TNF-α Production In Macrophages Research Articles

Indoxyl sulfate-induced TNF-α is regulated by crosstalk between the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, NF-κB, and SOCS2 in human macrophages.

Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a uremic toxin associated with increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in patients with chronic kidney disease. Despite the crucial role of uremia-related immune dysfunction, a majority of studies attempting to elucidate its pathogenic role in CVD have focused on IS-mediated endothelial dysfunction. Thus, we investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in IS-induced production of TNF-α, a major cardiotoxic cytokine, by human macrophages. We found that crosstalk between the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), NF-κB, and the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)2 is important for TNF-α production in IS-stimulated human macrophages. IS-activated AhR rapidly associates with the p65 NF-κB subunit, resulting in mutual inhibition of AhR and NF-κB and inhibition of TNF-α production at an early time point. Later, this repression of TNF-α production is alleviated when SOCS2, a negative modulator of NF-κB, is directly induced by IS-activated AhR. In addition, once free of inhibition, activated AhR induces TNF-α expression by interacting with AhR binding sites in the TNF-α gene. Lastly, we confirmed decreased AhR and increased SOCS2 expression in monocytes of patients with end-stage renal disease, indicating the activation of AhR. Taken together, our results suggest that IS-induced TNF-α production in macrophages is regulated through a complicated mechanism involving interaction of AhR, NF-κB, and SOCS2.-Kim, H. Y., Yoo, T.-H., Cho, J.-Y., Kim, H. C., Lee, W.-W. Indoxyl sulfate-induced TNF-α is regulated by crosstalk between the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, NF-κB, and SOCS2 in human macrophages.

Docosahexaenoic Acid Inhibits Inflammation-Induced Osteoclast Formation and Bone Resorption in vivo Through GPR120 by Inhibiting TNF-α Production in Macrophages and Directly Inhibiting Osteoclast Formation.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an n-3 fatty acid that is an important structural component of the cell membrane. DHA exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects through G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120), which is a functional receptor for n-3 fatty acids. DHA also regulates osteoclast formation and function. However, no studies have investigated the effect of DHA on inflammation-induced osteoclast formation in vivo. In the present study, we investigated whether DHA influences osteoclast formation, bone resorption and the expression of osteoclast-associated cytokines during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in vivo, and then we elucidated the underlying mechanisms by using in vitro experiments. In vitro experiments revealed both receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL)- and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced osteoclast formation was inhibited by DHA. Supracalvarial administration of LPS with or without DHA was carried out for 5 days and then the number of osteoclasts, ratio of bone resorption pits and the level of type I collagen C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide were measured. All measurements were significantly lower in LPS+DHA-co-administered mice than LPS-administered mice. However, this DHA-induced inhibition was not observed in LPS-, DHA-, and selective GPR120 antagonist AH7614-co-administered mice. Furthermore, the expression of RANKL and TNF-α mRNAs was lower in the LPS+DHA-co-administered group than in the LPS-administered group in vivo. TNF-α mRNA levels were decreased in macrophages co-treated with LPS+DHA compared with cells treated with LPS in vitro. In contrast, RANKL mRNA expression levels from osteoblasts co-treated with DHA and LPS in vitro were equal to that in cells treated with LPS alone. Finally, the inhibitory effects of DHA on osteoclast formation in vitro were not observed by using osteoclast precursors from GPR120-deficient mice, and inhibition of LPS-induced osteoclast formation and bone resorption by DHA in vivo was not observed in GPR120-deficient mice. These results suggest that DHA inhibits LPS-induced osteoclast formation and bone resorption in vivo via GPR120 by inhibiting LPS-induced TNF-α production in macrophages along with direct inhibition of osteoclast formation.

