LPS-treated Cultures Research Articles

Lipopolysaccharide augments microglial GABA uptake by increasing GABA transporter-1 trafficking and bestrophin-1 expression.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, affects numerous immune cell functions. Microglia, the brain's resident innate immune cells, regulate GABA signaling through GABA receptors and express the complete GABAergic machinery for GABA synthesis, uptake, and release. Here, the use of primary microglial cell cultures and ex vivo brain tissue sections allowed for demonstrating that treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased microglial GABA uptake as well as GABA transporter (GAT)-1 trafficking. This effect was not entirely abolished by treatment with GAT inhibitors (GAT-Is). Notably, LPS also induced microglial upregulation of bestrophin-1 (BEST-1), a Ca2+ -activated Cl- channel permeable to GABA. Combined administration of GAT-Is and a BEST-1 inhibitor completely abolished LPS-induced microglial GABA uptake. Interestingly, increased microglial GAT-1 membrane turnover via syntaxin 1A was detected in LPS-treated cultures after BEST-1 blockade. Altogether, these findings provided evidence for a novel mechanism through which LPS may trigger the inflammatory response by directly altering microglial GABA clearance and identified the GAT-1/BEST-1 interplay as a potential novel mechanism involved in brain inflammation.

Nimodipine exerts a protective effect against spreading depolarization and neuroinflammation

Hypothesis, objective: Voltage gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) are widely expressed in the central nervous system and implicated in neuronal injury and microglial activation. Nimodipine, a potent cerebrovascular dilator and VGCC antagonist is found to be effective against the vasoconstriction caused by spreading depolarization (SD) in preclinical studies of ischemia. However, it is still unclear whether the beneficial effect of nimodipine is achieved by the improvement of perfusion or a direct action on neuronal or glial cells. Our aim was to explore the direct action of nimodipine on the nervous tissue and microglia. Methods: Brain slices prepared from C57BL/6 mice (n=16) were perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF). After 30 min nimodipine (nimo; 10 μM) incubation, low glucose aCSF (5 mM) and transient anoxia (1 min) were applied to mimic ischemia and to elicit SD. Intrinsic optical signal imaging was used to analyze SD features, TTC staining was applied to assess tissue injury. Primary mixed and pure microglia cultures prepared from the cortex of neonatal SPRD rats were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS;20 ng/ml) and nimodipine (5,10,20 μM), alone or in combination for 24 h. Microglial activation was evaluated by Iba1 immunolabeling (degree of arborization expressed by a transformation index (TI)), Western blot analysis and the visualization of phagocytosis with fluorescent microbeads. Results: In brain slices, nimodipine reduced the focal area of SD (2.37±0.94 vs 3.38±0.88%, nimo vs control), the total cortical area affected by SD (17.12±8.63 vs 39.88±22.42%, nimo vs control) and the propagation velocity of SD (0.19±0.79 vs 1.59±2.29mm/min, nimo vs control). Nimodipine decreased tissue injury, viability expressed as the number of TTC-stained particles (4.48±1.45 vs 3.52±1.52 particle/1000 μm2, nimo vs control). Nimodipine reduced microglial activation in LPS-treated cultures reflected by more ramified cell morphology (3.1±0.91 vs 1.89±0.41 TI, LPS+nimo vs LPS), decreased Iba1 intensity in Western blot analysis (108.3±20.1 and 77.2±8.49 vs 213.4±29.7 integrated optical density, LPS+nimo 10 and 20 μM vs LPS) and attenuated phagocytic activity (6±10 vs 22±20 bead/cell LPS+nimo vs LPS). Conclusion: Nimodipine was protective against SD and successfully reduced neuroinflammation by decreasing microglial activation. Neuroprotection was achieved independent of nimodipine’s vascular action. Our data suggest that nimodipine may be applicable against neuroinflammation and ischemia, in which neurodegeneration is believed to be linked to neurotoxic microglial activation. NKFIH K134377 and K134334, H2020 No. 739593, NAP3.0, TKP2021-EGA-28 This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Dexmedetomidine Alters the Inflammatory Profile of Rat Microglia In Vitro.

