1
|
Gergely TG, Drobni ZD, Kallikourdis M, Zhu H, Meijers WC, Neilan TG, Rassaf T, Ferdinandy P, Varga ZV. Immune checkpoints in cardiac physiology and pathology: therapeutic targets for heart failure. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024; 21:443-462. [PMID: 38279046 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00986-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint molecules are physiological regulators of the adaptive immune response. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as monoclonal antibodies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 or cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4, have revolutionized cancer treatment and their clinical use is increasing. However, ICIs can cause various immune-related adverse events, including acute and chronic cardiotoxicity. Of these cardiovascular complications, ICI-induced acute fulminant myocarditis is the most studied, although emerging clinical and preclinical data are uncovering the importance of other ICI-related chronic cardiovascular complications, such as accelerated atherosclerosis and non-myocarditis-related heart failure. These complications could be more difficult to diagnose, given that they might only be present alongside other comorbidities. The occurrence of these complications suggests a potential role of immune checkpoint molecules in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis, and disruption of physiological immune checkpoint signalling might thus lead to cardiac pathologies, including heart failure. Although inflammation is a long-known contributor to the development of heart failure, the therapeutic targeting of pro-inflammatory pathways has not been successful thus far. The increasingly recognized role of immune checkpoint molecules in the failing heart highlights their potential use as immunotherapeutic targets for heart failure. In this Review, we summarize the available data on ICI-induced cardiac dysfunction and heart failure, and discuss how immune checkpoint signalling is altered in the failing heart. Furthermore, we describe how pharmacological targeting of immune checkpoints could be used to treat heart failure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamás G Gergely
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- HCEMM-SU Cardiometabolic Immunology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-SE Momentum Cardio-Oncology and Cardioimmunology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia D Drobni
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marinos Kallikourdis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Adaptive Immunity Lab, Humanitas Research Hospital IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Han Zhu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Wouter C Meijers
- Erasmus MC, Cardiovascular Institute, Thorax Center, Department of Cardiology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tomas G Neilan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tienush Rassaf
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Péter Ferdinandy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán V Varga
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
- HCEMM-SU Cardiometabolic Immunology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
- MTA-SE Momentum Cardio-Oncology and Cardioimmunology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Daniels MA, Luera D, Teixeiro E. NFκB signaling in T cell memory. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1129191. [PMID: 36911729 PMCID: PMC9998984 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1129191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Memory T cells play an essential role in protecting against infectious diseases and cancer and contribute to autoimmunity and transplant rejection. Understanding how they are generated and maintained in the context of infection or vaccination holds promise to improve current immune-based therapies. At the beginning of any immune response, naïve T cells are activated and differentiate into cells with effector function capabilities. In the context of infection, most of these cells die once the pathogenic antigen has been cleared. Only a few of them persist and differentiate into memory T cells. These memory T cells are essential to host immunity because they are long-lived and can perform effector functions immediately upon re-infection. How a cell becomes a memory T cell and continues being one for months and even years past the initial infection is still not fully understood. Recent reviews have thoroughly discussed the transcriptional, epigenomic, and metabolic mechanisms that govern T cell memory differentiation. Yet much less is known of how signaling pathways that are common circuitries of multiple environmental signals regulate T cell outcome and, precisely, T cell memory. The function of the NFκB signaling system is perhaps best understood in innate cells. Recent findings suggest that NFκB signaling plays an essential and unique role in generating and maintaining CD8 T cell memory. This review aims to summarize these findings and discuss the remaining questions in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Daniels
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Dezzarae Luera
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Emma Teixeiro
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
The role of inflammation in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now widely accepted. Immune cells, including T cells, are influenced by inflammatory signals and contribute to the onset and progression of CVD. T cell activation is modulated by T cell co-stimulation and co-inhibition pathways. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting T cell inhibition pathways have revolutionized cancer treatment and improved survival in patients with cancer. However, ICIs might induce cardiovascular toxicity via T cell re-invigoration. With the rising use of ICIs for cancer treatment, a timely overview of the role of T cell co-stimulation and inhibition molecules in CVD is desirable. In this Review, the importance of these molecules in the pathogenesis of CVD is highlighted in preclinical studies on models of CVD such as vein graft disease, myocarditis, graft arterial disease, post-ischaemic neovascularization and atherosclerosis. This Review also discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting T cell co-stimulation and inhibition pathways to treat CVD, as well as the possible cardiovascular benefits and adverse events after treatment. Finally, the Review emphasizes that patients with cancer who are treated with ICIs should be monitored for CVD given the reported association between the use of ICIs and the risk of cardiovascular toxicity.
