Induction Of Serum Amyloid Research Articles

Commensal microbiota stimulate systemic neutrophil migration through induction of Serum amyloid A

Neutrophils serve critical roles in inflammatory responses to infection and injury, and mechanisms governing their activity represent attractive targets for controlling inflammation. The commensal microbiota is known to regulate the activity of neutrophils and other leucocytes in the intestine, but the systemic impact of the microbiota on neutrophils remains unknown. Here we utilized in vivo imaging in gnotobiotic zebrafish to reveal diverse effects of microbiota colonization on systemic neutrophil development and function. The presence of a microbiota resulted in increased neutrophil number and myeloperoxidase expression, and altered neutrophil localization and migratory behaviours. These effects of the microbiota on neutrophil homeostasis were accompanied by an increased recruitment of neutrophils to injury. Genetic analysis identified the microbiota-induced acute phase protein serum amyloid A (Saa) as a host factor mediating microbial stimulation of tissue-specific neutrophil migratory behaviours. In vitro studies revealed that zebrafish cells respond to Saa exposure by activating NF-κB, and that Saa-dependent neutrophil migration requires NF-κB-dependent gene expression. These results implicate the commensal microbiota as an important environmental factor regulating diverse aspects of systemic neutrophil development and function, and reveal a critical role for a Saa-NF-κB signalling axis in mediating neutrophil migratory responses.

Commensal microbiota stimulate systemic neutrophil migration through induction of Serum amyloid A: Microbiota regulate systemic neutrophil function

Commensal microbiota stimulate systemic neutrophil migration through induction of Serum amyloid A: Microbiota regulate systemic neutrophil function

Induction of Serum Amyloid A Genes Is Associated with Growth and Apoptosis of HC11 Mammary Epithelial Cells

In this study, we examined the expression and functions of serum amyloid A (SAA) isoforms during apoptosis of HC11 mammary gland epithelial cells. Expression of SAA mRNAs and apoptosis were increased in HC11 cells by serum withdrawal and gradually decreased upon the addition of serum, or epidermal growth factor (EGF). TNFalpha treatment of HC11 cells also induced expression of SAA genes, and the effect on SAA1 and SAA2 expression was suppressed by treatment with MG132, and in cells transfected with a dominant negative mutant form of IkappaBalpha. Similar results were observed in response to interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and interferon gamma (IFNgamma). Furthermore, overexpression of the SAA1 and SAA2 isoforms suppressed growth and accelerated apoptosis of HC11 cells by increasing caspase 3/7 and caspase 8 activities, but the apoptotic effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) on HC11 cells was not enhanced. We found that expression of SAA1 and SAA2, but not SAA3, was regulated by an NFkappaB-dependent pathway, and that overexpression of SAA isoforms accelerated the apoptosis of HC11 cells.

Induction of interleukin-1 in articular cartilage by explantation and cutting.

To investigate the effect of explantation and fine cutting of articular cartilage upon intracellular inflammatory signaling pathways and expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1). Cartilage from porcine metacarpophalangeal joints was cultured in serum-free medium. Tissue extracts were examined for ERK activation by phosphorylated-Western blotting, for JNK and p38 MAPK activity by kinase assay, and for IkappaBalpha. IL-1alpha and IL-1beta messenger RNA (mRNA) was measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. IL-1 activity was measured by the induction of serum amyloid A protein in cultured chondrocytes. All 3 MAPKs (p38, JNK, and ERK) were rapidly activated upon dissection and explantation of the cartilage. IL-1alpha and IL-1beta mRNA was also induced: the speed and magnitude of induction were increased if the explants had been finely cut. IL-1 activity that could be inhibited by IL-1 receptor antagonist or antibodies to IL-1alpha was found in extracts of explants cultured for 20 hours or lysates of cells isolated from them. This activity was likely due to intracellular proIL-1alpha that was not secreted. ProIL-1beta would not be detected because it is biologically inactive. The mechanism of inflammatory signaling pathway activation underlying the induction of IL-1 is unknown. Explantation and cutting of articular cartilage activates intracellular inflammatory signaling pathways and induces expression of mRNA for IL-1alpha and IL-1beta. Biologically active IL-1alpha protein was detectable in cartilage lysates and was probably intracellular proIL-1alpha. We were unable to show that IL-1 was secreted by chondrocytes.

