1
|
Acid Ceramidase Rescues Cystic Fibrosis Mice from Pulmonary Infections. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00677-20. [PMID: 33139382 PMCID: PMC7822142 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00677-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that sphingosine kills a variety of pathogenic bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Sphingosine concentrations are decreased in airway epithelial cells of cystic fibrosis (CF) mice, and this defect has been linked to the infection susceptibility of these mice. Here, we tested whether the genetic overexpression of acid ceramidase rescues cystic fibrosis mice from pulmonary infections with P. aeruginosa. Previous studies have shown that sphingosine kills a variety of pathogenic bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Sphingosine concentrations are decreased in airway epithelial cells of cystic fibrosis (CF) mice, and this defect has been linked to the infection susceptibility of these mice. Here, we tested whether the genetic overexpression of acid ceramidase rescues cystic fibrosis mice from pulmonary infections with P. aeruginosa. We demonstrate that the transgenic overexpression of acid ceramidase in CF mice corresponds to the overexpression of acid ceramidase in bronchial and tracheal epithelial cells and normalizes ceramide and sphingosine levels in bronchial and tracheal epithelial cells. In addition, the expression of β1-integrin, which is ectopically expressed on the luminal surface of airway epithelial cells in cystic fibrosis mice, an alteration that is very important for mediating pulmonary P. aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis, is normalized in cystic fibrosis airways upon the overexpression of acid ceramidase. Most importantly, the overexpression of acid ceramidase protects cystic fibrosis mice from pulmonary P. aeruginosa infections. Infection of CF mice or CF mice that inhaled sphingosine with P. aeruginosa or a P. aeruginosa mutant that is resistant to sphingosine indicates that sphingosine and not a metabolite kills P. aeruginosa upon pulmonary infection. These studies further support the use of acid ceramidase and its metabolite sphingosine as potential treatments of cystic fibrosis.
Collapse
|
2
|
Gardner AI, Wu Y, Verhaegh R, Liu Y, Wilker B, Soddemann M, Keitsch S, Edwards MJ, Haq IJ, Kamler M, Becker KA, Brodlie M, Gulbins E. Interferon regulatory factor 8 regulates expression of acid ceramidase and infection susceptibility in cystic fibrosis. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100650. [PMID: 33839155 PMCID: PMC8113888 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Most patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) suffer from acute and chronic pulmonary infections with bacterial pathogens, which often determine their life quality and expectancy. Previous studies have demonstrated a downregulation of the acid ceramidase in CF epithelial cells resulting in an increase of ceramide and a decrease of sphingosine. Sphingosine kills many bacterial pathogens, and the downregulation of sphingosine seems to determine the infection susceptibility of cystic fibrosis mice and patients. It is presently unknown how deficiency of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) connects to a marked downregulation of the acid ceramidase in human and murine CF epithelial cells. Here, we employed quantitative PCR, western blot analysis, and enzyme activity measurements to study the role of IRF8 for acid ceramidase regulation. We report that genetic deficiency or functional inhibition of CFTR/Cftr results in an upregulation of interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) and a concomitant downregulation of acid ceramidase expression with CF and an increase of ceramide and a reduction of sphingosine levels in tracheal and bronchial epithelial cells from both human individuals or mice. CRISPR/Cas9- or siRNA-mediated downregulation of IRF8 prevented changes of acid ceramidase, ceramide, and sphingosine in CF epithelial cells and restored resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, which is one of the most important and common pathogens in lung infection of patients with CF. These studies indicate that CFTR deficiency causes a downregulation of acid ceramidase via upregulation of IRF8, which is a central pathway to control infection susceptibility of CF cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Ions Gardner
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Yuqing Wu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Rabea Verhaegh
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Yongjie Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Barbara Wilker
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Matthias Soddemann
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Simone Keitsch
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael J Edwards
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Iram J Haq
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Markus Kamler
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Katrin Anne Becker
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Malcolm Brodlie
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
| | - Erich Gulbins
