Gut-Joint Axis: Impact of Bifidobacterial Cell Wall Lipoproteins on Arthritis Development.

Gut microbiota affect progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present study aims at investigating the protective potential of Bifidobacterium longum cell wall lipoproteins (Lpps) shown to modulate the intestinal microbiome and prevent osteoarthritis. Arthritis was induced by collagen (CIA) or anti-collagen antibodies (CAIA) injection. Intake of 0.5 mg of Lpps/L, but not 0.25 and 1 mg of Lpps/L, significantly alleviated RA symptoms in CIA DBA/1OOaHsd mice. The arthritis index (AI) was also reduced in CAIA mice. In the CIA-protected group, colon Ligilactobacillus murinus, caecal Lactobacillus johnsonii and spleen weight correlated with AI, whereas the reverse was observed with splenic CD11c+ dendritic cells (cDCs). The unprotected CIA Lpps group harbored higher cecal and colon E. coli and lower caecal L. murinus. Lpps administration to CAIA mice after arthritis induction led to lower colon E. plexicaudatum counts. Splenocytes from CIA-protected mice triggered by LPS secreted higher Il-10 than control ones. However, a higher IL-10 response was not elicited in gnotobiotic RA mice splenocytes with lower cDCs' recruitment. Labeled bacteria with the Lpps signal were detected in CIA mice bone marrow (BM) cDCs 5 and 16 h post-gavage but not in Peyer's patches and the spleen. In vitro uptake of Lpps by primary BM and thymus cells was observed within 24 h. An FACS analysis detected the Lpps signal in the plasmacytoid cell compartment but not in cDCs. In conclusion, Lpps dosing is critical for preventing arthritis progression and appropriately modulating the microbiome. Our results also highlight the possible triggering of the immune system by Lpps.

Virtual screening of CB(2) receptor agonists from bayesian network and high-throughput docking: structural insights into agonist-modulated GPCR features.

The relevance of CB(2)-mediated therapeutics is well established in the treatment of pain, neurodegenerative and gastrointestinal tract disorders. Recent works such as the crystallization of class-A G-protein-coupled receptors in a range of active states and the identification of specific anchoring sites for CB(2) agonists challenged us to design a reliable agonist-bound homology model of CB(2) receptor. Docking-scoring enrichment tests of a high-throughput virtual screening of 140 compounds led to 13 hits within the micromolar affinity range. Most of these hits behaved as CB(2) agonists, among which two novel full agonists emerged. Although the main challenge was a high-throughput docking run targeting an agonist-bound state of a CB(2) model, a prior 2D ligand-based Bayesian network was computed to enrich the input commercial library for 3D screening. The exclusive discovery of agonists illustrates the reliability of this agonist-bound state model for the identification of polar and aromatic amino acids as new agonist-modulated CB(2) features to be integrated in the wide activation pathway of G-protein-coupled receptors.

PPARα as a therapeutic target in inflammation-associated diseases.

INTRODUCTION: The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) plays a major regulatory function of genes involved in energy metabolism and is a therapeutic target for dyslipidemia. The last decade provided a constellation of findings demonstrating that PPARα behaves as a modulator of both acute and chronic inflammation. PPARα became a rational potential therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. AERAS COVERED: The ability of PPARα to control inflammatory signaling pathways via a diversity of molecular mechanisms is discussed. This review is especially focused on the global action of PPARα on inflammation in several tissues from data obtained in numerous cell types and in vivo models exposed to inflammatory stimuli. EXPERT OPINION: Available PPARα agonists currently used in clinic belong to the class of hypolipidemic drugs but were not expected and not designed to act as anti-inflammatory drugs. To date, accumulating preclinical suggest evidence promising benefits when considering PPARα as a drug target to treat inflammatory disorders. However, clinical studies are needed to validate this concept. Drug design should also be directed toward the elaboration of PPARα agonists more specifically active in the control inflammatory signaling.

