RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To identify the anthocyanin content in tart cherry juice concentrate (TCJC) and establish the anti-inflammatory effect of in a murine acute gout model. METHODS: The main anthocyanins in the TCJC were identified by liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LCMS). TCJC or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as control were administered daily by oral gavage to BALB/C-Tg(NFκB-RE-luc)-Xen mice that harbour a firefly luciferase cDNA reporter under the regulation of 3 Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) response elements. After 14 days, gouty inflammation was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals into the tibio-tarsal joint (ankle). NF-κB activity was measured locally in the injected ankle using the Xenogen in vivo imaging system (IVIS), and decalcified feet/ankles were paraffin-embedded and analysed histopathologically. RESULTS: The major anthocyanin compound present in TCJC was cyanidin 3-glucosylrutinoside followed by cyanidin 3-rutinoside. In the murine acute gout model, MSU injection increased NF-κB activity and oral administration of TCJC significantly reduced NF-κB activity in mouse foot, and ankle joints as assessed by IVIS analysis. Bioluminescent imaging detection of NF-κB activation was inhibited approximately 2-fold relative to control mice receiving PBS. Histopathologic examination showed suppression of infiltrates into the tibio-tarsal joint space of the mice receiving TCJC compared to PBS-treated control counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: The major anthocyanin in TCJC was cyanidin 3-glucosylrutinoside. Clinically relevant doses of TCJC significantly inhibit inflammation and NF-κB activation induced by MSU crystals.
Asunto(s)
Artritis Gotosa , Gota , Prunus avium , Animales , Antocianinas , Artritis Gotosa/tratamiento farmacológico , Gota/inducido químicamente , Gota/tratamiento farmacológico , Gota/patología , Inflamación/patología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , FN-kappa BRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Since enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) signals have been associated with lupus disease activity in humans prior to renal failure and novel, cardiac-focused therapeutic strategies could be investigated with an associated animal model, autoimmune myocarditis was characterized in murine lupus nephritis (NZM2410). METHODS: Weekly blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and weights were recorded. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiogram. Myocardial edema was measured with quantitative T2 cMRI mapping. Endpoint serum and cardiac tissue were collected for histopathological analysis and cytokine measurements. RESULTS: Despite showing no signs of significant renal disease, mice displayed evidence of myocarditis and fibrosis histologically at 30-35 weeks. Moreover, T2 cMRI mapping displayed robust signals and analysis of sagittal heart sections showed significant myocardium thickening. Cytokine expression levels of IL-2, IL-10, TNF-α, CXCL1, and IL-6 were significantly enhanced in serum. Echocardiograms demonstrated significantly increased ventricular diameters and reduced ejection fractions, while immunohistochemical staining identified CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and IL-17 in cardiac infiltrates. Human lupus cardiac tissue showed similar histopathology with enhanced infiltrates by H&E, fibrosis, and CD4+ detection. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathology, functional abnormalities, and enhanced cMRI signals indicative of myocarditis are detected in NZM2410 mice without glomerulonephritis, which supports the primary pathological role of autoimmune-mediated, cardiac-targeted inflammation in lupus.
Asunto(s)
Glomerulonefritis/patología , Nefritis Lúpica/patología , Miocarditis/patología , Miocardio/patología , Animales , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/inmunología , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/inmunología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Ecocardiografía , Femenino , Fibrosis , Interleucina-17/metabolismo , Nefritis Lúpica/inmunología , Nefritis Lúpica/metabolismo , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Miocarditis/inmunología , Miocarditis/metabolismoRESUMEN
In the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), expansion of pathogenic, myelin-specific Th1 cell populations drives active disease; selectively targeting this process may be the basis for a new therapeutic approach. Previous studies have hinted at a role for protein arginine methylation in immune responses, including T cell-mediated autoimmunity and EAE. However, a conclusive role for the protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) enzymes that catalyze these reactions has been lacking. PRMT5 is the main PRMT responsible for symmetric dimethylation of arginine residues of histones and other proteins. PRMT5 drives embryonic development and cancer, but its role in T cells, if any, has not been investigated. In this article, we show that PRMT5 is an important modulator of CD4+ T cell expansion. PRMT5 was transiently upregulated during maximal proliferation of mouse and human memory Th cells. PRMT5 expression was regulated upstream by the NF-κB pathway, and it promoted IL-2 production and proliferation. Blocking PRMT5 with novel, highly selective small molecule PRMT5 inhibitors severely blunted memory Th expansion, with preferential suppression of Th1 cells over Th2 cells. In vivo, PRMT5 blockade efficiently suppressed recall T cell responses and reduced inflammation in delayed-type hypersensitivity and clinical disease in EAE mouse models. These data implicate PRMT5 in the regulation of adaptive memory Th cell responses and suggest that PRMT5 inhibitors may be a novel therapeutic approach for T cell-mediated inflammatory disease.
