Ching-Liang Chu

Myeloid cells, BAFF, and IFN-γ establish an inflammatory loop that exacerbates autoimmunity in Lyn-deficient mice

Autoimmunity is traditionally attributed to altered lymphoid cell selection and/or tolerance, whereas the contribution of innate immune cells is less well understood. Autoimmunity is also associated with increased levels of B cell–activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF; also known as B lymphocyte stimulator), a cytokine that promotes survival of self-reactive B cell clones. We describe an important role for myeloid cells in autoimmune disease progression. Using Lyn-deficient mice, we show that overproduction of BAFF by hyperactive myeloid cells contributes to inflammation and autoimmunity in part by acting directly on T cells to induce the release of IFN-γ. Genetic deletion of IFN-γ or reduction of BAFF activity, achieved by either reducing myeloid cell hyperproduction or by treating with an anti-BAFF monoclonal antibody, reduced disease development in lyn−/− mice. The increased production of IFN-γ in lyn−/− mice feeds back on the myeloid cells to further stimulate BAFF release. Expression of BAFF receptor on T cells was required for their full activation and IFN-γ release. Overall, our data suggest that the reciprocal production of BAFF and IFN-γ establishes an inflammatory loop between myeloid cells and T cells that exacerbates autoimmunity in this model. Our findings uncover an important pathological role of BAFF in autoimmune disorders.

Immunosuppressive Effect of Quercetin on Dendritic Cell Activation and Function

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in linking innate and adaptive immunity. Thus, DCs have been regarded as a major target of immunosuppressants for the control of harmful immune responses. In this study, we examined the effect of quercetin, a natural flavonoid found in many vegetables and fruits, on the activation and function of mouse DCs. Quercetin effectively inhibited LPS-induced DC activation by reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines and the expression levels of MHC class II and costimulatory molecules. In addition, quercetin uniquely blocked endocytosis by DCs and the LPS-induced DC migration was diminished by quercetin treatment. Furthermore, quercetin abrogated the ability of LPS-stimulated DCs to induce Ag-specific T cell activation, both in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, coadministration of quercetin with 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene prevented 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene–induced contact hypersensitivity, indicating the potential of quercetin for treating delayed-type hypersensitive diseases. Blockage of LPS-induced ERK, JNK, Akt, and NF-κB activation contributed to the inhibitory effect of quercetin on DCs. These results strongly suggest that quercetin may be a potent immunosuppressive agent and could be used in the prevention and therapy of chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, and transplantation via the abolishment of DC activation and function.

Regulation of CD1 Function and NK1.1+ T Cell Selection and Maturation by Cathepsin S

NK1.1(+) T cells develop and function through interactions with cell surface CD1 complexes. In I-A(b) mice lacking the invariant chain (Ii) processing enzyme, cathepsin S, NK1.1(+) T cell selection and function are impaired. In vitro, thymic dendritic cells (DCs) from cathepsin S(-/-) mice exhibit defective presentation of the CD1-restricted antigen, alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer). CD1 dysfunction is secondary to defective trafficking of CD1, which colocalizes with Ii fragments and accumulates within endocytic compartments of cathepsin S(-/-) DCs. I-A(k), cathepsin S(-/-) mice do not accumulate class II-associated Ii fragments and accordingly do not display CD1 abnormalities. Thus, function of CD1 is critically linked to processing of Ii, revealing MHC class II haplotype and cathepsin S activity as regulators of NK T cells.

The expanding roles of ITAM adapters FcRγ and DAP12 in myeloid cells

Summary:  The adapter proteins DAP12 and FcRγ associate with a wide spectrum of receptors in a variety of innate immune cells to mediate intracellular signaling pathways when their cognate receptor is engaged. These adapter proteins are coupled to their receptors through charged residues within the transmembrane regions of the adapter and receptor. DAP12 and FcRγ contain specific protein domains (referred to as immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based activation motifs) that serve as the substrates and docking sites for kinases, allowing amplification of intracellular signaling reactions. Recent research has broadened the repertoire of receptors that utilize these adapters for signaling to include not only novel immunoglobulin superfamily members but also cytokine receptors, integrins, and other adhesion molecules. There is abundant evidence that these multifunctional signaling adapters also mediate inhibitory activity, downmodulating signaling from Toll‐like receptors and other heterologous receptors. In this review, we discuss the newly described receptors that utilize DAP12 and/or FcRγ adapters to modulate innate immune responses.

