Differential regulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase by lipopolysaccharide and interferon gamma in murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the L-tryptophan-kynurenine pathway, which converts an essential amino acid, L-tryptophan, to N-formylkynurenine. The expression of IDO increases when inflammation is induced by wounding, infection or tumor growth. Although recent studies have suggested that IDO expression is up-regulated by IFN-gamma in various cell types and that the induction of IDO can also be mediated through an IFN-gamma-independent mechanism, these mechanisms still remain unknown. In this study, we investigated whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces the expression of IDO through an IFN-gamma-mediated signaling pathway or not. IFN-gamma-induced expression of IDO expression was inhibited only by JAK inhibitor I. However, LPS-induced expression of IDO was inhibited by LY294002 and SP600125 but not by JAK inhibitor I, SB203580, or U0126. These findings clearly indicate that LPS can induce the IDO expression via an IFN-gamma-independent mechanism and PI3 kinase and JNK in the LPS-induced pathway leading to IDO expression.     

Interferon gamma (IFNgamma ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha synergism in ME-180 cervical cancer cell apoptosis and necrosis. IFNgamma inhibits cytoprotective NF-kappa B through STAT1/IRF-1 pathways

We investigated the molecular mechanism of the synergism between interferon gamma (IFNgamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) documented in a variety of biological occasions such as tumor cell death and inflammatory responses. IFNgamma/TNFalpha synergistically induced apoptosis of ME-180 cervical cancer cells. IFNgamma induced STAT1 phosphorylation and interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) expression. Transfection of phosphorylation-defective STAT1 inhibited IFNgamma/TNFalpha-induced apoptosis, whereas IRF-1 transfection induced susceptibility to TNFalpha. Dominant-negative IkappaBalpha transfection sensitized ME-180 cells to TNFalpha. IFNgamma pretreatment attenuated TNFalpha- or p65-induced NF-kappaB reporter activity, whereas it did not inhibit p65 translocation or DNA binding of NF-kappaB. IRF-1 transfection alone inhibited TNFalpha-induced NF-kappaB activity, which was reversed by coactivator p300 overexpression. Caspases were activated by IFNgamma/TNFalpha combination; however, caspase inhibition did not abrogate IFNgamma/TNFalpha-induced cell death. Instead, caspase inhibitors directed IFNgamma/TNFalpha-treated ME-180 cells to undergo necrosis, as demonstrated by Hoechst 33258/propidium iodide staining and electron microscopy. Taken together, our results indicate that IFNgamma and TNFalpha synergistically act to destroy ME-180 tumor cells by either apoptosis or necrosis, depending on caspase activation, and STAT1/IRF-1 pathways initiated by IFNgamma play a critical role in IFNgamma/TNFalpha synergism by inhibiting cytoprotective NF-kappaB. IFNgamma/TNFalpha synergism appears to activate cell death machinery independently of caspase activation, and caspase activation seems to merely determine the mode of cell death.     

Enhanced induction of LPS-induced fibroblast MCP-1 by interferon-gamma: involvement of JNK and MAPK phosphatase-1

IFN-gamma has significant immunoregulatory activity and plays an important role in both innate and adaptive immunity. Additive effects of IFN-gamma and the Toll-like receptor ligand LPS has been investigated in macrophages, but in fibroblasts is incompletely understood. IFN-gamma and LPS synergistically induced MCP-1 and NO release in primary murine dermal fibroblasts. IFN-gamma enhanced LPS-induced JNK and p38 MAPK phosphorylation but had no effect on NF-kappaB activity. The induction of both MCP-1 and NO was attenuated by inhibition of JNK but not p38 MAPK. Serine 727 STAT1 phosphorylation by IFN-gamma was increased by LPS, and this was also attenuated by inhibition of JNK but not p38 MAPK. IFN-gamma inhibited the basal expression of MAPK phosphatase-1, a negative regulator of MAPK signaling pathway. These results suggest that enhancement of LPS-induced JNK activation by IFN-gamma associated with inhibition of MAPK phosphatase-1 may be one of the mechanisms of additive effects between IFN-gamma and LPS in fibroblasts.     

