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International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that regulates the immune system through complicated transcriptional programs. Genistein, an AhR ligand,...
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that regulates the immune system through complicated transcriptional programs. Genistein, an AhR ligand, exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. However, its role in modulating immune responses via the AhR signaling pathway remains unclear. In this study, 360 male Arbor Acre broilers (1-day-old) were fed a basal diet supplemented with 40 or 80 mg/kg genistein and infected with or without (). Our results demonstrated that genistein ameliorated -induced intestinal damage, as reflected by the reduced intestinal lesion scores and improved intestinal morphology and feed-to-gain ratio. Moreover, genistein increased intestinal sIgA, TGF-β, and IL-10, along with elevated serum IgG, IgA, and lysozyme levels. Genistein improved intestinal AhR and cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A member 1 (CYP1A1) protein levels and AhR cell numbers in -challenged broilers. The increased number of AhRCD163 cells in the jejunum suggested a potential association between genistein-induced AhR activation and anti-inflammatory effects mediated through M2 macrophage polarization. In IL-4-treated RAW264.7 cells, genistein increased the levels of AhR, CYP1A1, CD163, and arginase (Arg)-1 proteins, as well as IL-10 mRNA levels. This increase was attenuated by the AhR antagonist CH223191. In summary, genistein activated the AhR signaling pathway in M2 macrophages, which enhanced the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines and attenuated intestinal damage in -infected broilers .
Topics: Animals; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; Genistein; Chickens; Macrophages; Mice; Enteritis; Male; RAW 264.7 Cells; Poultry Diseases; Intestines; Clostridium perfringens; Clostridium Infections; Necrosis; Macrophage Activation; Inflammation; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 38928362
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126656 -
Biomedicines Jun 2024Abnormal skin healing resulting in chronic wounds or hypertrophic scarring remains a major healthcare burden. Here, the antifibrotic angiotensin II type 2 receptor...
Abnormal skin healing resulting in chronic wounds or hypertrophic scarring remains a major healthcare burden. Here, the antifibrotic angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) signaling pathway was modulated to determine its impact on cutaneous wound healing. Balb/c mice received two splinted full-thickness wounds. Topical treatments with the selective AT2R agonist compound 21 (C21) and/or selective antagonist PD123319 or saline vehicle were administered until sacrifice on post-wounding days 7 or 10. The rate of wound re-epithelialization was accelerated by PD123319 and combination treatments. In vitro, C21 significantly reduced human fibroblast migration. C21 increased both collagen and vascular densities at days 7 and 10 post-wounding and collagen I:III ratio at day 10, while PD123319 and combination treatments decreased them. Genes associated with regeneration and repair were upregulated by C21, while PD123319 treatment increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation and immune cell chemotaxis. C21 treatment reduced wound total leukocyte and neutrophil staining densities, while PD123319 increased these and macrophage densities. Overall, AT2R activation with C21 yields wounds that mature more quickly with structural, cellular, and gene expression profiles more closely approximating unwounded skin. These findings support AT2R signal modulation as a potential therapeutic target to improve skin quality during wound healing.
PubMed: 38927444
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061238 -
Biomedicines May 2024Virtually the entire spectrum of liver disease is observed in association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); indeed, T2DM is now the most common cause of liver...
BACKGROUND
Virtually the entire spectrum of liver disease is observed in association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); indeed, T2DM is now the most common cause of liver disease in the U.S. We conducted a pilot study to investigate the relevance of increased microbial translocation and systemic inflammation in the development of liver injury in patients with T2DM.
METHODS
Patients with T2DM (n = 17) and non-diabetic controls (NDC; n = 11) aged 25-80 yrs. participated in this study. Serum levels of endotoxin, calprotectin, soluble CD14 and CD163, and several inflammatory cytokines were measured. In addition to standard liver injury markers, ALT and AST, novel serum markers of liver injury, keratin 18 (K-18) M30 (apoptosis-associated caspase-cleaved keratin 18), and M65 (soluble keratin 18) were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney test to assess differences between study groups. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to determine the strength of association between two variables using GraphPad Prism 9.5.0 software.