Microglia are a primary mediator of the neuroinflammatory response to neurologic injury, such as that in traumatic brain injury. Their response includes changes to their cytokine expression, metabolic profile, and immunophenotype. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is an α2 adrenergic agonist used as a sedative in critically ill patients, such as those with traumatic brain injury. Given its pharmacologic properties, DEX may alter the phenotype of inflammatory microglia. Primary microglia were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured. Microglia were activated using multiple mediators: lipopolysaccharide (LPS), polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C), and traumatic brain injury damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP) from a rat that sustained a prior controlled cortical impact injury. After activation, cultures were treated with DEX. At the 24-h interval, the cell supernatant and cells were collected for the following studies: cytokine expression (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNFα], interleukin-10 [IL-10]) via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, 6-phosphofructokinase enzyme activity assay, and immunophenotype profiling with flow cytometry. Cytokine expression and metabolic enzyme activity data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance. Cell surface marker expression was analyzed using FlowJo software. In LPS-treated cultures, DEX treatment decreased the expression of TNFα from microglia (mean difference = 121.5 ± 15.96pg/mL; p < 0.0001). Overall, DEX-treated cultures had a lower expression of IL-10 than nontreated cultures (mean difference = 39.33 ± 14.50pg/mL, p < 0.0001). DEX decreased IL-10 expression in LPS-stimulated microglia (mean difference = 74.93 ± 12.50pg/mL, p = 0.0039) and Poly I:C-stimulated microglia (mean difference = 23.27 ± 6.405pg/mL, p = 0.0221). In DAMP-stimulated microglia, DEX decreased the activity of 6-phosphofructokinase (mean difference = 18.79 ± 6.508 units/mL; p = 0.0421). The microglial immunophenotype was altered to varying degrees with different inflammatory stimuli and DEX treatment. DEX may alter the neuroinflammatory response of microglia. By altering the microglial profile, DEX may affect the progression of neurologic injury.

Kynurenic Acid and Its Analog SZR104 Exhibit Strong Antiinflammatory Effects and Alter the Intracellular Distribution and Methylation Patterns of H3 Histones in Immunochallenged Microglia-Enriched Cultures of Newborn Rat Brains.

Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is implicated in antiinflammatory processes in the brain through several cellular and molecular targets, among which microglia-related mechanisms are of paramount importance. In this study, we describe the effects of KYNA and one of its analogs, the brain-penetrable SZR104 (N-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-3-(morpholinomethyl)-4-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxamide), on the intracellular distribution and methylation patterns of histone H3 in immunochallenged microglia cultures. Microglia-enriched secondary cultures made from newborn rat forebrains were immunochallenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The protein levels of selected inflammatory markers C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) and C–C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1), histone H3, and posttranslational modifications of histone H3 lys methylation sites (H3K9me3 and H3K36me2, marks typically associated with opposite effects on gene expression) were analyzed using quantitative fluorescent immunocytochemistry and western blots in control or LPS-treated cultures with or without KYNA or SZR104. KYNA and SZR104 reduced levels of the inflammatory marker proteins CXCL10 and CCR1 after LPS-treatment. Moreover, KYNA and SZR104 favorably affected histone methylation patterns as H3K9me3 and H3K36me2 immunoreactivities, and histone H3 protein levels returned toward control values after LPS treatment. The cytoplasmic translocation of H3K9me3 from the nucleus indicated inflammatory distress, a process that could be inhibited by KYNA and SZR104. Thus, KYNA signaling and metabolism, and especially brain-penetrable KYNA analogs such as SZR104, could be key targets in the pathway that connects chromatin structure and epigenetic mechanisms with functional consequences that affect neuroinflammation and perhaps neurodegeneration.

Dendrimer-2PMPA selectively blocks upregulated microglial GCPII activity and improves cognition in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.

