T1/ST2--an IL-1 receptor-like modulator of immune responses

Th2-associated factors such as IL-4 are involved in both the development of Th2 responses (via modulating Th2 cell differentiation) and in the effector phase of Th2 responses (via modulating macrophage activation). The IL-1 receptor-like protein ST2 (T1, Fit-1, or DER4) is expressed as a membrane-bound (ST2L) or secreted form (sST2), and has been clearly implicated as a regulator of both the development and effector phases of Th2-type responses. Here we analyze the mechanisms and therapeutic implications of the unique ability of ST2 to promote development and function of type 2 helper T cells through a positive feedback loop, as well as to act as a negative feedback modulator of macrophage pro-inflammatory function.     

T-cell restricted and unrestricted expression of transfected human interleukin-2 gene: phorbol ester- and calcium-inducible versus constitutive expression

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene expression is tightly controlled and generally limited to antigenic stimulation of T cells. To study the cell-specific expression of the IL-2 gene, we transfected the intact human IL-2 gene, including 2.0 kb of 5' and 0.3 kb of 3' flanking sequences, into mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblasts and BFS lymphoma T cells and into human epithelial HeLa cells. Stable transformants (NIH-3T3,HeLa and BFS cells) carried an intact transfected IL-2 gene and constitutively expressed cytoplasmic human IL-2 mRNA which was not detected in vector-transfected cells. Constitutive expression of IL-2 mRNA in human IL-2 gene-transfected NIH-3T3 and HeLa cells was associated to the secretion of bioactive IL-2 protein, while no IL-2 production was observed in untransfected or vector-transfected cells. Cytoplasmic IL-2 mRNA observed in transfectants was larger (1.4 kb) than endogenous IL-2 mRNA of human T cells, although smaller than RNA containing unspliced intact introns. No alternative promoters or polyadenylation signals were used by these cells, but some intronic sequences were present in the 1.4 kb mRNA. Phorbol ester and calcium ionophore did not modulate the expression of the transfected IL-2 gene in NIH-3T3 and HeLa cells, while these agents increased its expression in transfected BFS lymphoma T cells. We conclude that when transfected into lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells the intact human IL-2 gene is constitutively expressed, while its phorbol ester/calcium-mediated inducible expression is restricted to T cells. This suggests that the constitutive and inducible expression of the IL-2 gene can be dissociated and are presumably subjected to separate regulatory pathways.     

A novel pathway regulating lipopolysaccharide-induced shock by ST2/T1 via inhibition of Toll-like receptor 4 expression

ST2/ST2L, a member of the IL-1R gene family, is expressed by fibroblasts, mast cells, and Th2, but not Th1, cells. It exists in both membrane-bound (ST2L) and soluble forms (ST2). Although ST2L has immunoregulatory properties, its ligand, cellular targets, and mode of action remain unclear. Using a soluble ST2-human IgG fusion protein, we demonstrated that ST2 bound to primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) and that this binding was enhanced by treatment with LPS. The sST2 treatment of BMMs inhibited production of the LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-alpha but did not alter IL-10 or NO production. Treatment of BMMs with sST2 down-regulated expression of Toll-like receptors-4 and -1 but induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. Administration of sST2 in vivo after LPS challenge significantly reduced LPS-mediated mortality and serum levels of IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-alpha. Conversely, blockade of endogenous ST2 through administration of anti-ST2 Ab exacerbated the toxic effects of LPS. Thus, ST2 has anti-inflammatory properties that act directly on macrophages. We demonstrate here a novel regulatory pathway for LPS-induced shock via the ST2-Toll-like receptor 4 route. This may be of considerable therapeutic potential for reducing the severity and pathology of inflammatory diseases.     

Involvement of GSK-3β in attenuation of the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning in diabetic rat heart

ST2 gene products that are members of IL-1 receptor family are expressed in various cells such as growth-stimulated fibroblasts and Th2 helper T-cells, and recently, IL-33, which belongs to IL-1 family, was identified as the ligand for ST2L, the receptor type product of the ST2 gene. Subsequently, IL-33 and ST2L have been reported to be involved in Th2 immunity and inflammation, however, their functions on non-immunological cells are still obscure. Among non-immunological adhesive cells, vascular endothelial cells were reported to express both ST2 gene products and IL-33, therefore, we investigated the expression manner of the ST2 gene in vascular endothelial cells and the effect of IL-33 on endothelial cells. ST2 gene was expressed in each of the vascular endothelial cell types tested, and the expression was growth-dependent and down-regulated when the cells were differentiated to form vascular structures on the extracellular membrane matrix. IL-33 scarcely affected the growth and tube formation of the endothelial cells, but induced IL-6 and IL-8 secretion from endothelial cells with the rapid activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, so IL-33 is supposed to involve in inflammatory reaction of vascular endothelial cells through its receptor, ST2L.     

