1
|
Liao Z, Zeng X, Guo X, Shi Q, Tang Z, Li P, Chen C, Chen M, Chen J, Xu J, Cai Y. Targeting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor with FICZ regulates IL-2 and immune infiltration to alleviate Hashimoto's thyroiditis in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 973:176588. [PMID: 38621508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most frequent autoimmune disorder. Growing work points to the involvement of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor, in the regulation of immune homeostasis. However, the roles of AhR and its ligands in HT remains unclear. In this study, we leveraged public human database analyses to postulate that the AhR expression was predominantly in thyroid follicular cells, correlating significantly with the thyroid infiltration levels of multiple immune cells in HT patients. Using a thyroglobulin-induced HT mouse model and in vitro thyroid follicular epithelial cell cultures, we found a significant downregulation of AhR expression in thyrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, activating AhR by FICZ, a natural AhR ligand, mitigated inflammation and apoptosis in thyrocytes in vitro and conferred protection against HT in mice. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of thyroid tissues indicated that AhR activation moderated HT-associated immune or inflammatory signatures. Further, immunoinfiltration analysis indicated that AhR activation regulated immune cell infiltration in the thyroid of HT mice, such as suppressing cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration and promoting anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage polarization. Concomitantly, the expression levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), a lymphokine that downregulates immune responses, were typically decreased in HT but restored upon AhR activation. In silico validation substantiated the binding interaction between AhR and IL-2. In conclusion, targeting the AhR with FICZ regulates IL-2 and immune infiltration to alleviate experimental HT, shedding new light on the therapeutic intervention of this prevalent disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhengzheng Liao
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianzhong Zeng
- Department of Endocrinology, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoling Guo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Shi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziyun Tang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuiyun Chen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengxia Chen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianrong Chen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jixiong Xu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yaojun Cai
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China; Jiangxi Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cannon AS, Holloman BL, Wilson K, Miranda K, Nagarkatti PS, Nagarkatti M. 6-Formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole, a potent ligand for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, attenuates concanavalin-induced hepatitis by limiting T-cell activation and infiltration of proinflammatory CD11b+ Kupffer cells. J Leukoc Biol 2024:qiae018. [PMID: 38366630 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiae018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
FICZ (6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole) is a potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist that has a poorly understood function in the regulation of inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by FICZ in a murine model of autoimmune hepatitis induced by concanavalin A. High-throughput sequencing techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing and assay for transposase accessible chromatin sequencing were used to explore the mechanisms through which FICZ induces its effects. FICZ treatment attenuated concanavalin A-induced hepatitis, evidenced by decreased T-cell infiltration, decreased circulating alanine transaminase levels, and suppression of proinflammatory cytokines. Concanavalin A revealed an increase in natural killer T cells, T cells, and mature B cells upon concanavalin A injection while FICZ treatment reversed the presence of these subsets. Surprisingly, concanavalin A depleted a subset of CD55+ B cells, while FICZ partially protected this subset. The immune cells showed significant dysregulation in the gene expression profiles, including diverse expression of migratory markers such as CCL4, CCL5, and CXCL2 and critical regulatory markers such as Junb. Assay for transposase accessible chromatin sequencing showed more accessible chromatin in the CD3e promoter in the concanavalin A-only group as compared to the naive and concanavalin A-exposed, FICZ-treated group. While there was overall more accessible chromatin of the Adgre1 (F4/80) promoter in the FICZ-treated group, we observed less open chromatin in the Itgam (CD11b) promoter in Kupffer cells, supporting the ability of FICZ to reduce the infiltration of proinflammatory cytokine producing CD11b+ Kupffer cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by FICZ suppresses liver injury through the limitation of CD3+ T-cell activation and CD11b+ Kupffer cell infiltration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alkeiver S Cannon
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209, United States
| | - Bryan L Holloman
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209, United States
| | - Kiesha Wilson
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209, United States
| | - Kathryn Miranda
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209, United States
| | - Prakash S Nagarkatti
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209, United States
| | - Mitzi Nagarkatti
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu B, Wang K, Yang L, Zheng J, Ma T, Zhang S, Huang L, Chen T, Guo Y, Cui Z, Zhang X, Chen J, Lu H. 6-formylindolo[3, 2-b]carbazole alters gut microbiota and prevents the progression of ankylosing spondylitis in mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 128:111562. [PMID: 38244515 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), is known as a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, there is evidence to suggest that gut microbiota disorders may be related to the occurrence and development of AS. Studies have shown that 6-formylindolo[3, 2-b]carbazole (FICZ) has the ability to modulate intestinal homeostasis and inhibit inflammatory responses. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the protective role of FICZ in treating AS and elucidate potential mechanisms. FICZ was administered to the proteoglycan (PG)-induced AS mice for 7 consecutive weeks. The effects of FICZ on AS mice were evaluated by the disease severity, intestinal histopathology, proinflammatory cytokine levels, and intestinal mucosal barrier function. The gut microbiota compositions were profiled through 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. We found that FICZ significantly reduced the severity of AS and resulted in the downregulating of TNF-α and IL-17A inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, FICZ ameliorated pathological changes in the ileal and improved intestinal mucosal barrier function. Furthermore, FICZ altered the composition of the gut microbiota by increasing the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes phylum ratio and enriched the genes related to "glycan biosynthesis and metabolism", thus reversing the process of AS. In conclusion, FICZ suppressed the progression of AS and altered gut microbiota in AS mice, which provided new insight into AS therapy strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China.
| | - Lianjun Yang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Junchi Zheng
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongshan Torch Development Zone People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong 528437, China; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Hospital of Guangdong Province, Academy of Orthopedics of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Biobank, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Shiyanjin Zhang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Lihua Huang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Yuanqing Guo
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Zhifei Cui
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Xueling Zhang
- Department of Child Healthcare, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Junquan Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China.
| | - Hai Lu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Proper SP, Dwyer AT, Appiagyei A, Felton JM, Ben-Baruch Morgenstern N, Marlman JM, Kotliar M, Barski A, Troutman TD, Rothenberg ME, Mersha TB, Azouz NP. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor and IL-13 signaling crosstalk in human keratinocytes and atopic dermatitis. Front Allergy 2024; 5:1323405. [PMID: 38344408 PMCID: PMC10853333 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2024.1323405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an allergic skin disease mediated by skin barrier impairment and IL-13-driven immune response. Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) has shown promise in early clinical trials for AD; however, the mechanism by which AHR partially ameliorates AD is not well known. Methods Gene expression data from human biopsies were analyzed, and compared to gene expression from RNA-sequencing in our in-vitro HaCaT cell model system. Western blot, ELISA qRT-PCR were used to further explore the relationship between AHR and IL-13 signaling in HaCaT cells. Results The AHR target gene CYP1A1 was decreased in lesional skin compared with healthy control skin (p = 4.30 × 10-9). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) demonstrated increased AHR expression (p < 1.0 × 10-4) and decreased CYP1A1 expression in lesional AD keratinocytes compared with healthy control keratinocytes (p < 0.001). Activation of AHR by AHR agonists in HaCaT cells reversed IL-13-dependent gene expression of several key genes in AD pathogenesis, most notably the eosinophil chemoattractant CCL26 (eotaxin-3). Differentially expressed genes in keratinocytes of patients with AD substantially overlapped with genes regulated by AHR agonists from HaCaT cells by RNAseq, but in reverse direction. Mechanistically, there was evidence for direct transcriptional effects of AHR; AHR binding motifs were identified in the differentially expressed genes from lesional AD keratinocytes compared to control keratinocytes, and AHR activation did not modify IL-13-dependent signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) translocation to the nucleus. Discussion Together, these data suggest that the AHR pathway is dysregulated in AD and that AHR modulates IL-13 downstream signaling in keratinocytes through genome-wide, transcriptional regulatory effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven P Proper
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Alexander T Dwyer
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Andrews Appiagyei
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Jennifer M Felton
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | | | - Justin M Marlman
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Michael Kotliar
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Artem Barski
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Ty D Troutman
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Marc E Rothenberg
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Tesfaye B Mersha
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Nurit P Azouz
