1
|
Guo Q, Li H, Zeng C, Lü Z, Jiang M. Associations of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein with bacterial load, proinflammatory cytokines and mortality from pneumonia. Clin Transl Sci 2024; 17:e13850. [PMID: 38807464 PMCID: PMC11134167 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) is a damage-associated molecular pattern that plays a critical role in triggering inflammatory responses. It remains unknown whether CIRP is strongly associated with bacterial load, inflammatory response, and mortality in sepsis model. Pneumonia was induced in specific pathogen-free 8-9-week old male rats by injecting bacteria via puncture of the tracheal cartilage. The expressions of CIRP and proinflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β] in lung tissues, alveolar macrophages (AMs), plasma, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The numbers of bacteria recovered from the lungs were correlated with the bacterial loads injected and mortality. The expressions of CIRP increased sharply as the bacterial loads increased in the lung tissues and AMs. The amounts of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β proteins synthesized were dependent on the bacterial load in the lung tissues. Releases of CIRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β increased with the bacterial load in the blood plasma. The proteins confirmed similar patterns in the BALF. CIRP was strongly associated with the releases of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the lung tissues, blood plasma, and BALF, and showed a close correlation with mortality. CIRP demonstrated a strong association with bacterial load, which is new evidence, and close correlations with proinflammatory cytokines and mortality of pneumonia in rats, suggesting that it might be an interesting pneumonic biomarker for monitoring host response and predicting mortality, and a promising target for immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Guo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen HospitalPeking UniversityShenzhenGuangdongChina
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicineThe Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdongChina
| | - Hai‐yan Li
- Department of General MedicineThe Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdongChina
| | - Chao Zeng
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen HospitalPeking UniversityShenzhenGuangdongChina
| | - Zhong‐dong Lü
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen HospitalPeking UniversityShenzhenGuangdongChina
| | - Mei Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory HealthThe First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Caven L, Carabeo R. Chlamydial YAP activation in host endocervical epithelial cells mediates pro-fibrotic paracrine stimulation of fibroblasts. mSystems 2023; 8:e0090423. [PMID: 37874141 PMCID: PMC10734534 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00904-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Chronic or repeated infection of the female upper genital tract by C. trachomatis can lead to severe fibrotic sequelae, including tubal factor infertility and ectopic pregnancy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect are unclear. In this report, we define a transcriptional program specific to C. trachomatis infection of the upper genital tract, identifying tissue-specific induction of host YAP-a pro-fibrotic transcriptional cofactor-as a potential driver of infection-mediated fibrotic gene expression. Furthermore, we show that infected endocervical epithelial cells stimulate collagen production by fibroblasts and implicate chlamydial induction of YAP in this effect. Our results define a mechanism by which infection mediates tissue-level fibrotic pathology via paracrine signaling and identify YAP as a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of Chlamydia-associated scarring of the female genital tract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liam Caven
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Rey Carabeo
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Caven L, Carabeo R. Chlamydial YAP activation in host endocervical epithelial cells mediates pro-fibrotic paracrine stimulation of fibroblasts. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.30.542940. [PMID: 37398163 PMCID: PMC10312526 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.30.542940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Infection of the female genital tract by Chlamydia trachomatis can produce severe fibrotic sequelae, including tubal factor infertility and ectopic pregnancy. While infection demonstrably mediates a pro-fibrotic response in host cells, it remains unclear if intrinsic properties of the upper genital tract exacerbate chlamydial fibrosis. The relatively sterile environment of the upper genital tract is primed for a pro-inflammatory response to infection, potentially enhancing fibrosis - however, subclinical C. trachomatis infections still develop fibrosis-related sequelae. Here, we compare infection-associated and steady-state gene expression of primary human cervical and vaginal epithelial cells. In the former, we observe enhanced baseline expression and infection-mediated induction of fibrosis-associated signal factors (e.g. TGFA , IL6 , IL8 , IL20 ), implying predisposition to Chlamydia -associated pro-fibrotic signaling. Transcription factor enrichment analysis identified regulatory targets of YAP, a transcriptional cofactor induced by infection of cervical epithelial cells, but not vaginal epithelial cells. YAP target genes induced by infection include secreted fibroblast-activating signal factors; therefore, we developed an in vitro model involving coculture of infected endocervical epithelial cells with uninfected fibroblasts. Coculture enhanced fibroblast expression of type I collagen, as well as prompting reproducible (albeit statistically insignificant) induction of α-smooth muscle actin. Fibroblast collagen induction was sensitive to siRNA-mediated YAP knockdown in infected epithelial cells, implicating chlamydial YAP activation in this effect. Collectively, our results present a novel mechanism of fibrosis initiated by Chlamydia, wherein infection-mediated induction of host YAP facilitates pro-fibrotic intercellular communication. Chlamydial YAP activation in cervical epithelial cells is thus a determinant of this tissue's susceptibility to fibrosis. Importance Chronic or repeated infection of the female upper genital tract by C. trachomatis can lead to severe fibrotic sequelae, including tubal factor infertility and ectopic pregnancy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect are unclear. In this report, we define a transcriptional program specific to C. trachomatis infection of the upper genital tract, identifying tissue-specific induction of host YAP - a pro-fibrotic transcriptional cofactor - as a potential driver of infection-mediated fibrotic gene expression. Further, we show that infected endocervical epithelial cells stimulate collagen production by fibroblasts, and implicate chlamydial induction of YAP in this effect. Our results define a mechanism by which infection mediates tissue-level fibrotic pathology via paracrine signaling, and identify YAP as a potential therapeutic target for prevention of Chlamydia -associated scarring of the female genital tract.
