Inhibition of myocardial TNF-alpha production by heat shock. A potential mechanism of stress-induced cardioprotection against postischemic dysfunction

Thermoregulation as a disease tolerance defense strategy

Physiological responses that occur during infection are most often thought of in terms of effectors of microbial destruction through the execution of resistance mechanisms, due to a direct action of the microbe, or are maladaptive consequences of host-pathogen interplay. However, an examination of the cellular and organ-level consequences of one such response, thermoregulation that leads to fever or hypothermia, reveals that these actions cannot be readily explained within the traditional paradigms of microbial killing or maladaptive consequences of host-pathogen interactions. In this review, the concept of disease tolerance is applied to thermoregulation during infection, inflammation and trauma, and we discuss the physiological consequences of thermoregulation during disease including tissue susceptibility to damage, inflammation, behavior and toxin neutralization.

Differential hypoxic tolerance is mediated by activation of heat shock response and nitric oxide pathway

The fall in ambient oxygen pressure in high-altitude milieu elicits a wide range of physiological responses in the myocardium, which may differ from individual to individual. This condition, known as hypobaric hypoxia, invokes the cardioprotective heat shock response. The present study focuses on the role played by this ubiquitous response in mediating a differential tolerance to acute hypoxic stress. Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to simulated hypoxia equivalent to 223 mmHg pressure, screened on the basis of time taken for onset of a characteristic hyperventilatory response, and categorized as susceptible (<10 min), normal (10-25 min), or tolerant (>25 min). The tolerant animals displayed a significant upregulation of heat shock protein (Hsp)70/HSPA, evident through immunohistochemical staining of the cardiac tissue. The increased expression of transcription factor heat shock factor-1 led to the downstream activation of other chaperones, including Hsp90/HSPC, Hsp60/HSPD1, and Hsp27/HSPB1. The higher induction of HSPs in tolerant animals contributed to higher nitric oxide synthesis mediated by both endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inducible nitric oxide synthase activation. Conversely, susceptible animals showed significantly higher expression of the proinflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor alpha and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of activated B cells in the myocardium. Evaluation of circulatory stress markers identified increased levels of reactive oxygen species, corticosterone and endothelin-1 in the susceptible animals highlighting their vulnerability to hypoxic stress. The heat shock response, through the action of chaperones and enhanced NO generation thus contributes substantially to the ability to sustain survival under acute sub lethal hypoxia.

Modeling the intra- and extracellular cytokine signaling pathway under heat stroke in the liver

Heat stroke (HS) is a life-threatening illness induced by prolonged exposure to a hot environment that causes central nervous system abnormalities and severe hyperthermia. Current data suggest that the pathophysiological responses to heat stroke may not only be due to the immediate effects of heat exposure per se but also the result of a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The observation that pro- (e.g., IL-1) and anti-inflammatory (e.g., IL-10) cytokines are elevated concomitantly during recovery suggests a complex network of interactions involved in the manifestation of heat-induced SIRS. In this study, we measured a set of circulating cytokine/soluble cytokine receptor proteins and liver cytokine and receptor mRNA accumulation in wild-type and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor knockout mice to assess the effect of neutralization of TNF signaling on the SIRS following HS. Using a systems approach, we developed a computational model describing dynamic changes (intra- and extracellular events) in the cytokine signaling pathways in response to HS that was fitted to novel genomic (liver mRNA accumulation) and proteomic (circulating cytokines and receptors) data using global optimization. The model allows integration of relevant biological knowledge and formulation of new hypotheses regarding the molecular mechanisms behind the complex etiology of HS that may serve as future therapeutic targets. Moreover, using our unique modeling framework, we explored cytokine signaling pathways with three in silico experiments (e.g. by simulating different heat insult scenarios and responses in cytokine knockout strains in silico).