The Lyn Tyrosine Kinase Differentially Regulates Dendritic Cell Generation and Maturation

The Src family kinase Lyn plays both stimulatory and inhibitory roles in hemopoietic cells. In this report we provide evidence that Lyn is involved in dendritic cell (DC) generation and maturation. Loss of Lyn promoted DC expansion in vitro from bone marrow precursors due to enhanced generation and accelerated differentiation of Lyn-deficient DC progenitors. Differentiated Lyn-deficient DCs also had a higher survival rate. Similarly, the CD11c-positive cell number was increased in aged Lyn-deficient mice in vivo. In contrast to their enhanced generation, lyn−/− DCs failed to mature appropriately in response to innate stimuli, resulting in DCs with lower levels of MHC class II and costimulatory molecules. In addition, IL-12 production and Ag-specific T cell activation were reduced in lyn−/− DCs after maturation, resulting in impaired Th1 responses. This is the first study to characterize Lyn-deficient DCs. Our results suggest that Lyn kinase plays uniquely negative and positive regulatory roles in DC generation and maturation, respectively.

Increased TLR responses in dendritic cells lacking the ITAM-containing adapters DAP12 and FcRγ

The inhibitory effect of DAP12 on macrophages has been revealed by examining myeloid cells from DAP12‐deficient mice. In this report, we demonstrate that both DAP12 and the FcϵRIγ‐chain (FcRγ) are required for negative regulation of TLR responses in bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells (DC). Loss of both DAP12 and FcRγ enhanced the pro‐inflammatory cytokine production and maturation of DC after TLR stimulation, resulting in a greater percentage of DC that produced IL‐12 p40, TNF, and IL‐6, and expressed high levels of MHC class II, CD80, and CD86. Whereas DC lacking only DAP12 showed some increased TLR responses, those lacking only FcRγ had a greater enhancement of maturation and cytokine production, though to a lesser extent than DC lacking both DAP12 and FcRγ. Additionally, antigen‐specific T cell proliferation was enhanced by DAP12–/–FcRγ–/– DC relative to wild‐type DC after maturation. Similar to DAP12–/–FcRγ–/– DC, Syk‐deficient DC also had increased inflammatory cytokine production, maturation, and antigen presentation. These results confirm the inhibitory effect of immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based activation motif (ITAM) signaling in myeloid cells and show that DC and macrophages differ in their dependence on the ITAM‐containing adapters DAP12 and FcRγ for negative regulation of TLR signaling.

The Mechanism Underlying T Cell Help for Induction of an Antigen-Specific In Vivo Humoral Immune Response to Intact Streptococcus pneumoniae Is Dependent on the Type of Antigen

Little is known concerning the role of T cells in regulating an anti-polysaccharide Ig response to an intact pathogen. We previously reported that the in vivo Ig responses to Streptococcus pneumoniae (strain R36A), specific for pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) and for the phosphorylcholine (PC) determinant of C-polysaccharide, were both dependent on TCR-αβ+ T cells and B7-dependent costimulation, although only PspA-specific memory was generated. In this report, we show that the T cell help underlying these two Ag-specific Ig responses is distinct. Using H-Y-specific T cell transgenic mice made “nonleaky” by crossing with mice genetically deficient for TCR-α, we demonstrate that the T cell help for the anti-PC, in contrast to the anti-PspA, response is TCR-nonspecific and occurs normally in the absence of germinal center formation, although it is still dependent on B7-dependent costimulation. Consistent with these data, we demonstrate, using cathepsin S−/− mice, that although the anti-PC response is largely dependent on CD4+ T cells, there is a reduced (or lack of) dependence, relative to the anti-PspA response, on the generation of new peptide-MHC class II complexes. In this regard, the T cell help for an optimal anti-PC response is delivered more rapidly than that required for an optimal anti-PspA response. Collectively, these data demonstrate a novel accelerated TCR-nonspecific B7-dependent form of T cell help for augmenting a polysaccharide-specific Ig response to an intact bacterium without the generation of memory.

Anti-inflammatory actions of Syk inhibitors in macrophages involve non-specific inhibition of toll-like receptors-mediated JNK signaling pathway

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a major family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and play a crucial role in innate immune system. Even though non-receptor spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is a key signaling molecule of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs-containing immunoreceptors, its role in TLRs signaling is not clearly understood. Herein, we investigated the role of Syk in TLR-mediated signaling and gene regulation. In bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and RAW 264.7 macrophages, treatment of poly(I:C), LPS and CpG, which are specific ligands of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR9, respectively, can increase the mRNA levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators, including IFNbeta, TNFalpha, MIP2, IL-6, IL-12beta, iNOS and COX-2. The gene upregulation caused by TLR was inhibited by Syk inhibitor (SykI) and JNK inhibitor (SP600125). Accordingly we found the abilities of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR9 ligands to induce Syk and JNK activation, as evidenced by increased Syk autophosphorylation on Y519/Y520, JNK phosphorylation and both kinase activities. We also found that TLRs-mediated JNK activation, but not IKK, p38 and ERK activation as well as IkappaB degradation in BMDM and RAW 264.7 cells, was blocked by SykI. Nevertheless TLR-mediated JNK activation as well as the increased protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 remained unchanged when Syk protein was knockdown by siRNA approach. With in vitro kinase assay we found two commercial Syk inhibitors (SykI, and BAY61-3606) have direct inhibition on JNK activity. These findings demonstrate that the non-selective action of SykI on JNK should be taken into consideration upon using them to explore the biological actions of Syk.

