Effects of Interleukin-19 overexpression in the medial prefrontal cortex on anxiety-related behaviors, BDNF expression and p38/JNK/ERK pathways

Anxiety is a prevalent mental illness known for its high incidence, comorbidity, and tendency to recur, posing significant societal and individual burdens. Studies have highlighted Interleukin-19 (IL-19) as having potential relevance in neuropsychiatric disorders. Our previous research revealed that IL-19 overexpression in colonies exacerbated anxiety-related behaviors induced by dextran sodium sulfate/stress. However, the precise role and molecular mechanisms of IL-19 in anxiety regulation remain uncertain. In this study, we initiated an acute restraint stress (ARS)-induced anxious mouse model and identified heightened expression of IL-19 and IL-20Rα in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of ARS mice. Notably, IL-19 and IL-20Rα were predominantly present in the excitatory pyramidal neurons of the mPFC under both basal and ARS conditions. Utilizing the adeno-associated virus (AAV) strategy, we demonstrated that IL-19 overexpression in the mPFC induced anxiety-related behaviors and elevated stress susceptibility. Additionally, we observed decreased protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) in the mPFC of IL-19 overexpression mice, accompanied by reduced phosphorylation of in the p38, JNK, and Erk signaling pathways. These findings emphasize the role of IL-19 in modulating anxiety-related behaviors within the mPFC and suggest its potential as a pathological gene and therapeutic target for anxiety.

Highlighting allelic variations at the interleukin-19 locus in term of preeclampsia predisposing factors and access to an accurate diagnostic/screening option

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia is the main cause of preterm parturition and maternal-fetal complications. T helper 1 and T helper 2 cytokines balance is a requirement in normal pregnancy and aberrant in this immunologic balance, play an important role in the pathology of preeclampsia. In previous studies single nucleotide polymorphisms have been associated with the alteration of serum cytokine levels.

OBJECTIVE

This study was aimed to discover association between interleukin-13 (rs20541, and rs56035208) and interleukin-19 (rs1028181 (T/C) and rs2243191(T/C)) polymorphisms with susceptibility to preeclampsia.

METHODS

In this case-control study 300 women with and without preeclampsia (n = 150/each) who referred to Zeynabieh Hospital- Shiraz, Iran, from February 2021 to April 2022 were enrolled. For genotyping the interleukin-13 and interleukin-19 polymorphisms, the Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing method was carried out.

RESULTS

Our statistical results revealed no significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies for interleukin-13 polymorphisms compared to controls. We found that the interleukin-13 polymorphisms are significantly associated with vulnerability to edema at rs20541 position and maternal drinking at rs56035208 position. But it was interesting to note that the differences of both the allele and genotype frequencies of interleukin-19 polymorphisms and their contribution to the risk of preeclampsia susceptibility were significant.

CONCLUSIONS

No risk of preeclampsia was found in all comparisons for interleukin-13 polymorphisms. However, the interleukin-19 polymorphisms were found to confer the risk of preeclampsia in our population.

Ablation of interleukin-19 improves motor function in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Neuroinflammation by activated microglia and astrocytes plays a critical role in progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Interleukin-19 (IL-19) is a negative-feedback regulator that limits pro-inflammatory responses of microglia in an autocrine and paracrine manner, but it remains unclear how IL-19 contributes to ALS pathogenesis. We investigated the role of IL-19 in ALS using transgenic mice carrying human superoxide dismutase 1 with the G93A mutation (SOD1G93A Tg mice). We generated IL-19-deficient SOD1G93A Tg (IL-19-/-/SOD1G93A Tg) mice by crossing SOD1G93A Tg mice with IL-19-/- mice, and then evaluated disease progression, motor function, survival rate, and pathological and biochemical alternations in the resultant mice. In addition, we assessed the effect of IL-19 on glial cells using primary microglia and astrocyte cultures from the embryonic brains of SOD1G93A Tg mice and IL-19-/-/SOD1G93A Tg mice. Expression of IL-19 in primary microglia and lumbar spinal cord was higher in SOD1G93A Tg mice than in wild-type mice. Unexpectedly, IL-19-/-/SOD1G93A Tg mice exhibited significant improvement of motor function. Ablation of IL-19 in SOD1G93A Tg mice increased expression of both neurotoxic and neuroprotective factors, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and transforming growth factor β1, in lumbar spinal cord. Primary microglia and astrocytes from IL-19-/-/SOD1G93A Tg mice expressed higher levels of TNF-α, resulting in release of GDNF from astrocytes. Inhibition of IL-19 signaling may alleviate ALS symptoms.