PPARalpha blocks glucocorticoid receptor alpha-mediated transactivation but cooperates with the activated glucocorticoid receptor alpha for transrepression on NF-kappaB.

Glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GRalpha) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) are transcription factors with clinically important immune-modulating properties. Either receptor can inhibit cytokine gene expression, mainly through interference with nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB)-driven gene expression. The present work aimed to investigate a functional cross-talk between PPARalpha- and GRalpha-mediated signaling pathways. Simultaneous activation of PPARalpha and GRalpha dose-dependently enhances transrepression of NF-kappaB-driven gene expression and additively represses cytokine production. In sharp contrast and quite unexpectedly, PPARalpha agonists inhibit the expression of classical glucocorticoid response element (GRE)-driven genes in a PPARalpha-dependent manner, as demonstrated by experiments using PPARalpha wild-type and knockout mice. The underlying mechanism for this transcriptional antagonism relies on a PPARalpha-mediated interference with the recruitment of GRalpha, and concomitantly of RNA polymerase II, to GRE-driven gene promoters. Finally, the biological relevance of this phenomenon is underscored by the observation that treatment with the PPARalpha agonist fenofibrate prevents glucocorticoid-induced hyperinsulinemia of mice fed a high-fat diet. Taken together, PPARalpha negatively interferes with GRE-mediated GRalpha activity while potentiating its antiinflammatory effects, thus providing a rationale for combination therapy in chronic inflammatory disorders.

Atheroprotective effect of human apolipoprotein A5 in a mouse model of mixed dyslipidemia.

Hypertriglyceridemia is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. Because apolipoprotein (Apo)A5 regulates plasma triglyceride levels, we investigated the impact of human (h)ApoA5 on atherogenesis. The influence of hApoA5 transgenic expression was studied in the ApoE2 knock-in mouse model of mixed dyslipidemia. Our results demonstrate that hApoA5 lowers plasma triglyceride levels in Western diet-fed ApoE2 knock-in mice. Moreover, atherosclerotic lesion development was significantly decreased in the hApoA5 transgenic mice. Finally, pharmacologic activation of hApoA5 expression by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha agonist fenofibrate resulted in an enhanced atheroprotection. These results identify an atheroprotective role of hApoA5 in a mouse model of mixed dyslipidemia.

Systemic and distal repercussions of liver-specific peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha control of the acute-phase response.

The acute-phase response is characterized by the modulation of liver expression of many proteins involved in a diversity of biological functions. Among them, some are associated with the pathology of atherosclerosis. We previously found that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) agonists attenuate the IL-6 induction of acute-phase response gene expression in vitro and in vivo. In the current work, we found a PPARalpha-dependent regulation of hepatic acute-phase response stimulated by IL-1. We also found that IL-1-stimulated expression of secondary wave cytokines such as IL-6 is prevented upon PPARalpha activation in liver. Direct involvement of hepatic PPARalpha was demonstrated using a liver-restricted expression of PPARalpha in mice. IL-1- or IL-6-mediated acute-phase response was inhibited by fenofibrate treatment in liver-specific PPARalpha-expressing mice but not in PPARalpha-deficient mice. In addition, we demonstrated that PPARalpha exerts a general control of the acute-phase response by using an inflammation/infection model of lipopolysaccharide. In such a context, liver-specific PPARalpha-expressing mice displayed lower circulating levels of TNF, IL-1, and IL-6 cytokines. We found a distal repercussion of this lowering at the vascular wall level as illustrated by a decreased expression of adhesion molecules in aorta. In conclusion, we demonstrated that through a specific liver action, PPARalpha behaves as a modulator of systemic inflammation and of the associated vascular response.

Liver X receptor activation potentiates the lipopolysaccharide response in human macrophages.