The Tyrosine Kinase Syk Differentially Regulates Toll-like Receptor Signaling Downstream of the Adaptor Molecules TRAF6 and TRAF3

The kinase Syk maintains a balanced immune response to pathogens detected by the receptor TLR4. Syk Tunes TRAF Signaling Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a pattern recognition receptor that binds to the microbial product lipopolysaccharide (LPS), activates two signaling pathways involving protein ubiquitination that have opposing outcomes for the immune response. When at the plasma membrane, LPS-stimulated TLR4 associates with the adaptor MyD88 and the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF6 to stimulate production of proinflammatory cytokines. When internalized and localized in endosomes, TLR4 associates with the adaptor TRIF and the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF3 to stimulate production of immunomodulatory type I interferons. Lin et al. found that, although the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Syk was recruited to both TRAF6- and TRAF3-containing signaling complexes, it led to differential regulation of TRAF ubiquitination such that TRAF6-dependent proinflammatory signaling was inhibited and TRAF3-dependent IFN production was enhanced. Experiments in Syk-deficient mouse macrophages showed that Syk had similar effects on TRAF6 and TRAF3 signaling downstream of other TLRs. Together, these data suggest that Syk can fine-tune innate immune responses to dampen inflammation. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a major family of pattern recognition receptors, and they play a crucial role in innate immune responses. Activation of TLR4 signaling at the plasma membrane by its ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates a proinflammatory pathway dependent on the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF6 (tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated factor 6) and the kinase TAK1 (transforming growth factor β–activated kinase 1), whereas TLR4 signaling at endosomes stimulates the production of type I interferons (IFNs) through a pathway that depends on TRAF3 and the kinase TBK1 (TANK-binding kinase-1). We found that the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Syk partially mediated the endocytosis of TLR4, but it also played a dual role in TLR4-mediated signaling. LPS-dependent stimulation of TLR4 in Syk-deficient macrophages led to enhanced activation of TAK1 and increased production of proinflammatory cytokines compared to that in wild-type macrophages. In contrast, Syk-deficient macrophages exhibited decreased TLR4-dependent activation of TBK1 signaling and production of type I IFNs. We found that Syk was present in both TRAF6- and TRAF3-containing signaling complexes; however, the LPS-dependent, lysine 63–linked ubiquitination of TRAF6 and TRAF3 was oppositely regulated by Syk. We identified the domains of Syk that interacted with TRAF3, TRAF6, TAK1, and TBK1, factors activated by multiple TLRs, which suggests that Syk may act as a common regulator of various TLR responses. Together, our results demonstrate the opposing regulatory roles of Syk in TLR-mediated TRAF6 and TRAF3 signaling pathways, which suggests that Syk may fine-tune the innate immune response to lessen inflammation.

A novel adjuvant Ling Zhi-8 enhances the efficacy of DNA cancer vaccine by activating dendritic cells

DNA vaccine has been suggested to use in cancer therapy, but the efficacy remains to be improved. The immunostimulatory effect of a fungal immunomodulatory protein Ling Zhi-8 (LZ-8) isolated from Ganoderma lucidum has been reported. In this study, we tested the adjuvanticity of LZ-8 for HER-2/neu DNA vaccine against p185neu expressing tumor MBT-2 in mice. We found that recombinant LZ-8 stimulated mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) via TLR4 and its stimulatory effect was not due to any microbe contaminant. In addition, LZ-8 enhanced the ability of DCs to induce antigen-specific T cell activation in vitro and in a subunit vaccine model in vivo. Surprisingly, LZ-8 cotreatment strongly improved the therapeutic effect of DNA vaccine against MBT-2 tumor in mice. This increase in antitumor activity was attributed to the enhancement of vaccine-induced Th1 and CTL responses. Consistent with the results from DCs, the promoting effect of LZ-8 on DNA vaccine was diminished when the MBT-2 tumor cells were grown in TLR4 mutant mice. Thus, we concluded that LZ-8 may be a promising adjuvant to enhance the efficacy of DNA vaccine by activating DCs via TLR4.