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ABSTRACT: Tripartite motif (TRIM) 22 plays an important role in IFN-mediated antiviral activity. We previously demonstrated that IRF-1 was crucial for constitutive and IFN-induced TRIM22 expression via binding to a special cis-element named 5' extended IFN-stimulating response element (5'eISRE). Here, we further investigate the molecular mechanisms of TRIM22 with a focus on the co-activators of IRF-1. Using an in vitro DNA affinity binding assay and an in vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we found that IFN-γ stimulation significantly enhanced the binding of p300 and PCAF, but not other co-activators such as GCN-5, SRC-1 and ACTR, to the 5'eISRE-containing TRIM22 promoter region together with IRF-1. Overexpression and knockdown analysis demonstrated that it was p300, but not PCAF, that functioned as a transcriptional co-activator of IRF-1 in IFN-γ induction of TRIM22. We further show that p300 contributed to both IFN-γ- and IRF-1-mediated TRIM22 transcription independent of its histone acetyltransferase activity, however, it was required for the recruitment of RNA polymerase II to TRIM22 promoter region. These data indicate that p300 plays a critical role in IFN-γ-induced TRIM22 expression via recruiting RNA polymerase II to the TRIM22 promoter, and might serve as a bridge between IRF-1 and the basal transcriptional apparatus in TRIM22 induction. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
European Journal of Immunology 05/2013; · 5.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Tripartite motif (TRIM) 22 plays an important role in interferons (IFNs)-mediated antiviral activity. We previously demonstrated that interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) played a central role in IFN-γ-induced TRIM22 expression via binding to a special cis-element named 5' extended IFN-stimulating response element (5'eISRE). In this study, we sought to identify the signaling pathways involved in TRIM22 induction by IFN-γ. By using various pharmacological inhibitors, it was found that the activity of tyrosine kinase and phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase C (PC-PLC), but not phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and phospholipase D (PLD), was required for IFN-γ-induced TRIM22 expression in HepG2 cells. Tyrosine kinase Janus kinase (JAK), not SRC and PYK2, played an indispensable role in TRIM22 induction. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) activity also significantly attenuated IFN-γ induction of TRIM22. Although treatment with IFN-γ resulted in the stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) (p38, ERK, and JNK) and pI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways in HepG2 cells, the inhibition of their activity did not affect IFN-γ-stimulated TRIM22 expression. Further studies showed that overexpression of JAK1 and PKCα activated TRIM22 promoter activity in a 5'eISRE-dependent manner, and inhibition of not only JAK but also PC-PLC/PKC pathways significantly attenuated IFN-γ-induced IRF-1 expression in HepG2 cells. Taken together, these data indicated that IFN-γ induced TRIM22 expression via activation of JAK and PC-PLC/PKC signaling pathways, which involved the cis-element 5'eISRE and the transactivator IRF-1.
Journal of interferon & cytokine research: the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research 05/2013; · 1.63 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Anti-dsDNA Ab is reported to be the central pathogenic autoantibody involved in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. However, the mechanisms involved in anti-dsDNA Ab production remain unclear. Recent evidence indicated that DNA-containing immune complexes (ICs) in circulation (termed "circulating DNA-containing ICs"), which are one of the hallmarks of SLE, might be involved in autoantibody production. In this study, we explored their potential role in anti-dsDNA Ab production and the underlying mechanisms in patients with SLE. We demonstrated that circulating DNA-containing ICs were able to induce anti-dsDNA Ab. Of note, HMGB1 in circulating DNA-containing ICs was crucial for anti-dsDNA Ab induction. The HMGB1 content of circulating DNA-containing ICs also correlated positively with anti-dsDNA Ab production in patients with SLE. Further, we revealed that the TLR2/MyD88/microRNA-155 (miR-155) pathway was pivotal for HMGB1 to confer anti-dsDNA Ab induction, and Ets-1 was a functional target of miR-155 in the induction of anti-dsDNA Ab by circulating DNA-containing ICs. Finally, we validated the expression of miR-155 and Ets-1 and their correlation with anti-dsDNA Ab production in patients with SLE. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the crucial role of HMGB1 in autoantibody production mediated by the TLR2/MyD88/miR-155/Ets-1 pathway. These findings identify a novel mechanism to account for the persistent production of anti-dsDNA Ab in SLE and a clue for developing a novel therapeutic strategy against SLE.
