Gilles Laverny

Immunomodulatory properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy subjects and allergic patients

In the present study, we investigated the immunomodulatory activity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors and mite-allergic subjects. Freshly prepared PBMCs, stimulated or not with Toll-like receptor (TLR)1-9 agonists, a T cell mitogen (phytohemagglutinin A) or mite allergen extract were cultured in the presence or absence of MWCNTs. Secretion of TNF-α, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12/23p40 or IFN-γ was quantified in the culture supernatants by ELISA. Basal secretion of all the cytokines was not altered by MWCNTs in PBMCs from both healthy donors and allergic subjects. In PBMCs from healthy donors, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-12/23p40 secretion in response to the TLR4 agonist, lipopolysaccharide was however increased in a dose-dependent manner by MWCNTs. Significant increases in the release of these cytokines were also observed in PBMCs stimulated with a TLR2 or TLR3 agonist. MWCNTs also increased the release of IL-2 and IFN-γ by PBMCs stimulated with a T cell mitogen. In contrast, MWCNTs inhibited allergen-induced IL-5 secretion by PBMCs from mite-allergic subjects. As well, MWCNTs altered the capacity of PBMC-derived monocytes to differentiate into functional dendritic cells. All together, our data suggest that according to its immune cell target, MWCNTs may either promote or suppress immune responses in humans. Further investigations are necessary to fully understand the complexity behind interactions of engineered nanoparticles with the immune system.

Androgen signaling negatively controls group 2 innate lymphoid cells

Prevalence of asthma is higher in women than in men, but the mechanisms underlying this sex bias are unknown. Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are key regulators of type 2 inflammatory responses. Here, we show that ILC2 development is greatly influenced by male sex hormones. Male mice have reduced numbers of ILC2 progenitors (ILC2Ps) and mature ILC2s in peripheral tissues compared with females. In consequence, males exhibit reduced susceptibility to allergic airway inflammation in response to environmental allergens and less severe IL-33–driven lung inflammation, correlating with an impaired expansion of lung ILC2s. Importantly, orchiectomy, but not ovariectomy, abolishes the sex differences in ILC2 development and restores IL-33–mediated lung inflammation. ILC2Ps express the androgen receptor (AR), and AR signaling inhibits their differentiation into mature ILC2s. Finally, we show that hematopoietic AR expression limits IL-33–driven lung inflammation through a cell-intrinsic inhibition of ILC2 expansion. Thus, androgens play a crucial protective role in type 2 airway inflammation by negatively regulating ILC2 homeostasis, thereby limiting their capacity to expand locally in response to IL-33.

The transcriptional coregulator PGC-1β controls mitochondrial function and anti-oxidant defence in skeletal muscles

The transcriptional coregulators PGC-1α and PGC-1β modulate the expression of numerous partially overlapping genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and energetic metabolism. The physiological role of PGC-1β is poorly understood in skeletal muscle, a tissue of high mitochondrial content to produce ATP levels required for sustained contractions. Here we determine the physiological role of PGC-1β in skeletal muscle using mice, in which PGC-1β is selectively ablated in skeletal myofibres at adulthood (PGC-1β(i)skm−/− mice). We show that myofibre myosin heavy chain composition and mitochondrial number, muscle strength and glucose homeostasis are unaffected in PGC-1β(i)skm−/− mice. However, decreased expression of genes controlling mitochondrial protein import, translational machinery and energy metabolism in PGC-1β(i)skm−/− muscles leads to mitochondrial structural and functional abnormalities, impaired muscle oxidative capacity and reduced exercise performance. Moreover, enhanced free-radical leak and reduced expression of the mitochondrial anti-oxidant enzyme Sod2 increase muscle oxidative stress. PGC-1β is therefore instrumental for skeletal muscles to cope with high energetic demands.

A Cationic Phospholipid–Detergent Conjugate as a New Efficient Carrier for siRNA Delivery

