Jennifer Town

Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells Induce CD4+CD25hiFoxp3+ Regulatory T Cell Differentiation from CD4+CD25−/loFoxp3− Effector T Cells

IL-10–differentiated dendritic cells (DC10) induce allergen tolerance in asthmatic mice, during which their lung Th2 effector T cells (Teffs) are displaced by activated CD4+CD25hiFoxp3+ T cells. Intestinal DCs promote oral tolerance by inducing Ag-naive T cells to differentiate into CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), but whether DCs can induce Teffs to differentiate into Tregs remains uncertain. In this study, we addressed this question in OVA-asthmatic mice that were treated with DC10. OVA-presenting DC10 treatment maximally activated lung Tregs in these animals at 3 wk posttreatment, as determined by upregulation of activation markers (ICOS, programmed cell death-1, glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein, LAG3, and CTLA-4) and in functional assays. This in vitro regulatory activity was ≥90% reduced by treatment with anti–IL-10 but not anti–TGF-β Abs. In parallel cultures, OVA- but not house dust mite (HDM)-presenting DC10 induced ≈43% of CFSE-labeled CD25−/loFoxp3− Teffs from asthmatic OVA–TCR transgenic mice to differentiate into tolerogenic CD25hiFoxp3+ Tregs. We recapitulated this in vivo using OVA-asthmatic mice that were coinjected with OVA- or HDM-presenting DC10 (i.p.) and CFSE-labeled CD4+CD25-/loFoxp3− Teffs (i.v.) from the lungs of asthmatic DO11.10 mice. From ≈7 to 21% of the activated (i.e., dividing) DO11.10 Teffs that were recovered from the lungs, lung-draining lymph nodes, or spleens of the OVA–DC10 recipients had differentiated into CD4+CD25hiFoxp3+ Tregs, whereas no CFSE-positive Tregs were recovered from the HDM–DC10-treated animals. These data indicate that DC10 treatments induce tolerance at least in part by inducing Teffs to differentiate into CD4+CD25hiFoxp3+ Tregs.

Induction of Type 2 T Helper Cell Allergen Tolerance by IL-10–Differentiated Regulatory Dendritic Cells

In mouse models of asthma, therapeutic use of allergen-presenting IL-10-differentiated dendritic cells (DCs) can abrogate airway hyperresponsiveness, and reduce other asthma-related responses to near background. Analogous human DCs can suppress human T cell responses in vitro, but the operative mechanisms are poorly defined. We investigated the ability of IL-10-treated human DCs to induce tolerance among autologous T cells of subjects with asthma and the mechanisms by which they do this. CD14(+) monocyte-derived DCs were differentiated in the presence of IL-10 (DC10) ex vivo from 11 donors with asthma and 4 control donors, and characterized for relevant markers. They were pulsed with specific or irrelevant allergen, and cultured with autologous peripheral blood CD4(+) T cells, either alone or together with autologous immunostimulatory DCs (DC-TNF), and the impact of this treatment on the T-cell responses was assessed for each donor. The DC10 expressed reduced levels of some relevant markers (CD40, CD80, human leukocyte antigen-DR) and stimulatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-12), but augmented levels of Ig-like transcript-22/CD85j and IL-10 relative to DC-TNF. In cocultures, they dampened DC-TNF-driven T helper (Th) type 2 cell proliferation and cytokine (IL-4, -5, and -13) secretion. They also drove the development from atopic CD4(+)CD25(lo)Foxp3(lo) cells of a population of IL-10-secreting CD25(+)Foxp3(+)LAG-3(+)CTLA-4(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs). These Tregs suppressed stimulatory DC-induced autologous Th2 cell proliferation and cytokine secretion in a contact-dependent manner. Our data indicate that IL-10-treated human DCs induce Th2 cell allergen tolerance ex vivo by driving the differentiation of Tregs.

Molecular characterization of anaerobic digester microbial communities identifies microorganisms that correlate to reactor performance.

