Dracorhodin targeting CMPK2 attenuates inflammation: A novel approach to sepsis therapy.

BACKGROUND: Despite all modern advances in medicine, an effective drug for treating sepsis has yet to be found. The discovery of CMPK2 spurred hopes for the treatment of sepsis. However, CMPK2-untapped target inhibitors are still an enormous obstacle that has hindered the CMPK2-centric treatment of sepsis. METHODS: Here, we found that the CMPK2 gene is highly expressed in the whole blood of sepsis patients by RNA-Seq. First, recombinant CMPK2 was purified by a eukaryotic expression purification system, and the activity of recombinant CMPK2 was detected by the ADP-GLO assay. Second, we developed an affinity MS strategy combined with quantitative lysine reactivity profiling to discover CMPK2 ligands from the active ingredients of Chinese herbs. In addition, the dissociation constant Kd of the ligand and the target protein CMPK2 was further detected by microscale thermophoresis technology. Third, we used this strategy to identify a naturally sourced small molecule, dracorhodin (DP). Using mass spectrometry-based quantitative lysine reactivity profiling combined with a series of mutant tests, the results show that K265 acts as a bright hotspot of DP inhibition of CMPK2. Fourth, immune-histochemical staining, ELISAs, RT-qPCR, flow cytometry and immunoblotting were used to illustrate the potential function and related mechanism of DP in regulating sepsis injury. RESULTS: Our results suggest that DP exerts powerful anti-inflammatory effects by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome via the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced CMPK2 pathway. Strikingly, DP significantly attenuated LPS-induced sepsis in a mouse model, but its effect was weakened in mice with myeloid-specific Cmpk2 ablation. CONCLUSION: We provide a new framework that provides more valuable information for new therapeutic approaches to sepsis, including the establishment of screening strategies and the development of target drugs to provide a theoretical basis for ultimately improving clinical outcomes for sepsis patients. Collectively, these findings reveal that DP is a promising CMPK2 inhibitor for the treatment of sepsis.

Ste20-Like Kinase TAOK1 Positively Regulates Antiviral Responses by Controlling the TBK1-IRF3 Signaling Axis.

The cytosolic viral nucleic acid-sensing pathways converge on the protein kinase TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) and the transcription factor interferon (IFN)-regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) to induce type I IFN production and antiviral immune responses. However, the mechanism that triggers the binding of TBK1 and IRF3 after virus infection remains not fully understood. Here, we identified that thousand and one kinase 1 (TAOK1), a Ste20-like kinase, positively regulated virus-induced antiviral immune responses by controlling the TBK1-IRF3 signaling axis. Virus invasion downregulated the expression of TAOK1. TAOK1 deficiency resulted in decreased nucleic acid-mediated type I IFN production and increased susceptibility to virus infection. TAOK1 was constitutively associated with TBK1 independently of the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein MAVS. TAOK1 promoted IRF3 activation by enhancing TBK1-IRF3 complex formation. TAOK1 enhanced virus-induced type I IFN production in a kinase activity-dependent manner. Viral infection induced TAOK1 to bind with dynein instead of microtubule-associated protein 4 (MAP4), leading to the trafficking of TBK1 to the perinuclear region to bind IRF3. Thus, the depolymerization of microtubule impaired virus-mediated IRF3 activation. Our results revealed that TAOK1 functioned as a new interaction partner and regulated antiviral signaling via trafficking TBK1 along microtubules to bind IRF3. These findings provided novel insights into the function of TAOK1 in the antiviral innate immune response and its related clinical significance.

ZDHHC9 promotes colon tumor growth by inhibiting effector T cells.

Zinc finger DHHC-type palmitoyltransferase 9 (ZDHHC9) has been reported to play an important role in the occurrence and development of several types of cancer. However, its effects on colon cancer growth remain unclear. Using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource, data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas were analyzed, and the results showed that ZDHHC9 was highly expressed in colon cancer and that patients with higher ZDHHC9 expression levels had a worse prognosis. Inhibition of ZDHHC9 expression promoted the proliferation of colon cancer cells in vitro but decreased their growth in vivo. Additionally, inhibition of ZDHHC9 expression in cancer cells enhanced CD8+ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro and increased CD8+ T infiltration and activation in vivo. Furthermore, ZDHHC9 promoted IFN-γ-induced JAK/STAT1 activation and upregulated programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in colon cancer cells. In conclusion, the present findings showed that ZDHHC9 promoted colon cancer growth by upregulating the expression of PD-L1 and inhibiting the function of CD8+ T cells.

