Cholesterol metabolism: from lipidomics to immunology

Oxysterols, the oxidized forms of cholesterol or of its precursors, are formed in the first steps of cholesterol metabolism. Oxysterols have interested chemists, biologists, and physicians for many decades, but their exact biological relevance in vivo, other than as intermediates in bile acid biosynthesis, has long been debated. However, in the first quarter of this century, a role for side-chain oxysterols and their C-7 oxidized metabolites has been convincingly established in the immune system. 25-Hydroxycholesterol has been shown to be synthesized by macrophages in response to the activation of Toll-like receptors and to offer protection against microbial pathogens, whereas 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol has been shown to act as a chemoattractant to lymphocytes expressing the G protein-coupled receptor Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 2 and to be important in coordinating the action of B cells, T cells, and dendritic cells in secondary lymphoid tissue. There is a growing body of evidence that not only these two oxysterols but also many of their isomers are of importance to the proper function of the immune system. Here, we review recent findings related to the roles of oxysterols in immunology.     

Phosphomannopentaose sulfate (PI-88) inhibits retinal leukostasis in diabetic rat

Retinal leukostasis, mediated by intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been implicated in the pathogenesis of early diabetic retinopathy. Phosphomannopentaose sulfate (PI-88) is a highly sulfonated oligosaccharide which inhibits heparanase activity and competes with heparan sulfate binding to growth factors. In this study, we evaluated whether PI-88 could inhibit retinal leukostasis in strepotzotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rat and elucidated the possible mechanisms. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of STZ. Three months after induction, diabetic rats were administered PI-88 (25 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle solution daily via i.p. for 14 consecutive days. Leukostasis was analyzed on retinal flatmounts by concanavalin A and CD45 immunofluorescence staining. Retinal function was analyzed by electroretinography (ERG). ICAM-1 and VEGF levels in retinas were studied by Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. The systemic administration of PI-88, but not vehicle, significantly decreased the number of adherent leukocytes in retinas by 52.24% (P < 0.001) and led to significant preservation (about 50%, P < 0.001) of scotopic ERG a- and b-wave amplitudes in treated diabetic rats as compared to those of diabetic control rats. These changes were associated with downregulation of ICAM-1 (45%, P < 0.001) and VEGF (26.83 ± 2.01 versus 40.8 ± 3.24 pg/mg, P < 0.01) in retinas of PI-88 treated diabetic rats as compared to those of diabetic control rats. PI-88 significantly inhibited retinal leukostasis and reversed retinal dysfunction by a mechanism that may include decreased ICAM-1 and VEGF expression in diabetic rats. Our data suggests that PI-88 is a promising agent for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.     

New 2-naphthyloxyacetates for trunk sucker growth control on grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

Eighteen new hexyl esters of 2-naphthyloxyacetic acid (-NOA) were synthesized and their efficiency on sucker control of grapevine was investigated. Different solutions (0.5, 1, and 2%, w/w concentrations) of each compound were sprayed on suckers and the wilting effect after 4, 10, and 30 days after treatment was evaluated. Esters derived from primary and secondary alcohols gave a rapid control of suckers, whereas tertiary alcohol derivatives showed milder activity. Moreover, all compounds proved to cause a long-lasting inhibition effect on the growth of new suckers even 1 year after treatment, especially when applied at a 2% concentration.     

Blocking the MyD88-dependent pathway protects the myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat hearts

We examined whether blocking the MyD88 mediated pathway could protect myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by transfecting Ad5-dnMyD88 into the myocardium of rats (n=8) 3 days before the hearts were subjected to ischemia (45min) and reperfusion (4h). Ad5-GFP served as control (n=8). One group of rats was (n=8) subjected to I/R without transfection. Transfection of Ad5-dnMyD88 significantly reduced infarct size by 53.6% compared with the I/R group (15.1+/-3.02 vs 32.5+/-2.59) while transfection of Ad5-GFP did not affect I/R induced myocardial injury (35.4+/-2.59 vs 32.5+/-2.59). Transfection of Ad5-dnMyD88 significantly inhibited I/R-enhanced NFkappaB activity by 50% and increased the levels of phospho-Akt by 35.6% and BCL-2 by 81%, respectively. Cardiac myocyte apoptosis after I/R was significantly reduced by 59% in the Ad5-dnMyD88 group. The results demonstrate that both inhibition of the NFkappaB activation pathway and activation of the Akt signaling pathway may be responsible for the protective effect of transfection of dominant negative MyD88.     

In vitro Cell Migration and Invasion Assays

Migration is a key property of live cells and critical for normal development, immune response, and disease processes such as cancer metastasis and inflammation. Methods to examine cell migration are very useful and important for a wide range of biomedical research such as cancer biology, immunology, vascular biology, cell biology and developmental biology. Here we use tumor cell migration and invasion as an example and describe two related assays to illustrate the commonly used, easily accessible methods to measure these processes. The first method is the cell culture wound closure assay in which a scratch is generated on a confluent cell monolayer. The speed of wound closure and cell migration can be quantified by taking snapshot pictures with a regular inverted microscope at several time intervals. More detailed cell migratory behavior can be documented using the time-lapse microscopy system. The second method described in this paper is the transwell cell migration and invasion assay that measures the capacity of cell motility and invasiveness toward a chemo-attractant gradient. It is our goal to describe these methods in a highly accessible manner so that the procedures can be successfully performed in research laboratories even just with basic cell biology setup.     

