Ae-Kyung Yi

University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

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Publications (26)101.15 Total impact

  • Article: Rescue of B cells from apoptosis by immune stimulatory CpG DNA
    Arthur M. Krieg, Ae-Kyung Yi
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    ABSTRACT: CpG DNA is extremely effective at protecting primary B cells or B cell lines against apoptosis induced by multiple different stimuli. These protective effects are mediated through a chloroquine-sensitive pathway and are associated with increased activity of NF-κB and increased expression of the anti-apoptotic factor, BCLXL. This anti-apoptotic property of CpG DNA is yet another manifestation of its important role in regulating lymphocyte homeostasis. It seems likely that the anti-apoptotic effects of CpG DNA contribute to its remarkable efficacy as a vaccine adjuvant.
    Springer Seminars in Immunopathology 04/2012; 22(1):55-61. · 4.17 Impact Factor
  • Article: Molecular basis for T cell response induced by altered peptide ligand of type II collagen.
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    ABSTRACT: Mounting evidence from animal models has demonstrated that alterations in peptide-MHC interactions with the T cell receptor (TCR) can lead to dramatically different T cell outcomes. We have developed an altered peptide ligand of type II collagen, referred to as A9, which differentially regulates TCR signaling in murine T cells leading to suppression of arthritis in the experimental model of collagen-induced arthritis. This study delineates the T cell signaling pathway used by T cells stimulated by the A9·I-A(q) complex. We have found that T cells activated by A9 bypass the requirement for Zap-70 and CD3-ζ and signal via FcRγ and Syk. Using collagen-specific T cell hybridomas engineered to overexpress either Syk, Zap-70, TCR-FcRγ, or CD3-ζ, we demonstrate that A9·I-A(q) preferentially activates FcRγ/Syk but not CD3-ζ/Zap-70. Moreover, a genetic absence of Syk or FcRγ significantly reduces the altered peptide ligand induction of the nuclear factor GATA3. By dissecting the molecular mechanism of A9-induced T cell signaling we have defined a new alternate pathway that is dependent upon FcRγ and Syk to secrete immunoregulatory cytokines. Given the interest in using Syk inhibitors to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis, understanding this pathway may be critical for the proper application of this therapy.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 04/2012; 287(23):19765-74. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 2- and protein kinase D1-dependent regulation of IRAK-monocyte expression by CpG DNA.
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    ABSTRACT: As a part of the negative feedback mechanism, CpG DNA induces IRAK-M expression in monocytic cells. In the present study we investigated a biochemical signaling pathway and the transcription factors responsible for CpG DNA-mediated Irak-m gene expression. CpG DNA-induced Irak-m expression did not require new protein synthesis and was regulated at the transcriptional level through an endosomal pH-sensitive TLR9/MyD88 signaling pathway. Over-expression of the dominant negative (DN) form of or gene-specific knockdown of signaling modulators in the TLR9 pathway demonstrated that IRAK4, IRAK1, IRAK2, and PKD1 are required for Irak-m transcription induced by CpG DNA. Over-expression of DN-IRAK1 only partially, but significantly, inhibited CpG DNA-induced Irak-m promoter activity. While IRAK1 was critical for the initial phase, IRAK2 was required for the late phase of TLR9 signaling by sustaining activation of PKD1 that leads to activation of NF-κB and MAPKs. Irak-m promoter-luciferase reporters with alterations in the predicted cis-acting transcriptional regulatory elements revealed that the NF-κB consensus site in the Irak-m promoter region is absolutely required for Irak-m gene expression. AP-1 and CREB binding sites also contributed to the optimal Irak-m expression by CpG DNA. Collectively, our results demonstrate that IRAK2 plays a key role in the TLR9-mediated transcriptional regulation of Irak-m expression by sustaining activation of PKD1 and NF-κB.
    PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(8):e43970. · 4.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Protein kinase D1 is essential for the proinflammatory response induced by hypersensitivity pneumonitis-causing thermophilic actinomycetes Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula.