Macrophages play a central role in host defense against pathogen microbes by recognizing bacterial components, resulting in the activation of an arsenal of anti-microbial effectors. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 mediates the recognition of lipopolysaccharide, a pathogen-associated molecular pattern from gram-negative bacteria. Activation of the TLR-4 signaling pathway by lipopolysaccharide increases antibacterial effects by inducing secretion of cytokines that activate an immune inflammatory response and by generating bactericidal reactive oxygen species via the NADPH oxidase system. Liver X Receptors (LXRs) are nuclear receptors controlling cholesterol homeostasis and inflammation in macrophages. In addition, LXRs are critical for macrophage survival and play a role in the innate immune response in the mouse. In this study, we investigated whether LXR activation also regulates host defense mechanisms in human macrophages. In primary human macrophages, oxidized LDL and synthetic LXR ligands increased TLR-4 gene expression. Transient transfection assays, gel shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that LXRs induce human TLR-4 promoter activity by binding to a DR4-type LXR response element. LXR induction of TLR-4 mRNA was followed by an induction of TLR-4 protein expression. Moreover, although short-term pretreatment with LXR agonists significantly reduced the inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide, pretreatment of macrophages for 48 hours with LXR agonists resulted in an enhanced lipopolysaccharide response. Finally, LXR activation increased reactive oxygen species generation by enhancing the expression of NADPH oxidase subunits. These data provide evidence for an immunomodulatory function of LXRs in human macrophages via mechanisms distinct from those previously identified in mouse macrophages.

Drug Insight: mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications for agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors.

Intensive preclinical investigations have delineated a role for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in energy metabolism and inflammation. PPARs are activated by natural lipophilic ligands such as fatty acids and their derivatives. Normalization of lipid and glucose metabolism is achieved via pharmacological modulation of PPAR activity. PPARs may also alter atherosclerosis progression through direct effects on the vascular wall. PPARs regulate genes involved in the recruitment of leukocytes to endothelial cells, in vascular inflammation, in macrophage lipid homeostasis, and in thrombosis. PPARs therefore modulate metabolic and inflammatory perturbations that predispose to cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. The hypolipidemic fibrates and the antidiabetic thiazolidinediones are drugs that act via PPARalpha and PPARgamma, respectively, and are used in clinical practice. PPARbeta/delta ligands are currently in clinical evaluation. The pleiotropic actions of PPARs and the fact that chemically diverse PPAR agonists may induce distinct pharmacological responses have led to the emergence of new concepts for drug design. A more precise understanding of the molecular pathways implicated in the response to chemically distinct PPAR agonists should provide new opportunities for targeted therapeutic applications in the management of the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Modulation of hepatic inflammatory risk markers of cardiovascular diseases by PPAR-alpha activators: clinical and experimental evidence.

Atherosclerosis is a long-term chronic inflammatory disease associated with increased concentrations of inflammatory hepatic markers, such as CRP and fibrinogen, and of peripheral origin, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-)-alpha is a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates expression of key genes involved in lipid homeostasis and modulates the inflammatory response both in the vascular wall and the liver. PPAR-alpha is activated by natural ligands, such as fatty acids, as well as the lipid-lowering fibrates. PPAR-alpha agonists impact on different steps of atherogenesis: (1) early markers of atherosclerosis, such as vascular wall reactivity, are improved, (2) however, reduced expression of adhesion molecules on the surface of endothelial cells, accompanied by decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-6, leads to a decreased leukocyte recruitment into the arterial wall; (3) in later stages of the atherosclerotic process, PPAR-alpha agonists may promote plaque stabilization and reduce cardiovascular events, via effects on metalloproteinases, such as MMP9. Moreover, PPAR-alpha activation by fibrates also impairs proinflammatory cytokine-signaling pathways in the liver resulting in the modulation of the acute phase response reaction via mechanisms independent of changes in lipoprotein levels. Effective coronary artery disease (CAD) prevention requires the use of agents that act beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-lowering. PPAR-alpha agonists appear to comprehensively address some of the abnormalities of the most common clinical phenotypes of the high CAD risk patient of the 21st century such as in the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high triglycerides, small, dense low-density lipoprotein, and a proinflammatory, procoagulant state.

