Constitutively activated Akt-1 is vital for the survival of human monocyte-differentiated macrophages. Role of Mcl-1, independent of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, Bad, or caspase activation

Mitochondrial functioning in Rheumatoid arthritis modulated by estrogen: Evidence-based insight into the sex-based influence on mitochondria and disease

Alteration of immune response and synovium microvasculature in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression has been suggested to be associated with mitochondrial functioning. Mitochondria, with maternally inherited DNA, exhibit differential response to the female hormone estrogen. Various epidemiological evidence has also shown the prominence of RA in the female population, depicting the role of estrogen in modulating the pathogenesis of RA. As estrogen regulates the expression of differential proteins and associated signaling pathways of RA, its influence on mitochondrial functioning seems evident. Thus, in this review, the studies related to mitochondria and their relation with estrogen and Rheumatoid arthritis were retrieved. We analyzed the different mitochondrial activities that are altered in RA and the possibility of their estrogenic control. The study expands to in silico analysis, revealing the differential mitochondrial proteins expressed in RA and examining these proteins as potential estrogenic targets. It was found that ALDH2, CASP3, and SOD2 are the major mitochondrial proteins involved in RA progression and are also potent estradiol targets. The analysis establishes the role of mitochondrial proteins in RA progression, which were found to be direct or indirect targets of estrogen, depicting its potential for regulating mitochondrial functions in RA.

Redox Regulation of PTEN by Reactive Oxygen Species: Its Role in Physiological Processes

Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor due to its ability to regulate cell survival, growth, and proliferation by downregulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In addition, PTEN plays an essential role in other physiological events associated with cell growth demands, such as ischemia-reperfusion, nerve injury, and immune responsiveness. Therefore, recently, PTEN inhibition has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention in these situations. Increasing evidence demonstrates that reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), are produced and required for the signaling in many important cellular processes under such physiological conditions. ROS have been shown to oxidize PTEN at the cysteine residue of its active site, consequently inhibiting its function. Herein, we provide an overview of studies that highlight the role of the oxidative inhibition of PTEN in physiological processes.

The PI3K-Akt pathway is a multifaceted regulator of the macrophage response to diverse group B Streptococcus isolates

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), also known as Streptococcus agalactiae, is a common member of the microbial flora in healthy individuals. However, problems may arise when GBS-colonized mothers become pregnant. GBS may be transferred from a colonized mother to her newborn or developing fetus, which may result in complications such as miscarriage, pre-term birth, meningitis, pneumonia, or sepsis. Macrophages play an especially important role in the fetal and newborn response to GBS due to the limited development of the adaptive immune system early in life. The goal of this study was to expand what is currently known about how GBS manipulates macrophage cell signaling to evade the immune system and cause disease. To this end, we investigated whether the PI3K-Akt pathway was involved in several key aspects of the macrophage response to GBS. We explored whether certain GBS strains, such as sequence type (ST)-17 strains, rely on this pathway for the more rapid macrophage uptake they induce compared to other GBS strains. Our findings suggest that this pathway is, indeed, important for macrophage uptake of GBS. Consistent with these findings, we used immunofluorescence microscopy to demonstrate that more virulent strains of GBS induce more actin projections in macrophages than less virulent strains. Additionally, we explored whether PI3K-Akt signaling impacted the ability of GBS to survive within macrophages after phagocytosis and whether this pathway influenced the survival rate of macrophages themselves following GBS infection. The PI3K-Akt pathway was found to promote the survival of both macrophages and intracellular GBS following infection. We also observed that inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway significantly reduced GBS-mediated activation of NFκB, which is a key regulator of cell survival and inflammatory responses. Overall, these insights into strain-dependent GBS-mediated manipulation of the PI3K-Akt pathway and its downstream targets in infected macrophages may provide new insights for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools to combat severe GBS disease.

Virion-associated US28 rapidly modulates Akt activity to suppress HCMV lytic replication in monocytes

Establishing a non-productive quiescent/silent infection within monocytes is essential for spread of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Yet, how HCMV establishes a quiescent infection in monocytes remains unclear. US28 is a viral G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) essential for silent infections within cells of the myeloid lineage. We found virion-associated US28 was rapidly delivered to monocytes, while de novo synthesized US28 was delayed for several days. A recombinant mutant virus lacking US28 (US28Δ) was unable to establish a quiescent infection, resulting in a fully productive lytic replication cycle. Mechanistically, viral entry of US28Δ phosphorylated Akt at both serine 473 (S473) and threonine 308 (T308), which contrasted with the site-specific phosphorylation of Akt at S473 following WT infection. Preventing Akt bi-phosphorylation prevented lytic replication of US28Δ, and ectopic expression of a constitutively phosphorylated Akt variant triggered lytic replication of WT infection. Our data demonstrate that virion-delivered US28 fine-tunes Akt activity to permit HCMV infection to enter a quiescent state following primary infection of monocytes.

Regulation of Macrophage Polarization Through Periodic Photo-Thermal Treatment to Facilitate Osteogenesis

The richened reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their derived excessive inflammation at bone injured sites hinder osteogenesis of endosseous Ti-based implants. Herein, anti-oxidized polydopamine (PDA) is deposited on hydrothermal growth formed hydroxyapatite (HA) nanorods on Ti to form a core-shell structural nanorod-like array with HA as a core and PDA as an amorphous shell (PDA@HA), showing not only ROS scavenging ability but also near-infrared (NIR) light derived photo-thermal effects. PDA@HA suppresses inflammation based on its ROS scavenging ability to a certain extent, while periodic photo-thermal treatment (PTT) at a mild temperature (41 ± 1 °C) further accelerates the transition of the macrophages (MΦs) adhered to PDA@HA from the pro-inflammatory (M1) phenotype to the anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that the activation of the PI3K-Akt1 signaling pathway is responsible for the periodic PTT induced acceleration of the M1-to-M2 transition of MΦs. Acting on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with paracrine cytokines of M2 macrophages, PDA@HA with mild PTT greatly promote the osteogenetic functions of MSCs and thus osteogenesis. This work paves a way of employing mildly periodic PTT to induce a favorable immunomodulatory microenvironment for osteogenesis and provides insights into its underlying immunomodulation mechanism.

Cubic multi-ions-doped Na2TiO3 nanorod-like coatings: Structure-stable, highly efficient platform for ions-exchanged release to immunomodulatory promotion on vascularized bone apposition

The dissolution-derived release of bioactive ions from ceramic coatings on metallic implants, despite improving osseointegration, renders a concern on the interfacial breakdown of the metal/coating/bone system during long-term service. Consequently, persistent efforts to seek alternative strategies instead of dissolution-derived activation are pressingly carrying out. Inspired by bone mineral containing ions as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Zn²⁺, here we hydrothermally grew the quadruple ions co-doped Na₂TiO₃ nanorod-like coatings. The co-doped ions partially substitute Na⁺ in Na₂TiO₃, and can be efficiently released from cubic lattice via exchange with Na⁺ in fluid rather than dissolution, endowing the coatings superior long-term stability of structure and bond strength. Regulated by the coatings-conditioned extracellular ions, TLR4-NFκB signalling is enhanced to act primarily in macrophages (MΦs) at 6 h while CaSR-PI3K-Akt1 signalling is potentiated to act predominately since 24 h, triggering MΦs in a M1 response early and then in a M2 response to sequentially secrete diverse cytokines. Acting on endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells with the released ions and cytokines, the immunomodulatory coatings greatly promote Type-H (CD31^hiEmcn^hi) angiogenesis and osteogenesis in vitro and in vivo, providing new insights into orchestrating insoluble ceramics-coated implants for early vascularized osseointegration in combination with long-term fixation to bone.