The Journal of Immunology 04/2013; · 5.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: DNA-dependent activator of IFN-regulatory factors (DAI) functions as a cytoplasmic DNA sensor that activates the innate immune system. We previously found that activated lymphocyte-derived self apoptotic DNA (ALD-DNA) immunization led to pathological macrophage activation and M2b polarization which could initiate and propagate murine lupus nephritis. However the specific DNA sensor(s) as well as underlying molecular mechanisms involved in ALD-DNA-induced macrophage M2b polarization in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease remains still unknown. In this study, we reported that DAI expression was significantly increased in SLE patients as well as in lupus mice. Gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that DAI was involved in ALD-DNA-induced macrophage activation and M2b polarization. Moreover, ALD-DNA notably induced dimerization/oligomerization of DAI and consequently activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) signaling pathways via calcium signaling, resulting in macrophage activation and M2b polarization. More importantly, blockade of DAI in vivo or selective knockdown of DAI in macrophages could ameliorate SLE syndrome via blunting macrophage M2b polarization and inhibiting inflammatory response in lupus mice. Our results suggest that DAI could function as a DNA sensor and a regulator in ALD-DNA-induced macrophage M2b polarization and lupus nephritis, providing the possible molecular mechanisms involved in ALD-DNA-induced macrophage M2b polarization in SLE disease and making DAI as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of SLE.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 04/2013; · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: Lupus nephritis, a major cause of morbidity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is generally thought to be induced by macrophage-mediated inflammation following deposition of various autoantibodies in kidneys. We previously reported that macrophage aberrant activation induced by activated lymphocyte-derived apoptotic DNA (apopDNA) have been found to play pathogenic roles in the immunodysregulation in lupus nephritis. However, DNA sensor(s) involved in apopDNA-induced macrophage activation and lupus nephritis remains largely undefined. Herein, we aimed to reveal the DNA sensor(s) involved in SLE disease. METHODS: Correlation between the level of absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), a cytoplasmic DNA receptor in the inflammasome pathway, and the clinical severity of SLE disease were analyzed in SLE patients as well as in lupus mice. Activated macrophages induced by apopDNA were analyzed by real-time PCR and western blot for AIM2 expression. After silencing of AIM2 via siRNA-mediated knockdown in vitro and in vivo, macrophage activation, inflammatory response, and SLE syndrome were assessed. RESULTS: AIM2 expression was closely correlated with the severity of disease in SLE patients and in lupus mice. Importantly, AIM2 expression was significantly increased in apopDNA-induced macrophages and closely correlated with macrophage activation. Knockdown of AIM2 significantly blunted apopDNA-induced macrophage activation. Furthermore, blockade of AIM2 expression notably ameliorated SLE syndrome via impeding macrophage activation and dampening inflammatory response in apopDNA-induced lupus mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results implied that AIM2 might act as an important DNA sensor and a potential biomarker for apopDNA-induced macrophage functional maturation and SLE disease.
Journal of Clinical Immunology 03/2013; · 3.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Induction of local (pulmonary) immunity plays a critical role in preventing dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) during the early infection stage. To induce specific mucosal immunity, chitosan, a natural cationic polysaccharide, was employed as a mucosal gene carrier and complexed with pHSP65pep, our previously constructed multi-epitope gene vaccine, which induces splenic gamma-interferon (IFN-γ)(+) T helper cell 1 responses. The resultant chitosan-pHSP65pep was administered intranasally to BALB/c mice with four doses of 50 μg DNA followed by mycobacterial challenge 4 weeks after the final immunization. It was found that the chitosan formulation significantly induced production of secretory immunoglobulin A (P < 0.05) as determined by measuring its concentrations in lung lavage fluid and enhanced pulmonary CD4(+) and CD8(+) IFN-γ(+) T cell responses (P < 0.001) compared with naked gene vaccine. Improved protection against Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) challenge was consistently achieved by the chitosan-DNA formulation both as the vaccine alone or in a BCG prime-vaccine boost immunization scenario. Our study shows that mucosal delivery of gene vaccine in a chitosan formulation remarkably enhances specific SIgA concentrations and mucosal IFN-γ(+) T cell response, which correlated positively with immunological protection.