Cognitive impairment is a common aspect of multiple sclerosis (MS) for which there are no treatments. Reduced brain N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) levels are linked to impaired cognition in various neurological diseases, including MS. NAAG levels are regulated by glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII), which hydrolyzes the neuropeptide to N-acetyl-aspartate and glutamate. GCPII activity is upregulated multifold in microglia following neuroinflammation. Although several GCPII inhibitors, such as 2-PMPA, elevate brain NAAG levels and restore cognitive function in preclinical studies when given at high systemic doses or via direct brain injection, none are clinically available due to poor bioavailability and limited brain penetration. Hydroxyl-dendrimers have been successfully used to selectively deliver drugs to activated glia.Methods: We attached 2-PMPA to hydroxyl polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers (D-2PMPA) using a click chemistry approach. Cy5-labelled-D-2PMPA was used to visualize selective glial uptake in vitro and in vivo. D-2PMPA was evaluated for anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-treated glial cultures. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-immunized mice, D-2PMPA was dosed biweekly starting at disease onset and cognition was assessed using the Barnes maze, and GCPII activity was measured in CD11b+ hippocampal cells.Results: D-2PMPA showed preferential uptake into microglia and robust anti-inflammatory activity, including elevations in NAAG, TGFβ, and mGluR3 in glial cultures. D-2PMPA significantly improved cognition in EAE mice, even though physical severity was unaffected. GCPII activity increased >20-fold in CD11b+ cells from EAE mice, which was significantly mitigated by D-2PMPA treatment.Conclusions: Hydroxyl dendrimers facilitate targeted drug delivery to activated microglia. These data support further development of D-2PMPA to attenuate elevated microglial GCPII activity and treat cognitive impairment in MS.

Interleukin 10 Restores Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Alterations in Synaptic Plasticity Probed by Repetitive Magnetic Stimulation.

Systemic inflammation is associated with alterations in complex brain functions such as learning and memory. However, diagnostic approaches to functionally assess and quantify inflammation-associated alterations in synaptic plasticity are not well-established. In previous work, we demonstrated that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation alters the ability of hippocampal neurons to express synaptic plasticity, i.e., the long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory neurotransmission. Here, we tested whether synaptic plasticity induced by repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique used in clinical practice, is affected by LPS-induced inflammation. Specifically, we explored brain tissue cultures to learn more about the direct effects of LPS on neural tissue, and we tested for the plasticity-restoring effects of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL10). As shown previously, 10 Hz repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS) of organotypic entorhino-hippocampal tissue cultures induced a robust increase in excitatory neurotransmission onto CA1 pyramidal neurons. Furthermore, LPS-treated tissue cultures did not express rMS-induced synaptic plasticity. Live-cell microscopy in tissue cultures prepared from a novel transgenic reporter mouse line [C57BL/6-Tg(TNFa-eGFP)] confirms that ex vivo LPS administration triggers microglial tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) expression, which is ameliorated in the presence of IL10. Consistent with this observation, IL10 hampers the LPS-induced increase in TNFα, IL6, IL1β, and IFNγ and restores the ability of neurons to express rMS-induced synaptic plasticity in the presence of LPS. These findings establish organotypic tissue cultures as a suitable model for studying inflammation-induced alterations in synaptic plasticity, thus providing a biological basis for the diagnostic use of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the context of brain inflammation.

In vitro examination of microglia-neuron crosstalk with BV2 cells, and primary cultures of glia and hypothalamic neurons

