Recombinant Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Research Articles

Extracorporeal removal of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors for the treatment of advanced refractory solid tumors.

e14593 Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) has well-established anti-tumor effects including cytotoxicity against tumor vasculature. Past use of recombinant TNF to treat solid tumors resulted in unacceptable toxicities when given systemically but is successfully used in localized limb perfusion to treat melanoma and sarcomas. An alternative to promote endogenous TNF-mediated anticancer activity involves therapeutic apheresis to reduce the high concentrations of soluble TNF receptors (sTNF-Rs) produced by tumors, which sequester TNF and inhibit its tumoricidal effects. Methods: The LW-02 Column contains recombinant single-chain TNF, a capture ligand that selectively removes sTNF-Rs from plasma, covalently linked to a bead matrix. LW-02 Column Immunopheresis was evaluated in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic melanoma, renal cell carcinoma or triple negative breast cancer [NCT04142931]. LW-02 Column Immunopheresis was performed 3x/week, processing up to two plasma volumes for approximately 12 weeks as monotherapy (Cohort A, n = 6) or combined with nivolumab (Cohort B, n = 5). The study evaluated column performance, safety, clinical efficacy, and immunological biomarkers in the tumor microenvironment and blood. Results: The LW-02 Column effectively reduced sTNF-R plasma concentrations with capture efficiencies of 95.6% and 82.8% for sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2, respectively, at the 30-minute procedural time point. At the data cut-off (Sept 30, 2022), median overall survival (OS) was 34.7 and 44.4 weeks for all patients (n = 11) and patients treated for ≥4 weeks (n = 8) (the latter group was prespecified in the protocol), respectively. For Cohorts A and B, median OS was 34.7 weeks and 45.4 weeks, respectively, for patients treated for ≥4 weeks. Evaluation of safety showed that only 2 adverse events (AEs) of 95 total AEs (including 7 SAEs) were deemed possibly related to LW-02 Column treatment. Immunohistochemical evaluation of tumor biopsies obtained 10-14 weeks after initiating LW-02 Column Immunopheresis revealed increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (CD8+, HLA-DR+, and/or PD-1+ cells; 5/5 patients examined), and a reduced presence of tumor-associated macrophages (CD68+; 4/5 patients) compared to pretreatment biopsies. Preliminary immune profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (5 patients) revealed increased expression levels of transmembrane TNF-R1 and TNF-R2, suggestive of increased cellular TNF responsiveness, and increased expression of activation molecules HLA-DR and CD86 after 4 weeks of LW-02 Column monotherapy compared to pretreatment levels. Conclusions: LW-02 Column Immunopheresis achieved safe and effective depletion of sTNF-Rs from plasma of patients with solid tumors. Further studies will assess the clinical benefit profile of the LW-02 Column for resensitizing tumors to respond to immunotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT04142931 .

Pigment epithelium-derived factor is an interleukin-6 antagonist in the RPE: Insight of structure-function relationships.

Retinal and choroidal inflammatory lesions increase the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) has anti-inflammatory properties, but it is not known if it can prevent the production of IL-6 by the retinal pigment epithelium. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of PEDF in the RPE, we used human ARPE-19 cells stimulated with human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) to induce overexpression of the IL6 gene. We found that the viability of ARPE-19 cells decreased by 22% with TNF-α at 10ng/ml, being drastically decreased at ≥50ng/ml. TNF-α at 5-100ng/ml elevated the production and secretion of IL-6 protein, as measured by ELISA. To challenge the TNF-α-mediated stimulation of IL-6, we used recombinant human PEDF protein. PEDF at 100nM recovered the TNF-α-mediated loss of cell viability and repressed IL-6 gene expression as determined by RT-PCR. PEDF at 10-100nM attenuated the IL-6 protein secretion in a dose dependent fashion (IC50 = 65nM), being abolished with 100nM PEDF. To map the region that confers the IL-6 blocking effect to the PEDF polypeptide, we used chemically synthesized peptides designed from its biologically active domains, pro-death 34-mer, and pro-survival 44-mer and 17-mer (H105A), to challenge the IL-6 overproduction. The pro-survival peptides recovered the TNF-α-mediated cell viability loss, and inhibited IL-6 secretion, while the 34-mer did not have an effect, suggesting a role for the pro-survival domain in blocking TNF-α-mediated cell death and IL-6 stimulation. Our findings position PEDF as a novel antagonistic agent of IL-6 production in RPE cells, underscoring its use for the management of retinal disease-related inflammation.

