1
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Sposito B, Broggi A, Pandolfi L, Crotta S, Clementi N, Ferrarese R, Sisti S, Criscuolo E, Spreafico R, Long JM, Ambrosi A, Liu E, Frangipane V, Saracino L, Bozzini S, Marongiu L, Facchini FA, Bottazzi A, Fossali T, Colombo R, Clementi M, Tagliabue E, Chou J, Pontiroli AE, Meloni F, Wack A, Mancini N, Zanoni I. The interferon landscape along the respiratory tract impacts the severity of COVID-19. Cell 2021; 184:4953-4968.e16. [PMID: 34492226 PMCID: PMC8373821 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by overproduction of immune mediators, but the role of interferons (IFNs) of the type I (IFN-I) or type III (IFN-III) families remains debated. We scrutinized the production of IFNs along the respiratory tract of COVID-19 patients and found that high levels of IFN-III, and to a lesser extent IFN-I, characterize the upper airways of patients with high viral burden but reduced disease risk or severity. Production of specific IFN-III, but not IFN-I, members denotes patients with a mild pathology and efficiently drives the transcription of genes that protect against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In contrast, compared to subjects with other infectious or noninfectious lung pathologies, IFNs are overrepresented in the lower airways of patients with severe COVID-19 that exhibit gene pathways associated with increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation. Our data demonstrate a dynamic production of IFNs in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients and show IFNs play opposing roles at distinct anatomical sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Sposito
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Immunology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences and Ph.D. Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine (DIMET), University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Achille Broggi
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Immunology, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Laura Pandolfi
- Respiratory Disease Unit IRCCS San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Stefania Crotta
- Immunoregulation Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Nicola Clementi
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20100, Italy; IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Roberto Ferrarese
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Sofia Sisti
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Elena Criscuolo
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Roberto Spreafico
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jaclyn M Long
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Immunology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alessandro Ambrosi
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Enju Liu
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Gastroenterology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Vanessa Frangipane
- Respiratory Disease Unit IRCCS San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Laura Saracino
- Respiratory Disease Unit IRCCS San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Sara Bozzini
- Respiratory Disease Unit IRCCS San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Laura Marongiu
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences and Ph.D. Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine (DIMET), University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Fabio A Facchini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences and Ph.D. Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine (DIMET), University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Andrea Bottazzi
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Tommaso Fossali
- Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Riccardo Colombo
- Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Massimo Clementi
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20100, Italy; IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Elena Tagliabue
- Value-based healthcare unit, IRCCS Multimedica, Milan 20100, Italy
| | - Janet Chou
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Immunology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Federica Meloni
- Respiratory Disease Unit IRCCS San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Andreas Wack
- Immunoregulation Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Nicasio Mancini
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20100, Italy; IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan 20100, Italy.
| | - Ivan Zanoni
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Immunology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Gastroenterology, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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2
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Marongiu L, Protti G, Facchini FA, Valache M, Mingozzi F, Ranzani V, Putignano AR, Salviati L, Bevilacqua V, Curti S, Crosti M, Sarnicola ML, D'Angiò M, Bettini LR, Biondi A, Nespoli L, Tamini N, Clementi N, Mancini N, Abrignani S, Spreafico R, Granucci F. Maturation signatures of conventional dendritic cell subtypes in COVID-19 suggest direct viral sensing. Eur J Immunol 2021; 52:109-122. [PMID: 34333764 PMCID: PMC8420462 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) undergo aberrant maturation in COVID‐19, which negatively affects T‐cell activation. The presence of effector T cells in patients with mild disease and dysfunctional T cells in severely ill patients suggests that adequate T‐cell responses limit disease severity. Understanding how cDCs cope with SARS‐CoV‐2 can help elucidate how protective immune responses are generated. Here, we report that cDC2 subtypes exhibit similar infection‐induced gene signatures, with the upregulation of IFN‐stimulated genes and IL‐6 signaling pathways. Furthermore, comparison of cDCs between patients with severe and mild disease showed severely ill patients to exhibit profound downregulation of genes encoding molecules involved in antigen presentation, such as MHCII, TAP, and costimulatory proteins, whereas we observed the opposite for proinflammatory molecules, such as complement and coagulation factors. Thus, as disease severity increases, cDC2s exhibit enhanced inflammatory properties and lose antigen presentation capacity. Moreover, DC3s showed upregulation of anti‐apoptotic genes and accumulated during infection. Direct exposure of cDC2s to the virus in vitro recapitulated the activation profile observed in vivo. Our findings suggest that SARS‐CoV‐2 interacts directly with cDC2s and implements an efficient immune escape mechanism that correlates with disease severity by downregulating crucial molecules required for T‐cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Marongiu