E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4L negatively regulates inflammation by promoting ubiquitination of MEKK2.

Aberrant activation of inflammation signaling triggered by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-17 (IL-17) is associated with immunopathology. Here, we identify neural precursor cells expressed developmentally down-regulated gene 4-like (NEDD4L), a HECT type E3 ligase, as a common negative regulator of signaling induced by TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-17. NEDD4L modulates the degradation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MEKK2) via constitutively and directly binding to MEKK2 and promotes its poly-ubiquitination. In interleukin-17 receptor (IL-17R) signaling, Nedd4l knockdown or deficiency enhances IL-17-induced p38 and NF-κB activation and the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in a MEKK2-dependent manner. We further show that IL-17-induced MEKK2 Ser520 phosphorylation is required not only for downstream p38 and NF-κB activation but also for NEDD4L-mediated MEKK2 degradation and the subsequent shutdown of IL-17R signaling. Importantly, Nedd4l-deficient mice show increased susceptibility to IL-17-induced inflammation and aggravated symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in IL-17R signaling-dependent manner. These data suggest that NEDD4L acts as an inhibitor of IL-17R signaling, which ameliorates the pathogenesis of IL-17-mediated autoimmune diseases.

MEF2C promotes M1 macrophage polarization and Th1 responses.

The polarization of macrophages to the M1 or M2 phenotype has a pivotal role in inflammation and host defense; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that myocyte enhancer factor 2 C (MEF2C) is essential for regulating M1 macrophage polarization in response to infection and inflammation. Global gene expression analysis demonstrated that MEF2C deficiency in macrophages downregulated the expression of M1 phenotypic markers and upregulated the expression of M2 phenotypic markers. MEF2C significantly promoted the expression of interleukin-12 p35 subunit (Il12a) and interleukin-12 p40 subunit (Il12b). Myeloid-specific Mef2c-knockout mice showed reduced IL-12 production and impaired Th1 responses, which led to susceptibility to Listeria monocytogenes infection and protected against DSS-induced IBD in vivo. Mechanistically, we showed that MEF2C directly activated the transcription of Il12a and Il12b. These findings reveal a new function of MEF2C in macrophage polarization and Th1 responses and identify MEF2C as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

A phase I/II clinical trial on the efficacy and safety of NKT cells combined with gefitinib for advanced EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), such as gefitinib, have achieved good efficacy in EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, but eventual drug resistance is inevitable. Thus, new TKI-based combination therapies should be urgently explored to extend the overall survival time of these patients. CD8 + CD56+ natural killer T (NKT) cells are a natural and unique subset of lymphocytes in humans that present characteristics of T and NK cells and exert cytotoxicity on tumour cells in a granzyme B-dependent manner. The aim of this trial was to explore the efficacy and safety of CD8 + CD56+ NKT cell immunotherapy combined with gefitinib in patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC. METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label, phase I/II trial that includes 30 patients with EGFR mutation-positive stage III/IV NSCLC. All patients will be randomized in blocks at a 1:1 ratio and treated with gefitinib 250 mg/day monotherapy or combination therapy with allogeneic CD8 + CD56+ NKT cell infusions twice per month for 12 cycles or until disease progression occurs. The effectiveness of this treatment will be evaluated based on by progression-free survival (PFS), the time to progression (TTP), overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and overall survival (OS). The safety of the trail is being assessed based on adverse events (AEs). Recruitment and data collection, which started in December 2017, are ongoing. DISCUSSION: Although immunotherapy, including programmed death-1/programmed death-1 ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) immunotherapy, has been used for NSCLC treatment with or without EGFR-TKIs, its clear efficacy still has not been shown. Assessing the safety and therapeutic potential of allogeneic CD8 + CD56+ NKT killer cells in combination with EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC will be of great interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial (Phase I/II Trails of NKT Cell in Combination With Gefitinib For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer) was registered on 21 November 2017 with www.chictr.org.cn , ChiCTR-IIR-17013471 .

E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4L negatively regulates keratinocyte hyperplasia by promoting GP130 degradation.

