LEUKOTRIENE B4/LEUKOTRIENE B4 RECEPTOR PATHWAY IS INVOLVED IN HEPATIC MICROCIRCULATORY DYSFUNCTION ELICITED BY ENDOTOXIN

Caffeic acid modulates activation of neutrophils and attenuates sepsis-induced organ injury by inhibiting 5-LOX/LTB4 pathway

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is a critical systemic inflammatory syndrome which usually leads to multiple organ dysfunction. Caffeic acid (CA), a phenolic compound derived from various plants, has been proved to be essential in neuroprotection, but its role in septic organ damage is unclear. This research aimed to investigate whether CA protects against organ injury in a mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).

METHODS

CA (30 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered by intraperitoneal injection immediately after CLP. The samples of blood, lungs, and livers were collected 24 h later. Organ injury was assessed by histopathological examination (HE staining), neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase fluorescence), oxidative stress levels (MDA, SOD, HO-1), and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) release in lung and liver tissues. Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation was analyzed by immunofluorescence. In vitro experiments were performed to investigate the potential mechanisms of CA using small interfering RNA (siRNA) techniques in neutrophils, and the effect of CA on neutrophil apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Results showed that CA treatment improved the 7-day survival rate and attenuated the histopathological injury in the lung and liver of CLP mice. CA significantly reduced neutrophil infiltration in the lungs and livers of CLP mice. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and LTB4 were reduced in serum, lung, and liver of CA-treated CLP mice, and phosphorylation of MAPK (p38, ERK, JNK) and p65 NF-κB was inhibited in lungs and livers. CA treatment further increased HO-1 levels and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, but reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and NET formation. Similarly, in vitro experiments showed that CA treatment and 5-LOX siRNA interference inhibited inflammatory activation and NET release in neutrophils, suppressed MAPK and NF-κB phosphorylation in LPS-treated neutrophils, and decreased LTB4 and cfDNA levels. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that CA treatment reversed LPS-mediated delayed apoptosis in human neutrophils, and Western blot also indicated that CA treatment inhibited Bcl-2 expression but increased Bax expression. CA treatment did not induce further changes in neutrophil apoptosis, inflammatory activation, and NET release when 5-LOX was knocked down by siRNA interference.

CONCLUSIONS

CA has a protective effect on lung and liver injury in a murine model of sepsis, which may be related to inhibition of the 5-LOX/LTB4 pathway.

Chuanzhitongluo capsule ameliorates microcirculatory dysfunction in rats: Efficacy evaluation and metabolic profiles

Background: Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Microcirculatory dysfunction is the foremost hindrance for a good clinical prognosis in ischemic stroke patients. Clinical researches show that Chuanzhitongluo capsule (CZTL) has a curative effect during the recovery period of ischemic stroke, which contributes to a good prognosis. However, it is not known whether CZTL treats ischemic stroke by ameliorating microcirculation dysfunction.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the influence of CZTL on microcirculation and its underlying mechanism.

Methods: A rat model of acute microcirculatory dysfunction was established by stimuli of adrenaline and ice water. The microcirculatory damage in model rats and the efficacy of CZTL were assessed by detecting laser speckle contrast imaging, coagulation function, hemorheology, vasomotor factor and microcirculation function. The potential mechanism of CZTL action was explored by the untargeted metabolomic analysis based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry.

Results: Laser speckle contrast imaging showed that model rats suffered low perfusion in ears, feet and tails, and CZTL treatment increased microcirculatory blood flow. Coagulation function detection results showed that CZTL diminished the reduction of thrombin time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and the elevated fibrinogen level caused by acute microcirculatory dysfunction. Furthermore, CZTL could recover the increased blood viscosity as well as the abnormal vasomotor and microcirculation function in rats with acute microcirculatory dysfunction. Metabolomics analysis indicated that CZTL might regulate sphingolipid metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism to exert protective effects on microcirculation.

Conclusion: These results elucidated that CZTL was highly effective against microcirculatory dysfunction and its potential mechanisms related with the modulation of sphingolipid and arachidonic acid metabolic pathways. The present study provided a new perspective on the clinical application of CZTL, and it contribute to explore novel therapeutic drug against microcirculatory dysfunction.

