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Sweeney M, O’Fee K, Villanueva-Hayes C, Rahman E, Lee M, Vanezis K, Andrew I, Lim WW, Widjaja A, Barton PJR, Cook SA. Cardiomyocyte-Restricted Expression of IL11 Causes Cardiac Fibrosis, Inflammation, and Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12989. [PMID: 37629170 PMCID: PMC10455677 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathological process in heart disease, representing a therapeutic target. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is the canonical driver of cardiac fibrosis and was recently shown to be dependent on interleukin 11 (IL11) for its profibrotic effects in fibroblasts. In the opposite direction, recombinant human IL11 has been reported as anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory in the mouse heart. In this study, we determined the effects of IL11 expression in cardiomyocytes on cardiac pathobiology and function. We used the Cre-loxP system to generate a tamoxifen-inducible mouse with cardiomyocyte-restricted murine Il11 expression. Using protein assays, bulk RNA-sequencing, and in vivo imaging, we analyzed the effects of IL11 on myocardial fibrosis, inflammation, and cardiac function, challenging previous reports suggesting the cardioprotective potential of IL11. TGFβ stimulation of cardiomyocytes caused Il11 upregulation. Compared to wild-type controls, Il11-expressing hearts demonstrated severe cardiac fibrosis and inflammation that was associated with the upregulation of cytokines, chemokines, complement factors, and increased inflammatory cells. IL11 expression also activated a program of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition and resulted in left ventricular dysfunction. Our data define species-matched IL11 as strongly profibrotic and proinflammatory when secreted from cardiomyocytes and further establish IL11 as a disease factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Sweeney
- 1MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
- Wellcome Trust/NIHR 4i Clinical Research Fellow, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Katie O’Fee
- 1MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Chelsie Villanueva-Hayes
- 1MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Ekhlas Rahman
- 1MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Michael Lee
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Konstantinos Vanezis
- 1MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Ivan Andrew
- 1MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Anissa Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Paul J. R. Barton
- 1MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
- Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6NP, UK
| | - Stuart A. Cook
- 1MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
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2
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Ng B, Xie C, Su L, Kuthubudeen FF, Kwek XY, Yeong D, Pua CJ, Cook SA, Lim WW. IL11 (Interleukin-11) Causes Emphysematous Lung Disease in a Mouse Model of Marfan Syndrome. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:739-754. [PMID: 36924234 PMCID: PMC10125130 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.318802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is an inherited connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in the FBN1 (fibrillin-1) gene. Lung abnormalities are common in MFS, but their pathogenesis is poorly understood. IL11 (interleukin-11) causes aortic disease in a mouse model of MFS and was studied here in the lung. METHODS We examined histological and molecular phenotypes in the lungs of Fbn1C1041G/+ mice (mouse model of Marfan Syndrome [mMFS]), an established mouse model of MFS. To identify IL11-expressing cells, we used immunohistochemistry on lungs of 4- and 16-week-old Fbn1C1041G/+:Il11EGFP/+ reporter mice. We studied the effects of IL11 inhibition by RT-qPCR, immunoblots and histopathology in lungs from genetic or pharmacologic models: (1) 16-week-old IL11 receptor (IL11RA) knockout mMFS mice (Fbn1C1041G/+:Il11ra1-/- mice) and (2) in mMFS mice administered IgG control or interleukin-11 receptor antibodies twice weekly from 4 to 24 weeks of age. RESULTS mMFS lungs showed progressive loss and enlargement of distal airspaces associated with increased proinflammatory and profibrotic gene expression as well as matrix metalloproteinases 2, 9, and 12. IL11 was increased in mMFS lungs and localized to smooth muscle and endothelial cells in young mMFS mice in the Fbn1C1041G/+:Il11EGFP/+ reporter strain and in fibroblasts, in older mice. In mMFS mice, genetic (Fbn1C1041G/+:Il11ra1-/-) or pharmacologic (anti-interleukin-11 receptor) inhibition of IL11 signaling reduced lung emphysema, fibrosis, and inflammation. This protective effect was associated with reduced pathogenic ERK1/2 signaling and lower metalloproteinase 2, 9, and 12 expression. CONCLUSIONS IL11 causes lung disease in mMFS. This reveals a shared IL11-driven disease mechanism in lung and aorta in MFS and suggests inhibition of IL11 signaling as a holistic approach for treating multiorgan morbidity in MFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Ng
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore (B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., D.Y., C.J.P., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (B.N., F.F.K., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
| | - Chen Xie
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore (B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., D.Y., C.J.P., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
| | - Liping Su
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore (B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., D.Y., C.J.P., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
| | - Fathima F. Kuthubudeen
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (B.N., F.F.K., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
| | - Xiu-Yi Kwek
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore (B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., D.Y., C.J.P., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
| | - Daryl Yeong
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore (B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., D.Y., C.J.P., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
| | - Chee Jian Pua
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore (B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., D.Y., C.J.P., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
| | - Stuart A. Cook
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore (B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., D.Y., C.J.P., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (B.N., F.F.K., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
- MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, United Kingdom (S.A.C.)
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore (B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., D.Y., C.J.P., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (B.N., F.F.K., S.A.C., W.-W.L.)
