Journal of Vascular Surgery
Kasashima S, Kawashima A, Zen Y, Ozaki S, Kasashima F, Endo M, Matsumoto Y, Kawakami K.
PMID: 28434701 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2016.12.140
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Immunoglobulin (Ig) G4-related aortic aneurysms (IgG4-AAs) are a special aortic aneurysm among IgG4-related diseases (IgG4-RDs), which are inflammatory and fibrous conditions characterized by tumorous swelling of affected organs and high serum IgG4 concentrations. Recently, IgG4-RD pathogenesis was shown to be associated with T-helper-2 (Th2) and regulatory T (Treg) dominant cytokine production, such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and IL-13. IL-6 is a key proinflammatory cytokine contributing to lymphocyte and plasmacyte maturation and to atherosclerosis and aneurysm development. We serologically and histopathologically evaluated the cytokine profile in IgG4-AA patients.
METHODS:
Patients with IgG4-AAs (n = 10), non-IgG4-related inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms (non-IgG4-AAAs; n = 5), atherosclerotic AAAs (aAAAs; n = 10), and normal aortas without dilatation (n = 10) were examined for serum IL-10, IL-13, and IL-6 levels. Resected aortic tissues were evaluated for cluster of differentiation (CD) 34 (in the endothelial cells and mesenchymal cells) and CD163 (by macrophages) expression using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.
RESULTS:
Serum IL-10 levels were rather higher in IgG4-AA patients (median, 1.3 pg/mL) than in non-IgG4-AAA and aAAA patients and in patients with normal aortas. Elevated serum IL-13 levels relative to standard values were detected in two IgG4-AA patients but not in the other groups. Cells immunopositive for IL-10 and IL-13 were more frequent in IgG4-AAs and significantly correlated with serum IgG4 levels. Serum IL-6 levels (median, 78.5 pg/mL) were also significantly higher in IgG4-AA patients than in non-IgG4-AAA and aAAA patients and control patients with normal aortas (P = .01, P = .001, and P = .004, respectively). They positively correlated with serum IgG4 levels and adventitial thickness, but other cytokines did not. The number of IL-6-immunopositive cells in the adventitia was significantly higher in IgG4-AA patients (median, 17.8/high-power field) than in aAAA patients or patients with normal aortas (P =.001 and P = .002, respectively). In situ hybridization confirmed frequent IL-6 messenger (m)RNA expression in the endothelium, mesenchymal cells, and histiocytes in IgG4-AA adventitia. In the same cells of IgG4-AAs, coexpression of IL-6 and CD34 mRNA or CD163 mRNA was detected.
CONCLUSIONS:
The cytokine profiles of IgG4-AA patients had two characteristics: local IL-10 and IL-13 upregulation in IgG4-AAs was related to Th2 and Treg-predominant cytokine balance, similar to other IgG4-RDs, and IL-6 upregulation in the adventitia was characterized by activated immune reactions in IgG4-AA patients. IL-6 synthesis, through contributions of mesenchymal cells and macrophages in the adventitia, is strongly involved in IgG4-AA pathogenesis or progression, or both.
