Carnitine/Organic Cation Transporter OCTN1 Negatively Regulates Activation in Murine Cultured Microglial Cells

Brain immune cells, i.e., microglia, play an important role in the maintenance of brain homeostasis, whereas chronic overactivation of microglia is involved in the development of various neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the regulation of microglial activation may contribute to their treatment. The aim of the present study was to clarify the functional expression of carnitine/organic cation transporter OCTN1/SLC22A4, which recognizes the naturally occurring food-derived antioxidant ergothioneine (ERGO) as a substrate in vivo, in microglia and its role in regulation of microglial activation. Primary cultured microglia derived from wild-type mice (WT-microglia) and mouse microglial cell line BV2 exhibited time-dependent uptake of [³H]- or d9-labeled ERGO. The uptake was markedly decreased in cultured microglia from octn1 gene knockout mice (octn1 ^?/?-microglia) and BV2 cells transfected with small interfering RNA targeting the mouse octn1 gene (siOCTN1). These results demonstrate that OCTN1 is functionally expressed in murine microglial cells. Exposure of WT-microglia to ERGO led to a significant decrease in cellular hypertrophy by LPS-stimulation with concomitant attenuation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that OCTN1-mediated ERGO uptake may suppress cellular hypertrophy via the inhibition of ROS production with microglial activation. The expression of mRNA for interleukin-1β (IL-1β) after LPS-treatment was significantly increased in octn1 ^?/?-microglia and siOCTN1-treated BV2 cells compared to the control cells. Meanwhile, treatment of ERGO minimally affected the induction of IL-1β mRNA by LPS-stimulation in cultured microglia and BV2 cells. Thus, OCTN1 negatively regulated the induction of inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, at least in part, via the transport of unidentified substrates other than ERGO in microglial cells.     

RAC1 expression and role in IL-1β production and oxidative stress generation in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients

Objectives

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a recessively inherited autoinflammatory disorder. The caspase-1-dependent cytokine, IL-1β, plays an important role in FMF pathogenesis, and RAC1 protein has been recently involved in IL-1β secretion. This study aims to investigate RAC1 expression and role in IL-1β and caspase-1 production and oxidative stress generation in FMF.

Materials and methods

The study included 25 FMF patients (nine during attack and remission, and 16 during remission only), and 25 controls. RAC1 expression levels were analyzed by real-time PCR. Ex vivo production of caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-6 and markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, catalase, and glutathione system) were evaluated respectively in supernatants of patients’ and controls’ PBMC and PMN cultures, in the presence and absence of RAC1 inhibitor.

Results

RAC1 gene expression and IL-1β levels were increased in patients in crises compared to those in remission or controls. RAC1 expression levels were correlated with MEFV genotypes, patients carrying the M694V/M694V genotype having a two-fold increase in the expression levels compared to those carrying other genotypes. Caspase-1 levels were higher in LPS-induced PBMC of patients in remission than controls. Spontaneous and LPS-induced IL-1β production were comparable in patients in remission and controls, whereas LPS-induced IL-6 production was enhanced in patients, compared to controls. RAC1 inhibition resulted in a decrease in caspase-1 and IL-1β, but not IL-6, levels. Malondialdehyde levels produced by LPS-stimulated PMNs were increased in patients in remission compared to those in controls, but decreased following RAC1 inhibition. Catalase and GSH activities were reduced in unstimulated PMN culture supernatants of patients in remission compared to controls and were increased in the presence of RAC1 inhibitor.

Conclusion

These results show the involvement of RAC1 in the inflammatory process of FMF by enhancing IL-1β production, through caspase-1 activation, and generating oxidative stress, even during asymptomatic periods.

     

Effect of amikacin on cell wall glycopeptidolipid synthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium abscessus</Emphasis>

Cultivation of the smooth colony Mycobacterium abscessus at the sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amikacin changed its growth pattern including its colony morphology (smooth to rough) and cell arrangement (dispersed to cord formation). In addition, reduced sliding motility and biofilm formation were observed. The amount of glycogpetidolipid (GPL) and mRNA expression of key genes involved in GPL synthesis were decreased in the amikacin-treated M. abscessus strain. An in vitro infection assay revealed that the amikacin-treated smooth M. abscessus strain induced more pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) than that of the smooth strain in murine macrophage cells. These results suggest that long-term exposure to a low concentration of amikacin causes a physical change in the cell wall which may increase its virulence.     

