Potential autocrine regulation of interleukin-33/ST2 signaling of dendritic cells in allergic inflammation

This study identified a novel phenomenon that dendritic cells (DCs) produced interleukin (IL)-33 via Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated innate pathway. Mouse bone marrow–derived DCs were treated with or without microbial pathogens or recombinant murine IL-33. IL-33 mRNA and protein were found to be expressed by DCs and largely induced by several microbial pathogens, highly by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and flagellin. Using two mouse models of topical challenge by LPS and flagellin and experimental allergic conjunctivitis, IL-33-producing DCs were observed in ocular mucosal surface and the draining cervical lymph nodes in vivo. The increased expression levels of myeloid differentiation primary-response protein 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor (NF)-κB1, NF-κB2, and RelA accompanied by NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation were observed in DCs exposed to flagellin. IL-33 induction by flagellin was significantly blocked by TLR5 antibody or NF-κB inhibitor quinazoline and diminished in DCs from MyD88 knockout mice. IL-33 stimulated the expression of DC maturation markers, CD40 and CD80, and proallergic cytokines and chemokines, OX40L, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, CCL17 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 17), TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α), and IL-1β. This stimulatory effect of IL-33 in DCs was significantly blocked by ST2 antibody or soluble ST2. Our findings demonstrate that DCs produce IL-33 via TLR/NF-κB signaling pathways, suggesting a molecular mechanism by which local allergic inflammatory response may be amplified by DC-produced IL-33 through potential autocrine regulation.     

IL-21 enhances SOCS gene expression and inhibits LPS-induced cytokine production in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in innate and adaptive immune responses. In addition to their phagocytic activity, DCs present foreign antigens to na?ve T cells and regulate the development of adaptive immune responses. Upon contact with DCs, activated T cells produce large quantities of cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin (IL)-21, which have important immunoregulatory functions. Here, we have analyzed the effect of IL-21 and IFN-gamma on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced maturation and cytokine production of human monocyte-derived DCs. IL-21 and IFN-gamma receptor genes were expressed in high levels in immature DCs. Pretreatment of immature DCs with IL-21 inhibited LPS-stimulated DC maturation and expression of CD86 and human leukocyte antigen class II (HLAII). IL-21 pretreatment also dramatically reduced LPS-stimulated production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-12, CC chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), and CXC chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) but not that of CXCL8. In contrast, IFN-gamma had a positive feedback effect on immature DCs, and it enhanced LPS-induced DC maturation and the production of cytokines. IL-21 weakly induced the expression Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and translation initiation region (TIR) domain-containing adaptor protein (TIRAP) genes, whereas the expression of TIR domain-containing adaptor-inducing IFN-beta (TRIF), myeloid differentiation (MyD88) 88 factor, or TRIF-related adaptor molecule (TRAM) genes remained unchanged. However, IL-21 strongly stimulated the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-1 and SOCS-3 genes. SOCS are known to suppress DC functions and interfere with TLR4 signaling. Our results demonstrate that IL-21, a cytokine produced by activated T cells, can directly inhibit the activation and cytokine production of myeloid DCs, providing a negative feedback loop between DCs and T lymphocytes.     

Role of myeloid differentiation factor 88 in HSP60 signal transduction in dendritic cells

Objective: To explore the role and mechanism of myeloid differentiation factor88 (MyD88) in HSP60 signal transduction in dendritic cells. Methods:Mouse DCs were cultured from murine bone marrow cells. The DC marker CD11c was detected by flow cytometry, then DCs were divided into control group, HSP60 groupand RNA interference group. Control group was cultured under normal condition, and HSP60 group was cultured with 10 μg/ml of HSP60. RNA interference group was first cultured with MyD88 siRNA forl2 hours and then HSP60 was added into the culture mixture. All groups were cultured for 48 hours. Immunochemistry was used to detect the concentration of MyD88 and NF- κB. Western blot was used to detect the concentration of MyD88. Flow cytometry and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) were used to detect the phenotype and functional properties of DCs. ELISA was used to detect the concentration of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-12 in the supernatant. Results:The expression of CD11c in marine bone marrow DCs was 88.76%. HSP60 stimulation increased the expression of CD80, CD86, MHC-Ⅱ in DCs and TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-12 secretion in the supematant. HSP60 stimulation also increased the level of MyD88 in the cytoplasm and promoted the shift of NF-κB to karyon and the proliferation of allogeneic T cells. MyD88 siRNA could decreaseMyD88 and inhibit these effects induced by HSP60. Conclusion:HSP60 activates DCs through MyD88-dependent pathway. MyD88 plays a critical role in HSP60 signal transduction. Inhibition of MyD88 may be a novel way for treating disease correlated with HSP60.     

