IL-10 promotes survival of microglia without activating Akt

Novel activity of an anti-inflammatory cytokine: IL-10 prevents TNFalpha-induced resistance to IGF-I in myoblasts

IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that suppresses synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and their receptors. Here we tested the possibility that TNFalpha-induced hormone resistance in myoblasts might be overcome by IL-10. We found that IL-10 restores myogenesis by suppressing the ability of exogenous TNFalpha to inhibit IGF-I-induced myogenin. This protection occurs without decreasing global activity of TNF receptors since IL-10 does not impair TNFalpha-induced IL-6 synthesis or ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Instead, IL-10 acts to prevent TNFalpha-induced phosphorylation of JNK. These findings demonstrate that IL-10 serves a previously unrecognized protective role in muscle progenitors by overcoming TNFalpha-induced resistance to IGF-I.

Interleukin 10 and TNFalpha synergistically enhance the expression of the G protein-coupled formylpeptide receptor 2 in microglia

Microglia are important participants in inflammatory responses in the central nervous system. We previously observed that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) induces the expression of the formylpeptide receptor mFPR2 on microglial cells. This chemoattractant receptor mediates microglial cell chemotaxis in response to a variety of peptides, including amyloid beta peptide (Abeta(42)), a major pathogenic factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In search for agents that regulate microglial activation, we unexpectedly found that IL-10 enhanced the expression of mFPR2 on TNFalpha-activated microglia. This was associated with a markedly increased microglial chemotaxis to Abeta(42) and its endocytosis via mFPR2. Mechanistic studies revealed that the synergistic effect of IL-10 on TNFalpha-induction of mFPR2 in microglia was dependent on activation of p38 MAPK. Our results suggest that IL-10 may affect the pathogenic process of AD by up-regulating mFPR2 and thus favoring the recognition and internalization of Abeta(42) by activated microglial cells.

Lack of changes in the PI3K/AKT survival pathway in the spinal cord motor neurons of a mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The vulnerability of motor neurons in transgenic SOD1G93A mice, a model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), may depend on the failure of these cells to activate survival mechanisms in response to the toxic mutant SOD1. To test this we investigated whether defects in the PI3K/Akt pathway, a survival signal, and of its neuron-specific activator, Rai, were important for motor neuron degeneration in these mice. No substantial changes were found in the levels of Rai, PI3K(p85) or phosphorylated Akt (P-Akt) in the ventral horn of spinal cord of SOD1G93A mice during disease progression. P-Akt immunoreactivity was the same in degenerating and healthy motor neurons. Rai ablation in SOD1G93A mice slightly accelerated the motor dysfunction without affecting their life span. Thus, motor neurons in SOD1G93A mice do not lose the pro-survival PI3K/Akt signal nor increase it in order to suppress the cell death mechanisms.

IL-10 signaling is essential for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-mediated inhibition of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) results from an aberrant, neuroantigen-specific, T cell-mediated autoimmune response. Because MS prevalence and severity decrease sharply with increasing sunlight exposure, and sunlight supports vitamin D(3) synthesis, we proposed that vitamin D(3) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)) may protect against MS. In support of this hypothesis, 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) strongly inhibited experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). This inhibition required lymphocytes other than the encephalitogenic T cells. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) might inhibit EAE through the action of IL-10-producing regulatory lymphocytes. We report that vitamin D(3) and 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) strongly inhibited myelin oligodendrocyte peptide (MOG(35-55))-induced EAE in C57BL/6 mice, but completely failed to inhibit EAE in mice with a disrupted IL-10 or IL-10R gene. Thus, a functional IL-10-IL-10R pathway was essential for 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) to inhibit EAE. The 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) also failed to inhibit EAE in reciprocal, mixed bone marrow chimeras constructed by transferring IL-10-deficient bone marrow into irradiated wild-type mice and vice versa. Thus, 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) may be enhancing an anti-inflammatory loop involving hemopoietic cell-produced IL-10 acting on brain parenchymal cells and vice versa. If this interpretation is correct, and humans have a similar bidirectional IL-10-dependent loop, then an IL-10-IL-10R pathway defect could abrogate the anti-inflammatory and neuro-protective functions of sunlight and vitamin D(3). In this way, a genetic IL-10-IL-10R pathway defect could interact with an environmental risk factor, vitamin D(3) insufficiency, to increase MS risk and severity.

Effect of interleukin-10 on newborn piglet brain following hypoxia-ischemia and endotoxin-induced inflammation

OBJECTIVE

Previous animal studies indicated that interleukin (IL)-10 attenuates the inflammatory response to a challenge by inflammation and hypoxia-ischemia, but the effect of IL-10 administration after onset of inflammation has not been studied. We wanted to assess (1) whether IL-10 had a beneficial effect on brain metabolism and microcirculation in newborn piglets after an inflammatory, hypoxic and ischemic challenge, and (2) whether IL-10 had any harmful effects per se.

