Structure/function analysis of the murine CD95L promoter reveals the identification of a novel transcriptional repressor and functional CD28 response element

Identification of Marker Genes in Infectious Diseases from ScRNA-seq Data Using Interpretable Machine Learning

A common result of infection is an abnormal immune response, which may be detrimental to the host. To control the infection, the immune system might undergo regulation, therefore producing an excess of either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory pathways that can lead to widespread inflammation, tissue damage, and organ failure. A dysregulated immune response can manifest as changes in differentiated immune cell populations and concentrations of circulating biomarkers. To propose an early diagnostic system that enables differentiation and identifies the severity of immune-dysregulated syndromes, we built an artificial intelligence tool that uses input data from single-cell RNA sequencing. In our results, single-cell transcriptomics successfully distinguished between mild and severe sepsis and COVID-19 infections. Moreover, by interpreting the decision patterns of our classification system, we identified that different immune cells upregulating or downregulating the expression of the genes CD3, CD14, CD16, FOSB, S100A12, and TCRɣδ can accurately differentiate between different degrees of infection. Our research has identified genes of significance that effectively distinguish between infections, offering promising prospects as diagnostic markers and providing potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Naja atra Cardiotoxin 1 Induces the FasL/Fas Death Pathway in Human Leukemia Cells

This study aimed to investigate the mechanistic pathway of Naja atra (Taiwan cobra) cardiotoxin 1 (CTX1)-induced death of leukemia cell lines U937 and HL-60. CTX1 increased cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to the death of U937 cells. It was found that Ca²⁺-induced NOX4 upregulation promoted ROS-mediated p38 MAPK phosphorylation, which consequently induced c-Jun and ATF-2 phosphorylation. Using siRNA knockdown, activated c-Jun and ATF-2 were demonstrated to regulate the expression of Fas and FasL, respectively. Suppression of Ca²⁺-mediated NOX4 expression or ROS-mediated p38 MAPK activation increased the survival of U937 cells exposed to CTX1. FADD depletion abolished CTX1-induced cell death, caspase-8 activation, and t-Bid production, supporting the correlation between the Fas death pathway and CTX1-mediated cytotoxicity. Among the tested N. atra CTX isotoxins, only CTX1 induced Fas and FasL expression. Chemical modification studies revealed that intact Met residues were essential for the activity of CTX1 to upregulate Fas and FasL expression. Taken together, the data in this study indicate that CTX1 induces c-Jun-mediated Fas and ATF-2-mediated FasL transcription by the Ca²⁺/NOX4/ROS/p38 MAPK axis, thereby activating the Fas death pathway in U937 cells. Furthermore, CTX1 activates Fas/FasL death signaling in the leukemia cell line HL-60.

AP-1 family transcription factors: a diverse family of proteins that regulate varied cellular activities in classical hodgkin lymphoma and ALK+ ALCL

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive, anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK+ ALCL) are B and T cell lymphomas respectively, which express the tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily member, CD30. Another feature shared by cHL and ALK+ ALCL is the aberrant expression of multiple members of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) family of transcription factors which includes proteins of the Jun, Fos, ATF, and Maf subfamilies. In this review, we highlight the varied roles these proteins play in the pathobiology of these lymphomas including promoting proliferation, suppressing apoptosis, and evading the host immune response. In addition, we discuss factors contributing to the elevated expression of these transcription factors in cHL and ALK+ ALCL. Finally, we examine therapeutic strategies for these lymphomas that exploit AP-1 transcriptional targets or the signalling pathways they regulate.

Adaphostin promotes caffeine-evoked autocrine Fas-mediated death pathway activation in Bcr/Abl-positive leukaemia cells

The present study was conducted to verify whether caffeine is beneficial for improving leukaemia therapy. Co-treatment with adaphostin (a Bcr/Abl inhibitor) was found to potentiate caffeine-induced Fas/FasL up-regulation. Although adaphostin did not elicit ASK1 (apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1)-mediated phosphorylation of p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) and JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), co-treatment with adaphostin notably increased p38 MAPK/JNK activation in caffeine-treated cells. Suppression of p38 MAPK and JNK abrogated Fas/FasL up-regulation in caffeine- and caffeine/adaphostin-treated cells. Compared with caffeine, adaphostin markedly suppressed Akt/ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase)-mediated MKP-1 (MAPK phosphatase 1) protein expression in K562 cells. MKP-1 down-regulation eventually elucidated the enhanced effect of adaphostin on p38 MAPK/JNK activation and subsequent Fas/FasL up-regulation in caffeine-treated cells. Knockdown of p38α MAPK and JNK1, ATF-2 (activating transcription factor 2) and c-Jun by siRNA (small interfering RNA) proved that p38α MAPK/ATF-2 and JNK1/c-Jun pathways were responsible for caffeine-evoked Fas/FasL up-regulation. Moreover, Ca2+ and ROS (reactive oxygen species) were demonstrated to be responsible for ASK1 activation and Akt/ERK inactivation respectively in caffeine- and caffeine/adaphostin-treated cells. Likewise, adaphostin functionally enhanced caffeine-induced Fas/FasL up-regulation in leukaemia cells that expressed Bcr/Abl. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest a therapeutic strategy in improving the efficacy of adaphostin via Fas-mediated death pathway activation in Bcr/Abl-positive leukaemia.

