IL-17 induces myocardial fibrosis and enhances RANKL/OPG and MMP/TIMP signaling in isoproterenol-induced heart failure

Objective

This study was designed to investigate whether IL-17 can regulate the expression of the MMP/TIMP system, the OPG/RANK/RANKL system, or type-I and type-III collagen fibers in a rat model of isoproterenol-induced heart failure (HF). We also investigated the effect of IL-17 on myocardial fibrosis in this model.

Methods

HF was induced in Wistar–Kyoto rats by hypodermic injection of isoproterenol (ISO) twice every 24 h. After 2 months, the surviving rats were divided into three groups: monoclonal Anti-IL-17 Ab (100 μg/day), IgG (100 μg/day) or PBS were injected five times every 48 h (i.p.). One day after the last injection, all of the rats were sacrificed. H&E and Masson staining were used to evaluate myocardial fibrosis, and immunohistochemistry was used to measure the levels of MMP-1, TIMP-1, TIMP-4, OPG, RANKL, type-I and type-III collagen fibers. We also treated adult rat cardiac fibroblasts with IL-17 (10 ng/ml), IL-17 (10 ng/ml) + OPG (10 ng/ml), IL-17 (10 ng/ml) + anti-RANKL Ab (100 ng/ml), or PBS for 24 h, realtime RT-PCR was used to measure the expressions of MMP-1.

Results

The expressions of MMP-1, RANKL, and type-I and -III collagen fibers decreased, and the expressions of TIMP-1, TIMP-4, and OPG increased in the Anti-IL-17 group compared to controls. H&E and Masson staining revealed that blockade of IL-17 can improve myocardial fibrosis in HF. IL-17 increased the expression of MMP-1 in cardiac fibroblasts, and OPG and anti-IL-17 Ab could inhibit this function partly. Thus, IL-17 was dependent on the RANKL/OPG system to induce MMP-1 partly.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates the contribution of IL-17 to myocardial fibrosis in isoproterenol-induced HF. IL-17 can regulate the RANKL/OPG and MMP/TIMP systems in this model. The RANKL/OPG system is one of intermediaries between IL-17 and MMP-1 in cardiac fibroblasts. As a harmful cytokine, anti-IL-17 treatment is a potential therapeutic strategy in HF.     

唑来膦酸对兔成骨细胞分化及骨保护素分泌的影响

目的 探讨不同浓度的唑来膦酸对成骨细胞分化的影响及其对骨保护素(osteoprotegerin,OPG)分泌的促进作用,以期为唑来膦酸的进一步局部应用提供理论依据.方法 利用组织块培养法进行成骨细胞原代及传代培养.原代培养3d后对细胞爬片行碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphatase,ALP)染色,原代培养18 d后将细胞爬片用钙结节染色并鉴定;将唑来膦酸加入含传代第3代成骨细胞悬液的培养液中使其终浓度为0(对照组)、10-5、10-6、10-7、10-8及10-9 mol/L(5个实验组),收集细胞上清液进行ALP检测,用放射免疫测定法测定骨钙素的含量;培养3 d后收集细胞,结合蛋白质印迹法测定细胞分泌的OPG.结果 成骨细胞ALP染色阳性,钙结节茜素红染色呈橘红色钙化结节,唑来膦酸浓度为10-6、10-7、10-8及10-9 mol/L的实验组可促进骨钙素含量增加[分别为(2.80±0.51)、(3.20±0.33)、(4.70±0.35)、(3.40±0.36)μg/L]、ALP活性增强[分别为(5.91±0.35)、(7.62±0.33)、(10.00±0.38)、(8.91±0.29)U/L]、OPG表达升高[分别为(526 955.7±64 068.9)、(661 447.9±75 223.4)、(753 083.3±70 300.0)、(655 184.1±63 401.1)],与对照组[骨钙素含量为(2.40±0.35)μg/L、ALP活性为(4.28±0.36)U/L、OPG表达为(64 713.7±28 715.6)]相比差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.01),并在10-8mol/L组达峰值.结论 唑来膦酸可以提高成骨细胞活性,促进OPG分泌.     

