Reverse signaling from LIGHT promotes pro-inflammatory responses in the human monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1

Pre-transplant Transcriptional Signature in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Acute Renal Allograft Rejection

Acute rejection (AR) is closely associated with renal allograft dysfunction. Here, we utilised RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and bioinformatic methods to characterise the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with acute renal allograft rejection. Pretransplant blood samples were collected from 32 kidney allograft donors and 42 corresponding recipients with biopsies classified as T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR, n = 18), antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR, n = 5), and normal/non-specific changes (non-AR, n = 19). The patients with TCMR and ABMR were assigned to the AR group, and the patients with normal/non-specific changes (n = 19) were assigned to the non-AR group. We analysed RNA-Seq data for identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and then gene ontology (GO) analysis, Reactome, and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA), protein—protein interaction (PPI) network, and cell-type enrichment analysis were utilised for bioinformatics analysis. We identified DEGs in the PBMCs of the non-AR group when compared with the AR, ABMR, and TCMR groups. Pathway and GO analysis showed significant inflammatory responses, complement activation, interleukin-10 (IL-10) signalling pathways, classical antibody-mediated complement activation pathways, etc., which were significantly enriched in the DEGs. PPI analysis showed that IL-10, VEGFA, CXCL8, MMP9, and several histone-related genes were the hub genes with the highest degree scores. Moreover, IPA analysis showed that several proinflammatory pathways were upregulated, whereas antiinflammatory pathways were downregulated. The combination of NFSF14+TANK+ANKRD 33 B +HSPA1B was able to discriminate between AR and non-AR with an AUC of 92.3% (95% CI 82.8–100). Characterisation of PBMCs by RNA-Seq and bioinformatics analysis demonstrated gene signatures and biological pathways associated with AR. Our study may provide the foundation for the discovery of biomarkers and an in-depth understanding of acute renal allograft rejection.

LIGHT/LTβR signaling regulates self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic and leukemia stem cells

The production of blood cells during steady-state and increased demand depends on the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal and differentiation. Similarly, the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) is crucial in the pathogenesis of leukemia. Here, we document that the TNF receptor superfamily member lymphotoxin-β receptor (LTβR) and its ligand LIGHT regulate quiescence and self-renewal of murine and human HSCs and LSCs. Cell-autonomous LIGHT/LTβR signaling on HSCs reduces cell cycling, promotes symmetric cell division and prevents primitive HSCs from exhaustion in serial re-transplantation experiments and genotoxic stress. LTβR deficiency reduces the numbers of LSCs and prolongs survival in a murine chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) model. Similarly, LIGHT/LTβR signaling in human G-CSF mobilized HSCs and human LSCs results in increased colony forming capacity in vitro. Thus, our results define LIGHT/LTβR signaling as an important pathway in the regulation of the self-renewal of HSCs and LSCs.

Tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14 is critical for the development of renal fibrosis

Objective: Tumor necrosis factor superfamily protein 14 (TNFSF14) was recently identified as a risk factor in some fibrosis diseases. However, the role of TNFSF14 in renal fibrosis pathogenesis remains unknown.

Results: It was found that TNFSF14 levels were significantly increased both in UUO-induced renal fibrotic mice and in patients with fibrotic nephropathy, compared with those in controls. Accordingly, Tnfsf14 deficiency led to a marked reduction in renal fibrosis lesions and inflammatory cytokines expression in the UUO mice. Furthermore, the levels of Sphk1, a critical molecule that causes fibrotic nephropathy, were remarkably reduced in Tnfsf14 KO mice with UUO surgery. In vitro recombinant TNFSF14 administration markedly up-regulated the expression of Sphk1 of primary mouse renal tubular epithelial cells (mTECs).

Conclusion: TNFSF14 is a novel pro-fibrotic factor of renal fibrosis, for which TNFSF14 up-regulates Sphk1 expression, which may be the underlying mechanism of TNFSF14-mediated renal fibrosis.

