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Cezar R, Kundura L, André S, Lozano C, Vincent T, Muller L, Lefrant JY, Roger C, Claret PG, Duvnjak S, Loubet P, Sotto A, Tran TA, Estaquier J, Corbeau P. T4 apoptosis in the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection predicts long COVID. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1335352. [PMID: 38235145 PMCID: PMC10791767 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1335352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background As about 10% of patients with COVID-19 present sequelae, it is important to better understand the physiopathology of so-called long COVID. Method To this aim, we recruited 29 patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection and, by Luminex®, quantified 19 soluble factors in their plasma and in the supernatant of their peripheral blood mononuclear cells, including inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines, and endothelium activation markers. We also measured their T4, T8 and NK differentiation, activation, exhaustion and senescence, T cell apoptosis, and monocyte subpopulations by flow cytometry. We compared these markers between participants who developed long COVID or not one year later. Results None of these markers was predictive for sequelae, except programmed T4 cell death. T4 lymphocytes from participants who later presented long COVID were more apoptotic in culture than those of sequelae-free participants at Month 12 (36.9 ± 14.7 vs. 24.2 ± 9.0%, p = 0.016). Conclusions Our observation raises the hypothesis that T4 cell death during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection might pave the way for long COVID. Mechanistically, T4 lymphopenia might favor phenomena that could cause sequelae, including SARS-CoV-2 persistence, reactivation of other viruses, autoimmunity and immune dysregulation. In this scenario, inhibiting T cell apoptosis, for instance, by caspase inhibitors, could prevent long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renaud Cezar
- Immunology Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France
| | - Lucy Kundura
- Institute of Human Genetics, UMR9002, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | - Sonia André
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1124, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Claire Lozano
- Immunology Department, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Thierry Vincent
- Immunology Department, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurent Muller
- Surgical Intensive Care Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France
| | - Jean-Yves Lefrant
- Surgical Intensive Care Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France
| | - Claire Roger
- Surgical Intensive Care Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France
| | - Pierre-Géraud Claret
- Medical and Surgical Emergency Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France
| | - Sandra Duvnjak
- Gerontology Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France
| | - Paul Loubet
- Infectious Diseases Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France
| | - Albert Sotto
- Infectious Diseases Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France
| | - Tu-Ahn Tran
- Pediatrics Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France
| | - Jérôme Estaquier
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1124, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Laval University Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Corbeau
- Immunology Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France
- Institute of Human Genetics, UMR9002, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
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2
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Joo H, Gu C, Wiest M, Duluc D, Fernandez E, Nyarige V, Yi J, Oh S. Differential expression of nuclear hormone receptors by dendritic cell subsets in human vaginal mucosa and skin. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1063343. [PMID: 36713394 PMCID: PMC9880315 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1063343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs) expressed by dendritic cells (DCs), the major immune inducers and regulators, could play important roles in host immunity. Assessment of NHRs expressed by DCs in the vaginal mucosa (VM), in comparison with those expressed by DCs in other tissues, will thus help us understand the immunology of human vagina. This study identified 16 NHR transcripts that are differentially expressed among 8 different antigen-presenting cell (APC) subsets isolated from human VM, skin, and blood. The expression profiles of NHRs were largely tissue specific. VM APCs expressed increased levels of LXRA, RXRA, ESRRA, ESRRAP2, and PPARG, whereas skin and blood APCs expressed increased levels of NURR1, NOR1 and RARA. Of interest, female sex hormone receptors, ESR1 and PGR, were found to be mainly expressed by non-APC cell types in the VM; ESR1 by HLA-DR+CD34+ and PGR by HLA-DR- cells. ERα and PR were expressed by vimentin+ cells in the VM, but not in human skin. ERα, but not PR, was also expressed in CD10+ cells in the lamina propria of VM. In conclusion, NHR expression by APC subsets is tissue- and cell type-specific. Future studies on the roles of individual NHRs expressed by different cell types, including DC subsets, in the human VM are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- HyeMee Joo
