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Bai X, Gao J, Guan X, Narum DE, Fornis LB, Griffith DE, Gao B, Sandhaus RA, Huang H, Chan ED. Analysis of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT)-regulated, glucocorticoid receptor-dependent genes in macrophages reveals a novel host defense function of AAT. Physiol Rep 2024; 12:e16124. [PMID: 39016119 PMCID: PMC11252833 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.16124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) plays a homeostatic role in attenuating excessive inflammation and augmenting host defense against microbes. We demonstrated previously that AAT binds to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) resulting in significant anti-inflammatory and antimycobacterial consequences in macrophages. Our current investigation aims to uncover AAT-regulated genes that rely on GR in macrophages. We incubated control THP-1 cells (THP-1control) and THP-1 cells knocked down for GR (THP-1GR-KD) with AAT, performed bulk RNA sequencing, and analyzed the findings. In THP-1control cells, AAT significantly upregulated 408 genes and downregulated 376 genes. Comparing THP-1control and THP-1GR-KD cells, 125 (30.6%) of the AAT-upregulated genes and 154 (41.0%) of the AAT-downregulated genes were significantly dependent on GR. Among the AAT-upregulated, GR-dependent genes, CSF-2 that encodes for granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), known to be host-protective against nontuberculous mycobacteria, was strongly upregulated by AAT and dependent on GR. We further quantified the mRNA and protein of several AAT-upregulated, GR-dependent genes in macrophages and the mRNA of several AAT-downregulated, GR-dependent genes. We also discussed the function(s) of selected AAT-regulated, GR-dependent gene products largely in the context of mycobacterial infections. In conclusion, AAT regulated several genes that are dependent on GR and play roles in host immunity against mycobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyuan Bai
- Department of MedicineRocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical CenterAuroraColoradoUSA
- Department of Academic AffairsNational Jewish HealthDenverColoradoUSA
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care MedicineUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Junfeng Gao
- Department of Immunology and Genomic MedicineNational Jewish HealthDenverColoradoUSA
| | - Xiaoyu Guan
- Department of Biostatistics and InformaticsUniversity of Colorado School of Public Health Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Drew E. Narum
- Department of Academic AffairsNational Jewish HealthDenverColoradoUSA
| | | | - David E. Griffith
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care MedicineUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
- Department of MedicineNational Jewish HealthDenverColoradoUSA
| | - Bifeng Gao
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care MedicineUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Robert A. Sandhaus
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care MedicineUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
- Department of MedicineNational Jewish HealthDenverColoradoUSA
| | - Hua Huang
- Department of Immunology and Genomic MedicineNational Jewish HealthDenverColoradoUSA
- Department of Immunology and MicrobiologyUniversity of Colorado School of MedicineAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Edward D. Chan
- Department of MedicineRocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical CenterAuroraColoradoUSA
- Department of Academic AffairsNational Jewish HealthDenverColoradoUSA
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care MedicineUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
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Ghiasi SM, Marchetti P, Piemonti L, Nielsen JH, Porse BT, Mandrup-Poulsen T, Rutter GA. Proinflammatory cytokines suppress nonsense-mediated RNA decay to impair regulated transcript isoform processing in pancreatic β cells. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1359147. [PMID: 38586449 PMCID: PMC10995974 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1359147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Proinflammatory cytokines are implicated in pancreatic ß cell failure in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and are known to stimulate alternative RNA splicing and the expression of nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) components. Here, we investigate whether cytokines regulate NMD activity and identify transcript isoforms targeted in ß cells. Methods A luciferase-based NMD reporter transiently expressed in rat INS1(832/13), human-derived EndoC-ßH3, or dispersed human islet cells is used to examine the effect of proinflammatory cytokines (Cyt) on NMD activity. The gain- or loss-of-function of two key NMD components, UPF3B and UPF2, is used to reveal the effect of cytokines on cell viability and function. RNA-sequencing and siRNA-mediated silencing are deployed using standard techniques. Results Cyt attenuate NMD activity in insulin-producing cell lines and primary human ß cells. These effects are found to involve ER stress and are associated with the downregulation of UPF3B. Increases or decreases in NMD activity achieved by UPF3B overexpression (OE) or UPF2 silencing raise or lower Cyt-induced cell death, respectively, in EndoC-ßH3 cells and are associated with decreased or increased insulin content, respectively. No effects of these manipulations are observed on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that Cyt increases alternative splicing (AS)-induced exon skipping in the transcript isoforms, and this is potentiated by UPF2 silencing. Gene enrichment analysis identifies transcripts regulated by UPF2 silencing whose proteins are localized and/or functional in the extracellular matrix (ECM), including the serine protease inhibitor SERPINA1/α-1-antitrypsin, whose silencing sensitizes ß-cells to Cyt cytotoxicity. Cytokines suppress NMD activity via UPR signaling, potentially serving as a protective response against Cyt-induced NMD component expression. Conclusion Our findings highlight the central importance of RNA turnover in ß cell responses to inflammatory stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed M. Ghiasi
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Development and Aging Program, and Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, United States
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Piemonti
- Diabetes Research Institute, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Jens H. Nielsen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bo T. Porse
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Danish Stem Cell Center (DanStem) Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Guy A. Rutter
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) Research Centre (CRCHUM) and Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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Kullaya VI, Temba GS, Vadaq N, Njau J, Boahen CK, Nkambule BB, Thibord F, Chen MH, Pecht T, Lyamuya F, Kumar V, Netea MG, Mmbaga BT, van der Ven A, Johnson AD, de Mast Q. Genetic and nongenetic drivers of platelet reactivity in healthy Tanzanian individuals. J Thromb Haemost 2024; 22:805-817. [PMID: 38029856 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Platelets play a key role in hemostasis, inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases. Platelet reactivity is highly variable between individuals. The drivers of this variability in populations from Sub-Saharan Africa remain largely unknown. OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the nongenetic and genetic determinants of platelet reactivity in healthy adults living in a rapidly urbanizing area in Northern Tanzania. METHODS Platelet activation and reactivity were measured by platelet P-selectin expression and the binding of fibrinogen in unstimulated blood and after ex vivo stimulation with adenosine diphosphate and PAR-1 and PAR-4 ligands. We then analyzed the associations of platelet parameters with host genetic and nongenetic factors, environmental factors, plasma inflammatory markers, and plasma metabolites. RESULTS Only a few associations were found between platelet reactivity parameters and plasma inflammatory markers and nongenetic host and environmental factors. In contrast, untargeted plasma metabolomics revealed a large number of associations with food-derived metabolites, including phytochemicals that were previously reported to inhibit platelet reactivity. Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping identified 2 novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs903650 and rs4789332) that were associated with platelet reactivity at the genome-wide level (P < 5 × 10-8) as well as a number of variants in the PAR4 gene (F2RL3) that were associated with PAR4-induced reactivity. CONCLUSION Our study uncovered factors that determine variation in platelet reactivity in a population in East Africa that is rapidly transitioning to an urban lifestyle, including the importance of genetic ancestry and the gradual abandoning of the traditional East African diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesla I Kullaya
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Godfrey S Temba
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania; Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Nadira Vadaq
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Judith Njau
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Collins K Boahen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Bongani B Nkambule
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Florian Thibord
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Population Sciences Branch, Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ming-Huei Chen
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Population Sciences Branch, Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tal Pecht
- Department for Genomics and Immunoregulation, Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Furaha Lyamuya
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department for Immunology and Metabolism, Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Blandina T Mmbaga
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania; Department of Pediatrics, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Andre van der Ven
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Andrew D Johnson
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Population Sciences Branch, Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Quirijn de Mast
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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Ghiasi SM, Marchetti P, Piemonti L, Nielsen JH, Porse BT, Mandrup-Poulsen T, Rutter GA. Proinflammatory Cytokines Suppress Nonsense-Mediated RNA Decay to Impair Regulated Transcript Isoform Processing in Pancreatic β-Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.20.572623. [PMID: 38187722 PMCID: PMC10769295 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.20.572623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Proinflammatory cytokines are implicated in pancreatic β-cell failure in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and are known to stimulate alternative RNA splicing and the expression of Nonsense-Mediated RNA Decay (NMD) components. Here, we investigate whether cytokines regulate NMD activity and identify transcript isoforms targeted in β-cells. A luciferase-based NMD reporter transiently expressed in rat INS1(832/13), human-derived EndoC-βH3 or dispersed human islet cells is used to examine the effect of proinflammatory cytokines (Cyt) on NMD activity. Gain- or loss-of function of two key NMD components UPF3B and UPF2 is used to reveal the effect of cytokines on cell viability and function. RNA-sequencing and siRNA-mediated silencing are deployed using standard techniques. Cyt attenuate NMD activity in insulin-producing cell lines and primary human β-cells. These effects are found to involve ER stress and are associated with downregulation of UPF3B. Increases or decreases in NMD activity achieved by UPF3B overexpression (OE) or UPF2 silencing, raises or lowers Cyt-induced cell death, respectively, in EndoC-βH3 cells, and are associated with decreased or increased insulin content, respectively. No effects of these manipulations are observed on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that Cyt increase alternative splicing (AS)-induced exon skipping in the transcript isoforms, and this is potentiated by UPF2 silencing. Gene enrichment analysis identifies transcripts regulated by UPF2 silencing whose proteins are localized and/or functional in extracellular matrix (ECM) including the serine protease inhibitor SERPINA1/α-1-antitrypsin, whose silencing sensitises β-cells to Cyt cytotoxicity. Cytokines suppress NMD activity via UPR signalling, potentially serving as a protective response against Cyt-induced NMD component expression. Our findings highlight the central importance of RNA turnover in β-cell responses to inflammatory stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed. M. Ghiasi
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 3 Blegdamsvej, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Piemonti
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Jens H. Nielsen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 3 Blegdamsvej, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Bo T. Porse
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, 3 Blegdamsvej, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Danish Stem Cell Center (DanStem) Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Mandrup-Poulsen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 3 Blegdamsvej, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Guy A. Rutter
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
- CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM) and Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, 900 Rue St. Denis, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 637553, Singapore