Suppression of ERK signaling evokes autocrine Fas-mediated death in arachidonic acid-treated human chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells

Arachidonic acid (AA)-induced apoptotic death of K562 cells (human chronic myeloid leukemic cells) was characteristic of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial depolarization. N-Acetylcysteine pretreatment rescued viability of AA-treated cells and abolished mitochondrial depolarization. In contrast to no significant changes in phospho-JNK and phospho-ERK levels, AA evoked notable activation of p38 MAPK. Unlike that of JNK and p38 MAPK, ERK suppression further reduced the viability of AA-treated cells. Increases in Fas/FasL protein expression, caspase-8 activation, the production of tBid and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were noted with K562 cells that were treated with a combination of U0126 and AA. Down-regulation of FADD attenuated U0126-evoked degradation of procaspase-8 and Bid. Abolition of p38 MAPK activation abrogated U0126-elicited Fas/FasL up-regulation in AA-treated cells. U0126 pretreatment suppressed c-Fos phosphorylation but increased p38 MAPK-mediated c-Jun phosphorylation. Knock-down of c-Fos and c-Jun protein expression by siRNA suggested that c-Fos counteracted the effect of c-Jun on Fas/FasL up-regulation. Taken together, our data indicate that AA induces the ROS/mitochondria-dependent death pathway and blocks the ERK pathway which enhances the cytotoxicity of AA through additionally evoking an autocrine Fas-mediated apoptotic mechanism in K562 cells.

Notexin upregulates Fas and FasL protein expression of human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells through p38 MAPK/ATF-2 and JNK/c-Jun pathways

Notechis scutatus scutatus notexin induced an increase in Fas and FasL protein expression of human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, notexin treatment upregulated transcription of Fas/FasL mRNA. Downregulation of FADD blocked notexin-induced procaspase-8 degradation and cleavage of Bid and rescued viability of notexin-treated cells. Upon exposure to notexin, activation of JNK and p38 MAPK was observed in SK-N-SH cells. Notexin-induced upregulation of Fas and FasL was suppressed by SB202190 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) and S600125 (JNK inhibitor). Downregulation of p38alpha MAPK and JNK1 by siRNA proved that upregulation of Fas/FasL was related to p38alpha MAPK and JNK1 activation. Notexin treatment evoked p38alpha MAPK-mediated ATF-2 phosphorylation and JNK1-mediated c-Jun phosphorylation. Knockdown of c-Jun and ATF-2 by siRNA or overexpression of dominant-negative c-Jun and ATF-2 revealed that both c-Jun and ATF-2 were crucial for Fas/FasL upregulation. Taken together, our data indicate that notexin-induced upregulation of Fas and FasL is triggered by p38 MAPK/ATF-2 and JNK/c-Jun signaling pathways in SK-N-SH cells.

OX40 (CD134) and OX40L

The interaction between OX40 and OX40L plays an important role in antigen-specific T-cell expansion and survival. While OX40 is expressed predominantly on T-lymphocytes early after antigen activation, OX40L is expressed on activated antigen presenting cells and endothelial cells within acute inflammatory environments. We discuss here how ligation of OX40 by OX40L leads to enhanced T-cell survival, along with local inflammatory responses that appear critical for both effective T-cell mediated responses and chronic immune pathologies. We describe how interventions that block or mimic the OX40-OX40L interaction can be applied to treat autoimmune diseases or enhance anti-tumor immune responses. The clinically relevant properties of these agents emphasize the importance of this particular TNFSF-TNFSF in health and disease.

