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Kovalchuk A, Wang B, Li D, Rodriguez-Juarez R, Ilnytskyy S, Kovalchuk I, Kovalchuk O. Fighting the storm: could novel anti-TNFα and anti-IL-6 C. sativa cultivars tame cytokine storm in COVID-19? Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:1571-1590. [PMID: 33465050 PMCID: PMC7880317 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The main aspects of severe COVID-19 disease pathogenesis include hyper-induction of proinflammatory cytokines, also known as 'cytokine storm', that precedes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and often leads to death. COVID-19 patients often suffer from lung fibrosis, a serious and untreatable condition. There remains no effective treatment for these complications. Out of all cytokines, TNFα and IL-6 play crucial roles in cytokine storm pathogenesis and are likely responsible for the escalation in disease severity. These cytokines also partake in the molecular pathogenesis of fibrosis. Therefore, new approaches are urgently needed, that can efficiently and swiftly downregulate TNFα, IL-6, and the inflammatory cytokine cascade, in order to curb inflammation and prevent fibrosis, and lead to disease remission. Cannabis sativa has been proposed to modulate gene expression and inflammation and is under investigation for several potential therapeutic applications against autoinflammatory diseases and cancer. Here, we hypothesized that the extracts of novel C. sativa cultivars may be used to downregulate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and pathways involved in inflammation and fibrosis. Initially, to analyze the anti-inflammatory effects of novel C. sativa cultivars, we used a well-established full thickness human 3D skin artificial EpiDermFTTM tissue model, whereby tissues were exposed to UV to induce inflammation and then treated with extracts of seven new cannabis cultivars. We noted that out of seven studied extracts of novel C. sativa cultivars, three (#4, #8 and #14) were the most effective, causing profound and concerted down-regulation of COX2, TNFα, IL-6, CCL2, and other cytokines and pathways related to inflammation and fibrosis. These data were further confirmed in the WI-38 lung fibroblast cell line model. Most importantly, one of the tested extracts had no effect at all, and one exerted effect that may be deleterious, signifying that careful cannabis cultivar selection must be based on thorough pre-clinical studies. The observed pronounced inhibition of TNFα and IL-6 is the most important finding, because these molecules are currently considered to be the main targets in COVID-19 cytokine storm and ARDS pathogenesis. Novel anti-TNFα and anti-IL-6 cannabis extracts can be useful additions to the current anti-inflammatory regimens to treat COVID-19, as well as various rheumatological diseases and conditions, and 'inflammaging' - the inflammatory underpinning of aging and frailty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kovalchuk
- Pathway Research Inc., Lethbridge, AB T1K7X8, Canada
- University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Bo Wang
- Pathway Research Inc., Lethbridge, AB T1K7X8, Canada
- University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Dongping Li
- Pathway Research Inc., Lethbridge, AB T1K7X8, Canada
- University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Rocio Rodriguez-Juarez
- Pathway Research Inc., Lethbridge, AB T1K7X8, Canada
- University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Slava Ilnytskyy
- Pathway Research Inc., Lethbridge, AB T1K7X8, Canada
- University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Igor Kovalchuk
- Pathway Research Inc., Lethbridge, AB T1K7X8, Canada
- University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Olga Kovalchuk
- Pathway Research Inc., Lethbridge, AB T1K7X8, Canada
- University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
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Bressler KR, Ross JA, Ilnytskyy S, Vanden Dungen K, Taylor K, Patel K, Zovoilis A, Kovalchuk I, Thakor N. Depletion of eukaryotic initiation factor 5B (eIF5B) reprograms the cellular transcriptome and leads to activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Cell Stress Chaperones 2021; 26:253-264. [PMID: 33123915 PMCID: PMC7736443 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-020-01174-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During the integrated stress response (ISR), global translation initiation is attenuated; however, noncanonical mechanisms allow for the continued translation of specific transcripts. Eukaryotic initiation factor 5B (eIF5B) has been shown to play a critical role in canonical translation as well as in noncanonical mechanisms involving internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and upstream open reading frame (uORF) elements. The uORF-mediated translation regulation of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) mRNA plays a pivotal role in the cellular ISR. Our recent study confirmed that eIF5B depletion removes uORF2-mediated repression of ATF4 translation, which results in the upregulation of growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein 34 (GADD34) transcription. Accordingly, we hypothesized that eIF5B depletion may reprogram the transcriptome profile of the cell. Here, we employed genome-wide transcriptional analysis on eIF5B-depleted cells. Further, we validate the up- and downregulation of several transcripts from our RNA-seq data using RT-qPCR. We identified upregulated pathways including cellular response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and mucin-type O-glycan biosynthesis, as well as downregulated pathways of transcriptional misregulation in cancer and T cell receptor signaling. We also confirm that depletion of eIF5B leads to activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) arm of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. This data suggests that depletion of eIF5B reprograms the cellular transcriptome and influences critical cellular processes such as ER stress and ISR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamiko R Bressler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Joseph A Ross
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada
- Chinook Contract Research Inc., 97 East Lake Ramp NE, Airdrie, Alberta, T4A 2 K4, Canada
| | - Slava Ilnytskyy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Keiran Vanden Dungen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Katrina Taylor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Kush Patel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Athanasios Zovoilis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience (CCBN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada
- Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre (SAGSC), University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3 M4, Canada
| | - Igor Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada
- Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre (SAGSC), University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3 M4, Canada
| | - Nehal Thakor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada.
- Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience (CCBN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada.
- Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre (SAGSC), University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3 M4, Canada.
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
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Kovalchuk A, Mychasiuk R, Muhammad A, Hossain S, Ilnytskyy S, Ghose A, Kirkby C, Ghasroddashti E, Kovalchuk O, Kolb B. Liver irradiation causes distal bystander effects in the rat brain and affects animal behaviour. Oncotarget 2016; 7:4385-98. [PMID: 26678032 PMCID: PMC4826213 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation therapy can not only produce effects on targeted organs, but can also influence shielded bystander organs, such as the brain in targeted liver irradiation. The brain is sensitive to radiation exposure, and irradiation causes significant neuro-cognitive deficits, including deficits in attention, concentration, memory, and executive and visuospatial functions. The mechanisms of their occurrence are not understood, although they may be related to the bystander effects. We analyzed the induction, mechanisms, and behavioural repercussions of bystander effects in the brain upon liver irradiation in a well-established rat model. Here, we show for the first time that bystander effects occur in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus regions upon liver irradiation, where they manifest as altered gene expression and somewhat increased levels of γH2AX. We also report that bystander effects in the brain are associated with neuroanatomical and behavioural changes, and are more pronounced in females than in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kovalchuk
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Arif Muhammad
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Shakhawat Hossain
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Slava Ilnytskyy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Abhijit Ghose
- Jack Ady Cancer Center, Alberta Health Services, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Charles Kirkby
- Jack Ady Cancer Center, Alberta Health Services, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.,Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Esmaeel Ghasroddashti
- Jack Ady Cancer Center, Alberta Health Services, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.,Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Olga Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.,Alberta Epigenetics Network, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Bryan Kolb
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.,Alberta Epigenetics Network, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Mychasiuk R, Muhammad A, Ilnytskyy S, Kolb B. Persistent gene expression changes in NAc, mPFC, and OFC associated with previous nicotine or amphetamine exposure. Behav Brain Res 2013; 256:655-61. [PMID: 24021241 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Highly addictive drugs like nicotine and amphetamine not only change an individual's behaviour in the short and long-term, they also induce persistent changes in neuronal excitability and morphology. Although research has started to examine the epigenetic changes that occur immediately after drug exposure, there has been little investigation into the persistent modifications to the epigenome that likely moderate the stable maintenance of the neurological changes. Male Long-Evans rats were administered amphetamine, nicotine, or saline for 14 consecutive days, given a 14 day withdrawal period, and then sacrificed. DNA from the mPFC, OFC, and nucleus accumbens (NAc) was used for global DNA methylation analysis and RNA from the same brain regions was used for gene expression analysis. Following the two-week withdrawal period, exposure to amphetamine or nicotine was associated with a decrease in global DNA methylation in each brain region examined. Previous exposure to nicotine was associated with changes in expression of 16 genes (NAc:6, mPFC:5, OFC:5) whereas exposure to amphetamine was associated with changes in expression of 25 genes (NAc:13, OFC:8, mPFC:4). The persistent epigenetic changes associated with exposure to amphetamine and nicotine were region and drug dependent, and differ from the latent epigenetic changes that occur immediately after drug exposure. The changes in DNA methylation are consistent with the gene expression results and provide further support to the notion that DNA methylation is the key regulatory mechanism for experience dependent changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richelle Mychasiuk
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada.
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Mychasiuk R, Harker A, Ilnytskyy S, Gibb R. Paternal stress prior to conception alters DNA methylation and behaviour of developing rat offspring. Neuroscience 2013; 241:100-5. [PMID: 23531434 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2012] [Revised: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Although there has been an abundance of research focused on offspring outcomes associated with maternal experiences, there has been limited examination of the relationship between paternal experiences and offspring brain development. As spermatogenesis is a continuous process, experiences that have the ability to alter epigenetic regulation in fathers may actually change developmental trajectories of offspring. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of paternal stress prior to conception on behaviour and the epigenome of both male and female developing rat offspring. Male Long-Evans rats were stressed for 27 consecutive days and then mated with control female rats. Early behaviour was tested in offspring using the negative geotaxis task and the open field. At P21 offspring were sacrificed and global DNA methylation levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex were analysed. Paternal stress prior to conception altered behaviour of all offspring on the negative geotaxis task, delaying acquisition of the task. In addition, male offspring demonstrated a reduction in stress reactivity in the open field paradigm spending more time than expected in the centre of the open field. Paternal stress also altered DNA methylation patterns in offspring at P21, global methylation was reduced in the frontal cortex of female offspring, but increased in the hippocampus of both male and female offspring. The results from this study clearly demonstrate that paternal stress during spermatogenesis can influence offspring behaviour and DNA methylation patterns, and these affects occur in a sex-dependent manner. Development takes place in the centre of a complex interaction between maternal, paternal, and environmental influences, which combine to produce the various phenotypes and individual differences that we perceive.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Mychasiuk
- University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.