METHODS

Anesthetized piglets were randomized to control (n = 8), IL-10 (n = 10), endotoxin (ETX) (n = 10), or ETX and IL-10 (ETX/IL-10) (n = 10) groups. IL-10 was administered after pretreatment with saline in the IL-10 group or ETX in the ETX/IL-10 group. Then, cerebral hypoxia and ischemia was induced by bilateral clamping of the common carotid arteries and ventilation with 8% O(2) for 30 min, followed by 4 h of reoxygenation and reperfusion. Extracellular levels of lactate, pyruvate, and glycerol were measured with microdialysis in periventricular white matter and parasagittal subcortical tissue, and tissue oxygenation and microcirculation were measured with Doppler technique. We compared the areas under the concentration-time and flow-time curves and maximum concentrations between (1) the ETX/IL-10 and ETX groups, and (2) the control and IL-10 groups.

RESULTS

We found no differences between (1) the ETX/IL-10 and ETX groups, and also no differences between (2) the control and IL-10 groups.

CONCLUSION

We could not show that the treatment with IL-10 after onset of inflammation had neuroprotective effects in the newborn piglet brain. IL-10 did not attenuate metabolism in the absence of ETX-induced inflammation.

Proinflammatory cytokine impairment of insulin-like growth factor I-induced protein synthesis in skeletal muscle myoblasts requires ceramide

GH and IGF-I control over 80% of postnatal growth. We recently established that TNFalpha impairs the ability of IGF-I to increase protein synthesis and promote expression of myogenin in myoblasts. Here we extend these results by showing that ceramide, a second messenger in both TNFalpha and IL-1beta receptor signaling pathways, is a key downstream sphingosine-based lipid that leads to IGF-I resistance. A cell-permeable ceramide analog, C2-ceramide, inhibits IGF-I-induced protein synthesis by 65% and blocks the ability of IGF-I to increase expression of two key myogenic factors, myogenin and MyoD. Identical results were obtained with both TNFalpha and IL-1beta (1 ng/ml). Consistent with these data, neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase), an enzyme that catalyzes formation of ceramide from sphingomyelin, blocks IGF-I-induced protein synthesis and expression of both myogenin and MyoD. The possibility that cytokine-induced ceramide production is required for disruption of IGF-I biologic activity was confirmed by treating C2C12 myoblasts with inhibitors of all three ceramide-generating pathways. A N-SMase inhibitor, glutathione, as well as an acidic sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) inhibitor, D609, reverse the cytokine inhibition of IGF-I-induced protein synthesis by 80% and 45%, respectively. Likewise, an inhibitor of de novo ceramide synthesis, FB1, causes a 50% inhibition. Similarly, all three inhibitors significantly impair the ability of both TNFalpha and IL-1beta to suppress IGF-I-driven expression of myogenin. These experiments establish that ceramide, derived both from sphingomyelin and de novo synthesis, is a key intermediate by which proinflammatory cytokines impair the ability of IGF-I to promote protein synthesis and expression of critical muscle-specific transcription factors.

IL-1beta impairs insulin-like growth factor i-induced differentiation and downstream activation signals of the insulin-like growth factor i receptor in myoblasts

Proinflammatory cytokines are elevated in disorders characterized by muscle wasting and weakness, such as inflammatory myopathies and AIDS wasting. We recently demonstrated that TNF-alpha impairs the ability of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I to promote protein synthesis in muscle precursor cells. In this study we extend these findings by showing that low concentrations of IL-1beta impair IGF-I-dependent differentiation of myoblasts, as assessed by expression of the muscle specific protein, myosin heavy chain. In the absence of exogenous IGF-I, IL-1beta (1 ng/ml) did not impair muscle cell development. However, in the presence of IGF-I, 100-fold lower concentrations of IL-1beta (0.01 ng/ml) significantly suppressed myoblast differentiation, protein synthesis, and myogenin expression. Increasing IL-1beta to 1 ng/ml completely blocked the anabolic actions of IGF-I in murine C(2)C(12) myoblasts. Similarly, IL-1beta inhibited IGF-I-stimulated protein synthesis in primary porcine myoblasts. IL-1beta impaired the actions of IGF-I at a point distal to the IGF receptor, and this was not due to IL-1beta-induced cell death. Instead, IL-1beta inhibited the ability of IGF-I to phosphorylate tyrosine residues on both of its downstream docking proteins, insulin receptor substrate 1 and insulin receptor substrate 2. These data establish that physiological concentrations of IL-1beta block the ability of IGF-I to promote protein synthesis, leading to reduced expression of the myogenic transcription factor, myogenin, and the subsequent development of more mature differentiated cells that express myosin heavy chain. Collectively, the results are consistent with the notion that very low concentrations of IL-1beta significantly impair myogenesis, but they are unable to do so in the absence of the growth factor IGF-I.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced increase in signalling in hippocampus is abrogated by IL-10--a role for IL-1 beta?