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
| | - Chao Gu
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
| | - Matthew Wiest
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
| | - Dorothee Duluc
- Immunoconcept, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 5164, Bordeaux University, Bordeaux, France
| | - Emyly Fernandez
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
| | - Verah Nyarige
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
| | - Johnny Yi
- Department of Medical and Surgery Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - SangKon Oh
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States,*Correspondence: SangKon Oh,
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3
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Nunes C, Sucena É, Koyama T. Endocrine regulation of immunity in insects. FEBS J 2020; 288:3928-3947. [PMID: 33021015 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Organisms have constant contact with potentially harmful agents that can compromise their fitness. However, most of the times these agents fail to cause serious disease by virtue of the rapid and efficient immune responses elicited in the host that can range from behavioural adaptations to immune system triggering. The immune system of insects does not comprise the adaptive arm, making it less complex than that of vertebrates, but key aspects of the activation and regulation of innate immunity are conserved across different phyla. This is the case for the hormonal regulation of immunity as a part of the broad organismal responses to external conditions under different internal states. In insects, depending on the physiological circumstances, distinct hormones either enhance or suppress the immune response integrating individual (and often collective) responses physiologically and behaviourally. In this review, we provide an overview of our current knowledge on the endocrine regulation of immunity in insects, its mechanisms and implications on metabolic adaptation and behaviour. We highlight the importance of this multilayered regulation of immunity in survival and reproduction (fitness) and its dependence on the hormonal integration with other mechanisms and life-history traits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Élio Sucena
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Takashi Koyama
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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4
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Keshavarz M, Jo YH, Patnaik BB, Park KB, Ko HJ, Kim CE, Edosa TT, Lee YS, Han YS. TmRelish is required for regulating the antimicrobial responses to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in Tenebrio molitor. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4258. [PMID: 32144366 PMCID: PMC7060202 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61157-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Relish, a transcription factor, is a critical downstream component of the immune deficiency (Imd) pathway and regulates host defense against bacterial infection by mediating antimicrobial peptide (AMP) synthesis. Understanding the immunological function of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor Relish (TmRelish) will be instructive in understanding insect immunity. In the present study, full-length ORF of TmRelish was retrieved from T. molitor-expressed sequence tags and RNA-seq database. The predicted TmRelish amino acid sequence contained an N-terminal Rel-homology domain; an Ig-like, plexin, and transcription factor domain; ankyrin repeat motifs; a nuclear localization signal; and a C-terminal death domain and shared the highly conserved structure of the Relish proteins of other insect species. TmRelish mRNA was detected in all developmental stages of the insect; however, the highest levels were detected in the larval gut tissue and adult hemocytes. TmRelish mRNA level was upregulated in the fat body, hemocyte, and gut tissue 9 h after infection of T. molitor larvae by the gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli. Furthermore, TmRelish knockdown led to significantly higher mortality of the E. coli-infected larvae, and significantly lower mortality of larvae infected with Staphylococcus aureus or Candida albicans. To elucidate the possible cause of mortality, we measured AMP transcription in the fat body, hemocytes, gut, and Malpighian tubules (MTs) of T. molitor larvae. TmRelish knockdown suppressed the expression of nine AMP genes in the larval fat body and gut tissue during E. coli infection, suggesting that TmRelish positively regulates AMP expression in both immune-related tissues, in response to E. coli challenge. Furthermore, negative regulation of some AMPs by TmRelish in the MTs, gut and hemocytes in response to C. albicans infection suggests a crosstalk between the Toll and Imd pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Keshavarz
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Hun Jo
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Bharat Bhusan Patnaik
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biotechnology, Trident Academy of Technology (TAT), F2-A, Chandaka Industrial Estate, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Ki Beom Park
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Jin Ko