Synthesis and biological activities in vitro and in vivo of glycosylated human interleukin-1alpha, neoglyco IL-1alpha, coupled with N -acetylneuraminyl-galactose.

In order to study the effect of glycosylation on its biological activities, and to develop IL-1alpha with less deleterious effects, recombinant human IL-1alpha was chemically coupled with N -acetylneuraminic acid (alpha1-6) galactose (Neu5Ac-Gal). Glycosylated IL-1alpha (Neu5Ac-Gal-IL-1alpha) was purified by anion-exchange chromatography and average number of carbohydrate molecules introduced per molecule of IL-1alpha was 2.5. Neu5Ac-Gal-IL-1alpha exhibited reduced activities about 1/15-fold compared to IL-1alpha in all the activities performed in vitro. Binding affinities of Neu5Ac-Gal-IL-1alpha to Type I and Type II IL-1 receptors were decreased to 1/15 and 1/10, respectively. Neu5Ac-Gal-IL-1alpha exhibited reduction in activities in vivo, including induction of serum amyloid A and NOx, and down-regulation of serum glucose. However, Neu5Ac-Gal-IL-1alpha exhibited comparable activity to IL-1alpha in improvement of the recovery of peripheral white blood cells from myelosuppression in 5-fluorouracil-treated mice. In addition, tissue level of Neu5Ac-Gal-IL-1alpha was relatively high compared to IL-1alpha. These results indicate that coupling with Neu5Ac-Gal enabled us to develop neoIL-1alpha with selective activities in vivo.

Epithelial induction of serum amyloid A in experimental mucosal inflammation.

We previously demonstrated epithelial induction of serum amyloid A in germ-free mice inoculated with luminal bacteria. The aims of the present study were to investigate the role of luminal bacteria and mucosal inflammation in epithelial expression of this acute-phase protein using germ-free and dextran sulfate sodium-treated mice in vivo and HT29 cells in vitro. Immunoreactivity for serum amyloid A was detected in the epithelium of esophagus, stomach, duodenum and rectum regardless of the presence or absence of luminal bacteria. Administration of dextran sulfate sodium resulted in colonic epithelial induction of serum amyloid A at the mRNA and protein levels in parallel with the progression of mucosal inflammation. Epithelial induction of serum amyloid A is possibly relevant to mucosal inflammation because that was observed in bacteria-reconstituted and dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in vivo and because interleukin-beta and lipopolysaccharide induced its mRNA in vitro.

Induction of Serum Amyloid A Inflammatory Response Genes in Irradiated Bone Marrow Cells

The molecular mechanisms underlying radiation-induced defects in the bone marrow which may contribute to the development of radiation-induced hematopoietic disorders such as aplastic anemia and leukemia are not known. Persistent changes in gene expression were examined after exposure of cells of a murine bone marrow stromal cell line to ionizing radiation. Analysis of mRNA transcript levels by differential display led to the identification of a band, C122, which increased in abundance 1 week after exposure. Northern blot hybridization verified these results and revealed a 12-fold increase in abundance of this message for up to 3 weeks after irradiation in vitro. DNA sequence analysis identified clone C122 as murine serum amyloid A 3 (Saa3), a member of the Saa family of acute-phase or inflammatory response genes. Saa message levels were then examined in vivo in the bone marrow of mice exposed to total-body irradiation. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed a 15-20-fold increase in Saa3 message levels in the bone marrow of irradiated mice from 3 days to 2 weeks after exposure. Saa3 message levels continued to be 2-3-fold above control for up to 28 weeks in vivo. Two additional members of the murine Saa gene family, Saa1 and Saa2, were also detected in irradiated bone marrow. The expression of SAA1 and SAA2 was also detected in irradiated cells of human bone marrow stromal cell lines in vitro. These results suggest that SAA genes are involved in the radiation response in the bone marrow, but their role in the recovery of the marrow after irradiation or in the development of radiation-induced hematopoietic disorders remains to be established. Additionally, the persistent radiation-induced increase in expression suggests the potential utility of using SAA3 transcript levels as a molecular marker of past radiation exposure.