Asunto(s)
Encefalomielitis Autoinmune Experimental/inmunología , Memoria Inmunológica , Proteína-Arginina N-Metiltransferasas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteína-Arginina N-Metiltransferasas/fisiología , Linfocitos T Colaboradores-Inductores/inmunología , Linfocitos T Colaboradores-Inductores/metabolismo , Animales , Citocinas/inmunología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Encefalomielitis Autoinmune Experimental/metabolismo , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Humanos , Inflamación , Interleucina-2/biosíntesis , Interleucina-2/inmunología , Activación de Linfocitos , Metilación , Ratones , FN-kappa B/inmunología , Proteína-Arginina N-Metiltransferasas/genética , Células TH1/inmunología , Células Th2/inmunología , Regulación hacia ArribaRESUMEN
Introduction: Distinct, disease-associated intracellular miRNA (miR) expression profiles have been observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) patients. Additionally, we have identified novel estrogenic responses in PBMCs from SLE patients and demonstrated that estrogen upregulates toll-like receptor (TLR)7 and TLR8 expression. TLR7 and TLR8 bind viral-derived single-stranded RNA to stimulate innate inflammatory responses, but recent studies have shown that miR-21, mir-29a, and miR-29b can also bind and activate these receptors when packaged and secreted in extracellular vesicles (EVs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of EV-encapsulated small RNA species in SLE and examine the therapeutic approach of miR inhibition in humanized mice. Methods: Plasma-derived EVs were isolated from SLE patients and quantified. RNA was then isolated and bulk RNA-sequencing reads were analyzed. Also, PBMCs from active SLE patients were injected into immunodeficient mice to produce chimeras. Prior to transfer, the PBMCs were incubated with liposomal EVs containing locked nucleic acid (LNA) antagonists to miR-21, mir-29a, and miR-29b. After three weeks, blood was collected for both immunophenotyping and cytokine analysis; tissue was harvested for histopathological examination. Results: EVs were significantly increased in the plasma of SLE patients and differentially expressed EV-derived small RNA profiles were detected compared to healthy controls, including miR-21, mir-29a, and miR-29b. LNA antagonists significantly reduced proinflammatory cytokines and histopathological infiltrates in the small intestine, liver, and kidney, as demonstrated by H&E-stained tissue sections and immunohistochemistry measuring human CD3. Discussion: These data demonstrate distinct EV-derived small RNA signatures representing SLE-associated biomarkers. Moreover, targeting upregulated EV-encapsulated miR signaling by antagonizing miRs that may bind to TLR7 and TLR8 reveals a novel therapeutic opportunity to suppress autoimmune-mediated inflammation and pathogenesis in SLE.
