Excess Blood Flow Response to Acute Resistance Exercise in Individuals Who are Obese or Nonobese.

Lipford, GF, Evans, RK, Acevedo, EO, Wolfe, LG, and Franco, RL. Excess blood flow response to acute resistance exercise in individuals who are obese or nonobese. J Strength Cond Res 31(11): 3120-3127, 2017-Resistance exercise (RE) is a commonly recommended treatment option for obese individuals. However, little is known regarding alterations in vasodilatory responses to RE, which could impair exercise tolerance. No studies to date have compared microvascular vasodilatory capacity, assessed by excess blood flow (EBF), responses in individuals who are obese or nonobese following acute RE. The purpose of the study was to evaluate EBF before and up to 24-hour after a single RE bout in obese (n = 18, 38.1 ± 7.64% body fat) and nonobese (n = 10, 23.6 ± 4.03% body fat) individuals who volunteered to participate. Each subject completed a leg flexion and knee extension one repetition maximum (1RM) test, and subsequently completed 4 sets of 8 repetitions at 85% of 1RM. Excess blood flow, adiponectin, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were evaluated at baseline (PRE-RE), immediately after (POST-RE), and 1 (POST-1) and 24 (POST-24) hours after exercise. A repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant interaction for EBF between the 2 groups (p = 0.029). The estimated marginal means plot suggested that obese individuals had a significant increase in POST-RE EBF in comparison with PRE-RE EBF (428.54 ± 261.59 vs. 547.00 ± 311.15 ml/100 ml/min·s; p = 0.046). In addition, EBF significantly decreased at POST-24 in comparison with POST-RE in the obese individuals (547.00 ± 311.15 vs. 389.33 ± 252.32 ml/100 ml/min·s; p = 0.011). Changes in EBF were not related to adiponectin or TNF-α. An acute bout of RE resulted in an opposite EBF response between nonobese and obese individuals immediately after RE. Furthermore, only the obese individuals displayed a significant increase in EBF immediately after RE, which was significantly reduced 24 hours after the RE bout. Microvascular vasodilatory capacity may alter the adaptive exercise response associated with RE, requiring alterations to frequency, intensity, and/or duration that are specific to populations of various body composition profiles.

CD14+ cells are required for IL-12 response in bovine blood mononuclear cells activated with Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR8 ligands.

Single-stranded viral RNA (ssRNA) was recently identified as the natural ligand for TLR7 and TLR8. ssRNA sequences from viruses, as well as their synthetic analogues stimulate innate immune responses in immune cells from humans and mice, but their immunostimulatory activity has not been investigated in ruminants. In the present investigations, we tested whether synthetic RNA oligoribonucleotides (ORN) can activate immune cells from cattle. In vitro incubation of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with ORN-induced production of IL-12, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. No significant induction of IFN-alpha was observed. Depletion of CD14+ cells from PBMC abrogated the IL-12 response and consequently the IFN-gamma response, suggesting that CD14+ cells are required for PBMC immune activation with ORN. Consistent with these findings, the putative receptors for ORN (TLR7 and TLR8) were expressed at higher levels in the CD14+ fraction than the CD14- PBMC fraction. Pre-treatment of PBMC with bafilomycin (an inhibitor of phagosomal acidification) prior to stimulation with ORN abolished the cytokine responses, confirming that the receptor(s) which mediate the ORN-induced responses are intracellular. These results demonstrate for the first time that the TLR7/8 agonist ORN's have strong immune stimulatory effects in cattle, and suggest that further investigation on the potential of TLR7/8 ligands to activate innate and adaptive immune responses in domestic animals are warranted.

Identification of RNA sequence motifs stimulating sequence-specific TLR8-dependent immune responses.

The TLRs 7, 8, and 9 stimulate innate immune responses upon recognizing pathogen nucleic acids. U-rich RNA sequences were recently discovered that stimulate human TLR7/8-mediated or murine TLR7-mediated immune effects. In this study we identified single-stranded RNA sequences containing defined sequence motifs that either preferentially activate human TLR8-mediated as opposed to TLR7- or TLR7/8-mediated immune responses. The identified TLR8 RNA motifs signal via TLR8 and fail to induce IFN-alpha from TLR7-expressing plasmacytoid dendritic cells but induce the secretion of Th1-like and proinflammatory cytokines from TLR8-expressing immune cells such as monocytes or myeloid dendritic cells. In contrast, RNA sequences containing the TLR7/8 motif signal via TLR7 and TLR8 and stimulate cytokine secretion from both TLR7- and TLR8-positive immunocytes. The TLR8-specific RNA sequences are able to trigger cytokine responses from human and bovine but not from mouse, rat, and porcine immune cells, suggesting that these species lack the capability to respond properly to TLR8 RNA ligands. In summary, we describe two classes of single-stranded TLR7/8 and TLR8 RNA agonists with diverse target cell and species specificities and immune response profiles.