Leptin and Pro-Inflammatory Stimuli Synergistically Upregulate MMP-1 and MMP-3 Secretion in Human Gingival Fibroblasts

Introduction

Gingival fibroblast-mediated extracellular matrix remodelling is implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, yet the stimuli that regulate this response are not fully understood. The immunoregulatory adipokine leptin is detectable in the gingiva, human gingival fibroblasts express functional leptin receptor mRNA and leptin is known to regulate extracellular matrix remodelling responses in cardiac fibroblasts. We therefore hypothesised that leptin would enhance matrix metalloproteinase secretion in human gingival fibroblasts.

Methods and Results

We used in vitro cell culture to investigate leptin signalling and the effect of leptin on mRNA and protein expression in human gingival fibroblasts. We confirmed human gingival fibroblasts expressed cell surface leptin receptor, found leptin increased matrix metalloproteinase-1, -3, -8 and -14 expression in human gingival fibroblasts compared to unstimulated cells, and observed that leptin stimulation activated MAPK, STAT1/3 and Akt signalling in human gingival fibroblasts. Furthermore, leptin synergised with IL-1 or the TLR2 agonist pam2CSK4 to markedly enhance matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -3 production by human gingival fibroblasts. Signalling pathway inhibition demonstrated ERK was required for leptin-stimulated matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression in human gingival fibroblasts; whilst ERK, JNK, p38 and STAT3 were required for leptin+IL-1- and leptin+pam2CSK4-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression. A genome-wide expression array and gene ontology analysis confirmed genes differentially expressed in leptin+IL-1-stimulated human gingival fibroblasts (compared to unstimulated cells) were enriched for extracellular matrix organisation and disassembly, and revealed that matrix metalloproteinase-8 and -12 were also synergistically upregulated by leptin+IL-1 in human gingival fibroblasts.

Conclusions

We conclude that leptin selectively enhances the expression and secretion of certain matrix metalloproteinases in human gingival fibroblasts, and suggest that gingival fibroblasts may have an ECM-degrading phenotype during conditions of hyperleptinaemia (e.g., obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, exogenous leptin therapy).     

Interleukin 1: the patterns of translation and intracellular distribution support alternative secretory mechanisms.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is synthesized as a 31 kDa precursor protein, whose multiple extracellular activities are attributed to receptor binding of a processed, carboxy-terminal 17 kDa peptide. Unlike other secreted proteins, the IL-1 precursor lacks a hydrophobic leader sequence and is not found in organelles composing the classical secretory pathway. In order to further clarify the intracellular processing of IL-1, we studied its site of synthesis in human monocytes. Secreted and integral membrane proteins are translated on membrane-bound polyribosomes, while intracellular proteins are translated on free polyribosomes. Free and membrane-bound polysomes were isolated from Lipid A-stimulated monocyte lysates and immunoblotted using antibodies specific to the N-terminal regions of the IL-1 alpha and beta precursors. Free polysome fractions showed multiple small bands consistent with nascent peptide chains; membrane-bound polysomes yielded no detectable IL-1. Polysome fractions were then analyzed by immunoelectron microscopy; nascent IL-1 alpha and beta peptide chains were readily seen emerging from cytoskeletal-associated free polyribosomes, but not membrane-bound polyribosomes. Electron microscopic in situ hybridization revealed IL-1 mRNA chains attached to cytoskeletal-associated free, but not membrane-bound polyribosomes. The intracellular distribution of the fully synthesized IL-1 beta precursor was studied in human mesangial cells (HMC), whose cytoskeletal organization is more readily evaluated than that of monocytes. Dual immunofluorescence microscopy of these cells revealed a complex intracellular distribution of the fully synthesized 31 kDa IL-1 precursors. IL-1 was asymmetrically distributed between cytosolic, microtubule, and nuclear compartments, without association with actin or intermediate filaments. This demonstration of the sites of IL-1 synthesis and patterns of intracellular distribution provide further evidence for an extracellular release mechanism which is clearly distinct from the classical secretory pathway.     

