Reblastatins Inhibit Phenotypic Changes of Monocytes/Macrophages in a Milieu Rich in 27-Hydroxycholesterol

Blockade of mTORC1 via Rapamycin Suppresses 27-Hydroxycholestrol-Induced Inflammatory Responses

Atherosclerosis is characterized by the deposition and accumulation of extracellular cholesterol and inflammatory cells in the arterial blood vessel walls, and 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHChol) is the most abundant cholesterol metabolite. 27OHChol is an oxysterol that induces immune responses, including immune cell activation and chemokine secretion, although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the roles of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) in 27HChol-induced inflammation using rapamycin. Treating monocytic cells with rapamycin effectively reduced the expression of CCL2 and CD14, which was involved with the increased immune response by 27OHChol. Rapamycin also suppressed the phosphorylation of S6 and 4EBP1, which are downstream of mTORC1. Additionally, it also alleviates the increase in differentiation markers into macrophage. These results suggest that 27OHChol induces inflammation by activating the mTORC1 signaling pathway, and rapamycin may be useful for the treatment of atherosclerosis-related inflammation involving 27OHchol.

The role of 27-hydroxycholesterol in meta-inflammation

27-Hydroxycholesterol (27OHChol), a prominent cholesterol metabolite present in the bloodstream and peripheral tissues, is a kind of immune oxysterol that elicits immune response. Recent research indicates the involvement of 27OHChol in metabolic inflammation (meta-inflammation) characterized by chronic responses associated with metabolic irregularities. 27OHChol activates monocytic cells such that they secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and increase the expression of cell surface molecules such as pattern-recognition receptors that play key roles in immune cell-cell communication and sensing metabolism-associated danger signals. Levels of 27OHChol increase when cholesterol metabolism is disrupted, and the resulting inflammatory responses can contribute to the development and complications of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular diseases. Since 27OHChol can induce chronic immune response by activating monocyte-macrophage lineage cells that play a crucial role in meta-inflammation, it is essential to understand the 27OHChol-induced inflammatory responses to unravel the roles and mechanisms of action of this cholesterol metabolite in chronic metabolic disorders.

Glucocorticoids Impair the 7α-Hydroxycholesterol-Enhanced Innate Immune Response

Glucocorticoids suppress the vascular inflammation that occurs under hypercholesterolemia, as demonstrated in an animal model fed a high-cholesterol diet. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects remain poorly understood. Because cholesterol is oxidized to form cholesterol oxides (oxysterols) that are capable of inducing inflammation, we investigated whether glucocorticoids affect the immune responses evoked by 7α-hydroxycholesterol (7αOHChol). The treatment of human THP-1 monocytic cells with dexamethasone (Dex) and prednisolone (Pdn) downregulated the expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as TLR6 and CD14, and diminished 7αOHChol-enhanced response to FSL-1, a TLR2/6 ligand, and lipopolysaccharide, which interacts with CD14 to initiate immune responses, as determined by the reduced secretion of IL-23 and CCL2, respectively. Glucocorticoids weakened the 7αOHChol-induced production of CCL2 and CCR5 ligands, which was accompanied by decreased migration of monocytic cells and CCR5-expressing Jurkat T cells. Treatment with Dex or Pdn also reduced the phosphorylation of the Akt-1 Src, ERK1/2, and p65 subunits. These results indicate that both Dex and Pdn impair the expression of PRRs and their downstream products, chemokine production, and phosphorylation of signaling molecules. Collectively, glucocorticoids suppress the innate immune response and activation of monocytic cells to an inflammatory phenotype enhanced or induced by 7αOHChol, which may contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects in hypercholesterolemic conditions.

Streptomyces rugosispiralis sp. nov., a Novel Actinobacterium Isolated from Peat Swamp Forest Soil That Produces Ansamycin Derivatives and Nocardamines

Actinomycetes, especially the genus Streptomyces, are one of the most promising sources of bioactive natural products. In this study, a novel Streptomyces strain, RCU-064T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a peat swamp forest in Thailand. Strain RCU-064T showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (99.06%) with Streptomyces malaysiensis NBRC 16446T. Based on a polyphasic approach, strain RCU-064T represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces rugosispiralis sp. nov. is proposed. The chemical isolation of the crude ethyl acetate extracts of the strain led to the isolation of six compounds: (1) geldanamycin, (2) 17-O-demethylgeldanamycin, (3) reblastatin, (4) 17-demethoxyreblastatin, (5) nocardamine, and (6) dehydroxynocardamine. These compounds were evaluated for their biological activities. All compounds showed no antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms used in this study. Compounds (1)-(4) displayed cytotoxic activity against the NCI-H187 cell line, with IC50 values ranging from 0.045-4.250 µg/mL. Cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 cell line was found in compounds (1) and (3) with IC50 values of 3.51 and 1.27 µg/mL, respectively. Compounds (5) and (6) exhibited cytotoxicity only against Vero cells (IC50 of 16.57 µg/mL) and NCI-H187 cells (IC50 of 13.96 µg/mL), respectively. These results indicate that peat swamp forest soil remains a promising reservoir of novel actinomycetes capable of producing bioactive natural products.

Miconazole Suppresses 27-Hydroxycholesterol-induced Inflammation by Regulating Activation of Monocytic Cells to a Proinflammatory Phenotype

Miconazole is effective in treating inflammatory skin conditions and has well-established antifungal effects. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms mediating its additional beneficial effects, we assessed whether miconazole influences the inflammation induced by 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHChol), an oxygenated cholesterol derivative with high proinflammatory activity, using THP-1 monocytic cells. Miconazole dose-dependently inhibited the expression of proinflammatory markers, including CCL2 and CCR5 ligands such as CCL3 and CCL4, and impaired the migration of monocytic cells and CCR5-positive T cells. In the presence of 27OHChol, miconazole decreased CD14 surface levels and considerably weakened the lipopolysaccharide response. Furthermore, miconazole blocked the release of soluble CD14 and impaired the transcription of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene and secretion of its active gene product. Additionally, it downregulated the expression of ORP3 and restored the endocytic function of THP-1 cells. Collectively, these findings indicate that miconazole regulates the 27OHChol-induced expression of proinflammatory molecules in monocytic cells, thereby suppressing inflammation in an oxysterol-rich milieu.