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Abdel-Karim TR, Hodges JS, Herold KC, Pruett TL, Ramanathan KV, Hering BJ, Dunn TB, Kirchner VA, Beilman GJ, Bellin MD. Peri-Transplant Inflammation and Long-Term Diabetes Outcomes Were Not Impacted by Either Etanercept or Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Treatment in Islet Autotransplant Recipients. Transpl Int 2024; 37:12320. [PMID: 38357216 PMCID: PMC10864605 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2024.12320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The instant blood-mediated inflammatory response (IBMIR) causes islet loss and compromises diabetes outcomes after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplant (TPIAT). We previously reported a possible benefit of etanercept in maintaining insulin secretion 3 months post-TPIAT. Here, we report 2-year diabetes outcomes and peri-operative inflammatory profiles from a randomized trial of etanercept and alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) in TPIAT. We randomized 43 TPIAT recipients to A1AT (90 mg/kg IV x6 doses, n = 13), etanercept (50 mg then 25 mg SQ x 5 doses, n = 14), or standard care (n = 16). Inflammatory cytokines, serum A1AT and unmethylated insulin DNA were drawn multiple times in the perioperative period. Islet function was assessed 2 years after TPIAT with mixed meal tolerance test, intravenous glucose tolerance test and glucose-potentiated arginine induced insulin secretion. Cytokines, especially IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and MCP-1, were elevated during and after TPIAT. However, only TNFα differed significantly between groups, with highest levels in the etanercept group (p = 0.027). A1AT increased after IAT in all groups (p < 0.001), suggesting endogenous upregulation. Unmethylated insulin DNA ratios (a marker of islet loss) and 2 years islet function testing were similar in the three groups. To conclude, we found no sustained benefit from administering etanercept or A1AT in the perioperative period.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James S. Hodges
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Kevan C. Herold
- Departments of Immunobiology and Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Timothy L. Pruett
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | | | - Bernhard J. Hering
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Ty B. Dunn
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Varvara A. Kirchner
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Gregory J. Beilman
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Melena D. Bellin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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Al-Omari M, Al-Omari T, Batainah N, Al-Qauod K, Olejnicka B, Janciauskiene S. Beneficial effects of alpha-1 antitrypsin therapy in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:722. [PMID: 37532996 PMCID: PMC10394932 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11195-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is widely accepted that chronic inflammatory bowel diseases significantly higher a risk for colorectal cancer development. Among different types of treatments for patients with colon cancer, novel protein-based therapeutic strategies are considered. AIM To explore the effect of human plasma alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein in the chemically induced mouse model of colorectal cancer. METHODS BALB/c mice with azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS)-induced colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC), we intraperitoneally treated with commercial preparation of human plasma AAT (4 mg per mouse). Effects of this therapy were evaluated histologically, and by immunohistochemical and gene expression assays. RESULTS When compared with non-treated controls, AOM/DSS mice receiving AAT therapy exhibited significantly longer colons, and less anal bleeding. Concurrently, AAT-treated mice had significantly fewer polyps, and lower numbers of large colon tumors. Immunohistochemical examinations of colon tissues showed significantly lower neutrophil counts, more granzyme B-positive but fewer MMP9 (gelatinase B)-positive cancer cells and lower numbers of apoptotic cells in mice receiving AAT therapy. The expression levels of IL4 were significantly higher while TNFA was slightly reduced in tumor tissues of AOM/DSS mice treated with AAT than in AOM/DSS mice. CONCLUSION Human AAT is an acute phase protein with a broad-protease inhibitory and immunomodulatory activities used as a therapeutic for emphysema patients with inherited AAT deficiency. Our results are consistent with previous findings and support an idea that AAT alone and/or in combination with available anti-cancer therapies may represent a new personalized approach for patients with colitis-induced colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Al-Omari
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, Irbid, 21163, Jordan.
| | - Tareq Al-Omari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Nesreen Batainah
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O Box 566, Irbid, 21163, Jordan
| | - Khaled Al-Qauod
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Beata Olejnicka
- Department of Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases and BREATH German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabina Janciauskiene
- Department of Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases and BREATH German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital Malmö, Malmö, Sweden
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7
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Abdel-Karim TR, Hodges JS, Pruett TL, Ramanathan KV, Hering BJ, Dunn TB, Kirchner VA, Beilman GJ, Bellin MD. A randomized controlled pilot trial of etanercept and alpha-1 antitrypsin to improve autologous islet engraftment. Pancreatology 2023; 23:57-64. [PMID: 36443174 PMCID: PMC9839597 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2022.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In total pancreatectomy with islet auto-transplantation, successful diabetes outcomes are limited by islet loss from the instant blood mediated inflammatory response. We hypothesized that blockade of the inflammatory response with either etanercept or alpha-1-antitrypsin would improve islet function and insulin independence. METHODS We randomized 43 participants to receive A1AT (90 mg/kg x 6 doses, n = 13), or etanercept (50 mg then 25 mg x 5 doses, n = 14), or standard care (n = 16), aiming to reduce detrimental effects of innate inflammation on early islet survival. Islet graft function was assessed using mixed meal tolerance testing, intravenous glucose tolerance testing, glucose-potentiated arginine-induced insulin secretion studies, HbA1c, and insulin dose 3 months and 1 year post-TPIAT. RESULTS We observed the most robust acute insulin response (AIRglu) and acute C-peptide response to glucose (ACRglu) at 3 months after TPIAT in the etanercept-treated group (p ≤ 0.02), but no differences in other efficacy measures. The groups did not differ overall at 1 year but when adjusted by sex, there was a trend towards a sex-specific treatment effect in females (AIRglu p = 0.05, ACRglu p = 0.06), with insulin secretion measures highest in A1AT-treated females. CONCLUSION Our randomized trial supports a potential role for etanercept in optimizing early islet engraftment but it is unclear whether this benefit is sustained. Further studies are needed to evaluate possible sex-specific responses to either treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL NOTATION This study was performed under an Investigational New Drug Application (IND #119828) from the Food and Drug Administration and was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT#02713997).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James S Hodges
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Timothy L Pruett
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Bernhard J Hering
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ty B Dunn
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Varvara A Kirchner
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Gregory J Beilman
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Melena D Bellin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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Janciauskiene S, Tumpara S, Schebb NH, Buettner FFR, Mainka M, Sivaraman K, Immenschuh S, Grau V, Welte T, Olejnicka B. Indirect effect of alpha-1-antitrypsin on endotoxin-induced IL-1β secretion from human PBMCs. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:995869. [PMID: 36249781 PMCID: PMC9564231 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.995869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) encoded by the SERPINA1 gene, is an acute phase glycoprotein that regulates inflammatory responses via both protease inhibitory and non-inhibitory activities. We previously reported that AAT controls ATP-induced IL-1β release from human mononuclear cells by stimulating the release of small bioactive molecules. In the current study, we aimed to elucidate the identity of these putative effectors released from human PBMCs in response to AAT, which may inhibit the LPS-induced release of IL-1β. We pre-incubated human PBMCs alone or with different preparations of AAT (4 mg/ml) for 30 min at 37°C, 5% CO2, and collected cell supernatants filtered through centrifugal filters (cutoff 3 kDa) to eliminate AAT and other high molecular weight substances. Supernatants passed through the filters were used to culture PBMCs isolated from the autologous or a heterologous donors with or without adding LPS (1 μg/ml) for 6 h. Unexpectedly, supernatants from PBMCs pre-incubated with AAT (Zemaira®), but not with other AAT preparations tested or with oxidized AAT (Zemaira®), lowered the LPS-induced release of IL-1β by about 25%–60% without affecting IL1B mRNA. The reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry did not confirm the hypothesis that small pro-resolving lipid mediators released from PBMCs after exposure to AAT (Zemaira®) are responsible for lowering the LPS-induced IL-1β release. Distinctively from other AAT preparations, AAT (Zemaira®) and supernatants from PBMCs pre-treated with this protein contained high levels of total thiols. In line, mass spectrometry analysis revealed that AAT (Zemaira®) protein contains freer Cys232 than AAT (Prolastin®). Our data show that a free Cys232 in AAT is required for controlling LPS-induced IL-1β release from human PBMCs. Further studies characterizing AAT preparations used to treat patients with inherited AAT deficiency remains of clinical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Janciauskiene
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Sabina Janciauskiene,
| | - Srinu Tumpara
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Nils Helge Schebb
- Chair of Food Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Falk F. R. Buettner
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Malwina Mainka
- Chair of Food Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Kokilavani Sivaraman
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Stephan Immenschuh
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Veronika Grau
- Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, German Center for Lung Research, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tobias Welte
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Beata Olejnicka
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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9
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Luo H, Wu P, Chen X, Wang B, Chen G, Su X. Novel insights into the relationship between α-1 anti-trypsin with the pathological development of cardio-metabolic disorders. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 111:109077. [PMID: 35907338 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
According to the previous studies, chronic low-grade systemic inflammatory response has been shown to be significantly associated with the pathological development of cardio-metabolic disorder diseases, including atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). On the other hand, auto-immunity process could also facilitate the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus importantly. Concerning on this notion, the anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategy is demonstrated to embrace an essential function in those cardio-metabolic disorders in clinical practice. The α-1 anti-trypsin, also named Serpin-A1 and as an acute phase endogenous protein, has been verified to have several modulatory effects such as anti-inflammatory response, anti-apoptosis, and immunomodulatory functions. In addition, it is also used for therapeutic strategy of a rare genetic disease caused by the deficiency of α-1 anti-trypsin. Recent emerging evidence has indicated that the serum concentrations of α-1 anti-trypsin levels and its biological activity are significantly changed in those inflammatory and immune related cardio-metabolic disorder diseases. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism is still not elucidated. In the current review, the basic experiments and clinical trials which provided the evidence revealing the potential therapeutic function of the α-1 anti-trypsin in cardio-metabolic disorder diseases were well-summarized. Furthermore, the results which indicated that the α-1 anti-trypsin presented the possibility as a novel serum biomarker in humans to predict those cardio-metabolic disorder diseases were also elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haizhen Luo
- Department of Cardiology, the Fuding Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuding, Fujian, China
| | - Penglong Wu
- Department of Cardiology, the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Cardiology, the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Cardiology, the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Geng Chen
- Department of Cardiology, the Fuding Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuding, Fujian, China.
| | - Xin Su
- Department of Cardiology, the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
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10
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Pancreas Preservation with a Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitor, Alvelestat, Contributes to Improvement of Porcine Islet Isolation and Transplantation. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11154290. [PMID: 35893379 PMCID: PMC9330829 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
For pancreatic islet transplantation, pancreas procurement, preservation, and islet isolation destroy cellular and non-cellular components and activate components such as resident neutrophils, which play an important role in the impairment of islet survival. It has been reported that inhibitors of neutrophil elastase (NE), such as sivelestat and α1-antitrypsin, could contribute to improvement of islet isolation and transplantation. In this study, we investigated whether pancreatic preservation with alvelestat, a novel NE inhibitor, improves porcine islet yield and function. Porcine pancreata were preserved with or without 5 μM alvelestat for 18 h, and islet isolation was performed. The islet yields before and after purification were significantly higher in the alvelestat (+) group than in the alvelestat (−) group. After islet transplantation into streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, blood glucose levels reached the normoglycemic range in 55% and 5% of diabetic mice in the alvelestat (+) and alvelestat (−) groups, respectively. These results suggest that pancreas preservation with alvelestat improves islet yield and graft function and could thus serve as a novel clinical strategy for improving the outcome of islet transplantation.