I-Kappa-B-Zeta Regulates Interleukin-17A/Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Mediated Synergistic Induction of Interleukin-19 and Interleukin-20 in Humane Keratinocytes

Background

Interleukin (IL)-19 and IL-20 are important members of the IL-10 cytokine family, which are known to play a role in inflammatory processes. Both anti-IL-19 and -IL-20 targeting drugs have been suggested in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, we presented I-kappa-B-zeta (IκBζ) as a key player in psoriasis by identifying IκBζ as a regulator of IL-17/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α-inducible psoriasis-associated genes and proteins. Some of these genes were synergistically regulated by IL-17/TNFα.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of IκBζ in the regulation of IL-17A/TNFα-mediated induction of IL-19 and IL-20 expression in human keratinocytes.

Methods

In vitro experiments with cultured primary humane keratinocytes were conducted and investigated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Western blotting, ELISA and EMSA. For statistics, a one- or two- way repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA) or the Friedman test (a nonparametric equivalent to the RM ANOVA) were conducted.

Results

We demonstrated that IL-19 and IL-20 mRNA and protein expressions were synergistically induced by IL-17A and TNFα, whereas IL-17A and TNFα alone had only a minor effect on the IL-19 and IL-20 expression. Moreover, we demonstrated IκBζ to be a regulator of this synergistic induction of IL-19 and IL-20. Finally, the IL-17A/TNFα-induced synergistic induction of IL-19 and IL-20 expression was found to be mediated by a p38 MAPK-, NF-κB- and JNK1/2-dependent mechanism.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that IκBζ plays a role in the IL-17A/TNFα-mediated synergistic induction of IL-19 and IL-20 in humane keratinocytes.

IL-19 as a Biomarker for the Severity of Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Interleukin-19 (IL-19) has been shown to be involved in coronary artery diseases and atherosclerosis, while its expression in myocardial infarction is poorly understood. In this study, the dynamic increase in circulating IL-19 in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients was detected.

METHOD

Both plasma IL-19 levels and IL-19 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from STEMI patients and chest pain syndrome (CPS) patients were detected at different time points, including 1 d, 3 d, 7 d and 14 d after treatment and on admission.

RESULTS

Compared with the CPS patients, IL-19 levels and IL-19 gene expression were significantly increased in STEMI patients and peaked at 1 d. From 1-14 d, refocusing treatment, including emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and thrombolysis, markedly reduced IL-19 expression and promoted its recovery; of the treatments, the effect of emergency PCI was most significant. In addition, similar trends were also observed with cTnI, NT-proBNP and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Furthermore, correlation analysis showed that IL-19 levels were positively correlated with cTnI, NT-proBNP, CRP levels and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in STEMI patients.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-19 is correlated with the severity of acute myocardial infarction, which may be a new idea for the clinical treatment of myocardial infarction.

Interleukin-19 is cardioprotective in dominant negative cyclic adenosine monophosphate response-element binding protein-mediated heart failure in a sex-specific manner

AIM

To investigate the role of interleukin-19 (IL-19) in a murine model of female-dominant heart failure (HF).

METHODS

Expression of one copy of a phosphorylation-deficient cyclic adenosine monophosphate response-element binding protein (dnCREB) causes HF, with accelerated morbidity and mortality in female mice compared to males. We assessed expression of IL-19, its receptor isoforms IL-20R α/β, and downstream IL-19 signaling in this model of female-dominant HF. To test the hypothesis that IL-19 is cardioprotective in dnCREB-mediated HF, we generated a novel double transgenic (DTG) mouse of dnCREB and IL-19 knockout and assessed cardiac morbidity by echocardiography and survival of male and female mice.

RESULTS

IL-19 is expressed in the murine heart with decreased expression in dnCREB female compared to male mice. Further, the relative expression of the two IL-19 receptor isoforms manifests differently in the heart by sex and by disease. Male DTG mice had accelerated mortality and cardiac morbidity compared to dnCREB males, while female DTG mice showed no additional detriment, supporting the hypothesis that IL-19 is cardioprotective in this model.

CONCLUSION

Together, these data suggest IL-19 is an important cytokine mediating sex-specific cardiac (dys) function. Ongoing investigations will elucidate the mechanism(s) of sex-specific IL-19 mediated cardiac remodeling.