Inflammation depletes humoral immunity by limiting plasma cell access to the bone marrow survival niche

Abstract The survival of plasma cells (PCs) is directly correlated to the longevity of prophylactic titers against pathogens. The bone marrow contains hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells that contribute to the maintenance of PCs. Studies have shown that pathogens contain a variety of mechanisms that result in the depletion of bone marrow PCs and antibody titers. Most, if not all, forms of infection induce inflammation, however, the role of inflammation in bone marrow PC depletion is unclear. Here, we show that acute Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFa) treatment can deplete pre-existing antibody titers in a variety of models. We also found that recombinant TNFa treatment limits PC retention in the bone marrow via adoptive transfer experiments. To determine if PC retention in the bone marrow was mediated in a cell-intrinsic or − extrinsic manner, we generated bone marrow chimeras with wild-type and TNFa receptor knockout mice. Results showed that TNFa signaling through TNFa receptor 1 in non-hematopoietic cells regulates PC retention in the bone marrow, indicating that this mechanism is cell-extrinsic. Another cell-extrinsic mechanism that we identified is TNFa regulation of syndecan-1, a cell surface proteoglycan found to regulate PC survival and motility. These findings demonstrate that inflammation limits PC access to the bone marrow survival niche, ultimately leading to the reduction of antibody titers and long-term humoral protection. Supported by grants from the NIH (R01 HLI141491) and the Eric Heyer M.D. Ph.D Translational Research Grant

MicroRNA‐195 regulates blood pressure by inhibiting NKCC2A

We previously showed that inhibition of renal tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF) production induced by high salt intake increases Na+‐K+‐2Cl−cotransporter isoform A (NKCC2A) mRNA, protein, and phospho (p)NKCC2 expression. MicroRNA (miRNA) contributes to blood pressure regulation, however no studies have addressed the regulation of NKCC2 by miRNA. miR‐195 is one of the most abundant miRNAs expressed in the kidney and qRT‐PCR experiments showed that injection of TNF (5ng/g bw) directly into the kidney of male mice up‐regulates miR‐195 in the renal outer medulla (OM) by approximately 3.5‐fold (p<0.05). Subsequently, a potential miR‐195 binding site in the 3′‐UTR of NKCC2A was identified using the prediction tool TargetScan v5.1, and luciferase reporter gene assays confirmed that NKCC2A mRNA is directly targeted and repressed by miR‐195. Primary cultures of medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) cells and freshly isolated mTAL tubules express NKCC2 isoforms A and F. However, only miR‐195 and NKCC2A, but not NKCC2F mRNA, were up‐regulated in mTAL cells exposed for 2 h to a change in osmolality from 300 to 500 mOsmol/kgH₂O, produced with NaCl. Transient transfection of mTAL cells with an shRNA vector targeting TNF prevented increases in miR‐195 induced by high NaCl concentration. Moreover, transfection of a miR‐195 mimic into mTAL cells suppressed NKCC2A mRNA, but not NKCC2F mRNA, by approximately 83% (p<0.05) in cells exposed to high NaCl. In contrast, transfection with anti‐miR‐195 increased NKCC2A mRNA without altering NKCC2F mRNA abundance. Laser‐scanning cytometry detected a 1.5 fold (p<0.05) increase in pNKCC2 protein expression in mTAL cells transfected with anti‐miR‐195, and a miR‐195 mimic prevented the increase of pNKCC2 induced by silencing TNF in cells exposed to high NaCl. Next, we determined whether miRNA‐195 regulates HS‐dependent changes in blood pressure by inhibiting NKCC2A. Both TNF and miR‐195 expression increased in OM from mice given 1% NaCl in the drinking water (HS) for 7 days. Intrarenal injection of a lentivirus construct that specifically silenced TNF in the kidney (U6‐TNF‐ex4) inhibited the expression of miR‐195 (p<0.05), while increasing NKCC2A mRNA expression in mice ingesting HS. However, intrarenal injection of murine recombinant TNF significantly upregulated the expression of miR‐195 and suppressed the increases of NKCC2A mRNA in mice ingesting HS. Intrarenal administration of miR‐195 prevented the increase of NKCC2A mRNA abundance in the OM from mice injected with the TNF silencing lentivirus (U6‐TNF‐ex4) compared with the control lentivirus. Moreover, the HS‐induced increase in blood pressure detected by radiotelemetry after renal silencing of TNF was markedly attenuated in mice given an intrarenal injection of miR‐195. Collectively, the study identifies miR‐195 as a salt‐sensitive and TNF inducible miRNA that inhibits HS‐mediated increases in blood pressure by inhibiting NKCC2A.