Characterization of suppressive oligodeoxynucleotides that inhibit Toll-like receptor-9-mediated activation of innate immunity.

Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides containing unmethylated CpG sequences (CpG-ODNs) stimulate Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR-9), thereby activating innate immunity. Stimulatory CpG-ODNs have been shown to be valuable in modifying immune responses in allergy, infection and cancer. Recently, it has been reported that the stimulation of TLR-9 by endogenous DNA might contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. We here report the identification of a suppressive, guanosine-rich ODN (G-ODN) that inhibited the activation of TLR-9 by stimulatory CpG-ODNs. The G-ODN was suppressive in murine macrophages and dendritic cells as well as in human plasmacytoid dendritic cells in vitro. G-ODN blocked the secretion of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-12p40 and interfered with the up-regulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and costimulatory molecules. G-ODN was inhibitory even at a molar ratio of 1:10 (G-ODN:CpG-ODN) and when administered up to 7 hr after stimulation with CpG. G-ODN specifically inhibited TLR-9 but not other TLRs. Inhibition was dependent on a string of five guanosines. G-ODN was also inhibitory in an in vivo model of CpG/galactosamin (GalN) lethal shock. G-ODN interfered with upstream TLR-9 signalling. However, by extensive analysis we can exclude that G-ODN acts at the stage of cellular uptake. G-ODN therefore represents a class of suppressive ODNs that could be of therapeutic use in situations with pathologic TLR-9 activation, as has been proposed for certain autoimmune diseases.

Characterization of conserved viral leader RNA sequences that stimulate innate immunity through TLRs.

Viruses of the order Mononegavirales encompass life-threatening pathogens with single-stranded segmented or nonsegmented negative-strand RNA genomes. The RNA genomes are characterized by highly conserved sequences at the extreme untranslated 3' and 5' termini that are most important for virus infection and viral RNA synthetic processes. The 3' terminal genome regions of negative-strand viruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus, Sendai virus, or influenza virus contain a high number of conserved U and G nucleotides, and synthetic oligoribonucleotides encoding such sequences stimulate sequence-dependent cytokine responses via TLR7 and TLR8. Immune cells responding to such sequences include NK cells, NK/T cells, plasmacytoid, and myeloid dendritic cells, as well as monocytes and B cells. Strong Th1 and pro-inflammatory cytokine responses are also induced upon in vivo application of oligoribonucleotides. It appears possible that the presence of highly conserved untranslated terminal regions in the viral genome fulfilling fundamental functions for the viral replication may enable the host to induce directed innate immune defense mechanisms, by allowing pathogen detection through essential RNA regions that the virus cannot readily mutate.

Differential expression regulation of the alpha and beta subunits of the PA28 proteasome activator in mature dendritic cells.

Activation of dendritic cells (DC) by Th-dependent (CD40) or -independent (LPS, CpG, or immune complexes) agonistic stimuli strongly enhances the expression of the proteasome activator PA28alphabeta complex. Upon activation of DC, increased MHC class I presentation occurred of the melanocyte-associated epitope tyrosinase-related protein 2(180-188) in a PA28alphabeta-dependent manner. In contrast to other cell types, regulation of PA28alphabeta expression in DC after maturation was found to be IFN-gamma independent. In the present study, we show that expression of PA28alpha and beta subunits was differentially regulated. Firstly, PA28alpha expression is high in both immature and mature DC. In contrast, PA28beta expression is low in immature DC and strongly increased in mature DC. Secondly, we show the presence of a functional NF-kappaB site in the PA28beta promoter, which is absent in the PA28alpha promoter, indicating regulation of PA28beta expression by transcription factors of the NF-kappaB family. In addition, glycerol gradient analysis of DC lysates revealed elevated PA28alphabeta complex formation upon maturation. Thus, induction of PA28beta expression allows proper PA28alphabeta complex formation, thereby enhancing proteasome activity in activated DC. Therefore, maturation of DC not only improves costimulation but also MHC class I processing. This mechanism enhances the CD8(+) CTL (cross)-priming capacity of mature DC.

