Beneficial effect of STAT3 decoy oligodeoxynucleotide transfection on organ injury and mortality in mice with cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis

Decoy oligodeoxynucleotides targeting STATs in non-cancer gene therapy

The Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) protein family is crucial for organizing the epigenetic configuration of immune cells and controlling various fundamental cell physiological functions including apoptosis, development, inflammation, immunological responses, and cell proliferation and differentiation. The human genome has seven known STAT genes, named 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a, 5b, and 6. Aberrant activation of STAT signaling pathways is associated with many human disorders, particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), making these proteins promising therapeutic targets. Improved understanding of altered and pathological gene expression and its role in the pathophysiology of various hereditary and acquired disorders has enabled the development of novel treatment approaches based on gene expression modulation. One such promising development is the oligodeoxynucleotide decoy method, which may allow researchers to specifically influence gene activation or repression. Various oligodeoxynucleotide decoys target STATs and affect the expression of its downstream genes. We summarized cell culture and preclinical research, which evaluated the effects of oligodeoxynucleotide decoys target STATs in different types of non-cancer illnesses.

A Positive Feedback Loop Between CXCL16 and the Inflammatory Factors IL-17A and TGF-β Promotes Large Artery Atherosclerosis by Activating the STAT3/NF-κB Pathway

CXC chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16) expression is often observed in studies related to atherosclerosis (AS). However, the process by which CXCL16 promotes AS is still unknown. CXCL16 has the potential to be a therapeutic target for atherosclerotic disease, and we studied whether CXCL16 expression in carotid atherosclerotic plaques is correlated with plaque stability. The results revealed that the expression level of CXCL16 in unstable plaques was greater than that in stable plaques (p < 0.05). In an in vitro model, CXCL16 promoted the expression of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and the release of STAT3/NF-κB pathway-associated proteins by regulating the expression of IL-17A, TGF-β, and CXCL16. In conclusion, there is a positive feedback regulatory pathway between inflammatory factors and CXCL16 during the progression of carotid AS. Inflammatory factors and CXCL16 promote each other's expression and activate the STAT3/NF-κB pathway to promote carotid AS. CXCL16 is highly expressed in carotid atherosclerotic plaques, affecting plaque stability and further leading to the development of AS-related diseases such as ischaemic stroke. Thus, we hypothesise that CXCL16 is a potential therapeutic target for treating AS and AS-related diseases.

Transcription factors in the development and treatment of immune disorders

Immune function is highly controlled at the transcriptional level by the binding of transcription factors (TFs) to promoter and enhancer elements. Several TF families play major roles in immune gene expression, including NF-κB, STAT, IRF, AP-1, NRs, and NFAT, which trigger anti-pathogen responses, promote cell differentiation, and maintain immune system homeostasis. Aberrant expression, activation, or sequence of isoforms and variants of these TFs can result in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well as hematological and solid tumor cancers. For this reason, TFs have become attractive drug targets, even though most were previously deemed "undruggable" due to their lack of small molecule binding pockets and the presence of intrinsically disordered regions. However, several aspects of TF structure and function can be targeted for therapeutic intervention, such as ligand-binding domains, protein-protein interactions between TFs and with cofactors, TF-DNA binding, TF stability, upstream signaling pathways, and TF expression. In this review, we provide an overview of each of the important TF families, how they function in immunity, and some related diseases they are involved in. Additionally, we discuss the ways of targeting TFs with drugs along with recent research developments in these areas and their clinical applications, followed by the advantages and disadvantages of targeting TFs for the treatment of immune disorders.

IL-6 and PD-1 antibody blockade combination therapy regulate inflammation and T lymphocyte apoptosis in murine model of sepsis

BACKGROUND

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a central role in sepsis-induced cytokine storm involving immune hyperactivation and early neutrophil activation. Programmed death protein-1 (PD-1) is associated with sepsis-induced immunosuppression and lymphocyte apoptosis. However, the effects of simultaneous blockade of IL-6 and PD-1 in a murine sepsis model are not well understood.

RESULTS

In this study, sepsis was induced in male C57BL/6 mice through cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). IL-6 blockade, PD-1 blockade, or combination of both was administered 24 h after CLP. Peripheral blood count, cytokine level, lymphocyte apoptosis in the spleen, neutrophil infiltration in the lungs and liver, and survival rate were measured. The mortality rate of the IL-6/PD-1 group was lower, though not statistically significant (p = 0.164), than that of CLP mice (75.0% vs. 91.7%). The IL-6/PD-1 group had lower neutrophil percentage and platelet count compared with the CLP group; no significant difference was observed in other cytokine levels. The IL-6/PD-1 group also showed reduced T lymphocyte apoptosis in the spleen and decreased neutrophil infiltration in the liver and lungs.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-6/PD-1 dual blockade reduces neutrophil infiltration, lymphocyte apoptosis, and bacterial burden while preserving tissue integrity in sepsis. Although the improvement in survival was not statistically significant, these findings highlight its potential as a therapeutic approach in sepsis.