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-2 Alpha Regulates the Migration of Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes via Oxidative Stress-Induced CD70 Expression in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This study aimed to examine the role of CD70, which is highly expressed on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. FLS isolated from RA (n = 14) and osteoarthritis (OA, n = 4) patients were stimulated with recombinant interleukin-17 (IL-17; 5 ng/mL) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α; 5 ng/mL) for 24 h. Expression of CD70, CD27/soluble CD27 (sCD27), and hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) was analyzed by RT-qPCR, flow cytometry, and ELISA assays, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression and cell migration were also examined. The HIF-2α inhibitor PT-2385 and CD70 inhibitor BU69 were used to specifically suppress these pathways. Stimulation with IL-17 and TNF-α significantly induced CD70 expression in RA FLS. Although the synovial fluids from patients with RA contained high levels of sCD27, surface expression of CD27, a ligand of CD70, was rarely detected in RA FLS. Cytokine-induced CD70 expression was significantly decreased following antioxidant treatment. Following HIF-2α inhibition, RA FLS had decreased expression of CD70 and ROS levels. Migration of RA FLS was also inhibited by inhibition of CD70 or HIF-2α. The surface expression of CD70 is regulated by HIF-2α and ROS levels and is a key contributor to cytokine-enhanced migration in RA FLS.

CoVaccine HT™ adjuvant is superior to Freund's in eliciting ovine polyclonal antibodies against human tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Passive immunotherapy using polyclonal antibodies plays an important role in preventing and treating antigenic and pathogenic diseases. Polyclonal antibodies are used for therapeutic, diagnostic and investigational purposes, with adjuvants employed to enhance the immune response against proteins that are poorly antigenic or self-antigens. This study aimed to optimize current immunization methods by evaluating the novel adjuvant CoVaccine HT™ against the established Freund's at producing ovine polyclonal antibodies against pro-inflammatory cytokine human recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Castrated male Aberfield cross sheep were immunized with TNF-α in CoVaccine HT™ or Freund's adjuvant. The binding titer of antibodies for TNF-α and neutralization titer were determined in vitro, as well as the strength of antibody binding by a simple small scale affinity chromatography elution experiment. Animal welfare was monitored through inspection of immunization site reactions at regular time points and graded according to reaction size. The second part of the study looked at re-immunization using Freund's adjuvant alone every 4- or 8-weeks. Freund's generated significantly higher antibody binding titers than CoVaccine HT™ but were less effective at neutralizing TNF-alpha which is a better indicator of functional potency. CoVaccine HT™ also caused fewer immunization site reactions, while no statistical difference was observed in the binding strength of antibodies. Re-immunization every 4- and 8-weeks showed no statistical difference. This study provides evidence that CoVaccine HT™ is superior to Freund's adjuvant for the production of antibodies to TNF-α, and supports the use of this alternative adjuvant for clinical and experimental use. The outcomes gained through this study are applicable to passive and active immunotherapy for the generation of polyclonal antibodies in human and veterinary medicine.

Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in Charcot Foot Neuroarthropathy

Category:Basic Sciences/Biologics; DiabetesIntroduction/Purpose:Charcot neuroarthropathy (CNA) is a destructive joint condition secondary to neuropathic deficiency. For more than a century, the pathogenesis of CNA has been interpreted as unprotected injury and/or uncontrollable inflammation in a neuropathic joint, with little understanding its cellular and molecular pathology. Histologically, a hallmark of CNA is bone and cartilage fragments engulfed by hyperplastic synovium. Synovium is richly innervated. Neuropeptides, such as calcitonin gene- related peptide (CGRP), are secreted by neuronal and non-neuronal cells of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, and regulate inflammation. This study investigated the expression of CGRP in the synovial samples collected from CNA and non-CNA joint conditions, and the effects of CGRP on the proliferation and collagenolysis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) isolated from CNA synovium in vitro.Methods:For this study, six CNA and 14 non-CNA synovial samples were collected during foot and ankle surgery. The donors included 10 male and 10 female, age from 14 to 79 years (mean 48). The non-CNA conditions consisted of osteoarthritis, ankle instability, Os Trigonum and osteochondritis dissecans.Western blot and immunohistochemistry of CGRP were performed to detect and localize CGRP expression in the CNA and non- CNA synovium.FLS was isolated from CNA synovium and cultured with, or without, human CGRP (10nM) in the culture media, for comparison of cell proliferation. Additionally, FLS were seeded on the collagen-coated 24-well plate and simulated with CGRP (10nM) and recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). After 7 days, the residual collagen on the bottom of the culture plate were stained and imaged for area measurements.Data were analyzed with t test or one-way Analysis of Variance, followed with post hoc Tukey's test.Results:By western blot, there was significant CGRP expression in the CNA synovium (5/6; Fig1). Except of an intense CGRP band in one of the osteoarthritis samples, only recognizable CGRP bands were shown in the samples of other non-CNA conditions. The average density of CGRP (in greyscale) in the CNA group was about 2-fold of that in the non-CNA group (10126 +- 5346 vs. 5377+-3734; p < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated intense CGRP staining in the intimal layer of the CNA synovium (arrows) but not in the non-CNA synovium (Fig1). Treated with CGRP, the number of FLS in tissue culture increased. Cell number doubling time was 1.0 day (+-0.4) for the CGRP treated FLS and 2.2 days (+-0.5) for the control (p < 0.05). When the culture media were supplemented with CGRP and TNF-α, FLS eroded a larger area of collagen coating comparing with TNF-α alone in the media (p < 0.05).Conclusion:A knowledge gap in understanding the molecular and cellular pathology of CNA hampers the development of disease-modifying therapies. This study showed an increased CGRP, with a concentration in the intimal layer, in the CNA synovium as compared with the synovium in the non-CNA foot conditions. The increased CGRP expression in CNA synovium may be part of the unbalanced neuropeptide signaling in the neuropathic pathology. Functionally, CGRP stimulated FLS proliferation and degrading collagen in vitro. These effects suggest that CGRP may play a role in bone and joint destruction in the Charcot foot.