Asunto(s)
Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Vesículas Extracelulares , Leucocitos Mononucleares , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico , MicroARNs , Receptor Toll-Like 7 , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/inmunología , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/genética , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/metabolismo , Humanos , Animales , MicroARNs/genética , Vesículas Extracelulares/metabolismo , Vesículas Extracelulares/inmunología , Ratones , Femenino , Leucocitos Mononucleares/metabolismo , Leucocitos Mononucleares/inmunología , Receptor Toll-Like 7/metabolismo , Receptor Toll-Like 7/genética , Inflamación/inmunología , Receptor Toll-Like 8/metabolismo , Receptor Toll-Like 8/genética , Adulto , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Ratones SCIDRESUMEN
Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) block estrogen production and improve survival in patients with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. However, half of patients develop aromatase-inhibitor-induced arthralgia (AIIA), which is characterized by inflammation of the joints and the surrounding musculoskeletal tissue. To create a platform for future interventional strategies, our objective was to characterize a novel animal model of AIIA. Female BALB/C-Tg(NFκB-RE-luc)-Xen mice, which have a firefly luciferase NFκB reporter gene, were oophorectomized and treated with an AI (letrozole). Bioluminescent imaging showed significantly enhanced NFκB activation with AI treatment in the hind limbs. Moreover, an analysis of the knee joints and legs via MRI showed enhanced signal detection in the joint space and the surrounding tissue. Surprisingly, the responses observed with AI treatment were independent of oophorectomy, indicating that inflammation is not mediated by physiological estrogen levels. Histopathological and pro-inflammatory cytokine analyses further demonstrated the same trend, as tenosynovitis and musculoskeletal infiltrates were detected in all mice receiving AI, and serum cytokines were significantly upregulated. Human PBMCs treated with letrozole/estrogen combinations did not demonstrate an AI-specific gene expression pattern, suggesting AIIA-mediated pathogenesis through other cell types. Collectively, these data identify an AI-induced stimulation of disease pathology and suggest that AIIA pathogenesis may not be mediated by estrogen deficiency, as previously hypothesized.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Gout is the most prevalent inflammatory arthritis. To study the effects of regular physical activity and exercise intensity on inflammation and clinical outcome, we examined inflammatory pathogenesis in an acute model of murine gout and analyzed human gout patient clinical data as a function of physical activity. METHODS: NF-κB-luciferase reporter mice were organized into four groups and exercised at 0 m/min (non-exercise), 8 m/min (low-intensity), 11 m/min (moderate-intensity), and 15 m/min (high-intensity) for two weeks. Mice subsequently received intra-articular monosodium urate (MSU) crystal injections (0.5mg) and the inflammatory response was analyzed 15 hours later. Ankle swelling, NF-κB activity, histopathology, and tissue infiltration by macrophages and neutrophils were measured. Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 was quantified on peripheral monocytes/neutrophils by flow cytometry and both cytokines and chemokines were measured in serum or synovial aspirates. Clinical data and questionnaires accessing overall physical activity levels were collected from gout patients. RESULTS: Injection of MSU crystals produced a robust inflammatory response with increased ankle swelling, NF-κB activity, and synovial infiltration by macrophages and neutrophils. These effects were partially mitigated by low and moderate-intensity exercise. Furthermore, IL-1ß was decreased at the site of MSU crystal injection, TLR2 expression on peripheral neutrophils was downregulated, and expression of CXCL1 in serum was suppressed with low and moderate-intensity exercise. Conversely, the high-intensity exercise group closely resembled the non-exercised control group by nearly all metrics of inflammation measured in this study. Physically active gout patients had significantly less flares/yr, decreased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and lower pain scores relative to physically inactive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Regular, moderate physical activity can produce a quantifiable anti-inflammatory effect capable of partially mitigating the pathologic response induced by intra-articular MSU crystals by downregulating TLR2 expression on circulating neutrophils and suppressing systemic CXCL1. Low and moderate-intensity exercise produces this anti-inflammatory effect to varying degrees, while high-intensity exercise provides no significant difference in inflammation compared to non-exercising controls. Consistent with the animal model, gout patients with higher levels of physical activity have more favorable prognostic data. Collectively, these data suggest the need for further research and may be the foundation to a future paradigm-shift in conventional exercise recommendations provided by Rheumatologists to gout patients.