Investigation of the protective effect of cilostazol on acute lung injury-mediated inflammation and in silico molecular modelling studies of inflammatory signalling pathway: a repurposing study

Acute lung injury i.e. ALI and its serious form acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are incurable medical conditions associated with significant global mortality and morbidity. The objective of the present research was to repurpose cilostazol, an antiplatelet drug with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic effect, as a potential approach for treatment of ALI. Its multifaceted effects make it promising candidate but its mechanism against ALI remains elusive. Hence it is needed to elucidate its mechanism of action to revealed its therapeutic potential and improve its clinical outcomes. This study investigated the potential inflammatory therapeutic targets of cilostazol with its protective effect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. We have identified 10 inflammatory target proteins of cilostazol i.e. PDK1, RAC1, PTK6, KDR, EGFR, endothelin-I, caspase-3, TNF-α, NF-κB1/BTK, a TLR/IRAK4 by molecular docking and validated by in vivo evaluation to demonstrate its therapeutic efficacy. In vivo experiment was performed in two sets; first to determine cellular inflammation by analysing the biomarkers in both lung homogenate and bronchoalveolar fluid and second set to study lung edema with dexamethasone as a standard. Additionally, respiratory parameters, related mRNA expressions and histopathology was evaluated. Our results, molecular docking showed that cilostazol binds to identified inflammatory target proteins with the same binding affinity as that of experimental inhibitors. In vivo, downregulated oxidative stress, and inflammation i.e. attenuated the pulmonary edema and vascular leakage, release of inflammatory mediators i.e. IL-6, TNF-α, NO, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) myeloperoxidase (MPO), Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6), and the recruitment of inflammatory cells; downregulated the m-RNA gene expressions of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa B( NF-kB), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), Janus kinase/signal transducer, and activator of transcription 3 (JAK and STAT3); and improved total lung capacity in LPS-challenged rats. These findings revealed the cilostazol's efficacy as promising therapeutic agent for ALI by inhibiting the NF-κB/TLR4/JAK-STAT3 signalling pathway.

Pharmacological inhibition of CK2 by silmitasertib mitigates sepsis-induced circulatory collapse, thus improving septic outcomes in mice

Casein kinase II (CK2) has recently emerged as a pivotal mediator in the propagation of inflammation across various diseases. Nevertheless, its role in the pathogenesis of sepsis remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the involvement of CK2 in sepsis progression and the potential beneficial effects of silmitasertib, a selective and potent CK2α inhibitor, currently under clinical trials for COVID-19 and cancer. Sepsis was induced by caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in four-month-old C57BL/6OlaHsd mice. One hour after the CLP/Sham procedure, animals were assigned to receive silmitasertib (50 mg/kg/i.v.) or vehicle. Plasma/organs were collected at 24 h for analysis. A second set of experiments was performed for survival rate over 120 h. Septic mice developed multiorgan failure, including renal dysfunction due to hypoperfusion (reduced renal blood flow) and increased plasma levels of creatinine. Renal derangements were associated with local overactivation of CK2, and downstream activation of the NF-ĸB-iNOS-NO axis, paralleled by a systemic cytokine storm. Interestingly, all markers of injury/inflammation were mitigated following silmitasertib administration. Additionally, when compared to sham-operated mice, sepsis led to vascular hyporesponsiveness due to an aberrant systemic and local release of NO. Silmitasertib restored sepsis-induced vascular abnormalities. Overall, these pharmacological effects of silmitasertib significantly reduced sepsis mortality. Our findings reveal, for the first time, the potential benefits of a selective and potent CK2 inhibitor to counteract sepsis-induced hyperinflammatory storm, vasoplegia, and ultimately prolonging the survival of septic mice, thus suggesting a pivotal role of CK2 in sepsis and silmitasertib as a novel powerful pharmacological tool for drug repurposing in sepsis.