Effect of pro-inflammatory interleukin-17A on epithelial cell phenotype inversion in HK-2 cells <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Background

Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a pathological change common to a variety of chronic renal diseases, ultimately progressing to end-stage renal failure. It is believed that epithelial cell phenotype inversion plays an important role in RIF, which is characterized by expression of the mesenchymal maker α-SMA, loss of the epithelial maker E-cadherin, and enhanced secretion of extracellular matrix. IL-17, a newly discovered pro-inflammatory cytokine, has recently been reported to play an important role in tissue fibrosis, involving pulmonary, liver, intestine and skin tissues. This study aimed to investigate whether IL-17A, a member of the IL-17 family, can induce epithelial cell phenotype inversion, and to explore the molecular mechanism of this phenotype inversion, in vitro.

Methods

HK-2 cells were cultured and incubated with IL-17A. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay, and the secretion of types I and III collagen was detected by ELISA in dose-dependent and time-dependent experiments. To find out whether IL-17A can induce epithelial cell phenotype inversion, HK-2 cells were stimulated with 80 ng/mL of IL-17A and 10 ng/mL of TGF-β1 as a positive control, for 72 h. To explore the potential signaling pathway, anti-TGF-β1 antibody was added before IL-17A treatment. At the same time, anti-TGF-β1 antibody alone was added to the medium as the negative control group. The expression of types I and III collagen, α-SMA and E-cadherin proteins, and mRNA was measured by real-time PCR, western blotting and immuno-histochemistry.

Results

IL-17A promoted the proliferation of HK-2 cells and secretion of types I and III collagen in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Compared with the normal control, IL-17A could stimulate the expression of α-SMA, types I and III collagen, and suppressed the expression of E-cadherin in HK-2 cells. Incubation of IL-17A with TGF-β1 antibody decreased significantly the expression of α-SMA, but increased the expression of E-cadherin in HK-2 cells.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that IL-17A might promote the proliferation of HK-2 cells and secretion of extracellular matrix, and induce epithelial cell phenotype inversion via a TGF-β1-dependent pathway. Blocking the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17A might be a potential target for the treatment of fibrotic kidney disease.

     

Involvement of Nuclear Receptor REV-ERBβ in Formation of Neurites and Proliferation of Cultured Adult Neural Stem Cells

Neural stem cells (NSCs) serve as the source of both neurons and support cells, and neurogenesis is reportedly linked to the circadian clock. This study aimed to clarify the functional role of the circadian rhythm-related nuclear receptor, REV-ERBβ, in neurogenesis of NSCs from adult brain. Accordingly, Rev-erbβ expression and the effect of Rev-erbβ gene-specific knockdown on neurogenesis in vitro was examined in adult rodent NSCs. Initial experiments confirmed REV-ERBβ expression in cultured adult NSCs, while subsequent gene expression and gene ontogeny analyses identified functional genes upregulated or downregulated by REV-ERBβ. In particular, expression levels of factors associated with proliferation, stemness, and neural differentiation were affected. Knockdown of Rev-erbβ showed involvement of REV-ERBβ in regulation of cellular proliferation and self-renewal of cultured adult NSCs. Moreover, Rev-erbβ-knockdown cells formed neurons with a slightly shrunken morphology, fewer new primary neurites, and reduced length and branch formation of neurites. Altogether, this suggests that REV-ERBβ is involved in neurite formation during neuronal differentiation of cultured adult NSCs. In summary, REV-ERBβ is a known circadian regulatory protein that appears to be involved in neurogenesis via regulation of networks for cell proliferation and neural differentiation/maturation in adult NSCs.     

Downregulation of expression of mater genes <Emphasis Type="Italic">SOX9, FOXA2</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">GATA4</Emphasis> in pancreatic cancer cells stimulated with TGFβ1 epithelial–mesenchymal transition

We show characteristic morphological changes corresponding to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) program fulfillment in PANC1 cell line stimulated with TGFβ1. Our results support downregulation of E-cadherin protein. We show 5- and 28-fold increase in SNAI1 and SNAI2 expression levels and 25- and 15-fold decrease in CDH1 and KRT8 expression levels, respectively, which confirms the EMT-program fulfillment. We demonstrate downregulation of expression of pancreatic master genes SOX9, FOXA2, and GATA4 (2-, 5-, and 4-fold, respectively) and absence of significant changes in HES1, NR5A2, and GATA6 expression levels in the cells stimulated with TGFβ1. Our results indicate the absence of induction of expression of PTF1A, PDX1, HNF1b, NEUROG3, RPBJL, NKX6.1, and ONECUT1 genes, which are inactive in PANC1 cell line after the EMT stimulated by TGFβ1.     