Induction of Serum Amyloid A (SAA) Gene by SAA-activating Sequence-binding Factor (SAF) in Monocyte/Macrophage Cells: EVIDENCE FOR A FUNCTIONAL SYNERGY BETWEEN SAF AND Sp1

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a plasma protein that is associated with many inflammatory diseases including amyloidosis, arthritis, and atherosclerosis. SAA level is significantly increased during inflammatory condition, and such abnormal expression of this protein is linked to the pathogenesis of the above-mentioned diseases. A promoter element, designated as SAA-activating sequence (SAS), located between -280 and -226 has been implicated in the induction mechanism and a nuclear factor, SAS-binding factor (SAF), has been shown to bind to this region. In this report, using a cloned SAF gene in transient transfection assay, we provide evidence that SAF potentiates SAA gene expression through SAS element. Furthermore, we show that during lipopolysaccharide-mediated induction of SAF, heteromeric complex with transcription factor Sp1 is formed. Transfection assays using both transcription factor genes have demonstrated that SAF-Sp1 heteromer is a highly potent transactivator of SAA expression.

Inflammation-associated amyloidogenesis. Lessons for Alzheimer's amyloidogenesis.

Inflammation-associated amyloid (AA amyloid) occurs clinically and experimentally in a setting of persistent acute inflammation. AA amyloidogenesis is the only model now available where amyloid deposition can be consciously manipulated. A review of the factors responsible for the induction of serum amyloid A (SAA, the precursor to AA deposits) synthesis by the liver and a consideration of the in vivo microenvironmental conditions under which SAA is converted to an amyloid deposit indicate that during an inflammatory reaction two processes occur that are relevant to AA amyloid deposition. The first concerns the process by which liver SAA synthesis is upregulated, and the second concerns the process by which SAA metabolism is altered. With regard to the first, any inflammatory stimulus leads to the activation of inflammatory cells, such as macrophages, which secrete cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (1-4). These cytokines, in conjunction with specific nuclear factors (5-8), upregulate the expression of a set of acute-phase protein genes among which are those for SAA. Elevated serum levels of SAA are seen 4-6 h following an inflammatory stimulus (9) and reach levels 500-1000-fold above the noninflammatory state in 15-20 h (9-11). The presence of the AA amyloid precursor at such high levels has been shown to be insufficient, on its own, to cause amyloid deposits (9). In the circulation, SAA is bound primarily to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (12,13). SAA apparently serves as an address for HDL, redirecting this reverse cholesterol transporter, to bind to cells of the reticulo-endothelial series during inflammation (14). This process takes SAA to its site of potential deposition. The second process concerns the appearance, in tissues about to deposit AA amyloid, of a factor that has been termed amyloid-enhancing factor (AEF) (15,16). AEF is probably a glycoprotein, although its precise nature has not yet been identified (16). It has been shown convincingly that in the presence of AEF, SAA is mishandled metabolically (17) and is deposited as AA amyloid, a process that takes as little as 36 h (16). Preliminary evidence suggests that AEF may effect a change in basement membrane metabolism that appears crucial for amyloidogenesis (18). Upregulation of the mRNAs for the

Studies on the molecular nature of human interleukin 1.