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Co-doped Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Zn²⁺ in Na₂TiO₃ efficiently release via ion exchange.

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QID elevates extracellular concentrations of the ions and MΦ intracellular [Ca²⁺].

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Co-doped Na₂TiO₃ coatings promote immunomodulatory apposition of vascularized bone.

Akt plays differential roles during the life cycles of acute and persistent murine norovirus strains in macrophages

Akt (Protein kinase B) is a key signaling protein in eukaryotic cells that controls many cellular processes such as glucose metabolism and cell proliferation for survival. As obligate intracellular pathogens, viruses modulate host cellular processes, including Akt signaling, for optimal replication. The mechanisms by which viruses modulate Akt and the resulting effects on the infectious cycle differ widely depending on the virus. In this study, we explored the effect of Akt serine 473 phosphorylation (p-Akt) during murine norovirus (MNV) infection. p-Akt increased during infection of murine macrophages with acute MNV-1 and persistent CR3 and CR6 strains. Inhibition of Akt with MK2206, an inhibitor of all three isoforms of Akt (Akt1/2/3), reduced infectious virus progeny of all three virus strains. This reduction was due to decreased viral genome replication (CR3), defective virus assembly (MNV-1), or diminished cellular egress (CR3 and CR6) in a virus strain-dependent manner. Collectively, our data demonstrate that Akt activation increases in macrophages during the later stages of the MNV infectious cycle, which may enhance viral infection in unique ways for different virus strains. The data, for the first time, indicate a role for Akt signaling in viral assembly and highlight additional phenotypic differences between closely related MNV strains. Importance Human noroviruses (HNoV) are a leading cause of viral gastroenteritis, resulting in high annual economic burden and morbidity; yet there are no small animal models supporting productive HNoV infection, or robust culture systems producing cell culture-derived virus stocks. As a result, research on drug discovery and vaccine development against norovirus infection has been challenging, and no targeted antivirals or vaccines against HNoV are approved. On the other hand, murine norovirus (MNV) replicates to high titers in cell culture and is a convenient and widespread model in norovirus research. Our data demonstrate the importance of Akt signaling during the late stage of the MNV life cycle. Notably, the effect of Akt signaling on genome replication, virus assembly and cellular egress is virus strain specific, highlighting the diversity of biological phenotypes despite small genetic variability among norovirus strains. This study is the first to demonstrate a role for Akt in viral assembly.

Human Cytomegalovirus Host Interactions: EGFR and Host Cell Signaling Is a Point of Convergence Between Viral Infection and Functional Changes in Infected Cells

Viruses have evolved diverse strategies to manipulate cellular signaling pathways in order to promote infection and/or persistence. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) possesses a number of unique properties that allow the virus to alter cellular events required for infection of a diverse array of host cell types and long-term persistence. Of specific importance is infection of bone marrow derived and myeloid lineage cells, such as peripheral blood monocytes and CD34⁺ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) because of their essential role in dissemination of the virus and for the establishment of latency. Viral induced signaling through the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and other receptors such as integrins are key control points for viral-induced cellular changes and productive and latent infection in host organ systems. This review will explore the current understanding of HCMV strategies utilized to hijack cellular signaling pathways, such as EGFR, to promote the wide-spread dissemination and the classic life-long herpesvirus persistence.

Co-culture of pro-inflammatory macrophages and myofibroblasts: Evaluating morphological phenotypes and screening the effects of signaling pathway inhibitors

Skeletal muscle regeneration is a complex process influenced by non-myogenic macrophages and fibroblasts, which acquire different phenotypes in response to changes in the injury milieu or changes in experimental conditions. In vitro, serum stimulates the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, while lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates the polarization of unstimulated (M0) macrophages to acquire an M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype. We characterized these phenotypes using morphology (with circularity as shape descriptor; perfect circularity = 1.0) and phenotype-specific markers. Myofibroblasts (high α-smooth muscle actin [SMA] expression) had high circularity (mean 0.60 ± 0.03). Their de-differentiation to fibroblasts (low α-SMA expression) significantly lessened circularity (0.47 ± 0.01 and 0.35 ± 0.02 in 2% or 0% serum culture media respectively (p < 0.05). Unstimulated (M0) macrophages (no CD86 expression) had high circularity (0.72 ± 0.02) which decreased when stimulated to M1 macrophages (CD86 expression) (LPS; 0.61 ± 0.02; p < 0.05). Utilizing these established conditions, we then co-cultured M1 macrophages with myofibroblasts or myoblasts. M1 macrophages significantly decreased relative myofibroblast numbers (from 223 ± 22% to 64 ± 7%), but not myoblast numbers. This pro-inflammatory co-culture model was used to rapidly screen the following four compounds for ability to prevent M1 macrophage-mediated decrease in myofibroblast numbers: L-NAME (inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor), SP600125 (c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor) and LY294002 (phosphoinositide 3-kinase [PI3K] inhibitor). We found that LY294002 rescued myofibroblasts and decreased macrophage numbers. Myofibroblast rescue did not occur with L-NAME, SB203580 or SP600125 incubation. In conclusion, these data suggest a PI3K-associated mechanism whereby myofibroblasts can be rescued, despite simulated pro-inflammatory conditions.

BAD inactivation exacerbates rheumatoid arthritis pathology by promoting survival of sublining macrophages

The resistance of synovial sublining macrophages to apoptosis has a crucial role in joint inflammation and destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the underlying mechanism is incompletely understood. Here we report that inactivation of the pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family protein BAD is essential for survival of synovial sublining macrophage in RA. Genetic disruption of Bad leads to more severe joint inflammation and cartilage and bone damage with reduced apoptosis of synovial sublining macrophages in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and TNFα transgenic (TNF-Tg) mouse models. Conversely, Bad3SA/3SA mice, in which BAD can no longer be inactivated by phosphorylation, are protected from collagen-induced arthritis. Mechanistically, phosphorylation-mediated inactivation of BAD specifically protects synovial sublining macrophages from apoptosis in highly inflammatory environment of arthritic joints in CIA and TNF-Tg mice, and in patients with RA, thereby contributing to RA pathology. Our findings put forward a model in which inactivation of BAD confers the apoptosis resistance on synovial sublining macrophages, thereby contributing to the development of arthritis, suggesting that BAD may be a potential therapeutic target for RA.

