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Gabalski AH, Tynan A, Tsaava T, Li JH, Lee D, Hepler TD, Hide D, George S, Iñiguez CEB, Thompson DA, Zhu C, Wang H, Brines M, Tracey KJ, Chavan SS. Circulating extracellular choline acetyltransferase regulates inflammation. J Intern Med 2024; 295:346-356. [PMID: 38011942 PMCID: PMC10922394 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is required for the biosynthesis of acetylcholine, the molecular mediator that inhibits cytokine production in the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway of the vagus nerve inflammatory reflex. Abundant work has established the biology of cytoplasmic ChAT in neurons, but much less is known about the potential presence and function of ChAT in the extracellular milieu. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the hypothesis that extracellular ChAT activity responds to inflammation and serves to inhibit cytokine release and attenuate inflammation. METHODS After developing novel methods for quantification of ChAT activity in plasma, we determined whether ChAT activity changes in response to inflammatory challenges. RESULTS Active ChAT circulates within the plasma compartment of mice and responds to immunological perturbations. Following the administration of bacterial endotoxin, plasma ChAT activity increases for 12-48 h, a time period that coincides with declining tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels. Further, a direct activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway by vagus nerve stimulation significantly increases plasma ChAT activity, whereas the administration of bioactive recombinant ChAT (r-ChAT) inhibits endotoxin-stimulated TNF production and anti-ChAT antibodies exacerbate endotoxin-induced TNF levels, results of which suggest that ChAT activity regulates endogenous TNF production. Administration of r-ChAT significantly attenuates pro-inflammatory cytokine production and disease activity in the dextran sodium sulfate preclinical model of inflammatory bowel disease. Finally, plasma ChAT levels are also elevated in humans with sepsis, with the highest levels observed in a patient who succumbed to infection. CONCLUSION As a group, these results support further investigation of ChAT as a counter-regulator of inflammation and potential therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle H. Gabalski
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
| | - Aisling Tynan
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Tea Tsaava
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Jian Hua Li
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Diana Lee
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
| | - Tyler D. Hepler
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Daniel Hide
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Sam George
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Carlos E. Bravo Iñiguez
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Dane A Thompson
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Cassie Zhu
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Haichao Wang
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Michael Brines
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Kevin J. Tracey
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
| | - Sangeeta S. Chavan
- Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
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