RNAi Screen and Proteomics Reveal NXF1 as a Novel Regulator of IRF5 Signaling.

Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) is a key transcription factor of innate immunity, which plays an important role in host restriction to viral infection and inflammation. Genome-wide association studies have implied the association of IRF5 with several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren's syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis. However, the regulation of IRF5-mediated immunity is not well understood. To uncover new regulators in IRF5 pathway, we used two "omics" approaches: affinity purification coupled with mass spectrometry and a high throughput RNAi screen. Proteomics identified 16 new IRF5 interactors while RNAi-mediated knockdown found 43 regulators of the TLR7-dependent IRF5 signaling pathway. NXF1 was identified in both screens. Stimulation with TLR7 ligand enhances formation of IRF5-NXF1 protein complexes. Gain or loss-of-function experiments revealed NXF1 selectively regulates TLR7-driven IRF5 transcriptional activity, suggesting a new role for NXF1 in the IRF5 signaling pathway.

Macrophages redirect phagocytosis by non-professional phagocytes and influence inflammation.

Professional phagocytes (such as macrophages) and non-professional phagocytes (such as epithelial cells) clear billions of apoptotic cells and particles on a daily basis. Although professional and non-professional macrophages reside in proximity in most tissues, whether they communicate with each other during cell clearance, and how this might affect inflammation, is not known. Here we show that macrophages, through the release of a soluble growth factor and microvesicles, alter the type of particles engulfed by non-professional phagocytes and influence their inflammatory response. During phagocytosis of apoptotic cells or in response to inflammation-associated cytokines, macrophages released insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). The binding of IGF-1 to its receptor on non-professional phagocytes redirected their phagocytosis, such that uptake of larger apoptotic cells was reduced whereas engulfment of microvesicles was increased. IGF-1 did not alter engulfment by macrophages. Macrophages also released microvesicles, whose uptake by epithelial cells was enhanced by IGF-1 and led to decreased inflammatory responses by epithelial cells. Consistent with these observations, deletion of IGF-1 receptor in airway epithelial cells led to exacerbated lung inflammation after allergen exposure. These genetic and functional studies reveal that IGF-1- and microvesicle-dependent communication between macrophages and epithelial cells can critically influence the magnitude of tissue inflammation in vivo.

Boosting Apoptotic Cell Clearance by Colonic Epithelial Cells Attenuates Inflammation In Vivo.

Few apoptotic corpses are seen even in tissues with high cellular turnover, leading to the notion that the capacity for engulfment in vivo is vast. Whether corpse clearance can be enhanced in vivo for potential benefit is not known. In a colonic inflammation model, we noted that the expression of the phagocytic receptor Bai1 was progressively downmodulated. Consistent with this, BAI1-deficient mice had more pronounced colitis and lower survival, with many uncleared apoptotic corpses and inflammatory cytokines within the colonic epithelium. When we engineered and tested transgenic mice overexpressing BAI1, these had fewer apoptotic cells, reduced inflammation, and attenuated disease. Boosting BAI1-mediated uptake by intestinal epithelial cells (rather than myeloid cells) was important in attenuating inflammation. A signaling-deficient BAI1 transgene could not provide a similar benefit. Collectively, these complementary genetic approaches showed that cell clearance could be boosted in vivo, with potential to regulate tissue inflammation in specific contexts.

ShcA regulates late stages of T cell development and peripheral CD4+ T cell numbers.

T cell development in the thymus is a highly regulated process that critically depends upon productive signaling via the preTCR at the ß-selection stage, as well as via the TCR for selection from the CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive stage to the CD4 or CD8 single-positive stage. ShcA is an adapter protein expressed in thymocytes, and it is required for productive signaling through the preTCR, with impaired signaling via ShcA leading to a developmental block at the ß-selection checkpoint. However, the role of ShcA in subsequent stages of T cell development has not been addressed. In this study, we generated transgenic mice (CD4-Cre/ShcFFF mice) that specifically express a phosphorylation-defective dominant-negative ShcA mutant (ShcFFF) in late T cell development. Thymocytes in CD4-Cre/ShcFFF mice progressed normally through the ß-selection checkpoint, but displayed a significant reduction in the numbers of single-positive CD4(+) and CD8(+) thymocytes. Furthermore, CD4-Cre/ShcFFF mice, when bred with transgenic TCR mouse strains, had impaired signaling through the transgenic TCRs. Consistent with defective progression to the single-positive stage, CD4-Cre/ShcFFF mice also had significant peripheral lymphopenia. Moreover, these CD4-Cre/ShcFFF mice develop attenuated disease in CD4(+) T cell-dependent experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Collectively, these data identify an important role for the adapter protein ShcA in later stages of thymic T cell development and in peripheral T cell-dependent events.

