TGF-beta inhibits lipopolysaccharide-stimulated activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in mouse macrophages

Flexibilide obtained from cultured soft coral has anti-neuroinflammatory and analgesic effects through the upregulation of spinal transforming growth factor-β1 in neuropathic rats

Chronic neuroinflammation plays an important role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. The compound flexibilide, which can be obtained from cultured soft coral, possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in the rat carrageenan peripheral inflammation model. In the present study, we investigated the antinociceptive properties of flexibilide in the rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain. First, we found that a single intrathecal (i.t.) administration of flexibilide significantly attenuated CCI-induced thermal hyperalgesia at 14 days after surgery. Second, i.t. administration of 10-μg flexibilide twice daily was able to prevent the development of thermal hyperalgesia and weight-bearing deficits in CCI rats. Third, i.t. flexibilide significantly inhibited CCI-induced activation of microglia and astrocytes, as well as the upregulated proinflammatory enzyme, inducible nitric oxide synthase, in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn. Furthermore, flexibilide attenuated the CCI-induced downregulation of spinal transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) at 14 days after surgery. Finally, i.t. SB431542, a selective inhibitor of TGF-β type I receptor, blocked the analgesic effects of flexibilide in CCI rats. Our results suggest that flexibilide may serve as a therapeutic agent for neuropathic pain. In addition, spinal TGF-β1 may be involved in the anti-neuroinflammatory and analgesic effects of flexibilide.

Sinularin from indigenous soft coral attenuates nociceptive responses and spinal neuroinflammation in carrageenan-induced inflammatory rat model

Three decades ago, the marine-derived compound sinularin was shown to have anti-edematous effects on paw edema induced by carrageenan or adjuvant. To the best of our knowledge, no new studies were conducted to explore the bioactivity of sinularin until we reported the analgesic properties of sinularin based on in vivo experiments. In the present study, we found that sinularin significantly inhibits the upregulation of proinflammatory proteins, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and upregulates the production of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells according to western blot analysis. We found that subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of sinularin (80 mg/kg) 1 h before carrageenan injection significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced nociceptive behaviors, including thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical allodynia, cold allodynia, and hindpaw weight-bearing deficits. Further, s.c. sinularin (80 mg/kg) significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced microglial and astrocyte activation as well as upregulation of iNOS in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord. Moreover, s.c. sinularin (80 mg/kg) inhibited carrageenan-induced tissue inflammatory responses, redness and edema of the paw, and leukocyte infiltration. The results of immunohistochemical studies indicate that s.c. sinularin (80 mg/kg) could upregulate production of TGF-β1 in carrageenan-induced inflamed paw tissue. The present results demonstrate that systemic sinularin exerts analgesic effects at the behavioral and spinal levels, which are associated with both inhibition of leukocyte infiltration and upregulation of TGF-β1.

Lipopolysaccharide enhances transforming growth factor β1-induced platelet-derived growth factor-B expression in bile duct epithelial cells

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B is a potent profibrogenic mediator expressed by bile duct epithelial cells (BDECs) that contributes to liver fibrosis after bile duct ligation. However, the mechanism of PDGF-B induction in BDECs during cholestasis is not known. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) also contribute to the profibrogenic response after bile duct ligation. We tested the hypothesis that LPS and TGFβ1 synergistically induce PDGF-B expression in BDECs.

METHODS

Transformed human BDECs (MMNK-1 cells) and primary rat BDECs were stimulated with LPS and/or TGFβ1, and signaling pathways through which LPS potentiates TGFβ1-induced PDGF-B mRNA expression were investigated.

