Toll样受体4通过转化生长因子β1参与增生性瘢痕形成的机制研究

增生性瘢痕是机体在创伤后过度修复的表现形式之一,其发病机制并不十分明确.最近有证据显示,成纤维细胞能在脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)的作用下,激活toll样受体4(toll like receptor-4,TLR-4),参与调节免疫/炎症反应.因此,探索了TLR-4在增生性瘢痕的产生中可能起到的作用.利用荧光定量PCR检测证实,在体外培养的原代增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞(hyperplastic scar fibroblast,HSFB)中TLR-4和骨髓分化因子88(myeloid differentiation factor 88,MyD88)的表达高于正常皮肤成纤维细胞(normal skin fibroblast,NFB).用LPS处理NFB和HSFB 24 h,发现TLR-4、MyD88和转化生长因子β1(transforming growth factor-beta,TGF-β1)、Ⅰ型前胶原在mRNA和蛋白质水平的表达均上调.MTT也证实LPS促进体外培养的HSFB的增殖效应强于NFB.然而,在HSFB中采用siRNA干扰MyD88后,再用LPS处理,与干扰对照组相比,MyD88、TGF-β1和Ⅰ型前胶原的表达均明显减弱.结果表明,在皮肤成纤维细胞激活TLR-4信号通路,能引起促炎细胞因子TGF-β1的产生,同时促进细胞增殖,而干扰MyD88,能抑制LPS刺激后这些细胞因子的表达.     

Effects of a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor on mutation frequencies in dividing and quiescent C3H10T1/2 cells

The effect of 3-methoxybenzamide, an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, on N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced mutations has been examined in exponentially dividing cells where this inhibitor is a strong potentiator of cytotoxicity and in quiescent cells where the inhibitor has little or no effect on cell survival. The yield of mutants decreased in dividing cells by approximately 70% while mutation frequencies showed small but statistically significant increases in quiescent cells. These results suggest that apparent decreased mutation frequencies observed in the presence of ADP-ribosylation inhibitors are due to selective inhibition of expression of mutations in dividing cells caused by an irreversible G₂ cell cycle block.     

The ACE inhibitors enalapril and captopril modulate cytokine responses in Balb/c and C57Bl/6 normal mice and increase CD4CD103CD25 splenic T cell numbers

Increasing evidence implies beneficial effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors beyond those of their original indications to control hypertension. One of the most attractive non-hemodynamic properties of ACE inhibitors is their ability to regulate cytokine production. The mechanism(s) underlying the role of ACE inhibitors on cytokine synthesis are not well understood but they have traditionally been attributed to the inhibition of angiotensin (Ang) II formation. In fact, it has been extensively demonstrated that ACE inhibitors decrease Ang II-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. However, it is not well described if inhibition of endogenous Ang II generation by ACE inhibitors modulates systemic cytokine production in mice. To verify that, in this work, we investigated the effects of treatment with the ACE inhibitors enalapril and captopril on cytokine synthesis in C57Bl/6 and Balb/c mice. Our results show that enalapril up regulates IL-10 produced by splenocytes from Balb/c and C57Bl/6 mice and captopril increased it only in Balb/c mice. Furthermore, CD4⁺CD103⁺ presented increased IL-10 production after enalapril treatment. Enalapril as well as captopril short-term treatment enhanced IL-2 synthesis in Balb/c mice. Besides, enhanced IL-2 and IL-10 levels correlates with increased CD4⁺CD103⁺CD25^negative T cells numbers in spleens from enalapril-treated mice.     