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Eriksson ANM, Rigaud C, Wincent E, Pakkanen H, Salonen P, Vehniäinen ER. Endogenous AhR agonist FICZ accumulates in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) alevins exposed to a mixture of two PAHs, retene and fluoranthene. Ecotoxicology 2022; 31:1382-1389. [PMID: 36219374 PMCID: PMC9652237 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-022-02593-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Multiple studies have reported synergized toxicity of PAH mixtures in developing fish larvae relative to the additive effect of the components. From a toxicological perspective, multiple mechanisms are known to contribute to synergism, such as altered toxicodynamics and kinetics, as well as increased oxidative stress. An understudied contributor to synergism is the accumulation of endogenous metabolites, for example: the aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2 (AhR2) agonist and tryptophan metabolite 6-Formylindolo(3,2-b)carbazole (FICZ). Fish larvae exposed to FICZ, alongside knock-down of cytochrome p450 (cyp1a), has been reported to induced symptoms of toxicity similar to those observed following exposure to PAHs or the dioxin 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Here, we explored if FICZ accumulates in newly hatched rainbow trout alevins (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to two PAHs with different properties: retene (potent AhR2 agonist) and fluoranthene (weak AhR2 agonist and Cyp1a inhibitor), either alone or as a binary mixture for 3 and 7 days. We found that exposure to the mixture resulted in accumulation of endogenous FICZ, synergized the blue sac disease index (BSD), and altered the body burden profiles of the PAHs, when compared to the alevins exposed to the individual components. It is thus very plausible that accumulation of endogenously derived FICZ contributed to the synergized BSD index and toxicity in exposed alevins. Accumulation of endogenously derived FICZ is a novel finding that extends our general understanding on PAHs toxicity in developing fish larvae, while at the same time highlighting why environmental risk assessment of PAHs should not be based solely results from the assessment of individual compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas N M Eriksson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Cyril Rigaud
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Emma Wincent
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannu Pakkanen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Pihla Salonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Eeva-Riikka Vehniäinen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Perez-Castro L, Venkateswaran N, Garcia R, Hao YH, Lafita-Navarro MC, Kim J, Segal D, Saponzik E, Chang BJ, Fiolka R, Danuser G, Xu L, Brabletz T, Conacci-Sorrell M. The AHR target gene scinderin activates the WNT pathway by facilitating the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:jcs260028. [PMID: 36148682 PMCID: PMC10658791 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The ligand-activated transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) regulates cellular detoxification, proliferation and immune evasion in a range of cell types and tissues, including cancer cells. In this study, we used RNA-sequencing to identify the signature of the AHR target genes regulated by the pollutant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) and the endogenous ligand kynurenine (Kyn), a tryptophan-derived metabolite. This approach identified a signature of six genes (CYP1A1, ALDH1A3, ABCG2, ADGRF1 and SCIN) as commonly activated by endogenous or exogenous ligands of AHR in multiple colon cancer cell lines. Among these, the actin-severing protein scinderin (SCIN) was necessary for cell proliferation; SCIN downregulation limited cell proliferation and its expression increased it. SCIN expression was elevated in a subset of colon cancer patient samples, which also contained elevated β-catenin levels. Remarkably, SCIN expression promoted nuclear translocation of β-catenin and activates the WNT pathway. Our study identifies a new mechanism for adhesion-mediated signaling in which SCIN, likely via its ability to alter the actin cytoskeleton, facilitates the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first authors of the paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lizbeth Perez-Castro
- Department of Cell Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | | | - Roy Garcia
- Department of Cell Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Yi-Heng Hao
- Department of Cell Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - M. C. Lafita-Navarro
- Department of Cell Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jiwoong Kim
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population & Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Dagan Segal
- Department of Cell Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Etai Saponzik
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Bo-Jui Chang
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Reto Fiolka
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Gaudenz Danuser
- Department of Cell Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Lin Xu
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population & Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Thomas Brabletz
- Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, University Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen 91054, Germany
| | - Maralice Conacci-Sorrell
- Department of Cell Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Modoux M, Rolhion N, Lefevre JH, Oeuvray C, Nádvorník P, Illes P, Emond P, Parc Y, Mani S, Dvorak Z, Sokol H. Butyrate acts through HDAC inhibition to enhance aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by gut microbiota-derived ligands. Gut Microbes 2022; 14:2105637. [PMID: 35895845 PMCID: PMC9336500 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2105637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a critical player in the crosstalk between the gut microbiota and its host. However, factors regulating AhR within the gut, which is a complex metabolomic environment, are poorly understood. This study investigates the effect of a combination of metabolites on the activation mechanism of AhR. AhR activity was evaluated using both a luciferase reporter system and mRNA levels of AhR target genes on human cell lines and human colonic explants. AhR activation was studied by radioligand-binding assay, nuclear translocation of AhR by immuofluorescence and protein co-immunoprecipitation of AhR with ARNT. Indirect activation of AhR was evaluated using several tests and inhibitors. The promoter of the target gene CYP1A1 was studied both by chromatin immunoprecipitation and by using an histone deacetylase HDAC inhibitor (iHDAC). Short-chain fatty acids, and butyrate in particular, enhance AhR activity mediated by endogenous tryptophan metabolites without binding to the receptor. This effect was confirmed in human intestinal explants and did not rely on activation of receptors targeted by SCFAs, inhibition of AhR degradation or clearance of its ligands. Butyrate acted directly on AhR target gene promoter to reshape chromatin through iHDAC activity. Our findings revealed that butyrate is not an AhR ligand but acts as iHDAC leading to an increase recruitment of AhR to the target gene promoter in the presence of tryptophan-derived AhR agonists. These data contribute to a novel understanding of the complex regulation of AhR activation by gut microbiota-derived metabolites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Modoux
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, AP-HP, Saint Antoine Hospital, Gastroenterology Department, Paris, France,Paris Centre for Microbiome Medicine (PaCeMM) FHU, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Rolhion
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, AP-HP, Saint Antoine Hospital, Gastroenterology Department, Paris, France,Paris Centre for Microbiome Medicine (PaCeMM) FHU, Paris, France
| | - Jeremie H. Lefevre
- Paris Centre for Microbiome Medicine (PaCeMM) FHU, Paris, France,Sorbonne Université, Department of Digestive Surgery, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint Antoine, Paris, France
| | - Cyriane Oeuvray
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, AP-HP, Saint Antoine Hospital, Gastroenterology Department, Paris, France,Paris Centre for Microbiome Medicine (PaCeMM) FHU, Paris, France
| | - Petr Nádvorník
- Departments of Cell Biology and Genetics, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Illes
- Departments of Cell Biology and Genetics, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Patrick Emond
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, Centre-Val de Loire, France
| | - Yann Parc
- Sorbonne Université, Department of Digestive Surgery, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint Antoine, Paris, France
| | - Sridhar Mani
- Departments of Molecular Pharmacology, Genetics and Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Zdenek Dvorak
- Departments of Cell Biology and Genetics, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Harry Sokol
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, AP-HP, Saint Antoine Hospital, Gastroenterology Department, Paris, France,Paris Centre for Microbiome Medicine (PaCeMM) FHU, Paris, France,INRAe, UMR1319 Micalis & AgroParisTech, Jouy en Josas, France,CONTACT Harry Sokol Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, AP-HP, Saint Antoine Hospital, Gastroenterology Department, ParisF-75012, France
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Li YY, Wang XJ, Su YL, Wang Q, Huang SW, Pan ZF, Chen YP, Liang JJ, Zhang ML, Xie XQ, Wu ZY, Chen JY, Zhou L, Luo X. Baicalein ameliorates ulcerative colitis by improving intestinal epithelial barrier via AhR/IL-22 pathway in ILC3s. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:1495-1507. [PMID: 34671110 PMCID: PMC9160000 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-021-00781-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, which is closely related to gut barrier dysfunction. Emerging evidence shows that interleukin-22 (IL-22) derived from group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) confers benefits on intestinal barrier, and IL-22 expression is controlled by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Previous studies show that baicalein protects the colon from inflammatory damage. In this study we elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effect of baicalein on intestinal barrier function in colitis mice. Mice were administered baicalein (10, 20, 40 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.g.) for 10 days; the mice freely drank 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) on D1-D7 to induce colitis. We showed that baicalein administration simultaneously ameliorated gut inflammation, decreased intestinal permeability, restored tight junctions of colons possibly via promoting AhR/IL-22 pathway. Co-administration of AhR antagonist CH223191 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) partially blocked the therapeutic effects of baicalein in colitis mice, whereas AhR agonist FICZ (1 μg, i.p.) ameliorated symptoms and gut barrier function in colitis mice. In a murine lymphocyte line MNK-3, baicalein (5-20 μM) dose-dependently increased the expression of AhR downstream target protein CYP1A1, and enhanced IL-22 production through facilitating AhR nuclear translocation, these effects were greatly diminished in shAhR-MNK3 cells, suggesting that baicalein induced IL-22 production in AhR-dependent manner. To further clarify that, we constructed an in vitro system consisting of MNK-3 and Caco-2 cells, in which MNK-3 cell supernatant treated with baicalein could decrease FITC-dextran permeability and promoted the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occluding in Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that baicalein ameliorates colitis by improving intestinal epithelial barrier via AhR/IL-22 pathway in ILC3s, thus providing a potential therapy for UC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Yang Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yu-Lin Su
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Qing Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Shao-Wei Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zeng-Feng Pan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yan-Ping Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jun-Jie Liang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Mei-Ling Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xue-Qian Xie
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zhi-Yun Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jin-Yan Chen