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,National Institute of Molecular Genetics "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Protti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,National Institute of Molecular Genetics "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio A Facchini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Mihai Valache
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Mingozzi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Ranzani
- National Institute of Molecular Genetics "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Putignano
- National Institute of Molecular Genetics "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Salviati
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,National Institute of Molecular Genetics "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Bevilacqua
- National Institute of Molecular Genetics "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Curti
- National Institute of Molecular Genetics "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Mariacristina Crosti
- National Institute of Molecular Genetics "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | | | - Mariella D'Angiò
- Pediatric Department and Centro Tettamanti-European Reference Network PaedCan, EuroBloodNet, MetabERN-University of Milano-Bicocca-Fondazione MBBM-Ospedale, San Gerardo, Italy
| | - Laura Rachele Bettini
- Pediatric Department and Centro Tettamanti-European Reference Network PaedCan, EuroBloodNet, MetabERN-University of Milano-Bicocca-Fondazione MBBM-Ospedale, San Gerardo, Italy
| | - Andrea Biondi
- Pediatric Department and Centro Tettamanti-European Reference Network PaedCan, EuroBloodNet, MetabERN-University of Milano-Bicocca-Fondazione MBBM-Ospedale, San Gerardo, Italy
| | - Luca Nespoli
- ASST san Gerardo Hospital, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicolò Tamini
- ASST san Gerardo Hospital, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Clementi
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicasio Mancini
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Sergio Abrignani
- National Institute of Molecular Genetics "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy.,Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Spreafico
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Francesca Granucci
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,National Institute of Molecular Genetics "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
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3
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Palmer C, Facchini FA, Jones RP, Neumann F, Peri F, Pirianov G. Synthetic glycolipid-based TLR4 antagonists negatively regulate TRIF-dependent TLR4 signalling in human macrophages. Innate Immun 2021; 27:275-284. [PMID: 33858242 PMCID: PMC8054148 DOI: 10.1177/17534259211005840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
TLRs, including TLR4, play a crucial role in inflammatory-based diseases, and TLR4 has been identified as a therapeutic target for pharmacological intervention. In previous studies, we investigated the potential of FP7, a novel synthetic glycolipid active as a TLR4 antagonist, to inhibit haematopoietic and non-haematopoietic MyD88-dependent TLR4 pro-inflammatory signalling. The main aim of this study was to investigate the action of FP7 and its derivative FP12 on MyD88-independent TLR4 signalling in THP-1 derived macrophages. Western blotting, Ab array and ELISA approaches were used to explore the effect of FP7 and FP12 on TRIF-dependent TLR4 functional activity in response to LPS and other endogenous TLR4 ligands in THP-1 macrophages. A different kinetic in the inhibition of endotoxin-driven TBK1, IRF3 and STAT1 phosphorylation was observed using different LPS chemotypes. Following activation of TLR4 by LPS, data revealed that FP7 and FP12 inhibited TBK1, IRF3 and STAT1 phosphorylation which was associated with down-regulation IFN-β and IP-10. Specific blockage of the IFN type one receptor showed that these novel molecules inhibited TRIF-dependent TLR4 signalling via IFN-β pathways. These results add novel information on the mechanism of action of monosaccharide FP derivatives. The inhibition of the TRIF-dependent pathway in human macrophages suggests potential therapeutic uses for these novel TLR4 antagonists in pharmacological interventions on inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charys Palmer
- School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, UK
| | - Fabio A Facchini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesco Peri
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
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4
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Sposito B, Broggi A, Pandolfi L, Crotta S, Ferrarese R, Sisti S, Clementi N, Ambrosi A, Liu E, Frangipane V, Saracino L, Marongiu L, Facchini FA, Bottazzi A, Fossali T, Colombo R, Clementi M, Tagliabue E, Pontiroli AE, Meloni F, Wack A, Mancini N, Zanoni I. Severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection as a function of the interferon landscape across the respiratory tract of COVID-19 patients. bioRxiv 2021:2021.03.30.437173. [PMID: 33821280 PMCID: PMC8020981 DOI: 10.1101/2021.03.30.437173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak driven by SARS-CoV-2 has caused more than 2.5 million deaths globally, with the most severe cases characterized by over-exuberant production of immune-mediators, the nature of which is not fully understood. Interferons of the type I (IFN-I) or type III (IFN-III) families are potent antivirals, but their role in COVID-19 remains debated. Our analysis of gene and protein expression along the respiratory tract shows that IFNs, especially IFN-III, are over-represented in the lower airways of patients with severe COVID-19, while high levels of IFN-III, and to a lesser extent IFN-I, characterize the upper airways of patients with high viral burden but reduced disease risk or severity; also, IFN expression varies with abundance of the cell types that produce them. Our data point to a dynamic process of inter- and intra-family production of IFNs in COVID-19, and suggest that IFNs play opposing roles at distinct anatomical sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Sposito
