Effects of xenoestrogens in human M1 and M2 macrophage migration, cytokine release, and estrogen-related signaling pathways

Bisphenol A (BPA), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and di(n-butyl)phthalate (DBP) are environmental estrogens that have been associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes for which inflammation has also been hypothesized as a potentially involved mechanism and where macrophages play a central role. This study was carried out to evaluate if xenoestrogen (XE) treatment of classically (M1) or alternatively (M2) activated macrophages could affect their behavior. For this purpose, human peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages either unstimulated or activated with lipopolysaccharide (100 ng/mL, M1) or with interleukin (IL) 4 (15 ng/mL, M2) were treated with 17β-estradiol (E₂ ), BPA, DEHP and DBP alone or in combination with selective ERα or ERβ antagonists. Migratory capability, cytokine release, and estrogen-associated signaling pathways were evaluated to assess macrophage function. All tested XEs had a tendency to stimulate M2 migration, an effect that followed the same direction than E₂ . Moreover, all XEs significantly induced IL10 in M1 and decreased IL6 and globally decreased IL10, IL6, TNFα, and IL1β release by M2 macrophages. However, DEHP and DBP significantly increased IL1β release in M1 and M2 macrophages, respectively. Some of the effects described above were shown to be mediated by either ERα or ERβ and were simultaneous to modulation of NF-κB, AP1, JNK, or ERK signaling pathways. We provide new evidence of the effect of XE on macrophage behavior and their mechanisms with relevance to the understanding of the action of environmental chemicals on the immune system and inflammation-associated diseases. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1496-1509, 2016.

Vitamin D limits chemokine expression in adipocytes and macrophage migration in vitro and in male mice

Vitamin D (VD) displays immunoregulatory effects and reduces adipocyte inflammation, which may participate to a reduction of adipose tissue macrophage infiltration in the context of obesity-associated low-grade inflammation. These observations have been described mainly in vitro, through the evaluation of a limited number of inflammatory markers. Here, we studied the effects of 1,25 dihydroxy-VD on chemokine network expression in adipocytes (by transcriptomic approach), and we confirm the physiological relevance of these data in vivo, by demonstrating the effect of VD on cytokine and chemokine gene expression as well as on macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue. 1,25 dihydroxy-VD down-regulated (-1.3- to -10.8-fold) the mRNA expression of 29 chemokines and limited macrophage migration in TNFα-conditioned adipocyte medium (1.5-fold; P < .05). This effect was associated with a reduction in p65 and IκB (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha) phosphorylation (2-fold compared with TNFα; P < .05). The effects of VD were confirmed in mice injected ip with lipopolysaccharide (acute inflammation) and diet-induced obese mice (metabolic inflammation), where the levels of mRNA encoding proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (∼2-fold) were reduced in adipocytes (acute and metabolic inflammation) and adipose tissue and that macrophage infiltration was also inhibited in the adipose tissue of obese mice (metabolic inflammation). Altogether, these results showed that VD displayed a global immunoregulatory impact on adipocytes, notably via the inhibition of chemokine expression and macrophage infiltration in inflamed adipose tissue.

Myeloid SIRT1 regulates macrophage infiltration and insulin sensitivity in mice fed a high-fat diet

Inflammation is an important factor in the development of insulin resistance. SIRT1, a class 3 histone/protein deacetylase, has anti-inflammatory functions. Myeloid-specific deletion of Sirt1 promotes macrophage infiltration into insulin-sensitive organs and aggravates tissue inflammation. In this study, we investigated how SIRT1 in macrophages alters tissue inflammation in the pancreas as well as liver and adipose tissue, and further explored the role of SIRT1 in locomotion of macrophages. Myeloid-specific Sirt1-deleted mice (mS1KO) and WT littermates were fed a 60% calorie high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. Tissue inflammation and metabolic phenotypes were compared. Bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) from WT or mS1KO mice were used in in vitro chemotaxis assays and macrophage polarization studies. mS1KO mice fed a HFD exhibited glucose intolerance, reduced insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity with a slight decrease in body weight. Consistent with these results, pancreatic islets of mS1KO mice fed a HFD displayed decreased mass with profound apoptotic cell damage and increased macrophage infiltration and inflammation. Liver and adipose tissues from mS1KO HFD mice also showed greater accumulation of macrophages and tissue inflammation. Results from in vitro experiments indicated that deletion of myeloid Sirt1 stimulated proinflammatory M1-like polarization of BMMs and augmented the adipocyte-mediated macrophage chemotaxis. The latter effect was accompanied by increased expression and acetylation of focal adhesion kinase, as well as nuclear factor kappa B. Our results indicate that myeloid SIRT1 plays a crucial role in macrophage polarization and chemotaxis, and thus regulates the development of HFD-induced pancreatic inflammation and insulin secretion, and metabolic derangements in liver and adipose tissue.