Possible Role of Circulating Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Progenitors in Modulating Inflammation and Promoting Wound Repair.

Circulating bone marrow mesenchymal progenitors (BMMPs) are known to be potent antigen-presenting cells that migrate to damaged tissue to secrete cytokines and growth factors. An altered or dysregulated inflammatory cascade leads to a poor healing outcome. A skin model developed in our previous study was used to observe the immuno-modulatory properties of circulating BMMP cells in inflammatory chronic wounds in a scenario of low skin perfusion. BMMPs were analysed exclusively and in conjunction with recombinant tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and recombinant hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) supplementation. We analysed the expression levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and ecto-5′-nucleotidase (CD73), together with protein levels for IL-8, stem cell factor (SCF), and fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1). The successfully isolated BMMPs were positive for both hemopoietic and mesenchymal markers and showed the ability to differentiate into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteocytes. Significant differences were found in IL-8 and CD73 expressions and IL-8 and SCF concentrations, for all conditions studied over the three time points taken into consideration. Our data suggests that BMMPs may modulate the inflammatory response by regulating IL-8 and CD73 and influencing IL-8 and SCF protein secretions. In conclusion, we suggest that BMMPs play a role in wound repair and that their induced application might be suitable for scenarios with a low skin perfusion.

Preparation and characterization of a fully human monoclonal antibody specific for human tumor necrosis factor alpha

ABSTRACT Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is an important inflammatory factor. It plays a cardinal role in inflammatory synovitis and articular matrix degradation, and is, therefore, a prime target for directed immunotherapy in autoimmune diseases. In this study, we screened and isolated the B cells secreting anti-TNFα antibody from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The heavy-chain and light-chain sequences of the antibody were cloned and used to generate a stable Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line producing the antibody, which was named Haidalimumab. Haidalimumab showed a TNFα binding affinity comparable to that of the antibody Humira, which is the best TNF inhibitor on the market. Furthermore, Haidalimumab could effectively neutralize recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha (rhTNFα) toxicity in a C57BL/6 mouse model and showed significant therapeutic effect in a tumor necrosis factor transgenic (TNF-Tg) mouse arthritis model. In conclusion, we developed a high-affinity, fully human anti-TNFα antibody with low immunogenicity that could potentially have significant therapeutic applications in rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune diseases. Abbreviations: ELISAenzyme linked immunosorbent assayRArheumatoid arthritisSDS-PAGEsodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresisrhTNFαrecombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alphaEC50concentration for 50% of maximal effectTNF-Tg micetumor necrosis factor transgenic miceAMDactinomycin DMTTmethylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromidePBSphosphate‐buffered saline

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha inhibits humoral immunity by regulating the antibody secreting cell bone marrow niche

Abstract Humoral immunity is a critical component of the immune memory, and its longevity is partly dependent on the survival of antibody-secreting cells (ASC). Previous studies have shown that several types of infections can deplete pre-existing antibody titers, but the exact mechanism of this process is unclear. Most, if not all, forms of infection induce inflammation including Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFa). Here we show that TNFa-mediated inflammation depletes pre-existing antibody titers by limiting ASC retention in the bone marrow (BM) survival niche. Acute recombinant TNFa (rTNFa) treatment induces ASC egress from the BM into the blood and limits engraftment of adoptively transferred ASCs into the BM of recipient mice. To determine if the TNFa-mediated ASC egress from the BM was cell-intrinsic or –extrinsic, we generated BM chimeras with wild-type and TNFa receptor knockout mice. We found that TNFa signaling through TNFa receptor 1 in non-hematopoietic cells induces ASC egress from the BM in a cell-extrinsic manner. Treatment with rTNFa did not induce ASC death in the BM, but it increased glucose uptake and expression of CXCR4, a receptor involved in ASC retention in the BM. In contrast, mobilized ASCs in the blood had reduced glucose uptake, CD98 expression, and CD93 expression suggesting that ASC metabolism is highly dependent on the BM niche. Our findings demonstrate that inflammation alters ASC physiology in both cell-intrinsic and extrinsic manners, leading to reduced antibody titers and long-term immune memory.