Carboxy terminus of heat shock protein (HSP) 70-interacting protein (CHIP) inhibits HSP70 in the heart

Heat shock protein (HSP) 70 plays a critical role in protecting the heart from various stressor-induced cell injuries; the mechanism remains to be further understood. The present study aims to elucidate the effect of a probiotics-derived protein, LGG-derived protein p75 (LGP), in alleviating the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced heart injury. We treated rats with the I/R with or without preadministration with LGP. The levels of HSP70 and carboxy terminus of HSP70-interacting protein (CHIP) in the heart tissue were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting. The effect of CHIP on suppression of HSP70 and the effect of LGP on suppression of CHIP were investigated with an I/R rat model and a cell culture model. The results showed that I/R-induced infarction in the heart could be alleviated by pretreatment with LGP. HSP70 was detected in naïve rat heart tissue extracts. I/R treatment significantly suppressed the level of HSP70 and increased the levels of CHIP in the heart. A complex of CHIP/HSP70 was detected in heart tissue extracts. The addition of recombinant CHIP to culture inhibited HSP70 in heart cells. LGP was bound CHIP in heart cells and prevented the CHIP from binding HSP70. In summary, I/R can suppress HSP70 and increase CHIP in heart cells. CHIP can suppress HSP70 that can be prevented by pretreatment with LGP. The results imply that CHIP may be a potential target in the prevention of I/R-induced heart cell injury.

Proinflammatory cytokines in heart failure: double-edged swords

Increased circulating and intracardiac levels of proinflammatory cytokines have been associated with chronic heart failure. Following an initial insult, the increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1, and IL-18, jeopardizes the surrounding tissue through propagation of the inflammatory response and direct effects on the cardiac myocyte structure and function. Cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, contractile dysfunction, cardiac myocyte apoptosis, and extracellular matrix remodeling contribute enormously to the development and progression of chronic heart failure. Despite the identification of efficacious pharmacological regimens and introduction of mechanical interventions, chronic heart failure remains among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. To introduce novel therapeutic strategies that modulate the inflammatory response in the context of the failing heart, it is of prime importance to determine the contributions of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1, and IL-18 in mediating cardiac adaptive and maladaptive responses, as well as delineating their downstream intracellular signaling pathways and their potential therapeutic implications.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ligands 15-deoxy-delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J2 and pioglitazone inhibit hydroxyl peroxide-induced TNF-alpha and lipopolysaccharide-induced CXC chemokine expression in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes

Ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) such as prostaglandin metabolite 15-deoxy-delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) or thiazolidinedione pioglitazone have been identified as a new class of anti-inflammatory compounds with possible clinical applications. Reactive oxygen species play an important role in the generation of cellular damage by induction of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines during myocardial I/R. These events were preceded by activation of the transcription factors nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB pathway. It has been suggested that myocardium overproduces TNF-alpha after I/R, and locally produced TNF-alpha is sufficient to cause severe impairment of cardiac function. LPS-induced CXC chemokine (LIX) is a rodent chemokine with potent neutrophil-chemotactic activity. Based on this concept, we examined the effects of 15d-PGJ2 and pioglitazone on oxidative stress-induced TNF-alpha and LIX expression in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Pretreatment of myocytes with 15d-PGJ2 or pioglitazone decreased hydrogen peroxide-induced TNF-alpha and LIX production (mRNA and protein) in a concentration-dependent manner. The beneficial effects of both ligands were associated with reduction of hydrogen peroxide-induced NF-kappaB activation. Treatment with 15d-PGJ2, but not pioglitazone, caused dose-dependent activation of heat shock factor 1, which could render cells unresponsive to stimulation of NF-kappaB. The cytoprotection afforded by pioglitazone was attenuated by the PPAR-gamma antagonist GW9662, which failed to affect the beneficial effects afforded by 15d-PGJ2. Taken together, these results demonstrate that treatment with these chemically distinct ligands of PPAR-gamma results in diverse anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Endogenous estrogen mediates a higher threshold for endotoxin-induced myocardial protection in females

