LPS-induced Akt Phosphorylation Research Articles

Effect of Thymoquinone on Mouse Dendritic Cells

Thymoquinone, a component of Nigella sativa is known to confer protection against tumour growth due to stimulation of tumour cell apoptosis. Moreover, thymoquinone has remarkable anti-inflammatory potency. Surprisingly, despite its powerful influence on inflammation and its immunomodulatory effects, little is known about its effect on dendritic cells (DCs), key players in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity. DC maturation and cytokine release is triggered by bacterial components such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The present study explored whether thymoquinone modifies LPS-induced DC maturation, survival and cytokine release. To this end, mouse bone marrow derived DCs were treated with LPS and different concentrations of thymoquinone and the surface expression of CD11c, CD86, MHCII, CD54 and CD40 was determined by FACS analysis, the formation of the interleukins 10 (IL-10) and 12 (IL-12p70) as well as TNF-α by ELISA, caspase activation by FITC-labelled antibodies (FACS), cell membrane scrambling by annexin V binding (FACS) and Akt and ERK1/2 phosphorylation by Western blotting. LPS increased the percentage of CD11c⁺CD86⁺, CD11c⁺MHCII⁺, CD11c⁺CD40⁺ and CD11c⁺CD54⁺ cells and stimulated the release of IL-10, IL-12p70 and TNF-α. These effects were blunted by thymoquinone in a concentration dependent manner (1-20 µM). Moreover, LPS decreased and thymoquinone increased caspase 3 and caspase 8 activation and annexin V binding. Moreover, LPS-induced phosphorylation of prosurvival kinases Akt and ERK1/2 was abrogated by thymoquinone. In conclusion, thymoquinone compromises the maturation, cytokine release and survival of DCs.

Oleic acid reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of iNOS and COX-2 in BV2 murine microglial cells: Possible involvement of reactive oxygen species, p38 MAPK, and IKK/NF-κB signaling pathways

Microglia are the major cells involved in neuroinflammation resulting in brain tissue damage during infection and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we examined the effects of the monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid (OA) on LPS-induced proinflammatory mediators production and the mechanisms involved in BV2 microglia. OA inhibited LPS-induced expression of iNOS and COX-2 as well as production of NO and prostaglandin E2. We showed that OA blocked LPS-induced NF-κB activation and phosphorylation of inhibitor κB kinase (IKK). We also showed that OA inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of Akt and p38 MAPK, but not that of ERK. Finally, we showed that OA reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and an anti-oxidant N-acetylcysteine inhibited NF-κB transactivation and phosphorylation of IKK and Akt in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that OA shows an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting ROS, p38 MAPK, and Akt/IKK/NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia.

Thalidomide inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-α production via down-regulation of MyD88 expression

The effect of thalidomide on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production was studied by using RAW 264.7 murine macrophage-like cells. Thalidomide significantly inhibited LPS-induced TNF-alpha production. Thalidomide prevented the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-KB by down-regulating phosphorylation of inhibitory KB factor (IKB), and IKB kinase (IKK)-alpha and IKK-beta Moreover, thalidomide inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of AKT, p38 and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/JNK. The expression of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) protein and mRNA was markedly reduced in thalidomide-treated RAW 264.7 cells but there was no significant alteration in the expression of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) 1 and TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF) 6 in the cells. Thalidomide did not affect the cell surface expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and CD14, suggesting the impairment of intracellular LPS signalling in thalidomide-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Thalidomide significantly inhibited the TNF-alpha production in response to palmitoyl-Cys(RS)-2,3-di(palmitoyloxy) propyl)-Ala-Gly-OH (Pam(3)Cys) as a MyD88-dependent TLR2 ligand. Therefore, it is suggested that thalidomide might impair LPS signalling via down-regulation of MyD88 protein and mRNA and inhibit LPS-induced TNF-alpha production. The putative mechanism of thalidomide-induced MyD88 down-regulation is discussed.