Complement C1q regulates LPS-induced cytokine production in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells

We show here that C1q suppresses IL-12p40 production in LPS-stimulated murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC). Serum IL-12p40 concentration of C1q-deficient mice was higher than that of wild-type mice after intraperitoneal LPS-injection. Because neither globular head of C1q (gC1q) nor collagen-like region of C1q (cC1q) failed to suppress LPS-induced IL-12p40 production, both gC1q and cC1q, and/or some specialized conformation of native C1q may be required for the inhibition. While C1q did not affect mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), MD-2, and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), BMDC treated with C1q showed the reduced activity of NF-kappaB and the delayed phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase after LPS-stimulation. CpG oligodeoxynucleotide-induced IL-12p40 and TNF-alpha production, another MyD88-dependent TLR-mediated signal, was also suppressed by C1q treatment. Therefore, C1q is likely to suppress MyD88-dependent pathway in TLR-mediated signals. In contrast, C1q failed to suppress colony formation of B cells responding to LPS or LPS-induced CD40 and CD86 expression on BMDC in MyD88-deficient mice, indicating that inhibitory effects of C1q on MyD88-independent pathways may be limited. Taken together, C1q may regulate innate and adaptive immune systems via modification of signals mediated by interactions between invading pathogens and TLR.     

A novel negative regulator for IL-1 receptor and Toll-like receptor 4

The Toll-IL-1 receptor (TIR) superfamily, defined by the presence of an intracellular TIR domain, initiates innate immunity via NF-kappaB activation, leading to production of proinflammatory cytokines. ST2 is a member of the TIR family that does not activate NF-kappaB and has been suggested as an important effector molecule of type 2 T helper cell responses. We have recently demonstrated that the membrane bound form of ST2 (ST2L) negatively regulated IL-1RI and TLR4 but not TLR3 signaling by sequestrating the adaptors MyD88 and Mal. In contrast to wild-type mice, ST2 deficient mice failed to develop endotoxin tolerance. Thus, ST2 suppresses IL-1R and TLR4 signaling via MyD88- and Mal-dependent pathways and modulates innate immunity. The results provide a molecular explanation for the role of ST2 in T(H)2 responses since inhibition of TLRs will promote a T(H)2 response and also identify ST2 as a key regulator of endotoxin tolerance.     

Endotoxin can induce MyD88-deficient dendritic cells to support T(h)2 cell differentiation

Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling activates dendritic cells (DC) to secrete proinflammatory cytokines and up-regulate co-stimulatory molecule expression, thereby linking innate and adaptive immunity. A TLR-associated adapter protein, MyD88, is essential for cytokine production induced by TLR. However, in response to a TLR4 ligand, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), MyD88-deficient (MyD88(-/-)) DC can up-regulate co-stimulatory molecule expression and enhance their T cell stimulatory activity, indicating that the MyD88-independent pathway through TLR4 can induce some features of DC maturation. In this study, we have further characterized function of LPS-stimulated, MyD88(-/-) DC. In response to LPS, wild-type DC could enhance their ability to induce IFN-gamma production in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (alloMLR). In contrast, in response to LPS, MyD88(-/-) DC augmented their ability to induce IL-4 instead of IFN-gamma in alloMLR. Impaired production of T(h)1-inducing cytokines in MyD88(-/-) DC cannot fully account for their increased T(h)2 cell-supporting ability, because absence of T(h)1-inducing cytokines in DC caused impairment of IFN-gamma, but did not lead to augmentation of IL-4 production in alloMLR. In vivo experiments with adjuvants also revealed T(h)2-skewed immune responses in MyD88(-/-) mice. These results demonstrate that the MyD88-independent pathway through TLR4 can confer on DC the ability to support T(h)2 immune responses.     