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3
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Kwek XY, Hall AR, Lim WW, Katwadi K, Soong PL, Grishina E, Lin KH, Crespo-Avilan G, Yap EP, Ismail NI, Chinda K, Chung YY, Wei H, Shim W, Montaigne D, Tinker A, Ong SB, Hausenloy DJ. Role of cardiac mitofusins in cardiac conduction following simulated ischemia-reperfusion. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21049. [PMID: 36473917 PMCID: PMC9727036 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25625-0] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by acute cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (IR), may increase susceptibility to arrhythmias by perturbing energetics, oxidative stress production and calcium homeostasis. Although changes in mitochondrial morphology are known to impact on mitochondrial function, their role in cardiac arrhythmogenesis is not known. To assess action potential duration (APD) in cardiomyocytes from the Mitofusins-1/2 (Mfn1/Mfn2)-double-knockout (Mfn-DKO) compared to wild-type (WT) mice, optical-electrophysiology was conducted. To measure conduction velocity (CV) in atrial and ventricular tissue from the Mfn-DKO and WT mice, at both baseline and following simulated acute IR, multi-electrode array (MEA) was employed. Intracellular localization of connexin-43 (Cx43) at baseline was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, while Cx-43 phosphorylation was assessed by Western-blotting. Mfn-DKO cardiomyocytes demonstrated an increased APD. At baseline, CV was significantly lower in the left ventricle of the Mfn-DKO mice. CV decreased with simulated-ischemia and returned to baseline levels during simulated-reperfusion in WT but not in atria of Mfn-DKO mice. Mfn-DKO hearts displayed increased Cx43 lateralization, although phosphorylation of Cx43 at Ser-368 did not differ. In summary, Mfn-DKO mice have increased APD and reduced CV at baseline and impaired alterations in CV following cardiac IR. These findings were associated with increased Cx43 lateralization, suggesting that the mitofusins may impact on post-MI cardiac-arrhythmogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-Yi Kwek
- grid.419385.20000 0004 0620 9905National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrew R. Hall
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- grid.419385.20000 0004 0620 9905National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Khairunnisa Katwadi
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Poh Loong Soong
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Cardiovascular Translational Program, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.412106.00000 0004 0621 9599Department of Medicine, National University Hospital of Singapore (NUHS), Singapore, Singapore ,Ternion Biosciences, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Gustavo Crespo-Avilan
- grid.419385.20000 0004 0620 9905National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.8664.c0000 0001 2165 8627Department of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Justus Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - En Ping Yap
- grid.419385.20000 0004 0620 9905National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nur Izzah Ismail
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Centre for Cardiovascular Genomics and Medicine (CCGM), Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong, SAR China ,grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong, SAR China ,Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence (HK HOPE), Hong Kong Children’s Hospital (HKCH), Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Kroekkiat Chinda
- grid.412029.c0000 0000 9211 2704Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand ,grid.412029.c0000 0000 9211 2704Integrative Cardiovascular Research Unit, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | - Ying Ying Chung
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Centre for Vision Research, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Heming Wei
- grid.414963.d0000 0000 8958 3388Research Laboratory, KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Winston Shim
- grid.486188.b0000 0004 1790 4399Health and Social Sciences Cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Montaigne
- grid.503422.20000 0001 2242 6780Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur Lille, U1011-European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), University of Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Andrew Tinker
- grid.4868.20000 0001 2171 1133Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
| | - Sang-Bing Ong
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Centre for Cardiovascular Genomics and Medicine (CCGM), Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong, SAR China ,grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong, SAR China ,Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence (HK HOPE), Hong Kong Children’s Hospital (HKCH), Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, SAR China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research of Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology-The Chinese University of Hong Kong (KIZ-CUHK), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China ,grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Shenzhen Research Institute (SZRI), Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shenzhen, China
| | - Derek J. Hausenloy
- grid.419385.20000 0004 0620 9905National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.83440.3b0000000121901201The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK ,grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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4
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Widjaja AA, Viswanathan S, Shekeran SG, Adami E, Lim WW, Chothani S, Tan J, Goh JWT, Chen HM, Lim SY, Boustany-Kari CM, Hawkins J, Petretto E, Hübner N, Schafer S, Coffman TM, Cook SA. Targeting endogenous kidney regeneration using anti-IL11 therapy in acute and chronic models of kidney disease. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7497. [PMID: 36470928 PMCID: PMC9723120 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35306-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The kidney has large regenerative capacity, but this is compromised when kidney damage is excessive and renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) undergo SNAI1-driven growth arrest. Here we investigate the role of IL11 in TECs, kidney injury and renal repair. IL11 stimulation of TECs induces ERK- and p90RSK-mediated GSK3β inactivation, SNAI1 upregulation and pro-inflammatory gene expression. Mice with acute kidney injury upregulate IL11 in TECs leading to SNAI1 expression and kidney dysfunction, which is not seen in Il11 deleted mice or in mice administered a neutralizing IL11 antibody in either preemptive or treatment modes. In acute kidney injury, anti-TGFβ reduces renal fibrosis but exacerbates inflammation and tubule damage whereas anti-IL11 reduces all pathologies. Mice with TEC-specific deletion of Il11ra1 have reduced pathogenic signaling and are protected from renal injury-induced inflammation, fibrosis, and failure. In a model of chronic kidney disease, anti-IL11 therapy promotes TEC proliferation and parenchymal regeneration, reverses fibroinflammation and restores renal mass and function. These data highlight IL11-induced mesenchymal transition of injured TECs as an important renal pathology and suggest IL11 as a therapeutic target for restoring stalled endogenous regeneration in the diseased kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa A Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Sivakumar Viswanathan
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shamini G Shekeran
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eleonora Adami
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sonia Chothani
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jessie Tan
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joyce Wei Ting Goh
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hui Mei Chen
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sze Yun Lim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Julie Hawkins
- Boehringer Ingelheim, CardioMetabolic Disease Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Enrico Petretto
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Norbert Hübner
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, 13347, Berlin, Germany.,Charité-Universitätsmedizin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schafer
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thomas M Coffman
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Stuart A Cook
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore. .,National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. .,MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK.
