1
|
Ahlbeck L, Ahlberg E, Björkander J, Aldén C, Papapavlou G, Palmberg L, Nyström U, Retsas P, Nordenfelt P, Togö T, Johansen P, Rolander B, Duchén K, Jenmalm MC. Intralymphatic immunotherapy with one or two allergens renders similar clinical response in patients with allergic rhinitis due to birch and grass pollen. Clin Exp Allergy 2022; 52:747-759. [PMID: 35332591 PMCID: PMC9325375 DOI: 10.1111/cea.14138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Introduction There is a need for a fast, efficient and safe way to induce tolerance in patients with severe allergic rhinitis. Intralymphatic immune therapy has been shown to be effective. Methods Patients with severe birch and timothy allergy were randomized and received three doses of 0.1 ml of birch and 5‐grass allergen extracts (10,000 SQ units/ml, ALK‐Abelló), or birch and placebo or 5‐grass and placebo by ultrasound‐guided injections into inguinal lymph nodes at monthly intervals. Rhinoconjunctivitis total symptom score, medication score and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire were evaluated before treatment and after each birch and grass pollen season during three subsequent years. Circulating proportions of T helper subsets and allergen‐induced cytokine and chemokine production were analysed by flow cytometry and Luminex. Results The three groups reported fewer symptoms, lower use of medication and improved quality of life during the birch and grass pollen seasons each year after treatment at an almost similar rate independently of treatment with one or two allergens. Mild local pain was the most common adverse event. IgE levels to birch decreased, whereas birch‐induced IL‐10 secretion increased in all three groups. IgG4 levels to birch and timothy and skin prick test reactivity remained mainly unchanged. Conjunctival challenge tests with timothy extract showed a higher threshold for allergen. In all three groups, regulatory T cell frequencies were increased 3 years after treatment. Conclusions Intralymphatic immunotherapy with one or two allergens in patients with grass and birch pollen allergy was safe, effective and may be associated with bystander immune modulatory responses. Clinical Trial Registration: EudraCT (2013‐004726‐28).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lars Ahlbeck
- Allergy Center, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.,Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Emelie Ahlberg
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Caroline Aldén
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Georgia Papapavlou
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Laura Palmberg
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Ulla Nyström
- Allergy Center, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Pavlos Retsas
- Allergy Center, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Totte Togö
- Allergy Center, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Pål Johansen
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Bo Rolander
- Futurum, Academy of Health and Care, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Karel Duchén
- Allergy Center, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.,Division of Children's and Women's Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria C Jenmalm
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Papapavlou G, Hellberg S, Raffetseder J, Brynhildsen J, Gustafsson M, Jenmalm MC, Ernerudh J. Differential effects of estradiol and progesterone on human T cell activation in vitro. Eur J Immunol 2021; 51:2430-2440. [PMID: 34223649 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202049144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) are steroid hormones important for the regulation of immune responses during pregnancy. Their increasing levels coincide with an improvement of T cell-mediated diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Although immune-endocrine interactions are involved in this phenomenon, the relative contribution of hormones is not known. We here report a direct comparison of E2- and P4-mediated effects on human CD4+ T cells, key cells in immune regulation. T cells were stimulated to obtain different activation levels and exposed to a broad range of hormone concentrations. Activation level was assessed by CD69/CD25 expression by flow cytometry, and secreted proteins (n = 196) were measured in culture supernatants using proximity extension assay and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. We found that in low activated cells, pregnancy-relevant E2 concentrations increased activation and the secretion of several immune- and inflammation-related proteins. P4, on the other hand, showed a biphasic pattern, where serum-related concentrations upregulated activation and protein secretion while placenta-relevant concentrations induced a prominent dampening irrespective of the initial activation level. Our results demonstrate the importance of P4 as a major hormone in the immune modulation of T cells during pregnancy and emphasize the need to further evaluate its potency in the treatment of diseases like MS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Papapavlou
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sandra Hellberg
- Division of Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Raffetseder
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jan Brynhildsen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Mika Gustafsson
- Division of Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria C Jenmalm
