Synthetic peptide fragment (65-76) of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) inhibits MCP-1 binding to heparin and possesses anti-inflammatory activity in stable angina patients after coronary stenting

Role of CCL2/CCR2 axis in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and possible Treatments: All options on the Table

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is cause of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In the last two years, SARS-CoV-2 has infected millions of people worldwide with different waves, resulting in the death of many individuals. The evidence disclosed that the host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 play a pivotal role in COVID-19 pathogenesis and clinical manifestations. In addition to inducing antiviral immune responses, SARS-CoV-2 can also cause dysregulated inflammatory responses characterized by the noticeable release of proinflammatory mediators in COVID-19 patients. Among these proinflammatory mediators, chemokines are considered a subset of cytokines that participate in the chemotaxis process to recruit immune and non-immune cells to the site of inflammation and infection. Researchers have demonstrated that monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) and its receptor (CCR2) are involved in the recruitment of monocytes and infiltration of these cells into the lungs of patients suffering from COVID-19. Moreover, elevated levels of CCL2 have been reported in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from patients with severe COVID-19, initiating cytokine storm and promoting CD163+ myeloid cells infiltration in the airways and further alveolar damage. Therefore, CCL2/CCR axis plays a key role in the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19 and targeted therapy of involved molecules in this axis can be a potential therapeutic approach for these patients. This review discusses the biology of the CCL2/CCR2 axis as well as the role of this axis in COVID-19 immunopathogenesis, along with therapeutic options aimed at inhibiting CCL2/CCR2 and modulating dysregulated inflammatory responses in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.

TLR3 and TLR4 as potential clinical biomarkers for in-stent restenosis in drug-eluting stents patients

In-stent restenosis is still a clinic trouble for percutaneous coronary intervention in drug-stent era. The molecular basis of restenosis is intensively associated with inflammation. TLR3 and TLR4 as innate immune factors have been proven to play a key role in atherosclerosis disease. The aim of this study is to study the TLR3 and TLR4 expressions and their downstream signaling proteins in the inflammatory process of restenosis after drug-stent therapy. mRNA and protein expression of TLR3 and TLR4 were detected in peripheral blood monocytes of primary group (n = 38), N-ISR group (n = 36) and ISR group (n = 33). Some inflammatory factors (including TLR3 and TLR4) were evaluated in serum of three groups. mRNA and protein expression of TLR3 and TLR4 and their downstream signaling proteins have shown a higher level in restenosis patients than non-restenosis patients and even primary patients who accepted first stent therapy. In serum, different from some nonspecific and downstream inflammatory factors, TLR3 and TLR4 also show a significantly higher level in ISR group compared with N-ISR group and primary group. This study provides a potential clinical biomarker for in-stent restenosis in drug-stent patients and some interesting data about the role of TLRs and their downstream signaling factors in the inflammatory process of in-stent restenosis. Compared with first stent therapy and non-restenosis patients, it is hopeful that TLR3 and TLR4 are potential noninvasive biomarkers in prognosis restenosis.

Regulation of Adipose Tissue Stem Cells Angiogenic Potential by Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha

Tissue regeneration requires coordinated "teamwork" of growth factors, proteases, progenitor and immune cells producing inflammatory cytokines. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) might play a pivotal role by substituting cells or by secretion of growth factors or cytokines, and attraction of progenitor and inflammatory cells, which participate in initial stages of tissue repair. Due to obvious impact of inflammation on regeneration it seems promising to explore whether inflammatory factors could influence proangiogenic abilities of MSC. In this study we investigated effects of TNF-α on activity of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC). We found that treatment with TNF-α enhances ADSC proliferation, F-actin microfilament assembly, increases cell motility and migration through extracellular matrix. Exposure of ADSC to TNF-α led to increased mRNA expression of proangiogenic factors (FGF-2, VEGF, IL-8, and MCP-1), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6), proteases (MMPs, uPA) and adhesion molecule ICAM-1. At the protein level, VEGF, IL-8, MCP-1, and ICAM-1 production was also up-regulated. Pre-incubation of ADSC with TNF-α-enhanced adhesion of monocytes to ADSC but suppressed adherence of ADSC to endothelial cells (HUVEC). Stimulation with TNF-α triggers ROS generation and activates a number of key intracellular signaling mediators known to positively regulate angiogenesis (Akt, small GTPase Rac1, ERK1/2, and p38 MAP-kinases). Pre-treatment with TNF-α-enhanced ADSC ability to promote growth of microvessels in a fibrin gel assay and accelerate blood flow recovery, which was accompanied by increased arteriole density and reduction of necrosis in mouse hind limb ischemia model. These findings indicate that TNF-α plays a role in activation of ADSC angiogenic and regenerative potential.