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Eun Kim
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Tariku Tesfaye Edosa
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Seok Lee
- School of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, 22 Soonchunhyangro, Shinchang-myeon, Asan, Chungchungnam-do, 31538, South Korea
| | - Yeon Soo Han
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Tel-Karthaus N, Kers-Rebel ED, Looman MW, Ichinose H, de Vries CJ, Ansems M. Nuclear Receptor Nur77 Deficiency Alters Dendritic Cell Function. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1797. [PMID: 30123220 PMCID: PMC6085422 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the professional antigen-presenting cells of the immune system. Proper function of DCs is crucial to elicit an effective immune response against pathogens and to induce antitumor immunity. Different members of the nuclear receptor (NR) family of transcription factors have been reported to affect proper function of immune cells. Nur77 is a member of the NR4A subfamily of orphan NRs that is expressed and has a function within the immune system. We now show that Nur77 is expressed in different murine DCs subsets in vitro and ex vivo, in human monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) and in freshly isolated human BDCA1+ DCs, but its expression is dispensable for DC development in the spleen and lymph nodes. We show, by siRNA-mediated knockdown of Nur77 in human moDCs and by using Nur77-/- murine DCs, that Nur77-deficient DCs have enhanced inflammatory responses leading to increased T cell proliferation. Treatment of human moDCs with 6-mercaptopurine, an activator of Nur77, leads to diminished DC activation resulting in an impaired capacity to induce IFNγ production by allogeneic T cells. Altogether, our data show a yet unexplored role for Nur77 in modifying the activation status of murine and human DCs. Ultimately, targeting Nur77 may prove to be efficacious in boosting or diminishing the activation status of DCs and may lead to the development of improved DC-based immunotherapies in, respectively, cancer treatment or treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Tel-Karthaus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology Laboratory, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Esther D Kers-Rebel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology Laboratory, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Maaike W Looman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology Laboratory, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Hiroshi Ichinose
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Carlie J de Vries
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marleen Ansems
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology Laboratory, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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6
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Fang M, Li P, Wu X, Xu Y. Class II transactivator (CIITA) mediates transcriptional repression of pdk4 gene by interacting with hypermethylated in cancer 1 (HIC1). J Biomed Res 2015; 29:308-15. [PMID: 26243517 PMCID: PMC4547379 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.29.20150055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased accumulation and/or impaired utilization of fatty acid in extra-adipose tissues are implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4) is a key enzyme involved in fatty oxidation and energy expenditure, and its expression can be repressed by pro-inflammatory stimuli. Previously, we have shown that class II transactivator (CIITA) mediates the adverse effect of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in skeletal muscle cells by cooperating with hypermethylated in cancer 1 (HIC1) to repress silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) transcription. Building upon this finding, we report here that CIITA interacted with HIC1 via the GTP-binding domain (GBD) while HIC1 interacted with CIITA via the BTB/POZ domain. The GBD domain was required for CIITA to repress SIRT1 transcription probably acting as a bridge for CIITA to bind to HIC1 and consequently to bind to the SIRT1 promoter. IFN-γ stimulation, CIITA over-expression, or HIC1 over-expression repressed Pdk4 promoter activity while silencing either CIITA or HIC1 normalized Pdk4 expression in the presence of IFN-γ. An increase in SIRT1 expression or activity partially rescued Pdk4 expression in the presence of CIITA, but SIRT1 inhibition abrogated Pdk4 normalization even in the absence of CIITA. Taken together, our data have identified a HIC1-CIITA-SIRT1 axis that regulates Pdk4 transcription in response to IFN-γ stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Fang
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Pathophysiology.,Department of Nursing, Jiangsu Jiankang Vocational University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Ping Li
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Pathophysiology.,Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210011, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Pathophysiology.,Laboratory Center for Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.
| | - Yong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Pathophysiology.,Laboratory Center for Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.