Myocardial endotoxin tolerance may be induced in both males and females; however, it remains unknown whether there are mechanistic and threshold differences between the sexes. We hypothesized that endogenous estrogen mediates a higher threshold for endotoxin (ETX)-induced protection in females. Adult proestrus and ovariectomized (OVX) female rats were preconditioned (PC) with intraperitoneal injections of 125 (PC+125) or 500 (PC+500) μg/kg Salmonella typhimurium LPS (ETX) or normal saline (PC−). Twenty-four hours later, injury dose ETX (500 μg/kg) was injected. After 6 h, myocardial function was measured via Langendorff. p38 MAPK and JNK activation and TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 expression were evaluated. ETX injury significantly decreased left ventricular developed pressure in PC− groups vs. controls. PC+500 regimen protected against ETX injury, resulting in normal cardiac function. PC+125 regimen protected OVX but not proestrus females, which had diminished myocardial function. Activated JNK and TNF-α increased in PC− but were diminished in PC+500 animals. Importantly, activated JNK and TNF increased in PC+125 proestrus females, whereas PC+125 OVX females displayed decreases in these molecules. There were no differences in p38 MAPK activation or expression of IL-1 or IL-6. These results demonstrate that proestrus females require a higher stimulus (PC+500) to achieve myocardial protection against ETX injury. Removal of endogenous estrogen (OVX) lowered the preconditioning threshold (PC+125), resulting in protection after lesser injury. Additionally, myocardial JNK and TNF expression was decreased in OVX PC+125 females, which correlated with myocardial function differences. Therefore, we conclude that endogenous estrogen mediates a higher threshold for ETX tolerance in female myocardium.

Association of high intracellular, but not serum, heat shock protein 70 with postoperative atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia, after cardiac surgery. Reperfusion injury and inflammation associated with cardiac surgery are thought to be involved in its pathogenesis. We hypothesized that cytoprotective effects associated with heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) could counteract these proarrhythmic insults. We therefore set out to examine the influence of heat shock protein 70 on the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

METHODS

We prospectively recruited 80 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery. Blood samples were collected preoperatively. Right atrial tissue was obtained at surgery. Incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation and its duration were noted. Using a nested case-control design, 15 patients who developed atrial fibrillation were matched for operative procedure, age, sex, and beta-blocker usage, with 15 controls from the remaining patients. Atrial heat shock protein 70 was subsequently quantified by immunohistochemistry. Serum heat shock protein was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high sensitivity C-reactive protein was determined by immunoturbidometric assay.

RESULTS

Intracellular HSP70 level was significantly higher in patients who did not develop atrial fibrillation (35 +/- 13 vs 19 +/- 15; p = 0.006). Atrial HSP70 level negatively correlated with atrial fibrillation; independent of other risk factors (odds ratio = 0.90; 95% confidence interval 0.84 to 0.99, p = 0.02). Serum HSP70 levels were similar in both groups (p = 0.81) and did not correlate with intracellular levels (p = 0.38). Preoperative C-reactive protein levels were similar in both groups (p = 0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

Intracellular, but not serum, HSP70 level is negatively correlated with postoperative atrial fibrillation. This suggests a cardioprotective and an antiarrhythmic role for intracellular HSP70.

Preconditioning: Gender Effects1

Preconditioning is injury induced protection from subsequent injury. During preconditioning protective cellular responses to injury are up regulated resulting in acute and delayed defense against further damage. Several studies indicate that females experience a protective advantage after acute insult compared to males. Despite evidence of gender differences in acute injury, relatively few studies have evaluated whether there are sex differences in preconditioning. Variations in patients' pre-morbid preconditioning status may explain outcome variations that are not apparent in small animal studies. This review discusses the differences in response to acute injury experienced by males and females, the basic mechanisms of preconditioning, and the sex differences in the mechanisms of preconditioning.

Detection of anti-hsp70 immunoglobulin G antibodies indicates better outcome in coronary artery bypass grafting patients suffering from severe preoperative angina

BACKGROUND

Recent findings indicate that molecular chaperones actively participate in myocardial cytoprotection. Moreover, ischemic tolerance can be induced in humans by brief ischemic events. Therefore, we investigated patients with severe angina attacks before coronary artery bypass grafting. We focused on appearance of anti-hsp70 antibodies as an immunologic response to heat shock protein induction by ischemia followed up by hemodynamic measurements perioperatively. We correlated these clinical findings with the presence of antibodies against hsp70 and the antioxidative capacity of patients' sera.

METHODS

Thirty-five consecutive patients with coronary artery disease scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting were included. Seventeen patients had severe angina, and 18 patients suffered from chronic stable angina preoperatively. In the patients' sera, antibodies against hsp70 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and antioxidative capacity was detected using the chromogen assay. Cardiac output and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were measured using a thermodilution catheter. We also evaluated C-reactive protein and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme, and performed a conventional leukocyte count.