Methods: We investigated the effect of TNFSF14 on renal fibrosis and the relationship between TNFSF14 and pro-fibrotic factor sphingosine kinase 1 (Sphk1) by using the unilateral urethral obstruction (UUO)-induced mice renal fibrosis as a model and the specimen of patients with fibrosis nephropathy, by Masson trichrome staining, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and western blot analysis.

Reverse Signaling of Tumor Necrosis Factor Superfamily Proteins in Macrophages and Microglia: Superfamily Portrait in the Neuroimmune Interface

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily (TNFSF) is a protein superfamily of type II transmembrane proteins commonly containing the TNF homology domain. The superfamily contains more than 20 protein members, which can be released from the cell membrane by proteolytic cleavage. Members of the TNFSF function as cytokines and regulate diverse biological processes, including immune responses, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and embryogenesis, by binding to TNFSF receptors. Many TNFSF proteins are also known to be responsible for the regulation of innate immunity and inflammation. Both receptor-mediated forward signaling and ligand-mediated reverse signaling play important roles in these processes. In this review, we discuss the functional expression and roles of various reverse signaling molecules and pathways of TNFSF members in macrophages and microglia in the central nervous system (CNS). A thorough understanding of the roles of TNFSF ligands and receptors in the activation of macrophages and microglia may improve the treatment of inflammatory diseases in the brain and periphery. In particular, TNFSF reverse signaling in microglia can be exploited to gain further insights into the functions of the neuroimmune interface in physiological and pathological processes in the CNS.

Circulating soluble LIGHT/TNFSF14 is increased and associated with IL-8 concentration in chronic spontaneous urticaria

LIGHT (homologous to lymphotoxins, exhibiting inducible expression, and competing with herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein D for herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM), a receptor expressed by T lymphocytes) has been involved in various autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. LIGHT induces the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8), which is up-regulated in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). To determine circulating soluble LIGHT concentration and its relationship with IL-8 concentration in patients with CSU. Concentrations of LIGHT, IL-8, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined in plasma or serum of CSU patients by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. LIGHT plasma concentration was significantly higher in moderate–severe CSU patients as compared with the healthy subjects, but not with mild CSU patients. There were significant correlations between increased LIGHT and IL-8 concentrations, but not with increased CRP in CSU patients. Enhanced plasma concentrations of soluble LIGHT and its association with IL-8 concentration suggest the role of LIGHT in systemic inflammatory activation in CSU patients. We hypothesize that LIGHT-mediated immune–inflammatory response plays a role in severe phenotypes of the disease.

The TNF Superfamily Molecule LIGHT Promotes the Generation of Circulating and Lung-Resident Memory CD8 T Cells following an Acute Respiratory Virus Infection

The transition of effector T cells or memory precursors into distinct long-lived memory T cell subsets is not well understood. Although many molecules made by APCs can contribute to clonal expansion and effector cell differentiation, it is not clear if clonal contraction and memory development is passive or active. Using respiratory virus infection, we found that CD8 T cells that cannot express the TNF family molecule lymphotoxin-like, exhibits inducible expression, competes with HSV glycoprotein D for herpes virus entry mediator, a receptor expressed by T lymphocytes (LIGHT) are unimpaired in their initial response and clonally expand to form effector cell pools. Thereafter, LIGHT-deficient CD8 T cells undergo strikingly enhanced clonal contraction with resultant compromised accumulation of both circulating and tissue-resident memory cells. LIGHT expression at the peak of the effector response regulates the balance of several pro- and antiapoptotic genes, including Akt, and has a preferential impact on the development of the peripheral memory population. These results underscore the importance of LIGHT activity in programming memory CD8 T cell development, and suggest that CD8 effector T cells can dictate their own fate into becoming memory cells by expressing LIGHT.