Biosynthesis and molecular cloning of sulfated glycoprotein 1 secreted by rat Sertoli cells: sequence similarity with the 70-kilodalton precursor to sulfatide/GM1 activator

Sulfated glycoprotein 1 (SGP-1) is one of the abundant proteins secreted by rat Sertoli cells. Pulse-chase labeling shows that SGP-1 is synthesized as a cotranslationally glycosylated 67-kilodalton (kDa) precursor which is posttranslationally modified to a 70-kDa form before secretion to the extracellular space. A plasmid cDNA library was constructed from immunopurified mRNA, and two overlapping clones coding for the entire protein coding sequence were isolated. The cDNAs represent 27 nucleotides of 5' noncoding sequence, 1554 nucleotides of coding sequence, and 594 nucleotides of 3' noncoding sequence. The derived SGP-1 sequence contains 554 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 61,123. Four potential N-glycosylation sites occur within the sequence. An internal region of SGP-1 shows 78% sequence identity with the 67 N-terminal amino acids described for human sulfatide/GM1 activator (SAP-1). Sequence comparisons suggest that SGP-1 is the precursor to sulfatide/GM1 activator; however, the secretion of the protein from Sertoli cells is distinct from the proteolytic processing and lysosomal compartmentalization which have been described for human fibroblasts. The presence of internal sequence similarity suggests that three additional binding sites may occur in SGP-1. Northern blots show similar levels of expression for the 2.6-kilobase SGP-1 mRNA in all tissues examined. The site of SGP-1 synthesis in testis was localized to Sertoli cells by immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization.     

Platelet-derived growth factor induces interleukin-1 receptor gene expression in Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts

Our previous studies have demonstrated that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) modulated cellular responses to interleukin-1 (IL-1). In this communication, we show that PDGF regulates expression of IL-1 receptor (IL-1 R) gene. Treatment of quiescent cultures of Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts with PDGF produced 20-30-fold stimulation of IL-1 R mRNA with a concomitant increase in cell surface 125I-binding. IL-1 R mRNA accumulation occurred after an initial lag period and with a time course preceding the increase in 125I-IL-1 binding to cells. Induction of IL-1 R mRNA was blocked by inhibitors of protein synthesis, suggesting that a product of a gene expressed immediately after PDGF addition is required for IL-1 R gene expression. These latter data provide evidence for an ordered sequence of expression of PDGF-inducible "immediate early" gene(s) and IL-1 R gene. These results suggest that in connective tissues, PDGF may be an important determinant in initiating and maintaining cellular responses to IL-1. Such responses may have important consequences in the actions of IL-1 under normal and pathological conditions such as arthritis and atherosclerosis.     

Methylation of secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) promoter downregulates Wnt/β-catenin activity in keloids

Keloid, a benign skin disorder, forms during wound healing in genetically susceptible individuals. To better control keloid and understand the molecular mechanisms, this study screened gene hypermethylations of GEO database microarray data on keloids and identified the hypermethylation of the secreted frizzled related protein-1 (SFRP1) promoter. Subsequently, hypermethylation and mRNA and protein levels were assessed in 57 cases of keloid vs. normal skin tissues. Fibroblasts from tissues were isolated for the assessment of gene regulation in vitro. The methods used were bioinformatic analysis, lentiviral infection carrying SFRP1 cDNA, qRT-PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, luciferase reporter assay, methylation-specific PCR and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR, ELISA, and/or 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine treatment. The data revealed that the SFRP1 promoter was hypermethylated in keloid tissues, compared with that in normal skin tissues. The SFRP1 promoter methylation contributed to the downregulation of SFRP1 mRNA and protein in keloid tissues and keloid fibroblasts. The 5-Aza treatment significantly upregulated SFRP1 mRNA and protein level in keloid fibroblasts. Furthermore, the knockdown of DNMT1 expression, and not the expression of DNMT3a or DMNT3b, was responsible for the hypermethylation of the SFRP1 promoter and upregulation of SFRP1 mRNA and protein in keloid fibroblasts. In addition, the infection of lentivirus carrying SFRP1 cDNA significantly inhibited the signaling activity of Wnt/β-catenin and the mRNA and protein expression of β-catenin and α-SMA in keloid fibroblasts. In summary, the lost SFRP1 expression-induced Wnt/β-catenin signaling due to the hypermethylation of the SFRP1 promoter could associate with keloid development, suggesting that SFRP1 might be a therapeutic target for keloid treatment.