CD14 directs adventitial macrophage precursor recruitment: role in early abdominal aortic aneurysm formation

Background

Recruitment of macrophage precursors to the adventitia plays a key role in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), but molecular mechanisms remain undefined. The innate immune signaling molecule CD14 was reported to be upregulated in adventitial macrophages in a murine model of AAA and in monocytes cocultured with aortic adventitial fibroblasts (AoAf) in vitro, concurrent with increased interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) expression. We hypothesized that CD14 plays a crucial role in adventitial macrophage precursor recruitment early during AAA formation.

Methods and Results

CD14^−/− mice were resistant to AAA formation induced by 2 different AAA induction models: aortic elastase infusion and systemic angiotensin II (AngII) infusion. CD14 gene deletion led to reduced aortic macrophage infiltration and diminished elastin degradation. Adventitial monocyte binding to AngII‐infused aorta in vitro was dependent on CD14, and incubation of human acute monocytic leukemia cell line‐1 (THP‐1) monocytes with IL‐6 or conditioned medium from perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) upregulated CD14 expression. Conditioned medium from AoAf and PVAT induced CD14‐dependent monocyte chemotaxis, which was potentiated by IL‐6. CD14 expression in aorta and plasma CD14 levels were increased in AAA patients compared with controls.

Conclusions

These findings link CD14 innate immune signaling via a novel IL‐6 amplification loop to adventitial macrophage precursor recruitment in the pathogenesis of AAA.

Nox2 is required for macrophage chemotaxis towards CSF-1

Macrophage migration and infiltration is an important first step in many pathophysiological processes, in particular inflammatory diseases. Redox modulation of the migratory signalling processes has been reported in endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. However the redox modulation of the migratory process in macrophages and in particular that from the NADPH oxidase-2 (Nox2) dependent ROS has not been established. To investigate the potential role of Nox2 in the migratory response of macrophages, bone marrow derived macrophages were obtained from WT and NOX2 knockout mice (Nox2KO) and subjected to CSF-1 stimulation. We report here that loss of Nox2 expression in BMM resulted in a significant reduction in the CSF-1 induced spreading response suggesting that Nox2 can modulate cytoskeletal events. Moreover, Nox2KO BMMs were deficient in cellular displacement in the presence of CSF-1. More significantly, when challenged with a gradient of CSF-1, Nox2KO BMMs showed a complete loss of chemotaxis accompanied by a reduction in cell migration speed and directional migration persistence. These results point to a specific role for Nox2KO downstream of CSF-1 during the BMM migratory response. Indeed, we have further found that Nox2KO BMMs display a significant reduction in the levels of ERK1/2 phosphorylation following stimulation with CSF-1.Thus Nox2 is important in BMM cellular motion to CSF-1 stimulation and necessary for their directed migration towards a CSF-1 gradient, highlighting Nox2 dependent signalling as a potential anti-inflammatory target.