Microglia respond to environmental changes by releasing cytokines that beneficially or detrimentally affect surrounding cells in addition to functioning as the resident CNS macrophages. Interactions between glia and neurons participate in many critical brain functions and diseases. We previous demonstrated that activation of microglia facilitates hypothalamic CRF neuronal activity and pain precipitation in rats. The intricate CNS environment complicates studying crosstalk between microglia and hypothalamic neurons in vivo. BV2 cells derived from raf/myc-immortalised murine neonatal microglia are the most frequently used substitute for primary cultures of microglia. In this study, we used BV2 cells and primary cultures of glia from neonatal rats to explore the interaction between microglia and hypothalamic neurons in vitro. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated BV2 cells to adopt a microglia-like phenotype including an amoebae-like shape, Iba-1 positive staining and IL-1β secretion. Primary cultures of hypothalamic neurons treated with culture medium from LPS-treated BV2 cells increased CRF, CRFR, pCREB and cAMP levels compared to untreated neurons. Primary cultures of hypothalamic neurons incubated with culture medium from LPS-treated primary cultures of glia or exogenous IL-1β also increased CRF levels. Importantly, this increase in protein expression appeared to be IL-1β mediated and treatment with an anti-IL-1β antibody blocked the increased expression. Our data provide direct evidence that microglia can modulate hypothalamic neuronal activity and IL-1β may play a critical role in bridging the communication between microglia and neurons.

The effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on TSLP, IL-33 and IL-25 expression in respiratory epithelium

Airway epithelium is an active and important component of the immunological response in the pathophysiology of obstructive lung diseases. Recent studies suggest an important role for vitamin D3 in asthma severity and treatment response. Our study evaluated the influence of an active form of vitamin D3 on the expression of selected mediators of allergic inflammation in the respiratory epithelium. Primary nasal and bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to1,25D3 for 1 hour and were then stimulated or not with IL-4, TNF-α, LPS, and poly I:C. After 24 hours TSLP, IL-33, and IL-25 protein levels were measured in culture supernatants using ELISA and mRNA levels in cells by real time PCR. 1,25D3 increased TSLP concentration in unstimulated nasal epithelial cells, but did not influence IL-33 and IL-25 expression. In IL-4-stimulated epithelial cell cultures 1,25D3 mostly inhibited TSLP and IL-33 expression. In LPS-treated cultures 1,25D3 decreased IL-33 expression. Simultaneously 1,25D3 augmented IL-25 production in the same model of stimulation. Our study revealed the dual nature of vitamin D3 manifested in both pro- and anti-inflammatory properties observed in airway epithelial cells.

The association between laminin and microglial morphology in vitro.

Microglia are immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that contribute to primary innate immune responses. The morphology of microglia is closely associated with their functional activities. The majority of microglial studies have focused on the ramified or amoeboid morphology; however, bipolar/rod-shaped microglia have recently received much attention. Bipolar/rod-shaped microglia form trains with end-to-end alignment in injured brains and retinae, which is proposed as an important mechanism in CNS repair. We previously established a cell culture model system to enrich bipolar/rod-shaped microglia simply by growing primary microglia on scratched poly-D-lysine (PDL)/laminin-coated surfaces. Here, we investigated the role of laminin in morphological changes of microglia. Bipolar/rod-shaped microglia trains were transiently formed on scratched surfaces without PDL/laminin coating, but the microglia alignment disappeared after 3 days in culture. Amoeboid microglia digested the surrounding laminin, and the gene and protein expression of laminin-cleaving genes Adam9 and Ctss was up-regulated. Interestingly, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced transformation from bipolar/rod-shaped into amoeboid microglia increased the expression of Adam9 and Ctss, and the expression of these genes in LPS-treated amoeboid-enriched cultures remained unchanged. These results indicate a strong association between laminin and morphological transformation of microglia, shedding new light on the role of bipolar/rod-shaped microglia in CNS repair.

Doxycycline Suppresses Microglial Activation by Inhibiting the p38 MAPK and NF-kB Signaling Pathways.