The Journal of physiology
Peltekian, L;Gasparini, S;Fazan, FS;Karthik, S;Iverson, G;Resch, JM;Geerling, JC;
PMID: 37291801 | DOI: 10.1113/JP283169
In addition to its renal and cardiovascular functions, angiotensin signalling is thought to be responsible for the increases in salt and water intake caused by hypovolaemia. However, it remains unclear whether these behaviours require angiotensin production in the brain or liver. Here, we use in situ hybridization to identify tissue-specific expression of the genes required for producing angiotensin peptides, and then use conditional genetic deletion of the angiotensinogen gene (Agt) to test whether production in the brain or liver is necessary for sodium appetite and thirst. In the mouse brain, we identified expression of Agt (the precursor for all angiotensin peptides) in a large subset of astrocytes. We also identified Ren1 and Ace (encoding enzymes required to produce angiotensin II) expression in the choroid plexus, and Ren1 expression in neurons within the nucleus ambiguus compact formation. In the liver, we confirmed that Agt is widely expressed in hepatocytes. We next tested whether thirst and sodium appetite require angiotensinogen production in astrocytes or hepatocytes. Despite virtually eliminating expression in the brain, deleting astrocytic Agt did not reduce thirst or sodium appetite. Despite markedly reducing angiotensinogen in the blood, eliminating Agt from hepatocytes did not reduce thirst or sodium appetite, and in fact, these mice consumed the largest amounts of salt and water after sodium deprivation. Deleting Agt from both astrocytes and hepatocytes also did not prevent thirst or sodium appetite. Our findings suggest that angiotensin signalling is not required for sodium appetite or thirst and highlight the need to identify alternative signalling mechanisms. KEY POINTS: Angiotensin signalling is thought to be responsible for the increased thirst and sodium appetite caused by hypovolaemia, producing elevated water and sodium intake. Specific cells in separate brain regions express the three genes needed to produce angiotensin peptides, but brain-specific deletion of the angiotensinogen gene (Agt), which encodes the lone precursor for all angiotensin peptides, did not reduce thirst or sodium appetite. Double-deletion of Agt from brain and liver also did not reduce thirst or sodium appetite. Liver-specific deletion of Agt reduced circulating angiotensinogen levels without reducing thirst or sodium appetite. Instead, these angiotensin-deficient mice exhibited an enhanced sodium appetite. Because the physiological mechanisms controlling thirst and sodium appetite continued functioning without angiotensin production in the brain and liver, understanding these mechanisms requires a renewed search for the hypovolaemic signals necessary for activating each behaviour.
Lecker, LSM;Berlato, C;Maniati, E;Delaine-Smith, R;Pearce, OMT;Heath, O;Nichols, SJ;Trevisan, C;Novak, M;McDermott, J;Brenton, JD;Cutillas, PR;Rajeeve, V;Hennino, A;Drapkin, R;Loessner, D;Balkwill, FR;
PMID: 34561272 | DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-21-0536
The tumor microenvironment evolves during malignant progression, with major changes in nonmalignant cells, cytokine networks, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we aimed to understand how the ECM changes during neoplastic transformation of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma lesions (STIC) into high-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOC). Analysis of the mechanical properties of human fallopian tubes (FT) and ovaries revealed that normal FT and fimbria had a lower tissue modulus, a measure of stiffness, than normal or diseased ovaries. Proteomic analysis of the matrisome fraction between FT, fimbria, and ovaries showed significant differences in the ECM protein TGF beta induced (TGFBI, also known as βig-h3). STIC lesions in the fimbria expressed high levels of TGFBI, which was predominantly produced by CD163-positive macrophages proximal to STIC epithelial cells. In vitro stimulation of macrophages with TGFβ and IL4 induced secretion of TGFBI, whereas IFNγ/LPS downregulated macrophage TGFBI expression. Immortalized FT secretory epithelial cells carrying clinically relevant TP53 mutations stimulated macrophages to secrete TGFBI and upregulated integrin αvβ3, a putative TGFBI receptor. Transcriptomic HGSOC datasets showed a significant correlation between TGFBI expression and alternatively activated macrophage signatures. Fibroblasts in HGSOC metastases expressed TGFBI and stimulated macrophage TGFBI production in vitro. Treatment of orthotopic mouse HGSOC tumors with an anti-TGFBI antibody reduced peritoneal tumor size, increased tumor monocytes, and activated β3-expressing unconventional T cells. In conclusion, TGFBI may favor an immunosuppressive microenvironment in STICs that persists in advanced HGSOC. Furthermore, TGFBI may be an effector of the tumor-promoting actions of TGFβ and a potential therapeutic target. SIGNIFICANCE: Analysis of ECM changes during neoplastic transformation reveals a role for TGFBI secreted by macrophages in immunosuppression in early ovarian cancer.