HMGB1 as an extracellular pro-inflammatory cytokine: Implications for drug-induced organic damage

Drug-induced organic damage encompasses various intricate mechanisms, wherein HMGB1, a non-histone chromosome-binding protein, assumes a significant role as a pivotal hub gene. The regulatory functions of HMGB1 within the nucleus and extracellular milieu are interlinked. HMGB1 exerts a crucial regulatory influence on key biological processes including cell survival, inflammatory regulation, and immune response. HMGB1 can be released extracellularly from the cell during these processes, where it functions as a pro-inflammation cytokine. HMGB1 interacts with multiple cell membrane receptors, primarily Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), to stimulate immune cells and trigger inflammatory response. The excessive or uncontrolled HMGB1 release leads to heightened inflammatory responses and cellular demise, instigating inflammatory damage or exacerbating inflammation and cellular demise in different diseases. Therefore, a thorough review on the significance of HMGB1 in drug-induced organic damage is highly important for the advancement of pharmaceuticals, ensuring their effectiveness and safety in treating inflammation as well as immune-related diseases. In this review, we initially outline the characteristics and functions of HMGB1, emphasizing their relevance in disease pathology. Then, we comprehensively summarize the prospect of HMGB1 as a promising therapeutic target for treating drug-induced toxicity. Lastly, we discuss major challenges and propose potential avenues for advancing the development of HMGB1-based therapeutics.

The roles of Braun Lipoprotein in inducing tolerance of bovine endometrium infected by Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli (E. coli), a Gram-negative bacterium, is the primary pathogen responsible for endometritis in dairy cattle. The outer membrane components of E. coli, namely lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and bacterial lipoprotein, have the capacity to trigger the host's innate immune response through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Tolerance to bacterial cell wall components, including LPS, may play a crucial role as an essential regulatory mechanism during bacterial infection. However, the precise role of Braun lipoprotein (BLP) tolerance in E. coli-induced endometritis in dairy cattle remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of BLP on the regulation of E. coli infection-induced endometritis in dairy cattle. The presence of BLP was found to diminish the expression and release of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-8 and IL-6), while concurrently promoting the expression and release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in endometrial epithelial cells (EECs). Furthermore, BLP demonstrated the ability to impede the activation of MAPK (ERK and p38) and NF-κB (p65) signaling pathways, while simultaneously enhancing signaling through the STAT3 pathway in EECs. Notably, BLP exhibited a dual role, acting both as an activator of TLR2 and as a regulator of TLR2 activation in LPS- and E. coli-treated EECs. In E. coli-infected endometrial explants, the presence of BLP was noted to decrease the release of proinflammatory cytokines and the expression of HMGB1, while simultaneously enhancing the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that the bacterial component BLP plays a protective role in E. coli-induced endometritis in dairy cattle.

Dysregulated STAT3 signaling and T cell immunometabolic dysfunction define a targetable, high mortality subphenotype of critically ill children

Sepsis is the leading cause of death of hospitalized children worldwide. Despite the established link between immune dysregulation and mortality in pediatric sepsis, it remains unclear which host immune factors contribute causally to adverse sepsis outcomes. Identifying modifiable pathobiology is an essential first step to successful translation of biologic insights into precision therapeutics. We designed a prospective, longitudinal cohort study of 88 critically ill pediatric patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), including patients with and without sepsis, to define subphenotypes associated with targetable mechanisms of immune dysregulation. We first assessed plasma proteomic profiles and identified shared features of immune dysregulation in MODS patients with and without sepsis. We then employed consensus clustering to define three subphenotypes based on protein expression at disease onset and identified a strong association between subphenotype and clinical outcome. We next identified differences in immune cell frequency and activation state by MODS subphenotype and determined the association between hyperinflammatory pathway activation and cellular immunophenotype. Using single cell transcriptomics, we demonstrated STAT3 hyperactivation in lymphocytes from the sickest MODS subgroup and then identified an association between STAT3 hyperactivation and T cell immunometabolic dysregulation. Finally, we compared proteomics findings between patients with MODS and patients with inborn errors of immunity that amplify cytokine signaling pathways to further assess the impact of STAT3 hyperactivation in the most severe patients with MODS. Overall, these results identify a potentially pathologic and targetable role for STAT3 hyperactivation in a subset of pediatric patients with MODS who have high severity of illness and poor prognosis.

Tomatidine activates autophagy to improve lung injury and inflammation in sepsis by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK pathways

Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening medical condition with high mortality and morbidity. Autophagy is involved in the pathophysiological process of sepsis-induced ALI, including inflammation, which indicates that regulating autophagy may be beneficial for this disease. Tomatidine, a natural compound abundant in unripe tomatoes, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic, and lipid-lowering effects. However, the biological functions and mechanisms of tomatidine in sepsis-induced ALI remain unknown. The principal objective of this study was to investigate the effect of tomatidine on sepsis-induced ALI. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used to induce septic lung injury in mice, and 10 mg/kg tomatidine was intraperitoneally injected into mice 2 h after the operation. The results of hematoxylin and eosin staining and assessment of lung edema and total protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) demonstrated that tomatidine alleviated CLP-induced severe lung injuries such as hemorrhage, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and interstitial and alveolar edema in mice. Additionally, the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in BALF and lung tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the results showed that tomatidine inhibited CLP-induced inflammatory damage to lungs. Moreover, the results of western blotting showed that tomatidine promoted autophagy during CLP-induced ALI. Mechanistically, immunofluorescence staining and western blotting were used to measure the protein levels of TLR4, phosphorylated NF-κB, phosphorylated IκBα, and phosphorylated MAPKs, showing that tomatidine inactivated NF-κB and MAPK signaling in lung tissues of CLP-induced ALI mice. In conclusion, tomatidine exerts protective effects against sepsis-induced severe damage to the lungs by inhibiting inflammation and activating autophagy in CLP-treated mice through inactivating the NF-κB and MAPK pathways, which may be an effective candidate for treating septic ALI.

[Molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of septic multiple organ failure]

Sepsis is defined as the body's overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Since bacterial infection is one of the main causes of sepsis, appropriate antimicrobial therapy remains the cornerstone of sepsis and septic shock management. However, since sepsis is a multifaceted chaos involving inflammation and anti-inflammation disbalance leading to the unregulated widespread release of inflammatory mediators, cytokines, and pathogen-related molecules leading to system-wide organ dysfunction, the whole body control to prevent the progression of organ dysfunction is needed. In sepsis and septic shock, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such as bacterial exotoxins, cause direct cellular damage and/or trigger an immune response in the host. PAMPs are recognized by pattern recognizing receptors (PRRs) expressed on immune-reactive cells. PRRs are also activated by host nuclear, mitochondrial, and cytosolic proteins, known as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that are released from cells during sepsis. Thus, most PRRs respond to PAMPs or DAMPs by triggering activation of transcriptional factors, NF-κB, AP1, and STAT-3. On the other hand, sepsis leads to immune (lymphocytes and macrophages) and nonimmune (endothelial and epithelial cells) cell death. Apoptosis has been the major focus of research on cell death in sepsis, but autophagy, necrosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, NETosis, and ferroptosis may also play an important role in this critical situation. The recent development in our understanding regarding the cellular pathogenesis of sepsis will help in developing new treatment of sepsis.

Stattic ameliorates the cecal ligation and puncture-induced cardiac injury in septic mice via IL-6-gp130-STAT3 signaling pathway

AIM

Sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction is the leading cause of higher morbidity and mortality with poor prognosis in septic patients. Our recent previous investigation provides evidence of the hallmarks of signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (STAT3) activation in sepsis and targeting of STAT3 with Stattic, a small-molecule inhibitor of STAT3, has beneficial effects in various septic tissues. We investigated the possible cardioprotective effects of Stattic on cardiac inflammation and dysfunction in mice with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis.

MAIN METHODS

A polymicrobial sepsis model was induced by CLP in mice and Stattic (25 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally given at one and twelve hours after CLP operation. The cecum was exposed in sham-control mice without CLP. After 18 h of surgery, electrocardiogram (ECG) for anaesthized mice was registered followed by collecting of samples of blood and tissues for bimolecular and histopathological assessments. Myeloperoxidase, a marker of neutrophil infiltration, was assessed immunohistochemically.

KEY FINDINGS

CLP profoundly impaired cardiac functions as evidenced by ECG changes in septic mice as well as elevation of cardiac enzymes, and inflammatory markers with myocardial histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations. While, Stattic markedly reversed the CLP-induced cardiac abnormalities and restored the cardiac function by its anti-inflammatory activities.

SIGNIFICANCE

Stattic treatment had potential beneficial effects against sepsis-induced cardiac inflammation, dysfunction and damage. Its cardioprotective effects were possibly attributed to its anti-inflammatory activities by targeting STAT3 and downregulation of IL-6 and gp130. Our investigations suggest that Stattic could be a promising target for management of cardiac sepsis and inflammation-related cardiac damage.

The immunomodulatory effects of probiotics and azithromycin in dextran sodium sulfate-induced ulcerative colitis in rats via TLR4-NF-κB and p38-MAPK pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic autoimmune disease of the gut with a relapsing and remitting nature, considers a major health-care problem. DSS is a well-studied pharmacologically-induced model for UC. Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) and its close association with p-38-Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (p-38 MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) has important regulatory roles in inflammation and developing UC. Probiotics are gaining popularity for their potential in UC therapy. The immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory role of azithromycin in UC remains a knowledge need. In the present rats-established UC, the therapeutic roles of oral probiotics (60 billion probiotic bacteria per kg per day) and azithromycin (40 mg per kg per day) regimens were evaluated by measuring changes in disease activity index, macroscopic damage index, oxidative stress markers, TLR4, p-38 MAPK, NF-κB signaling pathway in addition to their molecular downstream; tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin (IL)1β, IL6, IL10 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). After individual and combination therapy with probiotics and azithromycin regimens, the histological architecture of the UC improved with restoration of intestinal tissue normal architecture. These findings were consistent with the histopathological score of colon tissues. Each separate regimen lowered the remarkable TLR4, p-38 MAPK, iNOS, NF-κB as well as TNFα, IL1β, IL6 and MDA expressions and elevated the low IL10, glutathione and superoxide dismutase expressions in UC tissues. The combination regimen possesses the most synergistic beneficial effects in UC that, following thorough research, should be incorporated into the therapeutic approach in UC to boost the patients' quality of life.