Human Cytomegalovirus Glycoprotein-Initiated Signaling Mediates the Aberrant Activation of Akt

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised and immunonaive individuals. HCMV-induced signaling initiated during viral entry stimulates a rapid noncanonical activation of Akt to drive the differentiation of short-lived monocytes into long-lived macrophages, which is essential for viral dissemination and persistence. We found that HCMV glycoproteins gB and gH directly bind and activate cellular epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and integrin β1, respectively, to reshape canonical Akt signaling within monocytes. The remodeling of the Akt signaling network was due to the recruitment of nontraditional Akt activators to either the gB- or gH-generated receptor signaling complexes. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) comprised of the p110β catalytic subunit was recruited to the gB/EGFR complex despite p110δ being the primary PI3K isoform found within monocytes. Concomitantly, SH2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) was recruited to the gH/integrin β1 complex, which is critical to aberrant Akt activation, as SHIP1 diverts PI3K signaling toward a noncanonical pathway. Although integrin β1 was required for SHIP1 recruitment, gB-activated EGFR mediated SHIP1 activation, underscoring the importance of the interplay between gB- and gH-mediated signaling to the unique activation of Akt during HCMV infection. Indeed, SHIP1 activation mediated the increased expression of Mcl-1 and HSP27, two Akt-dependent antiapoptotic proteins specifically upregulated during HCMV infection but not during growth factor treatment. Overall, our data indicate that HCMV glycoproteins gB and gH work in concert to initiate an HCMV-specific signalosome responsible for the atypical activation of Akt required for infected monocyte survival and ultimately viral persistence.IMPORTANCE Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is endemic throughout the world regardless of socioeconomic conditions and geographic locations with a seroprevalence reaching up to 100% in some developing countries. Although asymptomatic in healthy individuals, HCMV can cause severe multiorgan disease in immunocompromised or immunonaive patients. HCMV disease is a direct consequence of monocyte-mediated systematic spread of the virus following infection. Because monocytes are short-lived cells, HCMV must subvert the natural short life-span of these blood cells by inducing a distinct activation of Akt, a serine/theonine protein kinase. In this work, we demonstrate that HCMV glycoproteins gB and gH work in tandem to reroute classical host cellular receptor signaling to aberrantly activate Akt and drive survival of infected monocytes. Deciphering how HCMV modulates the cellular pathway to induce monocyte survival is important to develop a new class of anti-HCMV drugs that could target and prevent spread of the virus by eliminating infected monocytes.

Human Cytomegalovirus Mediates Unique Monocyte-to-Macrophage Differentiation through the PI3K/SHIP1/Akt Signaling Network

Blood monocytes mediate the hematogenous dissemination of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in the host. However, monocytes have a short 48-hour (h) lifespan and are not permissive for viral replication. We previously established that HCMV infection drives differentiation of monocytes into long-lived macrophages to mediate viral dissemination, though the mechanism was unclear. Here, we found that HCMV infection promoted monocyte polarization into distinct macrophages by inducing select M1 and M2 differentiation markers and that Akt played a central role in driving differentiation. Akt's upstream positive regulators, PI3K and SHIP1, facilitated the expression of the M1/M2 differentiation markers with p110δ being the predominant PI3K isoform inducing differentiation. Downstream of Akt, M1/M2 differentiation was mediated by caspase 3, whose activity was tightly regulated by Akt in a temporal manner. Overall, this study highlights that HCMV employs the PI3K/SHIP1/Akt pathway to regulate caspase 3 activity and drive monocyte differentiation into unique macrophages, which is critical for viral dissemination.

Loss of 2 Akt (Protein Kinase B) Isoforms in Hematopoietic Cells Diminished Monocyte and Macrophage Survival and Reduces Atherosclerosis in Ldl Receptor-Null Mice

Objective- Macrophages express 3 Akt (protein kinase B) isoforms, Akt1, Akt2, and Akt3, which display isoform-specific functions but may be redundant in terms of Akt survival signaling. We hypothesize that loss of 2 Akt isoforms in macrophages will suppress their ability to survive and modulate the development of atherosclerosis. Approach and Results- To test this hypothesis, we reconstituted male Ldlr^-/- mice with double Akt2/Akt3 knockout hematopoietic cells expressing only the Akt1 isoform (Akt1^only). There were no differences in body weight and plasma lipid levels between the groups after 8 weeks of the Western diet; however, Akt1^only→ Ldlr^-/- mice developed smaller (57.6% reduction) atherosclerotic lesions with more apoptotic macrophages than control mice transplanted with WT (wild type) cells. Next, male and female Ldlr^-/- mice were reconstituted with double Akt1/Akt2 knockout hematopoietic cells expressing the Akt3 isoform (Akt3^only). Female and male Akt3^only→ Ldlr^-/- recipients had significantly smaller (61% and 41%, respectively) lesions than the control WT→ Ldlr^-/- mice. Loss of 2 Akt isoforms in hematopoietic cells resulted in markedly diminished levels of white blood cells, B cells, and monocytes and compromised viability of monocytes and peritoneal macrophages compared with WT cells. In response to lipopolysaccharides, macrophages with a single Akt isoform expressed low levels of inflammatory cytokines; however, Akt1^only macrophages were distinct in expressing high levels of antiapoptotic Il10 compared with WT and Akt3^only cells. Conclusions- Loss of 2 Akt isoforms in hematopoietic cells, preserving only a single Akt1 or Akt3 isoform, markedly compromises monocyte and macrophage viability and diminishes early atherosclerosis in Ldlr^-/- mice.

Chitinase 3-like 1 deficiency ameliorates liver fibrosis by promoting hepatic macrophage apoptosis

AIM

Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1), an 18-glycosyl hydrolase-related molecule, is a member of the enzymatically inactive chitinase-like protein family. Serum levels of CHI3L1 are strongly correlated with hepatic fibrosis progression during many liver diseases. Therefore, this protein could be involved in the development of hepatic fibrosis pathology; however, its role has not been elucidated. We aimed to elucidate its role in the pathophysiology of liver fibrosis.

METHODS

Chitinase 3-like 1-deficient (Chi3l1^-/- ) mice were given carbon tetrachloride twice per week for 4 weeks or fed a methionine choline-deficient diet for 12 weeks to generate mouse liver fibrosis models. Human fibrotic liver tissues were also examined immunohistochemically.

RESULTS

In human and mouse fibrotic livers, CHI3L1 expression was mainly localized to hepatic macrophages, and the intrahepatic accumulation of CHI3L1⁺ macrophages was significantly enhanced compared to that in control livers. In the two mouse models, hepatic fibrosis was significantly ameliorated in Chi3l1^-/- mice compared to that in wild-type mice, which was dependent on hepatic macrophages. The accumulation and activation of hepatic macrophages was also significantly suppressed in Chi3l1^-/- mice compared to that in wild-type mice. Furthermore, apoptotic hepatic macrophages were significantly increased in Chi3l1^-/- mice. Chitinase 3-like 1 was found to inhibit hepatic macrophage apoptosis by suppressing Fas expression and activating Akt signaling in an autocrine manner, which resulted in hepatic macrophage accumulation and activation, exaggerating liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Chitinase 3-like 1 exacerbates liver fibrosis progression by suppressing apoptosis in hepatic macrophages. Therefore, this might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Programmed necrotic cell death of macrophages: Focus on pyroptosis, necroptosis, and parthanatos

Macrophages are highly plastic cells of the innate immune system. Macrophages play central roles in immunity against microbes and contribute to a wide array of pathologies. The processes of macrophage activation and their functions have attracted considerable attention from life scientists. Although macrophages are highly resistant to many toxic stimuli, including oxidative stress, macrophage death has been reported in certain diseases, such as viral infections, tuberculosis, atherosclerotic plaque development, inflammation, and sepsis. While most studies on macrophage death focused on apoptosis, a significant body of data indicates that programmed necrotic cell death forms may be equally important modes of macrophage death. Three such regulated necrotic cell death modalities in macrophages contribute to different pathologies, including necroptosis, pyroptosis, and parthanatos. Various reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxynitrite have been shown to act as triggers, mediators, or modulators in regulated necrotic cell death pathways. Here we discuss recent advances in necroptosis, pyroptosis, and parthanatos, with a strong focus on the role of redox homeostasis in the regulation of these events.

