Sevoflurane Dampens Acute Pulmonary Inflammation via the Adenosine Receptor A2B and Heme Oxygenase-1.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a life-threatening disease associated with high mortality. The adenosine receptor A2B (Adora2b) provides anti-inflammatory effects, which are also associated with the intracellular enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Our study determined the mechanism of sevoflurane's protective properties and investigated the link between sevoflurane and the impact of a functional Adora2b via HO-1 modulation during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury. We examined the LPS-induced infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) into the lung tissue and protein extravasation in wild-type and Adora2b-/- animals. We generated chimeric animals, to identify the impact of sevoflurane on Adora2b of hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells. Sevoflurane decreased the LPS-induced PMN-infiltration and diminished the edema formation in wild-type mice. Reduced PMN counts after sevoflurane treatment were detected only in chimeric mice, which expressed Adora2b exclusively on leukocytes. The Adora2b on hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells was required to improve the permeability after sevoflurane inhalation. Further, sevoflurane increased the protective effects of HO-1 modulation on PMN migration and microvascular permeability. These protective effects were abrogated by specific HO-1 inhibition. In conclusion, our data revealed new insights into the protective mechanisms of sevoflurane application during acute pulmonary inflammation and the link between sevoflurane and Adora2b, and HO-1 signaling, respectively.

CXCR4 and CXCR7 Inhibition Ameliorates the Formation of Platelet-Neutrophil Complexes and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps through Adora2b Signaling.

Peritonitis and peritonitis-associated sepsis are characterized by an increased formation of platelet-neutrophil complexes (PNCs), which contribute to an excessive migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) into the inflamed tissue. An important neutrophilic mechanism to capture and kill invading pathogens is the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Formation of PNCs and NETs are essential to eliminate pathogens, but also lead to aggravated tissue damage. The chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 on platelets and PMNs have been shown to play a pivotal role in inflammation. Thereby, CXCR4 and CXCR7 were linked with functional adenosine A2B receptor (Adora2b) signaling. We evaluated the effects of selective CXCR4 and CXCR7 inhibition on PNCs and NETs in zymosan- and fecal-induced sepsis. We determined the formation of PNCs in the blood and, in addition, their infiltration into various organs in wild-type and Adora2b-/- mice by flow cytometry and histological methods. Further, we evaluated NET formation in both mouse lines and the impact of Adora2b signaling on it. We hypothesized that the protective effects of CXCR4 and CXCR7 antagonism on PNC and NET formation are linked with Adora2b signaling. We observed an elevated CXCR4 and CXCR7 expression in circulating platelets and PMNs during acute inflammation. Specific CXCR4 and CXCR7 inhibition reduced PNC formation in the blood, respectively, in the peritoneal, lung, and liver tissue in wild-type mice, while no protective anti-inflammatory effects were observed in Adora2b-/- animals. In vitro, CXCR4 and CXCR7 antagonism dampened PNC and NET formation with human platelets and PMNs, confirming our in vivo data. In conclusion, our study reveals new protective aspects of the pharmacological modulation of CXCR4 and CXCR7 on PNC and NET formation during acute inflammation.

Sevoflurane Exerts Protective Effects in Murine Peritonitis-induced Sepsis via Hypoxia-inducible Factor 1α/Adenosine A2B Receptor Signaling.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is one of the leading causes of mortality in intensive care units, and sedation in the intensive care unit during sepsis is usually performed intravenously. The inhalative anesthetic sevoflurane has been shown to elicit protective effects in various inflammatory studies, but its role in peritonitis-induced sepsis remains elusive. The hypothesis was that sevoflurane controls the neutrophil infiltration by stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and elevated adenosine A2B receptor expression. METHODS: In mouse models of zymosan- and fecal-induced peritonitis, male mice were anesthetized with sevoflurane (2 volume percent, 30 min) after the onset of inflammation. Control animals received the solvent saline. The neutrophil counts and adhesion molecules on neutrophils in the peritoneal lavage of wild-type, adenosine A2B receptor -/-, and chimeric animals were determined by flow cytometry 4 h after stimulation. Cytokines and protein release were determined in the lavage. Further, the adenosine A2B receptor and its transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1α were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis 4 h after stimulation. RESULTS: Sevoflurane reduced the neutrophil counts in the peritoneal lavage (mean ± SD, 25 ± 17 × 105vs. 12 ± 7 × 105 neutrophils; P = 0.004; n = 19/17) by lower expression of various adhesion molecules on neutrophils of wild-type animals but not of adenosine A2B receptor -/- animals. The cytokines concentration (means ± SD, tumor necrosis factor α [pg/ml], 523 ± 227 vs. 281 ± 101; P = 0.002; n = 9/9) and protein extravasation (mean ± SD [mg/ml], 1.4 ± 0.3 vs. 0.8 ± 0.4; P = 0.002; n = 12/11) were also lower after sevoflurane only in the wild-type mice. Chimeric mice showed the required expression of the adenosine A2B receptor on the hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic compartments for the protective effects of the anesthetic. Sevoflurane induced the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and adenosine A2B receptor in the intestine, liver, and lung. CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane exerts various protective effects in two murine peritonitis-induced sepsis models. These protective effects were linked with a functional adenosine A2B receptor.