The GSTP1/MAPKs/BIM/SMAC modulatory actions of nitazoxanide: Bioinformatics and experimental evidence in subcutaneous solid Ehrlich carcinoma-inoculated mice

AIMS

Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and its subcutaneous inoculated solid tumour form (SEC) are reliable models for chemotherapeutic molecular targets exploration. Novel chemotherapeutic approaches are identified as molecular targets for intrinsic apoptosis, like the modulation of the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC). SMAC is a physiological substrate of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Glutathione-S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) and its close association with MAPKs play an important role in malignant cell proliferation, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapeutics. Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is an emerging cancer therapy and its targeted GSTP1 evidence remains a knowledge need.

MAIN METHODS

In the present mice-established SEC, the chemotherapeutic roles of oral NTZ (200 mg/kg/day) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 20 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally) regimens were evaluated by measuring changes in tumour mass, the tumour MAPKs, cytochrome c, Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (BIM), and SMAC signalling pathway in addition to its molecular downstream; caspases 3 and 9.

KEY FINDINGS

Computational analysis for these target protein interactions showed direct-ordered interactions. After individual therapy with NTZ and 5-FU regimens, the histological architecture of the extracted tumour discs revealed decreases in viable tumour regions with significant necrosis surrounds. These findings were consistent with gross tumour sizes. Each separate regimen lowered the remarkable GSTP1 and elevated the low MAPKs expressions, cytochrome c, BIM, SMAC, and caspases 3, and 9 in EST tissues.

SIGNIFICANCE

The chemotherapeutic activity of NTZ in SEC was proven. Additionally, NTZ possesses a SMAC modulatory activity that, following thorough research, should be taken into consideration as a chemotherapeutic approach in solid tumours.

Braun Lipoprotein Protects against Escherichia coli-Induced Inflammatory Responses and Lethality in Mice

Escherichia coli (E. coli), a Gram-negative bacterium, is an important pathogen that causes several mammalian diseases. The outer membrane components of E. coli, namely, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and bacterial lipoprotein, can induce the host innate immune response through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). However, the detailed roles of the E. coli Braun lipoprotein (BLP) in the regulation of host inflammatory response to E. coli infection remain unclear. In this study, we sought to determine the effects of BLP on E. coli-induced host inflammatory response and lethality using mouse models. Experiments using the E. coli DH5α strain (BLP-positive), E. coli JE5505 strain (BLP-negative), and E. coli JE5505 strain combined with BLP indicated that the presence of BLP could alleviate mortality and organ (liver and lung) damage and decrease proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α] and interleukin-1β [IL-1β]) and chemokine (regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted [RANTES]) production in mouse serum and organs. Conversely, E. coli JE5505, E. coli DH5α strain, and E. coli JE5505 combined with BLP treatment induce enhanced anti-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin 10 [IL-10]) production in mouse serum and organs. In addition, BLP could regulate the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β), chemokines (RANTES), and anti-inflammatory factors (IL-10) through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathways in macrophages. Altogether, our results demonstrate that the bacterial component BLP plays crucial and protective roles in E. coli-infected mice, which may influence the outcome of inflammation in host response to E. coli infection. IMPORTANCE In this study, we investigated the roles of bacterial outer membrane component BLP in regulating inflammatory responses and lethality in mice that were induced by a ubiquitous and serious pathogen, Escherichia coli. BLP could alleviate the mortality of mice and organ damage, as well as decrease proinflammatory cytokines and chemokine production and enhance anti-inflammatory cytokine production in mouse serum and organs. Overall, our results demonstrate that the bacterial component BLP plays crucial and protective roles in E. coli-infected mice through regulating the production of an inflammatory mediator, which may influence the outcome of inflammation in host response to E. coli infection. Our findings provide new information about the basic biology involved in immune responses to E. coli and host-bacterial interactions, which have the potential to translate into novel approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of E. coli-related medical conditions, such as bacteremia and sepsis.

Cardioprotective and renoprotective effects of venlafaxine on cisplatin-induced cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats

AIM

The current work aims to demonstrate the potential defensive function of venlafaxine (VLF) in cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity caused by cisplatin (CP), that could be by modulating extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAPDH) oxidase NOX4 pathways.