Nucleic acids have a huge intrinsic therapeutic potential that, however, relies heavily on the development of methods for their delivery to their intracellular target site. Cationic lipids and polymers were introduced more than twenty years ago for the delivery of DNA molecules to cells. Since then, they have become useful tools for biomedical research and have also been adopted for siRNA delivery. Their mode of action has been roughly determined. It is based on the property of adherent cell lines to easily internalize large quantities of cationic complexes in endocytic compartments, and on the incorporation of membrane-perturbing elements within internalized complexes to trigger subsequent release of the nucleic acid payload into the cytosol. Cationic lipids forming hexagonal phase or formulations of cationic lipids with the fusogenic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-snglycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) enable both the formation of cationic nucleic acid complexes (lipoplexes) and rupture of the endosome membrane. Yet, the endosomolytic activity of the current effective synthetic nucleic acid delivery systems remains low and effective delivery is only achieved by using cell entry pathways with a high flow rate. The membrane-disruptive properties of detergents have been considered for improving nucleic acid delivery. However, the use of detergents remains delicate because direct plasma membrane permeation might have an irreversible impact on cell viability. Cationic detergents have been shown to provoke DNA condensation but the resulting lipoplexes have turned out to be inactive or only poorly active, in vitro, when particles are prepared from cationic detergent mixed with DOPE. This is explained by the rapid exchange of the detergent molecules between the complex and the aqueous environment, which results in an irreversible decondensation of the nucleic acid even before entry into the cells. On the other hand, preparation of DNA lipoplexes from cationic lipids in the presence of Tween-80, a non-ionic detergent, has led to systems with enhanced gene transfection properties both in vitro and in vivo. These results led us to explore the consequences on nucleic acid delivery of the conjugation of a detergent molecule to a cationic lipid so that the detergent cannot be depleted from the transfection particle. We selected Triton X-100 (TX100) for its well-known detergent properties and for synthetic convenience. Furthermore, TX100 does not solubilize cholesterol-enriched raft domains, which might be involved in cationic lipoplexes internalization. TX100 was covalently linked to the phosphate group of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), a major component of biological membranes (Figure 1). Diacylglycerophosphocholines (PCs) are normal cellular metabolites and offer the opportunity to easily generate cationic lipids by O-alkylation of the phosphate group. Gorman et al. first demonstrated that a PC-derived phosphotriester (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphosphocholine, EDMPC) can mediate efficient gene transfer. Later on, derivatives of DOPC (i.e., ethyl-DOPC, EDOPC, Figure 1) and other PCs were developed by MacDonald et al. , the physical and transfection properties of which were extensively investigated. We hypothesized that the covalent attachment of a detergent molecule and a natural phospholipid to form a cationic phospholipid–detergent conjugate might improve cell uptake and transfection efficiency of lipoplexes prepared thereof. TX100 conjugation to DOPC was realized according to Scheme 1. Detergent activation with trifluoromethanesulfonyl anhydride provided the corresponding sulfonyl ester. This compound is unstable and decomposes in a few hours on standing at room temperature in chloroform. Analysis of degradation products is consistent with a deoligomerization process leading to the formation of dioxane as reported previously with other PEG derivatives. Consequently, the sulfonyl ester (1 equiv) was directly submitted to nucleophilic displacement by the anionic phosphate in DOPC (3 equiv). Conjugate 1 was obtained in 32% yield and unreacted DOPC (61%) was recovered after purification. The use of a larger excess of activated TX100 (7 equiv) improved the DOPC conversion but finally proved detrimental as the purification of the product became difficult (1: 22%; recovered DOPC: 24%). Control compound 2 was prepared similarly, by replacing Triton X-100 by polyethylene glycol mono[a] Dr. P. Pierrat, Dr. G. Creusat, Dr. G. Laverny, Prof. F. Pons, Dr. G. Zuber, Dr. L. Lebeau Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Mol!cules Bioactives CNRS, Universit! de Strasbourg, Facult! de Pharmacie 74 Route du Rhin, BP 60024, Illkirch (France) Fax: (+33)333-6885-4306 E-mail : llebeau@unistra.fr Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.201103645.

Phospholipid–Detergent Conjugates as Novel Tools for siRNA Delivery

One of the potential benefits of drug delivery systems in medicine is the creation of nanoparticle-based vectors that deliver a therapeutic cargo in sufficient quantity to a target site to enable a selective effect, width of the therapeutic window depending on the toxicity of the vector and the cargo. In this work, we intended to improve the siRNA delivery efficiency of a new kind of nucleic acid carrier, which is the result of the conjugation of the membrane phospholipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) to the membrane-active species Triton X-100 (TX100). We hypothesized that by improving the biodegradability the cytotoxicity of the conjugate might by reduced, whereas its original transfection potential would be tentatively preserved. DOPC was conjugated to Triton X-100 through spacers displaying various resistance to chemical hydrolysis and enzyme degradation. The results obtained through in vitro siRNA delivery experiments showed that the initial phosphoester bond can be replaced with a phospho(alkyl)enecarbonate group with no loss in the transfection activity, whereas the associated cytotoxicity was significantly decreased, as assessed by metabolic activity and membrane integrity measurements. The toxicity of the conjugates incorporating a phospho(alkyl)enesuccinnate moiety proved even lower but was clearly balanced with a reduction of the siRNA delivery efficiency. Hydrolytic stability and intracellular degradation of the conjugates were investigated by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. A general trend was that the more readily degraded conjugates were those with the lower toxicity. Otherwise, the phospho(alkyl)enecarbonate conjugates revealed some hemolytic activity, whereas the parent phosphoester did not. The reason why these conjugates behave differently with respect to hemolysis might be a consequence of unusual fusogenic properties and probably reflects the difference in the stability of the conjugates in the intracellular environment.