Progesterone inhibits human breast cancer cell growth through transcriptional upregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 gene.

The effects of progesterone derivatives on breast cancer development are still controversial, probably accounting for their biphasic, opposed effects on mammary cell-cycle regulation. Here, we demonstrate in vitro that the growth-inhibitory effects of progesterone on breast cancer T-47D cells require the transcriptional upregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1) (p27) gene. A statistical analysis of human tumor biopsies further indicates that p27 mRNA levels correlate to progesterone receptor (PR) levels. Moreover, p27 gene expression is inversely associated with tumor aggressiveness, and is a prognostic factor of favorable disease outcome. Thus, progesterone derivatives selectively activating the p27 gene promoter could be promising drugs against breast cancer progression.

The gene encoding fibrinogen-beta is a target for retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor alpha.

Fibrinogen is a plasma protein synthesized by the liver. It is composed of three chains (alpha, beta, gamma). In addition to its main function as a coagulation factor, this acute phase protein is also a risk marker for atherosclerosis. Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor (ROR)alpha is a nuclear receptor modulating physiopathological processes such as cerebellar ataxia, inflammation, atherosclerosis, and angiogenesis. In this study, we identified RORalpha as a regulator of fibrinogen-beta gene expression in human hepatoma cells and in mouse liver. A putative RORalpha response element (RORE) was identified in the human fibrinogen-beta promoter. EMSA showed that RORalpha binds specifically to this RORE, and cotransfection experiments in HepG2 hepatoma cells indicated that this RORE confers RORalpha-dependent transcriptional activation to both the human fibrinogen-beta and the thymidine kinase promoters. Stable transfection experiments in HepG2 and Hep3B hepatoma cells demonstrated that overexpression of RORalpha specifically increases endogenous fibrinogen-beta mRNA levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that the fibrinogen-beta RORE is occupied by RORalpha in HepG2 cells. Thus, the human fibrinogen-beta gene is a direct target for RORalpha. Furthermore, fibrinogen-beta mRNA levels in liver and plasma fibrinogen concentrations are specifically decreased in staggerer mice, which are homozygous for a deletion invalidating the Rora gene. Taken together, these data add further evidence for an important role of RORalpha in the control of liver gene expression with potential pathophysiological consequences on coagulation and cardiovascular risk.

Global suppression of IL-6-induced acute phase response gene expression after chronic in vivo treatment with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha activator fenofibrate.

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), which is highly expressed in liver, plays key roles in lipid metabolism and inflammation. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is the principal inducer of acute phase response (APR) gene expression. In the present study, we demonstrate that chronic treatment with the PPARalpha agonist fenofibrate fully prevents the IL-6-induced APR gene expression in wild-type but not in PPARalpha-deficient mice. PPARalpha prevents the IL-6-induced expression of the positive APR genes fibrinogen-alpha, -beta, -gamma, haptoglobulin, and serum amyloid A and the IL-6-induced suppression of the negative APR gene, major urinary protein. Furthermore, the effect of PPARalpha on the APR gene expression does not simply consist in a delayed systemic response to IL-6 but occurs directly at the transcriptional level. This global suppression of acute phase gene transcription may be explained by two PPARalpha-dependent in vivo effects: 1) PPARalpha activation results in the down-regulation of the IL-6 receptor components gp80 and gp130 in the liver, thereby reducing the phosphorylation and activation of the downstream transcription factors STAT3 and c-Jun that transduce the IL-6 signal; and 2) PPARalpha reduces the basal expression of the transcription factors CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-alpha, -beta, -delta, which are responsible for immediate and maintained transcription of APR genes. A similar global effect of fenofibrate on acute phase protein expression is observed in hyperlipidemic patients chronically treated with fenofibrate, which displayed decreased plasma concentrations of the positive APR proteins fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, plasminogen, and alpha2-macroglobulin and increased plasma concentrations of the negative APR albumin, underlining the clinical significance of our findings.