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    ABSTRACT: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is an interstitial lung disease that results from repeated pulmonary exposure to various organic Ags, including Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula, the causative agent of farmer's lung disease. Although the contributions of proinflammatory mediators to the disease pathogenesis are relatively well documented, the mechanism(s) involved in the initiation of proinflammatory responses against the causative microorganisms and the contribution of signaling molecules involved in the host immune defense have not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we found that S. rectivirgula induces the activation of protein kinase D (PKD)1 in lung cells in vitro and in vivo. Activation of PKD1 by S. rectivirgula was dependent on MyD88. Inhibition of PKD by pharmacological PKD inhibitor Gö6976 and silencing of PKD1 expression by small interfering RNA revealed that PKD1 is indispensable for S. rectivirgula-mediated activation of MAPKs and NF-kappaB and the expression of various proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In addition, compared with controls, mice pretreated with Gö6976 showed significantly suppressed alveolitis and neutrophil influx in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid and interstitial lung tissue, as well as substantially decreased myeloperoxidase activity in the lung after pulmonary exposure to S. rectivirgula. These results demonstrate that PKD1 is essential for S. rectivirgula-mediated proinflammatory immune responses and neutrophil influx in the lung. Our findings also imply the possibility that PKD1 is one of the critical factors that play a regulatory role in the development of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by microbial Ags and that inhibition of PKD1 activation could be an effective way to control microbial Ag-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
    The Journal of Immunology 02/2010; 184(6):3145-56. · 5.79 Impact Factor
  • Article: T cell receptor signaling induced by an analog peptide of type II collagen requires activation of Syk.
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    ABSTRACT: We have previously described an analog peptide of type II collagen (CII) that can suppress collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). This analog peptide represents CII(245-270), the immunodominant epitope of CII, but with substitutions at 260, 261, and 263 - CII(245-270) (A(260), B(261), and N(263)) (A9). To elucidate the mechanisms responsible for suppression, we used mice transgenic for a collagen-specific T cell receptor (TCR). When we found that APCs pulsed with A9 failed to induce T cell phosphorylation of TCR-zeta and ZAP-70, we explored alternative signaling pathways. We determined that A9 instead induced phosphorylation of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk). The importance of Syk was confirmed by the use of chemical Syk inhibitors, which blocked both cytokine secretion and activation of GATA-3 mediated by peptide A9. In summary, T cells use an alternative pathway in response to A9 that involves Syk. This novel T cell pathway may represent an important means for altering T cell phenotypes.
    Clinical Immunology 08/2009; 133(1):145-53. · 4.05 Impact Factor
  • Article: Protein kinase D1 is essential for MyD88-dependent TLR signaling pathway.
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    ABSTRACT: Protein kinase D1 (PKD1) has been shown to be involved in certain MAPK activation and cytokine expression by several TLR ligands. However, the precise physiological role of PKD1 in individual signaling from TLRs has not been fully addressed. In this study, we provide evidence that PKD1 is being activated by TLR ligands, except the TLR3 ligand. PKD1 activation by TLR ligands is dependent on MyD88, IL-1R-associated kinase 4 and 1, but independent of TNF-alpha receptor-associated factor 6. PKD1-knockdown macrophages and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells revealed that PKD1 is indispensable for the MyD88-dependent ubiquitination of TNF-alpha receptor-associated factor 6; activation of TGF-beta-activated kinase 1, MAPKs, and transcription factors; and expression of proinflammatory genes induced by TLR ligands, but is not involved in expression of type I IFNs induced by TLR ligands and TRIF-dependent genes induced by TLR3 and TLR4 ligands. These results demonstrate that PKD1 is essential for MyD88-dependent proinflammatory immune responses.
    The Journal of Immunology 06/2009; 182(10):6316-27. · 5.79 Impact Factor
  • Article: Protein kinase D1: a new component in TLR9 signaling.
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    ABSTRACT: Protein kinase D1 (PKD1) is expressed ubiquitously and regulates diverse cellular processes such as oxidative stress, gene expression, cell survival, and vesicle trafficking. However, the presence and function of PKD1 in monocytic cells are currently unknown. In this study, we provide evidence that PKD1 is involved in TLR9 signaling in macrophages. Class B-type CpG DNA (CpG-B DNA) induced activation of PKD1 via a pathway that is dependent on endosomal pH, TLR9, MyD88, and IL-1R-associated kinase 1 in macrophages. Upon CpG-B DNA stimulation, PKD1 interacted with the TLR9/MyD88/IL-1R-associated kinase/TNFR-associated factor 6 complex. Knockdown of PKD1 revealed that PKD1 is required for activation of NF-kappaB and MAPKs, and subsequent expression of cytokines in response to CpG-B DNA. Our findings identify PKD1 as a key signaling modulator in TLR9-mediated macrophage activation.