Withaferin A inhibits iNOS expression and nitric oxide production by Akt inactivation and down-regulating LPS-induced activity of NF-κB in RAW 264.7 cells

Induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production is thought to have beneficial immunomodulatory effects in acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. In Raw 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic inflammation, withaferin A inhibited LPS-induced expression of both iNOS protein and mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. To investigate the mechanism by which withaferin A inhibits iNOS gene expression, we examined activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and Akt in Raw 264.7 cells. We did not observe any significant changes in the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in cells treated with LPS alone or LPS plus withaferin A. However, LPS-induced Akt phosphorylation was markedly inhibited by withaferin A, while the phosphorylation of p42/p44 extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) was slightly inhibited by withaferin A treatment. Withaferin A prevented IκB phosphorylation, blocking the subsequent nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and inhibiting its DNA binding activity. LPS-induced p65 phosphorylation, which is mediated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt pathways, was attenuated by withaferin A treatment. Moreover, LPS-induced NO production and NF-κB activation were inhibited by SH-6, a specific inhibitor of Akt. Taken together, these results suggest that withaferin A inhibits inflammation through inhibition of NO production and iNOS expression, at least in part, by blocking Akt and subsequently down-regulating NF-κB activity.

Critical Roles of the p110β Subtype of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Akt Activation and Negative Regulation of Nitrite Production in RAW 264.7 Cells

It has been suggested that PI3K participates in TLR signaling. However, identifying specific roles for individual PI3K subtypes in signaling has remained elusive. In macrophages from the p110gamma(-/-) mouse, LPS-induced phosphorylation of Akt occurred normally despite the fact that the action of anaphylatoxin C5a was impaired markedly. In RAW 264.7 cells expressing short hairpin RNA that targets p110beta, LPS-induced phosphorylation of Akt was significantly attenuated. In contrast, the LPS action was not impaired, but was rather augmented in the p110alpha-deficient cells. Previous pharmacologic studies have suggested that a PI3K-Akt pathway negatively regulates TLR-induced inducible NO synthase expression and cytokine production. In the p110beta-deficient cells, inducible NO synthase expression and IL-12 production upon stimulation by LPS were increased, whereas LPS-induced expression of COX-2 and activation of MAPKs were unaffected. Together, the results suggest a specific function of p110beta in the negative feedback regulation of TLR signaling.

Ceramide inhibits LPS‐induced production of IL‐5, IL‐10, and IL‐13 from mast cells

Mast cells are central regulators of allergic inflammation through production of various chemical mediators and cytokines. Bacterial infection occasionally worsens allergic inflammation. Although the exact mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear, we have previously reported that LPS stimulates mast cells to produce not only pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha, but also Th2-type cytokines, such as IL-5 and IL-13, and a regulatory cytokine, IL-10. In the present study, we have studied the effect of ceramide on LPS-mediated cytokine production from mast cells, as ceramide modulates various cellular functions in many cell types. Administration of cell-permeable C8 ceramide reduced production of IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 from LPS-stimulated mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) apparently through transcriptional inhibition, but did not affect IL-6 or TNF-alpha production. Consistently, LPS-stimulated production of IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 from BMMCs is significantly enhanced in the presence of fumonisin B1, a de novo ceramide synthesis inhibitor. Interestingly, the same C8 ceramide treatment showed opposite effects on cytokine production from LPS-stimulated macrophages, reducing IL-6 and TNF-alpha while not affecting IL-10 production. C8 ceramide pretreatment significantly reduced LPS-induced Akt phosphorylation in BMMCs, but not in macrophages. Furthermore, pretreatment of BMMCs by wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of PI3 kinase, inhibited LPS-stimulated expression of IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13, but not that of TNF-alpha or IL-6. Thus, ceramide appeared to down-regulate LPS-stimulated production of IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 from mast cells by inhibiting PI3 kinase-Akt pathway in a cell type-specific manner.