Psoriasis is mainly characterized by abnormal hyperplasia of keratinocytes and immune cells infiltrating into the dermis and epidermis. Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4-like (NEDD4L) is a highly conserved HECT type E3 ligase that plays an important role in regulating physiological and pathological processes. Here, we identify NEDD4L as a negative regulator of psoriasis. Nedd4l significantly inhibits imiquimod (IMQ)-induced skin hyperplasia, and this effect is attributed to the inhibitory effect of NEDD4L on IL-6/GP130 signaling in keratinocytes. Mechanistically, NEDD4L directly interacts with GP130 and mediates its Lys-27-linked ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Moreover, the expression of NEDD4L is downregulated in the epidermis from IMQ-treated mice and psoriasis patients and negatively correlates with the protein levels of GP130 and p-STAT3 in clinical samples. Collectively, we uncover an inhibitory role of NEDD4L in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and suggest a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of psoriasis.

E3 ligase Nedd4l promotes antiviral innate immunity by catalyzing K29-linked cysteine ubiquitination of TRAF3.

Ubiquitination is one of the most prevalent protein posttranslational modifications. Here, we show that E3 ligase Nedd4l positively regulates antiviral immunity by catalyzing K29-linked cysteine ubiquitination of TRAF3. Deficiency of Nedd4l significantly impairs type I interferon and proinflammatory cytokine production induced by virus infection both in vitro and in vivo. Nedd4l deficiency inhibits virus-induced ubiquitination of TRAF3, the binding between TRAF3 and TBK1, and subsequent phosphorylation of TBK1 and IRF3. Nedd4l directly interacts with TRAF3 and catalyzes K29-linked ubiquitination of Cys56 and Cys124, two cysteines that constitute zinc fingers, resulting in enhanced association between TRAF3 and E3 ligases, cIAP1/2 and HECTD3, and also increased K48/K63-linked ubiquitination of TRAF3. Mutation of Cys56 and Cys124 diminishes Nedd4l-catalyzed K29-linked ubiquitination, but enhances association between TRAF3 and the E3 ligases, supporting Nedd4l promotes type I interferon production in response to virus by catalyzing ubiquitination of the cysteines in TRAF3.

Alveolar and lung interstitial macrophages: Definitions, functions, and roles in lung fibrosis.

Mϕs are the main innate immune cells in the lung at homeostasis, with important roles in host defence and immune modulation. Alveolar Mϕs (AMs) and interstitial Mϕs (IMs) are the two lung Mϕ subsets, so called according to the sites they reside in. These subsets are also defined by their origins and immunological microenvironment, which endow these cells with distinct features and plasticity. This review summarizes the latest definitions and functions of lung Mϕs during homeostasis and provides exemplar of their divergent roles in lung fibrosis.

TAOK1 positively regulates TLR4-induced inflammatory responses by promoting ERK1/2 activation in macrophages.

Thousand and one amino acid kinase 1 (TAOK1) is a member of Ste20-like kinases, but its function in regulating inflammatory responses remains largely unknown. In this study, we identify TAOK1 as a positive regulator of TLR4-triggered inflammatory responses in macrophages. TAOK1 increases LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokine such as IL-6, TNF-α and IL12p40 in macrophages. TAOK1 deficient mice showed decreased susceptibility to endotoxin shock, with less pro-inflammatory cytokine production than control mice. TAOK1 promotes LPS-induced activation of ERK1/2 by constitutively interacting with TRAF6 and TPL2. These finding unravel the important role of TAOK1 as a positive regulator of TLR4-induced inflammatory responses.

The Emerging Roles of NDR1/2 in Infection and Inflammation.

The nuclear Dbf2-related (NDR) kinases NDR1 and NDR2 belong to the NDR/LATS (large tumor suppressor) subfamily in the Hippo signaling pathway. They are highly conserved from yeast to humans. It is well-known that NDR1/2 control important cellular processes, such as morphological changes, centrosome duplication, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Recent studies revealed that NDR1/2 also play important roles in the regulation of infection and inflammation. In this review, we summarized the roles of NDR1/2 in the modulation of inflammation induced by cytokines and innate immune response against the infection of bacteria and viruses, emphasizing on how NDR1/2 regulate signaling transduction through Hippo pathway-dependent and -independent manners.