A Role for the Fas/FasL System in Modulating Genetic Susceptibility to T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphomas

The Fas/FasL system mediates induced apoptosis of immature thymocytes and peripheral T lymphocytes, but little is known about its implication in genetic susceptibility to T-cell malignancies. In this article, we report that the expression of FasL increases early in all mice after gamma-radiation treatments, maintaining such high levels for a long time in mice that resisted tumor induction. However, its expression is practically absent in T-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas. Interestingly, there exist significant differences in the level of expression between two mice strains exhibiting extremely distinct susceptibilities that can be attributed to promoter functional polymorphisms. In addition, several functional nucleotide changes in the coding sequences of both Fas and FasL genes significantly affect their biological activity. These results lead us to propose that germ-line functional polymorphisms affecting either the levels of expression or the biological activity of both Fas and FasL genes could be contributing to the genetic risk to develop T-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas and support the use of radiotherapy as an adequate procedure to choose in the treatment of T-cell malignancies.

Transcriptional regulation of FasL expression and participation of sTNF-alpha in response to sertoli cell injury

The Fas/FasL signaling pathway has previously been demonstrated to be critical for triggering germ cell apoptosis in response to mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP)-induced Sertoli cell injury. Although Sertoli cells ubiquitously express the FasL protein, MEHP-induced germ cell apoptosis appears to tightly correlate with increased levels of Sertoli cell FasL. Here we characterize the transcriptional regulation of the murine FasL gene in Sertoli cells after MEHP exposure. A serial deletion strategy for 1.5 kb of the 5'-upstream activating sequence of the FasL promoter was used to determine transcriptional activity in response to MEHP. Luciferase activity of the FasL promoter in the rat Sertoli cell line ASC-17D revealed that two regions, -500 to -324 and -1250 to -1000, were necessary to drive the inducible transcription of FasL. Sequence analysis of these two regions revealed two cis-regulatory elements, NF-kappaB and Sp-1. By site-directed mutagenesis, electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, it was confirmed that MEHP-induced FasL expression is enhanced through the transcriptional regulation of both NF-kappaB and Sp-1. Experiments performed both in vitro and in vivo revealed that MEHP exposure results in an increased production of sTNF-alpha and that sTNF-alpha-mediated NF-kappaB activation causes robust increases in FasL levels in both the ASC-17D Sertoli cell line and in primary rat Sertoli cell/germ cell co-cultures. In the seminiferous epithelium, Sertoli cells express TNFR1, whereas germ cells produce TNF-alpha. Therefore, sTNF-alpha released by germ cells after MEHP-induced Sertoli cell injury acts upon Sertoli cell TNFR1 and activates NF-kappaB and Sp-1 that consequently causes a robust induction of FasL expression. These novel findings point to a potential "feed-forward" signaling mechanism by which germ cells prompt Sertoli cells to trigger their apoptotic elimination.

NF-κB, AP-1, Zinc-deficiency and aging

Zinc (Zn) deficiency, a frequent condition in human population especially in aged persons, induces oxidative stress and subsequently activates/inhibits oxidant-sensitive transcription factors that can affect cell function, proliferation and survival leading to disease. Zn deficiency-triggered oxidative stress could affect cell signalling, including transcription factors containing Zn finger motifs and other oxidant-sensitive transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1). AP-1 can be activated in Zn deficiency that can occur secondary to an increase in cellular H(2)O(2), followed by activation of MAPKs p38 and JNK. Similarly, the cytosolic steps of the NF-kappaB cascade are activated by oxidants in Zn deficiency. However, an impaired nuclear transport of the active transcription factor leads to a low expression of NF-kappaB-dependent genes that could be involved in multiple steps of Zn deficiency associated pathology. We present here evidence that, following experimental depletion of Zn, both NF-kappaB and AP-1 signallings are altered in primary T cells isolated from young and elderly healthy individuals under CD3/CD28 costimulation. A supplementation of Zn restored both NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation in CD3/CD28 costimulated T cells from young, but not from elderly, healthy individuals, indicating that the Zn deficiency is only one component of a more complex mechanism involved in immunosenescence. In this review we summarize our present knowledge on NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation and underline the role of Zn in this process, especially in the context of Zn deficiency observed in aged persons leading to immunosenescence.

Role of dioxin response element and nuclear factor-kappaB motifs in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-mediated regulation of Fas and Fas ligand expression

