Inhak Choi

Interferon regulatory factor-1 is prerequisite to the constitutive expression and IFN-γ-induced upregulation of B7-H1 (CD274)

Majority of cancer cells upregulate co‐inhibitory molecule B7‐H1 which confers resistance to anti‐tumor immunity, allowing cancers to escape from host immune surveillance. We addressed the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of cancer‐associated B7‐H1 expression in response to interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ). Using promoter constructs in luciferase assay, the region between 202 and 320 bp from the translational start site is responsible for B7‐H1 expression. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay, site‐directed mutagenesis and knockdown experiment using siRNA revealed that interferon regulatory factor‐1 (IRF‐1) is primarily responsible for the constitutive B7‐H1 expression as well as for the IFN‐γ‐mediated B7‐H1 upregulation in a human lung cancer cell line A549. Additionally, AG490, a Janus activated kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription inhibitor, greatly abolished the responsiveness of A549 cells to IFN‐γ by reducing the IRF‐1 transcription. Our findings support a critical role of IRF‐1 in the regulation of constitutive and IFN‐γ‐induced expression of B7‐H1 in cancer cells.

Circulating tumor cell microseparator based on lateral magnetophoresis and immunomagnetic nanobeads.

This paper presents a circulating tumor cell (CTC) microseparator for isolation of CTCs from human peripheral blood using immunomagnetic nanobeads with bound antiepithelial cell adhesive molecule (EpCAM) antibodies that specifically bind to epithelial cancer cells. The isolation is performed through lateral magnetophoresis, which is induced by high-gradient magnetic separation technology, involving a ferromagnetic wire array inlaid in the bottom substrate of a microchannel. Experimental results showed that the CTC microseparator isolates about 90% of spiked CTCs in human peripheral blood at a flow rate of up to 5 mL/h and purifies to approximately 97%. The overall isolation procedure was completed within 15 min for 200 μL of peripheral blood. CTCs from peripheral blood of patients with breast and lung cancers were isolated with the CTC microseparator, and the results were compared with those of healthy donors. Using a fluorescence-based viability assay, the viability of CTCs isolated from peripheral blood of patients with cancer was observed. In addition, the usefulness of the CTC microseparator for subsequent genetic assay was confirmed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of cancer-specific genes using CTCs isolated from patients with cancer.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester protects mice from lethal endotoxin shock and inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages via the p38/ERK and NF-κB pathways

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. We examined the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 macrophages. We also investigated the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on lipopolysaccharide-induced septic shock in mice. Our results indicate that caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 cells, without significant cytotoxicity. To further examine the mechanism responsible for the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression by caffeic acid phenethyl ester, we examined the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on lipopolysaccharide-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester treatment significantly reduced nuclear factor-kappaB translocation and DNA-binding in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. This effect was mediated through the inhibition of the degradation of inhibitor kappaB and by inhibition of both p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation, at least in part by inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, caffeic acid phenethyl ester rescued C57BL/6 mice from lethal lipopolysaccharide-induced septic shock, while decreasing serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta. Collectively, these results suggest that caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses the induction of cytokines by lipopolysaccharide, as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression, by blocking nuclear factor-kappaB and p38/ERK activation. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive actions of caffeic acid phenethyl ester in macrophages.

Ecklonia cava ethanolic extracts inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in BV2 microglia via the MAP kinase and NF-κB pathways.

Ecklonia cava (EC) is a brown alga that has demonstrated radical scavenging, bactericidal, tyrosinase inhibitory, and protease inhibitory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory action remain unclear. In the current study, we attempted to determine whether pretreatment with EC induces a significant inhibition of anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine BV2 microglia. Our results indicate that EC inhibits LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibits inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in BV2 microglia without significant cytotoxicity. EC treatment significantly reduced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) translocation and DNA-binding in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia. This effect was mediated through the inhibition of the degradation of the inhibitor kappaB and by inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, at least in part by inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species. Our data also indicate that EC extracts exert anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these results suggest that EC suppresses the induction of cytokines by LPS, as well as iNOS and COX-2 expression, by blocking NF-kappaB and MAPK activation. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective actions of EC in BV2 microglia.

Cilostazol is anti-inflammatory in BV2 microglial cells by inactivating nuclear factor-kappaB and inhibiting mitogen-activated protein kinases.