RESULTS

Stimulation of MMNK-1 cells with LPS alone did not significantly induce PDGF-B mRNA expression. However, LPS co-treatment enhanced TGFβ1 induction of PDGF-B mRNA in MMNK-1 cells and also in primary rat BDECs. Importantly, co-treatment of MMNK-1 cells with LPS and TGFβ1 also significantly increased PDGF-BB protein expression. Interestingly, LPS did not affect TGFβ1 activation of a SMAD-dependent reporter construct. Rather, stimulation of MMNK-1 cells with LPS, but not TGFβ1, increased JNK1/2 phosphorylation. Expression of dominant negative JNK2, but not dominant negative JNK1, inhibited the LPS potentiation of TGFβ1-induced PDGF-B mRNA expression in MMNK-1 cells. In addition, LPS treatment caused IκBα degradation and activation of a nuclear factor κB (NFκB)-dependent reporter construct. Expression of an IκBα super repressor inhibited activation of NFκB and attenuated LPS potentiation of TGFβ1-induced PDGF-B mRNA.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that LPS activation of NFκB and JNK2 enhances TGFβ1-induced PDGF-B expression in BDECs.

DNA from Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia induce cytokine production in human monocytic cell lines

Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) expression is increased in periodontally diseased tissues compared with healthy sites indicating a possible role of TLR9 and its ligand, bacterial DNA (bDNA), in periodontal disease pathology. Here, we determine the immunostimulatory effects of periodontal bDNA in human monocytic cells (THP-1). THP-1 cells were stimulated with DNA of two putative periodontal pathogens: Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia. The role of TLR9 in periodontal bDNA-initiated cytokine production was determined either by blocking TLR9 signaling in THP-1 cells with chloroquine or by measuring IL-8 production and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation in HEK293 cells stably transfected with human TLR9. Cytokine production (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) was increased significantly in bDNA-stimulated cells compared with controls. Chloroquine treatment of THP-1 cells decreased cytokine production, suggesting that TLR9-mediated signaling pathways are operant in the recognition of DNA from periodontal pathogens. Compared with native HEK293 cells, TLR9-transfected cells demonstrated significantly increased IL-8 production (P < 0.001) and NF-kappaB activation in response to bDNA, further confirming the role of TLR9 in periodontal bDNA recognition. The results of PCR arrays demonstrated upregulation of proinflammatory cytokine and NF-kappaB genes in response to periodontal bDNA in THP-1 cells, suggesting that cytokine induction is through NF-kappaB activation. Hence, immune responses triggered by periodontal bacterial nucleic acids may contribute to periodontal disease pathology by inducing proinflammatory cytokine production through the TLR9 signaling pathway.

Amelioration of SLE-like manifestations in (NZBxNZW)F1 mice following treatment with a peptide based on the complementarity determining region 1 of an autoantibody is associated with a down-regulation of apoptosis and of the pro-apoptotic factor JNK kinase

Treatment with peptides based on the complementarity determining regions (CDR) of murine and human monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies that bear the common idiotype, 16/6 Id, ameliorates disease manifestations of mice with either induced or spontaneous SLE. Aberrant expression and function of the p21Ras/MAP kinase pathway are associated with active SLE. Therefore, we examined the effect of treatment with a CDR1-based peptide of a human autoantibody (hCDR1) on the p21Ras pathway and SLE manifestations of SLE-prone (NZBxNZW)F1 mice. Untreated SLE-afflicted mice demonstrated increased expression of p21Ras and the phosphorylated active form of its down-stream element JNK kinase in conjunction with reduced hSOS and unchanged p120GAP, as compared to healthy controls. Amelioration of SLE manifestations following treatment with hCDR1 was associated with a diminished expression of phosphorylated JNK kinase, mainly in the T cell population that also exhibited reduced rates of apoptosis. Thus, hCDR1 therapy ameliorates SLE, at least in part, via down-regulation of the activity of the pro-apoptotic JNK kinase.

Involvement of ERK, a MAP kinase, in the production of TGF-β by macrophages treated with liposomes composed of phosphatidylserine

We have already reported that TGF-beta could be involved in the inhibitory effects of negatively charged liposomes composed of phosphatidylserine (PS-liposome) on the production of nitric oxide (NO) by mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 281 (2001) 614]. In this paper, we explored the mechanism by which PS-liposomes promote the production of TGF-beta and the involvement of MAP kinases. When macrophages were treated with PS-liposomes, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a member of MAP kinase superfamily, was activated quickly and potently. However, no activation was observed with p38 MAP kinase. TGF-beta production was completely inhibited by U0126, a specific inhibitor for ERK. Furthermore, TGF-beta neutralizing antibody and U0126 decreased the inhibitory effect of PS-liposomes on NO production by macrophages. These findings suggested that TGF-beta is the factor produced by PS-liposomes that suppresses production of NO, and the ERK signaling pathway is intimately involved in TGF-beta production by macrophages following treatment with PS-liposomes.

