Homeostatic Pathways Research Articles

Immunopathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease: how genetics link barrier dysfunction and innate immunity to inflammation.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) comprise a distinct set of clinical symptoms resulting from chronic or relapsing immune activation and corresponding inflammation within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Diverse genetic mutations, encoding important aspects of innate immunity and mucosal homeostasis, combine with environmental triggers to create inappropriate, sustained inflammatory responses. Recently, significant advances have been made in understanding the interplay of the intestinal epithelium, mucosal immune system, and commensal bacteria as a foundation of the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Complex interactions between specialized intestinal epithelial cells and mucosal immune cells determine different outcomes based on the environmental input: the development of tolerance in the presence of commensal bacterial or the promotion of inflammation upon recognition of pathogenic organisms. This article reviews key genetic abnormalities involved in inflammatory and homeostatic pathways that enhance susceptibility to immune dysregulation and combine with environmental triggers to trigger the development of chronic intestinal inflammation and IBD.

CBirTox is a selective antigen-specific agonist of the Treg-IgA-microbiota homeostatic pathway.

Cultivating an environment of mutualism between host cells and the microbiota is vital, and dysregulation of this relationship is associated with multiple immune disorders including metabolic and skin diseases, asthma, allergy, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). One prominent mechanism for maintaining homeostasis is the protective regulatory T cell (Treg)- Immunoglobulin A (IgA) pathway toward microbiota antigens, in which Tregs maintain homeostasis and provide critical survival factors to IgA+ B cells. In order to amplify the Treg-IgA pathway, we have generated a fusion protein, CBirTox, comprised of a portion of the carboxy terminus of CBir1, a microbiota flagellin, genetically coupled to Cholera Toxin B subunit (CTB) via the A2 linker of CT. Both dendritic cells (DCs) and B cells pulsed with CBirTox selectively induced functional CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs in vitro, and CBirTox augmented CD4+Foxp3+ cell numbers in vivo. The induced Foxp3 expression was independent of retinoic acid (RA) signaling but was inhibited by neutralization of TGF-β. CBirTox treatment of B cells downregulated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Furthermore, CBirTox-pulsed DCs induced substantial production of IgA from naïve B cells. Collectively these data demonstrate that CBirTox represents a novel approach to bolstering the Treg-IgA pathway at the host-microbiota interface.

Role of the unfolded protein response in the development of central nervous system.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an intracellular homeostatic signalling pathway that is induced by accumulated misfolded/unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The UPR is closely associated with the development of disease in several tissues, including the central nervous system (CNS), in response to ER stress. More recently, the unique features and importance of the UPR have been revealed in neural stem cells (NSCs) and differentiated CNS cells [neurons and glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes)]. Although several UPR signalling pathways dynamically change in each CNS cell during brain development, the role of UPR signalling in CNS cells (especially NSCs and glial cells) under pathological or physiological conditions is poorly understood. Here, we discuss and summarize the recent progress in understanding how the UPR regulates the proliferation, differentiation, maturation and viability of CNS cells.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, a Driver or an Innocent Bystander in Endothelial Dysfunction Associated with Hypertension?

Hypertension (htn) is a polygenic disorder that effects up to one third of the US population. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response is a homeostatic pathway that regulates membrane structure, protein folding, and secretory function. Emerging evidence suggests that ER stress may induce endothelial dysfunction; however, it is unclear whether ER stress-associated endothelial dysfunction modulates htn. Exogenous and endogenous molecules activate ER stress in the endothelium, and ER stress mediates some forms of neurogenic htn, such as angiotensin II-dependent htn. Human studies suggest that ER stress induces endothelial dysfunction, though direct evidence that ER stress augments blood pressure in humans is lacking. However, animal and cellular models demonstrate direct evidence that ER stress influences htn. ER stress is likely one of many players in a complex interplay among molecular pathways that influence the expression of htn. Targeted activation of specific ER stress pathways may provide novel therapeutic opportunities.

Drosophila melanogaster Models of Metal-Related Human Diseases and Metal Toxicity.