Collapse
|
4
|
Buchan SL, Rogel A, Al-Shamkhani A. The immunobiology of CD27 and OX40 and their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy. Blood 2018; 131:39-48. [PMID: 29118006 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-07-741025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) able to reinvigorate antitumor T-cell immunity have heralded a paradigm shift in cancer treatment. The most high profile of these mAbs block the inhibitory checkpoint receptors PD-1 and CTLA-4 and have improved life expectancy for patients across a range of tumor types. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that failure of some patients to respond to checkpoint inhibition is attributable to inadequate T-cell priming. For full T-cell activation, 2 signals must be received, and ligands providing the second of these signals, termed costimulation, are often lacking in tumors. Members of the TNF receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) are key costimulators of T cells during infection, and there has been an increasing interest in harnessing these receptors to augment tumor immunity. We here review the immunobiology of 2 particularly promising TNFRSF target receptors, CD27 and OX40, and their respective ligands, CD70 and OX40L, focusing on their role within a tumor setting. We describe the influence of CD27 and OX40 on human T cells based on in vitro studies and on the phenotypes of several recently described individuals exhibiting natural deficiencies in CD27/CD70 and OX40. Finally, we review key literature describing progress in elucidating the efficacy and mode of action of OX40- and CD27-targeting mAbs in preclinical models and provide an overview of current clinical trials targeting these promising receptor/ligand pairings in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Buchan
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Rogel
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Aymen Al-Shamkhani
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Novoyatleva T, Sajjad A, Engel FB. TWEAK-Fn14 Cytokine-Receptor Axis: A New Player of Myocardial Remodeling and Cardiac Failure. Front Immunol 2014; 5:50. [PMID: 24611063 PMCID: PMC3920183 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been firmly established as a pathogenic factor in heart failure, a significant socio-economic burden. In this review, we will explore the role of other members of the TNF/TNF receptor superfamily (TNFSF/TNFRSF) in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) focusing on TWEAK and its receptor Fn14, new players in myocardial remodeling and heart failure. The TWEAK/Fn14 pathway controls a variety of cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis and has diverse biological functions in pathological mechanisms like inflammation and fibrosis that are associated with CVDs. Furthermore, it has recently been shown that the TWEAK/Fn14 axis is a positive regulator of cardiac hypertrophy and that deletion of Fn14 receptor protects from right heart fibrosis and dysfunction. We discuss the potential use of the TWEAK/Fn14 axis as biomarker for CVDs as well as therapeutic target for future treatment of human heart failure based on supporting data from animal models and in vitro studies. Collectively, existing data strongly suggest the TWEAK/Fn14 axis as a potential new therapeutic target for achieving cardiac protection in patients with CVDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana Novoyatleva
- Department of Cardiac Development and Remodelling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research , Bad Nauheim , Germany
| | - Amna Sajjad
- Department of Cardiac Development and Remodelling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research , Bad Nauheim , Germany ; Government College University Faisalabad , Faisalabad , Pakistan
| | - Felix B Engel
- Department of Nephropathology, Experimental Renal and Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Pathology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fousteri G, Dave A, Morin B, Omid S, Croft M, von Herrath MG. Nasal cardiac myosin peptide treatment and OX40 blockade protect mice from acute and chronic virally-induced myocarditis. J Autoimmun 2011; 36:210-20. [PMID: 21333491 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2011.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2010] [Revised: 01/17/2011] [Accepted: 01/18/2011] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Myocarditis poses a severe health problem, can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and death, and is thought to be triggered by infections. Enteroviruses such as Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) have been implicated as a culprit, since they can cause acute and chronic heart disease in susceptible mice. CVB was detected in human cardiac myocytes in some cases, whereas acute CVB infection was thought to have caused death. Here we studied, whether nasal administration of cardiac myosin (CM) major histocompatibility class (MHC) II peptides CM₉₄₇-₉₆₀ and CM₇₃₅-₇₄₇ and OX40 blockade would be able to ameliorate immunopathology and heart disease in BALB/C mice infected with CVB3. We found that nasal CM-peptide prophylactic treatment significantly reduced myocarditis and mortality by enhancing Treg and IL-10 induction and that blockade of OX40 signaling could reduce heart inflammation when administered late during pathogenesis. Altogether, these results chart the way for novel prevention and intervention strategies for viral myocarditis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Fousteri
