Megalin is downregulated via LPS-TNF-α-ERK1/2 signaling pathway in proximal tubule cells

Expression and function of megalin, an endocytic receptor in proximal tubule cells (PTCs), are reduced in diabetic nephropathy, involved in the development of proteinuria/albuminuria. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is chronically increased in diabetic sera, by the mechanism called metabolic endotoxemia. We investigated low-level LPS-mediated signaling that regulates megalin expression in immortalized rat PTCs (IRPTCs). Incubation of the cells with LPS (10 ng/ml) for 48 h suppressed megalin protein expression and its endocytic function. TNF-α mRNA expression was increased by LPS treatment, and knockdown of the mRNA with siRNA inhibited LPS-mediated downregulation of megalin mRNA expression at the 24-h time point. Incubation of IRPTCs with exogenous TNF-α also suppressed megalin mRNA and protein expression at the 24- and 48-h time points, respectively. MEK1 inhibitor PD98059 competed partially but significantly TNF-α-mediated downregulation of megalin mRNA expression. Collectively, low-level LPS-mediated TNF-α-ERK1/2 signaling pathway is involved in downregulation of megalin expression in IRPTCs.     

Licorice-derived dehydroglyasperin C increases MKP-1 expression and suppresses inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration

Recent studies have demonstrated that microglial hyperactivation-mediated neuroinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, inhibiting microglial production of the neurotoxic mediator tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is considered a promising strategy to protect against neurodegeneration. Here, we investigated the inhibitory effect of licorice-derived dehydroglyasperin C (DGC) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-α production and inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration. We found that DGC pre-treatment attenuated TNF-α production in response to LPS stimulation of BV-2 microglia. DGC pre-treatment attenuated LPS-induced inhibitor of κB-α (IκB-α) and p65 phosphorylation and decreased the DNA binding activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). DGC pre-treatment also inhibited LPS-mediated phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Interestingly, DGC treatment of BV-2 microglia significantly increased MAPK phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) mRNA and protein expression, which is a phosphatase of p38 MAPK and ERK, suggesting that the DGC-mediated increase in MKP-1 expression might inhibit LPS-induced MAPKs and NF-κB activation and further TNF-α production. We also found that LPS-mediated microglial neurotoxicity can be attenuated by DGC. The addition of conditioned media (CM) from DGC- and LPS-treated microglia to neurons helped maintain healthy cell body and neurite morphology and increased the number of microtubule-associated protein 2-positive cells and the level of synaptophysin compared to treatment with CM from LPS-treated microglia. Taken together, these data suggest that DGC isolated from licorice may inhibit microglia hyperactivation by increasing MKP-1 expression and acting as a potent anti-neurodegenerative agent.     

β-Glucan from Lentinus edodes inhibits nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α production and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine RAW 264.7 macrophages

Lentinan (LNT), a β-glucan from the fruiting bodies of Lentinus edodes, is well known to have immunomodulatory activity. NO and TNF-α are associated with many inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of LNT extracted by sonication (LNT-S) on the NO and TNF-α production in LPS-stimulated murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results suggested that treatment with LNT-S not only resulted in the striking inhibition of TNF-α and NO production in LPS-activated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, but also the protein expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) and the gene expression of iNOS mRNA and TNF-α mRNA. It is surprising that LNT-S enhanced LPS-induced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and NF-κB luciferase activity, but severely inhibited the phosphorylation of JNK1/2 and ERK1/2. The neutralizing antibodies of anti-Dectin-1 and anti-TLR2 hardly affected the inhibition of NO production. All of these results suggested that the suppression of LPS-induced NO and TNF-α production was at least partially attributable to the inhibition of JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 activation. This work discovered a promising molecule to control the diseases associated with overproduction of NO and TNF-α.     