Apoptosis and engulfment by bronchial epithelial cells. Implications for allergic airway inflammation.

Insult or injury to the lung epithelial cells from pathogens, pollutants, and allergens can initiate the process of apoptotic cell death. Although "Creola bodies," which are clusters of uncleared, apoptotic, epithelial cells, have been seen in the sputum of patients with asthma, the clearance of these dying epithelial cells and the consequence of failed clearance in the airway have not been directly addressed. We have observed that bronchial epithelial cells efficiently engulf their apoptotic neighbors and produce antiinflammatory cytokines when engulfing apoptotic cells. Furthermore, when the phagocytic capacity of bronchial epithelial cells was impaired, mice developed severe, IL-33-dependent, allergic airway inflammation. This inflammation could be ameliorated by exogenous administration of the antiinflammatory cytokine IL-10. Our data suggest that the process of apoptotic cell engulfment is a mechanism by which bronchial epithelial cells regulate the inflammatory environment within the lung. Collectively, these studies suggest that impaired engulfment pathways in airway epithelial cells can contribute to allergic airway inflammation and that targeting these pathways may be of benefit in human airway inflammation.

Unexpected link between an antibiotic, pannexin channels and apoptosis.

Plasma membrane pannexin 1 channels (PANX1) release nucleotide find-me signals from apoptotic cells to attract phagocytes. Here we show that the quinolone antibiotic trovafloxacin is a novel PANX1 inhibitor, by using a small-molecule screen. Although quinolones are widely used to treat bacterial infections, some quinolones have unexplained side effects, including deaths among children. PANX1 is a direct target of trovafloxacin at drug concentrations seen in human plasma, and its inhibition led to dysregulated fragmentation of apoptotic cells. Genetic loss of PANX1 phenocopied trovafloxacin effects, revealing a non-redundant role for pannexin channels in regulating cellular disassembly during apoptosis. Increase in drug-resistant bacteria worldwide and the dearth of new antibiotics is a major human health challenge. Comparing different quinolone antibiotics suggests that certain structural features may contribute to PANX1 blockade. These data identify a novel linkage between an antibiotic, pannexin channels and cellular integrity, and suggest that re-engineering certain quinolones might help develop newer antibacterials.

Brain angiogenesis inhibitor 1 is expressed by gastric phagocytes during infection with Helicobacter pylori and mediates the recognition and engulfment of human apoptotic gastric epithelial cells.

After Helicobacter pylori infection in humans, gastric epithelial cells (GECs) undergo apoptosis due to stimulation by the bacteria or inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we assessed the expression and function of brain angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) in the engulfment of apoptotic GECs using human tissue and cells. After induction of apoptosis by H. pylori or camptothecin, there was a 5-fold increase in the binding of apoptotic GECs to THP-1 cells or peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages as assayed by confocal microscopy or conventional and imaging flow cytometry. Binding was impaired 95% by pretreating apoptotic cells with annexin V, underscoring the requirement for phosphatidylserine recognition. The phosphatidylserine receptor BAI1 was expressed in human gastric biopsy specimens and gastric phagocytes. To confirm the role of BAI1 in apoptotic cell clearance, the functional domain of BAI1 was used as a competitive inhibitor or BAI1 expression was inhibited by small interfering RNA. Both approaches decreased binding and engulfment >40%. Exposing THP-1 cells to apoptotic cells inhibited IL-6 production from 1340 to <364 pg/ml; however, this decrease was independent of phagocytosis. We conclude that recognition of apoptotic cells by BAI1 contributes to their clearance in the human gastric mucosa and this is associated with anti-inflammatory effects.

Apoptotic cell clearance by bronchial epithelial cells critically influences airway inflammation.