- College of Basic Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Lian Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Xia Luo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ghaffarian-Bahraman A, Arabnezhad MR, Keshavarzi M, Davani-Davari D, Jamshidzadeh A, Mohammadi-Bardbori A. Influence of cellular redox environment on aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands induced melanogenesis. Toxicol In Vitro 2021; 79:105282. [PMID: 34856342 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2021.105282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Many environmental pollutants, natural compounds, as well as endogenous chemicals exert their biological/toxicological effects by reacting with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Previous evidence shed new light on the role of AhR in skin physiology by regulating melanin production. In this study, we investigated the effect of oxidative imbalance induced by AhR ligands on the melanogenesis process in B16 murine melanoma cells. Exposure to 6-formylindolo[3,2-b] carbazole (FICZ) or benzo-α-pyrene (BαP) led to enhanced expression of CTNNB1, MITF, and TYR genes following increased tyrosinase enzyme activity and melanin content in an AhR-dependent manner. Analysis of the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as reduced glutathione (GSH) / oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio revealed that treatment with AhR ligands is associated with oxidative stress which can be ameliorated with NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) or diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI). On the other hand, NAC and DPI enhanced melanogenesis induced by AhR ligands by reducing the level of ROS. We have shown for the first time that a cellular redox status is a critical event during AhR ligand-induced melanogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ghaffarian-Bahraman
- Occupational Environment Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Fars, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Arabnezhad
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Majid Keshavarzi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Dorna Davani-Davari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Fars, Iran
| | - Akram Jamshidzadeh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Fars, Iran
| | - Afshin Mohammadi-Bardbori
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Fars, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mohammadi H, Daryabor G, Ghaffarian Bahraman A, Keshavarzi M, Kalantar K, Mohammadi-Bardbori A. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor engagement during redox alteration determines the fate of CD4 + T cells in C57BL/6 mice. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2021; 35:e22821. [PMID: 34036678 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.22821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The preservation of the redox homeostasis is critical for cell survival and functionality. Redox imbalance is an essential inducer of several pathological states. CD4+ /helper T cells are highly dependent on the redox state of their surrounding milieu. The potential of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) engagement in controlling CD4+ T-cell fate during redox alteration is still challenging. C57BL/6 mice were treated with AhR agonist 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), AhR antagonist CH223191, an inhibitor of glutathione biosynthesis buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), and the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) alone or in combination. Six days later, splenocytes were evaluated for the expression of the redox-related genes and the possible changes in T-cell subsets. FICZ like BSO significantly elevated the expression of HMOX1, GCLC, and GCLM genes but it failed to increase the expression of the Nrf2 gene. Moreover, FICZ + BSO increased while FICZ + CH223191 or NAC decreased the expression of these genes. FICZ also significantly increased Th1 cell numbers but decreased Tregs in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, a high dose of FICZ + CH223191 + NAC significantly enhanced Th1, Th17, and Treg cells but its low dose in such a situation increased Th2 and Th17 while decreased Treg cells. AhR engagement during redox alteration can determine the fate of CD4 + T cells, so, AhR agonists or antagonists might be useful in assessing immune responses. However, these results need further verifications in vitro and in animal models of various diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Mohammadi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Daryabor
- Autoimmune Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Ghaffarian Bahraman
- Occupational Environment Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Majid Keshavarzi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Kurosh Kalantar
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Afshin Mohammadi-Bardbori
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
de Araújo EF, Loures FV, Preite NW, Feriotti C, Galdino NA, Costa TA, Calich VLG. AhR Ligands Modulate the Differentiation of Innate Lymphoid Cells and T Helper Cell Subsets That Control the Severity of a Pulmonary Fungal Infection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:630938. [PMID: 33936043 PMCID: PMC8085362 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.630938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In agreement with other fungal infections, immunoprotection in pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is mediated by Th1/Th17 cells whereas disease progression by prevalent Th2/Th9 immunity. Treg cells play a dual role, suppressing immunity but also controlling excessive tissue inflammation. Our recent studies have demonstrated that the enzyme indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) and the transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) play an important role in the immunoregulation of PCM. To further evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of AhR in this fungal infection, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infected mice were treated with two different AhR agonists, L-Kynurenin (L-Kyn) or 6-formylindole [3,2-b] carbazole (FICZ), and one AhR specific antagonist (CH223191). The disease severity and immune response of treated and untreated mice were assessed 96 hours and 2 weeks after infection. Some similar effects on host response were shared by FICZ and L-Kyn, such as the reduced fungal loads, decreased numbers of CD11c+ lung myeloid cells expressing activation markers (IA, CD40, CD80, CD86), and early increased expression of IDO and AhR. In contrast, the AhR antagonist CH223191 induced increased fungal loads, increased number of pulmonary CD11c+ leukocytes expressing activation markers, and a reduction in AhR and IDO production. While FICZ treatment promoted large increases in ILC3, L-Kyn and CH223191 significantly reduced this cell population. Each of these AhR ligands induced a characteristic adaptive immunity. The large expansion of FICZ-induced myeloid, lymphoid, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs) led to the increased expansion of all CD4+ T cell subpopulations (Th1, Th2, Th17, Th22, and Treg), but with a clear predominance of Th17 and Th22 subsets. On the other hand, L-Kyn, that preferentially activated plasmacytoid DCs, reduced Th1/Th22 development but caused a robust expansion of Treg cells. The AhR antagonist CH223191 induced a preferential expansion of myeloid DCs, reduced the number of Th1, Th22, and Treg cells, but increased Th17 differentiation. In conclusion, the present study showed that the pathogen loads and the immune response in pulmonary PCM can be modulated by AhR ligands. However, further studies are needed to define the possible use of these compounds as adjuvant therapy for this fungal infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eliseu F de Araújo
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Flávio V Loures
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nycolas W Preite
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Feriotti
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nayane Al Galdino
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tânia A Costa
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vera L G Calich
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Rico de Souza A, Traboulsi H, Wang X, Fritz JH, Eidelman DH, Baglole CJ. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Attenuates Acute Cigarette Smoke-Induced Airway Neutrophilia Independent of the Dioxin Response Element. Front Immunol 2021; 12:630427. [PMID: 33659010 PMCID: PMC7917085 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.630427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cigarette smoke is a prevalent respiratory toxicant that remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Cigarette smoke induces inflammation in the lungs and airways that contributes to the development of diseases such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Due to the presence of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands in cigarette smoke, activation of the AhR has been implicated in driving this inflammatory response. However, we have previously shown that the AhR suppresses cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary inflammation, but the mechanism by which the AhR achieves its anti-inflammatory function is unknown. In this study, we use the AhR antagonist CH-223191 to inhibit AhR activity in mice. After an acute (3-day) cigarette smoke exposure, AhR inhibition was associated with significantly enhanced neutrophilia in the airways in response to cigarette smoke, mimicking the phenotype of AhR-deficient mice. We then used genetically-modified mouse strains which express an AhR that can bind ligand but either cannot translocate to the nucleus or bind its cognate response element, to show that these features of the AhR pathway are not required for the AhR to suppress pulmonary neutrophilia. Finally, using the non-toxic endogenous AhR ligand FICZ, we provide proof-of-concept that activation of pulmonary AhR attenuates smoke-induced inflammation. Collectively, these results support the importance of AhR activity in mediating its anti-inflammatory function in response to cigarette smoke. Further investigation of the precise mechanisms by which the AhR exerts is protective functions may lead to the development of therapeutic agents to treat people with chronic lung diseases that have an inflammatory etiology, but for which few therapeutic options exist.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hussein Traboulsi
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jorg H. Fritz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Carolyn J. Baglole
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Szelest M, Walczak K, Plech T. A New Insight into the Potential Role of Tryptophan-Derived AhR Ligands in Skin Physiological and Pathological Processes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1104. [PMID: 33499346 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays a crucial role in environmental responses and xenobiotic metabolism, as it controls the transcription profiles of several genes in a ligand-specific and cell-type-specific manner. Various barrier tissues, including skin, display the expression of AhR. Recent studies revealed multiple roles of AhR in skin physiology and disease, including melanogenesis, inflammation and cancer. Tryptophan metabolites are distinguished among the groups of natural and synthetic AhR ligands, and these include kynurenine, kynurenic acid and 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ). Tryptophan derivatives can affect and regulate a variety of signaling pathways. Thus, the interest in how these substances influence physiological and pathological processes in the skin is expanding rapidly. The widespread presence of these substances and potential continuous exposure of the skin to their biological effects indicate the important role of AhR and its ligands in the prevention, pathogenesis and progression of skin diseases. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of AhR in skin physiology. Moreover, we discuss the role of AhR in skin pathological processes, including inflammatory skin diseases, pigmentation disorders and cancer. Finally, the impact of FICZ, kynurenic acid, and kynurenine on physiological and pathological processes in the skin is considered. However, the mechanisms of how AhR regulates skin function require further investigation.
