Stefano Dusi

Oxidative stress in scleroderma: Maintenance of scleroderma fibroblast phenotype by the constitutive up‐regulation of reactive oxygen species generation through the NADPH oxidase complex pathway

OBJECTIVE To explore the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the in vitro activation of skin fibroblasts from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS Fibroblasts were obtained from involved skin of patients with limited or diffuse SSc. Oxidative activity imaging in living cells was carried out using confocal microscopy. Levels of O2- and H2O2 released from fibroblasts were estimated by the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction and homovanilic acid assays, respectively. To verify NADPH oxidase activation, the light membrane of fibroblasts was immunoblotted with an anti-p47phox-specific antibody. Fibroblasts were stimulated with various cytokines and growth factors to determine whether any of these factors modulate ROS generation. Cell proliferation was estimated by 3H-thymidine incorporation. Northern blot analysis was used to study alpha1 and alpha2 type I collagen gene expression. RESULTS Unstimulated skin fibroblasts from SSc patients released more O2- and H2O2 in vitro through the NADPH oxidase complex pathway than did normal fibroblasts, since incubation of SSc fibroblasts with diphenylene iodonium, a flavoprotein inhibitor, suppressed the generation of ROS. This suppression was not seen with rotenone, a mitochondrial oxidase inhibitor, or allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. Furthermore, the cytosolic component of NADPH oxidase, p47phox, was translocated to the plasma membrane of resting SSc fibroblasts. A transient increase in ROS production was induced in normal but not in SSc fibroblasts by interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), platelet-derived growth factor type BB (PDGF-BB), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1), and H2O2. Treatment of normal and SSc fibroblasts with tumor necrosis factor a (TNFalpha), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon-alpha (IFNalpha), IFNgamma, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSP), G-CSF, or connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) had no effect on ROS generation. Constitutive ROS production by SSc fibroblasts was not inhibited when these cells were treated with catalase, SOD, IL-1 receptor antagonist, or antibodies blocking the effect of TGFbeta1, PDGF-BB, and other agonists (IL-4, IL-6, TNFalpha, CTGF). In contrast, treatment of SSc fibroblasts with the membrane-permeant antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine inhibited ROS production, and this was accompanied by decreased proliferation of these cells and down-regulation of alpha1(I) and alpha2(I) collagen messenger RNA. CONCLUSION The constitutive intracellular production of ROS by SSc fibroblasts derives from the activation of an NADPH oxidase-like system and is essential to fibroblast proliferation and expression of type I collagen genes in SSc cells. Our results also exclude O2-, H2O2, IL-1beta, TGFbeta1, PDGF-BB, IL-4, IL-6, TNFalpha, or CTGF as mediators of a positive, autocrine feedback mechanism of ROS generation.

Induction of Functional IL-8 Receptors by IL-4 and IL-13 in Human Monocytes

IL-8 and related Glu-Leu-Arg (ELR+) CXC chemokines are potent chemoattractants for neutrophils but not for monocytes. IL-13 and IL-4 strongly increased CXCR1 and CXCR2 chemokine receptor expression in human monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. The effect was receptor- and cell type-selective, in that CCRs were not increased and no augmentation was seen in neutrophils. The effect was rapid, starting at 4 h, and concentration dependent (EC50 = 6.2 and 8.3 ng/ml for CXCR1 and CXCR2, respectively) and caused by new transcriptional activity. IL-13/IL-4-treated monocytes showed increased CXCR1 and CXCR2 membrane expression. IL-8 and related ELR+ chemokines were potent and effective chemotactic agents for IL-13/IL-4-treated monocytes, but not for untreated mononuclear phagocytes, with activity comparable to that of reference monocyte attractants, such as MCP-1. In the same cells, IL-8 also caused superoxide release. Macrophages and dendritic cells present in biopsies from Omenn’s syndrome and atopic dermatitis patients, two Th2 skewed pathologies, expressed IL-8 receptors by immunohistochemistry. These results show that IL-13 and IL-4 convert IL-8 and related ELR+ chemokines, prototypic neutrophil attractants, into monocyte chemotactic agonists, by up-regulating receptor expression. Therefore, IL-8 and related chemokines may contribute to the accumulation and positioning of mononuclear phagocytes in Th2-dominated responses.