Iron, copper and zinc are transition metals essential for life because they are required in a multitude of biological processes. Organisms have evolved to acquire metals from nutrition and to maintain adequate levels of each metal to avoid damaging effects associated with its deficiency, excess or misplacement. Interestingly, the main components of metal homeostatic pathways are conserved, with many orthologues of the human metal-related genes having been identified and characterized in Drosophila melanogaster. Drosophila has gained appreciation as a useful model for studying human diseases, including those caused by mutations in pathways controlling cellular metal homeostasis. Flies have many advantages in the laboratory, such as a short life cycle, easy handling and inexpensive maintenance. Furthermore, they can be raised in a large number. In addition, flies are greatly appreciated because they offer a considerable number of genetic tools to address some of the unresolved questions concerning disease pathology, which in turn could contribute to our understanding of the metal metabolism and homeostasis. This review recapitulates the metabolism of the principal transition metals, namely iron, zinc and copper, in Drosophila and the utility of this organism as an experimental model to explore the role of metal dyshomeostasis in different human diseases. Finally, a summary of the contribution of Drosophila as a model for testing metal toxicity is provided.

Posttranslational Modification as a Critical Determinant of Cytoplasmic Innate Immune Recognition.

Cell surface innate immune receptors can directly detect a variety of extracellular pathogens to which cytoplasmic innate immune sensors are rarely exposed. Instead, within the cytoplasm, the environment is rife with cellular machinery and signaling pathways that are indirectly perturbed by pathogenic microbes to activate intracellular sensors, such as pyrin, NLRP1, NLRP3, or NLRC4. Therefore, subtle changes in key intracellular processes such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and other pathways leading to posttranslational protein modification are key determinants of innate immune recognition in the cytoplasm. This concept is critical to establish the "guard hypothesis" whereby otherwise homeostatic pathways that keep innate immune sensors at bay are released in response to alterations in their posttranslational modification status. Originally identified in plants, evidence that a similar guardlike mechanism exists in humans has recently been identified, whereby a mutation that prevents phosphorylation of the innate immune sensor pyrin triggers a dominantly inherited autoinflammatory disease. It is also noteworthy that even when a cytoplasmic innate immune sensor has a direct ligand, such as bacterial peptidoglycan (NOD1 or NOD2), RNA (RIG-I or MDA5), or DNA (cGAS or IFI16), it can still be influenced by posttranslational modification to dramatically alter its response. Therefore, due to their existence in the cytoplasmic milieu, posttranslational modification is a key determinant of intracellular innate immune receptor functionality.

BCL-2 family: integrating stress responses at the ER to control cell demise.

In the last decade, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has emerged as a central organelle regulating the core mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. At the ER membrane, a variety of stress signals are integrated toward determining cell fate, involving a complex cross talk between key homeostatic pathways including the unfolded protein response, autophagy, calcium signaling and mitochondrial bioenergetics. In this context, key regulators of cell death of the BCL-2 and TMBIM/BI-1 family of proteins have relevant functions as stress rheostats mediated by the formation of distinct protein complexes that regulate the switch between adaptive and proapoptotic phases under stress. Here, we overview recent advances on our molecular understanding of how the apoptotic machinery integrates stress signals toward cell fate decisions upstream of the mitochondrial gateway of death.

A Highly Efficient Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Microglia Model Displays a Neuronal-Co-culture-Specific Expression Profile and Inflammatory Response.

SummaryMicroglia are increasingly implicated in brain pathology, particularly neurodegenerative disease, with many genes implicated in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and motor neuron disease expressed in microglia. There is, therefore, a need for authentic, efficient in vitro models to study human microglial pathological mechanisms. Microglia originate from the yolk sac as MYB-independent macrophages, migrating into the developing brain to complete differentiation. Here, we recapitulate microglial ontogeny by highly efficient differentiation of embryonic MYB-independent iPSC-derived macrophages then co-culture them with iPSC-derived cortical neurons. Co-cultures retain neuronal maturity and functionality for many weeks. Co-culture microglia express key microglia-specific markers and neurodegenerative disease-relevant genes, develop highly dynamic ramifications, and are phagocytic. Upon activation they become more ameboid, releasing multiple microglia-relevant cytokines. Importantly, co-culture microglia downregulate pathogen-response pathways, upregulate homeostatic function pathways, and promote a more anti-inflammatory and pro-remodeling cytokine response than corresponding monocultures, demonstrating that co-cultures are preferable for modeling authentic microglial physiology.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and the regulation of energy balance.

