PPAR-gamma inhibits ANG II-induced cell growth via SHIP2 and 4E-BP1

The present study evaluated the effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma activators on ANG II-induced signaling pathways and cell growth. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) derived from rat mesenteric arteries were treated with ANG II, with/without the AT1 receptor blocker valsartan or the AT2 receptor blocker PD-123319, after pretreatment for 24 h with the PPAR-gamma activators 15-deoxy-delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) or rosiglitazone. Both 15d-PGJ2 and rosiglitazone decreased ANG II-induced DNA synthesis. Rosiglitazone treatment increased nuclear PPAR-gamma expression and activity in VSMC. However, rosiglitazone did not alter expression of PPAR-alpha/beta, ERK 1/2, Akt, or ANG II receptors. 15d-PGJ2 and rosiglitazone decreased ERK 1/2 and Akt peak activity, both of which were induced by ANG II via the AT1 receptor. Rosiglitazone inhibited ANG II-enhanced phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), as well as Src homology (SH) 2-containing inositol phosphatase 2 (SHIP2). PPAR-gamma activation reduced ANG II-induced growth associated with inhibition of ERK 1/2, Akt, 4E-BP1, and SHIP2. Modulation of these pathways by PPAR-gamma activators may contribute to regression of vascular remodeling in hypertension.     

Curcumin suppresses Janus kinase-STAT inflammatory signaling through activation of Src homology 2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 2 in brain microglia

Curcumin has been strongly implicated as an anti-inflammatory agent, but the precise mechanisms of its action are largely unknown. In this study, we show that the inhibitory action of curcumin on Janus kinase (JAK)-STAT signaling can contribute to its anti-inflammatory activity in the brain. In both rat primary microglia and murine BV2 microglial cells, curcumin effectively suppressed the ganglioside-, LPS-, or IFN-gamma-stimulated induction of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible NO synthase, important enzymes that mediate inflammatory processes. These anti-inflammatory effects appear to be due, at least in part, to the suppression of the JAK-STAT inflammatory signaling cascade. Curcumin markedly inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT1 and 3 as well as JAK1 and 2 in microglia activated with gangliosides, LPS, or IFN-gamma. Curcumin consistently suppressed not only NF binding to IFN-gamma-activated sequence/IFN-stimulated regulatory element, but also the expression of inflammation-associated genes, including ICAM-1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, whose promoters contain STAT-binding elements. We further show that activation of Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatases (SHP)-2, a negative regulator of JAK activity, is likely to be one of the mechanisms underlying the curcumin-mediated inhibition of JAK-STAT signaling. Treatment of microglial cells with curcumin led to an increase in phosphorylation and association with JAK1/2 of SHP-2, which inhibit the initiation of JAK-STAT inflammatory signaling in activated microglia. Taken together, these data suggest curcumin suppresses JAK-STAT signaling via activation of SHP-2, thus attenuating inflammatory response of brain microglial cells.     

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B attenuates growth hormone-mediated JAK2-STAT signaling

Protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B) attenuates insulin, PDGF, EGF, and IGF-I signaling by dephosphorylating tyrosine residues located in the tyrosine kinase domain of the corresponding receptors. More recently, PTP-1B was shown to modulate the action of cytokine signaling via the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase JAK2. Transmission of the growth hormone (GH) signal also depends on JAK2, raising the possibility that PTP-1B modulates GH action. Consistent with this hypothesis, GH increased the abundance of tyrosine-phosphorylated JAK2 associated with a catalytically inactive mutant of PTP-1B. GH-induced JAK2 phosphorylation was greater in knockout (KO) than in wild-type (WT) PTP-1B embryonic fibroblasts and resulted in increased tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 and STAT5, while overexpression of PTP-1B reduced the GH-mediated activation of the acid-labile subunit gene. To evaluate the in vivo relevance of these observations, mice were injected with GH under fed and fasted conditions. As expected, tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT5 occurred readily in the livers of fed WT mice and was almost completely abolished during fasting. In contrast, resistance to the action of GH was severely impaired in the livers of fasted KO mice. These results indicate that PTP-1B regulates GH signaling by reducing the extent of JAK2 phosphorylation and suggest that PTP-1B is essential for limiting the action of GH during metabolic stress such as fasting.     