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5
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Widjaja AA, Viswanathan S, Wei Ting JG, Tan J, Shekeran SG, Carling D, Lim WW, Cook SA. IL11 stimulates ERK/P90RSK to inhibit LKB1/AMPK and activate mTOR initiating a mesenchymal program in stromal, epithelial, and cancer cells. iScience 2022; 25:104806. [PMID: 35992082 PMCID: PMC9386112 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
IL11 initiates fibroblast activation but also causes epithelial cell dysfunction. The mechanisms underlying these processes are not known. We report that IL11-stimulated ERK/P90RSK activity causes the phosphorylation of LKB1 at S325 and S428, leading to its inactivation. This inhibits AMPK and activates mTOR across cell types. In stromal cells, IL11-stimulated ERK activity inhibits LKB1/AMPK which is associated with mTOR activation, ⍺SMA expression, and myofibroblast transformation. In hepatocytes and epithelial cells, IL11/ERK activity inhibits LKB1/AMPK leading to mTOR activation, SNAI1 expression, and cell dysfunction. Across cells, IL11-induced phenotypes were inhibited by metformin stimulated AMPK activation. In mice, genetic or pharmacologic manipulation of IL11 activity revealed a critical role of IL11/ERK signaling for LKB1/AMPK inhibition and mTOR activation in fatty liver disease. These data identify the IL11/mTOR axis as a signaling commonality in stromal, epithelial, and cancer cells and reveal a shared IL11-driven mesenchymal program across cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa A Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Sivakumar Viswanathan
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Joyce Goh Wei Ting
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Jessie Tan
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore
| | - Shamini G Shekeran
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - David Carling
- MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore.,National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore
| | - Stuart A Cook
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore.,National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore.,MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
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6
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Widjaja AA, Chothani S, Viswanathan S, Goh JWT, Lim WW, Cook SA. IL11 Stimulates IL33 Expression and Proinflammatory Fibroblast Activation across Tissues. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168900. [PMID: 36012165 PMCID: PMC9408968 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [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: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin 11 (IL11) is upregulated in inflammatory conditions, where it is mostly believed to have anti-inflammatory activity. However, recent studies suggest instead that IL11 promotes inflammation by activating fibroblasts. Here, we assessed whether IL11 is pro- or anti-inflammatory in fibroblasts. Primary cultures of human kidney, lung or skin fibroblasts were stimulated with IL11 that resulted in the transient phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and the sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK). RNA sequencing over a time course of IL11 stimulation revealed a robust but short-lived transcriptional response that was enriched for gene set hallmarks of inflammation and characterized by the upregulation of SERPINB2, TNFRSF18, Interleukin 33 (IL33), CCL20, IL1RL1, CXCL3/5/8, ICAM1 and IL11 itself. IL33 was the most upregulated signaling factor (38-fold, p = 9.8 × 10-5), and IL1RL1, its cognate receptor, was similarly increased (18-fold, p = 1.1 × 10-34). In proteomic studies, IL11 triggered a proinflammatory secretome with the notable upregulation of IL8, IL6, MCP1, CCL20 and CXCL1/5/6, which are important chemotaxins for neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. IL11 induced IL33 expression across fibroblast types, and the inhibition of STAT3 but not of MEK/ERK prevented this. These data establish IL11 as pro-inflammatory with specific importance for priming the IL33 alarmin response in inflammatory fibroblasts across tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa A. Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Correspondence: (A.A.W.); (S.A.C.)
| | - Sonia Chothani
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Sivakumar Viswanathan
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Joyce Wei Ting Goh
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore
| | - Stuart A. Cook
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore
- MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Correspondence: (A.A.W.); (S.A.C.)
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7
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Leung JH, Ng B, Lim WW. Interleukin-11: A Potential Biomarker and Molecular Therapeutic Target in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142257. [PMID: 35883698 PMCID: PMC9318853 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of lung cancer and is a fast progressive disease when left untreated. Identification of potential biomarkers in NSCLC is an ongoing area of research that aims to detect, diagnose, and prognosticate patients early to optimize treatment. We review the role of interleukin-11 (IL11), a stromal-cell derived pleiotropic cytokine with profibrotic and cellular remodeling properties, as a potential biomarker in NSCLC. This review identifies the need for biomarkers in NSCLC, the potential sources of IL11, and summarizes the available information leveraging upon published literature, publicly available datasets, and online tools. We identify accumulating evidence suggesting IL11 to be a potential biomarker in NSCLC patients. Further in-depth studies into the pathophysiological effects of IL11 on stromal-tumor interaction in NSCLC are warranted and current available literature highlights the potential value of IL11 detection as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Hongting Leung
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, National Heart Center Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore
- Correspondence:
| | - Benjamin Ng
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Center Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore; (B.N.); (W.-W.L.)
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169609, Singapore
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Center Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore; (B.N.); (W.-W.L.)
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169609, Singapore
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Dong J, Lim WW, Shekeran SG, Tan J, Lim SY, Goh JWT, George BL, Schafer S, Cook SA, Widjaja AA. Hepatocyte Specific gp130 Signalling Underlies APAP Induced Liver Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137089. [PMID: 35806094 PMCID: PMC9266364 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP)-induced liver damage is associated with upregulation of Interleukin-11 (IL11), which is thought to stimulate IL6ST (gp130)-mediated STAT3 activity in hepatocytes, as a compensatory response. However, recent studies have found IL11/IL11RA/gp130 signaling to be hepatotoxic. To investigate further the role of IL11 and gp130 in APAP liver injury, we generated two new mouse strains with conditional knockout (CKO) of either Il11 (CKOIl11) or gp130 (CKOgp130) in adult hepatocytes. Following APAP, as compared to controls, CKOgp130 mice had lesser liver damage with lower serum Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), greatly reduced serum IL11 levels (90% lower), and lesser centrilobular necrosis. Livers from APAP-injured CKOgp130 mice had lesser ERK, JNK, NOX4 activation and increased markers of regeneration (PCNA, Cyclin D1, Ki67). Experiments were repeated in CKOIl11 mice that, as compared to wild-type mice, had lower APAP-induced ALT/AST, reduced centrilobular necrosis and undetectable IL11 in serum. As seen with CKOgp130 mice, APAP-treated CKOIl11 mice had lesser ERK/JNK/NOX4 activation and greater features of regeneration. Both CKOgp130 and CKOIl11 mice had normal APAP metabolism. After APAP, CKOgp130 and CKOIl11 mice had reduced Il6, Ccl2, Ccl5, Il1β, and Tnfα expression. These studies exclude IL11 upregulation as compensatory and establish autocrine, self-amplifying, gp130-dependent IL11 secretion from damaged hepatocytes as toxic and anti-regenerative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinrui Dong
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (J.D.); (W.-W.L.); (S.G.S.); (S.Y.L.); (J.W.T.G.); (B.L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (J.D.); (W.-W.L.); (S.G.S.); (S.Y.L.); (J.W.T.G.); (B.L.G.); (S.S.)