In neurodegenerative diseases, the inflammatory response is mediated by activated glial cells, mainly microglia, which are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system. Activated microglial cells release proinflammatory mediators and neurotoxic factors that are suspected to cause or exacerbate these diseases. We recently demonstrated that doxycycline protects substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. This effect was associated with a reduction of microglial cell activation, which suggests that doxycycline may operate primarily as an anti-inflammatory drug. In the present study, we assessed the anti-inflammatory potential of doxycycline using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated primary microglial cells in culture as a model of neuroinflammation. Doxycycline attenuated the expression of key activation markers in LPS-treated microglial cultures in a concentration-dependent manner. More specifically, doxycycline treatment lowered the expression of the microglial activation marker IBA-1 as well as the production of ROS, NO, and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β). In primary microglial cells, we also found that doxycycline inhibits LPS-induced p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation and NF-kB nuclear translocation. The present results indicate that the effect of doxycycline on LPS-induced microglial activation probably occurs via the modulation of p38 MAP kinase and NF-kB signaling pathways. These results support the idea that doxycycline may be useful in preventing or slowing the progression of PD and other neurodegenerative diseases that exhibit altered glia function.

Constitutive and functional expression of YB-1 in microglial cells

Y-box-binding protein (YB-1) is a member of the cold-shock protein family and participates in a wide variety of DNA/RNA-dependent cellular processes including DNA repair, transcription, mRNA splicing, packaging, and translation. At the cellular level, YB-1 is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, stress responses, and malignant cell transformation. A general role for YB-1 during inflammation has also been well described; however, there are minimal data concerning YB-1 expression in microglia, which are the immune cells of the brain. Therefore, we studied the expression of YB-1 in a clinically relevant global ischemia model for neurological injury following cardiac arrest. This model is characterized by massive neurodegeneration of the hippocampal CA1 region and the subsequent long-lasting activation of microglia. In addition, we studied YB-1 expression in BV-2 cells, which are an accepted microglia culture model. BV-2 cells were stressed by oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD), OGD-relevant mediators, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and phagocytosis-inducing cell debris and nanoparticles. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we show constitutive expression of YB-1 transcripts in unstressed BV-2 cells. The functional upregulation of the YB-1 protein was demonstrated in microglia in vivo and in BV-2 cells in vitro. All stressors except for LPS were potent enhancers of the level of YB-1 protein, which appears to be regulated primarily by proteasomal degradation and, to a lesser extent, by the activation (phosphorylation) of the translation initiation factor eIF4E. The proteasome of BV-2 cells is impaired by OGD, which results in decreased protein degradation and therefore increased levels of YB-1 protein. LPS induces proteasome activity, which enables the level of YB-1 protein to remain at control levels despite enhanced protein ubiquitination. The proteasome inhibitor MG-132 was able to increase YB-1 protein levels in control and LPS-treated cultures. YB-1 upregulation was not accompanied by its translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. YB-1 induction appeared to be related to microglial proliferation because it was partially co-regulated with Ki67. In addition, YB-1 protein levels correlated with microglia phagocytic activity because its upregulation could also be induced by inert NPs.

Berberine's effect on periodontal tissue degradation by matrix metalloproteinases: an in vitro and in vivo experiment

Periodontal disease involves tissue destruction caused by interactions among bacterial antigens and inflammatory mediators including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from medicinal herbs, can inhibit the degradative action of extracellular MMPs. The effect of berberine on the periodontal expression of MMPs was examined in vitro and in vivo. Gelatinolytic activity of pro-MMP-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in the human gingival fibroblast and/or U-937 was compared after treatment with Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P.g. LPS) in four medias containing 0, 1, 10 and 100μM of berberine each. Twelve animals were divided into three groups for the study: (A) non-ligation, (B) ligation, and (C) ligation-plus-berberine (75mg/kg berberine by gastric lavage daily); and the effect of berberine on periodontal destruction was evaluated in the ligature-induced periodontitis in rats for 8 days by micro computerized tomography (micro-CT), histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC). An enhancing effect of P.g. LPS on MMP activities was identified, with a greater effect on fibroblasts/U937 co-culture than on either culture alone. When berberine was added to the LPS-treated cultures, the activities of MMPs were significantly reduced in dose-dependent manner. In the animals, the trends of the following parameters were compared. 1. Micro-CT distances between cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and dental alveolar bone crest: B>C>A. 2. Histometrically measured crest bone levels: B>C>A. 3. Amount of collagen deposited in tissue areas: A>C>B. 4. Attachment loss: B>C≈A. 5. Connective tissue (CT) attachment: B>either A or C. 6. Expression of cells stained positive for MMP-2 and -9 by IHC: B>C>A. In conclusion, berberine demonstrated in vitro an inhibitory effect on P.g. LPS-enhanced MMP activities of HGF and U937 macrophages, reducing in vivo gingival tissue degradation in periodontitic rats. We thus propose that berberine may slow periodontal degradation through the regulation of MMPs in periodontitis induced by bacterial plaque.