A time-course analysis was conducted of thermophilic anaerobic digestion of dairy manure and wheat distillery thin stillage. Sequencing of chaperonin targets provided a phylogenetic survey of both bacteria and archaea in the digestate, along with an appraisal of the diversity of the reactor microbiome. A total of 1129 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTU) were detected in the reactors, with OTU related to Clostridium becoming numerically dominant by day 7, and Acetivibrio-related OTU by day 35. Archaeal communities were less diverse, with 19 OTU detected representing both acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Regardless of input material, the same organisms came to dominate the reactors, reflecting strong selective pressures present in the digesters. Principal coordinate analysis of the microbial communities showed that the bacterial communities clustered based on factors other than input material. Bacterial and archaeal OTU were identified with significant correlations to performance parameters, suggesting important roles in the methane production pathway.

ELR-CXC Chemokine Receptor Antagonism Targets Inflammatory Responses at Multiple Levels

The ELR-CXC chemokines play important roles in neutrophilic inflammation. We report in this study that a fully human ELR-CXC chemokine antagonist that we have generated, CXCL8(3–72)K11R/G31P (G31P), has potent anti-inflammatory effects that arise through its actions at multiple levels. G31P inhibited CXCL8-induced chemotactic responses and intracellular Ca2+ flux in CXCR1-transfected HEK cells and neutrophils, and responses of neutrophils to CXCR2-exclusive ligands. G31P desensitized heterologous G protein-coupled receptors on neutrophils, 52–86% reducing their Ca2+ flux and chemotactic responses to leukotriene B4, C5a, and the bacterial tripeptide fMLP. G31P also 60–90% blocked neutrophil chemotactic responses to mediators present in 10 of 12 sputum samples from cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis subjects with bacterial pneumonia. Moreover, whereas A549 bronchial epithelial cells (which expressed CXCR1) secreted ≈29,000 pg/ml CXCL8 in response to in vitro endotoxin challenge, G31P reduced this response by up to 98%, presumably by interrupting an autocrine inflammatory loop. The anti-inflammatory effects of G31P extended also to reversing the antiapoptotic influence of ELR-CXC chemokines on neutrophils. That these effects were relevant in vivo was confirmed in a guinea pig model of airway endotoxemia, wherein the human form of G31P >95% blocked neutrophil infiltration into and activation within the airways, as determined by airway levels of the neutrophil primary, secondary, and tertiary granule markers myeloperoxidase, lactoferrin, and matrix metalloproteinase-9, respectively, and the epithelial cell marker matrix metalloproteinase-2. These data suggest that the beneficial effects of ELR-CXC chemokine antagonism arise through effects that occur at multiple levels, including epithelial cells, neutrophils, and alternate G protein-coupled receptors.

Biological pretreatment with a cellobiose dehydrogenase-deficient strain of Trametes versicolor enhances the biofuel potential of canola straw

The use of Trametes versicolor as a biological pretreatment for canola straw was explored in the context of biofuel production. Specifically, the effects on the straw of a wild-type strain (52J) and a cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH)-deficient strain (m4D) were investigated. The xylose and glucose contents of the straw treated with 52J were significantly reduced, while only the xylose content was reduced with m4D treatment. Lignin extractability was greatly improved with fungal treatments compared to untreated straw. Saccharification of the residue of the m4D-treated straw led to a significant increase in proportional glucose yield, which was partially attributed to the lack of cellulose catabolism by m4D. Overall, the results of this study indicate that CDH facilitates cellulose access by T. versicolor. Furthermore, treatment of lignocellulosic material with m4D offers improvements in lignin extractability and saccharification efficacy compared to untreated biomass without loss of substrate due to fungal catabolism.