RESULTS
Patients with T2DM had significantly higher levels of sCD14 in comparison to NDC, suggesting an increase in gut permeability, microbial translocation, and monocyte/macrophage activation. Importantly, relevant to the ensuing inflammatory responses, the increase in sCD14 in patients with T2DM was accompanied by a significant increase in sCD163, a marker of hepatic Kupffer cell activation and inflammation. Further, a positive correlation was observed between sCD163 and endotoxin and sCD14 in T2DM patients but not in NDC. In association with these changes, keratin 18 (K-18)-based serum markers (M65 and M30) that reflect hepatocyte death were significantly higher in the T2DM group indicating ongoing liver injury. Notably, both M65 and M30 levels correlated with sCD14 and sCD163, suggesting that immune cell activation and hepatic inflammation may be linked to the development of liver injury in T2DM.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the pathogenic changes in the gut-liver axis, marked by increased microbial translocation, may be a major component in the etiology of hepatocyte inflammation and injury in patients with T2DM. However, larger longitudinal studies, including histological evidence, are needed to confirm these observations.
PubMed: 38927434
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061227 -
Biomolecules May 2024Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a non-selective cation channel involved in sensitivity to a plethora of irritating agents and endogenous mediators of...
Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a non-selective cation channel involved in sensitivity to a plethora of irritating agents and endogenous mediators of oxidative stress. TRPA1 influences neuroinflammation and macrophage and lymphocyte functions, but its role is controversial in immune cells. We reported earlier a detectable, but orders-of-magnitude-lower level of mRNA in monocytes and lymphocytes than in sensory neurons by qRT-PCR analyses of cells from lymphoid organs of mice. Our present goals were to (a) further elucidate the expression of mRNA in immune cells by RNAscope in situ hybridization (ISH) and (b) test the role of TRPA1 in lymphocyte activation. RNAscope ISH confirmed that transcripts were detectable in CD14 and CD4 cells from the peritoneal cavity of mice. A selective TRPA1 agonist JT010 elevated Ca levels in these cells only at high concentrations. However, a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of JT010 was observed on T-cell receptor (TcR)-induced Ca signals in CD4 T lymphocytes, while JT010 neither modified B cell activation nor ionomycin-stimulated Ca level. Based on our present and past findings, TRPA1 activation negatively modulates T lymphocyte activation, but it does not appear to be a key regulator of TcR-stimulated calcium signaling.
Topics: TRPA1 Cation Channel; Animals; Mice; Lymphocyte Activation; T-Lymphocytes; Ligands; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Acetanilides; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Calcium; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; RNA, Messenger; Male; Calcium Signaling
PubMed: 38927036
DOI: 10.3390/biom14060632 -
Cell Death & Disease Jun 2024Liver regeneration is a complex process involving the crosstalk between parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells, especially macrophages. However, the underlying mechanisms...
Liver regeneration is a complex process involving the crosstalk between parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells, especially macrophages. However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM26 as a crucial regulator of liver regeneration. Following partial hepatectomy or acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride, Trim26 knockout mice exhibit enhanced hepatocyte proliferation compared to wild-type controls, while adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated overexpression of Trim26 reverses the promotional effects. Mechanistically, Trim26 deficiency promotes the recruitment of macrophages to the liver and their polarization towards pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype. These M1 macrophages secrete Wnts, including Wnt2, which subsequently stimulate hepatocyte proliferation through the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In hepatocytes, Trim26 knockdown reduces the ubiquitination and degradation of β-catenin, thereby further enhancing Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Pharmacological inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin pathway by ICG-001 or depletion of macrophages by clodronate liposomes diminishes the pro-regenerative effects of Trim26 deficiency. Moreover, bone marrow transplantation experiments provide evidence that Trim26 knockout in myeloid cells alone can also promote liver regeneration, highlighting the critical role of macrophage Trim26 in this process. Taken together, our study uncovers TRIM26 as a negative regulator of liver regeneration by modulating macrophage polarization and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hepatocytes, providing a potential therapeutic target for promoting liver regeneration in clinical settings.
Topics: Animals; Liver Regeneration; Macrophages; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Mice; Mice, Knockout; beta Catenin; Wnt Signaling Pathway; Hepatocytes; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Tripartite Motif Proteins; Cell Proliferation; Liver; Cell Polarity; Male; Ubiquitination
PubMed: 38926362
DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06798-0 -
Discovery Medicine Jun 2024Facilitating the healing process of skin post-trauma is crucial for minimizing infection risks and reinstating normal tissue functionality. While past studies have...