RESULTS

The sera of the 17 patients with severe angina attacks before surgery contained antibodies against hsp70 and a low antioxidative capacity. The interval between a severe angina attack and anti-hsp70 antibody titer are inversely correlated. These patients had better cardiac output and lower pulmonary capillary wedge pressure values after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe angina before cardiac surgery coincided with an improved outcome as measured by hemodynamic variables as compared with chronic stable angina. This finding correlated significantly with a low antioxidative capacity and the presence of antibodies against hsp70. These pathophysiologic mechanisms might therefore play a role in myocardial protection.

Inducible heat shock protein 70 kD and inducible nitric oxide synthase in hemorrhage/resuscitation-induced injury

Inducible head shock protein 70 kD (HSP-70i) has been shown to protect cells, tissues, and organs from harmful assaults in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Hemorrhagic shock followed by resuscitation is the principal cause of death among trauma patients and soldiers in the battlefield. Although the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood, it has been shown that nitric oxide (NO) overproduction and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) overexpression play important roles in producing injury caused by hemorrhagic shock including increases in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) infiltration to injured tissues and leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) generation. Moreover, transcription factors responsible for iNOS expression are also altered by hemorrhage and resuscitation. It has been evident that either up-regulation of HSP-70i or down-regulation of iNOS can limit tissue injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion or hemorrhage/resuscitation. In our laboratory, geldanamycin, a member of ansamycin family, has been shown to induce HSP- 70i overexpression and then subsequently to inhibit iNOS expression, to reduce cellular caspase-3 activity, and to preserve cellular ATP levels. HSP-70i is found to couple to iNOS and its transcription factor. Therefore, the complex formation between HSP-70i and iNOS may be a novel mechanism for protection from hemorrhage/resuscitation-induced injury.

Glutamine attenuates endotoxin-induced lung metabolic dysfunction: Potential role of enhanced heat shock protein 70

OBJECTIVE

Septic shock leads to derangement of cellular metabolism. Enhanced heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70) can preserve cellular metabolism after other forms of cellular stress. Glutamine (GLN) can enhance lung HSP-70 expression after lethal endotoxemia. However, it is unknown whether GLN can enhance HSP-70 expression and attenuate lung metabolic dysfunction after sublethal endotoxemia. Our aim was to determine whether GLN could upregulate HSP-70 and attenuate metabolic dysfunction in lung tissue after sublethal endotoxemia.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of five groups. The first two groups were treated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 mg/kg intravenously). GLN (0.75 g/kg intravenously) or balanced salt solution as a control was administered 5 min after LPS administration. The next two groups of rats were treated with quercetin (HSP-70 inhibitor; 400 mg/kg intraperitoneally) 6 h before LPS administration. The final group received no treatment. Lung tissue was harvested 24-h after LPS and analyzed with immunofluorescence and western blot for HSP-70. Tissue metabolites were quantified by 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

RESULTS

GLN compared with balanced salt solution (BSS) administration in LPS-treated animals led to significant increases in lung HSP-70. Increased HSP-70 expression was observed in lung epithelial cells and macrophages. GLN significantly improved the ratio of adenosine triphosphate to adenosine diphosphate in the lung after LPS. Quercetin inhibited a GLN-mediated increase in lung HSP-70 and blocked a beneficial effect of GLN on the ratio of adenosine triphosphate to adenosine diphosphate after LPS.

CONCLUSIONS

A single dose of GLN can enhance HSP-70 in pulmonary epithelial cells and macrophages after sublethal endotoxemia. Further, GLN can attenuate endotoxin-induced lung metabolic dysfunction. GLN's beneficial effect on lung tissue after metabolic dysfunction caused by sublethal endotoxemia may be mediated in part by enhanced HSP-70.

The interaction between Hsp70 and TNF-alpha expression: a novel mechanism for protection of the myocardium against post-injury depression

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) depresses myocardial contractility, and overexpression of TNF-alpha in the myocardium contributes to cardiac dysfunction caused by both systemic and local insults. Sepsis, endotoxemia, hemorrhagic shock, and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion all promote cardiac dysfunction in part by a TNF-alpha-mediated mechanism. Thus, TNF-alpha represents an appealing therapeutic target for myocardial protection against multiple clinically relevant insults. The inducible 70-kD heat shock protein (Hsp70) is expressed in the myocardium in response to stress and has been linked to enhanced myocardial resistance to depression associated with ischemia-reperfusion or sepsis. The mechanism by which Hsp70 protects cardiac function against a subsequent insult remains obscure. In vitro induction of Hsp70 in monocytes or macrophages inhibits TNF-alpha production following bacterial lipopolysaccharide stimulation, and in vivo induction of Hsp70 down-regulates tissue TNF-alpha production following an injurious insult. Understanding of the regulatory role of Hsp70 in the myocardial inflammatory response will provide insights into the mechanism by which Hsp70 preserves cardiac function and may yield therapies for protection of the myocardium against depression associated injurious insults.