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7
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Zhou H, Gao S, Nguyen NN, Fan M, Jin J, Liu B, Zhao L, Xiong G, Tan M, Li S, Wong L. Stringent homology-based prediction of H. sapiens-M. tuberculosis H37Rv protein-protein interactions. Biol Direct 2014; 9:5. [PMID: 24708540 PMCID: PMC4022245 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6150-9-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND H. sapiens-M. tuberculosis H37Rv protein-protein interaction (PPI) data are essential for understanding the infection mechanism of the formidable pathogen M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Computational prediction is an important strategy to fill the gap in experimental H. sapiens-M. tuberculosis H37Rv PPI data. Homology-based prediction is frequently used in predicting both intra-species and inter-species PPIs. However, some limitations are not properly resolved in several published works that predict eukaryote-prokaryote inter-species PPIs using intra-species template PPIs. RESULTS We develop a stringent homology-based prediction approach by taking into account (i) differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic proteins and (ii) differences between inter-species and intra-species PPI interfaces. We compare our stringent homology-based approach to a conventional homology-based approach for predicting host-pathogen PPIs, based on cellular compartment distribution analysis, disease gene list enrichment analysis, pathway enrichment analysis and functional category enrichment analysis. These analyses support the validity of our prediction result, and clearly show that our approach has better performance in predicting H. sapiens-M. tuberculosis H37Rv PPIs. Using our stringent homology-based approach, we have predicted a set of highly plausible H. sapiens-M. tuberculosis H37Rv PPIs which might be useful for many of related studies. Based on our analysis of the H. sapiens-M. tuberculosis H37Rv PPI network predicted by our stringent homology-based approach, we have discovered several interesting properties which are reported here for the first time. We find that both host proteins and pathogen proteins involved in the host-pathogen PPIs tend to be hubs in their own intra-species PPI network. Also, both host and pathogen proteins involved in host-pathogen PPIs tend to have longer primary sequence, tend to have more domains, tend to be more hydrophilic, etc. And the protein domains from both host and pathogen proteins involved in host-pathogen PPIs tend to have lower charge, and tend to be more hydrophilic. CONCLUSIONS Our stringent homology-based prediction approach provides a better strategy in predicting PPIs between eukaryotic hosts and prokaryotic pathogens than a conventional homology-based approach. The properties we have observed from the predicted H. sapiens-M. tuberculosis H37Rv PPI network are useful for understanding inter-species host-pathogen PPI networks and provide novel insights for host-pathogen interaction studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hufeng Zhou
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences & Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
| | - Shangzhi Gao
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
| | - Nam Ninh Nguyen
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mengyuan Fan
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences & Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jingjing Jin
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bing Liu
- Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Liang Zhao
- Bioinformatics Research Center, & School of Computer Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Geng Xiong
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - Min Tan
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
| | - Shijun Li
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
| | - Limsoon Wong
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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8
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Brandelius A, Mahmutovic Persson I, Calvén J, Bjermer L, Persson CGA, Andersson M, Uller L. Selective inhibition by simvastatin of IRF3 phosphorylation and TSLP production in dsRNA-challenged bronchial epithelial cells from COPD donors. Br J Pharmacol 2013; 168:363-74. [PMID: 22881993 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02131.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2012] [Revised: 07/11/2012] [Accepted: 07/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Statin treatment may ameliorate viral infection-induced exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which exhibit Th2-type bronchial inflammation. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a hub cytokine switching on Th2 inflammation, is overproduced in viral and dsRNA-stimulated bronchial epithelial cells from COPD donors. Hence, TSLP may be causally involved in exacerbations. This study tests the hypothesis that simvastatin inhibits dsRNA-induced TSLP. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Epithelial cells, obtained by bronchoscopy from COPD (n = 7) and smoker control (n = 8) donors, were grown and stimulated with a viral infection and danger signal surrogate, dsRNA (10 μg·mL(-1) ). Cells were treated with simvastatin (0.2-5 μg·mL(-1) ), with or without mevalonate (13-26 μg·mL(-1) ), or dexamethasone (1 μg·mL(-1) ) before dsRNA. Cytokine expression and production, and transcription factor (IRF3 and NF-κB) activation were determined. KEY RESULTS dsRNA induced TSLP, TNF-α, CXCL8 and IFN-β. TSLP was overproduced in dsRNA-exposed COPD cells compared with control. Simvastatin, but not dexamethasone, concentration-dependently inhibited dsRNA-induced TSLP. Unexpectedly, simvastatin acted independently of mevalonate and did not affect dsRNA-induced NF-κB activation nor did it reduce production of TNF-α and CXCL8. Instead, simvastatin inhibited dsRNA-induced IRF3 phosphorylation and generation of IFN-β. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Independent of mevalonate and NF-κB, previously acknowledged anti-inflammatory mechanisms of pleiotropic statins, simvastatin selectively inhibited dsRNA-induced IRF3 activation and production of TSLP and IFN-β in COPD epithelium. These data provide novel insight into epithelial generation of TSLP and suggest paths to be exploited in drug discovery aimed at inhibiting TSLP-induced pulmonary immunopathology.
