Britta Siegmund

The antitumor histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid exhibits antiinflammatory properties via suppression of cytokines

Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) is a hydroxamic acid-containing hybrid polar molecule; SAHA specifically binds to and inhibits the activity of histone deacetylase. Although SAHA, like other inhibitors of histone deacetylase, exhibits antitumor effects by increasing expression of genes regulating tumor survival, we found that SAHA reduces the production of proinflammatory cytokines in vivo and in vitro. A single oral administration of SAHA to mice dose-dependently reduced circulating TNF-α, IL-1-β, IL-6, and IFN-γ induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Administration of SAHA also reduced hepatic cellular injury in mice following i.v. injection of Con A. SAHA inhibited nitric oxide release in mouse macrophages stimulated by the combination of TNF-α plus IFN-γ. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with LPS in the presence of SAHA released less TNF-α, IL-1-β, IL-12, and IFN-γ (50% reduction at 100–200 nM). The production of IFN-γ stimulated by IL-18 plus IL-12 was also inhibited by SAHA (85% at 200 nM). However, SAHA did not affect LPS-induced synthesis of the IL-1-β precursor, the IL-1 receptor antagonist, or the chemokine IL-8. In addition, IFN-γ induced by anti-CD3 was not suppressed by SAHA. Steady-state mRNA levels for LPS-induced TNF-α and IFN-γ in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were markedly decreased, whereas IL-8 and IL-1-β mRNA levels were unaffected. Because SAHA exhibits antiinflammatory properties in vivo and in vitro, inhibitors of histone deacetylase may stimulate the expression of genes that control the synthesis of cytokines and nitric oxide or hyperacetylate other targets.

Impaired IL-18 processing protects caspase-1–deficient mice from ischemic acute renal failure

We sought to determine whether mice deficient in the proinflammatory caspase-1, which cleaves precursors of IL-1 beta and IL-18, were protected against ischemic acute renal failure (ARF). Caspase-1(-/-) mice developed less ischemic ARF as judged by renal function and renal histology. These animals had significantly reduced blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels and a lower morphological tubular necrosis score than did wild-type mice with ischemic ARF. Since caspase-1 activates IL-18, lack of mature IL-18 might protect these caspase-1(-/-) mice from ARF. In wild-type animals, we found that ARF causes kidney IL-18 levels to more than double and induces the conversion of the IL-18 precursor to the mature form. This conversion is not observed in caspase-1(-/-) ARF mice or sham-operated controls. We then injected wild-type mice with IL-18-neutralizing antiserum before the ischemic insult and found a similar degree of protection from ARF as seen in caspase-1(-/-) mice. In addition, we observed a fivefold increase in myeloperoxidase activity in control mice with ARF, but no such increase in caspase-1(-/-) or IL-18 antiserum-treated mice. Finally, we confirmed histologically that caspase-1(-/-) mice show decreased neutrophil infiltration, indicating that the deleterious role of IL-18 in ischemic ARF may be due to increased neutrophil infiltration.

IL-1β-converting enzyme (caspase-1) in intestinal inflammation

IL-1β-converting enzyme (ICE; caspase-1) is the intracellular protease that cleaves the precursors of IL-1β and IL-18 into active cytokines. In the present study, the effect of ICE deficiency was evaluated during experimental colitis in mice. In acute dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis, ICE-deficient (ICE KO) mice exhibited a greater than 50% decrease of the clinical scores weight loss, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and colon length, whereas daily treatment with IL-1 receptor antagonist revealed a modest reduction in colitis severity. To further characterize the function of ICE and its role in intestinal inflammation, chronic colitis was induced over a 30-day time period. During this chronic time course, ICE KO mice exhibited a near complete protection, as reflected by significantly reduced clinical scores and almost absent histological signs of colitis. Consistently, colon shortening occurred only in dextran sulfate sodium-exposed wild-type mice but not in ICE KO mice. Protection was accompanied by reduced spontaneous release of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-18, IL-1β, and IFN-γ from total colon cultures. In addition, flow cytometric analysis of isolated mesenteric lymph node cells revealed evidence of reduced cell activation in ICE KO mice as evaluated by surface expression of CD3 CD69 and CD4 CD25. We conclude that inhibition of ICE represents a novel anti-inflammatory strategy for intestinal inflammation.