Mitochondria: An Organelle of Bacterial Origin Controlling Inflammation

Inflammation is a cellular and molecular response to infection and/or tissues injury. While a suited inflammatory response in intensity and time allows for killing pathogens, clearing necrotic tissue, and healing injury; an excessive inflammatory response drives various diseases in which inflammation and tissues damages/stress self-sustain each other. Microbes have been poorly implied in non-resolving inflammation, emphasizing the importance of endogenous regulation of inflammation. Mitochondria have been historically identified as the main source of cellular energy, by coupling the oxidation of fatty acids and pyruvate with the production of high amount of adenosine triphosphate by the electron transport chain. Mitochondria are also the main source of reactive oxygen species. Interestingly, research in the last decade has highlighted that since its integration in eukaryote cells, this organelle of bacterial origin has not only been tolerated by immunity, but has also been placed as a central regulator of cell defense. In intact cells, mitochondria regulate cell responses to critical innate immune receptors engagement. Downstream intracellular signaling pathways interact with mitochondrial proteins and are tuned by mitochondrial functioning. Moreover, upon cell stress or damages, mitochondrial components are released into the cytoplasm or the extra cellular milieu, where they act as danger signals when recognized by innate immune receptors. Finally, by regulating the energetic state of immunological synapse between dendritic cells and lymphocytes, mitochondria regulate the inflammation fate toward immunotolerance or immunogenicity. As dysregulations of these processes have been recently involved in various diseases, the identification of the underlying mechanisms might open new avenues to modulate inflammation.

IFN-β-induced reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial damage contribute to muscle impairment and inflammation maintenance in dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an autoimmune disease associated with enhanced type I interferon (IFN) signalling in skeletal muscle, but the mechanisms underlying muscle dysfunction and inflammation perpetuation remain unknown. Transcriptomic analysis of early untreated DM muscles revealed that the main cluster of down-regulated genes was mitochondria-related. Histochemical, electron microscopy, and in situ oxygraphy analysis showed mitochondrial abnormalities, including increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased respiration, which was correlated with low exercise capacities and a type I IFN signature. Moreover, IFN-β induced ROS production in human myotubes was found to contribute to mitochondrial malfunctions. Importantly, the ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) prevented mitochondrial dysfunctions, type I IFN-stimulated transcript levels, inflammatory cell infiltrate, and muscle weakness in an experimental autoimmune myositis mouse model. Thus, these data highlight a central role of mitochondria and ROS in DM. Mitochondrial dysfunctions, mediated by IFN-β induced-ROS, contribute to poor exercise capacity. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunctions increase ROS production that drive type I IFN-inducible gene expression and muscle inflammation, and may thus self-sustain the disease. Given that current DM treatments only induce partial recovery and expose to serious adverse events (including muscular toxicity), protecting mitochondria from dysfunctions may open new therapeutic avenues for DM.

PGC-1β prevents statin-associated myotoxicity in oxidative skeletal muscle

Statins are generally well-tolerated, but can induce myopathy. Statins are associated with impaired expression of PGC-1β in human and rat skeletal muscle. The current study was performed to investigate the relation between PGC-1β expression and function and statin-associated myopathy. In WT mice, atorvastatin impaired mitochondrial function in glycolytic, but not in oxidative muscle. In PGC-1β KO mice, atorvastatin induced a shift from oxidative type IIA to glycolytic type IIB myofibers mainly in oxidative muscle and mitochondrial dysfunction was observed in both muscle types. In glycolytic muscle of WT and KO mice and in oxidative muscle of KO mice, atorvastatin suppressed mitochondrial proliferation and oxidative defense, leading to apoptosis. In contrast, mitochondrial function was maintained or improved and apoptosis decreased by atorvastatin in oxidative muscle of WT mice. In conclusion, PGC-1β has an important role in preventing damage to oxidative muscle in the presence of a mitochondrial toxicant such as atorvastatin.