人健康和炎性牙槽骨成骨细胞COX-2、PGE2、OPG,RANKL的表达

目的：初步探讨COX-2、PGE2、OPG和RANKL在牙周炎发病机制中所起的作用及其相互关系。方法：采用组织块法对人健康和牙周炎性牙槽骨进行体外培养和传代,加入含100μg/LrhOPG的不含胎牛血清的DMEM2mL。严格按照ELISA试剂盒说明进行操作,获得各指标的检测数值。结果：牙周炎组RANKL、PGE2、COX-2的表达较健康组明显增高,OPG的表达较健康组明显降低。加入rhOPG后,牙周炎组RANKL、PGE2、COX-2的表达明显降低;OPG表达明显增加。健康组RANKL、PGE2、COX-2表达明显降低;OPG表达增加。结论：RANKL、PGE2、COX-2可促进牙周炎的发生、发展,而OPG对牙周炎的发生、发展可起抑制作用,同时表明人工重组OPG可能协同其内源性OPG来共同抑制RANKL、PGE2、COX-2的活性。     

Relationship of Calcification of Atherosclerotic Plaque and Arterial Stiffness to Bone Mineral Density and Osteoprotegerin in Postmenopausal Women Referred for Osteoporosis Screening

Arterial calcification leading to increased arterial stiffness, a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular disease, may underlie the association of osteoporosis with cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), an indirect inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis, may be involved in arterial calcification. We examined relationships between calcification of subclinical atherosclerotic plaque and arterial stiffness with bone mineral density (BMD) and OPG in a group of 54 postmenopausal women referred for routine osteoporosis screening by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometric scanning of the lumbar spine and hip. Presence of calcified and noncalcified plaque in carotid and femoral arteries was examined using ultrasonography. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), a measure of arterial stiffness, was determined by sequential tonometry over the carotid and femoral region. Fifty-nine percent of osteoporotic women had calcified (echogenic) plaque at one or more sites compared with 42% and 20% for women with osteopenia and normal BMD, respectively (P = 0.04). There was a significant negative correlation between PWV and hip BMD (r = -0.35, P = 0.01), which remained significant when age, mean arterial pressure, and serum lipids were taken into account (P = 0.05). No significant relationships were observed between serum concentrations of OPG and lumbar spine or total hip BMD or with the number of arterial sites with calcified or noncalcified plaque. However, there was a strong correlation between OPG and PWV (r = 0.44, P = 0.001), which remained significant when adjusted for age (P = 0.01). These findings suggest that decreased BMD is associated with arterial calcification and stiffening and raise the possibility that OPG is a marker of arterial stiffening, independent of any association with BMD.     

Bisphosphonate Treatment Increases the Size of the Mandibular Condyle and Normalizes Growth of the Mandibular Ramus in Osteoprotegerin-Deficient Mice

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a novel secreted member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family which plays a crucial role in negative regulation of osteoclastic bone resorption. OPG-deficient (OPG–/–) mice develop severe osteoporosis caused by significant enhancement of bone resorption by osteoclasts. We investigated the effect of administering bisphosphonate on mandibular growth and development in OPG–/– mice. Eight-week-old male OPG–/– mice and wild-type (WT) mice were administered bisphosphonate (1.25 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally once every 3 days for 30 days. All bone formation-related parameters and bone resorption-related parameters were significantly lower in OPG–/– mice with bisphosphonate than in those without bisphosphonate. The volume of the whole condyle and the mandibular length in OPG–/– mice without bisphosphonate were significantly smaller than in WT mice without bisphosphonate. Bisphosphonate treatment of the OPG–/– mice resulted in an increase in the volume of the mandibular condyle and mandibular ramus length. In fact, the mandibular ramus length in OPG–/– mice with bisphosphonate was similar to the length in WT mice without bisphosphonate. Histologically, the surface irregularity of the mandibular condyle that was observed in the OPG–/– mice without bisphosphonate tended to be less marked in the OPG–/– mice with bisphosphonate, and the proportion of the area of the cartilage layer relative to the whole condyle was significantly larger in OPG–/– mice with bisphosphonate than in those without bisphosphonate. In conclusion, bisphosphonate treatment results in an increase in mandibular condylar dimensions and normalization of mandibular ramus growth.     