Xuebijing Injection Alleviates Pam3CSK4-Induced Inflammatory Response and Protects Mice From Sepsis Caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

A leading cause of death worldwide is sepsis that develops as a dysregulated immune response to infection. Serious infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) increases the difficulty of treatment in septic patients. Host-directed therapy (HDT) is an emerging approach to bacterial infections. Xuebijing injection (XBJ), a commercialized injectable prescription from traditional Chinese medicine, has been used as adjuvant therapy for sepsis with a history of 15 years. Whether it plays a protective role in severe infection caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria is still unknown. In this study, XBJ significantly improved the survival of MRSA-induced sepsis mice. In MRSA-infected mouse model, XBJ down-regulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, MCP-1, MIP-2, and IL-10 in sera. Besides that, it decreased the bacterial load in spleens, livers, and alleviated tissue damage of lung, liver, and kidney. The combination of XBJ with vancomycin or dexamethasone exhibited a better down-regulatory role of the inflammatory response. Then, the protective mechanism of XBJ was further investigated. XBJ inhibited heat-killed MRSA-induced IL-6 and TNF-α production in mouse macrophages. XBJ also decreased Pam3CSK4 (a synthetic tripalmitoylated lipopeptide mimicking bacterial lipoproteins)-stimulated expression of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-12, etc. in mouse macrophages. Furthermore, XBJ down-regulated the activation of NF-κB, MAPK, and PI3K/Akt pathways in Pam3CSK4-stimulated mouse macrophages. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that XBJ played a protective role in MRSA-challenged mice and down-regulated the inflammatory response and the activation of signaling pathways initiated by Pam3CSK4. It enlarged the clinical application of XBJ in the treatment of severe bacterial infection, e.g. caused by MRSA.

mKLRL1 regulates the maturation of dendritic cells and plays important roles in immune tolerance.

KLRL1 is a member of C-type lectin-like receptors (CLEC) and preferentially expressed on the surface of immune cells. We have previously illustrated its inhibitory role in Natural killer (NK) cells. Though cloned from dendritic cells (DCs), its role in DCs has not been fully identified. Here, we found that mKLRL1 markedly decreased during DC maturation; mKLRL1-modifed DCs showed enhanced phagocytic capability and reduced ability to induce T cell proliferation, which mimics immature DCs. Further investigation revealed that IL-10 was indispensable for mKLRL1 to suppress DC maturation. And p38 activation was responsible for preferential IL-10 production. Pretreatment with mKLRL1-modified DCs protected mice from subsequently EAE induction, indicating a role in immune tolerance. Taken together, our results have revealed an inhibitory role of KLRL1 in mouse DCs.

Correction to: TAOK1 negatively regulates IL-17-mediated signaling and inflammation.

In this article, published online 5 February 2018, the second primer of mouse actin, il-6, il-1ß, TNFα, cxcl1, cxcl2, and ccl20 in Table 2 should be marked as "reverse primer" instead of "forward primer". Corrected Table 2 is shown below. The authors regret the errors.

TAOK1 negatively regulates IL-17-mediated signaling and inflammation.

Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is an important cytokine that can induce tissue inflammation and is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous autoimmune diseases. However, the regulation of its signaling transduction has not been well described. In this study, we report that thousand and one kinase 1 (TAOK1) functions as a negative regulator of IL-17-mediated signal transduction and inflammation. TAOK1 knockdown promotes IL-17-induced cytokine and chemokine expression and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-κB. We further demonstrate that TAOK1 interacts with IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) independent of its kinase activity, and TAOK1 dose-dependently prevents the formation of the IL-17R-Act1 (nuclear factor activator 1, also known as tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 interacting protein 2) complex. Consistent with this, TAOK1 deficiency exacerbates colitis in the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid)-induced experimental model of inflammatory bowel disease, likely by its promotion of the IL-17-mediated signaling pathway. TAOK1 expression is decreased in the colons of ulcerative colitis patients. In conclusion, these findings suggest that TAOK1 is involved in the development of IL-17-related autoimmune disorders.

Raf Kinase Inhibitor Protein Preferentially Promotes TLR3-Triggered Signaling and Inflammation.

Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) protects against host immunological responses in nematodes and Drosophila Whether RKIP functions in innate immune responses in mammals remains unknown. In this article, we report that RKIP preferentially regulates the TLR3-mediated immune response in macrophages. RKIP deficiency or silencing significantly decreases polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid [Poly(I:C)]-induced IFN-ß, IL-6, and TNF-α production without affecting the counterpart induced by LPS or CpG. Compared with their wild-type counterparts, RKIP-deficient mice produce less IFN-ß, IL-6, and TNF-α in serum and display decreased lethality upon peritoneal Poly(I:C) plus d-galactosamine injection. Mechanistically, RKIP interacts with TBK1 and promotes the Poly(I:C)-induced TANK-binding kinase 1/IRF3 activation. Simultaneously, RKIP enhances the Poly(I:C)-induced interaction between TGF-ß-activated kinase 1 and MAPK kinase 3 (MKK3), thus promoting MKK3/6 and p38 activation. We further demonstrated that Poly(I:C) treatment, but not LPS treatment, induces RKIP phosphorylation at S109. This action is required for RKIP to promote TANK-binding kinase 1 activation, as well as the interaction between TGF-ß-activated kinase 1 and MKK3, which lead to activation of the downstream IRF3 and p38, respectively. Therefore, RKIP acts as a positive-feedback regulator of the TLR3-induced inflammatory response and may be a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory disease.