Invited review: Effects of heat and cold stress on mammalian gene expression

This review examines the effects of thermal stress on gene expression, with special emphasis on changes in the expression of genes other than heat shock proteins (HSPs). There are approximately 50 genes not traditionally considered to be HSPs that have been shown, by conventional techniques, to change expression as a result of heat stress, and there are <20 genes (including HSPs) that have been shown to be affected by cold. These numbers will likely become much larger as gene chip array and proteomic technologies are applied to the study of the cell stress response. Several mechanisms have been identified by which gene expression may be altered by heat and cold stress. The similarities and differences between the cellular responses to heat and cold may yield key insights into how cells, and by extension tissues and organisms, survive and adapt to stress.

Ischemia alone is sufficient to induce TNF-alpha mRNA and peptide in the myocardium

Over-production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion contributes to cardiac dysfunction, and anti-TNF-alpha has therapeutic potential for myocardial protection in cardiac surgery with obligatory ischemia. It remains unclear, however, whether myocardial TNF-alpha production occurs during ischemia and whether cardiac myocytes constitute a source of myocardial TNF-alpha. Ischemia alone has been shown to activate myocardial NF-kappaB. We hypothesized that ischemia alone is sufficient to induce myocardial TNF-alpha gene expression and peptide synthesis. We examined TNF-alpha production and NF-kappaB activation in the isolated rat heart subjected to global normothermic ischemia. Myocardial ischemia resulted in rapid IkappaB-alpha degradation and NF-kappaB activation. Immunofluorescence staining detected NF-KB intranuclear translocation primarily in myocardial interstitial cells. Ischemia alone induced a time-dependent increase in myocardial TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha peptide increased to 20.3+/-3.0 pg/mg after 25 min of ischemia (P < 0.05 vs 8.9+/-2.0 pg/mg in perfusion control). TNF-alpha was also localized to myocardial interstitial cells. Increased TNF-alpha peptide level correlated with TNF-alpha mRNA expression. We conclude that ischemia alone induces TNF-a gene expression and peptide synthesis in the myocardium that are associated with NF-kappaB activation. Non-myocytes constitute the main source of myocardial TNF-alpha following ischemia. The results suggest that therapeutic strategies attempting to decrease myocardial TNF-alpha production need to be applied before or in the early phase of ischemia.

Prevention of kidney ischemia/reperfusion-induced functional injury, MAPK and MAPK kinase activation, and inflammation by remote transient ureteral obstruction

Protection against ischemic kidney injury is afforded by 24 h of ureteral obstruction (UO) applied 6 or 8 days prior to the ischemia. Uremia or humoral factors are not responsible for the protection, since unilateral UO confers protection on that kidney but not the contralateral kidney. Prior UO results in reduced postischemic outer medullary congestion and leukocyte infiltration. Prior UO results in reduced postischemic phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal stress-activated protein kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2), p38, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 4 (MKK4), and MKK3/6. Very few cells stain positively for proliferating cell nuclear antigen after obstruction, indicating that subsequent protection against ischemia is not related to proliferation with increased numbers of newly formed daughter cells more resistant to injury. UO increases the expression of heat shock protein (HSP)-25 and HSP-72. The increased HSP-25 expression persists for 6 or 8 days, whereas HSP-72 does not. HSP-25 expression is increased in the proximal tubule cells in the outer stripe of the outer medulla postobstruction, prior to, and 24 h after ischemia. In LLC-PK(1) renal epithelial cells, adenovirus-expressed human HSP-27 confers resistance to chemical anoxia and oxidative stress. Increased HSP-27 expression in LLC-PK(1) cells results in reduced H(2)O(2)-induced phosphorylation of JNK1/2 and p38. In conclusion, prior transient UO renders the kidney resistant to ischemia. This resistance to functional consequences of ischemia is associated with reduced postischemic activation of JNK, p38 MAP kinases, and their upstream MAPK kinases. The persistent increase in HSP-25 that occurs as a result of UO may contribute to the reduction in phosphorylation of MAPKs that have been implicated in adhesion molecule up-regulation and cell death.