Cytokine-Specific Regulation of Urokinase Receptor (CD87) Expression by U937 Mononuclear Phagocytes

Mononuclear phagocytes concentrate urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) at the cell surface by expressing membrane uPA receptors (uPAR). This study examines the ability of exogenous cytokines to alter expression of membrane-associated uPA and uPAR in U937 mononuclear phagocytes. Cells were stimulated with recombinant interferon gamma (IFN gamma) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), followed by immunolabeling for uPA or uPAR and flow cytometry. IFN gamma increased surface uPA 2.2-fold relative to unstimulated controls (P < .001), whereas TNF alpha had no significant effect. Likewise, maximal uPA binding capacity was increased 2.8-fold by IFN gamma (P < .02), but was not affected by TNF alpha. In unstimulated cells, 50% of receptors were occupied by endogenously generated uPA, and this proportion was not affected by either cytokine. IFN gamma upregulated uPAR 2.1-fold relative to unstimulated controls (P < .001), whereas TNF alpha had no effect. In contrast to effects on surface protein, TNF alpha induced a substantial increase in uPAR mRNA, equaling the effect of IFN gamma. In addition, both cytokines doubled the intracellular uPAR pool (P < .01). By contrast, TNF alpha induced a 2.5-fold increase in the level of uPAR protein released into conditioned medium (compared with unstimulated cells), whereas IFN gamma had no effect. These results indicate that uPAR expression is regulated in a cytokine-specific fashion. Some stimuli, such as TNF alpha, may increase uPAR synthetic activity without a corresponding change in membrane expression, because of enhanced release of uPAR from the cell. Cytokine-specific modulation of uPAR may be important in regulating the function of mononuclear phagocytes in inflammation and tissue repair.

LncRNA MEG3 Reduces Hippocampal Neuron Apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in a Rat Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

PurposeTemporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a common neurological disorder, which is characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures. Exploring the mechanisms of epileptogenesis has been considered as a priority. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of LncRNA MEG3 in spontaneous recurrent epileptiform discharges (SREDs) and rats with TLE.MethodsRat model of TLE was produced by intraperitoneal injection of lithium chloride and pilocarpine. Rat hippocampal neuronal model of SREDs was established by Mg2+-free treatment. MEG3 was overexpressed by transfection of AAV-MEG3 in TLE and SREDs model. The expression of MEG3, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were detected by corresponding kit. The apoptosis of hippocampal neurons was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase transfer‑mediated dUTP nick end‑labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometry. The expression of proteins related to apoptosis (Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2) and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was detected by Western blot.ResultsMEG3 expression was downregulated in SREDs and rats with TLE. Overexpression of MEG3 reduced the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, MDA content, apoptosis rate of hippocampal neuron, increased SOD activity, and inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in rats with TLE. In addition, overexpression of MEG3 enhanced cell viability and inhibited apoptosis through the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in SREDs.ConclusionMEG3 reduced proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and apoptosis rate of hippocampal neuron and enhanced cell viability through the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in SREDs and rats with TLE. Our findings may contribute to find a new therapeutic target for the treatment of epilepsy.

Kinetic study and optimization of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rhTNF-α) production in Escherichia coli

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is an inflammatory cytokine that plays a major role in immune regulation, homeostatic function, and cellular organization. The present study was undertaken to overproduce recombinant human TNF-α (rhTNF-α) in Escherichia coli (E.coli) in high cell density culture. The use of a codon-optimized gene and strong promoter-based (T7) expression system, choice of Terrific Broth (TB) as medium, and subsequent optimization of culture conditions in shake flasks resulted in production of 0.95 g/L insoluble rhTNF-α comprising upto 50% of total cellular protein (TCP) The protein yield further increased upto 1.26 g/L in 1 L TB medium batch culture in bioreactor with the controlled temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. In a series of chemostats operated at dilution rates of 0.2 h−1, 0.3 h−1, 0.4 h−1 and 0.5 h−1 the specific growth rate (μ) positively correlated with specific yield (Yp / x ) and a maximum yield of 164 mg/g DCW was obtained at μ = 0.4 h−1 within 4 h post-induction. A fed-batch cultivation in TB with an exponential feeding profile (μ = ∼0.4 h−1) of concentrated feed resulted in an accumulation of 5.5 g/L of rhTNF-α within 14 h of cultivation which accounted for ∼29% of TCP.