Asunto(s)
Quimiocina CXCL1/sangre , Gota/terapia , Inflamación/prevención & control , Condicionamiento Físico Animal , Receptor Toll-Like 2/sangre , Animales , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Regulación hacia Abajo , Ejercicio Físico/fisiología , Femenino , Gota/sangre , Gota/patología , Humanos , Inflamación/sangre , Inflamación/patología , Interleucina-1beta/sangre , Interleucina-1beta/metabolismo , Macrófagos/patología , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Ratones Transgénicos , Neutrófilos/metabolismo , Neutrófilos/patología , Dolor/prevención & control , Pronóstico , Membrana Sinovial/metabolismo , Membrana Sinovial/patologíaRESUMEN
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) involve chronic inflammation of skeletal muscle and subsequent muscle degeneration due to an uncontrolled autoimmune response; however, the mechanisms leading to pathogenesis are not well understood. A compromised sarcolemmal repair process could promote an aberrant exposure of intramuscular antigens with the subsequent initiation of an inflammatory response that contributes to IIM. Using an adoptive transfer mouse model of IIM, we show that sarcolemmal repair is significantly compromised in distal skeletal muscle in the absence of inflammation. We identified autoantibodies against TRIM72 (also known as MG53), a muscle-enriched membrane repair protein, in IIM patient sera and in our mouse model of IIM by ELISA. We found that patient sera with elevated levels of TRIM72 autoantibodies suppress sarcolemmal resealing in healthy skeletal muscle, and depletion of TRIM72 antibodies from these same serum samples rescues sarcolemmal repair capacity. Autoantibodies targeting TRIM72 lead to skeletal muscle fibers with compromised membrane barrier function, providing a continuous source of autoantigens to promote autoimmunity and further amplifying humoral responses. These findings reveal a potential pathogenic mechanism that acts as a feedback loop contributing to the progression of IIM.
Asunto(s)
Autoanticuerpos/inmunología , Enfermedades Autoinmunes/inmunología , Proteínas de la Membrana/inmunología , Fibras Musculares Esqueléticas/inmunología , Miositis/inmunología , Sarcolema/inmunología , Animales , Enfermedades Autoinmunes/genética , Enfermedades Autoinmunes/patología , Humanos , Proteínas de la Membrana/genética , Ratones , Ratones Noqueados , Fibras Musculares Esqueléticas/patología , Miositis/genética , Miositis/patología , Conejos , Sarcolema/genética , Sarcolema/patologíaRESUMEN
Macrophages and their monocyte precursors mediate innate immune responses and can promote a spectrum of phenotypes from pro-inflammatory to pro-resolving. Currently, there are few markers that allow for robust dissection of macrophage phenotype. We recently identified CD38 as a marker of inflammatory macrophages in murine in vitro and in vivo models. However, it is unknown whether CD38 plays a similar marker and/or functional role in human macrophages and inflammatory diseases. Here, we establish that CD38 transcript and protein are robustly induced in human macrophages exposed to LPS (±IFN-γ) inflammatory stimuli, but not with the alternative stimulus, IL-4. Pharmacologic and/or genetic CD38 loss-of-function significantly reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-12p40 and glycolytic activity in human primary macrophages. Finally, monocyte analyses in systemic lupus erythematosus patients revealed that, while all monocytes express CD38, high CD38 expression in the non-classical monocyte subpopulation is associated with disease. These data are consistent with an inflammatory marker role for CD38 in human macrophages and monocytes.
RESUMEN
Helminths cause chronic infections and affect the immune response to unrelated inflammatory diseases. Although helminths have been used therapeutically to ameliorate inflammatory conditions, their anti-inflammatory properties are poorly understood. Alternatively activated macrophages (AAMÏs) have been suggested as the anti-inflammatory effector cells during helminth infections. Here, we define the origin of AAMÏs during infection with Taenia crassiceps, and their disease-modulating activity on the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE). Our data show two distinct populations of AAMÏs, based on the expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 molecules, resulting upon T. crassiceps infection. Adoptive transfer of Ly6C+ monocytes gave rise to PD-L1+/PD-L2+, but not PD-L1+/PD-L2- cells in T. crassiceps-infected mice, demonstrating that the PD-L1+/PD-L2+ subpopulation of AAMÏs originates from blood monocytes. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of PD-L1+/PD-L2+ AAMÏs into EAE induced mice reduced disease incidence, delayed disease onset, and diminished the clinical disability, indicating the critical role of these cells in the regulation of autoimmune disorders.
