Outi Sareila

Inhibition of classical PKC isoenzymes downregulates STAT1 activation and iNOS expression in LPS-treated murine J774 macrophages

Proinflammatory cytokines and bacterial products trigger inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in inflammatory and tissue cells. In inflammation, NO acts as an important mediator having both proinflammatory and destructive effects. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine–threonine protein kinase isoenzymes involved in signal transduction pathways related to inflammatory responses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of classical PKC (cPKC) isoenzymes in the regulation of iNOS expression and NO production in murine J774 macrophages and the mechanisms involved. RO318220 (inhibits PKCβ, PKCγ and PKCɛ), GÖ6976 (inhibits cPKC isoenzymes PKCα and PKCβ) and LY333531 (inhibits PKCβ) reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced NO production and iNOS expression in a dose‐dependent manner as did 6 h pretreatment with 1 μM phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) (which was shown to downregulate PKC expression). PKC inhibitors also reduced LPS‐induced iNOS mRNA levels, but they did not affect the half‐life of iNOS mRNA. PKC inhibitors did not alter LPS‐induced activation of NF‐κB as measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. All PKC inhibitors used and pretreatment with 1 μM PMA inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) activation as measured by the translocation of STAT1α from the cytosol to the nucleus by Western blot. In addition, inhibition of STAT1 activation by AG‐490, an inhibitor of JAK‐2, also reduced NO production. These results suggest that cPKC isoenzymes, especially PKCβ, mediate the upregulation of iNOS expression and NO production in activated macrophages in an NF‐κB‐independent manner, possibly through the activation of transcription factor STAT1.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory effects of a series of novel 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives.

A number of 7-hydroxycoumarins have been synthesised by Pechmann cyclisation using differently substituted resorcinols employing perchloric acid as the condensing agent. All the compounds have been characterised by analytical and spectroscopic methods. The anti-inflammatory properties were tested with LPS-induced inflammation in J774 macrophages. Expression of iNOS and COX-2 was determined by Western blot, NO by nitrite assay and IL-6 by ELISA analyses. Fifteen of the tested 7-hydroxycoumarins also inhibited IL-6 production but none of them had any major inhibitory effect on COX-2 expression.

Effects of levo- and dextrosimendan on NF-κB-mediated transcription, iNOS expression and NO production in response to inflammatory stimuli

Levosimendan is used in the treatment of decompensated heart failure. It increases the contractility of the myocardium by sensitizing troponin C to calcium. In addition, levosimendan has been reported to have beneficial effects in experimental models of septic shock. Because heart failure and sepsis have been associated with excessive nitric oxide (NO) production through inducible NOS (iNOS), we investigated the effects of the simendans on NO production and iNOS expression and on generation of pro‐inflammatory cytokines.

Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase enhances c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity: Implication in inducible nitric oxide synthase expression

BackgroundNitric oxide (NO) is an inflammatory mediator, which acts as a cytotoxic agent and modulates immune responses and inflammation. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway is activated by chemical and physical stress and regulates immune responses. Previous studies have shown that p38 MAPK pathway regulates NO production induced by inflammatory stimuli. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms involved in the regulation of inducible NO synthesis by p38 MAPK pathway.Resultsp38 MAPK inhibitors SB203580 and SB220025 stimulated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and NO production in J774.2 murine macrophages. Increased iNOS mRNA expression was associated with reduced degradation of iNOS mRNA. Treatment with SB220025 increased also LPS-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity. Interestingly, JNK inhibitor SP600125 reversed the effect of SB220025 on LPS-induced iNOS mRNA expression and NO production.ConclusionThe results suggest that inhibition of p38 MAPK by SB220025 results in increased JNK activity, which leads to stabilisation of iNOS mRNA, to enhanced iNOS expression and to increased NO production.

JAK inhibitors AG-490 and WHI-P154 decrease IFN-γ-Induced iNOS expression and NO production in macrophages

In inflammation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) produces nitric oxide (NO), which modulates inflammatory processes. We investigated the effects of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, AG-490 and WHI-P154, on iNOS expression and NO production in J774 murine macrophages stimulated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ). JAK inhibitors AG-490 and WHI-P154 decreased IFN-γ-induced nuclear levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1α (STAT1α). JAK inhibitors AG-490 and WHI-P154 decreased also iNOS protein and mRNA expression and NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Neither of the JAK inhibitors affected the decay of iNOS mRNA when determined by actinomycin D assay. Our results suggest that the inhibition of JAK-STAT1-pathway by AG-490 or WHI-P154 leads to the attenuation of iNOS expression and NO production in IFN-γ-stimulated macrophages.

PPARα agonists inhibit nitric oxide production by enhancing iNOS degradation in LPS-treated macrophages

Nitric oxide (NO) production through the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pathway is increased in response to pro‐inflammatory cytokines and bacterial products. In inflammation, NO has pro‐inflammatory and regulatory effects. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs), members of the nuclear steroid receptor superfamily, regulate not only metabolic but also inflammatory processes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of PPARα in the regulation of NO production and iNOS expression in activated macrophages.

