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Baur J, Otto C, Steger U, Klein-Hessling S, Muhammad K, Pusch T, Murti K, Wismer R, Germer CT, Klein I, Müller N, Serfling E, Avots A. The Transcription Factor NFATc1 Supports the Rejection of Heterotopic Heart Allografts. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1338. [PMID: 29946322 PMCID: PMC6005848 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune suppressants cyclosporin A (CsA) and tacrolimus (FK506) are used worldwide in transplantation medicine to suppress graft rejection. Both CsA and FK506 inhibit the phosphatase calcineurin (CN) whose activity controls the immune receptor-mediated activation of lymphocytes. Downstream targets of CN in lymphocytes are the nuclear factors of activated T cells (NFATs). We show here that the activity of NFATc1, the most prominent NFAT factor in activated lymphocytes supports the acute rejection of heterotopic heart allografts. While ablation of NFATc1 in T cells prevented graft rejection, ectopic expression of inducible NFATc1/αA isoform led to rejection of heart allografts in recipient mice. Acceptance of transplanted hearts in mice bearing NFATc1-deficient T cells was accompanied by a reduction in number and cytotoxicity of graft infiltrating cells. In CD8+ T cells, NFATc1 controls numerous intracellular signaling pathways that lead to the metabolic switch to aerobic glycolysis and the expression of numerous lymphokines, chemokines, and their receptors, including Cxcr3 that supports the rejection of allogeneic heart transplants. These findings favors NFATc1 as a molecular target for the development of new strategies to control the cytotoxicity of T cells upon organ transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Baur
- Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Otto
- Experimental Surgery, Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Steger
- Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Klein-Hessling
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Khalid Muhammad
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Pusch
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Krisna Murti
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rhoda Wismer
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christoph-Thomas Germer
- Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ingo Klein
- Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nora Müller
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Edgar Serfling
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andris Avots
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Zhang Q, Tian Y, Duan J, Wu J, Yan S, Chen H, Meng X, Owusu-Ansah KG, Zheng S. Chelerythrine ameliorates acute cardiac allograft rejection in mice. Transpl Immunol 2016; 38:78-83. [PMID: 27450116 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2016.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The improvement in graft survival over the past decade has been mainly due to calcineurin inhibitors, which interfere with the calcium-mediated pathway. Recently, other pathways such as those mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) are coming into view. The purpose of this study was to assess the immunosuppressive properties of chelerythrine, a specific PKC inhibitor, in preventing acute rejection in murine heterotopic heart transplantation. Mice were randomly divided into control and chelerythrine treated group. The control group received PBS while the chelerythrine treated group was given intraperitoneal injection doses (1, 5, 10mg/kg) of chelerythrine from day 0 to day 14 after heart transplantation. Six days after transplantation, cardiac allografts were harvested for further tests. The mean survival time (MST) of the cardiac allograft in untreated animals was 8days while graft MSTs observed in chelerythrine treated group was 13 and 23days at 5 and 10mg/kg treatment doses, respectively (P<0.05). Histologic assessment of the allograft in chelerythrine group showed a significant decline in histologic rejection score, as well as CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration and ICAM-1+ endothelial cell activation. Down-regulation of Th1/Th2 cytokine expression was observed in chelerythrine treatment group. Meanwhile, chelerythrine was also found to inhibit the dephosphorylation of phosphorylated nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) protein 1 and 4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyi Zhang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Tian
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jixuan Duan
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingjin Wu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Yan
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueqin Meng
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kwabena Gyabaah Owusu-Ansah
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
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Sanghavi M, Vajir M, Kumar S, Tikoo K. NFAT inhibitor tributylhexadecylphosphoniumbromide, ameliorates high fructose induced insulin resistance and nephropathy. Chem Biol Interact 2015; 240:268-77. [PMID: 26358169 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
High fructose diet (HFrD)-induced insulin resistance (IR) has been reported to be associated with an increase in albuminuria, glomerular hypertrophy and inflammation in kidney. However, the molecular mechanisms associated with high fructose-induced IR and renal dysfunction are still unclear. In the present study, we have investigated the role of nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT) and its inhibitor, Tributylhexadecylphosphoniumbromide (THPB) in high fructose-induced IR and renal injury. NFAT inhibition by THPB treatment significantly improved HFrD-induced insulin resistance. Treatment with THPB markedly reduced high fructose diet-induced protein expression of NFATc4, PTEN and also alleviated expression of inflammatory markers in kidneys of HFrD rats. Further, THPB treatment not only improved acute ANG II responses but also repressed the processes of renal fibrosis, ECM accumulation, foot process effacement and renal apoptosis in HFrD rats. Taken together, we for the first time provide evidence that HFrD -induced insulin resistance and renal injury is associated with dysregulated NFATc4/PTEN signalling and THPB prevents this dysregulation through inhibition of NFATc4. Thus, targeting NFATc4 can be a novel therapeutic approach for preventing HFrD induced- IR and renal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maitri Sanghavi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, SAS Nagar, Mohali, Punjab 160062, India.
