Importance of the HIF pathway in cobalt nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity and inflammation in human macrophages

Abstract

Recent, unexpected high failure rates of metal-on-metal hip implants have reintroduced the issue of cobalt toxicity. An adverse reaction to cobalt ions and cobalt-induced lung injury occurs during environmental exposure and is now strictly controlled. Currently adverse reaction occurs to cobalt nanoparticles during wear and tear of metal-on-metal hip implants of which the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The putative role of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway in the mechanism of cobalt nanoparticle (Co-NPs) toxicity was examined using the U937 cell line, human alveolar macrophages and monocyte-derived macrophages. Co-NPs (5–20?μg/ml)-induced cytotoxicity (viability ranged from 75% to <20% of control, respectively) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas a comparable concentration of cobalt ions (Co(II); up to 350?μM) did not. Co-NPs induced HIF-1α stabilization. Addition of ascorbic acid (100?µM) and glutathione (1?mM) both prevented the increased ROS. However, only treatment with ascorbic acid reduced HIF-1α levels and prevented cell death, indicating that a ROS-independent pathway is involved in Co-NPs-induced cytotoxicity. Replenishing intracellular ascorbate, which is crucial in preventing HIF pathway activation, modified Co-induced HIF target gene expression and the inflammatory response, by decreasing interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) mRNA and protein expression. Addition of glutathione had no effect on Co-NPs-induced HIF target gene expression or inflammatory response. Thus, Co-NPs induce the HIF pathway by depleting intracellular ascorbate, leading to HIF stabilization and pathway activation. This suggests a strong, ROS-independent role for HIF activation in Co-NPs-induced cytotoxicity and a possible role for HIF in metal-on-metal hip implant pathology.     

Targeting the proteasome pathway

Background: The ubiquitin–proteasome pathway functions as a main pathway in intracellular protein degradation and plays a vital role in almost all cellular events. Various inhibitors of this pathway have been developed for research purposes. The recent approval of bortezomib (PS-341, Velcade^®), a proteasome inhibitor, for the treatment of multiple myeloma has opened the way to the discovery of drugs targeting the proteasome and other components of the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Objectives: We review the current understanding of the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway and inhibitors targeting this pathway, including proteasome inhibitors, as candidate drugs for chemical therapy. Methods: Preclinical and clinical data for inhibitors of the proteasome and the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway are discussed. Conclusions: The proteasome and other members in the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway have emerged as novel therapeutic targets.     

Targeting remodeling in respiratory inflammation

Chronic asthma causes considerable morbidity, mortality and utilization of healthcare resources. The fact that asthma still causes such problems despite the widespread use of anti-inflammatory treatment suggests that new approaches are needed. Airways in chronic asthma are characterized by considerable remodeling which affects a number of structures, particularly airway smooth muscle and changes in airway smooth muscle thickness may be one of the most important determinants of bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Here we suggest new approaches that might be used to target smooth muscle remodeling in asthma.     

Targeting the stromal microenvironment in chronic inflammation

A characteristic feature of chronic inflammatory reactions is their persistence and predilection for certain sites. The molecular basis for such tissue tropism (as, for example, seen with metastatic spread) has until recently remained obscure, but recent studies have strongly implicated tissue-resident, stromal cells, such as macrophages, endothelial cells and fibroblasts. These cell types make attractive therapeutic targets as they help define the three-dimensional structure of tissues and are key orchestrators of the inflammatory infiltrate. Most current anti-inflammatory therapies target immune cells in an attempt to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediators; however, an equally important target is the active induction of anti-inflammatory mediators involved in the resolution of inflammation. Recent work suggests that stromal cells are an important source of these mediators. Targeting of multiple signals may be required to inhibit tissue damage associated with inflammatory disease. Cells of the monocyte lineage are present as tissue-resident cells and interact closely with other stromal populations. These cells form an ideal target for modulation of the inflammatory environment as, in some cases, they appear to induce tissue repair. Therapeutic manipulation of the stromal microenvironment has been particularly effective in treating cancer and is likely to provide a novel method to achieve improved control of chronic inflammatory disease.     

Targeting the Hedgehog pathway in cancer

Several key signalling pathways, such as Hedgehog, Notch, Wnt and BMP-TGFbeta-Activin (bone morphogenetic protein-transforming growth factor-beta-Activin), are involved in most processes essential to the proper development of an embryo. It is also becoming increasingly clear that these pathways can have a crucial role in tumorigenesis when reactivated in adult tissues through sporadic mutations or other mechanisms. We will focus here on the Hedgehog pathway, which is abnormally activated in most basal cell carcinomas, and discuss potential therapeutic opportunities offered by the progress made in understanding this signalling pathway.     