C23, an oligopeptide derived from cold-inducible RNA-binding protein, suppresses inflammation and reduces lung injury in neonatal sepsis

IntroductionNeonatal sepsis remains a leading cause of infant mortality. Cold-inducible RNA binding protein (CIRP) is an inflammatory mediator that induces TNF-α production in macrophages. C23 is a CIRP-derived peptide that blocks CIRP from binding its receptor. We therefore hypothesized that treatment with C23 reduces systemic inflammation and protects the lungs in neonatal sepsis. MethodsSepsis was induced in C56BL/6 mouse pups (5–7 days) by intraperitoneal injection of adult cecal slurry (0.525 mg/g body weight, LD100). One hour later pups received retroorbital injection of C23 (8 mg/kg) or vehicle (normal saline). Ten hours after sepsis induction, blood and tissues were collected for analysis. ResultsC23 treatment resulted in a 58% and 69% reduction in serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β, respectively, and a 40% and 45% reduction of AST and LDH, as compared to vehicle-treated septic pups. In the lungs, C23 treatment reduced expression of cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β by 78% and 74%. In addition, the mRNA level of neutrophil chemoattractants KC and MIP-2 was reduced by 84% and 74%, respectively. These results corresponded to a reduction in histologic lung injury score. Vehicle-treated pups scored 0.49 ± 0.19, while C23 treatment reduced scores to 0.29 ± 0.12 (p < 0.05; Max = 1). Apoptosis in the lungs, measured by TUNEL assay, was also decreased by 53% with C23 treatment (p < 0.05). ConclusionsInhibition of CIRP with C23 treatment is protective in septic neonatal mice as demonstrated by reduced inflammatory markers systemically and in the lung. Therefore, C23 has promising therapeutic potential in treatment of neonatal sepsis. Level of evidenceLevel I.

Sodium bicarbonate regulates nitric oxide production in mouse macrophage cell lines stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and interferon γ

Macrophages are known to play pivotal roles in host-defense through inflammation via both innate and acquired immune systems, and so on. In an earlier paper, we showed the influence of the type of culture medium, Ham's F-12 or DMEM, on activated macrophage phenotypes induced by LPS and IFNγ. The production of nitric oxide (NO), pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα and IL-1β, as well as the induction of superoxide-generating activity of J774.1/JA-4 cells was different depending on the type of culture medium. In this present study, we showed that sodium bicarbonate concentrations in these culture media, 14 mM in Ham's F-12 and 44 mM in DMEM, were crucial to explaining the differences in the induction of activated macrophage phenotypes, especially in that of iNOS. A concentration-dependent change in pH did not result in any remarkable difference in iNOS expression or NO production. Moreover, high sodium bicarbonate in culture medium increased not only NO production but also TNFα production in the activated macrophages. These results suggest that sodium bicarbonate would be a regulatory factor of NO and TNFα production in macrophages and that its concentration has a crucial role in macrophage activation.

The Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Exendin-4 Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Osteoclast Formation and Bone Resorption via Inhibition of TNF-α Expression in Macrophages.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are an effective treatment approach for type 2 diabetes. Recently, anti-inflammatory effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists have also been reported. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces inflammation and osteoclast formation. In this study, we investigated the effect of exendin-4, a widely used GLP-1 receptor agonist, in LPS-induced osteoclast formation and bone resorption. LPS with or without exendin-4 was administered on mouse calvariae by daily subcutaneous injection. The number of osteoclasts, the ratio of bone resorption pits, and the level of C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) were significantly lower in LPS- and exendin-4-coadministered mice than in mice administered with LPS alone. RANKL and TNF-α mRNA expression levels were lower in the exendin-4- and LPS-coadministered group than in the LPS-administered group. Our in vitro results showed no direct effects of exendin-4 on RANKL-induced osteoclast formation, TNF-α-induced osteoclast formation, or LPS-induced RANKL expression in stromal cells. Conversely, TNF-α mRNA expression was inhibited in the exendin-4- and LPS-cotreated macrophages compared with cells treated with LPS alone. These results indicate that the GLP-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 may inhibit LPS-induced osteoclast formation and bone resorption by inhibiting LPS-induced TNF-α production in macrophages.

Effects of Orally Ingested Arsenic on Respiratory Epithelial Permeability to Bacteria and Small Molecules in Mice.