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Immunology, Boston, US
- Dep. of Biotechnology and Biosciences and Ph.D. program in Molecular and Translational Medicine (DIMET), University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Achille Broggi
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Immunology, Boston, US
| | - Laura Pandolfi
- Respiratory Disease Unit IRCCS San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefania Crotta
- Immunoregulation Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Roberto Ferrarese
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Sofia Sisti
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Clementi
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ambrosi
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Enju Liu
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Gastroenterology, Boston, US
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vanessa Frangipane
- Respiratory Disease Unit IRCCS San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Saracino
- Respiratory Disease Unit IRCCS San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Marongiu
- Dep. of Biotechnology and Biosciences and Ph.D. program in Molecular and Translational Medicine (DIMET), University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio A Facchini
- Dep. of Biotechnology and Biosciences and Ph.D. program in Molecular and Translational Medicine (DIMET), University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Bottazzi
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Tommaso Fossali
- Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Colombo
- Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Clementi
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Federica Meloni
- Respiratory Disease Unit IRCCS San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andreas Wack
- Immunoregulation Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Nicasio Mancini
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Ivan Zanoni
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Immunology, Boston, US
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Gastroenterology, Boston, US
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5
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Cochet F, Facchini FA, Zaffaroni L, Billod JM, Coelho H, Holgado A, Braun H, Beyaert R, Jerala R, Jimenez-Barbero J, Martin-Santamaria S, Peri F. Novel carboxylate-based glycolipids: TLR4 antagonism, MD-2 binding and self-assembly properties. Sci Rep 2019; 9:919. [PMID: 30696900 PMCID: PMC6351529 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37421-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
New monosaccharide-based lipid A analogues were rationally designed through MD-2 docking studies. A panel of compounds with two carboxylate groups as phosphates bioisosteres, was synthesized with the same glucosamine-bis-succinyl core linked to different unsaturated and saturated fatty acid chains. The binding of the synthetic compounds to purified, functional recombinant human MD-2 was studied by four independent methods. All compounds bound to MD-2 with similar affinities and inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the LPS-stimulated TLR4 signaling in human and murine cells, while being inactive as TLR4 agonists when provided alone. A compound of the panel was tested in vivo and was not able to inhibit the production of proinflammatory cytokines in animals. This lack of activity is probably due to strong binding to serum albumin, as suggested by cell experiments in the presence of the serum. The interesting self-assembly property in solution of this type of compounds was investigated by computational methods and microscopy, and formation of large vesicles was observed by cryo-TEM microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Cochet
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio A Facchini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Lenny Zaffaroni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Jean-Marc Billod
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas, CIB-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Helena Coelho
- Molecular Recognition & Host-Pathogen Interactions Programme, CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801 A, 48170, Derio, Spain.,UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Quimica, Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal.,Department of Organic Chemistry II, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48940, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Aurora Holgado
- Unit for Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, VIB Technologiepark 927, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University Technologiepark 927, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Harald Braun
- Unit for Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, VIB Technologiepark 927, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University Technologiepark 927, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rudi Beyaert
- Unit for Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, VIB Technologiepark 927, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University Technologiepark 927, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Roman Jerala
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jesus Jimenez-Barbero
- Molecular Recognition & Host-Pathogen Interactions Programme, CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801 A, 48170, Derio, Spain.,Department of Organic Chemistry II, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48940, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Maria Diaz de Haro 13, 48009, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Sonsoles Martin-Santamaria
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas, CIB-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesco Peri
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy.