Targeting silibinin in the antiproliferative pathway

Importance of the field: Due to the failure and severe toxicity of cancer chemotherapy, silibinin, a natural flavonoid from the seeds of milk thistle, has recently received more attention for its potential anticancer and nontoxic roles in animals and humans. Silibinin has clearly demonstrated inhibition of multiple cancer cell signaling pathways, including growth inhibition, inhibition of angiogenesis, chemosensitization, and inhibition of invasion and metastasis. Cumulative evidence implicates that silibinin is a potential agent for cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy.

Areas covered in this review: Our aim is to discuss the recent progress of silibinin in regulating multiple anticancer proliferative signaling pathways; the review covers literature mainly from the past 3 – 5 years.

What the reader will gain: One of the strategies for tumor therapy is eradication of cancer cells through targeting specific cell-proliferative pathways. This review highlights the current knowledge of silibinin in regulating multiple cellular proliferative pathways in cancer cells, including receptor tyrosine kinases, androgen receptor, STATs, NF-κB, cell cycle regulatory and apoptotic signaling pathways.

Take home message: The molecular mechanisms of silibinin-mediated antiproliferative effects are mainly via receptor tyrosine kinases, androgen receptor, STATs, NF-κB, cell cycle regulatory and apoptotic signaling pathways in various cancer cells. Targeting inhibition of proliferative pathways through silibinin treatment may provide a new approach for improving chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects.     

Targeting the AKT pathway in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. The treatment options for patients diagnosed with GBM are limited and the current median survival is 14-16 months following diagnosis. Genetic mutations have been identified that act as drivers of GBM growth and these should be considered as a basis for identifying novel therapeutic strategies. AKT is a downstream serine/threonine kinase in the RTK/PTEN/PI3K pathway and large scale genomic analysis of GBM has demonstrated that this pathway is mutated in the majority of GBMs. This RTK/PTEN/PI3K pathway leads to activated AKT and phospho-AKT levels are elevated in the majority of GBM tumor samples and cell lines, which studies show help glioma cells grow uncontrolled, evade apoptosis, and enhance tumor invasion. AKT represents a nodal point in this pathway which allows for amplification of growth signals, thereby making inhibition of AKT an attractive target for GBM therapy. Many different classes of AKT inhibitors exist, however, few have been tested sufficiently to demonstrate in vivo efficacy. This article will summarize the key components of the Akt pathway with special attention to gliomas, the genetic alterations driving this pathway in gliomas, and the studies evaluating inhibitors of this pathway. Inhibitors of the Akt pathway represent a potential treatment option against GBM and additional research efforts are required to fully explore and develop this possible treatment strategy.     

Targeting IL-17 in autoimmunity and inflammation

The discovery of two distinct subsets of helper T cells, IFN-γ-producing Th1 cells and IL-4-producing Th2 cells, about three decades ago enabled us to understand the immunopathology of cell-mediated and allergic inflammatory diseases in humans. The observation that T cell-mediated experimental autoimmune diseases can be induced in mice lacking Th1 and Th2 cell responses prompted many immunologists to hypothesize that there might be additional subsets in helper T cell population which mediate autoimmunity in the absence of Th1 and Th2 cells. Consequently, multiple independent research groups identified IL-17-expressing RORγt⁺CD4⁺ T cell population as a distinct subset of helper T cells which promotes autoimmune tissue inflammation. Subsequent studies have revealed that innate immune cells, including γδ T cells, NKT cells and innate lymphoid cells, also produce type 17 cytokines and contribute to tissue inflammation. In this review, we discuss our current understanding on the biology of IL-17 and the therapeutic potential of targeting IL-17 for the treatment of immune disorders in humans.     

Targeting leukotriene B4 in inflammation

Introduction: Leukotriene (LT) B₄ is a powerful proinflammatory lipid mediator and triggers adherence to the endothelium, activates and recruits leukocytes to the site of injury. When formed in excess, LTB₄ plays a pathogenic role and may sustain chronic inflammation in diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Recent investigations have also indicated that LTB₄ is involved in cardiovascular diseases.

Areas covered: As the 5-lipoxygenase pathway involves several discrete, tightly coupled, enzymes, which convert the substrate, ‘step by step', into bioactive products, several different strategies have been used to target LTB₄ as a means to treat inflammation. Here, we discuss recent findings regarding the development of selective enzyme inhibitors and antagonists for LTB₄ receptors, as well as their application in preclinical and clinical studies.