Collapse
|
14
|
Li X, Luck ME, Hammer AM, Cannon AR, Choudhry MA. 6-Formylindolo (3, 2-b) Carbazole ( FICZ)-mediated protection of gut barrier is dependent on T cells in a mouse model of alcohol combined with burn injury. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165901. [PMID: 32711051 PMCID: PMC7484351 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165901] [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: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
6-Formylindolo (3, 2-b) Carbazole (FICZ) is a ligand of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) which regulates Th17 release of IL-17 and IL-22 production. Earlier, we showed that ethanol combined with burn injury suppresses Th17 responses and disrupts intestinal barrier leading to increased gut bacterial growth and translocation. Since IL-22 is known for its role in intestinal barrier maintenance, we determined whether treatment of mice with FICZ restores T cell IL-22 release and protects intestine barrier following ethanol and burn injury. Wildtype and Rag1-/- mice were gavaged with ~2.9 g/kg ethanol or water, and given a ~12.5% total body surface area burn. Mice were given FICZ (5 μg) in resuscitation fluid. FICZ treatment of wildtype mice normalized IL-22 and IL-17 in lamina propria and spleen T cells, as well as increased CYP1A1 expression in spleen T cells. This was accompanied by improved gut motility, decreased copy number of small intestine total bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae, attenuation of intestinal tissue levels of IL-6, KC, IL-18, decreased apoptosis, and prevention of gut leakiness following ethanol and burn injury. However, FICZ treatment of Rag1-/- mice did not improve any of the parameters listed after ethanol and burn injury. Additional data generated using mice treated with recombinant IL-22 alone or in combination with anti-IL-18 antibody suggest that full protection of gut barrier integrity requires both IL-18 inhibition and IL-22 restoration following ethanol and burn injury. Together our findings suggest that AHR ligand FICZ may have better therapeutic potential for maintenance of gut barrier function after ethanol and burn injury.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Burns/drug therapy
- Burns/metabolism
- Carbazoles/therapeutic use
- Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/genetics
- Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/metabolism
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Ethanol/pharmacology
- Flow Cytometry
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Interleukin-17/metabolism
- Interleukins/metabolism
- Intestinal Mucosa/drug effects
- Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism
- Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology
- Intestine, Small/drug effects
- Intestine, Small/metabolism
- Intestine, Small/microbiology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mucous Membrane/drug effects
- Mucous Membrane/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/genetics
- Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Interleukin-22
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Li
- Alcohol Research Program, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Burn & Shock Trauma Research Institute, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Department of Surgery, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Marisa E Luck
- Alcohol Research Program, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Burn & Shock Trauma Research Institute, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Integrative Cell Biology Program, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Adam M Hammer
- Alcohol Research Program, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Burn & Shock Trauma Research Institute, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Integrative Cell Biology Program, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Abigail R Cannon
- Alcohol Research Program, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Burn & Shock Trauma Research Institute, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Department of Surgery, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Mashkoor A Choudhry
- Alcohol Research Program, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Burn & Shock Trauma Research Institute, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Department of Surgery, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA; Integrative Cell Biology Program, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Walczak K, Langner E, Makuch-Kocka A, Szelest M, Szalast K, Marciniak S, Plech T. Effect of Tryptophan-Derived AhR Ligands, Kynurenine, Kynurenic Acid and FICZ, on Proliferation, Cell Cycle Regulation and Cell Death of Melanoma Cells-In Vitro Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7946. [PMID: 33114713 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan metabolites: kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid (KYNA) and 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) are considered aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands. AhR is mainly expressed in barrier tissues, including skin, and is involved in various physiological and pathological processes in skin. We studied the effect of KYN, KYNA and FICZ on melanocyte and melanoma A375 and RPMI7951 cell toxicity, proliferation and cell death. KYN and FICZ inhibited DNA synthesis in both melanoma cell lines, but RPMI7951 cells were more resistant to pharmacological treatment. Tested compounds were toxic to melanoma cells but not to normal human adult melanocytes. Changes in the protein level of cyclin D1, CDK4 and retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (Rb) phosphorylation revealed different mechanisms of action of individual AhR ligands. Importantly, all tryptophan metabolites induced necrosis, but only KYNA and FICZ promoted apoptosis in melanoma A375 cells. This effect was not observed in RPMI7951 cells. KYN, KYNA and FICZ in higher concentrations inhibited the protein level of AhR but did not affect the gene expression. To conclude, despite belonging to the group of AhR ligands, KYN, KYNA and FICZ exerted different effects on proliferation, toxicity and induction of cell death in melanoma cells in vitro.
Collapse
|
16
|
Doan TQ, Connolly L, Igout A, Muller M, Scippo ML. In vitro differential responses of rat and human aryl hydrocarbon receptor to two distinct ligands and to different polyphenols. Environ Pollut 2020; 265:114966. [PMID: 32563119 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) and several other environment/food-borne toxic compounds induce their toxicity via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). AhR is also modulated by various endogenous ligands e.g. highly potent tryptophan (Trp)-derivative FICZ (6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole) and natural ligands abundant in the human diet e.g. polyphenols. Therefore, evaluating AhR species-specific responses is crucial for understanding AhR physiological functions, establishing risk assessments, and exploring the applicability of AhR mediators in drug and food industry towards human-based usages. We studied AhR transactivation of FICZ/TCDD in vitro in a time-dependent and species-specific manner using dioxin responsive luciferase reporter gene assays derived from rat (DR-H4IIE) and human (DR-HepG2) hepatoma cells. We observed for the first time that FICZ potency was similar in both cell lines and was 40 times higher than TCDD in DR-HepG2 cells. Depleting Trp-derivative endogenously produced ligands by using culture medium without Trp, resulted in 3-fold higher AhR activation upon adding FICZ in DR-H4IIE cells, in contrast to DR-HepG2 cells which revealed a fast degradation of FICZ induction from 10 h post-exposure to complete disappearance after 24 h. Seven polyphenols and a mixture thereof, chosen based on commercially recommended doses and adjusted to human realistic exposure, caused rat and human species-specific AhR responses. Two isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) induced rat AhR synergistic effects with FICZ and/or TCDD, while quercetin, chrysin, curcumin, resveratrol, and the mixture exerted a strong inhibitory effect on the human AhR. Strikingly, resveratrol and quercetin at their realistic nanomolar concentrations acted additively in the mixture to abolish human AhR activation induced by various TCDD concentrations. Taken together, these results illustrate the species-specific complexity of AhR transcriptional activities modulated by various ligands and highlight the need for studies of human-based approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Q Doan
- Laboratory of Food Analysis, FARAH-Veterinary Public Health, University of Liège, Liège, 4000, Belgium
| | - L Connolly
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - A Igout
- Department of Biomedical and Preclinical Sciences, University of Liège, Liège, 4000, Belgium
| | - M Muller
- GIGA-R, Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration, University of Liège, Liège, 4000, Belgium
| | - M L Scippo
- Laboratory of Food Analysis, FARAH-Veterinary Public Health, University of Liège, Liège, 4000, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Koh DH, Hwang JH, Park JG, Song WS, Iwata H, Kim EY. The AHR1-ARNT1 dimerization pair is a major regulator of the response to natural ligands, but not to TCDD, in the chicken. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2020; 201:110835. [PMID: 32563159 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) occurs through the binding of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) or natural ligands. In this pathway, the AHR-ARNT (AHR nuclear translocator) heterodimer serves to regulate critical physiological functions, such as immune responses and the metabolism of xenobiotics. Birds have three AHR isoforms (AHR1, AHR1β, and AHR2) and two ARNT isoforms (ARNT1 and ARNT2). However, how AHR and ARNT dimerization pair in birds regulates the AHR signaling pathway in an isoform-specific manner remains unknown. In this study, we initially sought to clarify the major chicken AHR-ARNT (ckAHR-ckARNT) pairs by estimating the mRNA tissue distributions of various ckAHR and ckARNT isoforms. Our results indicated that the ckAHR1-ckARNT1 represented the major dimerization pair in most tissues except the brain. We then measured the transactivation potencies of various ckAHR-ckARNT pairs by natural ligands and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), in in vitro reporter gene assays using COS-7 and LMH cell lines. Our results from the in vitro assays demonstrated that the ckAHR1-ckARNT1 pair was strongly activated by the five natural ligands, namely, 6-formylindolo [3,2-b]carbazole, L-kynurenin, kynurenic acid, indoxyl-3-sulfate, and 1,3,7-tribromodibenzo-p-dioxin, but not by TCDD. In in silico ligand docking simulations with ckAHR1 homology models, all the natural ligands showed a interaction pattern that was distinct from that observed with anthropogenic DLCs, including TCDD. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the ckAHR1-ckARNT1 may be the most important dimerization pair in most tissues for regulating the physiological functions driven by natural ligands, although it was less reactive to TCDD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Hee Koh
- Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, 130-701, South Korea
| | - Ji-Hee Hwang
- Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, 130-701, South Korea
| | - Jae-Gon Park
- Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, 130-701, South Korea
| | - Woo-Seon Song
- Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, 130-701, South Korea
| | - Hisato Iwata
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Japan.