Energy balance involves the adjustment of food intake, energy expenditure and body fat reserves through homeostatic pathways. These pathways include a multitude of biochemical reactions, as well as hormonal cues. Dysfunction of this homeostatic control system results in common metabolism-related pathologies, which include obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism-disrupting chemicals (MDCs) are a particular class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that affect energy homeostasis. MDCs affect multiple endocrine mechanisms and thus different cell types that are implicated in metabolic control. MDCs affect gene expression and the biosynthesis of key enzymes, hormones and adipokines that are essential for controlling energy homeostasis. This multifaceted spectrum of actions precludes compensatory responses and favours metabolic disorders. Herein, we review the main mechanisms used by MDCs to alter energy balance. This work should help to identify new MDCs, as well as novel targets of their action.

Suppression of type-2 mediated allergic diseases by dectin-1

Abstract Allergic diseases, which have escalated in prevalence in recent years, arise as a result of maladaptive immune responses to ubiquitous environmental proteins. Arthropods, such as mites, cockroaches, and crustaceans, are a major source of allergens, yet the majority of us live with or consume these invertebrates with no ill effects. Recent discoveries have raised the possibility that altered innate immune recognition of allergens, through pattern recognition receptors (PRR), may underlie disease susceptibility. Here, we identify the PRR, dectin-1 (CLEC7A), as a key receptor in mediating protection against dust mite-driven type 2 immune responses through the inhibition of epithelial cell IL-33 production, and the downstream recruitment of IL-13-producing innate lymphoid 2 cells (ILC2). Surprisingly, we observed that this effect was not mediated by the prototypical dectin-1 ligand, β-glucan, within allergen extracts. We discovered a novel protein ligand conserved across the arthropod phyla, sensing of which confers protection against aberrant type 2 responses that drive respiratory allergy and food anaphylaxis in mice. While this homeostatic pathway is functional in respiratory epithelial cells from healthy humans, dectin-1 is repressed in asthmatics and patients with chronic-rhinosinusitis. Importantly, we report a novel SNP in CLEC7A in the SAGE and GALAII GWAS studies, associated with lung function. Collectively, our findings reveal a previously unrecognized negative regulatory pathway in which ligation of dectin-1 results in reduction of type 2 immune responses, while disruption of this critical regulatory circuit is associated with susceptibility to a spectrum of allergic disorders.

The lysosome: a crucial hub for AMPK and mTORC1 signalling.

Much attention has recently been focussed on the lysosome as a signalling hub. Following the initial discovery that localisation of the nutrient-sensitive kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), to the lysosome was essential for mTORC1 activation, the field has rapidly expanded to reveal the role of the lysosome as a platform permitting the co-ordination of several homeostatic signalling pathways. Much is now understood about how the lysosome contributes to amino acid sensing by mTORC1, the involvement of the energy-sensing kinase, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), at the lysosome and how both AMPK and mTORC1 signalling pathways feedback to lysosomal biogenesis and regeneration following autophagy. This review will cover the classical role of the lysosome in autophagy, the dynamic signalling interactions which take place on the lysosomal surface and the multiple levels of cross-talk which exist between lysosomes, AMPK and mTORC1.

Myocardial stress and autophagy: mechanisms and potential therapies.