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Aydemir G, Carlsen H, Blomhoff R, Rühl R. Lycopene induces retinoic acid receptor transcriptional activation in mice. Mol Nutr Food Res 2012; 56:702-12. [PMID: 22648617 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201100681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
SCOPE Lycopene is a lipophilic carotenoid and provides the red colour to tomatoes and tomato product. Various studies indicated that lycopene and tomatoes/tomato products are able to positively influence various diseases associated with a chronic inflammation. The mechanism of action of lycopene to elicit these effects is partly unknown. A possible mechanism is that biological metabolites of lycopene may activate nuclear hormone receptors in mammalian cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of orally administered lycopene and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for the induction of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) in a transgenic retinoic acid response-element (RARE)-reporter mouse system. METHODS AND RESULTS Orally administered lycopene (100 mg/kg bw in beadlets, n = 6) and ATRA as an endogenous RAR ligand (50 mg/kg bw, n = 6) for the induction of the retinoic acid receptor in male mice using a transgenic RARE-reporter mouse system. CONCLUSION Lycopene treatments induced RARE-mediated cell signalling indicated by quantified bioimaging, increased luciferase activity and up-regulated the retinoid target genes in selected organs of the mice. We conclude that lycopene can induce RAR-transcriptional activation in mice and lycopene might be a precursor of still non-identified biologically active metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gamze Aydemir
- Laboratory of Nutritional Bioactivation and Bioanalysis, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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10
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Immune response and anti-microbial peptides expression in Malpighian tubules of Drosophila melanogaster is under developmental regulation. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40714. [PMID: 22808242 PMCID: PMC3395640 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2012] [Accepted: 06/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malpighian tubules (MT) of Drosophila melanogaster are osmoregulatory organs that maintain the ionic balance and remove toxic substances from the body. Additionally they act as autonomous immune sensing organs, which secrete antimicrobial peptides in response to invading microbial pathogens. We show that the antimicrobial peptides (AMP) diptericin, cecropinA, drosocin and attacinA are constitutively expressed and are regulated in developmental stage specific manner. Their developmental expression begins from 3rd instar larval stage and an immune challenge increases the expression several folds. Spatial variatons in the level of expression along the MT tissue are observed. The mortality of 3rd instar larvae fed on bacterial food is much less than that of the earlier larval stages, coinciding with the onset of innate immunity response in MT. Ectopic expression of AMP imparts better resistance to infection while, loss of function of one of the AMP through directed RNAi reduces host survival after immune challenge. The AMP secreted from the MT exhibit bactericidal activity. Expression of the NF-κB transcription factor, Relish, also coincides with activation of immune responsive genes in MT, demonstrating that immune regulation in MT is under developmental control and is governed by the Imd pathway.
