Type I interferon promotes alveolar epithelial type II cell survival during pulmonary Streptococcus pneumoniae infection and sterile lung injury in mice

Protecting the integrity of the lung epithelial barrier is essential to ensure respiration and proper oxygenation in patients suffering from various types of lung inflammation. Type I interferon (IFN‐I) has been associated with pulmonary epithelial barrier function, however, the mechanisms and involved cell types remain unknown. We aimed to investigate the importance of IFN‐I with respect to its epithelial barrier strengthening function to better understand immune‐modulating effects in the lung with potential medical implications. Using a mouse model of pneumococcal pneumonia, we revealed that IFN‐I selectively protects alveolar epithelial type II cells (AECII) from inflammation‐induced cell death. Mechanistically, signaling via the IFN‐I receptor on AECII is sufficient to promote AECII survival. The net effects of IFN‐I are barrier protection, together with diminished tissue damage, inflammation, and bacterial loads. Importantly, we found that the protective role of IFN‐I can also apply to sterile acute lung injury, in which loss of IFN‐I signaling leads to a significant reduction in barrier function caused by AECII cell death. Our data suggest that IFN‐I is an important mediator in lung inflammation that plays a protective role by antagonizing inflammation‐associated cell obstruction, thereby strengthening the integrity of the epithelial barrier.     

AMPK通过抑制STING调节干扰素免疫应答通路的研究

目的探索腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)与cGAS-STING通路之间的联系及其在先天免疫中扮演的角色。方法利用CRISPR/Cas9技术、蛋白质印迹、RT-qPCR等方法,探究AMPK对DNA相关免疫通路的调控机制。结果在HT-DNA和cGAMP刺激下,AMPK-/-细胞株的IFN-β的表达量明显高于野生型细胞株,但这种变化在RNA信号通路中并不明显;激活AMPK可以抑制细胞内的DNA信号通路;在DNA信号通路中,AMPK-/-细胞株相较于野生型细胞株,STING在RNA和蛋白水平上都明显升高,即AMPK对cGAS-STING通路的抑制很可能是通过抑制STING起作用。结论AMPK在调节cGAS-STING介导的干扰素免疫应答中起重要作用。     

Therapeutic approaches for ischemia/reperfusion injury in the liver

Organ injury caused by transient ischemia followed by reperfusion is associated with a number of clinically and environmentally induced conditions. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) conditions arise during surgical interventions such as organ transplantation and coronary bypass surgery, and in diseases such as stroke and cardiac infarct. The destructive effects of I/R arise from the acute generation of reactive oxygen species subsequent to reoxygenation, which inflict direct tissue damage and initiate a cascade of deleterious cellular responses leading to inflammation, cell death, and organ failure. This review summarizes existing and potential approaches for treatment that have been developed from research using model systems of I/R injury. Although I/R injury in the liver is emphasized, other organ systems share similar pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches. We also review current knowledge of the molecular events controlling cellular responses to I/R injury, such as activation of AP-1 and NF-kappaB pathways. Therapeutic strategies aimed at ameliorating I/R damage are focused both on controlling ROS generated at the time of oxygen reperfusion and on intervening in the activated signal transduction cascades. Potential therapies include pharmacological treatment with small molecules, antibodies to cytokines, or free-radical scavenging enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase or catalase. Additionally, the use of gene therapy approaches may significantly contribute to the development of strategies aimed at inhibiting of I/R injury.     

The interplay of IKK,NF-κB and RIPK1 signaling in the regulation of cell death,tissue homeostasis and inflammation

Regulated cell death pathways have important functions in host defense and tissue homeostasis. Studies in genetic mouse models provided evidence that cell death could cause inflammation in different tissues. Inhibition of RIPK3-MLKL-dependent necroptosis by FADD and caspase-8 was identified as a key mechanism preventing inflammation in epithelial barriers. Moreover, the interplay between IKK/NF-κB and RIPK1 signaling was recognized as a critical determinant of tissue homeostasis and inflammation. NEMO was shown to regulate RIPK1 kinase activity-mediated apoptosis by NF-κB-dependent and –independent functions, which are critical for averting chronic tissue injury and inflammation in the intestine and the liver. In addition, RIPK1 was shown to exhibit kinase activity-independent functions that are essential for preventing cell death, maintaining tissue architecture and inhibiting inflammation. In the intestine, RIPK1 acts as a scaffold to prevent epithelial cell apoptosis and preserve tissue integrity. In the skin, RIPK1 functions via its RHIM to counteract ZBP1/DAI-dependent activation of RIPK3-MLKL-dependent necroptosis and inflammation. Collectively, these studies provided evidence that the regulation of cell death signaling plays an important role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, and suggested that cell death could be causally involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases.     

cGAS-STING信号通路与代谢性疾病的研究进展

cGAS-STING信号通路是检测细胞内DNA的主要途径之一,病毒、 细菌和自体DNA都可通过cGAS-STING信号通路激活免疫系统.其中自体DNA通过cGAS-STING信号通路与非酒精性脂肪肝、脂肪组织炎症、胰岛素抵抗、糖代谢异常等代谢性疾病的发生相关.文章结合近年cGAS-STING信号通路与代谢性疾病的相关研...     