Akt Signaling in Macrophage Polarization, Survival, and Atherosclerosis

The PI3K/Akt pathway plays a crucial role in the survival, proliferation, and migration of macrophages, which may impact the development of atherosclerosis. Changes in Akt isoforms or modulation of the Akt activity levels in macrophages significantly affect their polarization phenotype and consequently atherosclerosis in mice. Moreover, the activity levels of Akt signaling determine the viability of monocytes/macrophages and their resistance to pro-apoptotic stimuli in atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, elimination of pro-apoptotic factors as well as factors that antagonize or suppress Akt signaling in macrophages increases cell viability, protecting them from apoptosis, and this markedly accelerates atherosclerosis in mice. In contrast, inhibition of Akt signaling by the ablation of Rictor in myeloid cells, which disrupts mTORC2 assembly, significantly decreases the viability and proliferation of blood monocytes and macrophages with the suppression of atherosclerosis. In addition, monocytes and macrophages exhibit a threshold effect for Akt protein levels in their ability to survive. Ablation of two Akt isoforms, preserving only a single Akt isoform in myeloid cells, markedly compromises monocyte and macrophage viability, inducing monocytopenia and diminishing early atherosclerosis. These recent advances in our understanding of Akt signaling in macrophages in atherosclerosis may have significant relevance in the burgeoning field of cardio-oncology, where PI3K/Akt inhibitors being tested in cancer patients can have significant cardiovascular and metabolic ramifications.

Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine-induced PI3K/Akt signaling inhibition promotes foam cell apoptosis and atherosclerosis progression

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are closely associated with diabetic macrovascular complications. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Nε-Carboxymethyl-Lysine (the key active component of AGEs) in diabetic atherosclerosis on foam cell apoptosis and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Tissue sections were collected from 12 Type 2 diabetic patients and 4 control patients who underwent amputation surgery following a car accident. Peritoneal injection of streptozotocin in ApoE^-/- mice was used to generate a diabetic model in vivo, and Raw 264.7 cells treated with CML and 740Y-P (a PI3K/AKT signaling agonist) were used to explore the effect of PI3K/AKT signaling in CML-induced foam cell apoptosis in vitro. The anterior tibial section of diabetic amputees contained a thinner fiber cap, higher lipid content, and more apoptotic cells than were found in control patients. in vitro studies using Raw 264.7 cell-derived foam cells and in vivo studies using diabetic ApoE^-/- mice showed that CML levels dose-dependently reduced cell vitality, induced foam cell apoptosis and regulated apoptosis related protein. Furthermore, CML significantly decreased the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT signaling, and restoration of PI3K/AKT signaling by 740Y-P decreased the CML-induced foam cell apoptosis. In conclusion, our results showed CML induced foam cell apoptosis in diabetic atherosclerosis through inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Extensive and functional overlap of the STAT6 and RXR cistromes in the active enhancer repertoire of human CD14+ monocyte derived differentiating macrophages

Macrophages are able to differentiate into classically polarized (M1) or alternatively polarized (M2) states upon encountering pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon (IFN) γ or anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL) -4/IL-13, respectively. Moreover, macrophages are known to regulate lipid metabolism via multiple members of the nuclear hormone receptor family, including the retinoid X receptors (RXR). It has been also documented that cytokines are able to modulate macrophage responses to lipid signals but the nature of these interactions and the underlying mechanisms of these processes especially at the level of the chromatinized genome are not well understood. Previous work from our laboratory suggested that STAT6 is a facilitator of nuclear receptor mediated transcriptional activity acting at the genome level. This prompted us to investigate genome-wide DNA binding events and the development of cistromes in human CD14+ monocyte-derived macrophages upon exposure to IL-4. We determined the impact of IL-4 on the PU.1, RXR and STAT6 cistromes within the active enhancer regions marked by H3K27-acetylation using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing and integrated bioinformatics analyses. We found that about 2/3rd of the IL-4 induced STAT6 peaks co-localized with RXR peaks. These STAT6/RXR co-peaks differed at least in part from the non-overlapping RXR peaks regarding the most enriched de novo transcription factor binding motifs. Interestingly, RXR-binding was not regulated at the STAT6/RXR co-bound enhancers following IL-4 stimulation, but differential enhancer interactions were observed between the IL-4/STAT6 and RXR signaling pathways acting in a gene selective manner. Our results suggest that there is a novel, so far uncharacterized cistromic crosstalk between RXR and STAT6 that is likely to contribute to the formation of the active enhancer repertoire, transcriptome and differential signal-specific gene regulation of polarized macrophages.

The phosphatase PPM1A controls monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation

Differentiation of circulating monocytes into tissue-bound or tissue-resident macrophages is a critical regulatory process affecting host defense and inflammation. However, the regulatory signaling pathways that control the differentiation of monocytes into specific and distinct functional macrophage subsets are poorly understood. Herein, we demonstrate that monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation is controlled by the Protein Phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+-dependent 1A (PPM1A). Genetic manipulation experiments demonstrated that overexpression of PPM1A attenuated the macrophage differentiation program, while knockdown of PPM1A expression accelerated the ability of monocytes to differentiate into macrophages. We identify imiquimod and Pam3CSK4 as two Toll-like receptor agonists that induce PPM1A expression, and show that increased expression of PPM1A at the onset of differentiation impairs cellular adherence, reduces expression of inflammatory (M1) macrophage-specific markers, and inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines. Our findings reveal PPM1A as a negative threshold regulator of M1-type monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation, establishing it as a key phosphatase that orchestrates this program.

Impaired Mitochondrial Microbicidal Responses in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Macrophages

RATIONALE

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by impaired clearance of pulmonary bacteria.

OBJECTIVES

The effect of COPD on alveolar macrophage (AM) microbicidal responses was investigated.

METHODS

AMs were obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage from healthy donors or patients with COPD and challenged with opsonized serotype 14 Streptococcus pneumoniae. Cells were assessed for apoptosis, bactericidal activity, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) production. A transgenic mouse line in which the CD68 promoter ensures macrophage-specific expression of human induced myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein Mcl-1 (CD68.hMcl-1) was used to model the molecular aspects of COPD.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

COPD AMs had elevated levels of Mcl-1, an antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 family member, with selective reduction of delayed intracellular bacterial killing. CD68.hMcl-1 AMs phenocopied the microbicidal defect because transgenic mice demonstrated impaired clearance of pulmonary bacteria and increased neutrophilic inflammation. Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages and human monocyte-derived macrophages generated mROS in response to pneumococci, which colocalized with bacteria and phagolysosomes to enhance bacterial killing. The Mcl-1 transgene increased oxygen consumption rates and mROS expression in mock-infected bone marrow-derived macrophages but reduced caspase-dependent mROS production after pneumococcal challenge. COPD AMs also increased basal mROS expression, but they failed to increase production after pneumococcal challenge, in keeping with reduced intracellular bacterial killing. The defect in COPD AM intracellular killing was associated with a reduced ratio of mROS/superoxide dismutase 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Up-regulation of Mcl-1 and chronic adaption to oxidative stress alter mitochondrial metabolism and microbicidal function, reducing the delayed phase of intracellular bacterial clearance in COPD.