Effects of different omega-3 sources,fish oil,krill oil,and green-lipped mussel against cytokine-mediated canine cartilage degradation

Our purpose was to evaluate the protective effect of three marine omega-3 sources, fish oil (FO), krill oil (KO), and green-lipped mussel (GLM) against cartilage degradation. Canine cartilage explants were stimulated with either 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β (IL-1β) or IL-1β/oncostatin M (10 ng/mL each) and then treated with various concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 3 and 30 μg/mL), FO, KO, or GLM (250, 500, and 1000 μg/mL) for 28 days. Gene expression was then investigated in primary canine chondrocytes. Our results showed that DHA and EPA as well as omega-3 sources could suppress matrix degradation in cytokine-induced cartilage explants by significantly reducing the increase of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (s-GAGs) and preserving uronic acid and hydroxyproline content (except GLM). These agents were not able to reduce IL-1β-induced IL1B and TNFA expression but were able to down-regulate the expression of the catabolic genes MMP1, MMP3, and MMP13 and up-regulate the anabolic genes AGG and COL2A1; FO and KO were especially effective. Our findings indicated that FO and KO were superior to GLM for their protective effect against proteoglycan and collagen degradation. Hence, FO and KO could serve as promising sources of chondroprotective agents.     

Anti-inflammatory effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaeodactylum tricornutum</Emphasis> extracts on human blood mononuclear cells and murine macrophages

The microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum (PT) is known for its high content of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to attenuate inflammation. Additionally, this microalga contains other nutrients such as carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, and carotenoids and therefore could be of interest for animal and human nutrition. Here, we investigated the effects of hexane, ethanolic, and aqueous extracts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and on the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Further, the cytotoxicity of the extracts was studied using the MTT assay. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was significantly inhibited by the ethanolic and aqueous P. tricornutum extracts but not by the hexane extract. Both at the mRNA and at the protein levels, the aqueous extract inhibited LPS-induced IL-6, IL-1β, TNFα, and COX-2 expression and release by up to 96% (mRNA) and 79% (protein) in a dose-dependent manner. Compared to the aqueous extract, the ethanolic extract was less effective in cytokine inhibition. The production of nitric oxide in RAW 264.7 cells was significantly reduced by all extracts. We showed that the anti-inflammatory effect of P. tricornutum is exerted through inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activation and dependent on the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. Our data indicate anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous P. tricornutum extract and provide a basis information on the safety and potential health benefits of P. tricornutum usage for future animal and human nutrition.     

The protection of novel 2-arylethenylquinoline derivatives against impairment of associative learning memory induced by neural Aβ in <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. elegans</Emphasis> Alzheimer’s disease model

Cerebral deposition of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), a fundamental feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), damages the neurocytes and impairs the cognition functions and associative learning memory of AD patients. A series of novel 2-arylethenylquinoline derivatives were synthesized and evaluated in our previous study, which inhibited Aβ aggregation in vitro effectively at the concentration of 20 μmol/L and exhibited high antioxidant activity. In order to verify the capacity of anti-AD in vivo, the transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strain CL2355 expressing neural Aβ was employed as the AD model to investigate the neuroprotective activity of seven high-potential compounds (4a1, 4a2, 4b1, 4b2, 4c1, 4c2, 4c3) selected from those derivatives. Learning memory associated chemotaxis assay was performed to evaluate the neural repairment capacity. The underlying mechanism was investigated by mRNA analysis of Aβ gene and heat shock protein genes (hsp-16.1 and hsp-16.2) and Western blot of Aβ. Our data indicated that among seven tested compound, 4b1 and 4c2 reduced Aβ-induced stress, suppressed the expression of neural Aβ monomers and toxic oligomers, and recovered the damaged associative learning memory in C. elegans AD model. These findings further confirmed their potentials to become valuable agents for AD therapy.     

Effects of Selenium Supplementation on Gene Expression Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients with Gestational Diabetes

Selenium is known to exert multiple beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory actions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of selenium supplementation on gene expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in women with gestational diabetes (GDM). This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out among 40 subjects diagnosed with GDM aged 18–40 years old. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either 200 μg/day selenium supplements (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) for 6 weeks. Gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and VEGF were assessed in lymphocytes of GDM women with RT-PCR method. Results of RT-PCR indicated that after the 6-week intervention, compared with the placebo, selenium supplementation downregulated gene expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P = 0.02) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) (P = 0.01), and upregulated gene expression of VEGF (P = 0.03) in lymphocytes of patients with GDM. There was no statistically significant change following supplementation with selenium on gene expression of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-8 in lymphocytes of subjects with GDM. Selenium supplementation for 6 weeks in women with GDM significantly decreased gene expression of TNF-α and TGF-β, and significantly increased gene expression of VEGF, but did not affect gene expression of IL-1β and IL-8. Clinical trial registration number http://www.irct.ir: IRCT201612045623N95.     