Background:Arsenic exposure via drinking water impacts millions of people worldwide. Although arsenic has been associated epidemiologically with increased lung infections, the identity of the lung cell types targeted by peroral arsenic and the associated immune mechanisms remain poorly defined.Objectives:We aimed to determine the impact of peroral arsenic on pulmonary antibacterial host defense.Methods:Female C57BL/6 mice were administered drinking water with 0, , or sodium arsenite for 5 wk and then challenged intratracheally with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or lipopolysaccharide. Bacterial clearance and immune responses were profiled.Results:Arsenic had no effect on bacterial clearance in the lung or on the intrapulmonary innate immune response to bacteria or lipopolysaccharide, as assessed by neutrophil recruitment to, and cytokine induction in, the airspace. Alveolar macrophage production was unaltered. By contrast, arsenic-exposed mice had significantly reduced plasma in response to systemic lipopolysaccharide challenge, together suggesting that the local airway innate immune response may be relatively preserved from arsenic intoxication. Despite intact intrapulmonary bacterial clearance during pneumonia, arsenic-exposed mice suffered dramatically increased bacterial dissemination to the bloodstream. Mechanistically, this was linked to increased respiratory epithelial permeability, as revealed by intratracheal FITC-dextran tracking, serum Club Cell protein 16 measurement, and other approaches. Consistent with barrier disruption at the alveolar level, arsenic-exposed mice had evidence for alveolar epithelial type 1 cell injury.Conclusions:Peroral arsenic has little effect on local airway immune responses to bacteria but compromises respiratory epithelial barrier integrity, increasing systemic translocation of inhaled pathogens and small molecules. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1878

Immunomodulatory effects of ethanol extract of germinated ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) extract (IPE) in vitro and in vivo. Raji (a human B cell line) and Jurkat (a human T cell line) cells were treated with various doses of IPE and cell proliferation was measured by WST assay. Results showed that IPE promoted the proliferation of both Raji and Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. IPE also enhanced IL-6 and TNF-α production in macrophages in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), although IPE alone did not induce cytokine production. Moreover, IPE treatment upregulated iNOS gene expression in macrophages in a time- and dose-dependent manner and led to the production of nitric oxide in macrophages in the presence of IFNγ. In vivo studies revealed that oral administration of IPE for 2 weeks increased the differentiation of CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells in splenocytes. These findings suggested that IPE has immunomodulatory effects and could be developed as an immunomodulatory supplement.

Exosomes, not protein or lipids, in mesenteric lymph activate inflammation: Unlocking the mystery of post-shock multiple organ failure.

Previous studies have shown that mesenteric lymph (ML) has a crucial role in driving the systemic inflammatory response after trauma/hemorrhagic shock (T/HS). The specific mediators in the ML that contribute to its biological activity remain unclear despite decades of study. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that are shed into body fluids such as serum and urine that can mediate intercellular communication. We hypothesized that exosomes are present in the ML after trauma/shock and are responsible for the biological activity of ML. Male rats underwent cannulation of the vessels and mesenteric lymph duct. T/HS was induced by laparotomy and 60 minutes of HS (mean arterial pressure, 35 mmHg), followed by resuscitation. The ML was collected during three distinct time periods (pre-shock, shock, and resuscitation phase) and subsequently separated into exosome and supernatant fractions. Exosomes were characterized by electron microscope, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and immunoblotting. The biological activity of exosomes and supernatant of ML were characterized using a monocyte NF-κB reporter assay and by measuring macrophage intracellular TNF-α production. Exosomes were identified in ML by size and expression of the exosome markers CD63 and HSP70. The number of exosomes present in the ML was 2-fold increased during shock and 4-fold decreased in resuscitation phase compared to pre-shock. However, biological activity of exosomes isolated during the resuscitation phase was markedly increased and caused an 8-fold increase in monocyte NF-κB activation compared to supernatant. Macrophage TNF-α production was also increased after exposure to exosomes harvested in the resuscitation phase. The ML supernatant fraction had no effect on TNF-α production during any phase. Our findings show that exosomes, and not the liquid fraction of ML, are the major component triggering inflammatory responses in monocytes and macrophages after experimental T/HS.