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the avian macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is recognized as a soluble factor produced by sensitized T lymphocytes and inhibits the random migration of macrophages. Recent studies have revealed a more prominent role for MIF as a multi-functional cytokine mediating both innate and adaptive immune responses. This study describes the cloning and functional characterization of avian MIF in an effort to better understand its role in innate and adaptive immunity, and potential use in poultry health applications. The full-length avian MIF gene was amplified from stimulated chicken lymphocytes and cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector. The confirmed 115 amino acid sequence of avian MIF has 71% identity with human and murine MIF. The bacterially expressed avian recombinant MIF (rChMIF) was purified, followed by endotoxin removal, and then tested by chemotactic assay and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Diff-Quick staining revealed a substantial decrease in migration of macrophages in the presence of 0.01microg/ml rChMIF. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the presence of rChMIF enhanced levels of IL-1beta and iNOS during PBMCs stimulation with LPS. Additionally, the Con A-stimulated lymphocytes showed enhanced interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-2 transcripts in the presence of rChMIF. Interestingly, addition of rChMIF to the stimulated PBMCs, in the presence of lymphocytes, showed anti-inflammatory function of rChMIF. To our knowledge, this study represents the first report for the functional characterization of avian MIF, demonstrating the inhibition of macrophage migration, similar to mammalian MIF, and the mediation of inflammatory responses during antigenic stimulation.

Antiobesity effects of yerba maté extract (Ilex paraguariensis) in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Because the potential of yerba maté (Ilex paraguariensis) has been suggested in the management of obesity, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of yerba maté extract on weight loss, obesity-related biochemical parameters, and the regulation of adipose tissue gene expression in high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice. Thirty animals were randomly assigned to three groups. The mice were introduced to standard or high-fat diets. After 12 weeks on a high-fat diet, mice were randomly assigned according to the treatment (water or yerba maté extract 1.0 g/kg). After treatment intervention, plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and glucose were evaluated. Adipose tissue was examined to determine the mRNA levels of several genes such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), leptin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-C motif chemokine ligand-2 (CCL2), CCL receptor-2 (CCR2), angiotensinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), adiponectin, resistin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma(2) (PPAR-gamma(2)), uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), and PPAR-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1 alpha). The F4/80 levels were determined by immunoblotting. We found that obese mice treated with yerba maté exhibited marked attenuation of weight gain, adiposity, a decrease in epididymal fat-pad weight, and restoration of the serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and glucose. The gene and protein expression levels were directly regulated by the high-fat diet. After treatment with yerba maté extract, we observed a recovery of the expression levels. In conclusion, our data show that yerba maté extract has potent antiobesity activity in vivo. Additionally, we observed that the treatment had a modulatory effect on the expression of several genes related to obesity.

Molecular cloning and identification of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in teleost fish

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is one of the first cytokines to be identified, which have been emerged to be an important mediator of the innate and adaptive immune system. Although MIF was well characterized in several mammal species, there was still little report in fish. In present study, we cloned the MIF gene from Tetraodon nigroviridis, and identified other six MIF genes from other teleost fishes, Fundulus heteroclitu, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Ictalurus punctatus, Danio rerio, Salmo salar and Haplochromis chilotes. The results showed that the fish MIF genes with the same organization as the mammalians consist of three exons and two introns. Tetraodon MIF gene located within a 1091bp genomic fragment of chromosome 1, transcribed into a 500bp mRNA including 14bp 5' untranslated region (UTR), 348bp ORF and 138bp 3'-UTR. Tetraodon MIF with 115aa has a calculated molecular mass of 12.5kDa and a theoretical pI of 6.81. The deduced amino-acid sequences of the teleost fish MIFs showed 64.1-73.5% sequence identity to mammalian MIFs, 61.5-70.1% to avian MIFs, 55.6-62.4% to amphibian MIFs, 74.4-97.4% among the teleost fishes. Phylogenetic analysis separates the teleost fish MIFs into an exclusive group. Genomic Southern blotting analyses suggest that Tetraodon has one copy of the MIF gene. RT-PCR and real-time PCR analyses reveal that Tetraodon MIF (TnMIF) mRNA was constitutively expressed in 10 selected tissues and induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) strikingly in head kidney and spleen. The bioactivity of recombinant TnMIF was tested by macrophage migration inhibition (MMI) assay. The result of MMI assay showed that the recombinant TnMIF inhibited the macrophage cells migration at rate of 35% (P<0.04). These results indicated that MIFs in fish may be involved in immune responses.