Microbiology and Immunology 03/2013; 57(3):224-235. · 1.30 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Induction of local (pulmonary) immunity plays a critical role in preventing dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) at the early infection stage. On the basis of our previously constructed multi-epitope gene vaccine, pHSP65pep, which effectively induced splenic IFN-γ(+) Th1 response, chitosan, one natural cationic polysaccharide was employed as mucosal gene carrier to complex with pHSP65pep to induce the specific mucosal immunity. Chitosan-pHSP65pep was intranasally administered to BALB/c mice with 4 doses of 50μg DNA followed by mycobacterial challenge 4 weeks after the final immunization. It was found that chitosan formulation significantly induced the production of SIgA (P < 0.05) in the lung lavage and enhanced pulmonary CD4(+) as well as CD8(+) IFN-γ(+) T cell response (P < 0.001) compared with naked gene vaccine. In consistency, improved protection against Mycobacterium bovis BCG challenge was achieved by chitosan-DNA formulation both in vaccine alone or BCG-prime-vaccine boost immunization scenario. Our study indicated that mucosal delivery of gene vaccine in chitosan formulation remarkably enhanced specific SIgA level and mucosal IFN-γ(+) T cell response which were positively correlated with immunological protection.
Microbiology and Immunology 01/2013; · 1.30 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Lupus nephritis is one of the most serious manifestations and one of the strongest predictors of a poor outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recent evidence implicated a potential role of interlukin-17 (IL-17) in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. However, the correlation between IL-17 expression level and the severity of lupus nephritis still remains incompletely understood. In this study, we found that serum IL-17 expression level was associated with the severity of lupus nephritis, which was evaluated by histopathology of kidney sections and urine protein. Of note, we showed that enforced expression of IL-17 using adenovirus construct that expresses IL-17 could enhance the severity of lupus nephritis, while blockade of IL-17 using neutralizing antibody resulted in decreased severity of lupus nephritis. Consistently, we observed an impaired induction of lupus nephritis in IL-17-deficient mice. Further, we revealed that IL-17 expression level was associated with immune complex deposition and complement activation in kidney. Of interest, we found that IL-17 was crucial for increasing anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody production in SLE. Our results suggested that IL-17 expression level positively correlated with the severity of lupus nephritis, at least in part, because of its contribution to anti-dsDNA antibody production. These findings provided a novel mechanism for how IL-17 expression level correlated with disease pathogenesis and suggested that management of IL-17 expression level was a potential and promising approach for treatment of lupus nephritis.
PLoS ONE 01/2013; 8(3):e58161. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Viral myocarditis (VMC) is an important cause of heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy with no effective clinical diagnosis and treatment, and has been commonly associated with Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection. Current evidence from CVB3 myocarditis in mice indicates that acute myocarditis is mainly mediated by the host immune responses, including Th1, Th17 and type I macrophages. Recently, innate immunity triggered by TLR3, TLR4, TLR8 and MDA5 has also been demonstrated to participate in the induction of inflammatory cytokines in response to CVB3. Apart from the heart tissue, the intestine, which is the assumed initial infection and important replication site for CVB3, needs to be investigated, where induction of innate immunity and interactions with microflora may shape the immune response involved in the pathogenesis of VMC. This review presents recent advances in research into innate and adaptive immunity to CVB3, and provides insights into developing new strategies for the future treatment for VMC.
Future Microbiology 10/2012; 7:1207-16. · 3.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Viral myocarditis, which is most prevalently caused by Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection, is a serious clinical condition characterized by cardiac inflammation. However, efficient therapies targeting inflammation are still lacking and much needed. A20, also known as tumor necrosis factor alpha induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) is a key negative regulator of inflammation. But whether A20 may affect cardiac inflammation during acute viral myocarditis remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective effect of A20 on CVB3-induced myocarditis.
Mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with CVB3 to establish acute viral myocarditis model. We found that the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) were markedly and persistently increased during the progression of CVB3-induced myocarditis, and positively correlated with the disease severity. Notably, intravenous injection in vivo with adenovirus expressed A20 (Ad-A20) remarkably reduced CVB3-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines production and alleviated the severity of myocarditis. Further, we observed that nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling which mediates inflammatory response was significantly inhibited in CVB3-infected mice with Ad-A20 treatment. Finally, we revealed that A20 was required to inhibit CVB3-induced NF-κB signaling by restricting TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) ubiquitylation.