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hellberg S, Raffetseder J, Rundquist O, Magnusson R, Papapavlou G, Jenmalm MC, Ernerudh J, Gustafsson M. Progesterone Dampens Immune Responses in In Vitro Activated CD4 + T Cells and Affects Genes Associated With Autoimmune Diseases That Improve During Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:672168. [PMID: 34054852 PMCID: PMC8149943 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.672168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The changes in progesterone (P4) levels during and after pregnancy coincide with the temporary improvement and worsening of several autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Most likely immune-endocrine interactions play a major role in these pregnancy-induced effects. In this study, we used next generation sequencing to investigate the direct effects of P4 on CD4+ T cell activation, key event in pregnancy and disease. We report profound dampening effects of P4 on T cell activation, altering the gene and protein expression profile and reversing many of the changes induced during the activation. The transcriptomic changes induced by P4 were significantly enriched for genes associated with diseases known to be modulated during pregnancy such as MS, RA and psoriasis. STAT1 and STAT3 were significantly downregulated by P4 and their downstream targets were significantly enriched among the disease-associated genes. Several of these genes included well-known and disease-relevant cytokines, such as IL-12β, CXCL10 and OSM, which were further validated also at the protein level using proximity extension assay. Our results extend the previous knowledge of P4 as an immune regulatory hormone and support its importance during pregnancy for regulating potentially detrimental immune responses towards the semi-allogenic fetus. Further, our results also point toward a potential role for P4 in the pregnancy-induced disease immunomodulation and highlight the need for further studies evaluating P4 as a future treatment option.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Hellberg
- Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Raffetseder
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Olof Rundquist
- Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Rasmus Magnusson
- Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Georgia Papapavlou
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria C Jenmalm
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mika Gustafsson
- Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Huoman J, Papapavlou G, Pap A, Alm J, Nilsson LJ, Jenmalm MC. Sublingual immunotherapy alters salivary IgA and systemic immune mediators in timothy allergic children. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2019; 30:522-530. [PMID: 30803044 DOI: 10.1111/pai.13047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunomodulatory effects of sublingual immunotherapy on systemic and mucosal mediators in allergic children are largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate allergy-related cytokine and chemokine levels, as well as IgA-responses upon a 3-year treatment with timothy grass pollen sublingual immunotherapy in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. METHODS From children included in the GRAZAX® Asthma Prevention study, blood and saliva samples were analyzed at inclusion, after 3 years of treatment, and 2 years after treatment ending. By means of Luminex and ELISA methodologies, allergy-related cytokines and chemokines were measured in plasma samples and allergen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell supernatants. Furthermore, studies of total, secretory, and Phl p 1-specific salivary IgA antibodies were performed using the same methods. RESULTS GRAZAX® -treated children exhibited significantly higher levels of Phl p 1-specific salivary IgA and serum IgG4 , along with significantly lower skin prick test positivity, after 3 years of treatment and 2 years after treatment cessation. Additionally, plasma levels of the Th1-associated chemokines CXCL10 and CXCL11 were significantly higher in treated than untreated children at these time points. Timothy-induced ratios of IL-5/IL-13 over IFN-γ were significantly decreased after 3 years with active treatment, as were symptoms of allergic rhinitis in terms of both severity and visual analogue scale scores. However, no consistent correlations were found between the clinical outcomes and immunologic parameters. CONCLUSION Phleum pratense sublingual immunotherapy in grass pollen allergic children modulates the immune response in the oral mucosa as well as systemically-by increasing Th1-responses, decreasing Th2-responses, and inducing immunoregulatory responses-all signs of tolerance induction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Huoman
- Division of Neuro and Inflammation Sciences, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Georgia Papapavlou
- Division of Neuro and Inflammation Sciences, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna Pap
- Division of Neuro and Inflammation Sciences, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Alm
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lennart J Nilsson
- Allergy Center, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria C Jenmalm