Modulation of Gene Expression in Human Central Nervous System Tumors under Methionine Deprivation-induced Stress

Methionine deprivation imposes a metabolic stress, termed methionine stress, that inhibits mitosis and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The methionine-dependent central nervous system tumor cell lines DAOY (medulloblastoma), SWB61 (anaplastic oligodendroglioma), SWB40 (anaplastic astrocytoma), and SWB39 (glioblastoma multiforme) were compared with methionine-stress resistant SWB77 (glioblastoma multiforme). The cDNA-oligoarray analysis and reverse transcription-PCR verification indicated common changes in gene expression in methionine-dependent cell lines to include up-regulation/induction of cyclin D1, mitotic arrest deficient (MAD)1, p21, growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible (GADD)45 alpha, GADD45 gamma, GADD34, breast cancer (BRCA)1, 14-3-3sigma, B-cell CLL/lymphoma (BCL)1, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, TGF-beta-induced early response (TIEG), SMAD5, SMAD7, SMAD2, insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP7), IGF-R2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), TNF-alpha converting enzyme (TACE), TRAIL receptor (TRAIL-R)2, TNFR-related death receptor (DR)6, TRAF interacting protein (I-TRAF), IL-6, MDA7, IL-1B convertase (ICE)-gamma, delta and epsilon, IRF1, IRF5, IRF7, interferon (IFN)-gamma and receptor components, ISG15, p65-NF-kappaB, JUN-B, positive cofactor (PC)4, C/ERB-beta, inositol triphosphate receptor I, and methionine adenosyltransferase II. On the other hand, cyclins A1, A2, B1 and B2, cell division cycle (CDC)2 and its kinase, CDC25 A and B, budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles (BUB)1 and 3, MAD2, CDC28 protein kinase (CKS)1 and 2, neuroepithelial cell transforming gene (NET)1, activator of S-phase kinase (ASK), CDC14B phosphatase, BCL2, TGF-beta activated kinase (TAK)1, TAB1, c-FOS, DNA topoisomerase II, DNA polymerase alpha, dihydrofolate reductase, thymidine kinase, stathmin, and MAP4 were down-regulated. In the methionine stress-resistant SWB77, only 20% of the above genes were affected, and then only to a lesser extent. In addition, some of the changes observed in SWB77 were opposite to those seen in methionine-dependent tumors, including expression of p21, TRAIL-R2, and TIEG. Despite similarities, differences between methionine-dependent tumors were substantial, especially in regard to regulation of cytokine expression. Western blot analysis confirmed that methionine stress caused the following: (a) a marked increase of GADD45alpha and gamma in the wt-p53 cell lines SWB61 and 40; (b) an increase in GADD34 and p21 protein in all of the methionine-dependent lines; and (c) the induction of MDA7 and phospho-p38 in DAOY and SWB39, consistent with marked transcriptional activation of the former under methionine stress. It was additionally shown that methionine stress down-regulated the highly active phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase pathway by reducing AKT phosphorylation, especially in DAOY and SWB77, and also reduced the levels of retinoblastoma (Rb) and pRb (P-ser780, P-ser795, and P-ser807/811), resulting in a shift in favor of unphosphorylated species in all of the methionine-dependent lines. Immunohistochemical analysis showed marked inhibition of nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappaB under methionine stress in methionine-dependent lines. In this study we show for the first time that methionine stress mobilizes several defined cell cycle checkpoints and proapoptotic pathways while coordinately inhibiting prosurvival mechanisms in central nervous system tumors. It is clear that methionine stress-induced cytotoxicity is not restricted by the p53 mutational status.

