Payal Mehta

An NF-κB–Independent and Erk1/2-Dependent Mechanism Controls CXCL8/IL-8 Responses of Airway Epithelial Cells to Cadmium

Airway epithelial cells in the lung are the first line of defense against pathogens and environmental pollutants. Inhalation of the environmental pollutant cadmium has been linked to the development of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are diseases characterized by chronic inflammation. To address the role of airway epithelial cells in cadmium-induced lung inflammation, we investigated how cadmium regulates secretion of interleukin 8 (IL-8) by airway epithelial cells. We show that exposure of human airway epithelial cells to subtoxic doses of cadmium in vitro promotes a characteristic inflammatory cytokine response consisting of IL-8, but not IL-1β or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. We also found that intranasal delivery of cadmium increases lung levels of the murine IL-8 homologs macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and keracinocyte-derived chemokine and results in an influx of Gr1+ cells into the lung. We determined that inhibition of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway had no effect on cadmium-induced IL-8 secretion by human airway epithelial cells, suggesting that IL-8 production was mediated through an NF-κB-independent pathway. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are often involved in proinflammatory signaling. Cadmium could activate the main MAPKs (i.e., p38, JNK, and Erk1/2) in human airway epithelial cells. However, only pharmacological inhibition of Erk1/2 pathway or knockdown of the expression of Erk1 and Erk2 using small interfering RNAs suppressed secretion of IL-8 induced by cadmium. Our findings identify cadmium as a potent activator of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 in lung epithelial cells and reveal for the first time the role of an NF-κB-independent but Erk1/2-dependent pathway in cadmium-induced lung inflammation.

Reciprocal regulation of activating and inhibitory Fc{gamma} receptors by TLR7/8 activation: implications for tumor immunotherapy.

Purpose: Activation of Toll-like receptors (TLR) 7 and 8 by engineered agonists has been shown to aid in combating viruses and tumors. Here, we wished to test the effect of TLR7/8 activation on monocyte Fcγ receptor (FcγR) function, as they are critical mediators of antibody therapy. Experimental Design: The effect of the TLR7/8 agonist R-848 on cytokine production and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by human peripheral blood monocytes was tested. Affymetrix microarrays were done to examine genomewide transcriptional responses of monocytes to R-848 and Western blots were done to measure protein levels of FcγR. Murine bone marrow–derived macrophages from WT and knockout mice were examined to determine the downstream pathway involved with regulating FcγR expression. The efficacy of R-848 as an adjuvant for antibody therapy was tested using a CT26-HER2/neu solid tumor model. Results: Overnight incubation with R-848 increased FcγR-mediated cytokine production and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in human peripheral blood monocytes. Expression of FcγRI, FcγRIIa, and the common γ-subunit was increased. Surprisingly, expression of the inhibitory FcγRIIb was almost completely abolished. In bone marrow–derived macrophage, this required TLR7 and MyD88, as R-848 did not increase expression of the γ-subunit in TLR7−/− nor MyD88−/− cells. In a mouse solid tumor model, R-848 treatment superadditively enhanced the effects of antitumor antibody. Conclusions: These results show an as-yet-undiscovered regulatory and functional link between the TLR7/8 and FcγR pathways. This suggests that TLR7/8 agonists may be especially beneficial during antibody therapy. Clin Cancer Res; 16(7); 2065–75. ©2010 AACR.

Thrombospondin-1 Contributes to Mortality in Murine Sepsis through Effects on Innate Immunity

Background Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is involved in many biological processes, including immune and tissue injury response, but its role in sepsis is unknown. Cell surface expression of TSP-1 on platelets is increased in sepsis and could activate the anti-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ1) affecting outcome. Because of these observations we sought to determine the importance of TSP-1 in sepsis. Methodology/Principal Findings We performed studies on TSP-1 null and wild type (WT) C57BL/6J mice to determine the importance of TSP-1 in sepsis. We utilized the cecal ligation puncture (CLP) and intraperitoneal E.coli injection (IP E.coli) models of peritoneal sepsis. Additionally, bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) were used to determine phagocytic activity. TSP-1−/− animals experienced lower mortality than WT mice after CLP. Tissue and peritoneal lavage TGFβ1 levels were unchanged between animals of each genotype. In addition, there is no difference between the levels of major innate cytokines between the two groups of animals. PLF from WT mice contained a greater bacterial load than TSP-1−/− mice after CLP. The survival advantage for TSP-1−/− animals persisted when IP E.coli injections were performed. TSP-1−/− BMMs had increased phagocytic capacity compared to WT. Conclusions TSP-1 deficiency was protective in two murine models of peritoneal sepsis, independent of TGFβ1 activation. Our studies suggest TSP-1 expression is associated with decreased phagocytosis and possibly bacterial clearance, leading to increased peritoneal inflammation and mortality in WT mice. These data support the contention that TSP-1 should be more fully explored in the human condition.

Analysis of the Effects of the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) Inhibitor Ibrutinib on Monocyte Fcγ Receptor (FcγR) Function.