The atrial natriuretic peptide and cGMP: novel activators of the heat shock response in rat livers

Preischemic treatment with atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) attenuates ischemia-reperfusion injury of the rat liver via cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The attenuated activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) seems to contribute to this effect. The aim of this study was to determine whether heat shock proteins are involved in these molecular pathways. Livers of male Sprague-Dawley rats were continuously perfused with Krebs-Henseleit (KH) buffer with or without ANP or 8-Br-cGMP. In different experiments livers were perfused with or without ANP for 20 minutes, kept in cold storage solution for 24 hours, and reperfused. Activation of heat shock transcription factor (HSF) (by electrophoretic mobility shift assay), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA (by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]), as well as HSP70 (by Western blot) were investigated in freeze-clamped liver samples. During continuous perfusion ANP as well as 8-Br-cGMP activated HSF, HSP70 protein concentrations paralleled HSF-activation. ANP pretreated livers exhibited elevated HSF after 24 hours of ischemia and elevated HSP70 mRNA levels during reperfusion. ANP prevented the marked decrease of HSP70 protein during reperfusion. Coimmunoprecipitation studies showed increased binding of HSP70 to inhibitory factor kappaB (IkappaB) in ANP-treated livers. In conclusion, we showed the cGMP-mediated activation of HSF by ANP, which resulted in elevated HSP70 mRNA and protein concentrations and correlated with enhanced binding of HSP70 to IkappaB. This could be an important mechanism of ANP-mediated prevention of hepatic preservation damage.

Effects of schisandrin B pretreatment on tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced apoptosis and Hsp70 expression in mouse liver

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) could cause apoptosis in hepatic tissue of D-galactosamine sensitized mice, as evidenced by the increase in the extent of DNA fragmentation. The hepatic apoptosis induced by TNFalpha was associated with hepatocellular damage as assessed by plasma alanine aminotransferase activity. Schisandrin B (Sch B) pretreatment at daily doses ranging from 0.5 to 2 mmol/kg for 3 days caused a dose-dependent protection against TNFalpha-induced apoptosis in mice. The hepatoprotection was accompanied by a parallel reduction in the extent of hepatocellular damage. The same Sch B pretreatment regimens increased hepatic Hsp70 level in a dose-dependent manner. The relevance of Sch B-induced increase in Hsp70 expression to the prevention of TNFalpha-triggered hepatic apoptosis remains to be elucidated.

A low level of TNF-alpha mediates hemorrhage-induced acute lung injury via p55 TNF receptor

Acute lung injury after hemorrhagic shock (HS) is associated with the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the lung. However, the role of TNF-alpha and its receptors in this pulmonary disorder remains obscure. This study examined the temporal relationship of pulmonary TNF-alpha production to neutrophil accumulation during HS and determined the role of TNF-alpha in neutrophil accumulation and lung leak. HS was induced in mice by removal of 30% of total blood volume. Lung TNF-alpha was measured by ELISA. Neutrophil accumulation was detected by immunofluorescent staining, and microvascular permeability was assessed using Evans blue dye. Although HS induced a slight and transient increase in lung TNF-alpha, neutrophil accumulation preceded the increase in TNF-alpha. However, lung neutrophil accumulation and lung leak were abrogated in TNF-alpha knockout mice, and both were restored by administration of recombinant TNF-alpha to TNF-alpha knockout mice before HS. Neutrophil accumulation and lung leak were abrogated in mice lacking the p55 TNF-alpha receptor, but neither was influenced by p75 TNF-alpha receptor knockout. This study demonstrates that a low level of pulmonary TNF-alpha is sufficient to mediate HS-induced acute lung injury during HS and that the p55 TNF-alpha receptor plays a dominant role in regulating the pulmonary inflammatory response to HS.