Downregulated expression of microRNA-124 in pediatric intestinal failure patients modulates macrophages activation by inhibiting STAT3 and AChE.

Intestinal inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of intestinal failure (IF). The macrophages are essential to maintain the intestinal homeostasis. However, the underlying mechanisms of intestinal macrophages activation remain poorly understood. Since microRNAs (miRNAs) have pivotal roles in regulation of immune responses, here we aimed to investigate the role of miR-124 in the activation of intestinal macrophages. In this study, we showed that the intestinal macrophages increased in pediatric IF patients and resulted in the induction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The miRNA fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed that the expression of miR-124 significantly reduced in intestinal macrophages in IF patients. Overexpression of miR-124 was sufficient to inhibit intestinal macrophages activation by attenuating production of IL-6 and TNF-α. Further studies showed that miR-124 could directly target the 3′-untranslated region of both signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) mRNAs, and suppress their protein expressions. The AChE potentially negates the cholinergic anti-inflammatory signal by hydrolyzing the acetylcholine. We here showed that intestinal macrophages increasingly expressed the AChE and STAT3 in IF patients when compared with controls. The inhibitors against to STAT3 and AChE significantly suppressed the lipopolysaccharides-induced IL-6 and TNF-α production in macrophages. Taken together, these findings highlight an important role for miR-124 in the regulation of intestinal macrophages activation, and suggest a potential application of miR-124 in pediatric IF treatment regarding as suppressing intestinal inflammation.

The Effects of Molecular Hydrogen and Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid on Paraquat-Induced Production of Reactive Oxygen Species and TNF-α in Macrophages.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of molecular hydrogen (H2) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on paraquat (PQ)-stimulated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in macrophages. First, the PQ optimal concentration was determined in RAW264.7 macrophage by treating serum-starved cells with PQ at 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10mM. We evaluated at 1, 2 and 8h (1) cell viability (by means of trypan blue exclusion method), (2) intracellular ROS levels (with a fluorescent DCFH-DA probe), and (3) TNF-α level in the culture media (determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA). Subsequently, mouse RAW267.4 macrophages were treated with PQ in combination with SAHA and/or H2 for 8h. PQ exerted a significant stimulatory but nontoxic effect on RAW267.4 macrophages at 0.1mM. This PQ concentration was used in the subsequent experiments. H2 and H2 combined with SAHA evoked a greater reduction in PQ-induced ROS production than SAHA alone, especially at 2 and 8h. At 1 and 2h, treatments involving H2 caused a greater decrease in PQ-induced production of TNF-α than the corresponding treatments without H2. However, at 8h, treatment with SAHA evoked more pronounced effects on TNF-α than treatment without SAHA. H2 decreases PQ-induced ROS production and attenuates early PQ-induced TNF-α production whereas SAHA reduces the late phase of the PQ-induced TNF-α production in macrophages. The effects are enhanced by the combination of H2 and SAHA.

B-cell-specific depletion of tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibits atherosclerosis development and plaque vulnerability to rupture by reducing cell death and inflammation.