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6
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Facchini FA, Zaffaroni L, Minotti A, Rapisarda S, Calabrese V, Forcella M, Fusi P, Airoldi C, Ciaramelli C, Billod JM, Schromm AB, Braun H, Palmer C, Beyaert R, Lapenta F, Jerala R, Pirianov G, Martin-Santamaria S, Peri F. Structure-Activity Relationship in Monosaccharide-Based Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) Antagonists. J Med Chem 2018; 61:2895-2909. [PMID: 29494148 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The structure-activity relationship was investigated in a series of synthetic TLR4 antagonists formed by a glucosamine core linked to two phosphate esters and two linear carbon chains. Molecular modeling showed that the compounds with 10, 12, and 14 carbons chains are associated with higher stabilization of the MD-2/TLR4 antagonist conformation than in the case of the C16 variant. Binding experiments with human MD-2 showed that the C12 and C14 variants have higher affinity than C10, while the C16 variant did not interact with the protein. The molecules, with the exception of the C16 variant, inhibited the LPS-stimulated TLR4 signal in human and murine cells, and the antagonist potency mirrored the MD-2 affinity calculated from in vitro binding experiments. Fourier-transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and small angle X-ray scattering measurements suggested that the aggregation state in aqueous solution depends on fatty acid chain lengths and that this property can influence TLR4 activity in this series of compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio A Facchini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences , University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2 , 20126 Milano , Italy
| | - Lenny Zaffaroni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences , University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2 , 20126 Milano , Italy
| | - Alberto Minotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences , University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2 , 20126 Milano , Italy
| | - Silvia Rapisarda
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences , University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2 , 20126 Milano , Italy
| | - Valentina Calabrese
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences , University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2 , 20126 Milano , Italy
| | - Matilde Forcella
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences , University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2 , 20126 Milano , Italy
| | - Paola Fusi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences , University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2 , 20126 Milano , Italy
| | - Cristina Airoldi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences , University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2 , 20126 Milano , Italy
| | - Carlotta Ciaramelli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences , University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2 , 20126 Milano , Italy
| | - Jean-Marc Billod
- Department of Structural & Chemical Biology , Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas, CIB-CSIC , C/Ramiro de Maeztu, 9 , 28040 Madrid , Spain
| | - Andra B Schromm
- Division of Immunobiophysics , Research Center Borstel , Parkallee 1-40 , 23845 Borstel , Germany
| | - Harald Braun
- VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research , UGent Department for Biomedical Molecular Biology, Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation , Technologiepark 927 , 9052 Ghent , Belgium
| | - Charys Palmer
- Anglia Ruskin Cambridge University , Cambridge CB1 1PT , U.K
| | - Rudi Beyaert
- VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research , UGent Department for Biomedical Molecular Biology, Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation , Technologiepark 927 , 9052 Ghent , Belgium
| | - Fabio Lapenta
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology , Kemijski Institute, National Institute of Chemistry , Hajdrihova 19 , SI-1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia
| | - Roman Jerala
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology , Kemijski Institute, National Institute of Chemistry , Hajdrihova 19 , SI-1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia
| | - Grisha Pirianov
- Anglia Ruskin Cambridge University , Cambridge CB1 1PT , U.K
| | - Sonsoles Martin-Santamaria
- Department of Structural & Chemical Biology , Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas, CIB-CSIC , C/Ramiro de Maeztu, 9 , 28040 Madrid , Spain
| | - Francesco Peri
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences , University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2 , 20126 Milano , Italy
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7
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Grasselli C, Ferrari D, Zalfa C, Soncini M, Mazzoccoli G, Facchini FA, Marongiu L, Granucci F, Copetti M, Vescovi AL, Peri F, De Filippis L. Toll-like receptor 4 modulation influences human neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:280. [PMID: 29449625 PMCID: PMC5833460 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-017-0139-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation is pivotal to innate immunity and has been shown to regulate proliferation and differentiation of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) in vivo. Here we study the role of TLR4 in regulating hNSC derived from the human telencephalic-diencephalic area of the fetal brain and cultured in vitro as neurospheres in compliance with Good Manifacture Procedures (GMP) guidelines. Similar batches have been used in recent clinical trials in ALS patients. We found that TLR2 and 4 are expressed in hNSCs as well as CD14 and MD-2 co-receptors, and TLR4 expression is downregulated upon differentiation. Activation of TLR4 signaling by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has a positive effect on proliferation and/or survival while the inverse is observed with TLR4 inhibition by a synthetic antagonist. TLR4 activation promotes neuronal and oligodendrocyte differentiation and/or survival while TLR4 inhibition leads to increased apoptosis. Consistently, endogenous expression of TLR4 is retained by hNSC surviving after transplantation in ALS rats or immunocompromised mice, thus irrespectively of the neuroinflammatory environment. The characterization of downstream signaling of TLR4 in hNSCs has suggested some activation of the inflammasome pathway. This study suggests TLR4 signaling as essential for hNSC self-renewal and as a novel target for the study of neurogenetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Grasselli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Daniela Ferrari
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Cristina Zalfa
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Matias Soncini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Mazzoccoli
- Department of Medical Sciences, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Fabio A Facchini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Laura Marongiu
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Francesca Granucci
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Copetti
- Unit of Biostatistics, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Angelo Luigi Vescovi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, MI, Italy
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Francesco Peri
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, MI, Italy.
| | - Lidia De Filippis
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy.