Kuchroo, M;DiStasio, M;Song, E;Calapkulu, E;Zhang, L;Ige, M;Sheth, AH;Majdoubi, A;Menon, M;Tong, A;Godavarthi, A;Xing, Y;Gigante, S;Steach, H;Huang, J;Huguet, G;Narain, J;You, K;Mourgkos, G;Dhodapkar, RM;Hirn, MJ;Rieck, B;Wolf, G;Krishnaswamy, S;Hafler, BP;
PMID: 37147305 | DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37025-7
Due to commonalities in pathophysiology, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) represents a uniquely accessible model to investigate therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, leading us to examine whether pathways of disease progression are shared across neurodegenerative conditions. Here we use single-nucleus RNA sequencing to profile lesions from 11 postmortem human retinas with age-related macular degeneration and 6 control retinas with no history of retinal disease. We create a machine-learning pipeline based on recent advances in data geometry and topology and identify activated glial populations enriched in the early phase of disease. Examining single-cell data from Alzheimer's disease and progressive multiple sclerosis with our pipeline, we find a similar glial activation profile enriched in the early phase of these neurodegenerative diseases. In late-stage age-related macular degeneration, we identify a microglia-to-astrocyte signaling axis mediated by interleukin-1β which drives angiogenesis characteristic of disease pathogenesis. We validated this mechanism using in vitro and in vivo assays in mouse, identifying a possible new therapeutic target for AMD and possibly other neurodegenerative conditions. Thus, due to shared glial states, the retina provides a potential system for investigating therapeutic approaches in neurodegenerative diseases.
SARS-CoV-2 colonization of maternal and fetal cells of the human placenta promotes alteration of local renin-angiotensin system
Verma, S;Joshi, CS;Silverstein, RB;He, M;Carter, EB;Mysorekar, IU;
PMID: 33870242 | DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2021.04.009
SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia in pregnant women. The mechanism(s) by which this occurs remains unclear. We investigated the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 at maternal-fetal interface in pregnant women who tested positive for the virus using RNA in situ hybridization (viral RNA), immunohistochemistry, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. To investigate whether viral infection alters the renin angiotensin system (RAS) in placenta which controls blood pressure, we treated human trophoblasts with recombinant Spike protein or a live modified virus with a vesicular stomatitis viral backbone expressing Spike protein (VSV-S). Viral colonization was highest in maternal decidua, fetal trophoblasts, Hofbauer cells, and in placentas delivered prematurely. We localized SARS-CoV-2 to cells expressing Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and demonstrate that infected placentas had significantly reduced ACE2. In response to both Spike protein and VSV-S, cellular ACE2 decreased while Angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R) increased with concomitant increase in soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1(sFlt1). Viral infection decreased pro-angiogenic factors, AT2R and Placental growth factor, which competitively binds to sFlt1. Sera from infected pregnant women had elevated levels of sFlt1 and Angiotensin II type 1-Receptor Autoantibodies prior to delivery, both signatory markers of preeclampsia. SARS-CoV-2 colonizes ACE2-expressing maternal and fetal cells in the placenta. Infection in pregnant women correlates with alteration of placental RAS. As RAS regulates blood pressure, SARS-CoV-2 infection may thus increase adverse hemodynamic outcomes such as preeclampsia in pregnant women. NIH/NICHD grants R01 HD091218 and 3R01HD091218-04S1 (RADx-UP Supplement).
Samal J, Kelly S, Na-Shatal A, Elhakiem A, Das A, Ding M, Sanyal A, Gupta P, Melody K, Roland B, Ahmed W, Zakir A, Bility M.