15-Deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) suppresses IL-6-induced STAT3 phosphorylation via electrophilic reactivity in endothelial cells

In this study, the effects of 15d-PGJ(2) were investigated in IL-6-activated endothelial cells (ECs). 15d-PGJ(2) was found to abrogate phosphorylation on tyr705 of STAT3 in IL-6-treated ECs, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but did not inhibit serine phosphorylation of STAT3 and the upperstream JAK2 phosphorylation. Other PPAR activators, such as WY1643 or ciglitazone, had no effect upon IL-6-induced STAT3 phosphorylation. Additionally, neither orthovanadate nor l-NAME treatment reverses the inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation by 15d-PGJ(2). Otherwise, the effect of 15d-PGJ(2) requires the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group in the cyclopentane ring. A 15d-PGJ(2) analog, 9,10-Dihydro-15d-PGJ(2), which lack alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group showed no increase in ROS production and no effect in inhibition of IL-6-induced STAT3 phosphorylation. The electrophilic compound, acrolein, mimics the inhibition effect of 15d-PGJ(2). Among the antioxidants, only NAC and glutathione reversed the effects of 15d-PGJ(2). NAC, glutathione and DTT all reversed the inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation when preincubated with 15d-PGJ(2). The inhibition of ICAM-1 gene expression by 15d-PGJ(2) was abrogated by NAC and glutathione in IL-6-treated ECs. Taken together, these results suggest that 15d-PGJ(2) inhibits IL-6-stimulated phosphorylation on tyr705 of STAT3 dependent on its own electrophilic reactivity in ECs.     

Interleukin-6-induced JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in endothelial cells is suppressed by hemodynamic flow

Endothelial cells (ECs) are constantly exposed to shear stress, the action of which triggers signaling pathways and cellular responses. During inflammation, cytokines such as IL-6 increase in plasma. In this study, we examined the effects of steady flow on IL-6-induced endothelial responses. ECs exposed to IL-6 exhibited STAT3 activation via phosphorylation of Tyr705. However, when ECs were subjected to shear stress, shear force-dependent suppression of IL-6-induced STAT3 phosphorylation was observed. IL-6 treatment increased the phosphorylation of JAK2, an upstream activator of STAT3. Consistently, shear stress significantly reduced IL-6-induced JAK2 activation. Pretreatment of ECs with an inhibitor of MEK1 did not alter this suppression by shear stress, indicating that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) was not involved. However, pretreatment of ECs with an endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) attenuated this inhibitory effect of shear stress on STAT3 phosphorylation. Shear stress-treated ECs displayed decreased nuclear transmigration of STAT3 and reduced STAT3 binding to DNA. Intriguingly, ECs exposed to IL-6 entered the cell cycle, as evidenced by increasing G₂/M phase, and shear stress to these ECs significantly reduced IL-6-induced cell cycle progression. STAT3-mediated IL-6-induced cell cycle was confirmed by the inhibition of the cell cycle in ECs infected with adenovirus carrying the inactive mutant of STAT3. Our study clearly shows that shear stress exerts its inhibitory regulation by suppressing the IL-6-induced JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and thus inhibits IL-6-induced EC proliferation. This shear force-dependent inhibition of IL-6-induced JAK2/STAT3 activation provides new insights into the vasoprotective effects of steady flow on ECs against cytokine-induced responses. shear stress; nitric oxide; cell cycle     

Concanavalin-A triggers inflammatory response through JAK/STAT3 signalling and modulates MT1-MMP regulation of COX-2 in mesenchymal stromal cells

Pharmacological targeting of inflammation through STAT3 and NF-κB signaling pathways is, among other inflammatory biomarkers, associated with cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibition and is believed to play a crucial role in prevention and therapy of cancer. Recently, inflammatory factors were found to impact on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) contribution to tumor angiogenesis. Given MSC chemotaxis and cell survival are regulated, in part, by the membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), an MMP also involved in transducing NF-κB intracellular signaling pathways, we tested whether STAT3 regulation by MT1-MMP may also contribute to the expression balance of COX-2 in MSC. We demonstrate that STAT3 phosphorylation was triggered in MSC treated with the MT1-MMP inducer lectin Concanavalin-A (ConA), and that this phosphorylation was abrogated by the JAK2 inhibitor AG490. MT1-MMP gene silencing significantly inhibited ConA-induced STAT3 phosphorylation and this was correlated with reduced proMMP-2 activation and COX-2 expression. On the other hand, STAT3 gene silencing potentiated ConA-induced COX-2 expression, providing evidence for a new MT1-MMP/JAK/STAT3 signaling axis that may, in part, explain how MT1-MMP contributes to proinflammatory intracellular signaling. Given that MSC are avidly recruited within inflammatory microenvironments and within experimental vascularizing tumors, these mechanistic observations support a possible dual control of cell adaptation to inflammation by MT1-MMP and that may enable MSC to be active participants within inflamed tissues.     