Dihydroartemisinin-induced apoptosis in human acute monocytic leukemia cells

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is a derivative of artemisinin. The present study aimed to investigate whether DHA induces apoptosis in the THP-1 human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (AMoL), and to identify the relative molecular mechanisms. The results of the present study demonstrated that the viability of THP-1 cells were inhibited by DHA in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which was accompanied by morphological characteristics associated with apoptosis. After 24 h of 200 µM DHA treatment, the proportion of apoptotic cells was significantly increased compared with the untreated controls (P<0.01). In addition, DHA downregulated the levels of B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2, protein kinase B (Akt)1, Akt2 and Akt3 gene expression, and increased the expression of the Bcl-2-associated X protein apoptosis regulator. The protein expression of phospho-Akt and phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was also decreased, and the protein expression level of cleaved caspase-3 was increased following treatment with DHA. Therefore, DHA may induce apoptosis in the AMoL THP-1 cell line via currently unknown underlying molecular mechanisms, including the downregulation of ERK and Akt, and the activation of caspase-3.

T Cell-Derived CD70 Delivers an Immune Checkpoint Function in Inflammatory T Cell Responses

The CD27-CD70 pathway is known to provide a costimulatory signal, with CD70 expressed on APCs and CD27 functions on T cells. Although CD70 is also expressed on activated T cells, it remains unclear how T cell-derived CD70 affects T cell function. Therefore, we have assessed the role of T cell-derived CD70 using adoptive-transfer models, including autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease and allogeneic graft-versus-host disease. Surprisingly, compared with wild-type T cells, CD70^-/- T cells caused more severe inflammatory bowel disease and graft-versus-host disease and produced higher levels of inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistic analyses reveal that IFN-γ induces CD70 expression in T cells, and CD70 limits T cell expansion via a regulatory T cell-independent mechanism that involves caspase-dependent T cell apoptosis and upregulation of inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules. Notably, T cell-intrinsic CD70 signaling contributes, as least in part, to the inhibitory checkpoint function. Overall, our findings demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, that T cell-derived CD70 plays a novel immune checkpoint role in inhibiting inflammatory T cell responses. This study suggests that T cell-derived CD70 performs a critical negative feedback function to downregulate inflammatory T cell responses.

Crosstalk between signals initiated from TLR4 and cell surface BAFF results in synergistic induction of proinflammatory mediators in THP-1 cells

Cellular response to stimulation is mediated by meshwork of signaling pathways that may share common signaling adaptors. Here, we present data demonstrating that signaling pathways initiated from the membrane-bound form of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) can crosstalk with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced signaling for synergistic expression of proinflammatory mediators in the human macrophage-like cell line THP-1. Co-treatment of the cells with BAFF-specific monoclonal antibody and LPS resulted in enhanced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase (MSK)-mediated phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) p65 subunit (Ser276), which then interacts with CREB binding protein (CBP) for subsequent acetylation. Simultaneously, the phosphorylation of cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB) was enhanced through the combined action of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and MAPK/MSK pathways, and the resulting phospho-CREB interacted with the NF-κB/CBP complex. Transfection of CREB-specific siRNA inhibited the BAFF-mediated enhancing effect indicating that the formation of the CREB/NF-κB/CBP complex is required for the synergistic induction of the proinflammatory genes. These findings indicate that BAFF-mediated reverse signaling can modulate LPS-induced inflammatory activation through regulation of NF-κB and CREB activity and point out the necessity to re-evaluate the role of BAFF in diseases where its expression is high in macrophages.

Metabolomics Analysis of Hormone-Responsive and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Responses to Paclitaxel Identify Key Metabolic Differences