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Brinkert K, Hedtfeld S, Burhop A, Gastmeier R, Gad P, Wedekind D, Kloth C, Rothschuh J, Lachmann N, Hetzel M, Jirmo AC, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Brandenberger C, Hansen G, Schambach A, Ackermann M, Tümmler B, Munder A. Rescue from Pseudomonas aeruginosa Airway Infection via Stem Cell Transplantation. Mol Ther 2020; 29:1324-1334. [PMID: 33279724 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which lead to impaired ion transport in epithelial cells. Although lung failure due to chronic infection is the major comorbidity in individuals with cystic fibrosis, the role of CFTR in non-epithelial cells has not been definitively resolved. Given the important role of host defense cells, we evaluated the Cftr deficiency in pulmonary immune cells by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in cystic fibrosis mice. We transplanted healthy bone marrow stem cells and could reveal a stable chimerism of wild-type cells in peripheral blood. The outcome of stem cell transplantation and the impact of healthy immune cells were evaluated in acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa airway infection. In this study, mice transplanted with wild-type cells displayed better survival, lower lung bacterial numbers, and a milder disease course. This improved physiology of infected mice correlated with successful intrapulmonary engraftment of graft-derived alveolar macrophages, as seen by immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry of graft-specific leucocyte surface marker CD45 and macrophage marker CD68. Given the beneficial effect of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and stable engraftment of monocyte-derived CD68-positive macrophages, we conclude that replacement of mutant Cftr macrophages attenuates airway infection in cystic fibrosis mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Brinkert
- Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Silke Hedtfeld
- Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Annina Burhop
- Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Rena Gastmeier
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Pauline Gad
- Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Dirk Wedekind
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christina Kloth
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Justin Rothschuh
- Institute of Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Nico Lachmann
- Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; REBIRTH Research Center for Translational and Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Miriam Hetzel
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; REBIRTH Research Center for Translational and Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Adan Chari Jirmo
- Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Elena Lopez-Rodriguez
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Institute of Functional Anatomy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christina Brandenberger
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 30625 Hannover, Germany; Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Gesine Hansen
- Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; REBIRTH Research Center for Translational and Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mania Ackermann
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; REBIRTH Research Center for Translational and Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Burkhard Tümmler
- Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Antje Munder
- Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Keitsch S, Riethmüller J, Soddemann M, Sehl C, Wilker B, Edwards MJ, Caldwell CC, Fraunholz M, Gulbins E, Becker KA. Pulmonary infection of cystic fibrosis mice with Staphylococcus aureus requires expression of α-toxin. Biol Chem 2019; 399:1203-1213. [PMID: 29613852 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2018-0161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary infections of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) occur very early in the disease. The molecular details that cause infection-susceptibility of CF patients to and mediate infection with S. aureus are poorly characterized. Therefore, we aimed to identify the role of α-toxin, a major S. aureus toxin, for pulmonary infection of CF mice. Infection with S. aureus JE2 resulted in severe pneumonia in CF mice, while wildtype mice were almost unaffected. Deficiency of α-toxin in JE2-Δhla reduced the pathogenicity of S. aureus in CF mice. However, CF mice were still more susceptible to the mutant S. aureus strain than wildtype mice. The S. aureus JE2 induced a marked increase of ceramide and a downregulation of sphingosine and acid ceramidase expression in bronchi of CF mice. Deletion of α-toxin reduced these changes after infection of CF mice. Similar changes were observed in wildtype mice, but at much lower levels. Our data indicate that expression of α-toxin is a major factor causing S. aureus infections in CF mice. Wildtype S. aureus induces a marked increase of ceramide and a reduction of sphingosine and acid ceramidase expression in bronchial epithelial cells of wildtype and CF mice, changes that determine infection susceptibility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Keitsch
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical School, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Joachim Riethmüller
- Center for Pediatric Clinical Studies, Children's Clinic, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 1, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Soddemann
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical School, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Carolin Sehl
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical School, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Barbara Wilker
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical School, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Michael J Edwards
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0558, USA
| | - Charles C Caldwell
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0558, USA
| | - Martin Fraunholz
- Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Erich Gulbins
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical School, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany.,Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0558, USA
| | - Katrin Anne Becker
