CXCL8 protects human neurons from amyloid-ß-induced neurotoxicity: relevance to Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by amyloid-ß (Aß) deposition in senile plaques colocalized with activated microglia and astrocytes. Recent studies suggest that CXCL8 is involved in the AD pathogenesis. The objective of this study was to determine the cellular sources of CXCL8 in the central nervous system during AD pathogenesis, and investigate the effects of CXCL8 on neuronal survival and/or functions. Our results showed significantly higher CXCL8 levels in AD brain tissue lysates as compared to those of age-matched controls. Upon Aß and/or pro-inflammatory cytokine stimulation, microglia, astrocytes and neurons were all capable of CXCL8 production in vitro. Although CXCL8-alone did not alter neuronal survival, it did inhibit Aß-induced neuronal apoptosis and increased neuronal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production. We conclude that microglia, astrocytes and neurons, all contribute to the enhanced CXCL8 levels in the CNS upon Aß and/or pro-inflammatory cytokine stimulation. Further, CXCL8 protects neurons possibly by paracrine or autocrine loop and regulates neuronal functions, therefore, may play a protective role in the AD pathogenesis.

CD38 regulation in activated astrocytes: implications for neuroinflammation and HIV-1 brain infection.

Reactive astrogliosis is a key pathological aspect of neuroinflammatory disorders including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-associated neurological disease. On the basis of previous data that showedastrocytes activated with interleukin (IL)-1beta induce neuronal injury, we analyzed global gene changes in IL-1beta-activated human astrocytes by gene microarray. Among the up-regulated genes, CD38, a 45-kDa type II single chain transmembrane glycoprotein, was a top candidate, with a 17.24-fold change that was validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Key functions of CD38 include enzymatic activities and involvement in adhesion and cell signaling. Importantly, CD38(+)CD8(+) T-cell expression is a clinical correlate for progression of HIV-1 infection and biological marker for immune activation. Thus, CD38 expression in HIV-1 and/or IL-1beta-stimulated human astrocytes and human brain tissues was analyzed. IL-1beta and HIV-1 activation of astrocytes enhanced CD38 mRNA levels. Both CD38 immunoreactivity and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-ribosyl cyclase activity were up-regulated in IL-1beta-activated astrocytes. CD38 knockdown using specific siRNAs significantly reduced astrocyte proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production. However, CD38 mRNA levels were unchanged in IL-1beta knockdown conditions, suggesting that IL-1beta autocrine loop is not implicated in this process. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of HIV-seropositive without encephalitis and HIV-1 encephalitis brain tissues showed significant up-regulation of CD38, which colocalized with glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells in areas of inflammation. These results suggest an important role of CD38 in the regulation of astrocyte dysfunction during the neuroinflammatory processes involved in neurodegenerative/neuroinflammatory disorders such as HIV-1 encephalitis.

Neuroinflammatory responses from microglia recovered from HIV-1-infected and seronegative subjects.

Microglial and macrophage infection and immune activation underlie the pathogenesis of HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD). To assess microglial function in HAD, we isolated cells from brain tissues recovered from an HIV-1-infected patient within 4 h of death. Brain tissue from seronegative patients served as controls. Regional neuropathology was correlated to microglial function. HIV-1-patient microglia formed multinucleated giant cells and produced progeny virions. These microglia secreted reduced basal and LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha levels compared to controls. Monocytes from seronegative donors paralleled these diminished immune responses following repeated LPS-activation. These results demonstrate changes in innate microglial function following viral infection or chronic immune activation.

Development of a rapid autopsy program for studies of brain immunity.

Human glia are essential cellular models used for studies of neurodegenerative diseases. Fetal neuroglia are commonly used, as they can be recovered in large quantities and sustained for long periods in culture. However, fetal neuroglia may have limitations in reflecting adult diseases and additionally can pose ethical issues in translating products of abortion for research use. To address these concerns, we developed a rapid autopsy program to procure age- and disease-specific neuroglia from adult brain tissues within hours of death. The challenges in developing this initiative, reflecting experiences from 69 autopsies over 4 years, are presented.

Potential mechanisms for astrocyte-TIMP-1 downregulation in chronic inflammatory diseases.

The pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative disorders, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 associated dementia, is exacerbated by an imbalance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). In the context of disease, TIMP-1 has emerged as an important multifunctional protein capable of regulating inflammation. We previously reported differential TIMP-1 expression in acute versus chronic activation of astrocytes. This study investigates possible mechanisms underlying TIMP-1 downregulation in chronic neuroinflammation. We used interleukin (IL)-1beta as a model pro-inflammatory stimulus and measured TIMP-1 binding to extracellular matrix, cell death, receptor downregulation, TIMP-1 mRNA stability and transcriptional regulation in activated astrocytes. TIMP-1 remained localized to the cell body or was secreted into the cell supernatant. DNA fragmentation ELISA and MTT assay showed that prolonged IL-1beta activation of astrocytes induced significant astrocyte death. In acute and chronic IL-1beta-activated astrocytes, IL-1 receptor levels were not significantly different. TIMP-1 mRNA stability was measured in astrocytes and U87 astroglioma cells by real-time PCR, and TIMP-1 promoter activation was studied using TIMP-1-luciferase reporter constructs in transfected astrocytes. Our results indicated that TIMP-1 expression is regulated through multiple mechanisms. Transcriptional control and loss of mRNA stabilization are, however, the most likely primary contributors to chronic downregulation of TIMP-1. These data are important for unraveling the mechanisms underlying astrocyte responses during chronic neuroinflammation and have broader implications in other inflammatory diseases that involve MMP/TIMP imbalance.

Rho-mediated regulation of tight junctions during monocyte migration across the blood-brain barrier in HIV-1 encephalitis (HIVE).

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is compromised during progressive HIV-1 infection, but how this occurs is incompletely understood. We studied the integrity of tight junctions (TJs) of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs) in an in vitro BBB system and in human brain tissues with HIV-1 encephalitis (HIVE). A downregulation of TJ proteins, claudin-5 and occludin, paralleled monocyte migration into the brain during HIVE. Because small G proteins (such as Rho) can play a role in BMVEC TJ assembly, an artificial BBB system explored the relationship among TJs, Rho/Rho kinase (RhoK) activation, and transendothelial monocyte migration. Coculture of monocytes with endothelial cells led to Rho activation and phosphorylation of TJ proteins. Rho and RhoK inhibitors blocked migration of infected and uninfected monocytes. The RhoK inhibitor protected BBB integrity and reversed occludin/claudin-5 phosphorylation associated with monocyte migration. BMVEC transfection with a constitutively active mutant of RhoK led to dislocation of occludin from the membrane and loss of BMVEC cell contacts. When dominant-negative RhoK-transfected BMVECs were used in BBB constructs, monocyte migration was reduced by 84%. Thus, loss of TJ integrity was associated with Rho activation caused by monocyte brain migration, suggesting that Rho/RhoK activation in BMVECs could be an underlying cause of BBB impairment during HIVE.

Regulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 by astrocytes: links to HIV-1 dementia.

The neuropathogenesis of HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD) revolves around the secretion of toxic molecules from infected and immune-competent mononuclear phagocytes. Astrocyte activation occurs in parallel but limited insights are available for its role in neurotoxicity and cognitive dysfunction. One means in which astrocytes may affect disease is through their production of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). TIMPs are regulators of matrix metalloproteinases, enzymes that affect blood-brain barrier integrity through altering the extracellular matrix. We hypothesized that in response to injury and inflammation in HAD, astrocytes regulate the production of TIMP-1, the inducible type of TIMP that is important in inflammation. To address astrocyte-mediated TIMP-1 regulation in HAD, we evaluated the responses of primary human to IL-1beta and HIV-1. TIMP-1 levels in plasma, CSF, and brain tissue of control, HIV-1 infected patients without cognitive impairment, and HAD patients were also studied. Our data show that an upregulation of TIMP-1 results from astrocytes acutely activated with IL-1beta. In contrast, CSF and brain tissue samples from HAD patients showed reduced TIMP-1 levels compared to seronegative controls. MMP-2 levels in brains showed the opposite. Consistent with this, prolonged activation of astrocytes led to a reduction in TIMP-1 and MMP-2, but a sustained elevation in MMP-1. Our data suggest that in diseased brain tissue, the ability of astrocytes to counteract the destructive effects of MMP through expression of TIMP-1 is diminished by chronic activation. Our studies reveal new opportunities for repair-based therapeutic strategies in HAD.