Britanin Ameliorates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Inducing the Nrf2 Protective Pathway.

AIMS: Oxidative stress is considered the major cause of tissue injury after cerebral ischemia. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway is one of the most important defensive mechanisms against oxidative stresses and has been confirmed as a target for stroke treatment. Thus, we desired to find new Nrf2 activators and test their neuronal protective activity both in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: The herb-derived compound, Britanin, is a potent inducer of the Nrf2 system. Britanin can induce the expression of protective enzymes and reverse oxygen-glucose deprivation, followed by reperfusion (OGD-R)-induced neuronal injury in primary cortical neurons in vitro. Furthermore, the administration of Britanin significantly ameliorated middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion (MCAO-R) insult in vivo. We report here the crystal structure of the complex of Britanin and the BTB domain of Keap1. Britanin selectively binds to a conserved cysteine residue, cysteine 151, of Keap1 and inhibits Keap1-mediated ubiquitination of Nrf2, leading to induction of the Nrf2 pathway. INNOVATION: Britanin is a potent inducer of Nrf2. The complex crystal structure of Britanin and the BTB domain of Keap1 help clarify the mechanism of Nrf2 induction. Britanin was proven to protect primary cortical neurons against OGD-R-induced injury in an Nrf2-dependant way. Additionally, Britanin had excellent cerebroprotective effect in an MCAO-R model. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the natural product Britanin with potent Nrf2-activating and neural protective activities both in vitro and in vivo could be developed into a cerebroprotective therapeutic agent. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 27, 754-768.

High fat diet exacerbates dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis through disturbing mucosal dendritic cell homeostasis.

Epidemiological studies have shown that fat rich western diet contributes to the high incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Moreover, accumulated data indicated that fat dietary factor might promote the change of the composition and metabolism in commensal flora. But, the exact mechanisms for fatty diet in gut inflammation are not well demonstrated. In this study, we found that high fat diet (HFD) promoted inflammation and exacerbated the disease severity of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis in mice. Compared with low fat diet (LFD)/DSS mice, shorter colon length, more epithelial loss and crypt destruction and more Gr-1+ myeloid inflammatory cells infiltration in colons were observed in HFD/DSS cohorts. Interestingly, such HFD mediated inflammation accompanied with the dys-regulation of hematopoiesis, and more hematopoiesis stem and progenitor cells were detected in colon and spleen. We further analyzed the effects of HFD and DSS treatment on mucosal DC subsets, and found that DSS treatment in LFD mice mainly dramatically increased the percentage of CD11c+CD103-CD11b+ DCs in lamina propria (LP). While, in HFD/DSS mice, HFD pre-treatment not only increased the percentage of CD11c+CD103-CD11b+ DCs, but also decreased CD11c+CD103+CD11b+ in both LP and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) in mice with colitis. This disequilibrium of mucosal dendritic cells in HFD/DSS mice may depend on the reduced levels of buytrate and retinoic acid. Thus, this study declared the effects of HFD on gut microenviroment, and further indicated its potential role in the development of DSS induced colitis.

Transcription factor Fli-1 positively regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-27 production in macrophages.

IL-27 is an important regulator of TLR4-activated innate immune. The mechanism by which IL-27 production is regulated in TLR4-activated innate immune remains largely unclear. Here we show that expression of transcription factor Fli-1 at protein level is increased in macrophages following LPS stimulation. Fli-1 overexpression increases LPS-activated IL-27 production in macrophages. Consistently, Fli-1 knockdown inhibits LPS-induced IL-27 production in macrophages. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay reveals that Fli-1 binds the promoter of IL-27 p28 subunit. Further experiments manifest that Fli-1 binds the region between -250 and -150 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site of p28 gene and increases p28 gene promoter-controlled transcription. These results demonstrate that Fli-1 positively regulates IL-27 production in TLR4-activated immune response by promoting transcription of IL-27 p28 gene.