| | - Eun-Young Kim
- Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, 130-701, South Korea; Department of Biology, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, 130-701, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Wu H, Liu B, Yang K, Winston-McPherson GN, Leisten ED, Vezina CM, Ricke WA, Peterson RE, Tang W. Synthesis and biological evaluation of FICZ analogues as agonists of aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:126959. [PMID: 31952965 PMCID: PMC7007633 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.126959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand activated transcription factor involved in multiple biological processes including immune cell differentiation, intestinal function and inflammation. Based on the scaffold of naturally occurring AhR ligand 6-formylindolo (3,2-b) carbazole (FICZ, 2), a series of analogues has been designed, synthesized and evaluated by cell-based assays. The structure-activity relationships study has successfully led to the discovery of compound 11e with extremely potent activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Binkai Liu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Ka Yang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | | | - Eric D Leisten
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Chad M Vezina
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI 53706, USA; University of Wisconsin-Madison, O'Brien Urology Research Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - William A Ricke
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, O'Brien Urology Research Center, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Urology and Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Richard E Peterson
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Weiping Tang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Huang J, Cai X, Ou Y, Fan L, Zhou Y, Wang Y. Protective roles of FICZ and aryl hydrocarbon receptor axis on alveolar bone loss and inflammation in experimental periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol 2019; 46:882-893. [PMID: 31286538 DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
AIM The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-ligand axis has been shown to be involved in inflammatory diseases and bone homeostasis. However, the activation of AhR signalling pathway and the possible functions of AhR ligands in periodontitis are underexplored. This study investigated the expression of the AhR target gene cytochrome P450 subfamily B member 1 (CYP1B1) and the functions and mechanisms of the AhR ligand 6 formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) in periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS CYP1B1 expression was detected in human periodontitis samples, mice with ligature-induced periodontitis and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) in vitro. FICZ was administered topically or systemically. The therapeutic functions of FICZ were detected via qPCR, micro-computed tomography and immunohistochemistry. Finally, the mechanisms of AhR signalling in periodontitis were investigated by cell assays. RESULTS CYP1B1 expression was downregulated in periodontitis. FICZ rescued the alveolar bone loss and mitigated the inflammatory cytokines in periodontitis mice. In vitro, FICZ pre-treatment reduced the LPS-induced inflammation in PDLCs via the increased phosphorylation of STAT3. Additionally, FICZ prompted the mineralization of PDLCs via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. CONCLUSION AhR signalling pathway is suppressed in periodontitis and the AhR ligand FICZ can prevent periodontitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Huang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinjie Cai
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Prosthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanjing Ou
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Le Fan
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Prosthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yining Wang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Prosthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Yin J, Yang K, Zhou C, Xu P, Xiao W, Yang H. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation alleviates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis through enhancing the differentiation of goblet cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 514:180-6. [PMID: 31029423 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.04.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intestinal inflammation induces disruption of the intestinal barrier function and leads to bacteria invasion. Accumulating evidences revealed that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays a vital role in maintaining the intestinal barrier function. However, the precise mechanism remains to be unclear. METHODS Adult C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups: Sham, DSS and DSS + 6-formylindolo (3, 2-b) carbazole (FICZ)group. The colons and epithelial cell were harvested for histological examination, pro-inflammatory cytokines detection, bacterial load analysis, immunohistochemistry and Muc2 protein analysis. Under physiological condition, AhRKO model and FICZ treatment were used to evaluate the roles of AhR in the differentiation of goblet cells and the expression of Muc2 in mice. In vitro, we used HT29 mol to research the signaling pathway. RESULTS AhR activation by FICZ could increase the Muc2 expression and the number of goblet cells and reduce bacterial infiltration to ameliorate DSS-induced Colitis. Under physiological conditions, the treatment of FICZ promote the differentiation of goblet cell and the expression of Muc2 and inhibit the notch-signaling. Genetic deletion of AhR led to the loss of goblet cells and the decrease of Muc2 expression and enhance the notch-signaling. In HT29 cells, the differentiation of goblet cell meditated by AhR can be abolished by the inhibitor of AhR, pErk1/2 and knocking-down AhR. CONCLUSION FICZ promoted the differentiation of goblet cell through AhR-pErk1/2 signaling pathway and ameliorate DSS-induced Colitis.
Collapse
|
21
|
Tajima H, Tajiki-Nishino R, Watanabe Y, Fukuyama T. Direct activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor by benzo[a]pyrene elicits T-helper 2-driven proinflammatory responses in a mouse model of allergic dermatitis. J Appl Toxicol 2019; 39:936-944. [PMID: 30748024 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that binds to various environmental chemicals and contributes to numerous toxicological effects. However, the direct effects of AhR on the development of allergic diseases are not fully understood. The main aim of this study was to elucidate the action of AhR in the development of cutaneous allergies. Initially, the potential for a direct relationship between AhR and the immune cells was investigated in vitro, using murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells, human epidermal keratinocytes, and the mixed leukocyte reaction assay. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole were used as selective ligands for the AhR. Pretreatment with BaP and/or 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole significantly induced cytokine release by activated keratinocytes and T-cell proliferation, whereas interleukin-12 production in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells was reduced by AhR activation. To confirm the in vitro results, in vivo experiments were also performed in T-helper (Th)2-type hapten toluene-2,4-diisocyanate- and Th1-type hapten dinitrochlorobenzene-induced mouse models of allergic dermatitis. Mice were orally administered BaP at 48, 24 and 4 hours before the final allergen challenge. In the Th2 model, ear-swelling response and scratching behavior were promoted by BaP exposure, which supported the observed significant increases in local cytokine secretion. The infiltration of helper T cells, B cells and dendritic cells into the auricular lymph node was significantly enhanced by BaP administration, although Th1-type immune responses were not influenced by AhR activation. Our findings demonstrate that AhR activation directly activates keratinocytes and T cells, which leads to the exacerbation of Th2-type cutaneous allergy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Tajima
- Toxicology Division, Institute of Environmental Toxicology, 4321, Uchimoriya-machi, Joso-shi, Ibaraki, 303-0043, Japan
| | - Risako Tajiki-Nishino
- Toxicology Division, Institute of Environmental Toxicology, 4321, Uchimoriya-machi, Joso-shi, Ibaraki, 303-0043, Japan
| | - Yuko Watanabe
- Toxicology Division, Institute of Environmental Toxicology, 4321, Uchimoriya-machi, Joso-shi, Ibaraki, 303-0043, Japan
| | - Tomoki Fukuyama
- Toxicology Division, Institute of Environmental Toxicology, 4321, Uchimoriya-machi, Joso-shi, Ibaraki, 303-0043, Japan.,Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Omidi M, Niknahad H, Noorafshan A, Fardid R, Nadimi E, Naderi S, Bakhtari A, Mohammadi-Bardbori A. Co-exposure to an Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Endogenous Ligand, 6-Formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole ( FICZ), and Cadmium Induces Cardiovascular Developmental Abnormalities in Mice. Biol Trace Elem Res 2019; 187:442-451. [PMID: 29808276 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-018-1391-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
6-Formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) is a signal substance and an endogenous activator of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant that can activate both AHR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. We aimed to determine how dysregulated signaling through AHR-Wnt/β-catenin cross-talk can influence mice heart development. Mice fetuses were exposed to Cd alone or in combination with FICZ in gestation day (GD) 0. In GD18, fetuses were harvested and randomly divided into two parts for stereological and molecular studies. Stereological and tessellation results revealed that when fetuses were co-exposed with FICZ and Cd, abnormalities were synergistically raised. In the presence of FICZ, mRNA expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin target genes significantly enhanced, especially when animals co-treated with FICZ and Cd. Based on these findings, we propose that chemical pollutants can interfere with the normal function of AHR that has a physiological role in regulating Wnt/β-catenin during cardiogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Omidi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hossein Niknahad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Noorafshan
- Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Departments of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Fardid
- Department of Radiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Elham Nadimi
- Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Immunology, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Samaneh Naderi
- Diagnostic Laboratory Science and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Azizollah Bakhtari
- Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Afshin Mohammadi-Bardbori
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Bunaciu RP, MacDonald RJ, Jensen HA, Gao F, Wang X, Johnson L, Varner JD, Yen A. Retinoic acid and 6-formylindolo(3,2-b)carbazole ( FICZ) combination therapy reveals putative targets for enhancing response in non-APL AML. Leuk Lymphoma 2018; 60:1697-1708. [PMID: 30570341 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2018.1543880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In non-acute promyelotic leukemia (APL)- non myelocytic leukemia (AML), identification of a signaling signature would predict potentially actionable targets to enhance differentiation effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) and make combination differentiation therapy realizable. Components of such a signaling machine/signalsome found to drive RA-induced differentiation discerned in a FAB M2 cell line/model (HL-60) were further characterized and then compared against AML patient expression profiles. FICZ, known to enhance RA-induced differentiation, was used to experimentally augment signaling for analysis. FRET revealed novel signalsome protein associations: CD38 with pS376SLP76 and caveolin-1 with CD38 and AhR. The signaling molecules driving differentiation in HL-60 cluster in non-APL AML de novo samples, too. Pearson correlation coefficients for this molecular ensemble are nearer 1 in the FAB M2 subtype than in non-APL AML. SLP76 correlation to RXRα and p47phox were conserved in FAB M2 model and patient subtype but not in general non-APL AML. The signalsome ergo identifies potential actionable targets in AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rodica P Bunaciu