    The Journal of Immunology 08/2008; 181(3):2044-55. · 5.79 Impact Factor
  • Article: Role of bacterial DNA in macrophage activation by group B streptococci.
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    ABSTRACT: Bacterial DNA (CpG DNA) induces macrophage activation and the production of inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and nitric oxide (NO) by these cells. However, the role of bacterial DNA in the macrophage response to whole bacteria is unknown. We used overlapping strategies to estimate the relative contribution of bacterial DNA to the upregulation of TNF and NO production in macrophages stimulated with antibiotic-treated group B streptococci (GBS). Selective inhibitors of the bacterial DNA/TLR9 pathway (chloroquine, an inhibitory oligonucleotide, and DNase I) consistently inhibited GBS-induced TNF secretion by 35-50% in RAW 264.7 macrophages and murine splenic macrophages, but had no effect on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) accumulation or NO secretion. Similarly, splenic and peritoneal macrophages from mice lacking TLR9 expression secreted 40% less TNF than macrophages from control mice after GBS challenge but accumulated comparable amounts of iNOS protein. Finally, studies in both RAW 264.7 cells and macrophages from TLR9-/- mice implicated GBS DNA in the upregulation of interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 12 (IL-12) but not interferon-beta (IFNbeta), a key intermediary in macrophage production of iNOS/NO. Our data suggest that the bacterial DNA/TLR9 pathway plays an important role in stimulating TNF rather than NO production in macrophages exposed to antibiotic-treated GBS, and that TLR9-independent upregulation of IFNbeta production by whole GBS may account for this difference.
    Microbes and Infection 07/2008; 10(10-11):1106-13. · 3.10 Impact Factor
  • Article: MyD88 is necessary for neutrophil recruitment in hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
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    ABSTRACT: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is an interstitial lung disease that is characterized by alveolitis, granuloma formation, and in some patients, fibrosis. Using the Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula animal model of Farmer's lung disease, our laboratory has demonstrated that neutrophils play a critical role in IFN-gamma production during the acute phase of the disease. As IFN-gamma is necessary for granuloma formation, it is important to identify the factors that lead to neutrophil recruitment during disease. To begin to identify the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that initiate chemokine production, leading to neutrophil recruitment following S. rectivirgula exposure, we examined the role of MyD88 and TLR2. Our results demonstrate that neutrophil recruitment, as measured by flow cytometry and the myeloperoxidase assay, was abolished in the absence of MyD88 following S. rectivirgula exposure. The decrease in neutrophil recruitment was likely a result of a significant decrease in production of neutrophil chemokines MIP-2 and keratinocyte-derived chemokine. These results suggest that S. rectivirgula interacts with PRRs that are upstream of the MyD88 pathway to initiate cytokine and chemokine production. In vitro studies suggest that S. rectivirgula can interact with TLR2, and stimulation of adherent cells from TLR2 knockout (KO) mice with S. rectivirgula resulted in a significant decrease in MIP-2 production. However, TLR2 KO mice did not have a reduction in neutrophil recruitment compared with wild-type mice following S. rectivirgula exposure. The results from our studies suggest that one or more PRR(s) upstream of MyD88 are necessary for neutrophil recruitment following S. rectivirgula exposure.
    Journal of Leukocyte Biology 06/2008; 83(5):1207-17. · 4.99 Impact Factor
  • Article: CpG DNA prevents liver injury and shock-mediated death by modulating expression of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinases.
