NF‐κB‐inducing kinase is essential for B‐cell maintenance in mice

NF‐κB‐inducing kinase (NIK) is a key mediator of the noncanonical NF‐κB signaling pathway, which is critical for normal B‐cell development and function. It is well established that the complete deletion of NIK in mice results in defective B cells and impaired secondary lymphoid organogenesis. To address the role of NIK deficiency specifically in B cells, we generated a new mouse strain for the conditional deletion of this kinase. Deletion of NIK during B‐cell development results in a drastic reduction of mature B cells from the transitional 2 stage on, while B‐1 B cells are less affected. Moreover, deletion of NIK in the germinal centers decreases the numbers of germinal center B cells and impairs the ability of NIK‐deficient B cells to develop into class‐switched cells in vivo. This new mouse strain will be helpful for studying the role of NIK in different cell types of the body.     

Anti‐Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Effects of Triptolide via the NF‐κB Signaling Pathway in a Rat MCAO Model

Stroke is the leading cause of neurological disability in humans. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by reperfusion is widely accepted to mimic stroke in basic medical research. Triptolide is one of the major active components of the traditional Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, and has been reported to have potent anti‐inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Since its preclinical effects on stroke were still unclear, we decided to study the effects of Triptolide on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in this study. The results showed that Triptolide treatment significantly attenuates brain infarction volume, water content, neurological deficits, and neuronal cell death rate, which were increased in the MCAO model rats. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), inducible nitric oxide (iNOS), and NF‐κB in the ischemic brains. The administration of Triptolide showed down‐regulation of the iNOS, COX‐2, GFAP, and NF‐κB expression in MCAO rats. It also increased the expression of bcl‐2, and suppressed levels of bax and caspase‐3 compared with the MCAO group. Our findings revealed that Triptolide exerts its neuroprotective effects against inflammation with the involvement of inhibition of NF‐κB activation. Anat Rec, 299:256–266, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

5,7‐dihydroxy‐3,4,6‐trimethoxyflavone inhibits the inflammatory effects induced by Bacteroides fragilis enterotoxin via dissociating the complex of heat shock protein 90 and IκBα and IκB kinase‐γ in intestinal epithelial cell culture

Enterotoxin produced by enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (BFT) has been associated with mucosal inflammation and diarrhoeal diseases. In this study, the anti‐inflammatory molecular mechanism of 5,7‐dihydroxy‐3,4,6‐trimethoxyflavone (eupatilin) was characterized in an HT‐29 intestinal epithelial cell line stimulated with BFT. Pre‐treatment of HT‐29 cells with eupatilin decreased the production significantly of both interleukin (IL)‐8 and prostaglandin E₂ induced by BFT in a dose‐dependent manner. BFT‐activated nuclear factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB) signals in HT‐29 cells and pretreatment with eupatilin suppressed NF‐κB activation that resulted in the significant inhibition of IL‐8 and cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 expression. BFT‐induced phosphorylation of both IκBα and IκB kinase (IKK) signals was prevented in eupatilin‐pretreated HT‐29 cells. Transfection of siRNA for IKK‐α and IKK‐β decreased the production of IL‐8 and prostaglandin E₂; however, the transfection of IKK‐β siRNA showed a more significant reduction of BFT‐induced IκBα phosphorylation compared with that of IKK‐α siRNA. In addition, herbimycin A, a specific inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), decreased the BFT‐induced activation of IKK and NF‐κB, suggesting that Hsp90 is associated with a pathway of IKK‐NF‐κB‐IL‐8/cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 gene signalling. Furthermore, eupatilin dissociated the complex between Hsp90 and IKK‐γ in BFT‐stimulated HT‐29 cells. These results suggest that eupatilin can suppress the NF‐κB signalling pathway by targeting the Hsp90‐IKK‐γ complex in intestinal epithelial cells and may attenuate BFT‐induced inflammatory responses.     