Toll Receptor-Mediated Regulation of NADPH Oxidase in Human Dendritic Cells

Activation of NADPH oxidase represents an essential mechanism of defense against pathogens. Dendritic cells (DC) are phagocytic cells specialized in Ag presentation rather than in bacteria killing. Human monocyte-derived DC were found to express the NADPH oxidase components and to release superoxide anions in response to phorbol esters and phagocytic agonists. The NADPH oxidase components p47phox and gp91phox were down-regulated during monocyte differentiation to DC, and maturation of DC with pathogen-derived molecules, known to activate TLRs, increased p47phox and gp91phox expression and enhanced superoxide anions release. Similar results were obtained with plasmacytoid DC following maturation with influenza virus. In contrast, activation of DC by immune stimuli (CD40 ligand) did not regulate NADPH oxidase components or respiratory burst. NADPH oxidase-derived oxygen radicals did not play any role in DC differentiation, maturation, cytokine production, and induction of T cell proliferation, as based on the normal function of DC generated from chronic granulomatous disease patients and the use of an oxygen radical scavenger. However, NADPH oxidase activation was required for DC killing of intracellular Escherichia coli. It is likely that the selective regulation of oxygen radicals production by pathogen-activated DC may function to limit pathogen dissemination during DC trafficking to secondary lymphoid tissues.

Induction of Th1/Th17 immune response by Mycobacterium tuberculosis: role of dectin‐1, mannose receptor, and DC‐SIGN

Mtb influences DC activity and T cell‐mediated immune responses. We show that the treatment of immature monocyte‐derived DC with Mtb elicited the formation of mature DC, producing TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐23 and instructing CD4+ cells to secrete IFN‐γ and IL‐17. Mtb‐induced cytokine release by DC depended on dectin‐1 receptor engagement, whereas MR or DC‐SIGN stimulation inhibited this process. A selective dectin‐1 binding by the receptor agonist glucan was sufficient to enable DC to generate Th1/Th17 lymphocytes, showing features comparable with those induced by Mtb‐treated DC. Interestingly, DC‐SIGN or MR engagement inhibited Th17 and increased Th1 generation by glucan‐ or Mtb‐treated DC. Our results indicate that Mtb modulates the lymphocyte response by affecting DC maturation and cytokine release. Dectin‐1 engagement by Mtb enables DC to promote a Th1/Th17 response, whereas DC‐SIGN and MR costimulation limits dectin‐1‐dependent Th17 generation and favors a Th1 response, probably by interfering with release of cytokines.

Tumor necrosis factor triggers redistribution to a Triton X-100-insoluble, cytoskeletal fraction of beta 2 integrins, NADPH oxidase components, tyrosine phosphorylated proteins, and the protein tyrosine kinase p58fgr in human neutrophils adherent to fibrinogen.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) triggers cell spreading, release of granule constituents, and production of toxic oxygen derivatives in human neutrophils adherent to fibrinogen. This response requires cytoskeleton reorganization and is dependent on expression of β2 integrins. We analyzed distribution of distinct proteins in Triton X‐100–soluble and insoluble fractions in neutrophils adherent to fibrinogen. We found that stimulation of adherent neutrophils with TNF causes the redistribution to a Triton‐insoluble fraction of α‐actinin, β2 integrins, and the four components whose assembly constitutes an active NADPH oxidase: the gp91‐phox, p22‐phox, p47‐phox, and p67‐phox proteins. Redistribution of these different proteins to a Triton‐insoluble fraction took relatively long times and was maximal after about 30 min of stimulation with TNF. Prevention of actin polymerization with cytochalasin B hampered the TNF‐induced redistribution of these proteins from a Triton‐soluble to an insoluble fraction. In addition, tyrosine phosphorylated proteins and the protein tyrosine kinase p58fgr were recovered in this Triton‐insoluble fraction. These findings show that stimulated, β2 integrin–dependent adhesion of neutrophils to fibrinogen is accompanied by redistribution to cytoskeletal structures of (1) β2 integrins, that is, neutrophil receptors for fibrinogen; (2) proteins involved in neutrophil effector functions, that is, components of NADPH oxidase; and (3) tyrosine phosphorylated proteins and the protein tyrosine kinase p58fgr, molecules that are potentially involved in the formation of a submembranous signaling complex.

