Apoptotic cells promote their own clearance and immune tolerance through activation of the nuclear receptor LXR.

Effective clearance of apoptotic cells by macrophages is essential for immune homeostasis. The transcriptional pathways that allow macrophages to sense and respond to apoptotic cells are poorly defined. We found that liver X receptor (LXR) signaling was important for both apoptotic cell clearance and the maintenance of immune tolerance. Apoptotic cell engulfment activated LXR and thereby induced the expression of Mer, a receptor tyrosine kinase critical for phagocytosis. LXR-deficient macrophages exhibited a selective defect in phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and an aberrant proinflammatory response to them. As a consequence of these defects, mice lacking LXRs manifested a breakdown in self-tolerance and developed autoantibodies and autoimmune glomerulonephritis. Treatment with an LXR agonist ameliorated disease progression in a mouse model of lupus-like autoimmunity. Thus, activation of LXR by apoptotic cells engages a virtuous cycle that promotes their own clearance and couples engulfment to the suppression of inflammatory pathways.

Activation of liver X receptors promotes neuroprotection and reduces brain inflammation in experimental stroke.

BACKGROUND: The liver X receptors (LXRs) belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily and act as transcriptional regulators of cholesterol metabolism in several tissues. Recent work also has identified LXRs as potent antiinflammatory molecules in macrophages and other immune cells. Combined changes in lipid and inflammatory profiles are likely mediating the protective role of LXRs in models of chronic injury like atherosclerosis. These beneficial actions, however, have not been illustrated in other models of acute injury such as stroke in which inflammation is an important pathophysiological feature. METHODS AND RESULTS: We have studied LXR expression and function in the course of experimental stroke caused by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats and mice. Here, we show that administration of the synthetic LXR agonists GW3965 or TO901317 after the ischemic occlusion improves stroke outcome as shown by decreased infarct volume area and better neurological scores in rats. Neuroprotection observed with LXR agonists correlated with decreased expression of proinflammatory genes in the brain and with reduced nuclear factor-kappaB transcriptional activity. Loss of function studies using LXRalpha,beta(-/-) mice demonstrated that the effect of LXR agonists is receptor specific. Interestingly, infarcted brain area and inflammatory signaling were significantly extended in LXRalpha,beta(-/-) mice compared with control animals, indicating that endogenous LXR signaling mediates neuroprotection in this setting. CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights the transcriptional action of LXR as a protective pathway in brain injury and the potential use of LXR agonists as therapeutic agents in stroke.

Expression of 14-3-3 σ protein in normal and neoplastic canine mammary gland.

14-3-3 σ protein is a negative cell cycle regulator, with both reduced and elevated levels associated with cancer in humans. This study assessed the expression of this protein in canine mammary tissues using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. 14-3-3 σ was detected in 97% of the mammary tissue samples examined and was found in both myoepithelial (MECs) and epithelial (ECs) cells. Expression levels were elevated and reduced in neoplastic ECs and MECs, respectively (P<0.001). Intense expression of 14-3-3 σ was detected in neoplastic ECs infiltrating blood vessels and lymph nodes and suggests a possible role for this protein in the malignant transformation of mammary neoplasms. Moreover, double immunostaining for 14-3-3 σ and the MEC-specific marker p63, confirmed that 14-3-3 σ is a highly sensitive marker of MECs since all p63-positive cells were also positive for 14-3-3 σ. However, this protein is not exclusive to MECs as ECs also labelled positively.