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11
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Zhang X, Ostrov DA, Tian H. Alpha-1 antitrypsin: A novel biomarker and potential therapeutic approach for metabolic diseases. Clin Chim Acta 2022; 534:71-76. [PMID: 35810800 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2022.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
It is well recognized that chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and autoimmunity contribute to the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, its associated diseases (e.g. type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) and type 1 diabetes, respectively. Consequently, anti-inflammatory agents might play a role in managing these immune associated metabolic diseases. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), an endogenous acute phase protein being used for treatment of AAT deficiency (a rare genetic disease), has multiple functions including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-apoptosis and cytoprotective effects. In this review, we summarized basic and clinical studies that reported potential therapeutic role of AAT in metabolic syndrome associated diseases and type 1 diabetes. Studies that demonstrated AAT had the possibility to be used as a novel biomarker to predict these immune associated metabolic diseases were also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - David A Ostrov
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Haoming Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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12
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Tiensuu H, Haapalainen AM, Tissarinen P, Pasanen A, Määttä TA, Huusko JM, Ohlmeier S, Bergmann U, Ojaniemi M, Muglia LJ, Hallman M, Rämet M. Human placental proteomics and exon variant studies link AAT/SERPINA1 with spontaneous preterm birth. BMC Med 2022; 20:141. [PMID: 35477570 PMCID: PMC9047282 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02339-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth is defined as live birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, and it is a major problem worldwide. The molecular mechanisms that lead to onset of spontaneous preterm birth are incompletely understood. Prediction and evaluation of the risk of preterm birth is challenging as there is a lack of accurate biomarkers. In this study, our aim was to identify placental proteins that associate with spontaneous preterm birth. METHODS We analyzed the proteomes from placentas to identify proteins that associate with both gestational age and spontaneous labor. Next, rare and potentially damaging gene variants of the identified protein candidates were sought for from our whole exome sequencing data. Further experiments we performed on placental samples and placenta-associated cells to explore the location and function of the spontaneous preterm labor-associated proteins in placentas. RESULTS Exome sequencing data revealed rare damaging variants in SERPINA1 in families with recurrent spontaneous preterm deliveries. Protein and mRNA levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin/SERPINA1 from the maternal side of the placenta were downregulated in spontaneous preterm births. Alpha-1 antitrypsin was expressed by villous trophoblasts in the placenta, and immunoelectron microscopy showed localization in decidual fibrinoid deposits in association with specific extracellular proteins. siRNA knockdown in trophoblast-derived HTR8/SVneo cells revealed that SERPINA1 had a marked effect on regulation of the actin cytoskeleton pathway, Slit-Robo signaling, and extracellular matrix organization. CONCLUSIONS Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protease inhibitor. We propose that loss of the protease inhibition effects of alpha-1 antitrypsin renders structures critical to maintaining pregnancy susceptible to proteases and inflammatory activation. This may lead to spontaneous premature birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Tiensuu
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Antti M Haapalainen
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pinja Tissarinen
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Anu Pasanen
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tomi A Määttä
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Johanna M Huusko
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center Ohio Collaborative, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Steffen Ohlmeier
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facilities, Biocenter Oulu, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ulrich Bergmann
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facilities, Biocenter Oulu, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Marja Ojaniemi
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Louis J Muglia
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center Ohio Collaborative, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA.,Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | - Mikko Hallman
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland. .,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Mika Rämet
- PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland. .,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, 90014, Oulu, Finland. .,Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33014, Tampere, Finland.
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13
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Segal L, Lewis EC. The Lipid Ties of α1-antitrypsin: Structural and Functional Aspects. Cell Immunol 2022; 375:104528. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2022.104528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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14
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Fromme M, Schneider CV, Trautwein C, Brunetti-Pierri N, Strnad P. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: A re-surfacing adult liver disorder. J Hepatol 2022; 76:946-958. [PMID: 34848258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) arises from mutations in the SERPINA1 gene encoding alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) that lead to AAT retention in the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes, causing proteotoxic liver injury and loss-of-function lung disease. The homozygous Pi∗Z mutation (Pi∗ZZ genotype) is responsible for the majority of severe AATD cases and can precipitate both paediatric and adult liver diseases, while the heterozygous Pi∗Z mutation (Pi∗MZ genotype) is an established genetic modifier of liver disease. We review genotype-related hepatic phenotypes/disease predispositions. We also describe the mechanisms and factors promoting the development of liver disease, as well as approaches to evaluate the extent of liver fibrosis. Finally, we discuss emerging diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the clinical management of this often neglected disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Fromme
- Medical Clinic III, Gastroenterology, Metabolic Diseases and Intensive Care, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Health Care Provider of the European Reference Network on Rare Liver Disorders (ERN RARE LIVER), Aachen, Germany
| | - Carolin V Schneider
- Medical Clinic III, Gastroenterology, Metabolic Diseases and Intensive Care, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Health Care Provider of the European Reference Network on Rare Liver Disorders (ERN RARE LIVER), Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Medical Clinic III, Gastroenterology, Metabolic Diseases and Intensive Care, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Health Care Provider of the European Reference Network on Rare Liver Disorders (ERN RARE LIVER), Aachen, Germany
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, 80078 Naples, Italy; Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Pavel Strnad
- Medical Clinic III, Gastroenterology, Metabolic Diseases and Intensive Care, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Health Care Provider of the European Reference Network on Rare Liver Disorders (ERN RARE LIVER), Aachen, Germany.
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15
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A Review of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Binding Partners for Immune Regulation and Potential Therapeutic Application. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052441. [PMID: 35269582 PMCID: PMC8910375 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is the canonical serine protease inhibitor of neutrophil-derived proteases and can modulate innate immune mechanisms through its anti-inflammatory activities mediated by a broad spectrum of protein, cytokine, and cell surface interactions. AAT contains a reactive methionine residue that is critical for its protease-specific binding capacity, whereby AAT entraps the protease on cleavage of its reactive centre loop, neutralises its activity by key changes in its tertiary structure, and permits removal of the AAT-protease complex from the circulation. Recently, however, the immunomodulatory role of AAT has come increasingly to the fore with several prominent studies focused on lipid or protein-protein interactions that are predominantly mediated through electrostatic, glycan, or hydrophobic potential binding sites. The aim of this review was to investigate the spectrum of AAT molecular interactions, with newer studies supporting a potential therapeutic paradigm for AAT augmentation therapy in disorders in which a chronic immune response is strongly linked.
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16
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Kryvalap Y, Czyzyk J. The Role of Proteases and Serpin Protease Inhibitors in β-Cell Biology and Diabetes. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12010067. [PMID: 35053215 PMCID: PMC8774208 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulation of the equilibrium between proteases and their inhibitors is fundamental to health maintenance. Consequently, developing a means of targeting protease activity to promote tissue regeneration and inhibit inflammation may offer a new strategy in therapy development for diabetes and other diseases. Specifically, recent efforts have focused on serine protease inhibitors, known as serpins, as potential therapeutic targets. The serpin protein family comprises a broad range of protease inhibitors, which are categorized into 16 clades that are all extracellular, with the exception of Clade B, which controls mostly intracellular proteases, including both serine- and papain-like cysteine proteases. This review discusses the most salient, and sometimes opposing, views that either inhibition or augmentation of protease activity can bring about positive outcomes in pancreatic islet biology and inflammation. These potential discrepancies can be reconciled at the molecular level as specific proteases and serpins regulate distinct signaling pathways, thereby playing equally distinct roles in health and disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jan Czyzyk
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(612)-273-3495; Fax: +1-(612)-273-1142
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17
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Nakagiri T, Wrenger S, Sivaraman K, Ius F, Goecke T, Zardo P, Grau V, Welte T, Haverich A, Knöfel AK, Janciauskiene S. α1-Antitrypsin attenuates acute rejection of orthotopic murine lung allografts. Respir Res 2021; 22:295. [PMID: 34789247 PMCID: PMC8597316 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-021-01890-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background α1-Antitrypsin (AAT) is an acute phase glycoprotein, a multifunctional protein with proteinase inhibitory, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties. Both preclinical and clinical experiences show that the therapy with plasma purified AAT is beneficial for a broad spectrum of inflammatory conditions. The potential effects of AAT therapy have recently been highlighted in lung transplantation (LuTx) as well. Methods We used a murine fully mismatched orthotopic single LuTx model (BALB/CJ as donors and C57BL/6 as recipients). Human AAT preparations (5 mg, n = 10) or vehicle (n = 5) were injected to the recipients subcutaneously prior to and intraperitoneally immediately after the LuTx. No immune suppressive drugs were administered. Three days after the transplantation, the mice were sacrificed, and biological samples were assessed. Results Histological analysis revealed significantly more severe acute rejection in the transplanted lungs of controls than in AAT treated mice (p < 0.05). The proportion of neutrophil granulocytes, B cells and the total T helper cell populations did not differ between two groups. There was no significant difference in serum CXCL1 (KC) levels. However, when compared to controls, human AAT was detectable in the serum of mice treated with AAT and these mice had a higher serum anti-elastase activity, and significantly lower proportion of Th1 and Th17 among all Th cells. Cleaved caspase-3-positive cells were scarce but significantly less abundant in allografts from recipients treated with AAT as compared to those treated with vehicle. Conclusion Therapy with AAT suppresses the acute rejection after LuTx in a mouse model. The beneficial effects seem to involve anti-protease and immunomodulatory activities of AAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyuki Nakagiri
- Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabine Wrenger
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Fabio Ius
- Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tobias Goecke
- Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Patrick Zardo
- Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Veronika Grau
- Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, German Center for Lung Research, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tobias Welte
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Haverich
- Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Knöfel
- Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabina Janciauskiene
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. .,Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany.