Fractalkine Is Linked to the Necrosome Pathway in Acute Pulmonary Inflammation.

Acute pulmonary inflammation affects over 10% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients and is associated with high mortality. Fractalkine (CX3CL1) and its receptor, CX3CR1, have been shown to affect pulmonary inflammation, but previous studies have focused on macrophages. In a murine model of acute pulmonary inflammation, we identified inflammatory hallmarks in C57BL/6J and CX3CR1-/- mice. Pulmonary inflammation was significantly enhanced in the CX3CR1-/- animals compared to the C57BL/6J animals, as assessed by microvascular permeability, polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) migration into lung tissue and alveolar space. The CX3CR1-/- mice showed increased levels of apoptotic PMNs in the lungs, and further investigations revealed an increased activation of necrosome-related receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinases 1 (RIPK1), 3 (RIPK3), and mixed-lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL). Phosphorylated MLKL leads to membrane rupture and damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) release, which further enhance inflammation. The release of DAMPs was significantly higher in the CX3CR1-/- mice and led to the activation of various cascades, explaining the increased inflammation. RIPK3 and MLKL inhibition improved the inflammatory response in human PMNs in vitro and confirmed our in vivo findings. In conclusion, we linked CX3CL1 to the necrosome complex in pulmonary inflammation and demonstrated a pivotal role of the necrosome complex in human PMNs.

CX3CR1 Depletion Promotes the Formation of Platelet-Neutrophil Complexes and Aggravates Acute Peritonitis.

BACKGROUND: Peritonitis is a life-threatening condition on intensive care units. Inflammatory cytokines and their receptors drive inflammation, cause the formation of platelet-neutrophil complexes (PNCs) and therefore the migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) into the inflamed tissue. CX3CL1 and its receptor CX3CR1 are expressed in various cells, and promote inflammation. The shedding of CX3CL1 is mediated by a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) 17. The role of the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis in acute peritonitis remains elusive. METHODS: In zymosan-induced peritonitis, we determined the formation of PNCs in the blood and the expression of PNC-related molecules on PNCs. PMN migration into the peritoneal lavage was evaluated in wild-type (WT) and CX3CR1-/- animals by flow cytometry. CX3CL1, ADAM17, and the expression of various inflammatory cytokines were detected. Further, we determined the inflammation-associated activation of the intracellular transcription factor extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) by Western blot. RESULTS: The PMN accumulation in the peritoneal lavage and the PNC formation in the circulation were significantly raised in CX3CR1-/- compared with WT animals. The expression of PNC-related selectins on PNCs was significantly increased in the blood of CX3CR1-/- animals, as well as cytokine levels. Further, we observed an increased activation of ERK1/2 and elevated ADAM17 expression in CX3CR1-/- during acute inflammation. Selective ERK1/2 inhibition ameliorated inflammation-related increased ADAM17 expression. CONCLUSIONS: A CX3CR1 deficiency raised the release of inflammatory cytokines and increased the PNC formation respectively PMN migration via an elevated ERK1/2 activation during acute peritonitis. Further, we observed a link between the ERK1/2 activation and an elevated ADAM17 expression on PNC-related platelets and PMNs during inflammation. Our data thus illustrate a crucial role of CX3CR1 on the formation of PNCs and regulating inflammation in acute peritonitis.

Inhibition of CXCR4 and CXCR7 Is Protective in Acute Peritoneal Inflammation.