Prevention of kidney ischemia/reperfusion-induced functional injury and JNK, p38, and MAPK kinase activation by remote ischemic pretreatment

MAPK activities, including JNK, p38, and ERK, are markedly enhanced after ischemia in vivo and chemical anoxia in vitro. The relative extent of JNK, p38, or ERK activation has been proposed to determine cell fate after injury. A mouse model was established in which prior exposure to ischemia protected against a second ischemic insult imposed 8 or 15 days later. In contrast to what was observed after 30 min of bilateral ischemia, when a second period of ischemia of 30- or 35-min duration was imposed 8 days later, there was no subsequent increase in plasma creatinine, decrease in glomerular filtration rate, or increase in fractional excretion of sodium. A shorter period of prior ischemia (15 min) was partially protective against subsequent ischemic injury 8 days later. Unilateral ischemia was also protective against a subsequent ischemic insult to the same kidney, revealing that systemic uremia is not necessary for protection. The ischemia-related activation of JNK and p38 and outer medullary vascular congestion were markedly mitigated by prior exposure to ischemia, whereas preconditioning had no effect on post-ischemic activation of ERK1/2. The phosphorylation of MKK7, MKK4, and MKK3/6, upstream activators of JNK and p38, was markedly reduced by ischemic preconditioning, whereas the post-ischemic phosphorylation of MEK1/2, the upstream activator of ERK1/2, was unaffected by preconditioning. Pre- and post-ischemic HSP-25 levels were much higher in the preconditioned kidney. In summary, post-ischemic JNK and p38 (but not ERK1/2) activation was markedly reduced in a model of kidney ischemic preconditioning that was established in the mouse. The reduction in JNK and p38 activation can be accounted for by reduced activation of upstream MAPK kinases. The post-ischemic activation patterns of MAPKs may explain the remarkable protection against ischemic injury observed in this model.

The heat shock response inhibits NF-kappaB activation, nitric oxide synthase type 2 expression, and macrophage/microglial activation in brain

The heat shock response (HSR) provides protection against stress-induced damage, and also prevents initiation of inflammatory gene expression via inhibition of NFkappaB activation. This article describes experiments demonstrating that the HSR prevents induction of nitric oxide synthase type 2 (NOS2) in rat brain. Twenty four hours after intrastriatal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), IL-1beta, and IFN-gamma, NOS2 immunoreactive cells were detected in striatum, corpus callosum, and to a lesser extent in cortex. Induction of a HSR by whole body warming to 41 degrees C for 20 minutes, done 1 day before LPS plus cytokine injection, reduced the number of NOS2-positive staining cells to background levels. Staining for EDI antigen revealed that the HSR also suppressed microglial/brain macrophage activation in the same areas. Striatal injection of LPS and cytokines induced the rapid activation of NFkappaB, and this activation was prevented by prior HS, which also increased brain IkappaB-alpha expression. These results suggest that establishment of a HSR can reduce inflammatory gene expression in brain, mediated by inhibition of NFkappaB activation, and may therefore offer a novel approach to treatment and prevention of neurological disease and trauma.

Protease-activated receptor-2 modulates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat heart

Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) is a member of seven transmembrane domain G protein-coupled receptors activated by proteolytic cleavage whose better known member is the thrombin receptor. The pathophysiological role of PAR-2 remains poorly understood. Because PAR-2 is involved in inflammatory and injury response events, we investigated the role of PAR-2 in experimental myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. We show for the first time that PAR-2 activation protects against reperfusion-injury. After PAR-2-activating peptide (2AP) infusion, we found a significant recovery of myocardial function and decrease in oxidation at reflow. Indeed, the glutathione cycle (glutathione and oxidized glutathione) and lipid peroxidation analysis showed a reduced oxidative reperfusion-injury. Moreover, ischemic risk zone and creatine kinase release were decreased after PAR-2AP treatment. These events were coupled to elevation of PAR-2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) expression in both nuclear extracts and whole heart homogenates. The recovery of coronary flow was not reverted by L-nitroarginine methylester, indicating a NO-independent pathway for this effect. Genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, did not revert the PAR-2AP effect. During early reperfusion injury in vivo not only oxygen radicals are produced but also numerous proinflammatory mediators promoting neutrophil and monocyte targeting. In this context, we show that TNFalpha and PAR-2 are involved in signaling in pathophysiological conditions, such as myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. At the same time, because TNFalpha may exert pro-inflammatory actions and PAR-2 may constitute one of the first protective mechanisms that signals a primary inflammatory response, our data support the concept that this network may regulate body responses to tissue injury.