Sphingosine Kinase 2 Deficiency Attenuates Kidney Fibrosis via IFN-γ.

Maladaptive repair after AKI may lead to progressive fibrosis and decline in kidney function. Sphingosine 1-phosphate has an important role in kidney injury and pleiotropic effects in fibrosis. We investigated the involvement of sphingosine kinase 1 and 2 (SphK1 and SphK2), which phosphorylate sphingosine to produce sphingosine 1-phosphate, in kidney fibrosis induced by folic acid (FA) or unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Analysis of Masson trichrome staining and fibrotic marker protein and mRNA expression 14 days after AKI revealed that wild-type (WT) and Sphk1-/- mice exhibited more kidney fibrosis than Sphk2-/- mice. Furthermore, kidneys of FA-treated WT and Sphk1-/- mice had greater immune cell infiltration and expression of fibrotic and inflammatory markers than kidneys of FA-treated Sphk2-/- mice. In contrast, kidneys of Sphk2-/- mice exhibited greater expression of Ifng and IFN-γ-responsive genes (Cxcl9 and Cxcl10) than kidneys of WT or Sphk1-/- mice did at this time point. Splenic T cells from untreated Sphk2-/- mice were hyperproliferative and produced more IFN-γ than did those of WT or Sphk1-/- mice. IFN-γ blocking antibody administered to Sphk2-/- mice or deletion of Ifng (Sphk2-/-Ifng-/- mice) blocked the protective effect of SphK2 deficiency in fibrosis. Moreover, adoptive transfer of Sphk2-/- (but not Sphk2-/-Ifng-/- ) CD4 T cells into WT mice blocked FA-induced fibrosis. Finally, a selective SphK2 inhibitor blocked FA-induced kidney fibrosis in WT mice. These studies demonstrate that SphK2 inhibition may serve as a novel therapeutic approach for attenuating kidney fibrosis.

A Critical Role for Monocytes/Macrophages During Intestinal Inflammation-associated Lymphangiogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation-associated lymphangiogenesis (IAL) is frequently observed in inflammatory bowel diseases. IAL is believed to limit inflammation by enhancing fluid and immune cell clearance. Although monocytes/macrophages (MΦ) are known to contribute to intestinal pathology in inflammatory bowel disease, their role in intestinal IAL has never been studied mechanistically. We investigated contributions of monocytes/MΦ to the development of intestinal inflammation and IAL. METHODS: Because inflammatory monocytes express CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2), we used CCR2 diphtheria toxin receptor transgenic (CCR2.DTR) mice, in which monocytes can be depleted by diphtheria toxin injection, and CCR2 mice, which have reduced circulating monocytes. Acute or chronic colitis was induced by dextran sodium sulfate or adoptive transfer of CD4CD45RB T cells, respectively. Intestinal inflammation was assessed by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, disease activity, and histopathology, whereas IAL was assessed by lymphatic vessel morphology and density. RESULTS: We demonstrated that intestinal MΦ expressed vascular endothelial growth factor-C/D. In acute colitis, monocyte-depleted mice were protected from intestinal injury and showed reduced IAL, which was reversed after transfer of wild-type monocytes into CCR2 mice. In chronic colitis, CCR2 deficiency did not attenuate inflammation but reduced IAL. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a dual role of MΦ in (1) promoting acute inflammation and (2) contributing to IAL. Our data suggest that intestinal inflammation and IAL could occur independently, because IAL was reduced in the absence of monocytes/MΦ, even when inflammation was present. Future inflammatory bowel disease therapies might exploit promotion of IAL and suppression of MΦ independently, to restore lymphatic clearance and reduce inflammation.

Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor 3-Deficient Dendritic Cells Modulate Splenic Responses to Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