Our previous studies revealed a pivotal role of the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 and its receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 on migratory behavior of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs) in pulmonary inflammation. Thereby, the SDF-1-CXCR4/CXCR7-axis was linked with adenosine signaling. However, the role of the SDF-1 receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 in acute inflammatory peritonitis and peritonitis-related sepsis still remained unknown. The presented study provides new insight on the mechanism of a selective inhibition of CXCR4 (AMD3100) and CXCR7 (CCX771) in two models of peritonitis and peritonitis-related sepsis by injection of zymosan and fecal solution. We observed an increased expression of SDF-1, CXCR4, and CXCR7 in peritoneal tissue and various organs during acute inflammatory peritonitis. Selective inhibition of CXCR4 and CXCR7 reduced PMN accumulation in the peritoneal fluid and infiltration of neutrophils in lung and liver tissue in both models. Both inhibitors had no anti-inflammatory effects in A2B knockout animals (A2B-/-). AMD3100 and CCX771 treatment reduced capillary leakage and increased formation of tight junctions as a marker for microvascular permeability in wild type animals. In contrast, both inhibitors failed to improve capillary leakage in A2B-/- animals, highlighting the impact of the A2B-receptor in SDF-1 mediated signaling. After inflammation, the CXCR4 and CXCR7 antagonist induced an enhanced expression of the protective A2B adenosine receptor and an increased activation of cAMP (cyclic adenosine mono phosphate) response element-binding protein (CREB), as downstream signaling pathway of A2B. The CXCR4- and CXCR7-inhibitor reduced the release of cytokines in wild type animals via decreased intracellular phosphorylation of ERK and NFκB p65. In vitro, CXCR4 and CXCR7 antagonism diminished the chemokine release of human cells and increased cellular integrity by enhancing the expression of tight junctions. These protective effects were linked with functional A2B-receptor signaling, confirming our in vivo data. In conclusion, our study revealed new protective aspects of the pharmacological modulation of the SDF-1-CXCR4/CXCR7-axis during acute peritoneal inflammation in terms of the two hallmarks PMN migration and barrier integrity. Both anti-inflammatory effects were linked with functional adenosine A2B-receptor signaling.

How Adhesion Molecule Patterns Change While Neutrophils Traffic through the Lung during Inflammation.

In acute pulmonary inflammation, polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) pass a transendothelial barrier from the circulation into the lung interstitium followed by a transepithelial migration into the alveolar space. These migration steps are regulated differentially by a concept of adhesion molecules and remain-despite decades of research-incompletely understood. Current knowledge of changes in the expression pattern of adhesion molecules mainly derives from in vitro studies or from studies in extrapulmonary organ systems, where regulation of adhesion molecules differs significantly. In a murine model of lung inflammation, we determined the expression pattern of nine relevant neutrophilic adhesion molecules on their way through the different compartments of the lung. We used a flow cytometry-based technique that allowed describing spatial distribution of the adhesion molecules expressed on PMNs during their migration through the lung in detail. For example, the highest expression of CD29 was found in the intravascular compartment, highlighting its impact on the initial adhesion to the endothelium. CD47 showed its peak of expression on the later phase of transendothelial migration, whereas CD11b and CD54 expression peaked interstitial. A pivotal role for transepithelial migration was found for the adhesion molecule CD172a. Thereby, expression may correlate with functional impact for specific migration steps. In vitro studies further confirmed our in vivo findings. In conclusion, we are the first to determine the changes in expression patterns of relevant adhesion molecules on their migration through the different compartments of the lung. These findings may help to further understand the regulation of neutrophil trafficking in the lung.

The Pivotal Role of CXCR7 in Stabilization of the Pulmonary Epithelial Barrier in Acute Pulmonary Inflammation.

Acute pulmonary inflammation is still a frightening complication in intensive care units and has a high mortality. Specific treatment is not available, and many details of the pathomechanism remain unclear. The recently discovered chemokine receptor CXCR7 and its ligand stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 are known to be involved in inflammation. We chose to investigate the detailed role of CXCR7 in a murine model of LPS inhalation. Inflammation increased pulmonary expression of CXCR7, and the receptor was predominantly expressed on pulmonary epithelium and on polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMNs) after transepithelial migration into the alveolar space. Specific inhibition of CXCR7 reduced transepithelial PMN migration by affecting the expression of adhesion molecules. CXCR7 antagonism reduced the most potent PMN chemoattractants CXCL1 and CXCL2/3. After inhibiting CXCR7, NF-κB phosphorylation was reduced in lungs of mice, tight junction formation increased, and protein concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage diminished, showing the impact of CXCR7 on stabilizing microvascular permeability. In vitro studies with human cells confirmed the pivotal role of CXCR7 in pulmonary epithelium. Immunofluorescence of human lungs confirmed our in vivo data and showed an increase of the expression of CXCR7 in pulmonary epithelium. Highlighting the clinical potential of CXCR7 antagonism, nebulization of the agent before and after the inflammation showed impressive anti-inflammatory effects. Additional CXCR7 inhibition potentiated the effect of SDF-1 antagonism, most probably by downregulating SDF-1 and the second receptor of the chemokine (CXCR4) expression. In conclusion, our data identified the pivotal role of the receptor CXCR7 in pulmonary inflammation with a predominant effect on the pulmonary epithelium and PMNs.