The orphan nuclear receptor Rev-Erbalpha is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma target gene and promotes PPARgamma-induced adipocyte differentiation.

Rev-Erbalpha (NR1D1) is an orphan nuclear receptor encoded on the opposite strand of the thyroid receptor alpha gene. Rev-Erbalpha mRNA is induced during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, and its expression is abundant in rat adipose tissue. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) (NR1C3) is a nuclear receptor controlling adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity. Here we show that Rev-Erbalpha expression is induced by PPARgamma activation with rosiglitazone in rat epididymal and perirenal adipose tissues in vivo as well as in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro. Furthermore, activated PPARgamma induces Rev-Erbalpha promoter activity by binding to the direct repeat (DR)-2 response element Rev-DR2. Mutations of the 5' or 3' half-sites of the response element totally abrogated PPARgamma binding and transcriptional activation, identifying this site as a novel type of functional PPARgamma response element. Finally, ectopic expression of Rev-Erbalpha in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes potentiated adipocyte differentiation induced by the PPARgamma ligand rosiglitazone. These results identify Rev-Erbalpha as a target gene of PPARgamma in adipose tissue and demonstrate a role for this nuclear receptor as a promoter of adipocyte differentiation.

Apolipoprotein A5, a crucial determinant of plasma triglyceride levels, is highly responsive to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha activators.

The recently discovered APOA5 gene has been shown in humans and mice to be important in determining plasma triglyceride levels, a major cardiovascular disease risk factor. apoAV represents the first described apolipoprotein where overexpression lowers triglyceride levels. Since fibrates represent a commonly used therapy for lowering plasma triglycerides in humans, we investigated their ability to modulate APOA5 gene expression and consequently influence plasma triglyceride levels. Human primary hepatocytes treated with Wy 14,643 or fenofibrate displayed a strong induction of APOA5 mRNA. Deletion and mutagenesis analyses of the proximal APOA5 promoter firmly demonstrate the presence of a functional peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor response element. These findings demonstrate that APOA5 is a highly responsive peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha target gene and support its role as a major mediator for how fibrates reduce plasma triglycerides in humans.

Fibrates down-regulate IL-1-stimulated C-reactive protein gene expression in hepatocytes by reducing nuclear p50-NFkappa B-C/EBP-beta complex formation.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major acute-phase protein in humans. Elevated plasma CRP levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. CRP is predominantly expressed in hepatocytes and is induced by interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 under inflammatory situations, such as the acute phase. Fibrates are hypolipidemic drugs that act through the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha). Fibrates have been shown to reduce elevated CRP levels in humans, but the molecular mechanism is unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that different PPAR-alpha activators suppress IL-1-induced, but not IL-6-induced, expression of CRP in primary human hepatocytes and HuH7 hepatoma cells. Induction of CRP expression by IL-1 occurs at the transcriptional level. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments show that IL-1 induces CRP expression through 2 overlapping response elements, the binding sites for CCAAT-box/enhancer-binding protein-beta (C/EBP-beta) and p50-nuclear factor-kappaB (p50-NFkappaB). Cotransfection of C/EBP-beta and p50-NFkappaB enhances CRP promoter activity, and coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicate that the increase in CRP promoter activity by IL-1 is related to the generation and nuclear accumulation of C/EBP-beta-p50-NFkappaB complexes. Interestingly, PPAR-alpha activators reduce the formation of nuclear C/EBP-beta-p50-NFkappaB complexes, and thereby CRP promoter activity, by 2 mechanisms. First, PPAR-alpha increases IkappaB-alpha expression and thus prevents p50-NFkappaB translocation to the nucleus. Second, fibrates decrease hepatic C/EBP-beta and p50-NFkappaB protein levels in mice in a PPAR-alpha-dependent way. Our findings identify C/EBP-beta and p50-NFkappaB as novel targets for PPAR-alpha and provide a molecular explanation for the reduction of plasma CRP levels by fibrates.