Luteolin inhibits lipopolysaccharide actions on human gingival fibroblasts

Periodontal disease comprises a group of infections that lead to inflammation of the gingiva, periodontal tissue destruction, and in severe cases is accompanied by alveolar bone loss with tooth exfoliation. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a Gram-negative microorganism, which possesses and produces lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules that play a key role in disease development. Human gingival fibroblasts are the major constituents of gingival connective tissue and may interact directly with bacteria and bacterial products including LPS. Flavonoids possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammatory molecule expression in macrophages and monocytes. In this study, we evaluated the ability of diverse flavonoids to regulate nitric oxide production of LPS-stimulated human gingival fibroblasts, and studied the effect of luteolin on diminish phosphorylation in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members as well as in protein kinase B (Akt), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression, and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. We also found that pretreatment with three flavonoids, including quercetin, genistein, and luteolin, blocked nitric oxide synthesis in a dose-dependent fashion. Luteolin exerted the strongest blocking action on expression of this inflammatory mediator. Luteolin pretreatment attenuated LPS-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, and Akt phosphorylation. LPS treatment of human gingival fibroblasts resulted in NF-κB translocation. Cell pretreatment with luteolin abolished LPS effects on NF-κB translocation. In addition, luteolin treatment blocked LPS-induced cellular proliferation inhibition without affecting genetic material integrity. We concluded that luteolin interferes with LPS signaling pathways, reducing activation of several mitogen-activated protein kinase family members, and inhibits inflammatory mediator expression.

PI3K-Akt pathway suppresses coagulation and inflammation in endotoxemic mice.

In endotoxemia, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces a systemic inflammatory response and intravascular coagulation. Monocytes orchestrate the innate immune response to LPS by expressing a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and the procoagulant molecule, tissue factor (TF). In this study, we analyzed the role of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway in the activation of coagulation and the innate immune response in a mouse model of endotoxemia. Wortmannin and LY294002 were used to inhibit the PI3K-Akt pathway. We found that wortmannin inhibited LPS-induced Akt phosphorylation in blood cells. Inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway significantly increased TF mRNA expression in blood cells, TF antigen, and thrombin-antithrombin III levels in the plasma, and fibrin deposition in the liver of endotoxemic mice. Inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway also strongly enhanced LPS-induced cytokine expression and the levels of soluble E-selectin in the plasma, suggesting enhanced activation of both monocytes and endothelial cells. Wortmannin treatment also increased the number of macrophages in the liver and kidney of endotoxemic mice. Finally, wortmannin and LY294002 dramatically reduced the survival time of endotoxemic mice. These data suggest that the PI3K-Akt pathway suppresses LPS-induced inflammation and coagulation in endotoxemic mice.

Lipopolysaccharide activates Akt in human alveolar macrophages resulting in nuclear accumulation and transcriptional activity of beta-catenin.

Exposure of human alveolar macrophages to bacterial LPS results in activation of a number of signal transduction pathways. An early event after the alveolar macrophage comes in contact with LPS is activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI 3-kinase). This study evaluates the downstream effects of that activation. We observed that LPS exposure results in phosphorylation of Akt (serine 473). We found this using both phosphorylation-specific Abs and also by in vivo phosphorylation with (32)P-loaded cells. AKT activation resulted in the phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3) (serine 21/9). We found that both of these events were linked to PI 3-kinase because the PI 3-kinase inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of both AKT and GSK-3. Inactivation of GSK-3 has been shown to reduce the ubiquitination of beta-catenin, resulting in nuclear accumulation and transcriptional activity of beta-catenin. Consistent with this, we found that LPS caused an increase in the amounts of PI 3-kinase-dependent nuclear beta-catenin in human alveolar macrophages and expression of genes that require nuclear beta-catenin for their activation. This is the first demonstration that LPS exposure activates AKT, inactivates GSK-3, and causes accumulation and transcriptional activity of beta-catenin in the nucleus of any cell, including alveolar macrophages.