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    ABSTRACT: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) produced by macrophages in response to CpG DNA induces severe liver injury and subsequent death of D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-sensitized mice. In the present study we demonstrate that mice pre-exposed to CpG DNA are resistant to liver injury and death induced by CpG DNA/D-GalN. CpG DNA/D-GalN failed to induce TNF-alpha production and hepatocyte apoptosis in the mice pre-exposed to CpG DNA. In addition, macrophages isolated from the CpG DNA-pretreated mice showed suppressed activation of MAPKs and NF-kappaB and production of TNF-alpha in response to CpG DNA, indicating that the CpG DNA-mediated protection of CpG DNA/D-GalN-challenged mice is due to the hyporesponsiveness of macrophages to CpG DNA. CpG DNA pretreatment in vivo inhibited expression of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)-1 while inducing IRAK-M expression in macrophages. Suppressed expression of IRAK-1 was responsible for the macrophage hyporesponsiveness to CpG DNA. However, increased expression of IRAK-M was not sufficient to render macrophages hyporesponsive to CpG DNA but was required for induction of the optimal level of macrophage hyporesponsiveness. Taken together, reduced expression of IRAK-1 and increased expression of IRAK-M after CpG DNA pretreatment resulted in the hyporesponsiveness of macrophages that leads to the protection of mice from hepatic injury and death caused by CpG DNA/D-GalN.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 06/2008; 283(22):15258-70. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: CpG DNA-mediated induction of acute liver injury in D-galactosamine-sensitized mice: the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway-dependent death of hepatocytes.
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    ABSTRACT: Unmethylated CpG motifs present in bacterial DNA (CpG DNA) induce innate inflammatory responses, including rapid induction of proinflammatory cytokines. Although innate inflammatory responses induced by CpG DNA and other pathogen-associated molecular patterns are essential for the eradication of infectious microorganisms, excessive activation of innate immunity is detrimental to the host. In this study, we demonstrate that CpG DNA, but not control non-CpG DNA, induces a fulminant liver failure with subsequent shock-mediated death by promoting massive apoptotic death of hepatocytes in D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-sensitized mice. Inhibition of mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore opening or caspase 9 activity in vivo protects D-GalN-sensitized mice from the CpG DNA-mediated liver injury and death. CpG DNA enhanced production of proinflammatory cytokines in D-GalN-sensitized mice via a TLR9/MyD88-dependent pathway. In addition, CpG DNA failed to induce massive hepatocyte apoptosis and subsequent fulminant liver failure and death in D-GalN-sensitized mice that lack TLR9, MyD88, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, or TNF receptor I but not interleukin-6 or -12p40. Taken together, our results provide direct evidence that CpG DNA induces a severe acute liver injury and shock-mediated death through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway-dependent death of hepatocytes caused by an enhanced production of TNF-alpha through a TLR9/MyD88 signaling pathway in D-GalN-sensitized mice.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 06/2006; 281(21):15001-12. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: CpG DNA-mediated Induction of Acute Liver Injury in d-Galactosamine-sensitized Mice
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    ABSTRACT: Unmethylated CpG motifs present in bacterial DNA (CpG DNA) induce innate inflammatory responses, including rapid induction of proinflammatory cytokines. Although innate inflammatory responses induced by CpG DNA and other pathogen-associated molecular patterns are essential for the eradication of infectious microorganisms, excessive activation of innate immunity is detrimental to the host. In this study, we demonstrate that CpG DNA, but not control non-CpG DNA, induces a fulminant liver failure with subsequent shock-mediated death by promoting massive apoptotic death of hepatocytes in d-galactosamine (d-GalN)-sensitized mice. Inhibition of mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore opening or caspase 9 activity in vivo protects d-GalN-sensitized mice from the CpG DNA-mediated liver injury and death. CpG DNA enhanced production of proinflammatory cytokines in d-GalN-sensitized mice via a TLR9/MyD88-dependent pathway. In addition, CpG DNA failed to induce massive hepatocyte apoptosis and subsequent fulminant liver failure and death in d-GalN-sensitized mice that lack TLR9, MyD88, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, or TNF receptor I but not interleukin-6 or -12p40. Taken together, our results provide direct evidence that CpG DNA induces a severe acute liver injury and shock-mediated death through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway-dependent death of hepatocytes caused by an enhanced production of TNF-α through a TLR9/MyD88 signaling pathway in d-GalN-sensitized mice.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 05/2006; 281(21):15001-15012. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: IFN-gamma production by innate immune cells is sufficient for development of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
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    ABSTRACT: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease that develops following repeated exposure to inhaled particulate antigens. The disease is characterized by lymphocytic alveolitis, granuloma formation and fibrosis. IFN-gamma is required for the formation of granulomas in HP, and we therefore focused on identifying the cellular sources of IFN-gamma during the disease. Using the Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula (SR) animal model of HP, we demonstrated that the majority of IFN-gamma(+) cells in the lung following SR exposure are neutrophils. Ab-mediated depletion of neutrophils in mice prior to exposure to SR resulted in a decrease in the level of IFN-gamma mRNA and protein compared to isotype Ab-treated mice, suggesting that neutrophils are an important source of IFN-gamma during HP. To determine the contribution of T and non-T cell sources of IFN-gamma to granuloma formation, we performed adoptive transfer studies. RAG-1(-/-) mice reconstituted with spleen cells from IFN-gamma(-/-) mice developed granulomas similarly to RAG-1(-/-) mice reconstituted with normal spleen cells. Therefore innate immune cell IFN-gamma production in the absence of T cell IFN-gamma production is sufficient for granuloma formation. These results provide new insight into the pathogenesis of HP and demonstrate the important contribution of innate immune cells to the disease process.