BACKGROUND
Facilitating the healing process of skin post-trauma is crucial for minimizing infection risks and reinstating normal tissue functionality. While past studies have established astaxanthin (ASX) as an effective compound in promoting wound healing, the precise mechanism of its action remains unclear. Consequently, the objective of this study was to explore the impact of ASX on the acute wound healing of rat skin by modulating macrophage polarization.
METHODS
Eighteen male SD rats were randomly assigned to control, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and ASX groups. Acute skin wounds were induced in the rats, and the effects of different treatments on wound area and healing were assessed. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining was employed to detect histopathological changes in the skin, while Masson staining was utilized to observe collagen expression. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to identify clusters of differentiation (CD) 206 macrophages in the tissues. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-4, and IL-13. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), arginase (Arg)-1, and mannose receptor C-type 1 (Mrc1) proteins in the injured skin of rats was assessed through Western blot analysis.
RESULTS
On postoperative days 7 and 14, the ASX treatment demonstrated notable reductions in inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammatory cytokine expression when compared to the Control and DMSO groups. This was accompanied by evident improvements in the pathological changes in skin tissue, characterized by the regeneration of new epidermis, dermal repair, and increased thickness of granulation, contributing to enhanced scar formation. Furthermore, ASX therapy exhibited an upregulation in the expression levels of collagen I and collagen III, along with markers indicative of M2 macrophages. These findings collectively signify the accelerated progression of wound healing attributed to ASX intervention.
CONCLUSIONS
In summary, these findings collectively indicate that ASX facilitates the healing of rat skin wounds by suppressing inflammatory responses and fostering M2 macrophage polarization. Consequently, ASX holds promise as a potentially effective drug for the treatment of skin wounds.
Topics: Animals; Wound Healing; Male; Macrophages; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Xanthophylls; Collagen; Skin; Cytokines; Macrophage Activation
PubMed: 38926104
DOI: 10.24976/Discov.Med.202436185.108 -
International Journal of Rheumatic... Jun 2024Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rare entity in children. There is a paucity of studies on juvenile-onset MCTD (jMCTD) worldwide especially from Southeast...
INTRODUCTION
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rare entity in children. There is a paucity of studies on juvenile-onset MCTD (jMCTD) worldwide especially from Southeast Asia.
OBJECTIVES
To describe clinical and laboratory features of jMCTD diagnosed at pediatric rheumatology centers across India.
METHODS
A predesigned detailed case proforma in an excel format was prepared and was sent to all the Pediatric Rheumatology centers in India. Eleven centers provided the clinical and laboratory data of their jMCTD patients, which was then compiled and analyzed in detail.
RESULTS
Thirty-one jMCTD patients from 11 centers were included in the study. Our cohort had 27 females and four male patients over 12 months (August 2021 to July 2022). The median age at presentation was 12 years (range 5-18 years) and the median duration of symptoms was 24 months at diagnosis (range 2-96 months). The common features included arthritis (90%), malar rash (70.9%), and Raynaud's phenomenon (70.9%). At a mean follow-up of 43 months (range 1-168 months), 45% of them were in remission. There were two deaths reported, due to macrophage activation syndrome and sepsis respectively.
CONCLUSION
We present the largest multicenter experience on jMCTD from the Indian subcontinent. The study's findings serve as a crucial stepping stone toward unraveling the complexities of jMCTD and improving patient care and management strategies.
Topics: Humans; Child; Male; Female; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease; India; Adolescent; Child, Preschool; Treatment Outcome; Age of Onset; Immunosuppressive Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Remission Induction
PubMed: 38925615
DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.15243 -
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity Jun 2024Spinal cord injury triggers a strong innate inflammatory response in both non-regenerative mammals and regenerative zebrafish. Neutrophils are the first immune...
Spinal cord injury triggers a strong innate inflammatory response in both non-regenerative mammals and regenerative zebrafish. Neutrophils are the first immune population to be recruited to the injury site. Yet, their role in the repair process, particularly in a regenerative context, remains largely unknown. Here, we show that, following rapid recruitment to the injured spinal cord, neutrophils mostly reverse migrate throughout the zebrafish body. In addition, promoting neutrophil inflammation resolution by inhibiting Cxcr4 boosts cellular and functional regeneration. Neutrophil-specific RNA-seq analysis reveals an enhanced activation state that correlates with a transient increase in tnf-α expression in macrophage/microglia populations. Conversely, blocking neutrophil recruitment through Cxcr1/2 inhibition diminishes the presence of macrophage/microglia at the injury site and impairs spinal cord regeneration. Altogether, these findings provide new insights into the role of neutrophils in spinal cord regeneration, emphasizing the significant impact of their immune profile on the outcome of the repair process.