Association of Increased F4/80high Macrophages With Suppression of Serum-Transfer Arthritis in Mice With Reduced FLIP in Myeloid Cells

OBJECTIVE

Macrophages are critical in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We recently demonstrated that FLIP is necessary for the differentiation and/or survival of macrophages. We also showed that FLIP is highly expressed in RA synovial macrophages. This study was undertaken to determine if a reduction in FLIP in mouse macrophages reduces synovial tissue macrophages and ameliorates serum-transfer arthritis.

METHODS

Mice with Flip deleted in myeloid cells (Flip^f/f LysM^c/+ mice) and littermate controls were used. Arthritis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of K/BxN serum. Disease severity was evaluated by clinical score and change in ankle thickness, and joints were examined by histology and immunohistochemistry. Cells were isolated from the ankles and bone marrow of the mice and examined by flow cytometry, real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, or Western blotting.

RESULTS

In contrast to expectations, Flip^f/f LysM^c/+ mice developed more severe arthritis early in the clinical course, but peak arthritis was attenuated and the resolution phase more complete than in control mice. Prior to the induction of serum-transfer arthritis, the number of tissue-resident macrophages was reduced. On day 9 after arthritis induction, the number of F4/80^high macrophages in the joints of the Flip^f/f LysM^c/+ mice was not decreased, but increased. FLIP was reduced in the F4/80^high macrophages in the ankles of the Flip^f/f LysM^c/+ mice, while F4/80^high macrophages expressed an antiinflammatory phenotype in both the Flip^f/f LysM^c/+ and control mice.

CONCLUSION

Our observations suggest that reducing FLIP in macrophages by increasing the number of antiinflammatory macrophages may be an effective therapeutic approach to suppress inflammation, depending on the disease stage.

PKB/Akt-dependent regulation of inflammation in cancer

Chronic inflammation is a major cause of human cancer. Clinical cancer therapies against inflammatory risk factors are strategically determined. To rationally guide a novel drug development, an improved mechanistic understanding on the pathological connection between inflammation and carcinogenesis is essential. PI3K-PKB signaling axis has been extensively studied and shown to be one of the key oncogenic drivers in most types of cancer. Pharmacological inhibition of the components along this signaling axis is of great interest for developing novel therapies. Interestingly, emerging studies have shown a close association between PKB activation and inflammatory activity in the vicinity of the tumor, and either blockade of PKB or attenuation of para-tumoral inflammation reveals a mutual-interactive pattern through pathway crosstalk. In this review, we intend to discuss recent advances of PKB-regulated chronic inflammation and its potential impacts on tumor development.

Galectin-3 promotes caspase-independent cell death of HIV-1-infected macrophages

HIV-1-infected macrophages are a key contributor to the formation of a viral reservoir and new treatment strategies focus on eliminating this pool of virus. Galectin-3 is a potent apoptosis-inducing protein that regulates diverse cellular activities. In the present study, we investigated whether galectin-3 could induce cell death in HIV-1-infected macrophages using HIV-1-infected THP1 monocytes (THP1-MNs) and THP1-derived macrophages (THP1-MΦs) as in vitro cellular models. We found that THP1-MΦs were more resistant than the THP1-MNs to HIV-1 infection-induced death, and that HIV-1 infection of the THP1-MΦs increased expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins Mcl-1, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Additionally, galectin-3 but not FasL, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand or TNF-α, could induce cell death in HIV-1-infected THP1-MΦs. A similar result was shown for primary human monocyte-derived macrophages. Galectin-3-induced cell death was also significantly increased in macrophages obtained from SIVmac251-infected macaques compared to that of macrophages from healthy macaques. Furthermore, galectin-3-induced cell death in HIV-1-infected THP1-MΦs was caspase independent. Interestingly, endonuclease G (Endo G) was increased in the nucleus and decreased in the cytoplasm of galectin-3-treated cells; thus, galectin-3-induced cell death in HIV-1-infected THP1-MΦs is most likely related to the translocation of Endo G from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. These findings suggest that galectin-3 may potentially aid in the eradication of HIV-1/SIV-infected macrophages.

Macrophage Apoptosis and Efferocytosis in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis

Macrophage apoptosis and the ability of macrophages to clean up dead cells, a process called efferocytosis, are crucial determinants of atherosclerosis lesion progression and plaque stability. Environmental stressors initiate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activate the unfolded protein response (UPR). Unresolved ER stress with activation of the UPR initiates apoptosis. Macrophages are resistant to apoptotic stimuli, because of activity of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Macrophages express 3 Akt isoforms, Akt1, Akt2 and Akt3, which are products of distinct but homologous genes. Akt displays isoform-specific effects on atherogenesis, which vary with different vascular cell types. Loss of macrophage Akt2 promotes the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype and reduces atherosclerosis. However, Akt isoforms are redundant with regard to apoptosis. c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) is a pro-apoptotic effector of the UPR, and the JNK1 isoform opposes anti-apoptotic Akt signaling. Loss of JNK1 in hematopoietic cells protects macrophages from apoptosis and accelerates early atherosclerosis. IκB kinase α (IKKα, a member of the serine/threonine protein kinase family) plays an important role in mTORC2-mediated Akt signaling in macrophages, and IKKα deficiency reduces macrophage survival and suppresses early atherosclerosis. Efferocytosis involves the interaction of receptors, bridging molecules, and apoptotic cell ligands. Scavenger receptor class B type I is a critical mediator of macrophage efferocytosis via the Src/PI3K/Rac1 pathway in atherosclerosis. Agonists that resolve inflammation offer promising therapeutic potential to promote efferocytosis and prevent atherosclerotic clinical events. (Circ J 2016; 80: 2259-2268).

Félix A, Sánchez de Diego C, Pascual Fabregat I, Ciudad CJ, Noé V. Silencing of CD47 and SIRPα by Polypurine reverse Hoogsteen hairpins to promote MCF-7 breast cancer cells death by PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Inhibition of CDK9 as a therapeutic strategy for inflammatory arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterised by synovial inflammation and proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes. The induction of apoptosis has long been proposed as a target for proliferative autoimmune diseases, and has further been shown to act as a successful treatment of experimental models of arthritis, such as collagen-induced arthritis. Here we examined the effects of specific oral small-molecule inhibitors of the transcription regulating cyclin-dependent kinase 9 on the development and progression of collagen-induced arthritis. DBA/1 mice were immunised with bovine collagen type II and treated orally with specific CDK9 inhibitors. The effects of CDK9 inhibition on RNA levels and protein expression, apoptosis induction, caspase activation and lymphocyte phenotype were further analysed. Mice showed a significant delay in disease onset and a reduction in disease severity following treatment with CDK9 inhibitors. Inhibiting CDK9 activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells resulted in the loss of Mcl-1 expression at both the protein and RNA levels, along with a subsequent increase in apoptosis. CDK9 specific inhibitors may be a potential alternative treatment not only of cancer, but also for autoimmune- and inflammatory diseases. Taken together, these results show that transient inhibition of CDK9 induces apoptosis in leukocyte subsets and modulates the immune response.