Synergistic effects of phorbol ester and INF-gamma on the induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in THP-1 monocytic leukemia cells

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a flavin-dependent enzyme which uses superoxide anion as a cosubstrate to catalyze the decyclization of the pyrrole ring of L-tryptophan to form formylkynurenine. This enzyme is induced in some tumor cells after treatment with IFN-gamma. The mechanism of induction of IDO in tumor cells by IFN-gamma was studied in THP-1 human monocytic leukemia cells. Before the addition of IFN-gamma, no IDO could be detected in these cells. Treatment of THP-1 cells with IFN-gamma produced an induction of IDO, with peak activity occurring 72 to 96 h after addition of IFN-gamma. Because phorbol esters are known to induce many enzymes in cells, most likely through the activation of protein kinase C, the effects of PMA on the induction of IDO were determined. PMA potentiated the IFN-gamma-induced elevation of IDO, but by itself, was unable to induce enzyme activity. Maximum induction of IDO in the presence of PMA and IFN-gamma was obtained by preexposure of the cells to PMA for 48 h before the addition of IFN-gamma. Maximum induction of IDO after the addition of IFN-gamma occurred 24 to 48 h after addition of the cytokine to the culture medium. However, the induction of IDO does not appear to be potentiated through the activation of protein kinase C, because the addition of the protein kinase C inhibitor H-7 had no effect on the induction of IDO when the cells were exposed to PMA and IFN-gamma. Moreover, diacylglycerol was unable to replace PMA in these studies. Studies with cAMP and cGMP analogs suggest a role for these compounds in the regulation of IDO expression.     

TSA通过抑制STAT1磷酸化与核转位下调人肝癌细胞HepG2内 IDO的表达

目的:研究曲古抑菌素A (Trichostatin A, TSA)下调γ干扰素(interferon-gamma, IFN-γ)诱导的人肝癌细胞HepG2内吲哚胺2, 3-双加氧酶(indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase, IDO)表达的分子机制。方法: Western blot 检测TSA在IFN-γ诱导的HepG2细胞中IDO的表达、信号转导及转录激活子1(STAT1)的磷酸化和干扰素调节因子1(IRF-1)的诱导表达情况。用免疫细胞化学法检测TSA处理HepG2细胞后对IDO表达的影响。流式细胞术分析TSA处理后IFN-γ受体2表达量的变化,进一步在激光共聚焦显微镜下观察TSA对STAT1核转位的影响,利用双荧光素酶报告基因系统检测TSA对IFN-γ激活位点(γ-activated sites, GAS)、干扰素刺激应答元件(interferon stimulated response elements, ISRE)和核因子-κB (NF-κB)的激活的影响。结果:TSA以剂量依赖方式下调HepG2细胞内IFN-γ诱导的IDO表达、能明显抑制STAT1第701位酪氨酸的磷酸化和STAT1的核转位,但是上调IFN-γ受体2受体的表达。双荧光素酶报告基因分析和Western blot结果表明:TSA能显著抑制GAS和IRF-1 的激活却不能抑制NF-κB和ISRE的激活。 结论:TSA能下调IFN-γ诱导的HepG2细胞中IDO的表达,其机制可能是与其抑制STAT1的磷酸化和核转位,以及抑制STAT1与GAS的结合有关,而不是通过下调IFN-γ受体的表达来实现的。     

IRF-8/interferon (IFN) consensus sequence-binding protein is involved in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling and contributes to the cross-talk between TLR and IFN-gamma signaling pathways

Toll-like receptor (TLR) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) signaling pathways are important for both innate and adaptive immune responses. However, the cross-talk between these two signaling pathways is incompletely understood. Here we show that IFN-gamma and LPS synergistically induce the expression of proinflammatory factors, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-12, NO, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Comparable synergism was observed between IFN-gamma and peptidoglycan (PGN; a TLR2 ligand) and poly(I:C) (a TLR3 ligand) in the induction of IL-12 promoter activity. IFN-gamma enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ERK and JNK phosphorylation but had no effect on LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation. Interestingly, we found that IRF-8-/- macrophages were impaired in the activation of LPS-induced ERK and JNK and the production of proinflammatory cytokines induced by LPS or IFN-gamma plus LPS. Retroviral transduction of IRF-8 into IRF-8-/- macrophages rescued ERK and JNK activation. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation experiments show that IRF-8 physically interacts with TRAF6 at a binding site between amino acid residues 356 and 305 of IRF-8. Transfection of IRF-8 enhanced TRAF6 ubiquitination, which is consistent with a physical interaction of IRF-8 with TRAF6. Taken together, the results suggest that the interaction of IRF-8 with TRAF6 modulates TLR signaling and may contribute to the cross-talk between IFN-gamma and TLR signal pathways.     