Methods of in vitro macrophage maturation confer variable inflammatory responses in association with altered expression of cell surface dectin-1

Macrophage differentiation and polarization occur in vivo under the influence of the localized cytokine milieu. In vitro studies frequently rely on cellular differentiation in culture; hence, unrecognized variables could have a large influence on the observed cellular phenotype. We measured macrophage in vitro responses to fungal ligands (Aspergillus germ tubes and zymosan), focusing on the degree to which culture conditions impact stimulatory responses through the C-type lectin receptor, dectin-1, which is involved in both MyD88-dependent and MyD88-independent signaling in response to fungal beta1,3 glucan. Results show that macrophages harvested from different murine anatomic sites exhibit varying degrees of MyD88-dependence, with bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) cultured in L929 conditioned medium (L929 CM) exhibiting the largest degree of MyD88-independence. After differentiation in recombinant MCSF (rMCSF), MyD88(-/-) macrophages have decreased surface expression of dectin-1 compared to wild type macrophages; however, culture in L929CM results in higher, and equivalent expression of dectin-1 on both MyD88(-/-) and wild type BMDM. In addition to MCSF, L929CM contains high amounts of VEGF, MCP-1, KC, and MIG, and low amounts of FGF-beta, Eotaxin, IL-10, IL-9, and IL-12. Thus, methods of in vitro maturation dictate variable inflammatory responses by MyD88(-/-) macrophages in association with altered expression of cell surface dectin-1. L929 conditioned medium is a suboptimal alternative to rMCSF for in vitro studies. As MyD88(-/-) BMDM exhibit low surface expression of dectin-1 after in vitro culture in rMCSF, differences in dectin-1 dependent, MyD88-independent signaling may account for some of the phenotypes currently ascribed to MyD88-deficiency alone.     

黄芪总皂苷对脂多糖诱导的BV2小胶质细胞的抗炎机制

目的:探讨黄芪总皂苷(TAS)对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的BV2小胶质细胞炎症损伤的抗炎作用机制.方法:用CCK-8法筛选出对细胞活力无抑制的药物浓度;用浓度为1 mg/L的LPS刺激BV2细胞24 h,建立细胞炎症模型;实验分为正常组、LPS组、高剂量(75 mg/L)TAS组和低剂量(50 mg/L)TAS组;应用流式...     

小檗碱和育亨宾对内毒素血症小鼠脾脏TLR4信号通路中相关基因表达的影响

目的: 观察小檗碱和α₂肾上腺素能受体拮抗剂育亨宾对内毒素血症小鼠脾脏Toll样受体4(TLR4)信号通路84种基因表达的影响,并初步探讨其作用机制。方法: 雄性BALB/c小鼠随机分为对照组、脂多糖(LPS)组、小檗碱+LPS组、小檗碱+育亨宾+LPS组、育亨宾+LPS组、小檗碱组、小檗碱+育亨宾组和育亨宾组。分别用蒸馏水、小檗碱(50 mg/kg)、小檗碱+育亨宾(50 mg/kg+2 mg/kg) 和育亨宾(2 mg/kg)灌胃,每天1次,连续3 d,第3 d灌胃1 h后,腹腔注射LPS(20 mg/kg)或生理盐水。腹腔注射1 h后,用RT² Profiler^TM PCR Array分析技术检测小鼠脾脏TLR4信号通路84种基因mRNA的表达;用Western blotting分析小鼠脾脏TLR4信号通路的抑制分子细胞因子信号抑制物(SOCS)1、SOCS3和白细胞介素-1受体相关激酶(IRAK)-M蛋白的表达。结果: LPS可上调小鼠脾脏TLR4信号转导通路中相关炎症因子的mRNA表达,包括CXCL10、TNF-α、IL-1α、IL-1β、IL-6、IFN-γ和IFN-β。小檗碱能显著下调下调髓样分化因子(MyD88)依赖信号通路下游TNF-α、IL-1α、IL-1β和IL-6 mRNA的表达,也能MyD88非依赖信号通路下游基因IFN-β和CXCL10 mRNA的表达(P<0.05)。育亨宾能显著下调内毒素血症小鼠脾脏IL-1α、IL-1β 和IFN-β mRNA的表达(P<0.05),但对TNF-α、IL-6和CXCL10 mRNA表达的下调作用与LPS组相比没有显著差异(P>0.05)。小檗碱与育亨宾合剂能显著下调内毒素血症小鼠脾脏IFN-β和CXCL10 mRNA的表达,但不能显著下调内毒素血症小鼠脾脏IL-1α、IL-1β、TNF-α 和IL-6 mRNA的表达。LPS攻击后1 h,小檗碱和(或)育亨宾均不能增强内毒素血症小鼠脾脏SOCS1、SOCS3和IRAK-M蛋白的表达。结论: 小檗碱和育亨宾均能抑制LPS诱导的MyD88依赖和非依赖信号通路下游部分基因的表达,这种抑制作用的机制与SOCS1、SOCS3和IRAK-M蛋白无关。     