Autophagy is a ubiquitous cellular catabolic process responsive to energy stress. Research over the past decade has revealed that cardiomyocyte autophagy is a prominent homeostatic pathway, important in adaptation to altered myocardial metabolic demand. The cellular machinery of autophagy involves targeted direction of macromolecules and organelles for lysosomal degradation. Activation of autophagy has been identified as cardioprotective in some settings (that is, ischaemia and ischaemic preconditioning). In other situations, sustained autophagy has been linked with cardiopathology (for example, sustained pressure overload and heart failure). Perturbation of autophagy in diabetic cardiomyopathy has also been observed and is associated with both adaptive and maladaptive responses to stress. Emerging research findings indicate that various forms of selective autophagy operate in parallel to manage various types of catabolic cellular cargo including mitochondria, large proteins, glycogen, and stored lipids. In this Review, induction of autophagy associated with cardiac benefit or detriment is considered. The various static and dynamic approaches used to measure autophagy are critiqued, and current inconsistencies in the understanding of autophagy regulation in the heart are highlighted. The prospects for pharmacological intervention to achieve therapeutic manipulation of autophagic processes are also discussed.

Nonreciprocal homeostatic compensation in Drosophila potassium channel mutants.

Homeostatic control of intrinsic excitability is important for long-term regulation of neuronal activity. In conjunction with many other forms of plasticity, intrinsic homeostasis helps neurons maintain stable activity regimes in the face of external input variability and destabilizing genetic mutations. In this study, we report a mechanism by which Drosophila melanogaster larval motor neurons stabilize hyperactivity induced by the loss of the delayed rectifying K+ channel Shaker cognate B (Shab), by upregulating the Ca2+-dependent K+ channel encoded by the slowpoke (slo) gene. We also show that loss of SLO does not trigger a reciprocal compensatory upregulation of SHAB, implying that homeostatic signaling pathways utilize compensatory pathways unique to the channel that was mutated. SLO upregulation due to loss of SHAB involves nuclear Ca2+ signaling and dCREB, suggesting that the slo homeostatic response is transcriptionally mediated. Examination of the changes in gene expression induced by these mutations suggests that there is not a generic transcriptional response to increased excitability in motor neurons, but that homeostatic compensations are influenced by the identity of the lost conductance.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The idea that activity-dependent homeostatic plasticity is driven solely by firing has wide credence. In this report we show that homeostatic compensation after loss of an ion channel conductance is tailored to identity of the channel lost, not its properties.

Notch Ligand DLL4 Alleviates Allergic Airway Inflammation via Induction of a Homeostatic Regulatory Pathway

Notch is a pleiotropic signaling family that has been implicated in pathogenesis of allergic airway diseases; however, the distinct function of individual Notch ligands remains elusive. We investigated whether Notch ligands, Jagged1 and DLL4, exert differential effects in OVA-induced allergic asthma. We found that whilst Jagged1 inhibition mitigated Th2-dominated airway inflammation, blockage of DLL4 aggravated the Th2-mediated asthma phenotypes. Additionally, Jagged1 signaling blockage enhanced IL-17 production and neutrophilic airway infiltration. In vitro, exogenous Jagged1 induced Th2-skewed responses, whereas augmented DLL4 signaling displayed a dual role by promoting expansion of both Tregs and Th17. In vivo, DLL4 blockage impaired Treg differentiation which plausibly resulted in exaggerated asthma phenotypes. On the contrary, administration of DLL4-expressing antigen-presenting cells promoted endogenous Treg expansion and ameliorated the allergic responses. Therefore, whilst Jagged1 induces Th2-skewed inflammation, DLL4 elicits an essential self-regulatory mechanism via Treg-mediated pathway that counterbalances Jagged1-induced Th2 responses and facilitates resolution of the airway inflammation to restore homeostasis. These findings uncover a disparate function of Jagged1 and DLL4 in allergic airway diseases, hinting feasibility of Notch ligand-specific targeting in therapy of allergic airway diseases.