Differential dependence on nuclear factor‐κB‐inducing kinase among natural killer T‐cell subsets in their development

Natural killer T cells (NKT cells) are comprised of several subsets. However, the possible differences in their developmental mechanisms have not been fully investigated. To evaluate the dependence of some NKT subpopulations on nuclear factor-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) for their generation, we analysed the differentiation of NKT cells, dividing them into subsets in various tissues of alymphoplasia (aly/aly), a mutant mouse strain that lacks functional NIK. The results indicated that the efficient differentiation of both invariant NKT (iNKT) and non-iNKT cells relied on NIK expression in non-haematopoietic cells; however, the dependence of non-iNKT cells was lower than that of iNKT cells. Especially, the differentiation of CD8⁺ non-iNKT cells was markedly resistant to the aly mutation. The proportion of two other NKT cell subsets, NK1.1⁺ γδ T cells and NK1.1⁻ iNKT cells, was also significantly reduced in aly/aly mice, and this defect in their development was reversed in wild-type host mice given aly/aly bone marrow cells. In exerting effector functions, NIK in NKT-αβ cells appeared dispensable, as NIK-deficient NKT-αβ cells could secrete interleukin-4 or interferon-γ and exhibit cytolytic activity at a level comparable to that of aly/+ NKT-αβ cells. Collectively, these results imply that the NIK in thymic stroma may be critically involved in the differentiation of most NKT cell subsets (although the level of NIK dependence may vary among the subsets), and also that NIK in NKT-αβ cells may be dispensable for their effector function.     

Significant involvement of nuclear factor‐κB‐inducing kinase in proper differentiation of αβ and γδ T cells

Nuclear factor‐κB‐inducing kinase (NIK) is known to play a critical role in maintaining proper immune function. This is exemplified in the spontaneous mutant mouse lacking functional NIK, alymphoplasia (aly), which is simultaneously immune‐compromised and autoimmune‐prone. To investigate the role of NIK in αβ T‐cell repertoire formation, we analysed T‐cell development in aly/aly mice bearing a transgenic T‐cell receptor (TCR). Although there were no apparent abnormalities in the mature αβ T cells of non‐transgenic aly/aly mice, the maturation efficiency of idiotype^high+ T cells in the TCR‐transgenic mice was lower in aly/aly mice compared with those found in aly/+ mice, suggesting that the mature αβ T‐cell repertoire could be altered by the absence of functional NIK. In one strain of TCR‐transgenic aly/aly mice with a negatively selecting H‐2 background, the proportion of CD8^low+ idiotype^high+ cells, which are thought to potentially represent the γδ lineage of T cells, was markedly decreased. When the γδ T cells in non‐transgenic aly/aly mice were investigated, the proportion of γδ T cells in the peripheral organs of aly/aly mice was found to be one‐half to one‐fifth of those in aly/+ mice. Analyses of bone marrow chimera mice indicated that NIK in host cells, rather than in donor cells was important for generating a normal number of peripheral γδ T cells. Collectively, these results suggest that NIK could be involved in thymic positive selection of some αβ T cells and that NIK in non‐haematopoietic cells is important for the optimal development and/or maintenance of γδ T cells.     

Expression of classical NF‐κB pathway effectors in human ovarian carcinoma

Darb‐Esfahani S, Sinn B V, Weichert W, Budczies J, Lehmann A, Noske A, Buckendahl A‐C, Müller B M, Sehouli J, Koensgen D, Györffy B, Dietel M & Denkert C
(2010) Histopathology 56. 727–739
Expression of classical NF‐κB pathway effectors in human ovarian carcinoma Aims: Functional studies have demonstrated that nuclear factor (NF)‐κB promotes tumour progression in ovarian cancer cells. However, surprisingly little is known of the expression of effectors of the NF‐κB pathway in human ovarian cancer in vivo. Methods and results: Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed that in a cohort of 85 primary ovarian carcinomas, total p65 expression was inversely correlated to nuclear and cytoplasmic phospho‐IκBα (P = 0.002 and P = 0.05, respectively), and IκBα mRNA expression (P = 0.032). In contrast, phospho‐p65 expression was paralleled by the expression of nuclear (P = 0.027) and cytoplasmic phospho‐IκBα (P = 0.01). Total p65 expression was an adverse prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.018). In contrast, total IκBα and phosphorylated nuclear and cytoplasmic IκBα expression were favourable prognostic markers (P = 0.001, P = 0.031, P = 0.001, respectively). Cytoplasmic phospho‐IκBα expression remained a significant prognostic factor on multivariate analysis (P = 0.010). In cultured, stimulated OVCAR‐3 ovarian cancer cells the cytoplasmic retranslocation of p65 was delayed by inhibition of the nuclear membrane transporter chromosomal region maintenance/exportin1 protein (CRM1). A positive association of p65 and CRM1 expression was demonstrated in ovarian cancer tissue (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Total and phosphorylated IκBα protein expression might serve as markers for NF‐κB activation in human ovarian carcinoma. Cytoplasmic localization of p65 may be related to deregulated nucleocytoplasmic transport in carcinomas overexpressing CRM1.     