This study demonstrates the protective role of A20 against CVB3-induced myocarditis, which may provide a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of viral myocarditis.
PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(9):e46515. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: With the development of low-carbon economy and renewable resource, fermentation of the pentose sugar xylose to produce ethanol becomes a very hot topic. The recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be constructed by expressing heterologous xylose isomerase (XI). Because Thermus thermophilus XI (TthXI) does not need cofactor, it has been developed for establishing the utilization pathway of xylose in S. cerevisiae. In this article, we reviewed the progress on xylose isomerase. We first introduced the primary properties, sequence and structure characters of xylose isomerase, and discussed its thermostability. The molecular modification of xylose isomerase, including of substrate specificity and thermostability were discussed in detail. Meanwhile, combined with our own research, we also discussed how to improve the xylose isomerase activity at room temperature. Finally, we suggested perspectives of xylose isomerase.
Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology 12/2011; 27(12):1690-701.
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ABSTRACT: Induction of potent mucosal immune response is a goal of current vaccine strategies against mucus-infectious pathogens such as Coxsackievirus B3 type (CVB3). We previously showed that administration of lymphotactin (LTN) as an adjuvant could enhance the specific immune responses against a mucosal gene vaccine, chitosan-pVP1, against CVB3. To optimize the coadministration mode of the mucosal adjuvant, we compared the mucosal immune responses induced by chitosan-DNA vaccine with different combinations of the target VP1 antigen gene and the adjuvant LTN gene. The two genes were either cloned in separate vectors or coexpressed as a fusion or bicistron protein in the same vector before encapsulation in chitosan nanoparticles. Four doses of various adjuvant-combined chitosan-DNA were intranasally administrated to mice before challenge with CVB3. The results indicated that chitosan-formulated pVP1-LTN fusion plasmid exhibited very weak improvement of CVB3-specific immune responses. Although the bicistronic coexpression of LTN with VP1 was expected to be powerful, this combination had enhanced effects on serum IgG and systemic T cell immune responses, but not on mucosal T cell immunity. Coimmunization with VP1 and LTN as separate chitosan-DNA formulation remarkably enhanced antibody and T cell immune responses both in systemic and mucosal immune compartments, leading to the most desirable preventive effect on viral myocarditis. Taken together, how the adjuvant is combined with the target antigen has a strong influence on the mucosal immune responses induced by mucosal DNA vaccines.
DNA and cell biology 10/2011; 31(4):479-88. · 2.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Macrophage differentiation and polarization is influenced by, and act on, many processes associated with autoimmunity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying macrophage polarization in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remain largely debated. We previously demonstrated that macrophage M2b polarization conferred by activated lymphocyte-derived (ALD)-DNA immunization could initiate and propagate murine lupus nephritis. Serum amyloid P component (SAP), a conserved acute-phase protein in mice, has been reported to bind to DNA and modulate immune responses. In this study, murine SAP was shown to promote macrophage-mediated ALD-DNA uptake through binding to ALD-DNA (SAP/ALD-DNA). Moreover, macrophage phenotypic switch from a proinflammatory M2b phenotype induced by ALD-DNA alone to an anti-inflammatory M2a phenotype stimulated with SAP/ALD-DNA were found because of PI3K/Akt-ERK signaling activation. Both in vivo SAP supplements and adoptive transfer of ex vivo programmed M2a macrophages induced by SAP/ALD-DNA into SLE mice could efficiently alleviate lupus nephritis. Importantly, increased IL-10 secretion, accompanied by anti-inflammatory effect exerted by M2a macrophages, was found to predominantly impede macrophage M2b polarization. Furthermore, neutralization of IL-10 notably reduced the suppressive effect of M2a macrophages. Our results demonstrate that binding of SAP to ALD-DNA could switch macrophage phenotypic polarization from proinflammatory M2b to anti-inflammatory M2a via PI3K/Akt-ERK signaling activation, thus exerting protective and therapeutic interventions on murine lupus nephritis. These data provide a possible molecular mechanism responsible for modulation of macrophage polarization in the context of lupus nephritis and open a new potential therapeutic avenue for SLE.