Progranulin inhibits LPS-induced macrophage M1 polarization via NF-\u043aB and MAPK pathways

BackgroundMacrophage M1 polarization plays a pivotal role in inflammatory diseases. Progranulin (PGRN) has potential anti-inflammation action, however, the effect of PGRN on macrophage M1 polarization has been poorly studied. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of PGRN on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage M1 polarization and clarify the underlying mechanisms.MethodsRAW264.7 cells were polarized to M1 macrophage by LPS with or without recombinant PGRN (rPGRN) and tumor necrosis factor alpha antibody (anti-TNF-α). A cell counting kit-8 assay (CCK-8), flow cytometry, Quantitative Real-Time PCR assay (q-PCR), Western blot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to determine the effect of different treatments on cell proliferation, expression of surface phenotype marker and expressions and secretion of inflammatory cytokines. The activation of NF-κB/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence respectively. THP-1 and primary bone marrow-derived monocytes (BMDMs) were also used to demonstrate effect of PGRN on expressions and secretion of inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS.ResultsIn RAW264.7 cells, rPGRN at concentrations below 80 ng/ml significantly promoted cell proliferation in dose dependent fashion. rPGRN significantly inhibited LPS-induced change of phenotype (CD86/CD206 ratio) and function (tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expressions). LPS-stimulated secretion of TNF-α and activated phosphorylation of IKKα/β, IкBα, p65, JNK and p38 and the nucleus translocation of NF-кB p65 were also significantly downregulated by rPGRN. In addition, recombinant TNF-α (rTNF-α) significantly boosted TNF-α and iNOS expression vs the control group. Moreover, anti-TNF-α significantly inhibited LPS-induced TNF-α and iNOS expression. In THP-1 and BMDM cells, reversing effect of rPGRN on LPS-enhanced expressions of TNF-α and iNOS and secretion of TNF-α was further demonstrated.ConclusionsPGRN down-regulates LPS-induced macrophage M1 polarization in phenotype and function via NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways.

Renal miR‐195 mediates TNF‐dependent inhibition of NKCC2

We previously showed that tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF) produced by renal epithelial cells inhibits Na+‐K+‐2Cl− cotransporter (NKCC2) activity as part of a mechanism that attenuates increases in blood pressure in response to elevated in sodium intake. However, the mechanisms by which TNF inhibits NKCC2 isoform expression and activity have not been studied. Previous miRNA array studies have found that miR‐195 is one of the most abundant microRNAs expressed in the kidney. In the present study, we demonstrate by qRT‐PCR that TNF up‐regulates mmu‐miR‐146a, ‐195, and ‐203 and down‐regulates mmu‐miR‐30c and ‐100 in the medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL). Most notably, qRT‐PCR analysis indicated that the level of miR‐195 was 4‐fold higher in mTAL tubules isolated from the renal medulla of male mice given a single intrarenal injection of murine recombinant TNF (5ng/g body weight) compared with the control group (saline injection). Data obtained using a TAL‐specific TNF knockout (KO) mouse model showed that miR‐195 abundance in the mTAL tubules from these mice was significantly decreased by 58% (P=0.04, n=4) compared with control mice (floxed TNF littermate controls) in response to ingestion of high salt (HS; 1% NaCl in drinking water) for 3 days. Concomitantly, NKCC2A isoform mRNA abundance was increased 3‐fold while phospho (p)NKCC2 expression increased approximately 64% in the renal medulla of the TAL‐specific TNF KO mice compared with littermate control mice. Collectively, the data suggest that TNF‐derived from the TAL in response to HS intake is an important inducer of miR‐195 levels. Using the prediction tool TargetScan v5.1, we identified a potential miR‐195 binding site in the 3′‐UTR of NKCC2A. Accordingly, intrarenal injection of miR‐195 inhibited the HS‐mediated increases in NKCC2A mRNA and concurrent pNKCC2 expression by 81% and 59%, respectively, in the renal medulla from TAL‐specific TNF KO mice. Consistent with the in vivo effects of TNF on miR‐195, treatment of primary cultures of mouse mTAL cells with 1 nM TNF for 4 hr increased miR‐195 expression more than 3‐fold (P=0.01; n=4). Moreover, NKCC2A mRNA and pNKCC2 expression was inhibited by 76% (P=0.02; n=4) and 61% (P=0.01; n=4), respectively, in mTAL cells exposed to hypertonic conditions (400 mOsmol/kg H2O) following cotreatment with miR‐195 and a short hairpin (sh)TNF silencing lentivirus construct. Silencing of TNFR1 in mTAL cells with a siRNA oligonucleotide inhibited the TNF‐mediated increase of miR‐195 expression and prevented the inhibitory effects of TNF by 73% (P=0.03; n=4), as well as suppressing the increase in pNKCC2 expression. These data identify miR‐195 as an important downstream target of TNFR1‐dependent signaling, which suppresses NKCC2A and pNKCC2 expression in mTAL cells. In summary, the present findings uncover a novel physiological mechanism in which miR‐195 induction via activation of TNFR1‐dependent signaling suppresses NKCC2 expression and activity, suggesting that miR‐195 expression may contribute to the regulation of salt and water excretion and blood pressure via modulation of NKCC2A isoform expression and activity.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by NIH grant R01HL133077