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical School, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Grassmé H, Henry B, Ziobro R, Becker KA, Riethmüller J, Gardner A, Seitz AP, Steinmann J, Lang S, Ward C, Schuchman EH, Caldwell CC, Kamler M, Edwards MJ, Brodlie M, Gulbins E. β1-Integrin Accumulates in Cystic Fibrosis Luminal Airway Epithelial Membranes and Decreases Sphingosine, Promoting Bacterial Infections. Cell Host Microbe 2017; 21:707-718.e8. [PMID: 28552668 PMCID: PMC5475347 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Chronic pulmonary colonization with bacterial pathogens, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). We observed that β1-integrins accumulate on the luminal membrane of upper-airway epithelial cells from mice and humans with CF. β1-integrin accumulation is due to increased ceramide and the formation of ceramide platforms that trap β1-integrins on the luminal pole of bronchial epithelial cells. β1-integrins downregulate acid ceramidase expression, resulting in further accumulation of ceramide and consequent reduction of surface sphingosine, a lipid that kills bacteria. Interrupting this vicious cycle by triggering surface β1-integrin internalization via anti-β1-integrin antibodies or the RGD peptide ligand-or by genetic or pharmacological correction of ceramide levels-normalizes β1-integrin distribution and sphingosine levels in CF epithelial cells and prevents P. aeruginosa infection in CF mice. These findings suggest a therapeutic avenue to ameliorate CF-associated bacterial infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heike Grassmé
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Brian Henry
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany; Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, ML 0558, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
| | - Regan Ziobro
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Katrin Anne Becker
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Joachim Riethmüller
- Center for Pediatric Clinical Studies, Children's Clinic, University of Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Aaron Gardner
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, c/o Level 3, Clinical Resource Building, Great North Children's Hospital, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Aaron P Seitz
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, ML 0558, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
| | - Joerg Steinmann
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Stephan Lang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Christopher Ward
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, c/o Level 3, Clinical Resource Building, Great North Children's Hospital, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Edward H Schuchman
- Department of Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Charles C Caldwell
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, ML 0558, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
| | - Markus Kamler
- West German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Michael J Edwards
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, ML 0558, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
| | - Malcolm Brodlie
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, c/o Level 3, Clinical Resource Building, Great North Children's Hospital, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Erich Gulbins
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany; Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, ML 0558, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chillappagari S, Venkatesan S, Garapati V, Mahavadi P, Munder A, Seubert A, Sarode G, Guenther A, Schmeck BT, Tümmler B, Henke MO. Impaired TLR4 and HIF expression in cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cells downregulates hemeoxygenase-1 and alters iron homeostasis in vitro. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2014; 307:L791-9. [DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00167.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible heat shock protein, is upregulated in response to multiple cellular insults via oxidative stress, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and hypoxia. In this study, we investigated in vitro the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), and iron on HO-1 expression in cystic fibrosis (CF). Immunohistochemical analysis of TLR4, HO-1, ferritin, and HIF-1α were performed on lung sections of CFTR−/− and wild-type mice. CFBE41o- and 16HBE14o- cell lines were employed for in vitro analysis via immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, real-time PCR, luciferase reporter gene analysis, and iron quantification. We observed a reduced TLR4, HIF-1α, HO-1, and ferritin in CFBE41o- cell line and CF mice. Knockdown studies using TLR4-siRNA in 16HBE14o- revealed significant decrease of HO-1, confirming the role of TLR4 in HO-1 downregulation. Inhibition of HO-1 using tin protoporphyrin in 16HBE14o- cells resulted in increased iron levels, suggesting a probable role of HO-1 in iron accumulation. Additionally, sequestration of excess iron using iron chelators resulted in increased hypoxia response element response in CFBE41o- and 16HBE14o-, implicating a role of iron in HIF-1α stabilization and HO-1. To conclude, our in vitro results demonstrate that multiple regulatory factors, such as impaired TLR4 surface expression, increased intracellular iron, and decreased HIF-1α, downregulate HO-1 expression in CFBE41o- cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shashi Chillappagari
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Critical Care Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
- Institute for Lung Research, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Giessen, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
| | - Shalini Venkatesan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Giessen, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
| | - Virajith Garapati
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Critical Care Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