- a Department of Biomedical Sciences , Cornell University , Ithaca , NY , USA
| | - Robert J MacDonald
- a Department of Biomedical Sciences , Cornell University , Ithaca , NY , USA
| | - Holly A Jensen
- a Department of Biomedical Sciences , Cornell University , Ithaca , NY , USA.,b Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Cornell University , Ithaca , NY , USA
| | - Feng Gao
- a Department of Biomedical Sciences , Cornell University , Ithaca , NY , USA.,c Department of Biomedical Sciences , City University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
| | - Xin Wang
- c Department of Biomedical Sciences , City University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
| | - Lynn Johnson
- d Cornell Statistical Unit , Cornell University , Ithaca , NY , USA
| | - Jeffrey D Varner
- b Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Cornell University , Ithaca , NY , USA
| | - Andrew Yen
- a Department of Biomedical Sciences , Cornell University , Ithaca , NY , USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Kiyomatsu-Oda M, Uchi H, Morino-Koga S, Furue M. Protective role of 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole ( FICZ), an endogenous ligand for arylhydrocarbon receptor, in chronic mite-induced dermatitis. J Dermatol Sci 2018; 90:284-294. [PMID: 29500077 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic eczema such as atopic dermatitis imposes significant socio-econo-psychologic burdens on the affected individuals. In addition to conventional topical treatments, phototherapy is recommended for patients with extensive lesions. Although immunosuppression is believed to explain its primary effectiveness, the underlying mechanisms of phototherapy remain unsolved. Ultraviolet irradiation generates various tryptophan photoproducts including 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]-carbazole (FICZ). FICZ is known to be a potent endogenous agonist for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR); however, the biological role of FICZ in chronic eczema is unknown. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of FICZ on chronic eczema such as atopic dermatitis. METHODS We stimulated HaCaT cells and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) with or without FICZ and then performed quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and siRNA treatment. We used the atopic dermatitis-like NC/Nga murine model and treated the mice for 2 weeks with either Vaseline® as a control, FICZ ointment, or betamethasone 17-valerate ointment. The dermatitis score, transepidermal water loss, histology, and expression of skin barrier genes and proteins were evaluated. RESULTS FICZ significantly upregulated the gene expression of filaggrin in both HaCaT cells and NHEKs in an AHR-dependent manner, but did not affect the gene expression of other barrier-related proteins. In addition, FICZ improved the atopic dermatitis-like skin inflammation, clinical scores, and transepidermal water loss in NC/Nga mice compared with those of control mice. On histology, FICZ significantly reduced the epidermal and dermal thickness as well as the number of mast cells. Topical FICZ also significantly reduced the gene expression of Il22. CONCLUSION These findings highlight the beneficial role of FICZ-AHR and provide a new strategic basis for developing new drugs for chronic eczema.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mari Kiyomatsu-Oda
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Uchi
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Saori Morino-Koga
- Department of Cell Division, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Masutaka Furue
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Research and Clinical Center for Yusho and Dioxin, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Amanzadeh A, Molla-Kazemiha V, Samani S, Habibi-Anbouhi M, Azadmanesh K, Abolhassani M, Shokrgozar MA. New synergistic combinations of differentiation-inducing agents in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia cells. Leuk Res 2018; 68:98-104. [PMID: 29602066 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2018.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was considered to be one of the most lethal forms of leukemia in adults before the introduction of the vitamin A metabolite all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Surprisingly, it has been confirmed that FICZ (6-Formylindolo (3, 2-b) carbazole) enhances ATRA-induced differentiation. Moreover, a number of studies have demonstrated that anti CD44 monoclonal antibody (mAb) induces to bring back differentiation blockage the leukemic stem cells. The level of differentiation markers including CD11b and CD11c in NB4 cells was assessed by flow cytometry. The induction of apoptosis was also evaluated. We estimated the induction potential of a triple compound of ATRA-FICZ, anti-CD44 maps. The cells showed the gradually increased expression levels of CD11b and CD11c. A mixture of a "CD44 mAb, ATRA and FICZ effectively promoted granulocytic maturation resulting in increased rates of apoptosis. The differences in expression of CD11b and CD11c at 5 μg/ml and 10 μg/ml were significant. These phenomena were highest at 10 μg/ml CD44 mAb concentrations. Synergistic induction differentiation and apoptosis of APL cells by using a co-treatment with novel triple compound are more effective for eradicating blasts and controlling the metastasis. Our results show that the addition of anti-CD44 mAb improves "ATRA-FICZ"-induced differentiation and has potential to reduce usual chemotherapy based treatments. Taken together, this compound may lead to novel clinical applications of differentiation-based approaches for APL and other types of leukemia. Further clinical studies would be recommended to clarify the clinical efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amir Amanzadeh
- National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Saeed Samani
- Department of Tissue Engineering & Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Mohsen Abolhassani
- Department of Immunology, Hybridoma Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ehrlich AK, Pennington JM, Bisson WH, Kolluri SK, Kerkvliet NI. TCDD, FICZ, and Other High Affinity AhR Ligands Dose-Dependently Determine the Fate of CD4+ T Cell Differentiation. Toxicol Sci 2018; 161:310-320. [PMID: 29040756 PMCID: PMC5837604 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfx215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [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] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
FICZ and TCDD, two high-affinity AhR ligands, are reported to have opposite effects on T cell differentiation with TCDD inducing regulatory T cells and FICZ inducing Th17 cells. This dichotomy has been attributed to ligand-intrinsic differences in AhR activation, although differences in sensitivity to metabolism complicate the issue. TCDD is resistant to AhR-induced metabolism and produces sustained AhR activation following a single dose in the μg/kg range, whereas FICZ is rapidly metabolized and AhR activation is transient. Nonetheless, prior studies comparing FICZ with TCDD have generally used the same 10-50 μg/kg dose range, and thus the two ligands would not equivalently activate AhR. We hypothesized that high-affinity AhR ligands can promote CD4+ T cell differentiation into both Th17 cells and Tregs, with fate depending on the extent and duration of AhR activation. We compared the immunosuppressive effects of TCDD and FICZ, along with two other rapidly metabolized ligands (ITE and 11-Cl-BBQ) in an acute alloresponse mouse model. The dose and timing of administration of each ligand was optimized for TCDD-equivalent Cyp1a1 induction. When optimized, all of the ligands suppressed the alloresponse in conjunction with the induction of Foxp3- Tr1 cells on day 2 and the expansion of natural Foxp3+ Tregs on day 10. In contrast, a low dose of FICZ induced transient expression of Cyp1a1 and did not induce Tregs or suppress the alloresponse but enhanced IL-17 production. Interestingly, low doses of the other ligands, including TCDD, also increased IL-17 production on day 10. These findings support the conclusion that the dose and the duration of AhR activation by high-affinity AhR ligands are the primary factors driving the fate of T cell differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Allison K Ehrlich
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Jamie M Pennington
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - William H Bisson
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Siva K Kolluri
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Nancy I Kerkvliet
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Murai M, Tsuji G, Hashimoto-Hachiya A, Kawakami Y, Furue M, Mitoma C. An endogenous tryptophan photo-product, FICZ, is potentially involved in photo-aging by reducing TGF-β-regulated collagen homeostasis. J Dermatol Sci 2018; 89:19-26. [PMID: 29102224 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 09/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the form of sunlight causes photo-aging of the skin by reducing the production of type I collagen, the major constituent of the extracellular matrix of the dermis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β transforms dermal fibroblasts into α2-smooth muscle actin (ACTA2)-expressing myofibroblasts. Myofibroblasts produce a precursor form of type I collagen, type I procollagen (collagen I), consisting of pro-alpha1 (produced by the COL1A1 gene) and pro-alpha2 chains (produced by the COL1A2 gene). Smad2/3 is a key downstream molecule of TGF-β signaling. The mechanisms through which UV inhibits collagen I synthesis are not fully understood. 6-Formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) is an endogenous tryptophan photo-metabolite generated by UV irradiation. FICZ is well known as a high-affinity ligand for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). However, the physiological roles of FICZ in photo-aging have yet to be addressed. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of FICZ on the TGF-β-mediated ACTA2 and collagen I expression in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). METHODS Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were performed to determine the expression of ACTA2, COL1A1, and COL1A2 in NHDFs with or without FICZ and TGF-β. The phosphorylated Smad2/3 (pSmad2/3) protein levels in cytoplasmic or nuclear portions were investigated by western blot analysis. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to evaluate pSmad2/3 localization, and F-actin staining with phalloidin was performed to visualize actin polymerization in myofibroblasts. The actions of FICZ on the TGF-β-mediated collagen I expression and nuclear translocation of pSmad2/3 were analyzed in the presence of selective AHR antagonists or in AHR-knockdown NHDFs. RESULTS We found that FICZ significantly inhibited the TGF-β-induced upregulation of mRNA and protein levels of ACTA2 and collagen I and actin polymerization in myofibroblasts. FICZ did not disturb the phosphorylation of Smad2/3. Notably, FICZ reduced the expression of pSmad2/3 in the nucleus, while it increased that in the cytoplasm, suggesting that it inhibits the nuclear translocation of pSmad2/3 induced by TGF-β. The inhibitory actions of FICZ on the TGF-β-mediated collagen I expression and nuclear translocation of pSmad2/3 were independent of AHR signaling. Another endogenous AHR agonist, kynurenine, also inhibited the TGF-β-mediated ACTA2 and collagen I upregulation in NHDFs in an AHR-independent manner; however, its effects were insignificant in comparison with those of FICZ. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the endogenous photo-product FICZ may be a key chromophore that involves in photo-aging. Downregulation of FICZ signaling is thus a potential strategy to protect against photo-aging.
