Penfluridol targets acid sphingomyelinase to inhibit TNF signaling and is therapeutic against inflammatory autoimmune diseases

Penfluridol suppresses MYC-driven ANLN expression and liver cancer progression by disrupting the KEAP1-NRF2 interaction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) comprises the majority of primary liver cancers and possesses a low 5-year survival rate when in the advanced stages. Anillin (ANLN), a key player in cell growth and cytokinesis, is implicated in HCC development. Currently, no treatment agents are known to suppress ANLN. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas data showed that high ANLN expression is associated with poor prognosis and survival in HCC patients. ANLN knockdown was shown to inhibit proliferation, cell cycle progression, and PD-L1 expression in liver cancer cells. The antipsychotic drug penfluridol was identified to suppress ANLN expression in the Connectivity Map analysis. Penfluridol downregulated ANLN at both the mRNA and protein levels, leading to G2/M cell cycle arrest and reduced colony formation in liver cancer cells. Mechanistically, penfluridol inhibited the transcription factor MYC from binding to an E-box motif in the ANLN promoter. This process was mediated by penfluridol-induced upregulation of NRF2, which competitively bound and sequestered MYC away from the ANLN promoter. Penfluridol inhibited the interaction between NRF2 and KEAP1, increasing NRF2. In a syngeneic mouse model, penfluridol suppressed liver tumour growth accompanied by increased NRF2 and decreased MYC and ANLN expression. These findings suggest penfluridol can be applied as the first ANLN blocker to modulate the MYC/NRF2/KEAP1 axis.

Macrophage-derived mir-100-5p orchestrates synovial proliferation and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis through mTOR signaling

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by synovial inflammation, causing substantial disability and reducing life quality. While macrophages are widely appreciated as a master regulator in the inflammatory response of RA, the precise mechanisms underlying the regulation of proliferation and inflammation in RA-derived fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) remain elusive. Here, we provide extensive evidence to demonstrate that macrophage contributes to RA microenvironment remodeling by extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and downstream miR-100-5p/ mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis.

RESULTS

We showed that bone marrow derived macrophage (BMDM) derived-sEVs (BMDM-sEVs) from collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice (cBMDM-sEVs) exhibited a notable increase in abundance compared with BMDM-sEVs from normal mice (nBMDM-sEVs). cBMDM-sEVs induced significant RA-FLS proliferation and potent inflammatory responses. Mechanistically, decreased levels of miR-100-5p were detected in cBMDM-sEVs compared with nBMDM-sEVs. miR-100-5p overexpression ameliorated RA-FLS proliferation and inflammation by targeting the mTOR pathway. Partial attenuation of the inflammatory effects induced by cBMDM-sEVs on RA-FLS was achieved through the introduction of an overexpression of miR-100-5p.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work reveals the critical role of macrophages in exacerbating RA by facilitating the transfer of miR-100-5p-deficient sEVs to RA-FLS, and sheds light on novel disease mechanisms and provides potential therapeutic targets for RA interventions.

Macrophage-related therapeutic strategies: Regulation of phenotypic switching and construction of drug delivery systems

Macrophages, as highly phenotypic plastic immune cells, play diverse roles in different pathological conditions. Changing and controlling the phenotypes of macrophages is considered a novel potential therapeutic intervention. Meanwhile, specific transmembrane proteins anchoring on the surface of the macrophage membrane are relatively conserved, supporting its functional properties, such as inflammatory chemotaxis and tumor targeting. Thus, a series of drug delivery systems related to specific macrophage membrane proteins are commonly used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. This review summarizes macrophages-based strategies for chronic diseases, discusses the regulation of macrophage phenotypes and their polarization processes, and presents how to design and apply the site-specific targeted drug delivery systems in vivo based on the macrophages and their derived membrane receptors. It aims to provide a better understanding of macrophages in immunoregulation and proposes macrophages-based targeted therapeutic approaches for chronic diseases.

Penfluroidol Attenuates the Imbalance of the Inflammatory Response by Repressing the Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome and Reduces Oxidative Stress via the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway in LPS-Induced Macrophages

Objectives

Excessive inflammatory responses and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Penfluroidol (PF), an oral long-acting antipsychotic drug, has been suggested to possess diverse biological properties, including antischizophrenia, antitumour effect, and anti-inflammatory activity. The purpose of this research was to explore the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of penfluroidol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-related macrophages.

Methods

The viability of RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells was measured by Enhanced Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). The production of nitric oxide was evaluated by the Nitric Oxide Assay Kit. The generation of pro-inflammatory monocytes was detected by qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time PCR) and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring ROS, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The protein expression of the Nrf2/HO-1/NLRP3 inflammasome was detected by western blotting.

Results

Our results indicated that no cytotoxic effect was observed when RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells were exposed to PF (0-1 μm) and/or LPS (1 μg/ml) for 24 hr. The data showed that LPS, which was repressed by PF, facilitated the generation of the pro-inflammatory molecules TNF-α and IL-6. In addition, LPS contributed to increased production of intracellular ROS compared with the control group, whereas the administration of PF effectively reduced LPS-related levels of ROS. Moreover, LPS induced the generation of MDA and suppressed the activities of SOD. However, PF treatment strongly decreased LPS-induced MDA levels and increased SOD activities in the RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells. Furthermore, our research confirmed that penfluroidol repressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules by limiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and reducing oxidative effects via the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Conclusion

Penfluroidol attenuated the imbalance of the inflammatory response by suppressing the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and reduced oxidative stress via the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in LPS-induced macrophages.

Tau deficiency inhibits classically activated macrophage polarization and protects against collagen-induced arthritis in mice

BACKGROUND

Tau protein serves a pro-inflammatory function in neuroinflammation. However, the role of tau in other inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is less explored. This study is to investigate the role of endogenous tau and the potential mechanisms in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis.

METHODS

We established collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model in wild-type and Tau-/- mice to compare the clinical score and arthritis incidence. Micro-CT analysis was used to evaluate bone erosion of ankle joints. Histological analysis was performed to assess inflammatory cell infiltration, cartilage damage, and osteoclast activity in the ankle joints. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA. The expression levels of macrophage markers were determined by immunohistochemistry staining and quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTS

Tau expression was upregulated in joints under inflammatory condition. Tau deletion in mice exhibited milder inflammation and protected against the progression of CIA, evidenced by reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and attenuated bone loss, inflammatory cell infiltration, cartilage damage, and osteoclast activity in the ankle joints. Furthermore, tau deficiency led to the inhibition of classically activated type 1 (M1) macrophage polarization in the synovium.

CONCLUSION

Tau is a previously unrecognized critical regulator in the pathogenesis of RA and may provide a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune and inflammatory joint diseases.