乳酸调控大鼠肠黏膜微血管内皮细胞的NF-κB信号通路

目的探讨内毒素（LPS）刺激大鼠肠黏膜微血管内皮细胞（RIMMVECs）后,乳酸（LA）调控NF-κB信号通路中磷酸化IκBα和NF-κB p65蛋白表达情况,肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）和白细胞介素6（IL-6）mRNA表达情况,阐明乳酸发挥作用的最佳时间及其调控NF-κB信号通路的部位。方法提取RIMMVECs总蛋白和总RNA,用Western blotting检测NF-κB p65、IκBα及p-IκBα蛋白表达水平,用real-time PCR对TNF-α和IL-6 mRNA进行定量检测。结果乳酸能降低LPS诱导RIMMVECs分泌的TNF-α和IL-6 mRNA表达水平,并分别于24 h和3 h下调效果最明显;乳酸能抑制IκBα磷酸化及NF-κB转录活性,并于4～8 h达到最佳效果;乳酸发挥作用部位是抑制信号通路中IκBα磷酸化。结论乳酸通过抑制IκBα磷酸化而阻断NF-κB的激活,抑制下游炎性因子表达,进而发挥出很好的预防炎症效果。     

类风湿关节炎中白三烯B4诱导TNF-α和IL-1β的表达

为了探讨类风湿关节炎的发病过程中白三烯B4(leukotriene,LTB4)对TNF-α和IL-1β表 达的影响.加入外源性LTB4或者在LIT存在的情况下,加入苯丁抑制素(bestatin,LTA4水解酶 抑制剂)和MK-886(5-脂氧合 酶激动蛋白抑制剂)后, 采用实时PCR和酶联免疫吸附分析法来检测原代培养的类风湿滑膜细胞及培养上清液中TNF-α和IL-1β在mRNA及蛋白水平的表达.外源性的LTB4 10^-8mol/L使TNF-α和IL-1β mRNA水平表达分别增加了14倍和1倍, 蛋白水平分别增加了3倍.加入LIT刺激内源性的LTB4增加了14倍后,使TNF-α和IL-1βmRNA水平表达分别增加了145倍和12倍, 蛋白水平分别增加了3倍.在LIT存在的情况下, MK-886 10 μmol/L使LTB4合成降低了62%(P<0.000 1), 使TNF-α和IL-1β mRNA水平表达分别降低了66%(P<0.05)和71%(P<0.001),它们的蛋白水平分别降低了75%和70%(P<0.01). 100 μg/ml苯丁抑制素使LTB4合成降低了78%(P<0.000 1), 使TNF-α和IL-1β mRNA水平表达分别降低了86%(P<0.001)和79%(P<0.01), 它们的蛋白水平分别降低了84%和76%(P<0.05). 在类风湿关节炎中,LTB4诱导TNF-α和IL-1β的表达. 这一结果为类风湿关节炎发病机制进一步探讨提供了一条新思路.     

Glutathione peroxidase-1 deficiency augments proinflammatory cytokine-induced redox signaling and human endothelial cell activation

Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) is a crucial antioxidant enzyme, the deficiency of which promotes atherogenesis. Accordingly, we examined the mechanisms by which GPx-1 deficiency enhances endothelial cell activation and inflammation. In human microvascular endothelial cells, we found that GPx-1 deficiency augments intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression by redox-dependent mechanisms that involve NFκB. Suppression of GPx-1 enhanced TNF-α-induced ROS production and ICAM-1 expression, whereas overexpression of GPx-1 attenuated these TNF-α-mediated responses. GPx-1 deficiency prolonged TNF-α-induced IκBα degradation and activation of ERK1/2 and JNK. JNK or NFκB inhibition attenuated TNF-α induction of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in GPx-1-deficient and control cells, whereas ERK1/2 inhibition attenuated only VCAM-1 expression. To analyze further signaling pathways involved in GPx-1-mediated protection from TNF-α-induced ROS, we performed microarray analysis of human microvascular endothelial cells treated with TNF-α in the presence and absence of GPx-1. Among the genes whose expression changed significantly, dual specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4), encoding an antagonist of MAPK signaling, was down-regulated by GPx-1 suppression. Targeted DUSP4 knockdown enhanced TNF-α-mediated ERK1/2 pathway activation and resulted in increased adhesion molecule expression, indicating that GPx-1 deficiency may augment TNF-α-mediated events, in part, by regulating DUSP4.     

Acetyl-l-carnitine inhibits TNF-α-induced insulin resistance via AMPK pathway in rat skeletal muscle cells

In this study, we demonstrated effects of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) on insulin resistance induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in rat L6 cells. TNF-α downregulated insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and increased Serine 307 phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). However, the treatment of ALC improved insulin-stimulated glucose uptake via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in a dose-dependent manner. Together, our data suggest that ALC inhibits TNF-α-induced insulin resistance through AMPK pathway in skeletal muscle cells.     