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides stimulate IFN-gamma-inducible protein-10 production in human B cells.

Several classes of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) with different immune stimulatory profiles were recently identified: the A-, B- and C-classes. In this study, we investigated the CpG-dependent stimulation of IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10 or CXCL10) in different human immune cell types. CpG ODNs induced IP-10 in monocytes, pDCs and in B cells. Purified B cells as well as RPMI 8226 cells responded to CpG stimulation by IP-10 production. Treatment with exogenous IFN-alpha2b sensitized PBMCs, purified B cells as well as RPMI 8226 cells to respond more efficiently to stimulation with CpG ODNs by IP-10 production. IP-10 signaling could be directly stimulated via TLR9 in CpG-unresponsive HEK293 cells transfected with human TLR9 and an IP-10 reporter construct. Therefore, CpG-mediated IP-10 production is stimulated through IFN-alpha in cells that express the IFN-alpha receptor, a second pathway for IP-10 induction exists in TLR9-expressing B cells and pDCs where IP-10 is stimulated directly upon CpG-mediated TLR9 signaling. Our data provide a better understanding of the mechanisms through which CpG ODNs induce efficient Th1 responses.

TLRs govern neutrophil activity in aspergillosis.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are essential in initiation and execution of the acute inflammatory response and subsequent resolution of fungal infection. PMNs, however, may act as double-edged swords, as the excessive release of oxidants and proteases may be responsible for injury to organs and fungal sepsis. To identify regulatory mechanisms that may balance PMN-dependent protection and immunopathology in fungal infections, the involvement of different TLR-activation pathways was evaluated on human PMNs exposed to the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Recognition of Aspergillus and activation of PMNs occurred through the involvement of distinct members of the TLR family, each likely activating specialized antifungal effector functions. By affecting the balance between fungicidal oxidative and nonoxidative mechanisms, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production, and apoptosis vs necrosis, the different TLRs ultimately impacted on the quality of microbicidal activity and inflammatory pathology. Signaling through TLR2 promoted the fungicidal activity of PMNs through oxidative pathways involving extracellular release of gelatinases and proinflammatory cytokines while TLR4 favored the oxidative pathways through the participation of azurophil, myeloperoxidase-positive, granules and IL-10. This translated in vivo in the occurrence of different patterns of fungal clearance and inflammatory pathology. Both pathways were variably affected by signaling through TLR3, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9. The ability of selected individual TLRs to restore antifungal functions in defective PMNs suggests that the coordinated outputs of activation of multiple TLRs may contribute to PMN function in aspergillosis.

Chemically synthesized protein as tumour-specific vaccine: immunogenicity and efficacy of synthetic HPV16 E7 in the TC-1 mouse tumour model.

Many successful candidate vaccines capable of combating tumours in animal models come to an untimely end because of the costs associated with the approval and production of the GMP-grade materials, which are usually of biological origin, for use in humans. We have used a GMP-compatible method to chemically synthesize a pure synthetic E7 protein of the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16-E7). This oncogen-derived protein is constitutively expressed in cervical cancer and its precursors and is thus considered as an excellent target for tumour-specific immunity. Injection of a mixture of the synthetic HPV16-E7 protein and the synthetic adjuvant CpG in mice resulted in strong functional HPV16-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses as measured by CD8+ MHC class I-tetramer staining, the detection of antigen-specific intracellular IFNgamma production and the ability to protect mice against a challenge with HPV16-E7+ TC-1 tumour cells in both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination regimens. Our results demonstrate the potential use of pure synthetic vaccines that can be efficiently produced under GMP at low cost, which will stimulate the translation of new vaccination strategies into phase I/II clinical trials.

Comparison of CpG s-ODNs, chromatin immune complexes, and dsDNA fragment immune complexes in the TLR9-dependent activation of rheumatoid factor B cells.

Synthetic single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (15-30 bp) containing CpG motifs and phosphorothioate backbones (CpG s-ODN), immune complexes consisting of anti-nucleosome mAbs and mammalian chromatin (chromatin IC), and immune complexes consisting of anti-hapten mAbs and haptenated-double stranded DNA fragments ( approximately 600 bp) can all effectively stimulate transgenic B cells expressing a rheumatoid factor receptor by a TLR9-dependent process. However, differential sensitivity to both s-ODN and small molecule inhibitors suggests that stimulatory CpG sODN and chromatin IC may either access TLR9 via different routes or depend on discrete activation parameters. These data have important implications regarding the therapeutic application of TLR9 inhibitors to the treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases.

