Heat shock inhibits IL-12 p40 expression through NF-kappa B signalling pathway in murine macrophages

The regulation of TNFα production after heat and endotoxin stimulation is dependent on Annexin-A1 and HSP70

Febrile temperatures can induce stress responses which protect cells from damage and can reduce inflammation during infections and sepsis. However, the mechanisms behind the protective functions of heat in response to the bacterial endotoxin LPS are unclear. We have recently shown that Annexin-1 (ANXA1)-deficient macrophages exhibited higher TNFα levels after LPS stimulation. Moreover, we have previously reported that ANXA1 can function as a stress protein. Therefore in this study, we determined if ANXA1 is involved in the protective effects of heat on cytokine levels in macrophages after heat and LPS. Exposure of macrophages to 42 °C for 1 h prior to LPS results in an inhibition of TNFα production, which was not evident in ANXA1(-/-) macrophages. We show that this regulation involves primarily MYD88-independent pathways. ANXA1 regulates TNFα mRNA stability after heat and LPS, and this is dependent on endogenous ANXA1 expression and not exogenously secreted factors. Further mechanistic studies revealed the possible involvement of the heat shock protein HSP70 and JNK in the heat and inflammatory stress response regulated by ANXA1. This study shows that ANXA1, an immunomodulatory protein, is critical in the heat stress response induced after heat and endotoxin stimulation.

Heat stress upregulation of Toll-like receptors 2/4 and acute inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of Bama miniature pigs: an in vivo and in vitro study

Global warming is a challenge to animal health, because of increased heat stress, with subsequent induction of immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to disease. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are pattern recognition receptors that act as sentinels of pathogen invasion and tissue damage. Ligation of TLRs results in a signaling cascade and production of inflammatory cytokines, which eradicate pathogens and maintain the health of the host. We hypothesized that the TLR signaling pathway plays a role in immunosuppression in heat-stressed pigs. We explored the changes in the expression of TLR2, TLR4 and the concentration of acute inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-2, IL-8, IL-12 and IFN-γ in Bama miniature pigs subjected to 21 consecutive days of heat stress, both in vitro and in vivo models. The results showed that heat stress induced the upregulation of cortisol in the plasma of pigs (P<0.05); TLR4 mRNA was elevated, but IL-2 was reduced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC, P<0.05). The white blood cell count and the percentage of granulocytes (eosinophilic+basophilic) decreased significantly in heat-stressed pigs (P<0.05). In the in vitro model (PBMC heat shocked for 1 h followed by a 9 h recovery period), TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression also increased, as did the concentration of IL-12 in supernatants. However, IFN-γ was significantly reduced in PBMC culture supernatants (P<0.05). We concluded that a consecutive heat stress period elevated the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in PBMC and increased the plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines. These data indicate that TLR activation and dysregulation of cytokine expression in response to prolonged heat stress may be associated with immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to antigenic challenge in Bama miniature pigs.

Exogenous mammalian extracellular HSP70 reduces endotoxin manifestations at the cellular and organism levels

In this study, we checked whether HSP70 preparations of different origins are able to protect model animals (rats) from endotoxic shock and modify the response of myeloid cells to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. It was shown that HSP70 preparations can effectively protect organisms from endotoxic shock by strongly decreasing mortality and restoring both homeostasis and various hemodynamic characteristics. At the cellular level, HSP70 preparations significantly inhibit LPS-induced reactive oxygen species production in various myeloid cells and decrease NO expression in macrophages, which is enhanced after LPS priming. In parallel, HSP70 preconditioning partially normalizes neutrophil apoptosis, which is disturbed as a result of LPS stimulation. These results suggest that the antiseptic actions of HSP70 preparations are probably realized at the level of receptor membrane complexes of myeloid cells, which represent the major target of LPS action. Taken together, our findings show that extracellular mammalian HSP70 may play an important role in innate immunity modulation and stimulation of endogenous protective mechanisms, both at the cellular and organism levels, which make this protein a promising base for the development of efficient antiseptic drugs.

Hypothermia augments NF-kappaB activity and the production of IL-12 and IFN-gamma

BACKGROUND

The differentiation of Th1 and Th2 is strictly regulated by humoral and cellular factors. The imbalance between Th1 and Th2 is considered to be the pathogenesis of allergic and autoimmune disorders. It is important to elucidate the effect of environmental factors, such as temperature, on the expression of cytokines of Th1 and Th2.