- Diabetes Center, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Interactions that occur between several tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-TNF receptors that are expressed by T cells and various other immune and non-immune cell types are central to T-cell function. In this Review, I discuss the biology of four different ligand-receptor interactions - OX40 ligand and OX40, 4-1BB ligand and 4-1BB, CD70 and CD27, and TL1A and death receptor 3 - and their potential to be exploited for therapeutic benefit. Manipulating these interactions can be effective for treating diseases in which T cells have an important role, including inflammatory conditions, autoimmunity and cancer. Here, I explore how blocking or inducing the signalling pathways that are triggered by these different interactions can be an effective way to modulate immune responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Croft
- Division of Molecular Immunology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Roubille F, Cayla G, Gahide G, Mourad G, Macia JC. Acute myocarditis and Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Periodic (TRAP) syndrome: first case described and discussion. Eur J Intern Med 2009; 20:e25-6. [PMID: 19327590 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2008.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2007] [Revised: 06/27/2008] [Accepted: 07/22/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F Roubille
- CHU Montpellier, Département de Cardiologie, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier, France.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Cheung CTY, Deisher TA, Luo H, Yanagawa B, Bonigut S, Samra A, Zhao H, Walker EK, McManus BM. Neutralizing anti-4-1BBL treatment improves cardiac function in viral myocarditis. J Transl Med 2007; 87:651-61. [PMID: 17468777 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.3700563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is the most common causative agent of infectious myocarditis. Chronic inflammation, loss of contractile tissue, and maladaptive remodeling all contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. The 4-1BB receptor is a costimulatory molecule expressed by T cells and cardiomyocytes. We infected mice with CVB3 to examine if virus infection triggers 4-1BB activation and whether inhibition of this pathway will reduce inflammation and improve heart function. Echocardiography was performed on days 3, 9, 30 and at 10 weeks post-infection (pi) and ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular (LV) wall thickness, contractility, and internal cardiac dimensions were measured. At day 9, reduced rate of wall thickening (30+/-17 vs 70+/-19%), increased LV wall thickness (0.15+/-0.04 vs 0.09+/-0.01 cm in diastole and 0.19+/-0.04 vs 0.15+/-0.02 cm in systole), and reduced cardiac volume (0.013+/-0.004 vs 0.023+/-0.003 ml in diastole and 0.004+/-0.002 ml vs 0.007+/-0.001 ml in systole) were observed in infected hearts as compared with shams. At 14 days pi, CVB3-infected mice were randomly assigned to receive either anti-4-1BBL neutralizing (M522) or control antibodies (Ab) for 8 weeks. Cardiac damage, fibrosis, and inflammation were assessed by histological stains and immunohistochemistry. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was utilized to detect matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and MMP-12 expressions. At 10 weeks pi, M522 treatment improved LV wall thickening rate (-10+/-13 vs -49+/-16%, expressed as percentage change from baseline) and reduced diastolic LV posterior wall thickness (17+/-10 vs 57+/-47%, expressed as percentage change from baseline), cardiac damage as assessed by histological scores (0 vs 1.3+/-1.5), fibrosis by collagen volume fraction (3.2+/-0.6 vs 4.9+/-2.2%), overall inflammation (5.9+/-1.3 vs 8.5+/-4.1%), and T-cell infiltration (1.3+/-0.9 vs 4.3+/-3.8%) as compared to control. MMP-12 was highly increased during acute and chronic myocarditis, but was significantly decreased by M522 treatment. Thus, long-term inhibition of the 4-1BB pathway reduces cardiac damage, remodeling, and inflammation during viral myocarditis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline T Y Cheung
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research, St Paul's Hospital/Providence Health Care, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhang ZC, Li SJ, Yang YZ, Chen RZ, Ge JB, Chen HZ. Effect of astragaloside on cardiomyocyte apoptosis in murine coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis. JOURNAL OF ASIAN NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH 2007; 9:145-51. [PMID: 17454311 DOI: 10.1080/10286020412331286506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Astragaloside is the major component of Astragalus membranaceus, one of the Chinese medical herbs, and has several pharmacological actions on cardiovascular system, including positive inotropic, anti-arrhythmia and anti-oxidant activities. We have investigated the effect of astragaloside on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and expression of apoptosis-associated genes in mice with coxsackievirus B(3) (CVB(3))-induced myocarditis, the former of which has been detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay and the latter determined by using a focused microarray. Results showed that cardiomyocyte apoptosis and expression of various apoptosis associated genes are inhibited after treatment with astragaloside. The anti-apoptotic activity of astragaloside may contribute to the improvement of clinical outcomes in treating myocarditis with pharmaceutics of Astragalus membranaceus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Z-C Zhang