    European Journal of Immunology 07/2005; 35(6):1928-38. · 5.10 Impact Factor
  • Article: Role of vav1- and src-related tyrosine kinases in macrophage activation by CpG DNA.
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    ABSTRACT: Macrophage activation by CpG DNA requires toll-like receptor 9 and the adaptor protein MyD88. Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide also activates macrophages via a toll-like receptor pathway (TLR-4), but we and others have reported that lipopolysaccharide also stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation in macrophages. Herein we report that exposure of RAW 264.7 murine macrophages to CpG DNA (but not non-CpG DNA) provoked the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of vav1. PP1, a selective inhibitor of src-related tyrosine kinases, blocked both the CpG DNA-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of vav1 and the CpG DNA-mediated up-regulation of macrophage tumor necrosis factor secretion and inducible nitric-oxide synthase protein accumulation. Furthermore, we found that the inducible expression of any of three dominant interfering mutants of vav1 (a truncated protein, vavC; a form containing a point mutation in the regulatory tyrosine residue, vavYF174; and a form with an in-frame deletion of six amino acids required for the guanidine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity of vav1 for rac family GTPases, vavGEFmt) consistently inhibited CpG DNA-mediated up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor secretion and inducible nitric-oxide synthase protein accumulation in RAW-TT10 macrophages. Finally, we determined that CpG DNA-mediated up-regulation of NF-kappaB activity (but not mitogen-activated protein kinase activation) was inhibited by preincubation with PP1 or by expression of the truncated vavC mutant. Taken together, our results indicate that the tyrosine phosphorylation of vav1 by a src-related tyrosine kinase or kinases plays an important role in the macrophage response to CpG DNA.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 05/2004; 279(14):13809-16. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent post-transcriptional regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression by CpG DNA: tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor-associated factor 6, a diverging point in the Toll-like receptor 9-signaling.
    Seon-Ju Yeo, Jae-Geun Yoon, Ae-Kyung Yi
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    ABSTRACT: The immune stimulatory unmethylated CpG motifs present in bacterial DNA (CpG DNA) induce expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2). The present study demonstrates that CpG DNA can up-regulate cox-2 expression by post-transcriptional mechanisms in RAW264.7 cells. To determine the CpG DNA-mediated signaling pathway that post-transcriptionally regulates cox-2 expression, a cox-2 translational reporter (COX2-3'-UTR-luciferase) was generated by inserting sequences within the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of cox-2 to the 3' end of the luciferase gene under control of the SV40 promoter. CpG DNA-induced COX2-3'-UTR-luciferase activity was completely inhibited by an endosomal acidification inhibitor chloroquine, a Toll-like receptor 9 antagonist inhibitory CpG DNA, or overexpression of a dominant negative (DN) form of MyD88. However, overexpression of DN-IRAK-1 or DN-TRAF6 resulted in substantial, but not complete, inhibition of the CpG DNA-induced COX2-3'-UTR-luciferase activity. Activation of all three MAPKs (ERK, p38, and JNK) was required for optimal COX2-3'-UTR-luciferase activity induced by CpG DNA. Overexpression of DN-TRAF6 suppressed CpG DNA-mediated activation of p38 and JNK, but not ERK, explaining the partial inhibitory effects of DN-TRAF6 on CpG DNA-induced COX2-3'-UTR-luciferase activity. Co-expression of DN-TRAF6 and N17Ras completely inhibited CpG DNA-induced COX2-3'-UTR-luciferase activity, indicating the involvement of Ras in CpG DNA-mediated ERK and COX2-3'-UTR regulation. Collectively, our results suggest that MyD88 and MAPKs play a key regulatory role in CpG DNA-mediated cox-2 expression at the post-transcriptional level and that TRAF6 is a diverging point in the Toll-like receptor 9-signaling pathway for CpG DNA-mediated MAPK activation.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 11/2003; 278(42):40590-600. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent transcriptional regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression by CpG DNA: role of NF-kappaB and p38.