The plasticity of dendritic cells (DCs) permits phenotypic modulation ex vivo by gene expression or pharmacologic agents, and these modified DCs can exert therapeutic immunosuppressive effects in vivo through direct interactions with T cells, either inducing T regulatory cells (T(REG)s) or causing anergy. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a sphingolipid and the natural ligand for five G protein-coupled receptors (S1P1, S1P2, S1P3, S1P4, and S1P5), and S1PR agonists reduce kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in mice. S1pr3(-/-)mice are protected from kidney IRI, because DCs do not mature. We tested the therapeutic advantage of S1pr3(-/-) bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (BMDC) transfers in kidney IRI. IRI produced a rise in plasma creatinine (PCr) levels in mice receiving no cells (NCs) and mice pretreated with wild-type (WT) BMDCs. However, S1pr3(-/-) BMDC-pretreated mice were protected from kidney IRI. S1pr3(-/-) BMDC-pretreated mice had significantly higher numbers of splenic T(REG)s compared with NC and WT BMDC-pretreated mice. S1pr3(-/-) BMDCs did not attenuate IRI in splenectomized, Rag-1(-/-), or CD11c(+) DC-depleted mice. Additionally, S1pr3(-/-) BMDC-dependent protection required CD169(+)marginal zone macrophages and the macrophage-derived chemokine CCL22 to increase splenic CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T(REG)s. Pretreatment with S1pr3(-/-) BMDCs also induced T(REG)-dependent protection against IRI in an allogeneic mouse model. In summary, adoptively transferred S1pr3(-/-) BMDCs prevent kidney IRI through interactions within the spleen and expansion of splenic CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T(REG)s. We conclude that genetically induced deficiency of S1pr3 in allogenic BMDCs could serve as a therapeutic approach to prevent IRI-induced AKI.

Natural IgM Switches the Function of Lipopolysaccharide-Activated Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells to a Regulatory Dendritic Cell That Suppresses Innate Inflammation.

We have previously shown that polyclonal natural IgM protects mice from renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) by inhibiting the reperfusion inflammatory response. We hypothesized that a potential mechanism involved IgM modulation of dendritic cells (DC), as we observed high IgM binding to splenic DC. To test this hypothesis, we pretreated bone marrow-derived DC (BMDC) with polyclonal murine or human IgM prior to LPS activation and demonstrated that 0.5 × 10(6) IgM/LPS-pretreated BMDC, when injected into wild-type C57BL/6 mice 24 h before renal ischemia, protect mice from developing renal IRI. We show that this switching of LPS-activated BMDC to a regulatory phenotype requires modulation of BMDC function that is mediated by IgM binding to nonapoptotic BMDC receptors. Regulatory BMDC require IL-10 and programmed death 1 as well as downregulation of CD40 and p65 NF-κB phosphorylation to protect in renal IRI. Blocking the programmed death ligand 1 binding site just before i.v. injection of IgM/LPS-pretreated BMDC or using IL-10 knockout BMDC fails to induce protection. Similarly, IgM/LPS-pretreated BMDC are rendered nonprotective by increasing CD40 expression and phosphorylation of p65 NF-κB. How IgM/LPS regulatory BMDC suppress in vivo ischemia-induced innate inflammation remains to be determined. However, we show that suppression is dependent on other in vivo regulatory mechanisms in the host, that is, CD25(+) T cells, B cells, IL-10, and circulating IgM. There was no increase in Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells in the spleen either before or after renal IRI. Collectively, these findings show that natural IgM anti-leukocyte Abs can switch BMDC to a regulatory phenotype despite the presence of LPS that ordinarily induces BMDC maturation.

Immunosuppressive monocytes: possible homeostatic mechanism to restrain chronic intestinal inflammation.

Chronic colitis is accompanied by extensive myelopoiesis and accumulation of CD11b+Gr-1+ cells in spleens and secondary lymphoid tissues. Although cells with similar phenotype have been described in cancer, chronic infection, or autoimmunity, where they were associated with suppression of T cell responses, little is known regarding how these cells affect CD4 T cell responses in the context of chronic intestinal inflammation. Therefore, we undertook this study to characterize the interplay between colitis-induced myeloid cells and CD4 T cell. Within the CD11b+Gr-1+ population, only monocytes (Ly6G(neg)Ly6C(high)) but not other myeloid cell subsets suppressed proliferation and production of cytokines by CD4 T cells. Suppression was mediated by cell-contact, NO and partially by IFN-γ and PGs. Interestingly, Ly6C(high) MDCs, isolated from colitic colons, showed up-regulation of iNOS and arginase-1 and were more potent suppressors than those isolated from spleen. On a single-cell level, MDCs inhibited Th1 responses but enhanced generation of foxp3+ T cells. MDCs, cocultured with activated/Teffs, isolated from inflamed colons under hypoxic (1% O2) conditions typical for the inflamed intestine, suppressed proliferation but not their production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Taken together, expansion of monocytes and MDCs and activation of their suppressive properties may represent a homeostatic mechanism aimed at restraining excessive T cell activation during chronic inflammatory settings. The contribution of immunosuppressive monocytes/MDCs to chronic colitis and their role in shaping T cell responses in vivo require further investigation.

Roles of T cell-associated L-selectin and ß7 integrins during induction and regulation of chronic colitis.