Lung epithelial cells can influence immune responses to airway allergens. Airway epithelial cells also undergo apoptosis after encountering environmental allergens; yet, relatively little is known about how these are cleared, and their effect on airway inflammation. Here we show that airway epithelial cells efficiently engulf apoptotic epithelial cells and secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines, dependent upon intracellular signalling by the small GTPase Rac1. Inducible deletion of Rac1 expression specifically in airway epithelial cells in a mouse model resulted in defective engulfment by epithelial cells and aberrant anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Intranasal priming and challenge of these mice with house dust mite extract or ovalbumin as allergens led to exacerbated inflammation, augmented Th2 cytokines and airway hyper-responsiveness, with decreased interleukin (IL)-10 in bronchial lavages. Rac1-deficient epithelial cells produced much higher IL-33 upon allergen or apoptotic cell encounter, with increased numbers of nuocyte-like cells. Administration of exogenous IL-10 'rescued' the airway inflammation phenotype in Rac1-deficient mice, with decreased IL-33. Collectively, these genetic and functional studies suggest a new role for Rac1-dependent engulfment by airway epithelial cells and in establishing the anti-inflammatory environment, and that defects in cell clearance in the airways could contribute to inflammatory responses towards common allergens.

Notch signaling regulates mouse and human Th17 differentiation.

Th17 cells are known to play a critical role in adaptive immune responses to several important extracellular pathogens. Additionally, Th17 cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune and inflammatory disorders as well as in cancer. Therefore, it is essential to understand the mechanisms that regulate Th17 differentiation. Notch signaling is known to be important at several stages of T cell development and differentiation. In this study, we report that Notch1 is activated in both mouse and human in vitro-polarized Th17 cells and that blockade of Notch signaling significantly downregulates the production of Th17-associated cytokines, suggesting an intrinsic requirement for Notch during Th17 differentiation in both species. We also present evidence, using promoter reporter assays, knockdown studies, as well as chromatin immunoprecipitation, that IL-17 and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt are direct transcriptional targets of Notch signaling in Th17 cells. Finally, in vivo inhibition of Notch signaling reduced IL-17 production and Th17-mediated disease progression in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Thus, this study highlights the importance of Notch signaling in Th17 differentiation and indicates that selective targeted therapy against Notch may be an important tool to treat autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis.

The tick saliva immunosuppressor, Salp15, contributes to Th17-induced pathology during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

Salp15 is a tick saliva protein that inhibits CD4(+) T cell differentiation through its interaction with CD4. The protein inhibits early signaling events during T cell activation and IL-2 production. Because murine Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis development is mediated by central nervous system-infiltrating CD4(+) T cells that are specific for myelin-associated proteins, we sought to determine whether the treatment of mice with Salp15 during EAE induction would prevent the generation of proinflammatory T cell responses and the development of the disease. Surprisingly, Salp15-treated mice developed more severe EAE than control animals. The treatment of EAE-induced mice with the tick saliva protein did not result in increased infiltration of T cells to the central nervous system, indicating that Salp15 had not affected the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Salp15 treatment did not affect the development of antibody responses against the eliciting peptide or the presence of IFNγ in the sera. The treatment with Salp15 resulted, however, in the increased differentiation of Th17 cells in vivo, as evidenced by higher IL-17 production from PLP(139-151)-specific CD4(+) T cells isolated from the central nervous system and the periphery. In vitro, Salp15 was able to induce the differentiation of Th17 cells in the presence of IL-6 and the absence of TGFß These results suggest that a conductive milieu for the differentiation of Th17 cells can be achieved by restriction of the production of IL-2 during T cell differentiation, a role that may be performed by TGFß and other immunosuppressive agents.

Unexpected requirement for ELMO1 in clearance of apoptotic germ cells in vivo.

Apoptosis and the subsequent clearance of dying cells occurs throughout development and adult life in many tissues. Failure to promptly clear apoptotic cells has been linked to many diseases. ELMO1 is an evolutionarily conserved cytoplasmic engulfment protein that functions downstream of the phosphatidylserine receptor BAI1, and, along with DOCK1 and the GTPase RAC1, promotes internalization of the dying cells. Here we report the generation of ELMO1-deficient mice, which we found to be unexpectedly viable and grossly normal. However, they had a striking testicular pathology, with disrupted seminiferous epithelium, multinucleated giant cells, uncleared apoptotic germ cells and decreased sperm output. Subsequent in vitro and in vivo analyses revealed a crucial role for ELMO1 in the phagocytic clearance of apoptotic germ cells by Sertoli cells lining the seminiferous epithelium. The engulfment receptor BAI1 and RAC1 (upstream and downstream of ELMO1, respectively) were also important for Sertoli-cell-mediated engulfment. Collectively, these findings uncover a selective requirement for ELMO1 in Sertoli-cell-mediated removal of apoptotic germ cells and make a compelling case for a relationship between engulfment and tissue homeostasis in vivo.