Implantation of Inferior Vena Cava Interposition Graft in Mouse Model

Biodegradable scaffolds seeded with bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMCs) are often used for reconstructive surgery to treat congenital cardiac anomalies. The long-term clinical results showed excellent patency rates, however, with significant incidence of stenosis. To investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of vascular neotissue formation and prevent stenosis development in tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs), we developed a mouse model of the graft with approximately 1 mm internal diameter. First, the TEVGs were assembled from biodegradable tubular scaffolds fabricated from a polyglycolic acid nonwoven felt mesh coated with ε-caprolactone and L-lactide copolymer. The scaffolds were then placed in a lyophilizer, vacuumed for 24 hr, and stored in a desiccator until cell seeding. Second, bone marrow was collected from donor mice and mononuclear cells were isolated by density gradient centrifugation. Third, approximately one million cells were seeded on a scaffold and incubated O/N. Finally, the seeded scaffolds were then implanted as infrarenal vena cava interposition grafts in C57BL/6 mice. The implanted grafts demonstrated excellent patency (>90%) without evidence of thromboembolic complications or aneurysmal formation. This murine model will aid us in understanding and quantifying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neotissue formation in the TEVG.     

松江鲈(Trachiderm usfasciatus)髓样分化因子MyD88基因克隆与组织表达分析

髓样分化因子(My D88)是TOLL样受体介导的信号通路中的一个关键接头分子,通过激活核转录因子(nuclear factor-kappa B,NF-κB)而参与机体的先天免疫。克隆了松江鲈的My D88基因(命名为Tf My D88),并对该基因进行了生物信息学和表达模式分析。结果显示,Tf My D88 c DNA序列全长1 555 bp,5'UTR长89 bp,3'UTR长599 bp;开放阅读框长度为867 bp,编码288个氨基酸。SMART软件预测Tf My D88分子的N端为一个保守的死亡结构域(death domain,DD),C端存在典型的TIR(Toll/interleukin-1 receptor)结构域。Tf My D88与其它脊椎动物My D88的氨基酸相似性达57.58%-82.64%,系统进化树分析表明Tf My D88与同属鲈形总目的花鲈和鳜鱼聚在一起,所有鱼类My D88聚为一支。Real-time PCR检测显示Tf My D88广泛表达于松江鲈各组织,但在鳃中的相对表达量最高;其次为脾脏和皮肤。LPS(lipopolysaccharide)刺激后,Tf My D88在松江鲈的血液、肝脏、皮肤、脾脏均出现明显上调。刺激2 h后,在血液Tf My D88表达量升高了近60倍,在皮肤中的表达量也升高了27倍。上述结果表明Tf My D88可能参与松江鲈先天免疫。     

UNC93B1 and Nucleic Acid-sensing Toll-like Receptors Mediate Host Resistance to Infection with Leishmania major

The mammalian homolog B1 of Unc-93 Caenorhabditis elegans known as UNC93B1 is a chaperone protein that mediates translocation of the nucleic acid-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) from the endoplasmic reticulum to the endolysosomes. The triple deficient (UNC93B1 mutant) mice have a functional single point mutation in the UNC93B1 that results in non-functional TLR3, TLR7, and TLR9. Herein, we demonstrate that UNC93B1 mutant mice, in the C57BL/6 (resistant) genetic background, are highly susceptible to Leishmania major infection. Enhanced swelling of the footpad was associated with high levels of interleukin 10, decreased levels of interferon γ, and increased parasitism. None of the single TLR3, TLR7, and TLR9 knock-out (KO) mice resemble the UNC93B1 mutant phenotype upon infection with L. major. Whereas the double TLR7/TLR9 KO showed a partial phenotype, the triple TLR3/TLR7/TLR9 KO mice were as susceptible as the UNC93B1 mutant mice, when infected with Leishmania parasites. Finally, we demonstrate that treatment with either anti-interleukin 10 receptor monoclonal antibody or recombinant interleukin 12 restored a robust anti-parasite T_H1 response and reverted the susceptible phenotype of UNC93B1 mutant mice. Altogether, our results indicate the redundant and essential role of nucleic acid-sensing TLR3, TLR7 and TLR9 in inducing interleukin 12, development of a T_H1 response, and resistance to L. major infection in resistant C57BL/6 mice.     

Antioxidant protective effect of flavonoids on linoleic acid peroxidation induced by copper(II)/ascorbic acid system

Antioxidants are compounds that can delay or inhibit lipid oxidation. The peroxidation of linoleic acid (LA) in the absence and presence of Cu(II) ion–ascorbate combinations was investigated in aerated and incubated emulsions at 37 °C and pH 7. LA peroxidation induced by copper(II)–ascorbic acid system followed first order kinetics with respect to hydroperoxides concentration. The extent of copper-initiated peroxide production in a LA system assayed by ferric thiocyanate method was used to determine possible antioxidant and prooxidant activities of the added flavonoids. The effects of three different flavonoids of similar structure, i.e. quercetin (QR), morin (MR) and catechin (CT), as potential antioxidant protectors were studied in the selected peroxidation system. The inhibitive order of flavonoids in the protection of LA peroxidation was: morin > catechin ≥ quercetin, i.e. agreeing with that of formal reduction potentials versus NHE at pH 7, i.e. 0.60, 0.57 and 0.33 V for MR, CT, and QR, respectively. Morin showed antioxidant effect at all concentrations whereas catechin and quercetin showed both antioxidant and prooxidant effects depending on their concentrations. The structural requirements for antioxidant activity in flavonoids interestingly coincide with those for Cu(II)-induced prooxidant activity, because as the reducing power of a flavonoid increases, Cu(II)–Cu(I) reduction is facilitated that may end up with the production of reactive species. The findings of this study were evaluated in the light of structure–activity relationships of flavonoids, and the results are believed to be useful to better understand the actual conditions where flavonoids may act as prooxidants in the preservation of heterogeneous food samples containing traces of transition metal ions.