To date, no targeted therapies are available to treat triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), while other breast cancer subtypes are responsive to current therapeutic treatment. Metabolomics was conducted to reveal differences in two hormone receptor-negative TNBC cell lines and two hormone receptor-positive Luminal A cell lines. Studies were conducted in the presence and absence of paclitaxel (Taxol). TNBC cell lines had higher levels of amino acids, branched-chain amino acids, nucleotides, and nucleotide sugars and lower levels of proliferation-related metabolites like choline compared with Luminal A cell lines. In the presence of paclitaxel, each cell line showed unique metabolic responses, with some similarities by type. For example, in the Luminal A cell lines, levels of lactate and creatine decreased while certain choline metabolites and myo-inositol increased with paclitaxel. In the TNBC cell lines levels of glutamine, glutamate, and glutathione increased, whereas lysine, proline, and valine decreased in the presence of drug. Profiling secreted inflammatory cytokines in the conditioned media demonstrated a greater response to paclitaxel in the hormone-positive Luminal cells compared with a secretion profile that suggested greater drug resistance in the TNBC cells. The most significant differences distinguishing the cell types based on pathway enrichment analyses were related to amino acid, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism pathways, whereas several biological pathways were differentiated between the cell lines following treatment.

The control of tissue fibrosis by the inflammatory molecule LIGHT (TNF Superfamily member 14)

The TNF Superfamily member LIGHT (TNFSF14) has recently emerged as a potential target for therapeutic interventions aiming to halt tissue fibrosis. In this perspective, we discuss how LIGHT may influence the inflammatory and remodeling steps that characterize fibrosis, relevant for many human diseases presenting with scarring such as asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, and atopic dermatitis. LIGHT acts through two receptors in the TNF receptor superfamily, HVEM (TNFRSF14) and LTβR (TNFRSF3), which are broadly expressed on hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells. LIGHT can regulate infiltrating T cells, macrophages, and eosinophils, controlling their trafficking or retention in the inflamed tissue, their proliferation, and their ability to produce cytokines that amplify fibrotic processes. More interestingly, LIGHT can act on structural cells, namely epithelial cells, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, adipocytes, and endothelial cells. By signaling through either HVEM or LTβR expressed on these cells, LIGHT can contribute to their proliferation and expression of chemokines, growth factors, and metalloproteinases. This will lead to hyperplasia of epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells, deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, vascular damage, and further immune alterations that in concert constitute fibrosis. Because of its early expression by T cells, LIGHT may be an initiator of fibrotic diseases, but other sources in the immune system could also signify a role for LIGHT in maintaining or perpetuating fibrotic activity. LIGHT may then be an attractive prognostic marker as well as an appealing target for fibrosis therapies relevant to humans.

Infliximab therapy increases the frequency of circulating CD16(+) monocytes and modifies macrophage cytokine response to bacterial infection

Crohn's disease (CD) has been correlated with altered macrophage response to microorganisms. Considering the efficacy of infliximab treatment on CD remission, we investigated infliximab effects on circulating monocyte subsets and on macrophage cytokine response to bacteria. Human peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages were obtained from CD patients, treated or not with infliximab. Macrophages were infected with Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) or M. avium subsp avium, and cytokine levels [tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-10] were evaluated at different time-points. To evaluate infliximab-dependent effects on monocyte subsets, we studied CD14 and CD16 expression by peripheral blood monocytes before and after different infliximab administrations. We also investigated TNF secretion by macrophages obtained from CD16(+) and CD16(-) monocytes and the frequency of TNF(+) cells among CD16(+) and CD16(-) monocyte-derived macrophages from CD patients. Infliximab treatment resulted in elevated TNF and IL-10 macrophage response to bacteria. An infliximab-dependent increase in the frequency of circulating CD16(+) monocytes (particularly the CD14(++) CD16(+) subset) was also observed (before infliximab: 4·65 ± 0·58%; after three administrations: 10·68 ± 2·23%). In response to MAP infection, macrophages obtained from CD16(+) monocytes were higher TNF producers and CD16(+) macrophages from infliximab-treated CD patients showed increased frequency of TNF(+) cells. In conclusion, infliximab treatment increased the TNF production of CD macrophages in response to bacteria, which seemed to depend upon enrichment of CD16(+) circulating monocytes, particularly of the CD14(++) CD16(+) subset. Infliximab treatment of CD patients also resulted in increased macrophage IL-10 production in response to bacteria, suggesting an infliximab-induced shift to M2 macrophages.