FRI0034 Taurine chloramine inhibition of cytokine secretion by rheumatoid adipose tissue and synovial membrane explants

BackgroundOur previous data have proved that taurine chloramine (Tau-Cl), an endogenous molecule formed in activated neutrophils, normalizes pathological functions of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS)[1-3]. Moreover, we have recently...

Neuronal toll-like receptor 4 signaling induces brain endothelial activation and neutrophil transmigration in vitro

BackgroundThe innate immune response in the brain is initiated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) or danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPS) produced in response to central nervous system (CNS) infection or injury. These molecules activate members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, of which TLR4 is the receptor for bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Although neurons have been reported to express TLR4, the function of TLR4 activation in neurons remains unknown.MethodsTLR4 mRNA expression in primary mouse glial and neuronal cultures was assessed by RT-PCR. Mouse mixed glial, neuronal or endothelial cell cultures were treated with LPS in the absence or the presence of a TLR4 specific antagonist (VIPER) or a specific JNK inhibitor (SP600125). Expression of inflammatory mediators was assayed by cytometric bead array (CBA) and ELISA. Activation of extracellular-signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38, c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and c-Jun was assessed by Western blot. The effect of conditioned media of untreated- versus LPS-treated glial or neuronal cultures on endothelial activation was assessed by neutrophil transmigration assay, and immunocytochemistry and ELISA were used to measure expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1).ResultsLPS induces strong release of the chemokines RANTES and CXCL1 (KC), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and IL-6 in primary mouse neuronal cultures. In contrast, LPS induced release of IL-1α, IL-1β and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in mixed glial, but not in neuronal cultures. LPS-induced neuronal KC expression and release were completely blocked by VIPER. In glial cultures, LPS induced activation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK. In contrast, in neuronal cultures, LPS activated JNK but not ERK1/2 or p38, and the specific JNK inhibitor SP600125 significantly blocked LPS-induced KC expression and release. Finally, conditioned medium of LPS-treated neuronal cultures induced strong expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on endothelial cells, and induced infiltration of neutrophils across the endothelial monolayer, which was inhibited by VIPER.ConclusionThese data demonstrate for the first time that neurons can play a role as key sensors of infection to initiate CNS inflammation.

A dual role for microglia in promoting tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) expression in glial cells in response to neuroinflammatory stimuli

BackgroundBy neutralizing the effect of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), the tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) play a critical role in maintaining tissue proteolysis in balance. As the major reactive glial cell types in the central nervous system (CNS), microglia and astrocytes play fundamental roles in mediating tissue breakdown and repair. As such, it is important to define the TIMP expression profile in these cells, as well as the mechanisms of regulation by neuroinflammatory stimuli.MethodsPrimary mixed glial cultures (MGC), pure microglia, and pure astrocytes were used in this study. To study astrocytes, we employed a recently described pure astrocyte culture system, which has the major advantage of totally lacking microglia. The three different types of culture were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or individual cytokines, and cell culture supernatants assayed for TIMP-1 or TIMP-2 protein expression by western blot.ResultsLPS induced TIMP-1 expression in MGC, but not in pure astrocyte or microglial cultures. When pure astrocytes were treated with the cytokines IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF or TGF-β1, only IL-1β induced TIMP-1 expression. Significantly, astrocyte TIMP-1 expression was restored in LPS-treated astrocyte cultures after the addition of microglia, or conditioned medium taken from LPS-activated microglia (MG-CM). Furthermore, this effect was lost after depletion of IL-1β from MG-CM. By contrast, TIMP-2 was constitutively expressed by astrocytes, whereas microglia expressed TIMP-2 only after exposure to serum.ConclusionsTaken together, these results demonstrate an important concept in glial interactions, by showing that microglia play a central role in regulating glial cell expression of TIMPs, and identify microglial IL-1β as playing a key role in mediating microglial-astrocyte communication.