Neutrophil-independent mechanisms of caspase-1– and IL-18–mediated ischemic acute tubular necrosis in mice

Having recently described the injurious role of caspase-1-mediated production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-18 in ischemic acute renal failure (ARF), we report here on the effect of the newly developed caspase inhibitor Quinoline-Val-Asp(Ome)-CH(2)-OPH (OPH-001) on caspase-1, IL-18, neutrophil infiltration, and renal function in ischemic ARF. C57BL/6 mice with ischemic ARF treated with OPH-001 had a marked (100%) reduction in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine and a highly significant reduction in morphological acute tubular necrosis (ATN) score compared with vehicle-treated mice. OPH-001 significantly reduced the increase in caspase-1 activity and IL-18 and prevented neutrophil infiltration in the kidney during ischemic ARF. To evaluate whether this lack of neutrophil infiltration was contributing to the protection against ischemic ARF, a model of neutrophil depletion was developed. Neutrophil-depleted mice had a small (18%) reduction in serum creatinine during ischemic ARF but no reduction in ATN score despite a lack of neutrophil infiltration in the kidney. Remarkably, caspase-1 activity and IL-18 were significantly increased in the kidney in neutrophil-depleted mice with ARF. In addition, IL-18 antiserum-treated neutrophil-depleted mice with ischemic ARF had a significant (75%) reduction in serum creatinine and a significant reduction in ATN score compared with vehicle-treated neutrophil-depleted mice. These results suggest a novel neutrophil-independent mechanism of IL-18-mediated ischemic ARF.

Histone Hyperacetylation Is Associated with Amelioration of Experimental Colitis in Mice

Inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDAC) are being studied for their antiproliferative effects in preclinical cancer trials. Recent studies suggest an anti-inflammatory role for this class of compounds. Because inflammatory bowel disease is associated with an increased risk of malignancies, agents with antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties would be of therapeutic interest. HDAC inhibitors from various classes were selected and evaluated for their in vitro capacity to suppress cytokine production and to induce apoptosis and histone acetylation. Valproic acid (VPA) and suberyolanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) were chosen for further studies in dextran sulfate sodium- and trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in mice. In vitro, inhibition of HDAC resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of cytokine synthesis and apoptosis induction requiring higher concentrations of HDAC inhibitors for apoptosis induction compared with cytokine inhibition. Oral administration of either VPA or SAHA reduced disease severity in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. The macroscopic and histologic reduction of disease severity was associated with a marked suppression of colonic proinflammatory cytokines. In parallel to the beneficial effect observed, a dose-dependent increase in histone 3 acetylation at the site of inflammation was shown under VPA treatment. Furthermore, SAHA as well as VPA treatment resulted in amelioration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis, which was associated with an increase of apoptosis of lamina propria lymphocytes. Inhibitors of HDAC reveal strong protective effects in different models of experimental colitis by inducing apoptosis and suppressing proinflammatory cytokines, thereby representing a promising class of compounds for clinical studies in human inflammatory bowel disease.

Shift towards pro-inflammatory intestinal bacteria aggravates acute murine colitis via Toll-like receptors 2 and 4.

Background Gut bacteria trigger colitis in animal models and are suspected to aggravate inflammatory bowel diseases. We have recently reported that Escherichia coli accumulates in murine ileitis and exacerbates small intestinal inflammation via Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. Methodology and Principal Findings Because knowledge on shifts in the intestinal microflora during colitis is limited, we performed a global survey of the colon flora of C57BL/10 wild-type (wt), TLR2-/-, TLR4-/-, and TLR2/4-/- mice treated for seven days with 3.5% dextrane-sulfate-sodium (DSS). As compared to wt animals, TLR2-/-, TLR4-/-, and TLR2/4-/- mice displayed reduced macroscopic signs of acute colitis and the amelioration of inflammation was associated with reduced IFN-gamma levels in mesenteric lymph nodes, lower amounts of neutrophils, and less FOXP3-positive T-cells in the colon in situ. During acute colitis E. coli increased in wt and TLR-deficient mice (P<0.05), but the final numbers reached were significantly lower in TLR2-/-, TLR4-/- and TLR2/4-/- animals, as compared to wt controls (P<0.01). Concentrations of Bacteroides/ Prevotella spp., and enterococci did not increase during colitis, but their numbers were significantly reduced in the colon of DSS-treated TLR2/4-/- animals (P<0.01). Numbers of lactobacilli and clostridia remained unaffected by colitis, irrespective of the TLR-genotype of mice. Culture-independent molecular analyses confirmed the microflora shifts towards enterobacteria during colitis and showed that the gut flora composition was similar in both, healthy wt and TLR-deficient animals. Conclusions and Significance DSS-induced colitis is characterized by a shift in the intestinal microflora towards pro-inflammatory Gram-negative bacteria. Bacterial products exacerbate acute inflammation via TLR2- and TLR4-signaling and direct the recruitment of neutrophils and regulatory T-cells to intestinal sites. E. coli may serve as a biomarker for colitis severity and DSS-induced barrier damage seems to be a valuable model to further identify bacterial factors involved in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and to test therapeutic interventions based upon anti-TLR strategies.