| | - Malek Vajir
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, SAS Nagar, Mohali, Punjab 160062, India.
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, SAS Nagar, Mohali, Punjab 160062, India.
| | - Kulbhushan Tikoo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, SAS Nagar, Mohali, Punjab 160062, India.
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Robinson RH, Meissler JJ, Fan X, Yu D, Adler MW, Eisenstein TK. A CB2-Selective Cannabinoid Suppresses T-Cell Activities and Increases Tregs and IL-10. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2015; 10:318-32. [PMID: 25980325 PMCID: PMC4528965 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-015-9611-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
We have previously shown that agonists selective for the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2), including O-1966, inhibit the Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR), an in vitro correlate of organ graft rejection, predominantly through effects on T-cells. Current studies explored the mechanism of this immunosuppression by O-1966 using mouse spleen cells. Treatment with O-1966 dose-relatedly decreased levels of the active nuclear forms of the transcription factors NF-κB and NFAT in wild-type T-cells, but not T-cells from CB2 knockout (CB2R k/o) mice. Additionally, a gene expression profile of purified T-cells from MLR cultures generated using a PCR T-cell activation array showed that O-1966 decreased mRNA expression of CD40 ligand and CyclinD3, and increased mRNA expression of Src-like-adaptor 2 (SLA2), Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 5 (SOCS5), and IL-10. The increase in IL-10 was confirmed by measuring IL-10 protein levels in MLR culture supernatants. Further, an increase in the percentage of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) was observed in MLR cultures. Pretreatment with anti-IL-10 resulted in a partial reversal of the inhibition of proliferation and blocked the increase of Tregs. Additionally, O-1966 treatment caused a dose-related decrease in the expression of CD4 in MLR cultures from wild-type, but not CB2R k/o, mice. These data support the potential of CB2-selective agonists as useful therapeutic agents to prolong graft survival in transplant patients, and strengthens their potential as a new class of immunosuppressive agents with broader applicability.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Anisoles/pharmacology
- Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists/pharmacology
- Coculture Techniques
- Cyclohexanols
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Female
- Interleukin-10/biosynthesis
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C3H
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/agonists
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/drug effects
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca H. Robinson
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Joseph J. Meissler
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Xiaoxuan Fan
- Manager, Flow Cytometry Facility, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Daohai Yu
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Martin W. Adler
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Pharmacology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Toby K. Eisenstein
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140
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Feng Z, Xia Y, Zhang M, Zheng J. MicroRNA-155 regulates T cell proliferation through targeting GSK3β in cardiac allograft rejection in a murine transplantation model. Cell Immunol 2013; 281:141-9. [PMID: 23648819 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2013.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Revised: 03/29/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Here we investigated the activity and regulation of miR-155 during cardiac allograft rejection (AR), and to examine the feasibility of using miR-155 as a biomarker of graft status. Expression of miR-155 in graft-infiltrating lymphocytes (GIL), T cells isolated from spleen (TFS), and lymphocytes separated from blood (LFB) was significantly increased during cardiac AR while GSK3β was downregulated in GIL and TFS. Inhibition of miR-155 impaired lymphocyte proliferation and enhanced the expression of GSK3β. Moreover, pharmacological inactivation of GSK3β resulted in rescue of the proliferative capability of T cells pretreated with a miR-155 inhibitor. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-155 interacted with the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of GSK3β directly. In particular, the miR-155 in LFB can distinguish recipients with AR from syngeneic controls from POD 3 and later. The present study provides a better understanding of the pathophysiological process underlying cardiac AR progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyu Feng
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, 1678 Dongfang Road, Pudong, Shanghai 200127, China
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