In vitro propagation of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) and assessment of genetic fidelity using random amplified polymorphic DNA and intersimple sequence repeat molecular markers

Nonconventional induction strategies for production of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha in Escherichia coliTapan Kumar Singha, Pooja Gulati, Sanjay Kumar

Interaction between CD177 and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 downregulates membrane-bound proteinase-3 (PR3) expression on neutrophils and attenuates neutrophil activation induced by PR3-ANCA

BackgroundA recent study found that CD177 served as a receptor of membrane-bound proteinase-3 (mPR3) in a subset of neutrophils. Furthermore, CD177 has been identified as a high-affinity heterophilic binding partner for the endothelial cell platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1). The current study aimed to investigate whether the interaction between PECAM-1 and CD177 could influence mPR3 expression as well as PR3-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-induced neutrophil activation and glomerular endothelial cell (GEnC) injury.MethodsThe effect of interaction between CD177 and PECAM-1 on mPR3 expression was explored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry. The effect of PECAM-1 on neutrophil activation and GEnC injury induced by PR3-ANCA-positive immunoglobulin (Ig)Gs was evaluated by dihydrorhodamine (DHR) assay and ELISA. CD177-negative neutrophils were selected by magnetic cell sorting (MACS), and the inhibitory effect of PECAM-1 on CD177-negative and mixed neutrophils was explored by measuring neutrophil degranulation.ResultsThe level of specific interaction between CD177 and PECAM-1 was elevated with increasing CD177 concentration. The expression of mPR3 significantly decreased in neutrophils preincubated with PECAM-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Consistently, the levels of respiratory burst and degranulation induced by PR3-ANCA-positive IgGs in recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-primed neutrophils was significantly reduced by preincubation with PECAM-1 (440.6 ± 123.0 vs. 511.4 ± 95.5, p < 0.05; and 3155.0 ± 1733.0 ng/ml vs. 5903.0 ± 717.5 ng/ml, p < 0.05, respectively). In CD177-negative neutrophils incubated with PR3-ANCA-positive IgGs, the level of degranulation was not significantly changed by preincubation with PECAM-1. However, in mixed neutrophils, PECAM-1 significantly decreased the level of degranulation induced by PR3-ANCA-positive IgGs (1015.9 ± 229.2% vs. 1725.2 ± 412.4%, p < 0.01). Furthermore, with preincubation of TNF-α-primed neutrophils with PECAM-1, the level of soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), a marker of endothelial cell activation and injury, in the supernatant of GEnCs treated with primed neutrophils plus PR3-ANCA-positive IgGs was significantly attenuated (112.7 ± 24.2 pg/ml vs. 167.5 ± 27.7 pg/ml, p < 0.05).ConclusionsPECAM-1 can decrease the level of mPR3 expression on neutrophils, resulting in attenuation of neutrophil activation and subsequent GEnC injury induced by PR3-ANCA-positive IgGs.

Abstract P218: Downregulation of Renal Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Production in Response to Hypotonic Stress Facilitates Adaptive Increases in Renal Cortical Angiotensinogen and Nkcc2b