The immunosuppresive tick salivary protein, Salp15.

The interaction between Ixodid ticks and their mammalian hosts is a complex relationship. While the mammalian host tries to avoid the completion of the feeding process, the tick has devised strategies to counteract these attempts. Tick saliva contains a vast array of pharmacological activities that presumably aid the tick to evade host responses, including anticomplement, oxidative and innate and adaptive immune responses. The characterization of these activities has gained momentum in the last several years. One of the best studied activities present in tick saliva corresponds to the antigen known as Salp15, which binds specifically to the T-cell coreceptor CD4 resulting in the specific repression of CD4+ T-cell activation. We discuss here the current state of our knowledge of the mode of action of this salivary protein.

IP3 receptor-mediated Ca2+ release in naive CD4 T cells dictates their cytokine program.

IP(3) (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate) receptors (IP(3)Rs) regulate the release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores in response to IP(3). Little is known about regulation of the expression of IP(3)Rs and their role during the activation of CD4 T cells. In this study we show that mouse naive CD4 T cells express IP(3)R1, IP(3)R2, and IP(3)R3, but that gene expression of IP(3)R3 primarily is down-regulated upon activation due to loss of the Ets-1 transcription factor. Down-regulation of IP(3)R expression in activated CD4 T cells is associated with the failure of TCR ligation to trigger Ca(2+) release in these cells. We also show that down-regulation of specific IP(3)Rs in activated CD4 T cells correlates with the requirement of IP(3)R-mediated Ca(2+) release only for the induction of, but not for the maintenance of, IL-2 and IFN-gamma expression. Interestingly, while inhibition of IP(3)R function early during activation blocks IL-2 and IFN-gamma production, it promotes the production of IL-17 by CD4 T cells. Thus, IP(3)Rs play a key role in the activation and differentiation of CD4 T cells. The immunosuppressive effect of pharmacological blockers of these receptors may be complicated by promoting the development of inflammatory CD4 T cells.

The Ixodes scapularis salivary protein, salp15, prevents the association of HIV-1 gp120 and CD4.

Ixodes scapularis salivary protein, Salp15, inhibits CD4(+) T cell activation by binding to the most-extracellular domains of the CD4 molecule, potentially overlapping with the gp120-binding region. We now show that Salp15 inhibits the interaction of gp120 and CD4. Furthermore, Salp15 prevents syncytia formation between HL2/3 (a stable HeLa cell line expressing the envelope protein) and CD4-expressing cells. Salp15 prevented gp120-CD4 interaction at least partially through its direct interaction with the envelope glycoprotein. A phage display library screen provided the interacting residues in the C1 domain of gp120. These results provide a potential basis to define exposed gp120 epitopes for the generation of neutralizing vaccines.

Conformational rearrangement within the soluble domains of the CD4 receptor is ligand-specific.

Ligand binding induces shape changes within the four modular ectodomains (D1-D4) of the CD4 receptor, an important receptor in immune signaling. Small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) on both a two-domain and a four-domain construct of the soluble CD4 (sCD4) is consistent with known crystal structures demonstrating a bilobal and a semi-extended tetralobal Z conformation in solution, respectively. Detection of conformational changes within sCD4 as a result of ligand binding was followed by SAXS on sCD4 bound to two different glycoprotein ligands: the tick saliva immunosuppressor Salp15 and the HIV-1 envelope protein gp120. Ab initio modeling of these data showed that both Salp15 and gp120 bind to the D1 domain of sCD4 and yet induce drastically different structural rearrangements. Upon binding, Salp15 primarily distorts the characteristic lobal architecture of the sCD4 without significantly altering the semi-extended shape of the sCD4 receptor. In sharp contrast, the interaction of gp120 with sCD4 induces a shape change within sCD4 that can be described as a Z-to-U bi-fold closure of the four domains across its flexible D2-D3 linker. Placement of known crystal structures within the boundaries of the SAXS-derived models suggests that the ligand-induced shape changes could be a result of conformational changes within this D2-D3 linker. Functionally, the observed shape changes in CD4 receptor causes dissociation of lymphocyte kinase from the cytoplasmic domain of Salp15-bound CD4 and facilitates an interaction between the exposed V3 loops of CD4-bound gp120 molecule to the extracellular loops of its co-receptor, a step essential for HIV-1 viral entry.