Adherent human blood monocytes were stimulated with heat-killed Staphylococcus albus or Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide in the presence of 35S-methionine-, [3H]leucine-, or 14C-labeled amino acids. After incubation, interleukin 1 (IL 1) activity in the supernatant medium was purified over an anti-human IL 1 immunoadsorbent followed by gel filtration and chromatofocusing. The purity of the IL 1 was assessed by fluorography of one- and two-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Isoelectric and chromatofocusing of low m.w. proteins (less than 20,000 m.w.) revealed three charged 18,000 m.w. species of IL 1 with approximate pI's of 7, 6, and 5, with the most abundant form at pI 7. During the purification procedures, lymphocyte co-mitogenic activity, fever in rabbits, and prostaglandin E2 release from dermal fibroblasts co-eluted in the same fractions. In addition, these fractions were active when injected into endotoxin-resistant C3H/HeJ mice for the production of fever, the induction of serum amyloid A protein, a decrease in serum iron concentration, and an increase in the number of circulating neutrophils. Fluorography revealed homogeneous bands with an m.w. of about 18,000 which correlated with these biological activities. The specific activity of the pI 6 or 5 IL 1, as judged by the ratio of T cell co-mitogenic activity to incorporated radiolabeled amino acid, was at least 10-fold greater than that observed for the pI 7 form. This result suggests that the amino acid compositions of the two 18,000 m.w. acidic forms are unrelated to the pI 7 species. These results also demonstrate that the pI 7 human monocyte IL 1 is the predominant 18,000 m.w. form synthesized and, furthermore, that homogeneous pI 7 IL 1 exhibits multiple biological properties on various tissues by modulating immunologic, inflammatory, metabolic, and neurologic functions. Data are also presented for the existence of a high m.w. (32,000) human pro-IL 1 molecule as the predominant monocytic intracellular form. This pro-IL 1 is degraded artifactually during isolation to lower m.w. forms in the presence of an extracellular serine protease activity. These data are consistent with a model for IL 1 secretion in which pro-IL 1 is first synthesized within the cell and is processed during or after extracellular transport.

Alteration of high density lipoprotein subfraction distribution with induction of serum amyloid A protein (SAA) in the nonhuman primate.

Overnight chair restraint results in a dramatic increase in serum amyloid A protein (apoSAA) of nonhuman primate high density lipoprotein (HDL). To determine whether apoSAA induction resulted in a displacement of indigenous HDL protein or a change in the subfraction distribution of HDL, we analyzed the characteristics of HDL subfractions in eight vervet monkeys before and 24 hr after apoSAA induction. Blood was taken from each animal before and after chair restraint to induce apoSAA. HDL was isolated from the plasma by ultracentrifugation and agarose column chromatography. The isolated HDL was subfractionated by density gradient centrifugation and five resulting subfractions were analyzed for protein and lipid content. With apoSAA induction there was a significant increase in d less than 1.09 g/ml protein, phospholipid, and free and esterified cholesterol which resulted in a 44% increase in the total mass of this subfraction. Concomitantly, there was a significant decrease in d 1.10-1.11 g/ml protein, total cholesterol, and cholesteryl ester, which resulted in a 16% decrease in the total mass of the subfraction. The response of the d 1.10-1.11 and d greater than 1.12 g/ml subfraction protein, cholesterol, and phospholipid concentrations to chair restraint for individual animals was directly proportional to their plasma HDL concentrations. Although there was a change in the HDL subfraction concentrations after chair restraint, there was no change in the lipid composition of the HDL subfractions nor in the total amount of HDL protein. However, the apoSAA/A-I ratio was significantly increased with induction while the apoA-II + C's/A-I ratio remained unchanged. The apoSAA/A-I ratio progressively increased with the density of the HDL subfraction. The protein composition of the d greater than 1.12 g/ml subfraction was changed from an average of three apoA-I and two apoA-II (or C's) molecules per particle to an average of two apoA-I, one apoA-II (or C's), and three or four apoSAA molecules per particle after chair restraint. Thus, apoSAA was predominantly associated with the denser HDL subfractions even though the lighter HDL subfractions were the most responsive in terms of changes in concentration. These data suggest that chair restraint of nonhuman primates induces apoSAA which displaces apoA-I and apoA-II or C's from HDL without altering the overall lipid and protein composition of the particle. In addition, chair restraint alters the concentration of HDL subfractions in ways that may be independent of apoSAA induction.