Up-regulation of MCP-1 and RANTES by cartilage (149.10)

Abstract Immunomodulation refers to changes in an organism’s immune response by factors that either activate or suppress immune function. In previous studies we have shown the presence of immunomodulatory factor(s) in commercial shark cartilage (SC) extracts. Cartilage extracts induce various inflammatory cytokines and a potent chemokine in human peripheral blood leukocytes (HPBL). The cytokine induction profile of SC-stimulated cells includes potent Th1 type cytokines, such as IL-2, TNFα, IFNγ, and IL-1β, two of which are characteristically involved in inflammatory responses and an inflammatory chemokine, IL-8. To further delineate the HPBL response to SC, supernatants from both short-term and long-term primary HPBL cultures were assayed for two potent mediators, macrophage chemoattractant protein 1(MCP-1) and RANTES, by ELISA. Within 4 hours, SC-treated leukocytes produced significantly (p &amp;lt; 0.05) elevated levels of MCP-1 when compared to cultures treated with medium alone and the response was similar to that seen in LPS-treated cultures. After 24 hours, however, the response to LPS was significantly reduced while the response to SC was consistently maintained through 96 hours. In contrast, the production of RANTES by both un-stimulated and stimulated HPBL was relatively consistent through the first 12 hours of culture. RANTES levels in leukocytes treated with medium alone decreased gradually after 24 hours, while those of LPS- and SC-treated cultures remain elevated.

Role of the A20-TRAF6 Axis in Lipopolysaccharide-mediated Osteoclastogenesis

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has long been suggested as a potent inducer of bone loss in vivo despite controversial effects on osteoclast precursors. Recently, the role of the deubiquitinating protease A20 in regulating the LPS response in various organs was reported. In the present study, we investigated whether A20 is expressed in osteoclast cultures in response to RANKL or LPS and whether this protein plays a role in osteoclast formation and activation. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured in the presence of M-CSF ± RANKL ± LPS. Although LPS induced the formation of multinucleated TRAP-positive cells expressing OSCAR, cathepsin K, and the calcitonin receptor, these cells were not capable of lacunar resorption. Release of TNF-α was noted in LPS-treated cultures, and the addition of a neutralizing anti-TNF-α antibody abrogated osteoclast formation in these cultures. A20 appeared to be a late-expressed gene in LPS-treated cultures and was associated with TRAF6 degradation and NF-κB inhibition. Silencing of A20 restored TRAF6 expression and NF-κB activation and resulted in increased bone resorption in LPS-treated cultures. A20 appeared important in the control of bone resorption and could represent a therapeutic target to treat patients with bone resorption associated with inflammatory diseases.

HMGB1 Acts on Microglia Mac1 to Mediate Chronic Neuroinflammation That Drives Progressive Neurodegeneration

