art therapy. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Hence, current treatment of atherosclerosis is still far from being satisfactory. Recently, M2 macrophages have been found associated with atherosclerosis regression. The M2 phenotype can secrete anti-inflammatory factors such as IL-10 and TGF-β, promote tissue remodeling and repairing through collagen formation, and clear dying cells and debris by efferocytosis. Therefore, modulators targeting macrophages' polarization to the M2 phenotype could be another promising treatment strategy for atherosclerosis. Two main signaling pathways, the Akt/mTORC/LXR pathway and the JAK/STAT6 pathway, are found playing important roles in M2 polarization. In addition, researchers have reported several potential approaches to modulate M2 polarization. Inhibiting or activating some kinds of enzymes, affecting transcription factors, or acting on several membrane receptors could regulate the polarization of the M2 phenotype. Besides, biomolecules, for example vitamin D, were found to affect the process of M2 polarization. Pomegranate juice could promote M2 polarization via unclear mechanism. In this review, we will discuss how M2 macrophages affect atherosclerosis regression, signal transduction in M2 polarization, and outline potential targets and compounds that affect M2 polarization, thus controlling the progress of atherosclerosis.

Unique, Intersecting, and Overlapping Roles of C/EBP β and CREB in Cells of the Innate Immune System

CREB and C/EBP β signaling pathways are modulated during inflammation and also targeted by Bacillus anthracis edema toxin (ET), but how these factors individually and jointly contribute to changes in immune cell function is poorly understood. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, macrophage cell lines lacking CREB and isoforms of C/EBP β were generated and analyzed for changes in responses to LPS, ET, and IL-4. Macrophages lacking C/EBP β suppressed induction of IL-10 and Arg1, while IL-6 was increased in these cells following exposure to LPS. Examination of C/EBP β isoforms indicated the 38 kDa isoform was necessary for the expression of IL-10 and Arg1. ChIP-Seq analysis of CREB and C/EBP β binding to targets on the chromosome of human PBMC identified several regions where both factors overlapped in their binding, suggesting similar gene targeting or cooperative effects. Based on the ChIP-Seq data, a panel of previously unknown targets of CREB and C/EBP β was identified and includes genes such as VNN2, GINS4, CTNNBL1, and SULF2. Isoforms of a transcriptional corepressor, transducin-like enhancer of Split (TLE), were also found to have CREB and C/EBP β binding their promoter and were up regulated by ET. Finally, we explore a possible layer of C/EBP β regulation by a protein complex consisting of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and PKA. Collectively, these data provide new insights into the role of CREB and C/EBP β as immunosignaling regulators and targets of an important bacterial virulence factor.

Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Signaling Regulates Macrophage Proliferation and Activation

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) express programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and contribute to the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment. Although the role of the PD-L1 and PD-1 interaction to regulate T-cell suppression is established, less is known about PD-L1 signaling in macrophages and how these signals may affect the function of TAMs. We used in vitro and in vivo models to investigate PD-L1 signaling in macrophages and the effects of PD-L1 antibody treatment on TAM responses. Treatment of mouse and human macrophages with PD-L1 antibodies increased spontaneous macrophage proliferation, survival, and activation (costimulatory molecule expression, cytokine production). Similar changes were observed in macrophages incubated with soluble CD80 and soluble PD-1, and in PD-L1^-/- macrophages. Macrophage treatment with PD-L1 antibodies upregulated mTOR pathway activity, and RNAseq analysis revealed upregulation of multiple macrophage inflammatory pathways. In vivo, treatment with PD-L1 antibody resulted in increased tumor infiltration with activated macrophages. In tumor-bearing RAG^-/- mice, upregulated costimulatory molecule expression by TAMs and reduced tumor growth were observed. Combined PD-1/ PD-L1 antibody treatment of animals with established B16 melanomas cured half of the treated mice, whereas treatment with single antibodies had little therapeutic effect. These findings indicate that PD-L1 delivers a constitutive negative signal to macrophages, resulting in an immune-suppressive cell phenotype. Treatment with PD-L1 antibodies reverses this phenotype and triggers macrophage-mediated antitumor activity, suggesting a distinct effect of PD-L1, but not PD-1, antibody treatment. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(10); 1260-73. ©2018 AACR.

Voluntary exposure to a toxin: the genetic influence on ethanol consumption

Ethyl alcohol is a toxin that, when consumed at high levels, produces organ damage and death. One way to prevent or ameliorate this damage in humans is to reduce the exposure of organs to alcohol by reducing alcohol ingestion. Both the propensity to consume large volumes of alcohol and the susceptibility of human organs to alcohol-induced damage exhibit a strong genetic influence. We have developed an integrative genetic/genomic approach to identify transcriptional networks that predispose complex traits, including propensity for alcohol consumption and propensity for alcohol-induced organ damage. In our approach, the phenotype is assessed in a panel of recombinant inbred (RI) rat strains, and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis is performed. Transcriptome data from tissues/organs of naïve RI rat strains are used to identify transcriptional networks using Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Correlation of the first principal component of transcriptional coexpression modules with the phenotype across the rat strains, and overlap of QTLs for the phenotype and the QTLs for the coexpression modules (module eigengene QTL) provide the criteria for identification of the functionally related groups of genes that contribute to the phenotype (candidate modules). While we previously identified a brain transcriptional module whose QTL overlapped with a QTL for levels of alcohol consumption in HXB/BXH RI rat strains and 12 selected rat lines, this module did not account for all of the genetic variation in alcohol consumption. Our search for QTL overlap and correlation of coexpression modules with phenotype can, however, be applied to any organ in which the transcriptome has been measured, and this represents a holistic approach in the search for genetic contributors to complex traits. Previous work has implicated liver/brain interactions, particularly involving inflammatory/immune processes, as influencing alcohol consumption levels. We have now analyzed the liver transcriptome of the HXB/BXH RI rat panel in relation to the behavioral trait of alcohol consumption. We used RNA-Seq and microarray data to construct liver transcriptional networks, and identified a liver candidate transcriptional coexpression module that explained 24% of the genetic variance in voluntary alcohol consumption. The transcripts in this module focus attention on liver secretory products that influence inflammatory and immune signaling pathways. We propose that these liver secretory products can interact with brain mechanisms that affect alcohol consumption, and targeting these pathways provides a potential approach to reducing high levels of alcohol intake and also protecting the integrity of the liver and other organs.