In vivo efficacy of a phosphodiester TLR-9 aptamer and its beneficial effect in a pulmonary anthrax infection model

Immunostimulatory oligonucleotide (ISS-ODN) used as adjuvants are commonly modified with phosphorothioate (PS). The PS backbone prevents nuclease degradation, but confers undesired side effects, including systemic cytokine release. Previously, R10–60, a phosphodiester (PO) ISS-ODN, was structurally optimized as an intracellular Toll-like receptor-9 agonist. Here intravenous, intradermal and intranasal administration of PO R10–60 elicit local or adaptive immune responses with minimal systemic effects compared to a prototypic PS ISS-ODN in mice. Furthermore, prophylactic intranasal administration of PO R10–60 significantly delayed death in mice exposed to respiratory anthrax comparable to the PS ISS-ODN. The pattern of cytokine release suggested that early IL-1β production might contribute to this protective effect, which was replicated with recombinant IL-1β injections during infection. Hence, the transient effects from a PO TLR-9 agonist may be beneficial for protection in a bacterial bioterrorism attack, by delaying the onset of systemic infection without the induction of a cytokine syndrome.     

Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced release of interleukin-8 from intestinal epithelial cells by SMA, a novel inhibitor of sphingomyelinase and its therapeutic effect on dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in mice

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inflammatory cytokines cause activation of sphingomyelinases (SMases) and subsequent hydrolysis of sphingomyelin (SM) to produce a lipid messenger ceramide. The use of SMase inhibitors may offer new therapies for the treatment of the LPS- and cytokines-related inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We synthesized a series of difluoromethylene analogues of SM (SMAs). Here, we show that LPS efficiently increases the release of IL-8 from HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells by activating both neutral SMase and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB in the cells. The addition of SMA-7 suppressed neutral SMase-catalyzed ceramide production, NF-kappaB activation, and IL-8 release from HT-29 cells caused by LPS. The results suggest that activation of neutral SMase is an underlying mechanism of LPS-induced release of IL-8 from the intestinal epithelial cells. Ceramide production following LPS-induced SM hydrolysis may trigger the activation of NF-kappaB in nuclei. Oral administration of SMA-7 (60 mg/kg) to mice with 2% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in their drinking water, for 21 consecutive days, reduced significantly the severity of colonic injury. This finding suggests a central role for SMase/ceramide signaling in the pathology of DSS-induced colitis in mice. The therapeutic effect of SMA-7 observed in mice may involve the suppression of IL-8 production from intestinal epithelial cells by LPS or other inflammatory cytokines.     

A unique unresponsive CD4+ T cell phenotype post TCR antagonism

The functional outcomes of the T cell’s interaction with the peptide:MHC complex can be dramatically altered by the introduction of a single amino acid substitution. Previous studies have described the varied effects of these altered peptide ligands (APL) on T cell responses. These outcomes of T cell interaction with an APL include the induction of clonal unresponsiveness (anergy) and inhibition of T cell responses (antagonism). The phenotype of peptide-induced anergy, i.e. low proliferation and low IL-2 production, has been extensively described, and a number of groups have demonstrated antagonism. However, the response of T cells to an agonist ligand after encountering an antagonistic stimulus has not been previously characterized. Here, we show that T cells post-antagonism fail to proliferate but produce large quantities of IL-2 upon stimulation with their wild type ligand. This unique phenotype is not due to differences in IL-2 receptor expression or rates of apoptosis, and cannot be overcome by the addition of recombinant IL-2. The response of CD4 T cells to agonist stimulation after encountering an antagonist is a novel phenotype, and is distinct from previously described forms of anergy.     

Role of brefeldin A-dependent ADP-ribosylation in the control of intracellular membrane transport

The fungal toxin brefeldin A (BFA) dissociates coat proteins from Golgi membranes, causes the rapid disassembly of the Golgi complex and potently stimulates the ADP-ribosylation of two cytosolic proteins of 38 and 50 kDa. These proteins have been identified as the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and a novel guanine nucleotide binding protein (BARS-50), respectively. The role of ADP-ribosylation in mediating the effects of BFA on the structure and function of the Golgi complex was analyzed by several approaches including the use of selective pharmacological blockers of the reaction and the use of ADP-ribosylated cytosol and/or enriched preparations of the BFA-induced ADP-ribosylation substrates, GAPDH and BARS-50.A series of blockers of the BFA-dependent ADP-ribosylation reaction identified in our laboratory inhibited the effects of BFA on Golgi morphology and, with similar potency, the ADP-ribosylation of BARS-50 and GAPDH. In permeabilized RBL cells, the BFA-dependent disassembly of the Golgi complex required NAD+ and cytosol. Cytosol that had been previously ADP-ribosylated (namely, it contained ADP-ribosylated GAPDH and BARS-50), was instead sufficient to sustain the Golgi disassembly induced by BFA.Taken together, these results indicate that an ADP-ribosylation reaction is part of the mechanism of action of BFA and it might intervene in the control of the structure and function of the Golgi complex.     