MAIN METHODS

Five groups of rats were used, as follow: three control groups (control, carboxymethyl cellulose, and VLF), CP group got CP once (7 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, i.p.), and (CP+ VLF) group got CP once then after 1 h they got VLF {50 mg/kg daily, orally for 14 days}. At the end of the study; electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded for anaesthized rats then blood samples and tissues were taken for biochemical and histopathological investigations. Caspase 3, a marker of cellular damage and apoptosis was detected by immunohistochemistry.

KEY FINDINGS

CP treatment significantly impaired cardiac functions as evidenced by changes in rats' ECG. Cardiac enzymes, renal markers and inflammatory markers were increased with decreased activities of the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Also, ERK1/2 and NOX4 were upregulated with histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations of heart and kidney. While, VLF markedly alleviated CP-induced functional cardiac abnormalities and improved ECG pattern. It reduced both cardiac and renal biomarkers, oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokine with ERK1/2 and NOX4 downregulation, improved the histopathological and immunohistochemical changes induced by cisplatin in heart and kidney.

SIGNIFICANCE

VLF treatment impedes cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity caused by CP. This beneficial effect was mediated through reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis by targeting the ERK1/2 and NOX4.

Review: The role of HMGB1 in spinal cord injury

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) has dual functions as a nonhistone nucleoprotein and an extracellular inflammatory cytokine. In the resting state, HMGB1 is mainly located in the nucleus and regulates key nuclear activities. After spinal cord injury, HMGB1 is rapidly expressed by neurons, microglia and ependymal cells, and it is either actively or passively released into the extracellular matrix and blood circulation; furthermore, it also participates in the pathophysiological process of spinal cord injury. HMGB1 can regulate the activation of M1 microglia, exacerbate the inflammatory response, and regulate the expression of inflammatory factors through Rage and TLR2/4, resulting in neuronal death. However, some studies have shown that HMGB1 is beneficial for the survival, regeneration and differentiation of neurons and that it promotes the recovery of motor function. This article reviews the specific timing of secretion and translocation, the release mechanism and the role of HMGB1 in spinal cord injury. Furthermore, the role and mechanism of HMGB1 in spinal cord injury and, the challenges that still need to be addressed are identified, and this work will provide a basis for future studies.

Indirect Mechanisms of Transcription Factor-Mediated Gene Regulation during Cell Fate Changes

Transcription factors (TFs) are the master regulators of cellular identity, capable of driving cell fate transitions including differentiations, reprogramming, and transdifferentiations. Pioneer TFs recognize partial motifs exposed on nucleosomal DNA, allowing for TF-mediated activation of repressed chromatin. Moreover, there is evidence suggesting that certain TFs can repress actively expressed genes either directly through interactions with accessible regulatory elements or indirectly through mechanisms that impact the expression, activity, or localization of other regulatory factors. Recent evidence suggests that during reprogramming, the reprogramming TFs initiate opening of chromatin regions rich in somatic TF motifs that are inaccessible in the initial and final cellular states. It is postulated that analogous to a sponge, these transiently accessible regions "soak up" somatic TFs, hence lowering the initial barriers to cell fate changes. This indirect TF-mediated gene regulation event, which is aptly named the "sponge effect," may play an essential role in the silencing of the somatic transcriptional network during different cellular conversions.

Beneficial Effects of O-GlcNAc Stimulation in a Young Rat Model of Sepsis: Beyond Modulation of Gene Expression

The young population, which is particularly at risk of sepsis, is, paradoxically, rarely studied. Acute stimulation of O-GlcNAcylation, a post-translational modification involved in metabolic regulation, cell survival and stress response, is beneficial in young rats with sepsis. Considering that sepsis impacts the gene expression profile and that O-GlcNAcylation is a regulator of transcription, the aims of this study are to (i) unveil beneficial mechanisms of O-GlcNAcylation and (ii) decipher the relationship between O-GlcNAcylation and transcription during sepsis. Endotoxemic challenge was induced in 28-day-old male rats using a lipopolysaccharide injection (E. coli O111:B4, 20 mg·kg−1) and compared to control rats (NaCl 0.9%). One hour after, rats were assigned to no therapy or fluidotherapy (NaCl 0.9%, 10 mL.kg−1) ± NButGT (10 mg·kg−1) to stimulate O-GlcNAc levels. Cardiac O-GlcNAcylation levels were evaluated via Western blot and gene transcription using 3′ SRP analysis. Lipopolysaccharide injection favorizes inflammatory state with the overexpression of genes involved in the NF-κB, JAK/STAT and MAPK pathways. NButGT treatment increased cardiac O-GlcNAcylation levels (p < 0.05). Yet, the mRNA expression was not impacted two hours after fluidotherapy or NButGT treatment. In conclusion, O-GlcNAc stimulation-induced beneficial effects are not dependent on the gene expression profile at the early phase of sepsis.