Increased IL-1β levels are associated with an imbalance of “oxidant/antioxidant” status during Behçet’s disease

Background

Behçet’s disease is a multisystem disease. It stands at the crossroad between the autoimmunity and auto-inflammatory disorders. In this study, we sought to address a relationship that might exist between interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and the oxidants/antioxidants markers in Behçet’s patients.

Methods

Behçet’s disease patients (n = 78: active stage, n = 28; inactive stage, n = 50) and 41 healthy controls have been included in our study. In this context, we investigated the plasma levels of IL-1β and the nitrosative/oxidative markers: nitric oxide (NO), advanced oxidative protein products (AOPP) and fatty acids peroxidation-malondialdehyde (MDA). The antioxidant system was assessed by measuring the plasma level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The Mann-Whitney’s U and Pearson’s correlation tests were used for statistical analyses.

Results

Our case-control study showed that patients in active stage displayed higher plasma levels of IL-1β, NO, AOPP and MDA versus healthy controls and patients in inactive stage. Patients in active stage showed significantly lower SOD levels related to patients in inactive stage and healthy controls respectively, whereas patients in inactive stage showed statistically insignificant SOD level versus healthy controls. Correlation studies showed a significant positive correlation between IL-1β and AOPP, IL-1β and NO, and negative correlation between IL-1β and SOD among Behçet’s disease patients. In addition, we showed positive correlation between AOPP and NO, AOPP and MDA and negative correlation between NO and SOD, AOPP and SOD in Behçet’s disease patients.

Conclusion

Interestingly, our study revealed that IL-1β levels increased and correlated with an imbalance of oxidants/antioxidants system, especially during active stage of Behçet disease. Collectively, our study indicates a possible link between IL-1β production and nitrosative/oxidative markers during Behçet’s disease. Exploiting this relationship might provide valuable outputs in the follow-up and prognosis of Behçet’s disease with a potential therapeutic value.

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bordetella bronchiseptica</Emphasis> bateriophage suppresses <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. bronchiseptica</Emphasis>-induced inflammation in swine nasal turbinate cells

The development of therapeutic bacteriophages will provide several benefits based on an understanding the basic physiological dynamics of phage and bacteria interactions for therapeutic use in light of the results of antibiotic abuse. However, studies on bacteriophage therapeutics against microbes are very limited, because of lack of phage stability and an incomplete understanding of the physiological intracellular mechanisms of phage. The major objective of this investigation was to provide opportunity for development of a novel therapeutic treatment to control respiratory diseases in swine. The cytokine array system was used to identify the secreted cytokines/chemokines after Bordetella bronchiseptica infection into swine nasal turbinate cells (PT-K75). We also performed the real-time quantitative PCR method to investigate the gene expression regulated by B. bronchiseptica infection or bacteriophage treatment. We found that B. bronchiseptica infection of PT-K75 induces secretion of many cytokines/chemokines to regulate airway inflammation. Of them, secretion and expression of IL-1β and IL-6 are increased in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, membrane-bound mucin production via expression of the Muc1 gene is increased in B. bronchiseptica-infected PT-K75 cells. However, cytokine production and Muc1 gene expression are dramatically inhibited by treatment with a specific B. bronchiseptica bacteriophage (Bor-BRP-1). The regulation of cytokine profiles in B. bronchiseptica-induced inflammation by B. bronchiseptica bacteriophage is essential for avoiding inappropriate inflammatory responses. The ability of bacteriophages to downregulate the immune response by inhibiting bacterial infection emphasizes the possibility of bacteriophage-based therapies as a novel anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategy in swine respiratory tracts.     

Differential usage of NF-κB activating signals by IL-1β and TNF-α in pancreatic beta cells

The cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α induce β-cell death in type 1 diabetes via NF-κB activation. IL-1β induces a more marked NF-κB activation than TNF-α, with higher expression of genes involved in β-cell dysfunction and death. We show here a differential usage of the IKK complex by IL-1β and TNF-α in β-cells. While TNF-α uses IKK complexes containing both IKKα and IKKβ, IL-1β induces complexes with IKKα only; this effect is achieved by induction of IKKβ degradation via the proteasome. Both IKKγ and activation of the TRAF6-TAK1-JNK pathway are involved in IL-1β-induced IKKβ degradation.