Activating the AKT2–nuclear factor‐κB–lipocalin‐2 axis elicits an inflammatory response in age‐related macular degeneration

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex and progressive degenerative eye disease resulting in severe loss of central vision. Recent evidence indicates that immune system dysregulation could contribute to the development of AMD. We hypothesize that defective lysosome‐mediated clearance causes accumulation of waste products in the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), activating the immune system and leading to retinal tissue injury and AMD. We have generated unique genetically engineered mice in which lysosome‐mediated clearance (both by phagocytosis and autophagy) in RPE cells is compromised, causing the development of features of early AMD. Our recent data indicate a link between lipocalin‐2 (LCN‐2) and the inflammatory responses induced in this mouse model. We show that nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) and STAT‐1 may function as a complex in our animal model system, together controlling the upregulation of LCN‐2 expression in the retina and stimulating an inflammatory response. This study revealed increased infiltration of LCN‐2‐positive neutrophils in the choroid and retina of early AMD patients as compared with age‐matched controls. Our results demonstrate that, both in our animal model and in human AMD, the AKT2–NF‐κB–LCN‐2 signalling axis is involved in activating the inflammatory response, making this pathway a potential target for AMD treatment. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A highly conserved NF‐κB‐responsive enhancer is critical for thymic expression of Aire in mice

Autoimmune regulator (Aire) has a unique expression pattern in thymic medullary epithelial cells (mTECs), in which it plays a critical role in the activation of tissue‐specific antigens. The expression of Aire in mTECs is activated by receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK) signaling; however, the molecular mechanism behind this activation is unknown. Here, we characterize a conserved noncoding sequence 1 (CNS1) containing two NF‐κB binding sites upstream of the Aire coding region. We show that CNS1‐deficient mice lack thymic expression of Aire and share several features of Aire‐knockout mice, including downregulation of Aire‐dependent genes, impaired terminal differentiation of the mTEC population, and reduced production of thymic Treg cells. In addition, we show that CNS1 is indispensable for RANK‐induced Aire expression and that CNS1 is activated by NF‐κB pathway complexes containing RelA. Together, our results indicate that CNS1 is a critical link between RANK signaling, NF‐κB activation, and thymic expression of Aire.     

Recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide attenuates trauma‐/haemorrhagic shock‐induced acute lung injury through inhibiting oxidative stress and the NF‐κB‐dependent inflammatory/MMP‐9 pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) is one of the most serious complications in traumatic patients and is an important part of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) is a peptide with a wide range of biological activity. In this study, we investigated local changes in oxidative stress and the NF‐κB‐dependent matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) pathway in rats with trauma/haemorrhagic shock (TH/S)‐induced ALI and evaluated the effects of pretreatment with rhBNP. Forty‐eight rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group, model group, low‐dosage rhBNP group and high‐dosage rhBNP group (n = 12 for each group). Oxidative stress and MPO activity were measured by ELISA kits. MMP‐9 activity was detected by zymography analysis. NF‐κB activity was determined using Western blot assay. With rhBNP pretreatment, TH/S‐induced protein leakage, increased MPO activity, lipid peroxidation and metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9 activity were inhibited. Activation of antioxidative enzymes was reversed. The phosphorylation of NF‐κB and the degradation of its inhibitor IκB were suppressed. The results suggested that the protection mechanism of rhBNP is possibly mediated through upregulation of anti‐oxidative enzymes and inhibition of NF‐κB activation. More studies are needed to further evaluate whether rhBNP is a suitable candidate as an effective inhaling drug to reduce the incidence of TH/S‐induced ALI.     

IRF‐5 and NF‐κB p50 co‐regulate IFN‐β and IL‐6 expression in TLR9‐stimulated human plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Synthetic oligonucleotides (ODN) expressing CpG motifs mimic the ability of bacterial DNA to trigger the innate immune system via TLR9. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) make a critical contribution to the ensuing immune response. This work examines the induction of antiviral (IFN‐β) and pro‐inflammatory (IL‐6) cytokines by CpG‐stimulated human pDCs and the human CAL‐1 pDC cell line. Results show that interferon regulatory factor‐5 (IRF‐5) and NF‐κB p50 are key co‐regulators of IFN‐β and IL‐6 expression following TLR9‐mediated activation of human pDCs. The nuclear accumulation of IRF‐1 was also observed, but this was a late event that was dependant on type 1 IFN and unrelated to the initiation of gene expression. IRF‐8 was identified as a novel negative regulator of gene activation in CpG‐stimulated pDCs. As variants of IRF‐5 and IRF‐8 were recently found to correlate with susceptibility to certain autoimmune diseases, these findings are relevant to our understanding of the pharmacologic effects of “K” ODN and the role of TLR9 ligation under physiologic, pathologic, and therapeutic conditions.     