Mechanisms of expression of NADPH oxidase components in human cultured monocytes: role of cytokines and transcriptional regulators involved

Human blood monocytes lose their capability to produce microbicidal oxidants during culture. We report that this process is associated with decreased gp91phox, p22phox and p47phox expression, release of PU.1 and CP‐1 from gp91phox promoter, and PU.1 from p47phox promoter. However, in presence of IFN‐γ or TNF‐α, the superoxide anion (O  2– ) production, the p47phox, gp91phox and p22phox expression, and the binding of PU.1 and CP‐1 to DNA are maintained at the high levels observed in blood monocytes. To clarify the role of PU.1 in the expression of NADPH oxidase components, oligonucleotides competing for PU.1‐DNA binding were added to cultured monocytes. These oligonucleotides abrogated the maintenance of gp91phox and p22phox expression by IFN‐γ and TNF‐α, but did not inhibit the effect of these cytokines on p47phox expression and O  2– production. Our results indicate that in monocytes the IFN‐γ‐ and TNF‐α‐induced expression of gp91phox and p22phox, but not p47phox, requires the binding of PU.1 to gp91phox promoter. However, the preservation of O  2– production by IFN‐γ and TNF‐α is unrelated to their effect on gp91phox and p22phox expression.

NADPH oxidase of human dendritic cells: role in Candida albicans killing and regulation by interferons, dectin-1 and CD206.

Human monocyte‐derived DC express the enzyme NADPH oxidase, responsible for ROS production. We show that Candida albicans did not activate NADPH oxidase in DC, and was poorly killed by these cells. However, Candida‐killing activity increased upon DC stimulation with the NADPH oxidase activator PMA and was further enhanced by DC treatment with IFN‐α or IFN‐γ. This fungicidal activity took place at high DC‐to‐Candida ratio, but decreased at low DC‐to‐yeast ratio, when Candida inhibited the NADPH oxidase by contrasting the assembly of the enzyme on DC plasma membrane. The NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyliodonium chloride abrogated the PMA‐dependent DC candidacidal capacity. Engagement of β‐glucan receptor dectin‐1 induced NADPH oxidase activation in DC that was depressed by mannose‐binding receptor CD206 co‐stimulation. Candida was internalized by DC through mannose‐binding receptors, but not through dectin‐1, thus explaining why Candida did not elicit NADPH oxidase activity. Our results indicate that NADPH oxidase is involved in DC Candida‐killing activity, which is increased by IFN. However, Candida escapes the oxidative damage by inhibiting NADPH oxidase and by entering DC through receptors not involved in NADPH oxidase activation.

Fluoride can activate the respiratory burst independently of Ca2+, stimulation of phosphoinositide turnover and protein kinase C translocation in primed human neutrophils

Evidences have been provided in our laboratory that in neutrophils different signal transduction sequences for the activation of O2(-)-forming NADPH oxidase can be triggered by the same stimulus (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1986, 135, 556-565; 1986, 135, 785-794; 1986, 140, 1-11). The results presented here show that the transduction sequence triggered by fluoride via dissociation of G-proteins and involving messengers produced by stimulation of phosphoinositide turnover, Ca2+ changes and translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosol to the plasmamembrane, can be bypassed when a primed state of neutrophils is previously induced. In fact: i) fluoride causes a pertussis toxin insensitive and H-7 sensitive respiratory burst in human neutrophils, which is linked to the activation of hydrolysis of PIP2, rise in [Ca2+]1 and translocation of PKC. In Ca2+-depleted neutrophils these responses to fluoride do not occur and are restored by addition of CaCl2. ii) The pretreatment of Ca2+-depleted unresponsive neutrophils with non stimulatory doses of PMA restores the activation of the NADPH oxidase by fluoride but not the turnover of phosphoinositides and PKC translocation. The nature of the alternative transduction sequence, the reactions different from phospholipase C activated by G-protein for the alternative sequence and the role of these discrete pathways for NADPH oxidase activation are discussed.