PMID: 30232273 | DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.120430
A major pathogenic feature associated with HIV infection is lymphoid fibrosis, which persists during antiretroviral therapy (ART). Lymphoid tissues play critical roles in the generation of antigen-specific immune response, and fibrosis disrupts the stromal network of lymphoid tissues, resulting in impaired immune cell trafficking and function, as well as immunodeficiency. Developing an animal model for investigating the impact of HIV infection-induced lymphoid tissue fibrosis on immunodeficiency and immune cell impairment is critical for therapeutics development and clinical translation. Said model will enable in vivo mechanistic studies, thus complementing the well-established surrogate model of SIV infection-induced lymphoid tissue fibrosis in macaques. We developed a potentially novel human immune system-humanized mouse model by coengrafting autologous fetal thymus, spleen, and liver organoids under the kidney capsule, along with i.v. injection of autologous fetal liver-derived hematopoietic stem cells, thus termed the BM-liver-thymus-spleen (BLTS) humanized mouse model. BLTS humanized mouse model supports development of human immune cells and human lymphoid organoids (human thymus and spleen organoids). HIV infection in BLTS humanized mice results in progressive fibrosis in human lymphoid tissues, which was associated with immunodeficiency in the lymphoid tissues, and lymphoid tissue fibrosis persists during ART, thus recapitulating clinical outcomes.
Hammond TR, Dufort C, Dissing-Olesen L, Giera S, Young A, Wysoker A, Walker AJ, Gergits F, Segel M, Nemesh J, Marsh SE, Saunders A, Macosko E, Ginhoux F, Chen J, Franklin RJM, Piao X, McCarroll SA, Stevens B.
PMID: 30471926 | DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.11.004
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, rapidly change states in response to their environment, but we lack molecular and functional signatures of different microglial populations. Here, we analyzed the RNA expression patterns of more than 76,000 individual microglia in mice during development, in old age, and after brain injury. Our analysis uncovered at least nine transcriptionally distinct microglial states, which expressed unique sets of genes and were localized in the brain using specific markers. The greatest microglial heterogeneity was found at young ages; however, several states-including chemokine-enriched inflammatory microglia-persisted throughout the lifespan or increased in the aged brain. Multiple reactive microglial subtypes were also found following demyelinating injury in mice, at least one of which was also found in human multiple sclerosis lesions. These distinct microglia signatures can be used to better understand microglia function and to identify and manipulate specific subpopulations in health and disease.
Different spatial distribution of inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment of ABC and GBC subgroups of diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Clinical and experimental medicine
Guidolin, D;Tamma, R;Annese, T;Tortorella, C;Ingravallo, G;Gaudio, F;Perrone, T;Musto, P;Specchia, G;Ribatti, D;
PMID: 33959827 | DOI: 10.1007/s10238-021-00716-w
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) presents a high clinical and biological heterogeneity, and the tumor microenvironment chracteristics are important in its progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate tumor T, B cells, macrophages and mast cells distribution in GBC and ABC DLBCL subgroups through a set of morphometric parameters allowing to provide a quantitative evaluation of the morphological features of the spatial patterns generated by these inflammatory cells. Histological ABC and GCB samples were immunostained for CD4, CD8, CD68, CD 163, and tryptase in order to determine both percentage and position of positive cells in the tissue characterizing their spatial distribution. The results evidenced that cell patterns generated by CD4-, CD8-, CD68-, CD163- and tryptase-positive cell profiles exhibited a significantly higher uniformity index in ABC than in GCB subgroup. The positive-cell distributions appeared clustered in tissues from GCB, while in tissues from ABC such a feature was lower or absent. The combinations of spatial statistics-derived parameters can lead to better predictions of tumor cell infiltration than any classical morphometric method providing a more accurate description of the functional status of the tumor, useful for patient prognosis.
Brown HR, Castellino S, Groseclose MR, Elangbam CS, Mellon-Kusibab K, Yoon LW, Gates LD, Krull DL, Cariello NF, Arrington-Brown L, Tillman T, Fowler S, Shah V, Bailey D, Miller RT.