The Journal of Immunology 08/2011; 187(4):1764-77. · 5.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute-phase protein with an ability to bind to nuclear antigen, has been reported to regulate cytokine secretion and modulate immune responses. We previously reported that activated syngeneic lymphocyte-derived apoptotic DNA (apopDNA) could induce macrophage activation and contribute to the initiation and progression of lupus nephritis. It is reasonable to hypothesize that CRP might regulate apopDNA-induced macrophage activation. Herein, CRP was shown to promote macrophage-mediated apopDNA uptake by binding to apopDNA (CRP/apopDNA complex). Notably, CRP/apopDNA treatment inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by macrophages which could be induced by apopDNA alone. Further coculture and transwell studies revealed that CRP/apopDNA-induced macrophages prohibited apopDNA-induced macrophage activation in an IL-10 dependent manner. These results provide insight into the potential mechanism of CRP regulatory activity in macrophage activation induced by apopDNA in the context of lupus nephritis and other autoimmune diseases.
Protein & Cell 08/2011; 2(8):672-9.
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ABSTRACT: In this study we explored the effects of galectin-9 on CVB3 induced myocarditis and its possible mechanisms involved. We demonstrated that galectin-9 expression was significantly up-regulated in the myocardium following CVB3 infection and was correlated with the severity of viral myocarditis. To explore whether galectin-9 may have therapeutic effect on the CVB3 induced myocarditis, galectin-9 was administered daily to mice following CVB3 infection. Significantly reduced CD4(+) T cells and remarkably increased regulatory T cells frequency in the heart tissue were found as compared to the non-treated mice. It was accompanied by a significant decreased level of Th1 cytokines as TNF-α and IFN-γ both in the myocardium and serum, and an increased level of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-10. Galectin-9 was further found to promote the proliferation of regulatory T cells and elevated IL-4-secreting Th2 cells. It may represent as a novel therapeutic strategy in treating Th1-mediated inflammatory cardiac disease.
Clinical Immunology 07/2011; 140(1):92-101. · 4.05 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We previously established a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) animal model in non-susceptible BALB/c mice by immunizing with activated syngeneic lymphocyte-derived DNA (ALD-DNA), manifested by high level of anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies (Abs), proteinuria, glomerular deposition of immune complex and glomerulonephritis. The production of anti-dsDNA Abs is closely related with the renal inflammation and damage in this model. However, recognition of ALD-DNA and its signaling pathway within antigen-presenting cells (APC) remains not fully clarified. Herein, in this study, Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), a well-known pattern-recognition receptor for dsDNA with CpG motif, was found to be dynamically up-regulated in B cells during the process of the SLE disease. Knockdown of TLR9 by short interfering RNA (siRNA) in B cells in vitro and in vivo reduced the production of anti-dsDNA antibody and consequently ameliorated the SLE syndrome in mice while the affinity and isotype of the antibody remained the same. Our results implied that TLR9 signaling of B cells might play an important role in the production of anti-dsDNA Abs triggered by auto dsDNA, which would extend our understanding of TLR9 immune recognition in the pathogenesis of SLE disease.