B2 lymphocytes promote atherosclerosis development but their mechanisms of action are unknown. Here, we investigated the role of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) produced by B2 cells in atherogenesis. We found that 50% of TNF-α-producing spleen lymphocytes were B2 cells and ∼20% of spleen and aortic B cells produced TNF-α in hyperlipidemic ApoE(-/-) mice. We generated mixed bone marrow (80% μMT/20% TNF-α(-/-)) chimeric LDLR(-/-) mice where only B cells did not express TNF-α. Atherosclerosis was reduced in chimeric LDLR(-/-) mice with TNF-α-deficient B cells. TNF-α expression in atherosclerotic lesions and in macrophages were also reduced accompanied by fewer apoptotic cells, reduced necrotic cores, and reduced lesion Fas, interleukin-1β and MCP-1 in mice with TNF-α-deficient B cells compared to mice with TNF-α-sufficient B cells. To confirm that the reduced atherosclerosis is attributable to B2 cells, we transferred wild-type and TNF-α-deficient B2 cells into ApoE(-/-) mice deficient in B cells or in lymphocytes. After 8 weeks of high fat diet, we found that atherosclerosis was increased by wild-type but not TNF-α-deficient B2 cells. Lesions of mice with wild-type B2 cells but not TNF-α-deficient B2 cells also had increased apoptotic cells and necrotic cores. Transferred B2 cells were found in lesions of recipient mice, suggesting that TNF-α-producing B2 cells promote atherosclerosis within lesions. We conclude that TNF-α produced by B2 cells is a key mechanism by which B2 cells promote atherogenesis through augmenting macrophage TNF-α production to induce cell death and inflammation that promote plaque vulnerability.

Morphological and physiological changes induced by contact-dependent interaction between Candida albicans and Fusobacterium nucleatum.

Candida albicans and Fusobacterium nucleatum are well-studied oral commensal microbes with pathogenic potential that are involved in various oral polymicrobial infectious diseases. Recently, we demonstrated that F. nucleatum ATCC 23726 coaggregates with C. albicans SN152, a process mainly mediated by fusobacterial membrane protein RadD and Candida cell wall protein Flo9. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential biological impact of this inter-kingdom interaction. We found that F. nucleatum ATCC 23726 inhibits growth and hyphal morphogenesis of C. albicans SN152 in a contact-dependent manner. Further analysis revealed that the inhibition of Candida hyphal morphogenesis is mediated via RadD and Flo9 protein pair. Using a murine macrophage cell line, we showed that the F. nucleatum-induced inhibition of Candida hyphal morphogenesis promotes C. albicans survival and negatively impacts the macrophage-killing capability of C. albicans. Furthermore, the yeast form of C. albicans repressed F. nucleatum-induced MCP-1 and TNFα production in macrophages. Our study suggests that the interaction between C. albicans and F. nucleatum leads to a mutual attenuation of virulence, which may function to promote a long-term commensal lifestyle within the oral cavity. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of inter-kingdom interaction and may impact clinical treatment strategies.

Usefulness of ELISA Methods for Assessing LPS Interactions with Proteins and Peptides.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major constituent of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, can trigger severe inflammatory responses during bacterial infections, possibly leading to septic shock. One approach to combatting endotoxic shock is to neutralize the most conserved part and major mediator of LPS activity (lipid A) with LPS-binding proteins or peptides. Although several available assays evaluate the biological activity of these molecules on LPS (e.g. inhibition of LPS-induced TNF-α production in macrophages), the development of simple and cost-effective methods that would enable preliminary screening of large numbers of potential candidate molecules is of great interest. Moreover, it would be also desirable that such methods could provide information about the possible biological relevance of the interactions between proteins and LPS, which may enhance or neutralize LPS-induced inflammatory responses. In this study, we designed and evaluated different types of ELISA that could be used to study possible interactions between LPS and any protein or peptide. We also analysed the usefulness and limitations of the different ELISAs. Specifically, we tested the capacity of several proteins and peptides to bind FITC-labeled LPSs from Escherichia coli serotypes O111:B4 and O55:B5 in an indirect ELISA and in two competitive ELISAs including casein hydrolysate (hCAS) and biotinylated polymyxin B (captured by deglycosylated avidin; PMX) as LPS-binding agents in the solid phase. We also examined the influence of pH, detergents and different blocking agents on LPS binding. Our results showed that the competitive hCAS-ELISA performed under mildly acidic conditions can be used as a general method for studying LPS interactions, while the more restrictive PMX-ELISA may help to identify proteins/peptides that are likely to have neutralizing properties in vitro or in vivo.

MECHANICAL VENTILATION AUGMENTS POLY(I:C)INDUCED LUNG INJURY VIA A WISP1-INTEGRIN β3 DEPENDENT PATHWAY IN MICE.