We previously showed that diverse stimuli activate the thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop (TAL) to synthesize tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), which subsequently acts as an endogenous inhibitor of the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter (NKCC2). Moreover, renal-specific silencing of TNF unmasks salt-dependent increases in blood pressure via a mechanism involving NKCC2A. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of TNF on NKCC2 isoform and angiotensinogen (AGT) expression in the renal cortex under conditions of hypotonic stress. Mice given a low salt (0.02% NaCl) diet (LS) for 7 days exhibited a 62±7.4% decrease (p&lt;0.5, n=4) in TNF mRNA expression in the renal cortex, compared with mice ingesting a normal salt diet (NSD), which was associated with a concomitant 4-fold increase in renal cortical AGT mRNA accumulation (p&lt;0.05, n=4). Mice ingesting LS also exhibited about a 63% increase (p&lt;0.05, n=4) in cortical TAL phospho-NKCC2 (pNKCC2) expression and a 3-fold increase in NKCC2B mRNA abundance without a concurrent change in NKCC2A mRNA accumulation. The increases in AGT and NKCC2B mRNA abundance were increased by 6-fold (p&lt;0.05, n=4 ) and 5-fold (p&lt;0.05, n=4), respectively, in mice ingesting LS that also received an intrarenal injection of a lentivirus construct designed to specifically silence TNF in the kidney (U6-TNF-ex4) compared with mice injected with control lentivirus (U6). The effects of a single intrarenal injection of murine recombinant TNF (5ng/g body weight) or saline control for 24 hr on renal AGT and NKCC2 mRNA levels were then determined in mice that ingested LS for 7 days. Administration of TNF inhibited the increase of AGT and NKCC2B mRNA abundance by approximately 42±5.9% and 49±6.5% respectively, p&lt;0.05, n=4 ) in mice exposed to hypotonic stress. Similarly, intrarenal injection of TNF inhibited the increase in pNKCC2 by approximately 54% (p&lt;0.05, n=4 ) in renal cortex from mice given LS for 7 days. Collectively, these findings suggest that downregulation of renal TNF production in response to hypotonic conditions contributes to the regulation of sodium chloride reabsorption via adaptive increases in AGT as well as a selective effect on NKCC2B, which is exclusively expressed by macula densa cells in the renal cortex.

Biomimetic sulfated polyethylene glycol hydrogel inhibits proteoglycan loss and tumor necrosis factor-α-induced expression pattern in an osteoarthritis in vitro model.

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of an anti-inflammatory polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel for osteoarthritis (OA) management in an OA in vitro model. Freshly isolated porcine chondrocytes were maintained in high-density cultures to form cartilage-like three-dimensional micromasses. Recombinant porcine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was used to induce OA-like changes. Normal and OA-like micromasses were treated with dendritic polyglycerol sulfate-based PEG hydrogel. Live/dead staining showed that all micromasses remained vital and presented similar morphological characteristics. Safranin-O staining demonstrated a typical depletion of glycosaminoglycans in TNF-α-treated micromasses but not in the presence of the hydrogel. There was no distinct difference in immunohistochemical detection of type II collagen. Microarray data showed that rheumatoid arthritis and TNF signaling pathways were down regulated in hydrogel-treated OA-like micromasses compared to nontreated OA-like micromasses. The hydrogel alone did not affect genes related to OA such as ANPEP, COMP, CXCL12, PTGS2, and TNFSF10, but it prevented their regulation caused by TNF-α. This study provides valuable insights toward a fully synthetic hydrogel for the intra-articular treatment of OA. The findings proved the potential of this hydrogel to prevent the development of TNF-α-induced OA with regard to proteoglycan loss and TNF-α-induced expression pattern without additional signs of differentiation and inflammation. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 490-500, 2019.

Inhibition of SOX9 Promotes Inflammatory and Immune Responses of Dental Pulp

IntroductionThe process of pulpitis is characterized by extracellular matrix imbalance and inflammatory cell infiltration. As an essential transcription factor, sex-determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) is significantly inhibited by tumor necrosis factor alpha in inflammatory joint diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the role of SOX9 in extracellular matrix balance, cytokine expression, and the immune response in dental pulp. MethodsThe expression of SOX9 in normal and inflamed pulp tissue/human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) was detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). SOX9 small interfering RNA was used to knock down SOX9 expression of dental cells in vitro; extracellular matrix imbalance was analyzed by qPCR, Western blot, and gelatin/collagen zymography, and the secretion of cytokines was scanned by antibody arrays. The immune response of THP-1 was investigated by cell migration assay, cell attachment assay, phagocytosis assay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The interaction of SOX9 with target genes was explored by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). ResultsSOX9 was strongly expressed in normal dental pulp tissue and HDPCs and reduced in inflamed pulp. SOX9 knockdown could inhibit the production of type I collagen, stimulate the enzymatic activities of MMP2 and MMP13, and regulate the production of interleukin (IL) 8 of HDPCs. SOX9 knockdown also effectively suppressed the differentiation and functional activities of THP-1. ChIP showed that the binding of the SOX9 protein with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-13, and IL-8 gene promoters was reduced after being treated with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha. ConclusionsSOX9 was inhibited in inflamed dental pulp and may participate in the regulation of extracellular matrix balance, the inflammatory process, and the immune response.