Oxygen, the lead actor in the pathophysiologic drama: enactment of the trinity of normoxia, hypoxia, and hyperoxia in disease and therapy

Aerobic life has evolved a dependence on molecular oxygen for its mere survival. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation absolutely requires oxygen to generate the currency of energy in aerobes. The physiologic homeostasis of these organisms is strictly maintained by optimal cellular and tissue-oxygenation status through complex oxygen-sensing mechanisms, signaling cascades, and transport processes. In the event of fluctuating oxygen levels leading to either an increase (hyperoxia) or decrease (hypoxia) in cellular oxygen, the organism faces a crisis involving depletion of energy reserves, altered cell-signaling cascades, oxidative reactions/events, and cell death or tissue damage. Molecular oxygen is activated by both nonenzymatic and enzymatic mechanisms into highly reactive oxygen species (ROS). Aerobes have evolved effective antioxidant defenses to counteract the reactivity of ROS. Although the ROS are also required for many normal physiologic functions of the aerobes, overwhelming production of ROS coupled with their insufficient scavenging by endogenous antioxidants will lead to detrimental oxidative stress. Needless to say, molecular oxygen is at the center of oxygenation, oxidative phosphorylation, and oxidative stress. This review focuses on the biology and pathophysiology of oxygen, with an emphasis on transport, sensing, and activation of oxygen, oxidative phosphorylation, oxygenation, oxidative stress, and oxygen therapy.     

RIPK3 in cell death and inflammation: the good,the bad,and the ugly

Necroptosis is a form of cell death that can be observed downstream of death receptor or pattern recognition receptor signaling under certain cellular contexts, or in response to some viral and bacterial infections. The receptor interacting protein kinases-1 (RIPK1) and RIPK3 are at the core of necroptotic signaling, among other proteins. Because this pathway is normally halted by the pro-apoptotic protease caspase-8 and the IAP ubiquitin ligases, how and when necroptosis is triggered in physiological settings are ongoing questions. Interestingly, accumulating evidence suggests that RIPK3 has functions beyond the induction of necroptotic cell death, especially in the areas of tissue injury and sterile inflammation. Here, we will discuss the role of RIPK3 in a variety of physiological conditions, including necroptotic and non-necroptotic cell death, in the context of viral and bacterial infections, tissue damage, and inflammation.     

Activation of the ERK1/2 cascade via pulsatile interstitial fluid flow promotes cardiac tissue assembly

Deciphering the cellular signals leading to cardiac muscle assembly is a major challenge in ex vivo tissue regeneration. For the first time, we demonstrate that pulsatile interstitial fluid flow in three-dimensional neonatal cardiac cell constructs can activate ERK1/2 sixfold, as compared to static-cultivated constructs. Activation of ERK1/2 was attained under physiological shear stress conditions, without activating the p38 cell death signal above its basic level. Activation of the ERK1/2 signaling cascade induced synthesis of high levels of contractile and cell-cell contact proteins by the cardiomyocytes, while its inhibition diminished the inducing effects of pulsatile flow. The pulsed medium-induced cardiac cell constructs showed improved cellularity and viability, while the regenerated cardiac tissue demonstrated some ultra-structural features of the adult myocardium. The cardiomyocytes were elongated and aligned into myofibers with defined Z-lines and multiple high-ordered sarcomeres. Numerous intercalated disks were positioned between adjacent cardiomyocytes, and deposits of collagen fibers surrounded the myofibrils. The regenerated cardiac tissue exhibited high density of connexin 43, a major protein involved in electrical cellular connections. Our research thus demonstrates that by judiciously applying fluid shear stress, cell signaling cascades can be augmented with subsequent profound effects on cardiac tissue regeneration.     

DNA sensing and associated type 1 interferon signaling contributes to progression of radiation-induced liver injury

Liver damage upon exposure to ionizing radiation (IR), whether accidental or therapeutic, can contribute to liver dysfunction. Currently, radiotherapy (RT) is used for various cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the treatment dose is limited by radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) with a high mortality rate. Furthermore, the precise molecular mechanisms of RILD remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated RILD pathogenesis using various knockout mouse strains subjected to whole-liver irradiation. We found that hepatocytes released a large quantity of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) after irradiation. The cGAS-STING pathway in non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) was promptly activated by this dsDNA, causing interferon (IFN)-I production and release and concomitant hepatocyte damage. Genetic and pharmacological ablation of the IFN-I signaling pathway protected against RILD. Moreover, clinically irradiated human peri-HCC liver tissues exhibited substantially higher STING and IFNβ expression than non-irradiated tissues. Increased serum IFNβ concentrations post-radiation were associated with RILD development in patients. These results delineate cGAS-STING induced type 1 interferon release in NPCs as a key mediator of IR-induced liver damage and described a mechanism of innate-immunity-driven pathology, linking cGAS-STING activation with amplification of initial radiation-induced liver injury.     

Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity involves IFNγ-mediated metabolic reprogramming in cardiomyocytes

Immune responses contribute to a large extent to heart diseases. However, it is still not clear how the key inflammatory mediator interferon-γ (IFNγ) plays a role in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy. We report here that DOX-induced heart dysfunction involves IFNγ signaling in mice. The IFNγ receptor was found to be highly expressed on cardiomyocytes, and its downstream signaling was activated in heart tissues upon DOX treatment. In vitro, IFNγ strongly aggravated the injury of cardiomyocytes exposed to DOX. Although not affecting DOX-induced cell death, IFNγ disrupted mitochondrial respiration and fatty acid oxidation in DOX-exposed cardiomyocytes. IFNγ extended the suppression of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) axis by DOX to a p38-dependent branch. Activation of AMPK or inhibition of p38 inhibited the enhancing effect of IFNγ on the DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and prolonged the survival time in DOX-treated mice. Taken together, our results indicate that reprogramming of cardiac metabolism by IFNγ represents a previously unidentified key step for DOX-induced cardiomyopathy. This unavoidable impact of IFNγ on cardiomyocyte metabolism during chemotherapy redirects our attention to the balance between beneficial immunosurveillance of cancer cells and unwanted toxic side-effects. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Emerging role of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in autoimmune diseases: Biologic function,mechanisms and clinical prospection

The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS–STING) signaling pathway, as vital component of innate immune system, acts a vital role in distinguishing invasive pathogens and cytosolic DNA. Cytosolic DNA sensor cGAS first binds to cytosolic DNA and catalyzes synthesis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP), which is known as the second messenger. Next, cGAMP activates the adaptor protein STING, triggering a molecular chain reaction to stimulate cytokines including interferons (IFNs). Recently, many researches have revealed that the regulatory role of cGAS-STING signaling pathway in autoimmune diseases (AIDs) such as Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Aicardi Goutières syndrome (AGS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Moreover, accumulated evidence have showed inhibition of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway could remarkably suppress the joint swelling and inflammatory cell infiltration in RA mice. Therefore, in this review, we describe the molecular properties, biologic function and mechanisms of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in AIDs. In addition, potential clinical applications especially selective small molecule inhibitors targeting the cGAS-STING signaling pathway are also discussed.     

cGAS-STING信号通路和疾病

在宿主抵抗病毒感染和细菌入侵的过程中,cGAS-STING通路发挥着重要作用.在这一过程中胞质游离DNA作为危险信号被DNA感受器环GMP-AMP合酶(cGAS)所识别.cGAS可识别双链DNA,催化三磷酸腺苷(ATP)和三磷酸鸟苷(GTP)合成非经典环二核苷酸2'5'-cGAMP.其下游的干扰素刺激基因(STING)作为衔接分子,既可直接识别细菌产生的第二信使——环磷酸腺苷(cAMP)和环磷酸鸟苷(cGMP),也可作为信号受体,识别cGAS感受胞质DNA产生的cGAMP;随后激活下游信号,促进Ⅰ型干扰素和其他细胞因子的产生,从而产生相应的免疫应答.不仅外源细菌或病毒DNA,自身胞质DNA的异常沉积也会激活该通路,从而导致自身炎症和自身免疫疾病.后续研究发现,这一通路在肿瘤放射治疗和化学治疗中同样发挥重要作用,通过激活cGAS-STING通路产生或增强对肿瘤的治疗.研究结果表明,特异性干扰cGAS-STING通路的激活可能对肿瘤、感染、免疫疾病的治疗提供依据.对cGAS-STING通路激活机制及其与疾病治疗的关系作了全面概述,并对cGAS-STING通路的调节作了详细介绍.     

In vivo-transmigrated human neutrophils are resistant to antiapoptotic stimulation

Neutrophils respond to microbial invasion or injury by transmigration from blood to tissue. Transmigration involves cellular activation and degranulation, resulting in altered levels of surface receptors and changed responsiveness to certain stimuli. Thus, fundamental functional changes are associated with neutrophil transmigration from blood to tissue. Neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood spontaneously enter apoptosis, a process that can be accelerated or delayed by different pro- or antiapoptotic factors. How tissue neutrophils that have transmigrated in vivo regulate cell death is poorly understood. In this study, in vivo-transmigrated neutrophils (tissue neutrophils) were collected using a skin chamber technique and compared with blood neutrophils from the same donors with respect to regulation of cell death. Skin chamber fluid contained a variety of cytokines known to activate neutrophils and regulate their lifespan. Freshly prepared tissue neutrophils had elevated activity of caspase 3/7 but were fully viable; spontaneous cell death after in vitro culture was also similar between blood and tissue neutrophils. Whereas apoptosis of cultured blood neutrophils was delayed by soluble antiapoptotic factors (e.g., TLR ligands), tissue neutrophils were completely resistant to antiapoptotic stimulation, even though receptors were present and functional. In vitro transmigration of blood neutrophils into skin chamber fluid did not fully confer resistance to antiapoptotic stimulation, indicating that a block of antiapoptotic signaling occurs specifically during in vivo transmigration. We describe a novel, functional alteration that takes place during in vivo transmigration and highlights the fact that life and death of neutrophils may be regulated differently in blood and tissue.