Molecular Immunology 07/2011; 48(12-13):1532-9. · 2.90 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The modification of chromatin structure is increasingly recognized to be an important facet of transcriptional regulation. Here, we report that Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1), a chromatin remodeling enzyme, plays a crucial role in IFN-γ-induced TRIM22 expression. Our results showed that IFN-γ failed to induce TRIM22 expression in BRG1-deficient SW-13 cells, and reconstitution of BRG1 in this cell line could restore IFN-γ induction of TRIM22. Furthermore, it was revealed that BRG1 absence, per se, did not impair IFN-γ-induced IRF-1 expression, but blocked its access to TRIM22 promoter, and BRG1-dependent induction of TRIM22 perfectly correlated with BRG1-dependent recruitment of IRF-1 to TRIM22 promoter. We also found that the DNA-dependent ATPase domain of BRG1 was required for TRIM22 expression and IRF-1 recruitment in response to IFN-γ stimulation, suggesting that BRG1-mediated chromatin remodeling is critical for the IFN-γ-inducibility of TRIM22 gene.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 06/2011; 410(3):549-54. · 2.48 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Increasing evidence suggests that TRIM family proteins may play important roles in the regulation of innate immune signaling pathways. Here we report TRIM22 is involved in the activation of NF-κB. It was found that overexpression of TRIM22 could dose-dependently activate NF-κB as demonstrated by reporter gene assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, but had no effect on the activity of other transcription factors, including NF-AT, AP-1, C/EBP and IRFs. Further study showed that both the N-terminal RING domain and C-terminal SPRY domain were crucial for TRIM22-mediated NF-κB activation. Moreover, our results revealed that TRIM22 overexpression could significantly induce the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by human macrophage cell line U937 in an NF-κB-dependent manner. These data suggested that TRIM22 was a positive regulator of NF-κB-mediated transcription.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 05/2011; 410(2):247-51. · 2.48 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs), a heterogeneous population, were enrichment in tumor mass and played an important role in modulating anti-tumor immunity. Recently, we reported a Treg subset, CCR6(+) Tregs but not CCR6(-)Tregs, were enriched in tumor mass and closely related to poor prognosis of breast cancer patients. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we carefully evaluate the enrichment of CCR6(+)Tregs in tumor mass during progression of breast cancer and explore its possible mechanism.
The frequency of CCR6(+)Tregs in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs ) was analyzed at early stage and at late stage of tumor in a murine breast cancer model by FACS respectively. The expansion of CCR6(+)Tregs and their CCR6(-) counterpart in tumor mass were determined by BrdU incorporation assay. The effect and its possible mechanism of tumor-resident antigen presenting cells (APCs) on the proliferation of CCR6(+)Tregs also were evaluated. The role of local expansion of CCR6(+)Tregs in their enrichment and suppression in vivo also was evaluated in adoptive cell transfer assay. We found that the prior enrichment of CCR6(+)Tregs but not CCR6(-)Tregs in tumor mass during progression of murine breast cancer, which was dependent on the dominant proliferation of CCR6(+) Tregs in situ. Further study demonstrated that tumor-resident DCs triggered the proliferation of CCR6(+)Treg cells in TGF-β dependent manner. Adoptive transfer of CCR6(+)Tregs was found to potently inhibit the function of CD8(+)T cells in vivo, which was dependent on their proliferation and subsequently enrichment in tumor mass.
Our finding suggested that CCR6(+) Tregs, a distinct subset of Tregs, exert its predominant suppressive role in tumor immunity through prior in situ expansion, which might ultimately provide helpful thoughts for the designing of Treg-based immunotherapy for tumor in the future.
PLoS ONE 01/2011; 6(5):e20282. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium that often follows the enterovirus infections, with coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) being the most dominant etiologic agent. We and other groups previously reported that chemokine IP-10 was significantly induced in the heart tissue of CVB3-infected mice and contributed to the migration of massive inflammatory cells into the myocardium, which represents one of the most important mechanisms of viral myocarditis. To evaluate the direct effect of IP-10 on the inflammatory responses in CVB3 myocarditis, herein an IP-10 mutant deprived of chemo-attractant function was introduced into mice to antagonize the endogenous IP-10 activity, and its therapeutic effect on CVB3-induced myocarditis was evaluated.
The depletion mutant pIP-10-AT, with an additional methionine after removal of the 5 N-terminal amino acids, was genetically constructed and intramuscularly injected into BALB/c mice after CVB3 infection. Compared with vector or no treatment, pIP-10-AT treatment had significantly reduced heart/body weight ratio and serum CK-MB level, increased survival rate and improved heart histopathology, suggesting an ameliorated myocarditis. This therapeutic effect was not attributable to an enhanced viral clearance, but to a blunted Th1 immune response, as evidenced by significantly decreased splenic CD4(+)/CD8(+)IFN-γ(+) T cell percentages and reduced myocardial Th1 cytokine levels.
Our findings constitute the first preclinical data indicating that interfering in vivo IP-10 activity could ameliorate CVB3 induced myocarditis. This strategy may represent as a new therapeutic approach in treating viral myocarditis.
PLoS ONE 01/2011; 6(3):e18186. · 4.09 Impact Factor