- Institute for Lung Research, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Giessen, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
| | - Poornima Mahavadi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Giessen, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
| | - Antje Munder
- Clinical Research Group ‘Molecular Pathology of Cystic Fibrosis and Pseudomonas Genomics’, Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Germany
| | - Andreas Seubert
- Department of Chemistry-Biochemistry, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Gaurav Sarode
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Critical Care Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Guenther
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
- Lung Clinic Waldhof-Elgershausen, Greifenstein, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Giessen, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
| | - Bernd T. Schmeck
- Institute for Lung Research, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Giessen, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
| | - Burkhard Tümmler
- Clinical Research Group ‘Molecular Pathology of Cystic Fibrosis and Pseudomonas Genomics’, Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Germany
| | - Markus O. Henke
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Critical Care Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Giessen, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
- Pneumology, Asklepios Fachkliniken München-Gauting, Germany
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC), Helmholtz Zentrum, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) molecule; these mutations result in a defect in chloride secretion in epithelial cell layers. The disease is characterized by severe gastrointestinal and pulmonary symptoms, but it is the pulmonary symptoms that dominate the clinical course of the disease and determine patients' life expectancy. These pulmonary symptoms include reduced mucociliary clearance, chronic inflammation, and recurrent and chronic pulmonary infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Burkholderia cepacia, and Haemophilus influenzae. Recent studies have shown that sphingolipids, especially ceramide, play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis. These studies have demonstrated that ceramide accumulates in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients and mice, causing inflammation and high susceptibility to bacterial infections. The results of initial clinical studies suggest that interfering with sphingolipids may be a novel treatment strategy for cystic fibrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heike Grassmé
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Munder A, Wölbeling F, Kerber-Momot T, Wedekind D, Baumann U, Gulbins E, Tümmler B. Acute intratracheal Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis mice is age-independent. Respir Res 2011; 12:148. [PMID: 22059807 PMCID: PMC3248876 DOI: 10.1186/1465-9921-12-148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2011] [Accepted: 11/07/2011] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Since the discovery of the human CFTR gene in 1989 various mouse models for cystic fibrosis (CF) have been generated and used as a very suitable and popular tool to approach research on this life-threatening disease. Age related changes regarding the course of disease and susceptibility towards pulmonary infections have been discussed in numerous studies. Methods Here, we investigated CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu and Cftrtm1Unc-Tg(FABPCFTR)1Jaw/J CF mice and their non-CF littermates during an acute lung infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa for age dependent effects of their lung function and immune response. Mice younger than three or older than six months were intratracheally infected with P. aeruginosa TBCF10839. The infection was monitored by lung function of the animals using non-invasive head-out spirometry and the time course of physiological parameters over 192 hours. Quantitative bacteriology and lung histopathology of a subgroup of animals were used as endpoint parameters. Results Age-dependent changes in lung function and characteristic features for CF like a shallower, faster breathing pattern were observed in both CF mouse models in uninfected state. In contrast infected CF mice did not significantly differ from their non-CF littermates in susceptibility and severity of lung infection in both mouse models and age groups. The transgenic Cftrtm1Unc-Tg(FABPCFTR)1Jaw/J and their non-CF littermates showed a milder course of infection than the CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu CF and their congenic C57Bl/6J non-CF mice suggesting that the genetic background was more important for outcome than Cftr dysfunction. Conclusions Previous investigations of the same mouse lines have shown a higher airway susceptibility of older CF mice to intranasally applied P. aeruginosa. The different outcome of intranasal and intratracheal instillation of bacteria implies that infected CF epithelium is impaired during the initial colonization of upper airways, but not in the subsequent response of host defense.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antje Munder
- Clinical Research Group, Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Becker KA, Tümmler B, Gulbins E, Grassmé H. Accumulation of ceramide in the trachea and intestine of cystic fibrosis mice causes inflammation and cell death. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 403:368-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.11.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2010] [Accepted: 11/11/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
10
|