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18
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Lior Y, Shtriker E, Kahremany S, Lewis EC, Gruzman A. Development of anti-inflammatory peptidomimetics based on the structure of human alpha1-antitrypsin. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 228:113969. [PMID: 34763945 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Human α1-antitrypsin (hAAT) has two distinguishing functions: anti-protease activity and regulation of the immune system. In the present study we hypothesized that those two protein functions are mediated by different structural domains on the hAAT surface. Indeed, such biologically active immunoregulatory sites (not associated with canonical anti-protease activity) on the surface of hAAT were identified by in silico methods. Several peptides were derived from those immunoregulatory sites. Four peptides exhibited impressive biological effects in pharmacological concentration ranges. Peptidomimetic (14) was developed, based on the structure of the most druggable and active peptide. The compound exhibited a potent anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo. Such a compound could be used as a basis for developing novel anti-inflammatory drug candidates and as a research tool for better understanding hAAT functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yotam Lior
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Efrat Shtriker
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Shirin Kahremany
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel; The Skin Research Institute, The Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, 86910, Masada, Israel
| | - Eli C Lewis
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Arie Gruzman
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel.
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19
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality among recipients. Predicting the long-term outcomes at the time of diagnosis of GVHD or even after response to up-front therapy can be challenging and only has modest accuracy. With biomarkers available to help guide decision-making, the landscape of GVHD is evolving. RECENT FINDINGS Several acute GVHD biomarkers have been identified, with some better able to categorize patients based on their GVHD severity and potential for refractory disease than standard clinical staging or response criteria. SUMMARY Biomarkers are now being incorporated into the clinical trial design for both high and low-risk GVHD. These findings will likely impact how clinical care is delivered in the future as improved risk stratification has the potential to improve outcomes by providing individualized treatment plans for affected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saara Kaviany
- Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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20
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Alpha-1 Antitrypsin and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Liver Cirrhosis: SERPINA1 MZ or MS Genotype Carriage Decreases the Risk. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910560. [PMID: 34638908 PMCID: PMC8509047 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterozygotes for Z or S alleles of alpha-1-antrypsin (AAT) have low serum AAT levels. Our aim was to compare the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis carrying the SERPINA1 MM, MZ and MS genotypes. The study groups consisted of 1119 patients with liver cirrhosis of various aetiologies, and 3240 healthy individuals served as population controls. The MZ genotype was significantly more frequent in the study group (55/1119 vs. 87/3240, p < 0.0001). The MS genotype frequency was comparable in controls (32/119 vs. 101/3240, p = 0.84). MZ and MS heterozygotes had lower serum AAT level than MM homozygotes (medians: 0.90 g/L; 1.40 g/L and 1.67 g/L; p < 0.001 for both). There were significantly fewer patients with HCC in the cirrhosis group among MZ and MS heterozygotes than in MM homozygotes (5/55 and 1/32 respectively, vs. 243/1022, p < 0.01 for both). The risk of HCC was lower in MZ and MS heterozygotes than in MM homozygotes (OR 0.3202; 95% CI 0.1361–0.7719 and OR 0.1522; 95% CI 0.02941–0.7882, respectively). Multivariate analysis of HCC risk factors identified MZ or MS genotype carriage as a protective factor, whereas age, male sex, BMI and viral aetiology of cirrhosis increased HCC risk.
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21
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Chen YH, Cheadle CE, Rice LV, Pfeffer PE, Dimeloe S, Gupta A, Bush A, Gooptu B, Hawrylowicz CM. The Induction of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin by Vitamin D in Human T Cells Is TGF-β Dependent: A Proposed Anti-inflammatory Role in Airway Disease. Front Nutr 2021; 8:667203. [PMID: 34458299 PMCID: PMC8397538 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.667203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Vitamin D upregulates anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial pathways that promote respiratory health. Vitamin D synthesis is initiated following skin exposure to sunlight, however nutritional supplementation can be required to address deficiency, for example during the winter months or due to cultural constraints. We recently reported that 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) treatment induced alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) expression in CD4+, but not CD8+ T cells, with evidence supporting an immunoregulatory role. Research Question: To understand the relationship between vitamin D, lung AAT levels and T lymphocytes further we investigated whether TGF-β is required as a co-factor for 1,25(OH)2D3-induced upregulation of AAT by vitamin D in CD8+ T cells in vitro and correlated circulating vitamin D levels with lung AAT levels in vivo. Results: 1,25(OH)2D3 in combination with TGF-β1 increased AAT expression by CD8+ T cells, as well as VDR and RXRα gene expression, which may partly explain the requirement for TGF-β. CD4+ T cells may also require autocrine stimulation with TGF-β as a co-factor since 1,25(OH)2D3 was associated with increased TGF-β bioactivity and neutralisation of TGF-β partially abrogated 1,25(OH)2D3-induced SERPINA1 gene expression. Neither CD4+ nor CD8+ T cells responded to the circulating vitamin D precursor, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 for induction of SERPINA1, suggesting that local generation of 1,25(OH)2D3 is required. Transcriptional gene profiling studies previously demonstrated that human bronchial epithelial cells rapidly increased TGF-β2 gene expression in response to 1,25(OH)2D3. Here, human epithelial cells responded to precursor 25(OH)D3 to increase bioactive TGF-β synthesis. CD8+ T cells responded comparably to TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 to increase 1,25(OH)2D3-induced AAT. However, CD8+ T cells from adults with AAT-deficiency, homozygous for the Z allele of SERPINA1, were unable to mount this response. AAT levels in the airways of children with asthma and controls correlated with circulating 25(OH)D3. Conclusions: Vitamin D increases AAT expression in human T cells and this response is impaired in T cells from individuals homozygous for the Z allele of SERPINA1 in a clinic population. Furthermore, a correlation between circulating vitamin D and airway AAT is reported. We propose that vitamin D-induced AAT contributes to local immunomodulation and airway health effects previously attributed to vitamin D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-Huai Chen
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology (Formerly Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology), School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte E Cheadle
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology (Formerly Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology), School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Medical Research Council and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louise V Rice
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology (Formerly Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology), School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Medical Research Council and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul E Pfeffer
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology (Formerly Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology), School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Medical Research Council and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Dimeloe
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology (Formerly Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology), School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Atul Gupta
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology (Formerly Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology), School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,National Heart and Lung Institute, Royal Brompton & Harefield National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Bush
- Centre for Paediatrics and Child Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bibek Gooptu
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology (Formerly Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology), School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre-Respiratory and Leicester Institute of Structural & Chemical Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,London Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Service, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine M Hawrylowicz
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology (Formerly Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology), School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Medical Research Council and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Zamora MR, Ataya A. Lung and liver transplantation in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Ther Adv Chronic Dis 2021; 12_suppl:20406223211002988. [PMID: 34408830 PMCID: PMC8367211 DOI: 10.1177/20406223211002988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) augmentation is effective in slowing the progression of
emphysema due to AAT deficiency (AATD) but cannot prevent eventual progression
to end-stage lung disease and complete respiratory failure, which is the leading
cause of death for individuals with severe AATD. When patients develop end-stage
lung disease, lung transplantation is the only treatment option available, and
this can improve lung physiology and patient health status. The available data
suggest that survival rates for lung transplantation are significantly higher
for patients with AATD-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
compared with non-AATD-related COPD, but, conversely, there is a higher risk of
common post-lung transplant complications in patients with AATD
versus non-AATD COPD. Nevertheless, lung transplantation
(single and bilateral) is favorable for patients with AATD. After respiratory
failure, the second leading cause of death in patients with AATD is liver
disease, for example, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, caused by the
accumulation of mutant forms of AAT retained within the liver. As with lung
disease, the only treatment option for end-stage liver disease is liver
transplantation. Survival rates for patients with AATD undergoing liver
transplantation are also favorable, and patients, particularly pediatric
patients, have benefitted from advancements in peri-/post-surgical care. As the
majority of AAT is produced by the liver, the AAT phenotype of the recipient
becomes that of the donor, meaning that AAT serum levels should be normalized
(if the donor is AAT-replete), halting further lung and liver disease
progression. However, post-liver transplant respiratory function may continue to
decline in line with normal age-related lung function decline. In the most
severe cases, where patients have simultaneous end-stage lung and liver disease,
combined lung and liver transplantation is a treatment option with favorable
outcomes. However, there is very little information available on this procedure
in patients with AATD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin R Zamora
- Lung Transplant Program, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ali Ataya
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Liu W, Wang Y. Protective role of the alpha-1-antitrypsin in intervertebral disc degeneration. J Orthop Surg Res 2021; 16:516. [PMID: 34416893 PMCID: PMC8377970 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-021-02668-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intervertebral disc degeneration is a complex disease with high prevalence. It suggests that cell death, senescence, and extracellular matrix degradation are involved in the pathogenesis. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), a serine protease inhibitor, was previously correlated with inflammation-related diseases. However, its function on intervertebral disc degeneration remains unclear. METHODS A latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay measured the serum level of AAT. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot were used to testify the expression of RNA and proteins related to cell apoptosis and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The animal model for intervertebral disc degeneration was built by disc puncture. The degeneration grades were analyzed by safranin o staining. RESULTS We showed that alpha-1 antitrypsin could ameliorate intervertebral disc degeneration in vitro and in vivo. We also found that the serum alpha-1 antitrypsin level in Intervertebral disc degeneration patients is negative related to the severity of intervertebral disc degeneration. Moreover, alpha-1 antitrypsin was also showed to suppress tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) induced WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway activation in human nucleus pulposus cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence for AAT to serve as a potential therapeutic reagent for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weikun Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, People's Hospital of Dongxihu District, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanfu Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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24
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Kaneva MK, Muley MM, Krustev E, Reid AR, Souza PR, Dell'Accio F, McDougall JJ, Perretti M. Alpha-1-antitrypsin reduces inflammation and exerts chondroprotection in arthritis. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21472. [PMID: 33788977 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202001801r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
While new treatments have been developed to control joint disease in rheumatoid arthritis, they are partially effective and do not promote structural repair of cartilage. Following an initial identification of α-1-Antitrypsin (AAT) during the resolution phase of acute inflammation, we report here the properties of this protein in the context of cartilage protection, joint inflammation, and associated pain behavior. Intra-articular and systemic administration of AAT reversed joint inflammation, nociception, and cartilage degradation in the KBxN serum and neutrophil elastase models of arthritis. Ex vivo analyses of arthritic joints revealed that AAT promoted transcription of col2a1, acan, and sox9 and downregulated mmp13 and adamts5 gene expression. In vitro studies using human chondrocytes revealed that SERPINA1 transfection and rAAT protein promoted chondrogenic differentiation through activation of PKA-dependent CREB signaling and inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Thus, AAT is endowed with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and chondroprotective properties that are partially inter-related. We propose that AAT could be developed for new therapeutic strategies to reduce arthritic pain and repair damaged cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena K Kaneva
- The William Harvey Research Institute, The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Milind M Muley
- Departments of Pharmacology and Anaesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Eugene Krustev
- Departments of Pharmacology and Anaesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Allison R Reid
- Departments of Pharmacology and Anaesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Patricia R Souza
- The William Harvey Research Institute, The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Francesco Dell'Accio
- The William Harvey Research Institute, The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.,Centre for inflammation and Therapeutic Innovation, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Jason J McDougall
- Departments of Pharmacology and Anaesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Mauro Perretti
- The William Harvey Research Institute, The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.,Centre for inflammation and Therapeutic Innovation, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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25
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Biomarker-guided preemption of steroid-refractory graft-versus-host disease with α-1-antitrypsin. Blood Adv 2021; 4:6098-6105. [PMID: 33351103 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Steroid-refractory (SR) acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major cause of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), but its occurrence is not accurately predicted by pre-HCT clinical risk factors. The Mount Sinai Acute GVHD International Consortium (MAGIC) algorithm probability (MAP) identifies patients who are at high risk for developing SR GVHD as early as 7 days after HCT based on the extent of intestinal crypt damage as measured by the concentrations of 2 serum biomarkers, suppressor of tumorigenesis 2 and regenerating islet-derived 3α. We conducted a multicenter proof-of-concept "preemptive" treatment trial of α-1-antitrypsin (AAT), a serine protease inhibitor with demonstrated activity against GVHD, in patients at high risk for developing SR GVHD. Patients were eligible if they possessed a high-risk MAP on day 7 after HCT or, if initially low risk, became high risk on repeat testing at day 14. Thirty high-risk patients were treated with twice-weekly infusions of AAT for a total of 16 doses, and their outcomes were compared with 90 high-risk near-contemporaneous MAGIC control patients. AAT treatment was well tolerated with few toxicities, but it did not lower the incidence of SR GVHD compared with controls (20% vs 14%, P = .56). We conclude that real-time biomarker-based risk assignment is feasible early after allogeneic HCT but that this dose and schedule of AAT did not change the incidence of SR acute GVHD. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03459040.