Tumour necrosis factor-α suppresses the hypoxic response by NF-κB-dependent induction of inhibitory PAS domain protein in PC12 cells

Inflammation is often accompanied by hypoxia. However, crosstalk between signalling pathways activated by inflammation and signalling events that control adaptive response to hypoxia is not fully understood. Here we show that exposure to tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) activates expression of the inhibitory PAS domain protein (IPAS) to suppress the hypoxic response caused by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 and HIF-2 in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells but not in human hepatoma Hep3B cells. This induction of IPAS was dependent on the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway and attenuated hypoxic induction of HIF-1 target genes such as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). HIF-dependent reporter activity in hypoxia was also decreased following TNF-α treatment. Knockdown of IPAS mRNA by small interfering RNA (siRNA) restored the TNF-α-suppressed hypoxic response. These results indicate that TNF-α is a cell-type specific suppressor of HIFs and suggest a novel crosstalk between stimulation by inflammatory mediators and HIF-dependent hypoxic response.     

Leucine-rich glioma inactivated 3 and tumor necrosis factor-α regulate mutually through NF-κB

Leucine-rich glioma inactivated 3 (LGI3) is a secreted protein member of LGI family. We previously reported that LGI3 increased in obese adipose tissues and suppressed adipogenesis through its receptor, ADAM23. We proposed that LGI3 may be a pro-inflammatory adipokine secreted predominantly by preadipocytes and macrophages. In this study, we showed that LGI3 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) upregulated each other in 3T3-L1 cells. Treatment of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with LGI3 protein increased TNF-α mRNA and protein. LGI3 treatment led to NF-κB activation and binding to an NF-κB binding site (−523 to −514) in TNF-α promoter. TNF-α treatment increased mRNA and protein expression of LGI3 and ADAM23. TNF-α increased NF-κB binding to a predicted binding site (−40 to −31) in LGI3 promoter. High fat diet-fed mice showed that LGI3 and TNF-α were increased and colocalized in adipose tissue inflammation. Taken together, these results suggested that mutual upregulation of LGI3 and TNF-α may play a role in adipose tissue inflammation in obesity.     

TRAF2 Suppresses Basal IKK Activity in Resting Cells and TNFα Can Activate IKK in TRAF2 and TRAF5 Double Knockout Cells

Tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and TRAF5 are adapter proteins involved in TNFα-induced activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathways. Currently, TNFα-induced NF-κB activation is believed to be impaired in TRAF2 and TRAF5 double knockout (T2/5 DKO) cells. Here, we report instead that T2/5 DKO cells exhibit high basal IκB kinase (IKK) activity and elevated expression of NF-κB-dependent genes in unstimulated conditions. Although TNFα-induced receptor-interacting protein 1 ubiquitination is indeed impaired in T2/5 DKO cells, TNFα stimulation further increases IKK activity in these cells, resulting in significantly elevated expression of NF-κB target genes to a level higher than that in wild-type cells. Inhibition of NIK in T2/5 DKO cells attenuates basal IKK activity and restores robust TNFα-induced IKK activation to a level comparable with that seen in wild-type cells. This suggests that TNFα can activate IKK in the absence of TRAF2 and TRAF5 expression and receptor-interacting protein 1 ubiquitination. In addition, both the basal and TNFα-induced expression of anti-apoptotic proteins are normal in T2/5 DKO cells, yet these DKO cells remain sensitive to TNFα-induced cell death, due to the impaired recruitment of anti-apoptotic proteins to the TNFR1 complex in the absence of TRAF2. Thus, our data demonstrate that TRAF2 negatively regulates basal IKK activity in resting cells and inhibits TNFα-induced cell death by recruiting anti-apoptotic proteins to the TNFR1 complex rather than by activating the NF-κB pathway.     

Upregulation of Kupffer cell α2A-Adrenoceptors and downregulation of MKP-1 mediate hepatic injury in chronic alcohol exposure