15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) and ciglitazone modulate Staphylococcus aureus-dependent astrocyte activation primarily through a PPAR-gamma-independent pathway

Brain abscesses arise from a focal parenchymal infection by various pathogens, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. We have shown that astrocytes are activated upon exposure to S. aureus and may contribute to the excessive tissue damage characteristic of brain abscess. Therefore, modulating astrocyte activation may facilitate a reduction in brain abscess severity. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonists are potent inhibitors of microglial activation; however, the effects of these compounds on S. aureus-dependent astrocyte activation have not yet been examined. Here, we demonstrate that two chemically distinct PPAR-gamma agonists, 15-deoxy-delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) and ciglitazone, suppress the production of several pro-inflammatory molecules in S. aureus-stimulated astrocytes including interleukin-1beta and nitric oxide (NO). Interestingly, 15d-PGJ2 attenuated Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, but failed to modulate macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2/CXCL2) production, suggesting that 15d-PGJ2 is not a global inhibitor of astrocyte activation. Another novel finding of this study was the fact that both 15d-PGJ2 and ciglitazone were capable of attenuating pre-existing astrocyte activation, indicating their potential benefit in a therapeutic setting. Importantly, 15d-PGJ2 and ciglitazone were still capable of inhibiting S. aureus-induced pro-inflammatory mediator release in PPAR-gamma-deficient astrocytes, supporting PPAR-gamma-independent effects of these compounds. Collectively, these results suggest that 15d-PGJ2 and ciglitazone exert their anti-inflammatory actions on astrocytes primarily independent of the PPAR-gamma pathway.     

Glucose enhances leptin signaling through modulation of AMPK activity

Leptin exerts its action by binding to and activating the long form of leptin receptors (LEPRb). LEPRb activates JAK2 that subsequently phosphorylates and activates STAT3. The JAK2/STAT3 pathway is required for leptin control of energy balance and body weight. Defects in leptin signaling lead to leptin resistance, a primary risk factor for obesity. Body weight is also regulated by nutrients, including glucose. Defects in glucose sensing also contribute to obesity. Here we report crosstalk between leptin and glucose. Glucose starvation blocked the ability of leptin to stimulate tyrosyl phosphorylation and activation of JAK2 and STAT3 in a variety of cell types. Glucose dose-dependently enhanced leptin signaling. In contrast, glucose did not enhance growth hormone-stimulated phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT5. Glucose starvation or 2-deoxyglucose-induced inhibition of glycolysis activated AMPK and inhibited leptin signaling; pharmacological inhibition of AMPK restored the ability of leptin to stimulate STAT3 phosphorylation. Conversely, pharmacological activation of AMPK was sufficient to inhibit leptin signaling and to block the ability of glucose to enhance leptin signaling. These results suggest that glucose and/or its metabolites play a permissive role in leptin signaling, and that glucose enhances leptin sensitivity at least in part by attenuating the ability of AMPK to inhibit leptin signaling.     

Understanding the role of SOCS signaling in neurodegenerative diseases: Current and emerging concepts

Suppressor of cytokine signaling proteins (SOCS) are a family of intracellular cytokine inducible proteins, consisting of eight members. They are involved in the complex control of the inflammatory response through their actions on various signaling pathways, including the JAK/STAT and NF-κB pathways. A series of studies has shown that SOCS proteins are involved in the regulation and progression of immune responses in microglia cells. The accumulated data suggest that modulation of SOCS expression could be a target for drug development aimed at controlling inflammation in the brain. This review focuses on the current understanding of SOCS proteins involvement in inflammation-based neurodegenerative diseases and their role as therapeutic targets in future approaches.     