- Zhejiang Hospital, 12 Ling Yin Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310013, China
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Liu GZ, Gomes AC, Putheti P, Karrenbauer V, Kostulas K, Press R, Hillert J, Hjelmström P, Gao XG. Increased Soluble 4-1BB Ligand (4-1BBL) Levels in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Scand J Immunol 2006; 64:412-9. [PMID: 16970683 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2006.01796.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL; CD137L) is a member of the tumour necrosis factor superfamily expressed primarily on antigen presenting cells such as B cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Its engagement with the receptor 4-1BB (CD137) has been shown to promote T-cell activation and regulate proliferation and survival of T cells. The role of the costimulatory molecule in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unclear. In this study, the expression of 4-1BBL and soluble 4-1BBL (s4-1BBL) protein levels were analysed in peripheral blood of MS patients. Compared with healthy controls, MS patients had an increase in both plasma s4-1BBL protein levels and expression of 4-1BBL in CD14(+) monocytes. In contrast, myelin basic protein-reactive T-cell proliferation was not found to be inhibited by the use of an anti-4-1BBL antibody. The elevated s4-1BBL protein levels in the MS patients may function as a self-regulatory mechanism of 4-1BB/4-1BBL interaction and costimulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G-Z Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Abstract
Several members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family function after initial T cell activation to sustain T cell responses. This review focuses on CD27, 4-1BB (CD137), OX40 (CD134), HVEM, CD30, and GITR, all of which can have costimulatory effects on T cells. The effects of these costimulatory TNFR family members can often be functionally, temporally, or spatially segregated from those of CD28 and from each other. The sequential and transient regulation of T cell activation/survival signals by different costimulators may function to allow longevity of the response while maintaining tight control of T cell survival. Depending on the disease condition, stimulation via costimulatory TNF family members can exacerbate or ameliorate disease. Despite these complexities, stimulation or blockade of TNFR family costimulators shows promise for several therapeutic applications, including cancer, infectious disease, transplantation, and autoimmunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tania H Watts
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Chen Y, Ke Q, Yang Y, Rana JS, Tang J, Morgan JP, Xiao YF. Cardiomyocytes overexpressing TNF‐α attract migration of embryonic stem cells via activation of p38 and c‐Jun amino‐terminal kinase. FASEB J 2003; 17:2231-9. [PMID: 14656985 DOI: 10.1096/fj.03-0030com] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction. Stem cells are able to regenerate infarcted myocardium. This study investigated whether TNF-alpha was able to induce migration of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro. We used a Transwell assay in which neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, with or without transfection of TNF-alpha cDNA, were plated in the lower compartments and mouse ESCs tagged with green fluorescent protein were added to the upper compartments. TNF-alpha level was significantly increased in the medium of the lower compartments seeded with TNF-alpha-transfected cardiomyocytes. Compared with the controls, overexpression of TNF-alpha significantly enhanced migration of ESCs to the lower compartments. This enhancement was attenuated by preincubation of ESCs with the antibody against the type II TNF-alpha receptor (TNF-RII), but not by the antibody against the type I TNF-alpha receptor (TNF-RI). Western blot analysis showed that the phosphorylated protein levels of p38 and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) were significantly increased in TNF-alpha-treated ESCs. Inhibition of the activity of p38 or JNK significantly attenuated TNF-alpha-induced ESC migration. Our data demonstrate that excessive TNF-alpha stimulates TNF-RII and enhances migration of ESCs in vitro. Activation of p38 and JNK is required for TNF-alpha-enhanced ESC migration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- Stem Cells Research Laboratory, The Charles A. Dana Research Institute and Harvard-Thorndike Laboratory, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|