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore;
| | - Shamini G. Shekeran
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (J.D.); (W.-W.L.); (S.G.S.); (S.Y.L.); (J.W.T.G.); (B.L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Jessie Tan
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore;
| | - Sze Yun Lim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (J.D.); (W.-W.L.); (S.G.S.); (S.Y.L.); (J.W.T.G.); (B.L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Joyce Wei Ting Goh
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (J.D.); (W.-W.L.); (S.G.S.); (S.Y.L.); (J.W.T.G.); (B.L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Benjamin L. George
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (J.D.); (W.-W.L.); (S.G.S.); (S.Y.L.); (J.W.T.G.); (B.L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Sebastian Schafer
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (J.D.); (W.-W.L.); (S.G.S.); (S.Y.L.); (J.W.T.G.); (B.L.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Stuart A. Cook
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (J.D.); (W.-W.L.); (S.G.S.); (S.Y.L.); (J.W.T.G.); (B.L.G.); (S.S.)
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore;
- MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
- Correspondence: (S.A.C.); (A.A.W.)
| | - Anissa A. Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (J.D.); (W.-W.L.); (S.G.S.); (S.Y.L.); (J.W.T.G.); (B.L.G.); (S.S.)
- Correspondence: (S.A.C.); (A.A.W.)
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Ng B, Viswanathan S, Widjaja AA, Lim WW, Shekeran SG, Goh JWT, Tan J, Kuthubudeen F, Lim SY, Xie C, Schafer S, Adami E, Cook SA. IL11 Activates Pancreatic Stellate Cells and Causes Pancreatic Inflammation, Fibrosis and Atrophy in a Mouse Model of Pancreatitis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073549. [PMID: 35408908 PMCID: PMC8999048 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-11 (IL11) is important for fibrosis and inflammation, but its role in the pancreas is unclear. In pancreatitis, fibrosis, inflammation and organ dysfunction are associated with pancreatic stellate cell (PSC)-to-myofibroblast transformation. Here, we show that IL11 stimulation of PSCs, which specifically express IL11RA in the pancreas, results in transient STAT3 phosphorylation, sustained ERK activation and PSC activation. In contrast, IL6 stimulation of PSCs caused sustained STAT3 phosphorylation but did not result in ERK activation or PSC transformation. Pancreatitis factors, including TGFβ, CTGF and PDGF, induced IL11 secretion from PSCs and a neutralising IL11RA antibody prevented PSC activation by these stimuli. This revealed an important ERK-dependent role for autocrine IL11 activity in PSCs. In mice, IL11 was increased in the pancreas after pancreatic duct ligation, and in humans, IL11 and IL11RA levels were elevated in chronic pancreatitis. Following pancreatic duct ligation, administration of anti-IL11RA to mice reduced pathologic (ERK, STAT, NF-κB) signalling, pancreatic atrophy, fibrosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNFα, IL6 and IL1β) levels. This is the first description of IL11-mediated activation of PSCs, and the data suggest IL11 as a stromal therapeutic target in pancreatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Ng
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore; (W.-W.L.); (J.T.); (C.X.); (S.A.C.)
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (S.V.); (A.A.W.); (S.G.S.); (J.W.T.G.); (F.K.); (S.Y.L.); (S.S.)
- Correspondence: (B.N.); (E.A.)
| | - Sivakumar Viswanathan
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (S.V.); (A.A.W.); (S.G.S.); (J.W.T.G.); (F.K.); (S.Y.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Anissa A. Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (S.V.); (A.A.W.); (S.G.S.); (J.W.T.G.); (F.K.); (S.Y.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore; (W.-W.L.); (J.T.); (C.X.); (S.A.C.)
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (S.V.); (A.A.W.); (S.G.S.); (J.W.T.G.); (F.K.); (S.Y.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Shamini G. Shekeran
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (S.V.); (A.A.W.); (S.G.S.); (J.W.T.G.); (F.K.); (S.Y.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Joyce Wei Ting Goh
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (S.V.); (A.A.W.); (S.G.S.); (J.W.T.G.); (F.K.); (S.Y.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Jessie Tan
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore; (W.-W.L.); (J.T.); (C.X.); (S.A.C.)
| | - Fathima Kuthubudeen
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (S.V.); (A.A.W.); (S.G.S.); (J.W.T.G.); (F.K.); (S.Y.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Sze Yun Lim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (S.V.); (A.A.W.); (S.G.S.); (J.W.T.G.); (F.K.); (S.Y.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Chen Xie
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore; (W.-W.L.); (J.T.); (C.X.); (S.A.C.)
| | - Sebastian Schafer
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (S.V.); (A.A.W.); (S.G.S.); (J.W.T.G.); (F.K.); (S.Y.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Eleonora Adami
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (S.V.); (A.A.W.); (S.G.S.); (J.W.T.G.); (F.K.); (S.Y.L.); (S.S.)
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence: (B.N.); (E.A.)
| | - Stuart A. Cook
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore; (W.-W.L.); (J.T.); (C.X.); (S.A.C.)
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (S.V.); (A.A.W.); (S.G.S.); (J.W.T.G.); (F.K.); (S.Y.L.); (S.S.)
- MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, UK
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Lim WW, Dong J, Ng B, Widjaja AA, Xie C, Su L, Kwek XY, Tee NGZ, Jian Pua C, Schafer S, Viswanathan S, Cook SA. Inhibition of IL11 Signaling Reduces Aortic Pathology in Murine Marfan Syndrome. Circ Res 2022; 130:728-740. [PMID: 35135328 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.121.320381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marfan syndrome (MFS) is associated with TGF (transforming growth factor) β-stimulated ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) activity in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which adopt a mixed synthetic/contractile phenotype. In VSMCs, TGFβ induces IL (interleukin) 11) that stimulates ERK-dependent secretion of collagens and MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases). Here, we examined the role of IL11 in the MFS aorta. METHODS We used echocardiography, histology, immunostaining, and biochemical methods to study aortic anatomy, physiology, and molecular endophenotypes in Fbn1C1041G/+ mice, an established murine model of MFS (mMFS). mMFS mice were crossed to an IL11-tagged EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein; Il11EGFP/+) reporter strain or to a strain deleted for the IL11 receptor (Il11ra1-/-). In therapeutic studies, mMFS were administered an X209 (neutralizing antibody against IL11RA [IL11 receptor subunit alpha]) or IgG for 20 weeks and imaged longitudinally. RESULTS IL11 mRNA and protein were elevated in the aortas of mMFS mice, as compared to controls. mMFS mice crossed to Il11EGFP/+ mice had increased IL11 expression in VSMCs, notably in the aortic root and ascending aorta. As compared to the mMFS parental strain, double mutant mMFS:Il11ra1-/- mice had reduced aortic dilatation and exhibited lesser fibrosis, inflammation, elastin breaks, and VSMC loss, which was associated with reduced aortic COL1A1 (collagen type I alpha 1 chain), IL11, MMP2/9, and phospho-ERK expression. To explore therapeutic targeting of IL11 signaling in MFS, we administered either a neutralizing antibody against IL11RA (X209) or an IgG control. After 20 weeks of antibody administration, as compared to IgG, mMFS mice receiving X209 had reduced thoracic and abdominal aortic dilation as well as lesser fibrosis, inflammation, elastin breaks, and VSMC loss. By immunoblotting, X209 was shown to reduce aortic COL1A1, IL11, MMP2/9, and phospho-ERK expression. CONCLUSIONS In MFS, IL11 is upregulated in aortic VSMCs to cause ERK-related thoracic aortic dilatation, inflammation, and fibrosis. Therapeutic inhibition of IL11, imminent in clinical trials, might be considered as a new approach in MFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Wen Lim
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore (W.-W.L., B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., N.G.Z.T., C.J.P., S.S., S.A.C.).,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (W.-W.L., J.D., B.N., A.A.W., S.S., S.V., S.A.C.)
| | - Jinrui Dong
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (W.-W.L., J.D., B.N., A.A.W., S.S., S.V., S.A.C.)
| | - Benjamin Ng
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore (W.-W.L., B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., N.G.Z.T., C.J.P., S.S., S.A.C.).,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (W.-W.L., J.D., B.N., A.A.W., S.S., S.V., S.A.C.)
| | - Anissa A Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (W.-W.L., J.D., B.N., A.A.W., S.S., S.V., S.A.C.)
| | - Chen Xie
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore (W.-W.L., B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., N.G.Z.T., C.J.P., S.S., S.A.C.)
| | - Liping Su
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore (W.-W.L., B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., N.G.Z.T., C.J.P., S.S., S.A.C.)
| | - Xiu-Yi Kwek
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore (W.-W.L., B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., N.G.Z.T., C.J.P., S.S., S.A.C.)
| | - Nicole G Z Tee
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore (W.-W.L., B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., N.G.Z.T., C.J.P., S.S., S.A.C.)
| | - Chee Jian Pua
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore (W.-W.L., B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., N.G.Z.T., C.J.P., S.S., S.A.C.)
| | - Sebastian Schafer
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore (W.-W.L., B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., N.G.Z.T., C.J.P., S.S., S.A.C.).,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (W.-W.L., J.D., B.N., A.A.W., S.S., S.V., S.A.C.)
| | - Sivakumar Viswanathan
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (W.-W.L., J.D., B.N., A.A.W., S.S., S.V., S.A.C.)
| | - Stuart A Cook
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore (W.-W.L., B.N., C.X., L.S., X.-Y.K., N.G.Z.T., C.J.P., S.S., S.A.C.).,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School (W.-W.L., J.D., B.N., A.A.W., S.S., S.V., S.A.C.).,MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, United Kingdom (S.A.C.)
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Lim WW, Neo M, Thanigaimani S, Kuklik P, Ganesan AN, Lau DH, Tsoutsman T, Kalman JM, Semsarian C, Saint DA, Sanders P. Electrophysiological and Structural Remodeling of the Atria in a Mouse Model of Troponin-I Mutation Linked Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Implications for Atrial Fibrillation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136941. [PMID: 34203369 PMCID: PMC8267948 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited cardiac disorder affecting one in 500 of the general population. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in patients with HCM. We sought to characterize the atrial electrophysiological and structural substrate in young and aging Gly203Ser cardiac troponin-I transgenic (HCM) mice. At 30 weeks and 50 weeks of age (n = 6 per strain each group), the left atrium was excised and placed on a multi-electrode array (MEA) for electrophysiological study; subsequent histological analyses and plasma samples were analyzed for biomarkers of extracellular matrix remodeling and cell adhesion and inflammation. Wild-type mice of matched ages were included as controls. Young HCM mice demonstrated significantly shortened atrial action potential duration (APD), increased conduction heterogeneity index (CHI), increased myocyte size, and increased interstitial fibrosis without changes in effective refractory periods (ERP), conduction velocity (CV), inflammatory infiltrates, or circulating markers of extracellular matrix remodeling and inflammation. Aging HCM mice demonstrated aggravated changes in atria electrophysiology and structural remodeling as well as increased circulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, MMP-3, and VCAM-1 levels. This model of HCM demonstrates an underlying atrial substrate that progresses with age and may in part be responsible for the greater propensity for AF in HCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Wen Lim
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (W.-W.L.); (M.N.); (S.T.); (P.K.); (A.N.G.); (D.H.L.)
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169609, Singapore
- Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Melissa Neo
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (W.-W.L.); (M.N.); (S.T.); (P.K.); (A.N.G.); (D.H.L.)
| | - Shivshankar Thanigaimani
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (W.-W.L.); (M.N.); (S.T.); (P.K.); (A.N.G.); (D.H.L.)
- The Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, College of Medicine and Dentistry and The Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Pawel Kuklik
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (W.-W.L.); (M.N.); (S.T.); (P.K.); (A.N.G.); (D.H.L.)
- Department of Cardiology, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, 20099 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anand N. Ganesan
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (W.-W.L.); (M.N.); (S.T.); (P.K.); (A.N.G.); (D.H.L.)
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Dennis H. Lau
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (W.-W.L.); (M.N.); (S.T.); (P.K.); (A.N.G.); (D.H.L.)
| | - Tatiana Tsoutsman
- Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology, Centenary Institute and the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; (T.T.); (C.S.)
| | - Jonathan M. Kalman
- Department of Cardiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Christopher Semsarian
- Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology, Centenary Institute and the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; (T.T.); (C.S.)
| | - David A. Saint
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (W.-W.L.); (M.N.); (S.T.); (P.K.); (A.N.G.); (D.H.L.)