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26
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Gou W, Wang J, Song L, Kim DS, Cui W, Strange C, Wang H. Alpha-1 antitrypsin suppresses macrophage activation and promotes islet graft survival after intrahepatic islet transplantation. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:1713-1724. [PMID: 33047509 PMCID: PMC8082666 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) has protective functions in animal islet transplantation models. While the therapeutic effect of AAT therapy is currently being tested in clinical trials, we investigated the mechanism of AAT protection in a clinically relevant marginal intrahepatic human islet transplantation model. In recipients receiving islets and AAT, 68.9% (20/29) reached normoglycemia, compared to 35.7% (10/28) in those receiving islets only, at 60 days posttransplant (PT). AAT-treated mice had lower serum levels of inflammatory cytokines immediately PT. Reduced M1 macrophages were observed in livers of AAT-treated recipients compared to controls as evidenced by flow cytometry and RNA-seq transcriptional profiling analysis. In vitro AAT suppressed IFN-γ-induced M1 macrophage activation/polarization via suppression of STAT1 phosphorylation and iNOS production. AAT inhibits macrophage activation induced by cytokines or dying islets, and consequently leads to islet cell survival. In a macrophage depletion mouse model, the presence of M1 macrophages in the liver contributed to graft death. AAT, through suppressing macrophage activation, protected transplanted islets from death and dysfunction in the human islet and NOD-SCID mouse model. The protective effect of AAT was confirmed in a major mismatch allogeneic islet transplantation model. Taken together, AAT suppresses liver macrophage activation that contributes to graft survival after transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Gou
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Lili Song
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Do-Sung Kim
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Wanxing Cui
- MedStar Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Charlie Strange
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Hongjun Wang
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
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27
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Therapeutic Potential of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 57:medicina57040397. [PMID: 33923873 PMCID: PMC8073794 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57040397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) has established anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but there is increasing evidence of its role in other inflammatory and immune-mediated conditions, like diabetes mellitus (DM). AAT activity is altered in both developing and established type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) as well in established type 2 DM (T2DM). Augmentation therapy with AAT appears to favorably impact T1DM development in mice models and to affect β-cell function and inflammation in humans with T1DM. The role of AAT in T2DM is less clear, but AAT activity appears to be reduced in T2DM. This article reviews these associations and emerging therapeutic strategies using AAT to treat DM.
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28
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Lagarde WH, Courtney KL, Reiner B, Steinmann K, Tsalikian E, Willi SM. Human plasma-derived alpha 1 -proteinase inhibitor in patients with new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus: A randomized, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study. Pediatr Diabetes 2021; 22:192-201. [PMID: 33244872 PMCID: PMC7984376 DOI: 10.1111/pedi.13162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While circulating levels of alpha1 -proteinase inhibitor (alpha1 -PI) are typically normal, antiprotease activity appears to be compromised in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Because alpha1 -PI [human] (alpha1 -PI[h]) therapy can inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators associated with β-cell destruction and reduced insulin production, it has been proposed for T1DM disease prevention. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety, tolerability, and efficacy of intravenous (IV) alpha1 -PI[h] in preserving C-peptide production in newly diagnosed T1DM patients. PARTICIPANTS Seventy-six participants (aged 6-35 years) were randomized at 25 centers within 3 months of T1DM diagnosis. METHODS A Phase II, multicenter, partially blinded, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept study evaluating four dosing regimens of alpha1 -PI[h] (NCT02093221, GTI1302): weekly IV infusions of either 90 or 180 mg/kg, each for either 13 or 26 weeks. Safety and efficacy were monitored over 52 weeks with an efficacy evaluation planned at 104 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline in the 2-h area-under-the-curve C-peptide level from a mixed-meal tolerance test at 52 weeks. A battery of laboratory tests, including inflammatory biomarkers, constituted exploratory efficacy variables. RESULTS Infusions were well tolerated with no new safety signals. All groups exhibited highly variable declines in the primary outcome measure at 52 weeks with no statistically significant difference from placebo. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was reduced from baseline in all alpha1 -PI treatment groups but not the placebo group. CONCLUSION Pharmacologic therapy with alpha1 -PI[h] is safe, well tolerated, and able to reduce IL-6 levels; however, due to variability in the efficacy endpoint, its effects on preservation of C-peptide production were inconclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H. Lagarde
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of PediatricsWakeMed Children's HospitalRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Kecia L. Courtney
- Clinical DevelopmentGrifols Therapeutics Inc. Research Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA,Present address:
BiogenResearch Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA
| | | | - Kimberly Steinmann
- Clinical DevelopmentGrifols Therapeutics Inc. Research Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Eva Tsalikian
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Stead Family Department of PediatricsUniversity of Iowa Carver College of MedicineIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Steven M. Willi
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of PediatricsPerelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
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29
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Grander C, Schaefer B, Schwärzler J, Grabherr F, de Graaf DM, Enrich B, Oberhuber G, Mayr L, Sangineto M, Jaschke N, Adolph TE, Effenberger M, Moschen AR, Dinarello CA, Zoller H, Tilg H. Alpha-1 antitrypsin governs alcohol-related liver disease in mice and humans. Gut 2021; 70:585-594. [PMID: 32699098 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-321375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a global healthcare problem with limited treatment options. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT, encoded by SERPINA1) shows potent anti-inflammatory activities in many preclinical and clinical trials. In our study, we aimed to explore the role of AAT in ALD. DESIGN An unselected cohort of 512 patients with cirrhosis was clinically characterised. Survival, clinical and biochemical parameters including AAT serum concentration were compared between patients with ALD and other aetiologies of liver disease. The role of AAT was evaluated in experimental ALD models. RESULTS Cirrhotic ALD patients with AAT serum concentrations less than 120 mg/dL had a significantly higher risk for death/liver transplantation as compared with patients with AAT serum concentrations higher than 120 mg/dL. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that low AAT serum concentration was a NaMELD-independent predictor of survival/transplantation. Ethanol-fed wild-type (wt) mice displayed a significant decline in hepatic AAT compared with pair-fed mice. Therefore, hAAT-Tg mice were ethanol-fed, and these mice displayed protection from liver injury associated with decreased steatosis, hepatic neutrophil infiltration and abated expression of proinflammatory cytokines. To test the therapeutic capability of AAT, ethanol-fed wt mice were treated with human AAT. Administration of AAT ameliorated hepatic injury, neutrophil infiltration and steatosis. CONCLUSION Cirrhotic ALD patients with AAT concentrations less than 120 mg/dL displayed an increased risk for death/liver transplantation. Both hAAT-Tg mice and AAT-treated wt animals showed protection from ethanol-induced liver injury. AAT could reflect a treatment option for human ALD, especially for alcoholic hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Grander
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Benedikt Schaefer
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Julian Schwärzler
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Felix Grabherr
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dennis M de Graaf
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Barbara Enrich
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Georg Oberhuber
- INNPATH, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lisa Mayr
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Moris Sangineto
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nikolai Jaschke
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Timon E Adolph
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maria Effenberger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander R Moschen
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Charles A Dinarello
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Heinz Zoller
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Herbert Tilg
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Lim JH, Oh EJ, Oh SH, Jung HY, Choi JY, Cho JH, Park SH, Kim YL, Kim CD. Renoprotective Effects of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin against Tacrolimus-Induced Renal Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228628. [PMID: 33207690 PMCID: PMC7696546 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The protective effects of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) in tacrolimus (TAC)-induced renal injury was evaluated in a rat model. The TAC group rats were subcutaneously injected with 2 mg/kg TAC every day for four weeks. The TAC with AAT group was cotreated with daily subcutaneous injections of TAC and intraperitoneal injections of AAT (80 mg/kg) for four weeks. The effects of AAT on TAC-induced renal injury were evaluated using serum biochemistry, histopathology, and Western blotting. The TAC injection significantly increased renal interstitial fibrosis, inflammation, and apoptosis as compared to the control treatment. The histopathological examination showed that cotreatment of TAC and AAT attenuated interstitial fibrosis (collagen, fibronectin, and α-SMA staining), and α-SMA expression in Western blotting was also decreased. Immunohistochemical staining for inflammation (osteopontin and ED-1 staining) revealed improved interstitial inflammation in the TAC with AAT group compared to that in the TAC group. The TAC treatment increased renal apoptosis compared to the control treatment, based on the results of increased immunohistochemical staining of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), increased caspase-3 activity, and lower Bcl-2 to Bad expression ratio. However, AAT cotreatment significantly changed these markers and consequently showed decreased apoptosis. AAT protects against TAC-induced renal injury via antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chan-Duck Kim
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-53-200-5560; Fax: +82-53-426-2046
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31