Alcohol-induced liver disease is associated with unacceptable morbidity and mortality. When activated, Kupffer cells (KCs), the resident macrophages in the liver, release proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α, a key mediator of hepatic damage. Although chronic alcohol causes increase in norepinephrine (NE) release leading to hepatic dysfunction, the mechanism of NE-induced hepatic injury in chronic alcohol exposure has not been elucidated. This study was conducted to determine whether chronic alcohol exposure increases NE and upregulates KC α_2A-adrenoceptors (α_2A-AR) to cause TNF-α release. We also examined the role of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) in this process. Male adult rats were fed the Lieber–DeCarli liquid diet containing alcohol as 36% of total calories. The animals were sacrificed after 6 weeks and blood and liver samples were harvested for further analysis. KCs from healthy male rats were cultured with alcohol for 7 days, and cells then harvested for RNA and protein analyses. Chronic alcohol exposure resulted in hepatic damage. Alcohol caused a 276% increase in circulating NE and 86% increase in TNF-α in the liver. There was a 75% and 62% decrease in MKP-1 mRNA and protein levels, respectively in the liver. In-vitro experiments revealed 121% and 98% increase in TNF-α and α_2A-AR mRNA levels with alcohol exposure, respectively, and a 32% decrease in MKP-1 mRNA compared to controls. In summary, chronic alcohol exposure elevates NE and upregulates KC α_2A-AR to release TNF-α. Alcohol induced downregulation of MKP-1 leads to further release of TNF-α and hepatic injury.     

TNF—α对哮喘模型大鼠气道平滑肌细胞增殖及ERK1／2活性的影响

目的探讨TNF—α对哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞（ASMCs）增殖及对ASMCs上ERK1／2mRNA、p-ERK1／2表达水平的影响。方法通过对哮喘模型大鼠ASMCs培养,分别以0．2μg／L、1．0μg/L、20μg/L TNF-α干预ASMCs生长。采用流式细胞仪、MTT法检测ASMCs增殖情况,观察不同浓度TNF—α对ASMCs增殖的影响。RT-PCR检测ASMCs上ERK1／2mRNA表达,免疫细胞化学染色法检测磷酸化ERK1／2蛋白的表达及定位。结果哮喘组ASMCsS期比例、A值、ERK1／2mRNA、p-ERK1／2蛋白的表达量分别为（34．45±2．08）％、（0．550±0．010）、（0．995±0．118）、（130．77±4．16）,与对照组（11．17±0．96）％、（0．292±0．008）、（0．576±0．098）、（163．82±1．38）比较均显著增高（均P〈0．01）。各TNF—α干预组ASMCs的S期比例、A值、ERK1／2mRNA和p-ERK1／2蛋白表达量与哮喘组比较均显著降低（均P〈0．01）,0．2μg/L和1．0μg／LTN-α组p-ERK1／2蛋白表达量高于对照组（P〈0．01）,20μg／L TNF-α组p-ERK1／2蛋白表达量与对照组比较无差异（P〉0．05）。结论与正常鼠相比,慢性哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞增殖明显,处于S期的细胞比例明显增高。经TNF—α干预后,慢性哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞处于S期的细胞比例减少,增殖减弱,TNF-α可能抑制慢性哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞增殖。TNF—α可下调慢性哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞上ERK1／2mRNA及p-ERK1／2表达,TNF-α可能通过抑制ERK信号转导通道的活性对气道平滑肌细胞的增殖进行调控。     

Secretion of TNF-α from macrophages following induction with a lignin derivative.

Macrophages derived from rat bone marrow were treated with macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) to obtain a sufficient number of cells for the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) assay. The present study has been designed to investigate whether the production of TNF-α, which induces multinucleated giant cell formation, is regulated by polyanions such as lignin derivatives. ELISA for TNF-α showed that the polyanion induced TNF-α production by macrophages. The secretion of TNF-α from the cells reached a maximum at 3-6 h, and then showed a slight decline. Northern blotting of TNF-α mRNA showed that the amount of TNF-α reached a maximum within 1 h of macrophage culture in the presence of a lignin derivative. On the other hand, TNF-α mRNA was undetectable in the control cells. It was concluded that stimuli such as that provided by lignin derivatives increases the amount of TNF-α mRNA, which is then followed by translation of TNF-α.     

CARHSP1 is required for effective tumor necrosis factor alpha mRNA stabilization and localizes to processing bodies and exosomes