Human Cytomegalovirus Induces an Atypical Activation of Akt To Stimulate the Survival of Short-Lived Monocytes

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a pervasive herpesvirus responsible for significant morbidity and mortality among immunodeficient/naive hosts. Following a primary HCMV infection, circulating blood monocytes mediate the systemic spread of the virus. Extending the short 48-h life span of monocytes is critical to the viral dissemination process, as these blood-borne cells are nonpermissive for virus replication until they are fully differentiated into macrophages. Here, we show that HCMV glycoprotein gB binding to cellular epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) during HCMV entry initiated a rapid (within 15 min) activation of the apoptosis suppressor Akt, which was maintained through 72 h. The virus-induced activation of Akt was more robust than that with the normal myeloid growth factor macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and was essential for infected monocytes to bypass the 48-h viability checkpoint. Activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) following EGFR engagement by HCMV mediated the phosphorylation of Akt. Moreover, HCMV entry drove a switch away from the PI3K p110δ isoform, which was required for the viability of uninfected monocytes, to the p110β isoform in order to facilitate the Akt-dependent prosurvival state within infected cells. Simultaneously, in contrast to M-CSF, HCMV promoted a rapid increase in SH2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) expression, leading to signaling through a noncanonical Akt activation pathway. To ensure maximum Akt activity, HCMV also induced an early phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of the negative regulator phosphatase and tensin homolog. Overall, our data indicate that HCMV hijacks the upstream Akt signaling network to induce a nontraditional activation of Akt and subsequently a prosurvival decision at the 48-h cell fate checkpoint, a vital step for HCMV's dissemination and persistence strategy.

IMPORTANCE

HCMV is found throughout the world with a prevalence of 55 to 100% within the human population. HCMV infection is generally asymptomatic in immunocompetent or naive individuals but is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among the immunocompromised. Widespread organ inflammation is associated with symptomatic infections, which is a direct consequence of the viral dissemination strategy. Inflammatory peripheral blood monocytes facilitate the spread of HCMV. However, HCMV must subvert the naturally short life span of monocytes. In this work, we demonstrate that HCMV induces the activation of Akt, an antiapoptotic protein, in a manner distinct from that of normal myeloid growth factors. Moreover, we decipher how HCMV dysregulates the upstream Akt signaling network during viral entry to promote an Akt-dependent prosurvival state following infection. Delineation of the virus-specific mechanisms that regulate cellular prosurvival pathways in order to drive the survival of HCMV-infected monocytes is important to identifying new anti-HCMV therapeutic targets.

Jnk1 Deficiency in Hematopoietic Cells Suppresses Macrophage Apoptosis and Increases Atherosclerosis in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Null Mice

OBJECTIVE

The c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK) are regulated by a wide variety of cellular stresses and have been implicated in apoptotic signaling. Macrophages express 2 JNK isoforms, JNK1 and JNK2, which may have different effects on cell survival and atherosclerosis.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

To dissect the effect of macrophage JNK1 and JNK2 on early atherosclerosis, Ldlr(-/-) mice were reconstituted with wild-type, Jnk1(-/-), and Jnk2(-/-) hematopoietic cells and fed a high cholesterol diet. Jnk1(-/-)→Ldlr(-/-) mice have larger atherosclerotic lesions with more macrophages and fewer apoptotic cells than mice transplanted with wild-type or Jnk2(-/-) cells. Moreover, genetic ablation of JNK to a single allele (Jnk1(+/-)/Jnk2(-/-) or Jnk1(-/-)/Jnk2(+/-)) in marrow of Ldlr(-/-) recipients further increased atherosclerosis compared with Jnk1(-/-)→Ldlr(-/-) and wild-type→Ldlr(-/-) mice. In mouse macrophages, anisomycin-mediated JNK signaling antagonized Akt activity, and loss of Jnk1 gene obliterated this effect. Similarly, pharmacological inhibition of JNK1, but not JNK2, markedly reduced the antagonizing effect of JNK on Akt activity. Prolonged JNK signaling in the setting of endoplasmic reticulum stress gradually extinguished Akt and Bad activity in wild-type cells with markedly less effects in Jnk1(-/-) macrophages, which were also more resistant to apoptosis. Consequently, anisomycin increased and JNK1 inhibitors suppressed endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis in macrophages. We also found that genetic and pharmacological inhibition of phosphatase and tensin homolog abolished the JNK-mediated effects on Akt activity, indicating that phosphatase and tensin homolog mediates crosstalk between these pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Loss of Jnk1, but not Jnk2, in macrophages protects them from apoptosis, increasing cell survival, and this accelerates early atherosclerosis.

Macrophage IKKα Deficiency Suppresses Akt Phosphorylation, Reduces Cell Survival, and Decreases Early Atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE

The IκB kinase (IKK) is an enzyme complex that initiates the nuclear factor κB transcription factor cascade, which is important in regulating multiple cellular responses. IKKα is directly associated with 2 major prosurvival pathways, PI3K/Akt and nuclear factor κB, but its role in cell survival is not clear. Macrophages play critical roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, yet the impact of IKKα signaling on macrophage survival and atherogenesis remains unclear.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

Here, we demonstrate that genetic IKKα deficiency, as well as pharmacological inhibition of IKK, in mouse macrophages significantly reduces Akt S(473) phosphorylation, which is accompanied by suppression of mTOR complex 2 signaling. Moreover, IKKα null macrophages treated with lipotoxic palmitic acid exhibited early exhaustion of Akt signaling compared with wild-type cells. This was accompanied by a dramatic decrease in the resistance of IKKα(-/-) monocytes and macrophages to different proapoptotic stimuli compared with wild-type cells. In vivo, IKKα deficiency increased macrophage apoptosis in atherosclerotic lesions and decreased early atherosclerosis in both female and male low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)(-/-) mice reconstituted with IKKα(-/-) hematopoietic cells and fed with the Western diet for 8 weeks compared with control LDLR(-/-) mice transplanted with wild-type cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Hematopoietic IKKα deficiency in mouse suppresses Akt signaling, compromising monocyte/macrophage survival and this decreases early atherosclerosis.

Macrophage IKKα Deficiency Suppresses Akt Phosphorylation, Reduces Cell Survival, and Decreases Early Atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE

The IκB kinase (IKK) is an enzyme complex that initiates the nuclear factor κB transcription factor cascade, which is important in regulating multiple cellular responses. IKKα is directly associated with 2 major prosurvival pathways, PI3K/Akt and nuclear factor κB, but its role in cell survival is not clear. Macrophages play critical roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, yet the impact of IKKα signaling on macrophage survival and atherogenesis remains unclear.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

Here, we demonstrate that genetic IKKα deficiency, as well as pharmacological inhibition of IKK, in mouse macrophages significantly reduces Akt S(473) phosphorylation, which is accompanied by suppression of mTOR complex 2 signaling. Moreover, IKKα null macrophages treated with lipotoxic palmitic acid exhibited early exhaustion of Akt signaling compared with wild-type cells. This was accompanied by a dramatic decrease in the resistance of IKKα(-/-) monocytes and macrophages to different proapoptotic stimuli compared with wild-type cells. In vivo, IKKα deficiency increased macrophage apoptosis in atherosclerotic lesions and decreased early atherosclerosis in both female and male low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)(-/-) mice reconstituted with IKKα(-/-) hematopoietic cells and fed with the Western diet for 8 weeks compared with control LDLR(-/-) mice transplanted with wild-type cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Hematopoietic IKKα deficiency in mouse suppresses Akt signaling, compromising monocyte/macrophage survival and this decreases early atherosclerosis.