NF‐κB2/p100 deficiency impairs immune responses to T‐cell‐independent type 2 antigens

Formation of the splenic marginal zone (MZ) depends on the alternative NF‐κB signaling pathway. Recently, we reported that unrestricted activation of this pathway in NF‐κB2/p100‐deficient (p100^?/?) knock‐in mice alters the phenotype of MZ stroma and B cells. Here, we show that lack of the p100 inhibitor resulted in an expansion of both MZ B and peritoneal B‐1 cells. However, these cells failed to generate proliferating blasts in response to T‐cell‐independent type 2 (TI‐2) Ags, correlating with dampened IgM and absent IgG3 responses. This phenotype was in part due to increased activity of the NF‐κB subunit RelB. Moreover, p100^?/?→B6 BM chimeras were more susceptible to infection by encapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, pathogens that induce TI‐2 responses. In contrast to the TI‐2 defect, p100 deficiency did not impair immune responses to the TI‐1 Ag LPS and p100^?/? MZ B cells showed normal Ag transportation into B‐cell follicles. Furthermore, p100^?/? MZ B and B‐1 cells failed to respond to TI‐2 Ags in the presence of WT accessory cells. Thus, NF‐κB2/p100 deficiency caused a predominant B‐cell‐intrinsic TI‐2 defect that could largely be attributed to impaired proliferation of plasmablasts. Importantly, p100 was also necessary for efficient defense against clinically relevant TI‐2 pathogens.     

Suppression of oxLDL‐Induced MMP‐9 and EMMPRIN Expression by Berberine via Inhibition of NF‐κB Activation in Human THP‐1 Macrophages

Upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) by macrophages leads to atherosclerotic plaque rupture by degradation of the extracellular matrix. NF‐κB activation regulates many key inflammatory genes linked to atherosclerosis. In the present study, the function of berberine, a natural extract from Rhizoma coptidis, on MMP‐9 and EMMPRIN expression, the role of NF‐κB activation in oxLDL‐stimulated macrophages, and the possible mechanism in which NF‐κB activation is involved were investigated. Berberine inhibited the expression of MMP‐9 and EMMPRIN at both mRNA and protein levels. The phosphorylation of IκB‐α and nuclear translocation of p65 protein were reduced by berberine, suggesting that NF‐κB activation was inhibited by berberine in oxLDL‐stimulated macrophages. Overall, berberine suppressed the expression of MMP‐9 and EMMPRIN by at least reducing partly the activity of NF‐κB in oxLDL‐induced macrophages. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Gx‐50 reduces β‐amyloid‐induced TNF‐α, IL‐1β, NO,and PGE2 expression and inhibits NF‐κB signaling in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Chronic inflammation, which is regulated by overactivated microglia in the brain, accelerates the occurrence and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Gx‐50 has been investigated as a novel drug for the treatment of AD in our previous studies. Here, we investigated whether gx‐50 possesses anti‐inflammatory effects in primary rat microglia and a mouse model of AD, amyloid precursor protein (APP) Tg mice. The expression of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, NO, prostaglandin E2, and the expression of iNOS and COX2 were inhibited by gx‐50 in amyloid β (Aβ) treated rat microglia; additionally, microglial activation and the expression of IL‐1β, iNOS, and COX2 were also significantly suppressed by gx‐50 in APP⁺ transgenic mice. Furthermore, gx‐50 inhibited the activation of NF‐κB and MAPK cascades in vitro and in vivo in APP‐Tg mice. Moreover, the expression of TLR4 and its downstream signaling proteins MyD88 and tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) was reduced by gx‐50 in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, silencing of TLR4 reduced Aβ‐induced upregulation of IL‐1β and TRAF6 to levels similar to gx‐50 inhibition; moreover, overexpression of TLR4 increased the expression of MyD88 and TRAF6, which was significantly reduced by gx‐50. These findings provide strong evidence that gx‐50 has anti‐inflammatory effects against Aβ‐triggered microglial overactivation via a mechanism that involves the TLR4‐mediated NF‐κBB/MAPK signaling cascade.