Expression profiles of genes involved in the mouse nuclear factor-kappa B signal transduction pathway are modulated by mangiferin

The polyphenol mangiferin (MA) has been shown to have various effects on macrophage function, including inhibition of phagocytic activity and of free radical production. To further characterize the immunomodulatory activity of MA, this study investigated its effects on expression by activated mouse macrophages of diverse genes related to the NF-kappaB signaling pathway, using a DNA hybridization array containing 96 NF-kappaB-related genes and on cytokine levels using a cytokine protein array. MA at 10 microM significantly inhibited the expression of (a) two genes of the Rel/NF-kappaB/IkappaB family, RelA and RelB (=I-rel), indicating an inhibitory effect on NF-kappaB-mediated signal transduction; (b) TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (Traf6), indicating probable blockage of activation of the NF-kappaB pathway by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin 1 (IL-1); (c) other proteins involved in responses to TNF and in apoptotic pathways triggered by DNA damage, including the TNF receptor (TNF-R), the TNF-receptor-associated death domain (TRADD), and the receptor interacting protein (RIP); (d) the extracellular ligand IL-1alpha, again indicating likely interference with responses to IL-1; (e) the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-alpha and RANTES (CCL5), and cytokines produced by monocytes and macrophages, including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF); (f) other toll-like receptor proteins (in addition to Traf6), including JNK1, JNK2 and Tab1; (g) Scya2 (small inducible cytokine A2=monocyte chemoattractant protein 1); and (h) various intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs), and the vascular cell adhesion molecule VCAM-1, which is locally increased in atheromas. The inhibition of JNK1, together with stimulation of c-JUN (i.e. the Jun oncogene) and the previously reported superoxide-scavenging activity of MA, suggests that MA may protect cells against oxidative damage and mutagenesis. Taken together, these results indicate that MA modulates the expression of a large number of genes that are critical for the regulation of apoptosis, viral replication, tumorogenesis, inflammation and various autoimmune diseases, and raise the possibility that it may be of value in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and/or cancer.

TGFbeta inducible early gene enhances TGFbeta/Smad-dependent transcriptional responses

TGFbeta inducible early gene (TIEG) encodes a three zinc-finger Krüppel-like transcription factor whose overexpression has been shown to mimic the effects of TGFbeta in human osteosarcoma and pancreatic carcinoma cells. In order to investigate a potential role of TIEG in the TGFbeta signal transduction pathway, we studied its impact on a Smad binding element (SBE) reporter which is known to be regulated by TGFbeta through the R-Smad proteins. We demonstrate that TIEG overexpression enhances TGFbeta induction of SBE reporter activity. TIEG overexpression also enhances induction of the endogenous TGFbeta regulated genes p21 and PAI-1. The ability of TIEG to enhance TGFbeta actions is Smad dependent since TIEG has no effect on SBE transcription in the absence of Smad4 expression or when an inhibitory Smad protein, Smad7, is overexpressed. Furthermore, TIEG overexpression enhances TGFbeta induced Smad2 phosphorylation. Lastly, TIEG appears to function by binding to and thereby repressing a specific element in the proximal promoter of the inhibitory Smad7 gene. In conclusion, these results describe a novel mechanism for the potentiation of TGFbeta/Smad signaling via repression of the inhibitory Smad7 gene by TIEG.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharides and innate immunity

Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are the major outer surface membrane components present in almost all Gram-negative bacteria and act as extremely strong stimulators of innate or natural immunity in diverse eukaryotic species ranging from insects to humans. LPS consist of a poly- or oligosaccharide region that is anchored in the outer bacterial membrane by a specific carbohydrate lipid moiety termed lipid A. The lipid A component is the primary immunostimulatory centre of LPS. With respect to immunoactivation in mammalian systems, the classical group of strongly agonistic (highly endotoxic) forms of LPS has been shown to be comprised of a rather similar set of lipid A types. In addition, several natural or derivatised lipid A structures have been identified that display comparatively low or even no immunostimulation for a given mammalian species. Some members of the latter more heterogeneous group are capable of antagonizing the effects of strongly stimulatory LPS/lipid A forms. Agonistic forms of LPS or lipid A trigger numerous physiological immunostimulatory effects in mammalian organisms, but--in higher doses--can also lead to pathological reactions such as the induction of septic shock. Cells of the myeloid lineage have been shown to be the primary cellular sensors for LPS in the mammalian immune system. During the past decade, enormous progress has been obtained in the elucidation of the central LPS/lipid A recognition and signaling system in mammalian phagocytes. According to the current model, the specific cellular recognition of agonistic LPS/lipid A is initialized by the combined extracellular actions of LPS binding protein (LBP), the membrane-bound or soluble forms of CD14 and the newly identified Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)*MD-2 complex, leading to the rapid activation of an intracellular signaling network that is highly homologous to the signaling systems of IL-1 and IL-18. The elucidation of structure-activity correlations in LPS and lipid A has not only contributed to a molecular understanding of both immunostimulatory and toxic septic processes, but has also re-animated the development of new pharmacological and immunostimulatory strategies for the prevention and therapy of infectious and malignant diseases.