- Correspondence: (D.A.S.); (P.S.); Tel.: +618-8222-2723 (P.S.)
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (W.-W.L.); (M.N.); (S.T.); (P.K.); (A.N.G.); (D.H.L.)
- Correspondence: (D.A.S.); (P.S.); Tel.: +618-8222-2723 (P.S.)
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Corden B, Lim WW, Song W, Chen X, Ko NSJ, Su L, Tee NGZ, Adami E, Schafer S, Cook SA. Therapeutic Targeting of Interleukin-11 Signalling Reduces Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis in Mice. J Cardiovasc Transl Res 2021; 14:222-228. [PMID: 32592090 DOI: 10.1007/s12265-020-10054-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
There are currently no specific treatments for cardiac fibrosis. We tested the efficacy of a neutralising anti-IL11 antibody (X203) to reduce cardiac fibrosis in two preclinical models: transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and chronic angiotensin II infusion (AngII). In the first model, male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to TAC for 2 weeks. In the second model, mice received continuous angiotensin II for 4 weeks via subcutaneous pump. In both models, mice received either 20 mg/kg of X203 or isotype-control antibody twice-weekly, starting 24 h after surgery. Cardiac fibrosis and extracellular matrix gene expression were assessed by RT-qPCR, Western blot, histology and collagen (hydroxyproline) assays. In both models, X203 significantly reduced pro-fibrotic gene expression and myocardial fibrosis (TAC: 51% reduction in total collagen, P < 0.001, 39% in perivascular fibrosis, P < 0.001; AngII: 17% reduction in total collagen, P = 0.04, 83% in perivascular fibrosis, P < 0.001). Pharmacological targeting of IL11 reduces cardiac fibrosis in preclinical models. Figa Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Corden
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
| | - Weihua Song
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xie Chen
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicole S J Ko
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
| | - Liping Su
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicole G Z Tee
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eleonora Adami
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
| | - Sebastian Schafer
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
| | - Stuart A Cook
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore.
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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13
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Lim WW, Corden B, Ye L, Viswanathan S, Widjaja AA, Xie C, Su L, Tee NGZ, Schafer S, Cook SA. Antibody-mediated neutralization of IL11 signalling reduces ERK activation and cardiac fibrosis in a mouse model of severe pressure overload. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2021; 48:605-613. [PMID: 33462828 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-11 (IL11) is important for fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformations. Here, we examined the signalling and phenotypic effects of inhibiting IL11 signalling using neutralizing antibodies against IL11 or its cognate receptor (IL11RA) in a mouse model of acute and severe pressure overload. C57BL/6J mice underwent ascending aortic constriction (AAC) surgery and were randomized to anti-IL11, anti-IL11RA, or isotype control antibodies (20 mg/kg, bi-weekly for 2 weeks). AAC surgery induced the expression of IL11, IL11RA and extracellular matrix (ECM) genes that was associated with cardiac hypertrophy and aortic remodelling. Inhibition of IL11 signalling reduced AAC-induced cardiac fibrosis and ECM gene expression as well as ERK1/2 phosphorylation but had no effect on cardiac hypertrophy. STAT3 was phosphorylated in the hearts of AAC-treated mice but this was unrelated to IL11 activity, which we confirmed in mouse cardiac fibroblasts in vitro. These data highlight that blocking IL11 signalling reduces cardiac fibrosis due to severe pressure overload and suggests ERK, but not STAT3, activity as the relevant underlying signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Wen Lim
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ben Corden
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK.,National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Lei Ye
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sivakumar Viswanathan
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anissa A Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chen Xie
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Liping Su
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicole G Z Tee
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sebastian Schafer
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Stuart A Cook
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK.,National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
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14
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Lim WW, Ng B, Widjaja A, Xie C, Su L, Ko N, Lim SY, Kwek XY, Lim S, Cook SA, Schafer S. Transgenic interleukin 11 expression causes cross-tissue fibro-inflammation and an inflammatory bowel phenotype in mice. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227505. [PMID: 31917819 PMCID: PMC6952089 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin 11 (IL11) is a profibrotic cytokine, secreted by myofibroblasts and damaged epithelial cells. Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) also secrete IL11 under pathological conditions and express the IL11 receptor. Here we examined the effects of SMC-specific, conditional expression of murine IL11 in a transgenic mouse (Il11SMC). Within days of transgene activation, Il11SMC mice developed loose stools and progressive bleeding and rectal prolapse, which was associated with a 65% mortality by two weeks. The bowel of Il11SMC mice was inflamed, fibrotic and had a thickened wall, which was accompanied by activation of ERK and STAT3. In other organs, including the heart, lung, liver, kidney and skin there was a phenotypic spectrum of fibro-inflammation, together with consistent ERK activation. To investigate further the importance of stromal-derived IL11 in the inflammatory bowel phenotype we used a second model with fibroblast-specific expression of IL11, the Il11Fib mouse. This additional model largely phenocopied the Il11SMC bowel phenotype. These data show that IL11 secretion from the stromal niche is sufficient to drive inflammatory bowel disease in mice. Given that IL11 expression in colonic stromal cells predicts anti-TNF therapy failure in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, we suggest IL11 as a therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Wen Lim
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Benjamin Ng
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anissa Widjaja
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chen Xie
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Liping Su
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicole Ko
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sze-Yun Lim
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xiu-Yi Kwek
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Stella Lim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Stuart Alexander Cook
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, England, United Kingdom
- MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, England, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastian Schafer
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
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15
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Ng B, Dong J, D’Agostino G, Viswanathan S, Widjaja AA, Lim WW, Ko NSJ, Tan J, Chothani SP, Huang B, Xie C, Pua CJ, Chacko AM, Guimarães-Camboa N, Evans SM, Byrne AJ, Maher TM, Liang J, Jiang D, Noble PW, Schafer S, Cook SA. Interleukin-11 is a therapeutic target in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Sci Transl Med 2019; 11:11/511/eaaw1237. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaw1237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease where invasive pulmonary myofibroblasts secrete collagen and destroy lung integrity. Here, we show that interleukin-11 (IL11) is up-regulated in the lung of patients with IPF, associated with disease severity, and IL-11 is secreted from IPF fibroblasts. In vitro, IL-11 stimulates lung fibroblasts to become invasive actin alpha 2, smooth muscle–positive (ACTA2+), collagen-secreting myofibroblasts in an extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK)–dependent, posttranscriptional manner. In mice, fibroblast-specific transgenic expression or administration of murine IL-11 induces lung myofibroblasts and causes lung fibrosis. IL-11 receptor subunit alpha-1 (Il11ra1)–deleted mice, whose lung fibroblasts are unresponsive to profibrotic stimulation, are protected from fibrosis in the bleomycin mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis. We generated an IL-11–neutralizing antibody that blocks lung fibroblast activation downstream of multiple stimuli and reverses myofibroblast activation. In therapeutic studies, anti–IL-11 treatment diminished lung inflammation and reversed lung fibrosis while inhibiting ERK and SMAD activation in mice. These data prioritize IL-11 as a drug target for lung fibrosis and IPF.