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Distinct anti-inflammatory properties of alpha1-antitrypsin and corticosteroids reveal unique underlying mechanisms of action. Cell Immunol 2020; 356:104177. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2020.104177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Rotondo JC, Oton-Gonzalez L, Selvatici R, Rizzo P, Pavasini R, Campo GC, Lanzillotti C, Mazziotta C, De Mattei M, Tognon M, Martini F. SERPINA1 Gene Promoter Is Differentially Methylated in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Pregnant Women. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:550543. [PMID: 33015055 PMCID: PMC7494783 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.550543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
SERine Protein INhibitor-A1 (SERPINA1) is an inducible blood cell gene coding for alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT), a plasma protease inhibitor whose circulating levels are raised during inflammation, infection and advanced pregnancy. DNA methylation has been suggested to play a role in SERPINA1 gene expression regulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The methylation status of SERPINA1 in PBMCs is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the methylation profile of the SERPINA1 promoter in PBMC. To this purpose PBMCs and serum were collected from healthy subjects (HS) (n = 75), including blood donors (BD) (n = 25), pregnant women at early pregnancy (EP) (n = 25), i.e., within the first trimester, and pregnant women at late pregnancy (LP) (n = 25), i.e., at the third trimester. DNA from PBMCs was treated with sodium bisulfite and PCR amplified for SERPINA1 gene promoter, followed by sequencing analyses. AAT serum levels were determined by ELISA test. SERPINA1 was found hypermethylated in 58.7% of HS. The prevalence of SERPINA1 hypermethylation was significantly higher in BD (68%) and EP (88%) than in LP (20%) (p < 0.01). The median serum AAT concentration was 1.07, 0.63, and 3.15 mg/ml in BD, EP, and LP, respectively (p < 0.05, BD and EP vs LP). This study indicates, for the first time, that SERPINA1 gene promoter is differentially methylated in PBMCs from HS. Likely, modulation of the methylation may be a novel epigenetic regulator mechanism of AAT expression in the PBMC of HS. Therefore, SERPINA1 gene promoter methylation may represent an epigenetic biomarker of PBMCs in healthy subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rita Selvatici
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paola Rizzo
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Rita Pavasini
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gianluca Calogero Campo
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Mazziotta
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Monica De Mattei
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Mauro Tognon
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fernanda Martini
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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El-Saied S, Zaknoun M, Alatawna O, Joshua BZ, Kabahaa N, Kaplan DM, Lewis EC. Trauma-induced vestibular dysfunction: Possible functional repair under α1-antitrypsin-rich conditions. Cell Immunol 2020; 356:104150. [PMID: 32823037 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2020.104150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Transient vestibular organ deafferentation, such that is caused by traumatic tissue injury, is presently addressed by corticosteroid therapy. However, restoration of neurophysiological properties is rarely achieved. Here, it was hypothesized that the tissue-protective attributes of α1-antityrpsin (AAT) may promote restoration of neuronal function. Inner ear injury was inflicted by unilateral labyrinthotomy in wild-type mice and in mice overexpressing human AAT. A 2-week-long assessment of vestibular signs followed. All animals responded with peak vestibular dysfunction scores within 4 h after local trauma. While wild-type animals displayed partial or no recovery across 7 days post-injury, AAT-rich group exhibited early recovery: from behavioral score 9-out-of-9 at peak to 4.8 ± 0.44 (mean ± SD) within 8 h from injury, a time when wild-type mice scored 8.6 ± 0.54 (p < 0.0001), and from vestibular score 15-out-of-15 to 7.8 ± 2.2 within 24 h, when wild-type mice scored 13.0 ± 2.0 (p < 0.01). Thus, recovery and functional normalisation of an injured vestibular compartment is achievable without corticosteroid therapy; expedited tissue repair processes appear to result from elevated circulating AAT levels. This study lays the foundation for exploring the molecular and cellular mediators of AAT within the repair processes of the delicate microscopic structures of the vestibular end organ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabri El-Saied
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Department of Clinical Biochemistry & Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | - Melodie Zaknoun
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry & Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Osama Alatawna
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry & Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ben-Zion Joshua
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Noor Kabahaa
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry & Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Daniel M Kaplan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Eli C Lewis
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry & Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Tumpara S, Martinez-Delgado B, Gomez-Mariano G, Liu B, DeLuca DS, Korenbaum E, Jonigk D, Jugert F, Wurm FM, Wurm MJ, Welte T, Janciauskiene S. The Delivery of α1-Antitrypsin Therapy Through Transepidermal Route: Worthwhile to Explore. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:983. [PMID: 32719598 PMCID: PMC7348051 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human α1-antitrypsin (AAT) is an abundant acute phase glycoprotein expressing anti-protease and immunomodulatory activities, and is used as a biopharmaceutical to treat patients with inherited AAT deficiency. The pleiotropic properties of AAT provide a rationale for using this therapy outside of inherited AAT deficiency. Therapy with AAT is administrated intravenously, yet the alternative routes are being considered. To examine the putative transepidermal application of AAT we used epiCS®, the 3D human epidermis equivalents reconstructed from human primary epidermal keratinocytes. We topically applied various concentrations of AAT protein with a constant volume of 50 µl, prepared in Hank's balance solution, HBSS, to epiCS cultured under bas\al condition or when culture medium supplemented with 100 µg/ml of a combined bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan (PGN) mixture. AAT freely diffused across epidermis layers in a concentration and time-dependent manner. Within 18 h topically provided 0.2 mg AAT penetrated well the stratum corneum and localizes within the keratinocytes. The treatments with AAT did not induce obvious morphological changes and damages in keratinocyte layers. As expected, LPS/PGN triggered a strong pro-inflammatory activation of epiCS. AAT exhibited a limited capacity to neutralize the effect of LPS/PGN, but more importantly, it lowered expression of IL-18 and IL-8, and preserved levels of filaggrin, a key protein for maintaining the epidermal barrier integrity. Our findings suggest that the transepidermal route for delivering AAT is worthwhile to explore further. If successful, this approach may offer an easy-to-use therapy with AAT for skin inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinu Tumpara
- Department of Internal Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Beatriz Martinez-Delgado
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gema Gomez-Mariano
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - David S DeLuca
- Department of Internal Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Elena Korenbaum
- Research Core Unit for Structural Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Danny Jonigk
- Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Frank Jugert
- Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Florian M Wurm
- ExcellGene SA, Monthey, Switzerland.,Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Tobias Welte
- Department of Internal Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabina Janciauskiene
- Department of Internal Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Strnad
- From the Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH (Rheinisch-Westfälisch Technische Hochschule) Aachen, Aachen, Germany (P.S.); the Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin (N.G.M.); and UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, Rayne Institute, University College London, London (D.A.L.)
| | - Noel G McElvaney
- From the Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH (Rheinisch-Westfälisch Technische Hochschule) Aachen, Aachen, Germany (P.S.); the Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin (N.G.M.); and UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, Rayne Institute, University College London, London (D.A.L.)
| | - David A Lomas
- From the Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH (Rheinisch-Westfälisch Technische Hochschule) Aachen, Aachen, Germany (P.S.); the Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin (N.G.M.); and UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, Rayne Institute, University College London, London (D.A.L.)
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Alpha1-antitrypsin ameliorates islet amyloid-induced glucose intolerance and β-cell dysfunction. Mol Metab 2020; 37:100984. [PMID: 32229246 PMCID: PMC7186564 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2020.100984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Pancreatic β-cell failure is central to the development and progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aggregation of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) has been associated with pancreatic islet inflammation and dysfunction in T2D. Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) is a circulating protease inhibitor with anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we sought to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of AAT treatment in a mouse model characterized by hIAPP overexpression in pancreatic β-cells. Methods Mice overexpressing hIAPP (hIAPP-Tg) in pancreatic β-cells were used as a model of amyloid-induced β-cell dysfunction. Glucose homeostasis was evaluated by glucose tolerance tests and insulin secretion assays. Apoptosis and amyloid formation was assessed in hIAPP-Tg mouse islets cultured at high glucose levels. Dissociated islet cells were cocultured with macrophages obtained from the peritoneal cavity. Results Nontreated hIAPP-Tg mice were glucose intolerant and exhibited impaired insulin secretion. Interestingly, AAT treatment improved glucose tolerance and restored the insulin secretory response to glucose in hIAPP-Tg mice. Moreover, AAT administration normalized the expression of the essential β-cell genes MafA and Pdx1, which were downregulated in pancreatic islets from hIAPP-Tg mice. AAT prevented the formation of amyloid deposits and apoptosis in hIAPP-Tg islets cultured at high glucose concentrations. Since islet macrophages mediate hIAPP-induced β-cell dysfunction, we investigated the effect of AAT in cocultures of macrophages and islet cells. AAT prevented hIAPP-induced β-cell apoptosis in these cocultures without reducing the hIAPP-induced secretion of IL-1β by macrophages. Remarkably, AAT protected β-cells against the cytotoxic effects of conditioned medium from hIAPP-treated macrophages. Similarly, AAT also abrogated the cytotoxic effects of exogenous proinflammatory cytokines on pancreatic β-cells. Conclusions These results demonstrate that treatment with AAT improves glucose homeostasis in mice overexpressing hIAPP and protects pancreatic β-cells from the cytotoxic actions of hIAPP mediated by macrophages. These results support the use of AAT-based therapies to recover pancreatic β-cell function for the treatment of T2D. Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) ameliorates glucose intolerance in hIAPP transgenic mice. AAT improves insulin secretion in hIAPP transgenic mice. AAT prevents apoptosis and amyloid deposition in cultured hIAPP transgenic islets. AAT protects β-cells from hIAPP-induced cytotoxicity mediated by macrophages. AAT abrogates the cytotoxic effects of proinflammatory cytokines on β-cells.