Toll-like receptor 9 binds single-stranded CpG-DNA in a sequence- and pH-dependent manner.

Toll-like receptors (TLR) recognize bacterial and viral components, but direct interaction of receptor and ligand is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that TLR9 binds directly and sequence-specifically to single-stranded unmethylated CpG-DNA containing a phosphodiester backbone. TLR9-CpG-DNA interaction occurs at the acidic pH (6.5-5.0) found in endosomes and lysosomes. By sequence comparison we identified a potential CpG-DNA binding domain homologous to that described for methyl-CpG-DNA binding proteins. Amino acid substitutions in this region abrogated CpG-DNA binding and led to loss of NF-kappaB activation. Furthermore, chloroquine and quinacrine, therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, directly blocked TLR9-CpG-DNA interaction but not TLR2-Pam3Cys binding. Our results demonstrate direct binding of TLR9 to CpG-DNA and suggest that the therapeutic activity of chloroquine and quinacrine in autoimmune diseases may be due to its activity as a TLR9 antagonist and inhibitor of endosomal acidification.

Immunoglobulin-like transcripts ILT2, ILT3 and ILT7 are expressed by human dendritic cells and down-regulated following activation.

Immunoglobulin-like transcripts (ILT) represent novel immunoglobulin superfamily receptors that are expressed in myeloid, lymphoid and dendritic cells (DC). Here, we studied by gene expression profiling with DNA microarrays ILT expression in different DC subsets, including plasmacytoid DC (PDC), monocyte-derived DC (Mo-DC) and DC obtained by in vitro differentiation from CD34(+) progenitor cells, and DC activated in the presence of different activating agents. ILT2 and ILT3 were expressed in PDC, Mo-DC and DC obtained from CD34(+) cells. ILT7 mRNA was present in PDC, but absent in Mo-DC and DC obtained from CD34(+) cells, indicating that ILT7 mRNA expression seems to be a marker for PDC. CpG-DNA and inflammatory stimuli, such as TNF alpha, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), and different combinations thereof are frequently employed for DC activation. Here, we demonstrate that ILT2 and ILT3 expression is down-regulated following DC activation by CpG-DNA and inflammatory stimuli at both mRNA and protein levels. Thus, activation of human DC with such stimuli involves down-regulation of inhibitory ILT2 and ILT3 receptors, and this could represent a novel mechanism contributing to DC activation.

Species-specific recognition of single-stranded RNA via toll-like receptor 7 and 8.

Double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) serves as a danger signal associated with viral infection and leads to stimulation of innate immune cells. In contrast, the immunostimulatory potential of single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) is poorly understood and innate immune receptors for ssRNA are unknown. We report that guanosine (G)- and uridine (U)-rich ssRNA oligonucleotides derived from human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) stimulate dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages to secrete interferon-alpha and proinflammatory, as well as regulatory, cytokines. By using Toll-like receptor (TLR)-deficient mice and genetic complementation, we show that murine TLR7 and human TLR8 mediate species-specific recognition of GU-rich ssRNA. These data suggest that ssRNA represents a physiological ligand for TLR7 and TLR8.

The Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7)-specific stimulus loxoribine uncovers a strong relationship within the TLR7, 8 and 9 subfamily.

Loxoribine (7-allyl-7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-guanosine) acts as synthetic adjuvant in anti-tumor responses. Here we first demonstrate that loxoribine activates cells of the innate immune system selectively via the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/MyD88-dependent signaling pathway. TLR7- and MyD88-deficient immune cells fail to proliferate or produce cytokines in response to loxoribine, and genetic complementation of TLR7-deficient cells with murine or human TLR7 confers responsiveness. Subsequently we show that cellular activation by loxoribine and resiquimod (R-848), a stimulus for TLR7 and TLR8, depends on acidification and maturation of endosomes and targets MyD88 to vesicular structures with lysosomal characteristics. This mode of TLR7 and TLR8 action resembles CpG-DNA-driven TLR9 activation. We thus conclude that TLR7, 8 and 9 form a functional subgroup within the TLR family that recognizes pathogen-associated molecular patterns in endosomal/lysosomal compartments.

Vaccination of mice against invasive aspergillosis with recombinant Aspergillus proteins and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides as adjuvants.