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    ABSTRACT: CpG DNA induces macrophage cyclooxgenase-2 (Cox-2) production. In this study, we have investigated a biochemical signaling pathway and transcription factors responsible for transcriptional regulation of the Cox-2 gene expression induced by CpG DNA. CpG DNA-induced Cox-2 promoter activity was completely inhibited by an endosomal acidification inhibitor (chloroquine), a TLR9 antagonist inhibitory CpG DNA, or overexpression of a dominant negative (DN) form of MyD88. In contrast, overexpression of DN-IRAK1 or DN-TRAF6 only partially inhibited CpG DNA-induced Cox-2 promoter activity and NF-kappaB activation, indicating the presence of additional signaling modulators downstream of MyD88. CpG DNA-induced Cox-2 promoter activity was substantially suppressed in cells overexpressing super-suppressive IkappaB (IkappaB-arachidonic acid), DN-p38, or DN-CREB. In addition, Cox-2 promoter-luciferase reporters with alterations in predicted cis-acting transcriptional regulatory elements revealed that C/EBP, Ets-1, NF-kappaB, and CREB-binding sites are essential for optimal Cox-2 expression in response to CpG DNA. Conclusively, these results demonstrate that endosomal DNA processing and TLR9/MyD88-dependent activation of NF-kappaB and p38 are required for transcriptional regulation of Cox-2 expression induced by CpG DNA, and suggest that interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase and/or TRAF6 may be a diverging point for NF-kappaB activation in response to CpG DNA in RAW264.7 cells.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 07/2003; 278(25):22563-73. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88-dependent Transcriptional Regulation of Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression by CpG DNA
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    ABSTRACT: CpG DNA induces macrophage cyclooxgenase-2 (Cox-2) production. In this study, we have investigated a biochemical signaling pathway and transcription factors responsible for transcriptional regulation of the Cox-2 gene expression induced by CpG DNA. CpG DNA-induced Cox-2 promoter activity was completely inhibited by an endosomal acidification inhibitor (chloroquine), a TLR9 antagonist inhibitory CpG DNA, or overexpression of a dominant negative (DN) form of MyD88. In contrast, overexpression of DN-IRAK1 or DN-TRAF6 only partially inhibited CpG DNA-induced Cox-2 promoter activity and NF-κB activation, indicating the presence of additional signaling modulators downstream of MyD88. CpG DNA-induced Cox-2 promoter activity was substantially suppressed in cells overexpressing super-suppressive IκB (IκB-arachidonic acid), DN-p38, or DN-CREB. In addition, Cox-2 promoter-luciferase reporters with alterations in predicted cis-acting transcriptional regulatory elements revealed that C/EBP, Ets-1, NF-κB, and CREB-binding sites are essential for optimal Cox-2 expression in response to CpG DNA. Conclusively, these results demonstrate that endosomal DNA processing and TLR9/MyD88-dependent activation of NF-κB and p38 are required for transcriptional regulation of Cox-2 expression induced by CpG DNA, and suggest that interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase and/or TRAF6 may be a diverging point for NF-κB activation in response to CpG DNA in RAW264.7 cells.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 06/2003; 278(25):22563-22573. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Convergence of CpG DNA- and BCR-mediated signals at the c-Jun N-terminal kinase and NF-kappaB activation pathways: regulation by mitogen-activated protein kinases.