The irreversible Brutons tyrosine kinase (Btk) inhibitor ibrutinib has shown efficacy against B-cell tumors such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Fcγ receptors (FcγR) on immune cells such as macrophages play an important role in tumor-specific antibody-mediated immune responses, but many such responses involve Btk. Here we tested the effects of ibrutinib on FcγR-mediated activities in monocytes. We found that ibrutinib did not affect monocyte FcγR-mediated phagocytosis, even at concentrations higher than those achieved physiologically, but suppressed FcγR-mediated cytokine production. We confirmed these findings in macrophages from Xid mice in which Btk signaling is defective. Because calcium flux is a major event downstream of Btk, we tested whether it was involved in phagocytosis. The results showed that blocking intracellular calcium flux decreased FcγR-mediated cytokine production but not phagocytosis. To verify this, we measured activation of the GTPase Rac, which is responsible for actin polymerization. Results showed that ibrutinib did not inhibit Rac activation, nor did the calcium chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid tetrakis(acetoxymethyl ester). We next asked whether the effect of ibrutinib on monocyte FcγR-mediated cytokine production could be rescued by IFNγ priming because NK cells produce IFNγ in response to antibody therapy. Pretreatment of monocytes with IFNγ abrogated the effects of ibrutinib on FcγR-mediated cytokine production, suggesting that IFNγ priming could overcome this Btk inhibition. Furthermore, in monocyte-natural killer cell co-cultures, ibrutinib did not inhibit FcγR-mediated cytokine production despite doing so in single cultures. These results suggest that combining ibrutinib with monoclonal antibody therapy could enhance chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell killing without affecting macrophage effector function.

Fcγ Receptor-induced Soluble Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) Production Inhibits Angiogenesis and Enhances Efficacy of Anti-tumor Antibodies

Background: FcγR are critical for antibody therapy. Results: Monocyte FcγR activation leads to production of sFlt-1 that inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. This production is negatively regulated by miR-181a. Conclusion: FcγR lead to production of biologically active sFlt-1, which has antitumor functions. Significance: This finding represents a novel antitumor mechanism of antibodies. Monocytes/macrophages are potent mediators of antitumor antibody therapy, where they engage target cells via Fcγ receptors (FcγR). Binding of these cells to opsonized tumor targets elicits cytokine production, phagocytosis, and antibody-mediated cellular cytotoxicity. Here we show for the first time that activation of monocyte FcγR results in the secretion of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1/sFlt-1), which serves to antagonize VEGF-mediated angiogenesis and tumor growth. Consistent with this, using a murine solid tumor model of antibody therapy, we show that sFlt-1 is involved in restricting tumor growth. Analyzing the mechanism of induction of sFlt-1, we found that the Erk and PI3K pathways were required for transcription, and NF-κB was required for translation. Upon closer examination of the role of NF-κB, we found that a microRNA, miR181a, negatively regulates FcγR-mediated sFlt-1 production and that NF-κB serves to antagonize this microRNA. Taken together, these results demonstrate a novel and biologically important function of monocytes and macrophages during antibody therapy.

LyGDI, a Novel SHIP-Interacting Protein, Is a Negative Regulator of FcγR-Mediated Phagocytosis

SHIP and SHIP-2 are inositol phosphatases that regulate FcγR-mediated phagocytosis through catalytic as well as non-catalytic mechanisms. In this study we have used two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) analysis to identify downstream signaling proteins that uniquely associate with SHIP or SHIP-2 upon FcγR clustering in human monocytes. We identified LyGDI as a binding partner of SHIP, associating inducibly with the SHIP/Grb2/Shc complex. Immunodepletion and competition experiments with recombinant SHIP domains revealed that Grb2 and the proline-rich domain of SHIP were necessary for SHIP-LyGDI association. Functional studies in primary human monocytes showed that LyGDI sequesters Rac in the cytosol, preventing it from localizing to the membrane. Consistent with this, suppression of LyGDI expression resulted in significantly enhanced FcγR-mediated phagocytosis.

Interferon-γ promotes antibody-mediated fratricide of Acute Myeloid Leukemia cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by the proliferation of immature myeloid lineage blasts. Due to its heterogeneity and to the high rate of acquired drug resistance and relapse, new treatment strategies are needed. Here, we demonstrate that IFNγ promotes AML blasts to act as effector cells within the context of antibody therapy. Treatment with IFNγ drove AML blasts toward a more differentiated state, wherein they showed increased expression of the M1-related markers HLA-DR and CD86, as well as of FcγRI, which mediates effector responses to therapeutic antibodies. Importantly, IFNγ was able to up-regulate CD38, the target of the therapeutic antibody daratumumab. Because the antigen (CD38) and effector receptor (FcγRI) were both simultaneously up-regulated on the AML blasts, we tested whether IFNγ treatment of the AML cell lines THP-1 and MV4-11 could stimulate them to target one another after the addition of daratumumab. Results showed that IFNγ significantly increased daratumumab-mediated cytotoxicity, as measured both by 51Cr release and lactate dehydrogenase release assays. We also found that the combination of IFNγ and activation of FcγR led to the release of granzyme B by AML cells. Finally, using a murine NSG model of subcutaneous AML, we found that treatment with IFNγ plus daratumumab significantly attenuated tumor growth. Taken together, these studies show a novel mechanism of daratumumab-mediated killing and a possible new therapeutic strategy for AML.