We have demonstrated previously that 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) up-regulates Fas and FasL in immune cells, although the molecular mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated the regulation of Fas or FasL promoter by TCDD in EL4 T cells using luciferase reporter constructs. We observed 20 +/- 5- and 14 +/- 4-fold induction of promoter activity for Fas and FasL, respectively, after TCDD exposure. The induction of luciferase was significantly reduced (2 +/- 1-fold) in the presence of alpha-naphthoflavone, an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) antagonist. We noted the presence of a dioxin response element (DRE) and five nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) motifs on Fas promoter, and no DRE but two NF-kappaB motifs on FasL promoter. When we investigated the role of DRE and NF-kappaB, we observed varying levels of luciferase induction (9 +/- 2-fold for DRE and 8 +/- 2-fold for NF-kappaBs of Fas promoter and 6 +/- 3-fold for NF-kappaBs of FasL promoter). Mutations in DRE of Fas promoter or NF-kappaBs of FasL promoter led to decreased luciferase induction, further supporting our results. Probes for DRE or NF-kappaB motifs of Fas and/or FasL promoters demonstrated mobility shift in the presence of nuclear extract from TCDD-treated EL4 cells. Furthermore, we observed supershift in mobility when DRE and NF-kappaB probes were incubated in the presence of anti-mouse AhR, and anti-NF-kappaB (RelA/p65 and p50) antibodies, respectively. Administration of TCDD into mice caused significant increase in Fas and FasL transcripts in thymus and liver. These data demonstrate that TCDD regulates Fas and FasL promoters through DRE and/or NF-kappaB motifs via AhR.

Treatment of mice with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin leads to aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and expression of Fas ligand in thymic stromal cells and consequent apoptosis in T cells

We investigated the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in the regulation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced apoptosis in thymic T cells. AhR knockout (KO) mice were resistant to TCDD-induced thymic atrophy and apoptosis when compared with the AhR wild-type mice. TCDD triggered the expression of several apoptotic genes, including FasL in AhR wild-type but not AhRKO mice. TCDD-induced increase in FasL was seen only in thymic stromal but not thymic T cells. When TCDD-exposed stromal cells were mixed with untreated thymic T cells, increased apoptosis was detected in T cells that involved Fas-FasL interactions. Thus, apoptosis in T cells was not detected when TCDD-treated stromal cells from FasL-defective or AhRKO mice were mixed with wild-type T cells or when TCDD-exposed wild-type stromal cells were mixed with Fas-deficient T cells. TCDD treatment, in vivo and in vitro, led to colocalization and translocation of NF-kappaB subunits (p50, p65) to the nucleus in stromal but not T cells from AhR wild-type mice. NF-kappaB activation was not observed in stromal cells isolated from TCDD-treated AhRKO mice. Mutations in NF-kappaB-binding sites on the FasL promoter showed that TCDD regulates FasL promoter activity through NF-kappaB. TCDD treatment in vivo caused activation of the death receptor and mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis. Cross-talk between the two pathways was not necessary for apoptosis inasmuch as TCDD-treated Bid KO mice showed thymic atrophy and increased apoptosis, similar to the wild-type mice. These findings demonstrate that AhR regulates FasL and NF-kappaB in stromal cells, which in turn plays a critical role in initiating apoptosis in thymic T cells.

NF-kappaB regulates Fas-mediated apoptosis in HIV-associated nephropathy

Renal parenchymal injury in HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is characterized by epithelial proliferation, dedifferentiation, and apoptosis along the entire length of the nephron. Although apoptotic cell death in HIVAN has been well documented, the mechanism for HIV-induced apoptosis is poorly understood. Whether the epithelial apoptosis in HIVAN is mediated by NF-kappaB-activated Fas ligand expression was investigated here. In human HIVAN and HIV-1 transgenic mouse kidney specimens, the expression of Fas receptor and ligand proteins were markedly upregulated on epithelium in diseased glomerular and tubulointerstitial compartments when compared with normal. Podocyte cell lines that were derived from HIV-1 transgenic mice showed a similar upregulation of Fas receptor expression and de novo expression of Fas ligand by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting. In cultured podocytes, cross-linking of the Fas receptor to mimic ligand binding induced caspase 8 activity and apoptosis in both normal and HIVAN podocytes. Because constitutive NF-kappaB activity has been demonstrated in HIVAN epithelia, evidence for transcriptional control of the Fas ligand expression by NF-kappaB was sought. With the use of cultured podocytes, expression of a Fas ligand promoter reporter plasmid was higher in HIVAN podocytes, indicating increased transcriptional activity. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were performed to demonstrate that p65-containing (RelA) complexes bound the Fas ligand promoter and that suppression of activated NF-kappaB with a peptide inhibitor could reduce the expression of Fas ligand mRNA in HIVAN podocytes. These results suggest that NF-kappaB may regulate Fas-mediated apoptosis in HIVAN by controlling the expression of Fas ligand in renal epithelium.