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11
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Hontelez S, Ansems M, Karthaus N, Zuidscherwoude M, Looman MW, Triantis V, Adema GJ. Dendritic cell-specific transcript: dendritic cell marker and regulator of TLR-induced cytokine production. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 189:138-45. [PMID: 22615205 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1103709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the professional APCs of the immune system that dictate the type and course of an immune response. Molecular understanding of DC biology is important for the design of DC-based immunotherapies and optimal clinical applications in vaccination settings. Previously, we isolated and characterized the cDNA-encoding dendritic cell-specific transcript (DC-SCRIPT; also known as ZNF366). DC-SCRIPT mRNA expression in the immune system was confined to DCs and was reported to be an early hallmark of DC differentiation. In this study, we demonstrate IL-4 to be the dominant factor for DC-SCRIPT expression in human monocyte-derived DCs. In addition, to our knowledge, we show for the first time endogenous DC-SCRIPT protein expression in human DCs both in vitro and in situ. DC-SCRIPT protein is detected early upon differentiation of monocytes into DCs and is also present in multiple freshly isolated DC subsets. Maturation of DCs with TLR ligands further increased DC-SCRIPT mRNA expression, suggesting a role in DC maturation. Indeed, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of DC-SCRIPT affected the cytokine response upon TLR stimulation. These DCs displayed enhanced IL-10 and decreased IL-12 production, compared with wild-type DCs. Silencing of IL-10 in DC-SCRIPT knockdown DCs rescued IL-12 expression, suggesting a primary role for DC-SCRIPT in the regulation of IL-10 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saartje Hontelez
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Abstract
A new progesterone antagonist, ulipristal has been made available as an emergency contraceptive. Ulipristal’s major mechanism of action as an emergency contraceptive has been ascribed to its ability to delay ovulation beyond the life span of the sperm. This paper analyzes the potential action of ulipristal (1) when unprotected intercourse and administration of ulipristal occur outside the fertility window and (2) when unprotected intercourse and administration of ulipristal occur at or within 24 hours of ovulation. When unprotected intercourse and the use of a single low dose of ulipristal occur outside of the fertility window, ulipristal behaves like a placebo. When unprotected intercourse and the use of a single low dose of ulipristal occur within the fertility window but before ovulation, ulipristal behaves like an emergency contraceptive by delaying ovulation and thereby preventing fertilization. When unprotected intercourse and the administration of ulipristal occur at or within 24 hours of ovulation, then ulipristal has an abortifacient action. It is proposed that the abortifacient mechanism of a low dose of ulipristal taken after fertilization but before implantation is due to the ability of ulipristal to block the maternal innate immune system to become immunotolerant to the paternal allogenic embryo. Progesterone’s critical immunotolerant actions involving early pregnancy factor, progesterone-induced blocking factor, and uterine natural killer cells are compromised by ulipristal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph P Miech
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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Castillo J, Brown MR, Strand MR. Blood feeding and insulin-like peptide 3 stimulate proliferation of hemocytes in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. PLoS Pathog 2011; 7:e1002274. [PMID: 21998579 PMCID: PMC3188524 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2011] [Accepted: 08/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
All vector mosquito species must feed on the blood of a vertebrate host to produce eggs. Multiple cycles of blood feeding also promote frequent contacts with hosts, which enhance the risk of exposure to infectious agents and disease transmission. Blood feeding triggers the release of insulin-like peptides (ILPs) from the brain of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which regulate blood meal digestion and egg formation. In turn, hemocytes serve as the most important constitutive defense in mosquitoes against pathogens that enter the hemocoel. Prior studies indicated that blood feeding stimulates hemocytes to increase in abundance, but how this increase in abundance is regulated is unknown. Here, we determined that phagocytic granulocytes and oenocytoids express the A. aegypti insulin receptor (AaMIR). We then showed that: 1) decapitation of mosquitoes after blood feeding inhibited hemocyte proliferation, 2) a single dose of insulin-like peptide 3 (ILP3) sufficient to stimulate egg production rescued proliferation, and 3) knockdown of the AaMIR inhibited ILP3 rescue activity. Infection studies indicated that increased hemocyte abundance enhanced clearance of the bacterium Escherichia coli at lower levels of infection. Surprisingly, however, non-blood fed females better survived intermediate and high levels of E. coli infection than blood fed females. Taken together, our results reveal a previously unrecognized role for the insulin signaling pathway in regulating hemocyte proliferation. Our