The tick salivary protein, Salp15, inhibits the development of experimental asthma.

Activation of Th2 CD4(+) T cells is necessary and sufficient to elicit allergic airway disease, a mouse model with many features of human allergic asthma. Effectively controlling the activities of these cells could be a panacea for asthma therapy. Blood-feeding parasites have devised remarkable strategies to effectively evade the immune response. For example, ticks such as Ixodes scapularis, which must remain on the host for up to 7 days to feed to repletion, secrete immunosuppressive proteins. Included among these proteins is the 15-kDa salivary protein Salp15, which inhibits T cell activation and IL-2 production. Our objective for these studies was to evaluate the T cell inhibitory properties of Salp15 in a mouse model of allergic asthma. BALB/cJ mice were Ag sensitized by i.p. injection of OVA in aluminum hydroxide, with or without 50 mug of Salp15, on days 0 and 7. All mice were challenged with aerosolized OVA on days 14-16 and were studied on day 18. Compared with control mice sensitized with Ag, mice sensitized with Ag and Salp15 displayed significantly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophilia, Ag-specific IgG1 and IgE, mucus cell metaplasia, and Th2 cytokine secretion in vivo and by CD4(+) T cells restimulated with Ag in vitro. Our results demonstrate that Salp15 can effectively prevent the generation of a Th2 immune response and the development of experimental asthma. These studies, and those of others, support the notion that a lack of ectoparasitism may contribute to the increasing prevalence of allergic asthma.

T-cell signaling pathways inhibited by the tick saliva immunosuppressor, Salp15.

The Ixodes scapularis salivary protein Salp15 inhibits the activation of T cells through its interaction with the coreceptor CD4. Salp15 prevents the activation of Lck upon TCR engagement and the formation of lipid rafts. We have now analyzed the signaling pathways that are inhibited by the tick salivary protein in CD4(+) T cells. Salp15 affects tyrosine phosphorylation of several early signal components downstream of Lck, including LAT and Vav1, which results in improper actin polymerization. The effect of Salp15 is due to its interaction with CD4, as no effect was observed in CD4-negative T cells. Finally, we demonstrate that the peptide that mediates the interaction of Salp15 with CD4, P11, is able to recapitulate the immunosuppressive activity of the whole protein. These results clarify the molecular mechanisms of action of Salp15 on T cells and suggest that binding to CD4 is sufficient to elicit its immunosuppressive effect.

Cutting edge: CD4 is the receptor for the tick saliva immunosuppressor, Salp15.

Salp15 is an Ixodes scapularis salivary protein that inhibits CD4+ T cell activation through the repression of TCR ligation-triggered calcium fluxes and IL-2 production. We show in this study that Salp15 binds specifically to the CD4 coreceptor on mammalian host T cells. Salp15 specifically associates through its C-terminal residues with the outermost two extracellular domains of CD4. Upon binding to CD4, Salp15 inhibits the subsequent TCR ligation-induced T cell signaling at the earliest steps including tyrosine phosphorylation of the Src kinase Lck, downstream effector proteins, and lipid raft reorganization. These results provide a molecular basis to understanding the immunosuppressive activity of Salp15 and its specificity for CD4+ T cells.

Distinct bacterial dissemination and disease outcome in mice subcutaneously infected with Borrelia burgdorferi in the midline of the back and the footpad.

Subcutaneous inoculation of mice with Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, results in established infection and the development of acute arthritis and carditis, hallmarks of human disease. Because conflicting results may originate from the site of subcutaneous inoculation, we addressed the dissemination capacity of spirochetes injected in the shoulder region versus the footpad. Spirochetes inoculated in the footpad disseminated to a lesser extent to distant organs, such as the ear and the heart. This resulted in distinct degrees of joint and cardiac inflammation at the peak of the disease. The differences eventually leveled out. These results suggest that caution must be exercised in the interpretation of results obtained with routes of inoculation that do not closely represent the natural site of infection.

Delivery of the immunosuppressive antigen Salp15 to antigen-presenting cells by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium aroA mutants.

A Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium aroA-deficient delivery system was used to target the immunosuppressive protein Salp15 to antigen-presenting cells. In vitro and in vivo infections with Salp15-containing Salmonella resulted in an impaired CD4(+)-T-cell activation, suggesting that the protein was produced by antigen-presenting cells in a physiologically active form.