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ligand, 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2, reduces neutrophil migration via a nitric oxide pathway

Ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma), such as 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) have been implicated as a new class of anti-inflammatory compounds with possible clinical applications. Based on this concept, this investigation was designed to determine the effect of 15d-PGJ2-mediated activation of PPAR-gamma ligand on neutrophil migration after an inflammatory stimulus and clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms using a mouse model of peritonitis. Our results demonstrated that 15d-PGJ2 administration decreases leukocyte rolling and adhesion to the inflamed mesenteric tissues by a mechanism dependent on NO. Specifically, pharmacological inhibitors of NO synthase remarkably abrogated the 15d-PGJ2-mediated suppression of neutrophil migration to the inflammatory site. Moreover, inducible NOS-/- mice were not susceptible to 15d-PGJ2-mediated suppression of neutrophil migration to the inflammatory sites when compared with their wild type. In addition, 15d-PGJ2-mediated suppression of neutrophil migration appeared to be independent of the production of cytokines and chemokines, since their production were not significantly affected in the carrageenan-injected peritoneal cavities. Finally, up-regulation of carrageenan-triggered ICAM-1 expression in the mesenteric microcirculation vessels was abrogated by pretreatment of wild-type mice with 15d-PGJ2, whereas 15d-PGJ2 inhibited F-actin rearrangement process in neutrophils. Taken together these findings demonstrated that 15d-PGJ2 suppresses inflammation-initiated neutrophil migration in a mechanism dependent on NO production in mesenteric tissues.     

Deletion of the SOCS box of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) in embryonic stem cells reveals SOCS box-dependent regulation of JAK but not STAT phosphorylation

The mechanism by which Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling-3 (SOCS3) negatively regulates cytokine signaling has been widely investigated using over-expression studies in cell lines and is thought to involve interactions with both the gp130 receptor and JAK1. Here, we compare the endogenous JAK/STAT signaling pathway downstream of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) signaling in wild type (WT) Embryonic Stem (ES) cells and in ES cells lacking either the entire Socs3 gene or bearing a truncated form of SOCS3 (SOCS3ΔSB) lacking the C-terminal SOCS box motif (SOCS3^ΔSB/ΔSB). In SOCS3^ΔSB/ΔSB cells phosphorylated JAK1 accumulated at much higher levels than in WT cells or even cells lacking SOCS3 (SOCS3^?/?). In contrast enhanced activation of STAT3 and SHP2 was seen in SOCS3^?/? cells. Size exclusion chromatography of cell extracts showed that in unstimulated cells, JAK1 was exclusively associated with receptors but following cytokine stimulation hyperphosphorylated JAK1 (pJAK1) appeared to dissociate from the receptor complex in a manner independent of SOCS3. In WT and SOCS3^ΔSB/ΔSB cells SOCS3 was associated with pJAK1. The data suggest that dissociation of activated JAK1 from the receptor results in separate targeting of JAK1 for proteasomal degradation through a mechanism dependent on the SOCS3 SOCS box thus preventing further activation of STAT3.     

15-Deoxy-delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) inhibits IL-1beta-induced IKK enzymatic activity and IkappaBalpha degradation in rat chondrocytes through a PPARgamma-independent pathway

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) ligands have been shown to inhibit the effects of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). This cytokine plays a key role in articular pathophysiologies by inducing the production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). We previously demonstrated that 15d-PGJ(2) was more potent than troglitazone to counteract IL-1beta effects on chondrocytes. Here, we studied the action of 15d-PGJ(2) on intracellular targets in nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signalling pathway in IL-1beta treated rat chondrocytes. We found that 15d-PGJ(2) decreased inhibitor kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha) degradation but not its phosphorylation by specifically inhibiting IkappaB kinase beta (IKKbeta), but not IKKalpha, enzymatic activity. We further evaluated the involvement of PPARgamma in the anti-inflammatory action of its ligands. In chondrocytes overexpressing functional PPARgamma protein, 15d-PGJ(2) pre-treatment inhibited inducible NO synthase and COX-2 mRNA expression, nitrite and PGE(2) production, p65 translocation and NF-kappaB activation. Troglitazone or rosiglitazone pre-treatment had no effect. 15d-PGJ(2) exhibited the same effect in chondrocytes overexpressing mutated PPARgamma protein. These results suggest that 15d-PGJ(2) exerts its anti-inflammatory effect in rat chondrocytes by a PPARgamma-independent mechanism, which can be conferred to a partial inhibition of IkappaBalpha degradation.