Expert opinion: Components of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway have received considerable attention as candidate drug targets resulting in one new class of medications against asthma, that is, the antileukotrienes. However, efforts to specifically target LTB₄ have not yet been fruitful in the clinical setting, in spite of very promising preclinical data. Recently, crystal structures along with hitherto unknown functions of key enzymes in the leukotriene cascade have emerged, offering new opportunities for drug development and, with time, pharmacological intervention in LTB₄-mediated pathologies.     

Targeting chemoattractant receptors in allergic inflammation

Asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, which are amongst the most clinically relevant allergic disorders in industrialized countries affecting hundreds of millions of people world-wide, are characterized by tissue infiltration of Th2 cells, eosinophils, mast cells and basophils. Recruitment of these leukocyte subpopulations proceeds in response to specific chemotactic clues produced by tissue resident cells and is further amplified by incoming leukocytes. Over the last decade a number of receptors for chemokines and other chemoattractants have been identified on distinct leukocyte subpopulations participating to the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation. Preferential expression of discrete chemoattractant receptors on relevant cell types and their up-regulation in affected organs and animal models of allergic inflammation has helped to restrict the list of culprits. Although searching of the appropriate target for pharmacological intervention is still in progress, discrete chemoattractant receptors are already attracting a strong interest from the pharmaceutical industry. Here, we will review the most recent advances on the role that specific chemoattractant receptors play in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation and will discuss emerging developments in this field.     

Targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in cancer therapy

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a central role in the degradation of proteins involved in several pathways including the cell cycle, cellular proliferation and apoptosis. Bortezomib is the first proteasome inhibitor to enter clinical use, and received approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, therefore validating inhibition of the proteasome as an anticancer target. The approval of Bortezomib was based on a large, international, multicenter phase III trial showing its efficacy and safety compared with conventional therapy. Preclinical data also demonstrates the synergistic effect of bortezomib with other chemotherapeutic agents and its ability to overcome drug resistance. Since then several other proteasome inhibitors have been developed. The anti-tumor activities of bortezomib have been attributed to its effect on pro-apoptotic pathways including the inhibition of NF-kappaB and induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress. However, the molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In this review, we will summarize the molecular mechanism of apoptosis by bortezomib.     

Targeting Rho-GTPases in immune cell migration and inflammation

Leukocytes are unmatched migrators capable of traversing barriers and tissues of remarkably varied structural composition. An effective immune response relies on the ability of its constituent cells to infiltrate target sites. Yet, unwarranted mobilization of immune cells can lead to inflammatory diseases and tissue damage ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening. The efficacy and plasticity of leukocyte migration is driven by the precise spatiotemporal regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. The small GTPases of the Rho family (Rho-GTPases), and their immediate downstream effector kinases, are key regulators of cellular actomyosin dynamics and are therefore considered prime pharmacological targets for stemming leukocyte motility in inflammatory disorders. This review describes advances in the development of small-molecule inhibitors aimed at modulating the Rho-GTPase-centric regulatory pathways governing motility, many of which stem from studies of cancer invasiveness. These inhibitors promise the advent of novel treatment options with high selectivity and potency against immune-mediated pathologies.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Cytoskeleton, Extracellular Matrix, Cell Migration, Wound Healing and Related Topics. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2014.171.issue-24     

Targeting selectins and selectin ligands in inflammation and cancer

Inflammation and cancer metastasis are associated with extravasation of leukocytes or tumor cells from blood into tissue. Such movement is believed to follow a coordinated and sequential molecular cascade initiated, in part, by the three members of the selectin family of carbohydrate-binding proteins: E-selectin (CD62E), L-selectin (CD62L) and P-selectin (CD62P). E-selectin is particularly noteworthy in disease by virtue of its expression on activated endothelium and on bone-skin microvascular linings and for its role in cell rolling, cell signaling and chemotaxis. E-selectin, along with L- or P-selectin, mediates cell tethering and rolling interactions through the recognition of sialo-fucosylated Lewis carbohydrates expressed on structurally diverse protein-lipid ligands on circulating leukocytes or tumor cells. Major advances in understanding the role of E-selectin in inflammation and cancer have been advanced by experiments assaying E-selectin-mediated rolling of leukocytes and tumor cells under hydrodynamic shear flow, by clinical models of E-selectin-dependent inflammation, by mice deficient in E-selectin and by mice deficient in glycosyltransferases that regulate the binding activity of E-selectin ligands. Here, the authors elaborate on how E-selectin and its ligands may facilitate leukocyte or tumor cell recruitment in inflammatory and metastatic settings. Antagonists that target cellular interactions with E-selectin and other members of the selectin family, including neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, competitive ligand inhibitors or metabolic carbohydrate mimetics, exemplify a growing arsenal of potentially effective therapeutics in controlling inflammation and the metastatic behavior of cancer.