What drives the gradual degeneration of dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disease, remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated, for the first time, that persistent neuroinflammation was indispensible for such a neurodegenerative process. 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and rotenone, three toxins often used to create PD models, produced acute but nonprogressive neurotoxicity in neuron-enriched cultures. In the presence of microglia (brain immune cells), these toxins induced progressive dopaminergic neurodegeneration. More importantly, such neurodegeneration was prevented by removing activated microglia. Collectively, chronic neuroinflammation may be a driving force of progressive dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Conversely, ongoing neurodegeneration sustained microglial activation. Microglial activation persisted only in the presence of neuronal damage in LPS-treated neuron-glia cultures but not in LPS-treated mixed-glia cultures. Thus, activated microglia and damaged neurons formed a vicious cycle mediating chronic, progressive neurodegeneration. Mechanistic studies indicated that HMGB1 (high-mobility group box 1), released from inflamed microglia and/or degenerating neurons, bound to microglial Mac1 (macrophage antigen complex 1) and activated nuclear factor-κB pathway and NADPH oxidase to stimulate production of multiple inflammatory and neurotoxic factors. The treatment of microglia with HMGB1 led to membrane translocation of p47(phox) (a cytosolic subunit of NADPH oxidase) and consequent superoxide release, which required the presence of Mac1. Neutralization of HMGB1 and genetic ablation of Mac1 and gp91(phox) (the catalytic submit of NADPH oxidase) blocked the progressive neurodegeneration. Our findings indicated that HMGB1-Mac1-NADPH oxidase signaling axis bridged chronic neuroinflammation and progressive dopaminergic neurodegeneration, thus identifying a mechanistic basis for chronic PD progression.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators decrease the production of interleukin‐6 and interferon‐γ‐inducible protein‐10 by astrocytes exposed to inflammatory challenge in vitro

Expression of proinflammatory molecules by glial cells is involved in the pathophysiological changes associated with chronic neurological diseases. Under pathological conditions, astrocytes release a number of proinflammatory molecules, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10). The ovarian hormone estradiol exerts protective effects in the central nervous system that, at least in part, may be mediated by a reduction of local inflammation. This study was designed to assess whether estradiol affects the production of IL-6 and IP-10 by primary cultures of newborn mice astrocytes exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial endotoxin known to cause neuroinflammation. In addition, the possible anti-inflammatory effect of several selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) was also assessed. LPS induced an increase in the expression of IL-6 and IP-10 mRNA levels in astrocytes and an increase in IL-6 and IP-10 protein levels in the culture medium. These effects of LPS were impaired by estradiol and by the four SERMs tested in our study: tamoxifen, raloxifene, ospemifene, and bazedoxifene. All SERMs tested showed a similar effect on IL-6 and IP-10 mRNA levels, but raloxifene and ospemifene were more effective than tamoxifen and bazedoxifene in reducing protein levels in LPS-treated cultures. Finally, we report that news SERMs, ospemifene and bazedoxifene, exert anti-inflammatory actions by a mechanism involving classical estrogen receptors and by the inhibition of LPS-induced NFkappaB p65 transactivation. The results suggest that estrogenic compounds may be candidates to counteract brain inflammation under neurodegenerative conditions by targeting the production and release of proinflammatory molecules by astrocytes.

Trans‐10, cis‐12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)‐mediated inflammatory signaling: Essential role of human adipocytes in initiating cross‐talk with preadipocytes

We have previously shown that both lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and CLA, a popular weight loss supplement, activate inflammatory signaling that promote insulin resistance in primary cultures of human (pre)adipocytes. Because our published data demonstrated that preadipocytes were the primary instigators of inflammatory signaling in LPS‐treated cultures, we hypothesized that they played the same role in CLA‐mediated inflammation. To test this hypothesis, we employed two experimental models; Model 1‐ a Co‐Culture Insert Model in which inserts containing ~50% adipocytes (AD50) or ~100% preadipocytes (AD0) were suspended over wells containing AD50 or AD0 cultures, and Model 2‐ a Conditioned Media (CM) Model in which naïve AD0 and AD50 cultures were treated with CM from CLA‐treated AD50 or AD0 cultures. In Model 1, CLA‐induced interleukin (IL)‐8 and IL‐1β mRNA levels were highest in AD50 cultures when co‐cultured with AD0 inserts, whereas no increase in these genes were detected in AD0 cultures. In Model 2, IL‐8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)‐1 mRNA levels were increased in cultures treated with CM from CLA‐treated AD50, but not AD0, cultures. These data suggest that, in contrast to LPS, CLA instigates release of inflammatory signals from adipocytes that subsequently activate adjacent preadipocytes in primary cultures of human (pre)adipocytes. Supported by NIH‐NIDDK/ODS 2R01‐DK063070.Grant Funding SourceNIH‐NIDDK/ODS 2R01‐DK063070 and NCARS 06771