METHODS

We investigated the expression of IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-12 from LPS- or PHA-stimulated PBMCs at 30 degrees C or 37 degrees C using ELISA and Real-time PCR. We measured the change of NF-kappaB activity at 30 degrees C or 37 degrees C with LPS stimulation using the reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

IFN-gamma production from LPS-stimulated PBMCs at 30 degrees C was up-regulated compared with 37 degrees C. IL-5 and IL-10 production from PHA-stimulated PBMCs at 30 degrees C were down-regulated compared with 37 degrees C. This augmented IFN-gamma production was caused by the up-regulation of IL-12 production from CD14+ blood monocytes. Both IL-12 mRNA and IL12 protein at 30 degrees C were up-regulated compared with 37 degrees C. NF-kappaB, the key molecule for the expression of IL-12, was also augmented at 30 degrees C compared with 37 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypothermia up-regulated the expression of IL-12 and IFN-gamma due to the augmented NF-kappaB activity. It is suggested that hypothermia modifies the pattern of cytokine gene expression.

Heat-shock response down-regulates interleukin-18 expression in murine peritoneal macrophages

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The heat-shock response is a self-defence mechanism that protects cells and organisms from a wide range of harmful stresses. Recent studies revealed that it involved the regulation of cytokine expression. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is an important cytokine in mediating immune response.

RESULTS

We studied interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-induced IL-18 expression in heat-shock-treated murine peritoneal macrophages. Our results showed that the heat-shock response significantly inhibited the expression of IFN-gamma-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-18. Interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP) is a transcription factor that binds to the promoter of IL-18 and regulates the transcription of IL-18. Further research on the down-regulation mechanism showed that the DNA-binding activity of ICSBP was greatly reduced by the heat shock response.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of heat-shock response on IL-18 production in IFN-gamma-stimulated macrophages is related to the suppression of the binding activity of ICSBP.

Enhanced LPS-induced TNFα production in heat-shocked human promonocytic cells: regulation at the translational/post-translational level

Heat shock proteins (hsps) play an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and protecting cells from various insults. Recent evidence also implicates hsps in the regulation of the immune response, particularly the inflammatory process. In the present study, we showed that human promonocytic cells (THP-1) produced elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) after incubation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) when cells were pre-stressed by a mild heat shock (HS) of 42 degrees C (1.5 h) followed by recovery at 37 degrees C (3 h) in comparison with non-stressed cells also stimulated with LPS. This enhanced TNF alpha production was not due to changes in nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappa B) activation, TNF alpha transcription rates, or mRNA stability. Thus, an effect at the translational or posttranslational level is likely responsible. Elevated production of TNF alpha was not observed when cells were stimulated with LPS immediately after stress or when HS temperature was increased to 43 degrees C. This negative effect of HS is likely due to a harmful effect of temperature. Moreover, enhanced LPS-induced TNF alpha production was not observed after differentiation of promonocytes into macrophage-like cells. Thus, our results show that the stress temperature, recovery period, and differentiation stage of the cell modulate the effect of HS on the inflammatory process.

Heat shock response inhibits IL-18 expression through the JNK pathway in murine peritoneal macrophages

Heat shock response has been implicated in cytoprotective effects from cellular damage and in the regulation of cytokine expression. We report the effect of heat shock on LPS-induced expression of IL-18, an important cytokine that has diverse immune regulatory effects on T cells, B cells, NK cells, and nonimmune cells. The augmentation of LPS-induced IL-18 mRNA and protein was significantly suppressed in murine peritoneal macrophages after 43 degrees C heat shock treatment. In addition, the JNK MAPK inhibitor SP600125 inhibited IL-18 mRNA transcription in a dose-dependent manner. To examine the possibility that the inhibition of IL-18 may be mediated through the inactivation of JNK, the activity of JNK was measured by using Western blot and kinase assays. Our data show that heat shock response decreased LPS-induced phosphorylation of JNK and its downstream substrate c-Jun. AP-1, a transcriptional factor composed of c-Jun, could regulate the expression of IL-18. Also, its DNA-binding activity was reduced by the heat shock response. These findings suggest that treatment of heat stress results in inhibition of IL-18 production in macrophages mainly through the JNK/AP-1 signaling pathway.