Tóth B, Wilke M, Stanke F, Dorsch M, Jansen S, Wedekind D, Charizopoulou N, Bot A, Burmester M, Leonhard-Marek S, de Jonge HR, Hedrich HJ, Breves G, Tümmler B. Very mild disease phenotype of congenic CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu cystic fibrosis mice. BMC Genet 2008; 9:28. [PMID: 18400105 PMCID: PMC2323021 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2156-9-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2007] [Accepted: 04/09/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A major boost to cystic fibrosis disease research was given by the generation of various mouse models using gene targeting in embryonal stem cells. Moreover, the introduction of the same mutation on different inbred strains generating congenic strains facilitated the search for modifier genes. From the original CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu mouse model with a divergent genetic background (129/Sv, C57BL/6, HsdOla:MF1) two inbred mutant mouse strains CF/1-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu and CF/3-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu had been generated using strict brother x sister mating. CF/1-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu and CF/3-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu mice were fertile and showed normal growth and lifespan. In this work the CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu insertional mutation was backcrossed from CF/3-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu onto the inbred backgrounds C57BL/6J and DBA/2J generating congenic animals in order to clarify the differential impact of the Cftr mutation and the genetic background on the disease phenotype of the cystic fibrosis mutant mice. Clinical and electrophysiological features of the two congenic strains were compared with those of CF/1-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu and CF/3-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu and wild type controls. RESULTS Under the standardized housing conditions of the animal facility, the four mouse strains CF/1-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu, CF/3-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu, D2.129P2(CF/3)-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu and B6.129P2(CF/3)-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu exhibited normal life expectancy. Growth of congenic cystic fibrosis mice was comparable with that of wild type controls. All mice but D2.129P2(CF/3)-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu females were fertile. Short circuit current measurements revealed characteristic response profiles of the HsdOla:MF1, DBA/2J and C57BL/6J backgrounds in nose, ileum and colon. All cystic fibrosis mouse lines showed the disease-typical hyperresponsiveness to amiloride in the respiratory epithelium. The mean chloride secretory responses to carbachol or forskolin were 15-100% of those of the cognate wild type control animals. CONCLUSION The amelioration of the clinical features and of the basic defect that had emerged during the generation of CF/3-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu mice was retained in the congenic mice indicating that the Cftr linkage group or other loci shared between the inbred strains contain(s) the major modifier(s) of attenuation of cystic fibrosis symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Tóth
- Klinische Forschergruppe, OE 6710, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Tóth B, Leonhard-Marek S, Hedrich HJ, Breves G. Characterisation of electrogenic nutrient absorption in the Cftr TgH(neoim)Hgu mouse model. J Comp Physiol B 2008; 178:705-12. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-008-0259-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2007] [Revised: 03/13/2008] [Accepted: 03/18/2008] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
|
12
|
Bruscia EM, Ziegler EC, Price JE, Weiner S, Egan ME, Krause DS. Engraftment of Donor-Derived Epithelial Cells in Multiple Organs Following Bone Marrow Transplantation into Newborn Mice. Stem Cells 2006; 24:2299-308. [PMID: 16794262 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2006-0166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) can engraft as epithelial cells throughout the body, including in the lung, liver, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract following transplantation into lethally irradiated adult recipients. Except for rare disease models in which marrow-derived epithelial cells have a survival advantage over endogenous cells, the currently attained levels of epithelial engraftment of BMDCs are too low to be of therapeutic benefit. Here we tested whether the degree of bone marrow to epithelial engraftment would be higher if bone marrow transplantation (BMT) were performed on 1-day-old mice, when tissues are undergoing rapid growth and remodeling. BMT into newborn mice after multiple different regimens allowed for robust hematopoietic engraftment, as well as the development of rare donor-derived epithelial cells in the GI tract and lung but not in the liver. The highest epithelial engraftment (0.02%) was obtained in mice that received a preparative regimen of two doses of busulfan in utero. When BMDCs were transplanted into myelosuppressed newborn mice that lacked expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, the chloride channel that is not functional in patients with cystic fibrosis, the engrafted mice showed partial restoration of CFTR channel activity, suggesting that marrow-derived epithelial cells in the GI tract were functional. However, BMT into newborn mice, regardless of the myeloablative regimen used, did not increase the number of bone marrow-derived epithelial cells over that which occurs after BMT into lethally irradiated adult mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela M Bruscia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, P.O. Box 208035, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8035, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bleich EM, Leonhard-Marek S, Beyerbach M, Breves G. Characterisation of chloride currents across the proximal colon in CftrTgH(neoim)1Hgu congenic mice. J Comp Physiol B 2006; 177:61-73. [PMID: 16868751 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-006-0109-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2006] [Revised: 06/28/2006] [Accepted: 06/30/2006] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