Collapse
|
4
|
Caven LT, Brinkworth AJ, Carabeo RA. Chlamydia trachomatis induces the transcriptional activity of host YAP in a Hippo-independent fashion. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1098420. [PMID: 36923592 PMCID: PMC10008951 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1098420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis is the causative agent of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease worldwide. While the host response to infection by this pathogen has been well characterized, it remains unclear to what extent host gene expression during infection is the product of Chlamydia-directed modulation of host transcription factors. Methods To identify transcription factors potentially modulated by Chlamydia during infection, we infected immortalized endocervical epithelial cells (End1/E6E7) with the anogenital C. trachomatis serovar L2, harvesting polyadenylated RNA for bulk RNA-sequencing. Subsequent experiments elucidating the mechanism of infection-mediated YAP activation assayed YAP target gene expression via qRT-PCR, YAP nuclear translocation via quantitative immunofluorescence, and YAP phosphorylation via Western blotting. Results RNA sequencing of Chlamydia-infected endocervical epithelial cells revealed gene expression consistent with activity of YAP, a transcriptional coactivator implicated in cell proliferation, wound healing, and fibrosis. After confirming induction of YAP target genes during infection, we observed an infection-dependent increase in YAP nuclear translocation sensitive to inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis. While Hippo-mediated phosphoinhibition of YAP at S127 was unaffected by C. trachomatis infection, Hippo-independent phosphorylation at Y357 was increased. Infection did not enhance nuclear translocation of Y357F mutant YAP, illustrating a requirement for phosphorylation at this residue. Pharmacological inhibition of host Src-family kinase activity attenuated YAP Y357 phosphorylation, but not nuclear translocation - which was instead sensitive to inhibition of Abl. Discussion Our results define a transcriptome-altering mechanism of pathogen-directed YAP activation that bypasses canonical inhibition by the Hippo kinase cascade, with a potential link to chlamydial fibrosis and other advanced disease sequelae. Additional study is required to determine the specific role of infection-associated Y357 phosphorylation and Abl activity in chlamydial induction of YAP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liam T. Caven
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Amanda J. Brinkworth
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Rey A. Carabeo
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Taavitsainen E, Kortesoja M, Bruun T, Johansson NG, Hanski L. Assaying Chlamydia pneumoniae Persistence in Monocyte-Derived Macrophages Identifies Dibenzocyclooctadiene Lignans as Phenotypic Switchers. Molecules 2020; 25:E294. [PMID: 31940776 PMCID: PMC7024427 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25020294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic-tolerant persister bacteria involve frequent treatment failures, relapsing infections and the need for extended antibiotic treatment. The virulence of an intracellular human pathogen C. pneumoniae is tightly linked to its propensity for persistence and means for its chemosensitization are urgently needed. In the current work, persistence of C. pneumoniae clinical isolate CV6 was studied in THP-1 macrophages using quantitative PCR and quantitative culture. A dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan schisandrin reverted C. pneumoniae persistence and promoted productive infection. The concomitant administration of schisandrin and azithromycin resulted in significantly improved bacterial eradication compared to sole azithromycin treatment. In addition, the closely related lignan schisandrin C was superior to azithromycin in eradicating the C. pneumoniae infection from the macrophages. The observed chemosensitization of C. pneumoniae was associated with the suppression of cellular glutathione pools by the lignans, implying to a previously unknown aspect of chlamydia-host interactions. These data indicate that schisandrin lignans induce a phenotypic switch in C. pneumoniae, promoting the productive and antibiotic-susceptible phenotype instead of persistence. By this means, these medicinal plant -derived compounds show potential as adjuvant therapies for intracellular bacteria resuscitation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eveliina Taavitsainen
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (E.T.); (M.K.)
| | - Maarit Kortesoja
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (E.T.); (M.K.)
| | - Tanja Bruun
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (T.B.); (N.G.J.)