A Novel ELR-CXC Chemokine Antagonist Reduces Intestinal Ischemia Reperfusion-Induced Mortality, and Local and Remote Organ Injury

BACKGROUND Neutrophil sequestration plays an important role in mediating local and remote organ injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). The Glu-Leu-Arg (ELR)-CXC subfamily of chemokines, all CXCR1 or CXCR2 ligands, are primary agonists for such neutrophil recruitment. Herein, we assessed the effects of a combined CXCR1/CXCR2 antagonist, CXCL8((3-72))K11R/G31P (G31P), on neutrophilic local (gut) and distant organ injury and outcomes after superior mesenteric artery I/R in rats. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=6-10) were subjected to either sham treatment or superior mesenteric artery ischemia for 1h; all animals received either saline or G31P (500 mug/kg, s.c.) and were euthanized for assessment after either 2 or 5h of arterial reperfusion. Survival and gut pathology, and pulmonary neutrophils were assessed directly, while bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid total protein levels and red blood cell (RBC) numbers were determined by protein assay and direct counting. Expression of inflammatory mediators in the lung and jejunum was measured by quantitative RT-PCR, colorimetric or gel zymography assays. RESULTS Sham treatment animals suffered no discernible gut or pulmonary pathology. At 2 and 5h after reperfusion, the survival levels of the saline-treated I/R injury animals were 80% and 50%, respectively, while all G31P-treated animals survived. I/R injury led to substantial villous pathology within the jejunum, and G31P significantly reduced these pathology scores as well as neutrophil infiltration of the jejunal lamina propria and lung parenchyma, and vascular leakage into the airways (BAL protein). The tissue injury increased expression of myeloperoxidase and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in the gut tissues, but G31P treatment did not significantly affect this response. Intestinal I/R increased expression of IL-1, IL-6, GRO, and MIP-2 in the ischemic jejunum and the lung tissues, but here too G31P treatment had no palliative effects on these responses. CONCLUSION These results suggest that full-spectrum ELR-CXC chemokine antagonism has significant protective effects against I/R-induced local and remote organ injury.

A new protocol for high-yield purification of recombinant human CXCL8((3-72))K11R/G31P expressed in Escherichia coli.

The ELR-CXC chemokines are important to neutrophil inflammation in many acute and chronic diseases. Among them, CXCL8 (interleukin-8, IL-8), binds to both the CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors with high affinity and the expression levels of CXCL8 are elevated in many inflammatory diseases. Recently, an analogue of human CXCL8, CXCL8((3-72))K11R/G31P (hG31P) has been developed. It has been demonstrated that hG31P is a high affinity antagonist for both CXCR1 and CXCR2. To obtain large quantities of hG31P, we have successfully constructed and expressed hG31P in Escherichia coli. Moreover, we have developed a new protocol for high-yield purification of hG31P and for the removal of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) associated with hG31P due to the expression in E. coli. The purity of hG31P is more than 95% and the final yield is 9.7mg hG31P per gram of cell paste. The purified hG31P was tested by various biological assays. In addition, the structural properties of hG31P were studied by circular dichroism (CD), ultracentrifuge, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Our results indicate that this purification protocol is very simple and easy to amplify at a large scale. The results of this study will provide an effective route to produce enough hG31P for future clinical studies.

Therapeutic reversal of food allergen sensitivity by mature retinoic acid–differentiated dendritic cell induction of LAG3+CD49b−Foxp3− regulatory T cells