- Division of Neuro and Inflammation Sciences, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lindau R, Mehta RB, Lash GE, Papapavlou G, Boij R, Berg G, Jenmalm MC, Ernerudh J, Svensson-Arvelund J. Interleukin-34 is present at the fetal-maternal interface and induces immunoregulatory macrophages of a decidual phenotype in vitro. Hum Reprod 2019; 33:588-599. [PMID: 29579271 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is the newly discovered cytokine interleukin (IL)-34 expressed at the human fetal-maternal interface in order to influence polarization of monocytes into macrophages of a decidual immunoregulatory phenotype? SUMMARY ANSWER IL-34 was found to be present at the fetal-maternal interface, in both fetal placenta and maternal decidua, and it was able to polarize monocytes into macrophages of a decidual phenotype. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY IL-34 was shown to bind to the same receptor as macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), which has an important immunomodulatory role at the fetal-maternal interface, for example by polarizing decidual macrophages to an M2-like regulatory phenotype. IL-34 is known to regulate macrophage subsets, such as microglia and Langerhans cells, but its presence at the fetal-maternal interface is unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION The presence of IL-34 at the fetal-maternal interface was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and ELISA in placental and decidual tissues as well as in isolated trophoblast cells and decidual stromal cells obtained from first trimester elective surgical terminations of pregnancy (n = 49). IL-34 expression was also assessed in third trimester placental biopsies from women with (n = 21) or without (n = 15) pre-eclampsia. The effect of IL-34 on macrophage polarization was evaluated in an in vitro model of blood monocytes obtained from healthy volunteers (n = 14). In this model, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) serves as a growth factor for M1-like polarization, and M-CSF as a growth factor for M2-like polarization. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS First trimester placental and decidual tissues were obtained from elective pregnancy terminations. Placental biopsies were obtained from women with pre-eclampsia and matched controls in the delivery ward. Polarization of macrophages in vitro was determined by flow-cytometric phenotyping and secretion of cytokines and chemokines in cell-free supernatants by multiplex bead assay. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Our study shows that IL-34 is produced at the fetal-maternal interface by both placental cyto- and syncytiotrophoblasts and decidual stromal cells. We also show that IL-34, in vitro, is able to polarize blood monocytes into macrophages with a phenotype (CD14highCD163+CD209+) and cytokine secretion pattern similar to that of decidual macrophages. The IL-34-induced phenotype was similar, but not identical to the phenotype induced by M-CSF, and both IL-34- and M-CSF-induced macrophages were significantly different (P < 0.05-0.0001 depending on marker) from GM-CSF-polarized M1-like macrophages. Our findings suggest that IL-34 is involved in the establishment of the tolerant milieu found at the fetal-maternal interface by skewing polarization of macrophages into a regulatory phenotype. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Although it is clear that IL-34 is present at the fetal-maternal interface and polarizes macrophages in vitro, its precise role in vivo remains to be established. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The recently discovered cytokine IL-34 is present at the fetal-maternal interface and has immunomodulatory properties with regard to induction of decidual macrophages, which are important for a healthy pregnancy. Knowledge of growth factors related to macrophage polarization can potentially be translated to treatment of pregnancy complications involving dysregulation of this process. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by grants from the Medical Research Council (Grant K2013-61X-22310-01-04), the Research Council of South-East Sweden (FORSS), and the County Council of Östergötland, Sweden. No author has any conflicts of interest to declare.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Lindau
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - R B Mehta
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - G E Lash
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, CN-510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - G Papapavlou
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - R Boij
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, County Hospital Ryhov, SE-551 85 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - G Berg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - M C Jenmalm
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - J Ernerudh
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - J Svensson-Arvelund
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Papapavlou G, Hellberg S, Raffetseder J, Brynhildsen J, Jenmalm M, Ernerudh J. Effect of pregnancy hormones on CD4+ T cell activation and their possible use as treatment in multiple sclerosis. J Reprod Immunol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2018.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
7
|