VDR and gemini ligands

The active form of vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3; calcitriol], plays a key role in mineral and bone homeostasis, and exerts potent anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities [1]. It is thus a potential pharmacological agent to treat various diseases, including autoimmune disorders, infections and cancer [1]. However, the 1,25(OH)2D3 doses required to elicit such effects induce hypercalcemia, resulting in ectopic calcification of the vascular wall, kidney and other soft tissues, that can lead to organ failure and death [1]. 1,25(OH)2D3 activities are mediated by the Vitamin D receptor (VDR; NR1I1), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily [1]. More than 3000 VDR ligands were synthesized using medicinal chemistry approaches, but all those exhibiting potent anti-inflammatory and/or anti-proliferative properties still have hypercalcemic activities, which limit their clinical use [1]. VDR loss-of-function mutations in humans, termed Vitamin D-Dependent Rickets type-II (VDDR-II), and VDR-null mice develop skeletal deformities, osteomalacia, hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia [2]. In addition, VDR DNA-binding deficient patients and VDR-null mice display alopecia [2]. Hair follicle defects in VDR-null mice are prevented by transgenic expression of ligand-binding deficient VDR in keratinocytes [3]. In contrast, severe deficiencies in 1,25(OH)2D3 induced by dysfunctional 25(OH)-vitaminD3-1α-hydroxylase (Cyp27b1), the enzyme that converts 25(OH)D3 to 1,25(OH)2D3 in VDDR-I patients, as well as in Cyp27b1-null mice, do not induce alopecia, even though they lead to rickets, which can be treated by 1,25(OH)2D3 [2, 4]. Similarly, patients and mice expressing a mutated VDR with reduced affinity for 1,25(OH)2D3 without impairing DNA binding have skeletal but no hair defects [2]. Thus, it appears that liganded VDR is essential for mineral ion homeostasis and skeletal metabolism, whereas ligand-independent VDR activities control hair cycling. Phenotypic analyses of mutant mice suggested that bone and mineral homeostasis alterations might be more pronounced in Cyp27b1-null mice than in VDR-null [4, 5]. Moreover, data presented in a recent report indicated that the size of mice expressing VDRL233S, a VDR bearing a mutation in the ligand binding domain that impairs calcitriol binding, was reduced compared to VDR-null [3]. Taken together, these results indicated that unliganded VDR might induce more severe skeletal defects than VDR deficiency. To characterise VDR ligand-independent activities, we generated, based on VDR structural analyses, mice expressing a ligand binding domain point-mutated VDR (VDRgem) that is unresponsive to 1,25(OH)2D3 [6]. Phenotypic analyses showed that mineral ion and bone homeostasis was more impaired in VDRgem than in VDR-null mice, even though they had no hair defects [6]. Moreover, selective ablation of VDR in intestinal epithelial cells did not affect mineral ion homeostasis [7], while selective expression of VDRgem in such cells induced hypocalcemia (our unpublished data), thus demonstrating that intestinal unliganded VDR strongly impairs calcium homeostasis. Importantly, our study revealed that apo-VDRgem binds to VDR response elements of VDR target genes in the mouse duodenum and represses many genes [6]. Therefore, the repressive activity of unliganded VDR in intestinal epithelial cells accounts, at least in part, for increased bone and mineral defects, compared to VDR deficiency. Alopecia in VDDR-II patients is thought to be associated with the severity of rickets and metabolic abnormalities [2]. However, as our data show that mice expressing ligand-binding deficient VDR develop more severe skeletal defects than VDR-null mice, and that only the latter have hair defects, it will important to determine whether it is also the case in VDDR-II patients, to improve the diagnosis and treatment. The possibility to restore the transcriptional activity of VDR mutants that are unresponsive to natural ligands is instrumental to identify VDR target genes. However, amongst various VDR agonist tested, none induced VDRL233S transcriptional activity (our unpublished data). In contrast, we have shown that VDRgem transcriptional activity is efficiently induced by gemini ligands, and that they restore serum calcium levels of VDRgem mice, thus opening new avenues to characterize gene networks controlled by VDR ligands in the mouse [6]. Further phenotypic and molecular analyses of VDRgem, VDR-null and wild-type mice treated or not with 1,25(OH)2D3 or gemini ligands should allow to identify the signaling pathways controlled by unliganded and liganded VDR in various tissues, and thus facilitate the identification of new drug targets for various diseases, as well as VDR ligands with increased selectivity.