results also indicate that blood feeding enhances resistance to E. coli at lower levels of infection but reduces tolerance at higher levels of infection. Mosquitoes are vectors of several important diseases of humans and other mammals including Dengue fever, malaria and filariasis. These diseases adversely affect worldwide health by killing or debilitating millions of individuals. The key feature of mosquito biology that makes them such important disease vectors is that adult females must feed on the blood of their vertebrate host(s) to produce eggs. In turn, repeated bouts of blood feeding and egg development elevate the risk of mosquitoes feeding on an infected host and transmitting a given pathogen from one individual to another. A key regulator of egg development following blood feeding is the release of insulin-like peptides from the mosquito brain. We have found that insulin-like peptides enhance production of immune cells (hemocytes) that serve as the first line of defense against infection. Conversely, the molecular pathways that regulate egg development and hemocyte proliferation reduce the ability of mosquitoes to tolerate a persistent systemic infection. Taken together, our results indicate that trade-offs exist between reproduction and immune defense in mosquitoes, which is a subject of fundamental interest to evolutionary biologists and of applied importance in understanding disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Castillo
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mark R. Brown
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Michael R. Strand
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Liptrott NJ, Owen A. The role of cytokines in the regulation of drug disposition: extended functional pleiotropism? Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2011; 7:341-52. [PMID: 21299442 DOI: 10.1517/17425255.2011.553600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drug disposition, metabolism and drug-drug interactions are important considerations for most drugs. Cytokines are integral to the successful resolution of many diseases. Data are emerging on a role for cytokines in regulation of the expression and activity of drug transporters and drug metabolising enzymes. Investigation of the interaction between pharmacological and immunological responses is key to understanding the complex relationships involved in patient response to therapy. AREAS COVERED Evidence detailing the ability of cytokines to regulate drug disposition and metabolism is reviewed in the context of different cell and tissue types. The literature search undertaken provides an overview of the current understanding of the interrelationship between pharmacological and immunological factors which may influence successful drug therapy. EXPERT OPINION Dysregulation of cytokines and cytokine networks is a hallmark of a number of diseases such as HIV and cancer. The mechanisms by which the immune system can influence drug disposition are relatively understudied but recent work has highlighted the necessity for examining its impact on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. A more comprehensive approach in clinical studies will allow better determination of the impact of cytokines on drug disposition. In addition, determining the mechanisms that underpin the differential effects of cytokines across different cell types will clarify the responses reported in these studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neill James Liptrott
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Microbial Disease, Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust, Liverpool, UK
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Nuclear Receptors: Small Molecule Sensors that Coordinate Growth, Metabolism and Reproduction. Subcell Biochem 2011; 52:123-53. [PMID: 21557081 DOI: 10.1007/978-90-481-9069-0_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the largest groups of metazoan transcription factors (TFs), the Nuclear Receptor superfamily, regulates genes required for virtually all aspects of development, reproduction and metabolism. Together, these master regulators can be thought of as a fundamental operating system for metazoan life. Their most distinguishing feature is a structurally conserved domain that acts as a switch, powered by the presence of small diffusible ligands. This ligand-responsive regulation has allowed the Nuclear Receptors to help their hosts adapt to a wide variety of physiological niches and roles, making them one of the most evolutionarily successful TF families. Originally discovered as receptors for steroid hormones, the Nuclear Receptor field has grown to encompass much more than traditional endocrinology. For example, recent work has highlighted the role of Nuclear Receptors as major regulators of metabolism and biological clocks. By monitoring endogenous metabolites and absorbed xenobiotics, these receptors also coordinate rapid, system-wide responses to changing metabolic and environmental states. While many new Nuclear Receptor ligands have been discovered in the past couple of decades, approximately half of the 48 human receptors are still orphans, with a significantly higher percentage of orphans in other organisms. The discovery of new ligands has led to the elucidation of new regulatory mechanisms, target genes, pathways and functions. This review will highlight both the common as well as newly emerging traits and functions that characterize this particularly unique and important TF family.