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Schafer S, Viswanathan S, Widjaja AA, Lim WW, Moreno-Moral A, DeLaughter DM, Ng B, Patone G, Chow K, Khin E, Tan J, Chothani SP, Ye L, Rackham OJL, Ko NSJ, Sahib NE, Pua CJ, Zhen NTG, Xie C, Wang M, Maatz H, Lim S, Saar K, Blachut S, Petretto E, Schmidt S, Putoczki T, Guimarães-Camboa N, Wakimoto H, van Heesch S, Sigmundsson K, Lim SL, Soon JL, Chao VTT, Chua YL, Tan TE, Evans SM, Loh YJ, Jamal MH, Ong KK, Chua KC, Ong BH, Chakaramakkil MJ, Seidman JG, Seidman CE, Hubner N, Sin KYK, Cook SA. IL-11 is a crucial determinant of cardiovascular fibrosis. Nature 2017; 552:110-115. [PMID: 29160304 PMCID: PMC5807082 DOI: 10.1038/nature24676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 380] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a common pathology in cardiovascular disease. In the heart, fibrosis causes mechanical and electrical dysfunction and in the kidney, it predicts the onset of renal failure. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) is the principal pro-fibrotic factor, but its inhibition is associated with side effects due to its pleiotropic roles. We hypothesized that downstream effectors of TGFβ1 in fibroblasts could be attractive therapeutic targets and lack upstream toxicity. Here we show, using integrated imaging-genomics analyses of primary human fibroblasts, that upregulation of interleukin-11 (IL-11) is the dominant transcriptional response to TGFβ1 exposure and required for its pro-fibrotic effect. IL-11 and its receptor (IL11RA) are expressed specifically in fibroblasts, in which they drive non-canonical, ERK-dependent autocrine signalling that is required for fibrogenic protein synthesis. In mice, fibroblast-specific Il11 transgene expression or Il-11 injection causes heart and kidney fibrosis and organ failure, whereas genetic deletion of Il11ra1 protects against disease. Therefore, inhibition of IL-11 prevents fibroblast activation across organs and species in response to a range of important pro-fibrotic stimuli. These results reveal a central role of IL-11 in fibrosis and we propose that inhibition of IL-11 is a potential therapeutic strategy to treat fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Schafer
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | | | | | | | | | - Daniel M DeLaughter
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | | | - Giannino Patone
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rossle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Ester Khin
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | - Jessie Tan
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Lei Ye
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Nicole S J Ko
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | - Norliza E Sahib
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | | | | | - Chen Xie
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mao Wang
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | - Henrike Maatz
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rossle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Shiqi Lim
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kathrin Saar
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rossle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Blachut
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rossle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Enrico Petretto
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | - Sabine Schmidt
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rossle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tracy Putoczki
- Inflammation Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
| | - Nuno Guimarães-Camboa
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Hiroko Wakimoto
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Sebastiaan van Heesch
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rossle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - See L Lim
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jia L Soon
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | - Victor T T Chao
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | | | | | - Sylvia M Evans
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Yee J Loh
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
- Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | | | - Kim K Ong
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
- Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Kim C Chua
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Jonathan G Seidman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Christine E Seidman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusettes 02115, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
| | - Norbert Hubner
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rossle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Kenny Y K Sin
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | - Stuart A Cook
- National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
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17
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Lim WW, Baumert M, Neo M, Kuklik P, Ganesan AN, Lau DH, Tsoutsman T, Semsarian C, Sanders P, Saint DA. Slowed atrial and atrioventricular conduction and depressed HRV in a murine model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2016; 43:95-101. [PMID: 26444142 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.12498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2015] [Revised: 08/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common heritable cardiac disorder with diverse clinical outcomes including sudden death, heart failure, and stroke. Depressed heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of cardiac autonomic regulation, has been shown to predict mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Cardiac autonomic remodelling in animal models of HCM are not well characterised. This study analysed Gly203Ser cardiac troponin-I transgenic (TG) male mice previously demonstrated to develop hallmarks of HCM by age 21 weeks. 33 mice aged 30 and 50 weeks underwent continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) recording for 30 min under anaesthesia. TG mice demonstrated prolonged P-wave duration (P < 0.001) and PR intervals (P < 0.001) compared to controls. Additionally, TG mice demonstrated depressed standard deviation of RR intervals (SDRR; P < 0.01), coefficient of variation of RR intervals (CVRR; P < 0.001) and standard deviation of heart rate (SDHR; P < 0.001) compared to controls. Additionally, total power was significantly reduced in TG mice (P < 0.05). No significant age-related difference in either strain was observed in ECG or HRV parameters. Mice with HCM developed slowed atrial and atrioventricular conduction and depressed HRV. These changes were conserved with increasing age. This finding may be indicative of atrial and ventricular hypertrophy or dysfunction, and perhaps an indication of worse clinical outcome in heart failure progression in HCM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Wen Lim
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Mathias Baumert
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Melissa Neo
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Pawel Kuklik
- Department of Physiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Anand N Ganesan
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Dennis H Lau
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Tatiana Tsoutsman
- Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology, Centenary Institute, Sydney, Australia and the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Christopher Semsarian
- Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology, Centenary Institute, Sydney, Australia and the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - David A Saint
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