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Facchini FA, Coelho H, Sestito SE, Delgado S, Minotti A, Andreu D, Jiménez-Barbero J, Peri F. Co-administration of Antimicrobial Peptides Enhances Toll-like Receptor 4 Antagonist Activity of a Synthetic Glycolipid. ChemMedChem 2018; 13:280-287. [PMID: 29265636 PMCID: PMC5900894 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study examines the effect of co‐administration of antimicrobial peptides and the synthetic glycolipid FP7, which is active in inhibiting inflammatory cytokine production caused by TLR4 activation and signaling. The co‐administration of two lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐neutralizing peptides (a cecropin A–melittin hybrid peptide and a human cathelicidin) enhances by an order of magnitude the potency of FP7 in blocking the TLR4 signal. Interestingly, this is not an additional effect of LPS neutralization by peptides, because it also occurs if cells are stimulated by the plant lectin phytohemagglutinin, a non‐LPS TLR4 agonist. Our data suggest a dual mechanism of action for the peptides, not exclusively based on LPS binding and neutralization, but also on a direct effect on the LPS‐binding proteins of the TLR4 receptor complex. NMR experiments in solution show that peptide addition changes the aggregation state of FP7, promoting the formation of larger micelles. These results suggest a relationship between the aggregation state of lipid A‐like ligands and the type and intensity of the TLR4 response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio A Facchini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Helena Coelho
- Molecular Recognition & Host-Pathogen Interactions Programme, CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48170, Derio, Spain.,Department of Organic Chemistry II, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48940, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.,UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Stefania E Sestito
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Sandra Delgado
- Molecular Recognition & Host-Pathogen Interactions Programme, CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48170, Derio, Spain
| | - Alberto Minotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - David Andreu
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
- Molecular Recognition & Host-Pathogen Interactions Programme, CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48170, Derio, Spain.,Department of Organic Chemistry II, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48940, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Maria Diaz de Haro 13, 48009, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Francesco Peri
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
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9
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Sestito SE, Facchini FA, Morbioli I, Billod JM, Martin-Santamaria S, Casnati A, Sansone F, Peri F. Amphiphilic Guanidinocalixarenes Inhibit Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and Lectin-Stimulated Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) Signaling. J Med Chem 2017; 60:4882-4892. [PMID: 28471658 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We recently reported on the activity of cationic amphiphiles in inhibiting TLR4 activation and subsequent production of inflammatory cytokines in cells and in animal models. Starting from the assumption that opportunely designed cationic amphiphiles can behave as CD14/MD-2 ligands and therefore modulate the TLR4 signaling, we present here a panel of amphiphilic guanidinocalixarenes whose structure was computationally optimized to dock into MD-2 and CD14 binding sites. Some of these calixarenes were active in inhibiting, in a dose-dependent way, the LPS-stimulated TLR4 activation and TLR4-dependent cytokine production in human and mouse cells. Moreover, guanidinocalixarenes also inhibited TLR4 signaling when TLR4 was activated by a non-LPS stimulus, the plant lectin PHA. While the activity of guanidinocalixarenes in inhibiting LPS toxic action has previously been related to their capacity to bind LPS, we suggest a direct antagonist effect of calixarenes on TLR4/MD-2 dimerization, pointing at the calixarene moiety as a potential scaffold for the development of new TLR4-directed therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania E Sestito
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio A Facchini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Ilaria Morbioli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita e della Sostenibilità Ambientale, Università di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 17/a, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Jean-Marc Billod
- Department of Chemical and Physical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas, CIB-CSIC , C/Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonsoles Martin-Santamaria
- Department of Chemical and Physical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas, CIB-CSIC , C/Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alessandro Casnati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita e della Sostenibilità Ambientale, Università di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 17/a, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Francesco Sansone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita e della Sostenibilità Ambientale, Università di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 17/a, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Francesco Peri
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca , Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
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