Receptor Level Dissection of Common Versus Discrete Vesicle Release Pathways from Primary Vagal Afferent Terminals

Primary vagal afferent neurons form strong excitatory glutamatergic synapses onto second-order neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract and initiate key autonomic and homeostatic reflex pathways. Vesicle fusion and release from vagal central terminals occurs via three distinct pathways including synchronous, asynchronous, and spontaneous. While synchronous and asynchronous release mechanisms require presynaptic action-potential depolarization; spontaneous release is ongoing and independent of action potentials. Evidence suggests these forms of release can be controlled independently indicating discrete and potentially separate vesicle pools and release sites. However, the presence and activation of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels (including TRPV1) at the central terminals dramatically increases the rate of spontaneous vesicle release and eventually diminish action-potential driven synchronous release; consistent with a common releasable pool. Confounding this interpretation is the observation that TRP channel activation also diminishes voltage activated sodium channel signaling. As such the decrease in synchronous release may be a result of action potential failure, rather than depleted vesicle pools. Given that synchronous and spontaneously release glutamate activates both AMPA and NMDA receptors postsynaptically we utilized ligand dependent post-synaptic NMDA receptor blockade (MK-801) to overcome this confound. We found that treatment with MK-801 during exclusively spontaneous release blocked the NMDA component of spontaneous events and subsequent action-potential driven synchronous release. This result demonstrates that glutamate released via spontaneous vesicle release is activating the same population of NMDA receptors as glutamate released synchronously. This finding is consistent with a common release site for synchronous and spontaneous release at vagal afferent terminals.

Just a Gut Feeling: Central Nervous Effects of Peripheral Gastrointestinal Hormones.

Despite greater health education, obesity remains one of the greatest health challenges currently facing the world. The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents and the rising rates of prediabetes and diabetes are of particular concern. A deep understanding of regulatory pathways and development of new anti-obesity drugs with increased efficacy and safety are of utmost necessity. The 2 major biological players in the regulation of food intake are the gut and the brain as peptides released from the gut in response to meals convey information about the energy needs to brain centers of energy homeostasis. There is evidence that gut hormones not only pass the blood-brain barrier and bind to receptors located in different brain areas relevant for body weight regulation, but some are also expressed in the brain as part of hedonic and homeostatic pathways. Regarding obesity interventions, the only truly effective treatment for obesity is bariatric surgery, the long-term benefits of which may actually involve increased activity of gut hormones including peptide YY3-36 and glucagon-like peptide 1. This review discusses critical gut-hormones involved in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis and their effects on peripheral tissues versus central nervous system actions.

ATG8 Expansion: A Driver of Selective Autophagy Diversification?

Selective autophagy is a conserved homeostatic pathway that involves engulfment of specific cargo molecules into specialized organelles called autophagosomes. The ubiquitin-like protein ATG8 is a central player of the autophagy network that decorates autophagosomes and binds to numerous cargo receptors. Although highly conserved across eukaryotes, ATG8 diversified from a single protein in algae to multiple isoforms in higher plants. We present a phylogenetic overview of 376 ATG8 proteins across the green plant lineage that revealed family-specific ATG8 clades. Because these clades differ in fixed amino acid polymorphisms, they provide a mechanistic framework to test whether distinct ATG8 clades are functionally specialized. We propose that ATG8 expansion may have contributed to the diversification of selective autophagy pathways in plants.

Super Cross-Presentation of Tumor Antigens to Elicit Anti-Lymphoma Immunity By Synthetic Design of an Anti-Phosphatidylserine Bridge Protein

Cell loss by apoptosis is a common feature in tumors. Dying tumor cells induce immune tolerance within the tumor microenvironment largely through highly conserved homeostatic clearance programs that restore tissue immune homeostasis and contribute to the formation of an immunosuppressive niche. The translocation of phosphatidylserine (PS) on cellular membranes, during the initial phases of apoptosis, functions as a recognition and removal signal that limits the immunogenicity of cell death. We examined whether altering clearance of dying cancer cells to elicit inflammatory turnover potentiates immune responses against lymphoma cells. To remove inhibitory signals in the homeostatic clearance pathway we utilized a molecular bridge scaffold to engineer a modified phosphatidylserine bridge protein (FA58C2-hIgG1 or C2-hIgG1) that works as a bridge between apoptotic cells expressing aminophospholipids and phagocytes bearing Fc receptors. In vitro administration of C2-hIgG1 to murine bone marrow derived macrophages promotes engulfment of apoptotic murine lymphoma cells (38C13 cell line) and ablates the secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and IL-12p40 to the presence of apoptotic cells. Similarly, uptake of C2-hIgG1 treated lymphoma cells triggers upregulation of the costimulatory markers CD80, CD86, and MHC class II on macrophages and promotes secretion of Th1-recruiting lymphocyte chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, and CCL5. Accordingly, in vivo administration of C2-hIgG1 partially restores immune responses to dead lymphoma cells in antigen cross presentation assays and promotes recruitment and retention of tumor antigen specific CD8+ T cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells into tumors. These effects combine to elicit anti-lymphoma immunity, improve responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors, and enhance the effectiveness of adoptive T cell transfers using engineered T Cell Receptors (TCRs) but not CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor engineered (CAR-T) T cells. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Biomodulatory Metronomic Therapy Shows Remarkable Activity in Chemorefractory Multi-System Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