Statins decrease TNF-alpha-induced osteoprotegerin production by endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in vitro

Recent reports have implicated osteoprotegerin (OPG) in cardiovascular disease processes. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells produce OPG and its expression in these cells is upregulated by inflammatory mediators. Statins, which besides their lipid lowering properties have various vasculoprotective effects, have been shown to regulate OPG expression in osteoblasts. We investigated whether statins affect the expression of OPG in human endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Using an ELISA we could demonstrate that statins reduce tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced OPG production in cultured human endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Atorvastatin also downregulated interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha)-induced OPG production in endothelial cells. A significant reduction of TNF-alpha-induced OPG was seen when statins were used in the nanomolar range. These results were confirmed at the level of specific mRNA expression by real-time-PCR. Using LDH leakage as a marker of cell damage we show that cell viability was not affected by statins at concentrations used in our study. The effect of statins on TNF-alpha-induced OPG production was reversed by mevalonate and geranyl-geranyl pyrophosphate at the level of protein production and at the level of mRNA expression, suggesting that it was brought about by inhibition of the mevalonic acid pathway and protein prenylation. Through our results we have added OPG to the list of molecules whose TNF-alpha-induced upregulation is counteracted by statins. If such an effect is also operative in the in vivo setting, one could postulate a role for statins in the modulation of cardiovascular disease processes possibly regulated by OPG.     

骨保护素系统与冠心病及肺部疾病

骨保护素是调节骨质代谢的重要因子,目前发现骨保护素和多种疾病相关,如冠心病、慢性阻塞性肺疾病和肿瘤等,可以作为这些疾病的生物标记,并有潜在的治疗价值.     

甲状旁腺激素在体外对破骨细胞分化及骨重吸收能力的影响

目的 探讨甲状旁腺激素(PTH)在体外直接对破骨细胞(OCs)分化及骨吸收能力的影响，以及其与成骨细胞(OBs)中核因子kB受体激活剂受体配体(ligand of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B，RANKL)基因和OPG(osteoprotegerin)基因表达的关系。方法体外直接用PTH诱导C3h小鼠全骨髓分化出OCs，用牙片小坑法(pits assayr)观察OCs对骨的重吸收能力。并采用多重RT-PCR方法检测在不同PTH作用浓度和不同作用时间的条件下,OBs中RANKL基因和OPG基因的表达情况。结果(1)PTH在体外可诱导C3h小鼠全骨髓分化出OCs，且在一定浓度范围内，随着PTH增加，OCs的形成数目和骨组织的破坏程度随之增加；(2)在一定PTH浓度和时间范围内，OBs中的RANKL-mRNA及OPG-mRNA表达呈剂量依赖性和时间依赖性。结论 PTH在体外可通过诱导RANKL基因和OPG基因表达而直接影响OCs的分化和骨重吸收功能。     

Rheumatoid arthritis: new insights into the role of synovial inflammation in joint destruction

 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by inflammation and proliferation of synovial tissue, leading to degradation of articular cartilage and bone with functional impairment as a result. It has recently become clear that early suppression of synovial inflammation is essential in preventing progressive joint destruction, although inflammation and destruction are in part uncoupled. New insights into the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), aggrecanase, granzyme B, receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK)–receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) interaction, and other factors involved in joint destruction may lead to the development of novel therapies aimed at specific inhibition of cartilage and bone degradation. Correspondence to:P.P. Tak