Griffith M, Islam MM, Edin J, Papapavlou G, Buznyk O, Patra HK. The Quest for Anti-inflammatory and Anti-infective Biomaterials in Clinical Translation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2016; 4:71. [PMID: 27668213 PMCID: PMC5016531 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2016.00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomaterials are now being used or evaluated clinically as implants to supplement the severe shortage of available human donor organs. To date, however, such implants have mainly been developed as scaffolds to promote the regeneration of failing organs due to old age or congenital malformations. In the real world, however, infection or immunological issues often compromise patients. For example, bacterial and viral infections can result in uncontrolled immunopathological damage and lead to organ failure. Hence, there is a need for biomaterials and implants that not only promote regeneration but also address issues that are specific to compromised patients, such as infection and inflammation. Different strategies are needed to address the regeneration of organs that have been damaged by infection or inflammation for successful clinical translation. Therefore, the real quest is for multifunctional biomaterials with combined properties that can combat infections, modulate inflammation, and promote regeneration at the same time. These strategies will necessitate the inclusion of methodologies for management of the cellular and signaling components elicited within the local microenvironment. In the development of such biomaterials, strategies range from the inclusion of materials that have intrinsic anti-inflammatory properties, such as the synthetic lipid polymer, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), to silver nanoparticles that have antibacterial properties, to inclusion of nano- and micro-particles in biomaterials composites that deliver active drugs. In this present review, we present examples of both kinds of materials in each group along with their pros and cons. Thus, as a promising next generation strategy to aid or replace tissue/organ transplantation, an integrated smart programmable platform is needed for regenerative medicine applications to create and/or restore normal function at the cell and tissue levels. Therefore, now it is of utmost importance to develop integrative biomaterials based on multifunctional biopolymers and nanosystem for their practical and successful clinical translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- May Griffith
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKE), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Swedish Medical Nanoscience Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Ophthalmology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mohammad M. Islam
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKE), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Swedish Medical Nanoscience Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joel Edin
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKE), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Swedish Medical Nanoscience Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Georgia Papapavlou
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKE), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Oleksiy Buznyk
- Department of Eye Burns, Ophthalmic Reconstructive Surgery, Keratoplasty and Keratoprosthesis, Filatov Institute of Eye diseases and Tissue Therapy of the NAMS of Ukraine, Odessa, Ukraine
| | - Hirak K. Patra
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKE), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Aggeli IK, Zacharias T, Papapavlou G, Gaitanaki C, Beis I. Calcium paradox induces apoptosis in the isolated perfused Rana ridibunda heart: involvement of p38-MAPK and calpain. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2013; 91:1095-106. [DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2013-0081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
“Calcium paradox” as a term describes the deleterious effects conferred to a heart perfused with a calcium-free solution followed by repletion, including loss of mechanical activity and sarcomere disruption. Given that the signaling mechanisms triggered by calcium paradox remain elusive, in the present study, we tried to investigate them in the isolated perfused heart from Rana ridibunda. Calcium paradox was found to markedly activate members of the MAPKs (p43-ERK, JNKs, p38-MAPK). In addition to lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in the perfusate (indicative of necrosis), we also confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis by using the TUNEL assay and identifying poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) fragmentation and upregulated Bax expression. Furthermore, using MDL28170 (a selective calpain inhibitor), a role for this protease was revealed. In addition, various divalent cations were shown to exert a protective effect against the calcium paradox. Interestingly, SB203580, a p38-MAPK inhibitor, alleviated calcium-paradox-conferred apoptosis. This result indicates that p38-MAPK plays a pro-apoptotic role, contributing to the resulting myocardial dysfunction and cell death. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the calcium paradox has been shown to induce apoptosis in amphibians, with p38-MAPK and calpain playing significant roles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna-Katerina Aggeli
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, School of Biology, University of Athens, University campus, Athens, 157 84, Greece
| | - Triantafyllos Zacharias
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, School of Biology, University of Athens, University campus, Athens, 157 84, Greece
| | - Georgia Papapavlou
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, School of Biology, University of Athens, University campus, Athens, 157 84, Greece
| | - Catherine Gaitanaki
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, School of Biology, University of Athens, University campus, Athens, 157 84, Greece
| | - Isidoros Beis
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, School of Biology, University of Athens, University campus, Athens, 157 84, Greece
| |
Collapse
|