Human Cytomegalovirus Stimulates the Synthesis of Select Akt-Dependent Antiapoptotic Proteins during Viral Entry To Promote Survival of Infected Monocytes

Primary peripheral blood monocytes are responsible for the hematogenous dissemination of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) following a primary infection. To facilitate viral spread, we have previously shown HCMV to extend the short 48-h life span of monocytes. Mechanistically, HCMV upregulated two specific cellular antiapoptotic proteins, myeloid leukemia sequence 1 (Mcl-1) and heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), to block the two proteolytic cleavages necessary for the formation of fully active caspase 3 and the subsequent initiation of apoptosis. We now show that HCMV more robustly upregulated Mcl-1 than normal myeloid growth factors and that Mcl-1 was the only myeloid survival factor to rapidly induce HSP27 prior to the 48-h cell fate checkpoint. We determined that HCMV glycoproteins gB and gH signal through the cellular epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and αvβ3 integrin, respectively, during viral entry in order to drive the increase of Mcl-1 and HSP27 in an Akt-dependent manner. Although Akt is known to regulate protein stability and transcription, we found that gB- and gH-initiated signaling preferentially and cooperatively stimulated the synthesis of Mcl-1 and HSP27 through mTOR-mediated translation. Overall, these data suggest that the unique signaling network generated during the viral entry process stimulates the upregulation of select antiapoptotic proteins allowing for the differentiation of short-lived monocytes into long-lived macrophages, a key step in the viral dissemination strategy.

IMPORTANCE

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is endemic within the human population. Although primary infection is generally asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, HCMV is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised. The multiorgan inflammatory diseases associated with symptomatic HCMV infection are a direct consequence of the monocyte-mediated systemic spread of the virus. In order for peripheral blood monocytes to facilitate viral dissemination, HCMV subverts the short 48-h life span of monocytes by inducing the expression of cellular antiapoptotic proteins Mcl-1 and HSP27. Here, we demonstrate that the rapid and simultaneous upregulation of Mcl-1 and HSP27 is a distinctive feature of HCMV-induced monocyte survival. Moreover, we decipher the signaling pathways activated during viral entry needed for the robust synthesis of Mcl-1 and HSP27. Identifying the virus-specific mechanisms used to upregulate select cellular factors required for the survival of HCMV-infected monocytes is important to the development of new classes of anti-HCMV drugs.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase: A Link Between Inflammation and Pancreatic Cancer

Even though a strong association between inflammation and cancer has been widely accepted, the underlying precise molecular mechanisms are still largely unknown. A complex signaling network between tumor and stromal cells is responsible for the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the cancer microenvironment. Tumor stromal cells such as pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and immune cells create a microenvironment that protects cancer cells through a complex interaction, ultimately facilitating their local proliferation and their migration to different sites. Furthermore, PSCs have multiple functions related to local immunity, angiogenesis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Recently, many studies have shown that members of the phosphoinositol-3-phosphate kinase (PI3K) family are activated in tumor cells, PSCs, and tumor-infiltrating inflammatory cells to promote cancer growth. Proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines secreted by immune cells and fibroblasts within the tumor environment can activate the PI3K pathway both in cancer and inflammatory cells. In this review, we focus on the central role of the PI3K pathway in regulating the cross talk between immune/stromal cells and cancer cells. Understanding the role of the PI3K pathway in the development of chronic pancreatitis and cancer is crucial for the discovery of novel and efficacious treatment options.

Leishmania donovani Exploits Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1 (MCL-1) Protein to Prevent Mitochondria-dependent Host Cell Apoptosis

Apoptosis is one of the mechanisms used by host cells to remove unwanted intracellular organisms, and often found to be subverted by pathogens through use of host anti-apoptotic proteins. In the present study, with the help of in vitro and in vivo approaches, we documented that the macrophage anti-apoptotic protein myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) is exploited by the intra-macrophage parasite Leishmania donovani to protect their "home" from actinomycin D-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Among all the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family members, infection preferentially up-regulated expression of MCL-1 at both the mRNA and protein levels and compared with infected control, MCL-1-silenced infected macrophages documented enhanced caspase activity and increased apoptosis when subjected to actinomycin D treatment. Phosphorylation kinetics and ChIP assay demonstrated that infection-induced MCL-1 expression was regulated by transcription factor CREB (cAMP-response element-binding protein) and silencing of CREB resulted in reduced expression of MCL-1 and increased apoptosis. During infection, MCL-1 was found to be localized in mitochondria and this was significantly reduced in Tom70-silenced macrophages, suggesting the active role of TOM70 in MCL-1 transport. In the mitochondria, MCL-1 interacts with the major pro-apoptotic protein BAK and prevents BAK-BAK homo-oligomer formation thereby preventing cytochrome c release-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. Silencing of MCL-1 in the spleen of infected mice showed decreased parasite burden and increased induction of splenocyte apoptosis. Collectively our results showed that L. donovani exploited the macrophage anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1 to prevent BAK-mediated mitochondria-dependent apoptosis thereby protecting its niche, which is essential for disease progression.

Apoptosis: role in myeloid cell development

Hematopoiesis is the process that generates blood cells in an organism from the pluripotent stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cells are characterized by their ability to undergo self-renewal and differentiation. The self-renewing ability ensures that these pluripotent cells are not depleted from the bone marrow niche. A proper balance between cell death and cell survival is necessary to maintain a homeostatic condition, hence, apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is an essential step in hematopoiesis. Recent studies, however, have introduced a new aspect to this process, citing the significance of the apoptosis mediator, caspase, in cell development and differentiation. Extensive research has been carried out to study the possible role of caspases and other apoptosis related factors in the developmental processes. This review focuses on the various apoptotic factors involved in the development and differentiation of myeloid lineage cells: erythrocytes, megakaryocytes, and macrophages.

The role of macrophages in the innate immune response to Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus: mechanisms and contrasts

Macrophages are critical mediators of innate immune responses against bacteria. The Gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus express a range of virulence factors, which challenge macrophages' immune competence. We review how macrophages respond to this challenge. Macrophages employ a range of strategies to phagocytose and kill each pathogen. When the macrophages capacity to clear bacteria is overwhelmed macrophages play important roles in orchestrating the inflammatory response through pattern recognition receptor-mediated responses. Macrophages also ensure the inflammatory response is tightly constrained, to avoid tissue damage, and play an important role in downregulating the inflammatory response once initial bacterial replication is controlled.