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a critical mediator of inflammation, and its production is tightly regulated, with control points operating at nearly every step of its biosynthesis. We sought to identify uncharacterized TNF-α 3' untranslated region (3'UTR)-interacting proteins utilizing a novel screen, termed the RNA capture assay. We identified CARHSP1, a cold-shock domain-containing protein. Knockdown of CARHSP1 inhibits TNF-α protein production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cells and reduces the level of TNF-α mRNA in both resting and LPS-stimulated cells. mRNA stability assays demonstrate that CARHSP1 knockdown decreases TNF-α mRNA stability from a half-life (t(1/2)) of 49 min to a t(1/2) of 22 min in LPS-stimulated cells and from a t(1/2) of 29 min to a t(1/2) of 24 min in resting cells. Transfecting CARHSP1 into RAW264.7 cells results in an increase in TNF-α 3'UTR luciferase expression in resting cells and CARHSP1 knockdown LPS-stimulated cells. We examined the functional effect of inhibiting Akt, calcineurin, and protein phosphatase 2A and established that inhibition of Akt or calcineurin but not PP2A inhibits CARHSP1 function. Subcellular analysis establishes CARHSP1 as a cytoplasmic protein localizing to processing bodies and exosomes but not on translating mRNAs. We conclude CARHSP1 is a TNF-α mRNA stability enhancer required for effective TNF-α production, demonstrating the importance of both stabilization and destabilization pathways in regulating the TNF-α mRNA half-life.     

Expression of the 78 kD glucose-regulated protein is induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress in the development of hepatopulmonary syndrome

Objective

This study is to explore the role of 78 kD glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) in the development of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) in rats.

Methods

The rat model of liver cirrhosis and HPS were induced with multiple pathogenic factors. Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining was performed to detect the pathological changes of the lung and liver tissues. The levels of alanine transferase (ALT), endotoxin, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in plasma and TNF-α and malondialdehyde (MDA) in lung tissues were detected. RT-PCR and Western blotting were conducted to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78 in lungs.

Results

The plasma endotoxin level was gradually increased as HPS developed, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78 in lungs were also increased as the disease progressed. The levels of ALT and TNF-α in plasma and the contents of TNF-α and MDA in lung tissues were gradually increased along with the disease progression, with a strong positive correlation. Compared with controls, the plasma TNF-α level and the mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78 in lung tissues were significantly higher in rats with HPS. The levels of endotoxin and ALT in plasma and the level of MDA in lungs were significantly higher in rats with HPS than controls.

Conclusions

The increased GRP78 expression is indicative of endoplasmic reticulum stress response during HPS, which may play an important role in the disease pathogenesis.     

TNF-α mediates mitochondrial uncoupling and enhances ROS-dependent cell migration via NF-κB activation in liver cells

Development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is accompanied by a continuous increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. To investigate the primary source of ROS in liver cells, we used tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as stimulus. Applying inhibitors against the respiratory chain complexes, we identified mitochondria as primary source of ROS production. TNF-α altered mitochondrial integrity by mimicking a mild uncoupling effect in liver cells, as indicated by a 40% reduction in membrane potential and ATP depletion (35%). TNF-α-induced ROS production activated NF-κB 3.5-fold and subsequently enhanced migration up to 12.7-fold. This study identifies complex I and complex III of the mitochondrial respiratory chain as point of release of ROS upon TNF-α stimulation of liver cells, which enhances cell migration by activating NF-κB signalling.     

Nox2 and Nox4 mediate tumour necrosis factor-α-induced ventricular remodelling in mice

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines are crucial in ventricular remodelling, such as inflammation-associated myocarditis. We previously reported that tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced ROS in human aortic smooth muscle cells is mediated by NADPH oxidase subunit Nox4. In this study, we investigated whether TNF-α-induced ventricular remodelling was mediated by Nox2 and/or Nox4. An intravenous injection of murine TNF-α was administered to a group of mice and saline injection was administered to controls. Echocardiography was performed on days 1, 7 and 28 post-injection. Ventricular tissue was used to determine gene and protein expression of Nox2, Nox4, ANP, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α and to measure ROS. Nox2 and Nox4 siRNA were used to determine whether or not Nox2 and Nox4 mediated TNF-α-induced ROS and upregulation of IL-1β and IL-6 in adult human cardiomyocytes. Echocardiography showed a significant increase in left ventricular end-diastolic and left ventricular end-systolic diameters, and a significant decrease in the ejection fraction and fractional shortening in mice 7 and 28 days after TNF-α injection. These two groups of mice showed a significant increase in ventricular ROS, ANP, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α proteins. Nox2 and Nox4 mRNA and protein levels were also sequentially increased. ROS was significantly decreased by inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, but not by inhibitors of other ROS production systems. Nox2 and Nox4 siRNA significantly attenuated TNF-α-induced ROS and upregulation of IL-1β and IL-6 in cardiomyocytes. Our study highlights a novel TNF-α-induced chronic ventricular remodelling mechanism mediated by sequential regulation of Nox2 and Nox4 subunits.