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McElvaney OF, Murphy MP, Reeves EP, McElvaney NG. Anti-cytokines as a Strategy in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASES-JOURNAL OF THE COPD FOUNDATION 2020; 7:203-213. [PMID: 32503090 DOI: 10.15326/jcopdf.7.3.2019.0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
For many years, the lung disease associated with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency (AATD) was perceived as being secondary to an imbalance between this serine protease inhibitor and the target protease, neutrophil elastase (NE). More recently, a greater understanding of the pathways leading to lung inflammation has shed light on new potential attributes and presented AATD as an inflammatory condition in which proteases and neutrophils still play a major role, but in which pro-inflammatory cytokines, either induced by the actions of NE or by other pro-inflammatory processes normally modulated by AAT, are involved. In this review, we will look at the various cytokines centrally involved in AATD lung disease, and how a greater understanding of their contribution may help development of targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oisín F McElvaney
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mark P Murphy
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Emer P Reeves
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Noel G McElvaney
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protects the lung by inhibiting neutrophil proteinases, but AAT has many other non-proteolytic functions that are anti-inflammatory, antiviral and homeostatic. Approximately 1 in 1600 to 1 in 5000 people have the homozygous Z mutation, which causes AAT misfolding, accumulation in (predominantly) liver cells and low circulating levels of AAT, leading to AAT deficiency (AATD). AATD is classically a disease of neutrophilic inflammation, with an aggressive and damaging innate immune response contributing to emphysema and other pathologies. AATD is one of the most common genetic disorders but considerably under-recognised. Most patients are diagnosed later in life, by which time they may have accumulated significant lung, liver and multisystem damage. Disease presentation is heterogeneous and not fully explained by deficiency levels alone or exposure to cigarette smoking. This suggests other factors influence AATD-associated pathological processes. Aging itself is associated with organ dysfunction, including emphysema and airflow obstruction, inflammation, altered immune cell responses (termed immunosenescence) and a loss of proteostasis. Many of these processes are present in AATD but at an earlier age and more advanced stage compared with chronological aging alone. Augmentation therapy does not completely abrogate the manifold disease processes present in AATD. New approaches are needed. There is emerging evidence that both age- and AATD-related disease processes are amenable to correction by targeting proteostasis, autophagy, immunosenescence and epigenetic factors. This review explores the impact of the aging process on AATD presentation and discusses novel therapeutic strategies to mitigate low levels of AAT or misfolded AAT in an aging host.
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A Phase II, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) (Glassia ®) in the Treatment of Recent-Onset Type 1 Diabetes. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20236032. [PMID: 31795482 PMCID: PMC6928874 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20236032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Our aim was to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) as a therapeutic modality for β-cell preservation in patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes. Seventy type 1 diabetes patients (37 males; mean age 13.1 ± 4.1years) were randomized to treatment with 22 infusions of AAT (Glassia®) (60 or 120 mg/kg) or placebo. The primary outcome was the area under the curve (AUC) of C-peptide from a 2-h mixed-meal tolerance test after 52 weeks. At week 52, C-peptide was 0.9, 0.45, and 0.48 pmol/mL in the AAT-120, AAT-60, and placebo groups (p = 0.170 and p = 0.866 vs. placebo, respectively). The declines in C-peptide glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the total insulin dose (U/kg) were similar across groups. Within the predefined 12–18-years subgroup, the C-peptide AUC decreased significantly in the placebo and AAT-60 groups (−0.34 and −0.54 pmol/mL, respectively, p < 0.01), with a borderline decrease in the AAT-120 group (−0.29 pmol/mL, p = 0.047). The mean HbA1c level was significantly lower in the AAT-120 group compared to the placebo (6.7% ± 0.9% vs. 8.2 ± 1.4%, p = 0.05), and a higher percentage of patients attained HbA1c ≤ 7% (75% vs. 25%, p = 0.05). AAT was tolerated well, with a similar safety profile between groups. The AAT intervention showed promise in the subgroup of adolescents with recent-onset type 1 diabetes. Further studies are warranted to determine the impact and proposed mechanism of action of AAT in β-cell preservation.
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40
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Donath MY, Dinarello CA, Mandrup-Poulsen T. Targeting innate immune mediators in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Nat Rev Immunol 2019; 19:734-746. [PMID: 31501536 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-019-0213-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are characterized by chronic inflammation; both diseases involve pancreatic islet inflammation, while systemic low-grade inflammation is a feature of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Long-term activation of the innate immune system impairs insulin secretion and action, and inflammation also contributes to macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes. However, despite strong preclinical evidence and proof-of-principle clinical trials demonstrating that targeting inflammatory pathways can prevent cardiovascular disease and other complications in patients with diabetes, there are still no approved treatments for diabetes that target innate immune mediators. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the inflammatory pathogenesis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes from a translational angle and point out the critical gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed to guide drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Y Donath
- Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. .,Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Zamora M. Surgery for patients with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: A review. Am J Surg 2019; 218:639-647. [DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Ameliorates Pristane Induced Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in Mice. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8091341. [PMID: 31470606 PMCID: PMC6780888 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8091341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a fatal complication in patients with lupus. DAH can be induced in B6 mice by an intraperitoneal injection of pristane. Since human alpha-1-antitrypsin (hAAT) is an anti-inflammatory and immuno-regulatory protein, we investigated the protective effect of hAAT against pristane-induced DAH in B6 mice and hAAT transgenic (hAAT-Tg) mice. We first showed that hAAT Tg expression lowers TNF-α production in B cells, as well as CD4+ T cells in untreated mice. Conversely, the frequency of regulatory CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25-IL-10+ cells was significantly higher in hAAT-Tg than in B6 mice. This confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect of hAAT that was observed even at steady state. One week after a pristane injection, the frequency of peritoneal Ly6Chi inflammatory monocytes and neutrophils in hAAT-Tg mice was significantly lower than that in B6 mice. Importantly, pristane-induced DAH was completely prevented in hAAT-Tg mice and this was associated with a modulation of anti- to pro-inflammatory myeloid cell ratio/balance. We also showed that treatment with hAAT decreased the severity of DAH in B6 mice. These results showed for the first time that hAAT has a therapeutic potential for the treatment of DAH.
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Ma H, Lu Y, Lowe K, van der Meijden-Erkelens L, Wasserfall C, Atkinson MA, Song S. Regulated hAAT Expression from a Novel rAAV Vector and Its Application in the Prevention of Type 1 Diabetes. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8091321. [PMID: 31466263 PMCID: PMC6780368 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8091321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We, and others, have previously achieved high and sustained levels of transgene expression from viral vectors, such as recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV). However, regulatable transgene expression may be preferred in gene therapy for diseases, such as type 1 diabetes (T1D) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in which the timing and dosing of the therapeutic gene product play critical roles. In the present study, we generated a positive feedback regulation system for human alpha 1 antitrypsin (hAAT) expression in the rAAV vector. We performed quantitative kinetics studies in vitro and in vivo demonstrating that this vector system can mediate high levels of inducible transgene expression. Transgene induction could be tailored to occur rapidly or gradually, depending on the dose of the inducing drug, doxycycline (Dox). Conversely, after withdrawal of Dox, the silencing of transgene expression occurred slowly over the course of several weeks. Importantly, rAAV delivery of inducible hAAT significantly prevented T1D development in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. These results indicate that this Dox-inducible vector system may facilitate the fine-tuning of transgene expression, particularly for hAAT treatment of human autoimmune diseases, including T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Ma
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yuanqing Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Keith Lowe
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | - Clive Wasserfall
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Diabetes Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Mark A Atkinson
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Diabetes Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Sihong Song
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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Digiacomo L, Palchetti S, Giulimondi F, Pozzi D, Zenezini Chiozzi R, Capriotti AL, Laganà A, Caracciolo G. The biomolecular corona of gold nanoparticles in a controlled microfluidic environment. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:2557-2567. [PMID: 31243412 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00341j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) exposed to biological media are coated by proteins and other biomolecules forming a biomolecular corona (BC) on the particle surface. Recent studies have shown that shear stress as that created by laminar fluid flow generates more complex coronas with systematic changes in composition with respect to counterparts formed under static incubation. However, in most studies reported so far, dynamic environments have been produced by peristaltic pumps and comparing experimental results appears challenging. On the other side, generating shear stress by microfluidic devices could help to remove user variability and ensure better reproducibility of experimental data. This study was therefore aimed at exploring formation of NP-BC in a microfluidic environment. To this end, 100 nm gold nanoparticles and human plasma (HP) were used as models for nano-formulation and biological medium. We injected gold nanoparticles and HP in each of the islets of a remote-controlled microfluidic cartridge. Static incubation was used as a reference. BC-decorated NPs were thoroughly characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), micro-electrophoresis (ME), sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) and nano-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC MS/MS). By varying the incubation time from 30 s to 2.5 min we demonstrate that BC is already determined by the earliest exposure time point and does not appreciably evolve in time. DLS and ME results demonstrate that the BC formed in a microfluidic chip is thicker and more negatively charged than its counterpart formed under static incubation. SDS-PAGE and nano-LC MS/MS revealed that the incubation procedure had a major effect on BC composition. As an example, immunoglobulins are the most abundant plasma proteins of the BC generated in a microfluidic environment (relative protein abundance ∼30%), while tissue leakage proteins (relative protein abundance ∼26%) are the most enriched proteins when the BC is formed upon static incubation. Potential implications in emerging biomedical research arenas are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Digiacomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Sara Palchetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Giulimondi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Zenezini Chiozzi
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Laura Capriotti
- Department of Chemistry, "Sapienza" University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Laganà
- Department of Chemistry, "Sapienza" University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Peng Q, Ratnasothy K, Boardman DA, Jacob J, Tung SL, McCluskey D, Smyth LA, Lechler RI, Dorling A, Lombardi G. Protease Activated Receptor 4 as a Novel Modulator of Regulatory T Cell Function. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1311. [PMID: 31275306 PMCID: PMC6591367 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a subpopulation of T cells that maintain immunological tolerance. In inflammatory responses the function of Tregs is tightly controlled by several factors including signaling through innate receptors such as Toll like receptors and anaphylatoxin receptors allowing an effective immune response to be generated. Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are another family of innate receptors expressed on multiple cell types and involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. Whether proteases are able to directly modulate Treg function is unknown. Here, we show using two complimentary approaches that signaling through PAR-4 influences the expression of CD25, CD62L, and CD73, the suppressive capacity, and the stability of Tregs, via phosphorylation of FoxO1 and negative regulation of PTEN and FoxP3. Taken together, our results demonstrate an important role of PAR4 in tuning the function of Tregs and open the possibility of targeting PAR4 to modulate immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Peng
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's Hospital, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kulachelvy Ratnasothy
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's Hospital, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic A Boardman
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's Hospital, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jacinta Jacob
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's Hospital, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sim Lai Tung
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's Hospital, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel McCluskey
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lesley A Smyth
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert I Lechler
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's Hospital, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony Dorling
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's Hospital, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanna Lombardi
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's Hospital, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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46
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Wang J, Gou W, Kim DS, Strange C, Wang H. Clathrin-mediated Endocytosis of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin is Essential for its Protective Function in Islet Cell Survival. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:3940-3951. [PMID: 31281523 PMCID: PMC6587339 DOI: 10.7150/thno.31647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokine-induced pancreatic β cell death plays a pivotal role in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Our previous study showed that alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) inhibits β cell death through the suppression of cytokine-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation in an islet transplantation model. The aim of this study was to further understand how AAT impacts β cells by studying AAT endocytosis in human islets and a βTC3 murine insulinoma cell line. Methods: In vitro, human islets and βTC3 cells were stimulated with cytokines in the presence or absence of chlorpromazine (CPZ), a drug that disrupts clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Western blot, real-time PCR and cell death ELISA were performed to investigate β cell death. The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was measured on human islets. In vivo, islets were harvested from C57BL/6 donor mice treated with saline or human AAT and transplanted into the livers of syngeneic mice that had been rendered diabetic by streptozotocin (STZ). Islet graft survival and function were analyzed. Results: AAT was internalized by β cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. AAT internalization was mediated by clathrin as treatment with CPZ, profoundly decreased AAT internalization, cytokine-induced JNK activation and the downstream upregulation of c-Jun mRNA expression. Similarly, addition of CPZ attenuated cytokine-induced caspase 9 cleavage (c-casp 9) and DNA fragmentation, which was suppressed by AAT. Treatment of donor mice with AAT produced AAT internalization in islets, and resulted in a higher percentage of recipients reaching normoglycemia after syngeneic intraportal islet transplantation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that AAT is internalized by β cells through clathrin-mediated endocytosis that leads to the suppression of caspase 9 activation. This process is required for the protective function of AAT in islets when challenged with proinflammatory cytokines or after islet transplantation.