Early MyD88-dependent induction of interleukin-17A expression during Salmonella colitis

The development of T helper 17 (T(H)17) cells is a well-established adaptive mechanism for the production of interleukin-17A (IL-17A), a cytokine involved in neutrophil recruitment. However, pathways contributing to mucosal expression of IL-17A during the initial phase of a bacterial infection have received less attention. Here we used the mouse colitis model of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium infection to investigate the contribution of myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88) to inflammation and mucosal IL-17A expression. Expression of IL-23 in the cecal mucosa during S. Typhimurium colitis was dependent on the presence of MyD88. Furthermore, initial expression of IL-17A at 24 h after S. Typhimurium infection was dependent on MyD88 and the receptor for IL-1β. IL-23 and IL-1β synergized in inducing expression of IL-17A in splenic T cells in vitro. In the intestinal mucosa, IL-17A was produced by three distinct T cell populations, including δγ T cells, T(H)17 cells, and CD4(-)CD8(-) T cells. The absence of IL-1β signaling or IL-17 signaling reduced CXC chemokine expression but did not alter the overall severity of pathological lesions in the cecal mucosa. In contrast, cecal pathology and neutrophil recruitment were markedly reduced in Myd88-deficient mice during the initial phases of S. Typhimurium infection. Collectively, these data demonstrate that MyD88-dependent mechanisms, including an initial expression of IL-17A, are important for orchestrating early inflammatory responses during S. Typhimurium colitis.     

青蒿素减轻LPS诱导的肠上皮细胞屏障功能损伤的实验研究

目的:探究青蒿素对脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)诱导的大鼠肠上皮IEC-6细胞屏障功能损伤的影响。方法:体外培养IEC-6细胞,随机分为5组:对照组、LPS(100 mg/L)组和LPS+青蒿素(30、50和100μmol/L)组,MTT法检测各组细胞毒性变化,ELISA检测各组细胞分泌炎性因子TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6水平的变化,电阻仪检测肠上皮细胞跨上皮电阻(TER),酶标仪检测单层细胞对辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)的通透性,RT-qPCR和Western blot检测各组细胞紧密连接蛋白(ZO-1、claudin-1和occludin)以及TLR4/My D88/NF-κB mRNA和蛋白表达的变化。结果:LPS与青蒿素在本实验浓度范围对IEC-6细胞均无毒性。与对照组相比,LPS处理下,细胞分泌TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6水平以及TLR4/My D88/NF-κB的mRNA和蛋白表达明显增加,ZO-1、claudin-1和occludin的mRNA和蛋白表达降低。而青蒿素干预下,细胞分泌TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6水平以及TLR4/My D88/NF-κB mRNA和蛋白表达明显降低,ZO-1、claudin-1和occludin的mRNA和蛋白表达升高(P0.05),均呈现浓度依赖性。结论:青蒿素可能通过抑制TLR4/My D88/NF-κB通路减轻LPS诱导的肠上皮细胞屏障功能损伤。     

