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Cloutier M, Variya B, Akbari SA, Rexhepi F, Ilangumaran S, Ramanathan S. Profibrogenic role of IL-15 through IL-15 receptor alpha-mediated trans-presentation in the carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis model. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1404891. [PMID: 38919611 PMCID: PMC11196400 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1404891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Inflammatory cytokines play key pathogenic roles in liver fibrosis. IL-15 is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by myeloid cells. IL-15 promotes pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory diseases. However, increased liver fibrosis has been reported in mice lacking IL-15 receptor alpha chain (IL-15Rα), suggesting an anti-fibrogenic role for IL-15. As myeloid cells are key players in liver fibrosis and IL-15 signaling can occur independently of IL-15Rα, we investigated the requirement of IL-15 and IL-15Rα in liver fibrosis. Methods We induced liver fibrosis in Il15-/- , Il15ra-/- and wildtype C57BL/6 mice by the administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Liver fibrosis was evaluated by Sirius red and Mason's trichrome staining and α-smooth muscle acting immunostaining of myofibroblasts. Gene expression of collagens, matrix modifying enzymes, cytokines and chemokines was quantified by RT-qPCR. The phenotype and the numbers of intrahepatic lymphoid and myeloid cell subsets were evaluated by flow cytometry. Results Both Il15-/- and Il15ra-/- mice developed markedly reduced liver fibrosis compared to wildtype control mice, as revealed by reduced collagen deposition and myofibroblast content. Il15ra-/- mice showed further reduction in collagen deposition compared to Il15-/- mice. However, Col1a1 and Col1a3 genes were similarly induced in the fibrotic livers of wildtype, Il15-/- and Il15ra-/- mice, although notable variations were observed in the expression of matrix remodeling enzymes and chemokines. As expected, Il15-/- and Il15ra-/- mice showed markedly reduced numbers of NK cells compared to wildtype mice. They also showed markedly less staining of CD45+ immune cells and CD68+ macrophages, and significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration into the liver, with fewer pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory monocyte subsets compared to wildtype mice. Conclusion Our findings indicate that IL-15 exerts its profibrogenic role in the liver by promoting macrophage activation and that this requires trans-presentation of IL-15 by IL-15Rα.
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Tsutsui Y, Mori T, Yoshio S, Sato M, Sakata T, Yoshida Y, Kawai H, Yoshikawa S, Yamazoe T, Matsuda M, Kakazu E, Osawa Y, Oyama C, Tamura-Nakano M, Kawaguchi T, Yoshizumi T, Kanto T. Exercise changes the intrahepatic immune cell profile and inhibits the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in a mouse model. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0236. [PMID: 37756046 PMCID: PMC10531194 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND NASH is an increasingly common cause of chronic liver disease and can progress to cirrhosis and HCC. Although exercise suppresses inflammation during acute hepatitis, its impact on the progression of chronic liver disease remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of exercise on disease progression and intrahepatic immune cell composition in a mouse model of NASH. METHOD Mice were assigned to 4 groups: 2 control groups (normal diet) and 2 NASH groups (western diet and low-dose carbon tetrachloride injection). One of each group remained sedentary and one was exercised on a treadmill for 12 weeks (60 min/d, 5 times/wk). All mice were then analyzed for liver histomorphology, steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis; liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle expression of genes related to metabolism and inflammation; and intrahepatic immune cell composition. RESULT Compared with the normal diet mice, NASH mice exhibited enhanced liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis; upregulated expression of liver lipogenesis-related and inflammation-related genes; and increased frequencies of intrahepatic F4/80 int CD11b hi bone marrow-derived macrophages and programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) + CD8 + T cells. Expression of inflammatory cytokines and the frequencies of bone marrow-derived macrophages and PD-1 + CD8 + T cells correlated positively with liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Exercise was shown to reduce NASH-induced hepatic steatosis, liver inflammation, and fibrosis; induce alterations in metabolism-related genes and inflammatory cytokines in the liver; and suppress accumulation of liver bone marrow-derived macrophages and PD-1 + CD8 + T cells. In addition, we showed that exercise induced increased expression of IL-15 in muscle and its deficiency exacerbated the pathology of NASH. CONCLUSIONS Exercise alters the intrahepatic immune cell profile and protects against disease progression in a mouse model of NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuriko Tsutsui