Enrichment of Two Isomeric Heparin Oligosaccharides Exhibiting Different Affinities toward Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1

Chemokine-GAG interactions are crucial to facilitate chemokine immobilization, resulting in the formation of chemokine gradients that guide cell migration. Here we demonstrate chromatographic isolation and purification of two heparin hexasaccharide isomers that interact with the oligomeric chemokine Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1)/CCL2 with different binding affinities. The sequences of these two hexasaccharides were deduced from unique MS/MS product ions and HPLC compositional analysis. Ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) showed that the two isolated oligosaccharides have different conformations and both displayed preferential binding for one of the two distinct conformations known for MCP-1 dimers. A significant shift in arrival time distribution of close to 70 Ų was observed, indicating a more compact protein:hexasaccharide conformation. Clear differences in the MS spectra between bound and unbound protein allowed calculation of K_d values from the resulting data. The structural difference between the two hexasaccharides was defined as the differential location of a single sulfate at either C-6 of glucosamine or C-2 of uronic acid in the reducing disaccharide, resulting in a 200-fold difference in binding affinity for MCP-1. These data indicate sequence specificity for high affinity binding, supporting the view that sulfate position, and not simply the number of sulfates, is important for heparan sulfate protein binding.

Intensive Atorvastatin Therapy Attenuates the Inflammatory Responses in Monocytes of Patients with Unstable Angina Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention via Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Activation

Periprocedural myocardial injury is a prognostically important complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, it still remains unclear whether and how intensive atorvastatin therapy attenuates the unfavorable inflammatory responses of monocytes associated with PCI. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of intensive atorvastatin therapy on inflammatory responses of monocytes in Chinese patients with unstable angina who received PCI in order to explore the potential anti-inflammatory mechanism. Ninety-six patients with unstable angina were randomly assigned to atorvastatin 80 mg (intensive) or atorvastatin 20 mg (conventional) treatment at a 1:1 ratio. Creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), cTnI, hs-CRP, and IL-6 were assessed, and circulating CD14(+) monocytes were simultaneously obtained using CD14 MicroBeads 2 h before and 24 h after PCI. Plasma levels of CK-MB, cTnI, hs-CRP, and IL-6 were higher in the conventional dose group versus those in the intensive dose group following PCI. Furthermore, intensive atorvastatin treatment markedly reduced the expressions and responses of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, and CCR2 of CD14(+) monocytes versus the conventional dose group and significantly increased the activated peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ in the CD14(+) monocytes post-PCI. Notably, the changes in responses of TLR2, TLR4, and CCR2 of CD14(+) monocytes between the two groups were all reversed by PPARγ antagonist and augmented by PPARγ agonist. In conclusion, a single high (80 mg) loading dose of atorvastatin reduced the inflammatory response in Chinese patients with unstable angina following PCI. The anti-inflammatory role of intensive atorvastatin was possibly due to attenuation of inflammatory response in monocytes via PPARγ activation.

Nf1+/- monocytes/macrophages induce neointima formation via CCR2 activation

Persons with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) have a predisposition for premature and severe arterial stenosis. Mutations in the NF1 gene result in decreased expression of neurofibromin, a negative regulator of p21(Ras), and increases Ras signaling. Heterozygous Nf1 (Nf1(+/-)) mice develop a marked arterial stenosis characterized by proliferating smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and a predominance of infiltrating macrophages, which closely resembles arterial lesions from NF1 patients. Interestingly, lineage-restricted inactivation of a single Nf1 allele in monocytes/macrophages is sufficient to recapitulate the phenotype observed in Nf1(+/-) mice and to mobilize proinflammatory CCR2+ monocytes into the peripheral blood. Therefore, we hypothesized that CCR2 receptor activation by its primary ligand monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) is critical for monocyte infiltration into the arterial wall and neointima formation in Nf1(+/-) mice. MCP-1 induces a dose-responsive increase in Nf1(+/-) macrophage migration and proliferation that corresponds with activation of multiple Ras kinases. In addition, Nf1(+/-) SMCs, which express CCR2, demonstrate an enhanced proliferative response to MCP-1 when compared with WT SMCs. To interrogate the role of CCR2 activation on Nf1(+/-) neointima formation, we induced neointima formation by carotid artery ligation in Nf1(+/-) and WT mice with genetic deletion of either MCP1 or CCR2. Loss of MCP-1 or CCR2 expression effectively inhibited Nf1(+/-) neointima formation and reduced macrophage content in the arterial wall. Finally, administration of a CCR2 antagonist significantly reduced Nf1(+/-) neointima formation. These studies identify MCP-1 as a potent chemokine for Nf1(+/-) monocytes/macrophages and CCR2 as a viable therapeutic target for NF1 arterial stenosis.

Inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, and the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/CCR2 pathway

Numerous inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1/CCL2 is expressed by mainly inflammatory cells and stromal cells such as endothelial cells, and its expression is upregulated after proinflammatory stimuli and tissue injury. MCP-1 can function as a traditional chemotactic cytokine and also regulates gene transcription. The recently discovered novel zinc-finger protein, called MCPIP (MCP-1-induced protein), initiates a series of signaling events that causes oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, leading to autophagy that can result in cell death or differentiation, depending on the cellular context. After a brief review of the basic processes involved in inflammation, ER stress, and autophagy, the recently elucidated role of MCP-1 and MCPIP in inflammatory diseases is reviewed. MCPIP was found to be able to control inflammatory response by inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activation through its deubiquitinase activity or by degradation of mRNA encoding a set of inflammatory cytokines through its RNase activity. The potential inclusion of such a novel deubiquitinase in the emerging anti-inflammatory strategies for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes is briefly discussed.