Mechanical ventilation can improve hypoxemia, but can also cause the so-called ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), an analogue of natural double strand RNA virus, can induce lung inflammation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether moderate tidal volume mechanical ventilation (MTV) augments Poly(I:C)-induced lung injury, and if so, the mechanism responsible for it. Poly(I:C) (2μg/g) were instilled intratracheally in C57BL/6J wide type (WT) mice. They were then randomized to MTV (10ml/kg tidal volume) or spontaneous breath. Lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected 4h later for various measurements. Our results showed that MTV did not cause significant injury in normal lungs, but augmented Poly(I:C)-induced lung injury. The expression level of WNT-induced secreted protein 1 (WISP1) was consistent with lung injury, and the amplification of lung injury by MTV can be alleviated by anti-WISP1 antibody treatment. MTV further increased Poly(I:C)-induced integrin β3 expression in the lung. And co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) results suggested there was an interaction between WISP1 and β3. WISP1 significantly increased Poly(I:C)-induced TNF-α production in macrophages isolated from WT mice but not in macrophages isolated from β3 knock-out mice. Co-treatment with WISP1 and Poly(I:C) markedly increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) in macrophages. Pretreating macrophages with an ERK inhibitor, U0126, dose-dependently antagonized WISP's synergistic effect on Poly(I:C)-induced TNF-α release. In conclusion, MTV exaggerates Poly(I:C)-induced lung injury in a WISP1 and integrin β3 dependent manner, involving, at least part, the activation of the ERK pathway. The WISP1-integrin β3 pathway could be an important target for novel therapy.

Paroxetine differentially modulates LPS-induced TNFα and IL-6 production in mouse macrophages.

Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is clinically used for the treatment of depression in human patients. Because of recent reports on the role of serotonin in modulating inflammation and the link between inflammation and depression, we sought to test the effect of paroxetine directly on macrophage response to an inflammatory stimulus. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment of mouse macrophages significantly enhanced TNFα and IL-6 production. Paroxetine treatment of macrophages, however, significantly inhibited LPS-induced IL-6 production. In contrast, paroxetine enhanced LPS-induced TNFα production in macrophages. These effects of paroxetine were mimicked by fluoxetine, another SSRI. To determine if the effects of paroxetine are mediated via modulation of the 5-HT system, we treated macrophages with 5-HT or 5-HT receptor antagonist (LY215840) in the presence of LPS and/or paroxetine. 5-HT treatment by itself did not affect LPS-induced cytokine production. LY215840, however, reversed paroxetine's effect on LPS-induced TNFα production but not IL-6. To understand the signaling mechanisms, we examined paroxetine's effect on MAPK and NFκB pathways. While paroxetine inhibited LPS-induced IκBα phosphorylation, MAPK pathways were mostly unaffected. Together these data demonstrate that paroxetine has critical but differential effects on IL-6 and TNFα production in macrophages and that it likely regulates these cytokines via distinct mechanisms.

Cultivation of a human-associated TM7 phylotype reveals a reduced genome and epibiotic parasitic lifestyle

The candidate phylum TM7 is globally distributed and often associated with human inflammatory mucosal diseases. Despite its prevalence, the TM7 phylum remains recalcitrant to cultivation, making it one of the most enigmatic phyla known. In this study, we cultivated a TM7 phylotype (TM7x) from the human oral cavity. This extremely small coccus (200-300 nm) has a distinctive lifestyle not previously observed in human-associated microbes. It is an obligate epibiont of an Actinomyces odontolyticus strain (XH001) yet also has a parasitic phase, thereby killing its host. This first completed genome (705 kb) for a human-associated TM7 phylotype revealed a complete lack of amino acid biosynthetic capacity. Comparative genomics analyses with uncultivated environmental TM7 assemblies show remarkable conserved gene synteny and only minimal gene loss/gain that may have occurred as TM7x adapted to conditions within the human host. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles provided the first indications, to our knowledge, that there is signaling interaction between TM7x and XH001. Furthermore, the induction of TNF-α production in macrophages by XH001 was repressed in the presence of TM7x, suggesting its potential immune suppression ability. Overall, our data provide intriguing insights into the uncultivability, pathogenicity, and unique lifestyle of this previously uncharacterized oral TM7 phylotype.