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Lipopolysaccharide Down-regulates ABCA1 Expression in Foam Cells in a Nucleus Factor-κB Pathway-dependent Manner*. PROG BIOCHEM BIOPHYS 2010. [DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1206.2009.00738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Dietary modulation of inflammation-induced colorectal cancer through PPARγ. PPAR Res 2009; 2009:498352. [PMID: 19390648 PMCID: PMC2672162 DOI: 10.1155/2009/498352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2008] [Revised: 02/09/2009] [Accepted: 02/19/2009] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) is dramatically increased for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. For instance, patients with Crohn's Disease (CD) or Ulcerative Colitis (UC) have a 12-20% increased risk for developing CRC. Preventive strategies utilizing nontoxic natural compounds that modulate immune responses could be successful in the suppression of inflammation-driven colorectal cancer in high-risk groups. The increase of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) expression and its transcriptional activity has been identified as a target for anti-inflammatory efforts, and the suppression of inflammation-driven colon cancer. PPARγ down-modulates inflammation and elicits antiproliferative and proapoptotic actions in epithelial cells. All of which may decrease the risk for inflammation-induced CRC. This review will focus on the use of orally active, naturally occurring chemopreventive approaches against inflammation-induced CRC that target PPARγ and therefore down-modulate inflammation.
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Mucida D, Park Y, Cheroutre H. From the diet to the nucleus: vitamin A and TGF-beta join efforts at the mucosal interface of the intestine. Semin Immunol 2009; 21:14-21. [PMID: 18809338 PMCID: PMC2643336 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2008.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2008] [Revised: 08/03/2008] [Accepted: 08/05/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The vitamin A metabolites, including retinoic acid (RA), form ligands for retinoic acid-related nuclear receptors and together they play pleiotropic roles in various biological processes. Recently, we described that RA also functions as a key modulator of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-driven immune deviation, capable of suppressing the differentiation of interleukin-17 secreting T helper cells (T(H)17) and conversely promoting the generation of Foxp3(+) T regulatory (Treg) cells. This review will focus on the role of RA in the reciprocal TGF-beta-driven differentiation of T(H)17 and Treg and on the importance of such regulatory mechanism to control a functional immune system, in particular at the mucosal interface of the intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Mucida
- La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Flatt T, Heyland A, Rus F, Porpiglia E, Sherlock C, Yamamoto R, Garbuzov A, Palli SR, Tatar M, Silverman N. Hormonal regulation of the humoral innate immune response in Drosophila melanogaster. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 211:2712-24. [PMID: 18689425 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.014878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Juvenile hormone (JH) and 20-hydroxy-ecdysone (20E) are highly versatile hormones, coordinating development, growth, reproduction and aging in insects. Pulses of 20E provide key signals for initiating developmental and physiological transitions, while JH promotes or inhibits these signals in a stage-specific manner. Previous evidence suggests that JH and 20E might modulate innate immunity, but whether and how these hormones interact to regulate the immune response remains unclear. Here we show that JH and 20E have antagonistic effects on the induction of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes in Drosophila melanogaster. 20E pretreatment of Schneider S2 cells promoted the robust induction of AMP genes, following immune stimulation. On the other hand, JH III, and its synthetic analogs (JHa) methoprene and pyriproxyfen, strongly interfered with this 20E-dependent immune potentiation, although these hormones did not inhibit other 20E-induced cellular changes. Similarly, in vivo analyses in adult flies confirmed that JH is a hormonal immuno-suppressor. RNA silencing of either partner of the ecdysone receptor heterodimer (EcR or Usp) in S2 cells prevented the 20E-induced immune potentiation. In contrast, silencing methoprene-tolerant (Met), a candidate JH receptor, did not impair immuno-suppression by JH III and JHa, indicating that in this context MET is not a necessary JH receptor. Our results suggest that 20E and JH play major roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to immune challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Flatt
- Division of Biology and Medicine, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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