Interleukin-6 potentiates endurance training adaptation and improves functional capacity in old mice.

BACKGROUND: Interventions to preserve functional capacities at advanced age are becoming increasingly important. So far, exercise provides the only means to counteract age-related decrements in physical performance and muscle function. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of exercise interventions in elderly populations is hampered by reduced acceptance and compliance as well as disuse complications. We therefore studied whether application of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pleiotropic myokine that is induced by skeletal muscle activity and exerts broad systemic effects in response to exercise, affects physical performance and muscle function alone or in combination with training in aged mice. METHODS: Sedentary old male mice (Sed+Saline, n = 15) were compared with animals that received recombinant IL-6 (rIL-6) in an exercise-mimicking pulsatile manner (Sed+IL-6, n = 16), were trained with a moderate-intensity, low-volume endurance exercise regimen (Ex+Saline, n = 13), or were exposed to a combination of these two interventions (Ex+IL-6, n = 16) for 12 weeks. Before and at the end of the intervention, mice underwent a battery of tests to quantify endurance performance, muscle contractility in situ, motor coordination, and gait and metabolic parameters. RESULTS: Mice exposed to enhanced levels of IL-6 during endurance exercise bouts showed superior improvements in endurance performance (33% more work and 12% greater peak power compared with baseline), fatigue resistance in situ (P = 0.0014 vs. Sed+Saline; P = 0.0199 vs. Sed+IL-6; and P = 0.0342 vs. Ex+Saline), motor coordination (rotarod performance, P = 0.0428), and gait (gait speed, P = 0.0053) following training. Pulsatile rIL-6 treatment in sedentary mice had only marginal effects on glucose tolerance and some gait parameters. No increase in adverse events or mortality related to rIL-6 treatment was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of rIL-6 paired with treadmill running bouts potentiates the adaptive response to a moderate-intensity low-volume endurance exercise regimen in old mice, while being safe and well tolerated.

Chemical inducers and transcriptional markers of oligodendrocyte differentiation.

Oligodendrocytes generate and maintain myelin, which is essential for axonal function and protection of the mammalian central nervous system. To advance our molecular understanding of differentiation by these cells, we screened libraries of pharmacologically active compounds and identified inducers of differentiation of Oli-neu, a stable cell line of mouse oligodendrocyte precursors (OPCs). We identified four broad classes of inducers, namely, forskolin/cAMP (protein kinase A activators), steroids (glucocorticoids and retinoic acid), ErbB2 inhibitors, and nucleoside analogs, and confirmed the activity of these compounds on rat primary oligodendrocyte precursors and mixed cortical cultures. We also analyzed transcriptional responses in the chemically induced mouse and rat OPC differentiation processes and compared these with earlier studies. We confirm the view that ErbB2 is a natural signaling component that is required for OPC proliferation, whereas ErbB2 inhibition or genetic knockdown results in OPC differentiation.

Low-Dose Pulsatile Interleukin-6 As a Treatment Option for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) remains one of the most common and serious complications of diabetes. Currently, pharmacological agents are limited to treating the pain associated with DPN, and do not address the underlying pathological mechanisms driving nerve damage, thus leaving a significant unmet medical need. Interestingly, research conducted using exercise as a treatment for DPN has revealed interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling to be associated with many positive benefits such as enhanced blood flow and lipid metabolism, decreased chronic inflammation, and peripheral nerve fiber regeneration. IL-6, once known solely as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is now understood to signal as a multifunctional cytokine, capable of eliciting both pro- and anti-inflammatory responses in a context-dependent fashion. IL-6 released from muscle in response to exercise signals as a myokine and as such has a unique kinetic profile, whereby levels are transiently elevated up to 100-fold and return to baseline levels within 4 h. Importantly, this kinetic profile is in stark contrast to long-term IL-6 elevation that is associated with pro-inflammatory states. Given exercise induces IL-6 myokine signaling, and exercise has been shown to elicit numerous beneficial effects for the treatment of DPN, a causal link has been suggested. Here, we discuss both the clinical and preclinical literature related to the application of IL-6 as a treatment strategy for DPN. In addition, we discuss how IL-6 may directly modulate Schwann and nerve cells to explore a mechanistic understanding of how this treatment elicits a neuroprotective and/or regenerative response. Collectively, studies suggest that IL-6, when administered in a low-dose pulsatile strategy to mimic the body's natural response to exercise, may prove to be an effective treatment for the protection and/or restoration of peripheral nerve function in DPN. This review highlights the studies supporting this assertion and provides rationale for continued investigation of IL-6 for the treatment of DPN.

Regulation of LRRK2 expression points to a functional role in human monocyte maturation.

Genetic variants of Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) are associated with a significantly enhanced risk for Parkinson disease, the second most common human neurodegenerative disorder. Despite major efforts, our understanding of LRRK2 biological function and regulation remains rudimentary. In the present study we analyze LRRK2 mRNA and protein expression in sub-populations of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). LRRK2 mRNA and protein was found in circulating CD19(+) B cells and in CD14(+) monocytes, whereas CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were devoid of LRRK2 mRNA. Within CD14(+) cells the CD14(+)CD16(+) sub-population of monocytes exhibited high levels of LRRK2 protein, in contrast to CD14(+)CD16(-) cells. However both populations expressed LRRK2 mRNA. As CD14(+)CD16(+) cells represent a more mature subset of monocytes, we monitored LRRK2 expression after in vitro treatment with various stress factors known to induce monocyte activation. We found that IFN-γ in particular robustly increased LRRK2 mRNA and protein levels in monocytes concomitant with a shift of CD14(+)CD16(-) cells towards CD14(+)CD16(+) cells. Interestingly, the recently described LRRK2 inhibitor IN-1 attenuated this shift towards CD14(+)CD16(+) after IFN-γ stimulation. Based on these findings we speculate that LRRK2 might have a role in monocyte maturation. Our results provide further evidence for the emerging role of LRRK2 in immune cells and regulation at the transcriptional and translational level. Our data might also reflect an involvement of peripheral and brain immune cells in the disease course of PD, in line with increasing awareness of the role of the immune system in PD.

IKK2 inhibitor alleviates kidney and wasting diseases in a murine model of human AIDS.

Wasting and renal diseases are frequent complications of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection and are associated with accelerated disease progression and increased mortality. Transgenic mice expressing HIV1 under control of the CD4 promoter develop an AIDS-like disease and were used in the present work to study HIV1-induced wasting and kidney pathology. In this study, we reported that disease evolution paralleled increases in serum urea and creatinine levels, indicating an early and progressive deterioration of kidney function; meanwhile the wasting syndrome characterized by up-regulation of the ubiquitine-proteasome pathway and increased level of serum 3-methyl-histidine levels occurred at later stages just prior to death. Further examination of kidney and muscle pathologies revealed a progressive accumulation of CD45(+) cells, first affecting the kidneys. In addition, the onset of disease is accompanied by elevated levels of circulating "regulated on activation, normal and secreted T cell expressed and secreted" (RANTES). These results prompted us to assess the effects of AS602868, a specific small molecule inhibitor of IkappaB kinase 2 (IKK2) on disease progression. Inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway indeed resulted in increased lifespan, kidney and lean body mass preservation. These beneficial results were associated with a reduction of CD45(+) cells infiltrating the kidneys, amelioration of the renal architecture, and reduced level of circulating RANTES. Together our data provide evidence that IKK2 inhibitors have therapeutic relevance in the treatment of HIV1-associated disorders.