Asunto(s)
Traslado Adoptivo/métodos , Antígenos Ly/metabolismo , Encefalomielitis Autoinmune Experimental/inmunología , Activación de Macrófagos , Células Precursoras de Monocitos y Macrófagos/inmunología , Taenia/inmunología , Animales , Antígeno B7-H1/genética , Antígeno B7-H1/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Encefalomielitis Autoinmune Experimental/terapia , Femenino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Proteína 2 Ligando de Muerte Celular Programada 1/genética , Proteína 2 Ligando de Muerte Celular Programada 1/metabolismoRESUMEN
Inflammatory M1 spectrum macrophages protect from infection but can cause inflammatory disease and tissue damage, whereas alternatively activated/M2 spectrum macrophages reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair. Modulation of macrophage phenotype may be therapeutically beneficial and requires further understanding of the molecular programs that control macrophage differentiation. A potential mechanism by which macrophages differentiate may be through microRNA (miRNA), which bind to messenger RNA and post-transcriptionally modify gene expression, cell phenotype and function. We hypothesized that the inflammation-associated miRNA, miR-155, would be required for typical development of macrophage inflammatory state. miR-155 was rapidly up-regulated over 100-fold in inflammatory M1(LPS + IFN-γ), but not M2(IL-4), macrophages. Inflammatory genes Inos, Il1b and Tnfa and their corresponding protein or enzymatic products were reduced up to 72% in miR-155 knockout mouse M1(LPS + IFN-γ) macrophages, but miR-155 deficiency did not affect expression of the M2-associated gene Arg1 in M2(IL-4) macrophages. Additionally, a miR-155 oligonucleotide inhibitor efficiently suppressed Inos and Tnfa gene expression in wild-type M1(LPS + IFN-γ) macrophages. Comparative transcriptional profiling of unstimulated and M1(LPS + IFN-γ) macrophages derived from wild-type (WT) and miR-155 knockout (KO) mice revealed that half (approximately 650 genes) of the signature we previously identified in WT M1(LPS + IFN-γ) macrophages was dependent on miR-155. Real-Time PCR of independent datasets confirmed that miR-155 contributed to suppression of its validated mRNA targets Inpp5d, Tspan14, Ptprj and Mafb and induction of Inos, Il1b, Tnfa, Il6 and Il12. Overall, these data indicate that miR-155 plays an essential role in driving the inflammatory phenotype of M1(LPS+ IFN-γ) macrophages.
Asunto(s)
Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Inflamación/genética , Macrófagos/metabolismo , MicroARNs/genética , Transcriptoma , Animales , Biomarcadores , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Técnicas de Inactivación de Genes , Inflamación/inmunología , Inflamación/metabolismo , Activación de Macrófagos/genética , Activación de Macrófagos/inmunología , Macrófagos/inmunología , Ratones , Fenotipo , Interferencia de ARN , ARN Mensajero/genéticaRESUMEN
Classically (M1) and alternatively activated (M2) macrophages exhibit distinct phenotypes and functions. It has been difficult to dissect macrophage phenotypes in vivo, where a spectrum of macrophage phenotypes exists, and also in vitro, where low or non-selective M2 marker protein expression is observed. To provide a foundation for the complexity of in vivo macrophage phenotypes, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptional signature of murine M0, M1 and M2 macrophages and identified genes common or exclusive to either subset. We validated by real-time PCR an M1-exclusive pattern of expression for CD38, G-protein coupled receptor 18 (Gpr18) and Formyl peptide receptor 2 (Fpr2) whereas Early growth response protein 2 (Egr2) and c-Myc were M2-exclusive. We further confirmed these data by flow cytometry and show that M1 and M2 macrophages can be distinguished by their relative expression of CD38 and Egr2. Egr2 labeled more M2 macrophages (~70%) than the canonical M2 macrophage marker Arginase-1, which labels 24% of M2 macrophages. Conversely, CD38 labeled most (71%) in vitro M1 macrophages. In vivo, a similar CD38+ population greatly increased after LPS exposure. Overall, this work defines exclusive and common M1 and M2 signatures and provides novel and improved tools to distinguish M1 and M2 murine macrophages.