PubMed: 38925414
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.06.022 -
F&S Science Jun 2024To study the differences in immune cell profile in uterine fibroids (Fib) and matched myometrium (Myo).
OBJECTIVE
To study the differences in immune cell profile in uterine fibroids (Fib) and matched myometrium (Myo).
DESIGN
Observational Study SETTING: Laboratory Study PATIENTS: The study included tissue that was collected from ten pairs of fibroid and matched myometrium from women, not on hormonal medications, undergoing hysterectomy and myomectomy.
INTERVENTIONS
None MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in immune cell and cytokine composition between fibroid and matched myometrium RESULT(S): The mass cytometry analysis indicated that fibroids had a significantly higher number of NK cells, total macrophages, M2 macrophages, and conventional dendritic cells when compared to matched myometrium from the same patient. In contrast, fibroids had significantly fewer CD3 and CD4 T cells when compared to myometrium. The mass cytometry analysis did not show any significant difference in the number of resting mast cells. IFC and IHC imaging confirmed the CytoF results, showing a significantly higher (p<0.05) number of NK, tryptase-positive mast cells indicative of mast cell activation, total macrophage, and M2 cells in Fibroids and a significantly lower (p<0.05) number of CD3 and CD4 T cells. The cytokine assay revealed significantly increased (p<0.05) levels of IFNA2, Il-1α, and PDGF-AA and significantly lower levels of M-CSF and IL-1RA in Fib.
CONCLUSION
Our results show significant differences in immune cell populations and cytokine levels between Fib and Myo. There was a significant increase in total number of macrophages, M2 macrophages, NK cells, and dendritic cells and a significant decrease in CD3 and CD4 T cells in Fib. IHC confirmed no differences in total resting mast cell count, but a significant increase in tryptase-positive mast cells in Fib. Fibs also expressed significantly higher levels of IFNA2, IL-1α, and PDGF-AA and significantly lower levels of IL-1RA and M-CSF as compared with matched myometrium. These findings provide a foundation for further studies exploring the role of immune cells in Fib development.
PubMed: 38925276
DOI: 10.1016/j.xfss.2024.06.004 -
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry Jun 2024Ectopic calcification of myofibers is an early pathogenic feature in patients and animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In previous studies using the Dmd...
Ectopic calcification of myofibers is an early pathogenic feature in patients and animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In previous studies using the Dmd mouse model, we found that the dystrophin-null phenotype exacerbates this abnormality and that mineralised myofibers are surrounded by macrophages. Furthermore, the P2X7 purinoceptor, functioning in immune cells offers protection against dystrophic calcification. In the present study, by exploring transcriptomic data from Dmd mice, we hypothesised these effects to be mediated by C-X-C motif chemokine 5 (CXCL5) downstream of P2X7 activation. We found that CXCL5 is upregulated in the quadriceps muscles of Dmd mice compared to wild-type controls. In contrast, at the cell level, dystrophic (SC5) skeletal muscle cells secreted less CXCL5 chemokine than wild-type (IMO) controls. Although release from IMO cells was increased by P2X7 activation, this could not explain the elevated CXCL5 levels observed in dystrophic muscle tissue. Instead, we found that CXCL5 is released by dystrophin-null macrophages in response to P2X7 activation, suggesting that macrophages are the source of CXCL5 in dystrophic muscles. The effects of CXCL5 upon mineralisation were investigated using the Alizarin Red assay to quantify calcium deposition in vitro. In basal (low phosphate) media, CXCL5 increased calcification in IMO but not SC5 myoblasts. However, in cultures treated in high phosphate media, to mimic dysregulated phosphate metabolism occurring in DMD, CXCL5 decreased calcification in both IMO and SC5 cells. These data indicate that CXCL5 is part of a homoeostatic mechanism regulating intracellular calcium, that CXCL5 can be released by macrophages in response to the extracellular ATP damage-associated signal, and that CXCL5 can be part of a damage response to protect against ectopic calcification. This mechanism is affected by DMD gene mutations.
PubMed: 38924558
DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30617