Platelet-Activating Factor Promotes the Development of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multifaceted clinicopathological syndrome characterised by excessive hepatic lipid accumulation that causes steatosis, excluding alcoholic factors. Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a biologically active lipid transmitter, induces platelet activation upon binding to the PAF receptor. Recent studies have found that PAF is associated with gamma-glutamyl transferase, which is an indicator of liver disease. Moreover, PAF can stimulate hepatic lipid synthesis and cause hypertriglyceridaemia. Furthermore, the knockdown of the PAF receptor gene in the animal models of NAFLD helped reduce the inflammatory response, improve glucose homeostasis and delay the development of NAFLD. These findings suggest that PAF is associated with NAFLD development. According to reports, patients with NAFLD or animal models have marked platelet activation abnormalities, mainly manifested as enhanced platelet adhesion and aggregation and altered blood rheology. Pharmacological interventions were accompanied by remission of abnormal platelet activation and significant improvement in liver function and lipids in the animal model of NAFLD. These confirm that platelet activation may accompany a critical importance in NAFLD development and progression. However, how PAFs are involved in the NAFLD signalling pathway needs further investigation. In this paper, we review the relevant literature in recent years and discuss the role played by PAF in NAFLD development. It is important to elucidate the pathogenesis of NAFLD and to find effective interventions for treatment.

Mechanism of free radical generation in platelets and primary hepatocytes: A novel electron spin resonance study

Oxygen free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of toxic liver injury and are thought to be involved in cardiac dysfunction in the cirrhotic heart. Therefore, direct evidence for the electron spin resonance (ESR) detection of how D‑galactosamine (GalN), an established experimental hepatotoxic substance, induced free radicals formation in platelets and primary hepatocytes is presented in the present study. ESR results demonstrated that GalN induced hydroxyl radicals (OH•) in a resting human platelet suspension; however, radicals were not produced in a cell free Fenton reaction system. The GalN‑induced OH• formation was significantly inhibited by the cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor indomethasin, though it was not affected by the lipoxygenase (LOX) or cytochrome P450 inhibitors, AA861 and 1‑aminobenzotriazole (ABT), in platelets. In addition, the present study demonstrated that baicalein induced semiquinone free radicals in platelets, which were significantly reduced by the COX inhibitor without affecting the formed OH•. In the mouse primary hepatocytes, the formation of arachidonic acid (AA) induced carbon‑centered radicals that were concentration dependently enhanced by GalN. These radicals were inhibited by AA861, though not affected by indomethasin or ABT. In addition, GalN did not induce platelet aggregation prior to or following collagen pretreatment in human platelets. The results of the present study indicated that GalN and baicalein may induce OH• by COX and LOX in human platelets. GalN also potentiated AA induced carbon‑centered radicals in hepatocytes via cytochrome P450. The present study presented the role of free radicals in the pathophysiological association between platelets and hepatocytes.

Characterization and cellular localization of human 5-lipoxygenase and its protein isoforms 5-LOΔ13, 5-LOΔ4 and 5-LOp12

Human 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO-WT) initiates the leukotriene (LT) biosynthesis. LTs play an important role in diseases like asthma, atherosclerosis and in many types of cancer. In this study, we investigated the 5-LO isoforms 5-LO∆13, 5-LO∆4 and 5-LOp12, lacking the exons 13, 4 or a part of exon 12, respectively. We were able to detect the mRNA of the isoforms 5-LO∆13 and 5-LOp12 in B and T cell lines as well as in primary B and T cells and monocytes. Furthermore, we found that expression of 5-LO and particularly of the 5-LO∆13 and 5-LOp12 isoforms is increased in monocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis. Confocal microscopy of HEK293T cells stably transfected with tagged 5-LO-WT and/or the isoforms revealed that 5-LO-WT is localized in the nucleus whereas all isoforms are located in the cytosol. Additionally, all isoforms are catalytically inactive and do not seem to influence the specific activity of 5-LO-WT. S271A mutation in 5-LO-WT and treatment of the cells with sorbitol or KN-93/SB203580 changes the localization of the WT enzyme to the cytosol. Despite colocalization with the S271A mutant, the isoforms did not affect LT biosynthesis. Analysis of the phosphorylation pattern of 5-LO-WT and all the isoforms revealed that 5-LOp12 and 5-LO∆13 are highly phosphorylated at Ser271 and 5-LOp12 at Ser523. Furthermore, coexpression of the isoforms inhibited or stimulated 5-LO-WT expression in transiently and stably transfected HEK293T cells suggesting that the isoforms have other functions than canonical LT biosynthesis.