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Kovalchuk A, Lowings M, Rodriguez-Juarez R, Muhammad A, Ilnytskyy S, Kolb B, Kovalchuk O. Epigenetic bystander-like effects of stroke in somatic organs. Aging (Albany NY) 2012; 4:224-34. [PMID: 22466454 PMCID: PMC3348482 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Clinical evidence suggests that stroke may lead to damage of somatic organs. This communication of damage is well- established in the case of exposure to genotoxic agents is termed a bystander effect. Genotoxic stress-induced bystander effects are epigenetically mediated. Here we investigated whether stroke causes epigenetic bystander-like effects in the liver, kidney and heart. We found a significant increase in the levels of H3K3 acetylation and H3K4 trimethylation, as well as a decrease in the H3K9 trimethylation in the kidney tissue of stroked rats. Furthermore, here we for the first time show changes in the gene and microRNA expression profile in the kidney tissues of stroked rats, as compared to intact control animals. Interestingly, the observed changes were somewhat similar to those reported earlier in kidney injury, inflammation, and acute renal failure. Our data explain the recent epidemiological evidence for the increased incidence of acute kidney injury post-stroke and provide an important roadmap for the future analysis of the mechanisms and cellular repercussions of the stroke-induced bystander-like effects in distal somatic organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kovalchuk
- Department of Biology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta
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Mychasiuk R, Schmold N, Ilnytskyy S, Kovalchuk O, Kolb B, Gibb R. Prenatal bystander stress alters brain, behavior, and the epigenome of developing rat offspring. Dev Neurosci 2011; 33:159-69. [PMID: 21893948 DOI: 10.1159/000330034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2011] [Accepted: 06/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The prenatal environment, including prenatal stress, has been extensively studied in laboratory animals and humans. However, studies of the prenatal environment usually directly stress pregnant females, but stress may come 'indirectly', through stress to a cage-mate. The current study used indirect prenatal bystander stress and investigated the effects on the gross morphology, pre-weaning behavior, and epigenome of rat offspring. Pregnant Long-Evans rats were housed with another female rat that underwent elevated platform stress from gestational days 12 to 16. We found that ultrasonic vocalizations of female cage-mates were disrupted following the stress procedure. After birth, offspring were tested on two behavioral tasks and sacrificed at postnatal day 21 (p21). Frontal cortex and hippocampal tissue was used to measure global DNA methylation and gene expression changes. At p21, bystander-stressed female offspring exhibited increased body weight. Offspring behavior on the negative geotaxis task was altered by prenatal bystander stress, and locomotor behavior was reduced in female offspring. Global DNA methylation increased in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of bystander-stressed offspring. Microarray analysis revealed significant gene expression level changes in 558 different genes, of which only 10 exhibited overlap between males and females or brain areas. These alterations in gene expression were associated with overrepresentation of 36 biological processes and 34 canonical pathways. Prenatal stress thus does not have to be experienced by the mother herself to influence offspring brain development. Furthermore, this type of 'indirect' prenatal stress alters offspring DNA methylation patterns, gene expression profiles, and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richelle Mychasiuk
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alta., Canada.
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Mychasiuk R, Ilnytskyy S, Kovalchuk O, Kolb B, Gibb R. Intensity matters: brain, behaviour and the epigenome of prenatally stressed rats. Neuroscience 2011; 180:105-10. [PMID: 21335068 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2010] [Revised: 02/09/2011] [Accepted: 02/09/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
There is a general consensus that prenatal stress alters offspring brain development, however, the details are often inconsistent. Hypothesizing that variation to the level of stress would produce different maternal experiences; this study was designed to examine offspring outcomes following a single prenatal stress paradigm at two different intensities. Pregnant Long Evans rats received mild, high, or no-stress from gestational days 12-16. Offspring underwent early behavioural testing and global methylation patterns were analysed from brain tissue of the frontal cortex and hippocampus. The two different prenatal stress intensities produced significantly different and often, opposite effects in the developing brain. Mild prenatal stress decreased brain weight in both males and females, whereas extreme stress increased female brain weight. Mild prenatal stress slowed development of sensorimotor abilities and decreased locomotion, whereas high prenatal stress also slowed development of sensorimotor learning but increased locomotion. Finally, mild prenatal stress increased global DNA methylation levels in the frontal cortex and hippocampus whereas high prenatal stress was associated with a dramatic decrease. The data from this study provide evidence to support a dose-dependent effect of prenatal stress on multiple aspects of brain development, potentially contributing to long-term outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Mychasiuk
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K3M4, Canada.
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