Transforming growth factor beta enhances epithelial cell survival via Akt-dependent regulation of FKHRL1

The Forkhead family of transcription factors participates in the induction of death-related genes. In NMuMG and 4T1 mammary epithelial cells, transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) induced phosphorylation and cytoplasmic retention of the Forkhead factor FKHRL1, while reducing FHKRL1-dependent transcriptional activity. TGF beta-induced FKHRL1 phosphorylation and nuclear exclusion were inhibited by LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase. A triple mutant of FKHRL1, in which all three Akt phosphorylation sites have been mutated (TM-FKHRL1), did not translocate to the cytoplasm in response to TGF beta. In HaCaT keratinocytes, expression of dominant-negative Akt prevented TGF beta-induced 1) reduction of Forkhead-dependent transcription, 2) FKHRL1 phosphorylation, and 3) nuclear exclusion of FKRHL1. Forced expression of either wild-type (WT) or TM-FKHRL1, but not a FKHRL1 mutant with deletion of the transactivation domain, resulted in NMuMG mammary cell apoptosis. Evidence of nuclear fragmentation colocalized to cells with expression of WT- or TM-FKHRL1. The apoptotic effect of WT-FKHRL1 but not TM-FKHRL1 was prevented by exogenous TGF beta. Serum starvation-induced apoptosis was also inhibited by TGF beta in NMuMG and HaCaT cells. Finally, dominant-negative Akt abrogated the antiapoptotic effect of TGF beta. Taken together, these data suggest that TGF beta may play a role in epithelial cell survival via Akt-dependent regulation of FKHRL1.

Transforming growth factor-beta inhibits lipopolysaccharide-stimulated expression of inflammatory cytokines in mouse macrophages through downregulation of activation protein 1 and CD14 receptor expression

The septic shock that occurs in gram-negative infections is caused by a cascade of inflammatory cytokines. Several studies showed that transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) inhibits this septic shock through suppression of expression of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we investigated whether TGF-beta1 inhibition of LPS-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines in the septic shock results from downregulation of LPS-stimulated expression of CD14, an LPS receptor. TGF-beta1 markedly inhibited LPS stimulation of CD14 mRNA and protein levels in mouse macrophages. LPS-stimulated expression of CD14 was dramatically inhibited by addition of antisense, but not sense, c-fos and c-jun oligonucleotides. Since TGF-beta1 pretreatment inhibited LPS-stimulated expression of c-fos and c-jun genes and also the binding of nuclear proteins to the consensus sequence of the binding site for activation protein 1 (AP-1), a heterodimer of c-Fos and c-Jun, in the cells, TGF-beta1 inhibition of CD14 expression may be a consequence of downregulation of AP-1. LPS-stimulated expression of interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha genes in the cells was inhibited by addition of CD14 antisense oligonucleotide. Also, TGF-beta1 inhibited the LPS-stimulated production of both inflammatory cytokines by the macrophages. In addition, TGF-beta1 inhibited expression of the two cytokines in several organs of mice receiving LPS. Thus, our results suggest that TGF-beta1 inhibition of LPS-stimulated inflammatory responses resulted from downregulation of CD14 and also may be a possible mechanism of TGF-beta1 inhibition of LPS-induced septic shock.