Background: Anaphylaxis is a life‐threatening condition for which we have limited therapeutic options. Although specific immunotherapy for food allergies is becoming more effective, it is still laborious and carries substantial risk of adverse events. On the other hand, regulatory dendritic cell (DC) therapy is effective in mouse models of allergic disease and has been shown to work with TH2 cells from atopic asthmatic patients. Objective: We assessed whether DC immunotherapy could reverse food allergen sensitivity in mouse models to provide proof of concept relating to their use in the clinic. Methods: We generated and characterized mature retinoic acid–skewed dendritic cells (DC‐RAs) and assessed their abilities to reverse ovalbumin or peanut allergies in mouse models, as well as their operative mechanisms. Results: DC‐RAs displayed a mature yet tolerogenic phenotype, expressing IL‐10, TGF‐&bgr;, IL‐27, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A2 but not IL‐12 or IL‐35; IL‐10 and TGF‐&bgr; together drove their suppression of TH2 cell proliferation. Delivery of specific allergen‐presenting DC‐RAs to half‐maximally sensitized mice with ovalbumin or peanut allergy reduced anaphylactic responses to oral allergen challenge by 84% to 90%, as well as diarrhea, mast cell activation, and TH2 cytokine responses and serum allergen‐specific IgE/IgG1 levels. DC‐RA expression of IL‐27 was important to their induction of CD25+ lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3)+, CD49b−, forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)− regulatory T cells in vitro, such that &bgr; subunit of IL‐27 (Ebi)−/− (ie, IL‐27–incompetent) DC‐RAs were ineffective in inducing food allergen tolerance. Conclusion: Our data indicate that regulatory DC immunotherapy can be effective for food allergies and suggest that induction of Foxp3− regulatory T cells might be a useful strategy for tolerance induction in this context.

Microbial community composition is consistent across anaerobic digesters processing wheat-based fuel ethanol waste streams.

Biochemical methane potential (BMP) assays were conducted on byproducts from dry-grind wheat-based ethanol plants amended with feedlot manure at two input ratios. Whole stillage (WST), thin stillage (TST) and wet cake (WCK) were tested alone and with 1:1 and 2:1 ratios (VS basis) of byproduct:feedlot manure in bench-scale batch reactors. The addition of manure increased both the rate and consistency of methane production in triplicate reactors. In addition, digesters co-digesting thin stillage and cattle manure at 1:1 and 2:1 stillage:manure produced 125% and 119% expected methane based on the biomethane potential of each substrate digested individually. Bacterial community analysis using universal target amplification and pyrosequencing indicated there was a numerically dominant core of 42 bacteria that was universally present in the reactors regardless of input material. A smaller-scale analysis of the archaeal community showed that both hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogens were present in significant quantities.

Amelioration of Pathology by ELR-CXC Chemokine Antagonism in a Swine Model of Airway Endotoxin Exposure

ABSTRACT Airborne organic dusts in swine confinement facilities have detrimental effects on workers health. Bacterial endotoxins (i.e., lipopolysaccharides [LPS]) that contaminate these dusts have been implicated in their pro-inflammatory effects in the airways. Exposure to such dusts induces expression of ELR-CXC chemokines (e.g., interleukin [IL]-8), prototypical neutrophil chemoattractants and activators, and neutrophilic pathology. To confirm the roles of the ELR-CXC chemokines in LPS-driven airway pathology, the authors exposed swine to bacterial LPS and tested whether blocking ELR-CXC chemokines would have beneficial effects. Delivery of the ELR-CXC chemokine antagonist CXCL8(3–74)K11R/G31P (G31P) blocked reactive oxygen intermediate production and chemotactic responses by IL-8–challenged neutrophils in vitro. In vivo, one treatment with G31P (100 μg/kg) blocked neutrophil inflammatory responses to intradermal LPS challenge for ≥2 days. It also ameliorated pathology in piglets challenged via the airway with 1 mg of Eschericia coli LPS. On physical examination the saline-treated endotoxemic animals were depressed, pyrexic, and displayed labored breathing, whereas the G31P-treated animals were bright, active, and alert and had a low-grade fever and occasional cough. The lungs of the saline-treated animals displayed evidence of pleural surface hemorrhagic consolidation, and their airways contained large numbers of neutrophils (>80%) as well as substantial amounts of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-1. The G31P treatments of the LPS-challenged piglets reduced their airway neutrophilic inflammatory responses by ≈86% and reduced the airway TNF (≈70%) and IL-1 (≈83%) levels. These data implicates the ELR-CXC chemokines in the neutrophilic inflammation observed after airways exposure to bacterial LPS.