宿主ARF4和ARF5基因敲除小鼠的构建及其在寨卡病毒感染中的作用

本研究旨在构建宿主ADP-核糖基化因子4 (ADP-ribosylation factor 4, ARF4)和ADP-核糖基化因子5 (ADP-ribosylation factor 5, ARF5)基因敲除小鼠,明确ARF4和ARF5基因对寨卡病毒感染的作用。首先利用CRISPR-Cas9技术,获得ARF4和ARF5单基因敲除小鼠(ARF4KO和ARF5KO),并通过杂交繁育获得双基因敲除小鼠(ARF4KO/ARF5KO),通过PCR法鉴定小鼠基因型,定量RT-PCR法检测目标基因的敲除效果。之后,用寨卡病毒感染基因敲除小鼠,采集第2、4、 6天小鼠血液和各组织样本,提取核酸后用RT-qPCR法检测病毒载量,用HE染色观察组织病理变化。结果显示,用ARF4和ARF5特异引物,分别在ARF4KO^–/+、ARF5KO^–/–以及ARF4KO^–/+/ARF5KO^–/–小鼠扩增到与目标基因大小一致的条带。RT-qPCR检测结果显示,ARF4KO^–/+小鼠各组织中ARF4 mRNA水平显著降低,其敲除效率在37.8%-50.0%之间,ARF5表达水平无变化。ARF5KO^–/–小鼠组织中ARF5 mRNA完全敲除,ARF4无变化。ARF4KO^–/+/ARF5KO^–/–小鼠在肺、肾和睾丸中ARF4 mRNA水平显著降低,ARF5完全敲除。最后,用寨卡病毒分别感染基因敲除小鼠和野生型小鼠。结果显示,与野生型小鼠相比,ARF4KO^–/+小鼠在各时间点血清中病毒载量均显著下降,但ARF5KO^–/–小鼠与ARF4KO^–/+/ARF5KO^–/–小鼠无明显变化。同时,与野生型小鼠相比,ARF4KO^–/+小鼠各组织病毒载量没有显著降低,但其大脑和睾丸的病理性改变减轻。本研究利用CRISPR-Cas9技术成功构建了ARF4和ARF5基因敲除小鼠,并证实ARF4是寨卡病毒感染必需的宿主蛋白,为后续深入研究ARF4和ARF5在寨卡病毒感染致病中的作用机制以及抗病毒药物研发奠定了基础。     

全反式维甲酸对兔动脉粥样硬化病灶中MCP-1 和TLR-4

目的:观察全反式维甲酸(ATRA)对兔颈动脉粥样硬化性病灶中内膜增生、MCP-1及TLR-4表达的影响,探讨其可能的抗炎机制。方法:新西兰雄性大白兔随机分为9组(n=6):对照组(A、B、C)、治疗组(A、B、C)、假手术组(A、B、C)。除假手术组外,其余两组给予高脂饮食2周后,对照组及治疗组给予颈动脉内膜空气干燥术损伤颈动脉内膜,假手术组分离暴露颈动脉但不损伤内膜,治疗组术前3天给予ATRA灌胃,直至处死。术后分别于7d、14d、28d处死。采取颈动脉标本,对血管粥样硬化病变进行形态学观察及测定,采用免疫组化法检测MCP-1及TLR-4表达水平。结果:从形态学观察及免疫组化检测看,对照组较假手术组内膜明显增生,MCP-1及TLR-4表达增多,治疗组内膜较对照组增生减轻,两种因子表达减少。结论:全反式维甲酸(ATRA)对兔颈动脉粥样硬化性病灶中的抗炎作用可能是通过抑制MCP-1及TLR-4等炎症因子的表达来发挥作用的。     