The association between interleukin-19 concentration and diabetic nephropathy

Background

Interleukin-19 (IL-19) is a newly discovered cytokine belonging to the Interleukin-10(IL-10) family. IL-19 have indispensable functions in many inflammatory processes and also can induce the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells. The purpose of present study was to investigate the relation of serum interleukin-19 (IL-19) levels with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Methods

Two hundred study groups of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (109 males and 91 females) were recruited, included normoalbuminuria(n = 102), microalbuminuria(n = 72) and macroalbuminuria(n = 26) . The 50 healthy blood donors were enrolled for the control group. All subjects were assessed for: IL-19, High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), Cystatin C, urinary albumin excretion rate (UAE) and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c).

Results

The serum IL-19 levels in DN patients were found to be significantly higher compared to controls. IL-19 levels were significantly positively correlated with Hs-CRP, Cystatin C, UAE and HbA1c(r = 0.623, 0.611,0.591 and 0.526 respectively, P < 0.01). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed IL-19 levels (P = 0.01) were found to be independently associated with patients with DN.

Conclusions

IL-19 is significantly positive correlated with UAE and Cystatin C. IL-19 may play an important role that contributes to the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Association between interleukin-19 and angiopoietin-2 with vascular complications in type 2 diabetes

Aims/Introduction

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of interleukin‐19 (IL‐19) in angiogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus with complications, and to assess the relationship of serum IL‐19 and angiopoietin‐2 (Ang‐2) in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials and Methods

The group studied comprised of 240 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (132 men and 108 women), and included macrovascular complications, microvascular complications and type 2 diabetes mellitus without vascular complications. The control group consisted of 50 healthy blood donors. All participants were evaluated for: IL‐19, Ang‐2, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin.

Results

The serum IL‐19 levels of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with angiopathy were found to be significantly higher compared with patients without angiopathy. IL‐19 levels were significantly positively correlated with Ang‐2, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance and glycosylated hemoglobin (r = 0.769, 0.523 and 0.491, respectively, P < 0.01). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, IL‐19 levels (P = 0.01) were found to be independently associated with patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complications.

Conclusions

These data are the first to implicate the association between the IL‐19 and type 2 diabetes mellitus with vascular complications. IL‐19 is significantly positively correlated with Ang‐2. The potential role of IL‐19 and Ang‐2 in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in type 2 diabetes could warrant further study.

Interleukin-19 and angiopoietin-2 can enhance angiogenesis of diabetic complications

This study was to investigate the role of interleukin-19 (IL-19) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in angiogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). In 240 patients with T2DM, IL-19 and Ang-2 levels were higher, IL-19 was positively correlated with Ang-2. IL-19 and Ang-2 might be involved in angiogenesis of T2DM complications.

Interleukin-19 increases angiogenesis in ischemic hind limbs by direct effects on both endothelial cells and macrophage polarization

Hypoxia in ischemic limbs typically initiates angiogenic and inflammatory factors to promote angiogenesis in attempt to restore perfusion. There is a gap in our knowledge concerning the role of anti-inflammatory interleukins in angiogenesis, macrophage polarization, and endothelial cell activation. Interleukin-19 is a unique anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokine that promotes angiogenic effects in cultured endothelial cells (EC); the purpose of this study was to characterize a role for IL-19 in restoration of blood flow in hind-limb ischemia, and define potential mechanisms. Hind limb ischemia was induced by femoral artery ligation, and perfusion quantitated using Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging (LDPI). Wild type mice which received i.p. injections of rIL-19 (10ng/g/day) showed significantly increased levels of perfusion compared to PBS controls. LDPI values were significantly decreased in IL-19(-/-) mice when compared to wild type mice. IL-19(-/-) mice injected with rIL-19 had significantly increased LDPI compared with PBS control mice. Significantly increased capillary density was quantitated in rIL-19 treated mice, and significantly less capillary density in IL-19(-/-) mice. Multiple cell types participate in IL-19 induced angiogenesis. IL-19 treatment of human microvascular EC induced expression of angiogenic cytokines. M2 macrophage marker and VEGF-A expression were significantly increased in macrophage and the spleen from rIL-19 injected mice, and M1 marker expression was significantly increased in the spleen from IL-19(-/-) compared with controls. Plasma VEGF-A levels are higher in rIL-19 injected mice. IL-19 decreased the expression of anti-angiogenic IL-12 in the spleen and macrophage. This study is the first to implicate IL-19 as a novel pro-angiogenic interleukin and suggests therapeutic potential for this cytokine.