Parenterally administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increases the concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in the rat hippocampus and evidence suggests that this effect plays a significant role in inhibiting long-term potentiation (LTP). The anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, antagonizes certain effects of IL-1beta, so if the effects of LPS are mediated through an increase in IL-1beta, it might be predicted that IL-10 would also abrogate the effect of LPS. Here, we report that IL-10 reversed the inhibitory effect of LPS on LTP and the data couple this with an inhibitory effect on the LPS-induced increase in IL-1beta. LPS treatment increased hippocampal expression of IL-1 receptor Type I protein. Consistent with the LPS-induced increases in IL-1beta concentration and receptor expression, were downstream changes which included enhanced phosphorylation of IRAK and the stress-activated kinases, JNK and p38; these LPS-induced changes were reversed by IL-10, which concurs with the idea that these events are triggered by increased activation of IL-1RI by IL-1beta. We provide evidence which indicates that LPS treatment leads to evidence of cell death and this was reversed in hippocampus prepared from LPS-treated rats which received IL-10. The evidence is therefore consistent with the idea that IL-10 acts to protect neuronal tissue from the detrimental effects induced by LPS.

Cell death in the nervous system: lessons from insulin and insulin-like growth factors

Programmed cell death is an essential process for proper neural development. Cell death, with its similar regulatory and executory mechanisms, also contributes to the origin or progression of many or even all neurodegenerative diseases. An understanding of the mechanisms that regulate cell death during neural development may provide new targets and tools to prevent neurodegeneration. Many studies that have focused mainly on insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), have shown that insulin-related growth factors are widely expressed in the developing and adult nervous system, and positively modulate a number of processes during neural development, as well as in adult neuronal and glial physiology. These factors also show neuroprotective effects following neural damage. Although some specific actions have been demonstrated to be anti-apoptotic, we propose that a broad neuroprotective role is the foundation for many of the observed functions of the insulin-related growth factors, whose therapeutical potential for nervous system disorders may be greater than currently accepted.

Cytokine-hormone interactions: tumor necrosis factor alpha impairs biologic activity and downstream activation signals of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor in myoblasts

TNFalpha is elevated following damage to skeletal muscle. Here we provide evidence that TNFalpha acts on muscle cells to induce a state of IGF-I receptor resistance. We establish that TNFalpha inhibits IGF-I-stimulated protein synthesis in primary porcine myoblasts. Similar results were observed in C(2)C(12) murine myoblasts, where as little as 0.01 ng/ml TNFalpha significantly inhibits protein synthesis induced by IGF-I. TNFalpha also impairs the ability of IGF-I to induce expression of a key myogenic transcription factor, myogenin. The inhibition by TNFalpha of IGF-I-induced protein synthesis and expression of myogenin is not due to direct killing of myoblasts by TNFalpha. Although IGF-I induces an approximately 19-fold induction in tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta-chains of its receptor, TNFalpha does not inhibit this autophosphorylation. Instead, TNFalpha significantly reduces by approximately 50% IGF-I-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of two of the major downstream receptor docking molecules, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and IRS-2. These results establish that low picogram concentrations of TNFalpha acts on both porcine and murine myoblasts to impair tyrosine phosphorylation of both IRS-1 and IRS-2, but not the receptor itself. These data are consistent with the notion that very low physiological concentrations of TNFalpha interfere with both protein synthesis and muscle cell development by inducing a state of IGF-I receptor resistance.

Cytokines and acute neurodegeneration

Cytokines have been implicated as mediators and inhibitors of diverse forms of neurodegeneration. They are induced in response to brain injury and have diverse actions that can cause, exacerbate, mediate and/or inhibit cellular injury and repair. Here we review evidence for the contribution of cytokines to acute neurodegeneration, focusing primarily on interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta). TGFbeta seems to exert primarily neuroprotective actions, whereas TNFalpha might contribute to neuronal injury and exert protective effects. IL-1 mediates ischaemic, excitotoxic and traumatic brain injury, probably through multiple actions on glia, neurons and the vasculature. Understanding cytokine action in acute neurodegeneration could lead to novel and effective therapeutic strategies, some of which are already in clinical trials.