大黄多糖抑制脂多糖引起的TLR-4/ NF-kB通路活化

目的:探讨唐古特大黄多糖(Rheum tanguticum Polysaccharid,RTP)对脂多糖(Lipopolysaccharide,LPS)刺激上调人结肠癌细胞HT-29中TLR-4/NF-κB通路活性的影响及其机制。方法:将HT-29细胞分为对照组,LPS处理组(1μg/mL,作用30 min,1 h),RTP(1mg/mL,提前LPS 30 min给予)+LPS处理组(1μg/mL,分别作用30 min,1 h),采用免疫荧光法观察NF-κB的细胞分布情况;Western Blot法检测HT-29细胞中IκB-α,磷酸化IκB-α的蛋白变化,以及细胞膜上TLR-4的水平。结果:RTP可抑制LPS刺激引起的HT-29细胞的NF-κB核转位;可有效抑制IκB-α降解及IκB-α的磷酸化;可下调细胞膜上TLR-4的表达。结论:RTP可能通过抑制LPS刺激引起的TLR-4向细胞膜分布,从而抑制了NF-κB信号通路的活化。     

Expression and Purification of a Functional Porcine Soluble Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 1

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1) plays a vital role in the pathogen-triggered amplification loop required for proinflammatory responses. Blockade of TREM-1 signaling may inhibit expansion of sepsis and prolong survival of animals. In the present study, the gene of porcine soluble TREM-1 was cloned and expressed in E. coli. After purification, the bioactivity of recombinant porcine soluble TREM-1 was tested in vitro on porcine alveolar macrophages. The results showed that supplementation with the recombinant porcine sTREM-1 protein rapidly and dose-dependently attenuated the upregulation of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-16, IL-18, and TNF-α) caused by LPS stimulation in the cultured porcine alveolar macrophages. These results indicate that the recombinant porcine sTREM-1 protein can prevent TREM-1-mediated hyperinflammatory responses after exposure to LPS.     

Ceftiofur impairs pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion through the inhibition of the activation of NF-kappaB and MAPK

Ceftiofur is a new broad-spectrum, third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic for veterinary use. Immunopharmacological studies can provide new information on the immunomodulatory activities of some drugs, including their effect on cytokine productions. For this reason, we investigated the effect of ceftiofur on cytokine productions in vitro. We found that ceftiofur can downregulate tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), but did not affect interleukin-10 (IL-10) production. We further investigated signal transduction mechanisms to determine how ceftiofur affects. RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated with 1, 5, or 10 mg/L of ceftiofur 1 h prior to treatment with 1 mg/L of LPS. Thirty minutes later, cells were harvested and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation was measured by Western blot. Alternatively, cells were fixed and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation was measured using immunocytochemical analysis. Signal transduction studies showed that ceftiofur significantly inhibited extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and c-jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation protein expression. Ceftiofur also inhibited p65-NF-κB translocation into the nucleus. Therefore, ceftiofur may inhibit LPS-induced production of inflammatory cytokines by blocking NF-κB and MAPKs signaling in RAW264.7 cells.     

NAD-dependent inhibition of the NAD-glycohydrolase activity in A549 cells

NAD glycohydrolases are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolisis of NAD to produce ADP-ribose and nicotinamide. Regulation of these enzymes has not been fully elucidated. We have identified an NAD-glycohydrolase activity associated with the outer surface of the plasma membrane in human lung epithelial cell line A549. This activity is negatively regulated by its substrate -NAD but not by -NAD. Partial restoration of NADase activity after incubation of the cells with arginine or histidine, known ADP-ribose acceptors, suggests that inhibition be regulated by ADP-ribosylation. A549 do not undergo to apoptosis upon NAD treatment indicating that this effect be likely mediated by a cellular component(s) lacking in epithelial cells.