AP-1 subunits: quarrel and harmony among siblings

The AP-1 transcription factor is mainly composed of Jun, Fos and ATF protein dimers. It mediates gene regulation in response to a plethora of physiological and pathological stimuli, including cytokines, growth factors, stress signals, bacterial and viral infections, as well as oncogenic stimuli. Studies in genetically modified mice and cells have highlighted a crucial role for AP-1 in a variety of cellular events involved in normal development or neoplastic transformation causing cancer. However, emerging evidence indicates that the contribution of AP-1 to determination of cell fates critically depends on the relative abundance of AP-1 subunits, the composition of AP-1 dimers, the quality of stimulus, the cell type and the cellular environment. Therefore, AP-1-mediated regulation of processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and transformation should be considered within the context of a complex dynamic network of signalling pathways and other nuclear factors that respond simultaneously.

Itk is not essential for CD28 signaling in naive T cells

Itk, a member of the Tec family of tyrosine kinases, is critical for TCR signaling, leading to the activation of phospholipase C gamma1. Early biochemical studies performed in tumor cell lines also implicated Itk in CD28 signaling. These data were complemented by functional studies on primary Itk-/- T cells that suggested a negative role for Itk in CD28 signaling. In this report, we describe a thorough analysis of CD28-mediated responses in T cells lacking Itk. Using purified naive CD4+ T cells from Itk-/- mice, we examine a range of responses dependent on CD28 costimulation. We also analyze Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta phosphorylation in response to stimulation of CD28 alone. Overall, these experiments demonstrate that CD28 signaling, as well as CD28-mediated costimulation of TCR signaling, function efficiently in the absence of Itk. These findings indicate that Itk is not essential for CD28 signaling in primary naive CD4+ T cells.

Fetal expression of Fas ligand is necessary and sufficient for induction of CD8 T cell tolerance to the fetal antigen H-Y during pregnancy

Interaction of Fas with Fas ligand (FasL) is known to play a role in peripheral tolerance mediated by clonal deletion of Ag-specific T cells. We have assessed the requirement for Fas/FasL interactions during induction of tolerance to the fetus. Using H-Y-specific TCR transgenic mice, we have previously demonstrated that exposure of maternal T cells to H-Y expressed by male fetuses results in deletion of 50% of H-Y-specific maternal T cells. The remaining H-Y-specific T cells were hyporesponsive to H-Y as assayed by decreased proliferative ability and CTL activity. To determine whether Fas/FasL interactions contribute to induction of maternal T cell tolerance, responsiveness to fetal H-Y was assessed in H-Y-specific TCR transgenic pregnant females that were deficient in functional Fas or FasL. Surprisingly, both deletion and nondeletion components of tolerance were abrogated in TCR transgenic H-Y-specific lpr (Fas-deficient) or gld (FasL-deficient) pregnant females. Experiments further revealed that expression of FasL by the fetus, but not by the mother, is necessary and sufficient for both components of maternal T cell tolerance to fetal Ags. Fas interaction with fetal FasL is thus critical for both deletion and hyporesponsiveness of H-Y-reactive CD8+ T cells during pregnancy.

Induction of tolerance using Fas ligand: a double-edged immunomodulator

Apoptosis mediated by Fas ligand (FasL) interaction with Fas receptor plays a pivotal regulatory role in immune homeostasis, immune privilege, and self-tolerance. FasL, therefore, has been extensively exploited as an immunomodulatory agent to induce tolerance to both autoimmune and foreign antigens with conflicting results. Difficulties associated with the use of FasL as a tolerogenic factor may arise from (1) its complex posttranslational regulation, (2) the opposing functions of different forms of FasL, (3) different modes of expression, systemic versus localized and transient versus continuous, (4) the level and duration of expression, (5) the sensitivity of target tissues to Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis and the efficiency of antigen presentation in these tissues, and (6) the types and levels of cytokines, chemokines, and metalloproteinases in the extracellular milieu of the target tissues. Thus, the effective use of FasL as an immunomodulator to achieve durable antigen-specific immune tolerance requires careful consideration of all of these parameters and the design of treatment regimens that maximize tolerogenic efficacy, while minimizing the non-tolerogenic and toxic functions of this molecule. This review summarizes the current status of FasL as a tolerogenic agent, problems associated with its use as an immunomodulator, and new strategies to improve its therapeutic potential.

Recent developments in the transcriptional regulation of cytolytic effector cells

Transcription factors have a profound influence on both the differentiation and effector function of cells of the immune system. T-bet controls the cytotoxicity of CD8(+) T cells and the production of interferon-gamma, and it also affects the development and function of natural killer cells and natural killer T cells. Other factors such as eomesodermin, MEF, ETS1 and members of the interferon-regulatory factor family also contribute to the effector function of immune cells. In this review, we focus on recent studies that have shed light on the transcriptional mechanisms that regulate cellular effector function in the immune system.