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Neo M, Morris DG, Kuklik P, Lau DH, Dimitri H, Lim WW, Sanders P, Saint DA. Simultaneous conduction mapping and intracellular membrane potential recording in isolated atria. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2015; 94:563-9. [PMID: 26771118 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2015-0194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We describe a novel approach for simultaneously determining regional differences in action potential (AP) morphology and tissue electrophysiological properties in isolated atria. The epicardial surface of rat atrial preparations was placed in contact with a multi-electrode array (9 × 10 silver chloride electrodes, 0.1 mm diameter and 0.1 mm pitch). A glass microelectrode (100 MΩ) was simultaneously inserted into the endocardial surface to record intracellular AP from either of 2 regions (A, B) during pacing from 2 opposite corners of the tissue. AP duration at 80% of repolarisation and its restitution curve was significantly different only in region A (p < 0.01) when AP was initiated at different stimulation sites. Alternans in AP duration and AP amplitude, and in conduction velocity were observed during 2 separate arrhythmic episodes. This approach of combining microelectrode array and intracellular membrane potential recording may provide new insights into arrhythmogenic mechanisms in animal models of cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Neo
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - David G Morris
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Pawel Kuklik
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Dennis H Lau
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Hany Dimitri
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Wei-Wen Lim
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - David A Saint
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.,Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
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19
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Leung GM, Lim WW, Ho LM, Lam TH, Ghani AC, Donnelly CA, Fraser C, Riley S, Ferguson NM, Anderson RM, Hedley AJ. Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to SARS-coronavirus in asymptomatic or subclinical population groups. Epidemiol Infect 2006; 134:211-21. [PMID: 16490123 PMCID: PMC2870380 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268805004826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2005] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
We systematically reviewed the current understanding of human population immunity against SARS-CoV in different groups, settings and geography. Our meta-analysis, which included all identified studies except those on wild animal handlers, yielded an overall seroprevalence of 0.10% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02-0.18]. Health-care workers and others who had close contact with SARS patients had a slightly higher degree of seroconversion (0.23%, 95% CI 0.02-0.45) compared to healthy blood donors, others from the general community or non-SARS patients recruited from the health-care setting (0.16%, 95% CI 0-0.37). When analysed by the two broad classes of testing procedures, it is clear that serial confirmatory test protocols resulted in a much lower estimate (0.050%, 95% CI 0-0.15) than single test protocols (0.20%, 95% CI 0.06-0.34). Potential epidemiological and laboratory pitfalls are also discussed as they may give rise to false or inconsistent results in measuring the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Leung
- Department of Community Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, ChinaTakemi Program, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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20
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Lo JY, Lim WW, Ho DW, Field PR, Cunningham AL. Difference in seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among antenatal women in Hong Kong and southern China. Sex Transm Infect 1999; 75:123. [PMID: 10448369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J Y Lo
- Government Virus Unit, Department of Health, Hong Kong
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Woo PC, Lo CY, Lo SK, Siau H, Peiris JS, Wong SS, Luk WK, Chan TM, Lim WW, Yuen KY. Distinct genotypic distributions of cytomegalovirus (CMV) envelope glycoprotein in bone marrow and renal transplant recipients with CMV disease. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 1997; 4:515-8. [PMID: 9302197 PMCID: PMC170584 DOI: 10.1128/cdli.4.5.515-518.1997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
A prospective study of the spectrum of glycoprotein B (gB) and glycoprotein H (gH) genotypes of cytomegalovirus (CMV) was conducted with five categories of patients: viremic bone marrow-transplant (BMT) recipients who developed CMV disease after BMT (n = 22), viremic BMT recipients without CMV disease (n = 11), viremic renal-transplant recipients who developed CMV disease after transplantation (n = 14), viremic renal-transplant recipients without CMV disease (n = 13), and premature babies with asymptomatic congenital CMV infections (n = 13). Genotypic stability was observed because the gB and gH genotypes of multiple isolates obtained from a single patient were identical. The distribution of gH genotypes in patients of all groups studied were similar. However, there was a unique distribution of the gB genotype in the first category of patients, i.e., BMT recipients with CMV disease, which was distinct from those of all other categories (P < 0.05). CMV isolates from 54% of BMT recipients with CMV disease exhibited gB type 2, while isolates from 46, 50, 69, and 77% of the BMT recipients without CMV disease, renal-transplant recipients with and those without CMV disease, and premature babies with congenital CMV infection, respectively, were of gB type 1. An analysis of the clinical characteristics of BMT recipients with CMV disease indicated that all underwent either an allogeneic or matched, unrelated donor transplant, and half had severe acute graft-versus-host disease (grades 2 to 4). The statistically significant genotypic difference between CMV isolates from BMT recipients with and without CMV disease was not observed between isolates from renal-transplant recipients with and without CMV disease. We speculate that differences in pathogenesis in different patient groups might account for these observations. These findings would also facilitate decision making about the choice of recombinant CMV glycoprotein vaccine required to immunize transplant donors and the subsequent adoptive transfer of immunity to BMT recipients. When the source of CMV DNA required for genotyping was investigated among renal-transplant recipients, direct use of peripheral blood leukocytes was 95% effective compared to the effectiveness of cells obtained from conventional culture of peripheral blood specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- P C Woo
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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22
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Abstract
Contamination of cell cultures for virus isolation has been increasingly encountered. By reviewing and changing the antimicrobials incorporated in cell culture media, we aim to control this problem. Contaminated cell culture fluids were inoculated for bacterial and fungal isolation, identification and antibacterial susceptibility testing. Based on the above results, vancomycin and amikacin were chosen to replace the penicillin and gentamicin used conventionally. Analysis was carried out on various characteristics of cell culture with respect to antimicrobial change. All contaminating Gram-positive bacteria were susceptible to vancomycin while about 80% of the Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to amikacin. The new antimicrobial combination was not toxic to cell cultures and both antimicrobials were found to remain stable in media for over six months. The virus isolation rate was maintained after antimicrobial change while the contamination rate was reduced from nearly 10% to 1.5%. We thus conclude that vancomycin and amikacin can well replace the conventional penicillin and gentamicin to be incorporated into maintenance and transport media to control the emerging problem of viral culture contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Y Lo
- Government Virus Unit, Department of Health, Hong Kong
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24
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