Bacterial DNA delays human eosinophil apoptosis

Oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) sequences containing unmethylated cytidine phosphate guanosine (CpG) motifs prevalent in bacterial DNA attenuate allergic lung inflammation in experimental models of asthma but failed to inhibit eosinophilia and improve lung function in patients with asthma. Bacterial respiratory tract infections exacerbate asthma in humans. Increased eosinophil survival is a critical factor leading to persistent eosinophilic airway inflammation. Apoptosis is regarded as a key mechanism in the resolution of eosinophilic inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bacterial DNA and CpG ODNs on human eosinophil apoptosis in vitro and to elucidate the signalling pathway. Eosinophils were isolated from human peripheral blood by CD16- or CD16-, CD19- and CD304-negative selection. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometric analysis of relative DNA content, Annexin-V staining and/or morphological analysis. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) expression was studied by using western blotting and intracellular flow cytometry. Bacterial DNA and phosphorothioate-modified CpG ODNs, but not vertebrate DNA, were found to delay spontaneous eosinophil apoptosis. The effect of CpG ODNs was dependent on endosomal acidification and reversed by inhibitory ODN, which suggests involvement of TLR9 pathway. Furthermore, we demonstrated TLR9 expression in eosinophils derived from both atopic and healthy donors. Non-CpG ODNs had occasionally parallel but less profound effect on eosinophil apoptosis, which was not dependent on endosomal acidification. The anti-apoptotic effect of CpG ODNs was dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) but not mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) as determined by inhibitor studies. Although our results suggest CpG-dependent involvement of TLR9 in the action of phosphorothioate-modified ODNs, we interestingly found that the anti-apoptotic action of native bacterial DNA in eosinophils is not dependent on unmethylated CpG motifs. This suggests that bacterial DNA contains a currently unknown recognition structure lacking from vertebrate DNA. Bacterial DNA-mediated suppression of eosinophil apoptosis is a novel mechanism for exacerbation of eosinophilic lung inflammation associated with bacterial respiratory tract infection.

Orazipone Inhibits Activation of Inflammatory Transcription Factors Nuclear Factor-κB and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 and Decreases Inducible Nitric-Oxide Synthase Expression and Nitric Oxide Production in Response to Inflammatory Stimuli

Orazipone [OR-1384; 3-[4-(methylsulfonyl)benzylidene]pentane-2,4-dione] is a novel sulfhydryl-modulating compound that has anti-inflammatory properties in experimental models of asthma and inflammatory bowel disease. In inflammation, inducible nitricoxide synthase (iNOS) generates NO, which modulates the immune response. Compounds that inhibit iNOS expression or iNOS activity possess anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, we examined the effects of orazipone and its derivative OR-1958 [3-[3-chlorine-4-(methylsulfonyl)benzylidene]pentane-2,4-dione] on iNOS expression and NO production in J774 macrophages stimulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and in human alveolar epithelial cells activated by proinflammatory cytokines. Protein expression and nuclear translocation of transcription factors were measured by Western blot. iNOS mRNA expression was determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and iNOS mRNA stability by actinomycin D assay. iNOS promoter activity was studied in a cell line expressing luciferase under the control of iNOS promoter. Orazipone and its derivative OR-1958 but not its nonthiol-modulating analog inhibited iNOS expression and NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Orazipone decreased LPS-induced iNOS mRNA expression, but the decay of iNOS mRNA was not affected. Orazipone extensively prevented LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1, which are important transcription factors for iNOS. In agreement, human iNOS promoter activity was inhibited by orazipone. In conclusion, orazipone decreased activation of inflammatory transcription factors NF-κB and STAT1, and expression of iNOS in cells exposed to inflammatory stimuli. The thiolmodulating property seems to be critical in mediating the antiinflammatory effects of orazipone.

Dual specificity phosphatase 1 regulates human inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by p38 MAP kinase

The role of dual specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in A549 human pulmonary epithelial cells, J774 mouse macrophages and primary mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) was investigated. iNOS expression was induced by a cytokine mixture (TNF, IFNγ and IL-1β) in A549 cells and by LPS in J774 cells, and it was inhibited by p38 MAPK inhibitors SB202190 and BIRB 796. Stimulation with cytokine mixture or LPS enhanced also DUSP1 expression. Down-regulation of DUSP1 by siRNA increased p38 MAPK phosphorylation and iNOS expression in A549 and J774 cells. In addition, LPS-induced iNOS expression was enhanced in BMMs from DUSP1(−/−) mice as compared to that in BMMs from wild-type mice. The results indicate that DUSP1 suppresses iNOS expression by limiting p38 MAPK activity in human and mouse cells. Compounds that enhance DUSP1 expression or modulate its function may be beneficial in diseases complicated with increased iNOS-mediated NO production.