In a murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with Aspergillus antigens induced the activation of CD4(+) Th1 cells capable of conferring resistance to the infection. Here we show that the combined, local delivery of unmethylated CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) and the Asp f 16 Aspergillus allergen resulted in the functional maturation and activation of airway DCs capable of inducing Th1 priming and resistance to the fungus. Therefore, ODNs act as a potent adjuvant for the vaccine-induced protection against the fungus by promoting dominant Th1 response to Aspergillus antigens and allergens.

CpG-DNA aided cross-presentation of soluble antigens by dendritic cells.

For cross-presentation immature dendritic cells (DC) require enhanced antigen (Ag) uptake and a maturation signal to prime for MHC class I-restricted CTL responses in vivo. While immunostimulatory CpG-DNA provides, via TLR9, the maturation signal, CpG-DNA linked to Ag augments cellular Ag uptake. In this study we show that CpG-DNA ovalbumin (OVA) conjugates trigger in vivo peptide-specific CTL responses at tenfold lower Ag doses compared to a mixture of CpG-DNA plus OVA. We provide evidence that CpG-DNA-OVA conjugates shift OVA uptake by immature DC from the presumably inefficient fluid phase pinocytosis to efficient DNA receptor-mediated endocytosis. Since the DNA-binding receptor mediating endocytosis lacks any sequence specificity, cellular uptake of OVA conjugated with either stimulatory or non-stimulatory oligonucleotides (ODN) is equally enhanced. As a consequence cross-linking of OVA with either stimulatory or non-stimulatory DNA yields, via enhanced OVA uptake, efficient generation and presentation of the dominant OVA-CTL epitope SIINFEKL. However, only stimulatory CpG-ODN cross-linked to OVA provide the DC maturation signal required to trigger robust primary CTL responses towards the cross-presented MHC class I complexed T cell epitope SIINFEKL. Our studies show that stimulatory CpG-ODN linked to Ag fulfill a dual role: enhancement of Ag uptake yielding efficient Ag cross-presentation by DC and in addition, their activation into professional DC.

Postexposure prophylaxis against prion disease with a stimulator of innate immunity.

The absence of an immune response to prions--the infectious agents of scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease--might be related to the fact that these agents do not contain nucleic acids. We aimed to use CpG oligodeoxynucleotides, which have been shown to stimulate innate immunity, as a form of postexposure prophylaxis in mice. We inoculated healthy mice with brain homogenates from mice infected with the RML scrapie prion, and then injected CpG oligodeoxynucleotides. This postexposure prophylaxis with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides resulted in 38% longer survival times than treatment with saline (p<0.0001), or even longer after repeated application. The explanation for this finding remains to be elucidated, but the most likely is stimulation of TLR9-expressing cells of the innate immune system such as macrophages, monocytes, and dendritic cells. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides have not been shown to have adverse effects to human health and could therefore be considered as a therapeutic choice in postexposure prophylaxis.

Established human papillomavirus type 16-expressing tumors are effectively eradicated following vaccination with long peptides.

Peptide-based vaccines aimed at the induction of effective T cell responses against established cancers have so far only met with limited clinical success and clearly need to be improved. In a preclinical model of human papillomavirus (HPV)16-induced cervical cancer we show that prime-boost vaccinations with the HPV16-derived 35 amino-acid long peptide E7(43-77), containing both a CTL epitope and a Th epitope, resulted in the induction of far more robust E7-specific CD8(+) T cell responses than vaccinations with the minimal CTL epitope only. We demonstrate that two distinct mechanisms are responsible for this effect. First, vaccinations with the long peptide lead to the generation of E7-specific CD4(+) Th cells. The level of the induced E7-specific CD8(+) T cell response proved to be dependent on the interactions of these Th cells with professional APC. Second, we demonstrate that vaccination with the long peptide and dendritic cell-activating agents resulted in a superior induction of E7-specific CD8(+) T cells, even when T cell help was excluded. This suggests that, due to its size, the long peptide was preferably endocytosed, processed, and presented by professional APCs. Moreover, the efficacy of this superior HPV-specific T cell induction was demonstrated in therapeutic prime-boost vaccinations in which the long peptide admixed with the dendritic cell-activating adjuvant oligodeoxynucleotide-CpG resulted in the eradication of large, established HPV16-expressing tumors. Because the vaccine types used in this study are easy to prepare under good manufacturing practice conditions and are safe to administer to humans, these data provide important information for future clinical trials.