Vascular endotheliitis associated with infections: Its pathogenetic role and therapeutic implication

Vascular endothelial cells are major participants in and regulators of immune responses and inflammation. Vascular endotheliitis is regarded as a host immune-inflammatory response of the endothelium forming the inner surface of blood vessels in association with a direct consequence of infectious pathogen invasion. Vascular endotheliitis and consequent endothelial dysfunction can be a principle determinant of microvascular failure, which would favor impaired perfusion, tissue hypoxia, and subsequent organ failure. Emerging evidence suggests the role of vascular endotheliitis in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its related complications. Thus, once initiated, vascular endotheliitis and resultant cytokine storm cause systemic hyperinflammation and a thrombotic phenomenon in COVID-19, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome and widespread organ damage. Vascular endotheliitis also appears to be a contributory factor to vasculopathy and coagulopathy in sepsis that is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated response of the host to infection. Therefore, protecting endothelial cells and reversing vascular endotheliitis may be a leading therapeutic goal for these diseases associated with vascular endotheliitis. In this review, we outline the etiological and pathogenic importance of vascular endotheliitis in infection-related inflammatory diseases, including COVID-19, and possible mechanisms leading to vascular endotheliitis. We also discuss pharmacological agents which may be now considered as potential endotheliitis-based treatment modalities for those diseases.

The mechanism of HMGB1 secretion and release

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nonhistone nuclear protein that has multiple functions according to its subcellular location. In the nucleus, HMGB1 is a DNA chaperone that maintains the structure and function of chromosomes. In the cytoplasm, HMGB1 can promote autophagy by binding to BECN1 protein. After its active secretion or passive release, extracellular HMGB1 usually acts as a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecule, regulating inflammation and immune responses through different receptors or direct uptake. The secretion and release of HMGB1 is fine-tuned by a variety of factors, including its posttranslational modification (e.g., acetylation, ADP-ribosylation, phosphorylation, and methylation) and the molecular machinery of cell death (e.g., apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, alkaliptosis, and ferroptosis). In this minireview, we introduce the basic structure and function of HMGB1 and focus on the regulatory mechanism of HMGB1 secretion and release. Understanding these topics may help us develop new HMGB1-targeted drugs for various conditions, especially inflammatory diseases and tissue damage.

A nuclear protein that gets released after cell death or is actively secreted by immune cells offers a promising therapeutic target for treating diseases linked to excessive inflammation. Daolin Tang from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, USA, and colleagues review how cellular stresses can trigger the accumulation of HMGB1, a type of alarm signal protein that promotes the recruitment and activation of inflammation-promoting immune cells. The researchers discuss various mechanisms that drive both passive and active release of HMGB1 into the space around cells. These processes, which include enzymatic modifications of the HMGB1 protein, cell–cell interactions and molecular pathways of cell death, could be targeted by drugs to lessen tissue damage and inflammatory disease caused by HMGB1-induced immune responses

Colivelin, a synthetic derivative of humanin, ameliorates endothelial injury and glycocalyx shedding after sepsis in mice

Endothelial dysfunction plays a central role in the pathogenesis of sepsis-mediated multiple organ failure. Several clinical and experimental studies have suggested that the glycocalyx is an early target of endothelial injury during an infection. Colivelin, a synthetic derivative of the mitochondrial peptide humanin, has displayed cytoprotective effects in oxidative conditions. In the current study, we aimed to determine the potential therapeutic effects of colivelin in endothelial dysfunction and outcomes of sepsis in vivo. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to a clinically relevant model of polymicrobial sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and were treated with vehicle or colivelin (100-200 µg/kg) intraperitoneally at 1 h after CLP. We observed that vehicle-treated mice had early elevation of plasma levels of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and P-selectin, the angiogenetic factor endoglin and the glycocalyx syndecan-1 at 6 h after CLP when compared to control mice, while levels of angiopoietin-2, a mediator of microvascular disintegration, and the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, an enzyme implicated in clearance of endotoxins, raised at 18 h after CLP. The early elevation of these endothelial and glycocalyx damage biomarkers coincided with lung histological injury and neutrophil inflammation in lung, liver, and kidneys. At transmission electron microscopy analysis, thoracic aortas of septic mice showed increased glycocalyx breakdown and shedding, and damaged mitochondria in endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Treatment with colivelin ameliorated lung architecture, reduced organ neutrophil infiltration, and attenuated plasma levels of syndecan-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α and interleukin-10. These therapeutic effects of colivelin were associated with amelioration of glycocalyx density and mitochondrial structure in the aorta. At molecular analysis, colivelin treatment was associated with inhibition of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase in the aorta and lung. In long-term outcomes studies up to 7 days, co-treatment of colivelin with antimicrobial agents significantly reduced the disease severity score when compared to treatment with antibiotics alone. In conclusion, our data support that damage of the glycocalyx is an early pathogenetic event during sepsis and that colivelin may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of sepsis-associated endothelial dysfunction.