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Niklas G. Johansson
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (T.B.); (N.G.J.)
| | - Leena Hanski
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (E.T.); (M.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zheng N, Zhang L, Wang B, Wang G, Liu J, Miao G, Zhao X, Liu C, Zhang L. Chlamydia pneumoniae infection promotes vascular smooth muscle cell migration via c-Fos/interleukin-17C signaling. Int J Med Microbiol 2019; 309:151340. [PMID: 31494039 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2019.151340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection is associated with the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. The migration of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) from the media to the intima is a key event in the development of atherosclerosis. Interleukin-17C (IL-17C) could enhance cell migration ability. The aim of our study is to investigate the role of IL-17C in C. pneumoniae infection-promoted VSMC migration, thereby possibly accelerating atherosclerosis. We firstly demonstrated that C. pneumoniae infection significantly increased IL-17C expression in VSMCs in the atherosclerotic lesion area from ApoE deficient mice. Our in vitro study further showed that IL-17C is required for C. pneumoniae infection-promoted VSMC migration, and its expression could be regulated by c-Fos through phosphorylating extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Unexpectedly, in the present study, we also found that IL-17C is critical for C. pneumoniae infection-induced c-Fos activation. c-Fos expression and activation induced by the exposure to recombinant IL-17C were markedly suppressed in the presence of the ERK inhibitor PD98059. These results suggest a possible positive feedback between c-Fos and IL-17C after C. pneumoniae infection. Taken together, our results indicate that C. pneumoniae infection promotes VSMC migration via c-Fos/IL-17C signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ningbo Zheng
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Beibei Wang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Guangyan Wang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Jingya Liu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Guolin Miao
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Xi Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Changle Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300211, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Khanal S, Taank V, Anderson JF, Sultana H, Neelakanta G. Arthropod transcriptional activator protein-1 (AP-1) aids tick-rickettsial pathogen survival in the cold. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11409. [PMID: 30061607 PMCID: PMC6065373 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29654-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ixodes scapularis ticks transmit several pathogens to humans including rickettsial bacterium, Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Here, we report that A. phagocytophilum uses tick transcriptional activator protein-1 (AP-1) as a molecular switch in the regulation of arthropod antifreeze gene, iafgp. RNAi-mediated silencing of ap-1 expression significantly affected iafgp gene expression and A. phagocytophilum burden in ticks upon acquisition from the murine host. Gel shift assays provide evidence that both the bacterium and AP-1 influences iafgp promoter and expression. The luciferase assays revealed that a region of approximately 700 bp upstream of the antifreeze gene is sufficient for AP-1 binding to promote iafgp gene expression. Furthermore, survival assays revealed that AP-1-deficient ticks were more susceptible to cold in comparison to the mock controls. In addition, this study also indicates arthropod AP-1 as a global regulator for some of the tick genes critical for A. phagocytophilum survival in the vector. In summary, our study defines a novel mode of arthropod signaling for the survival of both rickettsial pathogen and its medically important vector in the cold.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Supreet Khanal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Vikas Taank
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - John F Anderson
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hameeda Sultana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Girish Neelakanta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Won Y, Shin Y, Chun CH, Cho Y, Ha CW, Kim JH, Chun JS. Pleiotropic roles of metallothioneins as regulators of chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic and anabolic pathways during osteoarthritis pathogenesis. Ann Rheum Dis 2016; 75:2045-2052. [PMID: 26903440 PMCID: PMC5099198 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-208406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Objective The zinc-ZIP8-MTF1 axis induces metallothionein (MT) expression and is a catabolic regulator of experimental osteoarthritis (OA) in mice. The main aim of the current study was to explore the roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of MTs in OA pathogenesis. Methods Experimental OA in mice was induced by destabilisation of the medial meniscus or intra-articular injection of adenovirus carrying a target gene (Ad-Zip8, Ad-Mtf1, Ad-Epas1, Ad-Nampt, Ad-Mt1 or Ad-Mt2) into wild type, Zip8fl/fl; Col2a1-Cre, Mtf1fl/fl; Col2a1-Cre and Mt1/Mt2 double knockout mice. Primary cultured mouse chondrocytes were infected with Ad-Mt1 or Ad-Mt2, and gene expression profiles analysed via microarray and reverse transcription-PCR. Proteins in human and mouse OA cartilage were identified via immunostaining. Chondrocyte apoptosis in OA cartilage was determined using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labelling (TUNEL). Results MTs were highly expressed in human and mouse OA cartilage. Hypoxia-inducible factor 2α, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase and several proinflammatory cytokine pathways, as well as the zinc-ZIP8-MTF1 axis were identified as upstream regulators of MT expression. Genetic deletion of Mt1 and Mt2 enhanced cartilage destruction through increasing chondrocyte apoptosis. Unexpectedly, aberrant overexpression of MT2, but not MT1, induced upregulation of matrix-degrading enzymes and downregulation of matrix molecules through nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) activation, ultimately leading to OA. Conclusions MTs play an antiapoptotic role in post-traumatic OA. However, aberrant and chronic upregulation of MT2 triggers an imbalance between chondrocyte anabolism and catabolism, consequently accelerating OA development. Our findings collectively highlight pleiotropic roles of MTs as regulators of chondrocyte apoptosis as well as catabolic and anabolic pathways during OA pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoonkyung Won
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Youngnim Shin
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Churl-Hong Chun
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea
| | - Yongsik Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chul-Won Ha
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Samsung Medical Center, SungKyunKwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, SungKyunKwan University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jin-Hong Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jang-Soo Chun
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
| |
Collapse
|