Leptin receptor expression on T lymphocytes modulates chronic intestinal inflammation in mice

Background: Leptin regulates appetite through the long isoform of its receptor in the hypothalamus. Although leptin regulates immune responses, it is still unknown whether a direct effect of leptin on lymphocytes is required. Aims: To clarify whether expression of leptin receptors on T lymphocytes modulates intestinal inflammation in mice. Methods: The model of colitis induced by transfer of CD4+CD45RBhigh (RBhigh) cells into scid mice was used. Wild-type (WT) or leptin receptor deficient (db/db) RBhigh cells were transferred into scid mice and development of colitis evaluated. Results: Leptin receptors were expressed on both RBhigh and RBlow cells. Intestinal lymphocytes of mice with colitis expressed high leptin levels compared with healthy controls whereas the opposite was true for serum leptin levels. Transfer of RBhigh cells from db/db mice induced delayed disease compared with transfer of WT cells. A high rate of apoptosis in lamina propria lymphocytes and reduced cytokine production were observed early on in scid mice receiving db/db RBhigh cells. These effects were not due to the high levels of glucocorticoids present in db/db mice as administration of corticosterone to WT mice failed to reproduce this phenomenon. High expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ was observed in the colon of recipients of db/db compared with WT cells. Freshly isolated db/db RBhigh cells produced low levels of interferon γ. Despite delayed onset of colitis, as disease progressed differences between mice receiving WT or db/db cells were no longer apparent. Conclusions: These results suggest that leptin affects the immune response, partly by acting on the long isoform of its receptor expressed on T lymphocytes.

Imbalance between interleukin‐1 agonists and antagonists: relationship to severity of inflammatory bowel disease

Interleukin (IL)‐1 is a key mediator in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Naturally occurring IL‐1 modulators include IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1Ra), IL‐1 soluble receptor Type I (IL‐1sRI), IL‐1sRII and IL‐1 receptor accessory protein (AcP). Systemic and mucosal levels of IL‐1 soluble receptors remain unknown in IBD. Plasma or colonic tissues were obtained from 185 consecutive unselected patients with Crohns disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) and from 52 control subjects. Plasma and colonic explant culture supernatants were assessed for IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐1Ra, IL‐1sRI and IL‐1sRII. Plasma IL‐1Ra levels were higher in UC (+93%) than in healthy subjects. IL‐1α and IL‐1β were not detected. IL‐1sRII levels were marginally lower in CD (−10%) and UC (−9%), whereas IL‐1sRI levels were elevated in CD (+28%) only. Plasma IL‐1sRI levels correlated positively (P < 0·01) with Crohns disease activity index (r = 0·53), C‐reactive protein (r = 0·46) and α1‐acid glycoprotein (r = 0·42). In colonic explant cultures, IL‐1α and IL‐1Ra levels were elevated in non‐lesional (+233% and +185% respectively) and lesional CD (+353% and +1069%), lesional UC (+604% and +1138%), but not in non‐lesional UC. IL‐1β was elevated in lesional UC (+152%) and CD (+128%). In contrast, IL‐1sRII levels were elevated in non‐lesional CD (+65%), but remained unchanged in lesional CD, non‐lesional and lesional UC. IL‐1sRI levels did not differ between patient and control groups. These results indicate that (i) the proinflammatory moiety IL‐1sRI is a systemic marker of inflammation and activity in CD and (ii) local shedding of the functional antagonist IL‐1sRII may dampen colonic inflammation in CD, but not in UC.

Interleukin-1β converting enzyme (caspase-1) in intestinal inflammation

An imbalance of T helper cell type 1 (Th1) versus type 2 (Th2) polarization in favor of Th1 cell subsets appears to be a key pathogenic mechanism in chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in particular in Crohns disease. The interferon gamma-inducing factor interleukin (IL)-18 acts in strong synergism with the Th1 polarizing cytokine IL-12. Recent studies provide evidence for the participation of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of IBD: IL-18 expression is increased in inflamed lesions of Crohns disease patients and neutralization of IL-18 in different models of experimental colitis resulted in a dramatic amelioration of disease severity. IL-18 and IL-1beta are cleaved and thereby activated by the interleukin-1beta converting enzyme (ICE). Activation of ICE also occurs during different types of infectious colitis, and ICE expression and subsequent release of IL-1beta and IL-18 significantly contribute to intestinal inflammation. ICE knockout mice as well as mice treated with the ICE inhibitor pralnacasan are protected against experimental mucosal inflammation. Thus, inhibition of ICE represents an intriguing new target that requires further investigation in animal models.

Interleukin-18 in Intestinal Inflammation: Friend and Foe?

Genetic studies and other experimental data have linked inflammatory bowel diseases with inflammasome activation. In this issue of Immunity, Zaki et al. (2010) and Dupaul-Chicoine et al. (2010) provide a detailed characterization of the regulatory task of the inflammasome in intestinal epithelial cells.