Macrophage deficiency of Akt2 reduces atherosclerosis in Ldlr null mice

Macrophages play crucial roles in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. Akt, a serine/threonine protein kinase B, is vital for cell proliferation, migration, and survival. Macrophages express three Akt isoforms, Akt1, Akt2, and Akt3, but the roles of Akt1 and Akt2 in atherosclerosis in vivo remain unclear. To dissect the impact of macrophage Akt1 and Akt2 on early atherosclerosis, we generated mice with hematopoietic deficiency of Akt1 or Akt2. After 8 weeks on Western diet, Ldlr^−/− mice reconstituted with Akt1^−/− fetal liver cells (Akt1^−/−→Ldlr^−/−) had similar atherosclerotic lesion areas compared with control mice transplanted with WT cells (WT→Ldlr^−/−). In contrast, Akt2^−/−→Ldlr^−/− mice had dramatically reduced atherosclerotic lesions compared with WT→Ldlr^−/− mice of both genders. Similarly, in the setting of advanced atherosclerotic lesions, Akt2^−/−→Ldlr^−/− mice had smaller aortic lesions compared with WT→Ldlr^−/− and Akt1^−/−→Ldlr^−/− mice. Importantly, Akt2^−/−→Ldlr^−/− mice had reduced numbers of proinflammatory blood monocytes expressing Ly-6C^hi and chemokine C-C motif receptor 2. Peritoneal macrophages isolated from Akt2^−/− mice were skewed toward an M2 phenotype and showed decreased expression of proinflammatory genes and reduced cell migration. Our data demonstrate that loss of Akt2 suppresses the ability of macrophages to undergo M1 polarization reducing both early and advanced atherosclerosis.

p53 and NF-κB coregulate proinflammatory gene responses in human macrophages

Macrophages are sentinel immune cells that survey the tissue microenvironment, releasing cytokines in response to both exogenous insults and endogenous events such as tumorigenesis. Macrophages mediate tumor surveillance and therapy-induced tumor regression; however, tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) and their products may also promote tumor progression. Whereas NF-κB is prominent in macrophage-initiated inflammatory responses, little is known about the role of p53 in macrophage responses to environmental challenge, including chemotherapy or in TAMs. Here, we report that NF-κB and p53, which generally have opposing effects in cancer cells, coregulate induction of proinflammatory genes in primary human monocytes and macrophages. Using Nutlin-3 as a tool, we demonstrate that p53 and NF-κB rapidly and highly induce interleukin (IL)-6 by binding to its promoter. Transcriptome analysis revealed global p53/NF-κB co-regulation of immune response genes, including several chemokines, which effectively induced human neutrophil migration. In addition, we show that p53, activated by tumor cell paracrine factors, induces high basal levels of macrophage IL-6 in a TAM model system [tumor-conditioned macrophages (TCM)]. Compared with normal macrophages, TCMs exhibited higher p53 levels, enhanced p53 binding to the IL-6 promoter, and reduced IL-6 levels upon p53 inhibition. Taken together, we describe a mechanism by which human macrophages integrate signals through p53 and NF-κB to drive proinflammatory cytokine induction. Our results implicate a novel role for macrophage p53 in conditioning the tumor microenvironment and suggest a potential mechanism by which p53-activating chemotherapeutics, acting upon p53-sufficient macrophages and precursor monocytes, may indirectly impact tumors lacking functional p53.

The androgen receptor mediates antiapoptotic function in myometrial cells

During pregnancy, myometrial phenotype is programmed into three characteristic stages referred to as the early proliferative, the midterm hypertrophic, and the late contractile stage. Increased myometrial growth in the early and midterm of pregnancy involves a complex process of cell proliferation, antiapoptosis and differentiation. We have previously demonstrated that the androgen receptor (AR) is required for myometrial cell proliferation by modulating IGF-1 signaling during early pregnancy. Here, we report that AR also exerts its antiapoptotic function in human myometrial cells. Enhanced AR expression protects, whereas AR silencing sensitizes myometrial cells to both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic stimuli. AR agonist inhibits, whereas AR antagonist induces myometrial cells to undergo apoptotic cell death. Gene microarray analysis confirms that the central functions of AR in myometrial cells are to regulate cell cycling and apoptosis through three major gene groups involving the epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling, RNA splicing and DNA repair processes. AR mediates its antiapoptotic function through two distinct pathways. In the receptor-dependent pathway, AR is required for the expression of several protein factors within the EGF signaling pathway. Through the PI3K/Akt pathway, AR enhances the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1. In the ligand-dependent pathway, AR agonist triggers the activation of Src kinase, which in turn phosphorylates STAT3 to increase Mcl-1 expression. We conclude from these results that the AR signaling exerts antiapoptotic function in myometrial cells, further supporting its key role in programming of myometrial phenotype.

Downregulation of Mcl-1 has anti-inflammatory pro-resolution effects and enhances bacterial clearance from the lung

Phagocytes not only coordinate acute inflammation and host defense at mucosal sites, but also contribute to tissue damage. Respiratory infection causes a globally significant disease burden and frequently progresses to acute respiratory distress syndrome, a devastating inflammatory condition characterized by neutrophil recruitment and accumulation of protein-rich edema fluid causing impaired lung function. We hypothesized that targeting the intracellular protein myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) by a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (AT7519) or a flavone (wogonin) would accelerate neutrophil apoptosis and resolution of established inflammation, but without detriment to bacterial clearance. Mcl-1 loss induced human neutrophil apoptosis, but did not induce macrophage apoptosis nor impair phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils. Neutrophil-dominant inflammation was modelled in mice by either endotoxin or bacteria (Escherichia coli). Downregulating inflammatory cell Mcl-1 had anti-inflammatory, pro-resolution effects, shortening the resolution interval (Ri) from 19 to 7 h and improved organ dysfunction with enhanced alveolar-capillary barrier integrity. Conversely, attenuating drug-induced Mcl-1 downregulation inhibited neutrophil apoptosis and delayed resolution of endotoxin-mediated lung inflammation. Importantly, manipulating lung inflammatory cell Mcl-1 also accelerated resolution of bacterial infection (Ri; 50 to 16 h) concurrent with enhanced bacterial clearance. Therefore, manipulating inflammatory cell Mcl-1 accelerates inflammation resolution without detriment to host defense against bacteria, and represents a target for treating infection-associated inflammation.

The role of macrophage polarization in infectious and inflammatory diseases

Macrophages, found in circulating blood as well as integrated into several tissues and organs throughout the body, represent an important first line of defense against disease and a necessary component of healthy tissue homeostasis. Additionally, macrophages that arise from the differentiation of monocytes recruited from the blood to inflamed tissues play a central role in regulating local inflammation. Studies of macrophage activation in the last decade or so have revealed that these cells adopt a staggering range of phenotypes that are finely tuned responses to a variety of different stimuli, and that the resulting subsets of activated macrophages play critical roles in both progression and resolution of disease. This review summarizes the current understanding of the contributions of differentially polarized macrophages to various infectious and inflammatory diseases and the ongoing effort to develop novel therapies that target this key aspect of macrophage biology.

HCMV reprogramming of infected monocyte survival and differentiation: a Goldilocks phenomenon

The wide range of disease pathologies seen in multiple organ sites associated with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection results from the systemic hematogenous dissemination of the virus, which is mediated predominately by infected monocytes. In addition to their role in viral spread, infected monocytes are also known to play a key role in viral latency and life-long persistence. However, in order to utilize infected monocytes for viral spread and persistence, HCMV must overcome a number of monocyte biological hurdles, including their naturally short lifespan and their inability to support viral gene expression and replication. Our laboratory has shown that HCMV is able to manipulate the biology of infected monocytes in order to overcome these biological hurdles by inducing the survival and differentiation of infected monocytes into long-lived macrophages capable of supporting viral gene expression and replication. In this current review, we describe the unique aspects of how HCMV promotes monocyte survival and differentiation by inducing a “finely-tuned” macrophage cell type following infection. Specifically, we describe the induction of a uniquely polarized macrophage subset from infected monocytes, which we argue is the ideal cellular environment for the initiation of viral gene expression and replication and, ultimately, viral spread and persistence within the infected host.