IFN-γ Induces gp91phox Expression in Human Monocytes via Protein Kinase C-Dependent Phosphorylation of PU.1

We previously reported that the stimulation of human blood monocytes with IFN-γ induces the binding of PU.1 to the gp91phox promoter and the consequent expression of gp91phox. In this study, we show that the effect of IFN-γ is reproduced by the serine phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, and this suggests that serine kinases could be involved in gp91phox expression. We also show that IFN-γ induces the serine/threonine phosphorylation of PU.1 in cultured monocytes. This phosphorylation, as well as the IFN-γ-induced PU.1 binding and gp91phox protein synthesis, is slightly affected by the casein kinase II inhibitor, daidzein, but is abrogated by the protein kinase C (PKC) -α and -β inhibitor, Go6976, and by synthetic peptides with sequences based on the endogenous pseudosubstrate region of the classical PKC α and β isoforms. In contrast, peptides reproducing the pseudosubstrate region of PKC ε were without effect. Moreover, we found that the treatment of monocytes with IFN-γ induces the nuclear translocation and the activation of PKC α and βI, but not of PKC βII, and that the IFN-γ-induced phosphorylation of PU.1 was greatly reduced by LY333531, a selective inhibitor of PKC β isoforms. Finally, nuclear run-on assays demonstrated that while the PKC inhibitors, Go6976 and LY333531, decrease the IFN-γ-induced gp91phox transcription, the serine phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, enhances the gp91phox gene transcription. Our results indicate that in cultured monocytes, IFN-γ induces the binding of PU.1 to the gp91phox promoter and the expression of gp91phox by phosphorylation of PU.1 via activation of PKC α and/or βI.

Transmembrane signaling pathways involved in phagocytosis and associated activation of NADPH oxidase mediated by Fc gamma Rs in human neutrophils.

We have previously shown that in neutrophils classical transmembrane signaling consisting of increased [Ca2+]i and hydrolysis of phospholipids was not essential for phagocytosis mediated by more than one receptor (yeast‐IgG, yeast‐C3b/bi, yeast‐Con A). This work deals with the role of this transmembrane signaling in phagocytosis of erythrocyte (E) IgG, which is mediated only by receptors for IgG (FcγRs). The ingestion of E‐IgG was associated with an increase in [Ca+]i and production of inositol phosphates, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, and arachidonic acid, via activation of phospholipases G, D and A2. Related to the same number of particles ingested, the respiratory burst and the transmembrane signaling during phagocytosis of E‐IgG were much smaller than during phagocytosis of yeast‐IgG. In Ca2+‐depleted neutrophils, where the increase in [Ca2+]i and hydrolysis of phospholipids were lacking, the phagocytosis of E‐IgG was depressed by about 60%; the respiratory burst was also depressed due to the decrease of ingestion and of stimulation of NADPH oxidase by residual phagocytosis. Pertussis toxin (PT) did not inhibit the phagocytosis of E‐ IgG but depressed by about 40% the stimulation of li‐ pidic transmembrane signaling and the respiratory burst in normal neutrophils. In Ca2+‐depleted neutrophils the toxin was without effect on ingestion and respiratory burst. Staurosporine did not inhibit the ingestion of E‐ IgG in normal and Ca2+‐depleted neutrophils but depressed by 30‐40% the respiratory burst in normal and not in Ca2+‐depleted neutrophils. Genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, did not inhibit the ingestion of E‐IgG but depressed by 30‐40% the respiratory burst both in normal and Ca2+‐depleted neutrophils. These results demonstrate the following findings in human neutrophils. (1) Contrary to the phagocytosis mediated by more than one receptor (yeast‐IgG, yeast‐Con A, yeast‐C3b/bi), the transmembrane signaling involving increase in [Ca2+]i and hydrolysis of phospholipids plays a role in the phagocytosis and respiratory burst mediated by FcγRs alone. Thus, different signal transduction pathways can be involved in phagocytosis and associated respiratory burst depending on the receptor or combination of receptors activated. (2) FcγRs alone promote phagocytosis with two signaling pathways independent of and dependent on [Ca2+]i changes and phospholipid hydrolysis and insensitive to PT, staurosporine, and genistein. (3) The signaling pathways promoting phagocytosis triggered by FcγRs alone are in some way, or at some step, different from those that activate the respiratory burst.