BACKGROUND: L-selectin (CD62L) and ß(7) integrins are important for trafficking of naive T cells under steady-state conditions. The objectives of this study were to dissect the requirements for T cell-associated CD62L and ß(7) integrins during initiation, progression, and regulation of chronic colitis. METHODS: Using the T-cell transfer model, we compared colitogenic potential between T cells lacking one or both of these molecules with wild-type T cells. To assess trafficking of cells to the secondary lymphoid tissue and the gut, we performed co-homing experiments. RESULTS: Adoptive transfer of wild-type, CD62L(-/-) or ß(7)(-/-) single-deficient T cells induced moderate to severe disease with slightly different kinetics. However, transfer of CD62L(-/-) ß(7)(-/-) double-deficient (DKO) T cells produced significantly attenuated gut inflammation, which correlated with fewer T cells and reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the colon lamina propria. Our subsequent experiments established that lack of colitogenic potential of these cells was due to inability of DKO T cells to home to the secondary lymphoid tissue. Furthermore, homing of in vitro-generated effector DKO T cells to the inflamed intestine was significantly impaired. Lastly, DKO regulatory T cells were ineffective at suppressing colitis induced by wild-type T cells. CONCLUSIONS: We established that T cells can use either CD62L(-/-) or ß(7)(-/-) integrins to induce chronic colitis, but lack of both abrogates their colitogenic potential. Effector T cells critically rely on ß(7) integrin during their recruitment to the inflamed intestinal mucosa. Finally, regulation of intestinal inflammation by regulatory T cells requires one or both of these adhesion molecules.

Acquisition of antigen-presenting functions by neutrophils isolated from mice with chronic colitis.

Active episodes of the inflammatory bowel diseases are associated with the infiltration of large numbers of myeloid cells including neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages. The objective of this study was to systematically characterize and define the different populations of myeloid cells generated in a mouse model of chronic gut inflammation. Using the T cell transfer model of chronic colitis, we found that induction of disease was associated with enhanced production of myelopoietic cytokines (IL-17 and G-CSF), increased production of neutrophils and monocytes, and infiltration of large numbers of myeloid cells into the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and colon. Detailed characterization of these myeloid cells revealed three major populations including Mac-1(+)Ly6C(high)Gr-1(low/neg) cells (monocytes), Mac-1(+)Ly6C(int)Gr-1(+) cells (neutrophils), and Mac-1(+)Ly6C(low/neg)Gr-1(low/neg) leukocytes (macrophages, dendritic cells, and eosinophils). In addition, we observed enhanced surface expression of MHC class II and CD86 on neutrophils isolated from the inflamed colon when compared with neutrophils obtained from the blood, the MLNs, and the spleen of colitic mice. Furthermore, we found that colonic neutrophils had acquired APC function that enabled these granulocytes to induce proliferation of OVA-specific CD4(+) T cells in an Ag- and MHC class II-dependent manner. Finally, we observed a synergistic increase in proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production following coculture of T cells with neutrophils in vitro. Taken together, our data suggest that extravasated neutrophils acquire APC function within the inflamed bowel where they may perpetuate chronic gut inflammation by inducing T cell activation and proliferation as well as by enhancing production of proinflammatory mediators.

Role of T lymphocytes in angiotensin II-mediated microvascular thrombosis.

Clinical trials and animal studies have revealed a role for the renin-angiotensin system in the enhanced thrombus development that is associated with hypertension. Because T lymphocytes have been implicated in the vascular dysfunction and blood pressure elevation associated with increased angiotensin II (Ang II) levels, we evaluated the role of the adaptive immune system in mediating the enhanced thrombosis during Ang II-induced hypertension. Light/dye-induced thrombosis was induced in cremaster arterioles of wild-type, immunodeficient Rag-1(-/-), CD8(+), or CD4(+) lymphocyte-deficient and NADPH oxidase (gp91(phox))-deficient mice implanted with an Ang II-loaded pump for 2 weeks. Chronic Ang II infusion enhanced arteriolar thrombosis in wild-type mice but not in Rag-1(-/-), CD4(+) T-cell-deficient, or gp91(phox-/-) mice. CD8(+) T-cell(-/-) mice exhibited partial protection. Adoptive transfer of T cells derived from wild-type or gp91(phox-/-) mice into Rag-1(-/-) restored the prothrombotic phenotype induced by Ang II. T lymphocytes (CD4(+) and, to a lesser extent, CD8(+)) play a major role in mediating the accelerated microvascular thrombosis associated with Ang II-induced hypertension. NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species, produced by cells other than T lymphocytes, also appear critical for the Ang II-enhanced, T cell-dependent thrombosis response.