Natural and semisynthetic diterpenoids with antiviral and immunomodulatory activities block the ERK signaling pathway.

The pathogenesis of many viral infections lies on the damage caused by the immune response against the virus. Current antiviral drugs do not act on the inflammatory component of the disease. Thus, new compounds that inhibit both viral multiplication and the immunopathology elicited by the virus are an approach that should be considered. In the present study, we identified two jatropholones (2A and 5B) and one carnosic acid derivative (9C) that significantly inhibited multiplication of TK+ and TK- strains of HSV-1 in Vero cells. Compounds 2A, 5B and 9C also prevented HSV-1- and TLRs-induced inflammatory response in cultivated murine macrophages. In macrophages infected with HSV-1, the inhibitory effect of compounds 2A, 5B and 9C on TNF-α and IL-6 production could be associated with the block of ERK pathway, whereas NF-κB pathway was not hampered by any of the compounds. Besides, 2A, 5B and 9C also inhibited ERK pathway and reduced TNF-α production in macrophages stimulated with TLR2, TLR4 or TLR9 agonists and were able to hinder IL-6 secretion after activation with TLR2 or TLR4, but not with TLR9. The immunomodulatory effect of 2A, 5B and 9C in macrophages infected with HSV-1 may be a consequence of the inhibition of ERK pathway activated by TLRs. The availability of compounds with both antiviral and immunomodulatory properties which affect TLR signaling pathways might be a useful strategy to control the progress of virus-induced disease.

FRI0254 Predictive Value of Pretreatment Resistin Levels for Erosive Disease in Early RA Treated with DMARDS and Infliximab

BackgroundResistin is an adipocytokine related to insulin resistance, inflammation and arthritis (1).ObjectivesWe investigated if resistin is associated with the disease activity and inflammation in DMARD-naïve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, if...

THU0542 In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Dexamethasone and Ctla4-Ig (ABATACEPT) Combined Treatment

BackgroundIn rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the combination of glucocorticoids (GC) and the fusion protein CTLA4-Ig (abatacept) allows to obtain better clinical improvement than CTLA4-Ig monotherapy. Our recent data showed that CTLA4-Ig...

Deficient Beta-Mannosylation of Candida albicans Phospholipomannan Affects the Proinflammatory Response in Macrophages

Candida albicans produces a complex glycosphingolipid called phospholipomannan (PLM), which is present on the cell-wall surface of yeast and shed upon contact with host cells. The glycan moiety of PLM is composed of β-mannosides with degrees of polymerization up to 19 in C. albicans serotype A. PLM from serotype B strains displays a twofold decrease in the length of the glycan chains. In this study we compared the proinflammatory activities of PLMs purified from C. albicans serotype A and serotype B strains and from a bmt6Δ mutant of C. albicans, whose PLM is composed of short truncated oligomannosidic chain. We found that PLMs activate caspase-1 in murine macrophage cell line J774 independent of the glycan chain length although IL-1β secretion is more intense with long glycan chain. None of the tested PLMs stimulate ROS production, indicating that caspase-1 activation may occur through a ROS-independent pathway. On the other hand, only long-chain oligomannosides present on PLM from serotype A strain (PLM-A) are able to induce TNF-α production in macrophages, a property that is not affect by blocking endocytosis through latrunculin A treatment. Finally, we demonstrate that soluble and not cell surface-bound galectin-3, is able to potentiate PLM-A-induced TNF-α production in macrophages. PLMs from C. albicans serotype B and from bmt6∆ mutant are not able to induce TNF-α production and galectin-3 pretreatment does not interfere with this result. In conclusion, we show here that PLMs are able to evoke a proinflammatory state in macrophage, which is in part dependent on their glycosylation status. Long-glycan chains favor interaction with soluble galectin-3 and help amplify inflammatory response.