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Taizo Mori
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Sachiyo Yoshio
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Miku Sato
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Sakata
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuichi Yoshida
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hironari Kawai
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shiori Yoshikawa
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Taiji Yamazoe
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Michitaka Matsuda
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Eiji Kakazu
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yosuke Osawa
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Chinatsu Oyama
- Communal Laboratory, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miwa Tamura-Nakano
- Communal Laboratory, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takumi Kawaguchi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Tomoharu Yoshizumi
- Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kanto
- Department of Liver Diseases, The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
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IL-15 Prevents the Development of T-ALL from Aberrant Thymocytes with Impaired DNA Repair Functions and Increased NOTCH1 Activation. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030671. [PMID: 36765626 PMCID: PMC9913776 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030671] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that NOD.Scid mice lacking interleukin-15 (IL-15), or IL-15 receptor alpha-chain, develop T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). To understand the mechanisms by which IL-15 signaling controls T-ALL development, we studied the thymocyte developmental events in IL-15-deficient Scid mice from NOD and C57BL/6 genetic backgrounds. Both kinds of mice develop T-ALL characterized by circulating TCR-negative cells expressing CD4, CD8 or both. Analyses of thymocytes in NOD.Scid.Il15-/- mice prior to T-ALL development revealed discernible changes within the CD4-CD8- double-negative (DN) thymocyte developmental stages and increased frequencies of CD4+CD8+ double-positive cells with a high proportion of TCR-negative CD4+ and CD8+ cells. The DN cells also showed elevated expressions of CXCR4 and CD117, molecules implicated in the expansion of DN thymocytes. T-ALL cell lines and primary leukemic cells from IL-15-deficient NOD.Scid and C57BL/6.Scid mice displayed increased NOTCH1 activation that was inhibited by NOTCH1 inhibitors and blockers of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Primary leukemic cells from NOD.Scid.Il15-/- mice survived and expanded when cultured with MS5 thymic stromal cells expressing Delta-like ligand 4 and supplemented with IL-7 and FLT3 ligand. These findings suggest that IL-15 signaling in the thymus controls T-ALL development from aberrant thymocytes with an impaired DNA repair capacity and increased NOTCH1 activation.
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Kautzman AM, Mobulakani JMF, Marrero Cofino G, Quenum AJI, Cayarga AA, Asselin C, Fortier LC, Ilangumaran S, Menendez A, Ramanathan S. Interleukin 15 in murine models of colitis. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2022; 306:1111-1130. [PMID: 35899872 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are characterized by abnormal, non-antigen specific chronic inflammation of unknown etiology. Genome-wide association studies show that many IBD genetic susceptibility loci map to immune function genes and compelling evidence indicate that environmental factors play a critical role in IBD pathogenesis. Clinical and experimental evidence implicate the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-15 in the pathogenesis of IBD. IL-15 and IL-15α expression is increased in the inflamed mucosa of IBD patients. IL-15 contributes to the maintenance of different cell subsets in the intestinal mucosa. However, very few studies have addressed the role of IL-15 in pre-clinical models of colitis. In this study, we use three well-characterized models of experimental colitis to determine the contribution of IL-15 to pathological intestinal inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Molina Kautzman
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Gisela Marrero Cofino
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Anny Armas Cayarga
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Claude Asselin
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.,CRCHUS, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Louis-Charles Fortier
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.,CRCHUS, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Subburaj Ilangumaran
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.,CRCHUS, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alfredo Menendez
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.,CRCHUS, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sheela Ramanathan
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.,CRCHUS, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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