BLT1 signalling protects the liver against acetaminophen hepatotoxicity by preventing excessive accumulation of hepatic neutrophils

Leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄) is a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils. Signalling of LTB₄ receptor type 1 (BLT₁) has pro-inflammatory functions through neutrophil recruitment. In this study, we investigated whether BLT₁ signalling plays a role in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury by affecting inflammatory responses including the accumulation of hepatic neutrophils. BLT₁-knockout (BLT₁^−/−) mice and their wild-type (WT) counterparts were subjected to a single APAP overdose (300 mg/kg), and various parameters compared within 24 h after treatment. Compared with WT mice, BLT₁^−/− mice exhibited exacerbation of APAP-induced liver injury as evidenced by enhancement of alanine aminotransferase level, necrotic area, hepatic neutrophil accumulation, and expression of cytokines and chemokines. WT mice co-treated with APAP and ONO-0457, a specific antagonist for BLT₁, displayed amplification of the injury, and similar results to those observed in BLT₁^−/− mice. Hepatic neutrophils in BLT₁^−/− mice during APAP hepatotoxicity showed increases in the production of reactive oxygen species and matrix metalloproteinase-9. Administration of isolated BLT₁-deficient neutrophils into WT mice aggravated the liver injury elicited by APAP. These results demonstrate that BLT₁ signalling dampens the progression of APAP hepatotoxicity through inhibiting an excessive accumulation of activated neutrophils. The development of a specific agonist for BLT₁ could be useful for the prevention of APAP hepatotoxicity.

Protective role of 5-lipoxigenase during Leishmania infantum infection is associated with Th17 subset

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a chronic and fatal disease caused by Leishmania infantum in Brazil. Leukocyte recruitment to infected tissue is a crucial event for the control of infections such as VL. Leucotriens are lipid mediators synthesized by 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and they display a protective role against protozoan parasites by inducing several functions in leucocytes. We determined the role of 5-LO activity in parasite control, focusing on the inflammatory immune response against Leishmania infantum infection. LTB4 is released during in vitro infection. The genetic ablation of 5-LO promoted susceptibility in highly resistant mice strains, harboring more parasites into target organs. The susceptibility was related to the failure of neutrophil migration to the infectious foci. Investigating the neutrophil failure, there was a reduction of proinflammatory cytokines involved in the related Th17 axis released into the organs. Genetic ablation of 5-LO reduced the CD4(+)T cells producing IL-17, without interfering in Th1 subset. L. infantum failed to activate DC from 5-LO(-/-), showing reduced surface costimulatory molecule expression and proinflammatory cytokines involved in Th17 differentiation. BLT1 blockage with selective antagonist interferes with DC maturation and proinflammatory cytokines release. Thus, 5-LO activation coordinates the inflammatory immune response involved in the control of VL.

Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase pathway attenuates acute liver failure by inhibiting macrophage activation

This study aimed to investigate the role of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) in acute liver failure (ALF) and changes in macrophage activation by blocking it. ALF was induced in rats by administration of D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Rats were injected intraperitoneally with AA-861 (a specific 5-LO inhibitor), 24 hr before D-GalN/LPS administration. After D-GalN/LPS injection, the liver tissue was collected for assessment of histology, macrophage microstructure, macrophage counts, 5-LO mRNA formation, protein expression, and concentration of leukotrienes. Serum was collected for detecting alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (Tbil), and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α . Twenty-four hours after injection, compared with controls, ALF rats were characterized by widespread hepatocyte necrosis and elevated ALT, AST, and Tbil, and 5-LO protein expression reached a peak. Liver leukotriene B4 was also significantly elevated. However, 5-LO mRNA reached a peak 8 hr after D-GalN/LPS injection. Simultaneously, the microstructure of macrophages was changed most significantly and macrophages counts were increased significantly. Moreover, serum TNF- α was also elevated. By contrast, AA-861 pretreatment significantly decreased liver necrosis as well as all of the parameters compared with the rats without pretreatment. Macrophages, via the 5-LO pathway, play a critical role in ALF, and 5-LO inhibitor significantly alleviates ALF, possibly related to macrophage inhibition.