Inhibition of IFN-gamma-induced janus kinase-1-STAT1 activation in macrophages by vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide

The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), two immunomodulatory neuropeptides that affect both innate and acquired immunity, down-regulate IL-12 p40 and inducible NO synthase expression in LPS/IFN-gamma-stimulated macrophages. We showed previously that VIP/PACAP inhibit NF-kappaB nuclear translocation through the stabilization of IkappaB and reduce IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) binding to the regulatory elements found in the IL-12 p40 and inducible NO synthase promoters. In this paper we studied the molecular mechanisms involved in the VIP/PACAP regulation of IRF-1 transactivating activity. Our studies indicate that the inhibition in IRF-1 binding correlates with a reduction in IRF-1 protein and mRNA in IFN-gamma-treated Raw 264.7 macrophages. In agreement with the described Janus kinase (Jak)1/Jak2/STAT1/IRF-1 activation pathway, VIP/PACAP inhibit Jak1/Jak2, STAT1 phosphorylation, and the binding of STAT1 to the GAS sequence motif in the IRF-1 promoter. The effects of VIP/PACAP are mediated through the specific VIP/PACAP receptor-1 and the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) transduction pathway, but not through the induction of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 or suppressor of cytokine signaling-3. Because IFN-gamma is a major stimulator of innate immune responses in vivo, the down-regulation of IFN-gamma-induced gene expression by VIP and PACAP could represent a significant element in the regulation of the inflammatory response by endogenous neuropeptides.     

IFN-gamma/STAT1 acts as a proinflammatory signal in T cell-mediated hepatitis via induction of multiple chemokines and adhesion molecules: a critical role of IRF-1

We have previously shown that IFN-gamma/STAT1 plays an essential role in concanavalin A (ConA)-induced T cell hepatitis via activation of apoptotic signaling pathways. Here we demonstrate that IFN-gamma/STAT1 also plays a crucial role in leukocyte infiltration into the liver in T cell hepatitis. After injection of ConA, leukocytes were significantly infiltrated into the liver, which was suppressed in IFN-gamma(-/-) and STAT1(-/-) mice. Disruption of the IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) gene, a downstream target of IFN-gamma/STAT1, abolished ConA-induced liver injury and suppressed leukocyte infiltration into the liver. Additionally, ConA injection induced expression of a wide variety of chemokines and adhesion molecules in the liver. Among them, expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, monokine induced by IFN-gamma (Mig), CC chemokine ligand-20, epithelial cell-derived neutrophil-activating peptide (ENA)-78, IFN-inducible T cell-alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC), and IFN-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) was markedly attenuated in IFN-gamma(-/-), STAT1(-/-), and IRF-1(-/-) mice. In primary mouse hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, and endothelial cells, in vitro treatment with IFN-gamma activated STAT1, STAT3, and IRF-1, and induced expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, Mig, ENA-78, I-TAC, and IP-10 mRNA. Induction of these chemokines and adhesion molecules was markedly diminished in STAT1(-/-) and IRF-1(-/-) hepatic cells compared with wild-type hepatic cells. These findings suggest that in addition to induction of apoptosis, previously well documented, IFN-gamma also stimulated hepatocytes, sinusoidal endothelial cells, and Kupffer cells partly via an STAT1/IRF-1-dependent mechanism to produce multiple chemokines and adhesive molecules responsible for promoting infiltration of leukocytes and, ultimately, resulting in hepatitis.     

Cutting edge: phorbol ester induction of IFN-gamma receptors leads to enhanced DR alpha gene expression

We observed that IFN-gamma-inducible expression of the DR alpha gene was enhanced when THP-1 cells are differentiated into macrophage-like cells by phorbol ester treatment. Here, we observed that class II MHC trans-activator and STAT1 alpha mRNA, mediators of the signaling cascade from the IFN-gamma receptor to the DR alpha induction, were markedly increased by IFN-gamma stimulation in phorbol ester-activated THP-1 cells; however, both mRNAs were not increased by phorbol ester treatment alone. Then, we demonstrated that the mRNA and proteins of the IFN-gamma receptor alpha- and beta-chains were amplified by phorbol ester treatment in THP-1 cells. Consequently, these results indicate that the enhancement of DR alpha gene expression by IFN-gamma treatment in phorbol ester-activated THP-1 cells is due to the phorbol ester-induced up-regulation of IFN-gamma receptor alpha- and beta-chains. As a result, the amplification of STAT1 alpha and the increment of class II MHC trans-activator results in enhancement of DR alpha expression.     

Tollip regulates proinflammatory responses to interleukin-1 and lipopolysaccharide

Activation of interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor (IL-1R), Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), and TLR4 triggers NF-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent signaling, thereby initiating immune responses. Tollip has been implicated as a negative regulator of NF-kappaB signaling triggered by these receptors in in vitro studies. Here, deficient mice were used to determine the physiological contribution of Tollip to immunity. NF-kappaB, as well as MAPK, signaling appeared normal in Tollip-deficient cells stimulated with IL-1beta or the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Similarly, IL-1beta- and TLR-driven activation of dendritic cells and lymphocytes was indistinguishable from wild-type cells. In contrast, the production of the proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha was significantly reduced after IL-1beta and LPS treatment at low doses but not at lethal doses of LPS. Tollip therefore controls the magnitude of inflammatory cytokine production in response to IL-1beta and LPS.