Background and purpose:  Cilostazol is a specific inhibitor of 3′‐5′‐cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterase, which is widely used to treat ischemic symptoms of peripheral vascular disease. Although cilostazol has been shown to exhibit vasodilator properties as well as antiplatelet and anti‐inflammatory effects, its cellular mechanism in microglia is unknown. In the present study, we assessed the anti‐inflammatory effect of cilostazol on the production of pro‐inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated murine BV2 microglia.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester attenuates allergic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in murine model of ovalbumin-induced asthma

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a biologically active ingredient of propolis, which has several interesting biological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory; however, its anti-allergic effects are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to determine whether treatment with CAPE results in significant inhibition of asthmatic reactions in a mouse model. Mice sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) had the following typical asthmatic reactions: an increase in the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid; a marked influx of inflammatory cells into the lung around blood vessels and airways, and airway luminal narrowing; the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR); the presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Th2 cytokines, including IL-4 and IL-5, in the BAL fluid; and the presence of allergen-specific IgE in the serum. Five successive intraperitoneal administrations of CAPE before the last airway OVA challenge resulted in significant inhibition of characteristic asthmatic reactions. We determined that increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by inhalation of OVA was diminished via the administration of CAPE in BAL fluid, as well as nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) DNA binding activity. These findings indicate that oxidative stress may have a crucial function in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma, and that CAPE may be useful as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of bronchial asthma.

Anti-asthmatic effect of marine red alga (Laurencia undulata) polyphenolic extracts in a murine model of asthma.

The aim of the present work is focused on protective effects of an edible red alga, Laurencia undulata ethanolic (EtOH) extracts (LU) containing a large amount of polyphenols against OVA-induced murine allergic airway reactions using in vivo histological and cytokine assay. Mice sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) showed typical asthmatic reactions as follows: an increase in the number of eosinophil in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; a marked influx of inflammatory cells into the lung around blood vessels and airways, and airway luminal narrowing; the development of airway hyperresponsiveness; the detection of TNF-alpha and Th2 cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-5 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid; and detection of allergen-specific IgE in the serum. The successive intraperitoneal administration of LU before the last airway OVA-challenge resulted in a significant inhibition of all asthmatic reactions. These results suggest that L. undulata polyphenolic extracts possess therapeutic potential for combating bronchial asthma associated with allergic diseases.

Tryptophan metabolite 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid selectively induces activated T cell death via intracellular GSH depletion

Tryptophan-derived metabolites, initiated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), preferentially induce activated T cell death, which is an important mechanism in IDO-mediated T cell suppression. However, the mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear. We found that 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA), the most potent metabolite, selectively eliminated activated T cells, which were stimulated with the bacterial superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), but not resting T cells, by inducing apoptosis. We observed 3-HAA-induced depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) in activated T cells. When GSH levels were maintained by addition of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and GSH, 3-HAA-mediated T cell death was completely inhibited. This was associated with extrusion of GSH from activated T cells without increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Finally, we showed that administration of 3-HAA in mice after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation reduced acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) lethality by inhibition of alloreactive T cell expansion through intracellular GSH depletion. Our data suggest that direct depletion of intracellular GSH is the major mechanism of 3-HAA-mediated activated T cell death.

PD-1 Upregulated on Regulatory T Cells during Chronic Virus Infection Enhances the Suppression of CD8+ T Cell Immune Response via the Interaction with PD-L1 Expressed on CD8+ T Cells

Regulatory T (Treg) cells act as terminators of T cell immuniy during acute phase of viral infection; however, their role and suppressive mechanism in chronic viral infection are not completely understood. In this study, we compared the phenotype and function of Treg cells during acute or chronic infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Chronic infection, unlike acute infection, led to a large expansion of Treg cells and their upregulation of programmed death-1 (PD-1). Treg cells from chronically infected mice (chronic Treg cells) displayed greater suppressive capacity for inhibiting both CD8+ and CD4+ T cell proliferation and subsequent cytokine production than those from naive or acutely infected mice. A contact between Treg and CD8+ T cells was necessary for the potent suppression of CD8+ T cell immune response. More importantly, the suppression required cell-specific expression and interaction of PD-1 on chronic Treg cells and PD-1 ligand on CD8+ T cells. Our study defines PD-1 upregulated on Treg cells and its interaction with PD-1 ligand on effector T cells as one cause for the potent T cell suppression and proposes the role of PD-1 on Treg cells, in addition to that on exhausted T cells, during chronic viral infection.

Interferon-sensitive response element (ISRE) is mainly responsible for IFN-α-induced upregulation of programmed death-1 (PD-1) in macrophages

Programmed death-1 (PD-1), an immunoinhibitory receptor, is upregulated in T cells, B cells, NKT cells, and monocytes upon activation. More specifically, T-cell-associated PD-1 is critically important for maintaining peripheral tolerance through the PD-1-B7-H1 pathway. However, the physiological role of macrophage-associated PD-1 remains unclear. We addressed the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of PD-1 expression on macrophages in response to IFN-alpha. Based on a luciferase assay using promoter constructs, we found that the promoter region located between -1090 and -1105 nucleotides from the translational start site is essential for PD-1 expression. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assay and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that interferon-sensitive responsive element (ISRE) and STAT1 and STAT2 are primarily responsible for the constitutive expression of PD-1, as well as for the IFN-alpha-mediated upregulation of PD-1. In addition, AG490, a Janus-activated kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) inhibitor, markedly abolished the responsiveness of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) to IFN-alpha. Our findings support the essential roles of ISRE, STAT1, and STAT2 in the regulation of constitutive and IFN-alpha-mediated PD-1 expression in macrophages.