Leukotriene B4 type-1 receptor signaling promotes liver repair after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury through the enhancement of macrophage recruitment

Recruited macrophages play a critical role in liver repair after acute liver injury. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent chemoattractant for macrophages. In this study, we investigated the role of LTB4 receptor type 1 (BLT1) in liver repair during hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. BLT1-knockout mice (BLT1(-/-)) or their wild-type counterparts (WT) were subjected to partial hepatic I/R. Compared with WT, BLT1(-/-) exhibited delayed liver repair and hepatocyte proliferation accompanied by a 70% reduction in the recruitment of macrophages and a 70-80% attenuation in hepatic expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1). Disruption of BLT1 signaling also reduced the expression of EGF by 67% on recruited macrophages expressing VEGFR1 in the injured liver. Treatment of WT mice with an EGF-neutralizing antibody delayed liver repair and reduced macrophage recruitment, compared with control immunoglobulin G (IgG). BLT1 signaling enhanced the expression of VEGF, VEGFR1, and EGF in isolated peritoneal macrophages in vitro. These results indicate that BLT1 signaling plays a role in liver repair after hepatic I/R through enhanced expression of EGF in recruited macrophages and that the development of a specific agonist for BLT1 could be useful for liver recovery from acute liver injury.

Flavocoxid, a dual inhibitor of COX-2 and 5-LOX of natural origin, attenuates the inflammatory response and protects mice from sepsis

INTRODUCTION

Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) is an inflammatory condition that leads to multisystemic organ failure. Flavocoxid, a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), has been shown in vitro to possess antiinflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rat macrophages by reducing nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity and COX-2, 5-LOX and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of flavocoxid in a murine model of CLP-induced polymicrobial sepsis.

METHODS

C57BL/6J mice were subjected to CLP or sham operation. In a first set of experiments, an intraperitoneal injection of flavocoxid (20 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered 1 hour after surgery and repeated every 12 hours. Survival rate was monitored every 24 hours throughout 120 hours. Furthermore, additional groups of sham and CLP mice were killed 18 hours after surgical procedures for blood-sample collection and the lung and liver were collected for biomolecular, biochemical and histopathologic studies.

RESULTS

COX-2, 5-LOX, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, extracellular-regulated-kinase 1/2 (ERK), JunN-terminal kinase (JNK), NF-κB, and β-arrestin 2 protein expression were evaluated in lung and liver with Western blot analysis. In addition, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cytokines, and lipoxin A4 serum content were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Flavocoxid administration improved survival, reduced the expression of NF-κB, COX-2, 5-LOX, TNF-α and IL-6 and increased IL-10 production. Moreover, flavocoxid inhibited the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway, preserved β-arrestin 2 expression, reduced blood LTB4, PGE2, TNF-α and IL-6, and increased IL-10 and lipoxin A4 serum levels. The treatment with flavocoxid also protected against the histologic damage induced by CLP and reduced the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lung and liver.

CONCLUSIONS

Flavocoxid protects mice from sepsis, suggesting that this dual inhibitor may represent a promising approach in such a life-threatening condition.

TNF-alpha induces thromboxane receptor signaling-dependent microcirculatory dysfunction in mouse liver

TNF-alpha is a critical mediator of hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction during endotoxemia. The present study was to investigate the role of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and the biological significance of thromboxane prostanoid (TP) receptor signaling in TNF-alpha-mediated hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction in male C57Bl/6 mice. The number of leukocytes adhering to the endothelial cells of the hepatic microvessels (the portal venules, sinusoids, and central venules) and the percentage of nonperfused sinusoids were determined using in vivo fluorescence microscopy. FR167653, an inhibitor of TNF-alpha, was administered 0 and 2 h after LPS injection. A TXA2 synthase inhibitor, OKY-046, was administered 30 min before TNF-alpha injection. Thromboxane prostanoid receptor knockout mice were used to investigate whether TNF-alpha-induced hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction is mediated by endogenously produced TXA2. FR167653 reduced LPS-induced leukocyte adhesion (50%-80%) and the percentage of nonperfused sinusoids (55%). The leukocyte adhesion was increased in the portal venules (8-fold), sinusoids (51-fold), and central venules (73-fold) in TNF-alpha-treated mice, accompanied with an increase in sinusoidal perfusion deficits (8-fold). Alanine aminotransferase levels rose as the adhesion of leukocytes increased. OKY-046 administration before TNF-alpha administration reduced leukocyte adhesion (41%-49% decrease) and sinusoid perfusion deficits (34% decrease). In TP receptor knockout mice, the number of adhering leukocytes, the percentage of nonperfused sinusoids, and alanine aminotransferase levels were lower (by 43%-56%, 41%, and 29%, respectively) than in wild-type counterparts. The results suggest that TP receptor signaling may promote hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction elicited by TNF-alpha. Blockade of TNF-alpha generation and TP receptor signaling may be a good strategy for managing endotoxin-induced hepatic injury.