PMID: 26733602 | DOI: -
Nevirapine (NVP) is associated with hepatotoxicity in 1-5% of patients. In rodent studies, NVP has been shown to cause hepatic enzyme induction, centrilobular hypertrophy, and skin rash in various rat strains but not liver toxicity. In an effort to understand whether NVP is metabolized differently in a transiently inflamed liver and whether a heightened immune response alters NVP-induced hepatic responses, female brown Norway rats were dosed with either vehicle or NVP alone (75 mg/kg/day for 15 days) or galactosamine alone (single intraperitoneal [ip] injection on day 7 to mimic viral hepatitis) or a combination of NVP (75/100/150 mg/kg/day for 15 days) and galactosamine (single 750 mg/kg ip on day 7). Livers were collected at necropsy for histopathology, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry and gene expression. Eight days after galactosamine, hepatic fibrosis was noted in rats dosed with the combination of NVP and galactosamine. No fibrosis occurred with NVP alone or galactosamine alone. Gene expression data suggested a viral-like response initiated by galactosamine via RNA sensors leading to apoptosis, toll-like receptor, and dendritic cell responses. These were exacerbated by NVP-induced growth factor, retinol, apoptosis, and periostin effects. This finding supports clinical reports warning against exacerbation of fibrosis by NVP in patients with hepatitis C.
McGinnis, A;Ji, RR;
PMID: 36980304 | DOI: 10.3390/cells12060965
Preclinical studies have identified glial cells as pivotal players in the genesis and maintenance of neuropathic pain after nerve injury associated with diabetes, chemotherapy, major surgeries, and virus infections. Satellite glial cells (SGCs) in the dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) express similar molecular markers and are protective under physiological conditions. They also serve similar functions in the genesis and maintenance of neuropathic pain, downregulating some of their homeostatic functions and driving pro-inflammatory neuro-glial interactions in the PNS and CNS, i.e., "gliopathy". However, the role of SGCs in neuropathic pain is not simply as "peripheral astrocytes". We delineate how these peripheral and central glia participate in neuropathic pain by producing different mediators, engaging different parts of neurons, and becoming active at different stages following nerve injury. Finally, we highlight the recent findings that SGCs are enriched with proteins related to fatty acid metabolism and signaling such as Apo-E, FABP7, and LPAR1. Targeting SGCs and astrocytes may lead to novel therapeutics for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
De Schepper, S;Ge, JZ;Crowley, G;Ferreira, LSS;Garceau, D;Toomey, CE;Sokolova, D;Rueda-Carrasco, J;Shin, SH;Kim, JS;Childs, T;Lashley, T;Burden, JJ;Sasner, M;Sala Frigerio, C;Jung, S;Hong, S;
PMID: 36747024 | DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01257-z
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by synaptic loss, which can result from dysfunctional microglial phagocytosis and complement activation. However, what signals drive aberrant microglia-mediated engulfment of synapses in AD is unclear. Here we report that secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1/osteopontin) is upregulated predominantly by perivascular macrophages and, to a lesser extent, by perivascular fibroblasts. Perivascular SPP1 is required for microglia to engulf synapses and upregulate phagocytic markers including C1qa, Grn and Ctsb in presence of amyloid-β oligomers. Absence of Spp1 expression in AD mouse models results in prevention of synaptic loss. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing and putative cell-cell interaction analyses reveal that perivascular SPP1 induces microglial phagocytic states in the hippocampus of a mouse model of AD. Altogether, we suggest a functional role for SPP1 in perivascular cells-to-microglia crosstalk, whereby SPP1 modulates microglia-mediated synaptic engulfment in mouse models of AD.
McGinnis, A;Ji, R;
| DOI: 10.20944/preprints202302.0448.v1
Preclinical studies have identified glial cells as pivotal players in the genesis and maintenance of neuropathic pain after nerve injury associated with diabetes, chemotherapy, major surgeries, and virus infections. Satellite glial cells (SGCs) in the dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) express similar molecular markers and are protective under physiological conditions. They also serve similar functions in the genesis and maintenance of neuropathic pain, downregulating some of their homeostatic functions and driving pro-inflammatory neuro-glial interactions in the PNS and CNS, i.e. “gliopathy”. However, the role of SGCs in neuropathic pain is not simply as “peripheral astrocytes”. We delineate how these peripheral and central glia participate in neuropathic pain by producing different mediators, engaging different parts of neurons, and becoming active at different stages following nerve injury. Finally, we highlight the recent findings that SGCs are enriched with proteins related to fatty acid metabolism and signaling such as Apo-E, FABP7, and LPAR1. Targeting SGCs and astrocytes may lead to novel therapeutics for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