Background:Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disorder characterized by lesions that include CD207+ dendritic cells along with an inflammatory infiltrate, ranging from a single lesion to potentially fatal multi-system disease. Empirically derived chemotherapy with vinblastine and prednisone still represents the standard of care, curing fewer than 50% of patients. As a result of the discovery of activating mutations in the MAPK-pathway, BRAF inhibitors seem to be a novel therapeutic option. In LCH patients who were refractory to (or not eligible for) conventional chemotherapy we administered a multi-targeted therapeutic approach targeting the deregulation of homeostatic pathways in LCH, e.g. notch, thereby simultaneously modulating tumor-associated inflammation, angiogenesis and immune response. The present retrospective analysis reports a single-center experience with a biomodulatory therapy in a cohort of patients with refractory LCH.Methods:At the University Hospital Regensburg seven patients with multi-system LCH (2 female/5 male, including two pediatric patients), ranging from 11 months to 77 years old, were selected for compassionate use treatment with a biomodulatory therapy schedule (Br J Haematol. 2005;128:730-2). Six patients have been refractory to up to three different standard regimens. One patient was not eligible for conventional therapy due to severe comorbidities. The biomodulatory metronomic therapy consisted of low dose trofosfamide, pioglitazone, a PPAR alpha/gamma agonist, etoricoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor and low-dose dexamethasone. Each drug was administered daily until disease progression or in case of complete remission for additional 6 months. Treatment response was reported using the criteria established in the Histiocyte Society Evaluation and Treatment Guidelines.Results:All of the patients in our cohort showed response to treatment as determined clinically, by CT/MRI scans and re-biopsies. Two of them developed a complete remission, three regression of disease and two stable disease. To date, none of the patients developed progressive disease (representing a progression-free-survival of 10 to 55 months until now). In one patient a dose reduction had to be made due to leukopenia. No other significant adverse events have been observed.Conclusion:Biomodulatory metronomic therapy demonstrated high activity against multi-system LCH with minimal toxicity even in refractory patients following multiple systemic chemotherapies. Long-lasting disease control was achieved in all of the treated patients. Confirmation of efficacy should be evaluated in a prospective trial. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

A SLM2 Feedback Pathway Controls Cortical Network Activity and Mouse Behavior

SummaryThe brain is made up of trillions of synaptic connections that together form neural networks needed for normal brain function and behavior. SLM2 is a member of a conserved family of RNA binding proteins, including Sam68 and SLM1, that control splicing of Neurexin1-3 pre-mRNAs. Whether SLM2 affects neural network activity is unknown. Here, we find that SLM2 levels are maintained by a homeostatic feedback control pathway that predates the divergence of SLM2 and Sam68. SLM2 also controls the splicing of Tomosyn2, LysoPLD/ATX, Dgkb, Kif21a, and Cask, each of which are important for synapse function. Cortical neural network activity dependent on synaptic connections between SLM2-expressing-pyramidal neurons and interneurons is decreased in Slm2-null mice. Additionally, these mice are anxious and have a decreased ability to recognize novel objects. Our data reveal a pathway of SLM2 homeostatic auto-regulation controlling brain network activity and behavior.