Spontaneous formation of neutrophil extracellular traps is associated with autophagy

Neutrophils release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), via NETosis, as a defense mechanism against pathogens. Neutrophils can release NETs spontaneously; however, the mechanisms underlying spontaneous NETosis remain unclear. Neutrophils isolated from healthy donors were tested for NET formation and autophagy at 1, 6, 12, and 24 h after incubation. Autophagy response was evaluated in response to various autophagy inducers and inhibitors. The relationship between autophagy and NETosis was detected in vivo using an ovalbumin-induced mouse model of asthma. We found that the increase in the proportion of spontaneous NETosis was time-dependent. The number of autophagy-positive cells also increased over time and LC3B protein played an integral role in NET formation. Trehalose (an inducer of mTOR-independent autophagy) treatment significantly increased NET formation, whereas rapamycin (an mTOR-dependent autophagy inducer) did not increase NET release by neutrophils. Compared with the control group, 3-methyladenine (an autophagy sequestration inhibitor) and hydroxychloroquine sulfate (autophagosome-lysosome fusion inhibitor) treatments significantly reduced the percentage of NET-positive cells. In vivo studies on ovalbumin-induced asthma lung sections revealed NETs and LC3B and citH3 proteins were found to co-localize with DNA. Our findings suggest that autophagy plays a crucial role in aging-related spontaneous NETosis.

microRNA-193-3p attenuates myocardial injury of mice with sepsis via STAT3/HMGB1 axis

OBJECTIVE

Little is known regarding the functional role of microRNA-193-3p (miR-193-3p) in sepsis. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of miR-193-3p on myocardial injury in mice with sepsis and its mechanism through the regulation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3).

METHODS

The mice model of sepsis was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), septic mice were injected with miR-193-3p agomir, miR-193-3p antagomir or siRNA-STAT3. The expression of miR-193-3p, STAT3 and HMGB1 in the myocardial tissue of septic mice were detected. Cardiac ultrasound, hemodynamics, myocardial injury markers, inflammatory factors and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in septic mice were measured.

RESULTS

MiR-193-3p expression was reduced while STAT3 expression was increased in septic mice. Down-regulated STAT3 or up-regulated miR-193-3p improved cardiac function, attenuated myocardial injury, inflammation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in septic mice. Knockdown STAT3 reversed the role of inhibited miR-193-3p for mice with sepsis. miR-193-3p targeted STAT3, thereby inhibiting HMGB1 expression.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence that miR-193-3p targets STAT3 expression to reduce HMGB1 expression, thereby reducing septic myocardial damage. MiR-193-3p might be a potential candidate marker and therapeutic target for sepsis.

Targeting STAT3: A crucial modulator of sepsis

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a cellular signal transcription factor that has recently attracted a great deal of attention. It can trigger a variety of genes transcription in response to cytokines and growth factors stimulation, which plays an important role in many cellular biological processes involved in anti/proinflammatory responses. Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction resulting from dysregulated host responses to infection. As a converging point of multiple inflammatory responses pathways, accumulating studies have presented the elaborate network of STAT3 in sepsis pathophysiology; these results generally indicate a promising therapeutic application for targeting STAT3 in the treatment of sepsis. In the present review, we evaluated the published literature describing the use of STAT3 in the treatment of experimental and clinical sepsis. The information presented here may be useful for the design of future studies and may highlight the potential of STAT3 as a future biomarker and therapeutic target for sepsis.

Targeted degradation of transcription factors by TRAFTACs: TRAnscription Factor TArgeting Chimeras

Many diseases, including cancer, stem from aberrant activation or overexpression of oncoproteins that are associated with multiple signaling pathways. Although proteins with catalytic activity can be successfully drugged, the majority of other protein families, such as transcription factors, remain intractable due to their lack of ligandable sites. In this study, we report the development of TRAnscription Factor TArgeting Chimeras (TRAFTACs) as a generalizable strategy for targeted transcription factor degradation. We show that TRAFTACs, which consist of a chimeric oligonucleotide that simultaneously binds to the transcription factor of interest (TOI) and to HaloTag-fused dCas9 protein, can induce degradation of the former via the proteasomal pathway. Application of TRAFTACs to two oncogenic TOIs, NF-κB and brachyury, suggests that TRAFTACs can be successfully employed for the targeted degradation of other DNA-binding proteins. Thus, TRAFTAC technology is potentially a generalizable strategy to induce degradation of other transcription factors both in vitro and in vivo.