Collapse
|
28
|
Jurado-Manzano BB, Zavala-Reyes D, Turrubiartes-Martínez EA, Portales-Pérez DP, González-Amaro R, Layseca-Espinosa E. FICZ generates human tDCs that induce CD4 + CD25 high Foxp3 + Treg-like cell differentiation. Immunol Lett 2017; 190:84-92. [PMID: 28765071 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2017.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, their participation as professional antigen presenting cells is essential to the initiation of the adaptive immune response as well as to the induction of tolerance. The recently described role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in the immune system, particularly in the modulation of the adaptive immune response has attracted the attention as a potential player in the induction of immune tolerance. However, the effects of AhR activation through endogenous ligands on human DCs have been poorly evaluated. In this study, we investigated the effect of FICZ, a natural AhR ligand, on monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs) from healthy subjects. We found that the activation of AhR through FICZ during DCs differentiation and maturation processes resulted in a decreased expression of CD83, an increased expression of the enzyme IDO and a reduced production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. More importantly, FICZ-treated DCs were able to induce the differentiation of naive T lymphocytes into CD4+ CD25high Foxp3+ T reg-like cells. Our results show that the activation of the AhR on human DCs induces a tolerogenic phenotype with potential implications in immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brenda B Jurado-Manzano
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico
| | - Daniel Zavala-Reyes
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico; Research Center of Health Sciences and Biomedicine (CICSaB), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico
| | - Edgar A Turrubiartes-Martínez
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Diagnostic, Faculty of Chemical Science, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico
| | - Diana P Portales-Pérez
- Laboratory of Immunology and Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemical Science, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico; Research Center of Health Sciences and Biomedicine (CICSaB), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico
| | - Roberto González-Amaro
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico; Research Center of Health Sciences and Biomedicine (CICSaB), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico
| | - Esther Layseca-Espinosa
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico; Research Center of Health Sciences and Biomedicine (CICSaB), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Kim IS, Hwang JH, Hirano M, Iwata H, Kim EY. In vitro and in silico evaluation of transactivation potencies of avian AHR1 and AHR2 by endogenous ligands: Implications for the physiological role of avian AHR2. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2016; 187:1-9. [PMID: 27060260 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2016.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is well conserved from invertebrates to vertebrates, and it mediates the toxic effects of exogenous ligands, including dioxins. Recent studies reported that AHRs activated by endogenous ligands play critical roles in mammalian physiological homeostasis. Avian species possess at least two AHR isoforms (AHR1 and AHR2), which exhibit species- and isoform-specific transactivation potencies to exogenous ligands, whereas mammals possess a single AHR. To delineate the profiles and roles of endogenous ligands for avian AHR isoforms, we investigated in vitro transactivation potencies of avian AHRs (AHR1 and AHR2 from the jungle crow, Corvus macrorhynchos; common cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo; and black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes) treated with the endogenous tryptophan metabolites 6-formylindolo [3,2-b] carbazole (FICZ), l-kynurenine (l-Kyn), kynurenic acid (KYNA), and indoxyl sulfate (IS). Furthermore, we analyzed the binding mode of these ligands to each avian AHR isoform by in silico docking simulations. The EC50 of FICZ (0.009-0.032nM) was similar regardless of the species or isoform of AHR. The estimated in silico binding mode of FICZ to AHRs was well conserved in both isoforms. The transactivation potencies of avian AHRs to other tryptophan metabolites were 10(5)-10(7) fold lower than those for FICZ, and EC50 values varied in a species- and isoform-specific manner. This was consistent with poor conservation of the binding mode of l-Kyn, KYNA, and IS predicted in in silico docking simulations. Our results suggest that in avian species, FICZ is the most potent endogenous AHR ligand, and that AHR1 and AHR2 are physiologically functional.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- In-Sung Kim
- Department of Biology, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hee Hwang
- Department of Biology, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Masashi Hirano
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan
| | - Hisato Iwata
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan
| | - Eun-Young Kim
- Department of Biology, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Farmahin R, Crump D, O'Brien JM, Jones SP, Kennedy SW. Time-dependent transcriptomic and biochemical responses of 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole ( FICZ) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are explained by AHR activation time. Biochem Pharmacol 2016; 115:134-43. [PMID: 27301797 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2016.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
6-Formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and bind to the AHR with high affinity. Until recently, TCDD was considered to be the most potent AHR agonist, but several recent studies indicate that FICZ binds with greater affinity to the AHR than TCDD. To advance our understanding of the similarities and differences of the effects of FICZ and TCDD exposure in chicken embryo hepatocyte (CEH) cultures, we compared relative expression changes of 27 dioxin-responsive genes by the use of a chicken PCR array, porphyrin accumulation and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity at different time points. In addition, an egg injection study was performed to assess the effects of FICZ on the developing chicken embryo. The results of the current study showed: (1) mean EROD-derived relative potency values for FICZ compared to TCDD changed as a function of time (i.e. 9, 0.004, 0.0008 and 0.00008 at 3, 8, 24, and 48h, respectively) in CEH cultures; (2) FICZ exposure did not result in porphyrin accumulation in CEH cultures; (3) concordance between gene expression profiles for FICZ and TCDD was time- and concentration-dependent, and (4) no mortality or morphological abnormalities were observed in chicken embryos injected with 0.87ng FICZ/g egg into the air cell. The results presented herein suggest that while FICZ and TCDD share similar molecular targets, transient versus sustained AHR activation by FICZ and TCDD result in differential transcriptomic responses. Moreover, rapid metabolism of FICZ in hepatocytes resulted in a significant decrease in the induction of EROD activity.
Collapse
|
31
|
Park JH, Choi AJ, Kim SJ, Cheong SW, Jeong SY. AhR activation by 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin inhibit the development of mouse intestinal epithelial cells. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2016; 43:44-53. [PMID: 26950395 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2016.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 02/06/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium plays a central role in immune homeostasis in the intestine. AhR, a ligand-activated transcription factor, plays an important role in diverse physiological processes. The intestines are exposed to various exogenous and endogenous AhR ligands. Thus, AhR may regulate the intestinal homeostasis, directly acting on the development of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). In this study, we demonstrated that 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) inhibited the in vitro development of mouse intestinal organoids. The number of Paneth cells in the small intestine and the depth of crypts of the small and large intestines were reduced in mice administrated with FICZ. Immunohistochemical and flow cytometric assays revealed that AhR was highly expressed in Lgr5(+) stem cells. FICZ inhibited Wnt signaling lowering the level of β-catenin protein. Gene expression analyses demonstrated that FICZ increased expression of Lgr5, Math1, BMP4, and Indian Hedgehog while inhibiting that of Lgr4.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Hung Park
- Department of Biology, Changwon National University, Changwon, Kyungnam, 641-773, Korea.
| | - Ah-Jeong Choi
- Department of Biology, Changwon National University, Changwon, Kyungnam, 641-773, Korea
| | - Soo-Ji Kim
- Department of Biology, Changwon National University, Changwon, Kyungnam, 641-773, Korea
| | - Seon-Woo Cheong
- Department of Biology, Changwon National University, Changwon, Kyungnam, 641-773, Korea
| | - So-Yeon Jeong
- Department of Biology, Changwon National University, Changwon, Kyungnam, 641-773, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Wang C, Ye Z, Kijlstra A, Zhou Y, Yang P. Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor affects activation and function of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Clin Exp Immunol 2014; 177:521-30. [PMID: 24749687 DOI: 10.1111/cei.12352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is well known for mediating the toxic effects of dioxin-containing pollutants, but has also been shown to be involved in the natural regulation of the immune response. In this study, we investigated the effect of AhR activation by its endogenous ligands 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) and 2-(1'H-indole-3'-carbonyl)-thiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (ITE) on the differentiation, maturation and function of monocyte-derived DCs in Behçet's disease (BD) patients. In this study, we showed that AhR activation by FICZ and ITE down-regulated the expression of co-stimulatory molecules including human leucocyte antigen D-related (HLA-DR), CD80 and CD86, while it had no effect on the expression of CD83 and CD40 on DCs derived from BD patients and normal controls. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated dendritic cells (DCs) from active BD patients showed a higher level of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-23 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α production. FICZ or ITE significantly inhibited the production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-23 and TNF-α, but induced IL-10 production by DCs derived from active BD patients and normal controls. FICZ or ITE-treated DCs significantly inhibited the T helper type 17 (Th17) and Th1 cell response. Activation of AhR either by FICZ or ITE inhibits DC differentiation, maturation and function. Further studies are needed to investigate whether manipulation of the AhR pathway may be used to treat BD or other autoimmune diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Lab of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Cho SW, Suzuki K, Miura Y, Miyazaki T, Nose M, Iwata H, Kim EY. Novel role of hnRNP-A2/B1 in modulating aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand sensitivity. Arch Toxicol 2015; 89:2027-38. [PMID: 25224401 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-014-1352-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 08/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is responsible for susceptibility to its ligand-dependent responses. However, the effect of non-AHR factors is less clear. To explore the non-AHR factors, we used two mouse strains with different AHR genetic variants, namely C3H/lpr and MRL/lpr strains with Ala and Val as the 375th amino acid residue, respectively. To assess the contribution of AHR alone, COS-7 cells transiently expressing AHR from each strain were treated with 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), and xenobiotic-responsive element (XRE)-driven reporter gene activities were measured. FICZ-EC50 values for the C3H/lpr and MRL/lpr AHR-mediated transactivation were 0.023 and 0.046 nM, respectively, indicating a similar susceptibility in both AHR genotypes. In contrast, C3H/lpr AHR was fourfold more sensitive to TCDD than MRL/lpr AHR. By a pull-down assay using a XRE-containing PCR product as bait and the hepatic nuclear extracts of both FICZ-treated mouse strains, we identified two interacting proteins as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNP-A2) and its splicing variant (hnRNP-A2b). Immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated the AHR interaction with hnRNP-A2/B1. When hnRNP-A2 was co-expressed with the MRL/lpr or C3H/lpr AHR in COS-7, FICZ treatment decreased EC50 to about threefold in both AHR genotypes, compared with EC50 in AHR alone. Similarly, hnRNP-A2b co-expression also lowered the FICZ-EC50 values. In TCDD-treated COS-7, responses depended on the AHR genotype; while no change in TCDD-EC50 was observed for C3H/lpr AHR when hnRNP-A2 was co-expressed, the value was reduced to nearly tenfold for MRL/lpr AHR. Co-transfection with hnRNP-A2b attenuated the AHR sensitivity to TCDD. In conclusion, the hnRNP-A2/B1 interacting with AHR may be a modulator of the AHR ligand sensitivity.