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Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Attenuates Acute Lung Allograft Injury in a Rat Lung Transplant Model. Transplant Direct 2019; 5:e458. [PMID: 31723592 PMCID: PMC6791593 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000000898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) after lung transplantation triggers a cascade of inflammatory changes that can contribute to acute allograft injury. This influences both the short- and long-term survival of the lung allograft. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a protease inhibitor with known anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory properties that mitigate tissue damage. This study explores the protective effects of AAT in the setting of IRI utilizing a rat lung transplant model. Methods Orthotopic left single lung transplantation was performed from Lewis to Sprague-Dawley rats; recipients did not receive systemic immunosuppression. Before transplantation, the donor lungs were primed with either albumin (control) or AAT. Starting the day of transplantation, recipient rats also received either albumin (control) or AAT with subsequent doses administered over the next 7 days. On the eighth postoperative day, lung allografts were recovered and analyzed. Results Degree of inflammatory infiltrate, as quantified by the allograft weight (g)/body weight (kg) ratio, was significantly reduced in the AAT-treated group compared with controls (3.5 vs 7.7, respectively, P < 0.05). Treatment with AAT also significantly decreased allograft necrosis in treated animals, as measured by a semiquantitative score that ranged from 0 to 4 (1.25 vs 4, P < 0.05). In addition, lymphocytes isolated from recipients treatment group showed significant proliferative inhibition via a mixed lymphocyte response assay in response to donor antigens. Conclusions AAT attenuates acute allograft injury and necrosis in a rat model of lung transplantation, suggesting that AAT may play a role in reducing IRI-induced inflammation.
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Geiger S, Ozay EI, Geumann U, Hereth MK, Magnusson T, Shanthalingam S, Hirsch D, Kälin S, Günther C, Osborne BA, Tew GN, Hermann FG, Minter LM. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin-Expressing Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Confer a Long-Term Survival Benefit in a Mouse Model of Lethal GvHD. Mol Ther 2019; 27:1436-1451. [PMID: 31138510 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute graft-versus-host disease is a frequent complication associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Patients that become refractory to initial steroid treatment have a poor prognosis. apceth-201 consists of human allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells, engineered by lentiviral transduction to express the protease inhibitor alpha-1 antitrypsin, to augment the anti-inflammatory potential of the mesenchymal stromal cells. We show that apceth-201 mesenchymal stromal cells efficiently suppress T cell proliferation and polarize macrophages to an anti-inflammatory M2 type, in vitro. To assess the in vivo efficacy of apceth-201, it was tested in two different mouse models of acute graft-versus-host disease. Control animals in a humanized model succumbed quickly to disease, whereas median survival was doubled in apceth-201-treated animals. The product was also tested in a graft-versus-host disease model system that closely mimics haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, an approach that is now being evaluated for use in the clinic. Control animals succumbed quickly to disease, whereas treatment with apceth-201 resulted in long-term survival of 57% of the animals. Within 25 days after the second injection, clinical scores returned to baseline in responding animals, indicating complete resolution of graft-versus-host disease. These promising data have led to planning of a phase I study using apceth-201.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emrah I Ozay
- Program in Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Ulf Geumann
- apceth Biopharma GmbH, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Sudarvili Shanthalingam
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | | | | | | | - Barbara A Osborne
- Program in Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Gregory N Tew
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | | | - Lisa M Minter
- Program in Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
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49
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Dimeloe S, Rice LV, Chen H, Cheadle C, Raynes J, Pfeffer P, Lavender P, Richards DF, Nyon MP, McDonnell JM, Kemper C, Gooptu B, Hawrylowicz CM. Vitamin D (1,25(OH) 2D3) induces α-1-antitrypsin synthesis by CD4 + T cells, which is required for 1,25(OH) 2D3-driven IL-10. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 189:1-9. [PMID: 30690074 PMCID: PMC6525112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Studies to identify novel immune-regulatory functions of active vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3) in human CD4+ T cells revealed that 1,25(OH)2D3 potently induced expression of the gene SERPINA1, encoding the anti-protease α-1-antitrypsin. We confirmed α-1-antitrypsin protein expression by 1,25(OH)2D3-treated CD4+ T cells, but not in CD8+ T cells or monocytes. α-1-Antitrypsin promotes anti-inflammatory IL-10 synthesis in other immune cell populations. We therefore investigated its immune-regulatory effects in CD4+ T cells. Plasma-derived α-1-antitrypsin drove IL-10 synthesis by CD4+ T cells, which was not dependent on anti-protease activity, but appeared to require a serum-binding factor, since this could not be achieved with recombinant protein. α-1-Antitrypsin is reported to bind complement components, which regulate T cell function. A role for this interaction was therefore probed. Plasma-derived, but not recombinant α-1-antitrypsin contained C3a. Surface Plasmon Resonance and Microscale Thermophoresis demonstrated α-1-antitrypsin binding to C3a. Addition of C3a to CD4+ T cells cultured with recombinant α-1-antitrypsin restored induction of IL-10, whereas neutralisation of C3a abrogated IL-10 induced by plasma-derived α-1-antitrypsin. To interrogate an endogenous role for the α-1-antitrypsin-C3a axis in 1,25(OH)2D3-driven CD4+ T cell IL-10 synthesis, we treated cells from healthy or α-1-antitrypsin-deficient individuals (which transcribe SERPINA1 but do not secrete protein) with 1,25(OH)2D3. A significant correlation was identified between SERPINA1 and IL10 gene expression in healthy donor CD4+ T cells, which was absent in cells from α-1-antitrypsin-deficient individuals. Therefore, α-1-antitrypsin is required for 1,25(OH)2D3-induced IL-10 expression in CD4+ T cells, interacting with C3a to drive IL-10 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Dimeloe
- MRC and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Louise V Rice
- MRC and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Hebe Chen
- MRC and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Cheadle
- MRC and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - John Raynes
- Immunology and Infection Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Pfeffer
- MRC and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Lavender
- MRC and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - David F Richards
- MRC and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Mun Peak Nyon
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology/Crystallography, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
| | - James M McDonnell
- MRC and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Kemper
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Division of Transplantation Immunology and Mucosal Biology, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Bibek Gooptu
- MRC and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom; Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology/Crystallography, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom; NIHR Leicester BRC-Respiratory and Leicester Institute of Structural & Chemical Biology, Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester, LE3 9QP, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine M Hawrylowicz
- MRC and Asthma UK Centre for Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom.
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50
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Reeves EP, Dunlea DM, McQuillan K, O'Dwyer CA, Carroll TP, Saldova R, Akepati PR, Wormald MR, McElvaney OJ, Shutchaidat V, Henry M, Meleady P, Keenan J, Liberti DC, Kotton DN, Rudd PM, Wilson AA, McElvaney NG. Circulating Truncated Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Glycoprotein in Patient Plasma Retains Anti-Inflammatory Capacity. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2019; 202:2240-2253. [PMID: 30796179 PMCID: PMC6452030 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is an acute phase protein that possesses immune-regulatory and anti-inflammatory functions independent of antiprotease activity. AAT deficiency (AATD) is associated with early-onset emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Of interest are the AATD nonsense mutations (termed null or Q0), the majority of which arise from premature termination codons in the mRNA coding region. We have recently demonstrated that plasma from an AATD patient homozygous for the Null Bolton allele (Q0bolton ) contains AAT protein of truncated size. Although the potential to alleviate the phenotypic consequences of AATD by increasing levels of truncated protein holds therapeutic promise, protein functionality is key. The goal of this study was to evaluate the structural features and anti-inflammatory capacity of Q0bolton-AAT. A low-abundance, truncated AAT protein was confirmed in plasma of a Q0bolton-AATD patient and was secreted by patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell-hepatic cells. Functional assays confirmed the ability of purified Q0bolton-AAT protein to bind neutrophil elastase and to inhibit protease activity. Q0bolton-AAT bound IL-8 and leukotriene B4, comparable to healthy control M-AAT, and significantly decreased leukotriene B4-induced neutrophil adhesion (p = 0.04). Through a mechanism involving increased mRNA stability (p = 0.007), ataluren treatment of HEK-293 significantly increased Q0bolton-AAT mRNA expression (p = 0.03) and Q0bolton-AAT truncated protein secretion (p = 0.04). Results support the rationale for treatment with pharmacological agents that augment levels of functional Q0bolton-AAT protein, thus offering a potential therapeutic option for AATD patients with rare mutations of similar theratype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emer P Reeves
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland;
| | - Danielle M Dunlea
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Karen McQuillan
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Ciara A O'Dwyer
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Tomás P Carroll
- Alpha-1 Foundation Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Radka Saldova
- GlycoScience Group, National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Mount Merrion, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Prithvi Reddy Akepati
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118
| | - Mark R Wormald
- Department of Biochemistry, Oxford Glycobiology Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom; and
| | - Oliver J McElvaney
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Vipatsorn Shutchaidat
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Michael Henry
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Paula Meleady
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Joanne Keenan
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Derek C Liberti
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118
| | - Darrell N Kotton
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118
| | - Pauline M Rudd
- Alpha-1 Foundation Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Andrew A Wilson
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118
| | - Noel G McElvaney
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
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