Immune recognition of Streptococcus pyogenes by dendritic cells

Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the most frequent human pathogens. Recent studies have identified dendritic cells (DCs) as important contributors to host defense against S. pyogenes. The objective of this study was to identify the receptors involved in immune recognition of S. pyogenes by DCs. To determine whether Toll-like receptors (TLRs) were involved in DC sensing of S. pyogenes, we evaluated the response of bone marrow-derived DCs obtained from mice deficient in MyD88, an adapter molecule used by almost all TLRs, following S. pyogenes stimulation. Despite the fact that MyD88(-/-) DCs did not differ from wild-type DCs in the ability to internalize and kill S. pyogenes, the up-regulation of maturation markers, such as CD40, CD80, and CD86, and the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, were dramatically impaired in S. pyogenes-stimulated MyD88(-/-) DCs. These results suggest that signaling through TLRs is the principal pathway by which DCs sense S. pyogenes and become activated. Surprisingly, DCs deficient in signaling through each of the TLRs reported as potential receptors for gram-positive cell components, such as TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR9, and TLR2/6, were not impaired in the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and the up-regulation of costimulatory molecules after S. pyogenes stimulation. In conclusion, our results exclude a major involvement of a single TLR or the heterodimer TLR2/6 in S. pyogenes sensing by DCs and argue for a multimodal recognition in which a combination of several different TLR-mediated signals is essential for a rapid and effective response to the pathogen.     

MyD88 Mediates Instructive Signaling in Dendritic Cells and Protective Inflammatory Response during Rickettsial Infection

Spotted fever group rickettsiae cause potentially life-threatening infections throughout the world. Several members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family are involved in host response to rickettsiae, and yet the mechanisms by which these TLRs mediate host immunity remain incompletely understood. In the present study, we found that host susceptibility of MyD88^−/− mice to infection with Rickettsia conorii or Rickettsia australis was significantly greater than in wild-type (WT) mice, in association with severely impaired bacterial clearance in vivo. R. australis-infected MyD88^−/− mice showed significantly lower expression levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β, accompanied by significantly fewer inflammatory infiltrates of macrophages and neutrophils in infected tissues, than WT mice. The serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-6, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were significantly reduced, while monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, macrophage inflammatory protein 1α, and RANTES were significantly increased in infected MyD88^−/− mice compared to WT mice. Strikingly, R. australis infection was incapable of promoting increased expression of MHC-II^high and production of IL-12p40 in MyD88^−/− bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) compared to WT BMDCs, although costimulatory molecules were upregulated in both types of BMDCs. Furthermore, the secretion levels of IL-1β by Rickettsia-infected BMDCs and in the sera of infected mice were significantly reduced in MyD88^−/− mice compared to WT controls, suggesting that in vitro and in vivo production of IL-1β is MyD88 dependent. Taken together, our results suggest that MyD88 signaling mediates instructive signals in DCs and secretion of IL-1β and type 1 immune cytokines, which may account for the protective inflammatory response during rickettsial infection.     

Interleukin-32α production is regulated by MyD88-dependent and independent pathways in IL-1β-stimulated human alveolar epithelial cells

Interleukin (IL)-32 is a recently described cytokine that appears to play a critical role in a variety of inflammatory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, thus far, the regulation of IL-32 production has not been fully established. Here, we report on signaling pathways that regulate the production of IL-32α, the most abundant isoform, in the human alveolar epithelial cell line, A549. IL-32α was expressed and secreted by IL-1β. The IL-32 expression was attenuated by PP2 (a Src-family kinase [SFK] inhibitor), rottlerin (a protein kinase [PK] Cδ inhibitor), and LY294002 (a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI3K] inhibitor). Furthermore, the overexpression of Fgr rather than other SFKs upregulated IL-32α expression, while Fgr small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection downregulated it. The suppression of Fgr with PP2 and Fgr siRNA inhibited activating phosphorylation of PKCδ and PI3K/Akt, but not IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)1, a well-known MyD88-dependent signaling molecule, and Erk1/2, p38, and JNK. Rottlerin and PKCδ siRNA also inhibited expression of IL-32α and activation of PI3K/Akt, but not of IRAK1 and mitogen activation protein (MAP) kinases. MyD88 siRNA suppressed the expression of IL-32α and the phosphorylation of IRAK1, PI3K, and MAP kinases, but not of PKCδ. Of interest, both Fgr/PKCδ and MyD88-dependent signals regulated PI3K/Akt, suggesting that it is a crosstalk molecule. Among MyD88-dependent MAP kinases, only p38 regulated IL-32α expression and PI3K/Akt activation. With these results, we demonstrated that the expression and secretion of IL-32α are regulated by MyD88-dependent IRAK1/p38/PI3K and independent Fgr/PKCδ/PI3K pathways, and that Fgr and PKCδ are critical for the MyD88-independent IL-32α production.