It was the aim of the present study to investigate chloride secretion across the proximal colon of Cftr (TgH(neoim)1Hgu) congenic mice. Stripped epithelia were incubated in Ussing chambers and the electrophysiological data were compared between cystic fibrosis (CF) animals and wild type (WT) animals. In comparison with the control animals, all Cftr (TgH(neoim)1Hgu) congenic mice had a distinctly reduced basal chloride secretion and a reduced chloride secretion after stimulation with carbachol and forskolin. When comparing chloride secretion across the proximal colon between WT animals, all mice showed a comparable pattern of response to carbachol and forskolin but quantitative differences, BALB/c exhibiting the highest and HsdOla:MF1 exhibiting the lowest increase in Cl current. Likewise, all CF animals showed the same reaction pattern to carbachol and forskolin, but there was no distinct difference that lasted for the whole measurement. To investigate interferences between Ca- and cyclic adenosine monophosphate-activated pathways of Cl secretion in CF animals, we studied epithelia from CF/3CF/1F1 animals with a mixed background. In these animals, the levels of the carbachol or forskolin-induced chloride currents did not depend on the prestimulation with the respective other secretagogue. 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, which blocks calcium-activated chloride channels, reduced the current response to carbachol by about 23%. This result, obtained in BALB/c-Cftr (TgH(neoim)1Hgu) mice, indicates that alternative chloride channels might be present in the proximal colon of these mice. In contrast, there was no evidence for alternative chloride conductances in BALB/c WT animals, but we cannot exclude that in WT mice a higher chloride secretion via Cftr-channels may have masked an alternative chloride secretion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E-M Bleich
- Department of Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Bischofsholer Damm 15/102, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Leverkoehne I, Holle H, Anton F, Gruber AD. Differential expression of calcium-activated chloride channels (CLCA) gene family members in the small intestine of cystic fibrosis mouse models. Histochem Cell Biol 2006; 126:239-50. [PMID: 16514548 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-006-0164-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Members of the family of calcium-activated chloride channels (CLCA) have been implicated as modulators of the phenotype in cystic fibrosis (CF). Here, the expression levels of the murine mCLCA1, mCLCA2, mCLCA3 and mCLCA4 were quantified by real-time RT-PCR in the small intestines of CF (cftr (tm1Cam), cftr (TgH(neoim)1Hgu)) and wild type C57BL/6, BALB/c, DBA/2 and NMRI mice. Markedly different expression levels of all four CLCA homologs were observed between the different wild type strains. Expression of mCLCA1 and mCLCA4 was similar in CF versus wild type. In contrast, mCLCA3 mRNA copy numbers were increased up to threefold in all CF models. Immunohistochemical detection of mCLCA3 and PAS reactions on consecutive tissue sections identified a similar increase in mCLCA3 expressing goblet cells, suggesting that elevated mRNA copy numbers of mCLCA3 are due to goblet cell hyperplasia rather than transcriptional regulatory events. Increased mCLCA2 mRNA copy numbers, however, were considered more likely to be due to transcriptional upregulation. Changes in mRNA copy numbers were not associated with altered cell kinetics as determined by immunohistochemistry using antibodies to phospho-histone 3 and activated caspase-3. The results suggest that both mCLCA2 and mCLCA3 may act as modifiers of the intestinal phenotype in CF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ina Leverkoehne
- Department of Veterinary Pathology , Freie Universitaet Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Strasse 15, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bruscia EM, Price JE, Cheng EC, Weiner S, Caputo C, Ferreira EC, Egan ME, Krause DS. Assessment of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity in CFTR-null mice after bone marrow transplantation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006; 103:2965-70. [PMID: 16481627 PMCID: PMC1413802 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0510758103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated that bone marrow (BM)-derived cells give rise to rare epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) and respiratory tracts after BM transplantation into myeloablated recipients. We investigate whether, after transplantation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-positive BM-derived cells, BM-derived GI and airway epithelial cells can provide CFTR activity in the GI tract and nasal epithelium of recipient cystic fibrosis mice. CFTR-/- mice were transplanted with wild-type BM after receiving different doses of irradiation, and CFTR activity was assessed in vivo in individual mice over time by using rectal and nasal potential difference analyses and in vitro by Ussing chamber analysis. The data suggest that rare BM-derived epithelial cells in the GI and nasal epithelium detected in CFTR-/- transplanted mice provide a modest level of CFTR-dependent chloride secretion. Detection of CFTR mRNA and protein in tissues of transplanted CFTR-/- mice supports these data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marie E. Egan
- Pediatrics, and
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 330 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Diane S. Krause
- Departments of *Laboratory Medicine
- To whom correspondence should be addressed at:
Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, P.O. Box 208035, New Haven, CT 06520.
| |
Collapse
|