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    ABSTRACT: Depending on the experimental model, unmethylated CpG motifs in bacterial DNA or synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG DNA) either augment or antagonize BCR-induced signals in B cells. CpG DNA synergizes with BCR-induced proliferation and Ig production of mature B cells, but blocks BCR-mediated apoptosis of immature B cells. Here, we demonstrate using a murine B lymphoma cell line WEHI-231, which is a model for immature B lymphocytes, that CpG DNA augments BCR-mediated signals for the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MKK)3, MKK4 and MKK6, and their subsequent downstream effectors c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38, but does not enhance MEK1/2 or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. CpG DNA- and BCR-mediated signals also synergize for the activation of transcription factors AP-1, NFAT and NF-kappaB, but not for cAMP-responsive elements binding factor. Synergistic activations of JNK and p38 contribute to the synergistic production of cytokines induced by CpG DNA- and BCR-mediated signals, but have little or no effect on the ability of CpG DNA to protect WEHI-231 cells from anti-IgM-induced growth arrest. In contrast, all three MAPK, JNK, ERK and p38, contribute to the synergistic induction of splenic mature B cell proliferation by CpG DNA and anti-IgM. These results indicate that CpG DNA- and BCR-mediated signals converge at the level of MKK, NF-kappaB and NFAT activation, and that MAPK have differential regulatory roles for CpG DNA-mediated cytokine production versus cell proliferation in splenic mature B cells and WEHI-231 cells.
    International Immunology 06/2003; 15(5):577-91. · 3.41 Impact Factor
  • Article: CpG DNA induces self and cross-hyporesponsiveness of RAW264.7 cells in response to CpG DNA and lipopolysaccharide: alterations in IL-1 receptor-associated kinase expression.
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    ABSTRACT: Exposure of macrophages to LPS induces a state of hyporesponsiveness to subsequent challenge with LPS. It has not been known whether previous exposure to CpG DNA induces a similar suppressive response to subsequent stimulation with CpG DNA. In the present study, we demonstrate that pretreatment with CpG DNA induces suppression of cytokine release in a murine macrophage-like cell RAW264.7 in response to subsequent challenge by CpG DNA. Additionally, CpG DNA-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, including c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and p38, and activation of transcription factors AP-1, CREB, NF-kappaB, and STAT1 are greatly suppressed in the cells pre-exposed to CpG DNA. Pretreatment with CpG DNA also partially inhibited LPS-mediated production of cytokines and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and transcription factors. Neither LPS nor CpG DNA treatment inhibited Toll-like receptor 4, MD2, Toll-like receptor 9, myeloid differentiation factor 88, Toll/IL-1R domain-containing adaptor protein, Tollip, and TNF-alpha receptor-associated factor 6 expression. Interestingly, CpG DNA or LPS stimulation led to the inhibition of IL-1R-associated kinase expression. These results indicate that CpG DNA-induced refractory of RAW264.7 cells may be, at least in part, due to suppressed IL-1R-associated kinase expression.
    The Journal of Immunology 02/2003; 170(2):1052-61. · 5.79 Impact Factor
  • Article: Inhibitory oligonucleotides block the induction of AP-1 transcription factor by stimulatory CpG oligonucleotides in B cells.
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    ABSTRACT: The proliferative response of primary B cells to CpG oligonucleotides (ODN) involves induction of nuclear activation promoting-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. AP-1 subunits c-Fos, Fos-B, Jun-B, and Jun-D, but not Fra-1 or Fra-2, were all induced by CpG ODNs in B cells within 30 minutes of stimulation, followed by c-Jun at 1-2 hours. c-Jun reached maximum at 6 hours. By 40 hours, Jun-B and Jun-D became dominant. Synthetic ODNs containing a single guanosine triplet/tetrad appropriately distanced from the 5' pyrimidine-rich unit, which inhibit CpG-driven cell cycle entry and apoptosis protection, blocked AP-1 induction by stimulatory ODNs when they were added simultaneously. After 30 minutes of stimulation, adding inhibitor no longer affected AP-1 at 6 hours. No AP-1 subunits escaped ODN inhibition. In a cell line transfected with an AP-1-beta-galactosidase reporter construct, CpG ODN-induced AP-1 transcriptional activity was prevented by inhibitory ODN, but lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AP-1 activity was not. These data suggest that inhibitory ODNs block the CpG ODN-driven signaling pathway at a site proximal to AP-1 induction.
    Antisense and Nucleic Acid Drug Development 02/2003; 13(3):143-50.