Collapse
|
34
|
Farmahin R, Crump D, Kennedy SW. Sensitivity of avian species to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand 6-formylindolo [3,2-b] carbazole ( FICZ). Chem Biol Interact 2014; 221:61-9. [PMID: 25093689 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2014.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Revised: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Avian species differ in sensitivity to the toxic effects of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) and recent reports have provided insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying this variability. The sensitivity of avian species to DLCs is associated with the identity of amino acids at positions 324 and 380 within the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor 1 (AHR1). 6-formylindolo [3,2-b] carbazole (FICZ), a naturally produced photo-oxidation product of tryptophan, is a highly potent AHR ligand. Few studies have attempted to determine if there are species differences in AHR activation by FICZ in a systematic manner. Here we describe results from an in vitro assay that measures AHR1-mediated luciferase reporter gene activity to determine concentration-dependent effects of FICZ and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in COS-7 cells transfected with AHR1 constructs from chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and common tern (Sterna hirundo), and three mutant AHR1 constructs. Data were used to (a) compare the potency of FICZ and TCDD for each AHR1 construct (relative potency; ReP) and (b) the sensitivity of each construct to AHR1 activation by FICZ and TCDD (relative sensitivity; ReS). The results show that (1) FICZ was considerably more potent than TCDD in cells transfected with chicken AHR1 (RePavg=41), ring-necked pheasant AHR1 (RePavg=93), Japanese quail AHR1 (RePavg=1392) and common tern AHR1 (RePavg=1534), (2) there were no significant differences in sensitivity to FICZ in cells expressing chicken, pheasant, quail and tern AHR1, but there were significant differences in sensitivity to TCDD, (3) alteration of amino acids at positions 324 and 380 had no effect on avian AHR1 activity in response to FICZ, (4) there was no time-dependent change in the relative potency of FICZ in COS-7 cells, and (5) neither FICZ nor TCDD induced ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD activity) in COS-7 cells. Our results suggest that FICZ and TCDD activate avian AHR1 by different modes of interaction with AHR1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reza Farmahin
- Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada; Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Doug Crump
- Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Sean W Kennedy
- Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada; Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Sibilano R, Pucillo CE, Gri G. Allergic responses and aryl hydrocarbon receptor novel pathway of mast cell activation. Mol Immunol 2014; 63:69-73. [PMID: 24656327 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2014.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Revised: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The activation of the transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is modulated by a wide variety of xenobiotics and ligands deriving from products of metabolism. The study of the contribution of AhR to allergic diseases has gained much interest in recent years. Here we discuss the role that environmental factors and metabolic products, particularly acting on AhR-expressing mast cells (MCs), could have in the development of local allergic/atopic response. Thus, this review will cover: a brief overview of the AhR mechanism of action in the immune system; a description of different AhR ligands and their effects to IgE-mediated MC activation in the allergic response, with particular attention to the role of IL-17; a discussion about the potential involvement of AhR in immune tolerance; and a conclusion on human diseases in which direct AhR activation of MC might have a major impact.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Sibilano
- Department of Pathology, CCSR 3255, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Carlo E Pucillo
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, P.le M. Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Giorgia Gri
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, Section of Surgical Pathology, University of Udine, P.le S. Maria della Misericordia 15, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Wheeler JLH, Martin KC, Resseguie E, Lawrence BP. Differential consequences of two distinct AhR ligands on innate and adaptive immune responses to influenza A virus. Toxicol Sci 2014; 137:324-34. [PMID: 24194396 PMCID: PMC3908724 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kft255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 10/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune modulation by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has been primarily studied using 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Recent reports suggest another AhR ligand, 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), exhibits distinct immunomodulatory properties, but side-by-side comparisons of these 2 structurally distinct, high-affinity ligands are limited. In this study, the effects of in vivo AhR activation with TCDD and FICZ were directly compared in a mouse model of influenza virus infection using 3 key measures of the host response to infection: pulmonary neutrophilia, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels, and the virus-specific CD8(+) T-cell response. By this approach, the consequences of AhR activation on innate and adaptive immune responses to the same antigenic challenge were compared. A single dose of TCDD elicited AhR activation that is sustained for the duration of the host's response to infection and modulated all 3 responses to infection. In contrast, a single dose of FICZ induced transient AhR activation and had no effect on the immune response to infection. Micro-osmotic pumps and Cyp1a1-deficient mice were utilized to augment FICZ-mediated AhR activation in vivo, in order to assess the effect of transient versus prolonged AhR activation. Prolonged AhR activation with FICZ did not affect neutrophil recruitment or pulmonary iNOS levels. However, FICZ-mediated AhR activation diminished the CD8(+) T-cell response in Cyp1a1-deficient mice in a similar manner to TCDD. These results demonstrate that immunomodulatory differences in the action of these 2 ligands are likely due to not only the duration of AhR activation but also the cell types in which the receptor is activated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. H. Wheeler
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Kyle C. Martin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Emily Resseguie
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - B. Paige Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Hao N, Whitelaw ML. The emerging roles of AhR in physiology and immunity. Biochem Pharmacol 2013; 86:561-70. [PMID: 23856287 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2013.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is traditionally defined as a transcriptional regulator involved in adaptive xenobiotic response, however, emerging evidence supports physiological functions of AhR in normal cell development and immune response. The role of AhR in immunomodulation is multi-dimensional. On the one hand, activation of AhR by TCDD and other ligands leads to profound immunosuppression, potentially via skewed Th1/Th2 cell balance toward Th1 dominance, and boosted Treg cell differentiation. On the other hand, activation of AhR can also induce Th17 cell polarization and increase the severity of autoimmune disease. In addition to T lymphocytes, the AhR also appears to play a vital role in B cell maturation, and regulates the activity of macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils following lipopolysaccharide challenge or influenza virus infection. In these scenarios, activation of AhR is associated with decreased host response and reduced survival. Furthermore, gene knock out studies suggest that AhR is indispensable for the postnatal maintenance of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and skin-resident dendritic epidermal gamma delta T cells, providing a potential link between AhR and gut immunity and wound healing. It is well accepted that the magnitude and the type of immune response is dependent on the local cytokine milieu and the AhR appears to be one of the key factors involved in the fine turning of this cytokine balance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Hao
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science (Biochemistry), The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
| | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Shin JH, Zhang L, Murillo-Sauca O, Kim J, Kohrt HE, Bui JD, Sunwoo JB. Modulation of natural killer cell antitumor activity by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013;110:12391-12396. [PMID: 23836658 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1302856110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has become increasingly recognized for its role in the differentiation and activity of immune cell subsets; however, its role in regulating the activity of natural killer (NK) cells has not been described. Here, we show that AhR expression is induced in murine NK cells upon cytokine stimulation. We show that in the absence of AhR, NK cells have reduced cytolytic activity and reduced capacity to control RMA-S tumor formation in vivo, despite having normal development and maturation markers. Although AhR was first identified to bind the xenobiotic compound dioxin, AhR is now known to bind a variety of natural exogenous (e.g., dietary) and endogenous ligands. We show that activation of AhR with an endogenous tryptophan derivative, 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole, potentiates NK cell IFN-γ production and cytolytic activity. Further, administration of 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole in vivo enhances NK cell control of tumors in an NK cell- and AhR-dependent manner. Finally, similar effects on NK cell potency occur with AhR dietary ligands, potentially explaining the numerous associations that have been observed in the past between diet and NK cell function. Our studies introduce AhR as another regulator of NK cell activity in vivo.
Collapse
|
39
|
Morino-Koga S, Uchi H, Tsuji G, Takahara M, Kajiwara J, Hirata T, Furue M. Reduction of CC-chemokine ligand 5 by aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands. J Dermatol Sci 2013; 72:9-15. [PMID: 23810773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2013.04.031] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2013] [Revised: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that recognizes a large number of xenobiotics, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, and some endogenous ligands. Despite numerous investigations targeting AhR ligands, the precise physiological role of AhR remains unknown. OBJECTIVE We explored novel AhR target genes, especially focused on inflammatory chemokine. METHODS We treated (1) HaCaT, a human keratinocyte cell line, (2) normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs), and (3) mouse primary keratinocytes with AhR ligands, such as 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ; endogenous ligand) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP; exogenous ligand). Then, we detected mRNA and protein of chemokine using quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA. We next clarified the relationship between AhR and chemokine expression using AhR siRNA. In addition, we measured serum chemokine levels in patients with Yusho disease (oil disease), who were accidentally exposed to dioxins in the past. RESULTS We identified CC-chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), a key mediator in the development of inflammatory responses, as the AhR target gene. AhR ligands (FICZ and BaP) significantly reduced CCL5 mRNA and protein expression in HaCaT cells. These effects were observed in NHEKs and mouse primary keratinocytes. AhR knockdown with siRNA restored CCL5 inhibition by AhR ligands. In addition, AhR ligands exhibited a dose-dependent suppression of CCL5 production induced by Th1-derived cytokines. Finally, serum levels of CCL5 in patients with Yusho disease, were significantly lower than in controls. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that CCL5 is a target gene for AhR, and might be associated with the pathology of dioxin exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saori Morino-Koga
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|